This blog is in response to Barbare's (the Way to the Moon) blog on the same topic. She said she would love to read my answers to these questions. So, here are my answers. Some of the answers may sound like cliche.

1. What do you like most in this club?  Why?

There are many things I like about this club. But what I like the most is the freedom it gives its members to be anonymous and yet at the same time being able true to oneself.

2. If you have the chance to speak to Josef Essberger about the state of English environment in this club, what would you tell him?

This is very hard to answer, because first of all, I think I will be tongue tied if I have the chance to speak to Josef Essberger. After I manage to find my tongue, and form some sort of tangible English, first I think I will thank him for maintaining this club as a free club. Most website for English learners are paid sites, so to maintain it as a free site is something that I'm really grateful.

After all said and done, I would like to request an autograph from him, but no selfie. I don't like selfie. :D

3. If there is one thing you can do to change a section in this club, what will it be? Why?

I think my priority would be to add some features in the chat room. The first feature is a block button so that I can block some unsavoury characters from being able to private message me. I believed this feature was available in the previous 1997 Chat Room.

The second feature that I want to add is the voice message facility in private message box. The voice message facility should not be available in the main room because otherwise the room will become more chaotic than a wet/fresh market. Therefore, only in the private room that members are able to talk to each other orally.

4. What do you think is the best section in EC that has made your English learning improved? Why?

I had answered this question in my previous blog, but I would summarised my answer in here. Personally, I think the best section in EC is the blog section. This is because it helps me being more diligent in crossing my "ts" and dotting my "is" in term of grammar. It also helps in improving my vocabulary usage. And the best part is that more members are more willing to point out and correct my mistakes, which I'm very grateful.

5. Who is the most influential person in your life? Why?

This is another hard question to answer. I think I had various person that directly or indirectly influenced me in various stages of my life. During the early stages of my life, teachers became the most influential person. I thank God that at that stage, there was no internet, and the television was just a far fetched luxury. 

Later, it were not person that left their marks in my life, but rather books. I love reading since the day I knew my alphabets. I would read anything and everything. Sometimes, even materials that were deemed not suitable for me. These books left distinct marks in my life. It shaped my thinking, my outlook of life as well as enriched it. So, I would say the most influential thing in my life is books.

6. What is the relevance of learning English in your life, in your society and in your environment?

At first I never like English. I only had to read English books when I found out that there was no more Malay novels in the school library, and then I fell in love with the beauty of English words. After that learning English was more fun. Nowadays, learning English is for my own enjoyment. Of course it's a bonus since I have to use English in my daily official communication. I believe people will take me more seriously if my English is not too 'complicated' (read that as 'too bad') to be understood.

7. If you would be isolated in an island with 3 EC members, who would these 3 members be? Why them?

This is another hard question to answer but at the same time so obvious to me. Though I love to meet some of MyEC members like Lady Anne, Inna, WMW, Sima, Evangelina, just to name a few, I don't think I will take anyone with me because I like my solitude. Chattering people drives me nuts. So in order to avoid some murdering rampage from me, I think I just bring along a truckload of books rather than some companions. And of course not forgetting I have to bring a lot of cheese cakes too.

8. To whose famous personality do you find yourself parallel with?

I guess no one because all those people I only 'know' them through media, and you know how media like to gloss things over on certain things, thus you never know whether you're reading the truth about those people or just some glorified features.

But I guess I don't mind meeting Roger Federer and Steven Gerrard.

9. What do you think is the greatest problem that EC is facing today? Explain.

EC is too famous for its own good. Why do I think it's a problem for EC? This is because it becomes the hunting ground for spammers, cheaters and other unsavoury characters.

10. What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your life? Why? 

Hmmm ... I would say it would be posting my first blog in EC. It was like plunging into the deepest ocean, and since I can't swim very well, I know either I will survive by pure will or I will drown. It was similar when I posted my first blog. Since I never wrote a blog, either in my own language, let alone English, it was a life changing decision. I don't know what kind of reaction and reception that I'm going to receive from EC members, thus it was really a leap of faith, and I am glad that I took it.

So, there you are. My short answers to those questions. 

This simple word; happiness, seems so easy to achieve. But talking from experience, it is not. Sometimes we forget to be happy, or just take 'happiness' for granted. Being into what I call the 'twilight years of my working life', I guess I'm contented with what I've achieved so far. 

I may not be what I wanted to be, or what my childish dream wanted me to be, but you can't have everything what you wish for in life. I used to chase the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. In my hastiness in chasing the dream, sometimes I lose focus on what is more important in life. 

I thought to have higher position in the company, to have bigger salary epitome what happiness is all about. Then I realised, happiness is not all about. Of course to have higher position and bigger salary means I can achieve more than what I used to have such as I can travel more, but at the same time, my outlook of my life also changing. 

I realised that I should feel contented with what I have, with what I achieved. If I don't feel contented, I will keep on chasing the elusive pot of gold. With that realisation, a simple thing brings me much joy and happiness. So nowadays not just for the year 2016, my motto is to find happiness even in a simple things. 

When I was in London recently, this advertising billboard caught my eyes. It really resonant with what I felt. It was like reaffirming my word for 2016. It's like telling me that 'happiness' is the most important in life.

The burning question is, "What do you think is the best section on EC that has made your English learning improved? Why?"

Like some of you may had known or gauged that I'm an old member of EC. I stumbled upon EC when I was in South Korea for three months way back in 2006. I became like the prodigal daughter of EC somewhat when I left it for a few times but always came back like a bad penny. If I had to answer this question during my previous life in EC, the answer would be different.

Previously, my life in EC only hovered around the chat room. Though it was hard to see any tangible improvement to my English, I would like to say that somewhat, my English improved a little bit with the help of a few native Chat Admins (previously it was called Admin rather than Moderator). However, since text chatting needs speed, it was not really helpful for many people especially for learners. This is still holds true in today chat room environment of EC.

In my nth life in EC, I started to read and write blogs. I still remember that it was in February 2013 when I decided to take another step in my English journey. But during the early stage of my attempt in blog writing, the chat room still occupied most of my time in here. Do I learnt much in the chat room? Sometimes yes, and most of the time a BIG NO. When there was/were native English speakers or English teachers like Lady Anne, Dayne, Tony Hawk, or Chuck, just to name a few, in the chat room, I could ask them about English or they would correct my mistakes. But like I said before, you need to have have an amazing speed to be able to catch up with text chatting. 

However, nowadays, I seldom enter the chat room. So whenever I entered EC, most of the time I only spent my time in the blog section or photo section. Photo section is to feast my eyes with the beauty of nature through members' photos, but I don't think it helps much in my English learning. I seldom browsed through the video section, so even though some of the videos shared in the section are amazing and good for learners, I don't have the patience nor focus to watch them diligently. 

So back to the original question posed by Lady Anne, "What do you think is the best section on EC that has made your English learning improved? Why?", I would definitely say the blog section. Like I say in my comment in one of the members' blogs, consciously or unconsciously, when we started blogging, we also started to observe more on the correct usage of grammar. We also started to dig our thick skull and tried to polish our vocabulary bank and used less frequently used words. 

The bonus and best part is that, members are more willing to point out my mistakes and correct them. 

I believed the old adage of practice makes perfect hold true in my case. I may not be perfect in my writing even as hard as I try to, but at least I will make less mistakes as I used to do.

Chapter 1 : My Name is Ninos

Chapter 2 : Viola! I'm a Male Cat

Chapter 3 : Wake Up And Smell The Roses

Chapter 4 : I Am A Brilliant Blogger

Chapter 5 : Tiramisu, Black Forest and Cappuccino

Hello again EC Members, the young and the not so young but still young at hearts. It's me again, Milo Ninos a/k Lemongrass. Since it's a bit mouthful, (I don't know what my Moms were thinking at that time), I like to be called Ninos. But since Lady Evangelina said I'm a VIK (very important kitten), I think I want to add another moniker to my name, Milo Ninos VIK a/k Lemongrass, or Ninos VIK. I think it really suits me. :D

Anyway, enough of my name. Today I want to talk about three names that recently came into my life, or more accurately, my Moms brought into the house and somehow disturbing the peace and tranquillity of my life. Those are Tiramisu, Black Forest and Cappucino. 

One day, when my Mom Noas came back from the office, she found a sickly kitten in front of her door. My Mom being too soft hearted, took the kitten to the house. It seemed the kitten was abandoned by its mom and left at the door for my Mom to find. Its front leg was bruised, and its eyes were infected. She called my Mom Ayu to buy some medication for the eyes and a syringe. It seemed, the kitten refused to take the milk, which I had to tell you rightfully belonged to me. How ungrateful tot!

When my Mom Ayu came back, both of them were fussing over the kitten. They had to use the syringe to get the milk into the kitten and clean the eyes as best as they could. I felt a little bit left out, but I know that my Moms had to take care the kitten because it was very sickly. 

Though the kitten was very sickly, my Moms being typical themselves, were so excited and decided to name it Tiramisu. Well, if you ask me, it was look nothing like a tiramisu, just because it has three colours on its fur, orange, black and white. But I think my Moms were just too hungry at that time.

Though my Moms tried their hardest to save the kitten, on the second night it died. When my Mom Noas woke up on the second morning, she found that Tiramisu had died. I was sad for my Moms. Mom Noas had to dig a grave for Tiramisu at the backyard. This was the second time she had to dig a grave for a kitten at her backyard. The first time was when a stray kitten died there.

I know that even though they just had Tiramisu for less than two days, they were sad that they couldn't save it. So I tried my hardest to make them happy again. I will jump at my Mom Ayu, or I will bite their feet. I just wanted to show them that I care. 

Then a few days after that, once again my Mom Noas found a very sickly kitten in front of her door. It was severely dehydrated. Ok! Let me tell you something. There was a stray cat that always came into my Mom's house and begged some food from them. This stray cat always gave birth at my Moms' house. Apparently she had two new kittens, and this was one of its kittens.

Once again, my Moms tried their best to save the kitten. And once again, in their enthusiasm, they named the kitten Black Forest. I don't understand why they wanted to name it Black Forest because it was a kind of greyish kitten. Unfortunately, Black Forest died that night. Maybe it was just too sick. Once again, my Mom Noas had to dig another cat grave at her back yard. I hope none of the neighbours will think that my Moms are serial killers in the making and torturing little kittens.

After two kittens died while in their care, you would have thought that my Moms would stop from trying to take care little kittens anymore. No! No! Not my Moms. Honestly. They should just stop and focus on taking care of me. After all, I'm very energetic cat. Thus, I need to be look after 24/7.

After the death of Black Forest, my Moms decided to kidnap the second kitten. It was hiding behind Mom Noas' boots. Therefore, they decided to name it Cappuccino a/k Boots. Really! I think my Moms are too obsessed with food and edible things. Unlike me, Cappuccino is one annoying little kitten. It cried non-stop. I don't know how my Moms can stand the cries, but sometimes I just want to slap it silly.

Now it is already about a month since Cappuccino came into my house. My Moms always told me that, even though there is another kitten in the house, but I will always be their favourite. Thus, I will try to learn to tolerate Cappuccino's presence. Furthermore, since it's too small to play with me, I don't think I have to talk to it yet. After all, I think it is silly to try to talk in baby's talk to Cappucino. It's enough that my Moms do that. I don't want to get involve.

Anyway, I think Cappuccino will definitely live and thrive. I hope it will not expect me to play together. And I hope it will not expect me to teach him/her, by the way, no one knows whether it is female or male, and I am not going to ask that little thing, things such as catching cockroaches and chasing feet. I'm not a baby sitter. Did I tell you that it is one annoying little kitten? I think I will call it Cappucino The Little Bugger.

Hmmm ... until next time. I hope I won't slap that little thing silly in the meantime.

Chapter 1 : My Name is Ninos

Chapter 2 : Viola! I'm a Male Cat

Chapter 3 : Wake Up And Smell The Roses

Chapter 4 : I Am A Brilliant Blogger

Hello! Hello! Hello!

How are you guys, especially all the Cat Ladies, or is it Ladies' Cats? LOL. In my last blog, I did mention my favourite past time; gardening, which my Mom don't appreciate too much. Now I want to write about my other favourite past time, blogging and surfing the net.

Since I stumbled upon MyEC through my Mom Noas, I found out that I like to write blogs especially about my life. Now! Now! I'm not a narcissistic, but I do believed that reading my life is another form therapy for some of you guys. So, it's like killing two birds with one stone. I can improve my English, and at the same time giving all of you free therapy.

Anyway, back to my favourite past time, blogging and surfing the net. Once again, my Moms were not too appreciative of my talent. My Mom Noas had to use her sister's laptop, my other Mom, because it decided it had enough with my Mom and died on her. Thus she uses my other Mom's laptop. By the way, her name is Ayu, which means pretty in English.

Whenever my Mom Noas switched on the laptop, I loved to sit next to her. I learnt a lot from observing her. I think I learnt how to write blogs and surf the net from her. Therefore, when I decided to write my story in EC, my Mom Noas was not too happy. Even my other Mom, Ayu was not too happy. 

She always asked me to leave her alone and stop annoying her. Sometimes I was so confused. It seems nothing I do will make my Mom, especially Noas, happy. If I want to help her gardening, she told me that I was always underfoot and will shoo me away. Now, she told me that I was always annoying her. Poor me. Now I think she gang up on me with my Mom Ayu. Now Mom Ayu also likes to scream whenever I came near the laptop. She said I destroyed her keyboard. I can never win with my Moms.

I hope I can still write blogs about my adventure even after all this. Otherwise! 

See you next time.

The Basement

Carefully, with measured steps lest she made creaking noise, she descended the staircase down to the basement. Her Grandpa had forbid her from going to the basement with the reason it is his workshop, but she wanted to check the reason why that sometimes she could heard people's cries.

My other Terrifying Two-Line Tales:-

1. The Shadow

2. Help Me!

3. Into the Abyss

Cupping

Have you ever heard the term 'cupping' before? Cupping is an alternative form of treatment widely used over here. According to one article, cupping treatment dates back all the way to 300AD. Cupping is basically a treatment that uses cup like equipment, nowadays they are made from glass, and being uses on the skin as suction devices. I won't bore you with details of cupping because basically you can browse through the net and can find all the benefits derived from cupping.

A few weeks back, my sister and I decided to try this alternative treatment. We had been talking about it for quite while, but we had been putting it off because we were a bit afraid. I've seen some video footage which shown people getting this treatment, and to be honest it look really gross and hurtful. 

Why gross and hurtful? Because your skin needs to be pricked with needle or cut with sharp knife and then blood will be sucked using those cups. Ewww!!! Sound gross and hurtful, right?

Anyway, we decided to give it a go, and made an appointment. The lady told us to make sure to eat something at least two hours before the treatment. So, on that Saturday, I had to wake up early and made a simple breakfast because our appointment was at 10 am. 

When we reached the house, apparently she just moved into the area from another state, so she is yet to set up her shop, I asked my sister to go first. Hehehe ... I admit, I was being a chicken. While doing the procedure at my sister's back, the lady explained a little bit about each point. Though I concentrated very hard to understand what each point represents, I had to admit I only remember a few. 

There were 12 points or cups that were placed at the back. Each cup representing points such as spine, neck, right and left shoulders, heart, liver, colon, kidney, and a few more. There are a few techniques that being used for cupping. The lady told used that she had studied a few of them and decided to practice the current technique used to treat us.

Some practitioner will heat the cups before placing them on the skin, but this lady did not do that. Instead she used some sort of pressure. First round of treatment, she put all 12 cups on the back and left them for a few minutes. Not long after putting them on the skin, I could see at certain points of my sister's back, there were some sort of fog/cloud gathered in the cup. The lady told us that it was the 'wind/gas' from our body. Apparently, the first round will release some unwanted gas from the body which making our body feel lethargic and tired.

For the second round of treatment, she used some kind needle to prick the skin. When the skin had been pricked, blood will start to gather inside the cups. The amount of blood and the thickness of the blood all depend on the level of toxicity of the body. She also explained that for most ladies, the amount of blood will be only minimal as compared to men. She also told us that for areas that may have some internal issue, the blood will be thicker; gel like, as compared to area that maybe healthy. 

As for me, I have some issue with my shoulder blades and my back. After the treatment, I found that my shoulder was much better. I don't know about some of you guys, but seeking an alternative treatment seemed to be less expensive and yet working for me. Now I'm looking forward to seek the treatment in the future. 

Note :

Sorry if some of you found these photos a little bit offensive.

Chapter 1 : My Name is Ninos

Chapter 2 : Viola! I'm a Male Cat

Chapter 3 : Wake Up And Smell The Roses

Hi there! Did anyone miss me? I hope I won't make you die out of boredom with my adventures. After all, I haven't tell you anything outrages yet. It's hard to have any adventurous adventure since my Moms prefer that I say at home. They told that I'm too young to go out. Well!!!!! Yes, I'm just about six months old according to human, but I'm already about three years old in cat years. That's hardly a baby, you know. 

In this blog I want to share with you my favourite past times. I don't know what my Moms told you guys about me, but I don't spend my waking hours just chasing a ball of thread or my tail. I have other things to occupy my time too.

Some of you may already know that my Mom Noas loves gardening. Her love for gardening seemed to rub into me. I love helping her gardening.

But sometimes my Mom was not too grateful with my help. Sometimes she will shoo me away from her. She told me to stop being underfoot all the time. She told me if I always come near her when she tried to cut the grass or trim the plants, one of these days she may accidentally 'trim' my whisker. OHMY! I can't let that happen. A ferocious cat needs his wonderful whisker. 

Therefore when she said that, I will go away from her and that sharp scissor of hers and I started to smell her roses. But then she will also shoo me away. Really!!! I can never win in any situation with my Mom.

I wonder, do Moms always act this way? Or is my Mom just being neurotic? 

Into The Abyss

She had heard some rumors circling around town that some people didn't come back after had fallen into the abyss, but she also heard from people that managed not to be sucked permanently that it was worth the effort. With sweaty palms and heart on her throat, she switched on her computer and logged into the abyss of EC.

Help Me!

Anna was getting worried when her handphone battery was getting weak and the thunderstorms which resulted in the electricity to the area being cut off was not looking to be abetting any time soon. Suddenly, her focus was directed to her television when she saw it flicker to life and a shadowy text appeared "HELP ME!!!" 

The Shadow

I was driving alone in the middle of the night. Suddenly, I had to press the car brake when I saw a white shadow crossed in front of me.

Chapter 1 : My Name is Ninos

Chapter 2 : Viola! I am a Male Cat

Hello again the world of EC. I never thought I will write so soon. After all, chasing a ball of cotton thread and my tail are more enjoyable than writing. But then, my Mom Noas is a slave driver. She keeps on reminding me that I have to put my adventures into words. Pffft. Human beings! No one can understand them, really.

If you read my previous blog, you will notice that my Moms at first didn't know my gender. I don't know why they didn't realise it. I've shown my ferociouscity to them nearly every day. I will chase their feet, and I always jump on their shoulders. While I did these things, I will make sure my claws really shown. I know that my claws really sharp because they always yelp and sometimes yell at the top of their lung. Sometimes I even growl at them, but alas! Human beings really clueless.

Anyway, when they had to go back to their hometown to celebrate the Eid, a few months back, they decided to board me with an animal clinic. I was really happy. I thought here is the opportunity for me to meet other cats and you know, test my social skills. But, I think my Moms were being told with a bunch of lies, because, for three days, I was just put inside a cage. Most of those cats were too miserable and missing their families that most of them just cried and mewling pitifully. I had to admit that sometimes I missed my Moms too, after all, I'm just a kitten, but I didn't cry like most of them.

Did I told you that the vet lied to my Moms? Well, I think the vet also must told my Moms that I was sick or something, because my Moms agreed for the vet to stick a needle as big as  a log and as long as the train to my small body. I think the vet derived pleasure from hurting young kittens, and all animals in general.

When my Moms took me back three days later, I was glad. The assistant vet told my Moms to bring me back to see the vet in a month time. NO WAY!!!!! When my Moms asked the assistant about my age, she told them that I was about three to four months old. In the car, my Moms were laughing loudly when they opened my health book and realised that the vet wrote 'Male' under my gender. Really, if they are not that clueless, they should realised by that time that I'm an alpha male cat. Tsk tsk tsk. Sometimes I do pity them.

Now they realised that I'm a male cat, I hope they will stop buying girl toys for me. But then, you will never know what my Moms will do. After all, they are clueless.

Ok. Enough for now. I will tell you about my other adventures in other blogs. See you next time.

P/S : My Mom asked me to dedicate this blog to all ladies of EC, especially to all the Ladies Cat. When I asked my Mom their names, my Mom said, they know who they are. So ladies, you know who you are, and this one is for you.

Chapter 3 : Wake Up And Smell The Roses

Chapter One : My Name is Ninos

Hello world of EC. I want to start a blog post chronicling my life living with my two Moms. This is because one of my Moms, Noas, admitted to me that her brain has frozen. Well, I was shocked at first, until she explained to me that she has no idea what to write because she is always too busy nowadays, and don't have the luxury of time to think and write. Pffttt! Human. I told her, stop thinking too much and just write, even if it is just gibberish. 

Anyway, this is about me, and not my Moms. So let me start first by introducing myself. My name is Milo Ninos a/k Serai. What a mouthful of name, right? You may call me Ninos Osh Osh, by the way. Let me explain the meaning of my name. Though it's mouthful, I think I am proud that my Moms give me that name.

I think it's easily understood why I'm called 'Milo'. As you can see, my fur is very special. It's colour is really indescribable, and the nearest colour to describe it is Milo. As for Ninos, this is a bit mind boggling to explain. It's a bit convoluted, but please bear with me. When my Mom found me, the first thing she gave me was a cup of fresh milk. At the box of the fresh milk was a photo of Mickey Mouse. You see, the fresh milk was meant for her nephew, Jeje. And in Jeje's world, Mickey Mouse is Ninos. Kid! You can't really understand their logic, right? Anyway because of that, my Mom gave me this 'Ninos' to me. So, my name is like 'Milk Milo' which perfectly suits me because of this beautiful colour of my fur. Though I think I prefer if it is 'Milo Latte' which sounds more exotic. Alas! My Moms really don't have too much imagination.

Then, 'a/k' is actually some sort of an acronym. It is 'anak kepada'. It is a Malay word which means 'child of'. At first, my Moms wanted to put it as 'a/p', an acronym of 'anak perempuan' which means 'daughter of'. But because they can't determine my gender, did I mention before that my Moms really a bunch of clueless human beings, so they decided to put the safe option of 'a/k'. 'Serai' is also a Malay word which means 'lemongrass'. So my full name means, 'Milk Milo the child of Lemongrass'. 

At first when I fully understood the full meaning of my name, I was shocked and sad. How could I came from a lemongrass? Am I not a fully ferocious cat? Then my Mom told me that, one day, after she came back from work, she heard a loud mewl, which I beg to differ, I think it was a loud growl. Anyway, when she heard me, she was curious. Then she felt compelled to come and look. There I was, mewling (growling), inside a bush of lemongrass. It seemed my real Mom had abandoned me.

She took a pity of me, and took me in. I think I just let her adopted me. And the rest is history, or more like, that was the start of my new life with my Moms.

Anyway, this is my first part of my blog. I will tell you my other adventures in other blogs. I just hope you won't die out of curiousity. After all, I am just a kitten. I can't spend my waking hours just writing. The wide world is waiting for me. See you next time.

P/s : It's really irritating when I'm done writing, my Mom reminds me that this blog is dedicated to the beautiful Evangelina. When I asked her, the reason of such dedication, she said Evangelina will understand. Hmmm. So, Miss Evangelina, I hope you can understand, because I surely cannot.

Chapter 2 : Viola! I am a Male Cat

Nowadays, the old adage, "sharing is caring" is no longer hold sacred. Though sometimes we seemed to be overly used it and it became cliche, but it seemed that people did not held true to the meaning of 'sharing is caring' especially in this world of social media.

I don't know about your country, but in Malaysia, people like to up-date everything in Facebook, whether it was to whine, to celebrate, or just a simple status telling everyone and anyone that they are in love.

And the worst part of putting everything in Facebook is they like to 'share' everything without checking the validity of the fact. They are taking the 'sharing is caring' to the highest echelon, but in actual fact is they are sharing false information. To make it worst, because of the widespread usage of WhatsApp, this information spread faster than the rocket.

I like to quote two examples of how Malaysians' the so-called 'caring' is actually 'scaring' and 'damaging'. Not so long ago, there was some unrest happened in the capital city when two youths were arrested by the police when they started a fight and damaged some properties of a trader in a shopping mall because they alleged that the trader cheated them. Within a few minutes, it seemed that the news went viral in the social medias. Everyone wanted to be the first to 'share' the news. Everyone wanted to put their 'point of views'. Amidst all this, some irresponsible people 'played' the racial issues and disturbed the harmony of the country.

Then, when the story seemed to die down, a photo which allegedly showing another trader in the same mall 'caught cheating' customers circulated in the Facebook and shared through WhatsApp. Once again, the 'caring' nature of many Malaysians actually was 'scaring' because in actual fact the photo, though it was true that the trader was cheating his customers, but it happened in Singapore, and not Malaysia.

Another example happened a few days ago. Suddenly, people seemed to be competing on who will be the first to share a photo alleging that a person found a sharp pin inside a pill prescribed by a Government Hospital. Everyone was shocked and concern. The photos spread like a wild fire. But once again, some irresponsible 'caring' person shared the photo without checking the source of the story. Though, the photo seemed to be genuine, but it happened in another country, and not Malaysia.

What I can deduced is that, in our haste to be a keyboard warrior, and caring citizen, some people just shared some information without some responsibility. In the social media frenzy, it is no longer 'sharing is caring' but 'sharing is scaring'. It may even damaging.

Nowadays, the pressure to be perfect is such surreal that we put ourselves into insuperable demand of 'perfection'. This is maybe because we are being bombarded with images of 'perfect bodies' by the mass media from when we were young.

I had to admit I am also facing 'body issues' constantly. When I looked into the mirror, instead of looking for the beauty of me, sometimes what I can see is all my imperfections. The wrinkles, the scars, the double chin, the almond shape eyes. the button shape nose, and etc. Why am I not tall? Why am I not skinny enough to fit any dress that I want? It's hard not to nit pick every flaws. It's hard to accept that I'm perfect with my imperfections even after all these years. 

However, I thank God that when I grew up, there was no internet. Television was a luxury rather than necessity. So, at least my view on what a 'perfect body' should be is not so twisted. Nor the pressure to be super thin and perfect being thrust to me from early on in my formative years.

The medias constantly thrust us with the idea of 'perfection' that some of us will try our best to be what we think we should be. We never satisfy with our bodies, our face, and everything about us. Plastic surgery becomes a lucrative business. Millions of dollars being poured into research of beauty products, which make you wonder, if all those money is being used for medical research, how many lives can we save.

Therefore, it is refreshing to see some celebrities using their star power to address this issue. For an example, Angelina Jolie wrote; "Beneath the makeup and behind the smile, I am just a regular person. So many girls look up to me. I want them to know that natural is beautiful. They aren't fully aware of the fact that behind the looks there are a lot designers, make up artists, and phtoshop editing. Celebrities whole sense of beauty is flawed. You should be care free. Love the real you. It doesn't matter what you look like on the outside, it's what on inside that counts".

I hope, by repeating ''I'm perfect in my imperfection' and makes it a mantra, looking into the mirror will not be a torturous daily experience for me.

Page 1 - The Prologue

Noas was smiling to herself when she heard the shrieking voices of her nieces, Aish and Qalish. She knew it meant that Jeje was teasing his cousins again. Then she heard her sister-in-law, Jeje's Mom admonished him for teasing his cousins. Laughter was loud. The conversations were fast and it took real skill to understand anything and everything.

The barbecue get together had became few and far between because nowadays everyone was so busy with their own schedules. The monthly barbecue was started when her closest nephews and nieces, Aish, Qalish, Jeje and his brother Dede were very young, and her youngest sister just graduated from the university and living with her.

She had been living on her own for the last ten years, since Ayu, her youngest sister had married and live with her husband. Her closest nephews and nieces had grown up and studying in universities in another states. This barbecue get together had became so precious to her and everyone.

Even though her health was not so good for the last couple of months, she insisted to host the barbecue when she knew her nephews and nieces were on study leaves. At first she was happy to see all her siblings and their families, but when her sister-in-law pulled her aside and insisted that she to live with them so that someone would always there to take care of her, the light of the day became dimmer. 

She always valued her independence. She don't want to be dependent on someone else. That was why she always refused to stay with her sisters or brothers. But then. she knew she can no longer properly take care of herself. Lately she noticed that she misplaced a lot of things. She can't remember where she put her prescriptions. Once, she even the left the kettle on the stove until there was no more water left. Thank God nothing untoward happened to her.

But, then again, even though her sister-in-law would be happy to have her living with her, Noas don't want to burden anyone. That's why she decided to put her house in the market and use the proceed to pay the fees for the retirement home. Once she made that momentous decision she felt a great relief. She knew that for the rest of her life, no matter how short or long it would be, she would be comfortable.

She didn't regret her decision. She always live by her own rules and stood to the saying that 'If regrets are pennies, she would be a millionaire'. She would miss this bedroom. This was her sanctuary. Looking around, she soaked in the feelings of safety and security this bedroom always gave her. She looked at a small travelling bag that contained things that most valuable to her. Tomorrow, she had to ask her brother to drive her to the retirement community. 

She took a deep breathe and took a tentative step downstairs. She needed to tell everyone about her decision. She don't know what their reactions going to be, but she knew that her family would embrace her decision with open heart.

This blog was inspired from Alice E's blog 'What's inside your purse?'. Reading her blog made me want to 'explore' the chaos world of my handbag.

Currently I'm using a navy blue leather Longchamp handbag. I have a few handbags, well it's true the saying that a girl can never have enough handbags or shoes', but all of them are a few years old. When I went to Europe in 2011, I went a bit crazy and bought a few handbags. But even though they are a bit out dated in term of fashion, but I bought them because of their sturdiness, rather than fashion. 

Anyway, my disorganise sense, I like to call it 'an organised chaos', also can be reflected in my handbag. So, in order to give some resemblance of order, I have put my things into several small bags/purses. 

First bag is a simple pink cotton bag. I bought this bag when I went to Bangkok last year. In them I dumped all my 'so called make up kits'. I don't wear make up much, but in order to avoid people screaming and running scared when they have to meet me, I had to make an effort to tidy up a little bit. 

In this cotton bag, I put my kohl pencil, (I don't know how to use eyeliner), blusher, compact powder, lips gloss, a tube of lipstick, a bottle of moisturiser and hand cream. I can't live without my hand cream.

Second bag is a simple LeSportsac bag ; I call it a 'pouch'. In it I put my powerbank (it seems my handphone can't survive without a powerbank nowadays), and my handphone charger. Sometimes I put my handphone in this pouch too.

And finally, the most important bag of all, my Desigual purse (I guess since I'm using British English, I term it as a purse, whereas for American English, I think it's called a 'wallet'). In it is the life of me. All the cards; be it identification card, credit cards (I have a few of them), loyalty cards from a few restaurants (now you know I love to eat) and of course a few notes and coins. But I think the bulk of things that are stored in the purse are all the receipts. Sometimes my sisters will 'organise' my purse and throw all those useless receipts. Thank God for giving me my sisters. LOL. But unlike many of you, I didn't put any photo in my purse, not even my photo.

After all said and done, I think the only thing that is not put in either of those smaller bags is my car key. It is usually dumped into the handbag and when I want to find it, I had to rummage through my handbag first before I can find it.

However, for the weekend, I will use different bag. It's more of a 'sling bag'. So, for the weekend, I would just take out all those small bags and purse, and put them in my sling bag, and viola, I'm good to go.

I am 150

I am 150!. I want to shout it from the top of my office, but I don't want to be called crazy. I always thought nothing can stop me from writing once I've been bitten by the writing bug. But, alas! Life is not a fairy tale, nor do I a story teller that I have to write as if my life dependent on it. How I wish I can be as active as before, and able to write whether and whenever I wish to do it. 

I know I should stop whining, but hey, this is the only outlet where I can whine about it. LOL. So, please forgive me.

Anyway, I didn't realise that actually I've achieved my own milestones in writing blogs. I've actually achieved the number 150 blogs. Though I wish I can achieve it sooner, but I guess the old adage, 'It's better late than never' is true in my case.

150 seems just a small number, and nothing important to shout about. However, it's a number to motivate me to write. It's something tangible for me to reach. Ask anyone and they will tell you that by aiming a certain number, it's really the motivation that drives you. Case point, this month's challenge within a challenge.

If there's no number that we're striving so hard to achieve, I don't think we will see and read so many blogs as it is now. The number maybe is irrelevant at the end of the whole scheme, but it's the biggest drive. 

So by achieving this another small milestones in my writing, I can set another milestone for the future. Maybe it can be the next number which is 200 blogs, or maybe posting at least a blog for a week. But whatever it is, I think we; ourselves, should always celebrate our small achievement and milestone.

And finally, to all MyEC bloggers who are striving so hard to achieve this month's challenge within a challenge, I salute you guys. Your dedication is really something to be admired upon.

How blogging had changed my life

I wrote in MyEC page "MyEC taught me to love writing. It's the greatest gift ever given to me. Thank you MyEC." Before this, like I've mentioned countless time before, I don't like reading blogs, nor do I write any blogs. I still remember my first step in writing a blog. I have been fidgeting and fretting about it for a long time. But with the encouragement from my friend Grape, I posted my first blog, 'The Infamous Durian'. Thus, for any MyEC members who wants to write a blog, a word of encouragement from someone is the biggest step and motivation.

Since that first step, I love writing though I am not a prolific blog writer. I can't write with a click of a hand nor do I can churn an idea at every seconds of the day. Mostly, I will write things that interest me such as my 'Did You Know' series. I also tried my hand in writing short stories as well as translating local myths into English though with my own twists and words.

I think writing blogs is an extension of my hobby of reading books. Why do I say it's an extension? When I am reading any books, I always admire the way the writers can use his creative ideas to create interesting plots. I also admire the way those writers using words to narrate their stories. So by writing, I am learning to implement the style of writing that I always admire as well as using all those interesting words that I've learnt.

Blogging also enhance my vocabulary. Previously, when I encountered any new words, they will be idling inside my mind. Just collecting dust. I seldom use them in my official office communication. Admit it. You can't use much of your creativity when communicating in business related matters. So by blogging, I can wipe away the dust and use those interesting words. This definitely brush up and sharpen my knowledge in words usage.

Whether I like or hate it, I had to admit that blogging forced me to look back at my grammar. I know I still making a lot of mistake in this area, but I like to think I'm making fewer than before. Sometimes, I can even detect my own mistakes when I re-read my own writing. I like to think that as an achievement since I can detect them. 

Finally, blogging also enriches my life. I get to know so many people, friends from all over the world of whom otherwise I will never have known. With their comments, I could glimpse a little bit of their own lives, their views and stands. This is definitely a precious gift that I received with just a simple change of my life from a simple reader to a 'not-so prolific' blogger.

To who ever that had spent their precious time to read my blogs, and/or not left your comments, I really appreciate it. Every comments and every 'like' are like a bucketful of encouragement and motivation for me to continue writing. A BIG thank you.

I posted this tribute a few days ago through my Facebook. However, I decided to share this tribute in here, but I need to put some note on the matter in order for non Malaysians to understand the reason for such tribute.

On Friday June 5th, 2015, Sabah was rocked with 5.9 Richter scale earthquake. The hardest hit area was the Mount Kinabalu. It was said to be the strongest earthquake ever hit Malaysia since 1976. As at todate, it was confirmed that 19 people were killed, including Robbie Sapinggi. He was one of the mountain guides turned rescuers in the tragedy. When help was still being organised and hampered because of adverse weather conditions, all these mountain guides helped the injured and trapped climbers climbed down to the safety. 

When rocks blocked the existing trek, they would make new trek. Some of them would carry injured climbers at their backs, and they would do this many times, because they were the only experts which know Mountain Kinabalu like the back of their hands. Some climbers told that they even used their bodies as a step, so that climbers could step on their back before reaching a relative safe landing spots.

They did this despite treacherous trek and constant falling rocks. However, one of the mountain guides did not make it, and his name was Robbie Sapinggi. I wrote this tribute because I knew from my experience climbing Mount Kinabalu that I would never make it to the top and safely back to the bottom if there was no mountain guides like them.

The Unsung Heroes of Mount Kinabalu.

In 2007, I carelessly followed my friends from SIC scaling the height of Mount Kinabalu. Why I said 'carelessly'? Because I never ever climb a mountain before, not even an ant hill. I am a kind of person that shamelessly would say that blinking my eyes is an exercise. I prefer sleeping than enjoying the outside view.

After agreeing to join my friends, I hit the gym nearly every day to; what I thought physical and strength preparation for the climb. I thought I was prepared. But, oh man! Was I wrong. On the day of the climb, I was anxious but at the same time very excited. After paying a porter a fee to bring my bag to Laban Rata, I had to admit I was a bit sheepish for asking an old lady to bring my bag, we started our climb. Before that, one of the guides advised us to buy a stick so that it could be used while climbing. At first I was reluctant to buy it because I thought it was a bit expensive (I can't remember how much it cost me) for a stick. But later, I was grateful I bought it.

The first part of the climb was a bit easy though it was a struggle. I thought I was prepared, but when over and over again you were overtaken by porters carrying various goods such as gas tanks, steel bars and others, it really made you feel at awe towards these porters and guides. Our guides would climb up and down and checked on us all the time.

After a bit of rest in Laban Rata, we started our last climb in the pitch of morning darkness. It was a bit scary because basically you could not see much and had to rely and trust your guides and friends. The second part of the climb was more treacherous because of the stone surface, and it was drizzling. Admist all that, our guides guided us through the slippery surface.

Some of my friends did not make it to the top; the Low Peak. I was lucky, Even though I was slow and it really an effort, I did reach the top. It was really amazing and something beyond words to be able to achieve that.

I thought the descent from Low Peak to Laban Rata was hard because of the slippery stone surface, but I was wrong. The descent from Laban Rata was pure torture. Because of the constant drizzle, the surface was more slippery. On top of that, I was dead tired. My knees were killing me. I became one of the last members of the group. I had to watch my every small step to avoid stumbling down and left my hand or face permanently etched into one of those steps.

When I became one of the last members, one of the guides accompanied me. Once or twice, well maybe more than I remembered, he would held my hand to make sure my steps was firmed enough. At one of those resting huts that scattered throughout the trek, he asked me to stop and then he wrapped my knees with supporting bandages. When we reached the Checking Point, I was very grateful and relieved. I don't know how I made it through the descent if not for the guide.

I don't remember his name, nor his colleagues or the lady porter. But I'm forever grateful.
Maybe as tourists we don't show much appreciation to them even though they are the heart and pulse of Mount Kinabalu. Like Robbie Sapinggi, they are indeed the unsung heroes.

Note:

Like I mentioned before, this was the hardest earthquake ever hit Malaysia. Some people claimed it was because the spirit of Mount Kinabalu, they called it Aki Nabalu, was angry when a group of foreign tourists stripped naked on top of Mount Kinabalu a few days before. The locals believed that Mount Kinabalu is a sacred place, and the act of those tourists had shown disrespect to Aki Nabalu and thus the tragedy.

Whether we want to believe or otherwise, as tourists we should always respect local culture and belief, no matter what. Do not scoff at other people's belief.