Pics from Wednesday... finally uploaded!

As promised, here are the pics from Wednesday's blog titled 'on the move'.

In the recording studio where I did the voice over for the playback video for the Explorace prize giving ceremony.. realistically, this is what i look like with not a scrap of make up on and barely brushed hair.....

My colleagues at TV3 attacking all the good food during our little pre ramadhan pot luck party. Notice how no one is really talking to each other?! All too busy eating or thinking about what to eat!

Nick Munro's jelly mould launched with Harper's Bazaar and Royal Selangor. The two cones sitting next to each other really reminded me of Madonna's conical bra by Jean Paul Gaultier. Agree?!

With designer of the jelly mould, Nick Munro. He conveniently placed one of his cones on my head for this shot!

With the always stylish editor of Harper's Bazaar, Natasha Kraal. I envy her wardrobe!

With Soo Shea Pin, Director of Anya Hindmarch Malaysia. In the background is all of their lovely new collection of bags....

On the move..

Arrive at office and the events of the day begin!

I have to do a shoot for "Apa-Apa Aje" this Friday and almost didn't get a cameraman for it! After much pleading with the facilities department and a little re shuffling on their part, I managed to book one. Phew! Fingers crossed that this Friday there is no mix up!

Another voice over with Kama for the Explorace Prize Giving Ceremony. Brought back a lot of memories watching all the playback from the whole season.. There is so much that can only be felt and not seen on tv!

With the fasting month starting this Sunday, my department at the office decided to have a pot luck lunch party today... There was SO MUCH food!!!! Just look at everyone attacking the food! It all tasted great!

Check watch. Time to start making a move to the J.W Marriot to attend the launch of the Nick Munro jelly mould to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer in conjunction with Harper's Bazaar.

Get into car and apply make up (from scratch!) Since the theme of the event is stylishly pink, I change my shoes, handbag, earrings and add a belt to my outfit.... in the car...

Arrive at the event and everyone looks so sweet in their splashes of pink clothing..

I have a look at the jelly mould and the first image that comes to my mind is Madonna's cone bra designed by Jean Paul Gaultier for one of her world tours... bras are very closely associated with breasts, so I figure it could have been a source of inspiration for the designer...

Speech time! And guess what, Nick Munro, the designer of the jelly mould actually said that one of his inspirations for the mould was Madonna's cone bra!!!!!

Natasha Kraal, editor of Harpers Bazaar's speech brought tears to my eyes as she talked about how her sister passed away at the age of 28 (so young!) due to breast cancer and was given only six months to live when she found out....

It really hit me... I'm 26, and I haven't even begun to do as much as I want to. To find out you're going to go in six months is something I would not wish for ANYBODY!! And the thought of losing my sister in six months and the decline this disease causes in front of your eyes must be unbearable for anybody...

I'm sure there are many others, like me, under 30 who think "this won't happen to me". Natasha's speech made me realise that it could... Thank you...
(check out the October issue of Harper's Bazaar to read more about the collaboration between the magazine, Nick Munro, Royal Selangor Pewter and their strive for greater breast cancer awareness)

The little chocolate treat served here was fantastic... I had so many, I started to feel sick.

Checked my watch and decided it was time to go to KLCC to attend the launch of the new Anya Hindmarch collection at the boutique. Again, I changed my shoes, handbag, earrings and took off the belt and put on a jacket in the car... why???!!!! my Anya Hindmarch bag is red, so I felt the need to adjust my outfit to match the bag... any fashion lover would understand this!

There wasn't that many people at the Anya Hindmarch boutique by the time I arrived... Everyone had come and gone.... I got to see the collection more closely then! I had a nice chat to Soo Shea Pin, the Managing Director of Anya Hindmarch Malaysia..... and have my eye on a few of the bags in the shop now...

Not long after, it's time to head back to the office and home.. time to finish up preparations for another big day tomorrow..... you will hear about it soon....

(I've made MANY attempts to attach pics from the day to this blog, but it just doesn't want to do it at the moment!!!! So frustrating!!!! Promise to post them when connection is working better...)

Intoxi-Kate launch

More pics from the Intoxi-Kate launch

sitting in front row with other personalities

Lining up with the models. This angle really conceals the height difference between the models and I!!!

Intoxicating....

6 am - alarm starts to ring... i hate that sound!

7 am - finally think it's a good idea to get out of bed... the usual morning routine follows

8 am - Start facing morning traffic..... thank God for good morning radio shows..

8.45 - Meet colleagues at venue of the day's presentations and discussions for next year's
programming

1 pm - Rush back to office with colleague to do remaining voice overs for this Thursday's
episode of Explorace. Problem with tape.... aaargh!!! We don't have time for this!
This show goes on air on Thursday!!

2 pm - Problem solved, hopefully permanently, and we rush back to continue the second
half of today's presentations

5. 40 pm - Presentations complete. Leave immediately to speed to Bangsar Shopping Centre
for launch of new collection and 1st anniversary of Intoxi-Kate by Richard Tsen.
What time was I supposed to be there.... 5.30 pm!!!!

6.00 pm - Arrive at Bangsar Shopping Centre. Run to lift. "SORRY. OUT OF ORDER" sign.
Damn...... Run to next lift (in 3 inch heels!). Head to nearest public bathroom as
soon as doors of lift open. Change from work clothes into gown for the event (I'm
so not joking!) in the public bathroom! Wash face at sink and apply make up from
scratch. Fluff up hair with fingers, dump everything in paper bag and run to elevator.

6.15 pm - Arrive at entrance of Intoxi-Kate, almost breathless. "Hi Sasha, please take your seat.
We will call your name to come forward and stand with our models to present you as
our celebrity model for the event at the end of fashion show."

Sit down. Sitting with me in front row includes Dayang Nurfaizah, Marion Caunter and
Stephanie Chai. Fashion show begins. Clothes are fabulous! Great colours, versatile,
feminine and flowy..... start making mental notes of which ones I want and where I
could wear them to!

6.30 pm - Name is announced to come up and stand with models. I feel like a midget / dwarf
standing next to these beautiful and tall girls. Smile and carry on! Some are just
lucky to strike genetic lottery..... I definitely didn't get their height!

with designer Richard Tsen and I'm wearing dress from his latest collection

6.35 pm - Refreshments. A nice drink of cool juice.... aaaaahh!

7.15 pm - Almost everyone has left, time to say good bye....

7.45 pm - Arrive home. Am informed there is chocolate cake in the fridge.... yay!

11.00 pm - Haven't seen cats.. where are they? They haven't been fed yet.. Time they go to
bed too....

mental note - don't forget to set alarm for tomorrow (groan!) I hate that sound...

A Cat's Life

It has been a crazy week! First I got sooooooo sick.... the sickest I have been all year. Every joint in my body ached, my nose was stuffed, my throat was sore, my ears blocked, nauseous.... I got it all!

Two days in bed and just as I'm thinking I'm going to be back in the office soon so I could get work done, I get a phone call.. "You're going to Johor tomorrow to be part of the Kembara Mahkota Johor..." I really thought my blocked ears were deceiving me... tomorrow?! yes...

I drag my still aching body to the office to get more info and then make my way home to start packing.... I thought I wouldn't be using my suitcase for a while...

So I go, continue to be sick the whole time I was there (2 days) but still managed to find the energy to smile at all the people waving flags at our convoy as we drove past and for every photo..... It's not glamorous at all when you're sick!

As I'm in the car on the way back, I began to feel nauseous again. oh no.... please!!! I've got so much to do when I get back!!!

I allow myself to rest the rest of the day I arrive back, but come today (Sunday) I looked in the mirror and realised I needed some professional help... a hair dresser!

Before I went to the office, I visited the hair dressers to rectify my hair that was beginning to resemble a disintegrating bird's nest... I decided to get a manicure too...I never do manicures and halfway through I realised why... because to me it takes forever for the polish to dry properly!

To the office.... there is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on... believe me! even on Sundays...

I get home to find my two kitty kats lounging around as if THEY have had the hardest week of their lives! I suppose chasing lizards, cochroaches and frogs is hard work in kitty kingdom...

I wonder if she's dreaming... "mmmm, mountains of smoked salmon"

I'll work hard this time round, but in my next life, I want to come back as a cat! How wonderful it might be to be so amused and be able to be kept occupied for hours by chasing bits of paper or whatever other silly things cats do!

More pics from Art for Nature

Here are more pics from the Art for Nature exhibition at Rimbun Dahan....

This piece was a nice colourful collage of a variety of food packagings, eg bottle caps.. plastic.. as described

" Choy's fantastical collage recalls every casual meal we've ever eaten out"

In other words, to me, all the junk food we've eaten on the run or when there is no other choice! I would hang this in a kitchen...

This series of 4 paintings is by Yau Bee Ling - Contemplation (Kitchen) I-IV reveals the tumult and strength within the artist. Her sophisticated use of colour and form suggest many possible readings. -

I didn't read too much into this work.... I just liked the colour combination and the texture..

"Clickproject's groovy plates humorously update the deorative china plates aunties all over Malaysia display in their living room...."

I liked these! A very fun collection of plates... Very modern, fresh feel....

Here, I'm looking at Hayati Mokhtar's 'Tideline' - beautifully detailed photographs meander in an organic line, chronicling the plastic debris of modern life, mingled with the natural environment-.

A very disturbing piece I feel, especially when one thinks deeply about it...

Art For Nature 2006

On Saturday 10th of September I attended the launch of the Art For Nature Exhibition at Rimbun Dahan. I've always loved art, having visited them for as long as I can remember and always on the lookout for exhibitions to go to.

I especially love it, when it's for a good cause... Proceeds from the sale of artworks of the exhibition will be channelled towards WWF-Malaysia’s efforts to safeguard Malaysia abundant and unique natural heritage.

So what is the concept of the exhibition all about? It's very appropriately titled "Feed Me! An exploration of appetites! (For more info : www.wwfmalaysia.org / www.rimbundahan.org )

I arrived there hungry... "feed me! feed me!" my stomach begs.... So I succumbed to my inner desires and helped myself to generous portions of lamb and kueh teow.... yum yum... (yes, I do like eating... don't you?!)

Satisfied, I then head to the exhibition art to view the art works.... I Hate picking favourites, but I'm only human... Some pieces in the exhibition really stood out for me... Sometimes it's the colour combinations, sometimes it's a texture or motif... but that's the beauty of art, there is something for everyone's taste...

Wong Chee Meng's When the White Frame Meets a Green Day caught my eye first. I like ornate cream frames like the one he painted. The green background with it's different shades and patterns both complements and contrast the frame.

Pic in front of the painting

The description of the painting as written in the brochure distributed at the exhibition is " It looks at Malaysian life witha quirky eye. Identifying the backdrop of natural beauty and abundance, he then places objects of Malaysian houses, such as grills and TV antennas. In front of all this, he positions a prominent, ostentatious frame, replete with curlicues and almost whipped cream-like swoops."

It I could afford it, I would have bought this one..... Even if I could afford it, it was already sold! Sigh.....

I do have more great photos... but they just won't load!!!!!! Aaaaargh!!! So frustrating!!!

Will add more photos and info when connection is working better...

Happy Birthday To Me!

rehearsals for the screenings

I arrive at the Sime Darby Convention Centre to do the voice overs for some of the segments during the Media Prima Television Screenings... What are these screenings all about? Media Prima presents their content over all of their four networks (TV3, NTV7, 8TV, TV9) to agencies, clients....etc.... it's a real big deal and a lot of work goes into all of it... There is always a huge number of people who come to the event...



It's a lot of fun too! Funny videos are specially created for these screenings and live entertainment is included.. we had Maya Karin, Jaclyn Victor and Ning Baizura sing snippets of songs to open the event as well as some dance numbers and songs inserted throughout the evening.

Lots of laughing was heard from the crowd, and lots of running around by TV3 crew.

But, of course, what I wanted most considering it was my birthday is a big piece of chocolate cake...and I did get it! What's a birthday without good food, a cake and family...

As soon as my responsibilities were fulfilled, I left the screenings and rushed off to meet my family for dinner and CAKE!!!

Yummy!!!!

Failed curls for Louis Vuitton

My day on Thursday the 7th of September with an interview on TV3'S Malaysia Hari Ini (MHI) with on of my producers, Kama, about the Recap 2 episode of Explorace to be shown on the same night. First thing I had to do was touch up my make and 'restructure' my wild mane of hair.. Lucky for me there are people that actually know how to do this!

Hair and make up done, Kama and I sat together and waited... While waiting, the smell of the nasi lemak smelt so good that we had some...

We did the interview and it all went smoothly.. live shows can be stressful.. why? because it is live! No matter what happens you have to carry on. Visuals went smoothly too so it was all good. After I was all done at MHI, I went to my desk, checked a few emails then went back down stairs to watch the broadcast of Apa-Apa Aje.... Sheila and Shamsul work so well together!

Back to my desk again, followed up on more stuff then decided I didn't like how my hair felt so I headed to A cut Above for treatment and styling for the big launch of the Louis Vuitton store at Starhill!

I saw Daphne Iking while I was there with curlers in my hair and found out she was going to the launch too! We exchanged opinions and ideas on what to wear, then it was time to take my curlers out and dash back to the office again. Finished up what I needed to do at the office then rushed home to start getting ready... Started reaining really heavily and I thought to myself "Sure got traffic jam!" Also, my lovely curls from the hairdresser had collapsed... nevermind, quick change of haristyle idea. As I was leaving, I was very surprised when my brother said to me I was wearing a nice dress... my brother NEVER compliments me! This must look good.. so with confidence I head into KL and guess what...?!... I hot a huge traffic jam.. Sigh
From left to right : Lina Teoh, Ning Baizura, Erra Fazira and myself

Starhill was so the place to be last night! Anybody who is worth knowing in KL was there... I was escorted in with the lovely Erra Fazira and when we looked around the new store, but it was so hard to see the hand bags and shoes because there were people EVERYWHERE! I'll have to go back another time.... Guests were then invited up to the 3rd floor and things really started to happen! Erra, Syed (Erra's Manager) and I were escorted to the VIP seating area. Smaller than bite sized food (portions that big are not really food if you ask me, just decoration!) when Datin Siti Nurhaliza and Kathy Lam came and sat next to Erra and I. Datin Siti only stayed a few moments before she left to perform 3 songs, which she did beautifully.

Datin Siti Nurhaliza performing her 3 songs

Lots and lots of dancing was going on but it was getting late..well, for me anyway... I believe in lots of sleep! The party was still very happening when I left and just as I was thinking today would be slightly slower in pace , I received a phone call after midnight from a very stressed colleague saying they need me to MC some segments during the Media Prima television today... So much for a quiet lunch!

"The greatest beauty and tragedy of life is that one never knows what's coming next..."

By the way, I'm 26 today... yes,yes.. Happy Birthday to me! I always believe it's good luck to work on your birthday... I believe it means I will continue to have work which is truly a blessing...

I'm on my way to the screenings guys.. see you soon!!!

INCREDIBLE INDIA!!!

The first leg of the Explorace Season 3 finals was held in Delhi, India.. the tourism advertising slogan they are currently using is "Incredible India"... and believe me it was incredible for a variety of reasons!!!

The crew and I arrived there very late on a Monday night.. I wasn't as tired as I thought I might be because I got lucky.. I got a whole row of seats together in economy class on the flight there!

zzzzzzz..... such peaceful sleep at 30,000 feet....

Knowing this was a rare occasion, I took full advantage of it and had a good sleep!!!

Our producer, Kama and her assistant Shahrul met us at the airport.... It took forever to claim all of our baggage, equipment and props together before we could board the bus to the hotel... Just imagine, there are 25 of us icluding crew and boxes and boxes weighing hundreds of kilos!! This is not an easy show to co-ordinate!

As we were on our way to the hotel, I asked Kama, "Hotel cantik tak?"... She replied very casually, "Boleh lah..."... I worried we were going to be staying in a really low budget hotel...

Then we pulled up at this beautiful hotel called the Taj Palace... It really was like a palace... I went back to Kama and said, "You made it sound like this hotel is below average... this is luxurious!!!"..... She just smiled... All of us crew really appreciate staying in nice hotels! All of us thanked her for making the arrangements at such an exquisite hotel... (www.tajhotels.com)

The following day we started to recee all of the task point locations... We saw beautiful buildings from bygones eras such as the Jama Masjid, visited locals restaurants such as Karim's restaurant and the World Heritage Sites, Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar...

But the highlight for me was visiting the majestic Taj Mahal in Agra.

Kama assigned the compere team consisting of myself, diretctor Shahrul, technician Hazizie and cameraman Mokhtar were assigned to head to Agra to shoot the introduction to the race in India and come back to Delhi, all in one day.... What an extreme journey we were in for!

First it took us 6 and a half hours to get there!!! It was SOOOO hot too...

Once we arrived at Agra, we picked up the tourism officer who accompanied us to the Taj Mahal. As we all know, unfortunately India has been a victim of violent attacks so security to all of the locations was very high... Due to our camera and sound equipment, we were thoroughly checked... but we still had to wait a VERY long time til we were allowed into the Taj Mahal...

Hazizie (the technician standing next to me), Mokhtar (cameraman sitting down) and myself waiting to be allowed into the Taj Mahal area to begin shooting.

When we were FINALLY allowed in, this is the picture perfect view that we saw that took my breath away....
There were a lot of people there.. both locals and tourists.. and lots of cameras taking pictures.. Shahrul chose a relatively empty spot to shoot the opening. I will never forget the feeling of a waterfall (yes... waterfall!) of sweat running down my back the whole time we were shooting.. It was about 40 degrees!!! HOT, HOT, HOT!! I could feel my skin burning...

I completed 3 takes (without fumbling on my lines thank goodness!) then we spent some time taking photos.. I went and sat on the strategically positioned bench placed in front of the Taj Mahal (the same bench Princess Diana, Bill Clinton etc.. sat on) and had this picture taken..

I went inside the Taj Mahal and it was then that I realised the incredible detail that is featured in this building.. no wonder it is one of the seven wonders of the world and took over 20 years to build!!!

I would have been more than happy to stay longer, but it was starting to get later in the day and we had to get back to Agra.. It took us another 5 hours to get back to Delhi.... I was tired, sticky from all the dried sweat on my skin but so thankful that I had the privilege of seeing one of the most beautiful and romatically inspired buildings in the world...

In amongst the beauty of India though, there is also extreme poverty... People are literally starving on the streets... I've appreciated every meal, no matter how big or small since I saw people living like this there...

I also don't think there is anywhere else in the world where you will find men... hmmm, how do i say this politely... relieving themselves/ answering nature's call at 'toilets' with no walls by the side of the road...

The morning of the race day, we were all very concerned that we would face many problems shooting the race due to heightened security... thankfully, everything went smoothly..

All of the contestants taking part in the finals arrived to me at the ending point at Qutab Minar safely... The heat of the day was very taxing and draining on all of us... but we all had smiles on our faces for a job well done...

From left to right : The finalists Masita, Misbah, Cee Yee, Weng Aun, myself, Reezman and Azhari at the finishing point in Delhi, the World Heritage Site, Qutab Minar

This is a snippet of my behind the scenes story. I won't tell you the tasks the contestants endured because you can see it all on

TV3, Thursday, the 14th of September 2006 at 9.30 pm....

You really don't want to miss this..

By the way, shopping is great in India! For glitter and ornate loving individuals out there like myself, take EMPTY bags there, as much money as you can afford, and buy as if there is no tomorrow....

Cats, Cats, Cats

I love animals... My siblings and I loved visiting my grandparents house in Australia when we were young kids because they had so many!! Cats, dogs, goats and even a parrot at one stage...

Growing up, we desperately wanted pets. It was only a year ago that our child hood dreams were fulfilled. We're not even kids anymore... but that doesn't matter, we're just so happy to have two cats now!

The first one we got was Schizo... She's white with two spots on her body. Believe me, she is very opinionated! She was abandoned by probably owners who couldn't put up with her little personality in front of a pet shot in TTDI. My friend found her and gave her to us. I chose her name... she was the cutest little kitten who never kept still!!!

After having her a few months, my siblings and I decided she needed company of her own.. another cat! Then I found little Kira. Small all black cat with only a little bit of white fur under his 'arm pits'. He loves climbing into all kinds of funny places.. he was really skinny and had uneven fur, but with all of the love and attention on him, he's grown into a really handsome cat... he loves company and likes watching tv...

Schizo was insanely upset when we first got Kira. She would hiss and growl at all of us!!

After a week, they grew fond of each other and now, if one hasn't seen the other in a while, they get stressed. They love cuddling up to each other when they sleep and clean each other every day.. It's so cute!!!!

I wish I had more!

This picture of them together is just so cute!!