Don't you notice the barrier? With guys, friendships are so much easier to build. More jokes can be cracked. More things can be said. Or maybe that is flirting?

Girls take far more time to warm up to each other and most cliques were formed in secondary school, taking an average of about 5 years. Not all girls are fun to click with. Some of them cannot give you the reactions that you are used to, and sometimes you cannot give them the reaction that they are used to. Now that is a problem with wavelength. If you're not on the same frequency, it's downhill from there I'm telling you.

First it starts off with the over polite replies.."Really?!! Wow... Issit? Ohhh!! I see i see..and then..?! Ohhh..ooohhh!!! Ooooooo..so funny!! heeehee!"

Then it dwindles off to the polite smiles...*thin lipped grin and slow nods of the head with eyes wide open to show "excitement"*

After awhile, the things they do tend to get on you. Then that's when the gossip starts. Bitching and backstabbing, inevitable.

But don't think that it stops there. Girls are like walking emotions detectors. If someone is being remotely cold to her, she can sense it. First she gets just a LIL bit upset about the sudden coldness...then she finds fault to get angry at the OTHER girl.

Now we have moved on to the evil glare. The two girls have stopped talking to each other. Extreme cases involves nudging and pushing(I have been guilty of it... back in form2, there was this girl who rolled her eyes at me and I pushed her and said, "You think you damn great la now?"..my goodness, I'm such a bully.). The more daring the girls get, the more bitch comments you can hear being thrown back and forth. Just yesterday, Vinnie and I accidentally grabbed the same piece of notes from the stack of photostated notes. After a slight game of tug of war, I won (pulled really hard) and she gave the extremely spiteful JELINGAN MATA.(the motion of closing your eyes for a second or two before sweeping your glance sideways with anger-filled eyes.....a technique all girls have mastered since kindergarten. No shit.)

But those are extreme cases of soured friendships between girls lah.

It is usually problems with differences in wavelength. The more civilized girls usually don't really indulge in conversation with each other on a regular basis. Only when you bump into each other do you force yourself to make small talk. This is when the over polite replies and over polite smiles come to picture.

What about the over friendly girls? I have been told that I am too friendly sometimes but I don't think so. I am just good at making small talk and sounding interestingly interested when I meet people for the first time like throwing in questions about themselves.

There have been more extreme cases than me. Some girls have to know their limits. We're not that close yet, do NOT invade my personal bubble. A few months back, there was this girl who would link arms with me and then stroke my hair. I've barely spoken more than 10 sentences with her before. Not acts of lesbianism lah, don't worry. Just all this touchy-feely things that most girls enjoy. Heck, even with my childhood friends(my multicontinental(is there such a word?) dahlings who are all over the world) and I link arms only when we are extremely high or when we need a hug or two after a bad day. Different cultures I suppose. Especially if those girls are not clickable, arms linking and hair stroking will only make me feel like bashing you in the face. Then there are those girls who speak to you like they are trying to seduce you. LIKE HELLO!! TUNE BACK YOUR FREQUENCY! YOU'RE TALKING TO A GIRL NOW..NOT A GUY!

This reminds me of a girl in national service. You know la all of us get so sweaty at the end of the day. She was already annoying in her own right, very irresponsible, always hungry hence acting damn kesian by staring hungrily or licking her lips resulting in us offering her our biscuits and she had a couple of teeth missing to add to the overall picture. After a long sweaty day, the girls would hang in the dorm and start gossiping about the other girls in the other dorms... and then she will WANT to know what we're talking about(she usually gets left out..kesian)..she would nudge and say, "ehhhh apa you all cakap?" at the same time taking her index fingers to exert force on your forearm while dragging it down so that it flicks off at the side. THAT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF OUR SWEATY FOREARMS AND HER STICKY FINGERS. EW EW EW EW.

To click well, girls have to:-

1) have the same sense of humour.
2) despise the same people.
3) adore the same type of guys. (it's nice to bond over a good gushing-over-cute-guys session) But this can backfire as well when the girls fall in love with the same guy. But that's another story for another day. :D
4) the same interests. (ie. nail arts, blogs, tv shows, sticker collecting(abit risky...too childish a hobby to build a good friendship over), dogs, same perversive minds etc.)
5) have similiar attitude (ie. Loud girls HATE quiet girls and vice versa)

Here's an interesting revelation:

We've all come across girls who have crushed on the same guy. It is more complicated when the girls are already great friends to begin with. Fortunately for me, I've only been involved in only ONE similiar case and it wasn't even that big a deal, so no problems. But there are girls who were already not on the same wavelength having a crush on the same guy. Now that's when the extreme bitchfest starts.

I have been guilty of farting in the face of one such person due to my extreme jealousy wayyyy back in secondary school.(She was standing behind me on the staircase).

But I have gotten my fair share of bitch-bullies as well. Back in form1, these few girls will nudge and push me and say, "Bitch. He damn bad taste etc etc.". or scream at me from two blocks away, "(name of guy) GOT DAMN BAD TASTE. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!". Luckily I'm not so stunningly beautiful to receive this kind of treatment year after year.

But girls will find every possible reason to launch a full on I-hate-you-you-hate-me campaign when they discover that they have a (current)boy in common. It's quite fun to release the tension that way. But you kind of grow out of it. Or maybe you don't? I'll need some input from those with ex boyfriends who have new girlfriends. Fortunately, I have not experienced that kind of scenarios. :) Even if you don't like the boy anymore, the hatred for the girl still lingers on. It becomes a habit more or less.

Guys are easier to befriend. The noisier ones can be handled by trying to outdo their crappings and then you come out the winner(after managing to shut him up), and everybody has fun.
The quieter ones, you just try to tease him until he blushes, you come out the winner, and everybody has fun.

Not same with girls leh. The noisiest one will scare you into submission. The quiet ones will annoy you with the shy nods and silence.

But when you do find a girl whom you can click with, it's SO much more fun then a semi cute flirt-worthy new guy friend.

Sorry ah if you're on dial-up. 

If you want to call me ugly here.. CAN... because this one is done on purpose. :)


My Singapore cousin sister, Abby, came for the wedding. I brought her out to yamcha with my friends. Ahahahha. She's only 10. Imagine the things we talked about. Now, somewhere in Singapore, a bunch of 10 year old girls will need to have their brains washed to be pure again. Sigh.
l-r: Daryl, Gaya, Abby, Chee Kiang(he is doing a peace sign, not poking his lips)


My other mafia family members came along. All black colour one.
l-r: Justin, Mervyn, Ted(cousin's bf), Jacqueline, Derek, Daryl


Yup, you guessed it. I'm a wanna-be Kid Chan. But It's quite nice, don't you think?


My other cousin(brother of the groom)'s girlfriend, Samantha, signing the guestbook.


This is Samantha! She's a MAS stewardess and she was entertaining me with various stories of fussy passengers. There was one about a woman trying to open the aeroplane door...while the plane was flying.


My Aunty Jenny(3rd from left)'s legion of sisters. I don't know their names...sorry. But don't they all look alike?


=) Beautiful arrangement. That's what happens at the wedding of a senior art director.


Interesting rose-carnation display at the marriage registration table.


Another kid-chan wanna-be shot.






l-r: Me and Jacqie.


Here comes the bride!




The minister kept me and my cousins cracking up. He cannot pronounce "bless". So it's always, "May God Breast You,". It went on for so many times.. And when he did the "Will you [mrs. name] take [name] as your lawfully wedded husband?", he said the wrong name. My cousin-in-law's name is Kwee Fong. And he was like, "Diana..".

O-kay. Better the minister who slips up than the groom, I always say.


L-r: Derek, Me, Jacqie, Ted.




And they are married!! At long last.


Abit dark...but you get the picture.


L-r: cousin Hong Weng, Samantha, Mervyn, Me, Derek, Jacqie, Ted


My Uncle make spoil...


A better one.

A mini fraction of the gargantuan Ho family. There are like 130 members in total if you count the Malaccans, KLites, Singaporeans, Americans, Australians, British, Hongkees and Chinese nationals. What to do, who ask my great grand father to have 5 wives and 14 children. Each child produce an average of four children. Each of that four children produce two more. Hong Fei korkor, your turn now.


Then it was time to throw the bouquet. Hahahha, yes, still got such thing. See my Aunty Doreen so ready to catch the bouquet. She was telling my Uncle Yew Pun, "Ok, I cheep(catch, in cantonese)." And Uncle Yew Pun was like, "Ok! I tong!(block, in cantonese)". Wahahahha.


Look at her!! So cute!! Hahahha....Supposed to be for the unmarried lasses somemore! Give chance!!


-_-;


Hahahahha walk away with it somemore.


ehehhehe..one more time. This time it was for real.


OHMIGOD DAMN EMBARRASSING PHOTO OF ME. Now the whole world knows how desperate I am to get married.


But the flower dropped in front of me and Jacqie....and we stood dumbfounded. Instead of picking it up, the both of started squabbling, "YOURS LAh..take lah!!! Not mine la..yours!!!"


Let's face the reality. She's three years older than me...... obviously let her win lor. :)




Um, 15 years ago, it was a barbie doll. (Serious! After Mervyn, this is the one person whom I fought alot with as a child. hahahha. )


Uncle Yew Pun was too traumatised about his beloved BMW being decorated with SOFT TOYS.


My hiau cousin and her bf. :)


it's good to be married!


Beautiful sparkles from my new heels!


Back at the groom's place in USJ for the tea ceremony.


Aunty Jenny drinking the Lai Lai Cha. (Mother in law tea...no lah, no such name. I made it up.)


Aunty Ping lovin' it! I'm working on forcing her eldest son(who's the eldest among all the cousins(there are 8 of us, I'm the third youngest).) to get married. He is not getting any younger, dei!


Wah! Even Crackers, the family dog is here to witness the auspicious event.


Then the younger generation has to cham cha(serve tea) for the bride and groom. My simplistic grandmother was like, "HAIYA, ng sai kom ma fan la, shake hand chau tak la,"(Haiya, no need so mafan la. Shake hand can already la!) I think if she was born in this era, she would have opted for a simple marriage registration and then head off for her honeymoon.


Got Ang Pow to take, sure happy. Speaking of which, I left mine at their house. SADDDDD....


The Cousins.
top l-r: Derek, Abby, Jacqueline, Mervyn, Me, Hong Weng, Fiona
bottom l-r: Kwee Fong, Hong Fei

The wedding dinner was held at Palace Of The Golden Horses.

My dad's reaction when my mother and Aunty Ping told him they ended up in Puchong(when they've actually reached the hotel, not knowing where they are, STILL. Women drivers.),


l-r: Me, Cousin Hong Weng, Mum


One of the many many wedding photos that were projected throughout the wedding dinner.


l-r: Dad and part of Uncle Eric, who is the same age(28) as my cousin Hong Fei, but he is my uncle. He doesn't like me to call him Uncle. Too bad. Uncleuncleuncleuncleuncleuncle.:D


ORGASMIC. *HEART* *HEART* *LOVE* *LOVE* *LOOOOOOVE*


Camwhorin' around..sorry ah.


L-r: Mervyn The Giant, Derek, Ted, Jacqie, Me, Hong Weng.


l-r: Jacqie, Uncle Yew Pun and Aunty Doreen posing with their very talented brother/son.


See his magic fingers go! He plays the piece, Fantasy Impromptu, with his eyes closed also can.


We found a mirror.


I like the soft colours of this picture..:)


There was a cocktail session outside.


Waiting for the food to be served..l-r: Mervyn and Derek


Me.


Mervyn action.


Jacq and Ted


UNCLE Eric and girlfriend Cherry.


Dad and Aunty Ping were the emcees for the night. The both of them has got a gift for the gab!


Cousin Hong Fei created this short animation.....and Dad and Aunty Ping did the voice overs. So noisy! Click on the video:P





I LOVE THE FLAIR SKIRT. So Disney Princess-ey.


After that, I had to help my mother and Aunty Ping to get into their costume for their chinese opera performance. Here I am playing with their fake long "siu cheh" hair.


I think I look good with alot alot of hair.


Mum in full costume with Kwee Fong.


Aunty Ping and Mum.


The story is about the King who goes into a restaurant..and the lady boss who captured his heart does not believe him. My classmates would know this song as I always sing it in class. LAaAaAaaAaaN HOIiiiiIiiii~~~~~~~....


UNCLE Eric decided to play a game on the couple..


....they had to kiss until everybody finished saying Yam Seng!


About 1/4 of the entire Ho Family.

Ahhh.. now comes the good part. Photos of ME with the roses galore!


The bridal arch(is it what it is called?) had sooo many roses...couldn't help taking a bouquet worth of it home.


*sniff* *sniff* Twas' the sweet scent of thy rose that hath captured my heart...bla bli blu bleh bloh. I'm crapping.


l-r: Pimple, Rose, Brother.


Ah hah!! My new friendster photo!!


l-r: Mervyn and Derek pan cute.


Ooooh!!! Hiau por pose!


The expression in this one is far better!


Will you marry me?


Yes I will!


"B-b-but you're a boy.".
"Yes...I know.*air liur meleleh*".


Melancholic expressions and roses look good together!


Got Abby to play with us too! Hehehe.


Okay, last one. Promise!


And then I got greedy..


I didn't even bother to count! But it sure as hell smelt great! My grandmother was like, "Ngo seng sai mei man kor kom heong ge mui kwai fa!(Never in my life have I smelt such sweet smelling roses!)". And I was like, "HAhahh.. kong kong mou song kor pei lei meh?(hahaha.. Grandmother never give you before meh?). "Haiya!! Lei ge kong kong tu ng romantic geh! (Haiya! Your grandfather not romantic also)." LOL.


After the dinner, we had to take the clavinova, costumes and other miscealleanous things back to the carpark.


And we lost our way ... at 1am in the Palace of The Golden Horses. Bloody huge place...


Lovely view outside though.:) Silly me, I did not take the front of the hotel. God knows, it was quite a spectacular sight!

Hmmm? Not true?

Maybe that applies to me lah. 'Cept that I'm never too hot about government stuff. Too sien adi. I used to be very passionate about abolishing national service. I remember back in form5 I'd scan the newspaper every single day and slowly see the national service plan slowly creeping out of it's shell....coming to life..and I'd shed tears of worry. BUT NATIONAL SERVICE IS FUN!!(though I don't want to go again). Not as bad as I thought it was. Silly 16 year old me.

I'm digressing.

But I especially support the local theater scene because god knows how many articles and interviews I've read about them complaining about how it doesn't exactly brings in the cash but it is their love for the arts that keeps them going. See how I've pimped The Homecoming on my side bar? Don't know if it's working or not.

Thespians are people who are in the theatre scene. I've just learnt that word from an aspiring thespian, namely, Mr. Reuben Kang, my friend and car-pool-Aunty-when-I-was-9-years-old punya son.

There is an intriguing ensemble of people putting up a play in about three weeks' time. The Oral Stage is a non-profit theatre company for aspiring young thespian and they've got a play called "Rojak!" coming up!

We've all seen the success of Hip Hopera by the Society of Performing Arts, Taylor's College back in 2004.(Of which I was their make up artist.. here's a link. One more. Oh, and one more. Photos now require special techniques to be viewed. Read my side bar on how to view it).

Heck, even my standard 6 classmate Kyle who played the Ah Beng Derek became quite a celebrity at college because of it. ("If you donno what you saying then you just up, donno don tok! If you donno wat you saying then you don tok cock, donno don tok!")
So yeah! I have faith in theatre productions by college students. :) I can relate better.

"Rojak!" seems like an interesting blend of skits with a random range of themes.

Besides, how much more Malaysian can you get with a title like "Rojak!"? Aptly described by their blog, ""ROJAK!" is an original blend of shorts and
monologues, tossed with a spoonful of youth and matters close to our hearts.
From happy families, sudden deaths, sinking boats to talking mannequins,
ROJAK! is dark, gooey and pedas as we Malaysians like it. Every serving includes a generous portion of nuts, on the house."



If you're not familiar with their works, here's a good start: Eight: (insert witty tagline here). It was a play they produced last year and interestingly enough it was acted out by an 8-members-cast. Each asking questions like, "What if you stay in KL for too long?" and other pressing questions.

If there is one thing I like more about plays, it would be plays produced by people my own age. But according to Reuben, 40 year old people also can watch. No problem.

I like the way he put it.. "We are students by day, thespians by night."

Hohohoho.

Apparently they will also do more pimping in the casts' old secondary schools. Sorta like bullying them into going for their play. Hahaha. So cute. If you think your schools need some young faces to cheer up your boring Monday assemblies rather than those sien salesmen with educational books...drop them a line at their website with an invite lah:)

And best of all, they'll be performing at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre!! How cool is that wei?!!? I want to goOOoooOOo!!! Besides, it's only RM17.
It'll be on 13th - 16th April. Unfortunately, I have exams. But Reuben heboh and said that if FULL HOUSE, they'll have an encore performance and then I can attend. YAYY.

Now, Reuben, where's my free ticket?:P