Venue: Sunway Resort
Time: 6pm - 1am
Theme: Mystical Egyptian

The food was okay, Chinese style - though it would have been more fun if they had served Egyptian food just for the sake of being consistent with the dinner theme.

Performances were deathly boring. There were a lot of dirty jokes made during the event, which I didn't think necessary nor suitable for such corporate function. I even find some of the statements made rather offensive. Nevertheless, seeing people all dressed up were fun. But some of the drag queens (yea, we had quite a few of those that night) were totally disgusting. I mean, if you are to dress like a woman, do it properly by looking exactly like one. Otherwise, just don't bother.

The costume that I wore was inspired by Ainur's creativity - I couldn't resist dressing up to the theme seeing that she went all out to look good that night. Instead of wasting RM80 just to rent a costume, I took my mom's jubah, added a sheet of gold paper under the jubah's flap, used a ribbon as a belt, plus a golden mask, voila, I got myself a sweed costume (call me whatever, a sorcerer, pharoah's kept woman, an eqyptian all dressed up for a masquerade).

My whole team bought masks and wore them that night (just to look a little bit mysterious or mystical - and it worked! our big boss walked pass us more than twice before he finally recognized his own people) To our surprise, our small investment paid off when we were awarded best dressed table and walked away with RM1,000 (shared, divided by 10 of course). I do feel sorry for those tables that really dressed up for the win. I know we didn't spend a lot nor did most of us dress to the theme but hey, apparently, uniformity rules

I hope next year's dinner would be a lot better. And oh God, please, I don't ever want to see the CEO dressed as Cleopatra, ever, ever, ever, again. It was a ghastly sight.

When I consider every thing that grows
Holds in perfection but a little moment,
That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows
Whereon the stars in secret influence comment;
When I perceive that men as plants increase,
Cheered and checked even by the self-same sky,
Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease,
And wear their brave state out of memory;
Then the conceit of this inconstant stay
Sets you most rich in youth before my sight,
Where wasteful Time debateth with decay
To change your day of youth to sullied night,
And all in war with Time for love of you,
As he takes from you, I engraft you new.

~ Shakespeare, Sonnet XV

Memang best masuk hutan, though exhausting, memang cool. We spent the first night at a chalet (Rm50 per room for 2-3 people). The next morning, we took a boat (Rm1) across a river to get to taman negara and after getting our permits etc. ( Rm5/camera) we started our journey to Bumbun Kumbang.

The goal was to reach Bumbun Kumbang as soon as humanly possible, but we had to stop several times to rest coz everyone pun pancit




Be prepared to lose some blood if you don't wear the right outfit for jungle-trekking (that's my leg, by the way)




12 km, countless pacat and 6 hours later, we reached Bumbun Kumbang and discovered how disgusting the toilet is (let me not describe it in detail) I wish I had a better option, but i didn't, so I took a bath in the disgusting toilet, and afterward had dinner and chill with the rest.




We were too tired to walk all the way back, so we walked for about 2 km to the nearest place where we can get boatrides - i think it was at some perkampungan orang asli - and took a boatride (Rm90/boat. We bargained and paid Rm150 for two boats) from there to the canopy walk. The canopy walk was cool although I don't recommend it for people who are afraid of heights.




Would I go again if someone asks me to go with him/her next week/month/year? I definitely would. Just think of all the weight I would lose from the 12 km hike! (although actually, I didn't lose much, coz after we left tmn negara, we craved for proper food and ate like we never ate before!)


**more pictures later.

Pictures compliment of Ainur (actually stolen from HERE)

The trip to Gandah was a blast. It was about an hour drive from KL (Actually more, if you drive slower than 160km/hour - Ainur told me that it is right outside KL. Trust me, it's not!)

I wanted to ride the elephant, but I changed my mind because I felt sorry for them... True, the elephants are lucky that they were transported to Gandah, the elephant sanctuary (in a sense that they'll be safe from hunters and they'll be well fed), but they are not so lucky for having to become 'entertainers' (I'm not so fond of zoos for the same reason).

I'd feel better if I know that the animals actually enjoy (or okay with) being treated that way, caged or not.

Picture taken by Ajay last summer. That was a fun weekend... I wish I can go back to re-live the whole thing. Capoeira is such a cool sport. I wish I'd done it back then. but I didn't have the guts. chickened out after I see one girl doing a headspin. I thought she was going to break her neck then.

It's pathetic when the only thing you look forward to is work. But then, there's payday.

The last man of the house finally left to pursue his dreams. All the best, bro!

Pictures compiled from Sheila's camera and Ainur's and Knurl's.