Hello, my name is Aqilah. And I'm a former geek.

The Bi-annual Internet Diet

Twice a year, I'll go on internet diet.

Don't worry, I won't go on and on to brag about how healthy it is and promote it to you. Truth to be told, I don't have other choice, but to detach myself from the addictive mystical cyber world. Honestly, why would one have internet diet anyway?

Okay, I only use the term "internet diet" because it sounds, erm, cooler than "I-cannot-afford-roaming-or-the-hotel's-internet-facilities-therefore-I-cannot-online".


I'm lucky to have a mother who enjoys traveling. Even luckier that she likes to bring me along with her. I think the facts that I'm the youngest and doesn't shop much may be the factors.

This time, I'm going to Bangkok with both my parents. My father has a conference meeting there, and my mother saw this as an opportunity to travel and cut the accommodation cost. After all, my father's travel needs will be covered by his company. Baba will be busy working. Mom will be free to shop all she likes, with extra 30kg baggage allowance. The perfect travel plan, for the mother.

Right now, I feel that having a Blackberry is completely useless. I honestly thought, with a smartphone, I will never have to go through another day without internet. That I will always be connected to the world, cyberworld. Well, I could, if I could afford the RM36/day roaming fee. I feel so cheated by Blackberry and Blackberry Internet Service (BIS).

I'll be in Bangkok for 5 days. I do not have RM180 laying around for roaming. Hell, I could barely afford my current phone bills.

I do hope the hotel provides free wi-fi. I do not want to go through the agony of being internet-less for 5 consecutive days.

Yes, I'll live. It's not fatal. Doesn't mean I'm okay with it.

If there's free wi-fi, I'll update you soon from the Land of White Elephants.
If they don't, then see you when I'm back.

The 90s

I've been thinking about my childhood a lot lately. Call it "quarter-life crisis" or whatever. But I guess it has something to do with turning 21.

Not willing to let go. Bla bla bla. You can do your own psycho-analysis. But I do believe that the 90s is the best time, especially for kids to grow up in.

We have the best of everything. Pop culture. Toys. And cartoons! Especially cartoons. Have you checked out the cartoons kids watch these days? Ben10, Fanboy & ChumChum, and whatever other cartoons they watch. 

Whatever happened to cartoon shows like Rugrats, Her Arnold, Rocko's Modern Life, Ren and Stimpy, The Animaniacs, Tiny Toons Adventure, Beavis and Buthead, Doug, Dexter's Laboratory, Futurama, Pinky and the Brain, Darkwing Duck, Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo, Cow & Chicken... Let me just stop there, because it's going to take forever if I am to list them all down.

It is not just cartoon shows. Its kids shows too, like Banana in Pyjamas! "Banana, in pyjamas, are running down the stairs..." Man, I used to watch that show everyday before I go to school. Along with Blue's Clues. I watched them religiously, till I was 15. Yes, and I'm not ashamed of it. In Form 1 and Form 2, my classes were in the afternoon, but I wake up early anyway, just to be able to watch these shows.

Can you guess the cartoon characters?

So, I've decided that, if my mother is forcing me to have a birthday party for my 21st birthday, I'll make it a tribute to the 90s cartoon characters. Yes, a costume party of sort. Where all my guests have to dress up in their choice of 90s cartoons characters.

My way of giving up my childhood and move on to adulthood.

That is, if my mother forces me to. I highly doubt I'll have a birthday party, as I don't particularly enjoy hosting them. But my mother wasn't pleased when I refused to have one last year, she ranted about it on her Facebook. So, this year, if I have to have one, at least make it special, right?

I Love My Mom

My last minute Mother's Day gift for my mom. Wanted to do a different kind of video, but due to the time constraint, I guess my mother has to settle for a picture slideshow.

Thankfully, she liked it. Phew! (or at least, she said so.)


The people of 76 and the girls of 60 actually wanted to do a joint-celebration for Mother's Day. However, due to some circumstances, we are unable to do so. Our mothers had to attend a social event during the day.

So, how did we celebrate Mother's Day? Well, "Water for Elephants". Yes, watching movie at the cinema.

Simple and kinda lame. It's okay, I'll redeem myself on her upcoming birthday in September.

Phenomenal Woman

Only the most ancient love on earth
will wash and comb the statue of the children,
straighten the feet and knees.
The water rises, the soap slithers,
and the pure body comes up to breathe
the air of flowers and motherhood.
Oh, the sharp watchfulness,
the sweet deception,
the lukewarm struggle!
Now the hair is a tangled
pelt criscrossed by charcoal,
by sawdust and oil,
soot, wiring, crabs,
until love, in its patience,
sets up buckets and sponges,
combs and towels,
and, out of scrubbing and combing, amber,
primal scrupulousness, jasmines,
has emerged the child, newer still,
running from the mother’s arms
to clamber again on its cyclone,
go looking for mud, oil, urine and ink,
hurt itself, roll about on the stones.
Thurs, newly washed, the child springs into life,
for later, it will have time for nothing more
than keeping clean, but with the life lacking.

Pablo Neruda, "To Wash A Child"

Happy Mother's Day

to all the mothers in the world.

Mei

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