==tulip speaks==

Merdeka celebration always comes with a charm on its own.

Its just that it comes a day later.

Namaku Jalur Gemilang, namaku yang baru sebenarnya. Sebelum ini aku hanya dipanggil
sebagai
bendera Malaysia. Mujurlah Tun Dr Mahathir berikanku nama ini 5
tahun yang lepas. Sungguh seronok dipanggil dengan nama baru. Ceritaku
agak istimewa juga. Berbeza sungguh
daripada rakan-rakanku. Mestilah
istimewa. Negara mana yang beri layanan sebegini kepada bendera mereka
untuk sebulan lamanya. Bermula dari 15 Ogos hingga 16 Sept setiap
tahun, aku diraikan di seluruh pelosok negara. Wah, saudara/i tak
pernah tengok aku ke? Aku berkibar di atas hampir semua teksi
(sesetengah kenderaan persendirian) di Malaysia. Tak ingat ke? Tak
bukan teksi, apa kata saudara/i pergi ke pusat membeli-belah? Pasti
‘potraitku’ ada di situ. Aku juga menghiasi blog orang :P. Ada juga
yang buat ‘rangoli kolam’ bertemakan aku. Ada yang pecahkan
berbagai-bagai rekod Malaysia dengan menggunakan namaku. Macam-macam
la. Ikut kreativiti rakyat Malaysia yang kearifan mereka tidak boleh
disangkal lagi. Aku juga diberikan percuma kepada rakyat oleh Perdana
Menteri. Wah, bukan main hebat kan? Glamor sungguh hidupku ini. 

Tetapi
lepas 16 Sept, tamatlah sudah zaman kegemilanganku selama sebulan.
Pendeknya hidup mewahku selama 30 hari. Kasihan la aku. Kadang kala aku
tercabut dari kenderaan yang meluncur laju di lebuhraya. Terbang dibawa
angin masuk parit, loji najis pun ada. Tapi ada juga yang lebih
menyakitkan hati. Mulut yang manis memuji aku dalam sebulan ini
mengutuk pula diriku untuk 11 bulan yang selanjutnya. Inilah yang aku
paling tidak faham dan paling aku benci. Aku tidak pernah diminta untuk
disayangi sebegini rupa. Tetapi, bukan main hebat lagi layanan mereka
ini. Pada masa yang sama, aku tidak relakan diriku dicaci. Sekali lagi,
niatku itu tidak juga dirahmati. 

Memang aku tidak faham-faham kerenah manusia ini.

English translation:

Title: Me, the Stripes of Glory 

My name is Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory), my new name
actually. Before this, I was only refered to as the Malaysia flag.
Thank goodness Tun Dr Mahathir named me 5 years ago. After all, its
cool to have new name. My life story is kind of special too. Quite
different from my buddies from other countries. I am special, indeed.
Which country treat their flags in such a wonderful manner for one
whole month? Beginning 15th August till 16th September, I am celebrated
throughout the nation. You guys never seen me before? I am raised
almost on every taxi (and some private vehicles) in Malaysia. If not,
have you guys seen my ‘potraits’ in shopping malls? Sometimes I do
appear in bloggers :P. There are also those who draw kolams using me as
their theme. There are even those who broke (and keep breaking) various
records using my name. They are doing so many things. You know they can
be pretty creative. Even Prime Minister gave me away for free to the
people during this one month. Not bad huh?

However,
after 16th Sept, my fame comes to an end. I lived a short glamorous for
30 days. Pity me. At times, I even got myself ripped off from the
cars/taxis and fell into the drains. Yet, there is something else which
makes me very sad. Its the people who broke my heart. Lips which
praised me for one month, will curse me for the remaining 11 months but
I asked for neither. This is what I don’t understand and I hate to the
core. I never asked to be loved and at the same time I don’t wished to
be cursed either. 

I never understood human.

ps: I’ve tried to translate as accurately as possible. Pardon me if you find any disparities.

The nation awaited for an extravaganza yesterday, 10 days earlier
than our ever-colourful Independence Day on 31st. It was Malaysia’s pop
princess (Datin Seri) Siti Nurhaliza’s (better known as CT) adat nikah to Datuk Khalid Jiwa (better known as Datuk K)..telecasted ‘live’ via local tv station..

Malaysians
are well-aware of this love saga between CT and Datuk K but it may be
unknown to the others. Datuk K who is 20 years senior to CT, has just
reached for divorce settlement with his first wife 2 weeks ago. He met
CT couple of years ago when she performed at Royal Albert Hall in
London. While she refuted the allegations that she wrecked Datuk K’s
marriage to his first wife, gossips surrounding them and their
relationship never ends.

I don’t wanna sound like a newspaper
reporter. At the same time I am not expecting a surge in my blog
traffic ‘using’ CT or Datuk K’s names. Of course I am not a gossiping
type either. I am just curious..

He paid millions to his first
wife to disolve their marriage. And he is still have to take care of
her and their 4 sons financially (including vacations) for many years
to come. Yet, he did it. But why? Why would he leave a wife of 20 yrs
to be with a lady who is young enough to be his daughter. Yea, i know
love is blind.. love has no boundaries.. love is that..love is this.
but was love the only reason? Datuk K-CT might be in the limelight
because of their celebrity status but I am sure many of similar cases
happening all over the world. While seeking for an absolute answer is
impossible, I am wondering opinions that will definitely varies.

*adat nikah - solemnisation of the marriage of Muslim couples. Refer to HERE to learn more.
*Datuk and Datin Seri - honorary title confered to Malaysians. Refer to HERE to learn more.

* pic from The Star.

Hey.. you came back early. Wassup!

Nothing.

What you want to have for dinner?
Anything would do.

Hey. I bought this red top (ahem) today. Do I look nice in it?
(without looking away from the tv). Absolutely stunning!

Hmm.. Is there anything wrong?
Nope. Nothing.

Err… okie… Aunt invited us to a function this weekend. Shall we go?
Okie.

You didn’t ask what was the function about (trying to put a smile).
It doesn’t matter. We will go if you want to.

How about going elsewhere? Just two of us?
Okie.

Any suggestion? (Hoping for a short beach trip)
Anywhere you like.

(Sigghh..) Was this about yesterday’s argument?
Nope.

Then what’s wrong?
Nothing.

News update: Coliseum is saved!! Visithra, I think we possess some kinda magic

And Birthday Wishes to my dear (and only) brother, Kobu. Check out ~she-shines~ for his birthday post.

A brief chat with a friend (a guy of course) ended up with me thinking
(yes, i think a lot) if there is any truth in what he claimed…

Well, it depends by what u mean the ‘bad guys‘. In fact, i read somewhere that there is no such thing as ‘good guys‘.
Its just a terminology for those who are too good in deceiving women
into believing whats actually not (hold it guys, that was NOT my
opinion, okie?). While i agree it takes a few failed relationship to
realize the true love in the end (for some), i certainly don’t agree
with his notion that we always fall for the bad guys.

I never believed and will never agree into classifying men into ‘good‘ and ‘bad‘. They don’t exist in
such manner, unfortunately. And for those who thinks they have met someone ‘really good‘,
its time for u to wake up! Half an angel and half a devil makes up a
man. Blast me if u want to, but this would be my say till i hit the
bottom of my grave. He may have certain qualities of an angel - he
might be caring, he might be (ahem) cute, he might be responsible
towards u but at the same time, if u have noticed, he may be too pushy,
he may be too possessive, he may be too demanding..and the list goes on.

No,
i’m not taking men’s side this time. Its just me, trying to convince
everyone that no man is perfect. No man would complete u perfectly. No
man is flawless. No man is all good! So, stop looking for one and stop
believing one would drop on his knees for u. Everyone, regardless of
gender, race, nationality and socioeconomic background, are imperfect.
Its only fair for us to accept others the way they are. Being
not-so-good or blatantly put, bad, should not be a reason for us to
turn down true love thats being offered.

Similarly, to all men out there, do not just end a relationship saying "oh
sweetheart, u r good but i’m not. i don’t suit u and never will. wish u
will find a guy who’ll complete ur life.. yada.. yada.. yada.."

We both know, it is not true.

Ever sit alone and ponder upon..

The path you been through?

The role you’ve played so far, as a daughter/son, sis/bro, friend, lover or as wife/husband?

Choices which you have made and wished to change?

Decision you wished you never made?

Mess that you created and wish to clean it up?

The ways by which you can gain your life back?

Things you wanna do differently?

Time when you think you’ve done it all but yet lacking on… almost everything?

Worst times when you can help it but to think its all bcoz of yourself?

The urgency to start it all over again.. but don’t know how?

People who wished you never met?

Love you have for some people?

How to un-do things that can’t be un-done?

The loneliness thats creeping around?

People who have moved on but abandoned you at the same time?

Why you sound random to others when you sound perfectly alright to yourself?

Well..I’m doing that right now..

Before you think further, let
me introduce to you the oldest cinema theatre (+ cafe + hotel) in
Malaysia, The Coliseum. Looking ancient, Coliseum Cinema build in the
1930’s and still standing proudly despite numerous huge building
surrounding it. One of the remaining 5 classic theatre still open till
today - well, at least till TODAY. Soon it MAY BE gazetted as ‘National Heritage’ and closed for cinema viewing. 

Memories..

Grandma
has so many stories about our very own Coliseum. Her memories are
endless. Her stories are heart-warming. She still can recall how she
spend her weekends with grandpa watching Tamil movies there. A journey
to Coliseum which cost 45cents and a ticket that cost another 40cents
was a good bargain for estate workers like her. And she still complains
grandpa left her at home to watch Bobby with his buddies.. lolz..

Memories..

Dad, being a movie-enthuasist can never resist Coliseum. So does mom. So am I. The last movie
I watched in Coliseum was with my friends. I can still remember the
noise we made seeing Madhavan on the silver screen I am very sure my
buddies from KL have similar ‘encounters’ there..

Memories..

Now,
should Coliseum be gazetted? Should our memories taken away from us?
Should we just sit and watch a classic cinema being shut down?
**NO**

Save our Coliseum

Its pretty interesting to note
where blogspot is heading now. Or should I say where tulipspeaks is

heading now? Started as ==my diary==, my bloggie came a long way since
April 2005. It was a lame effort trying to learn something new in the
Net. But ever since I found myself a wonderful circle of blogmates, I
have transformed my inner most feelings into writings; I shared my
problems with all; I seek guidance from the fellow bloggers. Although I
sound random at times, I speak (write) what my heart yearns and do what
my mind tells. I may sound gross, rude, extreme or whatever.. but I
never pretend.

Actually
this post is not about me. Its about others. Those who meant so much to
me. But have since quit or disappeared from blog-o-sphere. Some
promised to return to the blogworld; some left us without word; some
vowed never to come back. I’ve since lost majority of my buddies and
its not something I have forseen. I think its gonna be a very long post
if I decide to list down each and everyone of them. I can only say that
I’m missing everyone to the core.

I
took break. I ignored my blog. I ‘punished’ it at times too. Yet, I
come back - I keep doing it. Its the love I have for my little tulips.
The latest 1 month break was an essential one and I must say I learnt
alot during that time period. When I came back, I wanted to do a major
transformation in this bloggie. Then, I decided to hold my plans and
make the changes slowly. At the same time, I can only wish for the
missing bloggers to make a come-back soon.

Changes take time and when one happens suddenly.. I’m jolted….