Ervan’s Weltanschauung

Check out this band named Tangga from our neighbours, Indonesia. Very catchy and light and easy tunes…

Senyum Pada Dunia - Tangga

bukalah matamu lihat saja
tak akan ada beban di hati
rasakan bebasnya ekspresikanlah dirimu
segalanya kan terjadi bila kita
tak menutupi hati dan rasa
jadi lepaskanlah tersenyumlah pada dunia

setiap hariku jalani semuanya dengan pasti
ikuti kata hati
dan aku tak pernah sekalipun tuk mencoba
mengingat segala sedih melihat ke belakang lagi

jauhkanlah (jauhkanlah)
putus asa (putus asa)
jalanilah saja

bukalah matamu lihat saja
tak akan ada beban di hati
rasakan bebasnya ekspresikanlah dirimu
segalanya kan terjadi bila kita
tak menutupi hati dan rasa
jadi lepaskanlah tersenyumlah pada dunia

coba kita lakukan segala yg kita suka
apa yg kita rasa
tanpa harus kita pikir” deh
selalu hati-hati malah jadi tak berani

jauhkanlah (jauhkanlah)
putus asa (putus asa)
jalanilah saja (jalani saja)

bukalah matamu lihat saja
tak akan ada beban di hati
rasakan bebasnya ekspresikanlah dirimu
segalanya kan terjadi bila kita
tak menutupi hati dan rasa
jadi lepaskanlah tersenyumlah pada dunia

[rap]

bukalah matamu lihat saja
tak akan ada beban di hati
rasakan bebasnya ekspresikanlah dirimu
segalanya kan terjadi bila kita
tak menutupi hati dan rasa
jadi lepaskanlah tersenyumlah pada dunia

and yes, I am smiling at the world…

That was the unforgetable line by Na’a Murad on the conclusion of Actorlympics for the month of February. Yes folks, I watched Actorlympics again, and I am glad that my date enjoyed it as much as I did. It’s hard to find pretty women who enjoy theatre / performing arts in KL….

Or perhaps I’ve been looking at the wrong crowd?

Anyway,

I am beginning to worry about the mental state of the Malaysian audience. Their favorite topic seems to revolve around sex, Sammy Vellu, toilets and well, you go figure out yourself. Even the dance routine suggested by a member of the audience (who claimed that he is kinda straight) was very suggestive. It did not help that Edwin was the unlikely victim. And believe you me, any words that come out from his mouth does not mean what he really mean…

And after my second Actorlympics, I can assure you, Malaysians are a sick lot indeed…if yesterday’s crowd is an indicator..

Confused? Well, you got to watch it and then you believe. But at least I got out of Actors Studio, feeling happy, and free from the stress of the week that passed by. Seriously, Actorlympic is a great de-stresser for me….

Anyway, it is back to work today. And my workstation was moved to a new section of my level. Now, I sit next to the boss (boo!) Fortunately, it is only for the next four weeks…

I am back from Delhi. Two weeks ago, I planned for a Delhi - Colombo trip, but was changed to Delhi - Mumbai last week. And this week, it was changed to only Delhi trip. Let’s just say, recent events requested that I cut short my trip.

Delhi is my last business trip for my current company. In the end, it became some sort of holiday. Of course because I actually managed to see more of Delhi, including the visit to Umayum’s tomb. That’s the tomb that was made prior to the more majestic Taj Mahal. I would have gone to Agra, but the lack of time, including myself trying to sort out the appointments and of course getting my new flight ticket prevented me from going to Agra.

But Umayum’s tomb is impressive. I like the fact that the water fountains work without any aide of electricity. It’s a marvel by itself. Growing up in the electric era, I am very impressed on how the architects and engineers managed to build the water fountains. Even the iPod does not compare to the water fountains at Umayum’s tomb.

The Country Manager in India commented that I am one of the rare ones who actually enjoy and can put up with India. It is not hard to do, enjoying their spontaneity, and those Indians never fail to amaze me with their antics. And shopping there is like shopping in a street bazaar. I was brought to Khan’s market, and was told it was an upmarket shopping area. Well, how should I put it? You should see it to believe it…..heheheh

Even funnier would be the antics of Malaysians in India. A friend of mine was bedridden for one whole day due to food poisoning. However, the cause of the food poisoning was due to the food on the plane. But it did not deter one very industrious, and very cautious person from bringing 24 bottles of 1.5 litre mineral water to India. And he used it for drinking, and brushing his teeth. And he actually boiled the water too, just to be on the safe side!

Well, thank God my stomach is made of sterner stuff, and I did not suffer from any food poisoning. But then again, it helps that I only eat at the hotel and of course this clean vegetarian restaurant near the Country’s office. At the end of the trip, I am now suffering from an overdose of paneer and kulfi. Hopefully I will be visiting India again.

bagaikan tetesan hujan di batasnya kemarau
berikan kesejukan yg lama tak kunjung datang
menghapus dahaga jiwaku akan cinta sejati

betapa sempurna dirimu di mata hatiku
tak pernah kurasakan damai sedamai bersamamu
tak ada yg bisa yg mungkin kan mengganti tempatmu

kau membuat ku merasa hebat
karena ketulusan cintamu
ku merasa teristimewa hanya
hanya karena, karena cinta
kau beri padaku sepenuhnya
buatku selalu merasa berarti

kini ku merasa hebat
karena kau yang membuatku makin kuat
jantungku bergerak cepat
semua yg berat bisa lewat
inikah cinta yg sejati

melayang ku terbang berenang di awan
tak akan kita kan lepas dan jatuh sekarang
cinta, sang cinta, kita kan terus mencinta

betapa sempurna dirimu di mata hatiku
tak pernah kurasakan damai sedamai bersamamu
tak ada yg bisa yg mungkin kan mengganti tempatmu

kau membuat ku merasa hebat
karena ketulusan cintamu
ku merasa teristimewa hanya
hanya karena, karena cinta
kau beri padaku sepenuhnya
buatku selalu merasa berarti

Hebat - Tangga

In view of the current events happening in the global world, I looked back to the past…

Upon the death of his beloved wife, Siti Khadijah and uncle, Abu Thalib. Muhammad, pbuh, was treated badly by the people of Mecca. In desperation, Muhammad, pbuh, tried to spread the Nur of Islam to the people of Thaif. Sadly, Muhammad, pbuh, too was treated badly by the people of Thaif.

While tending his wounds, Muhammad, pbuh was approached by the Angel Jibril, who offered to do whatever Muhammad, pbuh wishes him to do to the people of Thaif. Muhammad’s answer was simple

“My wish is simple, I just pray to Allah that these people and their descendants will one day hear and accept the teachings of Islam”

Such a simple man, with no hard feelings to those who mistreated him.

Are we really, really following his examples then?

Wallahualam.

The shortest journey is a straight line,
Alas, life’s journey is not a straight line,
Although life can be short,
Tempted to take the short cut,
Thus missing out the rough,
Hoping that the journey would be smooth.

Now I realise that to live life to the fullest,
I must not take short cuts,
Nor to miss out the rough,
For from the rough,
Hails the most beautiful of diamonds,
That shall shape my future.

Today, I was asked whether I am interested to join one of the most important team in my workplace. I have to say that is a great ego booster for me. And I was really flattered that they asked me…..

In a way, when you do a good job, and people see it, they will acknowledge it. It’s just a question of when….

I find making decisions easier when there are less information available. Or rather, making decisions easier when you just have the vital pieces of information. When there is too much information, it just cloud my decision making abilitiy. When I sieve through loads of information, sometimes I get lucky, and I get the information that allows me to make a decision at a blink.

On a macro level, I am worried with the state of affairs in Malaysia right now. Perhaps growing up in the Old Man’s shadows, I am used to the PM making swift decisions, some brilliantly good, some horribly wrong. When the current consensus, middle ground PM came in, I find it refreshing, yet, we see things are not being done. Too much time is wasted in finding that elusive middle ground.

I guess lessons are to be learned from the Star Wars prequels. But a dictatorship is not an option. And I am no dictator either. Putting myself in the current PM’s shoes, I can see how heavy of a burden it is to make a decision. Scared to make a decision that will affect millions of lives. And being a victim of the Old Man’s no holds barred decisions, he does not want to follow the same mistakes made by the Old Man. Mistakes that the country is still paying today. After all, only wise men (and women) learn from the mistakes of others. And fools never learn from their own mistakes.

I have to resign to the fact that Malaysians are the lot who like one supreme leader who make the decisions for them. And in making decisions, most of us tend to really deliberate in making decisions. There is a lack of people who can make instantaneous decisions. Most of the time, they will be called people in a hurry, and not a decisive person…. But I do believe those who are quick in making their decisions, know what they want in live. People like Edison, Bell, Jobs, Gates, and even the Bushes.

Making a decision is not easy. We will always wonder for the other choice that we did not choose. But what we can do is to make the best out of it. After all, you cannot control the past, nor the future.