Kien Lim

It’s a brilliant hot day with blue skies and a breeze that makes it bearable in this tropical heat. I’ve enjoyed everyday in Malaysia, sun, rain or overcast. Tis’ my home.

I now have focus.

I intend returning every year.

I will be working hard in London. I look forward to it.

This trip has been brilliant. I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve learned from it.

I will blog in more detail when I return to London.

Bye bye Malaysia. Bye bye for now.

was a place I just had to visit yesterday. Every time I come home I try to re-visit places I used to hang out at when I was a kid some 30 over years ago just to see how it’s changed and how I feel. So I disembark at “Taman Jaya” and walk the flights of stairs and descend the lofty elevated monorail of the “Kelana Jaya Line“.

Coney dog and Root Beer float is what I’m after. That was a favorite when I was a kid. The last time I was here, 3 years ago, I ate it and I enjoyed it.

I order at the counter, yes, a fast-food counter type counter, and was disappointed to see the ice-cream being scooped and dropped into the root beer. I didn’t mind so much that the root-beer was not served in a thick beer-type mug as is usually the norm, as there was a notice informing that due to water shortage, drinks would be served in paper containers. It is plonked on a tray with a bag of chips and a number, as the coney-dog was to follow.

The root-beer float was ok. The ice-cream was nice I must admit, but it did not seem right that it did not twist it’s way out of a machine. The root beer was not tasty. A let down.

The coney-dog arrived. It was piping hot. That was all that was good about it. The sausage was firm, the chilli lame. It was disappointing.

No, it certainly wasn’t as good as it used to be and I shall not be visiting this establishment again. I will spend my money on the hawker stalls instead.

What did I expect anyway…..? It is a fast food joint! Has been all along. Perchance my sentimentality masked the reality.

was a fantastic experience for me. I loved the vibe of the venue which was called “Laundry Bar“. It was on the corner with no walls and with a large patio with tables and seats. The stage faced an intimate low seating area with the high bar behind, surrounded by bar stools, and to the left, a spacious seating area with the V.I.P section tucked up in the far corner where us performers were situated.

The sound check started off with a bit of a shock for me. I plugged in my guitar and all I got from the PA was a nasty farty sound. Yes, all was not right with the guitar as I had decided to set it up in the morning and somehow managed to bugger it up. So very cooly, I asked for the others to be sound-checked first as I took to rectifying my bodge.

I whipped off the strings, tried to get the bridge out and discovered it wedged tight in it’s slot and was unable to dislodge it. Off to the bar I went and asked the bar man for a sharp knife to borrow. He very kindly washed and handed me a very sharp knife with a wedge shaped 8 inch blade and I promised to wash the blood off it before returning it.

I found myself gouging out the bridge saddle with difficulty which made me surmise that the problem with my guitar was probably because the saddle was wedged in, therefore not allowing enough pressure on the piezo strip (that lay on the bottom of the slot) which was essential for a clear transmission of signal for amplification.

After gouging the bridge saddle out, I proceeded to shave the thickness of it so that it sat easily in it’s slot without snagging the sides.

Success! The sound-check went smoothly. I was happy and relieved to have solved the problem so easily and successfully and with such cool! Lol!

The gig itself was nerve-wracking. The audience was attentive and I had a 30 minute slot to fill. I ended up playing 8 songs! The last being an encore! I was happy with my performance. I enjoyed playing. I enjoyed my singing!

The night carried on with some great acts and ended with bands. It was so great to see live music with not much ado and an appreciative audience in a wonderful setting of a huge lively complex that “The Curve” is.

I wanna say a BIG THANKS to Zarul put Reza in touch with me, and of course to Reza too who was a superbly conscientious promoter and all round nice guy!

Also thanks to Triana who looked after me so wonderfully.

And “Hello Mario!”

Overall, and outstanding night out which has left me with such a warm feeling. I’ve decided that KL is definitely a place I would like to play more often and plan to make it at least an annual event!

was an education. I learned about:

- how not to be present
- being in my mind
- how fear keeps my mind closed
- my distrust in a Higher Power
- what it’s like to live in close proximity to my anorexia

Explain I hear you say.

Well…..

I wasn’t present enough to realize that trips to Kho Phi Phi and other interesting islands were staring me in the eyeballs. My anorexia had decided that Phuket was a new place for me and I ought to thread cautiously and not venture too far. Of course my fear kept my mind closed as I read about all the “don’ts” in the brochure. So the thought didn’t even occur to me until it was too late….

Of course I decided that I’d keep to my strip of beach and explore it. 2 days later and I’m still exploring it. I don’t bother inquire anywhere if there is anything else going on. Of course I’ve already rejected the idea of even going to Phuket Town as it was safer to remain where I was. Not even venture into the nearby town about half a mile away where I would have discovered a local market selling wares to the locals and the type of experience that I enjoy.

But still, Phuket was a good experience as I learned about me. About my fears. About my distrust. About my anorexia. About how to now go out and venture forth. That I can overcome my anorexia, fear and distrust as I did with the little victories that I had: like how I actually decided to take a dip in that inviting sea, despite advice from the doctor not to so as not to irritate my eye which had recently been infected with Pterygium (hmmm… on reflection… probably not such a great idea but I did get away with it!), like how I don’t have to beat myself up from my anorexic inactivity, like today is another day and this is what I have to make amends and overcome my dis-ease.

Yes, I am grateful that I have been given grace with the awareness…….

here in Petaling Jaya and I am glad to be sitting in an air-conditioned internet cafe writing this.

Since arriving here, I’ve been eating out. I’ve tasted the best BBQ pork ever, eaten Roti Chanai, Stewed noodles, Pig Trotters, Tosai, Curry Puff, Black Fried Noodles and will shortly join my old friend Awa for lunch.

I am still jet-lagged. I’ve slept about 7 hours in total since arriving last Friday. I don’t feel too bad, slightly nauseous, a slight headache but otherwise fine and dandy.

Anyway, got some research to do before meeting Awa.

I’m thinking of going to Phuket to lie on the beach……