Posts By alvinkok

Life Before 21.

The bad thing about having a birthday party is when everyone you know for quite a period of time comes to you and say, “Wah, so big boy already. I saw you grow up” and things that revolves just that. Oh, and maybe another thing, “Wah, so big boy already. So leng chai. Got girlfriend ah?”. I think that this was definitely one of the hottest question I was being asked when I turned 21 a few weeks back. I actually so wanted to blog about my birthday itself, but then I thought, let’s make this a little more elaborate than my usual posts. I thought I wanted to really reflect (yeah, big word) on how things have been in my life the past 21 years? Without a shadow of doubt, I am grateful for even just the 21 years of (good) life I have had. And of course, there have been many “highs” and “lows” in my life, but I am actually grateful that I scrape through it all. So, let me go through some bits here and there of my life before turning 21. Been a child, I have always been called “Andy Lau” by my uncles and aunties. Don’t ask me why. I think I was MADE to take this picture. DSCN1107And one of my kindergarten buddy – Dorcas.DSCN1106  And yes, that’s my blur face.DSCN1108Then I grew up slightly older, got cooler and entered a kindergarten. When I took a flash back on all these pictures, I chuckled to myself and say, “Oh, cutenya!” Yes, obviously my SYOK SENDIRI moments. This was when I was 4, 5 and then I went on to be a specky at 6.Alvin 3 Alvin 1 Alvin 2 And yes, I graduated okay. I was a brilliant student. Haha. To look back, I wasn’t an outstanding student back at St John’s – Primary. Nothing amazing I did. Or prolly, just being a nice guy who always gets bullied. Either that, or I was always being punished by my teachers. Yes, I’ve been punished crazily many times. I am not ask good as you think I am lah. And to cut the primary school story short, i was just an ordinary student. Going through life like you did. But life became more interesting when I got into Secondary School. It’s because I finally know how to fought back. Hahaha. In fact, I got more active in my Secondary School years. I had more friends. I had more feelings. I had more emotions. But one thing for sure in my early Secondary School years, I had a crush. Shh. What Where How Who? No gossip girls here. I’ve said it and it ends here. But one of the things I miss about high school? My amazing alma mater and my school mates. We at St John’s, we do everything except studying. Okay, I speak for myself lah.DSCN3166 Yes, we don’t care even if we are in the lab. We go all out to fool around.DSCN3115 DSCN3119 So, who says guys can’t pose again?DSCN3138 DSCN3141 DSCN3142 Yes, when we try to act nerdy. We tend to fail miserably.DSCN3149 And yes, I miss wearing my blazers. Yes, we tried to pose AGAIN.. And we obviously FAILED.DSCN3153 Chiu and Bryan’s fault!DSCN3154 It was Chiu again, and did you spot the headphones wire? 😛DSCN3155 This took us sooo long okay?DSCN3156 DSCN3157 And well, yes, being involved in DRAMA. I miss being a part of the Drama Team. Okay, in actual fact, I think I actually miss skipping class for 2 months more. 😛 But we had loads of fun. We acted, practised and changed scripts. How amazing is that right? DSCN0588 DSCN0590Yes, we acted champions even though we aren’t champions. Are we over confident or just “syok sendiri”?DSCN0596 And of course there were many other memories that happened back in high school. And in this period of time, I came to know someone, and we became like the bestest friends ever. The happy moments flew by in a year. Things were all good, all great, all going the way it should be and until something cropped up. Being someone sentimental, I find myself trapped in my own emotions. I was a slave to my own emotions for quite a while losing this friend of mine. I told myself so many things, I had so many sleepless nights, I did so many things to save the friendship but to no avail. I told myself I would never wanna get so dependent on a friend or on anyone at all anymore. But recently, I think I found myself being in the same similar situation AGAIN. Yes, I’m trying hard. But sometimes, it’s really easier said than done? I wish I could care less. I wish I could brush off these disappointments. I wish I could just say, “Oh, it’s okay lah. Anything. Up to you.”. But you know, sometimes, LIFE IS LIFE. And maybe that’s just my weakness. But I don’t want to be a slave to my own emotions again. It’s really tiring. And life goes on.. Not too long later, a friend of mine, a classmate of a highschool passed away in the Cornell. It was declared sudden death. At that point of time, I did wonder why was life this way. He was the smartest boy in St John’s. He is the one who challenges all the answers from the teachers. And it really came as a great surprise. I’ve came to a point where “Life is Short” sink in. I then of course came out of high school and I knew another bunch of new friends. If you are asking me if I got culture shock, I think I did for a short period of time. Haha. But things got better. I actually thought college life was easier. I met a brand new bunch of apes friends. Cool bunch I’d say. A good mixture of studious and notorious kids. I am of course the good boy la. So the studious kind. P1000482 P1000470 P1000473 P1000474 P1000477 P1000481 IMG_1900Yes, they often much torture me. But yeah, it’s still all cool. No, we’re not nerds. And one of the highlights of my past few years, I thought.. Would also to have successfully brought ADORE up, by the grace of God. A concert which has happened for the past 3 years and has blessed over 1500 lives of the youngster. Truly an awesome thing I’d remember in my life. IMG_0713 IMG_0722 IMG_0725 IMG_0741 IMG_0767 IMG_0806 IMG_0808The team that was behind my back. The team that gave me great support. Yes, they are a bunch of adorable awesome gang that I’ve ever had! :))IMG_0838

I won’t mind working with them again. Like, really. I am excited to see how ADORE will continue to be an event that will bless the youths around. And in the above particular year, DrummerforChrist joined us as special guests too! I think these are just some of the highlights of me before turning 21. There could be more. BUT NEXT UP: My 21st Birthday. It’s gonna be a long long one!

Bad Ass Coffee, Tropicana City Mall

Like it or not, everyone has our own bad side. Just that this little picture here says that I Love My Bad Ass Attitude. It does has some attitude in it, don’t you think so? Located at one of the new PJ Hangout Spots, Tropicana City Mall is definitely one of the place you have to go. With reasonable crowd and spacious walking space, it’s definitely a place to chill out, do some window shopping and just take a break from the jams. Bad Ass Coffee, a very unique name, located at Tropicana City Mall; near towards the Office Towers, is definitely one place that caught my eye. You get a real Hawaiian feeling in there because of the setting.IMG_0574 It’s not just any ordinary coffee shop or coffee chain, but this one stands unique because of the food, pastries, cakes and of course drinks they serve. My personal favourite? The doughnuts and the Double Chocolate blend is definitely something to go for everytime I head there. I’ve been drinking the same drink for at least 5 times now, and it never fails me. And I thought I might as well mention it, I think I’ve had at least 3-4 times of the doughnuts now. It does sometimes runs outta stocks though!IMG_0436

Bad Ass Coffee is probably one of the very few places that serves Kona coffee – a type of coffee beans cultivated all the way from Hawaii. It is one of the most sought after coffees in the world, but via some wonderful cosmic arrangement, the relatively unsophisticated coffee drinking crowd here in Malaysia gets a franchise. – KY SpeaksIMG_0572 And this is just 1 of the few doughnuts pictures I took, it’s big huge and sugary. And the texture of it is just beyond words. But caution, you might have to have a big mouth to finish it. Haha.IMG_0573And really, please go grab yourself this Double Chocolate Blend thingy, it’s just worth all your money; and of course the ever so delicious doughnuts.

___________________________________________________________________________ Address:
Bad Ass Coffee
G-37/38A, 1st Floor
Tropicana City Mall
3, Jalan SS20/27
47400 Petaling Jaya

Tel: 03-7728 2622

Quick Post: Urbanscapes 2011

You know when I was trying to post this up, I was thinking to myself if I should defend myself for not updating this page, or should I just act like I didn’t know that it has been THAT long I’ve not updated. Fine. I decided to elaborate on how life has been. No, I ain’t whining. Life has changed a lot since I have (proudly) entered my next chapter of life; as I stepped into my 21st. Things seems “real” to me, things seems “scary” to me, end seems “near” to me. Cut the crap, things has changed. Emotions in and out. Reminiscing about the past heartaches, the past heartbreaks. I ain’t sure if it’s something I am proud of, but I now stand tall because of the things I’ve gone through in life. Though there are still a few wishes that I really hope to fulfill, or to get it; but my point is, things has been different. I’ve grown up. Cut the crap, Urbanscapes was another event I told myself I shan’t missed after going for last year’s. It is the city’s all day creative art festival. Being an artsy person, this is something that you shouldn’t missed. I got my tickets from FONGFEIKEI.IMG_0495 The huge Entrance. This was something I think it’s really amazing. It’s a role play by 3 persons in a 2 character slot featuring Kueh Jen Han, Douglas Lim and one more, I can’t remember. They call for pause as and when they wanna replace a character, and they get to change the entire plot. It’s really really funny! 😛IMG_0496 It sounded terribly wrong too! :pIMG_0497 This was from KakiSeni, it was a very cool cherograph. Something I’ve not seen, but I won’t mind seeing it again.IMG_0498 I get to admire people spraying the “i dont know what”, and these people were really creative.IMG_0499 IMG_0500 This is true Malaysian, if you are asking me What is true Malaysian? The smiles, the hope, the love, the sincerity in the picture below, you know Malaysia has hope. Different people of different colours coming together, for one common purpose. It’s cliché but it’s true.IMG_0501 IMG_0502 The picture below, I just wanted to show the amazing light weight, convenient, stylish chair. Don’t you think it’s so comfortable? It was selling at RM 25 per piece.IMG_0503 You get LIVE Bands performing, and I thought the sound was really good.IMG_0504 Some futsal game, or ping pong games?IMG_0505 IMG_0506 IMG_0507 You can get a drink, chat, lepak too! 😀IMG_0508 This is another side stage where you see more performance. Truly, Malaysia has too many hidden things and talents.IMG_0509 One amazing poet, I admire. I truly admire her bravery, her sarcasm and her heart. She has a heart with such great conviction of the future of Malaysia and what she really believes him. And what Malaysia is currently like. She was sarcastically enough to be understood by people of all there!IMG_0510 More chairs. I told you I love them! 😛IMG_0513 Some other random shots taken.IMG_0515 IMG_0516 And I really do think this is something you should not and cannot miss. Urbanscapes is an amazing place for you to express yourself through arts and music. See amazing Malaysians and their gifts and talents. I am sure we can go far.

Cows Should Fly in Malaysia – Malaysia and The Media

WARNING: This post is gonna be messy. Super messy. It’ll just be random thoughts that comes through my mind. Many things has been happening endlessly in Malaysia the past few weeks, or the past month, I’d say. But one most disappointing thing that’s within me is the way things are handled, the way things are said and of course, the way things are done. Few days back, I was reading the papers. I find those stories so amusing. I read further. To my surprise, I actually thought those news were more interesting than story books. I saw sarcastic remarks, I saw twisted fact, and more so, I saw injustice and cover-ups. And the first thought that came to my mind, “Cows Should Fly in Malaysia”. When I was reading further, I can’t even relate the things said and the things that had happened. More so, as I was surfing the net with news updates and more, I thought things like these doesn’t even tally. Another thought came, who is speaking the truth? Which story seems more believable? Reading further in the newspapers, things did not complement. Neither did they went in ONE. The above was when I was reading the case of a guy who was interrogated and who “commited suicide” apparently. Next, the big city closure which I think everyone would definitely remembered. As a 21 year old child, instead of thinking deeper, the first thought that came to my mind? Why is the government so afraid of a peaceful demonstration which was just demand for a clean and fair election. People (or more so the Media), always says that they (the Government) has NOTHING TO HIDE. Their actions did not justify what they said. That’s for sure. And to think that the nation would hate the rally for the road blocks, I kinda think that it was the other way round. This was not all. In about a week, the police asked if the nation had videos or proofs of violence and more to show. I thought the videos were obvious and I was feeling each video, each wound, each hurt. And the outcome was.. Expected. Is our Media this predictable these days? Is it the monopolised? And facing the fact, being a Media student here, makes me wonder: “Would I ever write such a piece of news in the future?”. I pondered. Am I going to go against my own conscience to write things that I strongly don’t feel and don’t believe in? Yesterday, I thought came another interesting piece of news. From this day, I might just call the newspaper, story books. A billionaire owns a “gold ship” somewhere in the world? I did not want to guess, but my mind and heart did made a conclusion. But my point is this, is Media (or newspapers, to be more accurate), a place for sarcasm, a place for bickering, a place for stories? I think it’s way more than that. With all that happening 2 weeks ago, I told myself, I’m gonna vote. And at least, my 1 vote could make a difference. People around me has been talking about, why vote? It doesn’t really matter. If 100 people thinks like you, there goes a hundred votes. Well, I think I’ve gone beyond the political parties. And I think people should too. It’s more about voting for who you think can serve you and the country. ____________________________________________________________________________ On a side note, I was disappointed with the recent grammatical errors on the newspaper. I’ve seen 1 in The Star, 2 in New Straits Times. I wonder how this journey as a Media student will take me. But if no one chooses to be the change, let me be. I mean, IF lah! If you are reading, thanks for reading my weekend rants. I’m turning an uncle soon.

Celsius Restaurant & Bar, Fahrenheit88

Ever wondered where you can dine and party at the same time; at the same place? At Celsius Restaurant and Bar located conveniently and strategically at Fahrenheit88, you get to dine and party all at the same place. This is one of the bar in town which serves you loads of variety of good food. Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0212 The mushroom soup! It is too western-ish for me. Very thick mushroomy. If you love the real, thick mushroom soup, you should really try this!Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0230 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0241 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0242 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0256 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0258 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0265 Oh, they also serve Asian food, apart from Western. They promote a fusion menu which offers loads of good stuffs. The mushroom and brocolli. Simple. Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0289 If you are a big fan of toufu, yes, be like me. And go mad over these toufu!Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0302 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0307 I forgot what this was named, but you actually know that it’s quite a typical Indian food.Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0322 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0330 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0340 Nachos! Nachos! and more Nachos! I first learn how to eat this at Chillis, but you get to bite on this too at Chillis. And now, I am a big fan!Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0341 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0342 More of Asian food, you also get some Cantonese Fried Noodles.Big prawns, though I don’t eat them.Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0361 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0377 Fish and Chips. One thing I’ve to say, the Belgium Chips at Celsius is extremely amazing. They are crunchy and just nice to bite. It is quite addictive. You have been warned.Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0380 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0382 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0397 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0406 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0414 You get this Salmon thingy too. As usual, I suck at the names. But I got to try this. Yes, it’s tender and soft. Didn’t manage to try the potato, But I like the design of it. Haha.Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0420 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0421 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0424 More and more of Asian foooood.Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0452 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0453 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0479 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0484 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0485 And more and more of Western food. I recommend you the Belgium Chips. Hahaha.Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0499 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0500 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0515 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0519 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0520 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0560 With the variety of food, you shouldn’t run anywhere!Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0573 And morrrrrrrrrrre!Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0591Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0594 Oh, they have quite an amazing variety of desserts. And I have to say the desserts are really well decorated. I can see the effort of each design, each curves and more!Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0535 Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0538 This is the Chocolate Lava. It does tastes a little like Milo, according to BRYANLYT, but I thought it was really nice. The heat in it, eat it with ice cream. Wooshhh! Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0543 It reminds me of the Ice Cream Apple Crumble in Australia. Hmm. Anyone to bake it for me? 😀Celsius_CopyrightTEG_DSC0546 With an array of Asian and Western dishes, you should just sit there, dine there.. And of course, end it with a Party. They are encouraging people who patronise them to dine and party at the same location instead of changing locations to party. Try this deal out right now at I LOVE DISCOUNTS: http://www.ilovediscounts.my/kuala-lumpur/celsius-restaurant-bar/celsius-restaurant-bar-promotional-set-meal-lunch-or-dinner/ __________________________________________________________________________ Celsius Restaurant & Bar Address: LG2-01, Fahrenheit88, 179 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-21453131

Magical Musicals – A West End Production, Amphitheatre @ Sunway Lagoon.

So, I have been procrastinating much. I have been doing things I should not be doing, ranting about things I should not be ranting. But here is definitely something short I wanna share. Being a fan of musicals and plays, I’ actually thought this was one amazing musical I’ve watched. I’ve watched many, many musicals previously. One of the most memorable Musical that I have watched was Sound of Music. I can remember almost everything and anything! But, this is 1 musical to watch if you have not watched. This musical stood up to me because I really thought that the vocals, arrangements and dance were amazing. magical-musicals-500x667 I thought the vocals was superb. The voices, the harmonies, the medleys – beyond words. I was tempted to dance along. No joke. But the attendance was slightly disappointing. But I was tapping my feet all the way, singing to those amazing tunes.

Sorry, the recording quality wasn’t too good. But yeah, it’s still something worth listening to.

I mean, you hardly get to go watch such things in Malaysia. Before I forget, I actually got the tickets all thanks to Tourism Selangor. They are one awesome bunch. In short, I don’t want to say too much. You have probably the next few days to catch it. But if you have some good musicals to share and recommend, yes, you sure must tell me about it!

MTV Worldstage Passes Winner

So, I think I’ve teased enough. Most of you are probably ready with their knives and parang ready to stab and slash me. So, yes, I tweeted about it about 4-5 days back that I am giving away 1 pair of MTV Worldstage Passes. And the mechanics were to guess a number form 1-999 for every 1 RT of my Tweet. mtvIt was massive. Furthermore, I tweeted that this is just 1 of the giveaway that I am giving away. Cause I’ve loads of Starbucks and Papa John Vouchers with me, ready to be thrown out. To all my Twitter followers. Enough of ranting. I know you are hating all the crap. But… So, one of the days when this was going on… This tweet came in… ken guess 1 I actually thought it was a brilliant guess. And all cause he took the initiative to stalk me on Facebook. Yes, stalk. To find my birthdate. And even twitpic-ed me this: 344872023 It was between 726 or 267. I guess he was so brilliant that he went on with 267 and many many of the other followers decided to go 726, 267, and all the numbers around there. By the way, I am not lifeless. I don’t know why it says I have 0 friends. So yes, @kenintotrouble won the 2 MTV Worldstage Passes. I know many came in with close answers (or copied answers). I am trying to award the 3 closest with some vouchers. So, do stay tuned. Also, I ain’t sure if he’s giving this pair out. So you might wanna follow him and tweet him kao kao and spam him! Haha. And I heard I have another pair of MTV Worldstage Passes to give out. All cause my friend gave it to me. So, you know the drill. @alvinkok_2 is the shameless twitter handler you must follow and stalk.

Smajo’s Pizza, Palma Poolside / Bukit Bintang

So, recently I got to taste some good stuffs. Really good stuffs. It’s Smajo’s Pizza; a new kid to the Pizza world. I did the whole tasting and “gluttoning” in Palma Poolside. It was just 2 pizzas, but I thought it was good enough for a great lunch. Chef Ismail, is a chef from an Island far far away, I am writing this cause I actually forgot where he is from. But no, not a local. IMG_0417This is a pizza you definitely much eat and try if you always complain that “They don’t put enough of this, they don’t put enough of that”. At Smajo’s, they believe that whether or not you are a blogger, a guest, or whoever, you’d still get the same full amount of ingredients. Isn’t that awesome. Okay, I honestly hate double-standards. Thats a fact.IMG_0418 So, these are the 2 awesome pizzas I got to try. Don’t you think it’s amazing.IMG_0419 You also have to know this: I had these pizzas by the poolside. Damn amazing I tell you. It’s just aweeeeesome viewwww. It’s crazily windy and relaxing. I am gonna give you some ideas. Yeah, my mind’s all over. If you wanna watch hot chics, yeah, maybe you should just have a meal there. But.. That’s obviously not the point. It’s just good good pizza!IMG_0420 I know I gained weight, look at the pizzas, not me!IMG_0421 I love pineapples, the one with turkey and pineapples are so so so delicious. It’s nothing like an ordinary pizza you get. You get way more than the usual “Hawaiian Pizza”!IMG_0423 IMG_0426 IMG_0427 This was the first time I think I had 4 pieces. Crazy I tell you. Now you know why I gained weight. Blame the pizza. It’s too awesomepossum!IMG_0428There are even more pizzas for your selection. And you definitely must try. If you are cheese, don’t blame me, but I think you’ll be jelak-tified! Haha.IMG_0429 They have a cafe now at: Palma Poolside Cafe, Mon’t Kiara Palma, Off Jalan Kiara, 50450 Mon’t Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But fret not, if thats too far, they are now side-by-side with Old Chang Kee in Bukit Bintang, you’d be able to see a huge wordings that writes SMAJO’S PIZZA. Go give it a try, a bite, or whatever you call it. It’s too awesome that you should not miss this good stuffs. Don’t say I didn’t tell ya!

Random: Long Long Roti Tissue

IMG_0416 Recently I had a meet up with my Godparent’s child, my Godbrother la in a way. So, we had supper. And we had roti tissue. I was amused and amazed with the long-ness of the roti tissue and how they actually serve it. Yes, it’s amazingly not too sweet, and I love it’s crisp. Awwwweeesomeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Standard Chartered KL Marathon Road Closure.

road closure Standard Chartered KL Marathon Road Closure details.