Hidden Gangs

Dear blog,
I know it's been awhile since I've had any form of interaction with you, I'll click on the 'hiddengangs' link on the info section of my facebook profile about once a fortnight. Truth be told, I was never that great at keeping interest at anything for long periods of time, so even as we're about 3 days in to the year 2011, I thought I'd do a impromptu resolutions list up here. This way, etched in the cyber world I guess it'll serve me as a good reminder to reach the goals that I'm about to set for myself.

It wasn't too long ago when the clock hit the 12a.m that marked the close of 2010 and the beginning of 2o11, now to many out there new years resolutions we're probably planned hours in advanced, panning out, setting a direction for where 2011 would take them, for me? nah... I really never was that kind of guy anyway. Because it was only 3 days ago I completely remember my only one resolution for the year, that was for me to be the man that God had intended for me to be.

Looking back on 2010, it was the worst and best of times. Friendships built also friendships that fell apart.My moments of success and also failure, the times I felt on top of the world and also the times I cried out to God for help. Failures and also victory when it came to setting my priorities: church over clubbing, basketball over studies, girls over studies. At the end of the day, what I've learnt from 2010 would be to set goals for myself, reachable, attainable goals. So when I said that I wasn't that kind of guy earlier on, guess 2011's the time to change that.

But hey it's getting late. I'll post up my list another day, that is if I keep the motivation to do it of course:P
But till then, to the limited amount of readers who read this blog for not just sheng but for me, (yes I know it's self inflicted and i do need to blog more)I wish you a very happy, slightly belated new year. May it be a great one to us all:)

Love,
Gideon

Now it seems every time I go abroad it's always "outer space" :)

think I speak for both of us;

Back in the days, Gid & I (well to be honest it was all Gid who was the inventor & I bestowing this title as of now) formulated a concoction to inhibit what we in this day and age call, “emoness”. Till this very hour the secret ingredients have always been a good swig of basketball, intense and brutal, coupled with a dose of the infamous “bad day” by Daniel Powter. Ideally this was a fantastic remedy, never failing and sufficient enough to drown whatever it was in heavy concentrations. It was “The Cure” and frankly, I think we’re the only two patients that suit such a formula.

As of today, I would like to add one more flavour into our beloved Cure – Adventure. I’m sure I speak for many of you who are possibly reading this, but it was always intriguing how every Friday (give or take) Zim and Arjun would disappear down the school gates and onto the highway. Of course there are other side stories that are more epic in nature, but it’s a shame I missed out on them nonetheless. SO, this summer, I’ve been running, walking, going places via foot with Zim as Arjun now resides in Germany, homesick! Why the term “adventure”? well for one thing, we travel by foot, perhaps deemed ridiculous in such a small country, but hey; wo-men poor:P it’s unexpected, highways to run, roundabouts to cross, crazy drivers, we’re crazy, drains, concrete walls, & DUH! Their forests everywhere i.e. shortcuts :D Oh, if you’re really really unlucky dogs and someone you absolutely wouldn’t wanna cross paths with=X

You blacken, you get tired, you’re pushed, you’re in pain, you just end up being rustic and low down, literally poor, & yea kinda gives you adrenaline XXX. I guess you’d describe it as adrenaline with a twist of craze XD Anyhoots, I shan’t banter no more, here’s the juicy part of the post!

Wednesday? Well Tuesday, went over to Zims to organize the adventure of a lifetime. He was quite disappointed with the lack of aid I required after Monday, heh, so much for “emotional support” ey?:P naw, the adventure was the support in disguise, beats me why I wasn’t as cliché as I was suppose to be…Imma Stevens:D Plan A was to go on a night adventure, it was already 10, perfect timing for creepy things to lurk the roads, well swamps of Zims neighbourhood…BUT, Ismene and Shawny were leaving us in 24 hours, so we cut back to Plan B – stay awake all night, follow zims mom to school, see our peeps off, and head off to Meragang Beach, mom keeps on going on about it so I thought we’d check it out(: Sojo was suppose to join us, but gahh, bumface fell asleep….

Oh just from a geographer’s point of view whilst planning this trip, we mapped out our routes as usual. Check it out on google maps, it's basically from the utmost western part of brunei to the tipping point of the peninsular where BSB is. difficult to imagine? well I'll throw in a map when I'm not feeling lazy=X

So it all starts on the highway from the airport to Gadong, Meragang beach was pulled off due to unexpected weightyness of fatigue. It’s a long and boresome road, and gradually we became extremely tired within minutes of the journey, so we called Min, who eventually cancelled and told us she wasn’t coming…so we puffed up and continued. Eventually we found a makeshift shack under some trees, and despite the fear of being bashed up and thrown into the undergrowth after goodness-knows-what by who-knows-who, we decided to take a rest, only to find a nest of red ants having beaten us as did the sun beat on our backs. So you can imagine the warmth of the day that when we finally reach the river/drain leading into the RBRC, it was incredibly enticing to jump in. Exactly what we wanted to do – heck it was an adventure anyways, signs of life we’re fishes and birds further upstream, however we refrained since we presumed Min was still on her way. A definite challenge to be conquered though, really didn’t look harmless at all….cause the water was murky and brown…..

Upon reaching G-town, we find ourselves heading directly to the Cineplex and just crashing on the steps to the free “movie” of trailers. Goodness, we must’ve sat there for at least 45 minutes resting before finally realizing that our stomachs were creating soundeffects of their own! So best plan ever…we basically had 11 dollars to split between us two. That left us with a very limited choice of what lunch should be like…(it was pass 12 so C.A.M. didn’t offer roti which was only 80 cents!!!!) so master plan – run to SKH, grab the most awesomest nasi katok, head in to SKH for those 50 cents pepsi bottled drinks (I’m sure you’d have noticed how pepsi’s logo has changed? So it’s a clearance baby!!! WOOTS! Yea, when you’re poor you’re looking for the coin-age and the cents on the shelf;P) followed through with the plan, crossing the roundabout has truly become our forte, so no biggie, headed back and forth to the foodcourt, free cutlery and luxurious facilities which were not present during the time of our previous adventure (see greatbeasts.wordpress.com) THE BEST! J the remaining 8 bucks were used to watched the Avatar; the last airbender. & I’m not gonna elaborate my sheer disgust for that movie-_-“ spoiled everythingL it was so ARGH!!!??!?!

WAIT! Forgot to mention, we went for a swim in Rixgum hotel, as compensation for not going into the river, we took a costly (literally) risk, and decided to hit the hotel pool. To our relief, it was empty, or so it seemed, the overlooking floor appeared to be quite busy, but I reckon we played our tourist roles perfectly, or should I say guests. Zims white, I’m black. We speak like we’re English and hey we look like we walk everywhere! PERFECT! So after some careful consideration and planning our escape route and explanations to the management if we were to be caught, I had the balls to ignore the world, and escape the warmth but taking the big jump into the pool. Ultimate refresher! Then the woman comes to join me-_-“ we cautiously roam in the pool till suddenly the waterfall turns on, HAH! They think we’re guests and so, we rule the pool(: best part is – we didn’t get caught!

Fastforward. We’re done with the movie, & utterly broke. 11-3=8, 8-8=0. We’re hungry, thirsty, and helpless…so we decided to look for people we know, we scour the mall, spot a few potentials yet not comfortable to approach and beg for some dosh:P so in the end we give up and head to the fastfood joints to hit the scraps…but obviously we’re out of our minds and joking….so we just kinda roamed around, jokingly having a good time…c’mon! no one leaves scraps at fastfood joints-_-“ well there was a tempting nugget on the floor….:P but no no no! THEN, brainwave! We decided to head to the supermarkets for those fruits on display? Ideally grapes/mata kuchings where it’s harmless to just nip one to taste it…everyone does it ey? Unfortunately we were only lucky with a mere pieces of mata-kuching, not satifying…so we walk the road of shame home….

Upon crossing the bridge we see the ultimate treasure: the pasar! Rushing to, we head immediately to the fruit section after painfully crossing all the BBQ stuffs and fried goodiesL but my oh my, the amount of fruits! Lychees, langsats, durians, mangosteens, rambutans, yellow ones, red ones, mata kuchings, etc etc. heaven, haven all in one! So, we begin our duo, going round hitting each fruit stall, following the crowds, and waiting for that green light: “Boleh Cuba” WOOTS! So after cuba-ing we carry on, progressing, getting tiny morsels from each stall to satisfy our stomachs….occasionally zim would spot the straggler that fell on the floor or I would, using his footie skills he’d maneuver it within reach, and hey! Score:D I think we must’ve walked up and down the fruit isle 8 times….oh, forgot to also mention that we’d hold our wallets and phones in our hands, or I would stick out my leg to accentuate the bulging shape of my empty wallet, to provoke the “boleh cuba” =X

& thus ends our epic adventure. Guess it kinda worked, except for the fact that I kept on spewing out references out loud or in my head, crazy how the slightest thing triggered the most vivid memories and bouncing present thoughts, questions about your wellbeing during the adventure. OH! For the record, I wasn’t “emo” I’m keeping the promise (: Zim calls it reminiscing reminyssaing, & so do I(:

Jingsz*

Ps. still workin on that narrative technique of yours zim. Truly inspiring heh, as much as you say I have my way with words;

I dont know about tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
i dont borrow from its sunshine
for its skies may turn grey
I don't worry about the future
For i know what Jesus said.
And today i'll walk beside Him
for He knows what is ahead

Many things about tomorrow
i dont seem to understand
but i know who holds tomorrow
and i know who holds my hand.