Blog Entry #10 - G's Favourite Movie All Time

It is tough for me to say which is my favourite movie whenever I was asked that. I never had a favourite movie in my mind. I assume, favourite movie is a type of movie that I would fall in love with the entire plot with good-looking actors, who managed to portray the best of their characters in the storyline. When these criteria fit in, it would be my favourite movie.

As a child, my parents would allow me to watch children animation movies during the school breaks. During school holidays, I would look forward to watching any school holiday specials with my brother. I realised that I used to spend a lot of time in front of the TV watching movies. My parents. once told me that my favourite movie as a child was ‘Alice in The Wonderland’. They said that I would watch it over and over again; practically memorised every line in that movie. I really cannot recall watching that movie that many times.

Back to the point, there is this a movie that I came across a few years back. ‘The Notebook’ based on a novel by Nicholas Spark, is one of my favourite movies that I would watch over and over again. ‘The Notebook’ is definitely my ultimate favourite movie all- time. Whenever I am bored, I would watch the entire movie as if I've never watched it before. I am telling you this, ‘If you haven’t watched ‘The Notebook’, you HAVE to watch it soon, and I bet it's the best love story written!’ Alright, I may be exaggerating . Well, you may agree with me eventually.

It's my favourite movie because the storyline moved my heart and I have tears in my eyes when I watch the movie. It was not a conventional love story like every other fairy-tale. It was written as if it was tailored perfectly for real-life. It was authentic and so real! Some scenes would make you disappointed it happened; scenes that you would cry for and scenes that give you hope. I won’t be able to provide you with a summary of the movie on this blog, but I bet that you will not regret watching the movie.

The best thing about this movie is the main character, Ryan Gosling. Oh my, I drool over his good-looks. Not only that he is tall, tanned and handsome, but he fits the character . He made a great success in this movie. He was also such a romantic hero in this movie. Owh, Ryan Gosling! I could just go on and on about him, and my dear husband would get jealous of Ryan Gosling.  Most of his movies are romantic-love stories, and I enjoy most of the film he acted.

Well…if you have not watched the ‘The Notebook’, fret not, just watch it with your loved one. I am sure it would move you emotionally. You will come to really believe that true love does exist and it can last a lifetime...

Blog Entry #9 - Embarrassing yet Awkward Moment to Forget

Embarrassing moments? This type of moments are best kept far away from memories rather than to save them in our minds,  that could make us feel like a fool. Fortunately, most of these embarrassing moments will help us by learning from the lessons we learnt from those awkward moments.

As for myself, I had tonnes of embarrassing moments. 
Some of them are kept far, far away from my mind that I could not recall the entire incident, even narrate here. Whenever I think of awkward moments, I could only think about how unfortunately people, including myself are in those situations. What can we learn from embarrassing moments? Only to ensure we do not do the same thing before those moments happen and to consider many things before we think, say and do.

One of the embarrassing moments would be that one incident that would make me turn red whenever I think of how foolish I was to even be at that situation. Thinking back over the embarrassing moments, there is one that came up in my mind and it is something that happened a couple of months ago.

I made plans to meet my very old school friend, Sha at Midvalley after working hours at Midvalley. I was quite excited to meet her as it has definitely been ages. Sha was one of my very good friends back during the school years and we have both spent so many good times together. No doubt that I do attempt to meet Sha, at least every one time in few months. Every meeting with Sha was quite exciting for me because it brings back all good times of those lovely school days. Those were the time we sat and spoke for hours. Nevertheless, I never got bored of talking to my good friend, Sha.

So, we were texting each other on our arrivals to the mall. I was at Midvalley much earlier and was just killing time by doing some window shopping. Once Sha texted that she has arrived the mall, I asked her on her parking location. I was quite bored walking. Sha texted, ‘Gu, I’m already here. Parking at Block I at Level 5c’. How glad was I, she parked her car at the same level as mine. So, I decided to actually go to the parking area and greet her.

As I quickly made my way up, I was still texting Sha. Just trying to kill some time. She was not out of her just yet because she wanted to adjust her hair and make-up. I arrived at the level and I saw a lady, slighted tanned, wearing a white dress with a very some nice white covered high-heels. From afar, I saw the figure to be exactly like Sha and waved so excitedly towards Sha. I shouted out, ‘Sha! Sha! Sha!’. Sha waved backed at me. I was glad, I received a respond. We quite far apart in distance and walking. Instead of making the walking towards each other awkward, I started fiddling with my phone as I was walking towards my friend, Sha.

As we were already approaching each other…..’Owh my!’

There was another lady, instead of Sha standing in front of me, looking as perplexed as me. We looked at each other, just so puzzled! I quickly apologised to the lady and explained to her that I thought it was my friend, Sha. The lady said that she thought that I may have known her and wanted to talk to her because her name is Natasha and her friends call her ‘Sha’. What a coincidence!

I felt so embarrass the whole time for the past few days. When I told Sha about it, she broke into a laughter and the embarrassment was even worse. Now to think about it, even I can laugh thinking about it.Hahah!

So, what I have learnt? Don’t scream or wave to people from a distance where you cannot even see their faces clearly. That is something I am quite cautious about these days.

Blog Entry #8 : Memories of School

School years were one of the best phases of life I had. It had less drama, with more of emotional sharing with friends. My friends and I surely had blast enjoying our days go by while chatting and sharing all our stories and problems. It was surely one of those chapters in life I would like to return to.                                                                                                                                       

I would proudly say that I had awesome school memories because I have wonderful friends with me now.

As time flew by, I realized that what I was blessed from school life was my good buddies, whom I treasure a lot.  We have gone through good and bad times with them as we have been friends for almost two decades. Some of us take the effort to be the same friend we used to be. At times like this,  it is like going back in time when I get to see this bunch of friends again.

I studied in a convent school back then, SMK Convent Butterworth, a place where good friendship grew along the way. Memories in school were always about friends, activities and how we helped each other to strive better in our studies. Other than that, we always went for camps together, stayed back in school to do extra revision, went for the movies and shop.  But we always made sure that we had our backs for our friends, either in studies or in problems we faced.

Most of our parents were furious with our friendship when they found that we were very close with other. Perhaps, they were afraid that we were bad influence to each other. Fortunately, many of us survived and grew out of it. Plus point, the friendship did not end there.

One of those memories that I remember was the dance competition we had in school. We were all just 13 years old, and fresh to the secondary schooling life. It was fun having to gather my friends. We made sure we came to school early, everyday before our afternoon session school starts. We would practise our steps almost everyday before the talent show. As we did things, we got to know each other so well that we ended being good friends after all. By the way, we were the champion for the talent show!

Friends during secondary school were just like my own siblings, unfortunately many of us grew apart due to the drama adults have in life.I lost some good friends over the years but I am glad that the memories stays alive with some true friends. I am glad that I still few more pieces of my school memories with me!

Blog Entry #7 : My Idol, my grandpapa

In life, usually, everyone has at least one person that they adore. That someone who gave inspirations from their life's stories. That someone that inspired us to be a better person.
For me, that some is my maternal grandfather, Mr. Muniswaran

He is someone I have always been with since I was a little girl. Until this day, he is the person whom I call when I am in trouble or when I need some encouragements. For all that I know, I adore him so much for all the words and actions he display to me, including his life experiences.

His life story is one thing that I will never get bored listening to every time I asked him. It was filled with so much of emotions and challenges. To see where is he now, is an inspiration.

Let me tell you a little bit about my 80 year old grandpa. He was the 9th child and the youngest for his parents. He always told that he was a pet to his dad,who was then, a firefighter. After few years, as a child, he lost his father.

Grandpa used to tell that his father was a very tall man. His mother on the other hand, had to care for all of her children at that time. She was only a housewife. She could not care financially for all her children and few of her children were separated to relatives.
Those were the times of Japanese Occupation.
 Grandpa used to say that they only ate sweet potato and nothing more than that.  Life at that time was scary for him and his family.

One of my grandpa's relative promised to care and give him education. The family took grandpa to Klang from Kuala Kubu Bharu at the very young age. Instead of giving grandpa a proper education, he was asked to help farming. Frightened and lost, my grandpa as a child, ran away from that place finding for his mother. He said he took the train from Klang to Kuala Kubu Bharu and walked many kilometers to his house. As devastated as it seemed, grandpa's mother was taken aback of her youngest child's condition.

Grandpa is the second from the RIGHT

As time pass by, his mother's condition was challenging caring for her children. So, his elder sister took him with her when she was married. Grandpa's brother-in-law was a police officer. He was a strict man. Grandpa moved around the country with his sister's family and grew up with his nieces and nephews. As time goes by, he realised that he may be a burden to his sister . So, grandpa left to find for work after his Secondary 3, he was offered a job as a teacher at a school in Malacca. After few years, he was offered a position in the Customs.

He worked himself up, away from his family and retired as a Superintendent Officer of Customs in Penang. I could go on more and more of his life's story, but it is at a great length. As summarized, this story has inspired me in many ways. Without his sacrifices, I may not even be given this opportunity to further my studies.My grandpa is one of those people who have encouraged me to pursue my post-graduate degree as well.

Thank you Tata for being such a inspiration!

Blog Entry #6 : Ambition as A Child

One of the very common questions asked to children is ' What is your ambition? ' or ' What would you like to be when you are older?'

If this question was new to the child, the child will look puzzled as they may have never thought about it.

But as time pass, children have been taught by parents on what their parents' would like or want them to be . It will eventually be instilled in the children's minds.That is when they get an idea about ambition.

At that point of life, I remember saying that I wanted to be a doctor,because I heard my parents saying it to me or maybe I herd people saying it to me.
Without knowing what is the job scope like or how it is to be a doctor, I wanted to be a doctor badly.

As time passed, I realised that I do not want to work in hospitals and treat people, or be in an operating room and deal with blood and pain.  I started thinking of being a teacher or a lawyer.  Being a teacher was thought to be nobel yet not too cool as an occupation. Therefore, being a lawyer was in my mind.

My teachers thought that I spoke a lot, my parents thought that I argue a lot and my friends thought that I always win arguments.


Looking at my strengths, I believed that one day, I will be a lawyer.
I thought that one day, I may be looking stylist in the coat and visiting the courts,fighting cases for people who need justice. Yes, that was my ambition as school-going child.

Yet, time changes many things in life. Once, I used to like the color black, now I like blue instead. In
the past, I used to enjoy fried food, now I enjoy eating grilled meat instead. Alike, in the past ,I wanted to be a lawyer. Once I was older enough, I wanted to be a teacher.

I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to pursue my career as a teacher and do enjoy my career.

But,if only time permits me...I may want to pursue my career as a lawyer and I still do wonder how it would be to be a lawyer.

Blog Entry #5: Scariest Moments

Ghost? Haunted houses? Spirits?

I am not too sure if I believe they actually exist, maybe because I have not experienced them myself. No doubt that these words do give me goose pimples, I have no story of paranormal activity that I have experienced.

But I have another story that relates to paranormal activities.

I do enjoy watching scary paranormal activity movies! I think I watch them a lot with my husband, almost every weekend. That is our  weekly movie activity.  As scary as it sounds about ghost and of its sorts, watching these scary movies have always thrilled me.  Those were the moments where the heart will be pounding so hard and always hoping the movie does not come to life.

One of the scariest moments I had was when I was 16 years old. It is always fresh in my mind as my family always laughs about it.

Back then; I do not prefer watching scary movies. It was the time when I enjoy dramatic movies.

It was one night on a weekend, when the movie ‘Ju-On- was playing on TV. I always waited for any nice movie to be played. The movie ‘Ju-On’; was reviewed quite well from my friends, who watched it before it was played on the television. I was so excited to watch this movie and made my family stay up with me late to watch this movie. It movie started about 11pm.

The movie was scary indeed! It is a movie about a small boy who is a ghost that haunts a house. This character in this movie does not speak, but just stares. That gives me the chills! I closed my eyes practically for most of the scenes and watch it in a pinhole size of my palm. I did scream and having my brothers, aged 15 and 6 then to laugh at me.

Eventually, as time passed, my parents and my brothers were sleepy. They went up to their rooms to sleep, leaving me alone. But I was determined to watch the movie until the end. How am I to sleep peacefully without watching the ending of the movie?  So, I gathered myself and sat there for an hour or so to watch the end.

Once the movie was over, I switched off the television and lights, walked up to the upper floor of my house to my room. Before I entered my room, I went to the washroom, brushed my teeth and washed my face.

Then, I opened the washroom door and I screamed to the top of my voice!

I did, I screamed! Just screamed, because I saw a little boy, almost to the same size of the boy, Ju-On in the movie, in tears and vomit on his shirt looking at me!

It freaked me out. It was my little brother.

The teary boy burst into wailing with fountain of tears, which woke my parents from the other side of the house.

What a relief! It was just my brother. I thought the boy from the movie appeared in front of me. The angry old people in my house started scolding me for scaring the little fellow.

This is just my opinion about paranormal activity and its feelings. If you dwell into it too much and create imaginations out of it, it will bring all the fear you never imagined to life!

As for me, I still watch the scary movies in the pinhole view. Nowadays, I use my husband’s palm to cover my eyes.

Blog Entry #4 : Pictorial Diary ~G's Traditional Hindu Matrimony~

Greetings!
This entry will display some pictures of a traditional Hindu wedding, to be specific, my wedding ceremony which was held on 27th of November 2014.
Some of pictures in this blog post are significant events and items for a Hindu- Tamil wedding. I hope that with more insights of a Hindu wedding, you will understand its rituals and culture!

This is myself with the bridal make up artist and stylist who came to my house to doll me up.

This is a kolam . Usually, it is placed at the entrance of a temple or a house during functions or festivals.

Lighting up lamps is very crucial in any Hindu ceremony.

The walkway of the temple or hall will be decorated with coconut tree leaves.

This is the sarree I wore for the engagement. Brides have to wear the engagement sarre for the first part of the wedding ceremony.

Henna or mehendi. Art on the hands,legs  and palms.  Brides will usually have them done a day before the wedding ceremony.

Blog entry #3 -A memory that lasts a lifetime...

Memories are what we bring along as we move on in life. Memories are the most precious things that money can never buy.

It is always said by someone dear to me that ,
'Always make memories out of whatever you do and make the best out of it' . That is what my husband tells me every single time!
I could not agree with him more.

To ensure I have memories well- kept, I like to snap pictures of memories that are fond to me. To date, I have bundles of pictures safely 'saved'  in three portable hard-disks.

That is the only reason why I prefer activities rather than chatting nonstop with friends or just walk hours aimlessly in malls.

Til now, one of the memory that will last me a lifetime of happiness will be the memory of my morning temple wedding with my husband on the 27th of November 2014. It is one of my most favourite memories as an adult.  It was an early morning wedding,witness by close family and friends.

I had friends and families who came from afar just to be with us during this auspicious ceremony. I had them coming all the way from Brazil, Australia, Singapore, Johor and KL. It meant so much for me that they took all the effort to come and be a part of my wedding ceremony.

Why is this also one of my favorite memory? Because I will never get this memory again to happen!
It was well-planned because my husband and I wanted it to be the fairytale wedding which we wanted to create, to be exact, to create the best memory.
We had time, almost two years to plan the entire wedding with the dinner reception.

The temple wedding was so significant for me as each and every step in the HIndu wedding was very meaningful. The priest managed to explain the significance and the importance of each step. I thought it to be very unique! I never knew about the meaning of the entire ceremony until I became a bride myself.

By far, this is one of my favorite memory which I will hold tight in my heart.

Blog entry #2 -Japan, A Dream Holiday...

I have always enjoyed traveling, let it be around Malaysia or outside of the country.

One of my dream holiday is Japan, somewhere I think I would enjoy my stay.

Throughout my years of living, I have visited few countries; India, England, France, Mauritius, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Brunei and soon, Korea. One of the country that I longed to visit is surely Japan for its diverse culture and people.

Knowing that Japan has a great history to the world, I would like to have a look myself of this beautiful country.

I have always wondered how well the country developed tremendously after the World War 2. Also impressed on their attitude towards their country's development.

My aunt, Ghouwri was an air stewardess in her younger days and she used to travel the world. I have learnt about many countries from her. I always wait eagerly for her to be back to tell me about the countries she visited,looking at the pictures and the gifts she brought for her young school-going niece. 

Knowing that I am someone who loves pastries and buns, she told me once that Japan makes finest buns that are so soft and fluffy! Therefore, it was one of the reason why I want to go there myself.

I found the pictures below from bloggers who visited Japan and found Japan to be heaven of pastries. They all said that the buns were just so soft and delicious!

I grew up with Disney ,just all most ordinary girls of my age.

Disneyland,definitely!

I have visited Disneyland in Hong Kong but it seems to be my mission to visit all the Disneylands in the world. 

So, perhaps, my next Disneyland to visit will be the Tokyo Disneyland.

Disneyland is every child and adult's dream. I am sure you too will agree with me of this!

Japanese people take their culture seriously and they make sure that they keep up with it. I want to see how the people are, as viewed in the movies, books and documentaries.

Once I am in Korea next year, I hope that I will be able to visit Japan then.

Perhaps then, I will blog all about that dream holiday and my entire experience.

Blog entry #1 -Introduction : G

Aloha! Greetings to netizens!

I'm Guhan and this blog is specially created for one of my course of M.Ed TESL (UPM), EDU 5278 : Teaching Narrative Genre by Dr.Husniah.

I am Guhaneswwari and people call me Guhan as my name is quite long to be pronounced. On the other hand, my students call me 'Miss G'. About myself,well... I am currently working in Subang as a teacher at a private school,teaching primary level students, English. At the same time, I am pursuing my post graduate studies in TESL at UPM, in my second semester. This is also my final year as I am planning to complete the programme by the next semester. So, it is going to be crazy year ahead,juggling work and studies at the same time with many courses in hand to complete.

Many may not know, I am at my late 20s and married couple of months ago. How time flies and I can still remember times as a freshman in UPM many years ago as an undergraduate.

Preferences in life have changed and as for now, I like and dislike many things in life that keeps me wondering that life is complicated and I am truly enjoying the adversed colours in this lifetime.The following are the few that came up in my mind now.

What I enjoy? I love to teach and it was a passion from those days as a teenager. I pretended being a teacher to my friends and now, I am a teacher myself. It is something I am proud of.

I also love to travel when time permits. I have been traveling ever since I was little. My mother loves to travel herself. So ,she brought me along to places she enjoys visiting. As a kid, I travelled a lot to KL from Penang, India, Indonesia , Singapore and Thailand. As time goes by, myself in UPM as an undergraduate, I received few huge opportunities to travel as a student. I went to England, France, Dubai, Brunei and Mauritius. Those were the times I enjoyed the most; opportunities that I only dreamt off came true. Now being married and working, I have a husband who enjoys traveling himself. Not only across borders, we enjoy having our time spent visiting places in Malaysia.

I love to cook and bake. Cooking has always been a disaster because of its trial and error,but I am I think cook better now. I enjoy trying new cuisines and love experimenting at the kitchen.  As for baking, I have been baking ever since I was little with my mother. As much as she enjoys baking, I love the fact that her cakes are the best for my taste-buds! Now, I am finding for time to do this both as take aways been the best solution lately for being very busy.

I do enjoy blogging but now time is so limited for me to indulge doing such thing. But now, with this course, my interest rose back.
One of my previous blog is misscookiecream.blogspot.com , if you would like to view.

-Miss G