Just So You Know

Gave It All Away

2010-04-28T15:33:00.000+08:00

by Boyzone

"Gave It All Away" music video by Boyzone

I will learn to live before I die
Will learn to love and learn to try
Not to give it all away

She may be the one that's meant for me
Or for the man that I used to be
Till I gave it all away

Why I lay my heart down on the floor
I showed you love, you wanted more
But I gave it all away

You taught me to see the better truth
About yourself but about me too
I was stupid over you, what could I do

Some people wait a lifetime for a chance like this
I've waited enough baby, no, I won't let you go
I'm sick of tears and being fierce

There's nothing left to take
I gave it all away

Originally meant to be the comeback single for Boyzone, it has now become a tribute song for the late Stephen Gately. A very unfortunate passing indeed and the music video marks the occasion perfectly. Without a doubt, a wonderful song written by Mika.

We are all guilty of taking things for granted, some more than others. I for one admit to being culpable of doing that and had for countless of times, unknowingly taken things for granted. I've been unfortunate to be at the receiving end too. It can be a difficult balancing act but I hope to try lessening the possibility of it happening in the future. I do not know how successful I will be but I can only try.

I do have regrets, as do others. I'm bound to have more as I live my life but I hope there won't be too many lying ahead of me. Sometimes, we are fortunate to be in a position to do something about it. In other times, we are unable to do anything about it. As I look back, there have been a few of such occasions and there's nothing else I can do except to say, I gave it all away.

The Blog's New Clothes

2010-04-27T21:57:00.001+08:00

As part of my comeback attempt, I felt it was necessary for some changes to the layout of this blog to mark my return to blogging. What's a comeback without a new look, no? With the release of Blogger's new Template Designer (still in Blogger Draft), this has been made much easier compared to previous times.

Gone are the days I've to trawl the world wide web to look for decent blog designs and suitable templates. After finding what I like, I've to tweak the codes to suit my blog. It was a nightmare, really! The old boring Blogger template designs are now ancient history. I definitely find it easier to manage the blog now with the newly introduced features. Blogger should have worked on them much sooner but better late than never, no?

I'm keeping it simple this time around. The last design was visually pleasing but admittedly too flashy - too showy. With this template, I feel I could periodically change the design without much fuss. I've actually tried out a few designs with this template and it just took me a few minutes to give my blog a total makeover.

It has been awhile since I've changed the template so I did forget to do a few important things but nothing too serious though. I did however lose two full days of statistics for forgetting to inside a set of codes. Whatever it is, it has made blogging much easier and fun again. I would definitely recommend using the new Template Designer feature.

Enough of cosmetics, time for substance.

Of Friends And Acquaintances

2010-04-10T17:16:00.005+08:00

Not many of us are able to tell the difference between a friend and an acquaintance. Many times, they are thought to be the very same thing. The truth is, they are not. In many cases, people mistaken colleagues whom they see and work with everyday as their friends. Some may in the process become your friends but the rest are in fact just mere acquaintances.

Maybe the fine line between friends and acquaintances were blurred even further with the growing popularity of social networking sites like Friendster and Facebook. The term 'friend' is used to refer to anyone you add on these sites when in fact they could very well be a member of your family, a business associate, a student, a mentor or anyone else you may not necessarily regard as a friend.

In one's life, you will meet many acquaintances but make few friends. Even the friendliest of persons will have fewer friends than acquaintances. This is natural as people you first meet start off as acquaintances before they are elevated to the status of friend through time spent together.

An acquaintance is someone whose name you know, who you see every now and then, who you probably have something in common with and who you feel comfortable around.

It's a person that you can invite to your home and share things with. But they are people who you don't share your life with, whose actions sometimes you don't understand because you don't know enough about them.

On the other hand, a friend is someone you love. Not that you are "in love" with them, but you care about them and you think about them when they are not there. The people you are reminded of when you see something they might like, and you know this because you know them so well. They are the people whose pictures you have and whose faces are in your head regardless. [...]

I remember writing a piece about friendship and went back to review it. It was written way back in October 2007 but as I went through the piece, it is as relevant now as it was then. Every paragraph, every sentence, every word is exactly the very same things I want to express in this post. It would recommend reading it for better context although I will be quoting some portions of it here.

...friends are definitely not like sanitary pads where you use them when you need them most to soak up all your troubles and you just throw them aside when you're done using them.

As far as I can remember, I've been consistent about how I feel being used like an object by someone I consider a friend. I don't agree with the misguided belief that "friends are meant to be used, that's what friends are for". In my lifetime, I've been unfortunate to come across quite a few of them. Sometimes I'm a spectator from the bylines witnessing how others are being treated like tools. Other times, I'm not so fortunate and I'm the one being treated like a tool.

...friendship is a two way street. Yes, it's bidirectional and not just a roller-coaster ride where it goes in one direction and you just get off the ride when you're done.

Friendships, like any other relationships may see one party receiving more than he/she gives back but we try our best to find a balance and make up for the imbalance. When you constantly take from the cookie jar, forgetting to replenish it adequately, you will end up with an empty cookie jar. Likewise, if you constantly take from your friend without giving back, you will end up with a friend running on empty.

It's bad enough that you are ignored but even worse would be to have that person hurt you in the process with his/her actions/inaction.

Often times, we don't realise we have neglected our friends. We are all guilty of that. However, we try our very best to make up for it in whatever way possible. It is true when they say "a friend in need is a friend indeed". When you hit rock bottom and look around you, those who still stick around are truly your friends. What about those who always turn you down when you seek their help? What about those who makes you feel uncomfortable seeking help from them before you could even ask for their help? Are they still considered friends?

When you put your neck out for someone, you definitely don't expect that person to bring out an axe to chop your head off, especially so when that person is someone you regard as a friend.

I've been told that we should not have any expectations whatsoever. Without expectations, there's no chance for you to be disappointed. True but if we do not have the slightest bit of expectation whatsoever, it only shows we don't care enough to want the friendship to progress any further. It only shows we don't care anything about the friend at all. It is the degree of expectation where the problem lies but is it too much to expect your friend not to treat you like dirt?

You always hope and believe certain individuals have changed for the better until you see the old them creeping back. You are blinded by the new them and ignore the signs that the old them is still very much alive beneath all that new exterior. It is only when it's too late that you discover you've been fooling yourself all these while.

As friends, we always try to hide the flaws we see in them. We always look at the positives rather than the negatives. This is made easier when we make an effort to make up for our own flaws. It is only when the ugly truth rears its head that you realise your folly. It is only when you realise you've not been truthful to yourself that you wished you weren't so foolish. I've told myself before that I won't put myself in such a position again but here I am once more. I may seem to have a hard exterior but the truth is I've a soft centre and I'm very much capable of hurting inside.

It is only when you lose something that you realise how much you truly treasure that something.

As if it isn't complicated enough, a new class of friends known as pseudo-friends exist. They are nice to you and seem like your 'friend' only because of some particular reason. Take that away from the equation and there's no reason for them to be nice or 'friends' with you anymore.

I'm not a colleague who needs to remain professional for the sake of working together. I'm not another person who needs a companion for lunch/dinner. I'm not a housemate who needs a place to stay. I'm not a junior co-worker who needs to show you respect. I'm not someone who owes you money. I'm not someone who needs your technical expertise. I'm not someone who needs your sales. I'm not someone who needs someone to play sports with. I'm not indebted to you in anyway at all. I have no other reason for wanting to be your friend apart from just to be a friend. I'm not a pseudo-friend. If you can't see and appreciate me for that, then it isn't exactly my loss.

But I already know the answer. The silence is deafening. The message is crystal clear. I'm unworthy.

The Comeback Kid

2010-04-08T14:20:00.002+08:00

Having not blogged for such a long time, it can be quite a task to get back the momentum and inspiration. I have lost count how many times I've tried to resuscitate this blog to no avail. This attempt may end up with the very same outcome.

There are many reasons why I didn't bother to blog for so long. The lack of time was a major factor and still is. One of the main reasons I started blogging in 2005 was to share with others what I knew (as if that is worth knowing). It was also a means to connect with friends and update them with happenings in my life (as if that is worth knowing either). It also proved to be an outlet for me to pour my emotions out rather than keeping it all within.

Through the years, I found other means to fulfill those needs. Facebook and Jaiku helped me connect with friends and kept them updated on my mundane life. I was able to share my knowledge and experiences in person with those whom were close and mattered most to me. I was also able to keep my emotional jar empty by constantly pouring out its contents.

In recent times, I've found some of them no longer true. Maybe this is why I'm going back to blogging to fulfill those needs. Blogging is supposed to be therapeutic they say and I'm hoping it will still work for me the way it used to back then.

I've set out to accomplish a few tasks in this so-called comeback. There are a few posts which require updating and I will probably focus on those first. I also have quite a number of drafts which has collected quite a lot of dust over time and that should be next in line. A revamp of the blog's layout may be in order too. The rest will follow later.

So, hang on to your seats as the posts may get quite dirty and ugly. I'm back!

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 11: The After Party

2009-07-24T00:06:00.005+08:00

To celebrate our success in finally finding Teluk Ketapang (and staying alive to tell the tale), we had a small gathering the following week.

It was also a way to thank our friends who were instrumental in getting us back in one piece. From that one incident, we were reminded of how much we mattered to each other.

So, has the issue cooled down enough for our next adventure? ;)

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

2009-07-15T17:30:00.013+08:00

Although ~~six~~ SEVEN mainstream newspapers carried our story, only one got their facts right - Guang Ming Daily. As such, this post will address the inaccuracies of all the newspaper reports.

Let's start with Kwong Wah Daily [PDF] since it's the worst culprit of them all. They claimed we were lost, physically weak, was there to conduct research and even got our gender wrong. As you know by now, we didn't lose our way in the forest at all. We were also not physically weak and in fact, surprisingly still very strong after all the strenous hiking and trekking, experiencing more than six hours of torrential downpour and not sleeping at all! There were three males and two females in our group but they reported four males and one female. You just can't find worse reporting than that!

Next up, Sin Chew Daily [PDF]. The most major mistake reported by this newspaper was the purpose of us being there. Like the other dailies, it reported that we were doing research but it added a little something on their own too. It claimed we were there to open up new trails which is not true. I don't think we're qualified to actually open up new trails (yet). We were actually just exploring a trail that is hardly used by anyone and I don't think that qualifies as opening up new trails for others. It also got our age wrong which was also a mistake made by the other dailies.

Nanyang Siang Pau [PDF] gave quite an accurate account of what actually transpired but not quite good enough. They also reported that we were conducting research and opening up new routes which we know is all wrong. It was pure leisure and we were trying out new trails. Age was also reported wrongly but this is not really a major issue.

I will discuss both the New Straits Times [PDF] and Utusan Malaysia [PDF] articles together since they are just translations of each other considering they are sister companies. It was quite poor reporting from them. They got the timeline all wrong. As much as I like to hike at night, we didn't start our hike at midnight. Instead, it was close to 1pm on Saturday. We did head to Teluk Duyong but we didn't detour to Pantai Kerachut after that. We did not forget to inform our families and friends. We just couldn't contact them since there were no available mobile networks at Teluk Ketapang. The missing persons report was also lodged much earlier than 3am stated in the article. We were not conducting research for our Master degree. In fact, none of us were pursuing a Masters degree.

The Star [PDF], arguably the most read English newspaper in Malaysia and widely circulated in Penang, probably did the most damage of them all. The news spread like wildfire due to their article on page 3. It also resulted in showcause letters from the Fisheries Department and Forestry Department since it was stated in the article that we were conducting research at the Penang National Park, which we weren't. Fortunately, the university cleared the mess up on our behalf. We weren't stranded per se but that headline definitely caught the readers' attention. We never had intentions of going to Pantai Kerachut and had not gone to Pantai Kerachut to only be located at Monkey Beach which is at two opposite ends of the Penang National Park. Our age was also reported wrongly and none of us were Master's students. We were never interviewed by Ann Tan so how is it possible that I was quoted to have only wished to be named as Lee? How is it possible for us to decline to be named if we weren't even interviewed? The article was written as if to give the impression that the reporter was there but she just wasn't. In all honesty, they did try to contact me through my handphones later that day but both my phones were dead after the whole ordeal and I was already on my bed catching up on sleep. I definitely expected better reporting from The Star. It was nothing but poor, irresponsible and unethical reporting.

Guang Ming Daily [PDF] wrote the most accurate and most detailed article amongst the lot. This was due to the fact that the reporter actually stayed with the families and friends at the police station to get all the facts. The reporter was there throughout the whole ordeal and was the only one that interviewed us. I gave him a full account of what actually transpired and we were rewarded with accurate reporting. Although the article did also state we were doing research, got our age wrong and didn't report our actual destination like all the other dailies, these were considered trivial when compared to the other parts of the article which was complete with facts and put us in a good light. The reporter must be commended for doing what he was paid to do, report the facts and not sensationalise the issue like his peers from the other dailies.

From this one event, we can see for ourselves which newspaper observes ethics when reporting the news and the ones that put in that extra effort to spice up their stories. As the ones who report the news to the masses, they are responsible to check their facts before putting it to print. When in doubt, they should do the only ethical thing - do not include it. Our newspapers are known to spin all kinds of stories these days and we've to take all that is reported with a pinch of salt. From this experience, a whole sack is probably needed to nulify all the spices added to their stories.

Part 01: Official Blog Statement
Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?
Part 03: The First Attempt
Part 04: The Second Attempt
Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt
Part 06: Welcome to Hotel Ketapang
Part 07: A Night Like No Other
Part 08: The Morning After
Part 09: The Reunion
Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 09: The Reunion

2009-07-15T17:29:00.010+08:00

As the boat approached the jetty at Teluk Bahang, we could see our families, friends, villagers and pressmen waiting at the beach. Of course it was an emotional moment for some of us especially those who had waited and worried over us for one whole night but the reunion had to be cut short as we had to talk to the police first since a police report was made as suggested by the park rangers.

After some questions were posed to us by the police and we gave our side of the story, we were released and the missing persons report cancelled. As we were thanking all the parties involved in the search and rescue team, a reporter from Guang Ming Daily approached me and requested for an interview which I granted. I related to him all that transpired in the past 24 hours and the only two inaccurate things in his report were the location (Monkey Beach instead of Teluk Ketapang) and the purpose of us being there (conducting research instead of leisure). None of the other newspapers which carried the story interviewed us. Even if they listened in to the Q&A between the police and us, at no point did we mention that we were conducting research at the Penang National Park. So, there wasn't even a chance for us to be misquoted as they didn't even get a quote from us.

Although we had thanked and apologised to all those who were directly or indirectly involved in this matter, we would still like to take this opportunity to thank them again for all their selfless efforts in locating us and their many prayers for our safety. We would also like to apologise for all the worries and inconvenience caused by this incident. We do really appreaciate everyone's concern about our well-being including the nearby villagers and the love and care shown by our families, friends and colleagues. For those who still think we got lost at either Pantai Kerachut or Muka Head just based on reading the inaccurate newspaper reports, you're entitled to your stupidity.

Part 01: Official Blog Statement
Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?
Part 03: The First Attempt
Part 04: The Second Attempt
Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt
Part 06: Welcome to Hotel Ketapang
Part 07: A Night Like No Other
Part 08: The Morning After
Part 09: The Reunion
Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 08: The Morning After

2009-07-15T17:28:00.012+08:00

As it approached 6am, I heard the sound of whistles and people shouting. I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination or the search party. I related this to my friends and some did hear it, some didn't. As the rain finally stopped, we ventured out to the beach. I saw a spot in the forest which was illuminated by light. Instinctively, we started shouting and sending signals using the flash of our cameraphones and digital SLR. There wasn't a response so we stopped. Maybe it was just some aliens and thier UFOs.

It was daybreak and bright enough for us to hike back. We decided to wait awhile longer in case they sent a boat out for us but looking at the strong waves, they would probably not be able to land on the beach safely. At 7.45am, we decided to hike back and left them a message on the beach to let them know we were there and were on our way back to Teluk Duyong.

After hiking back for a short while, we heard the sound of boats behind us. The search party must have arrived at Teluk Ketapang. We decided to move forward instead of going back in case the boat left after seeing we were no longer at the beach. We would later discover that we made the wiser choice of hiking back as one of the boats sent to Teluk Ketapang capsized due to strong waves.

After we crossed the halfway point of the trail, we started to hear voices from the front and the back of us. We just kept moving forward towards Teluk Duyong. As the voices in front of us grew louder, we responded and suddenly the search party jumped out at us from all directions near the now infamous giant tree like how commandos apprehanded Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

Members of the Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department, Rescue 991, Malaysian Coast Guard, park rangers and villagers were part of the search party amounting to 30 persons. They offered us food and drinks but we already had breakfast before we hiked back. They checked to make sure all were accounted for and relayed the message back to the National Park Headquarters. They checked if we needed medical attention but we were just fine. They asked if we needed a break but we were just raring to go home. In fact, it was they who asked for a break before we proceeded back home. It was understandable considering they had to comb the whole forest in search of us.

With both the search parties reunited (through the help of smoke signals created by cigarrettes), we started our journey back to Teluk Duyong. We realised that they actually used a more difficult route than the one we had used. It turned out that we were more familiar with the route than them. As we reached Teluk Duyong, two boats were already waiting there to take us back to Teluk Bahang. As we cleaned ourselves up with seawater, a friend of ours who had previously joined us in our quest to find Teluk Ketapang came running at us. It wasn't a scene from Baywatch but it was close enough. ;) He was asked by the authorities to show the search party the beginning of the trail to Teluk Ketapang as they themselves didn't know where it was. We boarded the boat and were soon on our way back to Teluk Bahang.

Part 01: Official Blog Statement
Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?
Part 03: The First Attempt
Part 04: The Second Attempt
Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt
Part 06: Welcome to Hotel Ketapang
Part 07: A Night Like No Other
Part 08: The Morning After
Part 09: The Reunion
Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 07: A Night Like No Other

2009-07-15T17:27:00.011+08:00

We kept ourselves occupied for the night talking and joking around. We had predicted the attention we would be receiving in the press once we got out, so no surprises there. We just didn't expect six dailies to carry the story and to actually appear on page 3 of a mainstream newspaper. Aspiring politicians would kill for that spot! Although this was probably my fourth/fifth time being featured in The Star and second in the other dailies, I didn't actually expect the article to be featured so prominently! Target for next year: Front Page news! :P

We also made plans for any eventualities during the night. We tried to signal some deepsea fishing boats but to no avail. We tried searching for mobile networks but even the 'emergency calls only' network didn't work.

As it approached midnight and the sight of the deepsea fishing boats making their way back, I knew something was not right. These fishing boats thrived on fishing in the dark. If they were making their way back now, it could only mean that a storm was coming. As I looked over to the horizon, my heart sank. The sky at the horizon was as black as coal and it was fast approaching. The winds were getting stronger and the tide was also coming in.

We did consider taking shelter under some rocks but as the tide was coming in, we abandoned the idea and went back to our bivouac instead. We suddenly felt a gush of hot wind and we knew the storm had arrived. The rain was the heaviest we had experienced thus far and the wind was blowing landwards and seawards, back and forth. We really thought that our bivouac would give way and be blown away by the wind. Fortunately, it was strong enough and stood steady till the very next day. For those who lamented at EXCOs for splashing water at our shelters directly at 90 degrees (me included), I can tell you now for a fact that rain do come right at you at 90 degrees!

The wind wasn't that strong anymore after a couple of hours but the rain was still as heavy as ever. It would be an understatement to say we were getting cold. We were freezing and I was afraid we may succumb to hypothermia and paradoxical undressing. We did everything possible to keep ourselves warm by huddling together and even resisted empyting our bladders to maintain our body temperature. It sometimes felt colder with your shirt on and there's a burning sensation everytime the rain drops on your clothing as if your skin was on fire. With the knowledge about paradoxical undressing, I kept my shirt on and only took it off to squeeze it dry. Fortunately no one stripped to their undies. That would not have been a lovely sight! :P

It really felt like forever as the rain kept pouring. We couldn't check for the time as it was too dark and we didn't want to risk taking out any of our electrical items in the rain. Out of the blue, we heard some sound. It turned out to be a handphone alarm and that was what gave us the time. It was already 5am and that gave us renewed hope to hold on for just a little longer since we've gotten through most of it already. We had survived through a night like no other and we knew it would be coming to an end soon enough.

Part 01: Official Blog Statement
Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?
Part 03: The First Attempt
Part 04: The Second Attempt
Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt
Part 06: Welcome to Hotel Ketapang
Part 07: A Night Like No Other
Part 08: The Morning After
Part 09: The Reunion
Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 06: Welcome To Hotel Ketapang

2009-07-15T17:26:00.005+08:00

It was still raining a little and the winds were blowing very strongly. We quickly put into motion the finding of a suitable location and building a temporary shelter for us to camp for the night. We were quite fortunate that the strong winds had uprooted a sea almond tree (pokok ketapang, hence the name of the cove). We broke off it's branches and used its leaves to build our bivouac. Since the cove is quite a popular spot for hotel guests due to its serenity and exclusivity, there were plenty of rubbish we could rummage through to find anything useful to us such as styrofoam boxes.

The front of our bivouac made of branches and leaves of the sea almond tree

Our bivouac managed to shelter us from the strong winds and a little of the rain, keeping us warm. It stopped raining after a short while and since we had loads of time on our hands, we started to piece together events which we figured should be happening over at the other side (back in civilisation). It was later proven that our power of deduction was not only good, it was spot on.

The entrance to Hotel Ketapang

We were hoping that our friends and/or families would realise by dinnertime that something was amiss and send help for us. We expected that by 11pm, a boat should arrive around the cape to take us home. When the boat didn't come, we knew for sure we had to stay at the shelter we had build, aptly called Hotel Ketapang. We would later discover that they did send a boat out to rescue us but had to turn back due to strong waves.

The inside of our bivouac where we holed up for the night with the help of styrofoam boxes

Part 01: Official Blog Statement
Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?
Part 03: The First Attempt
Part 04: The Second Attempt
Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt
Part 06: Welcome to Hotel Ketapang
Part 07: A Night Like No Other
Part 08: The Morning After
Part 09: The Reunion
Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt

2009-07-15T17:25:00.008+08:00

We planned to start our hike early as it was a public holiday. We didn't want to get caught by human traffic at the Penang National Park. Unfortunately, it was still raining heavily from the night before when we woke up just before 6am. We decided to sleep in for the time being and decide later at 7 or 8am if we should continue with the hike or cancel it.

Two of our friends who were already at the Penang National Park at 6am were our eyes there. As the rain started to dissipate at 8am and the thought of the two of them having waited for us for over two hours, we decided to proceed with the hike. It was only when we met them at the entrance of the Penang National Park did we realise that they also didn't have the heart to ask us to cancel the hike because of those who had stayed over at my house. Since we were already there and the rain had stopped, we carried on with the hike.

As we reached Sungai Tukun, it started to pour very heavily. We were undecided if we should just proceed on or call it a day. In the end, we called it a day and went for brunch at Tanjung Bungah. As we were finishing our bowls of Hokkien Mee (and Jawa Mee for some), the skies cleared up and the sun came out so brightly. We were tempted to pursue with our hike, even if it was just until Teluk Duyong. We decided to get it over and done with that very day and started our journey to the Penang National Park again.

We started our journey into the park close to 1pm and reached Teluk Duyong in about an hour's time. As we sat down to catch our breath, it started to rain again. It didn't rain for long and we were left with a decision; hike back or continue on to Teluk Ketapang. I'm sure you know by now what our decision was.

We decided to forge ahead since we were already at Teluk Duyong. This time around, we used a different path (through the rubber trees instead of the durian orchard) which we discovered from our previous attempts. Not only is this path easier, it is faster. We reached the crossroads near the giant boulders which we stopped at previously. With the help of a compass, we used the path through the giant boulders this time around. This was the path I had wanted to explore during our last attempt but I was unsure if all the members of the group would be able to maneuver across the giant boulders safely. If it was just me alone, I would have jumped down those boulders and probably already on my way to Teluk Ketapang but this was not the case and I had to think of everyone in the group, weak or strong.

With the knowledge that even old ladies could do it and photo evidence that this was the right path, we forged ahead and found markers left by previous hikers. Clearing the path on land can be difficult enough but doing in on the boulders is a whole different ball game. Dead leaves and debris covered the holes and chasms between the giant boulders. Plants grew above the boulders which all needed to be cleared first before we could allow the rest of the group to pass. This was the most time consuming part of the hike. The rain had also made parts of the trail slippery and very difficult to trek and this also took a huge chunk of our time.

We moved forward and finally found the giant tree stated in the guide. We treked up the slope and was led by markers all the way until we reached yet another fallen tree. As always, we had to find a way around it and clear the path on our own. It started to rain again and quite heavily too. Up to this part of the trail, we were beneath canopies of trees. We could now see the skies above without trees blocking our view.

It was getting late, between 4 and 5pm. We had a decision to make; either we start trekking back or continue forward. There were a few reasons why we decided to move forward to Teluk Ketapang instead of Teluk Duyong. Although the determination to find Teluk Ketapang was still strong, it was actually basic survival instincts that finally decided which path we took.

Since we were nearer to Teluk Ketapang than Teluk Duyong and the journey was downhill from where we were, we would had made it out of the forest much quicker if we went to Teluk Ketapang instead of going back to Teluk Duyong. The knowledge that sunset will befall Teluk Duyong first and Teluk Ketapang later also meant that we would have more light to illuminate our path if we moved towards Teluk Ketapang. As mentioned earlier, our path back to Teluk Duyong would have been heavily covered by tree canopies which will make it even darker.

We would have to maneuver through many boulders too and in the heavy rain, that would have been a more dangerous thing to do. For those old and privileged enough to have visited Pantai Kerachut and Muka Head before it was developed, you would remember the time when you had to maneuver through large boulders just to get to Teluk Duyong. This was way before they built bridges and wooden stairs to make the trails easier. The path to Teluk Ketapang was scattered with such large boulders which you had to maneuver across so you would understand it would have been folly to do that in the rain. We had also hoped that there would be tourist or fishing boats around that area which we could hitch a ride back. We moved towards Teluk Ketapang without blinking an eye and our only goal was to do it before nightfall.

At around 6pm, we finally reached the elusive Teluk Ketapang. The joy of finally finding the place was quickly overshadowed by the realisation that there were no mobile networks in the area and no boats were to be seen due to the strong waves. It was then we knew we had no choice but to camp here for the night.

Part 01: Official Blog Statement
Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?
Part 03: The First Attempt
Part 04: The Second Attempt
Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt
Part 06: Welcome to Hotel Ketapang
Part 07: A Night Like No Other
Part 08: The Morning After
Part 09: The Reunion
Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 04: The Second Attempt

2009-07-15T17:24:00.006+08:00

We tried again the following week after gathering more information on how to get to Teluk Ketapang. We tried several paths we created on our own but were met with dead-ends everytime. We finally managed to meet up with the boatman who sells drinks at one of the abandoned Boon Siew bungalows and he helped point us in the right direction.

We went into the forest again, this time in the right direction, determined and confident enough to venture forward. We finally found markers placed by previous hikers and followed them until we reached an area where quite a number of trees had fallen. It was after this that we couldn't find anymore markers and couldn't agree on which route to use. We tried a couple of routes although I knew deep down it was in the wrong direction. Since we didn't have a compass with us, I was unable to prove that the routes we were exploring were actually heading away from Teluk Ketapang. Some may claim that I'm indeed a walking compass (iPhone 3G S digital compass not included) but that is not enough.

To avoid any confrontation and cause worry to the other members of the group, I relented and helped explore those routes. In the end, the group decided not to pursue the routes in that direction any further and call it a day since it was way past lunchtime. In our next attempt, it was proven with a compass that these routes were indeed going in the wrong direction.

Part 01: Official Blog Statement
Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?
Part 03: The First Attempt
Part 04: The Second Attempt
Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt
Part 06: Welcome to Hotel Ketapang
Part 07: A Night Like No Other
Part 08: The Morning After
Part 09: The Reunion
Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 03: The First Attempt

2009-07-15T17:23:00.004+08:00

With a very vague and short description of how to get there obtained from various sources, we used our (non-existent) pathfinding skills to find our way there. According to the guide, it is only a short 1.2km journey that would only require 15 to 30 minutes. Of course, we allocated many more hours than what was recommended just in case, considering this trail was hardly used.

So, we started our little project (non-research related as claimed by all dailies) last month. We were expecting the difficulty to be something similar to that of Teluk Kampi but the truth is, it was probably more difficult. There was practically no path whatsoever due to the overgrowth of vegetation and fallen trees covering the trail.

It was very much like a treasure hunt as we searched for clues and locations stated in the guide. The trail begins from one of the casuarina trees near the abandoned Boon Siew bungalow. We had to walk past overgrown lallang to get to a canal and cross it using a makeshift bridge. After crossing the canal, we entered the forest and came to a fruit orchard with mangosteen trees. As we ventured further, we reached a durian orchard and a very steep hillslope (the durians were delicious, by the way). According to the guide, the trail starts to the right of the wild ginger plants. Unfortunately, the area was overgrown with vegetation and fallen branches with no trail to be seen. As we couldn't decide which path to follow and there were a group of our friends waiting for us at Teluk Duyong, we decided to continue another day.

Part 01: Official Blog Statement
Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?
Part 03: The First Attempt
Part 04: The Second Attempt
Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt
Part 06: Welcome to Hotel Ketapang
Part 07: A Night Like No Other
Part 08: The Morning After
Part 09: The Reunion
Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?

2009-07-15T17:22:00.005+08:00

So what is this mysterious place that must not be published in the newspapers, you ask? If we didn't go to Pantai Kerachut or Muka Head, where did we go then? Ever since the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve was converted to the Penang National Park and the constant development of the area, more people have been frequenting the place. This used to be a place away from civilisation that I could go to and catch a breather. That has been taken away with the trails made easier and frequent boat rides for visitors to get there. Time to find a new place away from civilisation. Time for a new challenge.

Awhile back, we decided to explore Teluk Kampi, the longest white beach on the island of Penang. It was decided that Teluk Kampi will be the new challenge, the new respite from the world. Where is this Teluk Kampi? It is the beach after Pantai Kerachut. How do you get there? You'll have to reach Pantai Kerachut first before embarking on your journey to Teluk Kampi. It was quite a strenous climb as the slopes are steep. It will definitely give you a good workout, that's for sure. The path was not well established and we had to clear certain paths ourselves due to fallen trees and overgrown vegetation. Just the right challenge we were looking for.

Our effort was ultimately rewarded by the long, beautiful white beach at the other side of the hill, unspoilt by development, away from civilisation. I'm glad we managed to explore this place way before the Penang National Park made it one of their official trails. It would probably be less challenging and more people would have infested the area by now.

However, we were still not satisfied with our achievement of reaching Teluk Kampi. We wanted a new challenge and it was decided that Teluk Ketapang will be our next challenge. To get to Teluk Ketapang, you would have to make your way first to Teluk Duyong and start your journey there. It is a small sandy cove just past the Muka Head lighthouse. The trail is hardly, if ever, used. It may just be a 1.2km trail but it will prove anything but a walk in the park (no pun intended).

Part 01: Official Blog Statement
Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?
Part 03: The First Attempt
Part 04: The Second Attempt
Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt
Part 06: Welcome to Hotel Ketapang
Part 07: A Night Like No Other
Part 08: The Morning After
Part 09: The Reunion
Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

The Teluk Ketapang Story Part 01: Official Blog Statement

2009-07-15T17:21:00.008+08:00

The Michael Jackson tribute will have to wait. He is not going anywhere now that he is dead so the King of Pop can wait for awhile more before I pay tribute to him. Instead, I would like to tell the facts behind the recent drama that happened at Penang National Park.

As to our knowledge, ~~six~~ SEVEN local newspapers have carried the story (two English, four Chinese, one Malay) either electronically, print or both. Only the article written by Guang Ming Daily [PDF] was factual as the reporter was the only one that was around the whole time interviewing the families, the authorities and the victims (that would be us). I don't know where or how the other dailies cooked up their stories. In fact, the one carried by Kwong Wah Yit Poh [PDF] was the worst getting all the facts wrong. More about that later.

All the newspapers got the location wrong. Maybe they didn't know the right location, maybe they were warned by the authorities not to publish the correct location fearing that people will start going there. What's for sure, the location was neither Monkey Beach (Teluk Duyong/Muka Head) nor Pantai Kerachut. If you are a rationale thinking person and you know the location of these two beaches, you would know that they are at two opposite ends of the Penang National Park. To believe the article published in The Star [PDF] that we intended to go to Pantai Kerachut but ended up in Monkey Beach is nothing less than ludicrous. Unless of course the reader is that dense to believe such a story. Unfortunately there are quite a few out there.

At no material time were we lost while we were at the Penang National Park. We were neither doing any research nor opening up new trails there as claimed by the papers. It was a public holiday and we just went hiking for the fun of it. They just assumed we were conducting research since the group comprised mainly of graduate students and researchers. It is as if to say that if a group of dancers were to be hiking in there, they would be expected to dance in the forest. They probably sensationalised the story since this incident involved USM students and this incident happened not too long after the recent foul-up by the Apex university.

I've personally been to both Pantai Kerachut and Teluk Duyong countless of times, close to 20 years now, both in the day and at night. I personally prefer hiking at night since there will be less people compared to daytime and it's more challenging. Both trails are so well established that you cannot get lost even if you tried to. With all the infrastructure at these two locations and the availability of boats and mobile telecommunication networks, you are very much in safe hands.

The reason we are releasing this statement is to help facilitate the many request for answers by our friends and families. This will also help clarify and correct the many inaccuraries in the newspaper reports. We would also like to document this incident so we can look back at it in years to come. Please join us as we relive the events of that fateful day in the following articles:

Part 01: Official Blog Statement
Part 02: Why Teluk Ketapang & Where Is It?
Part 03: The First Attempt
Part 04: The Second Attempt
Part 05: The Third & Fateful Attempt
Part 06: Welcome to Hotel Ketapang
Part 07: A Night Like No Other
Part 08: The Morning After
Part 09: The Reunion
Part 10: Factual Inaccuracies In The Newspapers

P/S Due to time constraint, pictures will be added later to the articles.

Touch My Hand

2009-06-01T15:27:00.001+08:00

by David Archuleta

"Touch My Hand" music video performed by David Archuleta on AOL Sessions

Saw you from a distance
Saw you from the stage
Something about the look in your eyes
Something about your beautiful face

In a sea of people
There was only you
I never knew what the song was about
But suddenly now I do

Trying to reach out to you, touch my hand
Reach out as far as you can
Only me, only you, and the band
Trying to reach out to you, touch my hand

Can’t let the music stop
Can’t let this feeling end
Cause if I do it’ll all be over
I’ll never see you again

Can’t let the music stop
Until I touch your hand
Cause if I do it’ll all be over
I’ll never get the chance again

I’ll never get the chance again
I’ll never get the chance again

I see the sparkle of a million flashlights
A wonderwall of stars
But the one that’s shining out so bright
Is the one right where you are

I'm a real fan of David Archuleta and has been supporting him since his American Idol days. I wouldn't go so far as to call myself an Arch-Angel but I enjoy his music so much more than the other David, Cook. David Cook seems just a little half-cooked, if you get what I mean. He may have won the American Idol title and outsold David Archuleta in terms of album sales but I believe that's only because of his coronation song, 'Time of My Life'. I do enjoy some of the covers he did on American Idol but I don't like the singles he has released post-American Idol. 'Light On'? Try a major 'Turn Off' instead.

Isn't it just sad that most of the American Idols turn out to be flops? It just seems to be the Poisoned Chalice instead of the Holy Grail it was meant to be. The only American Idol who has the right to claim success is the first (and some claim only) American Idol, Kelly Clarkson. She's still churning out hits so many years after her American Idol days.

Kris Allen winning this year's American Idol was definitely a huge upset. Adam Lambert was clearly everyone's favourite to win until AT&T screwed up big time. There were many theories for Adam's disappointing lose such as the fact that he's gay and the American public weren't ready to idolise an openly gay superstar (and why not?), Gokey fans poured their support onto Kris to cause an upset just to show Gokey indeed has a huge following (right, sure...) but none as scandalous as AT&T employees handing out display units to Kris Allen fans and teaching them how to power-text for free! It all points to another American Idol flop in Kris Allen and the rise of a phoenix in Adam Lambert. Time will tell.

This may be Archie's third single but I enjoy this the most and that's why I'm posting this up instead of the other two. It caught my attention the first time I heard it on the radio and I've been loving it ever since. I do hope he will continue to churn out more hits like this. Meanwhile...can't let the music stop, can't let this feeling end... ;)

In Search Of Inspiration

2009-05-01T20:08:00.005+08:00

Although this blog has been in existence for four years, it doesn't feel like an achievement compared to previous anniversaries. In fact, it feels more like a failed year if anything.

Statistics, like Shakira's hips, don't lie. A mere 25 blog entries throughout one whole year is a little more than depressing. It's plain pathetic. Needless to say, readership tanked. Apart from loyal followers (thank you all for still being around), most have moved on to more interesting blogs, and rightly so.

If it weren't for several evergreen entries which never fail to receive visits through the years and constantly being the 10 most popular posts, this blog would probably just be a non-entity in the blogosphere (as if it hasn't already).

I've been trying to find the inspiration to blog more frequently. Anything would definitely be better than now but I just lack the passion of yesteryears. I find it too much of a hassle these days. Maybe it's a sign I should just stop but ironically, I'll probably find it too hard to give up altogether. Maybe I should just continue looking for the inspiration I long for, at least for the time being before I decide for sure. Maybe Peter Cetera of Chicago would be of help.

Then again...maybe not. Till I find the inspiration to blog again, live long and prosper...

Halo

2009-04-28T23:31:00.004+08:00

by Beyonce Knowles

"Halo" music video by Beyonce Knowles

Remember those walls I built
Well baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make a sound
I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I've got my angel now

It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
It's the risk that I'm takin'
I ain't never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over you face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo, halo, halo
I can see your halo, halo, halo
I can feel your halo, halo, halo
I can see your halo, halo, halo

Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest nights
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light
I swore I'd never fall again
But this don't even feel like fallin'
Gravity can't forget
To pull me back to the ground again

Another unbelievable song from the lovely Beyonce Knowles aka Sasha Fierce. This song has even inspired me to play the piano again. Alas, I'm too lazy to play it by ear and have been unsuccessful in finding the piano sheets for it till now. If anyone of you know where I can get hold of it, do let me know. I'm dying to force my stiff fingers back on the piano keys just to play this song. In the meantime, I'll just bask in the light of Beyonce's halo and enjoy her Siren-like vocals. ;)

The Climb

2009-03-31T23:42:00.003+08:00

by Miley Cyrus

"The Climb" music video by Miley Cyrus

I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming, but
There's a voice inside of my head, tellin'
You'll never reach it
Every step I'm takin'
Every move I make
Feels lost in no direction,
My faith is shakin'
But I gotta keep tryin'
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chancees I'm taking
Sometimes they knock me down, but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know where, but
These are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most
I've just gotta keep goin', and
I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on, cos

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's a climb

Keep on movin'
Keep climbin'
Keep the faith baby
It's all about, it's all about
The climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, woah

This song by a young but very talented Miley Cyrus is currently residing in my head. The lyrics can be very inspiring too. Isn't life like climbing a mountain? There are always peaks and valleys but you always keep on climbing (until the day you die, though). You enjoy the view and achievements when you reach the top and you pick yourself up, ready for another climb whenever you reach rock bottom. I don't want her to move out from my head for the time being. At least until another good song comes around. Hannah Montana can stay out, though. ;)

Latika's Theme From Slumdog Millionaire

2009-02-23T23:48:00.002+08:00

by A.R. Rahman

"Latika's Theme" - Original Soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire deservedly won 8 of the 10 Academy Awards it was nominated for. I was fortunate to watch it before the 2009 Academy Awards and truly experience the movie without prejudice. Everytime I hear this love song, I get all emotional. The movie really was that moving and the theme songs just add to the feel of the movie. Hope you enjoy the song as much as I do.

The Man Who Can't Be Moved

2009-01-16T20:08:00.004+08:00

by The Script

"The Man Who Can't Be Moved" music video by The Script

Going back to the corner where I first saw you
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag I'm not gonna move
Got some words on cardboard, got your picture in my hand
saying, "If you see this girl can you tell her where I am"

Some try to hand me money, they don't understand
I'm not broke, I'm just a broken-hearted man
I know it makes no sense, what else can I do
How can I move on when I'm still in love with you

Cos if one day you wake up and find you're missing me
And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I could be
Thinking maybe you'll come back here to the place that we'd meet
And you'll see me waiting for you on the corner of the street
So I'm not moving, I'm not moving

Policeman says, "Son you can't stay here"
I said, "There's someone I'm waiting for, if it's a day, a month, a year"
Got to stand my ground even if it rains or snows
If she changes her mind this is the first place she will go

People talk about the guy that's waiting on a girl
There are no holes in his shoes but a big hole in his world

Maybe I'll get famous as the man who can't be moved
Maybe you won't mean to but you'll see me on the news
And you'll come running to the corner
Cos you'll know it's just for you
I'm the man who can't be moved

Going back to the corner where I first saw you
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag I'm not gonna move

It is ironic that I would choose this song considering I moved to my new home on this very day. I probably chose to post this song because I find it really catchy and it has been in my head in recent times.

All living things move. It is a living process. To be moved emotionally however is a different thing altogether. Moving physically would probably not be a problem except for the physically impaired but it's much harder when it comes to emotions. You can move a person by means of physical force but to move that person's emotions would be next to impossible.

That, I believe, is what this song is trying to portray. It is not that he doesn't want to move physically, he's just waiting for the one person that is able move him emotionally. However lame that may sound, that is a very beautiful and powerful thing indeed.

How Can I Not Love You

2008-12-09T11:58:00.001+08:00

by Joy Enriquez

"How Can I Not Love You" music video by Joy Enriquez

Cannot touch, cannot hold
Cannot be together
Cannot love, cannot kiss,
Cannot have each other

Must be strong, and we must let go
Cannot say what our hearts must know
How can I not love you?
What do I tell my heart?
When do I not want you here in my arms?
How does one waltz away from all of the memories?
How do I not miss you when you are gone?

Cannot dream, cannot share,
Sweet and tender moments
Cannot feel how we feel,
Must pretend it's over

Must be brave, and we must go on
Must not say what we've known all along
How can I not love you?
What do I tell my heart?
When do I not want you here in my arms?
How does one waltz away from all of the memories?
How do I not miss you when you are gone?
How can I not love you?

Must be brave, and we must be strong
Cannot say what we've known all along
How can I not love you?
What do I tell my heart?
When do I not want you here in my arms?
How does one waltz away from all of the memories?
How do I not miss you when you are gone?

How can I not love you when you are gone?

I'll just let the lyrics do the talking this time around.

I'm Yours

2008-12-04T11:25:00.001+08:00

by Jason Mraz

"I'm Yours" music video by Jason Mraz

I love this song a lot. I used to come home from a busy day at work, tired and all, but all the fatigue, worries and headache goes away once I listen to this song. It made me feel all happy inside and all my troubles seem to just melt away. It became my drug. My daily fix. The first thing I did when I came home was to play this song everyday. The song worked wonders for me.

And just when I thought that song couldn't ever be any better, I heard this!

"I'm Yours (from the Casa Nova sessions)" music video by Jason Mraz

My heart practically melted. He just made something good so much better! Pure genius. There are many versions out there but I find this version the best of the lot. A friend of mine sent me another version but as much as I do like that version, I like this one so much more.

His website is also really cool. You should definitely have a visit. I'm not gonna say what's so cool about it so you'll have to go look yourself. Let's just say it's something different, kinda creepy in the beginning but cool after you get used to it.

I hardly hear it on the radio these days. I'm also not listening to it on a daily basis anymore, probably cos I'm much more relaxed these past few weeks (not escaping a touch of stress here and there, of course). However, whenever I need a little pick-me-up, I always turn to my man Jason Mraz to mesmerise me with his wonderful music. ;)

A Breath Of New Life

2008-11-30T22:48:00.001+08:00

I know I've not blogged for awhile. Since the last time I blogged, I've repaired my blog template. It looks much better now compared to before (I hope). I'm sure you'll realise not only does it look cleaner, some of those unwanted elements have disappeared. If you've been subscribing to my RSS feed, you'll probably have come to realise that I've enabled full post syndication too. I continue to listen to the suggestions put forward by my ardent readers (all two of you out there) and I'm trying to strike a balance between your wants and my needs. ;)

This is probably the flashiest layout I've chosen for my blog thus far. It has always been those boring layouts that you'll want to tear your eyes out right after looking at them. I'm trying something new here, trying to breath some life into my blog which has been hanging by a thread for a long while now.

I'm also trying to rebrand my blog. I've been known to write about socio-political issues in the past but having seen so many other blogs doing the same thing, quite a few much better at it than I am, I've stopped writing on those issues for quite awhile now, about a year I guess. I still plan to write about those issues which I feel very strongly about but not writing about a certain issue doesn't mean I don't care about that particular issue.

I'm thinking of writing more about food and travels. I know there are plenty out there too but I've always wanted to share the food and places that I've enjoyed. Also, I'm thinking of finally putting some money down for a dSLR. So, you'll hopefully be seeing more posts regarding food, travel and my photography in the future. I think it's a good change from the bleak posts I've done on the socio-political issues previously.

Well, I hope you like the changes done to the blog along with those in the pipeline. Until the next time I decide to torture you with another blog entry, enjoy! ;)

The 2008 Mazda Miata

2008-10-18T22:04:00.004+08:00

I love cars. I may not own tonnes of motoring magazines or work on my own motoring projects or modifications, I have great interest in the world of the fast and furious. I have many favourite cars and one of them is the 2008 Mazda Miata.

There's just something about this car that appeals to me. It has that classic look yet sporty and modern at the same time. This convertible is bound to turn heads when you take it for a ride.

There are tonnes of 2008 Mazda Miata reviews to be found online. One such review can be found at TheCarConnection.com.

It has the usual stuff you can find on other online reviews such as a written review, photo gallery and the sorts. However, it has something that most other sites do not provide - a 360 degree view of the car.

This is very useful as we're able to 'see' the product online without having to go to a showroom. This will definitely appeal to many who will do much of the research online first before visiting the showrooms. This feature will give the visitors a better overall picture of the car.

Of course, you shouldn't rely just on this to make your decision. You should eventually go to a showroom to have a feel of the car. Likewise, you shouldn't rely everything you read in a paid review and should visit the site to see for yourself what it has to offer.