Website on its own domain

Just in case you're wondering where my new weblog is, it's now hosted at its own domain. Go to http://www.zyenhoo.com!

Website's new link

Because the domain http://www.thewildwestbabes.com has been discontinued, my website now rests on another subdomain. The domain http://www.zyenhoo.com still works, but it now points to zyenhoo.bronyabishorek.com.

I will be hosting my website on its own space soon, but I'm waiting for my webhosting contract to expire in September first. Will keep you updated!

My Website

For those who don't know and are still coming here, I have a new blog and a new website:

Website:
http://www.zyenhoo.com)
If that doesn't work, try here: http://zyenhoo.thewildwestbabes.com

New blog:
http://zyenhoo.thewildwestbabes.com/weblog/index.html

Halt on my blog

I don't think I will be posting any more blogs for a long time to come. I'm just not the type to vent my frustrations or air my views online, not continuously anyway. At most I'd probably just update things intermittently. I think I will be sticking to my good ol' reliable personal website from now on.

I'd like to thank those of you who have been reading my blog. Stay cool.


Zyen's Webyrinth

Ain't Nothing Gonna Break My Stride!

Break My Stride
Matthew Wilder

Last night I had the strangest dream
I sailed away to China, in a little rowboat to find ya
And you said you had to get your laundry cleaned
Didn't want no one to hold you, what does that mean? And you said...

Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
Nobody's gonna slow me down, oh no
I've got to keep on moving
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground, oh no
I've got to keep on moving

You're on the road and now you pray at last
The road beyond was rocky
But now you're feeling cocky
You looked at me and you see your past
Is that the reason why you're running so fast? And she said...

Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
Nobody's gonna slow me down, oh no
I've got to keep on moving
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground, oh no
I've got to keep on moving

Never let another girl like you work me over
Never let another girl like you drag me under
If I meet another girl like you, I will tell her
Never want another girl like you, have to say - oh!

Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
Nobody's gonna slow me down, oh no
I've got to keep on moving
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground, oh no
I've got to keep on moving

Vampires in our midst

I heard a new term yesterday. Actually it's been around for a while but I only heard it yesterday for the first time. I never knew that it existed, but it sure explains a lot of things.

EMOTIONAL VAMPIRES

I'm not a lexicographer so I'm not going to attempt to launch into a long, verbose description about its actual meaning. I think the term in itself is pretty clear. It's basically referring to people who latch on to other people (like a parasite) and feed off their emotions, mainly because they're weak or so insecure that they need someone else to boost their own feelings, emotions or esteem.

I've often wondered why sometimes I feel so drained, or sometimes depressed, after spending time with certain people. It makes me feel less inclined to spend more time with them. I mean, of course there are some people we don't just get along well with, with difference in wavelengths or interests or even language fluencies, and we don't really like to hang around them. But this is different. My spirits feel lower than it had been before spending time with them.

I was talking with some friends last night and somehow the topic of conversation came to this. I suddenly understood what I've been going through with certain people. I guess these kinds of vampiric friends aren't quite good for the soul. I don't need people feeding off my emotions, especially when I need a picker-upper myself sometimes.

I don't think I'm an emotional vampire (so far I think I'm pretty self-sustaining) and I certainly hope I never become one. And I'm definitely going to be spending less time with these modern-time vampires. I'd rather you suck my blood than suck my soul.

Nestle Line Dance Competition

The day started off not quite the way I liked it. I had to get up early and - of all things - go to work. No, my boss is not a slave driver. She's actually had to postpone this appointment which was supposed to be held last Saturday (that's right - on Bangi competition day) in view of my competition but she could postpone it no further. But she's very understanding, and in fact picked me up from my office to go to the appointment place; and after lunch she dropped me off directly in front of the venue of my competition that day, which is at Berjaya Times Square Hotel. She even wanted to buy me some egg tarts and it was all I could do, telling her it was not necessary.

I had already been exhausted from the past week, not having enough sleep, and my body not fully recovered from the Bangi competition. I tried pumping myself up with some ginseng and some vitamin B complex.

It is the Finals of the Nestle Dance For Your Heart Fest... I was in the finals for both my individual (youth) and team (youth) categories. I had to do my individuals first - 2 dances (Cool Whip, and Cobra) before my team event.

The agenda was as such:

1st Dance
- Senior (51 years and above)
- Junior (15 years and below)
- Youth (16 - 29 years)
- Adult (30 - 50 years)
2nd Dance
- Senior
- Junior
- Youth
- Adult
Team
- Senior
- Junior
- Youth
- Adult

I'm sad to say that... I screwed up my first dance terribly. I knew it myself and I know a lot of people think that too. The moment I stepped off the floor, my coach (who was one of the judges at the competition, although she did not judge my event as I was one of her students) asked me if I was ok, because I looked really dead on the floor. I flew off to pump myself with even more ginseng and vitamin B, and my teammates had to calm me down. Helen actually made me sit down and she hugged me and told me to relax and breathe slowly. I was nearly in tears given my horrible performance. Thank God for such a supportive team, I don't know what I would have done without them.

As I warmed myself up trying to get into the right frame of mind for the next dance, to my horror I found my muscles absolutely fatigued and not responding to what I want. So one of my teammates (who was not competing), Hui Koon took me out of the noisy hall into a waiting area outside so that I could get my mind relaxed. Thank goodness there was time between my first and second dance for me to recompose myself. I did much better in the second dance, although it was not as good as I had done in the Bangi competition.

I had given up hope on my individual category, but I was determined that I would not be the one to bring my team down. One of my teammates, Catherine, was really sweet; she tried to help me calm my nerves during our warm-up session. I think she could really see how frazzled I was.

My team did spectacularly, especially Catherine, who really went out. Catherine has always felt she was one of the weaker ones because the improvement in her dancing over the past year was not as marked as the rest of us, but my coach said that during our show, she really went all out and she was really wonderful, in spite of a slight mistake. My coach says that Catherine is the real star of the day. I'm really glad for her because I know that comment means so much to her, and she really deserves to be in the spotlight for a change.

Dinner was not a very memorable event. You'd have expected a whole lot more for RM70. It's not even worth mentioning here. I'm going to skip this whole bit.

However halfway eating a tiny fruit tart (after stuffing myself happily with the miserable selections) I heard my name and another girl's called out and something about a rematch. I remember that I just dropped the half-eaten fruit tart and ran over to the emcee console asking him to repeat his announcement. He explained that another girl and I had tied for a placing and that we needed to dance again to decide the new placing.

"What, NOW?!" I asked.

"Yes" was his reply.

"I can't dance now! I've just eaten!"

Fortunately right at that moment Bronya (my coach) came up and so did the other girl, Vivian Khoo. Vivian also said that she's just eaten her fill and there's no way she could dance immediately. Bronya then told the emcee that they had to give the two of us time to digest and get warmed up.

"Is 10 minutes ok?" he asked.

"Obviously not! They need half an hour at least."

"But the prize-giving is supposed to be in 15 minutes. Unless we delay the prize-giving..."

"Yes, you have no choice."

Thank goodness for such a strong voice like Bronya. Otherwise I might be in the hospital until today being treated for appendicitis.

So we were given a half-hour preparation time, which Bronya advised the both of us touched up my make-up and at Bronya's advice, changed back into my black jeans (I had worn all black for my individual, and all white for my team) although I stayed with the white top. I was frankly annoyed at having to dance again and wished I didn't eat so much, but Catherine kept saying, "Think of this as a positive thing. You can get a placing!!!" She's such a lovely, positive person.

Of course, for me, I was saying silly negative things. We didn't know what placing I was tied for, so I kept saying, "It's probably for third. I know I'm not good enough to get first" to which everyone shushed me. But hey, I know that I was not at my peak performance and I was only being realistic.

We danced for about two minutes, and I really went all out. Apparently I did better than in my actual dance; I was in a better frame of mind, and my moves were much sharper. And thank GOODNESS they picked Cobra for the rematch! If it were Cool Whip, I'd have just DIED!!!! Honestly though, Vivian was a really good dancer in her own right. I think it was really, really close. She kept losing her wall though; I know because I have heard the song so many times that I know exactly when to do what. I just don't know if the judges knew that, because some of the judges weren't line dance teachers.

Anyway, prize announcement.... when it came to my category, for 3rd placing, at first the emcee wanted to say my name, but then changed to Vivian. And as he was about to read out the 2nd placing, all of us who were there in a huddle were praying and almost holding our breath, and....

"HOO SZE YEN!!!"

I think we may have screamed the whole place down. I know it's only second placing but for me it was really unexpected, given the terrible performance I gave and the lack of energy I had in my dancing. It's hard for me to dissect later, because we weren't allowed any videocameras in and I could not review my dancing. I kept asking my coach who although agreed my dancing was not at its best, but she said that a lot of other things count other than energy levels; things like technique and footwork. I must have practised Cobra so many times that in spite of my lack of energy, the technique and footwork just carried me through.

Well, first placing went to someone no one else had noticed on the floor. But obviously she must have been noticed by the judges because she won.

When it came to the team announcements, we were in an even tighter huddle. We knew we deserved to win, but we hoped the results were not biased as the other team in our category (there were only 2 teams then; there were supposed to be 4 altogether but 2 pulled out) was trained by the advisor of the said competition. The moment the results were announced, our screams must have been the loudest ever the whole hall has heard. We got champions! We got champions! WE CHAMPED THE TEAM EVENT!!!

I think the whole hall must have recognised me by then. I've been on the floor more often than any of the dancers. In fact, before finals results announcement, they were giving out top performer prizes for semi-finals, and somehow I just KNEW that my team would win our category. And sure enough, we won that prize.

I'm still on a high. I really am. I'm proud of my team. And selfishly, I'm proud of my achievements. I was and still am totally shocked that I could even get a placing in the top 3. I was probably one of the oldest in that category, and there are plenty of young and very talented dancers in my category which I thought I could not even hope to match or touch. I'm surprised I beat them, what more with my completely dismal Cool Whip (which I hope never to dance again). The girl who got top performer for semi-finals in my category didn't get any placing, which must have been quite a blow for her. But hah! I don't care! I won! I won! It's 2nd placing, but I still won something!

After that, all of us (except Ellyn) went to Qba at Westin Hotel to party and dance ourselves silly. For the first time in my life I actually got drunk, although I was still clear-headed enough to remember what I was doing, and able to keep time with my feet when one of my friends tested me by singing "We Will Rock You". I just couldn't walk straight, Bronya had to walk me. I remember throwing up, luckily before I got into the car. Ugh! Fortunately I wasn't driving; Hui Koon drove me home. I just rolled myself into bed that night. What a horrible experience. I never want to go through that again. I don't understand how anyone could drink themselves silly and throw up and get hangovers and ... repeat this every weekend.

Thankfully I didn't get a hangover the next morning, probably because everything got thrown up. However, I did have a pleasant Sunday with Bronya and Helen, by going to get my hair properly done. For the first time in my life, my hair actually looks manageable. No one could recognise me from the back. That messy thing that used to sit on my head is not there anymore!

Wow. What a weekend. I seemed to be finding some 'fans', and finding long-lost friends among the audience. A lady I met at the Dance Option competition who had recognised me from my friendly competition in Sg Way last year was there in Bangi, and she was there again in Nestle and came over to me both times to congratulate me. One of my neighbours who used to send me to school when I was a child called my mom up on Sunday to find out if I was the one who won the Nestle competition. And this is not a fan, but one of the most talented dancers from Penang actually told me that I did a good job, although I told her I think it was horrible, but thank you (this was just after the first time I did Cobra, right before my team event). FYI few people would actually stop to make comments like this, unless they really meant it. And my 'rival' from Bangi was there to watch (she didn't participate), and she was most encouraging whenever I went on the floor. She kept flashing me the thumbs-up and was very supportive with her claps and cheers.

I am still on a high. I really am!

ONE DAY EQUATORIAL LINE DANCE CARNIVAL 2004

It's over! It's done! I have finished the competition I have been waiting this whole year! (Well, a condensed version of it, anyway)

This competition had invited a famous line dance group Masters In Line to judge the competition. The team consisted of 3 men and 1 woman; all very talented dancers and superb choreographers.

My category, Open Individual - Amateur, had a total of 6 participants. There were semis to go through, during which there are 2 heats per dance (3 persons per heat); and we have to dance the same dance twice. First time during our own heat, we danced the full song; second time everyone dances on the floor together for about 1 minute.

It was a real joy to hear that I made it to the finals! I had been soooooo dreading that I would be eliminated!

I gave it my all and everyone said I did really well. The results finally came out after dinner:

I got SECOND placing!!!!

Everyone was telling me that they expected me to get first though... my line dance teacher Teresa (who was furious that I didn't get first - she kept saying the judges were cock-eyed); my captain Mei Ling (who really thought I did the best on the floor); the girl who did get first was good, but even she herself said she thought I would get first. To be honest, I don't know what to think because I obviously did not watch her dance when I was dancing on the floor at the same time, so there's nothing for me to compare to. It was my second dance that impressed everyone; a dance called Cobra to the song Jumpin' by Liberty X (very funky). I think my first dance set me back - a dance called Country 2 Step to the song I Just Want My Baby Back by Jerry Kilgore (typical country music). Helen said my variations were too repetitive to the point of being monotonous. But my Cobra was apparently the best on the floor.

Anyway, second placing isn't so bad... I got a cash voucher of RM150, a free night's stay at Equatorial Bangi, and a food hamper!

A lot of people have also come up to me and said that I have improved tremendously since last year. Last year, I went into the Bangi comp alone and unguided; I made it to the finals, but I failed there of course, having no training and no foundation. This year, I surprised everyone by giving it a very hard fight to the top in an open category. I surprised even myself. Only the day before I was praying not to get fourth place (I thought there were only four competitors in my category then). Only that very morning I was struggling to complete a particular step in Cobra without teetering and falling over. And the whole day while hyperventilating, I was praying that I don't revert back to what coach calls my 'sotong' arms (which was a dominant problem in my dancing before this) under stress.

The most important thing to me is that my own coach Bronya said I deserved first place. That means more to me than the placing I actually got, because she's not an easy person to impress. During training, she is of course very encouraging but she's not the type to mince her words or give false flattery. She has gotten angry with the team before for screwing up, and she has told us off many times. Whenever I practise my individual dances, she yells often at me (unsurprisingly). But competition time, she is the most supportive person I could ever find. She won't give us false hopes, but if she thinks we deserve to win, then she'd say so.

All I'm praying now is that with all these flattery, I don't get too big for my dancing boots. Hehehe.

As for the team, the WILD WEST BABES got.... FIRST PLACE!!!!!!!!!

Which we obviously DESERVE!!!!!!!!! We beat the team that beat us in the Dance Option competition!!!!!!!

Other noteworthy winners: Yvonne from my team was the champion for her category , 45 years and above, whereas Bronya shared top placing in the Open Individual - Advanced and Professionals with another teacher. Yvonne is of course ecstatic, as we are for her. Bronya on the other hand, is not too happy with the placing. It does sound rather ridiculous to have tied placing in a competition like this. It seems as if the judges merely submitted the marks and the tally was used directly for placing, instead of deliberating on it for a while before deciding who the champions are. Personally, I think she deserves first placing on her own. She's a wonderful dancer, and the only problems she had was forgetting the steps (very common - in fact all the people in her category did, considering the stepsheet is not a very easy one to follow. Heck, I forgot my steps quite a often during Cobra in my semis although I managed to cover them up) but she managed to cover them up. No one else could touch her sharpness and fluidity.

Well, it was a great night... hope for another comp like this next year!

PS: Special thanks to Wai Seng for taking the trouble to travel all the way to Bangi to watch and support!

D-Day!

It's competition day! I know it's only a one-day carnival but still getting jittery about it. Odd. Usually I'm calm right until JUST before I go on the floor. But yesterday I dreamt about the competition which of course, was a pretty silly dream because it had infused both today's and next week's competition.

The carnival is having unnecessary semi-finals (with almost all categories having only 4 participants, what do you need semis for?!?!?!) and I really hope I don't get knocked out. The world won't come to an end if I do though. But even if I do make it to the finals, I have to dance so many times - 6 in total! 2 dances per individual category (semis + finals) and my team dances (2). Fortunately there are NO semis for the team category. Considering there are only two teams competing....

Wish me luck!!!

My major complaint

Finally, here's the major complaint I want to make:



As you can see in the voucher above, the deal seems to good to be true... 50% discount at Club Med Malaysia! Talk about a holiday that's sooo worth it!

Given the many events in my life, I was obviously not free for a holiday the past few months. After passing the half-year mark, I figured that I might as well use the voucher for a much-needed break and October/November seems like a good time. It would be monsoon season, but my friend assured me that Club Med would still be open then. They would just close the beach, and anyway Club Med has its own lagoon which would be calm in spite of the wild seas.

Although the voucher stated a 50% discount, when I checked the Hong Leong Bank MTV Visa card webpage, they only listed 10% discount for all Asian villages during normal season, so I decided to call up to confirm the discount, and maybe even make bookings if possible.

Here's what I found out during the phone conversation, with the girl who sounded rather snobbish:

No, your voucher is no longer valid. Club Med has an allotment of the number of vouchers redeemable and we have already achieved the limit. Your voucher is not guaranteed redeemable.

May I know what that number is?

That's P&C.

Well... then am I entitled to any other discount?

No.

The conversation ended after the customary polite Thank-yous.



Let's have a look at that voucher again, shall we?

Did they state there is a limit to the vouchers redeemable, or some kind of first-come-first-serve basis? No.

Did they refer to any other external terms & conditions? Not indicated.

When does the voucher expire? 31st December 2004.



I should've known better. A deal that seems to good to be true always is. And I'm not even entitled to the 10% discount!

The fact is, the voucher was grossly misleading. If they really only accept a certain number of redeemable vouchers, it should have been stated. As it is, there were no other T&C written. How can I read the fine print if there is none to begin with?

Even printing something as generic like "The management of Club Med reserve the right to reject the redemption of vouchers subject to terms and conditions" or some other similar nonsense would vindicate them. As it is, now it looks like a petty trick on their side to reduce the possible losses incurred from the number of people making use of the discount offered, especially with the refusal to disclose the number they claimed to have alloted. For all we know, no one's been allowed to use that 50% discount. Giving out discount vouchers like these and then refusing to honour them seems like false advertising, although technically it isn't advertising. I feel somewhat cheated.

I had been soooooo looking forward to a Club Med holiday. Now, I'm not sure if I'll ever want to go to Club Med Malaysia in the future. Maybe to one of their foreign clubs, but I have great reluctance in going to the local one. I have lost faith in their marketing team.