My Confession, My Agreement

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
J.R.R. Tolkien [1892-1973]

Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.
Mark Twain [1835-1910]

There is no love sincerer than the love of food.
George Bernard Shaw [1856-1950]

To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.
Benjamin Franklin

Gluttony is not a secret vice.
Orson Welles

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My Confession

I have a very bad habit.

A very, VERY bad habit.

My problem is

I have a very...

generous diet.

When I see food...

[especially food that I like]

I tend to lose control.

I become Janna-the-glutton but

you can also politely consider me as a connoisseur over a wide range of cuisine.

I am no longer the master.

My stomach is.

[Obsession is written all over the picture above.]

I've been told that I've been a guzzler all my life.

and I don't see how I can deny that.

When my mom had me, I made her skinnier than she ever was when she was a young girl.

I think I consume more than a pregnant mother.

And at least pregnant mothers have a reason to devour so much.

Okay, I know I'm growing.

But I heard that I don't have to eat
2 pieces of bread with whatever I can spread on it in the morning before school begins,
one thosai or roti canai and a bowl of cendol or nata de coco during recess,
one nasi lemak after school,
noodles or rice with whatever that's leftover when I get back home,
whatever sweet or savoury I can fill my mouth with and
a bowl of red bean soup with extra sago or whatever's boiling or nicely chilled in the evening,
have a plate of rice with whatever's served, two plates of rice if a hot favourite is included in the menu for dinner
and a late night snack
ALL IN ONE DAY!

What? You thought I was exaggerating?

My family and friends are my witnesses.

THAT'S ABOUT 6 MEALS A DAY.

WHERE GOT PEOPLE EAT SO MUCH A DAY WAN?!

Everytime someone offers me food,

I barely say 'no'.

Instead...

This is what happens.

You offer me more?

You think I'll stop?

NO!

THEREFORE

I SHALL MAKE AN AGREEMENT

AND EVERYONE WHO READS MY BLOG SHALL BE MY WITNESS.

BEHOLD!

FROM THIS DAY FORTH,

1. JANNA SHALT CONSUME EDIBLES MODERATELY.
2. JANNA SHALT NOT OVEREAT.
3. SIX MEALS A DAY IS NOT PERMITTED.
THE LIMIT SHALT BE FOUR MEALS A DAY...
OR MAYBE FIVE. :D
4. JANNA SHALT LEARN HOW TO SAY 'NO'.
IF JANNA DESIRES FOR EVEN ONE BITE OF EDIBLES AFTER SHE REACHES THE LIMIT,

THEN SHE IS ALLOWED TO HAVE JUST ONE BITE.
IF SHE MUST, SHE SHALT HAVE TWO.
But that's it.

The challenge is on.
RAWR!

Gah! Maybe I should just take the deworming tablets that I was given.


:(

Goodbye America. :(

On the last day, we went on a coach city tour. First, the bus went past China Town.

A gazebo/bandstand with intricate filigree metalwork.

The bus stopped at Hollywood Boulevard.

whereby we were given about two hours for shopping, lunch and all other conveniences.

El Capitan Theatre

A movie palace operated by the Walt Disney Company.

If there's one movie character I love most,

it's JACK SPARROW.
I LOVE JACK SPARROW.
[Sad, the above is not Johnny Depp. This copy lacks the essence of the character]

I intended to snap a picture of the Joker and Batman but I know everyone's eyes are swaying to the right. :S





Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Just outside the theatre:

Director - John Woo
[directed Mission Impossible 2, Red Cliff and so on]

Film Director - Steven Spielberg
Among his films : Jaws, ET, Jurassic Park

Kodak Theatre

This theatre opened in 2001 on Hollywood Boulevard at Highland Avenue, where the historic Hollywood Hotel once stood, is now where the Oscars are held.

From the Walk of Fame to the Wall of Fame

Mohamed Ahli and his namesake on the wall [Muhammad Ali's star].

Walk of Fame broke tradition by taking Muhammad's Ali's star to their wall because Muhammad Ali did not wish to be stepped on.
[Any takers for the ceiling perhaps? sky next?]


BIG BIRD.
From one of my childhood favourite series - Sesame Street.

After grabbing lunch, we hit the road again.
We screamed past Beverly Hills, 90210.


Beverly Hills City Hall, one of the architectural features of Beverly Hills Cop movies.

We went through Rodeo Drive, the place where hot haute couture lives.

Beverly-Wilshire Hotel

This E-shaped, Italian renaissance architectural styled structure is built of special Tuscan stone and Carrara marble.

JIMMY CHOO of Malaysia

NIKETOWN

HUGO BOSS

CHANEL

DOLCE AND GABANNA

BEBE

We were given two hours to shop at Santa Monica.
But we were more interested in the beach.

Enticingly gorgeous , ain't it?

I doubt the guys enjoyed the beach as much as us girls, going footloose and fancy free since they:
1. didn't want to take off their shoes.
2. didn't want to get their shoes wet.
[except for Zi Yang who joined in the fun
unless they're bird-watching. Hmm...]

My spontaneous cheeky side got the better of me and I tried to get their shoes wet for a lesson of total enjoyment but it backfired when I became guilty of being mean as well. Sorry wet shoes, you really shouldn't be worn.


Summary of what happened next [in order].
1. shopping
2. back on the bus
3. headed to airport
4. had dinner
5. flew to Singapore
6. from Singapore, flew back to Penang
7. dinner with all Ambassadors and family

8. Home sweet home! :)


That's the end. :(

I would like to conclude with complimentary words to each ambassador. :)

I shall begin from the left.

1. Jia Wen

Conscientious and is a good sport who adjust easily to her surroundings.

2. Pang Zi Yang

Super sociable and hilarious in his own way.

3. Jan Jee

She is an entrepreneur and considerate of others.

4. Alicia Ng

She's sincere, transparent, and honorable.

5. Stephanie Tan

Stephanie is a guileless, frank, tenacious and sociable person.

6. Niresh Kaur

Her laugh is contagious. She is enthusiastic and an opportunist.

7. Kendra

Sweet, simple and comfortable to be around.

8. Mei Yan

An amiable diplomatic individual who is well-respected by her peers.

9. Richard

Helpful and ready to share his two cents.

10. Bob Foo

Childlike, transparent, funny and affable.

11. Adrian Ewe

He is one caring, congenial dude.

12. Mohamed Ahli

A friendly, jovial sport and loquacious once you get to know him.

13. Ken Shen

A humble optimist.

DISNEYLAND, ANAHEIM

I went to THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH - Disneyland.
No exaggeration. Really.

Apart from the scorching heat thanks to Mr. Colossal-Blaring-Star and longlonglong queues, it really is a place where dreams come true. :)

The entrance.

Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years.
Exhibit on the history of Disneyland.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Princess Fantasy Faire

The thematic designs of the whole place is truly inspiring and incredibly magical.

This is my favourite bit.
I love everything about it.
The quaint uneven measures of the structures,
the kind that you see as toontowns
in comics, storybooks , anime and likewise fantasy literature.
The architectural lines flowing with an accordion effect.
The bright contrast colours.
The charmingly distorted look.
They are captivatingly spastic.
Every eccentric detail made them so gorgeous.
Simply magnificent.

Bravo to the imagineers.
Very impressive.

1. TOMORROWLAND

• Astro Orbitor

A rocket-spinner attraction.

• Space Mountain

Our very first ride - Space Mountain.
A myocardial infarction machine.
A roller coaster ride.
It's like a ride in outer space.
It's crazy yet incredibly amazing because the whole place is dark, lit only with projections of stars, galaxies, asteroids et cetera. Magnificent.

However, I was not able to enjoy the ride [as you can see :S] as much as the rest because:
1. Most of the time, I had my eyes shut. Tight. Probably a bit too tight.
2. Let's just say my heart...was not in sync with my stomach for it.

This is the very long queue.
Really long queue.
They even have signs at certain points reading '40 MINUTES WAIT FROM THIS POINT'.
:S
Thank God for company.

There is however, one way to combat long queues.

FASTPASSES.
and I'm the only one not very appreciative of it though I used it since I was game for a desensitization spree.

• Honey, I Shrunk The Audience

A 3-D movie whereby the audience is required to wear ridiculous-looking specs.

• Star Tours

It is a motion-simulated ride based on the Star Wars universe. Super fun. :)

2. FANTASYLAND

• Alice in Wonderland

One of the rides.
Which we did not go for.
Because we're *cough* adults *cough*.
Except for Mei Yan.
Oh wait...she's sixteen.
Being short has its advantages. My bad. :P

• Mad Tea Party

We didn't go for this ride either.
But the picture is so pretty, I have to put it up.

• Storybook Land Canal Boats
  

We did not ride this one also.
Perhaps for the same reason.
However I have a picture so I might as well mention it. :D

3. FRONTIERLAND

• Mark Twain Riverboat

We wanted to go on this ride but we were too late.
We missed the boat by two minutes or so.

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  

Another roller coaster ride.
It's fun. Says everyone. Else.

4. ADVENTURELAND

• Indiana Jones Adventure

It's one of the dark rides where we sit in jeeps which is motion simulated which is my idea of fun.

• Tarzan's Treehouse

A walkthrough attraction.
At one point in my life, I did wish my dream home would look somewhat like this.
Okay, you can stop laughing now. Really. You have to understand my love for trees.

Tarzan and his surrogate mother.

5. NEW ORLEANS SQUARE

• Haunted Mansion

I really have to give credit to the Imagineers for this. The Haunted Mansion was very nicely done.
I found it more fascinating than scary.

BUT it was rather scary at certain parts.
My expression says it all.
The ride was based on Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'.

• Pirates of The Caribbean

This one was a fifteen-minute dark ride, in a boat through a gallery of animatronic pirates.
It wasn't an adrenaline-pumping ride.
It was very serene in fact.
But I liked it because I find Jack Sparrow a zany riot.
HAHA.

6. Critter Country

• Splash Mountain
  

We wanted to go for this wet ride. However, we did not since we were told it was similar to Journey to Atlantis from Sea World.

7. Mickey's Toontown

We were perhaps...too grown up for this part of the park and gave it a miss.
LOL.



NEXT UP WE HAVE...
WALT DISNEY'S PARADE OF DREAMS

• Getaway to Dreams

The opening unit.

Flora, Fauna and Merryweather.

• Dream of Enchantment

The Beauty and the Beast unit.

• Dream of Laughter

The Pinocchio unit.

• Dream of Another World

The Little Mermaid unit.

• Dream of Imagination

The Alice in Wonderland unit.

• Dream of Adventure

The Lion King unit.

• Dreams Come True

The finale unit.

FOOD



The ice-cream there is scrumptious.

We had dinner at this venue.

The place was intricately designed and elegantly lit.

Niresh and I.

The group enjoying their meals.

I look like a wrestler here, I know.
BUT IT'S NOT MY FAULT THAT I FEEL COLD WERT.

FANTASMIC



Disney characters on the Steamboat Willie River Boat.

Fantasmic is a visual hydrotechnic show.
It begins with Mickey Mouse and the rest that follows are all Mickey's imagination.
From all the princesses and their respective princes to antagonists like Ursula to Peter Pan and Captain Hook engaging in combat to a happy ending.
An awesome show.
It features most of the Disney characters.

Last but not least,
REMEMBER...DREAMS COME TRUE

A fireworks display commemorating Disneyland's 50th anniversary.
I dare say it was by far, the.most.beautiful.fireworks.display.I.have.ever.ever.seen.in.my.life.

Love the whole works.

You know what makes everything even more exciting and the experience, more amazing?

THE COMPANY

Everyone who came along added to the fun.

Kendra and I.

While waiting for one of the rides.
Adrian Ewe, ME and a retard wannabe, Ken Shen :P

From left: Kat, Fee, Fabienne, Oscar and Petra.

You know what?
I REALLY REALLY LOVE WALT.
I LOVE HIS IMAGINATION AND VISION.

LOOK AT THAT.
December 5
MY BLOG'S BIRTHDAY!
-click here to see my first post-
[which is also Walt's birthday]

My affinity with guns!

I ROCK. :D

Main Street, U.S.A.

Adieu, Disneyland.

TILL WE MEET AGAIN. :P
RAWR!