John de Silva

Remembering the Queen of Tejano

2011-03-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

SELENA QUINTANILLA - PEREZ

1971 - 1995

Come Thursday, the Latin music industry will commemorate the 16th Anniversary of Selena's death. The Texas-born Latina began singing at the age of three, launched her first album in 1985, and earned a Grammy for Best Mexican / Mexican-American Album in 1994.

Above: An incarcerated Saldivar. Inset: Saldivar and Selena as close friends.

At the age of 23, the star was murdered by fan club president Yolanda Saldivar. Selena was killed after an attempt of confronting Saldivar who had been embezzling club funds.

Selena's career was in the process of making the 'crossover' into the international market. The few English tracks recorded were released in her first posthumous album, 'Dreaming of You'.

AMOR PROHIBIDO (Forbidden Love) Official Video

Property of EMI Latin / Q Productions

Cut Costs with Cutting out the Lights

2011-03-26T22:33:00.000-07:00

by John Shebat de Silva

Carbon footprints, green technology, climate change, etc.

These terms have been thrown about so much by so many. Yet, how many of us are actually convinced by the predictions of a catastrophic future as a result of a society engrossed in immense consumerism?

To some, it seems to pose an incredible inconvenience to be 'environmentally friendly'. Some find it rather 'expensive'. This is to an extent forgivable as we often not consider things from a long-term perspective.

The truth is, as individuals one need not go far to do one's bid for the environment. Getting started with steps that not only help save the environment but as well as your Ringgits and Sens is perhaps the best way to get the ball rolling.

Carrefour Malaysia had the right idea. In conjunction with Earth Hour 2011, the hypermarket organised joint promotions with Philips and Starbucks Coffee.

Patrons at Tropicana City Mall in Petaling Jaya were invited to exchange their old light bulbs for new energy saving ones between 8.30pm to 9.30pm. Light bulbs were also given out for every RM25.00 receipt from Starbucks or RM100.00 ones from Carrefour.

In that hour, all 25 Carrefour outlets nationwide turned off 30% of all lights while Starbucks at Tropicana City Mall had close to 80% off.

On top of the world event being hyped up with local celebrities and loud drums, Cathy Chin and Salmieah Mohd Zin of Carrefour's Marketing and Communications Division explained that the continuous spreading of awareness with regards to energy saving was vital, particularly to the younger generation.

To support this initiative, children from Rumah HOPE were invited to participate in the evening's festivities. Carrefour presented them with some necessities for school.

This initiative attempts to help children be accustomed with a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Elder folk could do their part by setting easy-to-follow examples and in the long run reduce their expenses.

Here are a few of the most convenient, money-saving steps suggested by WWF :

1. Switch incandescent light bulbs to energy saving ones.

They're more expensive but it reduces energy usage dramatically and does not generate as much heat.

2. Turn off appliances when not in use.

They're not being used, so why leave them on in the first place. There is no need to leave anything on 'stand-by' mode unless you are planning on it using it again soon.

3. Check car tires for proper inflation.

Don't take your tire pressure for granted. A tire that is not well-inflated is not fuel-efficient for your car.

So before we jump the 'hate' wagon without having much well-researched information to fall back on, think of how you can save the environment and your wallet by just following the above suggestions.

It may not seem much but as Carrefour Malaysia-Singapore's Director of Marketing & Communications Low Ngai Yuen put it, "little efforts go a long way in conserving our environment."

More people should view the Earth Hour initiative with more positive light. Consider it an inspirational symbol of how everyone can do their part.

John de Silva's a bored university student by day, a baristo by night, and an aspiring writer round the clock.

Through the Eyes of Khan

2011-03-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Story & Photo by John Shebat de Silva

S. Khan is a 30 year-old Pakistani security guard for a flat in Subang Jaya. He is one of the many immigrants who have traveled to Malaysia in search of better ‘opportunities’. His objectives are simple; to work as hard as possible, and to send most of the earnings to his family back home.

With the belief that Malaysia is a promising land which offers an abundance of not only jobs, but a warm community to work in as well, Khan leaves behind his wife and four children. But he has come to realise that that belief could very well have been a myth.

In his three years in Malaysia so far, Khan has found himself constantly harassed by the local police. He admits to being guilty of bribing the officers in the hopes of not getting a summon. To his dismay however, he recieves both an offer to bribe and a summon. Him being ‘just another lowly immigrant worker’ leaves him in a no-win situation. This leaves Khan with barely half his monthly take-home salary.

It was not just the authorities who were constantly on Khan’s case. He added that the nature of his job exposes him to the dangers of confronting ill-natured locals, not to mention the neighbourhood hooligan. Khan joked, “what you call Mat Rempits are aplenty here”. Derogatory and vulgar names are often thrown at him and his fellow guards. “They always tell me to mind my own business and to go back to where I came from”, said Khan.

One would expect that these experiences are an immigrant worker’s worst nightmare. But the security guard begged to differ. “Every country has corrupt officials and rascals. It’s no different in Pakistan”, exclaimed Khan. What he found more dissapointing was how many Malaysians lacked work ethics. “The current generation of locals here don’t know how blessed are they. They take so much for granted”, he said.

Conveniently at this point, a young local new recruit reported for duty. His uniform was untucked and had curry stains, his shoes unpolished, his hair a mess, and he had a lit cigarette in his hand. Khan wasted no time in using the new guard to prove his point that many young Malaysians do not take things seriously and wants everything done for them.

Khan was not just another ‘old man’ from what many locals assume to be an under-developed nation. It was in fact quite the contrary. Considered to be a newer generation of Pakistani men (Khan explains that married men of generations before his are expected to have at least twice the number of children he has), his knowledge extends very well beyond the scandals of Pakistani leaders to Tun Mahathir’s legacy and the foreign policies of the United States.

He believes that it is the fault of Western and conventional media that has demonized Pakistan’s reputation. “Maybe everyone is scared of us just because we (Pakistan) have some nuclear power too”, he joked.

Khan is just another undervalued immigrant who want nothing more but to work and send money home. Perhaps even return to see his family during the festive season when he is able to save up enough cash. Before parting, he wished me well and hoped that the younger generation of Malaysians would wake up from their current state of complacency.

***The above article was not intended to be sympathetic nor against any parties in particular. The writer’s ambition was simply to highlight a simple foreigner’s view of contemporary Malaysia and with hopes of helping fellow Malaysians be a more positive force in today’s society.***

John de Silva's a bored university student by day, a baristo by night, and an aspiring writer round-the-clock

With Bad Spelling comes Great Grub!

2009-12-30T22:23:00.000-08:00

Doha's Jewel Damascus Restaurant offers tastebuds the true flavours of Arabian cuisine. The service was brilliant (not in the typical 'smiley' manner, but in terms of speed and efficiency this place was top notch). Take your pick from a vast variety of food items and choose to dine in or simply have them to go (which is the case for most of the locals. With the restaurant being located within the Al-Meera supermarket, many place their orders and go off to shop).

Appetizers and Entree dishes of fresh and pickled vegetables, and Arabic bread with dipping sauce were served moments after orders for the main courses were taken down.

It did not take long for the main courses to arrive. The food came in healthy portions and every bite was an experience.

The damage came up to QR95.00 for 3 main courses. The appetizers, entrees, and bottled water came free of charge.

In a nutshell, the service, food, and prices were great. A true culinary experience. But above all, one would also have a ball from just reading the menu. It is safe to say that the food at Jewel Damascus is certainly better than their spelling.

Meet Grilled, Mister Grilled.

D.I.Y. lamp cubes. Use a Super Drill for a full proof lamp.

When you wish upon some sand

Outlet: Jewel Damascus Restaurant

Location: Al-Meera Supermarket, Doha, Qatar

The Grub:

Main Course:
Grilled Lamb Cubes
served with Arabic flat bread, fries and vegetables

Main Course:

Grilled Hamour Fish
served with fries

Main Course:

Super Grill (Lamb Cubes, Minced Lamb, Chicken, Prawns, Fish)

served with Arabic flat bread, fries and vegetables

Appetizers & Entrees:

Arabic bread with dipping sauce

Appetizers & Entrees:

Fresh vegetables

Appetizers & Entrees

Pickled Vegetables served with curd

Samui: A Malaysian's Perspective

2009-11-20T04:40:00.000-08:00

THAILAND must be one of the most frequently visited holiday destinations by Malaysians. Perhaps it is due to the fact that it is a mere few hours away. However being raised in the tourist island of Penang myself, I could not help being a little skeptical of Koh Samui. As far as I was concerned, it was just another excuse to hop on the next cheapest flight and get away for a short while.

Having not read any materials about the island, I made my way there one bright Sunday morning in October. The two hour flight on board Firefly from Subang Airport was pleasant and uneventful. My lack of expectations of Samui began to take a slight change of direction when the aircraft began circling the island. What was immediately visible was how clear and clean the waters were (in comparison to the brown, and at times green and murky muck you would find in Penang).

Upon landing, the next noticeable thing was how Samui International Airport could easily be mistaken for a hotel. It was an airport like no other. Without the presence of generic metal structures, air-conditioned halls, and the sound of robot-like female voices announcing boarding calls, the airport was instead a large 'shack' surrounded by greenery and hills where temples overlooked the runway. At this point, Samui was very quickly proving me wrong. However, I did not dare hold my hopes high and continued to anticipate just a slight variation of Penang.

From the airport, I made my way to the Maenam district and checked into Fair House Villas and Spa. The drive into the hotel's property included a bumpy ride on a narrow and hardly-tarred road, passing by small farm houses and construction zones. This alone might prove to some common tourists that the place does not live up to the general expectations one would have of an expensive resort. For myself however, the trip was beginning to look rather refreshing. Perhaps it would not be a typical island getaway after all!

At Fair House, I was greeted with the 'wai', the standard Thai greeting one would receive, especially tourists. I checked into my Beachfront Villa (which costs 20,000 Baht per night on an ordinary day), tipped the staff, and wasted no time to explore the hotel. It was well-equipped, well-decorated, and in tip-top condition. Being an avid non-smoker, I was particularly fond of it's 'carbon-free' policy. As common as it may sound, Fair House was actually able to offer me some peace of mind. Whether it was the clear waters crashing onto the sand, the laid-back ambiance the villa boasted, the ever-smiling Thai, or even the dogs that roamed the beaches, the tourist in me was satisfied.

Leaving the 'chilling under the sun' and 'soaking in the sea' bits for later, I booked a ride into Chaweng town. Along the way, I noticed the usual tourist attractions. But what caught my attention most was the number of 'Family Marts' (a variation of the 7-Eleven stores) available. If you missed one, another outlet would just be a few meters down the road. They were practically all over the place. Another interesting sight was how gasoline was sold along the roads. Something about old, recycled bottles which once contained alcohol or carbonated beverages being filled up with petroleum and sold on a flimsy rack with the word gasoline misspelled on rustic, hand-painted signs intrigued me.

The hotel van dropped me off right in front of Chaweng's McDonald's and Burger King joints. My curiosity led to discovering that McDonald's in Thailand sold pork burgers and Ronald McDonald held both his palms together, offering the 'wai' to whomever passed him. With the exception of the two differences, it was just another McDonald's. I walked on further.

It was a long and narrow road. Hotels were on one side, restaurants, pharmacies, and make-shift stalls were on the other. There was just one too many 'touristy' spots. Keeping my eyes peeled, I noticed other features of the town. Some that would guarantee me that I was not in just another Penang. I began to notice how different the physical environment made a difference in the lives of the locals. Electric cables which were suspended no higher than 30 meters added more risk into an underpaid electrician's job. Men and women bearing heavy baskets of various goods for sale upon their shoulders continuously walked up and down the streets of Chaweng. An ordinary life in Samui would not be deemed acceptable by the standards of a modern man. However, the simplicity of everyday life there can be rather refreshing once you learn to let go of all aspects of modernization. And this was exactly what I did. Without any cellphone roaming services and limited access to the internet, text messages and Facebook were off limits.

It seemed that what the Thai tourism industry is famous for is in fact a reality. Everyone was friendly and hospitable. But, I was keen to know if that friendliness only existed in tourist populated locations. Therefore, I set out to walk beyond the tourist stretch of Chaweng and wandered off into quieter spots in search of more locals offering me the "wai". The additional hour's walk proved to be fruitful. Locals who were not directly working in the tourism industry were equally as friendly. Apart from the friendliness, the Thai people have an extreme sense of respect and adoration for their King. This is one feature that is not easily found in any Malaysian.

Koh Samui at this point, rapidly became a pleasant social surprise. However, there is a threat towards the quaint lifestyle on the island. This threat is none other than the ever increasing sense of commercialism. Small local industries are being taken over or roped in to be a part of large establishments. Corporations such as Tesco provides convenience, but it also takes away some part of the island's warmth.

Moving on, my culinary experience in Samui made my holiday deliciously interesting. From sinking my teeth into the hotel's top notch cuisine at The Bre-Eze, to indulging at popular local restaurants such as the Sabeinglae, almost every dish would awaken your taste buds. One thing was certain, there's no better Tom Yam then the ones you find in Thailand. The Malaysian interpretation of the infamous Thai soup is often a long shot from its roots.

During my 8 days on the island, regardless of the expensive hotel and the good food, every day was a pleasant experience. Thailand, or at least Koh Samui could truly be the epitome of Asian hospitality. Perhaps, Malaysia could pick up a thing or two from the Siamese.