Will Quah Dot Com

Let’s hope that 2010 is awesome.

Where’s my cup of kindness?
WillQ.

Being on a tropical island paradise for a few days has seriously put the Christmas mood on the back burner – and helped me to conveniently forget that there are parties to plan, presents to buy, etc. But there’s story out today that’s helped to jog my memory.

You can check out my pad, in all it’s Christmassy glory, in the Star Property Online right here.

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

Humbug. And liquorice allsorts too.
WillQ.

I’m honoured. I’m flattered. I’m flabbergasted.

Last Friday night, in an amazing night of booze and ceremony, I walked away with the prestigious “Martell Rising Personality of the Year” award. It was an utterly surprising and amazingly proud moment for me, because my fellow nominees were of such an amazing caliber, with so many accomplishments under their belts, that I felt utterly outclassed. But thanks to the online votes and the esteemed judges, I’ve been lucky enough to take home the prize, along with a once in a lifetime trip to the Cognac region of France to see where Martell comes from. Magnifique!

For those of you who voted, thanks for the support, it means more than you know, and to those who watch, read, listen, or who just think I’m doing a good job, thank you for that too. We’re only ever as good as our audience, and I know I have a wonderful audience thanks to you.

You can read a slightly snarky review of the event and the win at the KLue Blog.

Salut!
WillQ.

I just got back from Disney’s latest rehashing of the old Dickens favourite, “A Christmas Carol”. It’s completely computer animated, and while it does star Jim Carrey as Scrooge (and a bunch of other characters), it’s one of the most faithful retellings and and wonderful interpretations I’ve seen in a long time.It’s awesome, and you should watch it. I saw it in 3D, and it was even better.

Of course, there’s nothing like a Christmas movie in a mall bedecked with Christmas decorations to get you in the mood, so I got home and dug out the Christmas stuff, and went to work on the tree. In honor of which I present this again.

It’s an oldie, but a goodie.

Get away from the tree!
WillQ.

No, I’ve not woken up eight years younger or turned into Zac Efron over night (much to the disappointment of who I’m going out with I’m sure) so don’t fret. To be honest, I didn’t even feel seventeen when I was seventeen! But I’ve been feeling younger than I have for a long time for the last few days.

First of all, I’ve started playing a lot of computer games. Which I always did, but the hours spent online and ingame have certainly increased. I guess being housebound with a broken rib for a week or two helps. Having an eighteen year old bad influence brother helps too. But some of these online games are tremendous, however I won’t bore you with the geeky details.

I’ve also developed an unhealthy listening obsession – Taylor Swift’s album “Fearless”. I only started listening to her to support the “Kanye’s an Asshole” movement, but like acne and emo fringes, she’s grown on me in a teenage way. Ok, so she did win Best Adult Contemporary Artist at the AMA’s, so I guess it’s not just me, but when you listen to the lyrics, they’re undeniable teeny (”she wears high heels, I wear sneakers, she’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers” – I know that feeling), and despite having a British international school education, I’m a product of American high school TV. It’s a good album though, in a saccharine pop kinda way.

Last night I also watched the premiere of New Moon, part two in the teen allowance funded Twilight franchise. It wasn’t the best film ever, but there were some great effects, and the acting, tho a bit stiff (tho I guess being undead does that to you) managed to convey all those angsty frustrated feelings that you have when you’re seventeen and in love with a dangerous, confusing, self denying beauty. I even found myself getting into the whole “Team Edward” vs “Team Jacob” thing (I wanted to go wearing a tshirt that read “Fang Banger” on the front and “Team Edward” on the back, but I was too lazy to make it). It’s not hard, since most of the people I date are cold, distant, and they usually suck (and not always in the good way). I still think the book was better, but I did like the film. There. I admitted it. I’m a borderlineTwi-hard.

Still, I guess what I’ve really noticed about that heady feeling of being a teenager is how everything that happens to you seems like the biggest thing in the world. As you grow up, you realise just how small you really are, and understand that what happens to you in your life is just a tiny drop in the ocean of experiences that go on each and every day throughout humanity, and that while you may be hurting or happy, no one really knows, and fewer really care. But when you’re a teenager, you can’t understand why the whole world doesn’t cry with your pain, and dance with your joy, and why the skies don’t change with your every mood. It seems wrong that it doesn’t. And it’s nice to feel like you really are the centre of the universe every once in a while, to wallow unashamedly in every emotion, and to know that your pain or happiness, doubt or joy, is all there is, even if it is only for a moment.

And worst of all, today I popped into a record store and bought this.

>

I know. That’s like, totally lame, right?

Totally, bro. Totally.
WillQ.

I like chai.

Banal I know. The first time I had chai I was in Camden Market. It was October, and not only was it cold, it was raining. And not big rain, but the sleeting, fine, sideways rain that you get in London, the sort that seems too light to bother you until you realise you’re drenched in all the hard to reach places.

The food area was near the lock, a mad shambles of tables and tents, featuring food ransacked from all over the world, cobbled together by tie-dye and dreaddie wearing (sort of) youths. Great tagines of Moroccan cous cous sat side by side with groaning platters heaped with noodles so oily they glistened in the scant traces of sun. And in the centre of it all, a smallish table dominated by an almighty cauldron, steaming and bubbling like a prop out of a Shakespearean drama.

The smell rising off it like a mist on the moor was a weird mélange of spices, sweet, savoury, and cloying. I was wary at first – the mulled wine was a much safer option in my mind. And it had alcohol in it. And fruit (healthy, see?). But I was “encouraged” to be experimental.

The much braided and little washed man behind the table ladled a volcanically warm mugful… sorry, styrofoam cupful, and handed it over. It warmed my hands right up. The star anise and cloves floating in it gave a moment’s pause though. Still, it smelt lovely, and I had a sip. Then another. And another. The fact that it was slightly watered down with rain dripping slowly from my top lip did nothing to dampen my enjoyment of this amazing new sensation.

I had a voice over today, and went straight over from killing time in a mall. I had bought myself a large chai tea latte, and had it stuffed into the drink holder in the car while I (being a great Malaysian) drove in the rain while chatting on the phone (err… hands free of course). I only got to drink it as I got out of the car and walked to the studio. The rain, which had been torrential all day, had died down to a spitting hail of large fat droplets. As I walked, I sipped the thick, sweet, viscous warmth, and was instantly back in Camden, in the rain, being “encouraged” to try something new.

I like chai.

Boil and bubble.
WillQ.

Braaaaiiinnnsss…
WillQ.

I’ve always wanted to organise two things in October, for as long as I can remember.

1) A kick ass Halloween party.
2) A Zombie Walk.

This year, I’m combining both into the Changkat Bukit Bintang Zombie Pub Lurch!

Search for it on Facebook, or just come along.
Friday, October 30th, Changkat Bukit Bintang.
Watch this space for updates.

Braaaiiins…
WillQ.

Halloween is nearly here. What to wear is always a problem round about this time. But while you’re pondering costume options, spare a thought for those who need to work not on looking bad, but looking good…

Street. Bleargh!
WillQ.

The Lost Symbol
Dan Brown
Oct 09
I’ve always been partial to Dan Brown’s novels. I know he’s gotten a lot of crap over the years for plagiarism, for knocking religion, for making things up, for not being a great writer, etc. In fact, some friends of mine from Cambridge organised a special “Da Vinci Code” book burning, which while I understand the sentiment behind, I find a little shocking for educated folk, especially since they hadn’t even read it.
The Lost Symbol is the third to feature Prof Robert Langdon, world renowned symbologist. In this book, he’s tasked with discovering the Lost Word of the Masons to save the life of a long time friend from a tatooed madman. Much like “Angels and Demons”, the pace is fast, with most of the action taking place in the course of a single night. It’s rife with flashbacks and surreal leaps of logic, packed with trivia (that will no doubt come in handy at parties, if any of it is true), and follows the same general character mold he’s used in most of his other books – beautiful heroine who gets embroiled due to a family or professional tie, a hard ass law enforcement official who seems pretty evil, a scholarly father figure who’s not all he seems, and a deranged looney with a shaky backstory and serious need for therapy.
It’s all trite, but it’s a easy read that’s fascinating at most points, and keeps you chasing though the novel to hit the obviously written-for-the-film climax.
Don’t knock it til you read it, but wait for the paperback.