The Gallivantings of Daniel Franklin Gomez

A Malay Archipelago Expedition

Posted on 06. Feb, 2006 by Daniel Franklin Gomez in Personal

1) Sabahans – Malaysians or Not?
The million dollar question – are Sabahans rightfully Malaysian or not? They seem to allege that they’re Sabahans instead of Malaysians. And they all seem to be have Indonesian dialects. Apparently they feel that we, West Malaysians or civilization, do not accredit their existence. Evidently, we still “cogitate” that they live on trees and have their own currencies. Which one of you boneheaded West M’sian mongoloids thought of that?

I’ve met one genuinely pure Sabahan, a kadazan-dusun distaff, whom I became fond of. A very fun loving person to be with, and I had a real good time being with her and accompanying her on one of her stiletto shopping excursions. Won’t say anything more about her as I made a pledge to conserve her privacy. Her secret’s secure with me (smirking as I write this).

2) My Cacoethes for Shopping
Another declaration, I love shopping. Yes, it must be scandalizing or demeaning to your male egotisms to admit this, but I do. I enjoy looking good and every 90 days or so, I venture on a personal crusade to shop. Of course, shopping does not only mean clothes, I’m also dependent to movie DVDs, music CDs, pharmacies, and bookstores. I can spend hours in a bookstore, sort of an achilles heel. I love being palisaded by so much stimulus.

3) EAST INDIA – The Best & Affordable Clothing Line
You know, I canvassed my wardrobe the other day, and found that 90% of my closet stockpiles the EAST INDIA marque. I’m a fall guy for good clothes. The lusting for one brand set forth in 2003, when me and my girlfriend (back then) would go on an EAST INDIAN rampage, ploughing all stores in the Klang Valley in one day – during the Megasale carnival (as discounts would array between 30 and 70%). We covered Amcorp Mall, 1 Utama, Subang Parade, Bukit Raja, Plaza Shah Alam, Midvalley, Bukit Bintang Plaza & Section 14 PJ in a single day!

These days, my favorite EAST INDIA haunts are Subang Parade and Plaza Shah Alam – where they have the most apparel selections for men. I love it. I just purchased 2 shirts from the Metrojaya (EAST INDIA) in Bukit Bintang last week. It was quite overpriced (RM119 and Rm139 respectively) – I got caught up in the shopping frenzy (thanks to my Sabahan friend) and rued buying them. I didn’t need it in reality. Anyways, what’s bought is bought and I can’t wait to swank it. Hehehehehe!

4) 2006’s Disillusioning Music
It’s been a disappointing year for music so far. Painful releases until now have been dominating the airwaves. I do have a few songs that I like, but nothing that jumps out. I am somehow starting to believe that 2006 will be the year for movies instead. Just like how we countenanced in 2002 and 2003. The years that stood out in spades has got to be 1991 (year of hip hop), 1997 (year of alternative), 2001 (year of dance), 2004 (year of hip hop). Will 2006 end with a whimper for the music industry? Only time will tell.

5) Prophet Muhammad’s Caricature
The Danish newspaper that published this must have thought they got a good sense of humour. Don’t they know that Moslems are supersensitive when it comes to religious belief? If they depicted a comical looking Jesus Christ, or a black Jesus Christ with bling-bling, it’ll be cackled and swept aside in 3 seconds. They should’ve done their homework before printing the caricature. I’ve seen the drawing – a Prophet Muhammad donning a grenade-like turban with an islamic writing on it. That is downright cockeyed! The Danes should apologize, and fast! I wanted to put THE photo up here, but had second thoughts. You can look for it yourself if you do a search on Google image.

6) Shaven Bald During Mahjong
The Malaysian cops can’t seem to do anything right these days. You thought they would learn from the strip squat debacle a few months ago. Now they do this – raided a coffee shop on the 2nd day of CNY and nabbed 11 old farts playing Mahjong. A scourge to society? Guilty til proven innocent? WTF? Do they really needed a head shave? Does it justify the OCPD’s insistence that they are following the law? “If the police did not follow the rules and regulations, they are lambasted. When they follow the rules, some quarters claimed that police are being ridiculous in blindly following rules and regulations. “What is this? What does the public really want the police to do?” Well, a little common sense would’ve done wonders but it’s obviously they lack perspicacity. To the Malaysian police – please stop blowing your time on piffling matters as this and do more crucial stuff like apprehending REAL criminals, or marauding Zouk, Loft and Passion nightclub every weekend for drugs. Kapish?

This is me in 2001 (4 years ago), on my birthday.