Hi guys! How’s it going?

Popping in to share my thoughts on a recent situation and habit I’ve decided to adopt.

I’ve been toying around with the idea of taking public transportation every day for work, to and fro. But alas, this thought never came to fruition. Whether it was procrastination, or being so pampered by the convenience of my car and ride sharing services, I simply never got round to it.

So last week, it finally happened.

Read on, to find out how this public transport newbie survived her first week!

Hi folks!

It’s the eve of Merdeka right now and I’m just about to start getting ready to head out. 

But before that, here’s a quick update before I get totally smashed on the rooftop tonight.

Peekaboo!

Tomorrow marks the 57th independence day for Malaysia, since the fateful day the Union Jack was replaced by hoisting our very own Jalur Gemilang, on the 31st of August 1957.

So what’s up this Merdeka 2014? I’ll be celebrating my countdown with moo and his buddies at a rooftop bar in KL tonight. 

Anyway, here’s a little throwback on what went down during last year’s Merdeka!

I realized I didn’t get round to blogging about that till now so, what other better time to share this but now?

With some buddies from the JUICE team

We were all at an event called the ‘Silent Disco’ held at Acme Bar and Coffee in Troika KL.

Fellow media mate, Richard and I

I must say that fireworks has always been close to my heart.

That being said, take me to anywhere to watch fireworks and I’ll be a very happy girl for at least a week!

SELAMAT

HARI

MERDEKA!

After the countdown, my buddies and I then adjourned to the Butter Factory

for Asahi Superdry’s All Stars Tour Merdeka party

My non-Malaysian buddies joined the fun and festivity too!

Woot woot!

Bringing the Aussie spirit right into the heart of Kuala Lumpur!

Just like every year, I was really feelin’ it!

This year, I’ve got something more exciting in store. You know what else is even more fun? In collaboration with Celcom’s ESCAPE, I’m actually in the midst of making a short tribute video to commemorate Merdeka 2014. 

It was actually supposed to be ready today but yeah, time wasn’t on my side. Will get it up by say, Malaysia Day? 😀

Here are some behind the scenes on what I was up to last week shooting for my video!

Filmed a little at Istana Budaya

Then we proceeded to Merdeka Square

It was really a beautiful sight. Everything was being set up already, and practices were in motion!

Moo and I. Haha! Just had to share this candid photo of us.

Clearly we were trying to take a selfie with Dataran Merdeka in the background.

Yippeee! We did it! Thanks so much for helping out in my video! xoxo

We even filmed a panning footage of KLCC and KL Tower from the elevated highway.

This is a still shot from the video!

Alright, I have to go now. It’s getting real late! 

We’re heading out shortly. More pictures to follow on LIVE my Instagram page @imthejessicat and on my Facebook page facebook.com/thejessicatdotcom 

Happy 57th Independence Day, my beautiful homeland Malaysia.

Tanah tumpahnya darahku.

It’s such a solemn day in the office today. My journey to work in the morning was also a rather melancholic one with radio stations broadcasting sentimental & sad songs.

For the lack of a better word, the entire atmosphere has been extremely emo and soppy, as if a dark cloud of depression has descended upon us. 

Not a very pretty way to start my day.

It especially didn’t help when I woke up with swollen eyes this morning from a teary outburst last night due to personal reasons.

Oh well, matters of the heart has never been a walk in the park, has it? 

As we all know, today has been declared National Mourning Day as the bodies of the flight MH17 tragedy has returned to our homeland.

Let’s take a moment to stand in strength & solidarity as a nation in mourning. Welcome home MH17. May your souls find peace yet remain close to our hearts forevermore.

Here’s a related post I wrote recently regarding this issue too.

Also, to Malaysia Airlines… stay strong and continue flying high.

With love & condolences, Jessicat

Let’s face it. Accidents and mishaps happen almost every minute in different parts of the world every single day.

BUT what really bothers me the most is how regular average Joes flock at the chance to turn into conspiracy theorists, keyboard warriors, overnight reporters and aviation experts who spew and share nonsensical bollocks regarding the already pressing issue at hand.

Please. Just stop.

Pointless escalation of untruths and uncertainties. Really? Nobody needs more drama.

I’ve gotta say though, I refrained myself from posting anything on social media (except condolences) or on this blog about said tragedies simply because I just did not want to contribute to the already congested, air-tight sphere of drama when I had nothing to claim, assert or say that people didn’t already know through the grapevine. 

The question is, how true are the things you share online? 

The kind of journalism I was trained and taught stems from credibility, amongst other key ethics. Social media, however, despite being an integral and instant alternative to traditional media, is unfortunately a realm of open-sourced poppycock.

A domain where every Tom, Dick and Harry possesses equal power in their hands to be a (loud) mouthpiece to say anything their mind conjures. 

Some even go to the extent of uploading digitally manipulated images and YET, pools of scoop-thirsty morons turn to believing and worse, circulating such fabrication.

It’s like walking into a morning market where gossip and small talk fill the air and where people chat for the sake of empty conversation. 

I don’t blame them. But what about you? 

Pretty sure your productivity at work or school pulled either an MH370 or an MH17 on you, yes? Not funny at all, but either way, not pleasant as well. Get back to work.

The convenience of being spoonfed online subconsciously leads to the refreshing of your newsfeed every five minutes and voila! You find yourself reposting anything you find bizarre and ‘newsworthy’, namely graphic images of dead bodies, horrifying video footages and speculating unverified news.

Surely you have more important things to focus on? 

I’m not going to get onto a moral high horse here but honestly, with disasters permeating our lives barely months after the MH370 disappearance, I begin to somewhat question the entire spectacle of online behaviour and ethics.

With the Israel-Palestine wars in Gaza, the raging steering lock-wielding Kiki woman of Peugeot CDM25, the suicide case in Bangsar Shopping Center, and now the MH17 attack all happening co-currently, I just couldn’t help but to notice how people let petty jibber-jabber, dramatization and rumours surrounding such tragic mishaps consume their lives as if every conversation they have depended on it.

Heck, even some broadcast media (the four radio stations, you know who you are) turned to sensationalizing and creating undeserving headlines out of this debacle. All for a jump in ratings? /facepalm

Such a fiasco, methinks 

Don’t be too quick to believe everything you see and read on social media.

Be a better gatekeeper, I implore you. The next time you want to share news, think again. How true is it? Is it from a credible news source? Is it substantial with enough evidence?

Don’t be too caught up in the wave of such idiosyncrasies and end up making a mountain out of a molehill. You’re really not helping the situation and instead, making it worse by propagating more speculation.

This can be very disturbing and confusing to the public, and even more so to the friends and families of those involved. 

Putting rants aside and on another note:

To my 3 friends whom I lost on 3 plane crashes in late 2013 and 2014 alone, may your souls rest in peace in a place just as beautiful as you have ever been. Heaven’s got a plan for you.

In light of the MH17 incident, 298 lives from different nations have perished in this tragedy, and to the loved ones of the casualties who are deeply affected by the loss, my heart goes out to you.

May the memories which come from the good times shared, comfort you now and in the days ahead.  I also hope and pray for international and diplomatic help in joining hands for justice to be served. 

But for now, Malaysia, let us stand together in solidarity and strength in this darkest hour.

Woke up on Merdeka morning brimming with thoughts.

This is my story and a plea to our generation.

I was born a patriot. Growing up, daddy taught me the ways of how our country ran. I had all patriotic songs and our Rukunegara at my fingertips by the time I was seven – I knew them all by heart.

And I knew, even back then, that we have really come a long way in crafting Malaysian history. But on our 50th birth year, I’ve come to realize something on my own while ushering in Merdeka last night.

 

We are the superheroes of our country.

 

My country needs me. Before a country can bring itself to greater heights, it first needs its countrymen.

It needs you.

 

We are the hope.

We are the ones that should shun neither our nationalism nor responsibility, especially at times of disappointment. Regardless of whichever ruling mandate we are governed by, it is really the people of Malaysia, the rakyat, that make or break this country.

 

So it is us, Malaysians, that are truly the superheroes of Malaysia.

 

We are the ones who can collectively take our country by leaps and bounds, towards a better Malaysia so our grandchildren’s grandchildren wouldn’t need to turn their backs on Malaysia to seek greener pastures elsewhere – all because you didn’t persevere hard enough?

If such, I would never forgive myself.

 

We are the superheroes of our country.

 

My fellow countrymen, lets put aside our differences and unite as one to place Malaysia on the world stage so that we will be known not just as “the country below Thailand” or “the country above Singapore”. Instead, being held in high regard as a Malaysia so rich and strong, in equal parts, politically, economically and socially.

 

Wouldn’t that be the Malaysia you will be proud to call home?

 

Our forefathers have fought so hard for our country. Decades down the road, it lies in our hands to continue their legacy. Don’t give up just yet. Don’t give up something that has such a mighty potential.

You don’t see it? Look harder, because I do.

 

We are the superheroes of our country.

 

With this, I call upon my fellow superheroes in this unwritten quest of renewing our faith, and going to great lengths in carrying Malaysia’s name proudly upon our backs once more.

 

Give yourself a reason to be proud of, and a similar sense of pride will be harbored by our future generation, when they reap the fruits of our labour.

Tanah tumpahnya darahku.

 

Happy 56th Independence Day to my homeland, my birthplace, my Malaysia.

In you, my faith burns brightly.

 

 

With love,

Your comrade Jessicat; yet another superhero of Malaysia.

Just like you.