Angah,
I was adopted by Abah when I was 2, I guess. By the time, Along was 11 and you were 6, and I always wondered why was everybody called both of you 'Along' and 'Angah' as if you two never had your own names since being adopted by Abah.
The year you sank into the deep blue sea, gone with the rough wave and left us only your surfboard, the whole island was in deep misery. Everybody on the island lost their closest best friend, Abah lost his favourite son, the resort lost an inspiring surfer, and I lost my Angah.
Then I realized that Along is always the respectable big brother in the island and you, someone who's always the closest friend to everybody, like the 2nd big brother in a family, an Angah to everybody.
...but.., what happened to our brotherhood when all the betrayal was revealed? I still remember the last words you told me before you surfed yourself into the rough sea, and disappeared amongst the waves.
You said: "Abu, remember the pantun? you just need to trust me and be bold..", with a charming smile, but it seemed rather mysterious for me, then you sang the pantun again, until the storm over-roared your voice.
You wanted me to trust you? How? Why did you do this at the 1st place?
Abu.
***************************************************************
Angah,
This is such an emotional moment for me right now. I called Abah just now, after all the confusion and tiring chaos these days, I just need to call back home.
I should've called him 1st before sending out my last mail to you. I mean, if I knew it, I wouldn't send it out at all.
Yes Angah, I knew it. Even though I don't really understand it, but it's such a relieved for me to know the real intention of you involving into Hakimi's reaserch project. -- Angah, Abah found your diary.
I could feel his surprises over the phone, and his confusion when he read this line to me:
"After the day Melur brought me back the star-like sea shells from the deep sea, I know that I've figured out the way to communicate with her. Raja has the same genius for it but not as perfect as Melur does.... I might need Melur's help in my quest of looking for the 'ulam', the 2nd thing that mum left to me, after the star-like sea shells, the bintang....."
Ulam melur, bintang timur...trust, mari ikut akak; and be bold, mari lawan ombak...
Your final words, your final message to me -- to follow your mission of looking for 'the Ulam'.
I understand that you might have made a mistake to offer Raja and Melur to Hakimi, I understand that you might be too impatient and made the wrong choice.
I'll get Melur back to the ocean, I promise.
Abu.
I remembered looking at the glass box. Seeing how the male manta ray struggling with its blindness. The banging, the crashing and in the end, it gave up. I expected more than that thing. It should’ve lived. The result didn’t turn out as I expected.
And then there was that Abu. Looking like a helpless monkey. I regret bringing him here. It was all because of Prof Z and his guilty conscience. And because of him, I had to drag this kid along. I told him I didn’t want to but he insisted. Shit! That old man even tried blackmailing me if I didn’t take Abu with me. What was he thinking? It’s not like these two sea creatures belong to him. It belongs to the wild. It belongs to anyone who puts a claim on them. And now it belongs to me.
And now, look at them. I have that female ray left. Melur..what’s with the name anyway. I need to make sure this experiment we’re dealing with will become a success this time round. No more failure. We’ve..I mean I have been working my ass off and now is the time.
"Mari ikut akak, mencari ulam melur; mari lawan ombak, mencari bintang timur.."
Man, this guy has guts. The codes, the secrets. Even his own brother has no idea what’s actually happening right now.
I was deep into my thoughts when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I took it out and pressed the read button. 1 message in. All it say was “Landed.”
I had to smile. After all this time, alas. The star..My star. My bintang timur..
I dialed the number that was on the message. “Maya, you landed?”
“Yeah, I’ve landed.” Maya answered. Sweet voice. So sweet..”How are things in London, Hakimi?”
“Good. Ok..not that good actually. But hey, it’ll better if you were here instead.”
“Yeah? You’ll be back soon anyway. So a couple of days wouldn’t change that much, right?”
“I guess so. Getting a call from you was a surprise. But to actually meeting you after so long, a couple of days could wait,” I replied. Flirty, I thought. She wants me in the game, I’m in.
I was just about to get my gears up when I received and incoming call. Looking at the number, I knew it was urgent.
“Hey Maya, I have an urgent call coming in. I’ll call you later if its okay with you.
“Sure. I’ll be waiting,” Maya responded.
“Okay. Bye." I hung up and answered the incoming call.
“Hey, what’s up? You know you’re not supposed to call me on this line. What’s so urgent?” I was obviously irritated.
“Shit Hakimi! What have you done?? We’ve made a deal! You promised me you were going to take care of them. And now, Raja’s dead gooddammit!!” the voice on the phone was practically screaming at me and I had to pull the phone away from my ears.
“Shut up! You know the risks. And this is one of them. We still have Melur.” I replied. Trying really hard to control myself. I knew anger would get me nowhere.
“You swear to me now Hakimi. Melur will not be your next lab rat. She’s the KEY. Our key. Don’t you fuck this time!” The voice was calmer but the hint of detest was still visible.
“Yes, Angah. I know. And you’d better hang up coz you’ll get both of us into trouble in case someone’s tracing this line.”
And at that moment Angah hung up and I did the same.
Dear Angah,
This is weird. Totally insane!! This question... this question had been bothering me since the meeting with Hakimi's research team. I know it's impossible, I know I'm getting paranoid here, I know I just shouldn't even think about this, but.... .....
...but sorry, Angah, I can't help but I have to ask you this:
Did you have anything to do with Hakimi's research? I'm sorry... I mean of course you did not...
...did you?
I think I'm getting emotional here. Raja just died. In front of my eye, inside the aquarium of their lab, his body rested besides Melur. I did not cry I did not yield. Melur was sad, but me, rather than feeling miserable, I felt relieved.
It's better for Raja to die than suffer from his 'blindness'. Yeah, they made Raja 'blind'; they made Raja lost his sense of directions; Raja was struggling to try to locate himself and find his sense of orientation, he threw himself at every direction, he kept on hitting the wall of aquarium, he crashed on Melur, he forced his own body to squeeze at the corner of the aquarium.... Raja went crazy, for almost a week already --
-- you did not know all these, right? I mean, of course you did not know these, you are not here anymore... you left, four years ago you left us, you sank into the deep blue sea after your last surf, and you never came out.. how would you know what happened to Raja and Melur? Right?
..but .. they said you did not expect these would happen when you and Pak Zainol gave Raja and Melur to Hakimi. They lied, right? Only Pak Zainol sold the manta rays to them, right?
Tell me, tell me Angah. Tell me that you had nothing to do with all these, please...
Tell me that the conversation between Hakimi and his team leader was totally wrong -- they said they are lucky still to have Melur alive, as the key of 'all' is Melur, because the code-words say so...
... and I heard the so-called 'code-words' from Hakimi's mouth.....
"Mari ikut akak, mencari ulam melur; mari lawan ombak, mencari bintang timur.."
Angah, tell me, for God's sake, give any sign that you can, please tell me this is only the pantun that was over exaggerated by them, the pantun is not any 'code-words' for their research...
....right?
You had nothing to do with Hakimi, you hated him so much, remember? You said he's the cockiest fool in this world, how would you have anything to do with a stupid like Hakimi? Of course you wouldn't....
.....right?
....... right, Angah?
...................... right............ Angah?
I'm sorry I think I need to rest.
Abu.
Hi Maya, the presentation went well. U got a lot of interests from independent researchers around. Told them as u asked me to, to contact u after ur back from ur ‘emergency leave’. Hope things go well with u, don’t stressed urself out too much, girl. I’m honored to have done this for u so pls regard it as a friend’s gesture. Till then, take care. XxX Linda
The second message was from Amy.
Kamal n I r picking u up. Call me once u got this.
The third message read: WHAT?! You’re kidding right? Send me a text once you’ve landed. I’ll give you a ring.
I replied a short 'thank you' to Linda before calling Amy up. She told me that she was waiting with Kamal at the arrival hall. We would be driving straight to Terengganu from KLIA.
I replied to the third text: ‘Landed’ while waiting for my luggage at the baggage hall. Five minutes later my mobile rang. I picked it up and said, ‘That's right, I've landed. How are things in London, Hakimi?’
Dear Angah,
I'm sending this mail from InterContinental Hotel, London, U.K.
Yes. No kidding. I attended the conference. I followed the bastard after all. You wouldn't know how strong my reluctance and hatred is since the day he met me in pulau until today.
..but Angah, I had no choice. I just had to come with him -- not because of his research topics, not because he came and begged me -- it's because of our pets Melur and Raja, and because of Pak Zainol.
Pak Zainol couldn't attend the conference with Hakimi at the very last minute of time, that's why Hakimi desperately came to me -- because Pak Zainol 'nominated' me as his replacement.
I know. I know. I should put all these in a proper sequence. I know you're confused, same to me when all these were revealed. Angah, as you may have already managed to see this, Pak Zainol is so much involved in Hakimi's research program!
The day Hakimi came to our pulau, obviously he went to Pak Zainol before they came to me, three of them, Hakimi that bastard, Pak Zainol on his wheel chair, and abah.
They explained what's the research program about, thoroughly; when Pak Zainol apologized to me for not telling me the truth all these while, I looked to abah. Abah was quiet. I saw the flash of frustrated and disappointed in his eyes. I know he only knew it few days, or maybe few weeks earlier than me, that Pak Zainol, or more 'glamorously' known as Prof Z in Hakimi's research team, had sold Raja and Melur for their research program.
.... I understand how you feel at this moment. I mean if you were there, you would have already broken Hakimi's neck! .. but are you sure is Hakimi the one to be blamed on? I'm not. I hate to think that our beloved Pak Zainol had done something so much painful to us. But at the moment of time I was so much confused.
Pak Zainol regretted, he apologized, and he begged me for doing this for him -- go to the conference, join Hakimi, and help him to help Raja and Melur --
........ .......
Angah, that's why I'm here. Waiting for Subuh. Today I'll attend Hakimi's bullshit presentation, and then meeting some experts of his team. I don't give a damn about what kind of event to attend or what kind of expert to meet.
My whole heart and mind is all on Raja and Melur, and also the last sentence that came out from Pak Zainol's mouth before I struck him on his head with my chair and bumped Hakimi with my furious body...
Everything was totally out of control on the night. Abah needed to pull me out of the little hut. I couldn't remember what really happened but I still can recall the blood on Pak Zainol's face, and also the last sentence he said:
".... I can't bear the guilt anymore for putting Raja and Melur under that suffering condition, they are dying..."
F*ck!!
Abu
‘Yes...’
‘Do you remember this?’ She opened her palm and revealed a bunch of seashells glued together forming a familiar shape.
‘Yes, I remember’
‘Do you remember what the shape is called in Malay?’
‘Yes I do. It’s bintang.’
‘Well done, my darling. Do you remember who taught you Malay?’
I nodded, pointed at her and she smiled. And then she threw the bintang to the sea and turned to look at me.
‘Why did you do that?’ I asked.
‘Did you like the bintang?’ She asked back. I nodded.
‘Let me tell you something… ' She held my hand.
‘Otherwise?’ I asked but she was gone.
I woke up to the sound of the trolley along the seat corridor. The air stewardess was serving breakfast. I thought a while about the dream. It’s been a while since I dreamt of Mom. I remember walking with her along the beach when I was little but I don’t remember talking to her about any seashells or stars. Maybe she is trying to tell me something about what I am doing right now.
My head is slightly in a mess for the time being. I wonder if she is telling that I should not have been doing this in my current unsettled condition.
Here I am, thousands of feet above the sky, on my way to Malaysia after finding out that James has been cheating on me. Screw the conference, I’m looking for a new star in the east.
Dear Angah,
This storm never stopped since last night, it carries all the shocking news. Strong wind howls as bad and sad one dropped in; and thunder growls at the frustrating ones. The loose zinc roof is being slapped by the storm since just now-- gosh I thought I nailed it yesterday.
Abah was spending his night over Pak Zainol's. Pak Zainol's condition is getting worse, and abah had to take care of him the whole last night. I din know what happened but I was asked to leave by abah when Pak Zainol passed out suddenly.
.... hope he'll be fine.
I'm alone in this little hut, and it's already 1pm but I'm still awake, since last night, after I came back from Pak Zainol's, and after I checked my mailbox and I found the email from Hakimi.
Angah,
Remember this picture?
Manta ray 'Melur' & Hakimi.Cunning him -- he made the confession in his email, and I think you're going to get pissed off like me if you know this --
-- that snake, during that dive, sneakingly, without telling me anything before the dive (and even right after the dive!), put a GPS Tracker onto the manta rays I brought him to meet!
.. and now, with the email, he sent me the picture, his confession, and an invitation. An invitation to be his research assistant, to attend a conference in UK.
Yes, UK. London to be specific.
That snake said the GPS Trackers he put onto Melur and Raja were for research purposes, on a long list of topics he listed in the email and it's all about the behavior of Manta Rays, and one of the topic is about how we -- he means you, along, abah and I -- managed to 'call' the manta rays out whenever we dive, yada yada yada.
I'm not sure whether I should just delete the email. For an invitation to hold a *VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN HIS RESEARCH TEAM* in a *VERY IMPORTANT CONFERENCE* that will commence in *TWO* days, he sounds more than desperate compared to the *DEEP* sincerity he tried to possess.
Few minutes ago Hakimi's 2nd mail dropped in saying he's on his way to come over here with my flight tix, plus mentioning I don't have to be worried about my visa yada yada yada. I just deleted the mail.
I think it's better for me to go and fix the loose zinc roof rather than getting annoyed like this, even though the storm is still roaring outside.
Chow.
Your brother,
Abu
I was preparing for a power point presentation on the laptop when a new email arrived. It was from Amy. The subject was 'Penang pic!'
Hey Maya,
Check me out. Bad shot with eyes closed but still looking hot.
Kamal and I are the tag-alongs. Not sure of their exact plan in Terengganu just yet but we’ll be meeting up with Uncle Zainol. You remember Dad’s friend, Uncle Zainol? Apparently he no longer lives in Penang.
Anyway, gtg now. Will see if I can call you in these couple of days for more updates. Till then… lots of love!
Your sis,
Amy
Oh how I wished to be joining them right now. I looked at my half-packed luggage on the bed. The conference is two days away. It is an environmental sciences conference that is going to focused on the future of aquatic sciences in Europe. It is a very important conference for my career because I will be one of the presenters. Career… me as a current tutor and future professor. Professor Maya Harris sounds good… Like how it was for Dad, Proffesor Ken Harris. Or like Uncle Zainol.
I remember calling him Prof Z instead of Uncle Zainol. I wonder if he still remember that.
Dear Angah,
Gotcha! Haha! I received your sign! I received your sign!! Haha!
Look at the picture attached.. this is one of the pictures I took during my trip to KL last time. You see my name? I don't know what happened but my name was written almost EVERYWHERE, together with all the graffiti in Central Market, KL's heart of the artistry cultural.
It was so fascinating to see your name painted everywhere like you're celebrated for a very very grand reason, and you bet, I snapped lots of pictures and -- hey, how careless I could be -- I did not notice the BIG SIGN you sent to me until last night!!!
Now, looook clooooosely to the picture. What lies beside my name?
"Mencari bintang timur."
I got it, I even can see you're smiling BIG at me! Yeah!! I know, that's from you, it's you who put it there, my man!
"Mari ikut akak, mencari ulam melur; mari lawan ombak, mencari bintang timur.."
-- Hey, don't you be surprised that I still remember well your self-made pantun which you even made to become our official surfing anthem in the old days. Nobody understood what you're trying to say in that pantun, and, well, who cares? *grin* You always have this weird poetic 'sense' that spitted a mouthful of senseless paragraph but strangely they were simply deadly to girls..
.. my point here is, first you pulled my attention with all my names painted around, then you sent your ultimate sign to me! Mencari bintang timur -- gosh, you're haunting, bro! *grin*
I need to run now. Abah is calling me to spring clean the dive store. It's a big sunny day outside now after 3 days of big pour. I just miss the sun! Chow!
Love,
Abu.
Episode 3 : Saturday night cruise
Posted: Monday, April 7, 2008 by -f-l-o- in Labels: Ulam April 2008James has been staying at my place since Amy left for the holiday. He asked me to move in with him a week back but I told him I need to think about it because my place is much closer to my work place. But I didn't tell him that I am not ready to let Amy paying rents for the whole flat. She is still looking for a job and until then, I want to be there so that she won't feel a bit too burdened by the living cost in Edinburgh.
Sometimes James thinks that I am doing too much for Amy. He thinks I need to let Amy live on her own at times. I always do but never for long. Amy and I always find some way to be near each other every time. She is never a spoilt sister so I believe in giving her everything that I could because that is what an older sister does.
I was done with the dishes and headed to Amy's room after dinner. James was in the shower, he would be out in a while to meet up with his mates for their Saturday 'boys night out'. Her room smelled like mild vanilla because she loves burning the scented stick in the morning. The bed was still in a mess, you could almost tell that she was in a hurry before leaving the room. There were pictures of her and her friends in costumes on the dressing mirror and next to it in a frame was our family photo. Not the one with Mom but with Jane. Maybe because we never had any family photo taken with Mom. Plus, I think because Amy has very little memory of Mom, she regards Jane as our mother.
Jane is a very lovely mother, but she is not mine. I am still holding on strongly to the fact that she is only our step mother. I don't think it's has anything to do with her being the reason on why we had to leave Malaysia. That is James' theory, by the way. I think it's due to the fact that I remember almost everything about Mom. Her dark hair, her tanned skin, her slim figure, her accent... She had a very thick Malaysian accent.
I sat on Amy's bed and reached for the book by its side. From the metal marker, it showed that she has read half of the book. I opened the page and the marker fell. I picked it up and it was engraved with the words: Mari lawan ombak! Cheeky, I thought and smiled.
The metal marker does look like a mini surfing board.
Dear Angah,
Yello... Nobody can forget the way you say 'Yello' in your very own fancy way, nobody can.
Abah missed you last night. I knew he cried. This is my first time to see him crying since the day you left us. Our old man is getting older and older.
Things are gloomy here. The sky, the weather, the sea, and the mood. It's monsoon season, nobody cares to come over our little island as there's no sunlight but rough wave. ..but the thing about weather is, when it calms down, it leaves no trace at all about her roughness and rudeness.. and sometime Along will just grab his fishing rod and try his luck.. but seeing him standing alone without you by his side, the calm weather only shows a lonely scene..
That's why I hate monsoon.
Along fishing alone under the 'once in a blue moon' good weather.
Abah officially retired from diving and surfing yesterday and we had a farewell party last night but it was raining outside. Along, Gemuk and the rest of our friends tried to cheer the gloomy atmosphere up. Having everybody around was fun, and I had a good time, until I found Abah hid in his gudang, sniveling in front of your surf board.
... yeah.., having everybody around was fun.. but it also reminded us those good days we had together in the past...having everybody around might be not a good idea though...
The resort had been closed due to the monsoon, and I took the chance to go to KL the big city. Nothing much to be told... oh yeah I met Hakimi. Remember him? The tall fella who always visits our resort for surfing? OK put it in this way, the tall *cocky* fella who always visits our resort for doing something he thought is called surfing -- now you remember? I know you kinda dislike him, everybody dislikes him for God's sake. But things always work in this way: we'll always bump into someone we don't really wish to meet, we'll never have enough time for someone whom we care and we love, and we'll always misses chances to meet the one we'll eventually fall in love with...
... like meeting Hakimi, like losing you, like I'm still waiting for the one...
*sigh*
So what are you up with recently? Well you know I don't really expect a reply from you, but at least give me a sign, if any. Sounds creepy, huh? Hahah!!
We miss you.
Your brother,
Abu.
It is the only time when the sun appears without being too harsh and yet still play along with the yellowish colours of the ground and the leaves. Perhaps because it’s chilly enough to get cuddly inside. Perhaps because we still get the hint of both summer and winter. And perhaps because yellow is my favourite colour too. I took this photo outside the house yesterday.
I wonder how Amy is doing in Malaysia. It’s been only a week now but I missed her already. She has not been online to update me on her trip to see Nenek in Penang. I received a text on the day she reached KL but that’s about it. I bet she’s having too much fun to even bother texting me about her three weeks holiday now. I’m so jealous…
Nenek is Mom’s mother. She took care of Amy and I since our Mom passed away when I was six and Amy was three. Then for ten years, Amy and I grew up in between the care of Nenek and Dad in Penang. Dad went back and forth to Canterbury in England of where he’s originally from, after Mom passed away. When there were school holidays, Amy and I would tag along with him to England and we would be staying at Grandma’s, our ‘very English’ grandmother. Grandma was different from Nenek but they were equally warm that Amy and I ‘decided’ to like her right away. After a few visits, Dad must have thought that we were comfortable in England, he finally told us one day that we were moving to England for good. Plus, he found someone who was good enough to be our new mother, Jane.
It had been eleven years since then and I have been back to visit Nenek only twice: once after my high school and the second one was during the second year in university summer break, both were less than ten days trip each.
When Amy and I planned to go together this year, I was excited because it was going to be a longer trip: three weeks. But two days before leaving, I had to bail out. James, my boyfriend was involved in an accident and had his legs badly injured, I didn’t have the heart to leave him. Amy had to go alone.
I have moved to live on my own up north in Scotland after getting a job in Edinburgh since a couple of years back. That was when I met James. We have been going out for a year now. Amy moved to stay with me after graduating last year. Dad and Jane are still in England, staying not far from Grandma. We still visit them both from time to time.
I was holding my phone, thinking of texting Amy again when it suddenly rang.
“Hello?”
“Yellooo? Maya! Sorry hasn’t been returning your text and calls, you know how it is…” She giggled. Of course it’s Amy. Nobody else said ‘yello’ instead of ‘hello’.
“Hey Amy, how has it been? How’s Nenek? How’s Penang?”
“Nenek is great. She’s making me fat with all the food, gosh! She sends her love to you.” I smiled thinking of Nenek and all her foods.
“How are you? How’s James, he’s okay now?” Amy asked.
“I’m fine, James is fine too, thanks, recovering well. Glad you managed to call finally…”
“Yea, I can’t talk long though. It’s past midnight here already, long day today. One quick question though, do you know someone named Kimi? Akimi or something?”
“Kimi? No, I don’t think so. Who is she?”
“He. Tall, dark… very cute. We sat next to each other on the flight from London and we started talking… turns out that he knows you.”
“Very cute? I’m surprise I have no idea who he is. Where is he from?” I asked before we both giggled.
“Originally a Malaysian but has been staying in London for a few years now. He told me he went to the same school with you in Penang…Small world eh?”
Oh wait. Don’t tell me that’s him. I still remember his handsome boyish look even after twelve years.
“Yelloooo, you there?”
“Here! I think I know a Kimi. Did you get his phone number by the way?” I asked her again.
“Yea I got it, will text it to you later. I gotta go now. Say hi James. See if I can go online one of these days, although I doubt it. Take care now, alright? Bye!” Then she hung up.
I put the phone down and turned to look at James who was already fast asleep on the sofa. I like watching him sleeping. I moved closer towards him when the phone beeps, signaling an incoming text message.
She’s fast, I thought.
I took the phone and the message read: ‘Hey Maya, not sure if you remember me. It’s Kimi from Uplands, Penang, more than 10 years flashback helps perhaps? Got the number from your sis Amy. I’m in Malaysia currently but heading back to the UK in a week time. How are you doing? Fancy a catch up if you remember me still? X’
If I remember you? You’re my first high school boyfriend and your favourite colour was yellow too!
"What's cooking?" -- ULAM July: a special reunion of ULAMers with Remy.
Posted: Friday, September 7, 2007 by SpidEy d'lEfty in Labels: Review
Remy: The 'salad' (ulam) was so raw when it started in June, but somehow, 5 chefs with different styles of gastronomy plus various philosophies behind their cooking, joined together in month of July, at a point where the passion of summer and romance of fall met.
I would not say that ULAM July was a haute cuisine but the spirit and the effort showed by 5 panelists were truly amazing, and not forget to mention the creativity behind the dish, it was tremendously shone by the different personalities of each of them.
And tonight in Remy's "What's Cooking" show, we're so honored to have 4 of the panelist with us here, Ey d'lEfty, Flo, Sayuti, and RedRuby; plus the man behind the scene, the Salad Boss, BossUlam. Welcome.
So, Boss, obviously you have the best panelists ever in July. What do you think about them?
BossUlam: Yeah as you described just now, each of them have different personalities, but I'm glad that each of them have the same passion about the project. See, Flo made us fall in love with her romance touch, Ey d'lEfty aka Spidey made us confused of what's inside his mind most of the time; Jannah made us realized and saw and appreciated what a modern literature should look like; Sayuti made us screamed or wailed or whooped because of his brain-twister wit; and RedRuby, made us doffed our hat to her neat composure and full control of every dramatic scenes in the story --- they are all different, but putting these differences together, it made a delicious ulam.
Remy: Indeed... but I really interested in one thing: DO you guys know each other before Ulam July?
Ey d'lEfty: I think I'm the one who knows EVERYBODY here, except Boss. But these people started to talk to each other when they got into this pool.
Remy: So are you saying basically, you guys were working TOGETHER without knowing each other? BUT looking at the story, the flow and the plot was so fluent as if everything was planned and discussed! Incredible! So, Sayuti, after ULAM July, what do you think of the other panelist?
Sayuti: Well, I think Flo is a romantic tourist with an eye for fine arts, while Jannah is a teacher with conspirator's mind. Red Ruby, for me, likes to read and kills character ;p while Spider is VERY confused and twisted geoscientist who, well I basically know his job task, evidently likes to interpret stuff. Haha!
Remy: Interpret stuff? Yeah I actually really surprised with one of Spidey's post which decode your tricky puzzle into something really dramatic...
Red Ruby: No I think Spidey's more 'KIASU' than anything else. It was research, Research, and RESEARCH that he did. :> But at least that makes the storyline more real, don't you think so? Hehe!!
Remy: Really? Spidey, did you do a lot of studies and researches throughout the journey of ULAM July?
Ey d'lEfty: YES and NO actually. Hehe. I have a confession to do here actually, I actually made up a few phrases of Samoan language. ;p Hey I did not MASTER the language, I just tried to MASTER the way to put it real and dramatic. Haha.. ops.. KANTOI!
Remy: That's interesting. But tell me Red Ruby, what do you think of Jannah. I heard from Boss that Jannah has some little problem with you..
BossUlam: Haha.. that's true actually. Jannah used to tell me that RedRuby killed her favourite character and twisted her plot. Hahaha.. Remember KingKong and the 'National Oil Company'? Hahaha!!
Red Ruby: Huh?! I didn't know that?! Sorry for that. But for me, I compare Jannah to Sidney Sheldon, period.
Remy: WOW! That's more than a compliment! and how about you, Flo?
Flo: For me, I think Jannah is crazy, Red Ruby is crazy, Sayuti is Crazy, and Spidey, is also crazy.
Remy: Hahaha!! Funny. And don't forget your Boss, it's his crazy mind that set this crazy scene up! Hahaha!! But how about yourself? I mean of course, we know that you are as crazy as these guys sitting here, but we all believe that you are 'crazy with some helpless romantic touch', ;) what do you think? What do you think of your own writing style?
Flo: That I am a drama princess? *giggle* Well, I like keeping the suspense and surprise. You can also notice this in 'Elle For Love'. Ops.. sorry bout the free promo here. *giggle* Anyway, the suspense, the surprises, most of the time they are so unintentionally appeared in my mind, and sometimes it surprised me as well.
Remy: Spidey, how bout you?
Ey d'lEfty: I think I always have a picture in my mind before starting writing-- the image of the characters, the scenes, the buildings, and also the soundtracks, the background music. Erm.. let's call it 'VisualAudio' oriented. *grin* But throughout the ULAM July, I had problem of jiving my version of image with the other's, I mean, the 'image-conflict' always happened each time a panelist followed up the story. However, solving the conflict was actually the fun part of it, it was like you're gaining a power of recompose everything into places, and then let them flow and see how they evolved, then you recompose again.
Remy: WOW.. that's involve A LOT of thinking process, dude!!
Ey d'lEfty: .. and A LOT of fun!!
Remy: I bet! I guess Sayuti is true bout that, you enjoyed breaking codes and solving puzzles with imagination..I think it really matches with your profession, huh? So as a self-proclaimed 'Human Resource Engineer', Sayuti, what do you think it influence your writing style?
Sayuti: Ah ha! Ok here's the way it goes: I tend to be analytical -- that's what an Engineer will do; and I wil ltry to ensure continuity of the plot and the characters -- and that's what we call HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT!! *grin*..
BossUlam: I think everybody did very good in handling this, as what Sayuti pointed out, the continuity of the plot and the consistency of the characters. That was why there were some readers and even you, Remy, were surprised that the whole story of ULAM July was so fluent and smooth as if it was a planned and discussed storyline.
Remy: INDEED!! and the fast pace and the quick update too.. it was so quick that made me really couldn't believe that each of them even have a time to think and plan the next episode, let alone the code breaking and puzzle solving, and yet to fit it into the story..
BossULAM: .. and among them, I think Red Ruby was the quickest writer since ULAM June.
Red Ruby: I admit that I'm a fast pace action packed kinda person plus twisting the storyline here and there. But I think everybody in ULAM July was really committed. I believe that we all know well that it'll turn our readers away if the story was basically stagnant. Whatever it is, I don't think I'm the fastest writer among all, instead, comparatively, I think I have a 'narrow' vocab so obviously my English is not as superb as the other fellow panelist, and my writing style, is a little bit 'corny' I guess..
Remy: Not a superb English and ... 'CORNY'??! Kidding? I think we all would totally agree if I say you're the most experienced writer among all, Red Ruby. And it was so obviously shown from the way you write and the language you use.. You read a lot, don't you?
Red Ruby: Hmm.... I guess it's a YES...
Remy: ...OK then tell me, Red Ruby, what is your original plot for ULAM July? See it started from a conflict happened in the world of theft and eventually evolved into a mysterious tattoo legend thingy.. Was that what you expected?
Red Ruby: OF COURSE NOT!! I mean who would expect that? I really thought that the story was going to be a 'OCEAN-13 meets BOURNE'S IDENTITY', nothing to do with the paranormal things. However, I love it too if the story sounds like 'SUPERNATURAL'.. Hehehe..
Remy: Yeah, talking about OCEAN-13. Spidey, it was so obvious and everybody had noticed it, the 1st episode, it really had the shadow of OCEAN-13, any explanation? Did you really want it to become a ULAM version of OCEAN?
Ey d'lEfty: I guess I just need to do another confession here.. *grin* Yes I have to admit that I just watched OCEAN-13 when I started writing episode 1, but I think what really triggered the idea of writing a 'story about professional thieves' was the song 'STOLEN' of Dashboard Confessionals, which I'd convinced Boss to put it as the 1st soundtrack of ULAM July.
Remy: It is so obvious that you're such a 'visualaudio' type of writer. *smile* How about you Flo? What will your version of ULAM July be if you're given full control to drive the story?
Flo: Well if I get to control ULAM July, I would not have used Elle but Rachel instead. Then there will be Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Ross and
Remy: That sounds familiar...
BOSSUlam: It is a combination of FRIENDS and LOST, Remy.
Remy: Oh you girls!!! Two of you are SO MUCH into drama series, aren't you?!! Red Ruby just wanted it to be like Supernatural, and you, Friends and Lost!! Hahaha!! That's really funny. I hope Sayuti won't give me any title from P.Ramlee movies, will you?
Sayuti: No. Don't worry, even tough I'm so into HOUSE. *giggle* But I would love to make ULAM July a sci-fi thriller with a lot of twists but will focus on the ULAM folder, and is related to ULAM June.
Remy: .. and that was what you did!! Putting Prof Z and the tail-less goat back into ULAM July!!
Ey d'lEfty, Flo, Red Ruby: OOOOOOOOOHHhhhh!! THAT WAS CLASSIC!!
BOSSUlam: Everybody was really shocked to read the reappearance of Prof Z and the pictures of the tail-less goat, and the college students.. To be very frank I was actually pissed off. *smile* I thought Sayuti had just ruined the whole ULAM July, it was like no turning point at all when he tried to put something really irrelevant but still cannot be ignored back into ULAM July. Actually it was my personal problem, I just couldn't stand to see my failure in ULAN June came back to haunt me in ULAM July! Hahahaha!!
Remy: ..but your panelists managed to solve this out, didn't they?
BOSSUlam: Very much! I was actually, at the time of frustration, *grin* anticipating. I wanted to know what magic would my panelists would offer to me out of the mess.
Remy: .. and what did you get fianly?
BOSSUlam: ..Well.., what could I say more?
Remy: Very well. So panelists, I believe while writing or continuing the story, you guys must have your favourite character that you would, intentionally or unintentionally, put more effort or time to develop, right? So tell me, what's your favourite character? Zip? Elle?
Red Ruby and Ey d'lEfty: ZIP!!!!
Flo: I knew it! I knew it!! Of course both of them love Zip! Spidey introduced Zip at 1st episode, and Red Ruby 'reassured' Zip's status in the final episode!
Ey d'lEfty: Hellooooo.... it was my choice, so what? *grin*
Remy: Haha.. but Flo, I heard that you used to say the most interesting plot would be KingKong is actualy the Prime Minister of Thailand and Elle was actually a 'guy trapped in a woman's body'.. and Zip confesses that he is actually a GAY, did you say that??!!
Flo: *LOL* I think I did.. Haha.. but that was only crap.. In fact, I think since all of us did build up a little bit of history of Kong, Elle, Raoul and Professor Z, that leaves us with Maria which, if given the chance, I would create her to become Raoul’s sister, the twin to the one that died.
Don't y'all think it's pretty cool?
Sayuti: Nope. *grin*
Remy: Haha.. so what's your 'COOL' stuff, Sayuti? You introduced the elements of ULAM June, so is your favourite character Prof Z or the tail-less goat? *wink*
Sayuti: The ULAM folder.
*Everybody burst into BIG laugh*
Remy: *LOL* That was hilarious!! Do you really mean it?
Sayuti: Certainly. Because it bears all the answers for all the secrets of ULAM. AND that's is what we call COOL. *wink wink*
BossULAM: You know in normal condition the panelist who wrote up first episode would always have the privilege to design and develop the main character that he/she wants, and then the next writers would just have to agree and focus on this character. But I tell you, Remy, this is not the case in ULAM July.
Remy: Indeed. Look at Zip. Spidey designed and developed Zip but everybody can see what happen to Zip in terms of the contribution to the story flow.
Ey d'lEfty: Yeah, I noticed that actually. Flo, Sayuti, Red Ruby and Jannah, they were like did not want to give Zip any chance to perform in their story..
BOSSUlam: Yeah, and that pretty much made Zip a LOSER in the story, don't you think so?
Ey d'lEfty: Boss, are you trying to say that the person who develop Zip is a LOSER?
BOSSUlam:
Remy: .. Yeah, even for Zip, he seemed so not contributing in the story but he ended up becoming a hero and the only character that stay the same since the beginning. Hmm.. But there's one thing that I don't really understand.. the ending, I mean the process to get a ending was actually a mess and a lil' bit confusing...
Sayuti: I'm sorry, it was my fault.
BOSSUlam: No no. It was nobody's fault, or if I have to blame, I'll blame the wrong timing. .. And that's was why I tried to introduce the 'pre-post finale' idea, in order to make sure there's an ending ALREADY... but still, if the wrong timing was still there, we might end up having this 'pre-post finale' hanging as a bodiless tail.
Remy: So, BOSS, any plan for the becoming ULAM? I heard somebody has volunteered to be in ULAM September, is it correct?
BOSSUlam: Well, again, I think it's about timing. I'll try to make sure the new batch of panelist would have sufficient time to keep the momentum from start to end. And that's very important. As far as I know, Jannah will be busy with her academic study, Spidey will be offshore later on, no news from Red Ruby and I guess it's a sign of busy. And Flo will be free in September, not sure about Sayuti.
Remy: You mean, you're going to get them back if possible? What about new members?
BOSSUlam: Well this batch excelled, give me a reason for me to abandon them, Remy. New members? Maybe. But some promotion need to be done before that.
Remy: Well I guess we have come to the last part of the show. But before my final question to panelist, let's have a look on the messages left on the TALKUlam message board, the order of the message was from bottom to top, please read according to the date and time:
30 Jul 07, 19:26 Flo: I'm abnormal then. Since I like what Jannah just wrote. *grin* |
30 Jul 07, 18:08 Spider: my point is, if u find urself cursing the rest of the panelist and maki tak ingat and rase menyampah kt kitrng -- IT"S ABSOLUTELY NORMAL BEB!! wakakaka!!! |
30 Jul 07, 18:07 Spider: just to share one thing to you guys: I cursed and maki giler lah time tried to compile all the puzzles and put them in Episode 12 by using 12 hours... hehehe |
30 Jul 07, 18:06 Spider: Nasib baaaik benor i'm now only a READER for Ulam July.. good luck y'all!!! |
30 Jul 07, 17:09 Spider: hey guys.. aku dh back in www world.. will check out episode 13 later.. |
30 Jul 07, 16:36 Flo: Audris & Stellis? Ah sudah... |
30 Jul 07, 16:32 Flo: ALAMAK. Gua punya weekend hectic la, sampai gua terlupa kewujudan ULAM. Hehe.. Ok gua sambung time lunch break. Habis bila, tak tau. All the best for tomorrow. |
28 Jul 07, 14:06 sayuti: my impression on jane entry was "hoh?" then "hahaha" then "camne la si FLO nak sambung ni?" |
Ey d'lEfty: Yes actually. *grin* But that was all out of fun. The only serious frustration I had once was when I suddenly realized that everybody kept putting twists and twists without solving it or revealing it, and end up I have to gather everything to make sure the story could proceed in a logical way.
Remy: .. and that's how the SUPERB episode 12 published. Cool! How about the rest?
Red Ruby: There was a couple of frustrating moment to be honest.
Sayuti: When there's no update, yes.
Flo: Once. I was annoyed when I had to go online during my holiday trip to
Remy: Cool. So ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for coming to my show. Well done everybody, my popular ratatoullie is ready backstage, let's go and indulge yourself ladies and gentlemen.