MPYO March Music Camp

I'm back on popular demand, but...

The MPYO March Camp has just ended. That means, the entire Tribal Council must have been glued to their PCs (and Macs) awaiting for my post, then. It's terrible for me to break the unfortunate news, but I wouldn't be doing a traditional long post again. Well, not anytime soon, that is. I'm terribly busy with scholarship applications, and with my mom hogging the computer most of the time now, it isn't like I get the freedom to spend four hours straight to develop a quality post.

What more, with the number of pictures I actually took, it would take several decades to upload my pictures on my blog. There's no absolute guarantee either that the concept of Sharing Folders on Windows Live Messenger would work anytime soon because of two reasons. One, because I would have hardly any time to chat, and two, because I would be switching to Mac very soon, and it will take some time for me to get a Windows Live into the new system.

Anyway, it would be very unfair if I didn't give any sort of brief synopsis on the camp, so, I will be summarizing the entire seven days of camp in - let's hope - the next few paragraphs.


Day 1, Sunday, 9th March 2008

I arrived at Flamingo at 9am. Checked in, and then my parents dropped me off at KLCC. I met up with Kelly (who was dressed up in a gorgeous dress) and we soon went off to the MPO office to celebrate the Opposition's landslide victories in Penang, Kedah, Perak, Selangor and the Fedreal Territories (and not to forget, Kelantan).



We were talking very loudly and openly, and things didn't change much when James came along. We went off for a bit of shopping (eventually ending up at Pavilion KL) and finally met up with Lu Ee for lunch.

Then, we went to watch Akiko Suwanai perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto.

Unfortunately, Kelly had to go home after that, and left me and Lu Ee stranded to find our own transportation to find our own transportation to Flamingo.

Thanks to Lu Ee's parents, we made it in time for dinner with Jebat, David and Dylan (and Su Yin? Can't remember..) at Nandos near Ampang Point.

When we returned, I was too busy meddling with David's MacBook Pro, because I had to send the pictures to Kelly. It was not until everyone left the room except Lu Ee, when I realized that I needed to return the MacBook to David. Jia Rong called, telling us to meet them at James' room, 238.

Lu Ee and I decided to head there, as I needed water, too. But when we went there, all we saw were two books lying on two chairs. One, with "Lu Ee" and another with "Tiki" written on the front cover. Shit. Birthday presents.




The both of us took our own scrapbooks and started flipping through the personalized messages written by all our fellow Tribe members. Gosh, those messages were really, really touching.

But there was only one thing which got on my nerves. On the last page, right at the back cover of the scrapbook, a tiny note was scribbled in pencil.

"Psst. We're at 342.."

So, that must have been the "Surprise Party for Lu Ee" Kelly was talking about. Oh, by the way, it was Lu Ee's birthday.

But it wasn't until when we reached the room door when I realized that the Tribe decided to do the PETRONAS, and decided to save cost by celebrating two birthdays on one cake. Certainly, we were greeted in a shower of sprayshit noodles and a large, welcoming yell of "Surprise! Happy Birthday!!"




And in the same manner of Kit Leong's party, the room was pitch black, with almost the entire Tribe squashed at the metre-wide treshold, and two girls holding out a nice, large chocolate birthday cake.




This time, however, it read, "Happy Birthday Tiki and Lu Ee"



Certainly, the only thing we had was Cake and Coke that night. Well, that was because the majority of us were under-aged for drinking.

Annabel gave me several presents for my birthday - a Card, a box of fantastic Alcohol-Based Chocolates and an unknown gift, which turned out to be a fantastic Ferrari phone cover I always wanted when I was 10. Not that I hate it, of course, but certainly, it would have been one of things I wanted if I really had the license to blow money.

Addie soon came along, and she brought a nice gift, too. A Collection of French Ballet Music on CD! Knew I would like it.




Certainly, we were celebrating a double occasion here - the birthdays AND the election results, so, Jia Rong, our new concertmaster decided to conjure a large cheer - Chinese style. "Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum Seng!"



Certainly, with the full support of the entire Tribe, we were all following her. And since she decided to hold the fermata for about ten minutes, our lungs were crumpled at the end of the "Yum Seng"

But, it was indeed fun.


More fun, in fact, for the older boys, who had Moskorvi Vodka mixed with coke, pepsi, or juice.

Jebat was so drunk, he was talking rubbish just before I called it a night. I swear, he couldn't tell the difference between bras and panties. On that note, I thought it was better, I did, too.



Day 2, Monday, 10th March 2008


Nothing much happened. Tutti rehearsals. Sectionals. Conducting. Sectionals. Tutti rehearsals. Back to the hotel. I guess I'll just let the pictures do the talking.




That was Tutti. Now, it's lunch.



Just before the night Tutti, I caught Paganini practicing part of Die Fledermaus.



And Soh was my desk partner, Eliza.



Soon, we got back, and all we did was to hang around for a bit, talk rubbish, and fall asleep. And then, it was Day 3...



Day 3, Tuesday, 11th March 2008

Same thing happened. Tutti. Sectionals. Lunch. Conducting (this time, I was concertmaster of the quartet, and got screwing bigtime from Kevin for not counting the rests and playing the Oboe part - but still managed to nail the conducting bit). Sectionals (which was conducted by Jia Rong, and we got screwing from the office staff for our 'screeching sounds' and had to leave for an early dinner). And our last Tutti before we went back to Flamingo, and went off to bed.

However, I didn't do so.

I headed back home, as I was to collect my SPM results the following day on the 12th. At that point of time, I was biting my fingernails.



Day 4, 12th March 2008

Since you already know I got 11A1s and one miserable A2 for EST during the SPM examinations, I guess it's best I skip to the point I actually get back to DFP. You didn't know my SPM Results? Then just click here.

Anyway, I got back just in time for the screwing session, which turned out to be a ceramah meeting, which you could also read more about by clicking the same link.




After that, we had our Tutti rehearsals, and a long dinner break at 7.30pm for whoever that WAS NOT involved in the chamber concert.

Though I was NOT involved, I decided to say for a while to get some pictures. After all, I wasn't worrying any longer about any examination results or whatsoever.


Silence! I KILL YOU!



Then, I saw David mending a reed on stage...



Just before his ten second Debussy performance with Lu Ee on the piano - mostly consisting of the "F-words" and "shit", rather than anything else.


Up next, was Jia Rong, Lu Ee, Chin Ning and James' String quartet.



My boss was doing a fantastic job at the first Violin stand..



While James was as steady as ever on the opposite side - with "Silence! I KILL YOU!" written all over his face. Concentration, mate.




And since it was the unfortunate end after their performance, Lu Ee, David and I decided to ditch the rest of rehearsals to have dinner. In the midst of looking for Kit Leong, Adelyn and Jebat, I stumbled upon Lim Kit Siang and yelled his name right in public like a total maniac.




We found Kit Leong and the rest, and all of us decided to go to Bukhara to join Kit Siang and Anwar, who were having dinner there. We had a few pictures, and if you want to know the story in more detail, you should click HERE.

Since Kit Leong just arrived from Penang and had his PlayStation 2 with him, we spent the entire night back at the hotel room playing Crash Team Racing until about 2pm. The rest continued until about 4am. I know, but why play a PS1 game on a PS2? Who cares, really? It was really, really fun. With Kit Leong mimicking the game sounds of "meehee!!" or "woohoo!!", it was really brining the camp to life.


Day 5, Thursday, 13th March 2008

Same thing, yet again. But we were freer that day. Rehearsals for me did not commence until 11pm. So, a few of us - Dylan, Addie, Kit Leong, Jebat and me - decided to head off to the KL Convention Centre for breakfast.



Yes, and I couldn't quite agree that nothing would have been better to start the day with a cup of warm expresso. Simply gorgeous, isn't it?



That was Dylan's, anyway. I was too full to have anything.



The boys were so hungry, it seems as if they were Gats during Ramadhan. They had a sandwich platter each.




Adelyn, too, had a sandwich.



We spent most of the time talking rubbish, and having lots of laughs.



And of course, acting as if we have got pieces of chicken breast stuck between our teeth.



For Kit Leong, the sandwiches were not only getting between his teeth, I think they were too heavy for him. Yet again, he looked as if he was set to not finishing his meal.



We all could tell. Especially when Kit Leong illustrated what he meant by "the Measure of a Man"...



Certainly, all of them were having great fun, especially with a DSLR in company. Addie was also chatting with some unknown person on her phone most of the time. Hmm.. Wonder who that is...


At 11pm, however, we headed back to DFP, for our supposed Sectionals. We had fun, with Jia Rong conducting most of it. However, since she had to go early, we spent the rest of the hour fiddling on the piano. Or rather, the girls...




For lunch, however, the Tribe went over to Kim Gary's Restaurant at Avenue K for Cheese Baked Rice (with Pork Chop in Red Sauce).



Since we were squashed nine to a table, I was seated milimetres away from Annabel all through the entire duration of more than half an hour. Obviously, I took good care of her.



Kit Leong was stuck next to Adelyn...



Jebat, was in a world of his own.



But since the both of them were terribly full from the platter of Sandwiches from breakfast, Kit Leong and Jebat still shared a serving of baked rice together. Awww...



After that time, we had the afternoon free as the MPO were rehearsing the Rite of Spring. I caught the first half of it, and spent the rest of the afternoon wondering why on earth anyone would want to listen to that sort of music.

However, at 5.30pm, we were back on the stage, rehearsing Strauss, Offenbach, Hindson and Dvorak.

I was back with Eliza and Kah Yan with fifteen minutes to spare before the tuning-up session.



Aaron was talking to Bryan.



And Lu Ee and Su Yin were busy camwhoring my DSLR. They look pretty, anyway, so it doesn't matter.



After a short rehearsal, we took a break for dinner, whereby the Tribe gathered outside for sushi and packed Isetan bentos.


And less than half an hour later, they were back camwhoring. Who else? Haha.



Here's Annabel, again. This time, she's being an angel, marking in fingerings and proper positions to use while playing with each other.



And of course, tell me an orchestra that isn't complete without a concertmaster who practices 24-7?



By half past seven, all of us were back on stage, except for one person. Guess who's missing again? Certainly, that must have driven Kevin up his nerves. "Where's Myles gone again?!"



He did join us later, alright. And we did eventually manage to start and finish on time. On time, meaning to say, we made it back to Flamingo with even more time to play PlayStation and listen to Kit Leong's preachings.

However, I dosed off too early. From what I heard, they were playing until about 3am in the morning. And I am pretty sure that explained the lack of energy the following day...



Day 6, Friday, March 14 2008

There wasn't much happening, yet again, today. In fact, I was off until about 3pm, when Kevin was going to show us a DVD on Music in the 21st Century.

So, with half of the day dedicated entirely on Chamber music, which I would not be involved in, I decided to join Kit Leong, Addie and Annabel to Starbucks to rest. Kit Leong's initial plan was to study and sleep. But as you expected, you would have known what he ended up doing most...



Addie, on the other hand, was deeply engrossed in Add Maths, I was just telling her to cool down. I mean, it wasn't until three weeks before SPM when I actually learned the format of the paper.


Annabel was just like me, tagging along, waiting to kill time until 3pm. Unlike me, however, she was going to then catch the Chamber Concert at night.



Day 7, Sunday, March 15 2008

Most unfortunate for me, I had to get home right after Kevin's video screening as I needed to fill up some scholarship applications. And it was even more unfortunate when I forgot my camera the following day during our actual concert, which went like a bomb...

For one, I would have been pretty sure my sister would have danced to the Can-Can, as we have been both listening to it since we were born. Seriously, I had great fun all through this camp, though I have been spending my time in and out of Flamingo, just like a nomad. And I also do understand the concept that the Tribe spends most of its time active at night, and tired in the day. Some sort like a bunch of nocturnal animals. Like Die Fledermaus. That is, "The Bat", which happens to be the Strauss Overture we played during the concert.

So, a big round of applause yet again, to everyone from the Tribe, the MPYO as well as Kevin and the Administrators (especially Aaron and Norman) who made this camp yet again, such a big success.

For sure, those BMW guys would sign the contract to sponsor us during the August outdoor performance. Do you want to know why?

Well, the entire orchestra couldn't possibly wait for the Twin Towers to liquidate into crude oil just to get PETRONAS to sponsor a few quid for us to play music to a proper audience.

And just like what James highlighted in the DAP Manifesto, they would be taking off 30% of PETRONAS' profits to be given to the poor. With that point made, it's no wonder why the MPYO would have to resort from other sources of funds. Surely, with Kubica and Heidfeld running well and ahead in the white and blue BMW Saubers, surely there would be money coming from there. Fingers crossed, until we meet again in May. Thank you all for the experience.

And, look what you have done. I was supposed to be writing in a few paragraphs, and as a result, this did not turn out to be a short post after all...


p.s. Duncan, David, Myles, Annabel and Kah Yan, please make way for a new member in the Tribal Council MacBook club. There would be a 'new member' joining in a few days' time... Weehee!