Excuse me, are you Dato'?

I was at the Penang airport lounge waiting for my flight when the quiet atmosphere was broken by the booming voices of two men:
Dato' 1: "Do you know that I'm a Dato' now?" (bold to show emphasis)
Dato' 2: "I'm a Dato' too".
Dato' 1: "But I'm a Dato' second time around".
Dato' 2: "I'm a two-time Dato' too - my daughter just give me a grandchild".
Dato' 1: "My second Dato' is given by another Sultan"
So there you go a conversation between 2 Datos that ensure everyone in the lounge understood who they are.

The other day I attended a meeting for construction industry players together with the government agencies  and I was unusually seated way down the end of the long table and I was informed that the seating arrangement would now be based on datukship!  Whatever my prefix, Past President of ISM, Assoc Prof, Dr and the fact that I had been contributing to the meeting is of no consideration.

I was having lunch at a cafe and the lady at the next table kept on calling the waiter for one thing or another and everytime she addressed herself  "Datin nak ......" or "Datin rasa..........." or "Datin tak suka.............." until the clueless waiter at last called her Datin instead of aunty. At Bangsar shopping complex the nepalese security guards called me Datin. Vainly I thought because I dressed well until I realised that they called every lady, Datin.

I do admit at times I am guiltily vain. Once upon a long time ago I was addressed as "dik", then as the years passed it converted into "kak" then it gradually turned into "aunty" when all of a sudden last month it became "makcik". Oh such sweet sorrow that I nearly tripped in my 4-inch heel !!!. And I guess later, courtesy of the children, my husband become a dignified "Datok" I will be ..........an old "Nenek".

Lat, HMM & AF

We went to see Lat the musical as Istana Budaya. The thing about Lat is that he looks cute and cuddly and his cartoon of himself is equally adorable. It would not be difficult to delved into the man himself. Ordinary or out of ordinary events, there would sure be a caricuture of an interesting aspect or moment of that event in the paper the next day that only Lat could capture. And it would be exaggerated, to the point and hilarious. But most importantly Malaysian - he is the epitome of 1Malaysia. However, I was slightly disappointed as the musical did not capture that essence of Lat. Although I love the character of Mrs Hew, Frankie, Lat's father and the poignant moment when Awie's voice soared with sadness upon his father's death, I give the show a B.

But OMG - Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa - what can I say !!! AMAZINGLY BRILLIANT. I was proud that a local production can churn out such international class act - parallel to the internationally acclaimed "Alexander, Thor, Braveheart" and the likes. I wished to say WELL DONE & CONGRATULATIONS to the KRU team. I remember going to the first KRU concert with the children at the stadium long time ago and I think I enjoyed it more than the kids. Even at that time they emphasised on quality entertainment. HMM is a clear A. I'm not giving it an A+ cos the teeth of all the actors were too glaringly white and perfect. Just leave the hero's teeth perfect. Other barbarians and villians should be crooked, decayed, blackened or some teeth missing as Jack Sparrow's !!!

Call me lame but I enjoyed Konsert Akademi Fantasia - though not as much as before and tears not shed anymore. Back then it would be the weekly family entertainment - I would make ready or order TV dinner with lots of snacks. Since this is said to be the last AF, with the efferversant Aznil as the anchor with his "kezutan" and gila-gila Sarimah, Amy Search as the pengetua, it may be a good showing. Hopefully the judges would not be too technical and arrogant but be the likes of JLo & Stev Tyler of American Idol (plezzz no Ramli MS, Aman Ramli, Fauziah Ahmad Daud & Shafinaz - bring back Kudsia Kahar) . So I will be in front of the TV come tomorrow night - ready to fight for the TV remote with my beloved who is no more interested in AF after Stacy season.