An Encounter with... Macaroons

Name    : Sunny Yaw

Age        : 39 years old

Where Are You From?   :  Malaysia

Currently Residing In…   :  Kuala Lumpur

What Do You Do For A Living?     :  Patisserie

AEW   : Hi Sunny. I am looking forward to this interview because I hear you make some really great macaroons. Forgive me, but I am only great with the eating part of it. I’m sure macaroons are more than just a dessert, yes? What are they actually?       

SY      : It is a meringue-based dessert, made from a mixture of egg whites, almond flour and both granulated and confectionery sugar.

AEW   : Are the flavours endless for macaroons? Can “savoury-type” macaroons be created as well?

SY      : Yes they are endless! Savoury type can be created like white truffle or even foie gras  macaroons.

AEW   : So, the flavours that you created for your macaroons – are they of any specific country’s variety?

SY      : The flavours can be from anywhere up to your imagination. Not necessarily from any specific country.

AEW    : So, usually, I’ll pop the entire macaroon in my mouth J  Is there any more specific ways in which one should enjoy his or her macaroons? Instead of my “bottoms-up” way :)            

SY        : I usually prefer to bite into them over a warm black coffee. Bliss, I tell you.

AEW   : You know, for Christmas, people usually have the Yule Log Cake, Zimsterne, Brunsli or Kipferl. But I see you are showcasing your Christmas Macaroon Tower. What’s the inspiration behind it?      

SY        :  Macaroons can be a class of its own. They are pretty as individuals. Creating them into a tower makes them look classy. And beautiful.

AEW   : The cake base of your Christmas Macaroon Tower – what is that made of?     

SY      : The cake base can be any type of cake from butter to red velvet. Again – up to your own imagination. So I have to say that for our Christmas Macaroon Tower, we customize the cake bases – depending on what our customer wants.

AEW   : You know how we have fashion trends in the fashion industry. Are there any “cake trends” for the pastry industry too?       

SY      : Yes, of course. But it doesn’t change as frequently as fashion. I believe in being trendy! Make a dessert statement! *grin*

AEW   : For 2011, do you have any wild creations that you will showcase?      

SY      :    Top secret for now. Stay tuned on my Facebook page *grin*

AEW :    Well,  I cannot wait to see what “dessert statement” you will be creating for 2011. But all the best and I will certainly be tuned in!

                For those who would like to follow Sunny’s colour creations, click HERE!

An Encounter with... A Publisher

Name    : Zeeshan Pasha               

Age :        1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1….. (Yeah tell me about it…takes a lot of patience and focus to count them all, well they add up to 33)

Where Are You From?   : Born and brought up in Bangalore, India.

Currently Residing In…   : Perth, Australia

What Do You Do For A Living?     :  Entrepreneur, Marketing and Business Strategist

AEW   : Congratulations on the launch of NifNex. I heard this has been a long time coming. How are you feeling now?     

ZP      :    I am definitely excited with the launch of Nifnex. We have been online for a few months now but the publication certainly gives me a true sense of launch.

AEW   : I’d really like to know about the journey you took towards the launch of NifNex. Pray tell.  

ZP      :    This simple idea came to me one day when we were living in Canberra. There are job boards for employers to advertise their positions vacant and job seekers flock there to apply. Why wasn’t there a pool of job seekers who without revealing their identities can be found by employers on one site and they request to meet you? Really turn the tables.

As professionals we certainly don’t have time or a real need to see what other jobs are out there that requires our experience and skills. It is not necessarily a bad or greedy thing but sometimes it’s just good to be informed and know for yourself what’s out there.

Considering I had no experience in the recruitment industry, I didn’t know for sure if this is something that could work but as a job seeker/professional sales person/ prospective candidate, I would have loved to have this facility but only if it is confidential, doesn’t reveal my name, age, sex etc.

I then got into the recruitment industry (traditional recruitment). I found that I do have a passion for recruitment and was good at dealing with candidates, employers and also had the gift to link the right candidate with the right employer. All they needed was facilitation by the right recruiter (me).

This brings us to the name Nifnex. It stems from the word Nifty Nexus meaning Smart Links. It is the link between employers, candidates and recruiters. Two platforms – online and print.

All the above reasons led me to setup Nifnex.

AEW   : I understand NifNex is essentially both a print and an online platform catering to the recruitment process. Can you sum up how this works?  

ZP      :    Although the online platform seems to work for most, we wanted to also tap into the market that enjoys the print format. Uncle Joe who runs a coffee & pizza shop around the corner would have no idea how to find staff on Fridays except he would get his nephew to fill in for a few hours and possibly stick a sign up on the window saying “STAFF WANTED”. There’s got to be a better way. What if we had a career paper just like a newspaper with people looking for jobs within various industries and categories and it was delivered to businesses? Job seekers are identified only by their registration ID, experience, skills and personality. This is the core info that all employers look for in any given industry. The publication needs to have articles and current information for business owners in areas such as tax, accounting, legal etc. Add to that some positive reinforcements on how to grow their business. Well, that’s what NifnexPublication has. This can be downloaded from Nifnex

AEW    : So, can someone like me actually also apply as a Candidate / Employer? Or is it strictly for Australian citizens / PRs?           

ZP      :    Currently Nifnex is limited to people looking for jobs in Australia. However, the New Year will see the launch of Nifnex on a platform that will allow international registrations.

AEW   :  Oh! Nice. I see that there’s even a “modeling” section in your publication and I assume this is targeted at models-wannabe? Why was this created?     

ZP      :    The modeling section is a platform for models looking for work.  There are a lot of people looking to promote their businesses and Nifnex provides them the ease of finding a promotional model to be the face of the business or for a launch of a new product.

AEW   : It’s truly a versatile platform that you have built and you have a lot of avenues for advertising opportunities – which is good. I don’t suppose you have any plans in the near future to launch into ground events as well as social media marketing as well, do you?    

ZP      :    Who knows…for Nifnex it’s all about being current and up to speed with the latest marketing trends. As the name signifies, we are different, trendy, energetic and wanting to be innovative. Right now however, the focus is to go national with the publication and take the online platform international. 

AEW   : Wow. Big stuff coming up, yea? Tell me, what is your ultimate goal for NifNex.      

ZP      :    Ultimate goal is for all employers, candidates and recruiters to be linked through Nifnex internationally.

AEW   : Achieving this is definitely part of achieving your dreams, yes? Any words for the rest of the world out there who are working towards achieving their dreams?      

ZP      :    Stick to your idea and think outside the square as to how you can make it happen. Family comes first, so as long as you are not compromising your family and your commitments, move along steadily and don’t give up.

AWP :   Aww… that was a nice touch there. Family comes first. Well, Zee, I wish you all the best in the future undertakings for Nifnex. Again – who knows what is out there yes? Just BELIEVE *wink*

For more on Nifnex, click HERE!

An Encounter with... Christmas

Name    : Sue Anne Koh

Age        :  15

Where Are You From?   : Malaysia

Currently Residing In…   : Melbourne, Australia

What Do You Do For A Living?     : I am a student, not working or earning any pay at the moment J

AEW      : So, Sue Anne, are you excited that Christmas is around the corner?  

SAK        : Yes, I’m quite excited.

AEW      : Why?

SAK        : Because I will have an opportunity to spend time with my family in Malaysia that I haven’t seen for a long time. I will be going back to Malaysia for Christmas this year!

AEW      : Ahhhh,….. nice. You have one of the luxuries of experiencing Christmas celebrations in two different countries. How are they different?

SAK        : Well, I haven’t really spent Christmas in Melbourne, but there is definitely obvious Christmas spirit here that is less seen in Malaysia. Although Christmas has become quite commercialized in both countries, I think that it is more community-based here, and it is celebrated slightly more humbly compared to Malaysia.

AEW      : Tell me, how do you usually celebrate Christmas? Anything special at all?  

SAK          : For the many previous years, I had always celebrated Christmas eve over at my uncle’s house with the whole family, including my grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunties and of course my immediate family too. We would enjoy each other’s company and each family would prepare something for the gathering. It’s like a pot-luck party. We would eat good food such as turkey and exchange stories and events of the things we did or experienced during the year.

AEW      : I guess, for many people, whether in Malaysia or Australia, festive seasons are usually a celebration of food too! Do you think presents are also a big part of Christmas? Why?

SAK          :  Well, when I was younger, presents were all I think about when Christmas approaches – of course, that is besides the tree and Santa. But after a while, my expectations of gifts during Christmas lessened and now I barely expect any presents from people anymore. I think the meaning of ‘presents’ can vary from a simple thought written down on a card to an extravagant item for a person. Christmas is all about giving, more than receiving. I believe that majority have been receiving MORE than we have been giving.

AEW        : Errr… you are how old again?? Very profound! If only more people thought like you do!! So, do you buy Christmas presents for your family or friends?  

SAK        : Nope.

AEW        : What?? Hmm… all about the receiving eh? *grin*. Next question is a fun one J Do you wait around for Santa in the middle of the night or you’re too grown-up now to believe in Santa Claus? J

SAK          : I’ve never actually believed in Santa because when we were young, we were not into the tradition of ‘hanging stockings on the chimney’ or anything like that. I helped my mother with purchasing the presents and had known since that my Mom was ‘Santa’.  *grin*

AEW      : That's a good one! So, have you been “naughty” or “nice” this year? J

SAK        : I think I have been mainly ‘nice’ *smile*

AEW      : Well, in that case, I’m sure you’ll be expecting lots of goodies from YOUR ‘Santa’, yes? Ok, Sue Anne, here’s to a very, very Merry X’mas to you and your family. Enjoy the food and pressies. And oh – Happy New Year too!

To all our readers as well – a VERY MERRY X’MAS TO ALL and have a swell New Year’s!! 2011 will be as awesome as ever! J

An Encounter with... Neither-Red, Nor Yellow

Name    : Ithiboon Nukulkarn

Age        : 44

Where Are You From?   : Bangkok, Thailand

Currently Residing In…   : Bangkok

What Do You Do For A Living?     : White collar

AEW   : Thanks so much for doing this. Do you actually consider yourself a ‘Yellow Shirt’ or a ‘Red Shirt’?

IN      :  No. None. I am a Non-Shirt *smiles*

AEW   : Actually, can you enlighten us – on the difference between the “Red Shirts” and the “Yellow Shirts” for those who haven’t been actively following the Thai political scene?  

IN      : From my point-of-view, the Red Shirts are the Pro-Thaksin  – they will try every means to put Thaksin back to power. The Yellow Shirts are against Thaksin – they are adamant in getting Thaksin out of the country. The Reds and the Yellows are extreme ends of each other.

AEW   : Can you briefly sum up for us on what actually led to the political crisis from 2008 – 2010? 

IN      : During Thaksin’s time in power, he reformed the Thai’s cultural and government structure and gave birth to what we call ‘Thaksin-ism’. Some Thais did not agree with that.

AEW    : And what are your thoughts about this political crisis?              

IN       :  It is a tragedy for my country. But it is better for us to hurt now and make it right for the future.

AEW   : Are you alone in your view-point or this is the general feeling of the Thai masses?

IN       :   I think in general, most white collar groups have the same view-point as me.

AEW   : Do you think the Thais are “politically matured”? As in, they know what they want for the government, from the government.     

IN      :  I think no countries in South East Asia have reached political maturity. Definitely not Thailand. Now, this political crisis has happened in Thailand. Who knows where will be next, right?

AEW   : What’s the look of Thai political progression from what you observed?        

IN      :    It is a case study for global politics. I think it is reforming itself to the right way.

AEW   : What are your hopes for Thailand as a country?      

IN      :    All things good. Cross my fingers and God bless Thailand *smiles*

AEW  :  Well, Khun Id, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this. We all cross our fingers for Thailand too, ya!

An Encounter with... An Accidental Hero

Name    : Immi

Age        : 34+

Where Are You From?   : Sri Lanka

Currently Residing In…   : Cambodia

What Do You Do For A Living?     : Running an Event management Company in Cambodia

AEW   : Hi Imran. I hope you are feeling good today and definitely thank you for spending some time on this. I know this is probably a difficult topic for your to speak about. I understand you were one of the first at the scene of the Cambodian stampede which took place recently during the last day of the Water Festival celebrations. What were you doing there?     

IM      :   Sad to see it and I was doing an event just by the bridge at that time.

AEW   : Can you describe what the situation was like exactly?

IM      :   I think it was not so properly organized by both the government authorities as well as Diamond Island. It all started off with a panicked rumor saying that the bridge was going to collapse. I even received a phone call from my wife saying the same thing. And I was just there witnessing it with my team when it happened. Good thing we had a PA system and we managed to use that to clear and prevent people from entering the bridge. But it was really chaos unfolding before my very eyes.

AEW   : What was your first immediate reaction?   

IM      :   My team and I managed to rescue people who were injured as well as move a few dead bodies out of the way before the police and medics turned up after nearly 2 hours. I also quickly organized bottled water supply for the victims who were still trapped.  

AEW    : What was it really like, being right there in the heart of the tragedy? Surrounded by such chaos and mayhem?            

IM      :   Feeling shitty and useless, seeing all those people crying for help. I was wondering too at that time – about how poorly this was organized. This wasn’t the first time for Water Fest and surely the crowd was to be anticipated. Unfortunately…..

AEW   : Carrying the… dead bodies. Was it awful or were you just focused on getting it done?      

IM      : I just got there and do whatever I could.  So yea, I was pretty focused on getting it done.

AEW   : Were you in any way traumatized by the tragedy? Being so close to it, helping the victims, the survivors… were you affected psychologically? Has it changed your perspective about life in any way?      

IM      : Yes… after the incident, I needed a break badly, just to clear what was on my mind. I left Phnom Penh for a couple of days. But coming back after a couple of days, and seeing the bridge re-opened to the public and the fairy lights turned on fully, I felt really shitty about it. To me, the bridge should be closed and dedicated to the dead to show some respect! But that’s just me.  

AEW   : So do you consider yourself a hero, by accident for being at the wrong place, at the wrong time?        

IM      :   *Laughs* It was actually my tenth year anniversary in Cambodia on the tragic day and it felt great in a way to be able to lend a helping hand to the Cambodians. I got many blessings from those people and a few managed to thank me even. I guess in a way, it was an apt ear-mark for 10^th year in Cambodia. So I am happy about it.

AEW   : You know, I think such tragedies, though unexpected and definitely unplanned for can be avoided. Seeing you are from the event management line, what is your advice to organizers of events which will be garnering in large crowds?      

IM      :   More security personnel to do crowd control and management. Just imagine, 3 million people in Phnom Penh during the festival – and all centered at the riverside. I guess for the public – either avoid these crowded areas or else, practice being civic-minded!

AEW  :   Well, Imran, thank you for sharing your experience. It has indeed been a tragic affair and I hope the relevant people would use this as a learning curve. As for you, I would also like to say Thank You. A good samaritan is rather rare these days.

An Encounter with... A Mother

Name :  Sarah Lau (I'd like to leave out my married name just in case I ever have any piano  students or whatever who know me J) 

Age : Forever 21.  Just kidding, unfortunately.  I'm 33 

Where Are You From? : Malaysia

Currently Residing In…  : USA

What Do You Do For A Living? : I mostly stay home with my kids but in the last year and a half, I started teaching piano from home

AEW :  Thanks for doing this. I know you were just a new “mom” all over again and probably extremely busy doing Mom-type-stuff with your troop. So, how many in the troop now?

SL :         Four

AEW:   I’m actually curious – you know, how it’s hard in life to say that favoritism does not exist? But it must surely exist even if just a minute level, yes? How do you balance your time, love and affection between all your children?

SL :      To be bluntly honest, I found that if anything, I've always favored the youngest - until the next baby came along, that is! Although I don't really like using the word "favored", since it's more of a feeling that the youngest child's needs seem more pressing and important at almost any given time.  Also, the youngest always seems cuter than the others J but I think that's normal.

AEW:   I’m pretty sure your children are all very individual by characteristics. How does each one inspire you differently?
SL :      My oldest son is very easy-going and stinkin' funny.  He inspires me to let go and let life happen.

My younger son (by 2 minutes *laughs*) is very detail-oriented and makes comprehensive plans about things.  He inspires me to know when to be organized and have passion about the things I choose to do.

My older daughter is literally the sweetest, most affectionate person I've ever met in my entire life.  Everyone says this about her.  She inspires me and everyone around her, for that matter, to be joyful and loving in all circumstances.

My younger daughter, who is only 7 weeks-old is just awe-inspiring with her amazing cuteness.  When I look at her I'm inspired to smooch her all over and smell her baby head, and just be a better Mom all the way around.  She also inspires me to have more babies, even though before her I was very certain I was done!  I'm still kinda certain... but when I cuddle my baby I just don't want the babyhood stage to end!

AEW:   Awww… How sweet! At the other end of the spectrum, how does each one annoy you differently?

SL :      Oldest son always has to have the last word.

Younger son wants to have things so planned-out that it drives me crazy sometimes, the questions he asks me in order to accomplish all he wants.

Older daughter is sooooo affectionate that sometimes I just need a break, because I'm the complete opposite and I am not touchy-feely at all.  She needs a huge amount of my time and sometimes with the baby it does get exhausting emotionally.

Baby sometimes annoys me when I'm dead tired in the middle of the night and she won't sleep!  *smiles*

AEW:  Kids, huh. I don’t have kids of my own but I’m not the “mother-material” and nothing’s ticking at the moment J So, do describe – how does a ‘tough day’ typically look like for you?

SL :      Can I be really honest, and make other parents hate me by saying that my kids are really, really, easy?  They are extremely well-behaved and mind me very well.  So if I ever have a tough day, it typically revolves around not getting enough sleep the night before because the baby kept me up, and then crashing until lunch time, then having to drag myself up to fix meals for the older kids, although they help with the meals and clean up after themselves and then feeling guilty that my older kids watched too much TV that day because I was tired/busy with the baby, and then my husband calls and is going to be home late and I'm just ready for some adult interaction! 

And the other thing is a tough day also usually involves teaching piano.  I teach 3 days out of the week and although I like and enjoy teaching, I'd rather spend time with my own kids.  I put so much mental and emotional energy into teaching that by the time my students - especially the little ones - leave, I'm just drained and done, and I have a difficult time meeting my own kids’ emotional needs after that.  I dread having to keep the house clean for students and I dread worrying about whether the baby will stay asleep while I'm teaching, and wish I could just have a day with ONLY my kids and do whatever we want.  Teaching is not a long term thing for me. I started doing it out of a need and while I'll always keep a tiny handful of students around – just  the ones I truly enjoy and who are gifted – I do not want to be a full-time piano teacher my whole life.

AEW:   Hey – you know what? Your tough day doesn’t sound all that tough now that you’ve put it that way. But I can definitely imagine the energy-draining part of teaching! Away from ‘tough days and all’, what about the ‘high notes’ for you where your children are concerned?

SL :      I love days when my husband isn't working, of course.  I also look forward to my non-teaching days because then the kids and I can all just chill-out and enjoy each other more.  I can let the house go if I want, and I can sleep in if I want, and we can go anywhere we want to! 

AEW :  Wow – that sounds super-awesome J I’m quite sure every mother strives to be the best and impart knowledge and information to their children. What is the single most important knowledge you would wish to impart to your children, aside from religion?

SL :       I have always worked very hard to teach them how to live healthy lives all the way around.  They are smarter about health creation than any other children I know as a result, and whether or not they stick to the lifestyle and diet things we do when they get older, will be their choice - but I will at least know that I have done my best to show them how to have great health.

AEW :  Nice one J How would you want your children to remember you ‘when the time comes’?

SL :     I would like them to remember that although I was not a perfect mother, I always did my best.  I want them to remember the times I try to sit and spend time with them, whether collectively or individually, and the fun times I try to create for their enjoyment.  I'd also like them to remember me as a smart and strong person who did what I felt was best for myself and my family, regardless of what the norm is.  I want them to remember that their Mother wasn't afraid to go against the flow.

AEW : Well, Sarah, thanks for your time again. Whilst I have no wish to be a mother myself, I think motherhood must be one of the toughest job in the world. All the best to you and hope you will have a treasure trove of "high notes" watching all your children grow up *smile*

** Photo of Sarah and Family by Sarah Anne Photography

An Encounter with... Islam

Name    : Anas Zubedy

Age        :  46

Where Are You From?  :  Penang, Malaysia

Currently Residing In… :  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

What Do You Do For A Living?   : Businessman

AEW      : I edited your book – “The Quran and I”. Thank you first of all, for allowing me to do so. It was an eye-opening journey for myself too. What inspired you to compile your writings for The Quran and I?  

AZ        : I wanted to give an easy-to-read, universal viewpoint of the Quran practiced by a contemporary Muslim. The idea is to share with people how a person who loves the Quran, grew up in multiracial Malaysia, using the Quran as his Hidayah (guidance in life) in his day-to-day living. The Quran forms the basis of my love towards people regardless of race, religion and background.

AEW      : Do you think you are a religiously “rich”? And how important is religion to you?

AZ        : I do not think I’m religious but I have a strong spiritual connection with God and His creation. When you are spiritually connected with God, you accept all of life’s challenges and see them as God giving you a chance to discover your own strength and deal with your weaknesses.  Life becomes a journey towards a meaningful end. As such, religious oe ad-deen (way of life) is very important to me.

AEW      : What is the basic foundation of Islam which you would hope for the world to know?  

AZ       :  The basic foundation of Islam is peace, righteousness and making things happen.  This you can find, for example, in the Quran - Chapter 2 verse 177, Chapter 3 verse 159 and Chapter 9 verse 94.

AEW       : From where I stand (or sit), I see Islam is easily misunderstood. Why do you think that is?  

AZ        :  Islam is misunderstood due to many reasons.

For one, it may be the concerted effort by certain elements in the West, since The Crusades, who till today see it fit to continue spreading misinformation about Islam. 

But the real issue is the Muslims themselves; they have not placed God and the Quran above everything else. Take for example how Muslims hold on to certain traditional beliefs that suggest Prophet Muhammad was harsh with the Arabs, when according to Chapter 3 verse 159, it is the contrary. The Muslims themselves wrongly believe that militancy and going to war is the main platform to achieve the goal of Islam. Many Muslims will be surprised to find out that in Muhammad’s 23 years of spreading Islam, the total number of days of actual fighting was not more then 3 days. Muhammad was gentle and he valued human lives. He changed the rule of war so that only a minimal number of lives were sacrificed. 

AEW      : So do you think it is your responsibility to correct the misunderstanding?    

AZ       :  I think it is the responsibility of all to correct any misunderstandings… be it with regards to Islam or with any other spiritual tradition. 

AEW      : You do know that one man alone cannot change the world. Right? Are you hopeful?     

AZ        :  All of us are just a drop in the ocean and I am confident that God has billions and billions of agents ready to take center stage. The role of religion and the logic of having a God is that there will always be hope. 

AEW      : While spreading the correct views on Islam, what are your thoughts about other religions?

AZ            :  My view on Islam is only one; God in His Mercifulness will allow many ways and channels to reach Him. As for religions other than Islam, the Quran clearly states that those who pray in churches, temples and synagogues are all praying to the same God - Allah. This you can find in Chapter 22 verse 40.

AEW      : Do you think sometimes people do not wish to have religion preached to their faces? And yet, there are those who feel they have a need to ‘spread the word’ globally. How do we approach this with as much sensitivity as we possibly can?    

AZ        :  There are those who are fine with religious preaching and those who are not. Those who want to spread their religion must understand … while the goals for spreading the message remains, the platform can be changed. I’m of the opinion that the best way to spread the word is by finding core shared values that are acceptable to all, regardless of race or religious background. In that way we do not spread the brand of the religion, but we achieve our goal in sharing the values of the religion.  To give an extreme example: A man who is born blind, deaf and mute can also experience God as long as we focus on the core values, although that person may never know the name of his religion.

AEW    : Well said, Anas. And really, thank you for taking the time off for this despite your busy schedule. I see you are rescuing Malaysia one person at a time ;) 

For most Malaysians - you may already be familiar with Anas and the creative 'unity' ads his company Zubedy places in mainstream media. For those who would like to read excerpts of his book : The Quran and I, you can click here. Enjoy!

An Encounter with... A Bitchy Industry

Name  : Kris Wong

Age     : I'd like to say perpetually 29 but I've been told perpetually 35 will have to do now.

Where Are You From?         : Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Currently Residing In…       :  Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

What Do You Do For A Living?       : Too many things and I enjoy some more than others. Publisher, Editor, Designer, News Presenter.

AEW   : Kris, I know you’re a man of many hats in the Malaysian wedding industry, which is why I’m particularly interested in hearing your thoughts about the wedding industry in Malaysia. I hear, like the advertising industry, the wedding one is just as bitchy if not more. What do you think?  

KW      : I think every industry has its bad apples. Having said that, everyone has his or her own point of view and as such, we can't possibly see eye-to-eye with everyone in the industry. I try to get along with most but there are those whom I just do not click with. Similarly, I am sure there are those who may not like me much too. The reality is that whilst many think that we work in a happy and blissful industry, that is not always the case. There can be a tremendous amount of stress and at times we de-stress by bitching, either about unreasonable clients or industry colleagues who may have rubbed us the wrong way.

AEW   : I think we just cannot escape the bitching and back-stabbing, etc, etc. whatever industry it may be. But why do you think that is – for the wedding industry in Malaysia? Could it be too much competition? Insecurities? What really could it be?    

KW      : To think we can escape it is a fallacy. We just have to deal with it as best we can. I think it is fair to say that for the most part, we get along fine. In fact, over the years, I have witnessed more and more vendors working together for the common good. Some friendly competitors even pool resources at times. Those who thrive on conflict I believe are those who are insecure.

AEW   : I personally had always believed that the pie is big enough to share. But I think I belong in the minority who supports that statement. For the majority – do you think it is greed or ego?

KW      : I wholeheartedly agree with your first statement but I would like to think that it is the majority who supports it rather than the minority. As the industry evolves, we are seeing a larger number of service providers cooperating with one another. Being creative types, everyone has an ego to a certain extent. The wise ones are those who keep their egos in check as in our line of work, one cannot operate in isolation. A wedding has so many components, all interlinked, and it is absolutely certain that areas of work will overlap.

AEW    : Oh! Good to know that it is the majority who supports the pie statement :) Hey, you think you could share with our readers some examples of “bitchy”- to the point of malicious incidents which you have encountered in the wedding business? Be it with partners or competitors or other vendors? 

KW      : People always remember the 'bad' incidents more than the 'good'. Also, when news travels through the grapevine, sometimes facts get distorted. I am not going to elaborate on any such incidents but I am one who would certainly propagate integrity. Once you backstab someone, the relationship is changed forever and it is not that easy to mend fences.

AEW   : Wise man, I would say! I think given your many hats in the wedding business, you cannot really be seen as favouring some over others. Is that true? Or you DO actually have favourites – in terms of who you prefer to work with, etc. 

KW      : This is a tricky question haha! The thing is, because I wear so many hats, it can get complicated, so I always need to remind myself what 'hat' I am wearing in any given situation. As Publisher & Editor-In-Chief of the weddingsmalaysia portfolio of publications and websites, I try to be as impartial as I can. I do my best to ensure that all our partners receive as much of our support as we can offer them. In order for us to do that, they must also reciprocate by providing us feedback, input and materials, all on a timely basis. "The early bird catches the worm" rings true here. In this respect, I believe I am pretty transparent and fair from the publishing side of things but I certainly have my detractors who think otherwise.

Now, the perspective from being a designer of wedding attire is a completely different one. When designing a client's wedding gown for example, I probably come into contact with wedding planners, makeup artists, florists and photographers most. We all have a role to play in creating the perfect 'look' for the bride. For this to work, we need to have a similar sense of style, similar tastes. I wouldn' say that I have a favourite list of vendors from a designer's perspective, but I do prefer to work with some rather than others. We all hope for seamless cooperation so that we can keep the bride happy, and when the bride is happy, the work is much more pleasureable and easy to execute.

A third 'hat' is that of a friend. Yes, I am friends with some in the industry and just acquaintances with others. Realistically, it will never be possible for me to be friends with everyone. I only have a small circle of personal friends and these are the ones who share a part of my personal life. I am 'friendly' with my other industry colleagues of course, but more so in relation to our work and businesses.

AEW   : And I suppose, that sparks off a round of “bitching” with those people who feels side-lined? From the friendships you develop with some and not "them"?  

KW      : In my ten years in the wedding industry, I have to-date only sidelined one person, a vendor who did not show much integrity when dealing with my cousin's wedding. We ended up not using the said vendor and I have since avoided any further dealings. Other than that, I am willing to work with anyone, provided that they are trustworthy and efficient, they are true to their word and put up a united front when problems arise with clients. Most importantly, they must have integrity. Mutual respect is very important in my opinion. Once the trust is lost, it can be very difficult to rebuild.

AEW   : Through your eyes, having networked, mingled and met so many industry vendors – what do you think are some of their worse weaknesses – bitching included? This is a question which calls for a generalization in the answer…..  

KW      : I don't think it will be right for me to point out the weaknesses of others but I don't mind revealing some of mine haha! Impatience is my number one weakness. I like to get things done fast and efficiently and am prone to ranting when deadlines are not met! But some say that can be a strength too ... and of course I'm inclined to see it that way!

AEW   : Once again, very PC of you :) If you have one advice and one advice only to the entire Malaysian wedding industry – what would it be?  

KW      : Have integrity. People trust people who have integrity.

AEW    : I will second that in a flash of a flash! Well, thank you Kris, for taking the time out and staying so PC throughout :) Here's to further growth, maturity and co-operation for the wedding industry!

For those who would like to see some of the many hats that Kris Wong dons, click here, here and here. And these are just some of it :)