40 Things To Do Before I Turn 40

Believe it or not (just play along lah), I have less than 4 more months to go before I hit the big 4-0. To tell you the truth, it doesn't bother me one bit. Seriously. Well, it bums me out that I will no longer be classified as a "belia", but I feel good, and things are going quite well for me in the overall scheme of things...

But just for the fun of it, allow me to do a checklist sorta post of the stuff I want to do before I turn 40 and the status report. Let me just say that I'm leaving out the religious stuff, cos that's simply too personal to share; so don't be a judging me, fools...

Anyway, here goes:

1. Get a book published
Status: Done. And I'm still getting royalty cheques for "Punched Lines: Sit-down Comedy From Southeast Asia". Google it.

2. Watch Metallica 'live'
Status: Missed them in Australia last year, damnit. Still hoping they'd swing by this region sometime soon. If not, maybe Europe in December?

3. Attend the final of a Hollywoood reality show
Status: Done. Went all the way to LA to catch the final of "Rockstar: Supernova" in 2006 and what a blast it was! Met up with Tommy Lee, Jason Newstead and Gilby Clarke and I even got to hangout with the finalists at their mansion. Totally awesome.


4.Walk on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Status: Did it during the same trip above. Overrated, IMHO.


5. Own a big bike
Status: Call it mid-life crisis, but yeah, I have dreams of owning a big bike. Thought of buying one last year, but the desire subsided. It might come back again!

6. Write lyrics for the country's No 1 singer
Status: Wrote THREE songs for Dato' Siti Nurhaliza. One got into Anugerah Juara Lagu final. Check.



7. Host a talkshow
Status: It took a while, but am now a regular on Malaysia Hari Ini. God's rezeki can never be predicted...

8. Direct a movie
Status: Well, I would settle for just being a screenwriter now. And yes, a couple of my scripts WILL be made into movies very, very soon!

9. Get manhandled by a WWE superstar
Status: See photo.


10. See the Pyramids
Status: Zero attempts so far but hey, with AirAsia heading that way, it might just happen sooner than expected.

11. Grow my hair long
Status: Kept it that way for a couple of years during my publishing days. How do I look? Hehe.


12. Shave off my hair
Status: Done that as well!


13. Send a criminal to jail
Status: Came with the job as a magistrate. Can't say I enjoyed sending all those people to the Big House.

14. Record an album
Status: Released a couple of demo albums during the height of the alternative DIY movement. That should count, right?

15. Run a marathon
Status: Well... I WAS in this year's KL Marathon but I guess running 5km doesn't count, huh? Don't think I'll ever run 42km, although 21km might happen in a couple of years. Watch this space.


16. Meet the tallest man in the world
Status: Ijaz Ahmed of Pakistan actually came to the MHI studio a couple of weeks ago! He's 8'4'. Gila tinggi...


17. See the tallest building in the world
Status: The record-holder keeps on changing, but I HAVE seen the KLCC, Taipei 101, and the Empire State Building. And oh yeah, I had a look at the Burj Al Khalifa from the Dubai airport. Does that count?

18. Go snorkelling
Status: Yup, off the coast of Phuket a few years back. The very spot got wiped out by the tsunami though. Sad.

19. Fly a plane
Status: Oh, man. Think the opportunity will be there if I want it, but not so sure lah...

20. Play the percussion for an audience
Status: I basically hentam-ed only. Haha.

21. Drive around the Sepang F1 Circuit at 250kmh
Status: Not yet, but I do know people who might be able to help me out with this...

22. Meet Yusuf Islam
Status: Got to do an exclusive interview with the man last year. It was an inspiring 20mins for sure.

23. Pet a kangaroo
Status: Because you just have to! And yes, I have :)

24. Pet a snake
Status: Yes, at the Sunway park. Hey, it's a big deal for me who's a reptile non-lover, OK?

25. Jam at Hard Rock Cafe
Status: Played some Green Day and Offspring some 15 years back at HRC KL... I tell ya, the gals were suitably impressed :)


26. See the Eiffel Tower
Status: Saw it last year.


27. Come face to face with the Mona Lisa
Status: Pun dah.

28. Make an entrance like The Rock
Status: Oh yes, check out the video!

29: Watch an NBA game 'live'
Status: Have not even come close. And that sucks.

30. Ride the biggest rollercoaster
Status: Pass.

31. See the inside of a submarine
Status: Yup, at the Maritime Museum in Fermantle, Perth.

32: Be on the cover of a magazine
Status: Twice!

33. Get groped by a Pussycat Doll
Status: Look at the photo CAREFULLY...


34. Act in a TV drama
Status: Well, I have a small part in an upcoming Ramadhan drama on TV3. So, that would be a "check". Unless they edit me out!

35. Launch a website
Status: Done.


36. Attend the World Cup
Status: No opportunity as yet :(

37. Go to a strip club
Status: No comment.

38. Be on a "power" list
Status: Was in KLUE mag's "Top 40 Under 40" list three years ago.


39. Climb a mountain
Status: Literally, not proverbially. And no, I haven't :(

40. Visit Anfield
Status: Incredibly, I've never made my way there whenever I'm in the UK. BUT, gonna be there again this December... and that might just be the most fitting present for my 40th!