Cempaka Beat

Note: The events in this post took place somewhere in between the time of the last post. AND there are more pictures. It's just Blogger isn't very cooperative right now. I'll let you guys read on first. ;D

Last Saturday (3 days ago), the chinese drummers of Cempaka went to KLCC for a performance. For the other chinese drummers, this event would be something regular. For me on the other, it would be the start of a new experience in my life as a Cempakan Chinese Drummer.

Well I arrived in school at about 20 minutes past 11. Knowing the other drummers would arrive only at 12 (yes, I am 40 minutes early, sue me), I walked over to the Prefects' Room to see how the Spring Cleaning was going along. I walked through the empty hallways, hearing faint laughter and shouting. It was pretty freaky. Then as I walked up the stairs to the 3rd floor, I saw some familiar faces. I spent some time here, watching and helping wherever i could. After saying goodbye to my fellow brothers and sisters (;D), I walked back down and across the two bridges back to the hall. It was empty.


This must be what the inside of my pockets look like

I think it was around 11:35 when I was wondering round the darkened hall. Thankfully, I knew the the switches for the lights so I walked aimlessly into the darkness, eventually finding my way to the front door and switching on the lights. The lights flickered for a moment before shinning out the clearer. Then after walking in circles in and out of the backstage, I peered through the door and saw (excuse my spelling) Jien Sern and his mom walking down the road. Soon after the juniors were flowing through the door, with the occasional senior. :)

We arranged the drums on stage before loading them onto the lorry. It was around this time too that we found out that Mr. Andrew and Ms. Julia would chaperone the whole performance/journey. So we split into two vans. Van 1: Emoo, Jonathan, Primary Juniors. Van 2: Janice, Cherise, Syazana, Najiha, Bernard, Hao Zhi, David, Jien Sern and Naqeeb. And our van was nothing but filled with fun and funny people. Our whole journey to KLCC was filled with laughter, songs, jokes and teasing. It was aweshummm. Soon after, we were stopped outside the Isetan shop.

As soon as we entered the departmental store, people started staring and looking at us as if we emerged from some space shuttle. I merely waved back. We walked out and began our journey to the Concourse. Again people stared, I waved. Soon we were outside the Topshop where Mr. Andrew said, "Wait here." The guys in our group were amazed at the girls' temptations to enter the Topshop outlet. Soon Khong Fwu walked to us. I asked him, "Hey, did anyone like stare at you?" while he answered, "Yea, why?" . I replied, "Oh, no reason. :)"

So the other van arrived and we met up with them in the middle of the Concourse. Then Mr. Andrew returned seeking our humble service to carry the drums. We then went through the usual "Keluar Door", past the toilets and into another door. Now, beyond this door, the shopping centre seemed all but gone. Here it was like an exert from a horror/thriller movie. It was dark, dank and moody. The lights were dim and flickering. We went down one of those large service elevators deeper into the loading docks. The lorry was parked alongside another van in the emptiness of the loading docks. We all took the drums and stands, walked through the dark corridors, up the elevator, through the crowds and finally to the place of our performance.


Into a darker place

We arranged the drums, put on our snazzy outfits and had our little "group talk". We were going to play until Mr. Andrew came back and said, "Who's hungry?" or was it, "Who hasn't eaten yet?" or something like that. We then went to Burger King straight from where we played and ate some glorious food. I had like one sandwich and shared fries with my table-mates, David, Janice and Jien Sern. We had free refills. Janice had ice-cream and we were so amazed at the amazing-ness of that very ice-cream. Then we heard, "Datin's here." We quickly grabbed our stuff and quickly walked back to the Concourse.

There we saw recognizable faces arranging the drums so that the words "Cempaka Beat" could be seen clearly by the audience or, well, rather random people standing round the barriers or the railings. So we discussed once more, and while discussing saw some very familiar faces in the crowds. Then we went to our positions and began. It was amazing but I felt the drums were too soft. This was probably due to the large spaces of the Concourse and the 5 floors that rised above it. We hit the drums very hard mind you. ;D *No pictures here. Sorry. I was playing, so obviously, there are no pictures.

After playing, rested for like 5 minutes before playing once again for a different and similar set of people. After the encore, some people approached us for group photos. I felt my head growing larger and larger, each time a shot was taken. Then I saw Marise, Cherise and Janice's little sister. She is just too adorable. Sadly, I wasn't wearing my specs at the time so I only had a glimpse of Denise. After it all Datin belanja-ed us to a sort of "after-performance" lunch. It was around 3. We went to KFC but it was fully loaded with people.

Then we walked over to the Dome. They had seats. They joined three tables together and we all sat down. Yeung Fwu was there and he joined us. I had Fish & Chips, which was as awesome as I remembered it to be. David and the primary girls had the same as well. Janice and Syazana had a salad with bread thingie while Cherise has ice-cream. I can't remember what the other's had. What? It's not like I'm some food remembering person. :) Then we went back to Concourse, yet again. We had to load the drums back onto the lorry in the dark, dank loading docks.

David and I after carrying a few drums had to use the toilet, so since the nearest toilet was filled with people with intentions unknown, we walked even further away to find another toilet. Soon we found one near the connection to the KL Convention Centre. After that we walked back into the depths and talked about kidnapping scenes and Resident Evil and other assortment of fear and dark, dank places.

After the whole thing a few of us returned to school with the van. Through the rain, Emoo was rapping and teasing a ever-quiet Hao Zhi. David, Jien Sern and Me were talking, Ms. Julia was sleeping and the girls were playing and laughing. Go figure. So then we arrived back in school at bout 5:45. It was drizzling still and we unloaded the drums back to the backstage of the North Hall. We then walked toward the guard house and waited for our individual transports home. When everybody went home already, I received an sms from my mum. "We oni at Sunway..". I groaned and heard that a few prefects were still in the Prefects' Room.

I began my lonesome journey once more through the (now) dark and creepy hallways of Cempaka. It was very gloomy and dark. No one was around. Then I walked into the Prefects' Room. A bright white light shone right at my face, and I saw Shannon, Lynus and Ee Von. Then just as I was about to sort of help out, my phone gave off a light ringing sound coupled with a harsh vibration. I looked at the screen and said my goodbyes before walking back to the guard house. I saw the car, ran towards it, got it and recalled the wondrous and newfound experience I gained from today.