August 18th 2009

I woke at 4am, or I should say I nap till 4am since I slept at 2.30am. Got cleaned up, prepared myself, walked downstairs to see my parents already waiting. I grabbed by luggage and walked out towards the taxi waiting for us. 
Today, both my parents, the company director and his wife, my manager and myself will be flying to Vietnam. The guys, including myself, will be there for business purposes whereas the ladies, to shop. 
It's been quite some time since I went to the airport,  so I was kinda excited. Its a 2 hour flight from LCCT to Ho Chi Minh. Upon reaching HO CHI MINH airport, I was surprised. The airport is empty. Despite the many planes on the hanger, the airport is actually empty.  Well, my adventures starts here and now then. It is my first visit to Vietnam, a communist country. Since I am back already, work is not in mind. Just some normal negotiations, discussions and market surveys. Rather, what is important in this trip are the things I saw and experienced. 

Third world country ? Not so developed ? Not the case with Ho Chi Minh City, or also known by their more sophisticated and to me, a more developed name...SAIGON. Sounds like some pretty futuristic city name but, this name was used back when I was reading Sejarah in secondary school...hahaha... anyways, Vietnam is not as 3rd World as most thought... they have... what we have...  See... not that far away from us actually... no... I think they are way more ahead of us... we just only launched the iPhone in Malaysia... look at this ad board... its OLD... hmmmm....
The hotels are pretty nice too... The one we spent out nights in was MAY Hotel...  I have always been fascinated to see the wire cables in Vietnam... Through pictures, they look like a wireman's worst nightmare... seeing it in person, i too agree...  I stood outside the hotel alone, looking at the wires and wondered... if there was something wrong with the electricity somewhere, how on earth will they know which cable is the problem?  These cables are really a sore to the eye... and this man, I wonder how he is able to remain calm looking at them... for me, I think I will freak out if you asked me to climb up and fix a problem... The very artistic work of Vietnamese Tenaga National...and Telekom I think... most prob both cables are together... Next, the must go place in Ho Chi Minh... The Ben Thanh Market...  Something like our central market combined with Petaling Street... its like a huge one storey building, with food and handicrafts inside...  

  Bargaining skills is a must in this place... and dont even think of lying to them about another stall selling cheaper... why? because they have all agreed that thee is a certain amount that they will not go below... therefore, cheating is a NO NO... all you can do is push it as low as possible... push to their limits... the funny thing is, we actually pushed the price so low that the fella actually gave up and asked us to leave... we did just that and went to other stalls that has the similar items and bargained again... when the final result was the first seller giving the lowest, we head back there and you can see that LANSI look of his, knowing that we will buy from him... haha... but my dad being himself, he started bargaining again... hahaha... end result, we got the item at the price we wanted... so, BARGAIN your way to victory...

Currency used in Vietnam is the VND or Vietnam Dong... This, is how they look like... and its the amount that I am carrying around in my wallet...  I have VND835,000. Whoa... damn rich eh... that was the first thing I thought... and immediately, I started to imagine what I could buy with those... my heart was jumping with joy... not knowing the exchange rate, I made a fool out of myself... let me give an example... 
   A bowl of this VERY DELICIOUS crab noodle and a mug of this ALSO VERY DELICIOUS Strawberry Coconut Drink each, multiply by 6 sets as there were 6 of us... VND650,000 GONE... damn... i then noticed that I am actually POOR... haihz... by the way... this restaurant, situated next to Ben Thanh... its delicious... so yeah... im broke... cant even afford the next meal...

 Then, I experienced the great flood... its actually the raining season... and Vietnam being a Delta, it is surrounded by BIG rivers and swamps... in addition to that, they have the poorest drainage system... thus, 30 minutes of rain... everywhere is flooded...even shops were flooded... its like im suddenly in Thailand... riding a boat in a river with shops at the banks... pity those selling electrical goods as they were all anxiously pouring water out of their shops and every car that passes by creates a tiny wave that sends water back in...  Many bikes stalled too... as waters were to deep that at some parts, half the bike was submerged... to make things worst, our taxi driver was actually a fucker... when the waters are deep and motorists are there either stranded or moving slowly, he accelerates, splashing them wet... altho already wet but to make them wetter than wet... he laughed as he did that... asshole...

 Then finally, I saw this man below... there's a saying... "You'll never know unless you try"... thats what he did... as optimistic about business as he was... he actually towed his booth into the middle of the flooded street and... started doing business... didnt see any customers tho... but... he is OPTIMISTIC... 

 Then, we have the buildings in Vietnam... land is expensive... so, this design came up... THIN buildings... THIN and TALL  Such buildings are almost everywhere...and most of them are actually houses instead of shops... at most, if im not wrong, a family will occupy one whole level, with I think, 2 rooms at most, and living hall will be combined with their kitchen...
 Then there is also this... the ultimate mode of transportation... cheapest, most efficient, no jam... and its GREEN... this is a fella moving a cupboard... i even saw one on a bike, carrying with him the lamp posts we see at the side of the road... and one on a bike with 2 baskets of ducks on each side, a goat tied to the rear seat, 3 baskets of vege tied around the bike... the animals and vege, is like a barrier protecting him... unfortunately, my camera died and i cant snap it... 

 Finally, we have this building... at first look, its a jail... with the high walls, super high fences... the color... the look... the feel... and then... its actually a SCHOOL...  We also bought this... its SHIT... Weasel is a creature... the black things in it are coffee beans... why do i say its shit? cos its the Weasel's shit... a weasel chooses the ripest coffee fruit... eats it... cant digest the seeds... SHITS it out... they pick it... process it... clean it... and we drink it... also, note that its actually VND63,000 per 100grams of this thing... its the most expensive coffee here... in simple terms, its RM12.60 per 100 grms... pay shit loads to drink shit... cool eh...  and we bought 500 grms of shit... and we also enjoyed sipping it... smells and tastes good... hohoho... sounds damn wrong saying this abt shit...

August 21st, 2009

This marks the end of my 4D3N work + holiday trip to Ho Chi Minh city... the stay here is not too long... but the experiences were priceless... what I will remember most is the traffic... a ratio of 20 bikes to 1 car... the roads are PACKED... a 2 lane road, one lane is for the bikes... the distance of car to bike on a busy road is less than half a meter ALL THE TIME... even at cruising speed... such skills of the motorcyclists... also, the honking on the road... taking a 1 hour drive, u will hear 1 hour of honking... then there is the flood... and the market...and the food... enjoyed my time terribly well here...  its finally time to leave then... and Vietnam did not let us leave in peace...  The flight was first delayed... then when we were all in and ready to liftoff back to KL, the plane must stop as a passenger on board this plane from KL to Vietnam had fever so they have to disinfect the plane... so, we waited again... until finally, from a bright afternoon, we took off at the late night sky... oh... they have H1N1... thus, no photos of me on this blog because I look like a samurai... the whole time in Vietnam...

It Has Already Been...

5 years already on June 26th 2009. Five years ago today, June 26th 2004, I was driving in my car, back then a Wira, with Suet Leng by my side... on this particular day, I had planned to asked her if I can be the lucky guy to hold her arms... I remember I did something really stupid to give myself time to gather my balls together to make my move... From KL, I drove to MRR2, headed towards and past Batu Caves, then on to Kepong joining back at One Utama before reaching Eastin Hotel and on to the old military airport before finally reaching Taman Desa and to somewhere near Happy Garden (somewhere near there... I do not know the name of the place...). Upon reaching the place that we had planned for dinner, we stopped at a traffic light... I was thinking of this one action all the time while driving here... Long ago, I once told her that when she is ready to accept me, I will have my hands out all the time and she can hold on to it once she is ready... so that was what I did... THEN.... "'-_- ... i held out my hands and she replied "wat?"... hahahaha... that was the one thing that I will never ever forget... the most FISH (embarassing) thing that has ever happened... then to break from being cool, I have to tell her about what I said about my hands always ready for her to hold... only then did she finally laughed and held my hands... so, it began, June 26 2004, around 8pm, at a traffic light, in my Wira and our first meal as a couple at a foodcourt...

Five years later today, June 26th 2009, I am still very fortunate to be holding the same hands... This journey has not been particularly easy... as is for every other relationship by everyone out there I assume... arguements are for sure to happen... and in our case, its always me who causes and starts an arguement... therefore, I must say that I am really lucky that I am still in this relationship...

So, what did we do today... we both took leave today (Friday June 26th) to be together... First stop, BANGSAR shopping spree... need not list down what we bought and how much we spent though... conclusion is, we left Bangsar smiling...
Next stop, Solaris Mont Kiara for Korean BBQ at Bonga Korean BBQ Restaurant... food, service, environment and time spent together, priceless... Next stop, my turn to shop...DVD animes at one of the stores at Solaris before finally making our last entertainment to round up a perfectly well spent and memorable 5 year celebration, none other than making our way to Sunway Pyramid to catch the latest mega movie, Transformers 2...

..... wonder how many more 5 years can we celebrate... lets just hope that I do not screw up a perfectly fine relationship :p

Valentines Day Itself

It's Valentines Day.

Another working Saturday in which I hoped so much that time would past faster, not because I am 100% excited that it is actually the day to celebrate love but because it's a day that I can actually spend time with my B. Every Saturday is a day that I look forward to very much as it is the only time that I am certain that there is time for us both together. Valentines Day or not, everyday is Valentines if couples are really in love. That's what I think actually. It doesnt only mean that Valentines is the only day that simbolizes love.

The day was spent in a very relaxing manner. Spending time together alone watching movie and just plain private time between the two of us. No distractions, no interuptions, just the two of us. That's what it is all about. The quality time spent.

Then came night where people all rush out to celebrate this somewhat "extra" meaningful day. We drove to KL, heading towards Pavilion for dinner, only to find out that the lousy new radio station One.FM is actually having their screwed up concert on Valentines Day. Screwed up I say, is because they actually made it like it was New Year's Eve, having a huge concert in the middle of Bukit Bintang, blocking traffic from entering that road and yes, causing a TERRIBLE jam. Cars that have been queing up in the jam for so long finally finds themselves having to take a detour and use another road once they reach Bukit Bintang. WHY? Because of that stupid concert. To make things worst, there are police officers standing there directing traffic but they do nothing about those people who took the opportunity to park at the roadside to go for the concert, causing the already screwed up jam to be even worst. I do not think that there is a single summon issued that night for those cars that parked at the roadside. This resulted in a very short journey to Pavilion becoming a seriously long drive.

For the entire week, I was planning for a dinner at Michelangelos. Knowing that the restaurant is most of the time very empty, I did not make an effort in booking for a table but luck was as bad as the traffic when we found out that the place was actually fully booked. So, second option, Kampachi (Japanese Food). 

Dinner was great, food was good, ambiance just the way we wanted and there goes our Valentine's Dinner. This dinner was very satisfying because the prices were not increased like most restaurants would. The night ended nicely, going home with a satisfied stomach with loads of "fresh" meat.

Valentine's Day

Every year now, February 14th is marked as Valentine's Day where lovers (usually guys) have to think of nice places to bring their girlfriend or wife to for a romantic dinner and in most cases also prepare presents for them as a sign of romance and showing them that they are loved by us. I personally do not go against this tradition but, why?

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. 

If Valentine's Day is really to show love to our partners and also as a rememberence to the guy who started this lovely day, why aren't restaurants showing us some love?

Today, a meal at some fancy restaurant with great food, nice ambiance and great price will cost us an average of maybe around RM70 per pax. Then the next day, which is Valentines, they can happily  come up with a VALENTINE'S SET MEAL and then name is something funky like Lover's Delight, Happily Ever After or shits like that, with maybe the same dish that you ate yesterday at RM70 per pax and price it at RM100 per pax. Ridiculous... 

Another example, a stalk of rose today might cost no more than RM5 per stalk... I dont know the exact because I do not buy flowers and a bouquet might cost around RM70 I think BUT, the very next day, on Valentine's Day, the same shit, maybe with one or two cute little toy bear on it or an extra chocolate shaped flower on it will cost you a whoping RM200.

My conclusion is, I love my girlfriend. I love the fact that I can celebrate Valentine's Day while some unfortunate or unlucky souls cant but I have to admit I DO NOT LOVE restaurants and florists that comes out with their funky set meals and special bouquets because of one reason and one reason alone. They too LOVE something. Our cash.

Happy Valentine's Day to all. 

Again, I am not a cheap guy who cant afford a Valentine's meal. 

Nice to Not So Nice

F1 has changed dramatically...Performance wise, budget wise and now, the LOOK...From nice to not so nice...

Ferarri F2008 (challenger for 2008 season)

Ferarri F60 (challenger for 2009 seas0n)

Christmas...S'pore...

After more than a year planning for this, the day finally came when both B and I took a 5 hour bus ride to the little island below our country... it is so small that we can basically drive around every twist and turn of this island in less than a day... still, I have talked to many people who knows Singapore and not know Malaysia... hmmm...
This trip was not particularly easy on me... before even stepping foot into the island, right at the edge of it... where I can actually walk over, I got into some trouble... My passport is 5 months from expiry date...so, this Malaysia customs officer stopped me and told me to turn around, head home, get a new valid passport and come again. After much persuasion, it's done. He first told me to see his head officer and then later on, clicked 2 buttons on the computer screen and we were both off to the toilet to settle the "deed" that he has done for me... pretty cool heh... passport not too valid... talk talk...click click...settle settle... and I'm through... the powers of the almighty click of the Malaysian customs officer... guess things aren't going as planned... but, holiday comes first...

Spending Christmas in Singapore is something new and the fact that we are staying in a high rise apartment rather than a hotel makes the experience greater. We stayed in Na's place at Upper Changi Road. Although it looks like any ordinary flat buildings in Malaysia but each floor has only 4 houses, meaning that each house is actually very spacious. Much more spacious that all the flats that we have in Malaysia. It is like a big apartment but with more than 20 floors instead of the average of 5 in Malaysia.
Also in Singapore is the first time I have boarded the MRT so many times other than when I was in Melbourne. In Malaysia, I go everywhere in my car mainly because transportation really sucked in Malaysia and not every place is connected via public transport. Buses are late, taxi doesn't take us where we want to go and if they do, they do not follow the meter. Ah Malaysia...
Being in Singapore is somehow like Malaysia in the sense that other than shopping, all we can really do is EAT. First day alone, it was an eating fest. Upon arrival, we went for their famous Hainan Chicken Rice... then right after that, we went to Queensway Mall to search for my shoes as this is the only place I will go to find some limited edition shoes. Anyways, I found what I wanted but there were no sizes left so we continued walking in search of it from other stalls. We stopped for desert then again stopped for this deep fried Mars bar balls as below. Eat eat eat... then we went home to change and off again to Na's aunt's place for food again. She cooked for 10 when there were only 8 of us. So, we were forced to fill our stomachs. Right after that, the normal human being will head home to rest as it was getting late BUT instead of doing that, we went straight to The CHEESECAKE CAFE to eat CHEESECAKE.. and it not not just one slice but SEVERAL SLICES... hohohoho...
It took the whole of the 3 days that we were in Singapore to shop for my shoes. I think I have visited almost every Limited Edition shops in Singapore till finally, I got if from one in Peninsula Mall. That, ended our shopping spree finally. Many plans were canceled, not 100% because to get my shoes but partly because of it as well. I'm just thankful that everyone there had the patience to follow around just to get my pair of shoes. Right after that, it was truly to visit Singapore. How to say that I have been to Singapore without having a picture with this Lion-Fish-like creature that spits water into the ocean...



Of cause below are the pictures of the place that we went for Cheesecake. Nice atmosphere and ambiance. Nice cakes and definitely loads of fats.

                                    Na and Brendon
                                    B and Myself
                                     The cake, the cake and the cake
Another plan failed because the day before, this giant wheel got on fire and people were stranded. So, its CLOSED for the time being.

What can I do other than taking snapshots of it. Proves I have been there right...

Singapore's very own thematic restaurant.

All in all, this trip to Singapore was nothing speical. We did not stick to our planned schedule but, a trip is fun no matter where you go or what you do. What makes an outing really fun is actually who you are with. This trip, we do not see many fun stuff. In fact there were several disappointments. The Singapore Eye was closed, we did not enter Sentosa, we did not visit the Night Safari. Main attractions were all X'ed from the plan but, we did try something really fun. Walking on foot along Geylang road at night, walking amongst the prostitutes. THAT was an experience. We were introduced to the prostitution world by Brendon. We saw those without lisence and also those with lisences known to be found in places called the Fish Tank. The funny thing was, when Brendon asked me to follow him into one of the Fish Tanks to see how someone actually chooses a prostitute there, the pimp asked us to leave. I think he knows that we are not serious customers as there were 2 females (B n Na) outside waiting for us. Even so, I caught a glimpse. They were actually like those Miss Universe peagent. They had numbers stuck to them and the customers will walk in, have a look at them and pick whichever number he likes best. Hmmm... not a bad way to do business eh. Something like a football team. We know people by numbers.

This trip actually brought many new experiences for me. Mainly because it was only my second time in Singapore and the first time actually really touring Singapore. Maybe in future, I will go again and visit places that I missed this time around .

New...New...all New!!

20 years in the same apartment, sharing a room with my brother for as long as I remembered, finally drew to an end...

Now, starting a new life in a new house in a new area with my new room, I find things actually not as different as before... people who knew that I shared a room before, kept asking me if it was fun having my own room and all...all I felt was... yeah... i got my own room and its a new house... so what? to me everything remains the same... most importantly enough, it does not make me and my brother any more distant than we were... we might be sleeping in individual rooms now but that did not make us isolate each other more... so I guess, this new house and new room thing doesnt really affect me in any ways... only thing different is that I have my own, bigger bigger bed to roll around at night...hahaha...and of cause, more privacy... privacy, whatever you guys are thinking about, its not what you think it is...

Anyways, since moving here, things are definitely new...and, I added a few new things to my personal collection as well... first off, a brand new Tissot Limited Edition GP watch... what drew me to this watch is the fact that it is simple and nice... and also, the helmet design packaging played a big role in me making my decision... hahaha... although the packaging is of no use other than a decorative item but, it still played a role in my decision making... 

Then, another thing to my collection... not mine exactly... its shared by the whole family but the owner is ME... finally, I have my own pet... a 4 year old Dalmation named Jill that I adopted from an old couple who were to migrate to Auckland... 

It's odd... she came to the house and got along with Aibo in less than 15 minutes... can dogs really be friends that easily or is it because both dogs are just super friendly and can connect easily... Jill is quiet and playful and the other pig Aibo is just plain friendly...so, this is our rojak pet collection... 2 dogs of different breeds and size and color and ear shape and height and weight and sex and this and that and everything...

What other new things await me? hmmmm....