Awesome supposedly Korean restaurant

Well, I was 50/50 today in the sense that half of me is happy to move on and half is still kinda pissed off at my so-called friends and business partners. That's life, right?

So I decided to go do some shopping and finally bought myself a watch from Massimo (RM699) and a shirt from British India (RM399). Shopping therapy. Hahaha!

After that, it was just hanging around until I found the time to go Publika. I decided to go early and went to one of those Juice Bars for a drink while doing some emails and was surprised at the amount of emails received! It was good. Subsequently, I finally went to Social to meet Ange. I was looking for a lady and totally missed her when a couple walked past me as it was one tanned Chinese lady and one Indian man until he came and asked if I am waiting for her

First, I must admit we had a beautiful 2 hours of just chatting and laughing. It was good. At first, she asked what services I offered and I said nothing in particular as I have grown and moved on to things that interests me. She kept on saying that everything is already done up neat and nice. They have some management company even. So I said it's fine. Friendship first. I explained that I spent years abroad and now that I am back, always looking for more friends and what-not. So she was delighted. Then her other half showed me his product about some sorta healthy version of sugar. Good thing S is looking for new products so I gave him S number and promised to make the intros for them to meet and talk

After that, we had some finger foods and I rolled out my laptop and powerpoint. As I went through, we found out we had many friends in common and I sort of rundown what I did. She was surprised and said she thought I was some sort of auditor for hotels but now she said she could see it is difficult for me to describe what I do for people!

At the end of it all, she said if I can send the file to her by Saturday latest, she wants to have it ready as she wants to show it to her MD/ CEO. She even asked about possibility of cancelling management contract! So I know something is up. She said she is not promising anything but maybe, who knows, there may be something!

Well, fingers crossed. Wouldn't it be brilliant if I can work with them to set up a management company to launch this on CNY same as my Kemayoran project? Imagine if both launched successfully! And both are small and in good neighbourhoods. I can just visually sync-ing PR and telling one that we are having second launch within days or for the second one that we just launched a few days ago our first property in another country!

That would be stellar! I am sooooooooooooo keeping fingers crossed and toes crossed. Oh Lord if this is meant to be and if You know that I can do it, then ... Insyallah! God Wills! I don't want to take on if I cannot handle it though. If they say they have the team onboard and the works are done, it may be easier to go through the process with the team and get admin right. Then it's a matter of reviewing each DH and GM work and ensure we launch well!

Let's see, right?

O yes after that I went to Namoo ... wanted something different with sis ... and almost walked past cos it says Korean dessert ... all I can say is GIVE IT A GO! It's not Korean desserts. The food we ordered is amazing from the rice to fish n chips. The carrot cake with ice cream is yummy and our herbal iced drinks are just sooooooooooooooooooo good! This is on my must return list!

Doors Opening ... and Closing ...

That saying about when one door closes and another opens? The one that relates to opportunities in life? Well, thank the Good Lord because that is just what happened. After my last angry post, after thinking things through, I decided to go all the way with my business endeavours in Indonesia instead of sitting on the fence of so many project. So this is what I did:

1. Forget about all the restaurant business possibilities
2. Forget about working with CI and his weird ways
3. Forget about the damn Damansara people and their unethical ways

And for the moment, I am not going to do my art and writing seriously as well and take the whole plunge in Indonesia. So I emailed, sms and bbm all the contacts that I was in touch with and actually followed up and guess what? They replied! YES!

I got the Jkt #2 deal on and am going over next week to finalize
I got the Bali team coming to Malaysia to meet me and wanting me to join in for the next consultant meeting and so on

So it's on and I am sooooooooooooooo thankful

Then ... thinking further, I decided to give V's contact a call - the person that 3 above is hoping to connect with once their "profiles" are established. And they agreed to meet me on the basis of watsapp and that I am a mate of V's! YES!

Thank you, God!

What kind of a man are you?

As those of you who read this blog regularly knows, I recently decided to venture out on my own and try my luck running my own show in South East Asian markets. I thought I would be open to all my various business partners and unfortunately, my one and only Malaysian commitment turns out to be ... for want of a better word ... scum scum scum!

He is someone I knew since 2005 for a few months and I resigned not because of him but because of the general environment of the place although now that I think back, it is due to him since he is the head and he stayed there for years. Must have been running with both eyes closed on all the monkey business that is going on there!

Anyway, we touched base end of last year as I have fond memories of hanging out with his wife and kids ... and he said he had been offered a property to manage and invited me to join in. I said fine. In the first meeting, in Coffee Bean in Uptown, he even asked what are my expectations in terms of shares and offered me like 20% if enough. I said sure

By end Feb and early Mar, we started work in earnest and guess what? The 20% has dropped to 10%. I was surprised but acted like it was what we agreed. I should have woken up to the fact that something is wrong but hey, I am starting out

He proposed that there be director fees as we 3 are directors. I have to wonder how they plan to work. You see, the company is incorporated in Singapore with first client in Malaysia. I asked why Singapore and he said to make it look more prestigious and I have to wonder WTF is he going on about. Then finally he explained it's also for personal reasons as he wants his daughters to get free education or something like that in Singapore. At this point, tiny alarm bells rang!

The other director is an expat living in Bali and plans to live in Bali! Again, tiny alarm bells rang!

So the fees are 6k, 5k and 4k depending on commitment. I was on 4k for Mar as I was still employed at another company and finishing my notice period. I did all he asked off and took leave for meetings. I was then to move onto 6k in Apr

Come April, after my resignation is through, I did tell him I am committed to be an advisor for a project in Jakarta. I told him all these much earlier and guess what he did now that I have resigned and started full time? He told me I need to be 100% committed to them or I won't get the fees even. I asked that both of them have their own businesses. Their answers are that they will pass to their missus. Yeah, right! I tested the Bali chap and knows he is running it behind the scenes. I mean, what he does in Bali every day when he is not here in Malaysia?!!?!?! In Malaysia, only 4 days. He cannot be everyday doing planning or looking for clients. His claims do not show any such travelling

So I had to resign as EDirector ... and then to my shock the fees didn't go from 6k to 4k ... he said it is 1.5k and didn't I get the revised proposal? I mean, again, what the F3* is this?!?!?! By now, I was annoyed. I said this is just too low for the time required of me. Hello! This is the price of an assistant or junior accountant. Give me a fucking break! So he agreed to raise it to 2.5k

And guess what? It has retro effect to Mar - so we are still not paid - but he said he is offering me the shares still as he values my contribution

So within the same month until May, while I more than did my share of the duties expected of me and they were like slow and not coming back on critical matters requiring their attention ... guess what? He asked me back for the shares and said they wanted to work with me as a consultant only

Wow! Like I am going to do this. Hey! Excuse me Mr Caucasian. Do not try to pass yourself off as a good and sincere businessman. You are not. You are the lowest of the low. I have heard of people like you but never met before until now. You only think of yourself. Just because you set up a company with you as majority shareholder, you are not God. Yes you can do with the company as you please but contracts should still be respected and acted accordingly, not run the way you do and making retroactive decisions! It just doesn't work that way!

Well at first in his office, I agreed to return the shares. No point fighting it. Then I came home and decided not to waste my time anymore. This is probably his way of getting rid of me anyway. Either that or he really thinks I am a fool. So I wrote and said I resigned. Go fuck yourself!

Water Water

Today's challenge is buying drinking water. Yes, it sounds like such a simple thing, right? In the olden days (whoooo makes me sound old now), we used to get water from the tap, boil and drink. Now? We are told the pipes are dirty and the processing is not clean etc etc etc. So you need to buy one of those filters that starts from a few hundred upwards to near RM2k

Well, I was debating myself on this because indeed when you switched on the tap, after not using for a few weeks, initial rush for the first few seconds is brownish! So, even filter? I rather not

And then after seeing the equipment for many years, I found out from my sis that she too buys water from those machines in residential area and so begins my journey

I took my empty 5 liter bottle and went to the Indian shop outside my neighbourhood where I saw people buying. I went early and to my surprise, the machine is gone!!!

Next I drove to Pelek town ... and slowed down to a crawl and sighted one machine outside the local supermart! Jubilant, I parked and went there with a handful of coins. Checking the 2 slots, I found that one is for 10 cents and the other 20 cents. Great! I plonked down 10 cents ... and nothing happened. I saw my 10 cents stuck somewhere on the way down. So I used another coin and pushed the first in ... and nothing happened!

Then I tried 20 cents ... and out came water ... and stopped! For 40 to 60 cents worth I got maybe 1 liter?!?!?!?!

I give up ... I went back to my car ... and then horrors drove past KFC and saw one more machine ... with its shining surface there! ARGH!

Other than that, it was a thankfully quiet day in general! I miss unker Case

First full day of recovery

Well, more or less, my leg is recovered after being struck by a nasty round of gout about a week or so ago. It's not 100% and that's got me really worried as every little twinge or red mark has me paranoid. But first, I am going to make a vow that from today onwards, I will stick to a healthier diet of less sugary drinks, less carbs, smaller meals, no alcohol, no tomato, no shellfish (blue moon), no beans and less black tea!

Long list, I know, paranoid list, I know too!

Okay

So this morning I left home at 6:30am for airport and it was so clear, the traffic we were there before 7:00am. Nothing special happened except that it is nice to see Penang airport finally having more and more facilities ... after like 3 to 4 years of so-called renovation (or longer?). I remember only from my dayz in Medan and that was a full 3 years ago!

I bought a book from Mitch Albom at the WHSmith inside (yes, a bookshop!) and a drink. The major cuties for today is Azreen, airport police. He was on duty and still looked so hot. He was at the international gate, looking slim and youthful as I walked past. He went to the McD counter and came out with a coffee. So I slowed my pace to watch him. Sigh! And noticed on his sleeve he has 2 stripes. A minute ... I use search engine to find out what is 2 stripes ... corporal ... corporal Azreen ... who cannot be found on FB. ARGH! I searched mind you. Sigh!

Anyway, the plane was surprisingly on time and reached Subang early by a full 15 minutes.

A really funny incident happened in the fireflyz flight. I booked my usual seat right at the first row simply for the extra legroom and normally it is quite deserted but this time, 4 Caucasians were there! 3 in a group and 1 was solo. The trio had one guy who kept talking nonstop throughout the flight even though he was 2 rows behind! And he kept on and on about the food here and doesn't understand why Asians can eat heavy for lunch whereas for him, all he needed was a sandwich! And here he is working in Asia earning money so he can criticize us. It wasn't the only thing he was moaning about though. He also talked about the expectations that in Asia meetings can stretch all day and expected to entertain in the evenings and sometimes weekends. Well, if his bosses hear that, it's sayonara, dude!

But then the next incident is between Mr. Solo and the air stewardess. At first, I didn't pay any attention. It sounded something like AC cold and he offered his hand. But I am not sure. Then towards the landing time, he handed her a business card. Well, the plane had landed by then and I could hear more clearly as she asked him what the card is for! AHAHAHAHAHAHA! He told her that it is from his company as he had just joined and perhaps they can get together for a meal or something. Dude! You are so brusque! Is that how you pick up people? He is grossly overweight, hairy and looked about 40 to 50 while she is definitely below 30 and in good shape! Looks like she was merely being polite to a passenger only!

I went to this new place in Uptown with sis for breakfast. While the place looked trendy, the service was so-so and the food was greasy! Not worth a second trip especially with its double-kopitiam prices

In the afternoon, we went to the mall of 1 U and there I had my filled of cuci mata. Hehehe! First up, Madam Kwan's. 2 guys in white long sleeved shirt look the same (brothers?). I don't know but they are not good looking okay? Potential is there but waaaaaaaaaaaay too skeletal even for me especially as you can see the pants being held up by belts and nothing in the way of a shapely bottom and the face? Skin has large pimply acne marks. The real hottie is the brown coloured hair guy behind the counter - nice face, great hair, nice upper torso (counter hiding the rest of him)

Then as I walked down, I passed by the usual Maxis counter and the cutie was there. Average height, young, perfect body, geeky face and nice hair. This one is huggable!

Dinner was a takeaway from Kenny Rogers. So all in, there goes my diet! I am going to fix it for tomorrow!

Penang Day 7 - WOW!

Can you believe it? This is my seventh, count them all, seventh full day in Penang. When was the last time I spent seven whole days in Penang? Honestly, I cannot remember because I know in the past years since joining Star Cruises in 2000, my home days are a few days here and a few days there

So this is like the longest in a loooooooooooooooooooooooooong time. My parents are happy except ... well, my dad! He is not unhappy, don't get me wrong here but today, in the afternoon, he said why I don't just move back since I am not employed fully anymore and use Penang as a base? Yeah, right! He even asked me to sell this house in Sepang. Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I told him it's my life and I need some space and that this house is for investment as well as staying. If I had wanted to move to Penang, I would have cleaned up the apartment and fixed the apartment like including a fridge, new TV and Astro

Ah well ... nothing else monumental happened today ... except I bought my firefly ticket and getting ready to go back to KL tomorrow

Oh yes on the biz front, I texted Pak A and he replied that he is in Singapore but he confirmed yes, we will be working together. So YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

No Fucking Way!!!

You would not believe the shit I had to encounter today just to get transportation to Penang!

As you are aware, last night, I went to 1 U with my sis inspite of a gout attack. By the time I limped there, the counter selling tickets was closed. The guard on duty said it closes by 6:00pm. So thinking I will do it today, I gave it no never mind

This morning, I limped to Tropicana because they have an express bus service as well that would go to Penang's Sg Nibong but guess what?!?!?! When I limped there, the counter is all shut before noon. So I asked the concierge and he said that they no longer have the bus service at Tropicana

Now in pain, I had no choice but to go out to 1 U and get my RM50 ticket

If you think that's it, wait for it ... as soon as I got home, client SMS me that if can, to meet Sat morning. I replied that my bus is bla bla bla and I thought we agreed to meet Sunday night or Saturday night because morning's are no good for the client ... to which the client replied that the medical is done and it's life as usual so they are free

Sooooooo I went online and tried to buy Air Asia or Fire flyz but as Air Asia was so expensive, I went for Fireflyz. Thinking that as it was yet to be 5:00pm, why not get flights for that night? And guess what? You cannot buy online if 3 hours before flight time even if domestic. Okay. So what's next? I called the number and this person tells me I also cannot buy from phone or book. I got annoyed. I said that if I had to go to airport and the tickets are sold out, how?????? Only then did she agree to check and let me know that for the flight of my choice there is like over 30 seats left

Now wait for it ... you would think with so many seats the rate would be reasonable, right? Nope all in RM400 or slightly less!!!

In the end, I bought online for tomorrow morning second flight at less than RM200

So ... now you know why I am sooooooooooooo annoyed today! Sickness is not enough, have to contend with this as well!

Psyched!

Did I get that right? Anyway today is flight day and what a day! I was supposed to go with Cory but not feeling really good about what went on with the M man and the Medan investors, I decided to SMS the son (Hend) and see if he is able to meet ... last night ... and he agreed to even come and pick me up from the "hotel" to the airport

And he was on time!

Good thing Cory's house was just behind the hotel so I went out and met him and he picked me up. For once, he did the Medan thing. No flashy car just the usual Jap car. We went to the airport, talked loads and then up to Starbucks and talked some more. He could consume 1 cake and 2 drinks from Star!!! Good on him. The good fortune of being young with high metabolic rate, eh?

Well, the good thing is that he told me even they were super-concerned about M's behaviour as he invited them to meet me and then after that he told them not to listen to everything I had to say. Ah well ... but now it seemed like good chance for us to work together ... I tried to be fair and all and said I will send him a list of issues to review ... it seems like they are not big planners but do-ers!

Nothing else to report on flight ... I got home ... decided not to stay in Sepang and drooooooove down to KL ... witnessed a horrific accident just before the Damansara toll but surprisingly no jam! A few cars were smashed into each other with one toppled over onto the grassy area on the left side of the road like terbalik, dude!

I loved it when the client tells you that we start the day later because we do not have a driver free earlier to pick you up! Isn't that brilliant? Didn't they think about cabs? Hahaha!

Anyway that's what this morning is all about. So I headed out around 10:00am. We had a nice quiet time with V and E going through drawings and challenges. And then for a late lunch, we went to a pseudo western shop for a meal and it cost me about RM100 for 3 pax. Wee ex as far as I am concerned!

But it is good because I got to learn a bit more about E and V. V is new to the working world and potentially come from a better family than E and is still having good vibes about the world. E is more world weary and doesn't like what he sees so much and actually says that the investors are very tightfisted. Actually I too am concerned that if they squeeze too much, we may end up with something less than ideal!

The son, G came in the afternoon and boy is he putting on the pounds. Give him a year and he will probably pack in 2 or 3 kg? I guess this comes of eating so much and late and exercising very little. It's good when your daddy is filthy rich and you don't have a budget, I guess. I wonder how his dad "pays" him. Hahaha!
So I am a bit off him because he is getting fat. How shallow, right?

In the evening, we went to meet the F&B people and they were a right, fine bunch of folks. So it was good. We had a great chat, discuss all sorts of things and even tried some alcohol. They seemed like a better bunch to work with. Money conscious but knows when to spend

ARGH! I need that!

It Never Rain but It Pours? Yup!

That's what today is like. No better a phrase to describe my day

So I went to bed like around midnight and couldn't really sleep well because I kept on expecting Cory to come. He changed his mind about showing up and saying he is going to bed and that was like 1 to 2:00am! I thought case closed. Later on maybe 4 or 5:00am, he said he came but I didn't answer!!! Dude!!! Give me a break. Apparently he went home to take a nap and then came out again!

So anyway after that I asked him to come and he said he is there but I wasn't opening the door. I waited outside the door only to find out that though the car dropped me at tower 1 entrance I was actually staying in tower 2. How the heck did that happen when there is only 1 lift? I don't know

Okay. So as if all that wasn't a bad enough start to the day, I got to the office early like 10 minutes before 9:30am and to my utter surprise, both M and R were not in yet! Wow! And then the reception is busy as they are planning a bank signing ceremony. On top of that, the secretary didn't even bother to come out and receive me and merely told the receptionist that I should wait at the entrance! Love these people!

Anyway, R came to work with the young, handsome cutie who supposedly graduated from Germany! Hehehehe! I am not kidding you. He is so hot! Fair skin, great hair, great slim bod! Yummy!

There were more surprises in store during this entire day:

1. Two chaps came from their partner's company in Bali to "chat" with me. I found out after that the partner wanted to evaluate if they have recruited someone qualified to be the advisor. Excuse me! I have met your so-called local consultants with overseas experience and they are quite ... average ... is the best word I can think of for them

2. In the afternoon, I was introduced to A and his 2 boys (young and goodlooking again!). And they immediately slipped into Chinese but I tried to say no as M is around and M said it's fine. A appeared to be those practical businessman. He apparently bought an office tower and a hotel from M's company and is now concerned about my buddies in AssBeeEye. No surprises there but M was very odd. He is supposedly the COO of the company. Yet he seems to be good at promoting himself and getting more for himself using the company's resources. Example: he is telling people about bringing in coffee and being distributors; he is thinking of self-managing the property through a subsidiary; he is thinking of co-running a restaurant; etc; etc; etc. And at this stage, I have to wonder what is really going on here and if anyone is checking up on him. Is the success of the company due to him or merely a case of right place, right time?

Ah well ... when all is said and done, I finally left to go and meet Cory again for massage and dinner and to my utter disgust, he asked me to go to the Mall but he came 2 hours later! Why? Because he has made appointment to meet someone. Well at least he could have told me the truth right? Instead of letting me wander around like an idiot! And then he is amazed that I am annoyed

Labour Day ... but not in Jakarta???

Well today is a public holiday in Malaysia and a few other countries in the world. I was on the way to Jakarta for meeting tomorrow when I started getting cautionary sms from mates in Indonesia to be careful of potential demonstration in downtown Jakarta. To my surprise, they do not celebrate workers day or labour day ... well!

However, what was nice at the airport (near deserted at LCCT and I meant that everywhere the queue is less than 10 minutes!) was a nice feeling

Unfortunately this disappeared when I arrived in Jakarta. The driver I had from the office is a stubborn man - a typical male specimen who refuses to call for instructions. Imagine I told him where I am headed (Batavia Apartments) and he said office told him a hotel. I asked if they booked for me and he called to confirm. They said I booked myself. So there!

As we drove, he couldn't find the place. The demonstrators were on the way home causing massive traffic congestion. To make matters worse, it started pouring. And he called friends in the office and outside but refused to call the hotel. I just could not believe it! I gave him the form with phone numbers but he refused until we went round several times for nearly an hour ......

By the time we reached, it was nearly 3 hours from landing time! Can you believe this shit? Longer than my flight time

Now to make matters worse, the hotel doesn't have wifi and Cory who is supposed to join me kept on postponing from meals to coming late ... and he didn't even show up until 11:00pm saying he is waiting to be paid! Hmmm ... well I am going to bed!