Why so late

For those of you who actually read my de-virginized first post, thanks, much appreciated. I am so happy to have wasted precious minutes of your life. I actually have something precious of yours that can never be repaid ... hahahahaahahhah!!!!

And why so late this follow up? Well for some weird reason, my blog site was not "open" and I received this note that says it may be spam unless I submit for review yadda yadda yadda ...

That's so boring, right?

Today ... let me share with you the joy of how I finally have internet access in my home

I am living in Dubai since Mar 08. Here there are 2 telco companies: Etisalat and Du. You cannot choose. If a building has been cabled with Etisalat, you have to subscribe to them. Mine is Du. I went online, got all the info and to my horror, I have to go all the way to their main sales office to buy the service - not available via online - already a bad sign, right?

The sales team was great. They told me next week, for sure, they will come

Thu - I rushed home at 5:00pm and waited. No one showed up. I called customer service 4 times until 8:00pm. Each time it was please wait they are on the way kind of excuses ... the 4th time ... chap said their technician dont work after 630pm!!!! Can you beat that shit? He asked me to call the next day for alternative appointment

Between 9:00 to 11:00am, I called and each time they said they will get back to me. By 11:00am, they said the system is down. There is nothing they can do. They asked me to check back before 8:00pm. As usual at 8:00pm no one has a record of my calls

Saturday I called twice and this time they said they logged in my details but nothing they can do as the technical office is closed and they don't know what's wrong ... why the technicians didn't show up ...

In the afternoon, to my surprise, I received a call that I must go to sales office to re-register again ... I grab a cab and was there ... waited for my turn ... only to be told that there was nothing they can do as the technical office was closed!!!!! Again they promised to get back to me tomorrow i.e. Sunday

Naturally no one could do anything on Sunday or Monday ... no replies to emails etc ... until I had enough I wrote in to the main office ... and voila ... instant service ... within one working day I have the report in hand on what happened, promises to get things done, etc and the following weekend a Saturday someone came and fix my line

Total number of phone calls - 18
Total $$$ for taxis - AED87
Total hours wasted - 12hrs

Talk about good customer service! UGH!

Hi all - my first time creating my online blog space ... or whatever the heck it is called! If you haven't already figured it out yet, I am a f*** tech-dinosaur ... still .... there is a time and place for everything, right?

As I said above, this is my first entry. So I will keep it brief. For those of you unfortunates ... mistakingly checking this out ... if you are wondering what you can expect to find in the days ahead?

Well if I actually gain some confidence and fill up this space with the "truth" ... then it will be a non-stop bitching journal ... in real life ... I bitch all the time. Sure folks call it gossip ... and I don't mean to be crude for crude's sake ... but ... it's really a non-stop bitching session. And what will it be about???

Ummm ... I live my life without much planning ... in my 30s and have worked all over Asia and now started making in-roads to Africa (Middle East) ... no it's not because I am wanted or anything ... I am just trying to do the zen-shite ... discovering myself ... while working

Why do I need to discover myself? Because ... at my grandfather age ... I am even unsure of my sexuality .... yup ... this is one of "those" kind of blogs ... did you have a good laugh at the 40-year-old virgin? FYI people like that do exist in this world. HAHAHAHAAHAH!!!! Cool that I can admit it here (I am NOT 40 ... yet) ... hehehehe

Yes, so that basically sums it up ... you get to read about my challenges in always changing jobs, changing countries, over-eating, trying to lose weight, getting hard n horny at all the wrong places, and totally screwing up my relationships ... minus the actual screwing that is ... and somewhere along the line ... maybe I will actually grow up

O yeah ... and I will bore you with my amateur photography and sketching skills too!

Bottoms up!

PS That is a post-tsunami pic of a resort in the Maldives ... taken in late 2004 ... the resort no longer exists! Sad but true ... I am not making this up for pity points

Celebration Day!!!

After the first harried week of running around on medical, looking for housing, meeting new people and getting all stressed out ... at least one thing came through ... on this day, the 12th of March 2008 ... I got my visit pass cancelled and my full work visa STAMPED in my passport ... thank you wonderful people in-charge of these ... you guys are the best!

I am legit now! Finally! After Bahrain, this is my greatest worry!

[Typed from memory recall on 29.12.2012 in GPT]

NEW JOB NEW COMPANY NEW COUNTRY ...

Yup it's that time again ... for me ... hahaha ... I seemed to be doing that more and more frequently eh? But hey, as you all know, it's not my fault, right? Thanks Banyan Tree Bahrain! It's YOUR fault ... hehehe ...

Anyway as you know I had my new passport and then within 2 days (less than 48 hours actually), it's time for KLIA ... it's time for Emirates ... it's time to fly to Dubai ... the city that gushed forth from the dessert like a surprising spring giving life to a mountainous group of individuals and families!

The flight as always is pleasant ... it's Emirates, after all ... one of my fave airlines ... and no surprising oddities this time in terms of fellow passengers ... well, when I saw odd, I meant encountering people and their actions I have not seen nor expected before ... and boy I can tell you there are quite a few eye openers .. sometimes charming like the couple who did a little snogging on their seats using an airline blankie ... sometimes disgusting like the china man who took off his shoe, dug his toe nails and then placed his fee on the arm rest ... and sometimes downright rude and nasty!

So ... I arrived ... I took a cab ... and I reached Nuran Residences where I was given a tiny studio apartment ... still it was adequate and nice with a half decent view ... great bed and TV and complete shower and bath facilities and small cooking area ... not that I will do full cooking as otherwise the room will smell ...

[Typed on 28.12.2011 @ 6:52am in my room in GPT Malaysia]

NEW PASSPORT ...

[This entry is typed on 27.12.2011 - based on memory recollections - yup I kid you not!]

Why is this day so special? Well, I have a few more days before I changed jobs and changed countries for jobs and that's why this is important because my passport is expiring within the year and to get new job with visa ...

I need to end job in one country ... Banyan ... Tree ... Bahrain ... rushed home to Malaysia ... worked out this new passport ... send details to next company ... Dubai ... for visa and flying over ... hehehe ... that's my life since ... maybe end 1999?

I liked it like that ... keeps me busy and less time to wallow in self pity or melancholia ... hah!

Again, I stayed at my sis place in Ken Damansara ... and with Johnny Lee's kind help ... went to Subang and got my passport done in the same day ... loved this new type of arrangments where we did not need to wait early morning at crack of dawn like in my childhood and then get passport days, if not weeks, later!

So I got this within a few hours and headed home for some great eating and shopping!

Thanks Mr Johnny Lee - you have been a gem since 1994 when I had the incredible fortune of having you be one of my first superiors in the working world!

Indonesian Interludes 2002 Day Two 25.07.02

[This is posted on 14.02.2013 from an original hotmail email]

As our flight to Bali wasn't until noon, we had the whole morning to shop for provisions. To start the day off right, health nuts recommended breakfast. So it's off to breakfast we go. Tried the black colored, beef soupy thingie called Rawon and chicken soup called Soto. Both are very tasty and full of spices (not spicy hot lah). The locals actually eat both with rice. Everything goes with rice, it seems: KFC and Mac included.

What is really great was the fact that there were heaps and heaps of crackers (keropok) everywhere and they had these "fatty roti jala like" puffed up white colored fish based crackers that are delicious & doesn't stink like the Malaysian rock-hard grey fish crackers.

Next was a quick shopping trip to the local mall in North Jakarta. Bubble tea is immensely popular. Stalls everywhere. And the stunning thing was that security guards were everywhere in the mall, all armed with daggers! Yes, the type that one goes deep sea diving or hunting with. Ugly looking iron. Cool, huh? And we are not talking Security for jewellery shops, ok? Just normal security that hangs around. Apparently, this trend started after the rioting way back in 98/97.

Was almost tempted to try the local "tri-cycle" for the 40-min trip to the airport but opted for the normal taxis instead. BTW linguistic sidenote: motorcycles are called speda motor.

At the airport, as we had time on our hands, we stopped by the local KFC for a drink and in front of us a fight broke out amongst the drivers waiting for passengers! Airport Security had to intervene and asked them to sprawl against a vehicle. Even Caucasian tourists all jammed up to watch the spectacle. You might say we had a nice live free entertainment while we slurped our fizzy drinks.

It was unique at the KFC was that there is NO mashed/ whipped potatos. They serve steamed white rice wrapped in the burger wraps that are used for the Malaysian Zinger burgers instead. And if u order French Fries, it comes with mayo spread over in strips. The local chili sauce has a very gingery taste to it without our usual flavor of slight tomato-ish.

 

The plane we took was of the no frills type. We thought to try different domestic lines each way. More exciting, right? Anyway the airline is called Citilink. Nope - no relation to the courier by the same name. On the outside, the plane looks nice as it was painted with some colorful patterns. The fun only really began the moment we took off. There is indeed no frills, not even serviettes! When we were high in the air, the aircond got cooler and cooler and it started to rain on everyone (condensation). I kid u not. It was dripping water from the airvents. The stewardesses who are dressed in these funky shiny tight red jumpsuit like uniform came walking up and down the aisle with very sweet apologetic smile armed with a roll of toilet paper, start soaking up all the drips! See? That's call an experience. Heh heh heh! I loved it.

 

Expectations of Bali was that it would be hot, hotter than Jakarta. To our delight, the weather was simply perfect for each and everyday that we were day, no matter where we go actually. Blue skies with hardly a cloud, windy and not too warm, much less hot. Just perfect! We took a rip-off cab ride to our hotel passing by various shops and attractions. Had a neck cramp just trying to see everything. Our hotel was simply breathtaking. Sanur Beach. From the driveway in to the outside facade, reception, restaurants and rooms. And the best part was the poolside bar that had swings instead of stools. That was so cool to be sitting and swimming while sipping a local "arak" of rice wine and orange juice.

 

As our locale of Sanur was on the East, we decided to go tramping around the neighborhood for the rest of the night and only be at the beach for sunrise. This area is famed for artwork and shopping. With proper bargaining, one can get things rather cheap like a batik shirt for only RM15 to 20. Saw quite a bit of delightful Balinese paintings. As this is only day 1, we didn't buy much of anything to avoid having to cart it all with us. But we did stop to get our tattoos.

 

We also tried the Bakso (meatball soup kinda like Yong Tau Foo) at a local roadside stall (I know I know another roadside establishment). Dinner was in a traditional looking small restaurant. We shared an order of Rijstaeffel - it's basically a bit of everything - satay sticks, stir fry vege, keropok, fried rice, spring rolls, chicken, pork, beef. And to finish the night, we had another round of arak compliments of the house.
*** END OF DAY TWO ***

Indonesian Interludes 2002 Day 1 24.04.02

[This is posted on 14.02.2013 from an original hotmail email]

[Hi all - sorry for the long spell of silence but I was tied up with work and then there was a nice vacation followed by another spell of work. Anyway, here's me back at the old vacation write-up game. No pics yet. Sorry! To those I owe personal replies, will do so in the days ahead. Stay cool! ]
I came in early to the office at around 7:00AM and rushed like mad throughout the whole damn day to get everything done so that I could leave at 4:00PM. It's bloody hard to stay focused when all I can think of is the holidaaaaaAAAAAAy yay yay yay!!!Heh heh! A friend, Ad offered to drive me to the airport. However, we chit-chat so much in the car that we missed the turning and continued driving for at least another 20 minutes right through Nilai and Seremban exits and on the way to Malacca before it hit us that we were so way out of this. His wife, Aid had a good laugh on the handphone when she called to say goodbye.

Walked through the airport to the counter wondering if I should buy the vodka but decided against it until I checked in since I didn't feel like lugging it with me. Unfortunately, once I passed through immigration, the shops selling duty free liquor were closed. I kid u not. Aside from Chili's and a few cafes/kopi tiams, there were only two other retailers and one was Harrods. Agh! I walked from one end to the other getting panicky by the moment. But what to do?

Plane was incredibly packed, warm and so uncomfortable. Hey! It's a MAS, right? And as it was a MAS, u can guess the food for short journeys if you have ever flown with them over the past 15 yrs. Yup. Fried noodles. No changes. Consistent. Including the flat taste. Hah!

Reached Jakarta, disembarked, eyes scanning all around especially when I marched out of the immigration counter. I was so damn sleepy and the officer was asking what I was doing in Jakarta as it isn't exactly a touristry place. I grinned like an idiot, thanked him n wham out!

Anyway, as I exited, I had a minor panic moment. I couldn't see my friend anywhere. Deja vu of my Vietnam trip came back. I tried to call him on the handphone but couldn't get through since my handset is programmed with International codes. After sweating it for a good 10-15 minutes and being bugged almost incessantly by damn taxi touts, I went back into the Arrival Lounge through a mid-entrance and saw the back of someone who looked like my bro. I sneaked up on the side and bingo it was him! W.i.l.l.y.a.m - yes spelt with a "Y" and not an "I". Phew! Big sigh of relief there. He was with a couple of friends.

So what was Jakarta like? Huge and sprawling, not that many high rise but rather everything was very tightly packed and congested. Toll booths everywhere. Roads are pretty wide on the way to the airport though. Oh yeah name of the airport is Soekarno Hatta, names of their past political bosses.

I had my first sampling of local food that very night as we stopped by a roadside shop (I know I know everyone warns about the dangers of dining this way in Indonesia but ...) and ordered "Roti Bakar" or traditional toasted bread with stuffing. It was two thick slices of bread stuffed with cheese and egg for mine and cheese and chocolate for W.i.l.l.y.a.m. Huge stuff. Couldn't finish it but very yummy!

Culture shock for the night - residential neighborhoods were divided into zones. So each area has walls surrounding them and with a few entrances to the neighborhoods. Each entrance has gates with barricades and guards. The guards are sometimes armed.

And Jakarta is HOT! Swelteringly so. Roads are filled with potholes. Huge wide storm drains are chocked with stagnant water that resulted in a mob of mosquitos when sunset comes.

 

But who gives a damn, right? It's a different country and the greater the difference, the better. If I wanted the same old thing, I would have just stayed at home.

 

*** END OF DAY ONE ***

Backpacking Vietnam ... v12 ... on the way to Danang

[This is posted on 14.02.2013 from an original hotmail email]

Morning came and we had a nightmare rushing for the bus. No time to even consume the breakfast that we ordered. Nice to know that we weren't the only ones though as two others were doing the same thing. Anyway, the bus and the other passengers were patient. They waited without complaining. The way to the Ancient Cham Kingdom is kinda out of the way. By those bumpy roads, the bus took a couple of hours to reach. Then it stopped in front of a "roadside" restaurant - the only thing on the menu is rice or noodle with pork/egg/spinach. Very extensive menu, huh?

Anyway, we trooped in to the govt controlled area and paid $$$ for a jeep that took us all further into the secondary forest before arriving at another outpost where guides were busy explaining the many sites available for viewing. Then we had a short walk and suddenly BANG out of nowhere in the green jungle there it was. The old temples and "palaces" of the ancient kingdoms. Imagine - stuff from more than a 1,000 years ago still there and u can walk and touch it. Two of the bigger areas have their interior cleaned out to store some artifacts. The rest is just one huge sprawling area. According to our guide, there was even more to it before the war. We could see some of the craters around the area. There were six sites labeled alphabetically.

After that, we went back to Hoi An and did some shopping since we were leaving.

We reached Danang late afternoon. The guidebook said that Danang has NIL attractions. Scary, huh? However, our flight was still two days away. We tried calling the airlines but it was still full. So we will try again tomorrow.

Dinner - at a roadside (and I mean that literally!) shop that cooked Vietnamese version of Chinese food - Beef Sar Hor Fun. Surprisingly, it was quite delicious but the portioning was so huge we could only ate half of it.

Then we went hunting for the river and walked the entire way. Since our hotel was rather crappy and the thought of spending another two days there was UGH! we went on a hotel tour. Most of the hotels were really crappy too. The nice ones were XXXpensive. After that, as we walked back to our hotel we were witness to a life "shagging" session. This man just parked his bike on the kerb and was humping a gal up against the wall. That's like freaking nuts!

We stopped by a few of the recommended "local" haunts such as this "westernised" cafe that sold unbelievably expensive drinks n desserts in a non-aircond room, then we also purchased more of the French baguette with local stuffings inside to munch while watching TV.

V13 - DANANG - cybercafe, directions, Western guides, airports n the usual rip-offs.
V14 - Ho Chi Minh - hassles, airport cafes, procedures, home.