Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Long Time No See...

Haven't been blogging for like, a week?

Aww.. that's not too long.

Doesn't seem so long especially seeing that Blogger is still acting like the pot-holed, mud-encrusted lorong equivalent of the information superhighway.

Anyway, I'm like what? Two weeks into my new job and the work is piling up higher than that bamboo shoot called the Taipei 101.

But not 24 hours into my new job, I was sent here for a 'product inspection':


And here...

And this is taken from my room's balcony


Right now, I'm working for a management consultant that (duh) manages this place called Gayana Island Resort, not more than 20 minutes by ferry from the KK Ferry Terminal.

My room by the way...

Meet the GM of the Resort, Mr. Shepard Ku from KL. Very nice chap. And he bought me lunch too. And while we were lunching at the Resort's Islander Seafood Restaurant, you could actually see watch the fishes in the water off the railing you're sitting next to.

Oodles of fishies. Some tourists were using pieces of bread and throwing it to the fishes.
The way those fishes went at the bread reminded me of piranhas.



Boyd and Sharon, both duty managers on the island, took me around. They actually commute to the island resort everyday for work. You think you have it bad at rush hour? They'd still have to get to work and back during storms. Imagine that.

One of the unique thing about Gayana is this. An enclosed pool surrounded by netting so non-swimmers (and wimps) don't have to get into the open water. :)




No, that isn't my lunch. It's a giant clam that lived for nearly 100 years before it died. The two halves were actually bought by the Resort for RM500.00 each and put on display here at the Marine Ecology Research Centre where they rehabilitate and preserve corals and giant clams in the surrounding Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.


I actually got some more to show but I'll leave that for later. Here's an overall view of the Resort. And no, I didn't go on a heli for that.

Ciao.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

20062006

I just got an sms from an old colleague wishing me a Happy 20062006.

Guess what's today's date?

Without much time to blog, I just wonder: Just how often does this date occur? Hmmm... not that I got much time or space in me brain to think about it at the moment.

But anyway, Happy 20062006!

Ciao.

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Papa's Day, people!

To celebrate I just thought I'd post something I found on Wikipedia a little while ago.

(Click on the pic for a larger view)

Seems like when people call home to Daddy on that special day, there're still strings attached, eh?

"Hey, Dad! Happy Father's Day!"

"Thanks, son! Now get off the phone. This is coming out of your allowance."

"Aww... Dad, come ON....!"

As for the second point, I'm glad the poor bugger has his birthdays to fall on to for more 'presents'.

Alligator Shoes


A young blonde was on vacation in the depths of Florida. She wanted to take home a pair of genuine alligator shoes in the worst way.... but was very reluctant to pay the high prices the local vendors were asking for.

After becoming very frustrated with the "no haggle on prices" attitude of one of the shopkeepers, the blonde shouted, "Well then, maybe I'll just go out and catch my own alligator, so I can get a pair of shoes at a decent price!"

The shopkeeper said with a sly, knowing smile, "Little lady, ya'll just go and give it a try, why don't cha!" The blonde turned on her heel and headed out toward the swamps, determined to catch herself an alligator.

Later in the day, as the shop keeper is driving home, he pulls over to the side of the levee where he spots that same young woman standing waist deep in the murky swamp water, shotgun in hand.

Just then, he spots a huge 9-foot gator swimming rapidly toward her. With lightning speed, she takes aim, kills the creature and, with a great deal of effort, hauls it onto the slimy swamp bank.
Lying nearby were several more of the dead creatures. The shopkeeper stands on the bank and watches this scenario in amazed silence. Just then, the blonde struggles and flips the gator on its back.

Then, rolling her eyes heaven ward and screaming in great frustration, she shouts out, "Damn, this one is barefoot, too!"


Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Not Goodbye.

I've been thinking about how to write this entry.

Been thinking and thinking and thinking.

Even when I'm doing mundane stuff or being constantly on my feet or at the workstation in the past couple of days, wrapping things up in the place where I've spent the bulk of my waking hours at.

A place I can and do... call Home.

But nothing comes up.

Nothing comes to mind. Somehow, I think a part of me keeps telling me that you don't plan what to say in this situation but just wing it.

I have never been any good at saying goodbye or so long or farewell.

Maybe an occasional 'see ya!', but not this time.

There's too much to say but I won't put in much details in here either to jaga the identities of those I want to say 'see ya' to. But I hope they will know who they are and that they have had a hand in weaving part of the continuing tapestry that is me.

So, here goes.

***

2 years.

That's longer than I have ever spent at any other company. To most people, that's not a long time at all. Not at all. Just a heartbeat.

But I was with this company since its very beginning. From scratch. All those months ago when FA called me out one evening for dinner. And laid out the Plan. Even though he's no longer with this company either, he's still got a hand in helping bring it into the world. Thank you for the opportunity and the confidence you had in me.

PT, LA and SyF: You guys have helped me so much in our work, it's impossible to measure. But what's more important is that, we have had laughters together while doing the work. Tompinais forever!

To the whole marketing team (yes all five of you): You guys have been such great colleagues and assets to the company. I'm proud of you guys. Continue the good work and do us prouder still. It's been so good working with all of you and my work is immeasurably harder if you have not been there. Girls, stop playing around with the Sony cam so much! You have to spend a little time with the new Sony Handycam now! :)

AO: Buddy, even though you've been gone for most of the time, everytime you're there, it's a cool thing. Let's meet up again at CyberX one of these days. And look after FM for me k? Don't let him get into any trouble! haha

GDR, FM and SB: All those roadshows. All those times on the road. All that insane laughter and nonsense. Those are worth all the gold in the world and the next. Thank you so much for that and for helping me see what being part of a team is really all about. You guys weren't just colleagues. You were more like family.

JE: It's been a blast working with you for close to two years. The shared experience we have putting on those courses has been invaluable. Despite the age difference, I have only felt we're more like brothers. Catch up with you again with those sepuluh-tigas!

VW and DP: The both of you have been the elder brother and sister I never had and the help and advice you have imparted to me can never be diminished nor tarnished. Thank you so much for your confidence and trust in me. It's has been a great pleasure and a valuable experience working with powerhouses like you.

Last but not least, Mr. M: Sir, I can't thank you enough. I can never. You have been a friend, mentor, a guru and a boss I can really look up to. Through all the early times, the good times, the tough times, and the crazy times, it has been a great experience and honour working in your company. Working for you has been more like working WITH you.

For the others, if I don't list you here doesn't mean your presence have not impacted me in a valuable way too.

Everybody has been an important part of me and I can only hope that I too have been an equally important part of their lives in this company.

Thank you everyone for everything!

But like I said before.

It's not a goodbye. It's a see you later!

So, still we meet again...

Keep on pullin'
cuz you got good people behind you...

... and I'll see you again soon.



Sunday, June 11, 2006

The Wedding in Keningau

*This entry is dedicated to Dennison and Anita*

I actually wanted to post this entry when I got back on Sunday but lo and behold, the PC decided to act up again. Ah well...

So I’m back. Yes. In one piece. I can still feel the tapai in my system. I thought a game of basketball might squeeze the stuff out of my system but… nothing ain’t so easy.

Anyways…

It was Saturday morning, the big day for my pal, Den and his gal, Anita.

Checking that I actually had my wedding gift for them, I got going.

Before I left, I decided to measure exactly how much driving I’d have to do. So set the meter to zero…

…had some breakfast with The FridayCat

…and I was on my way. It was exactly ten am on the Myvi’s clock when I saw this.


I have to pass by Tambunan first before reaching Keningau. Having been to all those places a couple of times, I knew I had to drive about 1 and half hours to Tambunan before another 50 minutes to 1 hour to get to Keningau.

Did you know some of the locals insist that it’s pronounced ‘Kendingau’?

I can’t remember the time when I reached Tambunan but maybe that’s cuz this was all I was thinking of.

Welcome to Tambunan town. Yes, you’re looking at pretty much the town centre. It’s a pretty small town and surrounded by more than 80 villages.

49km? Piece of cake.

No, I didn’t have to stop and ask for directions. Thank you very much.

Meet the man himself (with the shades, I mean). I actually met up with him at Perkasa Hotel. We met up at the hotel earlier before coming to town to pick Anita up. This is the first pic of me on this blog and it looks damn weird, man…

That’s where I’m staying. Got here by 12.15pm. Hmm.. 2 hours 15 minutes from KK to Keningau.

The view from room 301.

Have you seen a piece like that before? I haven’t. Neither has he…

Isn’t that sweet? Waiting in the hotel’s lobby and waiting to go to the kampong for the blessing and reception.


The ride to the wedding venue took a while and it’s nearly 20km from the hotel to the village where it’s held. This was where I said, “I’ve never been to a kampong wedding before,” and Den goes, “Neither have I”.

Meet (from right) the groom’s dad Mr. Ramdi, his mom, Janet, the ‘best man’ Junior and the Father of the Bride, Gapilit.

THIS was one of the first things I saw as I stepped into the hall. Brrr…. In these rows of tajaus (urns) is tapai, or rice wine.

Some of the tajaus were given to the ceremony by other villages as you can see from the tags. And I could see some extra 'straws' were hanging around. No prizes too for guessing what those plastic bags are for...

More on these later…

And so, the ceremony began with Pastor Eric Foo from the Charismatic Calvary Church in Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu leading the holy matrimony…

… exchanging of rings…

… signing the marriage papers…

…. a praying over…

...cutting the cake...

No need for me to explain la kan?

For her in-laws…

And for his in-law…

And….

It begins… OMG

Oh yes… it began alright…

Everyone started to get into the spirit of things

I had to get to a double shot of that stuff they call lihing with the Main Man.

And another…

Remember those? Everyone started going at them…

Yes… even the ladies…

Lines were forming around the stuff and there were LITRES of it. I think I counted 31 urns and more were coming…

Father and son too.

I had to get some of it myself.

Contrary to what some might think, it didn’t taste half bad and went down quite easy.
Tasted a little sour and sweet at the same time. IT IS an acquired taste, or so they say.

Here’s how it worked. You and a partner had to ‘down’ that bit of tapai til the surface touched the leaf covering the urn. “Sampai daun! (Till the leaf!)” they’ll shout.

And then El Presidente right here will be more than pleased to help you top it up to the brim again.

And if you feel you’re getting tipsy, they have some pusas (local dish) to help it go down…

I had to put this up… Junior’s hand make him seem like he’s barely holding it together while Heldy’s thinking “That didn’t go down at all…”

And while all that drinkin was goin’ down, this guy was getting’ down…

I had to take a pic with him…. Calls himself Cowboy. I wonder why. (I sure hope he doesn't travel to Tel Aviv with that 'stash on his face).

As the celebrations went on through the night…

…I helped myself to this guy. Yes, you’re looking at a bottle of Chivas Regal… yummy..

This dude was just going around, helping people get pissed…

Are we shwell phisshed? Hell, yeah…

And that guy Kino there on the right… sauntered into the party, started mingling with us and we began questioning him on the guest list. He was talking to Den and I for a good half hour and didn’t realize that the guy who married his relative is the guy talking to him! Hahah

Meet Mr. Pissed Drunk behind the wheel. That’s a passive face right there.

Everyone was still hung over the next morning except for Anita over there. Don’t let this photo fool you…

Then I had to leave.

And that was how far I went.

Oh, I nearly forgot!

Congratulations to Den and Nita!

Have a good long life together and be good to each other now!

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