tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23198615884858090852024-03-08T22:39:27.530+08:00Footprints...by GaryBlogging; glorified n electro-onlined diary writing...Footprints..wherever we walk, whoever we meet, whatever we do or say, we leave a mark for & on others...spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-84749686195180995102007-11-26T22:44:00.000+08:002007-11-26T22:55:41.984+08:00Transitional unemploymentIt's a funny feeling this..unemployment. Well, in my case, transitional but still its a funny feeling. How do I describe it? Carefree spirits now that I don't have to answer to anyone..that I don't need to show two faces to someone I don't like just because I need something which that person is holding over me at work. Its all gone. Like the blown wind. Feels great. I felt as if a huge burden was lifted off me the moment I put the resignation letter on my boss's table, and a copy on the HR manager's table. Why we ever needed to succumb to someone else's games and politicking just for face value and false power I will never know. Well its all over for me now.<br /><br />Have fun guys.<br /><br />If I am to endure such mismanagement and pseudo-capable HOD's (apart from my own HOD) I might as well endure it in another organisation with a higher pay and at least some sort of chance to get sponsored higher education, as well as a mandatory 48 day annual leave. I just have one regret: I will really miss my immediate colleagues. May I stress again the word Immediate. They are the ones who really imparted upon me the invaluable experience they had, and for that I will be eternally grateful. For without that, I would not be able to proceed to where I will be proceeding to careerwise. Anyway, looking forward..the next chapter in life..Target realised. Next target due...hmm....secret!spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-46188674969818307352007-11-20T21:11:00.000+08:002007-11-20T21:47:08.261+08:00Oh dear, Health Expo shmucks...Oh no I've gone and done it again...I've chomped down on my tooth again. Luckily I work in a medical centre so I can get corporate rate for any medical work. As it is, it still cost me a few hundred dollars for a crowning (tooth <span style="font-style: italic;">lah</span>!) and a whale-sized headache due to the dentist giving me an OD on local anaesthesia..and this on one of our busiest days yet...oh well, luckily I got through it and thanks to our locum dentist who managed to squeeze what was supposed to be a week's worth of work into a day.<br /><br />And the whale sized headache wasn't entirely due to the OD though...I spent 4 harried sessions at the recently concluded Brunei 100 years health expo held recently, giving free glucose tests to the lucky 100 every day.<br /><br />THAT however enlightened me to a very important factor that Bruneians have. L-U-C-K. Healthcare is free for Bruneians. No matter a simple health check or a surgery procedure, its all free as long as you get a referral from the doctor. Now what this means is that health is grossly undervalued. Grossly as with a capital G. Why do I say so? Imagine this scenario; in fact don't bother, I'll just narrate based on experience at the Health Expo:<br /><br />Me: Selamat pagi, apa khabar?<br />Patient: Selamat pagi, apa yang kita buat ni??<br />Me: Hari ini kita ada free glucose checkup...<br />Patient: Oh ok...bah apasaja tah..<br /><br />So as I do the relevant procedures to prepare for checkup..<br /><br />Me: Ada kita makan pagi tadi??<br />Patient: Ada....<br />Me: Orh...bagus bagus..lepas sarapan pagi kan check glucose lah..?<br />Patient: Ya, saya baru saja minum...teh tarik sama tiga biji gula....<br />Me: Err...ok..bah mari kita check saja dulu aahh...<br /><br />Now FYI fasting glucose is around 3.9 to 7.0 mmol/L and random glucose is up till 10.0 mmol/L and anything after that is Onset diabetes Type II.<br /><br />Me: Aiyor, ini kira tinggi lah..[result came out to be 15.3 frikkin mmol/L]<br />Patient: Ya, kenapa ah? Aku ada makan ubat diabetis pagi tadi orhh!!!<br />Me: [*&**^&%^**_] Masih tinggi lah, lepas makan ubat sepatutnya dibawah10.0 woah. Bagus kita ke arah Dietician kami ah, dia akan bagi komen makanan yang sesuai ah..terima kasih..<br /><br />And over the 4 days, I had this scenario repeated more than 7 times. Are they just blissfully unaware or just don't care? Imagine the hundreds of thousands of $$ being pumped into the health sector just to rectify ignorance like this? Let me reiterate; these people know, they just don't care. They think that after that magic little pill then it can be justified, that teh C and roti canai..that money that could have been funding research or directed to hospital improvements and to actual people that needed surgery or post-health care, rather than spending on medicines which these people take for granted. Or take the other guy whom I tested 19.9 and was IN DENIAL!!! Actually enquired about our Opthalmology services after that result for his failing vision when it was blatantly obvious that diabetes onset was causing the vision problems..hello!!! Wake up and smell the roses.<br /><br />DID you know that teh tarik/teh C/Milo/soft drinks that you order in restaurants in Brunei have equivalent of 7-8 teaspoons of sugar?? Working in the cardiac centre let me inform the uninformed public that a basic surgery to unblock vessels (PTCA/Angiogram) costs around B$20,000 and that a full CABG bypass surgery costs B$50,000++ per patient. Then let me remind you that arterial blockage is caused by sedentary lifestyle, non-exercise, smoking and the "Nasi-Lemak/Katok Syndrome".<br />Did you also know that eventually if this continues on, the Brunei government will have to start charging fees for each and every procedure and then the people who will really hurt in their pocket will be these ignorant citizens etc whereas those who genuinely care about their health and follow doctor's advice will be the ones who suffer the most..talk about rotten apples spoiling the whole crate...<br /><br />WAKE UP BRUNEI..YOUR HEALTH IS THE ASSET OF THE COUNTRY, NOT THE LIABILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT...you guys expect so much from the country but never give back...apaler....spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-54701068353322795092007-11-10T13:34:00.000+08:002007-11-10T13:37:47.723+08:00It's a boy!!!!!!!!!!!!Congrats to L.C.H. and wife!!! The new addition to the family is a healthy boy!!! Good on ya mate!!! Guess that means not much more time for weekly badminton anymore hey?! Hahaha...come back to Bandar soon ya, baby's gift is waiting for him!! I bet you'll love it too..spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-494215395473478822007-11-08T23:38:00.000+08:002007-11-09T00:00:36.676+08:00Down memory lane...It's nice to meet you guys..its been what, 4 years or something like that since the class of '99 and whoa everyone's done well hey..like what...4 scholars in each of the top prestigious unis around the world...or everyone's migrated and is making their own mark in the world..great one!!!<br /><br />Reminiscing over old times and current times, and it struck me just how good we have it here. For all you say it's boring over here and whatnot, did you know there are certain facts that establish that working here is heaps better than outside??<br /><br />1) Stop complaining about the pay. People in Malaysia get paid half of us AND get income tax again. Or try working in US of A and getting whacked with a 35% total tax bill every paycheck.<br />Or in real world figures: on paper u earn 2.2k but bring home a real cash amount of 1.6k only.<br /><br />2) Did you guys in Brunei know what real world petrol prices are? I've had so many people complain to me that their car consumes a lot of fuel. Hey, get a life..I've paid up to $1.40 per litre of petrol before and thats real world oil prices man. Don't go whining about how little your $5 of petrol gets you. In Malaysia $5 gets you from 1 end of the petrol station to the other. Try asking for $5 of petrol in Singapore, at $1.80 a litre I'm sure mineral water bottles hold more.<br /><br />3) Complain about work, try why don't you. At least you get to go home at 5pm. Others overseas go home at 7pm and some are lucky if they get home by 9.<br /><br />All in all, I think we've got it pretty good here. And at $0.53 a litre of petrol I'm sure you guys can save up enough money from there for other things..like another car.... :pspikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-47106793315618574802007-11-07T20:16:00.001+08:002007-11-07T20:48:55.202+08:00What to blog?Whoa, I think that I am not meant to diet. Seriously. The last time I tried a low carb diet for a week, I ballooned up and ended up not fitting in any pants of mine. And how depressing it was as well. So I ended up going back to eating my normal meals and voila I shrunk back to size. Thank God!! I thought I needed to go for liposuction.<br /><br />Anyway so apart from that, I've actually become pretty proud of myself. Managed to squirrel away a few coins in the past month or two. I think I'll go buy myself something now..muahahaaha NOT!!<br /><br />Seriously I think I can..I'm sure I can...I know i can...aahh whatever...spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-58024286415349561702007-11-01T22:50:00.000+08:002007-11-01T23:06:24.639+08:00Pleaze be excusing my error for spellin...I've been tagged, I can't be bothered about tagging others or typing up all the rules again. But it goes along the lines of linking to the person who tagged me and then sharing 7 random facts about myself to the world. Here goes: Pandachu tagged me. So what should I do now? Run and hide? WHoops this is not kindy anymore. Anyway..sharp eyed hawks would have noticed that I accidentally spelt the ship's name wrongly, it's supposed to be the MV Doulos..my thousand apologies...anyway here goes the<br /><br />7 Random facts about myself:<br /><br />1) I hate my hair. Short its too spiky and makes me look like a goddamn rambutan.durian mish mash hybrid. Long and I look like a bum. Why can't I have silky hair which listens to me and my gel?<br /><br />2) I love my sisters to bits. I just wish that they didn't stay in their own fantasy world so much and come down to earth and have some common sense regarding street smarts.<br /><br />3) I love cars. I'm a guy. Enough said.<br /><br />4) Crap I can't come up with another 4 facts <span style="font-style: italic;">lah</span>...okay maybe this one: I can't stand idiocy and non-commonsensical actions.<br /><br />5) I'm really at a loss here....<br /><br />Ok I give up. Actually I don't. I just think that those who are reading this blog will judge me based on 7 facts about myself? How is that different to the hypocrisy of judging a person by the 1st impression? So this is what I'll do..Drop me a comment whoever of you wants to know me better, rather than rely on 7 facts. Only single females need reply. Hahahaha j/k.spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-84058024913401360622007-10-28T22:01:00.000+08:002007-10-28T22:16:29.702+08:00MV DOULASFinally I got to experience for myself this floating wonder of a 'bookship' feted in history as the 2nd oldest ship still in service after the TITANIC. But what is with the QUEUE?? I think most people just wanted either a slice of history for themselves or have never experienced the novelty of having a cruise ship open to public (myself included mind you, but I was there more for the books, honest!)<br /><br />All puns aside though, I was expecting a really wide array of book titles not available here (snigger!) over the whole levels of the ship..but nonetheless it was an experience. Ahh yes, the experience..of people jumping Q..walking across the queue lines like it was a starter's line at a running track..or the uneducated-female-Amazonian-overfed-thick skulled-empty headed-barbarian who was going to slap my 10 yr old sister just because her backpack brushed against her cheap handbag..REALLY!<br /><br />And she was the one who cut the Q in front of us too!! The nerve of some people..spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-36828616585388198082007-10-10T23:34:00.000+08:002007-10-10T23:41:20.203+08:00The Challenge: just got a LOT harderI don't know why this happens to me. Everytime I start something, I always get setbacks. Granted most of them were minor but this one, whoo-wee..what a major setback.<br /><br />Saving money is hard, granted I think its actually easy..if there are no sudden expenditures coming up your way. Saving really is easy for me, after all its not like I go shopping or buy new stuff here and there, all I do is eat, really. I already exhausted my want of spending on my car a while back, pretty much satisfied with it now, worked the spending out of my system and was planning to buckle down and start saving. But just when I have given myself a master plan and target and then boom, another major expenditure sets me back.<br /><br />I've got another destination to go to. Its expensive. Ouch. There goes the money which I had earmarked for the next two months savings. Ticket also booked already, on my card even. Whoa, I guess I really have to ramp up the OT's this month and next month. I can already feel the pressure and pain...bring it on.spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-87781688559917746152007-10-06T22:45:00.000+08:002007-10-06T22:55:09.830+08:00The Challenge: "Haven't seen you in a long time, buy me a drink!"Not a good start to the challenge I must say. After putting in a double OT shift I decided to meet up with a friend whom I've not seen for many moons. First thing she says is "Hey long time no see, buy me a drink la!" Haha..there goes $11.70 or whatever it is in drinks at the Bean. Oh well.<br />I must say Im pretty pleased with myself though. I don't go out as often, and the times I do I don't go all out on food like I used to.<br /><br />Well, $3 lunches and the occasional tuna over rice with cheese, microwaved. Total cost $2.40. Funnily enough it tasted good. Well better than the $4.50-$5.00 I used to spend on Thai food for lunch. Not like I had any choice. Why oh why did all the half-decent, quick-serving restaurants that decided to open in Jerudong had to be Thai beats me. And the decent Chinese restaurant nearest to where I'm stationed happens to be in Sengkurong, 15 minutes away. Don't you even dare to mention WYWY.<br /><br />Anyway treated myself to a Root Beer float just now, $2.50. Man I'm splurging, hahaha. Doing this is starting to feel good in a way, its something I can use to micro-pace myself, mini-targets if you will, to the biggie. Stay tuned.spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-38419140344611202642007-10-03T20:43:00.001+08:002007-10-03T21:05:10.937+08:00The ChallengeWoah its been a long time since my last blog: so shoot me! I've been busy and now even busier considering we're picking up the pace..I've had an interesting month to say the least. We have a new colleague who happens to be the sister of an old acquaintance. She has discipline like no tomorrow (Virgo bah!); can save and save to the point of being accused of stingy. But Virgo's also have another trait: Man, can they talk!!!! Trust me I've 2 female friends and a female acquaintance who are Virgo's and the character is similar across the board. Not that I'm complaining, merely making an observation so don't shoot me down in a torrent of spoken words and pincushioned voodoo dolls.<br /><br />Anyway she inspired me to try something that I have never tried before. With all commitments financial which every working person must saddle, she has been living on the grand total of $300 a month. Including petrol. Daily commuting. From KB. Granted she has no car loan and she eats like someone auditioning for "Ms Anorexic of the Year". But she can do it, as well as inspired her own partner to do it.<br /><br />So in this day and age of revolving loans, credit and whatnot, I have embarked on the challenge of living on $300 a month, every month. Why? Because I think I am a sucker for challenges. And also it wouldnt hurt the wallet as such. Now, I am doing this differently however. I've got car loans and other financial commitments, car upkeep and general maintenance to pay every month so living within this amount will be slightly more challenging. And there is a target I am aiming for so that makes it legit.<br /><br />Those who know (or should it be knew) me well should know that I had 5 primary goals I wanted out of life. And those same people will have known that I had already achieved 3/5 of them. Well, time for Goal Number 4. Wish me luck, God knows I'll need it for the peserverance. Self discipline and money never went together in my vocabulary.<br /><br />Check out my progress and cheer me on or shoot me down, or even drop some hints on that all-dandy money saving tip you all have. Ideas are what I want!! $$$$$$$gambadeyoo!!!spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-23647851353129721792007-09-12T22:07:00.000+08:002007-09-12T22:14:52.980+08:00What the...!!@!!!The weather is out to get me..I swear its out to get me. The nights I work, weather is raining cats, dogs, the whole of Noah's ark and I don't get a call. Trust me I'm eternally grateful for that. Who would want to be woken up in the middle of a rainstorm at midnight thereabouts to drive to do work? Not me, and I'm assuming not any of you out there either. Here's the catch. The next day where I'm free to go out at night the weather is perfect, a bit chilly, no rain and I get an emergency call to go back to assist. WHAT THE ***** is going on?? It's a conspiracy out to get me to stay at home!<br /><br />And because of that I haven't been able to bike even once since the 25km expedition. Like the other evening, rushed home from work, put the bike rack on the car, put the bike on the car and secure it properly, change and then the very SECOND I step out onto the porch it starts raining.<br /><br />Thanks...I think..maybe I had my hobbies reversed, should've explored all the eateries now and bike the last time when the weather was perfect almost every night of the week. I need to invert myself maybe everything will go right.. :)spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-73522377889102781942007-09-02T20:06:00.000+08:002007-09-02T20:19:51.812+08:00Don't try to be a heroGood news: I've finally resurrected a hobby, or interest..or whatever you want to call it. I can't believe that I didn't start this earlier..considering I enjoyed it so much last time. I guess the advent of the driving license sidelined this hobby for a while :) Anyway so there I was thinking what in the world to do about my expanding waistline because I don't want to go to JPMC gym its always full. And Fitness Zone to me is just overpriced and full of posers. So what to do leh?<br /><br /><span style="color:#663366;"><strong>*looks downstairs and discovers a vaguely bicycle shaped dust mound*</strong></span> oh yeah lets give that a try hehe..brought it to the shop and spent an ungodly amount of money fixing it up (although it was cheaper than buying a new bike) and was 'coerced' into joining a bicycle expedition. Now lets get this clear, I hadn't been on a bike for 4 years, well out of shape due to the project of tasting every half decent restaurant in this country and I signed up for a 25km expedition!!!<br /><br />I wonder what made me do that. Now I'm got sore legs, tomorrow the hamstrings will probably follow and what-not. Oh and a certificate. But you know what? I really enjoyed it. Chasing the pack, trying to keep up with the veterans (surprisingly I wasn't eating THAT much dust), all about the mental focus on a point to chase. It's all good. I might pursue this hobby along and see how far I can take it. Hopefully can get fast enough to join one of the inter-country expeditions although thats many moons away...spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-52443817239794495372007-08-25T23:04:00.000+08:002007-08-25T23:23:51.158+08:00On Korean Food and why we should emulate them.I just realised after being back for a week or so that we actually eat pretty unhealthily over here. I mean lets see what we have available for snacks, easily accessible kind I mean: nasi katok, deep fried stuff, fried noodles and whatnot, BBQ smoked chicken wings/fish etc. I'm talking about cheap, daily available and not those 'once in a blue occasion' kind of snacks. Thats kind of unhealthy. Consider that over in Korea, at 11pm, we were able to sit down at a roadside stall and order stewed rice cakes in spicy sauce, with soup. Or the fact that snacks for them means a 1000won (Approx B$1.70) bar of sushi (I mean huge roll, not like Excapade miniscule type of sushi roll).<br /><br />Or take drinks. They sell fruit drinks and water mostly. I simply could not see any Coke, 7-up anywhere. Why? Because they were promoting their own drinks such as pine bud drink, energiser drinks, fruit sodas, chilled teas equivalent to Season's Cincau drink. They even sell milk in 350mL cartons in quantities that we in Brunei stock on Coke and Pepsi. Talk about a health conscious society.<br /><br />You understand where I'm getting at. No wonder they are mostly lithe and slim. There is one downside. In an 8 day tour, by the 5th day we had eaten most of the national dishes, the ones you simply have not arrived in Korea if you have not eaten them. Korean bbq, bimimbap, steamboat, etc. Bland, mostly. Except the BBQ. That was really great.<br /><br />Thats why I found myself, at 11 30pm, at Sinchon shopping area, looking at a 24hr Mc D's. Sad you might think, but for all those who have only eaten McD's in Singapore, Brunei or Malaysia, even Australia, you should really try the beef in Korea. OMG, it tastes SO much better!!! A bacon deluxe double cheeseburger, with fries and a Coke Zero. For 5500KRW, it was well worth it. Apparently the beef in Japan is better yet. I can't wait to try. And that's where I found myself at the airport, craving for a Bacon deluxe cheeseburger but no Mc D's. So what to do, go 2nd best and wallop Burger King. Problem number two was that I had run out of Korean Cash.<br /><br />I can say it right now, I have never enjoyed a bacon deluxe double cheeseburger so much, especially when it was paid for using a VISACARD. Desperation knows no boundaries.spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-13894192694509599602007-08-17T22:40:00.000+08:002007-08-20T00:42:39.641+08:00BAAACCCKKKK!!!! :DFinally got the time to blog..after a hectic 8 day trip to Seoul..weather was raining, we encountered mild typhoon-heavy rains, oh and one other thing I learnt; try not to go shopping with such a big group. And not with shopaholics. I thought I was a shopaholic (even if its mostly window shopping) but whoa...you're in a totally different league...I mean arriving at the hotel at 9+pm then go straight out for shopping right after checking in until 1 something am, spending 300k KRW, on the 1ST night itself, getting lost !!! I also won't mention the other 4 days of shopping 'till 3 30am then waking up for morning call 7.20am for the tour. Walau, damn "keng" eh..either that or you're full of energy. I salute you. Of course <span style="color:#993399;">*blushing*</span> I was also quite interested with the shopping lah...hehe so its not (entirely :) ) your fault that I'm writing this blog..<br /><br />It was fun, really fun, everyone was great..visited a local Korean pub/club style, visited Sub_Zero Ice Bar where outside was a darn humid 24 deg n the pub was -10 deg C..imagine using Alaskan style winter clothes to visit a bar whose interior is carved out of ice, even the stools, bartop and drinks 'cups'..Kudo's to either our socio-communication skills or maybe our tour guide really thought we were giving him an easy time, that he paid for our (6 of us) dinner, and entrance fee (KRW15,000 each!) to the Ice Bar. Cool!! Eating out in Korea is not cheap. Case in Point: McD's Bacon Double Cheeseburger Meal KRW5500~B$9.00<br /><br />Oh and by the way, all that hype about Korean girls being really as beautiful as they look on TV..well its 70% true. No offense to any ladies reading this post, but we all have to understand population dynamics (??)..its simple, there's just more of them in total, therefore there is a higher percentage chance of happening across the more beautiful 'normal' local ones.<br />And it didnt help that our tour guide whose a guy, half Taiwanese-half Korean, brought us to his local hangout which is situated smack-bang in the middle of 3 universities, one of which is the top women's university in S. Korea. You tell me lah, how not to be able to see them leh???!!!!<br /><br />Oh and by the way, I have to say this lah...I couldnt help but notice, Korean guys really do look that good lor...I mean I only notice opposite sex but yeah, Korean guys do look good. That can be verified by my female tour counterparts as well..hehe..<br /><br />Anyway...before I start sounding homosexual...<br />The tour was well worth the money spent, there were so many places in the itenary, the studio set of Jewel in the Palace which is about twice the size of our Royal Regalia Museum, historical palaces, war/traditional Korean culture museums, the many places of shopping, Seoul Tower where one of the Korean movie scenes was shot..pity the weather didnt permit us to visit Namiseon Island, scene of Winter Sonata shooting. Trust me we were in the bus on the way when the rain just poured down, flooding the roads and blowing signboards over, I would NOT want to be on a ferry at that moment en-route to Namiseon Island. Its not fun being stuck in traffic for 4 hrs. Oh and btw, I'm really sick of looking at 3 brands of Korean made motorcar, 90% of which are either in white, black or silver.<br /><br />AND I can't believe my luck!!! We just got off the bus on one of the last days when we stumbled across a film shoot..live, with cameras rolling and crew-camera trucks. And I managed to take a few photos live, up close, paparazzi style, of a Korean Film Star!!! One thing I can say is: they are really stick thin. That is the most appropriate description I can give.<br /><br />Well, thats it for now, pictures will be uploaded to my friendster site( <a style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal" href="http://www.friendster.com/garyviosblogspot">http://www.friendster.com/garyviosblogspot</a> ) soon, when I get the time and patience to sit down n upload them...stay tuned...<br /><br />Wow I can't wait to see what Korea will look like in winter, or maybe I'll just go to Japan..hehehehe..spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-89815045160795178112007-08-07T05:55:00.000+08:002007-08-07T06:06:41.515+08:00Countdown.The day is finally here!!! Boy I can't describe exactly how glad I am that the day is here, especially the last 5 days building up to it. All I'm going to say is I really deserve this trip. Yeah by the way I think those who read my last post should have picked up my typo. My bad :)<br /><br />Man, I deserve this trip. Anyone who has been given the responsibility of coaching his colleague who takes 20 seconds to open a word document... anyway never mind. It's not my ultimate responsibility(aah the joys of being a mere employee...) so "Good luck!!" to my boss for these next 8 days in supervising & coaching him to handle the 3 sections I'm currently responsible for. I tried. May your remaining hairs remain intact. I will pray for you.spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-88543601375840348132007-08-05T22:21:00.000+08:002007-08-05T22:33:35.936+08:002 more days..then I'm outta here..Whew, its been killer..just because of one phone call; "Do you want to go to <insert>?" That was 2 weeks ago in the lead up to today. It also involved the scheduling of my night duty to <span style="color:#6600cc;">*gasp*</span> working 1st,3rd & 5th Aug. Just so I dont load up my night duty AFTER my holiday. Stupid idea. As I write my blog now, its been a record 3 nights of sleeping at 12-1am, getting woken up at 3-3.30am for work, getting 1 hrs sleep then waking up at 6am for regular office hours duty. Now what in the world possessed me to schedule THAT?<br /><br />Im thinking about the cliche'd "need a holiday after my holiday" statement. Boy I hope that doesn't come true..but apart from that, I also subscribe to the statement "suffer now, enjoy later". Right. All cynics please repeat after me: "Wahlau eh, suffer so darn teruk dee, still got energy to enjoy meh?" I hope not.<br /><br />Boy, Im looking forward to this break. Away from here, a few thousand kays away (5 <a href="mailto:hrs@230++kph">hrs@230++kph</a> to be exact), away from reality of life, away from normalcy, just to take a breather. Apparently I'm not the only one. So she says as well. The one who asked me to go along. It's going to be an interesting 8 days in S. Korea.spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-60561953846644193132007-07-23T22:26:00.000+08:002007-07-23T22:37:33.001+08:00.....Climate change!!! I have never experienced such things in my whole life here in Brunei (and that spans over 2 decades!!!) Monsoon rains I have experienced, flooding, even into the house, but never have I experienced such strong winds..mind you this is the 2nd time and I was at home! The 1st time was Friday night when I was at work..mind you I work by the sea, and its really scary to look out the windows and see total darkness illuminated by flashing lightning streaks repeatedly and seeing in those flashes the heavy and heady waves breaking ominously on the beach just 50m away from the window. And to think I parked under a tree!! I expected my car to be flattened. And tonight again, cooped up at home wondering how much stronger the winds could be, watching forlonly at my poor babe being mercilessly battered by the winds and rain..argh..spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-38305922300001230702007-07-06T22:56:00.000+08:002007-07-06T22:59:17.696+08:00A post for the........due to the sensitive nature of the last post, I will be deleting it after my period of calm returns...so dont be surprised if the posts dont seem to match up..that means that it has 'expired'. Just watched Transformers, and omg that has to be the best movie I have ever watched. Period. Im getting the DVD9 when it comes out, it is so worth it.spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-32354136713014394942007-06-27T22:22:00.000+08:002007-06-27T22:27:52.189+08:00Oh what a night!!!Lucky lucky...was given an invite to the preview launching of the new C-class Merc (that is such a beautiful car but why is the side profile so much like an E90 3 series?) ..so I brought the sisters there..was late, felt underdressed and had to sign in the guestbook..aah sorry, no name card, (Sorry, but I dont rate a high enough salary or position to get my own card) so I had to fill in the blank cards..whoa lo and behold, there was a lucky draw and of all the people there, I got one of the only two prizes...I am now a proud owner of a genuine Mercedes Benz Collection Chrono watch..what a beautiful and lucky ending to the day!! Im smiling to sleep now...zzzzz:)spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-79689128881616743242007-06-25T22:45:00.000+08:002007-06-25T22:58:14.087+08:00How illogical??I say, I've seen some dumb things done in my life..but I tell you, what I saw just now must be the dumbest thing Ive ever seen done. I was at a friend's audio accessories shop and there was a very nice 9 mth old BMW 3 series sitting there (bear with me, my description says car freak, so expect posts in this vein to crop up regularly ok?) having its interior being taken out.<br /><br />Why and who in the world would take out the full leather interior of a 9 mth old $80k car to install speakers which are poorer quality than those which came with the car itself? For God's sake, it comes equipped with BMW Professional audio system where all the components are frequency matched to give the best sound and you rip it out to install your so-called idea of better sound which sounds like the thrown together $600 system in my 20k car??<br /><br />Oh the best part is, there was a huge aS* speaker installed at the footrest (yes, I am NOT kidding!) right next to the brake pedal..may I shoot the person whose idea it was to install it there? Please? Or at least let me take a hockey stick to his head? He probably rides a bicycle to work and does not know what the concept of driver safety is. Or his legs may have ears to listen to said speaker.<br /><br />The owner who bought this car from a previous owner said that there has been a few times where he stepped on the speaker to emergency brake..ok. Applause deserved to your initiative to remove said speaker before lives are lost..by stepping on the speaker to brake. Probably will do us all a favour by smashing it so we dont have to listen to poor quality sound. Speaker in the driver's footwell, what a genius...spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-90812932247722005862007-06-24T23:17:00.000+08:002007-06-24T23:22:47.776+08:00My blogsite is finally up...Yess!!! Ive finally bitten the bullet and done it...it is still under heavy construction as Ive run out of ideas but for now it will have to do...<br /><br />...my blogsite for Toyota Vios accessories.. <a href="http://garyvios.blogspot.com/">http://garyvios.blogspot.com</a>. I am happy, because now there is another dimension of sorts for the awareness that there is someone offering quality alternative to shops in terms of Toyota Vios modification..<br /><br />There will be the focus for all the things I have on offer..I will also eventually offer a 'bulletin board' for 2nd hand stuff and it wont be restricted to car stuff only..keep looking, who knows you might find something you like...help me spread the word, or if you have frustrated friends who do not know where to get certain stuff for their car, who knows, I might be able to help, or point him/her to someone who can help...spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-65456118900576222502007-06-24T23:04:00.001+08:002007-06-24T23:08:24.594+08:00What a weekend...such a blast!!OK whose idea was it to have a picnic at Meragang beach? It was my aunt's..who never even came..right...but it was soooo fun!!!! of the whole family invite only 3 families came, 3rd uncle's, youngest uncle's & ours...and what fun it was!!! BBQ, sandcastles, hmm...football with the kids...either Im old or the kids nowadays are too energetic...hahahaha..we all had a blast, the kids had a blast of a time, and that's the most important thing...family bonding. We should do this more often, that way we keep our familial ties strong, which is an important thing in today's day & age of work-sleep-work mentality..anyways I'll be signing off now cos cuzzie came to split a bottle (again) of white...good dayzzzzzzzzzzz..........spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-14354396587388899752007-06-15T23:19:00.000+08:002007-06-15T23:28:41.045+08:00Admission:Addict..Sigh. It is difficult, for me, to face the cold hard truth. I finally realised that after all the scoffing and "never will be"'s and "..such a waste of time" that I ended up being what I profusely refused to be..an addict. The world is unfair. Why does it tempt me so in such a way? But now I understand everyone else who swear by this addiction. Why? Precisely because it is such a waste of time. However it allows us to, for a moment in time (okok 4 hours) to be transported into another fantasy world, allowing us to escape the reality of life and be in another.<br /><br />I am talking about the drama; thrilling, yet full of suspense of not knowing what will eventually come next, about all the predictions and "Oh no, it can't be him/her!!!" and the "Oh my God, will you just tell him that you actually do like him and stop acting so idiotic and face-saving."<br /><br />Yes, I think I am addicted to drama. Not Korean, because funnily enough, I prefer Taiwanese. Dramas I mean. How do I know Im addicted? Try this: stayed up for 2 nights in a row till 1am to start one drama and for the grand finale because the last 4 discs were so exciting that I stayed up till 3.30am!!! Ok so the Alfregato kept me awake which I didnt mean to. So what am I supposed to do? Lie awake tossing and turning in bed trying to sleep? DO something productive and finish it off then! I am addicted. Now I know. Ouch.spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-17309192310100193222007-06-14T23:01:00.000+08:002007-06-14T23:28:10.527+08:00Learn from experience..accept the consequences......like what happened to me yesterday. Now everyone knows coffee makes you awake, same as everyone knows eating too much meat is asking for a coronary but then again, everyone knows free advice is the worst advice to accept. Like me, coffee actually makes me sleep.scratch that, coffee in moderation makes me sleepy. However, to my agony I found out otherwise..<br />Like the Ice Blended Latte I had at Caf Au Lait. Not bad, nice destressing drink I suppose. Then friends call; and being lazy to move get them to come over for dinner at the same place. Thats when it all goes downhill..because with a latte in me, I definately should not have ordered the Alfregato (is that how I should spell it, such is the dire in me, in my caffeine induced tiredness) for dessert. Alfregato is EVIL. In Capital letters, at times after 7pm. Why? Because its espresso coffee base, with vanilla ice cream and Oreo + chocolate chip toppings. Why is that evil?<br /><br />Because...I was wide awake, full of energy, having to watch a drama series, up till 3 30am...just because I had that shot of caffeine in me..from now on, no coffee after 7pm for me. I dont think I can take the awakeness..especially not when I have to work the next day. Ouch. Cue yawning every 10 minutes and drooping eyes..spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319861588485809085.post-49030696022544157322007-06-06T21:06:00.000+08:002007-06-06T21:23:11.511+08:00Chicken bone 1: tooth 0Ouch. Last night was a night I would prefer to forget. That'll teach me not to chomp down on fried chicken ever again. As in *chomp*, then "Craaaacckkkk" then "Uh oh!". There goes half my tooth. Luckily Dental clinic managed to squeeze me in today for a filling, otherwise I'd look like some half toothed ogre with pronunciation of fish as "fwiisshh"...d classic broken tooth smile which causes everyone to stare at me....for the wrong reasons....anyway its all good nw, Ive got a full head of teeth, pity I cant say the same for brains though...oh well...life's like dat..spikyonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003881020997076929noreply@blogger.com0