November 15 - Steve Irwin Day

Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter

This time last year, on my usual BBC news surfing hour at work (did I just say HOUR??), I saw a headline that really gripped me as how a shocking news would! I had the hair on my back stand as I read in silence; "Crocodile Hunter killed"... those 3 words was chilling in itself!

It was on that day he was fatally stung by a jellyfish while doing what he does best, a wildlife documentary. It was one of the reasons why I loved the Animal Planet channel. A cocktail of wild Aussie accent which I totally love, zany personality and the passion he has for conserving the wildlife and environment...those were merely the few reasons why I, like many others totally loved (and still love) this khaki shorts wearing bloke! Further readings and testimonials show the other side of him, that of a loving husband and a dedicated father. Now thats a real MAN!

Its my 2nd last night here in Melbourne. News all over are featuring his wife and sooo darn cute kids reflecting on him. I guess me being here shows why this entry is rather significant.

Imagine him teaching God some Aussie slangs! And if only the Aussie icon knows how much he is loved world over...guess he just got one thing to say that...CRIKEY!

Pics of Dubai

Mini tarts: You know that something is fishy when a gay colleague of yours decide to skip a posh dinner hosted by a fellow Malaysian when he says he's waiting to entertain a friend from Oman! Hmm..."O-Man" indeed!

Wanna know where they come from if in case its a whole bunch of them? Hint...also from the Middle East. "Ye-men"!

Its not that this guy works in the "back-stream" side of an oil and gas business, certainly not MANaging the lubricants either. ;)

No offence...I love them still!

Alas, the few and only pics I've got of my Dubai trip. Thanks to my team mates for uploading them!

Team pic with Telekom Towers...err I meant the Burj Al Arab in the background.
Burj Al Arab
Me and Burj
Chow time; Me, Calvin & Pam

Me and Pam by the beach and old woman about to strip!
Me and Burj

Beach????

Big team dinner in uber posh restaurant
Team dinner in "Alhamdullilah its Friday"
Chow time; Michelle, me & Calvin
Searching frantically for a cab
Team photo in Dubai office

Burj and me
Me and my Banana Split
Dubai skyline in the background
On the way back from office in Dusty Dubai
Lost in the shopping complex


Group shots

No alchohol for me...

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Melbourne Posts (Part 2 - Sniffle me this...!)

This whole fever and cough is killing me...STILL! I have now lost my voice thanks to phlegm spitting coughs and I now sound like Jabba the Hut trying to speak Aussie! :( And to think I am gonna have heaps of teleconferences this week!

Despite that all, heading to work on a Monday in a foreign land was devoid of any blues, what with the perfect sunny weather and cool spring breeze to perk you up! Despite the coughings and runny nose, I was in office all sunshiny and ready to face the world of HR Processes via "Project Kerang"!

How abruptly it ended! (cue: dramatic music)

No sooner have I settled in, I was going to be introduced to the Australian Biatch of the Year!

I was minding my own business and my runny nose decided to do the sprint instead, so naturally my brain triggered my nose to sniffle; breathe your mucus in so it doesnt flow out. Out of nowhere a balding lady with spiked hair peered over my partition which nearly looked like a muppet out of your Childrens Television Workshop. "Excuse me! Could you stop doing that?! That sniffling! It just sounds awful!"

I was momentarily stunned! I couldnt think of anything to say but mustered a muted "Oh, sorry!" And down she went from the partition akin to Oscar the Grouch into his bin!

I was tu lan to the max!! And next to me, a lady was sick too. But I guess her BLOWING HER NOSE away seems to be a norm, not the annoying sniffling sound! Officially, my Monday was fucked! I left the office to work from my hotel afterwards...

Melbourne posts (part 1)

First and foremost, I personally dont like to fly MAS (especially after what happened to my cousin, a former lead stewardess - she was let go of her job for being pregnant with her 3rd child). However, its the company's policy to do so, and you would think I shant be complaining as it'll be in business class right? WRONG! I've complained more than enough, but you hear it from me...SIA is wayyy better! For the trip to Melbourne, the food has seen better days, entertainment seems to be on par with Astro's B-grade movie channels, plus the systems color and brightness was wayy off, the seat was not long enough (but I dont blame it for attempting to rest my 6 feet 1 frame) and one of the steward has this attitude problem that I didnt bother asking him for anything. Alas, they really need to depend on the satay to save their blushes! Now THAT could even give Haji Samuri a run for his...err, satay!

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Its springtime in Melbourne. With really good weather too!

That means sunny days with chilly winds, just the way I like my weather! Reminds me a lot of Bonn / Europe. Theres something about being in the cold and sipping a perfectly brewed hot chocolate, you really feel the liquid warming your chilled body, from the mouth to the tummy!

I arrived just in time for a huge national event, albeit it being in Melbourne. Called the Melbourne Cup, its an extravaganza of high fashion, free flowing champagne, legal bettings, elegant hats on posh women, heaps of food, super A list celebs...all centered around a HORSE RACE! Nah beh!
Its so big that its a public holiday here! They call it "The race that stopes the nation". I call it "Like the Oscars, with the Horses"!
I got up early (or tried too) to catch whats the fuss about. It lasted over 8 hours with each race not more than 3 minutes long! Crazyyyy!!!

On the downside of things...I got up with a fever on that holiday! And to make things worst, when I contacted my cousin who is studying over here...he said he was attending JT's concert at the Rod Laver Arena...where I have a super nice view of it from the hotel room, although not the concert! Now I thought what luck I would be having knowing JT is performing a day after I leave, but who would have known he is performing 3 freakin times! To top off my bad day, my cousin sold the last of his extra ticket a couple of days back! Why JT...why!!! You really want Sexy to come Back to your concerts right?! Sheeshh!

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Ok, I love Melbourne!

The garden-like city is primarily the reason. I havent gone out much (thanks to work and the damned fever), but I already see lots of museums, parks and gardens in abundance, lakes, nice Victorian architecture which makes it Europ'ish and ooohhh... a river!!! It is also the sporting and cultural capital of Australia...the Australian Open, the recent Commonwealth Games and many live concerts among the many events happening all year round!

More reasons to move over here...Melbourne was voted "Worlds Most Livable Cities" for 3 years!!

And Aussie chicks are one hot lot...apparently everyone seems to have a nice body, ohh and a super fine pair of legs!!
;)

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G'day from Down Under...

"I got some news for you", my project leader called me last Tuesday as I was heading for lunch. "I am not sure if you will like it or not". SHIT...not even a month and I got my first ticking off, I wondered nervously. "We have to take you out from the Middle East team and you need to fly to Melbourne immediately to join the Aussie team there," he explained. In between fits of controlled excitement, I calmly agreed, noting that if thats ok with team wants, I guess I couldnt say no. Besides...I am a team player (AHAHAHAHHA!).

6 days later...I am here in Melbourne! One more city I've added to my profile...I ve been down under before (cheeky cheeky), but this is the real thing!! I love the accent...I love the people...and I am loving this job! Crikey!

Dubai experience

Mini Tarts : Photos of Dubai shall be coming, subject to availability and how quick my colleagues upload them into facebook.

I really hate the fact that I dont have my camera with me! Damnnnn!! Dubai is one giant plot of land thats sprouting with aethetically designed buildings which are so damn eye pleasing. And its constantly on construction, as in more and more buildings are being built. Among others an exclusive (now tell me what the hell isnt exclusive there!?) Versace designed waterfront apartment that looks too good to be true and get this...the soon to be "Worlds Tallest Building...FOREVER"!! Why...cuz not only will the Burj Dubai be the tallest building in the world upon completion, if ever some other country is even thinking of outdoing them, the building has the capacity to GO HIGHER! WTF...like I thought only Singaporeans are kiasu (scared to lose)!

Well for the imaginative ones in you...just imagine how Las Vegas looks like; ie. a long strip of road heading towards the city and upon reaching there you have beautiful neon lights lighting up the way on both sides, emancipating from hotels, casinos, motels, one stop wedding chapels, stripclubs etc. Now for Dubai, think a SIX LANE two way highway as the strip (I meant 6 lanes on either side!) and New York City like buildings that suspisously look like designer perfume bottles decorating both sides of the highway.

Oh, to top it all off...the gorgeous, super porcelain skinned, all round sharp features and gorgeous eyes of Arabic ladies!! They're soooo beautiful I wouldnt mind converting...that way I can legally have 4 of them! And biggest myth...NOT ALL Arabic women are covered from top to bottom. Apparently thats how you differentiate the local Emirati women with that of other Arabic country women (Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, Iraqi etc); the locals cover up. Some even dont show their eyes, their most beautiful asset I reckon!

But all in all, the Dubai experience was just so-so, mainly due to the fact I didnt do the real fun thing...desert safari'ing and snowboarding!! Yup...you read right...there is an indoor sky resort where your average sheikhs go snowboarding and skiing!! Awesome! Other than that...its similar to Singapore (10x worst in fact) in the sense that its an extravagant city for the rich, filled with upmarket shopping complexes and bazaars, posh and luxurious cars zipping here and there, plus a huge number of migrant workers that can be divided to mainly South Asians (cab drivers, construction) and Phillippinos (retail - 100% gay if its men, restaurants and hotel). And to add to the already confusing nature of how weird I look, I was mistaken for a Phillipino countless times (sometimes even in H&M when I am shopping!!). Bloody hell!

In the meantime, "Project Kerang" went on smoothly, although I must say certain characteristics are slowly rearing their ugly heads. And we're talking how much money is spent on bringing people there yet for some, it did suspiciously look like a holiday. As for me, heaps more learning to do and definitely an eye opener!

Looking forward to going there again...