There has been a sudden surge in the number of people visiting this blog over the past 2 weeks. When that happened before; it was because Kenny Sia mentioned me in his famous blog when I took him kayaking. He didn't this time, even though he had linked me on his blog since last year (strange guy - he thinks that I'm cool!)

For a while now I had been too busy with work and life to even visit other blogs/sites.
Where do all these people come from?

Perhaps like the clouds in the sky, all we have to do is to appreciate that do appear; irregardless of their numbers - numerous or otherwise. They are all fascinating.Thanks for visiting wherever you come from and for whatever cool or uncool reason(s).
You folks must really like clouds as much as I do!

Be Well.

Labels: Blogging, Kuching Skies

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I caught her doodling about it on my notebook and this is how she expressed how she felt about the experience! *sigh*

Labels: About Life

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I find clouds to be an endless source of beauty and inspiration.

Labels: Kuching Skies, Photography

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It was a glorious day yesterday and despite it being a public holiday (King's Coronation) a few of us were cooped up inside the office getting ready the presentations for the Board of Directors Meeting the next day. Two of us took a breather out at the office tower roof terrace – he breathed while I snapped away and sighed - as I should be out on the waters at Bako National Park kayaking ...

Take a deep breathe and enjoy your weekend ahead!

Labels: Corporate Life, Kuching Skies

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It would seem like some people are not quite able or even allowed to think and make simple decisions for themselves; such as increasing the mailbox capacity without getting the prior written approval of their immediate boss or superior. Either that or this particular 'business process' is too rigid and downright stewpig ...

Labels: Corporate Life, Rantings

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Of late perhaps because of my frequent business travels (once every other week), I had been entertaining thoughts of getting a folding bicycle (especially when held up in heavy traffic) so that I can get some exercise in as well as taking in the sights of towns/cities that I’m visiting. That was why I bought a ‘folder’ or folding kayak in the first place so that I could paddle wherever I travel. But a folding bicycle is considerably lighter, smaller and more convenient to travel with and to unfold. How does 15 seconds sound like? And which is about the average time it takes to unfold a folding bicycle! Although my Folbot Cooper is one of the easiest folding kayak to assemble, I still take more than 20 minutes to do so and covered in sweat in our hot humid tropical weather by the end of the process!

I was also astounded by the range of models and designs available. And there is even a folding bicycle society called “The Folding Society” whose membership is free along with a knowledge base of experience and information.

Of all the designs of the folding bicycles that I had ‘googled on’, none is as radical as the 'Locust 'Folding Bicycle by Josef Cadek who is a 26 year old designer from Prague. There’s an interview with him here and I would really love to get hold of one (just so that I can hang it in living room’s wall!) hopefully when he manages to get it into production.

Meanwhile I’ll probably have to settle instead for the A-Bike invented by Sir Clive Sinclair. Although I'm skeptical about the ride with such tiny wheels! But it's probably the most compact folding bicycle for travelling and the design is really cool.

Although it may be more realistic to get the Dahon Jetstream XP which is the world’s lightest full-suspension folding bike. I wished I can own them all - Brompton, GoBike, Strida, Bike Friday, etc *sigh*

Labels: General

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Now we not only have one bunch of pink bananas in our garden but about half a dozen of them!

And speaking of bunches it's interesting to note how mediocre people with a chip on their shoulder like to bunch together and perhaps that's how they define 'teamwork' where they as a team can cover for each other's sloth, incompetence and connive to have other people do their work for them and back-stab them if they are not 'team-player'.

Labels: Corporate Life, Rantings

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Labels: General

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Its amazing how a blog 'limited' to kayaking, photographs of skies, water and trees; and the mild occasional comment on life and people can ruffled feathers - and least unexpectedly from people in your own organization whom you would never expect to know of, much less read your blog. I must be more famous than I thought I was but with an average daily hits in the hundreds, perhaps there are some equally strange people who must find it to be some amusement. Or maybe some of those who do are also a sucker for punishment to want to come back and re-visit even though they hate my pics, views or whatever. *sigh* If it upsets you so much, please don't visit this blog!

I just blog whatever I like and I do enjoy looking at my own photographs. I really do not need any justification nor do I seek popularity or approval as well. To my detractors - I did not specifically ask you to come here; did I? Unless you think my views are of such importance, in which case, you would need to get your little head examined ... Maybe it's really time that I do not allow anonymous comments where the small minded and cowardly like to hide.

Labels: Rantings

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I guessed I am bound to meet one of those snaky characters one day working for a large organization and I sure did, today. This sneaky guy (with a perpetual cunning smile and smirk on his fat face) in a senior managerial position (and acting like a boss) has the cheek to try to ‘delegate up’ what is clearly his responsibility and work to me as the deadline is due on Monday when it is blatantly obvious that he has not done his work due either to incompetence or laziness; most probably both, and panicking in the last minute. A classic example of trying to pass the buck. The only reason I can think of why this guy is in our organisation is probably due to his dubious 'bumi' status which he obviously used as a clutch. What a load of crap. I trust you do not have arsehole colleagues like this in your office. *sigh*

Labels: Corporate Life, Kuching Skies, Rantings

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I was supposed to meet my colleagues in Sibu who were flying in from Kota Kinabalu on another site visit.

However their FAX flight (in the 'tradition' of AirAsia) was delayed for a couple of hours and with the free time suddenly available to me, I took a short stroll around town and came back to my hotel room on the 10th floor just in time to catch these lovely Sibu sunset clouds. See - they seem to follow me wherever I go! *wink*

Labels: Travelling

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I had just came back from a short overnight trip to Sibu. The weather was unusually hot today and it was nice to be greeted and welcomed back so warmly even though I was away for only a short while.

We went out for a family dinner to celebrate my eldest son's birthday at Crown Plaza just now and on the way noticed that "Secret Recipe" had just opened. Too many eating places but only one stomach! *sigh*

Labels: Corporate Life

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Fancy living in an affordable bungalow in Kuching; and one by the lakeside in a peaceful and serene neighborhood? Well you can at Desa Ilmu, where the 'Vanilla' showhouse was launched on Saturday morning at a 'satay party' to invited guests from the nearby campuses of UITM and Unimas.

With a practical layout, solid construction, pleasant 'timeless' design and with nearby shops, facilities and easy highway access; its definitely worth taking a look. To me the lake itself is justification enough as it's rare to find lakeside housing in Kuching. And at a bargain price of RM355,888/-, its even cheaper than some double-storey terrace and semi-detached houses in the Tabuan Jaya and BDC areas.

For the expatriates looking for an affordable and quiet place to stay in Kuching under the 'Silver Hair Program' or 'Malaysia My Second Home'; this may be exactly what they are looking for.

And if you are a golfer and feeling lucky; you can even get one for free – if you manage to sink a hole in one that is. Interested? Check out the details below.

Labels: Kuching Housing

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I just came back from work on Saturday afternoon and was dying to get out of my office attire into kayaking ones when it started to rain with distant thunderclaps. But I was not deterred nor was Buddy who accompanied me to the jetty to see me off. I couldn’t bring him as I wanted to go for a long paddle and my sit-in kayak only has room for one. By the time I got back 3 hours later after a tiring but refreshing paddle, the rain was gone but Buddy was still there.

Labels: Kuching Kayaking

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Over a year ago housewife Madam Chong felt so ‘desperate’ being cooped up at home and decided that she wants to do something to just get out of the house. Her ‘something’ turned out to be pok piah which she was very proud of and so she set up a small stall outside a coffeeshop (Seng Yuen Food Centre) at Foochow Road No.1 on Sunday mornings from 6.30am to around 11am selling them at RM2/- a piece.

They are about 50cents more than the usual price of RM1.50 at other places in Kuching but she uses the finest ingredients, stringent that they are all strictly vegetarian and she also makes them bigger. I think they are value for money besides being healthy and delicious.

Her pok piah are so popular now that former Kuching residents who now reside overseas when they're in town even order them to bring home before they taking their flights! Though she only operates her stall on Sunday morning; she also takes orders for parties or private functions with a minimum order of 50 pieces. Now that she has got her hands full, she is no longer a “desperate housewife”!

Labels: Kuching Food

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Every once in a while you see something really amazing and miraculous; as I did on Tuesday morning in Kuching while on my way to work.

I had just gotten into my car and was admiring the silver lining of the clouds and thinking how beautiful it was when right before my very eyes, the clouds formation slowly turned into the silhouette of what appeared to me to be a bear with its mouth opened and paw stretched outwards! This is the first time that I have ever witnessed anything like this.

I quickly took out my camera from my briefcase and excitedly took as many photos as I could before the formation disappears or run out of memory space in my digital camera. Fortunately neither of this happened on this magical Tuesday morning.

I was thinking what a 'beary' good picture it would be! So don't tell me that the image does not look like a bear at all as it clearly do - unless you're totally lacking in imagination that is! Hey! My posts maybe "limited" to some but "less is more"; and it's sometimes miraculously so.

Have you ever seen anything as amazing and wonderful as this? I trust that you will; and one day soon! Beauty and magic is all around us - we're just not aware of it that's all; or too cynical and skeptical. I'm glad I seek and I find and this is truly a wondrous life. Now go and look for your own bear in the sky! Irregardless have an amazing and wonderful weekend - you deserve it.

Labels: Kuching Skies, Photography

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The weather has been very hot of late and the afternoon sun can really burn your skin. I know as our offices are scattered all over the place and I have to cross the roads to get from one place to the other under the scorching sun. All 150 of us office drones should be under one roof by June if all goes according to plan; but they seldom do (!) It's funny how I never feel hot when I go kayaking but I can hardly wait to get out of the sun and back into air-conditioned offices these days. Wearing a full-brim hat really cuts out the sun and heat; so perhaps I should wear one as part of my office attire?

However the skies look great in the strong light whether in the morning or at sunset. Take a look at these pictures I took if you don't believe me. But someone or some people obviously do as there have been some heavy downloading of the photos from my blog over the past weeks and I have been wondering who this or they might be and what they would want with my photos. Anyone have any idea?

Labels: Kuching Skies, Photography

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I am given a company car and guessed who hopped in to be the first to be taken for a ride in it?

Labels: Corporate Life

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Labels: Blogging

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I spotted this red hot number just outside the hotel where I was staying as we were running out to catch a taxi and though I’m not a fan of F1 sports, I was tempted. All my resistance melted away and I just had to stroll over to check her out ... And she did revealed her goods all she's got inside under a see-through cloak!

Labels: Travelling

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This is all so sweet! And you can check it out here.

Labels: People

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Much to the chagrin of my workaholic colleague, I couldn’t resist the temptation to take time out from the stupid mad rush to take a few snaps of the beautiful Petronas Twin Towers bathed in the shimmering light silhouetted against the even more beautiful and clear blue sky.

It must be a funny as well as strange sight for a bird (or alien) looking down from up high at the stewpig office drones below rushing here and there, working their butts off for reasons I suspect may not be obviously clear even to themselves ... However, I trust that you are clear about enjoying your weekend! Cheers!

Labels: Travelling

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On account of the F1 races, all the hotel rooms in town were fully booked; and so we had to put up at Eastin Hotel, Petaling Jaya which though a comfortable hotel is just a little bit isolated from everywhere else. You can't get to anywhere else except by motor vehicle.

However as if to make up for the slight inconvenience, we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by the unusually clear and blue KL skies instead of the usual gray and drabby ones I'd seen on previous trips. Here are a few snaps taken on the way back after a meeting and from the 17th floor of the hotel. We hope that the skies will remain clear and interesting on our day trip to Malacca tomorrow.

Labels: Travelling

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For those of you who think that my new job must be as a stand-by air steward; I can hardly blame you as I'm taking off again later this morning to Kuala Lumpur and then Malacca before returning back to Kuching on Easter Friday night. There goes my plan to kayak to Bako National Park on Friday morning in our new kayaks - sorry Ian!

Labels: Travelling

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This must qualify as the world's most expensive white canoe; or rather a 1991 painting titled "White Canoe" by Scottish-born artist Peter Doig (who is living out his reputation as Europe's most expensive living painter) that fetched a mind boggling $10 million at an auction at Sotheby's according to a post by Gabrielle Lim & Peng Hee from Kuching at their blog creeART which showcase their own beautiful original artworks which I believed they sell for considerably much less! And frankly I find Gab and Hee's work that much more accessible, interesting and appealing than the "White Canoe" which actually 'does' nothing for me! Unless I must be missing something. *sigh*

But I do like his painting below - Architect's Home in the Ravine, oil on canvas, 200cm x 275cm, 1991.

Labels: People

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