Depending on your situation, being caught in the rain in a taxi in KL in a traffic jam, it can be especially stressful especially if you’re already running late for an important appointment.

Luckily for me I had allowed more than sufficient time for my appointment and I could sit back, relax and take these snaps along the way ...

Fortunately the taxi driver took the route passing through the old part of town with the captivating facades of the old shophouses which together with the drizzling rain conjure up a moody and nostalgic atmosphere. Don't you just love old buildings? Enjoy the ride!

Labels: Photography, Travelling

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No worries - you can get fat round the clock ...

With so much delicious (and junk food) around all the time in Bangkok; it must be a weight-watcher’s nightmare of a place to live or visit.

Best (or worst) of both worlds - East meets West, Globalised Junk Food

But fear not as modern technology is here to help, as I stumbled upon this high-tech slimming center in a shopping complex. However I fear that something must be lost in the translation. Hmmm ...

But then again what do I know as I ain't hot and obviously do not understand nor speak "wall street English"! *sigh*

All I know is that there are lots of hot girls in Bangkok ...

Labels: Food, Travelling

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I was having lunch with my office colleagues and one of them had recently bought a Nokia N95 which has a 5 megapixels camera (and which he has not even tried yet). All the photos on my blog are taken with my Pentax Optio 43WR digital camera which is a paltry 4 megapixels. And this darn handphone has 5 megapixels? *sigh* It was a clear and bright day and what was I to do but to put down my chopsticks and delicately picked up the camera phone instead, being extra careful not to drool on it.

And here are the 2 photos I snapped with the camera phone and which was also emailed to me – with the N95. Actually I could even have blogged about this there and then as the N95 has built-in wifi. It even contain an integrated GPS receiver and ships with navigational software so that you can precisely locate where you snapped your photos. Smart phone huh? Maybe the next upgrade model can even take pictures on its own. Hmmm ...

Suddenly I felt nostalgic about my manual Nikon FM2 film camera (remember those?) and my first 'brick' motorola hand phone and realised how much changes had occurred and how quickly time has passed ... *sigh*

Labels: General, Rantings

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ME spotted at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport

Fancy and Expensive 'water' ...

But putting that aside for the moment, I like brand names that are simple and some would be perfect if only they are not missing an "F"!H2O @ Siam Paragon, Bangkok

Labels: General, Travelling

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Kuala Salak, 20th May 2007

Beautiful Morning @ Kuala Salak, 20th May 2007

Irregardless I'll try to post whatever I can whenever I can and not necessarily in chronological order. This blog is slowly becoming my diary of sort as it documents the photos I took with what's happening in my life. Well, part of it at least. And it is also strangely therapeutic as it allows me to gather my thoughts, well some of it anyway - as I'm sure not everybody agrees with how I think or look at things. For some inexplicable reasons I can really piss some assholes off (and I am kinda glad I do!). And for even stranger reasons, they actually bother to read my blog. Stewpig! Irregardless have a busy weekend doing nothing! And it sounds really good to me right now! Cheers.Kayakers on the waters @ Kuala Salak

Labels: Life, Rantings

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Pineapples cut into wedges and Rambutans peeled half-naked ...

Like they say - presentation is everything.
And even the humble rambutans looks classy and more juicy when presented in a creative and classy manner. The inartistic but lazy would appreciate it too.Rambutans at Somerset Park Suanplu, Bangkok

However you don't have to be 'presentable' to enjoy the weekend. Have a Great One!

Labels: Food

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For me one of the joys of flying is to be able to look out of the airplane windows at the land, mountains, rivers, sea, clouds in the horizon and the changing patterns of light and shade as one passes over and through; completely cocooned and detached in the cabin. Its like looking at a living canvas. I love it.

But looking around at my fellow passengers, I couldn’t help but wonder how many on board are even aware of the splendor and magic that is outside. Perhaps they are just too jaded or tired or the cabin crew are simply too stunning (but I doubt it on MAS domestic flights ... oops!).

But then again perhaps I shouldn’t wonder at all as most are also oblivious to the world and all that is in it and others around them when they are on earth; and perhaps even when they depart. *sigh*To each his own but meanwhile I'll just relish all these in quiet wonderment (and try to remember to take the occasional snaps).
Be Well.

Labels: Life, Photography, Rantings, Travelling

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I came home from work and was greeted by this brilliant but fleeting orange skies which dissipated together with the drizzle after a heavy downpour.

A brilliant end to the day. Oranges anyone?

Labels: Kuching Skies

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After a busy and hectic week of work and traveling, I was really looking forward to spend some time on the waters even if it meant waking up at 4.30 am on sunday morning!

Oneness with the world on Sunday, 20th May 2007

Labels: Kuching Kayaking, Photography

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Heavy clouds cover a harbinger of worst to come?

I was hoping that my return MAS flight back from KL to Kuching on Saturday evening would be boringly uneventful but it was not to be. Due to heavy rain storms, we were unable to land and after maintaining a holding pattern for a while, the pilot decided to fly to Sibu (the next nearest airport) instead … *sigh*

Beautiful delicate sunset skies mask fierce rainstorms ahead in Kuching

By the time I reached home it was more than 3 hours over the scheduled arrival time.

Labels: Corporate Life, Travelling

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Life is a Waiting Game (under the shade or otherwise) …

With the regularity that I travel these days, I guess that this is bound to happen as it did yesterday morning on flight MH 2507 bound for KL at 1115 hours when we were informed that there will be a 2 hours delay due to technical problems with the Airbus A330 we were on; after we had boarded.

Issuing refreshment vouchers (and tolerating nosy bloggers with camera …)

After a flurry of smses and phone calls to reschedule my meetings, a wait, a quick lick of my fingers at KFC and another long wait, we went back to the boarding gate waited for a good hour before being informed that the aircraft had been grounded and the next available flight is a good 6 hours away. Great!

Technically Delayed and Passengers are Technically Definitely Pissed

Such are the joys of corporate travel.

Going through immigration, boarding, unboarding, going out through immigration, etc … Life is a Walking Game

See; flight delays are not the sole domain of Air Asia only and MAS can do one better – they ground their flights not delay them … Now Everyone Can Bitch!

MAS defines KFC as “refreshment” for flustered traveller

Labels: Corporate Life, Travelling

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Kuching Sunset 17 May 2007

I seem to be spending more time on aircrafts these days instead of on my kayaks - a deplorable situation and one that I'll be in again later as I leave for KL on the 1105 hours MAS flight. I'll be back in Kuching on saturday night and I am really looking forward to be on the waters on sunday morning at sunrise. Have a great weekend ahead.

Sunrise from the air 16 May 2007

Labels: Corporate Life, Travelling

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I took the first flight this morning at 0600 hours for Kuala Lumpur and would be taking the last flight at 2215 hours from Kuala Lumpur back to Kuching again later ... What a day!

Labels: Corporate Life

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I had to work on saturday morning as after being away for a week, work has piled up and the time to meet deadlines has either lapsed or being reduced drastically. All the joys that await you when you returned from a business trip. *sigh*When I got home in the afternoon and after a nourishing home cooked lunch, I all but collapsed into a (happy) heap when I laid down on the sofa lounge. Mercifully my other half took over the chore of sending the children for tuition leaving me to enjoy the afternoon siesta.

By the time I awoke it was already late in the afternoon and when I strolled onto the jetty the most beautiful clouds greeted me when I looked up. I felt rested and now refreshed by this wonderful sight. Nice.

Here's wishing all the mothers out there a very Beautiful Mother's Day.
You know you are the best and we love you.

Labels: Kuching Skies, Life

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Entrance @ 'Kamalaya', Koh Samui

Part Mural Painting at Bangkok Airport

I'll be departing Bangkok for Kuala Lumpur at 1600 hours and catching the 2000 hours flight back to Kuching from KLIA. I'm also looking forward to eating home-cooked meals and kayaking of course; in other words - all the comforting routines of life.

Health Spa Resort @ Koh Samui, Thailand

Labels: Corporate Life, Travelling

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We flew in from Bangkok on sunday to charming Trat Airport on Bangkok Airways and were greeted by neatly pruned elephant shaped hedges. It was cute but I wondered why elephants and not bears or whatever until we found out later that 'Koh Chang' in thai meant Elephant Island.

We had to take a half-hour car ferry ride followed by a car ride to get to the resort hotel we were going to stay at Koh Chang. We didn't get to see any elephants on the trip but we saw plenty of other interesting sights.

Labels: Corporate Life, Travelling

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I am now in Bangkok having just arrived from Koh Samui after catching the (stunning) sunsets and sunrises there for the past 2 days.

Labels: Corporate Life, Photography, Travelling

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This 'part-time male steward' has been promoted from flying domestic routes to international ones tomorrow. Leaving Kuching at 0600 for KLIA to catch the flight to Bangkok at 0910. Then catching the 1430 flight to Trat and leaving Trat on the 7th back to Bangkok then from Bangkok to Koh Samui at 1900 hours. Leaving Koh Samui on the 9th for Bangkok then back to KLIA and catching the last flight back to Kuching arriving at 2235. A lot of flights to catch over the next four days. I hope we have time to see what we're supposed to see with this hectic schedule! Still I am glad for the change in routine and going to Trat and Koh Samui; places I had not been to yet in Thailand.

I'll keep you folks posted depending on the availability of wireless internet connectivity and time. Should be interesting!

Labels: Corporate Life, Kuching Skies, Travelling

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All my troubles and worries float away every time I get on the water.
With the first few strokes of my paddle I slip into another time, place and dimension.

Even if this escapade is only for an hour or so and a couple of steps away from my jetty.
I can do this forever.

Labels: About Life, Kuching Kayaking, Photography

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It had been a beautiful but hot Labour Day but that did not deter Simon my neighbour who invited to join him for a ‘short’ cycle to the nearby ‘Samajaya Industrial Estate’ (whose roads would be deserted on account of the public holiday) but I had a guest who was visiting us from Houston, Texas. But Simon has extra bikes around the house like I had kayaks so we invited George to join us and he gladly accepted as he had been well-fed since he landed in Kuching for his 3 weeks holidays in Kuching and he wanted to burn the calories.

Simon being familiar with the route led the way while we were happy to take it easy and tag behind at our own (slow) pace. Eventually we caught up with retiree Mr. Sim our 67 year old neighbour who lived in the same street as us and who had left earlier than us. It was the first time I had cycle with him and he soon put us all to shame leaving us panting and aching as we struggled to keep up with him! I somehow managed to take a few snapshots in between catching my breathe! So here are the pictures! It was a most delightful ride with great company on a wonderful day.

Labels: Cycling, Life, People

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Instead of a 'rest day' on Labour Day yesterday; I had a rather busy day - but not so busy that I did not have time to look up at the lovely deep blue skies and took a few snaps ... so here goes!

Labels: Kuching Skies, Photography

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