March 2009 Archives

I was invited for a helicopter ride by the great (crate?) people at Heineken on Saturday. The scheduled takeoff was at 11 am at Eurocopter in Subang Airport with a briefing at 10:30 am. The helicopter experience is a prize for the people who participated in the Crate Expectations (sorry for the lame pun above) online game by Heineken.



I left early to pick up Rin coz she has misgivings about my navigation skillz. The two contest winners arrived soon after us. Cheesie and I didn't win the game but we were invited to experience the helicopter ride anyway. Cheers Heineken! OMG! There are so many bad puns in here. ;)



Anyway, after driving into the Eurocopter car park, we were recognized by the liaison there for the 11 am takeoff and brought into the secure hangar. I was half afraid they're going to ask for my MyKad or driver's license coz I neglected to bring both.



The Eurocopter hangar houses an impressive fleet of helicopters - there's even one used by the Ferrari team during the F1 season. We were given a tour of the hangar and introduced to the different helicopters there.



The helicopters can be rented - the liaison told us a heartwarming story about a guy who proposed to his girlfriend by hanging a huge "Will You Marry Me?" banner on some building and getting down on bended knee on the helicopter when they panned over the building.



We had to wait for the engineer to come (his car broke down) so our flight was delayed for about an hour or so. The pilot cannot take off without the safety engineer's green light - a very good safety precaution.



Thus, after a short wait...we got on the helicopter, buckled up and put on the on board communications device (the technical term for this is "headphones").



The pilot got the helicopter started up...



...and we're airborne! =D



Cue Ride of the Valkyries.



I just couldn't resist. Heh!



It's a great feeling to be on a vertical takeoff aircraft. The flexibility of the HH-65 Dolphin is impressive. We flew over Subang...



...PJ (I can see you taking a shower in your house with my l33t zoom lens :p)



...and onwards to KL city.



The pilot circled the KL Twin Towers and other landmarks in the city, giving us a lot of photo ops.



I could see mini people playing in the splash pool outside KLCC. I think we were hovering at about 1,000 feet.



Check out the KLCC Flyover video!



We headed off to Batu Caves after that and did a flyby of the limestone hill. It's the most famous Hindu shrine in Malaysia, with temples inside the caves. I've been there once during Thaipusam and it's great to have a bird's eye view of the place.



I also managed to snap a photo of the huge Lord Murugan statue standing guard outside the cave network.



On to more secular sightings, we flew over Sunway Pyramid. Hmm...religious imagery on a shopping mall - right after the real thing. How ironic.



Sunway Lagoon from above looks smaller than the actual water theme park.



I also managed to capture a photo of a rather large cemetery. I like cemeteries. I have a morbid fascination with death.



Cheesie got all excited when she spotted her condo and I managed to spot mine too. No, that's not a picture of either of our humble abodes. Security reasons, ya know. ;) However, this is where I work. You can probably see me slaving in a cubicle if you squint hard enough. Seriously. It's Kelana Jaya.



I can see that the inbound traffic to KL was pretty congested last Saturday. I saw you (yes, you) stuck in traffic while I'm soaring above. ;)



I suspect that there was an intentional flyover of the GAB factory where we had dinner and drinks at The Tavern last month. I'm kidding, the place is on the way back to Subang Airport as the crow flies.



It was an awesome experience. Flying over KL and the outskirts of the city on a helicopter is certainly an episode that I won't forget. The roar of the rotors, the chatter of air traffic, the feeling of being suspended in the air - it's amazing!



Cheers to Heineken and Nuffnang for the invite!

I was invited by the good people at Heineken to go on a helicopter ride on Saturday morning. I went and picked Cheesie up (got horribly lost despite Google Maps) and managed to find our way to Subang Airport. The place where we took off is Eurocopter, which has a fleet of helicopters.



The place is loaded with those newfangled choppers with protected tail rotors. We went on the HH-65 Dolphin, which is the same helicopter used by the US Coast Guard. I've been on a Bell 206 before (very common in Sarawak, for all the wrong reasons - they keep crashing) but never a state of the art helicopter.



We waited at the lounge for the briefing at 10:30 am and nature called so I went up to use their washroom - and found an excellent photo op from above the hangar. Not 5 minutes later, security personnel told us that photos are not halal/kosher in this high security area. Naturally, being bloggers, we said yes, okay, and promptly resumed our shutter activities once he's gone. ;)



Anyway, after the briefing, we were up in the air. It was a 30 minute helicopter ride passing KL City and Batu Caves before heading back.



Here's the teaser video.



The full experience report will be up tomorrow. I have a couple of work related stuff to finish tonight before I head off to bed. It was a lot of fun - I spotted my condo and Rin spotted hers as well. Thanks Heineken! :)

The fresh and cool morning breeze whispering in from the open patio woke me up the next morning. I opened my eyes and saw the girls still sleeping. The patter of rain can be heard and I looked outside. It was drizzling and the cloudy day makes it ideal for sleeping in. I closed my eyes and went back to sleep. I love the smell of the forest after it rains.



I was awakened from my slumber by Windy getting up. I'm a very light sleeper and tend to rise at the slightest provocation. Hmm...that didn't sound quite right coming out, but you know what I mean. ;) Joyce was still sleeping so we went to the patio and chilled out there. It was still drizzling and the weather was melancholic in a good way. It's perfect for sitting with a blanket wrapped around you and just relax.



The caretaker came at 8 am with our breakfast. I asked for three packets of nasi lemak. He wouldn't accept payment - the food came courtesy of Christina. Thanks Christina! The nasi lemak tastes a lot better than it ordinarily would, thanks to the forest surrounding us and the cool drizzle that's still going on. It was decided that we'll wait until the rain stops before going exploring.



I read a book I bought the night before. I've always enjoyed reading on rainy days - a habit I picked up when I was a kid. The rain didn't stop until after noon but it was fun to just chill at the patio. We checked out at 2:30 pm and decided to head up to the Serendah waterfall.



The other attraction in Serendah is the impressive waterfall located just 5 minutes away from Sekeping Serendah retreat. It's a public park so you'll see the usual suspects there - locals washing their clothes, out of town people having BBQ, foreign workers in large groups on their day off. Melting pot anyone?



Serendah Falls is really a sight to behold. It's not very tall, probably about 10 meters or so, but the sheer volume and force of water coming down the waterfall is amazing! The roar of the falls can be heard quite audibly even from the side of the natural plunge pools.



Sekeping Serendah retreat is a gem of a place - it's peaceful and quiet, with basic sheds for accommodations and no distractions. You won't find TVs, WiFi or even cell phone reception here...but if your idea of a relaxing retreat is some peace and quiet from the stress of the big city, head down to Sekeping Serendah.

A sliver of peace lies just an hour's drive away. :)

You motherfuckers can never do it like I can do it. Don't even try, you look stupid, do not pursue it.

I'm going as Eminem.

I've never really liked Eminem coz I grew up listening to West Coast gangsta rap like Tupac Shakur (Makaveli the Don!) and the only white rapper I knew was Vanilla Ice and you all know how the Ice Ice Baby's career went - the one-hit wonder, relegated to being a euphemism for methamphetamine users.

However, I have to admit that Eminem slowly started growing on me. I can relate to the lyrics a lot more coz I can't claim to "cut your young ass up, leave you in pieces, now be deceased" but I certainly can connect with "all these bitches on my dick, that's how dudes be getting sick, that's how dicks be getting drips, falling victims to this shit". ;)

Erm...not that I've ever contracted gonorrhea or any other STD/STI before though. *cough*

Granted, I can't rap like he does...this would probably snag the mystery prize for the The Most Uninspiring Blogger Award.

...but still, who wouldn't want to be him?

I would have a harem of girls attending to my every need. I believe the term used in this industry is "hos". ;)

I'll need some fine hydroponics of course...you can't claim that "smoking weed was an everyday thing in my household, and drinking liquor till you're out cold" if you don't actually hit the bong. Gotta keep it real.
Disclaimer: This is a very old photo I took in the veritas days.

I'll want a selection of the best firearms...

The Cx4 Storm Assault Rifle.

The IMI Desert Eagle .50AE, made by some bad ass Hebrews. Fucking-A!

Glock 17 9 mm.

Beretta 92FS .45 caliber.

You can't be riding and strapping unless you've got the gear. You gotta get people to feel you (not that kind of feel, the "feel" in Ebonics terminology).

JC himself condones it in Luke 22:36: He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one."

It's straight from The Good Book (TM). ;)

P/S - I'm going to bleach my hair blond if I get the invite and wear the suit in The Eminem Show (complete with replica handgun).

I remember Anglia Shandy as my very first "adult" drink. I used to watch with no small amount of envy at my older cousins drinking beer and eating peanuts during our large extended family reunions. This was back when my paternal grandfather was still six feet instead of six feet under.  ;)

My dad never allowed me to partake in the amber fluid although he conceded a can of the distinctive Anglia Shandy one fine day. I was ecstatic! I can finally sit down with my cousins and uncles and drink an "adult drink" while eating peanuts.

I have a secret though...

I never liked peanuts. I still don't.



However, I loved Anglia Shandy. It wasn't bitter to my virgin taste buds due to the lemonade mixture and the ultra low alcohol content. I can still remember with fond nostalgia the day I became a man (at least in my youthful mind).

I also remember reasoning with my dad the following year that drinking beer (5%) and Anglia Shandy (less than 1%) is similar. I wanted to drink real beer with my cousins. The logic I offered was that drinking 1/5 of a can of beer real slow is equivalent to a can of shandy. I picked up that a shandy is a combination of beer and lemonade from the can and put forth my argument, but that's a story for another day.



I've grown to prefer the taste of malt and hops in regular beer but just like how you never forget your first love, I've never forgotten about Anglia Shandy. I heard they came out with a new flavor, which I have yet to check out so I went to the nearest 7Eleven and got a couple of cans of my rite-of-passage drink.



I wanted to get reacquainted with my first taste of the original Anglia Shandy before that though. It was just as I remembered it. It foams with a head like beer but it's refreshing like lemonade.

The new Anglia Apple is infused with a hint of apple to give this classic drink a twist. I like the taste, and the nifty new packaging wouldn't look out of place in Shinjuku.

(cue segue)



Anglia is having a tie-in with The Shinjuku Incident starring Jackie Chan and Daniel Wu. The movie is set for a special premiere on the 1st of April. Anglia is also offering you (yes, you, quit staring at the guy behind) a chance to win movie passes, premiere tickets and up-close-and-personal invites to meet Jackie Chan and Daniel Wu!

No, this is not an April Fool's joke!

There is a game on the Anglia site called Escape the Yakuza (the Japanese Mafia, for the uninitiated). You need to cabut from the well-dressed and suited up thugs with missing pinky fingers and generally avoid capture. Oh, and you need to dodge projectiles and weapons thrown by the good people who follow the Bushido code too.



The longer you outrun the Yakuza, the more points you will accumulate. Jackie Chan will open up a can of whoop ass if the obstacles slow you down. You need to watch out for the Anglia Love icon too. Jump up and grab it to gain additional points. The player with the highest point wins!

It's quite easy really, but I'll give you some pointless pointers anyway coz I love doing that. ;)



Good



Bad



You need to score higher than these people to win.

Prizes:

Top 10 Winners
Each winner gets 5x premier tickets + 2x up close and personal passes to meet the cast (!).

50 Consolation Winners
2x movie passes

If you're a fan of Jackie Chan or Daniel Wu (or both) I bet you'll be interested in the up-close-and-personal "Meet the Cast" pass, so get your gaming gloves on and snag the Grand Prize! This is for the PRIVATE session where only winners can attend.

If you did not win, fear not, there is also a public "Meet the Fans" session where you get the chance to see the cast live on the 31st of March 2009. It's going to be held at Pavilion KL (Bukit Bintang entrance) at 7 pm so be there or be square (or oval)!



On a separate (foot)note, you can't actually drink beer or even the classic Anglia Shandy (due to the distinctive color) at work. However, the new Anglia Apple is a whole different shade (pardon the pun) altogether. It's relatively new so no one knows you're partaking in the office...

...er, until now that is.

Oh well, if you get fired, you'll have more time to concentrate on winning the game. Surf over to the Anglia website to play. :)

I met with a rather untimely accident on Friday night while driving back from Suanie's house. We were at Mist on Friday night and got home at around 4 am Saturday morning. If you recall, it was raining Friday night and the roads were wet.

There is a stretch of road from Suanie's place that I always have the urge to drift. Yes, it is possible to drift on automatic transmission; you just pull the emergency brake. I've always made it a point to drift at this particular stretch of road coz the curve is beautiful. I usually keep my speed at a safe 60 kmph while doing that though.

Always one to tempt fate, I was driving home on a wet road when I hit that stretch. Instinct kicked in and I pulled the emergency brake. Alas, I did not realize that I was driving in excess of 140 kmph at that time and the road conditions were not favorable to stupid stunts like this.



I felt the car drift and spin out of control. I went a full 360 degrees before my rear hit the sidewalk, went up and landed in a ditch. I didn't actually feel much inside the car so I thought I just hit the sidewalk and thanked Aries (inside joke) that nothing untoward happened to me.



I tried to drive out but it seems that my rear wheels were not gripping anything at all so I went down to investigate this peculiarity.

It turns out the entire rear of my car was in the longkang. Sheesh!

I shall draw the sequence of events as it happened:



Well, there's nothing left to do so I called Suan and asked if she knew a tow truck. She said she'll find out but before that a roving car assistance squad (WTF?) came to my rescue. I didn't even know such things existed.



Apparently, some enterprising soul thought it would be good for business to send out roving squads of cars in search of traffic accidents. They provide all sorts of assistance with a hard sell to get you to send the car to their workshop. I declined and asked for a tow truck instead to get me out of the damn ditch.



The tow truck couldn't attach the cable to the back of my car since doing so would cause unimaginable damage to the car while pulling it out. Thus, he came out with this ingenious idea of attaching the cable to my front right tire rim (!).



It worked. Check out the video.

Damage: RM 160



I'm officially broke this month. I mean, seriously. My car is surprisingly sans visible damage but I haven't crawled under to see what can of whoop ass I've opened up to the suspension and other stuff underneath the car. :(

I drive past the GAB (Guinness Anchor Berhad) factory every day on my way to work. I've always wondered what goes on inside, being a beer aficionado and all. I was delighted when I got an invite to visit The Tavern @ GAB. The Tavern is an exclusive invite-only pub located inside the factory and the best thing about it is that the beer comes fresh from the factory just beside it. Oh, and the beer is free too. =D



The interior of The Tavern is tastefully decorated and feels warm and cosy. I like the ambience of the pub and there is in fact a real boiler used in the brewery adorning the bar. Nice!



The Tavern has a wide array of beer on tap. The good people at Heineken were kind enough to provide us with a free flow of beer...



...as well as food. I must admit, everyone was wondering - What's the catch? Free food, free beer, there's gotta be a catch.



Well, there isn't one. It's just a casual get-together for bloggers to eat, drink and be merry.



I had a lot of fun at The Tavern. We were given the opportunity to pour beer from the tap.



It sounds easier than it actually is. The glass has to be angled at 45 degrees before gradually brought up to a vertical position. I poured mostly foam the first time I tried it. I am saddened to report that the girls did much better than the guys.



We were also the very first to be privy to the new Heineken UEFA Champions League game - Heineken Star Final 2009. I am astounded by the game mechanics. I didn't think this was possible using just Flash. Heineken Star Final is a massively multiplayer game where you sail to Krabi, Thailand on a raft.



It's meant to emulate the journey from the previous Heineken Star Final destination to this year's Heineken Star Final destination. You can send messages in (Heineken) bottles to other people playing the game - a very nice touch for communicating in-game.



The rafts are customizable so you can tinker with your design until you find an ocean-worthy vessel adorned with the flag of your choice. I also love the concept of joining fleets - the fastest person to make the arduous (well, not really when you're sitting behind a computer, but think immersive! ;)) journey in the shortest amount of time wins.



You can join a fast fleet (if they accept you) or create your own fleet. The game is amazingly simple, yet has immense replay value coz a lot of the features have to be discovered gradually. Playing through the entire game takes 5 real-time days (!).



I've honestly never played an online Flash multiplayer game like this before. I can just imagine the insane amount of coding that produced this masterpiece.
 
Heineken is also going around Malaysia in April for their A Night in Rome party. It's going to be held in four different places - Ipoh, Johor Bahru, KL and Miri. I'm glad they didn't leave Sarawak out. You can check out the dates at the Heineken website.



Meanwhile, I'm setting sail again in a couple of days.

Just surf over to Heineken Star Final and look for SixthSeal.com (the fleet, not the blog). The grand prize winner is going for an all-expenses paid trip to Krabi, Thailand to watch the UEFA Champions League live under the stars on the beach. Heineken will be served too, from what I've heard. ;)



You want to win a trip to Krabi?

Krabi, ahoy! =D

(That's not my in-game raft, BTW)

DO RIGHT AND FEAR NO MAN



That's my personal message in Windows Live Messenger. It's the inscription on a US coin and I love the phrase. It's uplifting - kinda like the Serenity Prayer, but without the...erm, less-than-positive connotations. ;)



I went to the Windows Live Messenger on DiGi sneak preview at Friendster Café last Saturday. I was impressed by the effort that went into the event management aspects. The place was adorned with various larger-than-life sized emoticons...



...and schwag, which caught the attention of everyone. PSPs, USB drives, headphones and more were to be given away that night. Everyone on the guest list got an exclusive Windows Live Messenger on DiGi t-shirt and a lucky draw number when registering.



I loved the replica Windows Life Messenger poster at the entrance. We're supposed to write our names on it. It wasn't too hard, being narcissistic bloggers and all. ;)



The event was slated to start at 7 pm but the good people at DiGi thoughtfully gave us some snacks before the preview.



...and there isn't a shortage of the amber fluid either. There were two beer towers in attendance and both were kept full so no one was left wanting. =D



It was decided that hungry bloggers don't make good listeners so dinner was served before the actual presentation.



The food at Friendster Café was pretty good. I liked the spaghetti and the fish with tartar sauce. Awesome!



The sneak preview started with a TVC on Windows Live Messenger on DiGi. You just have to check out the commercial, it's hilarious! I won't spoil it for you - DiGi always has great commercials and this one just takes the cake. The ending is priceless! :)



We were the very first to try out Windows Live Messenger on DiGi. Celia went through the features with us. It's exactly like Windows Live Messenger on your PC. The look and feel will be familiar to anyone who uses MSN on the computer. You can even set your status, use emoticons (w00t!) and chat with multiple people at the same time. However, the best feature has gotta be this:



Check this out: You can even send files (!) via your cell phone!



It was fun to be among the first to experience Windows Live Messenger on a cell phone. It's really quite addictive.



It doesn't really help that our messages are broadcast to a large LCD projector screen in front of the room. That's me saying "sixthseal.com SAYS HELLO WORLD". It's surprisingly easy to use.



The games started after that - there was a Q&A session where I won a pair of Logitech headphones. Great! Now I have one for the office and one for home. :)



The next game had Yat and Cindy facing off on opposing notebooks (and teams). It was an MSN debate about exes where one party is arguing for (Angel) and the other against (Devil) remaining friends after breaking up. They both won a SanDisk USB drive.



Next up was a game where participants had to emulate the MSN emoticons displayed on the projector. I failed. Miserably. How can anyone do the XD emoticon? It's impossible. :p



...some people could though. Zoe won the first prize - a Microsoft webcam with her impersonation of a very improbable emoticon. It requires the skillz of a facial contortionist to pull off some of the emoticons.



The lucky draw got everyone hunting for their numbers. I had 016-25 and up for grabs were Coke (the drink) caps and Oakley and Ray-Ban shades. Everyone was eying (no pun intended) the shades...and a couple of guys snagged it.



There was a "Booze & Mingle" session after that which bloggers usually interpret as...



...camwhoring time. ;)



Carol can do the :p emoticon pretty well. I'm impressed.



I still think the best gimmick during the event is the Windows Live Messenger board. We all loved it!



DiGi is offering a two month FREE trial for Windows Live Messenger and the best thing about it is that even after the trial period is over, it's just RM 3 per month for unlimited chatting! There will be no additional data charges, which is pretty impressive. You can check out the promo details here.



I love the tagline - "Whatever the topic , , or you can pass it on anytime, anywhere with Windows Live Messenger Now On DiGi."



Anyway, if you're not on DiGi, don't be . There's always MNP so you can switch to DiGi. ;)

RM 3 for unlimited chatting per month. I'm on DiGi (most people from Sarawak are) so I'll be signing up for this. I can now be online all the time so my boss can MSN me and ask me to do work!

...eh, wrong emoticon. Why would I be grinning at that prospect?



Now wouldn't it be great if you can have a perpetual goofy emoticon at work to hide your frustration? The Mask of (in)Sanity. ;)

...and yes, I *cough* liberated the huge emoticon from the event.

I was driving my coworker back after a late night working in the office when she told me about this homemade fishball eating establishment (just love the contrast in the words) near her place. Windy lives in Sea Park and is familiar with the eateries around the area. We decided to grab a late dinner since we've both not eaten.



The 60's Teow Chew Fishball is a quaintly named place which specializes in (no prizes for guessing) homemade fishballs. They serve Teochew style food and I was surprised to find the place packed this late at night. It was about 10:30 pm or so when we got there. Windy told me the reason - the eatery has an ingenious marketing strategy. The food and drinks are 50% off after 9:30 pm!



I had the Tien Pin Mee Pok (Dry). This self-dubbed House of Fishball serves the noodles with slices of fish cake and a separate bowl containing two of their famous fishballs for RM 5. I like the springiness of the noodles. The noodles are the flat variety, which I've always found puzzling. In Sarawak, mee pok is synonymous with curly noodles.


 
Windy opted for the healthy sounding Celery Noodles (RM 6.50). It's a soup based dish with plenty of their renowned fishballs floating in the broth. I'm not a big fan of soup and the only dry noodles they have is the dish I had, so you might want to consider that if you share a similar antipathy to soup dishes.



I reckon that since we're in a fishball specialty shop, I might as well go the full Monty and ordered a large bowl of homemade fishballs (RM 10). The fishballs are surprisingly good. I've been increasingly adverse to highly processed foods (possibly due to my failing liver) but I liked the fishballs in The 60's Teow Chew Fishball restaurant. The texture is supple and yielding and although it doesn't have any detectable taste on its own, it goes very well with their sauce.



We also ordered a side dish of chee cheong fun (RM 1.50) which Windy got the proprietor to fry up. I'm pleased to report that fried chee cheong fun tastes better than the regular steamed version, at least over here. They added a lot of spring onions and bean sprouts, as well as an (un)healthy but generous shake of the soy sauce bottle.



The 60's Teow Chew Fishball restaurant USP (Unique Selling Point) is the 50% discount after 9:30 pm. I'm sure most of the diners are residents of the area, but it's still a great gimmick to get the crowds in. The bill came up to a grand total of just RM 12 (!) for all that food and drinks for both of us.

It's a bargain! :)


View Larger Map

Here's a map for the directionally challenged. The 60's Teow Chew Fishball is located at the same row as KFC in front of the old Ruby cinema.

Ethanol inspired ideas are double edged swords. I was at Sanctuary drinking with some coworkers on Saturday when I came up with yet another alcohol fueled idea - go to Genting the second week in a row...and win!

Thus, at approximately 4 am in the morning, two of us took a cab to Genting.

Our aim: RM 3,000 nett



I walked into the casino still half intoxicated. I had RM 3,000 with me as my bankroll and headed straight to the Baccarat tables. This is my battle report.

I put RM 500 on Player. Banker wins.

I put another RM 500 on Player. Banker wins again.

I'm rather obstinate and I like breaking the cycle so I put yet another RM 500 on Player.

Banker wins, WTF!

I'm down to half my bankroll - RM 1,500.

I put RM 1,000 on Player (if you believe in something you gotta roll with it) and RM 200 on Player Double (11 to 1 payout).

I either win this round or I lose RM 3,000 coz you can't stage a comeback with just RM 300 left. The stakes were high and I felt the adrenaline rush.

I was looking very intently...it was like a moment of sobriety - I just had a gut feeling that Player is going to deal a twin card.

The dealer draws the first card and chucks it into the used card cartridge. She draws the next card and puts it on the table. I was looking intently at the Player side.

The first Player card was a two of diamonds. I waited for the next card.

It was the two of hearts!

Show me the money, motherfuckers! =D

I didn't know why, I just knew I was gonna win this one. I felt like I was anointed by God. ;)

Player won as well so from this single bet, I netted:
Player Double (11 to 1) @ RM 200 = RM 2,200
Player @ RM 1,000 = RM 1,000

I have won RM 3,200 from this bet alone and I still had RM 1,200 (on the tables) and RM 300 (the remnant of this do-or-die bet).

Total: RM 4,700

I decided to take a breather while I counted my chips. I had RM 4,700. I've won RM 1,700 after deducting my RM 3,000 bankroll.

Not too shabby for just less than 10 minutes inside the casino. I decided to leave since I'll still have about RM 1,200 after the night's expenses. It's enough for one month's rent. I told my friend to wait for me while I headed into the toilet to take a photo of the chips:



Postmortem:
This was my mistake. I should not have gone to the toilet to take a photo of the RM 4,700 in chips. I should have just walked straight to the cashier and cashed out my fucking winnings. Genting is a trap for the greedy, and I was still intoxicated from drinking JW Black Label earlier in the night. I don't need to tell you this, but your judgment is impaired on alcohol.

I walked out of the toilet after taking a photo of my chips and decided to take home an "even RM 1,500" and sat down on the French Boule table...

French Boule! Of all the games in the casino, I had to go for the 10 to 1 odds of winning table. I blame the strategic location just outside the restrooms.

I put RM 100 on 6. The man rolled the rubber ball and it settled on 8.

I put RM 100 on 6 again (I'm persistent - a very bad trait when betting). I don't remember what it went to but it wasn't 6.

I put RM 100 on (you guessed right) 6 again and this time, the number 6 lit up.

French Boule pays 8-1 so I snagged RM 800 on that bet.

Total: RM 5,300

I should be walking out right about now - I've won RM 2,300 on top of my original bankroll of RM 3,000.

...except I didn't. I went to the Baccarat tables and did a very stupid thing.

I put RM 4,000 (!) on Player. I didn't know what spirit possessed me to do that. Oh wait, I do. It's called The Elder God of Ethanol.

My friend was sitting beside me so I put RM 2,000 (table max) on mine and RM 2,000 on hers.

I had RM 4,000 riding on a single bet.

Banker draws a natural 8. I'll be fucked. In fact, I am already fucked. I need Player to draw a 9.

Player draws a 6.

I just lost RM 4,000. =_="

It's pure greed that prompted me to do that. I wanted to double my earnings and walk back with a cool RM 9,300. I got greedy and now I have to pay the price.

I down to RM 1,300 - less than half of my original bankroll. I needed to do something drastic.

I put RM 1,000 on Player again and RM 200 on Player Double.

I guess Lady Luck took pity on me coz Player drew two sevens AND won the game. I was amazed at being able to lucky enough to win on Player Doubles twice (like the previous trip).

Thus, just like that, I'm back up - RM 4,500. It's a net win of RM 1,500 after deducting my bankroll.

This is my cue to leave right? I've just been given a fucking lifeline.

I didn't go. I wanted more! I got greedy. I was up RM 2,300 earlier and I promised I would go after one last bet - RM 1,000 on Banker.

This was my mistake - not taking the second chance and leaving.

Banker lost. I'm down to RM 3,500.

I doubled my bet and put RM 2,000 on Player.

Player lost.

I'm down to 1,500.

I looked at my friend. It's do or die. I'm going to put RM 1,500 on Player and if I win, I'm going to leave.

I will be leaving with just RM 3,000 (my bankroll) and thus would be incurring the trip costs but I thought I should cut my losses while I still can, and getting your bankroll back is pretty fucking alright by anyone's books.

Thus decided, I said a little prayer and put my last RM 1,500 on Player.

Player drew an 8. I smiled at my friend. Banker got a 9. Un-fucking-believable!

I was shit out of chips (and money) and thus, we left. I arrived home at 8 am in the morning and slept till 4 pm.

I went to check my bank balance after waking up - RM 349.20. I'm fucking broke this month.

I could have walked away with RM 2,300 net winnings. That's two months rent. I didn't coz I was intoxicated and I got greedy.

This is a lesson for me. I'll not be going to Genting anytime soon. I just lost RM 3,000 and I'll have to save a lot to get that back.

RM 3,000 could have gotten me a trip somewhere nice, but I blew it coz I got greedy.

Genting does not take kindly to greed.

Oh well, the silver lining to all this is that I'm going to have to be extremely frugal this month. I'm talking about RM 0.60 Gardenia bread rolls for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It would teach me financial discipline if anything. Perhaps it's a blessing in disguise.

15 days. RM 350. I can do it. I'll make it last till the end of the month. :)

Watchmen is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. I caught it last night with a couple of co-workers at GSC, 1 Utama. The trailer did not impress me; I'll have to be honest. We went for that movie coz Race to Witch Mountain (I know, don't ask) was sold out.

Unlike most other superhero movies, Watchmen is set in the past - during the Cold War period between the US and the USSR. It's dark, gritty and realistic. The "superheroes" do not have "powers" per se - with the exception of Dr. Manhattan. They rely on armed and unarmed combat (mostly the latter) to defeat their foes. Perhaps vigilantes would be a better term to describe this group of believable superheroes.

Watchmen also gives us a glimpse into the everyday lives of the superheroes - they are just as fucked up as we are, if not more. We have an alcoholic who can't let go of her glorious past as a superhero and we learn that most of the original Watchmen (Minutemen) are either dead (some due to their personal debaucheries - one female character was murdered in a what looks like a lesbian S&M scene) or in asylums. One character had to prostitute herself to make ends meet.

My favourite character in the movie is without a doubt Rorschach. His character is named after the Rorschach inkblot test and he is a man incapable of compromise - a sociopath if I've ever seen one. He's idealistic in his own way and sees the world in black and white - no shades of gray.

The end of the movie is a classic example of pragmatism - the end justifies the means.

Rorschach would have none of it though.

He stands up for what he believes is right.

It's like an adult version of The Incredibles.

Rating: 5/5

Sekeping Serendah offers just about the ideal place for a barbecue at night - there's the sound of nature seeping through the peace and quiet of the forest, a cool breeze blowing into the patio, and the sound of running water from the brook. It's just so chill. The caretaker has already...er, taken care of the BBQ when we finished our extended swim and soak session in the private pool.



The BBQ pit is an old fashioned receptacle with a mesh grill over it and good old fashioned charcoal covering the bottom. I helped to man the BBQ pit for a while, ensuring all the charcoal is evenly burned before Joyce and Windy took over. I'm not good in gauging food readiness, since I can eat raw food so I left it to better hands. ;)



There are no restaurants or anything of that sort in Sekeping Serendah so you'll have to either bring your own food or cater from the caretaker (RM 20 per pax) for dinner. We had the foresight (?) to bring our own food. A trip to the local Giant for supplies ensured we had enough food and drinks to last the night. The grocery shopping bill came close to a whopping RM 400 but a large part of that was due to ethanol based beverages.



We got lamb chops, fish, chicken wings, corn on the cob and eggs for the barbecue. I got eggs coz no one believed me when I said eggs can be cooked on a BBQ by just putting it right on the grill. It really works - I've done it numerous times before. We also got a lot of bottled water and fruit juices for hydration. For the dehydration part, a bottle of Absolut Vodka was procured.



I would have thought that would be enough but apparently not - I'm in the company of veterans here, much to my surprise. It was decided that we're getting another bottle of liqueur - Kwai Feh Lychee Liqueur which Windy swears is the best thing she ever had. The bottle describes the history of the liqueur very poetically - "Emperor Ming of the Tang dynasty supplied his charming consort with a specialty for which she craved and was richly rewarded with her delightful smiles and appreciative heart." Okay.



We also got a bottle of Merlot for good measure. I was a bit apprehensive about the amount at first - a bottle of vodka, a bottle of liqueur and a bottle of red wine for three people, two of whom I didn't think could drink much.



...and guess what, we were drinking the Absolut Vodka neat from the bottle without any mixers and nearly finished it before we even got to Sekeping Serendah Retreat! OMG! I knew we wouldn't have enough alcohol at that point. Thus, I managed to persuade the caretaker to drive out to town at about 10 pm and get us some cheap, locally distilled vodka (RM 45).



This is our dinner. I had the black corn, lamb, fish, and an egg. Everything was grilled to perfection! Kudos to the girls for manning the BBQ.



I didn't even know fish had to be disemboweled before slapping it on the grill. We used real butter to cook the food and had a bottle of BBQ sauce to go with it. It was great eating under the moonlight with a Styrofoam cup of red wine. The food somehow tasted better under the stars.



We started playing Blackjack after that with the bottle of Kwai Feh Lychee Liqueur and finished it in less than 10 minutes. (!) That leaves the dodgy vodka which left everyone (including me - and I've drank a lot of shitty alcohol) apprehensive as soon as it was opened. The smell of the vodka is...revolting. I don't have a better adjective to describe it.



I think everyone puked that night courtesy of the dodgy vodka with a distinctive methanol odor. It probably had a legion of other unidentified non-ethanol spirits inside. I puked straight after drinking it but was still sober and slept only at around 4 am. I made sure that the caretaker would bring us breakfast (RM 5 per pax) which is a choice of either roti canai or nasi lemak before sleeping for about four hours.



It was a great trip despite all three of us throwing up before the night was over. ;)



Regurgitation Register:
Joyce: 7
Windy: 2
Huai Bin: 1

It was technically twice for me too, but the first time was not directly ethanol related. I forced myself to puke coz I was full and wanted more space in my stomach to...er, fit more alcohol in. :p



I have much respect for Windy, she drank almost as much as me and managed to hold her liquor. :)

...decides carpooling is better.

Who's going to Sunburst? I'm particularly interested in this music festival coz Korn is headlining it. I've always been a big fan of Korn and the first ever korncert (pardon the pun) I went to was their show in Christchurch, New Zealand when I was 15. I was in the mosh pit. It was awesome - they had gigantic replica blow up genitalia hanging from the ceiling and the crowd was super energetic. I love their music, even though they kinda fit the term "sell-out" after the second album.

...but that's digressing. I still love them (don't know why, it's just like how I still love Green Day and Offspring - they're the bands I grew up with).



We're very passionate about music in the office - we even have a resident DJ (who's actually a designer) playing music all day long. Naturally, all of us at the office are looking forward to Sunburst KL09 - we have a couple of Korn fans (literally a couple, there are only two Korn fans in the office, I'm sad to report), a legion of Erykah Badu admirers and a sprinkling of people into the local music scene. I guess that says a lot about the demographics of our office...mainstream. :)

Sunburst KL09 is the annual music festival held on the grounds of Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club with the biggest names in international music playing alongside regional and local talent. It's a source of great discussion at my workplace (usually centered on whether Korn is coming). It's also home to the iconic Sun and Sky stage:



The Sun and Sky stage will be the main platforms though there are 6 different stages in total. This one day 12-hour music festival features names like Korn (I like!), Erykah Badu, Skye, and Butterfingers. There is also a beer garden, so you won't have to worry about liquid refreshment. ;)

I've gotten myself a ticket to Sunburst KL09 early on but relinquished it to a coworker coz I'm kinda broke this month. I've been saving up for the tickets when I saw the U.O.X. Sunburst promotion. There are a lot of people under 25 in my office and some of them are U.O.X. members so I persuaded one of my coworkers to join and pass me one of the tickets if she wins.

It's just two simple steps to win 2 FREE tickets worth RM 203 each if you're a U.O.X. member:

1. Type REGFREETIX and send to 28881
2. Upon receiving confirmation via SMS, just reload RM 30 before 17 March 2009 for a chance to win

MeTV is also running a promotion where you can win a pair of exclusive Meet & Greet passes plus 2 FREE tickets worth RM 203 each.

I like the idea of submitting fan videos so I decided to shoot a video using one of Korn's tracks. Plus, I figured joining both would increase my chances of winning. ;)



Here's what you need to do:

1. Record your best "I want to be at Sunburst KL09" video or picture.
2. Send your video or picture via MMS to 26388

Meanwhile, if you want to watch, rate & download Sunburst videos on MeTV:

Step 1: Log on to http://wap.channelx.com.my from your mobile
Step 2: Go to Fun Stuff and select MeTV
Step 3: Click on the Sunburst category.
Step 4: Watch, rate (my video) or download any of the listed videos.



This is my interpretation of Korn's a.d.i.d.a.s. - the video took a rather long time to shoot due to some of the cast not being able to make it on a weekend night. I like how it turned out though - it's remarkably similar to my vision despite having to make some last minute changes to the script.

My Sunburst submission is a departure from my recent videos and a return to the old sixthseal.com videos - dark, gritty, and realistic. I feel it kinda gels with the mood in the first and second album Korn produced. I wanted to pay homage to my favorite band and do something extra for the MeTV Sunburst promotion.



I really hope I win. *fingers crossed* I want to go to Sunburst KL09! Just look at my mundane and boring existence in the video! It's all work, surfing the net at home, and casual se...er, searching for meaning in life. ;) I need to get out more.

...more than anything, I want to win the Meet & Greet passes to see Korn! =D

I managed to get a 1 liter bottle of Absolut Pears for RM 43 thanks to Charlz. Her friend was in Langkawi and managed to bring back one bottle for me, which she passed to me just now. BTW, the beverage on her desk is guava juice - note that the seal to the Absolut Pears is intact. ;)

Charlz, we put it to Good Use (TM). =D

In sleep he sang to me
In dreams he came
That voice that calls to me and speaks my name
...and do I dream again for now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my mind

Sing once again with me
Our strange duet
My power over you grows stronger yet
...and though you turn from me to glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is here
Inside your mind...

Sekeping Serendah is a Zen like retreat in the middle of the jungle. Touted as a place with a minimal footprint on the environment, I was introduced to this retreat by a coworker who's been there. Sekeping Serendah literally means "A piece of Serendah" in Malay. Serendah is the town where the retreat is located at - it's an Orang Asli (native) settlement area.



Karen (my coworker - seen in the breakfast photo) was quite pleased with her experience there last time so I called up Christina and booked a glass shed. Unfortunately, being a long weekend and all, they were all out of glass sheds. The other option is the timber shed, which is also fully occupied. Sekeping Serendah only had the mud huts left so we went for that option.



This is the famous Sekeping Serendah metal sculpture. It turns out that there's only a couple of sheds in Sekeping Serendah - 5 in total, if I'm not mistaken. It's a very private retreat, perfect for relaxing in the green forest reserve and swim in the pool and just generally chill out - BBQ at night, hear the crickets sing their song. It's a little slice of heaven just an hour away from the bustling city.



The sign to turn in the place is a little obscure (understatement of the year) so watch out for a white house with a blue roof. You need to turn left right before that. If you get out of your car, move some shrubs away and brush at this little concrete block on the ground, you'll see that it says "Sekeping Serendah" if you squint hard and long enough. ;)



You'll head up a small dirt road lined with trees which will bring you to a rustic looking wall made of bricks. You'll see the retreat right after that - if you're on a heavily graveled road instead of a smooth dirt road, you've taken a wrong turn and would very likely need assistance if you go further in.



You can park right outside the only road to the sheds. The sheds are all partially covered by shrubs, with only clay brick steps leading up to the elevated living quarters. It offers a lot of shade (from the sun), shelter (from the rain), and privacy (from other people) - all three of which we experienced.



The mud sheds have air conditioning, a fridge, a wash basin, open concept showers and washrooms, and clay partitions. The beds are thoughtfully fitted with mosquito netting to ensure a night of untroubled sleep. There are no modern distracting amenities like TV and your cell phone won't work over here so it's a perfect place to get reacquainted with nature. Everything is concealed - they do have hot water but the piping is hidden so you feel like you're really living under the trees...



...which in fact you are. The forest canopy combined with the brilliant open style architecture allows the open skies to be literally above your head when you lounge in the patio and when you shower. Coupled with the truncated tree trunks in the patio and the brook running through the entire retreat, it's like you're completely isolated from your worries, and there's just you and your friends.



The private swimming pool is an excellent place to soak after the ordeal that we went through. We headed straight for the pool as soon as we got there and put our bags in the mud shed. The caretaker was kind enough to ask if we wanted to barbecue stuff at night and kindly offered to provide charcoal and light the fire.



Meanwhile, we hit the swimming pool, relaxed in the cool, refreshing water and talked about stuff while soaking in the refreshingly cold water. I would say it's a great place for company outings and bonding sessions, stuff like that. I was in the pool with Joyce and Windy until we were all wrinkled from the water and it was getting too cold to stay. It was dark by the time we got back to the mud shed.



The canopy of trees above your head as you swim and laze around really makes for a relaxing experience.

It's like a slice of paradise.
 
Just be careful of the pole supporting the curtain that covers the shower and washroom - it's not anchored and very prone to falling down at the most inappropriate moments. -_-"

The trip started off normally enough - it was supposed to be an overnight stay at a relaxing retreat about an hour away from KL. We had breakfast and bought some groceries for the barbecue at night before driving down...



...I even managed to drop by my alma mater. ;)

Sekeping Serendah is supposed to be about 10 km after Serenti Serendah. I drove up too far, got some wrong directions from a local and drove into a gravel stretch of road. The website did mention a "narrow road" so I pushed on despite the numerous hazards on the road, nay, gravel path.



I drove into a deep pothole about 2 kilometers in. I tried to reverse, failed to get a grip on the sandy gravel and had to get out. We came out with this idea of putting rocks under the tires for traction and I managed (with much acceleration and damage to the car) to reverse out...

...straight into another deep pothole. -_-"



This time I was really stuck and Joyce and Windy came out with a couple of...er, innovative ideas, including jacking up the front of the car (Windy: You have comprehensive car insurance right?) but it was to no avail. We were stuck in the middle of nowhere!



Thus, I called the retreat and asked for a tow truck. We were stranded there for two hours while waiting for the tow truck guys to come. It was certainly an Experience (TM). ;)



The people fixed a length of rope to my car...



...and I reversed it out with the help of the 4WD towing me. The strange thing about these kind souls is that they wouldn't accept payment of any sort. Cheers!



The ordeal gave me cracks on both my rear tires and it was decided that a trip to the tire shop was in order so I won't burst it driving back, lose control of the car, crash, and kill everyone. Damage for replacing both rear tires: RM 320.



Oh well, at least I got a certificate as a testament to my driving skillz. ;)

a.k.a Genting and back in 3 hours and RM 1,500 richer



I was having dinner last night when Sze and I came out with this incredibly impulsive idea - we're going up to Genting Highlands to hit the casinos and come back after winning RM 1,000. It was about 11 pm then and I was determined to get back the RM 35k I lost about a year ago. I was thinking positive this time - WIN! =D



Thus, we called for a taxi to get us up at 11:45 pm and arrived at there at about 1 am. It was very impromptu - I didn't even bring my dSLR. I quickly headed for the ATM to withdraw my bankroll of RM 3,000. Unfortunately, the ATMs at Genting do not allow more than RM 1,000 to be withdrawn in a day. I only had RM 200 with me in addition to the RM 1,000 and I couldn't very well walk in with just a 1.2k bankroll. Sze was kind enough to withdraw RM 800 to make it an even RM 2k.

Thus armed, we proceeded to the casino and I headed straight for the Baccarat tables.

I put RM 500 on Player after getting my cash changed for chips.

I lost. Banker wins.

I put another RM 500 on Player.

I lost again. Banker wins.

Motherfucker! I was down to half of my bankroll. I put RM 300 on Banker. Player wins.

.....

I'm down to RM 700. I put RM 200 on Banker. Banker was on 1/2 payout but at least I won.

RM 800.

I put RM 500 on Player.

Player deals a 7. Player stands. Banker draws a third card. I thought this was in the bag until the Banker got a 9.

I'm down to RM 300. What can you do with RM 300?

Desperate times calls for desperate measures. In a fit of inspiration (or desperation, rather) I put RM 100 on Player and RM 100 on Player Double.

I was down to my last RM 100 (not counting the RM 200 on the table).

Player Double is a variation of Tie (8 to 1 returns). Player Double pays out 11 to 1. It's only available on some tables and requires the first two cards for Player to be the same cards.

Player draws a 7 for the first card. I wasn't looking, since I was a bit dejected at my FAIL plan to win RM 1.5k and was thinking about putting my last RM 100 chip on Roulette.

Suddenly, I felt someone grab me from the left. Sze was at my right so I was rather perplexed. This Chinese woman chattered excitedly to me and I looked at the table.

I'll be fucked.

Player draws a double 7. 7 of diamonds and 7 of spades.

The Banker won the game but I didn't care. I only had RM 100 on Player and RM 100 on Player Double.

I got RM 1,100 (11 to 1 payout) from the double 7 cards. =D

The Chinese woman kept on talking to me, telling me that I was very lucky. Yeah, it's pure luck. Fortune favors the bold. ;)

Bankroll: RM 1,300

I'm still down RM 700 and the cards were being reshuffled so we moved to the next table, where there is a lot of commotion. It seems that Banker is on a winning streak and there are tens of thousands in chips on the table - all on Banker.

I'm a big fan of Player and generally going against the odds (which is why I lose most of the time).

I put RM 500 on Player. I was the lone one in the entire table betting on Player.

Player draws a 6. The crowd goes berserk, coz Player stands while the Banker draws a third card. I don't know why but I'm sure I was gonna win this round. I'm not gonna lose going against the grain. No way, Jose.

Banker draws a 5.

I watch with glee as the dealer takes all the chips on Banker and pays out RM 500 to the sole Player bet - mine. =D

I'm at RM 1,800 right now, just down by RM 200.

I decided to go over to the Roulette tables and put RM 200 on 6. I usually don't stay this long in a casino; I like to get in and out fast coz the odds are always stacked against you the longer you stay. The house always wins.

The ball settled on 11. I think this is a pivotal experience and made me do what I did later.

I went back to the Baccarat tables with RM 1,600. I put RM 300 on Player. Player wins.

My chips are now at RM 1,900 - just RM 100 short of my initial bankroll. I need to increase my bets and get the hell out of there ASAP.

I put RM 500 on Banker, thought better of it, and moved it down to Player. Player wins!

RM 2,400. I'm up RM 400.

I put RM 500 on Player. It's a tie. The same Chinese woman beside me lamented her situation with great fervor to me, saying that she was about to put some money on Tie.

I left my RM 500 chip on Player while the other players take their chips back and think (or whatever it is they do). I've never understood this. It's not gonna change the odds. It's like a superstition of sorts. I always keep it at the same place.

Before the dealer starts to deal, I impulsively put RM 100 on Player Double again.

This time, I'm watching. I had hoped to win the RM 500 player bet, the RM 100 on Player Double is just an random bet I made from seeing the number 11 on Roulette just now.

Player draws a 6. I wasn't looking at the Banker cards. The dealer took out the second card for Player and opened it. I'll be fucked. It's a 6!

The Chinese woman was OMGWTFBBQ at my sheer luck. She just witnessed me winning RM 1,100 twice on a very improbable bet (Player Double).

Now, I had to play closer attention. I still had RM 500 riding on Player.

The game was a tie.

The Chinese woman again lamented excitedly about how she was gonna put some money on Tie since the previous game was a tie too. She also attempted to touch me to "get some of my luck".

I would have loved it if Player had won since I'll have walked away with RM 2,000 if that had happened. But I can't be greedy. I told Sze we're leaving. She asked me how much I've won.



RM 3,500. Thanks to the double six and the tie, I've won exactly RM 1,500 (after deducting my bankroll of RM 2,000).



I returned Sze RM 800 with some interest and we adjourned for drinks.



I was quite happy about walking away with RM 1,500. I never stay back after I've won what I decided to win. You can't be greedy coz the house always wins.



I ordered a Beer Tower (RM 179++) which has the equivalent of 2 1/2 jugs of beer. The price is kinda steep but this calls for a celebration!



I tipped the bartender about RM 15 or so and he was quite happy about it. He gave us complimentary sausages. :)



I hailed a taxi after we finished our beer tower and got back at about 3 am. Dinner was about RM 88, the taxi ride to Genting cost RM 80 and the return trip RM 110. Minus the cost of the beer tower, I had netted RM 1,000 that night.

The house always wins, but not last night.



Last night, I won. :)

Hear ye, hear ye! I stand witness to the latest revolution in broadband TV. It happened not in a manger in Bethlehem but at Laundry Bar, the Curve and instead of three wise kings, we had a motley crew of characters including Captain Jack Sparrow, Elvis Presley, and Princess Leia.



I registered at the Media/Bloggers booth and checked out what they have to offer. Hypp.TV is the first online broadband TV service in Malaysia - exclusively for Streamyx users. There were demo computers showing the service pre-launch but before I checked them out, I indulged in the customary ritual whenever a significant amount of bloggers congregate...



Camwhore.



You gotta admit, I look the part. I substituted gin for whiskey. Sign of the times, my friends. ;)



ABBA - Mamma Mia!



Elvis has left the Curve.



Princess Diana survived the crash.



There was a highly energetic dance performance to hype, er...Hypp.TV up the crowd...



...before the official unveiling ceremony was done.



I quite liked the short and concise introduction to Hypp.TV - it flits through the channels they have, touches on the new features of the Hypp.TV media player before flicking through the sheer amount of content genres in the system.



The best thing about the Hypp.TV media player is the ability for you to click on a link you're interested in, which opens up a browser window while minimizing the broadband TV screen (much like the Picture in Picture function on TVs) so you can read the news while watching the latest soccer match. Of all the features, this is the one that impressed me the most. Another click takes you back to the full screen broadband TV screen. Nifty, eh?

Interested? Getting started is just 3 easy steps away!

1. Sign Up for a Hypp.TV account
Register a user account for free under the Free SIGN UP tab.

2. Launch Hypp.TV Media Player
Launch Hypp.TV Media Player under the Watch NOW! tab.

3. Sign In on Hypp.TV Media Player
Once Hypp.TV Media Player is launched, just sign in to watch!



There is another press conference after the public unveiling, but before I could digest all that information (no pun intended) I needed some food first.



The Hypp.TV relaunch is explained in further detail in the press conference, which we were privy to. It costs RM 9.90 per month for a full subscription to the service, which allows you to watch more than 30 channels. You'll be spoilt for choice with channels like Al-Jazeera English (great for the occasional Osama videotaped broadcast), Channel NewsAsia, CCTV 4, WOW TV, Fashion TV, Wedding TV, Yoonic Fight Club, X-treme Video and even the 2010 FIFA World Cup broadcast for the Europe playoffs.
 
There are just too many channels to type - that's just a small part of the 30+ channels Hypp.TV has to offer. There's something for everyone! It's perfect for the "I want it now" generation with its freedom of choice of what to watch and when to watch it.



Gone are the nostalgic days of eagerly waiting by the TV at 9:45 pm armed with a mug of Milo to catch the 10 pm action movie every Thursday. It's a whole new generation now, thanks for the extensive penetration of broadband, and the choices and options that comes with it. I digress.



The best thing about Hypp.TV is the rich media integration - web, broadband TV, everything but the kitchen sink in one media player that's so easy to use my grandma can probably navigate it with her eyes closed. Well, probably not with her eyes closed, but you get the point.



Hypp.TV has a very user-friendly interface without any stop and start buffering in the video. That's either great compression or just the nature of the system - I'm on Streamyx and Hypp.TV is hosted on their servers.

.

Hypp.TV - Freedom & Choice. Just a click away!

I stumbled upon this article in The Star today. Jess Teh, aged 30, and still looking mighty fine, is facing two drug charges. One is for methamphetamine consumption and the other is for the possession of 0.79 grams of cannabis. I'm puzzled. 0.79 grams is a minuscule amount for cannabis - it's usually sold in amounts of 10 grams and above.

I digress. I like how the article described her as "always fashionable" and my favorite description of the delicious Jess is "She walked past pressmen in her usual unapproachable manner, with a scowl and in a black T-shirt with the words "Don't ask why" printed on it." (emphasis mine).

She's got attitude, and the photo I nicked from The Star shows that she isn't too hard on the eyes either. It got me wondering though, why do guys like "bad girls"? I know why women like "bad boys" and the dark triad of personalities theory but how does that hold for the XY chromosome persuasion?

I sat down long and hard thinking about this and all I could come up with is The Offspring song Want You Bad. ;)

I know your arms are open wide, but you're a little on the straight side, I can't lie
Your one vice is you're too nice
Come around now can you see?
I want you all tattooed. I want you bad.
Complicated. X-rated.
I want you bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.

Seriously though, for me, I think it's the appeal of familiarity and the thrill - Aries are notorious thrill seekers.

What about you? Do you get attracted to bad boys/girls?

I was browsing through my dSLR, looking at the photos taken last Saturday night and I noticed a very disturbing thing...



I remember most of the photos I've taken that night. However, there were a series of photos of Yiling drinking a full jug of water that I did not remember taking.



There were 32 photos in all - burst mode. I thought it was someone using my dSLR since I was pretty messed up by 10:30 pm so I checked the time on the photos.

12:01 AM.

It must be someone else since I don't remember anything from 10:30 pm onwards so I assumed I passed out...

...but wait!



There's a photo of me. The timestamp says 12:14 AM. I was apparently still awake (though the definition of "awake" is used very liberally here) then. I can't for the life of me remember anything from 10:30 pm till 3 am in the morning.



I know I got home at 3:30 am and I must have survived the drive since I'm writing this and there are no dents or scratches on my car so I assume I didn't run into anybody or anything. I can't even remember driving home! Dahsyat-nya...

I need someone to F5 my memory from that night. I have been through this before, and during episodes of ethanol induced amnesia I usually end up behaving very badly.


Oh well, to my credit, I haven't drank a single drop since that night.

I have been backstage at the MDG 2 closed auditions and was privy to the...well, things that goes on backstage. Acha took the liberty of predicting that I would have 1 son and 1 daughter in my lifetime. I guess that that just leaves 1 daughter then, or none. I'm not too sure myself. ;)



This is the girl's dressing room. Yeah, being one of the official bloggers sure opens doors (or curtains rather). ;) It was fun to hang around with the girls and get to know them better. The 21 hopefuls have been narrowed down to a scant 12 girls. The Chosen (TM) will get to live at the MDG 2 Dream House.



...all in all, it was a jolly good time.

Hey, I can't say being surrounded by 21 girls is a chore. =D

Check out my MDG 2 post for more details. The names of the 12 finalists will be released soon!

The logistics of condominium mail is bound to produce some interesting results. The occupancy density practically guarantees it. The system at my condo is quite secure (if you trust the fallible homo sapiens) - no one gets in or out to deliver mail. The mail is passed to the guardhouse, who distributes it to the respective resident's mailbox. I opened mine yesterday to get my Streamyx bill and was aghast at the sheer amount of correspondence inside.

There were four (4) different people's worth of mail inside. I recognize one as my landlord, there were two other girls - Adeline and Siew Choon, and a guy named Suresh. There is  another envelope that was supposed to be delivered to Kelana Parkview Condominium (which isn't my condo and is quite a distance away).

I don't really trust the system so I prefer to have my mail sent to my mailing address in Sibu.

Anyway, about the fire, all has been resolved. My landlord asked me to pay for the cabinets, which is fair enough. The condo management didn't ask me to pay for the damage and got an electrician to fix my power for free.

I guess that's the plus point of condo maintenance fees. ;)