sixthseal.com

Lundu Children Amusement Fun Fair

Lundu is a town about an hour's driver from Kuching. I headed there with my friends one night during a drunken impulse to eat seafood there (Lundu is renowned for its cheap and delicious seafood) and so we drove down in the middle of the night in search of food.

Well, we didn't find food coz all the seafood restaurants were closed, but some coffee shops were still open so we got more beer and drove around the place. We figured we might as well scout around since we're already there.

It turns out that there was a local Fun Fair going on there - the Lundu Children Amusement Fun Fair so we decided to check it out. The entrance free was RM 2 and it looked so inviting while inebriated so in we went. ;)

There were carousels with pretty ponies going round and round, with a glass mirror facade in the middle and the handrails that feels so familiar from childhood days...

The obligatory Ferris wheel was slowly spinning around with the bright neon lights covering the cages producing a swirl of florescent colors...

The games of chance that various booths ply to lure in the crowd was also there in abundance, offering gifts of soft toys if you could just toss the ring into the steeple, roll the ball down a nail obstacle course, or dart a space the size of a postage stamp from three feet away to get the prize instead of just a congratulatory sweet...

...and then all of a sudden, one booth pulled up the tarp on their setup. The carousel music that was playing in the background started to mute. The Ferris wheel lights dimmed and then ground to a halt. OMG! The fun fair had closed and we haven't even gotten on a single ride! :(

However, loud techno music started to reverberate through the fun fair grounds as the other rides and booths shut down for the night. The bumper cars! The ride was still open! It seems that everyone was at the bumper car place getting on the rides so I got a bunch of credits and started to get into the bumper cars.

The credits goes for RM 10 for four (4) tokens and each ride on the bumper cars took two tokens so it's RM 5 for a one minute ride. I spent RM 50 on tokens anyway, coz I have fond memories of our local semi-dilapidated safety regulation hazard fun fairs. :)

It was fun driving the bumper cars around, making it go fast, watching the contact wires spark on the mesh ceiling like lighting as you drive around, bumping into other cars. It certainly did bring back many fond memories.

Download: Bumper cars scene video [sixthseal.com]

Download: Bumper cars POV video [sixthseal.com]

The bumper cars were fun and even though that was the only ride we got on at the Lundu Children Amusement Fun Fair, we drove the one hour commute back to Kuching laughing happily (ever after).

The End

Posted in Events by Huai Bin at 05:11 PM Permalink | Comments (45) | TrackBack

Dig your own hole

I've been really sick for the past few days due to The Bird Nesting By My Windows Part III (long time readers will know what I'm talking about) it's been giving me sinus problems, diarrhea, pains and aches over by body, fever and insomnia (despite my healthy regiment of benzodiazepines). I wake up everyday feeling like shit and the thing is, I don't know if it's avian flu (very low probability) or I'm just dope sick (opiate withdrawal - symptoms sound familiar to you? ;))

It's a good thing that I managed to get 60 tablets of DF-118 (dihydrocodeine 30 mg tablets) scripted just now. I kinda messed up my story a little but this doctor knows everything about me, hell, so does the other, they've been seeing me for two years, it would take a fool to not see that I have a drug problem (the doctor was not fooled when I accidentally injected methamphetamine into an artery and told him I snagged my wrist on a rusty nail).

(after scripting me the 60 x DF-118)
Doctor #1: *sigh* Huai Bin, you know you have a problem right?
Me: Yeah...I'm trying to sort things out but work is kinda hectic, you know...
Doctor #1: *sigh* Huai Bin, I really hope you can get off of these. It's not helping you know.
Me: I know doc (actually I don't ;)) but thanks for scripting me anyway, yeah? I appreciate it.

(after consuming all of his two new DF-118 500 tablet containers he ordered for me)
Doctor #2: Huai Bin, you come here several times a week and I've been through your medical records and I'm thinking that you're not on maintenance anymore but you're escalating your doses.
(This is the doctor who's been treating me for years and has given me an infinite supply of maintenance benzodiazepines - Dormicum, Xanax, and Rivotril but is starting to get worried about my opiate use)
Me: You know doctor, work has been very stressful, and the opiates really help me get through the day.
(This doctor has scripted me Oxycontin before and also knows about my drug problems)
Me: I mean, the plan for this is for off-label harm reduction use right? I don't want to go back to getting alternative non-pharmaceutical opiates (a euphemism for street heroin)
(We don't actually talk about the fact that I use drugs intravenously - we walk around the issue - but he knows I'm safe about it - no sharing, one needle for each hit etc plus I have an excellent blood work record at his place, no transmissible diseases)
Doctor #2: You're a really intelligent person, Huai Bin...I just don't understand how someone like you would get yourself into this. I've seen kids coming in trying to get Nospan (Dextromethorphan - DXM a cheap high for the lower income folks) but you're not like them.
Me: I'm just trying to get through the day, to smooth the edges a little...
Doctor #2: Don't get me wrong, but I don't think you have any intention of maintaining the dose - you're increasing the dose. I know you're on other opiates and I don't want you to get involved in alternative non-pharmaceutical opiates in the interests of harm reduction. Don't go down that road again, Huai Bin. I've run out of DF-118 and I cannot prescribe you any more opiates coz I don't want you to dig a larger hole than you're already in. I know you can get opiates elsewhere but I want you to think seriously about MRT.
(MRT = Methadone Replacement Therapy, recently initiated and only available in KL and I would have no problems getting into the program coz of my drug arrest and a letter of recommendation from my Case Officer in PDRM Narcotics Department, which I'm still close to)
Me: I can't get away from work for long periods of time. How long will it take?
Doctor #2: I can write a letter of recommendation for 2 months. I think it would take that long for you to taper off...
Me: I definitely cannot go for rehab (MRT is a self-check in rehab with no restrictions e.g. you don't have to stay in there for a fixed period but you can check yourself out anytime) for that long. Can you allow me to taper myself off? I'm interested in fentanyl patches (Duragesic patches) - the lowest dose is .25 ucg and you wear the patch for the whole day, much like a nicotine patch. Can you do that for me doctor?
Doctor #2: That is for cancer patients with terminal pain but I can accept a harm reduction taper program. Give me an honest answer...how long do you think you will need to be on it?
Me: Two weeks. It comes in a box of 5 patches so probably 3 boxes of Duragesic.
Doctor #2: Alright, I'll make an Indent Order for that. But after this, there's no more opiates alright? Just benzos, I can accept that due to your anxiety issues but no more opiates ok? This will be the last taper course.
Me: Okay doctor, I promise.
Doctor #2: Okay, I'll get them in for you next week. Take care of yourself Huai Bin, I hope you can get off it by this.

Thus, I have some Duragesic patches coming in next week. Fentanyl, baby! =D

(The patches are injectable too if you get out the fentanyl)

w00t!

Anyway, I'm going on-site for work now. Will reply all the comment later.

Posted in Pharmaceuticals by Huai Bin at 02:18 PM Permalink | Comments (66) | TrackBack

Haute Couture fashion in Kuching

Haute Couture fashion in Kuching. Pret a porter. You can even leave your old clothes here if you want to.

Ah Lian Fashion - setting trends for high fashion in Kuching...

(since 1981)

Posted in Hmm... by Huai Bin at 05:30 PM Permalink | Comments (21) | TrackBack

Stone Ice review

Stone Ice is a popular iced dessert and rojak specialty outlet that has been operating for years at the top floor of the commercial portion of Saberkas building. The shop occupies almost the entire area and the name stems from its initial foray into iced desserts and the decor.

Stone Ice has seating arrangements made of solid rock in a part Roman part prehistoric theme. The tall pillars leading up to the ordering counter is decorated by the random tall brush and small decorative areas with creeping vines and stones. It's like a small Zen garden in the austere shopping mall.

Stone Ice is a self-service eating establishment - there are different sections on the long bar counter for ordering. The two main flagship products are located in the iced dessert (ABC Special or Ice Kacang) section and the rojak (fruit salad) section.

This is the iced dessert and rojak section. Stone Ice pioneered the open kitchen concept long before the term was coined. There are selections of fresh fruit, dried nuts, and other items on display here. The user is given a bowl and chooses the ingredients they want in their iced dessert or rojak.

The iced dessert containers have the usual suspects like cendol, sweet corn, mixed fruits and various colored jellies. You choose the stuff you want in your iced dessert from this section and put it into your bowl.

There is also an additional section for the users who wants to spice up their iced dessert with unorthodox ingredients - there is a variety of dried fruits and herbs you can opt for.

This is the stuff I put into my bowl - there are peaches, corn, black jelly (a jelly made from herbs), and miscellaneous jellies to add texture to the final product.

I also added some dried fruits to the bowl coz I like eating stuff with different tastes and textures. The bowl is charged a standard price and it's passed to the attendant on duty for processing.

The attendant puts shaved ice on top of the ingredients and tops it with a healthy pouring of evaporated milk and sugar syrup.

This is what the finished product looks like - the ingredients are all at the bottom of the bowl just like what a local shaved ice dessert should look like.

Here's a closer look at the shaved ice dessert. There are an infinite number of different variants which you can make due to the user customization of the ingredients that goes into the shaved ice dessert. It's a great concept!

The rojak here is what Kuching citizens usually go for. Stone Ice is famous for the same reasons it's renowned for good iced desserts - the rojak is customizable from an array of different platters of fruit, tofu and even lok lok (deep fried seafood).

The customer is given a container and you fill up that container from the ingredients that's on offer. I like my rojak to have plenty of fresh mangos...

...and jambu batu (a water soaked local fruit) as well as pink guava.

Here's a closer look at the my container - it's filled with fruits and I also added some deep fried crab sticks (at the bottom left) and some squid (bottom right) coz I like zany ingredients with fruit. Can you see why Stone Ice is a stoner paradise now? ;)

The rojak is sold by weight...the container is put on a weighing scale and the amount charged according to how heavy it is. Fruits like nectarines are lighter and so is tofu but I really don't like tofu so I just add a little of it.

The rojak you selected is sent for further processing after the weighing process. It's like a mini assembly line. This is where the rojak is cut and mixed up with rojak sauce and peanuts and chilli (if you opt for it) for the final product.

The attendant will start cutting the selections into bite sized pieces and mix it in a large bowl (which happens to be a stone bowl, and could be a possible etymology of the establishment's name) with grounded peanuts and rojak sauce (a sweet dark sauce).

The rojak is done individually and that adds to the appeal of the rojak over here. The antiseptic cleanliness of the bar doesn't hurt either. You can see octopus legs here if you squint at my choices. Octopus legs with rojak rocks my socks off (no pun intended).

The mixing of the ingredients is done by dousing the stuff you chose with rojak sauce. The rojak is made by a wooden spatula slowly integrating the ingredients in a semi-uniform manner and allowing each piece to be covered by the sauce.

Stone Ice rojak is served on disposable Styrofoam containers with toothpicks and half a lime, topped with finely grounded peanuts and pork floss (by request).

It's great stuff...

Stone Ice is Stoner's Heaven. :)

Posted in Food reviews by Huai Bin at 12:44 PM Permalink | Comments (40) | TrackBack

Tequila lollipop with real worm review

I received a Saran wrapped package from the US with a tequila lollipop containing a real worm inside and a note which says "If he's not in Jail, pass to 6 Seal at 016 8883166". Thanks for the vote of confidence, Eddie [cooknengr.com]. :p

The tequila flavored lollipop with a real worm comes courtesy of Eddie who came back from the US a while ago before heading back for work again. The lollipop is called HotLix and it's called "Tequila Flavor with Worm" and lists Malitol syrup, Insect Larva, natural and artificial flavoring as the ingredients.

This is a closer look at the tequila flavored lollipop containing a genuine tequila worm inside. The tequila worm is listed as "insect larvae" and it's technically a caterpillar that lives on the leaves on the mescal plant and it's usually called an "agave worm". There is no worm in tequila of course, but this marketing perpetuated myth has produced some interesting products. :)

The tequila flavored lollypop with worm tastes great - but the syrupy lollypop kept on sticking to my tongue piercing stud. It's a very sticky lollypop which smoothes out towards the end and the are hints of tequila flavor (agave) shines through after the initial sugary taste. The objective is to suck on it until the tequila worm comes out. The tequila worm (technically insect larvae) tastes great!

Oh, hello!

Mmm...tastes like chicken. :)

Scratch that...it actually tastes a little crunchy and has a deep fried texture to it; so I would say it tastes like deep fried chicken skin. ;)

Posted in Snacks by Huai Bin at 02:41 PM Permalink | Comments (32) | TrackBack

Nestle Kit Kat Strawberry Limited Edition (Japan)

Nestle came out with a limited edition strawberry flavored Kit Kat in Japan. fish fish [blogspot.com] kindly brought it back for me but I forgot to take it the first time and only managed to get it when I went out for dinner with her a couple of days ago. The Japanese Kit Kat box is very well designed with images of strawberries and a photo of the actual Kit Kat Strawberry bar printed in front.

Nestle Kit Kat Strawberry Limited Edition is packaged in the specially designed cardboard box pioneered by Japan that has evolved into the standard limited edition Kit Kat packaging now. The distinctive packaging is filled with kanji and hiragana characters and has a side perforation which opens up to reveal the individually wrapped twin bars that has become the benchmark for limited edition Kit Kats around the world.

The Japanese Nestle Kit Kat Strawberry Limited Edition cardboard box contains 2 x 2 wafer bars in a nicely designed wrapper which features a pink color scheme and strawberry outlines in bright aluminum foil interspaced throughout the wrapper. The back of the individually wrapped twin bars is inscribed with "Have a break, have a KitKit" and it's really nicely designed compared to Malaysian efforts.

Nestle Kit Kat Strawberry Limited Edition (Japan) opens up to reveal the familiar Kit Kat layout with a distinctive strawberry scent wafting out as soon as the foil is perforated. It's amazing...they got the strawberry fragrance spot on, and I immediately felt like eating it! The bars are nicely pressed too, with speckles of bright red containing bits of strawberry pieces in a pink strawberry flavored coating.

Nestle Japan Kit Kat Strawberry Limited Edition tastes great! The taste test does not disappoint - it seems that the wafers in the Japanese edition of Kit Kat is much better than the ones we get over here...it has an almost melt-in-the-mouth texture and the middle of the wafers is coated with strawberry paste too, making this one extremely strawberry-licious Kit Kat! :)

Posted in Snacks by Huai Bin at 06:26 PM Permalink | Comments (28) | TrackBack

Man selling crabs at the roadside

I saw a man selling crabs at the roadside while on the way back to the office just now. I didn't get any, obviously, since my kitchen amenities are meager (understatement of the year) but my CTO grabbed one. One kilogram of live crabs (about 4-5 crabs depending on size) goes for RM 8 in a nice bunch.

The man has got a serious case of crabs...

Lame jokes aside, I'm putting up my bets for tonight as requested. I'm going for Iran (no concedes) and Argentina (conceding one goal) at a stake of RM 300 each.

I'm pretty much spent from work today so I'm going to turn in early and catch some sleep before going on-site again tomorrow. Work has been very hectic as of late (which was why I couldn't go to Cambodia) so I'll reply the comments when I can.

Good luck!

Posted in Local food by Huai Bin at 07:51 PM Permalink | Comments (35) | TrackBack

Prozac Nation

I'm back to taking Prozac for depression again...20 mg of fluoxetine once a day. I'm not sure if it really helps to be honest, but it doesn't not-help either. *shrugs*

World Cup 2006 winnings to date: RM 2,350

Switzerland vs. Togo
Asian Handicap Odds: Switzerland conceding 1 (one) goal
Bet: Switzerland (RM 300)
Result: 2-0

I took Switzerland on this match - and they trashed Togo. I wasn't actually sure about this match and I took some time pondering whether to take Togo (actually started typing it in the SMS) before deciding on Switzerland...just coz they are a liberal country with regards to drugs. Switzerland pioneered the heroin injection clinics for harm reduction and MDMA research is being conducted there for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Germany vs. Ecuador
Asian Handicap Odds: Germany conceding 1 1/2 goal
Bet: Germany (RM 300)
Result: 3-0

I went for Germany despite the odds coz Germany happens to be the host team and I think that counts for a lot...and it turns out to be the right choice, a sound trashing along the lines of 3 goals without conceding a single one.

Sweden vs. England
Asian Handicap Odds: England conceding 0X goal
Bet: England (RM 300)
Result: 2-2 (draw)

I didn't want to bet on England - it was my girlfriend who suggested it. England, she said. David Beckham, she said. Thus, I humored her and bet RM 300 on it. It's a 0X odds (basically if it's a draw you lose half if you took England) so I lost RM 150 on this match. I still won overall last night though due to a full win from the Germany match. Therefore, I only won RM 150 last night after deducting this loss from the Germany win.

It seems that my winning streak is over based on the England loss last night - I suspect it could be due to the fact that I announced it just before the playoffs which somehow caused the undersea Internet cables to radiate at that particular time space continuum and following the chaos theory of physics somehow caused the 90th minute score by Sweden to clear the goal post. Butterfly effect and all that.... :p

Anyway, I'll reply the comments later - I'm working on-site right now...

Posted in by Huai Bin at 11:23 AM Permalink | Comments (67) | TrackBack

The Empire Strikes Back

Empire [sixthseal.com] is one of my favorite hairstylist establishments in Kuching. The place has got it all - chicks, chicks, and more chicks. ;) I went to get a haircut there - the hairstylist I use is always the same, so I probably should dub her the official sixthseal.com hairstylist. ;)

She remembers me despite the time lapse since the previous time I was here - a full two years with Bernice - and she's a really nice person. I like her.

This is another shot of the hairstylist without flash - I think the skin tone looks better in this one, though she was a little bit shy in this shot. This captures her real life persona better, I should post up a video since she looks much better in real life and videos can capture that elusive essence of spirit better than a static photo can.

This would be the obligatory photo of us. She always has subjects to talk to me about while cutting my hair (which is the mark of a professional hairstylist, IMHO) and I think I'm infatuated with her. ;)

P/S - Iskalla, if you have any doubts of the improvement in my drug use practices, just check out the previous link to Empire - I was practically a carcass then, heading at breakneck speed (no pun intended) towards the dark depths of heavy methamphetamine use.

World Cup 2006 winnings to date: RM 1,900

Japan vs. Croatia
Asian Handicap Odds: Croatia conceding one (1) goal
Bet: Japan (RM 300)
Result: 0-0 (draw)

This updates my winnings by RM 300. I think I'm on a winning streak - I had wanted to bet on Ghana on Saturday night but I was too sick to make the call so I lost out RM 300 (the amount I bet on smaller matches - I go up exponentially in the Group of 16, Semis, and Finals) on that one. I had also wanted to go for Korea (which would have won due to the goal concede by France) but I was too dope sick to think straight, so I just went for Japan. Thus, the (projected) RM 2,500 winnings have shrunk to RM 1,900 but then again, if I had bet, the butterfly effect just might have made the respective teams lose so I'm glad with the current winnings. I haven't lost a single match (but did draw once during the England vs. Trinidad match) so I probably should put up my predictions, huh? ;)

...only thing is, my predictions are based on punting on the Asian handicap betting system and not on the matches itself per se. Thus, I need to see the odds before I place my predictions.

Posted in XX chromosomes by Huai Bin at 11:07 AM Permalink | Comments (46) | TrackBack

barZ!ing girl

This is one of the waitresses in barZ!ng at Travillion Mall. The photo is a bit out of focus so there's another obligatory one with me in it.

I don't remember her name but she's real friendly and accommodating. She looks much better in real life too!

P/S - I know I look fucked up. Opiates, benzodiazepines and alcohol tend to do that to people. ;)

Posted in XX chromosomes by Huai Bin at 11:13 PM Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack

Li Bai Fusion Cafe review

Li Bai Fusion Cafe is the latest eating establishment in the Padungan district. The Padungan area is fast becoming a catalyst for concept gastronomic outlets and Li Bai Fusion Cafe just opened its doors to the public less than a month ago. I went to check it out with Yie Hui last night after meeting her at bing!

Li Bai Fusion Cafe (sometimes spelled Lee Bai) has a great signboard at the establishment - it features a caricature of Li Bai (a famous Chinese poet) followed by the Chinese characters spelling out his name and the words fusion cafe is small font at the bottom. It is owned by Grick Liew from Kitchen Asylum Sdn. Bhd. - a friendly guy who told us about the operations of the place.

Li Bai Fusion Cafe has a small glass encased alcove at the ground floor which has nice bamboo features (the bamboo theme is central to the Li Bai Fusion Cafe decor) and a cohesive theme which includes Chinese style wood paneling and cordons as well as Chinese style tea ceremony seating. The open ground floor area is a smoking zone and there are waitresses to seat you upstairs at the no-smoking air conditioned dining area.

The dining area on the first floor is much larger and features a lot of Li Bai (the Chinese poet) writings on the walls and bamboo shoots in a glass feature at the center wall. The seating arrangements are similar to the Chinese style tea ceremony seating at the ground floor and there's a small staff area which includes a dumb waiter for the kitchen downstairs to deliver the food up.

Li Bai Fusion Cafe has bright florescent lighting (and even a streetlamp!) with halogen lights angled down to feature the writings of the Chinese poet which the place is named after. The bright florescent lighting feels cold, but it imparts a feeling of sanitization and cleanliness (which is next to Godliness, or so I hear).

There is also a VIP seating area (or private dining area) at the back of the eating establishment - and the unusual aspect about Li Bai Fusion Cafe implementation of this space is that it's semi-open. The dining area is built inside a wooden structure with sliding doors and the patrons and tables are visible from the outside.

Fresh Juice (RM 3.80)
I think this is apple juice. Yie Hui ordered this one and she said it was good.

Nyonya Style Chicken (RM 10)
This is the main dish that the waitress recommended. The fusion cafe moniker is very apt in this case - Li Bai Fusion Cafe serves up Chinese cuisine with influences from a lot of other disciplines of cooking. It tastes great - the chicken is spicy and sweet at the same time.

Yin Yang (RM 6)
Yin Yang is a dish which comprises flat noodles (kueh tiaw) and rice vermicelli (bee hoon) mixed in equal parts (which gives it the name). The rice vermicelli is deep fried before being soaked into the flat noodles (kueh tiaw) gravy so it maintains its crunchiness at the beginning and becomes soggy towards the end.

The Yin Yang dish has a mixture of ingredients such as chicken, prawns and crab sticks, as well as vegetables. It was rather bland - that's the verdict from the both of us.

"Jin Zhen Tou" (RM 7.50)
This rice based dish has heavy influences from Indonesian cuisine - it's basically a version of nasi pattaya (fried rice wrapped in an omelet) served with a side of orange chicken (chicken cooked with orange). I like the orange slices arranged on the dish...it gives it a bit of presentation flair. The rice dish is not just topped with an omelet but completely wrapped inside a large omelet.

This is what the dish looks like inside - you can definitely tell I wasn't the one who started eating it from the clean break. ;) The fried rice has oatmeal mixed into it and that gives it a sweet texture at times. I like the orange chicken too, it tastes great, but Yie Hui is not a big fan of sweet gravy with rice. I am though. This comes highly recommended from me.

Snow Frog (RM 10)
This is one of the desserts we ordered - it's a traditional Chinese herbal drink that's supposed to be "cooling". It tastes sweet.

Fresh "Xi Mi Lu" (RM 10.50)
This dessert is a milk based concoction with an assortment of ingredients inside. The desserts at Li Bai Fusion Cafe is available either chilled or hot. This is the chilled version.

There is an assortment of fruits and jellies inside this dessert and that distinct evaporated milk taste which predominantly dominates the dessert. I like evaporated milk (a thick and creamy milk) so this went down really well with me.

Li Bai Fusion Cafe is worth checking out if you're around the Padungan area and is interested in Chinese style dining with influences from other cuisines. Li Bai Fusion Cafe also has a large repertoire of dishes on the menu from double boiled soups to fish.

Posted in Food reviews by Huai Bin at 04:46 PM Permalink | Comments (28) | TrackBack

Next stop: Cambodia

I had planned to go to Siam Reap in Cambodia tomorrow - the tickets were booked through AirAsia a couple of weeks ago on a promotional fare. I wanted to check out the Angkor Wat (which is closer to Siam Reap than Phnom Penh, the capital) and perhaps smoke some old skool opium if I manage to find an opium den. ;)

The trip was supposed to be for one (1) week - and I wanted to check out Phnom Penh as well, using their internal transportation services, just backpacking, roughing it out a bit.
(and smoke some opium in an opium den)

Alas, the trip was not meant to be coz one of our projects starts next week and I'm heavily involved in that project, thus I cannot take leave. AirAsia does not have a refund policy (they are a low cost ticket less airline, much like Virgin Blue in Australia) so I'm scrapping this trip. I'll go again some other time.

In other news, I won back the cost of the tickets to Cambodia last night alone. ;)

Argentina vs. Serbia & Montenegro
Asian Handicap Odds: Argentina conceding one (1) goal
Bet: Argentina (RM 300)
Result: 5-0 to Argentina

It was an absolute trashing mate! =D I knew the game was in the pocket when the result was 3-0. ;) I won RM 300 from this match.

Netherlands vs. Ivory Coast
Asian Handicap Odds: Netherlands conceding a "half-ball" (1/2) goal
Bet: Netherlands (RM 300)
Result: 2-1 to Netherlands

It rose from 2-0 to 2-1 so this one is also in the bag for me. :) The half-ball concept is not that difficult to understand - basically, the team conceding the "half-ball" means you lose if the result is a draw (since there's a 1/2 goal handicap for Netherlands) but if the team wins by even a single goal, you win all. I won RM 300 for this match as well. :)

I won a total of RM 600 last night. That covers my Cambodia trip costs (plane tickets) that were not meant to be. :)

Oh well, I'll just go traveling when work is less hectic...

Posted in Travel by Huai Bin at 10:55 AM Permalink | Comments (28) | TrackBack

Stop staring at my hooters!

Hello? My face is up here. ;)

Posted in Hmm... by Huai Bin at 04:16 PM Permalink | Comments (40) | TrackBack

RC Car review - Turbo Tumbler

Turbo Tumbler is a Remote Control (RC) car that has been making the rounds via the popular "free delivery to offices" paper run marketing. Our office got the paper brochure for the Remote Control Turbo Tumbler and I ordered one of them while my CTO got another one for his son. RC Turbo Tumbler retails for RM 35 each.

Remote Control Turbo Tumbler is basically an RC car that can do "stunts" like flips and rolls due to the six degree freedom of movement controller and 360 degree front axel on the RC car design. It comes in 27 Mhz (Orange) and 49 Mhz (Black) for two-person "racing" although I doubt the RC car is designed for that with it's bulky SUV (4WD) looks.

RC Turbo Tumbler comes in a package which contains the fully assembled car and the remote control module with antenna (batteries not included, of course). The car has a "Special Edition" sticker on top (am tempted to write racing stripes but that would be a gross misnomer) and several light fixtures which comes on when the RC Car is powered up. The instruction sheet is basic but it doesn't require a Phd in Rocket Science (or Nuclear Physics for that matter) to operate an RC Car. ;)

This is what the 27 Mhz controller for the RC Turbo Tumbler car looks like - this one does come with a 9 volt battery, bless their souls, coz that funny shaped battery is hard to find in the office. It is simple to integrate, with just the battery cover going into the controller and the snap in antenna (retractable) to boost the signal strength.

The RC car itself requires 4 x AA batteries (which thankfully is in amply supply inside the office) loaded into a peculiar cartridge loading system which slots back into the undercarriage of the car.

Here's a shot of how the battery array loading system looks like - the RC car has large grip types as you can see, which makes it more of a stunt car than a proper racing RC car. The entire package is ready to go at this point if you have AA batteries on hand.

The Remote Control Turbo Tumbler is "Made in China" and that means that it doesn't last. It is manufactured from poorly sourced materials and one of them didn't work (the one that my CTO got) so I gave him mine, which promptly broke in two days. It is however, fun for a day.

Watch the video of the RC Turbo Tumbler at work in the office:

Download: RC Turbo Tumbler video review [sixthseal.com]

That's me testing the RC car in the office while my CTO is manning the camera after work just now. Take Two in the video refers to the botched Take One where the RC Turbo Tumbler didn't function at all - there's "Made in China" for you. :)

Posted in Interesting by Huai Bin at 06:30 PM Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBack

Normison soft gel filled capsules

Normison 20 is a preparation by Wyeth which contains the benzodiazepine temazepam in liquid gel filled capsules. This is the infamous 20 mg gel capsules that gained notoriety in Australia amongst heroin users for potentiating the effects of their favorite opiate intravenously. Normison in gel capsules have been taken off the markets due to rampant abuse in certain drug communities via injecting the liquid contained inside the capsule by drawing it out with an insulin syringe.

Naturally, the very idea of injecting gel with the viscosity of syrup (the medical fraternity refers to it as "liquid goo") sounds off-putting to most opiate users, even the ones slamming black tar heroin. However, "jellies" or "footballs", as it was known on the streets has ascertained the infamy of having a high second to none when injected with heroin. It was very much sought after both to potentiate heroin and also to replace heroin during the draught of 2000 in Melbourne.

I managed to obtain some old stock of Normison 20 (which was kept in a fridge) that still has much (if not all) of it's bioavailability present and I considered administering it parenterally before deciding against it since I already have one collapsed vein from my methamphetamine use days. Thus, I took it orally and opened up some of the capsules to investigate the gel filled Normison soft caps. The gel (syrup) inside is yellow and slightly bitter-sweet and it tastes rather medicinal - it reminds me of a clinical setting.

Temazepam has been reviewed on sixthseal.com before and I have nothing much to add to it - temazepam is a fast acting, short half life, hypnotic benzodiazepine so that should give experienced benzodiazepine users a note on what to expect. It's very weak compared to recent benzodiazepine structures, with equivalency charts giving a figure of 20 mg temazepam to 10 mg diazepam.

The most interesting aspect of temazepam is the strong hypnotic properties, which is noticeable after a dose of 220 mg. The same dose with Oxycodone 20 mg (insufflated) produced a very nice nod that would probably simulate what the infamous opiate-benzodiazepine cocktail of heroin and Normison gel capsules produced with a different route of administration and with pharmaceutical agents.

Temazepam is very fast acting, with noticeable effects within 30 minutes and an equally short half life (approximately 4 hours) which would coincide with the properties of heroin (also a 4 hour duration substance) which could probably explain the popularity of Normison capsules amongst heroin users (with pharmacies reporting robberies where the robbers demanded ONLY Normison capsules).

However, it just doesn't hold up with the hypnotic benzodiazepine agents available today such as Dormicum (midazolam) although personally, midazolam has lost its hypnotic properties for me and puts me into a strange wakeful state instead, but that's another post. Temazepam however, is a very fast acting hypnotic benzodiazepine, which explains its popularity amongst opiate users seeking the perfect nod.

Posted in Pharmaceuticals by Huai Bin at 03:29 PM Permalink | Comments (38) | TrackBack

Gynera oral contraceptive review

Gynera is a brand of oral contraceptives - otherwise known as "birth control pills" made by the pharmaceutical group Schering AG. It contains a formulation of Gestodene 0.075 mg and Ethinylestradiol 0.03 mg combined in a single pill.

Gynera comes in a 21 tablet blister pack format and retails for RM 24 per box. That slightly works out to RM 1 per day since oral contraceptives are meant to be taken on a daily basis, preferably at the same time each day. It's cheaper than my daily benzodiazepine dose, that's for sure. ;)

Gynera has a day-of-the-week foil printed at the back of the blister pack for an easy dosage guide. The official recommendation is three weeks on the pill and one week off, but some people I know have taken it for months without a break. *shrugs*

Personally, I have never menstruated while on Gynera. It effectively prevented ovulation and thus, unintended reproduction during sexual congress. I give it two thumbs up!

I'm male though, so perhaps Gynera really wasn't necessary at all since I've never menstruated in my entire life. ;)

P/S - This is a gag post, for those who didn't get it. Gynera seems to work for a lot of people though...

However, I did take one pill coz someone dared me to. ;)

Posted in Hmm... by Huai Bin at 11:40 AM Permalink | Comments (48) | TrackBack

The Royal London Circus 2006

The Royal London Circus came back to Malaysia again and is doing a tour of the major cities in Sarawak. I caught the show in Sibu, where it is still currently running at the Old Airport (near UCS new campus).

The big top for The Royal London Circus 2006 is set up at the old airport of Sibu and tickets go for RM 25, RM 35, and RM 55 for Class C, Class B, and Class A seating respectively. I got two tickets of the Class A seats for RM 110. Class A seats are closest to the circus ring.

The Royal London Circus holds a lot of fond memories for me - I've been to the show three times in my life (counting this one). The first one was during my childhood - my dad took me to watch the late night show when I was 5 years old and the second time was when I was 13 - I went to watch a couple of shows when The Royal London Circus were here (free tickets).

This time, we caught the 2 pm show and saw some of the acrobats from China arriving with their Romanian coach in car before the show. I went early with my gf to get prime seats so I could take videos and photos. It turns out that we didn't have to worry coz practically no one went for the RM 55 tickets, preferring the back seats, so we had pretty much free reign in the Class A area.

The Royal London Circus big top is enclosed in a sealed camp which has toilet amenities as well as food and snacks - classic circus fare like popcorn and pink cotton candy. There are some mildly amusing quotes carved into blocks of wood near the concessions area with phrases like "All who spend money here goes to heaven. The more you spend the closer you get to heaven!!!" and "I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell - you see, I have friends in both places" a little further down.

The food sold inside The Royal London Circus compound requires food coupons to purchase. The food coupons are purchased at face value and can be redeemed at any of the food stands. One bottle of mineral water costs RM 3 and the same goes for popcorn and cotton candy. Strangely enough, there were vendors inside the big top during the show which sells the same items for cash.

The Royal London Circus seems to have a smaller big top this time, with different entrances on one facade leading towards the three different seating areas. Class C tickets are to the back and barricaded away from the main action while Class B tickets are behind the Class A area and is cordoned off with latch doors. Class A spans the sides of the circus performer's entrance and the front of the stage.

The Royal London Circus also has animals on show outside the big top to entertain patrons before the show starts. The animals are show animals it seems like the animals are rotated coz I saw small monkeys in cage before we went in and ponies when the show was over.

The big top opens at around 1:30 pm and we went inside to get good seats - I sat directly in front of the stage, and the circus ring was close enough to touch if one reaches out with the fingers. My gf was apprehensive about stampeding circus animals at this proximity but I told her nothing bigger than an elephant is on the show (which was true). ;)

The Royal London Circus has a stage which consists of one ring - the main circus performing area and a live band setup with drum kits and all at the top, elevated from the circus ring. The entire setup is colored a cheerful red with white drapes hanging down (which are used for a circus act, as we found out) and the famed Sphere of Terror - a spherical locked cage - prominently displayed on one side.

The Royal London Circus popcorn goes for RM 3 inside the ring (same price but paid with cash) and it's a good thing they sold food inside the circus ring coz I ate quite a lot of stuff from popcorn to sodas to burgers. Classic circus fare, ya know, you gotta partake it in for the full experience. ;)

The Royal London Circus show started with a familiar clown/ringleader that seems to have been in the last two show I've been - he's a rather old (but grandfatherly) British chap, and a little too skinny for a clown. The first routine in the circus introduces the clown (which also acts as the ringleader) waking up from a slumber...

...and putting on his clothes...

...with his hat provided by the assistant...

...before introducing the entire circus cast! :)

Download: Royal London Circus intro video [sixthseal.com]

The three Chinese acrobats from China started off the show with a funny three hat juggling act. It's funnier than it sounds; you really have to watch this one to appreciate the slapstick humor. It's a combination of choreography and over the top facial expressions that makes this act work.

Download: Royal London Circus Chinese acrobats [sixthseal.com]

The next circus act is the obligatory Arabian dance by sharp featured, skimpily dressed Caucasian females. It has been a Royal London Circus tradition to have an act like this interspaced throughout the show and I swear I can recognize some of the women from a Can Can dance routine back when I was 13.

Download: Royal London Circus Arabian dance [sixthseal.com]

The white drapes at the back of the circus ring mentioned previously was used as a prop for the next act - it was the most beautiful and moving performance in the entire lineup. The performance was done by a pair fusing elements of acrobatics and ballet with choreography, defying gravity by moving fluidly through the air using just the cloth drapes...an absolutely delightful and charming performance.

Download: Royal London Circus ballet [sixthseal.com]

There was also a poodle performance entailing simple arithmetic done by the trained dogs through barking and the act also has the dogs running around and jumping through hoops and standing on chairs.

The next performance is also animal related - it's the elephant! The elephant was brought in by two Indian handlers and the chained animal was made to do some tricks around the ring.

The act had the elephant lifting up one of the handlers at one point and they also got the pachyderm to play ball.

Download: Royal London Circus elephant [sixthseal.com]

The intermission came at this point and there were photo ops with the elephant and also a pony. I went for the elephant. It cost me RM 15 to sit on the elephant and I felt sorry for the big dude, he has really sad eyes (it's a he, I looked) and a bony body.

The Royal London Circus started the second act with acrobats from Mexico in a double ring contraption that works by having both of them standing inside the respective rings and moving them around.

One of the circus performers was blindfolded and then started moving around the inner ring while his partner stepped out and walked on the contraption itself. It was entertaining, but it made me dizzy.

Download: Royal London Circus Mexican act [sixthseal.com]

The pretty kicking ponies came out next...

...followed by more pretty kicking ponies, sorry, I mean performers. ;)

Download: Royal London Circus dance [sixthseal.com]

The Chinese trio came out with another slapstick humor act after that. I noticed that one of them had a perforation in his suit, right where his crotch was, and I pointed that out to my girlfriend. That was pretty funny. ;)

The dreamy ethereal ballet dancer from Romania came out next to do an elegant routine, which I enjoyed tremendously.

This performance also included a trapeze act with her partner in addition to the choreographed gymnastics.

Download: Royal London Circus trapeze [sixthseal.com]

The Sphere of Terror was set up to mark the end of the show. There were four motorcycles in total revving their engines and going around the metal sphere in carefully choreographed loops.

It's another cliche circus act, but the crowd seems to like it.

Download: Royal London Circus Sphere of Terror [sixthseal.com]

The Royal London Circus cast and crew came out for an encore after that, marking the end of the show. It lasted a good 2 1/2 hours in total and it was pretty entertaining and nostalgic to watch.

Download: Royal London Circus encore [sixthseal.com]

The Royal London Circus is a great circus act - it may have been trimmed down in terms of cast and acts since its inception but it's still entertaining as always.

Posted in Best of sixthseal.com by Huai Bin at 04:16 PM Permalink | Comments (39) | TrackBack