Category Archives: Travelling

!yvaN ehT nioJ

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Many do not know this, but on the 16th of August 2006, I was actually in the United States of America.


Joining me were colleagues, including smashpOp.


Clockwise from top-left: The journey to Westport, Port Klang; the USS Enterprise, the world’s oldest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier; hangar entrance; the companion ships.


Gee Todd, kinda nifty, y’think?


Clockwise from top-left: Pilots are given codenames, like “Shag”; these guys get “Dirt” and “Sticky”; plane ol’ hangar round; sign of the times.


Aircraft carriers are rushed to the scene, because quite simply, planes would not have enough fuel to be immediately deported to a situation.


Clockwise from top-left: What reaction would you give to eight nuclear reactors?; this was also where Top Gun was shot; nosing around; the walk down from the flight deck.


In other unrelated pictures on the same day, while waiting for the bus to take us in with security clearance, we spotted this naturally-cooled lorry…


…and had time for panning shots, too.


Oh, and a morning sun, much earlier.

Ambitschin’

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Recent events have led to a wake up call. A good blow to the head.

If you asked me 5 days ago where I saw myself in 5 years from now, I wouldn’t know. Heck, I hated those ambition-type questions to the core, me being a laidback hippie, a voluntary honorary red ant. Is everybody supposed to be a managing director at the age of 25? I like hands-on programming. I don’t want to be giving orders to subordinates, who I feel would not do the job the way I want it. John Carmack has always been a hardcore programmer for id Software, despite co-owning it! His dedication and passion is what kept their game engines top-notch.

Move Out
I plan to move out of my parents’ house sometime.

I’ve never given it thought. I’ve never thought that I should, or that I would. Until recently.

Just like in Failure To Launch, there really isn’t a reason to move out. I do not hate my parents. I’m not inseparable from them either. I come home just to sleep, use the computer, fix the computer, provide free ASTRO for my family (it’s a company perk) and eat dinner. Sometimes. My Nokia N70‘s alarm clock is more annoying than previous Nokias I’ve had, but I am still coming back after gigs at 2am and sleeping right through the alarm. That’s where family comes in. The human alarm clock.

I don’t need to move out. I don’t get cigarette withdrawal symptoms at home. I don’t get the munchies. (I don’t smoke or do weed.) I don’t have a curfew. They’ve never said that I can’t bring girls into my room but I don’t, because I am shyyy. 😮

I was never forced to live independently before, since I went to college at Informatics KL, which was very near the Ampang Park LRT station. Perhaps, if I was studying Game Design in Multimedia University, Melacca (and then Cyberjaya) I’d be forced to experience it. Perhaps, if I came to the Klang Valley to study, from say Ipoh, I’d be forced to.

At this point, being forced to go for National Service would be good for me. It teaches kids to be independent! It really isn’t about learning how to fire guns. It’s about getting some muscles, a bit of a tan, and watching your back as you pick up the soap.

Where To?

Preferably somewhere in the middle of everything, like KL Sentral or Bangsar. Of course, both areas are prime property, so Seputeh, Brickfields and Kerinchi are cheaper options.

Oh, and it would have to be next to an LRT station, so even schoolgirls can come to my place… and play with my Transformers and watch me play guitar. I’m a private person and only do private performances, unless under inhibition-inhibiting substances.

Getting Around

I love the LRT and fully support it. It’s too bad people aren’t patient enough to live with it. A banged up car, and the cost of banging it back into shape, could be half a Kancil. Plus I could park anywhere without worrying. I wouldn’t put my junk in the backseat.

But really, do I need a car?

NO.

I am one of those people who can live with long bus rides. I’ve got my phone and loads of Symbian games. I’ve got my pen and paper and a Rubik’s Cube. I’ve always got something to mentally occupy myself with.

I just want a car so I can pick up chicks.

…and maybe come home late after clubbing in some place where taxis exorbitantly charge RM50 just to exit Subang/Sunway. But then, I shouldn’t be drinking and driving, so… do you see the irony here?

If I got married, I’d rather she drive while I take the bus. I might have a car, but it’s a matter of having a choice. (Like KL Commuter, a blog about public transportation in Malaysia, says.)

I’d hate myself the moment I find myself unable to ride the LRT.

Saving Up?

Since I’m so good at starting things and not finishing them, I shall exercise the policy of buying a functional item and then not upgrading it. For example, I was getting restless with my (sister’s) acoustic guitar, and wanted a lickable butterscotch Ibanez GSA 370-QM AM electric guitar badly. Just as I had the money for it, I failed for the first time in college. Plans were delayed, and the itch subsided.

Similiarly, I have a Canon Powershot A520, a functional geek camera with manual features. The itch is currently high to get a digital SLR… but I’ve a feeling that that too, will pass. I already have one item of camera. That cash could go to the car.

“Dad, I’m gonna move out. Can you buy me a Kancil?”

That’s not the point. Complete, true independence is the point.

…of course, provisions will be made for a gradual transition, but I will do as much as I am able to.

Food

I can’t don’t know how to haven’t tried to cook, but I have a whole lot of hair that I can afford to lose, by eating a carton of instant cup noodle. I’m used to my family’s kitchen mishaps, so if my cooking sucked I’d be pretty used to it. 😀

Drinks

I’m still at the age where I enjoy just having a sober conversation at a mamak compared to having a sober conversation in the smoky nethers of a pub or bistro. Alcohol is great, yeah, but just like food it goes in and goes out. Starbucks, too. Yeah, so I’m not big on coffee or alcohol. You could say that I haven’t cultivated such cultured tastes… but I should be thankful I don’t have such costly preferences. Ramli Burger anytime!

Changes, Plans

Self-preparation is the plan.

But first, I need to start practising as if I was independent at home, while I save up.

Cut Off Alarming Dependence

Tune myself to the alarm. It will be unavoidable that I will lack sleep. If I sleep at 2am, I’d only wake up automatically 8 hours later. However, there have been occurences where I remind myself before I sleep that the batteries are charging downstairs… and when I wake up, I actually remember to look for them. I set three alarms 15 minutes apart, and the jackpot’s on the third.

When I move, my room will be a mark of minimalism. Wardrobe in a box, the rest of my junk in a box, sofabed, computer table, office chair, fan (air-cond gives me the sniffles) and a toilet.

I felt that this blog entry would’ve been better written last night, since all the points were running in my head all day, but I decided to get off my lazy ass and clean up my room. How would I live the minimalist concept if I had heaps of boxes and papers around?

Thanks Ms. B. and best friend for helping me come to this realization. I’ve been such a dependent person for so long. (And shameless and stupid too.) I just don’t know where to hide my face in shame.

Traffic King

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Here’s a post in the style of politics, a break from the pictures. ‘sides, I’m trying to cut down on my bandwidth usage, hence the 10 posts per page (instead of the usual 20.) It’s just temporary until I work out a good ratio of text to pictures.

“We do not want your money. Keep your money. We only want you to behave and drive safely. We do not want a single sen from you

We, Ass Men

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In a cab ride to an LRT station: (Cab driver’s speech in italics and language was made more grammatically correct)

So where are you going?
I’m going to meet a friend at Kelana Jaya, and then we’ll take a cab to a friend’s birthday party.
Oooh. Guy’s birthday party or girl’s birthday party?
A girl’s birthday party.
OOOH, good. Don’t waste your time going for a guy’s birthday party. At least you go to a girl’s birthday party, maybe you get a chance to sleep with her. Guy? Guy, what for?
Er, maybe he invited girls?
Yeah, but it’s still better to be friends with girls. When you have no money, you can borrow money from them. Girls can pity you. Girls will lend you money!

As much as you may disagree, I know damn well that some girls prove his last statement right.

Wow, your pocket so big. What is that?
It’s a digital camera.
Oooh. If I had one, I tell you, I will take pictures of pretty girls. Especially those with big boobs. I tell you, driving around all day, I see many girls with big boobs! It’s quite fun to talk to them also.
Ooo.
But I tell you… boobs are nice to take pictures of, but if you wanna grab, better to grab the butt. More satisfying.
Eh? Why is that?
I tell you ah, sometimes they look big only. Pushup, dressing, all bluff you wan. When I touch ah, I disappointed lah. It only looks big, but not… fulfilling.
Maybe that’s because we guys have a butt, and so we know what a butt feels like, and so we won’t be disappointed?
Hmmm, yes, definitely.
Yeah, there was this Italian-Malay chick whose butt I grabbed, and it was much more satisfying than I thought for its size. So fulfilling. So full. (I don’t know why I blurted that bit… and to this day, I refer to her as the “chick-whose-butt-I-grabbed”. And no, I never blogged about her.)
Wah. Good for you young man!
Maybe because we don’t have boobs, we see boobs, we don’t know what to expect. We stare at them all day, then we end up expecting more? But if a girl likes girls, she surely won’t be disappointed.
Yeah. Boobs are nice to look at. Butt is for grabbing.

There is some truth to his boobs-are-to-look-at, butt-to-grab observation – I just realized that I rarely take spy pictures of butts. A butt is easier to grab in public (I’m referring to consenting people, of course.)

No wonder some girls wish for a bigger ass.

P.S. Dide the (then) juvenile ass-grabber can attest to my butt being montel. Refer to my Friendster testimonials wayyy back. Yes, despite me looking like I have no ass I assure you she enjoyed grabbing it.

Flood In The Heart

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I was in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, 7pm, 25th August 2006, during the legendary transformation of Masjid Jamek into Tasik Jamek. Seen are rescue vehicles rushing to the scene.


Enter the floods.


Despite all that, some people braved the waters.


I even had time for panning shots; 1/6th of a second, F5.6, ISO200.


This one rolls at 1/20th of a second, F2.8, ISO200.


I took the Masjid Jamek underpass to the PUTRA LRT side. For some reason it reminds me of the teh tarik river.


How deep is your love?


“Oh nooo my car! Damn insurance doesn’t cover natural disasters!”


It was 10pm, and the waters were still raging in Titiwangsa.

Double Vision

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So I watched The Two Of Us, a double-bill play consisting of two stories, Black and Silver and Chinamen. The former featured Ari Ratos in his usual bumbling routine (which could be funny for some, but his delivery is only 99% there) as a father on holiday with his wife and baby. Humor for the parents.

The latter featured Rashid Salleh and Joanna Bessey as a young couple inviting guests over for dinner. Problem was, the host invited a husband… and the hostess invited his wife and her new boyfriend. Chaos ensues as they try to keep the situation under wraps ala Frasier. The moment I saw the same actors playing the guests, I knew I was in for a fun ride, as Rashid effortlessly switches from inebriated estranged husband to forgetful host, and Joanna the worrying hostess and rapper! You’d know that two characters played by the same actor would never appear at the same time, so it was fun to see how they handled it, walking in and out doors.

It was also then that I realized how great these two were at comedy, especially timing. Joanna’s expression turns to worry naturally, unlike a lot of plays I’ve seen recently where it seems like they just flipped a switch to contort facial muscles. Rashid, like any other comedic actor, has his signature expressions that get people laughing, but he manages to pull more comedic weight in dialogue subtly.

Catch the last show this Sunday the 20th of August 2006, 3pm. Worth watching for the second story (if you’re not married with kids you probably can’t relate to the first story.)

Details here.

And now, for a double-bill of different sorts; two pictures to one category.


Flashing the steam.


This was at Bar-B-Q Sunway Pyramid. I always laughed at the cartoon dragon statue that stood outside the branch at 1 Utama’s Rainforest, whenever I used the escalator.


Underexposed skies; note what appears to be a little worker!


Somewhat macro.


Chopped sticks.


Chopsticks.


Suria KLCC rooftop.


Elevator shaft.


Fishes at the Sentul Koi Centre, Sentul Park.


Reach near and the koi will take you in.


Cat’s tails at Sentul Park.


Leaves at the exit.


I spotted this at the Bangsar LRT station.


Tracks! What could’ve dug up so much mud?


Satay in Kg. Baru.


Much respect for the dude, who is seen picking charcoal with his bare hands.


Motion blur is achieved with a slow shutter speed.


Pan around the object to make it look like it’s moving. Yes, the eagle statue was not moving!

Mark Chicks

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Over the past few days, I have been asked this question many times again:

“How come you’re always surrounded by hot chicks?”

It’s not just guys who ask. Girls who set up PLU blogs do, too. Straight girls too… I think.

So what is it about Albert, who is not as tall as a basketball player, does not have a car, does not have any publicly-visible tattoos, does not smoke, does not have a credit card, has long unruly hair, that lets Albert know these hot chicks?

I don’t know, I could be good-looking or something.

But I’ll tell you what I think works.

A guy should have technical understanding over something that is otherwise magic to young impressionable girls, namely fashion, gossip, rollies (for girls who smoke), contacts to free flow of alcohol, magic tricks with a deck of cards, lomography cameras, a camera with a swivel screen (to ease camwhoring) and maybe even a do-it-yourself infrared camera, like this:


An infrared camera picks up infrared light as well as normal light, so it works better in the dark. Grace has conspired to steal my camera.


I don’t know why she calls herself thiathia, when her real name is Cindy. Nama glamour lari nak mampus. (Kel Li pronounces thiathia so obscenely!)

It would be good, too, to be metrosexual in knowledge. Identify mascara, eyelashes, eyebrows, etc. Don’t just say that she has nice eyes. My long hair has helped me relate somewhat to the struggles of keeping long hair (as opposed to keeping in touch with my feminine side.) I can geek out about why Loreal smells better.

Who cares if you can solve the Rubik’s Cube in under one minute? Who cares if you can play Yngwie Malmsteen stuff on guitar? It’s all about the visceral effect. You gotta learn your pop songs so she can sing along.

…and yes, I’m reminding all of you here yet again, yes I do play guitar and I look sexy doing it.

I also take pictures, and that looks sexy to some people too.

Who cares if you’re into philosophy? Don’t try to impress her with intelligence, because she wouldn’t be able to relate to the topics you talk about. 😛 (Whether that means pretty girls think of less complicated things, or that you think of more complicated things, is up to your own interpretation.)

Learn a skill that girls usually try to pick up, and then drop out of, e.g. how to tune a guitar and change its strings. You could also learn how to set up MMS/Bluetooth on any fashionista’s phone (familiarize yourself with obscure phone brands for this!)

Even girls, girls like pretty girls. Girls don’t go out alone. Girls don’t go to the toilet alone. They gotta have friends to go shopping, and they gotta have hot friends. They want to feel happening too. They stalk hot blogs. So associate yourself with famous people, and lure them with the idea that they might get to meet them. Sorry Joyce, I abuse our acquaintance-ship. 😛 Here’s your infrared picture from ages ago:


“What, you’ve been going around telling girls that you know me and thus they get to say hi to me and think you’re such a happening guy and therefore want to get in your pants?”

If you see a hot chick, she is more often than not with a bunch of hot chicks.

When was the last time you saw a bunch of hot guys? In a gay bar?

Guys generally do not hang out with hot guys. They’re competition. Girls hang out with hot girls. They fail to see the logic, but who’s to complain?

So, associate with one, and the rest will come rolling. Easier said than done, but once started, you’d wonder how it all began.


Oh and a final random piece of advice: When buying a drink for a lady sitting over there, make sure the waitress gives your message written on a tissue and identifies you. The waitress passed the drink and message, but didn’t identify the guy! This infrared picture shows that infrared photography makes written ink invisible. :O For the benefit of those unable to read embossed letters, it said, “CANT TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU“.

Star-Like Scene, Ma!

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I was at KL Performing Arts Centre to buy tickets (turns out my BSN debit card only works for manual transactions, not online ones, so I had to go there) when I passed by Sentul Park, and lo and behold!


Starlight Cinema was back!


I went there just to ask the ticket price and a movie list… but the guy insisted that I enter. He then stamped me.

“Tomorrow you come ah! Bring your girlfriend… no, bring your girlfriends!”

Uh.

Do I look like I have this amazing power over women? Do I look like I date models? I don’t even have a car!


The projector. You could see them loading in reels regularly. Quite fun to watch.


A panoramic shot, sort of.

I then went to the Walls stall to get an ice-cream, and the girls there seemed so eager to see me. They were kinda cute, too. Or maybe it was because it was the second night, and there were only 50 people on the field. However, I’ll stick with my inflated ego for the moment.


After watching King Kong for free (and feeding mosquitoes for free) I walked out to Jalan Ipoh. (Remember, I don’t have a car?) On the way, I spotted a snail. 😀

I then hailed a cab, and when I got in, I pointed at the CD player and said, “Eh, Cromok!”

There is no better compliment to a mat rock taxi driver, to recognize his metal. He looked clean-cut though.

He then asked if I was Malay or Chinese, since Chinese usually listen to techno. I explained how I found the Cromok – Untitled album (2004) lying around the office, popped it in, and loved their thrash metal. I explained that I wasn’t Chinese-educated. I also justified that one of the members was Chinese and is now with a PR company.

“Wah, ini lagu banyak panjang, sampai rumah pun masih main.” – me commenting on Dying To Live, the 11-minute song that was playing the moment I entered the taxi until I reached home.


Freebies. I only ever use hair gel when I get it free.

Why Matrix-i?

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“Sir, would you like to apply for a credit card?”
“No thanks, I do not wish to be caught in the evil trappings of credit cards.” (I actually said that. Without looking at the guy, of course.)

“So… how many credit cards do you have?”
“Er… none, why?”
“Wah, you so rich ah?”

I’ve always paid cash upfront for everything before this.

It wasn’t until YK told me how he got his Visa Electron, that I decided to get myself one. No, not a credit card; a debit card which could be used at most credit card terminals. So I’d head over to a Public Bank one of these days.

It was the beginning of the month, and I was depositing some cash in my savings account in Bank Simpanan Nasional. As I walked out, I saw a banner advertising their Matrix-i card. I quickly turned back and applied for one there itself.

Why BSN?

There is no kiasu queue of annoying, annoyed aunties and uncles. The tellers are polite, friendly Malay ladies in tudungs. Heck, they are forgiving to newbies! (Probably because they don’t have the annoyed crowd.) I would not have to line up behind an impatient businessman. Everything is relaxed. They have a numbered ticket machine (in some places.) They aren’t Maybank.

There was no hassle filling up the form, with an upfront payment of RM50. (Of which RM8 went to making the card?) Two weeks later, it was ready.

On a side note, when I was a kid, I wanted to be an inventor. I used to draw all sorts of contraptions. I found these inspiring links:

The MAKE Blog

What to do with your old computer
Nintendo controller phone
Cap-on macro using binocular lens

If I had space in my room, I’d do this:
Golf Ball Pool Table

Berjaya Crossing

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Ah, who does not remember crossing the road from Berjaya Times Square to… the rest of Bintang Walk?

Sure, there’s the monorail bridge, but who’d walk up there?

We’d cross the road, braving the speeding jammed up cars.

Then they built fences in the middle, under the monorail.

Of course, there was always a hole; in front of Imbi Plaza, there was a gap between a pillar and fence, where we’d see people professionally walk sideways through and continue their mad dash. A slightly bigger gap could be found down the road.


All this changed, however, when I suppose, one day the big guys at Berjaya built another pedestrian bridge.


Awesomeness. Perfect to attract the crowds were escalators, and it led right into Berjaya Times Square where the elevators were. It was even air-conditioned! There were iron curtains, to signify shoplots. Smart business decision, this.


Now this is for people who have been tormented by York ceiling-mounted air-conditioning units. If you’ve ever froze in an office, you’d look up and see a York. In fact, you’d only see York as far as ceiling air-cond units went. Heck, you could probably smell York. So when I saw this, a different brand, I was overjoyed. It also smelt different, and very nice. Very nice and fresh.