Rainy Sydney

Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombats....animals associated to a country also known as Down Under. It wasn't even on my list of must see spots. However, the company was paying for me to get out there so get out there I did.

Checked the weather outlook a week before I left...not very hopeful but it meant I could take out my winter wardrobe that was purchased for Germany.

I was welcomed by a cold windy winter day in Sydney but it was pleasant enough for boat ride in the evening. Lovely views of this city by the harbour!

What was nice about Sydney was meeting with old and new friends. Audrey who is an old friend from choir...I met her when I was 12 ....and we may have drifted apart over the years but it was great to see her again. She was kind enough to spend her friday nite with my colleague and I and also all day on Sat.

I also got to meet Matt of Intel Security whom I met via email prior to my departure from the organisation. This was following the most outrageous heist in Malaysian history and Intel's history too. CRAZY!!! He's such a nice chap and I am glad we kept in touch although it was just work that brought our paths to cross and a quote I had on my email signature from Maya Angelou.

Another activity was shopping for most unusual things....baby food for Sophie which my boss found hillarious :), boutique chocolates for a colleague, apart from a pair of boots ....and the usual souvenirs.

It was sad that I didn't have more time out there but perhaps soon I will return.

Turn over wood.....Balikpapan

Yes yes..what a name for a border town on the island of Borneo in the state of Kalimantan...a big part of Indonesia. An area rich of resources from coal to oil.....helping to drive the economy for the island.

My first glimpse of it from the air and I thought...hey looks like Ipoh ....maybe a little more dense and by the ocean. Very nice view as the plane touches down on the tarmac.

The airport...very small and crowded with folks from within and outside Indonesia. For my first trip there, I didn't have any expectations so it was all good. To meet at the airport was Yong, our resident driver.

The hotel we were staying wasn't new nor was it old but it was nice. I had a huge room that nite ...and all to my lonesome self. Pretty cool. Then I saw the advertisement for a spa.....what else could I do but call and find out the cost of a massage. Not expensive at all!!

Since I was travelling from India and just had a day at home to rest...I thought this would be an excellent excuse to get a massage and chill out. The Spa was located at the basement of the hotel....a lot of nice cosy rooms....scented and all. The massage took an hour and after that I returned to my room to chill out and get ready for bed :)

The next morning we were picked up bright and early for the road trip to the mine. It's about 2 hours away down windy roads and some off road areas too. What a trail!!!

Made it to the mine and met with some of the local folks...all very nice and helpful. Got the crew ready to head out to the mine whilst I hung out at the office. Internet connection was awful so I was unable to read mails or anything.

That night we spent at the mine...accommodation was simple yet comfortable. Most importantly..I had an attached bathroom which was CLEAN. That's the most important thing for me :).

The team at the mine organised a BBQ in honour of us...lots of meat...yummm and some local food too. The PM at the mine Grahame prepared some Argentine style steak...ohh my it was awesome...salty but nice and juicy.

Following morning, part of the crew went up in the chopper to get aerial shots and I hung around the office and took photos. Check out the big toys at work.

Then in the afternoon, we made our way back to Balikpapan town..checked in and chilled out till it was time for din din. We went to a seaside seafood restaurant called Ocean..yummy food again and quite cheap...along with beers and all.

I decided to check out the "noisy bar" at the hotel and dragged the crew along. What a blast we had. They had pool tables.....so we played a bit....and then the music...wow...2 live bands who weren't too bad...and lots of SPGs hahahaah. They were trying their luck with my crew but with not much luck....they stuck to me...ANGELS....for nite at least :)

All in all...a successful shoot :)

Incredible India

When I was told that I would be going to Delhi....I was truly excited. I've always wondered what this part of India was like...how different it would be from Chennai and Kochi which I visited recently. It's incredible....the sights, the smells, the people....WOW!!!

I am very fortunate that the company now has an account with The Imperial Hotel. Think Raffles Hotel and E & O....yeah pure luxury and sophistication. There's a lovely smell when you walk into the lobby and service...impeccable.

I had meetings on Friday so I didn't really see much of the city although I did pass the Secretariat buildings which were awesome and I told myself I must go back to see it. Nothing like i'd seen before. Had meetings in the South of Delhi at The Oberoi...another luxurious hotel.

Whilst you see beggars at the traffic lights...you also see luxury brand stores at the hotel and I wonder about the juxtaposition of it all. Strange.....but I suppose in this great big country...it's in the scheme of things

But...let's not wallow in such things. Except be thankful we are where we are ...living in comfortable homes with loving families and friends.

On Sat morning,....bright and early at 4am, my driver Gopal came to pick me to head to Agra. I was going to see the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world. Nothing can prepare you for your first glimpse of it. It's awesome and such a gorgeous structure. Even the sea of people won't put you off. I was armed with my camera to take as many photos at as many angles possible. It was tough with the crowd but still I think I pulled it off.

I told my sis that even after seeing the palaces and castles in Europe...this place...was just simply mind blowing. It truly is....

Following that, we went to the Agra Fort. Another awesome place from which you can view the Taj Mahal. This place is also steeped in so much ancient history....the place reminded me of scenes from Jewel in the Crown and the Far Pavillions (I believe that was more Lucknow...) and such movies/mini series with an Indian/Colonial theme.

Anyways...here I go rambling...it's almost you can feel and hear the scenes from the past...of royals who lived there, men and women walking around ages ago, of royal parties and coronations.....

As it is summer out here, I was positively exhausted so I returned to the hotel and had a nap ...woke up in time for the start of the game. Went out to the bar of the hotel...and watched the first half before returning to my room. No friendly faces....then started working on a presentation whilst catching the 2nd half in my room.

Sunday...woke up bright and early and decided to head down for breakfast at about 7am,....was done and thought about seeing the interesting sights around the city of Delhi. Hired a cab for 4 hours....nice and polite Punjabi driver.

First stop, India Gate....looks pretty much like the the Arc-de-Triomphe of Paris. A war memorial where over 70,000 names of soldiers has been engraved. It was only 8am but the sun was up and high. Following that, I went to the President's official residence, the Secretariat Buildings, the Red Fort through the streets of Old Delhi and finally Qutb Minar within the ruins of Lal Kot.

I didn't realise there were ancient ruins in this city so it was a pleasant surprise....think Roman ruins..these are Asian ruins. WOW.....also very awesome. As usual I am putting together my Imagestation album...will wait till the end of this trip to upload all the photos.

Anyways, I hope to come back to this vibrant city again. Still places that I have yet to explore.

Spiderman and wisdom

"Whatever comes our way, whatever battle is raging inside us, we always have a choice. It's the choices that make us what we are, and we can always choose to do the right thing" - Spiderman

Wise words from Spiderman at the end of the latest movie but yet so meaningful. It is true that we all have choices...be it to be with someone we don't love but yet are just too comfortable to leave, a friend who craves attention all the time but you want to stop giving her that attention cause you can't take it anymore and think she should grow up...does that make you bad person? I guess you have to be cruel to be kind...and thats a choice you make and if that's the right thing...then it must be done.

Just ramblings once again.

Missing

My ex colleague Siek emailed me a link to a video of Conan O'Brien's visit to Intel. Boy....did it give me good memories of Intel Santa Clara and the whole Intel culture. It got me in stitches at my new office though and I hope nobody thought I was losing my marbles.

I didn't think I would miss the grey walls and high cubicles and geeks in the cafeteria but yes I do have fond memories. The crowd at the PG12 cafeteria at lunch....left much to be desired for by this city gal. But amongst them, I found some good friends whom I am still in touch. Photos taken on the aisles of PG9.....seems like ages ago.

Ahhh those good ole days.....

Plastics?

It's a holiday here and I was just watching Oprah...(my fave TV show, when I can catch it) Anyway, today the show focused on women addicted to plastic surgery.

I know I used to joke about it but just looking at one of the women who'd done as much as 26 surgeries. ....I don't think I could live looking like that. Whilst I may not look like a hot babe but I think I am OK looking...and don't look like a Barbie gone wrong.

Yeah so I am not perfect but then who is....I have read stories about models who think they aren't perfect even if others think so and go to great lengths to deal with it.

Just have to live life with the body you have and be HAPPY...

Ramblings.......

Weekend in Penang

Since leaving Penang in January, I hadn't been back but took the opportunity a couple of weekends ago to head out there with some new colleagues. It took us almost 6 hours to get out there since it was a rainy Friday evening and traffic was murder leaving the city. There were four of us in the car and it was a good opportunity for us to spend time and get to know each other better.

Eventually we got there about midnite, a quick check in and time to freshen up and then we headed out to SS....a club I used to hit many a night in Penang. It was so nice to catch up with old Intel friends.....what a nite. Great music to dance to....

It was an early nite though we had the explore Penang the next day. Hit Little India early the next morning and we had some simple Indian food....and it was apt since it was the Tamil New Year. We took time to walk around and look in at the shops.

That afternoon I caught up with friends whom I worked with in the PA Dept at Intel Malaysia. Was really good to see them all and Azrena brought her brood including the new addition...what a cute baby. I may not miss Penang per se but I do miss my friends and colleagues whom I had a great working relationship.

That nite, I took the visitors to Batu Ferringhi to have dinner and then shop at the night market. As usual I got myself some DVDs and got some stuff for the folks at home. Then drove back to the city to meet Lee Aun and Amelia.

It was important to catch up since that girl was leaving Penang and Malaysia too :( It's sad that we only got to know each other really well at the tail end of my stint but she's such a delight to be with. Always with a smile and a giggle :) I reckon Lee Aun and she make a cute couple but she just smiles.....what a girl! They are both good people....positive folks I enjoy being with and you could also be silly with them and it would be all good...:)

Sunday was makan day....we had breakfast in Pulau Tikus and lunch was Assam Laksa...yummmyyyy and after that we started our drive back to KL. A short trip but lots of nice memories.

Old Buddy came to town

Dianne....a good kindred spirit whom I met 9 years ago on a hill in Bukit Jalil wrote to say she was coming home for a week. Boy was I excited.....planned a party for her and all. Guess what...MAS cancelled her flight and she came in only two days later. She arrived sick and all so we didnt see each other till Wednesday 3 April for lunch at KLCC....my favourite spot...Chinoz on the Park.

She's been back a number of times since she left in 1998 and we always end up having great time together. Sometimes even seeing each other daily till she left again. I have also been very fortunate to visit her three times in LA where she now lives. Boy, do we have some funny stories to tell on my visits. I have spent day at work with her and had the opportunity to visit LAPD, LA City Hall and been fed well when she worked at the Daily Grill, watched a wedding proposal at a club in Pasadena, went clubbing at a Gay joint near Hollywood and the list goes on. We have been very blessed that we've been able to see each other fairly often but as kindred spirits, distance and time away has no effect on us.

This time Dianne brought along her man, Ralph. He was fun to hang out with and I reckon we got along pretty well. I even gave my SIRIM chop of approval. He was easy going and friendly for sure yet mature...which is important in our books. And he got along with Sophie my niece who is a tough cookie :)

After lunch that day, we met up that nite at Waikiki in PJ, an institution for those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s in the area. Met up with Oscar, who's known Dianne for over 20 years and also Sara whom I got to know through Dianne. It was really nice to be reunited with them.

We had a good time listening to the song, singing, dancing and having a few drinks. Although Dianne and I met only once after that for dinner with my sis and bro in law but we had to be satisfied with those opportunities to meet. I miss her dearly but am so glad we got to meet up and spend some time together. We must be thankful for the little blessings in life :)