Malaysia Airlines needs a knock on the head

OH my goodness when I heard stories of people having to wait at the airport for hours without knowing when the flight would return I thought it would nver happen to me.......NEVER!!! specially when I flew on Malaysia Airlines. Always thought Air Asia would be the culprit of delays .....how wrong I have been

Last Wednesday evening, I was to have taken a flight at 620pm....but just when I got there....I saw that the flight was only going to leave at 650pm ....ohhh 30 mins was bearable. I got myself a seat and started reading soon...630 came and went...still no plane.....then closer to 645pm a crowd gathered at the gate but still no sight of the plane. Only an announcement" Due to adverse weather conditions, the flight to KL will be delayed, Malaysia Airlines apologises for any inconvenience" ......Now we were at about 7pm.....and still no news on when the flight may take off. Still I sat and waited...then I noticed that there were a couple of flights coming in and taking off...strange I thought

Anyways I hear the ground staff talking that the "plane tried to land but couldnt because of strong winds." Bizarre cause there were flights landing and taking off since the rain started. So there were lots of tourists who had to catch connecting flights and the ground staff were taking them away and putting them on other flights. Still no announcements for all the other travellers sitting and waiting like silly idiots!

Now...it was half past seven and a lot of us cornered the ground staff and asked to be put on any flight .....they said...ohhhh flights quite fool...we need to give priorities...and then someone said what's the criteria and the ground staff could not give one...neither were they apologetic and there I was ....HUNGRY as helllllllll...since it was almost dinner time.

Anyways to cut a long story short at 745, the ground staff advise us the flight is to leave at 830pm....so it would be 2 hours after I was originally supposed to leave.!!! Of course the flight didn't leave at 830...closer to 900pm and once I got to KL ....I was so exhausted but couldn't take a cab since there were NOOOOO cabs and I had to take the ERL to Sentral.

Overall ...a nightmarish trip to KL...one of the worst ever

Part Deux - smoking should be banned in clubs

Wow...I can't believe it but clubs on the island of Penang have got it right. DJs announce and remind patrons to refrain from smoking on the dance floor. What a welcome change. Although this means people can still smoke in the clubs at least burn accidents won't take place.

I believe the next step would be to ban smoking all together.

Ahhhhh what a nice evening out in Penang.

Ban smoking in clubs....

This past weekend I went out partying at a supposedly sophisticated club in KL. First they make you line up and look at their house rules. Can't wear this...can't wear that. Thankfully, I wasn't dressed too shabbily. Never mind all that.....you get in...you have a few drinks...by the way the compulsory drink charge limits you to only 3 types of drinks. Can u imagine?

So anyways, there I was with friends on the dance floor. Friends who know me are aware that I love to dance. There was ample space to move around and that was great. Met some friends too which was nice.

Now....towards the end of the nite, some folks had too much to drink and they were smoking on the dance floor. I know in Singapore and in some other clubs in Malaysia, drinks and cigarretes are banned from the dance floors. A wise decision I reckon but not at this sophisticated club....I got burnt by a drunken SPG witch who was smoking and swinging her cigarrette around. She got me at the back of neck....damn it hurt!

I am mooting a decision to ban smoking at all clubs/pubs...apart from avoiding burns....you'd also leave the club smelling good...and not having the smell of cigarettes on your clothes. Here's to a smoke free clubbing environment in Malaysia. We need to look at some cities in the US which have enforced such a ruling.If it works there...it can work here too.

Another issue for me to ramble on....

FOOTBALL MAD

Once every four years.......people all around the world gather infront of tvs, big screens(of late) just to catch the excitement.

To help me get into the excitement, (thanks to my German buddy, Chris), I was given a starter pack of flags and a t-shirt. Just to get the ball rolling :) It was great getting into the excitement....put up the schedule at my cube so we can put in the scores after each game. Yesterday we took photos for the pure fun of it.

Last nite, I travelled on the coach home and got home to catch the opening game. ...Germany vs Costa Rica...Three guesses whom I was cheering for at home with my dad. It was great to catch the game with him 'cause he sure loves watching football.

All things Indian

Most people who know me have always said "Jacq...u are unindian" as to what they mean I can't figure out except for the fact that I wasn't brought up to be "indian". But I have always loved indian jewellery...earrings and ohhh bangles; indian food and sweets....and I can admire the vibrant indian clothing.

Today, my parents and I hit the Indian fair at a local shopping mall. We were there about a year ago and I loved it and so we decided to go again. What a blast!!!!! Helped my mum pick up a couple of lovely sarees....wish I could wear them but I reckon I'd look like a rolled up koala bear walking around town :) Apart from the fact that I just may trip and fall over at any point.

Got me some bangles, earrings, an angklet and ohhhh Indian sweets. Then messaged my buddy Steph and told her...u have to come....the earrings are fab......so she came and brought her mum along. But that's when we decided we'd had enough and decided to head home. What a productive day of buying all things Indian and enjoying quality family time.

Micro management

Now ....this is something that I can't bear! What's the definition? My favourite site Wikipedia defines it as " micromanagement is a management style where a manager closely observes or controls the work of their employees. In contrast to giving general instructions on smaller task while supervising larger concerns, the micromanager monitors and assesses every step.

OH my goodnesss...I am going through that and have been going through it over the last 6 months...First on a project that involved an event in Vietnam whilst working from Penang and them most recently on an event that I had to organize and manage in Kulim.

I almost tore my hair out at every event management meeting...which lasted at least an hour and 30 mins where each point was drilled down to the infinitesimal detail. Details are vital but not at every meeting and not taking time when folks can spend time making decisions on other bigger and vital matters.

It seems that " Micromanagment may arise from internal sources, such as concern for details, increased performance pressure, or insecurity." I wonder which is the cause that my team and I are paying for!! I am rooting for insecurity but it's driving me crazy...........

Here I go rambling on again....:(

Weekend away in Kiasuland

I may have left Singapore two and a half years ago and not really thought about the things I missed but a weekend trip recently brought it all back.

First and most importantly, my friends that I left behind. I had different group of friends that I met through various ways....work, friends of friends, the internet ( yes yes...it's safe really) etc etc. I had the opportunity to meet a bunch of them for beer and wing on Saturday night at one of my favourite haunts in Singapore....Ice Cold @ Emerald Hill. Here's a photo of the gals.....after a few pints. Additionally, I met an old friend that I hadn't seen in 8 years. He's recently moved to Singapore and I took the opportunity to get him out so we could meet up. What a flood of memories came to me as soon as he arrived.....bizarre but true, my friends mean the world to me. :) Love ya to bits.

On this trip, I also spent quality time with an old college friend who's recently moved to Singapore with her family. It was so much fun giggling like school girls, whilst playing with the kids and talking about adult stuff too :)

The second thing that I miss.....convenience of moving around. Since moving to Penang, I've had to purchase a car..Not a bad thing but over 5 years in Singapore, I didn't need a car. There was always the MRT, the bus or after hours the cabs. Very convenient and accessible. It made it so easy to visit friends in the East Coast or far out in Jurong....all an MRT ride away. I truly enjoyed taking the MRT around town and the cabs too. It's lovely to be able to speak in English and be understood....although sometimes knowledge of the neighbourhood to be visited can make the cab ride easy on the passenger:)

Finally some of the food joints and drinking holes in Singapore that remain close to my heart like Ice Cold, Harry's, Indochine by the Waterfront, Seah Street Deli, Bobby Rubino's, and a trip back to Singapore would not be complete without a stop at Samy's Curry House for banana leaf meal.. YUMMMMMMM. This time around, I introduced it to Michelle and her family. Although I was wrecked after a late nite out, it was good to have a nice warm meal at this good family makan joint!

The clubbing scene in Singapore has since flourished and I managed to take in some time at Forbidden City with the ice bar and also Attica. Very good music....and lots of space to dance around:)

For the first time in a long time, I was truly sad about leaving Singapore and boarding that jet plane back to the island of Penang. I hope to see some of my friends again soon...being apart is never good for the soul.

Dragon Boat Races in Penang

Since moving to Penang I pride myself with attending this event every year (my third race this year). Initially as a tourist but generally because I enjoy being out in the sun, cheering on friends participating in the races.

As much as Tourism Penang and the organizers seek to publisize the event, I fear it's never enough. There isn't much of a crowd there towards the end of the day when the final races are taking place. That is the time where the rowers need all the support of fans and friends but alas there are only a couple of hundred folks around to cheer them on.

Granted that it was a hot day this year but there is ample shade around and folks can bring out their umbrellas and sun glasses, if need be. It just seems sad that not many Malaysians or tourists come to watch this annual event.

I wonder if Tourism Penang/Malaysia should start taking advertisements in magazines on the airlines at least 3 months before the event and even put out billboards in each state capital in Malaysia....first to raise awareness and garner interest in Malaysians to come watch this all exciting event. Another thing would be to hold the event during the school holidays so more folks outside Penang can come by to watch.

Radio time with participants/organizers will also help create a buzz....but then we don't have many talk shows on radio.....another issue that I hold close to my heart which I shall keep to another time.

Anyways, I do hope that Tourism Penang/Malaysia will work harder next year as it will be Visit Malaysia Year 2007 and the Penang International Dragon Boat Race should be part of their calendar with sufficient publicity.

after all this while

After a long while, I have decided to come back into the blogging world and begin once again these random jottings :)

I can't believe it's been 10 years since I left a life of writing to join the dark side ....and I haven't looked back since. Perhaps this is my opportunity to write again all that random nonsense that comes to my head, every now and again.

Peace and Love to all