Trip to the City of Angels --- Los Angeles, CA

Well, ever since I got my Facebook account, I had stopped blogging... argh... so sinful it is to use Facebook... haaa anyway, now that I am bumming in L.A., I will try to re-light the fire of blogging.

The journey begins with my trip to the new T3 at the Changi International Airport. It was an eye-opener as it is really quite nicely done. The marathon of waiting begins... i waited for like 1.5hours at coffee bean just to see what gate i am boarding... then it was another hour of wait to board the plane.

Then it was a torturous 4 hours to Taipei. Gosh there was this pair of siblings who sat beside me.... one boy and one girl... the boy was not shy at all.. hahaha... think his name was Ryan... his Krisworld console din work so while i was sleeping, he switched on mine and was trying to play with it, and it was then that i woke up to his incessant complains about not being able to see the screen.... like DUH! If he had asked nicely, I would have change seats with him in the beginning.

But oh well, as the generous and magnanimous self as usual, I changed seat with him. The boy was delighted and it was nice to see his face lit up. Watching him gobble his food and his dripping cornetto cone was very entertaining...

Oh ok enough of that, then there was another 1.5 hours of wait at the Taipei airport....then comes the gruelling 16 hours of flight to LA.

When i finally reach LAX (LA International Airport), it was around 8.30pm. The security was tight... the guards were stern... questioning to the minor details of "your luggage looks small, is that all you brought?" Well i understand that it is required especially its is close to the 9-11 incident....

Well, after the whole security ordeal, i managed to come out of it unscathed.... then i spotted the tourist info counter... as i approached the guy at the counter, i can already sense his hostility... like i owed him money or something... i asked him how to go to my hotel and he just said take a cab. OOO how i wish i could just slam his head onto the counter-top!

Well, a cab i did take. While i was in the cab, i was busy reading all the slips of paper pasted on the plastic protective divider separating driver and passenger. Gosh it was alot of info to process... and i was busy calculating the cost when we already arrive at downtown LA.

To my horror, the fare was like US$55.00/- gosh.... ok never mind... everyone drives in the states so i suppose taxi fare is only for the tourists...

Ok so i checked in to my hotel and got another surprise... hmmm no water... no food... no notin in the room to eat or drink... well... fine... so i got out... and there i saw, a vacant city... like a scene from Resident Evil.... not a soul in sight... and most of the shops are closed.... gosh... it was scary... i walked and i walked... hoping to find the bright signage that says 24HOUR STORE... finally, there it was, my life saver... FAMIMA!!!

The next day, I woke up at around 5.30am... yes freaking early... well the sun here rises this early... anyway I had no pre-planned itinerary, so I slept again... hahahah... or did i? Hmmm cant really remember... i was feeling a bit under the weather... maybe jet-lagged or something.... had carl's junior... then watched tv... then slept more.... and so was the following day... it was horrible... nothing was opened... it was like something sucked the life out of the whole city.... I thought it was the weekend... so I hoped for the better on monday, I was wrong... hahahaha

Little did I know it was Labour Day on Sept 1st... ok so I decided to do my little tour of the Downtown area myself.... and it was quite fun... but tiring... and the sun was very strong... no clouds... so the heat was bad but the shadows were cool... for the whole 3 days, i saw mostly drifters... hispanics and some asians moving around... that's all...








Tuesday, ah... wonderful exciting tuesday, I couldnt wait to see the bustle of the city... and there it was, early in the morning, i see people going to work as early as 6.30am to Ernst and Young building next to my hotel...gosh and the traffic is starting to build up already... Finally, I can feel the pulse of the city... the kind of city that I had come from and also ha imagined LA to be...

Had a very very satisfying breakfast at this Italian cafe called Pannini... excellent food and the waiter was very friendly, his name was Manny I think. He was chatty, and told me his trip to Beijing to learn martial arts from Shaolin and then had a trip to Singapore to visit his ex-girlfren... ... ... yakkity yakkity yak

Ok so i was all set to go to Hollywood by metro... but was pushed back to the hotel by the searing heat... so i decided to take a nap till the sun was not overhead... and it was a bad idea....

Hahahaha, the next thing i know, it was already 6pm!!!!! I must be very exhausted from the walking from the previous day.... there... no more Hollywood for me.

Then came the Virtual World Exhibition... tingling with excitement, I was expecting real action this time... then came another disappointment... gosh... the scale of the exhibition was really small.... tiny.... very different from the ones that I had attended back home... i practically finished the whole thing in less than 15 minutes... :(

Maybe the cconvention was more for the conferences... which i did not attend... like because office wanted to save money...

There you have it... yes i am still stuck in my room in LA now as i type my boring trip into my blog... it's like 12.30am.... but 3.23pm in Singapore... ok huger strikes... and maybe i will finish my horrible dinner...spicy chix plate... yuck...

Photomontage

Just to use this blogsite to link these images to another hahahah...

2008 HUAT AH!!!!

2008 - the year of the Earth Rat.

This is my first blog entry for the new year and there are so many changes in my life that I can't wait to share with everyone!

Of cos the first thing is my first try in being my own boss, or at least half a boss... heh...

Launch of Artpod LLP

It was a tough decision and also very very tough to run it, especially for someone who has never done anything like this before... but it is indeed more gratifying then working for other people... after teaching a few kids, I felt an immense amount of satisfaction beyond description.

I was searching for something to fill the void inside when I was in my previous job, and now found it and got something even more than I imagined... a basic art course .. S$100.00 ... a smile on a child's face ... PRICELESS... ... and a heartfelt smile from a parent after seeing the joy in the child .... simply DIVINE!!!

Well it is indeed 24/7 now since it is my own biz... more tiring then when I was working in CrystalCG... but fell happier and more fulfilling... but pockets are not so full YET... hahaha.... wonder how long I can last... but whether I succeed or not, I can hold my head up high and say out loud, "I REALLY DID IT, and I TRIED MY VERY BEST!"

Ok, and so that was THE event for me in 2007... and now the countdown to 2008...... .....

Countdown at Esplanade into 2008 with fireworks!

Well, resolutions for the new year??? Nay, think that is crap... haaa... everyday every minute everyone should have higher and further aims and visions... not only wait till the end of the year... or the beginning... JUST DO IT!

Movies Movies Movies... Ever wonder what it would be like if your life IS a movie?

2007 has been a fabulous year for blockbusters...well almost... so far till end July 2007, we have seen the well awaited Spidey-3, Fan4-Silver-surfer,Transformers,and most recently, Harry Porter- Order of Pheonix.

Today I caught DIE HARD 4.0 at GV Plaza Sing... wow... seems like it was ages since I saw John Mclane in action!!! It was surprisingly good!!! The action was really intense and there is of course my recent new hot action screen babe Maggie Q. The plot was a bit weak talking about how a super power like the US can be crippled by a mere attack on its IT infrastructure.

I was like suddenly thinking about what it will be like in real life... for a sec, I thought our little island will be plunged into havoc if it were to happen...and you know what, there will be no John Mclane to save us all... our societal structure ultimately became very fragile due to over reliance on the internet and digital media. It reminded me when the undersea cables in Taiwan was ruptured during the earthquake early this year and all comm was down for the asia pacific region and alot of companies including the one I was working for then was in panic because we could no longer access our email system which means we no longer are connected to the rest of the world ie not connected to our clients and competitors....

We all felt so helpless then... so vulnerable... but did we learn our lesson? Nope.
Once the cable was fixed, we continued our lives as usual... like it never happened... amazing creatures we are aren't we? Never learning from our mistakes. I believe those who will survive into the next millennium are those who took that incident as a warning and diversified their method of engaging in business deals and communication with people overseas.

Those that ignored that warning will soon phase out.

Sometimes people say film-makers are crazy people who have crazy ideas all the time, but I beg to differ as I feel they are the ones who see far into the future. Something not everyone can do, they are like the modern day fortune tellers, just that they package their little prediction with more what we call ACTION and ARTISTIC DIRECTION... and a personal touch.

Ok enuff with the big big deep deep thoughts... after the Harry Porter show, we had a good dinner for all as shown below... hahaha it has truly been a long time since we all sat down to have a meal together... not easy to get hold of everyone nowadays as we all have our busy schedules to meet. So it was fun while it lasted.

To Help or Not to Help

Today is just like any other day. Sunny and rainy all in one day.
Went cycling at that same time everyday.
Managed to stop and rest only at the second checkpoint. A new personal record.
Was walking home pushing my bike with my right hand when a teenage boy approached me.
He was panting heavily and his speech was slurred.
He asked me:" Where is the nearest private clinic?"
I didnt really catch it the first time. I replied him after he repeatedly say private clinic.
He began to drag himself to the nearest park bench and told me he fell down and is feeling giddy now. He said he even vomited.
I was caught off guard and worry kicked in. I was like, is he going to die in front of me?
Sick thoughts filled my head.
I asked him, "Do you want me to call the ambulance?"
He did not reply.
I decided to look for passers-by who has a mobile phone on them.
I caught hold of a lady.
She gave me that look. I know she has been watching me talk with the "injured" boy all these while.
She must be on high alert now, "Why do you need my phone? What do you want to do with it?"
A simple question requesting for a simple object ended in an illogical rhetorical question from her.
I don't blame her at all.
I expected it.
Only when I clarified that I too was a passerby and that the young man needed help, then her wall high guard started to dissolve.
She asked me who to call, I had no idea. I asked the boy whether I should call his parents, the boy replied saying his mother has no legs so is impossible to get off the bed to answer. Furthermore, they have no phone at home.
I was very close to crying silently in my heart, very close.
The lady then said she should call the police as thats the best option. She did not wish to give him money to see a doctor. I did not have a single cent on me and so, informing the police would be the best thing to do.
So it seems at that time.
I asked the boy if that is what he wished for too. He stood up and started walking away.
We called him.
He kept walking saying, " Never mind, it's ok."
And there, we parted. Our lives became parallel again.
But something was deeply etched into my head. Into my conscience.
As I write this blog, I keep thinking to myself, could I have done something more?
Like walk him to the road to get a cab? At least see that he is safe before I leave him to fend for himself.
Then my rational side started to go mad.
"Don't you see it? It is a ploy to cheat your money!!! Can't you see that he is just feigning it all? If he is really sick, I am sure he would ask you to call for the ambulance? And the most revealing part is when he started to move away upon hearing the word police, it just shows he is a con artist!!"
But then again, would it kill me to give him the benefit of the doubt at that moment? Maybe he really has no money to pay for hospital and ambulance? Maybe he is really afraid of trouble. What if something happens to him?
I feel very ashamed of myself. But at that moment I really was on my guard all the time. Trying my best to make him reveal his true intentions. How evil and heartless can I be?
But this is not the first time I encounter such events. I find that I am really not mentally prepared to handle such situations.
Usually, I ignore beggars and people who ask for donations. I take it that they are but swindlers.
I believe in donating to organizations directly. I have become a zombie with a heart. Someone who feels the pain, has lots of empathy and sympathy but that warmth can never get through the layers of dead skin that has accumulated over the years of weathering this harsh society of ours.
But of course that is no excuse. But that is just who we have become. A living walking zombie.
Sad.
I truly and can only hope that that young man is ok, even if he is just faking it.
Oh yah, he is obviously very overweight. So I wish him best of health and hope all things turn out well, for that is what I can only do now.

Disappointed with Rasa Sentosa

It has been a while since I sat down to blog. There has been many changes in my life and also the lives of the people around me... so much has happened for the 1st quarter of 2007.

The most eventful took place at my best friend's wedding. Derek and Grace were getting married on the 23rd of March at St Michael's Church and held a wedding banquet on the 24th.

All was well and smooth until the night of the banquet which was held in Rasa Sentosa Shangrila. It was a nightmare and I felt really sympathetic towards the couple.

Here are the complaints we had against the hotel:
1. The couple was greeted wrongly upon arrival at the hotel by the events manager. To think that such a mistake would occur when there are only 2 couples having their wedding banquet there, and worse off is the events manager did not respectfully apologize and simply brushed off the incident hurrying in the couple with the words: " Oh so your are the other couple ar? Ok never mind you can have this bouquet of flowers also.."
ARGH!! What kind of attitude is that?

2. Next we reached the front desk to check-in. The couple and the "sisters" got their rooms ready but the "brothers" have to wait as the room is still being cleaned. So I left my hp number with the frontdesk girl and she said she will call me once it is ready. 30 minutes have passed and no one called me. I went over to the frontdesk and looked for the same lady but to my horror, she said this to me : " Hi Sir, can I help you? Has anyone attended to you yet?"
Gee, either she has amnesia or she has a twin... didnt she just took down my hp number 30 minutes ago???
Never mind that, I had to get to a 3rd staff, yes THREE people, to get my keys which had been ready all this while but no one wanted to call me.... WTF!!

3. At the cocktail reception, all the waiters/waitresses were all crowded at one corner for whatever reason I don't know, hoping that no one will take all their drinks away from their tray so they wont have to walk in and out of the restaurant I suppose... I had to like wait for 20 minutes or so with my empty glass in my hand before I caught hold of a waiter coming out of the restaurant. Either the staff are not well trained or its the standard of the hotel... hahaha..

4. The dinner was worse.... the VIP table had no food and drinks...VIP to them is like just another table I suppose... the Groom had to go into the kitchen to ask for food!!! Imagine that!!! Worse of, the waitress told Derek to wait as they have to serve in sequence... hahahhaha what an answer!!! I suppose VIP stnads for last to be served!!!!

5. The Couple's nightmare also included a faulty door, non-operational DVD player, and a low-battery safety vault which had all the "ang pao" money and jewellery for the bride... the poor girl had to go to the restaurant with no bling blings....

6. After the dinner, the "sisters" were locked out of their room and had to sit and wait 45 minutes along the corridor for the help that never came... they had to go down and drag a staff up to their room to get it opened...

7. I ordered a bottle opener and 2 wine glasses and until today, the staff that was on his way is still missing in action.... I am very worried for that staff of theirs....

8. Revelation. We were having lunch at the restaurant Silver Shells I think, we ordered sandwiches and it took them ages to serve us... 2 orders were still missing but we saw that the other guests that came later were all being served their food...anrily, we asked for the manager, he explained the rest of them are having ala carte so they are a bit busy... hmmm aren't we having ala carte also? Then it dawned upon us... the OTHER guests are all caucasians and some japanese.... to think that WE, SINGAPOREANS are out ranked by them in our own turf... I am speechless.... now we all know why we are so "unlucky" the whole time, because we are not foreigners...

There are much more stuff... but these are good enough to lower Rasa Sentosa Shangrila to like 1-Star... Never would I go there again... And I hope they will do a better job serving the "foreigners" than they did to us.

Black Night @ Grand Copthorne

Cameras clicking away with flashbulbs exploding into plastered faces with gold and silver adornments glitter away as the glam queens try to out pose each other. Old friends meet and handshakes with occasional hugs sporadically took place at almost every corner of the reception area. Yes, it was a star studded event. It was the wedding reception of my good friend Cheeli and her husband Phillip. An architect and a banker. Shabam!!! The guest list is already looking good and the cast that arrived was spectacular. Top earners and top architects. What a night this shall be. I was one of the closer archi-friends and tasked to help out. The gals took so much effort to doll themselves up and gosh, they look soo soo different with the glam factor in place... not to be outdone, the guys also came in their all black outfit with stylishly gelled hair, ties and cufflings.

The meal was marvelicious and the best part is the video made by Sanson. It was played right at the moment before the bride and groom marched in. The accompanying music was none other than my FAV Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol!!!! Very well done!!! I liked the morphing part best when you see Cheeli morph from baby face to adult phase.... way cool!!!

All the best to the couple and cant wait for little chilli padis to pop out... hahahaa...