JayWalk - All Your Xmms Are Belong To Me: January 2008

28 January 2008

Weird Flight Path

By chronological order, this post was supposed to be posted before the Pontiac G6 GT post but I had to hold it back as I was waiting for a reply from Will.

Anyway, I was tracking the flight path of my path as it started to make its descend as it approaches LAX. What I noticed was that as soon as it entered the mainland USA, it made a right turn towards Fresno (see red line depicting flight path in above picture) before looping right back to original line of approach as if there was something there that the plane had to get around.

So, I took a picture of the screen in front of me and email to my good SQ Pilot friend whom holds the answers to all my strange questions like "what do planes land exceptionally harder during rainy weather?" or "why must we keep all windows open during take-off and landing?"

And this was his reply below:

1) Most likely to have some military or civilian paraglide/parachute jumping activities.

2) Another possibility is that this approach lines you up to Runways 24L or 24R, facing a bearing of 240 degrees towards the coast where the prevailing winds are blowing from.

3) This also facilitate Air Traffic control in which DEPARTING aircraft takes off toward the coast. Minimise conflicts.

That's all my guesses.

Interesting..... I learned something new today.

- Voxeros

1. Elvina left...

Tuesday, 29 January 2008 11:20 am :: http://www.elvina33.blogspot.com

By the way, I love your Birthday Greets chalkboard tool under Jay Shouts. Where can I get it?

2. desperate addict left...

Wednesday, 30 January 2008 1:15 am :: http://0811.blogdrive.com

Not too long ago Channel 8 had this show called Bu Shuo Ni Bu Zhi and according to them, the reason why the windows have to be open is so that the passengers can see what's going on outside in case of an accident.
Google results show a variety of answers too.
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/answers2/frontend.php/question?qid=200711160359 32AAKK0yz&show=7 http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080122192938AAWGEKV

3. JayWalk left...

Thursday, 31 January 2008 7:59 am ::

Elvina: Like I said in my tag board, I just anyhow grab a blank chalkboard image and the fill in the rest of the messasge and/or doodle in myself.

Desperate Addict: Welcome to the blog! You are right as far as what my pilot friend said. Apparently, the take off and landing are the most dangerous parts of the flight.

4. hiao auntie left...

Friday, 8 February 2008 3:42 am

if you had asked me airline safety procedure questions e.g. why must you open all windows for take-offs and landings? i would hv been able to answer most of them as i was a trained flight attendant before.... in the case of the odd shape turn before landing, haven't you notice they (planes/pilots) always (or almost always) do that? i think it is to line up the planes for landing as you have to wait as well as queue up before you get your turn....

5. hiao auntie left...

Friday, 8 February 2008 3:50 am

i think i noe the answer to why planes land harder during rainy weather too.... u noe when i was in the airlines, we always have time after landing to go out and have some dinner and drinks (non-alcoholic if we have to fly in the next 24 hours) with the pilots, that's when somebody will post such questions to the pilots and they will answer them for us so that we all learn something and become more aware of flight and safety procedures

6. JayWalk left...

Friday, 8 February 2008 5:56 pm ::

hiaoauntie: I would have agreed with you on the lining up in to formation to get in line to land if the "detour" were nearer to the airport. In this particular case, the detour happened around Fresno which is about 225 miles away from LAX which probably rules out your rationale.

27 January 2008

Fire At Monte Carlo

I already saw the news about Monte Carlo when Kel, Kell & Kelly wished that I was going to stay at the Monte Carlo itself. Thanks ah!! I don't buy the Venetian Cup for you liao.

*BISH!*

Fortunately I will be staying at Caesar's Palace this trip and so my room reservation should be unscathed. Had this been 6 months ago where I zhun zhun was indeed staying at the Monte Carlo, I would have hong kan-ded liao.

Still, it would be interesting to call them up and see what kind of room rates are they offering now as a result of the fire aftermath.

Related News:

CNN.com (26 Jan 2008) - Vegas Resort Casino Fire Fully Contained

Image Credit: http://i.l.cnn.net

- Voxeros

1. Elvina left...

Tuesday, 29 January 2008 11:11 am :: http://www.elvina33.blogspot.com

So - why do we have to keep the windows open when we take off and land? :P

2. JayWalk left...

Thursday, 31 January 2008 7:56 am ::

Elvina: According to my pilot friend, it is to allow the passengers to keep a look out at the outside for any abnormally like a wing on fire etc and help alert the pilots.

Is it me or does that just sound too incredible?

26 January 2008

Pontiac G6 GT

I am here at the City of Lost Angels and before I transfer to the S65 AMG , the Pontiac G6 is my ride in the interim. Got this car from Hertz at the airport. Hertz may be a tad pricier but the convenience is unsurpassed. Once I got out of the airport, I boarded the Hertz shuttle bus to their airport location which was around 5 minutes away.

Given the I was already their #1 Club member, a car had already been assigned to me. All I had to do when I got off the shuttle bus was to look up my name on the big computer screen where it will tell me where my alloted car was parked. Without even entering the office to check in my reservation, I just lugged my bags to the designated car and drive off.

Anyway, in case the name Pontiac doesn't ring a bell, it is an american make by General Motors. The Pontiac G6's more famous predeccessors would be that of the Pontiac FireBird and the Trans Am, of which the latter was immortalised when they featured it as KITT in Knight Rider.

Somehow, I am starting to get a knack of getting red cars. If you remembered the last Mazda6, it was red as well.

Strangely, the Mazda6 was a upgrade to the next category from my usual mid-size category but I feel that this Pontiac G6 despite no upgrade was the better car. Despite the fact that it felt heavier, the car's 3,500cc V6 engine made the car very lively. My only gripe was that the Continental tyres, despite being relatively new have a tendency to lose traction, especially when I accelerated from a red light. Fortunately, the traction control system would kick in albeit, unnecessary under normal driving conditions.

Body wise, the form factor looked just as good as the Mazda6 but the shell felt just as thin. Somehow, the pre-conception of Japanese cars being aluminum soda cans on wheels no long applies.

The interior for both the Pontiac G6 and the Mazda6 were just as plasticky but the former wins hands down with nice panels and layout.

In all, I think Pontiac G6 is a better car among the two. However, given that it has a more powerful engine, the gas mileage may not be as good.

Click To Enlarge

- Voxeros

25 January 2008

Flight To LAX

Flew to Los Angeles en route to Las Vegas this Sunday on Cathay Pacific. The cabin was refitted with the new configuration where Business Class gets the total lie flat bed seats in Herring Bone format and the economy got refitted with a new seat and a brand new inflight entertainment system with loads of movies.

Problem was, the seat cushion was thinned out and very hard. My ass hurts.

Anyway, I saw the following:

1) The Indian Man - I was waiting outside the toilet for my turn and boy was it a long wait. I thought maybe the person, as per an earlier anecdote over beer by CowBoyCaleb, was passing out a doodie the size of a baby anaconda and that the person didn't know what to do next when the turd just wouldn't go down?

What would you do?

Keep pouring water (or pee) on the chocolate sausage to try to break it up?
Use you hand to break it into smaller pieces (then of course wash hand thoroughly with soap lah!)?
Act blur and say that it was already there when you got in?
Ring the service bell and tell the stewardess "So how ah?"
Cross your fingers and say "Chope!" ?

So anyway, the man finally did come out and just before I stepped in, I was like "How come the whole toilet is wet?" The sink and the entire deck is wet, the floor is wet, the toilet cover is wet. WTF? It was as if the bugger took a shower in it using the sink tap!

Then as I lifted up the toilet seat cover to pee, I saw remaining traces of toilet paper unflushed.

Baby anaconda?

2) The Indian Grandma - For some strange reason, there were a lot of Indians heading to Los Angeles on that flight and this was my second trip to the toilet when I was at the "anaconda toilet" where this little old lady was struggling to get the toilet door open.

Poor lady looking very confused why the door wouldn't open.

I gently took her frail hand away from the wall and place it on the door. She pushed again. Voila! C'est miracle! Open sesame!

Good luck with all the water in the toilet!

I gave that toilet a miss and proceeded all the way to the back of the plane when I saw...

3) The Sleeper Seat In Economy Class - This Ang Moh guy was originally seated in the emergency exit row i.e. a lot of space in front of him as a result of the big exit door. The only thing was that he was totally decked out and asleep on the floor space in front of his seat. Sure, it is most comfortable but definitely not the smartest in terms of safety.

In the cubicle at the end of the plane, the whole place rocked quite a bit but it is expected and common as a result of the plane's tendency to fish tail.

There I was thinking, perhaps the plane should rock a bit harder and we see how the ang moh is going to get flung up against the ceiling and back on the floor. I silently chided myself for such bad thoughts and I realised it would be perfect karma for me since I too was unsecured in the toilet and worse...

.... my pants were around my ankles. It would been most unglam should the worst happen.

Image Credits: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn

- Voxeros

22 January 2008

Brain Fart

If you recall me heading down to HKG the week earlier, I brought along a cheque in an envelope for credit card bill settlement where my bank (credit card) is based.

Given that I arrived on Saturday evening i.e. bank is closed, I put the cheque in an envelope and bought a stamp from the hotel's concierge to mail it out.

One week later and I check via internet bank, the money has not been credited into my account.

WTF! As I thought to myself as the Giro Autopay was going to execute on 21 Jan, I am going incur late charge penalty when my current account has no money to deduct.

And I was wondering how come after one whole week, the cheque has not be credited into my account. Was the cheque lost in the mail?

Then it dawned on me. I mailed the cheque straight to the credit card company!

So anyone caught it yet? Where did I go wrong?

Yup. You are right.

I sent my cheque straight to the credit card company when I should be sending it to my bank for crediting in order for the GIRO to have enough money to deduct.

BRAIN FART!!!!

- Voxeros

1. Chocolate gal left...

Tuesday, 22 January 2008 6:50 am

U old liao...

2. Kelly left...

Tuesday, 22 January 2008 9:03 am :: http://www.kellchan.blogspot.com/

*cough* Old Man *cough*

3. Chocolate gal left...

Tuesday, 22 January 2008 9:56 am

Share a song.. sorry it is so long..
Neil Young Lyrics - Old Man
Old man look at my life,I'm a lot like you were. Old man look at my life,I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,Twenty four and there's so much more Live alone in a paradise That makes me think of two.
Love lost, such a cost, Give me things that don't get lost. Like a coin that won't get tossed Rolling home to you.
Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you I need someone to love me the whole day through Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true.
Lullabies, look in your eyes, Run around the same old town. Doesn't mean that much to me To mean that much to you.
I've been first and last Look at how the time goes past. But I'm all alone at last. Rolling home to you.
Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you I need someone to love me the whole day through Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true.
Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were. Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were.

4. Gary left...

Tuesday, 22 January 2008 2:49 pm

i think you are play too much last week liao.. *pat pat*

5. Red Queen left...

Tuesday, 22 January 2008 4:31 pm

Hope you didnt incur any late charges.... which are exorbitant in my opinion

6. JayWalk left...

Wednesday, 23 January 2008 2:19 am ::

Chocolate Gal & Kelly: Bish! Bish!

Gary: No I didn't. I wrote the address on the envelope the day before I head down to HK. It was already wrong the day before I started partying.

Red Queen: No late charges as my money went in on time before the auto-pay was executed.

20 January 2008

CowBoyBar Reloaded

CowBoyBar has once again reach another milestone. We are reloading CowBoyBar!

From the humble beginnings at Google Groups (where we eventually got evicted coz we were overloading the server with our traffic) to the ill-fated Yahoo Groups and finally to the present Liquidblade domain, CowBoyBar has certainly come a long way.

Along the way, we made new friends and we lose some along the way too. As the word Bar suggest, it is a place where people come, people stay and people go. What's important is that we all had a good and memorable time (sans a quarrel here and a break up there) while we are making merry in the bar.

Over time, like any old house, clutter starts to accumulate and it has finally gotten to a point where sweeping and mopping the floors no longer works and hence calls for something more drastic like that of a full reset.
And so, here we are. CowBoyBar 2008.

We did make some backups here and there like membership roll and some of the more important threads like Martell Death Match (!), Members' Blog Directory and Members' Birthday List, etc., but other than those, it's deletesville as we start from a clean slate.

Everything is gone. It's a brand new day today!

So that's for a short introduction to the CowBoyBar leading up to today.

So what's next as far as the CowBoyBar is concerned?

Well, good news is that CowBoyBar is now re-opened for membership registration for a limited period only. Originally, it was a closed private forum as we want to keep unwanted people out (flamers, lamers and trolls) and with a smaller number of members, it is easier to form closer friendships as well as to maintain the quality standards of the CowBoyBar.

For newbies, here's what to expect.

If you an unregistered visitor, you will be able to view and read some of the thread categories but you will not be able to comment in any of them.
Upon approval of your application, you will be granted Grasshopper Status where it is a probationary membership of sorts. We are looking for members who will be active in the CowBoyBar. As with all forums everywhere, we more often than not, get people who signed up and never to return after a couple of weeks when the euphoria is dissipated and the dust is settled. That means more clutter that the Mods will have to clean up.
There is no hard and fast rule to how to get promoted to Gunslinger Status which effectively is full membership. However, being an active member is generally a very good rule of thumb as well as meeting the rest of the BarFlies in person when we have outings or events.

Once you are a GunSlinger, the rest of the forum will be accessible to you and you will have more areas to chat and explore.

Click Here to goto the Front Door Of The CowBoyBar. Do look around although I have to say since this is the 2nd day of the reset, the public area doesn't have much to look at but we are steadily getting everything up to speed even as we speak. Sign up if you are interested and for an introductory period only, all applications will be approved and granted Grasshopper Status.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Cheers.

Fellow Blogger Plugger List

- Voxeros

18 January 2008

Kill People Put Fire

Apparently, this overcharging incident has been circulating in the email circuit for quite some time already before Lexandria forwarded it to me.

Initially, I thought it was one of those food disasters pictures like a rat's head in the bowl of porridge or a finger tip in the fried rice type.

This, in my opinion, is worse for the earlier examples were accidents (assuming not an act of deliberate sabotage) while this act of price gouging is premeditated.

How the hell can a bowl of YongTauFoo cost $19.20??!! Food court leh.... you think this is Mandarin Hotel har?

Cripsy Prawn Cake for $3.20??!!

This is totally absurd.

Really Kill People Put Fire man!!!

Surely there must be a mistake?

What did the price list on the store front say?

If the price list on the store front is the same as that on the receipt then ok fine, perhaps this person took it for granted by not checking the prices first. So by the time he/she realised kena ketork by the stall, lan lan must pay cause it was his/her own fault for not checking prices first.

Otherwise, I would feel that there is the element of fraud in there and had it been me, I would just shove the YongTauFoo back to the stall and refuse to pay.

So to those who may be heading to the Food Republic at VivoCity, do swing by Ah Koong Restaurant and take a look at the store. Are the prices really so ridiculously expensive or is this just a misunderstanding.

To be honest, I am unable to verify the authenticity of this receipt as it was emailed to me via circulation and as such, I cannot rule out the possibility of the receipt being a product of clever photoshop editing.

I guess the sure way is the go to the store itself to verify.

Do drop me a comment here if anyone of you is heading over to Ah Koong Restaurant.

- Voxeros

1. Gary left...

Friday, 18 January 2008 5:31 pm

erm, does a plate of nasi briyani from the same foodcourt, cost $7, counted in the list? speaking of it, i would blog about it.. lucky im not the one that kana..

2. JayWalk left...

Saturday, 19 January 2008 12:57 am ::

Gary: At least yours was under $10 but $19.20 for YongTauFoo??!!? WTF??!!

3. spinnee left...

Saturday, 19 January 2008 5:45 pm

it's reported in some newspaper yest... confirmed it's real. the owner claimed their ingredients are very fresh imported from msia... what irony...... i'm not going there even how great the yong tao foo is.. oh yes heard that the qty ordered is enuff for 2 ppl..hmm shrug

4. Chocolate gal left...

Saturday, 19 January 2008 8:50 pm

The newspaper reported owner said the fish used is xi dao yu.. and very very fresh... Lots of ice used the whole time to ensure the freshness.. Prices are stated and customers informed of prices before cooking... So dont know who is right or wrong liao.. But i think i rather stick to the normal fish.. only cost me 2-3 bucks.. hahaha

Btw, the same newspaper also reported about xiaxue turning into man.. sianz.. that gal kept writing rubbish to get into news.. >_<

5. rationalneurotic left...

Sunday, 20 January 2008 12:27 am :: http://rationalneurotic.liquidblade.com

I'm sure that is the price stated. You can only blame the fella for being stupid and not asking. I had nasi lemak there for $6 plus bucks too, but that IS the listed price. The shop did nothing wrong loh. If they overcharge, they will lose customers, ain't it? It's very clear. Just order with your eyes open, especially at Food Republic at Vivo. I never go there anymore, because the food at the hawker centres are nicer and much cheaper. In fact, I dislike ALL food courts.

6. JayWalk left...

Sunday, 20 January 2008 3:44 am ::

Spinnee: So what? They insinuating that everybody else serve unfresh stuff?

Chocolate Gal: Well, Bandung Vader wasn't very much of a gal to look at in the first place.

RN: You see even $6 nasi lemak is under $10, but a $19.20 Yong Tau Foo?? WTF??!!

7. Youngjedi left...

Tuesday, 22 January 2008 12:33 am :: http://youngjedi.typepad.com

Yo bro .. the food there is overall very expensive. Republic is sort of an "upmarket" food court. So expect it to be 1.5 times more expensive than normal food court. But that aside, $19 of Yong Tau Foo is still RIDICULOUS!! Haha!!

8. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 22 January 2008 5:03 am ::

YoungJedi:' Yes, I am aware of such food courts but anything above $10 is just wrong!

9. naeboo left...

Wednesday, 23 January 2008 1:02 pm

pls la. 7 bucks for nais briyani also wanna complain...
nasi kandar/briyani for ard 15 is normal even at hawkers la. diu!

10. JayWalk left...

Saturday, 26 January 2008 8:41 pm ::

naeboo: You refering to Ringgit or Singapore dollar?

17 January 2008

Magic Ponies Trapped In The Venetian

.
"...Kee Siao lah… It's just normal lor..."

- RedQueen, 17 Jan 2008

Ed's Note: Kee siao still considered normal? Win liao lor!
.

It was really sad when RedQueen tried pathetically to defend herself only to, like CowBoyCaleb said, fall flat on her face.

Poor Girl.

*pat pat*

I am not even going into the details ~~of the Bitch Fight that she had with someone~~ that night in the middle of Mid-Levels. Must protect her Green-White a bit lah.... or whatever's left of it after that night.

Gentlemen, we are. Yes.

Fast forward to later that evening after we sent RedQueen off, since she is heading back to Hong Kong while we are heading back Spitland, we headed back inside the Venetian to meet up with Kel, Kell & Kelly. She just landed in Macau and was going to start work at the Venetian the next day.

I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for CowBoyCaleb to met her as well and so I played the role of the Lobang Broker.

Knowing CowBoyCaleb would be beneficial to Kel, Kell & Kelly as CowBoyCaleb is a Macau regular like every other weekend whenever he is stuck in Spitland. Kel, Kell & Kelly would definitely welcome the sight of a familiar face as well as a friend who is able to bring emergency stuff to and from Singapore.

On the flip-side, being an Events Executive for The Venetian, I am sure Kel, Kell & Kelly would be happy to keep a lookout for special lobangs and kangtaos for CowBoyCaleb.

Win-win. No?

So we met up and did the introductions which I must say CowBoy "Oi! Intro Us Lah!" Caleb was most impatient as I was rudely interrupted when I was still in the middle of my Hello. (Oi! Let me finish first, can?).
Yah lah... people bian swee lah... but no need to so kan cheong, can?

We later proceeded to go find a place to makan and I tell you, the architect that design the floor layout damn good coz everywhere we walk hor, we end up back at the escalators leading to the casino floor one!

It's like one of those horror movies where the victim kept running and running only to end up where she started from. Same here! We kept coming back to the escalator leading to the casino floor!

I was telling RedQueen this place machiam Hotel California. You can check out any time you want, but you can never leave.

*shudder*

- Voxeros

1. Chocolate gal left...

Friday, 18 January 2008 12:06 pm

the designer and owner is smart.. like that confirm tempt ppl to go play a few rounds every time...

2. JayWalk left...

Saturday, 19 January 2008 12:53 am ::

Chocolate Gal: I speculate that the architect was satan himself!!

16 January 2008

Magic Ponies Slaughtered In Macau

Being the gentlemen that we are, CowBoyCaleb and I shall omit the bits about RedQueen going kee siao at Lan Kwai Fong on Saturday night and jump over straight to the next morning.

We were rudely awakened by CowBoyCaleb super loud alarm clock at 6-friggin'-30 in the morning, also known as CowBoyCaleb's Magic Time (Please ask him directly. Thank you.)

As RedQueen's room was just next to us (yes, we remembered to dead-bolt our doors), we banged on common wall to see if there was any response from the other side. Apparently, calling room-to-room in this hotel need to go through an operator (sibeh leceh) and we were afraid to leave the room until we were sure RedQueen no more kee siao.

"BONG! BONG! BONG!" We pounded on the common wall.

Hmm.... no response, must still be concussed.

Try again. "BONG! BON........."

"BAM! BAM! BAM! (faint murmuring of Hokkien profanities)". Ahh.... RedQueen wake up already.
We had breakfast at the lovely Luk Yu Tea House at Stanley Road, which was a short leisurely downhill stroll. The walk back UP the hill (I thought it was short?) wasn't too fantastic though. Wah lau.... siang hor kai siao??! Oh wait... that would be me. Oops.

But I have to say that RedQueen, while still concussed throughout the first half of the day, was a real trooper and she fought on to keep up with the rest of us, instead of just taking the easy way out and snooze the day away in the hotel room.

We checked out and headed for the ferry to Macau and we reached the Venetian Macau at around lunch time where we had a good Portuguese lunch before heading to the casino floors to "start work".

As this was the first trip to Macau with CowBoyCaleb, it was interesting to observe his "warm up" ritual. For me, I have the habit of walking around and getting a feel of the atmosphere.

Do I Feel Lucky Today?

CowBoyCaleb specialises in Baccarat while I am do Blackjack and so we headed off to our separate ways.
At the Blackjack area, I spend sometime casing the scene. Observe the table limits and their distribution. Watch the tables play a few hands and then cross out the Hot Dealer Tables.

I didn't feel very "good" that day and also due to the fact that Macau rules and Vegas rules were slightly different and I wasn't happy about it as I felt Macau rules favour the house more it should.

Note to self: Stay with Vegas.

Anyway, the dealers were HOT that day where they would draw a 21 to beat my 20 repeatedly! Let me give you a freaky example:

JayWalk: Two cards totaling 16. I stayed.

Dealer: Has a 4. He opened his second card and it was another 4.

JayWalk: I was thinking this is not good as his two cards add up to 8. A picture card would put him to 18 and win.

Dealer: Draws another 4 which makes 12.

JayWalk: Phew! Now would be a good time for the picture card to bust him at 22.

Dealer: Draws another 4!

JayWalk: Four 4s in a row? What are the chances?? So dealer is at 16 which means he needs to hit one more card. Any card 6 or above and he bust. I thought I was going to win this hand.

Dealer: Draws an Ace. 17. Dealer wins.

JayWalk: WTF???

So I burned through about 1/4 of my budget and I thought this is not my day. Better quit before I sink further.
I joined up with CowBoyCaleb and likewise, he was wiped out pretty quickly too.

- Voxeros

1. Red Queen left...

Wednesday, 16 January 2008 7:16 pm

Eh simi dead bolt the door. I wondered who was the one who was begging me to rescue him..Tio magic pony until song song right???

2. JayWalk left...

Saturday, 19 January 2008 12:51 am ::

RedQueen: If you remember, I gave up asking for help hor!

15 January 2008

Wah Tio Si Magic Pony Liao!

RedQueen and FatKitten flew up to Hong Kong for the first time and being the good guys that we were, CowboyCaleb and I traveled down all the way from Spitland to meet up with them and to show them around.

Seeing that we were going to party into the night, CowboyCaleb booked a hotel room, the day before, for the night and for the sake of convenience, we booked it at the same hotel that they were staying.

So anyway, making our way down as rather smooth, not many cars surprisingly on a Saturday night, we were making good time via car > border check point > bus to Wan Chai > MTR to Central, then we hopped into a cab from the Central MTR station to the hotel.

JayWalk: Mm goy, Bishop Lei Zao Dim. (Translate: Bishop Lei Hotel, please)

Cabbie: Bee Sop Lay? Meh yeh lay gar? (Translate: Bee Sop Lay? What is that?)

CowboyCaleb handed me the hotel confirmation print out and I showed it to the Cabbie pointing to the hotel details.

JayWalk: Er.... Lor Bin Sarn Lok, gor dou. (Translate: It's at Robinson Road.)

Cabbie: Orh.... hoh qi gor kor Wai Em See Ay hai mar? (Translate: Oh. It's the one that is like a YMCA i.e. Christian hostel.)

JayWalk: Hai lah. Hai gor kam lah. (Translate: Yes. That's the one.)

Next thing you know, we were "Initial D-ed" all the way up the Mid-Levels and had there not been the grab handles, the maniac cabbie would have had the two of us sliding all over the vinyl backseat, polishing it with our butts to a nice shiny sheen.

HKD 25 later, we are at our destination and I looked up at the building to find out what it is called in Cantonese, in case we needed to take cab back here again.

I looked up (see picture above) and uh-oh.... In Cantonese, it is pronounced as Hong Gay and I was thinking Gay + Hong Kan = Hong Gay.

I was joking to CowboyCaleb, that maybe this Bishop Lei like little boys one.

Then when we got to our room hor.....

WAH LAN EH!!!! LIKE THAT CALL "TWIN ROOM" HAR??!!?

Can the beds get any closer or not??!! KNNBCCB!!!!

Then I was thinking in my head hor. "Eh... why this CowboyCaleb is called CowBoy har?"

Siao liao.... I think lim peh gim meh tio si Magic Pony liao....

Image Credit: http://www.asiatravel.com

- Voxeros

1. aloe left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 9:41 am :: http://www.xanga.com/aloeve

Er? The actual twin room looks different from the picture posted leh.

2. Ruok left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 10:02 am

make sure u saddle up properly hor.

3. Red Queen left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 10:28 am

Kauz.. You have lost all credibility.. post simi picture oso no one believe sia...

4. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 11:13 am ::

aloe: Well, this was the picture that I took. Perhaps there is another room that looked different? Perhaps at a higher price? Ours is the cheapest.

ruok: Yee haw!!!

Red Queen: Me lose credibility? Wait till they see your pictures!!

5. spinnee left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 1:34 pm

twin bed indeed... so did u two sleep side by side? *burst out laffing*

6. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 1:45 pm ::

Spinnee: Everything was a blur that night. I think I was on top? :P

7. naeboo left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 8:43 pm

so, did he pretend to be sleeping and then rub against u??

8. sunflower left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 11:25 pm

I thot u will be below :P

9. Kelly left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 11:58 pm :: http://www.kellchan.blogspot.com/

Brokeback mountain (Spitland version)...

10. JayWalk left...

Wednesday, 16 January 2008 1:31 am ::

naeboo: If only it was just rubbing..... haiz.... T_T

sunflower: Depends on what position right?

Kelly: Excuse me. It was Hong Kong version.

11. Red Queen left...

Wednesday, 16 January 2008 10:12 am

Orh.. post lor.... But make sure u photoshop until swee swee then post hor....

12. Chocolate gal left...

Wednesday, 16 January 2008 10:57 am

So u two take turns on the top or who's the gal in the first place? U got the gal gal look ^_

13. JayWalk left...

Wednesday, 16 January 2008 1:15 pm ::

Red Queen: I ish gentleman one. I won't release them to the public domain.

Jaschoc: Don't tell you!

14. starm|st left...

Wednesday, 16 January 2008 3:25 pm :: http://foronemoreday.wordpress.com

oh no poor cowboy! he must have been properly traumatised.

15. JayWalk left...

Wednesday, 16 January 2008 4:45 pm ::

Starmist: Welcome to the blog. No see your on CowBoyBar these days leh.

Anyway, I think I more tramautised than CowBoyCaleb leh.

16. starm|st left...

Wednesday, 16 January 2008 8:53 pm :: http://foronemoreday.wordpress.com

yeah, hvnt been in there for a (long) while. donch worry, cbc is harmless. unless he is drunk. hur hur.

17. JayWalk left...

Wednesday, 16 January 2008 10:50 pm ::

Starmist: Ahh... I take it that you were there at Wala Wala when it happened. Well, like I said in my comment on your blog. Come back to the Bar! Come back! We missed you!

18. hiaoauntie left...

Thursday, 17 January 2008 12:18 am

your backside pain or not?

19. JayWalk left...

Thursday, 17 January 2008 1:35 am ::

Hiao Auntie: Why? You want to sayang it har?

20. Chocolate gal left...

Thursday, 17 January 2008 9:59 pm

Your backside smelly liao.. tsk tsk

21. JayWalk left...

Friday, 18 January 2008 8:52 am ::

Chocolate Gal: If you haven't been sniffing my arse, how would you know?

22. hiaoauntie left...

Saturday, 19 January 2008 1:12 pm

don't you think 3 is a crowd??? kekekek.....

23. JayWalk left...

Saturday, 19 January 2008 2:41 pm ::

Hiao Auntie: You don't hear any complains about the Holy Trinity, now do you?

24. littlecartnoodles left...

Monday, 21 January 2008 12:16 am :: http://littlecartnoodles.blogspot.com

The first character is not pronounced "Hong" in Cantonese, but "Wung" (rhymes with "hung")

25. JayWalk left...

Monday, 21 January 2008 11:06 am ::

Littlecartnoodles: Welcome to the blog! Well, you must understand my cantonese is half past six one and at that time, I read it as Hong.

Well, either well, it's still Hung Kan!

14 January 2008

Dumbass Of The Week VI

Hiao Auntie send me this news article where "Ah Boy" from the local sitcom Phua Chu Kang was sentenced to 1 week in Detention Barracks (DB) which is the military equivalent to prison.

"Ah Boy" aka Marcus Ng Yi Loong (Picture left) may not ring a bell to many but if you were an ACS boy or old boy, you would definitely remember this asshat as the punk who dragged ACS (ex-Barker Road, now International) Principal, Mr Ng Eng Chin (picture below right), through a year's worth of mud with false allegations of molestation way back in 2001.

Mr Ng Eng Chin (NEC, as he was more fondly known back then) was my Discipline Master during my time in secondary school. For all the years that I have known him since, NEC is a good and straight up guy in my books. So when the allegation that he molested Marcus during a counseling session, I knew right from the start that it was a bogus lie. There was never a doubt in every cell of my existence to believe that NEC would do such a thing.

At the end of the investigation which dragged over a year, he was unanimously cleared, by the Panel of Inquiry, of all charges. In most cases, it would be a great relief but our faith in NEC was so great that there was no relief to speak of as we knew from the start that the investigation was merely a formality and that acquittal was inevitable.

Yes, NEC was exonerated but to be dragged through the mud bringing stress and hardships to him, his family, friends and supporters was certainly uncalled for.

Marcus Ng as far as I am concerned is a trouble making delinquent that ought to be hantam one time jialat jialat.

I rolled my eyes when I read that his mother told the press that "He (Marcus) is a well-mannered, humble and respectful person despite finding fame early..."

It makes me wonder if his mom is of sound mind or deliriously in denial.

Let it be known that a year after the investigation, at the age of 17 and no longer in the school, was put on probation on charges of assault and theft and a year before this case, he was convicted and fined SGD 1000.00 for disobedience and non-compliance.

To this I would say to Marcus' mom. Well-mannered, humble and respectful. NOT!

By the way, here's an interesting tidbit that I bet most of you would not have picked up. Marcus' family hired Drew & Napier's Wendell Wong to defend them.

Of all people Wendell Wong. Oh, the irony!

Mr Wendell Wong was ex-Deputy Prosecutor and tracing further back was Head Prefect of ACSS'87, President of the ACJC'89 Students' Council Ex-Co and one of the youth leaders of the Barker Road Methodist Church. In other words, he is a true-blue ACS boy and here in the ACS family, when you mess with one of us, you mess with us. That how strong our school spirit is.

Click Here to see the Support For Ng Eng Chin page from the ACS Class of 1975.

1975!! That's more than 30 years ago. Old Boys from 30 years ago showing support and standing behind the good man. How's that for school spirit?

Anyway, kudos to Wendell for his integrity and discharging his duties without prejudice under the circumstances. To this, I am humbled for if I were in Wendell's shoes, I would have to request to have myself taken out of this case for I would sure to be the "goalie that would purposely leak a goal or two".

To Marcus,

I sincerely hope that you would spend the time in DB to seriously reflect on your past mistakes. May you come out better and be a decent person.

If not, please continue to stay inside until you've truly learnt your lesson.

Try picking a fight with the warden or something.

Cheers.

JayWalk

11 January 2008

Meme: Little Things That Make Me Happy

Rational Neurotic started a meme and I got tagged *grumble grumble*. But lucky this meme is quite original and relatively straight forward. I got quite peeved with recent meme requests which were just rehashes of past memes.

So anyway, here it is.

"Just list 10 things that make you happy on a regular basis. Hence, pay raises that typically come once a year won’t count. These are things that make you smile at least once a week… to remind you, in spite of all the ranting you have to regularly get out of your system, life is good.

- Rational Neurotic."

So, in no order of merit:

Receiving email notifying of incoming funds. Another order successfully completed without further incident.
Receiving new orders from customers. Yes, the company survives another day.
Talking to family and friends via MSN, SMS, Email and phone. Always good to be in touch with friends.
Talking cock on CowBoyBar.
Publish yet another blog entry.
Going to bed. Another crap day in Spitland is over.
Waking up (albeit reluctantly). Another day closer to going home.
Going to the gym.
Sunday golf even though I suck big time at the game.
Sharing and learning something new from people.

10 people I dragging down to suffer along with me:

- Voxeros

1. Red Queen left...

Friday, 11 January 2008 9:15 am

SABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

2. JayWalk left...

Friday, 11 January 2008 9:38 am ::

Red Queen: Ngek ngek ngek!!

3. Gary left...

Saturday, 12 January 2008 6:41 am

cannot say "..dragging down to suffer with me.." since this post is about what makes you happy.. so must say "..choosing those who i feel happy with.." isnt that sound better?? bwahahahahah..

4. JayWalk left...

Saturday, 12 January 2008 7:25 am ::

Gary: Oh the oxymoron of the suffering happiness. Better now?

5. eemiily left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 1:54 am :: http://eemiily.wordpress.com

i did liao. lol....

6. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 15 January 2008 11:32 am ::

eemiily: Cool! And welcome back to blogging!

09 January 2008

Sian XMM Episodes XV

Looks like I got a bumper crop of 5 XMMs (4 XMMs + 1 XiaoManMan) kena sianed yesterday by my talk cock biometric passport entry.

I thought that by writing the entry in full exaggeration mode that one would catch on that I was just talking nonsense. Yet, I got not one but 5 bites! This is most certainly a personal best for me.

I shan't name names in order to protect their identity for after all, this is just a little jee siao prank that was never intended to malu anyone.

Originally I wanted to feature all 5 of them here but on second thought, I think the honour should only go to the first bite.

Besides, the conversation are all roughly the same. You see one, you see all.

Still, Tennis Gal took me by surprise coz after the episode at Orange in Provence, I thought I would never in my life catch her with her guard down. Perhaps another entry on this next week?

Let see if I get enough response to request for that little anecdote.

So without further ado, I give to your Episode XV.

Bon lit.

.
Session Start : Tue Jan 08 09:20:10 2008

(9:20 AM) Tennis Gal: eh u not pulling my leg? ICA really accepted that photo for your passport?!?!

(9:21 AM) JayWalk: Welcome. Sian XMM Episode XV
(9:22 AM) JayWalk: hahha. you is sibeh cute.
(9:22 AM) JayWalk: eh..... angry liao har? talk to me leh!!
(9:23 AM) JayWalk: oi! hello? oh die......

<Note The 9-Minute Angry Silence>

(9:32 AM) Tennis Gal: U DIE!!!!

(9:33 AM) JayWalk: tomolo blog liao!! woohoo.....

(9:33 AM) Tennis Gal: @#%*!!

(9:33 AM) JayWalk: hahaa

Session End : Tue Jan 08 13:18:07 2008
.

Image Credit: http://csdms.in

- Voxeros

1. sunflower left...

Wednesday, 9 January 2008 9:36 am

u is evil........

2. Red Queen left...

Wednesday, 9 January 2008 9:47 am

wah.. thank God never got con..

3. Kelly left...

Wednesday, 9 January 2008 10:58 am :: http://www.kellchan.blogspot.com/

Xiao Man Man is him?

4. JayWalk left...

Wednesday, 9 January 2008 12:16 pm ::

sunflower: Me evil? Noooooo!!

Red Queen: You already got one episode liao. Must give other xmm a chance mah.

Kelly: Yeah... Xiao Man Man is a he.

5. Red Queen left...

Wednesday, 9 January 2008 1:23 pm

When i kena one episode!!! dun anyhow say hor.. I ish Mamasan not XMM..

6. JayWalk left...

Wednesday, 9 January 2008 1:39 pm ::

Red Queen: Yes mamasan! My bad mamasan! Sorry, mamasan!

7. Chocolate gal left...

Wednesday, 9 January 2008 10:57 pm

Haha.. lucky i slow, never read that post till today.. but the immigration is always so strict so not possible...

8. JayWalk left...

Thursday, 10 January 2008 8:00 am ::

ChocolateGal: Yes indeed. Passport is a very important document. You can count on our gahmen to do a good job as far as this is concerned.

9. Ruok left...

Thursday, 10 January 2008 8:57 am

rofl

10. JayWalk left...

Thursday, 10 January 2008 9:10 am ::

ruok: More to come in the near future. Stay tuned.

11. aloe left...

Friday, 11 January 2008 9:15 pm

rule of thumb: avoid talking, smsing, msning with Jay.... =P

12. JayWalk left...

Saturday, 12 January 2008 12:46 am ::

Aloe: Dounch like that lah.... btw, the CowBoyBar looking for you.

08 January 2008

Biometric Passport

Yesterday I briefly mentioned about picking up my new passport when I was back.

Well here's the story from the beginning.

I was fast running out of pages on my passport much to the grumbling of the immigration officers of the various countries that they cannot find space to chop. I even had to seek out the elusive blank spaces ahead of time in order to save them the hassle (and not to mention giving the evil eye). I also needed the new passport for the Biometric ~~dunno-what-fark~~ Chip as I have an US trip later in January.

So anyway, 10 days prior to returning home, I went online to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website and applied for a new passport online via the APPLES system. I was thinking given that it's the year end, I better apply earlier in order to anticipate the year-end crunch.

I did the usual of filling up my particulars and when it comes to the photo uploading, I decided to use the above photo since it's one of my favourite (Thanks nadnut!). I kinda anticipated getting rejected (as I am sure they would have sniffed out a prank from a mile away) but lo and behold! I got an email 2 days later telling me to come collect the passport! Talk about fast!!!

As a result, my collection appointment was a week ahead of my planned return and I had to write back to reschedule to 29 Dec, to which the officer-in-charge was kind enough to write back to warn me about the Saturday morning jam. Kudos to that officer for taking the initiative to inform me. It may be a small gesture but I appreciated it no less.

Er... wait a minute? You mean my photo was accepted?

Let's fast forward to the day I was the Immigration Desk at Changi Airport as I was due to fly back to Hong Kong that day.

The immigration took my new passport and gave me the Ahh... I-see-you-got-the-new-biometric-passport look and then her smile turned to a frown in a blink of her eye as she flipped my passport opened to the front page.

"You don't look like your photo leh!" She said.

"Oh!" I replied. "I forgot about the 2 fingers." and I turn to my left and place the two fingers over my right eye.

"Ahh... ok ok." She said again. "Bon voyage."

When I landed at Hong Kong, I transited to ShenZhen via ferry. I reached the Spitland immigration desk and immediately turn to my left and place the two fingers on my eye.

The immigration officer was taken aback by such an unusual gesture but it was for just a mere split of a second when he opened my passport and it all dawned on him what that was all about.

*Chop! Chop!*

Welcome to Spitland.

- Voxeros

1. Gary left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 4:14 am

wtf.. for a moment, i tot you edit the picture of yourself.. still find it hard to believe that they allow you to put up this kind of photo..

2. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 8:06 am ::

Gary: What can I say? With thousands of applications handled on a daily basis, perhaps mine just happened to slip through the cracks?

3. Red Queen left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 8:58 am

Well lets see how the US Customs would react to that... hahahah I really wonder if they would stop u and strip search you!!!

4. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 9:20 am ::

RedQueen: Unlikely to kena stuck since I use the air crew channel to clear my immigration.

5. rn left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 11:13 am :: http://rationalneurotic.liquidblade.com

they made me submit a new photo because some idiot "damaged" my photo while lifting it off the application form. DamN!

6. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 11:15 am ::

RN: Next time apply via online lor. Accidents do happen mah and given the sheer volume that they have to handle everyday, you can only lament your arse luck that your passport photo was "THE CHOSEN ONE" to cock up.

Sudah lah....

7. Ed, Edd, and Eddy left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 11:59 am :: http://eddyteo.blogspot.com/

Eh sure anot! Bluff one lah, tio bo.
You want to see how many kena bluff right...
I don'tbelieve.

8. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 12:01 pm ::

"Ed:''' No comment for now. Read tomorrow's blog entry.

9. Red Queen left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 12:06 pm

Please lah... Biometric Passport the picture is not like that one...... this passport looks like my passport and plus your photo got no watermark like anew passport does.

10. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 12:09 pm ::

RedQueen: As per my comments to Ed, read tomorrow's blog entry.

11. Gary left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 1:41 pm

no way am i going to get tricked for it..

12. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 2:40 pm ::

Gary: Sorry. Still no comment at this point in time. You will have to wait till tomorrow's entry like everybody else.

13. Shelly left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 7:46 pm :: http://shellylives.wordpress.com

EH, You are joking right?!
Cannot be our anal local customs let you use THIS kind of photo one lor. Got fringe cover a bit of face also cannot pass liao. Your half face all cannot see, u think I believe meh?

14. nadnut left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 10:03 pm :: http://nadnut.liquidblade.com

you can't sian this xmm. its confirmed a prank. firstly, no way they'll accept this. and lastly, check out the "mini" J pic below. he's facing front.
PRANK ALERT.

15. r3gular left...

Wednesday, 9 January 2008 12:01 am :: http://r3gular.wordpress.com/

. I knowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

16. JayWalk left...

Wednesday, 9 January 2008 8:13 am ::

Shelly, nadnut & R3gular: Read the next day's entry, please.

17. eemiily left...

Thursday, 10 January 2008 12:32 am :: http://eemiily.wordpress.com

lol ur little halogram at the bottom right didnt edit... got your "straight-on" face shot

18. JayWalk left...

Thursday, 10 January 2008 7:57 am ::

eemiily: Yo! Long time no hear! Hor seh bor? Yah lah... it was a 5 minute photoshop job lor. Besides I need to leave a few clues to let people figure out that I was just talking cock right? Then when kena bruffed liao really no excuse lor.

07 January 2008

I Scream, You Scream, We Scream

... for ICE CREAM!!!

Having finished rioting at the Plush Bash shortly after my touching down in Singapore, I had to get up at 7am (what? 3 hours later?) to get to the Immigration Department to collect my new BioMetric passport where the collection appointment was fixed at 8am.

Fortunately, that was a smooth affair and I was out of the building in no time and heading home.

Rest of the day was me to get home to report for Duty-Parent and it was decided that we to bring them to the zoo.

Faith was visibly excited and Gabriel too in his own super-stoned-spaced-out way. We got into the zoo and it wasn't like 20 minutes later when Faith says she's tired already and wanna go home.

WHAT??? LIM PEH drive all the way to Mandai (bladdy stick shift car some more) and you wanna go back after JUST 20 friggin' minutes??!!!

So if any of you were at the zoo in the afternoon of 29 Dec 2007 and you see this guy dragging a lifeless corpse of a kid along the ground behind him, that's me.

Ok. So I kid (no pun intended).

Instead of a lifeless corpse that I was just exaggerating, both Troy (Godson) and Faith started to do the Ernest & Julio Gallo*.

* Excessive Whining.

But hor, Godpa tio si Godpa when he said the magic words.

"Wanna eat ice cream?"

Hor seh liao. Problem resolved. Godpa tio si Godpa. Respect.

So we got them the ice cream and we headed back to the exit as the clouds started to darken.

I was telling Faith to eat her ice cream a little faster lest it starts to melt all over her hands and to eat properly with her mouth. NOT her face.

Next thing, you know it, I heard a "Hee hee hee" down my right arm where Faith was.

"WAH RAOZ!!! YOU PURPOSELY ONE RIGHT?!!!"

"Hee hee hee..."

"ASK YOU DON"T EAT UNTIL ALL OVER YOUR FACE AND YOU PURPOSELY... ... wait. take photo first. *Click* ....ONE RIGHT? SIBEH JEE SIAO LEH!!!"

"Hee hee hee..."

"WAIT! STAND THERE! DON'T MOVE! I GET WET WIPES! DON'T YOU WIPE YOUR HAND AND MOUTH ON YOUR DRESS!!"

"OIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU PURPOSELY ONE!!!!! YOU WIPE YOUR HAND AND MOUTH ON YOUR DRESS!!!!!!!!! ARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!'

"Hee hee hee..."

"YOU PURPOSELY ONE!!!!"

Sigh...

(Like machiam I asked them take photo at gun point like that. tmd..... >.< )

- Voxeros

1. Gary left...

Monday, 7 January 2008 2:15 am

like father like daughter.. genes in your family run leep leep..

2. Everton left...

Monday, 7 January 2008 4:28 am

Funny picture. I thought the young lady was brushing her teeth (ha ha).

3. JayWalk left...

Monday, 7 January 2008 11:26 am ::

Gary: Yah hor.... all berry jee jee siao siao one....

Everton: Eh, we were at the zoo one leh. Where got people go zoo brush teeth one?

4. Chocolate gal left...

Monday, 7 January 2008 11:58 am

Why they take photos must tiptoe one???

5. Kelly left...

Monday, 7 January 2008 12:51 pm :: http://www.kellchan.blogspot.com/

Like Father Like Daughter.
I heard the new passport number is a handful. No longer goes by your IC number...

6. JayWalk left...

Monday, 7 January 2008 1:19 pm ::

Chocolate Gal: I guess it's because they were leaning against a height chart and both wanted to "appear" taller. Hence the tip toe.

Kelly: The passport number is indeed different from the NRIC number from now on. Read my entry on the passport tomorrow.

7. rn left...

Monday, 7 January 2008 10:28 pm :: http://rationalneurotic.liquidblade.com

faith damn cute la, she. Going to be a heartbreaker when she grows up. EH, where's my memE!

8. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 8 January 2008 8:04 am ::

RN: Meme is on queue. Likely to be published on Thursday or Friday.

9. Ruok left...

Thursday, 10 January 2008 8:55 am

Faith sibeh cute wahahaha

10. JayWalk left...

Thursday, 10 January 2008 9:12 am ::

ruok: Not to mention sibeh chuey pattern.