My pink Obama 'HOPE' tennis ball

... After a 2 year study, the National Science Foundation announced the following results on America's recreational preferences:
1. The sport of choice for unemployed or incarcerated people is: basketball.
2. The sport of choice for maintenance level employees is: bowling.
3. The sport of choice for blue-collar workers is: football.
4. The sport of choice for supervisors is: baseball.
5. The sport of choice for middle management is: tennis.
6. The sport of choice for corporate officers is: golf.


Conclusion: The higher you rise in the corporate structure, the smaller your balls become. The day will come when I decide to take up golf but just not today.

Soul Searching

Pap and I took the 4WD down to the northern side of Malaysia on the island of Borneo which is easily accessible by road from Brunei Darussalam. It has been yonks since I’ve last been to Miri. It took us longer than expected to get to where we were heading. The slippery road and damned weather condition were not only the reasons slowing us down but the roads from Tutong , Seria and Kuala Belait were shielded by men and women in uniform awaiting for the arrival of Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla at the helicopter base of Seven Flight. FYI, I’ve got the hots for Prince Harry, soo…dreamy. Pap and I were just passing by witnessing numerous helis in the air thinking how great it would be if the helis were performing some sort of an air show. Back to the road trip, the first place we went to was the Gurdwara Sahib. It’s a temple for the Sikhs built in the 1974/75. I had no clue; the Gurdwara was in our itinerary of places to visit. I, who am of mixed parentage, Sikh and Chinese, do not really have much of a clue on how to perform the prayers. Pap really caught me by surprise this time, he yanked out a green ‘chuni’ (Punjabi headscarf worn by Sikh women)from underneath the car seat and instructed me to put it on before I enter the Gurdwara. He demonstrated how to perform the prayer and told me I can do my prayers in English or Chinese as I wish. It was truly a surreal experience for me as it was my first time in a Gurdwara and being 24, some say ‘dontcha think you’re a little too late’ but it’s never too late to officially perform my first prayer in a temple. I just wished I came fully dressed in a Punjabi wear instead of my skinny jeans and indie top. Then again, maybe one day I’ll own a Punjabi dress that comes along with the matching shoes! I wonder what my Chinese mother or my siblings would think about this. They had no clue what went down in Miri. Sat Sri Akaal.

Clock Restoration Repair

I extracted an article off our local papers to read on air. It was just a little something to share with the listeners.

Some of what the listeners said:
I work in town, and most times when I look at the clock, its either I'm late for work or too early or it doesn't make sense.

One time when I saw the clock in the morning, I was like 'Oh My God, I'm Late For Work!'. Then I drove round the tower, and all the 4 faces of the clocks showed different times.

Its a historical landmark and the authorities should get the time synchronised correctly. We shouldn't confuse tourists.

The authorities do sometimes fix the tower clocks, I see ladders and men trying to get the clocks sorted out and they did. It was the right time but the hands of the clocks slowed down after 20 minutes. Guess its getting old. Historic indeed.

I never realised the four faces of the clocks showed different times. I thought it has always be right.

Although the clock tower doesn't really show the right times, we still love it. Take it away, we'll be missing it.

Here's the article:
Baffled Public Want Clocks Set Right
Bandar Seri Begawan - Authorities are urged to correct the time to the four clocks located in the heart of the capital. According to observers, the four clocks show different times, and none of them are accurate. Korean tourist Ahn Jo Na told the Bulletin that he first thought the clock showed the local time, and set his watch accordingly. Later, he realized the other three clocks showed different times. Ahmad, a worker from India, said, "I thought the clocks showed different times in each district in Brunei. But there were no labels to indicate which time for which district." The confusion created by the clocks led Haji Mohammad Haji Ismail to call on the authorities to attend to the matter as soon as possible. He added that the authorities should also monitor the clocks diligently to avoid confusion among both locals and tourists. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Non Syariah Compliant

The holy and blessed festive month for our part of the equator clearly has not made much of an impact on me and not even in a spiritual sense too. Ramadhan has only brought me to one buffet and a one-time trip to the food stalls before its expiration and Syawal has brought me to one open house but unlike Ramadhan, Syawal has only just begun. The Hari Raya rush, no not the shopping rush but the rush to return to the villages has turned drivers to road ragers. Staying home where peace and serenity is at and away from gore and blood is definitely a much better idea than to be on Brunei roads in this occasion. Eid Mubarak!

Here's an update:
4 Deaths, 53 Accidents In First Week Of Raya

Thought it was my paranoia, but it was in the papers a couple of days back.

Communicating with Scandanavians

I'm on Day 1 of trying to speak Danish. So far so good, pronunciation is a little bit of a problem. Why Danish? I was watching The Sleeping Dictionary last night. It's about Iban ladies who were used to teach the British colonial administrators to speak the Iban language. In bed. Naked. This seemed like a good idea so I got myself my own sleeping dictionary to learn Danish. In bed. But minus the sleeping. This is how far I got:

Jeg vil gerne kysse dig = I would like to kiss you.
Jeg synes du er flot = I think you are cute
Jeg synes du ser godt ud = I think you look good.
Vil du har noget mælk? = Do you want some milk?
Jeg vil gerne sutte din pik = I would like to suck your cock.

So, now I am ready for a job in Denmark in at least one profession. Kan du førstår mig?

S.H.O.P Much?

• Maybelline Perfect Concealer
• Camera
• Mobile Phone
• Tennis Racket
• Car Headlight

...the list goes on.

Unpleasant

Having to wake up to dreams of your partner cheating on you is just the worse way to start the morning. The dream felt so real as if I was watching the whole thing from someone else’s eyes. When I woke up, I wished I could just shake the person next to me to demand answers but I was all alone.

This could mean I'm very insecure and my dream seems to be based upon anxiety or somehow feeling inadequate in the relationship.


Or maybe, possibility this could happen:

Scenario 1: While dating a man about 15 yrs ago I often had dreams he was cheating or running away with another gal. Turned out he was attached to someone and I was the other woman. That was total humiliation to put it mildly. I was sensing the truth somewhere within myself and the dreams obviously had meaning.

Scenario 2: I was going through the same as you. It took months, but it turned out that my husband was cheating. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

On a lighter note, this was one of the recommendations:

I recommend that in your dream you hire a private investigator to follow your boy friend and take pictures. This way in your dream you'll have proof.

Oh No! Maccas Only!

My tennis buddy was in Singapore for two weeks and had Burger King for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. Not good for a tennis player's diet aye or anyone for that matter! Thank god for the never ending walks he took to BK, he gained only 2 kilos in 2 weeks. Now he's back in Brunei feeling dissatisfied and craving for more. Its the fasting month and he couldn't take it no more, so he decided to write an email to BK. Read below:

From: XXXXXX [mailto:XXXX@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 10:57 AM
To: Burger King
Subject:

Dear burger king,

I'm a big fan of your delicious products as well as the brand itself, I'm from Brunei and there is no burger king here. =( I sometimes even have to get a friend who is going overseas for holiday to get me your delicious burgers back home for me.. hehe Is it possible for burger king to be available here? hehe how much is the franchise? maybe i can try persuade the rich businessman here to open up one.. hehe thanx.. =)

BURGER KING REPLIED...

Subject: Franchise enquiry - Brunei
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 16:15:28 +0800
From: @whopper.com
To: XXXXXX @hotmail.com

Dear sir/madam

Thank you for your enquiry concerning the establishment of a BURGER KING® franchise in Brunei. BK ASIAPAC, PTE. LTD.(BKAP) continually reviews the strategic opportunities that may exist in the Asia Pacific region and welcomes expressions of interest. At this point in time, BKAP has no immediate plans to expand with franchisees in Brunei. However, this situation could change at any time. Should you wish for your particulars to be recorded in our database for future expansion into Brunei, we welcome your written submission/proposal.

Please ensure you provide detailed information outlining your business experience (particularly quick service restaurant), financial resources and your specific market business plan including your restaurant development expectations. We will ensure your submission is considered and your particulars are recorded on our database for future reference.

Yours sincerely

...& guess we'll have to stick to McDonald's!

CK went on a stroll

Weekend: From the wealthiest state in the island of Borneo, we flew to the northwest coast of the island, Kota Kinabalu, also known as KK. Recognized for their tropical monsoon climate, it was pretty sunny on their 51^st Independence Day with also rainfall in the evening. Then again, rain and shine is truly a Borneo experience anyway. We have yet to visit the cultural, historical, leisure and conservation areas but instead shopping and entertainment were in our itinerary. Ooh and also, thumbs up to the Kota Kinabalu International Airport for their beautiful interior and exterior structure. It looks so much more ahead of its time compared to the Brunei International Airport!

Today: The first day of the holy month of Ramadhan and also a public holiday for Brunei Darussalam, we took a road trip down south, towards the Tutong district with 'The Beast' (our adventure car). Though we had to manually choke the car for it to start on two separate occasions, it was amazing how The Beast was able to handle the not-so-smooth road surface leading to the lake in Tutong, Tasek Merimbun. Along the way numerous buffaloes grazing on grass can be spotted and even monkeys can be seen due to the heavily forested region. The moment I got out of The Beast, I was welcomed by a crocodile (hah you wish!) but a dazzling blue butterfly rather. It being a heaty day, the lake was beautiful and calm, we might go back to the lake but maybe with new sets of tires next time. More on our Borneo quests in the future, hopefully with more new exciting destinations.