For some inexplicable reason, I just felt like blogging today: the first day of 2011, the first day of the new decade (and 2011 is the start of the new decade, not 2010, look it up if you don’t believe me). I think it is precisely that very reason the urge to express myself was overwhelming. Yesterday was spent at work but my mind was reminiscing on events that occurred during the previous decade. The catalyst being the uploading of a batch of photos I’d took with my first ever digital camera onto Facebook (add me as a friend if you haven’t already) which incidentally, xanga lost. All the pre-2005 photos I’d uploaded onto xanga are lost forever when they’d migrated servers and even now it surprisingly still makes my blood boil!

My time these days are spent on Facebook and Twitter (follow me if you feel like it) as I prefer the short bursts of information to writing long blogs. But maybe it’s time to return to blogging before my writing skills start to deteriorate if it hasn’t already.

What has the previous ten years done for me? Three major job changes. Lived in three different locations in London. Moved abroad to Amsterdam for three years. One serious relationship which resulted in an engagement that didn’t last. Three short relationships. A few flings. Broke out of my shell after years of being clinically shy (still a little shy at times ). A complete sea change in perspective on relationships, dating and sex. Swung from romantic to cynical, sensitive to detached (not completely). Started blogging on this site; met and made some amazing friends through xanga; and Asian Avenue should deserve a mention because I’d made a few great friends whom I am still in contact with to this day. Made some fantastic friends offline. Fell out with one close friend but okay now. Fell out with one ex due to a typo on one of my posts but more to do with her misconception about me. Shame really as I was considering getting back together since her big move. Experienced one Big Birthday. Picked up photography as a hobby and interest. Extensive travelling taking me to numerous countries around the world.

It’s safe to say I’m a completely different person in 2010 than to the one I was back in 2000. And I look forward to what the next ten years will bring with aplomb.

 

Side note: Today is 1/1/11!

 

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Darn It!

Does anyone know how to insert borders around a blog entry since xanga removed the one-click feature?

Thanks in advance.

 

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A New Year’s Wish

On New Year’s Eve, Marilyn stood up in the local pub and said that it was time to get ready. At the stroke of midnight, she wanted every husband to be standing next to the one person who made his life worth living.

Well, it was kind of embarrassing.  As the clock struck – the bartender was almost crushed to death.

 

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Santa Showing His Grotto

 

 

My first post in eons:

Wishing you all a happy 2011!!!

 

And So The Greatest Show On Earth Kicks Off!

 

This is a great interactive World Cup calendar.

So football fans, who do you think will win the World Cup? My favourite is Spain although I would like England to win it.

 

Has it been really that long since I’d blogged on here?

I can’t say I like the new features incorporated when writing a new post.

The latest: I’ve started a photographic project that will probably be completed at the end of the year… maybe longer. Which reminds I still haven’t transferred the photos taken from my last trip to Thailand.

Anyone here on Facebook? I tend to use that more nowadays. Add me!

UK Service Sucks But It Could Be Worse

It has been four months since I’d moved into my new home which had exposed the massive deterioration in the service sector in the UK. There was a time, which seems like a distance memory now, where service was top notch. First class mail would be delivered the following day or the day after at the latest. Now it could be a week. One letter was delivered three weeks late! An appointment for a telecom engineer can be arranged within the week. Now you have to wait three to four weeks for the engineer to pay a visit.

Thankfully, nearly all of the problems have been resolved with the mattress arriving yesterday albeit at 7.30AM! The first mattress delivered in November was the wrong one and was returned. It took two months before a refund was credited. A new mattress was ordered at the end of December and somehow my order “got lost in the system.”   

I’m not even going to detail all the mishaps and problems as it will probably irk me and my blood pressure needs to stay stable. Suffice to say, all that remained was the delivery of my microwave which should have arrived yesterday but didn’t. This was the second time a redelivery for the microwave was arranged and the parcel failed to appear. The courier in question is DHL. It stands for Damaged, Hidden or Lost.

Several hundred pages were ripped out in-between

What was your worst service-related situation?

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Drop A Comment Please (because I’m such a comment whore)

I had the pleasure of meeting Chris in person when I was in Thailand. Chris was probably one of the last subscribers to regularly drop comments on my blog before my hiatus. In his post where he’d disclosed some information about himself and the benefits of blogging on xanga, Chris mentioned only about 10-20% of his subscribers ever dropped a comment and said “Hello”. The remainder could be blogging stalkers! I do agree that commenting on someone’s blog will open up a communication channel and a new friendship could blossom. If Chris and I didn’t comment on each other’s blog then it is doubtful we would have met during my time in Bangkok.

Back in the day (when I’d lived in Amsterdam) where I’d blogged regularly, my subscriber base was over 400 and my estimate is that around 50 subscribers ever commented on my blog. And I have met quite a lot of that 50 during my travels, some of whom have become good friends to this day. There are still a couple I maintain contact with but never had the opportunity to meet in person yet. As more people I subscribe to lost interest in blogging and the amount of comments diminished, I guess I began to lose interest too. Plus I had moved back to London and discovered free time for blogging was rapidly becoming a luxury. Xanga losing all my photos pre-2005 and not responding to my messages played a significant part. I’m still pissed off about that. Since the layout change I have no idea how many subscribers but it still looks like a lot.

For some reason I have rediscovered my motivation for blogging but whether that is sustainable remains to be seen. So for new readers – and old – please drop a comment and say “Hello”. Let’s make this community a welcoming confluence of social interaction.

For New Readers

Something about my blogging style:

I blog about anything and everything… from the mundane to the controversial. Some might find my style can be too abrasive and blunt for their taste. I also poke fun at anything and anyone irrespective of nationality, gender, sexual preference and eating habits. If you think you might take it personally then please do not subscribe or read my blog.

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Hopeful Kiwi Immigrant

A New Zealander is hoping to emigrate to Australia and arrives at Brisbane airport on a beautiful sunny morning full of optimism for the future.

“What is your business in Australia?” politely asks the customs officer.

“I want to emigrate to Australia.”

“Do you have a criminal record?”

Stunned, the crestfallen Kiwi replies, “Geez bro, I didn’t think you still needed one!”

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Europe According To…

 

The Chinese Jay Sean?

Another Asian from London is hoping to make his mark in the R ‘n’ B community: Stevie Hoang. I work for a music television company and it was heartening to see his music video playing in a chart show. I hope his latest single, No Coming Back, receive heavy rotation.

After all, Hoang needs all the exposure if he is emulate that other Asian Londoner – Jay Sean. After many years of success in his native UK, Jay Sean finally cracked the USA last year. Although it is great to see an Asian break into the music scene on a global scale dominated by Caucasians and Blacks with the odd Latina, my only criticism is: did Jay Sean really need to adopt a generic non-Asian stage name to do so?

Is Jay Sean, real name Kamaljit Singh Jhooti, attempting to hide his ethnicity in order to gain global success? He could have just as easily adopt a stage name such as Jay Singh. Anyway, kudos to Stevie for maintaining his surname Hoang as an artist. 

 

Lazy Journalism For Mixed Asians?

When Tiger Woods won his first major PGA tournament, he was hailed as the first “Black” and “African-American” golfer to do so and will inspire black kids to follow suit. Rarely, if at all, was the mention that he is actually half Thai Chinese. He should have been hailed as the first Black Asian golfer to win a major PGA tournament. Woods actually also has a small dose of Native American and Dutch blood in his genetic makeup. 

I always read and hear in the media (mostly British) of other personalities being referred to as just “Black” when it clearly isn’t the case. I wish these lazy journalists use the correct term.

“Black” personalities who are actually Black Asian or Afro Asian or Blasian: 

Singer Amerie who is half Korean

Olympic decathlon champion Bryan Clay who is half Japanese

Model and actor Tyson Beckford who is a quarter Chinese 

Singer songwriter Ne-Yo who is a quarter Chinese

 

Singer Cassie who is half Filipina

And then there is the “Latino”:

Singer Enrique Iglesias who is half Filipino

*sorry for the typo earlier if you’re from the Philippines

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Irish Petrol Station

A petrol station owner in Dublin was trying to increase his sales. So, he put up a sign that read, ‘Free Sex with Fill-Up.’

Soon Paddy pulled in, filled his tank and asked for his free sex. The owner told him to pick a number from 1 to 10. If he guessed correctly, he would get his free sex.

Paddy guessed 8, and the proprietor said, ‘You were close. The number was 7. Sorry. No sex this time.’

A week later, Paddy, along with his friend Mick, pulled in for another fill-up. Again he asked for his free sex. The proprietor again gave him the same story, and asked him to guess the correct number.

Paddy guessed 2 this time. The proprietor said, ‘Sorry, it was 3. You were close, but no free sex this time.’

As they were driving away, Mick said to Paddy, ‘I think that game is rigged and he doesn’t really give away free sex.’

Paddy replied, ‘No it ain’t, Mick. It’s not rigged at all at all. My wife won twice last week.’ 

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What’s Really In Australia

 

 

Happy Year Of The Tiger

&

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

…even though I don’t give a toss about either but some folks do apparently.

The former I couldn’t care less. It’s all Chinese superstitious nonsense. I rate it leagues below Christmas. And Christmas is just for kids. The latter is just a marketing gimmick to proliferate consumerism. I mean, why would you need one day in a year to tell someone you love them and that they are special? Especially the manifestation of that love in a form of an expensive gift and an overpriced mediocre dinner at an overbooked restaurant? 

It’s has been eons since I’d blogged properly and good to know the cynicism in me is still flowing freely!

And before anyone start jabbing their finger at me with the overused remark “No wonder he’s single”, I was recently in a relationship and I was the one who dumped her. And as a couple of friends earnestly pointed out, dating in London is expensive. I was pretty glad to be out of that relationship. The money I would have spent on her I now spend on myself. Or rather my new home. Being the techno-geek that I am, I’d invested in a new bundle of home entertainment and it is my pride and joy. They give me hours of pleasure without being needy, clingy, desperate, bigmouthed and smouldering.

Being single again, I was able to independently revisit Thailand last month. Photos on the way.

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There’s A Fly In My Champagne

A multi-national company held a reception to celebrate their success. The waiter gave each guest a glass of champagne, but on inspection, each guest noticed that their glass contained a fly.

* The Swede asked for new champagne in the same glass
* The Englishman demanded to have new champagne in a new glass
* The German picked the fly out and drank the champagne
* The Russian drank the champagne, fly and all
* The Chinese ate the fly but left the champagne
* The Israeli caught the fly and sold it to the Chinese
* The Italian drank two thirds of the champagne and then demanded to have a new glass
* The Norwegian took the fly and went off to fish
* The Irishman ground the fly and mixed it in the champagne, which he then donated to the Englishman
* The American sued the restaurant and claimed for a $50 million compensation
* The Scotsman grabbed the fly by the throat and shouted, ‘Now spit out all that you swallowed.’

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Flasher Imminent

 

Happy New Year!

May 2010 be a fantastic and prosperous year for you all!

The noughties have been an interesting, educational and a life defining decade for me and the beginning of a new decade tomorrow will hopefully herald more of the same.

All the best to you all!

 

Personal Preference Or Racism?

If someone only finds certain races attractive, for example, a Caucasian woman doesn’t mind dating a guy of any ethnic background except Asians because their physical characteristics just doesn’t appeal to her, would that class her as a racist? Or just her personal preference?

And before you start asking, the above example is only an example and I am not pining after an unresponsive Caucasian woman!

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Day 14 – Rio de Janeiro

On my penultimate day in Rio, I’d took a tour of the favelas with the renowned Marcelo Armstrong company. The tour started early with the mini-bus picking everyone up at their hotel. During the journey to Rocinha, the largest favela in Brazil, we were informed that contrary to popular belief, you are actually safer within a favela than out in the city of Rio. That is because all illegal activities such as gambling and prostitution are outlawed by the three gangs that control the favelas with the obvious exception of drug dealing.  

Our tour guide explaining about the favelas.

No photography permitted beyond this point as drug dealing are conducted a few metres away.

Right next door to this favela is an expensive private school.

The local authorities and property developers are attempting to wrest control of the land where the favelas sit. It is not difficult to fathom as the land is prime real estate with magnificent views of Rio such as this one. Up on the top far right hill is the famous Christ the Redeemer.

We were also advised not to photograph the moto-taxis as they sometimes run drugs for the dealers or ferry people from the city to buy narcotics so understandably do not want their picture taken. This particular moto-taxi sailed into my shot and fired me a baleful glare as he passed.

One particular local resident has an open invitation to a couple of tour operators to view the favelas from her roof terrace. So open is the invitation the front door is left unlocked.

Heading for the exit

We were then taken to a bustling market within the favela but unfortunately photography was not permitted. I’m not one to conform to rules but I’m not stupid either so on this occasion my mobile phone stayed firmly in my shorts.  

Next up was a visit to the favela of Vila Canoas where the proceeds of the tour were donated to the construction and running of this school including salaries for the teachers. All lessons provided to the kids are free.

The view from the roof terrace of the school.

Products crafted by the students on sale with all proceeds reinvested back into the school.

I let the girls play with my camera and the one in the pink wouldn’t give it back!

A church within the favela

The favelas are littered with webs of cables siphoning electricity from the local grid.

Favelas have become such tourist attractions that Sheraton built a hotel right next to one to serve that very purpose. The locals do not trust the police in the belief that they collude with the drug gangs. No police ever patrol the favelas and would only venture to the border of one.

The Hippy Market in Ipanema – only on Sundays

The main roads stretching along the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana are closed to traffic on Sundays. 

Night market on Avenue Atlantica, Copacabana Beach

Day 15

My last day in Rio and it rained. And rained. And rained. So I’d decided to spend it hanging out in a Brazilian shopping mall.  

The Rio Sul shopping mall was the first large shopping centre in Rio, sandwiched between Copacabana and Botafogo.

Once the rain stopped I’d meandered along Copacabana Beach for the last time before boarding a bus to the upper class area of Leblon.

Leblon

A long stretch of road runs from Leblon straight to Ipanema and continue through Copacabana. I would view the road in Leblon with its upmarket stores, cafes and restaurants as the equivalent to Kings Road in Chelsea, London.

This landmark separates Leblon and Ipanema.



Ipanema

During the progression along the road the percolating change in quality of shops and buildings are noticeable.



Copacabana



The street party that never was.

I had hoped to attend a street party in Gavea but the light drizzle earlier apparently put paid to that. So I met up with Marcel for some drinks in Copacabana to toast in my last night in Brazil. Today was also the day I’d learned about the Air France plane that had disappeared after departing from Rio for Paris. Tomorrow I will be boarding the same flight.


Day 16

The magnificent view from my hotel restaurant as I ate breakfast.

The scrum of television news crews parked at the Air France check-in desk during the search for the missing Air France plane.


Day 17

Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris as I await my connecting flight to London.

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Department Store For Men & Women

For Women:

A department store opened in New York City that sold men and a woman decides to visit it in search of a husband.
At the store’s entrance, there’s a sign outlining the department store policy.
The first rule states that you can only enter the store once.
There are six floors and on each floor you can choose a husband or elect to move on to the next floor.
You cannot visit a floor more than once other than to leave the building.
The woman visits the first floor.
The sign reads:
· Men with jobs.
She moves on to the second floor:
· Men with jobs that adore children.
She moves on the the third floor where the sign reads:
· Wealthy men that adore children and are very handsome.
She thinks to herself, “that’s a very good deal” yet moves on to the fourth floor:
· Wealthy men that adore children, are very handsome and help with the household chores.
She decides to move on as things are constantly improving:
· Wealthy men that adore children, are very handsome, help with the household chores and are very romantic.
The woman is about to make her purchase but can’t resist moving on to the sixth floor.
There the sign reads:
· You are visitor number 31,456,012 on this floor.
· There are no men here.
· This floor exists as proof that it is impossible to please women.

For Men:

Opposite this department store, another department store opened that sold women. The sign on the first floor reads:
· Women that love sex.
On the second floor the sign reads:
· Women that love sex and are wealthy.
On the third floor the sign reads:
· Women that love sex, are wealthy and have large breasts.

Not a single man has visited the fourth floor.

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Great Name For Toilet Paper 

 

It’s Official: I’m A Twit!

Yes, I have joined Twitter. If you wish to stalk follow me my username is the same as my blog.

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Black Widow

Eagerly awaiting Iron Man 2!

Following a previous post that a picture of Scarlett Johannson as the Black Widow should be released to build buzz and excitement for the sequel, my prayers were answered!

Scarlett can look hot in anything.

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Brazilian Trip May-June 2009

Day 12 – Rio de Janeiro

The previous night Marcel and I paid a visit to Club Nuth Lounge in the upper class district of Barra. We were informed that the club host a more local flavour as not many tourists venture to the area. Here we were introduced to the payment system prevalent in Rio bars and clubs. Standing at the back of the queue I’d noticed that the group lining immediately in front of us were American. Marcel purchasing a pack of gum from a local suddenly propelled us to the front of the queue as the local knew the staff at the door. We had to show I.D. – a colour photocopy of your passport will suffice – and then we were each issued a credit card-sized plastic with a magnetic strip.

The admission cost of R$50 was charged to the card along with each round of drinks from the bar. When it’s time to leave, the card is handed to a payment booth where cash and all major credit cards are happily accepted. A receipt is given which you have to pass on to the bouncer at the door before you are allowed out of the establishment. I didn’t like this system because if you lose your card and it’s found by someone else, that person can charged a pile of drinks to it. Or you can amass a huge bill whilst under heavy inebriation. I’d noticed that most of the clientele that night were American college grads. So much for the local flavour.

The following day, I’d embarked on an exploration of downtown Rio otherwise known as Centro (Centre).   

Praca Floriano

Performance art

The Petrobras building

Covento de Santo Antonio

The atomspheric and elegant reading room Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura 

Old Rio 

The former Parliament

Pic taken with mobile phone

Vibrant Lapa where Marcel and I headed to at night.

Pic taken with mobile phone

Rio Scenarium – three floors set in an abandoned antiques warehouse.

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic courtesy of Maarten

Marcel’s friend from the Netherlands, Maarten, joined us at Rio Scenarium. Maarten had been travelling with a friend in Brazil a few days earlier. I’d met Maarten a couple of times before when I’d lived in Amsterdam.

Pic courtesy of Maarten

Pic courtesy of Maarten

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

Pic taken with mobile phone

 
Day 13

After yet another late night, I’d decided to relax around Ipanema Beach where I was staying.

Coconuts

 

This isn’t a dog, it’s a horse!

Guys playing footvolley

 

Weather turning for the worse

A guy practising his martial arts skills with his sensei.

 

To surf or not to surf…?

These guys are still surfing as dusk looms.

To surf or to cycle…?

Dusk on Ipanema

Pic taken with mobile phone

Marcel, Maarten and I headed to the affluent district of Leblon for some fine dining.

Pic taken with mobile phone

 
Pic taken with mobile phone

Marcel and I had fish served with wild rice.

 
Pic taken with mobile phone

And dessert

 
Pic taken with mobile phone

And more dessert

Pic taken with mobile phone

When the two guys headed back to the hotel, I’d decided to explore Leblon a little and stumbled upon this shopping plaza still open at 9.30pm. Female tourists will love this place as all the stores are catered to women. There were plenty of cafes and restaurants peppered within the plaza.

  
Pic taken with mobile phone

A good name for a women fashion store.

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Health Tips

Q: Doctor, I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it. Don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat
chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A:  No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine; that means they take the water out of the fruity bits so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain…Good!

Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!!! Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It’s the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! ‘Round’ is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember: “Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways –  Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ‘WOO HOO, What a Ride’.”

AND…..

For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats andsuffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.


CONCLUSION:

Eat and drink what you like.

Being North American is apparently what kills you.

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Thanks For The Warning