Bottled in Extreme Clarity

… the office was abuzz about the annual company trip, this time to the east coast. We’d just finished a huge relaunch and rebrand event and it was at about this time as well, that I was starting to work on features after a long “sabbatical”.

After much putting off due to other things we had to tie up and finish up first, we eventually got our trip dates firmed up and in early September, we were off.

Well, we know how that turned out.

One year later, bones mended and healed, wounds dried up and faded. Most of us have recovered cept for some bruises/scars. One more is scheduling a trip to the doc to remove the metal plates in her shin and we were even ready to talk about another company trip. Though we never (or did we just try not to) discuss our mode of transportation to our yet uncertain destination.

And then we heard news that reminded us further that we shouldnt be so eager to.

Just yesterday, another colleague reported another bus accident… much, much (100x) more gruesome than the one we encountered.. about 20 dead and the rest critically injured after the Melaka-Alor Setar express bus fell off a cliff (??) or something to that effect.

I remember hearing the tale at about breakfast or was it tea time. Was there a pause in the group convo? Eyes glazing over with memory of our own ordeal? Was I really dreaming of floating weightless in the ocean again????

Whether this trip goes through or not, Im still blocking off a week in early September to go to Langkawi. And snorkel to my heart’s content.

…its so easy to get embroiled in them and you wont see me going near one, anytime soon.

Some years ago (about 2001)… waaaaaay before i ever knew what blogging was and of course way before blogging as a phenomenon even caught on… i was a member of a web community. A travel web community to be exact. Complete with pages for you to post up travel stories, travel tips, travel pics…if you were the citizen of a widely popular travel destination, chances are that your pages would have lots of visitor hits and you would be sought by equal number of pleasant and unpleasant elements as a “travel guide” of sorts. It didnt help (or does it?) if you are a nice looking bloke or chick.

There was even forums (wildly entertaining on slow slooooow work days) and the obligatory chatroom with moderator. It was on VT and on here that I met many people, made a few friendships and even a dear friend. Anyway, to cut a long story short, the experience was harrowing, though there were just as many great and fun memories. There have been some long lasting relationships made via VT, and as a result a few Malaysians have even made the trip to Sweden to witness a VT-er’s wedding, I met my baby boo, met VT-ers through meetings and so on and so forth.

After being part of a web community for a few years I decided to withdraw and took a long break- there was just too much politics, narrow-mindedness, bigotry and prejudice. I was so up close to it that i didnt even realise what I was doing in forums and chatroom; literally waxing lyrical about online communications.

In the end, all the negativity and frusration outweighed all the good that the few really nice VT-ers brought to the community. What were a bunch of inherently diverse and different individuals doing trying to be friends online and offline when all they really seemed to care about was not the experience but taking fantabulous travel pics, building kick-ass travel pages and raking up as high as possible travel ranking scores? I

just got fed up and tired of a hypocritical online community that prided themselves on having travelled as far as possible around the world, but could not allow members to be themselves if it meant being different with non-mainstream preferences or lifestyles.

I took a break from VT, threw myself into work, discovered that real life society is really not much different, got embroiled in frustration again and then got myself out before more damage could be done. In the process, i diverted any excess energy into my job and this year found that its really on track.

Now more so than ever, Im sure Im doing something that i really enjoy and the learning process in a new field is long and painful…also frustrating because so much more needs to be done…… but its all been worth it so far. Its also kept me out of unwanted trouble.

And then, just recently i found myself looking through old VT member pages. How time flies!!! What memories!!! Has so much really happened since I last visited? Also more than ever, I see how social mediums (like travel website or blogs) as tools of expression for online populations are over-ratedso much, its ridiculous. ie. a blog criticising someone is all it takes to start a flame war. In Malaysia and Singapore, at least that seems to be the case.

Power of the masses, my foot… how about collective herded cows mentality? That being said, never underestimate critical mass numbers… its what helps marketers see if something will be a trend (even though IMHO its silly to want to maintain status quo just because its comfortable. Ive stopped reading the papers and online news sites because it reminds me of inertia and thick molasses.)

I marvel at the power of the Internet and how small it makes the globe seem. At how same-same but different we all really are. Maybe, we speak and hear and read too much of the same language that we’ve forgotten how to “listen” to what others are really saying.

…been seated here the whole day….wireless with work on the lappy while watching TV.
It would be good To get more than a few things started…Jan will be busy month. Am glad that I have a few resources that I could dig out, dust off…but they still definitely need more tweaking, and more than a little fine-tuning.

Foresee a blackout for the next few days. Kinda of worried about inertia setting in. We set off to Penang early tomorrow and a few days hiatus is never good for me.

Do have the Dopod with me but left the charger in the office, misplaced charger for the BB too, so wont be able to edit/add/scribble any ideas.

I HAVENT PACKED YET!!!

What I did pack at last……..

DECEMBER 24th, 2006

Arrived in Penang at last…. got lost for a bit looking for loo and food… eventually settled into a small KFC outlet then struck out again to wander aimlessly around the small backroads of Penang.
Its in our blood i think. My dad loves to go on the path least taken (usually to the displeasure of me mom). My bro loves to speed unimpeded on the highways and myself… i will do what it takes to go where i have to go (usually by cab lar).

Now at Gurney Hotel…. the last time we were here, we just missed the tsunami because we had gone out to lunch, and got back wondering why the roads were wet.

An alternative to my current communication modes was the charge the BB via the laptop. It would be nice to get some work done.

Am here courtesy of the free broadband. Kudos, Gurney Hotel.

…never really had time to look back at what happened at Mehrang (or was it Marang, I forget).
But at last had some time to look at the pics I took of the accident site and am slowly remembering what that happened. The accident is still evident on me…bruises, scrapes and a balloon on the end of my right leg. Ive already had a permanent small swelling on my ankle from past injuries which was taking its time to decrease… guess it’ll just be bigger now. Maybe I was too hasty about discharging from the hospital… maybe most of us were, but the month is honestly just too short.

How did it happen? While I slept i was flung from my seat and from dreamland. As i moved as if in slow motion across the space, i remember hearing sounds of wood breaking and also wondering whether this was real. Upon impact with chair in front, disbelief quickly changed to…. “wow, its really happening… my first accident”Then the second crash against bus happened and that was when i felt the excruciating pain but could not do anything but sit back in silence while i heard everything going on around me - the groans, the disbelief, someone threatening to vomit, calls for help. My mind pulled out pictures of horrifying fire and explosions happening, but all these were at the back of my head… the main thought at the forefront being “PAIIIINNNNNNNNN and where the hell are my glasses???”

Id lost my glasses and hated not having it. A few of the least injured ones (at that time they seemed so), went around helping the ones in pain trying to offer comfort and support. Most of us were stuck inside as the bus door was smashed in, and the emergency door wouldnt open until the key to it was produced adn used. After what seemed a time, two colleagues were taken away in ambulance and then after more waiting we made it to the jetty.

When the ferry broke down half way to the island, we were really starting to think it just wasnt our day. But made it to Redang at last, we did.
And got terribly sunburnt I did. And a few cuts and grazes from dead corals and shells at Marine Park. My nose hasnt peeled yet like it usually does, but my thighs look as though a few blood vessels reached boiling point and just burst - a first for me.

Eveything that happened made us all huddle a little closer together. At least a lot more than if the accident hadnt happened.
For the first couple of hours, we wouldnt wander far from the group…cos even though we attempted lighthearted banter and humour…inside i think we were all still shaken to the core… and just intent on sticking close to the main herd for who knows really what reason…support or reassurance that if we stumbled, someone close by was looking out for us and would come to aid.
Trengganu was still a long way from home at that time.

Its been a week since it happened. And I thinkwe’ve all kind of made a tentative agreement that as soon as everyone was back with us, we’d have a gathering… to re-assess what that happened to us, was happening with us and be thankful that everyone made it back to home base (and of coz, CSI a little…the bus driver said he was swerving to avoid something….yea, my foot!).

On the highway to airport right now..weather is gloomy..drizzling in fact.
Someone says, “Lucky thing we visited the Great Wall already.”

I’m not going to miss china even though we had a stunning event yesterday at Commune near the wall…the city center was a sight to behold…I still hv dreams abt the peking duck we had on first day…there was a little twinge of curiousity abt the people here and everything abt them reflected in architecture..the way the grass is kept..the way business is done etc but I’m more relieved to be going home.

The event is huge and I need to store it quickly before the immensity of the new month hits me head on.
All the more cos today is merdeka eve and foresee partying wit drink bud who was away for more than a month. But before that there is also the colleagues wedding … No saree there.

Slight bottleneck in front… Hope we make it to airport on time.. Haven’t had brekkie and I’m famished. Plus 630 am is ungodly hour to wake to catch a plane.

Update:
At starbucks now. Going to the airport here is like meeting half the population of china as well…@lus wat were the chances of meeting the china b ball team on their way to germany???
We gave each other liberal doses of eyeballs..but eventually separated at immigration.. And then came smack upon another china team… This time decided to speak wit them in my lauya mandarin.. this was the judo team on their way to korea… I marvel at four of their hulksters.. Usually more suitable for basketball..were they being channeled into sports they might not hv an interest in?

Hv always loved the china, korea and taiwan, japan teams.. Saw them as finely tuned athletic machines (even tho china teams basics were sucky). I always esp admired those whose limbs and joints seemed to be fully wrapped in sturdy and spongy tendons and meniscus.. Enhancing their ability to hop around with least damaging impact to their joints and never ever seeming to suffer from sprains, tears or overworkedness.

Checked out the departure info and see that the b ball team is leaving an hour after us at gate 17… Maybe I will go over to say hi…

Update: The China team also drinks coffee! Sigh…they are so cute.

..July 4th to 7th, 2006.
Get a gut wrenching feel in tummy when i think about it…

sigh.

I feel like a nomad. After the euphoria of CommunicAsia am not so keen to go Spore again to cover an area i have not much interest in.
Sad to say, BKK wasnt very fruitful as well….’cept for maybe the lure of another trip to another destination…… a follow up would yield juicy news as well….

And here is an image froma tour.. them bell-shaped things are chedis or the tombs of the ashes of ancient royal family…kinda eerie i know….. but peaceful as well.

And of course…..

At one of the hotels….had this mini bar at my disposal….woo woo!!!

Travelling is fun…though tiring yes. Also found myself missing baby boo like heck……so one morning when during brekkie I saw this little feller….i tot it would be nice for Boo to see pics of fellow babies. He’s pretty young but was already able to use a straw…..now THAT’s blonde!
Booboo…boowoooOOOoboogOOgoo….. *incessant baby talk*

Have some bad news…..sis is off to HK soon and is trying to bribe me along with promise of Disneyland…. but but but…. ! I have other trips lined up already….shall i sacrifice one and go off to wallow in Disney-dom? I remember the last time i went to HK with big plans to check out their gadgets scene……. ended up having a fun night with HK-er Vigi too……ah Mes Mais and me froggies….
ARRRGHHHHHH!!! I CANT DO IT!!!!!!
But three days all by myself????? ARRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!!

…..going back there again tomorrow!!!

“Fly today, fly tomorrow…. might as well stay budget one night mar”
“Singapore bajet wan not bajet enough for me….”

But wat an eye-opening experience.

With about two hours to kill before superb lunch with the honourable Naitoh-san, we found ourselves warming up to gossipping ala loyar buruk style at kopi tiam (actually Starbucks).
Topic of interest?
The stuff that we see on the computer and internet everyday.
Google, AmAss, Yahoo, browsers, tmnet streamyx etc…..

I was introduced to the wonder of Firefox’s tabbed browsing, recent news of AmAss propositioning Yahoo! (turned down fortunately) and my belief that Google is almighty was mightily reinforced.

“The problem with AmAss, all they wanna do make money…do this - make money, do that- make money…they even want to charge money for anti-virus imagine that??? when in the first place security problems are from their own products (think IE)!!!” was one frustrated and disappointed rant statement.

AmAss wants to buy Yahoo? why do i seriously doubt its for any real innovation, but more as a way to absorb the competition/gang up on the REAL competition which is Google? All their built-up resources and that waaaaay huge headstart counts for naught cos Google is now leading the pack in giving services that users really want and CAN USE. After just half a decade.

At a recent IDF event in Taiwan, Google was reported to have about 13 million billion hits at any one time, worldwide; the highest for any website needless to say.

Tech moves like quicksilver…which is what makes it fun as heck… as well as trying to figure out what tech’s next moves might be… it can be a vertitable headache at times too, but when you look at the bigger picture and see all the pieces fall into place, it can give u an infinite sense of satisfaction as well.

…actually had an account with a travel tourist site and was part of an online community since about 2000….wasnt too shabby too.. there was a time when i had pretty good travel pages and was even top 5 for quite a few destinations. Had an ok ranking as well… prob for all the wrong reasons…hehehe.

Then I got fed up of maintaining pages and deleted my whole account in late 2004.

But couldnt stay away and have slowly started a new account and keeping it at the barest minimum.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/95172/

Speaking of another account is a website I had with Geocities…. set up in about 2001 and havent maintained it since…. just got round to deleting it… but not before nicking off a photo off it.. have lost the hard copies and that pic is prob the only proof and reminder I have of a place Id visited near a decade ago….

At last!!! Some pics from trip to Down Under…

We all were put up at Sheraton on the Park..this is the view from my room on the 16th floor.. i believe this is called Hyde Park…

The reason we were all there….

At Holdern Pavillion, which I later found out was a film studio. We were surrounded by 4 canvasses, upon which moving images were projected…. twas pretty awesome..not to mention I couldnt stop snapping pics.

On the second day, we were driven to Bather's Pavillion which was at Balmoral Beach... stepped in and out the other side to have a fantastic view of the beach, aaaaannnnnnddddddd.....dudes playing football. Sydneysiders like the rest of Oz were gripped by World Cup fever, I guess... Oz had qualified just the nite before..

The big guy in APAC - Urpo Karjalainen

The evening before, we were taken to dinner at Sydney Cafe at the Custom’s House. The floor was transparent offering a clear view of a scaled model of Sydney..

..i wasnt the only one taking pics

This was part of a Yahoo! Think Tank project which ended on that very day we were day.

Aerial view of the whole project…

Howdy doody! Dude and 2 of the L’amour Collection..

Imagine DVB-H antennas integrated into your phones… whaddaya get? Mobile TV.

One of the more interesting technologies also launched in Sydney…. along with a revamping of the Series 60 image, there was a new Browser introduced. Rendering speeds were astonishing… user interface and user-intuitiveness was remniscent of another consumer electronics brand with the same.