New Legs for My Love

My car got new legs today.  A set of shiny chrome 18" rims.  Honestly, I almost put off doing this but then the thought lingered.  It didn't take much to tip me over with my colleague, Sly convincing me that it was the right thing to do.  I guess the argument was sound...  either I do it now or it will be an indefinite wait till who knows when!

So, "switching-off" my rational thoughts, I went with what my heart desired... an opportunity to make my car different from any out there.  I guess that's one of the prime deciders which people who loves their car goes to when they take the effort to do it up!

I must admit, the youngster in me had quite a bit to do with it.  Here I am with many who call an old-man's car (hmm... more so for the previous generations, this new one is a far cry away!), but transformations that may seem slight to put it in another category altogether (ie. its white! with a body-kit that is subtle enough to do justice to the car's original elegance but yet define the deeper persona of a young heart, and most importantly, shining new wheels that just screams style...) Hehehe, I ought to be modest, but I just couldn't help feeling proud.

Anyway, I chose the 18" Work Euroline DH rim design (produced by EXE Pegasus) with Falken 912 tyres.  I had chosen from almost a hundred rims and this one just screamed at me to put it on. 

The back tyres is offset, different from the front, a design trick which makes the car look like a sports car with larger back tyres.  I hadn't noticed that earlier but realised that it was a really cool design, a unique one at that!

The investment was substantial but a well-worth one considering the status of the car and it's now new looks (great legs gets good head-turning... hehehe).

A White Beauty

Ah!!! Finally, the long anticipation for the arrival of my white beauty has finally been realised today as I collected my pristine white Camry from the dealer this afternoon.  I could hardly contain how I felt as I drove my way there.  In a fleeting moment, I reflected on the distance I had come within a span of almost 11 years, the vehicles I drove tracking the path of my life.

It started off with my Dad's Mazda 323 in 1998 when I was back in Miri.  It was a young man's little move-around mode for about a year.  Then, it was a Proton Iswara which marked the move into a real career in Kuala Lumpur.  In 2005, 6 months after the birth of my little princess, the Toyota Avanza came to be the trusted transport for my little and new family! Honestly, I'm gonna miss that car.

And now, as I move on to the next phase of my life, in the wake of new beginnings in our career and a new home, this white icon, makes its way into our lives.  I am sure it will see us through many, many years to come.

Anyway, the heart of a little boy in me meant that the Camry had to have little tweaks to just give it that little extra difference to be unique.  Honestly, it was just very, very minor.  I had closed one eye and opted for V-Cool Elite Tinting, the top of the range from the leader of auto film manufacturer.  Cheap? NO... worth in time to come? YES and much more... hehehe.

The car came with a cool optional bodykit which I believe will be enough trimming for it not to be dubbed a pimped vehicle.. and yet being a little different from stock.

Hmm... my colleague Sly seems to have convinced me to a set of sport rims on the car.  My heart seems to be talking louder than my analytical brain (which happens to be calculating figures...)  Will see where that goes... *sniggers*

Golfing in a Little Piece of Paradise

This morning in Bali, we woke up early in the wee hours of the morning and made our way to Bali's New Kuta Golf course.  A beautiful 18-hole course that overlooks the best beaches and high cliff sceneries of Bali's shores.  Oh and we, I meant by the 4 of us, Kenneth, Sly and Alex.

It felt like somewhere between Augusta and St Andrews, without the weather of course... A little piece of golf real estate that has yet to be fully discovered.  Somehow, I felt that when it does get discovered, I'd be playing golf seriously!!!

Well, one of the highlights of the game was the beautiful caddies that we had accompanying us.  Hmm... good experience, having pretty girls helping you at golf and running around trying to make sure you were properly taken cared off... hehehe.  Well, I started off with an early nervous disposition due to the embarrassment for my bad golf... Anyway, that gradually went away as we soon relaxed after the first 9 and started to joke around.

This picture was taken at the "Bunker Hell", the 6th-Hole that was surrounded by an entire circle of sand

Golfing was great here.  Though the sun was aplenty, the cooling sea breeze blew over the whole place.  So, we did not feel overly tired.  That's of course also due to the golf cart we had available...

Well, I'll leave you with the shot of the day at the New Kuta Golf Course...

Event Grandeur in Bali!!!

It was unbelievable...

And I meant that in many ways, the definition of the word.  First of all, I'd have to say, unbelievable in terms of how tired we felt at the end of it all.  Honestly, it was a test of not only physical work by mental dexterity that required never ending and constant alertness.  It was a learning experience working with people from different nationalities and having to bridge all these into a single unison successful project.

Our client was from Singapore, Samsung Singapore to be precise.  And though we were neighbours, the pace and style of work was different.  The client was assisted by consultants from Korea and a Singaporean office.  Seeing eye to eye and trying to talk at the same level was a constant battle of communication finese... hehehe.  And the Balinese support partners were quite a different bunch altogether and works on a different pace level, one that suits the easy going style of Bali... *smile* 

A brief outline of the job and what we had to do...

We were honoured to have been appointed the team to execute a grand event and exhibition concept in Bali for Samsung Regional Headquarters. 

We developed a concept that saw the build-up of a grand scale exhibition showcasing Samsung's range of printers.  For this purpose, we flew in our production team to work at a local outfit.  I was impressed with what they did with what they could get in Bali.

We also conceptualised a grand gala dinner event which served as the cherry on the top!  The venue, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park was the scene... and the sky was the backdrop!!!  It was breathtaking without our structures but out of this world and almost surreal with everything in place!

May I say at the end that it was nothing short of spectacular... and I am so very proud.

In Bali with DJ Tiesto on my Birthday!!!

A couple days ago, I dreaded this trip.  It was a trip to here, Bali... (yup, I'm still here) Must sound very funny doesn't it.  Who dreads Bali?  Well, it wasn't so much that it was Bali but the fact that the place that I was gonna enjoy some holiday breakaways in the future, was going to be the place I would remember for work...  And I expected it to be worse because I thought, I'd be away at work on my birthday.

But, it ended up to be one of the best experience.  First of all, the tour agency here that we were working with ended up surprising me with a cheer and dance, while we were having dinner at one of the most beautiful places in Bali, the restaurant at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park.

On top of that... I just found out on the same day that Tiesto, the World's No 1 DJ is in town!!!  And.... the tour agency gave us some free tickets to the event!

OMG!  I got to see the World's No 1 DJ in Bali on my birthday!!! 

That's like walking into the Chocolate Factory... *giggling like a shameful little girl*

Weekly Hellos to Singapore

Travelling for work is NO JOKE...

Honestly, when you think about travelling for work in the beginning, it seems like a novelty... yeah... "LOOK!!! I am travelling again...".  Seriously, that statement leads to some more sighs than smiles ...

Okay, hmm.. the last one month.. starting from end of March, I've been clocking my travelers miles with weekly meetings in Singapore, 2-3 days at a time.  Ok, ok... doesn't seem far to travel but when you think about flying, check-in, waiting, flight, with total waiting and traveling time of 4 hours one way and 4 hours back, that's 8 hours spent commuting!!!

If its driving, that's the same number of hours.

... wait a minute... hmm.. I just realised that if some of you reads this and thinks that I am complaining, trust me, I'm not... hehehe... Just had to stress that it's NO JOKE, that's all.

Well, I do miss my wife and daughter while I am away, but it's great that they both understands (well, my daughter is trying to) but it's a whole new way of working for me and for them.  It's seasonal but having to commute actually does give me more appreciation to those who need to do this on a weekly ritual for the entire span of their working career.  I am also curious to find out the common practices of such business commuters.

Well, the Bali trips are just starting but, it'll just be for another 2 trips or so...

Need to sort out my traveller's pack.....

Trip to BALI for WORK!!!

On Mon to Thu, I was down in Bali.  Interestingly enough, this was my first trip to the island after having mentioned about going there many, many times before. 

Hmmm... I think about the many times, my friends (those who think they belong in the upper echelon of society) starred at me, bugged-eyed and said, "OMG, you have NOT been to Bali?  Oh, I go there all the time, it's wonderful... look my tan was just from my last week there... and see love bite from a fling in Bali.... blah blah blah..."

Hah!  Well, take that all back... I've finally been to the island.  But, alas, it's for work.. Hmmm.. let me think about it again, perhaps it's not such a bad thing afterall.  A fully-paid trip to do the same work which I would have been required here to do back in KL anyway, and achieving somewhat a first... a regional job in another country, a grand gala event at one of the most spectacular venue in Asia and recognition to boot.  That's a layered cake, baby... with icing and cherries on the top.

Well, honestly, I am also most pleased with the privilege of bringing my fellow team-mates who have worked so hard for this and other jobs and then perhaps a bit of R&R time afterwards.

Details of the job latersss, ok? ... once we've confirmed the details of the event and executed...

... the above is a teaser pic ... hehehe...

Check out some more of my shots in Bali here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenjiimages/sets/72157604382912078/

PS : Hahaha!!!! I just had to laugh... If you see on the right side of this page, on my Blogger Poll, I had actually asked about where to go on my holiday... "an island retreat to Bali" was first on the list... I guess I can strike it off now...!!!