d'Frog Prince Croaks

Trip To Hatyai, Thailand

2009-12-09T23:21:00.002+08:00

Counting down the time to the holiday over the long weekend to Hatyai, Thailand. I will be going there with my family, by train! Train always evoke a very cosy, romantic kind of feel. The choo choo sound of train is very endearing, to me at least. It will be a night coach and expected to take about 12 hours from Kuala Lumpur Sentral Train Station to Hatyai, Thailand. If only we have TGV kind of trains here, sigh. I think the top speed of Malaysian train is about 90km/h.

But as a sleeping coach goes, the cleanliness is excellent and since we would most probably be sleeping for 6 - 8 hours anyway, the journey will not seemed long - I hope.

It's been quite a while since I last visited Hatyai and I am so looking forward to spend time there. I wonder if there is any big changes. Now that I am on eating spree again, going to places with good and cheap food seemed like wise thing to do (I hope) and I also hope I won't over eat, what with no exercises for 4 - 5 days!!! Mango rice, here I come!!!

Christmas Greeting Cards

2009-12-01T22:41:00.001+08:00

I was tasked to put my wife's handiwork on to the net. Go here and check it out. If anybody feels like sending special cards this year, just email to me and we will get back to you asap.

First Meeting With A Fellow Blogger

2009-11-27T19:45:00.004+08:00

Today is a public holiday, for Hari Raya Haji. I received an sms from a dear blogger friend, Roti Kacang Merah, whom, I think, I have known like 2 - 3 years, chatting mostly through comments box, sms and once in a while, yahoo messenger.

We both never seen nor talked to one another, ever. Something like Jamie, another dear blogger friend.

Anyway, RKM invited my family and I to savour her mum's delicious traditional cooking and I have heard about it for so long that, I decided that this year, irregardless of the distance - it being almost exactly an hour drive from my place ; thus my procrastination in accepting her invitation prior this - I will make it somehow.

So, we left at about 11.30 a.m, grabbed some sweets for present (buah tangan) along the way, and we were good to go. I think we reached her place at about 1.30 p.m, after circling the town for a few round - entirely my fault for forgetting the map, which I have accidentally left behind. Basing on my memory, I got 90% of the content, forgetting the last 10% which is the crucial part, sigh. It was so near yet because I was looking right instead of left, I wasted another half an hour or so looking for her place. Still, after a few calls and her direction via sms, mind you, we located her parent's house! Pheww....Another feather in my cap - now I know Bangi better!

You know it is strange how people can connect and it felt like, we were friends for ages. I love the friendship. I was very worried that we might feel awkward but it was gone after only a few seconds. For all their overseas education and upper middle class life, I found a family of down to earth and humble people that I personally feel very small among them, hehehe. I mean, they are so nice and friendly family that it is no wonder that their house is one of the most popular stops for their friends and relatives.

Even her hubby, the famous Cartoonist Zunar is such a humble and soft spoken person that I felt like I have known him for years too, when, in actual fact, it was only the first time we met. That's the beauty of humbleness, I guess. It just opens people up.

And I got 2 autographed production from his company ; one magazine and one book, to boot! Click here for the story of the magazine - not only did I get A COPY, I got an autographed one!! Eat your heart out, collectors...After reading both, I think I am going to seal it in plastic bag, for years later, this would be worthy stories for my grandchildren (what!!!????)

I could go on and on about the visit but I am still excited over the meeting, I will post a bit more later, now, it is dinner time and possibly, after that, exercise time to burn off all the irresistible calories loaded during lunch time. Luckily her mum cook the specialty during festive season only, otherwise.....I would soon be size 37!!

My New Faithful Companion

2009-11-24T01:03:00.000+08:00

I am carrying this bag around like a tote bag!!! It is so convenient in the sense that I can just throw everything inside, beside making a statement! And that, I am reducing the usage of plastic bags is the main purpose. And it being with me, I tend to maximise the usage even. Which is good, right? And it even felt fashionable. Green, the new IN!!

My First Purchase With Personal Shopper

2009-11-23T00:55:00.000+08:00

Well, I had wanted to buy this perfume for quite some time but never get around to do it. I informed Miu that should she come across this perfume on sale, just to get it for me. True to her speciality, she managed one on sale soon enough and here I am, a proud owner of one of the longest running fragrance.

After testing it, I quite like the smell, though as suspected by the professional, it is not really ME per se but well, at 40ml, it will fulfill the need for my travelling enough. I guess one have to get use to a variety of moods. Thanks Miu for the look out and excellent service :P

Of Birthdays and Such

2009-11-22T00:34:00.005+08:00

It is the milestone for me. No more small change for the figure. Time is really ticking fast and it seemed like there is still lots to do. Shudder shudder.

I got my first birthday wish from my friend and partner, Jayson. I got my first present from Miu. Thanks guys for remembering. Touched and very very appreciative. Let's see tomorrow if there is any other who remembered....Not that I need reminding though.

This is what Miu bought. She is just too nice. And she knows I luvvv fragrances, so, easy choice, huh? And that she always managed to get the ones that I don't have, or never tried at all. In other words, exposed me to more options.

I will try it on first thing tomorrow morning, hehehe. Knowing Miu, I believe this will be one of my favourite fragrance, well, she is not a personal shopper for no reason if not for knowing people's taste!! Thanks a zillion Miu. And, oh, btw, you know what you are getting for Christmas cum birthday, right? That's the least I can do for you. I would have given it to you earlier if only I can get it then. Apparently, it wasn't that easy to get what you wanted. Talk about people with expensive taste!!! So, don't you go and get it for yourself. Let me do something nice in return for you, ok...

Environmental Friendly

2009-11-19T15:03:00.002+08:00

I am very proud of my staffs today.

I was washing the container I used to pack my rice and I noticed two other plastic containers in the pantry. I asked whose and why and one of them told me, she used the container to pack the rice from the shop, like what I am doing. She said she did that after my general encouragement and advise to the staffs last week.

That set the conversation to conservation and recycling. I even encouraged her to influence her colleagues to follow her example. She goes to the extend of supplying them with plastic containers for future usage. I think she deserves a pack on the back for the effort to influence and encourage her colleague to conserve the environment.

Police Force

2009-11-18T15:47:00.002+08:00

So many things have been said about our police force. Today, I read from this link and realised, something is very wrong with the way it was run/managed.

Come on, out of a total of 100%, 37.62% is categorized as MANAGEMENT?? You need a manager for every 3 officers? What kind of management is that? All good money gone to waste. No wonder the police are not highly moralized. How to perform their duty when they have maze upon maze upon maze of management staffs to get through? This has to be one of the silliest organisation ever!

And they say, too many cooks will spoil the soup. This is not a case of too many cooks spoiling the soup, at this rate, no soup could be cooked! I think all the "management" team would have to think of creative way to kill their time. Efficiency is when one manager can manage hundreds or thousands of personnel and plain stupidity is when you need 1 management staffs to overseas another 2 staffs. Come on!! Give them a break and give us a break too. Crime level is up and the one that can handle it is too busy pushing paper and pretending to be busy. Gosh!!

The X-Factor S.6

2009-11-17T03:43:00.001+08:00

My wife and I were watching the recent episodes of The X-Factor and the most talked about contestant had to be the Twins. Despite not having much of talents, they have managed to reach the final six. What a load of c@#p!!

It goes on to show that the old adage that bad publicity is better than no publicity! It also shows how humans at times are oxymoronic - we hates certain things but we still wants to see it!! Just like at times, we would watch horror movies between our fingers!

One thing for sure though, the owner of The X Factor is making tonnes of money milking this love hate relationship to the hilt!

Cloudy With Sporadic Downpours

2009-11-16T13:34:00.004+08:00

I love rains. I love cloudy weather. It reminds me very much of Scotland, with so much cloud and wetness that everything looks mossy and wet, and cool, and gothic, IMHO.

If only the weathers would continue to be so for a foreseeable weeks, it would simply be wonderful.

Incidentally, I was pretty under the weather too. I hurted my back while adjusting posture while watching TV!! Remembering how torturous it was previously, before it got worse, I went to consult the Chinese Medicine Doctor and set some of the bone straight, literally. I have known it to be slightly "out of shape" - almost all the experts agreed on that. Well, it was not to be on one session and I need to be back for a few more session before everything can be put back into place, again, literally!!

I am so NOT looking forward to those sessions, torturous is saying that it's a walk in the park! I guess, I would just have to bite the bullet and go through with it, and hopefully, come out of it better than ever, considering the amount of pain and moolah that needs to be expanded.

The past few weeks, we have had like storms, real huge storms with torrential rains that wreak havoc on a lot of things, trees, plants, roads, flooding etc. Over at my side, my DIY trellis couldn't stand the vigorous pounding of the rain and storms, coupled with super fast growth of the passionfruit tree, keeled and bended at the support bar. I have to get outside help to build a new trellis and same time, get them to "transfer" the plants to new host! I shall post some photos of the new addition to the garden soon. Watch this space.

The Sun Motor Hunt

2009-11-09T23:32:00.002+08:00

As mentioned in prior post, my team were sponsored by Samsung to join the Sun Motor Hunt, which, they are the main prize sponsors. Very generous indeed!

Well, my team could have performed better but it is too late. We made some silly mistake, despite being cautious and the difference is between a fridge and an mp4 player - EACH!! Let's hope that we could do better next year. As we were the sponsored team, I guess we ought to be thankful to at least have won something quite valuable!! Thank you Samsung ... though I would have wished for fridge or lcd tv instead :P

The weather was too hot recently too, that might have affected some of our concentration, both my sister and I are "allergic" to hot sun!! My staffs even commented that I looked darker!! Gosh, I have to go and see Miu for some whitening lotion it seemed.

The day before that, I went for the other hunt, which was more family oriented and less competitive and for lack of top players, (there were a few still though) - our team managed a number 3 position, which is the highest this year! Probably it was the over confidence that we were in good form that was our undoing in the next day hunt. Well, we learn new lessons everyday, don't we??

Halloween Pics

2009-11-07T00:44:00.003+08:00

We dressed up for some Halloween trick or treat at our neighbourhood, on the 30th Oct 09, I know Halloween is on 31st but most of us would be busy then, so, we brought forward the do.

The Family

Isaac, I did the eye make up and nail polish, hahaha.

Iona

The Total Haul

Fitness Routine

2009-11-04T12:47:00.003+08:00

I went and sign up for a gym membership yesterday. After months of trying to get into shape without much success, I decided to invest some money and go to a professionally run gym to get some professional consultation.

My first day, they tested me for fitness, I am at the medium range, obviously. They tested my BMI and BMR, with some kind of machine, I am not extremely sure that how the machine could be accurate when it practically doesn't do anything??

Anyway, the BMI came back at 18.3, which is in the NORMAL range!! What did I tell you?? Despite people keep on calling me skinny, I am NORMAL!!

The BMR came back at 1575 - BMR being Basal Metabolic Rate. I was told to get it up to 2400, it being the normal build up rate. I guess over dieting have slowed down my body's metabolism rate to conservation mode.

The body fat assessment came back at 10.2. Anything below 12 is considered excellent. Now, for the first time, I have something excellent to show!

The trainer asked me what I don't like about my body. I find that hard to answer because I don't really don't like my body per se, but like any person with some vanity issue and one that is being bombarded with images of Greek Gods and picture perfection, that is like a non question, right? Well, the trainer said most people would pay attention to two areas on guys, the biceps and the chest. So, I am to work on those first. As if that is not one of my goal, sigh.

Well, now that I am going to a full fledge gym instead of my club house semi furnished gym, I am giving myself 3 months to get into the shape that I want.

Oh, the trainer said I have to eat! Lots!! And I was like, duh!! Must I? I have not been eating much. I know I have not been eating much. But to be asked a question like, do you take breakfast? No. What you take for lunch? A. Err, nothing. What you take for dinner? A. Nothing heavy. Then, they said I need to eat more!

So, I started on supper the minute I got home!! One piece of pizza and one piece of roti canai. And I am not keen to gorge on more. But I have to force myself to. And it is very conflicting, on one side, I try to eat, on another hand, I really can't be eating that much!! The image of the "fat" guy always play in the mind everytime I eat. Duh!!

Rain Keeps Falling V.2

2009-11-02T17:24:00.003+08:00

Following my last post, here, the power that be decided to give more rain, even on the day I was supposed to organise the trick or treat for the kids in my neighbourhood. It was very dissappointing to say the least, that all the preparation and hardwork gone down the drain, hampered by incessant rain the whole night, with a slight break, just enough for the kids to go trick and treating. Read about it here.

Still, I love rains.

Talk About Samsung!! - SL102

2009-10-30T14:12:00.004+08:00

I posted earlier about some of the items that I owned by Samsung.

Little do I expect that a day or two later, I would end up buying another Samsung product. The latest addition is a Samsung digital camera, SL102.

As mentioned before, the earlier digital phone (BenQ) k.o-ed. I was pondering whether to buy the DSLR camera from my best friend. Then he took it with him to Europe.

In fact, I would have preferred a small compact camera versus DSLR but then, it was a good offer to pass up. It was not to be though. I really needed a camera, so, the day before yesterday, I went camera shopping. I am just looking for something not too expensive and practical. The sales person recommended either Olympus and Samsung. Specification is almost the same but the pricing is about MYR 300.00 difference.

In the end, I bought Samsung due to lower price, hahaha. For 10.2MP phone at below MYR 500.00, it is really value for money. To think that I bought a 3.2MP phone (Minolta) for MYR 1100.00 last time, years ago, and a bulky one at that! I didn't used it in the end because the battery don't last (it uses a rechargeable AA battery!). As luck would have it, I won a free BenQ digital camera not long after that and it has served me very well, ever since, until last few weeks.

Project Runway

2009-10-30T00:17:00.003+08:00

I have just recently downloaded some of the episodes of Project Runway. I find it an interesting watch. And the way the designers design the garments, it seemed easy, hahahaha.

Anyway, I have always liked cloth, clothes and fashion, not that I am very fashionable but it is nice to see normal cloths be turned into stunning garments, head turner even! Some people will get on their life with just t-shirt and slippers (flip-flops) but some people would not be caught dead with nothing less than a designer wear! As for me, as long as the piece of garments looked good, it doesn't really matter if it is not branded. I believed that as much as clothes maketh the man, (or woman), the man (or woman) must be able to carry it off well too. I believed in wearing clothes, not letting the clothes wear us, hahaha.

Ever noticed how, when you wear something new and well tailored, your self confidence soared sky high?? Probably, that's the reason why it is imperative that every festive seasons or special occasions, people tend to wear their most expensive outfits, it make a person shines.

I have a wardrobe full of garments, I used to rotate wearing them but recently, I seemed to be favouring the few made in Bangkok for my work and the long t-shirt bought in factory outlets. It just felt so me.... :)

Rain Keeps Falling

2009-10-28T17:19:00.003+08:00

I love rain. Everything seemed so clean and fresh. Even the air smelled fresh and green.

The thing is, everytime if I water my garden diligently, it will rain. It makes the effort seemed useless. I mean, if it is going to rain, why waste my money on watering the garden with piped water? It is like wasting one of nature most valuable resources....

And after watering the garden yesterday, it rained whole day today, since morning and is still ongoing now! Talking about over-drink!

Most people would tell you, Malaysians that is, that whenever they send their car for washing, it seemed that chances are, the very instant their car gets washed, prim and shiny new, down come the rain and not two days later, the car would look exactly like the day it was sent for washing, may be even worse, hahaha. That's why, I will only send my car for washing when it gets extremely dirty. And everytime, after washing, my car looked brand new with all the accumulated slime and dirt washed away.

Samsung, The Sun Hunt And MyTeam

2009-10-28T15:01:00.002+08:00

Firstly, look at this :-

One of THE HUNT of the year is upon us again. Most of the people who are avid hunters would not want to miss this hunt. Unfortunately for my team, due to some unforeseen circumstances, missed out on the registration. As fate would have it, we will have a second shot of joining the hunt, courtesy of the sponsor's generosity. But there's a catch, we have to tell the kind sponsors why we should be one of the teams to be sponsored!

Well, let's see, beside putting ourselves in the good light of the sponsor, we have to be honest to ourselves too, right? No right minded sponsor would want to hear lies, in fact, truth will help them in right directions, which will be more beneficial mutually too.

I think my team deserved to be the Samsung sponsored team because, well, we are slightly above average team, hunt quite regularly and well, that said, will have a shot at top ten finishing (I hope). If the sponsors took one inexperienced team, it is like throwing good money away. If it is the top teams, well, they are the top teams, why would they need sponsors??

Aside from that, my team mates and I are Samsung supporters too. I am still using Samsung washing machine, Samsung microwave oven - both about 10 years old and still going strong, honestly, I am glad that I made that choice ten years ago, if other brand, I probably would have to change already.

But the same could not be said of it's fridge, which, I also bought at the same time but it has stopped working 3 - 4 years back. Probably due to shifting house that the fridge, being more fragile was damaged at that time. So, in all honesty, could not say it is due to inferior quality.

At the peak of Samsung's handphone mania, the few of us even owned Samsung hand phones! But then, hand phones are very fast-changing and regrettably, presently, we were smitten with other makes....

Naturally, being a regular Samsung brand user, don't we deserve to get a shot at one of the slots?

Six Words On...Boredom

2009-10-28T14:11:00.001+08:00

Stared at wall, stared back, bored.

Sunshine In My Photos

2009-10-26T23:37:00.004+08:00

There are many things that I wanted to blog but none come to mind when I sit down facing the computer.

Lacking the inspiration, vanity kicks in. So, here it is, some photos that I took while driving back earlier today. Just having fun with the camera phone while waiting for the traffic lights to change colour. And wanted to see how the sunlight will show in the picture. Cam-whoring to the core, or rather, fore???

Sail Of Dreams

2009-10-26T01:34:00.001+08:00

Actually, it was a literal translation. I loved this song, even to this day. I used to listen to it very regularly, about 20 years ago?? Is is that long ago?

I just come across it over some site and pasted it here to share.

It could be Screen Of Dreams or Sail Of Dreams. Either way, just enjoy the music.

Heading : East And West

2009-10-23T14:02:00.004+08:00

This morning, it suddenly occurred to me that my two best friends were both travelling overseas at the same time!!

One of them is in Europe and the other one in China. And suddenly, I felt like, life is so so strange without people to banter with. I guess, in life, you will have to get used to being left to your own devices. I need my own private space but at the same time, I need to be in the presence of good company. Very oxymoronic, right??

Same goes for my friend, when he is here, we communicated probably once every few days but when away, he has to buzz me everyday. Strange huh??

Chicken And Egg : Crime Level

2009-10-21T13:06:00.003+08:00

I read a post from one of the blogs, the link here.

One thing that can be deduced is :- the more police is ineffective in their job, the more crimes will happens and the dominoes effect will continue, the police will be swamped with even more crimes.

In the end, it is the citizens that have to pay the price for it. I remembered how in our younger days, we can roam about without any worries. My mum used to walk back alone late at night, sometimes midnight. I too used to walk everywhere, alone. But it seemed, walking alone nowadays posed a very high risk of :- injury, mental trauma and loss of personal belongings, if not outright limbs and lifes.

After so many crimes committed, the police still in deep slumber and they have the cheek to collect their salaries every month!! Don't they feel any shame? I know for Muslims (let's face the fact, 90% of the Malaysian Police force is made up of Muslims) that they believed that if they don't fulfill their responsibility, that when they are dead, they will be questioned in their grave why did they evade their responsibility and will pay for it there and then. But then, corruptions entails the same questioning too and it is still rampagnt. I guess, people tend to forget that they WILL die someday. Probably they don't believe in all this retribution anymore...

I wonder if the head honchos, be it in the police force or politician can sleep at night with the conscience that they have innocent bloods in their hands?? If they had at least tried, then, their conscience should be clear but they don't even bothered!!

When Everything Goes Unhindered

2009-10-21T11:10:00.003+08:00

Got up pretty early today, had an appointment with the dentist at 11.00 a.m. Would you believe it that I got up at 7.00 a.m?? I have set my alarm clock at 9.00 a.m.

After tending some in my garden, I left at about 9.30 a.m., figuring that I might get stuck at the road construction work at the town centre. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I reached the critical juncture, all is smooth sailing, not many cars in sight and I was able to clear that stretch in less than 3 minutes when, at times, it will take all of half an hour or more!!

So, I got to dentist's neighbourhood before way before 10.00 a.m. and lo and behold!! There were ample parking for my picking!! There were times when I had to drive around 5 - 10 minutes, just to find an empty spot!! Well, I got to the dentist by 10.00 a.m., with minutes to spare, and sat down, expecting to wait for another hour, wondering, how to kill one hour with nothing to occupy my time?? Again, I was pleasantly surprised that I was called into the dentist's in less than 5 minutes time! Another surprise!! I used to wait for 15 - 30 minutes, irregardless of whether I turn up early or late. So, for an appointment at 11.00 a.m., I finished everything by 10.30 a.m., which is great! I got back into office before 11.00 a.m. (another wonder, as the traffic was not heavy) and would you believe it, that the traffic at the opposite lanes were jam packed!! What a difference an hour made!! If I had left home a bit later earlier on, I would be caught in the jam that was happening at the opposite lane that I saw. And it looked bad, I estimated that it will take at least half an hour to one hour to clear the stretch that took me less than five minutes, an hour earlier!!!

So, I bought Toto this morning, since Lady Luck is being very generous with me and let's hope she will continue to be generous all the way...

Yesterday, I went to Shogun for some Japanese food again. I think I am really losing control over my eating plan, seemed to be eating a lot recently!! Anyway, after eating, we went to a jewellery shop and looked at diamonds and such again. I am thinking of getting another diamond earring, but a much much smaller carat one, for casual wear, keeping the bigger one for special occasions like dinners and such. My wife bought a pair of pearl earring and we looked at quite a number of diamond rings. There were some good bargains but after considering that the design is practically the same with what we already owned, we end up didn't buy any of the diamond ring. But, it's still very tempting though....

Shedding Skin...

2009-10-19T08:45:00.003+08:00

At the risk of sounding snakey, I have been pondering for the past few weeks, tweaking and playing and trying for new skins for the blog but in the end, I still use back the old one.

Many of the newer ones are very beautiful and tastefully done up but, when I "put it on" my blog, it inevitably looked not that satisfying, it is either wasting the two sides' (left and right) space or the colour is wrong or when everything else felt right, I have qualm about losing the existing widgets I have already installed. Bother, bother!!

I am still tinkering with it and still considering whether to change or not to change.