Francis’s New Girlfriend

October 12, 2008 3 Comments

Can’t remember how many "girlfriends" Francis Chay has ridden. But this new silver babe is his latest toy (His 6th).
Sitting beside his new convertible is his 6-month old 5-Series BMW (who lost her ass to some broke nut just a few weeks ago)
Where is he favourite lass, WRX? Francis "configured" her so much that she became an unstable and crazy machine. He has since "dumped" her.

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Meijie, Macau and Hong Kong

September 27, 2008 Leave a comment

After 2 years of constant nagging, I managed to get some of the “handful of brothers” to visit me. Barely 5 weeks ago, Gareth and Ivy came with the big typhoon. And last Thursday,Meijie (My 16th HK Visitor)finally dropped me a visit in Hong Kong.

Surely, I was very excited to see my buddy. Why? He has been my closest pal since Secondary School days. We grew closer during those days when we part-time as waiters at the Singapore Swimming Club. We even spent 1 week backpacking in Perth. Over the last 15 years, Meijie is my constant Kopi-Kakis. (Question is: How he maintained his size while I ballooned non-stop). There were 4 years when Meijie was away (for study and for work)… Despite his working stint in Thailand, we met every month (during his monthly book-out weekend from Pataya).In fact, I was dying to see him in Shanghai – so I can show him the blink blink and bang bang. But he was so reluctant to fly over. Now, I am just 3.5 hours away (plus a tempting birthday redemption) – there is no reason why he cannot come and visit his old pal.

Argghh… the timing was pretty bad. The night when Meijie flew in – I was like a zombie. My 14hrs/day workload was certainly depressing and I guessed Meijie can see how badly I looked that night. I was trying to stay awake…and keep him “entertained”. Haaa… in the end, he had to join me to do some late night hunting for my event props at Wanchai. Carrying a heavy luggage, I made Meijie walked up and down Hong Kong’s unforgiving slopes. By 12am, Meijie was complaining about his 1st hour here.

Back at my house, Felicia prepared a surprise for both Meijie and Tracy (who also flew back on the same day). Elkan stayed up till 12am just to welcome his favourite “Uncle Lionnel”. When Elkan saw both Meijie and Tracy, he screamed and jumped like a monkey out of the cage! He was uncontrollable!

Meijie spent 5 nights at my house. Having a tiny spot in our living room, he endured all our late nights and early mornings. Meijie and my family even sat through the rain from 10-12am – waiting for Tracy and me to wrap up our event at the Peak.

More dramas, fights and laughters exploded over the weekends ~ Meijie seen it all. He even slept in my office!

Overall,we had such a good time in Macau and around Hong Kong. I just wished I am not so busy and “too sticky into my job”… I felt a little bad that I neglected my friend. Even in my dreams, I dreamt of chatting with him – nagging him to get a girlfriend. My only regret is I am not pushy enough to bring him to those “dirty massage”.

Meijie flew out on Tuesday ~ together with Tracy and me (except we were all flying in different directions – Tracy and I were heading up north to Beijing for another event and Meijie is heading back south – just in time for Singapore’s 1st Night Grand Prix.) We sent him right to his gate. Under some pressures of Mr Joe Chua, Meijie entertained me with a “Elkan Crying Byebye”.

Buddy, please come again. Perhaps Christmas. This time, it is on you. I shall offer you 10 Pineapple Buns. Oh yes, thanks for fixing my Xbox – You are our Global IT Director, mate!

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The August Stars

September 4, 2008 Leave a comment

Duuk and Kalinda celebrated their "August End" birthdays! Wow…even MC, Jimmy and Karen were there! Mmm…can see some big changes in our friends… Karen looks slimmer…Meijie looks more "compatible"….Joanne had a makeover….Duuk & Juliana look "fuller", Gareth fatter…only MC and Jimmy didn’t change much. Still so young ever! According to Joanne, they were so "high" that night – lots of drinking and "babies-making" (Oh yes, that is exactly what Duuk got for all his birthday wishes!)


 

Opppss… forgot to mention Kalinda… <again, I know she will hate me for this> – Well, I couldn’t recognise her in these photos… she looks happier and younger here.

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Brother 风 Came & Gone

August 25, 2008 Leave a comment

 

 
风 came and left. For some strange coincidence, my Singaporean visitors arrived with similar patterns. My parents arrived during Typhoon Kanmuri (on the eve of Olympic Opening). Gareth and family arrived during Typhoon Nuri and left during Olympic Closing Ceremony. Both typhoons ended with letters "ri" and both were big enough to shut down the island.

 
 
It was an unusual visit. Gareth and family were "house-arrest" and spent one entire Friday – indoor with us. We managed to spend a good Saturday shopping along causeway bay, wan chai, women street and temple street… but traveling with 2 active boys can be quite challenging and taxing. Surprisingly, Gareth and Ivy knew their ways better than us! In fact, Gareth played "host"and showed us around Mong Kok! He brought me to places where I can get "gas guns" and "mobile phones". Those were Geek’s Paradise! Felicia and Ivy went back early on Sat night – leaving Gareth and myself to roam Mong Kok all by ourselves. Like real blood brothers, we explored the streets for 2 hours… Never know it is so good to go shopping with Brother 风.

 
 

Well, if anyone needs a tour guide on Kowloon side, I would certainly recommend these 2 visitors. They made such good shopping and dining companions! The typhoon didn’t really dampen their moods – Gareth was happier and excited during the typhoon moments. It was an extra "experience" for him – a gift from Mother Nature.

For Elkan, he has another good playmate to accompany him. He certainly enjoys a playmate – he kept telling Xaiver – "I like you you know. I want to hug you so much!" Guess he wants to keep Xavier as a softtoy.

 
 

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Brother 风 is Here

August 22, 2008 1 Comment

We received our 14th visitors today! Mr GUO风 and gang visited our house today. Thanks to his other girlfriend "Nuri", we need not go to work today. What a holiday gathering for all our us – we are now stranded indoor, enjoying cable-TV while Typhoon Number 9 is brewing right outside our window. (In fact, the "eye" just entered Hong Kong right now!)

At lunch time, all of us decided to "go out and face the typhoon". Braving against the strong winds, we walked briskly to the restuarant. The adults were cautious but the kids were screaming in estascy. In fact, I think the kids did more damage than the typhoon. They screamed, they ran and they made a big mess! Haaa…

 
 

Nevertheless, the typhoon was quite an experience for us. Later this evening, we went out to explore the city. It felt like the 1st day of CNY – most of the big shopping centres and shops were closed (only the faithful CircleKs, 7-Elevens and fast food joints were open). We roamed the streets – looking for signs of "life". Hong Kong was like a dead city tonight. I have never seen such an empty Causeway Bay at 7pm. Nathan Road was quiet too.

It was a frightening night. We saw many trees uprooted…fallen billboards and cracked glass everywhere. Finding a good place to eat was very difficult. We managed to squeeze into a small "HK Cafe" for our meals. During our dinner, a billboard outside the cafe came falling down and dust flew into the restuarant. Thanks goodness, no one was hurt. At 815pm, we made up our minds – to go home and stay indoor. Typhoon can be fun in the beginning but it posed too much inconvenience and dangers for the people in Hong Kong. There were just too many "booby-traps" hanging above your heads.

 

On our way home – it was a 300m walk from the MTR station to our house – THAT WAS A SCARY WALK. Our usual pavement was blocked with fallen structure. We took another route and saw many fallen trees. Worst, the heavy rain and wind obstruct our senses. That was certainly the scariest 300m walk home. We stopped every few steps…waited for the wind to weaken before making another dash.

Now, the storm is brewing outside. And the "eye" is still in Hong Kong – heading for Guang Dong. Man, I like an off-day Typhoon…but hated the dangers that lurk above us. This is when "Advertising Kills" their target audience.

  
 

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Belated Gift for Meijie

August 17, 2008 Leave a comment


Normally, I don’t call Meijie oveseas. And he knows – when Joe calls, it is always about "computer trouble-shooting". And yesterday, I called Mr IT Heng on his birthday. Instead of wishing him "Happy 33kg!", I bothered him with some stupid MS Vista upgrading questions! Haaaa… I even get him to surf the internet for me. I bet Mr Heng was excited to hear my voice yesterday…and he may be thinking that I am going to give him that "birthday greetings"  Haaa…to his disappointment and horror surprise, Mr Joe didn’t even wish him anything and "disappeared" the entire day! Not until Mr Joe and gang reappeared 1 day later with their most beautiful "birthday song". Yeah, Felicia, Elkan, Tracy and myself sang him a song this morning over the phone!
 
Of course, this song isn’t good enough for my best friend. And I am giving him an air-ticket to visit us in Hong Kong (with 1-month expiry)! So, Mr Heng, better make up your mind soon…cos’ this offer and gift is "while Joe lasts!" Come bro!

 
 
Thanks to Joanne…she is my Guest Blogger today. Here is her words and photos! Enjoy.

We had a durian feast last nght….wow…its the most expensive durians i have ever eaten..$200 for 4 durians…but it taste really GOoOOOD!

Really shiok and tasty. I am sure you will like it… as what juli said.. "Yi fen xian, Yi fen huo"
 
The gathering was great….we had japanese food… a braun buffel wallet for the birthday boy (he requested for it).
We spend a total of $600 for his bday. A simple celebration but a memorable one.
Yixi shared with us about his new job…oh man…he is like a doctor now..so interesting and unbelievable.
He is clinical sale consultant….and he assist the doctor in the operation. wow…you wont believe it.
 
Well, wish you and feli can join us for our next gathering soon. We miss you guys much..
 
Enjoy the photos i took for you. 🙂 I am sure you will miss home.
 
Joanne
 

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“The Days” Movie – Boi is in Town!

July 27, 2008 Leave a comment

 

UPDATED (3rd August) – Director Boi (our 3rd Visitor) is in town this week for his movie post-production. Mr FancyPant Randy sent a couple of messages to me – making sure that I won’t missed out Boi’s number. (Yes…I didn’t miss him…we met!) Tracy and I met up with Boi and Winston for a short lunch today in Hong Kong. (Time is too short for us to smuggle him to Macau). We had congee and wantun noodles at IFC. It was good catching up the old times with all the "lao bengs" of Temasek. Until today, I am still puzzled how Boi is able to click with Randy and Christina. One is a "hokkien beng" and the others belong to the "ang moh" gang. Boi described it the "ang moh gang" best – he calls them the "Far East Kids". 

Still, it was a very "insightful" lunch. I got to know a lot more updates about the other friends. The Temasek friends are leading very interesting lives out there. And a couple of updates moved me. Thankfully, Boi is still the same (except putting on some weight – he is still the candid funny old Ah Beng of yesterday…and Winston as "arty" as ever… he shed some kilos and sported a nice hairdo. Coincidently, we just found out that we all worked at the same area in Central. 

Boi’s movie "The Days" (Rating NC16) will be screened islandwide (at Golden Village) in early Sept. Just heard that a couple of friends are specially flying back just to catch its premiere. (Boi promised us DVD with his "signature"). In desperation, I am still pestering him for a 1-minute XXX role in his future art movies.

We sure be seeing more of the crew… Randy, you coming hor?

 

My Temasek pals – Randy and Boi’s movie "The Days" is finally completed and it will be screened this Sept 08!
Check out their new movie here! (Click to play!)

For more info: goto – http://www.thedaysmovie.com/

  http://static.ning.com/thedays/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?v=3.4.4:6369   

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My 1st Week and my 1st Visitor

July 13, 2008 1 Comment

 
I can’t imagine how fast time flew. I am already in my 2nd week in Hong Kong.
 
It has been an awful hectic start. Work is horrendously demanding (from 9am to 9pm) and I had a couple of rough dealings with my “unscrupulous and scheming” property agent. If I were to take this negative reference and stereotype all HK people, I have only one word to describe them – “rigid”. Thankfully, I have made many nice HK friends over my last 2 years to change my perception.
 
One good and valuable lesson learnt – HK agents are tough and rigid negotiators – they are sharp, ruthless and useless. “Snob dealers”, I would call them. Our old way of bargaining tactics are useless over here in HK. I hate negotiating with these “air-heads” cos’ they are inflexible and narrow-minded. In short, I underestimated my wits and had my worst business defeat here. (At least, in China, deals are made out of “relationship” and “best interests”. Deals are very conditional and one-sided here.) After dealing with 4 different agents, I concluded and Elkan forbids – “F*** my useless agent”. Period.
 
On a positive side, HK is beautiful and dynamic. The hills, the sea and the skyscrapers. We got a nice apartment (away from the city) at the eastern side of the island. It is quiet, peaceful and beautiful. We have a great sea-view, overlooking Kowloon. Every night, Elkan and I will sit by our bedroom window, watching and counting the passing “floating lights” (ships of all sizes and types).

 
 

Last Wednesday, I received my 1st visitor in HK ~ Joanne! She arrived just in time to “cut ribbon” at my new home. (Coincidently, that was also the first day when we moved into our new apartment.) Everything was in a mess, there was nothing at home – no shampoo, drinks etc. We were basically living out of our suitcase.
 
Work stole most of my time away from her. Poor Joanne, she had to loiter around HK all by herself. I certainly wish she can stay a little longer (like her last Shanghai stay). At least, I can show her around – perhaps planning a short trip to Macau or Shenzhen. Still, her stay is controversially memorable. I won’t disclose much online but I am just happy to have her here with me. Just exactly 30 days ago, Duuk and Juliana were there in Shanghai to help me pack…and Joanne came to HK …er…to help me unpack? Mmm… wonder if there is another group who can just pop by to clean up my small house.

 
 

I am now typing this blog offline on my computer and will upload this tomorrow morning at my famous (as Joanne coined it) “SRC-like clubhouse”. Please bear with me, I have no internet at home at this moment. (PCCW needs 16 days to activate my broadband – talk about efficiency!). Right now, I am in this "computer corner" – with a bunch of little Jap monster kids – who is right now abusing the iMac with their violent nature. (Feel like plucking his head off!)
 
Life is certainly different over here in HK…A big difference I would say – No dirt-cheap DVD (we are renting DVD now at HK16/title – double the price of a priated disc in China). No daily taxi ride to work (would cost me SGD14/trip). No cheap good restaurant food. And no cheap premium massage/spa. No Carrefour.
 
Sure, there are many more new things in place. A lot of rain, wind, flood and thunderstorms. A lot of 7-Elevens and MacDonalds. A lot of stairs and slopes to walk. A lot of Filipinos (it is amazing to see them every Sunday). A lot of “packed sardine-can MTR rides”. Lots of drippling aircon water. Late night dessert stores. And a lot of men and women in black suits.
 
Perhaps the only common thing that stays constantly unchanged between Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai is – Time. (And yes, that dreadful green shop – Starbucks – it is everywhere).
 

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Tracy’s 29th Birthday Dresses

May 16, 2008 Leave a comment

Tracy celebrated her 1st birthday in Shanghai today – with our same old Shanghai gang. (Strangely & coincidently, there was always a "surprise visiting guest" attending our birthdays in Shanghai – Felicia had Francis’ Dad, I had Juliana and Tracy had Hovman – who had just arrived last night!) She gave us a good treat (at a nicely decorated restuarant) near our house – The bill came up just a little too expensive. (Urghh…we shouldn’t let Joe ordered the food).


  
So, what did Tracy get for her birthday? Haaa… lots of new birthday dresses (from Echo, Joanne & Felicia) and hangbaos (from Ming & Johnny, Duuk & Juliana, Meijie & Kalinda, Joe)! Since there is no "g-string or lacy lingeries", Tracy was sporting enough to "wear" those presents for us to see. (Opps…she forgot to pose with her new handbag – from Francis and Echo!). Mmm…guess she needs a new haircut and a gym membership. Get the hint, babe?

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iPhoto – Fun Shots from my iPhone

May 3, 2008 Leave a comment

Thanks goodness – we are not so symmetrical. Guess who’s who.

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