Tales from the Navy

Due to &^#%*@! who do not really know where to sit on an express bus when their seat numbers have been clearly stated on their tickets but did not process in their smart little brains, I ended up seated beside a crew from the Royal Malaysian Navy whose seat has been colonized by another &^#%*@ who have the same seat number on his ticket. Or so the &^#%*@ claim because he wants to be seated with his girlfriend.


&^#%*@! aside, it was quite interesting talking to this dude. I shall call him Mamat. My friend and I used to use 'mamat' in replacement of dude in Bahasa. :D


For eg: Mamat tu dari mana?
which means: Where is that dude from?

Not to be mistaken with: Mamak


Anyways, Mamat told me about:

-RMN (which silly me have not much idea about)
-the "kapal" he works on which was KD Jebat (which is one of the best ships in the RMN)
-how small KD Jebat is if we compare it to the US aircraft carrier ship (because I asked if we have one of those...)
-his job (he works 5 days a week! craps!)
-that Thursdays and Fridays are English Speaking Days on the kapal (good for them!)
-his boss
-his colleagues and subordinates
-where and what he studied
-which countries has he visited on official missions (shall not reveal)
-which countries he wish to visit in future (Japan, Korea & somewhere in the Middle East)
-where he lives
-where his fiance lives
-Malay traditions in a boy-meet-girl situation (Family to meet up first!)
-how the tradition is not practiced anymore in KL
-how living in KL is refered to as a test to a person's faith
-when he plans to marry
-how much he have to send as dowry to his fiance's family when they do get married
-how he has been saving for this dowry (whoa)
-how Minangkabaus in N.Sembilan normally have the whole kampung chip in food, like rice and spices and all things nice, to help in a wedding thus reducing costs (at this point, I think he wished he was a Minangkabau)
-what kinda weird exotic meat he has eaten
-how kancil (mouse deer) meat tastes very nice (I gasp and went,"But kancils so cute!!!")
-the food on board KD Jebat (which he said was good as the chefs are mostly culinary arts diploma holders from KTAR)
-etc etc etc.


I think, in that short 3.5 hours ride from Kluang to KL, I sort of found out a lot about the daily life of a navy crew and also the personal life of Mamat.


Of course there is the customary question:

"If I have holiday in KL and wanna stay at your hotel, do I get a discount?"

I proceeded to elaborate how small a fry I am and how things don't work like this anymore in this age but if he wants to stay in KL at all, I do recommend my hotel.



Aaaaanyways, I asked Mamat if there were any scary encounters on the kapal since we all know a lot of movies with scary encounters on kapals. He proceeded to tell me only 2 stories since I told him I don't like to watch scary movies or listen to scary stories as I get scared easily (at this point you will be asking, "Then why did u ask??!!" I know.).

1) Once he thought he saw a colleague on the deck when actually there was no one (normal)
2) Once he saw a dude with long hair and an eagle on his shoulder at the bow of the ship with arms stretched out on both side ala Rose in Titanic (at this point I laughed). The long haired dude then jumped and disappeared. (bizarre!)


I asked him so many questions that he thought I was interested in a career with RMN. (LOL). He seriously told me that at my age, if I apply, the chances of me getting the job is pretty good.

I just told him that I don't think I am fit enough.


To which he agreed. -_-

Sky High

Having stayed in KL for the past 5 years and having walked pass the Petronas Twin Towers everyday for the past one year AND not stepping foot on the Twin Towers Skybridge is unacceptable.

-Photo taken during a fire evacuation drill-

-Photo taken while going to work-

-Photo taken when having drinks at SkyBar-

Curiosity finally set in.

I was determined to wake up early and just go and experience for myself what it will be like to stand on that bridge connecting the Twin Wonders of Malaysia. I was determined. I psyched myself up by imagining the breathtaking view while taking in the architectural pride of my country.


OK. No need to be so drama. Pei Ching and I were already set to go. Many were not able to join but we were going no matter what. Any concierge in the city will advise you to start queueing for the free tickets as early as 7.30am. I went there at about 7.45am and was greeted by this:


It will be good to go with some buddies so that you can chat about your anticipation, how Malaysia has developed so far, the petrol price hike, how difficult it was to wake up so early on a Saturday, how the public transportation sucks sometimes, etc etc.


But it will be better to just go there early. Be there by 7.30am and you will cut down on the pain of waiting in line.


There is no food in sight and so it will be a good idea to ta-pao something to eat while you wait.


We missed the 9.00am tickets but yay! we got the 9.30am tickets! Some people got the afternoons ones...


We were required to sit in a mini theatre room to watch a 3D presentation on how Petronas came about and how good they are to their employees, customers and stakeholders. At least the 3D glasses were pretty entertaining:


It's pretty huge but still funny. I think maybe I wanna get a pair of sunnies this big next time.


Anyways, a word of advise : Minimize contact with the 3D glasses provided! I doubt they sterilize it but what I saw was shocking. It was a dark room but due to my paranoia on dirt and bacteria, I inspected the glasses closely. Well, yes, a little oily from being in contact with so many faces everyday but if you look closely, you will soon realise that some people actually bite the ends of the holder (I don't know what you call it but it is the part where it sits on your ear).

omg.


OK. Back to the bridge. We took a ride in this highspeed elevator. And when they say highspeed, it was really, really highspeed! The lenght of the ride felt like I have just reached a tenth floor of my apartment but in actual fact, we were already on the 41st floor! whoa... whoaaa...

-The Bridge-

When we first arrived, the guide/usher decided to explain a little more about the bridge and in a way blocking us anxious people from stepping on the bridge. We were this close!!

OK, yada yada, the bridge consist of 2 storeys, one for the employees, one for mere visitors like us, weights 300 plus tonnes, yada yada. We were like children looking at a whole bunch of lollipops but were not allowed to touch.


Finally, we were set free!


At first I could hear some of the ang-moh visitors gasping in awe at the view. That was before they realize that the view was not so gasp-worthy because it was a misty morning. I think we could only see buildings around 300 metres away. Aiya....


And there were no public/tourist-friendly binoculars on the whole bridge. So what else can one do?

Take photos!

KL Convention Centre, Traders Hotel, ExxonMobil & Water Park

Menara Public Bank

The water fountains and some cool designs on top of Suria KLCC

Some office folks having tea break (typically). I think this should be on the 37th floor.

Me!

After about 10minutes, we were ushered off... not before we took some last minute photos!

Peiching

Esmee and me

Me going "Last one!!"

The incredible high-speed elevator control panel. whoa.

big money

One day, I was just showing off my 1,000 rupiah note (souvenir from Natalia) when Ardhan pulled out another note, gave it to me and said

"Yvonne, here. Go and buy yourself a... car. I think second-hand one can. I'm such a good friend, right?"

Haha! Now I have two. Maybe I can add it to my dad's collection of notes and coins. Maybe I'll start my own collection! I dunno. I even thought I have started a keychain collection with my 7 keychains from 7 different countries but was told that it was not a collection. I think I suck at collecting. Anyways, according to Ardhan, this 50,000 rupiah is about RM18 after conversion. OK la, I forgive you for being a cheapo last time.

things we have to go through in life

Remember the time when you laboriously elaborate how you want your hairstyle to your hairstylist and then have your hair turn out like something else?


Because he thinks
-it suits you better
-it is the current style, everybody wants it
-it will look nice on you. who knows? never try never know!
-your head is a good platform for experimentation
-that he has done a mistake somewhere and tries to cover it up
-you deserve it (maybe)
-he is Midas (whatever)

He probably didn't think this - "But that's not what my customer WANT".


Clearly, he has missed the first semester of his hairstyling course. -_-

dramas

Was in training the past 2 days and my mind wasn't in "fighter" mode so I decided to watch some dramas. Good choice!


I just found this Japanese drama called Love 2000 which I watched 7 years ago and I conclude


I still love Takeshi Kenishiro! :D



I have also just watched 4 episodes of Grey's Anatomy Season 4 (I planned to watch only 2 epi but I got a phone call halfway through and got pissed off and decided to watch another 2. Excuses.) and I conclude


I love McDreamy!



I was as usual clicking away blindly and found this song called 747 by Kent and I conclude


I like it. :D

...though I don't really get it.

I did some research on the song and it was somehow named 747 because
1) the song is 7 minutes and 47 seconds long (ooh)
2) it might have something to do with the boeing planes (?)
3) if your add up the numerical names of the band members (a=1, b=2), it will come up to 747 (oooh)

Beats me. Sounds nice for now :)

there's no charge for awesomeness!

"There's no charge for awesomeness!"


Well, it was RM11 for each movie ticket but totally worth the awesome animation. I totally enjoyed it throughout! It was, well, awesome!



This was also the first time I witnessed the audience actually giving a warm round of applause at the end of the movie. These things don't happen often in Malaysia.

I told Ivan (whom I forced to watch with me) that I would be so so so upset if I don't get to watch it. Then I went, "So cute!!!!!!" the whole night. haha. What else are friends for? :D

Po was so fat and cute. Apart from Po , I loved Master Shifu. I think the attention to details in this movie is so spot on. The main feature of Master Shifu is in his eyes. I especially loved it when his eyelids quivered when Po pissed him off or said something stupid. The attention to the chinese culture was also pretty precise. Like how the Pigs who carried Po into the hall actually exited backwards and in a quick manner.

It was funny when Po's silhouette seemed like he was feeling really sad by the Peach tree but when Oogway approached him, he was actually binging on the peaches! Btw, it couldn't get anymore obvious calling the tortoise master Oogway. Haha. Chinese for tortoise!

I liked how Po was trained using Char Siew Pow and chopsticks.

I liked how Po made a face and almost got hit by Tigress when actually it was Mantis poking him in a wrong spot with his acupuncture.


Everything in this movie is so cute and funny! I think I can watch this movie again and again and never get sick of it.

There. I have said it. Must watch.

sometimes

Sometimes... these things happen.


In the midst of everyone going crazy with work in the office...

Yvonne: Let's listen to something trashy.
Peiching: OK.
Yvonne: *click,click, double click*

britney: Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme more!


I like it when everyone plays along. :D

"Life's like a box of chocolates"

I had some snacks at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at The Curve the other night with Ardhan and Ivan. This restaurant is themed after one of my fave movies, Forrest Gump.

Well, er, nice theme.


They have these signs:

This "Stop Forrest Stop" one is to tell the waiters that you need their assistance.


This one which says "Run Forrest Run" is to tell the waiters to leave you to have your meal in peace.


Normally, I would have said, "Ooh! That's so novel and interesting!"

The main problem was that I have already read about it in some blog so...... aiya.

The waiter actually spent some good minutes explaining the mechanism of these signs to us when I have just explained it to both Ardhan and Ivan. We feigned interest.

Anyways, it was so cumbersome. We just waved for the waiters in plain, good old-fashioned way. We forget to use it sometimes.

I also thought that everyone have watched Forrest Gump at least once in their lifetime but somehow Ardhan didn't seem to know the movie. Only those who have watched the movie will be able to relate to the various design details of the restaurant ie: the drinks menu was stuck to a table tennis bat and etc.

The meal of mainly four types of prawns and calamari and salads was forgettable. I had quite similar stuff at Prego @ Westin before and I can't help but think that we should have gone to Prego. The calamari at Bubba Gump was so tiny. The one at Westin was like... sumptuous. Plus they have superb pizzas and pastas. But I guess I shouldn't compare two different worlds.


Anyways, eating with Indonesians, no matter what the main courses are, you are bound to order rice. I heard from a friend that they even have white rice with McD meals. Whoa.

But I guess the most interesting item on the table was the rice because...

they serve them like boobies.

*To Bubba Gump's credit, the rice was really nice. :)

Suddenly I heard Ivan and Ardhan complaining in Bahasa Indonesia. You don't need to understand the language to know that they are complaining because of their hilarious facial expression. I soon found out that their drinks sucked.


I proceeded to show off my drink which was superb in comparison. It was like lemonade with strawberries. Helped me digest my meal. Sorry I didn't bother to remember the names of the dishes and drinks. Just don't go for those yoghurt-y drinks.

-I thought the logo was very cute!-

At the end of the meal, we paid RM150. The very nice waiter came back with RM150.25. Aiya... It was a mistake. Of course we returned the money. He was so thankful. "You are all good-hearted people"

I suppose he should be Nepalese. I have some really good Nepalese staff in my hotel and I have total respect for them. They are really hardworking, they are committed and they make an effort to do their best on their job. Their main strengths are their humble disposition and their honesty which I do not doubt at all. Ivan too have one or two Nepalese staff at his outlet and have the same review.


I just felt glad that he didn't have to pay back the lost float if we decided not to care. It would have been quite a big part of his pay man.


I'll say that the staff at the restaurant made the meal a not-so-bad experience.

But still forgetable.

my room smells nice

My room smells nice now.




Not that it smells but now it just smells good and inviting. I can spend hours reading in my room now... :)

I can't believe I got this aromatherapy oil burner for only RM5.00! (Of course from the RM5 shop) Anyways, it is into its 2nd hour now and no sudden cracks or explosion or whatever so I guess it is pretty safe. I bought the Oceanus fragrance oil from The Body Shop. As we all know, Body Shop is having sales now.. :)


It's interesting to watch the little oil droplets swirling around in the hot water... This is fun...