Garbage Enzyme

The name sounds like a Supervillain in a Superhero comic book or TV series. I, for one, thought so when I saw the article in an e-mail from a friend. It turned out to be something really good which, if everyone does his/her part, could contribute to improving the environment.....well at least prevent more depletion of the ozone.

Being very much handicapped in the realm of science I shall refrain from explaining the details and instead guide you to a most interesting Blogger's site from which you will be able to get links to more sites for more information....that is if this article interests you at all. Here it is :-


http://www.fh2o.kuchingkayak.com/2008/07/04/garbage-to-save-the-world-on-garbage-enzyme/


and this one :


http://www.free2consult.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65


I hope you will find this useful.


Since my last update I have travelled to Singapore, Kota Kinabalu and Miri. Yes, in spite of the H1N1 crisis. I am aware that it is a foolhardy thing to do and some people would even label it selfish. When you expose yourself unnecessarily you run the risk of bringing back the virus to spread it amongst your close friends and relatives who are in constant contact with you. Having said that, I have to state that my excursions were neccessary and I stayed away from crowded places and practised the highest standards of hygiene. So far no one, touch wood, has been infected and I am fine.


I was going to relate some stories of the travels but this time I am going to let the maxim "A picture is worth a thousand words" do the talking.













This is where I go to for a night of Aromatic Coffee and good Jazz music in Singapore ! Their Brownies are fantastic as well.













The IR Hotel and Casino looming above the skyline across the marina in Singapore. Expected to be ready end of this year! Durty Nelly's at Marina Square is the place to go for great Pies and Ales.







This is at the Best Western Cafe at the Grand Palace Hotel in Miri. I didnt take a photo of the actual Rib Eye Steak I had because I forgot that I had my Camera with me until I had finished the exquisite dish. May I add that it was V.F.M. If you dont know what that is, shame on you. It is Value For Money !!!







A cool classy Cat. Reminds me of a friend of mine who is always well groomed and dressed immaculately.






Some senior guy we met at the Boardwalk along the Waterfront of Kota Kinabalu. He said he was there to watch the Sunset, the Moonrise and then the Moonset and the Sunrise beyond the beautiful Sutera Harbour. The Tsunami predicted to happen that day did not !




To sign off here's another link to an "Ultimate Wedding Dance."

http://www.parkwayreststop.com/archives/2937



Cheers !

Christian the Lion Cub

A long lost friend from Vancouver, B.C., Canada sent me a video clip which I found to be extremely touching. It also got me wondering why when friends, separated for a long time, say years and years, finally meet, the joy and excitement over the reunion will not be as intense as what is shown in the clip.

The message in the video is so powerful that I do not need to write further. I only hope that the owners and makers of the video do not attach any copyright restiction for it's use. Afterall it has obviously been circulated over the internet to all corners of the globe.

If a Lion can remember and exhibit such joy on meeting his old friends so can we !

Michael Jackson

The sky tonight will be brighter by two! That was what I wrote in twitter and facebook this morning on hearing the news about MJ and Farrah Fawcett. Think of the stars in the Galaxies that brighten our nights, inspire our imagination, sometimes give us hope and then you will understand what I mean.

In memory of MJ here's a link to a particular YouTube clip in which he is featured singing one of his greatest hits and my favourite :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msqfQpoFTYk

And for Farrah :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfAJvIuJb-8

RIP Michael and Farrah, with your creator.

High Tea

The worst thing a Blogger can do is to leave his/her Blog without update for almost a month. Even the most faithful of followers would not have the patience to sign in everyday just to be greeted by a blank page for so long. I plead guilty and apologise for the neglect.



Even though this is not a professional Blog and it is done only for fun to satisfy an inclination to write and share tall tales, humour and, once in a while, some serious experiences, there is still the responsibilty to keep it updated regularly for the sake of those kind enough to show interest in the site. Therefore, I shall not shun this responsibility from today onwards.


I owe it to the readers to explain why the Blog has been dormant. Half a dozen reasons spring to mind but they are liable to be shot down as excuses so I shall not even try. Let's just blame it on procrastination and tardiness.



Now that I've got the monkey off my back I am ready to roll.

What do most people do on a lazy sunny Sunday afternoon ? Play golf, watch TV, go for a ride in the country, tend the garden, bring the kids to the beach or go to the cinema and watch the latest Box Ofice movie ? Me, I do all of the above (not at the same time) as well as stuff my face with food.

I had one of the most pleasant Sunday Afternoon at Gaston's and Clare's home at Jalan Subok last Sunday. The lovely ladies of the "Arts and Environment Group" from the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption had organised a High Tea to follow their quarterly meeting. Because it was also to say farewell to one member who was leaving Brunei, spouses were also invited. As always, the array of food was incredibly sumptious !

Whilst the ladies were chattering away discussing the agenda, I sat with the men at the other end of the sitting room talking about everything, from the goings on in Iran to the geographical contours of the ridges and hills of Jalan Subok. Then I heard a noise which rose above the voices in conversation. It was the rumbling of an empty stomach and I was 100% certain it came from the ladies' section. As if that was the cue the Chairlady abruptly brought the meeting to an end and said "O.K. let's eat !" In the middle of grace, I heard the stomach rumble again and this time discovered that it was mine.

I headed straight for the Briyani Rice which I drowned in the gravy from the Chicken Masala. I put the whole thing away in about 30 seconds and went back for a second helping and this time I supplemented it with the exquisitely Roasted Chicken (Perfectly done by Susie). Compliments were being paid to Margaret who had prepared the Briyani and Chicken Masala. Someone even said that the curry tasted so authentically Indian that Margaret could qualify as one. Indian or not, it was delicious.

After the curry, with the stomach rumbling now very much reduced, I sampled the Prawn Mee. I am at a loss for words here. The soup was better than any that I have tried in Brunei including the Prawn House Restaurant at Traders' Inn Hotel. Clare, start a Prawn Mee business and I will be your first customer.

Then there were the various assortment of desserts from Judith's Chocolate Coated Eclairs to Catherine's multi colored Jello. There were Cheesecake, Pan -cakes and a couple of Nonya Kuehs, all excellently done by the other ladies. There was some alcohol in the form of Bristol Cream Irish Coffee which Lia brought. After a couple of sips faces started blushing and the ladies were fired up. They ended the afternoon Line Dancing to Rock and Roll music. The men were too full to rock.

I wish every Sunday can be like this.

Tattoos !!!

Kate Von D ...does that name ring a bell ? And I dont mean just riiinnnng.... riiinnng. I mean bell as in DING DONG...DING DONG ! Yes ! That's Kate Von Drachenberg of L.A. Ink. fame. I'm not sure whether that should be Inc. or Ink. Let's go with Ink. If you are into tattoos that's who you should research. You must have seen L.A. Ink. on Star TV. Well the story goes that she has left L.A. Ink and started a parlour of her own. Now she has written and published a book, an autobiography which is making it's way up the Best Sellers' list.

So what is it that motivates a person to go under the needle just to have art "branded" into his/her skin ? I wont have space here to explain the when, how, why and where it all started besides I have not done the necessary research. I can only offer my two cents worth. Nowadays it is considered "cool" to have a tattoo because many celebrities have it. David Beckham and Robbie Williams are two of the most famous people with equally famous tattoos. The Hip Hop and Gangsta Rappers are credited with starting the craze. The idea is actually stolen from tribes in East Asia. The natives of Sarawak, Malaysia wear tattoos as a symbol of manhood. The more you have and the more intricate they are, the more you are feared and honoured. Why ? The pain you have to undergo while having the needles dipped in dye knocked into your skin over a couples of hours is testament enough to show how tough you are. The natives of the South Seas, New Zealand comes immediately to mind, even have tattoos on their tongues. That is part of the reason why the Aussies always lose to them in Rugby. When the Kiwis All Blacks stick their Tattooed tongues out, the Aussies are ready to give up. Then there is the Japanese Yakuza who adopted the same psychology...scare your enemies with tattoos !

In the 21st Century the Tattoo has become high fashion. A cute little tattoo in the right place can enhance a woman's sex appeal by leaps and bounds. Dont take my word for it. Ask Madonna, Beyonce, Paris Hilton and the many other Pop Stars, Movie Stars and Fashion Divas. Kate Von D is the Queen of them all.

So ladies, YM and friends, if you are reading this, what are you waiting for ?
And just for reading my Blog here's a treat :-

And here's the link to her book's website :-

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/imageviewer.asp?ean=9780061684388

I am sorry I shall not be able to tell you where in Brunei you can go have a tattoo safely administered. If you find one please let me know. I want to have one done also. Maybe one that says "Lights on but no one's home !" My son Aaron has a snarling, Black Leopard showing fangs, on his left shoulder.

Till next time....Happy Tattooing !

Seat Belt Rumble

You wouldnt believe what happened to me last Friday when I was on my way home to BSB from Singapore....ya ya Singapore again. As usual I was taking SIA on account of the ..ahem...wine. My faithful alarm woke me at 5.00 a.m. After completing the routine which involved shower, throne, dental care, hair care, B.O. care (Body Odor lah..tsk tsk.) and a hasty breakfast, I headed for the Taxi Stand. The training I had undergone for positive thinking and using my sub-conscious mind did not fail me. The Law of Attraction ensured that a taxi was waiting when I got there. It was just 6.30 a.m. by then and in Singapore 6.30 a.m. was still totally dark. "Good Morning Sir, where to ?" the Cabby asked. I said "Good Morning, Airport, Terminal two." And so we were on our way.



Have you ever ridden in a Taxi in Singapore ? If you have then you will understand how frustrating it is to have to buckle up. It is law in Singapore that the passenger must have his/her Safety Belt secured. The trouble is the belts at the back seats of Taxis in Singapore are uncooperative. No matter how hard you try they just wouldnt fit in at your first attempt. You are forced to try at least 25 and half times before they became interlocked. By the time you accomplished that feat you'd have arrived at your destination. It is as if the people who assembled the vehicle installed these seat belts just to annoy you. If you are short tempered and impatient, dont ride in a taxi and especially not at 6.30 a.m. in the morning. I managed to get mine locked just as the taxi pulled along side the curb at Changi Airport. I managed to keep calm, breathed deeply and even gave the Cabby a tip. It was not his fault that his vehicle had a Back Seat Seat Belt possessed by Gremlins and he did get me to the Airport safely and in time.

Dumping my luggage on to the trolley I walked in straight to the Departure Board to see which row I had to check-in for SQ 182 to Brunei. To my dismay it was not listed. I looked again and it was still not there. "Aha!" I said to myself. "Somebody has committed a blooper !" So I strutted towards the SIA information desk and told the lady in attendance "SQ 182 to Brunei is not listed on your Departure Notice Board, why ?" She smiled and said " Oh Sir, it will be displayed later. It's too early now. We have to make room on the board for earlier flights." Indignantly I told her "It's almost 7.00 a.m. and my flight is at 9.00 a.m. do you still think it's too early ?" "No Sir, your flight is at 1440 hrs.!" "No it's not ! It's at 9.00 a.m.! I always fly at 9.00 a.m. @#xx*#*@x !!! The rebellious seat belt was taking it's toll. The nice SIA lady said "Calm down Sir, please check your ticket." "I have no ticket. I bought it online." "You have a print out of the confirmation ?" I did so I checked, had a mild heart attack and then I began searching for a hole to creep into in total embarrassment. The SQ 182 flight to Brunei on Fridays was indeed at 1440 hours. I had never flown on a Friday back to Brunei. I had taken things for granted and was then paying the price. I apologised and quietly slipped away to enjoy the next 7 hours at Changi International Airport. I think I could live at Changi.

Whenever I am in the City I like to spend my evenings sampling live music at different Bars and Hotel Lounges. Here is a group I found exciting. They are called "Cats in a Cradle", four local lads performing at the Indochine Restaurant at Wisma Ria, Orchard Road.


I had meant to upload a video clip here but couldnt make it work. These guys were doing a cover of The Eagles' hit "Take it Easy" in three part harmony. They were good.








Because the video didnt work, here's a bonus. This is the "Crazy Elephant Bar" at Clarke Quay. This is the home of "The Blues" in Singapore where all the Blues artists from USA and Europe come to perform. The Lead Guitarist is local and is lightning fast with his riffs.


For those of you who like Tattoos I have a special treat for you in my next update.

YM and friends, be sure to tune in !

Pet Therapy

Last month saw the screening of Marley and Me, a hollywood movie starring the ever-so-sweet and bubbly Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson of Shanghai Knights fame. It was the story of a mischievious Labrador who, despite his antics and bad behaviour brought joy, love and most of all, Family Bondage to his human family. The film ended on a sad note, Marley, the Dog, died.

There are thousands of tales about pets. There are stories of pets who saved their owners from disaster, from robbery, from fire and from death in general. There are stories about Cats, Birds, Rabbits, Horses, even Pigs but mostly about men's best friend, Dogs. Scientists and Doctors now use Dogs in therapy. Many Rehabilitation Homes for the aged now employ Dogs to bring joy to the elderly who are otherwise less inclined to be active and to exercise. Children in hospitals have been found to recover from illness faster when a pet is introduced into the therapy session.
The Blind and other disabled person become more mobile with a trained Dog as a companion. The benefits of having a pet are obvious.

Yet, on the other hand, you will be able to see stories of cruelty to animals. You read about the senseless killing of Dolphins, Whales, Sharks, Monkeys, Bears and the list goes on and on. Habitats are being destroyed for the development (Note that the word used is not survival) of Mankind. The Orang Hutan and the Panda Bear, the Buffaloes and the Gorillas, almost all the animals from which Man can find an economic excuse for killing is endangered. No wonder mother nature is fighting back. Climate changes, Earthquakes and Storms, Floods and Landslides threaten the earth now. Mr. Al Gore, maybe you are a bit late ?

A friend sent me this website in which cruelty at it's worst is highlighted :-

http://www.mycen.com.my/rescue

On a lighter note here is short clip of a family of Chihuahuas enjoying dinner. I am not sure whether the owners are breeding them for sale but if anyone is interested send an e-mail to me at teewrex@rocketmail.com and I shall tie you up with the owners directly. You will understand why I cannot publish their e-mail addresses here. Aren't they cute ? And they only eat Tamales, Burritos and Tacos and sometimes they need a swig of Tequila . Aiyai yai caramba! You know I am jesting right ?


"Hey Rosita, com queek ! Down at the Cantina they're giving Green Stamps with Tequila !!!"

Adios Mi Amigos!