boon's log 2305.03: Multi-purpose Hydrant

IL and I were looking for a place to have our breakfast in Penang last Sunday and we've finally ended up at a coffee shop at Lebuh Tye Sin. As we were walking to the coffee shop, we were astonished how "creative" our folks can be... and I cannot help but fish out my K500 and take a snap shot of the "creativity".


Multipurpose hydrant

I'd imagine the additional work the firemen needs to do before able to plug in the hose in the event of a fire...

boon out...

boon's log 2305.02: Orvieto

Images of Orvieto, Italy.


Cobble-stone lanes along Orvieto's main streets


Colorful hand-painted plates


Saw this picture in the guide book and decided to take one just like it...
Torre del Moro (Moor's Tower)


Duomo di Orvieto, seen from the Orvieto mainstreet

boon out...

boon's log 2205.06: Reno-headache

Have been bogged down by renovation headaches these few weeks. Which contractor? Which ID (interior designer)? Which wall tiles? Which floor tiles? Which door? Which faucet? Which sink? Which color? Granite top or solid top? Which Fridge? How many litres (referring to the fridge)? How many powerpoints? The list goes on...


War zone...

Gosh, the color selection is the one that is really bugging me now. We've selected one particular color ("O") as our focal point for the living room, but selecting the supporting colors for the rest of the walls is really killing me.

Worst still is that the color charts are not really helping, because everyone knows that the color that you see on the chart is not the one that you will see on your wall! According to Andy, our main man - de contractor (also church member), some of the colors will be slightly darker, by about 5-10%. How would I know which ones will end up 5-10% darker? Went to the paint company website and did my own mix and match and here is what we ended up with...


Which Color?!

"O" is our focal point color. We almost ended up with option "F" for the supporting color, but after much thought, we've decided to go for either "A" or "D" - to avoid having too green a room. So, we are now stuck with either "A" or "D". Sigh... tau tia la (headache, in hokkien)...

boon out...

boon's log 2205.05: Carrie Underwood is 4th American Idol

Managed to catch the delayed forecast of the 4th American Idol last night. I think they've (Fox) out done themselves this season. I enjoyed this season's 2-hour finale more than the previous ones.

I honestly think that Bo Bice is a slightly much better singer than Carrie, especially towards the end of the season. I think that he has a better control of his voice (notes) and he can carry a tune better as compared to Carrie. If you'd watch the last night's program, you can see (or hear) that when Carrie was singing her 1st Single "Inside Your Heaven", you can observe that there are many "flaws". I believe both of them are great singers, no doubt about it, but if you ask me, I enjoyed watching Bo performing with Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Sweet Home Alabama") more than Carrie doing "Inside Your Heaven". But I guess personality wise, Carrie may have the upper-hand, and also having a sweet face to go with the voice. But voice wise, it's got to be Bo.

Anyway, with all said and done, it was an interesting season, with a short comeback clip of William Hung - that was nice. And having Kenny G, Babyface, George Benson and Lynyrd Skynyrd was a nice touch. And of course, I guess the most memorable thing about this entire season has to be the (*drum roll*) Singing Psychic with her rendition of Elvis' "Can't Help Falling" and also the Estatic Mom (who fainted).

Looking forward to the next season.

boon out...

boon's log 2205.04: Lurve Cactus

The Lurve Cacti - made for each other - and the lone ranger

When you are in a relationship where everyone else in your family says it is a wrong thing to do - what would you do?

It's been quite sometime since you broke up with your previous love and you think that you've finally bumped into the person that you possibly may spend the rest of your life with. Ideas that he/she may be the one and the both of you are made for each other. The problem is - the folks at home disagree to it and starts to throw insults at the person for reasons which you think are rather unreasonable (but to them, they think that they have a point), for example, your "other half" has lower qualifications than you, or your "other half" smokes like a chimney (but you don't really mind, 'cause love is blind...), or your "other half" is a divorcee, etc., etc. - what would you do?

No, I am not having problems with my relationships. Just that one of my colleagues in the work area just stepped into something like that. Problem is that she already knows that her family is against the relationship before they got serious, but I guess the forces of nature arejust too strong for her such that before she knew it, she was totally sucked into it and it just got too serious (in terms of feelings, I mean).

Inevitably, this would have a huge impact in one's life. Like the Chinese saying, "the flesh of your palm and the flesh on the back of your palm are the same", meaning, on one hand is your family whom you love, and in the other is the person whom you really want to spend more time to know and understand. To a certain extent, this has caused the individual to be not as cheerful a person as she used to be - looking blank and blur most of the time, so much in her mind and ignoring (unkowingly) her friends and colleagues - so much so that they (her friends) are avoiding her, giving her space to think.

It's tough, and I guess the question on what should one do in circumstances like these really depends on the individual. Some of the tough questions in life.

This has been going on for almost a month and it is still in the same state as it was when it all started. But I guess if you really think that he is the one and is worth it, then you should square it out with your family that it is your life and you are choosing some to the the rest of YOUR life time with - not THEIRS. But this also means that if everything screws up in the end and they (your family was right), then you are also screwing up your life, and your family does not want that. That's why, you need to be mature in this situation, step out of the "love circle" and see from the outside point of view and try to see it from their view. And more importantly, pray hard that you are not making a mistake. :) It's truly sad when a relationship has to go through this path. To some extent, you'll be thinking whether the both of you are really made for each other...

boon out...

boon's log 2205.03: Sorrento, Italy

These are some images that we took while in Sorrento, Italy.


Sorrento by night. (Nearly got chased by a police officer for obstructing traffic)


Scenic view of Sorrento, Italy.

Really lovely place, Sorrento is. (oops... a little Yoda influence there, I see... (opps! there I go again...))

boon out...

boon's log 2205.02: Pray...

Amalfi Coast, Italy

boon out...

boon's log 2105.05: Credit Card for your Kid?

It's Friday. Was stuck in a horrible jam this morning - thanks to Penang's finest road systems (from 2 lanes to 3 lanes to 3.5 lanes back to 2 lanes again. And then there has to be a lorry or truck stalled on the left most lane and further reduces it to ONE lane... excellent. Truly Penang's Finest!).

Over on Light and Easy, there was this lady (Christine, I think) who wrote-in to trigger a discussion on whether to issue a supplementary credit card to her 14-year old son! Then, there was one caller who called in and (almost shouted) "That's a Joke!!!"

Well, I had to agree with him - it is truly a joke. What would a 14 year old kiddo do with a credit card? Buy Pokemon trading cards? Buy curry mee at the school tuckshop?

To begin with, how much credit limit should we give the little fella? RM50? RM200? RM500? My goodness! The guy further questioned, "What's next? Getting married at 14??" Good one, dude.

Christine further mentioned that her son's matured and his friends are having it. Gosh, since when has Malaysians fallen into this extreme Kiasu-ism? What if Christine's son's friend brings a condom in his wallet - will she go out and get her one as well? It's a question of whether he is ready for it or capable of handling it...

Okay, let's look at this more diplomatically:
1. Why does he need a credit card? Can't he just live with the daily allowance that he is given everyday?
2. Having a credit card will increase the security level of the kid - people might just do anything to the kid just to get the credit card. "Anything..."
3. If he simply uses the credit card - what will the parents do? Punish him? But, hey, THEY are the ones that gave it to him in the first place!

I agree with the guy caller - He should get his credit card when he starts to earn a living and when he is more responsible and stable not when he is still in Secondary School and living out of Daddy's pocket...

What this world is coming to... demanding children and irrational parents. Everyting is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.

Anyway, on a different note, here are some pictures taken while we were at Pompei, Italy. :)


Pompei: Interesting stone carving


Streets of Pompei


The newer Pompei

boon out...

boon's log 2105.04: Dopey Diaries May '05 (post grooming)

Here are some irresistable images (at least, that's what we think) of Dopey after his grooming session last weekend! We could barely recognize him when we went to pick him up. He reminds me of those bouncing-head-thingy on some of the car dashboards...


Dopey Diaries May '05

We tried a new groomer for Dopey this time. It's been tough looking for a groomer for Dopey. He was quite resistant to the current groomer, at first - snarling and all that. According to him (the groomer), it must have been the previous groomer who scared him somehow - so whenever people approach him for grooming, he will retaliate. Which may be true, because when we took him back from the previous guy, his (Dopey's) left eye seemed to be injured (reddish, with a streak of bloodish artery).

We had to be there this time, at the grooming center, to assure the poor fella that this new groomer is okay and that he is a "friend" and not "foe". Goodness, it was so dramatic in the grooming center (and embarassing as well!!!) last weekend, I tell ya. We were called back to the grooming center after we've left him there because no one could get him to budge out of the "waiting cage" when it was his turn to be groomed, except us. And he was snarling and barking when others tried to approach him. Pai seh... pai seh... After we're there for a while with him and the groomer - he was better and we let the groomer go on with the grooming. I guess we'll just have to bring him there more often and familiarize him with the environment and the groomer so that he won't "retaliate" the way he did last weekend.

boon out...

boon's log 2005.02 (supplementary A): IC Renewal by Race/Religion (???)

Heard a very interesting story from my colleague recently regarding the JPN (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara) and how the officers in JPN work. After hearing to what she and her cousin encountered and the unfair treatment received during their visit at the JPN, I've helped her draft an email to The Star. Here is the excerpt...

To The Editor of the Star
I went to renew my IC and upgrade to the new MyKad 2 weeks ago at the JPN Branch at Sungai Ara, Penang. I took my number and waited like everyone else that was there to renew their IC.

After having my picture taken, I was disappointed when I was asked to return another day due to the computer system was down. I was appalled when the officer told me that the computer system was down for non-muslims. They can only process Muslim application on that day.

I went home and did a further check and discovered what the officer told me is quite impossible, as the computer is not limited to certain races. After discovering this fact, I am further disappointed when I think back on the response I received from the JPN Officer.

I have been told about issues where JPN officers claimed that the computer systems were down, but in actual fact, they weren’t – but never thought that I would experience it first hand. I think to myself, how can we progress with this sort of mentality still lingering around within the public services?

Interesting operating structure we have in our government offices... Our hypothesis on the reason for the respond given by the particular officer was that there has to be a pull-down menu somewhere in the "e-form" whereby the officer will need to select the "race" and "religion" every time for every applicant. Perhaps, in order to promote work-life-effectiveness and convenience, the selection is made once-and-for-all, for the "race" and "religion" for multiple applicants that follows - for faster service, perhaps(!!!), thus they can only process "muslim" applications that day...

With that hypothesis, assuming that we are correct, we then further forecast that, in the future, there may be specific days that are allocated for each race/religion. If you are Chinese and a Buddhist, please com on Thursdays; if you are Indian and a Christian, please come on Saturdays.

boon out...

boon's log 2005.02: Colorful Balls...

Colorful balls...

Our department went on a bowling teambuilding last weekend at the Megamall Pinang over in Prai. Took this while waiting for my turn.

boon out...

boon's log 2105.01: Cool car...

Cool car(or is it?)... Chevy SSR

How come Malaysia do not have these sort of cars? I was really amazed and fell in love with this "pick-up" when I saw it in Anthem, Arizona. It is still classified as a "pick-up" though. But check out the specs on this little "devil" and you'd be convinced that it's gonna be one cool drive!




boon out...

boon's log 2005.01: Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese by night

boon out...

boon's log 2005.01: Relocated...

Relocated to my new cubicle today. Nothing much has changed, SSDC (a spin-off from Dreamcatcher's SSDD) where C=cubicle. Somehow, my boss thinks that my previous cubicle is too far away from him - interesting, it can be mean good or bad... time will tell. :)

So much has happened since I last really blogged. I still have piles of images from our Euro-trip last year. Like the following... I actually planned to post this sometime ago - when he was still very much alive. Now, His Holiness has already gone back to be with the Lord. But we managed get the chance to catch a brief glimpse of him before he was called "home"... We were there on Christmas morning when he was giving the Christmas blessings at the podium in St. Peter's Square, instead of his normal practice which is out of the window due to his poor health state.


Pope John Paul II

More of St. Peter's Square...


Mickey at St. Peter's Square?


St. Peter's Square
boon out...

boon's log 1905.03: New Home...

Sunflower Garden, Changi International Airport, Singapore

Finally found a new (temporary) home for my images. Will see how the service is and decide later whether I would want to extend my "stay" there. (SIGH!) So, some of the images (especially the recent ones) have been revived from their X-ed state. :) Will be posting some more images later... stay tuned.


Indoor Japanese Garden, Changi International Airport, Singapore

boon out...

boon's log 1905.02: It's been a while...

Just got a call from Chuwy. My first response to him was, "Dude, either you are going to have long life or you are really prophetic (in a way)!" because I've just been thinking about the both of them, last evening - Chuwy and Woonie. Have been wondering how they have been doing and was about to give them a call for lunch. Then, he went, "We wondering what happened to you-lah, no news, no calls, no blog..."

Anyway, in response to the "prophetic incident". I decided to dig up my blog and pen in a few words and also to add in my buddy woonie's webspace...

And upon arriving at my very own boonspot, I discovered that all the images were X-ed! Still looking for another space to store my pictures... So, I would beg your pardon for the X-es in this website at the moment. Will fix 'em.

boon out...