August 2007 – w w w . x e .s . c x

MERDEKA!

Happy Independence Day, Malaysia!
Although we know it only applies to the Peninsula Malaysia … ;D
Hope you had a good celebration, and looking forward to a well rested weekend, everyone!

Over dessert the other day, I realised how talkative I was, while my friend listened for most of the conversation. He made a comment or two, and then I’d continue on.
Once I realised I should allow him to do some talking as well, I made enquiries as to his family, love and social life, and everything else I thought he would be interested in. But he hardly volunteered any personal information about himself, keeping the conversation on a surface level.
It was at that juncture once again that made me realise how reserved some people can be, keeping a lot to themselves. Do they have difficulty in opening up?
Upon such realisation, I’d fumble over my conversation, wondering what to talk about next. Do I choose general topics under the sun and not get overly personal with the reserved one, or do I continue to be myself?
I think I open up too easily at times, even a stranger would be forced to hear about my period cramps for the day or something, if he or she made friendly talk! Hahaha, perhaps I never know when to shut up?
It does make me wonder, all the time, whether my friends who are so reserved, are my real friends indeed, when I don’t know much about them, no matter how hard I try.

My Nation 2007 – 30.8.2007

Venue: Sunway Lagoon
Date: 31.8.2007
Featuring Cosmic Gate (Germany), Drum Connection (Germany), The Trillseekers (UK), DJ Phynn (Netherlands), DJ Fendie (Malaysia), DJ Bobby B (Malaysia), DJ Desire (Malaysia).
Hmmm…DJ PVD or DJ Cosmic Gate or DJ MarketPlace or DJ Ratatooee..HMM
Related Links:
http://www.mynationkl.com/ for more information
xes.cx: Upcoming Events Section
xes.cx: HEINEKEN PRESENTS PAUL VAN DYK “IN BETWEEN” ALBUM TOUR 2007
Suanie – ZOUK did it again

Mr. Bobby

I had to call up Mr. Bobby at work the other day to chase for some documents my boss have been waiting for.
So I called up Reindeer Sdn Bhd and asked for Mr. Bobby. The receptionist passed the call to Mr. Bobby.
Mr. Bobby: Hello?
Me : Hi, Mr. Bobby! This is Bimbobum from Xec. My boss asked me to call you regarding the inspection for Rambo company?
Mr. Bobby: Huh? Rambo company?
Me : Yes. Remember? You were supposed to revert to us with an answer.
Mr. Bobby: Can you speak to one of my inspectors, please? Because I don’t do inspections.
Me : Er. But …
The call was then passed to a Cik Suraya.
Suraya: Hello?
Me : Cik Suraya? I’m calling regarding the request for an inspection on Rambo company. Actually, my boss, Mr. Buba, told me to liaise with Mr. Bobby.
Suraya: Oh, It’s OK. Speak to me instead. Did you send us a request in writing?
Me : CIK SURAYA (I was getting annoyed). The request was faxed to your company early August! We haven’t received a report from you!

Suraya: Oh? What company is it again? Rambo? Where is it located?
Me : Er, let me check the file again, please.
Suraya: I don’t recall any requests from your company…… what, Xec?
Me : Hang on, let me check the file first …… (I looked through the file and realised something was not right.)
Me : I’ll get back to you when I go through my file, Cik Suraya?
Suraya : OK, OK.
GUESS WHAT?
I was supposed to call a Mr. Bobby at another company, Rumdeer Sdn Bhd, and NOT Reinder Sdn Bhd.
What are the odds of getting someone by the right person, but the wrong company??
I never called Cik Suraya back. ;D

Chinese Ghost Festival – The Malaysian Way

Every ghost festival without fail, my mum and I would set up a little corner outside our house to burn our offerings to the Hungry Ghosts.
Our procedure is pretty simple – place our joss sticks and candles on the ground and there after burn the offerings to them. Offerings would usually be hell money, candies and fruits.
This year round, in light that I’ve been accused of promoting vice, I decided to do something different. I headed to our local Gods Material Shop and..
Me: Boss, do you have beer?
Boss: Yeah, Carlsberg?
Me: Yea
Boss: OK hold on.
Few minutes later.
Boss: Boy, no more Carlsberg. How about Guinness?
Me: OK sure.
Boss: you want XO (cognac) as well??
Me: OK
Another Boss: So long its liquor you want yea??
Me: Hell ya!!
Behold! Vice for the dead!!

444 literally means DIEDIEDIE

Cans of Guinness and Otard made from paper for the dead
My packet of Guinness and my bottle Otard cost me RM3.50 and RM3 respectively.

www.xes.cx in the newspaper!

The Star Newspaper finally published the story about the Smirnoff Two New Flavours One Launch Party @ Sanctuary, The Curve Shopping Centre which I attended with fellow blogges Shaolin Tiger, Suanie and Kimfluttersby. Many thanks to ThaiBoxingGirl, Kimberlycun & Mypartners for the publicity.

From The Star Newspaper

New flavours for vodka
By K.W. MAK

MALAYSIAN nightlife just got more exciting with the launch of the two new Smirnoff flavoured vodkas at the Sanctuary, The Curve last month.

The new flavours – Green Apple and Vanilla – were introduced during an exclusive party for Smirnoff enthusiasts.

“Smirnoff’s new lines of flavoured vodkas are highly versatile when it comes to mixing, and they are easy on the palates hence making it fun to drink,” said DIAGEO Brands Manager Shirley Chan.

An exclusive treat: (From left) Chan with the bloggers, Foong, Kim Ong, Suanie and Gareth.

“This distinctive characteristic will resonate most with young achievers who are adventurous and fun individuals, always on the lookout for new and original offerings.”

The signature cocktails concocted from the new flavours were Apple Breeze Martini, Pineapple Apple Dava, Vanilla Cola and Twisted Cream.
The crowd gave their thumbs up for the new flavours when the drinks were . Four bloggers that helped spread the word of the new flavours prior to the launch were also treated to an exclusive tasting session of yet to be released Smirnoff flavoured vodkas in the ice-room.
The chill in the room, at -15 degree Celsius, could not dissuade the bloggers from gamely posing for photos with the drinks.

The bloggers, Gareth (www.shaolintiger.com), Kim Ong (www.xanga.com/kimfluttersby), Suanie (www.suanie.net) and Foong (www.xes.cx), were treated to the full range of Smirnoff Vodka flavours of raspberry, citrus and orange.
[Note: ShaolinTiger is huge!!]

Vodka enthusiasts can look forward to the addition of all Smirnoff vodkas on the shelves of Duty Free Stores, major hypermarkets and night entertainment venues such as, Sanctuary, Zouk and The Loft (Asian Heritage Row). The retail price is RM145 for each 70cl bottle.

Dear Lawyer Xes

I received this via email the other day, and was wondering whether it is true. Please enlighten us. I’m sure we’d all want to know!

Something for us to know…..
I was talking with a lawyer friend of mine. We were discussing the law and women`s rights. She told me about this incident – a young girl was raped by a man posing as a plain clothes officer ; he asked her to come to the police station when she and her male friend didn’t have a driver`s license to show. He sent the boy off to get his license and asked the girl to accompany him to the police station. Took her instead to an isolated area where the horrendous crime was committed.
In fact, the law clearly states that between 6 pm and 6am , a woman has the right to REFUSE to go to the Police Station, even if an arrest warrant has been issued against her. It is a procedural issue that a woman can be arrested between 6pm and 6 am, ONLY if she is arrested by a woman officer and taken to an ALL WOMEN police station. And if she is arrested by a male officer, it has to be proven that a woman officer was on duty at the time of arrest.
It is good for us to know our rights. To what extent it comes of use remains to be seen in any situation. But as they say, knowledge is power.
Just thought I`d share this with you.

How? Can I drive off from a road block and refuse to go to the police station and then have them chase me home and arrest me and I’ll be forced to do nude squatting (and someone will record it on his mobile phone and it’ll be all over the internet)?

Being Called to the Malaysian Bar – Part II

Before one can qualify as a lawyer in Malaysia, he or she has to undergo pupillage of 9 months under a lawyer. Being called to the Bar would be the ultimate aim of a pupil.
Being called to the Bar is one of the biggest events of a lawyer’s life. It’s so big until one day remember it so well as if it were their birth date. Even lawyers who had been in practice for more than 20 years could remember the day they were called to the Bar. In this event, the pupil will appear before a Judge in open court to conduct certain formalities and friends and relatives will be in Court to celebrate the joyous moment.
Upon being called to the Bar, the pupil will be a qualified lawyer. It also marks the day where the pupil will no longer be in the bottom of the food chain and probably obtain a 100% increase in their salary (pupils in Malaysia earns around RM300 – RM1800 per month). It’s every pupil’s wish to be called to the Bar.
So, my colleague K is due to be called to the Bar tomorrow morning. After 4 years of hardship and 9 months being in the bottom of the food chain, he could finally see the light.
When I saw him in the evening, he screamed, “I’M GETTING CALLED TOMORROW!”
An hour later,
K: Dude, did you see the email from KL Bar just now?
Me: OH YEAH.

K: THEY’RE GOING TO POSTPONE MY LONG CALL OVER THE REHEARSAL!! A DAY BEFORE I GET CALLED! WTF!!!!!! \(*O*)/!
Related Links:
Former Miss Malaysia/Universe Elaine Daly called to the bar
Hon Wai called to the Bar

Bits of Facial Hair

Not many Chinese man have or can have bushy or “prosperous” facial hair, be it a goatee or a beard or a mustache. A friend of mine can only name George Lam as one of the few Chinese men with a thick mustache. I don’t know any other Chinese men with mustaches, besides my grandfather.

A chin beard, or a goatee can be neat on some men. I don’t think it’s an easy job to keep it trimmed neat!

It could turn out like this.
Which I find utterly disgusting. I don’t want no man with this goatee kissing me. Ugh!
(I think it looks like a nest.)

More often, I see Chinese men (or boys) sporting this, which I find equally a turn off. Ugh!
What’s that? A desperate attempt to grow a goatee or a beard? How can 10 strands of hair equal a goatee?
(Brother tried this and I just recoiled in disgust. It just makes a man look unkempt, that’s what I think!)
NB. Pictures are for illustrative purposes only. I couldn’t take pictures of my friends’ goatees, beards or mustaches for fear or offending them. ;D

ivN’s 25th Birthday @ Somo, Mt Kiara

It was supposed to be held at Vintry Wine Shop but the gang had to settle for Somo @ Mt Kiara after I accidentally booked the tables at Vintry for Saturday rather than Friday. Sorry mate!
Somo @ Mt Kiara is an alfresco Japanese restaurant which transforms into mabuk central after mid night. The food is so-so but the concept and atmosphere are excellent.
Just right after ivN finished his meal, he was served with a ‘sake bomb’ (a shot of sake with ¾ of beer). Thereafter, the bombing marathon started.

Flaming!
Angeline and I bought him a cake from Baskin Robin. It wasn’t really a cake, it’s actually an ice cream cone decorated into a clown’s face and hat. The guys at Baskin Robin gave us knife and candle as well!

l33t cake.

😀

The guys – making sure that ivN is OK.
Despite being bombarded with all sorts of liquor, ivN was still standing. However, he had to relieve himself at the toilet couple of times and once at the dinner table. Sow, the official barf bag holder, was at his service. Poor Sow had puke all over his hand. Hehe.

Sow

Sow – Official Barfbag Holder 2006 for my birthday

Sow on left with a blue plastic bag – my birthday 2003

ivN in action.

ivN thanking Sow for his excellent help.
By the end of the night, ivN’s brother came over to fetch the birthday boy home.
Happy Birthday n000b!!
Somo @ Mt Kiara
Unit 2B, Shoplex at Mont Kiara,
Jalan Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
Phone : 603-62010564
Fax : 603-62010573
Operating Hours :
Sun – Thu, 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Fri – Sat, 6:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.