4 Nights in Bangkok...

Funny enough, whenever people mentioned "I am going to Bangkok...blaa blaa blaa..." and the immediate reaction from people around you is "Wah! so lucky...got to go there..." as in some hanky panky is bound to happen especially if you are a men.

Soon after, there will be people walking pass your cubicle giving you this sinister smile. What the Fcuking hell! What's wrong with these people...is Bangkok such a bad place or should I say heavenly nice place that everyone is eager to go and have a hell of a good time?

I've been there for months before for a project and don't really find such a huge magnetic force pulling me...it is just another Asian city for goodness sake. I love Thailand and Bangkok city, the friendly people, rich in culture and food etc. But ... come'on don't just keep on wondering wild with your imagination.

I've just returned Friday evening...getting ready to hear what the same group of people got to say on Monday. Oh please...I hope no more unnecessary crap from anyone after all I am just there for business meetings and conference...do I have to stop by PatPong I & II and catch some juicy story to entertain there twisted brains' desperados?

Maybe not...who give a toss of what they may say. My standard reply shall be "AirAsia is bloody cheap...go get a ticket and find out yourself and stop bugging me!"

Still....not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow morning...it is going to be damn busy for the next 3 weeks. May have to be in three different Asean cities in three different weeks. Oh man! Pai Meah! (Ill fated in Hokkien).

Have You Seen These Missing Girls?

A colleague sent me the following mail forwarded by his church's friend:

> > PLS HELP........
> >
> > Dear Friends
> >
> > My sister has lost two of her lovely daugthers last Sunday and we
> > are very desperate to find them. therefore I decided to forward out
> > the mail to all my friends and would appreciate that you can give us
> > a helping hand.
> > My nieces' details:
> > Sarah Lai WanJun, 13 yrs old, about 160 cm.
> > Cory Lai Kai Li, 8 yrs old, about 130cm.
> >
> > Pls forward out this mail with all the pictures attached and keep a
> > look out if you have seen any of them.
> >
> > A million thanks to all.
> >
> > Regards
> > Diddy Lim
> > 96986990

Please help if you happen to see them in public places...

Angel Cakehouse - SS 2

This blog is dedicated to a responsible staff at the Angel Cakehouse at SS 2 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. (This is one of the states in a country called Malaysia - for foreigners whom may not know PJ or Selangor... and it is in South East Asia)

I have ordered a cake from this particular outlet about a week ago for my daughter's 3rd birthday celebration at her kindergarten. Nothing fancy, just a vanilla flavoured sponge cake that cost RM 90. My daughter likes Barbie in princess attire hence I have asked specifically for a computer/digitally printed graphics with Barbie in princess gown.

All done and fully paid for but the actual pickup is one week later. I have checked the claim receipt to make sure no spelling mistake and correct pickup date.

One week passed in a whizz and it was the night before her birthday. As usual, I left my cellphone on the dressing table and glued to the Square Box for the rest of the night. It was 2 a.m. and time to hit the bed...I routinely took the phone and pluck into the charger and noticed a couple of missed calls registered. Fcuk! I thought what kind of emergency that this caller needs to dial so many times...a quick check and found out that the same number not recognized. Must be wrong number I thought and go straight to bed. (NOTE: I usually programmed/timed the cellphone to silent mode after office hour...otherwise, the phone could end up thrown out of the windows...)

The next morning, same number called again apparently for another 5 times from 7 - 8 a.m. when I was busy playing with the children and getting ready to send my daughter to her kinddie.

Finally, on my way to work around 9-ish I managed to talked to the caller...she worked for Angel Cakehouse in SS2...she sounded so excited and panting but calmly informed me that they are unable to print the digital image onto the cake and would like to apologies and asked if I would change that to a hand-painted picture. I was shocked and realized that she was trying to call me from her own cellphone to inform me this since last night.

I was running late and was concerned that I may not make it to my daughter's party at 10:30 a.m. Naturally, I asked for the easiest and quickest hand-painted picture on the cake....A Mermaid in colourful jelly. Oh...What the heck! the children will love it.

Luckily, all went well and I managed to beat the traffic and the party was excellent...no one knew what is the original picture anyway. Come to think of it, I would not even bothered to have any pictures at all on the cake but just the happy birthday xxxx.

I think the staff deserves a pat on the back for being so dedicated to her job. Well done! I am sure she would do well in not so distance future.

Road Tax Reduced!

One colleague of mine told me that he has received a SMS citing that Malaysian Road Tax has been reduced in the light of the increasing petroleum prices.

Bas Sekolah (School Buses) - Only RM 2.00
Private Vehicle (under 1600 cc) - 50% reduction from the old tariffs

And that's it. Just as I was about to jump in joy...no mention about anything above 1600 cc, lorry, diesel cars etc. WTF...is the government trying to punish those who can afford bigger capacity cars yet again?!!!

Guess we just have to wait until the official press release and announcement. In the meantime, just have to hold my breathe and wait....

Cold Hearted Employees Treatment In Singapore

I have not been writing much lately partly due to the busy work schedule and the recent change in the organization that I belong to.

Our Managing Director, the business leader that my boss reports to has been fired! And the notice is just one day...one minute he is talking with some managers and moment later we received the memo from the Chief Executive a.k.a. The God of Asia that this guy whom has been with the company for the past 17 years is no longer with us. Another director has taken the role as interim MD until we can find a proper replacement.

The ex-MD was based in Singapore married to a Singaporean Chinese wife and a couple of mixed Caucasian-Chinese kids. Naturally, the emotion within the division was mixed as most have worked with him for many years. My boss and I were kinda neutral as both of us came from the other merged UK-based parent company.

The fact of the matter that touches people's heart was that it happened so quickly and 'heartlessly' that no one saw it coming. Especially at such high speed for a senior position like this.

No doubt the change may have a positive effect to the company as a whole because this ex-MD was seen as not performing under the merged business entity and replacing him is inevitable. But, not in ONE day! And apparently, in Singapore it is not really a big deal firing one's ass with out a warning or sort. That is the reason why many MNCs like to set up regional HQ in this island nation just in case they need to kick some expensive expatriate's asses.

Very unlike Malaysia where the Labours Law will always favour the employees. Not easy to sack someone especially without going through proper procedures and serving enough notices and fulfilling all sort of conditions to avoid being counter sued for unlawful dismissal.

I think one lesson learned for people happened to fall under those categories where big fat pay and ridiculously huge remuneration packages were offered initially by any MNC should look through their employment contract very carefully to have some form of employment protection not to be dismissed without proper compensation.