Lembeh Straits - Manado

Back from Lembeh with many happy memories. Only problem is the getting there and back.

To those who have never been to Manado to dive, I really recommend it as there is so much to see on every dive.

Check out my piccies on my site: Lembeh

A BRUSH WITH FAME

I felt really good last week. Really good. I have always mantained that there is no such thing as an original idea. It is foolish and naive to even think we have an original idea, when we have more than 5 billion other people on this earth thinking and creating all the time. So why was I so happy last week?

My "original" idea won a CANNES GOLDEN LION! The award is likened to winning a Grammy Award or an Oscar, and the LIONS are one of the most coveted advertising awards in the world. Unfortunately, my client didn't think it was so, because they rejected the idea a couple of months ago when we made a pitch for another part of the Toyota business. The idea was destined to the rubbish heap, until the awards were announced last week. it seemed, that my idea was "stolen" from me, by the agency who did a series of ads for VW in Germany.

Sigh.. a momentary brush with fame, bringing me no reward except for the small reward of knowing that I was also capable of winning a major award. See the ads for yourselves..


Here is my ad..

This is the idea "stolen" from me! Grin!!

A NEW DIET

Ahh.. one finds the strangest muses. Things of exceptional beauty, of wonderful noise or of thrilling adventure. I found my muse in my hunger. Let me explain. Today is my inaugural day, starting a new diet. My objective is to lose at least 5 kilos, and take control of my body in a way I have never done before. All this Boot Camping I have been doing has raised my fitness levels and I feel my body getting stronger. However, I can still do with a few kilos shed of my mid section. Maybe there is a ripping six-pack hidden away under all that fat. So, I have signed up with Vince to do what is called "Metabolic Profilling". It's basically a diet which does a couple of things. First off, let me say that this is not a fad diet. Its a long term change in the way I eat and I should be better for it in the long term. Losing weight is a wonderful by product.

First, I takes into account the kind of metabolic profile you are. People are generally protein or carb efficient. Some do fall in between (that is a different story). This will tell you what to eat and what not to eat according to what your body is most effiecient in metabolising. What isn't metabolised gets stored! Secondly, it makes you eat healthier and more aware of what we consume. I guess McD's has lost my custom. Hahaha..

Anyways, I have decided to post my journal pertaining to my Metabolic Profiling diet here for all to see.

Day 1.
I find it very funny that I feel totally hungry all the time. The meals that I have eaten can be considered fairly large. Try eating 1 and one half cups of oats. Its pretty filling. Two hours later, I had an apple, and another two ought hours flew by when I had lunch which comprised of a healthy (1 cup) protion of rice, 2 cups of veg and some baked chicken breast. I once said, that I like my breasts in between satin sheets, and I guess my past has come back to haunt me. Then came the cellery sticks with a some peanut butter. OK. The point is, this more food than I normally consume anyway. A lot blander, but in term of volume, pretty compaarable to my normal diet. In fact, I felt absolutely fine when in Phuket on a recent business trip. Being awfully busy meant eating next to nothing for hours at end. And yet I did not feel the hunger I feel right now as I write this entry. Maybe its the water. We have to consume half a reservoir of water a day. More water than an average Kalahari Dessert dweller consumes in a month I am sure. Maybe the water does more than help the body remove toxins and such. As a side effect, the water actually makes our digestive system more effective, hence the quickening of our stomach's ability to digest the food available. I am most interested to see what come out of my rear tomorrow morning. If copius amounts of crap emerges, then I must be wrong in my assumptions. So I am hungry. Very hungry.

Incredible how time flies!

Its been a while since Chui and I returned from Bali. Much has happened since our return both on work and personal fronts. The biggest change has been time. Or the severe lack of it. So much to do so little time.

Ok, before I forget what I have been up to the last three months, here they are in point form:

* Bootcamp has become very hard.
* Siem Reap and Angkor Watt was a wonderful experience.
* I have much more on my plate now at work. Basically translates to more stress.
* We had to cancel our next holiday to Bangkok because of this.
* I will still be going to Manila with the boys.
* I modified my car.

When I find a little more time.. I will tell you a little more.

Bali Again

The last time we were at Bali, some bloody terrorists blew themselves, some locals and some tourists up! They blew away more than a few lives that time, because they also destroyed the already delicate peace found on the tranquil island. With many tourists staying away because of this, Bali is suffering. My guess is that the island depends almost entirely on tourism. Almost all Balinese are somehow or related to the business.

Chui and I were undeterred and went ahead with our second trip to Bali in three months. Moans of "sepi" ("quiet" in Bahasa Indonesia) reverberated in almost every conversation we had with the locals. Most of the slack is taken up by more domestic visits from Jakarta.. so all was not lost. But the hustle and bustle and the vigour was somehow missing. Even the traditional Balinese sport of bargaining is no longer conducted with as much will to win. It is not a fair game anymore because some vendors are getting a little desparate. And it wasn't that much fun for us either, since it did our conscience little good by taking advantage of their desparation.

But I have hope. Bali will bounce back, and that I am sure of it. To those reading this blog and have considered going to Bali but is too afraid, I laud you to put aside your fears and go. Afterall.. terrorist bombs can happen just about anywhere. Even in KL.