Bangkok in May

The SMT (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand) management team invited me to their management meeting in Bangkok from 24th to 27th May 2009. Miki Abe was also invited, making both of us the only non SMT personnel from an operational perspective.

I arrived on 23rd on an afternoon flight - with a face mask all the way from KLIA to Dusit Thani where I was to stay. You can never be too careful with the H1N1 (otherwise called influenza A) rapidly spreading around the world. For many of the confirmed infections in Asia, it looks like the primary source of infection is from the USA.

First thing on 24th morning was to take a cab with Miki to Novotel hotel in Siam Square as the rest of the team were there and the Sales and Support team had started their meetings a few days earlier. Both of us were to be briefed on some of the commitments of that meeting in preparation for the Support meeting in the office from Monday onwards. The meeting took up the whole morning and when it was over, we did a bit of team building by visiting Chatuchak market. All of us took the sky train, getting off at Mo Chit station.

Just as we arrived at the Chatuchak market entrance, it started raining cats and dogs. All I want to say is - NEVER visit Chatuchak market in the afternoon after a heavy downpour. It gets all humid, steamy, sticky and impossible to walk around comfortably. In short - it's a bloody SAUNA. I honestly can't see why the ladies go ga-ga over the market. It's like about a hundred shops selling more or less the same stuff for each section. For example, the pets corner (budgies, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc) are in one section. Then there are the fake flowers and all the accessories in another. Food is mainly found along the main pathways (not the narrow ones within the market complex). Another section would have jeans and yet another arty farty stuff.

I would just leave you with the sights of some of the stuff we saw. Didn't take any inside as it was hot, humid and really uncomfortable.

Besides all the foodstuff, there were also quite a number of buskers.

Most are just young kids and some are physically handicapped. Just out to make a few bahts.

After Chatuchak, we went for a spot of Thai massage - not the hanky panky stuff. This was the real bone cracking, muscle tearing stuff. I just cannot resist putting in this photo of a massage place that is next to Novotel hotel. We did not patronize them. I wonder if the name was intentional or accidentally on purpose?? All I know is that after 2 hours of genuine Thai massage, almost every muscle in my body was pinched, pulled, elbowed and generally tortured. My back was red and sore for 2 days. But by the third day, it felt good!

As I leave for home, I can't help thinking - after all these times, the problems facing the Support teams are still more or less the same

Baby in the house!!!

After taking 2 months of maternity leave, Madeline has to go back to work since last Monday. BB Justin was supposed to be cared for by a babysitter in the same apartment block that she stays in. At the last minute, it was discovered that the baby sitter was also caring for another 1 year old. Concerned that the 1 year old may inadvertently hurt BB Justin, Madeline asked if we can look after him.

My mum was hesitant coz her own mobility is suspect. She was supposed to have a knee operation this month but that has now been deferred because her heart was enlarged and her blood pressure was borderline. In the end, my wife reluctantly agreed. Reluctantly because it has been 11 years since we had a baby in the house. A lot of things needs to be re-learned!

One week's gone by and BB Justin is now a regular feature in our house.

Grow, young man, grow!!

Mother's Day 2009 and others

Friday night, I get a few SMS to both my mobile phones by Elaine C. Frantically looking for a sympathetic ear for some personal problems. Unfortunately, due to a late night teleconference, I had one phone on silent mode and forgot to put it back to normal. My other phone was charging and when it is charging, it has a habit of disconnecting from the network. So I did not see the messages until Saturday morning.

Managed to get a gist of Elaine C's problems by then. All I can do is advice her as she does not want me to approach one of the people who is pissing her off.

Then Teng's daughter had her pre-wedding dinner at home and we were invited. It was open air and buffet. With the hot spell we are currently having, we came away from the dinner all sticky and sweaty. I hope the wedding dinner next week is cooler.

Sunday was Mother's day and I had 4 mums for lunch at Purple Cane, The Gardens. Thanks to Elaine C for reminding me to reserve a table as most places were full due to families eating out for Mother's day. There was my mum, my mum-in-law, new mum Madeline and Alex's mum for the lunch, together with Vincent and yours truly.

Maybe it's the weather, but I really feel tired this weekend.

Another friend and colleague lost to cancer (Updated)

I have just been informed that Chong Soo Aun has passed away due to Lung Cancer!!. Been working with Soo Aun in HP/Agilent for many years. I hear that he had been misdiagnosed with Tuberculosis for a persistent cough. By the time they diagnosed him with lung cancer on Sunday morning (3rd May), it was too late. He passed away in the afternoon/evening.

Soo Aun - Rest in peace.

Soo Aun passed away at the prime of his life at 38. He leaves behind his wife, his son John (8) and daughter Jessy (4). The funeral services were held at his house on 5th May at 10.30am. Soo Aun had accepted Christ on Saturday 2nd May and the funeral services were in accordance with Christian practices.

After the funeral services that were conducted in his house, all of his relatives and friends who came to say their last farewell adjourned to Fairy Park in Klang where another service was conducted before his remains were placed in an incinerator for cremation.

We bid farewell to a likable and friendly colleague of many years. Khor Ah Key and Sam represented the company for the funeral.

Collection of events

Seem to have writers block at the moment. Not sure what i want to blog about.

1. Is it because of the economic situation that i am feeling somewhat low? I have actually asked my manager to VSS me off, but he turned me down. Maybe I'll try again this coming Wednesday when i have my regular teleconference with him. I think there is a lot more that I can contribute (even to the company) by being outside and not constricted by my current job assignment.

2. A friend of the family passed away on May Day. She was only 56. My mum used to work for her parents and later on her eldest sister. Her parents were kind enough to let us stay in their house when my mum was working there, unlike some "relatives" that I have. Upon reflection, I should have gotten to know them a lot more since I started my working life. As I listened to the Eulogies at her wake yesterday, I realize that I know them, and yet I don't. I like what her nephews and niece wrote on their facebook - they mourn her death and they celebrate her life. Siew Lin - rest in peace!

3. Can't really pin down a date, but I have finally recognized Elaine C as my second God daughter. This has been 2 years overdue. Took her for lunch and a foot and shoulder massage for her birthday.

4. Elaine C introduced me to Qiu Xiaolong, a Chinese author who now resides in the States. He has a series of detective novels revolving around Inspector Chen. What makes his stories interesting is that he liberally sprinkle doses of Chinese history into his novels. Still on Red Mandarin Dress at the moment. And the link needs to be updated. He has a new novel - The Mao Case. Elaine C seems to be learning a lot more about China, Mao and the Cultural Revolution from these novels.

5. During my visit to Penang last December, I bought all 7 seasons of Monk, a TV series featuring Adrian Monk, an ex-detective who has a serious case of OCD. Only started viewing them recently and I am now into season 5. In the States, season 8 is the final and ending season. Watching too much Monk can be infectious. You can start to develop symptoms of OCD!! Be warned. It's a jungle out there...........

Now- how shall I ask Brian for a VSS package??