My Prerogative

Mood     : Sleepy                                        Music     : "Crazy" by Simple Plan

Today, Adrian miraculously got up at 10 something in da morning. Took Cedric out for a hearty breakfast in Taman Tun at Restaurant O.K. Went around Bandar Utama and Damansara Utama santa clausing around Hiong Peng with him. Came home and watch Oprah Winfrey. Was getting kinda bored and restless so Cedric suggested we visit da gym at Celebrity Fitness. I thought that was such a good idea. Took him in and we did a really good hour of work out. Was still kinda early so I suggested we go watch movie. Was around 5pm and most of da shows begin after 6 EXCEPT for Harry Potter & Da Goblet Of Fire. Bought our tickets for da 5.50pm show. Pretty long movie as we got out at 8 something. Entertaining and great effects. Storyline was good but I’m guessing most of da ppl I know have already read da book. Nevertheless, still worth watching. Da kids have really grown up. Dun look like a kid show to me anymore as it gets pretty intense in this chapter. Received a call from Yvonne and she said some of da gang will be going to da bowling alley area to play pool. So, we stayed there a little longer. YAY, I won WEI SHEONG !!! So happy… Gosh, b4 I left, went and pay my parking ticket and it got up to RM7 with da new rates apply. That was INSANE to da max

Mood     : Happy                                        Music     : "Boyz" by Britney Spears

A beautiful sunny day indeed. Me, Kah Leong, Sean and Wei Sheong made plans to cut our hair today. All just recovered from exam fever therefore our hair all long like weeds liao. I took them to DRY CUT, my personal saloon. Wei Sheong wanted a change from Thomas & Guyz. Kah Leong never took his head to a saloon b4…seriously NEVER. Sean Sean, well his mom made him cut his hair so he tagged along. It is Monday and still there were so many ppl in da saloon. So we decided to do a booking while we relive our childhood dayz. Had so much fun stoppin at various toy shops seeing toys and everything. That was pretty fun. And so we went all over 1Utama liao and thought we really needed to sit. Went back to da saloon and sat there patiently for our turn. We went in as SWANS and came out as SWAN PRINCES !!! Aahaha…too bad non of us had a good camera with us. Or else we could have took da b4 and after shots. Sigh…:p

Mood     : Excited                                        Music     : "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor

Back to da mountain alrite. Today we embark on a CANOPY ADVENTURE, fear factor style. Our pick-up drive was late by 25 minutes. This time it was a four-wheeler. It seems that this canopy adventure is the one and only in Asia. We thought our adventure would begin when we arrive but instead, it already began along the journey. For starters, we sat behind da open air four-wheeler. Da chair was kinda disconnected therefore it was pretty shaky. It got better when we enter the forest as it was a muddy and bumpy ride. And I mean REAL BUMPY !

Even before reaching our destination, I had FUN already. And so we arrived and gosh, more mountain climbing to do. But 1st, we had to gear-up at da check-point. This time round, there were plenty of mossies. HUGE mossies. Finally, we reached our spot and there, this fine gentlemen gave us a preview and a little advice on how this activity works. Make it simple, is all bout GLIDING from one end of a platform to the other platform built on tall trees. And we were totally HIGH UP !!!

There were altogether 4 platforms being one longer and steeper than the other. Da experience was just amazing. Freaky and scary I must say but by the 2nd glide, you’ll get da hang of it. At the end of it all, you’ll just wanna climb back and do it all over again. There was also a hidden waterfall at da last platform for us to cool ourselves and relax. Da best part ? After all da tiring climbs, we were served cold watermelon and pineapple slices for refreshment !

Gotta be back at da resort by 3pm cause mom made a booking with da resort’s spa. We were 15 minutes late but thank goodness da lady was kind enuf to wait for us. And so, after all da scorching from yesterday’s snockelling and tiring mountain climbing, it was da perfect time to relax and pamper meself for 3 hours long of pure indulgence. Ooo…la…la ! My spa package includes a body scrub (pineapple yogurt), herbal steam, mineral milk bath, arometherapeutic massage (blend of ylang ylang and something else) and da grand finale, whitening facial !!! Slept like a pig till midnite after da spa cause of da essential oil.

I missed an important part of YESTERDAY’S activity. I forgot to mention bout our dining experience by da beach under da bright full moon. After much snockellin and swimming, one will be really hungry. And so, we scout for good restraunts by da beach and stumbled upon this shack that served good food whilst dining in a traditionally Thai set-up. It allows us to lie back and enjoy our dinner. We ordered steam fish, blue crab in coconut curry, mongolian hot pan pork and tom yam soup.

Da restraunt provided us with a complimentary bar of salads and fruits. That was a good starter as I get to mix olive oil, assorted vineger and herbs to go together with french bread. And there we were, enjoyin our meal by da beach watching da world go by. Is good to sit back and observe people and our surrounding. Still, da main highlight for me was starring into the starry starry nite !!! Have not seen anything like it in my life. Da moon’s reflection illuminating the ocean. Wow, no wonder ARIEL da little mermaid wanted to be human !

Mood     : Anticipating                                    Music     : "Under Da Sea" by Sebastian

Yesterday was bout mountain and forest. Well today, it is all bout da deep blue sea. Well not that deep anywayz as we were heading for a snockelling trip at KOH TAO a.k.a Turtle Island. By 7am we were already up like zombies eating our breakfast cause our driver from ACTION ISLAND would be picking us up at 7.30am. Reached da pier and again, we were served some light breakfast.

Da snockelling arena is situated in MANGO BAY, Koh Tao. Is an hour and a half long journey by speedboat. Da weather was perfect and da sea was really calm giving us a smooth journey to the island. On da way there, we saw flying fishes avoiding the waves created by da speedboat. That was pretty interesting as I really din’t know they could fly for REAL !!! Da rocks on da island were white and huge.

When we arrived at the island, we were amazed as to how crystal-clear da water was. Judging from da pictures you would probably think I was snockelling in a swimming pool. Mango Bay was just our 1st stop. There were plenty of FRIENDLY fishes there alrite but there were no corals unless I swim really far out to the darker part of the ocean. Da fishes just swim by you without caring bout your existence. They were pretty much more interested in da bread crumbs that we fed them with.

It was one of da best part of da trip swimming together with fishes all over. But there is still more to come at KOH NANGYUAN. It is a private beach resort and this place is made up of 3 different islands joined by white sandy beaches. But b4 that, we were given a free treat at a nearby bar b4 heading to our 2nd destination. We were served chicken fritters, tom yam soup, mixed veggie and omellette for lunch at THE ROCK BAR.

And so, we arrived at NANGYUAN ISLAND. It was truly a haven for snockelling and diving freaks. There were more colourful species of fishes here as well as huge corals. I had no idea I could snockel that well as I went pretty far into da ocean. Not because I was testing my ability but instead I wanted to see more. As you go further, you see more stuff under the ocean. And by da way, this is where I really got FRIED under da hot sun

At KOH NANGYUAN, we were also given da opportunity to climb da mountain at a particular view point to see da 3 islands connected with one another. But I was really having so much fun snockelling till we din’t have time for that. Besides, we were lazy to climb da mountain as it was hot and we had enough of climbing from yesterday’s waterfall trip.

It was finally time to leave da island and we reached KOH SAMUI at 4.30pm. Da journey back home was a little bit bouncy as it was windy and da waves were getting little rough. All in all, I had loads of fun eventhough I got scorched because it was an experience of a lifetime. Would probably go for another snockelling trip in da future. Gotta hunt for new islands. Perhaps, my next stop would be da GREAT BARRIER REEF or HAWAII ??? :p

Mood     : Happy                                            Music     : "Liquid Dreams" by O-Town

A brand new day with a whole new escapade ahead. Got up at 8am for a hearty breakfast. Loads of bacon and ham together with scrambled eggs. Da weather was great and I was really excited to capture great shots of da resort and island. While wating for my parents to finish their meal, I went out and took scenic shots of da surrounding and explore the beach area. There were many ANG MORS baking themselves under da hot sun.

After breakfast, we rented a jeep via the hotel’s tour desk and off we went for treasure hunt. They recommended us to rent bikes but it was kinda unrealistic for us since it is pretty dangerous and da sun was just freakin scorching. With my dad’s driving skill, mom’s "out of da world" sense of direction and armed with an unreliable map, we trusted our instinct to get to our destination. But first, we had to fill da jeep with gas. After minutes of driving, we couldn’t seem to find a petrol station. Suddenly, we spotted a small HUT that had da sign GASOLINE on it. Then we realized we actually passed by many gasoline huts along da way.

Our first destination was suppose to be bungy jumping BUT turned out that we were suppose to jump off a crane with a small wading pool underneath therefore we skipped that part. Laem Din wet market was just around da corner so we decided to make a stop there. Da market was quite clean and thankfully, we managed to spot a few stalls selling authentic Thai delicacies. Getting to the destination can be quite difficult since da map was misleading and da road signs are almost all over da place.

I was pretty happy to find out that Koh Samui has a few waterfall spots on the west side of the island. Na Muang Waterfall being the highest and famous spot. It is said to be 80m high. Had no idea it had 2 episodes, Na Muang 1 and Na Muang 2. Each waterfall area had an elephant trekking service for those who do not want to sweat themselves. Da waterfall was nice and cooling. Although getting there was a HASSELE. We really worked that thigh of us climbing up da tropical rainforest. There, we also discovered that soap carving using palmolive soaps can be quite common. Da carvings are extremely intricate. Me and my mom had to get one.

Since we had da jeep to ourselves for 24 hours, dad decided to take us for a complete island tour. Da scenaries were breathtaking especially when we drove uphill. Came home and took a good bath b4 strolling along da beach lookin for good food. Ended up, we found a cosy spot and sipped mocktail while watching da sun set. Da beach start to come alive with all da bars and restraunt lighted up. Because the sand was white, it was quite cooling when we walk on it barefooted.

Decided to go back to Laem Din wet market to eat our dinner since we wanted real authentic Thai food. Ordered Pad Thai and this interesting dish called pork knuckle rice. Ooo, it was good man. Oily and fatty. Along da way we spotted this uncle making something like popiah. He added chilli sauce, sotong bits, sweet sauce and sprinkling dunnowhat on a popiah-liked skin and we were really impressed and almost bought. Until he turned that skin and wrapped it like a pancake plus after walking to da front of da stall, we found out he was actually selling PANCRAP !!! We asked him what PANCRAP was. He laughed and said it was PANCAKE spelled WRONGLY !!! To me whatever he was selling does explain what PANCRAP was !!! I was so upset I did not take a picture of da stall cause my dad ordered and cancelled it which upsetted da uncle.

Mood     : Excited                            Music     : "Crazy In Love" by Beyonce Knowles

It was a beautiful Sunday mornin. I actually started packin my stuff like 6am b4 leavin for church at 9am. Church ended at 1pm. Took my lunch and was on my way to Subang Airport. Aunty Lena nad Uncle Chong sent us to da airport. Our flight was at 4pm. Gosh, Terminal 3 is so dead. Almost empty and there were not many people except for those who were travelling with us to Koh Samui. We flew with Berjaya Air and it was an interesting plane.

It was a 2 hour long journey. Thank goodness the plane served some refreshments and some light snacks. We arrived in Koh Samui at 6pm and da sky was already dark by then. Gosh, I was shocked to see da airport cause it looked nothing like an airport. It was exactly like a resort. I felt like a VIP cause we booked our accomodation online and it came with a pick-up service. Someone was already there waiting to send us to Chaweng Buri Resort.

So yea, da resort was a 25 minutes drive away from da airport. Pretty dark cause some of da roads were not litted up. Nevertheless, it was illuminated by da full moon and it was a pleasant sight. Arrived at our beautiful resort and imediately we were greeted with a nice welcome drink. I was very pleased with our accomodation. Just nice for a family of 3. Da place is surrounded by tall trees and decorated with flowers. Is like a resort lost in a jungle. So that was a pretty interesting concept. Oh,there are no tall buildings here in Koh Samui.

Settled down and did a little of unpacking and we were all ready to explore the town. Da towns are are all situated along coastal areas of da island. It wasn’t that busy and packed with people cause is low-season time. But still, there were a fair amount of tourists from different parts of da world. Walked thru da streets of Chaweng did some research with their pricing strategies and products they had to offer. Chaweng town is 7km long.

By da way, is my mom’s birthday today so we decided to have a feast. Walked around and ask for good places to eat and one of da locals pointed to this restraunt called the LONG TABLE. They serve excellent fresh seafood. Da price was reasonable so we decided to hop in and eat till our hearts content. Ordered charcoal grilled lobster & giant squid, thai style fried fish and mix veggie. To top it all up, we each ordered fragrant coconut. And YES, da coconuts there does live up to its name. Gosh, it was so sweet and fragrant !!! Again, everything is decorated with orchids.

Ironically, after we step out of da restraunt, we realized it was situated rite in front of our resort. I had a terrible flu today cause din’t have enough sleep the day b4 and there was a change of temperature on the island. So we did a little more walking to familiarize ourselves with da place and then headed str8 back to the resort to rest. Just realize there was a fruit basket in our room decorated with orchids.

Mood     : Mesmerized                         Music     : "Too Much Heaven" by Bee Gees

Island Paradise indeed. Koh Samui is really BEAUTIFUL. Lush green forest, scenic ocean view, white sandy beaches and coconut-filled landscapes. An island off the eastern coast of Mainland Thailand, facing the South China Sea. And by da way, orchids can be seen everywhere and anywhere. Compared to Phuket, Koh Samui is more stunning in terms of beauty. A place perfect to unwind and relaxation for family and couples. Nevertheless, the island does not fall short of adventures and interesting activities for those who seek excitement and thrill.

One can either travel by motorbikes or jeeps to get around the island. Although, it is strongly advisable to travel by foot or rent a bike cause of da lack of parking space due to narrow roads. Gasolines are sold in tanks or in bottles by da road side depicting a real hawker stall. The sun rises by 5am and the island itself comes ALIVE after the sun sets by 6pm. Time is one hour behind Malaysian time.

The people are exceptionally friendly and SMILES all da time. But BEWARE when it comes to dealing with any sellers as they can be quite deceitful. Negotiation of prices is done non-verbally through the use of calculators. Prices of goods are marked up way high and are usually 60-80% much cheaper. Unfortunately for shoppaholics, every shop sells ALMOST da SAME thing. There is NO variety. One will find many tailors named ARMANI…souvenier shops selling the SAME old beaded accessories and coconut-wood carvings. The SAME buddha painting can be found at every artist’s shop and da SAME design of branded imitations are in every corner and in betweens. Pirated vcds and dvds are a plenty.

Foodlovers like me will be a little dissapointed too since their delicacies are also limited. Pad Thai (fried rice noodle) is common together with their infamous tasty noodle soup. Fried or griiled chicken wings and balls are everywhere. Fruits are usually limited to watermelons and pineapples. Although there are also guava and mangoes occasionally. Still, the bright side of it all is their seafood. Very fresh and cheap lobsters, mussels, giant squids, large prawns and blue crabs. Mostly grilled slowly on top of redish charcoals.

Spas and traditional thai massages are common. One must scout for da right one, the most natural and authentic. Koh Samui has many beaches. Being the most happenin and lively are Chaweng Beach and Lamai Beach. Both situated on the east side where white sand and crystal-clear waters can be found. The island itself isn’t affected much by development and is really…really CLEAN. There are a lot of nice pedigree dogs roaming around the streets of Koh Samui. Da best part ? One wil not find or smell crap on da floor. They are so…so cute you just wanna grab them and bring them home.

Mood     : Exausted                                 Music     : "Stick With You" by Pussy Cat Dolls

My goodness, Marketing Law was TERRIBLY mind boggling. 3 hours and 30 minutes non-stop action. Textbook, unit guide, short notes, statutes, question paper, answer sheet and my stationary…was all in a mess on da table. PATENT was a God sent. TRADEMARK regarding TIGER was manageble lor. COPYRIGHT was all over da place. ANTI-COMPETIVE LAW was too long and many things to write…SKIPPED. INFRINGEMENT OF DRAMATIC WORKS was quite ok. Gosh, pretty INTENSE paper. Came out of da hall stunned and stoned. Went for an ok lunch and was ready to head for FRIM.

FRIM was YOGA and destressin of da mind for me. No worries and no noise. Just da sound of nature and cool water and breeze. Was my personal tine for meself to unwind. So upset canopy walk was closed though. Spent 3 hours there from 3-6pm. OH, a LEACH got between my toes and that was da freakiest and gruesome experience of my entire life. Disgusting to da max !!! Went back and all took a shower for a good time of fellowship in a restraunt near Ming Yang’s place in ss2. Food was good and da fellowship was ok. Then, we headed down to 1 UTAMA for some time of leisure. Arcade, Bowling and Poll. We really had loads of fun there. This is where we really laughed like crazee and screaming like there is no tomorrow.  Was tiring alrite having da fact that I stayed up from 6am till 2am. Nevertheless, was a great time for me to unwind from exam fever. Gosh, I have faught da good fight…I have won da race.

Mood     : Exstatic                                         Music     : "M.I.C.K.E.Y MOUSE" by Disney

Yay…finally found my honeymoon pic with Britney. Think we were at Disney World in Orlando Florida. She insisted we dress formal to meet Mickey and da rest of da gang. I think she over dressed for da occasion. And being celebrity couples, we’re alwayz under da spotlight. Disney even decided to let out fireworks to celebrate da occasion. If only I can RECALL what else we did there. Pretty vague. Probably due to my STM syndrom. Oh well, wonder where on earth the remainder of our pics are ? Any idea YVONNE ??? Chuckles…:P

Mood     : Happy                            Music     : "Stand Up For Love" by Destiny’s Child

Yay…finally management subjects are out of my life. Gosh…all da long winded theories and explanations. Giler betul. International Business is similar with International Management. Only one deals a lot more with culture while the other is more to da business environment and everything that affects it !!! So here are da questions I chose for da day. Same format…6 questions, choose any 4 in 2 hours time. Wahseh…today I sat rite at da back of da hall. F28 !!! My goodness :/

Question 1 - Matters need to be considered in da macro and micro environment factors.
Question 2 - Discuss the support and critism over the issue of MNCs.
Question 3 - Entry modes. Licensing, Importing and Franchising, discuss da pros and cons.
Question 4 - List some ways MNCs can control its overseas operations.

Wrote non-stop cause da questions are kinda elaborated which requires you to list a number of main points, explain further, give examples and show some critical analysis. Really no time to breath. After da paper, went straight to Miss Adlina’s room to check our internal marks and wow, we did very well in our 2nd group assignment. That was AWESOME man. In total, I accumulated 33/60% for da semester. Ooo, came home got lamb chop to eat. Gonna wait for DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES tonite to DESTRESS myself b4 working on MARKETING LAW with Cedric tomorrow onwards. Peace :p