And it is right now at RM1.62 per litre, an increase of 10 sen. Yes, petrol. Excellent Sunday morning news. Gone up 20 sen the past 9 months, that's 14%. My salary definitely did not increase at that scale, but then again, how many companies can keep up with the cost of living?
Diesel users are more unfortunate. An increase of a grand 50 sen the past 14 months; 20 sen increase of which came into effect midnight. Soon, diesel's gonna cost the same as petrol.
But, it does look like consumers can do nothing at all about it. Well, at least I couldn't. My tank was empty, I had to fill it by hook or by crook.
You know that this makes the disparity between the lower-income earners and the higher-income ones an even bigger one?
If only our dear PM stops being so secretive and do more PR, maybe his citizens can understand what's going on behind the scenes and not blame so much.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Have you flipped thru the papers this week?
It's filled with pages and pages of things to buy! Furniture, clothes (Topshop's on sale!), houses, apartments, and even Guardian's on sale!
To indulge in self-pity once again, I've to be stuck home studying and can't lavish myself in the Mega Sale :(
An odd thing I noticed in the papers and a thought that just flickered by my mind : London's experiencing mini explosions and mini tornados. Eerie how JK Rowling depicted all these into the 1st chapter of Half-Blood Prince.
And now, after all these rubbish thoughts, I've to start on my studying. Ta!
It's filled with pages and pages of things to buy! Furniture, clothes (Topshop's on sale!), houses, apartments, and even Guardian's on sale!
To indulge in self-pity once again, I've to be stuck home studying and can't lavish myself in the Mega Sale :(
An odd thing I noticed in the papers and a thought that just flickered by my mind : London's experiencing mini explosions and mini tornados. Eerie how JK Rowling depicted all these into the 1st chapter of Half-Blood Prince.
And now, after all these rubbish thoughts, I've to start on my studying. Ta!
Friday, July 29, 2005
Getting excited about the trip. Going to be staying at my client's place in Likas - The Likas Business Suites. It's out of town, but it's ok, got car rental.
Actually, a bit worried that I won't be able to finish running around the government agencies, planning dept, land dept, property dept, engineer, architect, etc. in 3 days. But, I guess I'll just have to try.
The news and pictures in the papers of floods and trees falling on cars in KK are not helping either. So, I shall pack a raincoat and umbrella.
But, I'm excited. From the photos I've seen of KK town, it looks positively out of the 70's. I'll take lotsa pics back :)
Monday morning 5 a.m. cab picking me up to KLIA - gr...oan...
Actually, a bit worried that I won't be able to finish running around the government agencies, planning dept, land dept, property dept, engineer, architect, etc. in 3 days. But, I guess I'll just have to try.
The news and pictures in the papers of floods and trees falling on cars in KK are not helping either. So, I shall pack a raincoat and umbrella.
But, I'm excited. From the photos I've seen of KK town, it looks positively out of the 70's. I'll take lotsa pics back :)
Monday morning 5 a.m. cab picking me up to KLIA - gr...oan...
Monday, July 25, 2005
Heading to Kota K
I've spent the past 2 hours trawling the net for accommodation in Kota Kinabalu. Going there for work assignment next week. Unfortunately, there's very few reviews of hotels in KK! :( Dun really wanna end up in somewhere Geylang-like :P
Quite excited about heading to East M'sia - never been there. So I'm looking forward to the 2-1/2 hours flight. And due to the nature of my work, I've gotta rent a car when I get there. Found out from the car rental agency there that most people there drive manual cars. So, he had to search for half a day before he could get an automatic transmission one for me :P RM100/- per day for a little Kenari.
3 days in Kota K. E-eeearly morning flight next Monday, and arriving back to KLIA on Wednesday late night.
Even more happy news - my MSc exams are 6 days after that. Oh no.
Quite excited about heading to East M'sia - never been there. So I'm looking forward to the 2-1/2 hours flight. And due to the nature of my work, I've gotta rent a car when I get there. Found out from the car rental agency there that most people there drive manual cars. So, he had to search for half a day before he could get an automatic transmission one for me :P RM100/- per day for a little Kenari.
3 days in Kota K. E-eeearly morning flight next Monday, and arriving back to KLIA on Wednesday late night.
Even more happy news - my MSc exams are 6 days after that. Oh no.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Avillion, Port Dickson
The best resort in PD has to be The Avillion!
We stayed at the Garden Chalet. They've got a 4-poster bed (so romantic), and timber sliding doors that open out into the bathroom. The Water Chalets are sited on stilts overlooking the Malacca Straits and you can wake up to the sound of waves crashing (not for paranoid me). But, we did spend a couple of hours sitting in one of those rest areas on the stilts looking out to sea while reading (or trying to read - I was just looking out at the boats / ships in the distance, ensuring they don't overturn or sink, the first sign of which I'll run straight for shore).
They've got 3 pools - for kids, the normal family one, and best of all, the adults' only one. The adults' only pool is called the Cochin pool - opened 24 hours, very private and with no kids getting in the way of your laps. By far the best pool I've ever been in - maybe because we were the only ones there.
It was truly truly a beautiful weekend :)
We stayed at the Garden Chalet. They've got a 4-poster bed (so romantic), and timber sliding doors that open out into the bathroom. The Water Chalets are sited on stilts overlooking the Malacca Straits and you can wake up to the sound of waves crashing (not for paranoid me). But, we did spend a couple of hours sitting in one of those rest areas on the stilts looking out to sea while reading (or trying to read - I was just looking out at the boats / ships in the distance, ensuring they don't overturn or sink, the first sign of which I'll run straight for shore).
They've got 3 pools - for kids, the normal family one, and best of all, the adults' only one. The adults' only pool is called the Cochin pool - opened 24 hours, very private and with no kids getting in the way of your laps. By far the best pool I've ever been in - maybe because we were the only ones there.
It was truly truly a beautiful weekend :)
The Half-Blood Prince
A very good read. I rate this book the 2nd best in the series after The Goblet of Fire.
Don't worry, no spoilers ahead.
The plot basically sets down the storyline for the final book of the series, due to be out in the next 2 years. There's lots of dialogues and flashbacks - I guess JK Rowling's setting the scene and finalising details for the final installment. But, no, this is not a boring book. The book starts off on a sombre-but-tickled-my-funny-bones conversation between the real world's Prime Minister (presumably Tony Blair) and the Minister of Magic. It then rushes through with many new revelations and plot-twists and characters-that-keep-you-guessing. Nothing will ever beat The Goblet of Fire in terms of action, drama and a well-written plot - but The Half-Blood Prince truly is a satisfying read.
I finished this book last Sunday - yes the day after it was released. And when I'd finished, I looked around frantically for someone to discuss the book with. Thank goodness for JC. But because the person next to me hadn't read it yet, I couldn't fully express and discuss with JC on the phone, or I'd be revealing all the surprises in the book. Yes somebody dies - and I was not informed at all that someone would die, let alone accept the fact of who had died! But, no, enough of that, or I'll be responsible for spoiling it for those who haven't read.
I'll reveal this little fact : the character I found most intriguing was that of Professor Snape. His evil-but-good persona left me wanting more.
How am I going to wait for the 7th book??
Don't worry, no spoilers ahead.
The plot basically sets down the storyline for the final book of the series, due to be out in the next 2 years. There's lots of dialogues and flashbacks - I guess JK Rowling's setting the scene and finalising details for the final installment. But, no, this is not a boring book. The book starts off on a sombre-but-tickled-my-funny-bones conversation between the real world's Prime Minister (presumably Tony Blair) and the Minister of Magic. It then rushes through with many new revelations and plot-twists and characters-that-keep-you-guessing. Nothing will ever beat The Goblet of Fire in terms of action, drama and a well-written plot - but The Half-Blood Prince truly is a satisfying read.
I finished this book last Sunday - yes the day after it was released. And when I'd finished, I looked around frantically for someone to discuss the book with. Thank goodness for JC. But because the person next to me hadn't read it yet, I couldn't fully express and discuss with JC on the phone, or I'd be revealing all the surprises in the book. Yes somebody dies - and I was not informed at all that someone would die, let alone accept the fact of who had died! But, no, enough of that, or I'll be responsible for spoiling it for those who haven't read.
I'll reveal this little fact : the character I found most intriguing was that of Professor Snape. His evil-but-good persona left me wanting more.
How am I going to wait for the 7th book??
Sunday, July 10, 2005
2 weeks ago
For the past fortnight I've disappeared because I've been really busy - and for once, not because of work or assignments or errands or something troublesome.
2nd July
Played host to 2 pretty Korean girls. To kill time before dinner, we (Dennis drove, David chaperoned) headed up to Bkt Gasing to give the girls a view of PJ. We got more than that - there were LOTS of monkeys up there, thoroughly amusing the girls and myself. Then, hung out at Bangsar, had dinner at Mdm Kwan's, after-dinner drinks at Bar Flam, then mamak-ed at the Bangsar mamak place before dropping the girls home to their friend's place in Old Klang Rd.
What was interesting was that I hadn't met this Korean friend of mine (Enzu) since year 2000 in Manila. Yeah, an AIESEC friend from oh-so-long-ago. And, still, we clicked right away. Or maybe she's just really friendly and easy to get along with. She clicked with everyone :)
3rd July
Played good big sister and took my 2 sisters to watch War of the Worlds. Good good movie, very worth the money. Tried to get tickets at GSC 1 Utama, but they sold out all tickets by 11 am. Luckily had reservations at TGV. Dakota Fanning is amazing - she can be so grown-up and childish in the same breath. And she's got great lungs.
KF came back from Cameron Highlands today and brought me back a tray of really sweet strawberries. He said he had to bribe the farm-caretakers to get the big red sweet ones for me.
8 July
Night out with Enzu again. She just got back from Redang Island and wanted to have real seafood - apparently Redang food sucks. So we took her to the place at Tropicana - her treat. Then sent her off to KLIA after collecting her luggage from JW Marriott KL. The trouble KF goes to for a pretty girl, you wouldn't guess.
9 July
Early in the morning headed to RedBox The Curve for a 3-hour session. Then went out to view a house (yes, been house-searching for a couple of months dyy), before heading to ML's house for steamboat cum birthday celebration.
10 July
Thought it'd be a leisurely day spring-cleaning my room. Instead, headed to the vet to give my new puppy Bobby a vaccination. Yahh, I got a new cute little puppy and the vet told us he's a spaniel! :) He's black and really small and really cute. After that, had surprise lunch with CS from Singapore, who surprised us with a French guy :)
It's been a pretty international fortnight. Ended it nicely with a family dinner - my treat. Below are pics of how I spent the days leading up to quarter-life :)
2nd July
Played host to 2 pretty Korean girls. To kill time before dinner, we (Dennis drove, David chaperoned) headed up to Bkt Gasing to give the girls a view of PJ. We got more than that - there were LOTS of monkeys up there, thoroughly amusing the girls and myself. Then, hung out at Bangsar, had dinner at Mdm Kwan's, after-dinner drinks at Bar Flam, then mamak-ed at the Bangsar mamak place before dropping the girls home to their friend's place in Old Klang Rd.
What was interesting was that I hadn't met this Korean friend of mine (Enzu) since year 2000 in Manila. Yeah, an AIESEC friend from oh-so-long-ago. And, still, we clicked right away. Or maybe she's just really friendly and easy to get along with. She clicked with everyone :)
3rd July
Played good big sister and took my 2 sisters to watch War of the Worlds. Good good movie, very worth the money. Tried to get tickets at GSC 1 Utama, but they sold out all tickets by 11 am. Luckily had reservations at TGV. Dakota Fanning is amazing - she can be so grown-up and childish in the same breath. And she's got great lungs.
KF came back from Cameron Highlands today and brought me back a tray of really sweet strawberries. He said he had to bribe the farm-caretakers to get the big red sweet ones for me.
8 July
Night out with Enzu again. She just got back from Redang Island and wanted to have real seafood - apparently Redang food sucks. So we took her to the place at Tropicana - her treat. Then sent her off to KLIA after collecting her luggage from JW Marriott KL. The trouble KF goes to for a pretty girl, you wouldn't guess.
9 July
Early in the morning headed to RedBox The Curve for a 3-hour session. Then went out to view a house (yes, been house-searching for a couple of months dyy), before heading to ML's house for steamboat cum birthday celebration.
10 July
Thought it'd be a leisurely day spring-cleaning my room. Instead, headed to the vet to give my new puppy Bobby a vaccination. Yahh, I got a new cute little puppy and the vet told us he's a spaniel! :) He's black and really small and really cute. After that, had surprise lunch with CS from Singapore, who surprised us with a French guy :)
It's been a pretty international fortnight. Ended it nicely with a family dinner - my treat. Below are pics of how I spent the days leading up to quarter-life :)
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