Shufflicious

I couldn't resist. I finally bought a Shuffle about three weeks ago. When Apple first introduced the new Shuffle, I was reluctant to buy it due to its small 1GB capacity and no screen display. But it's been perfect for me and the battery life is amazing! My old Archos Gmini has a 20GB capacity but use to cark on me after 3-4 hours. Not even a full work day. I haven't managed to drain my Shuffle on a day out yet.

The problem I have with the Shuffle though, isn't the lack of a screen or its small capacity. It's the lack of a Hold button! Having fat fingers, made even more uncoordinated by gloves, I have a bad habit of accidentally skipping to the next track. Which isn't such a big deal, but the tracks I listen to are DJ sets ranging from an hour to two hours in length. The Shuffle's fast tracking functionality is pretty crappy and it'd take too long to get back to where I was. Apart from that, I'm a happy consumer with the Shuffle. Have to admit though, I spent a lot of time in the Apple store steeling my nerves and convincing myself to buy it. Just the thought of having to deal with Apple support again if anything goes wrong put me off.

El Laberinto del Fauno

aka Pan's Labyrinth.

You know, I didn't realise it was going to be so gruesome! And it wasn't badly done gruesome either (*cough* Hostel *cough*). It's the kind of gruesome that puts the viewer's overactive imagination to good use. I couldn't stop cringing at times. With 2 days to go, Pan's Labyrinth makes it into my list of "must watch" movies for 2006. It was imaginative, artistically shot, and had a decent storyline to boot. Thanks Niffies for the hawt movie date :)

Here's one that's made it into my "don't bother" movies list - Babel. Sure, it's got Brad Pitt, and he's decent in it. So's Cate Blanchett. However, the movie is just _endlessly_ and _needlessly_ depressing. Yes, there's a theme, everyone's lives are interconnected in some way. Yes, coincidences aren't really coincidences. Hence it's possible for a Japanese businessman's hunting trip in Morroco to cause sweet little American children to lose their way in Mexico. But... so what?

Pan's Labyrinth - 4/5
Babel - 1/5

"It's like riding a bike...

... you never forget", was the advise I was given from hardcore boarders. This brought back memories of when Ula made me ride a bicycle for the first time in about 10 years. I almost crashed into a parked car!

But it's true, some things you don't forget. You just remember _really_slowly_ what you're suppose to do. Funnily enough, with snowboarding, you remember what you're suppose to do right after you stack it :P Thought to self for next time: "Use my edge more! Link my turns!"

Unfortunately, I look like a boy with a beanie and snow gear on :(

It's beautiful at Meribel. At the top, we were 2200m above sea level (I think). I've never seen snow covered mountains like this before. It's also really scary! As I watched kids a third my age whizz by on skiis, I contemplated how I was going to make it down the mountain without scraping up my face :P I wish my parents had the money to take me skiing every year for family holidays. I could be a pro by now! Then again, my parents took me to the beach every weekend when I was young, and I'm definitely not a pro bodyboarder *grin* I do feel lucky though, that I have friends now who are willing to take me to the very top, and who kept encouraging me everytime I felt I couldn't do it anymore. It was a great way to spend Christmas :)

Which way?!? Can we go to Jerusalem?

My favourite moment of the trip... Aaah, chillax...

2006 Family Portrait

Edit 29/12/2006: For the unbelievers - Behold! My right butt cheek in all its cellulite glory! Nobody make any wise cracks :P Har har har!

Worst. Present. Ever

I really hope the person who gave me this doesn't discover my blog. This is the reason why I think Kris Kringles and Secret Santas are a fcking waste of time and money:

Wtf? I know I look young, but I'm not freaking 5 years old. I'd rather have the 5 quid as a present than this. I'm definitely re-gifting this one.

Bah humbug.

And yeah, this even beats the BH90210 calendar I got one year from my brothers. At least at that time, Luke Perry was dreamy.

What I need

A Clocky. I woke up at 8:52am today thinking, "Fck, it's 8:52am, why are there people drilling outside?!?" Quickly followed by, "Fck, it's 8:52am, why am I still in bed?!?"

I don't even remember turning my alarm off. Clocky will run away from you if you try to snooze more than once :)

If you had the money...

Would you spend it on this?

Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac.

It's EUD$1170, and that's duty free prices. Bargain! According to Wikipedia:

"Louis XIII cognac is manufactured using grapes from the Grande Champagne of France. It is blended from eaux de vie, some more than a century in age, then it is aged in "tiercons," barrels that are several hundred years old, in its own cellar. A bottle of Louis XIII may be priced as high as $2,000(US) however average price range is between $1,000 to $1,300. The handblown crystal decanter is commonly valued at $400-$600 without the cognac."

I guess this barely counts as a luxury item when you take into account:
- World's most expensive tequila = $225,000 (It comes in a gold and platinum casing, and someone did buy it)
- World's most expensive whisky = $38,000 (Macallan 1920, sold out!)
- World's most expensive beer = $2,595

Though the world's most expensive beer only gets its aclaim because a drunken Kiwi misread the bill and thought it said $2.45 when he signed it *lol*

Personally, I'd go for one of these cocktails. Although, I can see some of them being a choking hazard. Men, if you want me to say, "Yes", this is how you do it :P

Urban surfers

What do you do when you don't have a beach? Surf in a canal of course! This looks totally insane and fun at the same time. Guys literally just jump on their boards and ride the current. Wonder how they'd deal with a real break...

München

I spent the entire weekend munching on wieners, deep fried potatoes, Nutella and sour cherry crepes, hunk of venison, Augustiner beer, lethal schnapps, chicken wings, fish, calamari... My stomach was in pain by the time I was on the plane back to Rondon. It was great! For the first time since we've known each other, T, B and I went on holiday together! The Xmas Markets were great, but I had the best time just being partners in crime with T and B. We were together in München.

Sound of Music Sing-a-long

Brown paper packages wrapped in string - Check.
Leiderhosen - Check.
Nuns - Check.
Drag Queen - Huh?

If you're a fan of SoM, it has to be done. Or in poor Sarah's case, Kate and I just dragged her along cause we wanted to see it *grin* Full credit though, Sarah got right into it, and amazingly, it was the first time she'd seen the entire movie! Where was her childhood?!? My fave part has always been the Goatherd song:

One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Lay-ee odl, lay-ee odl lay-oo-oo
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Lay-ee odl, lay-ee odl-oo
Soon her mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay-ee odl, lay-ee odl lay mmm mmm
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Lay-ee odl, lay-ee odl-oo
Happy are they layee odl-lay-ee-o oh lay-ee odl-lay-ee lay-ee-oo
Soon their duet will becoma a trio
Lay-ee odl, lay-ee odl lay-ee-oo...

Xmas Lights

I spent the night wandering around Oxford St. It's all lit up. A bit tackily. Then again, I always thought Christmas was a tacky affair *grin* My fave lights are the giant lightbulbs on Carnaby St.

Bye Jules!

*sniffles* Jules is the first friend to leave me in Rondon and return to Sydney. I really wish you could've stayed longer in Rondon. I finished all the Jaffa Cakes you gave me (and it's not even Xmas yet!). And I'm still hankering for chocolate crepe...

Steeeak!

Occasionally, I get the hankering for RED MEAT. Screw instant noodles, screw pasta - I want a freaking piece of cow to munch on. So yesterday, I wasn't going to let anyone get in the way of my steak, including my flatmates *grin*

Me: "Do you want steak for dinner?"
(what I mean: It doesn't really matter what you say, I want steak)
D: "Err, isn't it 10 quid? That's expensive."
Me: "I'm going to get it anyway, so if you want it, there's going to be one for you"
(what I mean: I don't care if you don't want it, I'm still eating it for dinner!)

Come to think of it, 10 quid for 2 pieces of raw meat is quite expensive if you convert it to Aussie dollars (approx AUD$25). But dang it was good. I've seriously discovered the best way to cook steak medium rare. It's turned out perfect for me thrice in a row so far. Adapted from Becasse's recipe for roast tri tip of veal:
- Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees;
- Season steak with salt and pepper and leave at room temperature;
- Heat up pan with olive oil over high heat;
- Sear the steak all over;
- Throw it in the oven for 8 mins, turning constantly;
- Rest the steak for 3 mins.

Tada, one perfecto steak. Sorry, I munched a quarter of it before I remembered to take the picture:

Slow blogging month

Things I surprisingly fell in love with this Winter:
- Stripey socks from Tabio
- Stiletto knee high boots from Nine West

- PUFFY JACKETS (I can't stop trying them on in shops... They're everywhere!)

Things I can really do without:
- Cracked and blistering lips

*Uggh* In the space of one day, my bottom lip went from slightly peeling to busted, yellow and infected. It looks like I have a flesh eating disease on my lip :( Definitely not kissable :P All the moisture is getting sucked out of my body.

View from my window

What a difference a week makes...

Fresh! From Sydney!

Authentic Laksa paste :D Homemade by my parents :) Sprinkled with fried onion flakes made by my aunt, and flown in from Malaysia. Accompanied by snapper fishcakes made by authentic Thai gal, T.

Also on the menu this weekend, mutant prawns! Madagascan, apparently.

Smile!

Fear

... I feel it completely and utterly... At 3am today, I heard a loud BANG. I got up, and peeked outside my bedroom door. Darkness... And silence... So I went to the toilet (I have an ensuite) and went back to bed. A few minutes later, there was another loud BANG. I froze in bed. Next, I heard B's screams rip through the night. I was absolutely terrified. What's happening? What should I do? Should I call the police? Where's my phone? Where's my phone? What's happening?

B's screams stop.

I throw clothes on and get to the living room. B tells me there was someone in our house. The balcony door is open. The dining chair is toppled over. The intruder long gone. Nothing stolen, B must've walked in just as he entered the apartment.

I feel fear. I couldn't sleep after the cops left. I spent the day in a daze, forever wishing I had turned on the light to scare the intruder away. I'm glad B screamed, and deliriously happy that the intruder ran away. It could've been a lot worse. But it's horrifying hearing a friend scream like that.

It's not going to be an easy sleep tonight either :(

All I want for Christmas, is a baseball bat and some razor wire. On the other hand, peace and good will would be nice too.

Insanity

I know I talk about airport security a fair bit, but it really affects me. I really enjoy travelling, but airports are becoming a horrendous ordeal. As a traveller, all I want to do is get on the plane, but it's soo hard these days. If you're a light traveller, you were basically punished, because you were forced to check in luggage unless you intended to buy toothpaste at every destination. I just gave up and chewed gum :P

These days, you're allowed to bring on a little plastic baggie of liquids. All liquids must be in 100ml (max) containers. You'd think this would make life easier. It didn't. I happen to be lucky enough to be travelling when the rule first came in. I thought I was well prepared. I didn't even have any luggage. Just a handbag with a spare tshirt. I had my boarding pass pre-printed out. All that was required, was for me to turn up and get through the security check. The new liquid allowance rule, made lines for security 50 times longer. The line started from the security gate, cut through the concourse, went outside the airport, went through a marquee (setup for "passenger comfort"), looped back along the airport outside wall, and back into the airport again.

Outside Heathrow Terminal 4:

Why? Because now every single 100ml bottle of shampoo, toothpaste, whatever, was getting closely scrutinised by security guards.

This isn't the insanity part. The insanity part comes in when the public turns vicious and starts throwing people off flights. Granted, this happened in the US, but it woudn't suprise me if it started to happen here. Six Muslim men, who looked of Middle-Eastern descent, were escorted off a plane for praying. Ffs!!! Passengers became paranoid about the men speaking in Arabic. One passed a note to a flight attendant. It's not the first time something like this has happened. It's just the latest. The worst case I came across is the story of Raed Jarrar, who got pulled aside for wearing a shirt with Arabic script on the front. He wasn't allowed on the flight until he changed his shirt. Where are his rights as a human being?

It makes me wonder, what is the point of airport security? You go through metal detectors. Your baggage gets restricted and scrutinised. There's a war on liquids. Everytime I pass a checkpoint, I get felt up by the security lady. Seriously, I haven't been felt up like this in a long time. My bra gets lifted. My ankles get rubbed. My crotch was patted down. To what end? All it does is scare passengers even more. The approach taken by airport security is that something bad will happen to you. A bomb will go off. It's just a question of when. Whatever rules are in place, aren't preventative, they're just fear inducing. Why wouldn't a suicide terrorist just check in luggage these days instead of building one onboard? To my knowledge checked in luggage doesn't get scanned.

To me, what makes it worse, is the complete lack of care by airport security staff regarding how frustrated passengers feel. What I overheard was along the lines of, "I don't care if you don't listen to me. I'm not the one that's going to miss a flight. It doesn't affect me." Why wouldn't me and the 1000s of other passengers feel more pissed off at this attitude?

Schlocky horror goodness

The Barbican held a special event last weekend. It screened the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre with a live "soundtrack" performance by Puerto Muerto. Did the live performance add anything to the movie? Mmm, nope. Not really. They did a couple of songs that went well with the movie in the background, but that was it. The rest were just "space fillers" for moments of nothingness in the movie. Keep in mind that TCM already _has_ a soundtrack (cue screams and screechy horror noises), and when there's no music, it's probably done intentionally to add to the tension. So the addition of Puerto Muerto's tracks actually ruined parts of the movie for me. I'm not sure what Puerto Muerto were trying to achieve, and at times, it made the movie seem more like a video clip. I thought a soundtrack was meant to enhance the movie, not the other way around *shrug* My only complaint would be the stinky guy who sat next to me... Urggh... How can people smell so bad?

I don't really know how I got into horror movies. I suspect it has something to do with putting on a brave face infront of my brothers when we watched horror movies some 20 years ago. I think my fave these days, has to be House of 1000 Corpses by Rob Zombie. Inspired of course, by TCM :) It has the nutso freakish characters from the 70s, modernised and even more insane. Definitely worth a watch.

Reenie Only @ Armin Only

I remember the first time I saw Armin van Buuren play. It was a Godskitchen event. It was at Gas 4 years ago. It was the October long weekend. It was the first time B met C, and C wore sheep pants to impress us ;) I think the night ended with C and I sitting on the floor downing tequila shots!

Armin, fireworks, lasers and dancers who looked like hookers:

This year, I saw Armin play at Armin Only, in Ahoy, Rotterdam. Just me, solo, front row, and I was in Armin heaven. It was brilliant! From start, to finish, I was listening to Armin play for about 7 hours. My legs gave out at the 4th hour and I couldn't dance anymore. Sitting down at the back of the dancefloor alone is a bad idea though. There are a loooot of crazy concerned Dutch people out there :) "Are you okay? Is everything alright? It's a party! You can't sit down! Don't you like to party?" Errr, I must be getting old.

Armin hid behind a screen for an hour. This is his "I am Jesus" pose:

Listening to Armin use to be a part of my everyday work routine. Plug in, block out everything but the music, forget how sucky the project is, and just focus on getting the job done. To hear Armin play all the tunes that made me happy and forget everything that sucked... It was worth dealing with insane airport security and travelling to Holland for. For the life of me though, I couldn't get a clear pic of Armin :P

Woo, laser lights...

Armin's been a DJ for 10 years, and I hope he's got at least another 10 more in him. It's really a tough call between him and Paul van Dyk as to who's my fave DJ. Both brilliant, PvD is perhaps more consistent with his sets, but Armin when he gets it right, it's unbeatable. More blurry Armin pix available on my flickr set.

Ula and Wilco, I did miss you... I was at a loss as to what to do once the shops closed in Amsterdam! Haha :)

Homo-Monument?

Wicky, perhaps you can explain this one *lol* Found on the streets of Amsterdam: