Mont Kiara Jazz Festival 2008 & Raw

I was at Plaza Mont Kiara together with some friends last night for their annual Jazz & Rhythm Festival. The event drew quite a large crowd despite the slight drizzle and there were even a few people who sat under the rain. The highlight of the night was Mia Palencia, a local talent who I personally think would be the next Norah Jones of Malaysia. Her performance was outstanding especially her cover of Jason Mraz's 'I'm Yours'.

Mia Palencia performing

Like I said, despite the rain, I had fun, especially with the friends I was with, there is never a dull moment.

Suzanne, Zara & I

Su-Ann, Rozell & I

Su-Ann always gets excited at the sight of a camera

I had to leave before Mia Palencia's performance was over because I had to go for another farewell party in Raw @ Solaris. Sigh, this is the second farewell party in a month, and this time is for my friend Elaine (not to be confused with Ee Laine who already left for the States), who is leaving for Singapore in 2 weeks. Well, at least it's only Singapore and we can still meet up when I'm there (hopefully sometime next month).

Elaine and her sister Waverly....CUT!!!

Take 2 - Elaine & I

All together now...

After Raw, we still somehow manage to go for supper at Sri Hartamas and by the time we finished, it was nearly 4AM. *Yawwnnn!*

Corporate Photo Shoot in Penang

I just got back from Penang last night. My Senior Art Director and I, along with 2 photographers were there for a corporate photo shoot for a client which requires pictures to be featured on their company's website and also corporate brochures. Well, I must say, the trip was a successful one and we did have fun throughout the whole 3 day ordeal. We did not have time to go binge eating though since we were on a really tight working schedule.

We touched down on Wednesday evening and proceeded with checking in to our suite. We then proceeded to recce our shoot location, followed by dinner. We had loads to eat (duh!..it's Penang!) from the famous Oyster Omelette to Penang Rojak. Sorry I won't be showing any food pics that we ate because I feel it wasn't really the highlight of the trip. After dinner, we went back to our suite, and briefed the photographers on what is to be done for the next day.

Our hotel suite and jacuzzi

The next day starts with us waking up around 630AM as we had to meet the client downstairs for breakfast at 7AM. After breakfast, we went to the shoot site and started setting up before the talents came in. Now, we didn't have professional talents to work with. We used talents and background of all their staff since it was for their corporate collaterals anyway. I must say, most their staff had some form of hidden talent. A few were quite photogenic and looked like they done photo shoots before as they do not seem shy in front of the camera.

Make up and prepping the talents

Briefing the talents

Sample of a corporate photo shot

Oh, checkout the view from this office. Don't you wish your office view were like this?

The day ended with us going for happy hour drinking with the client and followed by a scrumptious seafood dinner which is like a freaking 40 minutes drive from where we were, but no doubt the seafood dinner was absolutely fulfilling. By the way, the place is called Teluk Kumbar in case you want to go...I highly recommend it.

Happy hour drinking with the client

After dinner I met up with a high school friend of mine who took me out for drinks and a short tour of the "happening" areas of Penang. It's been good seeing her again and catching up. By the time we finished, it was already 230AM....and I have to wake up at 630AM! Gahh!!

The next day, the photo shoot was of more casual in orientation. All staff were told to come in casual clothing which includes sun dresses, shorts and bikinis (no I'm just kidding...but how I wished).

Some casual photo shots with the talents

The excellent photographers together with the client

Us and the client

We wrapped up around 430PM as we had a 640PM flight to catch back to KL. I must say, the whole photo shoot was all smooth sailing and quite an experience. My only disapointment with the trip is that I couldn't stay longer as the tickets were arranged and paid for by the client. Oh well, I guess now I have reasons to go back to Penang again ;)

NOTE: There are actually more pictures of us taken together with the "talents" which might not be too appropriate to be posted. I shall just leave it to your imagination for those shots then. ;)

Going Away..

I will be off to somewhere for 3 days and 2 nights for a photoshoot that involves models and gadgets for a client. Expenses (transport and accomodation) are fully paid for by the client. Where is it at you ask? Well, will let you know about it when I get back. Only thing I can tell you is...that it involves taking a flight ;)

The Birthday Bash

I know, this is my second birthday bash this year but like I mentioned the first one wasn't my idea as I had this one in mind. But anyway, last night was awesome. It was a combined birthday with my friend Suzanne so she brought her friends and I brought mine. Of course it became a melting pot where people get to know new people as well.

So...how can a birthday bash be complete without alcohol right? Well, Me and Suzanne initially got everyone 20 jugs of beer (which is about a barrel). Suzanne's friends then got another 2 bottles of whiskey and a bottle of champagne (...I think or was it white wine?). Apart from that, friends kept buying us drinks. I had 4 flamings (2 shared and 2 solo), beers and a shot of tequila! Needless to say, at the end, both of us KOed. I was so drunk that I didn't even know the girls dragged me into the ladies toilet for me to puke. Imagine the 2 host puking side by side!! Hahah...luckily there isn't any pictures of that :p

These are some scenes from last night's madness...

Suzanne and I

The Spice Girls??

Tequila shot

My forth flaming...

...and the outcome of that..

All in all, the party was a success. They all accomplished their mission of getting Suzanne and I drunk. Although I cannot remember the last few moments of the night, I hoped everyone had fun last night. Again, thanks to all who came...you really complete my night. I heard some people are already looking forward to next year's birthday bash! LOL.

*Click here for more photos

The Day After

I'm typing this entry...half sober..having a hang over...and a memory lost from last night....all i know is that it involves me being in the ladies toilet...pictures and details to come.

My New Home Away From Home

This is it. A glance of my new home with furniture. In case you're wondering, no...I have not officially move in yet due to certain reasons....and yes...there will definitely be a house warming party soon. You guys just can't wait to get your hands on the bar right? But anyway, I've been spending a lot of time there now, just practically to chill out and get use to the place. I have already spend the night there during my weekends. For now, I'm just slowly moving in and moving stuff there every weekend. My desktop PC is still not there yet as there isn't any internet connection there for now because I'm still on the waiting list (part of the reason why I have not move in yet...I can't live without my internet! =P). Besides, I don't even have a table for my desktop yet. Right now, the place is great for friends to come by to have drinks and to just chill.

Dining area

Living area

My room

The bar/kitchen

Bathroom

Walk-in wardrobe

The feature wall / walkway (I need paintings..hint hint)

My media center ;)

Head Hunted...Again...But...

Here's the thing, I got a call this morning from a head hunter who is offering me a job which pays probably double my current salary. While tempting as it may sound, I'm having a tough time deciding on it. Why you ask?...well, sure the money is damn good but that also means I will have to be doing what I use to do a few years back which was something I was trying to get out of to begin with (mainly managing IT based projects).

Some of you might know that I have started out in a technical background and been managing IT based projects for the first 4 years of my working career. I got out of that and ventured into a more fast paced industry which is online marketing/advertising. For me, I like being in this current industry mainly because I get to meet people, and also learn a lot as my clients are from different industries. Going back to the IT industry means I will be only confined to the office most of the time and if not, clients will only be specific to the IT industry (boring!!!). To be honest, I am actually also contemplating to go into marketing all together. It would be nice to be working as the client for once right?

So...if you were me, what would you do? Go for something you don't really like but get paid really well, or do something you really like, while not getting paid as much?

Note: If you're my employer reading this....well, don't worry...it's not in the same industry so it's a totally different ball game all together. I guess this is something many of us will go through throughout our working career. Arrghh!

My Waikiki Birthday

It was supposed to be a quiet birthday, nothing was planned. Then Jek brilliantly asked "So...no beers tonight ah?" I told him that I got nothing planed yet. He then organized a "session" since it was my birthday...and coincidently, there was a Carlsberg event happening that night as well. So I thought to myself "Hmmm...since I got nothing planned yet...so why not?" Immediately, Jek sent an email to everyone to organise a birthday/beer session that night. I then called my friends (if you're reading this and was not invited, I'm really sorry...it was really last minute) to come join me and my colleagues. Well I must say, I am so blessed to have many friends who turned up just because it was my birthday. So to everyone who came, "THANK YOU! YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME!"

The night was a blast and I had like 3 Flaming Lamborghinis and countless mugs of beer! I'm amazed that I was still standing and able to drive myself all the way back home. However, once I got home, I just crashed. Probably the alcohol took sometime to kick in. So here are some photos taken during that night in no particular order...

This is my third Flaming ok!...dun pray pray!

What?...still standing what...it's not my fault!

Gee...from wanting a quiet night to this?? Totally something random but I'm glad it did happen because I had an awesome time. The reason I didn't want to do anything because I'm actually saving it for a bigger (and wilder?) combined one with my friend Suzanne sometime middle of the month...that one is going to be massive as the last time we had a combined birthday was during our 21st birthday...and boy that was really one to remember.

*Click here for more pictures from that night