Sacrifice...

First, an old song from Elton John...

Reminds me of my first girlfriend back in the days when I was young and reckless (i.e. a total IDIOT).

I haven't posted for a whole week... not that anyone would miss my blogs anyway. But I will cram a whole week in here. As you'd probably notice by now I've got a new look on this blog... and I've added some gadgets so have some fun after reading.

Life is about choices... I always tell people this, especially my subordinates... and life is also about sacrifices. Every choice we make comes with a sacrifice... small or big, significant or insignificant, moral or immoral... there is always a sacrifice in one way or another. I watched a DVD early this week... it was Unthinkable... not the best movie around but a good watch to bring us to think about sacrifices, morals and benevolence. Really gets you thinking...

I used to ask my subordinates this... a lone child playing on a closed and abandoned rail track and his group of friends playing on an active rail track. A train is arriving at top speed and its brakes have failed. What should the track operator do? Allow that train to plough down that group of children or divert the train to the abandoned track and sacrifice the lone child? Think about it... then make your choice.

My hobby has been keeping me sane here. So, I decided to pamper myself and bought some equipment to supplement my hobby. I managed to find myself a decent tripod here for RM285.00. Bear in mind that this is Langkawi and you're not spoilt for choice like in KL. It's sturdy and has a ball head.

This is the ball head. It's real easy to use and has so much more flexibility compared to the cheap ones (free) that I have used before. Those cheap three way ones needs to be locked in at least two places whereas the ball head just requires one. Adjust the angle and lock. Simple. 

So now I can start doing more landscape shots and also night shots. But there aren't many interesting places to shoot here in the night. So I guess I am left with sunrises and sunsets. The former requires me to drive to the east side of the island and to wake up early so I guess you know the answer to that. Hahaha...

While I was at the shop I enquired if they sold filters... I was looking for CPL (Polarizer) and ND (Neutral Density) filters. Lo and behold... they did... only the CPL filter but still, I was impressed. The owner checked to see if he had a 58mm size for my lens. He did have it... the price tag showed RM65.00 but he said I can get it at RM45.00. Hmmm... a Hoya would cost at least RM135.00 for a decent one or RM195.00 for a Pro-series. But I decided to indulge and see what this RM45.00 filter could do. It is the same brand as the tripod (KeeP). See here for the effects of a CPL filter.

Well... the filter works... how well it works is the question. I am still a noob so I have no basis of comparison. All I know is that as of now I can see the difference with and without the filter.

Then the bug bit me... as usual... you've tried something nice and you want more. So I ordered my ND filter from the online store and it should arrive sometime mid next week.

And how does this tie to sacrifices? If I indulge in this then I have to sacrifice elsewhere, No? Looks like a week of sandwiches for me now...

Heavy Rain...

It's been raining for the past few days and yesterday it rained all day. And it was raining this morning too. The sea is rough as you can see from the clip (about 10:30am) and it was just as rough in the evening when Ayu and I went for dinner at Pantai Cenang. We went to a restaurant by the beach. Dinner was Tom Yum, Omelet, Som Tam and Sand.... beach sand. At first we sat outside but the winds were too strong so we moved into the restaurant yet the sand could still find its way into the restaurant. That's how strong the winds were.

Haircuts

I had my hair cut today for RM5.00. If anyone can get a haircut in KL today for RM5.00, I'll run Naked around KL.

When I left KL the price for my haircut was RM12.00 and if you're lucky you can get one for RM10.00 and that too at the local barber and not a hairdresser. Back when I kept hair... longer hair that is... which was circa 2005 my haircut at the hairdresser's in KLCC was RM35.00. That too was because I was a regular or rather the ex was a regular. I wonder how much a haircut costs now.

When Ayu finished work I took her for a haircut too as her hair was... like a broom... as the hairdresser said. Well... not really like a broom lah but you can see for yourself here... it's the last 6 inches which has become dry and unmanageable. You should have seen the guy's face when he held her hair. Hahaha... this is what happens when you subject your hair to chemicals... this is what the hairdresser said... chemicals like bleach, colours, etc... once you take that route your hair will need constant tender loving care... a.k.a. TLC. 

So Ayu really had a haircut. My guess is about 5 inches all around. As she was getting her hair cut, I found it strange that he never washed her hair... then as he was finishing he started to use the hairdryer to style her hair which was still quite unmanageable as it was dry. He commented that her hair was still very dry... so I asked Ayu... don't you want to wash your hair as well? As far as I knew, all haircuts at a salon in KL comes with a hair wash by default. then the hairdresser says... Oh! You want to wash as well?... then says he did not have time as they were closing shop. Ok.. next time... so he applies some oil or something to soften her hair and she's good to go.

Since Ayu earns SO MUCH, I decided to pay and went to the counter. The guy says RM20.00. And I went... say what? How much? I thought I heard RM20.00... so I put my ear closer and he repeats... RM20.00. I looked at him in disbelief and he repeats... RM20.00. I snapped out of my shock and paid quickly before he changed his mind. Wow! My botak head hair cut with the clipper which requires no skill whatsoever and done in 10 minutes costs RM12.00 in KL and this haircut which requires skill, styling and over an hour at RM20.00. How's that for comparison? Is that cheap or is that cheap?

Then I asked him if he could get Sebastian products as Ayu was using Sebastian. This is the reply I got... In Langkawi it is only L'Oréal.... anything other than that won't fly. No matter how good it is, if it is not L'Oréal they're not going to try. So you can forget about your Redken or Sebastian or Vidal Sassoon or whatnot. But... I have not verified this claim. And here in Langkawi... haircuts by default do not come with a hair wash... if you want one you have to say so... so I am told.

RM5.00 and RM20.00... beat that.

Ramblings

My mom called yesterday for her usual chit-chat. A sign that she's bored. She had just watched The Prince of Persia and she says it is good and wouldn't mind watching it again. So, today I went to see if what she said was true.... well, she still has it... I enjoyed myself. It was very entertaining. of course when my mom called yesterday it was also because her 'fuel' was low. Unfortunately, my pay was only banked in yesterday afternoon via cheque. So that means it's 2 business days before it clears. This is the first time I'm getting paid so late... and I certainly hope it will be the last. Sadly, there's nothing I can do about it as the law allows the employer 7 days.

Then I looked up the fuel consumption of a motorcycle. One of it stated 45kms per liter. Wowee!! That means I would use less than 15 liters a month! That's only RM27.00! And even if they overstated and it is actually double. it is still only RM54.00 per month... hmmm... motorcycle... sounds better everyday...

Things I Miss

• My mom.
• Working with a team.
• Giant/Tesco/Carrefour.
• Cavenzi.
• Drive-thru McD and KFC.
• Online cinema tickets purchasing and the comfy seats in Pavilion.
• 'Ironside' ringtone ringing on my phone.
• 22nd floor view of KLCC and KL Tower.
• Hot hoochymamas.
• Sushi King.
• MMC
• Waking up with the one I love beside me.

I Was Thinking...

As of today, my 'motorboat' has clocked 5300kms since it came on this island. My 7-year old 'motorboat' can only squeeze 8kms per liter. It used to be about 11kms per liter. It was high even then... but that's because it is slightly underpowered and has a shitty ECU which is the main culprit. I could do some modifications which would probably see me getting about 10kms per liter but those mods would cost me no less than RM5k and it would have to be done in KL. I don't have the time nor the moolah to spare at this point in time but it is something I may consider in the future.

5300kms with 8kms per liter equates to 662.50 liters and with fuel at RM1.80 per liter that's RM1192.50 in total or about RM600.00 per month. There goes Ayu's pay. Hahaha... 

If I am going to spend that kind of money a month just on fuel, then I think I am better off buying myself a motorcycle. Use the car on off days or 'official business' and the motorcycle for daily commute. What's the price of a scooter now? RM7k? If I pay RM500.00 a month on installment, I can pay off a motorcycle in  just over a year. And I get to be "King of the Road" just like everyone else! 

So... what do you think? Ada berani?

3rd Month...

Today is the beginning of my 3rd month here. Not going to blog about work.

I weighed myself this morning and the scale read 82.6kgs... this was after I did my usual morning 'investment' and before my breakfast. When I got here I was 86.8kgs. That's 4 kgs off in 2 months. The problem with weight gain and weight loss is this... when you gain weight, the first place that starts to stack all that fat is your midsection... but when you lose weight the midsection is the LAST place to shed the fat. Strange huh? Nature's way of punishing you for overindulging. This is the tricky part... if you allow the natural process, by the time you shed all your fat in your midsection the rest of your body would have taken a toll and you would look extremely frail. To avoid this from happening you need to do some balancing with resistance training like push ups and chin ups. So, that's what I have to do.

There was a time... not too long ago... probably 3 years back when I was still actively doing all this. And back then I could do 40 push ups straight... properly. Doesn't sound like much but go try it (proper ones) before you say anything. And I would do 5 sets of push ups. 40, 30, 20, 10, 10... or till failure. I used to hit the gym once a week and I could bench press (machine) 220 lbs... also not a lot but then I'm not trying to be Arnie. There were two main reasons that was my motivation then. Stay healthy and to save money so I don't have to get a new wardrobe to suit my 'new bloated size'.

Now I have one more reason to do it... testosterone. Grin...