Of Hoisting a Cold One to Arthur... Sunday, September 27, 2009
As evening approached, the cars around the Sunway-Subang area started to pile up. I had arrived (and parked) earlier, to catch a quick drink with Siok Kin and her sis, before the show started.
Yes, it was Arthur's Day, a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Guiness Brewing Company, and musical celebrations were to take place in 5 different cities, Dublin, Lagos, New York, Yaoundé, and yes, Kuala Lumpur. Attendees of the event were expected to raise their glasses in memory of Arthur Guiness, founder of the Guiness brewery business (and of course, to revel in a wild night of music and partying). The main attraction of the night was The Black Eyed Peas, with an assortment of local acts thrown into the picture.
Sometimes, the spelling of Arthur can be quite confusing. (Please refer to Li Ping's blog for further details).
Initially, due to the hype, I actually bought a ticket. Barely 24 hours later, while I was online and chatting with Julie, she offered me a free one. So saying, I invited Li Ping along, and lo and behold! she agreed to come and see what the whole thing was all about.
Since I arrived early, I met up with Siok Kin and sis first, who had also come earlier to redeem some free tickets. As it turns out, she also had spares, so, lo and behold! Yenli also decided to come for the event. Since Yen had to work late, Kenny (who also appeared with spare tickets) Han Yang (who was wandering around) and I waited outside the main entrance for the ladies.
The Entrance to Lots of Guiness Draft. We didn't follow the Black Chic dress code exactly. As Han Yang was saying, black chic isn't really just about wearing black.
It was a long walk to the surf beach, and we did a lot of chit-chatting along the way. When we arrived at the main area, it was so packed, that we couldn't push and elbow our way through, so we just decided to sit on the tiled area near the back. (Side Story: Li Ping was insisting that the entire beach would be drained of sand, and would be tiled. I thought it would be all sand. We were both right, since it was half-tiled, half-sand)
Question of the night:Yenli: Is Arthur still alive?Pretty difficult, since he was born in 1725.
Artistic use of lights. Kenny uses his height to good advantage. Li Ping, triumphantly points out the tiles. =) She likes making kissy lips.
The place was so packed, it was incredibly difficult to meet up with anyone. Practically the whole of Selangor and the surrounding states were there, but we didn't bump into as many familiar faces as we'd thought we would.
Joanna Lim! Recently seen at church camp. Michelle Ding, also recently seen at church camp. I wonder what I was looking at. Sue Ann and Keat! (photo stolen from Sue) Jessica (who was wandering about near the stage taking pics, and only managed to join in the fun later)
I went without my Canon, as I thought it'd be confiscated at the door, and as a result, had to rely on the point and shoot that I could fit into a pocket. The initial part of the concert consisted of performances by Reshmonu, Joe Flizzow, and the Taiwanese rap artist, MC Hotdog (apparently, quite famous, not to be confused with a new product by the McDonald's chain of fast-food outlets).
Blur photos of the stage.
The crowd, of course, grew happier when The Black Eyed Peas made their appearance, with some of their older hits (i.e. Don't Phunk with My Heart, etc). I believe one of the more memorable moments would be when Will.I.Am started spinning the music, and turned the surf beach into an open air Zouk (although a whole lot more packed, and more sweaty bodies involved). We were practically squashed between this dude who boom boom powed his way into our space, and kept stepping on shoes. Jessica joined us for a bit, before moving on to the Silver Zone.
The night ended with the much-anticipated 'I've Got A Feeling', with everyone feeling like it was going to be a good night, a good good night. Once the music ended, everyone did a quick turn-about, and started marching towards the exit.
We practically had to fight our way through to get to the escalators. A few thousand people leaving at the same time makes it so much more difficult to walk normally. Still got energy to model. Apparently this is a star.
All in all, an incredibly fun night with much laughter and jumping about. Ironically, we didn't get any drinks, since the queue was like incredibly long. Still, we did manage to shout 'To Arthur!', before we went home to sleep. Credits go to;
Julie! for the first ticket. =) Thanks ya, I still owe you dinner...Siok Kin! for the next round of tickets......and Li Ping, for agreeing to come and get squashed in the middle of 15, 000 people =). (visit her blog for more photos!)
Were you there to hoist a cold one to Arthur as well?
Posted at 10:05 pm by IsaacCheah
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Of Fast Cars and Ham-On-Bread... Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I 'm back from the jungle! Its amazing how simple things like not sharing your bed with an assortment of insects can be so refreshing after 4 days in the middle of the Amazon.
But thats another story for another blog entry. For now, here's what happened at Quattro, KL, when Mika Hakkinen was in town.
Last Saturday, Quattro opened its doors for Mika Hakkinen, during the launch of the JOhnnie Walker "Join The Pact" Campaign, where people were encouraged to leave a digital signature stating that they wouldn't get inebriated and drive drunk. Of course, at an event sponsored by Johnnie Walker, there's bound to be some form of alcoholic beverage served to the attendees.
In this case, we can call it Liquor Haven. Attendees filing into the club, waiting for a chance to catch a glimpse of Mika. (or maybe to down a couple of rounds first) Zach leaving his John Hancock, with many cameramen around. This dude was very helpful, and made sure we had enough ham-on-bread to go around. Don't you wish you had one of these at home? Or better yet, many of these? The Nuffies - Conrad, Zach, Robb, Nicholas, and Justina. This is what Mika Hakkinen looks like. He also looks like this. Left: Didn't catch the name. Right: Cassandra! Quattro's Marketing Manager. Cassandra managed to give Mika a bear hug. Probably one of the few women in Malaysia who can claim that they did that. Kimberly and Shaolin Tiger. Justina and Nicholas! Conrad, Robb, and my grinning self. Zach, cheerful as always. This was the JTP Supercar that Mika used the next day to ferry several people around the Sepang racetrack. This is the guy who would beat you to a pulp if you touched the car. Its so shiny, its like a mirror. A very, very, expensive mirror. I bumped into Wai Ken and Flora there! Justina also signed the pact. Ironically, none of us had designated drivers. The models that stood next to the car. They're wearing costumes somewhat similar to that of the Johnnie Walker Walking Man logo. Mika left pretty soon after he arrived, and we only managed to catch a brief glimpse of him, as he gave his press conference. After his departure, the club moved into full swing and opened its doors to the rest of the eager public.
The entrance to the 4-Season Club.
My thanks goes to the good people at Nuffnang, for the invites.
Here's to a greater awareness of the folly of drunk driving.
Coming up: Of Random Insects and 4 Days in the Middle of Nowhere...
Posted at 09:06 pm by IsaacCheah
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Of Buying Coffee for the French Spiderman... Sunday, September 13, 2009
It was on a Thursday evening when a colleague of mine casually asked, "Eh, Cheah, come earlier to work tomorrow. We're going to meet the French Spiderman." Apparently, the said colleague had always admired the exploits of the French daredevil, even before his recent stunt over at our Menara Kembar barely a month ago. Having seen his plight after being caught, he contacted the guy to express his gratitude, and to ask for a chat over a cup of coffee, (with recompense).
Photo from TheStar Nation: Sep 2 2009.
Read about his climb here!
Being the opportunist I am, I agreed, and packed a camera along.
Having been featured on the headlines of the dailies only a few days earlier, it was no wonder that when he arrived at Dome, KLCC, where JT and I were waiting, a curious crowd of onlookers began to hover around the edges.
Speaking to the man who climbed to the top of the Twin Towers with his bare hands.
Alain Roberts was rather down to earth about the whole business, and was possesed of a self-deprecating demeanour. We spoke of how he started, his inspirations, and of the crevices in which he dug his fingers in to make the climb had become smaller over the years.
After the informal coffee session, I picked up the tab, and we went back to work.
Many thanks to JT, for the invitation.
Its not every day that one gets to buy coffee for the French Spiderman.
A very interesting Friday morning, indeed.
Posted at 04:50 pm by IsaacCheah
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Of Plastic Bags and Not Using Them.. Wednesday, September 09, 2009
O n a rather sudden whim, Sue and I dropped by Noble Banquet, KL, to attend the No Plastic Baazar. For me, it was an occasion to snap photos, and for her, to see animals that were (supposedly) up for adoption. With that in mind, we eagerly alighted from the Green Wira, and ambled into the building. The confined area of the banquet hall wasn't exactly what Sue had in mind (she was expecting tents and large, colourful canopies in an open field), and the only animals we saw were stuffed ones. Nonetheless, she happily dived into the nearest pile of clothes, while I wandered off to blind innocent passer-bys with my flash.
The Grand Entrance. The closest thing to animals that we could spot... An incredibly huge sign... ...and yet Sue managed to defy it by her second purchase. There were plenty of knick-knacks on display. Lamps that I probably wouldn't use at home.
Since the event had an environmental theme, shoppers were encouraged to either buy a canvas bag, or lug a whole load of clothes around. Since Sue and I were rather kiamsiap (stingy) we decided to forgo the canvas bag, and use the two hands that God gave us, to carry our purchases. A few branded items went on auction, and the response was rather encouraging (of course, if the item was being sold by models, there'd be more incentive to raise your hand to bid)
A bag being auctioned off by models Deborah Henry and Hannah Lo. Xandria Ooi setting up her stall... ...and gracefully allowing the stalwart photographer to snap photos of it. The models, again.  In lieu of the environmental theme, behold! an environmentally friendly car. Very creative advertising. Somehow, I ended up in the picture too.(Photo also stolen from Tongue in Chic) Sue, posing prettily with a shawl.  The infamous rubber chicken. Sue and I @ No Plastic Bag Bazaar.
Despite there being no animals to adopt and no colourful tents and canopies under the bright morning sun, it was still an interesting outing.
Not a bad way to celebrate Merdeka Day.
Coming up: Of Buying Coffee for the French Spiderman...
Posted at 10:52 pm by IsaacCheah
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Sunday, September 06, 2009
At some point in our lives, we would have wanted to go fast. No, I don't mean abstaining from food, but rather, zip about in some sort of souped-up vehicle, leaving smoke and dust behind your trail. Can you seriously claim that, after watching Fast and Furious, you didn't wish you had that sort of firepower underneath your hood, (and for the guys, the skimpily clad girls that seem to always hang around cars)?
The epitome of speed. Look at those blurry tracks.
Of course, the adrenaline rush that one gets from speed can be found in many various forms, i.e. rollercoasters, skydiving, and our local KTM trains. Somehow, however, these things can't beat the actual experience of burning rubber with your hands behind the steering wheel. And of course, many of us succumb to the temptation of flooring the pedal when our KL city streets are slightly less busy, weaving in and out of traffic.
Sadly enough, for me, burning rubber poses a slightly difficult problem. Don't get me wrong, I love my white Kancil, but at 660cc's, it IS rather... slow.
Nonetheless, its not the speed at which we drive that makes us dangerous, rather, its the carelessness and irresponsibility behind the wheel that causes so many fatalities on the road. Drunk driving is an extremely serious matter, and uncurbed, can lead to a whole lot of grief and waste.
Thats why, racing titan Mika Hakinnen is all out to put a stop to this. Hop on over to the Johnnie Walker website, and sign the pact with Mika to drive responsibly. Of course, you'd have to stick to it, and at the same time, let your friends know about this initiative to create awareness regarding drunk driving. Here are some of the methods I've considered taking to spread the word;
Nothing beats placing ads on billboards along high-traffic areas.
The French Spiderman
I could ask The French Spiderman if he'd mind placing a "Join the Pact Ad" alongside that Malaysian flag at very top of the Twin Towers, the next time he's hanging around there.
Well, it'd be pretty hard to do all (or any) of the above, so I guess I'll just start off by being the designated driver during drinking bouts, and send the less-than-sober friends back home in my trusty 660cc Kancil.
And force them to Join the Pact the very next morning.
Head on over to Sunway Pyramid on the 12th of September for the launch of Join the Pact, and the JTP Supercar demo!
Oh, and don't forget to sign the pact too.
* NOTE TO READERS: The demo in Sunway Pyramid is on the 12th (Sat), and NOT the 13th, as previously stated in my post. A thousand apologies for any confusion caused. Thank you!
Posted at 11:24 pm by IsaacCheah
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Of Merdeka! and Quick Countdowns... Tuesday, September 01, 2009
After an impromptu yumcha session with Sue at Centrepoint (where we bumped into college friends and experienced one of those "Its a Small World after All" moments, I scooted over to Mist Club, Bangsar, for Nuffnang's Merdeka Countdown. Pulling into the carpark, I killed the engine alongside Choong Hoe and Pei Wen, who had earlier called to ask where Jalan Riong was. Ambling over to the club, the usual, mandatory sight greeted us at the entrance.
Nuffies Registration Table. A must at all Nuffnang events.
Quickly moving in, there were notably very little people in the building. Putting it down to the early hour, I moved about the front, snapping away (and walking straight into people's camera focus')
The music didn't take long to start.
Richard J. in the limelight.
Since it was a Nuffnang event, I had thought to see more bloggers lining the sides. Strangely enough, the club was devoid of the usual familiar faces. I did, however, bump into several like-minded kaki's there.
 Diese, lady-like at the table.
The repertoire of artists switched, and when the next duo, Aisya and Missosixnine clambered onto the stage, I had another one of those "Its a Small World After All" moments for the second time, that night.
Yes, that is Yasmine, from SKSJ. And Aisya, from the 2-part hip hop band. For those SKSJ-ians, yes, Yasmin now goes by the moniker Missosixnine, and has her own fan page on Facebook. Pretty strange to call her Pn. Azizah's daughter, now.
As the night progressed, the music grew louder and louder. The crowd, however, didn't really seem to move much, and was pretty contented to stand at the tables, and sip on their drinks.
Maybe its the H1N1, or the cold weather, but somehow, the night was rather....subdued (note to Li Ping: at this point, you would have wandered off to find supper outside). Somehow, the Merdeka countdown (which everyone only realized a minute before the clock struck midnight), was quick, and lacked aplomb. After a speedy countdown and scattered clapping of hands, the crowd more or less dwindled down.
Well, many thanks to Nuffnang, and a very Happy Merdeka to all of you Malaysians!
Happy 52nd Birthday, Malaysia. May your nasi lemak always have santan.
For more photos, click here to view the Facebook album.
Posted at 11:50 pm by IsaacCheah
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