Late for work on the "First day"

Me: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz[ring...ring]
Boss: KongHei Fatt Choi. What time you want to come in to work, ah?
Me: Zzz...huh.... today holiday ma
Boss: No, its not. Everyone's in the office already.
Me: But... today... 2nd.... office memo... Oh, OK.

And so, I came in 2 hours late to office. What a nice start to the new year. Luckily Boss was in a good mood. And then, just as I suspected, another package arrived. Which means I came in last week. And yea, this is the reflecting screen protector for my Nokia 5800. For RM21, I was given three screen protectors. And then, after all the pizazz and joy of receiving it, the truth finally dawned on me.........

This is the package from Hong Kong. Its sealed in those anti-static
bags usually reserved for semiconductors. OK, this is something new.

After taking off the cover, the screen of my Nokia 5800 looks very
used. At the top, it has a lot of those fluff and bits of sand/dirt which
is usually found when you stuff things into your pocket. But note the
original screen protector which is still very much unscratched. I have
to remove the original screen as the printed icons are blocking a lot
of things on the screen.

The installation of the screen is very simple. There are two sides and
each side has a sticker with words saying, "Please peel off this mask
AFTER application completed" and so on. One side is the adhesive
where you just peel it off and position onto the screen When it is done,
you just peel off the other layer. And now, the screen looks like a mirror

Putting the cover back on, its looks as if I am look at a reflective
LCD screen which came out years ago. In those days, they use the
sunlight or other source of light to see the screen thus saving power
on not having LEDs lighting it up.

After a second look, the screen looks very "cheap" la. Although the film
is thick, I felt its like those made in China toys which uses the very same
type of film to simulate mirrors. Because the screen is not even, it made
the whole thing look as if its not part of the phone. This is a small problem
for me at the moment (until I see how it performs in Sunlight or other
outdoor places). I just want to see how long it lasts since its a 3M PET film.

The main pet peeve I had with these non-scratch(?) screen is that as
it offers clear view, it also attracts grease/smudge from your nice non-
oily face and fingerprints. Just to show you, this is the smudge from a
one second phone-to-face contact. I have to use a clean cloth/tissue to
get rid of it. And its never going away that easily. Somehow, I suspect
that I do not have this problem with Nokia's original but temporary
screen protector that came with the phone. But it has patterns and so
blocks a few things on the screen. Good thing is that the screen is cut
out in a pattern that does not obstruct the light sensors, etc. at the top

[Update 04022009]
OK, as expected, using the Nokia 5800 with its new mirror screen protector under the Sun is as expected. One, in its original form, if you're not under the shade, the Nokia 5800's screen is useless where bright Sunlight is concerned. Two, even with your hand to act as a light shield, the mirror surface would still bounce the light back.Effectively, you'd be seeing the refelction of your own hand instead of the screen.

Lou Sang!

Yes, today is the 7th Day of the New Year and we get to have Yee Sang! This is another aspect of Chinese New Year which I like (hee hee hee) and its only unique in Malaysia (As far as I know la). Although we're one family short, the atmosphere is still there. However, this time, the Yee Sang is missing some pomeloes, fresh salmon (OK, I'm the only one who likes it) and other what nots. We've been doing this since there was a Yee Sang DIY pack on the market yonks ago.

For the benefit of the Blogspot's Hard disks, I am not going to elaborate much about this (since I am too lazy) speesial dish, so I Googled the Wiki for you.

Everyone was mixing and right next to it was another of
my favourite, the porridge. Ah, what a night!

Nice or not?

And Kaelynn, after her trip to the loo,
wanted to finish her yogurt drink asap

Something fishy.....

I thought it was funny when I saw Mom frying the fish.
After taking this photo, I forgot the punchline. You can
show me how creative you are in the comments box, K?

6th Day CNY: Visiting the NIL (Number One in Law)

Weekends are here and this would only mean one thing: Work starts next week.

Already we're disorientated with so many days off, we kept thinking today is Tuesday or tomorrow was Thursday and so on. And the things I wanted to do with the time off never materialised with the girls now wilder than ever. Haih.

Anyway, judging by past experiences, this would be the last family gathering for the moment. And so, all of us end this one with the visit to the first Sister in Law. We're going there for lunch and since its a potluck lunch, Wife wanted to get some cooked duck instead of making something in the kitchen. Its less messy and faster this way. And because its a day after the Nokia Maps 7-day trial license expired, the GPS now looked more like those tracker system in TV/Movies, where the red dot (as in, you) shows where you are while the map scrolls about. No more routes or voices nagging you to turn left or right, etc.

So far, with the GPS guidance on Nokia Maps, it is quite a useful tool as it can really get me where I needed to be. But because its a trial and with no other supporting software, I doubt I can edit my own maps or get it to learn alternative short-cuts. Just today, going to my in Laws in Sg. Buloh, the routes to their house is virtually non-existent; just a blank area on the map. GPS is useful but its not that everyday we use it. I can see that most of the time I would just log the coordinates as POI (Points of Interest) and see it show up on the map whenever I go near these places. But that's just it. I am not the kind who would go Geo-chacing or even be some guy who maps out new routes in my travels (OK, maybe I would if I have a good GPS software by then). But until then, I have the following choices:

1) Nokia Maps
Yes, I could go nuts and pay for a year's subscription (RM4-500). But its not a good idea since I would only use it about a few times a month.

2) Garmin XT
This is a good alternative. However, in its latest version, it is only applicable for Symbian phones which do not have touch-screen by actual physical buttons. And so, if I wanted to get it, I would also have to download the software virtual-keys. The good and bad is that it will work, and maybe I'll get a MalsingMap to go with it but I won't be able to search for any places properly. Oh, the original Malaysia Map for Garmin is USD129.99. And if I am not mistaken, you can use MapSource to edit the maps.

3) Sygic McGuilder v7.7
From the reviews, this is another nice alternative. However, after searching the whole night, I cannot locate the Malaysia/Singapore maps for it as the older maps/files does not work, I think.

Right now, I have to contend with it just being a basic GPS, like those you see on the TV/Movies where the maps scrolls all over the place but you (represented by the red dot) are stuck in the middle of the screen ...

The girls with their new dresses

This was taken next to while Wife was
waiting at the Duck King at JayaOne.
Never knew this place existed. But then,
I never go to this area often

The fountain at the car park is quite nice but since I "accidentally" I
paid the parking ticket, there was only enough time to get them
together for this shot. There are better scenery behind.

What a surprise! Wendy's is here! So, based on long forgotten reflex,
I went in and ...

Got this tub of Chilis. (Chili con Carne) which is great as a dip
But because we're rushing, I forgot to get a pack of tortilla
chips or any other chips. So, for lunch, I ended up eating most
of it since everyone have no idea what to do with it sans chips

Oh, its RM6.30 after all the tax, et al. I loved it and I farted non
stop until the next morning. Ha ha ha ha!

After the lunch, the girls started to play around which is not a good thing
as there were a lot of fragile things about. Here, Kristine is showing who's
the pushy one.

Then their other cousins showed up. And so, kinds being kids, all of
them crawled about.

Bored, they then turn their attention to the Hamsters, jumped onto the
chairs and started to knock on the glass. Imagine if they fell...

One of the four escaped hamsters. Note the bulgy front.

After catching it, I let Kristine pet her.

And not forgetting Kaelynn. Remember the
bulgy front, its the food stored in its mouth.
Here, it "vomited" everything onto my hand

As the afternoon progresses, the girls started on their new
game; fighting

Of Omnitrixs and Energy Swords

After last night's events, I 've completely forgotten about this until this morning when I remembered there was another plastic bag I forgot to bring into the house. This was during our trip to the GM Plaza that I stopped by one of the Toy suppliers on the way to Plaza Damas. I brought Kristine there hoping to score on the working Ben10 Omnitrix which costs about RM129.90 on the streets. But we were disappointed since they only have the static imitations ones, which costs RM6.90. After going to another store (a few doors away) I got it for MR6.00. And then, that was where I discovered something new. Apaprently, they got in some Storm Hawks toys. It was the energy swords. Further searching for items like action figures and also the humongous Condor battlecruiser proved disappointing.

And so, for RM22, we got two Ben10 Omnitrix and one Battle-Ace
Energy sword.

There were two versions but I got Aerrow's

Kristine was pleased as pie with her new
Omnitrix. But it was too loud.

And so, the girls played with, and
enjoyed their new toys, including
my Energy Sword, which I was
hoping to make it as my,well, er,
ah, I also dunno what. Haih

Here, the downside is, Kaelynn realised the Omnitrix cannot
be activated via a smack on the palm just like in the cartoon
while Kristine tells her she is the "bad guy" and Kaelynn must
use the Omnitrix to defend herself .... oh-oh.

Halfway, they stopped to eat some nice stuff....

Which happened to be the pistachio nuts and some muruku

Sadly, the Omnitrix's were forgotten......... wasted my money
summore. But never mind, once its completely forgotten, I will
use it for my (any) projects that comes to mind.

Unfortunately someone is eyeing my
Energy Sword and won't let go

The Parents & Kiddoes Gathering

OK, maybe I should not call it a gathering or even a TT (Teh Tarik Session ala AutoWorld NMT Forums). I should call it .....NMT Kid's Party! Yeah, that's it! A kids party where all the kids get to bring their parents along to eat all the fries, burgers and softdrinks as much as they can. Times have changed.

Anyway, although it was scheduled at seven in the evening, some of them were already there. And it was pretty cold due to the rain. Then again, this place was always too cold for me no matter whenever I went there. Still, moments later when everyone showed up, the place was warm. Warm with friendship.

In the old days, we would gather about in mamak stalls in the late evening, sipping teh tarik, Mikos and toehr beverages. This was indirectly, a way to see who is who since the Forum is quite faceless where nicknames are concerned. And also, this is another reason why you do not give yourself Forum names like Mickey Mouse, FatJack or other embarassing or unpronounceable names. Anyway, this is how the "TT" session came about. And you can call it a gathering too, if you want. But this time, its a bit more special because not only was this held during the Chinese New Year where other Forummers came back from HongKong, China, Ipoh, etc but also, this time, kids were involved. And everyone was amazed at how big the kids have grown since they last saw them, etc. But this is a nice time as there are things you can talk about without eMails or using the Forum, just plain natural face to face talk.

And so, at the gathering, everyone who is familiar on the Forum was
there. You can also see the kinds of food they eat in this picture.

I thought they were banned from the place but halfway through,
this shabby looing watch salesman fro Hong Kong came and
convinced a few Forummers to buy them.

Asking about the warranties, he claimed that as long as the
customer reads and understands the contract this thick,
there should be no problem. You can also study the manuals
in DVD-ROM form which, alas, was also this thick.

Meanwhile, in the danger roo....... er, play area, the kids are getting busy
knowing each other, fighting, pushing, biting and doing other things that
kids do, it was a matter of time before the heat generated in that room
was sufficient to power a few cities for minutes.

A brief moment to recharge their energy.
Its amazing how 2 cups of Coke and a few
strands of fries canpower kids for hours.

This unedited photo best describes the atmosphere inside the play area.
Its even enough to convice a parent to be to take a U-turn with the Wife

Again, there is this mysterious person who keeps
taking incriminating photos so as to bribe the kids
in later life. You can reconise this person via the
barcode tattoo located on the upper left armpit on
the thirty-eight hair. But you would problems taking
her to Giant to get a scan on the cades. It should
read, "Ham Kai Tau Sar Pau RM1.59"

See the sweat on him? They really play hard. By the
way, he's decribing the mountins of stewed brocoli
his Dad force him to eat since he could walk.

Kristine's hair is now really really wet and she does not care. Luckily,
we dressed her up in pants and not skirts.

Finally, someone caught the rabbit. Yes, I
can describe this akin to a rabbit farm too.

Plaza GM @ Jln Raja Laut

Wife needed more paper bags as the ones she gave was very beautiful and so, one of her sisters asked her to get it. And so, folks, that is a good excuse for us to go out and into the streets of KL. This time, its Plaza GM located Jalan Raja Laut. These places are now great to get stuffs you wanted in terms of fashion, jewellery, toys, etc. But stray too far, you'd also get something else. Anyway, Plaza GM is located in Lorong Haji Taib and for a straight tal building surrounded with not much parking space, I was not suprised Wife wanted us to go in the Hyudai instead, saying something about the lifts. Shame that I forgot to enter the GPS coordinates for this.

The moment Kristine woke up, the first thing she wanted was the bag
of pistachio nuts which I promised to keep it for her the night before.

Wife told me to turn into the building and we're faced with this sliding
door with lights.

Then, I realised why we needed the Hyundai instead of our normal car.
These doors leads to the lifts. The moment you drive in front of it, your
car will activate the lifts via sensors on the ground.

After a few moments, the doors slide open and this is where you drive
the car into it. Very very interesting.

And while you're inside the lift, it will automatically take you up to the
eight floor where the actual parking lots are located.

And when the door opens, it leads to the entrance to the parking bays.

But you'd have to take the ticket first, of course. Bear
in mind, the corners are very narrow and at least
one does not have the safety mirror.

Unfortunately, most of the shops are closed until this coming
weekend due to the CNY celebration. Its like waking in some
abandoned shopping centre but with lights and air-conditoning

Luckily, the shop was opened and so, we got as much as needed. But we
did go to other shops (from 7th to 1st to 5th to.....well, you get the idea)

The girls with their new bags