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10 May 2009

Once Bitten

I was asked to a meeting in KL on Monday so have had to travel today (Sunday) to make it. 

There is only one direct flight from Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur and it's daily at 2pm. This means I need to leave home by about midday, the flight departs at 14, I land at 18, get though imigration and baggage by 18:20, board the express train by about 18:30, get off it by 19:00, get another cab to the hotel by about 19:30, I'm checked-in and unpacked by 20:00 and my day is gone. It's pointless trying to find something interesting and open by this time on a Sunday.

This evening I wound up sitting in the lobby bar of the Shangri-La hotel having steak with BĂ©arnaise sauce, I received an email to say our meeting was moved to Tuesdsay. 

I should have known ... the originally meeting was called by C, of New Year fame

DooouuuuubbbbbbbbblllllllleeeeeAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The good thing about the lobby is that there is a very professional, polished 3-piece cover band. Like most Filipino bands that I've seen, they are fantastic singers and have a huge range. For some reason Malaysia celebrates Mother's Day on the same day as Australia so there are a few families here tonight.

Then something really awkward happened with the band. The guy started singing a Tony Mutton song with a chorus that started with the man singing "I Wanna Make Love Right Now" and the backup going "Na Na Na" trailing off in the background. Out of nowhere, 3 little girls of about 4 years old and dressed in very frothy bowy dresses (2 pink, 1 lemon) got up from their table and started dancing right in front of the band with their hands linked. The guy became very uncomfortable with his love-making lines that he started mumbling and trying not to use the actual lyrics. By the end it sounded like "I Wanna Mer Gerrr Ra Na" with the women singing "na na na na".

Naughty Naughty Little Scallywags ...

I spotted this today at Hanoi airport.



I started thinking about these children and immediately reached for my wallet. 

Not to give money, but to check it hadn't been pickpocketed.

Hell's Potatoes In Full Flight (Part 4)

Turning left onto the street where I work.


Please note that this accomplished potato is riding with one hand while he films.

Hell's Potatoes in Full Flight (Part 3)

It's a few minutes later and Hell's Potatoes are picking more gaps and going for them.


I think this looks more precarious than it feels at the time.

Hell's Potatoes In Full Flight (Part 2)

This was taken just after R had taken the wrong (left) lane and the road divided into a dual carriageway. Rather than turn around, he decides to speed up and get it over and done with.

Where's Wally?


Hell's Potatoes In Full Flight

Today I decided to attempt taking a video of my ride to work. In this 19 seconds, I was following R who quite deliberately and non-chalantly (and accidentally) turns into oncoming traffic.