Malaysia Truly Asia (brrr...)

Okay, in Marketing we learn of Jingles that either reinforces a brand either positively or punitively. That ANNOYING "Malaysia Truly Asia..." jingle you hear on CNN all the time has gotten very annoying to me. Its a punishing reinforcement. On several occasions, when asked about my origins, I would normally say I am from Malaysia, and the response i get is either one of the following:

• OH, Malaysia Truly Asia
• Twin Towers!
• Where is that? (Normally, I explain its the land mass between Thailand and Singapore, plus Borneo)
• Malaysia Truly Asiaaaaaaaaaaaaa
• Oh, I want to go there (...not!)
  

Now, Malaysia is truly Asia, yes. The arguement being that you find most of the Asian cultures in One country. Yes, we also have Twin Towers, which i personally think is not a great significant branding image (perhaps our headhunters would be cool?). Malaysia needs to include maps (pointing out where Singapore and Thailand is as well) in the advertisements since people dont know where it is...The Jingle is annoying. Finally, since many people claim they want to visit (but i have a feeling less than half mean it), i feel some national responsibility to promote Malaysia more positively. SO....

• Click HERE if you are Malaysian (or if you arent, but curious)...



• Click HERE then HERE then HERE then HERE maybe HERE and finally, HERE if you are a foreigner (or if you are Malaysian, but curious)...



• Click HERE to see a youtube video of where I am from. I think its a good representation, though the ending is SOOO cocky..and check out the scene at 1:36 minutes in! yep, thats dinghy sailing

Just for interest, click HERE . There is a scene where this Asian couple are embracing each other, looking out to the sea. I saw the recording of that sometime ago in Sutera Harbour.

And by now, you should be SICK of listening to "Malaysia Truly Asia", if not, its already drilled well into your head..

So Folks! Let me know what you think about the ads, my point of view or if you feel like visiting or not! Leave a comment!

Term Break woes (again)

Term break isnt far away, and I need to travel somewhere new. SO! here are my options:




SWITZERLAND-PRAGUE-VIENNA-INSSBRUCK-SWITZERLAND

So this is self explainatory...The plan is to grab EasyJet to Prague, a train ride to Vienna and Inssbruck. And of course back to Switzerland.
And if Berlin is not too far away, why not stop by to say hi to Sebastian :D





SWITZERLAND-DUBLIN- XxXxX - SWITZERLAND

This itinerary is to go to Dublin (and maybe say hi to Stephen and Griffin) with either Easyjet or some other flight, and stop by either London or Amsterdam for a night or two before returning to Switzerland.





Of course, if you are interested to partake in such a journey with me, let me know!
So guys (and gals) please, leave a comment or advice on what I should do!?

A Feeling for a Concert

Okay, I feel that I need to be in a concert of some artist coming to Switzerland. Anyone interested? I gathered this info:



David Guetta: Playing in Le Mad Club (Lausanne) on the 21.02.2008 and apparently, its CHF30

Rhythm of the Dance (Irish Dancing): Playing in Lausanne on the 08.03.2008, and is about CHF63 for cat-3 seats, CHF93 for cat-1 seats






James Blunt: Playing in Geneva on the 03.04.2008 and tickets are about CHF60 for a cat-3 seat








Kodo (Japanese Drum Percussion): Drumming away on the 23.03.2008 in Luzern. Cat-5 tickets are CHF35 ; cat-4 is CHF60 and cat-1 are CHF140









Tokio Hotel: My least Favourite...But anyway, they are playing in Geneva on the 21.03.2008 and ticket prices are not available yet :S












I personally would love to go to (in order of preference):

1. Guetta
2. Rhythm of the Dance
3. James Blunt
4. Kodo
5. Tokio Hotel


So if ANYONE is interested, leave a comment or contact me! Or if you hear of any other gigs, let me know! Stand up Comedies a big pull :) Ciao for now!

New Years Till Now..FORGET the passport incident..PLEASE!

Okay..so from the last time, here is an update of other things i did back home..

Basically going out almost every night with Michele, Steph Lok and Kat (later on- her Boyfriend Andrew- but just for a day)..and on two nights, met some Swedes..things happen... *SLURP SLURP SQUISH SQUISH* to a particular someone..

Went to visit my old high school..VERY few teachers recognized me, i went with an old school friend (Wong- also one of my best friends) and they recognized him more :S Also had LOTS OF ADVICE from teachers that, lets just say, cared too much for me...hahaha

Spent time at the beach..on New Years Day, went sailing with Dad in the Ships Bell regatta, and won third place :D

Had 2 Lok Yuk Reuinions (my former high school)...once with a poor turn out, the second, MUCH better..

Went to Pulau Tiga (its an Island to you foreigners) with my family..Had a really good mud bath, it was gross but fun- i could not sink! Also went snorkling and attempted to get a tan (but didnt seem to work)...

Went to Singapore before i left for Europe..did some last minute shopping...Spent time with my Aunty Judy (who is a year younger i must say)...

Pictures are here! Thats all for now!

Some statue thingy from the Survivor show on Pulau Tiga

Pulau Tiga

Wind in Dana's (my sister) hair

Kuala Penyu, where we took the boat to Pulau Tiga

The Yacht Club at the beach :D

Steph at that place outside Cocoon

High school canteen

My Aunt Judy

The very impressive Terminal 3 at Changi International Airport

Terminal 3 again..

Yacht Club :D
Lok Yuk Gathering

Mich and errr...Mikhail i think..

Steph and the guy whose name we never got..

Randomness

Back in COLD, Snowy, Boring, Wet (MOIST) but fun-because-i-get-to-see-my-friends-again Switzerland....

To The Passport Curious...

Quick story of how i came back to switzerland (to use "exhaustion" as a sub-excuse)...

from Kota Kinabalu- Singapore (overnight)
Singapore-Dubai, via Colombo (9hrs55m)
-transit in Dubai for 2hrs-
Dubai-Milan Malpensa, via Rome (8hrs45m)
Malpensa-Milano Centrale-Malpensa (about 5hrs30m)
Malpensa-Domodossolla-Brig (about 2hrs20m)
Brig-Alpina (3m)


Okay..so lots of people are curious with the whole passport thing...so here is a step by step guide to how my passport was misplaced...

Step 1: I was supposed to catch a bus to Domodossolla (to catch a train to Brig) at 14:45pm BUT as my flight was delayed, i missed the bus.

Step 2: So, I decided to go to the Internet corner to check for trains that i can catch, the only ones being from Milano Centrale Station (MCS)

Step 3: As you only pay at the end of usage, you give them the passport as a "deposit", so to say.

Step 4: After using the net, I wanted to pay by cash, but the dude had no change, so I paid by credit card. When he returned my card, i assumed that was it, and left- forgetting the passport.

Step 5: Got on the bus, took an hour ride to MCS

Step 6: Arrived 3 mins before the train I wanted was due to leave (fortunately it was delayed), got my ticket and got on the train. After a while, realized my passport was missing (train was further delayed)

Step 7: Called Magnus/Mr Gutzwiller to ask if I can use my B-permit to cross the border (of which, as a Malaysian, I do not even require one)

Step 8: Realized I left it with the internet dude, SO, got off the train and took the same one hour bus ride BACK to Malpensa airport

Step 9: The Bus i originally intended to take was there, so i hopped on and finally got on the right train at Domodossolla to Brig, arriving around 10pm...

Step 10: Realized that too many people were asking.. (Hi Ian, good to see you are here, and DID YOU FIND YOUR PASSPORT?) grr...lots or repetition, so i decided to blog it so it makes my life easier

There you go..my 10 Steps of how-to-lose-your-passport-and-find-it-again-and-realize-blogging-makes-it-easier-to-explain-it-to-many-people :)

Oh, and while in Singapore, spending time with my Aunty (who is a year younger than i am...due to the different generation levels), I had the sluttiest looking picture of myself taken- ever!

Look at the damn eyes! and yeah, the seatbelt ruined it all...