Championship New Year

Week 37: 31/12/2012 - 6/01/2013

My year ended in the best way possible.... I was crowned Champion of the Aztecs Fantasy Football League, as Dom-int0rs Deathmen scored a hard fought, but ultimately comfortable victory over Ickey Shuffle.

For New Years Eve I joined Marcello and Choi in G Tower's View Bar. It was a vibrant party, and although we couldn't see the KLCC fireworks, the View Bar had their own display which was pretty good. The only concerning thing was at 23:55 two fully kitted out firemen arrived to observe the display... I didn't know whether to feel reassured or scared. I identified the nearest fire exit anyway....

Smash Up! Marcello, Colin and me, making up for Jack's absence by loosening a button or two.

I had a chilled out New Years Day, rounded off with great dinner at Rahul's place, with Steffie, Jags and Carolina. Some lush homemade curry accompanied by an eclectic selection of wines (I'm still convinced that "Rose"was sherry!).

Standard dinner........

I kicked off the weekend of much food and drink with a trip to Ciccio with Nick and Tom. Saturday afternoon was spent baby sitting Lianne, obviously jet lagged from her 36 hour flight back from Barbados: Her ear ring randomly pinged off her ear, she "accidentally" threw an empty bottle at an adjacent diner, and then managed empty the content of her hand bag over the floor of a shop. It was all I could do to prevent her opening the lid of a vat of soup with her umbrella handle... that would surely have ended in disaster!

Caution: May not always appear this smart and sophisticated

Saturday evening I helped Paul celebrate his Best Dressed Man in KL Status, by drinking loads of free beer. Met some new faces, saw some old faces, and had some incredibly random conversations ("I'm going to act out my name....", "Did you say 'arse first, ask second', or vice versa?"), and a whole lot of fun.

Sunday I went from lunch with Elke and her friends straight to the outer depth of society with a trip to ..... erm..... somewhere a long long way away for some dinner with Gemma and her friends. If anyone needs an encyclopedic knowledge of the best toilets in KL..... Gemma is your gal!!

Bangkok Christmas

Week 36: 24/12/2012 - 30/12/2012

Christmas Eve Nick, Sarah and I walked a lot. We spent a few hours in the spectacular Grand Palace then headed for Golden Mount which had pretty good views over the city. Then in need of some food we thought we'd get a taxi to Chinatown... no such luck. No one wanted to drive that way. So we walked. It took us a while. Bangkok Chinatown is serious. It makes "Chinatown" KL look like silly.The good thing about the walk was seeing more of Bangkok. It definitely feels like a city going about its business and as a tourist you are on the outside looking in. It is definitely easier to feel integrated into the city in KL and HK.

I'm soooooo Asian, people were actually talking to me in Thai because they thought I was local. Fact.

In the evening, after eating two meals within 2 hours of each other, we ended up having a few beers with some random locals. Cue my first Christmas Day hangover!!

Christmas Day was fun but strange. I missed home and my family, but it was nice to wake up to a sunny 30 degrees, grabbing a Thai Massage (a serious one, not a "fun" one) and then heading out for Christmas Dinner at Nick's Dad's friends house. Turkey, Ham all the trimmings. It was good.

Nice job on the photography there Mr Shelley......

Christmas Day evening I played a film quiz game with Nick's family. It was very entertaining... the average answer was Robert Di Nero, The Love Interest, Some Like It Hot..... well it was every time we didn't know the answer.

At 4am Boxing Day I was up to fly back to KL, in work for 10:45. Christmas over too soon.

Saturday I caught up with Taliban, Marshmallow and Chorizo in Pinchos..... Main topic of converstion KL Village. Don't be naughty people, because the whole city will find out eventually! My quiet evening out was hijacked by Chorizo and her habit of buying shots.....

So, thanks to Chorizo, and her Baby Guinness, my quiet Saturday night ended in the wee small hours with a standard Smash Up!!

Sunday I took a leisurely trip to Pulau Ketam, an island off the coast by Port Klang famous for its houses on wooden stilts and its crab restaurants. As delicious as the food was, having to shell all my food before eating it was annoying. Proving that delicious things can be a massive pain in the arse!!

Hello Spartacus

Week 35: 17/12/2012 - 23/12/2012

My Company Annual dinner was held at Shogun in Mont Kiara. The Japanese buffet had plenty of variety, enough to keep most punters happy. What kept me there for the whole evening was the free flow of beer, sake and wine!! Ended up talking nonsense with bosses and their wives over pints of Leffe.... good career move? I'll keep you posted!

My plan for Christmas was to meet my school friend Nick in Bangkok. I arrived in Bangkok a day and half before him and his family, so I had some time to myself. Saturday evening I headed to Sukhumvit Road for some dinner at Condoms and Cabbages, which was really nice, and profits go to helping rural communities in Thailand.

Juice bar in Chatuchak Market

I then decided to walk to Patpong, which on a map doesn't look that far away. I think it took me about an hour, so by the time I got there I was pretty clammy! I didn't dare venture into any of the establishments offering Adult Entertainment, for fear of my own safety! I did nearly by a fake Rolex though!

Sunday I headed for Chatuchak Market, which was crazy. Such tiny alleyways, such a load of random stuff, such a lot of people. I ate some amazing pork, drank some fresh fresh fruit juice and bought a Chang Beer T-Shirt.

Yes, well done boss, you got me. The Tailors and Jewelers were lovely!

After that I headed for Wat Pho to see the giant reclining budda. Despite warnings from my friend Tabby I ended up being kidnapped by a tuk-tuk driver and shown round some lovely tailors and jewelers, all for BHT 30 (60p)..... after escaping from him, I made it to Wat Pho as the sun was setting which was lovely.

Sunset behind Wat Arun across the Chao Phraya River.

Sunday evening Nick and Sarah arrived. Its always great to see an old buddy round the other side of the world. We went out with his mum and dad and sister Emma for dinner and a few beers which was lovely.