A force of nature!

This blog is a shout out to Vishen for turning last friday from what would have been a depressing weekend into a brilliant evening.
The week leading up to last Friday was pressure filled and one needed to release. The options;
a) Force of Nature concert in KL @ RM82
b) Hong Kong Rugby World Cup in HK @RM alot of rms
...and so the day began, having not been able to secure neither a nor b it was looking like a night of american idol and hot cholocate (not good for the tropics)...
Vishen's lunchtime call was the saving grace, tix galore hallo concert!
Ok you must be thinking at my age why the heck Im I going bonkers over concert..well wait! it wasnt just a gig, it was THE GIG! A bunch of international artists coming together with some local ones to entertain and raise funds for the long term aid of the tsunami victims. Now thats what I call a cause....read more here http://www.forceofnature.org/
Many hours later an exhausted mass left the auditorium witha great feeling of wellness.Some of the drama involved, in no particular order;
a) Lauryn Hill strumming on her guitar and doing her thing..Doo Whoop indeed!
b) The whole auditorium singing along to Boys 11 Men tunes. I have never been so proud of Malaysians who I have always found to have a rather odd concert culture. Ive always liked Boyz 11 men and now I know why......
c) Wyclef Jean !!! an absolute hit. Not a single soul was on their seats during his gig-prime minister royalt included. Enter Lauryn Hill and it was 'Fugees' time - There is not a word in my dictionary which can define the excellence of this gig
d) THE CAUSE....the power of an auditorium load, forking out their earnings to lend a hand in putting the neighbours lives back on track. Indeed we are all a force of nature.
e) Rubbing shoulders with the stars at the after party hahahahahaha crystal glasses, petite rolls, bling bling, big ar*** body guards ...dude!!!

Righteo, the proceeds go to the ''aftermath" i.e the rebuilding process which im my opinion is the largest bit. Ive suffered a great loss in my time and I must say the time that counts most is that phonecall/note/visit 3 months down the line by someone who comes back to say ' how uve been since then?'

Hongkonged!

'Steep n tight' is my synonym for Hongkong. After spending last weekend there with Paris(cheers mate) and the Goans aka Diogo & Krishna, I insist that all city planners must definitely take a trip to HK before they can whine about their challenges. Its most definitely a city planner's nightmare.
One of the greater things is one can get from point A-B within a couple of minutes and on foot. Ofcourse at rush hour you will be rubbing elbows with many arrrmm.. most folks but still the ease of finding your way is refreshing.It may also be because Paris, our gracious host last weekend lives 5 minutes to town on foot:).... The availablity of public transport is a great point as well.
Unlike most places where all the funky looking buildings and seaside cafes form the front view of the harbour, some brilliant mind crammes the not so hot buildings on the island. By day the harbour appears rather dull but a transformation occurs by night, thanks to the odd construction and plenty of lighting hence one of the most amazing skylines I have seen yet.
The rest of the buildings on the island, mostly residential, have been carefully balanced on the steep inclines. I say balanced because not only are the residential buildings pencil thin but also appear to be reaching well into the heavens. Should any of the chaps living on the 40something flr of some of this places spotting none but a smile, they have only God looking right at them:)
Thankgoodness that its also escalator haven!
Its shockingly cold this time of the year, a temp that the SEA delegation were not anticipating and instead of brilliant blue skies and green blue waters we had biting wind,grey skies and cold grey waters.
Highlights:
1) View from Victoria peak(we hear its awesome-on the day we were there, the skies were so low we could barely see ourselves)
2) Walking about market street and central and feeling like you are in a Jackie Chan movie
3)Arriving at the efficient airport and being welcomed by a life size version of Jackie Chan
4) Pacific Coffee House -very very useful for the weather at the moment. They brew a mean hot chocolate
5) Walking around SOHO and feeling like your in another world...where were the Asians?
6) Australia day on DB-note to self, If I ever move to HK, I will not breed there.
7) Chinese tourists taking pictures of me and other foreigners. I used to hear that they do that, now I know for sure-been there done that.
8) Conversations about China, plight of developing nations, King Mswati with Paris and the Goans..... esp on the rooftop with a long island iced tea
psss: King Mswati just bought himself some major wheels using 1750 royal cows!!!!! yeih for Africa.........
9) THE BEST-BEING THE ONLY AFRICAN CHIC I SAW THE WHOLE WEEKEND!! It was like Halloooo Whoppie! I was this close to signing autographs:)

...so if someone loosely proposed a trip to HK , pack a bag quick, grab your passport and grab your sunglasses(be sure to go in the summer) oh yuh, and send us a postcard

Nevertheless time well spent in HK...if I had it in my pocket, id be heading there right about now for the Rugby World Cup!! Im sooo routing for Kenya!

Here's Krishna and I, reporting for the developing nations from the HK harbour...

Nomad

After spending 2+ years in Malaysia, my flatmate of one year completes her traineeship, tries life in malaysia for abit more, travels all over Asia and like all birds, she goes home to roost. Now she is no ordinary girl-she and her boyfriend travelled from Poland to Tanzania overland! So when she calls me and says 'Pilli, Filip and I are going back home and were going to open our own pub!', I dont doubt her. What follows is the setting up of a cosy join; the name....'Nomad', yuh baby! so if any nomad is on that end of the globe and is looking for a cosy euroasia watering hole, put 'the nomad' on the itenarary........
Good luck Alice! and may the thirst of a thousand thirsty(x n) men be quenched by the flows of the Nomad:)

Actively changing the world

Here is an AIESEC country that in my opinion is sticking to the cause....any takers?

Volunteer – Serve
Thailand and Yourself

Background

Thailand is facing the challenge of rebuilding what has been lost to the recent tsunami disaster. Thousands of people in the southern provinces have beendevastated/ practically lost everything they had: properties, belongings, source ofincome/ livelihood, loved ones and to some extent their identity. The severetrauma among those affected has left a scar that will take a long time to heal. It willbe a painstaking endeavor, one that will be met with numerous challenges andproblems.

In light of this situation, AIESEC in Thailand has set up this initiative,V-STAY. This program seeks to bring in young people from all over the world,along with local volunteers, to share in this task of rebuilding the province ofPhang Nga whilst training them to be proactive and socially responsible.

You too can play a part in this. How?? Why...by taking part in thisTRAINEESHIP of course!!! Attached are the details of this wonderful project. Docheck it out and get back to your VP eXchange or feel free to contact the MC’s onthis matter.