First Golf Trophy

Golf is a very strange game. I had played 56+56=112 (very, very bad score, 40 strokes over par!) yesterday as I had not been playing for a while and this was my worst score in the past 3 years.

Hence, when I was invited by Erwin to play at a charity golf event today, I had declared a handicap of 24 (highest possible, beginners'standard). Usually, I would have declared 20, but because I was earlier dismayed by my terrible score from yesterday, I was convinced that I was possibly worse than a beginner.

As you can see, the course was beautiful (Bogor Area), and weather great (cloudy).



That's Pak Henry, Pak Dharmo, his son Andrew, and me.



At dinner, I won the most ridiculous lucky draw prize - a single two way ticket from Jakarta to Aceh.



And more amazingly, I won Best Nett! (49+40=89, 17 over par, and 7 underpar due to my declaration of handicap 24!). My first golf trophy and it was one of the most significant trophies tonight! Additionally, it was recognized as a highly difficult course (with zig zag par 5s, very long and narrow fairways, numerous hazards and extremely fast greens). No wonder I had so many lost balls.



Me with my huge "world-cup looking" trophy and Andrew (he had won Flight C Best Nett runner up, an amazing achievement considering he has played golf only for a year).

My love for golf is rekindled. It is one of the sports that lets you win a trophy after one has left school. It is one that has luck and strategy play a big part on top of skills.

Greg is funny. He is trying to remove the ball from the trophy.

Haircut

Before Haircut



After Haircut

Which style suits Greg more? With or without hair?

End of Lebaran

For most people here, Hari Raya here begins with fasting for a month prior to the actual day and a week of celebrations after. During the week of celebrations, most people leave Jakarta to go back to their hometowns and Jakarta becomes quiet and roads emptied. Definitely the best time to explore the city.

And during this holiday, I had enjoyed golf with my good friend Kevin; baked many cookies and bread; and hit the gym frequently.

Though my scores have stayed consistent, I am getting more and more pars. And thanks to tips from friends (Ms Kathleen G.), we are better able to bake cookies that look good and taste good. In fact, Ms Nani W. thinks that they are good enough to be sold! And amazingly, with all these cookies (and thanks to the gym), my abdominal lump is slowly disintegrating into smaller pieces (still on schedule).



Nice course in Bogor.

Lost, and Found

Wife asked for headphones so that she could go gym. But headphones could not be found alongside my handphone.

Then the revelation. Last night, I had left the phone with the headphones in the gym locker and returned the keys!

Upstairs, phone could not be found. Manager (same one as last night) mentioned that he had locked up without checking (I believe him as I saw them locking up while I was waiting for the lift). Records stated a Hxxxx-san (japanese) on 15th floor who had used the same locker this morning. Manager also heard from a cleaner that nothing was found this morning; and that usually, found items are kept in a particular drawer.

Back downstairs, I searched house the third time. M. Phua suggested that I search for the SIM card in vicinity where phone is lost as usually, that is gotten rid of first.

I thought: the phone cannot be lost. There are only 3 parties who had come across the locker. 1. Manager last night (but he looked genuine in the search) 2. Hxxx-san (that's a rich jap and he has no need for such spare cash); which leaves 3. Cleaner this morning

Went up again. Informed receptionist that I am free today and asked for help to make a police report right away. She mentioned Manager will come and help. When he came up, he made a call, and informed that the phone had been found. The cleaner who had found it had kept it safely in a drawer in the staff pantry upstairs as it is safer than the "Found" drawer.

Case closed.

Post Earthquake Interviews

This is the day-postearthquake.

A summary of interviews and observations from yesterday.

Me: Can you please tell us about your experience of the earthquake yesterday?

Wife: I was lying in bed, about to fall asleep with Greg when the bed rocked. I thought Sri (domestic helper) was trying to mop under the bed. Then, I heard noises and saw large amounts of water (from the swimming pool upstairs) splashing outside the windows. I got out of the room and saw Sri shouting "Tolong, Tolong!" (Help! Help!) and had her head banged against the wall as she couldn't stand properly. I knew at once it had to be an earthquake. But I thought the house was going to collapse and that we were going to die due to the noises, violent shakings and waterworks. So I thought we had to run. I opened the door, ran outside, and realised that I was not properly dressed. So I ran back, redressed and ran out of the house carrying a tin of Greg's milkpowder, then we....

Me: Ok, we need to pause for a commercial break. When we come back, we'll interview Greg..

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Some call it Island of the Gods, others call it God of the Islands. Wherever it is, it is near you. Come to XXX now.
This message is brought to you by YYY, a ZZZ company.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Me: Thank you, our next guest is Greg. Greg, could you please tell us about the quake?

Greg: Nge Nge, bao bao, ar groor gowl, nana, ummph.

Me: Translator?

Translator: Quake, what quake? Don't disturb me when I'm reading my papers.



Footnote: Author notices something peculiar, that happened purely out of coincidence. The headlines of the paper was "Quake rattles Java killing 32 and damaging 1300 homes" but Greg happened to fold it to read something like "Quake rattles James 32".

Earthquake, again!

Just when I thought i had nothing to blog...

An earthquake of a magnitude of 7 on the richter scale struck the island of Java, which Jakarta is in.

I was in the lift. At that moment, it shook violently. A quick thinking fella pressed "open" and we managed to get out at the moment the lift electricity died. Phew! I could have been stuck inside for a long time.

Outside the 31st floor, people crouched on the floor and prayed. I was surprised to see such panic and some were clearly shaken (and almost crying). Afterall, this is unlikely the first earthquake that they had experienced. Still, I felt silly for being the "brave" one standing upright and walking around looking for the stairs.

The flight of stairs down was long, crowded and suffocating. Pregnant women were stuck at lower floors and fanned as they had no more strength to go down.

Issue 1: Staircases cannot accomodate an evacuating crowd

Downstairs, phones were unable to call out. Probably airwaves were jammed due to too much calls.

Issue 2: All telcos suck.

I heard a "crick" now that I am back to the office on the 43rd floor. Better run..

Greg and Friends

Lawrence and his family came to visit during the Independence Day (Indonesia) weekend and we had a wonderful time in Bandung and Jakarta. Megan is getting prettier and she's so articulate. Greg had been greatly inspired by Justin (Megan's older brother) and her antics that he started babbling more words than usual now.

I was left with a bout of "Stomach Flu" (doctors claim no such term medically) after they left. Probably was unclean roadside food on the way to Bandung. Stubbornly, I did "self-treatment", got worse, and had to see a doc last weekend.

However, with ill health, I had lost 2kg in the last week, which trimmed my tummy and now puts me ahead of schedule to achieve 6 packs before Christmas 2009.

Greg's "frenemy" Jennifer loves to fight with him. Though 3 months younger, she is heavier and bigger than Greg. It's lovely to watch them play and fight at the same time.

Gregory speaks up

I am upset. Because I was called "evasive" in the previous blog. Hence, I am writing to refute those accusations that I am "somewhat arrogant" and dismiss claims that I don't care about you, my fans.

Please understand that I have a busy schedule with many functions and events to attend. Short of autographing (I can't write yet), I have to be hugged, praised and kissed. Basically, to look good, so as not to disappoint you, my fans out there.

That is why I spend much time in the gym, perfecting my poise.

Let me just share with you how much time that takes, and how hardwork that is.

First, I have to measure my height and weight. Without tracking, how would we know of our progress?

Too many machines, I'm lost at which one to use.

Usually, I'll begin with the treadmill.

Then some light weights.



Reverse bench press.



And finally some Yoga.

But why is it that despite all these trainings, I still cannot get my finger out of the tumbler.

Declaration of Short Term Goal

My blogger friend persuaded me to blog today.

But without an inspiration, it is difficult. My sis and friends suggested that I feature more of Greg and his photos (he's more popular than me since his guest blogging debut). Unfortunately, it is hard to capture his photos because he is evasive and seldom grants an interview.

"Buddy" Eric mentioned 3 weeks ago during golf that he is a very fortunate person. Because he has achieved most of what he set out to achieve, such as traveling round the world etc. And he decided that we should set out to play par at golf once in our lifetime as our "worldly target". I dismissed that. One needs to turn "near-pro" to achieve that and I don't have the time.

At that Korean BBQ gathering with the gang of sixteen, there was the elder Lukito. She lost much weight (positively).

Then, people say that if we openly declare our goals, we are more likely to stick to it and friends will "pressure" you to achieve it.

With these three thoughts in mind, I am declaring my goal to achieve prominent six packs by Christmas 2009.

I am currently 61.5kg, waist 31inches, no packs in sight and spare handles at side of approximately 5cm thick (if i had calipers to measure). However, I had started going to the gym with Greg since two weeks ago. I have also not been eating out for lunch for half a year, by depending on wife's home-cooked food that is sent to me at noon daily.

To achieve this target, I simply have to carry on what I am doing now, except, to extremes. Gym 4 times a week, heavy weights, long running, low fat diet, no sugar and then more running again. I will then declare my weight every month end. If the target is achieved, you, the reader, will have the fortune to catch those six packs on this blog. Worst case, I'll borrow Brad Pitt's photo and crop his face.

Here are some pictures of my home-cooked lunches in the past two weeks.

Like that also can finish one blog...!?

Telling Signs

Over time, I have noticed that I am becoming more and more "Indonesian". Hence, I have devised these telling signs that one is turning Indonesian.

Say, your name is Ang Ah Kow, John. (Family Name is Ang)

Sign 1: People call you "Mr John" instead of "Mr Ang" and you no longer feels irritated.

Sign 2: People read your name card and call you "Mr Ang Ah" and you no longer feel irritated.

Sign 3: When you go back to home country, and calls the waiter "Mas" when you want to order food.

Sign 4: When back in your home country, you convert your currency to Rupiah so as to evaluate the cost of an item.

The Mystery

Did he, or did he not do it?

The evidence pointed to it.

There were stains on the chair, all over his clothing and on his fingers.

The timing was right. He was caught 10 minutes into the act.

So did Greg, eat or not eat, his own shit?



"Heeheeheee....you don't know right?"

Guest Blogger

I had asked my most experience blogger friend iamandy on how to improve my blog. I had recognized that I am poor with aesthetics and I had no direction for my blog. In fact, I was thinking of moving it towards hitching singles (since I have so many single friends that could be featured) or about where to party in Jakarta. Then while talking to her, I was suddenly inspired to blog as my son through his infantile perspective. That should be original, and I'll call my blog mylaupei.blogspot or something. Until, she informed that her friend is blogging as her dog!


iamandy further informs that I should stick to my strength of "logic". Point taken. I, too begin to suspect that it'll be a bit too "oily" to read too much blog from an infantile perspective, though it might had seem fun initally.


She suggested a good idea - viceindulgence.blogspot since I am and had been part of this trade for a while. Problem is, I don't indulge in vices. I simply encourage others to. And that's like work. I'm not about to blog about work. Someone will have to pay me more to do that.


Anyway, to fulfil that desire of blogging through someone else's eyes, I'll ask Greg to blog as guest blogger for today's column. This is how he might have made this whole blog look like if we were to rewind all the previous posts:

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14th June, Opening : Hi, I am Gregory. This is me when I was 5 min old. Everything looked bright and suspicious to me. I have nothing more to add as I'm so young.


16th June, Jakarta on Fire : Two loud noises few suckles apart woke me up. "Mamamamamama....."


20th June, Long Weekend :
Papa came home smelly. Where did he go and why did he not bring me?
The next day, we met Aunty Li and Ang. At the big house, there is an uncle on stage calling numbers to the paintings? I like paintings. But these paintings are ugly. No flowers. At night, mama baked cookies. Cookies smell good. But papa don't let me eat. Never mind, I will eat tissue paper.


26th June, An Inspiring Weekend :
Market has fish. Fish is smelly. Why am I not allowed to walk in the market?
We went to church. Why do everyone keep saying "Amen" in Church? Hey, isn't that "Zeeezers"? I know him. He lives in my house too. After church, we went to a place with many people eating on a hot stove. What is this place? Food smells strange. Hot. Must run around.
Next day, Papa made me run around the studio chasing balls bigger than myself and that makes me sleeeppyyyy.....
Had a nap, woke up to smell cookies but why can I not eat them? "Mamamamaamamamamama...."

Argghh..Why does papa not bring me down from the table but must take a picture first?

Shit...my head is stuck...

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I am now better convinced that blogging as Greg might not work. She is indeed an expert with foresight.

An Inspiring Weekend

This was meant to be another routine weekend.

But while staring at the "going to rain" skyline outside the apartment window, a spark in my mind decided to call it "inspiring" instead. Because, suddenly, I know what I could feature in this blog.

Life of a Sin Ka Po Family in Jakarta.

Doesn't that sound more interesting than just a blog with no directions?

Indeed, it was pretty routine weekend. Packed some work home (for reading) and then grocery on Sat morning at the huge fresh market by the sea, followed by church at noon and dinner with the "gang" in an authentic korean restaurant in the evening.

There were 16 of us! The Wids, Widoyos, Lukitos, Tanuwids, Ah Li, Ah Ang, Christina and Andrew, us. Greg proved to be a really disobedient baby running around the premises (while other toddlers his age were so much well behaved). Fun, good food, but too bad, we didn't have any programs after the early dinner.

Sun was cooking and baking day. Greg was especially playful today and was caught in numerous potentially "mind-boggling positions to him". For instance, hanging on the table when he slipped off the chair and head caught between the windows and playpen.

We tried baking again today. We had the cookies split into 5 batches, with batch 1 as control and the rest of batches with changes in ingredients, such as addition of more corn flour, vegetable oils, caramel and so on.

Unfortunately, this week's was much worse than our maiden try and we ended up with less cookies despite so many more batches baked. Chief learnings are temperatures were too high, vegetable oils and egg makes the texture different. Fortunately, the bread were successful and delicious.

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So, doesn't it seem more interesting now, to have insights on what a Sin Ka Po Lang family does in Jakarta, then just what we do on a routine weekend?

Poor Greg with his head stuck between the playpen and the window.

Long Weekend

A peaceful long weekend, with yesterday being the public holiday.

Was at a huge and popular club in Ancol with Christina and Andrew and friends on Friday. They are amazing drinkers. Finished 2 bottles of premium whiskey amongst 6 of them, with the first half a bottle downed in first 15 minutes. I drank next to nothing, how I manage to do it cannot be divulge for now. Anyway, according to Chris, they are all mothers out to get drunk for the night. Haven't gotten their names though. Music was too loud.

Called Ah Li and Ah Ang on Saturday for lunch. Drove ourselves to an Art Auction in a private hall in Thamrin area. Pissed, they valet everyone's car except mine, claiming not enough manpower. Must be the nasty green colour. Bought nothing, but feasted on the great local buffet though.

As much as possible, we cook. Because we think that our foods are tastier and healthier.

Wife's maiden try at baking cookies. Very interesting. Did not know that cookies expand upon baking! Then, there's the unexpected uneven browning on lower tray of oven. Sri suggested sugar levels be reduced and rotating of tray. Strangely, upper tray browned evenly. For a first-timer, I think they are pretty tasty. Must consult sister, the cookie guru, on making it better.

Fish head curry was not perfect. Sri added too much water. But the fish was fantastic. Red garoupa. Super ex. That fish uncle taught me how to identify garopas. Dong Xing, Tai Xing, Kang Xing, Lau Shu Ban, Lau Hu Ban, etc... The spots identify where the fishes are found - deep sea or shallow sea or in the middle. Deep sea ones cannot be farmed. Because I am very particular about my garoupas. They must be caught off the sea, not any other ways.

Salted veg duck was tasty but again, not perfect. Used the wrong sour plums. Soup was a bit too sweet but still likeable. Kampong duck's texture after long simmering remains perfect.

Gregory, as usual, is happy that I'm home to play with him all weekend.

Jakarta on Fire

The first thing Sri (household help) told me this morning was that Marriot Hotel at Mega Kuningan area was on fire. Hence, she was caught in a jam on the way here.
"Oh" I thought "Another fire, Aryaduta Suites was on fire two weeks ago too"
"It was a fire or a bombing" she added
"Impossible" I said, "Marriot's been bombed before, and who will set off bombs so early in the morning? More damage could be done at night when there's more people awake"

The first thing Donny (driver) told me this morning was that Marriot Hotel and Ritz Carlton Hotel at Mega Kuningan area were bombed. Hence, he was caught in a jam on the way here.
This time, I was shocked. He turned on the radio to prove his point.

The first phone call I received this morning was from Ah Li (Godmother of Gregory). She asked if I was ok because the hotels were less than a kilometre away from my house. We wondered on possible causes but ruled out those for political gains as such an act showed planning, which were unlikely to happen so quickly after the presidential elections. Also, all politicians have a stake in the welfare of this city. There are easier ways for political sympathy such as illustrated in other countries, where bombs appear to "almost" strike opponents. Of course, such an act would work against the newly elected as his main proponent is the economy. But this would be like willing to cut off your hands for your enemies' legs.

This act instils fear. It is a "spit into your face act". Despite increased vigilance, Marriot was hit. Despite "lightning seldom strikes on the same spot twice", it showed that it would. And despite hitting the same spot, it hit even her neighbour, Ritz. They are saying: we can strike anywhere (not random), we can strike with more force (hit two), we can strike with our brains (overcome increased difficulties).

I was particularly affected by the hit on Ritz. I was almost there. I was supposed to be there. Since a year ago, I was supposed to meet a Director of a F&B premise there but our travel schedules did not permit. His manager called in May but I was traveling in June and I couldn't meet her too. Just last sat, another manager called and I had mentioned I'll meet him at Ritz this week. Although I was sure I wouldn't be at Ritz so early in the morning, I was supposed to be there this week. And most likely to be yesterday afternoon or this afternoon.

This is going to affect business too. We have invested in HORECA segment. Our target audiences are similar. Higher profile consumers come in smaller quantities but are worth more, and we spend more to get them to become our "targets" (consumers).

Wife called. Come home now. Mass coordinated effort. More people affected. Hits in other malls and hotels around the city. "Are you sure?" I asked.

Heard there are a series of bombs, some have yet to go off. Massive traffic jams everywhere.

Heard Man U was supposed to stay at Ritz for their exhibition match tomorrow. So, they've cancelled their trip here.

Wonder why the perpetrators did not act later. Fans of Man U? Or insufficient awareness campaign announcing their due event that the perpetrators don't know? Or that they are not internet-savvy? Imagine the effect if it was to go off two days later, with Man U team having team breakfast.

Anyway, hope we're all safe, their targets seem to be commercial interests, not residential interests. Oops, I'm in the office. Commercial interests. Then again, they hit ground floor, I'm over 40 storeys high. Unless the whole building collapse.....

Opening

The first words are crucial. No inspirations at the moment. More importantly, I have a blog now. That I don't know what to write inside is unimportant.

Anyway, this is Gregory, my boy, when he was 5 min old.