I am Wyatt Wang.Com

Gibberish Comments (28 Oct 08)
Bright Lights
Those That Give You The Glares
A Sensuous Pose
With A Heavy Mind
A Bitter Beer
That Leaves A Lousy Taste
A Heartless Man
That Does Not Love
The Sentimental Me
Who Was Never There

What's New In Travel Blogs?!
14 Dec 08 - Pulau Ubin

11 Dec 08 - Buenos Aires (Reprise)
08 Dec 08 - Ushuaia

In A Glance
I had the following in Jan 09:

Coke	Beer
0	0

Click here to see previous records.

My Mental Blog

1 Jan 09 - A Start To A Better Year (Hopefully)

Was staring at my TV last night; it was showing at least 5 countdown parties around Asia. Is it really that exciting to count down to the New Year every year? Cannot understand why people would not get bored doing that.

Told my colleagues that I was so glad that the dreadful year (i.e. 2008) was over finally. They looked at me strangely and asked me what made my year so dreadful. Ok, the switch to my new department affected me greatly but somehow I really cannot think of any other thing that made it bad (backpacking trips in India, Argentina, China and Spain could not be considered as bad). Maybe I had let the 2 bad bricks spoilt my mood towards the end of the year.

Well, my new year wishes would be (again) for everybody in this world to enjoy peace. On a personal level, I hope I get to travel to exciting places and experience life to the fullest, And hopefully, the "sleepy" bug would get away from me soon.

Last but not least, may you be well and happy. :)

15 Dec 08 - Sleepless In London (4.38am)
This is probably a scenario unheard off for me in the past 8 months; I had finally completed all my outstanding blogs. During this time, I wrote 13 blogs spanning from the Incredible India, my ancestral China and the end-of-the-world Argentina (though once I come back to Sillypore I would have to write about London and Barcelona). It had been very exciting for all the travelling I had done though I really cannot say that for my career in the world greatest airline. Sometimes, I am just glad that it is going to be over soon.

My mum is trying to heat up breakfast at 4.38am (GMT). Both of us got into London using my last staff ticket entitlement and we are both trying to adjust to the time difference. If you are also as sleepless as us (or just plain skiving at work), feel free to check out Ushuaia, Buenos Aires (Reprise) (both blogs are on Argentina) and Pulau Ubin (Sillypore) if interested.

25 Nov 08 - An End Of Her Time In The World's Greatest Airline
My ex-department did a farewell party for my boss last evening. Our gang (58 colleagues plus 2 kids) were packed into a certain bar (there was no alcohol though) that was located in the land of purple flowery dreams. It was a lovely evening.

During her farewell speech, my boss talked about the importance of being happy. No one can make ourselves happy except for ourselves. Sounds like common sense? Perhaps common sense is not so happy sometimes.

Do check out blogs on Haikou/Qionghai (China), Salta/Cachi and Comodoro Rivadavia (Argentina) if interested.

3 Nov 08 - An End Of My Time In The World's Greatest Airline
I tendered my resignation as of 1825hrs this evening. My manager looked pretty shocked and asked me why. Just told her that I needed to leave. It was a weak reply but I just needed to get out from her cubicle that moment.

It's one of those nights where an emergency beer would had helped.

2 Nov 08 - Going For My Physical Training Lessons
As I didn't managed to pass my physical test (a requirement for all medically fit-Sillyporeans aged 40 and below) for the past year, I had to attend remedial lessons to boost up my fitness. Was late and had to run a bit to catch my bus. That was about all the physical activity I had for the first lesson - the rest of the inaugural session was just talking cock and a short stroll around the camp.

Anyway, I am going to tender my resignation tommorrow. Mixed feelings but may the strength be with me.

26 Oct 08 - Checking Out My Roots
Just came back from Hainan island; it was a short trip but no doubt I learned alot more about a place where my ancestors came from. I am working hard on my Hainan blog but meanwhile do check out my blogs on Jujuy/Humahuaca (Argentina) and Kuantan (Malaysia).

25 Sep 08 - Busy Life
I been leading a pretty busy life since I came back from Argentina. Other than the banal work in my office, I am always coping with my humanitarian work, this blog, my mum and my girlfriend (not ranked according to merit). You can say I almost had no time for myself!

Anyway, I had published my blog on Iguazú. Do take a look if you are sick and tired of following the Chinese milk scare. *After this, I still have 4 other blogs to write for my trip in South America.*

15 Sep 08 - Minor Reflections About My Short Corporate Life
Well, it had really been a long time since I did a decent blog entry here. Got posted to a new department 3 months ago and started thinking about my existence as a lowly corporate rat (been in this since December 2003). The following events occurred as fast as a blink of an eye:

a) Told Madam that I wanted to stop being her bachelor boy (sounds like career suicide, isn't it?)
b) Gave up on my request because it is just NOT going to happen
c) Decided that I am not going to do this anymore
d) Mother Hen will be leaving (not by her choice though) her little chicks (that effectively eliminated all chances of me returning to her farm)
e) I get this impression that Young Mother Hen is thinking of leaving as well and so is Brother Alf
e) Attended a boring lunch with Madam and the rest of the gang (Fat Boy, Abang, Auntie Cat, Kak kak, Maria)

While I had set a date to finally break free, I must endure all these shit bestowed to me while I crawled slowly towards the finishing point. Yah, at least I learn how to give presentations and take minutes in silly meetings - every corporate rat has his day!

31 Aug 08 - My Walk On The Wild Side (Only 5 Mins)
My apologies for being cryptic here. I hope I can explain all this one day. Meanwhile, check out my Buenos Aires blog.

3 Aug 08 - How Busy Can A 30 Year-Old Be?
Been using my laptop on buses and trains after getting a USB dongle that enables me to surf internet whenever a phone signal is available. It seems like even 24 hours a day is not enough for me.

Uploaded blogs on New York and Laputta/Yangon in a week (they are both 2 pages long). Perhaps I can finally start writing about Argentina though maybe I will just write a short blog on the Pulau Ubin visit with Sally yesterday.

25 Jul 08 - Confessions Of A 30 Year Old
4 weeks into my new job and I had requested for a job transfer. I really wonder if I am becoming picky in what I want to do. Perhaps I shall tell you guys more about this when I have time. Photos taken in New York, Argentina and Yangon are staring at me; my blogs are pilling up!

Came back from Yangon on Monday morning and felt that we had accomplished our basic target of distributing aid relief items to the cyclone victims. Spent 2 nights on the bus but I didn't feel tired upon touching down to Changi (lack of sleep will get me a couple of days later). I shall keep my comments in my Yangon blog.

I should have written a blog on my 30th birthday but was probably too occupied with the banal stuff I was doing in my office that day. Somehow, it seems that I had lost all interest in what I was doing. Perhaps its time for a major change.

15 Jul 08 - Yangon After 8 Long Years
I am going to Yangon from 18 to 20 Jul 08 (assuming if my new boss approves my leave). Had always wondered when I would be able to visit this lovely country again but had never thought the visit was due to the Cyclone Nargis. To be frank, I am not sure what should my expectations of the trip should be. When I was there as a student, there were dreams that I strive to realise after I graduate and join the workforce. But after being financially independent, I realised that nothing had changed. I am still chasing my dreams; though they had became more and more blurred. Going back to Yangon this time sounds like me going back to school for my report card; filled with failures, red marks and nasty comments from the form teacher.

Anyway, I had finally done up the blog on my Delhi/Varanasi/Agra visit. Took me nearly 3 months to complete this but at least I can move on to my New York and Argentina blogs.

3 Jul 08 - I Can See Half Of My Iguazu
Managed to recover half of my corrupted SD card. Finally saw my photos of Iguaçu (Brazilian side of Rio Iguazu) and Jujuy more than a month after I have taken them. This is a breakthrough (I almost felt like shouting in office when I saw the photos) but can I successfully recover the remaining photographs taken in New York, Buenos Aires and Iguazu (Argentine side of Rio Iguazu)?

18 Jun 08 - Back From Argentina And Facing Unknown Certainties
Got back from Argentina on 15 Jun 06 and is in the process of adjusting to normal (or abnormal if I really want to call it) life. Spent 3 days in a negotiation course and will formally report to my new department tomorrow. No big deal about that actually. While reporting to my new department is a certainty, how it will all turn out is an unknown.

Managed to recover one of my SD card. Possibility of recovering the other one remains slim after I had tried with 2 recovery software. Shit happens. Think I better concentrate with my India blog first.

8 Jun 08 - Mixed Feelings About Home...
Spent the day taking photos of lovely Ushuaia in absolutely clear weather (somehow the weather decided not to listen to the weather forecast). I must pray that my photos on this (my final) SD card remains safe and sound. Tried to hike up a snow capped mountain with only my jeans and worn-out Converse sneakers. Gave up half-way, drank beer and wrote a postcard (the 6th in 4 weeks) to Sally in the middle of nowhere, all covered with snow. Can that be taken as a hint that she is always on my mind?

Tried to blog about Delhi/Varanasi/Agra; I done only 4 (out of 10) pages and it is way way overdue. No mood to do it though. When I come back to Sillypore, I really need to buck out and complete my India blog before starting with the blog on Argentina - that is to assume I can recover my photos. *Fans, please pray for me!*

7 Jun 08 - My SD Cards!!
Before I know it, I am sitting in my comfortable hostel (with good heaters) in the end of the world (i.e. Ushuaia). Google it if you don´t know what the hell I am refering to. But this also means that I am almost towards the end of my one-month trip in Argentina. I kind of miss home (and chinese food), but I am starting to feel sad about leaving this country. Maybe I just don´t want to get back to work.

I dont know if there are any hidden forces up there that just does not want me to have a perfect trip, but my second SD card got corrupted today. My Argentina blog is a big big uncertainity now. :(

2 May 08 - A Promotion And The Downside Of It...
It was almost a pleasant surprise when I got back to work after my project in Bangalore. Met up with my boss and told her my bathing experience in the Ganges (!). She opened her drawer and handed me a letter. Ok, I been promoted for the 2nd time in 3 years. Hip hip hooray?

I would like to consider that as an amazing feat. No doubt that will attract the admiration (or maybe jealously) of my collegaues but maybe I don't really care. To me, getting a promotion simply means that my boss appreciate what I am doing; it does not mean that it is the light at the end of the tunnel. (Boss: If you happen to read this, I want you to know it doesn´t mean that I am not appreciative of your reward)... incomplete

p.s.: I never got to complete this entry as I was busily preparing for my Argentina trip and before I knew it, I was already on the flight to New York.

18 Apr 08 - Leaving Bangalore...
Before I know it, I am leaving Bangalore after spending almost 8 months on a project. It was not a bed of roses but I did learn alot of things along the way. After confirmation that I will be posted back to Sillypore, I get a weird feeling everytime I walked around in the neighborhood (i.e. Koramangala). Afterall, I had spent endless amount of weekends here eating mutton biryani and drinking Kingfisher alone. It's probably a love-hate relationship (love India but hate the work). Or maybe, I silently wonder if I ever get a chance to visit India again after my involvement in the BLR project.

Though I am really missing home now (been here for the past 7 weeks), I will do a short backpacking trip to Delhi, Varanasi and Agra. Anyway, do check out my Goa blog if you have nothing better to do.

7 Apr 08 - Go Goa
Just came back from Goa; a tiny state in India that is facing the Arabian Sea. Nice beaches with hippies, duty free beer at Rs50 or S$1.85 per large bottle (this should explain the high beer count) and NO (as compared to Bangalore) traffic jams. The only pitfall being we have to travel for 15 hours (one way) by car to get there - this also means that I am now so sleepy and cannot find any motivation to do my work.

My dear fans: It's been a long time since I wrote a travel blog. expect one real soon.

21 Mar 08 - Alone Again (Naturally)

Dinner alone again (naturally) - Dinner tonight was tomato-based seafood (frozen shrimps) spaghetti with boiled cabbage. I cooked it myself and thought it was not that bad; I had not lost my cooking skills after all!

No, I am not trying to be Gilbert O'Sullivan.

After nearly 3 months of fun and laughter, I am alone again (though I am not lonely) in the City of Traffic Jams. CH and BT (read blog dated 12 Jan 08) had returned to Sillypore after completing their tasks while I still struggle to finish mine. People tend to ask how I will cope when they go back; after all, it was them that made Bangalore a lot brighter than before. My answer is simple - I was "alone" for 4 months before they came. To me, I see it as back to the basics. And of course, this also means I will have to cook my own dinner (unless I am eating my favourite Mutton Biryani).

I sometimes like to think that I had reached the stage of life that most will call it the "mid-life crisis". Life had taken an unexpected turn; first with the Bangalore project followed by the arrival of Miss Friendster. Though not necessarily negative, it just shows how life changes in such an unpredictable manner.

To be frank, my uncle's demise (read blog dated 18 Feb 08) should have affected more than it is currently. Somehow it doesn't. Anyway, I sincerely hope it was all due to work that is temporarily keeping those thoughts at bay. Maybe I had became such a corporate rat that I no longer bother to care. Maybe it's simply something in me that had died quietly without me noticing.

16 Mar 08 - When Do I Want To Go To Argentina??? Eh... Now??
The week from 10-16 Mar 08 had been an eventful week. Everybody was waiting for the announcement of the delay in the opening of the new airport (originally scheduled on 28 Mar 08). The news finally came on Wednesday; a 2 to 4 week delay. More news were announced on Thursday; a firm 4-week delay. A firm date was finally announced on Friday; the airport will be opened on 11 May 08. Will there be even more delays since the state elections are coming? This is an eye-opener for a silly Sillyporean like me.

For the record, I had just completed 6.5 months in my India project. With the airport delay, I probably have to spend some more months here. But it was heartening to see a facebook message from my boss reminding me to look on the bright side. What's more surprising is, she had asked me WHEN I would like to start my long break (she hasn't forgot about it) and she will work out a plan to make it happen for me!

6 Mar 08 - Wait
Sometimes life is just about waiting for the next event to occur. We wait and wait.

Slept for only 4 hours last night after spending more than 14 hours in a emotionless server room waiting for my vendor to resolve a critical issue so that my project can move on. To be frank, all I could do is to wait and prepare an update to the rest of my team. I am trying to think on a backup plan, but my mind seems to be completely blank.

It is one of those days where I wished I was in Hanoi drinking Bia Hoi while watching the wheels.

18 Feb 08 - The Day Which He Quietly Left...
Holding on to my passport with a boarding pass that shows a First Class seat, I was waiting for my flight in a departure lounge that looks more like warehouse. My mind seems to be in a blank. Or maybe it was actually churning out thoughts; thoughts that were heavier than lead. My mind was on my uncle, whom I (for the first time in my life) drank beer with just slightly more than a year ago.

He happens to be that uncle that passed away last night; alone in hospital. On 55 years old, he was a victim of throat cancer.

Even the best writers in the world couldn't have written better script; I was supposed to be on my way home (from the City of Traffic Jams) for my annual body maintenance session organised by my dear country. It was probably a good break away from my project; but his departure had changed everything. To be frank, I am not close to this relative of mine; he was not close to anyone anyway since he is always quiet and reserved. However, when I brought him to see the doctor in Malacca a year ago, we had a drinking session and I talked to him more than I had spoken to him for the past 28 years of my life. I'm not guilty for not spending more time with him; I am just plain sad that I had observed another reminder on how life can be that fragile.

All things happen for a reason; some people just don't learn though...

27 Jan 08 - Sunday Nights...
The Sunday night syndrome: it can never fail to bother me regardless where I am in this world. Don't know why the hell am I checking work emails now. It may be my karma at play; maybe in my past life I was a king who banned his subjects from clearing emails on Sunday nights.

Dinner (with my Bangalorean buddies) was my favourite Hyderabadi Biryani and the number 2 American food, KFC (number 1 is of course Mcdonald's). Have to thank my buddies for keeping my sanity alive with all that crappy talk, chai and clove cigarettes. I'm enduring now and trying to keep my homesickness aside, though thoughts of eating a peach cake and watching Brokeback Mountain on a Sunday afternoon aren't really helping.

Anyway, I had broken my records (since May 06) for Coke consumption - 32 cans in 27 days. Sometimes my pee looks like the caffeine-laden liquid. Not sure about the smell though. Coke Inc should reward me for being such a loyal supporter.

26 Jan 08 - Someone Told Me
Had been in Bangalore for the past EIGHT weeks. It seems that I had lost count of the number of Kingfishers that I had drank.

Someone told me the happiness I had been so deperately to find is actually inside (and not outside) me.

Someone told me I am just a piece of confused arse who doesn't know what I want.

Someone told me to relax since I will be going home in a week.

12 Jan 08 - And I Thought I Was Back In Singapore

Our eyes (from left - me, CH and BT) were clearly glued to the TV; Man Utd was playing against Newcastle United. I really don't care about the Premiership but was just waiting for someone to break Ronaldo's legs.

My colleagues decided to cook dinner on a boring Saturday evening - authentic Sillyporean dishes like stir-fry mixed vegetables with prawn, fried fish with home-made chilli paste and cabbage soup with chicken. And of course, to "wash" all the dishes down with the ultimate long grain basmati rice. And the result? Simply lovely (thanks to CH/BT). I never felt so full since my I got my appetite back (thanks Sara). For a moment, I almost thought that I was back in Sillypore.

Anyway, another week had gone past for me while I continue to struggle in order to finish the race in Bangalore. Perhaps it's good that there's a lot of work to be done; time passes faster this way. I had now stayed in Bangalore for 6 weeks - a feat that was previously deemed impossible. Maybe I had become numb to everything, or maybe I had grown wiser.

On paper, it's just 3 more weeks to the next pit-stop though no one knows if the pit-stop will be there when I reach it.

10 Jan 08 - I Rather...
Here's something I had scribed while trying to resurrect my stupid internet connection.

I rather not con you to bed if you ever going to block me
I rather lose you as an object of lust than to lose you as a friend
I rather be paranoid and make you leave me today than to hurt you tommorrow
I rather make you set the lowest expectation on me than to make you sad one day

All being said, all lonely people (yes, they are all the same) know that this short-term relationship will end one day - this being the only logical ending for everything.

6 Jan 08 - Are You Attempting To Change Me?
The same old cowardly spineless loser is back in action again. Don't know who the f*** is he? No worries, it's very easy to sport him. He first tries to get close to someone. When he finally succeeds, he tends to back out; citing all sorts of silly reasons and leaving the other party high and dry (thanks, Radiohead). The explanation for this particular behaviour is no rocket science. The fact is he simply has no confidence to get close to someone (mentally, not physically) anymore. All he can think of is commitment, commitments and ALOT MORE commitments. Or maybe, he is just afraid of being changed??

p.s.: the above drafted by a loser who had just spent (aimlessly) 5 weeks in Bangalore, India

5 Jan 08 - Chasing Shadows On The Wall
2008 came like any other evening; the only exception was I was in India and struggling to sleep while the skies was filled with fireworks (and not to mention the deafening noise created by the fire crackers).

Frankly speaking, I have nothing to provide in the webiste for the new year; how I wish I can be drafting my travel blog on Argentina, but if you are sick and tired of checking my beer count for the month, you can read my latest travel blog on Mysore.

And please excuse me; I need to go back to work; regardless whether I am co-ordinating silly meetings or chasing shadows on the wall. That's my job, really.

31 Dec 07 - A Kingfisher Speaks
Just had 4 Kingfishers; it's the end of the year afterall. Happy new year, my dear fans. I just told someone that I want to have her "cake" and eat it. Now, that's was something totally uncalled for. Damn.

26 Dec 07 - My Motorcycle Diaries
I dreamed that I was in a motorcycle accident. Was riding a bike along the highways of the outer space when a stupid car knocked my ass of the 2-wheeler; I wasn't wearing a helmet but I escaped with mild scratches. Luck was on my side, the car didn't run over me - the driver alighted and checked whether the bumper of the car was damaged. It was then I realised that my fucking life was worth less than a fucking bumper.

Or maybe it did happened. I woke up realising the scratches were still there. Real dreams don't give that right? Perhaps it is just one of those days that I really missed home. Perhaps it is just another banal indication, reminding me how fragile my life was to be spending time doing something that seems so worthless personally.

25 Dec 07 - My Leg Is Sore From The Mysore Trip
Ok, I did go to Mysore (without my jeans). It was certainly fun to play backpacker again and how I wished the trip was longer. India do look different when I am wearing the stupid corporate mask as compared to my trusty old (and torn) bermudas cum slippers. It somehow reminded me of my dream to backpack in Argentina.

My dear fans, all you can do now is to wait for my blog - and yes, it will be on Mysore.

21 Dec 07 - My Trip Depends On You, Mr Laundry Man
I am targeting to go to Mysore (eh, I'm not sore) tomorrow; that is if my laundry (containing my only pair of jeans) can come back in time.

Christmas is coming and it seems that I'm all "alone" in Bangalore. Some of my friends think that this can be pretty miserable, but I don't really see it as a big deal. Maybe I am just a sucker for gloominess. My only worry is that my woman is all alone in Singapore - just skyped her this evening for an hour. Never realised that I can ever miss her and Sillypore so much before this silly trip to India.

16 Dec 07 - A Day Where Nothing Was Done
Woke up at 10am. Ate the kueh which my boss brought from Sillypore. Checked email. Updated website. Played Championship Manager 2007 (I sometimes wonder why do I still bother to be a manager in the virtual world when there are already some much things for me to manage in real life). Drank Kingfisher. Took a 2-hour nap. Woke up. Skyped mum (I was glad to hear her voice). Watched Super Sunday part 1 (Liverpool vs Manchester Unted). Cooked and ate Tom-Yam instant noodles (with cabbage, mushrooms and carrots) for dinner. Watched Super Sunday part 2 (Arsenal vs Chelsea). Played Championship Manager 2007 again. Ate ice-cream. Washed my hair. Got ready for bed. Wrote a postcard. Blogged. Sent sms to my brother and MOo. Went to sleep at 1am.

15 Dec 07 - 2 More Weeks Of My Life In Bangalore (And 7 More To Go)
To many, it's probably not a good prospect to be spending Christmas and New Year in Bangalore alone. But somehow, I am numb to this. Yah, you can call me a sucker for gloominess. But I don't really care.

It's been a month since I last blogged. After the last entry, I spent 2 weeks in Sillypore catching up with my mum and stuff. Came back to Bangalore and had to handle (with the help from my boss) the most difficult challenge I had encountered so far on my career. It's just work - one can say. Nevertheless, it affected me badly but I learnt. It was important to note that my boss helped. Somehow she always manages to steer through all these shit. *Boss: Thanks!*

Perhaps every new day offers a life lesson now. I just have to persevere, focus and work towards my goal. That is, get a good break after this by doing my Argentina.

I will be in Bangalore at least till Chinese New Year (Feb 08). Don't feel like counting but it's a good 7 weeks to go. Somehow I must do it. And I always remember - all this will pass.

15 Nov 07 - A Loner In The Economy Class?
It's probably not right to blog this down here (maybe even career threatening), but I just can't help it and have to announce that I am not all in the mood to work today.

After spending 3 weeks in Bangalore, it's time to make my way back home again, via the chaotic Bangalorean traffic, the not-so-organised airport (thank goodness a new one is coming up), the possibility of drinking Tiger in Economy class, the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea, the Straits of Malacca, the all-so-familar Changi and the long taxi ride back home. But hey, just 10 days later, I am coming to the City of Jams again. "Yay"!

p.s.: Finally got my 10-page whopper travel blog on Bangalore. Strictly for fans only; I wasn't sure what I was writing.

5 Nov 07 - Getting Myself To The Capital of India
2345hrs. Rushing to clear my emails now. In slightly less than 5 hours, I will wake up again to catch a flight to New Delhi for a series of useless meetings.

I wanted a lot of travelling while working and now I am getting it. If I am happy and I know it, I will clap my hands.

<<5 secs later>>

Nope, I still don't hear any clapping.

4 Nov 07 - Had I Lost Control?
Spent another week in Bangalore; this is my 8th week if I include the 7 weeks I had for my first trip. Time files; regardless if its good or bad times.

Chatted with some of my closest friends on the net (i.e. mum, MOo, roomie, T and alpha). They all knew that it was not the easiest period and thus gave their encouragement. But deep inside me, I know that it will only be up to me to improve the situation. I am running out of ideas, but somehow a solution will exists somewhere (just have to search for it). The important milestone is that I had made up my mind on the way forward. Don't think about the future; just concentrate on the present.

Meanwhile, I shall continue to "pull" the wagon. Somehow.

25 Oct 07 - It's One Of Those Days When You Know That It Doesn't Helps Even If You Wank
I am going to Bangalore again on 28 Oct 07 for a 3-week trip (return date prints 16 Nov 07). This is just 2 weeks after getting back (perhaps I should be glad that I had a 2-week break) to Sillypore. One unexpected "good" thing that came out of this is I begin to appreciate Sillypore more; I had never felt more comfortable with this silly place (Sillypore, not Bangalore).

Went for a counselling session with my boss. It's at least nice to know that she is trying to help. Really touched by her sincerity though I badly wanted to tell her I am losing faith as I am not fitting into this system. You may ask what system am I referring to? My answer will be simply "this" system. Don't ask me to elaborate because I don't even know what the fuck I am talking about. Seems like my brain is going into memory core dump (hey, at least I using something I learn from getting that shitty IT degree).

Sometimes it seems that I am now down with my last option.

p.s.: Done up half of my 10-page Bangalore blog. I wish someone could just pay me (while locked up in a cage) money to write stupid blogs that no one reads.

15 Oct 07 - The "Booking-In Into Camp" Syndrome
I got back to Sillypore, after spending 7 weeks in Bangalore. Life seems to have gotten back to normal terms; at least for 2 weeks. Yes, that will be the longest amount of time that I can spend in Sillypore before I go back to Bangalore. Sounds silly, isn't it? It's after all just work.

The feeling reminded me of the times where I was serving my silly national service. Yes, everything was so banal those days. One gets released on a Saturday afternoon (what's left of a saturday when one only gets out at 2pm?) and had to make it back to camp on Sunday nights. Yah, I hate that feeling, I really hated it. But then again, I was told that this is how pain can build up one's character. Crap, all crap.

All I only wish now is to drink a cold beer in Iguazu (a waterfall that spans the boundaries of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay). Damn, when can that really happen?

10 Oct 07 - 6, 9, 11, 13...
One may ask what do these numbers refers to. And don't bother about applying rules of arithmetic and geometric progressions into the numbers. This is nothing mathematical. Nothing to do with the number of beers I drink too.

These are basically my scheduled dates (in October) to leave Bangalore. The dates keep getting pushed back due to unforeseen circumstances (not important in this context). It's like being a runner participating in a full marathon and after sighting the finishing line, it was announced that the distance of the race would be extended for 10metres. Haha, this is certainly driving me nuts and probably I just want to get it "done with" (though completing the job with certain standards) and go home.

Another lesson on cultivating patience...

5 Oct 07 - Thanks For Keeping Me On My Toes
Worked late today and had pizza at Domino's with my colleague around my area. As I was walking home, a guy approached me to walk together as there were dogs on our path (I don't find the dogs threatening at all). He calls himself "Sham" and claims that he came from Assam (in the northeast of India bordering Myanmar). Although it was just a short walk, I get this creeps from him as I realised he doesn't seems to know where he was walking. For the first time, I actually felt scared in India.

While we were reaching the junction, I took my chance and quickly turned right while I gave him the impression that I was walking straight. I gave him a quick smile and said bye (I wondered for fuck why I still said bye bye to him). He had no choice but pretend to go straight. While I quickly walked into the lobby of my serviced apartment, I turned back and saw him walking behind me again. :S

On hindsight, I should have just ignored him in the first place. Maybe I was plain paranoid. But whatever the case, I was simply glad that nothing happened to me in the end. That kept me on my toes though; I am still not a fully-fledged Bangalorean yet. :(

Anyway, just an update. My scheduled date to leave Bangalore is now on 11 Oct (instead of 6 or 9 Oct as previously planned). Sometimes I wonder if I can ever go home. This is probably the first time for the past 8 years (my national service in Brunei was in 1999) that I wanted to get back to Sillypore as much as I can.

1 Oct 07 - The Roar Of An Airplane Over My Roof
Just as I was walking back home today, I suddenly heard the roar of an airplane flying over the sky. The sound felt so strange; just like I had not heard it for a long long time (logically that doesn't make sense because Koramangala; the area that I stayed, is very close to the airport). I recalled just over a month ago when every time an airplane flies over my roof, I would think if this is the flight that will be bring me home. Maybe I was too busy to think of home. Or perhaps, I had gotten accustomed to India.

Incidentally, today was the day that I confirmed that I would not be leaving Bangalore on 6 Oct 07 as initially planned. Although the urge for a break gets stronger day by day, but it is not like I will die if I don't leave soon.

Anyway, tomorrow is Mahatma Gandhi's birthday (public holiday in India) and I took a short break by enjoying a cold Kingfisher with a plate of spicy masala peanuts. Alcohol will not be sold tomorrow; so I kept 2 bottles of the golden shine in my fridge - just in case.

28 Sep 07 - Look Into My Eye (I Didn't Know Why I Was So Angry)
Bad ending to the day. I probably made it worse.

After having dinner (first time in 5 weeks where I ate fresh pork) with my colleague, I took an Auto (i.e. a automatic rickshaw) from MG (or Mahatma Gandhi) Road back to my apartment in Koramangala. After agreeing at 1.5 times the meter fare, the driver must have thought that I wanted a Bangalore sightseeing trip and took a big loop around the city. I told him at least 2 times where I am going and not to take the long route. The Auto finally stopped at a point 2km away from my apartment and he pretended to start the vehicle for a couple of times. He gestured to me in broken English; probably wanting to tell me that his vehicle is down and its time to collect the fare for my impromptu sightseeing trip. I thought that getting taken for a ride was bad enough; and now he wants me to get down and walk back home? Now I am really pissed.

"I am only going to give u 60Rs, you drove me the long way right?", I thought I was pretty stern.

"No, short way, short way. 80Rupees, eh, no, 90Rupees", the driver asked frantically, trying to avoid my stare. The meter shows 60Rs.

"No, long way to Koramangala. Look into my eye now.", the driver gave a quick look and turned away. "You tell me now, it is the long way right?", I said loudly.

I paid 90Rs and as I left the scene, I told him he was a BAD driver. During the 30-min walk back home, I asked myself why I was so angry. The amount involved was only less than S$3.50 (an Auto driver may earn about S$200/month). Frankly speaking, I wasn't really sure why.

p.s.: When I turned back, I saw the driver sitting by the roadside, counting the money he has earned today.

26 Sep 07 - Getting Myself To Bollywood (For A Day)
On flight 763, Air Deccan, from Bangalore to Mumbai.

It's one of those days that I wake up early sometimes and ask myself what the hell I am doing in India (certainly it is not all about learning how to watch cricket). The feeling was strong today especially when I have to catch a flight to Mumbai at 6am (i.e. waking up at 4am) for a study visit. It's not all that bad; considering it's a free trip and I get to visit the City of Bollywood. But still, I constantly get the entrenched (and I don't mean digging a trench) feeling. Maybe all I need to just to get out of my life.

p.s.: The Indian cricket team is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai 1 hour after my flight. Who knows, I might get lucky and see the victorious team in action after winning the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup!

24 Sep 07 - Chak De INDIA!!!
I found myself rushing for the camera after Pakistan lost their tenth wicket in the finals of the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup. India had just won the competition for 5 runs. Fireworks could be seen flying up in the night skies of Bangalore. The silly Sillyporean almost thought that it was Chinese New Year. I didn't manage to get any worthy pictures though. :(

I might be going to Mumbai on Wednesday for a work visit. I hope it will be fruitful.

22 Sep 07 - Don't You Wish That Life Is Like A Plate of Mutton Biryani?
Just to commemorate the 4-week mark as a half-fuck expatriate, I rewarded myself with my favourite mutton biryani at Hyderabad House (trust me they have the largest serving of biryani that I had ever seen) and a large bottle of Kingfisher (for the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup semi-final between India and Australia). Probably I am getting used to being alone in India.

My boss came to Bangalore last Tues for a management meeting and probably just to check how well I was doing (not to mention about the fact that she is bringing me food from Sillypore). I was feeling bad actually when I saw my boss walking slowly with the aid of a hiking stick; she had hurt her back during a recent overseas trip. The timing of the visit was just perfect; I was just feeling jaded of all the work and her visit was really motivating (i.e. just like finding an oasis after walking for days in a desert). Thank you, boss!

It seems that life is becoming like a plate of Mutton Biryani; the fragrance of the mutton immersed into the long-grained basmati rice - simple yet fulfilling (I wondered how long will this last though).

13 Sep 07 - My Driver Shut Off The Engine
8pm, Hosur Road Flyover (under construction), Bangalore.

After a silly day in office, I am trying to go back to my apartment for a short rest (and to do more work). It was raining heavily and there was a HUGE traffic jam and everybody was trying to go to where they were trying to go but it just seems like the traffic isn't going to move. The dim light from that lamp post by the side of the road was shining at me gloomily. It was like asking why the hell that I took up this silly posting where I could have an easier life in Singapore following behind Mashimaro and Mr. Fishball.

As I was typing this, my driver started swearing at some driver who cut queue and came into his lane. He shut off his engine in disgust as the traffic is not moving. And I remained seated quietly, not moving, trying to decipher if the source of the strong smell comes from the diesel exhaust of the Auto nearby or it is simply the smell of my angry driver whose vehicle is stuck in the rain.

9 Sep 07 - And So The Sky Decided To "Rain" Betel Nut Spit
My Bangalore for the past 2 weeks had been my apartment, vendor's office and a couple of South Indian Vegetarian restaurants. Period. A day here means getting to office via traffic jams, work, quick lunch, more work, late dinner, getting back to apartment via traffic jams and an 6-hour nap (I called it a nap because it always seems so short). At least, the weather is not shitty here like Sillypore.

So in order to de-stress, I rushed all my work on Saturday and thus have an entire Sunday to have a decent rest and walk around. Took an Auto (i.e. Automatic Rickshaw or Tuk-Tuk for those who had been to Thailand) downtown to an area called Majestic. And just slightly after I alighted, I felt a cool but slimy "sensation" on my face. I reached for it and realised it was betel nut spit! Some idio* (probably from a couple of floors up the building where the Auto was parked beside it) must had spitted betel nut chew and it landed right on my FACE, t-shirt and bag!! :(

I guess I can finally consider myself to have experienced India!

2 Sep 07 - They Add Onions In Everything!!
Spent exactly a week in Bangalore; it really "seems" like a month.

I'm not trying to suggest that being in India is like burning in hell. In fact, I love it here; the organised chaos (somehow no one gets into an accident) seen on roads, the food (yes, you can eat with hands) and the best of all, the abundance of toilets (for guys only: you can ACTUALLY pee anywhere)!

Travelling for work is of course, very different from travelling as a backpacker. One will get to enjoy an all-expenses paid trip while the later will have to scrimp and save those miserable rupees in order to get that authentic backpacker experience. For me, the second option seems more in-tuned to my frequency. Or probably, it is just a simple case of "the grass always looks greener on the other side".

As usual, being very new in a project that I am handling currently, I am paranoid from A to Z and getting all stressed up (probably over nothing). I relished the times where I was so comfortable in my previous project (I was with it for 20 months) that I wished it would never end. My boss Mashimaro told me that I am a "big boy" (don't know why I always treated her as my big sister than my boss) now and thus will have to take up more responsibilities.

I suppose we all have to grow up someday. At least I am learning how to eat onions. Not by choice though, they add onions into EVERY DAMN THING here!!

(Fans): Do check out my latest Narita/Seattle blog here! I will target to release my first travel blog on India soon!

26 Aug 07 - Wyattwang.com To The Mystical Land Of Uncertainty
Yes, my dear fans, there was no typo error in the heading. I am indeed going (in fact, its today) to Bangalore (India) for 6 weeks on business travel to handle a project; wished it was for leisure though.

After my little adventure in Narita and a non-eventful stint in Seattle (this blog will uploaded soon), I found myself with this new project in Bangalore and possibly alot more longer periods out from base as compared to my previous project (to be very honest, my previous project already had alot of duty travels). Thus, in the space of a week, from being very comfortable in a project that I had spent 20 months on, to the vast infinity and undefined boundaries of a new project. Perhaps I'm exaggerating here. It's just work anyway.

I always dreamed of being an expatriate or a backpacker (ok, they are quite different actually). Away from Sillypore, alone in some foreign land, no one knows who I am and where I came from. Now that I'm given the chance, I am feeling all strange about it. Perhaps I am just worried about my work, or maybe about my family while I'm not here. But I have to step out someday. I dread to be sunk in loneliness; though I am grateful to have the ability to embrace the "pain". Confused? Maybe I am contradicting myself, but then again, life is a contradiction by itself, isn't it?

p.s.: It's only 6 weeks; I sounded like it's really a big deal. But I will keep you fans updated with my adventures in India.

9 Aug 07 - A Brief Reminder To Life And Its Short Existence
Went to a funeral recently as my friend's mum had passed away due to cancer. When my friend brought me to see her mum (in the coffin), he spoke softly to her. "Ma, my friend is here to see you." It was as if his mum was still there.

I was left speechless when he said that. Inside me, I wanted to whisper "Auntie". But I don't know why I didn't. It is another one of those examples that reminds me that life is short and impermanent. It would have been gloomy if I had not encountered Buddhism. But now, I just treat it as a fact of life. And the only way out of this is to really let go (though it is often easier said than done).

Anyway, happy national day, Sillypore. Celebrated it by watching the cable channels on my telly instead of the local free-to-air channels (they were ALL showing the parade anyway). I wondered why didn't I go for a short trip instead of rotting at home?!

p.s: In fact, I do believe that his mum will always be there for him, perhaps not physically, but always in his heart. I hope he will get over this soon.

29 Jul 07 - Wyattwang.com in Tokyo-Narita???
Somehow I found myself lying on one of the beds in Mecure Hotel Narita, Japan.

I am actually on my way to Seattle (via Tokyo-Narita and Los Angeles) but due to the heavy loads for the next sector, I got actually got bumped off (an airline techincal term denoting the action of offloading a passenger) for the first time in my life. It will sound like great fun if I was travelling for leisure but this time I'm travelling on duty and will thus miss the the first day of the meetings. On one hand, I know its not my fault that I got bumped off, but the fact that I am stuck and not be able to work (while my company has to pay for my expenses) freaks me out. Right now, thoughts are running all wild in me. Maybe I could have travelled the Taipei flight, maybe I should travelled by SFO. It's pretty sucky.

Perhaps, it's one of those cases where I worry OVER-excessively (again).

19 Jul 07 - Things Will Fall Into Place Somehow Or Another
Just been informed by my vendors that the Seattle trip is postponed by a week. Spent whole day in office revising agenda and changing all the flight itineraries. All those nights of worry now seem to be redundant. Perhaps sometimes we all fret too much.

Will be leaving for Khao Lak via a 5-day retreat, or should I say, to fix computers for an orphanage. Hope the PCs that were brought up do not give me many problems. Haha, I am a computer engineer that simply hates trouble shooting PCs.

Life had been busy; but it seems to have got better. But one can never know what will happen next. Anyway, I am too tired to think about this. If you are tired too, just go read some silly new crap and then hit the hay.

Good night.

10 Jul 07 - Thanks For Your Understanding, Boss Mashimaro/Fishball
The saga (or mess) had finally been resolved. Before the end of July, I will be going to Khao Lak (Thailand) to fix up some computers for an orphanage followed by another business trip to Seattle. I won't be spending much time in Sillypore during the interim; much time will mean I touched down to Sillypore from Phuket at midnight, sleep for 4 hours (I hope), then rush to catch my flight to Los Angeles at 9am next morning. I suppose it will be fun for me to play the role of a "hectic" traveller. Haha, so much for my 29th birthday.

Frankly speaking, it wasn't that simple to get to this simple resolution. I kept thinking that I would ride this through without too much of a hurdle. Somehow it didn't turned out what I expected it to be and I got stuck in an awkward situation. It would have been much worse, if not for Boss Mashimaro and Fishball. Yes, the One-Bar General screwed it all up. But we all have to learn someday right?

Fans, if you weren't that engrossed in my blog entry, you would have realised that I had uploaded my Seattle/San Francisco blog. Enjoy it, while the sun still lasts.

1 Jul 07 - A Minute In My Life...
The truth has been cast in stone; I had not drunk beer (only 7 cans of coke) for the entire month of Jun 07. Not in Sillypore, Seoul, San Francisco, Seattle or Hong Kong. Perhaps I am finally cleaned of alcohol. Perhaps I had forgot how to get drunk.

After coming back from my business trip in Seattle (plus a 12-hour walk in San Francisco), I'm busily trying to juggle between work, designing a new website for my affiliation and writing my Seattle/San Francisco blog (Sorry fans that this has be the lowest priority task now). Time had never got so fast for me. I'm panting like a dog but things must move on. A minute in my life no longer lasts a minute now.

In less than 3 weeks, I will be going to Khao Lak, Thailand.

Feeling lost? Having a "mental blog"? Don't know what am I talking about? Perhaps that is precisely what LIFE is all about. What goes around, comes around. Check out the archives here.

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