Cherrytaku.com Travel The World : Pakistan

Finally I got my first entry for Cherrytaku.com Travel The World Campaign. This first location is at Islamabad, Pakistan. Heaps of thank to Jay, a university mate and now a Malaysian diplomat for willing to participate. You're a spot mate.

I'm still looking for a host to carry the "mission". Help me to change my world as per below.

More of Telecom Talent Time

A hilarious musical performance by Teuila & Jay & friends.

A Very Much Welcomed Unexpected

On the 4th of September, a 7.1 earthquake shook Christchurch city and obviously caused damages to property. Well only 20% of city was affected but NZ media overly reported it. They'll (media practitioner) dig every possible that can fit in prime time news and that includes news of missing pet! Oh well, small country with 4.1 million population any news is better than no news, right?

Anyway Telecom office in Christchurch was affected. I don't know the size of the damages but the only thing I know the operation were shut temporarily and works were transfered to Auckland as part of the business contingency plan. That means, we were doing some job from Christchurch side. Extra workload. I am not whining about the extra job, I just see it as part of our work but what am I talking about now is the wisdom behind all these things.

Just today, I received a thank you letter appreciating the work we've done during the disaster from Telecom CEO- Paul Reynolds. It was personally signed by him. Not a scanned signature as I assumed. I could see behind the paper, the pen mark. Small details like this, by making an effort to sign each letters plus a well worded letter could really made our day, lifted our morale. As I looked around to my colleagues who received the same letter- they were smiling, laughter in the air, joy and I bet they felt their hardwork and effort appreciated. No one has the same face minutes before they got the letter. Except for Cherlyn, she was traveling all over Asia during the earthquake. She got the sun, we got voucher.

Yes. Enclosed with the letter was a voucher. Not a stinky 10 or 20 or 30 but one hundred freaking fifty dollar! I repeat in numerical, 150 dollar! That's more than one day salary for me. We then immediately checked the out net what voucher can we claim. Lots of retailers and the best part was we could choose whichever we want. I could hear everyone saying 'awesome' and 'cool' and 'liqourland' (kidding) all over the floor. New version of iPod Nano screamed in my head.

Personally I found new respect for Paul Reynolds. I'm sure my other colleagues viewed him as a different person now. So Paul, if TVNZ were to produce 'Undercover Boss', I don't think you should do it. First, you way too tall and we all can recognized you within seconds no matter how you disguise yourself and second, we know you appreciate the work we done in the company. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Talk No Shop & Let Your Hair Down Night

I've been asked by several people am I going to participate in this year's Telecom talent time. Without second thought I said no. Back in 2007 I sang a malay song- Melukut ditepi Gantang by my favorite singer Aishah whom back in the late 80's was a vocalist for a Kiwi band knowned as The Fan Club. Apparently me and Aishah has some Kiwi-Malay connection.

Back to my singing, I thought it was disaster and self indulgence. Haha..Even though some people come up to me and complimented me. I'm pretty sure they were so drunk and everything they saw or heard sound awesome. LOL.

This time I told them I just want to be spectator to laugh at them. I did actually. So last Friday at Winchester Bar people from various department within Telecom Wholesale, we let our hair down, talk no shop and enjoy the good company.

Robert Tai emceed the night.

Act #1: Karlo Magno Guadalupe. Man I love to pronounce his last name. I forgot what did he sang but one thing I know it was some oldies song. Had a good laugh seeing him. His expression of love emotion really made the ladies off their chair! And performed twice, special request by Robert Tai after the event was over.

Act #2. Our maori brother Jamed Dawson sang something. Man, why can't I remember what they were singing. What did I drink that night?

Act #3: A musical performance from Voice, Broadband & Billing. It was so hilarious and cleverly done. I almost lost my voice laughing and screaming at them. Teuila & Jay definitely can act. Watch out Shortland St actors!

Act #4: Sorry forgot his name. He played heavy metal kind of guitar. Didn't know the best way to describe it. The crowd loved it. They cheered so much and he came out first.

Act #5: Honestly I never see these guys before. Didn't know which floor they work. The band were good.

Act #6: Just Like A Star by Sisela Latu. She really had mean voice. Not mean as in Cinderella step-sister kind of mean but Corrine Bailey Rae kind of mean. She had a very soothing voice. I could picture her singing for summer tunes. Previously in 2007's talent time she won the first place.

Act #7: The MC introduced this act as The Flower Girls & The Impostor, what a crack up but it suited them well, I think. The three in the group are pacific island descendant and Vicki Chand is an Fiji Indian. Technically, she's still a pacific islander. They performed Hawaiian dance adapted from famous Disney film Lilo & Stitch.

Click here to watch the video.

All acts before judges deliberating the winners.

Me and the Flower Girls & The Impostor. They came out second runner up.

The Adventure of Ed to GigiLand

Early on the week I called a dental clinic to get an appointment but to my surprise the earliest date I could get was on 13th of October! Then I told them to put me on the waiting list as well. In case they got cancellation.

And indeed! Before I finished my shift on Tuesday, I got a call from them asking if I want to turn up for Wednesday 8 O'clock appointment. Instead of switching off my computer, I logged on to Maxx to plan my trip the next day.

Wednesday.

5:40 Alarm went off.

5:50 Finally awaken.

5:51 Boiled jug.

5:52 Turned on laptop and published latest post only to find out the date was wrong. Blogspot picked up the draft date. Have to rectify it immediately if I want to be a successful writer.

6:20 Bloody hell it took longer than I expected. I better go to shower.

6:43 Finally got out from the house.

Halfway down the lift.

Eff, I left my cash on the fridge! Dammit, I had to go down and up again.

6:45 Hermm...the cash look little. No time to count. Grabbed NZD$30. Kiss Only goodbye and out again.

6:47 Nelson Street 1st traffic light

6:47:30 Green man! Crossed the street and decided I better run to reach Britomart before 7am

6:48 Nelson Street 2nd traffic light. I missed the green man by few seconds. Felt forever before the light turned green. RUNNN...

6:49 Nelson Street 3rd traffic light. Red again! Run faster than ever before. Ooouh..I think my legs are long. Arghh...distraction. Run. Run.

6:50 Nelson Street 4th traffic light. Mother Eff, NO, not red! These sequence of lights were so not on my side this morning.

6:51 Gasping and catching my breath. Started to just walk while crossing Victoria Street then decided to just take my chance. More and more 'what if' thought running in my head. What if I didn't go online this morning. What if I didn't take shower.

7:03 Bus just drove pass me! Arghhhh...why? why? That's the only bus. Just when I given up the bus departed late by 3 minutes! God (Allah), do you have to parade it right in front of my nose to say 'ha-ha you missed it' ?

7:10 Got a cab.

7:15 Taxi driver tried to chat with me. I just responded, 'oh yes?', 'is itttt?', 'I know rite!'. Didn't he knows I was trying to say eff off.

7:32 Taxi driver lost! Please not now. For god sake, used the bloody GPS please. Bloody Indian.

7:35 Phewww...Finally here.

Cost of Dental Hygienist NZD$ 79

Cost of Taxi ride NZD$ 56.90!

Emotional cost to get there?

PRICELESS