Maria Sharapova

Quick update... Im off to Russia tomorrow for work, will be there for a week, in a small town called Solikamsk, which is located in like the Saskatchewan of Russia... even still Im excited. Also I hear Russians are racist, Mike was just telling me that the only two races russians dislike more than asians are blacks and chechnians... but only really the Chechnians that look like Borat... but hey whatever should still be a slice..

Probably, wont be posting for a while then, for good reason, cuz then immediately after I head off to Paris for a week to meet up with Chin, and then before he heads home, we go to Budapest Hungary for the weekend.

Until then heres at least one pic, which I failed to post, from my trip to the French Open last year... or-rev-why-or...

potpourri

I just got back from Indonesia this weekend, and I failed to mention earlier that on the flight out to Singapore from London, I miraculously won the airline Lottery (sitting beside a really pretty girl), but am upset with myself because I was unbelievably lame, timed everything wrong, and didnt get a chance to talk that much to her. Shit. Before I start this whinging session, Id like to frame the picture by declaring that the chances of sitting beside an OHOPG (on her own pretty girl) on a plane are pretty much next to impossible, (or at least it feels like it... with the number of flights I take). Theres just too many seats on a typical international flight, like 300-350, and often maybe there are only one or two girls per flight that you would consider talk worthy, if youre lucky. Odds are piss poor, practically lose-lose like playing those pick under which walnut shell the ball is under scams, or Marty playing roulette. And therefore the reverse corollary is true; smelly annoying people who talk too much? Dime a dozen, baby. Thats why I really dont talk to my neighbors on planes, and when they talk to me, I keep my answers short and quick. Then ON go the noise cancellation headphones as soon as possible.

So this Singapore flight from London though, this pretty blondie aussie girl snuck in and sat beside me, like out of nowhere. I actually was flustered, I had that look, the "like really? youre shitting me?" look. This was nice, someone actually I would enjoy talking to for the next 13 hours. Talked for a bit in the beginning, but then this is where being filipino really killed me. I started getting really drowsy and sleepy; stupid filipino genes. Like what timing. Next thing you know, I was out like a light. I didnt even make it to the meal. I slept for a good 4 hours, and when I awoke, she was asleep. I watched a couple movies, and feel asleep again, which is when I assume she awoke. And then next thing you know, the 13 hours flight is over, taking turns sleeping. What a waster... it was all set up, an easy layup, but I fell asleep on the bench. Im killing myself now, cuz it could be years until this happens to me again. Now its hello crazy people... sit beside me please. All my fault. Just in case though, from now on, I will come prepared... in one pocket will be the nyquil, in the case its more of the usual. In the other pocket, red bull, because you never know. By the way did I mention she wore a bra-less tank top? RED BULL.

Jakarta

Just about to leave Jakarta, or as I like to call it, the Muslim Manila (MM) [lots of parallels here, people look the same, huge divide between rich and poor, but frequently living right beside each other, all the rich are chinese, big huge malls, funny looking money, corruption abound and again the people look the same, really, with that tshirt and jeans and slippers poor asia look). Want to post something really quick, before I left here so, this is it.

Kinda interesting flying into Indonesia a couple days after the latest plane crash on Garuda Airlines, officially the national airline with the most suspect safety record of all airlines in the world. That airline legitimately scares me, just as much as any airline in India. Thats why I flew here on Singapore Airlines, bar and far the best airline in the history of ever, such a big contrast. 80 movies doods and On demand, fast forward and rewind, whenever you want. It really embarrasses the offerings of Air Canada, who still have those shared movie screens, circa the 80s or something. I decide not to fly those, not for me friends.

Been here for four days, and leaving tomorrow morning. Got to go shopping a little, and I was shocked and surprised how expensive it is. Like really, i was fuming mad, because most of the sweat shop factories are like only 20 miles away, with shoes and clothes being made for centavos. But for some reason, in the malls anyways, all the stuff was the same price as Europe. Its insulting. Really quite upsetting... I know I could find some cheap stuff if I wandered into the more local establishments.. but really I dont feel like being mugged on this trip, either.

Thats it.. busy now listening to the muslim prayer outside on loud speaker ... ahhhh lallalalala alla alla alla... magadishu...