Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm off to Philippines for my christmas holiday!
Wishing you all guys a merry xmas and a fabulous new year!

i wish...

I was hurt and with the given situation, it’s understandable!

i wish i could be a storyteller!
i wish i could be spontenous...
i wish i could be articulate...

when i wasn't there when he needed me most...

My boyfriend was in terrible pain at the Manipal hospital while the doctors are trying to re attach his broken arms. He wanted me so bad on his side but I am no where to be found!

its 15 minutes past 10:00 and drowsiness starts hitting me. I know by this time, he would still be sitting in his cabin trying to wrap up his pending scam, but little did I know that he is on the brink of darkness, fighting for his life!

Thank god, I called up!

He smacked a huge boulder-like hump and was dragged few meters away while riding his bike back home…The impact of his fall was so severe deduced from the disfigured helmet he was wearing! The power of his plunge has banged his left arm that there is no way to fix the broken arm-bone except to chip another bone from his hip to bridge the gap.

Minor bruises are everywhere, from face to arms to torsos. Thanks to the thickness of his Levi’s jacket, or else, his entire left arm must have been skinned!

He was trembling when I called him up, while me, trying to stay calm… though I cant control my tears pouring down. He assured me that everything is alright and dad is on his way to take him to the nearest hospital. He told me to pray and I obliged!

I called up P (his boss) for more help and he was there with him the entire night. He was so sweet… relentlessly feeding me with AJ’s state, reassuring me that everything is under control.

I wasn’t with him the next day…and even the days after that.

I felt miserably bad! How can I do this to the man I loved so much?

I have my reasons and no matter how valid they are, I couldn’t still forgive myself!

I was here in Chennai heading the committee in charge of the 4 day annual event of my company. The day after his accident was my welcoming address to the CEOs who were all coming from China and Thailand…technical seminars followed suit the next day ending the entire event with sports day and the party! Without my presence, the affair will be crippled!

With barely 4 hours sleep after the party, I managed to book the 6:20 flight of jet airways to Bangalore and should be back with their last trip of the same day…(ive got mounting reports to wrap up before my Philippines holiday this weekend)…

I was almost in tears seeing him lying in his room delighted when I surprised him with my uninformed visit.

My bf pretends to be a he-man! He hates sympathy! I can smell that he is in terrible pain but he didn’t show it at all…he lacks patience too that the small paces he could all managed by himself irritates him so much…and with what he is going through, it is understandable that sometimes he is like a spoiled brat kid craving for my attention.

In three months time my baby should be fine! Those cast and plasters…those bolts and screws, those pain relievers should be off soon…

and he will become my sturdy man again!

get well soon baby!

(when I bathe and scrub him for the first time, it bleeds my heart seeing him so incapacitated to perform the basic task and I realized how I love this man so much that I will do everything for him come hell or high water).

i know...i know...i can be paranoid sometimes...

Personality Disorder Test Results Paranoid |||||||||||||||| 66% Schizoid |||||||||||| 46% Schizotypal |||||| 30% Antisocial |||||||||||| 42% Borderline |||||| 22% Histrionic |||||||||||||| 54% Narcissistic |||||||||||||| 54% Avoidant |||||||||| 34% Dependent |||||| 26% Obsessive-Compulsive |||||||||||| 46%

Take Free Personality Disorder Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Test Note: Read the descriptions below to avoid misinterpreting test results (for example, the Antisocial classification does not mean you are a loner, it means you tend to be insensitive towards others).

General Note: the validity and reliability of DSM personality disorders are still lacking in strong statistical evidence and clear agreement in the scientific and medical community. They are determined by the American Psychiatric Association and will likely be revised in the future.

Author Note:I don't think Schizoid personality is a valid disorder (read), some of the smartest people in history were schizoid because they occupied a remote end of the intelligence bell curve. Schizotypal personality can encompass highly original thinkers as well as totally insane people so I think it's a flawed type. I think the remaining eight disorders are generally valid.

Disorder Info
Eccentric Personality Disorders: Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal

Individuals with these disorders often appear odd or peculiar.

Paranoid Personality Disorder - individual generally tends to interpret the actions of others as threatening.

Schizoid Personality Disorder - individual generally detached from social relationships, and shows a narrow range of emotional expression in various social settings.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder - individual is uncomfortable in close relationships, has thought or perceptual distortions, and peculiarities of behavior.

Dramatic Personality Disorders: Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic


Individuals with these disorders have intense, unstable emotions, distorted self-perception, and/or behavioral impulsiveness.

Antisocial Personality Disorder - individual shows a pervasive disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others.

Borderline Personality Disorder - individual shows a generalized pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and observable emotions, and significant impulsiveness.

Histrionic Personality Disorder - individual often displays excessive emotionality and attention seeking in various contexts. They tend to overreact to other people, and are often perceived as shallow and self-centered.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder - individual has a grandiose view of themselves, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy that begins by early adulthood and is present in various situations. These individuals are very demanding in their relationships.

Anxious Personality Disorders: Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive

Individuals with these disorders often appear anxious or fearful.

Avoidant Personality Disorder - individual is socially inhibited, feels inadequate, and is oversensitive to criticism

Dependent Personality Disorder - individual shows an extreme need to be taken care of that leads to fears of separation, and passive and clinging behavior.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder - individual is preoccupied with orderliness, perfectionism, and control at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency.

waiting...waiting...

and this is what i came up while waiting for his midnight phone call!
im crazy!

Rs.100, anyone?

After 8 months of monotonous night life in Chennai, I finally get hold of some nice-gorgeous-straight-looking-people-who-dress-sharp and belong to the uber species…never mind if you are asked to repeat the supposed-to-be-a-joke-line coz maybe my oriental accent is blurred from the loud music played at the leather bar.

After meeting AJ that eventually led me to bring down my profile at G4M, I lost track of the colorful slash wild slash sleazy gay scene in Chennai.

Of course, my friend who is also an expat from the land of smiles constantly feeds me of the juicy buzz but the veracity of his story could possibly be so murky based from the guys he sporadically brings inside his room…(those type where once again is so good in describing). you see, I don’t have anything against his friends whose fashion sense is borrowed from Rajanikanth or Vijay in their flicks but it makes me quiver in disgust when after a mind blowing f***, he hands over a 100 rupee note for their bus fare! I hate to be judgmental but with that kind of people he hangs out with, they can’t tell for sure what the best buy in the stock market, right?

so there, I guess I need to dragged him once in a while to the proper crowd so that when he start pulling a note, he will be crushed to smithereens…besides it was me who exposed him to the gay world.

And now he becomes a monster.

'renu something'

he told me: "out of the blue, ‘renu something’ called up and he wants to meet me this weekend over a cup of coffee…"

‘renu something’ was the guy he met ages back in one of the parties at his friends house…

‘renu something’ was then having a boyfriend but couldn’t resist his dick going astray... he grappled and tried to kiss him at the parking lot…

Armed with a maria clara upbringing, he was so appalled with ‘renu something’s’ behaviour that he slapped him (ok, im exaggerating) and declaimed that he will never be violated like that again!

When ‘renu something’ realized that his encroachment wasn’t reciprocated, he begged him not to make a fuss about the entire brouhaha coz he loved his bf so much *yawn*

he chicken out too that he was heavily intoxicated and that he didn’t know what he was doing *yawn*

After a myriad random sex (i guess), ‘renu something’ broke up with his bf and started hunting!

and i am becoming a paranoid bitch!

gotcha!

my understanding of programming, even the simplest HTML is way below average! and you couldn't just imagine how ecstatic i am when i finally figure how to put out the links of all the bloggers i frequently visit! and of course that slide show on the side bar corteousy of www.slide.com. The idea by the way was stolen from a fellow filipino blogger, www.closetconundrums.blogspot.com

Ah, its madness!

The works mounting on my table are just too overwhelming to handle that little did I know I metamorphed into a devil-bitchy boss that wears abercrombie and fitch!

You see, I will be going home next month and I thought of wrapping up my entire backlog so I can have peaceful holiday with my family… but all hell breaks loose when the influx of the projects keep flowing on my cabin thinking that these morons may not be willing to sanction my holiday…

On top of that too is the incoming Annual meeting/sports day/party/International Expo where I am spearheading the committee…and nothing, not even the DJ for the party and the design of the stall have been approved yet…

And there’s also the volleyball and the table tennis warming up that I have missed for the past few days…

sisyphusnatiphus...

http://etnarolf.blogspot.com/

welcome bro to the world of blogosphere.

funny…our friends and acquaintances for sure will inevitably compare the construction of our sentences and the richness of our thoughts…

hmp, who cares! at least im reaping more moolah than you are…hahaha!

promise me you wont squeal my kalindian to papa, k?

no narcissus!

"i hope you understand the gravity of the issue, which prompted me to ask you to make your blog private or keep it devoid of our pix. its for our own good. so no one manipulates, blackmails or uses it against us.you can share pix with your friends via mail sweety. am ok with that. but only with trustworthy friends. who have been transparent and clean with you."

from now on i will not be posting any pictures of my bf for all my incoming entries...i will be deleting his pictures as well in all my previous posts.

"naano ka?"

Dear Marj,

I honestly don’t know where to begin.

Lemme start in UP Miagao, when you were just a freshie and me being a congenital flirt (veiled with the sweetest smile and the famous may-I-help-you adage to the oblivious minors (read corrupt) started scanning your batch, the very first batch of the AAPM…Elmo (and other few) of course wasn’t spared from my roving eye while you were syempre, na dead ma!

We were never so close then.

You were different. Your friends were different (straight and curved as you put it and weird…intelligently weird!)…who would not forget Athan, with his puny structure could grip those thick Dostoevsky and War of the Roses hard bound…or elmer who awed me with his profound flawless tagalog sonnet…pam, alma, carol – the constant providers of Maggie noodles…and those delectable cebuanos who looked so hot in their boring white Giordano’s!

Never had we really bumped in the campus and clashed with those stupid organization-sponsored quiz bees (ok, I know im good at just being a spectator)! Never had I attended one of your SAMASA’s campaigns…or even at least shared you a table at Manang Ebang. But one thing I knew though was, every Sunday morning, I had a follower who regularly dissect my Sunday mass fashion statement…and I cant help but blush when you and lyn-lyn always remarked: andyan na naman si bon jovi.

I left UP clueless of my future…while you stay behind resurrecting yourself from the 5.0 grade you obtain in Chem 23 (lab)… (I wonder how you passed calculus! hahaha)…

Only then did I realize that our world had crossed again in the land you labeled: ang pagmamahal ng isang langaw sa tae.

Recollecting our first years in India is like a glimpse of a pre pubescent boy undergoing a mandatory circumcision to define his manliness…masakit pero matamis...or those college studs who had undergone psychological and physical mutilation before being called ‘brother’…I would like to believe that India has shaped us of what we have become now- hardy, independent, matured and in my case, malibog!

You reached Chennai. I know the culture shock was eminent. I myself was not ready of what I smelled, saw and heard. Can you imagine how we despised the smell of the masala? the classic ambassador cars that has transported us to a different time zone? the huge corroded noisy electric fan at the entrance of the arrival area and the oceans of people who all seemed wearing ‘skirts’ crowding the every street of Chennai? Funny isn’t it? And after ten years, our adobo has become bland that it cant be edible anymore without a dash of masalas…and that the ambassadors has slowly been replaced by innovas and skodas…and that those lungis (skirts) has been swiped with 501’s and wranglers.

And with your fragile look back then - 45 kg weight as opposed to your towering height, you could be easily mistaken as a malnourished exchange student or a fresh UN volunteer…and then your first blunder begun.

Boarding a train that was supposed to disembark at Thanjavur and not Trichy, you made the bosses and us all shaken in fear of locating you…and you made us all laugh when we asked you to read the trains name and uttered: happy journey train…hahahaha!

years passed, we became Indian, so to speak…we were fascinated how bullish their economy is, how rich their culture is, how intelligent the IITians and the IIMians are, how beautiful their countrysides are…how peaceful their streets are and how gorgeous their cuisines are! mmmm, and it is in this country where I actually came to know you and your closet, hahahahaha! it is in this country where we decide to LIVE hoping that those immigration officer will be easy to us (or else, mapilitan na lang siguro tayong mag asawa ng dalit na may nakalaylay na sampaguita sa buhok at itapon sa bangin pagkatapos… hahahaha)…

and then we traveled, crossing all the borders of India’s beautiful sceneries, from himachal to arunachal to rajasthan to goa, to mysore to kerala…we were just so young then, two junior executives who were quite raw to test the subzero of Himachal…can you still remember marj how we were blown away with the sight of our first snowflakes…how we endured the hypothermia coz the lodge we stayed didn’t provide us a heater?

Our Europe tour was of course the most cherished travel we’ve done together. Remember how we refused to browse the porn mags at the streets of Prague, and the absence of unattractive people in the subways of Vienna? and how we were coned and ended up paying 17 euros because we thought that the sex channel in our room is free…hahahaha! or how I was being harassed by the Italian immigration officer at Malpensa thinking that a third world citizen couldn’t just afford to travel yet…? ah, those were the days…

then suddenly you made the resilient heart of the CEOS frozen after you announced you are quitting…I am sad…Iem and I will be missing our naughty giggles every time you crack a joke in the middle of presentations… your funny ‘deadly bitchy tricks’ pag alam mong naisahan ka ng mga nognog! I will be missing your intelligent rationale when my melodramatic life sometimes hit rock bottom…I will be missing our long talk thrashing out our dysfunctional families, hehehe! I will be missing your cynicism when it comes to same sex relationship…and I will be missing that pretense look: “naano ka” when you saw me breaking down after our last goodbye at the departure lounge…

Fuck you marj because I will be missing you like mad!
Remember that famous ad in the Philippines: “sino ang kaibigan mo dun”
and fuck you coz Ive got to say: “syempre ikaw lang”…

ingat!

Seph

Christmas agenda

1. settle ABN AMRO GOLD credit card before new year...

2. Christmas lunch with the ‘in laws’ in Bangalore (will leave the restaurant for my bf to decide)

3. Christmas Dinner with my bf at the Grasshopper, Bangalore (yes, baby! I want it only at GRASSHOPER! you got an issue with the distance, heck, take me to Harima and order a bowl of fresh oysters then!)

4. Gifts…gifts…more gifts…(for him, friends and to my folks back home)

5. En route Manila, drop by at Bangkok and indulge in their spas…(I promise I wont shop at Chuttachak…I promise… *grin*)

6. Burberry eu de toilette (but baby, that damn YSL’s smell makes me puke!!!!*sulking*)

7. arrange a party to all my pinoy friends at home…(strictly Indian cuisine only).

8. Family reunion(mom side)…this will be a one hell of a circus!

9. waaaaaaaaaa, my ACER travelmate 290 needs an update…might buy the latest lemon green sony VAIO if my bonus will be sanctioned..

yeah right...so i look like jericho now huh?

Sush...

she was my bet for the title when I saw her in manila way back 1994…not that she’s pretty compared to Miss Columbia but what captivated me and the rest of the Filipinos was her wits and intelligence…

and since then, I am her avid follower…

till one day, my bf told me that he will be directing the diva levis ad campaign and the only model that could really do justice to the diva title is no other than sush…(yes, those homo erotic levis ads you see in billboards and newspapers is my bf’s campaign)

holy cow! the shoot was then in Bombay and was quite too far for me to sneak out from my sickening job and to have a glimpse of her again…so I begged my bf to get her snap along with her autograph and warned him not to see me again if he failed to convince sush submitting to my request…

knowing my bf’s gauche ‘ness of handling big stars (unless they are hottie male models just like his recent signature levis twinks models), he himself was quite surprised how sweet and accommodating sushmita is. he was so gripped with her humility and the no-tantrums-attitude that is quite fashionably in to the wannabes in the industry…

ah, am sooo star struck now…
is arjun rampal next?

shopping galore!

after the Rajasthan tour, I was Rs. 22,000 poorer.

and so I reprimanded myself not to step foot at least for a month in the city centre, spencers and shoppers stop…I also promised myself to be pleased with the locally made pad thai in the canteen and stop pampering me with the 5 star cuisine at the hip asia and be content with the punch I replicated at the leather bar sipping the concoction under the neem tree…but all hell breaks loose when I was asked by the company to canvass jackets (as freebies for our clients) to all these shopping malls.

I called up my bf informing him that I have bought a classic wallet from GUESS…I reasoned out that it’s a throw away price with a 50% sale promotions. but what he didn’t know was that his boyfriend was actually on a shopping galore deluding himself the wannabe Paris Hilton…(hahaha, not that she shop at UCB boutiques, does she?)

I reached my room nauseating.
pad thai (including tax) Rs. 750
YSL perfume Rs. 2350
UCB sweat shirt Rs. 700
miami blues shade Rs. 1200
GUESS wallet Rs. 1400
DVDs Rs. 5000

i need HELP!

who should you root for...?

WE'VE kept our mouths shut long enough. Now we're here to spill great secrets. And when we say secrets, we mean the identities of the contestants of The Amazing Race Asia, which will be aired later this year on AXN.
Yes, we have them all here--all ten teams competing for glory and US$100,000. Who are they? Where did they come from? Who should you root for?


Andrew and Syeon
Where they're from: Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
How they're related: They've been dating for 18 months
The 411: Andrew is Malaysian and Syeon is an Australian of Korean descent. They met while snowboarding in Australia three years ago.
Their strengths: A strong belief in and support for each other.
Their fears: Andrew anticipates that the physical challenges in the race may be too much, especially for Syeon. Syeon is apprehensive about the emotional and mental stress. "Under the pressure of the race, a relationship can either go in a positive or negative way," says Andrew.
Their strategy: One, they will let Andrew make decisions during the race. Two, they will put their emotions aside as they play the game. Three, they intend to be in the top three at each leg. Four, they will rely on their extensive travel experience. Five, they refuse to play dirty.
Why you should root for them: Cheese galore. "You can't put a price on this one in a lifetime chance to race around the world with a loved one," says Andrew.

Prashant and Sahil
Where they're from: Mumbai , India
How they're related: They're friends.
The 411: Prashant and Sahil, models from India 's entertainment capital, have been friends for three years. Prashant organizes events and Sahil works for his family's business and the two regularly hit the gym. Sahil is more outgoing and spontaneous while Prashant is more laid back and more patient.
Their strengths: Their compatibility, their mutual understanding as close friends and their ability to perform better under stress. Prashant also believes their different personalities provide their team balance. "The thing that I lack, he excels in." Their pride in representing their country may also be the fuel that can drive them towards the finish line.
Their fears: The two haven't seen that many episodes of The Amazing Race.
Their strategy: Give the race everything they've got. Sahil says, "We won't over- or under-analyze the situation, we'll just do what it takes."
Why you should root for them: Because Bollywood hunks who have a mutual understanding are hot.


Sandy and Francesca
Where they're from: Hong Kong
How they're related: They've been dating for a few months.
The 411: Sandy, a personal trainer, and Francesca, a model, have known each other for a year and had only been dating for four months when they decided to join The Amazing Race Asia. They are eager to discover if they have what it takes to stand up to pressure in front of the cameras. Sandy says, "The race will be the experience of a lifetime."
Their strengths: Their confidence, being comfortable with one another, having a good head on their shoulders, a keen and positive sense of competitiveness and saying no to quitting.
Their strategy: Sandy and Francesca intend to have a really good time. They plan to play the best that they can, take things as they come and arrive at solutions whenever a problem arises. It looks like Francesca will be this team's leader--she likes being in control and is a big talker. They agree that talking is a huge part of her personality.
Why you should root for them: Hurrah for new couples!


Laura and Andy
Where they're from: Koh Samui , Thailand
How they're related: They're business partners and they're a couple too.
The 411: Laura and Andy have been together for seven years and have been running a home business in Thailand. Andy is outgoing while Laura is more reserved. "Laura is more mature, so I bring a bit of youth into the equation," Andy said.
Their strengths: Their close working and living relationship. The two say they've "stress-proofed" their relationship even before joining the race. Traveling together isn't new to them--they've been to 14 countries together. Laura keeps Andy grounded and Andy keeps Laura on her toes. Their different personalities create the perfect balance. Laura and Andy say they are resourceful and can think out of the box and they believe they have "that vital outrageous spark of creativity needed to win the race."
Their fears: No fears for this confident couple.
Their strategy: "When stress hits the other teams, we plan to still be laughing!" said Andy. Laura and Andy have no clear strategy though. They believe having a plan might "impair their ability to react in real time to situations that develop during the race."
Why you should root for them: Because people who can think out of the box rock.


Sharon and Melody
Where they're from: Singapore
How they're related: They're former schoolmates.
The 411: Sharon and Melody were former schoolmates but they only bonded after graduating. Melody, who has appeared in films and television shows in Singapore, is an extrovert who loves sports. Sharon is a self-described office slave.
Their strengths: Their connection, their unified faith and single-minded focus--to win the Amazing Race Asia and have fun along the way. They both did a 10k Marathon in 2005 and survived stronger than ever.
Their fears: They are wary of things they will be asked to do. Melody has a fear of heights while Sharon is dreading "ambiguity and eating bugs."
Their strategy: To focus on themselves rather than the other teams, making themselves their own greatest opponents. Their primary aim is to do the best they possibly can and come out with a stronger friendship, stronger mindsets and better people. Says Sharon, "As a team we are focused and mindful of the rules, here to have some good clean fun."
Why you should root for them: Because an all-girl team should win The Amazing Race soon.


Ernesto and Jill
Where they're from: Manila , Philippines
How they're related: They've been married for ten years and have three kids.
The 411: Ernie and Jeena met because Jeena's sister is married to Ernie's first cousin. Ernie started rock climbing with Jeena's best friend and the two bonded because of their fanatical love of sports. "Our relationship is an adventure," Ernie says. Described as fun and boisterous, Ernie believes they are "the clowns" of the race.
Their strengths: Their potent mix of athleticism and experience. "We've survived ten years of married life, so I hope that speaks for how well we'll do as a team," says Jeena. They've traveled extensively and are very sporty and fit. They hike, rock climb, technical dive, bungee jump and skydive together.
Their fears: Ernie's intensity, Jeena's drive and the couple's sense of humor leave little space for fear. "We know that this will give us more challenges," says Jeena, "But we hope to keep up that lighter side of things."
Their strategy: Take each day as it comes. "We know that this will give us more challenges," says Jeena, "But we hope to keep up that lighter side of things."
Why you should root for them: Because there's a huge chance they'll win.


Aubrey and Jacqueline
Where they're from: Manila , Philippines
How they're related: They're best friends.
The 411: The actress and model met through Aubrey's sister and, despite their differences, have been best friends since. Aubrey said, "I am very organized, and she's not." Jacqueline added, "She complains all the time, and I do not."
Their strengths: "Our passion and being adventurous," Jacqueline said. The girls shouldn't be dismissed as just "eye candy." Aubrey said, "We are really skinny, we don't look so athletic, but it is all about what's inside you." They are hard-working and have a strong competitive streak that should be watched out for. Although they jokingly compare themselves to Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, they might just be a force to reckon with, excelling in high-energy tasks like rock climbing and go-karting.
Their fears: The girls only expressed their hopes. "I think this will bring us closer," says Jacqueline.
Their strategy: They're not telling.
Why you should root for them: Because girls rule.


Sahran and Howard
Where they're from: Colombo , Sri Lanka
How they're related: They've been best friends for ten years.
The 411: The two met through a series of coincidences that they swear is too complicated to explain. British-born Howard is an area manager for a British tour agency while Sri Lankan Sahran is an interior decorator and events manager.
Their strengths: Sahran is a typical Aries, who lives in the moment and makes decisions on the spot and Howard is a typical Taurus, who needs to think about things for a long while before he can decide. Howard calls the result "the seesaw effect"--if one is up, the other one is down and vice versa. Sahran and Howard see this as a strength, allowing them to pick the other up when he is down. The two have also traveled extensively together and are strong advocates of travel. Sahran says, "People's problems come from their lack of understanding of other countries and civilizations in the world. The more people travel, the more understanding they generate within themselves." Howard adds, "Our team's advantage is our sensitivity to the people and the environments we go into."
Their fears: Missing the comforts of home. Howard says he gets grumpy if he doesn't have regular meals and Sahran likes having a shower every day.
Their strategy: To be motivated by new experiences and the excitement.
Why you should root for them: Because diversity is sexy.


Zabrina and Joe Jer
Where they're from: Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
How they're related: Zabrina and Joe Jer used to work together.
The 411: The two met while working at a TV station and share an intense passion for reality TV. Now it's their turn to be in the spotlight.
Their strengths: They are quick-witted, spontaneous, and more than a little gutsy. They know each other very well and are both heavily into competitive sports. Because of their differences, Zabrina and Joe Jer can compensate for one another's shortcomings. They also believe their knowledge in reality TV can take them a long way. Being hardcore fans of The Amazing Race and knowing the game inside out, Zabrina and Joe Jer should know which mistakes to avoid. "We know the game," says Zabrina. "We really know it. We watch it all the time. We take note of all the things that go wrong and right in the game."
Their fears: Their lack in physical stature.
Their strategy: Let other teams underestimate their strengths.
Why you should root for them: Because they're huge fans of the show. That's like letting a groupie sing lead. Or something.


Mardy and Marsio
Where they're from: Jakarta , Indonesia
How they're related: They're brothers.
The 411: Born two years apart, Mardy and Marsio spent a lot of time together when they were young and even lived together in the US for a while. Now that they're adults, have jobs and their own families, the two haven't been spending as much time together. They believe joining the race will be a good chance to reconnect.
Their strengths: "Our biggest strength is our brain, and our perseverance," said Marsio.
Their fears: Although they are concerned that their physical state is one of their weaknesses, the two have similar motivations. "We want to win The Amazing Race Asia for our children and our wives."
Their strategy: Let other teams underestimate them. They may not look athletic but these boys are active too, even going diving together. "Hopefully our brotherhood will keep us strong and keep us going through the Race," Marsio said. "We can cover for each other," Mardy agreed.
Why you should root for them: According to a scientific study, siblings whose names begin with the same letter are 70 percent more likely to succeed than those whose names don't. Kidding.

the article courtesy from upfg yahoogroups

heaven beneath the sky...

19.09.2006
at the sand dunes…

I am a bit worried with AJ.

My bf is not used to sun exposure and getting sunstroke in the middle of barren rough surroundings could spoil the fun! I constantly need to check him out at my back whether he has gone wilted (or melted)…

we are on a camel safari exploring and sampling the desert life around jaisalmer. he drives johny walker while I drive rocket (that’s our camels name). the other one driven by our two guides is quite notorious in emitting noisy flatulence!

the deafening silence of the desert is so crisp that the sound of the tinkling neck bells fitted in the flocks of sheep and goats chomping in the tiny fields of millet is a joy to the ears…(unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the camel’s awful flatus)

with the scorching sun, we need to reach our resting points. in here our guides will brew our sweet chai… prepare roti and sabzi for our lunch while me and AJ rests in the shades of thorn trees. the camels who are now completely unsaddled limp away and browse on the nearby shrubs…

clock strikes 3 pm and the journey resumes again hoping that we could reach the sand dunes before sunset…

holding my bf’s hand (no, we did more than that) in the silky undulating folds of sand while watching the psychedelic sunset that cast its carroty brightness in the horizon is breathless…






and as the sun starts to kiss the earth, its time for us now to camp, huddle around the bonefire beneath the shed of stars till the cold breeze put up us all to sleep!

the enchanting Jaisalmer...

jaisalmer:
18 september 2006

good thing im no claustrophobic.

the sleeper bus to jaisalmer via jodhpur is like a running coffin on the way to the nazi concentration camp…the bus is having this stupid real box with all the glass enclosures where you have to fit your ‘corpse’ plus your luggages…the ‘designer’ of the stupid sleeper bus must have been so deficient in engineering skills thinking that ‘cadavers’ can be relegate to a box irrespective of his race (read: height)…unless of course when your body started undergoing rigor mortis faster than what the nature prescribed…

good thing my bf and I was too afraid to grow (or should I say the pituitary gland malfunctioned and reprimanded us with only a not more than 5”4’)…those Caucasian passengers who came along with us managed nonetheless the torture…with their towering height including their towering backpack, I wonder why their varicose veins didn’t burst and how it endured the 12 long hour journey…

after the long wait for the connecting bus to transport us to jaisalmer, I told AJ I’d rather sleep on the aisle than to suffocate myself in that cabin again…good thing they spared the boxes on day trips.

the landscape is dry and beautiful…it reminds me of Jordan or those beautiful middle east countries I watched in national geographic channel…once in a while, herds of camel emerge as the sand dunes slowly fade away…you can feel the searing temperature outside as it shed its furious breeze. and I must say we are mad dogs visiting Rajasthan at this particular point in time. worst, camel safari is even one of our itineraries…

Reaching jaisalmer gives you a different feeling…a feeling where you’ve been thrown back to a different era…it was like a legend that has come to life!

Jaisalmer is a fanciful city. it is a honey colored magnificent city that looks like as if it has grown out of the dessert…the golden fort looks like a giant sandcastle that protrudes skywards out of the surrounding barren landscape… dubbed as the ‘golden city’ because of its honey color, it is a place that should only exist in the imagination.

Enter the gate and the sensation is indescribable. within the fort walls are the magical maze like streets lined with bazaars and exquisitely complex temples and elegant havelis…it is said that 30 percent of the population lives and breaths here…it is here where homes, hotels, shops and stalls are hidden in the laneways…

Staying within the fort is the most romantic, I should say! my bf and I decided to pick up Desert Haveli hotel because it is haunted (the lonely planet guide book said so) and the thought of a threesome with a gorgeous invisible rajasthani ghost should be harmless and very thrilling eh? the room is sexy (im running short of adjective here). it is lined with pillars and little shutters onto the street. the bed may have occupied the entire space of the room but who needs the space anyway when you’ll be out the entire day roaming the winding labyrinthine streets of the fort…oh, it is in these shutters by the way where I experienced the finest mind-blowing orgasm I ever had in my entire gay life *blush*…

getting cheesy overlooking lake pichola...

18 september 2006
udaipur:

I warned my bf that this time, we are on a shoe string budget…that even a so so hotel room with proper air conditioning will be a no no! not that AJ is so finicky but knowing how he sweat and how he is pampered with the Bangalore crispy breeze, the 40 degrees centigrade of udaipur could trigger a bomb (read: irritation).

but its me who is quite fussy actually.

I’ve been dreaming hitting the sack of Lake palace. never mind if their double bed room could cost the gross salary of the bf (read: 26 k???)…or maybe just to indulge our palates with their 2 thou buffet…or to nourish my skin with their spa and use the same towel Chelsea Clinton had used in her last visit…

but then fate has destined us, the working class to work work work and be content to a 500 rupee lodge and sip your cold beer on the rooftop restaurant that screens Octopussy overlooking the lake and the grandeur palaces of the haves. (yes, all restaurants in udaipur are all situated at the rooftop and yes, all are apparently screening the famous james bond movie octupussy)…

Romantic. Laidback. Palaces. Temples. Havelis. Lakes. Hills.Narrow streets. Cows. That’s the glory of Udaipur.

The city, with its narrow streets crowded by cows, rickshaws, bazaars and mischievous beautiful kids is a gorgeous place to hold your bf’s hand and wander after the sunset…its intricate and elegant buildings that is superbly crafted will enthrall you while from afar you can see the misty shadowed hills that cast its splendour in the mirror-glass of Lake Pichola…and in the middle of that is the whimsical Lake Palace that is partly owned now by the Taj Group…(they’re kinda not so sociable now to the budget-tourist who only intend to sip their super duper expensive latte while exploring the palace)…

one cannot ignore as well the very imposing City Palace. It is so huge, towering over the lake and is believed to be the biggest palace complex in Rajasthan. You will be enamored by its balconies, towers, cupolas and the hodgepodge of buildings built by different maharajas and yet it retained a surprising uniformity of design. if you want to see the fine view of the lake and the city, ascend to the upper terraces…the palace is now a museum holding some of the priceless artifacts in the world.

from a distance that looks like something out of a fairytale (at least at night when it is illuminated) is the Sajjan Garh (monsoon palace). it is a neglected 19th-century palace that is positioned on top of a mountain…I wonder why it is called monsoon palace???(my bf rationalized that it might be the refuge of the villagers when the water gets higher…but where are the waters???)

of fake gucci...metro train...and eye candies!

12:00 pm, 17 september 2006
delhi

V, loud and comical character (the raison d'être why the bf trapped in the jungle of Bangalore) assiduously obliged to us as our half day tour guide in delhi…

we made use of his room to refresh ourselves.
I was also forced to gulp the creamiest lassi on earth.

the bf and I have decided to see what delhi could offer with the 5 hours remaining before we board our 7:00 pm train to udaipur..

I was here 3 years ago with marj. it was our stop over destination before we proceeded to Himachal Pradesh…

I like delhi even if its temperature could reach the boiling point. I like the less crowded streets…the clean and spacious pathways…the too-so-many eye candies that even the fake Gucci shades could look damn cool on them…

but what caught my attention most is the subway (or do they call it the metro train)…
I felt like I was transported to another city/country. I felt like I wasn’t in India. it was the same experience I had 5 years ago when I was touring Czech, Vienna and Milan…its so first world…so Europe! so what if the thick damn crowd makes it a third world!