Strapped to my seat at 20,000 feet...
Well - it's been a time of many firsts, and here's another one. Blogging from somewhere above Kharkov, Russia.
Singapore airlines has internet and they had a free trial today.
Works very well. Drops out a little but just think - using Skype fron seat 35G is now possible.
London is about another 4 and a half hours away and I'm feeling sleepy - but can't sleep.
Nic.
Xmas in JK – part 2 (LONG POST)...
I’ve been a little too busy to Blog the last few days. I’ll try and catch up now.
Monday:
Yhantie had to work, so I stayed in the Hotel and did some work on my project. Note: This was the day they started filming the movie outside our room.
Yhantie came home early and we had a great evening together that for an appetiser included a long conversation about religion (Yhantie is Muslim – I’m not any religion). For main course some excellent Chinese/Japanese food. And for Desert we shopped for pirate DVDs.
I have to say - it was great to have an intelligent conversation about faith with Yhantie. See – in Indonesia only people of the same faith can marry. So, if Yhantie and me want to ‘tie the knot’, I would have to become Muslim (on paper at least).
It’s something she’s worried about for a while, but I think after we talked - everything will be okay. Basically – like anything I don’t know much about – I’m going to research the faith. There are no promises to convert and there is no pressure from Yhantie to become a practicing Muslim. I simply feel that I should know more about something that means so much to the woman I love.
Her faith is spiritual and personal and she would never expect me to do anything I don’t feel comfortable with. It’s what works for her and she feels a great deal of comfort from her religion. I respect that as I respect the faith of everyone.
I consider myself a spiritual person. I believe in being kind to people, strive to be a good person, and often question what kind of impact I am having on the world. The only difference between Yhantie and me is that I don’t believe in the existence of God.
Normally I avoid all conversation about religion because people with faith often close their mind to other people’s ideas and concepts. Never once did we argue – we simply listened to each other’s feelings about faith and readily accepted then. There is A LOT of common ground between how we feel spiritually. Muslim or not.
After that - we went to go get some food.
The hotel is in a great location. So many great places to eat are close by. The first night I was there we went to an amazing Indonesian Restaurant, but I forgot my camera so you’re just gonna have to believe me.
This night we decided on an open-air Dim Sum house.
Yhantie had Chicken Feet...
...which is something I’m not quite ready to try at the moment :)
I had BENTOOOO (I’m so predicatble)...
and we shared some dumplings and squid...
The food in Indonesia is amazing. I haven’t had a bad meal. But – I’m sure I have put on lots of weight while I have been here. I think in the New Year it’s gonna be salad and fish for awhile.
Half way through the meal there was a power cut – which made the whole evening even more romantic. However, later photographic proof shows this was really a diversion tactic for an invasion of the Earth by evil light monsters form Kappa-Fila-Nike.
After dinner we headed to the DVD stores that were at the back of the Restaurant. I’m not going to get into the whole debate about the ethics of pirate DVD/Music/Games etc. It just happens to be part of the Indonesian culture – and to be honest, the cost of living is so low in Indonesia that only a few people could really afford to pay legitimate prices for this kind of entertainment.
I bought a few movies and we headed back to the Hotel and watched ‘Chicken Little’ till about 2pm.
I don’t think I’ve ever had a more perfect evening.
Tuesday:
Yhantie wasn’t feeling too good so we didn’t do much. Ate some Korean and hung out in the Hotel.
Wednesday:
Yhantie had to work so we had breakfast and I headed over to the Mall next to her office to do some work so I sat in Starbucks and did the same.
The malls in Jakarta are a nice mix of Western and Eastern. There are lots and lots of clothes shops and department stores and hairdressers.
There are also lots of familiar faces. Marks and Spencer, Boots, Body Shop, etc.
There is a lot of poverty in Indonesia and it sometimes made me feel uncomfortable seeing the contrast between the people who live in box houses under the freeway and the people shopping for Gucci. However, this incredibly wide gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ makes Jakarta the wonderfully organic city it is.
I’m still in awe that I never saw a single road accident, yet the driving and traffic in Jakarta needs to be seen to be believed. Maybe there is a God after all.
Anyway – so I spent most of the afternoon in Starbucks, planning to do some work – but when my mouse failed me (need a mouse for SketchUp) I decided to do some music instead. I’ll post it later.
Yhantie joined me later in the afternoon and I told her about a conversation I overheard while I was getting a coffee. Some Australians had been talking about PlayStations and how they were already modified to run import/pirated games.
My PS2 is failing me. The DVD drive is going (when will Sony ship a good drive with a console) and I’ve wanted to get something that would play import games for a while.
It hadn’t really struck me that 90% of the games in Jakarta were pirated. It was only when I was in a Toy Store and they were selling 120 GBA games on one ROM and ‘The Sims 2’ for about $1. Everything else in the store was legit – just the games were copies.
Actually – the only original games you can buy are for the Nintendo DS and the PSP. I guess cos they are not so easy to pirate (well – okay… I know they are but hey, lets pretend).
So, Yhantie and me went to go seek out a PS2. And here’s what I got:
1 PS2 – with Mod Chip
1 Official Sony Memory Card
2 Unofficial controllers (which are a bit poop)
15 Games (yes – pirated)
Total cost? About $200 US. I only need the main PS2 body and it’s so small it’ll easily fit in my hand luggage. Oh – and no… I’m not bringing you one back with me next time!!!
After the uber-geeky purchase we went and ate. This time – Indonesian.
It’s tradition to bring LOTS AND LOTS of dishes to the table and you just share and eat what you want. This is what a meal for 2 looked like.
Amazing. Yhantie spared me from trying the Brain and Cows feet (I think that’s what they were). A lesser woman wouldn’t have told me what they were and let me eat them. True love protects you from strange foods :)
After dinner we headed back to the hotel and tried out the PS2.
Did I mention that Yhantie is a professional Ninja? You seen hat scar on the top of her chest? That’s a scare from a Katana. She has one on her back too.
Seems professional Ninja training extends to PS2 fighting games too. She kicked my ass 7-0 at ‘Soul Calibur III’ and 10-1 on ‘Tekken 5’ (and I think she let me have that round). Now – I’m meant to be pretty good at fighting games. I beat on of the guys from Namco at Tekken 4 when I was working on ‘Orchid’. Yhantie is an amazing girl with super Ninja powers. The world is safe in her hands.
Defeated and humiliated – I decided to put on ‘Katamari’ and roll around collecting Earth junk into the wee-small-hours before bedtime.
Thursday:
Yhanie had to work a little. I had to sleep a little. I woke up to help Hanny with the MP3 player she got from her BF for Xmas. Yhantie turned up a little later and proceeded to kick some more ass at Soul Calibur III.
I’d promised to cook – and this was our last full day together, so I went across the road to the super market to buy ingredients to make Sushi. I haven’t made Sushi for over a year and I was worried I was out of practice. But it’s one of those foods that’s fun to make and even better to eat – so I took a risk.
I started boiling rice. Yhantie started a two-player game of Sim 2 and ended up playing both characters!!!
After making sure I could still roll Maki, I introduced Yhantie to the art of Sushi rolling, and for her first attempt she did really well.
Of course – I made too much. I think it is impossible to make a small amount of Sushi.
We decided to store it and give it to Yhantie’s housemates.
We ate – and talked late into the night. Neither of us wanted to sleep since I was heading back to the UK on Friday.
Friday:
Woke up late (yes – we did fall asleep) and had breakfast, packed the room and headed out of the Hotel about 1:30pm.
Call me sentimental and stupid, or just in love – but that Hotel room felt like home. It felt like mine and Yhantie’s apartment. It really felt like THIS WAS MY LIFE and I was so happy! It was very sad to say goodbye to the room. I knew it was going to be even harder to leave Yhantie and get on my plane.
We got the Airport really early and sat down at ‘Hoka Hoka Bento’ and talked until it was time to check in and catch my plane.
I don’t know what life is going to be like when I get home. I’m going to miss Yhantie SO MUCH. I don’t normally talk about my personal life on this Blog because, to be honest, it’s been a bit of a disaster.
Like that trip to Chicago last month. That was one of my personal life disasters and I didn’t Blog it. But through all these disasters I have to think one thing. If none of these attempted relationships (and folks – I’ll be honest, there was exactly that many of these attempted relationships) I would never have me Yhantie.
There is hope for everyone and I hope that if you’re reading this and feeling lonely – our story will bring you some hope.
My Sister once asked my Grandfather why he married my Grandmother and he answered, “Because I couldn’t afford a bike.”
He couldn’t leave the village he lived in, so he married someone who lived in the same village.
I’m lucky enough to be able to afford a bike, and a plane ticket. The world is my village and I have searched the world to find the one person who makes me complete. I found her.
There is hope for everyone.
Nic.
Lights (erm… nope), Camera (YES!), ACTION! (YES!)...
They are filming a movie outside my hotel room. I first found this out when I forced my way into the coffee bar in the hotel and walked straight into shot :)
This is a cool hotel so I’m not surprised that they are using it as a set.
I was telling Yhantie last night that if ‘Paprika’ (the restaurant we ate at last night and a place Yhantie used to do promotion/marking for) was in New York – it would feature in every Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan style romantic comedy.
There are some beautiful natural locations (and actors) in Jakarta. It’s a pretty inspiring place.
Anyway – back to the plot of the movie being shot outside.
It’s a complex story of a man and a woman walking to a car while a woman runs down some stairs and nearly knocks over a woman coming up the stairs.
I love filmmaking... it’ll all be okay in the edit suite :)
What it really needs is an evil westerner in an Iggy Pop T-Shirt to steal the main characters girl. I think I’ll go suggest it.
Maybe I’ll move to Indonesia and direct Anime inspired action movies… Hmmmmm…
YHANTIE! CAN I FLY A 12 TONNE MECH INTO ‘PAPRIKA’ AND HAVE A MASSIVE GUN BATTLE INSIDE WHILE THE HERO IS HAVING A ROMANTIC DINNER WITH HIS DREAM GIRL WHO TURNS OUT TO BE THE ARCH-SUPER VILLAIN???
Now THAT’S a scene... none of this walking down the stairs nonsense.
Nic.
Selamat Natal...
Happy Xmas from Jakarta!!!
I went to JK this xmas to meet my girlfriend, Yhantie - and we are in love...
Waaaiiiiitttttt....
That's better ;)
Xmas in Jakarta is really nice. Like Japan it's understated and fun.
Evil Yhantie turned Nic into a snowman and left him in the mall...
...but took pitty and took me for Xmas dinner at Paprika...
...which is a beautiful!!!
The food was amazing and after about 748 starters the main course came. I had turkey (keeping it real)...
...Yhantie had the beef (which was actually more tasty)...
...and I liked desert...
...and my fav wine finished it all off.
The hotel is amazing...
...I SO GLAD I FINALLY MADE IT!!!! <3 <3 <3!!!
Nic.
Where in the world is Nic...
...well - I'm in JAKARTA!!! Yes - after 2 days of traveling they finally let me in the country!!!
I got a lot of people I want to thank. It's been a pretty amazing experience and one I won't forget in a long time.
1:
Singapore Airlines. They screwed up, but they were pretty amazing when I got back to S'Pore. I still want comensation though ;)
2:
Helen at the British high council for working through her lunch and getting my Passport done so quickly. It shouldhave taken days but she fast tracked it. I really must look like I am in LOVE <3.
3:
Mika - who I haven't spoken to, but is one of the many people with Embassy contacts that helped me in my time of need.
4:
Sarah (my sister) who just called and told me she also rang the Embassy!!!
5:
My Mum - for doing what she does best and worry about me as I go off on another crazy adventure.
6:
Hanny - for being support to Yhantie and driving me back from the Airport. You've been amazing!!!
7:
Dabs and Doro - for your comments and support. Thank you so MUCH!!!
Yhantie - for EVERYTHING!! She did everything she possibly could do to try and get me into the country the first time. EVERYTHING. It was so painful to see her for just 15 minutes before being dragged to 'my cell' to wait to be deported. The only thing that made it bareable was knowing she was there for me - trying everything!!
Even the hotel she arranged for me is amazing. AMAZING!! I feel so spoilt!!!!
I love you sweetheart. With all my heart.
Now - time to try and catch up on some sleep :)
Nic.
Xmas in the tropics...
5AM 22nd of December 2005
I guess this is no one’s fault except my own, but I sitting on a cold tile floor – waiting to be deported from Jakarta on the first plane back to Singapore.
I spent the night in a Nursery (basically a small room with some broken chairs) with two para-athletes and a Nigerian teacher. We all have different reasons for being thrown out of the country. This is mine.
See – my passport is valid, but only for another 4 months and (and I didn’t know this) for entry into Indonesia you need at least 6 months valid on your passport.
I found this out at 10:15pm on the 21st of December.
I’m in Jakarta to see my girlfriend. We’ve never actually met before – but like most modern day romances – we really hit if off through the use of Internet and phone. I had been planning to do something different this year for Xmas, but was never sure what. This all came kinda out of the blue and here I am.
I did get to meet Yhantie for maybe 15 minutes at the immigration checkpoint. Not exactly the romantic evening I had hoped for.
Bless that wonderful girl, she did all the pleading with the officials she could to try and get me into the country. She shouldn’t have even been allowed anywhere near the immigration checkpoint. She’s a young and as tough as they come and worth doing anything to try and get back into the country for.
There is at the moment 1 plan and multiple possible ways to play it. I guess by the time I post this – I’ll know if it worked.
The plan is to go back to S’Pore – argue with the airline for letting me on a flight it was obvious I wouldn’t be able to enter the country on and get them to let me go to the British Embassy in S’Pore where I can either extend my passport or renew it.
I only really know one person in S’Pore who could help me (he works for the company and I was out in Japan recently). He got a phone call from me about 1:30am and naturally didn’t pick up but I left a voice mail. I’m hoping he knows someone at the Embassy who can speed through my plea.
Yhantie has a friend at the Indonesian Embassy in S’Pore and in on the phone to her right now. We’re hoping they can give us some advice, or give us a name of someone to talk to.
To top everything – the screen on my every wonderful Cell Phone has cracked and I can’t really use it. I’m dialling blind and can’t ready any txts I get.
6AM 22nd of December 2005
I’m deported. I was thinking I would never get out of here to try and sort out the whole passport mess – but at the last minute they put me on a flight back to Singapore. I can hopefully catch 30 minutes sleep and finally eat and drink something.
9AM 22nd of December 2005
I land back in Singapore and I’m met by a S’Pore airlines rep. They were REALLY helpful. Had got me the address of the British Embassy and didn’t charge me for the flight back. They also said if I have to pay for my return ticket to Jakarta (YES – I am planning on returning TODAY) then I should claim it back later.
10:30AM 22nd of December 2005
I’m at the British Embassy and they at first tell me it is going to take a few days (plus Xmas) to get a new passport. I tell the lady my sob story. She disappears around the back and 5 minutes later she tells me they are going to try and rush it through today. One of them is going to work through their lunch hour to get it done.
Yhantie had been pulling strings her end by calling her friend at the Indonesian Embassy here in S’Pore.
Maybe it was that – maybe it was me just being the nice guy I am that won them over. I’m not sure. Barns and Asuka were taking in the piss out of me for ‘flirting’ with the guy from BT as I was setting up the new phone in my house. I’m just nice to people. That’s who I am.
I went across the road to the mall to get some new pictures and some cash money to pay for the passport.
They say it will be ready by 4pm – but to call at 3pm to see if there are any problems. I am hoping and preying there won’t be any – but now that fact that I have just moved house and I don’t really have any evidence (like council tax) that I live there might screw things up!!
11:30AM 22nd of December 2005
I’m sat in a noodle bar finally having some lunch. It’s storming outside. I only know 3 people in Singapore and had I know I was going to be here for more than a change of planes I would have got in touch with them. As it is – I got three and a half hours to kill before I find out if I can get back into Jakarta.
2:20PM 22nd of December 2005
Just got a call from the Embassy. MY PASSPORT IS READY!!! Having spent the last few hours filling time and (ending up stealing McDonalds wireless net) I can head back to the airport. I gave the passport woman a tin of biscuits (sorry Hanny - they were meant to be for you) to say thank you for helping me in my hours of need.
4:00PM 22nd of December 2005
I'm checked in and sitting in the Priority Pass lounge and stealing their interent. I have my ticket and my new passport. Apparently I have to apply for a Visa when I land. That worries me a little. What if they say no? Do I get deported again? Surely I've done enough today so they can let me in and spend Xmas with my girlfriend.
This has been the most crazy trip I've ever had. All in it will have taken me 38 hours from take off at London Heathrow to hopefully land and get into Jakarta.
Singapore Changi Airport is very nice and this lounge is great. I spent a couple hours here the first time I was going to JK and took a shower and everything. This time - I'm thinking I've spent so long in the same clothes I don't think a shower is gonna help.
I'll post some pitures of the Singapore airport later.
5:45PM 22nd of December 2005
I just realised I have been in the same clothes (and slept in the same clothes) for over 48 hours! I feel very funky. Off to get my flight.
More as it happens... Hopefully the rest of this trip will be drama free.
Nic.
watashi wa otaku desu ka???
I hope not - but I was watching 'Train Man' on the flight to Japan and when he was setting up his little Gundam figure on his work desk (and the Ghost In The Shell books in his room) that maybe I am sukoshi otaku :)
For reference here's my work desk before the office move...
...and after...
Waaaaaaaaaa - WATASHI WA OTAKU DESU YO!!! :(
Nic.
The NEW NEW Medulla HQ...
It's taken a while - but finally tonight I set up the new studio...
This room is about 3 times bigger than the old Medulla HQ (which if I was clever I would link to a picture of about now) cos is goes right back to here...
There's probably enough space in just this room to comfortable hold a three man dev team. Maybe
Barns,
Ploom2, and myself could just work from here instead of the 2 and a half hour round trip to the London office every day ;)
I'll probably end up putting a bed in this room as well cos it just feels too big right now.
Needs some curtains too cos right now anyone can peek in.. I expect all this to have been
stolen by the time I get back from my Xmas vacation.
Nic.
Life in reverse...
Wow - been SO BUSY with the Japan trip and moving house (and it's little teething problems). So here's just some random stuff since the last blog.
My Toyota Celica never fails to amaze me with how much stuff you can cram into it. I didn't move under cover of darkness this time :)
Tecmo stuff... they didn't have the full size
HUGGING PILLOWS (Humping Pillows) or I probably would have bought one.
However, I was tempted to furnish the new house with Dead Or Alive mugs.
Things I did pick up included...
...This E-Mu soundcard - half price to UK price...
...Famitsu and Fruits (like always)...
...the new Halcali CDS...
...some Cigars to celebrate the house move...
...and finally bought a PSP. I picked up the basic pack (so just the console) which worked out costing less that £100 (NEARLY half price). I also picked up a load of value games like Ridge Racer, Everybodies Golf, etc. I also picked up 'TalkMan', which is a universal translator thing. I gotta say- initial impressions are not so hot. Once I've played with it a bit more I'll post some kind of a review.
I'm thinking about this for a new look for me...
...looks an awful lot like
Jason Lee to me!!!
We had an amazing view of Mt. Fuji on the day we checked out...
...click for a full size piccy.
And finally Chi-Chan won an I-Pod :)
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,
Nic.
Bad, bad, shit...
My good friend Suanie has been robbed.
http://www.suanie.net/2005/12/11/fucking-bastards/Might have to have a bit of a fund raiser to help her get back to what she does best.
Why are people so shitty to each other :(
Nic.
Shinjuku Xmas 05 with the big light in the sky turned off...
Xmas in the West is brash, noisey, tacky, and something I generally try to avoid. Xmas in Shinjuku is understated, beautiful, romantic, and something I'm glad I'm experiencing.
Just had dinner with 'the Chans' - Aya, Chi, and Ikue. Was sugoi :)
I haven't slept for 32 hours... time for bed.
Nic.
P.S. That fire in Hemel looks
REALLY BAD. I hope no one was hurt!!!!
I <3 Tokyo...
I'm in Tokyo (and YES - I just about managed to move into my new house around 9pm on the 9th!!!).
I love this city cos I open my curtains and I see this...
Tokyo is a REAL city.
Then I turn on my TV and the first thing I see is this...
HALCALI ON MTV!!!
They must have known I was coming...
I didn't sleep on the plane and I'm tired...
Meeting Aya-Chan, Chi-Chan, and Ikue-Chan for dinner tonight... I hope I last the evening.
Got meetings for the next 2 day so I'm not sure how much time I will have to blog - or how much I will be able to blog... WE WILL SEE :)
Time for a bath ;)
Nic.
So Goodbye Yellow Brick Road...
This MIGHT be the last post from Medulla Corp HQ V2.0 (beta). With any luck I'll get the keys to the REAL Medulla Corp HQ V2.0 (final) tomorrow.
So what is the difference between Beta and Final. Well - Final is across the road from Beta. I've been staying at my friends house for the last couple of months and it just so happens the house I bought is across the street!!!
I'll try and post and let you all know if I make it tomorrow (I know you're all holding your breath!).
Even if I do make it - I'm going to Japan on Saturday so I will only get to spend 1 night in my new home before heading off to the 'Land of Sugoi Kawaiiii'.
It's only a short trip and I'll be back next week.
The week after I'm going to spend the Xmas season in Jakarta.
I've been planning on going SOMEWHERE for xmas all year but never really settled on anything. I'm sure I'll blog all that too :)
So the end of the year looks a little like this for me...
...but this year has been more like...
The passport has had a good workout this year. Wonder where I will end up next year.
Nic.
GOOD! free crap...
As I've mentioned before - sometimes that hand out free crap at the London Mainline stations. Today - they were handing out these...
Skype starter packs with 30 minutes of free calls and...
...yes - free headsets. This is REALLY useful for me since I use Skype when I travel.
Before I just used to plug my headphones into the Vaio and scream down the Vaio's little in-built microphone. Now - I can just slide this in my bag and it takes up no space :)
GOOD FREE CRAP!!!
BTW - at home I use one of those USB boxes that lets you plug your normal phone (in my case a DECT wireless thing) into the PC and use it as a Skype handset. These boxes are cheap and work pretty well. We've even started using them in the office.
Skype's great (even if
sometimes when I call my Mum she sounds like the teacher from Charlie Brown)... especially great for low cost international calls.
Nic (should get commision from Skype)
Don't piss off this kid...
Look into his eyes!!!
If he is doing this at the age of 10...
...he must have plans to take over the world!!!
I AM SCARED!!!
[from Akihabara News]Nic.
Counting Up :( :( :(
Looks like I jumped the gun a little... there have been problems... the 9th might not happen. And if it does I have to go to Tokyo on the 10th :)
Wow - This year has been full of drama... and the last act is a doozieeee
Nic.
Counting Down...
The contracts have been exchanged on Medulla Corp HQ V2.0
I should be in the new place in...
...baring any natural disasters.
Nic.
The countdown script at
Rainbow Arch
Best Game Ever???
This just in...
...translated as something like 'Line-Kill Spirits' - it's a basic fighting game where you have to expose the other player's PANTIES and take a photo!!
There's a movie of this game - which really does need to be seen. Click
HERE.
I'm working on a camera phone version where you get points for 'Up Skirting' real girls... unfortunalty all the QA guys that are testing it have now been put on the sex offenders list.
Nic.
Nobel Prize no Kawaiiiiiiiii....
Puffy have won the Nobel Prize for Kawaii.
Previous winners include...
Natsuko Tohno...
Tifa...
Halcali...
Megumi.
Naturally - this award only really exists in my mind, but it's a my dream and YOU CAN'T TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME!!! ;)
Nic.
Mix up in the copy room...
I thought they were planning on making this thing smaller so the Japanese might actually buy one without having to move apartment!!!
Nic.
The big three-ohhhhhhhhh...
Happy Birthday to my friend
Pinky!!!
She hit the big 3-0, but still looks like she should be in school. I might have a stop over in S'Pore soon - so it might give her the oppertunity to hit me a few hundred tims for using this pic ;)
Nic.
