By chance, I knew a BBC show, Top Gear, since earlier February 2010. Where an existing pre-paid television channel in my house, Indovision, provide additional programs that are free of charge for a month. Precisely at the BBC Knowledge channel. I like the automotive and science programs. I feel that this television channel, BBC Knowledge, is right one for me because they are the only channel on my cable television channel that discusses everything about the automobile that can arouse my curiosity about automotive or science. It encouraged me to subscribe to the BBC Knowledge channel on an ongoing basis until today.

Of course, when aired on that television channel, the show Top Gear has entered the season 10 or maybe more. I don’t know exactly. Given the program began in the early 2002s. Currently, the program hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. All have a very strong character. I will try to discuss them one by one according to some references that I got through the internet and from the event record from the first season until the last.

Jeremy is the oldest host, or senior. He has the biggest body posture and a high among them but relatively very standard face as the others. His is pretty selfish and temperamental nature. Because he is senior, and always right. But he compensates with very intelligent sense of humor. He most likes to the exotic cars and sophisticated and the most hatred towards motorcycles. Once, in an episode where he had to drive a small motorcycle in Cambodia, he said that he would never buy his son a motorcycle. Never!

Conversely, Richard Hammond, “Hamster”, the youngest, relatively the most handsome, and has a physique that most small and has always been a scapegoat in the show. He has character that always cheerful and laughing, most liked to motorcycle, and can cooperate with all parties. He like to things that are classics and ancient. Because he has a background as an agricultural employers and farm families in London.

Last, James May, is the last presenter, who joined Top Gear, replacing the role of a presenter who joined early on Top Gear, named Jason Dawe. James May has the nickname “Captain Slow”, because he was not very happy with the speed but has the most extensive knowledge of the other. He is the most theoretical, mathematical and honest to all situations. He can accept things gracefully or has sportsmanship. The only presenter of Top Gear who has a pilot’s license.

About the Top Gear program itself, an event that discusses all aspects of a vehicle, especially cars. Of course, the show was packaged in such a way that balanced in terms of both technical and in terms of entertainment. But of course, the entertainment aspect is more emphasized than the technical side because if they’re emphasized the technical aspects, the event becomes very monotonous and boring. They speak technically but easily understandable with everyday language so that ordinary people who do not understand the technical, can clearly understand the goals and objectives. In short, they use a “magazine format” for their programs.

I think, will be not enough if we only discuss this once. Next, I will discuss about some event which I think is very good and phenomenal.

Saturday June 26 and Sunday June 27, 2010, I get very valuable experience. An experience of life and at the same time a valuable work experience. All happened as if it had been arranged perfectly from God. All becomes clear, why I do business with two friends and running stagnant. All of correct answers starts a month before the date mentioned above.

On that date, our company won the tender to conduct or organize an event of a multinational company located in Surabaya. The event is one of a series of events held throughout the major cities in Indonesia. Viewing from the scale of this event, certainly big enough and needed a very complicated management supported by sufficient qualified human resources.

At the beginning of the process, my friend, call it the Mr. A, assigned to represent clients, especially the leadership of the client company. While I was with my friend the other one, call it the Mr. B, trying to support everything associated with this project. Various work has been done though not yet entered the final stages. All the preparations leading to the day of determination has been established by procedural and directional although some adjustments must be made to meet client demand. The information obtained is always processed and translated into maximum efforts to support the project.

However, communication happens not always run smoothly and as planned. Verbal communication is very vulnerable with all human nature, that is forgotten or do not even want to convey all the messages, either intentionally or unintentionally. Finally, the management team or the executor in the field do not get the message entirely. And that is fatal for the company or enterprise services like this. The work progress already done often ended without any results because of lack of communication between members. Repeated course work is time consuming, labor, tedious and last, very annoying. It’s really annoying.

However, due to being pressured by a very very short time, less than 10 days to organize the big event, we finally moving on our own experience during 10 years working in this field. All fill vacant positions, together with good, neat and compact cooperation and coordination, to ensure a successful event. And I admit, there are internal weaknesses that need to be addressed with perfect solution for other projects in the future to become the perfect job.

Of course, some external weaknesses still affect this event. Like the company or other business entity from Jakarta, was the bottleneck event’s successes. Those requests are urgent until the last minute and less reliable in reasoning by the human brain, quite cumbersome and extremely annoying. Thankfully, our clients was so objective and understand the problems of smoothness of the event. Thanks, God. Here is my team record, 10,000 until 15,000 attendants for the day 1 and 25,000 until 30,000 attendants for the day 2.

We woke up at seven in the morning. I’m trying to rearrange our things in a suitcases. Some things have not gotten the right place or feasible. I fear that if later the goods are damaged or broken. As you know, many of these things are ordered or as presents for relatives of our family.

Then, we decided to check out late at after lunch, and we have the permission from the hotel. I said to my wife that I do not need to rearrange our luggage because I know for sure, we would definitely buy some stuff again when it will be checked out from the hotel, 100% sure!

After a shower in the morning, we headed to the Kwan Im Tong Hood Cho for morning prayers. Then we headed to Sim Lim Square Food Court in the basement of the building. Again, I order the same food menu as yesterday, because I have a very sensitive stomach and or digestion. Yesterday, I’ve tried to ate that food and there is no nothing happen. So I ordered the same food menu again, meat ball soup. Well, that’s my weakness, has a very sensitive stomach. My wife tried a different food menu from yesterday. Honestly, we really enjoy the situation that morning, not very crowded like at lunch time because the place is not too large.

After breakfast, we headed to Bugis Junction. Only just for window shopping at there, then we headed to the Bee Cheng Hiang stall that is located on the street corner. We buy pork jerky as presents for relatives of our family. That pork jerky is very tasty and very popular at there. Sometimes I can eat until 3 to 4 pieces of pork jerky. The size is large enough, probably around 5×8 centimeter, I do not know for sure. Usually, I eat that with steam rice. Well, only steam rice. I really like it and love it. Click here for their website.

We returned to the hotel for final preparations before leaving this lovely country. Mainly to set the pork jerky we had just bought can enter into our suitcases very well. All was ready, and go! We checked out of the hotel Called a taxi to go to Changi Airport and check in to obtain boarding passes there. We use aviation services Valuair, one of the best low cost carrier in the world. When checking in, the queue was quite long. We had to wait between 10-15 minutes. We incur additional costs because I was mistaken booked for my wife’s ticket, which I ordered without the baggage for the Surabaya-Singapore route and vice versa, the Singapore-Surabaya. Therefore, I have to upgrade my wife’s ticket with the amount of money. No problem. That’s my fault.

We went into the airport for immediate authorization of a passport at the immigration area and went into the boarding waiting room. But before that, we have to go through luggage inspection. The Valuair entrance to the airport inside is provided exclusively by the party. Just before the entrance, there is a scale for luggage or suitcase, not too big, and very unique. Why do I say unique? Because above of these scale, there is an conditioned iron framework in accordance with the requirements or rules of the Valuair, both in terms of length, width and height of our luggages. In short, the cabin luggage bag volume should be in accordance with the Valuair rules. A few meters after that scales, there is a guard, if I may call it, a security guard.

Of course, according to the regulations, one passenger may only carry one cabin luggage. We, my wife and I, of course carrying two cabin bags and it was not against their regulations. As a husband, instead carrying my own backpack, of course, my wife’s cabin trolley bag too. After weighing the two cabin bags, we passed the guard. Guess what happened? With spontaneously, he prevented me to bring two cabin bags! What the ….? Of course, I was offended, but I’m not stupid, guys. I know the rules, whether I was wrong to bring my wife cabin trolley bag too? Definitely wrong? In front of his nose, I gave the cabin trolley bag my wife. After a step past the guard, with the obvious, I asked the cabin trolley bag back from my wife. It’s really bothering me so much. The solution? The guard should have asked us politely, for example, how many people do you check in, and so forth. Truly outrageous and onerous and embarrassing at the same time for one of famous low cost airlines in the world. With these event, lowering my expectations of Valuair. Or, my expectations are too high? Frankly, I’m less or even not interested anymore to Valuair bargains. Imagine, just because their security guard! This airline has lost two of its potential customers.

That’s all, dude … I’ll fly to this lovely country again, but not with them. Mission accomplished.

Yes, I want to make an apologize because of last 2 or 3 months ago, I don’t have time to upload some story or news in this website. You know, Chinese New Year, the most busiest time, and then my company, event organizer, held a Valentine’s Day and Party at the one of the club in this town, some other small and big events like wedding party and corporate gathering, etc; my lovely sister birthday, and then you know, “Cing Ming”, or in English, “Hell New Year Party”, the party to the dead people, and some busy activity at my office.

I don’t have a much time to update my website. So, I want to make an apologize to everybody who waits for my news, opinions or everything with one bold notes, if. If there are some people who waiting my updates. LOL…

Anyway, I want to write again. And I want to say thank you for all of you who stay still connect with me within this site and still waiting for the updates, and thanks for your support. Many news and opinion waiting in my mind.

Peace!

Last day, after came from Science Center, we went to Orchard Road. Yeah, you already knew from what MRT station to what MRT station. Yes, you’re correct! From Jurong East to Orchard Road MRT. I want to eat one of my favorite meal as you know earlier at Food Republic Wisma Atria, Nasi Ayam Hainan or Hainan Steamed Chicken Rice. Because today and the next day, I thought that I don’t have much more time. So, this is the last day to taste that wonderful food again before I’m busy to back to my country. I really like that meal, so much. You must try it. Really!

We also went to the Kinokuniya Book Store at Takashimaya Department Store at Ngee Ann City building where you can found any books at there. The location is next from the Wisma Atria Building. You can walk through the connecting underground floor. From novel, comic, maps, literature, education, interior, and anything. My wife, she bought some medical books that are not available at here. I love that book store. Really love it. Nice design and nice atmosphere. I bought some hobbies magazines, like plastic model kit and car magazine. After that, we hang around Ngee Ann City Fountain. We bought some snacks from Old Chang Kee, my favorite is fried fish ball and fried baby octopus. And then we bought a glass of Slurpee at Seven Eleven kiosk and local ice cream at there. After that, we back to the hotel and get some rest for the tomorrow, the last day.

In the early morning, after praying at the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho. We walked to the Sim Lim Square Food Court at the basement. We want to eat breakfast at there. After that, we went inside the building just want to know the latest situation and the latest technology. But we found nothing new, and the price is so expensive for many products. It’s not attractive anymore for me. Yeah…

After that, we catch a taxi. We want to go to Stargek. If you’re fans of Tamiya plastic model kit, you’re already know with that world brand. Stargek is a official store for Tamiya’s products. You can find anything about Tamiya at there. It’s a paradise for me. Really! I can spent my time at there, maybe 1 or 2 or even 3 hours. I bought 1 plastic model kit, some photo etched for my un-kitted Tamiya’s collection, some spray paints, some enamel paints and thinner. I also bought one plastic model kit from there, Toyota Hiace, made by Fujimi. I choose this product because I want some variation with plastic model kit products. I want to try something different with that. I want to know the other products, is it precision product, is it good quality, is it durable, is it easy to assemble? I want that answer by myself. Not from internet.

We’re back to the Ibis Hotel, take some quick rest and back to the MRT station. Because it was the last day, we want to spend the night more than usual. We want this day will be the “Culinary Day”. We’re heading to the Republic Food Court, lunch at there. And then, bought some Old Chang Kee fried food. Just relax at the front of Ion Orchard Mall and Takashimaya building. We’re heading back to the MRT station and heading to the City Hall MRT Station. At the open ground area, we tried to relax at there, saw people walking by at the end of business hour. Many of the taking some rest by sitting at the park, read some newspaper, smoking a little, just hanging around with their partner after work or after shopping habits, etc. We saw some unusual scene where a couple taking some pre-wedding picture at there. I didn’t know where they come from, local Singaporean or from neighbor like Indonesian, Malaysian, or other countries. I think it’s funny.

We decided to go to the Clarke Quay MRT Station. We want to buy some Turkey Ice Cream. We’re like it so much. You know Turkey Ice Cream? The taste, the aroma and the ice cream, like a gum or a rubber. It’s so sticky. You have to try it someday. His kiosk near at the front of Read Street bridge across the Jumbo Seafood Restaurant near Trader’s Market. My favorite is strawberry and my wife, mint and chocolate. You have to chat with the man and sometimes he will tricks you with your ice cream. But before buy some Turkey Ice Cream, we bought some Japanese Ice Cream at the SOHO@Central Mall Terrace at Boat Quay Street. Yeah, it’s more expensive rather than the Turkey Ice Cream. But, we have to try it before we’re heading back tomorrow. It was delicious but the Turkey Ice Cream is more better and more delicious.

After looking around at there where many restaurant from many countries with there specialty(Morocco, Mexico, Italy, Western, Asia, Satay Club, etc), we decided to dinner at the Italy restaurant. I forgot the name of that restaurant, but the menu from appetizer until desert were wonderful and awesome. I bought a lamb chop steak for the main course and one portion of scallop for the appetizer. Sure, we will be back at there at once.

With full stomach, we’re hanging around the bridge. Looking at the river and the people. Sometime you heard people yelling from the little spot at the end of the bridge. Some people enjoyed the catapult ride and swinging ride. We’re already tried it before, maybe 1 or 2 years ago at the same spot. Sorry, I forgot the exact name of that things. Oh, I remember that now, it’s G-MAX the reverse bungee. It’s really nice but expensive. Furthermore, if you want your photo or your short film on VCD about your and mate face when at that ride, it will cost you more. At 11 pm , we’re heading back to the hotel by a taxi. We had to prepare our luggage before heading back to Indonesia. I think this vacancy is one of the best of my life, really!