Marta in Nias, Indonesia. We spent 2 days in Surabaya for my Sister's graduation (meet the family, etc) - taking the advantage of her vicinity while being assigned to work in Aceh 2 months ago.
Saturday, June 21, 2008 - Back from Hiatus
That was a long blog vacation (6 months). Yeah, I had to clear up my head and got excited about blogging again. I am now.
I was thinking yesterday about Obama's quote of The Untouchables' "bring a gun to a knife fight". I mean that's also known as Powell's doctrine ("only go with clear object and overwhelming use of force").
Obama's decision to forgo public financial funding is a sample of that doctrine. He will fight unfairly, raise unfuckingbelivable amount of money and defeat John McCain in the November election.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - End of year
Wow, what a year.
It's been a year of up and down and up and down and up. The most important thing is that I have managed to go home to my family after 5 years of absence back in March. I also still manage to be in my sweetie's good side for most of the year :)
This blog has been silent most of this year, in contrast of my prolific blogging in 2006. I have been linking news and articles mainly on nomadlife.org. What I am alarmed about this year is that I start sensing a lack of original thinking of my side. So much time this year is spent on ducking down and putting the hours in to get more traction on the velocity of SilverKey in the Middle East. I don't mind the work but the lack of creative output is something to be worried about. I didn't manage to read that many books either. I think I read about 12 books in total this year. In contrast, I used to read 8 books a month back in the heyday of Chicago.
I will have to get into the habit of pondering again.
Life in Egypt is quite tiring. Gone are the days when I spend the weekends traversing the desert on horseback. I only managed to crawl back to diving three weeks ago after a one year absent. I ended up bouncing up and down in a 10 meter depth like an untalented gymnast. Weekends and holidays are spent in the office.
I do enjoy my trip to Morocco, hanging out with Ziyad again chasing the dream of our youth. The trip was a mind opening and having a conversation with a chattier than usual Suzanne over delicious tagines was something to cherish about.
Czech Republic is one beautiful place to spend one's time. The majestic old city and the lush green rolling hills of Central Europe come vividly better in real life than an imagined place any writer can come up with. Marta's family has pretty much adopted me. Nothing beats the surreal experience being in the middle of family conversation in a language that I know nothing of.
We manage to get a pretty cool office (a two floor penthouse on the 8th floor with a huge balcony) and set ourselves up for bigger things in 2008. I think next year is a tipping point of my dear little company in defining its contribution to the Internet life. There are huge challenges ahead but my eyes are filled with the images of stars and wonders.
Friday, November 23, 2007 - Incarcerated
Getting deported is harder than I described.
The process was quite straightforward and short but the after effect of the event still linger 3 days after and I still can't put my finger on it.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - Can't take me down
So in the past four days I have had 4 flights, spent one night in jail, three nights in airport and got deported once.
Monday, November 12, 2007 - Confession
I am not good at following instruction.
Saturday, November 10, 2007 - Drawn Together
My girlfriend drew these two boys 11 years ago. Click on the image for higher resolution.
Thursday, November 08, 2007 - Firebelly
There's a point of time after a long journey that you finally see the light and feel in your gut that yes, well done, you are going to make it.
It's been a 10,000 hours journey accross continents and here I am knocking loudly on a door that enters a new world of opportunities and wonders.
It is quite overwhelming at times actually. I think I finally understood the meaning of "follow your dreams" spoken by the wise folks of yesteryear. There is indeed some truth in that. The reality of achieving something worthy is so fucking hard and having not followed your dream would make it impossible.
The valleys are steep when you climb up a high mountain.
The wonder of it all is that this time I have someone to share my joy with. I am no longer destined to grimly taste the smell of success in isolation (love you babe).
The fire in my gut is getting stronger every day. There are indeed unbound possibilities and I will force history to remember my name.
Thursday, October 11, 2007 - Elizabeth
"I have come amongst you as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved in the midst and heat of the battle to live or die amongst you all, to lay down for my God and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too." her most famous speech on the incoming battle with the Spanish Armada.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - Weird World
My girlfriend is a Czech that's currently in Bangladesh. I am a Chinese Indonesian living in Cairo. And my buddy is a Turk that lives in Shanghai.