Boyd Schidt

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I arrived last night from Macau, after attending the Pensions and Investment Funds Summit 2007 since Tuesday. I joined 2 other senior reps from the SC, Shahrin the Assistant Head of the Trust and Investment Management Department and Aida, a Manager with the Strategy and Development Division. I was a tad nervous, knowing how senior they are- but they turned out to be a fun bunch to travel with.

The flight

I hate flying. Absolutely hate it. I dont know how I ever survived through those long haul flights..espcially the one I took to the States. This one wasnt too bad cos:

1. I made sure I drank enough water before the flight..till I felt like a bloated camel.
2. Got an aisle seat
3. Brought along my sleeping mask

Highlights of the flight to Macau

We took the KL-Bangkok (transit)-Macau route. Highlights:

1. Flight to Macau was delayed for 3 hours, only left Bangkok at 11:20pm
2. The most number of air pocket= bumpiest flight i’ve ever been on
3. Arrived at Westin, Macau at 3:00am!

The Summit

The Summit was attended by CIOs and product managers from across the globe. I’ve always known that the capital market is more than just buying and selling stocks on the exchange.. but listening to the presentations  and reading through the materials..put me in awe of how developed capital market instruments are and how advance investment activites have become.

The fund managers were talking about investing in distressed securities..(yea how do you ensure ROI? believe me they get the ROI),separation of alpha and beta in investment,and meeting one-on-one with managers who are dead on experts in market timing and getting absolute returns. Amazing! I got goose bumps.

Fear not..Malaysia is getting there, slowly but surely.

The organisers planned lovely dinners for us where I took the chance to network. One of the nights I sat at the same table with Hans Joerg Baumann the Chairman and CEO of Swiss Capital Group and Phillip Khoury from EFG-Hermes.

I was all ears when they shared their take on the condition of the Swiss Stock Exchange to Phillip’s thoughts on the equity market conditions in the GCC. Luckily for me when it was my turn to share my thoughts, they had asked me questions that I could answer like a true ambassador. Phew!

Westin,Macau.

1. Had a British India/Bali feel to it. Kinda reminded me of the Datai in Langkawi
2. Sunny in the mornings, and cool breeze sets in as the day pass
3. Beautiful gardens
4. Serene view from my balcony where I unwinded every night on the deck chair.
5. And they had good quality salmon served for breakfast- vewy good!

Flight Back

We went berserk when the guy at the check in counter told us that "Your booking was not reconfirmed so your names are not on the list and the flight is full" What the #@!#!!

We were supposed to fly Macau-Bangkok-KL on MAS (spending one night in Bangkok). This was the first time that such an atrocity happened. We called the office and our director was upset that we were in such a situation and instructed us to take whichever flight available.

Luckily for us Air Asia flew out to KL 3 times daily and we caught the 7:50pm flight in the nick of time. I was happy to be back a  day early and am so grateful that Air Asia had spread its aviation coverage to Macau. It only took us 3 hours, instead of a night in Bangkok and catching the Sat flight to KL on MAS (cos MAS didnt fly direct).

Here’s to Air Asia where anyone can fly!

The summit just heightened my interest to know and learn everything there is to know and learn about capital markets. As for my trip to Macau.. well it was an eventful one.

I just got back from Umbai, Melaka. My dad wanted to treat my uncle’s Balinese workers to some seafood after the splendid work they’ve done at our house.

On the way, we stopped at an R&R to pray Zuhr, I remember having been to that R&R before.. because of the Baskin outlet.

mum enjoying her banana split

The last I was there was when I was with the IIU debate contingent on our way for a  tournament in Singapore. And I think we bought some ice cream…wait did we?

Those were really fun times, Azrul (don’t remember whether Irzal was around) + the other boys would crack the nastiest and belly tearing funniest of jokes all the way till we reached our destination (they’ll do that whether we were travelling to Sabah or Singapore). Hadi boy or Azahan would be the punching bag..hihi.Love u guys!

Food was always in abundance..everyone would bring something on board…macam pot luck..haha. And the foodstuff would finish within the first few hours of travel.

I can’t begin to share the many stories I’ve collected throughout my years as a debater..it would amount to volumes. I’ve had so many trips with the debate contingent…to South Africa, Bangkok, Australia..and they were all really special, memorable, adrenalin pumped ( we were there to debate our heads off!! ).. and most  definitely fun.

I am thankful I decided to join the debate club…not just because names like Obasanjo or terms like Most Favoured Nation are not alien to me but because it gave me so many opportunities..meeting people from across the globe, to share and create great moments.The experience of debating against debaters from renowned universities gave me a sense of accomplishment money can’t buy.

They say debating can take you places..I say it definitely can! (literally too ;p)

To those years.

Australs- Brisbane

stress induced behaviour..haha

AUDC-Singapore

while waiting for rounds they just got a baby girl

The 20 layered wedding cake is such a common sight at most weddings that I’ve attended..of course only the first layer is edible and soft enough so that the lovely couple can put their hands together on the 15 times-wiped-polished knife and cut the cake in hope of a long and prosperous marriage..yes.

I too would like to have cakes at my wedding but not the traditional white, cream, pink cakes..and not for a "sesi memotong cake" either. I would want edible ones to serve my family and friends.

Was speaking to Su (a baking genius) just a few days ago..and showed her some of the whimsical cakes that I had in mind and asked if she could make some for me when the day comes and I was delighted to hear her reply …

"Yea, can can, no problem"..manifestation of a baking genius..haha.She was delighted with my choices.

I hate formalities at weddings..I always imagined myself being able to walk around..hug my friends..and share teases and jokes. The moments on Aspa’s pelamin are the exact moments I’d like to replicate at my wedding..don’t want to just hear the clatter of cutleries but I want to hear the laughs and banter…which my friends and I are well known for ;p

So whimsical cakes will definitely do the trick. You can expect to feast on some of these

My colleague Azrina has for the longest time been looking for an accessories box. She’s been complaining that it’s so difficult to find one that is elegant and serves its purpose.

When she saw the box that I had asked my uncle to custom make for me to present to Aspa as a wedding gift- she fell in love with it and asked if my uncle could make an accesories box for her.

And the answer was an obvious yes- if my uncle could build a Balinese pondok for us what’s a box ;p

So here they are..some of the boxes for Azrina to choose, she asked for drawers and also for the box to be painted with designs. These boxes are hand crafted,using high quality wood.

Collectors item.

My uncle takes orders..anything from tables, lamp shades, dining tables..plainly said..any type of furniture.

All customised to your liking.

The boxes range from RM200-RM500 according to the size and specification. It can be lower or higher than the range..depending la. They really make great gifts, especially for ladies.

So if you’re looking to custom make some pieces for your home, as gifts or just to keep your many many earrings and anklets…and you want something different..give me a buzz and I’ll hook you up

I left office earlier than usual today..and on my drive back I caught senja.

Senja = Sunset.

I know it’s dangerous for me to be snapping pics while i’m driving… but it was just too pretty a sight.

When I was younger, I remember how in the evenings I used to go out and main basikal with my friends. All the kids had an understanding with their parents that they would play and be back before senja.

I think this came about after hearing our Mum’s cry “ Dah senja, balik” or the warning before we rode on our basikal.."Come back before senja”

Though the older boys would be defiant and still be on the field main bola till it was too dark to see the ball or their mum’s cry is now sounding more like a threatening yell..haha.

But there were times when I was degil too and rode back when it was senja. Hated the nasty mosquito bites that I got more than Mum’s “where were you?”

Don’t know why the mosquitos come out in throngs during senja. Maybe it’s time for the mosquito kids to play huh?

Well today I was driving back, not from play time on my basikal (SC is definitely no playground) nor was I riding back on one.

I don’t have to be back by senja..heck these days i’d be thrilled if I could actually be at home that early.

I used to hate senja..cos it meant that my play time was over..but now that I’ve grown..I love it.

Senja is just senja…a beautiful sight to lay my eyes on.

I was in Beijing for a whole good week 2 weeks ago for the APEC meeting for financial regulators on CIS/Hedge Funds. It was days of stimulating discussions on the burning issues different regulators are/were facing in their markets. I was eager to get home and share the stack of info that I got. My colleague Nik and I being the only two from the SC and representing Malaysia was tasked with quite a bit while we were there.

Listening to our counterparts from the US as well as giant China was both informative but in the case of China very overwhelming- the speed of which they’ve emerged to become a force to be reckoned with is astounding. It’s impossible not to notice the growth and development taking place while I went for evening walks on the streets of Beijing.

All the delagates stayed at the Intercontinental on Beijing Financial Street. I stayed in such a huge room..waste of space for someone so petite ;p. But it had a beautiful view of the city from both the bedroom and the bathroom..yes bathroom. Thank God the hotel served a generous spread of seafood and sushi for lunch, so I lived on Alpen Muesli + yoghurt for breakfast. raw salmon, tuna and a hint of wasabi + salad + Haagen Dazs for lunch everyday (no complaints :p)

I had my share of Beijing after the meetings were over- shopping for souvenirs mainly not so much for myself..got some pieces of Chinese art for home as well as linen and cotton tablecloths,runners, placemats for mum..mum is like the Malaysian version of Martha Stewart

The trip to Beijing would not have been complete wihout visiting the Must-See and Must-Go places..and so I extended my stay and went around..the famous Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. A single post will not be enough to share how I felt to set foot at these historic places..some moments I can even imagine the Dowager strolling along the Forbidden palace,the Tiananmen protestors facing the tanks, and the lives that were involved in constructing that architectural wonder of a wall.

I left Beijing with a slight fever due to the weather..it was winter in London when I went early this year and I came back ok..but it was early spring in Beijing and I was feverish. I guess it’s not just the economic prowess of Beijing that needs to be reckoned with huh?

My trip to Beijing was an extremely fruitful one as a regulator, and as a citizen of the globe..a satisfying one..to be able to experience first hand China’s heat of progress and at the same time it’s precious and magnifficent history.

Shoes Shoes Shoes is now open in One Utama- yeay! Though I didn’t mind at all the trips to the little boutique tucked in Bangsar that had such elegant charm (especially the stairway).

But I suppose One-U would be convenient…I hope the outlet in OU can still maintain the same attitude the Bangsar outlet has..leaving it out would mean sacrficing part of the package..shoes with attitude (that don’t give you blisters) + boutique with attitude + convenient funky shoe box (no paper bag- the box comes with a pair of strings that you just sling over your shoulder-nice + environmentally friendly; no need for additional material of plastic or paper :p).

Well a hearty congrats to Shoes Shoes Shoes on the expansion and to shoe lovers..like it says on the box ..You can never have enough…

must capture!

Just walked into the study and saw the 2007 Ikea Bedroom Brochure. Flipped through and immediately the interior deco side of my brain went "hmmm that would look nice here, and that one there..yada yada yada".

Wasn’t of course imagining to re-deco my current room…though I might do something about my "Christmas tree" (the coat hanger turned bag rack that takes a bit too much of space) those of u who’ve been to my room can testify..haha.

I’m happy with the existing setting of my bedroom..very quaint and cosy-love it!

I was in fact imagining it for my own home- where I’m the one paying for the housing loan or my husband would pay for it..mana-mana la..for now I’m just imagining my dream townhouse or apartment and the ambience i’d like to create for it.

I think my first piece of furniture would probably be from Ikea or maybe from my Uncle who does wonders with wood and is excellent with carpentry. His Balinese workers does wonders too..so perhaps a piece from him followed by Ikea pieces.

Am excited and can’t wait to start that chapter..to go back home with my other half..unpack the dim sum bungkus we just bought for dinner..lay it out on our Ikea table for two…eat and chat away..enjoying each others company and knowing full well that we dont have to say goodbye at the end of the night.Bliss.

That’s my Ikea dream that I pray will come true really soon. For now I’ll just flip through the brochure sumore..and maybe drop by Ikea trow after work and drive my imagination crazy!

My brothers and sister just left for campus after spending the weekend at home. My brothers will be going back to their apartment in Cyberia and my sister just next door on campus in MMU. Luckily all of them study in the same area, Nasha and Abang in MMU while Adik is in Lim Kok Wing.

It was like only yesterday when all of us used to be at home after school and mum would cook meals for 6. These days it’s only a serving for 3 or when i’m not back for dinner..it’ll just be for two.

Since they’ve entered university.. I only see them during the weekends or when they’re back for the semester break. It’s nice to have them around..after dinner we’d all hang around the table..drink tea..talk..then drink some more tea and talk. We’d move to the study room right after and talk some more..haha. Now that we’re all in our 20s we really have a lot to share.

Now I know why they used to look forward to me coming home during the weekends back then when I was an undergraduate..cos right after I said bye to them just now..I started to miss them. Luckily for me they’re not studying overseas.

Wonder what it’ll be like when we have our own families…bet we’ll still be close…in fact even closer…cos even today when Nasha is 20, the twins are 23 and i’ll be turning 26..all of us still jump on to my parents bed and watch tv together (it’s a pretty big bed ;p).

Tonight i’ll be having dinner with my parents..we’ll have tea.. talk..tea and talk some more..but there’ll be 3 empty seats at the dinner table. I am looking forward to next week when those seats will be filled again.