more.than.meets.the.eye

Poster boy
Originally uploaded by kiko.man :less.salt:.

If you were a kid growing up in the 80's there would be a few things that you hold close to your heart. One of them would be The Transformers. Especially the old school Transformers ... you know the original ones that had at least some metal in them. Not like the new candy coloured ones made completely from plastic.

But ... although the new ones are all plastic unfantastic, Takara are innovating in other ways. They into the crossover thing in a big way. I mean they've done a WRX Transformer, Viper, and even a Pepsi holding Optimus one.

But now they have topped themselves ... they've teamed up with Nike to do ones that change into Nike Free runners. Nuts!! Gotta love the japanese ... I mean wtf would you be thinking to do a robot that turns into a sneaker?? They must be drinking some weird brew of Sapporo back in the motherland.

And the best thing is ... the robots are even wearing Nike shoes themselves!

ride.baby.ride

Taking my new baby home
Originally uploaded by kiko.man :less.salt:.

For the most part, we all hate Inland Revenue (I mean, who really likes the tax man?). But in this case, they've done some good. To encourage people to ride to work (so that they don't have to resort to Tokyo type measures to cram people on the Tube in peak hour ...), the government will give you a tax break on your bike purchase. 40 - 50% break. On the bike and accessories. How could I pass something like that up?

So after a few weeks of deliberation, I went up to Spitalfields and forked out for a Specialized Allez Triple. Got some Shimano SPD pedals thrown in for free (£50). Also added some nice shoes (Specialized Sport MTB), a toolkit and bike lock. Crammed all those accessories into my recently acquired Bailey Works courier bag and headed off home. I suppose I'll do the sad bike nerd thing and post pics of the bike and my gear up some other time ...

The ride back home took me on the route I would take getting to work and back. Rode past Tower Bridge, Tower of London, London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, some tunnel under St Pauls, past Tate Britain. It was surreal ... felt like I was on some tourist ride.

I was on fire on the way back ... I looked the part of a bike courier - I was surprised I didn't get any road rage (maybe that's a Sydney thing). Passed a few other riders on the way back - I think they were worried about wind chill factor if they rode any faster. But I was smart ... I wore enough thermals to get me to the South Pole alive. My mum taught me well.

Also saw 3 Ferraris and 4 Porsches and a M5, but I didn't manage to overtake them. But for some stupid reason I did try to motor past them. If only I had an extra two Weetbix for breakfast ...

and.then.it.snowed

Farq ... I knew I should have got those windscreen wipers fixed ...
Originally uploaded by kiko.man :less.salt:.

We woke up this morning and this scene greeted us. Pretty cool ... the forecast was for sleet (whatever that is ... I think it's half way between snow and rain), so having snow was a nice surprise. Actually it was pretty good, but the snow in Prague was better ... being the first time we've experienced snow in a city and all. You know, it's normally 30 degrees C back home this time of the year ...

Which reminds me, I need to get around to blogging about our last few trips ...

macworld.keynote

Watch and drool. Gotta love the new UI. Also, it seems Apple is giving VIP passes to it's own kind due to the high traffic. Tried multiple times with Firefox and no luck, but first time with Safari and bingo! =)

cars.cars.cars

Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Originally uploaded by rnair.

Man are nice cars cheaper over here compared to back home. And where we live now I am spoilt with eye candy ... Astons, Bentley Continentals, Ferrari's, Porsches, Mercs, Audi's and Beamers (6 series convertibles everywhere). I'm playing with the idea of shipping one back. It works out cheaper even after shipping costs and import duties.

I wouldn't mind a V8 Vantage. But that's probably out of the question. My mind keeps wandering between a TT, or a E46 M3, or a Mini Cooper S (the original shape), or a lesser 3 series Beamer, or an A4, or RS4, or maybe a Golf GTI. Man I can't make up my mind. I think I'll just save my money and get a cheapo jap car when I get back. That's the asian in me talking.

f.m.b's

I now declare London (and I suppose continental Europe) the land of the FMB. I mean they're everywhere ... 9 out of 10 girls are wearing boots. Thigh high or knee high ones. Even grannies. I suppose it makes sense .. tuck your pants/jeans in and the bottom won't get wet if it rains. It also looks hot. Giddy up cowgirl! And they seem to have mastered walking with heels on cobblestone roads and footpaths. Whilst I am busting my feet in my sneakers. Things chicks do in the name of fashion I say.

first.post.of.2007

Desire
Originally uploaded by kiko.man.

Couple of big things have happened so far this year. When I say big, I mean big in my distorted universe ...

1) We celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary on Monday. First year of a life sentence eh? We had a nice meal at Jamie Olivers restaurant, Fifteen (I always want to spell it with a "h"). Food was great and service was good (I was expecting geezer dropouts type service). I loved the tagliolini neri with squid. I opted for the wine menu and all the wines were awesome (even though I ain't no wine connoisseur) - I loved the spanish wine that was served with the salad, Basa Blanco, 2006 from Reuda Spain. Anyways, I feel weird and posh talking about wine ...

2) So onto a topic I feel more comfortable with ... the annual Macworld keynote by Steve Jobs. Every year I hang out for it like the fanboy I am for the latest designs from Mr Jonny Ive et al. All I can say is, iPhone. Desire. Want. Available Q4 2007 in Europe. Doh.

And iTV (sorry Apple TV). Don't like the name. And I couldn't really care less ... I'm not a big TV entertainment system type of guy. Just gimme my PowerBook and broadband and I am a happy camper.

But where was the Leopard news? Where was a new kickarse MacBook SuperduperPro? I need an excuse to upgrade my creaking 3 year old PowerBook ...

Anyways, I should stop looking at iPhone pr0n and get back to uploading more pics & posting details of our Euro adventures so far.

baaa.baaa.black.sheep

You normally associate annoying tourists with Americans. Stereotypical? Yes. Unfair? Probably, but I don't know every single person in America, so I suppose I can't judge.

But what I do know for a fact is that we shared a carriage on the Eurostar down to Paris with a bunch of Aussies. I told you we are everywhere ... it's like we're the new black plague or something here. Anyways, these bunch of Aussies were the most rude, loud, immature and annoying bunch of tourists I have ever met.

They were basically making drunken d!ckheads of themselves, disturbing everyone else on the train (even after a French gentleman twice asked them nicely if they could keep the noise down) ... "why should we keep it down, it's a Friday night and we're aussie and we're proud so we're entitled to have a good time ... aussie aussie oi oi oi, waltzing maltilda, waltzing matilda ...". Oh please.

Yes dear, you're entitled to have a good loud drunken time ... if you're at home, at the pub, at the footy, but not on a public cross-country train late at night. And to top it all off, this girl had a kiwi accent!! WTF?!?! First time I've heard a sheep herder call them self Australian. I knew we had a habit of claiming kiwi actors and musicians, but not their local dim wits as well?

Towards the end of the trip one lady basically had enough and gave them a nice dressing down. Of course they didn't listen and started mocking her. I haven't seen behaviour like this since kindergarten.

By that time I had lost my patience and basically told them I was embarrassed to be an Aussie ... (secretly I was hoping they would make some remark about me being of asian origin so I would have a reason to get into a big argument ... it's been awhile since I got some proper racial abuse. God bless the good old school days ...).

So our first Eurotrip (still have to see the movie ...) was off to a fine start.