Join the pact and pledge not to drink and drive with Johnnie Walker

What irony eh? Mr. Johnnie Walker asking his fans not to drink and drive! And for that you might find yourself in the company of either Lewis Hamilton or Heikki Kovalainen!!!

How to win?

Just log on to the Johnnie Walker -Join The Pact website, sign and then provide your contact info. It is that simple and I must say the promoter of this competition has been very fair and in the terms and regulations they have even included a "Transfer of prize" clause! That means that you could either (a) Enter on behalf of your friends or loved ones OR (b) Make your friends or loved ones enter the competition and transfer the prize to you when they WIN!!! I particularly like option (b), any volunteers kind enough to enter the competition and give me the prize when you win? I promise I will get you a nice souvenir :D

What's the prize?

So what's exactly included in the prize pool? The prize list in the terms and regulations reads as below:

Grand Prize (One Prize) includes the winner’s name printed on team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers helmet at the Singapore Grand Prix 2009, 2 return flights to Singapore, twin share accommodation, 2 Grandstand tickets, 2 invitations to meet Lewis Hamilton and 2 invitations to the Johnnie Walker Grand Prix party.

Runner Up Prizes (Three Prizes): 2 return flights to Singapore, twin share accommodation, 2 Grandstand tickets, 2 invitations to meet Lewis Hamilton and 2 invitations to the Johnnie Walker Grand Prix party

*“Winner’s name” means the winner’s name printed on both Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1™ team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen helmet visor at the Singapore Grand Prix 2009. (This is one cool thing that I would like to be noticed for during the Singapore F1 GP! Imagine having your mates rubbing their eyes thinking, "It can't be...?")

*“Grandstand tickets” means grandstand tickets to the 2009 Singapore F1™ Grand Prix on both Saturday, 26 September and Sunday, 27 September 2009. (I don't know how much these would cost but I bet putting a SGD1k price on is a very low figure)

*“Invitation to meet Lewis Hamilton” means an invitation to an exclusive Johnnie Walker event attended by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1™ team driver Lewis Hamilton in Singapore on Saturday, 26 September 2009 subject to team and driver availability. Event time to be confirmed directly with winner. (This is surely a once in a lifetime money can't buy opportunity!)

*“Twin share accommodation” means accommodation at a 4-star non-track side hotel room (on a twin share basis) for 3 nights from Friday 25 September 2009 to Monday 28 September 2009 (includes service charges, taxes and airport transfers but excludes any incidentals including but not limited to meals, phone calls, laundry and room service.) (Hmmmm... Why would I need a track side hotel room when I already have the grandstand tickets above???)

*“Flights” means economy class flights from the nearest capital city international airport of the winner’s country including airport taxes. (Since it is free there is nothing much to complain right? A tip, chat up the air steward/ress and see if they would give you an upgrade, promise in return you would get Lewis to sign on a bottle of Johnnie Walker and give it to her in exchange for the upgrade! Would it work? Never try never know right???)

CAUTION!!!

*Residents of all other eligible countries: The winners will be subjected to any restrictions due to mandatory local laws and regulations. (i.e. you have to settle your own travel visa if needed and/or if you are not allowed entry into Singapore because you are blacklisted as a terrorist, it's not their problem)

*As part of the entry process, entrants make a pact not to drink and drive. In the event that any winner is caught or charged for drink driving at any time from when they enter the competition to such time as when the winner enjoys the prize(s), which includes during the course of the events, the Promoter reserves the right to disqualify such winner and withdraw the prize(s) from the winner. (Make sure you keep your promise ya? I do not think they will check, but being such a well known company, I feel that they will be able to check your driving records if they want to. You would not want to win and then lose it cos you got a ticket right? Double WHAMMY!!!)

Closing date

All complete answers have to be submitted online by 2359 hours Singapore time (GMT +8) on Tuesday, 1 September 2009, thus you have a few more days to try your luck! Actually your luck to hit it is much more higher than you striking the Jackpot and it does not cost you a thing! You basically kill 2 birds with one stone, support a good cause and get a chance to have a great escape in Singapore, not too bad eh?

So what are you waiting for??? Register yourself quick!!!

Of Family & Friends

**This post is in response to the many enquiries through MSN and facebook that I got after my initial post**

By now, most of you would have realised, I am 13 hours by plane, 7 hours behind from my family and friends in Malaysia. For those who just found out, I left Malaysia on 2nd April and have been doing a little travelling and searching for a job at the same time.

Back to the topic, having spent my entire life in Malaysia prior to leaving, this is of course a huge step for me, something that I was both very excited and worried at the same time.

Part of my concern is that I will forget my roots, not that I will forget that I am still essentially Malaysian, but those people who made me - family & friends.

Being the rebel that I am, I decided to step out of my family's norm by getting a tattoo. Yes, that particular tattoo that you see above. It's a heart with the words family and friends etched on it. Painful? Nope. Irritating? Yes...

You see, I kinda have a high tolerance for pain. When the needle first went in, I did not feel anything, nor did when the artist was layering the colour.

It is however, quite irritating, it felt like someone was running their finger nails deep into my skin, the type of feeling where you would not go "Ouch!" but rather feel like flipping and throwing a punch at someone! But I can't do that, my tattoo artist is a she, and hitting someone while they have a needle in your skin is not quite a wise thing to do ;)

The meaning behind the design

"Why the design?", you might ask. Family and friends are the most important people in my life, those who will always be there for me come rain or shine and who has touched and shaped my life in more than one way.

I keep them very close to my heart and even more so now that I am so far away.

I must say the artist did capture what I had in mind very well - all I brought along was a coloured heart (something like those you get in your high school text books)! The rest was left to the artist to do her magic and she did not disappoint with the masterpiece on the left.

I chose my left shoulder as there is no way the design would fit onto my left chest, and also as a sign of the non-conditional support they always give me. If ever I forget what's important in my life or ever lose my way in life, I just have to look into the mirror, and I will see the reflection of my tattoo, a kind reminder of what's dearest to me - Family and Friends.

Thus the summary is as follow:

Family and Friends - The most important people in my life

Heart - A place where I keep my family and friends

Location - Back of my shoulder, sign of support

Comments are much appreciated :)

Etching a permanent potrait - A Tattoo

Dear all,

As you all know by now, and for those who still does not, I got a tattoo in November, nothing fancy, but quite an intricate and detailed one.

The end product after 5 hours (YES! 5 hours lying chest down!) and RMXXX (PM me and I will let you know) and I must admit it turned out much better than I expected it would be! It still looks as good as day 1, 9 months after and no touch up was done on it - a testament to how good the tattoo artist is!

It was not an impulsive decision, I had always wanted a tattoo but I just did not have the time, nor was the opportunity available for me to do it.

What? Where? How?

Beyond the usual stigma from having a tattoo, there is also the question of whether getting a tattoo is safe. Getting a tattoo involves getting your skin pricked with needles, thus blood transferred disease is always a cause to be concerned of. Below were the steps I took before getting my tattoo:

1. Ask friends for recommendations

I am pretty sure everyone has a friend who has got some ink (seen or unseen) on their body. My recommendation came from one Ms. Freda Wong who pointed me to Borneo Ink. Funnily enough Ms. Freda does not have a tattoo.

2. Do a google search to come up with a few more names

There are plenty of pages and tattoo forums which are listed on the net, Tatoo Joy is one such page. Just choose a couple of them and proceed to step 3.

3. Refine the data gained from (1) & (2) above via google search

Insert words like “complain”, “unclean”, “botched jobs” and “sterilisation” into your search. This is by no means a full fact finding step about the parlour, but in this age of technology, everyone would blog or post in a forum if there is indeed a case of any of the above in any of the parlours. It would help eliminate the hassle of visiting a parlour which is unsafe!

4. Nothing beats an actual visit to the parlour

Check on their webpage or make a call to them to find out their operating hours. Arrive at about mid day and hopefully you could see the artist in full flow, working on a someone else's flesh, which might be yours if you decide that the place is the one. Try to speak to the artists if you have the chance, find out who is best at what (colour, tribal, etc).

5. Ask if it is alright that you spend some time there

Observe a few jobs done, especially before they start tattooing, see if they use new unopened needles, change the equipments after each job, sterilise the equipments and most importantly, dispose off the needles once it is done. View the video at the end of this post for more info on the processes in preparing the equipments for a tattoo job. Spending some time there also helps you accustom yourself to the place, depending on how large your tattoo is, it might take 30 minutes to God-knows-when to get it done. You might well be spending quite some time there.



6. Now that you have decided



Make an inquiry with the artist about your design. It is advisable to bring along a sketch/photo of what you want. Do keep in mind, that getting a sketch from the artist might cost you a small amount of money even if you decide not to pursue further. I think it’s fair, these guys are professional artist, and as with any appointments with any other professionals e.g. lawyers, accountants, doctors, etc. a consultation charge is nothing new right?

7. Get a design/sketch

Ask if you could view the final sketch of the tattoo. Borneo Ink obliged and I was given the sketch on the day of my appointment, there was even some time to make a few amendments to it before getting it on my body.


8. Sign forms

You are then required to sign some forms about your general health conditions e.g. not pregnant, not taking certain medications, indemnity against the artist and of course, you are above 18 (you need a parent’s/guardian signature if you are not).

9. Get inked

Sit back (or lie down in my case) and enjoy the process. I for one did not feel pain, for me it felt like someone was running their fingernails deep into my skin, a slight tinge and no pain although I found it to be very very very irritating!! Hahahahaha. Precautions however, that there were cases of people fainting while getting their tattoo done!

10. Post tattoo care

It is still not over yet after you leave the tattoo parlour. There are certain precautions regarding the care of your fresh tattoo which includes no sunbathing and no swimming for 2 weeks or at least until it is fully healed. To help with the healing process, you will be given certain ointments to apply on it.

11. DO NOT!!!

Your tattoo would peel just like any other wound with scabs of skin coming off bit by bit, DO NOT PEEL!!!! It was a nightmare trying to sleep on the first night as it was still quite sore but subsequently there was nothing to it, just have to resist the temptation to peel off the scabs or scratching the itch!!!

12. Follow-up Procedures

You might have to go for a touch-up (See! They are professionals and take great care in making sure your tattoo comes out great!!!). Most of the time it’s just to touch up the lines or just to add some colour here and there, I have not had mine as Lina, the artist, did a great job and I am very happy with it. I did a subsequent search on Lina and found a documentary on Lina Ng, the artist which did my tattoo (be warned that the download is quite slow)

That's 12 steps to get an eternal potrait on your skin. Anyone feel like getting one? Feel free to comment or share your own experience of getting a tattoo done, I for one did not regret mine and I will not rule out another tattoo ;)