This is something that happened just before we got to know nicrabbit.

June 17, 2005
CommunicAsia 2005

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Was working non-stop since morning today. Must make sure I clear all my jobs before leaving for CommunicAsia. Finally finished after 2 pm; Mel, Jude and I took the train there. Cik Pon called while we boarding the train. I thought he was still in the office. Turns out he was just wondering if we have left. Hmmm... Say lah! When we were at Tanah Merah interchange, manager called, looking for us. He was gonna drive us there but we didn't see him so we thought he left. Sigh! What a muddle.

When we reach, Jude called her friend, H who would be joining us. We were gonna 'smuggle' him in. Passed him an exhibitor tag-Elvis. "For the time that you are here, you should be known as Elvis. Get it, Elvis?" H gaped, bewildered. Jude inspected her pass, " Ok... I am Papaya for today. Gotta make sure I respond to that." We were laughing.

"Ermm. Elvis. You dropped your pass." H, still bewildered, turned 180 degree to bend down and picked up the pass. It's gonna be a long day...

Mel and I were registering for our visitor's passes when I exclaimed, "Fortinet!! I need to go to that booth!" I was practically running with Mel, Jude and H in tow. Somebody commented, "Hey I see some sexy girls wearing our company tshirts." Sexy in our company t-shirt and jeans? Sheesh! The Fortinet girls were wearing red midriffs with tassles and mini skirts! Got the contacts I need. I am beginning to think this trip is really gonna be worth it!

Walked over the Korean area. Wow! Impressive. Koreans are smart and extremely good in technology. Dang... I want to marry a korean. Yep. I've made up my mind. I want to marry korean.

I stop at the booth selling IVR products. The Korean girl was talking in English to a potential customer. I waited patiently to speak to her. The moment that guy left, I walked over and smiled. Without saying anything, she pointed me to her other colleague. Baffled, I traced my steps towards the other girl, and said, "Hello! I am interested in your product. Can you please tell me more?" She looked at me, turned to the initial girl and started talking in Korean. They exchanged in Korean and both stopped, stared me. I smiled. They discussed somemore. Again, they stopped together and scrutinised me. I said, "Hello!" Then the girl who speaks English perk up and beckons me to her. They thought I was Korean!!

Jude and Mel thought that was quite hilarious. Sure. Laugh at my expense. This is not the first time I'd been mistaken for korean by Koreans. How strange.

We walked around. The Expo's colossal. I didn't think we would manage to see everything there and we didn't. We laughed alot, said and did a lot of silly little things. Begged for free gifts! Well, the gifts' ain't impressive this year. Only NTT Docomo's mobile phone's bear chain's worth getting. It's cute, but useless. That pretty much sums up the gifts this year. Cute but useless.

Samsung was giving out yellow frisbee. For crying out loud. Frisbee? Will get back to this.

We came to the mobile area. Every booth's trying to beat the other's coolness. Personally, I think Motorola wins hands down in the cool factor. It has a bar in the middle of it all. A bronze Harley Davidson, Motorola Bluebooth headset built right into the motorcycle helmet in a glass case. Sitting area with cozy Motorola pillows. If we could have fitted the pillows into our bags, we would. And the best part? You can order cocktails and mocktails from the Motomenu... by video conferencing the bartender with the 3G Motorola. Which in our excitement, we did.

We called. They answered. We started screaming our orders hysterically. The barista was glancing around helplessly. We know. We can see you... He was saying,"Eh what they say? Cannot hear aah!" He went off the video feed and stood over our table. He's really just 2 metres away. We ordered. Then starts criticising Motorola phone.

The mocktail arrives in gleaming martini glasses. Wow, cool! Oh wait a moment. One of the glass isn't gleaming. In fact it has lipstick smudge on it. Eeew. Mel said she would just wipe it off. I think it's Jude’s. We video conference the barista again. Yet again he claims he can't hear us and promptly ran over to our table. (Confirm lah, the phone is crappy!) We smiled and showed him the glass. He took it and promised to give us a clean one. I leaned sideways just to make sure he didn't spit into the drink, hey, I've worked in F&B and I know how nasty some people can get. He was wiping the glass rigorously, saw me, held the glass up and grinned. Ok lah. Since you are cute, I smiled back. We drank. Yucks. I hate grapefruit. Any drink with grapefruit's always taste bitter. Gulped our drinks and walked in front of the bar. I nearly tripped over this raised platform. The throngs of people actually concealed a raised platform right in the middle of Motorola's area. I looked down cautiously. The crowd was dispersing to reveal a T-shaped platform. I laughed. "Hey catwalk!! This looks like a runway." Made H hold my things. Walked in an exaggerated model gait from left to right, stopped deliberately in the middle, shoulders poised; sashay down the middle in catwalk strut. Jumped off the platform laughing. Mel, Jude and H gaped. I whirled around. OH SHIT! Seems like 4 real models had gathered behind me. OH SHIT! IT IS A RUNWAY! I kept cursing. Jude giggled sympathetically. H said he thinks I am really bold. Mel was choking in her own guffaws. I fell so embarrassed. The models were pretty, even the guys. And thin. One girl had an afro. Jude and I said to no one in particular, "I'll bet her hair's already half her weight."

No wonder the crowd was clearing the platform. AAAAaaaaaaaaaah!

Walked around some more, gathering even more useless door gifts. Kept bumping into Makcik Col and Ferragamo. Makcik Col nag on and on about getting the stressball from Arab Emirates. What an aunty! I don't want a stressball! He led us there anyway. Realised that it's all given out, did an about turn and walked briskly away.

Makcik Col: Hey Ferragamo! Why am I still holding your ball?

I burst out laughing. It was spontaneous! Everyone went "Eeew, Vuvie!"

Ferragamo: I can't hold my ball anymore. It's too stressful!

Hahaha!

What a happy, crazy day. Spent with the happiest, craziest people I’ve ever met here.