I was at the F1 in Sepang yesterday. If people say what's not important is the destination, but the journey, then F1 is the total ebodiment of that. More than three hours on the road, more than an hour getting to and from our seats from our car, all to watch a few hours worth of racing.

It's hard to follow the race without the aid of television, even in the best seats. The cars lap each other that it becomes a trial to decide who's first, second and third. If you're unfortunate enough to sit in the lower tiers, the heat is stifling (and yesterday it touched 34 degrees celcius). As expected, the noise is deafening, and the commentator's voice is drowned out to make it impractical to listen to, even if you dared to take off your earplugs (RM10 each).

Really, the only way to go to F1 and enjoy it is to do it in style in the F1 Paddock that caters for the racing teams. They are air-conditioned rooms that overlook the pit lane. A sumptuous lunch is laid on and TV screens everywhere relay every second of the race for your enjoyment as you dine on Maine lobster, steak and Italian mineral water. You can stretch your legs and walk around the pit lanes at pre-determined times, and you get a chance to meet the drivers before the actual race. And, if you wish, you can expose yourself directly to the sun, the smells and the sounds by going up upon the roof, but the only reason to do that is to break the monotony of luxury.

Yesterday I worked backstage on Spilt Gravy on Rice - the first time I've actually done so. It's an interesting experience, really. It's a little cramped back there, and people are constantly running in and out and it's all a little hectic.

You also have the script in front of you - dang, Jit should really consider selling it, because I think people would buy it. Really.

Talking about safer than sorry, I also still have my travel insurance to work out. It's heartening to know that the mechanisms for risk management in day-to-day life are so well established, even if so few of us are familiar with how to use them.

Labels: big trip

Visited a doctor today as part of my Big Trip preparations. My mum perversely thought that a flu jab was all-important but Dr Iean pooh-poohed that idea and pointed out greater dangers. The list runs as follows: typhoid, malaria, hepatitis A and meningitis. I got my typhoid jab today, and I had to go to Mecca three years ago so I probably still have meningococcal thingies still floating around my bloodstream (what are they again? I can't remember the technical term). I'm buying malarial tablets and I do recall once Dr Virik giving me a couple of Hep jabs, although I can't remember exactly what it was for.

Labels: big trip

Success! I've finally managed to get a Russian Visa! It was a simple formality to collect the passport, and there were finally no problems.

And yes, the consulate staff as still as aloof as ever.

Labels: big trip

Yet another problem crops up its head. The World Health Organisation has issued an emergency travel advisory on an "atypical pneumonia" outbreak in South East Asia. My plans are not cancelled yet, but I'm keeping a close eye on things and will definitely reconsider if the situation worsens.

Incidentally, I think that if it gets worse, it will encapsulate Malaysia, and we will be part of any "dangerous to travel to" list, so perhaps the best thing to do would be to get out of here as soon as possible!

Labels: big trip

I have confirmed today (well, more like asked, and asked, and then got a roundabout answer) that British immigration do not like to let people in who cannot show proof that they will only temporarily stay in Britain.

It looks like I need to buy a return ticket before I go off on my trip.

Labels: big trip

In theory, it's complicated, but should not be overly so. Anybody who wants to go to Russia on a tourist visa needs to get a tourist company (that is approved by the Russian government) to submit a supporting letter. Basically, the letter says that "yes, we are arranging a tour for these people to go to these places on such dates". The problem has been that the consulate in KL will not accept photocopies of this letter and insist on an orignal. The original was in Russia when they asked for it. It took two weeks for that to get couriered to us.

There's also the usual requests for passport photographs and photocopies for passports. The processing fee is RM100 per person.

At the end of it all, at the moment, I am waiting for the passports (with visas) by Friday. Fingers crossed!

Labels: big trip

I was told today over lunch that the right way to cook spaghetti sauce is to first fry the tomato paste with olive oil, and then to add lots of onions and tomatos and then finally to let the whole thing stew for a few hours. The meat should not be overly cooked before adding it to the sauce, so that the juices can flavour the sauce and not get thrown away.

Apparently, adding milk to the sauce to tenderise the beef is not the traditional Italian way of doing this.

It's confirmed! Dramalab will put on yet another run of Spilt Gravy on Rice at the Actor's Studio in Bangsar between 20-28 March.

Interestingly enough, they would have had to push out Comedy Court in order to put this on, since they were due to perform at the Actor's Studio between 17-30 March.

I'm going to ask Zahim how he managed to pull this one off; Indy and Rajah's show was charging between RM20-50 more per seat, so it can't have been financial considerations.

Shock! Horror! Inter-rail is only available to people who have lived for more than six months in Europe and North Africa. This really puts a wrench in my plans, since the 30 day pass is GBP379 (about USD600), but the Eurail pass (which I can buy as a 'foreigner') is USD946.

Labels: big trip

I've also now gotten my Hostelling International membership. It's only RM30 to join, and I hope to recoup that over my 2-3 months of travel.

You have to apply for membership at a hostel in your home country. I had to go to the hostel at Jalan Kg Attap, but it was a painless process. The only hassle is that you need to bring a passport-sized photograph (which they don't even put on the card!), but it's all completed in only five minutes.

Labels: big trip

Haha!! A step closer to completing my Things To Do list for my Big Trip.

I finally got my visa for China. I now can enter China anytime before June 2003 and stay there for up to 30 days. It's actually pretty easy to get the Visa. You need to fill in a form (photocopy is good enough) and submit your passport along with one passport photo to the consulate.

Processing takes four working days, although you can get it faster if you're willing to pay more. It costs RM30 for a single-entry non-rushed visa.

There was no fuss, really, although I had to wait for quite some time to both submit and collect my passport at the consulate.

Incidentally, the consulate is not at the same place as the embassy; it's in the Bank of China/Plaza OSK building on Jalan Ampang.

Labels: big trip

I've watched The Quiet American last night, and I have to say that I really liked it. E didn't actually, for a number of reasons (of which I won't go into depth here), but I liked the story and the plot and I especially liked Michael Caine. It's an excellent film, with loads of good acting all around.

It also lends as an example to the "women screw up otherwise good friendships" theory, although I guess this film would be stretching this point.

I watched Visits the other night. Actually, I've seen it twice now, and I want to see it again, if only to better appreciate the differences from night to night. Jit's script is wonderful and I kept thinking about that saying that if your script is no good, then your final product is going to be flawed, no matter how good the direction and acting.

It's actually better on stage than during rehersals. I guess the lines work better with an audience behind it .

Streamyx has been on-again off-again for the last week or so. Anyway, that's my feeble excuse for not updating this recently. Streamyx is good when it works, and lately this seems less often than not. :(