Rhino 2012

This year's location, in the early morning.

Finally, having missed last year's epic game, I was finally able to attend this year's Operation Rhino.  This was not my first 24 hour military simulation event, but this one was by far the hardest.  Due to various circumstances, I ended up leaving early.  I wished that I was able to stay until the end, but there will be other events in the future for me to redeem myself.

Ice Cream Sandwich Woes

After upgrading my Galaxy Note to the Ice Cream Sandwich from Gingerbread, I have noticed a significant increase in battery power consumption.  Prior to the upgrade, with moderate use during work hours, I would still have plenty of power to spare.  Now, there have been several instances where I had to plug in as soon as I get home.  During a normal day, I use only the stock browser and Google Talk.

Another bug I notice is the constant locking up of the data antenna.  Several times, I had to either restart the phone to get it up and running or switch to airplane mode and back again.

As a normal user, I find this very discouraging and hope that a fix will be released soon.

Final Fantasy Theatrhythm

To occupy my time with the jet lag and being sick, I decided to pick up this game during one of my walks after work.  To be honest, I had no intention of ever playing this game as I have not enjoyed the 3DS too much.  Much to my surprise, as soon as I turned this game on, I was reminded as to why I loved the Final Fantasy series many years ago.

New Gear

I knew a package had been waiting for me for a few weeks now since I had left on vacation.  I was eager to open it up.  Two weeks before I left, I ordered a 5.11 set of MultiCam combat shirt and pants to replace my worn out and now too big set of old MC.  Also ordered was a new set of Mechanix gloves in coyote brown and an ESS goggle.  I ordered these with the intention of wearing them for Op: Rhino but I don't look too great in the form fitting combat shirt.  I guess I need to shed the several pounds I gained this past month.

Souveniers

So I am at the Hong Kong airport waiting for my flight to go back to Toronto. With two hours to go, I decided to update my blog because that is how awsome I am.  I think.  I am tired, I need a shower and brush my teeth, and I still have a fifteen hour flight ahead of me.  So here is a picture of shirt I decided to abuse with the team logo on it.  Someone cool will get it when I am back.

Visited the Dead

Chinese cemetery in Manado.

 

With only two days left in Manado, I decided to visit my relatives who had passed away today.  Many of them passed away while I was in Canada so the last time I saw them was the day I left Manado over twenty years ago.  My aunts, grandmother and many others were buried in several sites around the city so my cousins and I had several sites that we visited that took most of the morning.

Wedding

Suddenly, lens flare!

 

Not mine.  My cousin's wedding.  One of the reason for my returning home was to attend.  I had never attended an Indonesian wedding before so why not give it a try now.  There were many local customs that I did not know but one thing that is common around the world is the feast afterwards.  The wedding ceremony itself was a mixture of traditional Chinese and local custom.  My cousin is Buddhist while his bride is Christian.  It was an interesting observation.