The day when everything went wrong… again?

1) Woke up late and got into meeting late this morning. Can’t sleep well last nite because I wasn’t feeling well.

2) Towkay being anal out of a sudden. Everyone was pissed.

3) Got into a commotion with some Saudi photographers. ASS! Those prickz have got no respect for anyone. So they don’t deserve any respect from me. Go jerk off!

4) Japan took the ultimate defeat when they lost to 10 men Korea Republic. Oh oh…The Koreans are without a coach and 2 official too when the former too was sent out for being rude to the 4th official. Bummer!

5) Went on the wrong foot with someone I care a lot. Now I’m being marked as the most hated person in Jakarta.

Just nice. I think I pissed off myself!

To be stuck in Jakarta’s horrific jam is not my idea of a great sight-seeing tour. Although I was totally worn out after getting stuck for hours, I did managed to go on a shooting spree with Stanley.

Jakarta is actually quite a friendly place; busy but friendly for sure. Everywhere you go you see people rushing here and there. They are willing to wait patiently in their vehicles during the busy city jam just to get to their destination, wherever it is.

We managed to check out a few landmarks in Jakarta.

A hazy view of Tugu Monas. The Tugu Monas is Jakarta’s version of Merdeka Square. The Monumen Nasional (the National Monument tower) is a 450 ft (137 m) tall tower in Central Jakarta, symbolizing the fight for Indonesia’s Independence.

Jakarta Cathedral (Indonesian: Gereja Katedral Jakarta) is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Jakarta, Indonesia, which is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jakarta, Currently Julius Riyadi Cardinal Darmaatmadja. Its official name is Gereja Santa Maria Pelindung Diangkat Ke Surga (from Dutch, De Kerk van Onze Lieve Vrouwe ten Hemelopneming, in English: The Church of our Lady of Assumption). This cathedral was officiated in 1901 and built in the neo-gothic style, a common architectural style to build churches at that time.

Kids playing football in the city. The recent performance from PSSI (Persatuan SepakBola Seluruh Indonesia) in the AFC Asian Cup 2007 sparked the fire throughout the nation. PSSI performed well despite being in the same group with 2 World Cup teams from Asia.

A black and white version of the building from the above photo.

Besides seeing lots of cars and bikes on the highway, street hawker like this is a common sight everywhere in Jakarta.

Although I’ve spent more than a week here. I haven’t really been around Jakarta. There’s plenty more places to visit in Jakarta but the traffic condition there making it impossible to plan my schedule.

I have plenty more photos to post here but will probably have to do it after I get back to KL.

I also posted 2 photos at ShutterAsia on how I salvaged over-exposed images to creative artworks in Photoshop. These are the photos.

An old worn out building.

Kids playing street soccer near Tugu Monas.

It’s final! The AFC Asian Cup 2007 came to the semi-final round with Iraq beating Korea Republic and defending champion Japan losing to Saudi.

*&%$%@# Saudi booked the spot to the final and I’m feeling terribly shitty now. I was watching the match with much intensity as I do not wish to see a Saudi vs. Iraq final but to my greatest fear, it happened!

I’m dumbfounded that I won’t be able to meet team Japan here in Jakarta. They will be playing against Korea Republic in Palembang and I am based here in Jakarta. A week ago, I was so sure that I will get to see Japan in the final. Now I have to face the ordeal of seeing both my favourite teams beating up themselves to get a auto qualification spot to Asian Cup 2011. Korea Republic versus Japan in the 3th and 4th placing….bummer!

Iraq is the underdog team that came a long way in this Asian Cup. The only team that doesn’t even have a country to train in and yet the show their passion and strong fighting spirit in this Asian Cup. Iraq thrashed Korea Republic 4-3 in the penalty shootout after the game dragged to the end of 2nd half extra time. I hope to see a nobody team thrash a much boastful and snobbish team Saudi.

See how they tumble and fall… but they didn’t, sien! Photo courtesy of Asian Football Confederation.

Staying in a 5-Star hotel is not an everyday affair for me. It’s nice sometimes to be pampered with the best things in life.  Here’s a series of hotel room photos from my stay during the Group stage in Bangkok. I’ve got the habit of shooting photos of my room whenever I’m out for vacation or on an assignment.

I spent about a week staying in Plaza Athenee Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel. Here’s some photos from the hotel room I was staying in. Not a suite though but it’s really nice

The entrance to my room.

My comfy bed.

The shower room is way cool.

The bed is extremely comfortable.

After Bangkok, I flew over to Malaysia to cover 3 matches before flying off to Jakarta for the Quarter-Finals and Finals.

Here’s some photos from my room in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Jakarta.

My room.

The 36″ plasma TV! I love watching re-runs of Harry Potter on it.

The shower room. Love the hot shower alot!

Highlights blown! Well, here’s the bath tub… with a view of Jakarta!

I love the room in Ritz-Carlton. You would perhaps noticed the double King size beds. I’m not sharing room with anyone. They put me in this room because the ran out of single King size bed bedroom.

Well, one more week and I’m outta hear.  Will miss the stay here but I would rather be in my own bed anytime

We’re now in the knock-out stages of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 and I’m now in Jakarta. Today is the day we will see the fate of 2 countries in the quarter-final match. Giant killer Uzbekistan, who recently thrashed China 3-0 over at the Shah Alam Stadium will now face Saudi Arabia here in Indonesia. The winner of this round will proceed to the last final four teams in the semis.

As usual, I spent a little time on the field before going to the VIP tribune for more photos. Managed to shoot some warming up photos of both teams before the death match starts.

During the warming up session before the Quarter-Final match between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan players marching out to the field.

The referee assistants warming up.

Stanley Chou. My photographer and also my mentor. He’s been to 7 World Cup competitions!