My sporadic doodling

This is too funny:




"But You Still Can’t Buy Bottles with Starwood Points"

Ouch! At least I am not flying to Saskatchewan. Ottawa ain't that much better though.

Lesson #1: Don't look like a tourist

Feeling like the only Asia dude within 100 sq mile, it is hard to really blend-in. Not speaking a word of Spanish doesn't help either. Arm with Lonely Planet and Frommer's guide, with their handy language reference at the back, that's all I need right? Right?

No.

You learned a lot about yourself traveling to a foreign land. My linguistic ability is worst than a nethanderthal man.

¿Habla inglés -- WTF is that invert question thing? Oh should be pronounce like "a·bla eng·gles". Oh...... That should be easy.

NOT

No body had a clue what the heck I am trying to say. Instead, I have a big bull's eye on my back with a sign: "Tourist. Mug him".

Anyways, I am all jolly ready to experience Santiago like the locals. I thought I would start with riding the metro. There is no ticket machine. Just old fashion ticket booths man with agents.



Of course, I went at the worst possible time during afternoon rush hour. When it is finally my turn:

Me: "Quiero un boleto a Escuela Militar"
Me: Oooo like at me, Spanish speaking and all.
Ticket Agent: "askdfj asdfjs s7f s8df6 s7d6f8^S&&^*&*"
Me: ......

I didn't plan for a response. She was suppose to just give me my ticket like she did with everyone else!

Me: "Errrr...... ¿Habla inglés?"
Ticket Agent: "No. dkewiuo ewrw%%$%^ %$$#@@#$ ...."

I put down my bag, bust out the Lonely Planet, the map, wild gestures. I finally got my ticket. But my bag was gone.

God dammit.

I swear I saw a grin on the ticket agents face. She is probably in this too.

Another week of Wednesday work entertainment. What an interesting change of pace. I was getting use to the months of slaving away, this is good. This is very good. This time around, we get to go watch Batman on IMAX. Awesome. Batman is awesome, but Batman on IMAX on a Wednesday afternoon while your other colleagues are slaving away is double awesome. Is all relative you know?



After Batman, it was The Social. Nice touch. I wanted to tried out this restaurant for a while, but never really found the mood or time for it yet. Well, the food wasn't that great. The beef tenderloin, was cooked to spec, but the cut was crap. Are you sure you didn't serve me the cow's ass? This is no tenderloin, it is more like rubberloin, they should have just put it through the grinder to make some meat patties. Find a new supplier for your beef!

And "blue butter" on the tenderloin? What kind of dumb ass came up with that idea? Does your food taste that bad that you have to cover it with rotten butter? In case you are thinking I should have read the fucking description ahead of time, yes I did and knew there is going to be blue butter, but 1) I was adventurous, 2) I want beef tenderloin, and that is the only beef tenderloin on the menu, and 3) no, I am not going to ask the chef to skip the butter. He may get offended and shit on my meal instead. Unless you are Gordon Ramsay, never mess with the people who brings your food.



The wine, McManis Pinor Noir 2006, my boss raved about was pretty dull too. It could be the pint of Guinness I had before though, but 3 bottles later, the wine is still dull. Oh well, I will still drink it, bad red is still better than no boozes. After the disappointing dinner, we head over to the Heart and Crown for a few more boozes. Pretty standard procedure in Ottawa and that's pretty much a wrap for a tough workday. I can get use to this working condition.

P.S. For better eats try the Grilled Lamb Rack at Stella Osteria or the Steak at Vittoria Trattoria. The Social is over-rated.