Last day performance

In a few hours' time, URB will take onstage for our last night performance at the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur - for the 4th time. I'm sure it'll be crazy.

To all of you who might not be able to make it tonight, we'll see you then in Shangri-La Mactan Resort in Cebu, Philippines from May until September. Or we'll see you here again on October.

For the meantime, I'm going to cherish one of the wonderful moments in my career in a couple of hours... I will, of course, let you know how it'd turn out.

Damn!

I've been packing the whole month and damn... I'm not yet done! I'm not good packing in advance, but I'm pretty much good in cramming. It takes a small sweat and less thinking throwing everything in the luggage during the last minute. Hehehe!

3 more performance nights... 5 more days to go!

UPDATE:
We're flying from KL to Cebu on the 2nd of April. Better, so we can leave unnecessary stuff in Cebu instead. Then flying off to Manila on Tuesday, 4th of April. Having my hernia op there. Wish me luck.

Update (last performance)

We're going to perform only until the 31st of March, Friday. How I wish our friends will actually come on that night. Lots of them think we'd finish the whole week, it means our last night might be on Saturday or Sunday.

And we're already leaving for Manila on the 2nd of April. Time flies soooo freakin' fast...

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL GUYS ON FRIDAY!!!

Cebu info

Want to know something about Cebu? Planning for a trip there while the URB band performs at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort? Then check this out:
Cebu Tourism Website

Last day not yet confirmed


Lots of you people know that the last day performance of the URB band at the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur is on the 31st of March. Not yet confirmed. The 31st is a Friday and I guess they will ask us to play for another night so the next band, Rhythm Scent, will start on a more relaxing night. Less pressure on their part. I don't know, that's just my thought.

8 more days to go... (if our last night is on the 31st)

Tanned me

Being exposed under a not-so-sunny day in Sepang yesterday, it kinda surprised me getting some tan. Friends came up to me last night and asked, "you got some sun today, didn't ya?" or "went sunbathing, huh?".

To my delight, they actually loved it.

But the tan lines look funny. One on each shoulder with a blouse strap mark and one across my chest with a thick strap-of-a-bag mark! Could be mistaken for a beauty queen sash mark, though! LOL

2006 Malaysian F1 Grand Prix

Only had 2 hours sleep, I still wanted to cuddle my pillow while under the sheets but the alarm clock wouldn't shut up and it was already 8:30AM. Only had 30 minutes to freshen up and have coffee before heading towards the Pan Global building behind the hotel to meet up with Wayne and the gang. Wayne got us tickets for the F1 Grand Prix. Two Benz limousines were waiting for us at the lobby of the building. We drove in style to the Sepang F1 Circuit but had to trek up a bit.

With lots of people walking around, it was more like a whole town fiesta at noontime. People of all races walked in their stylish F1 outfits. I was on my classic blue Renault cap which matched my blue blouse. Marlou bought a Mercedes Benz cap while couple of our friends bought BMW merchandise. Walking at noontime at the Sepang Circuit was better than lying on the beach to get some good tan. And better way to lose some pounds too.

After having pizza for lunch, we had to wait for couple more hours at the grandstand. We just watched the car race prior to the big event. The event was started with a national anthem then the parade of the F1 drivers with the Malaysian Prime Minister.

This was not the first time I've been to a car race. The first one was last year in November for the A1 Malaysian Grand Prix which was really exciting. But this was my first F1 race and I must admit that it's different with A1. The atmosphere was different - which favors both A1 and F1. In A1, you could feel the patriotism because everyone was cheering for the Malaysian drivers Fauzi and Young. In F1, you get mixed supporters therefore ending up in pride-competition with others. Luckily, my team, Renault, won.

The race ended at 5PM and it was kinda scary thinking of how to go back with the thousands of crowd leaving the place all at the same time. It also rained on the way but I slept in the car so that didn't bother me. What bothered me was we were still on the road at 7:30PM! Luckily, we reached the hotel just before 8PM, so I still had time to freshen up a bit befor work.

I haven't been vocally healthy lately. So I had to suffer the whole night trying to make my songs sound almost right. And you could imagine how happy I was when Marlou played our outthrow music which signalled the end of the night, even though the lounge was still full.

It was a great week indeed, not for my voice though. F*ck!

It's F1, baby!

Going to bed early tonight because our friend Wayne has given me and Marlou tickets for the Formula1 race today. I'm excited!

PS: Thanks a lot, Wayne!!!

Air Asia's new KL terminal

Air Asia no longer charter their flights in KLIA. They have moved to LCC Terminal - Low Cost Carrier Terminal which, I guess, is near KLIA. Low cost huh? Does that mean, Air Asia will be going way low beyond their usual prices? I don't think so. They're already Asia's leading low fare airline!

KLIA would have been a much more convenient place, but there's an ERL station from KLIA which shuttles passengers. I'm not sure because I haven't been to LCC so I don't know what they have there but what I like about KLIA are the restaurants and duty free shopping. Though I saw the features of the LCC terminals on their website, still have food & beverage outlets, fast food restaurants & cafe's, and of course the duty free shopping.

Check Air Asia's website for more details.

Pbase updated

Finally!!! I've already uploaded the pictures from January until March. I'm still editing the Sunway Lagoon pics so watch out for that, too!

January 2006
February 2006
March 2006

Check out my other Pbase galleries at www.pbase.com/saritajc

Wet & wild

Off day and our destination for today was Sunway Lagoon!!!

It was also Peach Apple Tree band's off day so we planned something to have a bit of fun before we leave at the end of this month. They are also leaving at the end of this month, like us. But they'll be going back to Kota Kinabalu.

Edlyn, Cem and Sarah' sis Raquel also joined us. Chona couldn't make it because she wasn't feeling well and had to see a doctor. Kuya Edil had something important to do. We left Concorde Hotel at 1:30PM and reached Sunway Lagoon at 2PM.

We first dropped by to the souvenir shop to get some sun visors. Forgot to bring a cap, it was really hot. Then we got in the park and we had some food first for energy. First ride we had was in inflatable small boats at the Colorado Splash, where I really got wet. And since we already got wet, we took the Grand Canyon River Rapids where we sat in a round plastic boat which goes along with the river rapid flow. Sarah, Cem, Raquel and I took the Niagara Falls Flume Ride - twice. It's like a log ride which will shoot down the trail for a big splash.

We were freakin' wet from those rides. We had to buy new clothes to change our drenched looks. We were scared to fall sick. For fun, we took the Butch Cassidy's Trail, or the spinning cups. Most of them got really dizzy from it. We wanted to try the new 360 degrees ride, called the Pirate's Revenge, but it was closed. So we just tried the Tomahawk, which flips 360 degrees as well. The last ride we took was the lame rollercoaster ride called The Lost City of Gold - twice. Before the park closed at 6PM, we were able to go to the Suspension Bridge, which claims to be the World's Longest Suspension Bridge.

We went to Sunway Pyramid to have dinner before we went back to the hotel. When we reached the hotel, we were so exhausted that we fell asleep in less than 10 minutes! Woke up 5 hours later to update the pics on my website.

Garland beauty

It was another great Saturday night at the lounge. People enjoyed our performance as much we did enjoy performing. Especially during last set, when a large bunch of Indian guests came to catch our performance. Naturally, we played Hindi numbers, much to their delight. We mixed it with the other requests especially for our international audience.

But during the last song, they requested us to play the Hindi song we sang earlier. They gave me a garland of flowers, which happened to be our country's national flower, Sampaguita. I teased them all through out the song, with me running around the bar pretending to be caught by an Indian guy. It surely looked funny if you're familiar with Bollywood movies.

I'm not feeling well right now. I feel like I'm over stressed again and needed much rest. So I must go to bed "early" (in the morning) at 5:30AM. Gotta say tah-tah!

The 5th season's top 12

American Idol has finally made room for its Top 12. I was kinda disappointed that Ayla Brown wasn't able to make it but she can always pursue her career as a basketball player, a singer or a model. Lots of opportunities are waiting for her out there. And there's one of the guys who I think, was not so deserving to be part of the Top 12.

But I must admit, that all of them are very talented. This is a very interesting season because you'll never know who would really win. I like a handful of them. Can't wait till next week!

Drenching Friday

We had some visitors in the afternoon, the band from Istana Hotel. We just chilled out until 6:30PM, before I prepared for work. Didn't have much time to workout, but I was thinking that it's Friday anyway, so I might need to reserve the energy for the night instead.

Our first set was a bit quiet, maybe because it was raining outside. When we started the 2nd set, our crowd was already listening. But after 2 songs, Brice and I were drenched in sweat. We looked as if we just got out of the shower and couldn't find the towel!

It was because there had been a power failure at around 8PM and I guess the hotel was running on generator, therefore the aircon was not running. Some staff told me there was something wrong with the aircon. But whatever it was, it was damn hot on stage with all those spotlights and dancing. And I'm glad that I decided to tie up my hair tonight, instead of letting it down.

The lobby lounge staff felt sorry for us and instead of handing us some napkin tissue to wipe off ourselves, they gave us cold towels! Hahahaha! But luckily, we didn't have to suffer the whole set that way, I felt the breeze in the middle of the 2nd set.

More people came on our 3rd set, including our friend Aussie Wayne and the gang, of course with Narkin' Bill, hahaha! (I just needed to write that for you, Billy!)

Awesome Wednesday

Started off the evening quietly. I wore green, Brice wore yellow and Marlou wore orange, so we were not actually U.R.B. this evening... we were U.C.B. - United Colors of Benetton. Hehehe!

So anyway, it started off as a quiet evening. Then, guests came in groups, looked more like businessmen who came to the lounge to talk. But they actually listened and watched us. It was awesome!

I just have to say that it was great to have our Swiss friends in the crowd who actually lighten up the lounge with their sincere applauses. Thanks to you Wolfgang, Urs and Urs, Franz and Ravi, Owen the Big Spender, and the others! Hope to see you someday soon - in Switzerland!

Packing, editing & packing

Still busy sorting things out. We've already sent one big box via Forex Cargo yesterday for Cebu, mostly our excess baggages. So we just left a batch of dresses that we could wear until we the end of this month. I've been editing pics to for my January & February galleries. Have to get it done before the month's end because for sure, I'll be very busy when I go back home next month.

Highlighted

I seldom visit hair salons, except for trimming my hair a bit. I did cellophane & rebonding couple of times. And the late Jun Encarnacion was my sponsor for my hair and makeup when I did my TV guestings, concerts, pictorials, and shows more than 10 years ago. But other than that, I could count with my fingers on my hand the times I've been to a salon.

I had my hair hightlighted yesterday. I must say it's my first time officially to have my hair dyed and highlighted professionally. I usually do it for myself and for others. But yesterday, I decided to just have it done professionally. Though I was quite worried that I might regret it. But the result was satisfactory, it actually complimented my personality. Not bad!

A cause to celebrate

7 years ago in Hongkong, after 4 years of being together, Marlou and I decided to give it a go. Neither of my family and Marlou’s made it, but we were still equally thrilled because my godmom Susana flew to HK to be our sponsor. We were told beforehand that the whole thing will last for 20 minutes. It was more of reading some vows and signing a contract. There wasn’t even “I do’s” or “you may kiss the bride” because a judge facilitated the ceremony. It lasted for only 5 minutes!!! The rest of the 20 minutes were spent with the congratulatory part from our friends. Oh! And we made up the “you may kiss the bride” stuff, too! It was followed by a small reception with our friends. And still had to perform at night (it wasn't our off)!

7 years later, after a lot of trials and runs, we’re still here. Whew and wow! And blessed with a beautiful and loving daughter. It’s definitely a cause for a celebration!!!

Shangri-La Mactan it is!!!

Our Boss has just made a call while he's in China confirming us for 5 months in Shangri-La Mactan Resort in Cebu, Philippines!!! This will be our first time to play in the Philippines as a band. Wish us the very best of luck!