TheWirk.com ~ voted BallHyped.com's 2010 "Best Independent Sports Blog"

My dad says he'd look like Kevin Garnett if he shaved his head

2012-01-19T13:54:00.000-05:00

I went to visit my dad last weekend. For those of you that haven't met him and never will, you're definitely missing out on all sorts of humor.

Here's his latest gem...

Dad: It's getting harder and harder to cover my bald spot.
Me: Just shave your head.
Dad: Then I'll look like Kevin Garnett...
Me (completely perplexed): Really?

I assure you. My dad has never and will never resemble Boston Celtics, star Kevin Garnett, but he does know his basketball... Then again, he did say he needs new glasses...

THE WIRK

This blog isn't dead ~ I just need to catch up and rev up

2012-01-10T16:26:00.001-05:00

For those that are curious about whether this blog is dead or not - I'm back to tell you that it's not. I'm alive and well. I've just been busy. Further, as I was waiting for the NBA Lockout to end - I was in Singapore working and traveling through SE Asia.

I might try to catch this blog up with pictures from my previous voyages, in addition to tackling sports topics that are current. As I'm the master of this domain - I guess it's up to me to make this endeavor the best it can be, and after a long break - I need to get to it!

Be patient with me. I'm back in the USA and getting my "voice" back...

THE WIRK

Bali ~ Friends, Margarito v Cotto fight, UC Silver, and Bali Zoo

2011-12-06T20:42:00.001-05:00

In early December I ran out to Bali again. My friend was in town from the US, and there was another group of friends from Singapore that were out celebrating another friend's birthday. What better place to celebrate your birthday, than Bali.

I'm generally a good planner, but I didn't book accommodations early for this trip. I ended up choosing a 1 bedroom villa at Danoya, because it had its own private pool and was two levels (i.e. had stairs). I have always liked stairs. Further, even though the property didn't have a restaurant on-site, the villa had a kitchen and it was nice to have a couple of people come over and make breakfast. I enjoyed the mee goreng (i.e. noodles) one morning and the nasi goreng (i.e. rice) another morning.

**** My friends stayed at Villa Massilia and it appeared that the party of about 20 people had the complex to themself.

On Friday night, I went out to Ku De Ta for drinks and a quick bite. There I met Sanaz and her husband. We share mutual friends and they had been traveling throughout SE Asia, so it was a treat to meet and chat. Another thing that was cute was that Sanaz and I carried the same Chanel handbag!

Saturday, was spent lounging by the pool and with friends.

Sunday, before running around and showing my friend, Taiwanna, the sites I had to watch the Margarito v Cotto boxing match. As the fight was starting, there was a knock on the door and the hotel staff asked us if we needed help with our luggage. OK, most people may consider this rude ~ but I knew I was already overstaying my welcome and there was a driver waiting for us so we could see the sites.

After checking out, I asked the driver to please take us to a bar so we could watch the fight. Within 10 minutes we were at a bar and taking in all the action from the ring! Talk about a good driver, and lucky man since he was able to watch the fight as well. Miguel Cotto won the fight, and Margarito lost AGAIN. Honestly though... What's it going to take for Antonio Margarito to stop risking his vision?!!?

Anyway, another great trip with some sports (i.e. even if it was only on TV)...

After the fight we went to UC Silver (i.e. took a tour and stopped in the shop). I was determined to check out the store since I'd seen so many ads. Admittedly, I'm not a silver person, but I was taken in by the design and the dragonfly.

We were greeted by a gentleman who gave us a tour. It was a public holiday so there weren't many people working.

After our tour we went to the store and I discovered that they also sell gold. However, the name of the company IS UC Siler (i.e. and not UC Gold) so I decided to stay true to the name.

Afterwards we visited the Bali Zoo to ride the elephants. Yes, I've done it before... BUT you can never ride too many elephants... Ha!!!

THE WIRK

My first trip to a fish spa in Singapore

2011-11-26T19:23:00.002-05:00

Ever been to a fish spa? Do you know what a fish spa is? When my friend, Taiwanna, was visiting in Singapore we visited Kenko to see what all the fuss was about. I can't really remember but I think we spent 30 minutes with the fish. I can't recall what we paid, but it wasn't anything relative to the experience.

At the start, the employee washes your feet and you're given slippers to wear. Since we paid a little extra for a shoulder and neck massage, we had that service while we started with the smaller fish. Approximately half way into our service, we were asked if we wanted to transfer to a different tank with larger fish.

Personally, I think the smaller fish were ticklish. The larger fish definitely have a stronger "bite", but there's no pain. Think pins and needles after your arm goes numb, but much much less severe. I could handle it, but Taiwanna didn't like it and just kept me company while waiting.

The fish are thorough and go after your cuticles as well. If you're sharing a tank with someone who has feet that are worse than yours, take note that the fish may abandon you for more "food".

All in all, I'd do it again ~ but I haven't.

THE WIRK

The Datai ~ Luxury in Langkawi, Malaysia

2011-11-22T17:44:00.002-05:00

I finally had the chance to see Malaysia, when I visited Langkawi and stayed at The Datai. I'd been wanting to go on vacation and see Halong Bay in Vietnam, but the flight times weren't working with my schedule and the temperatures were cooler than I wanted. When a trip to the Datai was suggested, I quickly "Googled" and there was no question that I wanted to go.

I'm a huge fan of the Datai and my experience in Langkawi. I can't tell you a single thing about Langkawi. I really can't tell you much about the property itself. I can tell you that food, level of service, and time I had at the resort were top notch.

The property itself might be a little dated. It has a more masculine feel with the heavy and darker woods, but it's very comfortable. The deluxe room I had overlooked the pool. The resort is located in the rainforest, so there is animal life in the treetops.

If you're afraid of creatures, you need to know that they tell you to keep your balcony doors locked when you're not out there since there are "naughty monkey". I didn't find the monkeys to be a problem at all. In fact, i enjoyed the ones that came over towards the pool one early evening.

While enjoying the resort, I spent plenty of time sunning at the pool. The water temperature for the pool was comfortable and refreshing since it was very warm while I was there. Another plus, was that the staff kept refreshing our ice water. The bar was conveniently located near the pool for when we needed food and drink.

Breakfast was good and there was a wide selection of items.

I'd highly recommend The Datai to anyone. From the moment we stepped into the Mercedes for the transfer, I knew we were welcome and in good hands. Another fantastic benefit occurred when we learned that we would have a late check out of 7PM, without any additional payment. **** I'm so used to traveling and getting "offered" the opportunity to extend my stay for about half the nightly rate at other hotels and resorts that this was definitely noteworthy and very classy of them.

My trip to The Datai was definitely a peaceful, relaxing trip I'll never forget

THE WIRK

Siem Reap, Cambodia ~ Amazing temples, great food, and wonderful people

2011-11-10T16:27:00.002-05:00

In early November, I went to Siem Reap. For those of you that don't know, that's Cambodia. Since I'd been working in Singapore, I had the chance to talk to my coworkers about the best places that they've visited and Cambodia always seemed to be at the top of their list. In early November I went to see what all the hype was about.

Getting to Siem Reap was an adventure. I'd been out a couple of nights before and hadn't taken the ID picture I needed for the visa on arrival. Further, I was leaving for Kuala Lumpur via bus from Singapore since all the flights to Siem Reap were either really expensive or booked up since there was a public holiday the following week. After taking my ID photos at a booth, I settled in for a few martinis, before scrambling home to pack and catch the bus.

The bus ride to KL was a piece of cake, since I slept most of the way. After arriving in KL, we took a cab to the airport and with no time to spare boarded the plane to Siem Reap. Ever seen the show "Amazing Race"? Let's just say, my friend and I would've won had that been one of the challenges.

Once in Siem Reap, I was impressed to see a modern, beautiful airport. It reminded me of Hawaii. Acquiring a visa on arrival was easy and I was on my way to the hotel. After a quick nap, I was ready to see what Angkor Wat and all the temples were all about. Armed with my 3 day ticket (i.e. cost $40 USD), I had no idea how much fun and hard work (i.e. we did a lot of climbing, but you don't have to) seeing all the temples would be.

If you've never been to Siem Reap and you have the chance, you MUST see the temples. The architecture is amazing and I'll argue with anyone that says that "they're all the same". Each temple is unique and the craftsmanship is amazing. Nature has affected some of the temples (i.e. think the temple from the "Tomb Raider" movie with Angelina Jolie) with tree root growth etc., but these monuments are still amazing.

I know the word "amazing", is over used - but they are AMAZING.

My tips for a trip to Siem Reap:

Hire a tuk tuk driver - Some of the temples are spread out and depending on how many days you want to spend, the driver can recommend which temples to group together and routes to follow. Further, the driver will know where you can eat lunch and scope out the best sunrise and sunset.
Pace yourself - These temples weren't built in a day and there's no way you're going to see them all in one day.
Wear comfortable and appropriate clothing - If you're going to go into a special area of Angkor Wat, you have to have sleeves on. I'm not sure if you'll be able to get in with shorts or a shorter skirt on. I wore long paints and a tank top. I had a long sleeved sweater around my waist, just in case I needed it --- and I needed it for the special area of the temple. If you're not dressed properly, they won't let you climb the stairs.

Wear underwear, especially if you're wearing a skirt and climbing - Trust me. No one wants to see you.
Wear a shirt - You're not in your house or in your backyard. These are temples.

Bring US dollars - If you don't have US dollars, you're only hurting yourself. I couldn't tell you what the Cambodian currency is, because I never had a need to touch it. Souvenirs and restaurants use the USD.

Don't be shy to eat in Cambodia. The food is great and since it caters to tourists (i.e. Pub Street) there are plenty of choices!

For a hotel, I stayed at the Empress Angkor Hotel. I'd recommend it. It's a great hotel. Closer to the airport and a little further from the temple, but the amenities are nice and the people are friendly. Come to think about it, just about everyone I encountered was very nice and welcoming.

Oh and if you need a tuk tuk driver, I can recommend mine to you: Thy Tuk Tuk. His email is thytuktuk1981@gmail.com and his card is pictured here.

THE WIRK

Get your limited-edition, personalized Kareem Abdul-Jabbar bobblehead NOW

2011-10-26T02:52:00.002-04:00

I was thinking about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar today. **** What?!?! As if you weren't... Seriously, though. I was because I posted earlier about age restrictions for guys trying to enter the NBA. If remember correctly, he's pro-age restriction and I'm against it. Anyway, back to the message I'm trying to communicate...

I just caught up with my Twitter feed and I noticed that Kareem (i.e. @KAJ33 on Twitter) has been posting about personalizing messages and selling bobbleheads. Well, needless to say, since I'm a huge fan I had to check it out. I went to his website, http://www.kareemabduljabbar.com/ <-- **** Who can't figure that out?

This is what I found:

Seeing as that I skipped a day of medical school to head to MC Sports and to have him sign a hat for me, I couldn't pass up the chance to have some stuff delivered to me. The NBA's All-time Leading Scorer is one of the reasons I fell in the love with the Lakers and he should have this skyhook pose captured in a statue one day in LA. However, until that day, this image will have to sit on my shelf (i.e. once UPS delivers the goods).

There are only 250 of these available. At only $39.95 plus delivery etc, this is a steal for Kareem fans everywhere, so get yours now!!! Here is the URL: http://store.kareemabduljabbar.com/skbo.html **** I already placed my order and received my confirmation, so I should be OK.

Woohoo! Looks like Christmas came early this year!!!

THE WIRK

College football and basketball players shouldn't get a cut of TV revenue

2011-10-26T01:03:00.001-04:00

I have the day off today, and it's raining, so I decided to check on my baby (i.e. this blog). I'm not sure what happened yesterday, but my blog stats went through the roof! Well, in an effort to not neglect you all and to stay focused on this endeavor, I took a quick look at ESPN.com and found a poll that struck a cord with me... I figured I'd get your thoughts.

While I was surfing the net, I came across a Sports Nation poll asking whether college football and basketball players should receive a cut of their schools' TV revenue. Below is a picture of the current results.

If you know me at all and/or have been following this blog, you know how much I appreciate money... Initially when I read this questions, I jumped to YES for my answer. I thought to myself, why shouldn't they get paid? The athletes contribute to the program and as stars of the team they draw ratings... However, I started to think the question through and realized that there are many other issues that need to be considered.

1. Not all colleges/universities have the following (i.e. storied history) to attract viewers, ratings, and TV numbers. Some school are simply too small and don't produce quality teams consistently enough to land the TV deals. Growing up, I heard all the Notre Dame jokes about their teams playing in a "cereal bowl", but their fan base is loyal.

2. While an athlete might be incredibly talented, the focus of amateur athletics should be education. If these individuals want to be paid as professionals then they need to take it up with the National Football Players Association (NFLPA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) regarding age restrictions etc. **** I'm not going to research the particularities in this matter, but I've argued with former players about this matter in the past, and I think age restrictions are lame. Caveat emptor (i.e. let the buyer be ware). If a team is willing to risk its money on a very young prospect, it should be its right.

3. I don't want to hear about how the athletes need the money. More or less everyone in college and even adulthood will argue that they "need the money". That argument doesn't hold any water.

Out of curiosity, I specifically checked the stats for Ohio. I'm from Ohio and Ohio generally makes the "final" decision when it comes to who becomes President and other decisions. Further, it's the Midwest - middle America, and therefore more or less "average". Needless to say, when I checked, Ohio was split 50-50...

Just some thoughts from a girl who's too lazy to head out in the rain...

THE WIRK

Phuket ~ Paper Lanterns and James Bond Island

2011-10-25T17:20:00.003-04:00

Phuket is such an easy travel destination when you're in Singapore that my friends and I decided to go out there for a weekend in October. Since I'd already been to Phuket and have also completed a post about it, I'll give you the highlights.

This time around, my friend and I released paper lanterns over the ocean. If you haven't done this before it's very cool!

In addition, we spent one day on a boat touring/traveling to other islands (i.e. Hong Island, Phang Nga Bay, etc.), taking a kayak ride, and visiting James Bond Island.

If you're a James Bond fan you can recognize James Bond Island from a scene in the movie "The Man with the Golden Gun".

Enjoy the pictures.

THE WIRK

Amir Khan v Lamont Peterson ~ Capital Showdown Press Conference

2011-10-07T11:03:00.007-04:00

For boxing fans out there in the DC area, I have some good news for you. Yesterday's press conference between Amir Kahn (26-1) and Lamont Peterson (29-1-1) was a sight to see (i.e. standing room only for fans and late arrivers) in the DC area. Representatives from Golden Boy, HBO Boxing, Events DC, and both players' camps spoke at the event.

Especially since this was a local event for both of us, I should've expected to see ESPN's Dan Rafael, but was still surprised to see him again. He and I had met and talked on the plane back from Dallas, after the Antonio Margarito v Manny Pacquiao fight. He told me that I'd be hooked after the fight, and he was right! Since Margarito v Pacquiao I've seen Sergio Martinez knock out Paul Williams, and Pacquiao defeat Shane Mosley. But I digress...

Seeing as that Peterson is from DC, he definitely had hometown advantage... Further, since the fight is being held in DC against Khan, who is currently the unified WBA Super and IBF Light Welterweight Champion, a joke was made that it was "gangster" of Khan to come to DC to fight Peterson in his own house.

It was a packed house at the W Hotel, as media and fans came out to watch the press conference. The Capital Showdown will occur at the DC Convention Center on December 10, 2011. It's the first time in 18 years that HBO has come to DC showcase boxing.

I will admit right now that I'll take Khan in this fight. He's trained by Freddie Roach and Alex Ariza. Both Freddie and Alex are in the Philippines (i.e. or on their way back from the Philippines), where they were training Manny Pacquiao, so they weren't in attendance for yesterday's event.

Fans of Khan and Peterson should follow them on Twitter since both more or less invited their fans to come on out and support them at the presser.

Below are their Twitter details:

Khan: @amirkingkhan

Peterson: @kingpete26

Approximately 12,000 tickets will be sold for the Capital Showdown. In consideration to the fans, it's expected that the the lowest price point is expected to be $25 for the event.

For you heavyweight fans out there Seth Mitchell (23-0-1), from Maryland will also fight on the undercard.

People say that boxing is dead, but judging from the buzz around yesterday's events ~ boxing isn't dead in DC...

THE WIRK

RFK Stadium is turning 50 ~ I Remember

2011-10-06T10:35:00.002-04:00

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, RFK Stadium...
Happy birthday to you!

I'm not originally from the DC/VA/MD area, but I've been in the area long enough to consider it "home". Yesterday, I attended a press conference to kick off the RFK Stadium 50th Anniversary Celebration. Some notables in attendance, were Vincent Gray (i.e. the Mayor of DC), Kevin Payne (i.e. President and CEO of DC United), Charles Mann (i.e. former Washington Redskin), Gregory McCarthy (i.e. Vice President of the Washington Nationals), and Norm Everson (i.e. former player for George Washington University). If you're like me, you'd never heard of Norm either, but if you were at the event, I assure you that you'd never forget him.

Greg O'Dell, President and CEO, of Events DC kicked of the event and various government and team officials spoke about their own RFK memories. Everything from football games, to baseball coming back to DC, to boxing, to musical performances have taken place at a building that was described as having "soul". The "I Remember" campaign is personal and definitely had people more than willing to recall their own experiences at the venue. Norm's story was the last one and had people talking (i.e. if you want the details, "google" it)!

As someone who moved to the DC area in 2004, I was bummed to hear that I missed the Michael Jackson "Victory" tour and surprised to learn that boxing matches had taken place there. I've only been to RFK a handful of times, and it was for the Washington Nationals, the Military Bowl, and a DC United Game...

Well, RFK Stadium, I look forward to creating more memories with you.

Through the "I Remember" campaign, fans can vote for the RFK All-Stadium Team. This "team" will be 50 of the greatest athletes and entertainers in stadium history. Fans can also share pictures and memories with each other. The URLs are: http://www.rfkstadium50.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/RFKStadium.

In addition to numerous events occurring at RFK the rest of the year, October 29 is RFK Stadium Appreciation Day. Memorabilia will be on display at the DC Armory from 9AM-7PM. The event will also feature family-friendly activities (i.e. player appearances and giveaways). Further, tours of RFK Stadium will be given at 10AM, Noon, and 2PM. These tours will give visitors a behind the scenes look at the locker rooms and the field. The tours are free, but please register at the following link: http.://www.rfkstadium50.com/

THE WIRK

2011 Singapore Grand Prix - Recap of my first F1 race adventure

2011-09-30T01:12:00.002-04:00

I'd to a NASCAR race before, but in September I went to my first Formula 1 (F1) race in Singapore. The Singapore Grand Prix is unique because it's a night race, and basically an entire weekend of parties (i.e. concerts and racing events) and was a lot of fun. I ended up purchasing Premier Walkabout tickets for all 3 days.

These tickets were ideal for me, since I don't like having restrictions as to where I can go and I wanted to be able to travel from Zones 1-4 easily. As an added bonus, these tickets also gave me the opportunity to ride the Singapore Flyer for free.

How could I pass up the opportunity to see the track and the views of Singapore at night, when the trip was gratis? I couldn't.

As for the highlights of the weekend here goes:

Sebastian Vettel won the race. For those of you that have no idea, here are some details about him:

He's German
Races for Red Bull Racing
Current World Champion

I saw Rick Astley perform in concert. Here are my 3 cents on this experience. **** Why 3 cents, you ask? Because I have more sense than the average person and I'm louder.

If you are a man and you're not there with your significant other, you shouldn't be in a pavilion taking up space watching Rick Astley perform. You need to listen outside the pavilion and give your "seat" to a female. It's just the right thing to do.
Rick talked to the crowd about the humidity in Singapore. **** Tell us something we don't know. He performed all of his hits and a few covers and I must say, I enjoyed the performance.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I like Rick Astley.

When given the choice between watching Shakira or Boy George, I chose Boy George. **** In the interest of full disclosure, I'd already seen Shakira perform in 2010 at the NBA All-Star Game in Dallas.
Boy George looked great! He's on the heavier side these days, but he looks healthy. His eye make-up looked fantastic and he sang all of his hits. Not sure how many other opportunities I'd have going forward to see him perform so I'm happy I seized the moment.

Shaggy in concert was cool. A guy gave me his wristband so I went to the front of the stage. I'm not a huge Shaggy fan, but he did his hits. I was hoping I'd hear "Freaky Girl", but I didn't. Either I missed it or he didn't perform the track.

Linkin Park was the final show on Sunday night and the people were out in droves. I'm not a huge Linkin Park fan, but I enjoyed their set. I left it early (i.e. ironically, I think they were playing "Encore") to walk on the race track.

As for the races...

I watched the F1 qualifying on Saturday night from Zone 1 near the pit.
I watched the Porsche races from Zone 4 on Sunday.
I watched the final F1 race from Zone 4 as well.
Don't try to be a hero, bring and wear your earplugs!!!! Thank goodness I had my iPhone earbuds on me or I would've had to buy earplugs. Those F1 cars are loud!!!

Food:

Go to the races hungry. Since this is Singapore, plenty of good food is available and relatively inexpensive. Even if you don't like racing, go there and eat!

THEWIRK

Iraq v Singapore ~ 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Qualifiers

2011-09-07T11:20:00.004-04:00

Soccer, football, whatever you wish to call it was what I checked out last night. In preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil there are qualifying matches that need to be played. Last night I took in Iraq v Singapore at Jalan Besar Stadium.

I know very little about soccer to begin with. After watching the most recent World Cup on TV, I can tell you which countries had the best looking men and go on and on about my appreciation of the soccer player body... However, I'll spare you in this post. Further, for the purpose of this post I'll do my best to speak "soccer/football" as properly as possible until I can't take it anymore...

I went to the match with Xander and Andreas. I work with both of them and they're fun. They both came prepared. Andreas was dressed in red, and Xander sported a Singapore scarf. I just wanted to get out of my work clothes and not melt to death in the humidity. In the opening few minutes or so of the game, Xander asked us who we thought would win and for a prediction on the final score. I predicted that Iraq would win 1-0.

At that very moment, I also regretted not running across the street to put a bet on the game! Oh well. **** Incidentally, I would've won.

After we filtered into the stadium and listened to the national anthems, we noticed that Tony Tan, the newly elected president of Singapore was taking the field, to greet the players. That was cool.

In the first half, Iraq was more aggressive and had more offense. Singapore's goalie was working hard.

As the match progressed the guys were getting thirsty and with no alcohol being served in the stadium we headed to a food court for a drink. At the food court, as we indulged in a Tiger beer, Xander managed to break his chair! Hilarious. Thank goodness it wasn't me.

We returned to our seats after missing a portion of the 2nd half and sure enough Iraq scored again. It was a weird goal... Surreal how the ball bounced into the goal...

Singapore lost, but it was fun to do something sporty again. Happy I got the invite!

THE WIRK

Bali ~ The W in Seminyak and Ubud (i.e. a temple, rice terraces, the monkey forest, and shopping)

2011-09-05T08:31:00.007-04:00

I'm not really sure, "why", but I've always wanted to go to Bali. So, this past weekend, that's just what I did. Now I don't care if you think it's cheating or not, but I stayed at the W Retreat & Spa Bali - Seminyak (Seminyak, Indonesia). Why? Because I'm Starwood Platinum and I deserve to treat myself to a little bit of rest and relaxation once in a while. Don't get me wrong, I like culture but there's only so much "culture" that I can absorb before I start to crave the beach and some pool time.

Prior to landing in Bali, I had arranged for the hotel to send me a driver. Yes, that's how I roll. As I checked out the fantastic room that the property had upgraded me to, I started to snap some pictures for this blog. Enjoy.

The hotel opened in March, but it was "officially" open in July. It has good security (i.e. similary to other properties on the island there are guards at the vehicle entrance who sweep the vehicle).

As I fell asleep listening to the waves crash the beach and looking out at the Indian Ocean under the moon, I knew I'd made the right choice.

All day Saturday I was at the pool.

I ordered the nasi goreng for lunch and it was good. It's basically fried rice with beef satay, a piece of fried chicken, and an egg on top.

After the pool, I watched the sunset on the beach. Just gorgeous.

In the evening I met my Brigitte (i.e. a friend of my friend, Pam) and we talked over drinks and food at Ku De Ta. **** Brigitte had been in Bali for some time as she was on a retreat to become a yoga instructor. She and I became friends and hopefully we'll catch each other again in Dubai one day! I really want to see Dubai...

Ku De Ta is a great spot on the beach to have drinks and eat, while you watch the waves. Definitely check it out if you're in Seminyak. If you plan on eating dinner, make a reservation. Otherwise have a seat and just order off the "bar menu" and enjoy cocktails along the railing by the beach or upstairs. I didn't check out the upstairs, outdoor bar. However, I'd imagine that it's nice.

Sunday I eased into the day and hired the same driver that swooped me at the airport to drive me to Ubud for a 6-hour day trip. I wanted to see a temple, the rice terraces, the monkey forest, and do some shopping before I flew back to Singapore. **** Hiring a driver is definitely the way to do it. He waited while I enjoyed the different site and also served as a photographer when I needed someone to take my picture. It's a great deal!

I only visited one temple, but I'm sure if/when, I go back I'll try to check out Uluwatu and Tanah Lot.

When I was younger I learned a song about planting rice. The lyrics are:

Planting rice is never fun

Work all day, til the set of sun

Cannot stand and cannot sit

Cannot rest for a little bit.

My driver tried to explain to me the process of growing rice, but I still have so many questions...

From what I hear, the older generation is the one that plants rice. The younger generations have decided that they want an easier life and go into other fields.

From what I saw, planting rice is hard work, but the terraces look gorgeous!

Ok, the Monkey Forest...

Now this is interesting. Loved watching the monkeys interact with each other and take care of their babies, but after a while it became a bit much. There were too many tails and too many monkeys for my taste after a while so I left.

I wasn't brave enough to try to feed a monkey and unlike some of the other people at the forest, I wasn't keen on touching one or having one touch me. I'm more of an observer, I guess, so I did my best Jane Goodall and got out.

After seeing the sites, of course I did some shopping. I picked up a couple of decorative items and a couple of rings. Yes, I love rings. My dad even laughed when he saw the picture and said, "More rings?!?". Yes, always... More rings!

Bali is just beautiful! So happy I went.

THE WIRK

Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels ~ My trip to Vietnam

2011-08-23T07:55:00.002-04:00

So I walked into work one Monday and Andreas asked me if I wanted to go to Vietnam that weekend. Huh? Who does that? Slightly intrigued, I asked for more details. Turns out he and another guy, Aaron, decided the night before that they were going to Ho Chi Minh City that weekend. Random, right? Well, I didn't have any plans and they both came down to my desk with the print outs of the details and about 10 minutes later, I had a flight, hotel, and my visa was being processed.

My brother (i.e. yeah, I have a one) had been to Vietnam a few years ago, so I already knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to hit the War Remnants Museum, the Cu Chi Tunnels, and see whatever was there to see. The guys wanted to take a scooter tour of the city and seeing that I'd never ridden a scooter, I had my reservations but I wasn't about to become the whiner in the group.

On the plane I met a guy from France who was talking about going to the Taj Mahal. I want to go to the Taj Mahal!!! Anyway, we'll see if that pans out.

When we all arrived in HCMC, we took a cab to the hotel and then went out for drinks. The next morning the scooter tour people picked us up and we were off to see the Opera House, the Rex Hotel, the Reunification Palace, a Pagoda, and some markets for shopping. Couldn't help but notice that Justin Bieber's song, "Baby" was playing loudly from a store.

After the tour we went to the War Remnants Museum. I'd post pictures but it's a little too heavy.

After the museum, we decided to explore some more and ended up doing some eating and shopping. Pure comedy ensued in the market when the guys were pursued by some aggressive saleswomen who wanted to sell them pants and shirts. I picked up a souvenir Buddha and a jewelry box.

Plenty of drinks, a massage, a street massage, and more drinks was the plan for the night... It was a fun time.

The next day we hopped on the bus and went to the Cu Chi Tunnels. There I buried myself in a hole in the ground, learned about the traps that were set up, shot an AK-47, and did about 30m of the 100m tunnel tour. Very interesting stuff.

Vietnam was cool and I'm glad I made the trip. I screwed up though and only did a single-entry visa so now I need to wait before I go back. I want to see Halong Bay...

The exchange rate is approximately 20,000 Vietnamese Dong for 1 USD. Yes, I was rich in Vietnam...

THE WIRK

Hong Kong Disneyland, Victoria's Peak, Temple Street Night Market, and Macau

2011-08-15T07:08:00.001-04:00

I'm going to catch this up and I'm going to do it now...

Hong Kong and Macau...

I've always wanted to go to the "Land of Hello Kitty" and see what the hype is all about with regard to Macau. So, I went. When I landed in Hong Kong I decided that I'd head to Hong Kong Disneyland first. I took a cab there from the airport. DON'T DO THAT. Take the train to Sunny"something" and then hop another train to the Park. That's the best advice I can give you and no one will tell you to do that at the airport. There's also a bus, but if you're like me or you know me at all - I don't really like public transportation to begin with so the word "bus" really isn't in my vocabulary.

I couldn't wait to check out HK Disneyland, since I'm a huge Disney fan. I was told to plan to spend all day there. Ummm, no. I love Disney and all but it was just Me, Myself, and I and I do not need an entire day to enjoy the park. I need 4-5 hours. I got there and veered to the right towards Tomorrowland and rode Space Mountain twice in the span of 15 minutes. If you're not familiar with the "single rider line" then you've probably never been to an amusement park in your life. Seriously. While all the families are waiting over an hour to ride together I whipped through the queue, like I owned the place. Lucky for me, disapproving glances don't phase me at all.

I went around the park taking the compulsory pictures with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy. I skipped some strange looking bear and Winnie the Pooh.

I watched the Philharmagic show and sure enough there's no concept of "moving all the way down" the row so people can get into the theatre. I rode "It's a Small World" and was surprised to see that there was an "underwater area" and some other regions that aren't really continent-specific.

I checked out the food, but I wasn't about to eat Korean squid, fishballs, or an egg puff. I'm more of a "funnel cake, churro" girl.

After a fun time at the park, I hopped on the train and went to Victoria's Peak. I took the Peak Tram up. Luckily for me, I received a phone call while in line so that helped me as I waited. The line for the tram is long and the climb up to the peak is STEEP. Even when you board the tram, there's a lot of pushing and shoving for a seat, so you better not be shy. If you want to sit, you better "box out" and be ready to move the minute the doors open up.

As I took the escalators up to the observation deck, I saw a cool souvenir shop making wax "figures" of people's hands. I'd never seen anything like that before. Pretty cool.

At the top of Victoria's Peak, I caught the sunset. If you're smart and slightly lazy like me, I suggest grabbing a seat on the bench. As the sunsets, more people will arrive, so if you want a picture above their heads, just stand on the bench whenever you feel like it. Bench space is prime real estate.

After the sunset I took the train to the Temple Street Night Market. After taking in the different vendors and overhearing some other tourist ask his friend, "Who buys this stuff?" I decided I wanted to test my negotiation skills and buy something. I found a jewelry box frog and immediately cut the vendors price in half. As she worked her way towards my price, I decided that I didn't even like the quality of what I was looking at so she went and pulled another one from a different person. Satisfied with my choice of souvenir, I stayed true to my price and got it at the number I quoted. Needless to say, I don't really negotiate... I've always been a take it or leave it type person, so for me to negotiate, there really has to be a feeling that I'll be losing out if I don't compromise. With all the items for sale and the hefty inventory - I knew I wouldn't lose.

After the Night Street Market trip it was close to midnight and I decided I was ready to head to Macau. I went to the Ferry Terminal and bought a ticket on the Cotai Jet to Macau. The ferry is actually kinda nice and the ride is about 45 minutes to Macau. After you clear immigration there's a nice shuttle bus that takes you to the Venetian. Within about 10 minutes I walked into the Venetian ready to play, but first things first... I needed a hotel room.

I forget the exchange rate to the HK Dollar, but was quoted a price that calculated to something reasonable. I decided to walk away and think about it when they told me the room was accessible. I don't like rooms like that. I tend to get water everywhere in the shower and all when it's an accessible room so I avoid them.

I played a while and lost about 1500 HK Dollars. It didn't take long with minimum blackjack bets of $300 and craps of $100. I went back to the front desk and decided I'd take the room after all and sleep. My luck started to change, since I ended up with a regular suite.

The rooms at the Venetian in Macau are the same as the room in the Las Vegas. Sunken living room and large bathrooms. Just what I needed to wash the grime of a days worth of touring HK off of me and rest up.

The following morning I woke up and went to gamble some more. I won $4000 and paid my bill in cash. I hopped the ferry by about 3PM and was back at the airport in the United Airlines lounge by about 6PM after hopping on the Airport Express in HK. The Airport Express reminds me very much of the Heathrow Express in London. Take it.

HK and Macau, I'll be back!

THE WIRK

TheWirk.com was named one of the 15 Funniest Sports Blogs by ClickitTicket

2011-08-07T12:35:00.001-04:00

Earlier this week, I received an email. According to the following URL from ClickitTicket, http://www.clickitticket.com/articles/15funniestsportsblogs.asp, My blog was named as one of the 15 Funniest Sports Blogs... Not too shabby!

According to the write up:

"The Wirk is the funny brain child of writer and photographer Sarah Wirk. She tackles a wide variety of topics from Deron Williams acting like a turkey, to a very unusual sport called netball, to the annual ridiculousness that is the NBA Draft. "Is the movie 'The Air Up There' shown on planes or listed as a favorite movie in media guide for any NBA scouts?!?! Just curious?" Much thanks to The Wirk for her funny work."

Well, thanks! As they say at award ceremonies, "It's an honor just to be nominated."

Seriously though, I really enjoy putting this blog together and sharing my world with you. The fact that some of you truly enjoy reading it, is just the icing on the cake!

THE WIRK

Blackjack is more than just 21... Pay attention to what the dealer is showing...

2011-08-07T12:15:00.000-04:00

I've got something on my mind that I need to get off of my chest. Blackjack is often referred to as 21. Most people understand that the goal is to get to 21, without going over. Only a minority of people seem to understand that there is more to the game then hitting to point where you think you won't go over.

You NEED to understand the cards and the dealer's actions. In Singapore, the dealer must hit to 17. HIT TO 17. Did you catch that? I'll repeat it. HIT TO 17.

What does that mean? That means that if the dealer is showing a 4, 5, or 6 ~ UNLESS you have a total equal to or less than 11, you should NOT hit. You should NOT hit. Did you catch that? I'll repeat it. You should NOT hit.

To go one step further, I'd recommend that you double down when the dealer shows a 4, 5, or 6 (i.e. if you have 11 or less). However, I realize that some of you need to forget that I just wrote that and stick with today's learning that, if the dealer is showing a 4, 5, or 6 ~ UNLESS you have a total equal to or less than 11, you should NOT hit.

You should know that when you hit in these situations (i.e. when the dealer is showing a bust card), that the people at the table who know how to play the game begin to hate you. We start giving you dirty looks, because you throw off the rhythm of the game and mess up the shoe. Don't talk to me about the randomness of the shuffle and the true odds of the cards. No gambler wants to hear that stuff.

If you mess up the cards enough or make the mistake more than once, while betting only the minimum, the other people at the table start seething with frustration and even the dealer starts to question your intelligence. Listen to the dealer. He or she will try to save you. The rest of us will color up to stop the bleeding and curse about you as we walk away.

I've walked away from 4 trips to the casino a winner every time. I have the discipline to wait for a novice player to lose all of his/her money before I sit down and to get up once my lucky streak is over (i.e. usually when I hit $1,000). I've gambled in numerous difference casinos in different countries and have seen just about everything. Some of you needed this lesson...

THE WIRK

Phuket ~ The Shore at Katathani and Elephant trekking

2011-08-07T11:51:00.002-04:00

I'm in Asia.

Last weekend I went to Phuket to relax, and I also had the chance to go elephant trekking. If you ever want to go to Phuket, I recommend The Shore at Katathani. The place and the villas are amazing.

I met my friend out there and we had our own infinity pool and the view overlooking the water (i.e. I'm not good with geography, but I think it was the Andaman Sea) was fantastic. I'd say the majority of guests were couples, but if you're like us and not a couple, the resort is still fantastic.

I must point out that there weren't many mosquitoes at all. Oh, and there was an unattractive naked couple frolicking on the beach so proceed with caution!

Before I left Phuket for the weekend, my friend and I went elephant trekking at Siam Safari. The elephants put on a show (e.g. painting and kicking soccer balls). Did you read that? Soccer balls. There's your sports tie-in.

For 30 minutes we trekked around on the elephant and for 50 Baht, I got to feed the elephants. The whole adventure took about 90 minutes (i.e. show, feeding, pictures, and trekking) and I'd recommend it for anyone who likes elephants.

My view from atop the elephant

Safety first. Locked in securely.

THE WIRK

Boris Becker tweeted me about the NBA Lockout and it made my night!

2011-08-07T11:15:00.000-04:00

A few nights ago my phone chirped. It's normally not that big of a deal, but since I've been traveling internationally, I've limited my phone usage. Usually when my phone chirps, it means that I have a text message. Prepared to see who just dinged me for 50 cents, I picked up my phone to see what was going on.

As it turns out, Boris Becker had tweeted me. Now this is special for a few reasons.

First, I LOVE BORIS BECKER. I'm a huge fan. When I was a teenager, I used to follow him around the ATP tennis tournament in Mason, OH. I finally got his autograph, and when that happened I more or less left him alone. I have countless pictures in photo albums of him and the other tennis stars in that day (e.g. Stefan Edberg, Andre Agassi, Ivan Lendl, Michael Chang, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Mats Wilander). Those were the days!
Second, I've often espoused the genius of Twitter and this was only further reinforcement. Becker had tweeted about, "not believing the NBA will go on strike," and I merely tweeted that a strike was different than a lockout and that the players were already locked out. He replied saying that I had a point.

The thing is, I never expected to receive a response from one of my favorite tennis players of all time. I just put my 3 cents out there. **** Why 3 cents? Because I'm smarter than the average person so it's worth 3 cents, when I "talk". The fact that Boom Boom Becker even responded made my night!

Look, I'm not saying that if you tweet your favorite people that you'll get a response. I'm just saying that Twitter is a great tool to get your point across and you never know who might take a second out of their day to acknowledge you.

THE WIRK

Wendover, NV ~ A place to gamble less than 90 minutes from Salt Lake City

2011-07-24T12:42:00.001-04:00

If you're looking for very low stakes craps and you're in Salt Lake City, I'm going to recommend that you head to the Nevada border.

In the city of Wendover, NV you can play craps for $2 or $3. I can't really remember which it was, but does it really matter? We're talking about $2 or $3.

The casinos I scouted out with some friends included Rainbow Casino, Montego Bay Casino, and some other one. They're not my favorite casinos on the planet, but when in a pinch, they'll do!

Montego Bay Casino Floor

Montego Bay Race & Sports Book

As we left Montego Bay to go to a different casino, we saw a small girl at the end of this hallway. Immediately, I thought of the girls from the movie, "The Shining".

The Hallway to Hell

Warning: With such low stakes, you end up with novice players who don't know how to play. For example, at the blackjack table one of the players got mad and left the table when the dealer started to take her money. She had thought the dealer had busted with a 28. No, not so much. The dealer had a soft 16 and was forced to hit. Yeah... That's the caliber player you might end up sitting next to so don't bet high.

THE WIRK

Deron Williams is acting like a turkey... Let him go to Turkey...

2011-07-10T10:29:00.001-04:00

If Deron Williams wants act like a turkey and play in Turkey, does anyone care? I sure don't. If I was an NBA owner I'd charter a bus to the airport for all the players who wish to go overseas. I'd call the players' bluffs every day and twice on Sunday.

Dear player: If you want to play internationally, that's your choice. Go if you want to go. Nothing is stopping you.

Personally, and I've written about this before on some forum (i.e. if not in this blog specifically), I think Williams is an idiot. Unfortunately, he's not alone. 5 million guaranteed in Turkey. Great. I happen to think that these people are very short-sided in their thinking.

I don't believe that NBA players with viable NBA careers think international competition is the best competition. I also don't think that playing overseas is smart from a marketing perspective since I feel it would make people lose interest in their brand. This isn't the Yao Ming phenomenon. Yao already had his audience. International players who grow up in their native land have a built in audience their and then "matriculate" to the NBA. The same metaphor can be used when amateurs matriculate to the professional level. No offense to international competition, but FIBA and global basketball is much different compared to the NBA.

As I've stated before, I predict that the NBA lockout will go til at least 2012. I think the NBA All-Star festivities in Orlando won't happen. I also think with a shortened season, that the teams that are already "stable" will sprint to the finish line. Tough luck to the teams that are rebuilding or hoping that they could "gel" and build "chemistry". Players will enjoy their summers and extend vacations. Some players will work out with MLB baseball teams and/or join other summer leagues.

Of course, this is all my opinion, after experiencing the 1998 NBA lockout and having an inside perspective into how it affects players, coaches, agents, media, and fans.

In all honesty, I'm not really a fan of Deron Williams to begin with so I have to ask why anyone is really listening to him? The guy is on the New Jersey Nets. Who cares?!!?

Dear, Deron Williams: Talk is cheap. Let us know when you have a boarding pass.

THE WIRK

Blackjack at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore isn't the same "deal" as in the US

2011-07-10T08:16:00.001-04:00

I'm in Singapore and the lockouts are still ON... Just like last year, it's tough to keep a blog about sports going during the summer (i.e. especially since I can't follow baseball as closely here). However, with the Marina Bay Sands (i.e. think Venetian and Palazzo) close by, I can definitely talk to you about gambling.

There are no places to play craps in Singapore. If you know of a spot, please pass the information on. Since I don't know and don't want to learn how to play Sic bo, I've primarily focused on playing blackjack.

The minimum table bet is $25 for blackjack. In addition the Marina Bay Sands offers $50 and $100 tables, in addition to other higher limit areas. There are some differences here as to how the game of blackjack is played, compared to the US.

The dealers deal the cards differently here. You know how in the US (e.g. Las Vegas, Atlantic City) the dealers go around the table twice and deal two cards to the players and himself/herself? Next, the dealer looks at the card under the face up top card to see if he/she has blackjack. Well, the dealers here in Singapore don't do that.

In Singapore, the dealer gets one card and everyone can take action if they wish. Only after the players have stayed/busted, does the dealer take his/her second card. For people like me who believe in luck and try to predict when a "ten" is coming, I think it's better here, because you can rely on your intuition to determine whether a 10 is likely to be pulled from the show. **** Of course there is not an exact science to this, but then again most gamblers believe in streaks and aren't rational when it comes to cards having a degree of randomness.

As of the two visits I've made to the casino, I've been successful. Personally, I prefer to play at the lowest minimum table and raise my bet at my own discretion. I've been playing with various wagering strategies and have been doing well.

Just as in any casino, you have to be careful about who you play with. The last visit I made to the Marina Bay Sands casino had me watching a woman who made some really strange plays. Some times she would hit/stand on 15 or 16 (i.e. regardless if it was hard/soft) and if the dealers was showing a 5 or 6. One other crazy play she made occurred when she split 10s, and the dealer was showing a "King". After the split, she ended up hitting on a hand of 13 and of 14. Karma got her and she busted on both hands...

Needless to say, she wasn't making any friends at the table. She was killing everyone. Just terrible...

Don't be that girl. Good luck!

THE WIRK.

Let's take a look at Netball...

2011-07-05T08:15:00.000-04:00

Yes, both the NBA and NFL are locked out. No, I have nothing to say about the NHL or MLB right now. So, let's look at Netball. Why?!?! Why not? I'm out of the country and where I am, the World Netball Championships are taking place. Yes, I know you have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm in Singapore. Want more information on the event? Here's a link: http://www.wnc2011.com/home/index.php. If you're in Singapore and want to check out the action, here's a link to purchase a ticket.

I have no idea what Netball is. Honestly, I had no idea even existed as a game and/or sport.

Want to know more about it? Here's a video I found on youtube...

It looks like a cross between basketball and "horse". Go figure.

THE WIRK

Catching a ball only takes a second ~ "Catching Hell" can last a lifetime

2011-06-27T16:12:00.005-04:00

Bartman. What does that name mean to you? Do you even know who I'm talking about? Maybe you're thinking about the Simpsons. Maybe you have no idea. However, if you're from Chicago or love the Cubs, you probably know who and what I'm talking about.

I like baseball, but it's not my favorite sport. I'm from Ohio and rooted for the Red and the Indians when I was growing up. I'm not a lifelong Cubs fan. I've always told myself that I wanted my own Wiki page, but I guess I should be careful about what I wish for. For those of you that don't know or need some background, here's a link to the Steve Bartman incident. If you'd rather cut and paste the link to stay in this window, here you are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bartman_incident.

October 14, 2003. Steve Bartman instinctively (i.e. along with the people sitting near him) tried to catch a foul ball. Unlike other people around him, Bartman got a piece of the ball and unfortunately, Moises Alou missed the catch. After that, depending on who you talk to, EVEN THOUGH the Chicago Cubs were leading at the time, Bartman cost the Cubs Game 6, and the National League Championship series (i.e. even though there was a Game 7 that still needed to be played).

I'm not going to go into the specifics of the game. Check the box scores and play by play and you'll see that the Florida Marlins' bats were HOT and that the Cubs were making mistakes. I'm a gambler by nature and I believe in luck. I believe in coolers, that dice have memory, and some dealers have signatures. I'm not going to blame Bartman for the Cubs demise, because I also have an appreciation for the technical nature of baseball and interest in sports psychology.

I find athletes fascinating in their ability to come from behind to win and at other times choke away leads. I think athletes and other high-achievers can follow their own self-fulfilling prophecy through hard work and WILL. I believe that the crowd can influence the outcome of a game as well. Ever been in sleepy arenas or in a crowd where everyone is yelling and hyped up? Don't tell me that that doesn't play a factor in the minds of the players and vice versa. Regardless, I do believe in luck, both good and bad.

I have no idea what it would feel like to have so many people in a ballpark dislike me. I have no idea what it would feel like to have people seek me out to harm and to abuse me. I have no idea how Bartman, aside from his apology, has managed to stay silent about his feelings towards the entire incident. To be the object of a ballpark and city's REJECTION had to be incredible (i.e. in the literal sense of the word). Individual people can be cruel, but to be the target and victim of individuals with a "gang mentality" has to be terrifying. No one wants to be the butt of a joke, and to have people dress up like you for Halloween had to be a surreal experience.

I screened Alex Gibney's latest film, "Catching Hell", last week as part of the AFI/Discovery Channel Silverdocs film festival in Silver Spring, Maryland (i.e. Washington, DC). I screened it because sports have obviously slowed down for me and I wanted to review another film. I was also curious about the Bartman story because I didn't know it.

"I'd rather eat rat poison than relive that moment," was the comment I received from my friend, Bryan Erwin. **** This is a picture of us, when a group of us went to the Cubs home opener in 2010. Bryan lives and dies with each Cubs W or L. I immediately thought to invite him when I decided to attend the screening and I couldn't have been more shocked by his reaction. After all these year, the mere mention of the Bartman incident opened up old wounds.

To the casual observer, sports are on the periphery of one's life. However, for the devoted fan, sports are a part of his/her soul. You feel the game in your bones. Your heart races, drops, and or skips a beat if you're full ingrained in the action on the field, in the ring, on the court, etc.

People cope in different ways. Some people internalize, some people externalize, and other will point to someone and assign blame. In a time when television and digital cameras are as prevalent as hot dogs, there's no such thing as anonymity. Big brother or someone is almost always watching so you better be camera ready... If your moment is "compelling enough", a replay of the video or your photos with show over and over and over and over and over...

Unfortunately for him, Bartman's video and pictures in the cubs hat, green turtleneck, and headphone are burned into peoples' brains. He has had more than his 15 minutes of "fame". Just last week I was watching Pardon the Interruption, and Bartman's name came up. Maybe it's time we "let it go" and learn a lesson from the experience ~ that is, after you watch the movie.

The narrator of the film poses an interesting question as the film weaves in the story of the Boston Red Sox organization and the Bill Buckman story. Maybe as suggested, once the Chicago Cubs win the World Series, Bartman will be forgiven. However, will Bartman forgive Chicago? I guess we will never know, because he isn't talking...

According to producer, Gary Cohen, "Catching Hell" will air on ESPN on September 27.

THE WIRK