Finding the Royal Ballroom was really a challenge. It is like a maze in PGH. You can easily get lost in it. As usual the event started with an opening keynote. Butt Wai Choon, MD of Microsoft Malaysia gave his speech followed by our Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. The stage setup was kinda hypnotic to me, with two large pink panels projected with slow rotating patterns.
At the Pavillion
Me and Suresh left Jawad Khaki's presentation half way to checkout the exhibitors' booths at the pavillion. Got caught up in the HP booth. The HP guys were really blur when I asked them about the Ipaq hx4700. Anyway, they told me "No special promotions during this event". *So set lah! Will be getting an O2 then.* ;)
I have to say that the cutest booth has to be TrendMicro. They have a bunch of missies dressed up in nurse uniforms giving out paper-bags and trial CDs. I think it will be more complete if their gentlemen also dressed up as doctors. I noticed most guys can't resist the nurses. :P
At The Booth
It was crowded around the INETA booth and our neighbour (Iverson), had invited me and WenChing to try to our luck in opening their safe with a secret pin number. Well, WenChing got it on the first try and grabbed the prize in the safe! I have to do it tomorrow. :(
Met Howard Lo (Asian MVP Lead) in the INETA booth. Chatted with him for a while and took some pictures with the MINDudes there. The INETA Wanted Contest had started. Basically, delegates were given a list of mugshots (of MVPs and MS Regional Directors) and were asked to get their signatures to win prizes. So me, Suresh and FunJin were like celebreties signing autographs :)
Across our booth were Thompson Prometric. I saw 20% discount notices up in their booth. So exam-takers - what are you waiting for? On the other end, there were a stretch of PCs for Games challenge. The games being contested were Half-Life and Rise of Nations.
Lunch
We had lunch together - Ramin (and his girls), Jonathan, WenChing, Daniel, FunJin, Walter, Michael and Suresh. Poor Azali had to use coupons for food because he was participating as a proctor. Then we noticed a new face among us, it was JP Chaw. Must really get this fella to treat me ice cream for all the hardwork in answering his technical questions in MIND.
The funniest part in lunch was when Ramin asked WenChing, "Where are you going next?", (asking which track he is going) and WenChing replied, "Second round" (For food).
We all left the table at 1:15pm for the technical tracks. On the way, I met Bernard and Cheepin.
The Closing
The event ended at 7:00pm and it was congested like mad at the hotel exit. Everyone was just queueing up to pay their parking fees. What's uncool is that a merz broke down in front of me after I exited the parking booth. Had to do some manouvres to get out. After that, it was a smooth journey home.
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