Malaysian Polo Open 2010

Yesterday, Miss Cai Mei Khoo, the Fashion and Features Writer of Harper's Bazaar, invited Mandy and I to the Malaysian Polo Open 2010 held at the Putrajaya Equestrian Park.

Surrounded by enthusiastic polo fanatics, scrumptious array of local Malaysian delights, free flow of Veuve Cliquot bubbly and accompanied by my awesome girlfriends was the beginning to an eventful Saturday afternoon. We even manage to catch glimpse of the Sultan of Pahang, who glamourously arrived in his private helicopter and was immediately ushered up to his VIP podium.

It's interesting how global Malaysia is becoming day by day. The expat community has been rapidly growing and is evident at yesterday's event as many of the supporters were primarily expats. Well, I suppose it's also because polo is more of white-man's game. Moreover, I even had a chance to chat to some who were very fond of living in Malaysia because of the lovely weather (Really? In this humidity?) and the fact that the standard of living is relatively inexpensive compared to their country of origin (Well, of course, cause they're earning expat wages!).

My highlight of the day was getting the opportunity to try out the awesome Segway i2. The Segway is a two-wheeled self-balancing electric vehicle invented by Dean Kamen. My original perception of steering the Segway would somewhat be similar to the steering of a motorcycle. Boy, was I wrong when I found out that all you had to do to steer is to merely lean forward to go forward, lean back to go backward and turn by using the "lean steer" handlebar, leaning it left or right.

If I recall correctly, the salesperson mentioned the price of one unit is approximately MYR33,700.00. Segways have success in niche markets such as transportation for police departments, military bases, warehouses, corporate campuses or industrial sites. The legal road worthiness of the Segway varies with different jurisdictions' classifications of the device as a motor vehicle.

However, as a warning to females, please do not try this vehicle in 5-inch heels. :)