MadMax (not his real name), had the looks of Mel Gibson and the personality of Rod Laver - His voice was deep and booming, about two inches shorter than Mel. He was "the rainmaker" for his firm when I knew of him. Over the years he turned down invitations,offers to represent his country at a higher level position - MadMax did not much care for all that.

I first met MadMax in HKG - In our hotel's bar waiting for our rooms to be ready. That night he invited me to loudest,swankiest club - full of punters tons of eye candy.Over the decade our paths crossed many a times in Phillipines,Singapore,Mumbai,Bangkok,Beirut,Buenos Aires - Over the years he turned into the Rainmaker amongst the rainmakers.

Madmax never believed in reports of others - He needed to verify it for himself. He would go into crowded,noisy bars,clubs,disco wherever lasses were available. Fool around for a few hours before swishing the lass back. If some day you happened to be him, he'd make sure that the girl sitting by his side, get a friend of hers along for you, or two

He got away doing things in public with these girls that many of us would not attempt - That was MadMax - Very aware of his looks, and the fact many mistook him for MelGibson, he played it to the hilt with girls - both pro as well as non-pro.

Once we were in a loud place in the infamous Orchard Towers, he had two cuties in his lap, over the course of an hour or so had persuaded one to remove her knickers, thereby facilitating an unfethered access to smooth assets behind her skirt That was MadMax.

Last month, I got a call on my answering machine. It was I presume, his sister calling from Perth - Max had succumbed to third degree burns in Bali - Funeral services were to be held that weekend in Sydney. It is sad and I'm sure Max was enjoying himself to the hilt when he went down.

COMMENT: I was never a club,disco person - I'd rather take a lass out as soon as I decided that was the one I wanted. Phone numbers and websites rather than club-hop. Certainly avoid big places - As the month has progressed I find advisories for most of the places above - The other key is the big clubs,disco and puntering hangouts.

So, be vigilant and avoid well-known and large meat-markets