32.5 hours before Calcutta

In approximately another 32 hours 30 minutes, I will reach the Kolkata Airport. Yah, finally my flights are confirmed. I will leave KLIA at 8.15pm (Malaysia time) tomorrow and reach Kolkata at 12.40am (India time).

It is my first ever business trip out of the country. Kind of getting wobbly right now.

Still it is a new adventure for me. Hopefully I will have access to the internet when I'm in Kolkata to curb my boredom after work.

Nothing is ready...

I "should be" or "would be" leaving for Calcutta/Kolkata, India tomorrow. But nothing is prepared, nothing is at all. All that I know are:

1. I should be getting my visa today, what time, where from? I don't know.
2. I should be flying off to India tomorrow, what time? I don't know.
3. Which flight am I taking? I don't know.
4. I shall stay in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. That I know.
5. When will I depart from India? I don't know. All I know is, it's either 13th or 14th June.
6. Who will pick me up from the airport to the hotel? I don't know. It seems that someone should be there to pick me up, but... I don't know who, where, when and how.

As for the time being, all I can do is to gaze at the picture of the hotel room that I'm going to stay for the rest of my 2 weeks in Calcutta.

Review on X-Men 3 - The Last Stand

Was able to catch the X-Men 3 - The Last Stand yesterday night with sweetie and her sis, Erin.

The crowd was not as strong as I thought it would be. However, it's not a movie to be missed. The action is really good. You will get to see more action and more mutant powers this time when Magneto managed to summon an army of mutants with different specialty.

The most beautiful character of all. The wings is so... majestic.


What's the most unsuspected was the character, Jean. How she survived and how powerful she was. I better not spill the bean here for those who haven't watch it. I'm sure you will quite like this movie if you like the previous 2 sequels.

p/s: There's another 3 seconds scene after the credits at the end of the movie, so don't leave your seat just yet. But knowing Malaysian cinema style, I saw a live argument by a movie-goer and the cineplex manager when the after-credits scene was cut off way before the credit ends.

My rating : 7/10

Ipod can now track your workouts

Now Apple and Ipod has worked together to produce a running sports shoe that can allow you to listen to your Ipod while you were running and track your calories burnt and distance ran. How cool can it be?

As you run, the sensor records your distance, time, pace and calories burned in real time and displays data on the Nano. At the push of a button, audio feedback is delivered through Nano's earbuds.

How about that for a technology geek? Nike+Ipod, unbelievable matrimony. See the new here in USAToday.

I have a Ipod Nano, :P But I don't like to jog. I don't even know how to count calories. Worst of all, I don't have much fat for me to burn.

Disneyland in Malaysia?

Is it possible? Do you think Robert Iger, CEO of Disney would put their brand name at stake even if the president of Malaysia talked to them?

See JeffOoi's blog on this.

Shakened Malaysia's Multi-racialism

When I was blog-hopping today, I stumble upon this article written in BBC through Suanie's blog entry. It is an article on how Malaysia's harmony has been shakened by the recent country's leaders.

"The country has a far better record of multicultural harmony than most of its neighbours."

I agree with this, but that was years ago. When the country started to look so significantly into the Muslims' rights, we lost the balance. My parents who used to owned a garment factory has had so many Malays working for us during those years. Until the day my parents closed down the factory, the Malay lady (Kak Fatimah) who has been doing the ironing for us has already worked with us for 20 years, while a widower to raise her 3 sons. She came in and worked with us since the year my sister was born. She's like a very close family friend that had seen the journey of me, my brother and my sister's growth from the time when pebbles still seems like sweets to us, until today, when money seems like everything to us.

It's kind of sad when the "rakyat" (people) can live harmoniously but the leaders are the ones that keep fueling us to live inharmoniously with each other by drawing a real clear line on what the muslims must do and must not do with the other races.

As the day I started working in this company, I have so many Malay and Indian colleagues whom some of them have today become very close friends of mine of which we can speak to each other about anything and everything openly.

This is what we called "understanding", and NOT "tolerance", which was taught in our Pendidikan Moral subject which I still find it "intolerable" until today.

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not here to fuse up a religious fued or something. It's just so sad that the people of the country are being fueled by the leaders of the country to go against their friends from other races when they can be like a family.


p/s: To all my multi-racial friends and colleagues, please don't give a damn on these political bargers, long live our friendships.

Review on The DaVinci Code

As a ever movie-fanatic, I was able to booked a ticket for the movie on the opening day. For the movie, I would give a 7/10.

The storyline, is as interesting and twisting as it is in the book. To me, it's not like it has been reviewed by The Star, I think it received rather more than a lukewarm response. It's might not be a best, but still it's just a little less than being best this summer.

What really amazed me was they producer included some scene of the Constantine and The Knights of Templar part of story to minimize the movie-goers' imagination from running too wild. Also I think it's the best book-convert-to-movie movie I have seen so far, with very minimal details excluded from the movie.

Friday @ Starbucks Genting

It's a great Sunny day. I took a day off from work to send my sweetie here for her 3 days seminar. It's really nice to have the chance to take some time off from work and enjoy the peace of weekday.

Though, I'm still here doing my office stuff. But at least I've got the luxury of sitting at Starbucks, sipping away a venti size Caramel Macchiato on my right hand and puffing away on my left hand.

Alright, enuff for now. Need to start with my work now...

What a $$ costing week

I have found myself caught in a money-forking spree this week. First of all, it was my washing machine that went "kong kam". Now, it's my DVD player. Knowing that I'm a dvd freak, "DVD PLAYER IS IMPORTANT TO ME!!!!" Without movies I will die!!!!

Okie... Now the hole in my pocket is getting larger and larger. Shiiiitesss...

By the way, added a new link under the Photo Gallery section in the sidebar →. Please show your support for my mate's photos. Please feel free to contact me for Adrian's contact should you people require a freelance photographer for your wedding, your company's advertisement, etc.

Also, added a Tagboard in the sidebar →. Now if you are shy to leave some message on the posts, you a tagboard. Please don't be shy. Let's interact...

Almost feels like...

The sky is fills with dark clouds. The wind is blowing. I slept all the way through the journey to work in the pickup van.

When I reached the building, I stood in front of the building and took a puff.

It almost feels like... waking before dawn when the sky is half dimmed and stood in front of a chalet by the beach when the gentle sea breeze fills the air with freshness.

It almost feels like... the days when I was in Sheffield of which I had to wake up really early for classes and it was about to rain. The same kind of breeze that freshen the day.

It almost feels like... my Scotland trip when my friends and I have to wake up real early for our roadtrip to make sure we are always on schedule.


This is such a soothing feeling...

Weekend that goes wrong

Supposedly a weekend full of activities was a disappointing one...

Friday night
Poseidon is an extremely disappointing movie. Heard from Adrian that it's more interesting and exciting than Titanic. Mana tau... phuikkkk...

Saturday night
It all started really well on Saturday with helping sweetie settling down in her new room. Then went for Adrian's performance in the Soundscape 5th Anniversary gigs in the evening at KLPAC (which is situated at Sentul West, the park is phenomenon). Sweetie and I left for our dinner at Bangsar after witnessing the great performance from Adrian's band, "Silence Prayers". Then we proceed to Bangsar Shopping Centre for a walk and return back to Telawi for an Erdinger dark beer at "House of Frankfurt". Everything was fine and relaxing up until when I reached home and discovered that my washing machine "kong" already. No sign of life at all. Means that I have to spend $$$ fixing it already. Grrrr....

Sunday
This has been one of the day I have been planned and waiting for since early of the year. It's the Asian X Games. So, sweetie and I went to the Sunway Lagoon at about 4pm hoping reach there early to catch a glimpse at the Yasutoko brothers' Aggresive Inline Skating Finals Practise as shown in the schedule online. It was a hot afternoon and I was conned to park my car at the Sunway College as shown by the sign boards. That is fine, then sweetie and I have to walk for 25mins under the burning sun to reach the "Lagoon".


3 things that shoot ESPN down on this year's event:

1. Pay RM10, but website shows FREE. If we don't have the pass, we need to pay. We were told by paying that, we will get to enjoy all the facilities and fun in the "Lagoon". Who the hell will bring their swimming pants when their plan was to stand under the hot sun watching people doing some extreme stunt? See here which still clearly show that the admission of the whole event is "FREE TO THE PUBLIC".
2. Not informing the public of event changes. My main purpose of going to the event every year is to see the legendary Yasutoko bros. As seen on the website schedule, they are suppose to compete for their finals at 5pm-6pm. But to our surprise after walking such a long way and reach the park at 4.30pm, everything and I mean every event has ended. Only then we saw a small piece of bloody A4 paper on some notice boards showing that actually the brothers had compete at 1.30pm. WTF!!!!! The schedule still remain unchanged on the website.
3. Staff that don't inform the public of the finished event. It was fine when we have to pay RM10 for the entrance. But after getting cheated to pay that sum of money, nothing to watch. All you get was some bands playing some native language hardcore songs and award presentation at 7.30pm. This is like conning people's money.

Still, looking at the bright side, there were still some nice stuff out of all this mess.

1. Had a get-together with my ex-teammates on Friday night
2. Seen the very beautiful park at Sentul West, best of all with the company of sweetie
3. Heard some really nice music at KLPAC
4. Have a real nice after-meal walk with sweetie in Bangsar
5. Had a nice shopping time at Ikea on Sunday and dinner with sweetie's and my friends at The Curve

p/s: Thanks Adrian, for borrowing me the washing machine to clear off my week long laundry.

Tiring holiday

Again... I'm working on a Malaysian public holiday. To rub it in, my ex-boss (team leader) called and say, "hey guys, I'm on my first ever Malaysian public holiday today".

What to say, it's a job that I choose. Hence I have to endure the pain when everybody is sleeping under their cozy blanket but I have to wake up and drive to work.

Since today it's a public holiday, my friends all went to "Kotak Merah" yesterday as a farewell party for AhGirl (Adrian's gf) since she's leaving for Singapore to work already. The whole session start at 11pm and ends at 4am. Everyone is so energetic coz they knew that they don't have to work today, but I HAVE TO!!!

And tonight, with less than 6 hours of sleep tonight I have to go to Asian Cafe at Subang for another round of yamcha which act as a late farewell party for my ex-boss who rubbed it in so hard on the phone juz now.

Hence, my tiring holiday...

PBS - Post Bali Syndrome Part 2

It's been 3 weeks since I came back from my Bali trip. One of the travel mate wrote me and SMS today using "Hey bli". This suddenly hooked my the heydays in Bali when all started to talk in Bahasa Indonesia and had a good laugh at each other.

Bahasa Indonesia = Meaning
Bli = Mister
Eshh teh = Ice tea
Cabir rawet = Cili padi
Bisa = Boleh (Malaysia Bisa!)


Favourite drink : Teh Botol
Favourite beer : Bintang
Favourite food : Soto Ayam
Favourite beach : Dreamland
Favourite sunset : Ku De Ta

Pathetic...

Ermm... I have just added a statistic counter at the bottom of this blog of mine. The result is disappointing. From yesterday evening till now, the only visitor is me and myself.

It's just not like the Friendster blog which will announce to the whole world that you had updated your blog, but who cares. It's a blog for myself, and if someone is interested they are most welcome to leave a comment. If not.....

Better offer

Recently, not long ago I was offered a job with a 42.85% increase in salary just opposite my current company. After much consideration and their reluctantness to offer me a 60% increase, I turned them down.

When I told friends about this, I was actually scolded and blamed for being greedy and "lansi". Actually, it's not the pay that really matters. It's the development opportunities for me in that company. I'm actually kind of happy when they can't give the requested amount. If they do, I will be tempted to go to a job that I might earn more, learn less and never move up.

Still, I know what's my market value now. Hehehe...

Police dignity = RM10

On my way to work this morning, I was stopped by 2 policemen in their normal blue colour uniform with a "Saya Anti Rasuah" badge pin to the uniform on the right chest. I was stopped because I was going on the other direction of a one-way street which hundreds of people do everyday. That's why it don't seems to be wrong by doing so and I had been doing it for more than 6 months now.

By the way, the conversation goes like this:

Policeman : Tunjuk lesen dengan IC. You tau sini tak leh masuk punye tak?

Me : Tak tau lah bang.

Policeman : Sana tu ade signboard "No Entry", tak nampak ke? Kat kereta sana tu.

Me : Ya ke? (Pretending to be ignorance) Ah la, tak nampak ler bang.

Policeman : Tak pe ler, jadi sekrang nak saman ke? (Being a policeman, while holding my license and Identity Card, he's asking me whether he should issue a summons, what do you think he's asking for?)

Me : Tak leh bagi chance ke bang?

Policeman : Cam mana nak saya bagi chance, you cakap ler.

Me : Ermm... I tinggal RM10 je ler (of coz I have more, but more = give more).

Policemen : RM10 je?

Me : Ye, I kena pergi ATM nanti. (Means I will have to go to the ATM once I give him the RM10)

Policeman : Esshhh.... Tak yah, tak yah gi ATM (mistakenly thought that I would go to the atm to withdraw more money for him). Ok, skrang u masuk kreta dulu.

I went into my drive seat.

Policeman : Selit dalam ini (While handling me the whole book of summons statement) . Kalau bayar saman banyak susah, jadi saya tolong u, u tolong saya.

I slit the RM10 note into the whole summons receipt book, hand it to him and sped off continuing to go against the direction as he said it's ok to do so now.


I'm ready to receive a summon if he's ready to issue me one, but from the conversation, you know what's he asking for. So common sense is, I would rather pay RM10 than RM150.

They are so good at playing this game now that they won't ask for it, but they hint you for it. This is because if they are, they are liable for bribery. But if we offer, we are the one liable. This is why it's so hard to bring these people to justice.

So, now you see how much the so called the Policeman's dignity cost.

So while I was driving, I thought of an idea that might be able to discourage policemen accepting bribe and the public offering it as well.

Suggestion:

1. Government should fine the public who offer bribery to the policemen at least 2 times more than they would be fined on the violation.
2. Out of the 2 times fine, the policeman who reported the bribery will be given a commission of 30% - 50%. This means the policeman will get much better incentive than the public would give as bribery.

This suggestion would definitely force the public to accept the fine rather than bribe the policemen because if you got caught violating traffic rules, you will be fined RM150 but if you were caught offering bribes, you will end up paying 2 x RM150 = RM300.

Meanwhile, this encourages the policemen to report bribery because the commission they get out of it is definitely much lucrative than the bribe they get (RM10). e.g. 30% of RM300 = RM90.

Just an idea to toy around. How does this sounds?

Flu or Cold?

Yesterday took my first MC after 2 years. It's not that I'm not as fit as I used to until I can't come to work. It's just that my colleagues don't want my cold to spread to them as the department can't afford more than 1 person away at the same time. So, I was kind of like forced to go get an MC from the doctor. Not forced ler actually, I also take the opportunity watch the "Slam Dunk" anime that I bought.

On my visits to the clinic, I told the doctor that I have had a cold. Then she was saying, you mean "FLU"? Then I explained to her, I have a really bad running nose, watery eyes and giddiness. But seems like she don't know how to differentiate between a "FLU" and "COLD" even as a general practitioner. Hence I look up the meaning of this 2 words to confirm again my statement through AskOxford.com.

1. Cold = a common infection in which the mucous membrane of the nose and throat becomes inflamed, causing running at the nose and sneezing
2. Flu = influenza or any similar, milder infection

I only got to learn about the difference through watching American dramas and got confirmation from my boss (who is from US).

PBS - Post Bali Syndrome

It's been a week now since I came back from Bali and I just don't have the opportunity to blog about the stuff and things about my Bali trip.

So, I will attach here the link to my Bali Photo Album and will blog on them later on.

Yah I know the blog looks shabby, will try to change the outlook whenever I have the time.