What's with the authorities?

So, they started installing parking meters around the block right now. Is the state that poor now? Instead of bringing law and order, it's causing more jams around the area. People start parking outside the parking box or anywhere else that does not require them to pay. Some even went to the extent of parking in the middle of the road!

One morning, I saw some authorities issuing summons to those vehicles parked nicely in those boxes but did not put some coins into the parking meter. It was early in the morning, and most likely those are some USM students who has parked their cars throughout the night. The most amazing part about this is that those who didn't park properly, who are causing road blocks and jams, didn't get a fine. Malaysia memang boleh!

Year End 2009

No, I've not lost my passion to blog. I just got too busy, with travelling, with work and of course poker on Facebook. I picked up poker during my last trip in KL, where Sunshine's brother was playing it day in, day out. Yep, the game was contagious and addictive, easy to learn and immediately stuck to you. And definitely bad for you. You lose contact with all your real friends and everyone seems to be talking to you through instant messages.

To recap of what I have been doing for the past three months, nothing much happened in October. Just going to work, very hectic with lots of escalations. It's like I just suddenly got appointed to Escalation Manager. Every possible issue will just fall on my table. And everybody just wants to speak to the manager. Like I have magical abilities to solve every escalation that could possibly occur.

Then came November, also filled with escalations, and I realised that these customers are not angry with my team. But, it was some other team's inefficiencies. So, why am I still tolerating those customers screaming at my ears? Well, it's just how the company works. My title, my job description and my pay just does not seem to balance.

Finally, I was sent to Singapore SITEX for a week at the end of November. Away from the office. Woo... hoo... It was tiring, but at least I don't get agitated customers for a week. Start of December, I was sent to KL PIKOM. And the following week, I took my break to Krabi, Trang, Songkhla and HadYai, Thailand. I had an awesome time, which all could be seen in my Facebook, if you know who I am.

And so, a couple of days more to Christmas. And a week and a half more to a brand new year. I'll drop by to post a little bit more. That is, if I'm not too busy pokering.

Thirty One

Today, I turned 31. It's the 3rd weekend this month that I am in KL, somewhere I didn't expect to come that often. But, this trip, it's just a pit stop, I'm on my way to Chiang Mai tomorrow. I've spent the whole day shopping in KLCC today, pretty much enjoyed it and had the experience of taking the LRT.

The first weekend I was here for the Matta Fair. Went home without a sale, it was pretty obvious that we were going to go home empty handed. On the second weekend, I was in Singapore, COMEX. Then, last weekend, I was down in KL again to celebrate Chloe's 1st birthday. And now again, I am in KL. I think it's too much of a KL to swallow.

Woke up pretty early this morning, had McBreakfast in Subang Parade, before catching the LRT to KLCC. We wanted to do some shopping or maybe get myself a birthday present. As I wasn't a shopaholic, I got bored after a while. Finally, we went to Secret Recipe, wanted to get myself a piece of cake. We ended up eating the famous Irish Lamb Stew, too full to eat the cake. So, no cake for me this year.

Well, I am happy with how the day went. In fact, I am very happy as I am on leave for the rest of the week. No worries, no stress, no work. Isn't it wonderful?

Happy Birthday to me.

Matta Fair, PWTC, 4th - 6th September 2009

I'm in KL again. Of how much I hated KL, I'm back again in just a little over 3 weeks. And I have another schedule to KL end of this month. Well, KL is pretty cool, all the big shopping malls, selling all those top notch brands. I just came back from KLCC, I took this picture with my mobile. Can't believe my crappy handphone could capture this.

So, the real reason I am here this trip is for business. We have some displays at the Matta Fair. I'm not sure how, but the bosses wants us to be there. So, there I'll be. And keeping my fingers crossed, I hope to bring home some unbelievable results.

This morning, I was in a plane with 2 blind persons. It was amazing and I was startled, they were totally blind, yet, they are flying from Penang to KL. Even my mother in law, all capable, would not attempt to take a flight by herself. Well, I must commend that MAS staffs were very hospitable to these 2 persons. They accomodated them very well. I was impressed. However, there was a funny part, when I was collecting my baggage. The blind persons, of course, could not collect their bags themselves and needed help. Yes, the MAS staff was helping to locate their baggage. Then, the staff asked one of the blind person after matching the barcodes, "Here, this is your bag. It's with a pink ribbon, right?" I almost fainted when I heard that. How on earth would a blind person know what color or even if the bag has a ribbon? She touched the bag and feel it all over to confirm it was her bag.

I'm waiting for Lisa now. She's coming over to visit me since I am in KL. Awesome!

Observe

It's been raining cats and dogs in Penang and Taiping lately. Just the other day, as I was leaving office to get to the other side of the football field to my car, it started raining. Heavier drops with each step I take. I was halfway through to my car and was considering if I should turn back to get an umbrella. But, it's going to be the same if I turned back or walk straight ahead, I'm still gonna get wet either ways. I decided to walk faster or perhaps run.

Then I saw someone with a big enough umbrella for two and asked if it's okay for me to tag along with her. She looked at me and said ok. Just my luck, my saviour for the day. I knew this girl, the hi-bye sort of acquintance. I thanked her profusely.

As we walked across the road towards the carpark, I asked her where did she park her car. I was a bit nervous and anticipating the worst that she parked her car at the other corner from mine. The carpark is really huge. Seriously, it's like 3 football fields. Then she answered, "Oh, just near to your car." I was surprised with this answer as this girl I hardly knew, knows which car I drive and knows where I parked that day. And she continued, "I'll walk you to your car, don't worry." as she pointed at my car. I was stunned, speechless.

I've been observed by her. I didn't even know that. This incident just made me feel a little bit insecure. Who knows who else has been observing me, knows every detail of what I ate for dinner or what brand of shampoo I use. Better keep your eyes opened and look around you. Maybe someone is watching.

KL Trip

Well well... I never really liked KL. But, somehow I made it there last weekend, and it's not for business. With AirAsia, seriously, now, everyone can fly. Though the flight was slightly delayed, still it is a very convenient way to get from Penang to KL, in less than an hour.

I spent almost a day in Pavillion. And look what I found there? Yours truly, Sunny Side Up. Nothing much to do or anything in particular to buy, just walked around with Sunshine and Egg. Hmm... I'm not a very shopping kind of person, but I survived the day.

Next month, I'm going to Singapore for work again. Looking forward to that. And after that, a trip to Chiang Mai for my birthday. So anticipating for that too. All in all, life is good for me.

Conscience

Have you ever wondered if there's an ultimate right and how do you differentiate it from the wrong? Which is the absolute right? Or should I ask, who holds the last say to which is right and which is wrong? I guess it all boils down to your own conscience. We normally will perceive the right to our own interest. At the end of the day, if it is to our liking and benefits ourselves, then that will be the ultimate right.

Ugly Sight

You don't get to see this very often, and I'm sure you don't want to see this very often too, unless you are a surgeon. I managed to get the picture of my surgery from Dr Karen, who took it during the operation. Gross, I know. She was removing the bits and pieces of the ruptured cyst. I couldn't believe that it was such a big hole.

As the months passed by, Duphaston is not working well with me. Or should I say, my insides refused to co-operate with me. The cyst recurred after just a little bit over two months. That was a horrifying surprise, after going through the pain and agony of an operation, only to find out it grew again. To suppress it further, I was injected with Zoladex, which needle was as big as a test pen. I joke you not! It was seriously that big.

All I'm asking for now is to get better. I just want to feel well and not having to worry when I'm going to get the pain attack again. Cause, when it comes, it hurts so bad, I feel as though I'm going to die.

My 4 months of Duphaston is extended to 6 months now. My next check up will be in September. I hope it's cleared by then.

Routine

Looks like I am on auto-pilot mode again. Seems like routine, work 9 - 6, weekdays. I wanted more, wanted to do more, there's just so many other things in life than this. I kept thinking to myself, if only I could strike it rich, then I possibly don't have to go to work anymore. I am very sure that life is not all about work only.

Somethings for me to look forward to next month. Another PC Fair in Singapore, which I am scheduled to attend. And Phuket trip right after that.

All I want is just peaceful work, stress free. I don't want to be worrying so much, and take work a little bit easier. I'll just do whatever I can and whatever that is beyond my control, I don't want to worry so much about it.

I am sure that life is good. This life is not about worries!

No work

It's replacement holiday for Wesak today and my opportunity to make some extra bucks with triple pay. But, I am not at work. My alarm rang at 7am, I woke up to turn it off and went back to sleep. I refused to go to work.

After being on the operating table and knowing that life could be so short, I began to think differently. Life is not all about work and making lots of money. There's definitely more to life than this. I can't deny that money is important in this life. But, we should take it easy with life.

Life could be more interesting that just your job. Live it!

Up and running

After hybernating for one month, I am now up and running. Went back to work and it's busy as usual. I am embracing the workload as it kills time. It makes the weekday seem to pass so fast, which is a good thing.

I've slept so much in the last month, that I feel my bones have harden and my brains are dead. Can't blame me on this, I was recuperating from the endometriosis surgery. Right now, the wound is healing, though sometimes there's some fluid oozing out.

I am so craving for KFC or a Spicy Chicken McDeluxe or any sort of chicken now. With my restricted diet, I practically only ate a whole loaf of bread last week as I went back to work in Penang and didn't have my mother in law to cook for me. I lost another kilo in a week by just eating bread.

I'm back in Taiping for the weekend. I think I'm going to start eating chicken today.

How Did I Do That?

As I haven’t got anything else better to do, other than sleeping and eating, I wondered to myself, how did I lose 4kgs in 2 weeks? Seems like I am having a good life, just waking up to eat and go back to sleep after that. With this kind of lifestyle, I should be growing fatter.

I’ll wake up around 10am and have cereals with milk and a cup of milo before taking my meds. After that, I’ll go back to bed. My mother in law will wake me up around 1.30pm for lunch. She cooks pork porridge for me as I have a very restricted diet now. I can only eat fish and pork. No chicken, no eggs, no other seafood besides fish. Just like a pig, I’ll go back to sleep after lunch, only to wake up around 6.30pm and get ready for dinner. I’ll keep awake after dinner to watch some tv and then sleep again by midnight.

So, I should be getting fatter, right? This is puzzling me. When I tried to lose weight by swimming and eating less, I still weight the same or gained a little. And now, eating and sleeping like a pig, I am losing it? It does not make any sense to me.

Away

For 2 weeks, I've been staying home. I'm on 1 month medical leave. I've lost 4kgs in those 2 weeks.

What happened 2 weeks ago was that I had a severe abdominal pain. Even after I went to visit the doctor who prescribed me with meteospasmyl and some pain killers, it didn't relieve me of the excruciating pain. Instead the pain got worst especially when I move.

So, I went on to consult another doctor, who after listening to my symptoms and pressing my stomach, suggested that I do an ultrasound. He thinks that it’s not about my intestines, but my uterus.

We went to Srigim to get the ultrasound done. The doctor wasn’t very friendly and after checking, he suggested that I have an operation immediately. Apparently, there’s some fluid which he couldn’t be certain if it’s blood or pus below my uterus, which is causing the pain. That’s a little bit too much to take.

We left Srigim to get a second opinion. With some recommendation, we went to Island Hospital. Same ultrasound done and same outcome. I have to be operated. Somehow, Dr Karen made it easier to digest. So, I was admitted and getting ready for the surgery. It went well.

Hence, I am back in Taiping recuperating.

After the biopsy, the doctors gathered that it was a chocolate cyst, endometriosis. As scary as it may sound, it has been removed entirely from my uterus. It's the part in the red circle, just below my uterus. I have to take Duphaston for 4 months to control the disease now.

To all women out there, let me share with you on some signs and symptoms of endometriosis:
1. Period pain of recent onset or worsening of menstrual pain
2. Pre-menstrual spotting
3. Heavy, irregular or painful periods
4. Pelvic pain during intercourse
5. Infertility
6. Painful bowel movement during menstruation
7. Fatigue, exhaustion and low energy

If you got any of these symptoms, I’d strongly recommend that you visit a gynae as soon as possible. Don’t think that this could not happen to you, because endometriosis is a very common disease.

Staying Alive

My cubicle in the office is layered with dust now. I haven’t been back for some time, it feels like an eternity. Everyone at work is feeling the heat or are de-motivated. Most are afraid of losing their job or keenly applying VSS. But, I for one have got a million and one things to do. I keep thinking if this is all worth it? Cos, if you are holding tight to your job, then you will automatically assume the jobs of those who left. Your title and pay remains the same, and the only increment you are getting is your job description!

At this moment, I’m trying to take one step at a time. Every job comes with its own fair share of problem, pressure and stress. We all keep complaining about how damned our jobs are, but we forget to realise that someone else is facing a million times worst situation than ourselves. If you have a roof on your head at night and a decent meal for dinner, then do count your blessings.

Stop complaining. Get back to work and do the best you can. It is seriously not worth it for you to be worrying about something you can’t control. Times are bad? Fix what you can control. Stay strong, I believe we’ll get through the bad times.

I could take the easy path to go back to Taiping and live a simple yet comfortable life. But, there are dreams that I am chasing for. And that’s what’s keeping me strong. Set your dream, then you’ll see the path that will bring you there.

Apple's iPods

I've always fancied the latest gadgets in town. Most of the high tech electronics are expansive and more often than not are impractical, built as toys for the rich. So, we poor people only get to look at these gadgets through magazines and the wonderful world wide web. Somehow though, I managed to get a few iPods in my hands. To date, I have owned 4 different iPods. My very first, was the 1st gen 256MB iPod shuffle, then I got lucky again and won myself the 1st gen 1GB iPod nano. I actually won these two iPods from some contests at work. When I was in Singapore sometime last year, there was a promotion for foreigners, all I needed to do was show them my passport and an official receipt of any purchases made in Suntec for the amount of more than SG$ 300, then I am entitled to purchase the 2nd gen 1GB iPod shuffle for SG$ 20 only. I totally did not need it, but the price was irresistibly cheap. So, I just bought it with no hesitation. Till today, it’s still upwrapped in the box.

Last week, AMEX sent me the all new 4th gen 8GB iPod nano. Cool or what? The touch and feel of it was totally awesome. During the weekend, I was busy loading iTunes v8.0 into my notebook so that I can start using the nano. To earn this nano from AMEX, all you need to do is be the first 100 to spend RM 3,000 in the month, promo ends in April. So, start planning if you need to do any big purchases, do it on April Fool’s day with your AMEX. You might just be the lucky winner like me.

Well, I’ve given away the first shuffle to Ivan after I won the first nano. I’m looking to give away the nano now. And also the second upwrapped shuffle is looking for an owner too. I’m good with the latest nano! I feel as though I could load in any songs without end. And I just need to shake it and it will skip to the next song. I also can view the display in portrait or landscape mode depending on how I position the nano. I give it five stars. Now I'm eyeing the iPhone 3G.

60 Earth Hour - 28 March 2009, 8:30pm

I think we all should come together to do our small part in making a big difference to mother earth. All it takes is just 60 minutes, turn off all your electrical devices this coming Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30pm. This one hour of darkness may or may not change the world ultimately. But at least, lets show our side of being a real human and support this move. I voted earth! Have you? Click here to register and show your support in this fight against global warming.

Two and a half hours of sleep

That was all I got last night. The last day of PC Fair is normally the most tiring one. As the show ends, we need to pack up all our display units and arrange for it to be sent back. All has to be done immediately as they will tear down the booth that night itself. If we miss anything, then that’s it, you won’t be able to find it the next day as the hall will be totally empty.

I went back to the hotel at almost midnight, called room service for dinner. I ordered Oscar’s Club Sandwich, a triple decker ham, cheese, bacon and tossed iceberg lettuce, served with string potatoes at the price of SG$ 28.25. Ridiculously expansive, but I was too hungry and tired to go looking for food elsewhere.

How about counting some money for starters? After dinner with the kiosk boys, Clifford and Alex came up to sort out the orders sheets for the day. We did pretty well. Look at how much cash they were carrying. Approximately SG$ 22k, was in my room last night. That’s around RM 52k. It’s fun to see so much cash lying on the floor.

We finished work at almost 3.30am. After I had my shower, went to bed at 4am. And just before anything else, morning call woke me up at 6.30am. Catch the flight back to Penang and came straight back to the office to work. I’m brain dead now.

Another Singapore Trip

Can I have the window seat please? I always ask for the window seat whenever I get the chance to fly. And looks like I've been flying to Singapore for work once every quarter.

Picture from clockwise: Above the clouds of KL, almost landing Singapore, big Sony Bravia LCD (I think it's 40", but can't confirm cos I'm no good with sizes), king size bed in my hotel room where I'll be sleeping for 5 nights.

All these luxury you'll think at first glance, but do you know that all this comes with a cost? Coming here for work is really hectic, the lack of sleep and non-stop work. So, I think all these luxury is a compensation. A really nice big bed, which I can hardly get 8 proper hours of sleep per night. The bed is super comfy, I wished I had one at home. I practically had to climb up the bed as it's really high. And those super soft pillows. All the tiredness of the day seems to dissolve on this bed. I could fall right to sleep as my head falls on the pillows.

At this hour, I've just finished my work. There's just too much of manual work which is very tedious and needs absolute precision. There is no room for the slightest mistake, which will make all the accounts go wrong and that would need me to do it all over again.

I've completed my work for the day. Goodnight, Singapore and Malaysia. I need the rest to survive tomorrow. And the bed is calling me. :) xoxo

Spice Garden @ Penang

I don't see no spice in here! As I was almost bored to death in Penang last weekend, I decided to take a trip around Penang, to get to know Penang a little bit more. Believe it or not, for the past six years I've been working in Penang, I haven't been to most of the tourist attractions. To me, Penang is just a place that I go to work.

Well, the Spice Garden is a far drive up to Batu Ferringhi. With the winding road, I almost vomited by the time I reached there. Entrance is RM 14 without a tour guide, and if you need a tour guide, that's RM 22 per entry. This place is like some jungle tracking route. It's not a place I would recommend to others, except if you tell me that you like the greens. Yes, it's very green in there. But contrary to it's name, I don't see much spice in there. Maybe, I went in without a tour guide, therefore, I don't know which is the spice and which is the ordinary tree. Aloe Vera is a kind of spice? I saw it in there.

The above picture is taken from a hanging swing in the middle of the garden. Nice place to hang out on an afternoon with a book. But, to pay RM 14 for that seat? I think I'd rather stay home with a cup of coffee on one hand and the book on the other. Hence, I am the indoor kind of person and the lack of knowledge of where to bring you about Penang.

What am I going to do this weekend?

It’s supposed to be the happiest day of a weekday today. It’s Friday, something that every working person have desperately waited for, for the last four days. But, this weekend is going to be something totally different for me. I have nothing to look forward to. Sunshine is going down to KL today, so I won’t be going back to Taiping. I’m stuck here alone. Well, I’ve got plans till tomorrow afternoon, I’ll be at work. And after that, I have totally no idea what I’m going to do. Maybe I’ll stay indoors to hibernate, reserve all my energy for my Singapore trip next week.