One step after the other

SmiLe

2009-03-29T05:52:00.004+07:00

What does a simple smile means ? It can mean lots of thing for an adult to do so. Joyful, being polite, friendly, feeling happy, satisfied, even sad or bitterness. That's part of one thousand and one expressions that adult could don at their face. So yes, smile can mean lots of thing.

But when a baby smiles, all it means is joy and fun. Such an innocent being babies are, that a smile literally means a smile aka he is having fun. And one couldn't help but feel happy when a baby does that.

And yes, my baby boy could smile already at 5-6 weeks old when someone smiles at him. He could giggle and laugh when his mommy plays with him since almost the same week. Now at 3 months old, he's all smiley and giggley and having so much fun playing with his toys and of course with his mommy and daddy.

So when my baby boy smiles first thing in the morning whenever his mommy or daddy greets him, it becomes a very good morning indeed.

Father-Son Bonding

2009-01-19T11:41:00.003+07:00

As a typical weekend, I was planning to sleep a bit late last Saturday because I wanted to watch Bolton vs. United match. So, I stocked my sleep in the afternoon to be able to stay awake at least until 2 am.

It was 10pm; my wife and son were in bed already, though he would wake up around midnight as usual. As I waited for the match, I switched on my PS3 and continued pursuing my second career as a Hull City young striker.

But my son had another idea. Just before the match he woke up. I gave him breast milk that my wife had put in storage. And after drinking about 80cc, he looked sleepy. But he was not, or probably he just couldn't sleep. He always woke up again as I tried to lay him down on his cot. And yet he wasn't hungry. He was already full.

So, in that evening, I watched the match, holding my son. Yes, indeed, it was his first football match. In fact, he looked at the TV while I was holding him (although I’m not so sure what he really looked at). He stayed awake until about 2am, and went to sleep after I gave him another 90cc milk. With full tummy and relief feeling (because United leap-frog Liverpool and goes to top of the competition league table), he went asleep, and so did I.

by Maman

Peaceful Time

2009-01-19T09:49:00.005+07:00

One could not appreciate how blissful it is to have such a peaceful moment for oneself while the baby is sleeping soundly, if one hasn't got any child before. Just like this exact moment. My baby boy is sleeping, and that gives his mommy time for herself. What a blessing it is to have this moment of peace.

But don't get me wrong. After couple of free hours, I will miss him already. And normally I will be checking on him regularly if he sleeps past his feeding time.

Now my universe rotates around my baby boy, and I actually start to enjoy it.

Perfect Moment

2009-01-16T11:01:00.003+07:00

In the middle of me dozing off during the emergency caesarian section, the anaestethist told me that my baby would come out soon in seconds. Obviously I was half conscious, even though the doctor only gave me epidural which allowed me to wake up during the operation.

But still...I was so sleepy and couldn't keep my eyes open. It was combination of me being exhausted after a whole day of contraction and not feeling a single pain anymore below my waist at that moment, and the time of day that showed 2:49 in the morning. Of course I would doze off easily. But hearing the doctor told me that my baby was out, and being cleaned at that moment made me anxious to see him immediately.

Not too long after, I got him in my arms while the doctor continued their business with my open belly. The moment I saw and hugged him...my feeling was overwhelmed. I couldn't describe it with words. He was soo.. perfect in my eyes eventhough he was still covered with little bit of blood. I fell in love instantly to my little precious baby boy. He just stared at me with his eyes open. Such clear eyes he has, staring back at me. It was such a perfect moment.

I just hugged him until the nurse took him to the nursery and I dozed off again without knowing when the doctor stitch me up, or when they took me back to my room.

But nevermind that. I got my perfect moment with my baby boy and nothing would ever replace that moment in my memory.

Finally...

2009-01-15T00:33:00.004+07:00

Since I am very busy being a mum to my newborn baby...yes, finally he is born to the world...I will have to make this short.

Please share our happiness and welcome "Ranggaditya Fauzan Sujatmoko". Born in Kuala Lumpur at 23rd Dec 2008. Hopefully he will become a good boy, sholeh, and make his parents proud. Amien...

Like Father Like Son

2008-12-18T11:02:00.003+07:00

My hubby told me once before, that in his childhood not so long time ago (if you consider 25 years ago is just a short interval in human kind's history), he always turned in his sleeping position. He started off to sleep in a certain position in bed, and woke up 180 degrees upside down with his head at the foot of the bed and his legs on his pillow.

Myself ? I have always been a sound sleeper. I hardly moved a muscle while I sleep. Well...I probably just exagerate a bit, but the most movement I made during sleep is to turn left or right...definitely not upside down. And it just become more prominent with this bulging tummy of mine, since lying on my back is not an option anymore.

So, having my baby turns head down again today in his latest scan of 38th week (last week he had decided to turn his head in up position = breech), anyone would have thought that he got it from his daddy. Would you not agree ? :D

Be a good boy now and stay in your position until you decide to come out to the world. Mommy will be quite happy that way. Shall I see you again next week in a scan monitor ? Of course if by that time you are still feeling content in mommy's womb... After all, you're not due until end of this month. Can't wait to welcome you my dear..

oNiOn BisCuitS

2008-12-17T20:30:00.009+07:00

The good thing of having some time for myself, is to indulge with the long forgotten hobby of mine...baking. All the way back home when I still stayed with my parents, I used to try out all sort of things to bake. Cookies, pizzas, puddings, cakes, you just name it. And to give myself credit (who else will do it besides oneself.. hehe), I didn't use the pre-made pizza base one could easily find in a supermarket nowadays nor pre-mixed cake flour. I actually measured and prepared them from scratch. Hard to believe??

Of course some ended disastrously especially in the first try, but with a little bit of practice, I actually did well. And I had my whole family to loyally taste and finish each and every bits of what I made. The best thing about baking is, as long as one does not bake it to a charcoal like appearance (which will definitely make it bitter), the result is normally still edible.

So, back to my plenty time to waste at home while awaiting my baby's due, I managed to make onion biscuits or cookies that I love, mostly because of the simplicity of making them. I don't even need to bake them in an oven. Just need a pan and cooking oil to fry the dough, and voila!!...couple of hours later, I have a full jar of freshly made onion cookies.

Enjoy everyone...

Latest Baby Position

2008-12-11T18:12:00.004+07:00

After being head down for a month or so, my baby stubbornly still wants to move around at his 37th week. I couldn't believe that he has turned head up in the last few days, or so says the ultrasound today. No doubt that was the reason of my really uncomfortable sensation in my womb few days back. He turned around !!

I wonder how he could still have enough room to move about like he did, but apparently he managed to. And now with his current position, at this stage of pregnancy, it is most unlikely to have him turn head down again as what he's suppose to, and there goes my hope of having normal delivery. Siighh....

We'll see how it goes a week from now when I have him scanned. Hopefully he will remarkably turn again in his 38th week, such a thin hope I have at the moment. But hey...who knows what the baby wants... But I do really hope he doesn't decide that it's high time to come out to the world in breech position. Finger crossed...

Last day surprise

2008-12-09T09:00:00.008+07:00

I was thinking to have a quiet last day of work, which was last Friday, before I start my maternity leave, such a low profile person I am ;), and to say farewell to my colleagues, whoever I met just before I leave the office. I really didn't want to make such a big deal of my having 6 months maternity leave.

But my kind manager slash mentor of course wouldn't let me go unnoticed. He surely let me know that he needs to see me before I leave. I thought he still wanted to discuss some work related things. So I kept tidying up and packing some stuff from my office in the late afternoon before I leave, unsuspecting.

But when he come around bringing a pack of strawberry cheese cake from Delicious with all my colleagues just outside my work area, I was soo... surprised and touched. I knew what this is all about, immediately. I couldn't help getting red all over my face, which my colleagues of course noticed so easily.

With additional embarrassment of having red face in front of everyone, my last minutes in the office surely had given me a memory to cherish. Their concern and support for my upcoming labour is really touching.

Thank you my dear friends...

2D skyline

2008-11-30T08:24:00.004+07:00

It was the first time I saw such a scenery of KL skyline. On my way back from the Curve, in a sunny road, we could see KL center skyline very clearly with its KL tower and twin tower KLCC. But despite the fact that it was sunny in our side, the opposite side was rather cloudy.

As a result, a 2D effect on the skyline. Having sunlight from my side of town and dark gray cloudy backdrop behind the towers, the scenery was like a 2D picture, as no texture could be seen clearly in such lighting arrangement.

Amazing...

One more week and counting

2008-11-26T15:21:00.002+07:00

To be honest....I couldn't wait to start my maternity leave :( I still have to endure a little bit over a week before I could finally stay at home, relax, and prepare myself for the labour. Even though...I have planned to start my leave at 37th weeks..which still gives me some time before the due date, but still....I couldn't wait any longer.

The hard part is to wake up in the morning and walk all the way to the LRT station (which is actually only 10 mins away), then from the station to my office approximately 15 mins away (I guess with my state of condition at the moment, it actually takes longer than that), and knowing in my mind that I would need to do that again on my way back home.

These past few days, I'm so exhausted once I have arrived at home after the journey. Not that I do not need the exercise. I do need it of course. But doing it on the way to work and back is not really my idea of having an exercise.

Anyway...counting days now...couldn't focus any longer on my job since I know it will only take me another week before I start my 6 months leave (at least!!!). I just hope I do not need to visit client's office during my last week. FIngers crossed...

Good baby boy

2008-11-19T12:47:00.003+07:00

What a good boy you are my dear. After several antenatal checks that showed your transversal position, you finally turned head down. It saves mommy from having to undergo a c-section, as long as you stay that way until your due date. I have started to worry when you haven`t turned yet.

Anyway, you have also grown just a little bit over the average, not too big for normal labour. I guess you actually want to come out normally, don`t you ? Which is good for me, as I don`t have to endure the post surgery pain.

It is now 6 more weeks before your due. Would you come earlier or right on time my dear ? Do you know that your daddy has started to get anxious about when you will actually want to come out. "Be patient daddy...let me grow inside mommy until I`m ready to see the outside world."

But I understand, your daddy is just worried if I am alone when the labour starts while he is away in Malacca. But such a good boy you are, I bet you would wait until your daddy has arrived at home to bring us to the hospital in time. It`s only 2 hours drive anyway. Right my dear ??

Consider ... and Reconsider

2008-10-23T20:35:00.004+07:00

Just got news from my husband that his employment got extended until the end of February next year. Good news, yet it means:

1. I still have to go to work by train for another 6 weeks before I start my maternity leave. With my bump getting bigger and bigger the closer it is to my due date, the more difficult and uncomfortable my movements would be. My feet and lower back are killing me already while I walk. The pressure from my baby`s movements sometimes feel painfully. Should I drive instead ?? But the traffic is really terrible here, it will just give me more daily stress. Even though, it would make it easier for me to go anywhere.

2. I will be alone during my baby`s due date, and since this will be my first experience delivering baby...I`m not quite sure what to do. How do I go to the hospital, will I be able to fetch a taxi by myself or drive a car in between the contractions if the time has really come, or should I call an ambulance, or wait till my husband arrived from Malacca two hours away, etc. All these sort of things do worry me.

3. I will be alone taking care of my baby. Even though I expect my mom to help me out during the first month, but she won`t be able to stay for too long. So I will be left alone taking care of the households with a newborn baby on board. I don`t know how busy or tired I will be, but I guess I would be really exhausted. Should I hire a maid or should I not ? That`s another option I have to consider...and reconsider again and again. How I need the help, but if I do hire one, there`s more responsibility I have to endure. Surely I have to take care of the maid as well...

4. Daddy of my newborn son won`t be at home every day..and how I will miss him and need his support. Another option is to bring my baby to Malacca, closer to his daddy, but I would imagine more hurdle on my side. His rented apartment in Malacca has to be prepared for a baby. Access to laundry and kitchen is a must, which will be too much to expect in his apartment. In other word, too costly in general compared to staying at home in KL.

5. ....too many things to consider...and reconsider

Diet control

2008-09-22T19:52:00.003+07:00

I was so confused when my doctor mentioned to me that I probably should control my diet more strictly. The reason being, is that my baby to be, in 26 weeks, has bigger size than the average in his age.

How big is considered big ? Well, his head diameter is similar to 29 weeks old fetus, his body diameter is 27 weeks, and his femur length is similar to 28 weeks. Wait until you know the weight. 1118 grams at 26 weeks. Just comparing his weight against the age he is at now, he is considered big, at the 95% from the upper statistical line of fetus size.

So, worried that I might get complication during delivery due to my petite body, the doctor suggested me to reduce my diet. But what could I reduce ? The baby will not stop taking what he needs from his mommy, and if his mommy does not eat well, then who will get the consequences ? The mommy of course.

But with my low Hb level, I could not just get rid of the multivitamins because I need the iron. What about food ? With my meal frequency at the moment, I also could not reduce it. As a pregnant woman, I consider myself not eating enough. I rarely had proper breakfast, my regular proper meal is only at lunch, and dinner often depends on my mood of cooking. But lots of fruit I had in between meals instead of some full energy knick knacks, which I consider quite healthy.

The only thing I could reduce is dairy product and rice. But it does not mean that I had too much of them either. I only drink a glass of milk daily, not more. And I eat less rice since the bump becomes bigger. No other reason than because of the much limited stomach capacity. But I guess I could try to reduce these some more and see how it looks like.

But all in all....I just feel glad that my baby boy is growing well. What mom would not ? Keep growing well and healthily my dear...

Trishaw for three

2008-09-13T10:34:00.007+07:00

Back in Malacca, too tired to walk back to the famous "Red Buildings", my sister and I hired a trishaw for RM10..just for half an hour trip from Port A'Famosa, around Jonker street, and then to our final destination at Stadhuyst to hail a cab.

Just fitting both of us in the small trishaw was quite a struggle. I should have realized that I have grown more than before, and we were not only two there on the trishaw, but three with my little one. Good thing the trishaw charged by time, not number of person :p

Look how fitted we were in the seat from the picture below.

And I guess you will definitely notice how I have grown by checking the first picture on top, taken after a hike from St. Paul's hill. But I grew to love this bump of mine...

Second pregnancy

2008-08-21T11:11:00.003+07:00

Anyone who aren't up to date with my news would be surprised that this 5 months pregnancy is actually my second one this year. I lost my first one earlier this year at the end of February, before my birthday. Such a sad and unhappy moment for both me and my hubby. Probably it's too soon after the surgery, and the baby couldn't survive. It just stopped developing at 8 weeks. Who knows what was the reason. I had a mental breakdown for a week or so after I had D&C procedure to take it out. But my hubby kept supporting and cheering me up, so I managed to let it go and continue my normal life, even though it would never be the same again. Everytime I remember that moment or any miscarriage news that I heard, my tears threatened to come out so easily. I keep reminding myself that it's a phase in my life, and life keeps moving on. So that's what I should do as well..move on.

A month after, once I got my reguler period, I managed to conceive again and so far my baby has been growing well inside. Alhamdulillah...

I have been wondering when my next period was late for few days. After a week late, I took a pregnancy test without my husband knowing it, and the result was so positive. SInce I only got one pack left and none to reconfirm the result, I asked my husband to buy some more. He was wondering why I need so many packs. But I only told him after I got it reconfirmed in the second test. We were surprised of course as it was too soon, yet happy and expectant.

I only managed to book and see my doctor 2 or 3 weeks after, when she confirmed with an internal ultrasound scan that there it was...a new life growing in my womb, 6 weeks old with a strong heart beat. No twin expected by the look of it. At the end she had to give me some pills to strengthen my womb due to previous miscarriage, but so far there was no bleeding or any complains at all. I don't even feel any morning sickness, just like my first pregnancy. But hey...I guess each baby has its own character. Or is it just me who likes to eat :p

Anyway...second scan and visit to my doctor indicates that the baby was already very active, no problem detected so far. Heart beat was still normal and strong. So I continued my normal activity and work without any restriction. Eventhough my hubby refused to let me swim in the first trimester. Hmm..did he realize that I swam in the first month before I realized I have conceived, yet nothing happened ? ;p

Third scan at 14 weeks were really exciting for both of us, and I guess for our baby as well because he kept moving and moving everytime the ultrasound probe was moved. He even did sommersault that amazed me. The doctor could guess by the look of it that it would probably be a boy. Such an easy indicator that gender has ;) Anyway..that will only mean my husband has to search for a boy name instead of plenty girl names we had alrady prepared. It really doesn't matter what gender this baby has.

And finally, after discussing with my doctor, my hubby allowed me to swim again. And really girls, swimming is the safest and most convenient exercise for pregnant women. I also walk regularly now of course, ever since my hubby got this short term opportunity to work in Malacca. At least I walked back and to the LRT station and client office daily. So no problem getting myself exercised. Except that I really need to start having stretching exercise nowadays, since my body is really growing, especially my middle part. Such a big bump a have now. In 5 months, I have gained 5 kg.

I had to go alone in the last scan at 18 weeks and most probably until the baby is born. Too bad for my hubby since he really wants to come. But no choice for him. He couldn't just leave his work in Malacca at week days, and the doctor is fully booked in Saturdays until 2 months ahead of time. I could however book for Saturdays two months before. We'll see. I heard after it reaches 7 months, I need to see her twice a month, so I guess I could book earlier now.

I had to rush from Brunei to get to the last appointment though...luckily I could make it. I wouldn't miss it for anything, especially work. My flight to Brunei has a different story all together though. I felt the baby's first movement before the plane took off !!! I guess he's excited as well.. And after not seeing me for 2 weeks, my hubby saw big difference in my appearance. The bump got bigger in Brunei ;) It has shown quite pronouncely after 18 weeks and I really needed to switch my clothes to maternity ones. So lots of shopping I did. And real justification I had since none of my normal clothes fits me now.

The next scan which is only few days away will be at 22 weeks (5 in a half months), again without my husband. Can't wait to see you again my little one. Hopefully you are well and healthy inside mommy. Saved video file will have to do for daddy, no other choice, right ? ;)

Holiday with my baby to be

2008-08-21T10:31:00.005+07:00

Well here I am again, writing in this page after a while gone AWOL. Actually there're lots of things that I could update here, but first things first. I'm in the middle of my one week holiday, well..almost at the end but few more days actually, in a cloudy and rainy day in Malacca resort lobby, with my growing 5 months old baby to be, which keeps me accompanied during a day like this.

My hubby of course couldn't leave his work while I'm here, such a short term job he has. But so far I've never felt lonely with him inside me. Yes...it's a boy, and we somehow knew it since the beginning. And such an active boy he is, keeps his mommy feel his movement everytime he's awake.

It reminded me the last time I had him scanned with an ultrasound, 18 weeks old to be exact. Too bad my husband couldn't come with me. He's so cute and adorable..I fell in love with him since, my cute baby boy. Luckily the doctor could save it into a file so that I could share his adorable face figure with his daddy in Malacca. His movement has already been restricted by his growing body in my womb, but I could see he still actively move around. A month before this last scan, he still could sommersault inside there which amazed both me and my hubby. I couldn't wait until the next scan which is only few days away. Grow well my dear boy...

Meanwhile, we can still have fun in Malacca. Eventhough your uncle and auntie has returned back home, but we still can enjoy Malacca with daddy close to us. Mommy just need to figure out where else we could go in this small yet historical place. We've visited Jonker Walk and the Heritage Trail plenty of times by now, I could navigate easily without any map. We still haven't managed to board the river cruise though. Do you still want to try it dear ? We'll see how the day goes by. It still rains at this moment. We can't even swim in a warm pool water like yesterday. It was very sunny yesterday that kept the pool water warm until dusk. Such a very nice swim we had. I bet you like swimming once you have born. Most babies do like waters. It probably reminded them when they were still inside mommy's womb.

Anyway...we need to go now...we'll write more if we have time...right dear ?

A Mom To Be

2008-02-02T11:08:00.000+07:00

Alhamdulillah, finally I'm pregnant. Not long after the doctor removed the cyst that blocked my fallopian tube, I managed to conceive. Too long we've been hoping for this to happen. After I realized that I missed my period time which is normally very reguler, I waited for few more days just to be sure that I was not getting any period. The fifth day, I couldn't wait any longer, and I tested my urine. POSITIVE!! I didn't even have to wait 40 secs as per intruction in the test pack's box. The result showed right away, with no doubt, that it's positive. Of course I and my husband couldn't believe it , but our hope bloomed. We bought 3 more different test packs. All the results were positive. Alhamdulillah....it was really a miracle for me after this time.

Unfortunately it was Saturday, and my reguler Obgyn wasn't open. I went straight to her on Monday afternoon, to check if I'm really pregnant. She was so surprised to know that I'm pregnant as she didn't expect it to be so soon and so easy after the surgery. Well...that counts two of us, but I would never regret it.

Anyway, I've never known what's the procedure to confirm pregnancy once the test pack result said it's positive. So I always thought there would be another lab test. But I was so appalled that the procedure was so simple. My doctor just used an ultrasound to check. I was surprised again to know that at this early stage, we could even see anything in that machine. It turned out that I could already seen the sack where the embryo develops. It was a small thing, six weeks old according to the size of it. And ever so weak, we could see what's to be the heart. We both, me and my husband were so excited to see this little miracle.

So now, a confirmed mom to be I am, I really have to watch my food. Lots of protein as the doctor said, less carbohydrate, and sufficient folat acid supply needs to be taken by my body, for the baby's sake. I have to reduce eating too spicy food (which I love), less fried foods or gorengan (which is my favourite past time food) and less tea or coffee (well...no objection there as I'm not really a coffee affeciando).

I just hope, as all parents hope, that my baby can grow well and healthily inside my womb until the due date, which will be at Ramadhan month.

Pre-surgery experience

2007-12-10T10:23:00.001+07:00

After almost 29 years with no in-patient experience in the hospital, I finally got the experience after all. Not with a minor disease or something more happy joy feelings in the end after delivering baby for example. No..not at all. My first experience of course had to be a surgery...

Imagine how I felt. Scared...that's for sure. Knowing your belly would be cut open at one point, it really..really..frightened me. Not about the pain, because obviously I wouldn't feel any pain. Not with all the anesthesia that the surgeon will give me. Nope.

I don't know really what frightened me, but consciously coming to the hospital to have a surgery...that's one thing I have never imagined doing, healthy or not. I would imagine, if I am to have a surgery, is that I'm unconscious and really in pain that there's no other option than to cut me open. A matter of life and death. Coming in healthy and going out in pain is not my idea of hospitalization. But...again, I have no choice. At some point in my life, it has to be done. So why not do it earlier.

I just really hope it wasn't too late......

Portabello Mushroom

2007-11-10T09:20:00.000+07:00

The first time I tasted this mushroom was in UK few years back. The classic English breakfast was egg, toasted bread, tomato, and mushroom. Well at least these were the ones they can offer us in the hotel restaurant, such a small hotel it was. And since I tried the mushroom for the first time, I fell in love with the rich taste. I didn't know what kind of mushroom they fried midly with just a little bit of cooking oil, but I ordered it every morning since then.

Few months ago, after I have got chance to finally work in a big city with supermarket that supplies western foods, and finally got a chance to think what I want to cook at home, I found these different sorts of mushrooms. And finally I found this portabello mushroom. Just out of curiousity, I bought it, and try to cook it. Really I was mesmerized by the fact that it has the same taste as the mushrooms back there in UK. So this is the one, I thought. Portabello...woww...I've never realized.

So now, this mushroom become one of the must buy items whenever I go shopping in this supermarket. And it also become one of my routine breakfast menu in the weekends. Well, just because I had more time to cook it. Too bad my husband doesn't really like it. Except if it was smeared on top of a beef steak of course, such a steak lover as he is.

Deepavali Holiday

2007-11-08T16:45:00.000+07:00

What this day really meant to me is actually that today is a holiday!!! Horeee.... And finally, I got to swim again after a whole month of swimming forbidding in the fasting month. Well that was over a month ago, so why I didn't start earlier?

Hmm...the major delay here is because I keep contemplating the perfect weather to swim. The best condition is when the sun shines brightly that makes the water quite warm. Now when you're staying in KL this time of year, you will rarely find this kind of weather in the afternoon or after work hours. More often than not, the day will be cloudy or even raining. Not really a good time to swim, at least for me. I rather curl in the warmth of my condo than freeze in the water.

But today was the the day, and really wonderful it was. How I missed swimming. Especially since I have managed to get the strokes right. How you can enjoy swimming in a daylight. Hmm...despite the fact that I can't really master the floating movement, but hey...I can enjoy swimming already.

Right..enough on my swimming joy. I was thinking to talk about this Deepavali thing. So..what I know about this Indian celebration is that it's a celebration of light. What does it means ? I have really no idea. But for sure, I won't know that they celebrate this day if I'm only to live in my country. We had enough celebrations to share the holidays, what's another celebration of light?

To prove the point of this whole light thingy, I can easily bet that last midnight, the Indian populations in KL will surely welcome it with fireworks. And fireworks indeed can be seen all across KL. That's the beauty of having to stay in 18th floor. You can enjoy most of the fireworks shooting into the sky from several nodes across the town clearly without any other high rise building to cover the view. You would also definitely notice it because of their explosion sounds.

Have a nice Deepavali holiday everyone !!

The unique Indian decoration to welcome Deepavali

Commitment

2007-11-07T20:53:00.000+07:00

What I mean here is how I commit to update this blog :p As you all might notice, I haven't manage to write anything more since...hmm..let me think...3 months ??? Fiuuhh...that long without realizing it. Time flew by so fast...or not, but for sure, I didn't have time or rather mood to write anything at all.

This is how an office life changes a creative mind to become dull..huhh... The thing is, if I ever got any free time outside work, I'd rather spend it by not opening my laptop at all. Better to rest my eyes for the limited time before I have to start staring at the monitor again for at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

To be honest, I'm quite thankful for only having to work 5 days a week. Imagine if I have to do that same thing for additional one day. When will I do other activities ? Not that I have plenty at the moment. That's why I manage to start writing again. But still...I rather spend my spare time with my husband. If only he is not doing his own work at this very moment, most probably I wouldn't be opening this exact page and start typing anything that pops up in my mind.

Well..and also despite the fact that it's already very late at night and jumping into the swimming pool would be out of the question. If this is sunny weekend afternoon, I would rather swim and practice my strokes than practice my ten fingers typing skills.

Reminds me of the holiday tomorrow. Hopefully the sun will shine brightly. I hate to imagine feeling cold before I even touch the pool water. Not that it stopped me before from jumping into the water, but with a perfect weather, it's always better.

Scuba Diving Experience in Tioman Island - Part 3

2007-08-03T19:30:00.000+07:00

Saturday, 28 July 2007

The day was started with breakfast, followed by a short briefing and then we went straight to the water again to do the second confined water training. More skills to practice in the deeper water.

The first session wasn't ended before we got a glimpse of an open water diving experience. We just dived to the deeper water approx 10m only, just to get to apply the skills we have just learned. Breathing through regulator, controlling our buoyancy to stay few feet above the sea bed, and learned how to move. Really...I would say...priceless experience. We haven't seen all the beauty that the corals can offer, but hey...we saw a clown fish :)

The second session that day was another confined water training, but this time it ended with longer open water diving. We went further away from the beach with water depth of 15m. More coral lifes were seen, more fishes, and for sure, more excitement. One morry eel was seen, more clown fish, anemons, and lots and lots of fish swimming around us.

The night again was enjoyed the same way as previous night, with additional barbeque dinner, more of the class session, and fire party by the beach, which honestly I didn't really bother to attend. I was really exhausted by the day's activity, and I fell asleep as soon I reached the pillow.

Sunday, 29 July 2007

The last day and the most exciting divings we were about to experience, at least so far in our early adventure of scuba diving. We were to do boat diving this time. Not only one, but two. The advantage of this is that we don't need to carry the tanks on our back all the way from the beach. The tanks are already on the boat, and what we need to do is just carry our other equipments in a bag. We will don everything once we arrived in the diving site.

The first dive site for our boat diving is Batu Malang. Why they call it 'batu' or rock, well because it's just a very small island along the other coast of the bay. But it has the most beautiful coral reefs surrounding the island wall underwater. So to be expected, we were to dive along this wall clockwise to finally ascend back to the surface close to the boat.

We then started to descend along a line from the boat. The water was so clear, you won't be able to sense the depth of the sea without the depth gauge, which showed approx 18m. But since the water was so clear, the sun managed to light up the corals down under. Even from the surface, we can just snorkel and look into the corals. Of course it won't be the same feeling as if you're just few feet above or beside the corals.

Very intoxicating!! The clown fish were all over the blue anemons, the colour contrast was so perfect. And one of them actually bit my husband's finger when he tried to touch them lightly. Haha..who asked you to touch any of them, as we're not suppose to touch or disturb the coral lifes.

The real funny thing was that my husband couldn't control his buoyancy yet, so what happened to him? At a time he went up, and in the other time he suddenly landed in the sea floor like a morry eel trying to return back to its hole...hahahaha....how exhilirating to watch him, one of the coral reef habitants :p. There's also one point when he suddenly caught his attention with some fish that made his direction deflect further away from the rest of the group, and the intructor had to get his attention back and drag him to the rest of us. Hehehe....

The second boat dive was just in Salang Bay, closer to the beach. If we have the energy, we can actually swim back to the beach. The depth here was 15m, and the corals were a different type. I called them cabbage corals since they look just like a cabbage. If we're lucky, we might see turtles here, but unfortunately none of them showed up.

But hey, I had my other amusement here, which again was my husband. He can't see very clearly without his glasses, and he refused to use contact lenses. So once again he got lost. His buoyancy was much better this time, but at the end of our dive, when we were about to ascend back to the surface, we met other diver's group who were about to take group picture. And somehow, he stopped close to them, seem very eager to get photographed as well I assumed. I was waiting for him to realize that it wasn't our group at all...hehehe... After few minutes, he finally saw us and swam to us. I was about to burst laughing outloud, but my mouth was full with this regulator. Well..didn't mean I couldn't smile wide at him :p His only excuse when we were back at the surface was that he thought one of them was me. That's why you need to use contact lenses my dear....

The dive was ended with another show of emergency skill that we need to master, then finally we all passed the assessment and certified by PADI.

Now it's time to go back to town. After we packed all of our things, bought few souvenirs, we headed to the dock, and waited for the boat that would come at 4pm. But we only got to the boat by 5pm with the weather getting worst and worst. Luckily I got the rear seat. After lots of experiences in a crew boat back there in Balikpapan that brought us back and to the rig, I realized that the best seat in rough weather is at the rear. The further away from the head of the boat is better.

Then the excitement has to end, with another 5 hours driving ahead of us to return back to KL. Hmmm....enjoy the ride!!!

Scuba Diving Experience in Tioman Island - Part 2

2007-08-02T17:35:00.000+07:00

Friday, 27 July 2007

After having satisfying lunch in the village (and how wouldn't it be when we were starving), we gathered for a briefing and started to learn how to use the equipments at surface. We have also agreed several hand signals that we might use in the water. Of course with a regulator in our mouth, we can't really talk, can't we? Plus the fact the we cannot generate any sound from our mouth if it's full of water. We can hear though, don't get me wrong. Just not as focused as if in the air. We can hear sounds that reached our ears perfectly fine. We just don't have the sense of direction from which the sound came from.

Anyway, not long after the briefing with all of us divided into 2 groups for the whole course, we prepare our gears and headed to the water for the confined water dive training. This kind of training can be done in the swimming pool or shallow sea water where we still can stand up. Since we're just on the beach, we did the training at the sea, shallow water of course. Just to practice the breathing and other skills necessary underwater.

The drawback of this is that we have to carry the air tank in our back, and boy it's heavy. I couldn't manage to stand up straight with the tank on my back, affraid I would have fell on my back instead. But once we entered the water, the weight on my back just disappeared. What a relief.

Then we started the confined water training....

What can I say here...the experience was priceless. Having able to breath underwater was really intoxicating. Well..in the beginning I have to struggle to properly breath and get rid of the panic, but why should we panic if we can actually breath normally in the water?

Once breathing techniques were more or less managed by us, we started to do other required skills that will be used in normal situations, and also if emergency occurs. Don't get me wrong, it's really not as easy as we think. Some has difficulties to control their buoyancy, some has difficulty getting rid of the panic, and some including myself has difficulty managing the emergency skills, which was really important to survive down under.

This skills training took the rest of the day. We wrapped up by carrying back all the equipments we have used, including the darn tank. Once we got off the water, I could feel how heavy it was again. But hey...it was worth the effort.

The night was then spent for relaxing, strolling along the beach or village that only lays along the stretch of the bay, some went to go fishing, dinner, class session, and finally....a good night rest, shared with other 3 occupants per room. The cottage was not really the best available, but enough for the purpose, to get some rest.

Scuba Diving Experience in Tioman Island - Part 1

2007-08-01T21:49:00.000+07:00

Have you ever done something fantastic for the first time and got really addicted afterwards? Well...for me, scuba diving is just one of the plenty I've had, but really....it's a very different kind of experience altogether. To begin with, we're suppose to enter a different living environment that possess two third of the earth's surface. Where else we will scuba dive if not into the water. And what for? Ofcourse to see that other world...the world of the underwater.

Now, the other difficulty would be...that this environment is not our natural habitat, which means...we cannot really stroll in that world without equipment, can't we?? Especially breathing apparatus. And to use all the diving equipments safely, rather than kill us in the process, we ought to get training and certification.

That was why in the middle of one crazy week, when I just noticed that a friend of mine back there in Kemaman has managed to organize a PADI Open Water Diving Course for us and apparently was lacking participants, without any hesitation I enrolled myself in along with my husband. I have missed last year's opportunity to do so. Eventhough this year's course was only half paid by my company, I certainly would not miss this opportunity again.

With only one and a half day preparation whilst still working in the office, I and my husband managed to get all the personal diving equipments such as the diving suit, mask, snorkel, and fins. We also managed to read the training materials we're suppose to finish before the course started. In a hurry obviously..but worth the effort.

To get to the island, we have to gather at Mersing Jetty, Johor at Friday morning to catch the boat. As a result, we have to drive all the way from KL in the evening, which was really a torture. It took us at least 5 hours to reach Mersing after driving in the middle of nowhere. Really...we had to take the short way in order to get there in time, but it meant we had to drive through this very large felda area which was really..really dark. And we're practically the only one driving in that road in the middle of the night. Luckily there's no highwayman trying to stop and rob us on spot. That would be scary.

Anyway, we arrived in Mersing at 2 in the morning and found a motel to sleep for few hours before we had to depart to the jetty. My husband's experience on trying to sleep in that motel was a whole different story altogether, but really, I didn't felt anything weird in the room. Or was it because I was fast asleep already?? Never mind, not that I'm complaining of my lack of 6th sense.

To cut the story short, we arrived in Tioman Island, Salang Bay to be exact, at midday. Apparently, the only means of transportation available to access this 'kampung' was by boat. There's a resort in the middle of the island that has an airstrip, but that's about it. No meaningful roads connecting the villages all around the island, which was really fascinating me. It really is a marine park.

Not The Day

2007-06-06T20:51:00.000+07:00

Today is not my day, especially when it comes to LRT. The one day I'm bound to use an LRT to and from the office, it turns out to be the worst nightmare. Well...I probably exaggerate things here, but truly, I didn't expect it will be that packed in the evening.

I have enjoyed my journey to the office this morning. Walking out of my condo complex that took five minutes, I went to the train station opposite the road in front, bought a one way ticket and went up to the passenger platform. So far it looked good, not too many people around which meant the train won't be too congested.

By the time I was up the paltform, there were small queue already. Ok, still not too bad I thought. Once the first time stop by, ok...maybe it's not as good as I thought. Only few people could be lifted every time the train stopped in this station. I got my turn on the fourth train in less than 10 minutes. With AC and fresh odor of most of the people going to the office, I think it was a good experience. Not too bad. I could get some breakfast along KLCC food stalls also, with lots of choices...nyam nyam..

So the morning ride wasn't too bad an experience for me, just as it was the previous evening. But it turned out to be worst this evening. I don't know what inspire everyone in KL, teenagers mostly, to come and flooded KLCC in one single day. It was already packed in the station entrance, I could imagine how would it be in the train platform. And just like confirming my thoughts, the queue were sooo long and the platform were soo packed with people. I finally could get into the train after waiting for half an hour, more packed than ever. Good thing I didn't have to wait longer than that, otherwise my mood would be soured by all these queue jumpers. All these teenagers really need to be taught properly at school.

Really not my day....siighh...

Now I really missed my daily private ride on my own car with my personal driver a.k.a husband :)

More on tender vs semi

2007-06-05T21:55:00.000+07:00

I don't know why I'm obsessed on explaining the difference, but sharing this knowledge with someone who might read this blog of mine motivates me to ask further more to the Ballast Control Officer (BCO) on the rig I when I was still on board.

One fine day when I had nothing to do on West Berani rig, I asked one of the BCO to better explain why the rig is not moving so violently compared to a tender.

Well, my previous explanation was basically correct, but the more detail on the rig design is the key. A tender rig only has one pontoon, exactly like a boat. So no wonder it's moving just like one. But a semi-tender rig has two pontoons on each side with six legs or columns to support the deck off the sea surface, just like a semisub rig. And similar to a semisub, it has at least 40 tanks to play around and balance the entire rig, whereas a tender only has 3 or 4 tanks, which really, couldn't be used to balance anything.

No wonder also, this kind of access ramp in the picture I have inserted above can be attached to a fix platform without snapping due to violent rig movement. Now you can see how easy it is to just climb those spiral stairs compared to climbing a rope ladder.

Ohh..and look how beautiful the full moon looks like ?? Too bad the camera couldn't really capture the light. Try to see into nature's wonder a little bit more appreciative, and it will definitely freshen your mind.

Rainbow in the sky

2007-06-05T20:59:00.050+07:00

This is the first time I actually see a rainbow in KL sky, on my way back from the office to my condo, in an LRT Putra line, all the way from KLCC to Setia Wangsa station. Haven't I seen a rainbow before ?? Of course I have, but I couldn't remember when was the last time. Was that because it was too long for me to remember or was it because I just never seem to appreciate when it appeared, until this evening.

Yep, until this evening, after what seems to be a daily afternoon rain, on my first ride in an LRT. And yes again, it was my first time to use LRT to go back from the office, and it will be my first time to go to my office tomorrow.
So how do I go normally ?? For the last few weeks since I moved to my new condo, my husband always drives me back and forth to my office :) Unfortunately today and tomorrow, he's away to Kemaman, to settle down this packing and moving from my previous staff house in Kemaman.

Talking again about my relocation, finally a relocating company has been assigned by my company to do my movement. And again, I really wonder how they're going to move my heavy teak ward drobe up to my 18th floor condo. I don't think that thing can even enter the largest lift we have here. And imagine if they have to carry it all the way to the 18th floor....I don't even dare to imagine. Poor guys... But what to do...it's a waste just to leave it behind. It's made of teak wood!! Well..no wonder it's so heavy.. :p (just stating the fact for the poor guys who will carry it all the way up).

OK, somehow the topic has changed from rainbow back again to my relocating process....but anyway...hopefully it will be done soon, so I can finally re arrange everything in my new condo. And finally...eat a homemade food again!!! Horeee...

Full moon on the rig...siighh...

2007-05-30T19:17:00.000+07:00

Has anyone seen a full moon reflection at a calm sea surface ?? If you haven't, I can vouch it's serene and beautiful. Especially in a quiet pitch black night with no light but the stars and the moon. The reflection are so serene, I can just watch and enjoy the view for at least five full minutes. Yes, five minutes from 24 hours in a day. Imagine that!! How I forget to enjoy what the earth can offer.

Just stand there in the middle of the heildeck where I can find less light on a rig and wonder the natural beauty. Pity, I still couldn't block the background light and high level noise from interference though. But that's as good as I can get right now.

Rover Trail

2007-05-29T00:41:00.000+07:00

It has been long due since the last time I did hiking or just took a long walk in the nature (forest trails or mountain). It has been my ambition as well to revisit my interest in this nature activity especially this year, since this country I'm working at the moment offers plenty of rain forest resorts, and I have plenty time for my own now. Also...I have 60 plus plus vacation days not yet taken, and believe me, I will definitely cut them by more than half this year. Backpacking to all these rain forest national parks in Malaysia will fill up most of the agenda. Of course, I will drag my husband along to accompany me, and for sure he will happily oblige :)

Browsing for activities that the various national parks can offer, we (my husband decided to be proactive in this matter) found an interesting rain forest just one hour drive from KLCC. It's actually a research forest, but nontheless. It's still a rain forest in the proximity of the city. Good stuff!!!

So called FRIM (Forest Research Institute Malaysia), located in Kepong, is the closest rain forest I can find in KL proximity.Me and my husband have visited it once, and I believe so many to come in the future. It has several trails that I can try at weekends if I'm to stay in the city. A big soccer field surrounded by thick forrest is one of the feature that interest my husband. Great place to do weekly exercise like walking, a little bit of hiking, jogging, and other sports with fresh and clean air. We're planning to play badminton there once in a while just for fun.

Canopy bridge hanging from tree to tree as high as 30m off the ground can be visited also for those interested in viewing the forest life from up there, but it's limited to certain days only.

Rover trail (it reminded me of one rig in particular) is one of the longest trail it has to offer, as far as 5kms. Not too long, just nice for short exercise. You can walk down that trail until the other end in about an hour to two, depends on your pace. The canopy bridge entrance is in that trail as well, so in saturdays I bet the trail is quite congested with study tour students.

I remember when I asked my Malaysian friends if they have visited FRIM before. Most of them will reply me with a positive answer, but long long time ago, such as when they're still in elementary school :) I don't blame them, but it's such a waste not to visit the beauty of a rain forest just close by our home. I believe I will keep coming to this Rover trail just to get a lungfull of fresh air in the depth of a forest in the middle of the city.

I can use this as my physical preparation to climb Kinabalu Mt. if the chance arises. Maybe some time this year if it's not too fully booked yet ?? A friend of mine told me that it's fully booked until the end of Q3. Yare yare....

Semi vs Tender rig

2007-05-25T21:29:00.000+07:00

Now I know why we can feel the rig movement due to the heave more on a tender rig compared to a semi (semi sub or semi tender). It's due to the ballast control. I knew that a semi sub rig like Ocean Rover and semi tender rig like West Alliance or West Berani has a ballast control, to compensate the heave and minimize the rig movement. But I've never realized that a tender rig doesn't have any ballast control. So that's why it's sooo different.

And that's why also, in West Berani and West Alliance, they can use an access ramp (bridge from tender to platform) which is convenience, with spiral stairs and sorts, because the rig movement is minimal. The same reason also why on a tender, we cannot use those kind of access ramp, but a widow maker, or so we call it, which is a lot more dangerous in bad weather where the heave is very high. Due to lack of ballast control from the tender, the rig is moving accordingly to the heave. In that kind of situation, I prefer to stay on the fix platform, eventhough the accomodation and food is down there on the moving tender.

Watching the tender movement from a fix platform will give you a chill on how this thing can move. Just like a boat on a rough weather. It doesn't care how big is the tender, it will still move violently. And imagine you have to climb a ladder down to that kind of moving rig. Or even jump. Man...I really hope I will never ever come across those kind of rig again.

Life on the rig now

2007-05-25T21:04:00.000+07:00

I finally experience how my life is, to be working on the rig not as LWD engineer. For sure, it's a lot less physical work, and different work pressure.

Before, I really hated if we got a tool failure. All these LWD stuffs have lots and lots of electronics. From the downhole tools, to surface sensors and computers. All are prone to failures. And whatever you do to make sure that everything will be running fine, but electronic failure can happen any time, slowly or in a sudden, and for sure unavoidable. That's what makes it stressful, and that's why we have back up for every equipment.

Once we get downhole tool failure, that's it. A lot more additional work to do. From preparing the back up tools, paperworks, troubleshooting the failure, etc etc.

But since I'm no longer an LWD engineer, I have not as many to worry. The most equipment that can fail on me is my laptop, and to have a backup for that, we execute the software in two laptops. If you have read my older post about my new laptop, then that's exactly the laptop I'm using to do my job now. Powerful it is since this software we're using to execute geosteering job really need a lot of processing capabilty and also a lot of memory.

And not as many to worry it is, that I can actually write here when we just experienced a tool failure and currently pulling the drill string out of the hole to change the tools. If I were still an LWD engineer, I will definitely be busy doing something else. My only concern now is that the job will get delayed for at least a day or two, which also means again that I have to spend more time on the rig. Fiuuhh....

Back to West Alliance !!! Oops...

2007-05-23T18:32:00.000+07:00

I've never thought I will work again on the rig after my last several months enjoying office life. But then here I am, currently working again on one of the rig in offshore Malaysia.

To my interest though, I have a completely different job role this time. It has nothing to do with tools and surface systems or how to troubleshoot them, but everything to do with the measurements that the tools give us and how to interpret the data to geosteer the well to wherever I want!!! Hahaha...no...that's not exactly how it works..but it is true in a way. The client will give us an objective and I have to look at the data closely to make sure that the well is being drilled to the right target. So based on my interpretation, they will decide where to steer the well. Cool huhh ?? High responsibility though, and not as simple as that.

Anyway, my coming back to the rig this time has sent me back to West Alliance!!! Hehehe...ok...maybe I should correct that statement. The rig I'm at now is actually West Berani. But the design, layout, and everything is exactly the same as West Alliance. So for me, it's like returning to that rig, except that this one is only 6 months old. Very new and clean. Such a nice rig. I remember, I quite enjoy working in West Alliance back there in Balikpapan. Not only because the nice accomodation, but also at that time, we have a fix D&M crew that made us quite a solid team, and somewhat fix schedule which allowed me to plan ahead my plans during days off or vacation. What a life!!

Despite of the type of this rig which is a tender (hayyaaa....imagine how far you have to walk back and forth from the accomodation to the logging unit to work or from the unit to the accomodation just to go to the toilet!! More than hundred meters!!), I really like the rig design (somewhat more stable than other tender, or was it just because the weather out here is calmer?? hmmm..), the bridge design to the platform (or so called widow maker, because normally it will have a vertical ladder made of rope or steel, and we have to climb that up to get to the bridge to cross to the platform. In a bad weather, climbing that ladder is such a challenge, I wish I will never ever have to climb that blasted thing in the future. So dangerous, that the 'widow maker' term is really appropriate. But in West Alliance or West Berani, they have a convenient stairs and bridge that is just perfect and safe..hehe), and offcourse the nice accomodation, although in West Berani, the room's floor are not carpeted. Too bad indeed ;)

Anyway...here I am again on the rig. Just for a short hitch mind you, and no physical work need to be done except climbing the stairs, and walking back and forth unit-accomodation. No more going up to the rig floor, no more loading batteries or radioactive source, more $$$, but also more responsibility. Somehow it always comes hand in hand.

@offshore South China Sea

Relocating to KL

2007-05-19T21:36:00.000+07:00

Relocation....what I hate most of this process is the packing and unpacking. Eventhough it will all be handled by the relocation company, but still..it gives me headache. Especially to rearrange all my stuffs in the new house or apartment. Well...I will just take my time to rearrange all those stuffs. I have nothing in a hurry, except that I want to get it over with. Fiuuhh....

But this moving process is a good way to recycle my stuffs. All the stuffs that I rarely use will definitely left behind. In my case, since I have to empty my previous house, I'll just probably leave the proper ones to someone who might need them more than myself, and throw the unproper ones. Then I have an excuse to buy a new one!! :)
Excuses...excuses...

But what I have dreaded since the beginning came true, like it or not. I have dreaded that my books are beginning to climb the hills. And became a hill they did, once my husband and I collected all the books we have on the floor. I've always knew that I love buying books and reading them, but I've never thought even once on what I will do to those books when I have to move. Well..I definitely won't leave them behind. The thing is, will I have enough space on my new apartment for those books ??? Hmm....I'll have to manage that one.

The blasted thing is, eventhough I have found and practically moved to my new apartment in KL, and a brand new apartment it is since I'm the first tenant after they finished construct the unit, and a huge apartment it is compared to other apartment (apartment wise of course, don't compare it with a house), I still haven't manage to pack and move my things from Kemaman. The process really depends on my company's deal with the cheapest relocating company, and imagine how slow it is just to get the best deal. I have waited two weeks and no action has been done!! How much longer they will take, I have no idea, plus I have no choice.

Well...que sera sera...they will finally come to a point where they get a good deal with one particular relocating company, and I can start moving my stuffs. I just hope it is soon...

@havoc house in Kemaman

My new apartment in KL

2007-05-15T22:17:00.000+07:00

I'm so excited to move to my new apartment in KL. Well, theoritically, it's not mine. My company lease it for me. But I have the right to choose under a certain budget. Doesn't matter, as I got mine now.

It's a brand new apartment called Seri Maya condo in Ampang area, approximately 5 km from KL centre area (KLCC, my office, etc). Since I have a car already, it doesn't really matter for me. Plus, there's an LRT station just opposite the complex, so it's really convenient to get to KLCC, my office, or even KL sentral station which is the hub to get to KLIA airport, or other part of Malaysia via train (if any, but so far we can only go to just around KL area), and also to Singapore. I wonder if there's any train to Thailand. If not mistaken they have, but I need to clarify that one.

Anyway, back to my excitement. This apartment unit I leased is pretty cool. Compared to other apartment I've seen so far, it is the biggest (1800 sqft). Three rooms, one terrace, one spacious living room with cool modern but simple interior design, bathrooms, cool kitchen and not to say all brand new electronic appliances, I can't wait to stay there.

Hopefully, I don't need to relocate again before two years. The longer, the better. I really hate to redo all the process. Finding a house/apartment, pack, move, unpack, rearrange my stuffs. I will definitely cross my fingers....

Hotel inhabitant

2007-04-16T20:43:00.000+07:00

4 months.....staying in a hotel. Yep...I haven't returned to my house in Kemaman for almost 4 months now. And all this time...staying in hotels...either in KL or Abu Dhabi...company paid off course. One full month in Mutiara Crown Plaza KL has given me an upgrade membership from Gold to Platinum Priority Club Membership. So next time if I stay there, I will get an automatic upgrade for the room I'm paying. Not bad...despite the fact that I won't stay there if it's not paid by my company. There's a lot of other cheaper but still nice to live at hotels around KL. So why bother ?

2 full months in Abu Dhabi...I've been moving around so often..not because I wanted to, but because I had to. 3 full weeks in Cassells Residency Hotel, then we ought to check out and travel to Oman. Stayed at Rafee Hotel in Muscat for few days, camping for 3 days, and back to this Rafee hotel for another day before we went back to Abu Dhabi, to stay again in Cassells hotel. After 2 in a half weeks staying undisturbed in this hotel, the training management moved us to the Blue Apartement, for 3 days in my case and my three Russian friends for some reason I won't mention here, before I have to return back to Cassells Hotel for the remaining of my training course. In that remaining time, I still have to move from one room to another, Junior Suite to Standard room. I really had enough of all this moving.

Back to KL at 7 April 2007, checked in to Impiana Hotel KL, booked for the whole month, until I can find an apartment and relocate my house stuffs to KL. Not that I have found one, since this agency hasn't even contacted me yet to set a date and show me the apartments I can lease within my company's budget. Darn it !!! I really want to finish all this relocation thing and settle things down in KL. How I miss my own house where I can relax undisturbed, cook with my husband in our own kitchen, redecorate the living rooms, mess things around, and start doing some useful activities once I can settle down here, not to worry about my stuffs any longer. How I really missed staying at what we people call a place...HOME.

Somehow, how comfortable a hotel is, I will never find it as comfortable as my own home.

Abu Dhabi 301

2007-03-20T00:29:00.000+07:00

Thursday and Friday last week were the hottest days since I've been here in Abu Dhabi. The class finished early last Thursday, and excitedly I decided to walk back to the apartment which is 3 blocks away. I looked at my watch, 16:45. Perfect time to have an afternoon walk while enjoying the sunshine and cool breeze. Then I walked out of the front entrance and phieeuhhh...warm afternoon breeze welcomed me instead of the oh so cool breeze I was expecting to accompany me walking down the street. Where did my cool breeze go? 'There goes my perfect afternoon walk' I thought. But still I've decided to walk, so I then walked in that heat, and quite hot it was. Welcome to real UAE!

The next day, not only was it hot, it was also dusty. So dusty that it seemed like fog. What happened ? Sand storm or we can also say desert storm. Don't worry, this kind of storm won't affect anything in the city except that fine sands are all around the corner. Warning!! Don't yawn or laugh out loud in the streets at that time. Not because you're not allowed to, but just because you won't want to swallow any sand blown by the wind, would you ?? Hehehe...

Talking about warning, it reminds me about the taxi's driver behaviour. Don't get surprised if they really can speed. From one traffic light to the next which is only one block away, they can speed up to 100 km/h in less than 10 secs. Always braze yourself when they brake and stop their vehicle before the red light. They do have safety belt at the back seat, but too bad, those are accessories only.

And with those speeding cars along the streets in Abu Dhabi, you really need to be aware when you cross the street. Especially for us who uses 'the wrong side of the road' as opposed to 'the right side of the road'. One of the important thing to consider in safety wherever you travel all around the world is that every country has they're own road system, driving habits, and which side of the road they are driving. The right side...or the left 'wrong' side of the road. From the places I've been, UK, Aussie, South East Asian country, and Japan, all are using the left side of the road, while US, France, Oman, and UAE are using the right side of the road. So...we just have to get used to the system and always check right left right or left right left before crossing the road.

Anomaly

2007-03-19T16:46:00.000+07:00

If my husband read this, he will definitely veto the posting, but I will write it anyway :p Like a lot of people, even myself, we have some dislike in food. Or should I say preferance on what we eat. Some peoople chooses to be a vegetarian (herbivore), some would prefer to eat meats (I will call this type as carnivore), and some will have no preference at all which then I will call omnivore. There's also taste preference like salty, sweet, spicy, etc etc.

Now my husband has this anti-spicy food. Somehow his tongue cannot stand even a little bit of spicy taste. What I mean by spicy here is chilli spicy, not other type of spicy. You know, the kind of spicy that makes your tongue burn and make you hot and sweat and if it's too much will end up with stomach ache, but still we love to eat it ?? That kind of spicy. Pepper is not as spicy as chilli I say, but some people consider pepper is spicy enough. Hmm...they will get an argument from me for that matter.

Anyway, the point is he despises hot spicy food. But...hehehe...that's why I say anomaly...because there's a but in his case. And the exception is so typically him. Despite of his dislikes in spicy food, he loves red meat. Why I specifically say red meat ? Because it doesn't include chicken, or fish. In order, he likes lamb, beef, then if no red meats, he will then choose chicken, and the least is fish and seafoods. If there's other choice than fish, he will definitely choose the other. That's why, generally speaking, I said that he loves red meats. Which is too bad because I love spicy foods and seafoods, but strongly dislike mutton, and not really fond of beef. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem eating beef, as long as it is well done cooked, and has to have distinguished taste that I like, but yes, I don't like mutton and almost detest it. So there you go. Imagine cooking at home for both of us. At the end, one of us has to compromise, and most of the time..as you might guess...it will be me :) There's no question on his spicy food eating capability :p

His love in red meats relates to what I'm trying to tell about his spicy food detestation anomaly. Eventhough he doesn't like spicy food, but it will all disappear if the spicy food is from mutton or beef. So he will still happily struggle with agony to finish those spicy delicious food (well at least delicious for him) such as 'mutton gulai', 'beef rendang', etc. What can I say...anomaly is an anomaly...it's something we simply cannot understand according to the normal tendency.

Abu Dhabi 201

2007-03-12T00:56:00.000+07:00

My husband has just arrived in Abu Dhabi last Friday. By far, it's the most western place he's ever been :p He said the city is just like the buildings in Yokohama, and the city plan is just like in the Simcity game, you can see clearly the blocks and all the streets are straight. It's always interesting to hear other people's impression of a new place.

Anyway, since he is here, I have someone to accompany me roam around the city. Or rather I accompany him, since he has never visited this place before, arabic country in particular. And somehow he's kind of attracted to their men costume (the white long robe I mentioned before in Abu Dhabi 101). Ofcourse he then went hunting this costume complete with the accessories, dragging me along.

Finally today he got what he wanted. One kandaurah (the long white dress) or the Lebanese would call it dishdash and the accessories which are smaagh (white and red head cover) or guttrah (plain white head cover), 'aighal (black ring that you wear on top of the head cover), and the white head cap they call thaqiyah.

There are different ways to wear the smaagh. Either use the 'aighal on top of the smaagh to keep it in place, or just wrap the smaagh on top of your head like the way my husband use it in the picture (because I prefer him to use it that way, fits better for his face..hehehe).

We also tried this arabic coffee in the store. I thought it will taste not very different from other coffee, but it turned out to be very different. Their main ingredients are cardamom, something else i don't remember the name, and a little bit of coffee. They normally drink it with small cups without handle and the coffee tastes plain with no sugar and a little bit bitter. For me, it tastes just like herb tea, but I might get to like it ;)

So...we are now ready to wear the complete pair of UAE costume and walk down the road and malls just like the locals do. Peace.

Children song

2007-03-11T19:03:00.000+07:00

Maman: Do you know that the kids are being manipulated by this song? (he asked me one day)
Balonku ada lima
Rupa-rupa warnanya
Merah kuning kelabu
Merah muda dan biru
Meletus balon hijau..dor!!
(he sang it quite good actually :p)

Maman: There should be six balloons and not five if we count the colours of the balloon. Red, yellow, grey, pink, blue....and green !! The green balloon exploded but it wasn't mentioned before.

Dian: Yeah....you're right. But wait a sec...was the song correct ? Shouldn't it be 'hijau kuning kelabu' rather than 'merah kuning kelabu' ??? You got it wrong!! If it is red all this time like you sang it, someone would have picked this mistake long time ago

Maman: (oops....embarrased)

International Woman's Day

2007-03-08T21:48:00.000+07:00

To be honest, I've never realized that today, March 8, is the Woman's Day. I even heard that in some part of the world like in China and Rumania, they were giving half day off or even one day off because of this. Why have I never heard about this? Well it seems that in some country like Indonesia or Malaysia, it's not really being celebrated.

One of my Russian friend congratulated me when we had breakfast together (because I'm a woman of course) and then he took off to the class in a hurry without any clear reason. Is it me that just missed what he said or he tried to hide something...I'll never knew.

Anyway....I then walked to the office with my other two Russian friends, the ones in the picture in my previous posts. All ladies...without expecting anything, we chatted and joked until we finally arrived in the classroom. You cannot imagine how surprised we were to find out that on each of our table there was a red rose, put nicely in between our computer. Then I realized why my friend hurried to go earlier than us to the class. So sweet....thanks a lot guys :)

If you remember my post about valentine's day...this is exactly what I meant by small gesture that actually gives a lot of meaning. At least it made us all smile in happiness before being grilled in the classroom, trying hard to understand the physics behind sonic measurement and applications.

For all the woman in the world, Happy Woman's Day...all the best for us, and may we all get what we've dreamed of.

Tuing..tuing...

2007-03-07T01:25:00.000+07:00

I wish I can describe what I meant by the title. The easiest way is actually to draw it, but then ofcourse I couldn't possibly draw it here. If you like Japanese manga or anime, then just look for the dizzy expression of the anime character when they're about to faint after long long hours being grilled inside the classroom trying to digest the presentation materials, but somehow it just got into their right ears and went right through their left ears without even bothering to stop by at the neuron system of the brain.

That's exactly what happened when the intructor was still excited to give us something to learn, without realizing that it was 7pm already and nobody actually listened to him any longer. Haha...there's no point on keeping us in the classroom that late if less information was actually being transferred due to our lack of interest. There's only so much a person can learn in one day inside a classroom. Get a life man!!

I wonder why most of these people are quite workaholic. It's one thing to work in odd hours because we have no choice, but it's another thing to work in normal hours without any deadline to catch and don't realize that they're past overtime. It's called no life.

It's really not my dream to spend most of my evenings or weekends or free time to work overtime in the office. No way!! If that's the case, I'm better off working as a field engineer. At least I still can have days off and enjoy my life in between my rig days.

Midnight poem

2007-03-06T02:24:00.000+07:00

There is an emptiness without you by my side
There is a loneliness when I can't hold you tight
There is a missing feeling inside my heart
I miss you yan....

courtesy by Etisalat UAE, reached my mobile phone in the middle of the night...

Miss you too mas..

Old Muscat

2007-03-06T01:02:00.000+07:00

Sultan's palace being shot from the garden

One thing I did learn in my first day in Oman...if you tell a taxi driver to get you to Muscat, he will bring you to this old Muscat, the old town by the sea with old Portuguese fortresses on top of the cliffs, with one of three Sultan's palace and its beautiful colourful garden, the first bank in Oman which is HSBC (why am I not surprised) and the first fuel station in Oman (ofcourse it's Shell...what else would it be). Most of the goverments buildings are located in this old town, although I'm not quite sure if they really are based in this old Muscat. It seems to be too shady as the center of the Omani monarch. But who knows... The palace and gardens are quite beautiful. And the landscapes are magnificent.

Al Alam Palace area in between the rock hills

One other thing that will never leave your eye sights everywhere you go in Muscat, are the rock hills. Houses and bulidings are built in between these rock hills or cliffs, giving what my husband would call 'mediterranian look'. I don't really know how this mediterranian look actually looks like since I've never been there, but just see the pictures and you will know what I meant. Pictures after all can represent more than thousand words. Now where did I get this phrase from...oohh yeah...the geologists!! They love pictures, graphics, colours, and drawings. Just because they cannot really represent their subject in equations as we engineers normally do. Mmm...not me though...I love pictures as well :) and don't mind at all having less equations.

Houses area in one of the town

Nearby that old Muscat is another old port town, by the sea ofcourse, called Mattrah. Cargo ships to traditional wooden fishing boats are part of the regular view here. Sound of the sea gulls, honking of the car horns, and the distinct sound of the ship's diesel engine exhaust, mixed together with the warm sunshine, refreshing sea breezes and nice view of the sea, rock cliffs, and old forts, altogether creating an exotic nuance that never failed tourists to take more than just a glance. There's one recommended 'souk' or market full of native Omani souvenirs and handy crafts. Must bargain to get cheaper prices. As I'm not really keen on bargaining things, I only ended up with one souvenir. Plus the fact that I will still have to go camping with my backpack, I'm not really excited to do a lot of shopping. The less additional weight to my back and shoulders is the better.

That was a very short story to tell about Muscat, and I don't think it can represent even quarter of its beauty. But stay tune for my next geology trip journal...if I ever got a chance to write it because it was a long exciting week with lots and lots of story to tell....hmm...we shall see... ;) I just hope I will still remember all those geological terms by the time I actually write it down :p

Road by the sea - Mattrah town

First step to Oman

2007-03-05T01:51:00.000+07:00

One thing I have never thought of doing back there in university, or even after graduation from my electrical engineering study...was actually observing rocks and learning the history of those rocks layers. And yet, just a few days ago, I spent a week studying how these rocks in Oman could exist the way they are as seen these days, or in short I could say....studying geology. Yes...I've been cut off from any internet connection (not complaining..just stating the fact why I haven't post any new writings since my last post) for a whole full week to have a geology trip to Oman mountains and carbonate factory a.k.a coral reefs.

Oman Outcrop..heaven for geologists :)

Sultanate of Oman...one of the most beautiful monarch country in Middle East, with its pure architectural design preserved in the middle of the bustling modern city life. After spending few weeks staring at the modern buildings in Abu Dhabi full of glasses, steel and concrete, such unique design of Omani houses and buildings were very refreshing. Their design are so down to earth. As Oman's capital city, Muscat rarely has high rise buliding. In fact you will find some hotel buildings with not more than 10 levels, and that's about it. They're not very keen on building a sky scrapper like most of the capital city in the world who compete on having the tallest tower or building in the world. But that's what I really like in Muscat. It has its own identity, with their own cultural background and pride. Omani people also has this reputation of being friendly with foreigners that has driven tourists from all around the world to enjoy the warm wheather and beautiful landscapes in this country.

Portuguese fortress behind Sultan's palace - old Muscat

Opposite to its neighbour, Yaman, the Jewel of Arabia, which also has beautiful scenery...maybe better than Oman, but due to the security issues that make most of the foreigners feel unsafe, it becomes the least tourist destination. Hmm...nevertheless...I would love to go there someday.

First step to Oman, fiuuhhh...it was hot!! Muscat, with a latitude not too far below UAE, at least 10 degC temperature difference was felt, warmer for sure, but I didn't expect it will be this much.

First sight of Oman buildings...they are really something, unique in its own way, just plain attractive, with its window design and wooden two leafs main entrance door. Favourite colours....white and beige, but mostly white, perfect for hot area. And like the rest of other countries in Middle East...green garden with beautiful colourful flowers, like the ones in Sultan's palace of old Muscat.

Me and my two Russian friends

First glance to Oman beaches, clean sandy Al Qurum public beach. But wait a sec...were those foreign girls with bikinis swimming in the sea ?? It turned out Oman is quite liberal for these kind of thing with a certain limits ofcourse. No nudist beach..hehehe...sorry guys...

Al Qurum beach

First walk in Oman, hahh..hahh...it really does have hills and terrains...hahh..hahh...where does this uphill road ends anyway ???

First sight seeing in the city, well, they definitely have lots of spaces since most of the buildings were built more laterally, less vertically. Lots of lone buildings sparcely apart from others. Lots of houses built in between the mountain terrains. Definitely not a flat area, this Muscat. There will be lots and lots of flat area down south though, but I will write it in other post. One of the old area in Muscat city is Mattrah town, a port town near to the old Muscat with a local souk (market).

Mattrah town nuance

First overall impression....very exciting and a promising one week I would have in Oman.

ps..it's definitely not a kurma tree guys...it's a regular palm tree..uh uh..not the same coconut tree as we can find in tropical area beaches. Definitely different type.

Any idea what kind of palm tree this is??

Abu Dhabi 101

2007-02-17T12:50:00.000+07:00

Don't use this as a guide. I'm only pointing out what I found interesting in UAE.

1. First impression of UAE (either Dubai or Abu Dhabi) is... what a modern city and modern life they have here, despite the fact that it is one of the moslem countries in middle east. Extravagant malls, especially in Dubai, happening night clubs, bars, entertainment centres, cheap motels to 7 star hotel (Burj Al Arab - Dubai, with its gold plated interior, restaurant at the lower ground with windows facing the depth of the sea since they have this hotel built by the sea...just like sea world, and the sky restaurant on top of the building). Really...you won't find it different with other cities in the world, except that some time in a year, it will get really hot. And I'm not kidding when I said hot, it's just like feeling the hot air when you open an oven after baking for some time.

2. And what a rich country it is, despite the fact that it's a dessert area, you will still find beautiful gardens with coulourful flowers and green grasses all around the city and along the roads, with regular watering for the plants at least twice a day. In Dubai there's even a water park called Wild Wadi (Wadi means dry river stream, that will get really flooded once it rains in the mountains), where you can play in the pools and water with all those water games. Definitely no problem with water supplies all year round.

3. Unique smell of UAE. Go to the malls and you will definitely smell their unique perfume. Yup, they have their own favourite perfume which you won't find in any international perfume store. It is only sold in their local perfume stores. I found one of these perfume stores as well in KL, especially Bukit Bintang Walk, where most Arabic people gather. Once you get used to it, it actually smells really good. Sometimes...too strong though.

4. Unique costumes. They don't use these every time, and not every one wear these, but you will still find they use these costumes in casual occassions with their families, in the malls for example. Dish dash for guys which is that white robe, and abaya for girls, a long black soft fabric robe paired with their long black scarf I would call 'jilbab'. Under this black robe, the girls normally where their day to day attire such as jeans or long skirts. How do I know these ? Because you can actually see the clothes underneath when they walk :p. This is exactly a robe, not a fully covered black dress. Some use abaya for religion cause, and some will only use it as a traditional costume. They also have a unique way to use their long black thin scarf as jilbab and I'm really fascinated by that. I bought for myself one pair of abaya and the black long scarf, and I'm waiting the moment to actually use it over my normal attire :D

5. Caution !! The most hazardous activity you will find here is....crossing a road. These UAE drivers are crazy. They speed a lot just because the roads are in good condition and no traffic jams ever occured (for the time being), plus the fact that they have nice cars here, but they pay no respect for pedestrians. It's really life and death experience when you cross the road (in a proper zebra cross) and you see the cars heading towards you don't even reduce their speed!! So...better cross the road in a traffic light, when the cars have actually stopped or underpass.

6. Most comers and workers you will find here, besides from other Arabic countries like Oman, Libya, Yaman, Jordan, etc, are from India, Pakistan, and Philipines. I haven't seen a lot of Indonesian here, but there're plenty in Dubai. Indian and Filipino in the other hand...are everywhere. That's why I have no problem finding an Indian restaurants, or practice my Tagalog language (if I do really want to practice it...but..unfortunately I have forgotten every words I once knew very well in my childhood. In fact that was my second language after Javanese, but all I could remember now is only Mabuhay to say welcome and Pare to call a friend...sigh).

7. I found one most interesting phone booth just beside my office here in Al Masaoud Tower, a red kind of British type of phone booth. You will find this red phone booth everywhere in UK, they even have the miniature made as a souvenirs beside their famous classic black taxis, red mail boxes, and red double decker buses in London. But I didn't expect to find it here. Well....looking at the fading colour (picture above), it's quite old and it's just probably a left over from the old times. Now the picture below is the one from Newark, UK, of me, my friend, and the red phone booth.

Newark phone booth...wanna make a call anybody??

8. What else I should write here....oohh...this interesting desert safari where they will bring you in a 4WD car to roller coaster in big sand dunes. I didn't quite enjoy that bit because of my sensitive stomach. It's worst then the Super Tycoon ride in Sixflags - Houston which had got me nausea. Fiuuhh..I really should avoid those kind of ride...white water rafting excluded ofcourse :p Then we got a chance to ride the camel (it's really quite an experience, especially when the camel is standing up or sitting down while you're riding it...jerky moves!!!), sand boarding from the top of a sand dune (believe me or not, but the sands have different sliding properties...a kid told me the sand dunes in Saudi is the best to sand board..hahh), and barbeque dinner while entertained by a belly dancer...Russian belly dancer...hmmm. We even can try some of their traditional costume (dish dash and abaya) while relaxing in the camp. One thing you definitely need to try is their sheesha. It's their unique way to smoke cigar with an equipment (called sheesha). And boy they have lots of flavours. I tried the strawberry flavour. Interesting.... I have to get myself one of those real sheesha before I leave this place.

9. I think I will still be able to find something interesting while I'm here...so I'll just keep my eyes open.

Area near my office - Al Masaoud Tower

Indian snacks

2007-02-15T01:30:00.000+07:00

I'm crazy of snacks. I cannot find myself to stay awake at night, burying myself with study materials (which I really ought to start reading for this friday's exam!!! so to speak!!!), without any snacks. This habit of mine started in my university years, back there in Bandung. Can't help it until now. I'm addicted.

On my way back to the hotel from my class, I passed by an Indian restaurant that sells all sorts of Indian snacks. Ofcourse I was tempted to try some...and tempted I was. Not long after, I emerged from the restaurant and found myself carrying one full plastic bag of new type of snacks I can't resist to try. And pretty tasty it is, in my opinion ofcourse, as not everyone can stand Indian spices. So far, Indian food is one of my favourite cuisine. Good for me, I will have no problem finding it here in Abu Dhabi with quite reasonable prices. Indian restaurants are everywhere around this city. But this was my first time to actually taste Indian homemade snacks. And it's really not bad at all.

Krrkk...krrkk..that's the sound of my delicious Indian snacks crunched by my jaw, krrkk...krrkk...archie's equation to get water saturation??? krrkk...krrkkk...hmmm..this new snacks I just found in an Indian restaurant here is really good, kkrrkk...krrkkk...where was I with archie?? krrkkk...krrkkk...oh noo..this is the last bit, I better buy some more tomorrow, krrk..krrkk...I better get something to drink, this really makes me thirsty.....gluk gluk gluk...ok, where was I....(trying really hard to get back into my study material).

Valentine's day

2007-02-14T21:25:00.000+07:00

Does it mean anything to me ? Not really... in fact I don't give a damn. And I bet most of the male population in the world that actually know what Valentine's day is, won't even remember that it is today. And then most of the female population will gossip between each other that their husband, sons, boy friend, or just friends, didn't even bother to send them any greeting cards, message, sms, phone call, hug, kiss, or just a simple 'Happy Valentine's Day', to express their feelings.

My husband asked me when we were chatting in between my training class session, why do we limit our showing off of love to this day. Isn't it suppose to be every day, everytime we got a chance. Well....I agree with him. We should express our feelings to everyone we love everytime we got a chance, while we still got a chance. Who knows when we will have to face our Mighty Creator.

Even very simple things won't hurt right ? Buying your beloved a single flower won't make you bankrupt, plus your wife slash girlfriend will love you more. See how a simple gesture can lighten up your day? It doesn't even have to be a flower. Just by saying four words, I love you mom.... will definitely make your mom smile in happiness...

Hmm....It reminds me to say just the exact words to my mom....and my dad...and my sister...and my brother...and offcourse my husband (I haven't told you a single word of love today, have I ??)....plus my friends. Well, I won't message or call all my friends just to say how I feel about them, but let me just say it here...

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone....don't keep your feelings to yourself and just express the love you have, that's what matter.

(Does it mean that I actually give a damn about this whole valentine thing now?? Hehehe...not at all...)

It's about - my sister's blog

2007-02-13T21:07:00.000+07:00

I just knew two weeks ago that my sister has a pretty nice blogspot. And I found it accidentally !!! Or should I say my husband found it accidentally. What kind of a sister I am!! It made me feel very badly indeed. I knew her interest in writing and literature reading since she was still in high school. She was the chief editor (correct me if I'm wrong sis..) of Sigma, our high-school's monthly magazine, and she's involved as well in the campus Boulevard team. Ck ck ck...it's not my type of past time activity :p

For me, I would rather have few adventure outdoor, and my favourite is still white water rafting up 'till now. The blast thing is, I couldn't manage to get myself wet again since my honeymoon which was more than two years ago. Thanks to my pretty messed up lifestyle as a field engineer. Even I have to miss this one in a life time free scuba diving course paid by my company, held in Redang Island Malaysia, just because I was never around in town to have some fun. Yes...ofcourse I had to work on the rig at the wrong time. Where else I would have been and missed that kind of fun ?? Yare yare....

Back to my sister, I give her two thumbs up. She's pretty good on what she likes to do actually. Thus the blogspot she has, attractive and refreshing. But still..how bad a sister I could be, and how busy I could be, and how occupied I could be, to never realize that she must have a blog. Offcourse she has a blog, she loves writing!! How obvious is that.

That's why she's the first blogger that I linked in my page. If you see my links to other blogger just a few mouse clicks down of the scroll bar, you'll definitely find her link. In fact she's the only one there so far :p

Hey sis....you must give me commission for promoting your page :D heehhehe..... just kidding..

Last job as field engineer

2007-02-10T19:40:00.000+07:00

As you might guess....I'm no longer a field engineer since the end of 2006. Somehow the reality hit me hard enough. How can it not be ? I have been working in the field from April 2002 to the end of 2006, almost 5 years since I graduated from my unforgettable almamater (ITB), adopting its lifestyle which I quite enjoy, not the least, enjoying the $$$ and benefits which comes hand in hand. Really....not complaining at all. Well...except offcourse to spend most of my time apart from my husband and family.

That is why I have decided to move on while the opportunity was given to me. Which then has given me one last job on the rig. And it happened to be in one of the most expensive rig in deepwater Sarawak, Malaysia. The last job for myself, and also the last job for my team on that rig since we have lost the contract to our competitor.

Anyway, if you're in my position, what would you like to do in your last job ? Make it as memorable as possible and as successfully as possible. That was my goal.

Alhamdulillah, no major incident happened in my full 4 weeks job, and at least I got something special to remember. Special mention of my team in Rover weekly review, and out of nowhere I won the weekly STOP card award. Well...not really out of nowhere as I have to actually submit the STOP card and fill it properly...but I got myself a laptop backpack from Newfield Malaysia....not bad at all as my farewell job.

Thanks a lot to my last crew members : Francis (for being so dependable in every single job), Jeremy (for most of the dedicated small yet important tasks you've done), Chris (somehow we always ran into each other and assigned in the same rig since I was still just a trainee), and Mark (for his cooperation in the job and insights of the real world :p).

I will always remember every and each of my colleagues and crew members that have worked together with me on the same rig. We've become closer as friends than just a colleague because of that. Lots of memory I can cherish while working with you friends...and it will stay in my heart. I will really miss working with you guys....D&M field engineers...

New...yet old

2007-02-10T18:21:00.000+07:00

I've just found my old blog page which is this page here you're all viewing. I started this page two years ago at the end of 2004. I've written two posts, and that was it. I was absent for full two years until recently when I finally moved from a field engineer to an office based engineer, which gives me more time to relax day by day, and just settle down my pace to write something.

In the beginning I started to write again in friendster blog page, but then today, I remembered that I have my old page here. So I just simply moved my several recent posts to this page, changed my blog title and themes which suit me at the moment (my previous blog has completely different design in my mind).

So here we are...my new look... yet old blog page. Enjoy reading !!!

Unbelievable book

2007-02-10T16:15:00.000+07:00

You won't believe me, but I found a book here in one of Abu Dhabi's bookstore. Yes...one of the places I always visit, if I stay more than couple of days, is a bookstore. Somehow I love reading very much. Why ? Reading a book can be done anywhere, anytime we want, of course provided you love reading a book. :p In our free time, relaxing at home, hotel room, waiting for somebody to come or pick us up, on the plane, definitely anywhere...anytime. In my husband's case, in the toilet as well. You see my point ? Hehehehe....

Back to this book I found here, the title is "Guideline on Wearing High Heels". Remember my previous post about me against high heels ?? Hahaahhaha....unbelievable !!! They even have a dedicated book to guide us how to use high heels properly. See what I mean ? It's not easy to use high heels :p It needs a proper technique not to hurt yourselves when using those spiky heel shoes. Yare..yare...

Winter in desert

2007-02-09T16:14:00.000+07:00

Before, I have never imagined having winter in the desert area. Desert = hot. It's always printed in my mind that all deserts are unbelieveably hot all year round.

From my previous experiences visiting Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I have never felt cold air outside the air conditioned room. What I have always felt was rushing hot air coming in every time I opened the door from a room to outside area. They're really hot.

But this time around in Abu Dhabi means cold air both in or outdoor. It quite surprised me, after all this is in the desert area. But then again, I should have expected as such. Eventhough it's in the desert area, it's still at higher latitude, thus having winter time at some point in a year. And I tell you, it's quite chilly for those used to live in tropical area like myself.

Well..welcome to winter in Abu Dhabi. I guess I will feel the cold chilly air turns to be hotter sometime during my whole 9 weeks stay in Abu Dhabi.

Queue

2007-02-09T16:11:00.000+07:00

Queue a.k.a antri...not every people are aware that they need to queue to speed things up. Maybe not every people even know what this famous word means.

Queue to enter a bus, a building, a terminal gate in an airport, even queuing multiple processes in a computer programme. Just imagine which one is faster. 5 people trying to enter a door at a time and ended up fighting with each other to get the first access, or 5 people queuing and access the door one after the other sufficiently. It's just so plain and simple.

It reminds me of my experience in Doha airport. Transit passenger from some of the flights will have to go through an x-ray to be able to enter the terminal. That morning, adjoining passengers from several flights were stacked all together in the same area to enter one single x-ray gate. They do have several x-rays...but only one was open. Imagine more than 300 people from around the world with different kind of nationalities, trying to access one single damn x-ray. And offcourse they don't even bother to queue...there's no place to make a queue line either. It took me almost two hours just to enter that xray after being crushed from every sides available by all those furious people. Including myself offcourse. Who wouldn't.

The point is....eventhough queue won't improve the time significantly, it will definitely still be more convinient to people by not crushing or elbowing one another.

So please... there's no harm to queue properly guys...

Me vs high heels

2007-01-27T16:08:00.000+07:00

After finally I can get rid of steel toe boots or so called safety boots from my day to day attire and got a chance to wear all kind of fashionable ladies foot attires a.k.a high heel shoes, my feet are killing me.. slowly... I started to get blisters on my sensitive feet. One of my lady colleague told me that I will get used to it, but I'm not really sure about that.

Now.. if I may ask a question to any shoe designers who might read this post, why does fashionable shoes decrease the comfort level to zero? Most of the lady shoes sold nowadays are high heels. And guess what? They do have this feet comforter sold as well... somekind of soft pads to avoid blisters, or makes us ladies feel more comfortable wearing high heels. So it's a common knowledge that high heels mean blisters. I don't know why it was even designed in the first place except to make us feel not too short when standing beside men. I don't think that gives a significant added value either as we don't need to be tall to feel beautiful.

But well....fashion is fashion. It will still be a fashion as long as ladies are still eager to wear it. One more thing I don't quite understand. How can they stand so long and walk that fast without hurting their poor feet and legs (mind you) for the whole day. I'm impressed...

If you ever got a chance to see my shoe and sandals collections (not that they're a lot but they're still worth mentioning), and compare how fast they wear.. you'll know my preference between high and no heels foot attire.
So why I still buy those high heels shoes ?? I have no idea... it's just an impulse to do so. Maybe that's one of the reason why it survived in the fashion evolution all these years. Hehehe...my husband is actually sitting beside me, mocking ladies with their passion with shoes. I kinda agree with him... but I'm still a lady after all... I can't resist pretty shoes and sandals eventhough I can count how often I will ever use them.

What to say... I still love my feet and will always prefer them to be comfortable. Fashion be damned ;)

Live posting from starbucks

2007-01-20T16:05:00.000+07:00

Here I am again after few days absent of writing anything worth writing :p I am at the moment trying to read my pre-LAT school study stuffs...on a sunday afternoon at KLCC starbucks. Very good planning back there from the hotel where I stay...eat lunch somewhere in KLCC, then afterwards hang around in starbucks while reading my study materials.

But then you all can guess what happen....temptation of the free wireless connection right here in starbucks makes all those perfect simple plan for the afternoon fly away...just like that. With no warning...at least 30 minutes passed away just to browse the most tempting sites on the world wide web. Oh boy...oh boy...

And here I am again, writing..or rather complaining my lack of discipline. Well...enough of this for now. I better return to my porosity determination techniques blablabla.....

For those struggling to study....keep on fighting the temptation !!!

New DELL Precision Laptop

2007-01-03T16:02:00.000+07:00

I'm getting a new laptop !!! After almost five years working with my loyal DELL C610 (unbelievably this crappy laptop still work fine till now eventhough it's getting into my nerves already), I'm gonna get:

M65 Mobile Precision Workstation.
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7600 (2.33GHz/667MHz) Dual Core;
15.4 inch Wide Screen WUXGA LCD Panel;
Touchpad with UPEK® Fingerprint Reader;
2 GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMM;
100GB Hard Drive (7200RPM);8X DVD+/-RW w/Roxio Software™ and Cyberlink Power DVD™;
Internal 56K Modem;Internal SmartCard reader;NVIDIA® Quadro FX 350M 512MB Turbocache, OpenGL.;
Internal GigaBit NIC; Dell Wireless™ 1390 802.11g Mini-Card.
Dell Wireless® 350 Bluetooth Module; 9 cell Primary Battery, 90W, A/C Adapter;
Dell USB 2-Button Optical Mouse with Scroll; Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional,
US 3FT power cord; SP2 with Media and NTFS.

How cool is that ? No more having coffee and breakfast just to wait my old laptop to reboot....hehehe....well...we'll see how long my next cool to be laptop will stay cool.

Count down to 2007

2006-12-31T22:30:00.000+07:00

Two in a half hour more before we reach the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007. I will experience the transition just in the office here in KL...sigh. But no worries...I will not let the occassion get spoiled. I will cherish the moment myself. By the time it's close to midnight, I'll go down the street in front where rows of bars and clubs are definitely full with people wishing to witness the upcoming of the new year. Myself, I'm only hoping to see the fireworks (if there's any) in between the twin KLCC towers. Yep...the most important thing is for me to review my whole year activity in 2006, any achievements and failures I've done, and wishing to have a better and prosperous life in the years coming.

Happy New Year for all of you !!!

Year end of 2006...beginning of a new lifestyle

2006-12-30T07:01:00.000+07:00

Everybody is in holiday mood at the moment. Imagine those working in KL office, they're granted with a long weekend, 4 days in total. Man, that sounds good!!

But wait a sec...I'm currently working in KL office as well....and that condition doesn't seem to apply to me. What's wrong with me I wonder. Not only it doesn't apply to me, apparently I have to switch my biological hours as well...not that I have a perfect undisturbed sleeping hours all these years offcourse...Oh no... I have to admit that for as long as I started to work in my current company...let me see...4 years 8 months to be exact..I've never have a reasonable working hours. Not that I'm complaining about it. Well...sometimes..but the point is I quite enjoy the lifestyle. Working in odd hours...having my own holiday while everyone else seems to be busy working. Having myself working while most of the normal working people enjoy their time with their family and beloved. I don't envy them as long as I have my own undisturbed time with my family slash beloved husband.

As a matter of fact, being married to me means being married as well to my odd lifestyle. My husband knows exactly what I mean. Not seeing each other for more than a month, being high flyer as well just to sneak few moments to see each other, to stay awake more than what it should be. And now, he even switches his sleeping hours to match mine!! That's quite a challenge...especially for those who aren't used to this kind of unpredictable working hours. But being married to me..I think he's qualified enough..hehe..

Back to the holiday season we're having at the end of year 2006, it will be the beginning of a new lifestyle for me. I said before I wasn't complaining at all, and somehow I'll really miss it, but I think it's time for me to get a different role in my life. It won't just happen immediately as this year is ending, but eventually I will have a normal lifestyle. It's about time to get my priority straighten. Doesn't mean that we need to sacrifice one of them, but having to know which one is the most important of all is the best way to make some critical decision in our life and not to regret it later.

Back to civilization

2004-10-11T01:49:00.000+07:00

At last.... I called Herman who's gonna relieve me tomorrow, and confirmed he's coming !! I got stressed before when I called his staff house and found out his not back yet from his vacation! What does this mean? Does this mean I'm gonna stay here longer than I expected before ??? Three weeks in a row without a break in this "water world" seems long enough for me. Extended one more week? No thanks sir!
Me : Hello, may I speak to Herman please?
someone : I'm sorry but Herman is not back yet from vacation
and I said : WHATTT !!!!!
Call 911, someone is gonna freak out here!!
Finally when I called again he's back and ready to replace me tomorrow. Even it seems from his voice that he's not quite excited about that. Who will ? :p

Anyway, I'm going and I don't care either by chopper in the morning which means I'll be home faster or 6 hrs or more journey by boat in the evening, I don't really care as long as I'm going :)
Well not really go back home actually, only back to civilization. Which means I get to malls, cream bath (hmmm..), and especially go to bookstore to fulfil my needs of reading :)

Next saturday if nothing occured on my way, I'll be home with my husband, spend that saturday night I've dreamed of :D hehehe....actually I really wanna try this new car we've bought while I'm remote here :p

No worries....keep smiling gal !!

I really miss normal saturday nights

2004-10-09T19:21:00.000+07:00

Guess what? Tonight is Saturday night and I'm here in the middle of nowhere, far away from my husband :(( Really missed those times when I'm still in college, spent every weekend with my boyfriend a.k.a my husband at present. How long was that ? 3 to 4 years ago ?? That long...
I remember we always spent the whole night wandering around this cold nice city we lived as long as we study in ITB. Watched midnight movie in BIP or Regent, enjoyed indomie rebus in Ganesha street, seek jajanan foods which is everywhere in Bandung like serabi EnHai, gorengan Simpang, Bakso Malang Burangrang (recommended guys !!), yoghurt Cisangkuy (nyamm..nyamm..) and any kind of junk foods scattered all around this city. Bandung was becoming our second home after we graduated high school. Never went back home unless it's vacation. We even stayed there in our vacation, unless offcourse it's Ied Fitri which means we must be home :)
It reminds me in 5 more weeks Ied Fitri is coming this year.... and I get to go home :) As long as they stick to the schedule and vacation they have approved before!!
But then it remind me back, I'm here in the middle of nowhere, in this damn Saturday night which I never enjoyed as good as when I'm still in Bandung. Well offcourse Saturday night with my husband now is the one that I really missed if you know what I mean :)

From the Deepwater of Makassar Strait