Not The Day

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

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

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...

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

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....