Fisch

I took these pictures at 1 Utama's rainforest several months ago. Tropical!

I get excited every time I see a school of fish, in a pond or aquarium. Like a school kid I would rush to the fishy scene, a big grin shines on my face as I soak in the experience. Especially colorful fish like koi. I tend to watch them tirelessly. It makes me calm and soothes my mind...

Such zen.

Arghhh....

Just finished doing a week's worth of work in a day! All because of our resources decided to pop up suddenly, one day before tender submission date. I mean, all this while I was not expecting to submit the tender. My workmate did mention last week that this would happen but I thought less of it.

"Ahah! We got it. I wonder if it's enough." he said as I entered the office this morning.
"Here, the price and some brochures, I've printed them for you." he said in a rush, like he was going to go somewhere.

"Where are you going?" I asked.
"I'm still on a holiday, so I'm going home" he answered quickening his pace.
"But I can't figure out the price on my own. I've got technical documents to cover." I reminded him, since he's the one figuring out the price and all. He is after all the senior business manager.

"Just mark up **%. Discuss with the boss." He said.
"I may not be able to make it today; the pricing and technical documents. Maybe I'll submit tomorrow" I said, half indicating a threat.
"No, it has to be delivered today so they can open it tomorrow!" He added with a stern voice.
"Oh alright! I'll do whatever I possibly can today" I finally said, barely concealing my frustration.
Then I thought to myself, "Whatever I have! Don't be surprised if you see them coming back with tons of queries!"

I seldom get pissed with him. He's an old timer and my main reference. We're basically friends at work. But today he's being impossible! Why can't he stay a while to figure out the price and let me worry about the technical issues. He practically came into office this morning to tell me that we're going to submit the tender after all. Why can't he just stay home and ignore the mail? It's not like it's a complete and detailed resource. There is even a table of non-compliance which is still being drafted and will be submitted in a week! It's like, hey, we can't comply to most of your specifications but you will only know of it in a week. Fat chance!

But hey, whatever I can possibly dish out!

So, from morning till just now I was running franticly across and around the office, without my workmate's help. Still, the lack of information from our principal made it a bit easier as I gave many ‘information not available at time of submission’ notes. I’m gonna get a handful next week though.

Still, it’s okay! It’s on its way to the tender committee, via courier. Now I can go home and lay dead. Next week, I brace myself, and so will my business manager.

Just browsing, NOT!

Just when you think it’s safe to window shop, the holiday season shopping madness is here yet again. After enduring the abrasive DeepaRaya shopping season, I will be forced to face the Christmas version soon, extremely soon. Every time the Sale! posters come up, I would say, “I’ve bought most of my clothes last time around and spent my equivalent of a fortune.”

I don’t really need to get more clothes since I haven’t worn some of them, mostly because of suitability and surroundings issue. It’s only been a few months. How can I be out of style by now. Yeah, I know the items I bought were off 50% to 70% and must be from last seasons’ collections but so are everybody else’s. I live and play in the majority’s world, not in posh upper most class society. I don’t need to be as up to date as they are. All I need is a good fashion sense, at a discount.

Note the use of words like most and more because when the time actually comes and I find myself browsing the items on discounts, I would then say, “Hmm, this one is different and really worth it. It’s a steal damn it. I have most but this one I have not.” And away it goes.

Such is the reality of me being prudent and rational. The fact is, one can never have enough. There is always room and reason for more. The only limit is your resources. Even that can be stretched. Have we no control?

Say it, mean it.

I say things, it’s just me. Sometimes I only mean half of the things I say, and sometimes I only say half of the things I mean.

Does it make any sense?

Have a great weekend guys.

Perahu tambang

'Perahu Tambang' to get across the river

Bright yellow paint to display the sponsor

Oh, how could my thoughts not ponder

When I see them without a customer

This is a picture linked from http://www.monash.edu.my/studying/sumexc.htm. It is a scene taken from across the river, or from another perahu tambang. Why can't I be sure? Because I did not capture it myself.

I like this picture very much and I thought you'd like it too. I portrays the nostalgic perahu tambang's slide along the river, against a very urban setting of Kuching City, accentuated by soft cotton-like clouds hovering in the beautiful blue sky.

There, that should do it.

Tip : try this, type kuching waterfront and search images in Google. Tons of pictures for your viewing pleasure. Do that for any picture you want to see. You'd be surprised of what you'll find, your face even! Besides porn of course.

Miri, Sarawak

This is a bird's eye view of Miri City. Not much. But for those from Miri, this is a heck of a view! This is actually a larger than life poster at Miri Airport's arrival passageway, literally. It is approximately two meters high. I thought I'd share it with the world here. By now, the marina bay (patch of reclaimed land on the right) are full of trees and some buildings, like so,



Also pictures of a large poster at Mega Hotel Miri's lobby.

We is back!

Hahaa. I’m back! Home sweet home! It’s been nice going away, and catching up with close distant friends was highly refreshing and invigorating. I made a couple of new friends along the way as well. Sadly, so many friends, so little time. Another trip perhaps.

As usual, being away makes me miss my crib. Any place is home sweet home for me once I make it. And the place I missed most is the web. Though there are wi-fi enabled places, nothing beats the comfort of my own cubicle. Yes, I’m supposed to be working and not do other stuff like blogging but I’m addicted. Even when I’m having fun hanging out with friends I am somehow reminded of the blogosphere. Especially if I missed a day, or worse, two. How now? Heck, life goes on.

Miri, wireless and free.

I was wondering if café’s in Miri’s gone wi-fi. So this morning as I walked around town, guessing the places that have, this place came to me. Bakery café.

The signage gives a typical coffee shop impression but the Lavazza poster quickly grabs my attention. I love espresso see.

When I first caught sight of this café, I made it a point to check it out. A café setup no doubt. And the espresso, well, it’s Lavazza. It’s fair; plus, you seldom go wrong with one of the best brands can you? And in Miri? For me, that is saying a lot. Much room for improvement though.

They serve pastries as well as savories. I can’t really give points coz I haven’t tried most of them. And this is not a food review.

And so, this time around, I walked in hoping to get online. To my delight, the owner was browsing his laptop behind the counter. So I asked, “Do you have wi-fi here?”

“Yes” he said, with much confidence.

“And it’s free?” I asked again.

He gave me another ‘yes’ and told me to have a seat first. I ordered double espresso and a cheese cake, like so…

After this I'm continuing my expolration throughout the town, walking, as I needed the exercise coz I've been munching a lot lately. Later.

Meaow...

I'm in kuching now and today is my first online day in this Borneo Jewel called Sarawak. Didn't do much here coz I got no wheels and I'm too lazy to catch the bus. Right now I'm in this nice cozy cafe called The Gallery Cafe. Hotspots Wifi and artsy setting, noice. Let me see if I can get permission to take some snap shots.

Too bad, she says her boss won't allow it. I guess it's because the place is also a gallery. Oh well, some shots from my 'mobile phone' olympus won't hurt. It's not like i'm selling them anyway. So, here are some. Shhh, the manager doesn't know...

The counter

Seatings

Nasty

A friends’s blog was smeared with nasty shit last week and it makes me sick. After the first nasty comment was deleted the MF came back, meaner and amplified.

“………..Dont delete this comment if you are a man..loser. Your friends: Give it to me man...give it to me..are you really friends of this guy???”

WTF! And she is anonymous. Shocking!

Ah heck! Just check out the comments for this link and you’ll see.

If you don’t like what you see, leave in peace. After all, you came looking for it. Don’t go to their house and leave a big note telling them off. Having quietly done this, the jerk hid in a corner, waiting to watch the victim's reaction and of his neighbors and friends. A great coward. She doesn't think she needs to reveal herself because she is no man, as she proudly declares.

And to actually seek his friends reaction? Huh?



And get this, in reaction to support from her victim’s friends, she wrote

“These guys are writing good words not just to back you up but they are seeking and waiting insatiably for something that you might have. Just be careful dude.”

First she offends, then she rubbed some salt and finally gives advice. And now we know why she makes friends. Oh she’s a gold digger. She’s a psycho over money.

Wish granted!

I finally got it. I was granted 5 days plus 3 extra days leave after our official holidays to spend in Kuching and Miri. A total of 8 days of leave (Nov 9, 10, 11… 14, 15, 16, 17, 18). Kind boss he is.

The fact that I am taking a week’s leave (5 days straight) is heavy enough an issue for me to take extra 3 more days to accommodate my confirmed trip. I’ve already bought the flight ticket at cheap fare with Airasia to Kuching. Then I plan to spend another week in Miri. What was left to do was apply for 8 days leave. I only have 5 days left. Three more I hope to get as a favor. The end justifies the means they say. I was supposed to have this discussion on Friday but he was busy running all over the place.

“Ah, I could text him about this on Monday. I will come in on Monday, Oct 31, Wednesday Nov 2nd and Monday Nov 7th, take care of things when no one is in the office and take leave when everybody comes back from their holidays. A replacement of sort.” I thought.

We’re actually closed for business from October 31, 2005 through November 8, 2005. That’s a long break for Deepavali (1st Nov) and Aidilfitri (2 & 3 Nov). So, it is a lot to ask for 8 days leave right after. Replacements sound sensible enough to me. Besides, I’ve done whole Saturdays and Sundays before. A long break for me is not dificult to consider, I hope.

It’s complicated and I’m sorry. But my sisters and family will be in Miri starting from 14th Nov; school holidays. With me there, it’s a family reunion. And I would very much like to spend some days visiting friends in Kuching a week before that.”

And so I text-ed

“Mr. Boss, I need 3 extra days leave apart from remaining 5 days annual leave. So, today, Wednesday and next Monday I am in the office. I need 2 b in Kch and Miri from 9 to 18 nov. Up to 8 days leave. I will be available and online throughout my leave 4 urgent matters n clarification. Hope u’ll consider and grant this favor. Thank you.”

I hesitated before pressing send.
“He has responded to my messages before. He’ll think of something. He’ll call,” and I waited.

After a while Mr. Boss called.

“I got your message,” he began.

He asked about urgent matters at hand, pending issues and unfinished business. After reassuring him that everything has been arranged and I will be in touch during my vacation, he gave me the OK. Such excellent outcome. I wished him a good Aidilfitri Celebration and hung up. My heart raced with joy. My day in the office on Halloween and Deepavali eve just got sweeter. I am thrilled with partial disbelief.

Initially, my worst case scenario was to result in three days of unpaid leaves. A considerable amount of money. But in the end, all is good. My boos is good. There has been times when I thought of leaving but today is certainly not the day. For I am going on a much needed break. Yay!

Fiesta!

Great week this is. Halloween, Deepavali and Aidilfitri. Fun fiesta holidays celebration. Soak it in!

kawanaku.com

It has been weeks since I revisited my early school days. Today, I’m on it again. There’s this great site that I find very exciting in tracking long lost friends, school friends, in Malaysia. It’s http://www.kawanaku.com/. Sort of like friendster.com but here you get to find childhood friends. I immediately signed up and started looking for friends. Sadly, only one friend from my primary and secondary school each signed up as members. Both of them I am already in contact with. This site has been out there for quite a while now but I only got to it today. There’s no telling when the rest of my friends will find out. No wonder there are just 2 of us in the class list.

I was also looking for my primary school’s website but with no luck. How I wish I could get in touch with my primary school friends and maybe have a reunion some day. That would be so cool. Reminiscing the old crazy times we has as crazy careless kids. SRB Saint Columba’s Primary School. There, that should do it. Let’s just hope someone out there will Google up this school name and find this link. Let's give it several more.

SRB St. Columba’s Primary School

SRB St. Columba’s Primary School

SRB St. Columba’s Primary School

Alright. We’re all set. The last thing I need to know is that it doesn’t work this way. Shhhh!

Oh my!

Click this link and get an earfull. This is said to be a real conversation recorded by the angry Singaporean. Phew! For your ears only. Don't sue me.

ABC...

In anticipation of the upcoming Harry Potter movie, Goblet Of Fire, I watched The Sorcerer’s Stone last night. I tickles me a little to see the young Radcliff with his squeaky little voice. And now he’s all grown up in the GOF trailer. How we grow.

Seeing young Potter’s reactions on his first school days, looking amazed and puzzled at everything, kinda reminds me of my own first few days in primary and secondary school. Though not at all magical, they were somewhat strange, scary and amusing.

I was seven on my primary school registration days. Boys wore white shirts and navy blue shorts. Girls wore white blouse under navy blue overalls. Parents busy running around getting forms signed and paying fees. Kids looking around, screening for prospect friends. I spent one year in kindergarten and though the number of new kids was not unusual, I was delighted to see so many new faces. At the same time I worried how I was going to get by, all alone. Some kids obviously knew each other and some even wasted no time chasing one another playing ‘police and thieves’ or ‘tag-you’re it’. I, on the other hand, had to start from scratch. *Sigh*

Most of the teachers looked friendly but some seemed transparently not amused. I soon learned that they were not to be messed with. I also learned that some kids were thick enough to give this fact a frightful demonstration. I was the mild mannered kid, naïve and fearful.

Senior students would walk by and take an examining look.
“Lets see who’s the lucky punk this year…”

Some of us caught a glimpse of their piercing stare and quickly looked at other random directions.

“All right now. In pairs, make two lines. We’re going to tour the school” a teacher said and we all gleefully lined up.

.
.
.
.
.

Do you still remember your first school days?

Cuckoo...

It has been three days since I got this nagging flu. Nothing major really, just annoying fluid running down my right nostril. It did my left nostril yesterday. My workstation is full of tissue paper trash. Wet ones. If there was no sniffing sound coming from me, others would definitely think I can’t stop helping myself on porn. How many times a day can a man get it good?

I could just let it crawl slowly down my nostril but I’d be tickled to death before it touches my lips. Wouldn’t want that either. Notice how easy it is to just let your tongue out and lick any savory juice on your lips. Mmm…salty. What juice did you say it was? Tomato? Oh, naughty!

I go to bed with a blocked nose. I wake up with a blocked nose. Sometimes breathing takes more effort. When I blow, my ears get muffled. Sniff…sniff…slurp.

There are times when I sneeze up to 10 times in succession till my eyes get swollen and watery, my face feels thick and puffy. Rubbing my palm against my face vigorously feels good but most of the times it makes me look worse. Kinda like having a terrible itch. Feels damn good to scratch but gets worse at the same time.

Does this sound more like an allergy attack than a flu? Either way it sucks!

I can’t possibly have bird flu. My daily close encounter is only with chicks with hooters, or some indication of sort. Besides, I should have body aches and feverish body temperature. But how much longer should I sniff! This is driving me crazy.

Sniff…

Blur me up!

Lately life’s feeling like a roller coaster.
Days gone by and it keeps on getting harder.

Work, it feels heavier on my shoulders.
Parties left me to be less than sober.
And I’m so broke I should be a beggar.

Does it help that I don’t have a partner?
The only sure thing I’m getting is older.
Oh well, such is the world’s order.

But I won’t give up, I won’t surrender.
I play my part in this great big theater.
And like art, not everything has to be crystal clear
Sometimes it just feels good to be this blur.

For sure...

Lights, camera, azan!

Scenes at KLCC Mosque on the first night of Ramadhan.

Praying space....

Praying in perspective.

Lunch up...

“I’m hungry…no breakfast” said a colleague beside me and the rest gave a brief laugh.

Why is that funny? It's just breakfast...

As they continued giggling I realized that it’s the first day of the fasting month for Muslims. In a month, Raya will be upon us again. Celebrations and merrymaking. Food everywhere.

But for now, it’s fasting time for Muslims. No lunch for most. For me, I’ll have to find an outlet for lunch without anyone giving me that incriminating look. Where no restaurateur will ask if I’m a Muslim or if I’m supposed to be fasting like everyone else. Where I won’t be rounded up with the rest of the fasting offenders during an ambush by the Islamic Department Enforcement Squad.

Hmmm. Where could I get lunch today…

Why so blue?

What is it about that blue screen stop error in windows. That bone chilling thrill that we get every time it slaps our monitor blue. The feeling that we would never see our faithful desktop any more.

***STOP

It goes on to say

If this is the first time you’ve seen this STOP error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps.

Check to make sure any new hardware blah blah blah….

There has been no new hardware added recently. And there are no new software installed. And I’m not geek enough to learn troubleshooting the error that summoned this Blue Screen Of Death, linked here. Neither do I have the time for it.

So, next time you decide to go blue on me, why don’t you follow these steps for a change.

Check to make sure that you have your foot up your arse and go funk yourself!