Final week of January 2010

That was super fast. In a blink of an eye, it's now the final week of January.

I had quite a great time at the start of year 2010:

1. New Year's Countdown in Melaka

2. First Dive of year 2010 in Pulau Payar

3. Project Care meeting in Seremban

4. Weekend in Pulau Ketam

But, it was not long after that things were getting scarier as the day goes by. There are some things which I wished it never happened but I was glad that we came forward with it. I hope that nothing's change after that... *praying hard*

It was a whole month of job hunting. Everyday I refresh the website, hoping to find job vacancies. I emailed, mailed and sent resumes to many places, hoping to get some feedback; and I did. I was called in for interview and later to decide whether or not to take the job. I declined, after thinking much further about it.

I was pretty upset with the results I got (didn't know how hard was it to hunt for job, especially in the Film & TV industry).

Was introduced to a job by a friend and sent my resume and got a call for interview and after much consideration and support from the particular friend and my family, I decided to go for the job - though it is somehow not related to Film & TV industry. I agreed to the job!

It's the last week of January and the job starts a week from now.

Three things I need to do this week:

1. Buy office wears (gotta spend money again~~~ sob sob~)

2. Find a room in Mont Kiara (damn expensive weh~)

3. Move from Cheras to Mont Kiara (again??? sweats)

One thing's for sure, I can't wait to start the job next week!

A new challenge to face...for at least 3 months lah~

The All-New-Very-Long-LRT-Train

...I should have taken the photo from one end of the train...

Was told by Choulyin that the Kelana Jaya Line LRT trains are two times longer than the original ones. And as we were about to take the train from Taman Jaya to Masjid Jamek, the very long LRT train arrived at the station. Indeed it looks really new and loooooong, even the chairs are new and the air conditioning is so cold!

Working?

Am I?

I have been 'unemployed' (better than 'jobless') for the past one month and it's been such a boring month where I sleep, eat, msn'ing, googl'ing, facebook'ing, blog'ing and of course, job hunting! Been applying for a lot of vacancies and time tends to move so slow when it comes to the waits...

Was called in for interview in a production house and a week later, I got the call that I was accepted for the job. But due to transportation constrain, I declined the job.

Later on the same day, I was called up for another interview but this time, it was a total different line of work! Yes, I finally made up my mind to try something away from production (and I seriously mean away from production!). Did a short 70 minutes test and later was the interview. Had a good interview, though...and it was time for the decision. YES! I've decided to take up the job!

To digest the decisions I made, I took a train to Times Square to catch a movie...

Watched 'Tooth Fairy' at 2.20pm in GSC Times Square and funny thing was, when the credit rolls out after the show, I began to wonder when it'll be the time where my name appears in movie credits in the cinema... is it still a long wait to go?

Well, I've made up my mind. For the next 3 months, things will be different and what comes after, I shall figure that out later...

Weekend in Seremban, Klang and Pulau Ketam

Date: 15th January 2010 (Friday)

Took a train to Seremban that morning and met up with Ming Yi for 2 lunches (yes! we had two sets of lunch) before calling Johan for a trip to Port Dickson. It was a very impromptu session and we were there at Teluk Kemang playing Banana Boat! We paid RM100 for a long 4 falls banana boat around the beach area and ended up with pains on the shoulder, head and thighs because we fell over each other~

...the Banana Boat ride...

...Johan, Ming Yi and I...

Spent sometime in the sea - swimming, talking, throwing algae at each other before getting up for a quick shower and enjoying coconut with sunset. We had our dinner in Seremban (not exactly a nice dinner, but it's alright) before heading home for a good night sleep.

...Port Dickson...

Date: 16th January 2010 (Saturday)

Project Care meeting was scheduled at 10am at Johan's house...and his mum cooks! We had a very short, but fruitful meeting on what is to happen before, during and after the installation of the solar panel. This will be shared with the other members of Project Care later in Miri.

...the very yummy lunch...

We headed to Ming Yi's house for a short while before leaving Seremban to Pulau Ketam. Had a quick tour around Klang and later Catherine and I took the ferry to the island where we checked in to Sea Lion Hotel just beside the jetty. We had a good stroll around the island - with a goal - to find the crab stone statue!

...one of the roads in the island...

...I like this picture...

Though we missed the sunset (because we were busy eating Fried Lala and Oyster), it was a clear starry sky. We got ourselves some drinks and headed back to the hotel for 'The Scorpion King' on TV2. Not to mention I didn't have a good night sleep coz the customers especially the aunty was singing so loud in the middle of the night and another uncle calling people to have drinks with him -.-"

...the night view of the island...

Date: 17th January 2010 (Sunday)

We woke up early in the morning to watch the sun rise. Though it was not as what we've expected, but we managed to snap some shots of it. Had breakfast and continued our hunt for the crab stone statue - and we finally managed to find it!

...the sunrise...

...the 'very-hard-to-find-punya-crab-stone-statue'...

We took the 10.45am ferry back to Klang and had a walk through the Klang River and to the city where I had ABC and Wantan Mee for lunch. It was a very busy day even though it was a Sunday.

...the Klang River...

It was a great trip especially with friends whom I've not been seeing for a long time. The banana boat was definitely something to remember, especially for Ming Yi. The fishing village experience was wonderful!

A big thanks to Catherine, Ming Yi and Johan!

Gearing Up for Diving!

Never thought of investing on my gears for diving because it is seriously very expensive. But, after meeting up a dive master in Pulau Payar who introduced Ming Yi and I to the gears he sells, I decided to purchase them.

...Mares Tropic Lady shortie wetsuit...

...Mares mask...

Guess how much I got these 2 gears???

RM200 only!

It's new gears. Just that we got to know this person who sells it cheaper than the market price, which after calculating, will probably cost me RM500.

Can't wait to use them in my next dive!

A day in the big city

Made a call the day before after I found a job vacancy in the papers and immediately was called in for an interview. I was looking forward to the interview, but after finding out that the office is in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, I was a little hesitant; but who would want to miss an interview~

I left home at 7am with Choulyee and her sister to her office for breakfast. It was my first time experiencing the traffic jams from Cheras to Bukit Bintang and yes! it's massive! We reached the office before 8am and had our breakfast at NZ Restaurant just at the corner of the building. I then took the Monorail to KL Sentral station and walked over to take another train to Asia Jaya station. I then waited for the Feeder Bus to get myself to McDonalds.

Stayed in McDonalds for the airconditioning and the internet while waiting for time for my interview. It was about 10.30am where I went to the bus stop and took a cab. I wasn't sure where the place is, so both the taxi driver and myself were out looking for the place.

Upon reaching the office, I was given a form to fill up and moment later was brought into the room with two interviewees. It was a good interview. Get to know the work scope, the projects... The interview finished before 11.30am. So, I took a long walk from the office (somewhere near the Sentosa shoplots) all the way to UTAR. It was blaring hot! Managed to get a taxi to the train station and off I went back down to Bukit Bintang.

Treated myself for a movie: Did You Hear About the Morgans?

...Bought the Caramel Combo set and enjoyed the movie in the cinema with only 8 people in it...

Then it was Low Yat (a place where I will always head to if I'm around that area). Went to the Apple Store to get the internet connection from my BlackBerry fixed and yesh! now...I can use internet in my MacBookPro through my BlackBerry! But, it took them like 1 hour to figure out how to get it connected~ *sweats*

I was wondering (lost somehow on where to go). I was in need of a place to sit and put my bag down because it was beginning to hurt. I walked to Lot 10 and to the 'now-in-renovation' KL Plaza and then to Star Hill and then to Pavilion. I then decided to just head over to KFC to have a drink and their internet.

Met with Choulyee and her sister for dinner at the Food Court in Pavilion before heading home. Lucky me that I still had the energy to compile my videos for my portfolio before sinking into bed while watching a DVD.

It is a day to be a home tomorrow! (which is today)

But, I'm here at Steven's Corner for internet after sending my resume to Singapore via post and picking up my pictures of the dive in Pulau Payar.

Ok! It's back to work...

Moved!

It's a new week.

Last weekend, I had to pack my bags and leave Kelana Jaya to move into Cheras. It took my a while to fix everything in my room and an hour to unpack all my bags to necessary places. Well, good thing is that, I no longer live in a 'rectangular cave' anymore! *smiles*

It's Monday.

Everyone went off to work. I am at home, alone.

Showered and went jalan-jalan around the neighborhood. I managed to send the photos to digitize them so that I can bring over to Seremban this weekend. Bought today's The Star papers and headed to Steven's Corner for a piece of Roti Boom and Sirap Ais. Was reading through the papers when I came across a job vacancy advertisement. Decided to call when I got home and walah~ they called me in for interview...TOMORROW!

Came home to update my resume and compiled my videos into a portfolio (I never actually do my portfolio until now...). Managed to access to the internet (for now, using the neighbors' internet) to go for my facebook games.

It's 6.47pm.

Waiting for Choulyee to come home for dinner and to get some DVDs to burn my portfolios.

Ready for interview???

Shall see tomorrow then!

Facebook Games

Its sad to know that Mac do not support many games I played when I was using Windows. Other than downloading playable games to Mac, I practically do not play computer games until... one day, Aaron told me that he needed help for his game in Facebook and insisted that I play so that I can help him out. So, I went and started playing 'Restaurant City'. I didn't know how addictive this game was until I started playing and playing and playing so that I can grow my restaurant bigger and bigger.

...my Restaurant City...

Later on, I found another game, Happy Aquarium, where I can grow fishes and make my own aquarium tank. I love having fishes - the two rainbow fish Catherine and I had in Miri named Ah Duck and Ah Cat - so yea! I decided to play the game...

...my Happy Aquarium...

It was the only 2 games I played in Facebook and I abandoned it while I was away in Ipoh for shoot. When I got back home for the Christmas holidays, my cousin introduced me to another game, Cafe World, which I think most of my cousins are actually playing it. So I did, I played...

...my Cafe World...

And then it was Farm Ville. Some game which I can grow plants and rear farm animals. The farm doesn't grow much but I can plant more and more and grow more and more. Though this game is all about waiting and waiting, the good thing is that it runs although I am not online!

...my Farm Ville...

I came back to KL and saw how addictive Lynn was to this game. She then introduced it to Angie and I and then we both started playing it. It's Zoo World. It's pretty interesting. I can start a zoo!

...my Zoo World...

Every time I turned on the Mac, and goes online to check my mails, this are the games that I'll open in Facebook. I leave it to run by itself and check on them once in a while. At least I have some games to look forward to play them while I'm bored.

Malaysia: Churches firebombed amid Allah dispute

I was shocked to know of the news yesterday afternoon about the fires in 3 churches here in Klang Valley. Is taken aback by what people can do nowadays to show their dissatisfaction. Read through many articles from many news channels and would like to post this article by CNN.com.

Malaysia: Churches firebombed amid Allah dispute

January 9, 2010 -- Updated 0246 GMT (1046 HKT)

(CNN) -- Attackers firebombed three churches in the southeast Asian nation of Malaysia overnight, assaults that come amid widespread Muslim ire over a court ruling that allowed Christians to use the word Allah as a term for God.

Malaysian news reports said no casualties have been reported, and police have promised to step up security for churches and other places of worship.

But the acts stirred unease in the diverse society -- where 60 percent of the people are Muslim, 19 percent are Buddhist, 9 percent are Christian and 6 percent are Hindu.

"We regret the irresponsible actions of certain extremist elements for the recent spate of firebombs thrown into church premises. These actions display their immaturity and intolerance toward others within a multi-racial society," the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia said in a statement.

The violence comes as Muslims protest a recent court ruling that allowed a Catholic newspaper to use the word "Allah" for God. Muslims believe Allah, an Arabic word, should only be used by Muslims. A stay has been placed on the order on the grounds of national interest.

Muslims took to the streets Friday to protest the use of the word by non-Muslims, and authorities such as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called for the matter to be resolved in court amicably and expressed hope the protests don't deteriorate.

"We should not raise the tension level in this country," he said Thursday, as quoted by Bernama, the Malaysian National News Agency.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia's head of state, on Friday called for calm and the spirit of unity, according to a Bernama report.

The three churches attacked were in the Kuala Lumpur region. They are the Metro Tabernacle Church, the Assumption Church and the Life Chapel. The attacks occurred late Thursday night and early Friday.

"It's incumbent upon the Malaysian government to investigate the church bombings and to prosecute the perpetrators of this religiously motivated violence," said Leonard Leo, chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency that makes recommendations to Congress and the president regarding how to handle violations of religious freedom around the world.

"There are many parts of the world where Christians do use the world 'Allah' in their translations of the Bible," he told CNN in a telephone interview. "So the Malaysian Supreme Court ruling that overturns the government's ban on the use of the word is not inconsistent with what the practice would be elsewhere around the world. The Malaysian ban is what's unusual, not the court's ruling."

Movies watched...

I was in Melaka when I went for Sherlock Holmes with Lynn in Melaka Mall MBO Cinema. The cinema looked exactly like the one in Kuching, though. I remember having Sherlock Holmes' storybook in the bookshelf at home and used to read it when I was younger. Love the story and now...love the movie!

A good combination of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, I must say. Very nice setting and costumes. Love the storyline too! Hope there's a sequel coming out soon!

I was in Penang with Ming Yi when we decided to watch this 'unknown' movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in Gurney Plaza GSC Cinema. Just because it was Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Ferrel, we bought the tickets and hoped that it will be a good movie.

If you like Alice in Wonderland, this is another must watch movie. Though I do not like Alice in Wonderland, but this movie is something out of the ordinary. It takes you into an imaginary world of desire. One of Heath Ledger's final movies...

Celebrating the New Year in Melaka and Penang

It's crazy to actually travel from KL to Melaka for 3 days and then back to KL to head up to Penang for another 3 days. But yea~ that was what I did for the New Year.

It all started with a road trip down south to Melaka for the New Year's eve with Lynn. We drove down to Melaka on the 31st morning and checked into Voyage Guesthouse which is located just behind Jonker Street and just after leaving our bags in the hotel, we headed for a queue for Chicken Rice Ball for lunch.

Day 1 was all about walking around in the historical places you can find here in the heart of Melaka. The weather was really hot but manageable (I mean, after 2 months on shoot, this weather is nothing to us). The one creepy thing we went to was Tortura 2; an exhibition which turns the stomach around. But, the RM10 entrance fee was worth it! After the long walk the whole afternoon, we headed back to freshen up for the New Year's eve party which we had at Geographer. Although we spent the night playing 'pick-up-stick' while waiting for the countdown, it was indeed a time worth spending for the New Year.

...the infamous 'head-chopping-machine'...

...imagining myself standing here back during the days...

...taken with Lynn's sanitizer...

...the moment the clock strikes 12am...

Day 2 was more of a cultural experience as we took a ride down to Mini Malaysia and Mini ASEAN park for a walk. Between this park and Sarawak Cultural Village, I still vote for SCV! *smiles* After a morning of cultural walk and show, we went to Melaka Mall for Sherlock Holmes where apparently, Lynn had her good and comfortable sleep in the cinema *sweats*. Spent the night at Geographer again - live band was superb and the environment was just nice~

...taken in one of the houses in Mini Malaysia...

Day 3 morning, we had breakfast and then it was a drive back to KL where Lynn dropped me off at the train station to head down to Pudu. There, I met up with Hiew to get my underwater camera and with Ming Yi to take a bus ride to Penang.

...Penang...

We paid for a dive package with Ping Anchorage to Pulau Payar aboard the Langkawi Coral on the 3rd January. Early that morning, a van came to pick us up to Swettenham Pier where we took a 2 hours ferry ride to the island. We had a short round of snorkeling before the other divers from Langkawi joined us on the boat.

Technically, I failed miserably on my buoyancy during my first dive - either I do not sink or I sink like an anchor! But, after taking advices from 3 dive masters, I did very well on my second dive but too bad, we didn't know how to turn back the film in my camera so we didn't have photos taken on our 2nd dive. Though the visibility was about 3meter and the current was very strong, there were many colorful fishes underwater.

...a section of Pulau Payar...

...my diving gears...

...taken on our way back to Penang...

Ming Yi and I met up with Shahul the day we left for KL. He brought us touring around Georgetown, not to mention the very famous Penang Cendol and Pasembor. We lost track of time and only to realize that we were very late for our bus ride back to KL.

...taken with my handphone as the tripod...

The bus ride was horrible, terrible and vegetable (quote from 'I Not Stupid' the movie). We reached KL at 1.45am and took a cab back to my house only to realize that the lock had been changed and I wasn't being notified. Our handphones were dead and my BlackBerry had little left but thank God that we managed to make some calls and headed off to Ming Yi's aunt's place not far from my house.

Though it was tiring, but it was a great trip indeed!

Looking forward to more dives!

Moving...again!

After four months settling down here in Kelana Jaya, it's time to pack and move again! After making a very drastic decision last week (before the New Year holiday in Melaka and Penang), I'm now folding back my clothes, unscrewing my table and zipping up all the bags to leave the keys behind.

Moving where?

Will be back with that soon...

9 Wonderful Memories in 2009

2009 is last year. 2010 is this year.

How fast time flies~

Every year gets tougher and tougher, but that's how we get wiser and wiser. So far, 2009 has been one of the toughest year I've been through. Many things changed - from being a student to being a career person, from living in Miri to living in Petaling Jaya, from living with a housemate to living alone, from smooth internet connection to unstable internet connection, etc...

At the end of every year, I will look back and reflect what I have done for the past year, the achievements I made, the people I met. It's the time to do down memory lane........

No.1 - Karate Competition

Curtin Karate Club organized a small competition in Curtin and I was encouraged by Catherine to join although I am of no belt (but I went for classes every Monday and Friday). So I signed up for two categories...and walah~ I came back with 2 medals!

...everyone in the competition...

I enjoyed every bit of the training every week and all the other training I had at home as well. Learn a little bit of self defense to toughen myself up. It was indeed a wonderful experience as I had been always wanting to learn since high school.

...me on the 'tatami'...

Would love to continue Karate if I have the time to spare. This time, would want to start with the belt!

No.2 - Miri International Jazz Festival 09

I managed to sign up for volunteering this time around for MIJF, furthermore it's BACKSTAGE! Yes, I was schlepper'ing. It was not as tiring as if I were to be schlepper'ing for Rainforest World Music Festival.

...the stage...

We had to be there in the early morning and finish late at night. We were there for the rehearsals and arrangements of instruments. It was great meeting the performers, on-stage and off-stage.

...the Schleppers...

Next is to attend this festival with tickets, so I can enjoy every bit of the music. When will be the year? Hmm... I wonder~

No.3 - Program Karyawan Muda

It was a surprise for 'Hezekiah's Rhythm', a documentary I made for class to be nominated for Best Documentary in Program Karyawan Muda 08. The ceremony was held in KL. I was being notified last minute but managed to get tickets to KL to attend the ceremony on behalf of the documentary team.

...in Angkasapuri, RTM...

Though we didn't get the Best Documentary title that night, but it was already a great success to be nominated and aired in National TV. Congratulations to the team! Hope to participate in future film festival in the near future.

No. 4 - Graduate from John Curtin Leadership Academy

After a year in the academy with 2 projects at hand; Project Care and VISION, finally it was the last poster presentation and officially, we graduate! It was a great journey through JCLA - meeting new people and opportunity to meet with people in the working world, conduct projects, helping the community and of course, to learn with everyone.

...the 1st badge of JCLA...

Looking forward for our graduation ceremony during the Awards Ceremony this year. Hope to meet everyone again soon!

No.5 - Graduate from Curtin University

Two years four semesters passed! And I am now officially a Degree Undergraduate!

How much I have learnt all these years and how many people I've met along the way. There are just so much memories we've shared for the past two years and words can't even describe it. Ups and downs throughout the years but friendship will never end.

...Catherine, my housemate...

...the drinking friends...

...the camera girls...

...Project Care...

Looking forward to my Convocation Ceremony in April for my regalia and certificate, and of course to catch up with everyone again!

No. 6 - Traveling to many places

Got my passport after 10 years and the first stamp was for Brunei. It was my first trip down to Brunei and it was a great one-day-road-trip with Catherine. Been to so many places in Brunei without getting lost that much. Not to mention the sumptuous dinner meal we had at Empire Hotel!

...the first stamp in my passport...

...sunset at Empire Hotel, Brunei...

It was then to our long awaited backpacking trip in West Malaysia after our semester. We had had the plan for months and finally we executed the plan. Though we had to cancel our trip to Philippines, we had a great time traveling in West Malaysia to many places, taking many photographs and leaving many footprints and memories.

...Cameron Highland...

...Langkawi...

...Perhentian Island...

...Ipoh...

It was a wonderful trip everywhere and no doubt, there will be more trips to come!

to Cath: the bet on my 25th birthday is still on!

*smiles*

No. 7 - I'm a Diver

After much contemplation, I finally picked up the courage to overcome my fear of water and took up my open water diving license training with Kuching Scuba Centre. It was a long 5 days course with theory, practical and exam and I passed!

...my dive card...

More dive trips to come! First to conquer all the 'divable' islands in Malaysia and it's off to other islands and dive sites around the world. Will definitely work hard to be an Underwater Photographer and Videographer on day!

No.8 - Conquer Mountains

Never I expected myself to actually climbed mountains but yes I did! The first climb was Mount Lambak in Kluang, Johor. And soon, it was off for more climbs. Though it was very challenging (especially without proper mountain hiking gears), but the satisfaction of reaching the peak of the mountain is just wonderful!

...view from Gunung Lambak, Johor...

...view from Gunung Keriang, Kedah...

...view from Gunung Jerai, Kedah...

(click to enlarge)

More mountains to climb.

And of course, the main target (for now) is Mount Kinabalu.

No.9 - First job after Graduation

Signed up for my first job after graduation in August for a TV Drama Series for Astro Citra. It was an outstation project in Ipoh where we were required to stay in Ipoh for 2 months for the shoots. It was a tough project but I learnt a lot through it. No doubt that there are so much stress and it was tiring (until I ended up in the hospital), but I am glad that I was involved with this project from the start.

...the production team...

What's next in my career? I am eager to find out myself.

2009 was a blast.

I hope that 2010 will be another blast with adventures, experiences and memories that I will never forget.

Looking forward to the New Year!

New Resolutions!

Happy New Year 2010!