Secrets

In this movie, this physics nerd was experimenting electric waves on steel bars to generate a certain tune. God knows how he did it, and though I'm not a physics fan, the idea was awesome. Totally impressive. And the tune played was darn cool. The tune came from a song.

We stayed back after the end of the movie to catch the title of that song. Even after the last patrons have left and the cleaners were in to clean up the place, we still didn't get it. Maklum-lah, too many crews. The appreciation list went on forever. Giving up, we googled it instead.

The movie : Sorceror's Apprentice.
The song : Secrets by One Republic.
Nicholas Cage : Dashing.



We weren't the only ones waiting to catch the song title. There were others hanging around for it too. Yes, it is real good.

{ Continue Reading... }

First 2 weeks....

So, I've been here for 2 weeks....

The work load has been mounting each passing day. The previous fella didn't get anything straight. None of the problems were solved. Internally and externally. So there have been complaints coming in from every corner. I am here to fix things. One at a time. Or so I hope.

I have moved into my new room, although it still stinks with paint. Thus, I've used alot of air fresheners and blasting the air conditioning. I'm in the midst of preparing my pot of plant to be brought into my room. Can't find a suitable seed. But sadly, no, the room is not huge enough for me to have my own lounge in it, or even a mini bar.

Still getting adjusted to the new position and authority. I have brought in the way I used to work back at my old place. You know, something like when I want this report, I mean I want it NOW. And I don't tolerate excuses such as busy or too many things on hand. Back then, you are suppose to manage your own time accordingly. But at this place, they have no clue about urgency and stress. If you throw them more work, they'll give you this expression, "Huh? Another report? But I've already got ONE report on hand...." They'll get confused, disorientated and ended up lost. Something which I could not accept. Time to turn things around. My way!

Unlike back in those days where we speak in a common language and everyone works as part of a team, things are rather different here. I guess it's usual in the commercial line. Certain people never understood English. Or pretend not to understand. And, don't be surprised, mini war springs into full mode the moment you start your day. Conflicts. Disagreements. Hard feelings. Back stabbing. Politics. Two-faced. Fake smiles. If you bring up the GM, they bring up the BOD.

Been experiencing culture shocks. From where I came from, we mingle with the bosses. Here, people try NOT to mingle with the bosses. So I'm left in between wondering to mingle or not to mingle. Back then, 7 pm is when the office becomes alive. Dinners. Chats. Drinks. Games. Now? You'll be pressured not to leave by 7 pm.The lights are all out. Not a single soul will be around. They used to call me by my nick name. Now they call me by my surname. Damn! It's so formal.

I've established my own 'gang'. A clan. Well, I do need allies. Everyone does. They are my lunch mates and my gossiping mates. It's not easy to find people of the same age once you've ventured out. At least, they could provide some help in times of need. Although this might sound a little sampat, but I have my own phone! It's a scarce resource in the old days you know. We had to run around looking for one. Now I can be sure that when the phone rings, it will be someone looking for me. Me and only me.

It is indeed my first time out of a protected environment. It's everything on my own now. No more managers to cover me. No more directors to cover me. No more bosses to cover me. If you screw up means you screw up. It's everyone for their own mess.

Let's do see what happens in another 2 weeks.

{ Continue Reading... }

Perhentian Island

Seeing that we won't be having further Friday outings like we used to, the girls from my previous team came up with this idea to go to Langkawi initially. I honestly do not know what went wrong in between, we changed course to Perhentian island instead. And lucky we did.

Perhentian island, probably unknown to many 10 to 20 years back. Of course, it was Redang that has always been the more famous one, with its sandy beaches, vast corals and exotic marine life. As the years passed and the growing number of tourists load on Redang, the island had some what deteriorated. No more sandy beaches. No more vast corals. No more exotic marine life. "They" said it would be more enjoyable to head to Perhentian island instead. Not that polluted. And highly recommended by the tour agent. So off we go!

Out of the many packages, we opted for a 3D2N at Cozy Chalet on Perhentian Besar. The entire trip had cost less than RM 700, including RM180 for air flight tickets. The package was extensive, covering transportation to and fro the airport to the jetty (approx 1 hour), speedboat ride to and fro the island (approx 30 minutes), a tour guide to ferry you to the various snorkeling points, briefing for snorkeling, and every meals for 3 days.

Me and my girls were like little kids. Screaming and jumping at the sight of nemos and turtles. Whining and complaining at the not-so-posh accomodation. Got all excited at the sight of sharks. And not to mention, puking into the ocean. We didn't mean to pollute, but our tummies got uncomfortable and the waves made us dizzy, so we threw up while snorkeling...much to the delight of the fishes. Yuckie!!! I know.

The entire trip was all about snorkelings. No divings. No beach activities. No para-sailings what-so-ever. Even then, it was real tiring. We were already worn out by 9 pm. However, the underwater view at Perhentian had been magnificent. I know it couldn't be compared to other exotic islands, but from its on stand, boleh-lah. Ada corals, multi coloured ones. Ada fishes, multiple shapes and sizes. Ada turtles. Ada sharks. Ada clams. Ada "hoi sam". Apa-apa pun ada. Satisfactory.

We brought back more than the souveniers, the sceneries and the memeories of the time spent together. We brought back numerous wounds to the feet along with sun burns and stingy eyes from the salty sea water. And the addiction for more snorkelings. Yes, it is addictive. 3 days was just not enough to mingle more with nemos.

I simply love lying on the beach, under the palm trees, feeling the soft sea breeze on the skin and mesmerize myself on the countless stars spread across the night sky. Serene.

{ Continue Reading... }

When English was "polluted"

A vacancy posted up at an outlet window made me blinked twice and went, "What?"

First, I had no idea what that position would be. Second, I didn't even know such a position even existed.

Here's the ad I saw. You can laugh if you want to.

VACANCY

1) Account Exact

2) Graphic Designer

3) Driver

Please contact xxxxxxxx

Didn't get it? See again.

The standard of our English. Yes. Malaysia Boleh! 


*shakes head*

{ Continue Reading... }

First day...

New job. New position. New place. New colleagues. New room.

Yeaps. I'm particularly excited about the last one. And I'm even provided with a new laptop. Shucks! Thought I could ditch carrying one around after all these years.

Anyhow, first day...already been slapped with tonnes of work. Meetings. Meetings. Meetings. Discussions. Discussions. Discussions. Reports. Reports. Reports.

Challenging. That's where the fun lies.

{ Continue Reading... }

A little painting

Out of boredom, I have gone up to Bukit Tinggi for a day's tour. Honestly, there isn't much to do there. Other than the rabbits and the horses. And since I am no longer 12, so rabbits and horses didn't interest me much either.

Anyhow, I was at the French village, Colmar Tropicale, and came across this clay painting store. The sculptures were so adorable that I couldn't resist buying a couple back to work on. After all, I got all the time in the world. Hah! So for RM10 a piece, I started my painting.

From the Pokemon series.

Pikachu and Jigglypuff.

The tools.

I haven't done any painting for the past decade. So after 3 hours of mixing colours and fiddling with the paint brush, I'd finally completed painting a miserable set of Pokemon sculptures.

Ta-daaa.

Say hi to my Pikachu.

Pardon me if the colouring looks rather cacat. I memang suck at art.

{ Continue Reading... }

In the name of charity

A spring cleaning activity done a couple of months back saw these lying in the corner of my storeroom. Dating back to the 1990s when I was a tween and then a teen.

My all time favourites. Which I read for countless times.

My Hadi boys' collection. Incomplete.

The horror collection. Which was not scary, after all.

The famous lady.

Children's classics.

These were very good. But I just grew out of it.

Although I hate to part with them, but they still got to go. So I went looking for someone who would appreciate them. First thought was to donate them to my primary school. But they were too rich to accept donations, so my books got rejected. It's your loss!

Another thought was to sell them to second hand book stores. But they didn't accept much children's story books either. Another loss!

An advertisement for a jumbo sale in the papers caught my attention. Hospis Malaysia, a centre here in Cheras for palliative care. They are seeking donations of any kind for a jumbo sale to raise funds to help patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

For a worthy cause, I gathered my books and some clothes and drop them off at their centre in Taman Sri Bahtera. It was a good feeling. Although I have no idea who might buy my books, or how the funds received would be used, at least, I've done a little bit for charity. To lend a hand to people in need.

In case anyone would like to donate anything or anyone who is interested to attend the jumbo sale, which is on 31 July 2010, here's the website for further information : http://www.hospismalaysia.org/

Bye bye books! May you end up in good hands.

{ Continue Reading... }