Blogging & Squeeze by Time

I thought I will have more time for myself after I hand up my thesis but the fact is that, I am more hard press for time. I don't have much time to myself now. And I don't remember that I have a blog anymore until, a reminder from a friend came...

Friend: Eh, update your blog la!

So, that reminds me of the blog and I have not been updating it. I would want to try to update it because much have been going on in my life.

However, I won't be able to do for the next one week. I am havhing my PhD thesis viva (oral presentation next week). So, I shall updates in March!

Wish me all the best!

Just blabbing

Chinese New Year...

Jammed all the way no matter where and what time you travel

Noise pollution (adult talking loudly and children shouting with laughter here and there)

Hot Hot Hot

Cook, Clean and Cook again

Eat Eat and Eat more!

Everything must be RED!

Clustering of people online on different notebooks in different rooms

Children playing pc games.

Firecrackers (animated) and ANG POW! :(

Collage (n)

I have forgotten the meaning of portability and mobility for some time until I am in the Putrajaya International Convention Centre this morning and trying to get some of my work done. However, the broadband connection here can be term as 'narrowband' with, accessible only if you have waistline size 20"

Such a nice and grand place, located in the administrative capital, you can find a lot of wireless hotspots here (last count to be 4), but most of it is inaccessible...is this sensible to you? And to have such a nice and neat building, you cannot find a single port to plug your notebook in! Now I am sitting behind a counter, trying to do some work!

Oh...I am here to accompany my wife for her National Science Fellowship interview. This is a prestigious scholarship awarded by the Malaysian government to science students from the tertiary education.

 

And yours truly am a recipient of  the scholarship before.

On another note, time is up and I have to move on. We have a comfortable life, not well off, but at least, we are able to pass every month without having to starve and there always food on the table, complacency start to set in. Maybe, God is doing something in our life and bringing us to a new height and new place, for some new and to glorify His wonderful name! 

Of war and hope!

Millions of people are happy the President Barack Obama took over as President of America on 20 January.

I hope he get to work soon and end the war over in Gaza strip and also to fulfills his during the campaign to bring the troop out of Iraq too.

Let's pray that the blessing of God will continue to flow and each and everyone of us will be bless in the manner He determine for us, for His glory! 

I am in a happy mood too, as tomorrow, I will be heading back up north to Penang, the land of glorious food, for Chinese New Year and meeting with my family!

By the way, I am not kidding about 'land of glorious food' as Penang was recently voted as world top destination for their food!

I am proud to be Penangnite!

Dilemma

Have you ever dream of something and hope that you can achieve it but yet, when it's at your doorstep, you are thinking over it again?

Now you are thinking, is this what you really want?

Anyway, Chinese New Year is around the corner. Let's have a great year of OX!

Let this be a bullish year for you and me!

Of Economy Meltdown and Work

Economic meltdown is sweeping across the globe and not a single country is spared from the effects of it. The degree of the meltdown differ from nations to nations. The worst since The Great Depression, one can't be help but anxious of what is to be faced in 2009.

As a consumer, I am not shielded from economy meltdown personally. However, I know, He is in control. He said, let tomorrow worries for itself and today, have its own problems. And after all, I am nothing but His child. And if He clothed the savannah and the grassland with lily and tulips and many more wonderful flowers, won't He not take care of His child and feed Him?

But, as I sit at the sidewalk cafe and look at the people, I can see it in people's face and life.

1. The usual lunch time rush, is no longer pack. Well, at least not at the fancy restaurant but now at the office pantry to heat up food!

2. Pack lunch is more popular. Wife's and mum's cooking is the best, that's what they say!

3. Recycling is the in-thing. Mend you broken heals, re-sew the open seam on the bag, and even, the newspapers are to be sold at the recycling centre.

4. Car-pooling is a popular even though the petrol price is at all time low for the last 3 years.

5. Bus stops, commuter trains, LRT stations are all pack with people. However, one can argue, is this because of economy meltdown or because of lack of efficiency of the public transport operators and systems? After all, when are these places not pack?

6. Chill out or having a drink after work is no longer in Starbucks and Coffee Bean but at the Ali Roti Canai Stall or Line-Clear mamak stalls at the alley which served equally good coffee if not better. Who says they are lack of standards? Try sitting at by the stall which is set up beside big drains and they offer nothing lacks of 'aromas'. In fact, more! Standard are what you think it should be.

7. Overtime means 'complete-it-tomorrow'. Suddenly, nothing is urgent or important by employer. It can wait!

8. Creativity takes on new meaning. If you can cut down cost; you are creative. Doesn't matter the outlook, CHEAP is good!

9. You want to take a loan and never could do so, now is the time. Oh, no need to go to the bank, call them, and ask them to come to you! FedEx is slower than the bank officer delivering money to you!

10. Movie in cineplex? Didn't you know you can download that movie one month ago?

Now, get back to work! Didn't you know that you are only allowed to use the Internet only for 15 minutes a day to save cost on IP fees. And we are boycotting the US products. Windows and Apples software are products of USA.

Boss...I can't work. We cannot use the PC as we are boycotting US products. And we have to save cost during this harsh time!

Windows Live Writer

I have been blogging on and off for the past 2 years. One of the main reason I don't really update my blog is because I find it a hassle to online and upload my pics on blogger.

I have tried writing my post offline and then uploading it, yet its not so fast and easy. I have even tried to watermark my pics and this is the most hassle thing to do. It takes up a lot of time. This is until I found out about Windows Live Writer, that makes blogging a breeze!

Everything now is so easy. It just a few clicks away. Now I can write everything through this writer and when I online, I will just publish it.

My Redeemer Lives!

Wow! I simply love this song. This is the reason why we celebrate this season, Christmas. I do hope you love it too!

Nicole C. Mullen nicely said everything the reason why we should celebrate life and to have a hope.

2008 will be a history soon and whatever we have not accomplished nor achieved should be forgotten because we have a great God who gives us second chance. We are all works in progress! He is the reason we live! HE has a plan for us, a plan to give us a hope and a future!

Blessed Christmas

To all my friends and readers!

I wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Sabah.

Since my previous post on my trip to Sabah, I have not been able to update more about my visit to the National Marine Park. Now that Christmas Production is over and I had completed my thesis, I have more time to blog. On the second last day in Sabah before flying back, we decided to spend some time doing islands hopping and also some snorkelling. We decided to go to Pulau Sapi and Pulau Manukan. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park consist of 5 islands and easily accessible from Jesselton Pier, Kota Kinabalu. The trip to any of the islands should be about 20 minutes. It was a good boat ride and all of us simply enjoys the wind on our face and the smell of the sea. The weather was good and the sun was shining brightly as we were leaving the pier. We can customised our trip to the island when we buy the ticket at the pier. All the prices were the same and you just choose the operators you prefer. However, we have to pay extra for the snorkels and also for the fins if you want. The prices also did not includes the marine park entrance fees which is just RM2 and can be use all day to all marine park.
The first island we stop was Pulau Sapi. This is a nice coral ialand and a lot of people were snorkelling and spending time at the beach. The place is hot but we can find some tables under the tree provided by the marine park. However, there are no food sold on this island. We brought our own food along and we don’t have to worry about it. I must say that traveling to this island was one of the highlights of my trip to Sabah. I have not been to such a nice island since I went to Pulau Payar. Indeed, Pulau Payar don’t have a nice beach and Pulau Sapi has more to offer. And it’s definately CHEAPER! Fishes here are not friendly though! I must caution you that they bite! I was bitten twice and I did heard others shouting too. In fact, one was bitten until he bleeds! We spend about 3 hours on this island before heading for Pulau Manukan. We expect to see more fishes and corals but we are disappointed when we arrive in Pulau Manukan. However, of the 5 islands Pulau Manukan is the island that offer the best facilities and you can find a restaurant on this island. In fact, there is a hotel on the island. However, on marine life wise, we were disappointed. The corals here were bleached and most of it destroyed by years of eco tourism. Marine fishes were little and were too far out and too deep to swim to. But if you have extra cash to spare you can sign up for the water scuba doo.
We spend some time swimming in the sea and do some snorkelling above the bed of dead coral before heading back to Kota Kinabalu about 4pm. Overall, the trip was a good trip but should I go again, I would not choose to go to Pulau Manukan but to Pulau Mamutik which have better marine life and better corals too.
The trip cost each one of us about RM50 and a good whole bottle of sun blocks and sun burn on my back! I left Sabah a happy man the next day knowing well, it will take some time before I can spend time doing what I love to do again.

The Dream Musical - MamaMia NOT !

The Dream KOAG Christmas Drama is coming soon...real soon. Tomorrow it is!

We have our Christmas gathering last week and a lot of people turn up for the events. It was a nice event and we did a lot of activities. And there was a lot of food too... but that aside, the Christmas Drama team also did a lot of practices and brushing up in every aspect for the production!

We had our full dress rehersal two weeks ago and last Sunday we have everyone who are involve to come together. The adults, youth, children and the CZone were there to time ourselves and to work in harmony so that the actual performances will go well. Yesterday night, we have our final full rehersal and I must says, it actually went quite smoothly!

Everyone had a good time and all were dress up in the 70's! Suddenly,all of us look so old.

Anyway, do come for the Christmas Drama production tomorrow and enjoy the show. I know everyone involved had put in a lot of effort to make sure that this year production is a success. And this year, first time, we are getting pro videographer to record the drama and to market it as well in christian shops and also Canaanland! So, I am sure you don't want to miss the actual show will 'production effects' where we are using smokes maker and also even commercial fans!

So, do come early and fast - like 'fast-fast' for the 2 days productions on 18th & 20th!

Venue: Kajang Assembly of God

Address: 52, Jalan Timur, 43000. Kajang. Selangor. Malaysia

Time: 8pm