December 2009

WHAT? It is nearly the end of December,.. nearly to the end of this decade, and I only have published a mere one or two posts a month… Getting slower here… isk isk isk.

Planning to go somewhere soon,.. but the constraint is still there, and getting tighter every day. Arghh… What can I do?

So, most of my time I spend by browsing around in the internet. Not much action here nowadays. Good thing this year we have a lot of holiday, so I spend most of them by sleeping, either sleeping in or sleeping over.. ahahaha, oops!

For those who are celebrating their Xmas day;

Wish You a Merry♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♥ ♥ ♥We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪...And A Happy New Year!♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪..."

That is it! See you next year, I hope…

Salam Maal Hijrah 1413H

FROM the setting of the sun earlier today (December 17th), Muslim around the world celebrated the new year 1431H in the Islamic calendar.

In this part of the region, it is known as Maal Hijrah or Awal Muharam. and it is a public holiday! ehehehe

It signified the emigration (or hijriah in Arabic) of the prophet Muhammad (peace upon him) from Mecca to Medina in 622 AC. It is also symbolize our journey or migration from bad to good, in any condition or event.

Salam 1431 Hijrah for all readers… May this year give more meaning to our lives…

further reading:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijri_year
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migration_to_Medina

This video has nothing to do with the above post, just to state it is among my favourite songs... ahaks.

Aidil Adha 2009 (10 Zulhijjah 1430H)

HARI Raya Haji, or the "pilgrimage festival", marks the end of a Muslim's pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, it commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail in an act of obedience to God.

This year is a special year for my family, because we decided to sacrifice a bull. A first timer indeed…

The bull arrived two nights ago, earlier than expected, which forced us to tied the bull in the courtyard of the village's surau. And I have to attend the bull.

It was a nerve wrecking moment to be face to face with the cow. But in the end, I grew fond of him. isk isk isk

And our short encounter does taught me the meaning of sacrifice…

Salam Hari Raya Aidil Adha for all the muslim readers. Biar berkorban, jangan terkorban semasa raya… Hati-hati di jalan raya.

Long Distance Relationships

(image: http://www.explodingdog.com/title/longdis.html)

I still remembered my first long distance relationship (LDR) which started around 9 to 10 years ago.

It started with a cordial chat, through mIRC, with a person who are from the land which formerly known as Temasek. “Pelangi Petang”, sung by the late Sudirman Haji Arshad, brought back the memories. Mind you, even our LDR did not last long, but it is long enough for me to understand the meaning of love, kindness, patience and despair. Not forgetting the experience of having a person occupying your heart throughout the ordeal.

After that, my love life wandered like the small soap bubbles in the sink – circling into the vortex which eventually will be drained out through that darn pipe. Having a network of close friends during those years somewhat occupy the void feeling I had then.

Through this, I would like to send a thousand loves and kisses to my friends from Bigboyz (formerly known as MyChub). Without the emotional supports from you guys, my world will be as dark and lonely as I would ever imagined.

Life goes on…

I followed my heart which landed me back to the Land of the Hornbills. If not, this would be my second LDR. The life pace here is totally the opposite of what I had back in KL. But I was determined, committed with what I have chose and was happy of it. Period.

Until,… something, somewhere, the relationship started to aged over time. We became duller and further apart. And it ended with a reminder that no matter how you chose or took to sustain a relationship, LDR or non-LDR, you are and always be an outsider in other’s family’s niche.

We finally parted with a mutual agreement. Though we are not together anymore, there is still a bond which reminded who we are before and after a long relationship.

Second stage…

I am back to my hometown, and prepared for any circumstances that comes along the way. Or it was my first thought… Getting laid here is rather easy. Hik. But getting someone to fill your heart is a challenge.

And as a single happy-go-lucky person in this town, I cannot avoid of the love-hate lonely feeling that keep haunting me all these time…

I started from a scratch here,.. and (maybe) I have met someone… and it is another LDR all over again…

Arghhhhhh!

Life = Risk

WENT for an interview yesterday for a post as a clerk in the government sector. Being trying my luck all these years, but sadly, I guess, the probability for me to be a civil servant is rather slim.

People said that by working in a private sector, you have better career and salary compared to those in governments. Well, that is partly true.

TRUE if you are in a group of higher qualifications and are working in a big company. FALSE if you fall in the rest of the other group. Isk, isk, isk… I’m talking about the private workers here… The situation might be different if you are working in your own company.

However, considering the economical crisis we are bracing, landing a job is considered lucky.

I like my current job if you wonder (or not). There is a job satisfaction in the field I am currently ventured in. Though in a long run, I am stuck with what I am having right now. I need to consider what will becomes of me in 5 years time. No need the think further than that, if the first one is quite pathetic.

Might be this is a curse for not studying well (or using the opportunity) during my college years. No need to regret what have passed. And no need to be arrogant of what I have achieved (or not) for the so called ‘alternative blunders’ I took years back.

This is me.

I took a wrong path somewhere in my earlier life.

This is me.

I failed to make use the opportunity that were given to me during that day. Probably the unlucky ones would curse if they knew the gift was wasted on me.

This is me.

I will never let the past mistakes that I have done as an excuse for me to be a failure.

***

And for that, no matter what people said, as one of my weakness is “fail to acknowledge no as a definite answer”, I will keep trying, without any regrets, to do my best in any arrears I am in, and keep pursuing my realistic goals.

Realistic goals? Heh, now I am babbling…

***

If you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived.

Now I have to wait for at least 3 months if my interview yield any result.

Sorry for an anti-climax conclusion… ehehehe

Mood of the Day (sort of)

NOT sure if this going to work,.. I am trying to blog through Windows Live Writer, a free software bundled together with Window Life Essentials, for bloggers… Erm, took quite a sometimes to install. But hey, it is worth a try.

Seem easier to post video from youtube…

Mood of the day; for all my online friends… ehek

Dwen
Satu Penantian

Kau yang ku sayang
Dari dulu, kini dan selama-lamanya
Sebelum kenal dirimu
Sebelum jumpa dirimu
Kau sering datang dalam mimpiku

Kata hatiku
Selalu membisik kau adalah milikku
Biar lama pun kutunggu
Saat kedewasaanmu
Daku tak pernah jemu menantimu

Disaat ku sendiri
Ku bayangkan wajahmu
Terkadang ku berilusi
Tentang dikau dan aku

Ku harapkan semua ini
Esok kan jadi kenyataan
Dan aku berjanji
Kan ku bahagiakan dirimu selamanya

Kuharapkan semua ini
Akan segera terjadi
Dan semoga nanti
Bukan hanya sekadar impian belaka

 

Arrr, feeling today!..

Dramatic

BEFORE I start, kindly watch this video first...



Eheheh, now I got your attention to reckon with...

Swan sculpture during Sibu Lantern Festival 2009

Whoa! Got a lot to do these few months, and thanks to facebook again, I am too tired to blog anything.

Posing during the Lantern Festival.
I know, I know,.. I'm not photogenic

Went to several places these past few months... A week after Raya, I drove my family to Kuching, the farthest journey I drove so far. Abah (dad) is supposed to have an eye operation in Kuching since the ophthalmologist has moved there. To my dismay, the specialist postponed the operation because my father is still not well enough to undergo such procedure. The scar of his previous right toe amputation has not completely healed.

Sarikei is famous for it's pineapple

Town of Sarikei

Pineapples are everywhere

An express boat in Sarikei

A week after that, I went to Sarikei to meet a friend. Stayed overnight there and went back to work on the next day. One and a half hour journey by bus is quite relaxing, except that I have to hold on my bladder for a long time... Note to myself: create an apparatus so I can discreetly relief myself when the unexpected happened. Ahaks

3 days ago, Lai called me for help. He decided to transfer to Sibu again,..

My good friend, Lai

"What happened in Tanjung Manis?" I asked.

"Aku dah sik tahan diam sia... (I can't stand leaving there any more...)"

So, I took an emergency leave (hik) and took an express boat to Daro, meet Lai there, and drove straight to Sibu. Arrived back to Sibu exactly at 0000 (midnight). Ahaaaa... I loves travelling a lot.

Road to Daro (image: Flickr; onggon's photostream)

Daro (image: Flickr; onggon's photostream)

Believe it or not, this is Chung Hua Fire Brigade, in Daro. :P

Sometimes, without any excuse, I would help any friend in distress, indeed.

Men's Brain Women's Brain

RAYA celebration has ended for me, for now,.. has to catch-up a lot of workloads...

Selamat Hari Raya everybody! Don't let the holiday's blues get in your way!

To end my posting for the months, let us ponders about what makes us different...

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

BEEN quiet for a while these few weeks. Workload has been increased for these few weeks, especially when our big towkey decided to stay in the our office - just behind my desk. Gulp!

The result? I am very tired to think of anything to blog about.

Finally, the fasting months has ended... Did not prepared much for myself for this year Hari Raya.

Wishing all of of you, "Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir & Batin". Enjoy your holiday! I'll be back for work on this coming Wednesday, for sure.

Maybe after this I will become active blogger again - something that I really fond of.

You Can Shine

I made my towkey-nyior cried last week. I had too,.. since she told me she has forgotten how to cry.

Showing this extraordinary video, an inspiring story for us, has done what it intended to do.

Lets cry together, so we can appreciate any joy, no matter how small or insignificant it is...

Forbidden

AND the things that are forbidden are the things that attract us the most...



I keep watching these video, while puffing my favourite RAVE. :P

Bulan Kemerdekaan

IN conjunction with this year Bulan Kemerdekaan (Independence Month), let me share you a trailer for a local animation, which is expected to hit the silver screen (in Malaysia, at least) in 2011.

Something to tease you for a quite looooooooonggg time. Ahaks.

Selamat Menyambut Bulan Kemerdekaan di Bulan Ramadhan. Semoga keberkatannya dikongsi bersama.

Hazy Sibu, again.

NEARLY a week now (plus minus a day or two) thick haze has been affecting Sibu. A ban on open burning is being enforced especially towards the plantation owners.

Image: thestar.com.my

Even though the smoking stench is present all day long, most of the motorcyclist still reluctant to wear mask.

The current situation is also worsen by the road repairing works that being done along Jalan Oya. Arrrghh... dusty view ahead!

See also:

• Daily Bulletin from Malaysian Meteorological Department

• 120 Minutes With Firefighters.

Unplanned Getaway

HAD a sudden urge to go elsewhere, anywhere, as long I could forget about Sibu for a while.

This is Lai, 36.

Then, out of a sudden, two nights ago Lai asked me to accompany him all the way to Daro. He is transferring to Tanjung Manis and wanted to send his Avanza back to his home town, to his wife's home in Matu, to be exact. He do not dare drive there alone since it was a long and tedious journey. Quite risky too, because we will taking the same route which has claimed the life of his cousin. Turn out, his late cousin was the same friend (Supian) I had lost early of this year! Small world, indeed.

(Click here and here for previous post on Supian)

Next day, with all the thought, I approached towkey-nyior, asking for half day leave for the day and next, promising her that I will be back on Thursday. Asking for a leave is almost impossible for me.One thing that I have learnt by working with these hard-working people, that there is no such thing as leave nor rest! And this is one of a reason why I need to find another job. I do need a break!

Guess what excuse that I have to conjure this time? Ehehe, sudden death of close family, and I have to drive my family all the way to Matu. And guess what my towkey-nyior excuse for not letting me go this time? "Lu mesti pegi meh?" (Do you have to go?). Wah... even if this is a real situation, even if my parents died, or even if I was killed in any god-forbits accident, I will be still required to come work. Gees,.. I really need a break.

Reaching home, I told my mom about my unplanned journey and the excuse I had to tell to my towkey-nyior. I have to tell my family about this, hoping that they will not show-up unnecessarily at my office. gulp!

So, my journey with Lai, supposed to start at 1400, was late yesterday, around 1630. True to a Malay customs and believe, I invited Lai to had a quick late lunch at my home, because he told me he have not touch any rice since two nights ago. He was too busy packing his stuff that he only managed to buy MacDonald's and KFC's takeaway. Doesn't wanted him to get poonek or kempunan (jinx), especially with me around...

The fact that Lai asked me to accompany him has a unique twist with it. Because of his phone keeps ringing every five minute, I offered to be the driver for a while. For a while? Turned out, I was the driver of the Avanza all the way to Daro. I think it is Lai that accompany me to our destination, not the way around. ehehehe.

1800. Arrived at Selangau for a short refill of fuel. Erm, Sadly the Shell petrol station here does not participate in Bonuslink points reward yet. We then proceed our journey to Mukah. Did I tell you that I was the one woh drive the Avanza? ehehe

Selangau-Mukah (via Sibu-Bintulu route) was and still under construction and very precarious. I never push the pedals more that 30km/h. It was like driving off-road. 4WD vehicle is recommended for this type of road. Even though the Avanza is an automatic transmission vehicle, I keep using 2nd level gear just for a safety and easy control. One amusing site we have encountered is after the dust ahead of us was cleared, an ugly dog stood in the middle of the road staring at us. It reminded me of a cowboy one-and-one scene.

1700. The sky was long darkened and we are still stuck in this road. Like a scary movie, the Avanza was the only vehicle that still moving at this hour, with occasional one or two big lorry passing us by. Now I understand why Lai asked me to accompany him, or was it he to accompany me? Note to myself: Next time start the journey very early in the morning!.

2030. We finally reached Balingian Junction. Wow, this is the best straight and smooth road I have came across so far! Imagine that, two hours of straight road.

Finally, we've reached Mukah

2215. We reached our first destination: Mukah... A pretty quiet town at this hour. Finding our bearing here was a nightmare. Good thing Lai's cousin was waiting for us. We had our dinner at one of a Mamak (indian-Muslim) restaurant that was still opened. The Avanza was very dirty as you can get. From this time onward, if I saw any dusty vehicle pass by in Sibu, I will assume it must be from Mukah. ehehehe. Lai's cousin work the Water Treatment Building, giving an opportunity for Lai to wash his Avanza there. Free water! We stayed overnight in Mukah and I snored heavily due to tiredness... ZZZZZZ (I guess you must be sleepy reading this unofficial report)


July 30rd, 2009

0630. Woke up very early today just to sample the fresh air of Mukah. Very refreshing indeed. Very clean town. This time I am a total alien in this town. Most of the people here speaks in Melanau, a language that I have yet to mastered.

1015. After refuelling the Avanza we continued our journey to Daro. Erm, finding an exit from Mukah is like a fish in a trap. Easy to get in, very hard and confusing to get out! The journey was smooth with occasional bumps. Open burning is still visible along the way. Taking the old route to Daro is rather fun for me.

Straight Road from Mukah to Daro

Embarking a Ferry to cross the river

Somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
An old road to Daro.
There is a new one, but we mistakenly used this route.

1215. Sadly I have reached my final destination, Daro. Lai dropped and thanked me here just before I managed to take the next express boat back to Sibu. He continued his journey to Matu on his own this time. Along the way, my phone keeps ringing. The office just wanted to confirm if I could reached Sibu in time.

On board of Ekspress Begawan Laju, Sibu-Daro-Sibu.
Fare: RM17 per trip

Reaching Sibu, Wisma Sanyan is visible.

1430. Reached Sibu, feeling sad, yet refresh, and went straight to my office to work.

Thanks Lai,.. I really need this type of getaway.

P.S:// Towkey-nyior asked me what happened to my family's car? Just answered her that I went back alone. Another cousin of mine would drove them home... hik hik hik

Revamping again...

A little bored with nothing to blog at the moment, I took the opportunity to revamp my blog, though it is mere cosmetically.

Thanks to orang muar for providing me the picture of Sibu's night sky for my headers. Really appreciate it, bro! Datang lagi Sibu jangan lupa kontek yek! ehehehe.

Children See, Children Do

A friend from facebook emailed me this:

An advertisement from Australia, urging people to make positive influence towards children. A good advert, indeed.

Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) 2009

(Click the above logo for more info)

BCF started late this year. The annual festival, that used to be held on June, is now started from July 3rd till 11th, is claimed to be grander in spite of the economic resession and the impact of the H1N1 flue. (Grander BCF This Year; Eastern Times, June 19th, 2009)

(image: travelhouseuk.wordpress.com)

Even the Maori were invited to perform this year. (Maori cultural troupe to perform at BCF 2009; Eastern Times, July 7th, 2009) Ehehehe... Can't wait to watched them.

(posing at the recent BCF's parade)

Another Year

ANOTHER year passed by in my life. I'm 34 today.

TV3's Wanita Hari Ini ran a show on Andartu (Spinster) yesterday. Although the show was hillarious because of the jokes by Harith Iskandar and Adibah Noor, I kept my distance from watching the shows. You know, the usual stuff, all the remarks that our parents will throw on us...

Sadly, I still rated my self as under achievers. No resolution for this year. Got a lot of issues to catch-up with my life. Your support (morally, of course) is higly appreciated.

Thank for all the greeting from my friends, especially those from facebook. Love you guys!

*****

Pokcik pon pokcik la...
Kire aku dah jadi daddy-type ler nie!
ehehehe

Pakcik

DROPPING by at the Shell Service Station to refuel my ride this afternoon, a teenager attendant in her early twenties, I guess, greeted me...

" Pakcik, nak berapa?" (Uncle, how much do you want?)

"Huh?"... prentending to be a little deaf, asking her to repeat what did she say.

"Pakcik, petrol nak berapa?" (Uncle, how much petrol do you want?)

Without uttering any word, I just raised my open hand, indicating 5.

"Pakcik nak petrol RM 5 ? Pakcik biasa pakai yang Super kan?" (Uncle, you wanted RM5 worth of petrol? Uncle, you used to the Super type, aren't you?)

I just nodded, giving her RM10, together with a smile. The teenager then refilled my ride and hand over RM 5 change to me.

"Ni baki nyer RM5, pakcik. Terima kasih..." (Here is your RM5 change, uncle. Thank you...)

****

Next Wednesday (June 24th) I will be 34. But felt the toll of 43 when the teenager calls me Uncle. I am soooooooo old already! Isk...

Muka punya la jambu macam nie pun orang dah mula panggil pakcik. Waaaaa!

Untitled

NOTHING to do or brag about for these past few weeks... Thanks to facebook, seems that all of the idea has been poured into it, leaving virtually nothing to blog. isk isk isk... Damn you, facebook!

A week ago, Abah celebrated his birthday at the hospital. My family and I gave a surprise wishes to him on that day, which fell on the same day as Agong's (Malaysia's King/Ruler) birthday. Aisey, have to adressed him as 'Tuanku' after this. Even the nurses pitched in by singging the Birthday Song to him. Wah, abah was their favourite patient.

Presenting the suprise birthday cake.

However, abah only taste the cake a little bit.

He is now resting a home with a quite demanding atitude. Please do this,.. please take this,.. do clean this,.. blah blah blah!

Managed to take a long nap this afternoon and was rewarded with a brisk pain in my neck. Heh, I think I have sprained my neck... ouch!

Any remedies?