May 1st - An Encounter With a Chubby Kid...

HAPPY Labour Day for all those workers out there, no matter if you are working or not today...

Even Sugar Bun offered a great deal in conjunction of this day... RM 0.99 Beef Burger. I bought 5. Got a lot of mouth to feed today...

Sibu's traffic jam is terrible today. Good thing that I have chose to drive around town using the Avanza. Automatic transmission is very handy during this hours... Have to brings my parents for some groceries shopping today. Failure to do so is easily translated to no food will be prepare on the table throughout the week! Alamak!

Then, when walking alone in market, I saw him. A cute handsome chubby kid, whose keep staring at me, as if calling me to come and grope him! Erm, after a cordial introduction, I finally decided to take him home with me,.. together with an opportunity to have some great action with him... Ah,.. even in Avanza, this chubby kid has started to do his thing, show off! Hold on boy... wait arr, I still have to on my camera first!... Jeng jeng jeng...

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.

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.

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

Working on Workers' Day

HUARGHHHHH! That is my expression on any holiday nowadays. Working in an industry which demanded to be around all day long, 365 days non-stop, like what I am into, has lost the meaning of a holiday. Like the peon character in War Craft, "Work, work, work!"

Even yesterday, my towkey-nyior still insisted me to comes to work today! Even, asked me why I don't want to come to work on any public holiday occasion! Heh, the word 'MY RIGHTS' seemed easily back-fired to me!

So, out of a habit, on any public holiday, I will switched-off my hand phone so the office cannot call me. Just imagine the missed call alert I will received when I switched it on!

Happy workers day! I did make my nephew cried a couple of nights ago! He was looking forward for not having to go to school on Workers Day. I just told him, Workers Day is FOR workers only. School children still have to go to school! ehehe...

And I just realised that Workers' Day is not to celebrate us, as workers, but to commemorate the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago in 1886. Erm, something we should not be happy about.

I am intended to my spend my day today mostly in bed. Sleep debt demanded some repayment. However, just as those lovely thought comes in my mind, my mom, without hasten, told me to cut the grass. Aisey, "Work, work, work!"

Been A While

Additional extension of my house.
A porch and a store, which seems to be bigger than my room.

Our lawn still in a mess.
The fence was finally erected because the neighbour's chicken keeps pooping at our stairs and the cats' meal bowl.

BEEN a while since I last updated my blog. Frankly speaking, there is not much happened to me for these past few weeks. we have entered a gray month indeed! And frankly speaking (or write!), I just do not want my blog to be on the last roll on someone's blogroll list. But then again, thanks for adding my blog to your blogroll.... muahs muah muahs!

Today is public holiday. But my towkey-nyior insisted me to comes to work, for half a day, at least. My respond? Well, I just switched off my handphone and stayed in bed till noon. Gosh, I still need to catched-up my sleep debt. I need them.

Frankly speaking, I just don't want my blog to be the last on other's blogroll. Errrr, I did mention that earlier, didn't I?

a cute girl wearing an adult-sized helmet.
Can't resist taking her picture.

I'm getting bored with surfing and chatting nowadays. The undpredictable hot climate in Sibu somewhat affected my mood to join any network. One time when you finally decided to go out to have some fun on a hot afternoon, you will be suddenly stuck at a bus-stop somewhere along the road because of the heavily rain. Huh, unpredictable!


Beside mirC, Facebook and YM, I also joined high5, finally. Even though the latter merely just adding some friends you already know and met in other networking group. Same rotation again, and again, and again...

At least I have some activity to kill my time with...

He's name is Mejang.
Boasted that he has 6 official and 4 unofficial childred. Grr... Nasib baik la ko comei.

Hari Raya Eve

NO words for them at the moment. Just these pictures will speak for themselves (I hope).

Again, accompanied by the noices of the firecrakers, I wish all of you,

Selamat Hari Raya
Maaf Zahir & Batin

Aidilfitri Preparation

QUITE busy today, doing so many errands for Aidilfitri/Hari Raya preparation. From 0900 untill 2343,  I was on the run, with my brother, in his new Avanza (hik!). We fetched our younger brother from Kuching at Sibu Bus Station at around 2330.

Assuming Aidilfitri falls on this coming Wednesday (October 1st), Malam Tujuh Likur is scheduled on tomorrow (depending how do you count it - presuming it fall on the 3rd night before Raya or 27th day of Ramadhan). We decided to buy so many decorating lights, especially the `rice' type. With my somewhat fair knowledge of electronics, I managed to modify some of them. Heh, looks nice, by the way. (Sorry, no accompanying picture just yet)

Pelita (oil lamp) is strangely hard to find in Sibu nowadays. Fortunately we still have some 'last year leftover' that can be used. The gasoline (here we called as minyak tanah) is very expensive - RM3.20 per litre. I bought RM10.00 worth and it barely fills 1/3 of the bottle I carried it with. Isk

And my preparation is almost complete. Don't want to mention about my baju raya. Isk.

Holiday leave? My boss deliberately granted my leave very last minutes which only starts on this coming Tuesday, even withholding my salary and ang-pow. Huh, a typical boss who wanted for maximum usage of my service yet pay for minimum wages (or lesser). Now I have to come-up with an excuse for not coming this Monday... eheheh