Hiatus notice (like I need one =P)

Hahaha.. I think I should stop writing on politics. I got one political spam in my comments queue. The comment includes Parameswara and Hang Li Po and has got nothing to do with ABB party. Anyway, I’ve been really busy with work lately – I’ve worked 8 days straight i.e. I’ve lost my weekend. This is what my colleague call as working for charity!

Working in the engineering field means experience matters, and experience doesn’t come easy, it comes purely based on luck. If it happens that the problem come today, then you shouldn’t miss it because chances are, it won’t happen again in another 5 years. Once you experience it, that’s it, you can say been there done that and people will start taking you seriously. Anyway, today was my last day in office before my long break, which also means no blogging for a while… Don’t know when I’ll be back blogging, since my computer has gone cuckoo (ah yes, the new free computer)…

I think I should consider buying a new computer…

Filed under: Uncategorized

Malaysia oh Malaysia…

I was planning on writing something on the fuel price hike, and one of the plan was for me to layout my budget when I was working in KLCC – I barely survived my salary. Apparently it’s been discussed in Malaysia Today – go check it out here:
http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/8873/84/

I think this reader explains it all, I’m in almost the same shoe as he is (or was):
QUOTE
” I used to earned RM 3800 back in 2005 and I am already barely make it.

Salary RM 3800
EPF/Tax/Sosco RM 600
Petrol RM 300 (my office is in Shah Alam and I stay in Bandar Utama)
Toll RM 60 (RM 40 for 5 working days, RM 20 to travel out to places)
Parking RM 40
Car Service RM 100
Food RM 500 (working days – 20 days in a month, breakfast 5, lunch 8 and dinner 12)
Food RM 200 (weekends)
Car InstallmentRM 700 (I am driving Proton Wira manual 1.3cc)
Parents RM 200
Sister RM 100
Insurance RM 300 (car and medical insurance)

I only left RM 100 for entertainment or maybe RM 300 if I eat less or cook at home.

I stay with parent because I got no more money for rental.
I cannot even buy a house unless I eat 2 meals a day, no entertainment and drive a motorcycle to work.
I cannot get marry because it will take me 4 years (200 every month) to save enough for an average wedding of RM 10000.

Due to poor transportation in the capital of Malaysia, I need to spend RM 1300 which is 34% of my salary on car. (car loan, insurance, maintainance, petrol, toll and parking). If I don’t drive, I cannot go to work.

I stay in Bandar Utama and my office is in Shah Alam Glenmarie. NO DIRECT BUS and if really need to take bus. It will take me 3 hrs to get to work for a distance of 15km.

My company is very generous of giving at least 10% increase every year but when GOVERNMENT increase petrol 40% which will leads to everything else to increase minimum 20%.

They just “kill” an average tax payer like myself.

I earned RM 3800 and I dun have wife or children and I cannot even think of marry or have children back in 2005. I cannot imagine what happen to me now in 2008 and in the coming future. “
UNQUOTE

One comment made me feel really sad, and I really sympathize this guy…
QUOTE
“I had no motorbike and no motorcar and the time I went to petrol station is only when hiking some friends bike as passenger. Had 5 kids and my salary as a store keeper in penang is 1k since 4 years ago and increment received only twice since then but still working after moving out from KL. Never ever get a yearly bonus. Had to bear for every price increase of foods which is influenced and related to the increase of petrol prices. I really had no idea how to “Ubah my Gaya Hidup” where else the string at my stomach is been tighten gradually.Start to dream feeling a bit luckier if have at least a motorbike.”
UNQUOTE

Our people are struggling to survive. I would be happy if any YB would try just for one whole month go to work from Shah Alam (or any other suburb) to KLCC on the public transportation (during rush hours only). It is sad that our leaders, don’t really know what we go through, let alone feel the pain…

Filed under: Uncategorized

Wonderful Weekend…

Italian dude: How much did you pay to them?
Boss: We didn’t pay! You underestimated us, you didn’t pay us enough!

I suck at updating. I wanted to write on Euro 08 almost everyday, but the day after my last entry, my Internet decided to have pms and it put me off eversince. So no Euro 08 stories or flashback to Euro moments anymore…

Shida, Nini, Elina, Anies and Ayun came over the weekend. I know right, what are you doing in Brunei? But hey, you wouldn’t want to make the trip here if you don’t a friend or relative staying here, no? The time was well spent including falling asleep even before the Euro 08 game began (that was yours truly). To sum it up, we had seafood on Friday night in Miri, went sightseeing in Bandar (Seri Begawan) on Saturday and went around Seria and Kuala Belait area on Sunday. And I think we’ve covered most of the stuff here, other than missing the museum.. But it’s okay because we had good fun. Sorry, I don’t post pictures because my computer is old enough that I need to install a driver to connect it to my camera. I think I need a card reader – will consider to buy one in Seria tomorrow.

Anyhoo, the highlight of the trip was going around Kampung Ayer. We had a good water-taxi driver and it was good fun. I can’t believe that the population of Kg Ayer is 30,000 people, that’s like 10% of Bruneians! And the coolest thing is a huge parking lot across the river from Kg Ayer, where all the residents of Kg Ayer park their car. Priceless! Anyway, guys if you are reading this, I really appreciate your visit, and you guys are all welcome here – even to just lazing around and play DDR. And thanks for cleaning up all the dishes because you know, I love to stack ‘em all until I don’t have any clean one or my sink is full, whichever is faster. I can write a longer entry and you won’t even have time to read it – but you know me, I sooooo lazy!

Time flies and now I’m suffering from withdrawal syndrome… Holiday sucks! Cause it’s over when you feel that it has just begun…

Filed under: Uncategorized

Euro Fever…

Colleague: So who will win, Italy or Holland? (while an Italian colleague walk into the office, and my boss who is a Dutch is getting his coffee)
Boss: Ah, the Italians will win.. Of course Italy will win.. (with his all weird ”Italian” accent, Italian dude smile from ear to ear)
Me: You don’t want your country to win?  Are you not proud to support your own country?
Boss: Of course I want to support my own country, but we have to be realistic – we have very good players, in fact some of the top players in the world. But our team sucks!!! (laughing out loud)
All: Laugh along… 

I have so many keen memories of football seasons.. I still remember celebrating World Cup 98, Euro 2000, World Cup 2002, Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. But I guess this year’s Euro will be the most mundane football season that I’ve been in for the past ten years.  How I miss my friends and the nice and “easy” teenage life…

I remember staying up really late and barely get any sleep during these seasons.  One interesting fact is back in 2002, I remember not sleeping to study for finals and managed to catch a game at 6 am before the finals (LOL)! At this time, World Cup was in Korea/Japan and we’re on the other side of the globe. The bad thing was having to fight with some Americans who think that they are so great in football (just because they are very competitive in spor), but they think everytime a player is fouled, the team deserve a penalty (ingat ini basketball kah?) Got much to say about this, but I need to get some food… later…

Filed under: Uncategorized

Now everyone can fly…

Going back to KL over the weekend is just tiring. With AirAsia changing the flight timing of KL-Miri and Miri-KL flight, the journey is even more painful. Being in KL for a weekend feels like being here in less than 24 hours, time flies! I always have tonnes to do when I’m back and this one time, I was back over the weekend and I only got 3 hours sleep at night! I haven’t done that since I graduate! My laptop has completely konked out and the last plan for me is to reformat it, if I can ever reformat it. I love that laptop and I really really hope it survived.

I find it a bit annoying when an sms is not replied or is replied with a “K”. I think an sms deserve a minimum of “OK” because “K” is not even a word.

Anyhoo, I’m in love with the song Rule the World – Take That (Stardust Soundtrack).

Filed under: Uncategorized