My Wonderful 31st Birthday Present

“Darling, you and I are going to celebrate your birthday this year in Macau and Hong Kong”, my beloved said just few weeks before December came around.

I remember he did the same thing for my last year’s birthday. We went to Kathmandu, Nepal. My mother complained that she missed me on my last birthday and she’s gonna miss me again this time. Oh Ma, it’s time I blow the candles out away from that huge dinning table of yours. She just smiled her sweet smile.

In December 2006, we were off to Macau, the city that never sleeps, they say. Our two close friends joined along for the trip. A-Ma Temple, the oldest temple in Macau, was the first place we visited. There stood the statue of a goddess called Lin Mo and she’s all glowing white and huge! The statue built in 1948 of the Ming Dynasty, was believed to be able to bring good fortune to the fishermen.

A-Ma Temple, Macau

Portugese arrived in Macau back in the 16th century (1513) but left Macau in 1849 for good. I could see most signboards, billboards, flyers and things like that were written in Macanese (Patua) and Portuguese. Surprisingly, when it comes to conversing, not many Macau people could speak Portuguese, let alone English. It took a lot of my effort and energy, not to mention money, to explain accurately and get what I actually wanted especially when they were about foods. By the mere mention of “Can I know where…” or “Excuse me, I’m looking for…” could make them flee away like I was some kind of a desease. There was a time, I had approached a guy who was standing outside a hotel in Macau. As I was about to get closer to him, I held out the map in my hand and asked where I could get a taxi to the airport and he ran away from me before I could even finish my words.

I took a peek at the casino where people threw money like it did not worth anything. Hey, you’re throwing away your fortune, for God’s sake!

But all in all, Macau was a city full of life.

We took a ferry to Hong Kong, another city that never slept. People there walked real fast, that there was a time I almost felt they were practically running. Nahhh, they’re just walking actually. Among the places I visited in Hong Kong were The Maddame Tussaud's Wax Gallery, Victoria Peak, Ladies’ Market, Hong Kong Disneyland and Filipinos’ Market.

What I adored the most was its systematic subway called Mass Transit Railway (MTR). It reached many parts of Kowloon and Hong Kong. The taxis were as efficient as the MTR.

We had a one-night stay at Disneyland Resort which would have cost me a fortune. Check this out, RM1500 a night and no chance of free breakfast. And he’s doing all the paying. He he he…

Hong Kong city viewed from Victoria's Peak

The parade at Hong Kong Disneyland

Fireworks at Hong Kong Disneyland

We went to Shenzhen the next day, as it was one of the hottest spots near Hong Kong, recommended by my very good friend, S. Azwin. At Shenzhen, you entered this one amusement park called Window Of The World. It is also known as 'a replica park' where in here you can see vivid replicas of the world's wonders, historical heritages and famous scenic sites like Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, The Great Sphinx and more. The entire masterpiece is built at ratios of 1:1, 1:5 or 1:15. Lawak la China ni, habis semua nak imitate. Handbags, shoes, electronic items, sampai bangunan pun ada imitation. Hahaha...

A replica of the Taj Mahal, Window Of The World, Shenzhen

Haaahhh…. the trip was wonderful especially when you did not need to spend a single penny. So what will my next birthday present be? Or rather, where would I be on my next brithday?Hmmm...

The Company's Nostalgia Raya 2006

What: It’s Company’s Open House - ‘Nostalgia Raya 2006′

When: November 10, 2006 (5.00pm)

Where: Palace of The Golden Horses, Serdang, Selangor.

Who: All company’s staff, VIPs, The Keroncong Band.

What: It’s all about eating, drinking, taking photos, listening to ‘keroncong’, meeting friends, talking, talking and talking.

How: Attend the function by wearing classical clothes our moms and dads used to wear during their younger years. Come as the P.Ramlee or Saloma, you might be going home with the ‘Best Dressed’ award. So let’s bring the good old times back.…

My Travel Map - 2006

Up till date, at age of 31, 9 countries covered.

4% of the world explored.

96% more to go.

 

 

Caution! Rats On The Road!

On the September 5, 2006, the streets of Kuala Lumpur were jammed with… no, not cars, but ‘rats’. ‘Rats’ in ties and briefcases. These ‘rats’ were running, no.. not running away from cats, but running for a good cause.

The 7th Kuala Lumpur Rat Race had returned. The Edge and Bursa Malaysia co-organised the Race that would benefit twelve charitable organisations this year. Donations collected from participating local and foreign companies in Malaysia would be channelled towards the beneficiaries involved in various causes.

Bearing the UEM World Berhad official sign, twelve people were assigned to participate in the race. I was one of them. Hee… hee… hee… I was one of the UEM rats! I hated rats and now I had to be one of them.

Malaysia’s Second Finance Minister, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed flagged off the CEO race and the 4.5km main race at Bursa Malaysia’s Exchange Square.

The enthusiasm of the participants was clearly reflected in their upbeat mood.

The cheerleaders, representing their respective companies, were armed with banners, flags, mascots and musical instruments including bagpipes.

At the end of the day, everybody had fun and was happy, be it the winners or the losers. Well, I didn’t make my company proud but so what… at least I completed the run. After all, the run was supposed to be fun, wasn’t it? So why taking it too hard?

Here are some of the photos taken during the race... enjoy!

Nestle

General Electric

UEM Group

Maybank

Tabby (Maybank)

Blue Hyppo (TM Net)

Sazzy Falak & the gang (ASTRO)

A Birthday & A Vacation

It’s vacation time for me, my soulmate and the gang!

On the 1st of September 2006, we went to Cherating, Pahang. As it was an ad-hoc plan, so it was not easy to find a place to stay. After checking out more than 4 hotels and resorts, luck was finally on our side and we managed to secure a room in Holiday Villa.

Holiday Villa, Cherating

  

Our times there were filled with beach volleyball and pool games, fun in the swimming pool, a cosy dinner, a walk by the beach, ‘gulai kawah’ for lunch and a midnight ‘teh tarik’ session at a stall close to where we stayed.

Best part of all, it was my soulmate’s 44th birthday. He was a bit groggy and taken by surprise when I woke him up in the middle of the night and presented him his birthday gift, a pair of Montblanc cufflinks, while the rest of us just looked on. After wishing him ‘Happy Birthday’, everyone went back to sleep. It might not be the coolest way to celebrate a birthday, but I hoped (fingers crossed) that he would remember what just happened when morning came.

Kuala Lumpur Drift

I am quite a speed-queen. After all, that’s what people always told me everytime they got out from my car. Having met with 3 major accidents which had brought me close to death and a countless numbers of minor accidents on the road since I was legally allowed to drive 15 years ago, I think I was a speed-queen after all. A reckless one sometimes. Thank God, so far no one lost his soul and thank God again, I am still breathing. However, the last accident I had was in 2004. Therefore, I presume, for the past 2 years ago, I don’t speed like I used to anymore and I realize I do behave accordingly when I am on the road nowadays. Well, once in a while, I do drive over the speed limit but I have become more careful this time and it doesn’t happen as often as before. What to do, I still have that young blood in me. Just can’t help it.

So if whenever I want to misbehave, I’ll go to Speedway PLUS situated next to the Overhead Bridge Rest Area on ELITE Highway. The circuit is opened to public everyday for go-kart and on every Saturday night, ‘drifters’ (that’s what the call for the drivers who drift) from all around the country will come over to drift. The drifters are grouped into four categories; ‘A’ for the experts, ‘B’ for the intermediates, ‘C’ for the amateurs and ‘D’ for the novices. Looking at them romping at each other on the circuit, I find it so enjoying and amusing. Just like in the Fast and Furious: Drift in Tokyo movie.

I have been taken for drift rides by Ser Meng Hui a.k.a. Ah Fai, Malaysia’s most celebrated drift expert, on his Nissan Cefiro for many times now and every time I am in his car, I get over excited and very nervous at the same time. Sometimes being drifted like that brings fear to my gentle soul. I never thought in a million years that I would be experiencing this.

As a conclusion, I pretty much enjoy it a lot. But then, who doesn’t?

The Company's Audit Committee Luncheon 2006

  

The Audit Committee luncheon took place at the prestigious Bombay Palace of Kuala Lumpur on 25th July 2006. I was seated in between YM. Professor Diraja Ungku Aziz and the Mr. Anuar Marzuki, Company’s Chief Financial Officer and opposite of Mr. Geh Cheng Ooi. Among other VIPs who made it for the luncheon were Datuk K. Ravindran, Puan Nik Airina Nik Jaffar (the company’s Chief Operating Officer) and En. Mohamed Hazlan Mohamed Hussain (the company’s Senior General Manager of Operations Division).    

This was the first Audit Committee luncheon I attended. This was also the first introduction of myself to the Audit Committee members as the one of the first technical internal auditors of the company. I was nervous, that’s for sure! Unexpectedly, these VIPs were so warm and light-hearted. I was expecting some tension or extremely serious conversations during the lunch but these people turned out to be so friendly and bubbly that my anxiety slowly vanished and I was not feeling tense anymore. It was simply cool being around these wonderful people.

The Department's Family Day 2006

We had chosen Janda Baik, Pahang for our Family Day this year and we named our special day as “Get-To-Gather 2006″. Just like any other typical Family Days, we had potluck lunch and telematch games. Some of us took a dip in the smooth flowing river. The air was very fresh and the green trees were very cooling to the eye. I was one of them who got into the water the soonest. Check out the cool photos taken during our share of good times together on July 23, 2006. 

The location

We food we brought from home

Suri ram ram ram.... come on guys, come out of the water and play!

Love Balloon game

Apple Bugs game

Balloon Crusher game

Rocky Journey game

Candies In The Flour game

Our simple yet so meaningful prize giving ceremony

Going Underwater Again

In July 2006, again, I ventured into the marine world. This time it happened under the water somewhere near Tioman Island.

Much to my disappointment, there wasn’t much to see this time. The visibility was poor. The wave and current were strong. I threw up many times, on the way to the diving spots, under the water and also on the water surface. It was horrible. I felt terrible.

I remember I got lost during one of the dives. I was busy snapping photos at that time that I didn’t realise I was actually making a 180^o turn. I was carried farther away from my buddy due to the heavy underwater current. I was out of the view of the other divers. It wasn’t long when I knew I had lost them. I panicked and shot straight right up, trying my best to resurface as fast as I could (something that I should not have done). In no time, I was already out of the water, gasping for air, screaming and praying that anyone would see and rescue me. Now, that sounds a little bit too dramatic, doesn’t it? But that was what actually happened to me. There were a lot of things playing in my mind during the ascent. Sharks, creepy creatures, monsters, ghosts, those ‘supernatural’ things, oh damn, there’s a lot more!

Lesson learned, lesson learned… never leave your buddy and always stay alert. In any situation, try to stay calm and ascend slowly if you need to resurface.

Alright! Got it!

Despite of the miserable feeling I had during the trip, I managed to complete six dives and snapped as many photos as I could. There were photos of Giant Clam, Behn’s Damselfish, Parrotfish and Red-breasted Wrasse and short clips of White-eyed Moray, Remora, Lizzardfish and Blue-spotted Ribbontail Ray.

My All-Time Favourite Singer

She was born on January 3, 1965 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

She is the youngest of 8 children.

She burst into the limelight in 1985 with her debut album “Dimensi Baru” which subsequently went gold.

She was rewarded with Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN), a federal honour, by His Majesty the Yang DiPertuan Agong IX.

She had earned a great number of achievements including Best Female Vocalist in the America’s International Star Search Award, the first non-native to win Indonesia’s BASF award for Best Female R&B Artist, the first Malaysian artist to stage a solo show in London’s West End at the Royalty Theatre and the first Malaysian to perform at the Dewan Filharmonic PETRONAS in Kuala Lumpur.

She had released excellent pop and jazz albums - Dimensi Baru (1985), Emosi (1986), Warna (1988), Lagenda (1990), Ratu (1996), Ku Mohon (2000), Cinta Kita (2004).

She is the one who sings “Antara Anyir dan Jakarta” (Malaysian version).

She was married to Roslan Aziz, the producer of her previous albums, but had gotten divorced from him a couple of years later.

She again got married in 2003 to Hasridz Murshim Hashim Abdullah, better known as Acis, who, back in the 80s, was a keyboardist with one of the Malaysia’s popular rock bands, Gersang.

She is my all-time favourite Malaysian pop/jazz singer.

She is Shaheila bt. Abdul Majid or commonly known as Sheila Majid.                                     

She was the reason why I terpacak at Planet Hollywood, Kuala Lumpur on the night of 30th June 2006, with my other-half, my sister and friends. That night she rocked the planet!

Five Memorable Days In Beijing, China

What impressed me the most as soon as I reached Beijing, China in May 2006 was the unimaginable hugeness of the city. Beijing is now a metropolitan and its modernity is expanding at rapid and unstoppable pace. People of Beijing have seen their lifestyle changed for the past ten years due to the influx of technology and foreign cultures. Some things from the past like the Chinese people in Mao suits, adorable children in colourful cheongsams, bicycles rolling the streets have become less visible. As Beijing holds the largest collection of ancient sites, it is a melting pot of different cultures that is worth explored. I also learned that the native name of China was Zhong Guo.

Circling the city of Beijing in a taxi, I discovered Beijing was furnished with gleaming high rise buildings, modern subways, sidewalk cafes, luxurious hotels and classy department stores. Six ring roads forming all around and all over the city still did not do much help to improve traffic congestion. Believe it or not, Beijing’s now in the midst of constructing the seventh ring road.

The idea of visiting historical sites such as the Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, Mao Mausoleum and Summer Palace was part of the plan in getting to know Beijing a little deeper. Not only that, being more adventurous in trying out their local cuisines was also one of the objectives.

It is not difficult to find halal Chinese food as 30% of the city is populated by Muslims. The rest are the Taoism, Buddhism, Christian and Confucianism. However as a whole, Chinese are more given to superstitions. Their standard language is Putonghua or Mandarin. Mandarin comes from a Portuguese rendering of a Sanskrit word for counsel while Putonghua is the dialect of Beijing, and was the dialect of the court, or counsellors.

Looking down at my wristwatch and then to the digital clock on the taxi’s dashboard, they showed no time difference between Beijing and Kuala Lumpur. The tourist guide, Lina, who could speak Malay language eloquently (fortunately she was a Muslim) brought us to a restaurant that served halal spicy authentic food. I started to grumble as 6 p.m could be too early for dinner. But as people started pouring in I swallowed back my protest. Lina told people here took their dinner as early as 5 p.m. We were then brought to an old library, Dongcheng District Library for an eye-popping acrobatic show. Waahhh… Awww… Woohh… oh shit!

Tian’anmen Square was the first historal site we were taken to. The square, built in 1416 also known as The Gate of Heavenly Peace, sits at the entrance of former Forbidden City and is a symbol of New China. It consists of a double-roofed tower with nine frontal columns, elevated upon a read platform with five vaulted gateways. One of the most celebrated ceremonies, the ceremony to inaugurate The People’s Replublic of China took place at Tian’anmen Square on 1st of October, 1949.

Exiting the last gate of Tian’anmen Square, we entered what had been the residential quarter of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Covering an area of 720,000 sq metres with more than 9,000 rooms, Forbidden City is the largest and most well preserved imperial residence in China today. It took 14 years to build the city and had accomodated 23 successive emperors starting from Ming Emperor Zhudi until the young Qing Emperor Puyi who was forced to abdicate the throne in 1911. As nothing seemed enough for an adventure-lust person like me, I requested the guide to take us to every corner of the city. From the bedrooms to the great halls and to the mistresses’ chambers, every detail fascinated me. It was believed that an emperor kept more than three thousand mistresses for himself but only a few would be his favourites. The tour to the ancient time ended at a bridge crossing over a moat that surrounded the city.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China, being one of the classical Seven Wonders of the World, stretches over a formidable 6,352 kilometres, is a Chinese fortification built from 3rd century BC until the beginning of the 17th century with a motive to protect the various dynasties from raids by Mongol, Turkic and other nomadic tribes from areas in modern-day Mongolia and Manchuria. This defensive wall on the northern border was maintained by several dynasties at different times in Chinese history. Because so many people had died and were buried in the wall, it had obtained a gruesome title ‘The Longest Cemetery on Earth’. The Great Wall which tourist visit today was built during the Ming Dynasty, around the year 1368 and was preserved until now. Upon reaching the starting point of the west side of the Great Wall, I saw a huge black stone with a saying “You are not a real hero if you have not climbed the Great Wall”. Getting a little bit motivated by the simple words, I started to ascend slowly, one step at a time.

The day I climbed up the Great Wall of China, the temperature had risen up to thirty degree Celcius from eleven the night before. Coughing and laughing all the way up the steep steps of the Great Wall, I found how amazing the view was. Even more amazing when I learned on how the villagers constructed the great structure. No crane, no bulldozer, no special machine. Just bare hands, shovels and strong determination.

On the fourth day of our visit, we reached to a place which had been an example of imperial gardens in Classical Chinese style. The Summer Palace located approximately 15km to the northwest of Beijing city was first built in 1750. It was later rebuilt in 1886. The huge palace spreads on an area of 2.9 million square meters and decorated with small but sacred relics like pagodas and tombs. Stunned with the details I had never known before, I looked around and realised there were many small temples scattered all around the area. I also discovered that three fourths of the area was covered with water surfaces. Its major attractions were the Wanshou Hill, the Kumning Lake and a huge garden. The artistic style of the garden which was once a kaleidescopic and harmonious, was attributed to an unknown designers’ ingenious landscaping skills.

Enough with the temples and all, the guide brought us to Ox Street where lied the spiritual centre for the 10,000 Muslims living in the vicinity. This was the biggest and oldest mosque in Beijing, known as Niujie Mosque. The mosque was a mixture of Islamic and Chinese cultures founded during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The mosque was rebuilt in 1442 by the Ming Dynasty and expanded under the Qing Dynasty (1696). The outside showed the Chinese influence while the inside deco was rich with Islamic flavour making the mosque seem more unique and different.

Five days in Beijing wouldn’t have been so great if I had missed seeing all those astounding historical places. There were a lot more to see but I wish to save them for my next visit. Else, I will have no purpose to come here again.