Gong Xi Fa Chai!

I am taking this opportunity to wish all my Chinese friends Happy New Year. Hopefully, the year of the Ox will bring more lucks to all of us.

1st Trip 2009 : Cameron Highland

I have always been longing to travel to Cameron Highland ever since I work in KL. It is just that I don't have the opportunity and guts to drive up there alone. The thought of driving up the steep hilly road with deep gorge on almost every edge and corner just scare me of, seriously! Hence, I have been procrastinating the trip until last Sunday, when all in a sudden, a close friend of mine has successfully coaxed me into following him to the hilly mountain town.

We started the journey quite late in the evening due to some unforeseen circumtances. We left KL at around half past 5 in the evening when it was raining heavily. As we were driving at night, we have decided to take the Simpang Pulai Exit, an hour extension to the journey but in the interest of safety plus not being familiar to the road, we reckoned that was the best decision. How lucky we were, the journey was as pleasant as the cold breeze that caressing my semi wrinkled skin when we reached The Herritage - The Hill Resorts - a 4 Star Hotel according to the website ~ except I forgot to check the year it was conferred such a rating!

The hotel was chosen after I have done quite an extensive research on the possible hotel candidates through the website. I was quite prepared to make the best decision for all of us based on facts provided by a website found on the Internet. How wrong I was! From the outside, I would say that the hotel is quite impressive. The tudor design makes the ambiance as English as my eyes could see. Don't judge a book by it's cover. That is how much I could advice you. The room sucks big time and it has no resemblance of even a 3 Star Hotel ~ The room has only one misserable queen size bed with old and smelly duvett that gave me rashes for few days. The bathroom, well, I should not elaborate more except mention one word - Mildew!. It was all over the wall and the thought of writing it here already make me want to puke! The only good thing that I could recall is the friendliness of the staff. The food ~ oh yeah, another interesting topic to talk about, they only achieved C Ratings and I was not even surprised judging by the sausages served which is on par with that of Ramly's Burger. Not that I don't like Ramly's burger, it is just not matching my expectation of a 4 Star Hotel that I have envisaged when I made the reservation. The waitresses were not even trained well to handle food and I encountered one waiter who even use his bear hand to transfer food from the Baine Merry to the plate. How yucky is that!

I could write a book about this hotel, especially when they are charging me an exorbitant amount of MYR210 for such facilities. Luckily my MAS ID gave me that rate or else I would have to fork out more money for a one night unpleasant experience there. Well, enough said. Now, let's talk about the Tanah Rata town. It is a sleepy town with hardly any interesting night activities except the enjoyment of watching Malaysian wearing snow cap in Malaysia while eating "Satay" by the road side Gerai and also the existence of the only kool coffee place available ~ Starbucks! At least! Other than that it is so quiet even your heartbeat could cause a ruckus when you are grasping that cold air.

To be continued......

2009...I have no expectation!

The curtain of 2008 has finally dropped and leaving behind those sweet and bad memories. Some will linger through your mind as you usher the new year while some will just vanish without a single trace.

When I looked back, there were so many sorrow that I have to face in 2008. On the contrary to my expectation when I welcome 2008. I was full of zest and eagerness. I was expecting a good year for my career as well as the well being of everybody that are close to me. How wrong I was!
First, the news about the transfer of my Boss to one of the subsidiary. Then the merger of my unit with the eCommerce Project Group. Next, my decision of not joining the team in the merger. It was followed by the transfer of my Big Boss to other division. It all happened almost on the same breath. It was a rude awakening for me and I was really hoping that I was just drowning in a temporary hypnotic trance that will be gone by the time I wake up.

At the same time, I was involved in a Faraid hearing of my late mother's real estate. It is still not settled due to some objection by my step dad. The hearing will continue on 12 Jan 2009. For the sake of my late mother's dignity, I will fight till the end. I am just hoping for the best for both myself and my step dad. At least when the dust settles, everybody including me can move on with our life.

Oh! Did I mention that I also managed to get a tenant for my Apartment in Seri Maya? A Korean family. Finally, the rent that I receive will help to ease the burden of having to pay the monthly installment with the bank. I really have to tighten my belt for almost first half of the year and I hardly go shopping. I hardly go anywhere because I have to install cabinets, lightings, air-conditioning, mosquitoe's net and etc.

So, for 2009, I don't know what to expect. I just pray for the best despite the anticipation of worsen economic situation. I just hope that my life will be more organised and I will have additional money to enjoy life. For a start, the good news I received was the signing of the new Collective Agreement for the MAS Manager's Association which will make me 8.5% richer by January 2009. That is a good start for the year! I will continue on praying and I know there will be a silver lining in every dark cloud!

Changing Mindset...Is it really difficult?

2008 is coming to an end and new chapter is beginning. I was reminiscing the year 2008 in search of anything significant events to share with readers of my blog. It is truly a challenging year for my career as I explore the new territory that will determine the destiny of my future in Distribution. I keep on asking myself if I am now ready to assume new roles and responsibilities? Many questions arise as I think about my bleak future, one thing for sure, I have yet to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Whatever it is, I am mentally and physically prepared for the battle and I swear that I will never give up until the very last breath!

It is all abut changing mindset and the capability of turning threats to become opportunities. It is about being as objective as possible even when dealing with nonsensicality. It is about being positive, and believe that nobody could change the way I think except myself. I am the biggest enemy of myself. Have you ever wondered why people choose to be reclusive when dealing with unfamiliar situation. I think, it is a sign of inferiority complex due to the inability to adapt to the new surrounding. The mind shuts off automatically and vision confines to only things that you want to see irrespective of the opportunities available to be explored.

I too are not spared from the disease but I acknowledge the deficiency and try to overcome by facing the challenges. For those of you my friends who are suffering from the same anomaly, I have few tips that may help you to overcome your shortcomings :

1. Always move away from your comfort zone.
2. Keep on challenging yourself to achieve the impossible
3. Open your mind to embrace changes
4. Never close your door to new opportunities
5. Be objective and weigh the pros and cons before making any decision
6. Always remember that you are not any less than anybody else
7. Allah is always there to help you

So, for 2009, I will not retreat and I will face the challenges like the Spartans!

Merry Xmas Ho ho ho........

I had just come back from a Xmas party thrown by my Departmental Secretary. She is converted though, but the brother came to visit from the US. I suppose, since the brother is still celebrating Xmas, she has decided to make them as comfortable as she possibly could by hosting a Christmas Dinner for them and friends. Malaysian Hoispitality I would say.

There were lots of food from Nasi Minyak, ayam masak merah, fish sambal, dalca to Grilled Lamb, salad, garlic bread, satay, desserts, cakes and I am so bloody full. It is not even funny! Seriously! It is a good celebration and I have the opportunity to meet my former Boss plus few other old friends. Damn! The bread pudding tasted so good that I could finish off the whole serving....Plus the cookies and home made fruit cakes....So yummy that whoever declined the invitation had missed what you call GOOD FOOD! ha ha ha!

Really, it is not so much of Xmas celebration, it is the spirit of living harmoniously in a land full of diversity. Truly, I am proud to be Malaysian, where people live in peace and harmony. As the clock strikes 12 midnight, I wish everybody who celebrates Xmas....Merry Christmas, to Muslim - Salam Maal hijrah and to everybody - Happy New Year 2009. May next year will keep your spirit high and you will be blessed with Love (Mok) and happiness.....Adios!

Zoo Negara

A lonely leopard...I think it is a leopard...

The Bujang Senang of Zoo negara..waiting for preys...

A huge tortoise......

I want to be a peacock..............

This is one hell of a huge snake and beautiful as well....Looks like Anaconda though....

I was amazed by the snakes in the Zoo, making it my favourite spot as I enjoy watching them slithering their ways through the human made rocks....

Another one resting peacefully even my presence was not felt by this cute creature....

New year Resolutions!

2008 is coming to an end and I need new resolutions. I am really tired of carrying the same resolutions every year! It has become predictable and I know I would not be able to achieve much knowing my past behaviour.

I will turn 41 next year and it is high time that I seriously consider my destiny in this dog-eat-dog corporate world. Afterall, age is not on my side and I am like a woman whose biological clock is ticking vigorously fast. I better do something before I am expired!

Looking back, I can proudly say that I have achieved the goals that I have set on the day I joined MAS. Considering that I am not so politically inclined in the corporate world, I reckon that I am doing extraordinary well compared to the rest of my colleagues who are still stuck here! However, one's perseverance has a limit and I think there are other hidden opportunities which I have yet to discover in the other world!

My only wish in 2009 is to venture into an unchartered territory and who knows I may be the next person to enter Forbes 50 Richest people of the world....