Update!!

Our project is nearing global roll out.... so its getting a bit busy now. Nevertheless, I can update this blog.... whenever i have internet lah.

I want to upload some pics.... but now at office cant do that. Im gonna do that some other time, not to distant future. Ive got some pictures from my trip to indonesia couple weeks back. Got volcano pic and stuff like that hehehe....

Lost at sea...

In a bid to save this blog from extinction, I set a goal for my self, to post update of any kind, at least once a week.

Back to my post. I thought that it was the usual thing: go through the competencies... look at the rating i give myself for each competency, reasoning provided, area for improvement bla bla bla.... then out of nowhere came the soklan cepumas from my bosses: "Do you relly want to stay in this organisation?"

That totally caught me offguard. It wasnt the usual assessment after all. Totally unprepared for this. What the hell does that mean? I seriously thought I was getting fired. After that I was bombarded with torpedos, scuds, bomb so forth. Questions on how do i want to move forward, technical or business.... engnieering or stay in consulting bla bla bla.... my contract is ending very soon....

I went straight to the point and asked them if this is related to my performance or my lack of decision making on how do I want to progress with my job. They replied the latter.... but that didnt make me feel better at all. There is still this sneaky feeling that I am getting fired or sumthing like that.

After all... after 6 months in this IT consulting thing.... I still dunno what the heck that i want to do to myself. I have no idea if i want to go to the business side, or do technical things, or leave this consulting and go back to engineering altogether. And if pepople ask u what u wanna do and u reply u havent decided or dunno... I think it makes u look like a dumbass. Bottom line, I have some serious thinking to do in this couple of weeks, which hopefully will lead to some decisiion making from my side.

Satria Neo

I just test drive the new Satria Neo 1.3 manual. Overall, I was quite impressed by it. Though they didnt really allow me to go anywhere.... just go one round around seri petaling. Pity they dont have the 1.6 manual for test drive.

I have no problem with the exterior. It looks really good to me. Build quality looks good. I really like the headlights, look like gen2 a bit, but more refined. The rear lights are ok, albeit a bit bland. The body looks beefy, due to the higher ratio of body:glass(window). Fancy the feline look also. But the gas tank cover is ridiculous. Despite hat...... still thumbs up for Proton!!

Interior is trademark proton all the way: cheap plastic. The round air cond looks ugly and cheapskate. The three knobs in the middle look like that of gen2 and dont look any better. Steering wheel feels plastic and cheap(why cant they use waja's wheel????). Dashboard:plastic. Meter panel is ok, but i dont really like the meter 'hood'.... looks like bra hanging. Door handle: round(very ugly) and plastic. Dont like the samurai sword handbrake, dodgy. Driver's position is a bit weird, quite high, which leaves not much headspace. Seat feels fairly comfortable. Not much room for the passenger at the back, but what do u expect from a satria right? Despite all these, I can still say thumbs up to proton for improving the overall look of the interior. It looks so much better than the ridiculous interior of gen2.

I am no car expert and I cant comment much on performance and handling. I was concerned about the high revving campro engine. Proton were supposed to tune it for this new satria. I have never driven a Gen2 and dont know how bad it is. But based on my test drive, the 1.3 manual version was ok, pick up was ok.

I only took the car out for like 15 minutes, so didnt really have a good feel of it. The handling feels really good. This should be expected from proton, with all that lotus involvement.

The most imnportant thing is..... the new satria is using a new mechanism for its power windows.... can we expect a no power window malfunction for the new satria???? Only time will tell.

The pricing, in my opinion, is spot on albeit predictable. The Satria is quite a good package overall.

Then we come to the holy grail of Proton: QC. I can just pray they did something to improve their Quality Management programme(if they have any...). Cannot tell.... only time will tell. But people claim that the quality of savvy models is so much improved compared to other models.

This is a good sign from Proton. I really hope they can continue to come out with models as good as this new satria... and improve quality.

It is raining outside....

This week has been so good... it has been a long time since I can sit at the office and browse internet until the cows come home..... I can get used to this again...

Anyway, it has been almost 6 months since I joined my current company, thats the longest I have ever stayed in a company. Hopefully I can make the stay longer, even though I have no freaking idea what the hell am I doing right now lalala. Well.... fck it and I couldnt be bothered, now I just want to concentrate on being confirmed and get higher salary lalala.

This also marks the almost six month that I have been staying in KL. I couldnt help it but to compare KL to kuching. Though I have stayed in KL before during my A-level years. First thing that comes to mind are the drivers..... KL drivers are among the stupidest around. Not only they perform stupid acts all the time, they embed their stupidity with agression and speed.... stupidity with added danger to human lives make them all the stupider. Kuching drivers are stupid but dont drive fast at all.... so at least they dont get killed.

what the hell am i writing about, absolutely have no idea. This IT environment has depraved me of anything creative and artsy.

The makcik who sells nasi lemak in sri petaling is always in my memory for all the wrong reasons. This makcik you would never find anywhere in Kuching. With that motherly nature and kind eyes and all that, who would expect such a person to rip you off. Well she ripped me off my nasi lemak. I would have never imagined such a humble dish like nasi lemak could be so pricey.... to be exact the simple everyday nasik lemak with sotong sambal at the side for 4 ringgit.... freaking rip off indeed. I almost believed that she ripped me off cause I look like chinese and she was being rascist.... then again, maybe she was just being a normal KL folk.

I love astro

I thought that it was the usual astro technical glitch, but the service is not back yet. So the support people were right indeed. It has got to do with the so called central system that we have here at arena green apt. Nothing to do with astro, everything to do with the central system. So there is a need to contact the management.

But people dont work on Sundays. No way to get people to fix the problem. I feel like installing the dish myself. We are put in this position where people can screw up and nothing can be done to fix the problems.

This astro service interruption is really getting on my nerves. Missed the "el-clasico" and the Liverpool match last night. Both astro and the management are morons.

I find that astro service here in KL is so much worse than in Kuching. Technical glitches, weird messages popping that cannot be deleted..... missing channels... wrongly printed bills.....omg i feel like smacking some people. The central system instead of individual dish does complicate the matter as well. This is because now we have to deal with 2 morons: astro and apt management. Sigh....

Its time to get going

I am trying to update this blog as often as I can. Dont want it to be obsolete.... I first used the word obsolete in my final 450 report and now I will use it whenever I have the chance.

Anyways, try to do that at office (update blog).... after lunch or a couple of minutes here and there.... so far its not really happening. At home the connection is intermittent at best..... better use the online time to check email and other more important stuffs... right?

We have a full house at bkt jalil. Now I have 3 housemates..... thank goodness that there is no way that the number will increase any further. Anyhow.... with the cheaper rent divided by four, comes the catch. The house could not get any more messy, blocked sink.... and weird smell.... its getting disgusting lol.

The BTA's....

BAT GSD is recruiting more Management Trainees (Business Tech Associate, BTA). I was in the first batch of 45 BTA's.... n now for the second batch I heard that they want to recruit another 30. For this position, you will most probably become a SAP consultant.... but others could be involved in other things like skyway, six sigma n MEGA. I am in SAP n have no idea about those other things. But for SAP, I think its not really technical. Its more important to understand the business processes and figure out how to make full use of freaking SAP as the supporting technology. The ad will be in THE STAR this Saturday, in "Jobs" section.

Regardless of whether you are interested in the vacancies or not..... GO BUY THE STAR this Saturday. It is imperative to go through the jobs section and take a look at BAT's ad. It is worth your money and energy to flip those pages... theres gonna be a surprise lol....

On the new T43

I got a new laptop: a Thinkpad T43...!!! My previous hp was given to someone else cause we were running short.... just got the new IBM last week. Honestly, the only thing that got me excited about T43 is its price.... and the keyboard. Feels good indeed. Other than that.... I couldnt be bothered.

The T43 is the only good think I can mention about work. My motivation is decreasing slowly but steadily. I am sick of reading. I am in a vulnerable position.... it is easy for me to start thinking that I dont have anything to do and start surfing. 9 to 5 reading as your tasklist is not good at all.... especially for new people like me. What to do... just suck it up. Have to try to motivate myself.... thats not too easy.

Went to chili's for the first time. For some reason, maybe due to my experience of living in the US.... I got this notion in my head that chilis is a western food heaven. Its like if you want to have western, might as well go to chilis and nowhere else....Those baby back rib song and n sync singing and all those commercials surely do something to your head right. So I had steak.... and it wasnt good at all. Such a dissapointment.

And I think I know when a steak is good. I had "filet mignon" at michigan league.... supposed to be expensive and luxurious cut of meat.... catering got extra and everyone got free food..... it was the most delicious slab of meat I have ever tasted. Applebees' was not bad at all too.

And it is Valentines day........

On the project assignment

Our group of 45 people is now segregated.... projects assigned and now we form smaller groups. A few people are going to africa after chinese new year.... to freaking zimbabwe.... what in the world is bat doing in zimbabwe right.... but how I wish I was assigned to zimbabwe.... not for the sake of travelling, nor the lions, baobab trees and victoria falls...... but the money.... man the allowance they give are freaking unbelievable..... maybe i am sick of reading blueprints already, cant wait to get going.... at least some trip to africa sounds like excitement and fun..... can look at lions, victoria falls, baobab trees, sand.....

What a wonderful week ahead.... I will have the whole of next week off cause im on leave next Friday...... this Sunday im off to kuching....

Confessions of a lady driver

There was this creaking sound coming from the back of my sister's kancil, i repeat, my sister's kancil, It was really bothering me, but I somehow said "just ignore it". This would not come out from the mouth of a guy..... or so said my "pillion rider". Now that i think about it..... should the kancil broke down, I would have absolutely no idea what to do. I can change flat tires, but thats about it. I am indeed a freaking lady driver. I used to drive my parents cars... but never really care about their maintenance whatsoever. This is like the first time i am responsible for a car, and the kancil is already 1500 km overdue its supposed service maintenance ...... By the way, there is no chance that I would own a kancil ok. It is a freaking sissy car, you would not find me thinking about buying a kancil, at all, and the one im driving is my sister's. I would rather drive a Kangoo than a kancil. You know renault kangoo.... it has got to be the ugliest vehicle gracing our roads, and it looks kind of funny also. No offence to kancil owners.

Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa

Grey's Anatomy is on every Wed night on tv3..... who would expect that to happen.... thats like the only thing im watching right now.... and its a good show by the way, so far....

nasi lemak antarabangsa kampung baru is so overrated, I have eaten it twice, and I still think it is so-so.... if not edible. There is nothing special about it. I cant understand y is it so famous. It was supposed to be the best nasi lemak in town. And its not cheap. So dissapointed..... and tom yam near KL international hotel is supposed to be the best in town.... ikan bakar kpg baru is also credited to be fantastic..... well just see abput that....

Direction to the Pot Luck House Warming

Address of my apartment:
19, Blok F, Tingkat 3A(essentially 4th floor.... its complicated),
Arena Green Apt, Jln 1/155A Bukit Jalil
57000 KL

As shown in attached map below, the apartment should be very easy to locate, its directly opposite the stadium nasional, just down the road from Technology Park entrance.... if u see apt blocks in front of stadium.... thats the one. There are like around 6 blocks of apt.... with an orange/yellowish color scheme.

Directions:

From Seremban H'way/Bulatan lumba kuda: Go straight to Tech Park, Go up the ramp which leads to tech park, take a right turn (towards stadium).... my apt will be on your left.

From PJ: Various ways.... you can either use kesas or fed-seremban hway or puchong bypass(via LDP sunway toll).... very hard to explain lah.... i think its easy.... just know where technology park is.... and my apt is down the road from tech park entrance, and opposite stadium....


Map of my apt 

Pot Luck Event

Pot Luck is on this Saturday,24/12/05 at my apartment, 2 pm. Confirmed people coming from elly's emel):

Elly
Hafiz
Jirah
Hakam
Matde
Chen

Everyone is invited... so feel free to invite anyone else....

PS2 aku dah modified.... tak sure leh main vcd ke tak.... For pot luck.... ill be providing drinks or ice cream and paper plates/plastic utensils....

Menara tan n tan here we come.....

My sister and my brother in law is coming this weekend.... I think im gonna spend most of the weekend with them.... the potluck thing i was initiating would have to be cancelled I guess....

Had my first ever futsal session just now.... and I think I managed to not make a fool out of myself. I am not blessed with athletic abilities.... the only sport that I can play decently is badminton.... and football is the worst. i have tried staying away from futsal at Komag.... now since other people are so gung ho about futsal... might as well join for the sake of getting together. As usual... it came to a point where I became the keeper.... when you become the keeper.... most prob ur the most useless member of the team..... looking at the brighter side.... i am so positive these days its not funny...I burned some calories. It has been months since I had any form of physical activities. I know tomorrow my whole body will be aching....

Next three weeks... we will have training at menara tan n tan. 1 more day of nothingness at the office, to go.... For the past 2 weeks at the office, I have not doing much... read all the blue prints, and tried all the coffee already.... it is time for free food again....

King Kong

It is very easy to dismiss the new King Kong as another "Godzilla" (hmmm... the trailer also looks kind of cheap and too cartoonish), but the difference here is Peter Jackson. He made 3 top grossing academy award winning movies that became instant classics.... hence I have faith in him.

So far... it has received raving reviews.... CNN.com calls it "an Instant Classic" and "In a class of its own". AFI listed it as one of the top 10 movies of the year.... and tomatometer gives it a 86% freshness rating, which is good enough.... I am definitely sure this 3-hour epic (yes 3 hours..!) is well worth 11 bucks!

Got my PS2 modified already.... the thing has become useful again.... been playing WE9. Its too early to say how good the game is, but one thing for sure, it is better than WE8.....

Jom lepak rumah aku this weekend.... have a pot luck or something. We got a fridge already... food is welcome..... anyone?

The constant gardener

Someone mentioned about wanting to watch "The Constant Gardener".... I thought no one would want to watch something with that as the title.... the title is just wrong. But actually, to my surprise the movie is actually really good... First of all it does not concern gardening.... its mainly about a group of people investigating the wrong doings of drug/pharmaceutical companies in Africa... and how Africans are used as guinea pigs and discriminated... whilst those companies continue to make huge profits.... I don’t know if this is what happening right now in Africa.... But it is believeable indeed.... and this brings me to this issue of whether it is right for me to work at a tobacco company.... This movie could be an eye opener to some.... tobacco is controversial, but at the same time, other mnc’s are no angels either.....

And I am really looking forward to watching this new soon to be released movie titled "Syriana".... its supposed to be about oil companies doing all the wrong things to make huge profits....

Narnia was such a dissapointmnt for me... Maybe it was me expecting too much of it. But it was still entertaining though... though more suitable for children. There was not a single drop of blood in the movie.

Free wireless internet??? .... hmmm

I am connected to some netgear wireless signal.... dunno from where, but it works and I am connected to the net...!!.... wireless free ke apa.....

Last weekend went back home for my sister's wedding. what wonderful event that was.... albeit a bit kelam kabut. Not too bad for us first timers. But the tok kadi was unbelievable. He was like one hour late, and everyone had to wait for him...... But nothing was gonna spoil no one's mood that day. The akad nikah on saturday was kelam kabut due to tok kadi, while on sunday the kenduri itself was mayhem bcause there were too many ppl and the catering ppl were so slow like theres no tomorrow.... our neighbor was kind enuf to open their house and let some of our guests in.....

My job was mainly as the driver of the pengantin car, penyambut tetamu and to give out bunga telur..... I nearly lost my temper with those catering ppl.... guests waiting for tables to be cleared up, and there they were sitting around...

I think my sister looked really beautiful that day.... and apart from the tok kadi and catering everything went well.... One thing I learned from this, apart from what happens on a wedding day is that "bridal consultancy"(or more like bridal shop) is one freaking good business!!!

Personalize the experience.... managing expectations.....

Been attending trainings for the past 3 weeks or so.... but the most interesting for me was the business consultancy course. I never knew such a course can be so interesting. That was a really good course. But it made me worry abit. The course somewhat gave me the idea that consultancy needs so much communication and salesman skill.... and ass kissing. I dont have those talents, nor am I eager to posess such talents.... well just see what happens with this new job.

I have been assigned to a project team.... but training is still on.... until middle of jan. Im just thankful that I am not with teams going to freaking mozambique or zimbabwe and stuff like that.....

The most pleasing thing about this job is that I am surrounded by 44 people of the same age group.... that makes such a big difference. It feels more like college than work.... I have worked with old people.... and it was not easy at all.

I am back

Nope, this blog is not dead... yet....

Finally I am online after like a week+..... feel so disconnected.....

Had a wonderful raya holiday, after 4 years abroad.... reality kicked me when the takbir was on the surau loudspeaker.... what a good and wholesome feeling it created. Food was excellent.... gained a couple kilos along the way. Visited so many people... what a holiday.

In KL right now, still at my uncle's place. Should have moved to my apartment last night.... but there was still no electricity. Damn useless agent and owner... both blur cam cipan.

But I still want the apartment.... so I give them until Friday to settle everything. 750 per month at arena green bukit jalil, I am sharing it with lat fyi..... 2 rooms, semi furnished, with brand new nice furniture.... the furnitures are like 3 times better than those at home... Lol..... I feel like I cannot let this one go......

Oficially joined BAT GSD on the 14th... undergoing training for 2 months, first 2 weeks at parkroyal.... everyday fine dining... Lol.... add that with those raya rendang and kari... omg it is looking not good for my weight.....

on why Monday is a good day

I always go to this shop for whatever photo errand needed to be done..... and I have just found out that they do digital enhancement to pictures. For my case, passport sized photo..... maybe I have repeatedly gone to this place because those pictures looked good.... they do the sort of things done to magazine covers and stuff like that. But on this latest occasion, this digital enhancement thing made me look like I was wearing makeup and lipstick..... way too much "brush up" and pimple deleting....

I have one more exit interview to go, and this is the official one with the MD and hr.... I have talked to the manager and director. I am trying to avoid HR people.... whenever I bump into them theyre like "why the @#@ are u resigning? Now I need to dig out those resumes again and find a replacement. What the hell is wrong with you?" I also need to clarify that I have no problem with anyone.... for some reason it is easy for people to think that there is some "rasa tak puas hati"......

Why does a resignation result in a backlash?.... people get fired, people get retrenched... promoted and demoted.... people come and go.

I am on annual leave tomorrow.... is it time for NFL action? Hopefully there is a game tomorrow morning....