:: I am Azrin ::

Just you and me - Kokokaina

2008-12-11T22:39:00.002+01:00

Problem Solving Matrix

2008-12-07T22:35:00.003+01:00

Of Loyalty, Race Supremacy and Yoga

2008-12-01T23:46:00.003+01:00

Hey everyone, seemed like I was taking a break from blogging. It did seemed to me that blogging is a way to express myself in ways i normally would not do. When i am happy i tell my friends, so when i am sad i write in my blog. Lately there's nothing much to be sad about, so that's why the blog remain untouched. Although life has a funny way to push me back into writing, and regret i do not feel in writing this entry.

So here we are again, yapping away at the cause of race supremacy. They always say, the first step of recovery is to admit there is a problem. When we realise we have a problem, we can try to fix it. So when there is no problem, there is nothing to be fixed, and all will remain as it is. So what is our problem anyway?

I am not a fond student of history, and i have a reason to believe that history doesnt really fancy me as much. But what i do know, empires which rise to greatness, often stumble at the end, all because of small issues that matter little to none. We are a great nation, we are so blessed with the diversity that no one could boast of, we are dubbed the melting pot of asia, where people from other culture converge and become a united community. So what went wrong in this haven on earth?

It could be many other reasons, but i believe that the presence of race supremacy is the cause of all this. How could a race be more superior to another? It is funny when a race claims supremacy just because in some crude way, that race think that they were here first. Surely that doesnt make all the difference in the world? Someone built a new house and I went it first, does that make it my house? Surely that house was owned by anyone who paid for it in perspiration, effort and money. Many Malaysians believe in God, and as such also believe that God created the Earth and Malaysia. So Malaysia is actually His and we are not the owner. But we call it home because we built it from nothing to what it is today, and deny all we want, Malaysia wasn't built only by Malays, but by malaysians (all ethnic alike) with equal tears, blood and flesh.

Wow, i never knew Yoga could do so much harm. Doing stretching and exercises could land you in trouble, so no wonder alot of Malaysians are obese. The Malays pride themselves with idioms, one such is "Buang yang keruh, Ambil yang jernih". Roughly meaning, throw the bad, take the best. Why couldnt we apply this in yoga as well, of course some deeper parts are chantings of Hinduism, but do the chantings make our body healthier when we do yoga? I say forget about banning yoga, i say ban corruption instead. Leave the people to their yoga. If we are good muslims as we yearn to be, a little exercise without the chanting could not hurt one bit. We do believe God gave us good bodies. It is our duty to take care of it, so get some exercise, make the body last longer. And then, we could serve Him better, dont you think?

Loyalty is a blind trust. It is etched in the infamous Hang Tuah folklore that Malays are passionate people, putting loyalty above all else. The modern Malay community are as ever divided as Hang Tuahs or Hang Jebats. The Hang Tuahs are the ones pulling the strings in the upper echelons, putting blind faith to those on higher positions. In Malaysia, where party is king, looking the other way is treason, and by the looks of it, could actually land you in no mans land. Such loyalty is clearly a very misguided notion, because no explanation is acceptable because the party could do no wrong. The Hang Jebats are the group of people thinking with their minds, wanting the means to be as justifying as the end, even if it is painful to bear. In the old P. Ramlee version of the story, even Hang Tuah feels the need to ask, who is actually right, Jebat or Tuah?

So my friends, ask yourselves this question: Who am I?

Tuah or Jebat?

i dare say, what ever answer you find, it could be a revelation for you.

cheers. :)

Happy Eid ul-Fitr

2008-10-04T18:03:00.003+02:00

Happy Eid al Fitr to everyone! This year yours truly is still traveling the distant worlds and currently in Abu Dhabi for a short 3 weeks of vacation, erm i meant learning.. :P

So the 1st Syawal had come and gone, while many people may be gearing up for a few more weeks of celebration or just getting those office attires ready for work on monday, i guess we had some issues that needed discussion.

So HINDRAF had came out of their shell and went to visit the dear PM on the first day of raya. And after so, mainstream media had blasted this act as desecrating the holy day of celebration. As i ponder these comments, let us point our thought on a few matters..

When the PM and the cabinet so called make a Hari Raya open house, i wonder who actually pays for the food and everything else? Is it from the kindness and the charitable attributes of the government that we so desperately want to believe? or does it actually comes from the coffers of the government which is actually the taxpayers money that the malaysian people paid over the months?

When we look above the cultural perception that Aidilfitri is a time for forgiveness and visiting families and friends, we may find that the real concept of Aidilfitri or Eid ul-Fitr actually means the Festival of the Iftar, or to celebrate that after one month of fasting, where we have successfully conquered our demons. Have they been good the whole month, and not detaining people without reason? I leave it to all of you to think about it.

Personally, I think the ISA needs a recheck, or even more so demolished. The ISA has become a handy master key (or lock instead??) to all crime issues in Malaysia. Why take matters to court when it takes a few minutes to sign a paper and send a dude to jail for 2 years. When that 2 years end sign another paper or maybe an extension to the old paper and condemn the dude to another 2 years in jail. If he commits murder, and the law says he must go to jail for so-so years, then give him 20 minutes to pack his stuff and send him to his cell. End of story, right? We should be able to make Malaysia a better place then, when all criminals can be effectively shut behind bars within days. But then again, who do we judge as a bad person?

ISA has been the joker for the cowards, we use it when we feel threatened, and by keeping it we condemn ourselves to fear all our lives. It is like bringing a piece of notes into the exam hall. We tell ourselves we wont take it out unless it is necessary, but in the first sign of hardship, we fall to our knees and beg the devil to give us answers, and thus take out the notes and start copying. Why do we do that? It is because we lack the trust in our own abilities, we lack the courage to see it through, we lack the strength to accept that if we fail, it is because of our shortcomings that we overlook the matters when we ought not to. Zaid Ibrahim was right, the government does not need him anymore on the day they invoke the ISA, because when ISA comes out and haunt you, no law is ever going to protect you.

I am so intrigued by an article written by Johan Jaafar in NST. He tells us about his childhood story of being friends with a chinese boy and another malay boy. That reminds me most of my childhood. I am pretty much blessed to be born into a mixed parentage family because no matter how i want to, i cannot be a racist. My mother is half malay-indian, My dad is chinese so who else can I be racist to? I lived for 14 full years in Sabah, where you can never distinguish a person to a race by speech, skin color or biological traits. My first crush on a girl who was chinese, and i had enough reason to believe that the first person to have a crush on me was also a chinese girl (both not the same person ya,btw i was super cute). I didnt ever mind being the only dark skinned boy in a class of 50. Everyone accepted me as a friend, I was invited to parties and to do stuff. I studied hard and did well in school, and at one point in time, i was in the top 15 student out of hundreds who applied for entrance and scholarship into a largely private and prestige chinese high school.

In the end is up to us to believe we can or cannot, and to choose who do we ultimately become. Lets borrow a quote from one of my favourite persons: Nelson Mandela.

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
-Nelson Mandela

Salam Aidilfitri

2008-09-28T21:18:00.002+02:00

Selamat Menyambut Ketibaan Aidilfitri semua!

2nd time nak hantar Salam Perantauan, terdelay lagi..

Makan sedap2 tu jangan la lupe kat aku yer..

balik ni aku nak claim ketupat, lemang dan segala jenis rendang yg wujud di malaysia..

Sape xnk bagi, wa xmo kawan..

=p

-straight from the bunker-

Show me the money

2008-09-19T21:08:00.004+02:00

So it has come to this in the end. Looks like i really had to pay off my debt to petronas. Haih~ This is where we severe all ties and from now on, we are even.

I'm sorely tempted to withdraw 1 ringgit bills and put it in a nice briefcase and walk up to the finance department to deliver it. Still havent decided on the color yet.
Any advice?

The Amazing Race 2008

2008-09-16T20:01:00.002+02:00

This year the Amazing Race features celebrities that you see on the telly everyday. This years race covers in differing landscapes and challenges. The audience can feel the race even as they sleep as this race never ends. There is no fixed amount set on the podium, winners can get whatever they desire if the reach the final and win it. Here are the final contestants:

Amazing Race International Edition: McCain vs Obama
Amazing Race Malaysia Edtion: Abdullah Badawi vs Anwar Ibrahim

There are no rules in this years amazing race. In fact in the Malaysian Edition, the organizing committee has already thrown in the towel about enforcing the competition rules. So far no clear winner is yet in sight, with latest comings being popular pundits and cheerleaders were caught and thrown in jail indefinitely. There are no more host for the game as well, for she has also been caught but soon released because they suddenly realise that if there is no host, who is supposed to narrate the whole event.

As for now, the Malaysian edition final is set at 16th september but as with most tv series, the plot has suddenly thicken and organisers has given up predicting the date of the final. For fans, stay tuned for future updates as anything can happen as this stage.

ISA lagi?

2008-09-12T21:07:00.003+02:00

Wah wah wah, ini lah backup plan kita. Bila semuanya dah gagal, gunakan ISA untuk melenyapkan kuman-kuman yang menggangu ketenteraman awam.

Kalau alasan yang digunakan untuk menghukum Raja Petra, MP Teresa Kok dan Tan Hoon Cheng hendak dikatakan demi keamanan negara, kenapa Ahmad Ismail dibenarkan bebas, apatah lagi dibenarkan untuk membuat roadshow?

Siapakah watak-watak lain yang terlibat dalam transformasi negara yang akan juga disumbatkan di dalam ISA?

Marilah kita renungkan bersama ketelusan dan keadilan yang diperjuangkan oleh DS Abdullah, Perdana Menteri kita yang keempat ini.

Superficial Malays

2008-08-15T09:39:00.005+02:00

We are superficial people. Its the truth. Do not deny it. Denial is also part of being superficial. We accept what truth we want, and reject the whole truth, mostly because the truth will not be good for us. And so, we become superficial.

I have stayed away from blogging, because the blogosphere is now a war zone. It is becoming depressing everyday to read posts online, knowing I would know something more wrong about my country. But I am biting the bullet each day reading about corruption and the misguided malays doing very stupid things. I point my finger to the Malays because the Malays are the top political icons, the Malays are the top justice and police men, the Malays are the people who do all the wrong stuff because we think we're invincible, and the Malays are you and me who think that we descend from heaven or our blood is gold and others are just cheap dirt.

There is nothing special about the Malays, except that unlike most people of other ethnic descent, the Malays think they are special. I wonder sometimes if we are heading towards the ancient India class system of pariahs and brahmins. We have this notion that we rightly own the land and others are trespassing on it. We think we hold the ultimate right to everything, and what ever we give back is a gift of sorts instead of 'equal opportunities'. Oh my fellow Malays, WE ARE WRONG!!!

We are humans, flesh and bone, no different than our brothers of other ethnicity. We are all sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, spread all over this world to uphold HIS wisdom. We were lent this short period of time to spend on this earth, to live our lives in peace and no discrimination. I am no better than you and you are no better than the person sitting behind you or next to you. We are the same, and what makes us different is the virtues we live by in.

We cannot go on like this forever, being discriminative to other people. Why stop discussions and barring people from going to Universities? My stand is clear, we SHOULD encourage more discussions and dialogue, we should reach out to people who needed voice speak for and ears to listen to them. We should tear down the chains that hold our precious institutions from declining by giving 100% entry by merit to all aspiring students. Let our students challenge each other in schools to achieve more and gain entry to the ivory towers, and let them feel the satisfaction of turning perspiration to inspiration. Let them know that hard work has its glory and glory is not determined by which race you are borne into.

But I am wrong now. Malays are special because we have the power to demand change. We have the strength to say, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH". We have the power to say, "I WANT THIS COUNTRY TO BE FREE, AND WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE SAME FATHER, ADAM". We can say that we don't need privileges, we can survive without assistance and benefits that cripple our minds, and we will succeed with our own determination and persistence.

Alas, the power is there, the only thing left is for YOU AND ME to use it.

Liberty and Justice - Quoted from Blogs

2008-07-17T09:12:00.002+02:00

Quoted from John Lee's Webpage: http://www.infernalramblings.com/

Activism is not just about marching in the streets or arguing with authority figures, though these are important aspects of it. Activism is about spreading the spirit of citizenship and the spirit of liberty. Activism is telling your friends why what is going on is wrong. Activism is expressing support for citizens who are oppressed and see their basic freedoms denied, be they prominent people like Anwar Ibrahim and Raja Petra Kamarudin, or nobodies like ISA detainee Shahrial Sirin, who could not even hold his daughter one last time before her last breath because the government has detained him without even charging him for any crime for seven years. Activism is being a good citizen. Activism is patriotism.

We cannot sit by and tolerate injustice; that is the height of treason, betraying the very principles our country has committed itself to. We all have the right to liberty and justice; these are the principles our country was founded upon. When our institutions meant to protect liberty and justice fail, it is our patriotic duty to make it known that we cannot tolerate this, that we cannot sit idly as our country founders. The government must give Anwar a fair trial; it must give him the rights and freedoms he expects as a blemishless citizen of this country. If the government will not respect the liberty of a potential Prime Minister, whose rights will it protect? Yours? Mine? Liberty and justice are what our country supposedly stands for; are they too much to actually ask for?

Remember, remember..

2008-07-16T09:19:00.003+02:00

Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
the gun powder treason and plot.
I know of no reason why the gun powder treason
should ever be forgot.

I am no historian nor a political analyst, so i wouldn't go into the events of the Gun Powder Plot of 1605. But i do like movies though, and I have always remembered the important movies that carry a strong message to the audience. One such is definitely the 'V for Vendetta' starred by Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman.

The message of this movie is clear enough for me, saying that the government should always be afraid of the people, and not the other way round. We, the people have given them the power to represent us in the parliament, and thus bring out the betterment for our nation. Alas, in Malaysia, this is not what has been happening in the last few decades.

We, Malaysians are fearful people. Fear is the heart of what we do everyday. We fear God, that is honorable. But do we need to fear the government, who by all means, are people too? From my point of view, many Malaysians, if not all are angry with the way the nation is currently being run. How could we be happy, when we have important things taken away from us, when we rightly so deserve it? We have a right to have important civil structures in Penang, the highway and the monorail, but that is taken away from us. We have a right to have the bullet train in the country from North to South, and that is taken away from us too. We have a right to go to work without additional pain and anger in Kuala Lumpur, but has also been taken away from us too. We have a right to tell the people who are representing us and say, "Hey, act properly in Parliament, fight for us, we put you in power." We have the right to walk the streets in numbers and say, we want the right things for Malaysia. We have the right to ask for justice for every citizen, to be trialled before a court of law and not chucked away into the prison on a mere suspicion. We have so many rights that were taken from us, and blame not the government, because the one who allowed this to happen starts from the very person you see in the mirror every morning.

We, Malaysians are also crippled by another awful mentality that we have, the 'tak kisah' mentality. Oh, they are passing a law to say no protesting in the streets because it is for the safety of the rakyat. Tak kisah lah, as long as we are not the ones in need to have our voices heard. Oh, they are taking away the projects from Penang. Tak kisah lah, we are living in Selangor. Oh, they are taking someone prisoner for suspect of being best friends to the person thinking of blowing up Tugu Negara. Tak kisah lah, as long as I they dont point fingers to me. Oh, they are blocking the roads of Kuala Lumpur. Ah, tak kisah lah, I'm working in offshore where there is not traffic at all.

Good morning and wake up, my friends! We are loud in the living rooms and the blogs, but we are voiceless in the face. We are experts in political and economic issues in the kitchen, but dare not to say anything in front of other people.

I see courage in the face of PR MPs when they walk out of the parliament when their voices are not heard. These are the people who are trying to resist and show the resentment in their actions. And they are not the only people who can do it. I have seen changes now, minute it may seem but yet another action nonetheless. I salute the reporters protesting when they dont let the journalists enter the parliament. We can do it too. We are all leaders, you and I, and what ever small role we might play, it must be done true to our principles. We do not need to go round in parangs or burn down buildings, but we can showing in our own actions that we would not be swayed by terror and intimidation. We can be heroes, you and I, if only our actions reflect honor and integrity.

Remember, remember..

What the Hell?

2008-06-30T00:25:00.002+02:00

What the hell is going on in Malaysia? Another sodomy charge against DS Anwar Ibrahim? Come on, who are you trying to kid? You think Malaysians are stupid????

Shite, purely full of shite. Party over the people, money over honour and integrity, who the hell we elected into the office 3 months ago? It seems like my beloved Malaysians are going down the road of 1998 again, possibly worse as those in the corridor of power realise the real threat Anwar Ibrahim has on them now more than ever. It doesnt take a genius to figure out whats the chain reaction of the event of Anwar Ibrahim taking the premier's hot seat. Massive digging into the corruption practices of the previous government, owh that itself is like finding pebbles in the stream, all you need to do is scoop down and take up a handful. People taking up challenges to the former government in terms of judiciary reforms and press freedom, firing on all cylinders on the people who were the traitors to the Malaysian cause.

Oh my god, please purge these disease out of my beloved land. Clean the holy soil of my country of the rats. Let live the democracy and the people who only want to live peacefully in the land of their forefathers.

Amin

Malaysian Artists For Unity

2008-05-16T23:16:00.001+02:00

I LOVE MALAYSIA!!!

I likey-likey..hahahaha.. Lawak sungguh!

FREE Raja Petra Kamarudin

2008-05-08T02:16:00.003+02:00

Enough is enough.

..

LEARN!

Amazing..

2008-05-01T19:59:00.005+02:00

I am very much amazed..

Why did our "government" spent more than RM790,000 on its private jets during the period of Feb 13 to March 7? I thought we don't have a government during that period of time.

I wonder, when the parliament dissolves, and all the cabinet ministers are relieved of their duty for the next 2 weeks, why do we still incur such extravagant expenses?

Isn't that the period in which the parties should be campaigning for the General Election?

Sounds to me, some might be playing it abit unfair by riding into campaigns on White Horses while others ride the mules.

I know nothing anyways, thats why I am so amazed.

NST Online Page: Dewan Rakyat: RM790,000 spent on jets

Meet Uncle Hussein - Lagu Untukmu

2008-03-28T10:20:00.001+01:00

Just like this song, upbeat and groovy.. Go Malaysia!

Daring to Dream?

2008-03-12T17:30:00.002+01:00

Wow. What a weekend of General Election.

Surprised, surprise! I got my wish: BN winning the election but without the 2/3 majority, thats exactly what i hopped for. It was a happy day for me!

However, the thing i found most refreshing is that instead of complaining in our own sitting room, the people of Malaysia have voiced out their concerns and hopes in the recent GE. The results matters, but most of all is the democracy that we have so long thought dead has spoken again. I salute thee, Malaysians.

Having such results would now entice us to start dreaming again. Dreaming for a better Malaysia, for a stronger nation and border less unity between the races in Malaysia. We need a stronger economy, a transparent system of governance to show Malaysians that the government mean business and there's no hanky panky dealings behind the curtains and under the tables. I am a believer that challenges bring out the best in us all, rather than rest on our laurels and wait for the gold to be falling from the sky. The great loss for BN could only mean that now everyone in UMNO, MCA and MIC would work hard to regain the people's trust, and the great victory for the previously so-called Opposition would also work their asses off to show that the people have made the right choice and they are here to stay. We, the people would and could only benefit from such rivalry, just like our favourite telecomms networks, Maxis, Celcom and Digi going out of their way to please the consumers.

People should not be afraid of their government, but the government should be afraid of their people. The mandate was given by the people, and thus be honored by the government of the day. Our past governments have the luxury of being over-confident, arrogant in the face of overwhelming support over the last 50 years of independence. This lesson could possibly make the BN a better and stronger government than its predecessors. Only if the lesson is learnt, that is.

Nonetheless, the day is still too young to feel triumphed or defeated by just the counts of votes upon the scoreboard. Would the alternative government fail in their promises and pledges? Would the people see a backlash of fortunes given this turn of events? No one could ever expect the real outcome of the GE, until the next GE comes along and we again have choices to be made.
Until then, all we can do is dare to dream.

I Stuck with Harry till the End

2008-02-18T06:02:00.002+01:00

Its kinda sad, really turning the last pages of the book which i so eagerly waited for, and now so dyingly not want to finish reading. It has been a long, emotional and deeply engrossing month, book after book, until i reach the part when it says, "All is well".

I havent been reading for awhile now, the last story books i read diligently was Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. But Harry Potter reminds me most of the books i loved so much when i was a kid, which were Enid Blyton's Famous Five series.

Rowling's Harry Potter was somewhat different from the Famous Five, with bringing the fiction as well the love, mystery, rivalry and courage into the series. Add the part where most kids and young adults (such as myself) have always dreamed being a wizard or having magic around us, the story makes a wonderfully written plot into an imaginative and warm world of magic.

I cannot say at the end of the series which character was my favourite. Harry for being the Boy Who Lived? Ron for being the ever present best friend? Hermoine for being the brainy love of Ron? Neville? Luna? Ginny? Dumbledore? I loved them all. It was Rowling's best trait i believe to develop each character to its own accord, having their own path.

it saddens me still, to know that childhood has past me by, the color and warmth of childhood has been drawn to its own end, looming at large is the adulthood. Adulthood with such burden to hold at heart for now each of my actions carries its own weight, its own end.

Nevertheless, I have lived as a boy during the last month, living in the magical world of Hogwarts, feeling the magic that Rowling has woven for me, you and all who cared to read those books. It is by also by her magic that the final book was dedicated to everyone who had been reading Harry Potter till the end.

I couldnt be more proud to say, that I had stuck with Harry till the end.

Signing off 2007

2007-12-31T00:05:00.000+01:00

Sebenarnye, bile tgk org lain dah update blog, terase pulak mcm dipinggirkan. Lepas tu baru la perasan yang rupa2nya, tahun 2007 dah nak habis. Oklah, cukup dah reasons nak update blog yg dah bersawang ni.

Let's see, ape yang dah berlaku pada tahun 2007? ...

Jan 2007 - Yay, selepas bertungkus lumus dlm percubaan nak siapkan FYP. X kire la siap ke x, yang penting lulus. Great news, xde lagi Formation Damage yg men-damagekn otak aku.

Feb 2007 - Kebosanan melanda dgn hebatnye. Best duk umah, tp bosan sbb xde duit nak gi mane2 atau nak buat ape2. 12 Feb - tarikh rasmi diambil keje kat RNZ sebagai engineer. Gaji kecik xkisah, yg penting at least boleh bergelar engineer. Sronok gak ade title engineer ni, rase la mcm dh grown up.

Mac 2007 - Sronok keje sambil menunggu petronas panggil.

April 2007 - Dapat berita gembira dr Kak Fauziah, Schlumberger. Hepi sbb dpt peluang nk terbang jauh2, tgk dunia yg selama ni nmpk kat tv jek. Ramai org kate Norway tu cantik. X sabar nak gi, tp sedih lak nk tinggalkan cinta hati, family kat Malaysia. Xpe, niat dlm hati nak gi kejap je. Muda2 ni kne la berkorban sket, cukup ilmu dan duit, pasti nak balik negara sendiri gak. Sbb xde tempat lain kat dunia ni ade nasi lemak, asam pedas mcm kat M'sia.

May 2007 - Dapat offer petronas, tp dah lambat sbb minggu depannye nak terbang dh. Dah tekad nak gi Norway, so decisions must be made. Maka terbang lah ke Paris, my first stop kat luar Malaysia. First experience kat negara org, susah betol nak communicate klu org x ckp english. Besar rupenye dunia ni. For a while rase lost yang amat sgt. Sampai Paris, beg delay 12 jam kat airport. Termenung gak aku kat tingkap melihat hujan musim Spring kat Paris. Dari Paris ke Stavanger. I hate Schipol airport, 2 kali lalu tempat ni, 2 kali kne delay and miss flight.
First impression of Stavanger: Mcm Shah Alam versi Eropah. Population Stavanger pon mcm Shah Alam kot.

June 2007 - Burfday kat Norway. Special gak, sbb on my burfday, aku terjun dlm North Sea pakai survival suit yg mcm baju astronout. Cool betol baju ni, terjun laut pon, naik atas darat kering mcm xde pape je. Yang paling best psl Norway, keje aku flexible psl office hours ni. Nk gi lambat atau xnk pegi pon, xde org yg pedulik. Yang penting keje siap. Ni klu buat kat Msia, sume org xdtg keje kot. System based on trust, accountability and self-responsibility. Gi offshore 1st time, dpt gi ke platform yg ke-3 besar kat dunia. Antara platform yg ter-best kat dunia gak, dgn facility yg gempak2. If this is the life as Schlumberger FE, not bad jugak la kan.

Jul 2007 - First setback dlm Schlumberger. Kene delay pegi school for 2 months. Perasaan lost gak sbb xtau nak buat ape for 2 months kat Norway ni. Nak pegi offshore, possibility dh almost zero. Tetiba dpt idea utk balik ke convo kat M'sia. Yay, the impossible is now so much possible again. Spend 2 hari kat Oslo on visa-cum-vacation. Beautiful city, tp conclusion, xsronok travel sorg2 ni.

Aug 2007 - Akhirnya dapat pulang ke M'sia. Bukan tu je, pulang nak kuda eMAS. =p Bukan selalu dpt naik golden class kat MAS kan? Plan utk buat Scuba OW license pon menjadi kenyataan. Dunia pon lain 20m dlm laut, walaupun still kat M'sia. Aman sungguh. Cantik ciptaan Allah kan. Dapat pergi ke Convo 2007. Highlight of the year, jumpe kawan2, 3 hari yang sungguh best, sronok dpt bagi 1st class treatment kat my parents. This is what money is for, right? Ni bulan aku kembali single, jodoh ni elusive rupanye. Xpe, I still have time. Nmpk nye mama kne la tunggu lame sket nak tgk cucu ek. =p

Sept 2007 - Cuti2 M'sia 2007 sudah tibe kat penghujungnye. Mase utk ke sekolah. First time terbang lebih dr 2 hari utk sampai ke destinasi: US. Jumpe Bann dan juga kawan2 sekelas kat Sugarland, Houston. Beginning of 10 weeks of total fun. Enjoy food, spend time shopping, dan juga terjun kapal terbang.

Oct 2007 - Working life pon xbest mcm ni. Shopping, skydiving, sight-seeing continues.

Nov 2007 - All good things must come to an end. Sedih gile nak berpisah dgn kawan2 yg aku dh spend 10 weeks bersama. Maybe 1 day, kite akan buat reunion lg. Maybe time aku kawen kot,hahaha..haih,kne carik calon dlu ni. From Houston ke Stavanger, technically, aku dah pun terbang keliling dunia. Sampai ke Stavanger, dh mula nak winter. First time merase snow, walaupun kejap je. Perasaan mcm berjalan atas kapas. Jejak kaki ke UK for the first time, kat Aberdeen.

Dec 2007 - Akhirnya dapat ke offshore semula, selepas hampir 5 bulan since bulan Jun dlu. Rase kekok gak mula2, sbb dh lupe nak pakai survival suit cane, ape perasaan naik helikopter, ape perasaan bekerja kat offshore. 2 minggu yg best. Hopefully xlame lagi bole gi lagi. =) Spend krismas bersama2 kawan2 Malaysian di Malaysian Hall.

So kesimpulannye, I can have little to complain, and so much more to appreciate for being in where I am now. The setting is well prepared for a enjoyable 2008. Life kat Stavanger pon dah hampir stabil, career pon almost getting started, so ape lagi yg boleh aku mintak, except for health of my loved ones back home.

Thus, my quote for the end of year report of my life:

Thus humble let me live and die,
Nor long for Midas' golden touch;
If Heaven more generous gifts deny,
I shall not miss them much,
Too grateful for the blessing lent
Of simple tastes and mind content!

....by Oliver Wendell Holmes

Thank you God for all my fortunes and lessons for this year.

I am signing off 2007 with a...

Cheers~

Around the World in 98 days.

2007-12-01T10:58:00.000+01:00

98 days, that is what it took me to travel around the world. Stavanger-Oslo, Oslo-Amsterdam, Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur-Hong Kong, Hong Kong-Chicago, Chicago-Houston, Houston-Chicago, Chicago-Copenhagen, Copenhagen-Stavanger. On one day, I saw 2 sunrises and 2 sunsets on the same day. I even got jet-lagged so bad that my body wakes up at night and sleeps in the day for nearly 3 weeks.

But it doesnt matter, I did it. It wasnt all that, those 98 days were also filled with such joy and fun. I got back to my graduation when the odds were not looking too well only a month before, got my scuba diving license after 2 years of only dreaming about it. I enjoyed the luxury of a Golden Class seat aboard a Malaysian Airlines 747 which lasted a short 12 hours. Went to a MLB and a NBA match. Got myself onto a plane and jumping out of it twice. Went mad shopping for 10 hours in San Marcos, Texas. Drove a convertible in a Houston Freeway, learned some Spanish, ate some good food, met some really cool people. I felt like life has really shown me what i can do. And i am very proud of that.

However, the highlight of these 98 days were meeting the most exciting and great people in the ENG-1 class in Houston. I could say, there were 14 different nationalities in the class, over 15 different spoken languages and 23 different personalities. It was a real pleasure to be in class with these guys.

Hopefully when we meet again, it will be in the same spirit in which we left Houston.

Salut!

Sportsman's Prayer

2007-11-02T16:11:00.000+01:00

Oh God, please help me to win,
For I always want to win;
But if thy wisdom I shall lose,
Then make me a good loser.
For when the one great scorer comes
To write against your name,
He writes not you win or you lost
But how you play the game.

Selamat Menyambut Aidilfitri!

2007-10-13T12:51:00.000+02:00

So it is finally here, Aidilfitri! Yay!!

Thanks to friends and family who have been sending me text msgs wishing me well for Aidilfitri. I am sad of the fact that I couldn't go and visit you guys in this year's Aidilfitri. Hopefully i will have the opportunity to do that next year.

To all my friends who are driving and speeding up and down the highways, please oh please take care of yourself. Speed doesnt kill, but negligence do. Summons dont kill you either, but would take away a large portion of your duit raya (if you still get any) and if you are eligible for giving, then that would be an extra hole on your pocket. Stop more often and dont be too happy munching the kuih raya (i miss these alot) while you're tackling a corner and such. Be a smart driver!

As for me, this year my fate brings me to Houston for Ramadhan and Aidilfitri. Given my timetables, I wont have much to do for raya. Aidilfitri is like a forgotten holiday for most people, so no celebration can be seen. I still have loads of tests to cover, one is on this very morning I am writing this post (its 6.07am on Saturday), so it is always back to the notes when i am free. But as you guys probably already know, i always treat myself to nice dinners no matter what the day it is. So just had my raya dinner last night, and it was marvellous! =)

Special thanks to Diha for the card, Aspa, Ilya, Caul, Tim, Nurul, Thanikaimani, Sim, Anis, Mat Pea, Evon, Tze Yang, Anslem, Reita, Bet and some others for the raya wishes. Oh not forgetting CELCOM's lovely raya wish that goes like "Your usage has reached 70%-90% of your crdt limit. Prompt payment is appreciated to avoid call barring..." =p

All in all, happy eating, happy giving, happy receiving, happy driving and happy loving!

Selamat Menyambut Aidilfitri !

Sincerely,
Azrin

Contentment - a poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes

2007-09-29T04:29:00.000+02:00

Little I ask; my wants are few;
I only wish a hut of stone,
(A very plain brown stone will do,)
That I may call my own;
And close at hand is such a one,
In yonder street that fronts the sun.

Plain food is quite enough for me;
Three courses are as good as ten;
If Nature can subsist on three,
Thank Heaven for three. Amen!
I always thought cold victual nice;
My choice would be vanilla-ice.

I care not much for gold or land;
Give me a mortgage here and there,
Some good bank-stock, some note of hand,
Or trifling railroad share,
I only ask that Fortune send
A little more than I shall spend.

Honors are silly toys, I know,
And titles are but empty names;
I would, perhaps, be Plenipo,
But only near St. James;
I'm very sure I should not care
To fill our Gubernator's chair.

Jewels are baubles; 't is a sin
To care for such unfruitful things;
One good-sized diamond in a pin,
Some, not so large, in rings,
A ruby, and a pearl, or so,
Will do for me; - I laugh at show.

My dame should dress in cheap attire;
(Good, heavy silks are never dear;)
I own perhaps I might desire
Some shawls of true Cashmere,
Some marrowy crapes of China silk,
Like wrinkled skins on scalded milk.

I would not have the horse I drive
So fast that folks must stop and stare;
An easy gait - two forty-five
Suits me; I do not care;
Perhaps, for just a single spurt,
Some seconds less would do no hurt.

Of pictures, I should like to own
Titians and Raphaels three or four,
I love so much their style and tone,
One Turner, and no more,
(A landscape, - foreground golden dirt,
The sunshine painted with a squirt.)

Of books but few, - some fifty score
For daily use, and bound for wear;
The rest upon an upper floor;
Some little luxury there
Of red morocco's gilded gleam
And vellum rich as country cream.

Busts, cameos, gems, such things as these,
Which others often show for pride,
I value for their power to please,
And selfish churls deride;
One Stradivarius, I confess,
Two Meerschaums, I would fain possess.

Wealth's wasteful tricks I will not learn,
Nor ape the glittering upstart fool;
Shall not carved tables serve my turn,
But all must be of buhl?
Give grasping pomp its double share,
I ask but one recumbent chair.

Thus humble let me live and die,
Nor long for Midas' golden touch;
If Heaven more generous gifts deny,
I shall not miss them much,
Too grateful for the blessing lent
Of simple tastes and mind content!

Skydiving in Spaceland

2007-09-26T04:16:00.000+02:00

Wohooo!!!! I went skydiving with some friends in Skydive Spaceland, Houston. It was an awesome experience guys, did some tricks up in the air during freefall and when the parachutes are up. Cant really explain how it feels, jumping out of a plane at 14000 feet in the air, freefalling for 120miles per hour (thats about 190km/hour, i never drove that fast), spinning around like superman, then feeling a sudden rush of serenity when the parachutes are up. The sky was so cool and warm at the same time, I could see the whole countryside of Houston, the beautiful sun and crisp clouds were such a sight to behold. Felt so thankful that God made this earth so beautiful and complete. If you guys are thinking that it is freaky and crazy jumping out of a plane, I can tell you now that's nothing compared to the experience and the view!

I am definitely going to go jumping in Malaysia when I come back! Lets go!

Check out this clip: Azrin's Skydiving Experience

Selamat Menyambut Bulan Ramadhan

2007-09-13T14:47:00.001+02:00

In observing the holy month of Ramadhan, I would like to beg for forgiveness of all my wrongdoing or bad behavior of the past years to all my friends, acquaintances, family and loved ones.

Let us pray together to God for His continued blessings in our short period of this world. Syukur for all He has blessed us with and may this month brings us the true meanings of Patience and Submittal.

=)

Azrin and 5 things..

2007-09-07T15:11:00.000+02:00

I have been tagged by shasha. Teringat jugak yer shasha nak tag me. Well, since I am a good sport, i'll just give it a go. But since I am a guy, and guys dont carry bags and purses around, I modified the post a bit. So may i present to you, my 5 things. Enjoy..

5 things found in my bagpack

laptop --> i carry my work on my back
sunglasses --> malaysia is always bright and hot
a pen --> always useful
a story book --> new thing going on with me..currently is Paulo Coelho's Like A Flowing River
portable hardisk --> movies and mp3s..real handy.

5 things found in my pocket

money --> spare changes of dollars, euros, norwegian krones, and ringgits.
receipts --> for claims
cards --> credit, debit, mykad, offshore card, bus card..only birthday cards missing..
keys --> housekeys..for the house..the door..need more explanation?
mint --> always useful when meeting people.

5 favorite things in my room - the blue room

my table lamp
my panoramic photo of my convocation
my coats stand
my bed
my pillows

5 things i’ve always wanted to do that i have not done yet

sky diving, surfing, skiing
be a conductor for an orchestra
go to a coldplay concert
make a dreadlock hairstyle
diving with whales and dolphines

5 things im currently into

reading and collecting books
ipod touch
understanding other people
studying for my ENG-1 school
packing my bag for my flight on sunday

5 people im going to tag

peet
ira
shikin
maizura
haha

Happy 50th Birthday, Malaysia!

2007-08-30T19:34:00.000+02:00

Selamat Hari Merdeka or Happy 50th Independance Day, dear Malaysia.

Malaysia is truly on her way to become a nation to be proud of. One rainy day in Oslo, i met an Afghan man who was eating alone in a cafe. I joined him and we started talking about stuff. What impressed me the most is that he truly feels Malaysia is a country that most 3rd world muslim nations should look up to. Being a nation with such multicultural diversity, great tolerance must be practiced for the continuous harmony and prosperity.

I have not traveled much yet, but I can say that Malaysia is always unique to other countries. The warmth and her sense of homeliness, rivals none to Malaysians, maybe thats why there's quite so few Malaysians staying abroad.

Malaysia has definitely covered much ground since the old days of 1957. We took big steps towards many things, some we did well, and some we failed miserably. But what makes us a strong nation is that we learn from our mistakes and improvise on our strategies. I feel this is not the time to brag of past exploits, but rather lets list down our shortcomings, so that with god's blessings, we recognize them and put in our sincere effort to make things right, for the betterment of our nation and land. We have a milestone to achieve yet, year 2020. Here's my hope on what Malaysia should achieve by then:

We should all forget that we are Malay, Chinese, Indian or anything. We are Malaysians, the world recognizes us as Malaysians. And as long as we keep on classifying ourselves to our own races, we will never achieve total unity and strength.
We should instead gather all our best values in our diversified cultures and incorporate them as the Malaysian culture. We used to be such heart-warming people, with sincerity and courtesy second to none. We are losing this uniqueness, so lets work hard on regaining it.
We have to stop complaining and start achieving. Like it or not, we like to bitch about stuff, it is called mengumpat. Lets start making things better by doing things better. The power is in our hands, it has always been so.

I do realise that we still have a long way to go in achieving a status of developed nation. What we don't realise is that our definition of a developed nation is having the best technologies, best infrastructures, best records and such. This is totally wrong. What makes a nation developed is the conscious state of mind and how we bring ourselves to act with core values of a civilized people. The core values should include honesty, integrity, respect and much more. Until we realize what makes a developed nation, we will always be a country with first class technology, but with a third class mentality.

Well, lets accept this as a challenge for us to go through the next 50 years as an independant nation. There's so much to look forward to in this exciting era, so lets walk this steps together, and be proud that we are all part of the same family. After all, WE ARE MALAYSIANS.

I love you, Malaysia.

I did it my way. =)

2007-08-29T02:38:00.000+02:00

27th August has finally passed, tears were shed, hands were shaken, wishes were spoken, and all the 5 years in UTP has finally been waved away, for good.

I am really glad that i made it home, and i got to my own convocation. For something that was almost impossible a few months back, now i couldn't imagine not being here in the flesh to wave goodbye to UTP, and also to my dearest friends.

I could proudly say I did everything my own way for the past 5 years here. All the mistakes, the screw ups, the stumbles were all mine to note from. I could never blame anyone for that, but nevertheless, i am very proud that i could mark this beautiful moment to seal off the memories. Now, the sweet memories are untouchable, and would remain there as long as my breath still warms the air around me.

i would like to put in a special tribute to my very close friend, which by God's will is separated from us in this world, Arwah AD. I pray that you are in a better place than all of us, and God bless your soul always. Amin.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful memories, Mom, Dad and darling Niza for the support and love. i love you all very much.

Congrats Apai on the Chancellor Award, we are all very proud to have you as a friend and a companion during our time in utp. To my friends, my best wishes in our endeavors, and May we find passion and happiness in God's graces.

Here's a piece from Frank Sinatra: My Way.

And now, the end is near, and so I face, the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
I've lived, a life that's full, I've traveled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.
I did, what I had to do, and saw it through, without exemption.
I planned, each charted course, each careful step, along the byway,
and more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,
When I bit off, more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up, and spit it out.
I faced it all, and I stood tall,
and did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried,
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing.
To think, I did all that, and may I say --- not in a shy way,
"Oh no, oh no not me,
I did it my way".

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things, he truly feels,
And not the words, of one who kneels.
The record shows, I took the blows ---
And did it my way!

I did it my way.

A notice on the wall of a Tioman Island restaurant

2007-08-24T11:36:00.000+02:00

If you reject the food,
Ignore the customs,
Fear the religion,
Avoid the people,

You should stay at home.

Snow by Red Hot Chilli Peppers

2007-08-24T09:03:00.000+02:00

Come to decide that the things that I tried
Were in my life just to get high on
When I sit alone come get a little known
But I need more than myself this time

Step from the road to the sea to the sky
And I do believe it, we rely on
When I lay it on come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice

Refrain:
Hey oh, listen what I say, oh
I got your hey oh, now listen what I say, oh

When will I know that I really can't go
To the well once more time to decide on
When it's killing me, when will I really see
All that I need to look inside

Come to believe that I better not leave
Before I get my chance to ride
When it's killing me, what do I really need
All that I need to look inside

Refrain:
Hey oh, listen what I say, oh
Come back and hey oh, look at what I say, oh

Stick:
The more I see, the less I know
The more I like to let it go
Hey oh, whoa

Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go

In between the cover of another perfect wonder
And it's so white as snow
Running through a field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go

When to descend to amend for a friend
All the channels that have broken down
Now you bring it up, I'm gonna ring it up
Just to hear you sing it out

Step from the road to the sea to the sky
And I do believe what we rely on
When I lay it on, come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice

Refrain:
Hey oh, listen what I say, oh
I got your hey oh, listen what I say, oh

Stick:
The more I see, the less I know
The more I like to let it go
Hey oh, whoa

Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go

In between the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go

I said hey, hey yeah, oh yeah, tell my love now
Hey, hey yeah, oh yeah, tell my love now
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow

Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow

Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go
I said hey, oh yeah, oh yeah, tell my love now
Hey, hey yeah, oh yeah

....i like this song even if it has been played over and over again. i listened to this song for an hour on my flight back home. it just feels so soothing and relaxing..=)

I am an Open Water Diver

2007-08-24T03:13:00.000+02:00

I am proud that I have started doing my to-do list which has been accumulating dust for the last 2 years. Just recently came back from Tioman for a PADI Open Water Diver course which lasted 4 days: 5 confined water dives and 4 open water dives. The last 2 dives was the most memorable because we dove from the boat with other Advanced Open Water Divers and other Recreational Divers. We saw a turtle, stingrays, lots of clown fish (nemo), batfish (not bet fish ye), some other fishes that is not registered into my limited knowledge of the coral fishes. We missed the barracudas, quite a shame, but I am sure that I will get to see more in the future.

I also met with some very interesting people, Samir, Christina, Tim, Jay, Sham, Sam and so many more from the B&J Salang dive centre. Hope to meet these people again soon! I have no pictures from my camera as i dont have a underwater casing for it. Will update my multiply page as soon as my buddy Samir sends me his photos. For more info on B&J and divetioman, you guys can refer to the following link. The 2 dive sites we went was Batu Malang and Fan Canyon of Coral Island, some 30 minutes off Tioman Island.

http://www.divetioman.com/index.html

It is a truly wonderful experience, and I hope that I can share with you guys some day. Let's go diving, friends!

I am a published writer!!

2007-08-18T05:39:00.000+02:00

Just feeling happy that for the first time, my poem appeared in a published book. Although it would not be found in any of the famous bookstores or even in amazon.com, I would still like to bask on my self-ignited glory, even if i am the only one here.

the book is entitled: Forever Spoken, by International Library of Poetry and Poetry.com.

Nazdarovia!

Being a big boy.

2007-08-11T14:14:00.000+02:00

Yeay! God willing soon I will be on my way back home. It has been great being away, but somethings just missing when you are thousands of miles adrift. I just cant wait. =)

I have been listening to some songs now, Pink Floyd, introduced to me by some friends, and one by Fergie called "Big Girls Don't Cry". So i got into my habit of rewinding the song over and over again everytime i like what i am listening to. It just something about the lyrics that gets me so much. It is me, myself and I, which is always true for me. Funny how you laugh about your own self. I guess reflections are a blessing anyway.

I think i have changed quite a bit since I got onto the plane bound for Paris. I sure dont think its the weather, but i got my mind up and running again, after some few months feeling like being doped to sleep. I like to able to use my brains again, because it feels like a reminder that i am alive and well, and i should be living, not sleeping.

I had some life-changing events taken place awhile back, some anticipated, some not, but all have been a positive effect on me,myself and I. I have complained less now, and I really dont know why. It seems pointless now, when everyone is on the same boat, and getting the same stick everytime. I like this new me, a little less crappier, maybe a little more thankful and joyful.

So, another end of a relationship. Guess it has been anticipated for awhile. I really respect that we have been truly adults, and end it peacefully. Friends always be friends, and nothing could change that. A good friend told me something I wished I had known long long time ago, that I have always loved my freedom. Now, I know it is true. I felt it, and now someone confirmed it for me. I like the freedom to switch my good self on and off at my own freewill. Sometimes being a jackass do seem fun, so why bother being good, when there's time for goodwill and being nice.

One thing i have always known, is that i write better when the emotions get the better of me. My hands just type away while my mind drifts to another direction. You can call it multi-tasking if you're a geek, but i prefer to call it daydreaming. Maybe now, I can write some poems instead of getting one on the internet. To think that how the luxury of content have made rest on my laurels, now i prefer to be on a mission of empowerment or embetterment. i like being alive, and i will stay so for now on.

The apartments in a mess, and things are not yet packed. Some tastes of being an adult like minding your own business and cleanup after yourself are still getting conflicts inside this 23 year old body. Maybe i will do it in the last minutes like some of those adults do.

I am beginning to like being a big boy now.

So let's see..

2007-08-04T20:21:00.000+02:00

Create your own Friend Test here

Perasaan aku sahaja.

2007-07-28T13:21:00.000+02:00

Kadang-kadang kita rasa hidup ini pudar,
Kerana kita lupa yang kita pernah gembira dan riang.

Kadang-kadang kite rasa hidup ini terlalu indah,
Sehingga kita lupa yang kita selalu merungut bila kita dalam kesedihan.

Kita berasa kesunyian, walaupun kita bersama ramai orang.
Kadang kala kita berasa macam keseorangan, kerana suara yang kedengaran hanyalah diri kite sahaja.

Kita merasakan dunia telah berhenti, dan yang menulis dan masih menulis hanyalah kita.

Mana perginya kawan-kawan seperjuangan yang dahulunya rajin menulis di ruangan-ruangan blog ini?

Yang tinggal hanyalah kita. Dan kita itu adalah aku.

Dan aku tahu aku baru sahaja merepek.

The Ability to Learn

2007-07-08T20:54:00.000+02:00

At one point in time, we will lose something that is so precious in our lives. Something that has been the foundation of our childhood, the very essence of our becoming. Our ability to learn.

Some 3 months out of Malaysia, I sense that this ability, this attribute defines a person as he is today. It shapes the person as he is meant to be. As every person is like a piece of white cloth waiting to be colored, the ability to learn is the absorbencies of that piece of cloth.

As years passed and the clock needle tirelessly makes its way, I realised that the point in time where we all stop growing is not when our height has stopped its climb or when our feet ceased to retire the older shoes. It is when we decide that we are good enough, and we cannot learn anymore from the surroundings, from other people.

It is part of human nature to in time, form a resistance towards absorbing new information. Some call it pride, some call it maturity, some even call it wisdom. It is this resistance that restricts us from achieving our optimum potential in amassing the knowledge that could in time improves us and empower us to greater heights.

How we have forgotten the true art of learning, even if we spent the first 20 years in one? How we have forgotten the way we learnt our mother tongue, the names of things around us, the songs we sang? We need no motivation back then, no self-help books. We were absorbent, but we are no more now.

What happened? Is it the culture, is it the food, is it the air, or is it just us, as we are meant to be?

Maybe I am wrong, maybe the ability to learn is not gone, but only lost. Maybe it is somewhere deep inside us, and with the efforts we pull together, we might rediscover the spark that once so many times before in our earlier years, made us believe that the world can be learnt, and time has never faded our hunger.

Maybe, maybe. If so, then all we can only do now, is to find it back.

Transformers

2007-06-30T22:51:00.000+02:00

I love Transformers..

I love Transformers..

I love Transformers..

Bumble Bee is so cool, Prime ought to be bigger, Ironhide is hot..

but i must say, Megan Fox and Rachel Taylor are pretty smoking..

Hope they'll bring in Rodimus Prime soon..

Yipeee~~

Hail, King Henry!

2007-06-25T03:39:00.000+02:00

I will definitely miss him in an Arsenal shirt.

It is so sad to see that the most influential and exciting player in the Premiership has gone to the Primera Liga, leaving me with few reasons to continue watching the league games in the next coming season.

His dynamic presence and electric pace will be something that could give Barca the edge in the champions league, and over the Beckham-less Madrid in the Liga.

Maybe i'll tune in more into the Liga instead of the Premiership.

Go Titi, with our blessings, and show Barca the magic that we will sorely miss.

Long live King Henry!

Gullfaks C

2007-06-22T22:34:00.000+02:00

I am now in Gullflaks C, my first offshore trip. This is the picture of the platform:

Chummy facts:

This is the largest man-made structure after Jahre-Viking and Troll A platform, quotes from here.

The spire height is at 380m.

I am on my first trip as trainee.

The living quarters is like a 3-star hotel, equipped with internet cafe, library, mess hall, gym. That was after a 15 minute tour of the platform.

This platform produces 120,000 barrels per day, one sixth of Malaysia's daily production.

I am excited, but i am also very tired now.

a beautiful melody

2007-06-13T20:30:00.001+02:00

If you were a melody, i would be a bird.

I would fly the blinding skies, and sing you to the world.

And give them peace as they settle in their affairs, carving a smile upon those dismal lips, and lift their hearts to touch the sun.

I would flap my wings to gentle the fears, and sing for the wind to breeze their skin.

If you were a melody, my heart would beat in its rythm, my breath would join the wind, and chant you to your glory.

You will soar the lands, calm the earth and drown the sorrows of its children.

If you were a melody, you would be beautiful.

i have never doubted it.

the setting sun

2007-06-10T18:48:00.000+02:00

This is so hard.

Sometimes you start to feel that you are losing the grip on something you have been holding.

You start to squeeze and grip harder, and all you feel is that strength is eluding you, and spirit may have already left you.

Sometimes you feel that as time clicks by, impossibility sets in, and drowns you from the inside.

And you look to the beautiful horizon, and wonder, why is the sun setting on me now?

And you think you know the answer, you really do.

you think you need more time.

well, i think so too.

i'm thinking....

2007-06-02T13:25:00.001+02:00

i am thinking...

i am thinking...

i am thinking...

am i on the pursuit of happiness?

well, i am still thinking..

for the answer.

in the pursuit of happiness

2007-05-31T21:55:00.000+02:00

if someday humankind would be able to define happiness, we might be able to better focus ourselves into pursuing happiness, rather than spend all our lives trying to define what it is, only to find that then it is too late to even do anything about it.

i just watched the movie in the pursuit of happiness, but it was so sad that i couldn't even find the element happiness in it. I just don't understand. What is this movie trying to tell? Get a good job, you'll find happiness? When you are rich, you'll find happiness? Aaa..seriously, i am out of any clue of what is happiness, even after watching Will Smith pursuing it.

what i get from the movie is that, it is never a happy road going to happiness-land. there is no highway, no train to happiness-land. you've got to find the way on your own. there's no map, so you've got to find the road, follow your instincts, and walk it.

someday, i pray the day would come, i would reflect on the life i would be living, and find that i have found my way, and if i am still wondering, i would be reassured by myself, that i have already been in happiness-land, long before i would have noticed it.

Photo Blog

2007-05-24T11:41:00.000+02:00

Hi guys, havent got the time to update the blog, but i have a new thing going on now. Pictures are worth a thousand words, so hopefully they can express the feeling much better than i could in words. so click on the link below k.. =)

http://azrinsoh.multiply.com/

Adventure in Paris : Part 1

2007-05-16T08:44:00.000+02:00

Bonjour!

I am in Paris!!! It has been a quite adventurous few days here in Paris, but i am enjoying every minute of it.

Well, not actually every minute of it. But i believe that every mistake along the way has its own reasons and lessons to be learnt from, so quite everything turned out good in their own way.

On saturday late evening, i took the late evening flight to amsterdam. Having arrived there by 5.45am, everything seems so alien, as of course i had never been outside of the country before. I made my way slowly to the immigration counters, stopping by the loo along the way. That turned out to be quite a costly mistake, as when i eventually make it to the counters, a super long queue had already been in place. I was quite worried as my connecting flight was only 45 minutes away. The official kept repeating it was fine, as everybody was having the same problem. In the end, when i finally made it through the immigration, my plane was already leaving without me. Luckily for me, flights to paris were abundant, and with most flights not fully booked, i got on the next flight with little trouble. =)

I arrived in Charles de Gaulle airport after 1 hour of flight time, and soon another problem came up. It turns out that my luggage was also held up in Amsterdam. After waiting for around 3 hours, i gave up waiting in the airport as i was already tired and sleepy. I made my way to the hotel by bus and then taxi, mumbling out the few french words i knew to help me through. But my french wasnt helping much anyway, as i had the hotel address to show the drivers all the way. I need to buck up in french, i suppose..

The rest of the day went mercily on me. I went out for food right after i checked-in the hotel. Came back by 6pm and was in bed by 7pm. I woke up at 12am and found that my suitcase had been delivered by the airline staff to the hotel. I was relieved that at least i would have something to wear for my day of OFS-1 on Monday.

well, thats my story on the first day of my european adventure. as i said before, there are many lessons learnt from these events, and i am quite happy nothing much went wrong as it could have been much worse. i would have to thank God for that. =)

As for now, i just got my laptop from the company. The OFS-1 is almost like christmas for us, as there are so many things being handed out each day. Wonder what else is in store for the next 7 days.. hihih

i'll update my adventure in Paris when i have more stories to tell, and more pictures to show. Till then, for those who are having their final exams in UTP, good luck and enjoy. Darling dear, have fun in the final final exams. =)

p/s: thanks so much for the people who turned out in KLIA to send me off. I am so touched by your presence and support, i miss you guys already, and hope that the day for me to go back would be sooner than i expect. Time will tell.

Cheers~

I'm leaving on a jet plane

2007-05-12T08:21:00.000+02:00

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waitin', he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

Goodbye,sweetheart. goodbye dear friends. hope to see you guys soon. =)

The Things That Haven't Been Done Before

2007-05-06T20:20:00.000+02:00

by Edgar Guest

The things that haven't been done before,
Those are the things to try;
Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore
At the rim of the far-flung sky,
And his heart was bold and his faith was strong
As he ventured in dangers new,
And he paid no heed to the jeering throng
Or fears of the doubting crew.

The many will follow the beaten track
With guideposts on the way.
They live and have lived for ages back
With a chart for every day.
Someone has told them it's safe to go
On the roads he has traveled o'er,
And all that they ever strive to know
Are things that were known before.

A few strike out, without a map or chart,
Where never a man has been,
From the beaten paths they draw apart
To see what no man has seen.
These are deeds they hunger alone to do;
Though battered and bruised and sore,
They blaze the path for the many, who
Do nothing not done before.

The things that haven't been done before
Are tasks worthwhile today;
Are you one of the flock that follows, or
Are you one that shall lead the way?
Are you one of the timid souls that quail
At jeers of a doubting crew,
Or dare you, whether you win or fail,
Strike out for a goal that's new?

Teddy Roosevelt once said, " far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than take to rank with those poor spiritswho neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."

I keep reminding myself that courage is within me to go and explore the world. And hope is within me to dream of finding a life that would bear no regrets, as i have conquered my fears, and do the things i have not done before.

sneak preview

2007-04-22T03:44:00.000+02:00

April:

...i got an offer from schlumberger

...got into poetry.com, they are planning to publish my poem soon, if u want a copy tell me

...i quit my job in rnz last friday

May:

...i'm sad because i'll miss the openings pirates of caribbean and the transformers

...i'm happy because i'm leaving for paris mid of may, and norway in june

...i'm nervous because i haven't prepared anything yet

...i'm writing this because i can't put in proper sentences anymore, maybe i'm still sleepy.

April's Fool

2007-04-14T13:49:00.000+02:00

Be careful for what u wish for, as the probability of it coming true is for certain a possibility!

that will be my tagline for sometime to come. i suppose sucking about not having job offers could suck, because soon when u realise it, they come in bundles, clouding ur vision, and making a mess out of ur already messed up mind.

so now, to note, i have already 5 offers, 3 of which are job offers, and the other 2 are potential offers. 2 of them are very good offers, both with their own perks. but unfortunately i could only choose one. haih~

but thats life, i suppose. i told a close friend about it, and the thing that came to her mind was Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken. Maybe one day, when i end my journey would i look back and wonder if i would be different taking the other road. it is clear that things would be different, but my hope is that regret would not surface and darken my days ahead.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

May God in His Wisdom show me the path to foot. Amin~

Vote, vote, and Vote

2007-03-29T14:48:00.000+02:00

Hey guys, poetry.com has finally opened the voting for my poem. so please, please, please check it out and vote. Just wanna see how i fare overall. =)

here's the url:

http://www.poetry.com/voteforme/poemvote1.asp?PID=11936822

My Obituary

2007-03-22T11:39:00.000+01:00

I am astounded by bet's post about live obituary. In Serendipity, the best friend wrote an obituary about his friend who failed in love, albiet the numerous obstacles in their quest.

so in rememberance to myself, should i be gone from here...what would you guys say about me? =)

p/s: there's no need for kindness, as when i'm gone, i can only haunt you for the rest of your life.

VisualDNA

2007-03-18T03:50:00.000+01:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Exo-politics

2007-03-17T16:16:00.000+01:00

Right now, my head is playing this song over and over again... this is the song that i don't need to push play to even hear it.. it's always there, in the background and in the shades... by muse: exo-politics

Open the skies over me
I am waiting patiently
I'll wait for a sign

As conspiracies unwind
Will you slam shut or free your mind
Or stay hypnotized

When the zetas fill the skies
Will our leaders tell us why
Fully loaded satellites
Trigger nothing but our minds

But I'm waiting patiently
I'll wait for a sign

Carried through the centuries
Secrets locked up and loaded on my back
Well it weighs me down

When deciet has filled the skies
It's just our leaders in disguise
Fully loaded satellites
Will conquer nothing but our minds

But I'm waiting patiently
I'll wait for a sign
But I'm waiting patiently
I'll wait for the sign

p/s: when goodfellas and sengalians meet, we become disorientated, disjointed from our reality, disconnected from our problems. pity the night has to end. =)

Disorienters Rocks!!

c.h.e.e.r.s

It is March 12th

2007-03-11T18:20:00.000+01:00

It is March 12th, and I am still waiting.

Life is a very tough teacher to begin with. Sometimes it gives you a taste of victory, and takes it away just when the sensation hits your lips. Sometimes in the brink of defeat, the pulsation of glory awaits you.

Under some unknown circumstances, I have found myself wanting. I want to achieve so many things, dreams formed in the clouds of thoughts but life has other plans for me. Life wants me to wait.

Patience is the virtue of the season. Maybe life has found that i lack patience in my dealings, and i have the utmost confidence that things would go my way every time. Maybe life has found that for me to survive the vicious world of uncertainty, patience would be a welcomed anti-venom.

Maybe this is the defeat to taste, before triumph takes over. There's alot of 'MAYBEs' in this world, but there's always one certainty:

It is March 12th, and i am still waiting.

poetry.com

2007-03-04T11:51:00.000+01:00

i have submitted an entry for poetry.com

guys, check it out.. vote if you want to..ahahaha =)

the url: http://www.poetry.com/Publications/display.asp?ID=W8088291&BN=999&PN=1

Being in limbo

2007-03-04T03:51:00.000+01:00

The stuff about being in limbo is: the search for the panic button is becoming intense each day. And the stuff about panic buttons is that: you normally wouldn't find it.

I got my first paycheck last thursday. It wasn't much but it was okay. At least that i know for the past 3 weeks, i have gotten off my ass to do something for money. Well, money earnt aside, being in limbo still bugs me.

So you can imagine when i got an idea from my uncle to do post graduate, it seemed like a jolly good idea. Somehow it gets me away from thinking i'm unwanted anywhere. Doing postgrad in the UK sounds fun, bringing back those rosy hopeful 2002 of going abroad. Hurmm..ideas remain ideas though..

I am thinking alot now, maybe a little more that usual, because i could feel the weight on my shoulders. Jealosy of people being on a real job is getting greater, and frustrations building up....

Okay, lets talk about happy things! =) Kakak Ida gave birth last sunday to little fikran. cute 'lil fella, so small that i don't have the guts to hold him yet. Kak Ila got married on friday, which is another great news. Suddenly life has alot to be joyful for, celebrations celebrations....

here's something from the song of the moment, Pendulous threads by Incubus

Mend this careless thread, it's gone askew.
(Thread on my sweater is pendulous, step back and pull it.
Watch it unravel faster than a speeding bullet)
Or pull and see how much we can undo.
(Thread on my sweater is pendulous, step back and pull it.
Watch it unravel faster than a speeding buller)

On a burning bridge, your options are minimal at best.
Depending on where you're standing
and how much breath is in your chest.
If it came down to it
would you high-tail home and hide?
Or dance on fire and enjoy the ride?

here's a message to myself: let's dance on fire and enjoy the ride!

c.h.e.e.r.s.

i am feeling okay temporarily

2007-02-19T18:01:00.000+01:00

it is february. and officially, it means that i am still not yet afforded for the comfort of settling down. and i hate it.

the future that hangs over a balance in which no control is available to me. darn, by the thought of reaching the 21st century, we would at least have some control over our destiny. yet, it remains elusive.

i have very mixed feelings this moment. One, i somehow hate the fact that i'll be leaving home tomorrow temporarily for work, and stay temporarily at my aunt's place, and go to a temporary job. i am happy that i am at least doing something now, but the sense of being out of place and on the ropes isn't the best feeling ever.

i went back to Muar for the CNY celebrations. yes, i do celebrate. the moment i drove in to the countryside of melaka and muar, a sense of peace envelopes me. it is the peace i like but should not be liking yet, at the moment. it is the peace that reminds me that i have become ordinary, just like some one else. i read an email awhile ago, and some phrase just caught my mind. u laugh at me because i'm different, but i laugh at u because u are all the same. i think that person is right, i am the same as others. somehow, the things that becomes of me are now long lost or worst forgotten. i am now ordinary, i desire the ordinary, and i am just like every other people. simply ordinary.

two days ago, i had a bad dream. a dream so real it feels like stuck in the back of your mind even after hours awake. a dream you couldn't shake off even after a cool shower. my dream, was about me being hunted down and killed. it is not fun, i tell u. somehow, i am stuck in some place, and apparently i am hunted down by some pyschos. meaning more that one psycho. bad huh? too much prison break i guess.

so, i am feeling okay temporarily. the world will be a better place, and i will become part of that betterment. i am keeping telling myself that. will i believe that? sure..temporarily.

i miss that smile terribly.

Can one hour change your life?

2007-02-11T12:13:00.000+01:00

For those of you who have watched One Tree Hill episode 413, something really interesting happened in that episod. Unlike previous shows, this time the episode evolves around a class assignment.

To me, it was a very deeply meaningful episode. In every phase of our life, people see us as the person we have been for the period of time. One phase we could be the geek, the other a jock or another maybe a jackass. For every phase, we started anew to different surroundings and mold ourselves to become someone who could be admired or look up upon.

The assignment in this episode is about 6 tasks. The tasks include:

Share something personal with your partner.
Lighten up. Do an impression of a celebrity or a famous character.
Admit something that worries you or something you're afraid of.
What do you want to be in ten years?
Tell your partner a secret.
Take a picture of yourself to portray the way you want people to see you.

For this post, i won't do item 1, 2 and 5. That will be reserved for my partner. =) For your info, that position is not open, hahaha...

Task 3: Admit something that worries you or something that you're afraid of.
I am worried for my future career. I am already past the honeymoon mood and now i am dead bored. I want to be able to settle down and start plan for my future. The uncertainty that looms large isn't helping me to find my peace.

Task 4: What do you want to be in ten years?
In ten years, i would be 33. I want to be a respectable manager in Petronas (hopefully). I want to have a good, small but cosy home and a really nice car. I want to be able to do the things i want to do, and always in close contact with my dearest friends.

Task 6: My Picture

My one hour of watching the series really helped me to view the world from a different perspective. Another message from the series: pay attention the people you normally would overlook. They might be more interesting that they seem.

Now, could one hour change your life?
For me, it definitely could.

c.h.e.e.r.s.

Quitting my first job

2007-02-05T16:00:00.000+01:00

You may think i'm stupid. Here am i, waiting for my offers, and yet i quit my first job.

This actually happened almost a month ago, but it is the right thing to do. Well, at least at the time being it is the right thing to do. The reason for quitting: i am a petronas scholar, i want to rest, and i feel like being an engineer rather than a financial planner.

Being an insurance agent for AIA is an eye opener for me. From this job, i got a bird's eye view on the financial sector of Malaysia. Being an engineer usually keeps you occupied with the technical stuff, because you would have the other departments worrying about finances and economics. There's so many avenues for you to get money and of course get yourself protected. It is a worrying sight though to see so little Malays taking up insurance policies to protect themselves and their families.

Just for your info, here's something about insurance, and why you should consider them:

medical insurance (hospitalization) : most important. this is to cover for your medical bills when you are hospitalized. very good since the medical bills are now sky rocketing.
personal accident (PA) : just in case you are still alive when you encountered an accident. put the taboos aside, have you given a thought what might happen if suddenly you got into an accident, and both your parents are retirees? the first thing that would probably happen is that your loved ones might go for short term loans, which could even be ah longs to save your ass. now, being a healthy person now, wouldn't that be an irresponsible thing to not get yourself protected?
life insurance: this is the one when you care about the people around you, may it be your parents, your wife (if you have one) or your sibblings. When you are not around, at least let them have some cash to go around. Remember, even your funeral costs money.

Well, at least know the fact that this is for your own knowledge. It is also for a fact that most non-Malays are not poor because of insurance. Everyone is exposed to the same risk, accidents, death and such. But those who protect themselves have the chance to start anew albeit the loss of the breadwinner. Those who do not protect themselves, risk going back to square one.

Hurmm, i do sound like an agent eh? Hahaha, well let's just say i am happy to have the knowledge to share with you guys. Maybe one day, if i'm tired of being an engineer, i'll go back being a financial planner. =) It pays well, i may add.

c.h.e.e.r.s.

me and my little toe

2007-02-04T16:28:00.000+01:00

It is the beginning of February. And for me, it is the beginning of the period of serious boredom and unemployment mode.

It has already been 3 months since the end of my studies and time is no more kinder to me. I wish that some offers would come in soon so that i could quench my thirst on doing stuff, shopping and having some money. there's so many things on my mind, and all i need is to have the drive and money to put them into action. Hope February will be kind to me. please..

i hurt my little toe today. and it was not the best feeling in the world i can assure you. i thought my toe nail gave away, but to my astonishment, it hung in there. right on,baby toe! adeh, sakit pulak ni..

huhu, i'm at a loss of words to say now. it seems that being at home for a long time has blunted my mental sharpness.

and for the record, i miss my sweetie.

just love this picture.... =p

c.h.e.e.r.s.

Earth Status Report 2006

2007-01-30T06:35:00.000+01:00

If the population of the Earth was reduced to that of a small town with 100 people, it would look something like this:

57% Asians	21% Europeans	14% Americans (northern and southern)	8% Africans

52% women	48% men

70% coloured-skins	30% caucasians

89% heterosexuals	11% homosexuals

6 people would own 59% of the whole world wealth and all of them will be from the United States of America
80% would have bad living conditions
70% would be uneducated
50% underfed
1 would die
2 would be born
1 would have a computer
1 (only one) will have higher education

When you look at the world from this point of view, you can see there is a real need for solidarity,

understanding, patience and education.

Also think about the following -
This morning, if you woke up healthy, then you are happier than the 1 million people that will not survive next week.

If you never suffered a war,
the loneliness of the jail cell, the agony of torture,
or hunger,

you are happier than 500 million people in the world.
If you can enter into a mosque / church without fear of jail or death, you are happier then 3 million people in the world.

If there is a food in your fridge,
you have shoes and clothes,
you have bed and a roof,
you are richer then 75% of the people in the world.

If you have bank account, money in your wallet and some coins in the money-box,
you belong to the 8% of the people on the world, who are well-to-do.

If you read this you are three times blessed because:

1. somebody just thought of you.
2 . you don't belong to the 200 million people that cannot read.
3 . and... you have a computer!

As somebody once said:

" - Work as if you don't need money,
- Love as if you've never been hurt,
- Dance, as if nobody can see you,
- Sing, as if no one can hear,
- Live, as if the Earth was a heaven."

p/s: thanks to sweetheart for the thought and love. =)

c.h.e.e.r.s.

A Letdown and A Meltdown

2007-01-27T19:56:00.000+01:00

Letdown: Syaitan

Critic: Confusing story line, underdeveloped characters, the absence of "syaitan".

Opinion: The preview of the story came about a person under the influence of syaitan or demons. But as the story unfolds, too many scenes were crumpled into each other giving the audience a twisted view of the plot. Too little dialogue but credits for the soundtrack. Some of the earlier scenes looks promising, but somehow not connected to the storyline. Character isn't developed, so you wouldn't even know who's the good guy or bad even when it has ended. Looks like a low budget movie with an overrated title. Could and should have done better.

Meltdown: Blood Diamonds

Critic: Priceless to see Ira crying towards the end. =p

Opinion: Great show by Leo DiCaprio. He should receive an award for his role. At the end, you couldn't help by being sorry for the Africans. They are not poor but because of their own doing that they're left to pick up the crumbs. Child soldiers are a sad truth, and when you hear what they call themselves, you couldn't help but be angry to the people who don't think twice to exploit them. In the end, no matter how sometimes dissatisfied we are about our own country, we are truly lucky to be born into a land of little confrontation.

STOP BUYING CONFLICT DIAMONDS!

Happiness

2007-01-27T19:50:00.000+01:00

Happiness comes in many forms

Most are elusive to the daily eye

But when you keep your sight close to your heart

It might just be someone who's sitting next to you.

=)

c.h.e.e.r.s.

My New Resolution: At Long Last

2007-01-25T12:31:00.000+01:00

Okay, bad sign. At the dawn of a New Year, i have already started procastinating. I know how silly it might look to come up with your resolution at the end of the first month, but i was thinking that i give all my bad habits one last hurrah before i smack them down this coming year. Well, maybe a little too forward thinking, but as they say, begin every task with the end in mind. Cayyok!!

:: uno ::
I want to be punctual.
Procastinatino or not, i want to be on time. Not early, not late.. just on time. I vow to not keep anyone waiting past the time supposed to. I have learnt that one of the most important success elements is to keep good time. As success is definitely on my list till the day i die, might as well start being good at being punctual.

:: dos ::
I want to keep my promises.
Well, this has been on my list for the past few years. Promises are often spurted out but seldom kept. One definite reason is that we try to sell ourselves off as being a good person but when the time comes, too many excuses comes between us and the objective. I know i haven't been keeping up with my promises to date, so i promise myself that this year i shall keep my promises. A man is his word, nonetheless.

:: tres ::
I want to get a scuba diving license.
My elder sister have been telling me about the beauty of the undersea. The calmness of the underwater life with the magnificently beautiful corals. I have only gone snorkeling once and i tell you it is a sight to behold. I remember having to drag myself out of the sea on that occasion because it is just so fun. Anyway i am totally inspired by Umizaru. =P

:: cuatro ::
I want to go on two (2) self-paid trips.
This is an idea i got from my recent Tampin trip with the Disorienters. We had so much fun during the trip and we even discussed for a short trip to Singapore at the end of the year. Hopefully I would be earning on my own at the time and taste abit of my own money holidaying with my dearest friends. One trip domestic and another international. Can't wait.

:: cinco ::
I want to be self-sustaining by the end of the year.
This should top my list though. After almost 2 decades of living off my parents money, it's high time i be on my own. I would like to save, spend, and be merry at the end of the day. I can start by counting the pennies for now. =)

Well, a new year sure brings great promises. There are also numerous other things i want for the coming year, like staying faithful, controlling my shopping habits, and of course being a good son and a kind person. I would also like to control my fiery temper as best i can, but sometimes just let it out so that some people may be frightened once in a while. =p

Good luck to myself on my overdue new year resolution. Let us be merry all year long.
To all my mates...

CHEERS!

=)

Punctuality: It is all about manners

2007-01-22T14:28:00.000+01:00

I have a great disrespect for people who have little regard for time. Not to say that i am punctual every time, even as i hope to it, but it is deeply disturbing to me that some people have such an astonishing attitude towards being on time.

Why i chose today to write about this? I have had some experiences with people who are never punctual, but today's incident was a flash point in what has been a deeply compressed anger towards poor time management.

I read some articles about punctuality on the net. There has been an opinion about why in certain areas compared to others the attitude towards time is somewhat worsened. Lets compare Malaysia to Japan. Malaysia is blessed of being outside the volcanic ring while Japan is right on top of it. Being late even for a minute for a Japanese could signal the change of many things, example if the news of a possible volcanic reaction or earthquake is transmitted a few minutes late could in turn be the cause of the loss of many lives and infinite amount of money. In malaysia, we seldom have any instances where minutes could be decisive. This in the long run have cultured the malaysians that being half an hour late is normal, or everyone is late, therefore being on time is deemed a foolish act.

Some other opinions also includes the events of chain reaction. Quoted from theorists Kaushik Basu and Jorgen Weibull, "If I think you are going to be late then it's costly for me to be on time so I will choose to be late. But if I choose to be late then it makes sense for you to choose to be late also. Indeed, if I think that you think that I might be late then I will be late! In other words, lateness is a Nash equilibrium of a game. Punctuality is also an equilibrium. If you are going to be on time it make sense for me to be on time also (especially if you can punish me for not being on time.) Which equilibrium is played can be as arbitrary as the forces that determine which side of the road we drive on."

To me, punctuality is all about the manners. It is very rude if we allow people to wait for us while taking our own sweet time. Time as we know it waits for no man and woman (equality issues addressed). I always believed that when it comes dealing with other people being not punctual is a crime. It is okay if you procastinate to your own dealings, but if you delay others, you are just being rude.

Louis XVIII of France once said, " Punctuality is the politeness of kings ".

Lets act kingly my friends. =)

c.h.e.e.r.s.

Tampin - Melaka Pictures

2007-01-20T15:58:00.000+01:00

Thanks sayang for the reminder. Here's some of the selected pictures taken during the Tampin - Melaka trip. Full credits to Anas for providing the camera, battery and of course a full dose of patience in our not-so-little photoshoot session.

The bride and groom, up close.

Looks like ropai is enjoying is meal, as always.

Us with full stomach.

Sal, renungan rindu kat moto tersayang.

Our trishaw is the best. Equipped with MaxxOil and subwoofer. Dont play-play.

Cheepoi needing a 'hand'.

Let's make a wish. Cendol!!!

Meriam Katak strikes back.

And last but not least...

Another cover album for Disorienters.

c.h.e.e.r.s.

Rain's Coming?

2007-01-20T15:36:00.000+01:00

I am pretty sure that when they decided to name the concert, they forgot to tune in to the weather channel.

It rained cats and dogs today, from PJ to KL even up to Lembah Beringin. The day started out ever so brightly only to succum to the darkness by mid-afternoon. I had to go to kl to terminate my Digi line, so i was briefly happy to get out of the rain when i parked at Ikano. But by the time i came out, it was worse. The roads were clogged up quite badly in certain areas that it's really hard if you're trying to avoid a big pool of water splashing onto you.

After almost an hour of struggling in traffic, i got home only to find my interior carpet is wet. Sigh, guess i'll have to dry it up tomorrow before it gets too mushy. =(

Looking on the brightside however, i did manage to solve one big mystery i had on my mind regarding the road dividers. So they're soft afterall. =)

So rain's coming huh?
I thought it was here all the while.

c.h.e.e.r.s

Reflection

2007-01-12T19:08:00.000+01:00

Yay! the final results is out. But a rather small 'Yay!' when it comes to my result, because i missed my mark for quite a bit. Anyway, thank God for helping me finish my degree, without hiccups or delays. I have been dreaming of this moment since last year, so the reality is taking its time to sink in.

Lets analyze my results. Hurmm, for one, i think i managed to keep my pointers in the clear, not too close to the boundary of probation. But something deep in me still say that i could and should have done better. One glance at the final cgpa would definitely say that another A or B+ somewhere would help kick up my pointer to a respectable position. But keeping in mind that my batch's gpa are accounted right from the start, it was rather too late in the degree when we realised that we need to keep everything upright if we want to score distinction in the end. There were many semesters in which i really should have scored more, like in the Jan03 semester. I was taking 5 subjects compared to others 7 at the time, due to relaxing too much. But still, i didn't score enough to get a good standing.

Another to be reflected about is my somewhat difficulty in scoring in engineering subjects. This was a problem since the earlier semesters, where i could not even get A- for my chemistry and physics, the core subjects of all engineering. I must admit that i owe my current cgpa to all my supporting subjects, non-technical subjects. Finance, Accounting (this was a big surprise), Communication Skills, Critical Thinking, HSE being some of it. If it weren't for them, i'm sure my pointers would be somewhere in the dumps.

Well, in the end, i must say the pointer reflects me as i have been for the past 5 years, a little too laid back, lucky and maybe some good relationships with the lecturers. But most of all, i am indebted to my fellow friends who have been there to help me in so many ways, such as signing my attendance, letting me copy the notes, assignments, helping me to understand some facts that i could not get into my mind, and most of all being wonderful groupmates in all the projects. So Jijo, Jijong, Naddie, Hamzah, Adli, Azmi, Bink, Aizat, and Shawn, thank you for all your help. I would not have made it without you guys.

So as i reflect upon my moment of truth, i could only say one thing.

Thank You.

p/s: thanks adli for doing my Statics assignment when i was injured. it will be remembered. =)

c.h.e.e.r.s.

Super Sunday

2007-01-10T18:40:00.000+01:00

What a Sunday we had. Absolutely tiring but fun too. We went to Abg Fadzil's wedding in Tampin but ended up touring Melaka town. Okay, for a self-confessed Melaka-born person, I don't really know my way around town. Thank god we have Sarip for that. =)

I was staying at Topek's the night before and early Sunday morning we both push out to Ajik's place in Puchong. From there, we got on Ajik's new Savvy and went to Bangi to pick up Anas who's having a PIPE (forgot the meaning) in Permata. Soon we were on the road to Tampin for Abg Fadzil's wedding to Kak Zahiraniza. Along the way, we rendenzvous with Ropai, Sarip, Cheepoi, Sal and Peet. By 12.30pm, we arrived at the reception for our much awaited lunch.

Around 1.45pm, we decided it's time for us to leave. So we got back on the road, and head out to Melaka. I don't know whose idea it was but we soon parked our cars at A'Famosa Fort. I cant remember the last time being here, because it must be ages ago. So being tourist, we decided to give every thing a shot. We climbed the stairs to the chapel, taking in the beautiful scenary that was on show. It was mesmerizing, because although the foothill was no more the sea (after the reclamation), the view was breathtaking. Then we went into the chapel ruins, taking a look at the stone slabs and the coin-throwing well. We all made a wish and threw in a coin. My wish was to have cendol before i go home.

After taking some pictures, we went back down for a trishaw ride. Since there were 8 of us, we took 4 trishaws. By then we were all merry and laughing aloud. We even got the trishaw drivers to race us. We were having such a great time we even forgot about the astonishing look the passerbys had as we were racing down the road. At the end of the first leg, the trishaw men brought us to the Cendol stalls opposite the road. Well, it seems my wish would come true afterall. We had our cendol fix, which was wonderful under the hot afternoon sun. After taking some more pictures, we got back to our trishaw race.

By the time we reached the end point, my voice were reduced to sexy husky voice because of the cheering we had. We decided to take a peak into the muzeum of the Sultan Melaka Palace. The place was a wonderful photoshooting gallery and we made sure we covered the whole palace before leaving.

So, that was the end of the Melaka trip. We bid our farewells and we got on our separate ways. The day was not coming to an end for Topek, Ajik, Anas and me as Anas got us a treat of Pizza Hut for his birthday. Thanks Anas!

It was definitely a memorable Sunday for me. Too bad i don't have the pictures to show u guys yet. I'll update the pictures when i get them later.

Next stop: Singapore - December 2007.

p/s: thanks guys!

c.h.e.e.r.s.

Little Mozart and The Beast makes Good Music!

2007-01-10T03:12:00.000+01:00

It is one thing to wake up in the morning, frantically open the football website to know the score from matches taken place the night before. It is also another to learn that your team have just beaten Liverpool, again with such flair. No word to describe the ecstasy of a double win in 4 days against the same side.

Here's a glimpse of the match...

Now, it has become exciting times again to wait for the next game. How will that go? We will have to leave Wenger to contemplate that. =)

C'mon Gunners! Let's rock.

c.h.e.e.r.s.

My New Year Resolution is...

2007-01-03T14:49:00.000+01:00

Okay..wait a minute... we'll go there later..i promise.

News flash! -
I started my New Year with a bang - the sound of other people lighting up the skies with firecrackers. After that, i took another pillow and put it over my head. End of party.

It is fair to say that I am currently on retirement mode. Take note, that I am not in the unemployed mode yet. Maybe not until 1st February. The thing is, I find myself enjoying the peaceful and serene surroundings of my house. It could not be more peaceful than this, waking up at 10am (at least), go down to the kitchen, search for food, then land myself by the couch, enjoying channel-surfing. No traffic in front of my house, because there is not many people here in Lembah Beringing. This marks the longest time i spent in my home since year 1998. All this while bustling around, finally my much travelled ass has found its home, here on the couch.

I know i should be thinking about my plans for this year, oh yes, i do. But my mind keeps on wandering off to the skies, the perfect mid day clouds, just nestling at the backdrops of light blue canvas. I am trying to figure out my future, but my eyes sees only the future of the day-the comfty bed with lovable pillows.

okay, here's it. My New Year Resolution is ...... still in the making. I am still at the journey of life, just stopping by the RnR for a few days. I promise i will decide on that list soon.

c.h.e.e.r.s.

Happy New Year - 2007

2006-12-31T17:32:00.000+01:00

Here we are again, at the eve of the new year that we have waited for quite awhile. Every 31st December, we bid the past year farewell and welcome the new year, in which we hope would at last bring us what we have wished for but not fulfilled the year before.

And so, i as i have promised every year, and i'm sure most of you too, are making plans for the upcoming year, in the wishful thinking that this year will be the best of the past years. But before we go on any further, lets us recap the amazing 2006, as of course better than 2005. =)

Achievements:

I am in a relationship with the lovely girl most probably be reading this post right now.
I have finished my degree in UTP, which actually still depends on my final results, of which i hope wouldn't be too disappointing.
I have a room now, with my family moving to this side of Malaysia at last. Recently have it done, am enjoying it every minute.
I have finished my internship, very early this year. Learn alot, helped me grow alot too.
Bought my first digicam which have been on my wishlist for a long time. Now in the process of learning how to manipulate the controls.
Had a wonderful batch dinner. The event was memorable, i am sure the dinner would be unrivalled to any that i have attended. The feedbacks were excellent. Hope we'll have another shot in organising the reunion later.
Had a very enjoyable event, the Schlumberger Day. Will certainly miss the people i have worked with.
Met alot of great people, which would not be fair to mention here, mostly of the fear i would miss anyone out. Truly it is a priveledge.
Had a great semester with the Goodfellas, hope we would stick together for the times to come, and see who's losing the 'bet' we made.

Setbacks:

Wished i had done better with my final year project. Surely i did the best i could, but this feeling of hoping to do better just clouds me. Definitely the regret of the year.
Not watching STOMP when they came to Malaysia. I am not quite sure whether it is this year or last, but still it is a big regret. Heard they were awesome.
Did not go-kart. Also my regret, had some chances, but missed them.
Made some enemies. This definitely one of my biggest regrets, but i just cannot accept their behavior. Wished it to be otherwise.

Okay, I am at lost of thinking about any more setbacks. I am pretty sure there's more, but maybe they're better left in the past. The thing is, I have more things to rejoice about in year 2006 rather than mourn about. It is also to this, I must thank God for His guidance over the year.

Now about the new year. Hurmm, there's so many uncertainty that awaits me now. Every year that has gone by, I will look forward to go back to studying and spending time with friends. Now, for the first time, i am looking forward to working and being paid. It seems that the tide has changed, and here comes a phase in my life that i must wade through. It is with this thought, that my anticipation keeps on growing. What will become of me in 2007? Who will i work for? Where will it be? and how the i go from there? Interesting questions, and i hope to answer them as we go through the surely interesting 2007.

Good bye 2006, Welcome 2007. It has been a wonderful journey, and i hope it will be more interesting as the journey is continued. With the name of God, I move forward, one step at a time.

Happy New Year Everyone!! =)

c.h.e.e.r.s

Fraser's Hill

2006-12-25T18:34:00.000+01:00

On the sunday of x-mas eve, my parents and i went to Fraser's Hill. It was a nice day, no rain with lots of sunlight. My dad wanted to go so much so my mum and i decided to go. It was a nice trip albiet some setbacks, some reminders that Malaysia still need to go a long way before becoming a true tourist attraction. At least, for Fraser's Hill that is.

We left home at 9am, thanks to me waking up late. Got to the top at about 10.30am, it was a slow drive, taking the scenery in as we ascended. There is also a new road going up, meaning there is no more sharing of the old road which is now used to descend only.

The famous clock tower at the Fraser's Hill township

Fraser's Hill Township

The golf course, looks fantastic from here, but terrible in reality

A lost treasure is always a pleasure to behold

Me and dad, at the 9th hole. For the record, my record is 3-6. Credits to the lousy course.

Anyhow, it was a wonderful trip. The best part for me is of course the drive downhill. Hahaha, no drift of anykind, just simple fast driving downhill. Just loving it. =)

Merry x-mass everyone!

c.h.e.e.r.s

Aaahhh, the smell of victory

2006-12-24T14:31:00.000+01:00

Nothing smells like it. So far in this season, we had been terribly punished by simple mistakes. We deserve to be where we are at the moment. But since its x-mas, lets wish our team a fruitful and prosperous holidays.

On the second day of x-mas, my truly love send to me..5-0 win! haahaaahaa, merry x-mas chaps!

c.h.e.e.r.s

Arsenal 2 - 2 Portsmouth

2006-12-16T21:24:00.000+01:00

Unlucky first half, pulse-racing second. 2 minutes of class complete the comeback. Too bad the winner was absent today.

Thanks Adebayor, you made my evening much better than i thought i would be. Next stop, Anfield. Go bet 'em, boys!

c.h.e.e.r.s

Hearts of Gold

2006-12-14T17:32:00.000+01:00

i'm feeling great.

For one, i finally bought myself a desk from ikea, my fav store. it's a Mikael, birch effect desk with add-on shelves. it's very nice, with loads of compartment for stuff, ways to put things in order. At last i have found the missing piece of my room's completeness. Being so eager, my dad and i both worked on it from 10pm to 1am to finish it, so that my mom could start envying my room, hahaha.. Spent almost 2 days in Ikea, bought some book shelves and railings, things that would be up by tomoro i hope. And last of all, a nice cosy, comfty black chair. Hurmm, more reasons to get stuck with FM all day long.

And of course, the happiness would not be complete without my dear darling. Swing by her house on the way to Ikea. We had great fun in that place, looking at stuff, pretending we have all the money in the world to buy them. After that, we went to Shah Alam to meet up with Shikin and Saiful, her friends from Primary School. Too many tales to tell, but now i know that Ira cries heavily when reading romance novels, hahaha..no secret now eh =p

ok, that was on tuesday. On wednesday, went by her house again. This time we're going ice-skating. The last time we went skating was a year and a half ago, which was when i first started training and bought my mini. Time passes in a flash, really didn't anticipate what would happen 18 months after that outing. First time now, i did not fall down in that rink, honestly i'm disappointed. I like falling down, cuz it's like a reminder that its enough for the day. But Ira did fall however, hahaha...first time for her. i grinned all day, thank god we brought extra clothes.

Here's a thought. Pak Lah was saying all this while that Malaysian's are losing the battle against racism. I'm pretty sure he hasn't gone ice-skating in pyramid, at least for quite some time. The thing that caught me the most was that, in the rink, you are just anybody. They don't care how old you are, what color you are and so on. Everyone has fun and laughs at the funny tricks some make. and when you fall, they would come from behind you, grab your hand and pick you up. When my dear Ira fell, three kids came and helped her up. One was chinese, one was eurasian and another is a malay, i guess. they happen to be there when she fell, and hesitate little to help her up. All three were no taller than my chest, yet had hearts of gold.

See, just small gestures, yet brings much promise to the future. As far as i recall, its the adults whom are so prejudicial about other races. Yet, the children are those who have reached over and lend a helping hand. I hope these adults do not pollute the minds of the little samaritans, staining them with the sin of prejudice and hatred. Let them grow up and show us the true meaning of multicultural peace and harmony.

The world may be changing for the better afterall.

c.h.e.e.r.s

Xmas Wishlist

2006-12-11T14:56:00.000+01:00

Dear Santa,

I know you exist. For so long, you created confusion in us kids that you are a myth, but i know better. I saw you at the shopping mall the other day, and even if you wore plain clothes, i can still see your red boots under those pants. So you fool me no more.

But being the nice boy that i am, i wont turn you in to the cops. I know you would have your reasons, so i am sure we could work something out. You see, i am currently unemployed, so i do not have money to shop for myself this year. In exchange of my goodwill, i hope you could take care of a few things for me.

First, I would like a watch. To be exact, a Tissot T-Lord watch. The color of the strap is black, and there are 3 dials at the sides. You can find it in any authorized retailer in Switzerland.

Second, I want a nokia N95 phone. Don't worry, i wont use it to call the cops. It's just that not everyday you could ask for one. If you can't find it anywhere, an N73 or an N93 would do. If you still can't find one, try looking in the elves locker. I'm sure they have at least one up there in the North Pole.

Third, I want a 5 days trip to Paris, expenses included. and it's for two. I may not be having a break in the near future so i would love to bring my darling to Paris for a holiday. If you have an unexpected economic crisis, you could give this to me without the first two. But mind you, i might come back for more gifts next year.

That's all i'm asking. I'm pretty sure you would have the money since you don't have to pay a cent for petrol. You don't have to pay labor cost to the elves and every year, you have enough cookies and milk to last you for a long time during your Xmas eve rounds.

Bless you, Santa!

Your friend,
Elmo

p/s: i love xmas very much.

c.h.e.e.r.s

Boys will be boys

2006-12-10T19:35:00.000+01:00

Just got of the telly,watching me beloved Arsenal squeezed to almost certain death by Chelsea only to draw 1-1 in the end.

My verdict? Just like Shebby said, its a case of lucky versus unlucky. Arsenal got the lead but had the woodwork rattled by Lampard and Essien. We almost had the lead if dear Hleb didn't squander the chance on the counter, but could have gone down to numerous penalty claims by Chelsea.

But despite the tension, there's one part where i love so much. A Chelsea pass into the box,received by Drogba. A clumsy challenge by Senderos brought the burly striker down, but the referee waves away. Drogba got up and started to protest, but the play was on. Lehmann give him a light nudge to spur him on, but Drogba fell theatrically. Lehmann couldn't be bothered and went to his line. Up got Drogba, and gave Lehmann a little push on the shoulder, now Lehmann falls down, again with such skill. Everyone had to stop play and give these two boys a hug. Hahaha..

No one is too old to be a child. =)

c.h.e.e.r.s

Thank You

2006-12-10T16:27:00.000+01:00

Here's a warm thank you, a smile and a big hug.

You have just passed the Gates of Atlantis.

If you have not known me before, you should check out my previous blog at:

http://spazero.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog/

Enjoy! =)

c.h.e.e.r.s