Wish I am here

Election fever

Saw this near the Sungai Perak R & R stop. By the way this was not the only one. There were many others. What does it tells you? Election fever is on. Everywhere, everybody is geared for the election except there is no date yet. What a terrible state of affairs. One state already without a functioning government. More to follow soon. How can they let it become like this. The country will not be able to function if this goes on!

No date

One state is already in caretaker government function. A few more states will follow but till now there's no indication at all about the General Election dates. People are waiting anxiously for the announcement but it has proven to a frustrating wait. I cannot in my mind think why there's still the indecisiveness by the PM in fixing a date except that he has been unable to find one. Every date is bad news for him and BN. So, will we see out the term, 30th April now!

Going home

After three days, I'm back at Bintulu airport waiting for flight to KL. Flight is delayed but only a few minutes Alhamdulillah. Been a tiring two days at Bakun, meetings and working till late into the night so much so I had not much time to visit the station itself. Anyway I have no complain for without the meetings and the work late into the night, I would be bored. There's nothing much to do except watch TV and sleep. I would like to have a look at Bintulu itself but so far there's no opportunity. So far, arrive airport then straight to Bakun. Its a three hours drive.

Deep in the interior

Been going to this canteen for my food while in Bakun. Its the only canteen here anyway. Didn't realise there's internet connection here until I was told yesterday. So this morning here I am able to asses the internet deep in the interior of Sarawak. Shouldn't surprise anyone cause here is the biggest hydro power plant in Malaysia. These days, without the internet, you cannot function. Yesterday, I was having meetings the whole day. Today there's going to be more meetings. So before it starts, I steal sometime to write my piece.

Waiting and waiting

There's free Wi Fi at the airport but when I tried, the speed was so damn slow. Ended up using my hand phone as the hot spot. The one thing on everybody's mind at the moment is when is the General election going to be held? Today one state assembly automatically dissolved. There'll be more in the coming days or weeks. Yet, there's no date in sight. Its like waiting for the sky to drop, that's what it has been. You can't wait forever! No matter how late it is going to be, the result is going to be the same! 

Off to Sarawak

Very early in the morning I'm already at KLIA. Traveling to Sarawak on the morning flight. Arrived a bit too early for my liking but then I wasn't sure about the taxi service as well as the early morning traffic. Don't want to be caught. Anyway I can relax and take my time. KLIA already very busy this early. Must be the school holidays.

Its the school holidays

Last Friday, the traffic was unusually heavy coming back from work. It took me one and a half hours to reach home. Normally, it would take only about one hour. On weekends its even less, only about twenty minutes. Must be because of the school holidays I suppose. Some people are already traveling. I have received a few wedding invitations during this school holidays. I am mulling when is the best time to travel in order to avoid the heavy traffic on the highways. Best not to get caught  with hours of frustrations on the road.

Busy during Weekends

Nowadays, the only time when I can do my personal errands are during the weekends. On weekdays, I am just too busy with work there's hardly anytime for anything else. Last Saturday for instance, I was at the mosque for the morning prayer, then I went jogging, then I sent my car for repair. After that I made a call to a bank to cancel a credit card which they I did not apply but was given. Although I did not accept, I was billed. Anyway, I hope its settled now.

Deep in the tunnel

Read an article about Blackburn Rovers yesterday and a one Mr Singh. Seems that ever since he came onto the scene at the beginning of this season, it has been downhill all the way for the club. Have gone through three managers already, or was it four, but they are still deep in the tunnel. He is discovering that managing or looking after a club is a not a bed of roses. Perhaps Mr Singh should go back to do what he does best, be a football pundit on TV. Then, he can talk and analyse for all he wants but nothing will happen. That's the beauty of the job.

Unexpected the unexpected

Next week its back to Sarawak again. It will be another exhausting trip I'm sure. Two days for traveling, go and come back, just to spent a day there. Only this time I will spent two days, meaning four days I will be away from the office. That's almost a whole week away! I have been hearing about Bakun for so many years, never thought one day I will be part of it. Anyway, that's how it goes. Never unexpected the unexpected cause the unexpected can come true one day. I have personally experienced it so many times.

Coping with the traffic

The traffic isn't so bad after all. I'm getting used to it already. It takes about thirty minutes to my office in the morning while going back, it is about double the time. I have tried all the routes that I know of  before settling to the route I'm using now. Its the best so far. When the traffic is crawling, I pass the time in the car listening to Opick. I also know now when is the best time to go to work, when is the best time to go home from work and when is the best time to avoid the busy traffic. These few little things help a lot, I can tell you that.

Alhamdulillah

Its coming to two months since I rejoined the workforce. It was quite a shock to my system initially, having to take in the sudden change to my daily activities. Alhamdulillah, so far I have been able to cope very well. I feel like the old days when I was working with a little bit of change. There's a little bit of rejuvenation in me. I don't feel so fed up like before I retired two years ago. Perhaps the rest I had while enjoying my retirement is playing its part. I have only one dilemma. I can't practise my tourist guide skills!

When?

At one of the many events being held these days. Election fever is hotting up. Everybody gearing up for the election. Ceramah everywhere. The only problem is the election date is not forthcoming. When? When?.......

Only reason

The one question on everybody's mind at the moment is when is the General Election going to be? The last election was held on March 8 of 2008. That makes it more than five years already. This is the longest time ever in between general elections. No Malaysian government has ever done a thing like this before. Wait till the very end, till the mandate automatically ends maybe? The only reason why this is so is because they are not confident of winning the election. That's the only reason I can think of.

Rejuvenated

Finding the time to blog is extremely difficult nowadays. On weekdays its just about impossible. Only on weekends can I find the time to sit at my home office and indulge in my favourite hobby. Time is a real precious commodity now. Unlike when I was doing nothing. Then, I had all the time in the world. Now, my time is pretty limited. Its taken up by work most of the time. Still, at the moment I have no complain. Perhaps the two years of rest have done me a world of good. I don't feel like what I felt before. Then, I was so tired of working.

Antics

Relax bro....... enjoy

Its only three hours

The full day spent in Bakun was great, for me at least. I quite enjoy the time spent there. Met many people, some old friends as well. Don't even know they worked there till I met them. Most of the workers there live alone, without their family. The place is so remote it is not condusive to bring your family along. They will have nothing to do. They will get bored after a while. As I have mentioned, I have never seen a hydro plant so remote. Even then, now it is so much better. I was told in the early days, to get to Bakun is a twelve hour journey, partly by road and partly by boat. Now its only three hours.

The road was bad

The three hours drive to Bakun from Bintulu was most tiring. As we drove further into the hinterland, the road simply got worse and worse. If only the road was better, I'm sure the drive could have been shorter by another hour. As it was, the road was in terrible shape for half the time. Anyway, it was my first time. Maybe after a few trips, I will get used to it. I have been to many hydro power stations but I have never been to one where it is so far out of the beaten track. Bakun definitely beats them all.

Bakun, the road less traveled

Was away from the office for three days traveling to Bakun power plant. Actually I was there for only one full day. The other two days were spent mostly on the road to and fro. The flight from KL to Bintulu itself took two hours. From Bintulu it was another three hours drive into the hinterland to Bakun. Thus, by the time I reached there, it was after five in the evening. No time to do anything much except to rest, have dinner and sleep. Better wait the next day.

Even bigger win

About this time five years ago, I was rooted in front of the television watching the results of the twelve general election as they come one by one. What a night it turned out to be. The ruling party lost badly. A surprised to many people no doubt but come to think of it, it should have been expected. I have been watching videos and photos of Anwar Ibrahim at his speeches before and during the elections. The crowd were massive. Large crowds everywhere. Not only Malays. Chinese, Indians and others were there too. Those were sure indications of things to come. This time around? I think it will be an even bigger win for PR.

Its an everyday thing

These days my jogging time is limited to the weekends. Weekdays my time is limited. By the time I reached home, its almost half past seven or eight in the evening. There's no way I can go jogging. I'd also be too tired and worn out. That's just the way it is. I'm getting used to this new routine anyway. I have even got used to the traffic jam nowadays. Its not a problem anymore. Its an everyday thing, just like eating, sleeping and resting.

But then.....

The tourist guide course was one of the most enjoyable course I have taken. It was short, only four months but I thoroughly enjoyed it. My record speaks for itself. I was the only one in the class to be ever present for all the classes. Rain or shine, I will be there. I was never late as well. I learned a lot, picked up a lot, enjoyed myself. In other words, I was having fun. Alas, everything has got to end. This course ended as well. Now that I'm working again, I don't know if I can ever be a tourist guide. Its a thing I would love to do but then...........

Heart or head?

Having gone through the full course, taken and passed the exam, I am now a licensed tourist guide. The problem is, I am now working again, eight to five. The results for the exam took two months to come. While waiting for the results, I received an offer I could not refused. Hence the dilemma. My heart tells me I want to be a tourist guide. I love the job. I believe I can excel in the job but my head tells me I need to be an engineer. It brings me the money I need. So what now? My heart or my head?

Early morning office

This is where I will have my breakfast in the morning. A stone's throw away from my office. Its got Wi Fi as well. I would have my teh tarik plus some food, read the papers and sometimes blog, before walking to my office at about eight..

That man again

Yes, he is a womaniser. At the same time, he is also a maniser, or whatever you call it. He has got some 3 billion worth of ringgit stashed somewhere, a result of some illegal gain. He supports LBGT. He is a spy for the Americans....and don't forget, for the Russian as well. Or for that matter, for the Chinese, for the Indians, for the Jews, for the .......the list is too long to remember. He is a traitor to the nation, a man of loose morals, living a life of evil. Everything that's wrong with this country, its because of him. Oh I forgot, last night my lights suddenly went off. Its must the work of that man again.

They are all the same

Its a little bit over seven in the morning. I'm at a mamak stall having my breakfast near my workplace. The good thing about these mamak stalls is because they have keep up with modern times. Wi fi is freely available. That's why I am able to access my blog and write some lines before my working hours start. Going to work in the morning is not a problem cause I leave very early in the morning. Its going back home in the evening that is giving me headache. Just cannot escape the jam. I have tried all routes. They are all the same.

Akid at 10 mths

Akid in a cage

I was having a ball

I'm lazing around the house this weekend. Thought I had to go for an appointment somewhere but it never materialised. Don't know why. Anyway, it gives me a chance to just rest and relax, physically and mentally, so as to recover for the coming week. I'm into my second month of working in this second phase of working life. Something I never expected but I do noticed something. At the mosque where I frequent, the regulars are mostly in their sixties. These are the retirees I presumed. I'm in my fifties, so maybe its a bit early to retire. But the truth is, I never for once thought I would be working again. I was having a ball. 

They never recovered

2013 is proving to be a tough year for Mcllroy. The world no. 1 played in three tournaments thus far but the results have been outright disappointing. He missed the cut in Dubai, lost in the first round of the matchplay championship and in what must be the worst of them all, walked off the course without finishing his round in the last tournament he played. He was also many shots over, for sure to miss the cut. So what gives? His new golf clubs, his distant relationship, his ....... Hopefully he knows the answer. Don't want to be like some players who mysteriously lost it all. Remember Ian Baker Finch? Remember David Duval? They never recovered!

Can you beat that!

Although my degree is in mechanical engineering, I never enjoyed doing the technical stuff while working. It was really something I don't have a passion for. As I go up in my working life, the technical stuff were left behind as I moved more into a management position. I thought I had left it forever. When I finally retired after almost thirty years of working, that only reinforced the thought but little was I to know what God has in store for me. Now I'm working again and guess what? I'm back doing technical stuff! What more, I'm not only doing mechanical but electrical as well. Can you beat that!

What a pity

Having just started on my Arab class, its a real pity I had to give up for now. The usual morning class is not possible anymore because I have to go to work. There's one night class but it starts at eight. By the time I get back home from work, its already almost eight. I would be feeling too tired to rush off for another two hours of lesson. I enjoyed the Arab class while it lasted. For the first time I attended an Arab class where only Arabic is spoken. That's why I picked up very fast. I was able to hold a conversation with the teacher in Arabic. What a pity I had to stop..........

Disappeared while sleeping

Sometime you are not even safe in your own bed. In America, a man was swallowed by a sinkhole while sleeping on his bed. And you know what, he disappeared without trace. They launched a rescue operation wanting to find him, or at least his body but gave up the attempt after a few days. he is gone, just like that. A really tragic thing to happen.

Grateful always

I enjoyed my almost two years of hiatus. It was a good break, no doubt about it. I was free to do what I wanted to do. I dabbled in shares, I invested in other small projects, I bought houses, I go to the mosque five times a day whenever possible, I blogged, I jogged, I traveled to Pak Hamka house, I went for Umrah, but most of all, I enjoyed the freedom to live the way I wanted to live, without having to worry about where my next meal is coming from. It may be short lived but I am grateful to Allah for the time He has given me. When I thought I needed to get back to work, He gave me the work, just like that!

It a no brainer

Just got the news. I have passed my tourist guide examination. Now I can be a full pledge tourist guide. That's the job I would love to do, the job I really wanted to do but then, circumstances forbids, for the moment at least. I am an engineer. People recognise me as an engineer. People are willing to pay me to be an engineer. Its considerably more than what I can get as a tourist guide. For the moment at least. So, in circumstances like this, how would I choose? Your guess is as good as mine. Go back to being an engineer!

Back to my roots

One thing I never expected is to go back to my roots. I am an engineer by qualification but I never quite like the technical staff. The first fifteen years of my working life, I did technical stuff, in line with my qualifications. Then as I move up the ladder, technical stuff were left behind as I was more into planning, performance and the like. The last few years of my first working life, I was deep into relation management. However, now I find myself doing a three hundred and sixty degree turn. Its back to technical. Do I like it...........?

Back to work

Its good to be able to stay in the house and not having to rush off to work early in the morning. After almost a month of being back in the workforce, I am really enjoying this weekend break. Seems like a long time ago since I last had this leisurely time on my hand. Anyway, being back the workforce is not that bad. If for nothing else, it brings in the cash. Having extra cash is always a help, anytime. I am enjoying my return to the workforce, after a two year hiatus. Lets hope it remain that way.

What's in store

What a difference a month can make. Last month at this time of the day, I would be in my study room, blogging. Now I am a restaurant near my workplace, having my breakfast before getting to the office. One month ago I would be resting in the house, waiting for the call for prayers. Then I would go to the mosque to pray. Now I will be in my office, working. One month ago, I would be jogging by the lakeside in the morning. Now, every morning and evening, I have to brave the traffic jam. Yes, That's life. You never know what's in store for you.

Yeah... I can blog again

After almost a month of working again, I am beginning to get into the groove of my new routine. Perhaps now I can start doing again what I love doing best, blogging. I have given it a miss for some three weeks already due to time constraint. Just couldn't find the time to blog. However, now I think I can fit in blogging time sometime in my schedule. Hope to start blogging regularly again.