Scenes of destruction

The pictures paint a thousand words.

Fast and efficient, the immigration department

Yesterday I went to do my passport at the immigration office in Sri Rampai, Wangsa Maju. I was pleasantly surprised at the way business is being conducted there. It was fast, efficient and caring. In less than two hours, I completed my business of making three passports, for me, Akid and Maisarah. I said caring because when they saw me with two babies in tow, I was given special attention. The form was brought to me, not me having to ask for it. I don't have to queue. Instead the moment I was ready, that is after filling the forms and getting photostat copies of the necessary documents, I was shown straight to the counter. At the counter, everything was fast and efficient. Really great service. Kudos to the immigration department. I salute you. You have come a long way from those days when it took two months to get a passport.

Last day of 2014

All in all, 2014 was a learning year for me. I was busy throughout with my work in the office in PJ off course. Then I was in Bakun for a good four months. It was like going back to when I first reported for work in Temengor, more than thirty years ago. I learned a lot, not only about the work but also outside of it. I quite like Bintulu, a booming town. I'm sure in ten years time, the landscape of Bintulu would change totally, such is the speed of development. I was in Miri, a beautiful city. Bakun itself was a pleasant surprise. Although deep in the middle of nowhere, Bakun is not that bad a place to work and live. There are many places in and around Bakun that I would have like to explore but unfortunately, time was not on my side. 

It must be terrible

That's the Karak highway near Temerloh. It has become a riverway. That has been the story so far. The flood has shown no sign of abating. It is still raining. Yesterday it rained the whole day in KL, although not heavy. Still, it caused inconvenient. What more if the rain is heavy. I cannot imagine how the people affected by flood are suffering. It must be terrible!

Bird watching

Its getting worse

There's no respite from the relentless rain that is causing the flood. More than 200,000 already evacuated. People are without food, proper shelter, money, change of clothes. There's looting going on from desperate people. Some are without electricity, water. Many have lost everything. The water rises so fast there's little time to react. Its a terrible time for the country. Never been worse than this.

Another plane missing

I don't want to believe it but I have no choice because its true. Yet another Malaysian aircraft gone missing. Yes, you will say its an Indonesian aircraft but its an Air Asia aircraft, a Malaysian company. What in the world is happening? That makes it three aircraft tragedies in a space of slightly less than one year for Malaysia. More than three hundred dead in total. It really is terrible. They have not found MH370 yet. They don't exactly know what happened to MH17. Now, another one gone missing!

A break

I'm on leave till the end of the year. I will only report back for work on the 2nd of December 2015. Hopefully, there's nothing of urgency that will compel me to come back to the office. Meantime, I will be busy with many personal things to do like finding tenant for my house in Cheras, opening bank accounts for my children, renewing my passport etc. In sha Allah I can do all of them during this short break.

A visit to the Bird Park

Took Maisarah for her check up after one year. She was given an injection. Need to come back in six months time for another injection. Somehow I feel the hospitals are trying to squeeze as much money as possible from us. When I had my four earlier children, there were never all these injections. Now, they tell us the child needs this, needs that, etc. Personally I think it's all unnecessary but my wife is convinced. Anyway, after that, we went to the bird park at the Lake Garden. Maisarah is too small to appreciate anything while Akid was scared of the birds. In the end, we cut short the visit and headed home.

Worst flood ever

This is the worst flood ever in this country. More than 160,000 people have been evacuated. Some people have been without a change of clothes, no bath, sleeping in their cars and worse, no money as the ATMs go out of action. Everything has come to a standstill. Kelantan has been hit the most. Six other states are also affected, in varying degree. Sad to say that although this is an annual event, the authorities was ill prepared this time. Perhaps the severity of it caught everyone by surprise. 

Thousands are suffering

Last night it rained cats and dogs for two hours. So heavy was the rain KL was flooded in a flash. Talking about flood, this year is the worst flood ever in the history of the country. More than ninety thousand people evacuated in the east coast. That's a lot more than usual. Many towns and villages are completely cut off due to the flood and rain and thunderstorm. I hope the situation will improve soon. Thousands are suffering. 

One year has passed

Maisarah is one year old, Alhamdulillah. From a little baby, weighing less than 2kg at birth, she is has grown up so much. She walks like a veteran now. Can even run a little bit. How time flies. Soon she will be a big girl, then a teenager, then an adult. That's the time when I will lose them. That's the hardest part of bringing up children. Once they have grown up, you are out of their picture. Sigh…...

The choice

Ever get the feeling that you are losing control. That you are slowly losing the things that matter most to you. Not by your own undoing but by circumstances. Circumstances that you never thought would become the way it is now. You know how to make it right but your action can also make it worse. Still, it is something you need to do. You have to do, like it or not. Not doing anything is not a choice. Its a matter of when, not will.

When I was young and hnadsome

The year was 1978/79. The place was University of Surrey. I was in the second or third year of my university education. I came to England to further my studies in 1974. Was in Brighton for two years and at this university for another three years. All in all, I was five years in England. It all seem so many many years ago, which is true off course. 

Its a total mystery

It's the end of the year period. Many people go on leave, taking a break, to rewind and come back in the new year fresh and raring to go. I'm also in the same mood. However, today I have to come back to the office for a meeting I cannot miss. Starting tomorrow, I'II be on leave until the end of the year. I will come back to work on the 2nd of January 2015. On the world front, the price of oil is continuing to fall.  IS is still causing concern the world over. Suddenly, without sounding any trumpet, they appear on the world scene. I have never heard of them until recently but how come so fast, they have overtaken Al Qaeda as the new terror. How did they get started? where did they get their money? Weapons? Fighters? Who is their leader? Its a total mystery!  

Time to move on

I'm back in my KL office, or PJ to be exact. My stint in Bakun is over. It has been a great four months but now its time to move on. I can concentrate fully on my work in KL. I will only go to Bakun for meetings which will be for a few days. No more staying there for weeks, not knowing when I will be back in KL. I survived that. I look forward to the new year with great anticipation. I pray to Allah that it will be another great one In sha Allah.

My former university

University of Surrey

Back home

Its nice to be back at home.

Caught

Now I understand why the price of oil is low despite all the fighting in Syria, Iraq, Libya and everywhere else. Its the American way of punishing Putin Russia for daring to stand up to them in the Ukraine crisis. Now Russia is reeling from the low price. Its economy is in deep trouble. The price of oil will remain low until Russia cave in but will they? Anyway, the world will benefit from this situation although not all. Some airlines are already feeling the heat. The price is low but they are unable to take advantage of it due to oil contracts they have signed earlier. Oil companies are also having to scale down their profit forecast. Oil exploration have to stop as the cost of producing is higher than the selling price. They are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Its officially over

Its Sunday today. The last time I looked at my blog was last Wednesday. How could it have happened? I flew to Bintulu on Thursday and then 3 hrs by road to Bakun. I was in Bakun Friday, Saturday till Sunday when I flew back to KL. All that time I was busy with work. Only today I had the time to look at my blog. Wow! Three days have passed since I last looked. Never thought it was that long! I have packed all the things in the house in Bakun. I have given back the key to the house. Its officially over. Now I have only one office. In KL. 

Handy man

Feeling the pinch

The price of oil has dropped so low its unthinkable just a few months back. The only problem is, why is the price of petrol being sold at the petrol stations not corresponding to the oil market price. They should be selling it at a much lower price than presently. Lower price of oil brings benefit to most people but oil companies are feeling the pinch. Oil explorations at some places has to stop as the potential profit turn the other way, potential loss. Countries that has been depending on oil for their income must also be feeling the pinch. Expected revenues has suddenly becomes smaller than budgeted. Don't know how long this will go on.   

So expensive

Gombak is very near to KL. KLCC can clearly be seen from Gombak. It takes only a few minutes, if there is no traffic jam off course, to reach KL from Gombak. However, there are still Malay kampong areas in and around Gombak. The house I'm renting is situated in one. Every morning, I can hear the cocks crowl. The houses, mostly a mix of wood and concrete, are cluttered, built close together allowing only a small pathway for cars to get through. Driving a big car can be a problem. Visiting a friend can also pose a problem as there is no parking space. Why I choose this place is because of the cheap rent. It would have cost me a bomb at other places. Even a single storey terrace house will cost me RM1500 monthly. A double story is between RM1800-RM2000 monthly…. sigh……and to think I'm renting out my double story terrace house in Seremban for only RM1000!

Enjoying the scene

Was in Cheras yesterday to meet a friend. After that had lunch at Giant supermarket, situated along the Cheras- Kajang highway. I stayed in Cheras for two years but never found the time to stop over at this place although almost everyday I passed by it. Now I am not staying in Cheras anymore, I can find the time to stop over for a while.  

How come?

At the airport in Bintulu, while waiting for the flight, I saw the football match between Malaysia and Vietnam. Somebody got it live on his computer. The score was 2-1 in Malaysia's favor before we had to stop watching as we had to board the plane. On reaching KLIA 2, I quickly looked in the internet for the result. Malaysia won 4-2. A miracle to me considering how we had played in KL in the first leg. Then, we were outplayed, surrendering meekly to a fast Vietnamese side. In Hanoi, things changed completely. How come?

Money comes, money goes

Whole day Friday I rested at the house except for the Friday prayer and in the afternoon I had to send the Mercedes for repair. Somehow, all the indicating lights inside the car disappeared. I suspect something to do with the controller. It happened before. Easy to get it right. Just change it. The only thing is, it will set me back more than a fistful of ringgit. Hmm….. that's how money is spent. Sometime   you just can't help it. Money comes, money goes.

Cheated by the taxi

Its great to be back home in KL. Only drawback was the taxi driver taking me from KLIA 2 to the house clearly cheated on me. I was watching the meter throughout the journey. It showed only sixty eight ringgit upon reaching the house. Miraculously, the meter had changed to ninety five ringgit seconds later when I looked at it again. At almost one in the morning and after the tiring journey, I was in no mood to argue. I just paid him, happy to see the last of him. Unfortunately, I forgot to take his taxi number to lodge a complain. Now I remember why I always take the airport taxi instead of the metered taxi. I won't get cheated with the airport taxi as I pay upfront at the counter.

I get to exercise

I am on leave today, packing up my things for the trip later in the day to KL. Not much things anyway as I have already carried with me most of them the last time I traveled to KL. Looking forward to the short holiday in Kl although on Monday I have to break my holiday to attend a meeting. The past four months have been hectic. Hopefully the next few months will see some relief. Anyway, the football provided some relaxing time outside of work. Manage to play a few times, something that would be very difficult to do in KL. I get to exercise a bit!  

Unifi merry go round

So damn difficult to get my Unifi on line after moving house. From initially unable to track my application to giving dates for installation only to cancel it due to system failure, the third date was given but there are still no sign of them. Hmm....... Getting through to Unifi on the phone is hard enough because they give you the merry go round through the answering machine. In sha Allah today, I hope everything will be settled. Its been terrible, trying to get it fix. If I have a choice, I would go for another. 

One bad night

I don't know what is happening to Liverpool. They were so strong last season but now they are struggling. Perhaps losing Suarez has taken its toll. It the season continues this way, Brendan Rodgers job could be on the line. On the local front, Malaysia played like they they were playing away while Vietnam was playing at home. That's how I saw it in Shah Alam. We were defending most of the time while the Vietnamese were attacking in waves. No wonder we lost. Adding the behaviour of the supporters to the equation, it was one bad night for Malaysia.

Soon

Akid has been sick but I hear he is up and running once again. So is Maisarah. She's walking like a professional now. Can't wait to meet them. That's the hardest part of working in Bakun, having to be away from them for long periods.

I enjoyed it

Suddenly I'm going home tomorrow. Wow! How time flies but I don't mind. Not this time anyway. I'm going home. My stint in Bakun is over....no.... not over but almost over. I"II be on leave until the 18th after which I need to come back for one last assignment. After that its officially over. I will hand back the four wheel drive and the house. I will still come back but only for short duration, just like before. It has been great the past few months. I enjoyed it. 

How I wish

I'm back in my house in Bakun. Decided to leave Bintulu early. After all, there's nothing else to do after having done all the necessary things yesterday. Drove slowly and reached my house at about 2pm Alhamdulillah. I'm blogging while watching repeat of Pencetus Ummah on TV. Its a good program I must say. There are times when I choked. Tears flow especially when the topic is about parents, father and mother. Come to think of it, I have not been the best of children to my parents. I have not done enough for them. I could and should have done more, a lot more. Nothing much can be done now. They are here no more. How I wish .............

Jottings

Been too busy with my work, had little time to think of anything else. Since then, the price of oil had gone down so low its almost unbelievable. With all the fighting in Syria and Iraq, one would have thought the price would hit the roof! Then there's Chelsea unbeaten run so far this season. Don't really fancy Maurinho but I have to admit, he is one great manager judging from the trophies he has won thus far. I have also been following the All Blacks all this while. They are the all conquering, over achieving team, beating every team that comes in their way. One defeat in over twenty games is a phenomenal performance. On the home front, losing a title is a setback for sure but honestly, you come as you are and you will go as you are.  

Bintulu from my eyes

Just sight seeing around the old part of the town, taking it all as I walked. Nice town, bustling, growing and expanding.

Its great

Its the weekend. As usual, when I'm in Bakun, I'II spend the weekend in Bintulu, doing the usual thing like banking, buying the provisions for the week, getting a haircut and most of all, just relaxing. My only problem is Saturday is the night for football watching on TV but most of the hotels in Bintulu don't provide the channel. However, tonight I found one hotel that has the channel. As a result, I am now watching the Chelsea vs Newcastle match while blogging. Its great. 

Future plan

Tomorrow will be my last day working in Bakun under my present capacity. After tomorrow it will be over. I will stay in Bakun for a few more days next week, then I will take my annual leave in sha Allah. I will spend those days in KL off course. I will come back to Bakun again sometime in the third week of December for an important meeting. This time however, it will be business as usual, meaning I am base in KL but coming to Bakun off and on. After that I hope to take leave again, finishing off my annual leave. I will only work again in the new year, in sha Allah.

Enjoyed my football

Was feeling a bit under the weather whole day long yesterday. Then after dinner and isya' prayer, I was asked if I wanted to join in the futsall game they were going to play. Off course when it comes to football, I don't need a second to decide. I jumped at the chance to play. After the game, I felt much better. Slept well and woke up in the morning feeling fine and dandy. Today, there's going to be another football game after work. Don't know if I will play or not cause I played already last night. At my age, can't exert myself too much. Not when I'm playing with youngsters less than half my age.

From my office window in Bakun

That's the water after coming out of the turbine and flowing into the river leading on to Belaga, Kapit and Sibu. Soon I'II will not have this view again as I will be leaving Bakun to be back in my office in PJ, In sha Allah. That will be in the third week of this month. Its been a nice experience, working in a power station again after more than 20 years. Never thought I would get the chance but Alhamdulillah, chance I got. I am enjoying it, no doubt about it.

Far away from home.

Living in Bakun has its advantages. The office is just minutes away. The air is fresh. The vehicle is provided. The diesel is provided The house plus all the necessary items to make it livable are provided. Its a great way to make a living. Only setback, it is 180 km away from the nearest town, Bintulu. A drive of two and half to three hours over roads that has seen better days. Plus, off course, I'm far way from home, meaning I have to do my own cooking, washing, cleaning, sweeping.

That will be the day

When I retired three or four years ago, the first thing that hit me was the e mail. From many e mails received everyday to almost zero e mails. That was quite a culture shock. It felt so different. Suddenly nobody was contacting me. After a while I got used to it. Then I started working again and the emails started coming again. Day by day, the e mails increase, little by little. Now, I'm receiving so many e mails that I don't read half of them. They are actually for someone else but copy to me. If I don't have to read them, I don't. One day when I stop working again, the e mails will stop as well. That will be the day......Till then, I have no complain about the e mails.

Tomorrow is another day

Just when I wanted to use the LRT to KL Sentral and from there take the Express to KLIA, the LRT had to suffer a breakdown. Finally I had to make a decision. Keep on waiting with the hundreds and maybe even thousands of other commuters for the LRT to come good or take a taxi. I decided to take the taxi as time was running out. I might miss my flight. Alhamdulillah, I made it. Now I'm back in Bakun. There's plenty of things waiting for me tomorrow. Anyway, for tonight, let me relax a bit. Tomorrow my friend, is another day.