first nite and day at JKT

i reached JKT at about 7.30pm ... BUT ... only an hour later that i managed to catch a taxi ... coz, THERE ALOT OF PPL!!! there are flights from HK, Spore, Australia, Msia ... those are teh country that i can remember ... and all flights fully occupied!!! imagine that .. all the lanes at custom having long queues!!!!

phew!! .. thank god the taxi driver know my destination location ... coz, i dunno where is this place at all .. it's not really the usual location that i've been to (not familiar only ... i know i was around this Mangga Dua area to have bubur.. that's all) ... when we reached the hotel, guess what ... there weren't any booking for me and my boss!! .. aiyo, and my boss's hp roaming wasn't activated by maxis yet (this maxis, need ppl to call them twice to confirm the activation .. pariah-lah) .. so, i have to use my roaming line to call my teammate and also the PMO gal ... and,finally, by 10pm, we have the rooms ...

ok ... room is fine ... but, abit scarry coz alot of mirrors .. i used up all the towels to close all the mirrors!!! i have the queen size bed all by myself :P (actually, not sure is king / queen) ... but, of course, being a superstitious me, i will put alot of stuff on another side of the bed ... hehehehe ...

i BRING ALOT of things!!! my luggage is full of foods .. and, another bag is just clothing ... and my laptop bag (which is very heavy itself!!!) ... yday nite, i found out my sesame oil tertuang half!!! aiyo aiyo .. it's already halved when i tapau it .. now, it's half of the half!!! ... worst is that, my another fren in this project told me that i can get that (abit expensive only) at some chinese shop at the nearby shopping complex!!! i have to spend time to wash some of the things frm my luggage!!!

the next day morning, breakfast time .... hmmmmm, probably i enjoy bread, thus i expect alot of bread selection ... BUT HOR ... disappointed coz tak banyak .. thus, i just had milk, guava drinks, 2 slices toast and 2 eggs ...

then .. i have to walk to bank-leh!! ... kns .. macam-la we both ada sense of direction-meh ... anyhow, we manage to find the bank ... and ... when we reach 5th floor ... we thought it's the working place ... SORRY .. it's NOT!! .. i have to walk staircase to 6th floor which is the penthouse!! .. and, we all cramp in this penthouse!!! ...

ok ... i have nothing to complain now (hopefully not for my whole month stay here)

same old Rain and my same old topic

do u guyz know the Korean super hot dude, Rain???

hmmmm .. i'm not a big fan of him yet i'm not trying to say bad about him either ...

i've saw him performing on stage and his MTV for a few times .. and i can conclude that, he's basically dancing the way Michael Jackson dance. If that's how he got famous in the first place, it's ok. But, after so long, he still uses that kind of movement.

that's the story of same old Rain ... now my "old grandma story"...

those 5 years and above were told to write down their contribution to company. it seems that it will be used as a measurement for rewards and for the management to be aware of how far we have achieved. hmmmm .. i am not sure bout other organisation and i didn't read alot of management books. but, i do hope contribution will not be the main factor to reward a person. i know, i know, the management would prefer someone who is best in contributing even if this person has the worst attitude of all. i haven't really write down my contribution coz mine is totally contribution to myself :P .. ie, self improvement ... AND i can't add it into my cotribution list coz i was told to write what i've done and the role i've played. ... there's no other section of what are the skills that i've pick up.

hahahahhahaha ... no wonder i'm abit reluctant to write and send to my admin manager.

And, btw, what's so wrong being a follower?? i think ppl have forgotten that if everyone become a leader, where should we find the follower? :D ... logic thinking-leh ... bear in mind that, not being a leader, doens't mean that person lack of leadership. There's always some logic reason a person who has hidden ability to lead, decided to stay as follower. :P

some jealous ppl with bad mouth

i miss mandiri working ppl .. at least when we bought any new gadget, no matter it's latest/not latest techno .. we all sure enjoy playing it... here, my place that i'm working now, .. there are 2 person, who has been saying nothing good since they know i have new hp .. damn tulan to hear what they say

if u just wanted to remind me that i've been cheated/i'm stupid .. ok-lah, sekali cakap udah-lah .. i can accept it ... ini bukan ... each day and every single time my phone rang, they also remind me this!!! Secondly, they even said that "wah, ur bf must be super damn rich to buy that damn expensive thing" in a very weird tone .. u know, like "mengejek" ... and another famous line "wah, you two damn senang kena tipu. i don't believe all the shops there are giving you that price." ... ... ... ... ...

i think what i don't like to hear is their way and tone of saying it out. both has atittude problem and yet, ppl around me said they both have good heart pulak ... and, the best thing is that i can predict their reaction!! see .. i'm begining to think i'm very good in judging ppl .. kekekekek

Nokia N73

hehehe .. my bf bought me a nokia n73 hp as early birthday present .. i shall officially use it esok :P ... hehehe .. too happy that i can't describe my feelings into words ..

THANKS A LOT B!!!
LOVE YOU

a letter from a frightened Malaysian abroad

the below passage is from an email

Dear All,

I have been meaning to pen some thoughts for some time now, to let people actually read the views of the typical 'overseas Malaysian' who is kept away. I realise that my email is rather long, but I do hope that you would consider publishing it (and also keep my name private!). I shall start by telling a little about my background. Mine is a rather sad tale - of a young Malaysian full of hope and patriotic enthusiasm, which is slowly but surely trickling away.

I am very different from many other non-bumiputeras, as I was given tremendous opportunities throughout my childhood. Born into a middle-class Chinese but English-speaking family, I grew up with all the privileges of imported books, computers, piano/violin lessons and tuition teachers. My parents insisted that I should be exposed to a multi-racial education in a national school. In my time, my urban national school (a missionary school) was a truly happy place - where the Malays, Chinese and Indian students were roughly equal in proportion. We played and laughed with each other, and studied the history of the world together during Form 4, with one interesting chapter dedicated to Islamic history. Though 75% of my teachers were Malays, I never really noticed. My Malay teachers were the kindest to me - teaching me well and offering me every possible opportunity to develop. I led the district teams for English and Bahasa Malaysia debating competitions. I was the only non-Malay finalist in the Bahasa Malaysian state-level elocution competition. My Malay teachers encouraged me to transfer to a government residential school (sekolah berasrama penuh) so as to enable me to maximise my academic potential. I refused because I was happy where I was, so they made me head prefect and nominated me as a 'Tokoh Pelajar Kebangsaan'.

Till this day, I am absolutely certain that it was the kindness of all my Malay teachers which made me a true Malaysian. I excelled at school and was offered a Singaporean government scholarship to study overseas. I turned them down because I wanted to ensure that I would remain a 'true Malaysian' in the eyes of Malaysia. So I accepted a Malaysian government scholarship to study at Oxford University. Throughout my three years as an undergraduate, the officers at the MSD looked after me very well, and was always there to offer support. I graduated with first class honours, and was offered a job with a leading investment bank. The JPA released me from my bond, so as to enable me to develop my potential. I shall always be grateful for that. I worked hard and rose in rank. My employer sent to me to Harvard University for postgraduate study and I climbed further up their meritocratic ladder. Now I am 31 years old and draw a comfortable monthly salary of US$22,000. Yet, I yearn to return home. I miss my home, my family, my friends, my Malaysian hawker food and the life in Malaysia. I have been asked many times by Singaporean government agencies to join them on very lucrative terms, but I have always refused due to my inherent patriotism.

I really want to return home. I have been told by government-linked corporations and private companies in Malaysia that at best, I would still have to take a 70% pay cut if I return to Malaysia to work. I am prepared and willing to accept that. My country has done a lot for me, so I should not complain about money. But of late, my idealistic vision of my country has really come crashing down, harder and faster than ever before.

I read about the annual fiasco involving non-bumiputera top scorers who are denied entry to critical courses at local universities and are offered forestry and fisheries instead. (My cousin scored 10A1's for SPM and yet was denied a scholarship).

I read about UMNO Youth attacking the so-called meritocracy system because there are less than 60% of Malay students in law and pharmacy, whilst conveniently keeping silent about the fact that 90% of overseas scholarship recipients are Malays and that Malays form the vast majority in courses like medicine, accountancy and engineering at local universities.

I read about the Higher Education Minister promising that non-bumiputera Malaysians will never ever step foot into UiTM.

I read about a poor Chinese teacher's daughter with 11A1's being denied a scholarship, while I know some Malay friends who scored 7A's and whose parents are millionaires being given scholarships.

I read about the brilliant Prof. K.S. Jomo, who was denied a promotion to Senior Professor (not even to Head of Department), although he was backed by references from three Nobel Prize winners. Of course, his talent is recognised by a prestigious appointment at the United Nations.

I read about UMNO Youth accusing Chinese schools of being detrimental to racial integration, while demanding that Mara Junior Science Colleges and other residential schools be kept only for Malays.

I read about the Malay newspaper editors attacking the private sector for not appointing enough Malays to senior management level, whilst insisting that the government always ensure that Malays dominate anything government-related.

I read that at our local universities, not a single Vice-Chancellor or Deputy Vice-Chancellor is non-Malay.

I read that in the government, not a single Secretary-General of any ministry is non-Malay. The same goes for all government agencies like the police, armed forces, etc.

I read about UMNO screaming for the Malay Agenda, but accusing everyone else of racism for whispering about equality.

I read about a poor Indian lady having to pay full price for a low-cost house after being dispossessed from a plantation, whilst Malay millionaires demand their 10% bumiputera discount when buying RM2 million bungalows in a gated community.

I read about my beloved national schools becoming more and more Islamic by the day, enforced by overzealous principals.

I read about my Form 4 World History (Sejarah Dunia) syllabus, which now contains only one chapter of world history, with Islamic history covering the rest of the book.

As I read all this, I tremble with fear. I love my country and long to return. I am willing to take a 70% pay cut. I am willing to face a demotion. I honestly want to contribute my expertise in complex financial services and capital markets. But really, is there a future for me, for my children and for their children? I am truly frightened.

I can deal with the lack of democracy, the lack of press freedom, the ISA, our inefficient and bureaucratic civil service, our awful manners and even a little corruption. But I cannot deal with racism in my homeland. I think this is the single biggest factor which is keeping people like myself away. And bear in mind - there are so many of us (researchers, scientists, bankers, economists, lawyers, academics, etc.). What people read about in Malaysia (like Dr Terence Gomez) is but the tiniest tip of the iceberg. You will be amazed to know about Malaysians denied JPA scholarships (which would have made them civil servants), took loans to attend Ivy League universities, but who are later asked to advise our government (on IT, economics, etc.) at fees running to millions of US dollars. Such information will never be published because it is politically incorrect.

As a Christian, I pray for God's blessing on this great country of ours. I pray that He blesses our leaders with the foresight and humanity to see that this will not work and cannot continue. I pray that they will have the strength to make our country a home for all Malaysians and that they will have mercy for the poor, including the non-Malays. I pray for true racial harmony and acceptance (not just tolerance) in Malaysia.

Yours sincerely,
A very frightened Malaysian abroad

terrified 2

1)
last weekend, me & bf, watch Rob-B-Hood. Rob-B-Hood is classified at UMUM. Thus, alot of kids there too. BUT ... the cinema tengah previewing GRUDGE2 .. alamak .. so scary!! me & bf also got shocked when we were watching some of the sneak preview of GRUDGE2 ... the advertisement should be UMUM as well-loh .. else, it doesn't serves the whole purpose of categorising UMUM-loh

2)
while driving from subang to kepong ... the flyover just before the Kelana Jaya LRT station flyover ... you'll notice a very big advertisement billboard on your right .. that's GRUDGE2 advertisement ... i was driving at nite with my cousin ... that sure scared both of us!!!

TERRIFIED!!

the pessimistic side of me :
- to think the day that i have to go overseas, i start to shiver and tears start coming out ... coz i feel unsafe being so long from home country which is why, i won't complaint if i didn't go to any tour .. infact, i'm not the type that enjoy exploration .. just enjoy being with family/friends during tour
- i'm scared to be at the custom at another country coz i know i'm not supposed to be there for so long ... there was once, i was ask to go into the room for questioning, but, my tears start flooding my eyes and that custom officer just let me go .. i guess, he's scared to see me cry :P .. how lucky i am that moment!!!
- i'm scared to go to a far away place for so long where i will miss my family members, bf and dearest friends ... i sure miss the daily things that i do at my home country with my family, bf and friends ... i don't get to call them whenever i feel to do so (mahal-leh)
- thinking that i have to wake up early in the morning to prepare my lunchbox, it just so tiring yet i had to coz my tastebud still prefer my home country foods (some is good .. really good .. if just have those food for once awhile is ok .. but, helo, for the whole month!!) ...
- dunno will it be like another project where i can't find teamspirit...
- i'm tired to go overseas tooo long coz my 4 days in KL/3days/2 days in KL, aint enuf at all. i have tooo MANY ACTIVITIES with family and bf and friends and pasar pagi too!! (need to buy foods to bring over there) that i find so hard to squeeze everything into 4 days only

the optimistic side of me : ... i force myself to be optimistic ... so hard to hide my pessimistic side ... yet, need to think of the good else how to survive overseas ...
- earning money for CNY ... (but, i don't really need either ... coz, i've managed to control my expenses that i manage to spend wisely and save up too)
- seeing my ex projectmates ... (but, they are different project, susah mau meet up with them and for sure there will be some gap coz we all different project .. but, i still enjoy meeting them)
- getting cheap things from overseas ... (but, i don't have enough place in luggage to bring them back also .. and buying more meaning spending more and i've manage to spend less nowadays .. thanks to my bf and mom who always remind/scold me if i spend on unnecessary things)
- getting a promotion year end coz i'm taking the responsibility ... (but, i don't wish to go overseas-loh .. i rahter the company tak promote me)