On Monday, while on the way back home from the office, as I was driving trying to cross a junction outside of my office, a careless lady driver came rear ending my car.
As all usual car accidents, we both stop to agree to meet up at a less busy road nearby. As we got down and discussed, the lady says she wanted to call her "member" to decide on the next step. Me having car-jack once, I became very careful, I quickly walked towards the coffee shop nearby to order my cup of tea while she waited for her "member". This is also to judge if the "member" came alone or in a group. In my mind, if there were more than 2 people came from her side, I will immediately stop negotiating and report the case to the police. Better be safe than sorry.
However, after waiting for about 20 minutes, her 'member' finally arrived. It must be her bf. He came alone and we started negotiating. He told me 2 options, one is to report it to the police, then claim her insurance, the second is to follow him to his car repair shop. Both are not in favour of me. So I insisted that he call his workshop and whatever the cost he is going to pay to his car repair guy, he might just pay me. It works out the price is 150, hence, he paid me 150 for that.
The thing that I feel uneasy is that when someone make a mistake or drive recklessly, how come others have to pay for their reckless act? This is not the first time my car have been rear ended. I think this is the 4th time for my car, although most of the time, the bumper is the victim and the damages stops there itself. I am consider a very careful drive myself. I don't tail-gate, I don't drive too fast, I don't take risky maneuvers, and still people like to "kiss" my car's butt. Weird..
Anyhow, I will be taking leave on Friday to have the bumper repaired and sprayed back to its previous shine. Also, at the same time, need to renew my 2nd car's road tax and insurance which is due sometime in November, hence better do it while I am free.
All drivers out there, drive carefully. Have a great journey!!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Changing Role
Looking at the blog, it had been quite a while since I have updated this blog. I was really busy with work for the last few weeks. Did a local travel to the East Coast too over the past week.
Last week (week of 19th of Oct), I was on my annual leave for 2 days on the 20th and 21st of Oct 2009 (Tuesday & Wednesday) as Wednesday is the 4th day of the 9th Month in the Chinese calendar - the 1st Anniversary for my Dad. So fast time flies, it had been a year since my Dad left us. We had some prayers at home for this first anniversary.
On that afternoon, after the prayers, I came to the office to leave together with my fellow co-workers to the East Coast as the meeting with the customer there will start at 0830 on Thursday. Therefore, we have to be there one day earlier to put up a night there to prepare for the next morning's meeting. The meeting were suppose to last for 2 days, but it went so smoothly, we manage to get it done in a day. Hence, we came back on the Thursday evening right after the meeting. We started the journey from our hotel at approx 1830 and reached home at 2200.
Then, on Friday, just before I leave the office, I went to see my boss as for this project, my other colleague seems to be doing all the works since I left on the 20th and 21st Oct. My boss told me he have move me forward from being in Project to Sales role. He ask me to leave this project with my colleague (M) as he now have nothing to do in the office. He is not able to move M from project to sales as he is not fit to do it. He can only do project works, hence, I am the better option to carry the sales role.
I am really glad with that decision. Being in sales role, the task is not as demanding as projects. We only need to prepare proposal and costing and meet with customers and try to secure a deal. After which, it will be left to the project dept for the rest of the items. Also another part is in our sales role, we do not need to "hunt" for customers. The customers will be pointed out by the other core sales team, we only need to support them in return.
Over the weekend, I felt totally relax. It felt like a heavy load just being lifted off my shoulders. After working for 10 years, all the while doing project works, for the first time, I do not have to worry about project works.
Project management is not an easy task. There is lots of things to coordinate. At times I have sleepless nights too when the project is in a runaway train mode. Not only that, being in project also, customer will come after you even when you have completed and handed over the project as typical equipment supplies comes with a 12 months of warranty which I need to attend too as well. Now, all that is all behind me for now. Not sure when is it going to be back on my shoulders. Perhaps not anymore again. Now I just have to focus on writing proposals and work on prospects. Really been looking forward for this time!!
Well, to all readers out there, things change in life for the better (or worse). We need to be versatile to adapt to that change.
Last week (week of 19th of Oct), I was on my annual leave for 2 days on the 20th and 21st of Oct 2009 (Tuesday & Wednesday) as Wednesday is the 4th day of the 9th Month in the Chinese calendar - the 1st Anniversary for my Dad. So fast time flies, it had been a year since my Dad left us. We had some prayers at home for this first anniversary.
On that afternoon, after the prayers, I came to the office to leave together with my fellow co-workers to the East Coast as the meeting with the customer there will start at 0830 on Thursday. Therefore, we have to be there one day earlier to put up a night there to prepare for the next morning's meeting. The meeting were suppose to last for 2 days, but it went so smoothly, we manage to get it done in a day. Hence, we came back on the Thursday evening right after the meeting. We started the journey from our hotel at approx 1830 and reached home at 2200.
Then, on Friday, just before I leave the office, I went to see my boss as for this project, my other colleague seems to be doing all the works since I left on the 20th and 21st Oct. My boss told me he have move me forward from being in Project to Sales role. He ask me to leave this project with my colleague (M) as he now have nothing to do in the office. He is not able to move M from project to sales as he is not fit to do it. He can only do project works, hence, I am the better option to carry the sales role.
I am really glad with that decision. Being in sales role, the task is not as demanding as projects. We only need to prepare proposal and costing and meet with customers and try to secure a deal. After which, it will be left to the project dept for the rest of the items. Also another part is in our sales role, we do not need to "hunt" for customers. The customers will be pointed out by the other core sales team, we only need to support them in return.
Over the weekend, I felt totally relax. It felt like a heavy load just being lifted off my shoulders. After working for 10 years, all the while doing project works, for the first time, I do not have to worry about project works.
Project management is not an easy task. There is lots of things to coordinate. At times I have sleepless nights too when the project is in a runaway train mode. Not only that, being in project also, customer will come after you even when you have completed and handed over the project as typical equipment supplies comes with a 12 months of warranty which I need to attend too as well. Now, all that is all behind me for now. Not sure when is it going to be back on my shoulders. Perhaps not anymore again. Now I just have to focus on writing proposals and work on prospects. Really been looking forward for this time!!
Well, to all readers out there, things change in life for the better (or worse). We need to be versatile to adapt to that change.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Travel to Vietnam - Day 2
Well, today is the 12th Oct 2009, Monday. This morning started early. We met up for breakfast at about 0700 and left the hotel at 0730 for the customer's place.
1st customer is Sumitomo Vietnam. The thing I notice here in Hanoi, Vietnam is that there were really a big plot of land where they house all the foreign companies / factories. The first one we went was at Noi An. The first company that came into view is the very familiar company Panasonic.
In the industrial zone, there were at least 100 + factories located inside. The place was covering a very large area. As we drove towards the first customer, I came across some Malaysian companies have also invested here in Vietnam and have really big production factories here. It seems the labour rate here is really low. A typical production operator cost only about USD200 per month. A technician will be about USD400, an engineer will be about USD600 and a manager will only be about USD1,200. That is the reason lots of companies actually invested here in Hanoi, Vietnam.
According to my colleague, which is the manager in-charge of Vietnam, Mr. Lion from Singapore, there were about 42 industrial park here in Vietnam. Just imagine, in every industrial park there were 100+ companies, multiply by 42, there is approx 4,200 companies here in Vietnam in the listed industrial area alone, not counting the smaller clusters.
After spending about an hour or so with the first customer, we proceeded to the second customer ACP. This customer is also a customer to my company back in my home country. This is the main purpose I am here in Hanoi. They have some issues and I am here to try to resolve it.
After meeting the customer's Production Manager, we went for lunch at about 1200 and a typical lunch in Vietnam is not much difference. There were pork, chicken, some rice, vegetable. The appetizer is cut cucumber for dipping with salt and lime sauce. Cooling. Talking about the chicken, my fellow local colleague ordered a steam chicken. It is a "kampung" chicken, hence the tough meat. That is ok with my. However, I was surprise to see that the chicken is not very well cleaned. You still can see feathers sticking to the skin of the chicken. Disgusting!! Normally I enjoy eating chicken skin a fair bit, but this I have to pass.
After lunch we proceed back to ACP and continue to look at the plant and discussed some possible solution. Then, at 1430, we drove for another 30 minutes to meet another customer Enkei, a car sports rim manufacturer. The meeting was short because the Japanese Production Manager could not speak English. This appointment was suppose to be attended together with our Japanese Manager, however, due to some reason, he is only coming in next week. Hence, the meeting was not fruitful.
After that we proceed to another customer to collect some outstanding payment that they have not been paying since 8 months ago. No luck as well. It seems the financial controller have being playing 'tai-chi' with us. She pass us to their Purchasing Manager, which have no idea that we were there to collect payment. Shamefully this is another Malaysian investment company. Alas..
In one day we manage to cover 4 customers thanks to their industrial zone. All the companies are nearby each other.
We called it a day at 1630 and drove another hour back to hotel. Reached hotel approx 1730. Took our shower and went out for another round of typical Vietnamese meal. For the very first time I have tasted a real Vietnamese spring rolls to be dipped in fish sauce.
Called it a day at about 2100 as tomorrow I have a flight to catch early in the morning. Have to leave the hotel at 0630 to the airport.
There were report that some storm in coming into Hanoi. Hopefully it will only reach after my flight have left for home. Touch Wood.
Basically my trip here was fruitful for me as I manage to do what I suppose to do here. Hopefully, the local manager here is able to follow my instructions given and resolve the problem.
1st customer is Sumitomo Vietnam. The thing I notice here in Hanoi, Vietnam is that there were really a big plot of land where they house all the foreign companies / factories. The first one we went was at Noi An. The first company that came into view is the very familiar company Panasonic.
In the industrial zone, there were at least 100 + factories located inside. The place was covering a very large area. As we drove towards the first customer, I came across some Malaysian companies have also invested here in Vietnam and have really big production factories here. It seems the labour rate here is really low. A typical production operator cost only about USD200 per month. A technician will be about USD400, an engineer will be about USD600 and a manager will only be about USD1,200. That is the reason lots of companies actually invested here in Hanoi, Vietnam.
According to my colleague, which is the manager in-charge of Vietnam, Mr. Lion from Singapore, there were about 42 industrial park here in Vietnam. Just imagine, in every industrial park there were 100+ companies, multiply by 42, there is approx 4,200 companies here in Vietnam in the listed industrial area alone, not counting the smaller clusters.
After spending about an hour or so with the first customer, we proceeded to the second customer ACP. This customer is also a customer to my company back in my home country. This is the main purpose I am here in Hanoi. They have some issues and I am here to try to resolve it.
After meeting the customer's Production Manager, we went for lunch at about 1200 and a typical lunch in Vietnam is not much difference. There were pork, chicken, some rice, vegetable. The appetizer is cut cucumber for dipping with salt and lime sauce. Cooling. Talking about the chicken, my fellow local colleague ordered a steam chicken. It is a "kampung" chicken, hence the tough meat. That is ok with my. However, I was surprise to see that the chicken is not very well cleaned. You still can see feathers sticking to the skin of the chicken. Disgusting!! Normally I enjoy eating chicken skin a fair bit, but this I have to pass.
After lunch we proceed back to ACP and continue to look at the plant and discussed some possible solution. Then, at 1430, we drove for another 30 minutes to meet another customer Enkei, a car sports rim manufacturer. The meeting was short because the Japanese Production Manager could not speak English. This appointment was suppose to be attended together with our Japanese Manager, however, due to some reason, he is only coming in next week. Hence, the meeting was not fruitful.
After that we proceed to another customer to collect some outstanding payment that they have not been paying since 8 months ago. No luck as well. It seems the financial controller have being playing 'tai-chi' with us. She pass us to their Purchasing Manager, which have no idea that we were there to collect payment. Shamefully this is another Malaysian investment company. Alas..
In one day we manage to cover 4 customers thanks to their industrial zone. All the companies are nearby each other.
We called it a day at 1630 and drove another hour back to hotel. Reached hotel approx 1730. Took our shower and went out for another round of typical Vietnamese meal. For the very first time I have tasted a real Vietnamese spring rolls to be dipped in fish sauce.
Called it a day at about 2100 as tomorrow I have a flight to catch early in the morning. Have to leave the hotel at 0630 to the airport.
There were report that some storm in coming into Hanoi. Hopefully it will only reach after my flight have left for home. Touch Wood.
Basically my trip here was fruitful for me as I manage to do what I suppose to do here. Hopefully, the local manager here is able to follow my instructions given and resolve the problem.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Travel to Vietnam
This morning, I flew into Hanoi, Vietnam with a low cost carrier for official work. It was suppose to be a trip that my boss suppose to be here himself but some emergency had called him traveling back to his home country urgently on Friday. The flight is at 0630, hence, I had left home at 0400 with my regular cab.
The flight here was nothing much. Smooth ride, no delays. Arrived in Vietnam at approx 9am (Local Vietnam time +7 GMT). Upon arrival, the immigration process was smooth. It was a rather small airport, with only 2 sets of baggage collection belts. I waited for almost an hour before my luggage came to me.
Just after collecting my luggage, I went to the Hanoi Tourism Authorities to look for some maps and also book a taxi to the hotel. It cost me USD20 for the trip to the hotel my Vietnam colleague had booked for me - Hanoi Hotel. The ride was about 45 minutes. The roads are full with motorbikes everywhere. The traffic is similar to India minus the honking every 3 seconds.
Upon arrival in the hotel, after checking in, I went to take a walk around the hotel. The hotel is located near a lake - Giang Vo Lake. From my hotel room I can get a full view of this lake. The walk took about 1 hour, after which I sat down in one of the local outdoor cafes for a typical Vietnamese coffee which is something popular here in Vietnam.
Unfortunately, English is not commonly spoken here. Even the menu came in the local language. So I just tried my luck in telling the waiter I wanted some coffee, she opened the menu to a page which written there "cafe something"... so I just 'blindly' pick one - it cost me VND13,000 (USD1 = VND17650). Imagine paying $13,000 for a coffee??? This is a bit beyond my comprehension. Anyway, it works out to be less than USD1. So its ok.
Few minutes after that, my coffee came. It seems like I had picked an expresso. It was served with glass of plain water. I took a snap of the coffee as below.
The flight here was nothing much. Smooth ride, no delays. Arrived in Vietnam at approx 9am (Local Vietnam time +7 GMT). Upon arrival, the immigration process was smooth. It was a rather small airport, with only 2 sets of baggage collection belts. I waited for almost an hour before my luggage came to me.
Just after collecting my luggage, I went to the Hanoi Tourism Authorities to look for some maps and also book a taxi to the hotel. It cost me USD20 for the trip to the hotel my Vietnam colleague had booked for me - Hanoi Hotel. The ride was about 45 minutes. The roads are full with motorbikes everywhere. The traffic is similar to India minus the honking every 3 seconds.
Upon arrival in the hotel, after checking in, I went to take a walk around the hotel. The hotel is located near a lake - Giang Vo Lake. From my hotel room I can get a full view of this lake. The walk took about 1 hour, after which I sat down in one of the local outdoor cafes for a typical Vietnamese coffee which is something popular here in Vietnam.
Unfortunately, English is not commonly spoken here. Even the menu came in the local language. So I just tried my luck in telling the waiter I wanted some coffee, she opened the menu to a page which written there "cafe something"... so I just 'blindly' pick one - it cost me VND13,000 (USD1 = VND17650). Imagine paying $13,000 for a coffee??? This is a bit beyond my comprehension. Anyway, it works out to be less than USD1. So its ok.
Few minutes after that, my coffee came. It seems like I had picked an expresso. It was served with glass of plain water. I took a snap of the coffee as below.
It was nice and thick. Normally I drink my coffee with only creamer without sugar. But this time, the coffee is too bitter to be drank without sugar. The taste was so concentrated, it can wake a sleeping elephant with a shot! I have tasted Vietnamese coffee before, it came with a nice butter scent / after taste. Nice.
I tried to get some food there somewhere near the street, but then I thought myself again, I don't want to pick 'blindly' again. Hence, I make my way back to the hotel instead. I don't want after my food came with some 'exotic' meat e.g. dog, cat etc etc. Better be safe than sorry.
Now I am here in my room, using the free broadband checking my work mails and browsing the internet.
I will be here in Hanoi until Tuesday morning. Tomorrow will start early. It seems we need to leave the hotel at 0630 for a 2 hours drive to the customer's place for a full day customer visit. The plan is to cover about 4 to 5 customers. It will be a long day.
Stay tuned for more posting...
Monday, October 5, 2009
Oversea Posting
This morning was rather an interesting morning. Initially I thought my boss will be flying out to Singapore but to my surprise, he came into the office at about 9am.
He called me into his room to discuss my career future. He had offered me an oversea posting offer. Details of the offer yet to be finalized as he need to seek my agreement first.
This is a short term posting (about 2 to 3 years) with very clearly defined purpose and duration. The purpose is for me to be posted there to setup a working team which will be populated with Project Engineers, Design Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Draftsman's, Site Supervisor etc. Basically the whole company is looking at a very hugh potential there and we need to setup a working team there to harvest the potential.
As everything is not confirmed yet, for sure, all comes down to the package that the company is willing to offer. Very likely I will be classified as expatriate and be given an expatriate package, in which I am expecting a house, car and allowance in addition to the salary that I am drawing currently.
The thing that is disturbing me the most is with my mom. As I am staying with my mom, I don't think she will want to shift there for the 2 to 3 years. I am planning to have her stay here for that duration and brings her there with me if she is willing. Perhaps just for some short holiday trips for a few weeks / months at times.
Also another matter that I don't know how to resolve it for now is if the posting takes place in Q1 of 2010, I will have very minimal time to go about the renovation as I will be only getting the keys around that time.
As for the others, I am not so worried as all can be arranged with my brother being around here. I can sign all my cheques post dated for all the installments that I needed to pay for my house and car.
I am very fortunate as I have a very understanding gf. Not only she did not object of this posting, she is very supportive to me. I have also discussed this posting with my mom. She did not object much. She just asked a few basic questions and then when I told her I will be more than happy to bring her there with me, she just smile and in a way agrees with it. I told her it will not be for a very long duration, perhaps she can visit me for 2 to 3 months at times. I will want to negotiate with the company to provide me for a minimum 2 rooms apartment so that my mom or even my gf can come and visit me and stay comfortably.
For not, nothing have been finalized. It might just work out that the company thinks it is too expensive to post me there, perhaps it might work out cheaper for them to just bring me in and out as and when required for few months a time - in fact that is the way I prefer it to be. I can be there for say 3 weeks, back for a week and then go there again for another few weeks.
Lets see what happens.
He called me into his room to discuss my career future. He had offered me an oversea posting offer. Details of the offer yet to be finalized as he need to seek my agreement first.
This is a short term posting (about 2 to 3 years) with very clearly defined purpose and duration. The purpose is for me to be posted there to setup a working team which will be populated with Project Engineers, Design Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Draftsman's, Site Supervisor etc. Basically the whole company is looking at a very hugh potential there and we need to setup a working team there to harvest the potential.
As everything is not confirmed yet, for sure, all comes down to the package that the company is willing to offer. Very likely I will be classified as expatriate and be given an expatriate package, in which I am expecting a house, car and allowance in addition to the salary that I am drawing currently.
The thing that is disturbing me the most is with my mom. As I am staying with my mom, I don't think she will want to shift there for the 2 to 3 years. I am planning to have her stay here for that duration and brings her there with me if she is willing. Perhaps just for some short holiday trips for a few weeks / months at times.
Also another matter that I don't know how to resolve it for now is if the posting takes place in Q1 of 2010, I will have very minimal time to go about the renovation as I will be only getting the keys around that time.
As for the others, I am not so worried as all can be arranged with my brother being around here. I can sign all my cheques post dated for all the installments that I needed to pay for my house and car.
I am very fortunate as I have a very understanding gf. Not only she did not object of this posting, she is very supportive to me. I have also discussed this posting with my mom. She did not object much. She just asked a few basic questions and then when I told her I will be more than happy to bring her there with me, she just smile and in a way agrees with it. I told her it will not be for a very long duration, perhaps she can visit me for 2 to 3 months at times. I will want to negotiate with the company to provide me for a minimum 2 rooms apartment so that my mom or even my gf can come and visit me and stay comfortably.
For not, nothing have been finalized. It might just work out that the company thinks it is too expensive to post me there, perhaps it might work out cheaper for them to just bring me in and out as and when required for few months a time - in fact that is the way I prefer it to be. I can be there for say 3 weeks, back for a week and then go there again for another few weeks.
Lets see what happens.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Back from Maldives
I just got back from the Republic of Maldives yesterday. I have been to I think one of the most expensive resort in the Maldives.
In fact, I am involve in the project to built it from ground. When I saw the resort now open and visitors / tourist actually staying inside and using the facilities that I have some contribution makes me feel proud. The meeting went well. We manage to come to an agreement and now the project have finally completed.
However, travelling there is a challenging task. I first took a 8pm flight from Kuala Lumpur and it took about 4 hours to reach Male, Maldives. Upon reaching Male, I checked into the airport hotel - Hulhule. It cost me USD290 for the night. So freaking expensive with nothing impressive in the hotel.
Rested a night there and on the 2nd day morning, took a local flight from Male to Gan. The flight took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Upon reaching there, went to site with the boat provided by the customer. The boat right took about 45 minutes. Arrived just in time for lunch, so went to the customer's staff canteen for lunch. The food they prepared there was I think the best food I have had in the Maldives out of my 8 or so trips there to date.
The meeting started right after lunch and lasted all the way until 7pm. The sky outside is already dark and we have to wait until 8pm for the boat to our hotel away from the island. Boating at night is not interesting at all. You can't see very far away as most of the boats are without any lights. Not sure of the reason why the boats are without headlights. Perhaps they do not want to attract pirates or something. Anyway, good thing is that we arrived safely at shore after 45 minutes of being in the deep sea.
Only took our dinner at 9pm. Had a short meeting with a supplier during the dinner and as the supplier left, we continued to have some beers and chatted until like 1am before hitting the bed.
On the 2nd day, we plan to catch the 8am boat to site. Hence, at 0700, we went to the cafeteria to get our breakfast, to our surprise, the waiter there do not allow us to have any food despite the food being readily available at the trays. He insisted that the breakfast session only starts at 0730. I have exchanged a few words with the waiter and left for the boat. Anyhow, did not miss anything great. We took our breakfast again at the canteen, the food there is much better than the hotel we stayed.
My colleague conducted a short training session for the customer's maintenance team and by 12pm, we left the site to go to the airport to catch our flight which is scheduled at 1520pm. This flight made a transit at a place called Kaadedhdhoo, about 20 minutes away from Gan. Then, flew for another 55 minutes to Male. We touched down at male at 1615pm.
From that time, we sat down in a restaurant to have some snacks and again chit-chatted until like 2020 hrs to check in for my flight back to Kuala Lumpur. At the airport, the check-in counter queue was so long. The people there were so inefficient, hence, I took my chance to queue up at the Business Class line which is much shorter. Then, when my turn came, I show the check in person my loyalty card number and told him that I always check in using the Business class line. He immediately checked me and my colleague in without hesitation. Saves all our trouble of waiting in the long queue.
The flight took off Male to Colombo, Sri Lanka in which it transit for 1.5 hours. After which, it took off again heading towards Kuala Lumpur in which it landed at 0750 as scheduled.
I took the day off to rest at home as the whole night I did not sleep at all. Then in the evening, I again went to the airport, this time is the Low Cost Carrier Terminal, LCCT to pick my gf up as she return from Sabah. She went there on Tuesday morning. Her flight landed at 2100 hrs. Send her home and me and my mom reached home at 2300 hrs.
In fact, I am involve in the project to built it from ground. When I saw the resort now open and visitors / tourist actually staying inside and using the facilities that I have some contribution makes me feel proud. The meeting went well. We manage to come to an agreement and now the project have finally completed.
However, travelling there is a challenging task. I first took a 8pm flight from Kuala Lumpur and it took about 4 hours to reach Male, Maldives. Upon reaching Male, I checked into the airport hotel - Hulhule. It cost me USD290 for the night. So freaking expensive with nothing impressive in the hotel.
Rested a night there and on the 2nd day morning, took a local flight from Male to Gan. The flight took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Upon reaching there, went to site with the boat provided by the customer. The boat right took about 45 minutes. Arrived just in time for lunch, so went to the customer's staff canteen for lunch. The food they prepared there was I think the best food I have had in the Maldives out of my 8 or so trips there to date.
The meeting started right after lunch and lasted all the way until 7pm. The sky outside is already dark and we have to wait until 8pm for the boat to our hotel away from the island. Boating at night is not interesting at all. You can't see very far away as most of the boats are without any lights. Not sure of the reason why the boats are without headlights. Perhaps they do not want to attract pirates or something. Anyway, good thing is that we arrived safely at shore after 45 minutes of being in the deep sea.
Only took our dinner at 9pm. Had a short meeting with a supplier during the dinner and as the supplier left, we continued to have some beers and chatted until like 1am before hitting the bed.
On the 2nd day, we plan to catch the 8am boat to site. Hence, at 0700, we went to the cafeteria to get our breakfast, to our surprise, the waiter there do not allow us to have any food despite the food being readily available at the trays. He insisted that the breakfast session only starts at 0730. I have exchanged a few words with the waiter and left for the boat. Anyhow, did not miss anything great. We took our breakfast again at the canteen, the food there is much better than the hotel we stayed.
My colleague conducted a short training session for the customer's maintenance team and by 12pm, we left the site to go to the airport to catch our flight which is scheduled at 1520pm. This flight made a transit at a place called Kaadedhdhoo, about 20 minutes away from Gan. Then, flew for another 55 minutes to Male. We touched down at male at 1615pm.
From that time, we sat down in a restaurant to have some snacks and again chit-chatted until like 2020 hrs to check in for my flight back to Kuala Lumpur. At the airport, the check-in counter queue was so long. The people there were so inefficient, hence, I took my chance to queue up at the Business Class line which is much shorter. Then, when my turn came, I show the check in person my loyalty card number and told him that I always check in using the Business class line. He immediately checked me and my colleague in without hesitation. Saves all our trouble of waiting in the long queue.
The flight took off Male to Colombo, Sri Lanka in which it transit for 1.5 hours. After which, it took off again heading towards Kuala Lumpur in which it landed at 0750 as scheduled.
I took the day off to rest at home as the whole night I did not sleep at all. Then in the evening, I again went to the airport, this time is the Low Cost Carrier Terminal, LCCT to pick my gf up as she return from Sabah. She went there on Tuesday morning. Her flight landed at 2100 hrs. Send her home and me and my mom reached home at 2300 hrs.
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