Shifted to New House

Last weekend - 13th of November 2010 (Saturday), finally after nearly five months of renovation work, we shifted into our new house.

This is a totally new environment for both my mom and me in which for the last 33 years (as I remembered for me) and 40 years (for my mom) we never shifted before. We have been staying in the same place all these while.

This place which we shifted into is nearly double the size of our old place. Besides that, this new place is gated and guarded in which safety will not be a major concern. We can happily leave the gate wide open, and not be too worried about passerby / strangers walking into the house as to enter to our area, those who are not staying there need to register themselves with the guard giving their ID card and their car number plate taken down.

Shifting house is a major task. With the help from my family + relatives and a few good friends, the major shifting process took place on Sunday (14th November 2010) morning. I have got a 30ft lorry from my office colleague which this lorry have a lifting platform mounted behind the back to ease the loading into the lorry and unloading it again at the new house.

I was on leave on since Friday (12th Nov 2010) until Wednesday (17th Nov 2010) happens to be a public holiday here. So have a 6 days straight of days off at home to unpack and re-arrange the new place.

Now, have been comfortably settled into the new place and my mom seems happy with the setup although everything is still very new to us. Need to adjust to our daily routine and new location of the things we use to put.

Today is the first day of me in the office and took a new drive route to work. The drive was smooth as many people took leave to continue straight for the weekend since its already Thursday today and weekend is the day after.

The renovation took lots of effort and coordination, inputs and discussion with lots of people inclusive of my fiancée, my mom, my brother & sister in-law, uncle and cousins inclusive of the contractors and suppliers.

One of the best design item in the house that almost everyone that came will say its beautiful is my prayers' cabinet which was designed by my fiancée dad. He really put in a lot of effort into make the design looks really great. Also he had design my kitchen cabinet setup which was really beautiful. Thanks Uncle!!

Trip to Hanoi, Vietnam

On Monday (18th Oct 2010), I took a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam again.

This is the 2nd trip I took for this upgrading project and I am book into a different hotel. I am enjoying the advantage of holding the Silver Card of an airline where I need not to queue up to check in as they have special counter for me to check in.

Perhaps I am too used to travelling for work, I did not pay special attention to the flight departure time. I told my regular cab driver to come and pick me up at 0700, but my flight is only at 1045am. If I were to pay more attention to it, I would have booked the cab at 0745 instead. So I am an hour too early to be at the airport.

Therefore, I ask my cabbie, which is also a friend of mine, to go for breakfast instead of going straight to the airport. He took me to a shop near the airport which serves 'wan tan' noodles with add ons like steam chicken, BBQ pork, roast pork etc. We had our breakfast there and then departed to the airport and still much time to spare.

As I arrived in Hanoi, two of my local Vietnamese colleague (Short as his name means short in Chinese, not because he is short and Pail as his name means pail in Chinese) pick me up from the airport with our company driver and company car. We came to the hotel and then went for a cuppa local Vietnam coffee which I never miss whenever I come here.

We had our discussion in the coffee shop and I took a short rest in my hotel room and at 1830, both my local colleagues came and join me for dinner. We went to a shop which Short took me previously. It is a shop where they have a good variety food which is some kind like 'economy rice' I get back home. We ordered a few dishes and have it with rice. One thing I found special is that one of the vegetable we ordered is basically cabbage which is simply boiled in hot water. Then, my colleague requested for a hard boil duck egg. Yes, duck egg.

Where I come from, duck eggs are normally salted in which they are marinated in salt water for approx 40 days to make it salty. But, they way they have it here is different. They just add on a very very salty fish sauce to it to make it salty and it is used to dip the boil cabbage. Something special / different. FYI, the locals here eat their vegetables in a very health manner. Most greens are simply boiled with plain water and dip in fish sauce for taste. No oil use in the process, hence their greens as they serve on the table are a bit yellowish. Perhaps that explains for the slender bodies of the ladies here.

Then, as usual, I never miss to scroll into DVD shops to see if any movie series catches my attention. I bought a very popular Hong Kong cartoon - McDull, which my lovely fiancée recommended to me when I went to visit her in the UK previously.

After walking for about an hour scrolling down the busy streets of Hanoi City Center, we adjourned and both Short and Pail went back home.

This morning started early. I woke up at 0630 am and took my breakfast at 0700 and left the hotel at 0730. The drive from the hotel to site is only about 40 km (max) but this drive took an hour to arrive. Its because they drive at a very low speed as streets in Hanoi is full of motobikes and there is virtually no traffic rules. People ride and drive from all directions and one amazing thing is that they are able to coordinate themselves so professionally and never bump into each other. At least I have never seen it before - touch wood.

Spend the whole day at site today, had meeting with the customer and followed by the contractor. Had lunch at the industrial area canteen where they serve you 4 dishes and just charge VND20,000 per person (approx USD1 per person) and unlimited amount of rice - eat all you want.

After lunch, we went back to the site for some discussion and left site at about 3pm and reaching back to hotel an hour later. Upon reaching the hotel, I catch up my work e-mails which have been sitting in my inbox for the whole day and at 1830, Short came over and we went for dinner together.

This time, he took me to a noodle restaurant. It seems it is very famous here in Hanoi. Basically, they use marinated slices of fish and when you order, they serve it in a small little wok with fire and fry the fish in the wok as you eat.

Then, there is just unlimited amount of dill and spring onions for you to "cook" or rather fry together with the fish and eat together with the noodles - Vietnamese noodles. Its kinda nice and something different, but its a bit too oily as the fish is frying inside oil and when you pick up the dills and spring onions out from the wok, it will be drench in oil.

After dinner, we took a walk at the night market, and after walking for about an hour, we ended up in a stall to have some coconut water to quench our thirst before I came back and update this blog.

Will be working full day at site again tomorrow and will be leaving Hanoi back home on Thursday afternoon.

Trip to Maldives

Yesterday (14th Sept 2010 - Tuesday) I took a flight from KL to Singapore on transit to Republic of Maldives.

I have came here before many times during the course of a project which we my company was awarded a job here back in 2007. Now after approx 3 years, we are on the final run of this project and I was invited by the customer here for a final review and defect rectification meeting.

During the course of this project, there were many ups and downs. I myself had learned a lot of things while running this project. The project was to build a resort island from once an island devastated by the 2004 Tsunami.

While in transit in Singapore, I met the customer's Project Manager (JC) which is one of the most calm and cool Project Manager I have ever met. We had our initial discussion and flew all the way from Singapore arriving at about 10pm in Male and on transit for another flight to a place call Gan, which is the south most group of island in Maldives.

Then, in the transit flight, I met with another contractor which was also invited here for this meeting. This contractor supplied the interior design for this resort and he personally had been stationed and worked here for the last 2 years.

Upon arriving at Gan, I checked into a local hotel while JC and the contractor I met checked into one of the most expensive hotel here in Maldives. While in the airport, we were checking out ourselves where are each of us staying and the contractor actually mentioned that I should grab the offer the customer (which is the owner of the hotel). The villa they offered to us is at USD250++ per night. Normal rate for this villa is about USD1,250 per night. What a bargain!!

I did not check into this hotel is because it is too expensive for our company rates. Hence, upon arrival in Gan about 2am, I proceed to the hotel my colleague here booked for me.

However, in the morning, I called my boss and explain to him that I am willing to pay the difference in the cost to take this bargain to stay in the customer's hotel, however, to my surprise, my boss says proceed to check in and don't worry, I can claim it in full. I was so happy with it and immediately, I packed and checked into this hotel.

We had our meeting where all the contractors came at 10am and it lasted until 12pm when we break for lunch and then at 3pm, again the meeting continue with individual contractor which lasted until 5pm.

Upon coming out from the meeting, I checked into my villa - Water Villa no. 247. This is call Water Villa because the villa is actually sitting about the Indian Ocean with water flowing under me.

Me and my colleague took a dip in the Indian Ocean, which is first time for me even though I have been here so many times. I fully enjoyed the villa facilities and setup. This hotel group is one of the high end hotel group in the world, hence explains for the price of their rooms and villas.

During the construction phase of this project, when we first heard the rate of they are going to charge, no one ever dream of staying here. It is for the rich and famous which can afford and willing to spend above USD1,000 per night stays. Not for us ordinary working people.

Well, here I am now, in my Water Villa no 247 (actually its villa no. 47 - 2 is just indicating the type of villa), blogging this entry and enjoying every minute of it. I take it as a company paid holiday for the hard work and effort I have put in over the last 3 years to make this project a success and bring it to a closure.

Trip to Hanoi

On Monday (23rd August 2010), I left home at about 0745 for the airport and flew in to Hanoi, Vietnam for work. There is a new project here which we had just secured.

The flight was about 2 and half hours. Landed in Hanoi at approx 1.10pm and coincidently I met my colleague which is from Singapore in the luggage collection area. So we both then met with a local engineer here and we went straight to the customer's factory. On the way there, the skies turn grey fast and upon us reaching the customer's industrial area - Noi Bai Industrial Park, the rain started and couple with strong winds. It is some kind of storm brewing and it lasted for about 1.5 hours.

After the rain, I went to the plant with the local engineer here and did our survey and we discussed some of the works to be done here. At about 3.30pm, we left the customer's site and checked in to our hotel - Boss Hotel. The room was acceptable and I was placed on the 4th floor - room 401 and my window overlooked the main street.

My colleague with his team proceeded to the conference room to have their own discussions, but I went straight to my room to start working on my e-mails. There were 45 mails waiting for me in the mail box.

Then, the local engineer took us to a shop nearby where they serve local food. It seems this shop was popular for glutinous rice. The bowl of rice came with fried eggs and some kind of fish cake. There is also come simple condiment, cucumber marinated in vinegar. It was simple and nice.

Then, the local engineer left for home while me and my colleague from Singapore took a walk along a lake. Lake seems to be something popular here in Hanoi. It seems on 1st of October 2010, Hanoi will celebrate 1,000 years of founding and all hotels were fully booked for the period of 15 days.

After the walk, we came back and rested.

This morning - 24th August 2010 (Tuesday), I started my day at 0730 with breakfast with my colleague at the hotel restaurant. Then, at 0830, the local engineer again came with the driver to pick us up to drive our way to meet the suppliers. The first supplier has a big setup here in Hanoi. I doubt they will be interested in doing this 'small' project for us.

The meeting lasted for about an hour before we drove to a 2nd supplier's office. From the meeting, it looks to me these 2nd supplier is more interested to do this project with us. They showed their interest and went through the scope of supply very throughly. The meeting lasted for about 2 hours and by the time we finish, it was already close to lunch time.

Again, our local engineer took us to a local shop. This shop is some kind of a economic rice shop I find back home. We ordered a few dishes - namely chicken, soup, local vegetable, some of the shop's specialties.

After lunch we proceeded to another FRP supplier's place and this visit was brief as this owner seems to be doing the job half heartedly. I am not at all impress with this supplier. To my surprise, this owner actually works as a security officer and have 3 stars on his shoulder as he was on his duty uniform when he met us.

After this visit, as we were on our way back to the hotel, I suggested to my colleagues we go get some coffee and the local engineer took us a coffee shop. I had my cuppa espresso - local coffee bean. The moment I drank, the butter taste was overwhelmingly thick in the mouth. I enjoyed it a lot. Then, just opposite to this coffee shop, there is a shop that sells the coffee powder. I bought some arabica coffee beans grind into powder to bring back with me.

I just got back from dinner with my Singaporean colleague. We took a cab to the restaurant. Unfortunately, the cab driver was not honest. The meter clearly showed VND24,000, he insisted that he wanted VND200,000!!! No joke man. Both of us got down from the cab and went straight to the restaurant and seek the restaurant staff to sort it out with the cab driver. We ended up paying VND40,000. I learn a new trick. If you are in trouble with the cab, go to the restaurant that you plan to dine and get them to help you.

Dinner was nice and simple. We had chicken with sticky / glutinous rice, bitter gourd stir fried with eggs, deep fried bean curd with pepper and my colleague order a beef wrap. Unfortunately, I do not eat beef, hence, he have it all for himself. The price is also quite reasonable. Two of us dine with one beer each, the dinner cost us VND233,000 = approx USD12. I took the restaurant card so that next time I am here, I know where I can eat. Of course, there were lots of place to eat around Vietnam, and I am not a fuzzy eater, so its not going to be a major issue with me.

Furthermore, I have a local engineer here which can take care of it. We travel around with a company employed driver with car, so transportation is not an issue.

Tomorrow morning, there will be another customer's visit at 0930 and after that we will work from our hotel. On Thursday, we have scheduled 2 suppliers visit to site to show them the scope of work and I am leaving back home on Friday for my long weekend. 27th August 2010 (Friday) its a public holiday in Malaysia, and so is 31st August 2010 - Malaysia Independence Day (Tuesday). So I took the Monday off as a replacement leave.

So now, here I am in the hotel reading Malaysia newspaper and watching TV and of course writing this blog. I am sure that's the same thing I am going to do tomorrow night as well....

Trip to Philippines

On Sunday (15th August 2010) evening, I boarded took a flight to the Philippines and as soon as I landed in Manila, I have a connecting flight to another island call Bacolod.

I was lucky that in Manila, I have a very good friend who came to the Manila Terminal 1 airport and gave me a ride to to the Terminal 3 for my connecting flight.

The flight from Manila to Bacolod is approx an hour. When I landed in Bacolod, another colleague of mine pick me up from the airport and took me to the hotel which is approx 30 minutes away, distance of approx 25km. There I met up with the sales person in-charge and we all had dinner together at the hotel.

Bacolod is a small town, where the main industry there is sugar production and it seem this town itself supplies for approx 90% of the sugar used in the whole of Philippines. The appointment with the factory facility manager was scheduled at approx 9am the next day.

The room suppose to have internet WIFI connection, unfortunately, for whatsoever reasons, it did not work from the room, hence, I have to go down to the lobby to use the facility.

On the second day, (16th August 2010), after the meeting, my colleague took me to the air line agency and try to change my ticket, unfortunately, the airline they booked is a budget airline, hence, no changes is allowed. I was initially schedule to fly out from Bacolod on Tuesday noon and tried to change it to the same day itself, since the meeting ended earlier and scheduled.

So I have no option but to issue another ticket for the return flight from Bacolod to Manila.

On that evening after arriving in Manila, my colleague booked me into a hotel which is quite near to the office. The flight from Bacolod was delayed for 20 minutes circling above Manila city as it seems the air traffic was busy.

Upon checking into the hotel in Manila, only I realize that I have accidentally left a collar T-Shirt in the hotel in Bacolod. I immediately called the hotel there and they found the T-shirt. I was kinda relieve as I can ask my colleague to collect it from the hotel and have it couriered back to me.

Went out for dinner with this colleague of mine, we went for Mediterranean food. I had the lamb stew which was good. Enjoyed it a lot.

This morning, this colleague took me to our production facility near Laguna to inspect some parts which they ordered from oversea and they are not able to make the head and tail of it. So I did my best to have the unit explained to them and hopefully they are able to use it now.

The boss of our Philippines office was really polite, he knew I had came into the Philippines to assist his team, he insisted that we have lunch together. We went for Japanese food which was good.

Now, I am sitting here in the airport, using the free WIFI to update this blog while waiting to board on my plane back which is schedule to board at 1800 hrs and leave 30 minutes later. I am expected to touch down at 10pm in Malaysia.

Overall, it was a good and fruitful trip.

Shift to new office

Over the year, my company had expended and the existing office is not able to cope to give a workstation to everyone.

Therefore, about 3 months ago, they rented a new office block, which all regional staff have to move. The new office have 10 managers room + 1 conference room. On the outside, they have put up 21 working cubical for the executives and engineers.

This new office is not very far from the current office, merely behind the existing one. In this new office, it seems the internet cable installed was the high speed cable, hence the internet access is faster.

Suppose to move the office on Tuesday (3rd of August 2010), unfortunately, the office chair did not arrived in time, hence, only today all of us moved and started working from this new office. However, even today the manager's chair yet to be delivered, hence, we are all using the meeting room chair for the time being.

This new office is located at the 4th floor of the building which is shared by other tenants. The parking is behind the office block, which is quite a distance to walk every morning and evening after work.

Because of this move, for the last 2 days, I have not visited the progress of the renovation. So, will make it a point tonight to go and have a look at it.

One week in Perth

On Monday 5th July 2010, I took a flight to Perth, Western Australia for business trip.

The flight left at about 10am and touches down in Perth at about 3pm. In which a colleague of mine was kind enough to pick me up from the airport. Having met him at about 4pm we did not go to the hotel but we went to a supplier's place to discuss some details of some work we wanted him to quote.

After the discussion, he took me to check into a hotel which is quite near to his house. This is one of the cheapest hotel I have stayed in Australia. It is only AUD99 per night and basic amenities are available there with heater and warm shower.

Then on Tuesday, we went for a customer's appointment and from there we drove down south of Perth to a place known as Bunbury. The drive was about 2.5 hours and on the way, we drop and made a sales call with another prospect before reaching our hotel about 3 hours later in Bunbury.

The hotel we checked in was known as "Lighthouse Hotel" due to the fact that it had a light house near to it as it was near a sea side.

On Wednesday morning, as schedule we visited a customer which have 2 dairy factories in Bunbury area. The first visit was good, we manage to achieve what we intended to. However, on the 2nd factory, we were very annoyed with the Electrical Supervisor which held us up for more than 1.5 hours just to make us wait for him and for simple task, instead of just picking up the phone for clarifications, he made us wait for him to browse through his e-mails and note book pages after pages trying to find the information for us. He did not manage to find it after the ordeal and ended up having to call the person in-charge as well. He could have saved us the 1 hour or so of waiting time for it.

However, the positive thing that happened was we manage to meet their General Manager and happens that the CEO of the company was also inside the GM's room having discussion when we requested to meet. At least a consolation.

We drove our way back from Bunbury to Perth again and initially of planning to reach sometime at 3pm, we ended up reaching at about 5.30pm instead.

On Thursday morning, there was an early flight for us to catch from Perth to Kalgoorlie, which is about 600km east of Perth. My colleague was suppose to pick me up from the hotel and together we will go the air port. The flight is at 0620am and we were suppose to meet up at 0500. However, my colleague overslept and we were very close to missing the flight. The airline lady was kind enough to allow us to check in, but because we were late, our luggage did not come through when we arrived in Kalgoorlie.

Since we knew the reason is late check in, we were not too worried and allowed it to come in via the next flight which will arrive at 1pm. We proceeded to the customer's meeting and the meeting ended only at about 5pm before we called the airport to confirm the luggage had arrived and we went to the airport to collect it. What a relieve when I saw my bag coming through the door as if the luggage did not come through, I would not have any cloths to change for the whole night and worse is we are going to leave Kalgoorlie the next day.

Today, our flight from Kalgoorlie was suppose to be at 1.50pm and arrive in Perth at 2.50pm, leaving me with adequate time to check-in to my connecting flight back to Malaysia.

However, due to some reason, the flight was delayed by 30 minutes and hence, I missed the connecting flight back. I have to book and pay for another different flight back which instead of me reaching at 10pm in Malaysia, but at 10pm, I had just left my colleague's house to the Perth airport.

Good thing the have seats available for this flight and I have to transit in Singapore instead of getting a direct flight.

Anyway, the whole week was good. Manage to confirm an official order and the customer did told us that he will send across their company's Terms & Conditions of purchase to us for review and approval before we seal the contract.

Well, now here I am sitting down in Perth International Airport, using the WiFi posting on this blog and the time now its 1215am on the 10th of July 2010.

I will touch down in Malaysia in 0930 hrs in the morning.

What a week!!