1st Half of my life this year

In January , nothing much had happened except just work related. Since its the 1st month of the year, lesser comers from the community because of school preparations and its another term of crop planting. Plus, flood on the connecting roads from bau to kampung. It was really a scare.
In February, my work getting busier, where I was required to travel more for more training sessions courtesy of top management. The travelling got me excited except the part relating to claims. Went to Pustaka to learn about GMBO (Getmy businessOnline) sponsored by Google, and to Penang for manager Annual Conference. I hate spending my valentines with strangers/colleagues. Upon return to home, there is a VIP visit to our centre, from one Datuk Khalid, Chairman of SKMM to observe how much we have brought impacts of IT to the local communities.
In March, a month of lent. In terms of work, we did just another join activity with the PDK Cahaya Kasih , colouring contest. Aside from that, it was quite a relax month.
In April, there was quite a number of visit from the SKMM Sabah Region and Pemandu media visit. We were featured on the front page of The Borneo Post and it was a great moment. It was good friday and easter too. I was quite restless with me not having to get pregnant yet. But hey, my work keep me occupied. (I shoudn't really feel good at these moment!)
Anyway, like wise, when one is getting towards having a workaholic symptoms, she should start to wonder and pause all of her current priority and focused on her bigger priority in life. At this point of time, i was debating whether to start considering resignation. The reason is simple. Being apart makes you have less chance of being a mother. Being closer makes you be a wife and maybe-soon mother. I often bring up this issue with my hubby but as we always settle on is our financial reason.
Then, come another month which comes May. A month before gawai is always a month really keeping tabs on the money flows. You cannot spent more than you might spend on Gawai preparation. When hubby decided to take 3 days off, it was a great news really, in silence i might had a chance to be pregnant. We bought lots of pork to be bbq, some shandy, and some tarts of my favourite flavor-pineapple.
Finally we joined the traditional parade throughout the village in Kakeng and it was fun. Being there with hubby, and family. Oh ya, did i mentioned that my sister is already graduated and in this picture?
Anyway, Gawai is also the target season for couple to get wed. Lots of wedding invitations and lots of angpow to be given out. Couple are getting married and less than a year, they bore a child.
Anyway, when there is a start, there is an end. By the end of gawai month, there is this Ngiling tikai, to mark to closing of gawai celebration.
Now, coming July, students (which is most of my customers) are very busy with the school activities~ Sport's Day, Boarding School Challenges, Report Card Day, School Annual Dinner and many more. So, at this point, i am not surprise to have less users. Then there is the time to reorganise the centre.
At the moment, i am looking forward to my vacation to KK next September. Hopefully, I get lucky.

KK Honeymoon Trip I

This honeymoon has been long delayed since our big day was June 2011 We bought the ticket last year during the 0 fare promotion in Nov after our Big Day. And I felt very lucky to have gotten it. Now, looking and survey for the hotel and we settle for Promenade Hotel KK and took the Honeymoon Package offer by that hotel.
Now, my question is, what kind of activities should I be looking forward to? Where is a must-visit place in KK? Where can I fill my empty stomach with the cheap authentic KK food? Where can I shop till I drop with bargain as a plus?
Searching searching in the world wide web... I found some interesting sites that even have link for "Tourist Trap". It has a list of warning to tourists or first visitors to KK to be aware of the price hiking of goods and grubs.

I will be based on this map when going there... hehehe . hopefully I can cover all in 5D 4N trip.

My Sambutan Hari Ray Aidilfitri

This is more memorable as I am writing it in my blog and while working in CBS, we have incoperate lots of Hari Raya Aidilfitri activities, such as Card making, Poster about Bulan Puasa, ketupat making with the members of CBC Serasot. There are a few Muslim in Serasot and this year, we plan to do house visit. Some may wonder what is Hari Raya? it is the most significant celebration for Muslims, it signifies the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The celebration is determined by sighting of the new moon on the day, before the next month on the Muslim calendar, Syawal. The words ‘Hari Raya’ mean 'day of celebration.' And before comes the 'Hari Raya', our muslim friends goes through the month of Ramadan, which is one-month fasting period when Muslims fast from dawn till sunset. During the period of fasting, apart from eating and drinking, Muslims are also forbidden from smoking and having sexual relations. Only the sick are excused from fasting during this month. Muslims are expected to avoid lying, breaking promise or cheating during the month of Ramadan. It is to remind them of the plight of the poor and to cleanse themselves by exercising abstinence and self-control. Even the young are taught to fast. After Ramadan, our muslim friends starts the day by wearing new clothes and congregating in the mosques early in the morning to perform Hari Raya Puasa prayers followed by visiting the graves of the departed. The young will ask for forgiveness from their elders and have open house for relatives and friends to come to their house. Plenty of traditional Malay delicacies are served during this festive season. Houses are thoroughly cleaned and decorated, and lighting of oil lamps welcomes the angels which are believed to be visiting the earth during the seven days preceding the festival. The celebration lasts for a month but most of the celebration is concentrated in the first three days Visiting Muslim homes on Hari Raya Puasa, you can expect to taste a wide variety of delicious spicy dishes. Some favorite dishes that can be found in Muslims homes on this special occasion are ketupat, lontong, nasi padang and beef rendang. Beef rendang is my favourite dish of all when I go for visiting. The parents/heads of the house also give packets of money to kids when they go visiting. The packets are usually green in color and children often look forward to getting these money tokens on Hari Raya Puasa. Overall, Hari Raya Puasa is a joyous occasion for our muslims friends.
When you go visiting to our muslims friend's house, you wouldn't miss the Raya songs which are some of my favourite by Sudirman and Anuar Zain as a kid. Here are some song you should hear to help you get into the Raya mood celebration:

Takbir Hari Raya(Ramai)

Selamat Hari Raya(Saloma)

Dendang Perantau(P.Ramlee)

Suasana Hari Raya(Sharifah Aini)

Seloka Hari Raya(Uji Rashid & Hail Amir)

Dari Jauh Ku Mohon Maaf(Sudirman)

Selamat Hari Raya(Ahmad Jais)

Bila Takbir Bergema(Rafeah Buang)

Cahaya AidilFitri(Black Dog Bone)

Selamat Hari Raya(Fazidah Joned)

Kepulangan Yang Di Nanti(Aman Shah)

Aidilfitri(Sanisah Huri)

Menjelang Hari Raya(D.J. Dave)

Selamat Berhari Raya(Rahimah Rahim)

Lenggang Mak Limah(Halil Chik)

Balik Kampung(Sudirman)

Satu Hari Di Hari Raya(M.Nasir)

Bergema Takbir Dihari Raya(4U2C)

Pulanglah(Aishah)

Setitis Cahaya Di Aidil Fitri(Aishah)

Ku Pohon Restu Ayah Dan Bonda(Al Jawahir)

Pulang Di Hari Raya(Asha Malik)

Selamat Hari Raya(Awie)

Bersama Di Hari Raya(Cenderawasih)

Billing Fraud - Telekom

Just got a call from KL to ask me to pay 2 telekom bill that was under my name and i have no idea the existing of these two account. Does it ever happen to you ever? I mean this is crazy and I have contacted CMU in Telekom building at Batu Lintang, Kuching. She was understanding and very helpful. What gets me the most is the lenght of the investivation is too long, and the coonection/communication between the contractor and Telekom is none existance. Why u ask? Because i have to be the middle man to provide all the information need to pass between the two party. If it wasnt involve this amount of money and the possible of jail tym, i wouldn't go to these trouble to waste my phone credit and time to visit the office. I gave each parties the contact number but they simply wouldn't call each other. It rise up my suspect if they actually work for each other. How could Telekom allow any Streamyx application without any verification? How could this contrator did not make any investigation? Do anyone do any proper work these day, i wonder.

New Movie Line-up for these year!

As i was reviewing for HP7Pt2 (previous blog), i went around the cinema and to my atonishment, there are lots of movie to be looking forward to. I hope their date of release are soon.. Here are my Reels of Movies for the 2nd half of year 2011:

Still remember the big googly eyed cat in Shrek? He has his own movie and i can't wait to see him action with his spanish slang...

Smurfs in 3D? This i gotta see and i never miss movies like Stuart Little & Enchanted and many more in the same genre

Who will ever miss the comic turn movie ? Marvel never has stop marvel me with comic characters made alive in movie. This, I will not miss.

Another comic character made alive in movies... How can I miss it?

Comic book of Adventure of Tintin has made me amaze and I am expecting a lot from a movie. Adventure movie such as this always have a place in my list.

One of the Sci-Fi Movie that i am looking forward to with a plus, hugh jackman in acting in it. Wahahaha

Rowan Atkinson is a great actor and had made me laugh terribly in his 1st sequel. I will not expect any much less for the second part.

HP7 Part2

Once i found out, Harry Potter 7 Part 2 is out, I cant wait for my husand to come back from Sibu to watch the movie, so I decided to watch the movie alone.

I decided to go to Star Cineplex because 1. less people and 2. earlier showtime. Its been a while i hv been to the place. It has been updated to a comfy place where they have put in additional Rest N Go chairs to give the movies goers a chance to have a massage while waiting for their show.

After watching the movie, what i love about are these moments (which i quote from another blogger's blog):

• The Dragon Scene – Hmmm… who won’t love to catch that alive! After all, breaking into Gringotts isn’t an easy task, leave aside the thought of making an escape, that too, sneaking away with a Horcrux from Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault! Only a dragon can take you to a safer haven, and I would love to see it give a ride to Harry, Ron, and Hermione!

• Bellatrix Lestrange Vs. Molly Weasley – Ahh! We all have had enough of Bellatrix! And we are now waiting to see Ron’s mum, Molly, take her on, wand-to-wand! I wish that Molly puts her down, so that she can give company to Voldemort in hell!

• Neville Longbottom slaying Nagini – Calm and serene, that’s our Neville Longbottom. Enough of that boy! We just want to see you slay that pest, Nagini! Never mind that it’s one of the seven Horcruxes!

• Voldemort Shocked – Yes. We want his eyes pop out in surprise when he finds Harry breathing, just when he thought that he has spelled Harry to death, forever! I am willing to watch Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows online just for this one wish fulfillment.

• Dumbledore Again – WOW! Though it may only be for a few minutes, but we are eager to see our favorite old man again, never mind if we meet him in heaven or whatever place that was between Earth and heaven! I miss those blue twinkling eyes, and those half moon spectacles too!
  
  
  For those haven't watched it yet, watch out for these moment in the movie. It was Awesome!

Kpg Lifestyle

It has been 4 months being adapting to kampung lifestyle. Truthfully at first, i wasn't able to cope with it because i was really a town gal. I was not able consume a few things such as:

1. Necessity

It was the Gawai tym where there are lots of family members come back to celebrate the holidays together. Then, you would expect that the road going to your house is block by not 1 , 2 but many cars. 1st of all, you will not have two way street road for a kampung road, but a small fit-for-1-car width. Can you imagine the 'jam' you have to go through just to get to your house. By the tym u reach ur house, you will find no more parking space as it was taken up by your overly crowded neighbour. U have no choice but to park in the middle of the road, knwing that you will hv to move ur car every 5 min for the car going to and frm the Bau town.

Another things is water. Especially during the 1st 2 days during gawai tym, you can 100% guarantee that you will not hv water supply becos the water source are frm the 4 dams around the kpg and when every household open their watertaps, there will definitely not enough pressure for the water to go to the household in the valley. And it so happen my house is at the valley. Can you imagine going to the "Bori Gawea" with crowds that did not have their bath just so they can save water for the evening? Or even tons of cloths which u decided not to wash because no water. It was challenging and was really a knock to my senses.

Food choices are limited here as you do not have McD, Sugarbun, high-end restaurant foods to savour by your taste buds. However, you will see more of exotics food which is a fortune in town. I was served frogs, squirel, snake, bats and many more which i do not wish to know what is serve in front of me on the dining table, as it will take away my appetite. Don't get me wrong, I love the food, high end and exotics. Pork is a everyday food here and I love pork. However, i need to slow down pork intake as i am concern for my cholesterol level and being fat... (hey, it is hard to maintain my BMI as it is, ok?)

2. Kampung Style Thinking

Kampung people are very patient and layback where as I , town gal , is always looking for fast result, fast response and fast movement of progress. Once a week meeting is too much for kampung people but too little for town gal like me. If i were to compare decision making process, town has a longer procedure than kampung committee, but kampung committee has the tendency to prolong the work to a completed result and in the end of the day, it all come to the same timeline. Decision making is also difficult because you have to consider the spirit beliefs, culture, do's and don't of a time period e.g. Mourning, and many more. For example, it is not ok to play with gongs or drum during mourning period or at any day because to do so, you have to ask permission or bribe the spirit in order to play the instrument. So, we town gals may belittle this beliefs but it meant a lot to the kpg folks in making decision according to customs beliefs.

In terms of accepting changes, it is also hard because of native set of priority. 1st - Farm (Kebun), 2nd - Beliefs / Religions, 3rd - Money / Necessity, 4th Health, last Education / community development. It is hard to penetrate to community with the focus of education or development because farming is their way of living and has not seep in their mind on how education and development can change their state of living. IN my eyes, kpg folks can see physically what the results are, fruits and vege's for sell and to provide food on the table instantly, but for education and development result is something abstract and can only be seen after few years and something that the folks are not ready to wait and see. As a development and eduction centre for the folk, it is quite a challenge and install the mind set of a ready set go thinking to involve in something they think is a waste of time. It may take a while for them to realise and hopefully in the future, my folks can surf internet through their mobile phone and buy grocery online. in 10years tyme, maybe...(finger cross)

3. Politics.

I always say "Hey, look at the bright side, you will never get involve in politics if you stay in Kpg!"... I regret saying so because in a small community like this, you will find greater politics because 1, it is a small community and 2, everyone knows everyone and everything you do. I have seen heated environment amongst the kpg folks where just after the State election was commencing and that week was full with activities from both democrat and opposition parties were involve. YB Peter Nansian and YB Anuar Ibrahim were here to give their speeches... Promises were thrown like they were true and sure, money were given out like they were grown from trees... After the campaign were over, and we know de result of the election, lets just say, the leaders don care about the social impacts are after the elections. People turning against each other, promises were not fulfil as said, suddenly depletion of money supposedly given for the community bodies e.g. JKKK, Women's group...

But as my forth month here, i am still observing my ppl and trying to understand the mismatch info and time and also foreign contributors which ignites the difficulties faced by many rural communities, in hope for the future, they will be more educated and more EI in tackling impacts from the more developed side of the country. Do you have a light bulb to help me to push them to the speed of development? ... PM me