Back In Brunei And BANG!!

Glad to be back to Brunei although the heat is not to my favour! Didn't get much from Auckland at all. Just a small souvenir for few close friends.

The next day, I went to Giant to do my grocery shopping. Bought quite a lot since I was away for almost a week and really need stocking up my fridge. After my shopping, went to the car, start my engine, put in reverse gear and suddenly BANG! My car shook abit..and then I realise that my car got knocked by another who is reversing at the same time!

My heart was pounding so fast cos this is the first time my car got kissed by another car! I went out of the car and at first I looked at the other guy's car and can't see a single dent. And when I looked at my car, I was speechless....look at the pic..

It might look just a small dent but for a car which never had an accident and for me, it's a major dent and the light is broken :( It will cost me a lot of $$$ to repair all this.

Anyway...I decide to call the police as the other guy just kept quiet and agree with what I wanna do. The police came and then advise me not to do police report cos at the end of the day, both of us will be charged guilty. So it's either we want to pay the fine on top of the repair or just to pay the repair. So I decide to settle this among the two of us. After the police left, the other guy just kept quiet and I don't even dare to ask him to pay as it's both our fault. So I decide to settle this by myself.

Went back home and then I decide to push the dent part out...and guess what..it pop out so easily! That really show how thin Lexus body is :( I didn't have the tools to push out the 'bone' of the dented part.

The next day I went to my parents place and my dad say he can fix the problem :) So left the car there and drove my dad's Pajero to work. When I got back from work, I was so glad to see that my dad manage to push the dented body out and align with the bumper. There are still dent lines but who cares...! My dad glued the back light. I am still looking for a 2nd hand back light if anyone who have a friend or relative selling it..please do contact me. It's good to keep a spare knowing the one I have now is cracked. So basically, I don't have to spend anything for my car although it doesn't look as good as before :( This is the outcome....

I am planning to get it fix when I decide to re-paint my car. Both the front and back bumper's paint are fading :( So, I rather spend at one go rather than bit by bit. Was quite sad to see the dent in the car but it's a lesson to me to be more careful when reversing my car!

Fourth & Fifth Day in Auckland

Today is the last day of our training! Finally it's all over...hehe..

Let me tell you what we did yesterday and today.

Yesterday, the training started a bit late..it was 9 am that we start the bootcamp. The training was quite fun and on that night we had a group dinner at the city. I can't remember the name of the restaurant...oppsss....I had New Zealand Oyster for starter :) Then I have NZ Beef steak for my main course...although I'm not suppose to eat beef for certain reason..hehe...what the heck...I'm in NZ! We really enjoy the dinner with wine and beer. I wish Brunei have restaurants like in NZ! I'm not saying Brunei doesn't have good restaurant but its the service and decoration of the restaurant that really impress me..

After dinner, we went to an Irish bar! As soon as we enter the bar, a big Unbelievably Good Looking Young tall lady came to one of my OZ colleague and ask if he wanted to dance!! We were like laughing at him cos he got picked by a Unbelievably Good Looking Young tall lady...U get what I mean! hehe...Got back to the motel about 11pm and I have to get up at 8.30am the next day!

This morning, it was a relaxing day as it's the last day of the bootcamp. The funny bit is that, when the speaker were doing presentation, the speaker will hint about the Unbelievably Good Looking Young tall lady and everyone starts laughing.

We finish the bootcamp around 1 and everyone say goodbye to each other! Now I am waiting for 1:45am for the taxi to pick me up and send me to the airport...My flight is at 4am! It's really a weird time to travel...

Anyway...till then and see you in Brunei ^_^

Second & Third Day In NZ

Weather here is colder! It's cloudy now though. Nothing much happening yesterday cos it was a long day training and got so tired! Went to bed early last night and surprisingly I woke up at2 am and cant sleep! So I decide to go online and bore myself to sleep! Finally manage to sleep around 3!

Today, it was quite relaxing. The training finish at 4pm. I am going for a dinner tonite with my ex colig from Brunei who is now working in Auckland. It's good to meet an old friend. Tomorrow I will be meeting another ex-colig of mine. Looking forward to that. While killing my time, I decide to stay in and update my blog cos got someone complaint already why no update one! hehe...U know who u are. While updating my blog I'm listening to Pilihan on air too! hehe...

Anyway, nothing much to report today. Hope more to write tomorrow :)

Auckland, NZ - First Day

This is my second trip to New Zealand. The last trip was 4 years ago. Left Brunei at 11.15am and got in to Auckland at 3:30am (Auckland Time) which is 5 hrs ahead of Brunei.

When I was in Brunei airport, I have to wait for almost 45 mins just to get my ticket approved. What happen is the seat were fully booked and my name wasn't on the list! I was so furious and speechless wondering how this thing can happen! The lady at the counter seems to be a new staff as she keep on asking her colleague sitting next to her. After a long wait, I finally got a boarding pass. Got in the plane, and first time in my life, I was given the seat which located at the end of the plane. When I say end of the plane, I mean the last row and behind me was the toilet! It was quite annoying to have people passing by me and the disgusting bit is when you can hear then flushing the toilet...Uuuurrrgggghhhhhh.... Ah well..the good thing is that I don't have to walk so far for the toilet.

Got in to Auckland at 3:30am and it took about 30mins by taxi to the motel i'm staying. As I enter my room, I was quite amazed with what they have in the room. Look at the picture below and you will know why.

This morning I have a wander around. I walk from the motel to Newmarket which took about 1 hr walk. I love walking and with the weather now which is cool that make me enjoy the walk more. Didn't get anything but manage to visit the War Memorial Museum and took some photos.

Will update my second day in Auckland tomorrow...

Not A Good Start Of The Weekend

I have been staying at my parents place for the past few days cos they are away so I'm taking care of their place. Today, I decide to return to my place and as I enter my place, I smell something bad and got shock to see my fishes are dead :(

I have 4 parrot fish, 3 Oscar fish and 3 Sucker fish in one big aquarium. When I look at the aquarium, all my parrot fish died and 1 of my Oscar fish died. I was really upset to see the fish that I have been feeding for the past two years dead. I had the fish when they were small little fish. THe reason the fishes died is because there weren't any power supply going to the air pump! It must have been dead for few hours! Luckily I manage to take few photos of the fish last week...and now they are gone..sigh...

Then I have to drive down to KB to renew my car insurance and that took me about 1.5 hours before it's my turn. Then went to the Land Transport to have my car inspect before they can issue a new road tax for me. The wait was crazy!! There were so many people and I waited for almost 2 hours before I manage to get my car inspect by the officer!

Once it's done, I went to my friend's place to give some Hari Raya goodies. By then it was already 12.15pm! Since I have not been to KB for awhile since my family move to Bandar, I have a drive around the town. Then I remember about the house that was burnt down which killed few people in there but unfortunately, it has been cleared :(

I head to WyWy restaurant for my lunch :) Not many people there and good thing I brought my laptop with me so that I wont get bored eating alone..hehe.. After lunch I decide to take some picture of The Billionth Barrel Monument. Only saw a family wandering around there and I think they were more amazed with the flowers there rather than the monument...hehehe..

After that, I head back to Bandar and as soon as I got home, I quickly drain the aquarium and fill it with fresh water for the remaining fishes.

BRACE YOURSELF!!!

This week I will be busy auditing our client on a system they are using as part of our project. Auditing is not a fun job to do! You can either be the favourite auditor or the client's nightmare!! hehe

Today, I went to 3 sites with a colleague to audit our client's staff. The audit went well but when we reach to the 3rd site, I got the shock of my engineering life!! This has nothing to do with the audit though but coincidentally this shocking event happen at the 3rd site! Look at the photo below and you will know why! For those who don't have any engineering background will think it's crazy too!

So what do you think? Is this right? It really look horrible and unacceptable! The reason why they have this bracing on is to support the retaining wall opposite the flat! I'm really not sure how safe it is though. Although I saw lots of crack on the wall and also plastering! Scary!!

P.U.J.A Interview

It has been awhile since I have any interview. I remember the last time I had an interview was applying for a job which I am working for now..hehe...and that was like 4.5 years ago. WOW...

Told my friends that I am going for interview and obviously they will ask..

"What interview ah?!"

"Job interview kah?!"

"Why? U dun like ur job now ah?!"

I gave each of them different answers....hehe... like

"Oh! I'm quitting my current job and applying for the government"

"I'm applying for Australia PR loh"

And they believe what I have told them. They even wish me luck on that! hehe...But hey, that's what friends are for eh...being supportive!

But in the actual fact, I went for the PUJA interview. To be a member of PUJA, they need to interview you first before qualifying yourself as a PUJA member. If I tell my friends that I went for PUJA interview, they will start asking...

"What is PUJA?"

Most of my friends are not in the engineering field, so they wont know anything about PUJA, so thats why I made up all those story to them..hehe

I was asked to attend the interview at 9.30am and I arrived at MOD at 8.45am. I prefer to be early rather than on time or late. When I arrived there, I was shocked to see 3 of my colleagues still waiting outside for the interview and they are suppose to be interviewed at 8.30am! One of my colleague even jokingly asked me to come back after lunch...hehehe

So while waiting for my turn to be interview, I took a snap of the building from the 4th floor using my N95 8GB with PanoMan software. Turn out to be a nice panoramic photo although it didnt match well...

Click the photo for bigger picture

So when it's my turn for interview at 10.30am, I was a bit nervous but after sitting down, the three person who interviewed me was friendly and nice. That make me more relax and easy to talk to.

It turn out well and just hope to get the certificate soon.

Inhumane Act Towards Dog in Brunei

I was browsing through few local blogs and I was shocked to see the video that was in David Cheok's website. I manage to get his permission to link this video that he created and published in his blog.

How inhumane can people be in doing such a cruel thing to innocent dogs!! I know there were two cases that was reported where children were mauled by stray dogs. But by killing the animals doesn't help to solve the problem. Moreover if the dogs that were killed wasn't a stray dog and owned by someone.

After watching the video, you will get a rough idea who killed the dogs and do they have the rights to do that. Why does the innocent dogs have to be the victim? Imagine if the person who killed these dogs, own a cat and killed in the same way...how would he feel?!

The dogs have their own life! They do think, they do obey, they have family, they have friends...and lots more...they are just like us!

Happy Birthday To Baby Chloe

Wow...It's already 4 September 2008 and I can clearly remember what happen today a year before. I was in the office working and my sister is in the labour room waiting to deliver a new additional to the family. It was really a long wait for her though. She was admitted to the hospital at wee hours of the morning. Around 2pm, I receive a call from my dad saying that my sister have given birth to a baby girl. I was so excited but can't do much as I have to work till 4:30 before I can leave the office.

As usual I have my camera ready with me since I know my sister will be giving birth on that day. Every picture that was taken on that day in the hospital brings back a lot of happy memory. It was my first time to see a new born baby from my siblings. And I can see the glow in my parents face to welcome their first grandchild and my first niece.

Look how innocence and cute she is. Big round eye and red cheek.

And today, she turn one and we had a birthday party for her at Rizqun International Hotel Coffee House for High-Tea on 31 August 2008. We invited relatives and few friends for the party. But earlier that day, we have few activities for Chloe.

Firstly, each of her Uncles gave her "Ang-Pow" and gift. For those who doesn't know what "Ang Pow" is, it is basically a red envelope with money inside it. I gave "Ang Pow" to Chloe and doesn't seem to interest her..hehe..She doesn't know what money is for...FOR NOW!

The next activity is consider a traditional thing to do for Hokkien people when a baby reach 1 year old. There will be few items put on the floor like pencil, calculator, wrench and anything. Then the baby will be let to crawl or even walk to the items and the first item that the baby took will be assumed as what the baby's career will be in the future.

So we did the same thing for Chloe. Without hesitation, she did her semi crawl and walk to the items. I will let the pictures below do the talking.

So at the end, she went for the ruler and pencil. After she got bored of it, she decide to take all of the items on the floor beside the weighing machine..I wonder why..hehe

And finally there is one photo that I want to share with you, just to compare when Chloe was born and Chloe now!

Few hours old


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`1 Year old!

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan

I was hoping that Ramadhan to fall today so that I can have a long holiday but unfortunately the moon cannot be sighted and Ramadhan will fall on Tuesday 2 September 2008.

I would like to wish all my muslim friends, relatives, bloggers and visitor "Selamat Menunaikan Ibadah Puasa"

Rare Partial Lunar Eclipse

Read the newspaper and saw an article regarding "Rare Partial Lunar Eclipse". First thing that came to my mind is to stay up and take picture of it :) Since I'm trying to improve my night photography skills, so I thought taking the photo of eclipse will be a challenge. It's not an easy task to do though.

I tried to sleep early but failed to do so! So I waited till 3.35am where the upper left limb of the moon starts to darken. So here it is..

17 August 2008, 3:49:38 a.m.

17 August 2008, 4:00:34 a.m.

17 August 2008, 4:03:54 a.m.

17 August 2008, 4:25:02 a.m.

17 August 2008, 4:35:14 a.m.

17 August 2008, 4:44:18 a.m.

17 August 2008, 4:51:00 a.m.

17 August 2008, 5:00:50 a.m.

Wasn't that happy with the outcome though but it was my first trial and probably I need to get a better lens to capture this phenomenon again on 1 January 2010.

Firework at Serasa - A disappointment

Another firework shooting to the clear sky tonight at Serasa Beach in conjunction with His Majesty 62nd Birthday. The public were informed that the firework start at 8.30pm.

Firstly, we decide where is the best location to see the firework. We prefer not to go to the beach cos we know it will be fully packed. So we decide to go near the Ferry Terminal. Thinking that not many people will go there, we were shocked to see people have been parking their car along the road!


We went round to look for parking and eventually found one. We find a nice spot to see the firework and to take picture of the firework. We waited and waited and nothing can be seen on the sky except for few stars and half moon.

Time strike 8:30pm and nothing! Time strike 8:45pm and nothing!! Time strike 9:01pm and BOOM BOOM BOOM...we were looking around where the firework is and we can't see it properly as there is a building blocking it!! So we walk further up and manage to see wee bit of the firework!

Manage to snap few pictures as I wasn't impress with the location where I took the picture.




Going home is a nightmare!! People just cutting queue! Well, we do enjoy the firework although we hardly can see the beauty of it.

080808

WOW!! What a lovely number isn't it? So what do you think that number represent? As far as I know the number 8 is a lucky number among the Chinese like me :)

But the most important event that will happen on 080808 is the Olympic which will be held in China today! It is said to be the biggest sports show on earth! More ironic is that the opening ceremony of the Olympic in China will be at 8pm. There are lots of eight used for this event! hehe.. Can't wait to watch the opening later!I'm sure there will be few love birds in Brunei who will miss the Olympic opening ceremony as they will be walking along the aisle for the start of their new life as husband and wife. According to the news that I read few weeks ago that most of the popular restaurant and hotel in Brunei are fully booked for their wedding ceremony. And there will be one couple that I heard that, their wedding will be on 08 08 08 and also start at 8 pm.

I will not be surprise if there are many chinese mother gave birth today!

Revised Price

Finally the owner of the two cats decide to drop the price to B$500 each. The cats are still available. Please view the advert video on the Advert Column ^_^

Are You A Cat Fan?

So tell me, do you like cat? Those fluffy cat that you can hug and brush? Well..my friend have 2 Persian cats for sale.. 1 Chinchilla (White Silver) and a Golden Persian for sale. The cats are only 7 months old.

For those who are interested and especially to cat lover, this is your chance to buy these lovely kitten although I thought the Chinchilla (White Silver) look fierce...hehe..Anyway have a look at my advert at the advert column for further details.

Happening Sunday

It was quite a boring Sunday when me and my friends decide to do something rather than sitting at home and do nothing.

Then my friend remembers that there is a "Pesta Pantai" at Muara Beach. So we got ready and making our way there. While enjoying sitting as a passenger in my friend's car, I look at the sky and guess what, the sky turned dark and started to rain! But hey, there were so many activities happening on that day..so we divert our venue to Tutong for the Agro-Fruit Festival ^_^.

We were listening to Kristal FM and DJ Dean was on air. He was asking the listener to sms him with the weather condition at where we are. So I sms and told him about the weather and also where are heading. He mentioned that on air. Then a listener text in to Kristal FM and asked where it is located! The funny thing is we do not know exactly the location where the Agro-Fruit Festival was held. So I sms back to DJ Dean and told him we are still finding it! Luckily there is a caller who knew where it was held. hehehe .. That really save our time from roaming around Tutong looking for it.

When we got in to Tutong town, there were many people flocking to the river side. We were wondering what is happening there and thought it might be boat race or something. We went down and YES, we were right, it was the boat racing final!

After spending almost an hour there, we then move to Pantai Seri Kenangan for the Agro-Fruit Festival. Quite a lot of people there too :) Didn't spent much time there but I did manage to get some keropok lekor :)