Satun, Thailand

I went to Satun, Thailand the other day for a business trip. It was my first time being in the country and it only took me about 2 hours plus from Penang, driving.

Going there through Wang Kelian Immigration is totally a different experience for me, far different from Singapore or KLIA or Manila immigration which I am used to. The checkpoint is very narrow, as I think lorries or busses are restricted. The custom also is not as strict as Singapore is. As for that, I didn't spend much time here, which was pleasant I guess.

After the checkpoint, everything was different. The road, the people, the building, their paddy field. How amazing it was, even after metres away, there is a lot of changes between the border. Many of the Thais in Satun can speak Malay, but some of the don't and Muslims are the mojority citizens of Satun. Buddhist temples here are very shining and big, which was amazing and different from what we have here in Malaysia. Is it? Or is it me who is not exposed to what Malaysian Buddhist temples look like? Hehe, sorry sorry...

And as I was very much interested on the economy status of the province, from what I can say is, it is difficult to for us Malaysian to compete with the price here in Satun, as their stuffs and food are very cheap. Besides, the buying power and economy status for most of them are not as strong as Malaysians. So I think, to get our products here is not a really good idea, but to have a collaboration with them would be great, as their manpower and materials are cheap and sourceful, plus with our skills, brand and knowledge, the economy between the the state and the province would be a boost, with the help of good relationship between these 2 governments.

Philippines check. Singapore check. Thailand check... Next please ;-)

The legendary Doraemon.

Remember this guy? Or this robot?

Doraemon is a manga series created by Fujio F. Fujiko. which later became a TV series by Asian Series. Doraemon is a cat robot which travels back in time to his master's ancestor, to change their destiny. The 1st appearance of the series is back in 1969, with 1,344 original series.

Back in 2002, Doraemon was selected as one of the Asian Heroes, listed by TIME magazine

After all this time, Doraemon is still my all time favourite cartoon series and comics.

Even after 41 years, Doraemon is a phenomenal to many, including myself. A true legend indeed.

p.s. Doraemon doesn't have an ending, but this video of comic page is created by a cartoonist which is the most suitable one for a perfect end.

The Best Service.

It has been a while since my last post huh? Quite busy with work and I've been outstationed for some time.

I was in Singapore the past 2 weeks for a task, and during my visit there I past by a competition on waiting service joined by some elite hotels and restaurants which have their waiter or waitress representatives.

It made me realize that waiter is actually a professional job. Well, ok, I do realize it way before that, but this time, it really knocked my head, saying that being a waiter is not that as easy as it seems. They have protocols and serving hospitality services to the customers. It's just that I didn't have the chance to have that kind of service quite often.

You'll never experience it if you eat McD or mamak stalls the whole time, but I think this kind of attitude of providing the best service not only covers well-known hotels or restaurants, but also everywhere. It is difficult to see someone greet you at 7 eleven, with a "Good day sir" or "Please come again", even a smile seems like an expensive treat.

As currently Datuk Ng Yen Yen is doing a great job in promoting Malaysia outside, then I think it is better for us to be prepared to give the best service to our guests. If you are not able to provide a protocol training to your worker, ask them to greet and smile would be enough :-) We are Malaysians after all, a friendly community...

Pakciks, A Day At Teluk Bahang

Yezza! We're back once again!

This time, we went to Teluk Bahang, Penang for a picnic during day time and watched movie (Estet) after dinner. It was considered as Peje's bachelor party as he's getting married in 2 weeks time!

One day in never enough for all the 'pretts', but I'm grateful enough.

Thanks pakciks for an awesome day, I love you guyz, really do ;-)

(Sorry for Haidi and Ierwan for not being able to join... )

Good Enough?

I was waiting for my colleague outside a bank yesterday, and while waiting I was busy with my phone when I realize something was moving at my feet. It was an old woman. And again, I was terribly shock and gave her a little scream before realizing she was just a beggar. How emberassing it was when everyone around was chuckling on that dramatic event. Huh.

So, when a beggar comes to you, what do you do? You give him or her money, or simply ignore them? It depends right? I used to think, I would just give anyway without any deep thought, because it is for good purpose, and the intention of helping someone is good. If the beggar was lying, about his or her identity and make a lot of fortune by begging, then it is between him/her and God.

But then, someone approached me the other day, and tell me, that the money even 1 Ringgit can mean a lot to someone who really deserve it. So, is it only about the good intention, or more to helping change someone's life? Wait, I don't know how to put these in words. What I really meant is, I think we need to know where the money we give goes to, rather than just simply give just because he 'looks' old or ill. It doesn't have to be you, giving straight the money, but there's a lot of channel for you to do so, don't you think so...?

Another 10 Interesting Facts.

1. You can't kill yourself by holding your breath..

2. Women blink nearly twice as much as men!

3. TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

4. It is impossible to lick your elbow.

5. People say "Alhamdulillah" or "Bless You" when you sneeze because when you Sneeze, your heart stops for a millisecond.

6. It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.

7. The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.

8. If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib. If you try to Suppress a sneeze; you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die.

9. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents great king from History. "Spades" - King David; "Clubs" - Alexander the Great; " Hearts" - Charlemagne; "Diamonds" - Julius Caesar.

10. And finally 99% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow.

Facebook.

Are you below 40 and does not have a Facebook account?

Ok... now, who do you think you are? Tarzan? I bet even Tarzans these days have accounts on Facebook, ok?

Last week in the news, according to a study, the Malaysians are the most sociable, as they have the most friends in social networking website, like Facebook, in average 233 friends. So, guys, if you have below 233 then you are below average, please work harder. And believe it or not, the Malaysians also spend a whopping 9 hours per week on average on these kind of websites! (As some you may not know, Facebook is the official website for the Malaysians, please take note that).

To me networking is one of the most powerful tool these days, the more you know people, the easier your life would be (with a condition you are not that annoying). With many helps from the new and interesting applications created by Facebook, we are tend to get into it for more entertainment and info. News now spread so fast. Even when 'some' people's little minor issues are told to world through it in seconds.

"sedihnya"... Ok, u put this on your status, now the whole world know you're feeling down. And if you're lucky enough, then people would give some attention and comforting, and if not, you're ignored, which will make you even worse. LoL. Photos of you 'tergedik' sana sini pun ada, and let say 10 years from now, maybe you're a minister, or any other important person, the people will have the chance to see how your private life is or was, is it weird to see your minister's photo yang tergedik sana sini? Then if you're not an attention seeker, please don't do that...

Ok, what's the point is, Facebook could be a really good thing. But even if you're the most sociable country, the productivity and the quality of the service is still the most important ones. What's the point of working 8 hours a day, when half of it you're spending it on Facebook?

She got married.

Outside, I was happy and overwhelmed, but deep inside I was sad. That's how I feel during my sisters' weddings. It's like letting them go and lose part of your share in their life. Owh, do I need to grow up for feeling so?

Sarah got married last Friday.

She'd been there as far as I could remember, as we get to know each other back then at 1991, when we were 6.

We were neighbours, I could scream to her only at the window of my bedroom to hers.

She's the hot stuff in school, I was the nerdy one, but she sticked with me no matter what, and from there, I got my recognition.

So we grew up together, and she kept on reminding me that I will always be her best friend no matter what when we left schools and parted our ways to college. But life is not as we planned, we lost our track, and the friendship as well.

But Sarah Nadiah, maybe you were no longer around the past couple of years, and maybe the years to come too, but remember, not even time could erase the 19 years of friendship we shared, and on this special day of yours, I wish you nothing less but the best in your life, dunia dan akhirat, Selamat Pengantin Baru, Sarah & Izaq.

"Izaq, please take good care of her, she's important... she's a sister..."

Opocot Mak Kau Tergolek!!!

Let me introduce to you, this is Li Syaoran. Ok ok... Li Syaoran is too cool to say "opocot mak kau tergolek".

There is one phenomenon among the Malays (not PHD ye), that is called 'melatah'. When they were startled by something that comes without their knowing, they will tend to say something ridiculous which is out of their control. I would say that "Opocot mak kau tergolek" is one of the most polite way to 'melatah', rather than those with bad words or curse. Oh oh! And even worse, those who has the extra actions going on right after that, eg, bersilat. It's hillarious! But dangerous at the same time...

Scientifically, I don't know why this 'melatah' thing happens, and does it weird to know that 'melatah' only happens to the Malays?

Yesterday, I was on my way to the washroom where I found 2 female cleaners inside, and they started to 'melatah' when they found me there, with loud noise. I was terribly shocked as I thought I was in the wrong washroom. 5 minutes past, yet the 2 cleaners were still 'melatah'. Funny, but kesian pon ada... melatah sampai ke sudah...

Sorry kak~!

5 Interesting Facts.

1. Coca-Cola was originally green.

2. The most common name in the world is Muhammad.
3. The name of all the continents ends with the same letter that they start with.

4. The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
5. There are two credit cards for every person in the United States.