Graduation @ Shangrila

I know, it's nothing to be proud about, taking the exam numerous times before finally passing.....YUP, I PASSED.... Certificate in Internal Auditing for Financial Institutions in the Dec'06 exam :D

I think we received results in mid-late Jan'07. It was nerve-wrecking when I was informed that our results were posted in the IBBM (Institut Bank2 Malaysia) website. Worse still when a colleague informed that out of 30+ people taking from IAD, approximately 10 did not make it! I remembered that I had to hunt for a PC which can access internet (well, only selected 'privileged' people in my company are given access - Draconian to me, but bearable so far as we were FINALLY given external email access in Apr'07). It was weight off my shoulders to download our results and find out that I made it through.

By the way, I think it's a first....my company actually volunteered to pay for us to attend the graduation in May'07 (Thanks, Dr Tan KS). Hmmm, so most of us who passed made the effort to attend (guess, no one would say no to this kinda FREE stuff, huh? ;) )

Graduation Day finally arrived on Sat 19May07.
My apologies to Anna for being late to pick her up, BUT we managed to be @ the Shang's ballroom abt 8:30am or so. AND that was after we had breakfast @ the mamak behind our office (also to meet EeLin).

The event was graced by the BNM Governor herself, Tan Sri Zeti. Sorry, only managed a blurry photo as I was using my mobile phone.

I'm still waiting for the one I posed onstage with Tan Sri Zeti to arrive via mail/courier and also those all of us took @ the staircase outside the Shang's ballroom (using Dr Tan's camera, I think) with the GMD, WSB CCO, Learning & Devt Head and our GCIA (IAD's main woman...she's the one in light brown suit below)...we were her posse...heehee...






Last pic just before leaving the hall, of the 5 of us.... EeLin & Anna are already in new workplaces respectively, remaining are me, LSP and SYL.

Do I look good or what?!! It's my new suit ;)

Whirlwind of Events

I have 10 nights back in KL (home=Subang) before going down South to Johor Bahru for an assignment. Tiring but I'm happy travelling :D

After dinner with Jennifer, Jeisry, HanNee, GaikLeng and Annie, it was time to hit the books for Part 2 of my Certified Internal Audit (CIA) exam on 16May07. In between, I managed to have dinner with my older bro+gf, younger bro and my Mom for Mother's Day on 13May. (Dad was up North-Penang, Kedah.. doing his stuff)

I also had my passport renewed in Subang (located at the building of former Terminal 2-Subang Airport). I'm amazed to be informed that my passport could be collected after 2pm on the same day of renewal (15May07)! Good job, Malaysian government :)

(note: driver of the day was my Dad....heehee...thanks!)

After exam on Wed, I caught a movie with Anna...Next starring Nicholas Cage, Julianne Moore and Jessica Biel. (note to readers: I'd recommend for u to watch the DVD/VCD instead).

Thursday, shopping for new suit! How exciting.....I think it has been 2-3 years since I bought one (from Padini @ MV-jacket+pants+skirt). Thanks to Anna once again for being my 'fashion consultant/stylist'.

TGIF! Time for My Fair Lady Musical.

Photos above were taken in the Plenary Hall KLCC Convention Centre @ our seats. LiLi did the necessary arrangements a month earlier to fit my tight schedule. Love ya, pal!

The show was definately better than Cats in Istana Budaya a couple of years earlier. Generally Act I was entertaining (altho' started a little late, approximately 8:15pm) but it was a little show towards the end of Act II. I was fighting to stay awake from 11pm onwards, as I went for the musical straight after work.

However there were few freeloaders, Spanish-speaking people seated at AAA37-40 who took photos & videos and had their feet propped up on the balustrade. Such rude behaviour!

Guess we Malaysian are accommodating BUT there are limits to our tolerance. I notified the staff there at the interval (approximately 10-10:20pm) and those people were asked to show their tickets. They bought cheaper tickets which were located higher up, therefore the staff escorted the 4 up to their allocated seats...yeah! No more distractions.

On the right's a scanned copy of the programme on sale (RM27) and my ticket.

Managed to reach home about 12am.....YAWN.....got to sleep soon, need to wake up early for graduation in Shangri-la Hotel, KL.....yet to choose top (blouse/shirt) to match my suit.....must remember to pick Anna from Puchong...Zzzzzz......

Happy Mother's Day 2007

To all Mom's out there, Happy Mother's Day! (20070513)

Mom.....I know if I can try harder, I'd be able to accomplish more in life and anger, irritate you less. But I know u also accept me as I am all these years of my life, testing your patience, stretching the limits that's been set, etc. No matter how angry or exasperated at each other we can get over trivial things, BLOOD IS THICKER.

Okay, mushy stuff's over.

How did my brothers and I celebrate Mother's Day?
My younger bro took the effort to come home and took a day's leave on Monday to avoid Sunday commute back to Singapore.
We didn't do much apart from dinner together @ Manhattan Fish Market, Subang Parade. My elder bro's gf joined us too. The 5 of us (my Dad's away that couple of days) had to wait to be seated since other families were out for dinner too on a Sunday+Mother's Day.

It's not much....I gave my Mom a cloth bag with zipper (just to be on the safe side, afraid of pick pockets).

20070511 Dinner @ Chilli's & Rosie-my 'adopted' Schnauzer

While I was in Sibu, my ex-colleague Jeisry called to arrange dinner on the night I was due to come back to KL. Well, being the food-lover that I am, I informed her that I'll be there.
Location: Chilli's @ Mid Valley
Photo on the right are 2 mysterious ladies....Jennifer and Jeisry :)

Han Nee was there too. However, Gaik Leng and Annie came a lot later. It was Gaik Leng's last day at her previous job while Annie just returned from Singapore assignment a few hours earlier.

Is she adorable or what? :)
On the left is Rosie, my 'adopted' pet Schnauzer that belongs to Jennifer and her family. It has been a long while since I've visited her. Managed to get this shot with Jenn's help by dangling a doggie snack at Rosie while I snapped.

20070510 final night in Sibu

Lots of things to do...arranging to pack our stuff after collecting laundry. Sadly I had to wait til following morning for the last of my laundry items.

Oh yes, before I forget...Mr Dobi Laundry in Sibu is the closest we could find. The personnel there do not follow instructions....yup, it's bashing time...even if you are willing to pay extra and wait longer for your clothes to be handwashed, the ladies there stubbornly refused to do so. It's up to their whims and fancies to choose which items that they feel is worthy to be handwashed. I brought 2 new knitted blouses there, both were damaged...probably due to long periods in the laundry's dryer.

Anyway, as per photos above, Ms Toh came to view our room and to give us a ride to the dinner treat by the Business Centre at a restaurant in Paramount Hotel. She waited while G and I freshen up.

20070505 Kapit...there and back

Hello friends, fellow bloggers and blog readers

None of my colleagues wanted to venture into the heart of timber-logging territory, they have their own reasons I guess...

Once again undeterred, I made my way to Kapit early on Sunday morning. I had light breakfast and left RH Hotel by taxi about 7:10am as it started drizzling. The short taxi ride cost RM7. If it didn't rain, it would only take me approximately 15 minutes to walk to the express boat terminal!!!

Managed to do a bit of research on where to go in Kapit, courtesy of RH Hotel's free wireless connection. For more information you may check out http://www.kapitro.sarawak.gov.my


L - The express boat I took to Kapit, took about 2 hours 45 minutes direct from Sibu
M & R - My tickets ;)

Mind you, the air condition in both express boats were EXTREMELY powerful-COLD!!! I was kinda freezing as I didn't have a jacket to keep warm :'( -gloomy weather
I was entertained by 2 inhouse movies played in the express boat on our way to Kapit. I caught many 40-winks in between as it was still early.

If you noticed, I took the boat @ 7:30, arrived in Kapit about 10:15am AND caught the 11:30am boat back to Sibu. What did I do in the short time in Kapit?


Scroll down for more.....








L - Fort Sylvia overlooking the Rajang River, named after the Ranee Sylvia (wife of the 3rd Rajah - Charles Vyner Brooke) - info obtained from brochure courtesy of the Tun Jugah Foundation.
M - Self-taken photo near the doorway as I was not allowed to take photos inside the Fort.
R - Various plaques to mark flood water levels. In Jan 1934 Kapit experienced the worst flood - see plaque near the left door leaf.



After spending about 10 minutes in Fort Sylvia, I walked to the Lake Gardens in Kapit, opposite the Kapit Museum/Civic Centre. FYI the Kapit Museum is only open on weekdays. It was not a waste of effort as I had a shock by the Lake Gardens. An aborigine lady went skinny dipping in the green-coloured in broad daylight!! That's probably the HIGHLIGHT of my Kapit trip....

Up next in my itinerary was the Gelangang Kenyalang - Food court and shopping in one building. Nothing caught my eyes there and it started raining heavily...so I moved on...managed to seek shelter and fill my tummy with Kampua noodles at a Chinese shop in between Gelangang Kenyalang and Teresang Market.

Kapit Town Square, Teresang Market and delivery of goods, the manual way.

By the time I covered Fort Sylvia, Lake Garden, Museum/Civic Centre (altho closed), Kapit Town Square, Gelangang Kenyalang and Teresang Market it was 11:20am. I rushed to the jetty to catch the 11:30 express boat back to Sibu. It was drizzling all the way!

Timber-laden tugboat heading towards sawmills in Sibu.


Longhouse at one of the many tributeries along Rajang River.

A quick pitstop at Song for passenger from Kapit to disembark and for those heading to Sibu to hop on. No time to walk around :(

Mining for sand at the mighty Rajang River's sandbed in the name of development. Location - should be somewhere near Kanowit.

One of the many logging camps along the way.

Another half hour to the terminal in Sibu. Glad to be back...

Note to those who suffer from kinetosis (i.e. motion sickness)....bring sufficient medication. I was glad to have fresh supplies before going to Sibu.

Lunch Date with Ms. Toh Ding Ming

A lunch date with ex-colleague and current auditee in Sibu, Ms Toh Ding Ming. We had the rice wine chicken soup with rice noodle (mee suah) at a restaurant next to HSBC building. I think the restaurant's name was TaMenLou...yummy, yummy...





On special request, Ms Toh bought popular local bread... kompia (R) and sweet bread (L), both made from rice flour for me. A little too much for me to finish tho...coz the rest of my team mates were not adventurous and were afraid that the bread was cooked with non-kosher ingredients.

I personally prefer the sweet bread :)
Thanks, Ms Toh :D

Night market @ Sibu

Fountain on the right's located near Tanahmas Hotel and the Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce building. Would be great if it was purpose-built for people, especially children to play in on hot, sunny days like the one in Bugis Junction, Singapore.





The night bazaar/market, near the Sibu Central Market is a nightly affair. To those who do not consume pork, you are going to be shocked! Even I was shocked, coz pork...pig-related parts (e.g. half head, ears, intestines, etc.) were openly sold. Gosh, the smell was the other thing that made it unbearable (sorry, no photos).

Most of the places in Sibu town area are within walking distance, it's up to you whether you want to go the distance. Many of the shops' opening hours are between 0800-1800hrs, so you can gauge yourself that there's nothing much to do thereafter.

Where to find nice tea in Sibu town??

Well, there's nothing much to do if u are a non-clubber like me. Even if u do go clubbing, guess one of the better place would be Hijau, which is conveniently located in RH Hotel.

I prefer a drink, the cafe in Zuhra Hotel (in photo) is to my liking. However, beware coz it is inconsistent in taste and texture (sometimes too milky or lacking in tea aroma and taste). Just try your luck :)

The coffee house in RH Hotel also serves good tea....the frothy concoction is more consistent and made just nice :)
Mind you, the waiters and waitresses are pretty fine too!
(namely Noreen, Yong, Vyka, Chaya, Fairuz (F), Tulin (M), Belaja (M), etc.)

20070502 Sarikei-Bintangor

It was a rainy morning, as u can see from the photo above.
I went on my solo drive to Sarikei & Bintangor as my team mates were not keen on going on the road trip to small towns through uneven road conditions. They were worried about not having access to halal food in both places :(


Well, that didn't quash my enthusiasm...off I went. I used the first and only tolled bridge road in Sibu at the moment, the Lanang Bridge that is the closest link from Bintangor/Sarikei to Sibu. It costs RM3/car each way.

I did a little research from http://www.sarikeiro.sarawak.gov.my
the night before.

Photo on the left shows the gravel road that's in the process of being tarred by the Sarawak government. Almost completed for the Sibu-Sarikei stretch.

Right photo shows the newly tarred road.

Finally in Sarikei...the only monument to snap along the Batang Rajang in Sarikei.
The famed Sarawak pineapple, sweet!

Have u seen papaya trees lining the road? I noticed it along the road on my way to Bintangor (coz drove kinda fast towards Sarikei, missed out photo opportunities).

Hey, keep in mind that I was driving and taking photos on my mobile phone ok? I know that it was dangerous, but I was alone :(

For the benefit of those whom have not seen pepper farm/plant.

Bintangor's limau. I asked around whether there's a special name to the fruit but had no answer...The citrus fruit is pomelo-like (famed fruit in Ipoh, Perak) but a little smaller in size.

I was informed by Ms. Toh (SBUBC colleague) that the fruit rojak is a must have if u are in Bintangor. Managed to find it after asking a lady in hardware shop facing the Batang Rajang. It's located in the Gerai Makanan Islam, stall number 6.

On normal days, it's RM5/packet. If it's during the festive season, it could go up to RM10/packet! I bought 2 packets back for G & I and another for Geracie & her family :)

Started back towards Sibu after buying the rojak. Photo on the right shows Pulau Li Hua, the developer reclaimed land on the river bank of Batang Rajang. Exclusive homes, including a residence for the Agong, I was told.

I wonder if the homes there floods if the water level in Batang Rajang rises.

Goodbye, Lanang Bridge. Expensive but shortened the wait for the previous ferry crossings (I was informed) and using the Durin bridge (which is approximately half hour from Sibu town).

That's all on my half day's driving trip/visit to Sarikei & Bintangor (completed under 5 hours, including walking around both towns - see Lanang Bridge receipt above).

Up next is my trip via express boat to Kapit. FYI, the furthest one can travel by car on the roads inland is to Kanowit. Boat ride along Rajang River is the only way to get to Song, Kapit, Pelagus and Belaga.