The year 2013.

Alhamdulillah. 

A year has pass by and this year has though me many things, especially in life as well as the growing up process. This year, (and just like any year) felt short, probably cause i really enjoy my time? Well, for some part, yes. Some stage in this year felt rather short. Like seriously short. Especially the first 4-month of my internship. Nevertheless, 2013 has been an amazing year for me and looking back at my early 2013-resolution i can say, im proud of myself after all this time.

yes. my 2013 resolution.

 So yeah, some of it i managed to get it done,  like 5 finishing medals, B-license for big motorcycles, backpacking to Japan, and to meet new friends from events. and looking back, since 2013 was the year of preparation for internship and the real internship itself, my resolution of the year was a little blerghh.

But to jot down a few, these are my most joy-est, proudest, and most thankful experience i had in 2013.

MIROC2013 - Paintball robot competition.

It was my first time leading up a team of skills students for a paintball robot competition. It was fun, it was tiring, and it was stressful. My lack of leadership skills does show here and then but ultimately, it help me realize that i can improve my leadership skills. I get a better understanding of teamwork, not that i don't know before, but i learn how badly a teamwork is importance in making a project or a plan working.

LIMA'13 - 2nd times though

Yes. The Langkawi Internation Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition 2013. Oddly it took place early in March, unlike it previous year, since they think its a good idea to find a date that does not clashes/ too close to another aerospace exhibition(which will jeopardize the investor/ exhibitors.) Well like i said, its my second time, and this time im just acting as a volunteer, with no real volunteer job. haha. To be frank, this one wasn't as fun as last 2 years, probably because this time there are more people, new people coming in as volunteer and majority of them come in group, which in reality, impose a problem for any solo and out of nowhere guy like me to join in the group. But cheer up, there is always sunlight at the end of the tunnel(unless its night.) I've met some great friends, some old great friends and some great new friends, and im thankful for our meetings. and really, i do hope to see you guys again. Next LIMA perhaps?

The Internships.

Me. Skin. Sham. Sakinah. Yana. Fizi. Muizz. Lin. Muhaimin. Nisrin. Ainuddin.  These are the people that i never imagine hanging out, share a laughter, work together and during this times, i'm really thankful for their presence in my internship. I've known some of them previously but i've never though we could be close and truly, im thankful for all of you.

and for my supervisor, Wak Khalid, thank you for everything. Word are not enough for me to describe your help during this internship.

The whole experience of working at a offshore oil platform, well, i didn't get that experience. Instead, i got the whole experience of working at an Onshore gas platform, something that i'm very much excited to go although at first i don't have any interest in. But over time, i've seen how the process goes, i know where my interest can be place inside the Oil&Gas industry. And InsyaAllah, i'll try my best to go that way.



The backpacking trip/ sponsored trip, Japan.
 

You know, i've imagined to be to Japan. Long ago. Alhamdulillah i was given the chance to. And its one of thing that im grateful of this year. p/s: wait for the next write up. more post coming in.








The completed runs.

I'm truly proud of these achievement. the training, the effort, the pain, the joy, the sweat, everything was worth it when that medal is in your hand. Hey, im not beating any national record or anything, but at least im doing something to improve my overall physical health.




You know what, there are lots of thing that happen in 2013. And that because we live, as long as we live this short life we had, there will always be moments, moments to cherish, moments that makes you cried, moments of joy, and sometimes there is no moments. But apart from all of that, Alhamdulillah for this great and awesome year, each and every one of you make me who i am today.

2013. Signing off.

Japan Trip 2013 Pt1: Land of The Rising Sun

Assalamualaikum.

Its been very very while since my last post here. Now that everything began to turn back to normal, the 8 month internship is over and now without noticing, its already near the end of the year 2013. To sum up one of the greatest experience i had, visiting the country of rising sun ive been meaning to post an entry for it. But since im a little occupied with so-called working life, and followed up by crappy internet line back in Kerteh, i decided not to waste my energy and wait for the right time to write one. So here we are, the Japan trip part one!

PART 1: JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN.


Last September, AirAsia X did a competition on their facebook for a chance to win a full expense trip to Japan with AirAsiaX to go and watch the MotoGP Japan in which, Air asia is the largest sposor for this race. Everything from accommodation, ticket flight, and food is sponsored. Having to know about the competition and considering a high chances of winning,(since there are less than 20 entry until the end of the competition) me and couple of my clique join the competition with little to no hope of winning. In our mind, if we are lucky enough we'll win. Although, at the back of my mind, i really do hope to win.

Then when the result came out, i was such a suprise that we have won the grand prize of a full expense trip to Japan to see the Grand Prix. We here refer to Syamat and I. The entry and picture is uploaded using his Facebook account and i was responsible to post the best slogan for the picture. With little of hope and ass kissing element in my slogan, we managed to get the ticket. Thank you AirAsiaX! And it was right on time that PETRONAS scholar money were bank in to our account. So without thinking much, approval from supervisor granted and off to Japan we go!

Excited like hell first timer

Since my passport from last year Race of Champion, Thailand was still valid so there was no problem for me logistic wise other than to assist Syamat to get his first passport. Besides, this is his first flight overseas. And since starting early 2013, Japan government has allowed visitor from Malaysia and some other country to travel to Japan without Visa. That pretty much smoothed our journey and saving us time to apply for Visa. Our flight was on the afternoon of  24th October using Air Asia X(obviously), where all of the winner from other countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore will depart together in a one way flight from LCCT to Haneda Airport, Japan.

To be frank, it was a dream come true for me, as a person who think and respect highly of the Japanese Culture and their Anime and Manga culture, to finally able to step on the ground of Japan, Its just magical. And Im really grateful to Allah the Almighty for giving me the chance, for giving me the opportunity to open my eyes, to see first hand, how is the Japanese culture and the country itself. And Insyaallah if given the chances i would like to come back here to continue discovering the things i missed out in this short journey.

Can't wait to aboard the famous Japan train

It took about 7 long hour to reach Haneda Airport. The flight was tiring, but because its Japan where we are heading, it doesn't felt that intimidating. During the time of arrival, the Typhoon Haiyan is on its way to the Philliphines, and Japan was a little affected by it. During our stay in Japan, the weathers for the first two days are very much raining, and with the temperature of minus 10 degree Celsius, it wasn't that helping in keeping our shoes and cloth dry.

The Oyama Grand Hotel

Upon arrival to Japan, we straight away took a bus(together with the sponsor and the stewardess ;p) to our hotel in the province of Oyama, where our hotel for the first two day is located. The Grand Oyama Hotel is quite a good hotel to stay in, with staff having a basic english proficiency which will making communication a little easier. Mind you, most of the Japanese have difficult time conversing in English. Even in Tokyo itself, it is hard to find a person with good english skills. Even with my malayish english, i still felt superior. LOL.

The total 10 hours journey from the plane ride to the bus ride and finally to the hotel room sure make us pretty much beat up. Nevertheless, having finally reach one of my top list of destination to go in the World, really,has made my day.

Next up. Part 2: Japanese food, Twin Ring Motegi, Night stroll around Oyama

Windows of update

Salam and good evening.

Yes. yes. Im finally back from the land of the internet-less. Well not really! Its just that i just found a place where i can use the internet freely without paying a cent. And the source is coming just besides my rental room. In my landlord house! aha!

A lot of things has occured these past few month since i last wrote. Lots of things happen. Lots of distance and new experience to share.  Doing my first 16K run, riding a BMW5 series at the racetrack, meeting homeboy racer at the land of sunrise and many more! I promise, once i get back to Subang after this internship ends, i'll try my best to wrote all of it here again. Im also thinking of redesigning the whole blog, to make it last even longer.

Just watch this space. I'll be back!

Larian Jambatan Sultan Mahmud 10K

 Whew.

Another 10k down the belt, Alhamdulillah. So last week, on the 28th of September, me and few of my clique whom were doing our internship in Kerteh drove all the way to Kuala Terengganu to join a 10k race. Since it's been quite a boring weekend here in kerteh, i think its a good idea to hang out at another place, far, but not that far that will cost lot of money to go to.

 My first official run in Terengganu.

Although at first i was a little bit not in the mood for running, but my friends convince me to sign up for the race. Although it seems that near the race day, im the one that overly excited to do the race. They were few categories offered, being 42km the furthest, followed up with 21km, 10km, 7km and 3km. Since IPT(Institute of Higher Education) has its own categories, we decided to tackle the categories, which sets on 10km of distance around Batu Burok Beach and the great city of Kuala Terengganu.

We arrived a day earlier to collect the race pack as well to get in our homestay. For just rm200 a night, we have a 3 bedroom with the capacity to put about 9 people in each room, 1 inside toilet and 2 outside toilet. Not to mention you get a lobby to watch TV and a very large kitchen. Just in case you want to stay long and cook.

One great thing about this race is the fee itself. For a runner-T, a RFID bip, certificate and finisher medal, i say, rm5 is more than worth it.

Raceday comes and i was the first to get up and refuel. 2 buns of chocholate bread, a bottle of lime Gatorade and  a Banana flavoured Powerbar is all that i took that morning. Gulping the gatorade first thing in the morning turn out to be a wrong move because i have been visiting the toilet, right until they flag off the 10k race. When they flag off about 6.45 a.m, i was still in the toilet, answering to nature call.

Because of that, i started late. But since we are using a RFID tag to measure our time, im not so concern in starting at flagoff. Not till the end of the race of course. The race begin and end at Batu Burok Recreational beach, make its way to the Sultan Mahmud bridge, halfway through the bridge only though for 10k, and back to the beach.

Although the race was commercialize as 10km, my Garmin Forerunner 10 seems to disagree. At the end of the race, it shows the whole track was 2 km longer than stated. So for a total distance of 12.2km, my time was 1.11.58 Since it was my first time doing 12k, it is indeed a new PR for me, but for 10k, ive managed to complete it in 58min. 2 min short of my PR recorded during Brooks 10k.

 My split timing for 1km.  Elevation wasn't that bad. Not as tiring as Melawati 10k hills.

Map layout with the rest of the data.

Crossing the finish line never felt better. Since im running with bunch of friends, it is exciting to go and welcome you friend who still haven't cross the finish. And since this is the first running event for most of them, it's good to see the reaction they have at the finishing line. Some were excited to finish the race, some, just felt tired as hell.

Felt good running in a large group.

Nonetheless we have fun, the course was great with little of hills, but the road was not properly close so it is a little bit dangerous from time to time. Although the race organizer promise of an individual time for everyone(since they are using RFID) up until today, there are still no news about it. I heard that they cant give the official timing unless you call them personally, which i'm not going to do.

p/s: my review on the Garmin FR10 will be up soon. probably after Adidas KOTR malaysia ends.