Plan that rise from the ashes.

 Assalamualaikum.

 

After a long hiatus on this blog, here I am again. 

Just so you know, I’ve been very busy with final year (yerr rightt) and that would be the main reason for this long hiatus. Secondly I lost that sensation in writing blog again. Nowadays it is easier to just tweet or just write up a status about anything we encounter in life. So I’m done with my degree now and waiting for Convocation on middle of October 2014. My last semester result has come out and all praised to Allah, I managed to get my targeted pointer for this final semester. Having manage to climb up from 2^nd class lower to 2^nd class upper, man, im more than grateful for all this good news. Enough about this, lets get back to the main topic.

If you did not follow my instagram/ twitter account you might not notice that im on a solo-mission of backpacking around Peninsular Malaysia. By the time I’ve post this online, im sure I already completed my journey and have a good night sleep at home.

I got this thing of traveling throughout the peninsular back before my internship begins but at that time, I planned on going with few of my colleague. Long story short, the plan did not work out. We have too many ideas, to many conflict and in the end, the plan crumbles and disappear into thin air.

So during my final exam week, I had this thought, much similar to any other student, instead of focusing on final exam, we are much more excited to plan on what to do after the exam ends. Some have great travel plan, some have their own bucket list to complete and some, well, some just stay quiet because they are broke. Haha.

So after putting some thought, I decided to go on with the peninsular trip. I began with listing out each and every attraction in each city. Most of the information is retrieved from Google, travel blog, TripAdvisor and friends. At this particular time, budget is still not the main concern because I have saved some money specifically to be used for any travel plan after I finish my study. It wasn’t much but I think I can survive with it.

Once the research is done, next is to contact friends and family of contact in each city for their assistant in traveling in the city. Before the trip begins, I already accept the fact that I will do most of the traveling on foot. Because of that I have listed down only places that are within 10km radius from the city center.  That was the initial plan. But after getting in contact with some close and long lost friend, I managed to ask them to assist me in this journey. Their help is forever will be in my dept. At this time, I was more excited to plan the trip rather than studying for my final exam. Sure there are times where I’m scared of the fact of travelling all by myself and thinking of putting of the plan but in the end I muster up my courage and just let the plan goes.

Here are the stuff that I carried together for the first half of the trip

Luggage

Deuter Trans Alpine 30L

EASTPAK Out of Office Backpack

Camera Gear

Canon 450D + 17-70mm f/2.8-4 OS USM

China-made 120 degree sportscam + 32 GB micro-SD

4GB SD & 2GB SD

1x extra battery for dslr

Cheap tripod

Apparel

Sunglass + Glasses

Timex Expedition watch

2x collar Tee

2x collar shirt

1x sweater/windbreaker/raincoat

2x roundneck Tee microfiber

1x long sleeve shirt

2x pair of khakis

1x shorts

1x Kain Pelikat

3x boxer

1x pair of socks

1x Bath Towel

Miscellaneous

Acer aspire one (netbook) + charger

16000 mAh powerbank + cables

3 hardbound books (for fyp submission) – first half journey only

4 text book – ridiculous I know, but I need to sell them for monehhh ;)

1x logbook

1x reading material

1x waterproof case for smartphone

Set of medicine for emergency

1x Powergel for emergency

2x torchlight (one on each bag)

2x Multitool (one on each bag)

1x pair of shoe laces (I don’t know why, probably for emergency case)

1x cellophane tape (misplace inside bag)

And on the night of 12^th September, I embark on a self-journey around Peninsular Malaysia. Next post will be all about Kelantan :)

Long journey.

This running shoes.

This particular one.

I bought this last May 2011 and now, almost three years since i began pouding the road with it, i have decided to put this little guy at home, where it will most probably be, covered in dust. In the shoe shelf. Only to be used during my breaks at home(so that i dont have to bring shoes all the way from UTP.)

This was my first shoes i decided to buy, when i planning to start taking jogging to another level. Although it was not until last year that i began running for races, i've started long ago, in small2 races (less than 10k). and this shoes is what i have with me during those times. Although, i was kinda stupid back then to start with a lightweight shoes(instead of a trainer/ better cushioned shoes) but looking back, i did not regret purchasing it at a local Al-Ikhsan store in Sunway Pyramid.

Well, i've ran about 600km - 700km in this shoes, if my calculation was right( avg 20km per week multiply by 30 weeks +-). Regardless of the number, it has serve its time with me, with all money well spent.

Sayonara Adizero Mana. Thanks for all this times.

Goodbye.

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