I have been receiving emails from whatis.com since 1999 I think, and I have never received anything relevant. And look what came in the mail today. ITSM.
It's like they know.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
ITSM
I have been receiving emails from whatis.com since 1999 I think, and I have never received anything relevant. And look what came in the mail today. ITSM.
It's like they know.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
I'm a loser baby...
so why don't you kill me... - Beck
I got an award in class today for being "The only one that completed the homework on time."
hahaha...
note to all: I do have a life.
I got an award in class today for being "The only one that completed the homework on time."
hahaha...
note to all: I do have a life.
Financial Management
I was learning about charging yesterday, and we were talking about how charging for IT services can act as a demand management mechanism, which changes user behavior.
After incurring an enormous phone bill last month, I've decided to control that by purchasing a local prepaid number here. I thought, ok so now people can still call me and I won't have to pay that ridiculous amount. But since I've purchased the line, I have received zero calls, since people don't want to pay extra to call me international. I guess it's always expected for people to be more careful when it's their own money on the line instead of another person's. Behaviors change when money is involved, whether we like it or not. The sensitivity of that depends on how much money is involved, based on the different personalities we have in the world. Some people leave it until they foot a 600 dollar bill before they do anything, some are more prudent and take more preventive measures.
Let's calculate the total cost of me answering calls on roaming and on my local mobile:
Roaming
For me: RM 3.00/min (roaming charges)
For caller: RM 0.20/min (local rate)
Total: RM 3.20/min
Local
For me: Free
For caller: RM 0.40 - RM 1.50/min depending on what service is used
Total: RM 0.40 - RM 1.50/min
The cheaper option is obvious.
Apa aku membebel pagi2 ni. It's only 6.30 AM here...I'm up early because of the 1 hour difference.
Ok I better get ready to get to Dusit Thani.
La gorn kaa!
After incurring an enormous phone bill last month, I've decided to control that by purchasing a local prepaid number here. I thought, ok so now people can still call me and I won't have to pay that ridiculous amount. But since I've purchased the line, I have received zero calls, since people don't want to pay extra to call me international. I guess it's always expected for people to be more careful when it's their own money on the line instead of another person's. Behaviors change when money is involved, whether we like it or not. The sensitivity of that depends on how much money is involved, based on the different personalities we have in the world. Some people leave it until they foot a 600 dollar bill before they do anything, some are more prudent and take more preventive measures.
Let's calculate the total cost of me answering calls on roaming and on my local mobile:
Roaming
For me: RM 3.00/min (roaming charges)
For caller: RM 0.20/min (local rate)
Total: RM 3.20/min
Local
For me: Free
For caller: RM 0.40 - RM 1.50/min depending on what service is used
Total: RM 0.40 - RM 1.50/min
The cheaper option is obvious.
Apa aku membebel pagi2 ni. It's only 6.30 AM here...I'm up early because of the 1 hour difference.
Ok I better get ready to get to Dusit Thani.
La gorn kaa!
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Bangkok Part Deux
Alone again in Bangkok. Checked into Centerpoint Saladaeng around 5.30pm. This room is much much better than Tower Inn last month. Even Internet is free, which is perfect for a geek like me. Went out for a bit to Silom Road to get my prepaid mobile topped up and some groceries.
I have a bad flu and cough. Probably from shaking too many hands last week. I think i'm going to take a nap now...though it's only 7.20PM here. Hopefully the flu goes by the time I wake up tomorrow.
This area is a bit dark to be roaming around alone at night, so I'll just stay in. I don't know what I'm going to do with two TVs in this apartment. heheh.
Get well soon, me!
La gorn kaa!
I have a bad flu and cough. Probably from shaking too many hands last week. I think i'm going to take a nap now...though it's only 7.20PM here. Hopefully the flu goes by the time I wake up tomorrow.
This area is a bit dark to be roaming around alone at night, so I'll just stay in. I don't know what I'm going to do with two TVs in this apartment. heheh.
Get well soon, me!
La gorn kaa!
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
mon poisson est mort
oui.
it looked a bit smaller in the last few days. it wasn't swimming around happily as it usually does.
i came home today and it's lying at the bottom of the bowl.
poor fish.
it looked a bit smaller in the last few days. it wasn't swimming around happily as it usually does.
i came home today and it's lying at the bottom of the bowl.
poor fish.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Made in Thailand....
A night in Bangkok...from my last trip.
The First Wedding was a success, I think. It was a tad overbooked, but a success nevertheless.
Will be back in Bangkok on Sunday.
Friday, July 28, 2006
One Wedding and A Funeral
Two souls,
Shared a lifetime together.
Him bedridden for months,
and she spent her time caring for him.
Suddenly she went away,
leaving him sobbing on his bed.
Nothing we ever say will make it better for him.
We tell him to redha, but he just sobs even more.
All we can do is pray for him to be strong for his loss,
and remind him that it is all in God's fate that she had to go first.
The First Wedding will take place as scheduled,
a mother lost, a daughter gained.
And the world keeps spinning,
as we little beings struggle to deal with our emotions.
May Allah bless your soul, nenek.
Sabarlah atuk.
Al-fatihah.
Shared a lifetime together.
Him bedridden for months,
and she spent her time caring for him.
Suddenly she went away,
leaving him sobbing on his bed.
Nothing we ever say will make it better for him.
We tell him to redha, but he just sobs even more.
All we can do is pray for him to be strong for his loss,
and remind him that it is all in God's fate that she had to go first.
The First Wedding will take place as scheduled,
a mother lost, a daughter gained.
And the world keeps spinning,
as we little beings struggle to deal with our emotions.
May Allah bless your soul, nenek.
Sabarlah atuk.
Al-fatihah.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
home sweet home
arrived home on Saturday to a busy household buzzing with wedding activities. as soon as I stepped through the door, i felt like flying back to Bangkok so I could crawl under my blanket in my big, lonely hotel room. Am not a very big fan of Chaos.
anyway, 2 events down, 1 to go.
i still got a speech to write. dah start panic!
ta.
anyway, 2 events down, 1 to go.
i still got a speech to write. dah start panic!
ta.
Friday, July 21, 2006
finito...!
For now. Will be back here again in 2 weeks' time to do the other module.
Went straight to Devarana Spa after my class was dismissed. Absolutely fabuloso, though it was a bit too much indulgence on my part (especially the credit card). But hey, I have to look decent for the First Wedding...which happens to be on Sunday morning. Walking along the polluted streets in Bangkok certainly isn't helping my skin condition. :-)
Am chilling (by myself, boohoo) at the Suan-Lum night bazaar. Attempted to walk around the maze of stalls and gave up after about 15 minutes. My Thai counterparts here say that this market is more organized than Chatuchak. Yeugh, I won't even bother doing the touristy Chatuchak bit tomorrow. Sounds to cumbersome and sweaty...just not my cup of tea. Plus who needs to buy more than two handbags and trinkets at one go? Certainly not me.
So I'm now waiting for my grilled squid at a nearby joint similar to Hartamas Square, while sipping on Thai iced tea. I guess here they just call it Iced Tea, hehe...but it tastes so bloody good. Am going for a second glass later. There's an awful band performing on stage, not worth listening to, but at least it's giving me something to look at.
Can't wait to get back home. Where on earth is my food now! I'm starving!!
La gorn kaa!
Went straight to Devarana Spa after my class was dismissed. Absolutely fabuloso, though it was a bit too much indulgence on my part (especially the credit card). But hey, I have to look decent for the First Wedding...which happens to be on Sunday morning. Walking along the polluted streets in Bangkok certainly isn't helping my skin condition. :-)
Am chilling (by myself, boohoo) at the Suan-Lum night bazaar. Attempted to walk around the maze of stalls and gave up after about 15 minutes. My Thai counterparts here say that this market is more organized than Chatuchak. Yeugh, I won't even bother doing the touristy Chatuchak bit tomorrow. Sounds to cumbersome and sweaty...just not my cup of tea. Plus who needs to buy more than two handbags and trinkets at one go? Certainly not me.
So I'm now waiting for my grilled squid at a nearby joint similar to Hartamas Square, while sipping on Thai iced tea. I guess here they just call it Iced Tea, hehe...but it tastes so bloody good. Am going for a second glass later. There's an awful band performing on stage, not worth listening to, but at least it's giving me something to look at.
Can't wait to get back home. Where on earth is my food now! I'm starving!!
La gorn kaa!
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Continuous Improvement...
...my ass. My big, big, fat ass.
Seems that my mock exam grades are getting lower by the day. Started with a decent 16/20, then 13/20 and today...10/20! Bugger...It's quite obvious that the weaker the processes are in my real working environment, the less i understand it, and the less points i get when answering a question. Although my average is right smack on the Distinction cut-off of 65%, i think i'm already bordering on dangerous grounds. Passing rate is 50%, but i'm just want to be a super-kiasu and aim high.
OK enough exam talk. I've been in Bangkok for 5 days, and only today I managed to taste of the Thai tomyam. Maybe i went to the wrong restaurant. Should have expected that the food isn't superb when i see westerners eating there. I prefer Viccuda anytime compared to the bland Tom Yam i had just now. Although the prawn fried with onions and garlic was pretty awesome. mm...
Ok enough dilly-dallying. No more walking about wasting time for me tonight. Got a 3-hour mock exam tomorrow, so I better put some work into it. Wish me luck.
La gorn kaa!
Seems that my mock exam grades are getting lower by the day. Started with a decent 16/20, then 13/20 and today...10/20! Bugger...It's quite obvious that the weaker the processes are in my real working environment, the less i understand it, and the less points i get when answering a question. Although my average is right smack on the Distinction cut-off of 65%, i think i'm already bordering on dangerous grounds. Passing rate is 50%, but i'm just want to be a super-kiasu and aim high.
OK enough exam talk. I've been in Bangkok for 5 days, and only today I managed to taste of the Thai tomyam. Maybe i went to the wrong restaurant. Should have expected that the food isn't superb when i see westerners eating there. I prefer Viccuda anytime compared to the bland Tom Yam i had just now. Although the prawn fried with onions and garlic was pretty awesome. mm...
Ok enough dilly-dallying. No more walking about wasting time for me tonight. Got a 3-hour mock exam tomorrow, so I better put some work into it. Wish me luck.
La gorn kaa!
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
homesick...
counting my days to go home. 3 more days.
i'm a geek. i'm at a cyber cafe reading Configuration Management stuff.
ick.
i'm a geek. i'm at a cyber cafe reading Configuration Management stuff.
ick.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Made in Thailand
A picture I took while wandering around looking for dinner last night.
Class today was ok, i managed to do the mock questions pretty well. according to the instructor's grading level, with the score i got, i should be standing up there giving the training. Muhahahaha...cheeewah...eksyen gila!
Anyway, I was shopping around Patpong just now looking for those Thai pants (yang ikat2 belit2 tu), haggling with the vendor to sell them to me for BHT220 instead of BHT230. Then i realized i was haggling over RM1.00..shit. hahahha. Will not do that again tomorrow. But i think i'm done shopping here for the week.
Almost 10pm. need to get back, take a shower and scrub myself clean. Bangkok is one hell of a polluted city...yuck! I was at CentreWorld or something like that, and it was like a haze attack inside the building. I immediately ran for the Exit.
La gorn kaa!
Monday, July 17, 2006
Bangkok Day 1
Training ok. Nothing new other than formalizing what i've learned so far in real-life. Doing discussion work with a bunch of Thais are most frustrating. Yea...carry on...speak in your own language. Don't worry about me who can't understand a single word that's being said, except for Kap khun, sawatdee and chai, chai (yes). Ugh.
Bangkok is a total bore when you're on your own and when the training requires you to do reading and coursework at night.
When i get my masters certification...siap lah...Muahahhahaa....!
Tata..
Bangkok is a total bore when you're on your own and when the training requires you to do reading and coursework at night.
When i get my masters certification...siap lah...Muahahhahaa....!
Tata..
Sawatdee kaa...
At the point i'm writing this, i'm having my dinner at the hotel sky restaurant. The seabass i'm attempting to finish could easily feed a family of four back home. I'm stuffing myself with coriander like nobody's business. Yummy!
Arrived in Bangkok around 5.30pm today, the first of a series of trips i have to make here over the next 3 months. My hotel room is too big for one person. It's nice, but there's a dingy quality about it. Cigarette stench from poor ventilation, condom packs (unopened laa...) etc. Hehe.
I start my training tomorrow morning at Dusit Thani. A whole week of it, on my way to becoming the Jedi master of ITIL.
OK, i'm going to finish my seabass and go back to my room to study the Bangkok map. Boy, am i missing T a whole lot. But i'm here to pursue my dreams (as a process consultant? haha..) so i better put my mind to it.
Will post pictures when i get back. If i can find the time to take any, that is.
La gorn kaa..!
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Day +365
I just realized that today is my one year anniversary post transplant. Alhamdulillah.
I want to celebrate, but I'm stuck at home with no car (rosak lagi), reading my ITIL book. So I ordered dinner from Room Service Delivery and ate on my own in my room. But that was before i realized it's Day +365, so I guess that doesn't count. Maybe I'll celebrate when I'm by myself in Bangkok next week. Heh.
Thank you mama, ayah, brothers, doctors, family and friends. Sometimes people (a.k.a. me) dwell in the things they have lost that they forget that there are things around them that keep them going.
Times flies, doesn't it? Everybody at home is now too busy preparing for the First Wedding. Here's to good health, and another 365 days..yay!
Cheers!
I want to celebrate, but I'm stuck at home with no car (rosak lagi), reading my ITIL book. So I ordered dinner from Room Service Delivery and ate on my own in my room. But that was before i realized it's Day +365, so I guess that doesn't count. Maybe I'll celebrate when I'm by myself in Bangkok next week. Heh.
Thank you mama, ayah, brothers, doctors, family and friends. Sometimes people (a.k.a. me) dwell in the things they have lost that they forget that there are things around them that keep them going.
Times flies, doesn't it? Everybody at home is now too busy preparing for the First Wedding. Here's to good health, and another 365 days..yay!
Cheers!
Monday, July 10, 2006
Italia
Italia has won the Germany 2006 World Cup. Between nodding off and waking up again, I missed Zidane's headbutt. I'm extremely happy that Italy won, but not too extreme-lah, because it's not like i played. So chill lah..hehe.
Yahoo! The World Cup is finally over, so I think tomorrow we can expect the Hot.fm DJs to stop naming themselves after soccer players. Which means I can go back to listening to their annoying banter in the mornings...(lagu dia sedap!)
Btw, Zidane's penalty was absolutely awesome! And Inzaghi still looks hot as ever. hehe.
Ok la..nak tido sat. Cau.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
The First Wedding
We are ramping up the activities as the date closes in. Not that I get myself involved that much. It's the first wedding for my mum, and all i'm worried about is what i'm going to wear. Bwahaha!
My little contribution consist of preparing dad's speech and my own. I used to be good at writing emo speeches. I think i've lost my mojo. Need to interview the groom a.s.a.p.
Things are well, healthwise. I can't seem to stop munching on junk food these days. Gotta stay slim for The First Wedding. Measurements have been taken...can't afford to have fat bulging out of my baju during the function(s).
Why am I sounding like a shallow biarch?
Perhaps because I've been worrying all afternoon about how much I will get charged by my mechanic this time. I shouldn't have told the mechanic to "service the banana boat, and fix whatever that needs to be fixed." I hope he heard me adding at the end, "if anything gets too expensive call me first."
Or perhaps it's because I'm going through something so exciting right now but i can't really share, so I divert to silly wishy washy stories like the wedding and my car. Everything's fine, don't worry. :-) Life is fine, work is fine, health is fine.
Ciao. My ride home is here.
ps: can somebody call Fifa and ask whether they could have the ITA-GER game on Friday instead of Thursday? next day working day la...susah betul..heh.
My little contribution consist of preparing dad's speech and my own. I used to be good at writing emo speeches. I think i've lost my mojo. Need to interview the groom a.s.a.p.
Things are well, healthwise. I can't seem to stop munching on junk food these days. Gotta stay slim for The First Wedding. Measurements have been taken...can't afford to have fat bulging out of my baju during the function(s).
Why am I sounding like a shallow biarch?
Perhaps because I've been worrying all afternoon about how much I will get charged by my mechanic this time. I shouldn't have told the mechanic to "service the banana boat, and fix whatever that needs to be fixed." I hope he heard me adding at the end, "if anything gets too expensive call me first."
Or perhaps it's because I'm going through something so exciting right now but i can't really share, so I divert to silly wishy washy stories like the wedding and my car. Everything's fine, don't worry. :-) Life is fine, work is fine, health is fine.
Ciao. My ride home is here.
ps: can somebody call Fifa and ask whether they could have the ITA-GER game on Friday instead of Thursday? next day working day la...susah betul..heh.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Baju Kurung Blues
I'm finally ready to go, after scouring my mother's and my own wardrobe for a baju kurung to wear to my boarding school friend's wedding.
Those big shoulder pads didn't seem much of a problem when I had long hair...but now they all make me look like a rugby player with a small head.
After half an hour, my mother brought out a pair that was folded. I tried it on, and although still a bit big, it is the best among the other ones i tried.
Yes, I'm wearing my baju kurung prep. To a boarding school mate's wedding. Hope nobody notices.
ta!
Those big shoulder pads didn't seem much of a problem when I had long hair...but now they all make me look like a rugby player with a small head.
After half an hour, my mother brought out a pair that was folded. I tried it on, and although still a bit big, it is the best among the other ones i tried.
Yes, I'm wearing my baju kurung prep. To a boarding school mate's wedding. Hope nobody notices.
ta!
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