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team building at Pulau Jerejak

Day 1 – Friday

The 27 of us departed from the office at around 10.45am on Friday for a 5 hour ride to Penang. The ride was pleasant, comfy 3 seater in a row :) We stopped at Kuala Kangsar for a quick lunch and managed to indulged in some shopping. I even bought a labu sayong for RM10 :p

We didn’t know what to expect except the rumoured jungle trekking at 9pm! Some already having goose bum while I secretly hope that we would do it!

Anyways, after being assigned to our rooms, we hurried to our chalet with anticipation. I’ve always love the first feeling when stepping into a hotel/resort room. I’ve always love the feeling of being swept away by the decor, the bed, the toilet hehe…

our very nice room!

Day 2 – Saturday
My day started off slightly earlier than the rest because mr.boss wanted to talk about my findings on the current websites and how we can further improve. After a quick breakfast, we had our team building activities organized by D’Jungle People. The first half of the program was to build the strongest bridge and the tallest tower, while the 2nd half – “chasing the wild goose” was the highlights of the activity. Each team were given 5 tasks to perform, which will eventually lead to the goose. And our task is to bring back the goose, and there can only be one goose.

The highlight for me was ofcoz the fear factor challenge! Me and another colleague ended up eating a whole garlic! But I guess it wasn’t as bad as the other colleague who had to drink cow liver and raw egg! Ew….

The team building activity ended at ard 5pm, giving us and extra 2 hours before dinner. I was quite determine to visit the Jerajak Prison considering it was the highlight of the island! It was a 3 km from the resort, and there are 3 means of getting there, hire a pick up truck (RM100), get a bicycle (rm15) or walk. Frankly if I was doing my backpacking thingy, I would most definitely opt for walking. That’s where you got to see on your own pace. But anyways, out of the 20 odd people, only 5 of us were interested so we hired the pick up truck and ended up paying RM20 per person. (but it was worth every penny definitely!)

This was once a kinder garden

We drove passed a cemetery

This is how the prison looked like. There were supposed to be 20 of these buildings but only 3 remains today. It was a very sad sight, that history has been erased. Most of the quarters has been wiped out without any known reasons.

This is where the inmates sleeps. At the end of the building was the toilet (orange colored door)

This is where the inmates eat

Some posters and cut out pictures on the wall. Most of them are artist from the 80s…

Scribbling on the wall by the inmates…

There were also some deserted bungalows in the island builtby the British. We managed to get into 1 and it was really spooky…

Staircase at a deserted bungalow.

one of the quarters for the hospital staffs

Looking into the quarters

me on the suspension bridge :)

Day 3 – Sunday
We checked out from the resort at 7.15am for some famous roti canai and cendol in Penang Island. We also managed to visit tambun biscuit factory who has tambun biscuit in coffee, orange, sambal, pandan flavour!!

Overall, it has been a really good trip. I benefit alot because I get to know my colleagues better :)

at dawn

Can you see penang bridge?

Pulau Jerejak

Fishermen at sunset

Click here to read more about Pulau Jerejak and the Jerajak Resort and Spa

going on…

Just when I thought work getting a bit mundane, mr.boss speed up the web assessment review that we were supposed to have next week to tomorrow! Not that I am about to panic or anything because I’ve completed the qc on the entire site! So the rest on layout and usability issues are peanuts! hehe…

We will be going off to Pulau Jerejak for team building tomorrow and will be back on Sunday afternoon. I haven’t had team building for … since secondary school!! Excitement starts to sink in hehe… especially after I found out that Pulau Jerejak is rumoured to be a haunted island. The only thing kill joy here is that I have terribly bad blisters on both my feet :(

*****************
4th day at work, it’s a bit of getting used to the erm…not-so hectic life. The phone and internet lines goes off at 6am. And by 5.45pm, the office is half empty. Not that I am complaining, considering the fact that I am getting my oh so wonderful ‘work life balance” :p I just wished that I could do more. I mean, 4th day and I am still not on full speeds kinda ‘worries’ me of possible ‘boredom’ that follows.

Perhaps its still too early to be judgemental.

what do you want to do today?

Hmm…today…today…what am I gonna do today…

[x] take the bed sheets to the laundromat
[ ] sketch something
[x] start french lesson 1
[x] go through my wardrobe for something corporate
[ ] massage? (hehe)
[x] pedicure (and manicure!)
[ ] catch another movie?

Unlike any other emotional roller coaster I have with Sunday evening, I actually feel quite good! I’ve completed half of my to do list today, discarded some like massage and movies because I don’t wanna spend so much today. Pedicure and manicure doesn’t count because it was part of a program that I’ve paid earlier on hehe. (my french manicure looks fantabulous! Any of you guys need a manicure/pedicure, head over to Leonard Drake KLCC and look for catherine, she is gem!)

I find myself counting down to the pennies ever since I came back from backpacking. I never used to really think twice about flashing my credit cards or spend RM7 (or more) for a cup of latte on a daily basis. But today! I surprise myself by walking out of coffee bean and straight to food court instead for a cup of hot tea that only cost me RM2.50! (still expensive lah coz in mamak it’s only 80 cents right?) And I actually restrain myself from getting any stationery from Kinokuniya! That puzzled me a little coz usually when I go bookstore, I HAVE TO buy something. Even if it’s just a kawaii mechanical pencil! Wah…I am actually capable of saving!

Anyway, I am damn excited about starting work tomorrow. Learning always excites me! Which is a blessing actually, coz every time I feel like its the end of the world, I just need to pick up a new hobby and everything will be sunny again :D

Speaking of learning, I must attempt to learn a new language this year. There’s few in my list like Thai and Arabic but I started off with French because fab is French which means I can already save on tuition fee haha… Thai, because I wanna go back to Chaktucak and pretend to be a Thai to shop at local price! Arabic because it’s one of the most difficult language to learn (next to mandarin) and Arabic sounds so beautiful.

I must also enroll in sketching/painting class again and commit to at least 2 hours per week for sketching/painting. It’s a bit difficult to sketch/paint when fab is not around because sketching/painting needs a lot of concentration! It’s nice when we do it together because we tent to wanna show off how good we are with our pencils and brushes :p

And of coz planning for my next backpacking trip. I should at least give myself 1 major trip every year. Like…seeing all the 7 wonders first. And 2 small trips in SE Asia. So I’ve seen Angkor Wat, and the next one should be Great Wall of China then the pyramids in Egypt :D

All these will keep me busy and EXCITED for a while.

a good day

Whenever fab and I had a day out over the weekend, he will end the day by analysing if we had a good day together. Today, I find myself doing the same thing! hehe…

I woke this morning feeling extremely lazy and unmotivated. It’s a plague ok! I hate feeling like this, as if the world doesn’t excites me anymore. Usually this kinda shit doesn’t last very long because I simple cannot permit myself in such disgusting behavior.

So I dragged myself to KLCC for some last minute corporate attire shopping and keeping my fingers crossed that there won’t be any last min cancellation for the coffee session with mr.new boss before work starts Monday.

It’s amazing how we can take an instant liking to someone that we’ve just met like 5 mins ago. I had that kinda feeling when I first met mr.new boss. I find him very down to earth and passionate about what he does. And those are the 2 key elements that I seek in an employer. Passion can be very infectious especially for someone like me who eats, sleeps, talk about passion. Because I truly believe that someone who is passionate about what they do will have so much more to offer than someone who doesn’t. A passionate person is a selfless person (personally and professionally), he will groom you to become your very best. And he will let you move on to greater things in life when he thinks you are ready to be let go.

It was a good coffee session. He offered some really ironic insights on work related matters I was truly amazed by his observation skills. It’s really ’sad’ that this kinda negative vibe can be felt by a potential client even before actual work starts. I am just damned glad that I followed my heart and not the reasoning of my mind when I decided to leave.

So after the coffee session, I of cause did some shopping and managed to catch a movie! If Cambodia had a cinema I would have gone and watch 300. I’ve waited too long for that movie!! I admit lar ok, I am a sucker for gladiator movies! hehe…

I didn’t shop a lot though, just a pair of trousers from marks and spenser (RM99 only!) and a working shoe from Bata (RM 139). I am actually quite proud of myself today coz usually when I go shopping I don’t seldom blink at the price once I’ve laid my eyes on what I want. But among all the to-dos on my list, saving is actually one of them. So I intend to go through my wardrobe and see if I can pull off something decent enough for the corporate world.

Well that aside, of coz I also bought a self taught French language kit (also in my to do list hehe!) for RM94.80 (that’s the cheapest complete with Cd, flash cards and work book) and 2 pillows for Rm49.90 (buy one free one ok!)

so overall, its definately a good day today!

photos from my backpacking trip

okay here it is… http://iliketoshoot.blogspot.com/

back to kl

I can’t believe I didn’t make any friend in Pangkor haha…Pangkor seems to be flooded by Italian this time round. There’s this 2 Italian men that I keep bumping into on the beach. I’m not sure if they are gay couple…they seemed inseparable but they stay in 2 separate rooms because the cute one (with the killer bod) can’t stand the other’s snoring! haha…funny.

It’s a pity we didn’t get to know each other better. And it’s a SHAME I didn’t bit farewell to them coz I left in a rush this morning :(

There’s also this very cute guy staying opposite my hut. I didn’t realised it until the day before he left. I saw a beautiful baby seashell outside his hut. Just when I was about to pick it up, I found many more beautiful seashells hidden at the corner of his hut! He must have forgotten to take ‘em! Finders keepers! It’s mine now!!! :p

My backpacking trip officially ended today! And work starts this Monday! How sad :`(

Good news is I’m planning for another backpacking trip in July! Hehe…

Pangkor – Day 12

I can’t believe I miss fab THIS MUCH! Unlike me, I woke up quite late today…close to 10am! Rushed to the mee bandung stall to have my usual. Hmm… Pangkor’s mee bandung is a must try ok! It’s so delicious I’ve been having it 3 morning in a roll!

I wasn’t really in the mood to talk to anyone today. Lazed around at the beach only to be harassed by a bunch of chinese boys. I can’t believe this kinda juvenile thing can still happen to me. There were standing beside me, urging each other (in hokkien) to ask me my name, as if it’s so not obvious that I am chinese!
At least one has the nerve to say hello but I pretended that I didn’t hear him (i had my headphones on). So fucking annoying I packed my stuffs after giving them that annoying glare.

Back in the guesthouse, just when I thought I can have some quiet moment, I was ‘harassed’ pulak by one of the staff. He keep giving me this (teenage school boy) ‘look’ as if he wants to say something but doesn’t, its fucking annoying. I don’t know what’s with men sometimes, when you are a bit nicer to them, they get all the wrong signal. Doesn’t matter even when you tell them in the face that you are seeing someone. Duh…

Pangkor – Day 11

It’s awfully quiet in Pangkor despite the school holiday…this is certainly not what I’ve expected. Come one…gimme some fun and exciting top less mat salleh!!! jeez…

I miss fab terribly…coming to Pangkor is prolly a mistake sigh…every inch of Pangkor remains me of him! I see him walking out from his hut, i see him lepaking at the hammock, i see him at the beach…I guess the only consolation is that he is coming back end of march from Tioman!

Lepak at the beach…

Penang – Day 10

Shit shit shit shit shit!

I almost miss my flight again! I was the last passenger to board the flight along with an Indian lady and her 2 child. It was damned embarrassing coz the flight was delayed 10 mins and I had to walk my way to my seat in SHAME!

I woke up at 5am this morning, ready to leave at 5.45am but Ahar was no where to be found…After the failed attempt on my search at his floor (can’t remember his room number) and almost shouted at the Thai Pak Guard who doesn’t understand English, I hopped on to a mad Thai driver who was speeding at 140 km/hour!

Lucky for me, the check in staff let me in even though the check in was closed 5 mins before I turned up. Jesus! I was running like a mad woman my fisherman’s pants nearly fell off!!

In case you are wondering, Bangkok now has a new airport, damn big! (bigger than KLIA I think) Damn shopper’s paradise! I only wished I have more time to SHOP!

And in case (again) you are wondering what am I doing back here in Malaysia, well…honestly I dunno. Truth is, a part of me being ‘really’ short of ‘resources’, I don’t feel like koh samui anymore. A part of me wanting to go back to kl, a part of me wanting to lepak in Pangkor, and there is another part of me wanting to surprise Fab in Tioman. Whatever it is, just go with the flow lar.