Melaka - Eco-tourism for Raj...

"Life is a series of arrivals and departures..."

Raj Tamang was the tour guide who took care of us in Nepal during our trip early last year. Recently, in November when a group from the office organized an expedition to the Sagamartha Base Camp, Raj and his people were also chosen to lead the ‘snow-walkers’.

When the group came back from the expedition, they put up an exhibition at the café to share their experience and show off beautiful scenic photos of their adventure. Raj flew over to KL for 2 weeks to settle insurance claims and also to meet potential clients. He met up several times with the ‘snow-walkers’ and on Thaipusam, my group get together to have lunch with him at Restaurant Halia in Sime Darby Convention Centre.

Friday night we picked Raj from his budget hotel in Batu Caves and had Tom Yam dinner at Pha Pha Restaurant while discussing business opportunities with potential partners. We spent the night at our Bidara house and Raj ended up sleeping on the floor in the study. As the kids were busy with other programs, the three of us planned to drive around the country-side during the weekend, for a little sight seeing tour of our country.

(BNM beach resort)

Saturday morning, we started our journey to Melaka around 9 a.m. Stopped at Sungai Buluh R&R for nasi lemak breakfast. After Seremban, we drove along the coastal road and stopped at a few beaches along the way including our newly renovated PD resort complex.

(Souvenir shopping at Jonker's Street)

We reached Melaka just in time for lunch at one of the famous asam pedas restaurant at Bandar Hilir. We showed Raj around historic Melaka town and made him walked along Jonkers Street in the hot sun. Later we drove to Umbai Jetty and chartered a boat to Pulau Besar.

(A very long grave)

We visited the long makam and trekked along the beach until we sweat buckets. When it rained heavily, we took shelter at a warong and ordered iced-drinks. The rain stopped just in time for the boat to take us back to main land.

We brought Raj to my emak’s house and introduced him around. We had ikan bakar dinner at one of the warong at Anjung Batu with all of the family. We drove back to KL after dinner and Raj spent the night at our Putramas Apartment.

(At the water front)

Sunday we decided to bring Raj for a day-trip to Pulau Banding in Belum National Park crossing the states of Perak, Pahang and Kelantan. We had roti canai for breakfast before we started our drive north via the North-South hi-way. We stopped at Tapah R&R for some fruits and exited at Simpang Pulai to ascend the road to Cameron Highland.

We had western lunch at Equatorial Hotel and bought strawberries and jam along the way. We crossed the Titiwangsa Range from Cameron Highland to Gua Musang and took the lumber road to Jeli through Dabong. Half-way, we detoured to check-out the waterfall at the base of Gunung Stong.

(Lunch at the Equatorial Hotel)

We reached Jeli at dusk, filled up full tank and entered the East-West hi-way. We could not see the sun-set as it was raining cats and dogs all the way. We planned to have dinner at Banding resort but were disappointed to discover that the resort was under renovation and will only be opened in March. We continued our journey to Grik and stopped at one of the restaurant to have dinner. From Grik we passed through Kuala Kangsar and exited into the hi-way. The journey back to KL was uneventful. Hubby and Raj talked about nothing in particular - from music to politics. In the back seat, I made myself comfortable and dozed on and off. We reached our apartment nearly 2 a.m.

That night we slept like a log. Tired but happy…

Splashing Fun...

'Splashing Fun for Everyone' was the theme for our family day, held at Surf Beach Sunway Lagoon.

(Colorful welcoming banner)

Staff of 3 departments under AG LBL - JPOM, JPPA and JOPPK together with JAD, with spouses and kids began to arrive soon after the first ray of sunlight hit the shore of Surf Beach. Those who came early received the early bird prizes. To others, they will need to wait for the lucky draws which were announced in between tele-matches.

(Hawaiian dance warriors)

The event kicked off with a Hakka & Hawaiian Dance performed by Sunway Lagoon 'warriors'. The volcano 'erupted' followed by a group of surfers gliding through the waves.

(Seats for the Directors and Assistant Governors)

There were tele-matches for the kids and adults. The weather was nice and sunny. Parents and kids ended up in the pool after each game to cool off. When the tele-matches were over, the excitement continued with staff of the department surprised everyone by showing off their hidden talent.

(Winning the lucky draw)

My team got last in the overall tele-match. But guess what? I won a Samsung microwave oven for the lucky draw! Yeay!

I need a lawyer!

“How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live...” - Henry David Thoreau

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.

Last week when I received the subpoena for a court case in Ipoh, I was contemplating whether to drive the night before or start from home very early in the morning on the trial day. Because of my poor night vision, I decided on the later.

So this morning, the alarm woke me up at 5.30 a.m. I started my driving just after 6.00 and had planned my journey well. As this was my first time to Ipoh on my own, I was equipped with the map printed and the route to the Ipoh Magistrate Court marked and highlighted for easy navigation.

I was driving within speed limit. I was doing 100 – 110km/hr all the way to Ipoh. Had ample time to stop at Tapah R&R for breakfast. I arrived safely, parked my car at the Railway Station, studied the case and familiarized the facts and just before 9.00 a.m. I walked leisurely to the court.

I registered my presence and was seated between 2 big bouncers at the last row in the cramped court room, listened to minor offenses being mentioned, postponed or dismissed. My case was mentioned just after recess. The date of the trial was fixed in April and all witnesses will be subpoenaed again.

When I retrieved my car, there was a familiar notice stuck on my windscreen – Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh Kod Kesalahan 33 – gagal mempamer kupon letak kereta! Arrrggh…

I was not in a good mood. I was doing more than 130km/hr on my journey back to KL and was stopped at a police road-block right after Tapah R&R and given a ticket for speeding. Arrrggh again…..

I can either pay the fines or I can contest. I really need a lawyer!

Follow on Coach...

“If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman...” - Margaret Thatcher

I received an email from my coach, Joyce J.

Some time has passed since we met in Langkawi at the Leadership Development Program. My organization has allocated 2 hours for us to review my LDP experience, to discuss any constraints/setbacks I have encountered and the follow-on coaching could provide support for further development. It can either be a telephone coaching or a face-to-face session.

My schedule is full but we have made arrangements to meet during lunch time at the Le Meridien Hotel next week.

Happy New Year!

“Because this is what happens when you try to run from the past. It just doesn’t catch up, it overtakes … blotting out the future...” - Sarah Dessen

The last few days of 2007 were spent in the city, shopping for flashcards for the camera and our new digicam at Low Yat Plaza, and riding the giant ferris wheel – “The Eye on Malaysia” at Lake Titiwangsa. This astounding viewing wheel consists of 42 fully air-conditioned gondolas, 39 of which have the capacity to carry a cozy eight passengers per 12-minute ride. It offers a magnificent view of Kuala Lumpur and over 20 kilometres of its surroundings including KL Tower, Istana Budaya and Petronas Twin Towers and even a view of our Putramas Apartment!

The New Year’s eve was spent at the apartment, watching beautiful fireworks over the horizon…

HappY NeW YeaR...