Crawl to work ...

After a long and tiring trip (also slept late due to unpacking), it really makes me crawl to work this morning. No matter what, I will have to reach office before 9am as I will have 1-to-1 discussion with my manager at US. Once I reached office, there were 350+ emails awaiting for me and I can see a long list of system administrator emails saying my account is oversize. While clearing the emails, finally got the call from my manager but he wants to postpone it to somewhere next week as he stand in for me during weekend support.

Anyway, I'm fine too as I've lot emails and work to catch up. It was a short morning as I never got chance to get water or to toilet until 12:20pm, when I was call for lunch. Oh yes, I suppose to have lunch appointment with some big shot from GIS Belgium. Wanted to skip as I really have lot to catch but have to show face for the sake of our team in APAC (and also free Japanese restaurant for lunch ;)). The lunch was relatively boring because my gang in GIS will have lunch with the same guest on Thursday. I was so disappointed to know that I was split from them and excuse given were today's group of people were less, so have to balance out. If were to eat with them, I'm sure it will be more enjoyable.

Ebi with mango

My set finally arrived

Beef burger and marinated beef

Miso soup

Cawan Mushi

About 2:15pm, I finally got back into office and continue my non stop work until 6+pm. Today was a productive day for me as I really clear a lot of things, at least most urgent tickets/requests were done. Of course along the way some people were trying to find fault and show off how capable they were but I think I've immune on that and doesn't really give a damn. Also, it was sad to know my colleague at UK just tendered her resignation and not sure if I will need to cover some of her work as APAC time zone is quite near UK. Hopefully they will get someone else ...

While I was walking home tonight, suddenly feel to walk around shop houses behind my HDB and spotted McD finally bring back Samurai burger. What?! This was one of my favourite burger back in KL during my secondary school days but gone forever after their first release. Maybe it wasn't popular and pricey back to those day? But I really can't stop myself to buy it for snack later with PPS. Once I bite it, I really found that taste back but not as good as those days. Not sure if they have changed recipe or I've ate a lot of good food?

Finale at Bali

As normal, last day finally come and we always recall the first time we step down and carrying excited and happy mood to this beautiful island but when come to leave, it's always heavy hearted and would keep thinking when to return ;)

Since today is last day and no more 'work' for us, so we took the chance to rest a bit longer and enjoy our breakfast until they close at 10am. Then we went back to our room to pack up respectively then meet up at lobby at 12pm. There are more places that I want to visit but really have no time ... I guess I will have to come back in the near future but no clue when will it be. I want to be very soon but I need to save money and be realistic. Maybe should find a job there :p

Once we've checked out, went for their local delight, Wong Solo. I heard he have 4 branches throughout Indonesia and each branch dedicated for each wife. Yes, meaning he has 4!!! It's actually a big wooden restaurant serving local food, as usual tempe and bean curd is there. It's consider ok but we were chase off by rain drop due to heavy rain because it's a open concept restaurant.

Grill chicken

Sweet and sour chicken

Fried Beancurd

Fried Kangkung

After that, we were brought to Toko Bali, a place where they sell local products and I'm sure this is the last chance for our tour guide to 'earn' some commission. When we get out from the coach, each of us were given a stick with common number. I believe this is the identification to the tour guide as whenever we purchase anything, our number will appear in that receipt so that he can claim his commission later. Smart but their stuffs there consider okla, not to say very expensive.

When we finished shopping there, it's almost 2:45pm and we need to arrive airport by 3:45pm because our flight was 5:50pm. Since we still have some time left, so we just take a visit to their local mall for some window shopping and look see look see around. Can't go to places a bit far as we will mostly miss our flight when we get back. It was quite a tiring trip but it's a nice place to visit ... especially with a group of buddies.

Reached Changi around 8:30pm and went to T3 for dinner. It seems they have opened a Kopitiam there and food price is almost the same as city. I'm sure most of the crew or even travellers will dine here as it should be tasty and price very affordable ... we're talking about in airport ok ;)

Day 2 - Visitation Day

Before setting off for tour of the day, for sure need to do some 'work' where each team have to conclude yesterday discussion and how to achieve team. After that, we went for our first destination ... Tanah Lot. It was located on hill and quite a bit of journey from town, about 45 mins (all roads are small, no highway here). The scenery was calm and there's a big lake surrounding the temple. Luckily when I reach there, there were some praying ceremony and there's a big group of people wearing traditional clothing.

I think it's their God ...

The temple and little island on the lake look so calm and weather was just nice ... chill and windy. Some people also take the opportunity to have some boat ride. The water level is quite high and it's almost reaching the height of the shore. If there is any boat pass by, the little water wave will splash over the shore and cause the ground near to it become wet. So those who take photo right next to the lake will have to be extra careful. Anyhow, the water seems shallow around that area ;)

To me, it's a fusion of Chinese and Java

The water is about to wet the shore

Now with Japanese feel too ;)

After that, we went to nearby restaurant for buffet lunch. Dish is rather simple and limited, fried noodle/rice, breaded fish, rendang chicken, dessert, spring rolls, etc. Crowd seems getting more when the lunch time approach near. Luckily had it early otherwise will have to fight with other tourists. Once done, we will have to travel to another far place, which is Uluwatu.

Poor lil' Eli

Oklah, at least it's a pair of Eli

Simple lunch

It was really an eye opener and I never seen such nice view with my own eyes, mostly thru Discovery or postcards :p The cliff, seaside and waves were so perfectly designed by the Almighty. Wave is strong enough to let some surfers enjoy their 'private playground' as public are not allow to enter that area. I think I'm able to spend whole day there enjoying the cozy environment and amazing scenery. About 6pm, we will have to depart for our dinner near beach side, Jimbaran (another bomb location few years ago).

See that structure? Amazing

The gulf, awesome ...

The Holy Temple

Can you guess how high is the wave?

See for yourself ...

While I was happily finding my seat and try to snap some nice photo, I only realize that my camera's battery was totally flat and what a disappointment!! I hardly hit with this scenario because most of the events, I still left at least 2/3 of the battery. Since nothing much can be done, I will have to use my iPhone to snap but it was toward night and iPhone camera doesn't perform well at night. Food is just so so but pricey and basically you are paying for the view. About finishing the dinner, the rain suddenly strike us and force us to move into the restaurant itself. As the rain become smaller, we took the opportunity to rush into our coach then back to hotel.

There goes another night there ... Wanted to go out with those guys but rather to spend some time to rest at room and watch their local TV programmes ... then sleep :)

Day 1 at Bali

As I only sleep about 3am this morning, so it was quite tough to wake up at 7:30am but no choice as everything has been scheduled, back to back. Just like other company event, first day will be normally filled with updates and break up sessions with respective team. By the time we finished our day 1, it's already 5+pm and we will go to see the Kecak Dance and Fire Dance around 6:45pm.

Due to rain and traffic jam, we only arrive about 7pm and the show was already started but luckily about 5-10 mins. It was something new and quite interesting to see the actor and actress expression were so professional, not to forget those choreographers surrounding them (keep singing "Kacek" throughout the whole performance, not easy).

Sri Rama

Rahwana

Hanoman (Si Kera Putih)

Tari Sanghang Dedari

To destroy evil spirit and protect villagers safety

It's either he is possed by spirit or he wear 'extra' pant :p

After that, we went for local Bali dinner which look like Bum Bum Bali in Puchong. Fried tempe, bean curd and fried kangkung were their standard dish. The rice was wrapped with banana leave into silicon shape. Fish is deeply friend and even the bone also can be eaten ... kinda reminded me of the Fried Ikan Bawal near Kelana Lake.

After the dinner, we went back to hotel ... some went back to room and some (like me) went to walk around Legian to see their pubs and happenings around there. Close to midnight, went to their local 7-11 for a cup of instant noodle and chit chatting for a while. Not long after went back to room and get some rest to prepare for tomorrow activities.

Bila, Alib, Labi, Ibla ... B.A.L.I

This morning, I've to wake up a bit earlier as I need to pack up for my team building at Bali, finally I got to go there after years of listening to my friends how nice it was. Since it's just 4D3N trip so I just bring few pieces of clothes as Friday is basically traveling to there, settle down, supper then sleep because the we departed at 8:50pm and arrive at 11:20pm.

It was a pack flight to Bali and so happen I was sitting next to China's Chinese. They were really rude and inconsiderate because he act as if rascal and no one will dare to against them. They talk to loud, keep trying their luck to move their seat to Hot Seat without informing the crew and don't even want to pay for that. As they have no choice but to sit at their original seating, they keep cursing and scold out loud so weird and why can't they sit there together, why need to pay, blah blah blah ... Not sure if I'm luckily or not.

Peep thru the seat :)

After 2.5 hours flight, I finally reach their airport and to my surprise, it was quite old and run down. I was imagining at least something like LCCT but it's worst than Subang Old Airport Terminal 1. So class wood and dark. When going through immigration, there were few lanes dedicated to foreigner and Indonesian and guess what? Almost no one follow the rule and keep things went messy as foreigner still Q at Indonesian lane as it was shorter Q. It was so unfair to other passengers like me that being obedient and follow the rules! Anyway, I told myself Welcome to Bali.

By the time we got out from airport, it almost 12am and straight we went to our hotel near Legian, Kuta. It was quite smooth traffic but when close to Legian, it was damn jam and almost not moving. Along the way, I finally saw the spot where it was bombed at year 2002. It was a very popular pub filled with westerners especially Australian but too bad as some Abu Sayaf suicide bombers convert them into an empty land used as car park. Right opposite, there was a remembrance square for those who had lost their lives. I think we spent about 40 mins from the main junction to our hotel but after arriving at hotel, it was just few hundred metres away from that junction! Wow, it was so wasting time and I'm sure walk will just take 5 mins. Some car was slowing down to talk with road siders, some trying to flirt around and some car even stop for no reason.

Forget it, after I've checked in, quickly take shower then go out to the junction have a cup of instant noodle then back to room for rest. This place give me the same feelings like when I was at Vietnam but here they are pretty much focus at Westerners. Oriental or other Asian tourists seems not that in focus, typical Asian attitude.

Spacious nya ...

Look cozy too

Human + SAP + Excel + Access

Today whole day just being a robot where I superglued on a chair, extract matrix and massage at Excel, import to Access to perform matrix calculation and generate role assignment to users then update SAP users based on the reports. This was I have been doing whole day, from one country data to another. So far I have cover almost 75% which consists Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia. Left Singapore which is in progress ;)

During lunch, I really need to get a quick one due to the work so went to Freshness Burger with Duan because we have talked about this for weeks and we both never try before. From the past, many of my colleagues said it's not good, not tasty, wait very long, etc but I'm surprise to see some bloggers craving for that and they do have branch outlet. So if they really that, how come they can sustain?

Sometimes different people will have different experience or preference. So I gave it a try and turn out not bad. Their portion is a bit smaller than McD but still ok and just nice. Some said waiting time is too long but I got to know they only make it when order and that's why they call themselves Freshness Burger. Anyway, I'm not saying their food is good but ok to me, maybe a bit pricey compare with BK or McD.

Once back to office, the production line resume the operation, mean I'm back to work like those machinery in factory. Until almost 8pm, I have to give up as my brain is so jam and slow but at least I manage to clear most of my work and will have less worries when I'm away to Bali trip tomorrow ;)

Due to that, I will need to go change money and decided to go Lucky Plaza as I heard their rate is ok and also wanna try out their sham penyet at 3rd floor. Surprisingly their ayam penyet is much tastier and crunchy compare to KL and price is ok. I don't mind to go back again but the food is too heaty and not too good if consume too much. Maybe few weeks later and it's not very convenient for me either.

Looks good, especially the bakso

It does taste good too

Can't remember when ...

Work seems getting more and more and seems never stop ... Apart of attending safety talk organised by our office for 1 hour and lunch, the rest I was working in front of my computer non stop. For the safety talk, it was good because I get to learn some new method to survive in case of emergency. Some of them I have listen before like installing smoke detector, fire extinguishers, key elements to put off a fire, look for emergency exit, etc but I also learn something new like :-

1. Normally fire don't kill but the smoke
2. How to prolong the period for the fire to get into your house
3. Danger of long hair when caught in fire
4. Pocket smoke mask, handy mask with 7 layers that can resist up to 450 degree and filter the poisonous smoke become fresh air and this can save your life for 30 mins (can protect your hair too). It's so small and handy so that you can bring almost everywhere
5. Danger of wearing glasses and especially contact lens during fire outbreak
6. Never charge electrical appliances overnight
7. Share these information with everyone especially your love one. Have a family talk on how to handle situation like this if I'm not around or even alone. Where and how to use fire extinguisher, don't use water because there are 4 grades of fire. Different grades have to handle differently. Where is the nearest fire exit or plan a safety route.

It was a fruitful 1 hour talk and very beneficial to every attendees but at the end, still do a bit of sales talk and selling those mask, fire extinguisher and smoke detector ;) At least they don't just direct selling ...

About 7pm, I really need to make a move for dinner because I don't want to rush home for dinner then attend the 8:30pm call but still have some pending work. So no choice but to bring laptop home in hope to clear some work. I can't remember when was the last time I bring my laptop home as I always stressed on worklife balance. First time I brought back was when I wanna try Wireless USB at home and try out Skype. Second time was when my family first visit me in SG on last Nov and this is the 3rd time (but 1st time to work at home). As for my dinner, I tried mini pot laksa but very disappointing because the soup so diluted and not tasty at all. Will not go there again!

Look nice but very deceiving

Everything will have the first time but I hope I don't have to do this anymore, at least not for the near future ...