MIGRATORY LOCOUST

Hey guys! Check out my brand new toy! hahaha.. this is damn fun. Engineering wonder and i've always wanted one of these.. SUPER miniature helicopter!

Finally.. Land of a thousand gods!

Finally after 3 MONTHS working in Indonesia, i've made it to Bali... yea! Found a valid reason to justify my trip here... Haha. It's just my 4th day and i've been able to check out some tourist spots over the weekend. Kuta, muzeums, and eating places. I've also added some photos in my Facebook. Do check them out when you have the time and click the image above for a better view :)

Where I've been wondering...

red: flights, blue:planned trip, green: by car.

map: compliments of MapPoint.

It's been 3 months since i've started my work as Quality Manager for the telco project here in Indonesia. I have to say that i'm pretty glad to be given the opportunity to travel around and living off my "briefcase". Unfortunately, i've been pretty busy and haven't been updating my blog. Please feel free to add me in Facebook. :)

Workshop in Bandung..

All I can say that these people really know what they are doing... hehe some would even say they are just here to 'con' & 'insult' (consultant). I guess not all of them. Well, a lot of rectification and cleaning up to do... better get on it right away!

Ceiter - Hot Springs!

The hot springs was also an experience I haven’t had the chance to indulge in. The water was a nice 42.5 degrees and the alkali level is about pH 2.5. It was fun to dip yourself into it as the water stings your eyes and the rain drops on your head. Very relaxing. Too bad it’s not like those Japanese hot springs with natural surroundingsJ. That’ll be great! My next holiday destination? :)

Tangkuban Prahu – with it’s interesting story!

Well, I do believe that this is the first volcano that I’ve been to. For those interested in visiting Indonesia, I would recommend Bandung. It is the place to visit and has plenty of hotels and service apartments. The traffic is a lot better compared to Jakarta and the air is so much cooler and cleaner. Although it’s just below 1000 meters above sea level, the locals are wearing jackets and sweaters as if it’s 16 degrees! Weird. Unfortunately it’s been raining almost every day since I’ve been here. Besides the Volcano (Tangkuban Prahu – with it’s interesting story) and the hot springs, I was told that there is another volcano nearby which is much better than this! I’m making plans to go there this weekend. Good thing I have the company car and driver to bring me around on the weekends. He he he…

READ The ‘Highlighted Interesting Story’ about Tangkuban Prahu
The 1830 meter high Tangkuban Prahu volcano is one of Bandung 's main tourist attractions. With its 5 craters of which at least three are still active, it makes for a spectacular sight. Unfortunately, the smell is equally spectacular, the sulphur mostly resembling rotten eggs. The volcano can be reached in less than one and a half hours from Bandung and is approximately 30 minutes from the scruffy horticultural town of Lembang . To get there, take an angkot (minivan) to Lembang and change to another angkot that says Tangkuban Prahu.
The area of which the Tangkuban Prahu volcano forms the heart has been given the name Parahyangan , which translates to ‘home of the spirits' and is considered the spiritual origin of the Sundanese. Legend tells that in the past, a young boy by the name of Sang Kuriang fell in love with his own mother who he hadn't seen for many years (because he'd allegedly killed his father and was kicked out of the house). The mother, upon finding out the awkward family ties between her and ‘her lover', tries to get rid of his affection by giving him the impossible task of building 1000 boats in 1 night. If that wasn't hard enough, she also undermined his attempt by making the roosters cry too early. The son fails and will never be able to marry the love of his life. In anger and frustration, he kicks one of his newly built boats which turns upside down and grows into a mountain. That explains the name Tangkuban Prahu, which means ‘upside down boat'.
The park is a huge area with forests that make for great hikes to the craters. The main crater, kawah ratu , is lined with a selection of tacky tourist shops selling miniature ninja puppets, bonsai trees and hats made out of rabbit fur. This is also where most of the street/mountain vendors hold office with their strawberries and raspberries so be prepared to be followed around with those relentlessly.
The small information centre has a model of the volcanic area and some brochures, but the best way to enjoy the Tangkuban Prahu is to take a walk around the crater. There, the tourist traps are absent and the views of the bubbling mud and steam are quite impressive.
It is possible to walk down to the main kawah ratu crater in record speed of two hours, but make sure you wear appropriate shoes since the ‘road' is rocky and slippery. An alternative route would take you to kawah domas , a crater with a small sulphur mine that can be reached in about 30 minutes and where the main attraction is boiling eggs in the 94-98 degree water.
Admittance to the park is Rp.35,000 for foreigners and Rp. 12,000 for locals, the underlying assumption being that most foreigners are loaded. So unless you look distinctly Indonesian, expect to pay up. Sometimes ‘negotiating' with the staff will bring the price down a bit.

Bandung Suprise!

CAN you belive this?? They are planting STRAWBERRIES here on Bandung.. and i heard that they also have APPLE BEARING TREES here in higher ground! it's only about 685 meter above sea level (that's what my Bluetooth GPS says)... Kinda sad looking those strawberries are though.

From Surabaya to Bandung via Jakarta...

I must say, i'm being very bold here trying out the 'really local' food here in Bandung. This is Bakso Mie campur. Bakso = funny tasting meatballs with not edible stuffs in it :) Found this cool looking 'kampung' shop near one of the site visits and thought "Hey, why not... let's give it a try" Oh ya, Jeruk = orange k.. just fyi.

Nasi Padang in Surabaya with some locals...

Can you believe how many dishes were served in front of us?? hahaha.. YUM, all you can eat buffet 'Indon Style'. Having late lunch with Marel (QA engineer) and the driver on the way back from a site near Malang which is about 3 hours South from Surabaya. One of the 'highlights' from my stay here in East Jawa.

Mudslide hits thousands of houses in Sidoarjo, Surabaya !

Wow.. Natural disaster, they dug and hit... MUD! Drowned 16 'kampungs' here and now flooded with rain water. Terrible.. just terrible. Happened just early this month. Read more below...

Mudslide hits thousands of houses in SidoarjoSurabaya (ANTARA News 11/02/2008) - A mudslide flooded thousands of houses at Besuki village in the East Java district of Sidoarjo on Sunday.Prayitno, a victim from the village, said that around 1,453 families have been forced to evacuate after their homes were inundated by the hot mud.He said the level of hot mud had reached over one meter in their houses and therefore they had to flee to safer areas but there were no makeshift tents nor adequate logistic support for them.The mudslide began early on Sunday evening when an embankment burst after days of torrential rains and strong winds.Meanwhile, Sidoarjo Mud Management Board (BPLS) spokesman, Sunarso, said effort to repair the damage was hampered by the speed and force of the mudslide which surged into the village."Anyway, the BPLS has to make every effort to overcome the mud from flowing into larger area," Sunarso said. (*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008

Arrival in Jakarta.. land of many cars!

:) I just uploaded these photos from my camera. So much better from my camera phone photos right? Amazing! 8 BLOCKS on 'Mal Tmn Anggrek', Jakarta. They said that they could feel the floor shake whenever there is an earthquake.. haha, and i'm living on Block 6 21st floor unit C. It's only half the height. If i'm not mistaken, there are over 45 floors there! *gulp*

Working in Indonesia...

Oh well, the traffic JAM is as BAD as Manila. That's about all i want to say about it... sigh! Anyway, I'm staying on top of this HUGE shopping complex call Mal Taman Anggrek. There are 8 towers of 40 over floors high apartments on TOP of this HUGE ass building. As you can in the photo, the shopping 'Mal' is not bad.

There is a photo of my room in the apartment and the other photos is my 'cubicle with a view' at the office. haha.. only looking out at the traffic condition.

Well, i'm headed off to East Jawa (Surabaya) for more work tomorrow morning for 10 days. Hopefully will get a chance to get online there...

Here we go again!

Looks like it's travelling time again :) After nearly 4 months of supporting the local project with U Mobile, I'm heading off to Jakarta! Massive NTS project happening over there and i'm required to stay in Indonesia for at least a few months! I'm coming back to KL at the end of March though.. so, stay tuned for more updates in my blog for hopefully some interesting posts :)

3-4 Nov 2007 - My eChi got Married!

I would like to wish the happy couple congratulations and all the best wishes! Lots of love from your brother :)

Bandung, sounds like a drink eh...

Well, after NZ, it's 1 week training in Bandung, Indonesia. Some HQ RnD trainners came down to update us all on the 'Quality' issues. Meet most of the fellow QA colleagues working all aound Asia Pacific. This place reminds me of Penang but of course just filled with lots and lots of indons.. haha.

Farewell Auckland

Land of the Long White Cloud...and also the only country in the world that is not against the law to talk on the phone while you drive. This was the last memory i had in Auckland. Korean dinner with my colleagues.... I bid you guys farewell and all the best!

I'll be BACK for MORE!

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FINALLY! I made the jump. I must admit that standing over the edge was scarier than the jump itself and 40 meters wasn't as exciting as i would expect it to be :) Maybe it's because i was jumping over the sea... if it was LAND, now that's another story! SO, was it an adrenalin rush? OF COURSE! Will i ever do it again?? DEFINITELY! Next time, I'll jump the 134 meters Nevis Highwire Bungy!

Bungy Postphoned...

Well, made our way there just in time to find that the jump today has been cancelled due to the windy weather... Another day and time then!

Jumping off Harbour Bridge!!!

In about 9 hours time, i'll be jumping off the Harbour bridge... FOR REAL! Bungy jumping off the bridge..... Bought my ticket today to make sure i go through with it tomorrow.....just so i dont 'chicken out' or have the sudden change my mind....haha. GULP! Now for some mental prep! i can do tis... i can do tis!

FYI...

BUNGY STATS:
Bungy: 40 metres

Famous for:
New Zealand's only harbour bridge Bungy
Variety of Bungy methods
Water touch option! Should I???
The fastest way of getting to see Waitamata Harbour

Duration: 1 1/2 hours.... it think that the jump will only take a few SECONDS... it's the walk up to the jump that seems the longest!

THE RUMOUR MILL:
12 people have dropped their cell phones in the harbour while attempting to talk 'business' and Bungy at the same time..... haha
Bungy price includes the genuine Bungy T-shirt ... probably 'made in China'...haha

REQUIREMENTS:
Age: Minimum = 10 years..... PASS!

Weight: Minimum = 35kg, Maximum = 150kg.... PASS!

Height: Minimum = 115cm......PASS!

....ALRIGHTY then, guess there's nothing stopping me from taking the leap!... I'M SO EXCITED right now! can't wait can't wait...it'll be an experience to remember.

Aaah Cheeeew!

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Chew! you've got to read the instructions properly!!! 'Do not use if you have taken paracetamol' laaa... oh, SHIT... how did i not see that! but they didn't mention anything about panadol also... and if they are paracetamol, they should have called it paracetamol! i've keyed in 'panadol' in Wikipedia and guess what came out? 'PARACETAMOL'... but, everybody knows that right? THEY SHOULD HAVE BOLDED IT! Haha, apparently, my vision is too blur already... can't stop sneezing! aaaah...

My medication for my 'first' flu caught here... started off with a sore throat, then the running nose and now the cough! Better stay in.. i'm sure the guys in the switching room can manage without me...

Grocery day...

My body's aching from yesterday's football.... so stayed in till the evening today. They picked me up and we went to acquire some stocks for next week's meals. Had a nice warm dinner and just chilled playing cards and watching tv. Might take tomorrow off cause not feeling so well.. got the sore throat and flu...need more rest!

Saturday the 6th Oct 2007

See! I told you the flowers were tiny! Played football again today... managed to find some of them around.

MY CUP OF COFFEE is what's keeping me awake on this Saturday MORNING project meeting! Sorry for chucking all the random photos in one post... tell you about them...we had some Hainanese Chicken noodles right after the dreadfully long meeting. Attached is also a photo of me driving around the city and going to play football at Domain park...14 of us and had loads of fun! Tiring too...