SOC 2013

This year's SOC is being held in Kuala Terengganu. Took us 8hrs drive to get to here. Luckily the son is old enough to drive so we took turns at the wheel. A section of the East Coast Highway was opened so it was a first time for us though we had to drive further up to the exit before coming back to KT 20km from the exit. Coming from South we should have taken the Ajil exit.
The Permai Hotel got a new wing and that's where we stayed.
Lots more cars than I remember on our previous visit such that they need traffic policemen to man some of the crossings.
Wrote this during dinner hosted by the Terengganu State Government. Except for a pretty lass singing on stage the affair is a dull one though the food is not bad at all.

Read 2 books

Been almost 2 months commuting to work now since 1st.April. Some things I like some things I don't like. Don't like: waking up at 5.30am and getting ready early, getting on and off the trains, worst - people talking on the phone loudly in the train, RM16/day train and parking fare. Like: finished reading 2 books!,early clock-in, less stress at work, there's still fuel in the car's tank even after 2 months! Well, all is not lost. Overall it has been a new experience for me, met and have to deal with many new faces. Have also met many old faces, people I have not come across for many years. It's been anti-climax being here due to the very big pool of senior officers. I'll keep low and make sure I do a good job. I was told recently that 80% of projects were delayed due to one reason or another, so if I can get this project to finish on it'll be one big bonus and one book a month is a cure for morning blues...

Kiara 2013

19th May 2013 marked my first hike up Kiara Hill near TTDI. The event was enjoyable, due to the following:

• it was the first time
• good company - our group was large (16 people+)
• good weather
• lots of hikers!(meriah)
• good workout

Upon reaching the place I was surprised by the long rows of cars parked along the road up to the guard housse.
I was expecting a short brief hike but it was not really - it was short but not so brief. Some parts were quite challenging but everyone did it without problems though a few really felt it was hard. My other half went too and at was plain sailing for her - congratulations.
At the top we were greeted with this tall wire fence, word has it that the other side of the fence has already been earmarked for development. This really is no good news for there are very little green areas left in KL. Looking at the Google map of the area it seemed that development have crept up the hills and will make its way to the top in due time.
We also met some downhill cyclists in action on the way down. I thought the track was challenging and dangerous but to those cyclists it was pure fun and they willingly went airborne on our requests for our cameras. It was almost 11am when we got down to our cars and off we went to Bkt.Lanjan for our lunch at Sambal Hijau Restaurant. For 18 people the bill came up to RM240.00.

New entrant

Welcome to the world! @2.2kg its a healthy boy borned today in this new Colombia Asia Hospital in Setapak. The place is new, not busy unlike the situation in Government hospitals. Mum and baby in good hands I'm sure. In 2020 when the country is supposedly developed,  the boy would have just started schooling. More than that he'd be growing up in a different environment compared to his parents and vastly different to that of his grandparents. I'd pray for his future and hope he will do well and  be an asset to the country.

TBS

I think this terminal have been operating for a few years now but only been officially opened by PM the month prior to the elections. Today is my first visit inside the terminal-just to roam around. It's bright and  clean inside and to go down  to the buses one need a ticket. Not that many passengers today being in midweek at 12noon. The restaurants are a bit upmarket and the usual cheap meal may not be available. However that may reflect the standard of living of Malaysians today. However there's a mamak restaurant so travelers in a hurry can always drop by for a quick meal.

133-89

That's the number of seats won by the winning and the losing party in the just concluded general elections. The strongest showing by the oppositon in the nation's history. The oppositon is now deeply entrenched in the states of Penang,  Selangor and Kelantan. The oppositon also won 9 out of 11 parliamentary seats in Kuala Lumpur.The opposition leader said the election process was flawed and the results unacceptable however his counterparts in the states happily went ahead and formed the respective state governments.
There's no denying the fact that voters in many places are obviously divided along racial lines. It'll take another generation at least for politics in this country to mature.