After a whole day of indoor session, it is time to get outdoors. There are different activities planned out for us by the hotel as requested. One is a speed boat race between two teams that involves completing tasks in several islands. The group was equally separated and I ended in team Yellow. We set off to sea 15 minutes ahead of the competing team because we emerged as winners from a deciding game at the shore. The boat ride lasted 30 minutes to the first island and it was a hell of a ride. I am lucky that I don’t have a major back problem because we were practically flying on and off our seats throughout the journey. The rough sea was due to a storm approaching and the rain drops felt like pins piercing through your skin when you are cruising on a speed boat going against it. It was also freezing cold because we were all wet from the combination of waves and rain drops. Once we disembarked on the first island, we took our time to take a group picture as recommended by the marshall because we are very far ahead of the competition.   

Team Yellow!

Our first task was to search for 8 turtle eggs replicas which were actually ping pong balls and 1 chicken egg. Once everything was found, we were required to cook the chicken egg with whatever we can salvage in the surroundings of the bbq pit. Luckily we did not have to consume the egg afterwards as whatever method we have used would have never pass any hygiene policy. 

 

Cooking The Chicken Egg

The adventure continued on with different tasks on another two islands including the Island of the Pregnant Maiden (Pulau Daya Bunting) before we headed back to the hotel. Something worth mentioning is that the weather conditions were so poor until we had to make a delay our boat ride and make a detour to a nearby port before making the remaining journey back by land. After lunch, the day continued with telematch games on the seaside and eventually, team Yellow emerged as champions!

 

After Exhausting Series of Telematch

Benny “Champ” Ong

The day started out at a slow pace to achieve the key objective of this trip to Langkawi. Straight after breakfeast, we were all gathered at the meeting room whereby we started to set the mood for the day with a quick ice breaker session among all. Although we do know each other, it was nice to know a little bit more. Before I forget, we were all dressed up in our nicely customized team t-shirts!

 We reviewed through the performance of the year and openly discussed any key areas that was raised. It was a very interactive slot that I found to be very useful. Before we knew it, it was already lunchtime. We were given assignments to present on our projected targets for the following year and was scheduled to present it later the day.

Preparation of Presentation Slides

Before I knew it, lunch was over and although I was one of the last in the line to present, eventually, my time came. It was a very thought provoking session whereby I have to justify every single word that I have shown. Well, it did went on smoothly and I believe I managed the crowd and questions well.

The Group Picture

We finished right on schedule before taking a group picture as a sign of the day has ended. Well, not really actually, after dinner, we were at Chime which is the hotel’s pub and bar for some live music by a Filipino band. We stayed on for a while before I escape quietly to retire to bed .. zzz….. 

Benny Ong

After months of discussions and planning, it was finally time for the department’s teambuilding event. The location of choice this time around is Langkawi. I am very excited as I have never been to one. Well, the flight there was decent and we arrive close to noon whereby we had lunch at Sri Orchid restaurant. This is when the seafood feast officially begin.

After heading back to the airport to fetch the remaining group, we took the chance for sight seeing. We headed to the cable car and went up to the peak where the scenic suspension brigde was. It was a bit too misty but being up there was an experience.

Suspension Bridge

After that, we took a drive to Kuah Town whereby we had a pit stop at The Black Sand Beach. To be honest it looked like a poluted strecth of sand. Examining it close up proves it to be fined sand.

At The Black Sand Beach
After a shopping spree at Kuah Town, we headed to Dataran Lang whereby we quickly pose for a team picture at the Legend’s Park which was a stone throw away.

The Whole Bunch At Lagenda Park
We soon checked into Sheraton Hotel and called it a day. That’s all the highlight of the day and stay tune for reports of the next three days and two nights.

Cheers.

Benny Ong

It has been indeed a month long birthday celebration for me

October Babies

In the office today, it is my turn to join in the on going monthly team birthday celebrations.

Me Preparing The Cake

Yipeee!

Food… Glorious Food!

 There was abundance of food to eat and the most amazing one was the Jelly Cake which looked like plastic. There was a mix of flourescent colours. The alphabets read “Happy Birthday October Babies” and look like an arrangements of blocks used in nurseries.

 

The Amazing Jelly Cake

I swear the cake will glow in the dark if we switch off the lights. Regardless, it did taste very good. I took a huge slice home to share with my family.  Well, it has been a great week for me so far and I can’t wait to be in Langkawi for the early part of next week.

 Stay tune for more updates!

Cheers!

If you ever dreamt about working or living in the states, make it happen by submitting your application for the Diversity Visa Program. This allows minority migrants to apply to get a Green Card that will allow you to stay and live there. The official site is http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/. It is free to enter and the submission for 2009 entry are closing on December. Uncle Sam has restrictions on certain nations but Malaysia is cool.

Did you know that there are scam sites that charge for such services? They will compile your submission and charge you a fee to submit it to the above link. Well, might be a business idea for you but why make this type of living when there is so much else to do.

Enter now and good luck!

Ice Cream Cake

I am totally spoiled for this weekend with a non stop celebration of over 4 days for my birthday. I am sure it will all end today though. However, I woke up this morning (check out my messy yet stylish hair) to blow out candles of an ice cream cake that we got off from Baskin & Robbins in 1-Utama. The cake tasted marvelous and was very rich.

Later in the day, I went to Cheras for lunch and was back home to start installing my wireless router that I bought yesterday from the digital mall. I first setup my UPS whereby my cables still needs some tidying.

The wireless router from Net Gear certainly had better installation guides than Aztech. The installation took less than 20 minutes and now my whole house is finally covered with wi-fi. A final end to my struggle of getting the wireless connection up (due to my procrastination as well ).

Can’t believe the long weekend is now over and can’t wait for what is in store for the week.

Benny Ong 

My modem went dead after the heavy rain and I remain puzzled to what has happened as everything was connected through a power surge protector. I later realized that the source could have been through my phone line instead. It was no harm as I wanted to replace my faulty wireless modem and router from Aztech anyways.

It was already in the pipeline to drop by the Digital Mall in PJ SS14 to get new hard disks and getting some additional gadgets should be no harm.

The Digital Mall in SS14

The place itself was no different from Low Yat Plaza and the drive there was certainly more pleasant. There were countless of floors with techie goods and my all time favourite IT Hypermart All I.T was situated on the top floor. I am always impress by the amount of stock they keep and it being displayed openly instead of asking someone over the counter like many other computer shops do. This outlet is definately a blessing as I hate driving all the way to Low Yat in the city center where it was the first All I.T I visited.

Just in case you need a map to get there which I extracted from their official website:

The only thing I disagree with the whole mall is the shops that charges consumers an additional 2% for paying with credit cards. I believe the sellers should take on the costs and not the consumers. I know there are certain merchant costs involved but if I were to run a business, I would calculate it in a way whereby I would absorb the costs and not my customers. I agree that there are rooms for arguments here but aren’t we moving towards a cashless environment whereby transactions through card should exceed spending cash like many advance countries?

Well, enough said before I get to deep into my views. I can’t wait to install my newly acquired purchases.

Benny Ong

What would be a better plan than Melaka to kick start the long weekend. I had mixed feelings on how the traffic would be like because of the holidays but braving it turned out to be well worth it because it was smooth sailing all the way. The traffic reports of it being jammed packed in the wee hours might have resulted the roads to be clear on the first day of the Hari Raya celebrations.

The drive to Melaka took about just under two hours whereby I finally saw MMU after hearing so much about it. I picked up Song Yia’s brother and friend before heading to the city center for A Famosa. There were not much additions since I was last here about 4 years ago but the only difference was I am now behind the wheels guided by a local.

On Top of St Paul’s Hill

 

A Famosa Fort: The Most Photographed Landmark in Melaka

Check Out My Big Cannon

It is also worth mentioning the newly discovered wall of the old fort which is just a stone throw away. There are plans to reconstruct the whole wall to it’s original setting. Let’s see how long that will take.

 

The Site of The Old Wall

The weather which was perfect for walking did not last long and we had to seek shelter in McDonalds opposite Melaka Zoo. Looking at the rain which did not showed any signs of slowing down, we gave up and headed back to our newly made friend’s house to watch Apocalypto directed by Mel Gibson.

After a short nap and refreshing shower, it was time for dinner. We headed to the Portuguese Settlement for food along the beach front stalls. The food was of decent quality and price. After dinner, we hanged out at Wings Music Café before making our drive home to KL.

All and all, it was another day well spent!

Benny Ong