The 9 Recaps of 2007

1. I moved to the great country of Australia, to the city of Melbourne.

2. I started auzlife.blogspot.com .

3. I found her.

4. I became a fan of IBM.

5. I learned how to cook, which conveniently created new recipes.

6. I celebrated Merdeka for the first time in my life, in Melbourne.




7. I changed my major from Computer Science to Business Information Systems.




8. I started thinking of my future's career, in a serious manner.




9. I started playing squash.




Yes, there is only 9 =). The most of 2007 had been spent in Melbourne. Yet, this stay in Melbourne allow me to grow to be more independent and responsible. Compared to who I was a year ago, i had matured a lot. I guess, moving to Australia did caused good and bad effects in my life. =)

Financial Management

You have to agree to this: Most of us live fairly comfortable through our growth from a child to an adult.

Our parents are able to provide us enough food.

Our parents are able to provide us shelter.

We are able to get things that we want and is not necessary from our parents.

Living and surviving is not a problem.


Thus, sadly, most of us do not have any sense towards the value of money.

While some work part time to support themselves in study, we work part time to earn money for the Ipod or expensive watch we want.

And, in most cases (at least the ones i saw), many fresh grads are poor and have no savings even if they earn RM3500 per month.


Lack of Financial Management, is what we are these days.

Imagine this, for example, you earn RM2000 per month, u save RM500, and live the lifestyle of a student when ur parents give you RM800 per month, imagine how much you can save.

Let's say, you use to saved money, to invest into unit trust or stock market. In 6 months time, you might earn 30% of what you invest.


Isn't that just great?


The key, is to live within your means. By carefully planning your finance, you might be able to retire at 45 and live a luxurious life till old age.

That's, what i call enjoying life.

Salmon Fishy Day

My dad's friend surprised us at our place yesterday by bringing something unexpected:

A fresh salmon fish just freshly imported from Norway.

Yes, I posed like i caught the fish outta the longkang of my backyard.

You see, my dad's friend had been working as a chef in well-known Japanese restaurants in Malaysia, thus he knows all about Japanese dishes, and yesterday, was Sashimi Day.

With all his special knives and tools, he showed us the whole process of how a whole Salmon fish becomes Sashimi. Pretty interesting, pretty cool.

*Gulp*

First the head is chopped off,

then separate the bones with the meat

The meat

Using something like a pincher, the bones in the meat are pinched out one by one.

The meat is then being cut into different portions for different usage.

Some became Sashimi

While skins and some other parts are being fried

Others became fish fillets

Like pork, the whole fish of a salmon can be used for various usage: the front portion of the meat is used as sashimi, the back portion of the meat is used as fillet, the skins can be fried and eaten crispy, the head used to cook fish head curry, fried or grilled, while the bones are excellent to be used to cook fish porridge. Such a beauty eh? =)

Front portion for Sashimi, Back portion for fillet

The sashimis are being placed in the freezer for around an hour to cool it down, then taken out and eaten. I have to say, its one of the best sashimi ive ever had. Its so darn good and fresh that i dun think any other restaurants are able to serve the sashimi so fresh.

The Sashimi

Just Beautiful.

Happy Mobile?

Was driving around penang just now when i came across an interesting banner being hung all along the road side:

All that is written on that banner is "Happy :) www.happy.com.my"

Outta curiousity of course, the first thing i did when i got home is to log onto that website, and found this:

Cool site, now lets see what is this all about:



99 cents maximum per call, 1 cent/second??? does that mean if i make a 7 hour call, they will only charge me 99 cents?? that is blardy cheap!!! Thinking that they might have some terms n condition kind of stuff, i went to check the t&c of it:



'"Happy" and the symbol are trademarks of DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd'

Wha...?

I have not seen Digi doing any promotion or advertising on it.

Furthermore, apparently you can only get the number either by purchasing it online (which they will send the sim card to you later) or from one of the roadshow they are having nationwide.

Weird.

Still

I wanna try getting it and see how is it. So we shall see if i'm lucky enough to be able to catch one of its roadshows. =)


Updates: Just found out from my relative that they are actually having quite active campaigning in Damansara. Hm...i guess i did left Msia for too long time. =P

Photography

I had always been interested in photography.

But I've never really own a camera on my own (sounds kinda sad eh? =P)

Not that I dun want one, just that circumstances till now just didnt give me an opportunity to have one.

In the Canon SD750 Camera Review I've mentioned that hopefully one day I would have a chance to review an SLR camera, right now im quite determined to get one to start pursuing my long-time-yet-abandoned interest.

However, a conflict occured while I was doing some thinking towards this.

You see, I am a total dumbass in terms of photography right at this point, so is it worth it to actually purchase a full SLR camera to learn from it? Or should I get a semi-SLR cameras that function somewhat like an SLR but not exactly like one.

Canon PowerShot G7 [Source: Cnet.com]

I've been lucky to be able to come across the Canon G7 (I've been aiming to get it) during my stay in Mersing a few days ago. It surprised me that even though it has built in lens, you can still attach external lens on to the camera to enhance further the zoom and image stabilizer functionality of the camera. Basically, from what I see, its a half SLR camera that does some of the SLR functions but not all, perfect for beginners, very affordable compared to an SLR, yet won't get you anywhere far.

On the other hand, an SLR is blardy expensive, big, bulky, yet offers everything you need if you are really into photography. It is real complex to use though (at least in the eye of photography dummy) and there are just lots of stuff to be learnt to be able to fully utilize all the functions of an SLR camera.

Canon EOS 40D [Source: Canon.com.my]

Decisons decisions decisions.

Will need to ask around for advices before I can decide which direction to head to.

And no, the ugliness of the camera is not a factor.

Langkawi Trip

Yes, the Langkawi Trip.

Again, i must apologize for the lateness of this post, as the trip occured during 22nd - 25th of November, and only now that i can find a chance to blog about it.

Yes, I've indeed been too busy having fun. =)

Anywayz


The starting of this trip happened in the KL Sentral Station, where we all meet and gather up to catch a train to Arau, which we will then take a taxi to Kuala Perlis, and catch a ferry to Langkawi island. Yes it is a long trip, but if you do have the time, and the companionships with you, it will be a fun trip. =)

Our Bunk Beds

We got ourselves bunk beds instead of chairs, which is logical since we will be spending 13 hours on the train itself. =P

As there are just too much time on hand, me and Jia explored around the train, and found the first class cabins, to be like this:


Quite cool eh? at least u get ur own privacy in a room, not like ours, where we are only covered by a curtain, and things like gettin photographed when u sleep is common =P

"Swift...Swift...Swift..."

We finally arrived Arau at around 9am (we departed at 9pm), and hopped on taxis and head to the Kuala Perlis jetty. Once there, we waited for the next ferry and took it to Langkawi, our ultimate destination.

Arau

Getting off the train

Jetty

Us waiting at the jetty

The girls in front of the ferry

Once we arrived at Langkawi, first thing we did is to get in touch with the travel agent, got the cars we booked, then head straight to the first destination of our Langkawi Tour - The Mangrove Tour

We first drove to Tanjung Rhu, which we hopped on to a boat, and started heading towards the Mangrove area. The Mangrove Tour does not actually really brings you into a Mangrove area, rather, it takes you around the area to check out interesting scenes and stuff that is unique to that territory, check out the pictures to see those:

The boat

Kilim Geoforest Park

First Stop: Fish Farm (Don't Ask, I dunno why is it called Hole In The Wall)

You get to feed fishies. The one in the pic is a stingray

Then behind the fish farm you get to walk a hanging bridge that goes into the mangrove forest [Photo dedicated by Shin]

Which you get to see mangroves around you [Photo dedicated by Shin]

And take a group photo with a slanted tree [Photo dedicated by Grace]

Second Stop: Another Island [Picture dedicated by Shin]

Where it is infested with Monkeys [Picture dedicated by Shin]

And you get to see limstones and bats [Picture dedicated by Shin]

Me, Jia, HY, SH [Picture dedicated by Shin]

Third Stop: To feed the Eagles. The boatman (a.k.a tour guide) dropped chicken skin into the sea, and we waited a while, before a flock of eagles started feasting by grabbing the skins from the sea using its claws, and eating it while flying back up. Quite an amazing scene i must say. [Picture dedicated by Grace]

Fourth and Final Stop: Sunset. We are brought to several spot in the area, each spending approx. 15 minutes to see the sunset of the day. [Picture dedicated by Grace]

The group picture that marks the ending of the tour, taken at Tanjung Rhu after we came back from the mangroves. [Picture dedicated by Shin]

We left Tanjung Rhu and went to check into our hotel, which is located by Pantai Cenang. Pretty good hotel that is cheap and clean.

Room Door

Room

Except for certain attractions, Langkawi is also famous for another characteristic of it - Duty Free. Thus, us being university students, will of coz not forbid the opportunity given, and bought some beer for the night, and drank them accompanied by the breeze of the sea.

The Drinkers

The next day, we went to a snorkling trip at Pulau Payar. It is quite expensive though, RM110 per person, and includes a almost 2-hour ferry ride to that island, one way. Was quite a day for me, as somehow, i got seasick during the ferry, seasick during the snorkle (wave was strong), thus in the end was just strolling around the island while the others snorkle. One thing worth mentioning is, the corals around the island are mostly dead, thus if you are a big fan of corals, i wouldnt recommend you taking this trip, even though the water is clear and there are lots of fishes. I've been snorkling in Lang Tengah before and i find the corals and fishes there much more appealing to be seen. So if you sole purpose to Langkawi is to snorkle/dive, change ur destination now. =P

Pulau Payar

Scenary

The path we walked

Snorkling

Our Feet

Sea....Me?

On-the-sea Platform

We stayed for around 3 hours (actually we are ASKED to stay that long as the ferry only comes once and leaves once) then head back to Langkawi. Though tired and wet, but due to time constraint, we didnt go back to the hotel, but went to Oriental Village to take cable car up to the hill. Not much thing to see in this trip, only a weird looking bridge that connects two hills, which shows amazing architecture, and to enjoy fresh air up in the hills.

Oriental Village Langkawi

The Hill we went up to

Cable Car

The Magnificent Bridge that connects two hills

Scenary from the top

Thats about it actually, for our Langkawi Trip. We headed back to KL the next day, then thats all. Pretty good trip i would say, as it is quite relaxing, though at times we had to rush from places to places due to time constraints. =P