Happy New Year 2012

The Year of Living Dangerously

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - Charles Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities.

Well, to say 2011 is a turbulent year is a understatement. So many things happened this year, and some of them are good while others are bad. Anyway, we move on with life with no regrets, least we be stuck in the past forever. So 2012, here I come.

This is the year that I changed job, when I said enough is enough. Actually I had several choices, I could have been in Brunei instead, but in the end, I still stay in Penang with my new job. Did I miss teaching? A bit, which is why I am going back to Wawasan to be a part time tutor for a programming subject for 2012. But my new job, I have been to several conferences, management meetings, trip to KL, and maybe next year I will be going to Philippines, Vietnam and if I am lucky, Japan. So its not that bad. And I did get my bonus already instead of having to wait for May 2012 =.=. And I don't have to hear about "we are in the right direction" but we have to take "cost cutting measures" cough.

This is a year that I had a fight with my good friend. I don't really know why but we are not in speaking terms anymore...

Hmm, other than that I guess nothing much has happened this year. If I can remember more stuff, I will write about it..ha ha.

Last Christmas

Well, actually this happened on a Friday before Christmas. Me and my friend, we went to Straits Quay, actually its Delicious cafe for some tea, then later dinner at Sakae Sushi, but that's another story. Actually she wants to try Library, but I don't drink..ha ha.  Actually the cakes at Delicious there are quite famous, so just give it a try.

Not bad at all.

The Christmas tree at Straits Quay.

On Saturday, I met another of my ex student. We were supposed to meet up at Gurney, but it rained and I was scared of the traffic, so we met up at Queensbay instead. Lucky I arrived earlier and managed to park at the 5th floor, if I was later, I might have to park at the rooftop. Finding a place to eat was a pain, and finally we decided to eat at Station One.

Sunday, its finally Christmas..

Last look at the Christmas decoration.

Coming Soon: New Year and Chinese New Year

Tokyo Species

I have a feeling it's like Species, but with Maria Ozawa. I want to watch..lol

Michiko a high school girl had committed suicide, but she was resuscitated by an alien parasitism. While she brutally murdered men and spawned one after another, her friend Rika met Mayumi. Mayumi was told that she was parasitized by a gentle alien. They decided to fight Michiko.

“Tokyo Species”, which stars Ozawa Maria, Minami Marika, Mizuse Manami, Namiko, Kobayashi Kazunori, Kouno Tomonori, Oosako Shigeo, and Akikawa Yuri, invades Japanese DVD retailers on February 3rd, 2012.

Update, Tokyo Species Review can be found here.

Danger 5: The Diamond Girls Part 5

From UUM to Putrajaya: Christmas show at Mid Valley

Taking pictures with the Gingerbread Man

It seems that a lot of people want to take picture with the Gingerbread Man and Friends. This one is at Queensbay

From UUM to Putrajaya: Institut Aminuddin Baki

First of all, some background history on who is Aminuddin Baki. Its a pity not a lot of people know his contribution to education cause in history, they just learn about politicians.

Aminuddin Baki is recognized as an astute and farsighted educational planner in Asia by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He has been involved in formulating several educational policies to create a Malayan national education system that depart from the biased colonial educational system. 

Aminuddin Baki also played a role in the development of national education through his involvement in preparing the Razak Report (1955-1957) and the Rahman Talib Report (1960-1963). These reports are important in developing the national educational policies to this day. He was also involved in the Higher Education Planning Committee and in multi-disciplinary education.He is also the person that created SRP, SPM, and STPM examinations in Malaysia.

It is a pity that he died of heart attack at the young age of 39 in the year 1965.

Institut Aminuddin Baki is a place where they train teachers to be in the management role or headmasters. It is located in Genting Highlands and I was there to visit the Institute.

 The long and winding road to the institute. You can try to drift if you dare. Ha ha.

You can see Genting Highlands from there.

In a meeting there.

After we are done, its up to Genting Highlands. Pity that the cable car was under maintenance that day, so we had to go there by bus.

Just to warn you, things are extremely expensive there. The driver took some fish and veggies with rice and it cost him RM30. I was smarter that I ate at a fast food restaurant because we can know the price forehand.

And suddenly the fog rises.

And it was time to leave.

Danger 5: The Diamond Girls Part 4

Danger 5: The Diamond Girls Part 3

Danger 5: The Diamond Girls Part 2

From UUM to Putrajaya: KLCC

I am still kicking myself for not buying the Uniqlo jeans at KLCC for RM169, but what's done is done. I will go to KL again, God willing.

From UUM to Putrajaya: Putrajaya

I had meetings with several division of the Education Ministry, so off to Putrajaya I went. The road to Putrajaya is less jammed compared to other roads in Kuala Lumpur.

My New Office..he he

Ministry of Finance

Customs

My destination, the Ministry of Education, Malaysia

From UUM to Putrajaya: Meeting with my ex students

One of the advantages of being an ex lecturer is I have a lot of ex students all over Malaysia. When dome of them knew I was in KL, they looked me up and we went for dinner like twice in three days.

At a Japanese restaurant

Eating Japanese Curry again..

 Looking at knives. The Leatherman and Buck knife is ok, it costs around 249, but I have bigger plans so I decided not to buy any knife for now.

Cause we are going to Alexis..lol

My Tiramisu :)

Lovely Cakes :)

From UUM to Putrajaya: Mid Valley

As luck would have it, they book the Cititel MidValley which is within walking distance to both MidValley and the Gardens. Since I had some free time, I went walking at MidValley to clear my mind. There are a lot of branded clothes there, and I counted my blessing that I am staying in Penang. If I were in KL, I would be poorer. RM15 for lunch. Plus Burberry pants for RM800. Ha ha, I am really glad that I am living in Penang.

Christmas decoration at Mid Valley

At the Gardens

From UUM to Putrajaya: A very short night in Penang

I reached Penang at around 5 pm and I had to go to KL the next day at around 10am. The problem is I was away at the Management Retreat for a week and had no time to wash my clothes. So I hurriedly wash my clothes and turn my fan to the maximum in hope that the clothes dried for my next day trip (it did). I swore if next time people plan my trip like this, I am gonna kick them upside down.

After that, I went to Queensbay, it seems that their Christmas decorations are up already.

From UUM to Putrajaya: Padang Besar

Some of us wanted to go to Padang Besar for shopping. Padang Besar is near the border of Thailand. Beats me what to buy there, I just bought some dried banana and pumpkin for my parents.

On the way to Padang Besar, you can see a lot of sugarcane plantation, these are used to make sugar.

A very interesting looking hill?

Finally reached Padang Besar. Honestly some of the stuff there are quite pricey compared to Penang. I did see some people selling swords, but the quality is not up to my standards, so I did not buy any.

Then it's back to Penang