Tervetuola Finland

Or Welcome to Finland in Finnish.

I was selected for a work related business trip to visit one of our suppliers in Finland. This is to coincide with my company’s policy to introduce the latest product from the supplier as well as a special anniversary for the supplier.

The journey starts from KLIA to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Survanabhumi is the newly launched airport but I wasn’t impressed with what I saw. Granted that minimilasim is IN today but to have a feel that (to quote from a traveling companion) – “It felt that you’re boarding the aircraft from under an expressway flyover”. This is due to the design and finishing of the airport that they utilizes only the concrete rendering without any cladding or wall paints, giving an industrial look to it.

The flight to Finland wasn’t any better. They use the Boeing MD 11 aircraft with no individual entertainment (only communal as per 10 years ago) plus the flight attendants were way past expiration (must have been a looker 30 years ago). The most apt title to them would be “post-menopausal flight attendant”. Some of them were that old!!

At least when we reached Helsinki the sun was out. Being close to the Arctic line, the sun sets until close to midnite and rises again at around 2am. On the northern part of the country above the Arctic line, 24 hrs sunlight are the norm for the duration of the summer. We have to take another connecting flight to get to our destination, Joenssu using a Fokker aircraft ala Firefly. We reached and checked in at around 10 pm, and I managed to hit the sack at 12 am, almost 24hrs since I got up. I forced myself to sleep, managing at least 4 hrs of sleep before waking up in the morning.

We had a full day at our hosts manufacturing facility, plus being treated to dinner at their summer cottage. The summer cottage was set out on a lake, where there were 180,000 of lakes in Finland. It was such a cosy summer cottage, but it rained when we were there. Our hosts insist that we try the sauna, and when in Finland do as the Finn do (apart from being naked in the sauna). From their explanation, the Finn would time sometime in the sauna, say about 15 minutes, then get out and have a dip in the lake, and repeats it a few times. Just to note that it was about 10^oC when we were there (and it was in the middle of summer!!) so the water temperature was a few degrees below that, so no way I’m going to freeze my b**ls in the water. They go to the extreme of sauna & ice swimming or rolling in the snow during winter !!

Lukkoranta Summer Cottage

Lake View

Cosy Living Room

Sauna - The Original Article

The next day, after some program at their facility, we were driven to Savonlinna, where we visited the Olavlinna Castle and the Retretti Art Gallery. The castle is the oldest preserved medieval castle in Finland, with its history changing hands between the Russians and the Swedish. Savonlinna used to be the border town between Russia & Finland when it was under Swedish control. There was an Opera Festival taking place in the courtyard of the castle, hence that part was off limits. But being a remote castle, it was used as a garrison rather than the royalties. It wasn’t as extravagant as most of the castle that I’ve visited.

The art gallery was an eye opener. As Finland is mostly flat with rock foundation, they have actually bored into the rock foundation and made an art gallery underground. It was quite interesting being in an underground gallery. Unfortunately, no cameras is allowed in the gallery.

Savonlinna Castle

Special Chamber in one of the towers - The Thinking Throne

Long way down - for your excrement that is

Receiving Hall of the castle

The Great Hall

View from the castle

Flaming Salmon Floating Restaurant

To Be Continued.....

Spread too thin

Have you felt sometimes like you're spread too thin? I did for this past week. I've got a coming business trip abroad and loads of pending work at the office. Plus the mrs is not feeling in the pink of health at this point of time that I'm having second thoughts about the trip.

My workload has been more than doubled since my colleague resigned and no replacement was in sight till now. Imagine running a section of high profile equipment with load of issues, including failure and operational issues. And sometimes everything under the sun which no one wants to touch with a 10 foot barge pole.

Sometimes I wish I could bend the time-space continuum so that everything can stay still whilst I finishes all the work. Or better still, hire someone who could help. But as it turns out, I'm having Mohinder's power (as per previous post), which amounts to nothing, or work as the most low ranking officer in my department, not much can be done.

Al-Fatihah & Takziah

Al-Fatihah & Condolences to Aza & her family for the loss of her son.

What we gather was that the boy had choked on some bread that he was eating and had difficulty breathing. The maid called her back and by the time she had reached home, her son was already unconscious. She took him to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment and by the time he was medically attended to, the docs couldn't detect any brain activities. He was on life support since the incident on Monday and was called back to the Almighty this morning. He has an older brother an a twin.

I can't imagine what was going on inside Aza's head when the ordeal was going on. We saw her on Thursday at the hospital when we were doing The Boy's 'snip2', and she looked liked she's holding up. I'm hoping that she could be strong in facing this.

Boyz II Men

This post is not about the musical group, but about the transition of leaving behind your childhood and turning into adulthood. Or that was I've been told years ago when I had my circumcision.

The Boy had his today, not by choice as we were planning for it to be held this year end, but a medical condition has warranted that the procedure to be brought forward. So after several consultation along with a few opinions from doctors, we have decided to do it today.

The Boy has to fast due to being put under general anesthetics, so the last meal and fluid was at 9 pm yesterday. We arrived at the hospital at 7.30 am, and once the admission process has been done the doctor said that the procedure was going to take place. Eventually we were called at about 11.15 am, with me accompanying him as he was put under sedation. After about 30minutes, I was called into the recovery section of the OT, with him being brought back to consciousness. He was crying for the mrs. and after some comforting, he was fine and continued with his sleep. After he woke up, we gave him some light lunch and once the doctor given the all clear, we went home. Initially we wanted to get him on a wheel chair, but halfway he decided to walk, almost breaking into a run before parental intervention were called upon.

It goes to show that with the technological advancement in medicine, this procedure is considered minor now, I still remembered during my time that the recovery period is about a week at the least, with not being able to walk for the first 2 days is the norm. The you would have to go on a restricted diet, to prevent anything that could hinder your recovery or 'bentan'. And the pain was unbearable ( the mrs. said to me to try giving birth then only you could talk about pain ). Now The Boy had ran around when his cousins came for a visit, which would have invoked a gravely error if there were elders watching. Now we would have to monitor his progress,with a follow up in a few days. Snip-snip, anyone?

After the procedure - missing something ? (with a blown up glove )

After we got home - ini main game macam budak baru lepas sunat ke?

Heroes Personality Test

Your Score: Mohinder Suresh

You scored 45 Idealism, 41 Nonconformity, 45 Nerdiness

My father spent his life chasing after this insanity. Now I'm wasting mine trying to prove he was sane.
Congratulations, you're Mohinder Suresh! You're a curious, passionate, and intelligent person. You're prone to changing your mind about the important things in life, though. You're interested in doing what you can to help people who are gifted with special abilities.

Your best quality: You're a maverick intellectual
Your worst quality: Your opinions can change rather quickly and suddenly

Link: The Heroes Personality Test written by freedomdegrees

Back From Penang - Again !

The mrs. had a whole week seminar to attend in Penang and me & The Boy managed to join her on Wednesday onwards. As per my previous post, a trip to Penang means that gluttony would set in as you could enjoy the smörgåsbord of food penang has to offer. Often, during trips to Penang, food would have to be categorised into priorities, eg seasonal which have to die-die try, top priorities which must do irregardless or missable.

Seasonal Offering - Durians

Balik Pulau is renowned as one of the best durian producing region in Malaysia, as the PM would attest to. Some of the best varities such as Udang Merah could be obtained here with prices ranging from RM15-20/kg.

Udang Merah - In KL the prices would range from RM 25 onwards / kg

Budak yang tak suka durian - sanggup tahan nafas tu

Ni dua hantu durian- langsung tak ingat dunia kalau dah start makan

Durian bearing tree - some of the prized varieties are even tied with string to prevent from falling to preserve the form

Which one to choose from?

All in all we had about 4 whole durians to ourself per sitting :-0

We also tried someplace new, in Telok Bahang. We had a seafood offering that was not only fresh but cooked to perfection that we were amazed on how did 2 adults + 1 child could finish a set that would feed 4 adults?

The 'dinner' for 2?

Crispy battered calamari (squids) - nicely done not rubbery

Lala with belacan

Our thinking was just to finish the 'high ticket' item but once done we realised that we finished the whole lot. Now dreading to go on the scale to find out how much weight I've gained. The must-do eateries now includes Ikan Bakar in Bayan Baru, Line Clear & Roti Canai Sambal Daging (which has The Mrs. hooked upon). Wondering when the next trip is going to be...

On another note, most holiday trips were centered around what the parents want to do which might exclude kids. The hotel where we stayed had a kid's activity club which has lined up activities for the kids, eg reading, painting and loads more. The Boy did DIY T-Shirt, flower pot painting, key chain & glass art, which I found good for the kids. Now he cant wait to wear it proudly to show off what he made....

Here's one I made earlier.....

Fariza & Ryaihan's Wedding

Attended one of cousin's wedding last Sunday. Fariza is the daughter of my mum's elder brother and now currently working as an accounts officer in KL. The akad nikah and bersanding was held on the same day and the menyambut menantu will be held the following Sunday at the groom's place in Kepong. (pics not up to par due to downcast weather)

Rombongan Pengantin Tiba

Silat Pengantin - dont know whether Abg Jamal is doing the right moves or not, this practise has currently died down with only less than a handful are performing it during weddings. I used to remember that there were a few people who would do it during my chilhood days but now, balik-balik muka tu jugak.

Bersanding

Selamat Pengantin Baru

Sending Off

I managed to go to the airport to meet Jools and the family before Jaz’s flight last Wednesday. It reminded me of my own experience going away to further my studies. When I first went away for my undergraduate studies, things were different. We were going in a group and most of the guys/girls in the group have known each other during a pre-departure course that was held for about 3 months earlier. Hence, there was strength in numbers. There were uncertainties as well but where we are going to and most likely who are we going to say with. The rest are just adjustment to be made but more often than not the decision you made would only affect just yourself, e.g. if you want to skive the week off or skimp on food so that you could save for the latest gadgets and stuff or staying up late for a night out with a midnights/early morning show.

But going away on my postgraduate studies was totally different. There was the three of us plus my aunt who followed along to mind The Boy. Budget and allocations has to be made. Essentials, needs and want have to be well defined. To put things in perspective, heating plus electricity was essentials as we have people in the house all day long, broadband was needed for the research of coursework plus keeping in contact with close friends and relations, satellite TV was luxury that we can forgo.

Grocery shopping was mainly done on house brands, up to a point my aunt commented that these mat sallehs really loves white packaging as most of the stuff bought came in white, bless her. Once in a while we would have eaten outside, but being on a student budget it would have to be a value for money kind of establishment. Lunch was nearly packed every day and we would wake up 2 miles to and fro a day to school. Trips away would have to be done on a budget as well, staying with friends or acquaintances or looking for a cheap deal on lodging. Finding baby minders are a luxury as the charges are exorbitant. Payment to the child minder would cost the same as our rental per month. Luckily there are Malaysians around who could do that for us for a lesser charges.

I was wondering what is running in Jaz’s mind that night. The long journey to get to her destination, to settle in a foreign place alone, to get accustom to her new schedule, to set up a decent place before her family gets over there. Jools and the girls would follow suit in a about a month’s time. After that I guess Jools would have to take care of the household, keeping the family unit whole. Welcome to the He-Biatch world Jools !!!! Muahaha…