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…

Of Bingeing & Anticipation

Last weekend I let myself go, meaning feasting upon anything I could lay my hands upon. Sugar laden, high carb, high fat, high cholesterol etc. I don't know whether it was a good move or not, but just for a while it felt good to let yourself go once in a while. A pang of remorse does set in afterwards, but it just felt good during the consumption. Now need to double up the effort.

On the other hand, I'm eagerly anticipating another result for some test that would be done in the near future. Fingers crossed.

New Alarm Tones

Was awaken this morning to the sound of this alarm tone instead of the usual one :

Spongebob Squarepants Theme Lyrics

Captain: Are you ready kids?
Kids: Aye Aye Captain.
Captain: I can't hear you.
Kids: Aye Aye Captain
Captain: OHHHHHHH
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
Kids: SpongeBob SquarePants!
Captain: Absorbent and yellow and pourous is he!
Kids: SpongeBob SquarePants!
Captain: If nautical nonsense be something you wish,
Kids: SpongeBob SquarePants!
Captain: Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish!
Kids: SpongeBob SquarePants!
Captain: Ready?
Captain and Kids: SpongeBob SquarePants, SpongeBob SquarePants,
SpongeBob SquarePants!
Captain: SpongeBob SquarePaaaaannttss!!!

Captain: HA HA HA HA !!!!

Requested specially by the boy for the school holidays. Now I cant get it out my mind..

Spongebob squarepants...spongebob squarepants...spongebob.......arrgghhhh....

Jaz & Jools Farewell BBQ

Jaz is leaving for her MBA in the prestigious MIT at the end of the month. Jools & the kids would follow suit albeit a few months later. So we decided to throw them a farewell BBQ and get the gang together. Being the AF & Final weekend and without us having satellite tv in the house, we had to bow to the request of having it earlier coz they wanna go home to their AF Final.

At around 3 pm, the clouds surrounding our area have started to blackened, indicating that a heavy downpour about to come, but come 5 pm it cleared off. Found out that it rained heavily in KL (must have been a good bomoh employed by Maestro to divert rain from Bukit Jalil)

Fire starting nicely

Beef Tenderloin

Lamb Shoulder

Chicken Wings

Seafood Skewers

In the thick of the action

Long lost friendship (since Perhentian je) rekindled

The other halves

Shybee & Jools

All in all the food turn out great & edible (except for a few extra well done chicken wings, sorry love). As usual, the guys would sit by themselves talking co*k and about making it big (in life ok! not the phallus) and the other halves talked about the latest gossips and girl stuff. In our haste, we forgot about the trifle that I slaved to do (dua casserole mangkuk tu)

To Jaz, don't worry, we'll take care of Jools whilst you were gone before he joins you.
To Jools, you still have a few guys nite out with us


So now it's the time to save up in case we would visit them in Boston. Eh, now the shares howmuch? Enough to cover the flight tak coz accomodation dah covered tu ;-)

Gremlins lurking..

For the past week, I have been woken up from my deep slumber at around midnight (every night) to the alarm of my car blaring away. It would go away after I reset it, and I suspect it must be the proximity IR sensor in the car that set off the alarm. Normally it shows the sign of a weakening car battery, but I have changed it about 6 months ago. This is due to the fact that my battery died on me on Xmas day, leaving me with no choice except to summon my trusted friend and mechanic. Luckily he was in town then and I was in the office due to a flood situation in the south of the country.

With a change of battery, the alarm was fine and dandy again. Mind you, the three pointed star replacement part do come with a premium over the rest. It looks like the symptoms are coming back again, but I think I’ve got a year warranty on the replacement battery, so battery, if you decided to give up the ghost, you better do it during the warranty period, or you could forget about recycling and has to suffer a fiery end….

But that’s not the only thing that has been acting strangely now, my dvd player is also doing it. It could play most of the disc most of the time, usually the boy’s selection, but when it was my time to put up my feet and watch my choice of dvd, then it would be stuck in limbo. Ditto to the tv remote too (which have suffered premature death yesterday, RIP). All the electronics are conspiring and ganging up on me or it could be a gremlin that is lurking somewhere causing havoc.

Things at work are also no better. We have been experiencing equipment mal-operation from a certain manufacturer for the past year. It hits where it matters most, resulting in huge losses every time it occurs. We can’t anticipate when it’s going to happen next, plus it’s hitting us across the nation. And every time it happened, yours truly had to go in as an investigator. Where's the nearest gremlin-buster when you really need them?

Another CROCS in the family

The mrs. has at last succumbed to the CROCS craze in the household that has been started by the boy. But instead of getting the most striking fuschia/green combo, she opted for a more safer combo, as per above pics.

Welcome onboard dear , hehe...

Breakfast In Bed

Today, being Mother's Day, I have decided to treat the mrs. for a breakfast in bed. Together with my partner in crime, aka the boy, we have planned for a pancake breakfast galore, meaning that I would make the pancake while he helps me prepare other condiments. But, as soon as he woke up, he declared that he's gonna wait with the mrs. in bed for breakfast. Grrr...so much of believing an almost 6-y-o boy....

Pancake & Syrup Galore...

What we've gotten the mrs....(actually the boy choses the card and flowers for his beloved mum)

Everyone headed to the pool for swimming lessons in the morning and a lunch treat for the mrs..(buurrppp!!!) of bbq ribs the size of Texas. Afterwards everyone was so full that the only logical thing to do was sleep it off......

Happy Mother's Day dear :-)

ps. I will put a measuring ruler next time in our closet for measurement of any misalignments during taking of clothes next time, I promise....

Aksi Terlampau di Penang....

If you are expecting sexually explicit pictures, then you're gonna be disappointed. It's actually aksi makan terlampau, where else then in Penang that you could really indulge yourself. On a recent work trip, a friend recommended staying in Cititel Penang, with its close proximity to the 'famous eating spots' in Penang. It's just a walk away to Sup Hameed, Nasi Kandar Line Clear and the famous Roti Canai Daging under Pokok Ketapang are amongst the numerous eating place in the vicinity. Its also within walking distance to KOMTAR and Chowrasta Bazaar.

So after a hearty meal in Penang, you really need a good and rigorous workout to burn all the calories consumed. ;-)

Nasi Kandar Line Clear (even gets a mention in Wiki)

Solo-Yogjakarta Trip - Part 2

Day 3 - Yogyakarta Kraton & Prambanan Temple

The third day in Yogja was spent visiting the Kraton & Prambanan Temple. As per the Solo Kraton, the Yogja Kraton is a working Kraton, where only 2 parts of the palace open to public. The rest are still being used as the royal residence and access is limited. From our conversation with the guide, the royals are opening up their kraton to the public as part of collecting revenues for the upkeep of the palace. This is due to the fact that the royal did not receive any allowance for the maintenance of the palace. In the compounds, as per Javanese believe were black volcanic sands instead of grass and sawor kecil trees. The Javanese believe that great beings lives in the mountains and the seas, hence the volcanic sand represents these two places. Sawor means 'everything' and 'kecil' means 'prosperity', hence that explains the abundance of the trees in the compound of the kraton.

Entrance to Yogjakarta Kraton ( Palace )

Javanese Mask Motive near the entrance

Balai Rong Seri - Yogyakarta Kraton
Effects of the recent earthquake - Flattened part of the holding hall of the Kraton

Guardian of the Kraton

Intricate Joglo Architecture



Potrait of Hamengku Buwono & Royal Paraphenalia (replicas)

Royal Gamelan



Declaration from the government of Indonesia to the Yogja Royals

Prambanan Temple

Prambanan Temple is located on the outskirt of Yogjakarta, and its the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. It is also a UNESCO World heritage site, where part of the temple has been restored. As the temple lies within the earthquake prone region, the recent 2006 earthquake has damaged the temple. The site was open to public but with access is limited as the damage from the earthquake wasn't fully repaired.

Word of advise, please brace yourself for the salesperson selling souvenirs as they are very persistent to the point of annoying. Also if you could do a good impression of Bahasa Indonesia or better still speaks Javanese, then head towards the local entrance for a cheaper entrance ticket.

Prambanan Temple Complex

Damages due to the earthquake

Day 4 - Borobudur Temple

Borobudur Temple is a Buddhist Temple, unlike Prambanan which is a Hindu Temple. What blew our mind away is the entrance fees charges to tourist, which is 11X dearer than the local rates. We decided to get a guide to explain things and guide us around, and Pak Dhani did an excellent job explaining things to us. He's well versed with Malay, English, Dutch and Japanese. IF we thought that the salesperson was quite annoying in Prambanan, at Borobudur it was 100X irritating, up to the point of sick at the sights of souvenirs being thrusted in your face. In a different circumstances, I would buy those but under these extreme selling scheme, we were put off of buying stuff from them. But Abah has a soft spot for them, and he was swarmed like flies. Its hard if you can't say no kan.....

UNESCO Heritage Plaque

Jauhnya nak jalan.....

Tingginya nak naik

Pak Dhani - Our guide

A water spout feature

Sleeping Man MountainCuramnye...camne pakcik nak naik ni

Profile of Borobudur Temple


View from the top

After visiting Borobudur, we head back towards Solo as we need to catch an early flight. Along the way we stopped at a salak stall to buy the famous salak pondoh. Its sweet and nice, with no soury or bitter taste at all. I bought some only to eat through half of it during the drive to Solo :-0

Lunch was at a sort of 'floating' restaurant, where the setup was huts above a man made lake, with fishes swimming around. The setup was serene and peaceful, the food typical of Javanase but a little to sweet for my liking (even though I'm of Javanese descent ). The best thing about the setup is that even the remains of the food could be thrown to feed the fishes.

The setup of the restaurant

One of the huts - the have more than 20
Cute monkey made out of coconut

Feeding the fishes

We also managed to see part of Bantul province, which was hit by the earthquake. From our guide, most of the residential dwellings have been repaired but bigger buildings such as schools and stadiums have yet to be repaired.

All in all the trip has been a a good experience for me, even though there are similarities in between the two countries, there are also a noticeable difference in the way, pace and quality of life. My observations are that the Javanese people are very courteous especially those whose in the service industry which may prove a challenge to Malaysians and they are also hard working but not rewarded enough. No wonder thousands of them heads towards Malaysia in search of a better living, very much like what my grandad did in 1941. There another trip to Medan coming in Aug 07 and hopefully it would be as enjoyable as this.