New Crib

For those of you wondering where yours truly have disappeared to after declaring that "This blog is still alive" almost 2 full moons ago ~ Well, I've been busy packing, moving & settling in a new place, a more cozy & spacious crib & closer to my love one =)

A place to call home, that has all the basic furnishing & creature comforts! *that includes a fully functional/loaded kitchen & an auto gate! i've always dreaded getting caught in the rain opening the gate when it pours... & ample shaded parking space that's not in a single flank!* =p Technically, I'm still renting the place, albeit on a longer term contract (housemoving is a tiring affair!), at least for the near future til I'm more certain about where to settle down permanently; at least as far as my career is concerned. Nothing beats the excitement & thrill of moving into a brand new house with brand new everything... =)
This is definitely one of the nicer / more affluent gated neighborhood in town, and conveniently close to my workplace, but a bit far from town (if one would consider 14km far *at least by Miri's standard, it is).

Now i'm very contented just to stay at home ~ cozy with good company... nowadays free time spent doing chores, playing with my pup, keeping my ride(s) clean, gunpla-ing of course, save for the occasional grocery shopping, as we prefer to make full use of the complete kitchen. The only thing to dislike is the internet connection... this place is like the blackhole of communication signals/reception. No 3G, no phoneline/streamyx.... yet.
My only connection to world-wide-web now is a crappy celcom broadband + very mediocre wimax. Probably have to wait another couple of months before streamyx comes on stream here.
Hence, the lack of updates as uploading speed is crawl-like slow... =(

Say hello to my pup Daisy~! We adopted her just barely a month ago & she's really growing up beautifully, & very fast (how come puppies always seem to grow up so fast?)

Panjat Batu @ Taman Bayshore

It has been quite a long while since my last climbing activity. Thanks to my buddy, Roy (now a regular at Batman Wall) who invited me along to join our expat friends, Vincent & Thomas (owner of the house whom i've yet to meet, as he's currently away on business trip) for a bouldering session at their residence. It's not at any outdoor cliffs, caves or boulders this time, but at an upclass neighbourhood in Taman Bayshore nearby here, where most of the O&G expats residence are at...

From Miri

& it's indoor somemore; where one can climb in the comfort of an air-conditioned room! yeaps, no bugs, no sunburn & no need to get drenched in the rain outside... =p

'Bouldering is a style of rock climbing undertaken without a rope and normally limited to very short climbs over a crash pad so that a fall will not result in serious injury. It is typically practiced on large natural boulders or artificial boulders in gyms and outdoor urban areas. Emphasizing on power, strength, and dynamics, its focus is more on individual moves or short sequences of moves, unlike traditional climbing or sport climbing, which generally demand more endurance over longer stretches of rock where the difficulty of individual moves is not as great. Boulder routes are commonly referred to as problems (a British appellation) because the nature of the climb is often short, curious, and much like problem solving. Sometimes these problems are eliminates, meaning certain artificial restrictions are imposed. Bouldering is more focused on the technique of climbing instead of undertaking a full bodied climb.' ~ quoted from Wikipedia.

From Miri

That's the indoor artificial boulder i was talking about; it's only about 3 metres above the ground at the peak, so falling on the crash pad or bouldering mat below is easily survivable when your hand grips fail you on the way up... =p

From Miri

Vertical wall ~ that's just for warming up... degree of difficulty can be varied depending on the routes & the boulder pockets you choose to use; the tiniest would accommodate just about your fingertip's grip =)

From Miri

The main wall with negative overhang (between -30 to -45 degrees inclination from vertical, maybe?) ~ that's where most of the fun is to be had! You start in sitting position on the ground & slowly work your way up... looks quite impossible to hold on from this angle doesn't it? It's damned tough, but with the right techniques it's definitely possible. Only managed scale up this one using the easiest route (yellow boulder pockets), rated at the difficulty of 5c. (using Fontainebleau grading system *i think* which ranges from 1 to 8c+; increasing numbers and alphabet prefix indicating increasing difficulty) This is just the kind of physical activity i like to do; definitely looking forward to the next bouldering session! =)

Put on Your Game Face!

From Miri

*me gazing on the screen of another of my new gadget, the C510.... shot taken by one of my mate

This series of photos was taken during one of our recent pot-luck dinner buddy-togethers, *Hallo-ween!* in Miri which, feature an intense session of Wii gaming; hence the ~ Put on Your Game Face! title... Had recently acquired the best bang for buck lens that has been on my wishlist for quite a while; the EF 50mm f1.8 II; had a good time experimenting with it during the gaming session. Having a fast lens like that makes candid indoor shooting without flash so much easier =)
Here's a full version of the shots taken, uploaded on my FB

Random Shots: Miri Dog Show

From Miri

The annual Miri Dog Show at Taman Bulatan, earlier today. More pichas in my FB. Enjoy! =D

Furnishing Our House

From Miri

From Miri

We got some furniture pieces from IKEA, 2 truck loads full of them!

From Miri

& an extra fridge and washing machine as well. Finally our rented place is looking like a proper house, for the 1st time. So we're gonna have a long weekend fun, unpacking those stuffs like an excited kid unwrapping his pressies on Christmas morning, eh?
Unfortunately not, as the stuffs actually belongs to our friend who'll be transferred to KL soon; our barren living room will serve as a temporary storage before they get shipped sometime soon as well.

From Miri

We've been hoping that he'll leave his big boy's toy in our hands for safekeeping as well, but unfortunately, that didn't happen coz we've run out of shaded parking as our place.

From Miri

This is truly an exotic ride that oozes class & elegance

From Miri

Clad in a befitting loud one-of-a-kind orange paintwork that only goes well with cars of this stature, this heads turner / chick magnet on wheels is not just another M3 wannabe.

From Miri

From Miri

This is the real deal ~ E36 M3! *just look at how that iconic inline-6 banger fills up the whole engine bay!*

From Miri

From Miri

From Miri

From Miri

Riding shotgun in this baby is simply an exhilarating experience; with close to 300 horses readily available at the prob of the accelerator; it just pulls away impressively despite its mammoth weight (over 1,500 kgs i'm sure); the mecha-tune grunt the iconic M3 owerplant makes is unmistakable & a dead giveaway of the power it harnesses ~ this masterpiece is the pinnacle of NA cars~! =)

Sweat Room

From Miri

From Miri

This is my humble abode in Miri. It also doubles as my workout space. Just began experimenting with P90X workout program recently; beginning with the Ab Ripper X on the past Monday. This brief 17-minute session basically consist of abs/center-core rigorous routines (11 of 'em, namely Leg In & Outs, Bicycles motion, Crunchy Frog, Cross/Wide Leg Sit-Ups, Fifer Scissors, Hip Rock 'n Raise, Pulse Up a.k.a Heels-to-Heaven, V-Up/Roll Up Combos, Oblique V-Ups, Leg Climbs, & the Mason Twist) with enough repetitions to make you cringe in muscle aches & leaves you half-dead from the waist down by the time you're done. 3 days on, i still feel the burning sensation in my abs, my upper legs feel sore in a way i've never felt before; been having problems standing up right & walking properly for the past 2 days. I'd say it's workout well worth the pain & sweat (in a good kind of way); coz when it comes to working out, i'm a firm believer of the timeless quote: no pain, no gain... =)

Shortest Home Trip

Was back in my hometown for a short-48 hour stint, leaving barely enough time for me to spend with my family & loved one, usual catch up sessions with my buddies (gunpla kaki *valen to replenish my gunpla stock; siong who was a great help with my work-related excel macro & also one of my anime source *bleach*; brought back my faulty adjustable coilovers to my mechanic *hopefully he'll improvise ways to salvage it; last minute drop by to louis' place to copy P90x vids *to get my started on my gym routine again; patsda & hubby *thanks for the laksa & great VIP ride!*; not forgetting the usual familiar faces i've come to miss) over a couple of drinks & visiting my favourite food haunts (laksa breakfast!) & trying to get ample rest after our unique road trip marathon; which means, this time i'm back to miri on my own without the company of someone i'll sorely miss ~ at least for the next 6 months or so... =(

Hazy Days...

From Miri

~ has taken a toll on me. Woke up to a pungent smoky air smell & a low visibility morning which made me feel like staying in bed all day. Mild sore throat, aggravated dry coughs & intermittent flu bouts have plagued me for weeks. Finally paid a visit to the doctor for a quick check-up this morning; except that it wasn’t an express-like affair. Now’s like the sick season, just go to any clinic at any operating hour, chances are there’ll be packed with sick people seeking for treatment. Had to wait a freaking 50 minutes before for my turn! Glad that it turns out to be just some inflammation symptom due to the haze. *H1N1 NOT! xp * Along with it, came my supply of N95 face mask. Should come in handy when i go travelling at the end of the week. =)

The API index...
http://www.doe.gov.my/apims/index.php
& i though Miri would rank as one of the worst; but it’s Sibu instead!

Had lunch at my work cube, coz it would spare me plenty of time since i came in very late for work due to the hold up at the clinic. Thanks to our office postman-cum-food peddler that i got my lunch: a pack of 3 currypuffs + nasi lemak ~ cheap & taste much better than the awful cafeteria food... =D

Housemates @ Housewarming

I've settled well into my rented place with a bunch of wacky housemates for slightly over a month now. So it's right about time for us to throw a housewarming party... well, sort of... we had a pot-luck dinner but it wasn't at our place; coz we deemed it to be not presentable enough *messy ~ it's an all-guy's house bah! =p* & downright barren when it comes to furnishing in the common area & the kitchen except for the most basic utilities *only the rooms are self-sufficient*. The pot-luck dinner was held at our good friend, Adeline's place instead, last night; *at least she stays in a what you would call a proper house =p * Let me begin by introducing my housemates ~

From Miri

Michael, showing some maternal love *that's Bruno, our host's darling pet... also known as the Ping-Pong Champion; always require triple portion when it comes to food; also a fellow Gunpla kaki ~ ww keep poisoning each other to get that latest MG or PG on the market... hehe

From Miri

Richard, *with Bruno's playmate; he & Mike stubbornly insisted that's a pig? looks more like a dog or bear to me =p* a guy who has a vast range of hobbies ~ from gaming, to jamming, to boosted cars, to photography *sometimes*... gadgets? you name it, he's got it =p

From Miri

Rainer a.k.a Black Mamba *yellow shirt handsome dude on the couch*; i only get to see him for a couple of days a month, when he transits between kuching-miri & vice-versa to work offshore. A very funny & outspoken fella as well; Mike's buddy & Richard's jamming kaki.By the way, on the foreground is Bao Shu & Rebecca in a heated Wii bowling competition...
Well, those are my 3 wacky housemates ~ each funny in their own unique ways & are good & helpful lot to have as housemates =)
Back on to the pot-luck dinner, here are some more pichas shot by my baby using my 450D *she's finally picking it up =) ; haven't got a great deal of group pichas though, missed out on a lot on the rest of the gang*

From Miri

Rich & Ying-Ying

From Miri

The ladies ~ Adeline (our host), Rebecca, my darling & Ying Ying (from top right clock-wise)

From Miri

The ladies & the pimp daddy Lawrence =p *with Bruno's playmate, again*
That's about it, for the proper group picha, i'll have to dig it from Richard... Had a great night of gaming, feasting & merry making; thanks guys! especially to Adeline & Alvin for playing the host =D

*all pichas stolen from www.m-senses.blogspot.com * ^_*

Defensive Driving

One of the many mandatory safety trainings i had to undergo in my course of work is the defensive driving course. Well, as interesting as the name may sound, it actually does not involve any exciting adrenaline pumping advance driving techniques *yawn*; as it is geared more to raising awareness & adopting a safety-first approach in driving. The one-day course was held at a safety training facility which, is an interesting place to be, especially for a 1st-timer like yours truly. Most of the safety training required by the petroleum industry in particular, are conducted in-house here; including the sea survival training ~ pre-requisite for those required to work in off-shore platforms.

From Work

Some of the interesting highlights i witnessed ~ chopper capsize emergency drill; strapped in a heli-deck simulator that gets dunked into water & rotated 180 degree, then having to unstrap to escape from the structure & swim to safety... should be quite an experience to be had!

From Work

There's also the 8m plunge into deep water with simulated waves that swells up to 2 metres!
I shall be looking forward to get my offshore safety passport soon, someday =p

From Work

The fire emergency rescue facility *notice the charred heli-deck & surrounding structures*

From Work

The facility also overlooks a nice view of the seas, with some of the platforms barely visible in the far horizon
After half-a-day of classroom lecture & briefing, we took turns to take out the safety car for a driving assessment; well sort of...

From Work

From Work

The ride? An odd looking Persona with auto transmission with multiple cameras mounted on & inside it. 2 on the outside, for the front & rear to record the safety distance maintained of hazards in front or the rear when driving; 2 more inside to capture eye, head & hand movement of the driver to ensure one does all the necessary visual checks on the rear & side mirror & blind corner checks before making lane changes, or braking... Driving behaviour & pattern date is also logged & monitored real-time by a plugged-in laptop ~ all g-force registered during acceleration, braking & swing during cornering, distance maintained between hazards at the front & rear will be recorded and the systems will generate & summarize the driving behaviour & classify accordingly based on the data logged. I think i managed a 'Low-Risk Driver' with a little bit of extra effort... hehe =D
* that wraps up an interesting day away from office*

My lazy chair...

From Miri

My lazy chair has finally arrived earlier this evening! Now i can put the stool aside for storage purpose... This ergonomic bum-resting equipment is probably the most expensive piece of furniture in my room at the moment (air-cond unit excluded). Better to invest on a good piece since i'll likely be spending many of my off-work hours on it... =)

The last weekend...

~ also marked the final weekend of my 1st month hotel accommodation. Managed to find a room to rent, literally just a stone throw away from my workplace in Lutong, not too long ago; it came pretty cheap since it's unfurnished, & for the past 2 weeks i've been spending a great deal of time & some $ hunting for basic furnishing with my newfound housemates, had dragged along Louis too when he was here for a short break the previous weekend *my bad =p *. Over the past weekend, my parents came to visit me & they were such great help with some of my house-moving chores; making ends meet by sorting out the smaller details... Thanks mom & dad! =)

From Miri

~ the room i'll be moving into, by tomorrow to be precise...
~ my ride had arrived by the weekend too, together with all my household effects stuffed in the boot still there.... although she got dirty beyond recognition when i collected her coz of the exposure to the external weather on the journey from Kuching onboard a trailer...

From Miri

~ 4 cars filling up the car porch at my new house... a Skyline ER33, 2 Civic EGs & a Kelisa; possible to squeeze in up to 5 cars but only 2 will get the coveted shaded porch... -_-

From Miri

~ a bigger view of my new dwelling place, at least for the near future... =)
For my dinner on the eve of checking out from Grand Palace, laziness got the better of me & i decided to have the house specialty sent to my room

From Miri

Tournedos Nantua ~ air-flown beef medallion topped with butterfyl prawns and served with chef's special sauce; what the description says... costs a bomb, but tastes heavenly. You get what you pay for... =D

long time no post...

It's been almost a month since i'm here. I'm still alive & kicking but my blogging juices have run dry since... This settling in process is taking a lot longer than i had expected & has been taxing as well. Adapting to a new environment, searching for my identity in this new place & seeking for acceptance in cliques i'm going to have to fit in hasn't been exactly easy, especially when it's those first few steps you take to step out of your old comfort zone. But it has to be done, for me to get to where i aspire to be.

From Miri

I'll be moving out of my temporary comfort dwelling in a week's time. I hope i'll get settled in my new place soon; though may not be as luxuriously comfortable...

From Miri

From Miri

What greets me on my way to & fro from work each day...

From Miri

The industry i'm currently affiliated with...

From Miri

From Miri

It's been a long while since my 450D has seen some action...

From Miri

It's always good when old buddies come for a visit... it gets a little too boring when you're living on your own, at times.
=)