My best half an hour of my life

Last week I visited the Buddhist temple in Jalan Pudu. While I visit the temple often and normally join in the chanting session in the evening, I never meditated there. The praying hall is normally visited my many people so it is not convenient to meditate there.

That day while I was there, and while waiting for the monks to start the daily evening chanting, I decided to sit in half lotus position and started meditating.

It was a long time since I meditated, say about a year ago was my last meditation session. So I least expect anything great to happen or to experience something extraordinary.

Little did I expect this time when I meditated, it was the greatest half an hour of my life. It was totally serene, tranquil and I was fully at peace. Even the chanting started afterwards, I did not stop meditating and continued in deep meditation.

I could not describe how the half an hour session feels like but great experience only comes when you least expected it......

Bangkok Trip

I was in Bangkok, Thailand last week. Xeersoft sends me there fore 6 days, accompanying the programmers who were there to help support Xeersoft Thailand customer, SAHA.

While in Bangkok, I set my goals for Xeersoft. Meeting new friends there was fun - Tony (Xeersoft Thailand MD), Anuchida, Hunter and Tee (GM of EnConcept).

Picture on the left shows our Xeersoft Thailand meeting room. First thing when reaching Bangkok was heading to office and have a meeting.

Our MD brought us everywhere to try the different types of food available in Bangkok. From the food stalls at the streets and food courts in the malls all the way to good restaurants.

I also took the opportunity to meet up with my foster family from SSEAYP 2003. They are in good shape. My sisters are growing up and getting more beautiful. It was four years ago since SSEAYP and really, how things changed!

I also had a night out with Dao, SSEAYP participant in the same group as me. She is also looking more charming. She brought me to the night market and we shopped there after having dinner in Silom Shopping Complex.

I learnt to use the public transport in Bangkok to meet up with my family and Dao. Tee and my MD took the trouble to send me to the LRT station (is named BTS - Bangkok Mass Transit System).

During the weekend, we also went bowling in Major Bowl. Since we have eight of us playing, we split ourselves into 2 teams and played. It was my first time playing and after four games I scored 72 (finally!).

Overall, I had fun during this trip. Thanks to Xeersoft!

New Job New Goals

I started to work in Xeersoft Malaysia on the 3rd September 2007. Xeersoft is a company which provides web-based online solutions for businesses. I'm hired as Executive Assistant to help out in the management and coordinates among staffs in Xeersoft.

Looking at the company and its growth potential, I feel that there are great expectations from this company. The first week itself gives me the feel of Xeersoft family.

I think my gastric and stomach ulcer problem will not occur anymore often as the family in Xeersoft normally take lunch together. In the pantry there are biscuits, lots of malt drinks and coffee stocked up.

Having listened to the audiobook "One-Minute Manager", especially on the first One-Minute Goal Setting, I was thinking of a goal for me in Xeersoft. Frankly I wasn't really sure of what is expected of me although the job scope clearly defines my roles and reponsibilities.

Now..... here comes the hard part..... I will not be waiting for the company to give me a goal, why not declare a goal for myself and the company? So..... what will it be?

Right before I join the company, I was already discussing with my Dad the possibility of growth and learn in Xeersoft. Another company, a foreign bank, was offering me 30% higher salary than Xeersoft but I turned that down - mainly due to the "feel" I have towards Xeersoft. I told my Dad - give me 5 years and I will be the Director of Xeersoft and bring it public. Very bold personal goal, right? So that is my driving motivation to work in Xeersoft daily.

Well my goals with the company:
- bringing Xeersoft to greater heights - higher profits, more customers, stronger brand name
- giving values to Xeersoft by sharing knowledge, experience and skills
So, how do I make this in a sentence to make it a renewed goal daily?

I Want to Make Xeersoft a Strong Brand as The Web-Based Business Solution Provider With the Culture of Professionalism, Sharing, Caring and Effective Leadership.

Redang trip

Last month I went to Pulau Lang Tengah as a part of team building with colleagues. Though I enjoyed beaches very much but Lang Tengah wasn't as attractive. Food there was scarce that we need to fight for food (yeah, think of hunger stricken places where people offer foods there!). While service was not bad and the snorkelling trips alright, overall I would only give 4 points out of 10.

So this trip to Redang - I wasn't anticipating much but expected it to better than Lang Tengah.

Ahoy, we went to Kuala Terengganu by bus at 11.00 pm. We were at the Putra Bus Station by 11.00 pm. Knowing the long journey, we took turns to visit the washroom and by the time everyone is getting excited and listening hard to the announcements of our bus arrival, suddenly a man came to us.

He asked "Ahmoi! Bas pukul berapa? Pergi KT kan?"
HL: Bas pukul sebelas
The man: Sekarang pukul berapa dah??!?!! (on an angry tone)

At a look on our wrist watches, it was already 11.05pm.

The man: Bas sudah keluar tau ka..... nih banyak kali panggil apasal tak naik?

We quickly grabbed our lunggage and left for the bus. The whole journey to Redang and back, we were more discipline with time! Hahha.... good lesson there....

Reaching KT at 6 am and all look like this, take note of all the sleepy eyes after 7 hours journey by bus....

We took ferry from the KT jetty to Redang Island.... and we stayed at Redang Beach Resort.

The resort was nice, food was superb and service was satisfactory. More More Tea Inn was the main attraction.

Snorkelling is the main activity and a short "diving" lesson (shallow diving only la...) top the water sports activities.

On the last night, Redang Beach Resort featured an open air disco. After our dinner at Summer Palace, having porridge steamboat, Steven and Jen Yi danced their nights out! And the YMCA girls doing their stunts! We also celebrated Ai Chuen's birthday with a simple Pandan layer cake! We had Chivas to go with the cakes, what a great combination!

We had a feel of Redang sunrise the next morning - having purposely woke up at 6am just for that.

Leaving Redang, we went shopping at KT, buying keropok lekor and keropok ikan.

All thanks go to Mun Hui for having suggesting the trip, all the way to the bookings and coordinating till the end of the trip. Thank you also to Fern Nee and Wai Kheng for being great room mates. Shiao Chin and Ai Chuen for having great ears to listen to my forever long stories. Jen Yi for all her charms that add great moments to the trip and her husband for the "diving class" and having to accompany the leng luis....

Trip to Solo, Indonesia

Being an award winner of the Selangor Youth Award is truly rewarding. Little did I know, after such astounding experience in SSEAYP 2003, I still have a chance to experience something similar this year!

This trip to Solo, Indonesia - specifically to Sragen village - is fully sponsored by the Selangor government. More than 30 participants join the trip, including the Selangor Exco YB Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil.

The father of Selangor Menteri Besar came from Sragen, so when we went to Sragen, we were treated like grandchildren getting back to hometown. Slightly pampered, I would say, we were treated like VIPs.

The flight via AirAsia took only about 2 hours to reach Solo airport. As our flight was very early, we reached there at about 8 am. Upon reaching the airport we were greeted by Sragen government officers. We did not have to fill up our departure card. Just 20 minutes wait in the VIP room, we then have our passports returned and directed to a bus.

Eeeoooo eeeooo eoooo went the siren of the police car. Then the van that carried Datuk Abdul Rahman, followed by our bus. Behind us, an ambulance trailed. On our bus there were government officers from Sragen to make sure we were comfortably served. Bapak Bambang guided us to sceneries we saw along the way to Novotel Hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel we then visited Bupati Sragen (government representative of the district), Bapak Untung Wiyono. As we entered the visitors' hall, a poster greeted us with a smiling face said "Local people buys local products". Upon entering the first few steps of the hall, we found the same person on the poster standing right in front of us, that was Bupati Bapak Untung.

We were given a short feast of various delicacies from Solo - ranging from crackers, fried eel, sweet delicacies and dumplings. (Wow I didn't know is that difficult to describe food!) Then we were given a short briefing about Sragen and how Bapak Untung ruled the area. Exchanging of gifts entailed and then to lunch. During lunch we were entertained by singers. Bapak Untung, a chief police, a chief army and Datuk Abdul Rahman each sang songs to entertain the crowd.

That day, we were sent to visit Batik centre, organic rice mill, Sragen training centre for youths and sight-seeing. Each of the places we went, we were eating and eating and eating as food was served. When we reached the hotel to refresh ourselves, we were all very full. After having a bath we then were escorted again to a village for dinner. On the bus, the government officials who accompanied us even prepared some sweet delicacies for us just in case we were hungry on the way to dinner.

Dinner was served. Porcupine satay was among the dishes - yes this is the first time I am taking porcupine. Songs and music accompanied us the whole evening with youths from both countries taking turns to sing.

Back to the hotel, we were all tired and slept like pigs.

The next morning, we were brought to visit more places - from rattan furniture centre and pomelo farm to a man-made dam. We were taken around the dam on boats. Along the way towards a floating restaurant, there were many parts meant to rear fishes. We ate fish (obviously) as our main dish that afternoon.

Then, in the evening we were on our way to Yogjakarta. In Yogja we had Ayam Goreng Ibu Suharti for dinner. Then it was free and easy. I went to the pub downstairs in the hotel to enjoy songs from the live band.

The next morning was shopping spree and after lunch we were sent back to Solo. In Solo, we have a night's rest and then flew back to KL, bringing along with us crackers, batik and souvenirs from Solo and Yogjakarta. Datuk Abdul Rahman brought back more than 80kgs of souvenirs from our many gifts exchange sessions in Solo.

The trip is very meaningful to me as I have learnt new things, met new friends and gained new knowledge.

Solo will be a place where I will visit again - hopefully for homestay for a few months to learn the culture there and the delicious food there.



Add some pictures here later, but here is a photo of my room mate and I, with Renny from Solo. Notice the background..... a bed filled with goodies to bring home!!!