Pre Thaipusam 2008 Panorama

Every single year when Thaipusam is celebrated, the place where I live will be crowded by the Indian Community. This year, it was announced that Thaipusam is a public holiday for Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Now this is really a challenge because my area is getting even more crowded. With more people, there will be cars. More cars equal to more traffic jam. Oh well, I'd better get used to it. Read more about Thaipusam here.

I don't really have anything to write so I'll post pictures I took this morning instead:


Pre Thaipusam Day 2008 View at Jln Ipoh


Another Pre Thaipusam Day 2008 View at Jln Ipoh

I just don't like seeing those pierced bodies and those scary stuff. It's just too scary for me.

Restructuring, New Responsibilities and A New Workplace

I'm starting a new category here, it's called Career. So, instead of having all of my related jobs and career rambling falls into Personal, I now can start rambling about my job. Usually, I don't really like to criticize thing too much because I really like to be a positive thinking person. Of course once in a while, it doesn't hurt to be critical to relief those steam before it explodes.

When I first came to the company, there was no place for me to sit. I had to share my workplace with someone else until some of the practical students finished their working period and some of the other workers moved to the site office. I then acquired a temporary workplace which was right under the air-conditioner and it was freezing cold.


My Temporary Workplace 

But strangely, the air conditioning got warmer and suddenly, one of the two main air conditioner on the second floor where I was located broke down. I'm used to be located in such odd office places so it doesn't really matter to me that much. There was one time when I was doing tele-marketing, the office had no chair and I had to use a drawer as a chair with a small table desk for the telephone. It was hot and there was dust everywhere. The construction workers were knocking down the wall, it was horrible. Anyway, I survived as always.

Last week, my company had an organization restructuring. No one was laid off but there were a few people who resigned. I was relocated to the business development group and there are 2 fresh graduates assigned with the group. Being a senior person, I now have to guide them through the learning curves of the business development process which is tough considering I used to be the jack of all trade last time. So, new job position, new responsibilities and best of all, new working spot:


My Latest Workplace 

Well, the air conditioning is not installed yet since I'm now in a new building right next to the old one. It's warm and sweaty. At least I now have a permanent workplace.

My Second Visit to Fasfik

Last October 2007, I sent my car for a service at Fasfik Kepong. After 4 months of excessive car usage fighting the KL traffic jam plus the extra money from Google Adsense payout earlier, it's time to get my car for a service treat. I drive my Proton Iswara car every single day. So it is crucial to get my car well maintained to avoid any complication in case if I my car broke down along my way to work.

One of the disadvantage of owning a second hand car is most of the important working parts of the car is used and requires replacement. This time, it was my car's front shock absorber. I've heard of stories where people normally gets ripped off when they send their car to the workshop. I never encountered any of that problem simply because I know what parts are needed to be replaced (putting my diploma in automotive engineering practice of course). Apart from that, since I only use a stock standard car and the location of where I live, there will always be replacement parts available for me to shop around.

Here's one tip if you want to slash your car maintenance's cost, buy your car replacement parts at a local shop. Avoid asking your car's workshop to buy it for unless it is really necessary. Also avoid buying parts at a well known accessories shop, their price are 10 to 25 percent higher than the local shop. I've been practicing this for years. One area famous of automotive replacement parts which apparently where I live is Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. In my area alone, there are 4 - 6 shops selling automotive replacement parts.


Rows of Shop at Batu 5 Jln Ipoh 

Because of the good experience at Fasfik Kepong last time, I went there again today for their excellent services.


Fasfik Kepong Branch 

Before handing over my car keys to Fasfik personnel, an agreement is first made between the car owner and Fasfik about the price quoted. Once that is established, then the time of job is estimated and then executed:


My Proton Iswara being scrutinized 


Replacing my old shock absorber 


Installing my new car's shock absorber 


Job's Done 

Replacing the car's shock absorber involves the removal of the wheel. Because of that, a re-alignment is needed:


My Proton Iswara on the Alignment Job 

While doing the alignment, the mechanic noticed that my wheel camber alignment on my left side of the wheel is out of tune. He then suggested for me to install a camber nut for RM25 a piece. A new quotation was made and I agreed to it. The best part of Fasfik is they have a central online management system built using open source architecture called Fasfik Intelligent Management System. Check out their portal here.


Fasfik Intelligent Management System 

Here's the summary cost of my entire car service this time:



Tell me what do you think of the price above. Find out if Fasfik is available in your area here.

My First Google Adsense Payment Via CIMB Western Union

It's a new year for the Islamic Calendar today. I've been postponing my blog post and since it's a public holiday today, I'm going to start off my first blog post of the year with something awesome. I GOT MY FIRST GOOGLE ADSENSE PAYMENT YESTERDAY!

I just love the smell of money. This year, I have a brand new target to achieve. I don't want to call it my new year's resolution because normally it doesn't work, at least for me though. So, I just like to call it 'my target'. This is where I'll be spending most of my time planning what to do and focusing the activities around it. That target is my bank accounts!

Let's leave my bank account alone for a while so that I can write about 'How I got my Google Adsense payment through CIMB Bank Western Union'. 28 months (2 years and 4 months) ago, I registered myself for a Google Adsense account. I should have been getting paid from it a lot earlier if I were not being lazy. I'll deal with my laziness afterward. How much did I get? Well, it's only enough to get me paid though.

Being lazy as I always do, I rarely bring any pen and small paper notes around so I just snapped a photo of my Google Adsense payment particulars:

 

I then drove to my nearest CIMB Bank Branch nearby my office which is at Seri Kembangan. Asked the customer service officer for the Western Union 'To receive money' form and filled it up:

 

Hand it over at the CIMB Bank counter along with my Malaysian Identity Card:

 

The verification took longer than I expected. The CIMB Bank officer used a card reader, then he printed out my details, took out a cash payment voucher form. He then asked me to put my thumb on the card scanner to verify my thumbprint. A few minutes later, I was asked to put my signature on the cash payment voucher to receive my hard cold cash.

 

The rate that I got was around 3.3 but I really wish I can get more of those stacks of cash. It would really make my life a lot happier. Until then, I really got to work things out this year. Credit to LiewCF for the AdSense Payment via Western Union, Received! blog post.