My 2008 Re-cap

Just when I thought I should write my last blog post for 2008, it’s 2009 already? I actually owe my blog a couple of blog posts. I’ve been thinking about blogging for the past several weeks now but the excuse is not about busy doing other stuff but the lack of putting my thoughts into written words and actually posting it. Anyway, 2008 has been a rollercoaster ride for me personally, my career, my finance, my romance and also with my family. I’ve put together some brief highlights of what had happen in my life the past 12 months in 2008.

January 2008

Getting my first Adsense earning 


Thaipusam 2008 along Jln Ipoh 

Thaipusam day was in January this year. Apart from lots and lots of meetings, I now have a permanent workplace at my office. Had one visit to JB followed by a client meeting the next day. It was quite a hectic month. I cash out my first Adsense earning. I wrote a blog post about my car being service at Fasfik. Fasfik apparently was too ambitious to expand but couldn’t cope with the growth therefore forced to shut down their entire operation where I’ve seen. Too bad since I really like their services.

Fasfik Kepong Branch 

February 2008

Brainstorming Session for Project Management Workshop at Residence Hotel 


Having a nice meal at the Opening of Maybank Taman Equine with my brother 

Another hectic month. 3 days of my company’s project management meeting at Residence Hotel at Uniten. Upgraded my Acer laptop’s RAM. Saw this MineAlesi figurine doll. Went to Melaka for a wedding reception. Laadvamore’s birthday!

MineAlesi Figurine 

March 2008

Which Party? 

Started off the month with my cousin’s birthday. My cousin was supposed to have her wedding later that month but moved it earlier since the announcement of The National Election Day. Election fever was on this month. Casted my first vote since I missed the last one. I went to MISA at Putrajaya for free. There was a plan my company sending me to Washington for a conference and business partner meeting. So I made my international passport and my 6 months validity US visa just to find out that my company’s budget had to be cut down thus making my trip being cancelled the next month.

My Malaysian International Passport 


Non-Immigrant US Visa Queue Number 

April 2008

MacBook Air at Low Yatt 


Tasty Big Apple Donuts 

This month, I wrote some fun stuff about MacBook Air, Big Apple Donuts, KL Freeze Craze, MAC Cosmetics Girls, Sneaky Telemarketer, Office Flooding and more. I also got my first credit card this month. There was a PC Fair at KLCC but I went to Digital Mall Section 14 PJ instead.

MAC Cosmetics Mocels 


Flooding in Front of My Office 

May 2008

My Compaq 3751AU  

I bought my first very own laptop this month, a Compaq Presario V3751AU.  The blog post became the most visited page of all my blog posts coming from search engines. I also received a couple of e-mails and chats from people with also bought the same laptop most of them asking for Windows XP drivers which was hard to find since it’s a Windows Vista configured. Wrote about my third or last visit to Fasfik. It’s also a dancing month, one at Cineleisure Damansara and another at Citrawarna 2008.

Line up of Citrawarna 2008 in front of The Palace of Justice Putrajaya 

June 2008

Managed to refuel my car before the petrol price sky-high hike 


UTHM FPT Computer Lab 


Singapore Polytechnic 

I started my second job this month teaching English for UPSR student at a tuition centre this month, the pay wasn’t so great but at least it is still extra money and the job wasn’t so difficult. Two days after that, the petrol price increased sky-high. I managed to find a petrol station with less queue after running around seeing petrol stations being flocked by motorists. My full tank of fuel didn't last long, the next day I went to Batu Pahat to conduct a Joomla Administration training at UTHM. Luckily the trip was claimable. Within the same week, I finally, made use of my international passport by visiting Singapore with my company team. It opened my eyes a little bit seeing things for myself rather than seeing it on a laptop screen (I need more travelling this 2009). Heard about BarCamp KL but didn’t really understand what is it about at that time. There were 2 tender bidding activities was quite hectic as I had to squeeze my brain doing a lot of paperwork.

July 2008

A Really Nice Wedding Stage 


Weddings Can Really Cost A Bomb! 

It was a wedding month with so many wedding I had attended the past several weeks earlier. My mum’s birthday is this month. My girlfriend decided to style her hair and tried hair rebonding at Sungai Wang where I had to wait for 5 hours for her while doing the process. Luckily Low Yatt Plaza was just next door so I spent most of my time there while waiting but it was a waiting endurance for me. I also went to an Advertising Career Program talk which was quite interesting and the moment which I was looking forward for the past 1 month, BarCamp KL Malaysia 2008.

BarCamp KL Malaysia 2008 


A Career in Advertising cum Training Opportunity by 95% Advertising Academy 

August 2008

ACT Car Service Workshop 

Had my car serviced at a new car service centre which apparently I found out was a bit overpriced for a car like mine. My brother’s wedding is this month, one in Kuala Terengganu and the other in KL. Being the 'Best Man' is unpleasant if you are single and making it worse, the bridegroom is your younger brother. Found out that Maxis Wireless Broadband in Kuala Terengganu was quite fast. Discovered a blogger friend of mine LadyAzurt in a car magazine. Being approached by a market research firm through my girlfriend’s friend father. Brought home 5 audio products to be tested for 2 weeks and got paid for it. It was so much fun.

D'Losong Homestay Kuala Terengganu 


Being A 'Best Man' sucks! 

September 2008

Tickling Fish Spa 


Wall-E Toy at Toys R Us MidValley 

It’s a fasting period this month. Activity tend to be slowed down but not entirely. Tried a Soft Fish Spa at a shopping mall nearby my house.  This kind of fish spas are popping up all over shopping malls I’ve been to. I watched Wall-E, the best animated movie I’ve ever seen. Went to one seminar about currency trading. You can really make (or lose) some serious money with just a laptop with an internet connection. My company’s software principle from Boston USA came down to Malaysia and did a seminar talk about a really long title which I had to shorten it to explain it to the invitees. After 4 years working with his software solutions, I finally had a chance to met the founder. The guy is really huge. Just look at the size of him compared to me (picture below). Anyway, the “buka puasa” food at Marriot was awesome.

Taking a picture with Mr Bruce K. Forbes, ARCHIBUS founder 

October 2008

Its Hari Raya month. A point where I started to slow down on my blogging (only 2 blog posts this month). My family was infected with a flu that caught almost everyone except me. I spent most of my time in my room reading stuff about a newly found area that could definitely replace my struggling ‘poor cash’ career. I guess I really am an information junkie after all. 18th of October was my birthday. I celebrated my birthday at Semenyih with my parent’s friends family since there were 2 other person celebrating their birthday the same as I am.

This month I went to one seminar, one presentation meeting and a couple of webinars. I also had my first visit to Hospital Selayang for a check up on a lump on my neck. I also bought a 2nd hand HTC Touch from my father.

My HTC Touch 

November 2008

Maxis Broadband USB Try Out 

My second check up was up after the first one. This time it was a CT Scan on my neck. The blog post is still in my draft box. I’ll try and finish off that blog post as soon as I can. Later after that, there was a conference at Sheraton Subang Hotel where I had to attend my company’s showcase booth. I also traded in my Maxis Wireless more than 1 year old ZTE modem for a new USB package. That didn’t work out very well, traded that one back to Maxis and went for a Maxis Broadband Wireless power package. On top of that, I’ve added a new subscription for DiGi Internet Mobile Access for my HTC Touch. I’ve been quite happy with DiGi Internet connection so far eventhough its not as fast as Maxis or Celcom. I helped out Laadvamore bought her new Lenovo Ideapad S10 netbook. Its so light, full functionality and gorgeous looking. More detail blog post on these coming up soon.

Laadvamore's new pink Lenovo Ideapad S10 Netbook 


Maxis Wireless Broadband Advanced Power Package Modem 

December 2008

My laziest blogging month of all. I only wrote one blog post about my treatment experience at Hospital Selayang and that’s only part 1. Part 2 is still lying around in my draft box. I serviced my car again this month (owning a car carries a lot of liabilities). Nothing unusual happened in December. I am however looking for ways to supplement my income though. I’ll probably write about it if I can find time for it.

That’s wrapped up my year in 2008. Looking forward for a more prosperous year in 2009.