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.

My Treatment Experience at Hospital Selayang

11 years ago, I had a swelling on my neck. I often catch a fever and when I do, the swelling will enlarged which looked almost like a mumps or in Malay we call it “Beguk”. The strange thing is, the swelling  occurs multiple time so it was not mumps so I had to undergo a series of test at the University Hospital in PJ. I finally had an operation, had a tube and a plastic bottle sucking out fluid on my neck, stayed at a pathetic ward (government hospital mind you) for a week and was discharged with visible scar on my neck. I notice that there were still some leftovers but it was relatively small so it didn’t make any difference since it was non-disturbing.

4 years back, the swelling came back after I got an infection which came from a fever. I then went to General Hospital Kuala Lumpur and had a check up. After being x-rayed and some blood sample were taken, the doctor said the thing the swelling is just a cosmetic effect and wouldn’t harm my health whatsoever. I was relieved it is not cancer or something so I just ignored it.

2 years ago, I got another infection but this time it got even larger and is now visible. I went to a clinic nearby, had my blood analyzed. I found out that I have a blood “O+” type. This means that I am a universal donor. There is this Blood Type Calculator where you can check out what your parent’s blood would be or your child blood would be.  I have this phobia for syringes where each time I got shot by it, I will go into this vomiting and drowsiness phase which is so uncomfortable and I hate it. Anyway, the clinic doctor gave me a recommendation letter for me to get further check up at the nearest Hospital available which is Hospital Selayang. The thing was, I didn’t go for the check up because at that time, I just got a new job so I did something that everybody loves doing, procrastinate.

I did a few Googling around and found similar cases for my rare condition. A couple of months ago, my swelling on the neck got even larger. This time, it has gone down to my right shoulder and it sure is uncomfortable especially when I sleep on my right side. I have to get this swelling removed before it gets even larger and make me look like a freak. After getting a new recommendation letter at my company’s panel clinic, on the 28th of October I went to Hospital Selayang to seek for further treatment.

At the hospital, I was referred to 2 places before landing at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic. Paid RM30 for the registration and waited for my queue number which was like almost 2 hours.

Payment and Registration Counter at Hospital Selayang 

The ENT Clinic at Hospital Selayang 

Getting inside the doctor room, check out the doctor’s office by the way:

My ENT Doctor's Office 

ENT Doctor's Equipment 

After being examined by the doctor, the doctor said he wanted to see inside of me so he sprayed some kind of medication into my nasal passage and my face instantly felt numb. I almost puked but I retained my calmness. 10 minutes later, I was in another room surrounded by 2 doctors, a nurse and the medical equipment assistant. The doctor plunged the camera tube into my nose, it was not really painful but it was the most uncomfortable situation I’ve ever had in a very long time. The good news is, my nasal passage was clear and it was all okay.

Back at doctor’s room, the doctor told me that the lump is not dangerous and it is just a matter of excessive fluid that could find it way out and got trapped in a few pouches underneath my skin. The doctor then ordered me to go the Radiology department to set up an appointment with them for a CT Scan. I only got an appointment 2 weeks after that. The experience continues...

Visit part 2 of my experience.

My HTC Touch

It has been over a month after I got my hand on my latest new gadget, my HTC Touch. I've always been keen to have a Windows Mobile device. There is one lying around my house which belongs to my dad and he's not using it. However, the device is bigger than my handphone and the features and the battery is not up to my use so my brother is toying around with it. Recently, my dad bought himself a cheap chinese made TV-PDA phone which he found somewhere in Dubai, he wanted to sell off his HTC Touch. I immediately said I wanted it but of course I'll pay for it later.. ;-)

 

The best thing I found out about HTC Touch is its lightweight, running on Windows Mobile 6 Professional, the battery's life is not bad and the touch screen is just something cool. Of course if you compare that to an iPhone, the iPhone is way much cooler. However, the iPhone is more expensive plus there is a lot of softwares that I need doesn't work in iPhone. The only downside in terms of network connectivity is my HTC Touch is running on EDGE and doesn't have 3G connection. Because of that, I choose to subscribe to DiGi HighSpeed Mobile Access with Data Unlimited Plan. I'll cover my experience using DiGi Internet service in my next blog post.

At first I wanted to replace my Sony Ericsson W810i to this HTC Touch. Unfortunately, I found out that typing SMSes using the HTC Touch is so difficult and required precise touching of the screen for the right alphabet to appear. It then became clear that the HTC Touch can only be my second gadget in my pocket.

Thanks to my brother who is using Windows Mobile much earlier than any person I know tip me on a great mobile browser call Opera Mini. I once used my boss's iPhone and recalled how the browser on his iPhone could just slide, zoom in and out. It was so cool, little that I know this browser installed on my HTC Touch could do the same.

 

Another application that I like to use is Google Maps for Mobile. Since my HTC Touch doesn't have GPS, the My location function which tells me the nearest node of my DiGi coverage as you can see on the dot on the screenshot below:

 

The star is my favourite places where I used to hang out. It can also be used to estimate the distance of location where I intend to go and show me the route to go there. This is the best application I always run whenever I am hitting the road. If you noticed on the screenshot, I am using a Pocket Controller software. This way, whenever my HTC Touch is connected to my laptop, I don't have to tap the device using my hands anymore. It can work with my mouse and keyboard. Simply genius..

I guess I am becoming more of into gadget junkies with so many electronics I have on my hands. Got to keep on getting more and more resources to fuel my hunger of information technology.

October 2008 Blues

For some odd reason, my Streamyx internet connection is really-really slow. I have no idea why and I don't think I want to know. I have alternative internet connection I can use but I only use that if it is really necessary. There are 2 applications I use when I want to write something on my blog. One is my Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 and the other is my Google Picasa photo manager. If I don't fire up these two applications, there will be no new blog post. It's just so easy to get distracted nowadays with so many stuff you can do online.

The other thing is, my office has blocked me from even accessing my own blog. Of course for those Blogspot blog owners share the same fate as I am as well. I guess the boss doesn't want his staff to be blogging at work or maybe because accessing blogs is consuming too much internet bandwitdh that it caused a clog in the internet access at my office. Either way, I've already bought myself another new internet connection for me. It's just that I now need to perform on something to perform own ($$$).

My Picasa Application in Action 

Job wise, one of my first task when I entered my current company was to help produce a proposal to win a project at a local university. I'm just so happy that after the hard work of preparing all those documents, we finally have been awarded the contract. My job for that one is done and now I need to move on to acquire other accounts to sustain the company's operation or else those new and existing colleague of mine would be out of jobs.

I'll be updating my blog with my latest gadget that I've been fiddling around. I'm also experimenting something that I've been always wanted to have which I finally got my hand to recently. It's just so much fun getting stuff that you've always wanted.

Selamat Hari Raya 2008

It's Hari Raya 2008 today. It is also raining outside of my bedroom window. Oh well, this year I only got 2 physical Hari Raya cards. 3 or 4 years ago, I can get almost 10 - 15 physical Hari Raya cards. It seems like people are now resorting to just using SMS. I've already got almost 10 Hari Raya SMS wishes and I think by the first day of Hari Raya ends, I'll get a couple of more SMSes. I haven't send any replies nor send out Hari Raya SMSes simply because I'm waiting for the time where I'll get off my laptop and get bored while waiting to get home later on, then I'll start SMSing.

Similar to last year Hari Raya, I still went to work eventhough there were only 6 people left at my office. I was the only person who had worked on the day before Hari Raya last year and repeating it again this year. The others are all the personnel who joined the company after me. I didn't do much work at the office since a lot of people had already started their holiday. Luckily the boss gave a half day leave so guess what, I saved one day of my annual leave yesterday. Of course I had to take a leave on Friday so that I can enjoy a 5 days of Hari Raya holiday.

Anyway, here's my Hari Raya digital card for this year's Hari Raya 2008 to all my blog readers:

 

Have a nice holiday!