I'm Still a Bachelor, Too

It is not uncommon for my co-worker and I to spend hours past the normal work hours in office. Other than doing work related stuffs due to closing date lines, staying in the office for a few hours more is also a good time-killing... compared to the time wasted in the car, while "surfing" the traffic jam. Everybody else is going back almost sharp on time, thus, creating surge in traffic on the main street.

After a while, yesterday, after 8pm to be exact, one of my co-worker and I decided that it was time to go home. Since both of us the last person in the office, it would be our responsibility to lock the office.

There is nothing special with locking the office activities. However, I found that the conversation with my co-worker, a man that is about my age, open my mind about other culture.

Before we continue, let me tell you that he is a Chinese (and I am a Malay). He is married a few months ago. Actually he studied in the same university with me, sometimes back.

He asked me, whether I cook at home for dinner. Oohh man, I am still not married, yet. I just rent a room in a double-storey terrace house. Yes... I do have a kitchen room in the house I live. However, there is no cooking facility or what so ever. The best that we have is just a kettle, bread baker, and a non-functional fridge (I guess it is just for decoration hurmmm...)

So, I asked him back, how about him. Since he already get married, he told me that he eat outside too. I wonder why he and his wife decided to eat outside. Normally, a lady will go back hom much more earlier, and naturally, a lady will cook for her husband.

What he told me next, was truly shocking!

"Nordin, I'm still a bachelor, too!"

"Excuse me," I was confused, obviously.

He told me that he and his wife is only legally married. They are still not perform the wedding ceremony according to Chinese tradition yet. They just register their wedding with the authority a few months back.

He also told me that they are living separately. He also told me, it is not so uncommon for them (Chinese communities) for marrying legally, and then wait for a few years for the actual wedding tradition ceremony. Also... it is also not weird to go for honeymoon years after the ceremony.

Well, I live more than a quarter of a century already, and I guess, there still much more that I don't know about things surrounding me. Well, thinking about him, to be married, but still... "I'm still a bachelor, too." ;-)

Nice Lady

I switched on my hand phone today after turning it off for the weekend, and found there are calls from two callers whom are extremely rare to make phone call to me.

They are my mother and my eldest sister. Both of them are in Kuala Terengganu. I admit that I rarely communicate with my eldest sister due to very large age gap. My mother rarely calls me because I am the one who regularly calls here. However, having phone calls from both of them during the weekend, of which, both fail to reach me, frightened me, if you know what I mean: someone is sick/dead or anything bad.

Then, I return the phone calls. My eldest sister was asking about the university I was studying in - UTP. Her son will be having two days interview session in UTP next week.

I called my mother, and it was about my youngest sister in UM, well, something to do about picking up her stuffs to clear the her college room while in long study vacation.

Huhh..

Then my mother asked me, how about any lady influencing me in my personal love life. Urr....

Okay, we stop that for a while. Last week, I had been told by a close lady friend of mine - she is engaged now! Wow, it is quite normal for me to have as a friend listening about her relationship with her boyfriend (now fiancé). Sometimes she was happy with him, but most of the time (when she contacted me), she was not. But now, they are closer to the ultimate destination of their relationship. Anyway, good luck to her. ;-)

Err... how about me? How should I answer my mother? Any one out there with the name "Nice Lady"?

Sleep Depth or Sleep Tight?

It is now nearly ten o'clock. For some, it is too early. And for some, it is late already. I remembered when I was in my early teenage years, I would fall asleep by 9:30pm. However, I could not have slept at that time because I was in a boarding school, where I was required to stay awake in a preparation class until 10:30pm. I remembered that time, after supper (after the class), I could run to my bed and have the fly effect as I jump onto my bed. The next thing that I know, it is morning, again. Well, those are good old days.

Now, sleeping is not that easy anymore. Waking early also another challenging task also. Then, I realize that this is a problem. Perhaps, I need to learn how to sleep... perhaps.

As a person who spend most of the time in front of a computer (I am a Consultant/Software Engineer), I google stuff that I want to know. Then, I found an ebook called "How to sleep less and Have More Energy Than You Ever Had." I finished scan reading it just now, and the content makes sense to me. Well, I don't think I will bore you with all the detail to you. But, maybe I could list down a few steps those I could execute personally in order to have good sleep, which translate better day, and which in turn translates to better life (career and personal relationship).

1. Get out and get more sun light.
2. Move my body more (eg. walking or exercising) during the day.
3. Drink lots of water.

There are more things to be done, according to the book. However, these three steps are very important and overly emphasized by the ebook author.

No harm by trying, right?

KE30

It has been a while since I own my current car: Toyota KE30. Today is the day I need to renew the road registration for the second time.

Previously, the renewal process is done via my relative back at home (Terengganu) since the car was bought there. I drove it to Klang Valley then.

I know that it is a very old car but it function wells and I don't think its 'troublesome' really bother me. I was thinking to sell it but got discouraged due to the fact that it is only sellable for next to nothing (according to 2nd car dealer). So, I think, it will stay with me for some time, although I am also eyeing for brand new car too.

So, the first thing I did is to drive to a mini post office situated at Giant USJ. Today is the 2nd Saturday of the month and the office is still open for today. I did not need to queue long. I passed the car registration certificate. Then I notice the year of the car make. It is 1978.

Obviously, this car is older than me. Now... think about it.

Journey to Home Sweet Home - Deluxe

After spending longly hours at the airport, it was near 6am. Thus, I quickly spent my time to perform Subuh prayer. I checked to baggage counter after that. However, the counter guy suggested to me that I would not need to check in my bags. I only bring one laptop in a case, and a traveler's bag. I could bring those stuffs into the aircraft.

So then, I checked in to passengers' waiting area. Wow... it was a very long but quick queue. I was asked to empty my pocket and all handphone and purse (along with all other bags) were needed to get through the scanner. At this time I remember stories about one asked another person to carry another's bag (which contain illegal stuffs) and caused the person get jailed. I think, it is just a matter of not so complicated social engineering skills to persuade others to carry one's bag for him/her. Thus, I think, we must be educated repeatedly, just like we teach children to not speak to strangers: so guys, do not bother to care about stranger's bag when we check in into passenger inspection counter.

While waiting for permission to get through departing gate, I kill time by using my laptop again. That time, I posted the first part of the post Journey to Home Sweet Home. Nice... felt like other guys whom surfing the Internet while travelling. My geeky mind told me, it's cool.

I nervously (but also in excitement) climbed the plane stairs. I am not sure why, I subconsciously chose the seat which is the nearest to the emergency door. I did not dare to speculate why at the time. Just before the plane took off, the cabin crews we quickly conducting briefing session about safety procedure, should the disaster happens. Honestly guys, it was so quick. In fact, it is too quick, for me the first timer to fly. It's good for me to have self esteem saying that I am a smart person, however, I do not think I can really understand what the cabin crews were saying although I understand the words. Ironic, huhh?

Suddenly, I realized that the plane was moving backwards. I did not think that a plane have a reverse gear, he he. I asked the person next to me. He told me that a vehicle specializing for the job is pulling the plane. Then, the plane move forward and positioned itself for ascending to the air. The guy next to me told me to be prepared for the inertia force caused by the plane ascending movement. I though he was kidding.

I was shocked, the inertia force was strongly felt when the plane suddenly and quickly move forward to ascend to the sky. Wow... I remembered the film casted by Michael J Fox, titled "Back to the Future". Go faster... faster... and warped to the future! I smiled... and laughed myself for having such thought at the moment.

At first, while the plane is turning, I could see the ground. From the air, I could see the Putrajaya landscape. It is very beautiful. Then, flight ascended through the cloud. While in the cloud, the plane was shaking. I was caught nervous. But then, after a while, it became stable. We were above the clouds.

That time, I was amazed again. It was so beautiful to see at the clouds below. It was like I were in Antartica/Artic. They (clouds) looked like ice and snow. I could imagine that I could find an igloo there. However, the Sun was very bright. I was afraid to the radiation of the Sun ray at that altitude might harm me. So, I hided behind the window.

After a while, I though I heard something. Two cabin crews were pushing trolleys asking passengers if they want snacks and drinks. I wanted one, but they already passed my seat. Again, I felt like they were not seriously asking, because it is hard to notice their slow voice and the trolley was pushed quickly. Perhaps I could have better experience with premium airlines. I thought maybe I could wait for another turn. So, while waiting for the next turn, I though of sleeping.

I do not think that a minute passed, when the cabin captain announced that we were going to prepare for landing. Ohh man... I missed my snack/drink in flight.

I waited for the landing. However, I felt like the announcement was so premature. I think it was about more than 10 minutes before we really see the destination city. It took very long to circle around and to finally descend.

Since the took off caused chill to me, so, I thought that the landing was more fearsome. However, I was wrong, and thanks to the pilot for landing very smooth. The plane touched the land and quickly braked. I do not really understand the mechanism of the braking system but I surely appreciate any simple explanation here. Was it really different compared to land vehicles?

Since I did not check in my baggage via baggage counter, I was among the very few first guy who exit through arrival gate. Thanks to my younger brother for waiting me at the airport. While walking out the airport, I was surprised because there are so many people in the airport with Batik outfit and Malay traditional outfit. There are armies and police outsides too. I wonder what happen.

Actually, our beloved Yang Dipertuan Agung Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and his highness' queen were scheduled to be arrived at the airport some time later that morning. I am very thankful that my younger brother came early. Otherwise, it could be very difficult to get out the street traffic that became heavier.

Waa... I was in Kuala Terengganu... my home town, and this is the story of my journey to home, my sweet home. ;-)