DIFFERENT SET OF LIFE

Ola,

Wow, it been 5 years since my last post. How time flies by.

Well, a quick update on my well-being.

Personal life. Am married now to TWOz, magic does happen right? Had 1 charming, bubbly, cheeky son and the 2nd one is still in the oven. I'm tied with work at the southern tip of Malaysia and both of them are based in northern pit of Malaysia. Am officially a true weekend husband.

Pity my son as he always wanted me to be with him but I always explained to him that I need to work for our family. Every time when I reach the airport, he always asks "Why do I need to go?" and he himself will answer that Ayah need to work for my food, TOYS, books and etc. Ayah will come back soon. A harrowing scene for me but I need to toughen up myself. Each week good-bye is not an easy task for anyone. Long distance relationship are not for everyone.

Work-wise, I've done well in climbing up the corporate ladder. Too well I guess, Alhamdulillah. Got the promotion and recognition that I wanted but with it, comes the big responsibility and expectation. I'm required to be based in project site to setup and develop new organization. Exciting and adventurous time. I'm sacrificing my personal and family time to create a path for my career. So far I yet to have any regret.

Health? Still good, still active but not at the past level. Too tied with work. I know, I know it is a lame excuse but it is true. I basically devoted myself to my travel between North-South and work. Gained quite a number of KGs due to un-monitored diet and no constant exercise. Will pull myself back to the gym or basketball or swimming. I will drag myself if I have too.

Well, I guess I just need a channel to vent or distract my mind from my work. Work is never-ending and I just need distract myself a bit to ensure that I stay true to myself. Once you climb too fast in the corporate world, you lose a bit of your soul there. A bit of management drama, employee demand, corporate thinking, the employer-centric thinking. All the non-exhaustive lists of soul selling for the big bucks and it does sap you out of your energy.

Writing is good too. It drive me to think different, coming up with a simple content and expanding it, the editing that force me to put myself in the reader's shoes so I understand how suck my writing is. I just need to stay creative, to stay true to the traits that prompt me to the level where I am now.

Hopefully this rejuvenation thingy will work. Well, it probably just because I'm an aging man. Fuck it..

Till next time.

Sibu Island Trip

Ola,

Just got back from a trip from Sibu Island. For those who didn't know, the island is located around 20 minutes boat trip away from Tanjung Leman, Mersing, Johor. It is a part of a proposed development of Mersing, the recent hu-ha about the billion dollar development.

The view from Tanjung Leman Jetty

The place sucks. Big sucks. Food is an average level. Basically zero participation or greeting from resorts owner. No visible coral nor fish at the beaches.. Only 1 island trip and the worst thing is they kept the best island as a business island, not a package island. Maknanya kalau nak pergi ke pulau yang cantik. kita kena bayar extra untuk boat dan trip. Sigh..

However the companionship during the trip is awesome. I had a great time laughing off at everything during the trip. The group that I joined is a great group, consists of people who loves outgoing activities and laughing at each other. Awesome!!

The beach view facing Pulau Tinggi

Aku rasa yang Johor-Mersing Development adalah satu pembangunan yang sukar nak dicapai. Untuk mengubah corak kehidupan, menjaga alam sekitar/laut, mendidik penduduk setempat, menetapkan kawasan larangan di laut adalah amat sukar. This is further exploited by the lack of supervision/monitoring from the related parties. Nak buat pelan memang senang tapi nak menjayakannya memang azab. It is a good initiative but good luck to you guys in Johor/Development team.

The additional jetty view

Sigh.. I need another holiday. Probably Australia/New Zealand & Perhentian in June.

Wanna join?

Yours truly

Hehe..

Cao..

A Social Experiment

Ola,

Hi there! Good day to you!! I'm Thoyol, a sworn non returning bad writer whom making a comeback due to boring, no channel to vent out anger, sharpening my writing skills, just a reason to fill in my midnite oil burning session and etc. Still don't know me? Heh, tak rugi pun.

Sigh..

How you doing? Sihat?

My status? Still single and available. Waiting for my TWOz (The Witch of OZ, for those who didn't know) to return from her Aussie-land. Yup, we are still together for a total of 1 year and 3 months. A true long distance relationship fueled by WhatsApp, Viber, call, SMS and Skype sessions. Digi Unlimited Internet Plan is a true blessing in long distance relationship.

Is it tough? Fuck yeah!! The toughest relationship experience so far. I keep resisting myself from flying off to Aussie on monthly basis. Kept reminding myself that I should rationalize my spending and being so distant is only adding some flavour in the relationship. Kept justifying to myself that the trip there is an unneeded thingy. I got to be bold and strong. Sigh..

Work? I'm still in recruitment line. Still love what I'm doing for the past 5 years. Being able to be an advisor to the management, a negotiator for the candidates, the helper for jobseeker, the ill-bringer to those who are unsuccessful, the evaluator for those who applying and the manager in managing expectation. I loved and still love the variety of challenges faced while dealing with people. People is the biggest headache in any organization and currently I'm the frontliner in managing with people. The routine is tedious, the process is similar everywhere but the challenge is varying everyday. What else can you ask for a work other than a non stagnant role? I'm doing a different same thing everyday. Nice eh?

So far I managed to stay with this company for 1 year and 4 months. Still enjoying the challenges, the environment, still learning the tricks and trades here and there, still absorbing as much as I can. I still see myself being around for another 2 years. So many things to be done and I'm proud with my achievement so far in this company. Once there is nothing left, I will move on to something new. Being assigned back to a supervisory role is a good thing but it also making me a bit uncomfortable. I no longer evaluated as a solo performer but my team's performance will reflect on my performance. Plus, I don't think that I am a good manager. Too many time I heard people said that I'm too nice with people. Sigh..

Quote of the day : A good manager able to supervise his team and create a harmony working environment while a top performing manager able to achieve the team mission and objective regardless of his team's condition.

Do I willing to go down that path? Sigh again..

There you have it.

A portion of my update so far. Furthermore no holiday trip for the past 8 months making me a grumpy person. Being in 29 years old, when most of your friends are married does limit your activities and choice for holiday.

I should hang out at any universities lounge area from now on. Need to blend in with the younger people while influencing them to utilize their PTPTN money for a holiday with me. Heh..

Till then..

Cao..