New shoes....

I made a mistake by wearing a tight shoe when I came here. It simply because this shoe can fit all condition. Not too formal, not too sporty-type and not too 'serabai'-type of shoe. At first, it does not cause me any problem except for the little discomfort feeling. But then, here, I need to walk far to my office everyday and to make things worst, I can't wear slippers when I go 'jalan-jalan', cause the weather is quite cold now. I looked around for shoes before and started to estimate the price I need to spend. It was around Y8000~Y10,000 for a pair of shoes. It was quite expensive. After a few consultation and after consider my leg is for my whole life, why not I spend some of my allowance to buy one.

I went to Lazona Plaza once again, straight to a shop named 'Asbee'. There is an offer shoes that attracted me, the price was below Par. Around Y6000 at discounted price. I asked for more discount and the guy said he can give me 10% if I pay cash. I just took a pair of it and here it is.....

An adidas shoe, after discount of 10% and added 5% of government tax, it cost me Y5575 and I am really happy about it. :)
(Huh... Aku pakai kasut harga lima ribu lebih... Jgn jeles yerkk...~)


The next day, I went to office and my foot was totally happy about this new shoes. I can walk even faster and pain-free. On the way back, just beside the Yako station, there is a shop selling fruits. Noticed that I my lips are drying, I need some vitamin C to cure it. I bought some blackcurrant, cause it cost me more or less cheaper than in Malaysia (owh.. what a typical me... always comparing the price when buying something even for myself). This blackcurrant looks good and taste even better! It has been my habit since I came here, I took pictures of almost everything. I did have the same habit last time when I was studying in University, but the habit was gone ever since I started my career. I took more PCB pictures than any other things. Maybe the budget allocation for pictures 'given' already been fully utilized for my job?


Here, I'm in my hotel room with my DSC-T7. You can see my sleepy face. Sukareta-ne~.. Oh.. My stomach started to make noise... Dah lapar la pulak. Ok, that's all for today. I'm gonna have my dinner after this. See ya later... Oh ya.. forgot to tell something, for more pictures, you may visit my flickr.

Mata ne~

AKIHABARA Electric Town

Last Sunday I went to Akihabara. As suggested by Kak Liza of MPT Human resource exec, training and Japanese affair section (Kak Liza did thought me some basic Japanese language before a few days before I went here), also recommended by Abe-san, I made some effort to go to Akihabara alone. Without any experience on how to buy a ticket and with a very little Japanese language speaking ability, I just made it to Akihabara. I just can't believe myself.


Akihabara is the famous place as Electric town. It was just like Low Yat Plaza, but the difference is it was a city, not a plaza. When I first step my foot there, I saw many people dressing with all the anime suit, just like in MMU when they have some event on Anime organized by Emina Society.

I went to some shop to survey the products and the prices. I came and look at the new Sony DSC-T200 and DSC-T70. It was an upgrade version of T100 and T20. The obvious new features was the touch screen panel and the bigger size of LCD screen; 3.5". Price? Around Y52,000 and it was negotiable. It's around RM1,500. Not a bad deal... In Malaysia, DSC-T100 was about RM1699. I was attracted on Sony Digital Handycam with Hard-disk Drive. I don't memorized the model but it sure make my heart melt. It was on my 'To-Buy-List' but I don't think it was time to buy. Price is around Y100,000+.



The next part of the story was the most interesting to me. I went to a MUSIC VOX, a heaven for musical instruments. 6 floors full of music stuffs and 2 floor of studios. I found some rare stuff like Instructional DVD for guitar by some world talented guitarist. After looking around for a while, I finally found my dream guitar ~Steve Vai signature series : Ibanez JEM model. I looks exactly like Steve's guitar with DiMarzio Evolution pick up. They even played the Steve Vai G3 Concert: Live in Tokyo at their display TV.


Can someone please lend me about Y220,000 to buy this guitar pleasee....



Next stop was the Shosen Book Tower. I seriously don't know how many floor it is but I keep on going up to the top level possible. From this whole tower, I failed to find an English book, except for the learning purpose e.g. 'English For Business' and 'English for Communication'.

I had a lunch at McDonalds. I took a french Fries and McFlurry which I was really confident on both products. (Others such as McPork... sounds... yikeee... )It cost me about Y540 = RM16.20. (I can get 2 value meal in Malaysia with the same amount that I paid). I noticed here they don't use the 99c on their price. All are even numbers.



I continue my journey to Ueno. Kak Liza said Ueno is one of the best place for shopping. There is a bunch of shops but to be honest, I am not in my shopping mood. I just look around comparing the prices and enjoy the trip. At one place, I notice there's somekind of monument on top of the hill. I straightly went there and found it was like a garden and so many nice things around there. It was like Taman Tasik Perdana or something like that. I took alot of pictures around here.



While Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii was selling all around, I noticed a shop displaying some 'micro-genius' type of game with a Super Mario Bros on it. And some people are actually testing on the game. I just don't understand. I did know something about 'Hentai' stuff during my study period in MMU, and suprisingly, here hentai are sold everywhere. Alot of comics and DVDs shops did sell this 'Hentai' stuff and of course for 18+ only.



I walk back to Akihabara on a different path with a different view. I saw a Crepe Deli, I don't even know what is a Crepe actually, but as suggested by Kak Liza, I just bought 1 of it. Nice taste but alot of creme make me feel 'muak'. However I manage to finish it after I took out some of the cream.

It's time to go back. I had been 'pau'ed by a stranger at the JR Line train station! I was at the ticket machine with full of confidence before a man who suddenly come to me and said "Hey.. Do you speak english..." I said "yea..", He tried to assist me on buying ticket and I really smells something fishy. He do all the pressing and shows me the map to Kawasaki. Then I put on Y1000 note for a Y380 ticket and the balance was Y500, Y100 and 2 pieces of Y10. Faster than lightning, his hand grabbed the Y500 and said can I have this, I really need it. I said Hell NO!!! Y500 is RM15, even the zakat fitrah also worth less than that!~ "Damek!" Then he return the Y500 and took the Y100 and asked me "is this OK?", after think for a few nano-second I said, "OK!" He said "Good work!" and left me.

I went back to Kawasaki and had sushi for my dinner, before I went back to my hotel room.

Kawasaki Day Out... (Lazona Plaza)

Today is Sunday, actually I just came back from Akihabara. But I prefer to wrote something about my journey to Kawasaki town yesterday (Saturday). Maybe tomorrow I will drop some words on Akihabara.

Everyday I go to work using JR Railway From Kawasaki station to Yako station. But it was go to work and return to hotel without going anywhere. But yesterday was off-day, so, I decided to have a look on Kawasaki town, as Abe-san suggested to go to Lazona Plaza. There's a music store on 4th floor.. Sou-desuka? I tell him I will go and have a look. Abe-san knows I play the guitar, but I am not sure from where actually he knows about that. So, my first mission was to fine the music store. It was Shimamura Music. There's a few guitars over there and the price is quite reasonable, i.e. not too expensive one.

Then I look around on other places. There was a place of Japanese superheroes, you know, all those Ultraman, Dragon Ball, Kamen Rider etc etc. It surely reminds me of my old memories, how I was very fanatic on those superheroes. But one thing come out on my mind... Is people still watch the Ultraman and ultraman Taro??? Isn't it outdated?? I thought they have all new superheroes such as Naruto and stuff. Maybe they not yet established as what Ultraman had achieved. Or maybe their parents are actually buys all those items, just to remember their good old moment?

Lazona Plaza is half open air and half is covered building. The view is very nice. They event plant some plants and trees on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor. There's even some garden where people can play football or main kejar-kejar in fact, there were some kids playing the kejar-kejar. And there were couples dating, sitting around the garden, spending some quality moments together. Also there is some kind of place complete with a pintu gerbang, maybe for praying purpose?? I am totally not sure about this, but I just took some picture on it cause it looks nice!!

And because I travel alone, I decided to took a picture of myself (asyik amek gambar org je, gambar sendiri pun nak gak!)

It was already 9pm. Some shops closed at this time. I wonder why they close so early. I noticed that some of the shops using melody of "Berjumpa dan berpisah adat manusia biasa, hilang dimata tapi di hati jangan lupa" errmm... I don't know what was the name of this song in English, ala yang Mr. Bean nyanyi when he celebrated new year in one of his episode. Or "Mohon restu pada tuhan, semoga berkekalan... " in one of the P. Ramlee episode ('Gerimis' if I not mistaken). Ok... I have gone too far.. So, the point is, they use that melody to halau all the people politely from their shops.

Then I decided to walk around Kawasaki town just to look around. Japan town mostly are full with colourful lights, which is nice. I bought some bread with 6 slices, which cost me about Y178 ~ RM5.34. I went back to hotel and took my dinner with that bread and a can of sardine.

Udon Soba

Here is the view of Pioneer Kawasaki Plant I took during my way to hotel. Kinda nice view, but morning is nicer. Here in Kawasaki, they are using very high technology, but in MPT (Malaysia Pioneer Tech.) the technology was hampeh. At least at Cubic (my previous company) they are using 'touch-and-go' system to scan-in and entering some section or room. But here in MPT, scan-in and out using bar code system.

Today I ate some fish with rice for my lunch. Before this I took udon and soba. Udon wa Soba is the name of Japanese noodle. Udon is a little bit thick while Soba a little bit thin. Japanese don't use any manual cashier to calculate the meal. All of plate or bowl or even a glass have a chip which already been stored with a value. At Pioneer cafeteria, we just put the tray at the machine, then automatically the screen will calculate the amount we ate, and we pay using card which we have to top-up earlier (prepaid system). But when I think back, Japanese are very honest people. No matter how advance the technologies are, if honesty does not exist, everything will be difficult. I think if they implement the same system in MPT, maybe many of the workers will 'makan free' for their lunch.

Food here are expensive. Imagine RM3 for a can of coca-cola. A meal will cost around RM15, while in MPT I spend only RM1.50 (nasik free kat MPT), 10% of the amount I spend here. But if I to calculate every single cent, then I wil become thinner and thinner. So, first rule, do not convert Japanese yen to RM. 1 coin of 500Y is equivalent to RM15. Imagine you are carrying a coin worth RM15. In Malaysia, most people just simple throw away all the coins cost the biggest amount is 50c.

Hotel room here is not as big as Malaysian hotel. Not even close to cheap hotel in Malaysia, but the facilities are great. There is a network cable to connect to the internet, sink and a kitchen (as in the picture) all in a small space of room. But amazingly, it is very comfortable here. I can cook, eat and enjoy the internet (even sometimes the connection intermittent, and sometimes download rate can reached 90kBps). Television all in Japanese and I can't even understand a single word except for the very basic one. However, so far I enjoy my trip here. It won't cause any trouble for me even if they asked me to continue this training for another year. People here are very warm and kind, and I bet you too will enjoy living in a country like this.

RM960M to be invest in Malaysia

3 Companies from U.S. and India will invest in Bio-Tech industries in Malaysia. Wow... From this we can see some positive impact on government policies to introduce industries based on agriculture. At first many did not agree with this policy. Some people (including me) saying that if we produce 1 IC, we can sell up to hundred or thousand of ringgit. But by agriculture, 1 can of nenas or 1 kg of durian may be sell less than RM5. But there is more positive points on this agri-culture base. Here I list out some of them:

1. Not every country can produce. Our land is very lucky and we can plant through-out the years without worry for the season change.

2. By planting more, we can control on market price. Thus, will reduce inflation rate.

3. Foods are essentials. As IC and all those entertainment we don't really need it. We only buy them if we have some excess of cash.

4. Global warming! We can fight them by reducing the carbon diokside which produce from those plants during photosintesis. We can breath the fresh air.

5. It makes us care on the earth. If we plant, it shows we care with our earth.

6. Less pollution will produce. If happened lazy people throw all those kulit rambutan, it wont cause any problem since all of them are bio-degradable. No RoHS compliance needed. No lead, no mercury, no cadmium!

7. Everyone can do it as long as they have the courage and will. No need degree or master. (Unless you want to be in the RnD, you might need some basic knowledge or qualifications).

8. This job can contribute to better health also better wealth.

In addition, people who are serious into this business will end-up as multi-millionaire. Why I said so? Of course there are stories of all success people around. I took some kerepek from one guy who are actually an ex-soldier then he became guard at UiTM. Now, his business earn about RM100k per month. A young guy in goat industries earn RM50k per month. There's also a man who plant banana in 20 acres of land end up to be a millionaire. Imagine if you become a manager of a company earn RM5k a month, they earn 10 times than your monthly income. Think about it. Think and grow rich...

In conclusion, old folks said "Berbudi pada tanah akan dapat hasilnya" (I am not sure this sentence is correct, but more-or-less gitu la bunyik dia). Let's plan for a better future.

Chicken Price Going Up

It has been an issue when the chicken price gone up higher than silling price. All news paper also news in TV were talking on this issue. An some of the pissed-off malays wrote up on the newspaper saying that they all purposely raise up the price, and the same case never happened when chinese new year.

If we think back, who's fault is it when the price raise high?? Should we just blame other parties (especially the suppliers) without point any of the fingers to ourselves??? Why I point up this issue was, sometimes we didn't see what our people are doing and always blame others. If we see, everytime of Ramadhan, there will be PARAM (or Pasar Ramadhan) everywhere around the country. What did they sell on that Param if not chicken as their main sources. Most of the Param will have Nasi ayam, nasi tomato, ayam percik, ayam golek, kebab etc etc. Only few will be based on beef, mutton or fish. Then what will happened if orders is too high for all these? Of course when demand is high while supply remains the same will cause the price raise up. This is simple economics.

So, should we blame all those people first or shall we blame our people? Maybe other people got other opinions but for me, we try to look at our side first, before we blame other people.

My name is Bond

Today I came early to office. Usually, I will be around just 2~3 minutes before the bell rang. But, ever since I started my new business, (which I done it before when I was studying, together with my beloved friend) that was selling the kerepek, I managed to came early. The main reason is, I might feel better if I could sneak in all those kerepek without many people are actually seeing it. Then, starting Ramadhan, I have to wake-up as early as 5am, than it is easier for me to go early to my work place, and I am feeling very comfortable about it. I don't have to press my paddle very hard, which will lead to fuel waste. I don't have to worry to be caught in the red traffic light. I don't have to 'celah-celah' while driving with those tortoises at the road. And I have some time to search around the internet, reading news papers and of course, writing this blog. :)

As my above title, I mentioned about bond, I already signed an agreement of company's training bond, I will be bonded for 3 years as my expenses for this training was more than RM21k. All together the expenses was estimated to be around RM40k or more than a million yen. If I claim for an advance cash, I can be entitled as a millionaire. An instant millionaire (in Yen).

I will be bonded for 3 years. It means I have a long 3 more years in this Pioneer Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd. and another 3 more years in this beutiful city of Muar. gaahh...~ Well, for everything to happened, there is a price to pay. And this is the price I must pay. Either I choose to stay here for another 3 years, or I just pay up all those expenses. Anyhow, 3 years is not a very long period. Interms of investment, 3 years is consider as medium-term. 5 years only consider as long-term. So, why worry if I am only bonded for a medium-term period?

Guitar World

Sometime when I saw some fren of mine holding a guitar, putting the picture at YM, it takes me back to the moment when I was a student. I was addicted to guitar at that time. I did the same thing, put my potrait with guitar, put it at my display image, and proud of it.
Now, actually I still like playing it, but the mood and feel are different. My commitment also reduce. I used to play for as long as 5 ~ 6 hours sometime, especially when I learn on new stuff. It is a relief when I can hear myself soloing with a speed type of solo, and it works especially to release some tense during exam as well as boring time. By this tool also, I made alot of friends among all the musicians. It was a great experience.
As time passed by, I am no longer a good guitar player. I play once a week or maybe a month. I still jamming with some fellow friends. We jammed some old stuffs with my factory-mate. We played Deep Purple, Metallica, Lefthanded, Sweet Charity so on and so on. I did not play many malay songs, so I have to study. The problem is I don't have time to study new songs, and if I did have, I might not have the mood to play. I only practice a day before or a few hours before each jamm session.
Other than my kilang-mate, I did play for a band which is local Muarean band. We play for some functions which is most of the time focused on 'Orang Kahwin' events. I did played for few functions and I did enjoy it. We play old malay songs, "60-an", joget, dangdut, old school rocks and some radio friendly malay songs. Imagine I have to play 40 songs in a function and the first time it was 3 days notice before. And the best thing was, most of the songs I did not know and many of them I never heard of it. Well, sessah jek la... I did play well event though got fucked-up at many points especially riff and solo part. It was a great experience. Imagine, a situation when you are playing "60-an" and suddenly one old man requested for a song "Seruling Anak Gembala". Then my face turn blue but I keep on playing and the song was success (and the riff was totally out). Maybe last time I played most of orang putih songs and never concentrate on this malay songs. I must now start to learn these songs.