The Indonesia Open ended spectacularly. Malaysia had 2 representatives who were in the Finals, in the Men's Singles - Lee Chong Wei and also the Men's Doubles - Mohd Zakry---Mohd Fairuzizuan (surprise! surprise!). As you may know by now, Lee Chong Wei walked away with USD20,000 as well as the Indonesia Open's Men's Singles title, beating China's No.2 world ranking player, Bao.



Our Men's Doubles were not champions in their category, but they still walked away with USD10,000 after they were beaten by China's World No.1 ranking pair, Fu and Cai. This Chinese pair has beaten 3 of Malaysian's men's doubles players, LeeWW-ChongTF , KooKK-TanBH and of course, also the second runner up, Zakry-Fairuz.

It has been a wonderful and enjoyable week. A new experience altogether. My first time to Indonesia.

Well, this will be my last night logging on from Le Meridien, Jakarta. I have yet to take interesting photos of myself and the city just yet, hope that I can cram some shots tomorrow before I leave for the airport. Most of my photos are of the badminton players as well as the games at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno stadium.

Sigh, my regret was that I did not have the proper time to go sightseeing as well as to do some local shopping. If I ever do get souvenirs, please note that it has all been bought on my last day in Jakarta, either someplace before I leave for the airport, or at the airport itself. If there's no souvenirs for you, then sorry... I did not have the time to get any ler... Maybe next time...

OK. Scoot. I need to pack. How I'm going to keep my luggage below the weight limit allowed will be a miracle!

So, hope to see some of you back home soon!

Hey there... logging on from my Le Meridien hotel room in Jakarta!

Left KLIA last Friday for Jakarta to prepare for a cocktail event in conjunction for the upcoming Indonesia Open. Pretty successful! You know, this is my very FIRST time that I get to go down the escalator and go through the customs in KLIA??? Dem sad right! Usually I send people off to catch their flight. This time it was ME! Woohoo! Congratulations to me!

I was told at the last minute that I have to go to Jakarta with another 3 of my colleagues to prepare for the event and be involved with the Indonesia Open after that. Initially I was not going you see. So, with me no passport, rushed like mad woman to go make my passport. The weekend before that, was accompanying the badminton players on a convoy while they were on their way down to Singapore for the Singapore Open. Didn't go into Singapore tho... just till Johor Bahru. That was Sunday. Monday only travelled back to the office. Reached in the afternoon and after that rushed myself to the Immigration Office in Shah Alam to make passport. DEMMIT! After lining up in the hot stuffy and smelly corridor, was told inside later that the Q number are all out! I was like FUMING at that time. Plus was tired and the immigration officer there who told me to come back on Thursday morning to Q all over again WAS NOT helping my frustration! Tuesday and Wednesday was a public holiday for Labour's Day and Wesak Day which was why I was told to come back on Thursday.

So called up my colleague to vent out my frustrations and she told me to go to Damansara Heights office to do my passport. It was like 3pm at that time so I was thinking... what the heck! Just go lar (even tho I was not sure of the roads and exact location). While was driving there, my colleague called again and told me that there's an Immigration office in Terminal 2 Subang Airport so I quickly headed there. Lined up and got into the line. When my turn came, the officer took my application and stamped something on my paper. Then I was told the numbers are also all out but the action of the office to stamp my form with Thursday date kinda cooled my fumes (he said to book Thursday slot - which I later felt did not make a difference coz I still need to line-up on Thursday right) - but then, at least I felt a bit more consoled. Whatever la har... all is over and done with. I will not need to deal with Immigration for another 5 years! Woohoo! Oh, and did I forgot to mention that the RM300 fee for passport was paid by company! Double Woohoo for ME! Hehehe... Oh, and guess who I met there? My primary school teacher's hubby (who recognised my mum - who followed me to renew her passport) - talk about a small world right!

Anyway, here I am going into my 6th day in Jakarta. Did not move around much yet because of work, but I hope to do some exploring the next few days. Scheduled to be back in Malaysia next Monday but will also depend on the badminton players. If none are in the finals, then we have to go back earlier. I hope at least ONE gets into the finals. Then I get to explore more of Jakarta! Hehehe...

Jakarta - what about the city? First of all, the roads are sooper-dooper jammed up! Worst that KL! God! And the drivers here are more ganas than KL drivers! I take back my statement that if you can drive in KL, you can drive anywhere! Now I am saying that - if you can drive in Jakarta, KL is like a piece of cake!!! Then you can see the many things people here can do to earn a few bucks. There is this rule here that on certain times, cars less than 3 people are not allowed to use the main highway to the city. So you can see people waiting just before the turning to hike and make the amount to total up to 3 people. They charge about Rp.5000 (about RM2) per ride one way and jumps off at the end of the highway. And so the cycle continues. Cigarettes are sold in many stalls set up on the sidewalks and also people carrying trays selling cigarettes. And people just sell pots and plants by the roadside! Dem cool man! Macam-macam la!

OK. My subscription time for internet is almost up soon. Need to wrap this up. Will update more soon (hopefully-lah) when I am here and also hope I can take more photos of the trip rather than work related. Hehehe...

Have fun people!

OK. I know I have been blardey lazy to blog recently. I have lots to talk about but if I am to start blogging - must have FULL concentration, then decide what photos to put up etc etc.

But even though I have not been blogging, I still go to my bookmarked blog list which I visit daily. Check out the screenshot of my bookmarked list, hehehe. It's all on RSS so I'll know who has been updating their blogs (thanks to Kenny who shared this bit of knowledge when I was reading one of his entries).



There are some new blogs I'm reading now. Adding to the long list I already have. Hehehe... just recently (like yesterday...) I started reading Nicole's blog (courtesy of Kenny again!) and have not stopped since (I'm reading my way backwards - helps a lot especially on a Friday! hehehe)... Oh just like about 5.15pm today, I have yet a new blog to read. Blogger is one of my colleague here. It's gonna be a busy blog reading weekend for me...

Anyway, here's a sketchy update of what I have been up to recently...

AT WORK
Just got myself a bit more involved that just the website. So now my world is over and beyond webbies only, even though it's still my main job function. I came back on Monday from Johor Bahru for the Asian Badminton Championship 2007. Besides making sure things are in order, promote the upcoming World Badminton Championship and having fun, that was basically just it. Hehehe... And it was fun. A new experience. Plus I get to sit in ALL the games (phew!)... from the quarter finals right up to the finals on Sunday.



Other than that, work is back as usual. The occasional updates I need to do on the webbie. The planning I think I should really start on for the new webbie. The paperwork I now must do because of my new involvement. The new things I will be learning up soon, when I get the chance... I'm beginning to enjoy my work, except for the occassional downtimes ler, which we normally get at times...

Right - Change topic!

MOVIES


I have not watched much movies recently. One was last month. I dragged Nick and Ing Ing to the cinema to watch "Mukhsin", the latest movie from Yasmin Ahmad. The original plan was to watch a "Mukhsin", but was later changed to a chinese movie (which I could not recall the name right now)... but then got back to watching "Mukhsin" coz even though the chinese movie was listed online, there was no ticket sales for that movie in the cinema (TGV's system kinda sux now). So back to the story. Dragged Nick and Ing Ing to watch "Mukhsin" and my guess is that they have enjoyed it kua... Whateverla, "Mukhsin" was a touching enough till I had tears in my eyes... (at some point lah, of course not the entire movie ler).



Just few days back watched "Jangan Pandang Belakang", a local horror movie directed by Ahmad Idham. The movie's main cast are Pierre Andre and Intan Ladyana. The movie was pretty convincing, and I admit that it was quite good, although there are parts which can be improved. Now mind you, I'm not a particular fan of horror movies but what the heck! I do go watch if the crowd is fine and the sien-ness is there. Hehehe... if you know me too well, I was watching the movie behind my shawl most of the time! Haha!

You know what? This makes like the 3rd Malay movie this year that I have watched. Topped all the Hollywood and Chinese movie (I have not watched a chinese movie in the cinema for a super duper long time liao)... The other movie, "Cinta" was also one of the best Malay movies I have seen.



Ahhh... too many interruptions while I'm writing all this down. My drawers came at last (Yippi!), Si Faiz ni tempting me with a trip to Semporna and Sipadan and Rainforest Music Festival (so wanna!)... and the occasional impromptu discussion with boss.

OKlah. It's a Friday! What the heck am I doing in the office sommore ler?