People From Around The World

Please don't judge this photo based on its act. I'm not gay. He might probably is. This is Andrew Chen, a Malaysian who works there. I would labelled him the "Site Work Machine". Why? Because he LOVES to go for site work. May it be tough site, dangerous site or site that nobody wants to go, he will DBKLy swept it all by volunteering himself. For his selfless act, everyone loves him. When everyone loves him, it probably explains his act in this photo. From the amount of overtime he got, I'm sure it is enough to cover his expenses in Malaysia for 5 years! A very good example of hardworking that reaps result. Next year, he will continue his study in PhD , fully sponsored under the recommendation by the director in Nottingham office. Who says Malaysia can't produce 10,000 odd PhD scholar by 2020? It's just a matter of where will the scholar be by that time?

This group photo is taken with the whole Hong Kong colleagues. Sitting from the right to left: Edmund, Peter, Kiki, Sam Luk and another guy which I've forgotten his name. The one beside Vincent is Alan from Malaysia. He's working part time in Scott Wilson towards the end when I was there. I really salute this guy because he has to work for his living there. He works part time at his university cafe during study and while working in Scott Wilson office. "Bei Lou" King!

Now this is one of the best and nicest guy I met during my tenure there. Meet Dr. Brendan Burns. He's the first person to deal with me when he checked my first ever report. A PhD holder. One of the few guys who do research on Geosand (he always charged me money when I ask him what's the secret inside Geosand). With me sitting behind him, I always bombard him with head cracking questions (I would prefer to say engineering discussion). Our discussion often leads to some improvements and even highlighted some of the weaknesses in the report writing procedure there. One day, I remember dishing out an example on why beer is not good for health (because I questioned him why European likes to drink beer). I used a pregnant lady as an example. You wouldn't ask a pregnant lady to drink beer right? So, what does that mean? Beer is not good for health. He countered me by pointing out that running is a type of exercise that is good for us right? But do you ask a pregnant lady to run? If no, then running is bad for health. I was dumbfounded for a while. He's playing this hypothesis theory with me. Now you can see how a doctorate student speaks. From North Ireland, yet he knows nothing about football.

Meet Syzmon Jarosiewisc. He's a Polish. A guy who knows his stuff. He's a good example of "when you know your stuff then you can can strut it". Another zany character who likes to tease with me. Sometimes he can be troublesome figure among the reviewers. Sort of rebel. He likes to cycle to office when his house is in the city! If you do that in Malaysia, you probably get yourself knocked off by cars before you even reach the junction.

This curly hair guy is Paul Clarke. Chinese staff used to call him Po Chai. He's the head of the reporting unit. He's the guy that make me see transformation of character because of work stress. When I first joined in, he was a likable figure. But due to pressure to deliver and some ragging (in one meeting he claimed his b*lls were kicked by the clients) from clients, he became another person in a short period. Cold reception. You might not believe it but it's true. Pressure in work certainly can change one's character. I do believe sometimes you have to be tough to gain respect. An avid supporter of Manchester United just like me. He hanged a Man United jersey on his place when United won the Champion's League.

Start with the two guys here. I think both are 6 ft tall. One sucker punch from them will probably land you in KO. The one on the left is Dave Miligan. A bit quiet when he joined in. So, seldom deal with him. The one on the right is Filip Mikoz. He's an interesting topic to talk about. First and foremost, he's a basketball and swimming coach. He's the one that prove to me you don't need an engineering degree to do engineering work. All you need is logical thinking. At one outing, Vincent was drunk and do some stupid act on Filip by poking his nipples. Gosh. Me, Tham and Jeff was praying that Filip didn't give Vincent a smackdown. The furthest right is Hannah Grimley. They claim she's the fastest person to be promoted to Assistant Engineer.

The funny clown faced on the left is Nathan Hart. The one on the far right is Magdalena Jarocka. Her initial is MJ. Sometimes, I teased her by asking where's your Spiderman boyfriend. Ironically, her boyfriend is not as small built like the one we saw in the movie. Yup, his boyfriend is Mr Filip Mikoz, the coach. When Mr Filip is around, she's probably the the safest woman around.

The lady down here is Marta Ortega. When I met her for the first time, I asked her this:

"Are you a relative of Ariel Ortega from Argentina?"

She replied no and that she's from Spain but knows who's Ariel Ortega is. She's the only lady who can talk football with me. With some knowledge on Spanish Primera Liga, our conversation never stop with each of us testing our knowledge on Spainish football. The guy besides him looks like his boyfriend but he's not. This guy name is Peter from Poland. Ironically, his girlfriend's name is Marta too! But it's Marta Kupiec. Just joined the company 2 months after me. He's part of the influx of Polish engineers in Scott Wilson office.

Now, meet Agustino Santamaria (left) and Luz Ramos (right). Judging from the name itself, I'm sure you know they are from Spain as well. Santamaria or Tino as we called him is the Assistant Engineer there. Quite funny. Doesn't talk much on football. The day when Spain was playing in the Euro 2008, I asked him how's your country performed in the semifinal. He told me he was watching Formula One' Lewis Hamilton instead. Luz will be getting married by the time we left the office.

This is Alasdair Spence. Cool, witty and one liner joke expert. He's one of the staff who I see as a capable and manage to work in a happy mood. When he checks and comments your report, you won't feel any bad feeling at all. This explained why he's such a likable figure there.

How Vincent's Friends Become My Friends

One of the fun part of working in UK is I get to know friends from around the region. Vincent's ex-classmates are all from different part of the Asean countries. But mostly are from China, Hong Kong and Thailand. For some simple description about his funny yet interesting friends, let us start with Tan (I don't know whether it is spelt out this way). He's a Thai. He's the guy that sits on the far right in the picture below. Qualification : Gonna be PhD holder (when I also don't know). For a student who can study in UK yet can drive Mercedes (sorry it should be own) and stay in a house all by himself you must be thinking he got some sort of relationship with Thaksin. But you are wrong. He dislikes Thaksin. He always claim that Manchester City belongs to Thai people (ok now it belongs to Dr Sulaiman). For someone who can tell us to invest hundred pounds on audio system which he claimed very worth it and cheap, I must say that I was only given 27.50 pound daily allowance to survive in UK le!

Next is Tan girlfriend (that little chubby girl besides him in the photo). Her name in Nan (I assumed is correctly spelt out again). I will always remember the way she mimic the bad language ("summons" in Hakka) she learnt from Vincent when he was playing poker in their house last time around.

Now, this guy down here is Jin Biao. Still remember the guy who builds his own house besides the river? He's from China. Nice humble guy yet can be very explosive sometimes with his neighbours. Now, judging by his physique, he's truly the civil engineer we are talking about. The  one besides him is Polly, his girlfriend. Also from China but migrated to UK early on. This Jin Biao is waiting for PR status. 

Now this lady below here is weird. Her name is Air (I assumed is air la). From Thailand also. Got her PhD recently. But I can assured you that she doesn't talk like one doctorate holder. 

Why? For someone who insist that Jeff looks like Robbie William and called him Robbie William repeatedly throughout the dinner.

Even Jeff also can believe himself.

I Went To The Course In Birmingham City!

As part o my training development, my company decided to send me to the training course in UK to experience some ang moh teaching. They have this so-called famous training center specially dedicated to provide training for staff in company. Some sort of outsourcing by big companies. This Thomas Telford Training Center is supposed to offer variety of engineering courses for the engineer there because the engineer needs to attend certain amount of professional development courses aka CPD hours back in Malaysia.

If you think I will be attending some sorts of engineering courses that you won't find in Malaysia then you are wrong. The title of my course is : Technical Report Writing! When I was told by Vincent that I will be attending this course in Birmingham with Alifa, I was like "WTH! Technical Report Writing! Not again! I had one whole subject in university teaching us how to write report!"

Since the company had coughed up the fees, I was like, well no harm attending this course. Furthermore, the tutor that day is supposed to be a very good speaker. He's so professional until he quit his engineering work and do freelance in giving people courses. His name is Stanley Daniels. This guy really knows how to do marketing. He even got his own website to showcase his capabilities.

The one day course finished at around 4PM. We were given the opportunity to loiter around the city dubbed the second largest in UK. I've asked Leo who worked in Birmingham previously, he told me the only attraction is the Bullring.

No, you won't see any bull fight or rodeo stuff. It's actually a shopping complex....... with a bull statue.

I found the exterior design of the building to be very interesting. It looks like an octopus tentacles rather than any sort of relationship with a cow!

It was a rainy day that day. Me and Alifah have to find shelters in post office since we haven't finished walking around the city. It won't turned dark until 8pm. Some more, we bought the flexible ticket which allowed us to take the train at anytime. So we walked around this city hall. Yup DBKL. This time around the design is more Sphinx I would say. Some Egyptian touch into it.

Look you can find Kuan Yin in UK. With holy light some more.

Caryn, even though you didn't see any pictures of me attending the course is because they don't allow me to take photo during the class. Anyway, I did manage to do the presentation once I came back to Malaysia office, right? To sum it up:

I Went To The Course In

Birmingham City!

Don't judge my blog from it's photos!

Amazing Race - London (King's Cross St Pancreas)

I thought the British Museum will be my last destination in London. Once I reached the King's Cross St Pancreas Station (I think the medical term "pancreas" might have some relationship here), Alifa was foraging around to look for this trolley. Upon reaching the location, I saw people around taking photo with this half trolley attached (or penetrate through) to the wall. Actually, King's Cross station features in the Harry Potter books, by J. K. Rowling, as the starting point of the Hogwarts Express. The train uses a secret platform 9¾ located by passing through the brick wall barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

Unfortunately, platforms 9 and 10 are in a separate building from the main station; also, rather than being adjacent so that a barrier could be between them, they are separated by two intervening tracks. That Rowling intended the location to be in the main part of the station, but forgotten the platform numbering. When the movies were filmed, the station scenes took place within the main station, with platforms 4 and 5 renumbered 9 and 10 (so you need to head to Platform 4 and 5 in REAL world to witness the exact location of the filming).

Within King's Cross, a cast-iron "Platform 9¾" sign has been erected on a wall of the station's suburban building containing the real platforms 9 and 10. Part of a luggage trolley has also been installed below the sign; whilst the near end is visible, the rest of the trolley seems to have disappeared into the wall.

So , this Harry Potter's virtual platform marks the end of my London trip.

19 different locations...

In 36 hours...

All around London...

Au Yong and Alifa...

You are seriously the official cheapskate Amazing Race London Edition winners!!!

Amazing Race - London (British Museum)

All the museums in UK are free. When it's free that does not mean that it's cheap stuff. Just that the government is not that stingy when it comes to education. The museum here is not something you see in our very own Muzium Negara.

It's more like science center to me. I was greeted by a gigantic dinosaur skeleton at the entrance. I hope the security job here is not something like the movie in "A Night In The Museum". If this giant lizard comes to life at night, I sure you'll quit the job the next day!

Now this is what we called sex education.

I'm sure the kids gonna loves it! The parents will have hell lots of tough questions after a visit here. For example:

Son: Daddy, what's that thing showing?

Daddy: Oh... That's is sticking a finger into your nostril. That means you shouldn't do it to yourself or to others ok?

Son: Wow.......

After one and a half hour here, I felt I was given a ride just like the one in the "Human Body" television series. No wonder the kids here love to come the museum.

If they were to see something like Hang Jebat, Hang Tuah, what is the past time in the old day, and what Indian and Chinese wear during the festival, I'm sure they will say something like this:

Son: Daddy, I have one request.

Daddy: Sure my boy. Just say it.

Son: Can we go now?

Amazing Race - London (Wellington Arch)

Within walking distance from the Harrods, lies the Wellington Arch. Wellington Arch is a landmark for Londoners as a grand outer entrance to Buckingham Palace. You can take a lift to the balconies just below the spectacular bronze sculpture which tops the imposing monument. The statue is the largest bronze sculpture in Europe, and depicts the angel of peace descending on the chariot of war. I can't believe inside the arch, it is actually a three floors exhibition hall telling its fascinating history, including its time as London's smallest police station!

Now, that's me and Ufa, Alifa's gang in London. Funny and easy going girl. Just like Alifa, she's very enthusiastic in showing me all the places in London, making sure that I took photos with my face behind every famous landmarks there.

The arch is located at the memorial park for the soldiers who died during war.

It's indeed a nice place to commemorate their heroes with all the names are engraved on the marble wall.

This statue depicts the soldier when they had to carry this lot of firearms those days. Hmmm, I'm sure this soldier might be one of those kamikaze squad for sure. You deserved my salutes and wreath.

Amazing Race - London (Harrods)

I came across the name "Harrods" a few years back when Fulham, the football club promoted to Premier League. The owner of Fulham is the Harrods owner, Mr. Mohd. Al Fayed. Also the famous father of Dodi Al Fayed, the guy who got killed with Princess Diana. Back to this Harrods, Alifa is giving me the implication that my monthly salary is equivalent to one Harrods hamper. So you can expect what the price of the item sold there. To me, three is no such thing as expensive shoes and clothes!

The material is same unless you you go for something like the technology-enhanced suit like the Speedo Lazer swimming suit. This people add another zero to the price tag just because they sew the brand name on the collar. But if you look clearly on the tag, it was made in Pakistan or China! Come on matey. Don't be a slave for brand if the price is unreasonably high. As for Harrods, I don't even bother to enter. I just can afford to lost my three months saving if I broke their vase!

Amazing Race - London (Buckingham Palace)

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. Now please don't confuse with Beckingham Palace. That's Beckham house.

Now you see. People is just changing working shift. That's as simple as that. The "jaga" too tired after one whole night keeping an eye open of any intruders which I doubt will be any. No coffee break. Maybe got one or two toilet break but better pray that it's not long business. But a simple task like that can be made into an extravaganza show that everyone from around the whole can pack into full house around the palace just to witness it.

The regiment come in one bunch. Playing some loud music. If I'm the Queen, I'll open the windows and shout, "Shut Up!". Then they march here march there. Stamp here stamp there. Drop one or two poor new "jaga" for duty. Pick up the other tired and "come and save me" "jaga" off for brunch.

Then, they march here march there. Stamp here stamp there. Playing some more loud music before they off. This goes on everyday in the summer. There won't be change of guards (extragavant) during the winter.

So there you go poor little fella. You have to stand there for 24 hours before your troop going to rescue you.

"Jaga" job can be so unfair. You have to remain alert for 24 hours , while other "jaga" job can be so relaxing sometimes.

Amazing Race - London (Piccadilly Circus)

Can you believe that in just 3 hours time frame, I've actually visited 4 places all by myself just traveling using their ever efficient Tube line. Badawi should come and see how big the differences are here. Worse still, they only use the normal train and not that light rail train we have. So for my fourth locations, I've visited their Piccadilly Circus.

Piccadilly Circus is a famous road junction and public space of London's West End in the City of Westminster. In this context a circus, from the Latin word meaning a circle, is a circular open space at a street junction. Its status as a major traffic intersection has made Piccadilly Circus a busy meeting point and a tourist attraction in its own right.

Piccadilly Circus memorial fountain, with Anteros, popularly referred to (wrongly) as either The Angel of Christian Charity, or Eros, one of the first statues to be cast in aluminium. This nude statue got lots of history behind it. Try Wiki it and you will notice the conflict behind this statue. For me, it just another statue trying to shoot some people. Maybe we can erect a statue depicting Dr Koh with his famous quote under his statue (from the much anticipated land scam debate).....

"Tembak Sebelum Semak" or

"Shoot Before You Check"

Amazing Race - London (Millenium Bridge)

I always thought Millennium Bridge is at Brighton after some guys from IStructE told me to see what's wrong with the bridge. At first I thought this might be another Millennium Bridge since I saw one in Scotland. Jeff told me it was a nationwide idea to build one Millennium Bridge in each states to usher in the Y2K. Located opposite the St. Paul Cathedral, this pedestrian bridge is quiet long. This steel structure was once closed from operation due to Synchronous Lateral Excitation.



Left Pyshic s for quite a while heh? Still remember resonance? When one frequency is same with the natural frequency of that item, it will cause excitement (vibration). But the engineer eventually fixed it by putting some dampeners to "absorb" the vibration. Nevertheless, I didn't cross the bridge. Why? Because I'm an engineer myself too.

Amazing Race - London (St. Paul Cathedral)

With still 2 hours away from the catching the change of guard at Buckingham Palace, I dashed down to St. Paul Cathedral. I studied in St. John Institution. My school was once near with St. Mary School. I've visited St. Paul Hill in Malacca. I listened to All Saint's music. I assumed myself to have some sort of unrelated connections when it come to this "Saint" word.

St Paul’s has remained a busy, working church where millions have come to worship. It is a heritage site of international importance which attracts thousands of people each year. On Sunday, the Tube line does not operate there. I don't know the reason. So, I have to walk approximately 2 kilometre from the nearest stop to get there. Maybe they want to do some routine maintenance or safety reason.

But one thing I annoyed me is that we have to pay the admission fees. Come on, in KL we don't charge the tourists for taking pictures inside the temple right?

Amazing Race - London (Marble Arch)

What so special about this arch? Because it made from marble? I woke up 3 hours early from my supposed meeting with Alifah just to have a look on this white arch. Don't know what's the reason. People keep building simple structure, yet can make it so famous.

Nevertheless, I assumed I've been to France judging by the similarities of this arch with the one in France.

See any differences?