A little note about my Shaklee daily dosage

It was when my suppy for my daily Blackmores supplement ran out, I was introduced with Shaklee products by a friend of mine .

I`m definitely not one of the Shaklee distributers, but hey, good thing like this is worth to be shared, no?

So when I was promoted with super duper benefits that will be gained from the consumption, with supply for more than 3 months at much cheaper price, I decided to give it a go.

 

 

After a while, the result of the daily intake is not upsetting. That was when I had a terrible allergic effect on my face. Patiently, almost every night I squeezed and applied the vitamin E from the capsul on my face. And the improvement on my 'scar'y face was getting obvious and more over days!

 

 

 

 

 

Arrival of Another Apple at the Doorstep

I saw it when people queing so long just to get the new ipad? ipad2? And I saw the glow on Zera's face when I accompanied her buying the gadget. At that point of time, sipping my occasional shot of Starbucks ,I was just couldn't care less.

But it was different thing when I first saw the mini ipad, in white particularly was flashed by a colleague of mine. Oh man! So cute in the mini size!

I went to dealer store at Mesramall, the one, exactly that I was looking for was sold out. And being treated coldly by the salesgirl, I decided to go for online shopping. And I went to apple.com!

The order was placed when I was offshore.(Yes, semangat! Tak menyempat2 pon ada.) Considering intermittent internet connection at offshore platform, the process was very simple, and the transaction completed within 15 minutes.

Exactly one week after making the order, I got the phone call from the receptionist downstair, the despatch was waiting to get my signatory. My mini ipad has arrived! 

Yippi~

Pulau Jerejak Rainforest Resort,Penang

Yes, it was another team building with another team at work organized within my company. And the organizer was so brilliant to choose the island far far away from Kerteh. It was Pulau Jerejak, Pulau Pinang.

When first heard of the places, people was like "Jerejak? Tempat kusta tu?" or others put it "itu bukan tempat orang kena buang daerah ker?"

Those were the questions expressed when the venue of the teambuilding was announced. And truthfully, I wasn't that intrigued to be at the kind of place, if it is true!

Nevertheless, in the spirit of together as one (stealing other OPU tagline is not a crime I guess :P), at last, I decided to join. I mean, I wouldn't know when will I get to know this place in the future, without coughing a penny. Ahaaks

Flying to Penang via Firefly, we reached the jetty quitei in the mid day, and we took chartered boat to go to the island. It was not that far from mainland. 15-20 minutes journey, and ta-da! Arrive destination!

 

It was quite quiet island when we reached the chalet. Thankfully we had a chance to savour the peaceful day because the local are still working on Friday, the day of our arrival. And the next 2 days, it was complete hectic little Penang in the small island. 

But I`m telling you, I was quite impressed with the welcoming treat received from the reception. While waiting for the teambuilding activities started, my friends and I took stroll along the walkway, enjoying the quiet evening. The difference with the island in Penang and the ones in Terengganu, there are no beach, and to sunbath or playing by the beach? In Jerejak? You may want to forget it. :)

 

Let's look inside our room. Expecting the worst for a chalet in an island, I was wayyy wrong. The room was spacious, and so was the bathroom. 

CRT TV pon ada. Just to get some sound other than listening to chirping birds outside while my housemate a.k.a the main organizer was busy handling her event.

Spacious, no?

This resort has also provided teambuilding facilities together with the instructor. Some of the activities are jungle trekking, where we were shown the area where the outcasts resided years before, wall climbing, absailing and many more outdoor activities.

Came night, we were served with barbeque dinner and followed with fire show by the courages young men, organized by resort.Considering how big efforts that were shown, it was entertaining and their bravery deserve a pat in the back.

The Zenith Hotel, Kuantan

So my boss asked me to organize an engagement session between other co-workers or so-called teambuilding. I chose to held it at Zenith Hotel. I have never there, thus definitely, the hotel will be my first priority, considering the event has to  be as closest as possible to our working premis.

The hotel room is like other typical hotel in the city. Simple and contemporary concept.

And my lunch of the day, as always, deadly fattening!

And this is the dining hall of the hotel, where our lunch and dinner took place. Cosy dining indeed, but the food selection, I would say, so-so..

Mount Kinabalu

9-14th November 2012

Somewhere in 2008 er.. 2009 (crap! I cannot remember precisely the year), during our leisure conversation while watching E!, Ju Zie has once popped the idea of climbing the mountain Kinabalu together.Listening to the idea of climbing a mountain was as thrilling as other travelling activities that we set up together. But wait, the higher peak of Southeast Asia? I mean, seriously? Definitely I was skeptical of my own capability, for I was not an outdoor person, and living an active life was not in the plan at that point of time.

3 years down the road, life changes and the time comes,I guess. The opportunity to join the expidition appeared when Pae told me about  the plan which was organized by a fellow colleague. Unfortunately, dear friend, Ju Zie was far far away at Toowomba. Aww ssedih..

We arrived at Kota Kinabalu on 9th November. At Pasar Filipina, apart from buying some souvernirs and local crackers to bring home, we grabbed the opportunity to enjoy the best and cheapest seafood ever tasted in Malaysia. I ate like nobody's business. My justification, the energy from the lavish eating fiesta will help to bring me to the top of Kinabalu. Yela teww..

The next day we were  ready to leave to Kinabalu Park. We stayed in the dedicated hostels for another night , and ahhhhh speaking of foods,the dishes were sooooo tempting. Again, I can't help it, I ate like nobody's business. I guess somehow the cold weather here has contributed a significant impact to one's eating appetite, no? The air started to be frozen cold in the midnight, but I still managed to have a good night sleep. :))))

We were ready as early as 730am. The air was so cold that we could see it from our breath. That was when everybody got excited with their own breath. Hehe

My female friends went to the loo, and while waiting for them,I captured the beautiful scenery of the morning.

Before we began the journey, we made sure to get our enthusiastic faces snapped in the photos. Because later on, the glow in the smile will fade away as we ascending the mountain. Letihss!

 

All of us 

Anddd.. off we go. Bismillah..

The scenery become more beautiful and more as we climbed higher.

                                                          macam drawing potrait,kan?

5 hours of hiking, we finally arrived at Laban Rata to rest and get refreshed. Err, we were not actually taking shower per se, because as we reached high up there, the temperature was low close to negative!Even performing the ablution required very high spirit to get through the cold water. Hehe. Cobaan~

And not to mention when the day went dark, it was impossible for us to even doze off. Too cold to fall asleep, I`m telling you.

We woke up at 1 am to get prepared for the finish line. At 2 am we started to climb to the top, with expectation to reach the top of the mountain before dawn. The wind was so cold and strong. And there was some point in between, when I was alone climbing the rocks, quite away from other fellow climbers, I felt scared to the bottom of my heart and started regretting the decision to join this expidition. 

By using a rope to move forward, I can't see any chance to reverse and yet the climb ahead was getting tougher that I started to ask myself in anger  "WHAT THE HELL AM I GETTING MYSELF INTO?". But I pushed my leg to move and move.

At last, I made my way to the top, despite the rough wind and cold breeze with super thin air. Alhamdulillah. It was paid off. Phewww..~

So fulfilling.

Cu Chi Tunnel and Mekong River, Ho Chi Minh

11th Oct 012

Besides shopping, Ho Chi Minh city also offers many interesting places to visit. I mean, surely you want the money drained to buy the tickets was worth it, doncha? :)

On the next day in Ho Chi Minh, we hired the local tour service to bring us to the other side of Ho Chi Minh city to visit their famous historical spot, Cu Chi tunnel. I still remember the bewildered face shown by other travelmates upon learning the name of the place, as in

what, go cleaning a tunnel??

The extensive tunnel was used during the Vietnam War for survival, hiding spots, communication and other life supports by Vietnamese guerrillas from the attack of American soldiers.

Being there, we grabbed the opportunity to explore inside the safe part of the tunnel system.

There are several entrances available to enter the tunnel system, and  definitely we explored each of them!

And before leaving the area, all tourists were served with guerrilla's main food,. After a while haven`t had tapioca at home, this treat feels nice!

We left the Cu chi area to have our halal lunch at Shamsudin Restaurant, just a few kilometres away from Cu Chi tunnel.

12th Oct

The next MUST-DO activity in Ho Chi Minh is cruising along the Mekong River. Crusing the quiet river in a narrow boat without the life jacket , I have to admit that it was quite terrifying at first. In the middle of the cruise, we stopped by a few times, to visit the local population where they treated us with local fresh fruits, cultural singing performance by local singer and etc.

This is not cultural performance tho. It was not so  fun to hold a super moist and cold creature like this with my bare hands but once in a lifetime, it was worth it!

                                                                            Oh eiwww!~

A stroll down memory lane of 2012

I woke up  this morning and had a brief conversation with my housemate when she said

Kak Jueee.. Ecah dah makin tuaaa..dah bertambah umor~

I was like aahh yes, it is new year today, but., personally I feel it is just a change in number Seeing in Facebook when a lot of friends updating their 2013 resolution, perhaps it was a rush of adrenaline to them, while I,on the other hand, read them in a glance and responded to the witty status that attracted my attention. I guess there is a state of ones life when hitting new year, even our own birthday is just like another normal day to face. What more important is what we have in our chest in preparation to face the days ahead which are full with so many unexpected challenges.  Well, just a thought.. Oh anyway, my housemate is younger than me by 5 years, how on earth could she feel like getting older while I am the one who are supposed to worry about it in the first place. Haiyoo..

Today is the third day of my BOSET training,a competency training to renew my Offshore Safety Passport.In the middle of the lesson, the trainer taught us on the cardio respiratory, and dragged to the life machine for detecting heart beat which is used in ICU. I don't why and how, the mention of the subject has dragged me to the moments when I saw the very machine  was used to support my late father's life, almost a year ago and my mind started to jog the memories from one to another. Apparently the distraction didn't end there. When I drove back, I felt sad for unknown reason, until I remembered back the lessons and the thought I had earlier in the classroom. Exactly one year back, I sent my brother to register for new school at Kuala Terengganu with my parents. Aboh intended to go along, even though he was too weak to stay in sitting position. He slept on my Mak`s lap throughout one and half hour journey. * hush hush*. And after 2 weeks, Aboh left us for good. May Allah swt bless his soul there. Amin..

While waiting my Aboh outside the ICU hall, I received a text from HR colleague on my next ACD assessment that was scheduled a month ahead, February 2012. Alhamdulillah, with one month preparation, my score has improved better than I expected and way better than the previous year. Insha Allah if is for me, I hope 2013 will mark another achievement for my career progression. 

Our kick off trip for year 2012 was to go to Manila in March. It was fun, despite the limited attractions in the city center. April came,that was the ultimate month of this year. Together with 6 female friends, we went to Mecca together, got to know better each other in the Holy Land. We walked to the Masjidil Haram together, encircled the Kaaba, which more often than not, I was on my own left them or being left by the ladies in the crowd. Indeed, the opportunity to get closer to the Creator- on my birthday- was the most blessful gift I ever received in my whole life.

After battling in making the decision to satisfy both my career and personal obligations, I finally chosed to transfer to the neighbouring department. In August, I received the long awaited letter, an approved transfer letter to the new department with a new position, a construction engineer. It was 180 degree change from my previous position, both in the aspect of working and personal life. Nevertheless, it is a positive change, that helps me to revive my spirit and motivation, despite the fact that I have to go back to square one in certain area.Hu hu.And those are the excuses that I have in my plate for the very little updates in this blog lately.

In November, I joined an expidition to conquer Mount Kinabalu, which I have yet to write in details about the trip. It was such a fulfilling experience  upon reaching the peak of the mountain. Indeed it was beyond any word can describe. One week of suffering the leg ache was just nothing as compared to the satisfaction of having the mission accomplished with a big smile. (But I definitely rushed to the clinic seeking for ubat sakit urat. Of course I can't bear walking like a post natal mom for long. Hahaha) .

And that is all about me in the past one year. Today my little siblings are back to school.Nadia and Fatihah improved their class. I once warned Nadia, that if she remained in the previous class, I will ban her from doing any running this year. It works! Alhamdulillah. Likewise the bookworm,Ika, doing good in her current performance. And my baby brother Zhaffri, registered in standard one this year. A few months back, (and is still reminding Mak nowadays), he requested Mak to buy him Fixie bike if he scores well in his exam. I only rewarded bicycle to his sister after 3 years in school.*pitam* And best thing of all,he just completed his muqaddam lesson and now proceed to Al-Quran recitation. This reminds me of myself when I was at his age.After years working outside Terengganu, now my big brother lives with my family, working here, taking care of the family like Aboh did in his life, and being the runner for Mak.

2012 left with bitter, sweet and terrifying memories, ahh you name it. But the most important of all, buckle up for the days ahead. All I want is to be a better muslimah, and better person to all people around me, that I care and even to those I despise.