Another week has passed, lots of things happened, mostly at work. We were suppose to start testing in a weeks, time. Everything was ready, except the system. And when system got ready - 90% at least - it turned out that basic transactions cannot be created, as programs don't work. And of course, it all turned out on Friday evening. My boss got angry again, that we have to delay things because of the instance, as this was not the first time. And here I am standing in between my original team and my present country team. Obviously I cannot be on both side in the same time, but it is just so difficult to handle things this way. So to compensate myself for all the bad things, I went shopping on Saturday. I did spend quite a lot, bought some pants and tops. Also went for a foot reflexology session, it was soooo good! And the good thing is, that the place is 5 mins walk from my apartment, and they are open till midnite, so I can just pop in there on the way back from work for a massage. :)
Sunday I spent few hours at the pool, reading, sunbathing and swimming - I loved it. :) I was even too lazy to go out to eat, so I just made pasta with tuna and parmezan cheese, and had a Mozart kugel for dessert (thanks Kálmán for bringing a whole box of them :)).

KL

What can I say about KL? It's huge and every part of it is different. Few things though - most parts are clean! Trees everywhere, parks and flowers - it's a very lively city. And the roads! Attention European PMs - this is how a road system should be built! I wouldn't say that there are no jams here especially near KL CC - CC stands for city centre - but still, cars are moving and not just standing still. People are patient, no honking, no sneaky overtaking, so I think we can learn. I haven't seen much of KL I think. Been to the touristic places like, palace, independence square, KL tower. Also visited a few shopping malls - I know I said in my first blog that things are not cheap and I will have to be careful with shopping - but I did find some good items on good price. I bought a new camera a few wks ago, which was a lot cheaper than at home. Also some shopping malls have some great places to spend time at. One of them is Kenko Fish Spa - sounds interesting? It is. They have different sessions, but one of the most famous is the fish pond. Guess you don't know why a fish pond is so famous. Well, these are not ordinary fish, these are called Doctor Fish. There are ponds where people just sit, legs in the water and the fishy will bite the dry skin off the foot / leg. I have tried it with Kálmán and Yew Choong (another colleague). It was fun. It is very ticklish, but it's something you must try if you visit KL - so who ever is coming, get yourself prepared for the experience. :) I have also tried foot reflexology, and I must admit I loved it. It was very painful when the girl was doing it, but after.... it was great! Also there are some very good places to eat in KL. You can find some good places in shopping malls as well, we found a good Chinese in Mid Valley - tried frog there! :) Also YC took us to another Chinese restaurant where we had a huge crab, tiger prawns and noodles. It was delicious!!!
The new IT Director has taken me and YC to an Indian restaurant where we had our lunch on a banana leaf. I know for some people there is nothing special about it, but for me, it was good fun, as I have never tried it before. That food was very yammie too, but you know that I like Indian food. :) I'm sure Santosh remembers what my favourite Indian dessert is, well I have found it in another Indian restaurant, and I have shared 1 portion with my colleague Anna, who never tried it. And guess what did she say? 'I will bring my friend here to try this!' So I'm not the only one who just loves it. :)
I will try to keep this blog updated, but nowadays as I have no company I don't go to many places. :( But you will some update in July when Petr and Robi is here. :)

Singapore

On Kálmén's lst weekend we went to Singapore. We took the overnite train. It was cheap and a good experience. We bough the bed tickets, the train left KL around 9pm on Friday nite. We got to the MY boarder Johor Baru around 5am, passport check, waiting for something then headed to Singapore. Boarder control - had to leave the train with all luggage -we didn't really have any -queue up for passport control, security check and then wait until we are allowed to board the train again. When we were waiting there, I had a feeling that this is very similiar to the one when the Jews were deported during World War II - it wasn't a nice feeling. Again waiting for something for hours, we only arrived to Singapore train station around 8am. Got a map, were heading to China town. Found an open restaurant, where we had coffee and breakfast. I had some carrot cake, which has never seen carrot before. Anyway we found China town, found a museum which was the Tailor's house in the old times, and its top floor was shared by different families. Amazing how people lived 50-60 yrs ago. We have passed a buddhist temple, and when we were checking the pics on the wall of all the people visiting the place, we found a pic of the HU President. :) After leaveing the temple we found a shopping mall, had another coffee and got refreshed in the rest room. Went down to the river, on the way found a muslim mosk and a hindi temple. As we both have been to Hindi temples in India, we went to check the mosk. We checked the dresscode and thought I have enough clothes on ( I was wearing a short sleeve top and trousers up to my knee), but a young boy got so shocked when he saw me, that he rushed out and gave me robe to wear. We took pics there and at the riverside, went to see the Asian Civilization Museum, which was a small disappointment, but we ticked it anyway. By the time we finished there, we both were hungry. We planned to have lunch on the riverside, but the restaurants there were rip offs. So went to another shopping mall and had Japanese food. I do like Japanes - some of it - and Kálmán never tried it before. I think he liked it. :) He found sugar cane juice at one of the counters, so he bought a glass and was so happy as a kid. :) After lunch we went to see some Church and were heading to the Botanical Garden. That is a must see place, if anyone goes to Singapore. It is wonderful. It has an orchid part, which is beautiful. We spent hours there, but then had to ruch back to China town to buy some pressies, have dinner and get back to the train station by 9pm to catch the train back. Buying pressies was more difficult than we thought. We wanted to buy Tshirts but the ones we liked did not have the size we needed. I think it took about 20 mins to get a Tshirt for Vishal, as the one I really liked was only in M size, and he always complained when I bought M size for him. So I had to choose another one in L size - and guess what, he told me that I forgot his size as the Tshirt is too big! :) I think I will give up, I just can't please him. Anyway bought pressies, found a place to eat and got back to the station in time. Surprise at the station there was no lights on. I wanted to go to the restroom before departure, but it was pitch dark. Boarded the train and was waiting for about 2 hrs at the station, don't know for what. Finally we left Singapore, had the leave the train again at the boarder, got passport checked again, and this time they checked fingerprints as well. Silly, no? Checking it when we leave! Anyway, the journey back wasn't so good, it was very bumpy - I still don't know how could it be on the railway, but anyway I couldn't sleep for hours as I was too afraid that I will fall off the bed - we both were on the upper bed - and then some people were snorring. I did manage to get some sleep, we got back to KL around 8am and to my apartment around 8.30. We had to rush to get ready as we arranged a city tour by 9.30 - of course we were late. But the guide - Abby - was so nice and waited for us - but that is a different story. :)

Borneo

I had a colleague of mine from Hungary in KL for 2 weeks, and that was a good excuse to go to places. First place was Borneo, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu. We flew there by Air Asia. That is a budget flight but it was OK. Even the food they sell was good and wasn't expensive at all. I had a rough day as was running between offices, was on meetings all day and didn't even had time to eat. Anyway we got there around 9pm. Was hoping that we still have the rooms booked in the hotel, as I only booked it over the phone, and was also hoping that it is good hotel. We were surprised that it was a 4 star hotel, based on the price we didn't expect it. So we did have the rooms when we got there, I have given the twin bed one to Kálmán, as he is very tall and that was more comfy - sometimes I can be a nice person. :) We went out that nite, first to eat. We managed to get to the wet market, where we tried bbq-d squid. Sounds weird? It was but it tasted good. But we did go to a proper restaurant as well. We were advised by the staff that we should order the soup bowl as the pax is too small. Well... it was tooooo much, we couldn't finish. Especially that we ordered some noodle as well with seafood - I just love seafood noodle. :) After dinner we found a club called 'Bed'. There was some local band on stage, under dressed girls - Kálmán did tell me afterwards that one of the girls didn't really had the shape for that kind of a clothing. Well he was right, the girl was a bit fatty, but as long as she was happy... :)

Saturday morning, breakfast at 6.30am!!! and then was heading to the bus station to get to the Kinabalu National Park. First Kálmán said we will go to the top of the Kinabalu mountain - that is 4000 m high -, and of course I was pessimistic. Anyway after about an hour travel in a small van with another 12 people!!!, we were dropped at the bottom of the park entrance. Managed to get some maps and a car to take us to the entrance to the forest. We got ourselved registered, got our pass cards, food, raincoat and we started our journey. It was hard work!!! It was very steap, so after about 1km, I was very, very tired. But Kálmán was the Nike advert saying: You Can Do It! We have taken lots of pictures, were feeding squirrels - that was good fun. They are so, so quick. We have given them apple, just putting it down on the ground. The little thing came, took it and within 2 seconds was up on a tree happily eating it. As you could see in the pics - those who got the link - we did manage to a certain point - not to the top - were exhausted by the time we got there, and we did know that it will not be easier at all to come down. And we were right! It started to rain on the way down, the ground got more muddy - my trainers will never be white again - and of course we did not put the raincoat on on time, so got soaking wet by the time we got down. Also we were late and had to take a taxi back town. As it was still raining the driver had to keep the A/C on to get the mist off the windscreen. I was sitting in front, and was freezing in my wet clothes. The journey was more than 2 hrs back. We didn't do anything that nite. We both went to our rooms, had hot bath and just watched telly. I had some very nice wonton soup, as I had to get something hot not to get sick. Sunday, early morning breakfast again (6.30am), checked out from hotel and went to get a boat to the nearby island. We managed to get a tour of 3 small islands. It was amazing! First island we were snorkelling - it is similar to scuba diving, but you only use a pipe and you don't go underwater. That was my first time, and I must say I wasn't the best. I couldn't breath normally with that thing in my mouth, I wanted to throw up all the time. But then found the technic, but wasn't brave enough to go deep in to the sea. So I kept next to the rope holding on to it. And I must say, it worth every minute. I saw some wonderful creatures and fish. I loved it!! Second island, I convinced Kálmán to try parasailing. I was so scared, as I have fear of height, and here I am up in the sky, sitting on a piece of material and hanging on a rope hundreds of meters above the sea. The guys in the boat have a trick for this adventure. They drop people down in the sea. You can imagine how scared I was when we hit the water and even went under. But it was fun, good fun. I am really glad that we tried it. Third island, we had lunch and saw some gigantic lizards. Kálmán went for a wonder in the forest, and nearly got late. We had our boat pick up at 4pm, as we had to get to the airport by 5. We flew back to KL, got back around 9pm, were at my apartment around 9.45, collected laptops from Chetan and I took Kálmán back to the hotel. Waited until he checked that he still has the room, and then went home. Was so tired, but had to get up in time on Monday, as work was waiting. I am sure I will go back to Borneo with Petr when he is here, maybe to another part to see orangutans, I'm sure he will love it as well. So anyone wants to join us?? You are welcome to join!

Update

Quite a long time has gone by since I have last recorded anything here. I will try to write some individual stories about my experience in the last nearly 3 months. But first, Santosh you have amazed me that you are checking this blog. I didn't know anyone was reading it. Also Sneha, thank you so much for all your comments! :)
As you can guess I am still in Malaysia, surviving and trying not to break down. It really is hard work sometimes to keep myself together. And I would lie to say that I did not cry since I am here, I did, a lot. I did live abroad before but I think I am getting old now. I just miss some silly things, like my cooking utensils, cookbooks. Isn't this silly??? I do miss my family, friends, especially my sister and the naughty cat, and someone else who is still driving me mad every single day, and I cannot write down his name (guess you know whom I am talking about. :)
Anyway only a few months to go - 4 or 5 - and I hopefully be on my way back home. So wish me luck for this next few months!!!! :) And Santosh don't forget that you promised to try to come out here when Support is coming to live, I do expect to see you here! Remember, we have to go out for a beer we are planning for about, how long??? ages!!!! :)

Saturday 5 April

I couldn't sleep last nite. I had to force myself to sleep at 2am. Got up at 9am first but thought it is too early yet, so went back to sleep. I only got up at 1pm, fiddled about for an hour then went out to have something to eat cos I was starving. I found a 'Nail Shop', so I had manicure and pedicure. I really enjoyed that, I always liked these things at home too, and it is about the same price here, so if there will be a place near to my apartment too, I think I will be a regular there. At the end I do deserve some spoiling spending so much time away from my loved ones. :)

So tomorrow I will be spending my time at the swimming pool, reading, swimming and doing absolutely nothing. Next week hard work starts, so I will need all my energy. :)

The first day in Malaysia

Finally I arrived, after an exhausting journey. Nobody told me that we will come via Bangkok, anyway flight was nearly 1 hour late, but luckily immigration and baggage claim was quick. Got to the hotel at 8pm, met my boss - she is nice, but younger than I thought.

So went to the office this morning - not too early - n to my surprise when I stepped in to the lift, someone knew my name. It turned out that she was the HR person who is dealing with my work permit, flat, etc. I had a meeting with her later and to my surprise she was surprised that I wanted to see the flat before the company signs any contract. She told me that she saw it. Maybe I'm too fussy, but.....

Met my other boss - the FD - whom I met in Korea as well 2 yrs ago.



People are nice in the office, got my internet sorted in 5 mins which was the best from all countries. :)



I still don't know though how will I survive 6 months here. Things are not as cheap as I was told, so will have to be very careful what I spend money on.

Also I had the most weird food in my life. It was called 'The Italian Job', but I don't know what was Italian about it. It was pancake - sweet - with smoked salmon. Hm? Have you tried it before? If not, don't do it. I'm sure will not have it again. Oh n the pancake was called 'the sunny side up' - don't know why. Anyway I was hungry and it served its purpose.



When I got back to the hotel, I checked out the swimming pool- it is quite good, so will try that one day, to get some suntan in sunny KL.



That's all for now, I'm getting tired, so should retire to bed.