the view behind the shade: 2010

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Alpha,Bravo,Tango

(Insert, Triumph in the sky theme song)

Date: 4th December 2010
Weather forecast: Slightly cloudy with temperature at 30 degree celcius
Time: 0800
Venue: Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Subang.

At 0715, depart to airport. Receive a SMS from Alice stated that the ground crew is all set for the flight at 0800. Punctuality is very important generally for everyone as it is a good habit to have, but is one of the main criteria in being a pilot, especially a commercial airline pilot. As delay means lost of time, which translate into lost of revenue.

Arrived in time at the D'nest Aviation Hangar. It was a private hanger. There are also a few private jets, which own by local tycoons ( ask me in personal, later kata defamation). Pictures of those jets are not allowed.

The weather is one of my main concern as bad weather means cancellation of the flight. However the control tower will decide on how bad is the weather

While having a pre-flight briefing, it drizzles. I fear for the worst. But the word from the control tower still is not out

Finally the flight is ready after a complete routine check. Some of the checks are, the fuel level, check if the flaps are operating perfectly. It seems smaller than I imagine. But this is the size of a two seater Cessna. Together with me in the flight is Capt.Bernand.

Was a bit nervous for the first time stepping into the aircraft. A certain procedure that I need to follow. Left leg to the support near the tyre, and right leg onto the cockpit. And I have to put on the headset before putting on the seat harness. It's a bit noisy once the engine is one. However, you hardly hear anything once the headset is on. You can only hear air traffic controller talking from the control tower and of course the person beside you talking through the mic.

Off we go to the taxing to the main runway.One thing that is unique about an aircraft is that on land, all the movement is controlled by foot. By using the heel and the toe. Both foot will be on the pedal. To Turn left, the left pedal will be pressed and same goes to the right. To break, press down the pedal using the heel. To start the engine also is a bit different than the car. As airplane have two spark plugs. Thus first have to switch on the first then the second one then both. This flexibility is a safety feature. In case one of the spark plug is not working especially on air, there are still another one to ensure the aircraft can continue to fly or at least make an emergency landing. From the image, also notice that there are some water splash due to the rain. There are no windscreen. The water will automatically blow to the side due to the speed of the aircraft.

The aircraft have two identical yoke (or the steering wheel in cars). It will move exactly the same as the other one. There are also a few things that always need to keep an eye one, like the speed, the altitude meter. There is also an instrument to guide the pilot to return to the airport in case of poor visibility. Notice the orange-ish display together with the knob. Each airport have its own code, which will act as a navigator for the pilot to return to the airport. Thus, trusting the instrument is also important in being a pilot.The red button at the yoke is NOT to fire missile. It is to communicate with the control tower.

"Falcon one requesting for take off on runway 33", everything goes wow from that moment on. However my heart sank a bit when our flight plan have changed towards Selangor/ Shah Alam side instead of the KL town side due to the bad weather in KL. While waiting to take off, we have to wait for this Firefly aircraft to take off first.

The take off is like no commercial airline take off. It was so smooth you are not taken a back to your seats. The speed during take off was about 70-80 km/h. This is when we are climbing around 2000 feet and still climbing to 5000.

Then the moment that I've been waiting for arrived. "You have control" said my co-pilot. "I have control" I replied.Travelling around 80-90 knots, or around 300 km/h it seems quite slow inside the cockpit. Until I see another aircraft which was quite fast. According to my co-pilot, thats approximately similar speed that we are travelling in. The yoke was quite sensitive, and I was advice to hold it gently like holding a baby. I was flying the aircraft, finally. This is what I wanted all this while ever since small. The feeling was amazing. Although its not long till we have to turn back, as we almost reach Kuala Selangor/ Teluk Intan area. I did the right hand turn onto the cloud and in no time

Shah Alam stadium.

"Falcon one, requesting for landing, runway 33, left turn" The landing again was amazing. Don't feel a thing. Was a smooth landing. Sadly that's the end of my adventure up in the air for the day.

Thats it for the day. Thank you for flying with Air....

Was greeted by

Good job Capt.

Friday, December 3, 2010

almost 22

This is probably the last post that I am going to post at 21. In a few hours when the clock strike 12, and I turn 22. 21 is normally associated with "independent". Parents supposedly give the key to their children to go on live their life.But what does 22 mean?

Recapping back at 21, I earn a newer degree of "independent" when I got my first car.The term "my" here refer to me as the owner of the car, legally. Why I say this? because on one incident that I recall, a so called casanova tried to impress a girl. He went to the girl house, call her out of the house asking the girl " hey do u wanna go for a ride in MY car?" It was a BMW. However the girl decline and in the end, it was not his car, it is his father's company car. Embarrassing ain't it?

However owning a car have it pros and cons, where you really have to tighten your belt, in my case. To accommodate extra expenses like fuel and toll when at the same time having a fixed allowance. And of course trying to get a job as soon as possible to serve the car loan. But on the bright side, you can go anywhere at anytime.

Owning a car also taught me a lesson.Just like the song " Forget you". As some might know the incident during beta year where a female class mate ask me out because she initially thought that I own a car. But after coming clean, she distance her self. This just shows how easy and shallow people can be and caught up in the material world. But for the record, I won't fetch her even then if I own a car or even now.

I count my blessing and really thankful for the car, which is also the blood and sweat of my parents.

Having the dinner at Tenji last night, to be perfectly honest and frank,it would not surprise me if thats probably the last time for my birthday celebration with everyone around. This is because after June, some might work in KL, some will be in Kulim, some in Penang, everyone will be scattered around having their own job and pursing the career. But thank you very much for the celebration.

With 6 months more to go, I am not sure where I will work and based on what that I will apply the job.Like for some already decided where they wanna work, let it be because to be near with the girlfriend, some already got offered a job, while there are also having superstar status where company will come look for them.

So all I hope is the year gets better and better as we might not know what is going to happen at every junction of this road we call life.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Dear friends,

Went for dinner. This time with I guess could say with some of the people who are around me, especially in my down time, but at same time I feel bad for not able to include them in my activities as frequent as I would like.

These are the friends that who stood by me, when I was down n out in Uni, especially when the time I was been told off by some people, they are the one who advice me not to retaliate as I would like to, they also would tell me to my face on the screw up I made. During the period when I broke up, they too are the one that would accompany me for lunch and for jogs. Yes, I remember, although I might seems to occupy my time with other group of friends, but I never forget especially those who are kind and give me a listening ear whenever I need to rant. Yes we also have some hard time during our assignment, but one thing that make me glad is, there are no hard feeling after the assignment is done.There are no grudge, and things are back to normal after the task is completed.

Our time in Uni is limited and is coming to an end, am glad to spend some time tonight to have some dinner a small chat to catch up.

Guess this picture will be in our memories, Eddy Burger, 4 December 2006 at 9.49 pm, right after studying in the library.

week

*Gulp Gulp * there goes down my throat Sunkish Orange Juice, noticed that I have to finish my stuff in the fridge.We have a small fridge here in Cyberjaya, or perhaps a medium size. Everyone have to tolerate each other so that everyone have some space in the fridge. This time next year, will I see everyone is the house? will the situation be as status quo? I doubt it. The reality everyone will find a job and do their own things, and perhaps most of my housemate from the north will go back home and work there.

The mood outside is a typical cyberjaya, a super hot and humid evening and it ends with a beautiful sunset conquering the sky leading to dust. There are 2 girls and 3 guys down at the tennis court, I bet they are taking Tennis this semester by judging on their practice for serving. I wonder how to talk and woo them, or this is something just out from the movies. Walking randomly into a place and woo the hot chics. I never witness it before or try it before. I gut feeling is just how Barney Stinson is portrayed, and I don't think girl is that easy to pick up.

It been quite a week for myself. I stated on my previous post that with the FYP, come greater stress and with it, come a bigger way to de-stress. Being in the lab for almost a full month now on Friday and Saturday, juggling Sunday for family and time for myself. Its been quite a work out, or am just plain lazy, as some might have super human strength to do it all. Some of us might have the ability to not to go to class and still score, some are able to absorb what the lecturer like a leech sucking blood. Those what we called as "God of studies" but for normal mortal like me, reading and reading and reading still just got the rough picture without remembering it the next moment.

Back to de-stressing, I was treated to a musical masterclass by one of the top band in the 70's and 80's. Now their song will only be played if some fat ugly dude did a susan boyle on it or only on Valentine day. The aussie band called Air Supply. They are in town for their Love never ends tour in conjunction with their 35 years anniversary. They belted out their hits old and new like "lost in love", "all out of love" and "making love out of nothing".

The crowd in plenary hall @Klcc, goes wild, there are lots of aunty and uncle shouting "air supply I love you" This is perhaps this is their Backstreet boys of their generation. All in all, its a wicked time over there on Monday night.

Being Wednesday is a public holiday, Tuesday is a very lazy day indeed, and also the arrival of my uncle and his family with my grandma, due to the school holiday. On wednesday was suppose to be a badminton match between me and my uncle, who plays badminton regularly.

It all started while watching the Commenwealth game with my parents on TV when I asked my mom how does his brother (my uncle) play because he with his tummy in front if u know what I mean. Thus being free, my mom called him up instantly and he take it like Barney would, " its a challenge". My word being misinterpreted into saying " he cant play because he is fat" wtf!

However, the plan was off because they all decide to bring my grandma to jalan-jalan to Tanjung Sepat/Gold Coast Sepang. To be honest, am more looking forward to the badminton match rather than the trip. I really would like to try how far is my skills, although playing in campus for the past 2 weeks, I notice that its been deteriorating. My defence is not as strong and also my killing is not as sharp. Plus none of my family member ever seen me playing.

But there I was in the car off to Tg. Sepat for BKT, there are 2 type of BKT, the bak and the seafood one. By 9 a.m most of the food is already sold out. It is really a small town with just one main road. Thus you can find all in the same road. My sister also pre-ordered Hainan Pau, which supposedly quite famous, even the fat chinese guy with red face from HK that hosted food show also visited before. But personally, I won't drive this far for this Pau. Rather go to Jaya 33 for the dim sum for pau.

The next stop was mushroom and linzhi farm and then to Arowana koropok factory. That produce various tapioca chip ( keropok ) product. Tasted the same, but somehow they have this huge ass picture of Jason from taste with Jason visited them.

Then to Sepang Gold Coast beach, its quite an exclusive area from rm 500 plus per night per person. Such rate, are not for people like us. Thus we stick to the beach, looking at the watch is just 1 P.m, we decide to go to Port Dickson. Sadly it was raining thus there are not much activity available. Thus the chance to shoot a family member with paintball also dashed.

Wasn't prepared to enter the water with no extra clothes, my uncle asked me to accompany his children for banana boat but without the flipping into water, as the kids are scared. This is my second time in banana boat, this time I have to put a brave face to accompany the kids, and try to ensure their safety.

Unexpected trip, and at first not looking forward but seeing all have a good time certainly change things.Tomorrow another day at the lab and also Saturday.And hope to be back in time to bid them goodbye.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Finale Year

Final year Project, or FYP can be a signal for both bad and good depends on the point of view of each individual. It could mean the end of an era for an undergrad student, goodbye student life and helo hard labour. But it could also mean the freedom or independent, the time to take responsibility take care of our family and make a wonderful career which will bring us far in life.

Regardless how it is interpreted, its a moutain to climb to complete the FYP. Its a shame really that most of us can't enjoy the few last days or semester in the university due to the rush and various datelines by this project.

On a personal level, there are a few trade off in my FYP, the bad side is to travel to Melaka every Friday and Saturday to conduct experiments, and having two supervisor, one in Melaka and another in Cyberjaya, where both supervisor have vast knowledge and keep on pushing my ass.

Yes, having 2 bosses means double the headache, and travelling down there on Friday right after my 11 a.m class and come back to KL on Saturday night just to make time for family day on Sundays, are quite tiring and not to mention expensive. However, its also good that both supervisor push my ass and due to their vast knowledge, there are not much of a margin that I could bullshit my way through.

This juggling act sometimes really make me exhausted, at the same time, I too have to focus on my subjects in class other than the FYP.

Entering week 4 and the month of November, its sad to see the monsoon have hit various part of Malaysia and causes flood in the northen region and also Kelantan. No matter how much I love year end, its a sad scene to see others lost.

The holy month of December is also approaching really soon, right now, everything happens really quick, and you can even see raindeers outside of oldtown indicate Christmas is around the corner.

They say all work and no play make Jack a dull boy, but lately I feel the laziness in creeping in, and this jack have played a lot. Yes I have to admit, balancing is a must and my 'play' time I have allocated a few 'play time' like the comedy night at the end of the month.

In a nutshell I guess, with so many work to do, I have to play big to release all or most of the work load.

I hope that my project go smoothly, and there will be enough material to drill into. And at the same time, I could juggle time to spend my time with others rather than time with my computer replying mails to the supervisors and reading journal or doing revision, because I don't wanna look back and have regrets and at the same time my priority will be my project. Confused? Yes so am I

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The end

With Facebook, its rare for people to upload pictures on blog anymore. Hardly have any sleep and finger crossed, the proposal will be accepted. Its like been a tradition ever since MMU for me to lose sleep as nearer to the reopen of class. Previously as exam results are released, then now FYP is looming.

As my proposal already been mail, all I can do now is to wait for the green light, which I really hope it's green. However its easier said than done. Not to worry is not so easy to do.

These are some of the pictures from my recent trip to Bandung, Indonesia. Hope the good time are not wipe away with the stressful-ness of FYP and the new semester, as I hope to enter the new semester, a better person after few months away.