Eid Mubarak 2019 All!

Salam w.b.t and hello all,

Wow, wow, wow, wow.it has been a while. I mean it is a long time since I updated my blog.

How are you guys doing? I am doing alright. I have a lot of things that I need to update on this blog.

I have time now. So, I would like to update my whereabout for the last 1-2 months.

I was offshore, then get off the rig. I went home on 31st May, off course for a vacation with Eid celebration. The initial plan for vacation was 3 weeks.

First off, I just bought one way flight ticket to go home. For the return, I did not buy because I was not 100% sure if I will be back on 23rd July. The date I told the managers. Well, normally it can be earlier or later depends on the operation.

I travelled home and my mother and my second sister picked me up from the airport at night.

Week #1

It was quite busy as we were preparing for Eid. Packing bags to go back hometown in Pahang, cooking, shopping for groceries, and all. Typical family preparation for celebration - You know it better!

So, all four of us went back to our kampung in Felda Chemomoi, Bentong, Pahang. To my surprise, all the members will celebrate their turn at our kampung. So, it was a huge gathering. They did not know I was back until I arrived. Met the family members, my cousins, aunties and uncles as well as my grandfather's new wife with her kids.

My family on my mother's side is not that extensive. So, it was good to catchup and meet with them. I remember my cousin - Muttaqim the last time I think I saw him was ages ago. When he was in his secondary high school - Maybe. I don’t remember. Now, when I saw him, I saw a young lad. No longer a boy who is running around with a pampers full with poo. Duh..time flies really fast.

 

Muttaqim and Atok


Pretty much that's our family member on my mother's side



After staying at kampung, we went back to our home on the second day of Eid. The traffic was not too bad. As it is well known to be a very congested traffic on highway during any major celebration in Malaysia.

 

Ladies yaw

Towards the end of Week #1, we were preparing for our small family vacation at Kuala Terengganu. 

 

Week #2

 

We departed to Kuala Terengganu on Saturday. Departed very early in the morning around 3AM. Took turn to drive between me, my mother, and my sister. Off course, I just drove for one hour and slept all the way as I had not fully recover from the jet lag.

We were closed to the Draw Bridge. Fortunately, the grand opening of this bridge happen during our vacation

We were staying in Kuala Terengganu for 4 days, 3 nights. We rent an apartment - complete with kitchen, living room, 3 bedrooms, and facing the ocean. It was great.

 

Houses, cemeteries, and beach that can be seen from the apartment's balcony



Visited Taman Tamadun Islam. Various replicas of famous Islamic attractions around the world. One of it is Masjid Suleiyman from Instanbul

At Pantai Batu Burok

After the short vacation in Kuala Terengganu, we finished off the remaining week in Batang Kali. My youngest sister went back to work.

Did I tell you that my mother has a lipoma at her back? She has it since early of this year. The size was quite big, 10 by 10cm, she worried but she did not want to go for operation to remove it. The reasons were (1) it is not growing anymore, (2) not cancerous, thus not dangerous, (3) expensive.

Then I advised her, (1) we never know if it is actually will stop growing. If it is stop, that’s good. But what if it is not?, (2) That’s good as it is lipoma only, which means this can be removed immediately by a small surgery, (3) Don’t worry about cost.

So, I brought her to KPJ Rawang to kind of force her. But, in reality it was expensive. So towards the end of the Week #2, we have been surveying small clinics to see if they can do the operation. At the end, we came to the clinic closed to our home. The name of the doctor was Dr. Deep but he said this lipoma is too big and the amount of anesthetic in his clinic will not suffice. So my mother need to go to real hospital with operation theater.

Before we left, he suddenly called us in and said he can refer to his friend, a general surgeon at Hospital Ampang. It will be a bit expensive, but when we compared with KPJ, definitely 3 times cheaper. So, I said to my mother, lets do this.

The name of the doctor is Dr. Akbar.

 

Week #3

In this week, not much actually as I was preparing to go back to Doha at the end of the week. We got in touch with Dr. Akbar by Whatsapp and phone calls to arrange appointment, verbally describe the lipoma and all, (unbelievably supportive) and he said he will try his best to get a session on Monday and Tuesday. Then, he said it will be very busy so he only managed to get the session on 25th June, the next week.

So, we were fine. For me, since I haven't booked any flight yet, I can extend for another one week to accompany my mother.

 

Water dam closed to our home in Kuala Kubu Bharu

Throughout the week, I managed to fast for 3 days. Chillax at home, finished reading several books. Had a mini open house as my mother's cousin, practically my uncle came to visit us. Excellent. Also, went out for shopping to buy stuff for me to bring back to Doha.

Also I have promised to meet up Kak Daeng and Aisyah when I come back to Malaysia. However, I could not make it. This week has been a little bit of overwhelmed for me. I just wanted to relax and have me-time.

 

Week #4

Been busy accompanying my mother for her surgery. She admitted into the hospital on Tuesday morning, had surgery later in the evening. It was two hours surgery, and overall nearly 4 hours in the OT. As she entered, her blood pressure skyrocketed, and Dr. Akbar was preoccupied with other patients. After she finished, she stayed in the monitoring room for more than 1 hour as no nurses available to transfer her back to the ward.

My mother at Pantai Batu Burok before operation. She was worried.

After that, she was wheeling out of the OT to the ward. She was already awake, and one hour later she ate the porridge and fillet O' fish burger bought from Mc Donald opposite to the hospital.

Me and my second sister overnight in the hospital ward to accompany her.

The next day around 5.00PM, she got discharged from hospital. She was doing fine after she got discharged. The next day, she went to the morning market, supermarket, and drive around to buy durian and all the exotic fruits for me. So I can eat before I go back to Doha.

Two days after that on 28th July, I was on the flight travel back to Doha. I used Sri Lankan airline and transit in Sri Lanka. Arrived in Doha at night.

Well, that’s pretty much what's going on with me last month.

Now I am at the rig - land rig, as usual drilling.

Before I came to this rig, I told my mother, I am disappointed and I want to come home for good. She said, come back if you firm with my decision. I think I will share on separate entry on this particular event.

But, I really want to go home for good.

Take care for now and see you again in the next entry.

Salam w.b.t.

P/S - I read "This is going to hurt" by Adam Kay. I bought it at KLIA while waiting for departure to Doha. I read the synopsis at the back of the book, immediately smitten by it. It was hilarious and I giggled alone most of the time. Find this book, it is worth to read. As a doctor, he contributed his piece on this book. When I compared to what I am doing now, I have nil contribution in developing the society. Duhhh...

Hi All

Salam wbt and hi guys.


It has been a while.


Nothing much interesting going on with me so far.


At the moment, I am at the rig known as Mick O' Brien. First time here and I have been here nearly two weeks.


It has been slow and steady operation.


I don't really like the environment at this rig.


Maybe it is new rig to me, new client, new crew. So I am not used to.


Since it is slow and steady environment, I have been using this opportunity to look for something else.


I applied for New Zealand scholarship - It got rejected. It is ok.


I applied for several jobs on LinkedIn. This has been routine by spending 2/3 of my shift doing this.


Scrolling and looking for opportunities to pursue studies at higher level. However, I am not sure what course I want to do without the feeling of I will be struggling.


I also have been thinking of the next job I want to go for. One of it is project engineer, in my perspective I will get opportunities involved with bigger subjects and widen my spectrum. Planning, decision making, making changes, and contribute.


Not just doing MWD Engineer thing - Repeat and repeat.


However, I do not specify the sector of the project engineer I want to be. The shortfall from this, I don't know what skills, certifications, qualifications, and experience required to fit into this position.


Applying jobs everyday wont land be a better position if I don't have what is required, right?


All I know, I want to do something bigger and contribute significantly to this.


But, I don't know how.


I think I will need external mentor to guide me.


I am totally blank.


I am with one of the MWD Engineer name Elaine, she is resigning and will leave soon.


This really strengthen my desire to find something better, and value added to myself as well as future development.


Previous month, I was working with Putri. She is now ex-SLB as she joins the client's company.


I mean, I will be over the moon if I can be the third engineer putting the resignation letter and go to another company. Right now, the current role is like working in the circus and doing a monkey business.


Maybe I don't fully understand of what is happening, regardless I don't want to spend another year to be in the stage of understanding. By that time, I will regret and saying I should have left earlier.


I am working on it to the direction in finding another jobs.


I want to achieve more, and I could not do it here with my current unexplored capacity.


I am welcoming any advices, insights, and guidance from you. I somehow feeling stupid.


Thank you all for reading.


Till next time.


P/S - Nothing to PS

It is no longer exciting

Salam w.b.t and hello guys,
If you noticed, this is my third entry for this year. I have been thinking and spending some amount of time in writing.
I am at the land rig, by the way since 29th Jan. I am here with Donnique, she is a new trainee. This is her third job after she arrived in Qatar, and her second hitch with me. She is fine, and still learning. Keep going as I keep telling her.
Do the job, make mistakes, learn from it. It was tough for me at the start to train a brand spanking new trainee, but it is fine.
Anyway, I am not writing to talk about the trainees. I would like to talk about what has been bothering me for the last 2-3 months.
I think I am starting to live in a routine, again. If you remember, 3 years back I had the same situation and I shared it on my blog. If you don’t know what I am talking about, here is the link: Tough Times
What I am doing right now as a field engineer starts to make me bored, truth to be told.
This is the same thing I have been feeling, and it is about to enter the third month.
You see, I am working as a field engineer based in Doha.
Overall, prepare the tools, tool calibrations, wait for any calls for job, then go to the rig, work. At the rig site, as usual drilling operation with I am doing 12-hours shift. Work for 12-hours shift, deal with whatever I have to deal, and finish my shift. Then go back to sleep.
The cycle continues….for how long? 2-3 weeks if it is a complete well.
Then go back to Doha repeat the cycle.
It starts to become a routine.
During the first year in Qatar (2017), I felt everything was very new and I was so busy in catching up with the jobs, meeting expectations, and all. So, I did not feel it as a routine.
Then, came a second year (2018), it was ok. Started to do the job on my own and understood most of the stuffs. Not a big struggle, workwise. However, half of my second year was influenced by my family. My sister was unwell, had to go for surgery, emergency leave, taking care of my mother, she is also a bit unwell now. I also had a muscle spasm at my neck and limited my movement as it affected my physical movement. It was painful. At the time, my job was like a background process. Yeah, I need money to support my life, but at this point I started to think "Is it really worth it?". Am I going to be like this for the next 2-3 years?
Now is my third year. I am starting to feel everything is no longer exciting. I mean everything. Job, Doha, people, money, environment. Everything.
I have been questioning, is this what I want to do for the next 1 month? 2 months? 6 months? Am I going to go through the same cycle again and again until year ends if I am lucky?
It starts to feel the same, I don’t feel the challenges anymore as I can read and already have my expectations of what will happen. I tried to push myself further, learn more, get promotion, increase in salary that kind of thing, but no.
I have tried many times.
Put money as my motivation - No success. I am not saying I don’t need money. But, whatever I earn right now is enough if I spend it wisely. So, money is no longer become my first and strong pulling factor.
I already voiced out my desire for relocation to my mentor so called manager, Farhat. At first, I explained I want to learn new things, tools, work with different clients as I already start to feel bored at the current client. Same politics, same people, same thing. This makes me to enter the comfort zone, and for me it is really scary. As that when I will start taking things easily and make mistakes.
If I am a good engineer at what I am doing, that’s good. However, my potential is not fully stretched yet.
I want to go somewhere else, different people, new environment, new challenges, and learn new things. Send me for loan to another locations, outside of Qatar, wherever. If there is no other place, it is ok, I can go back to Malaysia. However, I still want to work outside of Malaysia for another 2-3 years.
Deep inside me, I really want to move to Australia in particular, Perth. I miss this place so much. I don’t know why, but every time I think about this place, it makes my eyes teary. Even right now when writing it. I think as I grow older, I start to become emotional easily :')
Unfortunately, relocation is not an immediate solution and the way I see it, it is really far for me to reach it and frankly, I don’t even know if this is possible. Therefore, it hardly motivates me to keep going.
All in all, I have lost my motivations. I could not find any driving factors to push me forward.
Therefore, I do what I am doing just because I am doing it.
The last thing excited me was my time in Istanbul. In particular, the moment I stood at Halic Station where I can see overall of Istanbul. That was the moment I confirmed to myself, I made a right decision of coming here. That was the last time I felt full, last 19th January. 
I am in dilemma, really am. I am thinking to take unpaid leave for some time and embark on self-discovery journey, leave all these behind, try to figure out what I want to do and understand more about myself.
I don’t know.
I am lost. That’s affirmative.

Short Vacay to Istanbul

Salam w.b.t and hello dear readers.

How are you doing? I am doing fine. So now, I would like to share with you guys my trip to Instanbul recently.

First off, Istanbul is lovely and amazing place.

I have been in Doha for one week, doing nothing, none calls for job, sleeping, eating, movies, and on Thursday (17th Jan) that’s when it hits me. I need to do something, I cannot just wait for another week to go to a job. I was thinking, whether I want to do Skydive in Doha or go somewhere. The price of skydiving was ~ QR 2100, quite expensive and I don’t have anybody to do it with me. Called Kanoon if she is Aberdeen so I can visit her, ironically she was in Norway waiting for a chopper to go to the rig.

Then, deep inside me there is one place I really wanted to go - ISTANBUL.

Quickly google for flight fare, local time so I don’t have to deal with jetlag, weather, and ask the coordinator of how many days I will be idle. I will need at least 5 days, 2 days of travel and 3 days for exploring. That’s it, I booked the flight to travel to Istanbul on the next morning. Before that I called my mother to inform her. She said, "Go, go. Explore and don’t stop now. Go but ensure to keep me updated your whereabout from time to time".

I told her, "Ok Mak (mom), but it is last minute plan".

She said, "Just go, last minute is always your plan".

Hehehe…

I booked the return flight, hostel, and listed down the place I wanted to visit. It will be from 18th Jan to 22nd Jan, excellent!

Following is the flight details. There are several airports in Instanbul and the ticket price is also different. Therefore, ensure you select the correct airport for your arrival and departure. I contacted the Malaysian student there, it is best to land at Atartuk Airport.

Qatar Airways, ~ 4 hours flight

For the accommodation, I booked via the Booking.com. Since is the last minute trip, I would like to save money on this part. So, I decided Dorm is fine. The thing I was not aware of was that this Dorm is a mix gender. *Face palm*

Click the link below to know more about the hostel I stayed in. You can choose what type of room you want to stay in.

Antique Hostel, Sultanahmet

Overall, it was great, and the location is right behind the Sultanahmet Mosque. I had my Fajr prayer throughout my stay and Isyak prayer two times. So, it is an excellent choice.

Itinerary of my trip as following:

Friday, 18 January 2019 - Blue mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, Sultanahmet Area

Sultanahmet Mosque also known as Blue Mosque

I arrived in Istanbul. From the Atartuk Airport, I took a Metro (M1) towards Yenikapı then get off at Zeytinburnu. From this station, took a tramvay towards Kabataş dan stop di station Sultanahmet.

Roughly one-hour journey. From Sultanahmet, I just walked to the hostel. This was the trickiest part, so I asked around for the direction while dragging my luggage with me. I passed by Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and many tourists - everywhere. I arrived in the afternoon around 2PM and one thing I saw was, many policemen, armies with tank, jeeps, vans, guarding the area with the guns. They were guarding the perimeter then I realized, it was Friday and they just finished Friday prayer. So, I just walk with calm as I did not want to attract any attention.

After checked in, got myself clean, then I went to Blue Mosque. I waited among the tourists as they have specific time for visitor to enter the mosque. I wanted to enter then the security asked, is it for praying? I said no since I have prayed at hostel, just want to see inside. Security said wait at 4.15PM.

Then this is the view at 4.15PM.

This is right after the door for visitors was opened

Then I just visited the Sultanahmet area. Went to Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, walked around the streets.

Hagia Sophia

I forgot to tell you, it was winter and freezing. However, it was not raining and you can still walk around visiting the places. Just be sure you bring your thick winter jacket. My winter jacket was left in Malaysia, so the night before I bought a thick winter coat.

Saturday, 19 Jan - Ortaköy, Besiktas, Dolmabahçe Palace, Taksim Square, Galata Tower, Haliç

This is the view at Ortakoy.

This is one of the gate at the side of the palace. This is not the palace itself.

Galata Tower

View from Halic station during sunset. This was actually the time I felt like crying of happiness for making the decision to come to Istanbul.

Sunday, 20 Jan - Eyüp Sultan Mosque, Pier Loti Hill, Panorama 1475, Ferry by Asia-Europe Istanbul

Eyüp Sultan Mosquei

View from Pier Loti Hill. Around the hill is the grave. If you still remember, there was one Malaysian student, Allahyarham Ammar passed away. His grave is somewhere on this hill.

The wreck of the walls that cover the Old City. Panorama 1475 will explain the history and how Sultan Fateh managed to conquer Constantinople.

Took a ferry from Kardikoy to Asian part of Istanbul. The strait is known as Bosphorus Strait. This is the powerful and most important strait for business from old days until now.

Monday, 21 Jan - Süleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Mahmud Pasha Bazaar, Basilica Cistern, Gülhane Park.

Süleymaniye Mosque. Amazing architecture.

The mosque is located on the hill. Then we walked down the hill go to the bazaar. Started with Grand Bazaar, then Spice Bazaar, finally Mahmut Pasha Bazaar. I did some shopping at the Bazaar. Believe it or not, the sellers know to speak Malay and tourists from Malaysian come here quite a lot.

Recently painted to make it pretty. This is Mahmut Pasha Bazaar.

I came here in the evening. Since Hagia Sophia closed, I just walked around Sultanahmet area. This park is next to Topkapi palace.

Tuesday, 22 Jan - Travel back to Doha. From Sultanahmet, I took the same way I came to my hostel by tramvay - metro to the airport.

Overall, it was amazing experience. The only part I was missing is to enter the Hagia Sophia. At first I thought I will visit it on Monday, but it was closed on Monday. That was the thing I did not check when I did my planning.

The food, price is quite cheap compared to Qatar. It is affordable. I think I will come again visit Turkey, come to visit Hagia Sophia and then probably travel to Cappadocia and Pamukkale.

I am grateful for this opportunity

It was really refreshing journey, full of history, and I feel great to see this place myself. I learned about the history when I was in high school. Then over time, the appreciation went by. Now it is like a reminder for me not to forget how the previous leaders build this place, the victory of Islam, and many more.

I think this is it for now. I hope all of you will get a chance to visit Istanbul one day.

Till next time.

Take care and Salam w.b.t.

P/S - Where is next?

Entry after a while

Salam w.b.t and hello dear readers.

Honestly, I have left this blog not updated for quite some times. Nearly 7 months with nothing.

What???

Why is this happened? Why?

I don’t know. It is always behind my mind, "update it, update it". But I keep delaying it - procrastinating. Apologies for this unacceptable sorry behaviour.

I will update it now. Working, as usual.

Not much going on with me right now. That’s not true.

Actually, I went to Istanbul last week. Istanbul is really amazing place.

They said Paris is City of Love or Romantic City or whatsoever. For me, Istanbul is the City of Love. When I first arrived, I felt in love straight away with the atmosphere that welcome me here.

The weather, people, view, buildings, atmosphere, and many things. You know, when I first get out of the airport I took the train. Once I saw the surrounding, I feel refreshed. It was like breathing fresh air into your respiratory system (LOL, biology. Nerd…).

I flew from Doha on 18 January and go back on 22 January, 5 days 4 nights. Istanbul is simply amazing.

Let me share the pictures.

The view across the border between Baghdad and Iran.

Mosque Sultanahmet or famously known as Blue Mosque

The mosque at dawn, lovely

Hagia Sophia, opposite to the Blue Mosque.


I rent a dorm close to the Blue Mosque, 500meter on foot. Everyday, after I get off the train I will pass by these two amazing architectures. They are opposite to each other, you know like a mirror.



I went to many places, the tourist spots actually. I wanted to stay low profile and see the places. That's all.


It was really amazing, I refreshed my mind with the history as Istanbul is the historical city. Revised of how Sultan Fatih successfully entered this city, formerly known as Constantinople, Islambol, now is Istanbul. I learned this back in high school, at that time never imagine I will stand in this historical city.

On a different note, I have been thinking and thinking about what is next. I am still thinking, taking into considerations of many factors, looking for other feasible options, and doing the elimination process. It is still foggy, but I am giving myself time, as I don't want to take the decision which I will regret later on.


I will update later on, InsyaAllah.


Till then.


Salam w.b.t.


P/S - I have watched all the Sherlock Holmes seasons. Now I understand why Kanoon loves this series so much.