pro·cras·ti·na·tion [proh-kras-tuh-ney-shuhn, pruh‐]

procrastination is my friend. especially on updating this blog.

i've been too busy for the past few months with crossfit, swimming lesson, cardio training where by the time i reach home, it's already 10.30pm daily.

w'ends are purely to laze around but unfortunately i was occupied as well with aerobithon, bootcamps and hiking.

hence, all of my travel write up for South Korea and Chiang Mai/Bangkok have yet to start *sigh*

when i finally can squeeze some time to sort the (Thai) photos, my head went dizzy seeing too many of those hahahaha. so again, i ended up sorting halfway. a

i really wonder when i will finally check on my 2000+ SoKor photos....

Mission Outcome - Season #2??

Honestly speaking,

this season didnt' really focused on losing weight.

3kg in 6weeks.

thanks to my 3-week travel plans hahahaha

instead, i kind of go crazy in signing up all these fitness classes 

(ok, just 1 crossfit class) 

and runs. 

Believe it or not, 

even for the Kinabalu climb at the end of the year.

i guess now it's all fitness. My weight is pretty much static (plateau??) 

so i need to vary my exercise.

the so-called "T-plank" (& squat).

hokey, punggung berat!

well, practice makes perfect!

Mission Outcome - Season #1

In January, I wrote smthing about my mission..

could sort of said it reached its' purpose although i'm not quite satisfied with the outcome.

But all in all, it was really fun knowing a lot of nice folks and exercising together :)

before the Course (left) & after the Course (right)

the difference is not obvious but thank you Kevin Zahri and my JK1M Seberang Perai for the motivation.

I lost 6kg in 6 weeks!

with exercise and good diet plan :)

I'm joining Season #2, so we'll see how the next 6 weeks will be..

http://kevinzahri.com/

Next Update : )

long time gone..

sorry for the long absence..

i'm currently on a mission.

what mission, u say?

well, wait for another 5weeks

and we'll see if my mission is achieved :)

I need salt water...

Missing the sea....

Day4 (last day) :: Labuan - Muzium Labuan, Labuan Square, the Chimney

W.P. Labuan & Brunei Trip 2013

Date: 10 (Sunday) - 13 (Wednesday) February 2013

Last day in Labuan. Since my flight was in the evening, I still had time to  continue exploring the island. Quick stop to the nearby morning market at Labuan Walk for breakfast. Luckily this market is just across the street from the hotel. 

Honestly, I was expecting some kuih or nasi lemak or fried mee there but no no no.. There was no such thing. If I remember correctly, they had cakes, drinks and more cakes. Very odd.. No choice, I ended up with milo and cheese cake for breakfast hahahaha.

Muzium Labuan & Labuan Square

From Labuan Walk, if u walk towards the opposite direction from the hotel, u will reach a roundabout and a big field named Labuan Square.

I guess this is where official big functions like marching for Merdeka celebration and such are celebrated. One side of the field is a small garden for people to laze around. Easy said, it looks like Merdeka Square in KL.

Across the street from the garden is Labuan Muzium. Front of the museum is very serene with big old trees and some monuments.

Bazar Labuan

Since I don’t have any bags to check in, souvenir of choice for this trip is just fridge market. Best place to find all those are here in Bazar Labuan. Unfortunately, most of the shops were closed due to Chinese New Year holiday. But in short, u can find magnets, pearls, clothing and few tailors as well.

Nearby is the daily market. The market mostly sells seaweeds and some local snacks. As for seaweeds, there are few types and u can buy either readily packed or ask the aunties to pack as per requested weight. RM14 for 1kg of seaweed.

Patau-patau Water Village & Lunch at Kina Benuwa Mangrove

Nasi lalapan for lunch. I’m not a big fan of sambal belacan but the sambal belancan here was superb; balanced mixed of belacan and chillies.

The Chimney

Deemed as a mystery structure due to unidentified background for bulding such structure is the Chimney. In the compound u can find the information center, historical complex and the chimney itself. 

“This chimney was built in the year of 80's and the usage of it is still a mystery. It is stated that there is no traces of smoke and whatsoever that indicate that it works like any normal chimney. However, the locals believe that it was used as a ventilation shaft. Still, there are many people that have other thought. Some say that it is just an unfinished mansion built in those days while others claim that it is a light house to be. Until today, no one knows the right purpose of this chimney and this is why it is such mysterious.”

Labuan War Memorial

“Labuan War Cemetery is a Commonwealth World War II graveyard. Many of the personnel buried in this cemetery, including Indian and Australian troops, were killed during the Japanese invasion of Borneo or the Borneo campaign of 1945. Others were prisoners of war in the region. This graveyard was erected by Commonwealth War Graves Commission.” - Wikipedia

Tanjung Purun Beach

One of the non-famous beach in Labuan.

All in all. It was worth a trip considering I have never set foot in Labuan before. The town is pretty quiet and driving around the island would probably take less than 3hours.

However, I will definitely be back for wreck-diving, another famous activity here in Labuan :)

Day 3:: Labuan - Surrender Point & Anjung Ketam

W.P. Labuan & Brunei Trip 2013
Date: 10 (Sunday) - 13 (Wednesday) February 2013

Woke up late today since I had to wait for my friend to finish work in the afternoon before going out around Labuan Island. Don't feel like going out alone anyway. Destinations for the day were mostly on the other side of the island.

Surrender Point Memorial

Located at the West side of the island, near Pantai Layang-layangan. Pantai laying-layangan is a 2008 UN Beach. In other words, it was awarded to its cleanliness and view. Surrender Point is the location where the Japanese surrender North Borneo to the Australian at the end of WWII

Nearby is the Peace Park, a Japanese garden. The garden is quite big and a great place to take a stroll or jog.

Sunset view

This side of the island is the best point to see the sunset. We purposely chosen the time so that we would be able to see the sunset. There are a lot of places to view them along the way, either at the beach or at the wave breakers along the beaches. I had my view at Pantai Batu Manikar.

 Anjung Ketam

Being in Labuan won’t be completed without eating seafood. This time our dinner is located at Anjung Ketam, Tg Aru. There are few other restaurants along the road but I think this place is one of the most popular one.

Ordering is typical at other seafood restaurant. U choose ur sea creatures and they’ll cook for u. I ate my favorite food – tempura squid, chili crab and some veggies. Pretty simple but very filling. Compared to the place I ate at Labuan town, the taste is almost similar. But take note, there are minimum weight when ordering. E.g crab has to be at least 1kg, squid has to be at least 250grams.

By the time we're done, it's almost 10pm. Being in Borneo, 10pm here is practically more like 11pm so it's straight to the bed.

[Product Review] Palmer's No Blade Cream - Cocoa Butter Hair Remover

Note: Now and then, I will start including some of the product review that I feel like writing. Pardon me if u feel that it's annoying :p

This will be my 1st ever written review. I do appreciate those who make time writing their opinion of the products they have and it really helps a lot for people who wanted to have few says of others in making their decision whether to try and buy a product or not.

So here's the star of the entry.

I was looking for hair remover for my legs. I had previously try using Veet Wax Strips but i found out that the strips stick to each other after I have opened them for a while. Let me explain if u don't understand what I mean. In a box, there are 20 strips. I usually use 3 strips every time I was. Due to I only wax maybe every 3 weeks, I ended up keeping the balance of the unused strips for a while. The trouble comes when the glue on the strips stick to each other. 1 strip can be separated into 2 sides. When I peel the strips apart, some of the glue on 1 side sticks to the other side. Leaving patches of glue, which makes it ineffective when waxing.

So, I went for a hunt for hair remover. Just for the sake of trying. I know hair remover doesn't remove the hair from the roots so the hair will grow faster but I'll give it a try. I was looking around the shelf on Watson when I saw Palmer's No Blade Cream. It was actually on sale. Can't recall how much it worth exactly, but it was around RM16 for a 125g of tube.

The product is PINK in color and heck, the smell stinks. Well.... it has the same smell as other hair remover in the market.

From the box:

For softer, smoother skin. Longer lasting results. 

From Palmer's, an advanced hair remover cream that effectively dissolves away unwanted hair. * This fast-acting formula, enriched with moisturizing Cocoa butter and vitamin E, works in as little as 4 minutes and leaves your skin soft and smooth with longer lasting results than shaving. 

Use on legs, arms, underarms and bikini areas.

DIRECTIONS:

Wet area thoroughly where hair needs to be removed. Apply evenly with spatula over hair, covering completely. Do not rub in. Leave on for 4 minutes (maximum 10 minutes). Remove with spatula or washcloth. Rinse thoroughly. Pat Dray.

WARNING:

It is imperative to test the product before each use, following directions, on a small area where hair is to be remove. Wait 24 hours. If irritation or rash occurs do not use. Do not use on recently tweezed areas or on irritated, inflamed or broken skin.

INGREDIENTS

PURIFIED WATER (AQUA), CETYL ALCOHOL, CALCIUM HYDROXIDE, CETETH-20, THIOGLYCOLIC ACID, MINERAL OIL (PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM), SODIUM HYROXIDE, LITHIUM HYDROXIDE, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) SEED BUTTER, TOCOHPERYL ACETATE, LINONENE, GERANIOL, CINNAMIC ALDEHYDE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, FRAGRANCE (PARFUM), TETRASODIUM EDTA, QUATERNIUM-15

How I use it:

I use the product as per direction before I take my shower. That is put the product on, leave it for about 6mins and then get ready for shower.

Start removing the product from the skin (starting from the 1st leg that I put the product on) using the given spatula. Remove it in a vertical line starting from your ankle up to your knee. I use with DRY spatula. Repeat until your done on 1 leg and move to the other.

Finally, have your shower ; )

I use Lux Shower Cream so I would lather up especially on the area I use to make sure the smell goes away and later on put some Vaseline lotion on to make sure my skin won't dry off.

Result: (sorry no pics here)

This product works really good. It actually removed 98% of my hair. Not sure whether I got the % right but it really works! Do note that during removal, I do felt some kind of sensation on my feet where the product was still there but it's not painful nor itchy. Something like when ure scratching your legs.

I think the reason why I lather up my shower cream was to remove the product residue entirely from my legs as I have read in other people's review that their legs becomes red with burning sensation when the product stays too long.

Conclusion:

Would I repurchase? Yes!

I don't know how long will it take for my hair to grow back as I just removed them 2 days ago. As of now, no hair yet :)

hmm.. not sure when was my last post dated but i'm fully aware the blog has been abandoned hehehe. 

so for now, here's a picture fm my recent Sipadan trip..

'til i find some time to continue writing then!! :p

5 years into service

17th July, 2013 marked my 1825th day as an INTEL-liers.

my God, can't believe i'm sooooo old!! 

Intel is my one and only workplace since I graduated (twice!) 

and i'm loving it!!

Maybe i'm being pampered to much here ; )

Day 2:: Brunei – Royal Regalia & Back to Labuan

W.P. Labuan & Brunei Trip 2013
Date: 10 (Sunday) - 13 (Wednesday) February 2013

Royal Regalia

Built for the 1992 Silver Jubilee of Sultan of Brunei ascension, this is where the collection of ceremonial regalia and gifts to the Sultan is kept and displayed for public to see. 


Entrance fee was free and the building is opened daily. You are not allowed to bring a camera in (leave at the reception) but once you’re done with the main gallery, ure allowed to take photos at the front gallery. The main item here is the royal coronation carriage surrounded by the regalia from the royal crowning ceremony in which the current crowned sultan was pulled through the streets of the city.

The Regalia is my final visiting place when I was in Brunei. We’re done on time close to 4pm and went directly to the ferry terminal. Luckily the ticket counter was opened so I managed to get my ticket back to Labuan.

All in all, I really had an express tour! Around Bandar Seri Begawan in 2hours hehehe. Before departing, Uncle Saiful and Aunt Alina invited me again for a visit, next time I could drive around myself. I definitely need to come back someday to go around Brunei thoroughly.

Ferry departed on time at 4.30pm and i reached Labuan shore at 6pm.

Day 2:: Brunei – Kampung Air & Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien

W.P. Labuan & Brunei Trip 2013
Date: 10 (Sunday) - 13 (Wednesday) February 2013

Kg. Air

What’s unique about the Kampung Air (Water Village) is that there are no bridge that connects the mainland to the village. U have to use the water taxi to get around the village. One way trip is charged 50cents and if I’m not mistaken, the tour around the village is B$20. Water taxis embark in front of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in the centre of town and the water village itself. All of the Water Village buildings are constructed on stilts above the Brunei River.

Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien

More like a dataran in the middle of the city. At the time of visit, the place in the midst of preparing for the Sultan of Brunei’s birthday.

Tea – AyamKu Restaurant

 Before heading to the Royal Regalia, we had a pit stop at the local KFC named AyamKu. Actually, we bought some food since Insyiraah was hungry. And by having food, they could just eat in the car while me and Aunt Alina had a quick visit into the Regalia.

Day 2:: Brunei – Istana Nurul Iman & Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

W.P. Labuan & Brunei Trip 2013
Date: 10 (Sunday) - 13 (Wednesday) February 2013

Istana Nurul Iman

First stop was Istana Nurul Iman. This is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and the seat of Brunei governments. Civilians are not allowed to enter the castle and its compound so I was only able to get photos from the main gate.

“Upon completion, Istana Nurul Iman, became the largest residential palace in the world and the largest single family residence ever built. To be considered for the Guinness World Record, the palace must have once been intended for use as a royal residence, and only the actual combined area of the palace’s indoor floors (a measurement commonly known as floorspace) is considered. As measured by these standards, Guinness World Records currently considers Istana Nurul Iman to hold the title as the “world's largest palace.”- Wikipedia

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

This mosque was completed in 1958 and is a must place to visit if ure in Brunei. It is considered as one of the most beautiful mosque in the Asia Pacific. The most distinct thing about the build is the pure gold dome. The mosque is surrounded by a man-made lake with a ceremonial barge at the side.

Day 2 :: Labuan to Brunei

W.P. Labuan & Brunei Trip 2013 
Date: 10 (Sunday) - 13 (Wednesday) February 2013

Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Weather: Sunny

Transportation: Ferry

Woke up early to make sure I would be able to get the earliest ferry to Brunei. Reached the ferry counter around 7.30am and there were 2 ticket counters opened where 1 is for domestic and 1 for international. Well, domestic is for Menumbok, Kota Kinabalu(KK) etc and International is Brunei. Queue for domestic was very long and I heard the ticket to KK that day already sold out (don’t know why a lot of people going to KK during Chinese New Year). One way ticket to Brunei costs RM35. There are 2 class and this is for 2^nd class. I saw in the ferry that 1^st class has bigger individual chair (like in a 3-seater bus) and more private space. Anyway, you cannot buy return ticket at the counter. Return ticket from Brunei to Labuan has to be bought at Brunei’s Ferry terminal itself.

Since it’s still early, I went for breakfast at the mamak shop across the street. There were quite a lot of people. The food price here was not as expensive as I thought, almost similar to KL.

Journey to Brunei took 1.5hrs and as I suspected, the ferry was empty hahaha! I got the whole row to myself. The aircond wasn’t that cold either and there’s a movie played but I can’t remember what it was.

Custom clearance was smooth as there’re not many people around. Upon arrival outside, I straight went to the ticket counter which is located to the left of the arrival hall. To be exact, it is located directly in front of departure hall. Don’t fret, the ferry terminal is very small. U won’t get lost. Unfortunately for me, all of the counters were closed. I (and a lot of others there) waited for an hour when I finally gave Uncle Saiful a call. Uncle Saiful is my friend’s uncle who is living in Brunei. Coincidentally  we met earlier when I went to my friends’ brothers’ house in Shah Alam. He’s returning from Malaysia the same day as my arrival. Since it’s already 11.30am, I thought he must have arrived.

11.50am, Uncle Saiful and his wife, Aunt Alina picked me up and brought me to their house. We had a chat and after lunch, we started our tour. Well, they’re asking me to just spend the night there since the time will be very tight if I were to return with the 4.30pm ferry on the very day. Basically, I will only hv 2hours in Brunei. They insisted that I stay since I hvn’t bought the return ticket but I had to decline as if I stay, I won’t have time to go around Labuan.

Around 2pm, we departed from the house- me, Uncle Saiful, Aunt Alina and their 2 youngest kids, Insyiraah and Amsyar; and the journey began!

Iteninary and Budget for the Kota Kinabalu/Kundasang Tip

Click for bigger view.

Below is the actual expenses (not including our dinner/lunch expenses as well as the souvenirs).

Breakdown per person and the souvenirs that I bought.

another additional info on car rental. this is from the guy that was together on my scuba trip. They have Kancil (manual) and Viva to be rented:

Zam 016-839 1721

Zie 014-567 3496