Personal Journal on Journey of Broadening Technological Knowledge to Johor and Singapore

23 September 2010

8.00 a.m.

Wake up and try to pack all of the things that haven’t been put in my bag pack such as toothbrush, toothpaste, slippers and etc, because I still used them this morning. Took my laptop and turn it on. Online to update my status on Facebook and Twitter. Checking some celebrity gossips on PerezHilton.com and tweets any interested news. LOL.

10.00 a.m.

Going to the QMT161 class. During the class, I got a new message from my sister, informing me that my dad is in ward of the intensive-care unit in Miri Hospital. Totally bumped and speechless. Can’t focused 100% during the entire class and yet I’m faking my smile. Start to think to not joining the trip.

1.00 p.m.

After class, have my lunch and directly back to Mulu hostel. Haven’t contact my sister or my family back because I’m blur. Tweeting about it and got some support from my Twitter friends. Have my spirit back and try to stay positive for the rest of the trip. I’m sure my dad didn’t want me to skip the trip because my dad is an adventurer himself.

3.00 p.m.

Me, along with Noel, arrived at the Youth Floor and got checked for all the documents we are supposed to bring which are birth certificate, identity card and flight tickets. Almost 30 minutes after that, we are on board of UiTM bus, head to Kuching International Airport. That was after Rahimah ‘found’ Grace who is came late.

4.00 p.m.

Arrived at the airport and we regroup ourselves according to our name based on the list in the flight tickets. When we about to check ourselves in the AirAsia counter, we were informed that we can have our luggage into the cargo and before this we are told that we can’t. Bummer! And I only carry about 5 kilos for 15 kilos allowed by the airlines. Whatever it is, I don’t have to carry big load of luggage.

5.00 p.m.

Before the flight, we have our little lunner (stand for Lunch and Dinner) at McDonalds and got some grouping pictures. We departed before 6.00 p.m. I’m supposed to sit with Hazimah and our lecturer, Madam Azlina Bujang but Shidah asked me to change with her because she want to seat right beside her BFF, so I’m sitting next to Imah and Sher. Sher even brought her ‘baby’ with her. Cute.

7.30 p.m.

We landed safely (with a little bump) at LCCT. This is my second time around to land my footprints on Peninsular Malaysia, both trip are paid by UiTM. How lucky am I? Back to business, after we got our luggage, we go straight to UiTM Johor bus that is our main transportation for the rest of the trip. The bus driver wait for us for hours because they thought we would arrives in KL at 5.00 p.m. Miscommunication, I guess.

8.00 p.m.

We start our journey to Johor. We were told that we probably arrives in our hotel, at most, 3.00 a.m. That is a long journey. Along the ride, I called my mother who is right beside my dad in the hospital. She told me that my dad is getting weaker and that the cancer has spread to his lungs and stomach. My dad even asked about my trip. I know he is proud of me.

10.30 p.m.

We stop at Pagoh, Johor to have our dinner. We were even mistaken to be Indonesian! LOL. Next, we continued our ride to Danga Bay, where our hotel located. As drama prince myself, I cried in the dark after I’m thinking about my dad condition in the bus. Tita didn’t know about that cause I’m so good at hiding. I cried till I slept myself away.

24 September 2010

12.50 a.m.

Finally we arrived at our stay in Danga Bay of Tune Hotel, earlier than what the driver expected. After a quick registration, we head to our own room and straight to get a rest since we have to wake up early in the morning, although some of us still excited about the day and wandering around the hotel. Well, we don’t come here to sleep.

7.30 a.m.

We all gather together in front of the hotel, to have our breakfast first before we head to our first visit site which is University of Technology Malaysia (UTM). We arrived in UTM around one hour later. We were told that the organization is currently busy with handling convocation. So, we takes some pictures first around the spectacular UTM.

9.30 a.m.

We were giving a brief explanation about Hybrid technology which UTM are famous for. Then, PM Dr. Razali takes us to the studio to show more to us about hybrid technology that their build. He explains that they have developed AARG or Automotive Aeronautics Research & Development for that purpose. He also said that the members of AARG consists a few students, lecturers and staffs for whom want to joins the AARG. The solar hybrid car cost them more than RM1.5 million.

12.30 p.m.

After having our lunch prepared by UTM, we head to our next destination which is UiTM Johor Bahru. But before that, we go to Larkin for Friday prayer for the muslim. Right after that, we start our journey again to sister campus. The campus was much smaller than UiTM Mukah campus, as I was told by Joe. They only offered three courses which is Diploma in Accounting, Diploma in Banking and Diploma in Business Studies.

1.30 p.m.

We were welcomed by the Madam Zaiton, Coordinator of UiTM Johor Bahru, and she told us a little bit about the campus. She even expressed her jealousy over Samarahan Campus because our trip to their campus is the third one in a year and she think that her students should do the same to learn while on trip as it will broadening our knowledge. After that, we give some souvenir as a memory to UiTM Bandaraya Johor there and vice versa.

2.00 p.m.

The lecturer and students brought us to their library. The library reminds me a library in my hometown I used to visit when I was a kid. The environments are very comfy and very encourage the studying spirit. After that, they invite us for some tea time (although we were served with Soup Meehoon too) inside their meeting room. It was really a good welcoming from the campus.

2.40 p.m.

After the entire visit during the day, we head to our hotel as we are going to have our rest for tomorrow journey. What I learnt during the visit to the both campus, which is totally different from each other, is that hard work is really paid off if we are willing to do it. Size doesn’t matter, as long as we have the determination, goal and support.

3.10 p.m.

We were told that we are allowed to do our own activities for the rest of the day. Since it was still early to go anywhere, I decided to stay in my room and take a nap. The nap ends up being overslept. I was wake up at almost 6.00 p.m. Well, I’m Malaysian.

7.00 p.m.

I and my girls going to Festive Street Mall after some groups are taking off earlier. At first, Ummi thought she knows the road to one café which she once visit with her family for dinner but she is a girl. A philosophy once said that women need a map to lead them to a place compare to the men. Ummi didn’t have one. We ended wandering around the Danga Bay and take some time to ride rollercoaster-like vehicle in the funhouse. It was crazy. Then we have our dinner. Some of us buying souvenirs but not in our case after we spend most of our time to locate the café.

25 September 2010

7.30 a.m.

Right after we finished our breakfast, our specially chartered bus comes to pick us up. Before we start the journey, we are asked to fill in some kind of form about ourselves and the trip itself. On my observation, I noticed that the area closer to Singapore in Johor is very much developed with dozens of skyscrapers. Maybe Malaysia tries to impress Singaporean. You know what they say, first impression is matter. Before we put our footprints in Singapore, we have to go to custom check point.

8.30 a.m.

Finally arrived at Singapore! First impression of Singaporean did to us is that their lifestyle is hectic and what we called as rushing. People are like running (or more appropriate is walking fast) and it does make you feels like left behind. Maybe that’s the reason why Singapore is very modern, even better than Malaysia. And for the first time ever, I saw an iPad! The probability to meet someone with an iPad is higher in Singapore, I guess. That’s all I saw in the custom check point. Interesting, indeed.

9.00 a.m.

The first drama arrived. We are waiting for our tour guide and while doing so, we circling around a place, with the bus of course, more than 6 times! I even find a time to take a quick nap. About 20 minutes later, our tour guide come and he was, for all the time, in the nearer KFC branch waiting for us. I think he should wait outside the fast food restaurant instead of inside because nobody could see him. It was not a good first impression for him, in fact. Then he starts to talk crap and I don’t even give attention anymore. I noticed everyone else does so.

9.50 a.m.

Noticing the telephone rate is higher in Singapore, I couldn’t tweet anymore through my hand phone. The tour guide start to suggest to us some interesting place to us but he didn’t understand the part that we are already planning to go for the place we want to go earlier. He even said that some of the place is boring and recommend to us some good place to eat and to shopping. That’s not the big fraction of our objective to come to Singapore. At some point, he said that he don’t want to talk more about Singapore because it is so cliché and he want to know more about Malaysia. It makes him look pointless and stupid for doing that because he is the tour guide and that is not what tour guide does.

10.20 a.m.

Despite the drama, we do not lose our spirit to visit Singapore and we arrived at Singapore Discovery Centre which is located Upper Jurong Road. After paying the fees, we were brought to a hall called XD Theatre which showing and allowed us to experience 4D technology simulation ride. The XD Theater carries a state-of-the-art patented technology boasting up to 2G’s of acceleration and 100 movement / second. The XD Theater consist of 12 seats individuals electrical controlled seats. During our time, we were asked to watch The Adventures of Jett and Jin to experience itself. It was my first encounter with 4D and I lost my voice during the whole show times because I was screaming and it was a thrilled ‘ride.’ The experience watching it was very realistic as we can felt the shaking and windy. Thank God, there is no water dimensional happened during the whole 4D presentation. Before exiting the hall, we gave them an ovation as they are really deserved it.

11.10 a.m.

After the amazing experienced, we were assisted by a Singapore Discovery Center, Miss Hazima, to explore around the center and she show us the element in the Earth to reassemble the growth of Singapore. Then she showed us the unique languages which only Singaporean speaks before present to us the So Singapore Theater to see more about Singapore which. In this theater, it explains about Singapore culture and Singaporean habits and behaviors. The theater takes 10 to 15 minutes to finish. Right after that, she brought us to the Battlefield Command where we can experience to become Apache Fighter and give a command and to experience SAF (Singapore Armed Force) game.

12.10 p.m.

Then the SAFTI or Singapore Armed Force Training Institute bus tour to take us to the SAFTI Military Institute. Inside the bus, we can see Tower, SAFTI Link Bridge which is the first suspended bridge in the world with its main boom titled at an angle, Officer Cadet School, Ceremonial Hall, SAFTI MI HQ, Ju Ming Sculpture which is located near the SAFTI MI main entrance and Army Museum. Singaporean really proud with all of that.

12.30 p.m.

Back to the drama again. The tour guide is still not satisfied with our choice and suggesting to us another place. We ignored him and we arrived at the Science Centre about 20 minutes later. After paying the fees, we have about one hour to explore the Sciences Centre to have a look closer in the Science Centre. We saw lots of things inside there. It was really mesmerized me. There is some section in the centre which I get to visit which are Mathematics Section, Sciences Section and etc. We got to do some DIY experiment which is cool.

2.50 p.m.

Before we moved to the next destination which is National Museum of Singapore, we have our lunch at McDonald. Buying food at Singapore seems so cheap since I only pay for 5 Singapore Dollars, although in reality, it is more than 11 Ringgit Malaysia. The numbered does make it look cheaper. Once we arrived at the National Museum, we only had a chance to take some pictures outside the museum. Being a jerk himself, the tour guide reminds us to be quick and says “5 minutes Singapore only.” Very inappropriate. As he don’t promoting his own country. I just don’t get it.

3.20 p.m.

While we are heading to China Town, our eyes are feed by the modern and jaw dropping building structures and shopping complexes around the Orchard streets. After spending around 30 minutes at China Town, we travelled to Universal Studios in Sentosa Island. We didn’t get to enter it but we were having fun outside it as it offers some fun too. Imagine if we can get inside it too, it would be crazy. We spend about an hour outside the studios and managed to get some group pictures. Oh yeah, some of my friends get to meet the Merlion but not in my case. Next time around, perhaps?

5.00 p.m.

Before night hit us, we got to do some shopping at Mustafa Plaza. Me and my gang are lost inside the plaza when we try to go out from the plaza. Before that, i get to buy a present for my sister (because she is the one who provide the money for me to go here, so it would be nice to give back to her that money in the form of something). Thank God we managed to find the way out, just about time to go back to Malaysia. From my view, Singapore is very clean, discipline and minding their own business. It could be the success key to their achievement nowadays. The trip to Singapore is a success!

9.00 p.m.

The driver bus invite us to a restaurant called Singgah Selalu, which Ummi try to brought us earlier in the journey, to have our dinner. He also told us that he didn’t like the tour guide. Major LOL. Before we are going up to our room, Siti Rahimah as the project leader, thanks to us on our cooperation during the whole trip to Singapore. Day end with a good night wish.

26 September 2010

9.00 a.m.

For the rest of the day, we didn’t do much more than shopping. We have our breakfast at ZZ Café, place where many local celebrities go. Then, we go to City Square Johor and Jusco (which is my first time) and got to watch Charlie St Cloud film. It was tiring but we do enjoy it.

27 September 2010

8.00 a.m.

We start our journey back to Kuala Lumpur to catch our evening flight. The journey has been a great experienced for us and as the time for us to spending together, which could be the last time, for some of us. I know I’m might be one of them.

6.30 p.m.

Arrived at Kuching International Airport and we all thrilled with the experienced we got during the whole trip. When I arrived at my room in hostel, I noticed something missing. My hand phone. One thing I learnt, never left your hand phone out from your pocket and put it on the hand luggage section in the flight. What a journey!

p/s : This 99% percent of what i hand in to Sir for the individual trip journal. Pictures will be uploaded soon. :)