Phuket: Pearl of the Orient

We set on our foot in this island on December 26th, 2011, exactly seven years after the disastrous earthquake that killed over 230,000 people in fourteen countries. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters ever recorded  in the history. In the Thailand itself, 5397 death was confirmed.

It was a journey to Phuket with my friend, Ameer Azhar, an unexpected one. It didn't take a formal detailed plan to materialise but one thing for sure we wanted a backpacking style, to taste something different that we can't get back at home, to mingle around with the locals and the expatriates from different backgrounds.

This journey is an eye opener for me since this is my first time I tried backpacking which is really an authentic backpacking style as compared to when I was in Europe. It transcripts my few journeys afterwards and a stepping stone to discover the unique taste of Asia in a whole different perspective point of view. We didn't take an aeroplane to go to Phuket, instead we took a traditional way for a backpacker, by riding a bus from Puduraya, KL to Hatyai Songkhla which lasted for nine hours and another six hours of journey from Hatyai to Phuket bus terminal.

The mysterious lady.

Along the way I made new friends from as far as South Africa, Canada and Netherlands to name a few and we even exchanged contacts. All came here for one reason, to unwind and to discover Asia.

Ameer being a tarzan was swinging from left to right before making a splurge inside the water.

On our way to James Bond island. Rafting is absolutely amazing.

These jeeps are definitely an eye opener. Picture was taken at Patong beach, dubbed as the most popular beach in Phuket for it's night life.

Where business matters.

A different perspective. My wooden stick to support my injured leg  lying down on the floor in a  tuk -tuk.

In the street of Phuket city where the night is crawling in.

The breaking dawn.

Car plate numbers.

A luxurious car in the street.

A cause of living.

My next destination? It was once known as Prey Nokor and formerly the capital of the French Colony of Cochinchina.

Departure of the Love one

I was very speechless when I got to know that I had lost all my 3 years worth of pictures since 2009 when I was studying abroad and all those euro trips' ones were gone. I was beyond words, few days back. Almost all the data had lost. It was a stupid mistake not to do any single back up at all before this. But I feel glad that one of the albums that I managed to retrieve was this one. The day my sister left to Alexandria after the widespread protests against Mubarak's regime had subsided. Love them :)

Imaan brought a 'banner' to bid farewell

Picture of the whole family

With my sis's bf, Arif  aka the Pilot

Final Hug

The Unforeseen Circumstances

September 16th, 2011. The day I finished my 3 months probation. Now, I'm officially a permanent staff of an audit firm. The name shall not be disclosed here. And 3 months later, I found out how miserable my life is, as an auditor. Despite my experience in internship last year in auditing, I'm still up for this job position that requires high patience and tolerance. And I am still having problem to settle down. The professional minded people, advised me, "this is the best career to start with". "Don't worry, suffer now, enjoy later". "In 10 years' time, you will be in the top managerial position, a director or a partner. You can have everything you want in life". Frankly speaking, I don't even care about how much I will earn in the future, or how big my position is. I don't care about what car I will be driving (actually I want a Volkswagen Beetle 21st Century or 2001 Merc SLK) or the house I will stay in. All I want is a job satisfaction, to do something that I enjoy or comfortable with. Something that in the future, when I ponder upon my past, I did not regret the path that I had chosen. The problem now is because I have difficulty in managing my stress level, and oh my god, the heavy burden work loads. Otherwise, practically everything seems normal. On the weekend, the only thing that I'm looking forward is for my social life, my free time & my own space. Now, I realised, less time I spend with my friends and I only see my family at night, which is quite sad though when I come home to see everybody has fallen asleep. So yeah, my advice to you guys out there reading this, enjoy your student life as much as you can and never feel regret of what you are doing.

Cheers.

On the 21st Day of Ramadhan

I was walking down the road from the place where I parked my car. New car, I thought where I have at least achieved something. But in substance, the car belongs to the bank, not mine. I owe the bank through a hire purchase agreement. That is called substance over form, I learned in my university life during my sophomore year. As I made my way to my client's place, I was clutching my laptop's bag on one's hand. This laptop also doesn't belong to me. My employer lend it for me to do my professional work. If I lose it, I will be dead the next day. Even the laptop has been depreciated over the remaining useful lives, I would still have to pay the full amount regardless of the age. Pathetic isn't it? What is the most important is the crucial data that is stored inside. Basically, what we have right now is only temporary and we might not have it the next day. It's like a loan from Allah s.w.t. Always be grateful for what we have. Never compare ourselves to the richer people because we will never be satisfied. Instead, compare ourselves to the poor ones and always help them.

Salam Ramadhan.

Phew, finally!

First and foremost, Alhamdulillah, I'm officially done with my research and analysis project for BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University in affiliation with ACCA. Finally after five months of hard work, I can finally breath, a heavy burden has been lifted from my shoulder. I feel so relieved now and can concentrate on my final paper which is P7. Thank you Miss Joyce Low for being a good mentor to me, who have guide me in doing this project and not to forget to both of my parents especially to my mum who had never give up in giving me motivation and encouragement to finish up what I have started. Thank you very much :) Now, I just pray hard hopefully I'll get a very good result for my research project. Amin.

Top 10 places I would like to see before I die

Top 10 places I would like to see before I die:

1. Mecca, Saudi Arabia
2. Petra, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan
3. Istanbul, Turkey
4. Giza & Alexandria, Egypt
5. Taj Mahal, Agra, India
6. Munich, Germany
7. Vienna, Austria
8. Athens, Greece
9. Great Wall of China, People's Republic of China
10. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia

Top 10 places that I have been:

1. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
2. Pakistan
3. Los Angeles, United States
4. London, England
5. Paris, France
6. Milan, Italy
7. Amsterdam, Netherlands
8. Barcelona, Spain
9. Dublin, Ireland
10. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

upside down

you don't know how disappointed i am right now. it took years to build it and it crashed within minutes. disappointed. truly am.