19 Aug 2008
Posted by smz under Uncategorized
Is my body still stuck with NZ time? I don’t know, but I am definitely sleepy and tired.
I am now in the process of writing my blog on the NZ trip, so be patient, ya? 
Tomorrow officially I am not working, but I have to go to the office briefly in the morning for some discussion. Hopefully I’ll be more energetic to continue with my blog.
Queenstown, 070808.
16 Aug 2008
Posted by smz under Diary, Friends, Trips, Unimap
Last night I was in Kangar for the convocation dinner of UNIMAP. DH got the invitation, and decided to take me along, since many of the senior ppl are our old friends (OK lah, most of them are DH’s friends, but some became my friends too, esp the spouses ).
It was quite embarrassing when someone came to me, and greeted me, “Hello Sabariah” and I looked up to him with a blank face. Then he introduced himself as the VC of UNIMAP! Oh, I really couldn’t recognise him. The last time I saw him was when he was still in the old USP KCP (Kampus Cawangan Perak) almost 20 years ago!
I also had a great time meeting Prf Ali Yeon’s missus, Zaida and Hajjah Foyziah, the senior librarian.
Nuni took some pix, so I will upload them later.
Some of the shots taken by Nuni:
The VIP was none other than Unimap’s Chancellor, the Raja Muda Perlis himself and the guest artist was Misha Omar:
But, seriously, we were there because of the signing of some MOUs:
Later, when the dinner was over, we did more “catching up” :
The ladies had to play along:
But eventually, a more formal photo shoot:
Apparently, some people just refuse to go home?:
In summary, it was an exciting event. We actually left the place at midnight!
This morning we had to give the convocation a miss, because we had to come back to Shah Alam. En route home, we stopped at Taiping to attend Nuni’s friend’s wedding. When we got home, Nuni immediately went to another friend’s wedding!
And tomorrow I will be accompanying Nuni to Muar to attend A’s wedding. A is Nuni’s good friend. Tonight we also find out that there’s another wedding of another Nuni’s friends’s!
Well, Nuni, maybe you should start singing the song “All My Friends Are Getting Married” by Skyhooks
15 Aug 2008
Posted by smz under Uncategorized
Yea, I’m back.
However I’m not up to blogging yet. Will do a day-to-day write-up later.
So many things are happening this coming week. Kids are coming home for school holidays, Ayi is going back to Canada 
and Nuni will start her semester soon.
To family friends, FYI, Nafis scaled Mount Tahan yesterday! I’m so proud of him. He did Mount Merapi in Sumatera last March.
Will blog later!
12 Aug 2008
Posted by smz under Uncategorized
It’s 9am local time. We should be on the road to Rotorua and eventually Auckland, but it’s been raining since last night
I am getting a 30 min free Internet access from the lodge, so we thought we’ll take it easy this morning.
Since I am using the PC at the lobby, I can’t upload any pic today (too much hassle for such a short access time).
I am seeing June tonight for dinner
That’s all for now folks. Need to check my mail now.
11 Aug 2008
Posted by smz under Uncategorized
I am now at Taupo Urban Retreat, Lake Taupo, NZ.
Internet access is limited. I may not be able to finish this posting
This morning we flew into Wellington from Christchurch, then a long drive to Lake Taupio.
Tomorrow we will head towards Auckland, for the final night, before flying back to Gold Coast on Wednesday morning.
09 Aug 2008
Posted by smz under Diary, Nature, Trips
Technically, it should be Milford Fiord and not Milford Sound, as explained here.
Whatever it is, the place is just magical!!
I’m in a hurry, but here are some of the pix:
I would have written more last night, but there was no Internet access, despite us paying for it
Now we need to continue with the journey
-smz
9.30pm, local time
090808
06 Aug 2008
Posted by smz under Diary, Trips
Well… not really Mount Cook, but we’re now bunking in a backpackers’ hostel in nearby Twizel.
Only tonight we get the chance to go on the Net. It’s not cheap, at USD3 per hour (or some places are NZ$4-NZ$6 per hour. But then again, what’s cheap here? Even a cup of coffee costs NZ$4!
Yesterday was not so eventful, having arrived at Coolangata Airport early morning, too sleepy to go anywhere, so we only spent the time at the airport. Took the 6.35pm (local time) flight and arrived in Christcurch at 11.35pm local time. By the time we got to the hostel, it was past midnight
More pix of today:
That’s all for now. My time is almost up
04 Aug 2008
Posted by smz under Diary, Trips
Ah… the oldie from Willie Nelson…
OK lah.. Right now I’m at LCCT again, waiting for my flight to Gold Coast, at 9.25pm tonight.
I’m accessing the Internet via free wi-fi here.
GTG. Will try to blog again later.
Bye for now.
03 Aug 2008
Posted by smz under Family, Hobbies, SMSTMFP, UNISEL, crochet
When Bok brought home his own Kirby, as blogged by Nuni here and here, I really felt more motivated to try to produce my own amigurumi of Kirby. What more when only yesterday I met up with the crafty ladies and Paul.
So last night, in between using the computer and watching the kids playing the game on TV, I started to crochet Kirby. It’s very small:
I finally put the finishing touch this morning, and the result is:
Bok’s Kirby loves my new Kirby (which I’m planning to hang to my keychain, or handphone) :
My Kirby may not be as nice as Bok’s (which was mass-produced), but one thing for sure, mine is the only one in the world! 
.
03 Aug 2008
Posted by smz under Dale Carnegie, Diary, Friends
This is a belated post. The lunch was last Thursday, when I was undergoing the Dale Carnegie endorsement programme for “High Impact Presentation”.
We went to this restaurant, which is in the building behind Wisma UOA (where DC’s office and training rooms are):
Siti (of DC) pre-booked the meal, so we didn’t have to wait for long before we were served. First came the vegies and butter prawn:
Cindy having a nice chat with Siti
More food coming:
Steam siakap too:
and the sumptuous sea-food tom yam. My portion:
I had coconut juice, but forgot to snap a pic of it