Myanmar trip review

Another late review of my recent trip ><

Myanmar trip date: 14/11/2011 - 22/11/2011

Well where to start. I just summarise all of what happen in Myanmar.

First, reached yangon settle down and went to eat dinner (Huge portion of pork as well >:D) and walk around Inya lake (which is nearby). After that, bought bus tickets for the trip to Bagan. Went to a friend house to try out the Burmish style food. It was really good :D

Next is Bagan trip,

November 16, 2011. Left Yangon with my guide, adi to Bagan. Along the bus trip, had a few stop and get to experience some Myanmar food. The bus ride was around 9 – 10 hours and was quite compact but at least I’ve got to see some of the scenery that Myanmar’s got to offer. In addition, I saw my first shooting star (woots!). Soon after we reach, we took a ride to our hotel (kyaw hotel). At 7am in the morning it was adventure time! (Not enough of sleep though). We rented bicycles and ate breakfast at some nearby coffee shop (Can’t remember the name). After breakfast, off we cycle off to old bagan from the hotel! Visited many pagodas (too many to count already) but there more significant ones that we went were: Ananda Phaya. A lot of the pagoda names are forgotten by me as I was just simply am amazed by the views, the scenery and the wonders of the nature of the pagoda. Some pagodas are climbable while some aren’t. After the 1^st part of the trip, we went to find some lunch at another coffee shop (Can’t remember the name again). Had a great meal there and the portion is quite generous. After lunch, we continued the journey to see other pagodas again. Along the way, I was lucky enough to have a glimpse of asia. After a few more pagodas, we went to find a particular pagoda that’s able to climb till the top. All that just so we can look at some amazing sunset. We went back to the hotel and even cycled in the dark. After we got back, we settled down and then off for dinner. The whole day was just about adventures and breathes taking scenes from the pagoda and the sunset. There are just no proper explanation to described the scenes that I was able to witness and even the sunset just took my breath away as seeing how the colours of the blue sky turning into orange and red. How the clouds were in harmony with the colour change and how the lights hits the pagoda just amazed me. It’s a must see if you up for adventure. Also, be prepared to cycle for 70km (seriously no joke about this).

November 17, 2011. Checked out of Kyaw Hotel and off to Popa!!!

Popa!!! Well it was more tiring than Bagan. It was only a day trip though. Climb Mount Popa without realising then since halfway up, continue to climb all the way to the peak. The sight were truly beautiful and breath-taking (not due to the tiredness of climbing) See the photos for more info XD

After that its back to Yangon.

Rested for a day, then off exploring again >:D this time, it's Shwedagon. go to this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shwedagon_Pagoda for more details XD After that, it was my first time eating crickets XD At night, saw 5 shooting stars for the 1st time in my life XD The last one was the awesome one as It was bright green and was bigger than the others.

To sum it all up, it was truly an amazing trip. If only I had a DSLR camera to capture the beauty of what Myanmar to give. It would have been worth it. The food there was truly awesome :D especially for my appetite XD This trip is worth every bit of it. The time and experience there is truly great :)

Thanks Adi for the tour around, the accommodation and hospitality, and everything :D, Thanks Eve for the Burmish food :3 , Thanks Pyae Phyoe for the transport :))

Thanks for reading this short summary of what happen XD hope you all enjoyed it :) Till again the next post. God bless

Cheers,
Rick

Review of Sem 2 2011

Well this is quite a very late review of my whole semester 2. This whole semester, I've tried a different approach in my studies as I tried to focus on my social skills more and also my club. It was quite a hectic and "self discovery" semester for me. In addition, it was also my reconfirmation of my future and also in what to do in my life. That's the brief summary of what my semester about. Now it's time for my summary of each unit.

Engineering Management 302:

It was quite hard to understand and was confusing at first. The one that took most of my time was the accounting part of the unit. Trying to figure out what goes with what and also in how to use the formula. The tutorial for the unit had a lot of wrong answers, so sometimes it was difficult in knowing whether answer correctly or not.

Industrial Technology 233:

This was more of a practical unit and hands-on lab work. The test were based on how you memorised the theory and was random to each person in the question. Even during the lab there were quiz. The lab work was the most fun time I had for this unit as I've learn quite a lot in tool handling and also CNC machine handling.

Mechanical Design 238:

The only thing about this unit was the quite confusing maths work available here. Doing the tutorial itself was not enough. You also had to do the past year quiz to understand the unit more better. It was quite hard at the 2nd half of the sem where virtual work and brakes were involve. All in all, it was quite challenging in terms of mathematical application.

Thermodynamics 236:

This was the unit I spent most of my time studying, yet I failed this unit. This kind of unit is not about how much effort you put into your tutorial. heck I've did all the tutorial! It's all about understand and imagining the question/problem. The lecture always emphasise on reading the question and understanding it 1st before you start to attempt the question. I've spent most of my time, reading the question and trying to imagine the whole question before attempting the question. The final really killed me as I was mentally due to me having 3 days of exam straight. All in all, this unit should be understand properly with guidance (if weak) so that, able to understand the question and can attempt the question more faster and easily.

That wraps up my semester. Thanks for reading and Till the next semester.

God bless.

Cheers,

Rick

Game Review: Fable III

The first thing i do when i heard of fable 3 is to look up for whether it will come out in the PC. After waiting it finally came out :D went to get it from a friend and tried playing the game. I had played Fable: The Lost Chapters (TLC) before and i had high expectations of Fable 3 to be better. After playing the game and finishing the game. The game was a huge disappointment. Gameplay was alright. The leveling up system is lousier than Fable: TLC. You can't even see your own health bar and mana bar. Also i don't there's even a mana limit. So that would make magic casting the best. Fable III fighting system is too simple, where's the challenge? The only good thing about the game is that you are able to manage your economy of the game. The story? Too short and predictive.

If Fable IV were to come out. I hope they make drastic change if they plan to make the game good.

What i would like to see in Fable IV

1) Health Bar and Mana Bar GUI

2) Balance the fighting system. Make spells use mana!!! Instead of telling us to cast away like mad.

3) A better shop GUI interface, instead of placing the items there, why not have a menu to shop? That way would be better.

4) Make the game simpler to understand in where to go than to make people lost and waste lots of time.

5) Have a bloody mini map to let players know where they are. Instead of running in circles.

6) Have a better storyline.

7) Improve the bloody choice of interactions =.= too damn stupid and dumb looking at how they interact with each other.

Gameplay: 5/10

Story: 6.5/10

Graphics: 8/10

Fighting system: 5.5/10

Challenge: 2/10

Puzzle: 2/10

Overall: 4.8/10 (Needs to improve more)

Review of 1st year sem 2

The first few weeks of sem 2 was alright but the moment week 4 came. It was pure hellish and tiring. Had to do lots of assignments, studying, meetings and the list goes on. I even opened a fencing club and gave classes. It was really quite tiring indeed. the moment when i became lazy is after my electrical system 100 midterm. That's the time where i got quite lazy and just wanted to relax.

The free week came, I've decided to just camp inside my rented house to study and also catch up on things. The only time i got out of the house was the time i followed my friend to Brunei for sushi and bought groceries. 4 days non-stop being a hermit was truly and very weird experience. The 1st time i got out of the house in 4 days made me felt like the world was suddenly different. How worse will it get if i went for a week? or even more? Wonder how the experience would be.

The 1st week after tuition free week i went back for a few days for my parents anniversary. It was sure good to come back and rest but couldn't enjoy the stay as i had to do my assignments. After when i came back, it was back to business and the usual. Had a presentation at the final week of the teaching week. That's just roughly the summary of the semester. Now it's time for the units.

Electrical System 100:

It really made me suffer quite a lot but it pays off. Midterm was alright, and so is my assignments. After that, my 'ego' had taken over me and i actually underestimated the finals. 3 days before the finals i actually touch on the past years and it sure really made me think a lot. The finals. Well let's just say i hope i can get the answer correctly for me to get at least a distinction :D Also the time

Engineering Foundations: Design and Processes 100:

This unit . . . purely takes a lot of your time. Sure it makes you act, think and operates like how engineers do but surely isn't the time taken from this subject kills you? That's all i could say about the unit but i was bless with great teammates. At first, i had thought we couldn't pull it through but it surprise me that the whole group contribute with the work and the work load was evenly distributed. I'm happy to have work my fellow teammates and also had a great time with them as well :D

Engineering Mathematics 140:

It's maths, what more can i say? All about being hardworking and proper studying does counts :D Just that the lecturer is quite egoistic in his way of teaching but at least i pulled through (I hope).

Engineering Programming 100:

The unit that i had looked down on since day 1. I personally did not spend so much time on this unit. For midterm and even finals. I studied a day before. Unfortunately, i did not have much time to answer for the finals. Also during the finals, somehow there was some technical error with the timer. It stopped and the invigilator was figuring out on how to fix it. I just had to be a nice guy and tell the invigilator to click on the resume button :DDD oh well at least i'm being honest in a way XD

Engineering; its Evolution, Development, Successes and Failures 100:

This subject really taught me a lot. I've learned about the history then the development of the particular engineering field. Not just that, i had a supervisor that taught me in how to write reports, the engineering way. Honestly speaking, if i had not taken this subject. I would be telling myself, why didn't i took this unit at the beginning of the semester. Which i know some of my friends regretted. Why bother paying for something that you've already took in foundation, or a level or form 6? It was truly a great experience for me.

That's all the summary i have till now. Thanks for reading this post, and till next time.

God bless.

Cheers,

Rick

Promise years to come

If i had the chance to go back 7 years and do things right, fix up the mess, redo everything and love. I wouldn't take that chance as i will miss a lot of important things within that 7 years that made me better. I am who i am now; a slow bloomer, a blur fella, a loner at some points and of course a follower of God. So now i walk in the present and towards the future to make things right, i've seen a lot in my past life of who i was, and now it's time to make my stand and do things right in this new life of mine. Now it's time to wait for these years of promise and do it right. This time, i will do it all along with the guidance, strength, courage, wisdom and faith from/in God.

It's time, i take it seriously now. It's time to do it right. I will do better and better each day. I will get myself up and along the way, i will help you get up as well. My time is still a long way to go. Also, my mind still has much to learn. I'm maturing and little by little, i'm becoming what i'm suppose to be. Hope, Love and Faith now is my driving force to achieve this goal. I Hope that the promise year will come as planned, I will Love along the way but not to many but one, and I have faith in you and God that things will be as planned.

2010 summary

Well 2010 had been a hectic, f'ed up, crazy, mental blowing, headache, emo?, wacky, awesome, fun and funny year for me. Had more than 80++ Deja vu. Had some bad emotional breakdowns. Had few rolling on the floor laughing experience. Got into an accident twice XP almost revive my jackass self again, which good thing it didn't XD Had a lot of regrets but now it's cleared out and is living a life without regret. So that's concludes what had been happening in my life this year. Joy, Pain, Sorrow, Happiness, light and of course fun. God had always been by my side all these years in guiding me, and of course there are times where i rebel against but who doesn't right? Same case as a son rebel against his father so what does it make a diffrence between the rebellion against God? But remember, no matter how many times we rebel Him, He still loves us and treat us special =) So ask God for forgiveness, Guidance and Wisdom then have FAITH. Happy new year =)

Penang Trip Summary

Well this post should have been posted up few weeks ago but again i didn't had that much time. What i can say bout the trip in penang can be said by these summaries:

1) The food!!! Is both cheap and Good!!! I enjoy eating at penang and i've been eating and eating. Thank goodness i didn't gain or even lose any weight.

2) The place. Well it's pretty hectic at how the drivers over there drive but there are places have very nice scenery and also they have beautiful parks to go for a jog or exercise and etc. with fresh air and in a green environment.

3) The people. Well they are friendly and welcoming (Most of the people i've met) also if you don't know how to speak hokkien. Then i suggest you make friends that does. It's good to bring you around and of course for your wallet as you can get cheaper price for food XD

To sum it all up. Penang island is a good place to live as it's mor econvenient for the people to get around while on the mainland it's best that you know the places for it's quite far apart the places and all. Can't wait to go for another penang trip and eat more food!!! Till then, cheers

Reviews on Evercool FIT (Notebook Ideal Cooling)

Well i've bought this small notebook cooler (as shown above) for RM55 and for me it's a good buy for it's quality. From 92 celsius to 76 celsius take around 3 minutes and 46 seconds. While from 92 celsius to 68 celsius around 21 minutes and 06 seconds. I've tested this cooler on my current laptop which is a Dell XPS m1530 (specs shown below)
Processor: Intel Dual core 2.4ghz
graphic card: Nvidia 8600m gt 256mb
Ram: 3gb DDR 2 hdd: 320gb

This gave a very good impressions for me as i'm able to play games at a comfortable temperature. Without the cooler, my laptop would go to 92 celsius in 12 minutes and 10 seconds while with the cooler is attach, it take about 25 minutes and 21 seconds. The game played was two worlds 2, the graphics specs
screen: 1200x800
AA mode: none
AA samples: 1 sample
Details: 3
Ambient Shadow: 0
Draw distance: 2
Texture Quality: 1
Grass draw distance: 1
Shadows: Off
DOF: Off
V-sync: On
HD video: Off

To sum up the review. I would give a 4.2/5 rating for this cooler and would recommend to gamers who has heating problem on their laptops. For the full specifications on the cooler, go to http://www.evercool.com.tw/products/nb_ft1.htm (if this link still works) or just google it.

Summary of Degree life semester 1

I'm 1 month late in posting up this summary of my 1st semester in degree, which i've been quite busy to do so. There are quite a number of things i had summarised life in degree, there are:
1) You don't have that much time to play game, the most i could play was 5 - 7 hours in a week.
2) This time studying is all about understanding and learning on how to apply the theory or formula that been given.
3) This time you are considered as an engineering student, which you have to learn to be one now.
4) Less time in class but more time studying/assignment.
5) Expect to constantly have lack of sleep.
6) MUST find some time to relax, if not you will over stress your brain and will, i repeat WILL do badly in you midterm or finals.
7) Need to eat right and take care of yourself equals to taking care of your brain.
8) Always seek help when in doubt. If you don't, suffer during finals.

Of all 8 summaries, there is only one that's not in the list is the best. Which is to pray to God for guidance, to get involve in church and of course, to have faith.

1 month in degree life Summary

For the past 1 month in degree, i've came to realise that everything is easy and simple if you do the assignment given quick n fast. Also, it's the first time in my life that i was sooo organise till i had at least 7 hours of gaming XD Currently this semester i have only 4 unit so i can equally put in 7 hours each unit per week. Currently i'm in my tuition free week ( which is not much of a free week ) and this week is very important for me to be ahead of myself in studying and doing my assignment. Since i know myself better, i admit i'm not a smart person, which is why i need to work harder. Also it's quite stress free now since i'm able to balance everything out =) hope this will last as long till i graduate, or in fact for life.

Back to University. New Sem, New Course, New Start.

For all my life, i've always been a lazy person. I've only started to study properly when i was 17 years old and had my SPM examination on that year. I've suffered quite a lot during my foundation year at Curtin University, Miri as my basic understanding of the subject was bad. People thought i was a laidback person but actually i was pushing myself in studying. my housemates usually come to my room either when i'm playing computer games or watching animes/movies. They then come to think i'm a very laidback person. Now, i'm going to do my degree course in engineering starting today (2nd august 2010) and i have 4 years to come. I want to have a new start in my life, as for the past 16 years i have been lazy, now i have to start become more and more diligent and hardworking. Further understand, further getting experience, and grow more maturely. The journey of being an adult starts from now.

18++ life years

For all the 18++ years i've been living. I've learnt there are always 5 possibilities to every action and another 5 possibilities to every possibilities. Things always seems to be either unfair or fair but question is what's the definition of being fair? Whatever we do, there's never the word fair, it's always unfair. For example, buying the item that you really like at a reasonable price seems fair to you but is it fair to those who's looking for that item with that same price or even those who want that item but can't afford? Life itself is unfair to humans and it's judgement but not for God.

God had/have made life a challenge for us all for a reason. For every possibilities of any action, He had/have made everything for us without we even appreciating it. For example, let's just say a family member of yours or someone you know and is close to died then the possibilities that we do is either blame God or take it as it is or in some cases take it as a challenge and renew ourself and be better. No matter how many times we fall, God was/is/will be always there to pick us up and be better.

Not many people in this world have this kind of thought and so go astray of this world and from God. This have nothing to do on whether we are a Christian, Muslim or Buddha and etc. is how we practice our religion to bring people closer to God. This what you can say is very sad. People tends to jump into conclusions quick rather than thinking twice and so people say life is UNFAIR and they relate that to God.

To those who have read this so far, I thank you from the bottom of my heart to read and spare some time reading. Please reflect on your everyday life and please understand what does life really mean to you.

Cheers,
Rick E. K.