After my previous India trip, a week laspe before i was on my way to Miri, East Malaysia for another inspection job. That was in early November. First time to Miri also. Read up from internet and found that this place flourish becoz of oil industry. Reached Miri in late afternoon and walk around the shopping centre that was beside the hotel. Next day morning fly off to the rig. A really long helicopter ride there.

Finished my inspection and went off rig. But due to bad weather that came suddenly, the helicopter was delayed and i was late for my flight out of Miri. The susbsequent flight are also fully booked and thus i had to stay one nite in Miri.

Reached home the next day (thurs) in afternoon. Was quite tired so took a nap in the afternoon before meeting my friends for dinner. In the late afternoon, received an email from my supervisor telling me that i maybe flying to another rig in India for an inspection job the next day (fri). Later at nite, the job was confirmed and next day, i flew off to India again. This time, the rig is in Mumbai and the helicopter ride there is about 30mins.

After the job was completed, i came off the rig and rest in the hotel coz my flight out of India was at midnight. Then at the hotel, i turned on my mobile and received a sms from my younger brother telling me that his son (my nephew) was born on that morning at 6.45am. That day was 11/11/2008. Such a nice number! My nephew name is Joshua Lim Yu En. I felt so excited and wanted to see him quickly. I reached Singapore the next day morning, then went home, took a quick bath and then went with my mother to NUH hospital to see my little nephew. He was sooooo cute! kekekeke

After seeing my little nephew, i went to Tiong Bahru Plaza to look at the new Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 mobile phone. Been eyeing that phone since the announcement few months ago. Like it alot, but the shop dun have any stock. So i went to Wisma Sony Style Shop and found that they have a few black color set. But they dun have silver set. Debated with myself for awhile and decide to get the black color instead. Met a friend for dinner at IMM and then at night, went to tiong bahru area to meet WLNY friends for dessert. kekeke.

That sunday, i was off to Songkhla for another job. This job supposed to be 1 month, but later, it was cut short by the customer. Reach Singapore on Monday nite and then fly off to India on Wed nite for a inspection job on the rig i went to previously.

Reach India near to midnite and was ferry to the hotel. My room was upgraded to a suite becoz there are some problem with the room they assigned to me. First time staying in a suite! Really nice! Swtich on the tv to check the news and then found out that there was a terrorist attack at Mumbai that very nite at ard 10pm! And they had targeted luxury hotels! Found out that those area being attack is in the main city area, thus there wasn’t any impact at those near the airport.

That nite, found out that 80 people died and 250 injured. Next day early morning, i was on the way to the helibase to take the helicopter to the rig. Heard from the locals that the terrorist attack was still ongoing and there are some hostages being held captive by the terrorist.

When i reached the rig, everyone was talking about it. Once awhile, read the news from internet and found that the people who died are increasing. Later, read that a Singaporean was one of the hostage. The death tolls were increasing as time goes by. Then came the news that the female Singaporean hostage was being killed. She was only 28 and just married last year. She is a lawyer and was in India for a business seminar. So sad to hear this news…

The terrorits attack ended after 60hours, with all the terrorist except 1 killed. THe death tolls rises to 188 and injured people are near to 400. Damn terrorist.

While the terrorist attacked was going on, Bangkok International and Domestic Airport and occupied by the anti-govenment protestor on tues nite, one day before i flew off to india. All flights in and out of the airports are cancelled. Alot of tourist are stranded. The protest at the airport lasted for 1 week. mroe than 350,000 tourist are stranded in Bangkok. Some took a long trip home by travelling down south to hatyai or phuket or even to Malaysia. 3 tourist died on the road from car accidents due to this. Thailand suffer major losses due to this.

Alot of businesses are also affected. I kept watch on this news becoz i was planning to go bangkok in early january. Anyway, now the protest is over due to a court ruling against the ruling part, and the protestor had left the airports and normal flights are resuming. I will keep watch and decide next week whether i wanted to go there or not. Read from internet forum that, the shopping districts are still operating as per normal in Bangkok during hte protest.

Anyway, i am still in india and hoping to leave the rig soon. Hopefully, i can reach Singapore either on friday or saturday. Next Monday is my little nephew one month baby shower! Hope i can be in Singapore to attend it!

My last trip at Songkhla, Thailand, ended on 12th October. And i reached home on 13th October itself. The last day on the rig was quite eventfull. Me and my colleague was supposed to leave the rig at ard 12noon by boat. We slept around 2am, thinking that we could sleep till 8am then wake up. Then who knows, the fire alarm rings at 4.30am. My first reaction was, “Fire Drill at THIS hour??”. Then came an announcement which indicates that this IS NOT a drill. Quickly, me and my colleague changed our clothings, put on the shoes and grab the life jacket and head to the muster point.

At the muster point, we were told that the drilling met with some problems, and the crew are trying to control it. Accounting of personnel was done, amid some difficulties, as some of the local Thais do not understand english and were not ready and look bewildered. Anyway, after some time standing at the muster station, we were told that the stuation is under controlled. But they had called in the supply boat and would evacuate all none essential personnels to the supply boat as precaution.

We were then stuck on the supply boat, not knowing what’s next. After 5hrs on the supply boat, we were brought back to the rig. Then me and my colleague went to check about our departure from the rig. We were told that the crew boat was changed to 7pm. So me and my colleague waited till around 6.30pm, when the boat arrived. We board the boat and about 2.5hrs later, we were back on land and headed to a hotel in Songkhla for a nite before our flight next day. I reached home on Sunday evening.

End of that week, i was on my way to india for a survey job. First time to india. The flight was nite flight at 8pm on SIA. Something interesting happened before take off. A guy was kind of high on alcohol and started some trouble for the flight crew. the flight officer was called in. Later, the Flight Captain made a decision to have the guy off the plane. After that, the plane took off and 1 watch 2.5 movies onboard. Reach India at 11.20pm and reach the hotel 10mins later. Was quite tired and went to bed. Next day morning, took a 2.5hr chartered flight on a single propeller plane to Rajahmundry and then immediately, 25mins chopper ride to the rig.

Completed my survey and came off the rig today, with some rig crews. Nice bunch of fellows. Was asked to their room for a drink and had slight more than 1 1/2 bottles of calsberg. When my head started getting heavy, i know i reached my limit. So i excuse myself, went back to my room. Ordered room service for dinner and now resting before turning to bed.

ok… internet almost limit liao… gotta stop…

Well, in the late july, as blog presiously, my maternal grandmother passed away. It was kind of sudden that she passed away. She went to the hospital on friday for some other issues and then slipped into coma at the hospital. But she seems to recover and that’s why my mum didn’t let us know. But on Monday, her condition suddenly got worse and she didn’t wake up from coma after that. I was told on tuesday by my elder brother, so on wednesday, after work, i went to the hospital to visit her.

When i was there, her conditions detoriated and at 10+pm, she passed away peacefully without any struggle. Most of my uncles and aunties were there when she passed away. Next few days was the arrangement of her funeral at Singapore Casket at Lavender Street. She was cremated on Sunday. Her funeral was a christian funeral.

2 Days after my maternal grandmother funerals, it was my paternal grandmother’s lunar death anniversary. It was the 8th year since she had passed away. Times really flies. I went to Gu Si Lin to pray to her as well as the ancestor, for the lunar 7th month prayer, in the morning. Afternoon, i went to Bright Hill Monestry to pray at her ash urn, and also to pray to my 2nd Aunt.

Rest of August was kind of peaceful, without any overseas travel work. I bought new computer parts to build a new computer and also to upgrade the current one to run as a server. Will blog another time for the building of the PC.

I started to travel overseas for work during Mid September. This time is to a rig off Melbourne. It was the end of winter there, but the weather is freaking cold and with the wind coming in, it really chill big time. Wind were strong while i was there, and when coming back. This caused the Helicopter ride back to be very choppy and uncomfortable.

After i came back to Singapore from Melbourne, few days later, i was off to a new rig in Songkhla, Thailand. It wasn’t a easy trip, as the fishermen around there are protesting and demanding compensation from the oil company, Nucoastal, which this rig is drilling for. Boat ferry were delay and was at one time, divert to go to Surat Thani. That is a 12hr boat ride which goes further north.

Currently, things seems to go back to normal situation. Hopefully, it stays that way till i got off the rig. Which i also dunno when….. hopefully by this weekend. I am starting to miss Singapore food liao…

ok, so long for now….

Hotel Room

Hotel Surrounding

Map

Buildings

The Beach and the Sea

The Port

My work trip to vietnam (3rd June to 13th June) was quite interesting, coz its been the first time i went to Vietnam. This trip brings me to 2 places in Vietnam, Vung Tau and Hanoi. Me and my Norway colleague, Ole, landed in Ho Chi Minh City and then was transferred to Vung Tau via a 1.5hr ferry ride. My first impression of Vietnam was, the traffic is kind of scary. Traffic rules and traffic lights are almost non-exsistance. Horns are everywhere, whether it is needed or not, and crossing the street required some bravery and skills.

At Vung Tau, things are a little slower, maybe becoz there is lesser people. There is a beach there which has alot of people playing around there. Took some photos there and also some photos of the buildings there.

Stayed at a hotel for one night and next day, was on the helicopter to the rig to conduct the survey job. Supposed to be a quick survey, but we ended helping them to troubleshoot some problems. But we were out of the rig on sat morning (7th June). We travelled from Vung Tau via the ferry back to Ho Chi Minh. But the ferry breakdown about 30mins into the journey and it had to turn back and we are transferred onto another ferry. When we reach Ho Chi Minh, we are send to a clinic for a medical checkup that is required by the oil company, Petronas, which the next rig is drilling for. Then we went to the rig company office for a meeting. After that, we went to the airport and took a flight to Hanoi.

At Hanoi, we are stayed at a 4 start hotel, M Hotel while waiting for Petronas to issue us out boarding pass, which will only happen on Monday. So on Sunday, me and Ole decide to venture out on the streets of Hanoi around the hotel. We went to the Old Market, and then in the evening, we walk to 2 major shopping centres there. Didn’t bought anything, except some mineral waters and tibits when we saw a supermart. When we are back in the hotel, we received info that the helicopter schedule is on Tuesday, so that means we had another day in Hanoi.

Monday morning, we went to the Ho Chi Minh muesuem. Back in the hotel in the afternoon, we received a call from the clinic and was told that Ole’s medical checkup had some problems with the ECG and they need him to do some checkup with a specialist at Hanoi. We are suprised to find that they send an ambulance to take us there. This is the first time i sit in an ambulance. The specialist was at the Hanoi French Hospital. After the checkup by the specialist, Ole was told that his Stress ECG was not normal and becoz of his family history, they would want to put him on futher medical checkup (whch is injection of contrast fluid into his blood veins). Funny thing was, the French doctor had to speck french to the Vietnamese doctor, who translate it into vietnamese to the nurse, who then translate it into english for us. Anyway, we went back to the hotel and i check with my manager for further instruction. Also, we was told that the helicopter is scheduled on wednesday instead of tuesday.

After 1 day of communication here and there, it is finally decided that i will travel to the next rig alone and Ole will fly back to Singapore for a meeting with the rig company and my manager. So on wednesday, i went to the rig myself and conduct the survey. There was some mis-communication and i nearly can’t get back on Friday. But luckily, after some waiting, i was able to return to Singapore on Friday, else, i would have missed the PC Show. But of course, if i were to get stuck on the rig for the weekend, i would have got more offshore allowance. But it would dread me to miss PC Show. haha.

Anyway, my trip back to Singapore from Vietnam is kind of tiring also.. As it was quite last minute that i was able to get off the rig, the rig company was only to get my flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City at a late timing. Taking that flight to Ho Chi Minh City will only gives me about 15-20mins to rush from the domestic terminal to the international terminal to check in before the check-in closed. I tried to see if i was able to get onto a earlier flight, but it was not possible and also the staff at the counter is not really efficient and there was no proper system in place for recording such request. In the end, i took the original flight and really rush myself to the International terminal to catch my flight back to Singapore.

Will post the photos of both Vung Tau and Hanoi when i get back to Singapore. Coz the internet connection here is not that good, and i can’t get the url link from my photo gallery to post the pics here.

After the EVC GTG on Sunday, the next day, i flew off to Songkhla (in southern Thailand) with my senior for work on a tender barge rig. The tender is floating on the sea and the drill platform is on a stable platform. The first 2 days that i was there, i was feeling stone, coz can’t get used to the floating tender. After that, i kind of got used to it. When i was back in Singapore, for 2 days, i was kind of feeling headache and mind keep telling my body to sway. Really shit feeling.. haha. Anyway, i was on the rig for 8 days.

After i came back to Singapore, i was told that i will be going for another job. This job is to conduct survey on a equipment which a drilling company is having. They are having issues/problems with it. So i will be attached to a Norway Service Engineer to learn to conduct the survey on 3 rigs and then i will continue with the rest of the fleet. So i started to prepare and learn about what the equipment is about.

On that Sunday, 1st June, it was my secondary school classmate’s wedding. It is also his birthday on that very day. Reach there and met a few of my old classmater, Nanbiao, Michael, Wanmet, Zhifeng. The dinner was quite interesting. When it was near the end, my friend’s father, being high from drinking, went up to the stage to sing song and then sabo his son to sing too. Anyway, after the dinner ends, went home and slept early, as the next day, i had to wake up early for work. I had to reach the office by 6.30am.

The job was part of the survey that i mentioned before. The rig was anchored at Singapore Anchorage, a place for rigs, ship to anchor. Finished the survey on the rig that day and only reached office at 8.30pm. Left office at 9pm after preparing my documentations and reports.

Next day, was off to Vietnam to do the same survey on another 2 rigs.

EVC Group Photos

The Rides

The People

The new and old EVC Decal

Sending collected clothings to Myammar Relief Group

2 Gals with the food

The boss!! (the son of the boss actually)

Derick smoking after a good meal

the leftover, or nothing leftover

Desert at Tong Shui Cafe

Lovely Dovey

Enjoying her desert (which seems like a main course to us)

Ok, after i come back from Pasir Gudang work trip, i took a day off to went to run some errands, as well as catching the movie Iron Man. nice show and nice effects. will be waiting for the part 2.

Then on friday that week, i was require to go to Pasir Gudang for a quick work. This is the first time i drove into Malaysia by myself. Almost lost my way, but still manage to get there. Came back to Singapore at nite and reached home around 11pm midnite liao.

The following monday, went with WLNY friends for a dinner around TBP. Initially, wanted to have dinner at a restuarant near Tiong Bahru Market. But when we reach there, the price of the menu put us off. Then we went to Qixian’s Roast Duck store to give him a surprise. We end up having our dinner there, FOC. hahaha. The roast duck and “Char Siew” was nice, as well as the soup. After that, we went to the HK Tong Shui Cafe opposite Great World City to chill out and chit chat. Taken some photos, but have yet to edit, so not yet upload to the internet. Will have to do that when i am back in Singapore.

Got to know that i will be going to a job with my supervisor in Songkhla (Thailand) the next monday.

Friday was my supervisor’s birthday party at a resort somewhere in Tanah Merah area. (can’t recall the resort name right now) Drove there after work that day.

Sunday was my van club, EVC.SG official launch of EVC.SG and Ge-Together at Kallang Carpark. We decide to use the opportunity to also collect new or old clothings for the Myammar Cyclone victims. Will update more of this, with some photos later…

now, need to go to get some sleep liao….