Looking After Little Sister for 2 Days

I travelled to Bintulu with my little sister, Mickey recently. It’s just the two of us. Papa, Mama and other siblings’ can’t tag along.

So, I needed to take care of her for this trip as the elder sister.

My goodness, it’s not an easy task!

First of all, I carried our luggage all the times. Luckily, the luggage was light and easier to carry. Otherwise, I’ll curse people.

Our light luggage

After that, I waited her in front of the public toilet payment counter. She took around 3 minutes to wash her hands and tidied her messy hairs.

When passed by the snacks stalls, I wanted to buy snacks but she insisted I must ask the snacks’ prices.

She became the finance minister this time, thus she had the autonomy, authority and power to control my expenses.

I always asked her “Ok or not this price?” “You satisfied with this price”

She also bought snacks and tidbits that caught her attention for herself.

After paying, she said “wow, almost RM 4 for the small and tiny snacks”. If Mama knew it, she was going to scold us loved spending.

Both of us promised we kept the snacks as our secrets. Nobody dared to reveal it. LOL

Sometimes, she approved my finance requests. Sometimes, she rejected my requests. There’s 2 times she was not allowed me to get what I wanted.

For example, I wanted to buy chickpea (one of favorite foods) at the rest and recreations area but it charged RM 2.00 for small amount of chickpea.

The chickpea stall at Selalang Food Court

Another one was she only picked 1 vegetable (no meat) for “Chap Fan” at the rest and recreations area.

She told me that if chose meat again was damn expensive, out of budget. So, both of us just had 1 vegetable with rice. Don’t know why, it still very tasty for me.

I then noticed Mickey don’t want to lay down her head on long haul bus’ cushion sofa. For her, it was very dirty as she saw white hairs on the sofa.

She never ever put her head on the sofa throughout the whole journey 

I just let it be as long as long she was comfortable with it.

Next, I assigned her to do the check-in while I took lobby’s photos for blog reviews.

But she said in worry “I don’t know how to check-in”. I guided her by saying that” just give your IC and told them you want check-in”. That’s it, so simple.

Her obedient characteristic was my greatest blessing.  Not much arguments and disagreement which provided so much peaceful day for me.

When arrived in our guestroom, she was the first to check the every corner. She made noise when she found out the toilet had the strong smell.

She did complain other things as well.

I just take our guestroom’s imperfections easy. I didn’t have high expectations because it’s not the 5 start hotel

It must be Mama offered a better living environment for her, so she got such higher cleanliness demand too when away from home.

It’s my times to advise her again.

Besides that, she also hated outing for late dinner. During night time, she preferred to lie on the comfy bed rather than food hunting. Thus, we had to “tapau” the foods.

It was different case of if JoJo (3^rd sister) with me.  

I also asked her to stay away from the smartphones when having breakfast in the next day morning. She was so addicted and glued to her smartphone.

If she had plenty of free times, I allow her to play the smartphones actually.

Not only this, she loved to carry the phone and put it on the dining table. After that, she just completely forgot about it and I had to remind her.

So heartache if the smartphone was lost.

I seemed played the role as Mama to nag her attitudes and behaviors from times to times.

Even right now and the future, I still “sayang” Mickey because she’s little sister, the little princess in my homes.

No one was perfect. This included me. Sisterhood required tolerance and forgiveness.

101 Hotel Bintulu, Sarawak-Review

This was my first time stay at hotels in Bintulu, Sarawak though I had visited it 18 years ago for Bintulu Zoo and foods.

This time I chose to stay at the clean and budget hotel (because I’m the budget traveller), which was 101 Hotel, Bintulu.

I stayed there for a Sunday night that charged RM 100.70 for 1 double standard room. It’s a fair rate for me.

Since it’s not the luxury hotel with full facilities and service, there’s not much facilities and service here. 

However, it had basic amenities and services too. I narrowed down the provided amenities and services from the lobby to the guestroom.

 Upon walked in, I was greeted by the huge and clean lobby that signified meeting and waiting area. 

 The lobby had the comfortable sofa for conversation.

The lobby also got the small business center and 2 free computer for guests usages.  

There's a toilet in the toilet. The toilet was very clean and absolutely no smell. 

The bed was so firm while the pillow was soft 

a safe deposit box, a power socket

 a work desk & chair, 2 mineral waters, a kettle but no tea or coffee, a mine refrigerator, 3 power sockets

bathroom with hot shower, soaps & hair shampoo 

2 sets of towels (face and body), a hair dryer

Besides that, it had complimentary use of WIFI, television and a cupboard, air-conditioner and fan (for ventilation purpose).  I apologize as I forgot to take these features.

The WIFI strength was very good.

Television got few television channels. I remembered I watched China Running Man until laughed out loud. 

Sadly, the mini refrigerator was stopped working. I first thought room attendants forgot to switch on the power and wanted to do by my own. In fact, it had been already turned on.

I can’t hear any mini refrigerator’s running sound. It was not cold and no lights at all. I was upset as I can’t buy any cold drinks to keep in the mini refrigerator.

Perhaps housekeeping supervisors or managers need to train the room attendants pay attention to the guest rooms’ details.

They should inform maintenance department once they found out.  

The bathroom attached with toilet had strong smell. So disgusting and I even closed my nose while in the toilet.

Fortunately, the smell was gone right after we took shower. The scents of the shampoo and shower gel covered the smell. 

Further, the hotel had very thin wall and I could hear the noises easily. I felt like I was close to the noise. I can say my sleeping was being disturbed. 

Moreover, the hotel also had problem with the linen and towels. I could see the yellow and black signs on the bed linens and towels.

The yellow signs on the bed linen

It made we wondered if the housekeeping room attendant did their works or the washing machines problems?

The room also lacked of chairs as I booked for double standard room (means 2 persons stayed there). It should gave 1 extra chair. 

There’s no breakfast provided. But don’t worry, there’re plenty of cafés, restaurants and bakeries waiting for you!

Majority of the restaurants near 101 Hotel were Halal café and restaurants. I only found 1 non Halal (Chinese) restaurant if I was not mistaken. If you loved hunting Chinese foods, this area might not suitable for you.

This hotel not located in the town center, possibility needed to call the taxi to go to town center.

If you interested to book? Here’s the contact:

101 Hotel, Bintulu,

Address: No 203, Lot 7932, Assyakirin Commercial Square, Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia

Contact number: 086-314172

Website: http://www.101hotelbtu.com/?pg=pages

The Nightmare of Distributing Questionnaires

Couple months ago, I collected data for my Phd thesis through distributing questionnaires for target respondents (that were construction firms Malaysia).

Among the various methods of distributing questionnaires, I opted for phone call.

Seemed like telephone operator, so stressful on every phone call 

In case you wondered how’s the life to call the respondents, here’s the conversation overviews. 

#1

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. I need your help to fill my academic questionnaires about my research.

Respondent: Yes

Me: The questionnaire is about human resource management practices, organizational culture and environmental responsibility of this organization.

Respondent: Sorry, I had no times as I busy with a project currently.

_________________________________________________________________________________

#2

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. I need your help to fill my academic questionnaires about my research.

Respondent: All the staff are gone already. No people in this organization anymore.

_________________________________________________________________________________

#3

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. Please put me through human resource department.

Respondent: Human resource people have emergency leave today.

Me: All of them take emergency leave today?

Respondent: Yes.

Me: Thank you. I’ll call back on next few days.

_________________________________________________________________________________

#4

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. I need to talk to human resource department.

Respondent: The line is engaged. Can you call back later?

Me: Yes. I’ll.

(After 15 minutes)

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. Please transfer my call to human resource department.

Respondent: They’ve meeting right now.

Me: It’s okay.

_________________________________________________________________________________

#5

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. I need your help to fill my academic questionnaires about my research.

Respondent: This’s the very small organization. You better look for other big organizations.

Me: No, you’re one of the big organizations. You fit my requirement to fill the questionnaire.

Respondent: No, that’s all.

_________________________________________________________________________________

#6

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. I need your help to fill my academic questionnaires about my research.

Respondent: Uhmmm

Me: The questionnaire is about the organizational culture

Respondent: Could you email to me. I was busy at the moment.

Me: What’s your email address?

Respondent: abcdefg@yahoo.com

Me: Thank you

(It ended up I failed to send to the respondent due to wrong email address despite I double checked it)

_________________________________________________________________________________  

#7

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. Please put me through human resource department.

(The call successfully connect to the human resource department)

Me: Isn’t human resource department?

Respondent: Hmmm

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. I need your help to fill my academic questionnaires about my research. It’s about human resource management practices and environmental responsibility of this organization.

Respondent: Why me? You should clear who you should ask to fill the questionnaire.

Me: I need the help from human resource department. And you already confirm with me, you’re from human resource department

Respondent: you should go back to University again to ask them teach you how to communicate.

(The respondent then off the phone rudely)

_________________________________________________________________________________

#8

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. I need your help to fill my academic questionnaires about my research.

Respondent: Just email to me.

Me: May I know your emails address?

Respondent: You’ve got my contact number but you don’t know my email address?

Me: I’ve but I want…

(The respondent after that turned off the phone before I finish talking)

_________________________________________________________________________________

#9

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. Please put me through human resource department.

Respondent: What’s regarding?

Me: I need your help to fill my academic questionnaires about my research.

Respondent: Isn’t the survey form?

Me: Yes.

Respondent: Normally we don’t entertain the questionnaire.

Me: Okay.

_________________________________________________________________________________

#10

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. Please put me through human resource department.

Respondent: Yes, speaking.

Me: I need your help to fill my academic questionnaires about my research.

Respondent: Did I know you?

Me: No. You wouldn’t help a stranger to fill the academic questionnaires?

Respondent: Yes

_________________________________________________________________________________

#11

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. I need your help to fill my academic questionnaires about my research.

Respondent: Will you help me to do my work?

Me: Sorry for disturbing you.

_________________________________________________________________________________

#12

Me: I’m Tay, a university student. Please put me through human resource department.

Respondent: Yes, speaking

Me: I need your help to fill my academic questionnaires about my research which is about environmental responsibility of this organization

Respondent: Your tone of voice is very stiff. You need to be friendlier because you ask the favor from others.

Me: Thank you for your advice. I’ll improve myself next time

Respondent: Don’t worry. I’ll entertain you. Just email me your questionnaires with details about your research and your university letter.

Me: Okay.

(The respondent rang up me again next day)

Respondent: Aren’t you Tay?

Me: Yes, I’m

Respondent: I’ve been glance through your questionnaire and your questionnaire is not suitable to fill by me. Project manager is the best person to know about you area. Later I’ll send the questionnaire for the project manager and CC to you.

(months by months I never seen any single email that CC to me)

_________________________________________________________________________________

Above rejection conversations demotivated me. I always felt hopeless, depression and stressful. Indeed, it’s a physical and mentally stress.

I believe my “tulan” (means angry in Hokkien) face was like this 

They’re not only filling up the questionnaire but also informed me they’re done and send the best wishes for me.

I did appreciate and grateful to them.

Besides that, my parents expressed their concern by asking my progress almost everyday.

“Today you call how many organizations?” “How many responses you get today?”-The questions frequently asked by parents when they’re in home. 

Papa considered as the hero in my data collection journey. He once told me “when there’s a will, there’s a way”. You’ll achieve success in one day.

Forgive and forgot the respondents that don’t understand your research significance. Kick them out of your mind and work hard to achieve your goal.

It really boosted my confidence and energy level.

Unlike Papa, Mama just brainwashed me the organizations’ natural actions in refusing to fill the questionnaires because profit minded and self-benefit issue.

So, she advised me to pray hard. I did and it included her as well. She prayed day and night to let me pass through this hardship. 

Similarly, Dr Tan (Phd supervisor), Miss Wong (former colleague), Chik Fei (a friend) also asked my progress too.

They’re all good and I can’t ask for more. Having them was the blessing.

In conclusion, few months distributing questionnaires made me realized that it’s not an easy task. It highly needed the cooperation from the organizations.

Without their cooperation, we forced to choose other business sectors. It required to amend the research proposal that took 1/2/3/4 years to prepare.

It wasted time and cause the research can’t complete on time. Cannot complete research on time means no scholarship came in. It certainly created the students’ burden like me.

I sincere hoped the organizations will consider the researchers’ situations and difficulties like me in the future. I belief “人与人之间多份体谅和理解，就能成就很多事“

The researchers were not going to sell the reveal information on the questionnaires to the third party. We just wanted to contribute to the body of knowledge.

48 Hours in Bintulu, Sarawak

Update on **22-23 May 2016**

I accompanied my little sister, Mickey travelled to Bintulu couple days ago. She needed to sit a university admission test.

We initially wanted to take flight from Sibu bounded to Bintulu but we changed our plan after learning that the flight schedule didn’t fit us.

So, we chose to travel by long haul buses from Sarikei to Bintulu because Saratok (the place that I stayed) didn’t provide any long distances buses.

Fortunately, Sarikei (which was an hour drive from Saratok) had long haul buses. Otherwise, we must travel more extra miles just to get the buses. This didn’t even include the buses travel hours.

Take an example, let’s say I travelled from Sarikei to Miri took 8 hours. Plus I departed from Saratok to Sarikei long haul bus terminal 1 hour. All total 9 hours just spend on the road.

My goodness, I could say we’re so suffered.

Coming back to 48 hours in Bintulu, I didn’t explore any good foods and attractions because I shorted of times.

My main task was followed wherever Mickey went and protected her from any harms. Therefore, this blog entry was “bo liao” and not even good. Here we went…

Freesia, the bus company that we used (RM 38 from Sarikei-Bintulu). 

You see, you see. Sarikei long haul bus terminal got pork. I heard Mama said Chinese and Iban was the major ethnic in Sarikei, thus must have pork.

Our snacks aka lunch in the bus because we were only given 15 minutes break. 

It certainly not enough for us. But I managed to eat the decent nasi lemak, RM 1.00 being sold in the Sibu long distance bus terminal. 

After 5 hours, we finally arrived Bintulu. After check-in, the first thing we did was taking late lunch. Since we're so famished, we just grabbed the quick lunch at Sugarbun, Assyakirin Commercial Square (very near to our hotel).

1. Eating at Sugarbun, Assyakirin Commercial Square

 Widely seen Pezzo always with Sugarbun nowadays. Perhaps they were in collaboration 

Long bus journey made me love the "ching" type of Chinese soup with ric,which was less heaty and oily. I was very upset with the white rice which was so hard to swallow and no fragrance too. 

I'm quite pissed off with the workers' service attitudes. 

We had waited around 10 minutes for ordering because there was only 1 counter. 

Plus, the worker didn't committed in doing their jobs as they still chatting with the customers in front of me (their friends). 

They seemed not even bothered the next customers like us.  I saw some workers yelled here and there. Some even singing loudly which were strongly disturbed the customers. 

Other than that, the air-conditioner in the Sugarbun was not in well condition. It's so hot. Mickey and I nearly sweated buckets. 

Hopefully, they will improve their services from times to times!

2. Strolling around Assyakirin Commercial Square

All the buildings looked new, maybe it's the new township. Majority of the shops were closed down due to Sunday. Rare to see Chinese restaurant or food stalls as Malay restaurants flooded in this area.

3. Taking a lot of Selfie

 But I was so lazy to upload all,so just put 1 selfie 

4. Having buffet breakfast at Kemena Hotel, Bintulu

Next day morning, I craved for American buffet breakfast. So I proposed to Mickey and she agreed. We ended up having breakfast buffet at Kemena Hotel (next to 101 Hotel). 

It charged RM 15 for walk-in customer. I'm quite satisfied with the price as RM 15 buffet breakfast included nasi lemak, fried mee, fried rice, fried sausages, fruits, cereals. But it excluded Omelette. 

The only problem was the cutleries given to get the fruits or fried sausages were too big. It created the troubles to get the foods. 

The workers' service quality deserved a mention too. They quickly refilled the fried mee for example without customers' remind. They're very efficiency in cleaning the tables too. 

5. Visiting UPM, Bintulu (UPMKB)

It took RM 25 for 15 minutes taxi ride when came to UPM, Bintulu. 

While waiting Mickey for sitting the test, I walked around UPM, Bintulu. I was thrilled too because the weather was gloomy, which was the best times for strolling. 

Below was few pictures of UPM, Bintulu. Sharing was caring after all.

Information technology section, a place where Mickey sit for 1 hour's test

JoJo's faculty if she studied there 

My faculty if I studied there

So, I purposely explore inside. Can't see any undergraduate students. So silent. Scare died me!

Where was the "P" for Perpustakaan (means library)? I wondered if it didn't mention it's a library, I'll never came across with it 

Jungles and bushes everywhere

If Mickey not having test, definitely Selfie in this great red path  

The cafeteria looked empty and most of them were closed too. When came to menu, not much big differences with what I eat at UUM. 

Overall, I was so impressed with UPM, Bintulu's environment. It's so clean and comfortable look. 

If I got more times, I really wished to explore more!

That's all. Enjoy!

Wesak Day Celebration

This year I celebrate Wesak Day at Saratok, Sarawak.

I was so thrilled because It’s a long times not ever been celebrated Wesak Day at there.

Only this time I was at Saratok and able to celebrate Wesak Day.  

Around 6.00 pm today, I followed Mama and Mickey to Saratok Buddhist Association for Wesak Day celebration.

Mama said the earlier we went, the less crowds it had. 

Let’s the pictures did the talking what I did for Wesak Day celebration.

 Flags were hanged around Saratok Buddhist Association to celebrate the Wesak Day 

Giant "Fo" words (means Buddha) on top of the roof

First stepped into, three of us offered holly sticks for Buddha and wished Buddha happy birthday. 

normally we had Buddha bathing ceremony (which was the main activity for Wesak Day). Other than that, we also donate for Buddha. 

I prayed for everything and hoped worries away from me 

After that, we even obtained floral waters from Buddha for tomorrow usages 

Hundreds lighting brought hundreds hopes for darkness

 Some photos credit to Mickey 

That's all for my Wesak Day celebration. For those that celebrate Wesak Day like me, Happy Wesak Day. But for those that didn't celebrate it, happy holidays.