Reading, UK - Am I really going?

Salam,

I think I should write more here rather than writing on trips. Somehow writing on trips were much more relaxed but that were mostly leisure activities. I need a break sometimes but let's be real, this is my current business and I have to admit that by far this suppose to be the 'thing' to be noted at the highest back of my head.

So, am I going to Reading? 

I remember the first time my supervisor (sv) coined out this idea. It was like a year ago and at that point of time I was like 'Is it for real?'..

UK or particularly any parts of it is a dream to me. I believe not only me. I like to think that to many of us, perhaps because of historical reason, in some way or another, dream to be able to go there for whatever reason we could think of. I read and met a lot of people who have been there and they really enjoy for being able to step their foot there. So, what have I done that makes me think that I will someday, step my feet there?

At the time i'm writing this note, there still a lot to be accomplished particularly the research which I am pursuing right now. I only managed until to date to write 2 chapters whereby I should actually completed the 3rd. I'm doing data collection right now, and if there is any reason to put the blame on, I am happy to put it with the process of collecting data itself. This process - collecting data, is the real work in any research. Some said without data, a research simply cannot proceed. I've spent months, completing and then perfecting the instrument and now I have to try to persuade people to answer it for me. It's not an easy task, for instance my pilot survey suggest that if I were to be too optimistic that by randomly selecting respondents I would get the response, then I would really used up all my resources without gaining any responses. So, I resorted to non random sampling, hoping that I would be able to gain as much responses to support the research.

The process is a painstaking one. I travel up to KL almost every month since April, some twice a month just to meet prospective respondents and try to persuade them to answer. Some were very helpful and I indebted to them while others were cold and simply not willing to answer. Well, I believe this is the process and PhD is not just being diligent, but physically fit as well. Intelligence? No. You don't have to be intelligence to do a PhD, prepared to be challenged mentally and physically, then you're good to do one.

So what is this Reading has got to do?

I was told by MOHE (now no more - merge as MOE) that for MOHE scholar holder, there are 2 facilities that could be applied for. 1 - the facility to present paper overseas and 2 - overseas research. I did some research and was astonished to discover that facility no 2 would be appropriate to support my application overseas. So, after discovering that, I report the finding to my sv and she was very happy to assist me to communicate with the overseas counterpart. It happen that her friend in Reading is the visiting professor here, and I was able to meet and discuss with him on my intention to go to Reading under his supervision. I met the  Professor twice over the past one year and eventually I managed to get his consent to go there. It was a very joyful moment when I received the letter and I wait no further to submit my application to MOHE. 

Many said that MOHE would take months (if not years!) to process the aplication. So, since I plan to go to Reading in October, then I made my own time allowance in order to make it sufficient for them to decide and finally giving approval. To my surprise, it took my application less than a month to be approved. I was so excited upon learning the news and to me, they key was to conduct some research on their organisation and nail the right person whether to follow up or tracking the application. I was very fortunate to have met the right person who did the upward processing of my application and even my calls were answered promptly. 

The bulk of the ongoing tasks is now rest with me. Where to find accommodation, visa (required or not) and the probable expenses there. Alhamdullilah, I manage to get in touch with a colleague who just came back from Reading and she has referred me to her colleague who is now pursuing his PhD in Reading. I have been communicating with him ever since and I hope to get more information about the local area in due time.

I really would like to detail up the application process, but it would take me months to finish it. So, I hope Allah will give me strength to write more and I really hope that I would be able to share more about this.

To those who recently did answer a questionnaire, it might be from me or anyone else but whatever it is, I just would like to thank you for your understanding on why data is important to us as a researcher and hopefully your good deed will receive reward from Allah swt.

Till then and hope to update more on this!

Salam

The cost of a pair of jean

The first reason why we went to Singapore yesterday was actually to compare the price of a pair of Levi's jean. I purchased all my jeans from Indonesia, and I still found a good bargain whenever I shop for a pair of jean in Indonesia. Well, of course, the cost of the flight ticket won't help me to justify this, but a pair of Levi's jean sold in Indonesia is way to much cheaper compared to those sell in Singapore or even Malaysia. But to my surprise, they all have different country of origin. Those I bought in Indonesia were simply made in Mexico but I found some which were made in Vietnam and even China. I guess I would prefer those sold in Indonesia because with so much distance to travel, it still cheap compared to those made in China or even Vietnam! (lol - don't know if this fact really hold..)

From my analysis of a very similar pair of jean sold in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, Singapore came in the very least of the ranking. A pair of Levi's 505 cost SGD 80 in Indonesia, SGD 112 in Malaysia and SGD 149 in Singapore. I do not know other country, but it seems to me that Indonesia is a good place to shop for a pair of jean. 

Go to bed!

Singapore's Super Tree Grove @ Gardens by the Bay

We were on the JB's causeway yesterday as early as 730am for our bored weekend pass-by, and we decided to give the Singapore's Supertree Grove a visit just to feed on our curiosity on that iconic structure. It wasn't hard to notice the structure from ECP and the fact that it is situated just opposite the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) make it worth as a 2 + 1 object for visiting. Well, details are here:

http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/content/gbb/en/home.html 

We hit the road at approximately 630am and arrived at the Woodlands CIQ at around 730am. Getting in was smooth but it was bumper-to-bumper on the opposite. I normally use a simple calculation of getting in and out of Singapore. Come in as early as possible, especially on weekends but avoid going out of the island at mid-day especially if you're driving your own car. Traffic could be horrendous even before the BKE viaduct and without any loo nearby, things could be rather or more disastrous. Pack some food with you for that reason and it best if the children are sleeping all the way through BSI on the other side of the causeway.

The master plan
(I'm taking this from the internet. So the right remain to its rightful owner.)

Look so wonderful @ night time. Damn next time I should come at night.
(I'm taking this from the internet. So the right remain to its rightful owner.)

The traffic

It was smooth. I guess nobody was entering the CBD at this hour and after some rerouting (thanks to this Garmin stuff...) we were there at the entrance of the park. There are three entrance to three different car parks on the park, the Meadow etc entrance, the visitor facility entrance and the other one has one peculiar 'satay' name on it. We park at the visitor center, not many cars were parked yesterday, I guess it still too early.

Its all about the eco-system/sustainable. Those beneath the surface I guess.
(I'm taking this from the internet. So the right remain to its rightful owner.) 

There's an elevator and escalator near entrance A and both will bring visitor straight to the lobby. We  didn't managed to find the elevator and we end up walking through the ramp out of the basement parking lot. It's a park anyway, so we did expect some work out just to make things worth it (lol).

The park is humongous. The main attractions are of course the Supertree, there are domes full of plants, a skyway, Chinese, Malay and Indian themed gardens and so on. The good thing was that, the plants were so fresh amid the scorching Singapore's sun or maybe because it's still early in the morning.

The skyway. Well, 5 dollars should worth the experience.
(I'm taking this from the internet. So the right remain to its rightful owner.)  

We spent more than an hour loitering in the park and move just before the scorching sun unleashed its ray. It was a wonderful visit and I do plan to visit this attraction again. Mind you that most of the attractions here require some amount of fee, so if you wish not to spend any dollars here, loitering around should work just fine. There is MRT line nearby (Bayfront if I am not mistaken). The park is situated just opposite the MBS and Merlion etc (those must see + snap Singapore's icon), so working out itinerary in and around the area should work out very well. 

More information? Google-out and you'll definitely found those with loads of information compared to this one. Peace.

Jakarta - Bandung 2013 (ex-JHB)

This is so terrible and I wish to blame myself for not taking notes (while on the roads..) and put it here as posts.

A lot has happen in the past one year or so and I wish to continue from now on. So, anything to post? I guess I have this one tiny notes (at the back of my head - sigh!) that I so eagerly want to put it down and post it. Something on this study thing? No. I'm too enthusiastic but at the same time tired. So I guess this might be a good therapy of just to put things off for a while and to come back later, afresh of course.

So, what the big deal anyway, it is all about the latest CGK-BDO trip we made last month (May) out of this yearly craving for brownies and other delicacies we consider unique to this place (and my wife's shopping spree of course..).

We flew to CGK ex-JHB by QZ code airline at around 1650 local hours and, learning from numerous experience with this airline, we have prepared everything necessary for the kids. It's our duty to keep them well fed, entertained and most importantly, fuss-free. As parent, we simply don't mind with their high pitch scream every now and then, but our co-passenger seating just across the aisle might definitely not. These kids, they are just too friendly sometimes but just as with the bumpy flight, things might change instantaneously and this need to be controlled.

With all this in mind and just to give them extra space to let them do whatever they want, I part with 180 ringgits on top of the price for the regular flight ticket to Jakarta - just for the kids.

The flight was smooth with a little bumpy felt mid-way past Singapore airspace, but it stopped and we had a smooth journey until we reached Indonesian airspace. QZ stewardesses were unsurprisingly pleasant and I do like them more compared to AK. I do not wish to reiterate more, but our flight to Medan some few years back could well explain this. Perhaps we are flying low-cost so the treatment was so-so. But some choose to fly this flying-bus because of its connection. Previously there was JHB-Bangkok, great route but sadly fail to capture the loads. Just hope this JHB-CGK route will be there for sometimes, and knowing how great Jakarta is, and in return, how great JB now, I think this will become one of the popular route for AA.

We arrived at CGK terminal 3, gleaming new complex compared to terminal 2 which we landed last year and with a short bus ride, we were there in front of the immigration counter. Its a short walk to reach the check-point but they still provide the bus, I reckon, if we were in LCCT now, chances are, walking. If its raining, no problem because they provide red umbrella, sigh.

Passport checked and now chasing the kids whereabouts with luggage in hands.

A short walk through the terminal and we were there. Meet and greet. Looking for the driver we hired and off we go to BDO.

Traffic was surprisingly smooth - with the normal pile ups but nothing serious along the way. It was raining en-route to BDO and it was just dark and breezy.

Arrived at Asmila at around 2300hrs local time. Checked-in and doze-off.

The next day, it was a sunny but cold morning and after the limited spread of buffet, we were out fetched by the driver to some of our favorite places. RuMod as they fondly called it was our first destination for the day and while waiting its door to open, we treat the kids with their collection of fish. Something peculiar, they saw customers started building up and before you realize anything, the door was open some 10 or 15 minutes earlier than the usual business hour. That's good because we would then have an extra 15 minutes later for the day.

I think that should be enough for a start and I look forward to pen in more posts later.

Cheers.