Nestle 100 Tahun Di Sisi Mu

It was great to work for a company which has rooted in Malaysia for 100 years. It feels great to be part of it and also part of the company vision 'Nourishing Malaysia'. We recently had the 100 years celebration at Dataran Merdeka and lots of people were there. Althought those who were on duty didn't get to enjoy the show much as we were busy entertaining visitors and sampling our products but it was great. Fireworks lasted about 10 minutes and the concert featured big names like Sheila Majid, Mizz Nina, Penny Tai, Hujan and Anuar Zain.

What Nestle means to me? i guess every employee will have different experiences with the company. As for me i just feel that Nestle is part of me and many has asked me why don't you leave the company when you have so much better offers outside. There are emotional feeling involve as i've grown up with Nestle. It will be hard for me to leave as Nestle is like my second mother who has brought me up to what i am now.

I still remember when i started working for Nestle when i was in Form 5. I started working coz my Mom works for Nestle at that time. I was then a part time promoter for Nestle Yogurt and Ice Cream. Will always get some sample from the distributors to take home. Still remember that my house fridge full of yogurt and ice cream. i grew up with that.

And it's not just the food that i enjoy but also the values. I still remember how the executive thought me about the business in ice cream and yogurt. Tactics that they use and also the values of the company. I feel at home at Nestle as the company has been part of my growing up in term of nourishing me physically and also mentally.

Nestle Celebrating 100 years and beyond..........

Hope that this is where i Start my journey and also it will be where i Finish with..........

Police in action

Was back in Penang last week to audit on a few Supermarket. It feels great to go back and meet those familiar faces. Drove back to BM in the morning and proceeding to Gerik for the audit. Its nice to be back to Gerik and Pengkalan Hulu where i was based for 6 months back in 2007. Meeting up with Mrs.Foong and all the staff in Ken Lee.

Was actually surprise that some of the buyer there actually still recognises me. If makes you feel like you have done something great that touches their heart that makes them remember you.

on the second day, as me and Cat was about to leave for Sg.Petani to complete the audit we witness something that most Malaysian will say i'm bullshitting......MALAYSIAN POLICE IN ACTION. But this is real.

As i was about to about to cross the traffic light when it turn green a motorbike speed from across the street to the front of my car and crash. At first i thought that he was trying to beat the red light and lost control. But after he crash he tried to flee by running to the bushes. Then a police car speed and stopped in from of my car a 3 police officer came out and strated chasing that fella.

Both of us was stunned in the car. Not far from the car we saw the police chasing the fella and finally caught the fella as he was obstructed by a tree. I do not know what that fella did but i think it has made me change my point of view about out Police Officer in Malaysia. They were after all working to protect us. And come to think of it when they say Malaysian Police are corrupted what i would say is that if u have done nothing wrong why do we have to buy our way out?

Anyway Kudos to the police officer who try to make Malaysia a safer place to stay.

Bangkok Business Trip

Was informed by my boss to fly to Bangkok for a visit cum meeting on the 16th June. Guess what the meeting is on the 20th June. i basically have only 4 days to prepare. Luckily it was not a formal meeting but rather a Market Visit cum learning trip for me.

Of coz going to Bangkok i have to inform my very good friend there Mod, Ying and Bik.....

Was excited coz will be meeting a totally new team from Ice Cream and it's different from the MAGGI people that i know regionally. In the meeting the Phillipines team is also there. Another excitement is that Mod told me that we're going to Mansion 7 for dinner. Heard lots about this place since their last visit here in Malaysia. It's a haunted house concept mall.

The first day was a visit to the factory at Bang Chang. Its great to see that the complex is built vertically and only take up very small part of the land. But it was a very nice complex.....hmmm and very nice receptionist.....hahhahah.....then we were hosted with a dinner at Kempinski Hotel. We were treated with the Thai Fusion dishes. The starter is like7-8 types, and very nicely decorated. Very much reccomended for those who like to enjoy good fine dining.

The second day was a day of Market visit. We visit lots of school and to my amaze that how much Thai people especially the kids enjoy ice cream. Throughout the market visit i've learn lots about Ice Cream from the NSM there. Lots of things which i thought is the same with grocery shopping is actually not. The strategy is so much different from the Grocery which i feel it's more interesting to capture impulse purchase. And we ended the market visit with a visit to one of the dealer. The dealer is what i would say business simplified. Very simple setup, very simple people and very simple facilities.

The dinner that i look forward to. Mansion 7. We did not have dinner there but rather we enjoyed out Thai Dinner at Central World. And of coz the mango sticky rice as desert. We then proceed to Mansion 7. It was a Haunted mansion concept and with a haunted house inside which is the main attracttion. $TH 180 per person to enter the haunted mansion. We were so excited and 4 of us went in Me, Mod, Billy and Vincent. Bik did not join coz he had experience it before. Its a feeling of that you know something will happen along the walkway but you dun know what. We had fun in the haunted mansion.















We then had some beer at the pub there and just before we make a move back there was this bar tender show at the pub. Was great performance and was actually treated a glass of their cocktail before we left the pub.

3rd day was a day at the office discussing on the strategy and tactics implemented by Thailand. We shared our strategy and also the Phillipines team. It's great to learn from all parties and it actually benefit me especially in times of planning for ICP.

We then meet up with Mod and Ying for dinner and a night out at a roof top pub. We tried almost all their snack and dishes there. We wanted to make a stop at the palace but it was closed. Back to the hotel and planned for a shopping trip to Platinum Mall the next morning. We were told that there is a planned rally front of Central World so we have to plan our route wisely.


It was a great learning trip and also to catch up with my friend there.

Back online

Finally back online......can't bare life offline anymore. bought myself a new laptop. A Toshiba Satellite L745. Finally am able to share my life experience and my 2 cents point of view with the world again. Many things has happen lately. The one i wanted to share most is my movement to a new department. From the hot wok of MAGGI to the cold freezer of Nestle Ice Cream. I'm all alone now in Nestle Ice Cream handling the Trade Marketing in Nestle Ice Cream. Really miss the time in MAGGI when it was more crowded.

Back Online

Have to start all anew again and it's exactly the same feeling i had 2 and half years ago when i move to Head Office. Now even the whole team had move and it's kinda sad that we couldn't spend much time together drinking.

My friend from Thai visited me last month and really experience the Thai hospitality eventhough they're in Malaysia. This time we lost lots of Money at Genting but the most important thing is that we had so much fun together. Will be planning a return trip to Bangkok and maybe fly somewhere for a nice holiday. Mod,Ying,Bik.....be ready Joachim & Rachel is coming to town.

They also gave my dear a surprise birthday party and bought a gift for her. This is what we call real GREAT friends.

Attended a Korean concert with my dear and it was great. At least she enjoyed it. Jang Geun Suk ' The Cri Show' Asia Tour. He's the actor in 'He's Beautiful' and was great to feel young again with the company of all the young ones screaming and shouting throughout the concert. My dear was one of them......hahahahah......

Not to forget....lots of wedding.....not mine yet thought.

Feels great to be back online.

Good Food at 1Utama

this year we did not travel anywhere as my dear have to work during Valentine Day. So we did notdo much during Valentine Day. There was this place where we wanted to have our meal for long time. Charms at 1Utama near TGV cinema at level 3.

There was this particular dish where i feel a bit special. The Lamb which cames in a burning fire. We did not manage to have a candle light dinner but was a firey one. I had the BBQ lamb with rice and my dear had the pineapple fried rice. The lamb was particularly delicious with being very tender and marinated with herbs which remove completely the lamb stench.

A dish which i will reccomend to others who's visiting 1 Utama.

A life's journey

Almost forgot my log in password to my blog. This show that it has been a while now since i last blog. Think it was since my laptop got stolenwhen my house got broken into. Well many thing has happen since. Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and also not to forget Valentine Day.

For me since then was a very frustrated from month to month. With work especially. But it has also been a month where i did lots of thinking for the past and also for the future. Future with my dear as we have to start planning for our wedding......know everyone is asking me when.

While i drove back to Penang for CNY in the morning was a drive that reflect me of the past as i used to drove back early in the morning after weekend visit to Kuala Selangor. Back then i was still working in Penang. Since then i've never drove back to Penang in the early morning. It also makes me realise the beautiful views we have in Malaysia and also makes me realise the beauty besides me who's sleeping throughout the journey. It has been a long 9 years journey together and its about time to bring it another level up.

Will be planning for our wedding in September. Any good wedding planner in town??? am planning to have a simple wedding with close friends a relative maybe in a island......

Day 3-5....Bangkok trip 26th Aug-30th Aug

Wanted to post this post for quite sometime now but just couldn't find the time. Been busy with planning. Ok, let me continue with Day3.....still very fresh in my mind though.....

Day 3
We're suppose to depart at 7.30pm but as usual the traffic at Bangkok is very unpredictable as Mod and Bik arrived late. But the route to Ying house was quite smooth. A gated community with a western bit of design. We reached Ying house at about 8.15am Thai time. We wasted no time and straight away proceed to Pattaya where we will take a ferry over to Koh Samed. Along the way we stop at the rest stop for a quick breakfast. The rest stop at Bangkok is very different from that of Malaysia. It's like driving into a small town. Craving for McMuffin at Malaysia for so long now and at last got my McMuffin at Bangkok. If i still remember correctly we were heading towards a town call Kleang from Bangkok to take the ferry to Koh Samed. We actually abandon the GPS direction and Bik took charge of the direction coz he know a short cut.

We arrived at the port at about 10.30am and was waiting for the ferry to ferry us to this nice island at about 11.00am. The ferry wasn't any modern type like the one in Penang but rather it's similar to that of a fishing boat. The ferry took about 30mins to reach the island which is visible from the mainland. The site where we dock wasn't very pleasing as its doesn't look like a tourist destination to me. A jeep was waiting for us to transport us to the resort. Still i wasn't convince of the place as the route to the resort doesn't look very clean. We arrived at the Sai Kaew resort and Ying was busy checking in for us. i was busy looking for wifi to post my photo at Facebook. Ying actually paid for the room for us. This is far the best of friend that i have. Although we have met just for a few times but we're as close as old buddy. Me and my dear were in a chalet and Ying, Mod and Bik sharing the other. I asked what does Sai Kaew means and get to know that it means Glass Sand. It was indeed a total paradigm shift as the beach at the other side was so beautiful.

We then check in at the chalet and proceed to the beach for our lunch. We had our lunch near the beach at the hotel next to our chalet. Again they don't allow me to pay for lunch. Rachel went for a tattoo on her hand and we enjoy looking at the 'mermaid'. After lunch we went back to freshen up and prepare for our swim. All changed and ready for swim. We have 2 professional photographer busy taking photo and 3 crazy people swimming at the sea. We then went on the banana boat where Bik join us. Was a crazy 30min banana boat ride for only 800bath......local price as Mod negotiated. Rachel was so scared after the first fall that she has to board the speedboat after that....left only me,Mod and Bik on the banana boat. After the banana boat it started raining and we went back to the chalet and was looking for a nice massage. The massage at the hotel was way too expensive and we all settle for a massage at the beach after the rain.

We then proceed back to prepare for dinner. A short walk from the chalet beach we reach a stretch of seafood restaurant. There were so many restaurant there but not much people eating except one of the restaurant which is full. There must be something special there. We ordered a total of 9 dishes and guess how much for a meal for 5 person. Its only 1500bath for the dinner. This time i insist that i pay for dinner or else........so i got to pay for the dinner. We the found out why the restaurant was full house. There are fire show by the waiters which i found it very interesting. Think it lasted for about an hour and then continued by the involvement from the patrons. Limbo rock on a fire bar and those who successfully cross the fire bar will get a shot of some whisky. Everyone was wild dancing till late night. We move back to the chalet shortly after.
























































































































Day 4
Breakfast at the resort was ok with a combination of western and local dishes. After breakfast we spend sometime for photo at the beach. We manage to capture some nice pix coz we have 2 professional photographer with us. Basically me, Rachel and Mod were like model the whole morning with various serious but funny poses. We then pack and proceed to take the ferry back to the mainland and it was 11am by the time we reach. Its kinda fun but tiring trip but Mod still have to drive. We enjoyed 'Kill Bill' at Mod car the whole journey to Pattaya floating market.

















































When we reach the floating market at about 12.15pm, me and my dear we keen to buy something for our friend so Rach went on her shopping spree and the guys just sat at a cafe for our cup of coffee and chocolate cake. We then went around the floating market just to look around and decided that we wanted to have lunch there. By then we were finding it difficult to look for a place for us to sit and have our lunch. I was kinda lost looking for my way out to get my dear to join us. My dear couldn't get any anything for them except a scarf for Yui.










We then continue with 'Kill Bill' in the car till we reach the new shopping mall near Ying's house. Rach went for the gift hunt again at the shopping mall while the guys were just window shopping around the mall. The funny thing is that there is a parade going around the shopping mall and there were lots of activity going on around. Its so different from the shopping mall in Malaysia where we were more laid back and waiting for shoppers to walk in. At Bangkok they were doing lots of activity pulling the shopper into their outlet. Games in the outlet and announcement from the speaker and many more. Kinda interesting just observing.

We then proceed to the flower market for some shopping. Rach wanted to buy some flowers which i already know we can't bring back to Malaysia. She insisted so we bought some dried flowers. We then proceed to Langsuan for dinner. A chinese restaurant just opposite the Korean BBQ Restaurant that we had dinner on the 2nd day. A nice light dinner which i thought i wanted to pay but the waiters were already warn not the get any payment from me. I didn't know and walk to the waiter asking for the bills and they were telling me something in Thai which i was struggling to understand. Then another waitress came and told me that they were asked not to get the payment from me. Going back into the room, Mod was smiling cunningly knowing that i've failed in my plot to pay. We then went back to MyHotel to check in to have our nice rest before our flight back to Malaysia the next day.

Day 5
We manage to do a quick shopping at Platinum Mall before check out to meet Mod, Bik and Ying for Lunch before we fly back to Malaysia. I manage to grab a backpack and my dear a dozen scarf. We then bought some mooncake as a gift together with the tie that Rach manage to get a the mall for our 3 buddy. We had Japanese at Central World before proceeding to the skytrain to the airport. Guess what it's just 15bath per person from Bangkok to the airport. Was indeeed a nice trip and will definately plan for another trip together with my friend. Next destination 'Macau' and we all agreed that it'll be Dutch in the next trip to avoid the neverending exchange of gift.

A nice trip to remember and to share with my friends.

Day 1-2....Bangkok trip 26th Aug-30th Aug

Celebrated my birthday at Genting actually this year......went to the casino and won some money, enough to cover dinner for 2 at Genting. Then we were invited by our dearest friend from Bangkok to visit them at Bangkok. So called sponsored by Genting coz Mod won alot at Genting in the previous trip end of July. So we visited our dearest friend Ying, Mod n Bik at Bangkok on the 26th Aug 2010.
Ying pick us up at the Airport and we then join Mod for a late supper somewhere near the Nestle Office. The chicken rice Thai style. For me the Chicken Rice is almost similiar from the one in Malaysia but the difference is the soup. Free refill and the pepperish chicken soup is kinda nice. Then there is also some herbal soup which the taste is quite nice. We then went to MyHotel at Pratunam to check in. The hotel was clean and pleasant and very much recommended for those whose looking for budget and clean hotel at Bangkok. They also offer free shuttle from the hotel to the main street. Its actually situated at the street opposite the Platinum Wholesale mall.

The next morning Mod actually took leave and took us around Bangkok. First Stop the Erawan Temple or the Elephant God temple. The special thing about the Elephant god is that it has 3 head. The architecture of the temple show some chinese influence when they use ceramic bowl as part of the decoration. I remember learning about this art when i visited the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion at Penang. The religious practice at this temple is similiar to the Hinduism practice here in Malaysia, Bali and also Angkor Wat at Siem Reap. This show how powerful the Hindu empire were at that time. The temple also has 4 pillars to support it with each pillar crafted with the story of each religion. Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and the story of the Goddest of Mercy. I asked the guide why Islamic wasn't one of the pillar and explained that it's sensitive to have carving of the Prophet as the Islamic doesn't practice praying to altar or statue.

Inside the temple of Erawan, there are 3 layer, also known as Heaven, Earth and Underworld. We also learn about some rules and regulation in the temple which very much explain about our daily practice. Always starting from the left and end at the right which means staying away from evil deeds. This remind me when i was young and praying at a temple, my aunt taught me that you have to always use the left hand to place the josstick coz the right hand is always the hand that commit the evil deeds. Therefore the left is less sinful.

We then proceed to Lunch at Bang Pu near the Nestle factory. Its actually at a military base canteen open for public. The location at the beach sees lots of people frequent there for lunch coz of it view. Food was ok but the waitress miss out a few of our orders. We then went back to Nestle Office to meet up with my previous boss Patrick for a cup of coffee at Starbucks before proceeding to China Town for some shopping.

We then meet up with the rest for Dinner at a KOBA BBQ Korean Restaurant at Langsuan. Ying, Bik, Patrick, Mod, My dear n myself had a nice BBQ dinner at the restaurant although everyone went back with BBQ smell. We then went for foot massage with Mod before going back to the hotel to prepare for our trip to Koh Samed the next morning.