Blogging for Blog4FT

Yesterday I went to The Pavillion in Bukit Bintang to claim my TGIF voucher that I won during the Nuffnang Project Alpha blog contest. I have to do that fast because the validity date is 16th November 2009. I wrote a post about this trip but am not going to post it here since I have published it as an entry for the Blog4FT blogging contest. The entry was posted at my travel blog As I Travel.....

You can click on the banner below to go straight to that posting and if you are generuous enough, please also vote for me. And, not only this particular blog but also all the other blogs that I had entered so far.

After the Nuffnang Project Alpha ends, now I turn my concentration to the Blog4FT contest that will end on 5th January 2010. While concentrating on the NPA contest, I do neglect a few days the Blog4FT. 

When I log in to the website again, I found that there is some improvements where there is a Top 10 contributors. After coming back from Bukit Bintang yesterday, I sit in front of my computer and start blogging. All the effort paid and I manage to put my name as the top 10 contributors. Today I published another blog and at the time of writing this post, I have made to the 5 rank with 19 blogs so far. I still have another blog in draft and hope to get published soon. 

I know it will be very difficult to make it to the top three but I hope to make it to at least better than 5ft rank. However there is no prize for top contributors but by being listed as the Top 10, will make my blog always be visible on the front page and hope will get votes coming in. I just can't depend on being listed in the random blog entries because there are times when my blog is not on the list.  

Today, I go out to KL again and this time to Pertama Complex. I sat at the Beriani Bistro facing the MARA Building and posted one blog. I surf using the FREE wireless@KL network. Of course the speed is faster than my Maxis Broadband that I use to get connected at home and way way way much better than P1Wimax. For the last 5 days I can't even get any page loaded using that network. 

Today I published another series of my blog Walking Walking Kuala Lumpur and click the banner below to read it.

Blogging In Miri - Airport

Sitting here at Miri Airport is my last day since arriving here on 12th July. Waiting for my Airasia flight back to KL at 8.45 p.m. Drafting and posting this blog from Starbuck at Miri Airport that provide Free WiFi. Before coming to this location, I tried to surf from another location, Mr Bean Restaurant on the first floor. There is signal from Starbucks but connection is poor. I tried using my Maxis Broadband too, there is network but problem logging on to the internet. So had abandoned the first location.

Concluding, this visit is not a fruitful one, in terms of blogging, since my intention to blog something new about Miri seems futile. I just do not know where to go and stayed most of the time in my room whenever I am free. Places of attraction seems do not motivate me to write about them anymore. Besides that, I have transportation problem.

The Grand Old Lady: I've seen her in both condition; her maiden contidion and her present condition. When I visited her in the 90s, it was in her original form and "unadulterated". A friend of mine took a handful of the oily soil to show to his students back home how soil at oil producing area look like. What a thougthful teacher he was.

Well, I visited the place again in 2007 and everything changed. The area surrounding the Granny were already landscaped and there is no more originality in a place that has historical value. No doubt the intention is good but from my opinion at least just keep the Granny and the soil around her in the original condition instead of covering it with pebbles and stones.

Deep in my heart I felt sad because future generation had lost the natural view of history.

Stayed at Mega Hotel and it is the most convenient place to be for visitors. I conclude this from my observation and experience. It is centrally located with easy access to banks. Just within 5 minutes walking distance there CIMB, Maybank, Overseas Union Bank, RHB Bank and just across the road is EON Bank. There is also a shopping complex within the building but not much choice for visitors except maybe for the convenience store opened 24 hours or you want to have Singapore Chicken Rice.

The hotel provide Free WiFi in all rooms besides lined connection. Since the signal is weak and signal drops so frequently, I requested for the lined connection which is also Free except that you have to pay a refundable deposit of RM 25 for the connection cable cable.

The ground floor house a coffe house, The Chatterbox but breakfast has not much variety. The main dish is rice ; either nasi lemak or fried rice and fried noodle or koayteow. What can be complimented to the chef is that the taste is suitable for diabetics and those who are concerned with healthy eating habits: less salt and less sugar. Food at the coffee house (breakfast) I can give 8/10.

Talking about health, there is also the Sakura Health Centre and room service can be ordered until 12 midnight. Hey, what are you thinking about?

Mega Hotel has a swimming pool too on the fourth floor.

Malaysia Airline and Maswing office just behind the hotel. I could see Airasia agents office too. Er......erm.......for you who want to relief your tired feet (and body) there are a few Reflexology Centres nearby and you can let the lovely "China Doll" (?) massage your feet and also based information from local friends a good full body rub too (wink).

Just across the road there are some Malay restaurants and will be very convenient for Muslim visitors which is open till late midnight. However one experience I learn is that the price at one of the restaurant is quite exorbitant for such an outlet. A glass of Iced Lemon Tea (medium size) costs RM 1.90. OMG!. One evening, I took plain roti canai and Iced Lemon Tea and was surprised the price was RM 4.00. If the Iced Lemon Tea is RM 1.90 then the price of apiece of plain Roti Canai is RM 2.10. Oh......writing this I am getting angry. The name of the Restaurant is Serai Wangi, next to EON Bank. In the picture (below), it is somewhere there I sat for a RM 2.10 plain roti canai the evening before. Comparing to another mamak restaurant at the back of the hotel, I ordered Iced Lemon Tea and Roti Telor for just RM 3.80. Can you compare the price. Well!!........thats another Xperienceoflife.

I had an experience and lesson learnt from the convenient store next to the hotel. Maybe it is the same at other places. I bought a RM 10 reload and the charge is RM 11.00. It might be normal for consumers here, but why do they have to charge extra Ringgit when they are already getting commisions from selling the prepaid reload. So I turn to be wiser on the second reload where I decided to go to Maybank ATM and reload from there. However, I couldn't reload from Maybank ATM because that particular service was not available at the time. So I went to CIMB instead and learn some new lessons.

Lesson 1: When I insert my ATM Card, a message " DEVICE FAILURE" appeared. After trying on another machine, the same message appears and I decided to inquire at the counter. I found out that the chip on my card is not readable that constitute to the failure. So the lady at the counter asked me to change to a new card and I have to pay RM 12.00 for it. I have no choice because I will have to use the ATM card for future transactions.

Lesson 2: From there I learn that mobile reload can be done at CIMB ATMs. I knew before, that it can be done using online banking. So a lesson learnt is that reload is easier with CIMB because reloading is automatic compared to Maybank where you will receive a transaction slip and have to reload manually. That is what I call The Xperience of Life. It is always an ongoing learning process.

I will update later if time permits. Going to check in first.

Mean while watch this.

P1 WiMAX Going to Tanjung

I received this in my email and wish to share.

P1 W1MAX, KEY COMPONENT IN WIRELESS@PENANG INITIATIVE

PULAU PINANG - Wireless Internet surfing via WiMAX will be a reality in Penang as early as December 2008, as part of the state government’s move to ensure that the island state becomes an "i-Land" by 2010. Today’s announcement is also part of Packet One (P1)’s expansion of its WiMAX broadband service nationwide.

The Penang State Government and P1 today entered into a partnership for P1 to supply the infrastructure for WiMAX@Penang under the Wireless@Penang initiative to bring the state’s infrastructure offerings to a higher level.

Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Lim Guan Eng said, "We are all responsible for continuously driving the state of Penang forward. We need to take the next natural course of action in order to further improve the standard of living of the people here. The wide availability of WiMAX in Penang will certainly provide a welcome boost to the existing and future industries."

"With this project, Penang will be the one of the first few WiMAX states in the world. And for Malaysia, we are taking another step closer towards making Malaysia a WiMAX hub in the region," CEO of P1, Michael Lai informed.

The first phase of WiMAX@Penang project will commence in October 2008, with the deployment of P1 base stations to cover areas around George Town, Penang Island, and Seberang Prai. The targeted areas are based on the highest population density and commercial viability.

The partnership with the Penang State Government is slated to expedite the Phase 1 rollout of WiMAX@Penang to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2009.

"With this partnership announcement, P1 is keeping to its promise of delivering wireless broadband via WiMAX to Malaysians. As the first WiMAX telco in Malaysia and one of the first in the world, we hope to contribute positively to the economic development of Penang as the Silicon Valley of Malaysia," Lai informed.

"P1’s deployments of the iconic Wireless@KL (May 2008) and Wireless@Sunway (July 2008) initiatives to bridge the digital divide of Malaysians are our notable WiMAX milestones. Adding a feather to the cap, we are very proud and excited that our partnership with the Penang State Government on the Wireless@Penang project is another milestone that will go into history," Lai said.

P1 is the first Malaysian WiMAX converged telco to commercially offer WiMAX services, branded as P1 W1MAX on a large scale. The service is currently available in the Klang Valley. - P1 Press Release.

The word FREE really attracts prospective consumer. The question is (at least in my mind) can I just get connected directly using my WiFi ready laptop? Do I have to subscribe/buy the WiMax modem from Green Packet?

Kota Marudu Going Wireless

I seldom read the physical paper but today after reading the NST I founf this article that caught my attention. "Kota Marudu to go wireless". To me Kota Marudu keeps nostalgic memories since that was the first place that I started working as a teacher way back in the 70s. I was a teacher at SMK Kota Marudu in Pekan Lama until 1980. When the school moves to the new building in 1981, I was transfered back to Alor Setar after fulfilling my 5 years contract with the Sabah Education department. My wife is from that town and my first two kids was born in Kota Marudu. The coordinates for Kota Marudu is : 6° 31' 0" North, 116° 45' 0" East

It was reported that the service will be FREE for the town residents.

Click map for source.

Read historical background of Kota Marudu HERE.

Delay in WiMax?

The Star TechCentral reports that the Certification of 2.3GHz spectrum of Wimax could be delayed longer than expected. This will then have some impact on the rollout of the much awaited WiMax service in the country which is said to be released by the first quarter of this year. The first being from Packet One out of the four companies that won the bid to roll out the service namely; Bizsurf (M) Sdn Bhd, Asiaspace Dotcom Sdn Bhd and Redtone-CNX Broadband Sdn Bhd.

The certification by the WiMAX Forum standards body based in the United States may only happen by end 2009 or even later, said Nokia Siemens Networks which ­manufactures such equipment. - The Star

Read more.....

Lets hope this news is as good as true: Redtone-CNX Broadband said it is proceeding with whatever ­pre-certified equipment that is widely available. “Currently, there is no certified equipment yet to facilitate a 2.3GHz WiMAX rollout,” said Zainal Amanshah, CEO of Redtone International Bhd Group.

“We will be starting a pilot project this Thursday, working with a tower provider called Sacofa Sdn Bhd,” he said. - The Star

Blogging From Langkawi

It has been a few days I did not update this blog. I am in Langkawi for an official assignment and only today have this opportunity to update NLRCTT. Located now at Langkawi International Airport waiting for my flight to Kuala Lumpur. Schedule at 1525 hrs. Here blogging from The Starbucks FREE with a cup of Cuppocino. Asked for the smallest and this is the smallest at RM 9.50.

On the way back from Kuah town I passed along LISRAM Highway (hey! no toll on this highway) leading to the airport, the Langkawi Ironmen is commencing. It started early in the morning with the swim (3.8 km), and then cycling (180 km) and finishing off with a full marathon (42.2 km). Dipping into the sea ealy in the morning and cycling under the scorching heat and midday sun, definitely they deserved to be called Ironman, even though they do not go up the podium. Not everyman or women can endure such "torturuous" activities. Definitely not me.

Tomorrow 24th February is nomination day. It will be another day of carnival but this time on the political side. It will be another colourful morning when both the government and the opposition will try to outshine each other during the nomination. It will be a really joyous occasion if not for some bickering here and there. Along the highway already flags of both parties are flying and from my observation it is keADILan and PAS is dominating the flag flying with a few dotted BN flags. keADILan/ PAS has already set up their booth here and there which seems they are very ambituous to win for this election. If not for the postal votes (which is considered forced vote for BN) and a fair election, BN will not win as they are winning. Already unauthorised voters have complained that heir names had been registered without their knowledge. Who else can do it if not for BN because they are controlling all the agencies including the Election Commission which in its right should be non partisan.

Yesterday I was trying to get a seat on MAS and I called 1300883000. Shit!!. I can't get my seat. I will blog about this later.

OK, will log out now. Catching my flight. Wait for my MH=Malaysian Hospitality= Bullshit!

Registered For P1 Beyond Broadband

While blogging about the WiMax service to be implemented next year I came upon this Broadband service from the company that is going to provide the WiMax beginning next year. It is the P1 Broadband by Green Packet. This service is available at certain areas only in the Klang Valley. Check their coverage area. My place is not covered but nearby areas are. It is FREE till 31 December 2007. Waaa, just a few days more.

Scroll through this blog and get the information. P.S. I am just sharing this information with readers and have no interest whatsoever with the service provider.

KL Wireless Metropolitan Project

Reports says that Kuala Lumpur will become a wireless city from mid 2008. It will be a FREE broadband access for the city dwellers. According to Datuk Ab Hakim Borhan the objective isx to increase the internet users in the city and turn Kuala Lumpur into a well connected world class city. As an internet addict I am looking forward to this development and if my area is connected, then I can save some money by terminating my present Streamyx subscription.

DBKL will be bridging the digital divide by installing wireless network for the entire city. It is reported that there will be 1500 hotspots in the city to be equipped with broadband services.

What I hope is that my areas in Bukit Jalil is within the broadband access zone. It will be ridiculous if places within the Multimedia Super Corridor can't have access to this technology. Living within walking distance to Astro and Technology Park just across the road it will be too bad that the community is not connected to this project.

The Star InTech report by Zam Karim - Green Packet International busy installing WiMax base stations in the Klang Valley and is conducting tests on its coming wireless broadband service. The launch is slated for January and June respectively, according to its COE, Micheal Lai.

Missing Again- Back From Kuching

I missed updating my blog again for the last week because I was in Kuching, Sarawak from Sunday 11th Nov till today Friday 16th Nov. Even though there is Free WiFi access at Harbour View where I stayed, but my laptop can't connect to the network. The reason, look at the picture below:At first I thought it was the network at the hotel but when I tried at Coffee Bean, the same message appears. So I have to bring my laptop to a technician at Saberkas to be checked. There is no problem at all when my laptop can be connected to the WiFi network at Saberkas after the technician manipulate with some settings. I thought my misery about not be ale to be connected is over. However when I get back to the hotel the problem still persist. I still can't get connected to the network.

Now back home after switching on my laptop, the network is detected immediately. So now I am wondering, why I can't connect to the network at the hotel and at Coffee Bean.

Of Free WiFi and MV Doulos

I knew that all RnR on PLUS highway in Perak has WiFi Access which is actually a plus for road warriors who are 'obsessed' with the internet like me. I was on my way back from the Eid ul Fitr holidays in Alor setar and stop at the Gunung Semanggol RnR to rest. Erm...actually sleep. I just can't keep my eyes open anymore and need to stop and get some sleep. Some sleep. Did I say that? What a joke. It is not some sleep. It was actually sleeping. I had just rested at Pongsu Seribu Rest area and took a nap but it was not enough to console my tired eyes. At times I lost sight of the road and my conscience tells me not to drive anymore. Better late than never. So I better sleep before any untoward incident happens to me and my family.

Woke up in time to go for the morning subuh prayer at the surau provided. Then only I remember about the Free WiFi and switched on my laptop. I get just a good signal strength (two bars) and 11.0 Mbps speed. Manage to check my mail and logged on to blogger but while I was drafting a new post, I was disconnected. I tried to get it reconnected but was not successful. Maybe I am a bit far from the wireless modem which transmits a weak signal. So, I have to shut down my laptop before continuing my journey.

I was reading the Limadang.com and found out that the news about MV Doulos or the floating bookshop. It is very rare that the ship berth at Malaysian port since they sail around the world. The ship made a call at Port Klang and Pasir Gudang in 2006 but I was not aware of her visit and I am hoping they will come again. Books on the ship are cheap. Thats what my friend told me when he bought some good books about Sports and Physiology.

With her present at Kota Kinabalu port, and I will be visiting the city from 22nd to 26th October, I hope I can visit and board her and find some good books.

To Limadang.com, thank you for the information and good news. It really come at the right time for me.

Travel - Kuching 2007 Day Three

Today I am a bit free and its time to have an extra booze in bed. I woke up for sahur late and just had just plain water. I did buy some fried koeyteow earlier in the evening but have to throw away. Oh my.... Today I am going to move to The Holiday Inn, which is much better compared to this Liwah Hotel. It's quite difficult because the door will be locked from 12.30 till 5.00 a.m and it will be troublesome for me to leave the hotel in the wee hour of the night to find something to eat for sahur. I don't know why they have to lock the door at some time of the day. A hotel should give free access to guest to enter and leave any time he/she like. Another reason is its nearer to the waterfront and I can just hang out at the stalls sipping a glass of teh tarik and entertaining myself with the environment. Well, watching girls, what else. Hahahahahaha............

In the evening cross the Sarawak River again for the breaking of fast at Kampung Boyan. This time I tried at the My Village Barok Bistro. Had a plate of Hot Plate Beef with rice and as usual a glass of iced lemon tea. A trip across the Sarawak River just cost 40 cents on the "Pak Tambang" a sampan that has become an identity for Kuching.

Now I am here at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaves posting this blog. Internet access is FREE on WiFi. Just bring your laptop and buy yourself a cup of coffee. Well its much cheaper than surfing in my hotel room which is RM 20 per hour and RM 57 per day. Urghhhh....why waste money on internet access when I still can't make any money with this blog. At least here at CBTL, I can enjoy a cup of Iced Cappucino at RM 8.50 plus tax 43 cents.

Travel - WiFi@KLIA

WiFi@KLIA

Depart KLIA at 3.50 on an MAS flight MH 2825. Its an Airbus. It is very seldom that I fly on Airbus whenever taking MAS. The flight is just about 1/3 full and I got a window seat. Well, I did request for that seat and it is just two rows behind the Business Class section. Even though I get a window seat, which is on portside, it is not a very good location since I am on part of the wing.

While waiting for departure I sat at the departure lounge and tried surfing since KLIA has WiFi facilities that is WiFi@KLIA. It FREE of course. After logging on to the

internet which I am not pleased with the connection. I just get a fluctuating speed of between 1.0 and 5.0 Mbps which is not good to get logged onto some website. I thought of posting a blog and typed in www.blogger.com and WTF this adlab did not give me access. ANTlabs ezXcess give me a message that I am accessing an invalid URL or domain on the web. WTF, ANTlabs think I am that stupid to key in the wrong URL when I am using links from my personal FrontPage which I’ve been using to link to my favourite websites. After about an hour of trying I just manage to visit just www.yahoo.com and that only just the front page.

I am not sure whether the problem arises from my laptop but I am definitely sure its from KLIA@Wifi through ANTlabs because I’ve been surfing all over the country using FREE WiFi without a problem. FYI, every time I tried to surf from KLIA, I face the same problem, even though inside the holding lounge. I hope somenone from KLIA@WiFi read this posting and do something with ANTlabs ezXess. It just sucks.

Travel - Its Me in Brunei

Flight BI 0874 landed at Brunei Airport at 6.20 in the evening. So this is my fifth time in Bandar Seri Begawan. After arriving I was greeted by the host and they put me up in Orchid Garden Hotel nearby the stadium where I am going to lecture. Its about 100 metres away and of course la walking distance. I have stayed at this hotel when I was here in 2002, twice. Even its a bit far away from BSB, I am satisfied because there is FREE WiFi here. So thats what I am looking for whenever I travel.

Broadband access is also available in the room but its not free. The hotel provide FREE WiFi access at the lobby, the Goldiana Cafe and Lounge and a few other public area in the hotel. So, I feel alive with the opportunity to access the internet.

Blogging In Miri III

Day 2 2nd July 2007

On the first day I blogged about the availability of Free WiFi in Miri. I was so pleased that I can get about 7 signals from around the area and one from Mega Hotel itself. The signal from Mega hotel is quite strong with five bar. However the signal fluctuates when at the beginning it is 54.0Mbps but as soon as it get logged on to the internet the speed decreases down to 1.0Mbps. I always face this situation whenever I logged on to any WiFi signal using public transmissions or hotels WiFi facilities. At home I am also using wireless connection on my laptop and a cable connection on my desktop. However signal speed is always 54.0Mbps and if it decreses itdoes not go down to 1.0Mbps. Maybe any wireless expert can supply me with info for this reason. Even though when the signal strength is excellent, the speed is very slow. Not sure whether it is because of my location on the ninth floor or because my laptop is not efficient anymore. I was so frustrate d when I have to wait for ages for uploading and downloading.

I came to Miri prepared to meet Miri bloggers and one of whom I’ve been making contact is Ladybirdakamollyz. She has been blogging in A Women’s Diary and tonight I called her after sending her email last night. I read about her plan to organise the Miri bloggers meeting and I have been told that there will be Miri Bloggers meet up on Wednesday which I am looking forward to attend. This will be my first meeting with bloggers after blogging for about one year.

Before coming to Miri I had been looking for contacts (bloggers) so that I have friends who share the same interest. To me making more friends means widening your range of experience and harvesting new knowledge.

Blogging in Miri II

The good news is I can surf using the FREE WiFi from my hotel room. The first night everything was very OK. Surfing is a bit slow but at least I am still connected. Today its "hell" Even though I can get connected but surfing is very damn slow. I have to wait for ages to get logged into any website. Except MIRC. Even YM is not stable. I am not sure whether its the connection or my laptop is the problem or maybe a problem with Google. It takes centuries to get connected even to blogger website.

When I get the connection it was 54.0Mbps but as soon as it get logged onto the net, the signal subside untul 1.0Mbps and that slows down the downloading and maybe also the uploading. I tried disconnection from the Mega Hotel signal and tried deConneXion. That signal is quite weak just about 1 or 2 bar and after a few try, I was unsuccessful. So I have to switch back to the Mega hotel Wi fi signal.

Blogging In Miri I

I am staying at Mega Hotel in Miri, my second time here. Usually I stayed at Dynasty which is a bit way out the city centre. Mega is quite strategic and is the choice of hotel for government departments to organise function such as courses and seminars. Eating place is just across the road if you are on a tight budget and not taking hotel food.

As usual whenever I arrive at any hotel, my first prioty is to check whether there are any WiFi signal. I have been reading and finding information about the FREE WiFi in Miri after coming across the news sometime back. The government with the cooperation of a private firm if providing FREE internet access deConneXion. I found the signals and the best thing is that Mega hotel also provide free access and the signal strength is very good. However speed is a bit slow and at times go down to as low as 1.0 Mbps. The most important thing is its Free.

Speed Test

While browsing through the Deconnexion website I found this website a link from that website and would like to share with other readers.

What is Speedtest.net?

Speedtest.net is a free broadband speed test with servers located all over the world. Compare your results with others and easily share them.

Above is the test result I get after trying the Kuala Lumpur server. Below is the result of two test I conducted. 1 A server in Miri and 2. Kuala Lumpur server. Click on the image to enlarge.

Hello Mystery Ladybird

I asked you in your shout box about the FREE wifi status in Miri. The service provided by Danawa Resources Sdn. Bhd. and becoming the first ISP in Sarawak to offer ubiquitous Wireless Internet connectivity in the resort city of Miri. However after looking back at my archives in my travel blog, I found the website again.

I just forgot that I had registered myself for the wifi access after finding the website from the link in your blog A Women's Diary. So now I am hoping to access the service when I go to Miri again on 1st July 2007. This is my Account Information. Sorry some field has to be covered for safety reasons.

Below is the speed test I conducted today 20 Jun 2007 from my house in Bukit Jalil. See the result below.

I was Away in Alor Setar

I was away for the last few days in Alor Setar and just today found access to the internet. Of course a FREE one. This is at Uncle John in Jalan Gangsa. I will write more about my Alor Setar trip and the IT Carnival in Alor Setar since I am running on battery and it is drying low.

Just wonder why Streamyx does not give access to their subscribers at hotspots.

Hotel Indah, Sandakan

I thought I was going to miss the internet when I am in Sandakan. Viola, I could get access to someones open access network. However signal is low and speed is just 1Mbps. With that performance I can't get connected to the internet all the time because at times the signal is lost.

In Sandakan I stayed at Hotel Indah in Bandar Indah Town popularly known as Batu Empat (4th mile) Hotel Indah is a budget hotel and the promotion rate was RM58.90. Even though its just a budget hotel I found that every night its is full house . Maybe because the hotel is situated at the happening place. There are Pubs, Karaokes and Discos lining the Jalan Indah 5. If you can't sleep with noisy atmosphere, then Hotel Indah is not your place. The discos were open till early morning and the music can even vibrate lose places in your room.