Navigation Flights

From general handling, its on to another chapter of flying.. navigation. It wasn't exactly the way I'd thought about going from one place to the other since there's no signboards saying where you are or which direction to go to the destination.

The way to go is Time-Ground-Map. Kindda new and againts my habits to go as we're so used to looking at features around us then looking at map to see if it matches. And time? What time? The views in WA ranges from ocean and salt lakes near the coast to mounts further inland passing the escarpment. Dams (which I never get to see in my previous company although there's couple of dam projects that were were doing) and reservoirs are a common sight inland and a good landmarks for navigation.

Must say its quite an experience and I underestimated the workload during navigation flying. My initial perception of navigation flights would be looking out for features (aka sight seeing) to reach a destination. Did I get that so wrong! There's still other things to do and it does demand quite a lot of your attention. I've often do a lot of things when I drive and I do it with ease. While driving a car, I can (Kids don't try this at home.. leave it to professionals):

1. Take photos

2. Eat dinner/lunch/breakfast
3. Find my way with road maps

4. Read

Don't get me wrong, I'm a safe driver. And whenever I don't feel comfortable I can always stop the car anytime. With planes, its a totally gameplan all together. Stopping the plane at the roadside? That happens only when I ran out of fuel and forgot to top up the plane. One common trouble for me when flying and driving would actually be thinking of mathematical sum and talking. Well, guess I do get too engrossed with what I'm doing sometimes.

However, practice does makes perfect and I can't wait to go on solo navigations on my own to brush up on the technique and hopefully it'll all come to me like second nature like driving a car.

I guess next time if I own a small plane, I can cut down travelling time from Kuching to Sarikei to just one hour! For guys and gals traveling back to Kuching and Sarikei, Happy Chinese New Year!

Bon Jovi

There's various artiste that tour the world. But none international artist actually held a concert in Kuching. I guess the population is too small to generate revenue. Then in Singapore, the international gigs are normally Taiwan or HK artist.. which I enjoy their music but don't would not go for their concert. Occasionally there's international 'Ang Moh' gigs but its quite rare.

Then Bon Jovi comes to Perth.. and everything else is history... They dish out quite few songs almost non stop for two hours, some classic ones and others are new. But all are good! The crowds were cool as well. Girls were moving to the music, everybody was clapping and cheering at the same time. The only thing that would make this more interesting if we had front row seats and if they had sung 'Always'. In the end we had to sing along to the song on MP3 player during our drive back...

Round 1 - Cleared!

Everytime you play an X-box or PS and complete a round, there's always the word: Round Cleared. This time its real life and for us its called Phase 1 or P1 check. GFPT is the other synonymous term which stands for General Flying Progress Test.

In the same way, satisfaction of completing a stage in a game is similar to the feeling when I pass this check today except the satisfaction is multiplied hundredfold! Its an honour to fly with Patrick as my in-command supervisory.

But no time to be complecent.. time to move on for more interesting and bigger stuff... Phase 2 here I come!

I am Legend (at Sleeping)

Slept away most of my waking hours, and thus effectively I have only about 6 hours of efficient time.. which includes at least 2 hours for meal (lunch and dinner). Think even then most of the waking hours I spent in bed with a book I am reading: The Dan Brown Companion. Good buy from Convention Centre during the last day of the Books and DVD sales.

At least I am on to something apart from my pillow and bed.

Then watched I am Legend just a while ago at Southlands. Hmm.... can't say I've not enjoyed the movie but I can't exactly say I did as well. Guess I'm picky when it comes to cinema-able movies. Guess the real reason I went for the movie was because I should spend time away from my bed as the mattress is sagging in the shape of my body where I always lay....

Outrageously MAS!

Pay extra for MAS tickets
From The Star Online
PETALING JAYA: Air travellers will have to pay extra when they purchase Malaysia Airlines tickets from travel agents in Malaysia because the national carrier has scrapped commission payment to the agencies under a new marketing plan.
Passengers will have to pay at least 5% of the ticket price but it could be even more if they pay by credit card or the travel agents deliver the ticket.

Previously, MAS paid their registered agents 2% commission for the sale of special fare tickets.
MAS and Malaysian Association for Travel and Tour Agents issued a joint statement yesterday confirming the scrapping of the commission effective Tuesday.
However, the two parties stated that commission was still payable tickets issued on full published IATA international and domestic fares.
MAS has already announced that they would charge a service fee of RM15 per domestic travel transaction and RM30 for international transactions for both cash and credit card purchases made either through its 24-hour Call Centre or its ticket offices.
This also took effect on Tuesday.
Matta president Ngiam Foon said agents were charging the service fee because the national carrier had withdrawn the commission.
“The service fees will vary depending on the services requested by the customers. Customers will have to pay more for their MAS air tickets now but the ‘more’ depends on the services asked,” he said, adding that those on credit terms will generally have a higher service fee according to the credit level.
Asked about the impact of this latest move which effectively increased the prices of air travel, Ngiam said: “I cannot say if this is a positive or negative move but we will need to see the reactions from the public.
“I believe the travel industry will still go strong. People will still travel.”
However, he pointed out that travel agents were not just ticket issuers but also offer professional advice on destinations, flights and schedules.
Ngiam added that agents also collected the fuel surcharges and airport taxes for MAS and Malaysian Airport Berhad (MAB) but were not paid for carrying out these tasks.
“There is cost involved for agents when they transfer the money to MAS and MAB,” he added.

Are they totally brainless or what? I remember last time I went to buy tickets directly from MAS ticketing office in Kuching.. we had to wait 1 hour for queue although there's only like 5 person ahead with the numbers. Most counters are closed although you do see staffs walking around!

The most efficient way to book ticket is through your travel agents. And now that they've withdrawn commissions and therefore the agents had to charge extra! Did they not realize that the agents actually help to increase their ticket sales? I can't wait to see the result of their action...

Wild Kangaroos

Photographic evidance that kangaroos are rampant here like rodents roaming the city... like flies in summer... like weed in the field.. ok, I'm not very good at describing this... you get what I'm trying to say. We've been here for 4 months and suddenly they seem to appear everywhere.

The kangaroo has a baby in the pouch as well... I think they're checking us out....

Does Anyone Care?

The song Ode to my Family rings in my ears sometimes because I feel it resonance my sentiments. Being here with fellow cadets is reassuring because everybody is going through the same training, the same challenges, share the same food and even the same toilet!

But somehow I think that everybody is different here. Sometimes I would wish that people around you would respect your background and understand the circumstances that influence your decision making. Free will! Where is the freedom to think your own thoughts, carry out your own course of action and make your own decision?? Respect others who have made that decision I say!

I wonder as well when somebody is down, does people around him notice it and try comfort him? It could be that person can really hide what he's really feeling so that others wouldn't notice it. Sometimes its not comforting words that is required. Time definitely heals and sometimes a pinch of sincere action would help.

If only you could paste what you think around you like this.......

I wonder if people actually really try to go deeper and understand what is going through the mind when the other person decides to do something or they just become critical and judgemental. Let this be known: People act because environment shaped them to be who they are. Furthermore there's a lot more things happening at the background that meets the eye that makes a person who he is... and I am who I am.

Dolphins Sighted in Swan River!

Unexpected surprise during the New Year ride today. Went cycling during this quiet day since the weather is good. So I headed to the city. At Mount Henry Bridge stopped to see a couple and a dog sailing in their small boat. Quite fun thing to do from my point of view.

Then I continued north to Mill Point where took a long break while watching a family fishing by the river overlooking Swan Breweries. The Breweries is now a building used for some restaurant. I haven't venture to that place yet but I read it online that the speed limit for cycling near that place is 10km/h or else its a fine!! Wow.. never thought that you can get fined for cycling above speed limit!

Then I lingered around in South Perth checking out the historical wind mill built in 1835 there. The place was closed so just manage to read a bit on the history at the main gate. Quite interesting fact that windmills in Perth becomes obsolete because it is not economically viable to operate compared to other ways of milling. I still hard to believe it because its windy most of the time here.

As I was riding back from the city along Swan River, I saw 2 wild dolphins swimming around near the riverbank! Its definitely a sight to behold.. unfortunately the camera is not as sharp as the eye and all I got was a blurry zoom in. Another reason to get SLR? *hint*hint* Hmm.. instead shall I start a hoax saying Nessie sighted in Perth?? Heheh.. what a way to start 2008!