My Adventure | Mount Kinabalu

Assalamualaikum

April 2017

I've always wanted to do something out of my comfort zone and climb Mount Kinabalu is one of it.

Most of my family members and friends would never imagine me to do this kind of activities due to my personality.  I'm a shy and soft-spoken person. Also, I had to face some negative comments like...
"I don't think you have strength to be there"
"Are you sure you want to climb Mt. Kinabalu? Even Broga Hill you look like you're out of breath"
"Will you make it to the top?"

All these comments don't make me down but in other way it actually motivates me. My courage always rise when every attempt to intimidate me.

I had the opportunity to hike Mt. Kinabalu with my university friend, Siti. I registered months before with the help of Kak Salwa that I knew through my university friend. Mt. Kinabalu is the highest peak in South East Asia and we need to be prepared physically and mentally. Reading other people experience and do some research about the route, technique, suitable clothes and equipment really helps me a lot.

A short briefing by Malim Gunung before hike

Its advisable to bring only a small bag during hike. What I bring in my bag?

A pair of clean hiking shirt and pants -- but I don't use it because I don't shower at Laban Rata
A pair of clean socks -- easy for me to do my prayer
2L Hiking hydration bladder -- to prevent dehydration
Snickers -- energy bar to keep me energized
Headlamp -- prepared for hike at 3am
Walking sticks -- I rent it before hike
Altitude sickness pills
Windbreaker
Gloves

Do not wear any cotton materials. Make sure your windbreaker and gloves are water resistant, breathable and super lightweight so its easier to hike.

Mt Kinabalu are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site not because of the height 4,095m, but the real treasure are its high density of endemic flora & fauna. There are two different trails to the peak, Timpohon trail are easier and faster while Mesilau are slightly longer but the view along this trail are much more beautiful. However, Mesilau trail are closed indefinitely due to inaccessible path which damaged much more severely by the earthquake on 2015 as compared to Timpohon trail.

Kak Salwa in front of Timpohon gate

Thus, at 7 a.m. we start our adventure using Timpohon trail with a total of 24 people in a group including 4 of our Malim Gunung. Overall, the trail was quite easy with a wooden stairs and there is also a checkpoint hut every 1 kilometer with benches to rest and enjoy the scenery.

After 6 km of hiking, I reach Laban Rata around 3 p.m. and had my lunch at the cafeteria buffet. The food is delicious, you just named it everything from nasi lemak to english breakfast all are served and we can have everything since its included in our entrance fee.

The view at Laban Rata

After our feast, I had some rest at the lodge and get ready for summit climb tomorrow morning. Woke up at 3 am and straight went to the cafeteria for a super early breakfast. I ate my altitude sickness pills after my meal and met our guide who was waiting outside for us and other 100 plus hikers for a briefing. I left my bag at the lodge and only took a small water bottle, snickers, double my socks, wear my headlamp, my gloves, my windbreaker and not to forget walking sticks. The trail to the summit was steep but it was made easier with a ropes to hang on to and our Malim Gunung really help me a lot during my summit climb.

Dark, windy and cold weather with minimal oxygen makes me hard to breath and this time it really test me mentally. We need to be extra careful and at the same time rushed to the checkpoint before 5a.m. If not, we can't proceed to the summit and need to descend back to Laban Rata. After 3 hours, I reached the top and had some snickers first before taking a picture because I don't even have energy for that.

Took a picture with three quarter of the team that make it to the top

Finally with Siti

                           

We heading down to Laban Rata and had our meal first before packing our stuff to descend. I took many pictures when descending because its more beautiful since lighting is good. Walking sticks really helped me when descending, the hardest part for me are descending from Laban Rata to Timpohon gate because the trail are stairs and I need descend on 1000 plus stairs for about 6 hours. I can't feel my legs after that 6 hours. This last for a week and I need to descend backwards for any stairs after this adventure.

                           

So I make a short video about my adventure. You guys can take a look more about my adventure on my Youtube Channel ---> Aai

Now its time to be in reality and do my work.

My Eczema Skin Routine

Assalamualikum

What should I do with eczema? How to treat it? How to live with it?

Well, I was born with eczema.  I don,t have any memories of having a healthier skin in my childhood. To be honest when i'm younger, I thought eczema will be vanished and cured when I reach adulthood. But. It's never happened. And I believe It won't happened.

There's is no treatment to heal eczema permanently. I have tried everything, in and out from clinic to the hospital but the doctors gave me the same medicine, same pills and lotion which only slow down the irritation.

To be honest, until today I still live with eczema. But now I know how handle it and what kind of products can heal 80% of my skin.

Okay let me straight to the point

Did you realize actually your surrounding will effect your skin? Well it actually does.
The first thing that I find out is our shower cream. Yes, the soap that we used.
If you use antibacterial body wash, protection from gems and antiseptic soap. Please STOP USING IT!

This product is actually good for people with a normal skin but not with people having an eczema or sensitive skin because it will make your skin DRIER which will lead to RASHES and IRRITATION. These are some of the popular brand.

 

So what kind of product should we buy then?
I would suggest any soap or body wash that didn't claim they are ANTIBACTERIAL BODY WASH on the bottle. For instance, Shokubutsu Orange and Seaweed Body Foam. This is my favorite body wash due to its fresh orange fragrance.



Secondly, make sure your surrounding is CLEAN. Always clean your bed sheets, your room and your workplace, do laundry and STAY AWAY FROM DUSTY PLACE.

Last but not least, I will apply Murozin Oitnment on my affected skin before off to bed. You can purchase this ointment in the nearest pharmacy.


So this is my skin condition after revamp my daily skin routine. Its getting better and my skin are not itchy at all. I promise you guys its gonna work. I'm not saying this routine will 100%  cure the eczema but I believe it will slow down the irritation and make your life happier.
I really hope this post gonna be beneficial for you guys.

Thank you for reading this entry.

10 tanda anda bakal menjadi mangsa penipuan dalam peluang pekerjaan

Assalamualikum

Aku berniat untuk menulis tentang job scam ini untuk membuka mata kepada semua fresh graduate di luar sana supaya lebih berhati-hati. Aku salah seorang fresh graduate yang terlalu berusaha dan mengharap dapat pekerjaan secepat mungkin. Tapi aku menjadi mangsa penipuan dan aku juga akan ceritakan pengalaman ditipu oleh sebuah syarikat besar dari luar negara.

Ok jadi ini adalah antara tanda-tanda job offer yang kalian dapat detect ianya adalah scam!


1. Tidak perlukan pengalaman

2. Gaji yang diberi terlampau lumayan

3. Anda perlukan gunakan duit sendiri

4. Anda mendapat pekerjaan dengan mudah

5. Emel yang digunakan bukan dari company tersebut

6. IM interview

7. Info diri

8. Borang tidak lengkap atau salah ejaan

9. Perlu bertindak dengan segera (asap)

10. Anda perlu bayar untuk jawatan tersebut


Pengalaman aku:

Aku memohon pekerjaan di salah sebuah syarikat yang terletak di Dubai melalui link yang kawan aku share. Selepas seminggu aku apply, aku dapat good response dari syarikat tersebut. 

Tapi aku jadi suspicious sebab kawan aku pun dapat offer job yang sama sebab kami apply position yang sama. At the same time aku pelik sebab senang sangat dia terima aku tanpa sebarang temu duga. Ini antara tanda-tanda yang akau rasa aku ditipu. So take note ya!

1. terlalu mudah dapat offer job tanpa sebarang temu duga

2. Email yang digunakan bukan abc@namacompany.com tetapi namacompany@2Engineer.com
contohnya nama syarikat rampco oil. sepatutnya email selalu seperti ni hr@rampcooil.com tetapi yang aku terima rampcooil@2Engineer.com

3. Kawan aku juga dapat offer untuk position yang sama di syarikat yang sama

4. Gaji yang diberi terlampau lumayan. Memang gaji yang mereka offer mostly untuk orang yang dah kerja dan ada experience 10 tahun.

Jadi, apa yang kami buat?

Kami reserach dan google tentang orang yang handle kami ni. Guess what?
Lelaki ni rupanya scammer dan dia menggunakan nama syarikat lain untuk attract fresh graduate terutamanya dari luar negara macam kami yang sangat naif.

SO LESSON LEARNED

Alhamdulillah kami dapat figure out kami ditipu sebelum berangkat ke Dubai.

So beware everyone. Take my experience as a lesson for you guys in finding jobs.

Good Luck

Thank you for reading this entry =)