Boredworkers.com

Hello there kids. Sitting in a cybercafe up north isn’t exactly my idea of a holiday but I’m not exactly on holiday now, am I? And since I’m already logged in and browsing, I thought I might as well give everyone an update.

Now for those of you who don’t already know, my main purpose for coming up to Penang was to attend an interview with Network Security Solutions (NSS). My secondary purpose was simply to take a second holiday with WL following the group holiday to Bangkok.

The initial plan was for me to drive up to Penang first and WL would join me later. That turned out to be a nightmare in logistics. Firstly, she could only catch a bus late Friday night which would mean that she would arrive at some god forsaken hour. Secondly, the buses leaving for Penang on Friday night were to leave from Jalan Duta bus terminal which was located in the middle of no where. Finally, the bus terminal in Penang has since shifted to Sungai Nibong. Not being too familiar with Penang geography, that might as well have been somewhere in Thailand. So, in layman terms, the initial plan was impossible.

Fortunately, things worked out because WL managed to get her leave approved for Friday and we left together on Thursday, sometime midnight. The drive itself was uneventful, except for a few screwed up drivers. The one I remember best was this old Merce that went around flashing people and refusing to let people overtake. I’m guessing he was either drunk or simply blind… We arrived safe and sound at around 4am and stayed at my family apartment in Bukit Jambul (P.S. The place is open if anyone feels like coming to Penang for a spell. I must warn you though that it is unfurnished).

Back to the main purpose of the trip. My job interview was scheduled for 3pm Friday (16-09-2005). Since the place was close to my apartment, we went looking for it at an hour before the appointment. I found the office under a staircase in the middle of the PISA stadium (I’ll show you some photos later). The interviewers were two indian guys, one HR and one techie. I figured it was going to be a short interview since I wasn’t prepared at all. As things turned out, it dragged on for near 2 hours and ended with two firm handshakes and a very good impression. They said to give them 2 weeks to process things. So I guess I’ll just have to wait to find out.

The ‘holiday’ part of our trip is similarly turning out quite well. We were at Gurney Drive yesterday night after the interview and stuffed our face with a variety of the local delicacies. Fried Kuay Teow, Rojak, Apom, Ice Kacang with Ice Cream, Siham, Asam Laksa… you name it, we had it. The binge session was followed by a movie at Gurney Plaza where we caught “Lords of Dogtown”. Personally, I enjoyed the movie but WL found it a little slow in the beginning (I won’t argue with her on that point).

Anyway, WL had to work this morning and that’s why I find myself at a computer terminal in a cyber cafe. Time for me to sign off. My mini holiday continues.

Cheers.