I am off flying again for another overseas assignment – first flying to Bangkok and then returning to Malaysia for half daybreak and then flying off to Kabul again (last minute notice). I love flying but this marathon is a bit too much for me to handle and without much rest too. Hopefully, I can make it in time for Deepavali.
This is what was going in my mind now as I am sitting in my office on a Saturday night, pondering over an issue that my colleague in Kabul have just sent me over the email. Image source: Politico Magazine
The matter was not on the issue but more disturbing was another email – from the client’s CEO to my big boss requesting me to be assigned to Kabul to help out on the system. Flattering I must say that the client’s CEO added the word “competent staff” but as much as I wanted to go, there are other factors running through my mine now.
Read More »Overseas Assignment 2007: Flying into Dangerous Kabul Again?
Somehow I had to post the picture of the noodles that I had for lunch last week…it had fish balls, liver and jelly fish. It was a bit sweet despite looking spicy. Don’t forget to try them the next you are around in Bangkok.
How many items you can identify from the photo?… [Click to read the rest] “Overseas Assignment 101: Bangkok – Jelly Fish & Livers”
I was typing this at…hold on (checking the clock at the office wall)…2.00 in the morning. There are about 10 of us here (including the security guard who looks a bit surprised at the high number of half-asleep Malaysians at this time of the hour), holed up in the office as we are preparing to cut to live the system that is being implemented.
Day 12 in Bangkok
Ever since we arrived in Bangkok, the only ride we have been using to get around the town is taxi (metered taxi). We also walked a lot and sometimes beyond our expectation (ok, not our but my expectation). Gosh, I think I have not walked that far for a very long time.… [Click to read the rest] “Moving Around Bangkok”
A visit to Bangkok is not complete without a trip to the famous flea market in Chatuchak. So, when we had the day off on last Sunday, our immediate plan was to go to Chatuchak. We took the taxi to Silom Road, made a short trip to Bangkok Bank’s Foreign Currency counter (opened 7 days a week) to exchange for some Thai Bahts and walked to the nearest BTS station at Sala Daeng.… [Click to read the rest] “The visit to flea market in Chatuchak”
We saw one in Bangkok. We finished work late, dropped by KFC along the busy Silom Street (Bangkok’s equivalent to New York’s Wall Street) to “tapau” our dinner and flagged down a cab for the ride back to our hotel.
Working on an overseas assignment can be very tiring and challenging. There is a feeling to get the work done professionally and expediently. After all reputations are on the line – personal, company or country.
But sometimes, we see something that is Malaysian in nature in a foreign country…whether it is about seeing a Proton Wira in Africa or seeing another Malaysian speaking the Bahasa Kebangsaan in Middle-East, our spirits are up and running.
One strong advice for those who want to venture out from the hotel room in Bangkok – make sure you keep the address of the hotel written in Thai. You will never know that will come in handy when talking to a taxi driver.
We learned the hard way though.
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You know you can never be ready whenever leaving for an overseas assignment. It always happens to me – documents to be printed at the last minute, last minute meetings, last minute rush to the bank, last minute rush to exchange the foreign currency and other last minute etc.
(Mind having your feet massaged by professionals? Picture source: www.irishhealth.com/)