Ah finally.. Here’s the first post of my Bali trip’s series before my memory fails me. This post is all about planning and preparation. I mean, flight, accommodation, and transportation which are the essential and basic stuffs. All was found and booked via internet. I love how internet eases my life; need allergy relief or recipes then just google.

Flight Ticket

Ticket was booked since last year, August 2009 to be exact, for 5 – 10 May 2010. Can’t thank enough for the BIG SALE from Airasia. Return tickets Sibu – Kuala Lumpur for 2 persons = RM116. While return tickets Kuala Lumpur – Bali for 2 persons = RM241 included three 15kg check-in luggages (made a mistake during booking time, supposingly two luggages only). Total RM357, sweet!

But 3 out of 4 flights were re-scheduled to later time (read: delay). Should have listen to Mum, never book night’s flight. -__-”

Note: Recent experience tells that Airasia fare can be super cheap during promo, but the fare can be almost the same with MAS during regular time. Do compare both!

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Sibuan needs change instead of seeing the gov doing the same thing all over again for the past don’t-know-how-many-years, hence the impossible winning from the opposition becomes possible. Well, that’s people power! Never ever underestimate that. The philosophy of I-give-you-diamonds-and-you-help-me-win doesn’t work as powerful as before already.

Now in my humble opinion, it’s for the people to change themselves. Not just relying on the gov and complain + blaming again when thing doesn’t go the way they expect it to be. I mean, you can’t clap with just one hand.

Small example; when we drove out from the airport last week, we saw bakpao skin being thrown out from a car in front of us. Not once but twice. Er.. so his car can’t get dirty but the road can la? Never heard about mini rubbish bin for car, is it? At least, put a plastic bag in the car? Hope he lands on banana skin one day. Sigh. If there is more people like this fella, this town sure turn into second Medan, dirty that’s it.

Bottom line, I hope the people will appreciate and take good care of what the govt has given them. Not take it for granted and just wait to receive. The individual needs to change too. But I know it’s personal preference whether to step out from comfie zone or not. I’ll play my own part, that’s it.

Last 2 years I heard about WordCamp in Philippine, where the founder of WordPress (Matt Mullenweg) flew all the way to Manila. Followed by that event, Indonesia had its first WordCamp in Jakarta. But I heard nothing from Malaysia. I was like,”Hey, Ain’t Malaysia always one step forward from Indonesia?”

Well, thanks to the people who want to make thing happens, Malaysia will have its first WordCamp on May 22nd at Mid Valley. from 8am to 5pm. Registration is open at WordCamp MY site, only RM150 per person. Super worthy consider you will get to broaden your knowledge, get to networking with several other like-minded people (WordPress enthusiasts, webdeveloper, etc), get free stuffs (better than hip hop clothes; there is Kaspersky Anti Virus licenses etc), meal is included too.

My boy and I did show our support too by being the Gold sponsor. But unfortunately we won’t be attending the event as we just came back from our honeymoon trip. Btw, we managed to meet up for lunch with one of WordCamp MY’s organizers, during our short visit to KL (after Bali) on last Wednesday. We will be eyeing for the next WordCamp though, be it in Singapore, Indonesia or Malaysia.

Sibu, the small town in Borneo – East Malaysia, is suddenly in a limelight thanks to the upcoming MP election on tomorrow May 16th. So many big name from West Malaysia came here, even the busiest man in this country (read: Prime Minister) also dropped by. Whew.. And suddenly quick weight loss is no longer the hottest topic among auntie auntie here but the upcoming election.

Anyway, fret not this post isn’t going to discuss about politic or who has a higher chance to win as the new MP. Purely no interest and don’t want to risk myself getting kick out from this country for saying wrong/sensitive words. Just want to share my opinion and experience about Sibu.

Before settling down in Sibu since December last year, I have visited this town for several times with the first time at end of 2004. That’s 5 1/2 years ago! Comparing this town, then (2004) and now (2010), there isn’t much changes – nothing so obvious or significant. Or I should say, no change?

Wisma Sanyan was the highest building in Sibu and Sarawak. Also happens to have the best-walkable shopping complex (read: more stores). It is still the highest building now. But so what? The shopping complex is still the same. Same lighting, same interior, same shops, same Christmas decoration, NO IMPROVEMENT!

Rejang river was and is the longest river in Sarawak and Sibu happens to be surrounded by it. But so what? In 2004 the river was used as part of the sea transportation and now it still serves the same purpose. Oh wait, now it serves as part of tourism as well, cause we have the so-called-luxury-cruise already, starts from USD3255 to see Teh-C-Peng (the color of Rejang river) and villages for 9 days! I gotta give four thumbs to tourists who fork out money for this ridiculous cruise trip.

There was so many coffee-shops a.k.a kopitiam. I don’t know if the number is growing a lot now. But so what? Every kopitiam has almost the same menu, only which shop is more delicious than others. No varieties of foods and drinks. This is why I love Medan so much cause we have so many varieties of foods and we keep on improving it! Simple example, the famous Meranti roll tart used to have pineapple jam only, now we have cheese, orange, chocolate, you name it.

There is still so many aspects that I don’t see any change or improvement. Bumpy road, for example. And lack of start-ups, like all business is controlled by the old empire.

Not all is the government’s fault for not changing this town. The people here plays part too for not changing themselves. Not everyone of course, but some or mostly is staying in their comfort zone.

Seriously, if the people’s mindset is still the same old one and no significant change from the government, Sibu is going to be an old town. Being left behind. Full with elderly when the young one go overseas.

As for me, if the same old party wins again, I might as well persuade my boy to move to Penang. If the opposition can take over, there might be hope for a better developed town which means I might stay here longer. Let’s see.

Sibu used to have a very boring night life, at least for the past 5 months since I live here. We hardly have event here, not until recently when there is so many speech forum in town due to the coming MP (Member of Parliament) election.

It has been two nights in a row that we went to attend the talk after dinner. Dearest hubby has a huge interest in this politic field, something that I dislike so much. But well, no harm to hear the talk from both parties – the rocket and the big govt party. One is so lively and nailed the people’s problem. One is so boring and spread false news. Better listen to clinislim review than false news.

Tonight is the peak as election is on tomorrow. I’ll stay at home and date my bff instead of gathering with the crowd.