I survived The Great Toilet Paper Crisis

One more week before the end of the year.. what have you done for most of the year, other than duduk diam diam di rumah? 

This year is a full ups and downs for me, I mean, like everybody else.. In fact, perhaps I was harder hit than most of you.. 

Still recovering from job loss, I have been out of income since the MCO, so don't come and pass judgements on me when I dug through every hole possible to get as much cold hard cash as I can from the government, including my own EPF money, to fund my survival.. 

Many of you are doing well throughout 2020, with little or no pay cut whatsoever and still have a job.. I had it all, from pay cut and job loss and all that.. So count yourself lucky ya.. 

My parents kept asking me to return to Penang and take over the family business alongside my cousins.. I am still reluctant even though I am a director there, which being a third-generation heir, I automatically have the right to inherit my parents' positions as my siblings have stated they are not keen.. But this is not something I am keen to do now.. I also don't know what I want to do if I do join the family business.. 

I have just started several companies with several others, and my responsibilities lies deep within these companies, being a shareholder as well as a director.. And since we have not had any revenue yet, the financials are tight and hence, the top managements forgo salaries, but we are still paying our staff their full time salaries and in full accordance to the law.. these are viable businesses, we just do not have enough salesforce to penetrate the market as fast as we envisioned.. 

...

Well, hopefully 2021 will be a better year.

With that, I shall end my 2020 here, with something for all you to ponder...

It's back to the gym!

Oh how I missed the gym. 

It's time to get back to the gym.. it's really been overdue for 6 months, and I'd like to pick up from where I last stopped.. 

If I could manage the weights I was handling prior, it'll be awesome, but I doubt it. 

I was also diving in Tioman last month, logging a total of 10 dives in one trip.. lots of videos were already up in my IG and FB.. but of course, it's tad too slow for me to blog about all the dives I've had! Stay tuned!

6 months of not gyming...

So this is me, 6 months in of not gymming ever since Malaysia went into lockdown middle of March.. When the lockdown was partially lifted in June, I continue to freeze my membership - partly due to the fact that I don't have a full time job, which in turns makes the monthly membership payment a thing to consider..

When the pools reopened, I have been diligently swimming every day that it is not raining.. In one way I still get my workout done, and at the same time tone up my things and shoulders quite well.. 

But I still miss gym.. I hope to be able to get back into the gym next month, if not next year when things are more settled.. I still don't have a full time job, but I can still survive on whatever I have.. 

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Post Covid-19

So much has happened in the last 3-4 months..

First off, how has Covid-19 affected you, wherever you are? Leave a comment so that I know you're doing fine, and I certainly hoped so!

During the lockdown, I managed to sneak out as well, go out for a drive around town.. and I've only encountered only 1 roadblock which I passed through without hassle, since I had packed food in the car with me and its noon time, so that was my excuse.. 

I've had my fair share of rushing to the supermarket only to find empty shelves to the point I stalked the lorry transporting bread just to get a loaf of bread and got it fresh from the lorry before it even hit the shelves.. 

I've had my fair share too of queuing up for an hour just to enter the supermarket for my grocery runs.. being the only person at home makes things easier, and tougher at the same time.. 

Then I became unemployed, verbally.. There was no black-and-white, and one day I was told that I was no longer on their employment but because of the projects I've started and proposed, the company was eager to see them through to fruition and agree that I work on them till I finish.. 

But I did not sit at home through the lockdown doing nothing.. I mean, for the first 2 weeks I was like, fuck it, chill and then gather what I planned to do.. 

I planned to do many things, and I wanted to do many things.. but first thing first, I sat down and have a in-depth look at my finances.. taking into accounts my commitments and bills and all, I figured I can survive around 6 months waiting out this pandemic.. 

In a way, I am very, very thankful that my housing loan application submitted end of February for a new condo unit priced at half a million did not go through, or else I would be in really deep shit as I have applied for just 35% loan and since land have been cleared, the progressive payments would have start to hit by now.. 

Then I started to fine tune my resume, and sent out hundreds from across all sites and to connections.. just like in sales, for every 10 there would be a 1.. so I'm fortunate enough to land myself interviews on weekly basis, first on Zoom and Google Meets at the height of the lockdown, and then followed by the usual meet up.. The interviews are still on going, but during this time, I have met a lot of people and a lot of people have heard about me.. 

I still have interviews to attend, something has to work out.. 

But that wasn't enough.. I wasn't about to sit and do nthing still..

So together with my former superior (he left the company as well at the height of the lockdown) and a few others, we set out and set up start-up companies.. 

The first startup is now ready for operations and commercialisation.. I can't say how much time, effort and energy, countless nights have been spent putting this together.. I am not a staff in this startup so I do not command a salary here, I am just a partner in making this dream team work but with a promising future, it's going to be fine and it will be.. 

We are now in hiring mode - we need sales executives, sales managers, customer service executives and a finance executive to join the team.. More info at www.revsure.my/career.

At the same time, I am not resting on my laurels, we're planning on second startup and its operations.. the groundwork and blueprint is ready.. We're going international with this one, so a lot more planning has to be put in place first.. 

On a personal side, I am now seeing someone exclusively.. He's an Indonesian but has been in Malaysia for 10 years now.. what drawn me is his soft side for me.. There's me in everything he do, and that is enough for me.. The best part is that he's coming diving with me! 

So, Covid-19, is this all you have for me? 

I wanted to be negative, but I can't because there's so many good things that came out of a pandemic.. I get to see true colours of people I used to work with.. I get to see the difference between a boss and a leader, and I get to see those who say they like me actually prove so.. 

The second half of 2020 is here, and as we are easing out of a lockdown, things are slowly getting back to normal, and hopefully, brighter.. 

Thank you for staying with me and reading this long post.. You are the reason why I am still writing after 17 years.. 

Cheers guys, and stay safe! 

NSFW/NSFH: Tiktok is NOT just for 20s

Let's put it to rest - Tiktok is not just for millennials and 20s..

There's a lot of QUALITY content, much of those I like to watch are dance (most genre except Kesana Kesini Kesana Kesini), pilot landings and cloud shots, some bitchy gay guy's posts, cute boys, hot boys, muscle gymfit Asian men (ie workout posts), among others..

Those that I find a waste of time are useless shits (a few seconds long enough to trick you into looping it so that they can get Tiktok algorithm to count it as a view), meaningless things (I can roll my eyes sometimes), some "motivational stuffs" which I think are do-for-the-sake-of-posting, or just doesn't make sense and uninteresting and not funny, .. Sorry - if your Tiktok has no substance, I'll skip..

I'll also mostly skip those obviously Chinese but speaking in Malay posts - like what are you trying to achieve here? Show off your comprehension of Malay? Really? Which is broken Malay to even begin with..

Before the ads starts bombarding Tiktok, I'm just enjoying the content whenever I am free.. And I have also done my own Tiktok dance... I know, I am not a dancer by nurture, by virtue of being gay, by birth, bywhatever...  I can't dance but don't judge me - I'm just having fun..

Full screen in my Tiktok

And this version, which I did not post to Tiktok boz this is only exclusive to blog (not even on my Twitter yo!)... so enjoy!

Green FIngers

I admit I don't really have green fingers.. but I have managed to keep some plants alive, and rescuing some almost-dead plants..

So before the MCO 6 weeks ago, I picked up a plant that was almost dying from the park, it was wilting.. so I took it home, and MCO hit..

And I have been nursing it back..

But I don't know what plant it is..

Oh by the way, I have Tiktok also.. I posted this on my Tiktok (www.tiktok.com/@pluboy) as well as IG (www.instagram.com/ericlimkj) story.. 

How I Choose My Dive Operator

I love watching James' Divers Ready channel for his real-down-to-earth dive videos..

I may not have been diving for long, in fact less than a year, but I know I want to take it further than just a recreational diver.. I may not want to go down the professional path because I really want to dive for the fun of diving..

I have dived in Bali and Phuket in recent months, and these are diving trips, meaning to say the entire trip is for diving only, and taking into account arrival (and enough time to rest) and post-day for buffer.. Do you know you are NOT ALLOWED to fly within the first 24 hours after diving?

No, seriously.. You must allow at least 24 hours after diving before you can get on a plane.. This is all due to the altitude, pressure and the nitrogen in your body.. I won't go so much into the explanation as to this though..

Anyway, how do I choose who to dive with?

LICENSED AND RECOGNISED
First of all, it is imperative they are licensed and recognised dive centers.. It can be a PADI center, a SSI center, the two most popular ones and many others, but it must be one that is recognised.. I double-checked the dive center's registration with the certification agencies to verify that..

REPUTATION
Next, I turn to reviews like TripAdvisor as I always do.. I don't take all reviews on the face value, but rather a percentage of times when they do well vs not so well.. An average sum number tells me more if I should proceed..

OFFERINGS AND COSTS
After narrowing to like a few centers, I then check out their website.. If they don't have a website or one that is professionally built, I'll skip.. It's 2020, and it's not ok not to have a website, or even one that isn't informative enough..

Offerings and costs must be transparent - what is included and what is not.. expectations of a dive, and dive sites..

I learnt that in South East Asia (like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines), a divemaster or diveguide is usually included and comes diving with you.. However that is not always the case, such as in Australia or even the US, so do check..



One advise that I carry with me, if it sounds too good to be true, dig deeper.

If after comparing a few different operators and one is particularly cheaper, I will dig deeper where is the difference..


Once I have established all that, I proceed to contact the operator.. I never use the online booking tool, because I want to see how they reply to my email, from there it tells me a lot about their business..

So far I have been okay..

The operators I chose to dive with in Phuket and Bali were great.. I have no doubt on recommending them to others, and I have no hesitation to go back to dive with them again..

Bali - Manta-Manta Diving Bali, run by Stuart and Simon.

Phuket - Sirolo Dive.
They have their own vessel and a big team.

I'm sure there are plenty others which are recommended as well, but without me having tried them, I can't personally vouch for them..

As for diving center in Malaysia, I would recommend B&J Dive Tioman, located in Kampung ABC Air Batang, Tioman.. They are a 5-Star PADI IDC (Instructor Development Center) with their own pool in Tioman for confined pool..

Also equipped with a dorm and some more luxury hotel rooms..Also have their own bar..

Others are Scuba Dobedo, Mobitek, among others I know from friends..

Diving in Bali

Bali is a unique place to dive, in my humble opinion..

For one, it is facing the open Indian Ocean, meaning currents can be pretty strong here.. In fact, yes it is.. And in September the waters are cold but a wetsuit is sufficient, sea temperatures are between 20-25degrees depends on where and when.. For diving in Bali, it is recommended for 5mm full wetsuit..

During my dives in Bali, I learnt drift diving, learning how to dive in very strong currents, how to control buoyancy in currents.. My divemaster also took me around wrecks and sunken stuffs..

I dived with Manta-Manta Diving Bali, I can vouch for their professionalism and small groups using local boats, which in turn provide jobs for local communities..

The hotel bathroom.. it's a 3-star hotel in Kuta, but for this bathtub, I'm all in!

Laying by the pool when I have the time

Small pool but good enough

Sanur Beach where most of the diving trips departs from.

Loading up the boats with tanks and equipment

Before the drive trip, a briefing is conducted.
Things in briefing include weather conditions, sea conditions, waves, dive plan and buddies pairing.

As I usually dive alone, I am always paired one-to-one with the divemaster.

Loading up and ready to depart.

That's me, getting as close as I can get to one huge manta ray.

Manta ray

Roasting during surface interval, between dives.
It is important to keep warm and drink lots of water during surface interval.

I also have the time to record some video and take some photo at one quiet corner along the beach.

Tanah Lot 

Tanah Lot 

I also tried Bali Swing..
I would say it's just an expensive tourist attraction that isn't that worth..

Wahaha - BEST PORK RIBS in Bali
I recommended it.
And reasonably priced as well.

Following are the videos I recorded on my GoPro.. enjoy!

2 baby sharks hiding in among the stones

A tourist attraction. 

This submarine vessels brings tourist down to explore divers.

A huge manta ray 

More manta rays

There's a shark there, can you see it?

A sudden strong current propel us

Just chilling with a greenback turtle

Just circling this shipwreck because there's no swim-through

My diving journal

So I finally picked up a new hobby - diving!

I've actually wanted to take up diving for many years but didn't manage to find the time for it, until last year (coz last year I worked from home and needn't need much reporting, basically it's just wasting time doing nothing much)..

I signed up at the Malaysian International Dive Expo (MIDE) in May 2019 and in June, I went.. I recommend my diving school, B&J Dive Tioman for their friendliness and professionalism..

Barely one year later, I have logged 23 dives, 3 islands and 3 certifications, but just like everything else the more you do it, the better you get..

Along the way I have also invested in some equipment, such as:
- mares Avanti Quattro+ fins
- mares One Vision Sunrise mask
- mares Ergo Dry snorkel
- Aqualung i300C dive computer
- GoPro Hero 7
- DSMB & spool
- water shoes & booties
- rashguard top
- underwater camera housing kit for my GoPro
- pointer sticks (I lost 1 in the sea)
- some D-rings and carabiners

Basically here's what I've done since my open water:
June 2019 - Open Water, Tioman
Sept 2019 - Fun dives, Bali
Nov 2019 - Advanced Open Water & Nitrox, Tioman
Jan 2020 - Fun dives, Phuket
??? 2020 - Fun dives, Tioman (I was supposed to go during Labour Day but due to Covid-19 and my current financial situation, I have decided to postpone it to a later date, probably going to push it to Sept or Oct before the end of the 2020 dive season).

So this post shall be about my Open Water in Tioman.. my first time to Tioman..

Tg Gemok Ferry Terminal at 5am

Counter is open

Ferry ticket, boarding pass, Marine Park ticket

Time to board @ 6.45am

Inside the ferry

Pardon my sleepy face

ABC jetty

My upgraded room which I won 

Private shower

Office, classroom-cum-service center and open seating area

B&J Tioman office

Equipment room

Training pool

B&J Bar

Outside my room

Hey hey

Let's go diving

So nice

Sunset at the jetty

It was a good day to go diving; but it's also the day where I witnessed
a water accident

Buoyancy control wasn't good yet

I earned some drinking time after finishing the dives

CORONA CORONA.. but this is Corona Extra... 

Gerai Mawar..
I like their food.. reasonably cheap for Tioman prices

On my last dive, because this is when I officially finished my Open Water

New diver with my instructor

Leaving the island with bucket list item checked

Before stepping off Tioman, I did go back a second time for my Advanced
and also booked a third Tioman trip for 2020

Upcoming next, I dived in Bali where I came very close to manta rays off Nusa Penida, and also had the chance to try drift diving as well as wreck diving.. it was exciting! I would have my GoPro with me already so there'll be video footages, but I am having problems extracting it to the computer..

Am I missed?

Since I have some time on my hands now, I decided to go back to my archives and start writing where I left off..

I realised I haven't wrote anything much about my diving adventures.. In fact I've had 23 dives in 6 months, completing my Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air 40%.. I've done wreck dives, drift dives, cave dives.. Attempted night diving but water conditions wasn't on our side on the 2 attempts.. So in May I will go back and do another 6 dives or so which will include night dives..

I enjoyed diving a lot - should've picked up the hobby long ago but I kept putting it off due to the time.. I am glad I did it.. and I will keep diving until I get my Divemaster..

I have dived locally as well as in Bali and Phuket - which are excellent dive spots as well.. I am not able to go to Semporna, Sipadan or even Palawan yet, but I will do so when the time is right..

Anyone else dive? Give me a heads up, maybe we can plan dives together!

This was taken in my Phuket accommodation in January 2020
when I was jobless and went for 9 dives in Phuket.