Training Tour- France, 🇫🇷

2 newly installed of immuno-analyzers hence required me to attend the training. That gonna be my 4th training held in Europe. Hooi Ni, office secretary has e-mailed me the itinerary and the training agenda before she asked me how do I want to proceed. The itinerary was quite good, allowed me to spend some times in Paris, because I know I’d spend the rest of my time in Pouilly, a small town surrounded by castles, walls, canals and agricultural centers with limited public transport facility.

I took an international transfer via Guangzhou Baiyun Airport before I touched down in Paris. Because of the route, the total traveling time was almost 20 hours. Just because I traveled heading the west, it wasn’t that bad. I enjoyed the list of Asian movies on board. I had a handwritten list of attraction places which I’ve finalized after surfed on few websites, and suggested by Taufik too. Taufik has attended the same training a year ago. He was so lucky when the training back then was held over 3 weeks -and he got a day off on one of the Mondays due to public holiday. I didn’t have the same luck but hey, my time was in winter!

Frigid days spent well here. 

Paris, honestly, the railroad system wasn’t easy. I usually survived without asking around how to get here and there but not this time. I, in fact spent more than ½ hour just to find the ‘deposito bagagli’ (left luggage) service at Gare de Lyon station. The symmetrical wings, floors, and exits in the building kept me frowning. After the struggles, I smiled from ear to ear because I knew; the Eifel Tower is just 10 minutes walk from the station, the top Paris attraction.

Fast-forward 9 hours:

No caption 🙄

Signature architecture of The Louvre

Zuhr & Asr at The Grande Mosquée de Paris

Notre Dame from behind. 

Pont Alexandre III 

Mona Lisa with her emblematic smile  

Arc de Triomphe was just few steps away. 

Pont des Arts- Ever heard about the padlock love bridge in Paris? They've been removed and been replaced with new parapets. 

Arc de Triomphe- Still can be seen from miles away. 

Paris was gorgeous, really, but on the second weekend I had, I decided to stay in Pouilly-en-Auxois. Enjoy the nature than the buildings. Furthermore, the cost to get to Paris is relatively high when you converted them into Ringgits. In Pouilly, the main issue was the public transport. The only way for me to get through along the canal conveniently was by a bicycle. I need to get one from the Office of Tourism, just opposite the IDS Training Center.

I and a friend from Turkey, Ĕrdogan rode through the canals, hills, historical castles and villages all day long. Route to Chateau de Commarin & Chateau de Châteauneuf. It was a ~40km ride before we completely flatted on the next day. We had steep climb and descend before those castles. Check it out!

Steep route along the way to the Chateau 

My favourite picture of all time (credit to Ĕrdogan )

The training itself was good. The system we learnt was almost new to me yet I wasn’t struggling to understand the contents. Among the participants, I don’t have any advantage over them. Every single thing is written neatly on the manuals. The best part was, the trainer didn’t do any assessment on us. As long as we able to get the system working after the ‘canibalization’, we entitled the certificate.

Last day wefie. We are all going home in one-piece. All went well 😆

Visiting Erdoğan's room for maghrib prayer.

Arturo, a guy from US. He is one of the good Americans. Survived as US Army, physically and emotionally. He is now working with IDS as engineer (and still serving the military) . Lot things to talk about him but I'm just too lazy. 

This post is probably bland and not really represent my actual feelings as when I was there enjoying every moment. Lot things to tell yet I lost words to describe them fairly but to be honest; Pouilly is one of the best places I ever visited in my whole life. I just loved everything I touched, or even smell. If I got a chance to be in France, I’d choose Pouilly rather than Paris.

Abbas Faruqi

Another 1 year expired post.

Moments after our son was born, the staff nurse held him up and pronounced the birth time. With his healthy cries ringing in my ears, I reached out and the nurse placed him in my arms. I cooed my heart swelling with tenderness as I watched them. Unlike his sisters, we only get know his gender after the birth. The scans before were uncertain due to the infant’s position.

“Our generation needs a heroic figure like Umar Al-Khattab. If I’m not, my son is the one!” I once said.

Umar was the name I always wanted to give to my son. Maybe it was drove by my name, Faruq (the kuniyah given to Umar al-Khattab), so I can perfectly fit his name before mine like ‘Umar al-Faruq’. I in fact, have Ozil, Uzzil, and few names in my list. But we never know, all written in ‘Lauh Mahfuz’ beforehand; within a week, I named our first prince as ABBAS.

I wasn’t fascinated by the meaning of the name literally but the history of the Prophet’s uncle, Abbas ibn Ali. There’s Arabian tribe named as Bani Abbasiyah as a remembrance and tribute upon him. The rest of the story, I’d let Google/ YouTube to do their jobs. Because I believed, my Abbas is gonna has his own story.

Fast forward 7 months old:

Abbas finally able to sit unsupported and learnt how to pivot to reach desired objects while sitting. (7+ months old).

Training Tour- Hong Kong

When I first arrived in Hong Kong for my 2-week training, the contrast of the life I had led in Malaysia was overwhelming. I felt suffocated by the crowds I encountered wherever I went. Most of important places are reachable by trains. Thus, their main ‘transportation’ is by their own legs. For the people like me, must be impressed by their efficient train schedules. 2-4 minutes different for every trip for a station- It’s pretty convenient to not have a car! And, since almost all the folk using the trains, they seemed so well educated in using the elevator as well. By default, if you are not in rush, you need to stand on the right side of the elevator. This rule has been ‘programmed’ to all Hong Kong people.

I stayed in L’Hotel Causeway Bay Harbour View on Hong Kong Island. About 1km away, I found a large number of Indonesians along the Causeway Road and occupied the whole Victoria Park like celebrating something. But, no. They were just killing time there in groups doing anything they wanted, only on weekends. Thus, it was easy for me to find halal food around.

It was end of July; the weather was just like in Malaysia. I guessed, I’m gonna have typical chaotic KL life but in Hong Kong. A week passed and it’s time to discover the Island Town. Of course I studied a bit about the nearby attractions and Aberdeen Fishing Village was my first worthy destination. I went to the Central station and took the Bus 70. It brought me to Aberdeen Tunnel after few stops. I tried out the sampan ride (Sightseeing Sampan) and wander around the dried seafood stalls and seafood markets. I can sense the co-existence of modern life which catching up to the old traditions- I checked out some sorts of seafood being bartered away to the seafood restaurants and wholesalers.

Just stand close to this signage, someone will offer you a ride.

Po Toi Island

As I walked along the promenade, I saw a group of tourist queued up for tickets. I stood still for few minutes on the pier before I decided to join them to get aboard to emmm.. I don’t know where! It displayed 3 names of Island on the banner: Lamma Island, Po Toi Island, and Cheung Chau Island. I had difficulty to get explanation from them but the ferry schedule written on the ticket was helpful- it was an Island hopping. Po Toi Island was the first tiny Island, reached after 45 minutes ride. I had a steep climb and descend as well as casual tracking. The views? Check it out:

Snapped by Elpis, perfectionist with her perfection! 😊

Stanley Beach

While waiting for the ferry to fetch us to the next Island, I had a talk with a local Hong Kong lady, Ms. Elpis. She was enthusiast to introduce some attractive places and revised my weekend itinerary. So, instead of going to the other Islands, I eventually alighted to Stanley Beach. It was a good consultation since I can reserve the plans for next day. Elpis accompanied and showed me around before she left to her home few kilometers away from the coast. Besides the beach, the main attraction here was the Stanley Market for picking up t-shirts, keyrings, and other souvenirs. As usual, some items are overpriced. I believed I could get cheaper identical items somewhere else.

My Sunday :')

Yesterday owed me Lamma and Cheung Chau Islands. I geared up for the next adventurous trips as early as 7.30am. This time, I took a different route to Ferry Piers. As I reached the ticket counter, the staff was trying so hard to explain that they are shutting down the service. Yes, just like in some south east Asia countries, English is their second language. Some local people find it a bit difficult in such situation. I can’t get him until another tourist showed up to tell me that actually, typhoon no.8 is approaching. The tropical cyclone warning signals are issued. Once the signal is higher than no.3, all government agencies shut down their operations, including the ferry services. I was just in time to get aboard before the signal triggered. Plans cancelled.

Mong Kok Market

Sky 100

View from the pool. 

Symphony of Light

Elpis was so helpful as she kept updating me with the typhoon thingy via WhatApps. When the uptime of the operations, what are the alternative activities I shall consider. Many thanks, Elpis! Unfortunately, I found my shoes crumbled, and my feet were in pain because of it. I can’t tolerate the pain so yeah, I rest in the hotel for hours before I went up for swimming. That was my Sunday! Nonetheless, my weekend was still wonderful.

Stago Training Room

Dinner treated by trainer @The Peak