My Gratitude List

Karakorum Desert, Balkan Welayat, Turkmenistan

July 28^th, 2008

The clock on my laptop’s screen shows 3:30pm. On the other computer, the temperature reading outside is 54 degree Celcius. The temperature inside the unit is no difference. The air conditioner is blowing hot wind since the past few days. After working 11 days without stop in the middle of desert, it give up, No longer cold breeze coming out of the air conditioner. The heat generated from 6 computers in this 4m by 2m room escalate the temperature. Feeling like in sauna, or worse, a pressure cooker.

My eyes staring at one of the screen, showing the incoming ones and zeros, or what people in the digital world call as bits. These bits are crucial in order for us to provide our services to client. The stream of bits should come in no matter what when we are drilling. If it stops, it is my job to go out there and troubleshoot, under the scorching sun.

So far the bits are streaming well. No problem at all. No noise. No intermittent reception. Every bit comes in when needed. I am grateful to these bits. Even though there are just merely zero and one, but it is the core thing that later on give very meaningful information to steer the well.

Close my eyes. Forget the heat. Just see every bit as a single cent that coming into my pocket. In an hour, I already have 2000 bits, equivalent to 2000 US cents. Thank you bits. Please keep coming.

1000101010100101010001010101010101001010101010101010101010101010

Car Purchase and My Experience

The very first car that I purchased was an Audi registered in year 1989. I don’t really remember which model is that. It was almost 4 years ago when I was in UK. That summer when I was in Manchester, my friend threw the idea of purchasing a car. It was an instant purchase through E-bay, the best virtual marketplace I had been to. Haha. I miss E-bay.

Anyway, the car was around 550 pounds. Since we were working as domestic assistant (or in layman term ‘cleaner’) every summer, we managed to save quite lot of money. We bought the car on Friday night. Then, we purchased one way bus ticket to Heathrow, London to pick up the car. The bus left at around 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning, so we arrived in Heathrow around 8am. We met the seller, and drove the car back to Manchester. The journey should not take more than 4 hours of driving. However, with extra cautious, my friend drove slowly and reached home 6 months afterwards..opsss..not 6 months lar, 6 hours.... Haha..I feel hilarious to think all these good memories when I was a student.

However, the car’s life span was not long. About a month after that, my friend involved in an accident and the car was badly damaged beyond repairable. We sent the car to scrap yard with 50 pounds penalty. Yes, we need to pay to dispose this piece of metal. However, I was really grateful that my friend was fine and escaped with no injury.

That was my first car, jointly owned with my other friend.

When I started my career, I made a wish to buy car for my family. My dad drove Nissan Sunny 130Y which was more than 20 years old already. I want to buy him a more reliable and safer car.

And about two months ago, I bought him a new Toyota Vios. At first, I want to buy a second hand Honda City or Toyota Vios, but after visiting Toyota showroom, I fell in love with new Toyota Vios. I am looking for a car which is spacious and economical.

At first, I want to delay the purchase. And with petrol price was rising recently, I felt that I need to postpone my plan. However, after much consideration, I don’t think this is the right thing to do since I had promised Dad I will buy him car real soon.

The loan agreement went well and we got the car in 10 days.

I still remember the tips that I learned from my reading about car purchase;

+ For first car, better to get second hand, low cc, cheaper car, low monthly installment or buy cash if possible. As a fresh graduate, this is an important step to liberate cash for other purposes especially career related. After few years, buy my dream car when I already have stable job and work experience. If possible, use public transport to commute to work place.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

I have been waiting for a long time to buy this book. I saw this book (with its nice cover) in Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur. But I never try to flip through the pages. In fact, at first, I thought this is a novel. Actually this is a book that I categorized as motivational and inspiring, kind of books that I love to read.

‘The Secret’ tell us the secret of life. How to be happy and successful in life by changing our thought. It sounds so easy, but only the true believers in this book can get the message.

It’s like when you are in real trouble, the best thing you need to do is to change your thought and focus on the good things. And the universe will conspire to solve your problem. Is it that simple?

When you are broke, think that you have more than enough. You live in abundance. And the money will come to you in many unexpected ways.

When you want something, think that you already have it. You can feel it, you can touch it. And you will send the signal to the Universe, and the Universe will send the thing that you want real soon.

These concepts can be hard to grasp. Especially for those who always live in misery and trouble.

I do believe in what the author said. Now, I realized that I already practice few tips which I read in books. Now it is the time to grasp new ideas and concept, and strengthen the one that I already know.

The Secret to Money

“Whatever the mind…can conceive it can achieve”

- W. Clement Stone (1902-2002)

I grew up on, “ You have to work hard for money”. So I replaced that with, “ Money comes easily and frequently”. Now in the beginning it feels like a lie, right? There is a part of your brain that will say, “Oh you liar, it’s hard.” So you have to know it’s this little tennis match that will go on for a while.

- Loral Langemeier, Financial Strategist, Speaker and Personal and Corporate Coach

“The good news is that the moment you decide that what you know is more important than what you have been taught to believe, you will have shifted gears in your quest for abundance. Success comes from within, not from without”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Secret Summaries

- To attract money, focus on wealth. It is impossible to bring more money into your life when you focus on the lack of it.

- It is helpful to use your imagination and make-believe you already have the money you want. Play games of having wealth and you will feel better about money; as you feel better about it, more will flow into your life.

- Feeling happy now is the fastest way to bring money into your life.

- Make it your intention to look at everything you like and say to yourself, “ I can afford that. I can buy that.” You will shift your thinking and begin to feel better about money.

- Give money in order to bring more of it into your life. When you are generous with money and feel good about sharing it, you are saying, “I have plenty”.

- Visualize checks in the mail.

- Tip the balance of your thoughts to wealth. Think wealt

KPF: Who can become a member?

This post is specifically to answer Father Sez. Thank you for visiting my blog and leave comment.

Koperasi Permodalan Felda Membership

From the website, http://www.felda.net.my/kpf/soalanlazim.asp , it is stated that;

1.	Siapakah yang layak menjadi anggota?
		Peneroka-peneroka Felda, isteri dan anak-anak mereka yang warganegara Malaysia dan berusia tidak kurang daripada 18 tahun dan berkelakuan baik
		Koperasi-koperasi peneroka Felda
		Kakitangan-kakitangan Felda yang sedang bertugas dan isteri
		Kakitangan-kakitangan Felda yang sudah bersara yang warganegara Malaysia dan sudah menjadi ahli Koperasi sebelum bersara
		Koperasi-koperasi kakitangan Felda

In general, KPF is open to who are working directly with FELDA. This 'exclusivity' gives lots of advantages to Peneroka and their family. A single solid advice to the children of Peneroka, please put your money in this cooperation and you will not regret. KPF has a strong track record with average dividend between 13% to 14% a year. I cannot guarantee future performance, but oil palm trading is heading a bright prospect.

This may leave you with disappointment, FatherSez. No worry. Everyone has his share of opportunity and you have been doing well so far. I enjoy reading your stories about family, goat farm, and your money management advices.

How to Become Member?

Contact your local Pejabat Felda and ask for membership form. Send the form by yourself or through Pejabat Felda with RM5 membership fee. This may take few months to get approval. Once you have the registration number, you can start to place your investment.

Or go to KPF office;

	Pejabat Koperasi Permodalan Felda (KPF)
	Bangunan Blok J,
	Anjung Felda, Jalan Maktab,
	54000 Kuala Lumpur.

I have been to KPF office last 3 weeks. It was empty except for an officer who will be more than happy to keep him busy with your inquiries. I feel like going to the bank and somebody is waiting to entertain me. No noise, no interruption, just me and him talking about serious business. Haha..

Highest KPF Dividend ever 16.5% for Year 2007

June 27, 2008 22:52 PM
From www.bernama.com

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 (Bernama) -- Koperasi Permodalan Felda Bhd (KPF) will be paying out dividend of 16.5 percent to its members involving a total payment of RM178.2 million for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2007, a record figure in its history.

For the 2006 financial year, it paid a dividend of 14.5 percent amounting to total payout of RM122.82 million, its chairman Datuk Ahmad Tarmizi Alias said in a press conference after KPF's annual general meeting here Friday.

Ahmad said the increased dividend reflected the good performances of the businesses it had invested in with the higher palm oil price being a major contributor.

KPF's membership rose to 186,268 last year, a 3.55 percent increase from the year before while assets rose by 23.64 percent to RM1.17 billion.

In 2007, KPF reported a revenue of RM253.06 million, an increase by 51.03 percent from RM167.55 million in 2006.

After tax and zakat payment, profit was RM183.31 million compared with RM125.61 million in 2006.

KPF's investment reached RM1.47 billion in 2007 compared with RM1.05 billion the year before with the core of its investments being in equity ownership in 13 Kumpulan Felda companies.

-- BERNAMA

P/s : This is the highest dividend ever paid by KPF to its shareholders. Unfortunately, I only started to invest in KPF early this year. Hopefully, with a strong market for palm oil, KPF will be able to give such a high return for year 2008 and beyond.

Third Ride : 70km and beyond ....

Third Ride : Adela – Sg Rengit – Tanjung Pengelih - Adela
Date : Wednesday, 18/06/2008 Distance : 72.59km Avg Speed : 22.4km/h
Max Speed : 43.5km/h Time: 7.30am-11.30am

This is the extended ride from the first ride. A 19km ride Adela-Sg Rengit ride, plus 16km coastal ride to Tg Pengelih. Tg Pengelih is the second most southern tip of Asia continent, facing the South China Sea. From the shore, I can see Changi, Singapore clearly. I believe anyone who is fit can swim cross the channel without much problem. The channel that separates Malaysia and Singapore is Selat Tebrau.

This time, the ride feels shorter. Probably because I was on the same route several days ago. The coastal road from Sg Rengit to Tg Pengelih is dead flat. I cruised at 23km/h comfortably for half an hour each leg.

The Kite Runner : The Movie

"Do you want me to run that kite for you? For you a thousand times over"

I am looking forward to watch the movie adapted from the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

Watch the thriller here.