Earlier this year, when I went to Malaysia, I went snorkelling with a friend around Kapalai and several other sites in close vicinity. More on the experience here.

Certification dives were:

• Lake Pupuke
• Goat Island
• Jones’s Bay

Last night, I had my first post certification dive, and went with 7 others out to see whether any crayfish could be caught.

Arriving at Takapuna Beach around 645pm, and launching onto the charter boat that Performance Diver has, we headed out from at a mild pace until we were clear of all swimmers/kayakers and jetskis, before speeding out on slightly rough waters at around 20 knots/37 kph for about 30 minutes

Leaving a mild wake behind us, with a moderate wind in out face, we sped past Rangitoto Island and just to the right of Maria Island.

My dive buddy and I were the first up to enter the water, via a back roll.

Water was warm towards the top but I did go through at least one thermocline and several  rounds of equalization before arriving at 16 meters (which I am treating as 2 bar) .

One of the great things about diving with a buddy is that you have someone watching your back, and you’re watching their back.

One of the not so great things? If either of you experience any problems, the dive is terminated for you both.

Roughly 20 minutes after entry, with a reasonable look around at the fishes, we terminated the dive.

Arriving back at the boat, we waited while the others on the dive came back.

A total of 3 crayfish were caught. None by me

A place where a thundering
“Tihei Mauri Ora!“
will still get you instant attention
but boy, you better have something to share!!!

This land is a patchwork quilt
of mountains, farms, and cities
Juxtaposed sometimes effortlessly
Other times, like in a jumble sale at the local op-shop.

Rivers flow and meander
from mountains to the sea
wandering along the place
as if they themselves are on a sunday drive.

At 5am, at the local marae
people mutter a karakia
for hosts and guests alike.

A land so old, and yet so young
full of potential and broken dreams concurrently
This land is part of me
and I am part of it.

So, here in New Zealand, in the name of “performance art“, we have a gentleman who is being paid to advise how life is (reasonably) good on the unemployment benefit.

The article goes on to say that the artist “advocates the opportunities and benefits of unemployment and says it is unfair that long-term beneficiaries are labelled bludgers for exploiting the welfare system.

Wells’ installation, The Beneficiary’s Office, urges people to abandon jobs they don’t like rather than suffering eight hours of “slavery“.”

Interestingly enough, his own unemployment benefit has been cut.

I’ve got to wonder why on earth that has happened??

Disclosure: Yes, I am one of those who are currently unemployed, having been made redundant earlier this year, and am actively seeking work.

Come walk with me by Lake Pukuke
We can see the sun playing hide and seek with the clouds
we can muse on that which has led us here
Just you and me

I can see your face
reflected badly on the mirror of Lake Pupuke
We can laugh and talk of that which remains
for you and I

We laughed, we cried
We raged against the still wind
On a spring night
While the sun played hide and seek

You left me here
at Lake Pupuke
promising to move the ends of the earth
To meet me here some day

Now the sun has fled from the shore of Lake Pupuke
And I wonder when we will revisit
And watch the black swans
Glide effortlessly on the water

I also went and got my CV updated before I finished up and it’s looking quite good now, thanks to Denis Oldin at Successful Resumes and yes, that is a shameless plug, I admit it, but as I say, I was most impressed with the work done.

Flew up to Auckland 15th June as I had to meet a few agents about roles in Auckland as the employment situation in Wellington (especially for someone who has worked mainly in Government agencies) is that there are a lot of restructures going on, as the Government seeks to get more “bang for its buck“.

As an aside – I have to admit that it feels good to be back in Auckland. I was working and living up here 2006/2007, and for some obscure reason, I tend to like the place, and always have. In fact, I’ve also advised family and friends that I go up to Auckland to “recharge the batteries”. Some go to Queenstown, Christchurch, or similar places in New Zealand to do the same. I just go to Auckland.

Please excuse me for a minute while I seek to dodge the imaginary bricks that are being sent from friends/ex-workmates in Wellington, along with accusations of “Turncoat! Traitor!” and so on It’s nothing of the sort, it’s just being slightly realistic about keeping various options for work open.

Was talking to a good friend of mine last night, and there is a lot of work currently happening in the Auckland Region, which is quite interesting as I’ve had people advise me that there is more programme/project work happening in Wellington than Auckland. Another friend chimed in with “But isn’t it better to be employed in Auckland rather than looking for work in Wellington?“

Hmmmm… how to answer that? I certainly couldn’t. If someone can, please let me know….

So, I’m now in Auckland, and working on the elevator pitch and generally feeling quite optimistic about how things are shaping up at the moment.

Life is good!

• Forget just living, just getting by. Live big. Live loud.  Be larger than you are, Be passionate in what you do.
• Don’t just sit around waiting for life to hand you things on a silver platter. Push the envelope out and push it wide.
• Get the right people around you. Do not allow other people to limit what you do. You have the skills and ability to do whatever you think you can so do it with passion and pride!
• Be mindful of who you associate with. Also, be mindful of what you say. Both your associates and your words will either lift you up and inspire you to bigger things, or they will tear you down.
• Live bigger than what you are. Expect big things to happen. Why? Because when you expect big things to happen, they happen. They may not happen immediately, but one thing I have noticed about life is everything is a process. From school, to university, to work, to where ever you want to be or whatever you want to do….
• Live in the moment. Take responsibility for it and any actions you take. You will be rewarded for what you consistently pursue, seek and ask for.
• Live life with your eyebrows up – live expectantly. Too many people wear a frown semi-permanently on their face.
• Be generous. In words, and deeds. Don’t expect payback – however, it will come regardless of whether you expect it or not, as that is they way life is structured.
• Live expectantly. Be expectant. Expect great things to happen, as they will occur. Remember that you are here for a purpose, even if you don’t understand WHY you are here at this time. Everything you have done up to this point in time has led you to two places – Right Here, and Right Now. And just because you are right here, right now, remember that the past does not constrain you.
• Change your perspective. Get up early enough to see the sunrise over the hills or mountains at least once a month! Do the same for a sunset.
• Appreciate. Appreciate life, your friends and family, because in doing so, you become truly alive.
• Be there, create the atmosphere. Just by being there. Just by turning up, you are making a difference.

I’ve been told there are 3 steps to making a dream a reality

1. Decide what it is you want
2. Do it
3. Make it work.

Most people will decide what they want. Some will decide to do steps 1 and 2. Step 3 may take years, but that is where the passion kicks in.

I’ve downloaded the 32 bit version and installed it. It’s good. In fact, it’s so good that I am going to try to use it as my primary system for the month of May.

So far, I’ve managed to install all the usual programs that I need, including OpenOffice,  Firefox, various multimedia codecs and tools (mainly for the use of Rhythmbox and to allow me to play DVDs), all through the repository system. Skype, however, had to be installed separately, and I’ve had no problems with video on Skype.

I am, however, not as impressed with Empathy, probably because although it allows me to connect to Yahoo! messenger and Windows Live Messenger, I feel as though it doesn’t have “all the bells and whistles”. Then again, it may just be that I’m still figuring out how to fully utilise it.

Interestingly enough, the ability to connect to messaging services has been the one reason why I have not switched over to Linux full-time.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a “fan boy” of a specific operating system. I use Windows at work, because that is the platform that work uses. I have played around with Linux for a few years (off and on), and just want to experiment with it and see if it’s all that it is cracked up to be.

But first, I decided to do some checking (contacted both Changi and Brunei international airports, in the hope some found it and handed it in to lost and found), digging (Google is definitely your friend – sometimes).

Having worked as a CSR (Customer Service Representative), I know they don’t always have all the information about their products and services. Sometimes you have to escalate it up.

I contacted Vodafone and the first CSR asked if their SIM was still in the phone, and when I stated it wasn’t, but the SIM was in a backup phone, they advised me of a toll-free number that I could call to get the cellphone disabled.

Contacted Nokia, and was asked for the IMEI number of the handset, and my cellphone SIM card.

I advised of both, along with reiterating my desire that the handset be blocked, as I did not want others using it, and that there was not a problem with the local SIM, as I was using a backup phone. Nokia CSR then advised that their was nothing they could do about the missing cellphone, including making it unable to be used by others.

I then asked if it was possible for a message to be sent to render the phone invalid, and they stated it was not possible with their current technology.

I then got hold of Vodafone and requested the IMEI be blacklisted.

Spent some more time on hold while the CSR consulted someone within the company, before advising me they could block the SIM, but not the phone.

Rung Nokia again, and was advised by another CSR that they couldn’t do anything. When I mentioned the IMEI database, they checked with someone before advising me they had never heard of it, or of blacklisting and finally advised me to contact the IMEI database directly

My questions are:

• If I can send a text message anywhere on a GSM network and have it received a few seconds later, why do the manufacturers claim that they can not send a message to the handset, basically making the handset unusable?
• Why did Nokia refer me back to Vodafone when I had advised them that they could only block the SIM and that I had already talked to Vodafone twice before ringing Nokia a second time?
• Also, why did Nokia claim no knowledge of the IMEI Database when they are members of the GSM Consortium?

This list is not exhaustive, as I have probably left out a few names, but heartfelt thanks also go to them.

I would like to express my gratitude to the following people, in no particular order.

Globally

• Ana - for the cheery voice, and for making some days seem a little better than others.
• Robin and Lyn – for being there, and hearing me out.
• My family – for their thoughts, input and prayers.

Singapore

• Grace - for putting up with a slightly jet-lagged individual.
• Ilas - for taking me out on the town in Central, and an interesting conversation

Indonesia

• Sherly, Jonathan, Gunawan and Johnny – for giving me a good briefing about Indonesia and some interesting tips, as well as arranging things with the Tana family
• The Tana family – for putting up with an orang gila from New Zealand.
• Shierly, Lie Chen, Eko, Epenk, Venny – for showing me around, and sharing laughs with (and at) me.
• Shita - for the grounding that was badly needed over coffee and some wine

Vietnam

• Hoang and Thanh – for taking time off, showing me the sites, having food and drink with me, and taking me on motorcycle rides that will are forever etched into my memories.
• Huong and Rosie – for being prepared to greet me in Hanoi (sorry I never made it there.. next time)

Malaysia

• Roza and Monica – for coffee, putting up with me (yet again), showing me around and taking me scuba. Most importantly, for the philosophical chats and laughter.

Thailand

• Tran - for dinner.
• Jita - for showing me around Bangkok and coffee.

Flight to Singapore was good – it passed without incident in other words. Took the MRT to the area where I was staying, a leisurely 10 minute stroll got me to the accommodation, where I pretty much headed to sleep. Got up the next morning, and reversed the travel to Changi airport. Bags were checked in, right through to Auckland.

Made a huge mistake in putting my cellphone in the checked in bags, as when I got to Auckland, no cellphone.

Fortunately, I had travel insurance, and I will be able to get something sorted pretty shortly.

Caught a flight back down to Wellington, got home, dropped bags, went and checked in with family, came back and slept.

Photos from the Thailand leg will be on Flickr in the next few days or so (hopefully)