For instant the street performer group ENJOI… I really enjoy their street performance. I have watched them perform twice… during TechEd SEA 2007 (which I did not carry camera when I saw them performing) and this year TechEd SEA 2008 (this time with my Sony T200). This video is part of my TechEd collection which I want to share with you all

Digging about ENJOI… this is what I found…

“In 2003, a bunch of people started jamming together next to Bukit Bintang’s intersection. Using various kinds of instrument, they start to experiment with sounds and traditional music of different cultures around the globe. At the beginning, the group started with three core members. Later they were getting bigger by the involvement of many interested fans and friends. The group then formed a band, ABONATION, and recorded an album, BIRTH. Later they broke up. But the group still doing the street performance with a new name, ENJOI. With many years of experience, the band is now getting ahead with a style and sound, which they called, the traditional tribal music.”

You should be able to watch them performing staring from around 9.00pm… This is 3 part video which took me ages to upload to YouTube… enjoi it…

ENJOI 2008 Part 1 ( 00:40 minutes)

ENJOI 2008 Part 2 ( 01:36 minutes)

ENJOI 2008 Part 3 ( 03:47 minutes)

My trip started on the 10 August 2008 at KKIA. My flight was at 12.15pm. The flight was slightly delayed because someone decided to come late… then never turned-up. We only started moving slightly before 1.00pm… damm. And imagine, because of the fuel price, I think they decided to save cost by reducing the air-cond power. I was a bit sweating… waiting whoever was it to come into the aircraft. I noticed lately, the aircraft  reduced their air-cond power while waiting for passenger… You will only feel the cool air after the aircraft is on air…

I stayed at Melia Hotel… again like last year TechEd SEA 2007. Why?… because it is situated at Bukit Bintang area and next to the hotel is the Imbi Monorail Station.

After checking in… the first thing we did is to attack food. We decided to have our late lunch at Jalan Alor… I had a can of Coca Cola and ‘sasau kai fan’

  
View from inside the hotel’s bubble lift… infront of Hotel Melia is Berjaya Times Square… and the Imbi Monorail Station.

 
The place we eat at Jalan Alor.

TechEd SEA 2008 was fantastic!!! The closing was the most exciting… really KABOOM… like last year, once again hosted by Daphne Iking.
 

 
Guitar Hero competition…

This time, I did not attend much track but spend most of my time at the exhibition hall… Well, what do you expect a five timer attendee ‘senior’ will do? Let the ‘junior’ fills up the track-room

As usual, Steve Riley’s track is the most crowded… he should be given the Planery Hall instead of the Banquet Hall :O
  
Like I said before, this guy is the only one wearing short and don’t use the stage…

The track session at Room 306 is too small for the crowd. Hope the organizer will take note on this for next year event… and hopefully I still can make it next year.
  
  

Will be continued…

If any of you still interested to attend the TechEd, the 999 Promotion is still on… The fee is only RM999 or USD323 compared to the usual RM1,299 or USD419 fee. And group promotion is also still on… with 5 or more in a group, you can save RM100 or USD32 for each participants… meaning each only have to pay RM899 or USD291.

Wait, there are still more… TechEd SEA 2008 is now HRDF Claimable under the SBL Scheme… but it doesn’t apply to me… but if it apply to you, you should take it… especially if you are staying around KL… me staying across South China Sea also can come… I’m sure those around KL will not have any problem… HRDF Claimable some more…

And if this TechEd is going to be your first time, let me recommend to you… you should attend all Steve Riley’s sessions!!! You won’t regret it, believe me!!! I have been attending his sessions since 2003! He is the security expert… so, if you want to hear security expert experience, attend his sessions. You will learn and gain loads of great things.

I’m not saying this to win the Exclusive Luncheon with Steve Riley competition… NO!.. NO WAY!.. I don’t want it… seriously I don’t want it. Even if I get one of the seats, I won’t take it… I’m willing to exchange it with XBOX360… yea… I’m damm serious… I want XBOX360 more than luncheoning with Mr. Riley… he is a bit… errr… weird… but he is very cool… he is the only presenter wearing shorts as if he is going to the beach… but he is funny… he has funny hair.

I think in 2004 he only used one PowerPoint slide… yea, I think it was 2004. I don’t remember what was on the slide… but I think it was the title of the session and his name only. But seriously, he don’t need any slides… his story and presentation enough to make everyone awake throughout the session. And he always get Grand Ballroom too… coz his session always full house… even with the Grand Ballroom, it will still full!

And he loves to show Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter photo. I think they almost look alike LOL. Don’t you think so?..

 
Steve Riley (L) and Steve Irwin (R)

Once again, I love XBOX360 more than luncheoning with Mr. Steve Riley.

You still able to save USD$96.00 by paying only USD$323.00… or in Ringgit that will be a saving of RM300.00 and paying only RM999.00 from the actual price of RM1299.00

And still, you can get this…

Bring along your colleagues or friends to Tech•Ed SEA today! Register in a group of 5 or more and you will save additional RM100 (USD32) each. Pay only RM899 (USD291) per person!*

I myself have grabbed the Super Early Bird Registration Offer for only RM649 in January. And at the same time, two of my friend registered with me… the more the merrier… can ‘jalan-jalan cari makan’

I wanted to try Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 since I got a trial copy during the Microsoft TechNet & MSDN Conference in January… then during the Microsoft HEROES HAPPEN {HERE} last week, Microsoft is really pushing for it together with the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008. Looks like we have to try it… hopefully the learning curve is shorter

I’m sure all the ’2008′ versions will be the most talked about at the Microsoaft TechEd SEA 2008 this time If you are Microsoft user, you should join togethere there

The Super Early Bird Registration Offer is until end of this month for $649. But if you’ve attended last year Microsoft TechEd 2007 SEA, you can use the $50 coupon voucher so the fee will be $599 only.

This evening, I registered myself… but unfortunately I could not find my coupon voucher… so I paid $649 using my Master Credit Card online.

If you like to attend the coming Microsoft TechEd 2008 SEA at KLCC from 11 to 14 August 2008, you should register by 31st January 2008 so that you will get the Super Early Bird Registration Offer at $649. Two of my friends already registered this evening… Microsft should give another ‘award’ coz I manage to drag another two people with me this year, hopefully more … last year I manage to ‘convince’ 4 others to follow…

TechEd Fest is at 7.30pm.

To be continued…

I actually won 2 prizes in the blogging competition… one for the 4th round of the blogging competition and I got myself a Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 webcam… and the second one is really a surprise… Tech.Ed Supporter Award…  AWARD???… geeee… sound like Academy Award… Am I really a supporter??? I got myself a Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 for that.

I only attended TechEd 2003, 2004, 2006 and this year 2007. well… Thank You Microsoft… and Thank You to the organizer, Crystal Edge… And of course, next year I will definitely attend TechEd SEA 2008…

Participants are given $50 voucher on the last day when we submitted our evaluation form… so, our fee for next year TechEd will be $599 only if we register early with the voucher, the same amount I paid this year… now waiting for the online registration coz did not register at the convention on the spot… come on Crystal Edge… bring it up…

To be continued…

updated… (September 28)

 
On our way to the exhibition hall (September 10), we met butterflies… and I ask them to pose for me

The crowd outside the exhibition hall… registration for tonight’s TechEd Fest games.

The TechEd staff announcing TechEd classes are going to start… but emmmm… nope, not going to class for now…

  
Crowds inside the exhibition hall.

  
My dream server?… This is what at the back of a HP blade server… the turbine fans… I only read about it before coz no one has it in Sabah yet I guess… so this is my first time playing around with the turbine fan… I only played with the fans inside HP G5 so far… going to get it next year… LOL… $40K++ wooo… and that is only the chasis… can fit in 16 servers inside!!!

  
The D-Link… great webcame… they have 5 models… 2 with great feature, they require no PC but record straight into NAS!!!

  
PC game… HALO 2… too bad, they did not provide XBox 360 like last year… maybe they scared with the 3 red lights problem.

 
Maxtor… Helloooo….

updated…

  
Getting out from the Plenary Hall.

 
Going down…. to Level 1… to Grand Banquet Hall.

 
Crowd are piling-up at the entrance… door still closed… then opened around 12.15pm for…. RUUUUSH… FOOOOOD!!!

  
According to TechEd, there are 2000 participants (not sure if that figure includes the staff…)

To be continued…

Reach Suria just after 830… the TechEd opening will start at 9am. Still have half hour. We took our breakfast at Dome… I can’t remember what I ate… but it was definitely not enough for my stomach although the bill is almost $50 for both of us.

It was already 9am, so we rush to KLCC… straight to Level 3 and the TechEd staff usher us to Plenary Hall for the opening… performance for the opening already started… COOL… the first thing I saw in the dance was the ‘mogunapit’ dance… the local dance from Sabah… the dance are lively… intermix with all kind of dance.

I will post my entire TechEd photo to my flikr later… I have like almost 3GB of photos… so if you like to see them, watch out for this channel…

To be continued…

updated… (September 24)

Once I landed on the bed, I just snoozzzzzz… I don’t think Bon slept. I woke-up around 4pm. I took my bath and started our journey to KLCC using my planed route.

Took the monorail at Imbi Station to Bukit Nenas Station. Then walked to Putra’s Dang Wangi Station. The walk is less than 200m but I felt it like 2KM… I was dragging my feet… mannn…. I have no energy… felt like sleep walking. Along the way, there is a place… looks like a bangalo… it got name something like ‘nature jungle’ or something like that. It was about 30m from the Bukit Nenas Station… There was function going on, looks like it’s over. I recognized the sound being played… it’s the Australian aborigines horn or ‘trumpet’… you know, the long pipe like bamboo… which makes booommmm sound… A bunch of guys were playing it, and becoz it is played through the loud speakers, the sound is tremendously wonderful. Wasted, did not take pictures…

We reach KLCC, straight to Level 3 for registration… no problem, cant get lost here… was here last year for the same thing. Quoted my ID TE0491… got my bag. Bonn got his too.

Then we walked back to Suria KLCC and landed at A&W.

My favorite Double Float Root Beer

 
The nice A&W’s wall at Suria KLCC.

Then back to hotel for another round of sleep.

Around 8.30, we went out for food. Eat the ‘something’ Chicken Rice… can’t remember the name. It was next to Sungei Wang… next to the rows of ‘Arabian’ stalls. The food was nice.

Then we walked around outside Sungei Wang… then heard the nice sound again… crap… the bunch of guys we saw earlier are performing their Australian echo sounds again…. it was at the vacant area between Lot 10 and Sungei Wang. Dammmm… did not bring my camera… did not take their picture earlier when they practicing too… that is double dammm. Went to buy some drinking water after that and back to hotel for anouther zzzzzzzzz….

Hotel said, room not ready… o mannn… I made the reservation a month ago and it’s not ready yet!.. I did ask for non-smoking room… the lady said it will be ready in 40 minutes… we ask them to keep our bag and went for foods!!! The only food I have since morning are the $10 breakfast and the rice on the aircraft.

We walk to Low Yat Plaza and straight to the food court. We landed at Kopi Club… ordered our food… and the service was so slow… after the food, we went back to the hotel… I needed a rest badly. Check with the counter, they not sure what is our room… damm… the lady is gone… now new shift I guess… they dig their documents and found my registration… then told us, they need another 10 minutes to find out if our room is ready… waited at the lounge… at last got our room… room 417.

Stayed here in early January this year… Royale Bintang Hotel.

To be continued…

We proceeded to the taxi counter. Bonn and I decided to take the budget taxi. It cost $14 for the trip to Sol Melia Hotel.

When we put our bags into the taxi’s compartment, my bag and Bonn’s two bags can’t have enough room… the ugly LNG tank was occupying 1/3 of the taxi compartment… I did ask a taxi driver before if the LNG does save them money… his answer was… swearing… cursing… at the GOV… LOL. Bonn took the front seat and I took the back seat with my backpack. While at the back, I was imagining what would happen if Mat Rempit comes and grab one of our bag while we are stuck in the jam since the taxi compartment is not locked… only tied with an elastic band.

To be continued…

Last year TechEd SEA 2006, I stayed at Cititel Hotel Midvalley. We took the LRT from Midvalley to KL Central… then with Putra to KLCC.

So, while on the plane, I was already planning my route from Bukit Bintang to KLCC. This time I stayed at Sol Melia Hotel, Bukit Bintang. Maneuvering around these areas should not be a problem. So, I decided to use the monorail from Imbi to Bukit Nenas. Then I will continue from Dang Wangi to KLCC with Putra.

 
We arrived at KLIA around 12.40pm

 
Then proceeded to KLIA Express…

 
My backpack and luggage (with wheels) on the KLIA Express.

To be continued…

Here we go… my journey started on the September 9, 2007. I arrived at the KK International Airport around 7.50am and the flight is at 10.00am… I know, I’m too early… got reason for that.

I’m supposed to check-in with Bonn… but his phone seems to be out of service. Waited for him until 8.40am and proceeded to check-in. As usual, I requested for the emergency exit seat… coz it has 2 seats instead of 3 (for Boeing 737)… the space is bigger, u know lah big size mah, can stretch-stretch my legs bah….. Unfortunately, all emergency exit seats are taken. I end up at seat 9A, next to window… cool September 9 and getting row 9… 999 lucky not 666 SMS Bonn my seat number… hoping he will get the same row.

 I went inside and look for foods… imagine, paid $10 for this mee kosong, sausage & a cup of tea. I felt more energized after finishing it… then went to Gate 4. Saw few people I recognized… chit chatted with them… and still wondering where the heck is Bonn. His phone is still unreachable. Then 10 minutes before boarding… Bonn appeared… his Dopod keep hangs-up every time it rings. He got the very back seat; I think it was row 24 out of 25 or 27… I hate the back seat coz it’s very hot over there… my tips… for Boeing 737, emergency exit seat are at row 12, 13 & 14… around there lah. Take row lower than row 14 coz its cooler… the air-cond is stronger towards the fronts… don’t ask coz I don’t know why…

To be continued…

Well, I’m still in KL right now… been shopping like mad for the past 2 days

Unfortunately, my hotel don’t have WiFi service in the room  that is why I can’t do my blogging. When I’m back in KK tomorrow… my flight is late at night… I will continue my blogging as usual

Right now I’m writing my blog in my room… trough DIAL-UP service to KK… can you believe that??? The speed is like tortoise… it’s not cool you know… but I have to do this way becoz I want my office to pay for my hotel phone bill

I’ve reconfirmed with the hotel yesterday and my booking is still on… I’ll be staying around Bukit Bintang.

I hope once we checked-in, we (5 of us) can go for the early registration at KLCC before 6pm tomorrow… else we have to fight for the long-Q on monday.

One of us, David, already in KL right now… probably having fun… he went today’s evening.

Okay… I’ve completed with all the necessary stuff for my TechEd SEA 2007 trip today…

Registration: Manage to get the special early bird fee at RM599. I registered & paid online on May 23, 2007.

For the air ticket, I manage to get the not very cheap round trip price at RM608. If there were no gold-rush and last minute thingy during the MAS 50 Hours Mad Sales recently… my ticket should be around RM200!!! grrrrr…

Then for the hotel… it’s going to cost me RM145++ per night without breakfast. This is a corporate rate… Published rate is around RM215++ with breakfast! Never mind about the breakfast… if I wake-up early, I think I will be able to get some light breakfast… some snacks probably… hopefully provided by Microsoft else, I just eat maggi mee in my room loh… then, since I’m staying around Bukit Bintang, I’m gonna need taxi every morning… I think it will cost me around RM5-RM10 per trip… or I can use the monorail to Central then another train to KLCC just like what I did last year… one train from Mid Valley to Central then another to KLCC. Coming back time, I definitely can use the train from KLCC. Hotel and taxi/train fare will be shared with my friend… that will be lighter… so not so expensive…

So far, this trip has cost me…. without food… and I eat ALOT!!!…
Registration – RM599
Air Ticket – RM608
Hotel – RM145 x 7 = RM1,015
Total… RM2,222.00 whooaaa… what a nice number