THOUSANDS OF WORDS (LITERALLY)

I should have known it earlier........

You don't plan shit to happen in your life, coz it comes at the right and perfect time. So it happened the day I went to search for dinosaur fossils. I woke up earlier than normal that day, around 5.30 a.m and took shower immediately, otherwise I will sleep again. The night before I've already picked the right cloths and pants for this fieldwork. So after shower, I immediately put everything on. I took my breakfast and went off around 6.45 a.m. coz I needed to gather at department around 8 a.m. So as usual I took a train and from my station to the university station takes about 30 minutes.

I stood at the platform waiting for the train for a minute and it arrived. I was a bit shocked knowing that it was already that crowded even at that hour, so I entered the train with a little bit of pushing and goring. Then I realised something, this condition has brought back the memory from my highschool. Because that time, I always went around this hour but last time it was not as packed as today. I mean it usually started to get crowded at 7 a.m. So means that I did not get any seats and had to stand, but because I was near the door, I just leaned against it.

At the 4th station (if I'm not mistaken) a lot of people came in, but from the opposite door. So basically the train has either 2 or 4 coaches, and each coach has 6 doors, 3 doors on each side of the train. So the door will open depending on where the platform is at, either left or right. So People came in like flood, they just pushed everyone to the side to create more spaces, some use their elbows, some use their back side of the body and some use human's fragrance. I don't know why some do that. I mean, most of the people who do that are the tall people. So when they enter the train, they just simply put they hands up on the air, and release the aroma like nothing matter. For those who are as level as their armpit, getting to that train will be one of the worst experience you will ever had in your own entire life, other than failing kindergarten. Because I had one experience and at the end I went out from that train and waited for another at the next station.

So people just rushed into the train, but because I was at the opposite door, it did no really affect me, since I was already at the corner of corner. After the door was closed everyone started to position themselves in the most comfortable way and at the end I was ended up standing infront of a guy and two women. A guy and a woman were facing me and the other woman were facing the other way. So I was reading a book that time and after a few minutes, I realised that the man and woman were repeatedly glancing at me. Somehow I caught them in action, and just I smiled back at them. Then when they were about to got off from the train, they glanced at me again and looked down like they knew that I was looking at them so they pretended to look the other way. And again I smiled back.

I arrived at the university station and immediately ran to the bus stop, since I saw from the train that the bus was already taking passenger. I queued in the line and when I bought the ticket and walked in the bus corridor, people were looking at me the way the man and woman from the train did. So in my head I was like "what did I do yesterday?" and thought that it probably just my imagination that people are starting to get attracted to me coz I did nothing special last week. Then I arrived at the library bus stop and directly run to my department since I arrived at almost 8 a.m. I checked my supervisor's car and he was not there and saw my friend who are coming along with me waiting. So I put my bag beside her and went to the toilet coz I need to do some little business.

Reminder, what you are about to read contains mature and 18+++ story, you are advised to not to read it, loudly. readers take full responsibilities for any side effects caused by the story, such us cancer, blindness and being friendzoned might be experienced by the readers(writer). Batteries not included.

So I got into the toilet, positioned my self infront of the toilet bowl, put the zip down and pissed like normal(doggy style). Finished everything, put the zip up, washed my hand, looked at the mirror for a while to check my face, cloths, teeth, nose and pants. I saw my zip was still opened, I remembered zipping it up but why did it still open? So I put my washed and cleaned hand and looked for the zip's handler(you know the thing you pull to close/open your zip). So basically, if your zip is already closed, the handler will be at the top, right? and when it is opened, the handler will be at the bottom. But, in my case when I checked with my cleaned and washed hand, the zip was open, and the handler was already at the top. So what I did was I pulled it down and pulled it up. But, it was still opened. I repeated the same thing for like 5 to 6 times but still opened.

So I was like "what the heck is this??? Wait a minute.."

In 0,00000000000000000049999116 kiloseconds, all mysteries that have been playing in my mind, the reason why people were suddenly attracted to me, the reason why the man and woman in the train were repeatedly glancing and looking down were finally answered.

I did not know how far they have seen "thing". All I can say is they are all good people, what they were trying to do was to save humanity from blindness. But I was too arrogant and let my dirty mind to think what I should have not thought, and I should have known it earlier before going for that fieldwork, coz I ended up going with that zip opened.

Well, I'm done with my 15 days of fieldwork, everything did not really go well, since most of the outcrops that need to be logged are badly weathered, so the only alternative is I need to look for another outcrops outside the planned area and probably needs more time to finish.

But here are some absurd experiences that happened during those 15 days and some have brought a certain trauma. I don't even know why it happened to me, but I know there is a reason. Description that I'm about to write is based on fact from what I sensed.

The first and second day I stayed in a guest house kind of thing, because we needed to save money so we took the cheapest place. I didn't expect much from it, the room was 3X3 meters room and inside there were two single beds and one drawer. It wasn't good for staying in the room because too small, but enough just for rest. So around like 10 p.m. I finished shower and everything and ready for sleep. I laid down for like 30 minutes I guess, and when my eyes were finally reached their limit a couple went inside room beside mine. So this place which I stayed was like a building and divided into 3X3 rooms and between each room, there is only 3 cm thick of board. The worst thing was I can hear everything on the other side.

So after this couple went in the room, they had a little chat around like 5 minutes. I did not know what they were talking about since they talked in different dialect than the usual malay. Then after that, there was moment of silent for like a minute or two. Then a weird noise started and kissing sounds begun.

Then I was like "What the heck is that noise? no, no, no. It can't be happening" But yes it happened.

It lasted for like 10-15 minutes, with all the sound from that couple and bed. I tried to look for a hole in the wall but luck was not in my side.

The second day, still in the same hotel, I read some papers just to get me sleepy. It was a very quite and peaceful night, a perfect night to be surrounded by the loved ones not alone in a narrow room with one bed empty in double-single-bedded room. After like half an hour, I heard someone went inside the room, besides mine again. Then, for I don't know how long someone went inside the same room as the previous person went and after that, I heard "bduakkkkkk". Sounded like someone just did moonsault or something. Then after exactly 2 minutes, they played a video(because I could clearly hear that it wasn't not come from human and it was quite loud) and it turned out to be a blue video. How do I know?

Well, back in the high school, I have a friend that brought a very high-tech handphone, which could play video, and that time I haven't had my first phone. So one day this guy went to the toilet with his table-mate. After 10 minutes, they haven't come back and somehow I had the urge to pee. That time, we had this rule that only two people can go to the toilet at one time, so what I did was I waited until the teacher's not looking. Luckily, the teacher went outside to the office and I just run like crazy to the toilet. When I went inside, I saw these my friends were standing at the corner and watching something. I ignored them at first because I had more important thing to do. So after I done with my business and about to wash my hands, one of them called me showed me that video and it was a blue film. So simply said, I stayed and watched for like two minutes and then left, coz I pitied the girl who seemed to be suffered of what that man did to her.

So the video in that room beside mine, produced the same kind of noise as the noise from the video my friend showed me 8 years ago. I didn't know how long I heard that thing, because I felt a sleep while the sound was still going.

Many people in Sarawak love to park their cars like douchebag. The way they park their vehicles like they own that car park. I remembered one time when I was about to leave the hotel, there was this car parked like an idiot, I mean the driver. He purposely took two slots where there were a few other cars looking for parking slot. I wonder how did they get the driving license. They also like to pee at the side of the road like a boss. There were several times I saw like 5 cars stopped at the side of the road. I thought there was an accident or something and it turned out people peeing. In my head It feels like one of them was shouting "hey guys I found a good spot here, let's pee together" and everybody stopped and peed together. It seems like Africa, where toilets are everywhere.

I drove probably around 200 km at Sarawak without license, coz last time my friend was tired and there was no other choice since we needed to move on to the next location. The result of my lousy driving, I got one horn and one middle finger. Because last time I was really really really behind a truck carrying huge logs and I was behind it for like 5 minutes. So when I saw an opportunity, that there was no car on the opposite direction, I simply on my signal light and glimpsed at my side mirror just to make sure nothing was coming from behind. Then suddenly when I tried to cut the truck and exactly side by side with the truck, a laud horn just sounded behind me. I panicked and slowed down my car and tried to get closer to the truck's side, probably 20 cm to the truck's back tire and it was a white niss*n car cut and horned non-stop. I think he was cutting all the way back from I don't know how many cars, that's why I did not see it when I glimpsed at my side mirror. I mean I played CTR, Chocobo Racing, drivers 2, GTA 2 and 3, far cry 3, borderland 2, Battlefield 2 and many others cars game, so I know how to handle that situation in the most possible and suitable way and yes I survived that. After that, the niss*n passed my car, I followed him and then he slowed down, opened his window and showed his majestic middle finger. I was like "Really? Is that necessary?" I know that it was my fault, but we all survived, no one was injured and bird are still chirping. I guess I made a terrible mistake back then, well it's a lesson for me.

The final day of the fieldwork was the most memorable day in the history of my fieldwork. It is one of the most absurd things that have ever happened in my life and I should probably bring a high quality camera or video recorder next time(joking). So in the last day, I stayed in a hotel in a small town. This town is like the life support for local and native people. Because here I could see people coming from village by small trucks or vans just to get food supply and furniture. So early in the morning around 7 a.m., I had my breakfast in the restaurant just infront of the hotel. So while I was eating, I observed the surrounding, saw kids running, old people smoking and chatting, workers were preparing for I don't know what, stores were opening and dogs were strolling around. Then I noticed that there were several hotel's windows at the first floor were opened, because I was sitting and facing the hotel and could clearly see what was inside the room eventhough only top half of it.

Inside that room I saw 2 kids were playing, running around and looking out from the window. Then a woman suddenly appeared, wearing a cloth wrapped to her body, and looking out the window and talking to the kids. Everything seemed normal until the two men appeared behind her. One guy stood and the other one just laid on the bed. I don't know what they were talking but I saw them laughing. Suddenly the woman laughed, approached the guy who was laying on the bed and took off her cloth. Then another women appeared, wrapped in cloth and stood nearby the window. Without any sign or anything, that woman changed her cloth right nearby the window like no one can see her. I was like "What the heck?? Is it really happening?" Have you ever seen something that made you stunned and speechless? Well, that was the moment for me. I could not move myself, not even blink while seeing it. Billion of questions were in my head, asking for a logical answers for that behaviour. I mean there were kids, and a guy who were right there in that very room and those women simply did that? Really?

Then I remembered that there are several tribes in my country do the same as them. Some don't even wear anything. So the one that I saw was probably still have a little bit of their old behaviour or culture.

During those 15 days in Sarawak, I have only two pictures that I can't even describe in words, either it's too beautiful or complicated. BTW, these pictures were taken by my friend.

The first time I saw the outcrop above I was like "When is my master going to end? What in the world is this?". Coz based on my supervisor, normal outcrop takes about 3 days to complete. But this one is abnormal, albino, mutation of outcrop, so not sure how long.

The picture above was taken by the time I just finished the fieldwork in my friend's area. So by chance, we saw beach on the way to the hotel and luckily, we found the way to get there. I wanted to add some words in the picture but too lazy to edit. But somewhat I want to say. "Somehow, I know that I'm facing the direction of where you are now"

Well, after stranded for more than 2 years, I am finally able to go back to my home country on 16th june. Even for only a week, but that's good enough. We'll see what's gonna happen there.

Funny saying "What comes easy will go easy, except fat"

REALIZATION

Recently, I was informed by my supervisor that he is going to look for dinosaur fossil, since there was a recent discovery in Malaysia by one of my lecturers from japan, and it was the first dinosaur fossils ever found in Malaysia eventhough just a tooth. So my co-worker and I are invited to accompany him, and hopefully we can find new fossils but the whole skeleton of dinosaur not just a tooth or claw.

Most of the international people I met in my life could not recognize my originality, nationality or even my race correctly at first. Recently, while I was jogging in the park, I saw a bunch of people doing some aerobic exercises. It looked so interesting so I joined that group. After like 10 minutes of exercise, a Chinese lady approached me. She was one of the organizing committee members and asked my name, age, phone and stuff for record. Then she asked me where I came from, so I replied Indonesia. Then she looked at me like I am a ghost or something. She did not believe that, and thought that I'm a Chinese. I mean I don't think there is even a bit of chinese's characteristic shown in my face, besides I'm dark which is the opposite of chinese, and it was not the first time I got such an impression and trust me there are more. I don't really understand why, I mean I thought it is obvious that I look like an Indonesian. But why do they still get it wrong? Do they really see me as hybrid of mixed from several different races or something? These are several incidents and conversation that I can recall and all happened in my university life.

1st year

I was walking back from English presentation class and out of nowhere a black guy appeared, I think he is from Nigeria because of his accent. Then a little conversation happened.

Nigerian: Excuse me, Do you know the way to ISC?
Me: yeah sure, just go straight, cross the road and bla bla bla.
Nigerian: oh ok, Thank you very much. Are you chinese?
Me: what? me? nope. I'm Indonesian.
Nigerian: Really? you look like chinese to me. anyway, thanks for the direction.

2nd year

There was an event for international students at my university and I attended because one of my friend was performing. I met a lot of new students both full-timed and exchanged. So there was this guy, from either Uzbekiztan or Kirgiztan(I don't remember exactly his origin and how to spell it) said hello to me. He introduced himself so did I. Then he was shocked knowing that I'm from Indonesia, because he thought that I'm a japanese. Inside I was like flying without wings, it is better than someone said that I'm genius or awesome. Well, to be honest my race is javanese, it's close to japanese, just replace the "v" with "p", so I guess that explains everything.

During the journey back to the university from my last second year fieldwork, we stopped at a stall selling sweet corn. So while I was eating and talking with friends, one of the lecturers joined and had conversation with us all. Then, there was one topic where we talked about how different we see rocks before and after studying geology. So during my turn to talk, I told something that revealed my origin to this lecturer. Everyone knew where I came from except this lecturer. Then he surprised after heard my story and he told me that he thought I came from nepal(really?), everybody laughed and I've never seen them again.

3rd and final year

One day around 8 p.m., I was starving like I haven't eaten for few days, so I sent text-message to my girl-friends(friends which are girls) and asked whether they already had dinner, because my room-mate has already gone with his gang and my gang had already moved out from the dorm. Then the girls said meet them in 10 minutes coz they need to get ready. So because I'm a guy, I did not need much time for that, just put my cloths on and ready for anything. I got out the room and went to a small hall. It was not actually a hall, just a place where there are roof and chairs just to hang out. So I took a seat, played a game in my phone and out of nowhere, beyond my imagination a chinese girl appeared in front of me. I didn't see her coming, it just that suddenly there were feet in front of me. So I raised my head because I was looking at the phone, and looked at her. She started talking whether in cantonese, hokkien or mandarin I don't know. So I replied "What?". Then she talked again in her language, so I told her that I don't speak chinese. She was shocked, looked like she disbelieved what I just said, so she said sorry and ran off.

My last semester was the toughest semester in the history of all semesters. Everyday after 5 p.m. I needed to go to the workstation to do interpretation on data that have been given to me and the result was 7500 km square map. Sometimes I went back to the dorm around 12 a.m. and the worst was 2 a.m. and it happened for 3 and a half months. So there was one day, when my eyes could not take it anymore, because I worked on computer, besides my works had lots of bright colour lines. So that day, all my classes finished until 3 p.m. I decided to go to take one day off and went to library to do some reading, comic reading. Then after approximately 2 hours I got bored and decided to go back. Then before I exited the library, a group of chinese (3 people) approached and one of them touched my shoulder, and a little conversation happened. I call them 1C, 2C and 3C.

Me: yes?
1C: bla bla bla bla bla *speaking in their language
Me: what? *confused face
2C: Bla bla bla bla bla *speaking in their language with serious tone
Me: Hah? * with my wth face
3C: Bla bla bla bla bla *speaking in their language with a bit angry tone
Me: What? I'm sorry I don't speak chinese. English please.
1C,2C,3C: oooooooo, I thought you chinese, you look like chinese. very sorry. *of course they did not say that together but that's what I heard.

The same day which I went for jog and accused as a chinese by a lady, she told me what she thought is a good way to lose some fat or body weight. She said drink alot of plain water. She said, before she did that she had severe migraine and she used to be fat(I don't know how fat). She thought that it was because she has never exercised, so she decided to do routine exercise, 3 times a week, each in 30 minutes. But she still had the migraine so she went to a certain programe where was taught some basic exercises and foods that are and are not to be consumed. So after talking to her for like 10 minutes, she concluded that drinking a lot of plain water helps to increase the loss of fat in the body during exercise. Because the more you drink, the more you sweat or excrete and those processes carry fat along with them. eventhough not so much, but better than drink less.

Finally after waited for almost 8.467.200 seconds, I'm now officially a postgraduate student plus a research assistant. Ofcourse there were troubles along the way to reach this level, including crossing the road, walked for over 1 km, went for 30 days fieldwork and gained some weight after that. Yup I've gained some weight. I knew this after went back from medical check-up on tuesday 6th. It seemed that those 30 days field work did not really do anything to my body while I was expecting to lose some weight. Well, s**t happens. At first I was not sure how and where did I get those fat from. I mean I did some little exercise each day after the fieldwork. But now, I think it was because I drank I lot of water ever since the lady told me that water is good to lose some weight. Because after she told me that, within that day itself, I probably drank 4 liters of water(no joking), coz I bought this 9.5 liters mineral water and finished it within 2 days. So basically if I count it correctly, 1 liter equals to 1 kg and I use 20%(I don't know how I got this number) as percentage of water retained by the body within a day since we are composed of mostly water. So based on nothing, I have invented two formulae. Therefore my actual body weight in the day of my medical check up was:

Actual body weight = Current weight - 20/100(amount of water consumed within a day X day elapsed since I talked to the lady before medical check up) *if you drink same amount of water daily.

or

Actual body weight = Current weight - 20/100(sum of water consumed) *if you drink different amount of water daily.

So if my calculation is right, I should be smiling now. I will call it the "non-sense equation". Limitation of these formulae are they can only be applied at maximum 5 days after water consumption to the day you weigh your weight and only applicable for water not food. But I wont dare to try with food since it is harder to be expelled from the body compared to water.

What is the most expensive thing a person can have?

"A MASK"

Why is that?

A Mask I mentioned here is not a mask which you wear during halloween or dance, but a mask which we use to impress people, to show them that we are as level or higher. Why is it the most expensive? Because you tend to use everything you got to get it, despite the price that may even make you suffer to get it, just for people's sake. For me it just does not make any sense. You suffer to impress people, which will only last for maybe 1 week at most and after that everything goes back to normal. I used to have this one friend, who bought RM 200 Z**A plain-thin-shirt, plus two buttons. While I can probably get the same shirt with different brand for RM 15-30. So with RM 200 I can get at least 6 to 7 plain shirts with maybe a bit low in quality but I would say it is better than buying a RM 200 shirt. Buying it, is one thing, but taking care of it, is another thing. I mean we expect expensive stuff are more durable or harder to break or destroyed compared to cheap ones. But here, we are the one who need to take care of it, unless you can swim in money than it's different story.

What I'm trying to say here is spend the money wisely. People are mature enough to differentiate "needs" or "wants". If you have problems fulfilling your needs then don't think about getting what you want, coz it will just make the condition worst. You may do something stupid like steal or borrow from someone just for the thing that does not even gonna improve or bring advantages to you. You don't need expensive stuff to get attention, the best way is I think to be different than the others, but in a good way. I have a friend travelling around the world not because he is rich, but because he's different than others. yes he's talented, but everyone is talented, but in different way. Make the most of your talent, don't just sitting in front of computer like me. Well, at least I'm learning to typewrite. yes, grammar mistakes everywhere, but who cares?(except my high school's english teacher) as long as my points are delivered, then it's good enough. You don't know what you are capable of until you do, not try. Because try is half-hearted. Well, it is all my opinion anyway, just ignore it.

So I have a week more left before off to sarawak for the real thing. Hopefully, I can find good outcrops and sufficient for my paper, otherwise I will have to go again next year, since I'm planning to go finish all my fieldwork this year.

Funny sayings "Everyone is born as creators, but most are creating problems"

THE CYCLE

This year will be the dark age in the history of my life. First of all, people relate dark age with tragic events that have brought sorrow through out the world, events that are not to be remembered, times when there are no lights or even times where crucial events are deleted from history. Well, the dark age here has a very straight forward meaning I can say.

DARK AGE here means the time when I'm completely physically dark. But why only this year? I wish It is only this year. Because I want to settle all field works before the new year, so I'll be going for maybe around 15 days field work on May, August, October and probably December if I don't have enough data. So during those 15 days on each of those months, I'll be dating with rocks and try to get to know them better. Not just that, I have several other field works between them, probably a week or two, depending on how much data my supervisor needs. So yeah, this year is going to be LEGEND........wait for it(I need to finish my food)....DARY. LEGENDARY!!!

Recently I just had a little conversation with friends from the past. The last time I saw them was after the primary school's exams. It was good to get in touch with them again after all these years, but there is one question that truly bothers me. First of all, it is not that I hate them when they ask me this question, but I think they should at least heard about it. Not completely clueless, since most of them are already working they should know about it and besides, it is an old thing, it is not something new. It bothers me when they ask

"What is geology"

Because after they asked that, they wanted a proper explanation, so I gave them as simple as brief as possible. But, they wanted more, so then I just gave them the wikipedia answers, since that's gonna be the best explanation and hope they understand. If they don't, the whole conversation will be me telling what geology is. To make everything clear, Geology is not the same as Geography. But there is a good thing behind that, I now have something to write here since I have no clue at all after the Sarawak's fieldwork.

So it has come to this

WHAT IS GEOLOGY??

Simply said, it is the study physical and substance of earth or to be more specific it is the study of rocks and what's inside them. This study will give you a story of how a rock is formed and what are the processes associated with it. within a rock there are minerals, minerals are like cells in human, animals and plants. The combination of minerals create a rock. They're formed at specific condition. so rock is defined by its mineral composition. Three main types of rocks are igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Igneous rocks come from the crystallization of magma both inside and outside the earth surface. Sedimentary rocks are formed from the eroded or weathered (physically or chemically) igneous rocks, animals and plant remnants, are deposited at certain environment and then lithified. Metamorphic rocks are formed from sedimentary rocks that are buried deep enough for the grains to recrystallize due to heat and pressure. I don't want to go further coz it will take forever once I go into one topic and yeah that's what I think geology is in general.

We as geologists do not scare of anything, we are designed to overcome almost everything and can survive in the worst condition imaginable. Thus, that make one of the toughest people in the world other than polices, athletes, wrestlers, soldiers, martial art masters and Chuck Norris. Earth is our home and we are free to explore them, unless mining sites or highways, we need to get permission to stop there. True geologist must not afraid of height, because sometimes we need to reach out a certain height due to the present of outcrops. When we see an outcrop let say about 15 meters height, and the outcrop has inclination of 45-70 degrees, we can reach that effortless. Somehow we have spider-man DNA in our bodies, which enables us to climb more than average human being. If you are walking with geologists in a fieldwork and they find an interesting outcrop, they will run towards it, if not at least they will fast-walked. If it is high from the ground with inclined surface as I've mentioned before, they will get there before you know it. You blink for 2 seconds and they're already up there, but since we are also human beings, getting down is sometimes a little bit problems.

Since everything is about rocks, we have some tools that every geologist should bring to deal with rocks in the field others than pens, pencils, erasers and books or papers. There are also tools for the lab's works, but I wont mention it here since I don't really know some of their names and besides certain tools are only used for certain branches of geology.

This is the famous geology hammer. This hammer is not sold in any general hardware stores. Because until today I still haven't found any which means that I still do not have my own hammer. We need to order online to get it and this hammer is quite expensive. Like in a game, it is a must have tool. Because this hammer is stronger than normal hammer. The handle and the part-where-you-use-to-hit are one component made from steel, otherwise it will break easily when you are dealing with rocks. Because last time during my last field work, we were required to take some rock samples for the lab's work. So we saw one good sample laying freely like waiting for us to beat it. So my friend used a sledge hammer(not sure about the spelling) to break that rock and it was granite(igneous). After hitting for 2 minutes the hammer broke, so we take another sledge hammer from the van and the same thing happened. So we only had one more sledge hammer left. My friend did the hitting for like 1 minute. Then he seemed to be pretty exhausted and finally with all his strength, with a single blow, he hit the rock so hard and finally, it broke. I mean the hammer broke, so the rock won the battle and we didn't get the sample. Then the professor from utrech used a geology hammer, three hits on other granite in the same area and GG. The hammer won. Not sure it was the professor's luck or my friend didn't really hit at the right spot perfectly. *true story

This is the geology hand-lens. It is used to see mineral composition in the rocks as well as to check grain size in sedimentary rocks if you can't figure it out by touching. The way to use it is place the lens as close as possible to your eye and place the rocks around 5 mm from the lens.

This one is the geology compass. Other than to show you which is north and south this can also be used to take measurements of the rock's orientation, like strike and dip of a bed rock, displacement of rocks by measuring striation on the fault plane or direction of palaeo-current in sedimentary rocks and there are many others. There is a little mirror placed inside the compass. I don't know if there are any others but based on my experience the mirror can be used to locate your exact position in a map during fieldwork and since some of us are women, it can be used for a quick make up just in case they see someone attractive.

This is HCL (hydrochloric acid) but not so concentrated. Why do geologists need acid? Well, rocks are formed from different types of material, like what I have mentioned before rocks can also be formed from remnants of dead animals (bones or hardparts) physically or chemically. Mostly sea creatures that have alot of hard parts, like shells and fish's teeth. So the accumulation can form a rock which is called carbonate rock. This carbonate rock will react with acid and it can only be formed at certain environment. So two rocks might look a like but the composition might not be the same, which mean that the place where they were formed was different. So the acid gives other information about the rock. Besides that If your eyes are red due to irritation caused by dust or whatever, you can put a few drops to make it clear. I mean white clear and you will probably blind after that. *not recommended and don't ever try.

Water rationing has been happening in the place I live due to the severe drought season that has been going on since February. Because of this, forest-fire were everywhere due to high intensity of the sun. During my last fieldwork when I was about to identify the rock, suddenly, bushes just burnt in front of my eyes. I've never seen something like that in my whole life and I believe this drought was the worst so far. Fortunately, the condition is getting better since the last three weeks but still water rationing has not been stopped. There was one time when I was p**ping, I did not know that, that day was the day that the water in my block was cut, so when I was about to clean my self, I took the hose (the one beside the closet), turned the water tap and nothing came out. So I panicked, then screamed, calling for help(my brother). Luckily my parents have been saving some water and I asked my brother to transfer some water from my parents's bathroom to the everybody's bathroom by bucket. That day was the day I didn't take shower for the whole day and thank God it was Sunday.

Farewell is hard, it does not matter how long you have been together with someone, coz once you see them going away somehow a part of you is just gone. I had this farewell lunch with students from Utrech University, the ones I worked with for probably two weeks, these guys are awesome. We shared knowledge, experiences, stories, jokes and even some personal stuffs, it was just simply awesome. It is sad that they need to leave but that's life. So before leaving, we got a chance to take pictures together and hope we meet again.

By the way, I'm not the one who's taking the picture, those guys at the back are students from Utrect and I'm the one who's pooping there.

Life is like an airport. People come and eventually will go, some may stay a bit longer than the others and some may just leave immediately, including myself. Nothing is forever. That's probably why I only have good friends not a best friend, because they just come and go. So my best friend will be my wife(which is not here yet), coz she'll stay the longest. Some people bring good lessons, some bring nothing and some just bring or create problems. So now it comes back to you, which one are you? Are you pearls or shells in the beach or just the sand? It sounds harsh but that's just how life works. I have a friend who got mad when one of his friend left and hanged out with a new guy. Well here, I don't really know whose fault is this. Many factors can cause such a thing and we can't really blame someone for this. We tend to blame the other person. But we can't just simply do that, it will be totally bias, since we have not even asked the person on the other side. It could be that it is actually us that don't really understand how the system works. So everyone needs to learn how to accept. It is hard, but possible.

Funny sayings"Truth can be painful and lies can be beautiful, but sleep is always wonderful"

THE FORGOTTEN

This story is supposed to be posted on the previous post. But because there are already so much stuff there, so I write it here instead. In March 27th, I had one of the most weird things that have happened to my life. That day, I just moved to another part of my fieldwork location. It was a very tiring day because I needed to go to the place where was not included in the plan. So I got to the hotel pretty late. My french friend and I had a quick dinner with another companion of this project for this area and went to the room around 9.30 p.m. I was so exhausted but could not sleep immediately. I went online to update the previous post and studied a little about my master thingy just to get me sleepy. But those didn't work. So I just laid on the bed, listened to songs and realised that it was already 12.30 a.m. of the next day. I plugged off my earphones and covered my body with bed linen and I don't for how long, I fell asleep.

Then I realised, I was standing infront of a girl around my age, somewhere inside a shopping complex. I didn't know who that girl was. Then she asked me to choose one of several foods at the food court. Then I just randomly picked and she went to the cashier, probably ordered what I picked. Inside my head I was like "well, I think, I'm dating this girl. but who is she?". I tried to remember any girls that I've met in my life, but I just could not remember this one. I kept looking at her and didn't get any clue who that girl was. She then walked towards me and said.

"So what is it you wanted to tell me?"

Beyond of my thought I replied

"I like you, be my GF"

Seriously, I didn't know what I was talking about, seemed like my body moved by itself. I couldn't control my movements, even my mouth spoke by itself. I wonder what was happening. Then she smiled, giggled and said.

"Are you kidding? we are just friends, not more than that. You're like a brother to me" *FRIENDZONED & BROTHERZONED

Then I replied

"Okay, we are just friend then"

I stood there, looked at her and after a few seconds somehow I moved away from her. It wasn't because I'm sad but my body moved by itself and then suddenly, poof!! I woke up from my sleep. I didn't realise what just happened until I checked my phone and looked at the time. I wasn't sure about the time but my assumption it was in the morning. Then I thought that it was just a dream. I remembered that I needed to go to the University coz I have started my RA. I took a shower, breakfast and left immediately. Once I got to the university and I was about to open the lab's door, a girl shouted my name. I looked around searching for the source of the sound but couldn't find it. She shouted again and realised that it was coming from the canteen nearby. I don't remember that there was a canteen there, so I approached her and sat opposite of her. She offered me the food and said

"So how does it taste? do you like it?"

I replied

"yup, absolutely. it's nice" *I don't remember what I was eating.

She said

"Good. So, we've been dating for the past 6 months, what do you think about me? Do you love me?"

I replied

"Ofcourse I love you. What are you talking about"

She smiled and seemed to be excited by what I just said. Then she asked me whether she could leave or not, because she had classes. I nodded and smiled back and then she left. After that, I went to the lab, finished all the things that I need to do that day and went back home. Before I went for bed, I called her and talked for maybe half an hour on the phone. Suddenly, my mother came to my room and asked me to sleep coz it was already late night and I need to go to the university again on the next day. So I said good bye to her and went to sleep.

Okay, there are some points that I want to make. First of all, somehow, it is the same girl from my dream. Looks like I'm dating her now. Secondly, I have been dating with this girl for 6 months, and don't remember when we started it. Third, I started to have a memory about the girl and eventhough it seems that I've seen her somewhere, I still couldn't recognize her. Fourth, I couldn't control my movement. Lastly, how and why am I at home while I'm supposed to be in the hotel, in the middle of my fieldwork?

Then, I heard a very loud noise, the sound was very familiar, it was a song from avenged sevenfold. I hear this song everyday and finally realised it was coming from my phone. It was my alarm. I checked the time, it was 5.30 a.m. and dismissed the alarm. I laid on my bed, looked at the ceiling, thought about what just happened and tried to recall everything that I can remember. I gathered every information from my memory. It's like a scene in the movies where all pieces of information such us pictures or conversation are moving around and try to fit in a particular position. Once all parts of memories are set, a "click" sound pop in my head. Everything was clear and I remembered the whole story. I got up from the bed, looked around to make sure everything was normal and still in the hotel. Then said to myself

"DID I JUST HAVE A DREAM IN A DREAM? HOW IS THAT EVEN HAPPENED?"

I could not believe myself such a thing is possible. I immediately wrote down everything that I can remember. I was still shocked and having a lot of thoughts about this dream and remembered that it was the same as in the movie inception. Most probably and I'm pretty sure, it just happened to me and luckily, I wasn't trapped in the limbo. But there is still one question remained about the dream and plays in my mind even until today. The question that can only be answered by myself and probably can change the future of me. The question that will remain as a mystery and needs a sophisticated machine and method to solve it. The question that is even harder than Einstein's riddle. The question that I really want to know the answer even more than answers in my exam sheets.

WHO WAS THE GIRL IN MY DREAM?? *dramatic high string violin

In March 29th my friends and I almost got into a car accident. It was the last day of my fieldwork before my second break. The rain was just over and we were on the way to the hotel after a full day dealing with rocks. Everything was good, I mean there was no sign of bad omen or anything, the wind was blowing nicely and gently, the sun set was beautiful, the weather was perfect after walking, running, crawling, climbing, hammering, measuring, writing, talking, sweating, drinking and discussing under the hot sun for the whole day. The car was moving around 60 km/hour and the condition of the road was wet and pretty packed. I mean the distance between cars was probably 5 meters away. It was really dangerous moving in that kind of speed, but we were exhausted and wanted to get back to the hotel as soon as possible.

There were about 12 cars moving in the same speed, because there was a big truck and it caused cars behind it to move with same speed. Suddenly, for no reason, the truck stopped. It was a sudden stop where all drivers were not prepared for this. So the whole stack of 12 cars just stopped immediately. Our car almost hit the car infront of us, but fortunately, the driver's response was beyond speed of light, so he moved the car to the side and provided our car with enough space stop. It was so terrifying, I looked around to see the condition. When I looked forward, everything seemed fine, no crash or whatsoever. But when I check behind, 3 cars crashed. Those cars were BMW, MPV and sedan. After like one minute, the truck move to the side of the road, letting all cars behind it to pass and the three crashed cars moved to the side as well, probably discussing about who's gonna pay for all the wrecked parts.

People change through out their life, can be physically, mentally and behaviour or attitude. These changes are influenced by a lot of things from family, friends, school, environment and internet connection. Well, I have been through all these changes but the recent one is physical change. I just got back from my 26 days of fieldwork for a week break and yes, I changed/turned into an evolved creature. Even my family couldn't believe what I've turned into in the last 26 days. I arrived at the university around 4 p.m. and my family was waiting and ready to pick me up. I got off the car, picked my luggage from the bonnet, said good bye to my french friend and entered my car. Inside the car there were my parents and my sister and the first thing I realised was they all looked at me with the awe-looked. The "look" that showed amazed, shocked and sympathy. Then, with feeling abit confuse I said

"What?"

They replied

My mom "you've turned solid black, like construction workers. muahahahahahahahahahahah!"

My dad just smiled

My sister "Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, Not construction workers, but more like criminals"


Okay, the construction worker was not so bad, but why criminals? Do I really look that bad?? That time my hair was messy and I've grown some mustache but those do not mean I look like a criminal, right? But I can't blame the sun for what has been happening to my physical form. Because it was me who did not really cover all the sensitive exposed parts. I should have dressed like a ninja, left only my eyes and hand's palms exposed. The first one week, I truly cared about getting sun tanned. I mean, I did a lot of covering and did not really go for a long time under the hot sun. But I missed alot of discussion, because all the european people wanted to get their skin tanned, so they discussed everything under the hot sun. According to them, brown skin is exotic.

I don't know why they have such a thought, but what I think is the whiter your skin, the better looking you will be. Because we don't really know what does brown colour skin means, it could be their skin tone, but, it could also be dirt. Beside if you do have white skin, people will think(what I think) that you are clean, eventhough you do not take shower. Because I have this friend in high school, this fellow is from east Asia. He looked so tidy and clean. So one day, just after the school started, this fellow and his chair-mate were talking in their language. I did not know what they were talking about. Then, the teacher came into the class, everyone did the greetings and sit back. This fellow were still talking and the teacher asked them to be silent. Everyone laughed because he was scolded. Then, his chair-mate called me, because my seat was right next to him. A little conversation happened

MCM=my-chair-mate
CM=chair-mate
TF=this fellow

CM: "hey Galih, ***** did not take shower, he woke up late, hahahahaha.
Me: What? Really? hahahaahah
TF: *saying something in his language and punched CH. "tssss, don't tell anyone"
MCM: "too late, we all heard that.hahahaahaha"

Then he gave this excuse

TF: "In my country, sometimes we don't take shower because the weather is not hot. In the winter we sometime don't take shower for 3 or more days. Because it was so cold and we don't sweat at all.

We all have never met each other again since then.

This fellow did not look like he has not taken shower, he looked fresh, even fresher than some of us because he was white. I just don't get the meaning of what european thought is "éxotic". Well, it's opinion anyway.

So in the second week, Because of what the european said, I was so motivated and in the field I was like "f**k this sun, I'm a geologist, I'm going brown-er(black) now, let me be the most exotic geologist here". I took off every covers except my hat, shirt and pants. After 26 days, I came back for the break and once I looked at the mirror. I realised I made the biggest mistake of my life.

I purposely took pictures of me before and after the fieldwork. I can clearly see the differences and yes, I look like a criminal now. So to avoid from getting caught by the police when I'm traveling alone, I decided to get a hair cut before off to Sarawak to make myself more to like normal a citizen. Due to the limited money that I had, I went to the barber shop which was located at the traditional market. Normally it will cost me 15 Malaysian Ringgit, but here is only 7 Malaysian Ringgit plus with head massage. So when I got there, I saw two barber shops. To save time, I somehow chose the one on left because the one on the right was a lot of people inside.

I got inside, sat on the chair, the barber put blanket on me to keep me clean from my own hair and asked what kind of style I wanted my hair to be. I looked at the example pictures of movie stars and I saw Brad Pitt. So decided to go on that hoping that I will look a bit like him and the barber said "no problem". After 10 minutes of cutting and probably 60 percent of my hair has been cut off, out of the silent, the barber said

"Uhmmm. I think I can not cut your hair the same way as the one in the picture, because your hair is to soft"

I did not said anything, totally speechless. So I replied with a smile

"Do what you have to do"

I cried inside. He should have told me before he cut my hair, I mean he should have known the type of my hair before even did his first cut. But I have learned lessons here, that left is bad, don't expect much for 7 Malaysian Ringgit hair cut even you get head massage, ask the barber twice or trice before having a hair cut.

So here are some pictures of my transformation and I also posted the same brad pitt picture as the one in barber which I found it in the internet. I looked like a retard here. so yeah..

The one on the right is me after finished the first day of fieldwork. I should have taken before the fieldwork because both my hands are already tanned. The picture in the middle is me after 26 days of fieldwork. The one that everybody (my family) thought looks like a criminal. The next picture is after I returned from Sarawak. I'm supposed to end up like Brad Pitt after that hair cut, but you know s**t happens.

About a week ago, my country just had legislative elections. At first I thought it was an election for presidency, so when I was about to choose, I checked all the names. When I looked at the form, there was something strange, why there were so many names in each party? Because normally each party only appoints one candidate. Then when I read the "title" on the top of the form, I realised that it was not for presidency. So here, I did not know a single person from the names that were listed in the form. I have no clue which one should I pick, but because I'm a muslim, I decided to choose someone from Islamic parties.

Then suddenly, I saw a name that I thought I have seen this name before. Too bad there was no photo. But somehow I just had the feeling that this person is someone I know, so I "poked" (that's the way to choose) on the person's name. I went online after that and checked whether that name is someone I know. After several minutes of searching, the result was positive and yes it is that person. So this person is nominated for one of the parties. I don't feel bad of what I've chosen, because I know the person and hopefully this person can do the job well in the future.

But there are people who didn't really care about this, including my friends. Let say from 10 probably only 3-4 did the election, the rest just ignored it. There are a lot of reasons, but mostly what they said are these

"I choose or not, it wont change anything to the country" "I don't know any of the candidates, so better don't pick"

I totally disagree with their opinions. Because I think it is a very important matter. This election will decide the future of your country internally or externally. We probably live outside the country and have better live here, but what about our brothers and sisters in our own country who do not live as lucky as we are. I mean I know the condition of my country here, where the poor gets poorer and the rich gets richer everyday. This is because the lack of management skills and probably "ego" is playing among the rulers. I don't want to blame anyone, because it is all our own fault. Previously, we did the same during the election, as a result we get this kind of people ruling and controlling the country. Because rules can be changed according to what the ruler's "desires". If the rulers are good, everyone is happy but it is the other way around, then we have to deal with it. So, if you do not want to do it for yourself, do it for others. Remember the needy. This is the least we can do for them. Because the future is in our hands.

P.S The trick to pick a great leader is to choose the one who does not "talk much" *real life experiences

funny sayings "If you can't achieve your goals by running try walking, if you still can't by walking try crawling, if you still can't by crawling, just ask someone to do it"

ABSURD LIFE

2 days before the returning for my 2 days break, I stayed in Tune hotel for one night before moving south in the next day. This hotel was the best hotel during all field works that I have been through. The facility of the hotel was like 5 stars hotel in 2 stars hotel, so everything was smaller in size. Like the bed, bathroom, even the room itself was smaller, but everything was perfect. There were a lot security cameras in each corridor for safety. I mean, I have never been to a 2 stars hotel with a lot of cameras. In previous hotels, I could only find at most were only 9, but this hotel has hundreds. So the security was very good here.

My supervisor booked a room with 2 single beds for me and I stayed with my co-worker. After we get to the room I rested for a while, took a shower and off for dinner. That day was the day when I got the food-poisoned thing. So after the dinner my co-worker and I went to a market to get some drinks. I bought a fresh milk cos I remembered what my mother said if I get food poisoned, I need to drink fresh milk. Then after that we went back to the hotel.

We reached the hotel around 10.30 p.m. and I didn't sleep immediately eventhough I was not feeling very well and feeling dizzy the whole day. I opened my laptop to go online for half an hour then updated the previous post while my co-worker was having a phone call with his GF. Then around 1 a.m. I went for bed.

This is where the interesting part.

The night was so peaceful and quite, the sky was dark covered with millions of pearls made from stars, the room temperature was warm and comfy. That night was so perfect to rest my body until a very loud 3000000 dB knock hit my door. I was still dreaming that time(not sure what dream) and I was not sure about the sound I heard. But time after time, the sound got louder and felt like a real sound. So then I finally woke up and realized that it was actually coming from the human world. I sat on my bed for maybe 2 minutes, trying to gather my soul and remembering who am I, where and why am I here. Suddenly, I heard a male voice said "assalamualaikum"(it is the Islamic way to greet people). Then I realised that it was coming from my door, so I got off the bed, my hand tried to reach the wall because it was so dark, tried to find the switch for the lamp but couldn't find it, so walked towards the door with guidance from the wall. I reached the door's knob, turned it clockwise, pulled the door in and a very bright light from heaven just stroke my eyes.

It was so bright that I turned into chinese for a moment. With these narrow eyelids I tried to observe the condition infront of me. My eyes turned into like iron man's eyes where I could locate any target and know its gender. Then after all the information is gathered, it concluded that there were 6 people standing infront of my door. 4 men 2 women. Then I was like "what is this? Am I famous now?"

Then a man around 160 cm tall stand infront of me and said

"Assalamualaikum, we have been called here, and received a report, that you brought a woman into your room"

I replied

"waalaikumsalam, yes" I wasn't really paying attention coz I just woke up.

Then he said

"yes? So this is true? you brought a women into this room?"

I tried to call back what I said and realised I just said something stupid and could actually brought me into trouble. Suddenly, as a normal person with limited amount of brain capacity and power, my brain stopped working, somehow I couldn't think of anything. After 5 seconds, my brain went back to normal and to calm my self down, with a quick flashback, I tried to remember everything since I got to this hotel. I remembered nothing about bringing a woman into my room, so then I replied

"what? me? no way!"

Then this man saw a movement in one of the beds, pointed his finger and he immediately said with enthusiasm.

"Then who's that sleeping on the bed?"

Then I was like "what? no, no, no, this isn't happening. There is now way I could have done that. I didn't even remember doing it. forgive me God" I was truly shocked and speechless, cos I didn't remember bringing any women into my room. But, would it be that I "unconsciously" called a prosti**** to come? because there was not any women in the group during this fieldwork. But, there is no way I would do that cos I didn't have the money guts to do it. Besides my pants and shirt were still on. I followed the direction of his finger and it was pointing at my co-worker's bed. Then I started thinking. What if, it was my co-worker who brought the girl in. But he already has a GF, so it is impossible. Then my co-worker woke up, didn't know what was happening so he just showed his face up to us, maybe wanting to know what was going on. The man saw my friend's face, looked at him carefully, probably identifying his gender just to make sure that nothing was suspicious. He nodded and said to me

"ohh. okay. But are you sure you did not bring any women into the room?

I just said "nope" and shake my head. He looked convinced, said sorry and then left. Without having much thought I closed the door and went back to bed and slept like a cow til the sun came arise.

Being in fieldwork for 2 weeks straight is not really good for human being even for geologist. We do the same thing everyday with no break. Isolated from the real world and need to deal with rocks everyday are just too much. We start the day at 8 a.m. and go back when there is no sun. We go back, have dinner, sleep and repeat the same thing on the next day. My friend even forgot about the day he was in a few days back. The whether is not so friendly. The sun is happily looking and sending heat as well as UV light to us. I have applied sun block with the maximum 110 SPF and formulated for sport. But it didn't really work. I think they should make a special sun block only for geologist, probably with 1000 SPF. If European people go for 3 weeks field work, they come back european. Because their skin colour don't really change. But if we Asian go for 3 weeks field work, we come back as new species. No body will know where we come from. The skin colour will totally change and don't really match with any human race in this world.

But here are some funny facts(not all but mostly) about geologist. As far as I'm accompanying my friend during this fieldwork, I've realised that there are several differences between a normal person (not geologist) and a true geologist. This my friend is a real and true geologist, he sees a rock, he knows what the rock is and tells the rock's story for one day. He is an expert in his field. So these are some lists based on my observation and research studies of what happened during the last 18 days.


1. Questions when come to a foreign country

Normal people: What is the most interesting place here? What is the traditional food here?

True geologist: How old is the oldest rock in the country? what is the parent rock here?


2. Things they bring when travel

Normal people: Cloths, caps/hats, glasses, watches, money, pens, notebook, maps.

True geologist: Double what normal people bring (except watches), geological compass, hammer, hand lens.


3. Things they say when see an outcrop (exposed rocks) during travel (in a van)

Normal people: woah, very big rocks out there, better don't get too close, they may fall off (van drives away)

True geologist: Let me out of this van!! Let me out!! Let me out!! (van drives away)


4.Checking out the map

Normal people: Wow this place looks interesting, looks like there are lots of shops. We can buy souvenirs there.

True geologist: Wow this looks like a mine here. We can collect samples there.


5. See an outcrop in a restricted area

Normal people: We need to stay away from here. They probably plan some mining here with some explosions. It could be dangerous.

True geologist: Quick think fast, we need to get inside. No one is looking, get a sample quickly.


6. Discussion before sleep

Normal people: Today I've been to this place, it was good and bla bla bla. Very interesting and tiring day, what a day, love it.

True geologist: I saw some good outcrops along the way here, we should check them out tomorrow. 8 am sharp we leave.


Lesson of life can be acquired anywhere such us from family, friends or even from someone you just met. It does not really matter who tells you about it, how old the person is or where they come from. As long as they teach you to be a better person, then it's fine. All you need to do is only listen, open your heart and think. Don't let your ego controls you. I met this person few weeks back during this fieldwork and just got a very good lesson from him.

It was around 3 p.m. this guy and I were just going to look for another outcrop for his research purposes by car. Then when we about to make a turn in a junction, a car just suddenly cut our way and went on like nothing happen. We almost hit on another car because of this, but luckily my friend has a very quick response and did what he had to do. He then started saying something in his own language and I was just sitting in my seat, completely stunned after what just happened.

Once the condition was normal again he told me that people nowadays should not behave and do things like that. They have been thought in school, know good and bad, but why does this kind of attitude still around? It is not because they are ignorant but it's just because they are not well educated. Not many people are well educated eventhough they have a lot of knowledge. So knowledgeable does not mean well educated. Then I started thinking that what he was saying is actually true. People know that they have to throw their thrash into the thrash can, but instead they throw their thrash everywhere. As the result flood everywhere. People know smoking is bad, but they're still doing it(sorry smokers). This guy is an atheist, where he does not believe in God or things like that, but he has the sense of awareness(not sure what I'm saying) even more than some of the religious or educated people I know. Well I'm not sure his true attitude, but from the way he treats people and drives a car, I can say he is a "good person".

Funny sayings "There are many ways to achieve your dreams, one of them is sleep"

FOREVER A STUDENT

What an experience having a fieldwork with one of the world famous geologist with expertise in structure and metamorphism. First day of my field work was okay. It was nice and suck at the same time surrounded by geniuses from Utrech University. During the fieldwork I used my 1000% of my knowledge that I have learned in the past four years to interpret all types of geological aspects in every outcrop we visited. Well, from what I have interpreted and those geniuses have interpreted, I can clearly see that the knowledge that we have was actually so much different. I could only act like a fish in a tank, opened my mouth but nothing came out. Those people are used to fieldwork and all kind of geology practical but different from me. During the fieldwork they could apply their knowledge probably up to 90% whereas I could only at maximum 70%. When I asked them why, they said that they are used to it because every year they have 10 weeks of field work and need to make reports. So total of the whole fieldwork from their undergraduate study is 30 weeks (3 years) excluding the final year project. But me during my undergraduate, the total field work was only 4 weeks. It's like kindergarten against university level. So much different. They look so much confident on each interpretation they made.

But so far, this fieldwork has truly improved my knowledge to a whole new level. From beginner to amateur geologist. I've improved my confident level and know how to differentiate structural geology aspects. Last time when I see a rock I would say

"Okay, this is a rock, it is very hard, there are cracks all over it. It has shiny things, probably diamond" Noob mode

Now it will be

"Okay, the bedding of the rock is striking northeast and dipping west 010/28, it is probably quartz mica schist, the shiny thing is mica and the mafic mineral is well foliated, probably due to deformation. There are several faults and show striation and dipping northwest. The riedel shear indicates the movement of the fault and there are also sigmoidal clasts, most likely a synistral, top to southeast" Amateur mode

During the 4th day of my fieldwork. I received a very pleasant news regarding the fieldwork. There was a change of plan. The fieldwork that is supposedly going for 40 days, has been reduced to probably 33 days. This is because I need to accompany a french guy to travel the whole peninsular Malaysia for more or less 2 weeks. I'll be like a tour guide for this guy. FYI this fellow is 2 meters tall while I am only 1.68 meters. It will look awful for me. Because people will see him as being accompanied by some sort of a short ugly creature. Besides, during this fieldwork, my skin tone has turned from "normal" to "you can't see me". It gets darker as the day passes. I'm already as black as I can be. This is probably the blackest skin tone that I have ever experienced so far as a geologist. I probably have reached 100% of my demonic true form.

These two European people are the people I'm going to work with in the next 20 days. The guy in dark green t-shirt is the 2 meters french guy and the one in squared-shirt is from Netherland (1.94m) which will be working with my co-worker in brown t-shirt. Both of us will go separate ways on the 15th and probably will meet up again on the 21th. I don't usually upload my picture, when I do, I look like ****.

So I will have a break for 2 days from 16th-17th and after that the journey is begun. The other 5 days have not been confirmed yet, but most probably will happen on the first week of April before I'm finally off to Sarawak. After this field work is over, I have probably a month before the next field work again to Sarawak for probably one week. In the mean time I will try to get married driving license, since I need to use a car to travel from one place to another for my master's fieldwork. I can drive but I don't have a license, I hope I can get one within a month.

I just had one the most terrible experience in the history of geological fieldwork. This had happened to me once in my second year and never thought would be repeated today (13th march). Yup, I've been food-poisoned. It was truly awful. I stayed in the van for the whole day because of this. My stomach was twitching(not sure about the word) so bad I could not even turn my body. But luckily because of the excellent medical treatment(drinking 100 plus)I have survived this and can carry on my life. But now my body is very weak because I've been going back and forth to the toilet for 8 times, I've lost so much liquid and can't even walk properly. The photo was taken after I had this thingy. My co-worker and the french guy also got the same thing, but theirs were not as bad as mine.

A few days back I chatted with an old friend, which I thought I was never gonna see or even talk again. I didn't even know how this fellow got my number, suddenly just said "hey" in wasapp. Nothing was serious about the talk. Just a normal conversation with some reminiscence about the past and it was awesome. This fellow is in the final year and then asked me what I'm doing now. So I said that I'm going to further my study. Then this fellow started compliment me saying that I'm smart and I can do anything, my future is bright, my life is perfect and all that kind of things, unlike herself. Well, I just said that I'm lucky and I was serious about this, but this fellow kept denying what I said so I just replied with "hahaha"(that was the best thing I could do to stop her). I seriously do not know how to handle compliment. The best thing I can do is only smile. Last time there was a moment after I performed in one occasion, I got off the stage and out from the hall, suddenly there was a chinese girl appeared infront of me said (I remember this clearly)

"Wow, you were very good up there(1). You are very handsome, you know?(2)"

After that she smiled and stood still infront of me. The first statement I could still handle. But the moment I heard the second one, I just stood, thinking back of what I just heard and looked at the girl like I was retarded. I have never expected such a thing to happen. Then there was quite a moment of silent and it was kinda awkward. She seemed to be waiting for my reply. I did not know what to do so I just smiled back and moved away from her to my friends(true story). Not sure what will be my reaction if it happens now. I'll probably start laughing and pinching my self to death, hoping that I'm just dreaming. This happened when I was in my third year of my University and still handsome, not like now. I'm not saying I do not appreciate them, but if they really see me and know the actual me, I do not deserve such compliment.

I can say that my life is not perfect and I'm not smart. Compare to my friends, I probably have the lowest mark and that's why I consider myself lucky that I can stand until today. I'm not good in scoring for high marks, as long as I have done my best that's enough, the world will somehow repay me in some kind of ways. I see people including my friends are afraid to get low marks, so what they did was copied from someone who has gotten high marks or even cheating. They do not really care they understand or not as long as they get high marks it is fine for them. Well I'm scared to get low marks, but if I have to choose, I truy prefer to get low marks but do it my self than the other way around. At least I know about the mistake I've made and try to improve next time.

I have failed so many times but I just keep going and do my best, even until today. I don't really consider my failures as points of where I should stop doing. It is the failure that can actually teach me the most important thing. It really drives me crazy everytime I fail on things that I have worked so hard. But then I tell myself that everything does not always go according to the plan so need to be patient and move forward. From 100 of my plans, there are probably less than 10 that truly came true. The rest just failed or simply haven't shown up any results. Simply do your best in everything and let the world decides the best for you. I have never thought I could travel now and meet great people, because my plan of traveling is supposed to be after I get a job, get a wife and settle my life. But now I'm already traveling, although not so far and not for traveling purposes, But still I am able to travel and see things I have never seen before and get paid eventhough not so much, but the experience that matters. Be flexible, don't stick in only one thing. Don't try to be someone, coz it wont always work. I might be not as lucky as those people who have traveled the world, participated in big events or have become superstars. But everything that has happened to me is actually more than enough, knowing that there are a lot of people who's having more problems and difficulties in life.

I've been taught to be fair in life, don't only focus on what you are doing, look around and see what can you do for others. Don't focus only on your friends, but focus more on your family. Coz it is actually the perfect turning back place for every problem you have. So no one has a perfect life but you can still perfect the life you have now. Don't forget to say Alhamdulillah.

Funny saying "Your dreams are like dandelion, beautiful, but gone as the wind blows them away"

IT HAS BEGUN

Life has never been easy for all human kind. If it is easy that means you are doing it wrong same like maths, you must have had sacrificed something that should not be sacrificed such us family, friends and other people's life that are not supposed to be sacrificed/bothered. Because the only thing that needs to be sacrificed is everything in you (including time and energy). Help from family or friends do really make things easier but still your part needs to be the hardest.

I've got things settled for my RA recently and I'm officially employed. So a couple of days back I talked to my RA supervisor. I asked about things that I shall do for my first day of being employed here. But then he said that I should ask my Postgraduate/master supervisor. FYI, my master supervisor and RA supervisor are different person. But normally they should be the same person. I mean People usually do master under supervision of either Dr. or Professor and employed as RA under the same person as the master supervisor. But my case is I'm doing master and RA under 2 different persons. Technically, it will be a very difficult task for me since I need to handle two things at the same time. But according to what my RA supervisor said, I should follow what my master supervisor commands me to do.

My mind exploded after I heard what my RA supervisor said. I made him to explain twice for me just to get everything clear coz I thought he could probably said something that he thought was right, and yes he was right, nothing was tricky and I have normal hearing. It was just my imagination that thought my RA supervisor said something confusing. So for me it's like being employed by one company but I need to work for another company. I asked my master supervisor a week ago he said that we'll be going for field work on the first week of April and in the mean time we just need to study the previous studies regarding the area. So here I assume that I don't have to do anything(work).

But a few days back I've been contacted by the HRD saying that there was problem regarding my visa. The visa I'm using now prohibits me from being employed by any kind of employments. That means I need to cancel my old visa and change it to the employment visa. But for it to happen, it will take around one and a half months and in the mean time I wont receive my salary and depend solely on my savings. Moreover I have a field work to Sarawak on the first week of April. So with all these limited time, money, friends, energy and internet connection to get done with everything, it is so perfect for me to become famous. You know I will probably just get on an aeroplane and jump off and on the next day you'll find me in newspaper, but life must go on as what Celine Dion said "my heart life will go on and on".

I have thought of several solutions with several alternatives, and each one has pros and cons. So now it is only a matter of time for me to decide which one is the best.

Today I got probably one of the most horrifying news regarding my RA that I have ever received in this year. Ofcourse I just started the RA a few weeks ago. So once I got to my department my co-worker told me that we will have fieldwork for 40 days from 5th of March to 15 or April.

"40 DAYS OF FIELDWORK"

The moment I received this news I was like

"NO!NO!NO! This isn't true? What is this? is this a joke? seriously? I must be dreaming"

Then I asked him again and he said positive 100% yes. I don't know I should be happy or sad. I love field work but 40 days, it is like I don't know how to put it in words. I mean I just started my RA a month ago and then suddenly "poof" 40 days field work. This is madness. Besides I haven't even received my salary yet. So I need to use my own money then. How am I going to survive after the fieldwork? How am I going to live and carry on my own life? What about my family and children?(nope I don't have them yet).

Moreover my friend told me that I should read about micro-structural geology. Because last time he got brutally questioned by the lecturer and he could not answer properly. This is why my RA is going to be a double-edged sword for me. My master is sedimentology and RA now is structural geology. The last time I touched my structural geology notes was when the time I was still a nuisance student around 2 years back. Plus this field work has professor, Dr. and several master students from Utrech university. I guess I'll be mentally abused by them in the next 40 days. I don't even know why/how did I write on this blog now where I am supposed to study.

I'll be busy in the next 40 days but the writing must go on.

Funny sayings "Many species are in danger and getting extinct, including 'human being'"