WINTER 2012
IN
RUSSIA AND FRANCE
Its a great pleassure for me to have another chance to step my foot into motherland of Putin, Stalin and Karl Marx for the third time.
My first time was in 2007 when I performed the duty of Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) for Sukhoi ILS at Irkutsk (middle of Russia Federation). It was the longest journey I ever experience. If you look at the Russian map below, Irkutsk is located near to the border of Russia-Mongolia - at the river mouth of Angara River which end at Baikal Lake - the biggest fresh water lake in the world. From KLIA to Irkutsk via Amsterdam and Moscow took about 47 hrs journey. Less an hour than 2 day flight.
lawatan PERTAMA ke Russia 2007
lawatan KE MOSCOW kali kedua (2010)
MY THIRD TRIP TO RUSSIA
My second time was in July 2010 for the Logistic Support Meeting and Technical Coordination Group (LSM/TCG) meeting for MiG29 and SU30MKM. The meeting was conducted in Moscow. The biennial four-party meeting was between RMAF-ATSC-RAC MIG and Rosoboronexport.
This time my trip is for the same purpose as 2010 trip but with different RMAF team and different route. The departure from KLIA (MH 0300) was at 0030H and we arrived Istanbul at 0550H local time - 11+ hours flight. We have 4 hrs rest before continue our connecting flight to Moscow at 1020H by Aeroflot SU2137. The flight hours from Istanbul Atarturk International Airport (IST) or known as TAV to Sheremetyevo (SVO) International Airport, Moscow was about 2 hrs 55 minutes.
Istanbul Airport- waiting for next flight to Moscow
The night view of Istanbul city form the aerial view is very amazing. The beautifulness cannot be described in words. Since it was at 5am, so I could not see the real view of the city.
We arrived Moscow about 1515H Moscow time (1915H KL time). As the plane touching down and roll on the runway, the airport is fully covered by snow. The pilot landed the plane smoothly. This is my first time having this kind of environment - the real winter. Thanks alMighty Allah.
A lot of changes in terms of managing the airport. No more filling up form in the aircraft before touch down. All automated and consider fast service compared to my 1st and 2nd experience dealing with counters in Moscow airport. Well done Putin.
The distance between Sheremetyevo Airport to Moscow city is about 32km. It takes about 35 minutes. And along the way to all the views were full of snow. We settled down our checked in at Crown Plaza Hotel about 2 and half hours later.
arrival at Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow
way out from the airport- the earth is covered by snow
snow, snow, snow
arrival at Crown Plaza Hotel
first posing with snow background in front of Crown Plaza
.
Hari kedua 9 Dis 12 di Moscow adalah hari Ahad dan kami mengambil peluang untuk membuat lawatan ke Izmaylovskoye (sebutannya Ismaeluzky) iaitu tempat menjual pelbagai rupa cenderamata. Tak ada apa yang menarik tak banyak berubah. Barang lama, design lama. Rupa bentuk barang-barang souvenir seperti key-chain, sticker, fridge magnet, kain dan sebagainya serupa macam mana tahun 2007 dan 2010 dulu.Ini baru -7 Celcius, dah tak tahan. Macamana agaknya bulan Februari ke Mac nanti. Macamana di Norway, Finland, Falklands atau Greenland dan Antartika. Suasana keliling pemandangan sepanjang perjalanan putih seputihnya, di atas tanah, di pokok, di bangunan, di sungai semuanya diliputi salju.
'Hujan ais di negara orang, ais kacang di Malaysia tetap menawan hati'
Kalau di Malaysia, biasa orang sebut. Kalau tenguk anak cucu rajin solat, rajin puasa, rajin baca Qur'an, orang akan kata "Sejukkkkk kubur ibu bapak dia". Kat Russia ni kalau musim winter ni, anak alim ke anak samseng ke, semua kubur pun sejuk....
On the way balik ke hotel rombongan singgah melawat Kremplin dan kompleks sejarah testimoni pemerintahan Komunisme di USSR. Tapi aku tak larat nak ikut lawatan ke Kremlin. Tak apalah aku dah pernah datang 2010 dulu. Nak jalan lagi dengan suasana macam ni....kecut aku. Aku bersama 3 orang lagi terus balik hotel dan makan tengahari.
Our third day in Moscow (Monday) was full with meeting from 9am to 5pm. Keluar Subuh balik Maghrib. First day meeting we met at Rosoboronexport to discuss various issues related to MiG-29 and Su30 aircraft.
dinner with Rosoboron staff
infront of Rosoboroexport building after the lunch
Our fourth day, 11 Dec the team was divided into two. Team A headed by my Commander met with JSC Sukhoi Holding Co. focussing on Su30 problems and action items. Whilst I led another team to RAC MiG to handle MiG issues. My team finished at lunch time and we went back to the hotel earlier and stop[ped by Arbat Road (for souvenirs shopping). Another team came back very late.
12 Dec was our fifth day. This time Panglima went for final discussion on action items with Sukhoi, RAC MiG and Rosoboronexport and ended up with signing the protocols. I was informed later that the discussion session was HOT and TENSE. Dealing business with Russian has no arts. So if we maintain our Oriental culture with our budi bahasa, they will step on our back or our head. So we have to be 'kurang ajar' also.
That morning, my team went to AEC (contractor for Su30 Radar System). As opposite, the meeting here was going smoothly and amicably. After having lunch at Maharaja Restaurant, we went to PJSC Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant (UOMZ) the contractor for Recce Optical System. This time my boss join in the discussion. The meeting ended at 5pm when it was already dark and very cold due to strong wind that evening.
with AEC staff infront of AEC premis
walking thru streets for our lunch- after the meeting with AEC
lunch with AEC and UOMZ staff
Walaupun seronok dapat merasai keadaan Musim Sejuk yang sebenar-benarnya, ia amat menyiksakan. Beginilah keadaannya kawan-kawan, saudara-mara dan pelajar-pelajar kita yang berada di negara seperti ini bertahun-tahun. Entah apa yang seronok sangat mereka nak belajar di negara seperti ini aku pun tak tau. Bukan sahaja persekitaran cuaca yang menyiksakan, suasana social dan budaya juga berbeza. Di mana-mana negara barat pun, mereka tetap memandang kita yang berkulit sawo matang ni sebagai penduduk dunia second class.
Perjalanan pulang dari Rusia (ke Peranchis) melalui lapangan terbang antarabangsa Sheremetyevo membuktikan dan mengesahkan bahawa pentadbiran Kerajaan pimpinan Vladimir Putin telah membuat perubahan drastik ke atas sistem pengurusan di terminal yang telah berkali ganda bertambah baik. Lebih efisyen dan cepat serta banyak pemotongan kerenah birokrasi seperti yanga aku alami pada tahun 2007 dahulu. Cepat dan efisyen. TAHNIAH RUSIA.
Kali ini, keputusanku terdahulu untuk menjadikan Rusia sebagai pilihan terakhir negara yang ingin aku lawati telah berubah. Cuma kalau dapat, janganlah datang Musim Salji seperti ini.
KEDATANGAN pertama untuk LSM/TCG ke Moscow pada tahun 2010 dulu diketuai oleh Mej Jen Dato Ackbal. Pada masa itu, DA di Moscow ialah Ko Abdul Manaf bin Zaid TUDM. Kami disambut di airport, beliau juga kerap datang ke hotel, beliau dan keluarga mengajak delegasi ke krdiaman beliau untuk makan malam dan akhirnya menghantar kami ke airport.
KEDATANGAN kali ini, diketuai oleh Mej Jen Dato' Kamarulzaman. Sejak hari pertama ketibaan sehingga kami meninggalkan airport Moscow, kami tidak nampak kelibat wajah DA kita yang baru.
posing with Marina (UOMZ staff)
ENTERING FRANCE
13 Dec 2012 we made our move to the next destination- loving city of Paris. Flight to Paris which was schedule at 1045 was rescheduled twice, first to 1115 and then to 1140. It was a fun stories happened that day. After checked in at 0740 and waiting for immigration and security checking, suddenly the airport announced one of our group member to report for boarding, and it was a last call. It was about 0815. He did not notice that his staff booked a ticket for 0750 flight that morning. He was lucky because we all decided to check out from the hotel at 0700 and reached the SVO airport by 0740. If we decided to depart from the hotel 30 minute late, he would be in miserable.
So, he got no choice to board alone and waiting for the rest in Paris.
We arrived Paris after 3 hrs 30 min flight and checked in at Grand Mercure Hotel, Paris. The design of the room is quite funny because the bathroom and the WC having different door and the WC is not equipped with water tap. Just imagine, after having your waste, you have to wash in the other room!. The good is, if you are sharing the room, two functions can be done simultinously.
The beauty was, the hotel located very close to Eiffel Tower.
the top part of Eiffel Tower from my room
Weather in Paris was not as bad as Moscow. Around 10 degree Celcius. But it was raining throughout the day. The coldness was extreme when there was a wind blowing. I did not follow the to go for dinner that night. So tired especially when my back-ache start attacking.
Second day in Paris was 14th December full with meeting. In that morning we traveled to the premis of Thales Optronique SA (TOS) at Neuilly-sur-Seine, about 45 minute driving from the hotel. TOS is the major players in Su30 avionic system. Meeting berakhir hampir jam 1400H.
bendera Malaysia berkibar megah di laman premisThales Optronics SA.
signing protocol at the end of the meeting
lunch time
After lunch we straight moving to another meeting at SAGEM a company under SAFRAN Group which supplies LINS for RMAF Su30MKM. The company located at Le Ponant de paris, 27, rue Leblanc. And, today's meeting also ended up at last light. Tiring day. The mission of Paris was accomplished today.
Saturday, 15th of dec was our shopping day. We went to La Vallee- an Outlet Shopping Village at Cours de la Garounne (same as Bristol or Bicester Outlet Village in London). The place for the people who has MONEY. The popular product here are handbag. Led by the famous and highly demanding Louis Vuitton (LV) followed by Coach, Burberry, Michael Kors, Gucci, Prada, Dior, Versace, Miu Miu, Hermes, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Dooney Bourke, Fendi, Guess, Elicat, Greespot, Kazibo, Kissed, Nanit, Zesh, Zute, Abro, Alfani, American West, Andrea, Atlantic, Aurielle Carryland, Baby Phat, Belt Ect, Besso, Carlucci, Brenthaven, Carpincho, Chaos, Coronado and etc etc.......my goodness. Heaven of handbags.
In the first shop, I nearly finished my budget. MK handbags for my wife birthday TOMORROW (16th).
We took off from La Vellee at 2pm for our lunch. The driver told us about halal restaurant nearby. So we straight to te spot entered the Asian Restaurant WOK. HOWEVER, The buffet Chinese restaurant is selling PORK mixed-over with other food. What HALAL food is about? I think the driver just looked at the sign board, Asian- so he thought that it was HALAL.
disorganised order- more pizzas than the man- soo many need to be finished
views infront of the Pizza Hut
We ended up in Pizza shop. We reached hotel at 5pm, too late to go for another program, it was river cruising at Seine River. We got to change our hotel due to fully booked. We moved to neighbouring hotel, Pullman. This hotel is nearer to Eiffel Tower.
Eiffel Tower snapped from outside the lobby of Pullman Hotel
After settling dwon the hotel checking-in, we have a short rest in the hotel before came out again at 8pm. Our mission tonite is to climb Eiffel Tower.
I made a wrong appreciation. I thought of the weather not so bad, so I did not bring my winter jacket, nor mafla, no head gear and no gloves. At the ground was ok. BUT after reaching the first station at the first floor (about 300 steps) the strong wind attacked us. So bloody cold.
the tower snapped from the ground
Eifel Tower was built in 1887 and completed in 1889. Comprises of 3 floor with the total height (including the antenna) is 324 meters. The highest floor (3rd floor) is 279 meters.
In the rest of the tour in the tour. Besides feeling PROUD of having the opportunity to step on the top floor of Eiffel Tower, I was suffering with the coldness.
in the first lift
City of Paris from the top of Eiffel Tower
maaf la, camera dah kehabisan bateri
on the way balik hotel, sempat abadikan diri. last bar of battery level
Our last day in Paris was on 16th December. We checked out from Pullman Hotel at 0800 am. We arrived Charles de Gaulle International Airport at 0845 for check-in.
Finally we were in the plane about 1200.
Sikit komen semasa dalam flight. Kalau 5 tahun dulu, aku naik MAS dia punya steward/stewardess berusia antara 25 ke 35 saja. Tapi agaknya lepas tu tak ada intake lagi kot- untuk penjimatan. Sama seperti penerbangan KUL-IST, steward/stewardess penerbangan CDG-KUL juga rata-rata terdiri dari emak-emak dan bapak-bapak kepada budak sekolah menengah. Mungkin yang muda-muda terhad kepada domestic flight kot.
Sama seperti yang diamalkan oleh penerbangan di Amerika dan Eropah sejak sekian lama.
wajah Pramugara/Pramugari MAS yang dah pupus...
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