from ss3 with love...

this post is long overdue and i've been trying to keep up with my work schedule and still make time for blogging but i've found out that it is kinda tough... =)

so, from my short trip back to kl for my eye check-up, i flew straight to kota belut to go onboard the ss3. well, i've heard of stories about this place but that still did not prepare me for what i saw when i reached kota belut. it definitely is a very "interesting" town - cows, ponies and plenty of dogs roaming the road... shops closing at 6 pm... and somehow, that place has hair saloons in every block in town... no idea why though... =)

anyway, from there, i went onboard the ss3 the following day. and from all my experiences so far, i guess this is the closest i've felt to being seasick... the water was kinda rough and the 90 minute boat ride to the ss3 did not help at all. i reached the ss3 with a growing headache and i was in time for a job actually. so we started pumping and my headache was still growing...

it was a bad first day to say the least. but from then on, the one week onboard was pretty smooth sailing - 5 treatments pumped. and in between, the crew onboard celebrated hari raya. we had a bbq dinner on the first day of raya and well, despite the best efforts to create a cheerful atmosphere, i sensed that most of the crew really would prefer to be home. who wouldn't right? but the dedication these guys have - that's the essence which keeps this company and this business thriving.

the slb crew at the hari raya bbq

the thing about every location that i've been to is that we've always got a great crew to work with. no matter the time of the day or no matter how tired we all are, we still manage to have a laugh and it was always a good atmosphere to work in. and it's always the crew that keeps me going as well. especially more since i'm still pretty new and probably not as mentally strong as i'm supposed to be...

port side view of the ss3 and south furious jacket e platform

starboard view with the personnel transfer boat in the background

picture taken on the first night i was on board

picture taken on the last night i was onboard (i like the effect)

about my photography... i've had my nikon d60 for about 4 months now and i dun really have the time to experiment except when i'm offshore (this makes offshore sound like a vacation)... but in those times that i've had, i've started to really enjoy taking photos of the sky... i used to be only interested in taking sun rise and sun sets, but lately i've started to prefer taking photos as you see below... it's no masterpiece or anything close to it, but it does make me stare in awe... mother nature is an artist and the sky is her canvas... =)

love the fiery look behind the clouds...

the cloud looks like cotton candy...

and this last photo is a courtesy of terry's arm... it has an uncanny resemblance to zeus with a shade of hades, which metaphorically speaking really does work for me... everyone has to be nice essentially but with a shade of evil... muahahaha... =)

really cool tattoo...