Saturday, April 30, 2011

Awful service at TM Net!

These days, the Internet line is giving us trouble again. Not anticipating the reporting procedure especially when it comes to TM Net, I reluctantly dialed #100 to the TM Net hotline. 

*toot toot* Thank you for calling TMNET. For BM, please press #1. For English, please press #2.
*pressed #2* As I was listening to the instructions patiently and pressing whatever number seems relevant for my report, suddenly the line got cut-off. *Damn* WTH...

A little impatient this time, I dialed again and repeat the same procedure as above...

........... the line got cut-off AGAIN!!


Greatly annoyed, this time I was fuming a little from the inefficient phone line, I dialed the number yet again and repeat the same procedure. 

*toot toot*
Operator - "Good Evening. Thank you for calling TMNet. How may I assist you?"
Me - "Hi, I am calling to report the internet line failure at my home. Can you please check what is happening?"
Operator - "I need some verifications before I proceed. May I know your name and contact number please?"

After giving all the needed information for verification, the operator asked me some technical questions.

Operator - "Is your modem... light.... blinking... connect... brand....?"
Me - "Huh? I'm sorry but I don't understand you at all."
Operator - "Oh... Is... your...xxxx... xxxxx.... modem... light.... connect....xxxx....???" 
*He is speaking so slowly this time and expecting me to understand him better because of the slow speech*
Me - "I'm sorry but I am not well-verse in this technical stuffs. Can you just do what you can do over at your side? The connection stopped at approximately 11pm last night and this happened 2 months ago. If you check your system, you will see the report."

Operator - "Ya, I see it here. But I still need to go through the procedure with you in order to know if the problem is your side and give you an immediate solution."

Me - "Sigh... ok... What do you need?"

After giving me a tough time doing all those things that I am unsure off, I finally told him that I don't know how and requested to get someone to do it at their side.

Operator - "I'm sorry, but I cannot do that until you do everything I asked you to."

Slightly agitated now, I tried my best to do what he said to do. But there was still no connection. About 50 minutes later, he finally said "Ok. I will send in the report now. Here is your report number. Please wait for 72 hours for your connection. Thank you for calling TM Net."


The connection was back to normal after 2 hours. But exactly 2 days later, the connection was suddenly unavailable again.

Upset and irritated by the lousy internet connection, again, I repeated the same procedure of dialing and waiting for the operator...

A lady operator this time. After all the necessary verification...

Me - "My connection has failed again. Can you please check what is happening? I called 2 days ago regarding the same issue."

Operator - "Is your modem... light.... blinking... connect... brand....?"
Me - "What? Why do I need to go through the same thing again? Can you please check and see that I just made a report a few days ago? There is nothing wrong at my side here!"

.......* a moment of quietness*.....and then with a bored voice the operator replied, "We need to verify if the problem is at your side and provide a suitable solution........"

This time... I.... AM... TRULY... MADLY... DEEPLY... ANGRY!!

Me - "Did you just hear me? I already said that I made a report just 2 days ago. Why can't you re-check again and tell them that the connection is lost again??"

again.... a few seconds of silence.... and the operator replied with just the same bored voice, "Please check your modem......."

Finally, I understand why people need to buy books like this!

Fed-up of her 'don't-give-a-damn-service-attitude'....

Me - " Can you pass the phone to someone else, please?"
Operator - "Why?"
Me - " I am not going to waste my time talking to you when you are not interested to help me here. Please pass the line to someone who is willing and capable to help me solve this repeated problem. I know this conversation is being recorded and I am aware that I have called the customer service-line, but this is bad service... If you are aware that you are suppose to give me good customer service, if not please pass this call to someone else."

At this moment, the Operator said in a little shaky voice - "I'm sorry miss, I can help you with your problem."
Me - "OK, fine."
Operator - "I will check on my side and refresh the system. Can you now re-check again on the connection?"
Me - "OK, please hold on..... no connection still."
Operator - "OK, I will proceed to send the report now. Please check your connection within 72 hours."

Sigh... I really hate to deal with these people.
Why can't TM Net do something to upgrade their service... including the service of the people at the call centre?!





Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Fun Food Flavorful Penang

a weekend of FUN, FOOD & FLAVORFUL adventure!

 with a handwritten map guiding us from the Penang bridge to our lovely hotel... we finally found our way to paradise after four hours on the road!

 clean and gorgeous beach... 
look at that cute doggy enjoying the lovely beach... how I wish Muffin was there too!

 Bubbles enjoying the sunset...
 soaking in the sea...
 oooohhh... so gaya!


yay!!


 Our first evening, we had dinner at this secluded restaurant next to the beach... recommended by Juliana. Waited for her to pick us up at about 7pm and the restaurant was a few kilometers from our hotel at Tanjung Bungah...

Dinner with these gorgeous ladies...

 thanks for the delicious seafood dinner and the enjoyable company!

 yummy clams...

 fresh and sweet crabs...

 absolutely delicious fresh prawns baked with salt and pepper only!

 of course... paradise always ends with the sweetness of C-O-C-O-N-U-T

 Later that evening... we went in search of the famous Penang Rojak at Gurney Drive... and then continued our adventure at...

 Hardrock Cafe!
A rock band will be playing every Fri & Sat...



 The next day... we went jalan-jalan cari makan... hmmm... where to eat?
Eh... saw this newly opened food area at Jalan Swatow called "New World Park". Lotsa food choices inside the park and a few boutiques selling affordable fashion items...

where I bought my cute yet feminine beach hat for only RM25...

and the Bah Chang was the best!!

 found a huge food court inside the park... 
Satisfied after our food  victory, we drove around Penang before going back to the hotel for more beach-y adventure...


And look what I found!
My face next to the huge Jalan Penang.. *wink*

In the evening, we continued our food adventure at BALI HAI seafood market at Gurney. This place was highly recommended by our friends... so we decided it is a must-try food place...

 The restaurant had a little carpark hidden behind the shop, which was a blessing because Gurney is such a popular area for the locals & tourists during weekends. 

Inside the restaurants, we were awed by the seafood choices! All fresh in their respective aquariums. The whole place was neatly decorated by colourful tables and aquariums piled up to the ceiling...



the crabs are all alive!

 *Burp*

 Salted egg Crabs...
sweet, mouthwatering and tasty!
The crabs are so fresh that the meat just peeled off the shell without much effort...

 Mantis Prawn RM35 each!!

Tasty Fried Tong Fun
Overall verdict, the food price is reasonable...
the place is friendly and easy to find...
the food is fresh with lots of choices...
Definitely a great place to enjoy scrumptious seafood in Penang! I heard from a friend that the Dim Sum in the morning is quite good as well...
hmmm, maybe next time for me! 

 The main purpose of this trip was to get away from the polluted busy and stressful city...

coffee-O time!

 Sometimes, getting away for just a few days will help to rejuvenate the mind. 
Listening to the sound of the sea... I can seriously get use to the salty windy environment...
Dreaming that one day I am able to own a castle next to the beautiful beach...  
*Dreaming*


Totally Paradise!


R&R at the beach...

Before heading home... we made one last stop at the most delicious Assam Laksa at a little green corner coffee shop at Jalan Penang...

Assam Laksa at Jalan Penang...

 Right next to the shop, there was a long queue waiting for chendol...

 yummy chendol with gula melaka...

even the Fried Kuey Teow was as delicious as the Assam Laksa!
Definitely a must-visit-makan-venue!

Look at Bubbles... he has certainly enjoyed this trip!
Looking forward to my next road-trip with Bubbles!!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Birthday with love

After the unforgettable surprise-birthday bash, it is time for a romantic one to one session with me... Although his wish was to spend the day with his mother (who can ever take the place of mothers *Smile*), we went for a drink after dinner @ Library, Midvalley...


 Some food to bite while enjoying their live band...

We had the best seats in the house!
Overlooking half the bar and....

right in front of the band!! *whistles*

 of course... it will not be perfect without this Chocolate Rum and Raisin cake! It was yum yum...

Beers are always F.U.N
Cheers!



Happy Birthday, darling...
Coming up next... will be a lovely treat of BKT with love...
*muaks*

my homemade BKT as requested by the birthday boy for his birthday treat!
*BKT = Bak Kut Teh (Herbal Pork Soup)