Cycling In Palembang

For the past few weeks my toddler always asked to go cycling in his tri-cycle outdoors. He used to cycle only in-doors in our limited living room area but since the day we brought him out to the field with his bike, he never wanted to cycle indoors any more.

This made it a bit difficult for us because in Palembang there are no bike paths. He had to cycle on the bumpy concrete block paved roads to this open area here in the photo to cycle properly.

He insisted to cycle on the road but under supervision. We had to carry his bike home sometimes when he gets tired and his bike also "overturned" one time when he rode too near to the side of the road (sandy part).

The design of his tri-cycle is also a bit weird. I think the position of the pedals obstructs the movement of his feet. Maybe it is the angle of the frame? I hate pushing him uphill on the road (too much of a backache for me because of my height - having to bend down like a prawn)!

Wished we had more gardens and bike tracks here in Palembang for little kids to ride their bikes.

Toddlers & Accidents

Perhaps when you first read the title of this post, you might be thinking of a post about accidents that could happen to toddlers?... well, it is not.



Since my kid started to watch "Thomas & Friends" the train series, he has learnt a lot about accidents because the stories often have lots of eventful things happening, including accidents. They even have a song called, "Accidents Can Happen"!

At first, he loved accidents because he thought it was part of life to have accidents (well, he was right in a certain sense anyway). After some explanations, he gradually understood that people do get hurt during accidents and everyone should try to prevent accidents from happening.



However, as a kid full of imagination he still likes to "create his own accident scenes" and gets his "friends" to come and save the victim. This photo shows you his story about a train that fell off a collapsed bridge.

So when I asked him, "Did anyone get hurt?" he just answered "no" and continued playing while singing his Accident song," Accidents happen, sometimes just like that". His made-belief accident scene will always come with stories containing the following words:

1. Crashed
2. Smashed
3. Tumbled
4. Collapsed
5. Bent
6. Surprised
7. Saved
8. Oh, No!
9. Help!
10. Cinders & Ashes! (I don't think I even know how to say that word when I was in primary school)
    

What Do You Do In A Fertilizer Factory?

Working in a fertilizer factory is a niche job. There are many types of fertilizer factories in the world. Mine in Palembang happens to be a chemical compound or NPK fertilizer factory.

Basically we blend the different raw materials such as Urea (Nitrogen source), Phosphate Rock (Phosphate source) & Potash (Kalium source) plus other elements like Magnesite, Copper & Zinc Sulphates to the appropriate proportions, then we add water and heat to make them into granular form (oval shaped) then screen them, coat them and eventually pack them.

Below are some most common questions coming from people who are not from the fertilizer or agricultural industry:

1. What do you do at work? - ensure the people carry out instructions!! If you pay peanuts, who would you get?
2. How is the working environment? - it is a "sweat shop" because the environment is hot. Air is limited inside the plant because it will cause the fertilizers to "melt" (hygroscopic in nature when in contact with high humidity). The condition in the plant is often "muddy" as when teh products fall off the belts/chutes/leakages, they will become hygroscopic. I should say that it is quite similar to a muddy construction site which is indoors.
3. Does it smell? - yes, when water comes into contact with urea, ammonia gas will be emitted. so you think you would ever fall asleep at work?
4. Will it explode? - Ha ha, no....only ammonium nitrate plants in Europe has potential of explosions.
5. Do you like working there? - It has been 5 years since I changed my career from the semiconductor industry (clean) to the fertilizer industry (dirty). I should say that I am contented with what I have at the moment in PLM, except for the long working hours (5.5 days week), power limitation of my company sponsored house and the mosquitoes (I get bitten almost everyday)!
6. Would you like to work there forever? - I am entering my 3rd year in Palembang and throughout the 2 years here I have learnt a lot about the Indonesian culture, language and people. If opportunity calls, I might need to make another career change? Life is unpredictable!
7. How many staff do you have? - 86 permanent plus 100 contractors (forklifts, packers, loaders)
8. What do you like best about your job now? - expat life. No need to pay for rent, driver or maid.... making me a lazy bum. Sucks when maid is sick or away.....getting too dependent on others to do household chores!