Slow Week....Bored.....

This week is kinda slow...no jobs at all, a rig had equipment problems and another is drilling at a snail pace...only 20meters in the last 24hrs. Last week here was kinda hectic...with jobs back to back...everyday. Pulled all nighters for a couple of days. From rigs to rigs. What I don't like is the jobs that happens at night. Middle of the nights, the temperature drops to 0 or 5 degrees. Not that I mind with my handy terrorist hat. LOL. But it's the wind that gets to me. The wind chill is kinda high in during the nights as winter approaches.

Well, I will be back here during the middle of winter. Hopefully I can survive, I am from a tropical climate country. And previously worked in the hottest place on earth! And now working so near Siberia! Last winter the lowest temperature recorded was a low -42!! Practically the rigs frozen. Steaming the equipment barely worked.

Another Cold Day in the Oilfields

Another day, another Tenge. Not much to do these few days, still waiting on jobs to come along. This camp I'm in has nothing much but at least the Petro Kazakhstan camp has something to offer. Every alternate day, a few of us head over to their gym to workout. Kill some time and get in shape.

There are some activities planned by the local people here...soccer, volleyball and even the occasional sauna. A little room that is usually packed. Something to look forward to after a long cold night of working. Temperature is dropping lower after a few days...a few nights ago it was around 0 degrees. Last winter was one of the worst ever in Kumkol...it was around -42. Which all the rigs have to cease operations...in such cold temperatures, the pipes and structure tend to freeze and become brittle. Steam is useless to warm them up.

Let's see what else is there to do later in the day.

Rocket Launch From Kazakhstan

Apparently I had brought along my USB cable. It was hidden somewhere in my luggage bag. Here is the video that I manage to capture with my digital camera. Removed the sound for better bandwidth. Incredible sight.

Greetings From Kazakhstan

It's been 2 weeks since I left home to come here. Smack in the middle of the 9th largest country in the world. People here are friendly though. But my base camp is place to be desired....literally. LOL.

I had to come online and post something that I have seen 20minutes ago. The most fascinating spectacle....I get to witness what you guys in Malaysia can only witness through the television screen. I was staring up in the sky in awe as our first Malaysian astronaut being catapulted to space. The rocket was launch from the west, from what I gather, the launch was only 350KM away from where I was.....it went all the way to the eastern horizon and disappeared. As it was climbing, I can see sparkling debris falling from the sky. It's just beautiful.

Now that is something that you really don't see everyday.....or your lifetime. LOL.

What a blessing to be here eh?

I took wonderful pictures and videos of it but guess what....I forgot to bring my camera USB cable....so I couldn't upload it to gloat!!!!