UPDATES!

After missing in action for quite a while, we're back into action with a few updates.

1. Delegation postponed to 20th - 26th of May 2010. [all related parties notified]

2. 15 seats on AirAsia on the 20th and 26th secured. [deposit paid]

 We'll be leaving to Perth on 20th of May 2010 regardless of rain, snow, storm or sun. WOOOOHOO! 

From the initial summer plan, we can now shift our attention to autumn. It's in between the autumn and winter, so keep all the thin clothes away! Bring your sweaters, jackets and what-so-ever. It wont be freezing cold, but still cold. (colder than Genting Highlands)

We'll still visit UWA and other universities as proposed in the initial paper work. The budget is still as before. The delegates are still as before. Perth will be as beautiful as before too!

*CHEERS!* I'm getting (over) excited. Are you?  :D

POSTPONED

We had finally decided to postpone the delegation.

We had thorough discussion before deciding to postpone it.

The reasons include:

1. Insufficient fund. We had failed in the bid for a trade site for UTM's convocation festival ("Pesta Konvo"). We failed to get funds from the public too. Fundraising has not worked out that effectively. Postponing the delegation means more time to raise fund.
2. Delegates have agreed to make DELTA'10 (shall be re-named to DELTA'11) a delegation-cum-graduation-vacation.
3. We have come up with more fundraising activities, but requires more time to implement it.

We tried our best to make DELTA'10 happen, but it didnt work.

Note for delegates: You didnt failed. It happened that it just that we found ways didnt work. We are now stepping forward towards success.

DELTA'10: My Tourism Lecture Class

Dr Ng Yen Yen’s visit to Australia had inspired me to work even harder for DELTA’10. How about us help promoting Malaysia during our delegation? How’s that my dear delegates?

Well, it was always one of my plan to promote Malaysia during the delegation. However, as I mentioned in one of the previous post, it will be a great challenge for us. To make promote-Malaysia a reality, a thorough understanding about Malaysia is important. 

Undoubted, we live in Malaysia, speak Malaysian language (with the ‘lah’), eat various types of food, and many other things of Malaysian style. I have yet to explain what is ‘ketupat’, I have never been asked to describe ‘satay’ and snot at all need to give details about ‘nasi lemak’. I started to feel that it’s important to study and understand Malaysia deeply before leaving for the delegation.

 If we were to take the challenge, we’ll help Tourism Ministry’s new wishes to attract more visitors from Australia. More importantly, the delegates will be able to expose themselves to the emerging tourism in Australia. This will help the delegates to understand the different practices of Australia and develop more similar practices in Malaysia. I really believe that DELTA’10 will benefits the delegates and nations. These experience is in fact essential for our management students to be utilized in their future undertakings.

I’m sure the delegates are ready to share and spread the spirit of inspiring creative and innovative minds.

"Are you ready?"

My Malaysia

It's 29th of August which means fews days from Malaysia's National Day.

I'm truly proud to be Malaysian. 

I love the food, culture, people, weather, place, etc

Besides, I truly admire Malaysia Airlines' effort in promoting "MH: Malaysian Hospitality". Instead of promoting how great the airline is, Malaysia Airlines has grab the chance to promote the culture and people of Malaysia. This marketing plan is brilliant. Promote Malaysia and promote the Airline at the same time. By attracting people to Malaysia means more to fly with Malaysia Airlines.Another proud Malaysian brand would be the Proton. Being the national car maker, I truly appreciate their effort in making Malaysia one international competence country. I really excited towards the latest development of Proton which is the Proton Emas. A car which is more like a machine that is environment friendly and beautiful. It's outlook is gorgeous and I think 2012 is too long for its release. I cant wait to see Proton Emas driven on the road!

Other than these gigantic Malaysian brands, there are many many more to talk about. I was more than surprised when i realized that many excellent brands out there are actually Malaysian brands. Just to name some: Padini Co., Bonia, Munchy's, AirAsia, Marrybrown and so on.

Happy Birthday Malaysia and i'm proud to be part of Malaysia.

"TERIMA KASIH MALAYSIA"

See, Feel, and Play Differently

I was more than inspired to the talk I attended today. It was a talk on Web 2.0 and Tourism.

I was exposed to Web 2.0 early of this semester by Dr Nana during E-marketing lecture. It was new to me and I did not realize the change from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0. More excitement, the Web 3.0 is said to be coming.

I spent some time thinking about the possible future of Internet but couldn't find a definite/creative answer to that. It was then discussed in lecture classes regarding the future of Web 3.0 that I realized my thoughts are narrow and have yet to see the wide world. I really hope and i do believe it will that DELTA'10 is a opportunity to learn more than play. To travel is one thing but to learn while playing is one great thing.

I was made realized that consumers are not just changing but they have changed. Consumers now are bombarded with a lot of information and are in a situation that 80% of the emails they receive daily are spams. Consumers now do not believe to just information from marketers. User reviews are playing an important in influencing other consumers.

Web 2.0 is not about email marketing. Sending promotions to consumers via email/sms may more probably ignored by them. Marketers are expected to make use of the opportunities in social networking. However, it is not just about having an online presence. Web 2.0 is a tool that is made up of many little pieces. 

 Today's speech truly influenced me to do a little thinking. I wonder how it affect others. Undoubted, it's another opportunity to see the no-boundaries world.

 

I'm definitely getting excited towards what I will see from DELTA'10

The battle begins!

All approval letters completed after more than 2 months waiting for them to be done. We finally have all the letters and it's time to seek financial assistance to fund our expenses for the programme.

I strongly believe that the whole progress from planning, preparing and during the programme itself are challenges to all delegates. We have tight budget and many things to prepare before and after the event.

Before:

Getting the funds. How are we doing it?

- get contributions from public

- start some small business during University's Convocation ceremony ("Pesta Konvo")

- Corporate entities can request for mini research/ mini website reviews from us. Reviews will be done with the advice from coordinating officer. And in return, financial contribution from the entities.

Prepare accommodation, transportations and food for delegates. How are we doing it?

- we reviewed and compared price with numerous tour agents (even during recent MATTA fair). However, they are pretty costly to take their offers.

- we contacted our lecturers pursuing their studies in Perth. She provided us with some suggestions.

- we contacted a postgraduate association in Perth and they're willing to assist us with some arrangement. However, we are still waiting for their confirmation of the budget.

- we're trying our best to get the lowest fare for the flights but we do not have fund to pay. That's a problem. :'(

During:

Challenges: cultural exchange with the locals. How?

- we are Malaysian. No doubt. But to carry the name of UTM and Malaysia as a whole is a burden. When you are asked to describe Malaysian culture for instance, it may be tough sometimes as we do not describe Malaysian culture in Malaysia. Or when you are asked to describe satay, how to do it? That's the challenge.

- cultural shock. Most of the delegates have never step out of Malaysia to a place like Australia. Some of them may had traveled to the neighboring countries but the culture over there are some or rather similar to Malaysia. 

After:

- Sharing. This is something I think important to delegates. After you gained the experience, share it with your coursemates, friends, families and may be your employers. Many will think GOP is nothing but a tour programme, but we know it best. The sweat and tears before, during and after the programme are challenges. 

- Change yourself. Tell others how you see the world in different perspective and how it change you! Going to a place where language, people and culture is an experience i tag as extraordinary. Every time i come from a place (local/international), spare some time to review the journey. Look at what other people in the world are doing. For the good things we see, learn and change yourself. For those unfortunate things you see, be grateful that you live in a fine country, be thankful to God and pray for the unfortunate things to be better.

- Lastly, urge more students to take part in GOP!

Thanks to UTM's GOP the students are now given a chance to be global ready students.

Countdown

07 August 2010 means 120 days until DELTA '10.

 It could be too early for a countdown but a date I personally considered as important. It marks the days left before the actual adventure. However, the adventure begins a while ago when we started the proposal for the programme. Now, the challenge is to get enough sponsors to fund our programme expenses. 

 Is 120 days more than enough or it’s out of time?

Tick Tock Tick Tock. Time's ticking and we need strength and unity to make DELTA'10 a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

 “OUR AUSSIE ADVENTURE BEGINS NOW!”