Now, what would you assume one of the ten most respected women in Malaysia by Her World magazine in 1998 and Finalist of the ‘Great Women of Our Time Award’ 2007 by Womens Weekly to be? A model? A star on the catwalk? A business woman perhaps? A charity figurine maybe? Norashikin Onn is simply a captain with AirAsia. Not just any captain but our very own first woman captain. And that speaks volumes for a giantess among men. Much more than perhaps any normal definition of what being a woman is all about. And this is simply one of the many stories in AirAsia, that man was truly made to fly.

Harriet Quimby was the first licensed woman pilot. And later in 1912, Harriet recharted the history books when she became the first women to fly across the English Channel. In many ways, Norashikin has simply blazed a trail of her own similar to Harriet Qimbyand AirAsia is proud to say that we were part of her life as she too has touched us in so many ways. You will often find her nowadays at the helm of the A320 planes and having obtained her FAA commercial Plot license from the States, she has indeed come some ways.

Capt. Norashikin comfortable where she's best

AirAsia is proud to present our very own first female captain and Capt. Norashikin Onn as we now have the privilege of addressing her as has a tale to tell. If ever there was a message to be passed on, it is simply that there are no skies to limit anyone and the only prejudice that exists is that you yourself is your own limitation. Capt. Norashikin has proven that in every sense that we hold our own ambitions and dreams in our own hands. And the message is simply, fly, fly and reach out for your dreams.

Capt. Norashikin has tasted setbacks and none bigger than when she was trained as Captain on ATR 72 in Toulouse in 2002. The sad fact that Aeromalaysiana, the airline to which she was attached to had to close shop due to rejected approvals from DCA Malaysia simply strengthened her resolve not to give up. It took her seven years, but here she is again, standing tall in an industry especially in this region so dominated by men that she has rewritten the history books. We are not saying that she is the last but let us take a moment to celebrate her achievement in our midst.

Ever an advocate for women sports, Capt. Norashikin has a heart to match her ambition and nothing says it better than the support she has lent for international involvement in the United Nations, the organisation of "Malaysia for Peace/World for Peace" and countless other ambassadorial work of charity and goodwill around the globe from India to South Korea. We would like to claim Capt. Norashikin as a treasure of our own but having met this wonderful person, her story I personally felt would be a beacon of inspiration for others in whatever career paths and trails that they do.

Carpe diem dear all. Seize today and make it extraordinary. Today is yours. I'm trying to live mine. I meet people like Capt. Norashikin and Tony and they simply tell me through their actions more than their words that nothing is impossible and that the skies merely outline our dreams. AirAsia says

Believe the unbelievable
Dare to dream
Never take no for an answer

So, what's your story?

"Have you seen a wall of fishes? It's so huge that all you can do is be amazed!"

That was the question that started it all. That and images of Little Mermaid and just curious about what's under the sea. Truth be told - diving will unlock another world that you never imagined. Here's a story of how I got myself started and found no way back.

Bare facts regarding Derek Tan - I can't swim (not even thread water), not very agile in water (movements in water similar in nature to a dugong struggling on land), and the only advantage I had was an inflated tummy that hopefully would be a natural float in case of an emergency.

Having said that, it must be stressed that Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines form one of the world's most beautiful coral base in the world and lies in between the natural migration paths of some of the world's most exotic sea creatures. Indonesia along has regular visits of the pre-historic sun fish (mola-mola) and half of the world's species of whales. Turtles, sharks, fishes and critters (small interesting creatures such as the mimic octopus and deadly blue ringed octopus) are just at our doorsteps. Taking up diving should be something seriously worth considering if anything about the sea intrigues you.

All smiles right before putting on all equipment. Notice my eyes shivering in fear

Diving is actually quite a safe recreational sport despite popular belief. There are various international diving associations that ensure you are properly trained before starting on your diving adventure such as PADI, NAUI, etc. Each dedicates proper methods to caring for your equipment and dealing with emergencies which is really comprehensive to the point that you are competent enough to dive on your own. Or rather your buddy.

In recreational diving, there is a buddy system that ensures you not dive alone. For obvious safety reasons, a dive buddy is also someone you can share your memories with in your dive trips. As they say, the most beautiful things in life are to be shared :)

Diving is an experience like no other similar to conquering mountains and skydiving and other adrenaline pumping activities and getting certified is the start of that adventure. Before you even think of getting set with all the equipment and jumping into the deep blue sea, all hopeful divers spend a day or two to run through the use of equipment and emergency drills in an enclosed setting, be it in a pool or a confined diving space. Only once my instructor was comfortable, did he allow us to head into open sea. My instructor was an extremely pleasant and patient chap, Nick who without I would not have even been allowed to touch any diving equipment for the safety of other humans around me.

I didin't manage to actually complete all my pool exercises and had to carry three remaining ones to Pulau Tioman. Pulau Tioman was actually an absolutely amazing location to be certified. In fact, there are so many islands in the region that you would be spoilt for choice. We arrived at the island and immediately got down to business - five dives packed into two days which was simply an experience to remember.

It was truly a nerve shattering experience suiting up in front of the clear blue ocean instead of the pool. There are two approaches to diving, be it getting to an identified diving spot via boat travel or taking a shore diving which is simply walking out from the shore to the depths. My first taste of the sea was through a shore dive and swimming out to swim was really terrifying. My instructor was really patient despite my repeated attempt to overcome my nerves to get down to the bottom. It took so many tries and it was frustrating with air running low with time.

Going down was surreal.

Tasting the water. Beginning the descent

We managed to see sea turtles and blue spotted mantas. Three in fact from the first boat dive. One was definitely like grandpa turtle measuring over a meter and close to two! We saw manta rays hiding behind corals and rock formations and fishes galore! Managed to even peek into the anemone houses of so many Nemos and bue-ish clown fish varieties!

Each dive site was unique with lots to see and you can't help but stop and admire the wonders just below the waters. We were actually kept very busy with all the safety drills in order to earn my license and it was really exciting to actually see all fishes watching us curiously for a change. We spent time hovering in a meditation stance in the water to control our breathing, learning to opearate without equipment and including removing and replacing our masks, all the while in the water!

Intorducing the world to my dive buddy! Truly it is another world under the sea. Same partner, different worlds!

Behold! The Wall of Fishies!

It was a gruelling, tiring and crazy two days but worthwhile time spent diving. Having earned my license, this can only be an exciting start to a new world of adventures. Next time, it will be just pure diving without all the drills crammed in between. If you haven't started yet or thought about diving yet, you should. AirAsia flies to so many fantastic dive sites and being an employee is simply a blessing in disguise. Thinking of exploring Sipadan next :) To all divers, share your stories and memories here! Until then, blow more bubbles!

This post is about a boy...

Well, take a good look at him. His name is Sebenaran. He is a survivor of the tsunami and was left an orphan from the tragedy. Sebenaran comes from Batam, Indonesia and lives in an orphanage. So what does Sebenaran have to do with the AirAsia story?

In fact, everything.

Sebenaran came by for a trip to our Academy at Sepang last week and he was here on a pathway of a dream. You see, since the age of seven, the only constant in his has been the fact that Sebenaran wants nothing more than to be a pilot. AirAsia was there to say, yes, like us, Sebenaran is here to tell his story, that nothing is impossible.

In this picture, seen with Sebenaran are his caretakers who made the trip from Singapore, Janet Tan Mui Hwa and Ivan Lee Yuan.

The group were down with us in Kuala Lumpur. Now, Sebenaran has never been on a plane, in fact never left Indonesia and in one day, he's been to two countries, been in two cockpits and who knows, is one step closer to living his dreams in the skies. The social media team was there to witness and maybe be a moment in his life and his dreams. This is his story.

Batch 90 was on hand at the academy to show Sebenaran some AirAsian 'hospitality'.

Sebenaran was invited to be with us here last week to have a go at most of our childhood's dream, to actually fly a plane. Upon arriving at the LCCT, he was ushered to our academy within a stone's throw away to see for himself what reaching for the skies meant. He was slightly dazed perhaps at the first flight in his life but nevertheless excited by the entire intrigue of being here and being exposed to an opportunity to live his dreams.

Sebenaran only knows a few words of English and a thread of aviation knowledge but he has never let this be an excuse for him not being able to be a pilot. He knows that financial sense is not on his side but he does not lack faith. He knows the road is long but here he is agianst all the odds, having a peek at his dreams. Standing by his side for that short glmpse at his ambition and his determination to make it a reality, we say that we are privileged to share this moment in him living his dreams.

Sebenaran before stepping into his 'dreams'. The simulator beckons.

All smiles with Gavin Andrews, the standby engineer before takeoff, we swear that Sebenaran was never nervous. In fact, he was all the while raring to go. Sebenaran took us on a ride through rain, thunderstorm, turbulence and at the end, bursting through the sunshine. Can anyone doubt that this kid will make it one day? :)

It was an experience to remember and we were glad to be the bystander in this experience. We remember Sebenaran saying and summarising it best, "Saya takut tinggi. Tapi lain kali saya nak terbang beratus-ratus nyawa dan saya tak boleh takut. Oleh itu, saya beritahu diri sendiri bahawa saya perlu berani." (I am afraid. I am afraid of heights. But if I am to fly the lives of hundreds of passengers, I can not be afraid. Because of that, I told myself that I have to be brave.) With this conviction, AirAsia says yes, we can get there together. Now, everyone can truly fly.

Social media team signing off with lots of love for Sebenaran and Batam.

Believe the unbelievable,
Dream the impossible,
Never take no for an answer.

It must be spelt out that Perth is absolutely boring. So boring that you can't help but be impressed. The pace is in a time zone of its own that you can't help but be captivated and be swayed along with the tide. Located just by Margaret river and the sea, the view is absolutely supercalifragilisticexpialidocious with the sky so blue that it had to be fake. Trust me when I had to rub my eyes a few times. The sky was so bare and huge. The stars at night simply twinkled back. If you had one long weekend to unwind, Perth is something that you ought to consider. (Disclaimer: The Blog holds no responsibility if you fall in love and decide to abandon your life to settle down in Perth)

The view of Perth from King's Park.

Was sent down to check out V-Festival during the weekend and its been a short yet fantastic trip. Stepping out of Perth Airport, the whole entourage was severely bitten by the chilly wind, otherwise known in these parts as the Fremantle Doctor. Its actually one of the most consistent wind flows in the world and things did not start well. We came to appreciate the Doctor later in the day. Perth weather is simply a love hate relationship in autumn. The wind bites you to the bone but the sun hits you hard as well. I remember having one foot on the sands of Cottesloe beach (which is just 10 minutes drive from Perth city) under the sun and the other just behind a tent. I was one foot in hell and the other in heaven. The weather is actually a good mix with fiery sun balanced with cool breeze. My take is to have sun tan and bring an extra layer wherever you go.

Just hop on a train, or ride the free city bus.

Perth city is divided by Margaret river and you can take the ferry across which is a pretty short trip of about less than 15 minutes. On either side of the river, theres simply stuff to do and sights to see. One end is the financial business district and where the hotels are. If you're into shopping, harbour point is great to visit to simply splash cash. If you want an unmatched view of the city, get on number 11 (your legs i mean) and trek up King's Park. People have picnics here and the view of the entire landscape will steal your breathe away. The city bus tour stops here as well.

Food variety is abundant and if there is one thing you must try is the Apple Struddle and oh, make that two things actually, the fish and chip at Cicerella's is simply in a class of its own. Cicerella's stands out among the competition and its located next to a brewery called Little Angels if you're into looking how beer is produced. Cicerella's is by the port and you can kick back and relax with either a gorgeous seafood platter and watch the boats come and go or have the fish fillet and bait the countless sea gulls which rest on top of your table's umbrella.

Street performances are aplenty.

The Perth Lighthouse is just nearby and they run a simulation of how they used to signal 1 pm in the ages before the radio was invented. Ships in the past had difficulty telling longtitude although latitude was fine so the lighthouse would actually shoot a cannon to indicate the time (heard not many ships sank because of this which is surprising). By the time the cannon blast could be heard however, 1 pm would have passed so the lighthouse would also drop an enormous black ball. Navigators would keep their eye on the ball to measure the exact time. The phrase 'keeping your eye on the ball' was actually born from this.

Fremantle Market is one of the coolest markets I've visited. Great stuff to buy. Fremantle pies are really one of the best.

Take the ferry across the east side and visit the Perth Zoo if you'd like. This part is also where Cottesloe beach is. Locals and tourists hang out on the beach and enjoy gelato ice creams. Another point to note is that gelatos in Perth is another wonder on any afternoon. Theres a wave/tide breaker that really keeps the incoming waves calm and plays continuous sea music to your ears. Locals and tourists seem to like this beach a lot as theres plenty to do on a beach with great weather.

Cottesloe Beach bustling with activity.

Perth town itself isn't huge but the mystic lies beyond the walls of the town and beyond. To the north, theres the animal sanctuary where you can opt to hop with the kangaroos or hug a koala. Its roughly 25 minutes from the city. Great to get in touch with widlife on a personal basis. There are countless wineries up north and down south of Perth. These visits could last an entire day.

V-Festival was simply the icing on the cake for a great trip. The Clairemont Field was enormous and the atmosphere was 'elektrikifying' with Perth all ready to rock the set. We were snuck into the VIP backstage and I was sipping drinks with the artists which was too crazy to believe. They look so normal and laid back in reality. V-Festival which is in its third year is a strange beast that seems to be getting better with time- it tries to be a lot of things to appeal to as many people as possible - the mainstream crowd (The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs), the slightly older crowd (nostalgic acts which included the heritage bands of Madness and the Human League), the indie hipsters (The Kills, M83) and everyone in between. It was the total ecletic mix of upcoming Aussie bands and the current hot superstars like Duffy.

There were four stages, aptly named This Stage, That Stage, The Other Stage and the Virgin Mobile Stage and most ran at the same time and the production was simply awesome. There were standout performances and the equal mix of lackadaisal shows. Could see that the organisers dumped a lot of cash in this corporate festival to give people their money's worth in terms of production. Duffy was the first to set the stage on fire earlier in the afternoon which drew the first crowd with her hit single "Rain on your parade". The rest that followed was simply a roller coaster ride with non stop familiar hits blasting throughout the night. My personal favourite among the line-up would have to be Snow Patrol. They had great stage presence, got the crowd involved early and their songs were great. Just couldn't stand them dedicating each song to every band/performer before them. Everyone was hyped and we were in for a party. Too bad the festival was only for 18 and above.

The band everyone seemed to be really geared up for was the Killers. From the start go, people were really into it. Belting out hits by hits from Somebody Told Me to Bling and Spaceman, it was simply an experience to be remembered with people singing along and just getting into the entire episode. Are We Human or Are We Dancer was huge and go people really crazy. We rocked on as well but had to leave early before the concert curfew at 10.30pm.

Had to catch an early flight to be back in the office which was a bummer but all good things had to come to an end (I'm still asking myself why though). The flight back was on schedule and it was pleasant although I was hoping for free food. Had to pay for Bruce's BBQ chicken but it was heartwarming and an excellent finale to a great holiday. Am so paying for the trip and countless nights of inadequate night right now.

Now, people and friends have endlessly questioned me if

1) Was I ALWAYS bald?

I have been asked this question too many times and in the words of a certain politician, "I will tell All!"

It must first be stated that I was not always bald.

See, see. I had LOTSA hair (technically this counts as I was 6)

As evident in 2005, guess what, I still had hair. So when did 'it' happen?

In 2007, I definitely 'became' the way of baldness and entered the realm of coolness.

2) The million dollar question actually is, WHY am I still bald?

That my friends is for me to know and for you to find out. By you its specifically for you Riki, take up this challenge and blog! Yeah and to the rest of the world to guess.

I have a few theories and please feel free to guess by dropping comments.

Theorem Numero Uno: I am actually a secret hero and the bald head helps with quickly putting on a mask. The baldness was a result of radiation suffering where I gained super powers of being brave enough to wear my underwear on the outside. I only save damsels in distress and rodents (I'm born in the year of the rat) on Mondays when I can ponteng (play truant at) work and public holidays

Second Theory of Baldness: I am actually undergoing mental damage observation and a clean shaven head allows doctors to get a quick look in case I act weird. This also explains why I tend to drive in a figure 8 in lonely roads and chase my colleagues like the coyote in road runner. I have also been reported to be seen munching my toes and speaking in reverse tibetan while injuring myself with a stick yelling "pinata! pinata!".

Trifecta Theory: I'm simply too lazy to maintain a 'proper' hairstyle and can't be bothered about how I look. I prefer to be a hippie and chase butterflies around the airport instead of writing press releases. And I would very much appreciate that extra 10 minutes of my life still in bed while you hassle about your hair!

So, whats it going to be? Option number 1, 2 or 3? And who feels that Riki should blog and tell us why am I bald?