Reality

My first bachelor degree final exam result has been out. Well, as expected I didn't get an A for Discrete Math (someone is going to owe me a meal), but overall the result is not too bad. The cruel reality I have to accept is my close friend will leave me to continue his new career. I "lost" more and more friends since Foundation Studies ended, now is another one... *sob*

Something Info to Share

Being too bored this afternoon, I grabbed Just English Magazine from my sister's book shelf to quench my thirst for knowledge info. This is Vol 4, Issue 4, sorry I can't tell whether it is the latest issue (Thanks to the great indexing). Compared to the issues I read two years ago, I found there is a quantum leap in the language used and content in the magazine. Okay, cut the crap, let me go to the main topic today which I would like to share.

Besides keeping us warmer in winter and making us to sleep better, Cocoa can actually help battle high blood pressure as effectively as drugs prescribed to hypertension patients; and indirectly reduce the chance of getting a heart attack and a stroke.

There is a hot spring named Sungai Klah or Tambun Hot Springs in Ipoh, or precisely located somewhere 30-minute-drive from Ipoh town. At a stone's throw away, we can make ourselves an adventurous day in a park where there are flying-fox, abseiling, rock-climbing, white-water rafting and high-rope courses.

Aeroplane is the most hazardous mode of transport for climate change as an-hour-flight emits carbon dioxide as much as carbon emission from a few thousands miles driving (almost a year)! So the advice to those rich people, try to use car, train or bus instead if the journey is reasonably within short distance.

Manual cars and driving within the speed in the lowest gear possible can help reduce the consumption of petrol. So we can save money and environment at the same time. One stone, two birds. =) So dudes, please try not to drift so often (I was told drifting is using a high gear while making a corner turn).

The above two is categorized as ecodriving (new term learned today).

Find this rather interesting and meaningful while I was browsing through blogs:

"As long as there is poverty in the world,

I can never be rich, even if I have a billion dollars.

As long as diseases are rampant and millions of people in this world cannot expect to live more than twenty-eight or thirty years,

I can never be totally healthy, even if I just got a clean bill of health from the Mayo clinic.

I can never be what I ought to be, until you are what you ought to be.

This is the way our world was made.

No individual or nation can stand out boasting of being independent,

we are interdependent."

=taken from Sae-Rom=

Fireworks

Heard a continuum of fireworks blaring in the sky. Suddenly a pang of mix feelings surges through my body... I still remember December 31, 2006; I didn't go out countdowning, instead, I was doing asssignment while embracing the new year with friends on msn. Really miss those moments... Nostalgia when look back those days when we chatted, played, studied, shopped, etc.

Is there still way back?

Anyway Selamat Hari Raya!!!

Salt Crystal Lamp

My mum bought this a few months ago. Since I am free recently, I dig out some info regarding salt crystal lamp. Do you believe this bloody ordinary salt will actually benefit us so stupendously?

To my amaze, this lamp has to be switched on 24 hours ceaselessly. If it were ever switched off for a short period, it would start sweating which I don't understand the underlying reason. Supposely things melt when they are heated but salt crystal lamp is just to the contrary.

If you are interested, this is the history of it.

Being conned =.=

I went shopping with mum at Econsave Hypermarket just now to buy some daily necessities and food for next week BBQ party.

My mum was so excited (as usual =.=) seeing the Protext Shower Foam Refill Pack cost only RM6.90 each. She was still unsure whether it was a regular or small pack, so she approached the sales assistant to clarify it. The sales assistant said it was regular pack and it was now at promotion price. So my mum bought ten packs at once! =.=

My mum was so happy and told my dad when we reached home (as usual =.= to show how she is good in saving money). We all were so happy until I checked the receipt. To my horror and dismay, the Protext Shower Foam Refill Pack cost RM 8.50 each!!!! Equivalently, we lost RM26!!! To make things worse, we forgot to claim two plates given free after buying two sets of toothpaste.

What a sad day!!! I insisted to make a complaint but my mum strongly disallowed me to do so, she didn't want to arise so many issues (as usual =.= don't have consumerism awareness at all)...

*Sigh* I should check the receipt on the spot like what I did usually, but my mum told me not to check as it was not crowded today, it was impossible there would be any human caressless error.

This incident gives me a reminder to be careful next time not to believe the the price tag but to check it at price check checkpoint. =.=" But it is such a big hassle to check everything, isn't it! >.<

p/s: feeling now -- angry at myself!!!

Luxurious Night

I was so tired and half dead after a few hours of Genting Highlands outing, as I was having flu that time. I hoped to go back home immediately but was dragged to have dinner at Manjalara, Kepong on the way back to PJ. I would be regret for the rest of my life if I didn’t go D’ Fortune at Manjalara, Kepong.

D' Fortune

I went to the washroom straight I stepped into the restaurant. It was clean and nice. There was some motivation sentences written on a cardboard pasted on the wall too.

The motivation

Looking and looking through the menu, I still couldn’t make a decision as I had no appetite at all. Also, I was still greatly affected after eating at izzi. At last I ordered Spaghetti Bolognese and Banana Split (my favourite and surely I’ll order whenever I see it on menu). Kynne ordered Spaghetti Carbonara and a cup of espresso (if I was not mistaken) while Kelvin ordered Spaghetti Carbonara, a glass of carrot plus orange milk(Kynne recommended this ‘n’ times) and Banana Split (I think it’s his favourite too).

Seriously, honestly, truly, sincerely, both the spaghettis are beyond praise! I would use scrumptious, sumptuous, mouth-watering, delicious and palatable to describe how nice they were! I was so energetic after the meal!

The banana split was nice too though it was not the best I have ever eaten. On the other hand, the carrot plus orange milk was nice too. I couldn’t comment on the espresso as I would never touch anything with caffeine.

Spaghetti Bolognese

Spaghetti Carbonara with espresso

Carrot plus orange milk

Banana Split

As usual after paying the bill, we would check how much we had eaten and paid to the one who paid for us first. Surprisingly, D’ Fortune didn’t charge us for service! Their waitresses and waiters are much more polite than those in izzi!

As we were about to leave, Kynne suggested us to take a photo with the boss (whom he greeted as uncle as he has known the boss for a really long period). And so we took a picture with the boss; the boss is so friendly. He asked where were we from and what we ate. Afterwards, something unbelievable happened! He asked us to sit down and treated to eat and drink! He said as we came from so far (Penang @.@), we ought to eat something special! We were so full that time but had no chance to say ‘no’ at all and so we sat down. >.<

Kelvin with boss

Definitely beyond praise

Come D' Fortune, it is unbelievably NICE

The Mexican biscuit was really nice but I was too full and so I just ate one piece. However, I finished the beverage as there was lemon (good to ‘wash’ away the fat stored in my stomach)!

Mexican biscuit (I forgot the real name of it)

One Gigabyte pendrive given free with mexican biscuit?

The drink itself is honey, toppled with lemon

Lucky biscuits given free oops it's fortune cookie

After eating, we bid farewell to the boss and went back home (duh).

What a luxurious dinner!

p/s For sure if I ever have chance I’ll go D’ Fortune again to savor the sashimi of salmon (Kynne recommended this infinite times)!

September 27, 2007

As I mentioned in my previous post, we didn’t get to eat Bak Kut Teh after coming back from Malacca and Seremban. Kynne was not satisfied and on the very next morning, he smsed Kelvin to have branch in Klang. Kelvin called me at 10:30 (I was still sleeping that time) to ask me out for Bak Kut Teh. I agreed. But later when I fully woke up, I only realized I bought “Sau Pao” or “Siu Pao” whatever for my family, so I have to go back home. The “Siu Pao” cannot be stored long for your information. Thus I smsed Kelvin that I was not joining them. As usual he cajoled me to go! What happened to the "Siu Pau" afterwards? Asked Kelvin...

We found “Aeroplane” Bak Kut Teh so easily! Perhaps Shuzhen, Gin Hwa and Alan had no “yuen” with “Aeroplane”. Surprisingly, Aeroplane did sell both dry and normal Bak Kut Teh instead of dry only (according to Kynne). We ordered one dry and one normal Bak Kut Teh together with “Iron Guan Yin” Chinese tea and “Yau Char Kuai”. Both dry and normal Bak Kut Teh tasted much nicer than the one I ate before at the shop in front a chinese school.

Aeroplane BKT

Kitchen

Kitchen

Normal BKT

Dry BKT

Being a good friend, I didn’t forget about Shuzhen when I enjoyed nice food. I bought Bak Kut Teh take-away for her, Gin Hwa and Alan. *grins* They told me it was nice too.

We were so full after eating the BKT, and couldn’t try other restaurants anymore. While on the way back PJ, one of us (I had forgotten whom) suggested something crazy --- go Genting Highlands after passing BKT to Shuzhen!

For the details of Genting Highlands brief outing, go here, here and here.

Malacca Products

Tambun Biscuits available with Sambal and coffee ingredients

Normal/Original Tambun Biscuits still can't beat Tambun Biscuits from Penang

I have to eat this with a glass of water beside me! But I still recommend this for those who love spicy!

Ma Tai Sou

Durian Kuih (Jess recommended)

Lou Po Beng

External view of Green Tea Cake with Walnuts (Jess recommended)

Internal view of Green Tea Cake with Walnuts

Seriously this will be the last entry about Malacca trip >.<

Malacca Trip Review

Oops I’m still in Malacca trip mood! This is my fourth entry about Malacca trip. Leave me on my own, don’t beat me if you can’t stand me.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Malacca is such a beautiful city. She is well-dressed, wears a modest make-up and, most importantly she is humble and friendly. However, there is always no perfectness. Same applies to Malacca. With almost everything to be so perfect, its major river aka Malacca River is seriously contaminated emits offensive smell which reaches the seriousness as the stink is as bad as hell.

Malacca River with teh tarik water

The stink is unbearable

I encountered a culture shock here within the mere two-day-stay here. Malacca people sleep very early! All the shops along Jonker Street are close at 19:30! For PJ and KL or even people in my hometown, the night is still very very young at 19:30. Many people have just moved out to have their dinner, movie, shopping, and night activity.

The houses in Malacca are a bit weird. I saw a big lion head above the main gate of one of the houses. Shops in Malacca are unique too (I mentioned this before). If you say this is to attract tourists, then how about Penang, KL, and etc?

Have you seen this else where?

Food and drink there are nice in taste, look and price. I’ve savored a lot of food and drink in the two days’ time. They all don’t disappoint me. Some more I don’t need to pay for service charge to buy their smiles! The waiters or waitresses all are simply too friendly. the beverage that impressed me the most is Bali, unlike PJ, KL or PG, it was heavy with its Bali fragrance! I’m regret I don’t have the chance to try Baba-Nyonya cuisine and desserts. I will fulfill myself on the next trip.

September 26, 2007

I was the last one to wake up (as usual) >.<

It was raining cats and dogs, so though we had gotten ourselves ready, we still couldn’t go out. This was because we plan to eat ikan bakar (grilled firsh) on the surface of Malacca Straits (ship actually). *grins*

After waiting for around one hour, we checked out as it started to slow down to drizzle. We were so disappointed when we reached the place of grilled fish as there was no entry, the road was still under repair after Tsunami in year 2004. *grins* How effective the government is. We then headed to buy some Malacca products like tambun biscuits with sambal and coffee ingredients. After shopping for a while, we went for branch. As they (K, A, G, S) were bored of chicken meals (*sweat*), we ate some very normal noodles at the very normal small shop. However, the noodles tasted extraordinary delicious. They were reasonable in price as well; RM2.50 for each bowl. We continued shopping for another one hour while Kynne changed something he bought yesterday.

"Lou shoo fun" came with soup below

"Mee suah" Long live noodles

"Char kuew teow"

"Choo chap tong" Mix pork soup

Later we made our way to Ayer Keroh. First, we visited crocodile farm. It was full of many ferocious and disgusting crocodiles. Shuzhen and I were scared and felt nausea seeing those crocodiles! The wall and gate surrounded the strong, long and humongous crocodiles were low and weak. We really afraid the ferocious crocodiles would come out and ate us as their scrumptious meal as there was no single soul besides us! After 15 minutes, we quickly came out. It was really not worthwhile to pay RM5 to see those dirty crocodile in the muddy pond.

Ferocious!

How much this guy is paid to scoop water out of pond with crocodileS surrounding him?

Does crocodile have a tongue?

Next, we went to visit bee farm but there was no bee. I begged my pardon, did I say wrongly? No. There was no bee because it was not the real bee farm; it was a place selling the products of bee like honey, propolis, wax, soap and etc.

Bee Farm

We planned to go Alor Gajah to have a look of hot spring, but it was too far, so we went Seremban instead. The mission in Seremban was of course “Sau Pao”. While finding way to establish our mission, we saw one restaurant selling crocodile, deer, etc meat. Kynne was so excited as he never ate crocodile before. So we went down to have a small bowl of crocodile soup (of course with crocodile meat as well). It was really palatable! I hated eating crocodile when I was young as I was forced to eat crocodile to cure my asthma. However, after this, I love crocodile! After asking the boss where to eat “sau pao”, we made our way to the destination. The “sau pao” was not extraordinary nice but it was much better than those in KL and PJ.

Restaurant selling crocodile meat

Crocodile soup. DELICIOUS

Sau Pao

So it was time to go back PJ. Kynne suggested to have dinner of Bak Kut Teh at Klang as A, G and S never ate Klang’s well-known Bak Kut Teh. However, it turned into a nightmare! We turned round and round in Bukit Jalil area for two hours but still couldn’t find Klang! Finally, Kynne gave up, he went to Subang and from there we headed to Klang. We reached Klang at 21:30 >.Aeroplane” to eat Bak Kut Teh. Kynne said Bak Kut Teh there was very nice. At last we saw one Bak Kut Teh restaurant crowded with people, so we decided to have a try. But to our dismay, Bak Kut Teh restaurant didn’t sell Bak Kut Teh, it sold pig tail. Yuck. Somehow they all praised it, so I had a try of it. It tasted not bad. Actually it didn’t look like pig tail but fatty meat instead.

Pig tail

We reached PJ finally at 23:00.

The end of Malacca trip! Happy as I could savor so many nice food with my nice friends...

September 25, 2007 (Part 2)

Well. We checked in Hotel Melia whose rate was just RM 128 per night for family suite. After letting our legs to rest for around two hours, we went out to have our dinner. At first we planned to eat at a place name “Dragon something something”, I couldn’t remember the name; it was like Asia Café at Subang and Ming Tian at Taman Megah. However, that time was just 17:30, the stalls there hadn’t opened so we went back to Melaka Raya to eat Western Food at Continental Café. It was a grand restaurant but somehow when we went there it was empty. All of us ordered chicken chop; this was our third chicken meal!!! *grins* The chicken chop was really nice as in taste, look, portion and price!!! Each just cost us RM4.80 (actually it was on promotion, normal price is RM8++).

It looks grand from outside and inside!!!

Normal Chicken Chop

Original Chicken Chop

Black Pepper Chicken Chop (recommended)

After that we headed to Bukit Cina, hoping to buy tambun biscuits as we were told it was sold somewhere near Sam Poh Temple. But actually it was not sold there, it was sold at Jonker Street near Cheng Woon Theng Temple. I bought Indian Toothpaste at a grocery shop in front of Sam Poh Temple after being cajoled by the shopkeeper. She said it was way better than our normal toothpaste and it could make our teeth clean. Somehow I didn’t know why I believed her and I bought one from her for RM10 (more expensive than Sensodyne)!!! I felt I was stupid for being conned!!! Gin Hwa bought some curry sauce and tom yam sauce from her too. Both cost her for RM30. Actually we just went there to ask if we could park our car there as there was no parking lot available but turned up being “conned” by her.

Took this beside Sam Poh Temple. Can anyone tell me what is the meaning for these four words?

Oldest tree in Malacca according to Kynne (but I doubt it as I saw many trees with such diameter in Malacca -.-)

Being conned to buy this Indian toothpaste

After taking some photos (again, both Kynne and I were so obsessed like Kennysia, taking photos non-stop -.-), we were heading to our next destination which was Jalan Ong Kim Wee to sample satay celop, also known as lok lok. This turned out to be a nightmare, with the assistance of map, we lost our direction and went round and round for two hours! Yet we couldn’t find the shops!!! The map was not updated!!! Frustrated!!! By the time it was 21:00 and we were hungry, so we ate fried oyster somewhere at a roadside. It tasted nice according to Kynne, Gin Hwa, Alan and Shuzhen. I just ate the fried egg and one piece of oyster, so I couldn’t give much comment. I don’t like oyster actually though my whole family likes it so much, every time when we eats fried oyster, I just eat fried egg. *smile*

Our mission had yet to come to the end!!! Being unsatisfied for not eating satay celop(it is famous in Malacca and I was told I couldn’t miss it), we went to another famous restaurant for satay celop, Capitol. It was crowded with people, indeed it was full and there were customers lining outside the restaurant to wait for their turns. It took us around half an hour to reach our turns, we were so excited and happy. We went to take the food we wanted to celop and then sit at the empty table waiting for the waitress to serve us. Shuzhen, Gin Hwa and Alan said it was very delicious but for me it was normal as the sauce was a bit mild in taste and the variety lok lok available was limited. For those who haven’t sampled satay celop, let me teach you how to make it at your home. First of all, go and buy satay sauce from satay seller. Then, buy prawn, egg, sotong, sausage, kangkong, fish ball from market or hypermarket nearby your house. Put them to sticks like the normal lok lok we eat. Pour the satay sauce into your steamboat, switch on gas or power, wait till the sauce boils. Stuck in the lok lok you have made. Trust me it tastes same as the ones I ate at Malacca. Some more it will be tastier if the satay sauce is tasty and you have a wide of variety to choose. It costs you cheaper as well! So why take the trouble to travel to Malacca to eat satay celop? *evil laughs*

Capitol

Crowded

"people moutain people sea" (no pun intended)

Many celebrities had been there before

dumplings

lok lok

fish balls

soup/sauce

It's not hard to make this at home :)

kangkong

When we almost finished eating, it started to rain heavily. It made a havoc to our trip as we couldn’t continue our next mission which was grilled fish at restaurant located on ship. And so we called it a day and went back to hotel to sleep (duh)…

To be continued...