Baaack and hope to staaaaay

Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaacky and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay Baaack and hope to staaaaay

Continental Breakfast at Hyatt, Kuantan Pahang or Hoi Yin ..

And there we were. Checked in the luxurious Club Rooms (but no seaview since that would be additional charge of RM160. *Blek*).

Free Continental Breakfast, NOT International buffet spread. I do wonder why.

Continental brekkie makes up of quite boring stuff. Y'know, a variety of cereals, croissants, buns, dry cookies, gimme Asian anytime. Only excitable possible artery choking stuff would a variety of cheeses which this Cina-moi does not know how to appreciate. Close to that was the the thin slices of roast beef. Butter? Unsalted, ok. What is a Nasi Lemak fan to do?

Stack those up in between toasted brown bread with smoked turkey, smoked salmon, salad greens with a healthy dose of herbs and nuts then chomp chomp chomp. Oya, dip that in half boiled eggs .. sadly mine came lumpy. BUT shake some pepper and ... soya sauce,my 1st holiday breakfast of that trip was saved.

The following morning, an unanimous vote was to spend for our breakfast. Walked out, cross a quiet street and there stood this.Yummy thick Curry Noodles Kuantan style! Generous portions of partially cooked cockles, slices of boiled chicken, fried beancurd, pieces of fish cakes and err.. fish balls (?). Price : RM4.50 per bowl (I think).

By the way, know what's the crowd like early morning around the beach and the unopened stalls? But of course that did not stop city folks from doing this!If only workdays start like this. *sigh*

Weekend at Kuantan, Pahang

Who needs friends?

I do!

I need friends with the capability to score discount vouchers for more than a couple-starred hotel getaways!

And being needy pays. *arms in pumping action*

Last weekend, 6 of us broke away from the concrete jungle to drive 3 hours to bask in some sun, sea and sleep(?).

Look at that. Ahhh smack right in Kuantan, the capital of Pahang, lies beautiful Teluk Chempedak. Ahhh..

What's your checklist for a rejuvenating weekend getaway?

Mine's simple. Just:-

1. Calm breezy ocean
2. Minimal human traffic (except for own friends, quiet or otherwise, of course)
3. Free flow of happy drinks (beer, wine of both colours, mean cocktails)
4. Full trays of a wide variety of prettily arranged finger food
5. A comfy room

Hard working people sure needs more of these. To maintain sanity.

Specially Dedicated to all My Countrymen

Long time no post. My Procrastination Tree is just getting healthier and more densed by the day (make that hour).

You may have noticed my small effort to call you from my sidebar, yes you dearest Malaysian, to exercise your right. The RIGHT TO VOTE that is.

Today, due to a matter of utter importance, I took a mighty swing of my miniscule axe to chop off a branch so as to bringforth an urgent message from here :-

Voice For Choice EPIC effort to register 2 million voters takes off this weekend

I’ll say it again.

It is the optimism and the seemingly boundless energy of the beautiful youth of this nation that is going to make the difference.

As the Election Commission drags its feet in making any reaL effort to get to and register the as yet unregistered 5 million unregistered voters most of whom are aged 30 and below, some extraordinary young people intent on impacting the community have committed themselves to go to the ground and register 2 million voters over the next twelve months.

Herculean task?

Not for those who ask in faith, and then match that faith with selfless work.

The Voice For Choice initiative launches on the 3rd & 4th of April, 2010 at the following three venues :

Subang Parade
Amcorp Mall
Cineleisure, Kota Damansara

The organisers inform me that whilst the launch, like the initiative as a whole, is intended to be fun-filled, the business of the day is still getting people registered so that they can do their civic duty of voiceing their choice of government through the ballot come the next General Election.

Voter registration booths will be open at all three venues abovementioned on both dates, from 10 am – 10 pm.

Reproduced below is an explanatory note of the organisers of this awesome initiative.
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First things first, to clear all doubts and suspicion, neither EPIC for UNITY or Voice your Choice are tools of any political party. We are strictly non-partisan and not affiliated with any political parties. We have found out that many people cannot comprehend this but YES, we are SINCERELY doing this because we realize as youths we need to take up our responsibility to make our nation something we can all be proud of. Nation development is rather tricky and even though we youths are anxious to make a difference we dare not say we can do it without the wiser more experienced generation. Therefore, all who have asked if there is an age limit or if you are TOO OLD? The answer is NO there is no age limit to dreams.

Voice you Choice is created by youths for ALL Malaysians

This is what it is all about…

This is not about PR or BN or any political parties

This is not about overthrowing the government

This is where corporate and political rivals can work together to meet a common need

This is where our faiths unite regardless of religion

This is about uniting all Malaysians for Malaysia

This is where we obtain the peace that comes from within and is not driven by our environment or circumstance.

Peace is with those who can wake up every morning knowing they have done everything to the best of their abilities in making this country a better place.

This is about conquering ourselves, finding our voice and believing that it counts, only then can we know that this government, nation and world will be cured of the diseases that plague it.

This is about using a new yard stick to measure another fellow human, not by his race, status, and profession or academic achievement, but by the same believe that we want a better future and Equality for all.

The marker of success will be met when we successfully organize ourselves as one people, as organizations, and individuals. When we hit the 2 million mark, only then do we know that we have conquered our past and became one Rakyat.

We learn from our past but are never haunted by it. We are dedicated and committed to using our present to shape our future. Join us!

tummythoz : Am darn proud to say I have registered AND voted loongggg time ago. Then again, some things are never too late to do!!

Good Name for a Foodcourt?

When things come to a critical point to be settled, they come with friends, family members, peers, colleagues well almost every Ah Kow, Arumugam and Ali (together with their wives, no doubt) one least expected.

Yes, being bogged down with deadlines from all corners of my life. The unmistaken fruit from my massive Procastination Tree.

*sigh*

But everyone has to breathe. Here's a quickie.Definition of CHOW

noun
Something fit to be eaten: aliment, bread, comestible, diet, edible, esculent, fare, food, foodstuff, meat, nourishment, nurture, nutriment, nutrition, pabulum, pap, provender, provision (used in plural), sustenance, victual. Slang eats, grub. Ingestion.

verb
To take (food) into the body as nourishment: consume, devour, eat, fare, ingest, partake. Idioms: break bread, havetakea bite. See ingestion.

But in a bustling capital city of Kuala Lumpur where Cantonese dialect is widely spoken, the word sounds like ..

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Why don't you tell me? ;D

Toilet post#35

Obviously, another Beijing post.

Trivia: Bags go through scanners entering the Square. Heck, bags go through plenty of scanners throughout the city especially when travelling its subway system (only RMB2 to anywhere) and visiting the National Monuments. Any weaker bag could ooze green glob or start growing spidey bristles.

NO toilet facilities within the Square.

Trivia: The young guards stationed rigidly around the Square regards 'where's the toilet' question to be below them.

One has to exit the Square vide the underground tunnel and cross the road to get to the nearest public toilet.

Here. Just opposite this.

Trivia: Since you're already opposite the Square, locate the post office. Buy a postcard some stamps and mail it from there. The Tiananmen Square postmark is a great souvenir.

Not to worry. Toilet just a tad shabby but cleanliness level gets an A for Agreeable.

Trivia: The moderately hyped about daily evening changing of guards between the Square and the Imperial Palace across the road does not justify an hour and a half wait. Nevertheless, the light up of the Palace and Square may appeal to some.

A Roarrrring Grrreat Chinese New Year, everyone!

Note: NOT Maybank Berhad but initials of a delicious hic-hic-hic malt drink brewery in Laos.

Dong Lai Shun Muslim Restaurant, Wangfujing Street, Beijing China

Another fine lucky day, friend of a friend who treated us here brought us to another tourist food haunt along the busy shoppers street, Wangfujing.

Steamboats do not exactly make my saliva drool especially in hot weather and summer in China fries eggs still in shells (not scientifically proven). However, she insisted. It'll be different from what we usually have in Malaysia, she said.

Again it was a extravagantly decorated restaurant. With cool air-conditioners. Phew. Tables near, seatings were tight. No wonder the waiting staff (men) were all of a certain standard size - petite.

First up, these were served. Sesame paste in a bowl, chilli oil in a small pouring can, minced garlic and fresh spring onions in a sauce plate.

Mix everything up and it's ready for dipping or dunking (immersed the food wholly into it) as most locals do. While waiting for the pot of soup to boil, we each had a Stick of Spicy Barbequed Lamb. DO NOT MISS ORDERING this wherever it's available in China. We did it by the roadside, in shop in restaurant and all had been delicious in their own way.No fishballs, no porkballs, no seafood, oh no!

Instead we had:-
Some kind of Noodles similar to our Laksa Noodles in Malaysia,Some type of Compressed Beancurd,Some type of Elongated Beancurd (this we liked a lot!)Some Cabbage and Local Greens which had a distinctive raw green taste (if that means anything to you)Thinly sliced Marbled Beef. Woohoo jackpot! Especially when 1 of us does not take moo-moo,and finally something I can properly name, Golden Needle Mushrooms.The spread may not be varied but we were full especially when everything went with the fragrant but very filling (kinda like 'jelak' or 'chai') sesame sauce.

All went very well with the hot soup, infused with Chinese Herbs boiling away in an interesting copper pot.Looking at the herbs left in it, think it can be easily replicated at home... if one can recognise them.And yet again, friend of a friend in the 17 million Beijing population settled the bill and refused to let us share. Such friend of friend is such a keeper. =P

Note: Chinese do not steamboat like Malaysians. The ingredients go in and out one by one, not everything goes in at one go and taken out together - rojak style - as we do over here.

I may not have the address on hand but once you are on that street, its elaborate doorway and bright lights will practically jump at you.By the time we left the restaurant, it was already nightfall and the huge crowds were drawn to a night market nearby. We shoved out way there too and that's a post for another day.

*Both hands waving*

Yup yup yup, I'm back back back but sad sad sad the lazy bugs are still stuck stuck stuck. Nothing wrong with my keyboard nor your eyes. Just felt like repeating.

Just checking in to convey the following:-

A Happy Thaipusam to all celebrating

and

a Happy Holiday wish to all who work on Saturdays!

And lastly but NEVER least,

a very Happy Monday Holiday to all Kuala Lumpur labourers

(including moi)!

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

UP up and Away (again) YAHOO!

AirAsia - Now Everyone Can Fly
My Itinerary

Booking Date Thursday, 14 May 2009

FLIGHT DETAILS

Depart
Kuala Lumpur LCd (KUL) to Vientiane (VTE)
Economy Promo
Tuesday, 19 Jan 2010 Flight AK 612
Depart Kuala Lumpur International Airport(LCC Terminal) (KUL) at 08:05
Arrive in Wattay International Airport (VTE) at 09:40

Total Amount 811.00 MYR

Return
Vientiane (VTE) to Kuala Lumpur Ld (KUL)
Economy Promo
Saturday, 23 Jan 2010 Flight AK 613
Depart Wattay International Airport (VTE) at 10:05
Arrive in Kuala Lumpur International Airport(LCC Terminal) (KUL) at 13:40

Administration Fee 185.50 MYR
Airport Tax 175.00 MYR
7 Guests

Supersize Regular (Up to 15kg) 20.00 MYR

Total Amount 811.00 MYR

WISHING ALL MANY MORE HAPPY HOLIDAYS in THE BRAND NEW YEAR!

De Fa Chang Restaurant and oh ya, Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an, China

There. The figures alleged by legend to be real soldiers, buried with Emperor Qin so that they can defend him from any dangers in his afterlife. Widely pitted as the Eighth Wonder of The World.

With that out of the way, back to food.

One of the oldest and best restaurants within the walled city is located between 2 other historical buildings - The Drum Tower on the same row and The Clock Tower (doubling up a roundabout in a busy intersection) opposite it.

Everyone that's someone who had been led by locals and tourguides alike opined that this is a not to be missed restaurant and so, there we were for early lunch to beat the crowd.

Spicy Grilled Lamb Sticks. Just as good as those sold by the roadside but thinner meat on wider sticks. Served at room temperature but we requested the sticks to be reheated. They did. Yay!

In my previous post, I mentioned it's the baking summer in China so naturally the food choice cannot be without the dreaded (that's just me) Cold Dishes. But wait, the Savoury Cuttlefish is finger licking good!The rest are mostly Greens or Mushrooms tossed in oil, sesame seeds with an occasional shake of chili flakes.

Rice ('mi-fan' in Mandarin) is available but it seems to be more of a norm to have Steamed Dumplings ('mantou'). The flour is a bit on the dry side but both Shrimp Meat and Pork with Chives fillings were tasty.They do serve a kind of hot soup free of charge. Quite tasteless and we could not understand the waitress's descriptions of what ingredients went into it. The local dialect is different from our Malaysian spoken Mandarin and so are the names given for many things.

There were various sauces available on every table. Chili flakes, chili oil, chili sauce, vinegar. Garlic? Request from a serving staff and plonk, you're promptly served this:-

No, I kid you not. No, the staff was not being rude. It's just how they serve garlic. Not minced like in Malaysia but patrons are expected to peel the cloves and bite like one would a grape!

A healthy refeshing thrist quencher, Celery with Cucumber Juice (hold the sugar).

Note on the payment system in this restaurant.:

1) Order and pay for the steamed dumplings at the food counter. A receipt is issued to alert the serving staff to serve you once the dumplings are done.

2) For the cold dishes, they are pushed around in carts going from table to table (like how dimsum is served).Chose and pay upon delivery. And that's the excuse for me not being sure of the total price we paid. Nevertheless, it can be safely concluded that it was very reasonable as we did go again 2 days later.

Location: Right smack in the middle of the walled city where the famed Clock Tower and Drum Tower stands.

The 'cold' treatment towards Xi'an's World Heritage site and sight reflects my disappointment. There are those wise (bet they are ancient and wrinkled) chaps who would sing I did not do the research thoroughly. I was looking forward to do the old Bollywood moves (prance around, play hide & seek) among the Terracotta Warriors & Horses AND photograph standing BESIDE the statues!Hey, ticket was not cheap, k. AND it was a very long incinerated walk from the ticket booths to the gate and from the gate to another gate and another gate then to the final gate where they check the tickets. Easy to melt ones are strongly advised to take the tram. Just pay more.*sigh* Spoken like a true NON history buff, obviously.