Sep
13
Thanks to Mr.1K that offered to bring us round Muar on the way to Yun’s wedding at Batu Pahat. I thought I have been to Muar before as the town looks familiar, at least I remember the bridge but I just couldn’t recall when and why I was there! Ahh.. my memory going down the drain!
Mr.1K brought us to taste the scrumptious food rojak and the cooling desserts that was so appetizing after a long 2 hour ride from KL! Yum yum.. =) 
The place is at Jeti Tanjung Muar Emas by the Muar river (I believe) and it was quite a big park with many local visitors!
We strolled along the river, took some pictures and analysing the pretty strangers that hold hand, trying to sort out the relationship of 2 girls and a guy. Yeah, it’s pretty complex when 3 of them were holding hand together!
After that, Mr.1K bought us some famous superlicious otak-otak, prawn and fish flavours! Due to our greediness, I forgot to take pics of it! But it was really yummy!
After that, we continued the journey to Batu Pahat and I have to put on my make up in the bumpy ride car. =)
Sep
9
Matta Fair Sept 2008 Super Deal!!!
Filed Under travel, happy, me, life | 21 Comments
More hapi stuffs happened to me on Friday! I felt that I am on top of the wheel of life. Sometimes you are on top and sometimes you are at the bottom.
Seeing the dentist gave me another reason to be very happy about. Something that I have waited for quite some time and impatiently! (^.^)
And about MATTA fair, though it is a challenging one, I do savour satisfaction from it at the end of the day after five hours of battling the crowd and scouring for the best deals ever!
To Huei, do STOP reading or else I can’t stop you from going to the Matta Fair! Don’t blame me! =D
I know what I want before I went to the Matta fair; which was to get a Bali Package and a local package (either Langkawi or Cameron Highland for my family trip which I couldn’t much recall we ever have one except the time we were kiddos).
And the Bali and Langkawi packages I got. And additional packages to Bangkok and Hangzhou/Shanghai/Suzhou/Wuxi! And it’s cheap, cheap, cheap!!!
I booked a Go-Go-Combo ground packages to 3 countries at only RM499 per pax (of course not including those tipping, insurance and visa) and it is valid till next December 2009 from HwaJing Travel & Tours. NO KIDDING!!!
(They have limited of 500 combos and by the time I booked at around 4pm, more than 200 has been sold!)
First destination is of course to Bali, a 3D/2N free and easy with half day city tour at quite cool hotels. Second destination is Bangkok, also the same 3D/2N free and easy and half day city tour! I have found another reason to go splurging there! Muaahhahahaa…
The third destination is to Hangzhou/Shanghai/Suzhou which is 5 days full board tour package! Not free & easy!!! Yupeee~ I found from other tour company, the cheapest I could find with surcharges is about RM550 and some are even at 700 (excluding flights)!
I thought my father wanna go to those places in China as I asked him the very morning but actually he was telling me that he has been there. Yeah, communication breakdown do happens between father and daughter. So, I guess it will be the first trip for me and my mum. Ahh.. pretty nervous when I think of that!
And the Langkawi package is per person for 3D/2N with stay at Hotel Helang and 24 hours car usage as well as Firefly flight tickets (including taxes & stuffs) at RM376 per pax. Quite a good deal, eh?
Total damage is about RM2504 for four trips~ (^.^)
Oh, I love Matta Fair, don’t you!?!
Jun
4
Down South..
Filed Under travel | 13 Comments
And yes, I made it to Singapore last weekend!!! The last visit I had before this trip was 3 years back where I went frequently mostly for business purposes.
I was happy that both my KL best friend got along well with my Sg best friend and I heaved a big sigh of relief. It was always stressful for me to go out together with people that had only me as a common friend among them.
As usual, I always had a little issue making friends as I always clammed up like a shell when meeting people for the first time (sometimes even on the 2nd or 3rd time). But SS friends are pretty friendly and made an effort to ‘entertain’ me which eventually made me felt quite relax (even if it is after a couple of hours).
But I was still labelled as shy to them. Socializing is just not my cup of tea. (=.=)” Especially when you have 5 ugly pimples on your cheek (which so rarely happen) with ugly gap between your front teeth (which you can’t help but thinking that they are staring at it, yes paranoid) and lousiest hairstyle you ever have (man, I started to dislike my short hair!)
I would say the shopping experience wasn’t as fruitful as I wanted it to be; only a pair of shoes and a simple top. We visited Orchard, Vivo city, Bugis Street and Chinatown. Nevertheless I had a different experience in Sg like I never had before. Stepping into those ultra luxury shops that I did not had both the courage and desire to do so before this; LV, Burberry, Gucci, etc.
And it really opened my eyes that ordinary working people like me would spend SGD600 on a simple card holder. It is more than a month of my living expenses (excluding rental, transportation, commitments)! I wouldn’t even splurge on a SGD100 purse even though I could afford it. Not that I saw one that I really like anyway..
Not to mention, it was the first time of me experiencing the night life in Singapore; clubbing in St James by the Harbour Front with SS’s friends. We went to DragonFly club; amused by the live band performance with mostly Chinese song and some funny drama. A 70-year-old man was enjoying his dance with a crowd of hot ladies. He was hotter and more active than all of us!
And it was a big surprise to find out that smoking is banned in disco and pub by their government since last year. Pretty cool and I like it! Not smelling like a cigarette butt at the end of the day. We had some beer and orange vodka. Next, we moved on to karaoke but we didn’t get a private room as it would cost SGD300! And I finally tasted the famous frog porridge at Geylang after that and back around 4am.
My only regret was I didn’t spend enough time alone with WL as my usual Sg trip as time was too limited. But I had a really good time chatting and analyzing over things with SS on our bus trip back which made the journey a shorter one and very pleasant. (^.^)
And yes, this time I had a special Natsumi Chicken Teriyaki burger at MOS burger. Special because instead of using bread or rice (formerly special), it uses raw vegetables (lettuce) as the burger bread! Healthier alternative I suppose and lighter meal and I simply love it! ^.^
And yes, we couldn’t stop comparing how wonderful it is to earn SGD instead of RM because their currency is much stronger and higher value. This literally means buying everything at 58% discount, be it branded stuffs or normal household products or trip to other countries. The only thing that is cheaper in Malaysia is house and land. Also they even have better security and facilities than us. The grass is always greener the other side, isn’t it? But at least we have tastier food and we could chew on gums here. =P
May
21
The Scenic Halong - Part 2
Filed Under Vietnam, travel, holiday, photo | 3 Comments
During the 4 hours boat ride, we stopped twice on the island. This is the first stop :
We stopped by an island with spectacular caves, high ceilings and… well, I didn't listen to the history by the tour guide as I was too busy capturing pictures..
The cave, very beautiful.. better than Gua Tempurung..
We had our lunch on the boat, which was prepared on the boat too! What water was being used to cook? I was a little worried. But it tasted OK and some were nice too since we were hungry..
The sun finally revealed itself after lunch, making the sky so blue and it was lovely! But it was the end of the 4 hours boat trip. Heading back to the mainland..
Upon reaching mainland, we were back on the little bus and headed back to Hanoi on the 4-5 hours journey~!
May
19
The Scenic Halong - Part 1
Filed Under Vietnam, travel, photo | 8 Comments
Halong Bay is indeed one of the prettiest places that I have been to. I mean nature place, apart from Koh Samui, with the white sandy beaches on those lovely island! Man, I am mesmerized, again!
We set out pretty early, around 8-ish in the morning to the jetty with many boats! I simply love the view. I always like jetty full of boats, feel like real holiday and I could forget all my stress and worries. =)
Though the weather was a little gloomy, I still can't help feeling excited like a small kid. I love the sound of the waves and the huge spread of green water gleaming under the sun and the wind blowing against my cheek with my eyes closed. Wonderful!
There are also many mobile sellers on the small boats approaching our boats! They are selling fruits and also seafoods. Most of them have small children with them which are rather a pitiful sight. They grew up on the small boats and their life is practically on the sea. I can't imagine living like that, can you? 
Apr
30
Be Right Back~!
Filed Under travel, holiday | 5 Comments
I’m off to Hanoi, Vietnam today!!!
I remembered reading SlowCatchUpKuan’s entry about her trip to Hanoi; on how she miscalculated and got an early flight and have to wake up very, very early to catch the flight!
And well, though it is not my miscalculation (as I would have learnt from her lesson), I still have to wake up by 3.30 am as my flight is at 6am!!! No, I wasn’t the organiser and didn’t know till last minute. (=.=)”
Anyway, I am taking a tour 4D3N package trip at ridiculous price of RM1.5K, including flight, accommodation, tour and meals; but the good thing is I got 50% off~ And I sure hope it would worth my $$$. And hope no rain as the forecast shows 'Scattered Thunderstorm' for the 4 days! >_<
Will be visiting the beautiful Hanoi and some tourist place. Hope it nice and hope I can shop too. My only knowledge of Hanoi is what I read about from SlowCatchUpKuan’s blog as she wrote quite details and put many nice pictures~
So, here I go! Will be back by Saturday~!!! 
Feb
25
What an Experience - US Immigration~
Filed Under USA, travel, me | 7 Comments
I don't know if my colleague was trying to scare me off or if he really was worried about the immigration checking when we were entering US.
He said that the last time he went to US, he was interrogated for nearly an hour before he was released. They asked things like your family background, the purpose of your trip again and again and all sort of questions (to confuse you and to see if you are giving the same answers). Sometimes they even asked for evident and documents like bank statement, etc. Another colleague said his friend was asked to show his company financial statements when entering US as he was doing accounts!
Most of the Malaysian especially the guys would be picked up to go for the second inspection at the immigration counter. Perhaps they are more careful about terrorism especially after 9-11. But they are quite lenient to the girls, or so I was told.
On Jan 11th 08, I finally reached San Francisco after 11 hours of flight from Taipei, eagerly stepping out from the plane, toward the long queues of immigrations. I stood behind the last long queue, which I soon realized were served by two officers; one look like a Korean guy, another one was a young white guy.
I was hoping to go to the counter of the Korean guy. Asian would be more lenient to Asian rite, trying to use my logic thinking. And after a long waiting and feeling rather worried as I saw many Asian guys being directed to the second inspection room; the girl colleague who was standing in front of me, was free to go to collect her luggage after her immigration checking. It was soon my turn. I got the white guy officer. 
I smiled nicely and gave him my passport. He asked me to put my fingers on a small device for my fingerprints. And after that, he took my white immigration card, wrote something and asked me to go for second inspection room!!!
I was like, WHAT THE HELL!!! I didn't see a single girl being directed to that room!!!
Miserably, I took my passports and walked to the second inspection room, which was full of guys. Only one girl was sitting there. Man, why does it always have to be me? What am I doing here, I was thinking. My visa was pending during my application, a nerve wrecking experience. Now, I have to go through second inspection. Don't I look harmless enough to them?!?
And I waited. Soon, the guy colleague of mine joined me in the room (at least he expected himself to be there). After waiting like 10 minutes, the same Korean officer (oh, have I mentioned that he's rather good looking?) called my name from my passport. So, he led me to another interrogation room.
I sat sheepishly in front of him, trying to be in my best behaviour. He asked me the reason of my visits and have I been here in US before. I was here for product training and it was my first trip, I said.
He started to type some data into the computer, while looking at my passport.
"This is your first trip?" he asked again.
"Yes", I said.
"This is weird. You have never been to US before?" he asked again.
This time, I felt uncertain and started to think, hmm.. I have never been here, have I? I don't know why but under the circumstances, I could doubt myself whether I have been to US before!!! Ridiculous but true!
"No", I said, starting to suspect myself too.
He looked at the computer screen strangely as if trying to figure whether to believe me or the computer. At last he went 'Ahhh..', leaving me with many question marks in my head.
He asked me to go to the immigration counter again and he talked to the young white officer. And I was told to have my fingerprints scanned again. The Korean officer (obviously superior than the dummy white officer) was a little annoyed at the white officer for not taking my fingerprints correctly and somehow the records got jumbled up (or so I thought, by interpreting their communications).
After that, back to the interrogation room and well, it was just a little mistake after all. The super-nice-Korean-officer cancelled the remarked on my white card which I think meant that I didn't have the second inspection (or else when I am flying off from US, I need to go for another session of interview and to take picture and perhaps have to go through the 2nd inspection for every single time I come to US again, which was super frustrating, no?) and I was released! Yay!!!
I was practically floating out of the room, glad that it was over and NOT to be sent back to Malaysia! 
Somehow, I really feared that they would do that, thanks to all the scares from my colleagues.
Next, I was grateful that they didn't ask to check my luggage’s when I walked out from the custom as I saw some people have to open their luggage to show the custom officers. Uhh..
And yeah, that's two of my obstacles of entering the big-and-mighty-USA and it wasn't such a pleasant ones. But I guess US made it up to me as I had a really good & memorable trip there. 
Feb
22
Nice scenery at Fisherman Wharf..
Filed Under USA, travel, photo | 6 Comments
Here are some of my favourite scenery pictures taken at Fisherman Wharf, San Francisco. I love the colour of the sky and of the sea, looking so peaceful and lovely.
I am using two of them as my wallpapers, a nice, warm memory..
Click on them for a full size picture.
Feb
20
Day 2 at Taipei~
Filed Under travel, photo | 8 Comments
We wake up rather early and had breakfast at the same stall, which was quite crowded as it was Monday and many working people buy their breakfast there. The business was really good as the food was really very nice and reasonable priced.
We wanted to go to 101 Tower right after that but was told that it only opened around 11am or so. So the nice hotel-man suggested us to go to the Jade and Flower market, 15 minutes walk from our hotel.
Both the markets were directly under the flyover!!! It turned out to be enjoyable and I bought some crystals and some small Jade to hang on mobile phone for souvenirs. There were so many flowers and plants stalls at Flower market. Since Chinese New Year was near, the locals were busying buying flowers and plants for house decorations.
We went to 101 Tower after that and was disappointed to discover that the entrance to the peak was around TWD400!!! (around RM40) and it was totally free for Petronas Twin Tower, KLCC!!! So, we decided not to go up after all.
After strolling a few of the high class shopping malls and feeling rather bored, we headed to Xi Men Ding, another famous shopping district, which reminded me of Hong Kong. I like the place very much and we spend half day there. It was also very crowded despite being Monday afternoon.
But as we were tired and after having early dinner, we headed back to the hotel to pack up and rest as we need to wake up at 4.30am to catch early flight the next morning.
So, as a conclusion, Taipei was rather a nice place to shop (if you go with the right company of friends) and full of yummy snacks. But we were rather tired and didn’t do much research and wasn’t really in the mood to explore Taipei.
Feb
18
Day 1 at Taipei~
Filed Under travel, photo | 8 Comments
I stopover at Taiwan on the 3rd of Feb for a couple of days. Reaching Taipei at 7am after 14 hours flight from San Francisco and headed straight to the KDM Hotel which was 40 minutes away from the airport.
The weather in Taipei was rather cold and I have to wear 2 or 3 layers and with gloves too as I always have chilly hands.
After putting our luggage at the RM200 hotel room per night, we headed out for breakfast at nearby stall and it was superbly good!!! Bacon in eggroll! Yum yum~
After that we headed to Wu Feng Bu, a place known for women’s shopping place. We reached there before 11am and was told that it would be open only around 12 to 1pm as it was Sunday. So we hanged around, feeling quite tired from the long flight and jetleg.
Wu Feng Bu was very crowded as the shops started to open at noon. Reminded me of Chatuchak at Bangkok, but they mostly sell clothes, bags, accessories and shoes at a low prices.
At night we went to the famous Shi Lin night market and it was very crowded, much worse than Petaling Street. Everyone seems to be pushing everyone who was walking in front of them, even pretty girls push! So it wasn’t too pleasant to be cruising their night market. We tried their famous Taiwan sausage and ate the wrong-XXL-fried-chicken.
We went back to hotel around 9pm, feeling rather tired and cold.
And so, that's day 1 of Taipei.
Feb
3
Spot Me!
Filed Under travel, me | 6 Comments
I am currently here! Spot me!!!
Feb
2
Unlike the last exciting Saturday I have in US, my last Sunday was pretty lame. It was practically the only weekend we have with no plan whatsoever. Reason being it was going to rain and we knew it and we have to spend it together (I mean my US housemates and me). 2 of them were hardly talking to each other; so you can figure out how fun it is to be spending the day with two of them together, not speaking.
So, it was not until 12noon that the guy finally asked us where we wanna go (we spent the morning surfing and watching TV with no plan =.="). So after some googling and stuffs, we decided to go to Mystery Spot at Santa Cruz and Wichester House at San Jose.
It took around an hour to reach there with the rains and it was like a jungle path for 3 miles before reaching the place (also like a jungle).
See the lanky greenish tree.. It looks a little horrible to me.. wicked..
The trips for 3 miles.. and we wondered if we were on the right track!
The 45 minutes tour was mostly outdoor and cost USD5 and the parking was also USD5 (the first parking we have to pay in US!). The girl decided not to join us and waited in the car! So the guy and I went for the tour, with me wearing poncho (rain coat) and look silly but dry.
Our tour guide, quite a funny guy, standing straight outside the slanted cabin in the middle of the Mystery spot.
Me in my poncho, standing straight up! But it looks crooked..
It is a place with weird gravity (or don't know what) with house at weird shapes. The mystery thing is when you stand at certain place you'll be taller than usual, or shorter than usual and he showed us that. And in the small, crooked cabin, you would feel the force pulling you to the other end! It was true and I have to hold tight to the rail as I really felt the force pulling me to the other side and nearly fell down twice!
The people standing straight for pictures..
And the ball rolls to the higher side when it is put at a piece of flat wood! It was odd. The trees which was suppose to be straight was crooked in the circle of the mystery spot too. They dont know the reasons for the mystery though. It was rather interesting albeit the rain.
The ppl original standing position, over quite a flat and even height wooden plank.
After they switch, the shorter ppl seems taller! And vice versa!
Next we went to the Winchester house which is near to our office. It is rather expensive for USD23.95 per adult tour entrance at the Mansion. The tour guide was a young white guy which was rather disinterested in his own tour as he speak so fast (like reading) and have no expression whatsoever.
The mansion was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of a president that owned Winchester Rifles. When his husband died, he left her USD20 million and daily salary of USD1K a day! That was a lot of money in the early 1900s. She kept building rooms to her house, which explains 110 rooms in her house/mansion when she died.
The mansion was a very large and beautiful Victorian style and many odd rooms. For example, some doors open to nothing and the designs were very unique. One of the special thing is the unique stairs that were very low so that she could climb in her older age. It was like 77 steps to go to the next floor as each step was so low.
The so low steps!
Sarah's beautiful room, which she died here too..
Another part of the room and yeah, she played piano.
One of my fav room that looks so cheery and happy!
Nice huh?
I love the tops of the house..
It was said that she was so rich and no one could question her ideas or opinions or they would be fired right away. It seems that she got the idea for building the rooms from spirits which she communicated with in certain rooms. After the death of her husband and only baby daughter, she built those rooms for the spirits so that she wouldnt have the same fate as them. Some said the rooms designed were so complicated to confuse the spirit killed by the rifles (which her husband made.) She died in 1922 of health condition.
It was a pretty but complicated and confusing mansion. Due to the rain, we didnt really get to see the gardens which suppose to be beautiful too.
The beautiful door decor, it costed a lot..
The grand ballroom.. which was very expensive..
Part of the house from outside..
Looks pretty yummy, isn't it?
The mansion from the outside.
By 4pm when we finished the tour, I was very hungry as we didnt have lunch yet! So, we went to Valley Fair Shopping Mall for the first time and headed to Sushi Boat (recommended by collegue) and, man, it was really the best sushi I have in my life! It was really yummy-licious, perhaps the high point of my day! I had 3 plates, like around 7 to 8 pieces of good sushi and a plate of greenery (seaweed I suppose).
Unagi!
I dont know what's that but I think some salmon inside but it tasted damn good!
O
Of coz I must have the raw salmon, rite? It's good too..
Greenery.. dunno what izzit called..
We hang out in the mall, individually, all of us going separate ways and met up after an hour. I managed to suppress my need of spending as I have already spent extra 25% of my initial budget and have very low cash in pocket.
Home by 6.25pm and surfed and TV for the whole day. Here goes my last weekend in US. =)
