syok sendiri

Day 2 @ Penang (Part #2)

2009-01-08T14:15:00.010+08:00

Right after our nasi kandar lunch we continued with our 'journey of discovery'. Soon we arrived at the Teluk Bahang Dam. This dam is one of the three dams in Penang. Its was really hot on the day we were there. Like typical tourist we got down to take a some photographs.

The gates to the dam was opened and the guards allowed us to walk in to take more photographs. Here's a pic of my lovely wife walking through the barriers.

Unfortunately for Uncle Thumb, he had a slight of complication. By the way, perhaps this may be one of the catalyst for one of Uncle Thumb's 2009 resolution.

Anyway, after a short stop at the reservoir, we moved on to the Fruit Farm, which was just a.. errr fruit farm. Bought some watermelons and left soon after. The next stop was interesting. It was the Snake Temple at Bayan Lepas. This is my 2nd visit to the temple. But we didn't go in cos there was a 'pantang' regarding snakes and pregnant women. We decided to stay outside while Uncle Thumb and his family went in.

Entrance to the snake farm. Though the snakes don't look quite as cute. Besides I hate them anyway.

The next destination after the Snake Farm was Air Itam. We wanted to go Bukit Bendera but the tickets to the funicular railway were sold out and the only available tickets were for 9:30pm. So we decided to head toward the direction of the Kek Lok Si temple. But we didn't turn in when we arrived because it was close to closing time. Instead we continue to make our way uphill from the temple toward the Air Itam Dam

The Air Itam dam was much more people friendly compared to the Teluk Bahang dam. It looked a bit like a small public park with a lake. It even had a carpark, though a tiny one. There was quite a crowd up there at the dam. With some people exercising, walking around and practically doing nothing.

As the dam was situated at high point, you can see Penang from there. Definitely a place to visit while in Penang. It was also our first time there too. As i was walking around, I can't help but notice this sign. Hmm I wonder how they define unusual.

-syok sendiri-

Day 2 @ Penang (Part #1)

2009-01-06T12:19:00.014+08:00

On the 2nd day, we had an early breakfast and headed towards Batu Feringhi. Along the way, we stopped by Miami Beach and took some photos. Here's a pic of my lovely wife having an icecream.

And here are the Thams. Uncle Thumb took a pic of me at the same time too.

After that, we made our way to the Batik factory which was opposite Mutiara Beach Resort. Mutiara was a nice hotel as we stayed there a couple of years before. But this time it was being renovated. The Batik factory is situated smack opposite the hotel but we didn't visit it the last time. So this is a first time for both my wife and me.

We followed the guided tour at the factory. It was pretty educational and it served to let us know that it is not easy to do batik manually and hence the premium price. Besides from an artistic perspective, you're also buying traditional art. The factory also does prints for their corporate clients as well. There were also classes and workshops being conducted about batik printing. You can see some tourist making their own personalize print.

After visiting the Batik factory, it was time to move on to the Butterfly Farm. Again, this was also a first time for both of us. Come to think of it, I don't think we ever visited any butterfly farm before.

But the visit was a really interesting one. It was quite a sight to see so many butterflies. They were practically all over the place.. fluttering around. Indeed a sight to behold.

There were also other insects at the farm too, such as this big fella. Can you see him?

And this other stick insect that reminded me of the bad guy in MiB.

Time flew quickly and soon it was time for lunch. Since we were at Teluk Bahang, we decided to have Nasi Kandar. The nasi kandar was so-so compared to the ones we can find in KL. But no one's complaining since we were all hungry... except for a certain young man...

-syok sendiri-

Boxing Day @ Penang

2009-01-05T23:22:00.013+08:00

We made a roadtrip to Penang on Boxing Day. Along the way, we made a stop to visit Lai San's uncle and aunt in Lenggong. Lenggong is a really small town in Perak along the way to Grik. When I say small, its just a town with 2 rows of shops along the main road. Most of the people here are either farmers or rubber tappers.

Lai San's uncle suffered a stroke earlier this year so he was unable to attend our wedding in June. The last time we visited him was early this year during CNY. Lai San's uncle made quite a recovery since his stroke and is now able to move about slowly. He was quite happy to see her. Since we were it Lenggong, we had to try the famed 'Lenggong fishballs'. So off we went to the restaurant along the mainroad for lunch.

The dishes we ordered were just right. The fishballs were really nice. We were expecting them to be served in soup. But instead they were stirfried. We managed to finished everything that was served to us on the table.

After lunch we bid farewell to uncle and aunty and continued our journey towards Penang. But our journey was slightly interrupted by a young man's sudden urge to pee...

We finally arrive at Penang 2 hours later and headed towards Tanjung Bungah. We checked into the hotel and made our way towards Gurney Drive. There was a huge party along Gurney Drive the night before Christmas. We read in the papers that it was quite rowdy with hooligans jumping on cars and spraying foam at passerby. What we didn't read was the amount of garbage they left on the beach. Sigh.. a beach marred by garbage. Not a nice sight to see. And not to mention the stench.

But we took a group picture anyway...

We decided to have our dinner at Gurney Drive since it was already dinner time. When we got there the place was packed and it was not easy to get a table. But we managed to get one anyway. Once we sat down, we left Uncle Thumb to guard the table while everyone moved out to make their food orders.

While we were having dinner, I noticed some sort of a platform in the middle of the hawker centre. I suppose it's for people to find empty tables or for people to go to if they 'lost' their friends or family in the hawker centre crowd.

-syok sendiri-

And so he grows

2008-11-17T21:31:00.012+08:00

7 weeks

13 and 1/2 weeks

18 and 1/2 weeks

20 weeks

-syok sendiri-

Molotov Cocktails and the Malaysian education

2008-09-28T17:39:00.021+08:00

It was a delight to hear that MP Teresa Kok was released from ISA when I was still in China. But being released was not the end of her predicament. These racist morons decides to lob a Molotov cocktail into her home and leave a written threat. God must be looking over Teresa because the moron(s) who lobbed the Molotov cocktail must be a by-product of BN's education system.

Ok. Maybe I shouldn't make a sweeping statement on our education system. But being morons, the perpetrators failed to understand the mechanics of a Molotov cocktail. For a Molotov cocktail to work, you don't use a PET bottle! Maybe I shouldn't use 'PET bottle', cos these lowlives won't understand that. You don't use PLASTIC bottles you idiots! A Molotov cocktail is suppose to shatter so the fuel in the bottle can be ignited.

Well, that's not the end of their stupidity. You should take a look at the note they left. I think a 10 year old can write better Bahasa than that. Aiyoh, if you can't write properly, go back to school lah. I'm sure if you don't sniff glue or ponteng so much you'll be able to at least write better Bahasa. Its your mother tongue for goodness sake. Study more, broaden your knowledge, so you'll won't be influenced and manipulated by some Indon ex-Menteri Besar's blog post to go and lob Molotov cocktails. And uncle Vincent promise not to call you a bloody moron. Oh, and to improve your Bahasa, don't read Utusan, its bad for your education. They only write rubbish and poison simple minded people like you.

Sigh.. and I thought stupidity like this was reserved to BN MPs only.

-Syok sendiri-

Happy Malaysia Day!

2008-09-16T02:27:00.005+08:00

Its a 16th of Sept 2008 today. DSAI says PR's got the number to form a new Government. I'm still in the Middle Kingdom as I write this. Been here since 13th Sept. I joked with friends that perhaps when I return on the 19th I'll probably come back to a new Malaysia with a new Government. I hope so.

The corrupted BN government has been literally running the country down the drain. The government is like a headless chicken. But like they say there's always a silver lining beyond the dark clouds. I hope to return to a new Malaysia.

Till then to all Malaysian, Happy Malaysia Day. As a Malaysian celebrating this day, its my wish to see the corrupted BN politicians swept off their feet and into a shit hole. Muahahahaha!

-syok sendiri-

A nation is distress... and a Racist roams the nation

2008-09-12T23:21:00.022+08:00

Our country is really going to the dogs. Well maybe I shouldn't put it this way. UMNO is going to the dogs and is really desperate.

First this racist arsehole from Bukit Bendera goes around and call the non Malays 'pendatang' . All our lame duck PM can do is to suspend this Bukit Bendera UMNO racist. Then he's got the gall to go around and regurgitate his racist nonsense over and over again.

Secondly, the UMNO through the Big G went and use the draconian ISA on Raja Petra of Malaysia Today. All this guy did was to expose the truth about the ills and corruption in our Government. Ok maybe in a sensationalize manner most times... But hey... the readers dig it, I dig it, so what. And what did the arsehole Ahmad Ismail get? A suspension.

Third, they also ISAed Ms. Tan Hoon Cheng, the Sin Chew reporter who reported on the arsehole Ahmad Ismail's racist statement. And what did Ahmad Ismail get? A bloody suspension.

Man I'm pissed. Try and they might. These UMNO racist arseholes are trying to instigate caring Malaysians to show their disapproval and do something stupid so they can ISA more people and declare a state of emergency. Well I hope the people won't be so stupid as to fall into the 'riot' trap and play to their tune.

So Malaysian's stay calm and hope that Sept 16 comes and sweep these Corrupt, Greedy, Lustful, Moronic Racist buggers off their feet and into a shit hole (pun intended).

Sigh.. Must stay calm.

Latest update: DAP MP Teresa Kok has also been ISAed too. What are these UMNO morons thinking? And what did Ahmad Ismail get? A bloody suspension.

Latest update: According to Malaysiakini, the cute reporter Ms Tan Hoon Cheng was released at 4pm Sat and she's now safely at home. Away from the clutches of some misguided morons. But I'm sure her ordeal at the clutches of these misguided morons will bear a lasting impression in her. God Bless her and give her the strength to move on.

-syok sendiri-

Redang @ the east coast

2008-08-23T10:19:00.020+08:00

We went on a short break to Redang last month. It was a trip we planned 6 months ago and conveniently forgot. It was a nice trip thanks to Carmen from Journey Malaysia.

We stayed here. It was a nice resort. I think it was the 2nd best resort in Redang after Berjaya. It's famous for being the location where the cantonese romantic comedy 'Summer Holiday' was filmed. I think due to that, the place was crawling with Chinese tourist everywhere. Everywhere you went in the resort you'll bump into a few Chinese tourist. I'm used to quiet laid back beach holidays, so apart from the really nice room and overly scrumptious food, the crowd was my only gripe. I would prefer a beach holiday to be something like...

this.

It was another cheaper resort about a short distant away. Madeline said I must be a pauper in my life before this cos I didn't enjoy the luxury next door but prefer a backpacker's haunt like this.

But it was so laid back that I enjoyed hanging out there in the afternoon and having a few drinks. Most important, there was no crowd.

Trying to take a reflection of the beach from the iPod.. I know I failed miserably.

We went snorkeling in the morning and in the afternoon. On the way back from the jetty, I can't help but notice this tourism banner by the Terengganu State.

"Terengganu where HUMANS live.."

Wow! I wonder what you'll find living in the other states, since you only find HUMANS in Terengganu.

In all it was a good trip, though a short one. So when it was time to go back, I left reluctantly... cos its back to work, and a work trip to China.

-syok sendiri-

I swear...

2008-08-23T09:02:00.009+08:00

Ok, seems that swearing on holy books is the in-thing now if you want to prove innocence. Like in this case, a certain vip swore on a holy book recently that he never met a certain Eastern Central Asian girl. He said he dared to do so because he claims to be speaking the 'truth' (whatever that means to him). This again is between him and his money god...

Hmm... point to ponder. Maybe this vip really didn't meet the Eastern Central Asian girl face to face. Cos he was facing her back all the time when he was with her. Anyway, what me care, its between him and the money god.

-syok sendiri-

A seed grows...

2008-08-14T22:04:00.000+08:00

Well, a couple of friends has been asking me if I was ever going to start a blog. I guess I've been putting this aside for a long time. Though I used to blog about automobile a long time ago... I've never really blog about something that crosses my mind. Guess I'll begin this with a little picture that will define my journey in life.

-syiok sendiri-