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Jalan Jalan Cari Makan 07Feb2012, Round 2

2012-02-12T18:55:00.012+08:00

Tanjung Tualang, Perak.

As very very small pekan, about 45 minutes south of Ipoh. Heck, there isnt any official road sign pointing to this place.

Taking the Gopeng exit from PLUS, head towards Kampar. After the old Kampar town, turn left at the Kampar clock tower. Then take a right at the next traffic light (I think, cant really remember :P).

Head straight and will come up to a wood factory on your left. In front of the wood factory is a small sign showing you to turn right to Tanjung Tualang. From there road mile markers will guide you.

Be careful that you might drive pass it if you dont look out for it.

Pekan Tanjung Tualang

For such a small pekan of about 3 streets, one thing in abundnce here is renovated, modern looking, fully air conditioned restaurant. I counted about 8 of them. They all specialised in the main attraction of Tanjung Tualang..... fresh water marine food, especially the fresh water big-head prawns.

Aquariums with the prawns are shown outside all the restaurants.

Being first time here, dont know and cannot decide which restaurant to walk into. So ask a local for a recommendation, and was directed to

Hup Kar Foon Restaurant, No 37, Jalan Homan Tanjung Tualang, 31800, Tg Tualang Perak

Not sure because its the nearest, and can be easily pointed at from where we ask her.

Tanks full of prawns are exhibited outside the restaurant.

And some of them are huge.

Something else unique to this place is the 'Jelly' drink. The restaurants dont sell them, but will be willingly phone the stall selling them to bring them in for you.

There's two version. One with coconut milk and the other with kumquat juice. Nice and refreshing.

Yellowish jelly on top, coconut milk in the middle and some shaved ice below.

Ordered a kilo of the medium sized prawn, RM80.00/kilo. Half of it to be pan-fried, another steamed. Was told 1 kilo of the biggest would only be like 3-4 prawns

Arriving first is the dry pan fried in soy sauce with a hint of black pepper. Dont look impresive but is nice.

Special prawn chili sauce to go with the prawn. Made from prawn essences.

These beauties came next, steamed in chinese wine and ginger.

A plate of vegetable to go with the main dished. Must not have a totally cholestrol ladden meal, right?

I have to say, the prawns are real firm and succulent. The cooking method complement the prawns well. I especially enjoy the steamed version.

The prawns served dont have much roe though, but their heads are quite packed with the gooey gooey stuff that I like.

Cost of the above meal

Prawn RM80, Vege RM8, Drinks RM1.50 x 2.

By the way, I ve read that the prawns here are from a large scale prawn farm in the area, so was expecting cultured farm prawns. Not that I can taste the difference between wild and farm prawns :P.....

But the lady boss of this restaurant told us that most of her prawns are wild prawns caught in surrounding rivers, that her place is where to go for wild river prawns.

Round 3 to follow....

Jalan Jalan Cari Makan 07Feb2012, Round 1

2012-02-09T01:19:00.009+08:00

Last 7th February 2012, public holiday, so decided to drive around visiting makan places.

First stop, under the oil palm tree

Warung Kelapa Sawit, Juru, near Autocity has been a favourite haunt of mine.

From Autocity, turn left at McDonalds. Will pass a Petronas Petrol station on your right. And a short drive from there, the stall would be on your right. No signboard or grand entrance.

This place is packed during lunch time, frequented by workers from factory in the surrounding Juru and Bukit Minyak Industrial Areas.

A simple set up, which adds to the charm of this place.

Here, the only thing available is nasi Melayu, with quiet a spread of dishes to pick from.

But the main stars are deep fried from this woks. The owner even needs four big woks to keep up with the demand during peak lunch time.

The woks are use to deep fry large Black Prompets, Bawal Goreng.

The fishs came out crispy on the outside but still moist and tender inside.

Did not take much other dishes with our rice, since will be visitng many more makan places today.

Hers

Mine

And just two large Bawal goreng today. The two of us can normally finish 4 of these yummy fishes.

But for me personnaly, the real star of this place is the sambal belacan and ulam. I usually ignore the small saucer and get a big bowl of the sambal.

The sambal will have you sweating before you know it. The ulam keeps the flame level down a bit, but the fish dipped into the sambal belacan is truly addictive. A little kicap manis adds another wonderful dimension to the sambal.

A simple dish, and a beginning of a good day.

And it only cost us RM18.00, including drinks.

.. to be continue ...Round 2

Ngaku..ing

2012-02-05T20:29:00.009+08:00

Suddenly, as I am getting older, I seems to discover more food or even stuffs that are available in the older days and are making a comeback..

One of them, ngaku or arrowhead.. seasonal and only available during Chinese New Years. I have never heard of ot until maybe 4-5 years back.

I also have to admit, I have never seen it in its plant form, only the tuber, widely sold by hypermarts during this time.

Its widely available come every Chinese New Years celebration lately because of the wonderful and addictive chips of which the ngaku can be made into.

After peeling, the ngaku looks exactly like any peeled waterchestnut, abeit much larger. They do however feel slightly slimy.

Tools of the trade to slice the ngaku. Have heard of many incidences fingers being cut and sliced. This is the most dangerous and time consuming part. I have to use a fork to push it through the slicer when I felt its too dangerous to use my bare hand.

How expert in you handling the slicer will result in thicker or thinner slices.

Some people soak the peeled ngaku overnight in salt water to make the ngaku saltier, but another way would be to add scoops of salted butter (eg Planta) into the fying oil.

The frying.

Ahh, the end result.

Believe me, they are so yummy and addictive that bottles can be eaten at each go :)

The only other way I have eaten ngaku is roast pork with chunks of ngaku stir fied in dark soy.

I do wonder how many other food eaten during the older days that I have not heard or tasted...

Gurung Jerai, Kedah Phototrip 270610

2010-07-19T01:18:00.008+08:00

To get there, exit Gurun toll and head towards old Gurun town. At the town junction, turn right and look our for the park's carpark on your left after around 1km.

There are vans for hire to go up from the park. Cost RM50 per van then. Trip up takes around 30 minutes via a winding sloping road. Can drive up your own vehicle but if you do, I suspect will result in a major repair of suspensions.

Lots of landscaped garden and flowers.

I have no idea how long the resort will survice based on what I see the crowd on that day. Most are day tripper just stoping by. Even the van driver pakcik told me only locals comes, foreigners will just come and leave on the same day.

Most probably surviving by goverment department functions.

Quite a number of chalets and accomodations but looks expensive.

Kerala, India Trip May 2010

2010-07-18T22:36:00.007+08:00

Day 1, Trivandrum

Day 2, cross over border to Tamil Nadu including trip to the most southern tip of the Indian subcontinent.

Day 3, Varkala

Day 4 & 5, Allaphuza or Allephey

The Secret Beach, miles of deserted beach

The houseboats (Kettuvallam) of Allephey

Day 6, 7 & 8, Munnar

Day 9, Cochin (Ernakulam)

The Chinese Fishing Nets, icon of Fort Cochin

Some Indian Ingenuities

Found in Kerala, India Part 2

2010-07-18T22:30:00.005+08:00

Fried banana (or banana fries as they call it in India)? Fried sweet potato? Fried thi-kuih?
Those are for sissies.

How about fried chillies?

The dried chillies itself is not spicy at all since they were de-seeded before being coated with batter and fried.

Admitedly the accompanying dipping sause packs a punch though. Enjoyed it.

Found in Kerala, India, Part 1

2010-07-18T22:18:00.007+08:00

Being a goody two shoes lately??

Then no chicks will dig you since like chicks only digs bad men. Not to worry, in a restaurant in Trivandrum, Kerala, India, found ways for you to raise the evilness in you without breaking any law. It is even cheap some more.

By the way, the restaurant served excellent Briani too.

Not content accumulating human dosa only, they even have chicken and goat dosa for you.

I was wondering how the Dosa will be brought to your after your order. I think should be in a bottle in liquid or gas form for easy consumption and storage. Or they will be serve in spiritualy and you just sit there asorbing the Dosa.

Anyway, when ordered (abeit in another place), the packaging was kinda disappointing, although admitedly yummy.

PS: for those non-Malay speaking, dosa = sins in Malay.

Part Of Historic Moment

2010-03-20T14:56:00.011+08:00

Joining a historic moment, so here goes.

"Penang's hill railway makes its last run"
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/21/nation/5715809&sec=nation

Lower Station

Wonder will this still be here later?

Generation 1

Some people comes out saying how we should preserve the old train system since its here for so many many years already.

Personally I disagree. Whats the use of an old relic which is not funtioning properly? Remember the old tram railing along Penang road, whats that for. I never see and I dont think we will have any tourists coming just to see that old rail.

By Malaysian standard, the hu-ha will be forgotten as soon as the new rail is up.

Kota Kinabalu Jan 2010

2010-01-27T20:24:00.007+08:00

Pictures taken from the Pacific Sutera, Sutera Harbour Resort. Thats some of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park's islands on the background.

Risk a short boat ride to the Pulau Gaya's Bajau Laut settlement. No life jackets. The sampans powered by an engine are only used by locals to commute between the settlement and the mainland.

Being close to the settlement makes me realise that their houses are so basic, maybe a room or two. Houses made of planks, wood, woodboard, zink roof panels.. all simple materials. Seeing this, I kinda thank my life that I am living in a house of bricks and cements.

Amazingly, their simple lifestyle fails to stop the little locals to share their smiles and laughters with me.

The first two teenagers no longer attend schools, prefering to do whatever oddjobs they can find at the local wet market on the mainland, trying their best to earn some extra money to support their families. They are so friendly that I board the boat based on their persuasions.

The two last kids will not smile with their mouth open after I commented their lack of teeth. They are so bashful, but my bad for saying that to them.

Reminded me of a brand of local ice-cream

Men & Machines ..... & Models

2009-12-21T00:37:00.011+08:00

Heloo......

Miss Yamaha

Miss Suzuki

Miss Honda

And since I am at it, some more sweeties from another motorshow.

Utusan's take on Malaysians.

2009-12-12T09:33:00.004+08:00

Incredibly, Utusan Malaysia did it again. An article titled 'Cuit: Alkisah India di India dan India di Malaysia, Oleh Zaini Hassan", dated 9December2009.

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=1209&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_10.htm

Below an except from the above articel.

"Namun, kita di Malaysia pun ada orang India. Kecohnya pun lebih kurang sama. Mereka ini rata-ratanya terdiri daripada ahli-ahli profesional, peguam dan kini menjadi ahli politik. Di Malaysia hanya orang India yang pandai-pandai sahaja yang sering buat bising. Mereka menguasai Majlis Peguam dan kini mereka sudah ramai di Parlimen, bukan mewakili MIC, tapi mewakili DAP dan PKR.

Kerana mereka lantang dan suka buat haru-biru, suara mereka sering kedengaran. Salah seorangnya ialah N. Kulasegaran yang kini memegang jawatan Naib Pengerusi DAP Perak.
Beliau lantang mempersoalkan hak-hak orang Melayu.

Katanya, beliau tidak faham mengapa setelah bertahun lamanya masih ada kelompok manusia percaya kepada warna kulit atau penampilan yang lebih tinggi daripada satu kaum lain."

Such a general swipe at part of the Malaysian community. On a major UMNO/BN mouth piece too. As usual mainstream media blackout on people's reaction to the it.

Lets see what the 1Malaysia goverment's nexts action. I am holding my breath, but am afraid I will not have a chance to breath.

Pantai Kerachut Nov2009

2009-11-11T21:13:00.009+08:00

Last sunday, 08112009, a friend ask me to join him, going hiking to Pantai Kerachut. Dont know what kind of friend lai. People wanna sleep and laze off my weekend and he ask me to go torture myself exercising and hiking.

Have not being there since secondary school when a bunch of us went camping there. Lots of changes. The Pantai is now part of Penang National Park. The entrance park's entrance at Teluk Bahang has now been upgraded and looks grand. There's even an interpretation center.

Now you need to purchase a permit to go inside the park. Now the Park even have a security guard on duty just to stamp your permit.

The fishermen and the fisherbird.

After a short stroll on some nicely paved flat road, will come to a hanging bridge. The trail splits into left or right. Turning right would be going to Monkey Beach. We go left heading towards Pantai Kerachut. From there the going gets difficult (for my pathethic fitness level). The jungle trails would accends and decends and accends and decends and......

The jungle trail will pass this 'Batu Belah'. Seems that this part of the trail was made by some ancient loggers 'belah-ing' the hill with their bare hands and cangkul.

After an hour or so going up some hills, then going back down, then up again, and down again, finally reached the Pantai Kerachut (also known as Turtle Beach). Was greeted by another hanging bridge.

There ia a turtle conservation center here at Pantai Kerachut. A bunch of little turtles relaxing in a swimming pool before they are release to face the real world. Sad to state the reality that most of them would not survive.

Reminded me of Niah National Park. Only these walkway are shorter and are made of concrete.

A survivor. Rising up from nothing. But my understanding is, brightly coloured fungi are actually lethal.

So seeing this sign, wonder how long I need to wait. Should I switch off my car's engine?

I Do Blame it on Rafa

2009-10-24T09:39:00.003+08:00

I am sad to say that my predictions earlier in this EPL season is becoming nearer to reality. I was telling people that the Liverpool would have a bigger chance of being 'kicked' out of the Big Four.

The pre season went badly. I remember we only wons when facing super super minows, like Singapore. Againts almost everybody else, we barely perform. Lost to teams like Rapid Vienna, Espanyol, Athletico Madrid. Drew with Thailand. And thats using the core of the team from last season, minus Alonso of course.

I just dont understand Rafa's insistence on zonal marking. Statistics this year has shown that most of Liverpools' goals conceded are via set pieces. With Cara and the whole lots of the defenders being shaky up to now, and with goals being leaked in, why are we still continuing the system? Why are we expecting different results when we are doing the same things over and over again. At least if we do not leak goals, we wont LOSE!!!!

And now, Stevie G and Cara went on record saying Liverpools season will improve. Pardon me, but I do have the feeling that everytime those two are quoted with such, Liverpool never improves in the next game.

Furthermore, failure to qualify for ECL 2010/2011 will be catastrophic to Liverpool. With the amount of debts the Americans have. People might say MU also have bigger debts. But we have to admit, Anfield is much smaller. Differences in gate collections are enourmous between these two grounds. My deepest fear, Liverpool going the Leeds road. God forbid.

But, Red for life. YNWA.

Super LAGgera Rokr E8

2009-08-26T20:10:00.007+08:00

This is a Superleggera.

The Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. Its sleek, superlight and and thus super fast.

This is my Super LAGgera. My Motorola Rokr E8. And its super SLOW.

Ya, it looks cool. Super cool. The Modeshift, the cool black mirrorlike surface.

The music playback is nice and powerful.

Okay, I can tolerate that the phone cannot simultaneous vibrate when ringing. I can tolerate the silly camera. I can even tolerate that I cant lay it flat because the speaker is on the hind of the phone - if I lay it flat, I would not be able to hear it ringing.

But now a flaw is making this phone no longer viable. The Super LAG. Everything is slow with this phone. I dont know whether its the Moto program or lack of memory (but I am only using around 15% of the phone's 2GB internal memory.

Man, I have tried and tried and tried. If you call me, it will takes more than 15 seconds later before my E8 rings. And it seems that, outgoing calls only rings for 20 seconds, and then the call will automatically ends.

Meaning I have around 5 seconds from when I heard the ringing, take it out of my pocket, and press the answer button. Most of the time, I only knew of an incoming call when the missed calls are on the screen. Meaning I will have to call back. Meaning my phone credit to answer your call.

Will be in the market for a new phone.

13 Sept 09 : Seems that the lag is due to the slow Phone internal memory. If I move the ringtone to the add-on memory, no such problem.

Revenge of The Conned

2009-08-02T11:56:00.006+08:00

Its only in August and I have already concluded whats the worst movie in 2009.

Transformer, Revenge of the Fallen.

I already felt the first movie is bad. Although some transforming sences are cool. (This is a movie call Transformer after all). The robot designs are so 'insecty'. Except for Prime, the rest of the metallic casts looks like bugs from hell. What the hell with Megatrons's bad teeth anyway? Then the Sam whines and whines and whines. Megan Fox should gives bitch slap him again and again. Maybe no, he does not even qualify to stand near Megan.

Whats wrong with ROTF?...Besides the obvious stupid storyline, lousy script, the followings..

1. Removing the transformer from the title, this is just a movie about some alien invasion. Nano tech and bio metallics? I dont wanna see that. I wanna see transforming... in slow motion. Super super slow mo. The constructicons combining to Devastator is a real con act. That is not combining, thats merging. I will not be so 'tulan' if they rename the movie 'Alien Robot Invasion : Revenge of The Fallen'.

2. The robot designs are again a real disappointment. If they dont look like insects, they looks like trolls. The twins, Mudflap and Skids could easily fits into the cast of Harry Potter or LOTR if they are smaller. The only head design that I like is Optimus's.

3. Its not enough that the humans are whinny. Now even the transformers are too. The twins talks like they are high on caffein. Jetfire sounds like he is a speed talker instead of the legendary oldtimer. Megatron talks non stop. So is that tiny Decepticons that wanna operates Sam's head. And Soundwave never talk (his voice is the coolest in the G1 cartoon).

4. The Transformers dying and being revive. No wonder the transformer wars last millineums. How come nobody wanna revive Jazz from the first movie. Cause he sounds 'black' :)

5. Jetfire. How can they ever come up with the design for his robot form. He transform into a SR71 Blackbird leh.... the coolest plane ever. Then at robot form...with the funny facial hair....err steel, and a walking stick. If you wanna talk old, the Fallen should be older by miles, how come he is still so 'sharp'. Better maintenance hor.

6. Those mini Decepticons which came alive at the Witwicky's residence. Reminded me of Gremlins and the robot helpers from Aces Go Places II.

7. A GM (Sideswipe) destroying an Audi R8 (in the beginning of the movie in China). That one borders on the ultimate fantasy already. Really really cannot accept lo.

Maybe I was wrong to have such high expectaion. But thank god there is Megan Fox.

Btw, I highly recommend 'Departure', the japanese movie. Made me cried.. in agood way, more than once. Damn good movie.

Vietnamese Food in Viet Kong Country

2009-07-25T12:38:00.007+08:00

In Southern Vietnam 12-19July2009.

Colourful sticky rice sold by street hawkers. Tastes are quite dour. Worse it was topped with a mixture of sugar and salt. The Vietnamese really like their sugars.

The colour purple.

Mekong Specialties

They call the fish the Elephant Ear Fish. From the Mekong river. Put a piece of the fish on a rice paper, add some vermicelli, those veges and wrap it like a poh piah. Some fried spring rolls in the picture too. Those are yummy though a tad oily.

The fish alive, in the local market... well, I think they are the same type of fish.

River fish cooked in tamarin and herbs soup with veges. I think its their local version of asam laksa but definitely more watery. Theres lady'd finger, pineapple, some other vegetables. Not really to my liking. Its tasted sweet and slightly sourish at the same time although the sweetness is overpowering. I dont even like the way it smells. Phoung Nam Restaurant in Can Tho City.

Lemongrass Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City.

Platter of local appetisers. Clockwise from the top. Fresh springrolls, fried springrolls, shredded chicken with cabbage and fish 'balls'. Love em.

Bun Cha Gio & Thit Nouong (Rice vermicelli with fried prawn springrolls and grilled pork). Soupless.
Heo Noung Me (Charboiled pork with sesame served with vegetables and rice vermicelli) lower corner. Nice... but I have expected better.

Do Bien Xao Mien (Baked seafood with glass noodle in claypot). Yummy..

Grilling Mongolian BBQ

2009-07-05T11:24:00.008+08:00

First time I came across Mongolian BBQ was in Taipei, Taiwan back in 2002. Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Penang this time around.

Mongolian BBQ does not actually involve barbequing or at least my understanding of what is barbequing. It is more kind of like grilling. Using different ingredients but only one cooking methods. Paying almost RM40 for it seems 'stupid' it to me, but since my friends wanted to try, so 'cincai’ la.

Basically Mongolian BBQ’s concept is simple. Pick what you want from an array of small cuts of meats. Here they have beef, chicken, lamb, fish, prawn and squid.

Add in whatever greens and mushroom that you want, then pick whatever sauces, seasoning or combinaton of seasonings that you want or think suites the mix.

The quantities are up to you. People who tend to be heavy handed like me will usually regret the outcome.

When you are satisfied, bring the mix to the cooks. Over a big flat ‘roti canai’ style grill pan, using two spatula, the cook will grill it for you. I still remember the cooks in Taipeh uses a pair of gigantic chopsticks too.

The cooks will add nothing to your mix except maybe water. So you got nobody else to blame if you don’t like what was served up. Hey, you are the one who did the selection. You picked what you wanted.

There are the salads and starters, and deserts and fruits too.

About 5 or 6 other dishes. The fried rice and fried shanghai-style noodles are too salty. But first time I am happy having white steam rice at a buffet. As I said earlier, I overdid it - adding too much seasoning and sauces to the grilling, making them too salty that I really needed the white rice to helps.

Only manage to have two plates and another plate of grilled vegetable before I gave up. Need two cups of strong coffee to get rid of the charred/burned aftertaste. Not going again.

Power

2009-06-21T04:22:00.005+08:00

Western Australia 17-25 Mac 2009

2009-06-14T21:37:00.011+08:00

Yallingup

Margaret River

Surfer's Point, Margaret River, early morning.

Mammoth Cave, Margaret River

On top of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Augusta

Albany

Albany Windfarm

Torndirrup National Park, Albany

Esperance

Pinnacle Desert

Perth City

Night view of the city, from of King's Park.

Skyline of Perth City, with the Swan Belltower on the right.

St George's Cathedral

Fremantle

Fishing Boat Harbour

Fremantle harbour

I Am A GOOD Man

2009-06-14T11:30:00.006+08:00

I just realised that I am such a GOOD man. I am that GOOD that my wonderful reputation preceeds me and spreads across the WWW and anonymous people are writing in just to seek my help.

Me, just imagine, a simple and humble man. Me. I cant help but to say that this just lead me to the conclusion that I am that GOOD.

I am not gloating here. I have proofs. Read on.

Proof Number 1 (mail dated 11Jun09)

Dear sir/ madam,

I will first introduce my dear self to you. I am from HARERE ZIMBABWE, I am the first son of Late Mr. Muyama Kokayi .My father was one of the Zimbabwe White and black farmers that lost their farm land from political crisis of President Robert Mugabe.My dear i got your contact details why making my research through online network because i am looking for any person who is capable of handling my late father fund which he deposited in one of South Africa Security Services. However, because i am on political asylum here i cannot operate in any financial institution that is why i have contacted you to help and invest the money in your country why i will be in silent partnership with you.

I have made arrangement and the fund has been transported to oversee through a Diplomatic Delivery which the Security Company Services have help me out. The amount involve is $10.5 Million Dollars. My Late Father deposited this money to purchase some machines for the farm before his dead. Because the Government of South Africa want to return all the money that was deposited in their country by the farmers during the crisis and move them back to my Country Zimbabwe.The Security Company inform me about this development that is why i ask for their help to have the fund move out of the country to a country where it will be save. But i feel that investing the money will be in the best interest of my family since this money is what left for my family.

I urge you to understand the situation that i am into now. Again i want to assure you that this transaction is 100% rick free .If you are willing to help me to invest this money in your details why i will be a silent partner for a security reason. Contact me and i will send you all the information regarding the fund were you will contact them in oversea for clearance. Please note that your detail is needed.

Yours Full Name
Home Address
Fax Number
Phone Number

And your International Passport or Driver License. As soon i get this information i will forward them for exchange of Beneficiary were you will have to sole right to claim the fund.

Private Email Address: (muyamagaba707@sify.com)
Faithfully Yours

Mr. Gaba Muyama

Although I really dont get what Mr Muyama means by '100% rick free', I am compeled by my GOODness to assist him. That bloody President Mugabe, robbing that poor Mr Muyama. Of course poor not in the monetary sense.

Proof Number 2 (email by "Saeed Ahmed" saaedahmed@yahoo.com dated 31May09)

Dear Friend,
As you read this, do not feel sorry for me, because I believe everyonewill die someday. My name is Saeed Ahmed a merchant in Dubai, U.A.E. Ihave been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms ofmedical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live,according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life sowell, as I never really cared for anyone(not even myself) but my business.

Though I am very rich, I was never generous, always hostile and onlyfocused on my business as that was the only thing I cared about. I assumedbeing a shrewd and mean businessman meant no room for failure in life. Butnow I regret all this as I know that there is more to life than justwanting to have all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me asecond chance to come to this world I would live my life a different wayfrom how I have lived it.

Now that God has changed me, I have willed and given most of my propertyand assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a fewclose friends. I see this as a rebirth for me, a chance to do somethingright for once, so God can have mercy on me accept my soul so, I havedecided to give also to charity organizations, as I want this to be one ofthe last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money tosome charity organizations in the U.A.E, Malaysia, and India. Now that myhealth has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore.I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts anddistribute the money which I have there to charity organization inBulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves.Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended withwhat I have left for them.

The last bulk consignment of my money which no one knows about, is thehuge cash deposit of twenty million dollars $20,000,000,00 that I havewith a finance/Security Company abroad. I will want you to help me collectthis deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations. I have set aside10% for your time and service.Please reply me with honesty as soon as you receive this eMail.

God be with you.Saeed Ahmed.
NB: For confidential reasons you can contact me through my personal andconfidential email address saaedahmed@live.com

See, I am such a good man that Mr Ahmed give me his personal and confidential email address. Such a wonderful man this Mr Ahmed.

Proof Number 3 (via email from MR.TAN WONG(tanwong012@yahoo.com.hk) dated 28May09

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Tan Wong director ofoperations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an obscured businesssuggestion for you. That will be a great benefit for you and me. It involve the transfer of Twenty Four millions Five Hundred Thousand UnitedState Dollar($24,500,000,00) deposit in my bank So, Twenty Four millionsFive Hundred Thousand United State Dollar($24,500,000,00) is still lyingin my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers memost is that according to the laws of my country at the expiration 8yearsthe funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government ifnobody applies to claim the funds. Against this backdrop, my suggestion toyou is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin toMajor Fadi Basem so that you will be able to receive his funds Transfer.

Should you be interested please send me your full names and currentresidential address and I will prefer you to reach me on this emailaddress (tanwong012@yahoo.com.hk) which is my private email address and finally after that I shall provide you with more details of thisoperation.Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Mr.Tan Wong.

I will help you Mr Tan ... or is it Mr Wong. Anyway, I am GOOD enough to be interested. We definitely cannot let your goverment steal all those money. Imagine with that amount of money, how many Christiano Ronaldo they can buy? Okay la, maybe only his left ear with a diamond stud attached. But who knows what that might lead to.

Then every one will be watching the HK Premier League. That will definitely scare the shit out of me.

Proof Number 4
Deleted the email address before copying it over here.

Attention: Proposed partner,

My name is Barry Tootell. I am the chief Financial Officer at the Cooperative Bank United Kingdom. My contacting you is based on a secret discovery of the sum of £28..250.390.00 (Twenty Eight Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand,Three Hundred and Ninety Pounds Sterling) only, in a secret foreign account.It will be in my interest to work and finish this transaction with you. If you can be a collaborator to this transaction, please indicate your positive interest immediately for us to proceed if not please ignore. Remember this is absolutely confidential because my Bank does not know about it.

Warmest regards,
Barry Tootell,
Chief Financial Officer,
Cooperative Bank. United Kingdom.

Dont play play. Mr Tootell is the CFO lo. Very high ranking one. You dont usually get request for assistance from such high ranking people. It s like Bill Gates calling up to say 'tolong'. Further more, he called me his partner even before I agree to help him. Such trust in me. My GOODness must really spread around.

Heck, I am good enough man that my would be assassin mailed me to forewarn me about the impending danger that I am facing

Proof (via email by "Bary Gary" info@mail.org dated 10Jun2009)

To You!

Just to let you know that fews weeks from now you will be out of thesurface of the earth if you dont comply with me, I have all it takes nowto kidnap and kill you, i have been sent by somone very close to you andyour family even in your work place to kidnap and kill you. I have allthe neccesary informations i need to carry out my mission, I know whereyou go from time to time, i know who you visit i know your work place, iknow when you nomarly live the house for work or any where, i belivevery soon you will be dead, it takes me time to draw out your map now ihave all i want to kidnap and kill you, My boys are around you any whereand every where you go to.Mind you dont act smart by trying to inform the police or any otherauthority about this, as it may interest you to know that i haveconnections any where and every where in the world even in your countrythere where you live, I have conections with the FBI,LAPD, even with topGovernments officials in high offices. Dont bother to know who i am or whosent me, because that is not neccesary now all you need now is to contactme through my private e-mail if you want to comply and know mor about this(E-mail:bary.blackkiller.gary9@gmail.com).

For now i say Bye meat.

RegardsBary Garyxxxxxxx

See, I told you. The next time you see me, better call me Good man. Now, I better go to open up a bank account as soon as possible. I will not want Mr Muyama, Mr Ahmed, Mr Wong and Mr Tootell to doubt my sincerity, my willingness to help and of course, my goodness.

Does Angels Sound Like This?

2009-04-18T13:09:00.005+08:00

She might be William Hung's equivalent in looks. (okay, me bad)

SUSAN BOYLE, remember the name.... see the talent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

minute 2.07 of the clip, the host said it perfectly "You didn't expect that, did you? Did you? NOT!!!"

She totally blown me away with her singing talent. My eyes got watery and I am choked emotionally listening to her singing and the reception she received after she started singing.

And I also like the fact that she seems to be feisty, fun, able to make fun at herself and I wish her the best in her impending new career.

Wind Farm, Albany, WA March2009

2009-04-05T13:27:00.010+08:00

This post is in honour of Earth Hour 2009, and all the people in the world who participated in it.

I was lucky enough to be somewhere where clean renewable energies are being succesfully produced and utilised. The Wind Farm in Albany, Western Australia.

They appears on the horizon, like those peoples in rubber suits in those Ultraman tv movies. Giants suddenly appears against the blue sky.

"The road to the top"

Excellent panaromic view. The Southern Ocean.

Standing under one of the turbine, the majestic sounds of the blades rotating are truely and thoroughly imposing.

True, very true

308...First Anniversary

2009-03-08T10:57:00.004+08:00

And no, I am not talking about that French car.

Well, it has been 365 days since that special day. The day when I was totally surprise by the outcome of the 12th general election of Malaysia. The day when a new hopes are born, the day when I hope that the corrupt and selfish politicians would learn their lessons. I really hoped that that special day would bring on a new beginning to the end for politicians (specifically speaking UMNO and Barisan Nasional) who thrive on corruptions and only care about enriching themselves

365 days later, (well technically speaking, it should be 366 days later), do I see and change in how the country is run, how those corrupt and selfish peoples are brought down, one by one, how transparency and meritocracy prevails to move Malaysia forward?

Sadly, I am really really disappointed.

Those in power before 8 March 2008 are still there. The recent and ongoing Perak political fiasco still confirms that everything is still under the control of the Federal Government. They can still command the police, the government servant and most pathetically, the judiciary at their whims. Maybe even the royalties. The re-brand Anti Corruption Agency (now with a longer name) is still more interested in Cows and Cars and still headed by the same guy. The Election Commission is still perceived as pro-BN. The 2 Bukit and 1 Batang by-elections are to be held on the same day, when the Federal oppositions cry out foul.

I am astounded that UMNO sees that with Najib in as their new chief later this month, everything would be okay. They are still that arrogant. They kept on harping about their party will be weaken by money politics, but no actions are taken. Race and religious are still being use as their trump card. The Malays special rights (whatever that are) are still being paraded around like some magic word. UMNO nowadays even have the balls to say they are the defender of the Kings. Parliament is still a joke. The name calling and hecklings are still part and parcel of each sitting. Lame and biased laws are still being pushed and rushed through, without much opposition.

In Penang, do I see anything different? Our Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, brings in the Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) tagline. Ya, I agree that maybe the local UMNO warlords are no longer able to enrich themselves further. But to the layman like me, I don’t really see much different. The positive, streets are now much cleaner. We can see MPPP workers (bless them) working very hard to clean up after every event. And that might be just about it.

The negatives, crimes are now definitely more rampant. Snatch thieves are now more common than seeing our elected YBs. The Penang government is still harping on Federal funds to run the country. Come on la, this is Penang, maybe the most developed and independent of all the Malaysian states. Super expensive housing developments are still going on, even on hill slopes. Chief Minister Lim, frankly speaking, I don’t see much different yet. Except maybe the satisfaction that BN had their asses kicked last round.

By the way, I am still waiting for YB Rayers and YB Danny Law to fulfill their election pledge to abolish the Penang Bridge toll.

For the federal oppositions, this might be your last chance to prove that you can effect change. I strongly believe, the Malays, will regret being so heavy handed last GE. They just wanted to teach UMNO a lesson, never to bring in so many oppositions into the Parliament. They will never repeat this again. And 3rd March will never happen again.

Bukit Genting, Penang - February 2009

2009-02-22T13:06:00.006+08:00

V day 2009. Got an invites to have dinner at Bukit Genting Thai Restaurant. My second trip there. My first trip was maybe two years back. The food served on that day didnt rank that high.

To get to Bukit Genting, we use the road from the airport, heading to Balik Pulau. You cant miss the huge signboard when you reach the place on your left.

Because of V day, all the tables are marked reserved. Get the staff to set up a table for us. By the time our food is served, the place is pack. But when we are leaving, some of the reserved tables are still not used, while there a lots of those who did not reserve just have to stand there waiting for occupied tables to clear up.

Green Curry Chicken.

Too much green, too little chicken.

Kheng Som.

The super spicy sweet and sour soup dish. We asked the waiter, can we make it less spicy. With a grin, he says no. But the dish is too watery, maybe a way to cut down on the spiciness.

Still have fond memory of the first time I tried this dish, in Hatyai, Thailand. Resulted in me needing to go to the toilet the whole next day :)

Meat in Crab Shell. I thought it is crab meat, but my frens say its chicken.

Fried 'Kangkong'.

Total price RM70 over four four person, including a bowl of rice for everybody and a jug of drink.

Its is hazy on that day. That yearly present from our neighbour in the west. But the wind is really blowing. Cool breeze. Really makes me sleepy.

The sunset around 7.00pm is not really visible from our table.

The setting sun is really red in colour.

Well, at the end of the day, I will still say there is nothing to shout about the food a Bukit Genting. Standard (and quite expensive) Thai food. Will I return, maybe, if I need somewhere 'romantic' to go to, but specifically for the food, no.

Focus. Must Focus

2009-02-22T13:01:00.001+08:00

Focus..... should I.... shouldn't I!!!!!

Decision, decision.