Very Sien Dot Com

Mail oh Mail

2021-09-09T07:01:00.009+08:00

First he did a 69 to maintain #kerajaangagal,

Then he re-appointed the two-name tikus to re-repair the labu,

Then he re-appointed those three "dont know for what" ministerial-ranked special envoy,

Then he co-oped the kleptocrat for ideas to improve the economy, and news is that it will be a formal position.

Then he want to put the clown from the court cluster to man the August House.

Mail oh Mail

Helpless.

2021-08-15T20:09:00.004+08:00

Lets get real, PH and the opposition block don’t have 110. Last count including Pejuang and Warisan is only 105, and whether Pejuang and Warisan will support AI is still not confirmed. Unless if AI can somehow bring GPS into the fold, there is no hope for a PH goverment back as the goverment. No use thumping chest celebrating the downfall of Mahiaddin.

Because, it will still be a PN+MN government. With Mahiaddin out, who will be his replacement?

Rumours circulating it will be Ismail Sabri to placate the UMNO camp.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/08/15/ismail-hamzah-meet-to-discuss-new-govt/

The guy is clueless as the senior minister, his SOPs resulted in current worsening Covid situation in the country.

Will he stand up against the court cluster seeing how they toppled Mahiaddin? And we all know what is the Court Cluster's first request to a PM under their thumb. Nobody from UMNO will now jump to the tiny Bersatu. So any PM from UMNO will still need BN's chairman's approval, especially if he wants to ensure his political longevity and be able to stand again in GE15.

Can I do anything about it? Can any of the 32 million Malaysian, except for the 115 MPs do anything about it? No. I can rant here but will it make a difference?

The answer is a big NO.

To make matter worse, Azmin or Hamzah Z as the DPM?

Hadi oh Hadi.. Best friend konon

2021-08-15T09:53:00.002+08:00

Morning morning read Hadi's foul mouth commenting "Maka, janganlah didahulukan untuk mendapatkan kuasa sehingga punca penyakit rasuah dibiarkan berkuasa lagi."

Typical of his holier than thou character, to call people names (again) "Hanya mereka yang tidak berperikemanusiaan sahaja tidak akan mempedulikan keadaan rakyat yang perlu diselamatkan sekarang," katanya.

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/587232

I might be wrong and he might be talking about not letting LGE be in power again, but I am very sure I am not wrong.

Most likely he is talking about Najib. But hey, I thought Najib and co is his BFF.

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/474051

https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/94518/BERITA/Politik/Najib-terima-kunjungan-pemimpin-utama-Pas

In the brink of losing his Special Advisor with ministerial status (and perks), now he is throwing Najib under the Mercedes.

Iceland February 2019 YouTube link

2019-08-20T18:37:00.000+08:00

Went on the furthest trip from home, during winter of February 2019, to the Land of Fire and Ice, which is already overrun by tourist.

The link to my newly created YouTube channel for the pictures and videos of the trip.

The trip includes a few days stop in London and visiting the holy ground of LFC, which is Anfield, Liverpool.

https://youtu.be/0aLWHE1uXJ8

Hock Chew-ness, Part 3 - Kong Piang-ing

2012-10-08T18:29:00.002+08:00

Kong Piang, my ultimate reason visiting the Hock Chew town of Setiawan.

Sitiawan Cheong Cia Gong Pian, one of the two outlets selling, this one is in Setiawan, the other in Kampung Koh, 2-3km away.

Kong Piang is basically a pastry with onion fillings. They used to sell with char siew filling but no longer.
Reached the shop at 1.15pm, batch will be ready at 1.45pm.

Left..the fillings, onion and lard, on the right, the dough for the biscuit/pastry

The clay wood coal oven for baking the biskuit. Not unlike baking naan. Metal sheet is used to direct air into the oven to flame the fire.

Hard at work. Its just a small cornet shop house outlet.

One of the three oven of the shop.

After filling, flattening, and making some indentation with the other end of the roller.

The way to bake. Paste it on the oven's wall.

Metal plates are placed on top of the burning charcoal, so that hands can use to stick the Kong Piang on the oven wall.

Cant work here if you cant stand the heat.

Removing the metal plates after filling the oven.

Sweet fragrance of onion and lard in the air.

Fresh out from the oven.

The 'kha chang' to remove'

Ready to sell. RM0.80 each.

The other type of Kong Piang, the original, without the fillings. I read they are real chewy.

The queue is already long half an hour before the first batch is ready. One aunty asked for priority since she is from out of town. The staff replied "all here queuing is from out of town, locals wont come during a holiday, so please queue!!!" Cool reply :)
The first batch from the three oven not enough to cater for the queue. So most customer would have to wait for the next batch.

See the onion fillings.

Verdict : nice and tasty pastry biscuit. Crunchy and sweet. But the filling is a bland and tasteless.

Would I be back??

Yes for novelty, no for the taste.

PS : did try to get from the other outlet, Sin Lay.. but they are closed when I am there at around 2.00pm.

Hock Chew-ness, Part 2

2012-10-08T17:58:00.002+08:00

After the seafood lunch, headed to the top tourist attraction in Setiawan.

The Tua Pek Kong Temple is located at the end of Jalan Pasir Panjang, with more than adequate signage, even from Kampung Koh.

Whats impresive about this temple, which I ve read cost RM7.8million, is the gigantic and not so gigantic statues on the temple ground. Was told the temple will be thronged by worshippers during any chinese 'tua jit chi'.

Huge granite statues. Up to 70 feet.

The temple is by the seaside. Thats Pangkor in front.

The smaller statues.

Its really a hot day, that was why I planned my time to be here when the sun is lower.

Some of the other smaller statues.

The Seven Immortals playing chess.

This is a thriving local tourist attraction after all, thus stalls selling local products are abundance on the temple ground. Another attraction is the Monkey Garden, where there is a walkway looping the mangrove swamp nearby, with supposedly wild monkey.

After much praying (to huat chye among others), and more buying, left the temple ground around 4.30pm, heading back to Kampung Koh for some Paus and 'mou mou'

Vintage shop houses along the road at Kampung Koh. Make no mistakes though, this is a busy road.

Restoran Yee Si, besides Maybank just at the Kampung Koh crossroad. Another old time outlet here.
Reached there at 4.45pm, and was told everything were sold out. Speechless since they only started selling at 3.00pm everyday.

After that, need to waste some time, so drove to Teluk Batik. The beach is full with beach goer (since its a Saturday), with people picnicking there. Has been ages since I see people 'berkelah'.

Drove back to Setiawan, reaching Bei King at around 7.00pm. Bei King is one of the foremost name here in serving Hock Chew (Foochow) dishes. They have been in business for more than two decades. They are so successful that they are now at a much much larger outlet and is also now operating a hotel cum restaurant.

Directions.. from Setiawan traffic light, head toward Kampung Koh. Look out for Alliance Bank on your left. Turn in after Alliance bank. Drive for about 1km and you wont miss it on your left.

Just ask for Foochow dishes and the 'lansi' lady captain (or owner, i wont know la) will recommend to you.

Ang jiu meesua. The quintessential foochow dish. With chicken, or else the soup would not taste sweet.

This is addictive. The soup is fragrant from the wine and slices of ginger. The chicken pieces real tender. The locally made mee suah smooth and firm. Still wondering, did I got slightly drunk from this or its just because i was tired.

Was recommended Foochow fishball or fish maw. Since the missus does not take fish maw so fishball it is. Foochow fishball has pork in the middle.

Foochow or chien. Err, where's the oyster?? Dont really enjoy this. At least got something to dip the Kampung Koh chili sauce with.

Foochow mixed fried vegetables (with tanghoon)

The dishes cost around RM70, including a pot of kekwa.. cant remember exactly.

Another view of the Tua Pek Kong statues at night, with the lights on.

By 830pm, driving back using the same road, the trunk road are pitch black. Not really advisable. Just dont be afraid if any lady in long hair and white dress stands in front of the road.

Alternatively, head towards Ayer Tawar to Ipoh, to PLUS.

Hock Chew-ness, Part 1

2012-10-08T17:08:00.000+08:00

Another day trip.. 06 October 2012, Setiawan... via PLUS going out at the Changkat Jering exit, then another hour or so of trunk road, longer if you are stuck behind a heavy vehicle.

Reached Setiawan around 1.15pm. A hot day, was told it hasnt rained there for quite some time.

First stop, Kong Piang.. at the Sitiawan Cheong Cia Gong Pian. Just shortly after the Setiawan crossroad, the stall at the backlane is just behind Public Bank on the road heading to Kampung Koh. There is a yellow building besides, which I have read used to house Courts Mammoth, but is now used for bird nest rearing.

I still remember, first time I have heard about Kong Piang or Gong Pian, depending on your dialects, from the in flight Magazine on board Airasia. Since then, I have been yearning to taste the delicacies of the Hock Chew people. At 1.15pm, the store has just opened, we are asked to come back at 1.45pm. We being such nice people were offered from the first batch from the oven without the need to queue up, if we are back at 1.30pm.

So, with time to kill and the sun scorching, Setiawan's famous James Cendol is our next destination. Its just a short drive away.

Location, in front of an Indian temple near The Store supermart (on the road heading to Lumut). Was looking foward to James's wife in her uniform and bright red bowtie, but the stall was manned by two teenages in t-shirt. There goes my photo ops.

Anyway, back to the food. The stall, I note sells Ais Kacang and Cendol. James has been selling here since 1974. We are there for the cendol. You can ask with or without pulut.

The cendol is so fragrant. You can taste that the coconut milk (santan) is very fresh as well the flavourful gula melaka. Sadly, the portion is pitiful.

The famous royal advertisement at the stall, James serving the Sultan of Perak.

Was told James has branched out and is now operating a stall in KL at Old Klang road.

For RM4.00 for one bowl each with and without pulut, I will say its expensive, especially here in Setiawan. Nevertheless, it is good chendol.

Then back to Cheong Chia for our Kong Piang. Will write about the Kong Piang-ing in another blog.

After that it is almost 2.00pm. Went for a drive to Kampung Koh, to look for the other famous Kong Piang outlet there. Found it but its closed.

Nothing else to do, decide its lunch time. Researching about Setiawan pointed out that this place is quite a seafood paradise. Drove towards Kampung Cina, where at least 10 seafood outlet lines the whole road.

We went to Restoran Ah Pek Lee Hou Hock. I have read the dishes here are more special.

Ordered the Sar Jiau Yee, aka Garfish, deep fried in batter.

Marmite stone crab

And Siong Tong Lala (Lala in supreme soup)

Ordered only 3 dishes, since there s only the two of us and to check out the price here too.

Kampung Koh garlic chilli sauce is a must here.

The Sar Jiau Yee, with its white flesh are so fresh. Not fishy at all.

Nice soup, with decent size lala.

The marmite crab on my plate of rice. Check out the roe.

We were told that this style of cooking will result in the dish taste somewhat bitter. That we can accept, however, the crabs were slightly under-cook, making the flesh not firm enough.

The 3 dishes, with white rices and 2 glass of keatla peng, cost us RM74.00. The seafood are definitely fresh.

Read this outlet is famous for its gigantic scallop. Must and will try that the next time.

BrainWashed

2012-10-05T11:37:00.000+08:00

The current bruhaha about some authority agencies raiding that Gold Bullion trading company refers.

1. I am amaze that the consultants and investors are still eagerly defending that the company. The new age business model la, the blue ocean strategy la... which can and will sustain 30-40 percent profit, and the directors of the company are just so generous enough to share the profits with their investors. Fairy tales to me.

2. Just because of the 24% hibah they are getting now, the investors do not care about anything else. Give me thy easy money and I will close thye eyes, close thye ears.. for you. No wonder Jibgor is still handling many many handout, running another deficit budget. Same concept there. btw Jibgor, nothing for me again ah?

3. The way the investors are appealing for the company to be allowed to continue business also appalled me. Now they are going for 'kesian' tactic. How the company helped them with their medical bills for their aging, bed ridden parents la, their school going children la!! Worse it that some advocate of the company are saying, if those people effected jump off a building because of the clamping down, it would be blood on BNM's hand.

Wondering would those consultants be kind enough to take out some portions of the fat commisions they had earned recommending their customers/relatives/friends to invest. Will the consultants say those commisions are their entitlement, they work hard for it and its separate from the issue at hand!!!

4. I also just got to recently know, people like Chedet and FLOM had been roped in to the company's event to give a sense of false security on how genuine, secure and recognise the company is. Even the company's chairwoman is with a powerful name behind. The company even sponsored Starwalk this year. How theses people justify earning their apperance fees and gifts... but again these peoples has never been considered Ghandhi.

The company owners are no where to be seen, only a posting on their company's FB page. They arent even putting up prominently on their website. You must go and find the statement asking everybody to work hand in hand to overcome this challenge. Laughable to me it that most imporatant for the company is asking their investors not to put in money into the company's accounts. Thats in the first paragraph of the statement. Nothing on how they are going to give their investors their money back.

The fools and their golds are soon parted.

5. The irony is that these investors will blame BNM for the collapse of the company and will still continue to invest when the company owners are back setting up another new company. And when the business model fails, the investors will still blame BNM for not clamping down on it earlier before they invest.

Jalan Jalan Cari Makan, Tanjung Dawai, 09Jun2012

2012-06-16T12:52:00.000+08:00

Penang's BERSIH3.0 28Apr2012

2012-05-01T17:10:00.002+08:00

28 April 2012, Esplanande. This is what we call peaceful assembly.

Yellow meets Green,.... say Hi. BERIH 3.0 and Hijau Anti-Lynas united.

Initially when I arrive, the field is only 1/5 filled. Half an hour later, everybody showed up. But chinese still made up the bulk of the participants here.

Miss Overdress to BERSIH 3.0

Cannot find bigger hailer meh.. they are really expecting 300 only to show up meh?? As a result, almost 2/3 of the those who are here have no idea what CM is saying.

Reporting the reporters.

BERSIH!!!!!!!! until Rosmah in Putrajaya also can hear, CM requested..

Something green in the sea of yellow. Okay what!!

Popular CM.

Auntie also want photo of CM mah..

I fully support what BERSIH wanted, ... a clean and fair election fort this country. And I am sure the ruling goverment has not done anything togive us that.

But I could not understand why they insisted on having it at Dataran Merdeka, or as close to it as possible. Anybody would have known, among those who came, there will be those who come solely to makes trouble. What is in Datuk Ambiga's mind, that the organisers will be able to control the 200,000 people who showed up? Remember Reformasi. Those came comes ready to clash with the police. Even if all true BERSIH supporters acts peacefully, there will be agent provecateurs around. Accepting to help the gathering in a stadium sounds totally suitable to me. Even if DBKL later dilly dally in offering its stadiums, held it then in Stadium Shah Alam. Khalid will certainly allows it.

I kinda agree with Senator Tunku Aziz, we should not break any laws even to make a stand. I am angry that DAP warns him to toe party line. Leaders are to represent the people, never the party. But I dont think his advice to voice it through other channels such as the Parlimeant as wise. In Malaysia, the other branch of democracy, the Judiciary and Parlimeant, has being bowing to the ruling Executive branches for that long that IMHO they are already rotten to the core.

Power corrupts. It takes a very brave man to implement changes that might cause lost of powers to himself. His coalition might even lynch him if they lost power by his action to introduce what is correct. In the meantime, I still want a clean and fair election. If toppling the ruling coalition will give me that, then I am all for it... but just do it peacefully.. in accordance to the law, just like us Penangites do it on 28April2012.

South Island,New Zealand, Day 9

2012-04-28T09:04:00.002+08:00

19 October 2011.

Its all rainny and gloomy leaving Hanmmer Spring. Heading towards Kaikoura. Again we left some foods in our previous night's lodging.

Passed through wineyards.. one is open so, drove in for some wine testing..The Marble Point Winery. Spend NZD66 on one bottle of desert wine and many many bottles of local Manuka honey.

It its even raining when we reached Kaikoura a couple of hours away.

This next shot shows how gloomy it is. I was told that on a good day, the mountain range can be seen beautifully guarding the city.

She has been bugging me to bring her to a sheep shearing show. She was saying how her friend says the trip wont be complete if we did not see one. Not that I think its anything interesting.

Found one here in Kairoura, the timing is perfect, and being an indoor event, at least would be a great way to spend an hour or two.

But at last, she is really teriffied of big dogs. And where there's sheep, there will be sheep dog. Brought tears into her eyes and mine seeing her like this, so has to walk away from the show.

Visited the seal colony near town. Unlike the earlier visit near Westport, here you can literally walk up to them. Warning signs posted everwhere though, reminding that the seals are wild animals and they can inflict injuries.

Was guessing that this guy is either showing off or wishing for the cold balmy weather to continue..

And one local came up close and personal to greet up.

In the heavy rain going back to town, gave a Spanish family a ride. Almost drove off with their backpacks in my car's trunk.

Our first NZ fish & chips.. sold by a Hokkien speaking 'Malaysian' chinese to a Hokkien speaking Malaysian chinese.

Deep fried batter coated mussels & chips

Both area big portions but if you are not able to finish it when their hot, will go to waste since they will become soggy and chewy.

Some shopping and a trip to the New World supermarket. Loved these brownish pears, as opposed to the green one sold here in Malaysia.

Dinner for the night - told you she started craving pizzas.... but with an egg on one... strange IMHO..

To the Strawbery Tree to check up the local pub scene. A glass of Guinness. And for me, I asked the bartender, what whould a local drink .. her recommended a local brew by the outlet.. the Sheep Shagger.. not as 'gassy' or bitter.

Accomodation for the night and tomorrow.. the Lazy Shag Backpackers, mostly younger set of backpackers, so the kitchen utensils are in terrible shape.

South Island, New Zealand, Day 8

2012-04-11T09:07:00.013+08:00

18 OCtober 2011 (Tuesday)

The fireplace at Basil's.

No real plan for today, Should I bypass Hanmer Spring and drive up North to Blenheim, or drive south .. far south again towards Arthurs Pass

Anyway, exploring Westport first.

A official building in Westport. Looks like a landmark here.

The main street of Westport

After spending some money, make a detour to Tauranga Bay Seal Colony.

Taking Route 6 South, then route 69, we reach Reefton.

Miner's hut for show.

Passing Lewis Pass.

Reached Hanmer Spring. Famous for its hot spring and a weekend getaway for people from Christchurch.

Taking a dip in the many hot pools. Cost NZD18 perperson. No time limit.

Wonderful doing it in the cold weather and some light rain.

Our dinner for that night. The place where she started to love and crave for pizzas.

Accomodation for the night. Kakapo lodge. A more family-oriented accomodation.

South Island, New Zealand, Day 7

2012-04-07T11:00:00.009+08:00

17 October 2012 (Monday)

Wake up to a beautiful Franz Josef. Blue sky and crisp air.

Realised missed the Rugby World Cup Semifinals between the Australia and New Zealand. Watching the game in a pub here in New Zealand would be a wonderful experience, especially since the AB won the game and would go to the finals.

Leaving Franz Josef, drove North .

Short stop at Pukekura and the only thing there, the Bushmen visitors's center. Short break there. Tempted to taste Possum pie but decided against it.

Passed Ross, one of the few small 'kampung' along the way

Wont mind living in such places at all... that is until boredoms sets in.

Then we reached Hokitika.

Took our time strolling around. Hokitika or Hoki is the so called art center in the region. Pounamu, the Maori name for NZ Jade or Greenstone carvings and retailng is a big industry here. She made puchases (again) albeit the more cheaper rocks.

Also managed to sample the local seasonal delicacy, the Whitebait. Small fishes cooked in eggs fritters - ie omellete style, served with salad and fries. Tasted nice, something chewy and salty goes well with those bland eggs.

As we are leaving, the sky opened up and it starts to rains cats and dogs. Would have to drive even slower in these winding coastal hugging roads, and I am already a slow driver.

After Hokitika, we continue North to another attraction that was said not to be missed here on the West Coast of South Island, the Punaikaki Pancake Rocks and Blowhole.

Reached there and the rain has died down. But again we reached there rather late, with the Park Office and cafe's closing. But the park is still open for another hour and we had it all to ourselves, something I always prefer since I can takes pictures with no human beings in it.

Wonderful rock formations.The pancakes rocks. Did not saw any blowholes though even with the wind blowing strong.

Just add maple syrup and we are good to go.

Continued North to Westport via the Coastal Scenic Route, with a short stop at Grey mouth for groceries. True to the reputation of this place, the weather is really unpredictable and it rained, stopped, rained again and stopped again ....

Still, we did many stops since somebody likes the pebbels on the beach so much that she packs almost 2-3 kilos of pebbels home. Always wondered are theses pebbels originally from the beaches here or they were put here to prevent erosion. I would have though beaches on ocean facing beaches to have smaller grains of sands and rocks with the big waves pounding daily.

Somewhere along the West Coast. Thats the Tasman Seas in front.

Finally reached Westport, and the rain continues.

Spend the night at Bazil's. The twin bed's room upfront is amazing.

South Island, New Zealand, Day 6

2012-03-31T01:16:00.005+08:00

16 October 2012 (Sunday)

Woke up early.
Drove to Lake Matheson, very near our accomodation, for the picture perfect scenery promised.

The walking trail going round the lake is approximately one hour long.

And we are rewarded with the mirror image of the lake with Mount Cook and Mount Tasman behind, although the day is slightly cloudy, obscuring the blue sky.

And now only, I found out, going there early means, before sunrise :)

On our walk out, we saw lots of ferns, gold in colour. .. so beautiful...

Leaving Fox township, we drove north to the Franz Josef township half an hour away, for the most ardous activity of our entire trip... a half day hike on the Franz Josef glacier (NZD 123/person)

Unlike the Milford Sound trip, this trip is filled with younger set and almost exclusively angmoh.. Out of the 70-80 participants, only we are non caucasians and we even might be the oldest in the group.

How I worry I might not be able to keep up!!

But you dont see glacier every day, and hiking on one is a very special experience... especially since we wont really know how long they will be there.

Luckily the guide segragrate the group, and those who wants to be in the slower group can choose so. Easy choice for me, I just looked for the fattest in our whole group, see which group she joins and join her group :)

The hike up.

We need to wear crampoon, steel spike over over hiking boots to be able to walk properly on the ice. This, I realised is still the closest thing I have come to experiencing real snow. Our guide is a friendly Dutch guy with a very French name.. Remy.

Tight 'cravasse

Route and steps cut early by guides. Wonder how they did it?

Blue ice

Photo ops .. climbing through an ice cave.

On the way down, looked up back again.

Later in the day, we drive back to Fox Glacier, walk to the base of the glacier for some photos at the almost deserted park (by the time we are there).

Like our LP guidebook says, you dont see a glacier every day of your life, so why not see two in a day.

Ended the day tired as hell. Early night.

Stayed at Glow Worm Cottages, Franz Josef (NZ65/night for the backpackers double room)

South Island, New Zealand, Day 5

2012-03-29T12:58:00.004+08:00

15 October 2011, Saturday

Waking up to a beautiful Queenstown.
Lake Wakatipu is so beautiful.
Felt sad did not spend enough time here.

Breakfast at Vudu .. as recommeded by the LP guide book.

Egg Benedict

The famous pancake

Loiter around town for a bit,

before deciding I need to do something extreme.. so that I can at least boast back home :)

And half a day wasted waiting, jumped out from a plane and rush off to our next destination.

From Queenstown, drove to Wanaka.
Was told Shania Twain owns much of the country here.
Seems like an idealic town, with such a nice peaceful lake.

A short walk about in town, and a trip to the New World supermarket and we are off again, in view of the long drive ahead.

Did not manage to stop anywhere in the 4 hours something drive from Wanaka to the Fox Glacier township, via Haast, entering the so called Wild West Coast country.

Except some toilet breaks, and a relief of another kind finding the petrol station in Haast.

Driving through one of the national park there.

Finally reach the Westland Tai Poutini National Parks, home of the glaciers.

Stayed the night at Fox Glacier Holiday Park, NZD94 for the night, out highest-end accomodation in this trip.

South Island, New Zealand, Day 4

2012-03-19T21:03:00.005+08:00

14 October 2011 (Friday)

Booked a day trip to the jewels of South Island - Milford Sound.
Use RealJourney which costed us NZD396.00 per person, departing from Queenstown. The price includes a taxi pickup from and later back to our accomodation.

Waking up early entitled us to this great view of Lake Wakatipu.

Boarding the coach, saw that this trip is filled with the more elderly crowd.

Passed though farm lands, where the lady driver cum tour guide filled us with much informations on farm lifes and landmarks we passed.

Stopped at town of Te Anau for breakfast and came up this shop with such glorious name.

Then onwards to Milford Sound.

The coach trip seems unremarkable at first. Rains starts to fall and the whole area is covered by mist. Scenery spoilers.

But the further we went, the scenery changes and it became more interesting. Entering birch forest. The glass ceiling coach afford us different perspective, normally what we would miss riding in a coach.

Then the trip climbs. Snow capped peak presents themselves. Such wonderful scenery. It is a pity that we dont stop as much as we like just to get down to admire the wonderful scenery.

And finally, we reach the Sound. We learned that this is actually a Fjord, which means this is created by glaciers. Sounds are created by rivers.

Board our boat and started sailing out to the Tasmian Seas.

The weather is beautiful with the sun shinning, although the wind is blowing quite cold.

The boat in front of shows demontrated how high the Fjord walls are.

Some locals lazying around.

I was secretly hoping for some dolphin to come swimming with our boat. Then we were shown to a spot where penguins frequent but none came. After office hour maybe!! Finally spotted one swimming. My first wild dolphin encounter :)

One of the many waterfalls.

How amazing to be able to view them from the foot of the walls.

A wonderful journey.

Then a tired and sleepy coach ride back to Queenstown.

After reaching Queenstown, sent some time looking for dinner (Thai food). Loved Queenstown and wish we could spend more time here.

Spend the night at Creeksyde again. With our private carpark allocation, at least we dont have to pay for it.

South Island, New Zealand Day 3

2012-03-15T22:50:00.010+08:00

13 October 2011 (Thursday)

Lake Tekapo is so so beautiful that I have to capture its splendour as much as I can. So woke at at 5.00am, in the freezing cold, again drove the short distance to the Church to get more pictures.

Hoping the area would be deserted, cause I do hate having people in my landscape pictures. And it is. Cause its so cold...

Just south of the lake, up on top of Mount John is the International Observatory. Read that its the perfect location since there's virtually no polution from any industry in the area and hence crisp clear view of the night sky.

Up there, there's a great view of the Lake again as well as the township.

There is even a Cafe up there, the Astro Cafe. A couple of coffees and some cakes to start the day. Appreciated the fact that a cafe like this would never survice in Malaysia.

Back down the Mount John, on route 8 to Lake Pukaki.

On the way, went pass the a river with the same baby blue colour as Lake Tekapo (and the bigger Lake Pukaki further south). Made a detour the the Salmon Farm, reach there and found the farm-visit closed for maintenance. Well at least managed to get nice pictures of the river and its colour.

After Lake Pukaki, which did not look spectacular since the sun is too bright, took the turnoff to the base of Mount Cook.

One hour drive each way.. okay, I am a lousy driver.. so sue me :)

At the base of Mount Cook is the Hermitage Lodge, a high, very high-end accomodation with killer view of the splendid Mount Cook from every room.

There's also a statue and an Alpine discovery Center in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary, one half of the duo who first stepped on to the peak of the Everest.

Spent too much there at the Hermitage browsing through souveniers.

Sceneries on the way out back to Route 8, driving all the way worrying about my petrol level. Although that didnt stop us from stopping again and again for more photos :).

Stopped by Twizel, the nearest town to Mount Cook for petrol and some groceries.

Due to time constraints, missed Oamaru, stopped for a while at Crowmwell for a toilet break.

Entered Queenstown passed 5pm, and to our disapointment, all the wineries are closed.

Luckily, managed to get to see the last couple of bungy jumps at the Hackett bungy jump at Kawarau Bridge.

Stopped by Arrowtown, first to the Hobbiton-feel old chinese settlement, and later to the main street for a look-around and more photos.

Arrived in Queenstown, checked in at our accomodation. Took the Skyline Gondola up even though was told every outlet up there was booked for some private functions.

Managed to get some stunning sunset though. Wanted to wait for some night sceen of Queenstown, but the sun dont seems to want to set down.

Hunger force us down, walk to Queenstown for dinner and more souvenier shopping.

The dock by Lake Wakatipu where the steamshp TSS Earnshw is berth.

Accomodation for the night, Creeksyde (NZD72). Got our own private carpark (which is totally useful for tomorrow). One thing though, you need to rent cooking utensils here.

South Island, New Zealand, Day 2, Part 2

2012-03-11T17:19:00.005+08:00

Lake Tekapo

First view and you will realise it is such a beatiful place. The baby-bluiesh colour of the lake are so mesmerizing and imho, cannot be describe to those who have not seen it before..

The little Church of the Good Sheperd by the lake

The Lake Tekapo township is quite small, and there are not many things to do at when the sunsets.

Driving up Mount John for a bird's eye view.

Evening at Lake Tekapo

Accomodation tonight, Lakefront Backpacker's Lodge (NZD70)

South Island, New Zealand, Day 1

2012-03-11T17:00:00.006+08:00

11 October 2012 (Tuesday)

Touched down in the Christchurch International Airport.

You cannot miss the huge multi screen LCD display promoting this beautiful country while waiting for Immigration clearance.

Especially like attitude the Customs officers. Really courteous without the 'hao lian' look of Aussie Customs. They really make you feel welcome and not trying to intimitate, as if all of us are there to overstay.

Can see Angmoh travelers coming in with sporting gears, like bicycles and hiking poles. Can also see Asian travelers coming in boxes and boxes of instant noodles and other Asian foods.

After clearing custom, wanted to call our accomodation for pickup. But no NZ coins leh, so have to use the airport shuttle, have to pay for that.
Tonight we stayed at the North South Holiday Park close by the airport (Tourist Cabin NZD91).

For dinner, theres a truck stop accross the road from where we are staying, but dont look promising. There is also a Thai Ffood delivery service, but after looking at the menu and the price, I decided that I cannot bring myself to spend a mini fortune for Asian food here. So biscuits we brought from KL for dinner with free tea and coffee from our accomodation. Really really regreted did not bring any instant noodles.

Rental car will only for pick up tomorrow, since I thought I ll be too tired from jet lag. But I am not and although we walked around in the surroundings, felt a day has been wasted.

South Island, New Zealand, Day 2, Part 1

2012-03-11T16:44:00.007+08:00

October 12, 2011 (Wednesday)

Took the car.

Use Route One heading south. With view of snow-capped Southern Alps accompanying us all the way.

Passed by Rakaia, supposedly famous for rivers full of Salmon. Maybe we did not look hard enough, but the rivers were dry.

Had our first properly bought in New Zealand meal. And coffee.

On to Ashburton. First supermarket trip in New Zealand.

After Ashburton, came to route 79, turnoff to Rangitata and the town of Geraldine. Some interesting group of shops at the junction to Lake Tekapo. Stopped there for some look around which turns to a mini shopping trip. There are a cheese factory/shop, ice cream, souveniers, lots of cafe and also the Barker's outlet famed for their jams made from local fruits and produces.

On to the beautiful Mackenzie Country.

And continued driving towards Lake Tekapo..

KONY 2012

2012-03-10T08:10:00.003+08:00

In this age, the Facebook age.. anybody can make a difference.. everybody can make a difference..

Not to be sideline by the message of this clip, but watching this clip makes me realise the above.

Anyway, invest 30minutes of your time to watch this clip, know the name, know the face and .. hopefully we will make a difference..

Jalan Jalan Cari Makan 07Feb2012, Round 3

2012-02-25T01:23:00.008+08:00

Back to the town of Kampar, although we are full from our earlier meals, I am not going to miss trying this , especially after since we are here.

Yau Kee Restaurant at 55 & 57 Jalan Idris, 31900 Kampar (look for it in the older part of town, near the bus station).

Famous for it's Curry Chicken bread or Roti Ayam (hey.. they put that on their signboard)... i.e. curry chicken wrapped and cooked in a bread dough.

There's two sizes, big or small. This is the small one. Looks small because the chopsticks by the bread are much longer than the average chopsticks you find elsewhere.

Even the small size is quite large for the two of us.

The waitress opened it up.. and voila... ready to be enjoyed..

Dipping the bread into the curry to soak it up.

The bread is nice, soft and tender. Tasted milky and sweet.

But the curry chicken itself is a disappointment. Sure, there are plenty of chicken chunks in the curry but the curry itself, I found to be quite bland. Maybe it is more suitable for those who is not accustomed to spicy food. Definitely Penang curry chicken wins hands down. Well I have tried it, and will I be back here... for the novelty, maybe .. for the ummp factor...not likely..

This Rori Ayam cost us RM28.00.

Towels, tea, groundnuts another RM7.10.

Jalan Jalan Cari Makan 07Feb2012, Round 2

2012-02-12T18:55:00.014+08:00

Tanjung Tualang, Perak.

A 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...