At least that's what I think the hill is called. It's at Melawati, near the Klang Gates Dam. All the place names in this post are accurate to the blogger's best knowledge, which isn't very good at all.
From the past two rather pleasant treks, I was eager to go for the third one that Chindiana organized. This time the party grew to the size of eight, from the previous three and six, with Chindiana, Nex, Grace, Edward that I know; and Reuben, Gavin and Serena. Han Solo has been transfered to JB and I shall only see her when I'm in Singapore.
When Chindiana called me yesterday and told me roughly what to expect, I happily said okay to everything. Almost vertical climbing for one hour? Can. Lose your footing, and you will fall like 200-300 metres down? Can. After this hike you give me your firstborn? Can can, everything can. Just bring me along, damnit!
So we set off this morning, in two cars, took the ultra long route via MRR (when we could have taken the much shorter route via Jalan Kuching passing Batu Caves =D Halfway through we wondered if we were actually going to Seremban!) and reached the base at about 8:30am. The climbing began almost immediately.
Heheh.
Like probably one tenth of the way up, I started to realize that my expectations of flat road, climbing, flat road, climbing again - were quite unfounded and largely imagined. It was climbing, climbing, climbing.... ALL the way up. *will karate chop anyone who says "I told you so"* I trudged along, but after another one sixteenth of the way, I had this most compelling urge to lie down, turn over and fall asleep. Instead, I crouched on the ground and puked one third of my breakfast out.
Fractions seem to dominate my mind this evening.
Luckily the others were too far ahead to witness the debacle from close. Under the encouragement of Chindi and Nex a few metres up, I hauled myself up and continued to heave one leg in front of the other. Sweating profusely and feeling like giving up every ten steps I took. Fortunately the guys wouldn't hear of it and kept cheering me on.
Memories of past hiking experiences flashed in front of my eyes - the time when I almost fell off the cliff from walking on a damp metal pipe when on a school trip to Gua Tempurung (I think), very dangerous indeed in hindsight; the time when I had to stop while walking with Val along Abel Tasman National Park; family outing to Gasing Hill... okay. I'm not good at this. History has proven so.
I could hear Chindi and Nex in front, arguing over who should accompany me and who should proceed. "You go ahead lah!" "No, you go ahead!" Aiks. Sorry lah guys. At the end Nex stayed back to keep the resident old lady company, and Chindi went on to join the rest. Light-headed and heavy-footed, I managed to get to the peak (that's what I hope it was) and we decided that we wouldn't follow the others through the more challenging route, but we would hang around then take the original route down.
After I caught my breath the world became beautiful again. The air was cool, the KL skyline was visible (albeit within a grey cloud of smog) and there was a curious bumble bee with its abdomen striped metallic blue and black, buzzing around. Nex and I had a good leisurely chat on general topics like building sustainable homes and communes, and Star Wars movie props.
When the time came that we should begin to descend the hill, I stood up and felt that something was amiss.
OMFG.
I would refer to it later to the others as a "wardrobe malfunction", but to put it in plain prose - I had ripped my pants. In fact, it was not so much as a rip than a huge, 20cm long gash, probably resulted from leaning my butt liberally on jagged rocks. I didn't even know when it happened.
Quite aghast, the trip downhill was rapid and purposeful. Nex moved in front and luckily we didn't meet too many people, and when we did I had to shield my back with my backpack. In my hurry, I slipped and fell and bruised my lower back. Ouch.
In view of the series of unfortunate and embarrassing events, the optimistic voice at the back of my head pointed out how it could be worse. I could've been with the rest of the guys when the gash happened, and it would have been loads more uncomfortable. For, ripped pants are like car accidents, they're horrific but you can't stop looking at them. The fall could have cut me on where the pants were ripped. Or, I could, like Jen Hui suggested later, have been wearing a bright red pair of underwear instead of the inconspicuous black pair.
Could be worse, could be worse.
Nex and I reached the bottom of the hill in due time where we waited for the others to reach the car. When they did, I asked Grace if she had extra pants, which apparently she did. But of course it would be too easy if I were to slip blithely into her pants and close the case. Nope, of course not. I wouldn't fit. There was no blitheness to speak of. Reluctantly I surrendered Grace's shorts back to her. Edward from the other car offered me his extra pair of pants then.
I eyed Edward's slim physique and asked apprehensively, "Do you think that I could fit into them?" Because, it is one case to be unable to fit into dainty S-sized girl's pants and quite a different case to be too big for a guy's pair. The embarrassment would be too much to bear within a day, although I do have a high threshold for embarrassment. Fortunately, the pants flung over to me was as big as a tent, and fit me comfortably.
I am relieved to say that the rest of the day went on without further complications. I successfully belanja-ed chicken rice to part of the group (sorry for those who had nasi campur), since I promised to the last time when I forgot my wallet. After getting home, Jen Hui and I spent a glorious afternoon in the Popular Book Fest in KL Convention Centre, resulting in me spending more money on books - but I bought Chinese books! I haven't read Chinese books in ages so it is justified! - and her on English novels and CDs.
Pretty sore legs at the end of the day, partly from standing too long at the book fest and partly from the partially completed hike.
***
To The Hiking Peeps: Thanks guys, for bringing me along, pushing me a bit but not too much, lending me pants and everything. And on top of all those, for not laughing (openly) at me. Heheh. Thanks a million!
To Jen Hui: We shall find love! And I don't mean on the back cover of the Brian McKnight CD that you bought!
To Everyone Else: Ei, you people do realize that I'm going to be off in about 2 weeks' time and you'll never get to see me in a looooong while right? Why is noone asking me out? I'm free most of the time till 18 June. Call/text/email me. If you want to meet within 18 June - 21 July we can probably work something else up in between my travel plans.
***
In other news: Cooking Mentor Robert's coming to Singapore and Malaysia!!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!!!!! He's going to arrive at Singapore at 15 July, slight glitch at the travel period because Val's leaving on the same day back Germany =( But he's coming!! And the crazy guy is planning to cycle from Singapore to Hong Kong, wahaha... We might meet in Malacca if he doesn't get to KL by the time I leave to Singapore. Will work out something.
***
Wooh. Ultra long post. This post sat in my drafts overnight because I kept falling asleep while editing it. I'm itching all over. Mozzie bites and lots of tiny scratches which are bloody itchy!!
On painting and writing.
At a whim, I got "Watercolour Painting for Dummies" yesterday, under the staunch disapproval of Melissa Tan. She knows me and my fickle-mindedness (i.e. I would pore over the book like no tomorrow, and then bury it under my mountain of books without even touching the paint).
To prove her wrong and to honour the first ever Dummies book that I have ever bought, I unearthed the old box of Buncho watercolours lying within my art supplies chest of drawers and started wetting some art block scraps and dabbing watercolour on them. A technique which is known as "wet-on-wet", thank you "Watercolour Painting for Dummies".
I looked at our antique-y lamp in the livingroom for a while and proceeded to draw it after two seconds when I got tired of staring at it. Outlined the shape of the lamp. Hmm. Squished a satisfying splat of paint into the palette. Dabbled my semi-new brush into the colour. Reflected upon the fact that the semi-new brushes were by products of an earlier, hauntingly familiar whim.
Then I hovered the brush above the wetted white.
I watched as the drop of paint contacted the puddle. Almost hungrily, it dispersed with a vengeance, a blot of purple, reaching its minuscule tentacles out, out, out, in desperation, before its time ran out and it could no longer run. The drop expanded to almost three times its original size till its activity came to a still, resulting in a furball of sorts.
Intrigued, I administered two more drops. And then some.
The painting was quite a disaster. In place of what should have been a antique-y looking lamp was Mickey Mouse and his entire hairy clan. Discouraged by the disparaging result, I left the set of paints outside and came back in to blog. To return to familiar territory. Writing.
In fact, I was musing just now, sometimes I do give too little credit to my writing. Trying to paint, and failing miserably at it, had at least triggered the realization of the similarities between writing and painting.
Writing is an art. Painting is an art. Both involve a two-step of being able to observe, and to translate that observation into a concrete piece of expression. Words in a passage are like paint on a canvas. While trying to paint, I was frustrated that I couldn't see the different layers of colour upon a single object. I had no control on the paints, I couldn't do dark when I needed dark, or light when I needed light. The brush had no life in my hand.
But writing. My observation skills still need to be honed, but at least I have no trouble most of the time to express what I want to say, clearly and comprehensibly. Being able to compare the helplessness in painting with the relative effortlessness in writing, I am struck with a sudden gratefulness and appreciation of this gift. Hey, I can write! My first paid article is going on air shortly (will let you all know when it's out)! I've written a book, although it is stuck in its never-ending loop of proofreading!
Praise the Writing God.
The reflection does not end here though. I started writing since I was quite young. Seven? Eight?And I kept a journal for the six years that I was in high school, writing in English for the first five, and upon realization that writing in Chinese actually saves a hell lot of paper, in Chinese during the sixth. Academic writing took over during university days. Then I took up blogging. The flow, from brain to fingers to keyboard to screen, is seamless simply because I am so used to expressing myself with words that it's the most natural thing in the world.
And I want to be able to paint masterpieces the first half hour I learn painting, just by reading "Watercolour Painting for Dummies?"
Yeah. Right.
To prove her wrong and to honour the first ever Dummies book that I have ever bought, I unearthed the old box of Buncho watercolours lying within my art supplies chest of drawers and started wetting some art block scraps and dabbing watercolour on them. A technique which is known as "wet-on-wet", thank you "Watercolour Painting for Dummies".
I looked at our antique-y lamp in the livingroom for a while and proceeded to draw it after two seconds when I got tired of staring at it. Outlined the shape of the lamp. Hmm. Squished a satisfying splat of paint into the palette. Dabbled my semi-new brush into the colour. Reflected upon the fact that the semi-new brushes were by products of an earlier, hauntingly familiar whim.
Then I hovered the brush above the wetted white.
I watched as the drop of paint contacted the puddle. Almost hungrily, it dispersed with a vengeance, a blot of purple, reaching its minuscule tentacles out, out, out, in desperation, before its time ran out and it could no longer run. The drop expanded to almost three times its original size till its activity came to a still, resulting in a furball of sorts.
Intrigued, I administered two more drops. And then some.
The painting was quite a disaster. In place of what should have been a antique-y looking lamp was Mickey Mouse and his entire hairy clan. Discouraged by the disparaging result, I left the set of paints outside and came back in to blog. To return to familiar territory. Writing.
In fact, I was musing just now, sometimes I do give too little credit to my writing. Trying to paint, and failing miserably at it, had at least triggered the realization of the similarities between writing and painting.
Writing is an art. Painting is an art. Both involve a two-step of being able to observe, and to translate that observation into a concrete piece of expression. Words in a passage are like paint on a canvas. While trying to paint, I was frustrated that I couldn't see the different layers of colour upon a single object. I had no control on the paints, I couldn't do dark when I needed dark, or light when I needed light. The brush had no life in my hand.
But writing. My observation skills still need to be honed, but at least I have no trouble most of the time to express what I want to say, clearly and comprehensibly. Being able to compare the helplessness in painting with the relative effortlessness in writing, I am struck with a sudden gratefulness and appreciation of this gift. Hey, I can write! My first paid article is going on air shortly (will let you all know when it's out)! I've written a book, although it is stuck in its never-ending loop of proofreading!
Praise the Writing God.
The reflection does not end here though. I started writing since I was quite young. Seven? Eight?And I kept a journal for the six years that I was in high school, writing in English for the first five, and upon realization that writing in Chinese actually saves a hell lot of paper, in Chinese during the sixth. Academic writing took over during university days. Then I took up blogging. The flow, from brain to fingers to keyboard to screen, is seamless simply because I am so used to expressing myself with words that it's the most natural thing in the world.
And I want to be able to paint masterpieces the first half hour I learn painting, just by reading "Watercolour Painting for Dummies?"
Yeah. Right.
Intense Travelling 18/6/2008 - 15/7/2008
Subtitled: Or, why I am butt poor.
I can only handle so much decision-making in a morning.
I emailed all the guesthouses that me and Asa will stay in in Thailand, i.e.
1. Suk11 Hostel, Sukhumvit, Bangkok - 650Baht for a twin room, airconditioned
2. Sam's River Rafthouse, Kanchanaburi - 400 Baht for a twin room, airconditioned
3. Bann Kun-Pra Guesthouse, Ayutthaya - 600 Baht for a double room/two queensized bed room, no aircondition I think.
Waiting for them to get back to us. All in all I expect to spend like 1800baht (per pax) for 6 nights of accommodation, which isn't too bad I suppose. RM30 for one night. I do hope that the bookings will go through though.
Our tentative plan is
Then, 27/6/2008 - 30/6/2008 is reserved for LL who's gonna be back from Brisbane for a short vacation.
Val reaches on 1/7/2008.
The package that I'm taking to Taman Negara and Perhentian, if anyone's interested, is from NKS Travel.
The cost, per pax is:
RM370 - Taman Negara full board + activities package (ex-KL)
RM25 - Transfer to Kuala Besut jetty
RM440 - Perhentian package, staying in Flora Bay Resort
RM60 - One night extra accommodation in Perhentian
RM6 - Local bus transfer to Kota Bharu
RM76 - Flight from Kota Bharu back to KLIA
RM35 - one-way KLIA Express from KLIA back KL Sentral
And the total cost, for 5 nights' accommodation, food and transport is, *dang dang dang dang*
RM1007.
Aiyak. Just past RM1k.
The only thing that I could do to lower the cost is to set up the Perhentian itinerary on my own, which, according to some educated guesstimation would be like the following:
Fastboat - RM60 return
Accom - RM50 per night since it's high season, i.e. RM150(estimated)
Food - RM30 per day, i.e. RM90
Snorkelling trips with equipment - RM30 per trip for two trips: RM60
Perhentian trip cost: RM360, instead of RM500 like taking the package. But the accommodation would probably be more basic and I would have to go through all the hassle of booking and figuring stuff out. A source with some ideas of DIY Perhentian: *click*
The budget of the entire trip with Val I hope to keep it below RM1500, with Cameron and Malacca factored in.
The crazy back-to-backness of my plans is exhilarating yet faintly disturbing because it does look quite packed on paper. Aiya don't care lah. Calling NKS to book the crazy package now, and then have to install my scanner to scan some form that IRD NZ needs to refund my tax.
Guess how much they're giving me back? NZD83!!! For all that money they'd got from me, I get a dodgy NZD83 back! Sai hei.
I can only handle so much decision-making in a morning.
I emailed all the guesthouses that me and Asa will stay in in Thailand, i.e.
1. Suk11 Hostel, Sukhumvit, Bangkok - 650Baht for a twin room, airconditioned
2. Sam's River Rafthouse, Kanchanaburi - 400 Baht for a twin room, airconditioned
3. Bann Kun-Pra Guesthouse, Ayutthaya - 600 Baht for a double room/two queensized bed room, no aircondition I think.
Waiting for them to get back to us. All in all I expect to spend like 1800baht (per pax) for 6 nights of accommodation, which isn't too bad I suppose. RM30 for one night. I do hope that the bookings will go through though.
Our tentative plan is
- 18/6/2008 - Reach Bangkok in the evening.
- 19/6/2008 - Take a train to Kanchanaburi for the Death Railway and surrounding museums, spend the night at Kanchanaburi
- 20/6/2008 - Go to the Erawan National Park for its beautiful waterfalls. Take a bus back to BKK.
- 21/6/2008 - Bangkok shopping
- 22/6/2008 - Bangkok shopping =D
- 23/6/2008 - Take a train to Ayutthaya, potter around for the day, stay for the night.
- 24/6/2008 - Leave Ayutthaya by train, be in time for the train back to Butterworth. Night in train.
- 25/6/2008 - Reach Butterworth, go to Penang, stuff face.
- 26/6/2008 - Leave Penang back to KL.
Then, 27/6/2008 - 30/6/2008 is reserved for LL who's gonna be back from Brisbane for a short vacation.
Val reaches on 1/7/2008.
- 1/7/2008 - Arrival, meander about, maybe watch a movie or something.
- 2/7/2008 - Take a bus to Cameron Highlands.
- 3/7/2008 - Maybe do a tour or some trails in Cameron
- 4/7/2008 - Back to KL, can use my mum's car 'coz it's weekend already, drive to Malacca, maybe without using the highway. We'll see what time we set off.
- 5/7/2008 - Malacca walk around, Jonker Street at night
- 6/7/2008 - Make way back to KL, passing through Putrajaya, Semenyih dam etc.
- 7/7/2008 - Crazy Package starts! - Leave KL in the morning to Taman Negara, pass by Jerantut and Kuala Tembeling, take boat at 2pm from Kuala Tembeling, reach Taman Negara by 5pm, do some jungle walks at night.
- 8/7/2008 - Trek up Bukit Teresek, go for canopy walkway, shoot rapids, meet orang asli, all in a day's work - optional night safari.
- 9/7/2008 - Leave Taman Negara at 8am, reach Jerantut at 10, take a bus and reach Kuala Besut at 5pm. Speedboat to Perhentian Islands. All transport connections arranged by tour agent.
- 10/7/2008 - Start Perhentian Islands package. Do island stuff, snorkelling, lazing by the beach, etc.
- 11/7/2008 - Island stuff.
- 12/7/2008 - Reach Kota Bharu by 2-3pm to check in for flight at 4 something. Reach KL in the evening.
- 13/7/2008 - Drive around somewhere. Weekend again woot!!
- 14/7/2008 - KL City Centre Public Transport Day Tour.
- 15/7/2008 - Val departs at noon.
The package that I'm taking to Taman Negara and Perhentian, if anyone's interested, is from NKS Travel.
The cost, per pax is:
RM370 - Taman Negara full board + activities package (ex-KL)
RM25 - Transfer to Kuala Besut jetty
RM440 - Perhentian package, staying in Flora Bay Resort
RM60 - One night extra accommodation in Perhentian
RM6 - Local bus transfer to Kota Bharu
RM76 - Flight from Kota Bharu back to KLIA
RM35 - one-way KLIA Express from KLIA back KL Sentral
And the total cost, for 5 nights' accommodation, food and transport is, *dang dang dang dang*
RM1007.
Aiyak. Just past RM1k.
The only thing that I could do to lower the cost is to set up the Perhentian itinerary on my own, which, according to some educated guesstimation would be like the following:
Fastboat - RM60 return
Accom - RM50 per night since it's high season, i.e. RM150(estimated)
Food - RM30 per day, i.e. RM90
Snorkelling trips with equipment - RM30 per trip for two trips: RM60
Perhentian trip cost: RM360, instead of RM500 like taking the package. But the accommodation would probably be more basic and I would have to go through all the hassle of booking and figuring stuff out. A source with some ideas of DIY Perhentian: *click*
The budget of the entire trip with Val I hope to keep it below RM1500, with Cameron and Malacca factored in.
The crazy back-to-backness of my plans is exhilarating yet faintly disturbing because it does look quite packed on paper. Aiya don't care lah. Calling NKS to book the crazy package now, and then have to install my scanner to scan some form that IRD NZ needs to refund my tax.
Guess how much they're giving me back? NZD83!!! For all that money they'd got from me, I get a dodgy NZD83 back! Sai hei.
I think Singapore will kill my soul.
I got this letter today from NTU, and within it is a very detailed and mechanical description of how to apply for the student's pass.
I need one recent passport sized photo with the following specifications:
*big sigh*
I wonder how much damage is going to be done to my psyche. Already, there is a mounting heat going up my neck, of the sheer irritation of having to read half a page of paper for one measly passport sized photo. And why the grey background? (*edit* I just realized that it is WHITE that they want, unless I wear a white hat that I'm not allowed to) I like my passport photo backgrounds the conventional sky blue, can't? And what does "image of my face measuring between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown of head" even mean?
OK, I know what it means, after reading it three times. My short attention span jumped over that line the first two times I tried to read it. Who is writing this crap anyway? Isn't there more important things in life to do than to specify how big one's head should be in a photograph, or worse, measuring every single photograph that comes in?
I don't like feeling resentful towards petty things like that. However, a deeper fear resides within my heart - would there be a day when I accept all of these as second nature? Would I feel afraid even, to step out of this box, full of do's and don'ts, and or else's? And once I am in The Box, would my soul ever be free again?
On an unrelated note, before the dratted letter came in, I painted this this morning.
With these.
Maybe going for art class in Singapore will save my soul. I wonder.
I need one recent passport sized photo with the following specifications:
- Sharp and clear, 35 mm wide by 45 mm high without border and taken within the last 3 months;
- Taken full face with you looking directly at the camera with head straight, eyes open with no hair across and/or covering the eyes. Both edges of your face, and the top of the shoulders must be clearly seen;
- Taken with the image of your face measuring between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown of head;
- Taken without wearing any hat or other head covering, unless you habitually wear a hat or head covering in accordance with your religious or racial custom. If any such hat or other head covering is worn, the photograph must still be a full frontal view of your head and shoulders, showing your facial features in entirety with eyes open and clearly visible;
- If you wear glasses, the photograph must show your eyes clearly with no flash reflection off the glasses. The frame shall not cover any part of your eyes. Tinted glasses and sunglasses are not allowed;
- Taken with uniform lighting with no flash reflection or shadow, no uneven bright spots on the face and no red eyes;
- Taken against a white background, except that if your hair, hat or head covering is white, the background must be light grey;
- Show you alone with no chair back, toys or other persons visible;
- Be printed on high quality paper at high resolution with a matt or semi-matt finish with no ink marks or creases.
*big sigh*
I wonder how much damage is going to be done to my psyche. Already, there is a mounting heat going up my neck, of the sheer irritation of having to read half a page of paper for one measly passport sized photo. And why the grey background? (*edit* I just realized that it is WHITE that they want, unless I wear a white hat that I'm not allowed to) I like my passport photo backgrounds the conventional sky blue, can't? And what does "image of my face measuring between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown of head" even mean?
OK, I know what it means, after reading it three times. My short attention span jumped over that line the first two times I tried to read it. Who is writing this crap anyway? Isn't there more important things in life to do than to specify how big one's head should be in a photograph, or worse, measuring every single photograph that comes in?
I don't like feeling resentful towards petty things like that. However, a deeper fear resides within my heart - would there be a day when I accept all of these as second nature? Would I feel afraid even, to step out of this box, full of do's and don'ts, and or else's? And once I am in The Box, would my soul ever be free again?
On an unrelated note, before the dratted letter came in, I painted this this morning.
With these.
Maybe going for art class in Singapore will save my soul. I wonder.
Huge Engine in a Tiny Car : Ford Shelby Cobra
Ford Shelby Cobra was unveiled at Detroit Motor Show 2004. This car has aluminum chassis of the Ford GT, a front mounted V10 engine and 605 horsepower. The concept of the car was based on the principle a Huge Engine in a Tiny Car and weighing just more than 3000 pounds .
Specifications Ford Shelby Cobra Concept (2004) :
Engine :
engine : 90 Degree, Aluminum V10
position : Front Longitudinal
valvetrain : DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl
displacement : 6392 cc / 390.1 cu in
bore :
stroke :
compression : 10.8:1
power : 451.2 kw / 605.1 bhp @ 6750 rpm
hp per litre : 94.67 bhp per litre
bhp/weight : 433.76 bhp per weight
torque : 679.26 nm /
redline : 7500
drive wheels : RWD w/LSD
body / frame : Aluminum Space Frame
Brakes :
front brakes : Brembro Cross-Drilled & Vented Discs w/4-Piston Calipers
f brake size :
rear brakes : Brembro Cross-Drilled & Vented Discs w/4-Piston Calipers
r brake size :
Wheels :
front wheels : F 45.7 x
rear wheels : R 48.3 x
front tire size : P275/40R18 BF Goodrich
rear tire size : P345/35R19 BF Goodrich
steering Rack & Pinion : w/Power Assist
f suspension : Double Wishbones w/Coil-Over Monotube Shocks, Stabilizer Bar
r suspension : Double Wishbones w/Coil-Over Monotube Shocks, Stabilizer Bar
Dimension :
weight :
wheelbase :
length :
width :
rear track :
transmission : Rear Mounted Ricardo 6-Speed Transaxle
gear ratios : 2.60:1, 1.70:1, 1.23:1, 0.95:1, 0.76:1, 0.63:1
final drive : 3.36:1
*Updated* In a drowsy happy mood now.
*Updated with some pics, courtesy of Han Solo and her camera*
Just came back from Chi Ling Falls, with Chindiana, Han Solo, Edward, Grace and Pol.
Ahhh.... why don't I do this more often? As in blogging half asleep. I slept at 2:30am yesterday and woke up at 7 this morning. Had to drag myself up. Grumble grumble grumble. Why lah takde hal wake up so early, have to walk through the jungle somemore, later got leeches how, grumble grumble grumble.
Well, I know why now. Nature is good, good is nature. River crossing was such tremendous fun, I wish there were more of those to do. And the falls was so good, three storeys high! Though, it is strange that nobody in the group seemed interested in bathing in the cooling water. Never mind, I soak myself. So happy =D that I kept smiling like a crazy person.
........................................................ Crazy ^ person ......
The walk's not too strenuous, took us like an hour to get through. Before that I had been warned that it would be awfully wet (river crossing duh) so I put everything in a plastic bag into my bag, brought a towel, even brought insect repellent. I was just congratulating myself for being unusually together this time, till I realized in the car that I had forgotten my wallet. =_=
Kuala Kubu Bahru is a nice town. Can retire there. Even the mamak stall serves like two portions of food in one, so you can buy one packet of rice and divide it into two meals.
Can't keep my eyes open. *Shut down*
And - for no reason whatsoever, here's the Drunk Man and His Angry Wife. I miss you Asa!!!
Oh yeah, better accounts written by fully awake people, *click* Pol (Nex) and Han Solo.
Just came back from Chi Ling Falls, with Chindiana, Han Solo, Edward, Grace and Pol.Ahhh.... why don't I do this more often? As in blogging half asleep. I slept at 2:30am yesterday and woke up at 7 this morning. Had to drag myself up. Grumble grumble grumble. Why lah takde hal wake up so early, have to walk through the jungle somemore, later got leeches how, grumble grumble grumble.
Well, I know why now. Nature is good, good is nature. River crossing was such tremendous fun, I wish there were more of those to do. And the falls was so good, three storeys high! Though, it is strange that nobody in the group seemed interested in bathing in the cooling water. Never mind, I soak myself. So happy =D that I kept smiling like a crazy person.
........................................................ Crazy ^ person ......The walk's not too strenuous, took us like an hour to get through. Before that I had been warned that it would be awfully wet (river crossing duh) so I put everything in a plastic bag into my bag, brought a towel, even brought insect repellent. I was just congratulating myself for being unusually together this time, till I realized in the car that I had forgotten my wallet. =_=
Kuala Kubu Bahru is a nice town. Can retire there. Even the mamak stall serves like two portions of food in one, so you can buy one packet of rice and divide it into two meals.
Can't keep my eyes open. *Shut down*
And - for no reason whatsoever, here's the Drunk Man and His Angry Wife. I miss you Asa!!!
Oh yeah, better accounts written by fully awake people, *click* Pol (Nex) and Han Solo.
Here in my home
Although most of you would have seen the video by now from other blogs, I'll put it in just in case there are some of you people who only read blogs with an L on their foreheads.
*foreLhead*
Malaysian Artistes for Unity - Here In My Home
Loved the video and definitely will download the ringtone when I'm in Singapore and get a better handphone than the current one. (Which doesn't have enough of memory space for the song... 330kb nia... doesn't have a cable... WAP nia... Ai, as long as the joystick works I'm not complaining... please don't malfunction on me again...)
I like the Indian part of the rap the most. And I like Afdlin Shauki, the Sepet couple (!!!), "We the rakyat lah!", Harith Iskander, the airplanes, and the official site! It's so fun and lighthearted, you can't help laughing along with these crazy people. Kononnya the song began with a story that started with Pete Teo juggling tomatoes. How can you not love a song involving tomatoes being juggled? And a music video directed by Yasmin Ahmad and Ho Yu Hang? And the zero budget, zero profit - as Val would say, anarchistic production? AND the central theme of racial unity?
SOKONG!!!!
Ei. Watch the video lah. Then you'll know what I'm talking about.
Video, song, ringtones available for download here. These folks are teh cool. Pimping them is the least that you and I can do.
*foreLhead*
Malaysian Artistes for Unity - Here In My Home
Loved the video and definitely will download the ringtone when I'm in Singapore and get a better handphone than the current one. (Which doesn't have enough of memory space for the song... 330kb nia... doesn't have a cable... WAP nia... Ai, as long as the joystick works I'm not complaining... please don't malfunction on me again...)
I like the Indian part of the rap the most. And I like Afdlin Shauki, the Sepet couple (!!!), "We the rakyat lah!", Harith Iskander, the airplanes, and the official site! It's so fun and lighthearted, you can't help laughing along with these crazy people. Kononnya the song began with a story that started with Pete Teo juggling tomatoes. How can you not love a song involving tomatoes being juggled? And a music video directed by Yasmin Ahmad and Ho Yu Hang? And the zero budget, zero profit - as Val would say, anarchistic production? AND the central theme of racial unity?
SOKONG!!!!
Ei. Watch the video lah. Then you'll know what I'm talking about.
Video, song, ringtones available for download here. These folks are teh cool. Pimping them is the least that you and I can do.
A day. Any day.
Bored bored bored!!!
I woke up today and read Five People You Meet In Heaven, by Mitch Albom. It was a birthday present from Jen Hui. Cried a bit, finished it within two hours. Then started to download Zettai Kareshi, a Japanese drama series on how a girl accidentally ordered herself a perfect boyfriend in the form of a robot. The storyline is not as silly as it looks, as it has got one thing right - the perfect boyfriend can only be in the form of a robot. She got to customize the settings, like the level of jealousy he can have, his sex drive, how often he smiles etc. Sounds wicked but a boyfriend as predictable would probably bore me to death, like how I am bored NOW!!!
Pushed myself to blog about Cherating and Kuantan, the last one of my Round Malaysia with Guang Hong and YKent, but I'm not in the right frame of mind to. I know what I want to write but it's been fermenting in the depths of my mind for so long, that I no longer feel like writing it. If I'm bored just thinking about it, it will turn out boring for you my dear readers as well. So, instead I decided to come up with a random post peppered with the word of the day - "Bored", and its variations - "boring", "bore", "boredom", "bleh".
Bleh.
Here's another photo of He Who Declines To Be Named, back by popular demand, in a compromising position.
*Previewing Zettai Kareshi for the umpteenth time - WAAA It moves!!!*
Download at 56.4%.
I'm still trying to come up with a list of things to bring to Singapore for my new room, hopefully with an attached bathroom. I have only been able to think of one single important thing that I cannot do without - and that is the towel to put on the floor outside the bathroom because I hate walking around with wet feet. Clothes and toiletries and all that jazz - boring, essential, those I can put together a day before I leave. I'm fleeing back right after matriculation anyway, on 24th July.
I'm trying to recall the last time I had a good laugh. Hmm. Oh here it is. We were having dinner the other day in a gathering of sorts and Jen Hui was telling us about this radio deejay who almost got beat up by a bunch of Mat Rempits. (No this was not the funny part.) He managed to flee into the petrol station, which attendant hurriedly opened up the doors for him. In his hurry to get out of trouble's way, he even took the rug at the passenger seat along with him (he was cleaning his car at that time). At this moment YJ and I, simultaneously, put both our thumbs and forefingers into pinching positions and did a sideway bouncing motion.
It was uproariously funny because I was picturing the poor deejay bouncing sideways into the imaginary petrol station in tiptoe, holding his poor rug by the fingers, manga-like. And I knew that it was the exact image that YJ had in mind.
Aiya going out for lunch first. Continue when I'm back.
Back. Where were we? Oh yes. God bless BFFs of the same wavelength - where would we be without them?
Annnnd I've lost my mojo for writing. I shall go and paint. I bought a poster colour set the other day and painting is fun. I've painted a window with a guy inside, enjoying red wine and appreciating his chandelier. Having botched the chandelier, I painted over it with bright yellow swirls over a red background. I like the fiery sun effect. I should probably draw sunglasses for my chandelier guy. I haven't decided what to paint next. I should go for painting classes.
Boredom.
The end end end end end. End.
I woke up today and read Five People You Meet In Heaven, by Mitch Albom. It was a birthday present from Jen Hui. Cried a bit, finished it within two hours. Then started to download Zettai Kareshi, a Japanese drama series on how a girl accidentally ordered herself a perfect boyfriend in the form of a robot. The storyline is not as silly as it looks, as it has got one thing right - the perfect boyfriend can only be in the form of a robot. She got to customize the settings, like the level of jealousy he can have, his sex drive, how often he smiles etc. Sounds wicked but a boyfriend as predictable would probably bore me to death, like how I am bored NOW!!!
Pushed myself to blog about Cherating and Kuantan, the last one of my Round Malaysia with Guang Hong and YKent, but I'm not in the right frame of mind to. I know what I want to write but it's been fermenting in the depths of my mind for so long, that I no longer feel like writing it. If I'm bored just thinking about it, it will turn out boring for you my dear readers as well. So, instead I decided to come up with a random post peppered with the word of the day - "Bored", and its variations - "boring", "bore", "boredom", "bleh".
Bleh.
Here's another photo of He Who Declines To Be Named, back by popular demand, in a compromising position.
*Previewing Zettai Kareshi for the umpteenth time - WAAA It moves!!!*Download at 56.4%.
I'm still trying to come up with a list of things to bring to Singapore for my new room, hopefully with an attached bathroom. I have only been able to think of one single important thing that I cannot do without - and that is the towel to put on the floor outside the bathroom because I hate walking around with wet feet. Clothes and toiletries and all that jazz - boring, essential, those I can put together a day before I leave. I'm fleeing back right after matriculation anyway, on 24th July.
I'm trying to recall the last time I had a good laugh. Hmm. Oh here it is. We were having dinner the other day in a gathering of sorts and Jen Hui was telling us about this radio deejay who almost got beat up by a bunch of Mat Rempits. (No this was not the funny part.) He managed to flee into the petrol station, which attendant hurriedly opened up the doors for him. In his hurry to get out of trouble's way, he even took the rug at the passenger seat along with him (he was cleaning his car at that time). At this moment YJ and I, simultaneously, put both our thumbs and forefingers into pinching positions and did a sideway bouncing motion.
It was uproariously funny because I was picturing the poor deejay bouncing sideways into the imaginary petrol station in tiptoe, holding his poor rug by the fingers, manga-like. And I knew that it was the exact image that YJ had in mind.
Aiya going out for lunch first. Continue when I'm back.
Back. Where were we? Oh yes. God bless BFFs of the same wavelength - where would we be without them?
Annnnd I've lost my mojo for writing. I shall go and paint. I bought a poster colour set the other day and painting is fun. I've painted a window with a guy inside, enjoying red wine and appreciating his chandelier. Having botched the chandelier, I painted over it with bright yellow swirls over a red background. I like the fiery sun effect. I should probably draw sunglasses for my chandelier guy. I haven't decided what to paint next. I should go for painting classes.
Boredom.
The end end end end end. End.
Photos! Kuala Terengganu
The following morning, after a fly-laden dinner the previous night, we got up early and proceeded along our route. We had the choice of going back via the jungle road (passing through Gua Musang, Taman Negara etc) or the road by the coast (passing through Kuala Terengganu, Cherating, Kuantan). We decided to take the coast road at the end. I thought it would be interesting to check out Cherating, which Lonely Planet raves about, contrary to some online reviews that Cherating is a sad and lonely place past its prime.
Everything in its due time. Before getting to Cherating by nightfall, we would have to pass by the whole stretch of Terengganu. (Cherating is in Pahang, just by the border. I always wonder how the boundaries are set - what are the chances that Pahang got Cherating instead of Terengganu?) Lunch would be taken at Kuala Terengganu and we may have some time to go to Sekayu Falls, which is 50+km out of KT.
The road from KB to KT was quite pleasant really, everything was green and there were occasional glimpses of the sea. Occasionally there would be kids whizzing by with motorcycles, which is the major vehicle for transport in the villages. There were stalls selling warm food and keropok lekor, where some villagers or truckers would hang out.
Kuala Terengganu is busier than Kota Bharu, as we made several rounds looking for stuffed crab, supposedly a delicacy that we should try. With no success, we decided to eat an ala-Thai lunch instead, and it turned out to be pretty good as well, without the flies and all. With our limited time in KT, we were only able to walk briefly in its Chinatown, here:
Nice right? The archway is very nicely built, and the buildings (on the other side of the archway) are painted very tastefully as well. Examples below. Love the colour.
And this one below looks like it has some Islamic influence (Terengganu is also primarily Islamic), which is really nice as well. I'm no architecture connoisseur so my descriptions are limited to "nice" and "really nice" =P
Bought a pack of fish keropok to eat in the car, mouthwatering.
Then we went to the waterfront, so briefly that I didn't even have the time to go into the Bazaar Warisan to have a look at the batik and other crafts. However, if we wanted to get to Cherating before dark to choose our accommodation, we needed to leave KT soon.
A badly taken photo of a Tourist Information Centre, our own version of i-Site! There were i-Sites in Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu, both were housed in really nice buildings, air-conditioned and all, and provided maps. There aren't enough of brochures, like NZ, but I think it's a good start. The staff are friendly and helpful. In fact, most people that we've met on our trip are friendly and helpful, especially at the East Coast I think. And I found that I speak Malay better at the East Coast! Now that is interesting.
Bazaar Warisan, something like a marketplace for selling arts and crafts. I think. I didn't go in (I know I've been repeating myself but I'm quite disappointed about that!). The Bazaar Warisan is at the waterfront, which looks like this:
I don't know why the colours of my pictures look so dull. Is there any setting that I could tweak, or is it the problem of an aging camera?
Then we went to take photographs of the Floating Mosque. It's fully painted in white - the first thought that came to my mind is that wouldn't it look really rundown in the near future? But pushing practicalities aside, I liked the Floating Mosque. Its full name is Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque. It's surrounded by a moat of clear water and there's a bridge for people to walk into the mosque.
Here's the bridge.
And here's an advertisement of Celcom featuring the mosque, from yet another different angle. Took it at Cukai town, which is a town quite nearby Cherating.
*Deep breath*
I MISSED THE CRYSTAL MOSQUE!!!! WTF WTF WTF HOW COULD I..........?!!!! When I got back my uncle asked me if I saw the mosque, which I didn't... Lonely Planet didn't have it, and it was officiated during my local news blackout period in New Zealand, in February 2008. It's only 4km out of the city, I didn't actually see any signs (Signs for the Monsoon Cup though, were a-plenty - but I didn't go there either though I wanted to have a look. No time.) but maybe it was because I was looking for "Floating Mosque" or "Masjid Terapung" all the time.
The Crystal Mosque cost RM250million to build, it's on Pulau Wan Man, and I heard you have to pay (for a boat) to access the island and the mosque itself. It's in an "Islamic Park" with replicas of 12 world famous mosques around it. It even has wifi and its own (albeit badly arranged) blog. And - I - missed - it. :'((((
In fact, in retrospect, I really regret not giving Terengganu enough of time. See lah its official tourism website is so canggih. I did catch one big mistake though - the Crystal Mosque is not mentioned within it, which means that these people don't update their website as often as they should. And it's the Crystal Mosque!!!
Counting other attractions in Terengganu that I want to go but didn't:
1. Sekayu Falls - just because we missed it.
2. Sungai Berang - I saw this really enticing brochure on a two-hour cruise at Sungai Berang, where it is 100% guaranteed that you would see a whole list of wildlife. I checked at Ping Anchorage later though and it looks like the cruise is quite expensive, at RM169.00 for four pax and above (or RM289 for two pax) for a half-day trip.
3. Malaysia's largest museum (and some say in Southeast Asia as well) - the Terengganu State Museum Complex. 27 Hectares of land, fuiiyooh.
4. Pulau Duyung - for the Monsoon Cup, just to see how the taxpayers' money was spent.
5. Turtle Sanctuary - you can volunteer at the Turtle Sanctuary, at RM250 per adult (RM150 per kid) for a weekend, and activities include "helping to monitor turtle landings, collecting eggs for transfer to the hatchery and releasing hatchlings". Quote from Lonely Planet.
I will be going to Terengganu again when Val comes, but it is only for the Perhentian Islands, because we don't have the transport to traipse around, and of course two weeks is not much, as I will be showing him other stuff as well.
Who wanna go Terengganu, ajak me!!!
Next, Cherating and Kuantan.
Previous links:
- Photos in Ipoh Taiping Penang and Kota Bharu.
- Reviews in accommodation for this road trip.
Everything in its due time. Before getting to Cherating by nightfall, we would have to pass by the whole stretch of Terengganu. (Cherating is in Pahang, just by the border. I always wonder how the boundaries are set - what are the chances that Pahang got Cherating instead of Terengganu?) Lunch would be taken at Kuala Terengganu and we may have some time to go to Sekayu Falls, which is 50+km out of KT.
The road from KB to KT was quite pleasant really, everything was green and there were occasional glimpses of the sea. Occasionally there would be kids whizzing by with motorcycles, which is the major vehicle for transport in the villages. There were stalls selling warm food and keropok lekor, where some villagers or truckers would hang out.
Kuala Terengganu is busier than Kota Bharu, as we made several rounds looking for stuffed crab, supposedly a delicacy that we should try. With no success, we decided to eat an ala-Thai lunch instead, and it turned out to be pretty good as well, without the flies and all. With our limited time in KT, we were only able to walk briefly in its Chinatown, here:
Nice right? The archway is very nicely built, and the buildings (on the other side of the archway) are painted very tastefully as well. Examples below. Love the colour.
And this one below looks like it has some Islamic influence (Terengganu is also primarily Islamic), which is really nice as well. I'm no architecture connoisseur so my descriptions are limited to "nice" and "really nice" =P
Bought a pack of fish keropok to eat in the car, mouthwatering.Then we went to the waterfront, so briefly that I didn't even have the time to go into the Bazaar Warisan to have a look at the batik and other crafts. However, if we wanted to get to Cherating before dark to choose our accommodation, we needed to leave KT soon.
A badly taken photo of a Tourist Information Centre, our own version of i-Site! There were i-Sites in Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu, both were housed in really nice buildings, air-conditioned and all, and provided maps. There aren't enough of brochures, like NZ, but I think it's a good start. The staff are friendly and helpful. In fact, most people that we've met on our trip are friendly and helpful, especially at the East Coast I think. And I found that I speak Malay better at the East Coast! Now that is interesting.
Bazaar Warisan, something like a marketplace for selling arts and crafts. I think. I didn't go in (I know I've been repeating myself but I'm quite disappointed about that!). The Bazaar Warisan is at the waterfront, which looks like this:
I don't know why the colours of my pictures look so dull. Is there any setting that I could tweak, or is it the problem of an aging camera?Then we went to take photographs of the Floating Mosque. It's fully painted in white - the first thought that came to my mind is that wouldn't it look really rundown in the near future? But pushing practicalities aside, I liked the Floating Mosque. Its full name is Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque. It's surrounded by a moat of clear water and there's a bridge for people to walk into the mosque.
Here's the bridge.
And here's an advertisement of Celcom featuring the mosque, from yet another different angle. Took it at Cukai town, which is a town quite nearby Cherating.
*Deep breath*I MISSED THE CRYSTAL MOSQUE!!!! WTF WTF WTF HOW COULD I..........?!!!! When I got back my uncle asked me if I saw the mosque, which I didn't... Lonely Planet didn't have it, and it was officiated during my local news blackout period in New Zealand, in February 2008. It's only 4km out of the city, I didn't actually see any signs (Signs for the Monsoon Cup though, were a-plenty - but I didn't go there either though I wanted to have a look. No time.) but maybe it was because I was looking for "Floating Mosque" or "Masjid Terapung" all the time.
The Crystal Mosque cost RM250million to build, it's on Pulau Wan Man, and I heard you have to pay (for a boat) to access the island and the mosque itself. It's in an "Islamic Park" with replicas of 12 world famous mosques around it. It even has wifi and its own (albeit badly arranged) blog. And - I - missed - it. :'((((
In fact, in retrospect, I really regret not giving Terengganu enough of time. See lah its official tourism website is so canggih. I did catch one big mistake though - the Crystal Mosque is not mentioned within it, which means that these people don't update their website as often as they should. And it's the Crystal Mosque!!!
Counting other attractions in Terengganu that I want to go but didn't:
1. Sekayu Falls - just because we missed it.
2. Sungai Berang - I saw this really enticing brochure on a two-hour cruise at Sungai Berang, where it is 100% guaranteed that you would see a whole list of wildlife. I checked at Ping Anchorage later though and it looks like the cruise is quite expensive, at RM169.00 for four pax and above (or RM289 for two pax) for a half-day trip.
3. Malaysia's largest museum (and some say in Southeast Asia as well) - the Terengganu State Museum Complex. 27 Hectares of land, fuiiyooh.
4. Pulau Duyung - for the Monsoon Cup, just to see how the taxpayers' money was spent.
5. Turtle Sanctuary - you can volunteer at the Turtle Sanctuary, at RM250 per adult (RM150 per kid) for a weekend, and activities include "helping to monitor turtle landings, collecting eggs for transfer to the hatchery and releasing hatchlings". Quote from Lonely Planet.
I will be going to Terengganu again when Val comes, but it is only for the Perhentian Islands, because we don't have the transport to traipse around, and of course two weeks is not much, as I will be showing him other stuff as well.
Who wanna go Terengganu, ajak me!!!
Next, Cherating and Kuantan.
Previous links:
- Photos in Ipoh Taiping Penang and Kota Bharu.
- Reviews in accommodation for this road trip.
Mum says the darndest things.
Conversation in the car between me and my mum today.
Mum: "Do you know if people can have babies without a husband?"
Me: "Like a test tube baby?"
Mum: "Yeah, how do they do it? Where do they get the sperm from?"
Me: "From the sperm bank lah... I've heard that you can even choose the profile of the sperm donor and stuff like that. I can google for you to see how it happens in Malaysia. Why, which of your friends is interested?"
Mum: "For you lah!"
Erm.
OK.
Never ceasing to surprise me, my mum, from a previous suggestion to "adopt when you're forty and don't have a partner yet", has overwritten that idea with a test tube baby "because we don't want to waste your good genes". In other words, my mum seems to have given up on me going through the conventional path of dating, getting a good husband, conceiving a baby like everybody else - and decided that I should just waltz to the end process of getting a baby.
And I love her for that =D
Mum: "Do you know if people can have babies without a husband?"
Me: "Like a test tube baby?"
Mum: "Yeah, how do they do it? Where do they get the sperm from?"
Me: "From the sperm bank lah... I've heard that you can even choose the profile of the sperm donor and stuff like that. I can google for you to see how it happens in Malaysia. Why, which of your friends is interested?"
Mum: "For you lah!"
Erm.
OK.
Never ceasing to surprise me, my mum, from a previous suggestion to "adopt when you're forty and don't have a partner yet", has overwritten that idea with a test tube baby "because we don't want to waste your good genes". In other words, my mum seems to have given up on me going through the conventional path of dating, getting a good husband, conceiving a baby like everybody else - and decided that I should just waltz to the end process of getting a baby.
And I love her for that =D
The Sexiest Sportcar Design : Chevrolet Corvette
American sport car has the sexiest design. This legendary Chevrolet Corvette is a hot and wild sportcar and it’s loaded with 5,967 cc V8 front engine. This car has a base models that have 400 hp and a 6-speed manual transmission, it also has 505 hp.
Chevrolet Corvette 2007 General Specifications :
Retail Value : $32,100.00
Body Type : Coupe
Performance & Efficiency Specifications :
5,967 cc
Premium unleaded fuel 91
Fuel economy EPA highway (mpg): 28 and EPA city (mpg): 18
Multi-point injection fuel system
Power: 298 kW , 400 HP SAE @ 6,000 rpm;
Handling, Ride & Braking :
Cornering brake control
Four disc brakes including four ventilated discs
Electronic traction control via ABS & engine management
Immobilizer
Rear limited slip differential
Stability control
Wishbone front and rear suspension independent with stabilizer bar and leaf springs
Exterior & Aerodynamics :
Weights: curb weight (lbs) 3,179
rear track (inches): 60.7 and curb to curb turning circle (feet): 39
Interior :
Air conditioning with climate control
RDS audio system with AM/FM and CD player CD player reads MP3
Full dashboard console , full floor console with covered storage box
Driver front airbag with multi-stage deployment , passenger front airbag with occupant sensors and multi-stage deployment
Bucket electrically adjustable driver seat with height adjustment, three adjustments and tilt adjustment , bucket passenger seat
Remote fuel filler door release
Remote control remote trunk/hatch release
Leather seat upholstery with additional vinyl
Seating : two seats
Photos! Kota Bharu
Moving on from Penang to the East Coast, we took the highway that passed the Temenggor Dam, cutting through the Titiwangsa Mountain Range. Actually I was looking forward to having our packed lunch at the dam, but since me and GH were both dozing off in the car, YKent accidentally drove past it (how can you accidentally drive past a dam??) and we ended up eating our lunch overlooking some mountains at a rest stop. Which wasn't that bad.
Here's a sign that we passed as we drove by the outskirts of Kota Bharu with all the kampungs.
Translated: Avoid tiger attacks, make sure that your plantation is clean. =O Tigers! In KL we have warnings against snatch thieves but here they rough it with tigers. Cool.
When we got closer to the town, a stronger Muslim vibe was present, as evident from the photo above: which translates into "Thank you for covering your aurat." From what I understand, aurat is parts of the body that would seduce the other sex. For Muslim women, aurat is everything other than the hands and the face. For men, it is from the navel to the knees. Would be grateful for any Muslim readers to clarify.
I was wearing a t-shirt and knee-length shorts, and soon found comfort that there were other Chinese females wearing the same. Actually I don't know what I was expecting of KB, being the most Islamic state in Malaysia as it is PAS (the Islamic Party)'s stronghold. But from the surface of what I could see, it is not that different from other states, except the Jawi letters (even on their advertisements!! Like Digi, TMNet, even Tesco.)
TESCO. And below, the undecipherable Streamyx ad.
Also, the infamous queues in the supermarkets which separate men and women into different lines. As luck had it, our guesthouse (Ideal Traveller's House) did not provide toilet paper, so I found myself in one of the supermarkets, I can't remember if it was Mydin or something, to buy some TP. There I did see the queues, labeled men and women. The funny thing was, when I was making my way towards the ladies' queue, I saw this tudung (headscarf)-ed girl nonchalantly using the men's queue, even when the ladies' queue right beside was empty! What a blatant disregard of the rules! Then a guy holding a carton of mineral water plopped his heavy load on one of the counters, and of course it had to be a ladies' counter.
Disillusioned and just for the heck of it, I chose a men's queue and paid up.
Random biscuit tins by a shop house where we had dinner.
Rojak, with pomelo and keropok lekor and cucumbers and various other indistinguishable fruits. We had wanted to go to the night market to sample local food, but there was no food sold at the night market! Later we found out that it was the wrong night market that we went to, but when we wanted to go to the night market again the following night, it was raining so no stalls were open. That was too bad.
The second morning, we decided to wake up early and go to Pantai Cahaya Bulan to capture the sunrise. According to Lonely Planet, Pantai Cahaya Bulan (Beach of Moonlight) is formerly Pantai Cinta Berahi (Beach of Passionate Love), but the name was changed because, well, it was unIslamic. I like Pantai Cinta Berahi better. Both acronyms are PCB, so we refer to the beach as PCB instead.
The following four pictures are filtered from the ten thousand that I captured. Somehow I keep taking virtually identical pictures of the same sunrise/sunset no matter where I go.
Dawn.
Me touching the dawn.
Uncle fishing at dawn.
Finally, the sun!
After the sunrise, we went back to Kota Bharu (like 10kms away from PCB) and started doing the touristy things like going to the Siti Khatijah Market's third floor and capturing pictures like the following. Seen this before? Virtually every tourist to KB would take this photo I think.
Turtle eggs at RM10 for three. Do not buy.
Then we went walking around the Cultural Village and the cluster of museums. The museums were just alright, most weren't airconditioned and the artefacts were displayed in a rather dry and boring manner. The Kelantan museum was the worst, as the ventilation within the museum was bad and they only had like two airconds cooling the whole two-storeyed building. The lights weren't even turned on properly, so part of the museum where they kept the wayang kulit was actually quite creepy.
Out of the four that we went, Bank Kerapu, a museum commemorating Kelantan's suffering in the WW2 was the best. Bank Kerapu was used as the Japanese's secret police base in the WW2. The Japanese's first landing place was at Sabak, and they proceeded to conquer Kota Bharu in a day. Article from Wikipedia on the Japanese invasion can be read here. I liked the Bank Kerapu exhibits because they displayed some stories of survivors of the war, like how they were treated when they were sent to build the Death Railway, and how they managed to escape and etc. One smart guy even rubbed some herbs on his body, triggering some allergic reaction and convinced the Japanese that he had a contagious disease, therefore he was thrown out or sent back.
Picture of the second floor of Istana Jahar from its balcony. It's yet another museum where the customs of the Royal Family is depicted in different rooms. There's a room for circumcision.
I bought a watercolour painting from an artisan at the Cultural Village. He was a very friendly guy and I like this painting very much, especially the tree. This, at RM10. Support local arts!
After all the museum nonsense, we went to the outskirts of KB in search of its Thai-influenced buddhist temples. According to Wikipedia, there are 25 temples in Tumpat (North of KB), and the most popular is Wat Photivihan, which has this 40 metre sleeping buddha. This.
We couldn't find it at first and had to get lost for a while, almost give up and then stumble upon it. Such is life.
I actually prefer the Wat Machimaram, which had this huge sitting Buddha instead.
A pondok at Wat Machimaram:
A kampung scene outside Wat Photivihan. As you can see, it was almost raining.
After the temples, we thought what the heck, we're so north already, might as well go to the northest point where Malaysia borders with Thailand, and visit the enticingly named Pengkalan Kubor Duty Free Zone. Brings to your mind cheap liquor, chocolates, branded stuff aye?
Sadly, the Pengkalan Kubor Duty Free Zone was like a market, selling fake Spongebob toys and inexpensive clothes. So it's not really worth your trouble going all the way up if you're going just for the duty free stuff. I don't even think that the stuff they sell are heavily taxed anyway.
The Duty Free Zone.
The back seat of our car, with my Lonely Planet Malaysia Singapore and Brunei, plus my trusty Malaysia map.
After the temples, it was almost dinner time and we decided to go to PCB again to have dinner by the sea. We were also really curious what sup gearbox was, and wanted to order that. So we went to Restoran Cinta Selera.
It was not cheap, at RM45 for 3 people, but I guess the food was alright. By that time, it was already raining buckets outside the shelter. The state of hygiene of that place was quite appalling, as the below picture will show:
Flies that hovered on our food whenever they were given the chance! Halfway through I opened up my coconut and let them feast on it, thus leaving our food alone. Oh well, if they didn't kill us, nothing else would. None of us got diarrhea at the end. We are strong people! BTW sup gearbox was beef soup with a huge beef bone sticking out of the bowl. Didn't take any pictures of that.
Thus ends Kota Bharu, next comes Kuala Terengganu.
Here's a sign that we passed as we drove by the outskirts of Kota Bharu with all the kampungs.
Translated: Avoid tiger attacks, make sure that your plantation is clean. =O Tigers! In KL we have warnings against snatch thieves but here they rough it with tigers. Cool.
When we got closer to the town, a stronger Muslim vibe was present, as evident from the photo above: which translates into "Thank you for covering your aurat." From what I understand, aurat is parts of the body that would seduce the other sex. For Muslim women, aurat is everything other than the hands and the face. For men, it is from the navel to the knees. Would be grateful for any Muslim readers to clarify.I was wearing a t-shirt and knee-length shorts, and soon found comfort that there were other Chinese females wearing the same. Actually I don't know what I was expecting of KB, being the most Islamic state in Malaysia as it is PAS (the Islamic Party)'s stronghold. But from the surface of what I could see, it is not that different from other states, except the Jawi letters (even on their advertisements!! Like Digi, TMNet, even Tesco.)
TESCO. And below, the undecipherable Streamyx ad.
Also, the infamous queues in the supermarkets which separate men and women into different lines. As luck had it, our guesthouse (Ideal Traveller's House) did not provide toilet paper, so I found myself in one of the supermarkets, I can't remember if it was Mydin or something, to buy some TP. There I did see the queues, labeled men and women. The funny thing was, when I was making my way towards the ladies' queue, I saw this tudung (headscarf)-ed girl nonchalantly using the men's queue, even when the ladies' queue right beside was empty! What a blatant disregard of the rules! Then a guy holding a carton of mineral water plopped his heavy load on one of the counters, and of course it had to be a ladies' counter.
Disillusioned and just for the heck of it, I chose a men's queue and paid up.
Random biscuit tins by a shop house where we had dinner.
Rojak, with pomelo and keropok lekor and cucumbers and various other indistinguishable fruits. We had wanted to go to the night market to sample local food, but there was no food sold at the night market! Later we found out that it was the wrong night market that we went to, but when we wanted to go to the night market again the following night, it was raining so no stalls were open. That was too bad.The second morning, we decided to wake up early and go to Pantai Cahaya Bulan to capture the sunrise. According to Lonely Planet, Pantai Cahaya Bulan (Beach of Moonlight) is formerly Pantai Cinta Berahi (Beach of Passionate Love), but the name was changed because, well, it was unIslamic. I like Pantai Cinta Berahi better. Both acronyms are PCB, so we refer to the beach as PCB instead.
The following four pictures are filtered from the ten thousand that I captured. Somehow I keep taking virtually identical pictures of the same sunrise/sunset no matter where I go.
Dawn.
Me touching the dawn.
Uncle fishing at dawn.
Finally, the sun!After the sunrise, we went back to Kota Bharu (like 10kms away from PCB) and started doing the touristy things like going to the Siti Khatijah Market's third floor and capturing pictures like the following. Seen this before? Virtually every tourist to KB would take this photo I think.
Turtle eggs at RM10 for three. Do not buy.
Then we went walking around the Cultural Village and the cluster of museums. The museums were just alright, most weren't airconditioned and the artefacts were displayed in a rather dry and boring manner. The Kelantan museum was the worst, as the ventilation within the museum was bad and they only had like two airconds cooling the whole two-storeyed building. The lights weren't even turned on properly, so part of the museum where they kept the wayang kulit was actually quite creepy.Out of the four that we went, Bank Kerapu, a museum commemorating Kelantan's suffering in the WW2 was the best. Bank Kerapu was used as the Japanese's secret police base in the WW2. The Japanese's first landing place was at Sabak, and they proceeded to conquer Kota Bharu in a day. Article from Wikipedia on the Japanese invasion can be read here. I liked the Bank Kerapu exhibits because they displayed some stories of survivors of the war, like how they were treated when they were sent to build the Death Railway, and how they managed to escape and etc. One smart guy even rubbed some herbs on his body, triggering some allergic reaction and convinced the Japanese that he had a contagious disease, therefore he was thrown out or sent back.
Picture of the second floor of Istana Jahar from its balcony. It's yet another museum where the customs of the Royal Family is depicted in different rooms. There's a room for circumcision.
I bought a watercolour painting from an artisan at the Cultural Village. He was a very friendly guy and I like this painting very much, especially the tree. This, at RM10. Support local arts!
After all the museum nonsense, we went to the outskirts of KB in search of its Thai-influenced buddhist temples. According to Wikipedia, there are 25 temples in Tumpat (North of KB), and the most popular is Wat Photivihan, which has this 40 metre sleeping buddha. This.
We couldn't find it at first and had to get lost for a while, almost give up and then stumble upon it. Such is life.I actually prefer the Wat Machimaram, which had this huge sitting Buddha instead.
A pondok at Wat Machimaram:
A kampung scene outside Wat Photivihan. As you can see, it was almost raining.
After the temples, we thought what the heck, we're so north already, might as well go to the northest point where Malaysia borders with Thailand, and visit the enticingly named Pengkalan Kubor Duty Free Zone. Brings to your mind cheap liquor, chocolates, branded stuff aye?
Sadly, the Pengkalan Kubor Duty Free Zone was like a market, selling fake Spongebob toys and inexpensive clothes. So it's not really worth your trouble going all the way up if you're going just for the duty free stuff. I don't even think that the stuff they sell are heavily taxed anyway.
The Duty Free Zone.
The back seat of our car, with my Lonely Planet Malaysia Singapore and Brunei, plus my trusty Malaysia map.After the temples, it was almost dinner time and we decided to go to PCB again to have dinner by the sea. We were also really curious what sup gearbox was, and wanted to order that. So we went to Restoran Cinta Selera.
It was not cheap, at RM45 for 3 people, but I guess the food was alright. By that time, it was already raining buckets outside the shelter. The state of hygiene of that place was quite appalling, as the below picture will show:
Flies that hovered on our food whenever they were given the chance! Halfway through I opened up my coconut and let them feast on it, thus leaving our food alone. Oh well, if they didn't kill us, nothing else would. None of us got diarrhea at the end. We are strong people! BTW sup gearbox was beef soup with a huge beef bone sticking out of the bowl. Didn't take any pictures of that.
Thus ends Kota Bharu, next comes Kuala Terengganu.
Photos! Ipoh Taiping Penang.
This is me, on Day 1 of the trip with Guang Hong and YKent, at Ipoh, after having the original Oldtown White Coffee, against a bright orange stretch of wall, holding an auntie clutch purse and having the original Oldtown White Coffee stain on my shirt.
Random facts about Ipoh - ipoh is actually a poisonous plant, and the orang asli (indigenous people) use it in their darts. Also there's a widespread belief that girls from Ipoh are beautiful =D Hence the guys, throughout our short stop in Ipoh couldn't stop scanning the crowd for pretty girls.
And this is at the Ipoh Railway station, a really old building with an old hotel and an old lift which is like 100 years old. GH and I went up the lift, but YKent was too chicken to. Here's a golden Indian temple beside the railway station. The railway station has been refurbished and looks very modern, compared to the hotel.
After Ipoh, we went to Kellie's Castle, I've already blogged a bit about it in the previous post (on pretending to be a classic bike biker and not paying for the entrance fee), so the following two pictures are on Kellie's Castle:
And these three are of the Lake Gardens of Taiping. Very nice and tranquil. Good for dating, as you can see.
And looky here, of a photo of legs of me and He Who Declines To Be Named.
In Penang we visited the Tropical Spice Garden.
The Spices.
The Cool Grasshopper.
More coming up.
Random facts about Ipoh - ipoh is actually a poisonous plant, and the orang asli (indigenous people) use it in their darts. Also there's a widespread belief that girls from Ipoh are beautiful =D Hence the guys, throughout our short stop in Ipoh couldn't stop scanning the crowd for pretty girls.
And this is at the Ipoh Railway station, a really old building with an old hotel and an old lift which is like 100 years old. GH and I went up the lift, but YKent was too chicken to. Here's a golden Indian temple beside the railway station. The railway station has been refurbished and looks very modern, compared to the hotel.
After Ipoh, we went to Kellie's Castle, I've already blogged a bit about it in the previous post (on pretending to be a classic bike biker and not paying for the entrance fee), so the following two pictures are on Kellie's Castle:
And these three are of the Lake Gardens of Taiping. Very nice and tranquil. Good for dating, as you can see.
And looky here, of a photo of legs of me and He Who Declines To Be Named.
In Penang we visited the Tropical Spice Garden.
The Spices.
The Cool Grasshopper.
More coming up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
