A GREAT WORLD CUP AND A NEW BABY !!!!!

Getting ready for new family member

The big brother is the chief installer of the day

WAFI HANANI BT SHARIZAL

It has been nearly 2 months since my last posting. And it's nothing related to lack of imagination or ideas but more to giving extra attention to Wafi Hanani , our latest addition to the family. Probably due to the football addiction of the father , she decided to come out from her hiding during the first day of World Cup where vuvuzela was dominating the scene in South Africa.

My last newborn experience was 8 years ago and the 'sabbatical leave' means that baby Wafi is like my first baby (8 years is a long time ...). Waking up at 2 am consistently taking care of Wafi is an interesting experience and doing that while enjoying the live football from South Africa is PRICELESS.

I can't wait for the time where baby Wafi is big enough for us to continue our traveling activities which will be very different since the member count is now 5.

BUKIT TINGGI (MALAYSIA) 2010

Bonjour .....!!!!

Enjoying the scenery ( 3 plus 1)

If you minus the stall ...it really looks like somewhere in France

The swan was really big ...at first I thought it was a robotic swan

The donkey ride ...not really sure if the kids enjoying it ....

The botanical garden , attracting the dslr people with huge lens ...really huge

The Japanese Garden ...the ladies in Kimono are Malaysian ....

The shuttle bus ....free of charge taking visitor to Japanese garden

This is our first visit to Bukit Tinggi, probably among the top 5 highland retreat site in Malaysia. I've a working assignment nearby so decided to take the whole family to experience some of the attractions.

Firstly, it was a not so easy journey driving to the peak since the road (was not bad) but very steep. I can feel my MPV screaming each time we hit the steep road. t took us an hour to reach the central attraction which is the Colmar Tropical which is actually a resort built according to 16th century French Castle.

From there we went to the Rabbit Farm and the Japanese garden, the good news for me is ...transportation is provided via shuttle bus (or it looks more like a shuttle truck...). The Japanese garden was really interesting because this garden is one of the first to be made according to the garden in Japan..outside of Japan, and the low temperature indeed provides the cooling effect to the surrounding.

Overall it was really good. The price especially for food was a bit expensive but the attraction provided for visitors was really worth it.

RIZAL

THE BEST CHAR KUEY TEOW IN THE WORLD !!!!

The master at works ....

The humble establishment...

Otak-otak and satay really goes well with the char kuey teow

A picture of perfect CKT experience

oooo laa laa ....I was born for this ..hehehehe

If I'm not mistaken I've written about the above few months back but without any photos. So to ensure that my blogging friends can share the delicious CKT experience I've decided to do the second version.

This humble establishment is located not far from Klang wet market and it's only operated at night 6 days a week with Monday being the off day. This stall was interestingly introduce to my wife by her chinese friend and since then it has been in our makan-makan calendar.

Now what is so special about this food. I've 2 main selling points (beside hundreds of other points...) , firstly the smell is just out of this world (cannot describe it in writings ...you've to try it yourself) and no 2 is the gravy which is the best and one thing for sure the taste never change. The price is not bad RM 3.50 for a tasty experience. Normally it goes well with otak-otak and satay.

So, the next time you happen to be in Kelang, ,make sure CKT Klang is part of your agenda.

Cheers .....

PANGKOR TRIP 2010

Ready for departure from Meru to Lumut (6.30 am)
Arrived at Lumut Terminal

the famous PINK CAB ..at your service

Checkin at Havana Resort located at Teluk Nipah

It's not the ritz carlton but for RM 150 not bad at all

our chalet

Right away to the beach ....

spectacular view (this is the so called our private beach)

Transported by boat and picked up by the same boat 3 hours later

The BAYWATCH ....

Another spectacular view

One of the activities during the 2nd day

The grand dinner ....

Time to say good bye

On the way back we stop at Teluk Intan

This is my first trip to Pangkor Island regarded by many as one of the best in the world. From Meru it's a 2 hour drive to Lumut (a naval base town). Parking is not a problem since we started our trip on Friday to avoid traffic congestion. Parking fees is about RM 40 for the whole 2 days.

From Lumut we've to take a ferry services to the Island and the trip was approximately 1 hour. Another cab ride (the pink coloured van was the island famous cab services). We stayed at Havana Resort a budget hotel costing us about RM 150 a night. Not bad for a resort that is 30 seconds walk to the beach. The first was 100% relaxing at the beach with some lesson on how to swim by my mother in law !!!!

The second day started with a trip to a so call privet beach. We took a boat ride about 20 mins to the beach which is located on the remote area of Pangkor. It was private because we're the only group that occupy the area ( the tips is to get there very early in the morning). The beach was really clean and the quality of the water was fantastic ...crystal clear. We also did some snorkeling activity and a bit of fishing.

The final night we decided to go for a nice and fresh seafood dinner. In Pangkor the seafood is much fresher and also cheaper. Total damage for 18 person seafood dinner was about RM260. Not bad considering the table was jam pack with foods.

On the way back from Pangkor we had a stop a Teluk Intan famous Clock Tower and also had our dinner at Satay Hut in Tanjung Karang which is famous for XL size satay. Overall the trip was very good (due to proper planning thanks to my second in command). The next trip will be to Cameron Highland (again....) end of this month. Stay tuned ....

RIZAL

KL BOOK FAIR 2010

People are reading everywhere. Another good sign of our current reading culture

Karangkraf, the biggest exhibitor for KLIBF 2010

This hall is meant for novel lovers

Another view from inside karangkraf exhibition hall

PTS using big balloon to attract attention

The bridge linking exhibition halls

Dr Fazley spotted at BESTA booth

The wealth motivation speaker Azizi Ali in the house

The main event stage where people will get opportunity to meet with the writers

My favourite booth SELVAM HOLDINGS

It's one of my must go event every year and for 2010 I've decided to go on the last day which also happens to be my birthday. This year is the biggest so far with almost all the venue at PWTC building used by the exhibitors.

My favourite booth will be SELVAM MAGAZINES where imported mag like esquire,men's journal and all my fav baseball mag (although backdated issues) were sold at RM 3 each. Also there's another booth selling political books at RM 5 each (I can't remember the company name). Karangkraf is the biggest exhibitor for this year where the whole hall at the first floor is theirs and for malay novel lovers that is the place to go.

The other reason I decided to go during the last day is to try my luck on the last day clearance discount but only few booth did that and mostly children books. Overall it was much bigger than the previous one with more participation but probably the organizer should start thinking about finding a bigger location.

RIZAL

PUTRAJAYA HOT AIR BALLOON 2010

ZORBING ...(not this year, probably not next year....)

KMX rider patrolling the area......(it's not cheap)

The Levi's Jean Balloon

This is what you get for RM 10 plus the long queue ...a 20 feet balloon ride

This is taken at 8.15 am .....am amazed at how early the arrive


The balloons


The queue


The .....Mr Darth (what a surprise)

I've never been on a hot air balloon (imagine being in a small basket and lifted by a big balloon) but when the above event was held in PutraJaya I've decided not to missed it. I was told by few friends to be there early so we manage to arrive at the location roughly around 7.45 am and to our surprise it was jam pack (maybe next year we should be there by 5 am ....)

There was a very long queue for people who have paid to ride the hot air balloon and although it's only a short ride the number of people waiting in the line is amazingly a lot. Well probably next year we'll give it a try.

Apart from the hot air balloon exhibition other attraction such as the remote control plane, go cart, mini superbike, ZORBING,water balloon and others manage to get the crowd attention. My 2 kids manage to persuade me to pay for the 15 minutes ride of a unique bicycle called KMX bike costing RM 20 !!!!

Obviously another well plan event and will make sure that for next year fiesta we'll try the hot air balloon. Morning is the best time to go since the weather is better, once the sun is up it can be a bit hot so plan your journey well.