0905 Tauke, Kopi Galas

The first thing I did when I back to Kuala Lumpur was taking Malaysia food. It was Saturday morning; I fetched my sister together with my other friends we went to nearest restaurant having our breakfast. I ordered Hakka noodle and Kopi (Coffee with Milk). When they served the kopi before my Hakka noodle, I quickly tasted it. It was delicious. I almost 2 month times never tasted such delicious Kopi since I left Malaysia to Singapore.

Figure 1: China Town

As told by my Singaporean friends, it is not easy to find nice food in Singapore. A lot of them commented that Malaysia food is nicer than Singapore food. With only 1.40MYR I can get a nice kopi compare with 70sen SGD (1.70 MYR) in Singapore. I use to take kopi in Singapore since I work here. I found that the kopi were not that delicious. It has kopi color, kopi taste but too light. Compare with kopi bo (light coffee) in Malaysia, actually is much tasted nice than Singapore kopi. Maybe I should say a sky juice taste kopi. Anyway, I just took the kopi at China town and Yishun. I haven’t kopi at other place. My colleague, Singaporean who is 70 years old, told me that he love Malaysia coffee. I like coffee. For any country I went, I will taste their coffee. So far, I only found Vietnamese coffee tasted nice.

I was so excited when I took my first kopi in the early morning. I told my friends, I can’t imagine how delicious Malaysia food is. Now only I released that Malaysia actually have a lot of nice and delicious food compare with Singapore. I should share more about the food in Singapore with you in my next post.

P/S: A lot of people still don’t know what is Galas mean….. ha ha ha

0905 Selamat Pagi Malaysia

I reached KL early in the Saturday morning about 2:30 a.m. Home sweet home. This is my first time coming back to KL after working at Singapore for about one and the half month.

Before I left Yishun, I was wonder how jam at Woodlands and Malaysia Checkpoint. For many years, during the festival season, this place will queue out with a lot of people. It may take more than an hour to checkout at this point. Surprisingly, when I arrive at woodland and Malaysia checkpoint, the queue was short and within half an hour, I reached Johor. Together with my friend, we took a bus to my sister house to take my car. Unfortunately the car cannot start at all because it is out of batteries. I replace a new battery and depart from Johor about 11: 30 p.m.

Moving from Johor, I was expecting that there will be some jam at the toll area and Melaka exist as well as Seremban exists. However my prediction seem like wrong. There was no jam at all. It took me about 3 hour to reach KL. After sending my friend to Sri Petaling, I back to my old house. It is so sweet to see old my things here.

My holiday will start on 19 September until 21 September. I am going to meet all my friends in KL. On 21 September, while return to Johor, I will meet some friend at Johor as well. Well, Selamat pagi Malaysia… I miss you ….

0904 Never Compare

It was a hot afternoon. After having my lunch, together with my colleague we went to OG shopping mall for window shopping. This is what we use to do every day because there is no space in office for us to take a nap. We normally will take a walk before we return back to our office.

Today I went to men department. The whole departments are on sale. Most of the item will have 20% discount. I went to one section looking at the clothes that I like. I am interested with the price of the shirt. Looking at the price tag, I start to do price converting from Singapore dollar to Malaysia Ringgit.

After simple calculation, I found that majority items are quite expensive. I started getting interest on the selling price of the item in this department. Some similar item I bought in Malaysia, I still remember the price of that particular item are selling more expensive in Singapore

Many Malaysian after working in Singapore, still like to compare the selling price in Singapore with Malaysia. Somehow we always find the price in Malaysia was cheaper compare with the selling price in Singapore. At Ang Mo Kio, there is a famous roti canai shop. My friend told me, a single nice roti canai will cost you about 1.80 SGD which is equivalent to 4.4 MYR. I never take a roti canai that cost more than 2MYR in malaysia. To me, if you can find a roti canai in Malaysia that cost more than 2MYR, the taste must be very delicious or you being cheated by the shop or you take roti canai at high class hotel. 4.4 MYR you can get a good chicken rice in Malaysia.

Malaysian working in Singapore has to learn to accept the country rate. It is very difficult to stay here if we keep doing price comparing. We may able to get a nice chicken chop in Malaysia using 10MYR but in Singapore same value we may only able to get a wantan noodle or cha kueh tiao. However as per mention and reminded by my friend, earn Singapore dollar then pay Singapore price. The mentalities have to change.

Never Compare…..

P/S: KL Tey told me the exchange rate of SGD now rise to 2.46MYR. I am waiting to raise to 3.0MYR..

0903 Malaysia still Malaysia but where is Malaysian?

Happy Malaysia Day 16- September 2009.

Early in the morning when I open my email, I read news and from there only I remember it is Malaysia Day. For many Malaysian, I don’t think we all will remember when Malaysia Day is but we do remember when our National Day is. Even myself if I didn’t read my mails, I never realize that 16 September 2009 is Malaysia Day.

When I read the news, suddenly something came across to my mind. What happen to our generation today? Why such important date, we never remember it? What happen to our history teacher who supposes to let our generation know about the fact? We choose to forget it or we choose not to remember it? A lot of fact was taken out from our history book with the statement no enough space for these. Does it mean our generation should not know about it? Well, I don’t know. I let the answer to Malaysia politicians. They should know how to answer it.

Building up a nation is not easy especially when we come across with a multi races country. Every race has their need and culture. Each culture may differ or crash with other culture. We have found a point where we can mix it together to build up the nation. For pass 43 years, what did we do and what is the result? Today Malaysia still Malaysia but where is Malaysian?

43 year, Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore merge with Malaya to become Malaysia federation on 16 September 1963. Singapore came out from Malaysia after 6 years. Malaysian, are you proud to be Malaysian Or you just proud to be your own

0902 A Friend from Far ~ 有朋自遠方來

I was busy with my work today. Today I have to input again my plat form model as the client gave me the actual structure key plan to further work. About 6:00 p.m. I finished my modeling and did my final touch up. I received a message from a friend who came to Singapore for business trip. He tried to confirm with me the time and the place we are going to meet later. I seldom stayed in office after working hours but not for today. I needed to complete my model so that I can continue my work tomorrow early morning.

About 7:00 p.m. I left my office and walked to People Park Commercial Complex to meet up my friend there. When I reached there, I can’t find him. I sent a message to him and call him up. Both of us kept telling each other that we were at People Park. I spent about 15 minute to find him and finally I found him at People Park Center. There are few People Park in Singapore which is People Park Center, People Park Food Center and People Park Complex. We thought that we are at same People Park.

We went China town for dinner. While having our dinner, we talked about our life. We share our experience either our current company working life as well as in our previous company. He was my second friend who came over to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur and calls me out to have a drink. We talked about our ex colleague, trying to refresh our sweet memories of them. We talk about the industry, how the software performs in the industry. We talk about Singapore life as well as how I get adapted with the life style here.

Our life is full with uncertainty. We never know what will go to happen in next minute. I never thought that I will come over to Singapore and work here. Even during the early of July, I still thinking of taking my master course in Malaysia. I changed my mind at the end and decided to come over to Singapore. Something I learned and gained throughout the process, friendship. There are some friends who know I will come over to Singapore and purposely come over to my place to have a farewell drinks with me. They are some friends who called me from other country to cheer me up as they knew that I will go there and start to work alone. There is a friend who actually having his holiday chooses to come to Malaysia and spend part of his time with me and accompanied me to Singapore. As I am in Singapore, some of my friends from Malaysia they still keep contact with me. I received sms and calls from difference countries that always cheer me up when I felt lonely here.

Yen Kok, Thank you for the dinner and I am very happy as we can share a great time at china town by sharing our happiness and sadness about our life.

Like Chinese said “有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎”, isn’t it you felt happy when a friend to come over from the far to visit us?

0901 The New Beginning…..

It is new beginning….

 

Figure 1: Drawn at Museum Perakanan. Guess Who?

For the over pass 29 years I celebrate my birthday at my hometown with my family members, then Kuala Lumpur with my friends and now this is the first year I celebrate my birthday in Singapore. For so many years, I celebrate my birthday with a lot of great friends who stay nearby me. Singapore is a new city to me, where my network still in a very small circle. Even I choose to celebrate my birthday in Singapore, doesn’t mean I am alone here. This year, my birthday is a great experience to me.

Facebook, is a place where my friend track my news. I would like to express my thanks to all my friends who drop a blessing to me. It cheers me up. Even though I am far from all my friends, but there still click my facebook and leave a message to me. My good friend, Tey KL, he left the first wishes in my facebook.

My boss, I would like to thanks him. On 11/9 early in the morning, actually I was late about 5 minute to the office. My boss was in. when he saw me, he quickly come out from the room. I was shock initially, thinking of what had happen. He walks out from his room and greet me a birthday wishes. Suddenly I felt very warm. I never expect my boss will came across me and wish me. This is my first birthday blessing on the early morning 11/09.

I received my first birthday call from Taiwan, Patch. He is my best friend there. Although he was busy with his movie acting, but yet he still call me out and sang the first birthday song to me. He gave me a birthday wish. Patch, all the best to your second movie. I am looking forward to watch your movie in Cinema. The moment when he called me up, he is rushing to read the movie script. Another 2 call was from my Laughing group GG and Audrey. These were the only call from oversea and I really thankful that I have such a nice friend who are concern about me. GG was the second person who call me up with birthday greeting and Audrey, she just back from Qatar but never forget about me.

A friend of mine, she told me she bought a present for me and ask me to go back to kl to collect it. That was my first birthday present. I would like to express my happiness and thanks to her, HH. This was my first birthday present. I can felt that even I am far from Malaysia but there are a lot of my good friends in Malaysia always remember of me.

A best friend of mine, DL took me for a great dinner at Changi Airport. We had a nice dinner there. We went to Pasta De Waraku. We took Mushroom Chicken Pasta, Mushroom Salmon Pizza, Salmon and Salad. The foods were really delicious, and I really like it, especially the Pizza. Even the price is a bit expensive but the foods really worth to eat. After dinner, we went to Coffee beam to have a nice drink there and chit chat there. Thanks DL, I have a great nice birthday dinner there. I really love it and enjoy it. This was my first time celebrate birthday in Singapore with such a nice meal and great time.

30 year old, is a new mile stone for me. My life journey is just beginning. There are still a lot of thing I need to explore and to learn. Should or not, I have to move on. As I told a friend of mine, everyday, you can choose to be happy or sad. It is up to you and nobody force you to be happy or sad. You make your decision and you should be happy with the decision you made. I choose to move on to discover my next journey, and how about you, my dear friends?

0304 Vietnam – Van Mieu

It was a raining day on the first day we reached Hanoi. We had to sit in the restaurant for a moment until the rain stop. None of us came out together with rain coat. We left it in our luggage at the hotel store room. About half an hour later, the rain stopped. We went back to the hotel to take our rain coat and proceeded to our next journey, Temple of Literature (Van Mieu). Temple of Literature is a temple of Confucius in Vietnam. This is one of the most ancient buildings.

Since it is located about 7km from our hotel, we have to look up a transport to move us there. Taking taxi at Hanoi is very expensive. Sometime they may charge you more especially to the tourist if you are not alert on the standard rate per trip. Instead of taking taxi, we choose another alternative. We took SE HOMME. Se Hoome is a service like taxi but using motorbike. At Hanoi, a motorbike can carry up to 3 adults. Motorbikes at Hanoi in term of size and function are same as other countries. The seats of the motorbikes are basically designed to carry 2 persons. However, Vietnamese are able to make it to carry extra passengers. 4 of us squeeze on two Se Homme. I seat together with Leong. I was the last person and Leong sat between the driver and me. Part of my “back” was hanging outside the motorbike. I had to hold Leong shoulder to preventing myself by falling down from the motorbike. We didn’t wear any helmet. In Hanoi, if you walk around at the city, you will find something very interesting, the function of the traffic light. Traffic lights at Hanoi are just a reference for the road user. You can choose to follow or just break the rule. The Se Homme driver drove his motorbike like no other people sitting behind him. He overtook a car in front of him without consider any car come from opposite direction. At that moment, I felt I need to top up my insurance premium. We paid 30000 VHD (1.75USD) for the service. Initially, we though the price was very cheap. Later we found out that they actually over charge us. For a short distance within about 7 km, 20000 VHD for 2 persons is much more enough.

We arrived at Temple of Literature about 3:00 p.m. It was a raining day. There were not many people visiting this temple. We bought the ticket. The entrance fee per person was 5000 VHD. On top of the entrance, you can see the name of the temple door, Van Mieu Men (Temple of Literature Entrance). Surprisingly it was written in Chinese Character. The entrance consist three doors, Main door, left door (左門) and right door (右門). Although the design of the temple quite similar with the Chinese temple, one thing I found interesting were no dragon carving on top of the roof. The only things on top of roof were the symbol of nature element. Dragons only appear on the roof at one of the worship building. Once you entered the temple, you will found there are a lot of Poinsettias at the road side. The surrounding area was well kept. The temple was divided into few zones. In old day, only specified people can enter into the temple. We saw some turtle’s statues called Dr Stelea carried a list of the name. These were the name of people who score the highest in the government exam long time ago. The temple was served as a University at that moment. This was the place to educate the scholar to help the government to rule the country. In the middle of the temple, there was a pond. After the pond, we reached to a building with some statue inside. The arrangement of the worship place was quite similar to the Chinese temple. However some item that use to worship the God were different that Chinese temple. For example the dragon shape was different than Chinese dragon. Most of the Vietnamese cannot understand Chinese characters. However the Chinese character was used in the temple. Vietnamese will label next to the Chinese character. When you read carefully the Vietnamese, you will found that the sound of the Vietnamese was close to the Mandarin.

At one of the building, there was a traditional music performance. I loved the way they play the instrument. It was great performance. The whole performance took about 20 minutes. Their musical instrument was made by bamboo. You should pay a visit at this section when you visit this temple. Beside the temple, there is a big bell and a big drum outside the temple.

Before we came out from the temple, I saw a group of university student wearing Vietnamese traditional suite. They also visit the temple. When we tried to take their picture, they made a post for us to take the picture. Wow, they looked great and sweet.

The detail of the temple can refer to the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Literature

Figure 1: Entrance of the Temple

Figure 2: The Right Entrance of the Temple

Figure 3: Gatepost couplet at the Entrance of the Temple

Figure 4: The Entrance of the other zone

Figure 5: Close out of the Entrance

Figure 6: Pond in front of the temple. You have to walk around the pond to get into the next entrance

 

Figure 7: Flowers Carving on the Column at the Entrance

Figure 8: Small effigies placed under a tree

Figure 9:  Notice board at Vien Mieu

Figure 10: Doctor Stelea at the Temple. Actually it is Turtles (Wu Kui). The is a Monument on top of the Dr Stelea.

 

Figure 11: On top of the monument, it was carved with the name of the person who achieve the top in the government exam.

 

Figure 12: The roof of the Temple.

 

Figure 13: Another view of the Roof. The shape of the carves were quite unique.

Figure 14: The gatepost couplet: 教垂萬世仰無窮

 

Figure 15:The dragon carving was different than ordinary Chinese dragon.

 

Figure 16: some staff was discussing something at a corner

Figure 17: Students were attending a talk in the temple.

Figure 18: Students were listening to the lecture in the temple

Figure 19: Some statues  in the temple

Figure 20: Statue in front of a entrance of the temple

Figure 21: Big drum

Figure 22: Big Bell

Figure 23: Traditional music performance

Figure 24: The group of artists

Figure 25: This aunty good in playing this instruments

Figure 26: The close up of the instrument

Figure 27: Another close up.

p/s: i try to get the music record to show how she play the instrument

Figure 28: The statue in the temple

Figure 29:

Figure 30: The big bell

Figure 31: Group of Pretty Young Vietnamese Ladies

Figure 31: This group of young ladies i guess they were from an university.

0303 Vietnam – First Vietnamese Food at Hanoi

Coming out from the hotel after settled our Sapa and Ha long Bay trip was about 12:30p.m. Each one of us was hungry. We asked Mr Mark for the direction on some of the famous place for the food at Hanoi. We walked to a shop near by the Hang Quat road to have our first Vietnamese meal. It was located at the end of the Hang Quat road.  A long the road, you always can see a lot of people selling different things like flowers, foods, fruits and so on.

 

Photo1: On the Hang Quat Road, Vietnamese Selling the Flower

It is a double stories restaurant. The kitchen was located at ground floor and the dining room was on the first floor. The waiter serves us a set of English menu. It was good for us as none of us understand Vietnamese language.

I ordered a beef fried noodles with mineral water. My friends order chicken noodle (Pho Ga). We all felt excited as this is our first time at Vietnam (except Immy). While waiting our meals, we started taking photos around the restaurant. These were some of the picture we took from the restaurant.

 

Photo 2: Menu in the Restaurant

 

Photo 3: Some chili on the table with vinegar. Immy told me it was very spicy, to me it was not really spicy at all.

Photo 4: Standard Set on the Table. I guess most of the standard restaurant will have these sets of item.

Photo 5: A view from the restaurant on Hang Quat Road. People cycling.

 

Photo 6: this is the look of the hawker stall at vietnam. People used to seat in front of the shop lot and having their meal there.

 

Photo 7: A view of a shop with “Hong Kong” above the door

 

Photo 8: me and Gee Gee (Hui Gee – our Main organizer)

My comment on the first Vietnamese food was good. The vegetable was fresh as well as the beef. The noodle was not much different with Malaysian noodle but the way they cooked makes the noodle tasty. However the price was a bit expensive. My beef fried noodle was 26000D (about 1.6USD). One of the experience I learn from a friend we knew during our trip, always ask for local menu as most of the Vietnamese shop always have 2 different set menus. One menu is for local people and the other menu is for tourist. The menu for the tourist normally will charge higher than local people.

Photop 9: Chicken noodle (Pho Ga – Vietnamese pronounce as Fur Ga )

Photo 10: My delicious Meal

 

Photo 11: My delicious Meal

Photo 12: My delicious Meal – the vegetables were fresh

Photo 13: My delicious Meal.. tomatoes, celery, mushroom, onions..