Grey November

So it’s going to be the end of 2007 and Gerald, Grace and I decided to go on a little road trip to Penang for some makan-ing session. Too bad that Johnny, Hin Loong and Ivan couldn’t join us on our journey to the land of Kiasu Penangites.

During our visit to Penang, we stayed in City Bayview Penang and I was kinda disappointed with the not hot enough shower, broken TV and their curved mattresses. Other than that, the view was not too bad.

Gurney was packed as usual and I still don’t get the parking charging system in Penang till now. Why waste man power walking around issuing parking “summons” and then issuing another paid parking ticket?

The people here are just horrible. Serious. Penangitis syndrome. They are snobbish, drivers kiss other drivers backside for no reason and they love to honk. Even if I signalled for 5 seconds, their motorist are freaking blind and just langgar you.

After nearly being infected with Penangitis, we hurried over to Cameron Highlands just for fun. The weather was great!

On the way out we visited the Cameron Valley tea plantation for picture snapping and scones!

Tourists are allowed to walk into a portion of the plantation to snap pictures and pluck some tea leaves perhaps?

The cool weather, scenery and tranquility of the life style in Camerons really makes me think of getting a holiday home for retirement or just a vacation in the future.

I’m starting to like Camerons.

It’s a norm now that customers are treated to great Christmas decorations in shopping malls around Malaysia besides having ample choice of products on offer during the year end mega sales. Usually these decorations are set up in the mall’s centre court and I heard that they have a inter-decoration competition each year amongst the malls.

This particular year, 1-Utama went with a rather interesting design; the drummer boy! The nice thing about it is the drummer boy can actually move about! Unfortunately the sad point is, one tends to get bored after seeing it more than once.

Midvalley once again emerged as this year’s winner with a very autumn looking Christmas decoration. Apparently, Midvalley wins it every year. Well, if you have seen the other decors in the other malls in KL then you would understand. KLCC’s was a gigantic Xmas tree, Pavillion’s less gigantic white Xmas tree was horrendous (if i recall the tree was terbalik) whilst Sunway Pyramid Phase II was pure cheap. Sorry no pictures. They were just an eye sore.

If you havent seen the Midvalley decor’s you should really take a look at it.

Sorry if the images didn’t really turn out the way I wanted it to be. We were in a rush for “I Am Legend” and I need a DSLR.

It’s getting really close to the close of 2007. The festive season is fast kicking in at the malls with the megasale luring in patrons after patrons for a discounted buy. Grace tagged me to create this wish list for the coming Christmas celebrations and I’ll try keeping things within logical wishes.

1st up is my all time favourite, the Ariel Atom which is a supercharged go-kart. This one I most definitely am dreaming about and will never have.

If you have messed around with the iTouch then you will understand why I am craving for the iPhone even though it lacks several modern day hand held devices functions like MMS. The shear sleekness of the GUI and the body itself makes it a gadget to die for.

I’m currently using a Lumix and most of the time I don’t get shots that I want. The first thing I’m getting soon is a entry level DSLR for more control over my photography that won’t break the bank account.

I’ve never hidden my passion for automobiles. Modifications to my car will not be anything major but expect a new paint coat, 16″ rims, slight skirtings with tailpipe alterations.

Last on the list will be the long wait for someone to crack the Playstation 3 in Malaysia.

You know, those from Ipoh, including myself, never stop blabbering about how good the food is back in town. Aside from the usual famous white coffee and bean sprout chicken, Ipoh has one of the best popiah in the nation.

Not many are aware of this roadside stall run by a grumpy old fart situated along Jalan Pekeliling/Jalan Lau Pak Khuan in between Ipoh Garden and Canning Garden.

This grumpy fella makes 15 popiahs at one go. This particular popiah variant is vastly different from the ones you get from Taiping and Singapore as he stuffs his popiah with alot of toppings, ranging from taufu, fried onions, crab meat, egg, cabbage, sengkuang to the crispy thingy.

The popiah is fairly large with rather thick popiah skin that keeps the popiah dry on the outside whilst hot and moist on the inside, resulting in the popiah not being soggy.

He only opens 3 times a month on Saturdays. If he is open, you wont miss him as you will see many cars parking illegally along the road. One has to be patient though, waits can be in excess of 30 minutes.

One should also be noted that he is seriously a grumpy old fart. Just stand there say nothing until he asks your order.

Everything in the govt controlled papers have been dishing alot of punishment to the HINDRAF leaders and that by all means does not paint a very nice picture of Malaysia. We have not seen the better side of Malaysia for quite awhile now; When have you seen people in LRT’s giving their seat to a needy?

Ignorance would be a good description of the general public.

I’ve always thought that the grass is always greener on the other side. But that’s not the case, many are oblivious to the fact that Malaysia is truly a blessed nation, well, not in the ruling govt side perhaps.

I was in Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) last weekend, not knowing what to expect there in Selayang. After paying a minimal fee to enter the facility, a hike up a trail started along this pond opposite the Information Center. It may look like any other pond, but it is home to a few humungous arowana fishes that are about the height of an adult male.

It was a hike along the Keruing Trail as the main attraction of FRIM, the canopy walkway was under maintenance works. The trail is home to the world’s largest bamboo species and to many other great flora.

The place is really magnificent. Nature at it’s best I would say. But it is sad to see not many people know about FRIM albeit the regular joggers in and about the country.

WOW. That was my exact words when I feasted my eyes towards heaven. The canopy of each tree never touches the other, making me ponder the wonders of the work of God.

The hike was a rather short hike, most of the trails were under maintenance. The open road led me towards the heart of the capital of Malaysia into the Lake Gardens of KL(Tugu Negara area).

There are many parks here, for example the National Bird Park and the National Orchid Park.

There were way too many tourists flocking the bird park, so I ventured into the orchid park instead.

You see, Malaysia is really a beautiful, multi-coloured nation. Yea, its rotten at places. But it’s still the country I was born in. Whether you like it or not, we are all in it together, clinging on the same lifeline as the flowers are on its stem. One bad egg doesn’t make the whole basket rotten.

Beauty is a perspective.

You just have to find it.