Best Vacation in Malaysia part 2

Kami semua memang steam kodok kat Cameron Highlands, permandangan dan udara sejuk memang kami minati. Kami paling favourite drive kat tea plantations, dan minum teh kat factory-nya. Kami pergi kedua-dua Bharat dan Boh plantations, dan untuk pengetahuan, Boh Plantation factory sekarang dah powerlah! Besar dan ada cafenya berada dipenghujung gunung, so nampak clear view of the tea mountains!.



Perjalanan balik dari Cameron Highlands, kami mengunakan Gua Musang expressway. Drive kat situ mesti skill sikit, pasal jalan-nya bukan long and winding road macam kat Pulai atau Tapah. Jalan-nya straight menjunam kebawah, dan kalau tak jaga kereta, boleh laju je sampai ke tembuk. Lagi satu, perjalanan very-very sunyi, takde kereta lansung. Boleh racing, boleh bogel takde orang tahu, pasal takde orang drive kat situ. Perjalanan ke Kuala Krai mengambil masa 2 jam. Kami melintasi Kelantan - Permaisuri hingga ke Kuala Trengganu.



Kepenatan memandu tak payahlah tanya... dari 9 pagi ke 5 petang (2 hari tangan tak boleh straight). Setiba di Kuala Trengganu, kami terus ke Pantai Batu Buruk, dan menginap di Suria Beach Resort, harga rm69 aje. Bilik 2 katil, bersih dan ada swimming pool besar. Kami duduk di sini untuk 2 hari, untuk menunggu pasar malam Pantai batu buruk, tiap hari jumaat aje, dan juga dapat jugak sembahyang jumaat di Masjid Siti Zahara yang "terapung atas air".



Makanan kat pasar malam tu memanglah TERsangatlah murah - burger rm1 - ayam rm1 - mee/nasi rm1 - bak kata semua singgit aje (atau orang KT kat 1 riyal). Kita makan puas-puas di atas pasir pantai bersama orang di sana. Happening tempat ni, tapi ingat cuma hari Jumaat aje.

Sempat kita stop by kat Awang beach resort, di Rantau Abang tempat favourite kami, tapi kita tak berani duduk sini pada musim tengkujuh ni, pasal laut bergelora dan parking lot jadi sungai. Lihatlah gambar, ingat tak tahun lepas kita ambik gambar kat entrance situ, tengok apa dah jadi pada bulan sekarang.



Setelah 2 hari di KT, kami pun turun ke Cherating Kuantan. Penginapan favourite kami of course kat Mini Motel rm50. Kami suka tempat ni pasal motelnya betul-betul sebelah laut. Dan lautnya paling best untuk mandi, bersih dan luas sekali. Toksah cakaplah, pagi siang malam mandi kat laut situ.

Pada 18 Disember kami pun berangkat pulang ke SG, melalui Kuantan - Berserah - Chukai - Mersing - Kota Tinggi. About 6 jam drive pulang. Di tengah perjalanan, kami kena ribut di daerah Kuantan, subhanallah, ribut betul, memang betul-betul ribut. Pokok kelapa menunduk ke bawah, angin kuat sangat, ada kereta terbabas ke tepian longkang. Bak kata tak nampak kat windscreen, putih aje kena air hujan. Tapi I rilek aje, sambil drive 120kmph dan boleh makan sekali dengan satu tangan. Nak panic pun dah tak guna, dah penat - drive aje tawakal.

Malam hari kami selamat tiba di bawah block, dengan masih dibasahi hujan. Juliana, Iman dan Nadhirah semua muka murung, bukan pasal penat, tapi mereka nak continue jalan lagi. Bayangkan dah jalan satu Malaysia, pergi pulau, masuk sungai, naik gunung, drive berjam-jam mereka still nak lagi. Bila tanya "Nak jalan lagi tak?", mereka semua bersemangat menjawab "Yeah nak jalan lagi!", walaupun masih dalam kereta belum naik atas lagi.

Alhamdullilah, syukur kepada Allah kerana melindungi kami semasa menjelajah satu Malaysia. Kami bersyukur dapat melihat dan experience keindahan alam di Malaysia ini. Satunya bila kami mengembara, kami takde beli satu pun cenderahati, takde shopping lansung, duit semua pergi kat petrol, makan dan hotel. So dengan berbekalkan SGD1000 cukuplah untuk kami lima beranak pergi seluruh Malaysia untuk 2 minggu...



well cuti masa ada lagi... masih boleh jalan lagi ni....

Best Vacation in Malaysia!

"Di mana ada road di situ kita akan pergi drive"-3x, dengan kekata itu, kami pun memulakan percutian kami pada hujung tahun ini, tetapi lagi sesuai word "percutian" tu ditukarkan kepada "pengembaraan". Sebab buat pertama kalinya kami betul-betul mengembara seluruh Malaysia, dan itu bukan satu ekspresi, kerana kami memang menjelajah dari selatan ke timur ke utara ke barat dan balik ke selatan Malaysia.

Kami berangkat pada pagi 6 December dengan belum ditentukan arah tujuan. (susahlah cakap melayu, cakap omputih pulak lah) - Well, after entering Johor, I decided to service the car which has not been serviced for half a year. We stop by Gelang Patah and just picked one of the workshop, which charges just rm62 for it. That took half-an-hour and we start our journey via the North-South highway.

Then something happened along the way.... jeng-jeng-jeng!!!

After Ayer hitam, along the Melaka stretched of road, the car started to make some noise. Clink! Clank! And also the gas pedal was knocking! and the steering wheel was veering on its own! I had to stop the car at one of the perhentian, and made a decision to enter the next exit along the way. We entered Pagoh, and look for any mechanic shop along the road. It took quite some time and I found one kampung style and just entered their compund.


Bengkel ni memang betul-betul old school, tapi jangan ingat mechanic tu semua takde skill, gua respect dengan dia orang punya experience. Tak payah describe problem, dia orang dah tahu apa dah jadi. Anyway kena tukar drive shafts untuk kiri dan kanan, cost rm100x2 = rm200, original parts dan untuk labour rm20 aje. Kira Ok lah murah, kat SG tanya apek mechanic kat Eunos, dia mintak SGD150 untuk 1 side, kalau dua side dah times 2 = SGD300, itu pun recond punya dan belum masuk labour - tak payahlah!

Tapi satunya nak kena tunggu parts nya sampai dari Marang, alahai berjam-jam, nak dekat 2 jam lebih tunggu, kita orang dok kat bus stop pasal bengkel tu takde sofa atau tempat menuggu.

Lepas repair, kita pun continue drive keluar tol masuk NS highway, dengan kereta dah power, dah service, dah repair, takde kelentang! kelentong! bunya lagi, drive pun dah smooth. Ingat nak drive terus KL, tapi tak kesampaianlah, budak-budak dah penat so kita masuk Seremban, nampak hotel yang pertama lepas tol, terus masuk. Harga rm70 oklah murah, ada 2 katil besar, aircon, semua standard dan bersih.

Malam-nya bukan kita orang terus tidur, pergi merayap satu Seremban pulak, actually tujuan untuk cari money changer. Cari merata bandar, dan sampai kat Seremban Plaza, nasib baik ada money changer. Tapi bila nak balik hotel, sesat rabak, pasal jalan pergi tak macam jalan balik. Kita orang bila sesat, dah malas nak panic, pasal dah selalu sangat. Tanya orang insyaallah jumpa tempatnya.

Keesokan hari-nya, pagi kami sarapan kat kedai mamak sebelah hotel. Wow! ni roti chanai paling sedap kita orang pernah rasa. Tengok kat gambar tu - ada sambal, ada dua macam kari! Foooh takde fightlah kat mana-mana di SG.

Lepas sarapan, kita rileks sekejap kat hotel, tapi tak lama, Aan talipon mengatakan dia orang (Wakdir family, JJ family, Yan family) dah nak dekat sampai Seremban dan akan terus menuju ke Sungai Perak perhentian dan akan bertemu di sana. Kami pun dengan pantas check-out, start enjin dan teruskan perjalanan.

Tengah-harinya, kami semua bertemu di Sungai Perak untuk makan tengah-hari dan selepas tu konvoi kami semua terus ke Taiping. Check-in kat Taiping Seri Malaysia dan dengan pantas kami masuk swimming pool, dapatlah mandi-manda semua, menyegarkan badan.

(tak boleh lupa, bila Herman masuk swimming pool kecik dengan Batrishah, lepas tu nampak @%#!!!, dia boleh tenung sebentar, dan lepas tu dengan pantas cabut!...hehehe).

So petangnya kami pergi Bukit Latar, Museum Perak dan malam-nya kita masuk Taiping Zoo Night Safari.

Anak-anak di Bukit Larut dan pocong di Museum Perak
Taiping Zoo takde gambar, pasal malam tak nampak.

Keesokan harinya semua terus drive ke utara menuju Kuala Kedah untuk bertemu konvoi kedua, Abg Atid family, Kaklong/Fuad dan Herman/Odah family yang menaiki bas ekspress dari semalam malam dari Larkin.

Ok this part punya cerita di Langkawi, korang tengok ajelah kat DVD nanti, sekarang tengah post production. Videos semua telah dikumpul, Herman videos, Abg Atid handphone videos dan gambar2 semua. Nanti kalau cerita dah tak surprise pulak. Hopefully kat Bukom boleh tengok ramai-ramai.

So cut long story short, hari penghabisan di Langkawi, farewell to konvoi bas ekspress, konvoi kereta pulak menuju ke Alor Setar. Sampai di sana semua dah kepenatan so tak merayap sangatlah, makan malam kat stadium lepas tu makan durian kat pasar malam, dan balik hotel tidur...

Keesokan hari kita ke Pasar... (lupa pulak namanya)... dan menziarahi pergi rumah Mahathir, atau rumah yang dia dilahirkan (apa broken malay yang aku cakap ni)... rumah kelahiran Dr.Mahathir.

Selepas ni Wakdir family berpisah dengan kami berangkat pulang, sementara JJ family dengan kami menuju ke Cameron Highlands, menerusi jalan Simpang Pulai, yang tak banyak sangat seluk-beluk macam kat Tapah. Anyway kita sampai ke atas dalam pukul 4 petang, jauh jugak dong! Dalam perjalanan ke atas, ada lebah besar masuk dalam kereta kita, terpekik pekau budak-budak kat belakang macam nak roboh, terpaksa stop kereta tepi jalan dan bukak pintu untuk lebah tu terbang keluar. Kelakar seram!

to be continued...

Trengganu 15/12/06

Juliana says "Kita masih kat Kuala Trengganu - Batu Burok..."

Gua Musang... 14/12/06

Nadhirah says "Kita jalan Gua Musang - Kuala Krai - Machang - Pasir Putih - Kelantan - Permaisuri..."

Cameron Highland 12/12/06 - 13/12/06

Iman says "Kita sekarang kat Cameron Highlands..."

Off to never never land...

3X says "We are off on our journey to Langkawi starting tomorrow, ahead of everyone else in the tour. Reason being, we have no idea what to do this few days. We were busy helping Oja and Arin to paint their new house the past 3 days, and today we spent the whole day sleeping, or rather the parents sleeping while the children fighting amongst themselves for no apparent reason, presumably out of boredom. So rather than waste our time becoming couch potatoes, we decided tomorrow we just drive off to any northern part of Malaysia. Haven't decided on the destination yet, looks like its gonna be decided in the car first thing in the morning.

Anyway now all packed ready to go, each with their own haversack, gonna hit the sack, and wake up early tomorrow morning and let destiny takes us wherever it may take us.

So pray for our safe journey and return. Insya'allah. JJ family, Wakdir family, Yan family, Abg Atit family, Odah family, Kaklong/Fuad see you in 2 days time.

Hajat telah dilaksanakan

Iman says "Hi kengkawan... Moshi-moshi anonay? Watashi wa gako eh ikimas ka. Iman dah give up belajar English, so belajar Jepung pulak lah. Anyway, hari ni kita orang pergi Ikea kat Tampines tu. Besar jugaklah tempat tu, tapi selain daripada tu, barang-barang sama aje macam kat lagi satu tu. Parking free tapi susah nak dapat, dan lagi satu takde makanan melayu kat sana, so kalau lapar kena pergi Giant kat sebelah, tapi tu pun belum bukak."

Nadhirah says "Start dari sekarang, Abah dah start long leave dia, so kita suruh dia bawak kita pergi jalan-jalan tiap-tiap hari. Dia cakap dia nak tidur hari ni, tapi lepas tu dia pakai seluar panjang, terus ajak keluar. Anyway kita pun dah start nak packing barang-barang kita untuk melancong next week. This time kita nak bawak beg sorang satu, bawak sendiri pasal nanti bila naik ferri senang sikit."

Juliana says "Lepas pergi Ikea, kita pergi rumah Wak Saadon. Wak Ramlah buatkan kita mee goreng dan ayam goreng, sedap lah, abah makan sampai 2 pinggan... habis! Actually tujuan kita ke sana pasal Abah ada hajat dengan Wak Saadon. Nak tahu apa hajat dia? Tengoklah sendiri nanti. Kalau boleh tekalah apa sebenarnya telah menjadi... Benda yang belum pernah terjadi telah dijadikan... Hajat telah dicapai... Hajat telah dilaksanakan... Apa dia? Cuba fikirkan... "

My Favourite Album of 2006....

This year was a flurry of new releases from all my favourite bands. Iron Maiden finally stick with Bruce Dickinson as vocalist, and get this they're the only band with 3 guitarist - Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers, with Steve Harris still their bassists and Nicko McBrain still the crazy drummer. This is the same line-up eversince Killers, Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind... oh man they are my heroes for all time! Give me 5 secs of any song intro and I can name you the title.

Another new album release, which I had anticipated always is Gamma Ray, the frontman Kai Hansen still going strong. He should go back to Helloween and make great music with Markus Groskopf, but what to do sometimes great minds can't work together. I actually emailed Markus a few years ago, and he really did email me back. I was so amazed, and in the email he really doesn't want to explain about the break up. Anyway Gamma Ray still makes me high with the speed metal riffs.

Another one, Slayer also pushed out their new one, with xxxx Illusion. Man this band still retains their same bandsmen - Tom Araya (for info he used to be a dentist), Dave Lombardo, Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, the same guys since Show No Mercy, Seasons in the Abyss... I don't think they have ever mellowed down. Its still aggressive and fast, and good arrangements of riffs.

Metallica is another favourite, or should I say ex-favourite, eversince the St.Anger mess, I don't think they can come with another masterpiece like Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, or even the Justice for all, at least the Black Album is still listenable. After that Load and Re-Load was total crap! Anyway not sure whats the development of this band.

But surprise - surprise, the favourite album for me, the one I have been listening to always, is My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade This is the best album I ever heard for this year, all the songs sound so good. Melodic, fast and progressive. I'm not sure what categories it falls into, but I think the band has been called Emo Rock as in emotional rock (not sure what it means though). It seems they change direction recently, and took a gamble with this type of music. Ok I know, this band can't be placed in the same category as the bands above (the ones I grew up with), its like metal vs rock... but in terms "syokness" I have to put this one as my all-time favourite for this year, because I can't stop listening to the songs, and its the one album always in my Mp3 player, never got deleted ever since. I think age is catching up to me, that's why I'm mellowing down, but deep down I'm always a metal head! Up your Irons!"

Read it, don't have to watch it...

Here's a good link for movie buffs...
http://www.themoviespoiler.com/
If you're too scared to watch the movie or want to save that 10 bucks, or just plain lazy to sit through 2 hours just to see the ending...

Leave days

3x says "Adui lenguhnya satu badan lepas main tennis dan badminton friday night. Ingatkan takdelah penat sangat, pasal berdiri aje lepas tu tepuk bola aje dengan raket. Pagi bagun nak angkat cawan kopi untuk minum pun tangan boleh mengeletar...

Anyway today's entry is actually about my leave, or rather the number of days I have to clear before the end of this year. How many... 20 days, and the other 5 days (max) can carry forward to next year. By November I was in a frenzy to find the dates to clear, as I remembered last year 5 days got burned because didn't get to take.

So I took 2 weeks in December for the Langkawi trip 4 to 15 Dec, which is 10 days. Another 4 days I applied for every Monday and Friday this month. which leaves another 6 days, and thats not including the entitled 2 days child care leave. Where do I slot the 8 days? December already took the 2 weeks, and then work for 1 week, and then the college block leave for 1 week. So that means I work only 1 week in December. If I apply for that week, that means the whole of December I not working at all. Hopefully , the 3 engineers under my charge will be on auto-pilot and not screw anything up while their "Master Jedi" (thats what they call me) is away. They starting to worry about my absence in December, but I told them if anything I'm reachable via handphone.

By the looks of it, if I can't find any slot for that 8 days, then it will get burned like last year. Well what to do... tried to exchange the days to money - not approved, and tried to carry it forward (max. 5 days) to next year - also not approved.... damn! every year always waste leave. Does this happen to you? Bingit lor..."

Malaysia channel video streaming

http://syoktv.net/player.html
Enjoy all of the Malaysia channel..
TV3 - RTM1 - RTM2...

25th Anniversary of Al-Ansar

3X says "Looking at my hard disk right now, the Alansar folder, which holds 40gb worth of data - pictures, raw videos, rendered videos, audios, titles.... its the folder that I have been double clicking everyday night/day/morning since the last few weeks. Thank god for Adobe Premiere pro, not once did it crash on me (unlike the previous version 6.5, that crashes every time, this ver is THE one if you are into editing videos).

For the tribute to Cg Ahmad Manap, you may notice that its a little long, but I couldn't bear to cut what the nice things the staffs have to say about him. Doesn't matter if half the audience is not interested at all, I'm sure he would like to hear it, and appreciates it. He spents most his lifetime doing good work, so whats ten minutes for his tribute. Anyway I did see him from afar and he is watching it, luckily not distracted by the food. I imagine what goes through his mind, hopefully touched by all the comments.

While taping their interviews with the staffs, it was amazing how sincere they all were. None of them were prompted or told what to say, what they all said was really I can feel comes from the heart. He must be a really swell guy to be looked up to and most regard him like a father. Heck I don't know anyone who's look-up to as a father figure by so many people.

Well the event was quite interesting, especially the singing muslimah, got to give them props for getting up on stage and singing in tune, but out of tempo. The food was quite in abundance, at least at our table, because the kids are not eating. Iman sakit perut, and Juliana not feeling well, Nadhirah didn't eat much and the wife keep going to the toilet (red flag day). Anyway our table number (16) did win the 26th table draw, so each one of us got a mat for prize.

*yesterday after so many days and weeks, got home and got to lay my head on the pillow without the need to switch on the PC....... well at least not until Monday - the Centennial server configurations, IPcam server project and the Mac OS server sharing mapping drive tasks still awaits me at work.

Juliana's Report Book

Congratulations to Juliana,
she got 4th place in her class.
Well done!

Better Man

3X says "Some days you feel like singing a song that reflects your mood... One song hit the spot, when you can't live up to people's expectations. Better Man by Robbie Williams. When you think of your past and present, failures and mistakes. Some days you put up a brave front, ignore the pain and carry on... but there are days where you just simply succumb to your feelings."

Better Man by Robbie Williams
Send someone to love me I need to rest in arms
Keep me safe from harm In pouring rain
Give me endless summer Lord I fear the cold
Feel I'm getting old Before my time
As my soul heals the shame I will grow through this pain
Lord I'm doing all I can To be a Better man
Go easy on my conscience 'Cause it's not my fault I know
I've been taught To take the blame
Rest assured my angels Will catch my tears
Walk me out of here I'm in pain
As my soul heals the shame I will grow through this pain
Lord I'm doing all I can To be a Better man

Welcome to the Black Parade

3X says "This song is the most fun song I ever heard - Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance. The change in tempo, chord progressions, nice melody and beautiful harmonics.
Amacam Herman, Is, Yan, boleh bawak tak lagu ni? Power!"

We'll Carry On! We'll Carry On!

Holier than thou...

3X says "Of recent days, there were some "What happened?..." and "Why until like that?...", and the answer is simply unknown. What transpired so much hatred is really unthinkable.

And the most disturbing thought is, who is it directed to? a person or a unit of people? Only god knows... I dwell into speculations and accusations only to feel guilty of even thinking about it. And this speculations and accusations are what making it dangerous right now.

But if you can't stand the 'smell', stand far, far away as far as I'm concerned. I'm not writing this because I have anything to do about it (repeat, reason really unknown)... but immaturity and arrogance have no place in my circle... and if you're too good for my circle - Get Lost!"

I wrote this email to someone from work, read it and do your own interpretations....

I want to break free...

3X says "I am hooked! I am addicted! I can't stop myself! What is it that I'm addicted to... Prison Break... after watching the first 2 episodes I can't wait for the next week to see what happened... anyway don't ask me where I get, but I got the whole seasons episodes - all 22, plus 9 more from second seasons. I won't disclose where I got it - but I can tell you having a big 'pipe' is good.

This show has so much twists and turns, that makes you want to know so much about all its character, and why they do what they do. If you been watching the first 5 episodes (shown on TV), you know that the guy Michael Scoffield, purposely commit a crime to go to jail to save his brother. He is a genius, and it is so addictive to find out what he has been planning in every episodes. Initially he had to make so much bad blood with some prisoners, but eventually his enemies becomes his gang, as he leads them to escape.

One character I enjoy watching is T-Bag, this violent gay criminal is the most interesting character in the show. He speaks in a southern accent and he have no problem hurting anybody. Watching him walk like a model is so much fun. A really freaky psycho! Watch him and you will either like him or hate him.

Needless to say, many character will get killed, innocent or otherwise. Even a kid will get killed in episode 12.

16th episode, it will take you back 3 years when it began. Lincoln had to commit a crime to pay the $90K he borrowed. The deal is to kill the Vice President's brother. Initially he had to borrowed that amount of money for his brother Michael, but Michael only knew that he got the money from his mother's life insurance. This money is what help his brother's educations and eventually makes him a successful guy. When Michael finally finds out what his brother have done for him, he had to save his brother from execution.

Anyway in episode 13, the story unfolds that the VP brother was not actually killed, he is still alive. Living with his sister the VP, who will become the President. Anyway just so you know... Nick will die from Abruzzi's henchman at the last episode of the season 1, and Veronica will be shot dead in the 1st episode of 2nd season. And yes, they all did escape in the last episode. So the 2nd season does not have any prison scenes, its all outdoors from there. After that Bellick and Pope got dismissed from their job, and Abruzzi also died when the FBI caught up with him. Anyway there will be 2 guys chasing the prisoners, the FBIs and the President's henchmen. And the prisoners did find the $5million dollars... and I have to watch Episode 8 Season 2 to tell you what happen next...."

Selamat Hari Raya 2006

S e l a m a t H a r i R a y a

kepada semua umat Islam di dunia

dan terutama sekali kepada

Ahli Keluarga Haji Salleh

Iman says "Hai... Selamat Hari Raya... kita tahun ni hari raya sambut kat Ayer Hitam. Sehari sebelum raya, hari isnin, kita dah pergi Ayer Hitam. Sampai aje, kita orang pergi Parit Raja, pasal mama dan abah belum beli baju raya lagi. Last minute tak payah pilih, beli aje apa yang ada. Tapi last minute shopping bagus tau, dia orang kasi discount banyak sekali, so dapatlah murah sikit."

Nadhirah says "Hari Raya kita orang berkumpul kat rumah Aki dan Wan. Pak Su, Mak Su, Pak Ngah, Mak Ngah (abang dan adik mama) dan sepupu-sepupu kita Danial, Nisha, Husna, Khairil, Shamir dan Aisyah pun ada. Cuma yang tak dapat balik Mak Long (kakak mama) aje. Malam raya kita main bunga api dengan sepupu kita, sampai Juliana melecur kat perut pasal kita terlanggar dia...hehehe."

Juliana says "Kurang asam punya Nadhirah, dia cucuk kita kat perut dengan bunga api tu, sakit tau! Petang raya gitu kita balik Singapore, terus ke rumah Tok kat Tampines. Tapi bila sampai, orang semua dah balik, tok cakap sebelum kita orang sampai, orang ramai sangat, semua kena diri. Malam-nya kita rumah Wakdir dan WakRam. Kita makan banyak sangat... asyik terkentut-kentut aje."

Yati says "Kami nak mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya, dan Maaf Zahir dan Batin, apa yang tersilap cakap ke, atau tersilap buat ke, atau tersilap apa-apa ajelah... harap dapat maafkan."

3X says "adooiiii, sakit perut... makan banyak sangat...."