Fun Ride

Back in November, my department was having a team building activity at MY Gopeng Resort in Perak. The road to the resort was narrow and meandering and the bus was too fat to fit on the road. So, we had to stop at Gopeng town and ride on a smaller-size vehicle in order to reach the destination. This was the lorry called Optimus Prime DAIHATSU.


This lorry was loaded with girls while the guys jam packed in another lorry. I was really excited to ride on a lorry for the first time in my life.


Since we were standing on the lorry and we could easily hit on tree leaves or branches, the guys standing in front would shout "Incoming..." every time there was tree branch ahead. Upon hearing this, everyone at the back would quickly squat down. We had more excitement during the journey back to the town because it was drizzling all the way. We just put on our hoodie and experienced the fun ride.


Troops disembarked from the lorry after a ride through greenery and durian orchard.


I didn't bring my camera so these photos are courtesy of Mamat.

Malaysia: Skytrex Adventure

During the long weekends, I finally had a taste of Skytrex Adventure at Taman Pertanian Malaysia. We completed the Big Thrill challenge without taking the Chicken Exit. Pats on the back.

However, there's nothing to be proud of when I see all these little heroes and heroines doing the Little Adventure challenge. Looking at this girl, who is only 4 or 5 years old, crossed the string all on her own. Her hands couldn't even reach the cable above. She fell and still managed to complete the challenge. What a courageous kid.


This boy was so afraid of this challenge and only started to move after someone volunteered to accompany him. He held her hand so tightly and wouldn't let go until he's assured it's safe. It's joy to see his fear expression ended up in a smile.


My arms and abs sore like shit now.

Technorati Tags: Skytrex Adventure Shah Alam Malaysia Asia

Thailand: Elephant Ride and Snake Show

After visiting floating market, the tour guide brought us to an elephant ride. According to him, only the royal family could ride on elephant in the ancient times. The rider controlled the direction using the motion of his legs behind the elephant ears. Amazing isn't it? However, no one was interested in the elephant ride under this scorching heat.


So, the guide brought us to the Cobra Show after that. I was pondering whether I want to watch or not and the Canadian lady said "Let's do it!" and the snake show, there we went. We were welcomed by this python at the entrance. Guess where the python hid his head. Behind the young guy's butt.


There were quite a lot of audience waiting for the show to start. The chicken shit me chose to sit at the last row. Look at the so-called stage, the fence was really low.


First up was cobra show. The handler swung that piece of cloth left and right in front of the King Cobra. The cobra sensed the motion and attacked its enemy. The handler was responsive and skillful enough to escape from the strikes.


The Head Up King Cobra.


This is the cobra show that sends a chill down your spine. Have you ever seen a man kissing a cobra? Don't play play. I hope he has a life insurance.


After the show, the handler demonstrated snake bite using a glass and plastic. Plastic was used to imitate the human skin. The audience could see the fangs and the venom from the cobra through the transparent glass. The poison regeneration was faster than your mana regeneration. After that, the handler also showed the funny fact of a cobra. A cobra has 2 penises. Haha.


Before the cobra was moved away from the limelight, the handler walked around the audience and let us touch the creepy snake. Yes, I freaking touched it.


Next up, Mongoose VS Cobra. Mongoose is capable of killing a cobra. The snake was separated from mongoose before it got killed during the fight. That's brutal.


Python show. The 6-year-old python was strong and aggressive and it could swallow a cow anytime. After catching the cobra, the handler spun the snake in 360 degrees in a fast speed. The audience in the front rows screamed at the top of their lungs and ran away from their seats. There was a strong feeling that the python would flung towards your direction.


This was the last stunt. How to catch 3 snakes with bare hands? First 2 snakes were caught using hands and what about the third one? Let your imagination go wild or watch this video.


I feel glad that I did it and I won't do it again in my life.

Technorati Tags: Elephant Ride Cobra Show Snake Bangkok Thailand Asia Travel Trip

Thailand: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Floating market is a place not to be missed for a first timer who wants to experience trading on a boat. There are a few floating markets in Thailand with Damnoen Saduak as the largest and authentic floating market in the vicinity. On a fine morning, I followed the tour to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market located in Ratchaburi Province on a 1.5-hour van ride.


The floating market is situated along a canal so we were transferred to a long tail boat at a mini jetty before arriving at the exact location. During the boat ride, we passed by many wooden houses built along the river. Folks there just live by the canal. The long tail boat is operated on engine, so be prepared because river water is going to splash on your face when it is speeding.


After a shot ride, we finally arrived at the floating market. We can either walk alongside the canal or take a boat ride at THB 150. For sure, I opted for the latter. The boat woman paddled the boat along the canal and simultaneously we did the shopping and photo shooting on the boat.


The floating market is jam packed with tourist boats. It could be congested and luckily there is no honk on the boat.


There are a lot of boats selling straw hat and souvenir as the target customer is mainly tourist. The boat is fully loaded with all sorts of goods and it makes me wonder how they maintain the balance of the boat. Some of the shopkeepers looked bored. I think they are stuck in a rut.


Besides souvenir, fruits can be seen almost everywhere. Sweet mango is tantalizing and some tourists are eating them on the boat. Driven by curiosity, how this fruit seller reaches the mangoesteen at far end of the boat.


From my observation. this fierce-looking uncle was the only butcher there. He monopoly the meat market.


Something amazed me was cooking on the boat. They somehow managed to load a gas tank into the boat and cook.


Uncle and auntie enjoying their food.


Hard selling.


One hand grilling meatball, one hand paddling boat.


There's gold in the fruits?


Fried banana. Pisang goreng.


Need a fag.


Buying & selling.


Cool boatman.


I need customer.


Row, row, row your boat. Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Life is but a dream.


Goodbye colorful floating market.


Technorati Tags: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Ratchaburi Bangkok Thailand Asia Travel Trip

Malaysia:: Ipoh: Food Marathon

After a heavy breakfast at Foh San, we went to Gunung Lang. It's a recreational park with man-made lake, formerly a tin mine. We just walked around the park and did some gibberish talk. After that, food marathon started.

First stop, Funny Mountain Tau Fu Fa. The funny part is it's actually a drive through tau fu fa shop. The customer will stop the car in front of the shop, order and eat in the car. For walk-in customer, there's only a long bench provided for you to sit.


The tau fu fa is cooked in a wooden barrel. I believe that's the traditional way of cooking that makes it special.


Best tau fu fa I ever had. The texture is so darned good.


Next stop, we went to Yee Hup for Hiong Piah and Ching Han Guan for Lotus Meat Floss biscuit. Unfortunately, the lotus meat floss biscuit was sold out for that day. They should produce more to cater for the brisk business.

Forget about the disappointment, we moved on to Aun Kheng Lim salted chicken. One chicken is sold at RM 16.00. Like that tau fu fa shop, only takeaway service is available.


A sneak peak of how salted chicken is being prepared. Interesting!


We then savored this nicely posed salted chicken in a kopitiam.


The last stop was Kong Heng Coffee shop. We wanted to order egg custard and again they were sold out. This kopitiam offered quite a variety of good food.


Check out the Kai Si Hor Fun.


And also, popiah. We also tried the rojak and satay.


The food marathon reaches the finish line. Burp!

Technorati Tags: Food Coffee Shop Ipoh Malaysia Travel Trip

Malaysia:: Ipoh: Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant

Q: Do you know where Ipoh folks hang out in the morning?
A: Dim Sum restaurant.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. My friends and I were in Ipoh so we headed to Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant. Another famous dim sum restaurant Ming Court is actually located opposite to Foh San. Both also crowded but we picked Foh San.


Take away service.


Look at the queue. Ah Ma also waited until sien already.


We waited for around one hour for a table. While waiting, I walked around and snapped some pictures. Spotted Hua Nam Coffeeshop which I stumbled upon the review at Ipoh Food Frenzy In 4.5 Hours, Hua Nam - Part 3 while looking for food POI before the trip. Ipoh is actually a food heaven.


We had quite a number of people so we ordered quite a lot of different dim sum. Food pics rolling in.

BBQ Pork Bun (Char Siew Pau)


Chicken Pau, Lotus Paste with Egg Pau and unknown Pau


Pork Dumpling (Siew Mai). Thumbs down!


Prawn Dumpling (Har Kao)


Mushroom Dumpling


Seriously no idea what it this.


Pot Sticker Dumpling (Guo Tieh)


Claypot Cheong Fan with Pork. There's another pot with duck meat.


Pork Ribs (Pai Kuat)


Porridge


Egg Tart


Glutinous Rice (No Mai Kai)


Kuih-muih


More kuih-muih


White Radish Cake (Loh Pak Kou)


Chee Cheong Fun, stuffed with prawn or char siew.


Steamed Pork with Century Egg. Someone snapped up the pei dan faster than my camera speed.


Kuih with lotus paste inside. My friend could hardly swallow it. Too sweet and sticky for her taste bud.


Red Bean Cake. Received most compliments among my friends.


Overall rating, OK only lah... Our stomachs almost burst.



Technorati Tags: Dim Sum Restaurant Ipoh Malaysia Travel Trip

The Eczema Experience

For the first time in my life, I know what is eczema or dermatitis when this happens on me. Not on my hand or leg or body but on my face. Damn. There are red patches and rashes around my mouth and eyes. It could be caused by allergy to my Kose skincare and poor immune system due to unhealthy working lifestyle. The bad thing is this eczema cannot be cured, it can only be controlled.

I went to Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital last week and the medications were futile as my face condition did not improve at all. So yesterday I went to Ting Skin Specialist as recommended by many people. It's hard to make appointment as the phone line was always engaged. After several retries, the line eventually managed to get through at 9.15 am. The earliest time slot available was 4 pm and my number was 41. Holy smoke. So many people already made appointment in a short 15-minute time? So in the evening, I went to the clinic. Besides prescribing medicines and ointment, the doctor gave me steroid injection, on my backside. I requested for arm but he said cannot because arm does not have enough muscle. He mentioned that inflammation would go away in 3 days after the injection. It's getting better today but I hope it will not come back to me after 3 days. I could still feel the side effect of dry mouth now. I asked him how much time is required for the redness to be cleared from my skin and he said WEEKS!! Leaving me no choice but to live with it until I'm fully recovered.

My fellow friends, please take care of your health. Eczema is no fun.

Happy Deepavali!