December Summary

Been a long while since the last update. The busiest December ever with events in every weekend, not forgetting the workpiles in office due to end year rush (It's not a bad thing actually) Call tis an update or whatever just for the sake of posting one to make a complete "one post every month" routine.

As mentioned in last post, went to Hong Kong for 3 days for urgent biz trip. Still managed to find time to go for night shopping despite of our tight schedule. Just gotta make tis my next post topic soon. Mahikari Youth Group Jamboree was then held on the 3rd weekend of December. Permitted to hold the important role of chairperson of organising committee. Must say it was a blast, besides having eye-opening experiences being in the background ensuring all things run smoothly. Of cos, tis wont be possible without the support of the other members & His blessings.

The annual Akurian trip is just around the corner, departing in 2 days time. Not sure why, but this time again to Langkawi, where we went last year. Badly need a holiday to release the tension. Works are still ongoing despite of most people being in holiday mood already. One more day tomorrow....

Gasing Hill Climb

I always dream to climb Mount Kinabalu one day, one of the things to do before I die. Before conquering the BIG one, u gotta start with the small one first to check ur standing. Even if ur exercising regularly, it does not means that u will have good endurance & stamina; something I learnt from the Fitness First trainer. The recent Gasing Hill climb during the Koran holiday was the perfect start to gauge that.

I just loved working in Selangor. During Selangor state holiday, great feeling to see people with their busy lifestyle while u just relaxing, doing ur own things at ur own sweet time...:) Went together with few of the Mahikari youths. For ur info, Gasing Hill was a reserved green area (I think it's a mini forest reserve) situated in Petaling Jaya. People frequented the place for its mini jungle walk. We started at the back entrance at 9am & ended at main entrance in one hour. I must say I underestimated this activity, thinking it will be a walk in the park. At the end of the walk, whole shirt was soaked with sweats. Some climbs are quite steep although trails are easy to follow. The result of endurance standing?? Passable but can be better. A second visit?? Yes, just need to get a face towel next time.

When stamina deteriorated after a tough strenous activity, energy from food will be required. Dim sum brunch is perfect to serve the purpose. And we went to this Key Way restaurant in Paramount Garden, which serves wide arrays of dim sum & other deserts. Food was surprisingly good at this modest place that we just keeping asking for the waiters with baskets (with steamed dim sum) to bring on the food. Price? Little bit higher than the rest but u just wouldn't mind paying more if the food was good. Really need to go back there again !! It's situated just in front of the post office in Paramount Garden, Petaling Jaya.

Layout map of Gasing Hill

One of the climbs up

Main entrance to the park

Steaming hot Dim Sum

More varieties !!!

Remember this name. I'm already checking out the day to visit here again

December Round-Up

Been a busy month here & tat's why the non-updates of blog posts. Now it's reaching the end of the year. There's the Bangkok airport closure at beginning of the month, creating much needed business for our KLIA airfreight business, Mahikari Tai Jamboree held last weekend, Thiru's beautiful wedding in Cyberview Lodge Cyverjaya and upcoming Langkawi trip with the Akurians tomorrow...Can't sleep well now....

More posts will be coming soon after I'm back and...

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

Kawe pergi Kelate...

What did u do when ur struggling to cope with stress in a fast paced city? De-stress urself in a slow-paced city with a laidback style, or better still celebrating a happy occasion with bunch of cheerful ppl there...that's what practically happened last month.

Went with several Mahikari Youths to be part of a beautiful wedding of Hock Shai & Li Lian back in Shai's hometown Kuala Krai, Kelantan. Geographically, it's 64 km south of Kota Bahru about 1.5 hours drive by road from the state capital. With wide choices of tranportation modes available, all of us went like in 3 different routes thru Air Asia (that's my group) & Malaysia Airlines by air and another group by car. Upon arrival, Shai arranged for his relatives to pick us up & drive down to Kuala Krai. Our car went to Pasir Mas first for "ayam percik" (a nationwide famous grilled chicken with specially marinated sauce) as someone was craving for it & need it fast. How to know more of a newly found place & its people? Learn of its local dialect from the local people of cos. Took a crash course Kelantanese Malay during the journey to Kuala Krai, thanks to tutoring from Shai's brother. It is well known that the Malay spoken in Kelantan is "kao kao pekat". "Kawe dah lapor, nak make ayam percik. Demo nak make??" (I'm hungry, wanna have ayam percik. U wanna have some?)

Heavenly "ayam percik". Still tastes delicious even when it's cold

Arrived 1.5 hours later to find the M'sia Airlines gang waiting at the pre wedding gathering at Shai's house. By 6pm, everyone has arrived & enjoying the tradional Thai dish, "kaojam". The guys hang out with the groom till late nite. The gals went back to a rented house with the bride. Woke up little early & found time to chat with Shai's uncles while waiting for others to wake up. U see, everythin seems to be so foreign in Kelantan even if ur speaking the native Hokkien with the locals there. The local Hokkien seems to have the mixture of some Siamese & Kelantanese Malay influences in it & difficult to understand at first, but the message is still understood in the end..:)

Finally arrived at groom's longhouse style home in Kuala Krai

Having a try of Thai-made Tiger & Chang beers

By 9 am, everyone was ready & moved to pick up the bride. Guys have prepared for any circumstances, posed by the gals at the house. CY even bought his "kachang" (Japanese sword used in kendo martial sports), just in case the "negotiation" turn violent. For this time around, challenges posed are much lighter, compared to other weddings before this. Thank you gals..:) We are made to eat pancakes & drink Milo. All of them added with chillies or certain spicy spices I think. Groom was then made to drink bowl of supersour lemon juice before allowed entry into bride's room.

Am I ready? I Think I am!! Do I?? Probably I do..

The compulsory tea ceremony was held before we went back to groom's home for another tea ceremony & prayer etc. Had nasi dagang & other local dishes, catered for lunch. Hang out for a while in the house before some of us went back to KL. My group went back to the rented home to take a short nap as our flight back home was at night. Had tomyam + Chinese dinner in Kota Bahru before flying back to KL.

Lunch - Nasi dagang & local dishes

Group photo with some of the remaining peeps after wedding

With Mr & Mrs Teo...

Kelate...

Been looking for reasons to visit Kelantan for years & finally got one when Shai & Li Lian is getting married back in his hometown, Kuala Krai this month. Congratulations to both Mr & Mrs Teo !!! Tried hard to look for the place in the map but to no avail. Upon checking in the Net, tis place is located 64km south of the state capital, Kota Bahru. And yes, got to know the famous designer Zang Toi hailed from this sleepy town as well...


Got myself to fly to Kota Bahru by Air Asia at bargain price at RM 159.00 for return trip. I love u, Tony Fernandes & I still thinks ur the best candidate for Transport Minister post in the soon-to-formed new government ehehee. Can somebody suggests non-politician civilians to be allowed to vie for Minister post as well?? Anyway, shall blog bout tis trip soon when the time comes...

B-Day...

Many of u asked how did I celebrate my belated B-day last weekend. What I've done? Nothin much actually...just drinks+B-day countdown with the Akurians, spending quality times with beloved families, futsal with Mahikari Youths, seafood dinner & a surprise gatecrash from the Youths at my home. All done in a simple way. Might sounds boring but it's meaningful.

Was in Mamak Bistro's SS 14, Subang Jaya on Sat nite for drinks with the Akurians. Earlier, Maj, Theva, Nei & myself went for this baby naming ceremony (somethin like a full moon party for baby aged one month old) for Siva's daughter. Congrats to the new father & mother. Baby does look as beautiful as her name, Manushrii Sai. Got catched up with some old skool mates in the same party, some of them were totally unseen for last 10 years. Talked cock, especially bout the coming Langkawi trip this December. Already has our imaginary tour schedule..this getting me more excited waiting for the day. We celebrated my B-day after midnight with teh tariks instead of the usual surprise pranks, thank goodness everybody wanna have a break for now at least....

Baby + gang

Woke up the next day to find my sis getting gung-ho about baking cake. She's pretty into this baking practice nowadays. Mum & bro joined sis to make orange cheese together. Dad & myself gladly made way...not that we're lazy, just that we're more of the food connoiseurs type. We only taste food eheheh. Cake turned out well & it was not bad...Well done sis & keep it up. Next in the menu, chocolate moist cake okay??

In a fishing village near Klang Esplanade with family

Later on had seafood dinner in Klang Esplanade in a Hainanese fishing village restaurant called "Bagan Hailam Seafood Restaurant". Bountiful of seafood served at reasonable price. Our "Sweet & Sour Crab" were quite good. Other than that, nothin extraordinary to enable a repeat trip. Thought day was over until got a sudden call from Hikari, informing of him & "few frens" wanting to visit our house. Little that I knew there's 15 of the Youths came gatecrashed into my home bringing along a Gardenia cake with candles. Hanged out for a while & played game of "Mafia". Although it does looked like a last minute planning, it was a pleasant surprise to see sooo many of u celebrating with me & appreciated the efforts.

Surprise cake

Thanks guys / gals for the company...

Each one of us have an idea of his/her dream birthday celebration be it dining, partying, flying in a helicopter etc. Mine only is to celebrate the day with my loved ones. Type of activity is just secondary in nature. Call me being emotionally old fashioned, out of touch, conservative or whatever...but just tell me what makes a more beautiful day than celebrating one of your most significant day in your life with your loved ones?? Anythin more than that (eg surprises, gifts from your frens etc) are great blessings given by God. And I'm pleased to say it was beautiful celebration each year as far as I can remember. Imagine this, looking at the sight of watching sis & bro arguing over what ingredients to use for the cake, the jokes/stories by old mates, loud laughters by the youths & even just simple sms & Facebook wishes (u know who u are!!)....you just cant stop thanking Him for bringing these beautiful people into ur life. Thanks again to all from the bottom of my heart...

Btw, would like to wish all my Muslim bro's & sista SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI....

August Round-Up

Been a while since last time updating the blog. One blink & August is no more and September is here now. Browsing thru all the happenings in the month & there's Beijing Olympics running for almost a month, the mother of all by-elections in Permatang Pauh, Penang; Jun Tai In Yokoshi training and Merdeka day.

Opening & closing ceremonies were out of the world, as they said. Sparkling performances from athletes from multiple sports awed the world & seems as if they originated from another planet. If Michael Phelps is a country, his 8-gold performance in swimming would have put him ninth in the medal standing. And our very own Lee Chong Wei left reeling from the one-sided badminton final match loss against Lin Dan, missing out on the gold medal & the RM1 million reward. And we will need to wait another 4 years for another hope & aspiration for the precious one. Kudos for him though for bringing back the silver. Usain Bolt, mark this name now for he shall be the next athletic superstar after the legendary Carl Lewis & Michael Johnson. Astonishing world record 9.69 sec in the century dash & it could be made lower, judging from Bolt's comment "It wasn't my best performance". And sexy pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayaeva's hobby could well be breaking world records. London 2012 organising committee members will now be under pressure to match Beijing's outstanding organisational displays. And I'll be eagerly waiting if Sir Alex Ferguson actually coaches the Great Britain football team in 4 years time in Wembley.

And of cos, there's the Jun Tai In Yokoshi training held successfully over 6 days in KL Dojo with then theme "Know Yourself". Special thanks to June & Hon for their efforts during this training and not to mention, Taicho & Vice Taichos'. Personally, it was a tiring journey, having to travel everyday to KL from my working place in airport. However, upon looking at the participants' bright faces, the tiredness just went off. It has been a pleasure getting to share knowledges & experiences with those peeps. There's 6 of them. Put it this way, it was a learning journey for both leaders & members. From the activities & upon observation, each of them has shown potentials to be of someone who can contribute to society and it makes me more motivated & eager to help them to unearth their potential & eventually, getting to know themselves. Apparently, one of the member popped a question "How can I make a difference to the society when the whole world is currently full of chaos & being materialistic?" As Al Gore said in his groundbreaking presentation "An Inconvenient Truth", it all starts from us, ourselves. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King & Nelson Mandela started alone & held their beliefs despite of massive challenges & life threatening barriers. They moved & inspired people with their beliefs & actions, even if 2 of them are no longer around. It's about putting into actions what we think is right & no turning back after the first step. The only choice is to move forward.

Not talking about Merdeka (Independence Day) in August could be seen as doing injustice to the country. August 31 was the date & went to Curve the nite before for the countdown party. Honestly, the response of the nationwide celebration of the 51st Merdeka this year is rather lukewarm. No more Merdeka ads on TV, with the exception of Petronas. Hardly seen any cars flying at least the mini-national flag on road. Cant blame the people though, costs of living is increasing and we're seeing never-ending political circus going on in the local scene. And the frustrating part is no one seems to be bothering looking at the needs of the ordinary people, especially the middle class group (which forms the largest income group in the country). Who will have the mood to celebrate then? Anyway, we observed the fireworks & here posted a photo of it, which hopefully signify a spark in the local scene in the next 3 months before end of the year.