Everyday Things

Cactus flower

2011-04-19T10:00:00.003+08:00

First time seeing it bloom as such...

Underwater

2011-04-11T08:47:00.005+08:00

At Pulau Perhentian Besar. First attempt at underwater photography with a proper camera casing. Free diving & photography is definitely not easy. Find subject, dive, control breathing, fight current, aim, shoot... a lot of hit and miss.

Was fun.

Low lights...

2011-04-07T08:18:00.003+08:00

DSLR...

DSLR...

Compact f1.8...

I would rather ride than clean it...

2011-04-06T08:40:00.004+08:00

Before...

On the way...

After...

Totally worth doing, if only the shop is closer my bikes will always be cleaner. Excellent service by Maze Bike KT.

Bagan Seafood revisited.

2011-04-04T08:24:00.006+08:00

Before... and there's two more fish coming. One fried and one steamed.

After...

Still a worthwhile place for a good meal. However, perhaps my taste buds is jaded, but somehow it does not taste as good as it was with Jag, Dee and the gang...

The total meal costs slightly less than RM400.

Prawn spa

2010-08-10T12:09:00.007+08:00

The little critters bit off dead skin cells. Stings a bit at first, once the swarm arrive, it became pleasant.

Dying corals.

2010-07-31T00:44:00.011+08:00

Pulau Perhentian Kecil.

Photos by Anas.

I like this...

2010-07-18T13:23:00.002+08:00

PETALING JAYA: How far will you go to get your car fixed? In these day of light-speed emails, instant messages and cellphones, an irate car-owner decided to adopt an old-school method of seeking redress — by placing stickers all over his problematic car.
And the message on the stickers read: "My Honda Tak Guna" (My Useless Honda).

To make sure he got the full attention of the car manufacturer, this sticker-adorned vehicle was parked outside the Honda Malaysia sales and service office here in Section 13 — much to the amusement of many pedestrians and motorists.
As to why he had resorted to such measures, events executive Jess Ross said his car brakes kept failing despite several repairs.
"Three months after buying the car, the rear brakes started giving way.After having these replaced by Honda, the same problem occurred three months later with the brakes giving way in the middle of the road.

"Luckily, I wasn't hit by another car when it happened."

After sending the 15-month old car to the Honda authorised service centre, Sumber Auto, Ross claimed to have been told the car had its rear brake callipers fitted wrongly during the original assembly.

Even after the brake calipers were rectified, Jess' woes continued with the calamitous Honda Accord he bought for about RM140,000.

Three months later, after getting his disc brake pads replaced for the second time, his Honda Accord started juddering again.
This time Honda mentioned the brake discs needed to be skimmed.

"On June 20 , there was a screeching sound from my front wheels and the car started juddering again. This time, I decided enough was enough. The car was towed to the Honda service centre for a fourth check on this particular screeching issue."

Claiming manufacturing defects, Ross said: "My demands are simple, firstly I want Honda to fully rectify the problems on my car and include a manufacturer's guarantee that such defects will not recur.

"Secondly, Honda could replace my car with another guaranteed problem-free unit. If all else fails, I want Honda to buy back the car at the purchase price.

"Honestly, I am still open to negotiations and a win-win situation I feel, is the best for both parties," he said, stressing he has no plans to remove the eye-catching stickers from his car.

A Honda Malaysia representative said the company remained committed to inspecting, servicing and repairing the problematic vehicle.

"The company would like to assure Ross the affected vehicle will be serviced and repaired to his satisfaction." Still unhappy with this response, Ross asked: "Why is it Honda Malaysia can't guarantee their parts, which serve a basic function of braking, to function properly?

"Is it too much to ask for a guarantee for their supposedly original parts which they recommended we use?"

Mean food

2010-07-13T12:52:00.005+08:00

The meanest ABC ever, taste so much of the chemical colorings. What were they thinking ? As for the fried stuff... too oily. Not going to that little nice stall by the beach again.

Senibong, JB

2010-07-04T08:20:00.004+08:00

Just enter Senibong in your GPS POI. It should take you to the seaside seafood center in Johor. Parking may be a hassle. Just enter any one of the restaurants there. Should be equally good. Go for the set menu - for four range from RM115 upwards. Even the lowest range should satiate. The set menu includes a large fish, squids, clams, soup, veggies, rice, a pitcher of drinks and cut fruits.

We added chili crab (3 large whole crab) which is quite good but added RM70 to the bill.

Recommended.

Photos by Akmal.

Play

2010-07-01T08:48:00.005+08:00

As my dear friend Nizam survived the Paris Metro, I too managed to survive the causeway albeit with a major faux pas. Vehemently, it is not entirely my fault for missing the autopass stage of the journey. The immigration guy told me to move forward and the customs guy said its up ahead, the signage had its yellow arrow pointing forward. Before I knew it, I was out on the highway in the land of the Merlion. Nary a sight for turning around.

Few phone calls later confirmed that the autopass is mandatory not just for moving around but more so for parking. We asked and looked all over to solve the matter. Most Singaporean does not even know what it was - can't blame them, they don't drive. Even the Post Office were not sure. By the time someone suggested to go to their road transport department or whatever, its already too late.

We had to cross the causeway back into Malaysia and was nearly fined for entering without the autopass. Weird, they let you through then fine you for not having something that you were supposed to have before going through. However, the lady was reasonable and nice and let us off as apparently our car was not in their system. Turns out, the autopass can only be bought at the entry point. In between the immigration and customs checkpoint. Wouldn't it be easier to issue it at the immigration counter itself ? Or at least have proper signage or directives for all first time entrant instead of one big sign that says "Have your autopass ready". How the hell are you supposed to have it ready if you don't even know what the thing is.

Its annoying and really is out of character for such a systematic and modern city such as Singapore.

Turtles feel good

2010-06-16T09:05:00.006+08:00

Replacement pool ;(

2010-06-13T19:15:00.004+08:00

Good lesson for not destroying provided facilities...

Pool...

2010-06-13T19:01:00.004+08:00

Waiting for turns to use the new pool.

Sadly, the pool lasted all of 3 days. Their sharp claws and beaks made light work of tearing it apart. Should get a polycarbonate one or something.

Attack mode...

The Legend Water Chalet Port Dickson

2010-05-11T08:39:00.006+08:00

Our new favourite place in Port Dickson - after Avillion. Excellent facilities with good buffet spread. The highlight would be the private pool in the villa and the outdoor showers ;0) . Even the rain did not dampen the spirit of the kids. Highly recommended.

Hide n Seek

2010-05-10T09:02:00.003+08:00

TNB 15454 - Efficient Service

2010-05-03T17:13:00.003+08:00

Some idiot tried cutting down an old coconut tree and ended up in severing the power line instead. Called 15454, complaint noted, about half hour later TNB KT called and asked for the pole number. They came and fixed the thing about an hour after that. Fast, efficient, courteous staff. The next morning receive an sms asking me to rate their service, I gave 4 out of 5.

New mates.

2010-04-22T11:11:00.004+08:00

Felt a need to get some living things around me so I got a pair of geese. Saw another crippled pair. Felt sorry and begged the shop to sell it to me. Four squeaky geese's in a makeshift enclosure with a basin of water...

Tok Jembal Erosion - too little too late ?

2010-04-22T09:01:00.004+08:00

23 March 2010
30 March 2010
Some work have been done. An effort to stem the tide from reclaiming its rights. Like hoping for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Too little too late ?

Tok Jembal Erosion

2010-03-22T09:43:00.008+08:00

End of the road - a large part of the stretch of road that used to be shaded by pine trees is now gone. Both the road and the trees succumbed to the forces of the sea. A force that was tempered with by who else but "man". Reclaiming the area surrounding the more commercially important airport causes the force of tide to be magnified in the surroundings instead. The lowly Tok Jembal beach became the sacrificial victim. A nice recreational beach for the common folks is slowly disappearing.

Pity the trees which took years to grow and gave us its shade gave its life instead to the raging seas. Its like saying I cannot shade you nor protect you from the wind anymore, you too will have to abide by the will of the sea...

And we surely will, the living will lose their homes just as the dearly departed. Cynically, perhaps because there are no "important" enough people living or using the area. Some months back a local politician did mention in the local paper that the matter is being looked into and that it is not serious. Well, its not serious because most likely his home is nowhere near the sea...

This wakaf surrenders itself a few days ago. Right behind it the graveyard. Hopefully something is done before it too is claimed by the sea.

There used to be a road along this stretch.

Fun as defined by a little tyke

2010-03-18T08:30:00.004+08:00

The sand gets in my swimsuit...

Why bother heh heh...

Cooking for one

2010-03-02T10:38:00.006+08:00

Improvised potato salad with broccoli and hard boiled egg. The mayonnaise is perhaps the least healthy ingredient but it made up the taste.

Creamy vegetarian carrot soup - Mark Bittman's recipe - with garlic bread. The creaminess came from potato and garlic cloves, no dairy products were used.

Green sprouts replace the noodles in this mee mamak style dish, fish flakes and root vegetables replaces the other fried bits. Cili padi adds the oomph and olive oil is used instead of the usual cooking oil.

Creamy celery soup, a variation of the carrot soup. Perhaps should try mushroom next.

Happy holidays...

2009-12-24T17:11:00.004+08:00

Wish you were here....

As usual, my wife seems to have a knack for these sort of thing. This time the gift came in the form a signpost that got in her way as she was parking the car at the local hypermarket - wide open parking spaces ?

Bagan Seafood

2009-12-16T15:05:00.011+08:00

First visit, next door to the Sea Lion Fishing Park in Port Klang. Free wifi and credit card accepted. These places has moved with the times. Parking is abundant albeit a bit muddy if its rainy or the tide is really high.

Mushroom with broccoli.

Mantis prawns. Battered, deep fried and lathered with the yummy sauce.

Bagan's take on the ever popular deep fried squid.

Bamboo clams cooked just right. A tad longer and it will be like chewing on a piece of rubber.

Butter prawns.

Black pepper crab. Personally, we should have asked for the chili crab.

Steamed pomfret.

The remains.

The best is yet to come. Appetisers (pickled papayas and peanuts), desserts (watermelon and pineapples), a round each of fruit juice and coffee, rice and all of the above costs us (3 pax eating for 5/6) slightly less than RM150.

Highly recommended.

Keropok Lekor BTB

2009-11-10T09:04:00.005+08:00

The tastiest in Kuala Terengganu. Long queue, risky parking but worth it.

Satay (sate ?)Tulang

2009-11-08T10:08:00.002+08:00

Grilled skewered bone (with some meat on it). First encounter, quite interesting actually. Nice bbq'esque taste though I prefer my meat and fish boneless. Definitely a novelty. The restaurant itself has an interesting name "Shah Rock Khan", cool take on the famous Hindi actor.

The place is somewhere in Senawang. Interesting.

Canon S90 - Returned

2009-11-05T15:23:00.005+08:00

Had a call from a nice lady from Canon Marketing. She asked that the S90 be returned and replaced with a new one. This is to rectify their distribution error as the one sold to me by the shop is meant as a demo unit. Since she asked nicely, I agreed.

Went back to the store I purchased it from this morning. The guy I bought it from was not there. There was a girl instead. From the moment I step in, it was off putting. No greetings or offer to assist instead she just raised her head from behind the counter in a gesture asking me "WHAT YOU WANT ?" (That's how I perceived it anyway). Told her that I am here to exchange the camera as requested by Canon Marketing. No words, she just took the package from me and start to transfer the contents of my box into a new box. I told her to replace the screen protector. Just a grunt and to my annoyance she proceeded to peel the protector off the demo unit and tried to place it on the new camera. Smudging the thing with her fingers.

Perhaps it was because I was beginning to look cross or perhaps because there was another customer walking in. Another grunt and she gave up on the used protector and got a new one from under the counter. "OK, TEST."

That was not what I expected. She made it seems as if it was my fault that they gave me a demo unit which I went out of my way to exchange. I expected a thank you for my time instead got that. If any of you Canon guys are reading this, please advise your resellers on how to treat customers.

That said perhaps it was my mistake for wanting to try a new store instead of going to my regular one.

Powershot S90

2009-10-28T12:46:00.005+08:00

A nice little camera capturing samples of the sweet and the ugly.

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

2009-10-23T11:28:00.005+08:00

The place is not bad. Would I go again ? NO.

After all the investment setting up the place, they forgot the strategy for having repeat customers. Everything has to be paid for. Most are not cheap considering what you get in value for your RM. The worst bit for me was the fact that we stayed on premises, yet there were no offers or concessions of any kind for the attractions. At the very least include the cost as a package so customers like me won't feel cheated. Staying on premises means that you are there to enjoy the park, so why is it that I have to pay similar to walk in customers ?

My advice is to stay in Taiping instead. Its not that far and most likely (we do), mealtime calls for a trip to Taiping. There are food courts and restaurants on premises, but it costs more and the food is not great either, be it the taste or the portion.

Fuel...

2009-10-08T08:35:00.004+08:00

Not really a scientific evaluation but it does point to the fact that larger capacity cars have longer range than smaller cars with same amount of fuel in the tank. Full tank, 101.o km done and it can go another 680 km at an average of 110 - 140 km/h. Of course, if I were to step on it then it really guzzles it up.

Selamat Hari Raya

2009-09-16T15:03:00.001+08:00

Kacang rebus & karipap.

2009-09-16T13:01:00.002+08:00

Sitting here in this cold room waiting make me wanton for these little pleasures...

Guess what these guys were up to ?

2009-09-11T12:29:00.004+08:00

Midnight. Deserted car park. Two guys in a car, engrossed... Heh heh, just could not resist. Pozi might have better incriminating pictures.

Errr, selamat hari raya & maaf zahir bathin guys. Be careful where you get intimate... he he he.

From there to here

2009-09-05T09:59:00.004+08:00

Almost Heaven, almost...

End of season

2009-08-31T09:41:00.005+08:00

Now, we wait for the next round...

Red, hairy, juicy....

2009-08-30T14:17:00.005+08:00

The pro's at the back, efficiently gathering the fruit in neat bunches while the amateurs at the front battling those pesky red ants...

Contact with cow poo on the way back. Worth it I guess...

Hospital Kajang

2009-06-23T08:42:00.003+08:00

A small government hospital made up of old buildings and pockets of new ones under construction. There are no, well none that I can see anyway, road signs or directions leading to it. I managed by GPS. Be careful not to go to the wrong hospital as there are a few in Kajang.

Parking is a real pain. Park at the first available spot you find.

The people are nice though. From the guards to medical to canteen staff. Somehow they seem friendlier and more accommodating than other hospitals that I have been to recently. It could just be me. Thank you to all of them for making my recent experience there a smooth and pleasant one.

Look...

2009-06-02T09:02:00.003+08:00

Windows 7

2009-05-22T11:54:00.004+08:00

I first heard about Windows 7 as I was browsing, did a bit more reading on it, check out the forums and decided to try it out. The main reason being it will be usable until March 2010, so I figured its worth the effort. License for the RC was simple to get, log in with MS passport and it will be provided. I got 2, initially by mistake but both proved to be useful as I finally did two installations. The download of the 2.3 GB file took about a day but was quite painless. It could be interrupted and resumed with ease. Once downloaded, burn to create a bootable DVD. Then the adventure begins.

The first was an experiment. A Fujitsu P5020 was in dire need of an overhaul. Its HDD is full, performance is slow and most likely riddled with viruses. First back up all data files. My first mistake here was that I did not copy the driver files. Solved by hunting and grabbing from the net. Precious time would be saved if I had copied the drivers.

Slot in the DVD, turn it on, press Esc key and boot from DVD. Windows 7 will only work on NTFS formatted drive. It will do that first and then install. This took about half an hour. Once done, amazingly it grabbed my home wireless at the first instant and goes online to search for updates. Most it does, some have to be manually searched and updated. It works.

Since this is one used by the kids, I then installed kaspersky AV from a multi license DVD that I thought was a waste of money back then. MS Office was missing and I did not get the licence key so I installed Open Office instead. That's it.

Since the P5020 was successful, I decided to update a Vaio TX with Windows 7. Back up data, copy drivers, download ProduKey for MS Office, pop the DVD, turn on, press escape key and boot from DVD. Format the drive and did a clean install.

About half an hour, install drivers and the AV Mode and function keys does not work. Download and install various Sony files i.e. Shared Library, Utilities DLL, Event Service, SFEP (don't ask - I don't know what it does) and the whole thing just works. For touch pad I installed the Alps Pointing device from Dell instead of Sony, because its only 2.3 MB whereas Sony's is 30 MB and the Sony Asia support page is so S L O W. The US site is fast but there is a notice saying that it might not be compatible with non US Vaios. Double standard ?

Then I installed Kaspersky and MS Office 2007. No issues. Both validated and updated. Brilliant.

Both, especially the Vaio TX now feels much faster and snappier. Looks better and so far works without any glitch. I do think that this is what Vista should have been. If you have an old system in need of an update, go for it.

Malacca River Cruise

2009-05-08T17:09:00.005+08:00

It will take 45 minutes to complete the cruise. First timers might enjoy the novelty. Others should do it at night and enjoy the lights.

Flying men

2009-04-21T11:25:00.006+08:00

Ooooo my back....

Scenes from the shore

2009-04-13T09:44:00.003+08:00

Just some random pictures each with a story to tell but am just lazy to put the words through my fingers.

Hot air balloon

2009-04-01T22:03:00.011+08:00

Skimming the skies by hot air. A lot of fun which could either be therapeutic or scary but quite some work is involved before we can get to the fun part.

Arrival on site. Wide open spaces is essential.

Testing your propulsion system, err just like turning on your kitchen stove to make sure its alight and there's fire to heat the air that will carry you up.

Lay out the huge balloon and blow air into it using a fan - or you could try huffing and puffing into it...

Once the balloon took shape, put the vent cover in place.

Make sure the vent cover is securely in place.

Check and double check and start the flame to heat up the air. Lighter hot air will rise...

See, its rising and starts to climb vertically up. All aboard, well two or maybe three thin persons.

And we are up...

... and away.

Pulau Kapas - Keeping it clean

2009-04-01T08:52:00.006+08:00

There seems to be a good system of maintaining the waste from the island. Garbage boats (as opposed to garbage truck - duhhh) come and takes it all away. If only the visitors (some) were more conscious as there were food wrappings left indiscriminately on the beach. Idiots.

Creatures of Pulau Kapas

2009-03-31T08:46:00.006+08:00

Crystal clear waters around the island harbors plenty interesting creatures but none as amazing as this two headed Siamese mermaid[men ?].

Test jual kuih...

2009-03-30T09:42:00.004+08:00

Saja jerr bagi Maria tercabar...

Gunung Nuang

2009-03-25T15:26:00.009+08:00

A dear friend introduced this place to me. An excellent venue to get back to nature, get some exercise and be away from the hustle and bustle of city life. From the federal highway head towards Kajang via Cheras. After the first toll past Plaza Phoenix turn left and then left again at the Police Station. Drive straight until the road ends at the foot of Gunung Nuang which is also where the Hulu Langat Dam is located.

Register at the guard house and pay the RM1 fee. From there on start climbing on old fire tracks. The vegetation will change from pine forest to bamboos to thick vegetation. Your lungs will be on fire as it tries to acclimatise to the clean fresh air. Once it does, it felt good and you will most likely got your second wind. One and half or two hours later you will reach the base camp. From there another half hour will be Kem Lolo on single track passing the old dam on the way up which is flanked by a high waterfall. After Kem Lolo will be Kem Pacat after which another few hours will take you to the peak. I have only been up to Lolo and am still trying to get at least to Pacat. The peak will require an overnight trip or at least a whole (literally) day outing.

Wear comfortable shoes and make sure the soles does not give out as it has to go through mud and water too. Mine does and it was a struggle getting down on shoes with broken soles. To be safe carry a pair of slippers or sandals in your bag. Bring enough water, one half liter in a Camelbak is enough to get me up to and down Lolo. Some food would be good too. I like chocolates but it cause a friend to use the huge public toilet...

Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa

2009-03-14T18:06:00.004+08:00

Chance took us to Taman Melawati this morning, on the way we stopped at a nicely decorated outlet of Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa Kampung Baru. Excellent colour scheme of white, green and wooden elements. As I recall the food they serve - in the original place many years ago - was delicious. Its nice to see that they have moved up a notch in the ambiance department. It felt good sitting in the new place. I love how they presented their menu, toppings instead of accompanying dishes that you chose to go with your nasi lemak. Very Mc Donald like, modern take on an old Malaysian favourite. From then on the experience went downhill.

It was not crowded yet the service was slow. Orders were taken yet delivery was wrong. Four drinks for five person ? A mistake perhaps. The food took ages to arrive, something we could not understand. Its not as if they have to cook anything as all the items are already prepared and it just had to be ladled into plates and served. When it arrived the taste was disappointing. Its obvious that shortcuts were made in making the "sambal", supposedly the star of a nasi lemak meal. There's a slight burnt bitter taste which should not be there. We had sotong [squid], kerang [cockles] and spiced fried chicken. The sotong is not bad, the rest is just food, nothing special.

The worst bit came when its time to pay. The base nasi lemak is RM3, sotong additional RM5 making a plate RM8 ! In total a meal for 3 adults and 2 kids (sharing a plate) costs us RM51. Yes, we are paying for the ambiance but the food was not up to par and that makes it painful. I pity the investors whom I am sure have spent tons of money on the renovation. I wish they would go a bit more, get back the old recipe, get rid of the shortcuts and above all provide better faster service. I really wish for them to be as successful as all those imported food chains.

Note: These pictures were not taken at the outlet.

Vung Tau, Viet Nam

2009-03-11T10:39:00.006+08:00

A resort town about one half hours away by hydrofoil or two and a half by road from Ho Chi Minh City. It was rather quiet when we were there because its off season. Rooms are quite expensive [so the locals told me - about USD70/80 for a 3 star hotel] but foot reflexology is cheap at only USD7 for 70 minutes which includes hands, shoulder and head massage.

There is only one Halal restaurant in town near the Rex Hotel. Quite good. Main attraction here is the arts and crafts specifically model ships of all shape, size and vintage. The price has increased though as one that cost USD20 years ago is now USD200 [according to a friend].

Open spaces

2009-03-11T09:02:00.007+08:00

Road pictures taken at speed - only the first road picture was taken from behind tinted windscreen.

Low Light D700

2009-03-10T09:28:00.006+08:00

More low light shot from the D700 and flare from the Sigma.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

2009-03-07T11:24:00.008+08:00

About 1 hour 45 minutes after departing from KLIA we landed in Ho Chi Minh City airport. A much shorter flight than from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu. From the airport to the city center took about 40 minutes for an amazingly short distance. Reason, traffic which consists of bikes and more bikes criss-crossing in a discipline that I have never experienced before. Discipline, because throughout the chaos there were no accidents. Cost USD8 for 5 adults and a mountain of luggage in an MPV.

Hotel room can be had for as low as USD12 per night. Nice clean and comfortable. Within walking distance to all the interesting places in town. Shoppers will go nuts. Malaysia seems to have quite an influence as some signage used in the shops were in Malay. Art and crafts are abundant. Replicas and original works abound. Bargaining is a must though. Always ask for the price before committing to any purchase. One of our colleague was charged USD10 for 3 coconuts which he graciously accepted as he stepped out of the market tired and parched. When its time to pay, the bomb was dropped, its too late as the coconuts were already consumed.

Halal food is quite easy to find. Mainly Muslim Indian in town and a Champa Malay inside the compound of the city mosque. Find the mosque and you will find the halal food.

Personally, the best thing is that, even as a wayward tourist wandering the city, I feel safe. Safe in a sense that even though the street peddlers are persuasive and will follow you around, you will not be harmed and that the eyes of the authority is looking out for tourists like you. Contrast this against the feeling of wandering around Petaling Street or the back lanes of Chow Kit at night.

Its a very nice city. However, I will not go with known shoppers (wife, aunties etc.) as I am certain they will go bonkers on all the cheap and varied wares on offer at the complexes, shops, markets, night markets, road stalls and peddlers of all sorts ...

PICC views

2009-02-26T09:48:00.004+08:00

Late evening in the setting sun. The light is flat and dull creating a moody hazy atmosphere.

Kota Kinabalu Cure for Gout

2009-02-26T00:14:00.012+08:00

Our selection...

Fresh seaweed salad. Tangy, salty taste of the sea.

Umai, raw fish swimming in lime juice.

Huge prawns.

Succulent crabs.

Everything was grilled over the open fire. Eaten with an accompaniment of lime, soy sauce and bird's eye chilies with steaming rice. The four of us gorged on the meal with drinks and it costs slightly less than RM200. Smack in the middle of town on the water front of KK. just be wary of the smoke from all the fire pit. Choose the wrong seat and you'd be swamped if the wind decides to irritate you.

Knick-knacks @ Pasar Philippine

2009-02-22T20:18:00.006+08:00

Kota Kinabalu. An interesting must visit venue.

Dusk

2009-02-19T09:40:00.006+08:00

NT [click on the photo to see sharper image]

Nikon D700 - White Balance

2009-02-16T10:38:00.006+08:00

Auto WB.
5000K WB.
Tungsten WB.
White Balance is a pretty tricky yet important thing that sets the tone of the photo. More often than not it boils down to personal preference. Most of the time I just leave mine on Auto.

Tea ?

2009-02-12T15:15:00.004+08:00

Today is a particularly hot day here. Staying indoors under the air-cond duct somewhat soothes the blistering heat. Saw these photos and I suddenly have a craving for some meeting food. The sort of unwritten tradition/practice in Malaysian meetings (especially government agencies) where they serve tea accompanied by two type of snacks. One sweet and one savoury. You may get lucky and have three but the more extravagant ones come with a buffet.

Read - Mat Salo's latest piece

2009-02-05T08:45:00.004+08:00

The Wells of Eyes by Mat Salo is definitely one of the better short stories I have feasted my eyes on. Not just saying it because he is a dear friend but because it truly is. Middle aged male travellers will definitely have an easy task identifying with the main character - a travelling shoe salesman. Paunchy, balding, succumbing to his foibles while remain rooted to his reality.

So well expressed that I could feel his elation and subsequent pain. An excellent repartee to while away the long wait at terminals...

Nikon service - III

2009-01-29T10:33:00.002+08:00

Dear Nikon;

Gong Xi Fa Cai. May the Ox bring health, fortune and happiness...

I have got my D700 back. Thank you. However, today I just noticed that
the bottom plate (the one circled in orange in the attached photo) is
missing. Would be much appreciated if you could mail the part to me
soonest possible as the I fear for any problem that may result due to
the exposed contacts. My details is as follows:

Address, numbers and emails.

Thank you and happy new year.

Dear [not so] valued customer:

Good morning to you.

Please do pop by to collect from us at our service center.

Just print out this mail and show to our service staff at the counter. Will assist you from there.

Have a wonderful day.

Thank You.

Nikon Malaysia

Tells so much about the customer service doesn't it ? It was their mistake and I merely requested for them to mail the small plastic piece to me. No apologies were offered, instead they wanted me to go trough all the hassle of going to see them to correct their mistake ? Come on, they should be personally delivering the piece to me.

Perhaps the postal cost is too much or they are too busy to have anyone stuff the thing in an envelope and mail it to me. This, on top of almost two months waiting for a top of the line, brand new product to be repaired. Either way I am not too pleased.

Nikon's (Malaysia) only saving grace so far is the good equipments they have. No wonder the forums are rife with service complaints.

People - Sungai Congkak

2009-01-28T08:39:00.007+08:00

By noon the place is teeming with people, as crowded as a morning market. The pristine clear water turns murky. The snakes doesn't have a chance...

Snakes - Sungai Congkak

2009-01-25T21:30:00.006+08:00

Rush, rush, rush before the place is invaded by humans...

Phew, made it. (See its tail ? )

A second one appears. A bit smaller but a bit faster than the bigger one. This is taken at Sungai Congkak early this morning. The rest of the crowd did not notice, as the snake got closer to a lady sitting on a rock, I calmly told her to lift her feet out of the water. She asked why ? I said, seems like a school of fish wants to pass through...

Most likely these critters follow the same habit its landed counterpart has as mentioned in my other post. So to those getting into the streams in the early hours, be aware of your surroundings. They will not attack unless if you step on them or block their ways etc. I think...

Sup Ketam & Lala Cili

2009-01-24T07:27:00.005+08:00

There were quite a few other items on the menu but these were the ones fortunate enough to be photographed. This was in the perennial Langkawi favourite, the Nelayan. The food is still good though the price seems to have increased a bit. Still one of the must visit destination though.

Miri

2009-01-23T10:45:00.004+08:00

The weather was dark, cold and miserable when we were there. It rained the whole time. This is the view from the 16th Floor of Hotel Mega. Taxi ride is expensive, a 10 minute ride cost as much as RM20.

We were appeased by the fact that seafood at Tanjung Lobang is excellent and cheap. A menu of chili crab, butter prawns, asam pedas pari, grilled squid with madin and cangkok manis as the veggie plus white rice and drinks for four only costs RM80. We were so pleased that we repeated the dinner albeit with black pepper crab, prawn sambal, battered squid rings, sweet sour pomfret, madin and salted fish kailan with heaps of white rice plus drinks. Still costs us only RM84 after discount. Great place to go if ever you are in Miri. Errr, no time to take photos of the food... The after dinner massage was good too. Oopsss...

Nikon service - II

2009-01-22T15:57:00.005+08:00

Finally got the camera back from the shops. The buttons above was the culprit. Perhaps by way of appeasing me they include a t-shirt (which is not my size), two calendars and two lanyards. Hmm, why not two t-shirts ? Am just being picky. Oh and they didn't put my camera strap back on properly. Anyway, thanks Nikon.

Wakaf Che Yeh - improved

2009-01-22T10:37:00.008+08:00

New and improved popular night market in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Paved, no more muddy, slimy puddles of water that you have to tip toe around. Really comes alive after 2200 hours (10 pm) till the wee hours of the morning.

Tasik Kenyir

2009-01-02T09:03:00.011+08:00

The houseboat from RM800.00 for 2 days/1 night. Can accommodate up to 12 person. Equipped with cooking facilities though you would have to bring in your own raw materials. They even have Astro onboard.

The chalet/resort if the thought of an "Anaconda" style adventure on the house boat seems too much to you.

The daily mode of transport between interesting points in and around the lake. Atrip from the main jetty to one of the fish farms costs RM60.00 and the boat will take up to 6 passengers.

Fish feeding at the fish farm.

The Tilapia.

The Patin.

Green, serene surroundings. Perfect break from any concrete jungle.

Nikon Service

2008-12-31T21:34:00.008+08:00

Dear Sir/Madam;

Its almost two weeks since you replied to my email and I have yet to hear any news from Nikon Malaysia. Can you please help. The holiday season is approaching and I am without my D700.

apandi

1854hrs. 23 December 2008.

On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:48 PM, Nikon Malaysia Tech Support <mysupport@nikon-asia.com> wrote:

Recently you requested personal assistance from our Nikon Asia Technical on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may re-open the case within the next 7 days.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

Subject

D700 - one month already...

Discussion Thread

Response (Nikon Malaysia Tech Support)

14/12/2008 10.48 PM

Dear Mr. Noor Apandi,

Thank you for contacting Nikon Asia Technical Support. Your case has been forwarded to us. We will assist you from here.

Your case has been forwarded to Mr. Paul Lee and he will be assisting you on this. He can be reached at 03-78093688 ext. 621 or Paul.Lee@nikonoa.net

Thank you for your support on Nikon Products. We hope we have addressed your concerns. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

Dear Paul,

Kindly revert to Mr. Noor Apandi at 01x-xxxx78 or xxx@xxxx.my regarding the status of his camera.

Thanks

Regards
Lee
Sales & Technical Support Executive
+603-78093688 ext. 653

Customer (Noor Apandi Osnin)

14/12/2008 03.42 PM

Dear Paul;

My D700 with faulty Quality/ISO button was sent via J One Camera Service on 13/11/08. It has been a month (was told that it would take about 2 weeks) that I am unable to use it. Can you please expedite the repair/service. The body number is 209xxxx.

Was also told by Jason that there's only one technician able to service the D700 ! If this is true then Nikon need to buck up as either there's too many faulty D700 or the sole technician is working too slowly. I apologise if this sound harsh but the longer I have to wait the more frustrated I am getting.

Your assistance and attention is much appreciated.

Regards;

apandi

To be fair, it was the end of the year, still one and a half month [sent 13/11/08] to repair a brand new camera and a new model to boot is a tad too slooooooowwwwww. However, I was pacified somewhat as this morning [31/12/08] a nice fellow from Nikon - Chong - I believe, finally called with a peace offering, the use of another D700 while mine is being repaired. Have to decline as I am not in Kuala Lumpur.

Am still waiting...

Maal Hijrah 1430

2008-12-28T18:41:00.003+08:00

Dusk, my favourite time of day. Also the marker for a new beginning. May the new day be better for all of us. Inshaallah....

Breakfast @ Legend

2008-12-26T23:36:00.005+08:00

Some pictures I got from breakfast that we had at the Legend Water Chalet in Port Dickson recently. The service was great so much so that you could sense the sincerity of the service staff trying to please the patrons. However, though the food looks great most of it is rather bland tasteless. The yogurt with fruit and honey was good, but then they are naturally good and tasty.

Have it if it comes with the room package otherwise if you need to have a hotel buffet breakfast the nearest in the vicinity which may be better will be at Avillion. Cost a bomb and to avoid disappointment, don't expect them to be at par with those offered by hotels in the capital.

BFM 89.9 - excellent new radio station.

2008-12-21T22:34:00.002+08:00

An excellent new radio station accidentally found as I was fiddling with the car stereo. Its music is really easy to my ears and psyche. Phil Collins, Genesis, Chicago and the likes. Here's how they describe themselves:-

BFM is a 24 hour radio station focused on business news and topics. Think of CNBC or The Edge but on radio. Core programmes include latest business news and stock market reports from Malaysia and other financial centres as well as interviews with business personalities, financial analysts, entrepreneurs, technologists and marketers. BFM also offers business education programmes spanning areas like marketing, finance, technology and business productivity to raise the business proficiency of the Malaysian public.

BFM targets business executives, finance professionals and the investing public. There is no specific age target as the business audience spans all adult age groups. It is their interest in business that defines the listenership, not their age.

Nevertheless, BFM is likely to appeal most to a mature audience. In this respect, those between 35 to 55 of age will be able to identify most with BFM. [hmmmm.... says it all doesn't it ?]

BFM can be received on frequency 89.9 in Wilayah Persekutuan, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and parts of Melaka. BFM will be transmitting in Pulau Pinang and Kedah by September 2008, Johor by March 2009 and Perak by September 2009. Roll-out dates to other states are being finalised.

BFM communicates with its listeners as equals. There is a lot of individual and collective wisdom among the Malaysian business community and BFM’s role is to harness that to raise the game of Malaysian businesses.

BFM has a positive bias towards supporting start-ups, new technology, ethical business practices and equal opportunities.

Check them out the next time you are in the car.

Penang

2008-12-10T22:37:00.005+08:00

Symbols and scenes associated with the Pearl of the Orient. Errr, except the first one is for Permata Kedah - Langkawi.

Padang Besar

2008-12-07T22:33:00.008+08:00

Not one of my favourite destinations but I oblige as I enjoyed the journey. Cliched but true. Its not the ends but the means. Its a good six hour drive from KL.

The usual knick knacks and stuff that women go crazy over. Since its the holiday seasons, things are a wee bit expensive. A set of kids pyjamas that used to cost RM10 a couple months ago - I was told - now has a price tag of RM25. Haggled down to RM18. Still almost double what it used to be. The thing is, you can get the same or better in KL...

At least I enjoyed the eats. First time for "laksa siam", rice noodles in a gravy akin to thai green curry that is pleasantly spicy and sourish. Very palatable and tasty accompanied with raw sprouts, cashew shoots and cool cucumber. Those colourful bottles contains coloured sugar spiked with artificial flavourings. Commonly known as "oren kampung", pop soda really made by mom and pop in their small facility. Great as a thirst quencher over loads of ice - just don't ponder its health effects.

Open top & rain

2008-12-02T15:48:00.004+08:00

Open top motoring certainly is fun. The wind in your hair, the wide expanse unhindered from view all around, the different smells as you pass by different areas. A sensorial experience. But...

Just like those bikers, as the cloud darkens and the air gets cooler you sense that soon you will be wet. Decision, decision, do you close the top now or just go through the patch - hopefully it is indeed just a patch of rain. If it is, just raise the side windows and go at considerable speed and the water will be sucked by the turbulence away from you. No problemo. But...

If it was not just a patch, you risk getting wet and looking like a fool by the roadside as you wait for the interminable 25 seconds that it takes for the roof to properly close.

Good one for the times...

2008-11-29T11:28:00.001+08:00

Classique ! Financial Crisis explained , how about that?

One day, a plain-looking man came with a pretty-looking OL (Office Lady) to the LV store in Causeway Bay (Hong Kong Island). He chose an LV bag worth HKD 65,000 for the OL. When it came time to pay, the man took out a checkbook and wrote out a check. The salesperson was hesitant because the couple hadn't shopped there before. The man discerned what the salesperson was thinking and he said calmly: "I sense that you are concerned that this check may bounce, right? Today is Saturday and the banks are closed. Let me suggest that I leave the check and the handbag here. When the check clears on Monday, you can deliver the handbag to this lady. How about that?

The salesperson was reassured and gladly accepted the suggestion. In addition, he waived the delivery charges. He promised that he would personally make sure that this gets done. On Monday, the salesperson took the check to the bank. The check bounced! The irate salesperson called up the client, who told him: "What is the big deal? Neither you nor I have suffered any loss. Last Saturday night, I went to bed with that girl already! Oh, by the way, I thank you for your cooperation."

This story reveals the nature of the sub-prime mortgage crisis. When people have high hopes for huge future returns, they lower their guard about the potential risks. This pretty girl thought that the HKD 65,000 LV bag was going to come home on Monday, and so she lowered her guard. Therefore, she believed that her investment in the ONS (one night stand) was worth it even though it was based upon huge and highly uncertain risks. Investment companies are great with packaging high return (but high risk) deals. The stock speculators are like this pretty woman. As such, they deserve to lose money. Without people like these, how are people going to make money from the stock market? As
for the media and the stock analysts, they often play the role of the LV salesperson.

From an email sent by Nesa.

A most colourful house

2008-11-24T11:03:00.005+08:00

A most colourful house in its final stages of construction. Bright cheerful (garish ?) colours adorning the walls and floors. Purples, reds, pinks, yellows and orange. Such a gamut for the senses.

Fortunately, it has a lot of potential in its surroundings. Great vistas right out of the balconies and windows, to soothe in contrast to all the warm tones. I'm certain that those who dwell here will be content and happy.

The Mac & I

2008-11-23T21:58:00.004+08:00

I had the opportunity to play around with the new 2008 Mac book for about a month or so. Beautifully engineered. The physical construction is excellent and I really liked it. However, personally, I just don't have the time nor patience to switch from Windows to Mac.

It does almost all the things that I have been doing in Windows well except for the part on managing my photos. Basic things done in windows i.e. resizing becomes a chore (my ignorance may be the cause...). Since I don't have the patience, its back to windows. Though quirky, it works for me.

I loved the slot loading media player which caused me to discover VLC - to override the region code restrictions on DVD's - which is a crap policy. The notebook is used to travel, your travel may bring you to different regions of the world. The region code basically says that if you want to view a DVD bought in say region 1 then you need to buy a notebook from region 1 !!! Idiots. BTW, VLC also have a version for windows which so far works well. No need to flash the drive to free your notebook from this stupid policy.

I absolutely adore the mag save power charger, so elegant.

Even the charger is well designed and a thing of beauty. Alas, the Mac is not for me...

Night shots - twin peaks

2008-11-19T19:23:00.004+08:00

Twin Peaks Resort, Kuah Langkawi.

Masjid Jalan Othman

2008-11-17T11:05:00.003+08:00

Some internal shots of the newly refurbished mosque on Jalan Othman, PJ.

KL - Langkawi by night

2008-11-09T17:41:00.008+08:00

The journey from Bukit Jalil began at 2300hrs. The first stop was somewhere in mid point, to pee actually. But then might as well get some coffee and the cold sour sop ice cream perked me up. Probably the only person having ice cream in the wee hours of the wet cold morning.

Another pee stop at one of the petrol stations provide indications that we are fast approaching the end of our drive. Where else would you get offer for "Insurance Thai".

We arrived at the Kuala Perlis jetty at 0530hrs. The coffee shop was just starting its operations. Unload at the jetty, parked the car and rushed for tickets. The first ferry leaves at 0600hrs.

The crowd rushing for the first ferry. About the ferry, if you have to board one of these early morning ones, make sure that you have an extra layer of clothing or a blanket. The air conditioning is freezing. Literally. It felt like being in a cold room.

Ah, finally a breakfast of "putu mayam" on the island itself. Fresh from the steamer. Gorgeous, a pleasant ending to a 500km journey through the night.

Kilim Geoforest Park

2008-11-06T10:20:00.016+08:00

The Kilim jetty from where the tour began.

The "guardian", they say if you look closely a human face seems etched on the rocks.

The entrance. Tranquil and pretty as a button.

One of the caves. This is Gua Kelawar or bat cave except Batman wasn't in...

Eagle feeding.

Macaque's...

... another common species to be sighted in the area, errr of course the younger well endowed ones are more pleasant to the eyes he he he

The fish farm & floating restaurant.

All the sightseeing activities takes a lot or energy which should be replenished...

Finally, the person who made the trip a truly pleasant one for us, En. Mohd. Hafiz Abdullah (looking pensive..), the owner of Zuna Travel and Tours. From car rental to island tour to accommodation, the whole works. He does it well too, catering to our every whim and fancies. Highly recommended. If you need his services in Langkawi call +604-9671025, better still get him on his mobile at +6017-4119642.

Village Park - Damansara Uptown

2008-11-05T10:56:00.009+08:00

The Village Park Restaurant, run by a Chinese Muslim couple was introduced to us by Is. Its a very popular breakfast spot especially on weekends. The crowd literally spills out onto the street and walkway. The food was good but the thing that really impresses me is the cleanliness (the floor is mopped using steaming hot water) and fast service that they provide.

Kueh tiaw fish ball soup. Refreshingly tasty.

Mee rebus.

Crispy fried chicken to go with the nasi lemak.

Roti sambal - am curious, ordered it and discovered that its a piece of egg, sambal ikan bilis and cucumber slices between two slices of toast.

Washed down with my favourite drink in the place, sweet, sourish kedondong juice.

Sighhhhhh haven't got the white balance right....

Wendy's @ Jaya One

2008-11-01T19:18:00.005+08:00

The Caesar's Salad with crispy chicken. Hmmm, just leaves with croutons, bits of cheese and dressing topped with a piece boneless chicken.

The baked potato with cheese and broccoli topping. A bit bland for my taste with an overpowering taste of broccoli. Should have tried the other topping.

The burger with square patty. Unique but quite tasty.

The common shoe string fries which was lukewarm. Prices are a tad more than Mc D or BK. Given a choice, I would rather opt for Carl's Junior (a wee bit more expensive).

Lloyd's MIU Handbook of Maritime Security

2008-11-01T12:33:00.005+08:00

A parcel containing this book arrived yesterday. Marked "complimentary copy for author". A collection of articles and papers themed on maritime security.

Review - (Amazon.com):

Although maritime security has received a significant amount of attention in recent years, this has not been reflected in literature on the subject. This is rectified by this excellent collection that covers the subject thoroughly from A to Z. Edited and compiled by prominent experts in the area, the Handbook provides the first clear, substantive and practical analysis of this complex subject. It is bound to become required reading for all in the shipping industry, as well as those with an interest in international security.Professor Edgar Gold, AM, CM, QC, PhD, DSc, FNI, The Nautical InstituteThis Handbook provides a broad overview of current issues in maritime security. It is crisply written, well organised and includes contributions by leading authorities in maritime security. The Handbook is strongly recommended to those involved in policy making on security issues, students of maritime affairs and industry professionals.

Ambassador Barry Desker, Dean, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

With the inescapable importance of maritime trade to the integrity of the global economy, maritime security remains of vital interest to commercial and governmental practitioners alike. Wide-spread criminal trafficking, piracy and terrorism compound the vulnerability of infrastructure, vessels and supply-chains within this vast environment. As a consequence, navies and coast guards are adapting themselves to confront asymmetric and criminal threats in the maintenance of their pivotal role in helping to ensure maritime security. They regard an in-depth appreciation of the threats and vulnerabilities within this environment as the central pre-requisite for conducting Maritime Security Operations. In reflection of the above realities, the editors of the Lloyd’s MIU Handbook of Maritime Security have drawn together a range of professionals, experts and academics from around the world. The handbook offers an important collection of thoroughly-researched and impressive essays that examine a diverse range of maritime security concerns. These essays will be of interest to all, whether commercial, legal, military or governmental, in ensuring the security of the world’s shipping, ports and sea lanes of communication.

Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope KCB OBE Commander-in-Chief Fleet

Its available for USD89.95 here.

Lunch - the Fly

2008-10-27T23:00:00.006+08:00

I wonder, if the spider could write a blog, how would it review today's lunch ?

Meeting food

2008-10-27T10:51:00.006+08:00

Attended a meeting in Melaka recently where the usual two type of kuih accompanied by tea/coffee was served. Except, in this case its three type, two sweet and one savoury. The kuih served is generous in proportions such that even the organiser was pleasantly surprised. The caterer will most likely get future contracts from them. Taste good too.

Lunch @ Amcorp

2008-10-26T21:29:00.004+08:00

More like a late afternoon snack really. It was a hectic day, I missed lunch at the appointed hour and was reminded of my hunger by a grumble in my stomach. Since I had to do some waiting, I decided to look for something to eat. Not Mc D again. Luckily, or so I thought, there is a restaurant next to the Mc D outlet. Looks nice and there's an outside dining area to enjoy the late afternoon breeze or errr to smoke.

Peruse the menu quickly and ordered the Pineapple Fried Rice Thai Style. Imagining a tasty, sumptuous rice dish served in a pineapple boat. Instead, what I got is in the photo above. Portion was small, for protein it had only two prawns and one piece of chicken in it. Accompanied by a slice each of cucumber and tomato, slivers of carrots and some shredded thin omelets. Definitely not worth the price RM6.90 charged for it. As far as taste is concerned, that failed too. Nothing special and no hint of the Thainess that its supposed to have. It does have a few pieces of pineapple though.

The watermelon juice on the other hand was excellent. Cool, sweet and not watery. If I am in Amcorp again, I will visit this place again and may try something else. Why ? The ambiance of the outside dining area is really nice as it fronted the garden and the lake. Nice place to relax and chill. Just don't order the Pineapple Fried Rice Thai Style.

Guidebook on ROR by KWPPL

2008-10-22T16:10:00.004+08:00

As mentioned in a previous post, the book is now out.

It is a bi-lingual (Malay & English) publication - BUKU PANDUAN KAEDAH & PERATURAN BAGI MENCEGAH PELANGGARAN DILAUT, TERMASUK PINDAAN TAHUN 1981, 1987, 1989, 1993 & 2001 dan KAEDAH-KAEDAH BAGI VESEL YANG BELAYAR MENERUSI SELAT MELAKA DAN SELAT SINGAPURA, 2000.

GUIDEBOOK ON THE RULES & REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA, INCORPORATING THE 1981, 1987, 1989, 1993 & 2001 AMENDMENTS and RULES FOR VESSELS NAVIGATING THROUGH THE STRAITS OF MALACCA AND SINGAPORE.

Its available from Kumpulan Wang Pusat Perdagangan Laut (KWPPL), I presume you can get a copy from them at Marine Department or the Mariners Club, Port Klang.

SK Kampung Tunku - soccer

2008-10-21T08:52:00.009+08:00

Boys having fun on the wet muddy field. Mummy is not going to be pleased...

TM 100 service - EXCELLENT.

2008-10-16T11:48:00.006+08:00

Most likely due to recent heavy rains and thunderstorms, my phone and data line went quiet. Made a call to 100 at about 8am and these guys show up at 10am the same day. Speedy.

The guys tested the line and made sure everything were in order. Good job. Excellent and speedy service from both Telekom and their contractors. TQ.

Oreo delight

2008-10-14T11:48:00.004+08:00

One of the best I have tasted during the 2008 Raya holidays. Not too sweet or rich, just nice and moreish. RM20.00 for a jar of 50 pieces. To order call Zafni at 019-2215699.

Qdees 2008 Concert

2008-10-14T09:59:00.011+08:00

Snapshots from the recent Qdees SS3 2008 concert.

Photos by Akmal.

Back to school...

2008-10-12T22:55:00.002+08:00

Now that the holidays over, its back to the daily grind...

Digital Cordless Phone

2008-10-11T18:30:00.004+08:00

Cost about RM300, works but annoying especially the mushy buttons and dodgy speakers. Not the easiest or intuitive to use. Should have gone for Panasonic instead.

Not recommended.

Rules of the Roads - for the seas...

2008-10-04T11:20:00.004+08:00

A bi-lingual guidebook on the Rules and Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea incorporating all amendments plus Rules for the Strait of Malacca and Singapore. Will be available by end October from KWPPL, Mariners Center Port Klang.

New Book

2008-07-19T09:32:00.002+08:00

A new book due to be out in September 2008. I am just one of the contributor. Check it out at Amazon.com.

My view...

2008-04-29T09:51:00.003+08:00

Who's looking at whom ?

Muslim burial - Klang Valley

2008-04-19T11:00:00.003+08:00

This is based on recent experience. Perhaps it would help guide those who may face similar situation. What to do and how to go about carrying out the final rights of a Muslim in the Klang Valley.

It would be easier if the passing happens in a hospital rather than in a private residence. This is because the hospital will provide all the documentation. The most important of which is the burial permit. The permit is not the death certificate, however, it would be prudent to make copies to be distributed to those attending the funeral as proof that they are in fact attending a funeral and not watching a movie or loitering in a mall.

With this permit you will then need to look for a site where the remains is to be buried. For Kelana Jaya, there were a few choices. It is best to go and talk to your local Imam informing him of the event and at the same time seeking his advice on how best to proceed. Go to the cemetery - whose office normally opens at 8am - and see if you can get a plot there. Fill up the forms and attach the permit. The cemetery will then prepare the necessary. For Bukit Kiara, it costs RM290. If you do not get a plot at the first cemetery, proceed to the next and the next until you get one.

If the remains comes from the hospital, you will need to decide whether to bring it back to the house or direct to the mosque for the final rites. This will depend on the timing of prayers, visitors and readiness of the graveyard. The mosque in Kelana Jaya has a standard charge of RM250 for use of their van to transport the remains.

Finally, it would be prudent for the next of kin to arrive first at the cemetery, especially males to carry out the final physical and spiritual rites of passage.

Once this is completed, the real hassle began. Start by going to the JPN to obtain the death certificate....

Jeruk Penang

2008-04-10T12:33:00.005+08:00

Pickled fruits. Colourful and enticing. Word of caution though - if you are planning to give this to kids make sure you soak it in clean cool water first. This will reduce the acidity and whatever else they put in to make it look vibrant and crunchy.

Keropok Mersing

2008-04-07T10:47:00.007+08:00

An excellent place to shop, not so much for the product but for the way the proprietor treats you. One of the best saleswoman I have encountered in a long time. Totally unlike those selling thousand dollar watches.

Do stop by if you are in the area.