Saturday nite Gathering

Since monday I've been cleaning up my place. But after monday I did no cleaning, until saturday. Quite lazy in between that time frame. Is our usual Saturday gathering in my place. But this time around we will be doing back the makan-makan gathering.



This is my reorganize place, I move the TV rack to the dining area, so I have bigger space on the living area. So more people can sit comfortably. This picture is taken from the balcony.



Steven and Min Jie in-charge of the food. We a got a lot of stuff that night, we have cold-roast, fried rice, wanton, kelabu and pork ribs king, Of course our usual bevearage will be beer.



The tradition for newcomer to my place is to do shortgun. Every male have to do it. So this time around is this 3 new people, Chin Hui, Adam and Weng Leong.



We actually play games to finish up the fried rice. Where we pick a card, the loser of the previous game with the smallest card number can make up the rules, like all the heart eat, or even numbers eat or below number 9 eat....etc. Is quite fun, all we need is a good few rounds, and the fried rice is all clean up already. We also play Dal-motti and our favourite Queen and bubble,



Get some artistic shot since quite drunk already, total we finish more then 30 cans of beer, consider not bad, not too much also. Still waiting to get my and Weinstephen for house party, although is really expensive to drink, but is one good beer.



How can we forget to have group photo at the end. Is a fun nite, I hope to do this more often. Maybe at least once a month. Anyone want to come to my next gathering, or want to have gathering in my place, just let me know...haha

I want to go Diving

I got my diving licence last August. Since then I didn't go for any dive at all. I wish I can go diving very soon, but too bad the monsoon season already started, if I plan to go diving in the east coast of penisular Malaysia I have to wait until March next year.



This is my picture in full wet suit in the training pool. This picture is taken way back in February. Don't I look very professional in those suit?....haha who am I kidding.



I complete my open water test in Tioman. Is a nice place to chill out and dive. Is not that expensive also. If you can sleep on those bunker bed style of accomodation then, this place is nice and cheap to go with.



The first preparation to go to sea, preparing for a shore dive. Shore dive means walking from the beach and all the way to the sea. Very tire if caring all those big big stuff.



But lucky for us, they go trolley to carry the stuff until the checkpoint. haha...if no, then it will be a tiring walk, before we can actually dive, we already tired liao.



After a tired dive, CM (second from right) bring us to a waterfall not far from the Sealantis hut. The water if freaking cold. After a tired day, a can of beeer is a must....haha



My first real boat dive. Posing beside my gear.At last can now go deep. Of coourse to those pro's this is just easy stuff. But for me, this is full of excitement, where we can go down as deep as 30m....I think.



The funny stuff is, in the training pool we always wear wet suit, but in actual diving site, this is all I wear, t-shirt and short pants. We are lucky didn't meet any Jelly fish. Diving with plain clothes feel good.



Surface up for a thumbs up. Every dive give a new experience to a world that I always see in discovery channel but never did I know that one day I'll be really hands-on in the water enjoying the underwater world. Down there is a different world all together. I really wish can go for more dives a year. My aim is 4 dive trip next year at least.



On the last day of the Tioman trip I manage to get 6 dives, as for my friends, they did 10 dives, as I was sick on the last day. I wish to do more dive next year. Going all over Malaysia east coast to enjoy the water. OF course the aim is by end of the year can go Sipadan.....haha...Any one want to join me for a dive?

New hair cut

Since last saturday got not much activity on my hand, was quite free in the morning, I went for a hair cut. Those friend that are really close to me now that I seldom go for hair cut. If I do, there must be something wrong to me. I used to cut my hair once a year....haha, giving a excuse of trying to safe money, but my last hair cut in the saloon cost me a bomb (consider a bomb to me) it cost RM54, and it not that nice also. So after that hair cut I opt back to the old shcool - the indian barber shop. I can cut 5 times a year and is still cheaper then I cut in the saloon. Each visit to the Indian Barber cost only RM10, plus they give a good massage on the neck.



This is how I look before the hair cut, my long hair, and is a chaos of mess. Plus I losing a lot hair. I plan for the hair cut for long time already, just that every weekend there is something on, that keep my time occuppied.



This is my new hair cut, the indian barber call it No.2 on the side. Must be the communication problem, that I can't really get what I want the hairstyle to me. But I was quite satisfy with this style. I cut it short because I going for the mount Kinabalu climb in this coming december. Is easier to clear the sweat away. The next step is to put some colour to make it a bit blink blink @ look more like Ah Beng....till then....haha

my Ipoh trip

Long time didn't write the blog. After so many month of slacking off is time I continue with my blog. This is about my trip to Ipoh. I take a bus down from KL about 7:30am and reach Ipoh about 10:15am. This is my first time, semi-backpacking to other town that are consider unknown to me. Before that I have do some research and got some map from the internet, and where is the best place to "makan" in Ipoh. As I was from Penang, hawker food will always goes nice to the stomach....haha


This is where it all started, I start my journey in Old town after I took a taxi from bus station to Jalan Bandar Timah in Old Town. This street got a lot of good food. A non-stop eating street. Almost half the famous Ipoh haker food u can find here, like Ipoh Ho-fun, Dry Curry noodle, Satay Babi & the famous white coffee.


The street it self is like Penang Georgetown, colonial style building. Very old school, very nostalgic. I like very much and the weather that day really permit me to walk around as it was cloudy.


My first stop is a curry noodle house called "Sun Seng Fatt" on Jalan market. I order ho-fun dry curry. Is freaking nice, although people there normally eat with mee or meehun, but since Ipoh is famous with ho-fun, I'll go with ho-fun. And is really delicious. Of course with a cup of ice- white coffee to top it up. Is really my best breakfast, since normally I only eat nasi lemak in the morning.


This is the famous "Thean Chun", they serve the best Ipoh ho-fun and custard, u can find some satay babi there also. Cause I just took my break fast I didn't eat there, I continue walking and sight seeing.


As I keep walking I pass the Kinta River which split the 2 towns that is the old town and the new town. I walk around 10min from Jalan Bandar Timah, to the Market place.


Before I reach the Pasar Besar Ipoh, I saw some abandoned building. I which I have an SLR on my hand, as the view of the abandoned building is nice. My artistic sense kick in, I stand there for a while to admire the view.


This is the Pasar Besar Ipoh, alot of people doing their marketing there. You can also find alot of white coffee bean sell here.


If you scare of the hot market you can always go opposite the pasar besar to Yik Foong complex. Where got some Air-condition to chill you down.


I spot this old signage which look like those signage from the 60's or 70's.


Again I spot a funny signage bearing the name "PurBerry", cannot tahan. Why don't just put Dolce & Banana.


The convoy of my Penang relaltive reach Ipoh, then I join then and visit my Ipoh's relative, which I don't know about untill recently. They have a old-old school house. The house remind me of my grandpa house. I think the house is around 100 years old. The kitchen look creepy but alot of nostalgic feeling into it. They still cook their food with carcoal.


My brother and the relatives are admiring the hall.


The wall bring back a lot of memory of my grandpa's house. The colour skim and door design are all the same. Maybe last time got not much choices in choosing colour and door panel.


Again I wish I have a digital SLR to shoot more nicer picture and stuff.


Is a very big house, with a big compund. Alot of mosquito to. While I was outside taking picture the mosquito get a few good bite on me.


They still maintain the place very nicely. The furniture all are sure older then me, but still very solid. Sure not like the stuff of Ikea.




After my parent and uncle auntie chit chat with the relative in Ipoh, we decided to drop by at "Thean Chun" to have some good food. The place is famous for Popiah also. But some said the popiah in Padang, penang taste nicer.


Of course I must have my satay babi intestine, before I join the convoy back to Penang. Raymond if u reading this "must try" if you coming down to Ipoh. Ask me to come around also.....haha

In this trip I learn alot of backing packing stuff, like have to prepare or plan your journey, so can have more time eating all the good food in Ipoh. Is more like a eating trip to me. Of course we still go and eat in some places that I forget to take picture, maybe the food is so good that I keep on eating without bother about taking picture. But next time I come, I sure eat all their good food in both old & new town. Like the Tauge Chicken & Hokkien Ho-fun. Ipoh sure have good heritage and good food that is everywhere in the town. Anyone want to join me to Ipoh again. But I'll be walking in the town, not taking car. As I learn, you see more when u walk.

After this trip also inspire me to check out other town with good food. Melaka will be my next target. To go and savour some good food and sight seeing. A day trip or weekend trip will be fruitful to visit Malaysi hidden food treasures.

Proton Persona vs. Perodua MYVI

This 2 car is the new debate in Malaysia, one have a good reputation in quality and one don't. One is a sedan and one is a hatchback. I've been to http://paultan.org and http://www.motortrader.com.my/forum to see how the reaction of the people who saw the New Proton Persona (some said is not new, only a Gen2 with butt). I quite interested in this new car, as I don't want to see Proton (P1) fail because it's the pride of Malaysian. In the forum or comment the people leave in those 2 site, I found out that a lot of people put great faith in P1 and wish P1 can be as good as P2(Perodua). In this recent year P2 got their reputation in QC and their new model is selling like HOTCAKE. But I'm not too sure about Perodua Viva. So Malaysian now are comparing this 2 car manufacturer, as they wish to bring more quallty to P1.

This is the new P1 Persona, which I think is nice and good looking. I always think Gen2 is a beatuiful design car, but bacause of it's QC the car is not selling like HOTCAKE. But this sedan that base on Gen2 with added butt really look good. 1.6L engine with big boot and selling at RM45k. Which I like the Blueberry Tea colour the most. Is a car worth to consider. But a lot of people is waiting for the buyer to comment on the QC of the car. They scared that like previous condition, the power window will spoil, the boot will not open, the aircond will spoil and such. I really wish this car will bring new height to P1 quality and all the coming model won't have any problem anymore. I also wish Proton all the best. I thinking of getting one myself, if the QC of the car is good.

This is the P2 MYVI. Is the most sellable car right now on the market. Hear someone said, there are more then 70k of this car on the road. Is the most prefered car for student, working people, Ah Beng, Cute gal.....etc P2 got a good reputation for it QC, people buy P2 because of it's QC and a rebadge from Daihatsu or Toyota. That one of the main reason this baby selling like a hot cake. The Price range is from RM40k for the 1L engine-more then RM50k for the 1.3L engine high spec. By the way, the new Proton CEO is formally from P2. Maybe he is bringing the QC to P1 soon.

Again, there is no conclusion for which one to choose. But I will advice people to get Persona, as is more worth while in terms of boot or bigger engine. But most important is the buyer, what they like, and what is the purpose of the car. For me I prefer bike more then car, so my judgement don't count that much. I still riding a Honda EX5 class 1. Very reliable and fuel economy, but not chic will sit on it.....haha I wish people stop bashing about proton and give them a chance to recover, maybe the Persona is a turnover for P1. I really wish both of them bring the Rakyat a better and nicer car, and we all can enjoy it better. Let this be a healthy competition that both this car manufacturer can learn from and improve together in time to come.....all the best for P1 & P2!

Guiness vs Heineken

Ok, I'm a beer guy, until recently my friend bring me to taste a draught Guinness in a small pub at Uptown Damansara in Petaling Jaya at a state called Selangor, in a country called Malaysia. My reaction to this drink is wow! I always though that stout is for old uncle. Not long ago a diver friend of mine tell me that after u start diving, u'll like stout. So I'm not sure because of diving I start like stout or I just getting old. To my suprise the taste is so smooth that even "tau fu fa" came in second. And the kick is different from beer, it stay a bit longer and kick in later then beer. This make u drink more and enjoying it.

But in my recent house gathering, the prefer choice is still beer, but if we go out, we start to drink Guiness. For 3 occasion now, we've been ordering Guiness and not beer when we chills in pub. Ok, I choose Heineken then other brand because I like it more then other brand of beer that Malaysia are selling. Of course I do like KilKenney, Hoegarden, Stella and so on.

This is a good drink when u have it chill, but is not so great when it turn warm. A person like me who often drink "koh teh"(bitter tea for cooling purpose) also can't really take the taste of a warm Guiness. It can really make me puke, but when it's chill the taste go beyond a thousand word. I'm not a hardcore drinker but for now, my chill out drink will be Guiness draught.

This drink is made of barley and other ingredient, mix with nitrogen and CO2 with chill temperature...it made a wonderful drink. Guinness is from Ireland, it's a dry stout @ Irish stout.The company start producing it since 1759 (that is really long time ago). The best part is, this alcoholic drink can benefit to our heart, some of the contain can slowdown the forming of cholestetrol in our heart artery (something like that). But I think is not really good for our liver. It take 119.53 second to pour a perfect pint of Guinness. But I hear u can short gun a bottle of Guinness in just 2 second.

Heineken, a beer prefer by many, same goes with me. I like Heineken more then other, accept if they sell SIngha here. I can only get Singha in Thailand. I prefer Heineken more then Carlsberg, Anchor, Tiger and Skol. Maybe because of the name or maybe is the coolness of drinking Heineken compare to other brands.

This green bottle go a long way. They started in 1864 in Holland. It's a lager beer, the 4th largest brewery in the world. Of course they got good advertising campaign that keep the brand high up. Malaysian don't have much choices when come to beer, but no matter what brand that come in, I believe this brand will stay up there. Way up there.

There is no conclusion of who will win, I believe beer do have bigger market cause Guiness draught cost more then a Mug of Heineken. Beer are suitable for most occassion, but Stout no yet come to play in my lifestyle. But this will change later on, we will never know. For those who like stout more then beer, do leave your comment, maybe I can join u for a drink next time. For beer lover, keep it up and don't drink and drive, ok! Cheers Mike!

Stefen Sagmeister in Malaysia

Yesterday is one of the memorable day I have, meeting the graphic designer which I respect his work dearly, I even sent my resume to him once, of course my standard is not his taste I think. So yesterday is the first time he's giving a talk in Malaysia. The event is held in Security Commision in Kiara, KL.

I exchange my ticket for the button to go in the auditorium. But off all the thing, the button look like, Hello Stefeni rather then Hello Stefen!. Or maybe is just me.

Once in the auditorium the crowd are filling up the space. With-in 15 minutes, the whole hall is pack with people. More then what I expected it to be.

Woo lah, at last he appear in front of the crowd, mr. Stefen Sagmeister. The emcee introduce him as naughty, down to earth and friendly person. He look like one too.

So he start the talk with spliting into 4 segment, I don't really recall all but if not mistaken is 1) Music design 2) Social design 3) Corporate design 4) I can't remember the 4th one.

He may not be an interesting speaker, but he do make alot of joke that the whole auditorium laugh on. His work is respectable. One of his quote is "Guts always work for me", "Every one always think they are right" & "Money does not make me happy".

The question from the floor, do u think of becoming famous when u started in graphic? Of course his answer is yes. But he do admit is a hard earn process. Where he learn from and the challenge that make him...him.

I get abit bored from the question and answer thing, So I play around with my camera. Not good at all in indoor shot. I guess Malaysian are just not good in asking question. Not many question were ask. Only 4 or 5. If u notice by now, u basically know I sit behind there, where my camera couldn't zoom in anymore.

He autograph his book, the "made u look" book which publish in year 2000. Is a good book, I will encourage people to buy it(for those who study design).

This talk really open up a few suggestion that every think u can think off, can be an idea that people already use. There is no such thing as the world best graphic designer, as it is subjective. But they do have world most influential graphic designer. His work have make people think more and try to beat it. Sagmeister is Sagmeitster, his work and his originality is one thing will confuse art and graphic design. So is graphic design an artist, are we business base or art base. In the end is just a judgement. Thanks Stefen Sagmeister for a good talk! Hope to see u again in Malaysia! Even better if we can fight for a project to help me improve more on creativity.