Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Visit to manila - Part 1


JEEPNEY...TRICYCLE ...!!!!

Where else if not in the Phillipines...??

Yup.. I was there last week. In Manila, ADB Avenue, to be exact.
The only worry I had prior to my trip was ...whatelse if not about 'food'..??
But I my expectation was wrong.. I actually came across a supermarket that sells frozen 'Halal' food.

Anyway, I geared myself with enough stocks.

crowded....... beggars........ tipping........ dusty.....traffic congestion....language barrier ........
All my expectations were wrong.

I only needed a taxi to and from the airport. Ninoy Aquino International Airport.Both drivers speak good English.


The place that I visited was close to the hotel where I stayed, that I just walked from the hotel.   The traffic was not as bad. The place I visited located within the business area that the traffic was controlled. I didnt see many beggars as in my last visit to the country. I guess the economic had gone up.Good to know that.


The first day was wet. It was rainy and windy. Thank God, it wanst dusty at all..

As I walked into the building, I felt as if I was in a European country.I didnt have to struggle on language barrier. I saw so many international staff members. Everyone I met speak English very well, although the locals  tend to converse in Tagalog to me.I expected that though, since me too, look like them.

I found the largest cafetaria that serves international cuisines within the building.

 I settled with indonesian soup, 'Soto'.

The building was huge and nice, surrounded by beautifully done landscape.
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My friendly client was proudly showing me around her office. Nellie is such a friendly person.

I was surrounded by great hospitality from the locals.


Ok that enuff of  business talk............next...........
As I walked back to the hotel in the afternoon, I stopped by Robinsons departmental store, looking for some local items to bring back.

Going into any building had to go through the security. Great.. I felt secured throughout my stay.

By night, I completed the most important task...shopping. The hotel room was just perfect to release tiresome.

and it was time for an instant porridge,..canned achovies in chilli paste and an instant noodle..  slurppp...!  


By the following day, I could not even look at those packed and canned food. I lied down on the bed, thinking of waht to eat.
SUDDENLY......................crabs....prawn...mussles..oysters.....WHOAH..!!!

Those creatures crept onto my dinner plate ,that nite......




That was the biggest seafood dinner I had . I sat alone, enjpoyed my food without looking aside. yummmm.......The hotel buffet was worth paying.
 Then ...late at night..........jeng..jeng..jeng....!!!!!

I spent many times to the comfort room, comforting my bowel. uh...!!! There goes all of them.

My last day in Manila was supposed to be on the 3rd day. My 1st cousin, Garyson, came and visit me at the hotel lobby. That was nice of him.

Oh...ya...I found another friend while at the client's place. Her firstname is Girlie Claire. We are having the same surname. We didnt know each other, but  deep in us, we believe that we are related somehow. Especially when our ancestors came from the same area.

It was time to leave the country. I hopped into the taxi, which cost me PHP400, happily.
 The traffic was quite bad and the airport was crowded, but they didnt bother me.I couldnt wait to see my family back home.




At the boarding lounge, I waited and waited....and waited... The flight was delayed...then further delayed....then I heard the annoucement..
'The flight cancelled'.. AARRRGGHHGHHGG@#$%$#@@..!!!!!



Monday, June 11, 2012

Uptown Kota Damansara is the place

 

My friend and I was not too busy that night, that we decided to take a tour to the interesting night market.

The place is called ‘Komplex Muhibbah’, located in Kota Damansara, which is about 20 minutes drive from the town centre of Kuala Lumpur. It is also popular known as Uptown, Kota Damansara.

The place is crowded every night. You will fine lots and lots of products from there. Its a fun.My friend and I was not busy that night, that we decided to take a tour to the interesting night market.

In my recent trip to Uptown, a few technically decorated cars were up on display. The sound system installed on them were superb. I walked close to one of them and my heart was beating THUM.! THUM!..THUM!!! following the bass of the music.

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It was loud…

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It was crowded…IMG01009-20120602-0002 IMG01010-20120602-0003

Karaoke  and those clowns were among the attraction.

My friend and I took a lot of photographs.IMG01005-20120602-0000IMG01001-20120602-0000

 

 

The local food were one of the reason for us to be there. IMG00999-20120601-2259   Satay..boiled bloddy clam..sotong kangkung..tomyum..mee goreng(fried noodle)..Laksa..Nasi Lemak…Chicken Rice…sup tulang( bone soup)…Laychee kang..syrup…Syrup Bandung…ABC…Just name it, you’ll get it ……

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Uptown, Kota Damansara, is the place to be.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Returned to hometown with full agenda

 

Last weekend was another exciting experience for me and my son, Adri.

Another ‘Balik Kampung’ for us. Thats a very popular words for Malaysian, which meant for ‘coming home’ . Its direct translation is ‘back to the village’.

The half a day journey by flight X 2, with 2 hours transit in Kota Kinabalu, got us back to my hometown, Lahad Datu, Sabah at around 2:30pm.

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It was a long day for us, but the excitement overrode all.

At the airport, we were welcomed by a large group of our relatives, who were all nicely dressed up. They weren't dressing up for our arrival though, it was the day of my nephew’s engagement. We went  to the fiancee’s house, straight from the airport.

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The engagement only took about 2 hours. We reached home later in the late afternoon. I enjoyed being around all my nephews and nieces and all my siblings again.

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As in my previous ‘Balik Kampung’ trip, the 4 days agenda were heavilly occupied.

The 2nd day was a trip to a beautiful river, with its crystal clear water, located about 45 minutes drive away, to an area called Silam.

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I didnt want to get wet until everyone splashed me with the iced cold water. GGRRRrrrr……

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It was such an excitement for me and Adri. Swimming in the river is a chance of a life time for us. I’m proud to tell that a clean river is still found at my hometown, Lahad Datu.

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The 3rd day, was The Day that we were all looking forward….Deep Sea Fishing.

Early morning, everyone were ever ready. A fishermen boat were booked much earlier.

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At 10am, we stoodby the port with eagerness.

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Half an hour later the boat was loaded.

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Such a beautiful nature that others could only imagine..…IMG00948-20120529-0933IMG00949-20120529-0935

What a perfect view……..

 DSC03134  that even kids appreciate.DSC03142

 

We passed by villages by the sea. Cool………

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An hour later…..PULL..!!!!…huh..?! where’s the fish???DSC03093 

Over the other side of the boat….the pulling continued..pull..pull…..

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PULL..!!!…YEEAAYYY…!!!!!!

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I didnt get any, but at least, I had a chance taking photo with a big one, which caught by my mom….. HEEeeeeee……..DSC03098

While most were so hooked working on the hooks, others, including me were occupied checking on what else left in the food containers.

Eat…eat..and eat…….

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I guess, those fish were not interested on the menu I offered as bait, that I didnt get any hooked to it… but I enjoyed the boat ride so much.

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We returned to the port at around 3pm, before being caught by the low-tide.

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Goodbye sea world…DSC03162DSC03161

Everyone turned slightly tanned, but we had a great fun….

 

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That night, some received present for many categories..the most catch.. the heaviest catch… the longest catch…and more…

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Hold on….!! Fishing was not the last in the agenda.

The following day was again another merry day. It was the historical day for my youngest sister, jia.

   DSC03192 JiaEnggage DSC03195 That was her engagement day to a gentleman, who has a cute little brother, who catches the most attention from us all…DSC03183

 

The simple event went well.

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The couple got everyone’s blessing. Congratulation..!! and Alhamdulillah…

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Then…………on the next day…….Adri and I boarded a plane back to where we left his beloved papa and sister.

KL,  we’re back..!!!