Cherating

It was a short notice road trip. Four of us in my car, with other four cars following, all heading to Cherating.
There will be another paintball war in Cherating, located in Mercu Resort ( nice comfy resort by the beach with a big waste land ). So, we set up our battlefield, ensemble all our paintball equipment and waited for the participants to arrive. As usual, I'll be Reuters in the middle of the battlefield. Start off with capture the flag, with all four coloured flags in the middle of the battlefield. Next game - capture enemy flag as many as you could. Last but not least, a battle with bandits to capture all four colour flags. It was awesome!!!
The next morning woke up early as the sun rising beautifully in the East. It was a breathtaking view. A solitude moment to spare. Just me and mother nature...
The beach was clean, though the water are not as crystal in Perhentian Island. If I had brought along my wet shorts, definitely I would have jump right in, regardless of everyone. As the time pass by, me and a friend of mine decided to go to Kemaman for some shopping and dining...
Kemaman is about 30km from our place, which is much nearer than Kuantan. In less than 30 minutes, we'd reach our shopping destination. The pekan is well-developed. Nice, small little pekan of Kemaman. I bought 2 pair of Thai Silk linen that will be made into a baju kurung, and a pair of kain pelikat for my dad, for his Father's Day present. The time is limited, because according to plan we are suppose to leave for Kuala Lumpur at 2pm.
Since I did not found any nasi dagang stalls, so I wanted some of the famous Terengganu keropok to bring back home. We did stop by few stalls. My first time to eat Sata, which is much better than otak-otak. Bought some keropok lekor and keropok ikan. Finally, we start heading back to Mercu to check-out at 2pm.
Pack all our things and stuff it into the back of my car. We will be starting our 5 hours journey back to Kuala Lumpur. Thank you Mercu Resorts for it good hospitality, and bye bye Cherating Beach...
From Cherating, we head down to Kuantan and enter the Pantai Timur Expressway. This is the only road trip so far, that I haven't been doing much driving... And another success road trip to Cherating, a place I've never been before...
more pictures at : http://www.flickr.com/photos/lartz/601486986/

santai @ morib

16 of us convoy to Morib ( two raksaksa and 1 wira ), initial plan was to invade Bagan Lalang. Due to pesta air event in Bagan Lalang, we diverted our destination to Morib instead. The distance from my place to our exact location was proximately 55KM.
As promised I waited the others at Petronas Dengkil, before continue our journey. From pekan Dengkil, take right at the only traffic light there. From here on, just follow the road until you reach pekan Banting. Once you are here, be sure to open your eyes and look for the signboard "Pantai Morib". It is about few kilometres from Banting. This is jalan kampung, so be sure to be extra careful when driving [one lane road, big lorry + trucks ]
Reached our port at 12.30pm. It was a nice spot, white sand, pokok rhu and of course coconut tree. The two 4wD park with just enough space for us to tie about four hammock to it. The trees there are too far apart for our hammock.
Then, its time to cook. Nasi lemak was already prepared before. The wind was so breezy making it difficult for us to start fire. After a few attempt, we finally had our fire light up. Chicken wing and lamb shoulder black pepper BBQ. Cook some butter mushroom and karipap. Everything was worth the wait. Our drinks, Coke and RootBeer with rocks! All of us was sugar high - that explained the hyper energetic old ribena kids jumping around.
Perut dah kenyang ... and its time to relax by the beach. Some climb into hammock and have a good nap, while some played the mind-bugging game, the sudoku ... Even some keep on jumping around. heheheh. It was fun and hilarious. Surprisingly, despite of our hot weather, some of Malaysian just dipped their skin under the burning sun. For me, the water here is a bit murky ... Not for me to dip my skin in it.
After a few scene of photography session, we start clearing to go home. However, unfortunate events occur. Abg Wan 4WD was stuck in the soft delicate white sand. Just need a boost and the monster will be on its way. Thought the jinx ended here... Then, Abg Man's 4WD having problem with the ignition. Even jump-start do nothing to the black monster. Oh yeah, I realize abg Man did some upgrading to his 4WD. Now comes with cd player!! No more boring rides next time.
Final solution, they used my hammock static rope to towed the 4WD, and finally get it running. The knot was extremely tight due to the heavy tension ( how much tan's do these babies weight? ). But hey, my rope save the day!!!
By 7.15pm, all of us on our way home ... and I reached my home sweet home at 8.30pm.. feeling very tired

Weekend in the East culture

Friday evening was madness. I got a 9:30pm bus to catch at the Putra station, nearby the PWTC - heading East this week. My dad was kind enough to give me a ride to Putra station, it was 8:30pm when I left my house. The road was clear, and I thought I have plenty of time by the time I reach Putra station. "Hujan ditengahari" never underestimate KL roads. Im caught in a massive traffic jams near Dataran Merdeka (they closed the Dataran Merdeka road!) It was 9.10pm when I decided to walk to Masjid Jamek LRT Station instead off praying for the traffic to clear - which was truly IMPOSSIBLE! Paid my tickets, hop on the train and reach Putra station on time. I was the last passenger to go on board. For the first time in my life, I had a nausea - until the bus stopped just before Gua Musang.

6am Saturday morning, Im in Kota Bahru. Back to Ika's place and clean up ourselves before start my endless day touring Kota Bahru (picking up Watt and Dr.Muazz) and Pengkalan Kubor. Oh, I did stop by KBMall. Hehehehe...

We had our lunch at one of the famous tourist spot, Kota Bahru culture centre where we had our nasi ulam. The place was beautifully design. The food was, off course different from KL. Thank you Dr.Muazz for treating us lunch. Now, off to Pengkalan Kubor...
On our way to Pengkalan Kubor, we pass through some of the big Buddha statues by the road. Only one I manage to capture, I missed the others because Im too busy talking to Watt (while Ika busy talking with Dr.Muazz.. hehehe). Later we passed through a police roadblock and we finally reached Pengkalan Kubor - duty free area.
The weather was extremely hot (yeah, maybe I did exegerate a bit). With two mission in my head, Im off hunting. A few camping stuff and a t-shirt with a cool design. Sadly, I only completed one mission. There was not a single t-shirt that caught my attention. Looks like I have to order one from Tini, only she knows where she bought my "Zildjian" t-shirt. In one of those stalls, there is an oversized stuffed FROG. It is so big, XXXL. If I have one of those .. I'll be sure to cuddle it through the night.
Make ur choices right, and bargain all you can here in Pengkalan Kubor.
Time for some fresh air (it was kinda stuffy in Pengkalan Kubor). We stopped by Pantai Sri Tujoh, not far from Pengkalan Kubor. It was breezy, calm and beautiful. We walked along the beach with sand between our toes, and take a few nice beautiful pictures of us.
One of the all time agenda of the day... eat, eat, eat ... Its time for some good old satay ikan by the beach. RM1 for 10 stick! One thing that I did notice about this, is it sauce colour. Back then it was pinkish but now it is reddish... We are back home by 8pm. It was indeed a very tiring day. Washed myself and get ready to bed. The last thing that echo in my ears was Ika's voice talking to Dr.Muazz ... and Im in my own LAlalaLAND.

Beautiful Sunny Sunday Morning at 8am. Get ready to drive back to Kuala Lumpur. Thank GOD that Im not taking the bus home. Had our breakfast, check our list and the car one last time before heading back. Ika had her hands on the wheels at first. Stop by her grandmother's house on the way. We switched drivers just before reaching Gua Musang. It was one hella-funny story, not to mention here...
More stop... Gua Musang then Raub, visiting Ika's other grandmother - our last stop. From Raub, Ika take the turn to drive straight to KL. We enter Bentong highway heading Gombak. Massive traffic jam due to the highway upgrading. Once we reached Gombak, everything was fine when again stuck in MRR2 near Pandah Indah.

Reached home at 10pm ... and of all, I can only think of my bed and pillows. Fun, adventurous and tiring trip!!

Lepoh waterfall

Hop on Nissan Terrano and off we go to meet the other four at Pekan Batu 14. From Sri Kembangan, take a road to MRR2 and exit at the Taman Bunga Raya. Go all the way up on the 200M hill ( KL was covered with mist that morning ) and reached Pekan Batu 14 where most of us had nasi lemak for breakfast. 0930 hours we reached our destination ( as far as the our vehicle can go ). Check our daypack one last time, change into trekking shoes/sandal and of we go ... at least for the next two hours of walking. At first it was more to like breeze walking. Slowly the path becoming steep as we wade our way into the jungle.
After about an hour of walking, we take a short 5 minutes break. Light the cigar, quench our thirst and start walking again. At certain point, the route are a bit difficult due to the rain. Its sloppy, muddy and steep with very little help from mother nature herself, not forgetting those slippery wet stones by the river.
Alas, we arrived. Few campers had setup their camp at the camp site, most probably they were here a night before. Find a perfect spot to rest for awhile and mesmerized the beauty of mother nature. Take of my shoes, and there 'they' are, 3 of them ... those blood suckers, enjoying my sweet red blood. Luckily it doesnt hurt at all. Wan scared them of with his cigar and it bleed non-stop for about 10 minutes.
Dipped my foot into the icy-cold water. Yerp, it was very damn cold yet refreshing! Had a quick dip and its time for lunch. Plenty of food, nyummy nyummy!!! Here, you can actually slide down from the middle part of the waterfall. Just bare a few of but-hitting falls...
As time almost reached 1300 hours, we packed and head off back to the car. It is rainy season though, and if possible we dont want to be caught in the rain especially while going down the sloppy muddy steep. Last check point, where we washed and clean just before heading home.

Tired and sleepy ...."Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints."

Loooong holly-day

Long holiday. Deepavali & Eid Mubarak festives in October 2006. Take a break from the office for one long week.

We did the same old thing every Eid Mubarak. Went back to Gurun where all my close relatives gathered at our late grandfather's house ( nasi tomato & the pulut kuning was marvellous! ) , pay my respects to Mama and others, stopped by Alor Staq and Nami before went back to Penang.
Nami is somewhere near the Thailand border. It rains all the way from Gurun to Nami. Mist is everywhere, adding extra effect into the scenery.
The next day, is time to visits my relatives in Penang. Tiring trip but worth the time. As I was in Penang ( like twice a year I came home ), I took the liberty to drive around the island. So, from Bayan Lepas to Batu Feringgi ( most famous tourist spot with bazaar in the evening and the white sandy beaches )
Dipped my toes into the water, shoot some pictures around here ... and the old memories while I was a kid came to mind. Picnic with my dad, mom and big bro ( it was way before my little sister came into the picture )... building sand castle ... sweet old memories.
From Batu Feringgi, we take an old road to Balik Pulau ( where most of my relatives live ). Any takers to drift here?
Kampung Sungai Rusa, Balik Pulau. I was born here, in this old kampung house ( not ours eventually... ). Mak Long, Tok Long, Tok Ngah and Tok Ndak still lives here ...
Third Day ... at first I wanted to go to Bukit Bendera ( Bendera Hill ), ride into the old style locomotive up the hill, take some pictures. Had to cancelled it because of the super long que!!! On the way home, took the Macalister Road, stopped by my high school - St.George's Girls' School ... and went to eat nasi kandaq at Pertama, Georgetown.
Two important landmark in Penang ... Komtar ( goverment office building ) and Penang bridge. I lurve Penang!!!

chapter FOUR : the return

The next morning, I woke up at 9:30, knowing that Germany had won third place in Worldcup. Poor, poor Portugal. Breakfast downstairs and get ready to go sight-seeing again this time buckle up in John's car ( a fren of Joe back in MMU ). Again we visited Pasar Satok, looking for some kind of wierd looking ulam for Azmeer's mom. Its already almost 1 in the afternoon and people here are all getting ready to head home. Sunday is a lazy day for Kuching residents, that's what John told me. Then, we went around town. Visiting others building and monument. We passed thru the longest road name in Malaysia i guess -- Bulatan Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah bin Datuk Bandar Abang Haji Mohammad Kassim. That is 12 words in a name ( Bulatan is not a name ). Heheheh, these are the uniques thing in Sarawak. We visit the riverside from the other side of the city. A beuatiful pink sampan pass me by, how frequent can you see a pink sampan?
Later we head to an outskirt area from the city. Taman Sahabat somewhere in nowhere ( forgot the name ). Here, there's a Laksamana Cheng Ho bronze statue specially imported from China. Nice neighbourhood with man-made lake, a big bronze statue, dim sum restuarant by the lake, a big gate fully imported from China and 24-hour CCTV survelliance.
I check out half day late from the hotel. Our flight is at 7:45pm supposedly. By the time I reaced the hotel, it is already 5pm and I havent packed any of my things yet. I didnt follow the boys to Indian Street ( where you can get lotssa gambir Sarawak there .. hehehehehe ).
John was being kind enough offering us a ride to the Kuching International Airport (KIA). KIA look almost like a mini KLIA. See for yourself ( below pix )... Doesnt it look like KLIA?
So, as stated in my boarding pass we should be boarding at 7:15 pm, but the flight was delay to 8:30pm!!! Standard procuders for AirAsia, oftenly delayed!
8.30 and we are of heading back to KL. The weather is a bit rough, flying with boeing 737-300 I can feel the rough wind ( turbulence or something like that )... And we reached LCCT safely at 10:10pm .....
Kuching a nice place to visit, full with colours, culture and a very clean city. Hope that I could make it my annual visit, Rainforest Music Festival and Kuching.

chapter THREE : Rainforest Music Festival 2006

It was an ONE hour trip from Kuching city to Cultural Village. Paid RM60 for the entrance fee per day with K-9 dogs waiting furiously by his guardians. To be exact, the village was located beside Damai Beach, a walking distance from Holiday Inn Damai Beach Resorts ( the resorts was fully booked by the time I plan this trip! ). More souveniers here, and even Lim Kok Wing University was there. We entered almost all the traditional houses there. Below picture was taken in rumah panjang.
Due to this event, all other cultural shows was cancelled. Music workshop were held in the afternoon, and the concert starts at 7.30pm.
Dont be fooled with this sopan crowds. The stage was setup with a rainforest background, and a little help with lighting to create the mood. Open air, fresh fresh air ( before it was contiminated with liqour adour )
7.30pm sharp and the shows begin!! Start of slowly with local performance ( 10 minute ). Though they looked old but they bring out the groove!! I think those two instrument ( the guitar like shape ) had been modified and it is electronic. Cool!!!! and the crowd just getting warmed up!
Next, a very catchy tune played by Canadians band, accompanied by Kilema from Madagascar,a friend they met here. The violin guy ( sitting at the corner ) was very talented. His sings, plays violin and stomping his feet for beat at the same time! Even I cant do that. The crowd start dancing around to the tunes played by them.
Mongolian traditional instrument is one of the oldest in the world. They dance gracefully, like floating in the air, their music was unique with that unique guy ( the one in brown costume )added in the package. He sing with a Juon sounds, wierd eerie sound
Next, lets yodelling with these Austrians band. Good music, wierd instrument! yoOOoo~~dellinggg~~leeEEE~hoOOoooo~~!!!
Second best performers of the night! The bangra music. They play their tune while the crowd start jumping and swing to the tune!! Good performance and I just cant stop dancing all the way. A makcik standing in front of me cant make her waist stay still!
Latin, means SAMBA!!! The congo man was from Bahamas, and the other two Im not sure ... Samba samba samba and the crowds really goes wild!! Nothing like a gig in KL
The last band, yet the best performance of all. They are scottish, the guy in blue paint really reminds me of Braveheart movie! Mel Gibson as William Wallace. All about their music were superb, great!! Fusion music, new age or watsoever you call them. More interesting, these guys are wearing kilt ... hehehehe
Show ended at 12.15am ( extended, by crowd requests ). Escorted with 2 bodyguards, we took a shuttle back to the city. On the way back, all I can think was my plan for next year ... Plan to re-visit Culture Village for 3 night in a row!

13th - 15th JULY 2007 ... any takers????