Friday, August 31, 2007

The Hamster

Once a upon a time, there was one hamster running around at this really big forest. She ran and ran searching for nuts and berries. Does a hamster even eat nuts and berries, this hamster doesn't even know. Yet its stomach craved for one. She saw the squirrels munching them, ever so delicious.

"What are you searching for?" the squirrel asked the hamster. "Berries and nuts" the hamster told her. "Do hamster even eat them?" the squirrel asked again. "I might when I find one" the hamster then reply. Off again the hamster searching for nuts and berries. The squirrel look at her run, puzzled at such determination. "Crazy hamster." the squirrel thought.

The hamster looked and looked. She found none. Then she looked around, and found that she was lost. She sat down by the riverside, huffing and puffing. Her big bum just sank into the sand. "Now I'll not find those berries and nuts." the hamster thought, disappointed. She looked around, and realised that she had lost most of her friends. "Where are they?" she thought. "I thought we are going to find those nuts and berries together?" But she found none.

She sniffed her way back. Along the way, she looked for her friends... she tipped toe and called out to her friends. "Where are you guys?" she called out. But her voice were carried away by the wind. The tree asked her "Who are you searching for, little hamster?" "My friends" she told him. "Who are your friends?" he asked again. The hamster looked at the tree, and blinked, "I..I forgot." She sat down again, and began to cry.

Suddenly the squirrel came behind her and tapped on her shoulder. "Why are you crying hamster?" The hamster looked at her and said "I.. I'm looking for nuts and berries, but I lost my friends along the way. Now I can't find any berries or nuts.. and I forgot who my friends are." She bawled. Tears falling onto her face. The trees looked at her, the flowers looked at her, the squirrel looked at her. The squirrel then smiled and ran off.

The hamster cry even the more when she saw the squirrel ran off. "Where are you off to?" she called out. "Wait there, hamster." the squirrel said. The hamster sat again, sobbing quietly. "I'm sorry Mr. Tree for disturbing you." "It's alright. It is just too bad that I don't have any nuts or berries on my branches for you to pluck from." the tree said. "It's all right. Thank you." she politely said.

'Plop' 'plop' 'Plop' 'Ploploploploploplop' Hundreds of berries and nuts tumbling down on top of the hamster. "What??!" When she came up out of the mountain of berries and nuts, she saw the squirrel smiling broadly down at her. "You remind me of the stash of berries and nuts around this side of the forest. So I ran and took some for you. Come, try some of these." The squirrel offer the hamster. The hamster took one and sniffed... weird. She opened her mouth and took a bite.

Acid from her stomach came rushing into her throat. "Bleech! Yuck!" The hamster spitted out the berry. The squirrel looked at her and laughed, causing herself to tumble from the pile of nuts and berries. "You are funny. You wanna be my friend?" the squirrel asked. The hamster smiled and nod. Still laughing, the squirrel took her hand and said "Come, let's look for your friends together." The hamster is glad. She found an unexpected friend.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Ending the 24 hours of nite-time

I doubt that Day will come in blogging in here in anytime soon, I dont even think she checks this from time to time... probably only when there's comments and it prompts her mail box.

As for Inbetween, she has only blogged this every once on 20 April 2005. Not many know of her contribution post, I suppose


No, we are not arguing, I'm still sitting a stone throw away from Day here at work and have teh tarik sessions with Inbetween.

Just that... I dont think they are blogging anytime soon, or maybe would not continue to blog here as the last time Day blogged was back in October last year. You can call it a phase in life, something like that.

It feels funny blogging when there is no day and nite in a day, there is only nite. Imagine having 24 hours of nightime since October 2006. Haha. And so... I've decided to stop blogging here. I'm not sure if I would write somemore, I might... just not here. I might start another blog, but maybe just not yet. See how it goes... but of course, I'll still read :P

And so... thank you very much for reading the craps that I've been writing :)

Side note: Jellio', thank you for introducing me to the world of blogging.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

What has happen to our world?

Went to watch Harry Potter with a friend yesterday evening. As he could not secure tickets online, I went over to KLCC to get it on Friday evening as I decided to leave office on time. (Read: Friend said it not right to say leave office earlier as we always leave office after office hour or on time :P)

Anyway, as I was queuing up, I took out The Sun newspaper from my bag and read as the queue was rather long. As I read and move along the line. I notice there is this boy, max age 10 inching nearer and trying to stand in front of me. Of course, he is only a little boy, I could be nice and let it be but maybe I'm mean. I gave him an evil stare. He knows I was aware he was trying to cut the queue and stood back behind me. As we approached the turning of the line, he moved up and stood next to me and it appeared like I was the line trying to cut the queue. I put down my newspaper and look at him again. I'm sorry that I don't look friendly but then again, I couldn't help thinking, "He is only so young, what is happening to the world that such a young kid learn to cut queue and doing it in such a way that is so subtle." Sigh.

As he notice I was not going to let him cut the queue, he inched back to the line. As we came to another turning point, he stood there and shouted for someone in a language that I dont understand. I continued back to my newspaper reading. After a few minutes when I looked up, the boy somehow has in the position of a few people in front of me. Despite I do not approved of him cutting the line, I did not say anything. Then I saw him at another turning point, I was still behind, I saw him using the same tactic - subtly standing beside the person in line and move along, went in the line a couple of people in front.

At the time, he was in one line ahead of me. He looked up and I found myself giving him another disapproving stare. I maintained my stare at him (ok.. I know I'm evil) and he looked away after a short while.

What has happen to the world? Is there something wrong with our education that a young boy knowingly aware that he is in the wrong but he did it anyway with full caution? Are we teaching the children the wrong things?

Side note: Wrote this on Sunday evening but something wrong with PC and i cant get online. Sigh.

Disappearance

End of last month, my uni senior had a bad accident and got admitted. The chronology of event was a little vague. It was said that he left home for a presentation in KL but he was found on the North South highway, on the way back to KL from Seremban. In fact, he was found after his girlfriend lodged a missing person report as he did not return home after the said presentation.

In one of the episode in Grey's Anatomy Season 3, the story centered on a ferryboat accident. One of the scenes - Dr Addison asked, "If I went missing, would anyone notice?"

That made me think... despite I'm staying with 2 housemates, but as we are not very close (um.. me bad, I'm the antisocial housemate), anyway I don't think they would know if I'm not home. Or even if they notice I'm not home for a couple of days, they would not know if I'm away cos I went for a holidays or I just simply went missing.

Say, if I unfortunately passed away in my room. Would they probably just grumbled saying that I'm this lazy girl who forgot to throw the rubbish? Grin. It sound possible. Oh well... if I went missing on a weekend, all that could happen. Of course, if I do not turn up for 3 days to work, I'm sure my boss would look up for me, before she goes for any disciplinary measure :P

Well, at least it is comforting that if something happen to me on a weekday, there are people who would notice eh.

If you went missing, if you disappeared, would anybody notice?
If I went missing, if I disappeared, over the weekend, would anyone notice?

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Transformers - have you watch it?

Ok... THIS is a cool movie. I would vote it as movie of the year... grin.. subject to what I have watched. And yes, it is very good. Please go watch it if you haven't. Don't say I didn't warn you oh...

Haha... yes, go watch Transformers. It's worth every cent you spent on the ticket. I managed to catch it on a Wednesday, yesterday to be exact, so we only paid RM 7 for it. My friend even commented that she felt we underpaid for the movie and already making plans to watch it again... on cinema!

So what if you said you've never watch Transformers when you are a kid? Or that it is no longer shown over the TV when you are born? Who says you need to watch the cartoon to be eligible to catch the movie? Grin... enough said... just go watch it before it is no longer on air :P

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Beard Papa

I first heard of Beard Papa's cream puff from here. A.Z Haida describes it as "contain no preservatives and made with good quality ingredients. It’s crunchy on the outside, ice cold in the inside, and nothing beats the fresh whipped custard cream taste." However I have not get around to taste it... despite walking past it every other time. Beats me, to think that I read the blog in January last year, and its now July 2007.

Anyway, I decided to give it a try last Sunday, after gym... umm.. it probably has killed all my effort in gym earlier... but nevertheless... I bought it...

It is packed to me in this paper bag cos I bought 3 (pardon for the crumpled paper bag, its a miracle the cream puffs survived after a few knocks when we went grocery shopping in Carrefour)
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Each cream puff is separately by another "envelope" for easy eating
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This is how it look like... it doesnt look very pretty hor but it is good. The cream is not too sweet, just nice :)
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And I decided to take another picture after I've taken a bite :P
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It cost RM 3.30 for 1 if I'm not mistaken, and RM 9.30 for 3, something like that. Can be found in Mid Valley, the lower ground where there are loads of restaurants.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Know your ABC

ABC could be the 1st 3 English alphabet, it could be Airway, Breathing & Circulation to check when you perform CPR, it could be your favourite food - Ais Batu Campur or it could also be some young, dashing American Born Chinese.
... and now, it's a tag..

Oh well, I got tagged by Calv and I told him if he completed the one I tagged him... I'll do this... so here it is... (despite I secretly think he *ahem* purposely *ahem* do it the way that he doesnt need to link people up)

Ok, here goes...

A is for age:
Age next birthday would be 28 (I know... talked to my mom again a few hours ago, and she still nags me about getting a bf & get married = =")

B is for beer of choice:
I dont like beer... makes me go toilet ever so often, not to mention the anti-histamin

C is for career:
Do I have a career? Or it is a job? *ponder*

D is for your dog’s name:
My dog disallow me to disclose his name :P

E is for essential item you use everyday:
I thought essential item are things that you need to use everyday... but reading Calv's answer.. umm... it is not is it? So... what is it yah?

F is for favorite song (one only) at the moment:
咸鱼 by 五月天 (Mayday) - a Taiwanese Band. Good lyrics.

G is for favorite games:
Shrug... havent been playing for a while... I wonder why

H is for hometown:
Alor Star... in Kedah.. (oh well.. just in case it's too small to be noticed)

I is for instruments you play:
Piano, Organ, Trumpet, Saxophone, Horn, Trombone, Clarinet, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums and the list goes on and on and on.... None of all that, unfortunately for me...

J is for favorite juice:
Hmm... watermelon? Orange? Carrot? I don't know... don't have I suppose

K is for kids:
One boy & one girl, ideally twins - so no need to go through it another time (actually, I've never actually thought about it)

L is for last hug:
Yesterday. Colleague's last day at work.

M is for malls:
Midvalley for gym, Sg Wang for dinner before Japanese class.

N is for name of your love:
Please refer to "A" above. TQ

O is for overnight hospital stays:
Not applicable.

P is for phobias:
Roaches! <-- I echo this

Q is for quote:
"Life is like topography, Hobbes. There are summits of happiness and success... flat stretches of boring routine. And valleys of frustration and failure" Quoted from Calvin, The Indispensable Calvin & Hobbes is one of my favourite quotes.

R is for your race:
Chinese

S is for status:
S is for single :P

T is for things you like:
Travel, anime, sleeping, manga, doing nothing... ... ...

U is for underwear:
Yes... I wear them

V is for vegetable you love:
Broccoli and some other vege, I'm vegetable illiterate

W is for worst habit:
Sloth

X is for x-rays you’ve had:
CXR

Y is for yummy food you know how to make:
Potato salad, recipe courtesy of my boss

Z is for zodiac sign:
Capricorn

Now you've learnt my ABC, I want to learn yours too... ;P And so, I shall tag:-
Kimmie (grin.. haha)

Thursday, June 21, 2007

What blog(s) do you read?

Grin.. Kimmie actually disable any form of highlighting the words to copy from her blog... and I have to do this tag by typing each and every question out :P
For the rules, please read from here


Ei, friend... need to test my typing skill meh? :P

1. Who's blog is a must read everyday?
hahaha... kimmie just likes to whine. Formerly known as kimmie's life. Grin... this dear, dear friend blogs everyday... and I'll dread the day when she cannot access to the internet & post daily.

2. Who's blog is always informative?
I'll go for these travel blogs

3. Who's blog is always funny?
Crap Some More. Short, sweet & funny :P

4. Who's blog dishes out advice/sayings/advice that you actually listen to?
Not exactly who's... it depends on where I want to go... :P
This "collection" of blogs ... (sorry eh.. i know it's the same as no. 2 but... its informative but I do follow the advice & take note of it)

5. Who's blog would you highly recommend to others?
Waiterrant - collective of small stories and also where I learned of the blog waiterrant from, Work In Progress blog which is also a good blog where I stumbled on a few years ago.

6. What was the funniest blog entry you read recently?
I_hate_life: take 5 - Wu Zun. I was with the writer at the scene... and found that the specific post is sarcastic funny.

7. What blog entry actually makes you think recently?
Kenny Sia - same post that makes Kimmie had a thought about it.

8. Which online shopping blog that you actually frequent?
Vanity Vault by April. Umm..its funny in the way that its actually a blog that sells accessories like earrings, necklaces and I hardly wear them and I dont even have ear holes to support those earrings... but I like to see the accessories that she designed :)

9. Who are you going to tag?
Super chu chai - I am curious what blogs he read... the old-wise-one :P (and at the same time... grin.. make him blog somemore *whistling innocently*
Calv - cos he seem to find it "amusing" that I blog surf, so I'm also curious who's blog does he read ... and apparently he stressed wor (nothing to blog is it? :P)

10. Who tagged you?
Kimmie lor.. haha

Monday, June 11, 2007

Conversation with my mother

Called up my mother to confirm if she wants to pay a visit to my dad in Nirvana, after all Father's Day is coming up. And... an innocent question leads me to these... ever so frequent nowadays. In fact, I think in all my phone calls to my mom, she would find openings to query on it. After mom confirmed that no going to visit dad, I told her I'll pay a visit to Genting Highlands and Kuching sometime soon....


Me: Me going in Genting the week after next and Kuching in August.

Mom: Go with whom (mom's standard question)

Me: Bay bee dino, little P they all lor (mom knows bay bee dino cos I went to Sabah & HK with her... and Little P cos she brings me out to mum mum)

Mom: Ok, how many people going

Me: 4

Mom: Ok.. then the Kuching one leh?

Me: That one in August, I follow bay bee dino back

Mom: Only 2 person ar?

Me: Got another friend (Ok... umm.. I just dont have to thing to lie lar yah, besides what is there to lie about ... till... haih)

Mom: Guy or gal?

Me: Guy

Mom: R*** ar?

Me: No lar, friend from office

Mom: Not R*** ar?

Me: No, its C*****

Mom: Your boyfriend ar?

Me: = ="" No.. not my boyfriend (IM Calv and tell him... *me striked by lightning*)

Mom: Why you dont want to tell me? Be good, like your sister, got boyfriend will tell me, broke up already will also tell me. Why you want to keep secret for?

Me: = =""""""" There is no secret lar, I really dont have boyfriend one. (Calv laughing over the IM... grrrr)

Mom: Aiyo, going to be 30 years old already lar, when are you getting married? If all of you all married already, then I wont be worry anymore.

Me: Aunty, why I tell you but you dont believe, want to believe those aunties that I have never seen for ages? (I call my mother aunty when I try to be sarcastic :P)

Mom: Ya mah, so tell lar, that C***** your boyfriend ar?

Me: I dont have one lar. See cousin also no girlfriend yet

Mom: You want to follow your cousin ar? He 30+++ already still not married yet lar. He picky.

Me: = =""""" I want to go already, got class. (Saved by Japanese class, PHEW)


Side note: Conversation with mom is in Mandarin... and I noted Calv found it amusing everytime I talk to my mother = ="

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Why donate blood?


Picture pilfered from the National Blood Bank website


This is one of my favourite place in KL. Or maybe I should say, one of my comfort haven... the National Blood Bank. I found out about this place when I was studying in uni then as our hostel are located in Titiwangsa.

Anyway, why it is one of my favourite place? Well, people usually see it the side where being a blood donor helps people in need, provide supply to the blood banks... but to me, there is another side to it. Somehow, donating it gives comfort, sort of like giving is loving. It gives this contented feeling, and as you sit down there, with your hand pumping to let the blood flow, it soothe troubled soul.

Maybe, maybe I dont describe it well enough. But each time I visited this place, it magically calms my rough thoughts, my anger, my uneasiness. And despite it leaves this needle prick mark and once a while a patch of blue black, it is a very worthwhile cause.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Little P's birthday dinner at Izzi

Went out to celebrate Little P's birthday yesterday, from 1 pm till 1 am at night. Grin. Although her birthday is not yesterday, but tomorrow, well we thought its a weekend, what the heck. First, we went to Greenbox Karaoke in Sg Wang, I only took a few pictures as my camera battery is low, I cant afford to use the flash. But i suppose Pig Angel will blog it up (Read: If she doesnt, go bug her :P)

Anyway, thereafter we went to have dinner at Izzi, followed by supper at Subang, courtesy of Calv fetching us there. I think so it's in Subang, oh well... actually I dont really know where I am :P


Here's some pictures of ... the place and food...

~ how Izzi looks like, inside






Appetizers: Fried chicken wings, calamari and cheese dough








~ main course: salad, breast meat with fettucini, cabonara and pizza (erm... its rather obvious that I'm not the one ordering the food as I cant remember the exact name :P)




~ dessert: there were 2 types but I didnt take the other one... it was placed a little far from me... and I erm, sort of decided not to budge from my seat ... anyway, these little things are very sweet.. and somehow the appearance reminds me of dorayaki. :P


One of my colleague cuts it into equal small pieces...

Side note: I notice Little P went out to celebrate her birthday with people who dont eat lunch. Ended up... only Little P & I ate lunch = ="

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Toenail

I took this picture awhile ago. Told my friend that I was going to blog it up, to let people know how he is doing :P

I suppose I'm a bit crazy cos I totally forgot taking picture of my friend, instead only take a shot of his feet, specifically his toe :P

Take a guess ... you might know who he is ..hehe


Monday, April 23, 2007

Good things come to those who wait... sometimes

I'm not THAT optimistic, hence must add the word "sometimes" to the title. Anyway, there is this book - For One More Day by Mitch Albom that I had been eyeing since the 1st time I saw in bookstore. However, the only available version was the hardcover ones, hence translated to rather pricey for the book. Despite wanted to buy the book yet I'm not all that into paying so much simply because of the hard cover. So... I left it there, in the bookstore.

Sometimes... I guess good things come to those who wait. Yesterday, over The Star newspaper under the Reading section, there was a coupon giving 50% discount to purchase certain titles in Kinokuniya (only valid yesterday & today). Grin. I hardly buy newspaper these days as I dont really fancy keeping stacks and stacks of old newspaper especially when everytime I bring it down, the van which collects old newspaper would have been far far away. So I resolve to reading newspaper online. Anyway, I was to wait for the bus to come at 12.30 pm to travel back to KL from Penang, so I bought a copy of Sunday Star.

Happily, I went to grab a copy of "For One More Day" this afternoon and surprise, surprise... the paperback version is also out (it may have been out for quite sometime but I have not been to bookstore for awhile). Hence with the 50% on the paperback version, it is very much affordable :)

Well... I guess, good things come to those who wait... sometimes :)

Saturday, April 14, 2007

How Rare Is Your Personality?

I didnt really have the intention to put this up. In fact, I was just clicking around and casually answering the questions for this blogthing. Anyway... noted it matched perfectly with the earlier "test" I took in one of the soft skill training provided by company. The other "test" that I took actually required me to answer like about a hundred question as opposed to this one.

Your Personality is Very Rare (INTP)

Your personality type is goofy, imaginative, relaxed, and brilliant.

Only about 4% of all people have your personality, including 2% of all women and 6% of all men
You are Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Perceiving.

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Leaving HK

Hehe... ok I'm done blogging for the day. Took the 2.15 pm flight back to M'sia. However lucky my Octopus Card still have sufficient fund for me to travel to Causeway Bay to grab some Lo Po Peng for my colleagues. Forgot to take picture of that anyway but instead took a few of HK Internation Airport.


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Clockwise from top left: Spots of clouds taken from the airplane, HKIA, see those snow flakes on the plane window? (friend said she thought the window cracked = ="), another one on HKIA

Side note: It's time I get another SD card. Had to delete a few pictures just to take pictures of HKIA

Last full day in HK

I went to Stanley again, hence left Sheung Wan in the morning by tram to Central. Took bus no 6 from the Exchange Square, it cost me HKD 7.90. From one of the magazines that I read in HK, it is said that bus no 6 to Stanley, if you sit at the 1st row of the upper deck of the bus, you will see one of the most superb view. It was also said that if you couldnt secure that seat, then the trip might be considered wasted. Oh well.. hehe.. me being a bit kiasu very happy that I got that seat. The other side of the 1st row seat was taken by this 2 New Zealanders who were on a transit waiting for a plane to London. Also to note that bus no 6 is the cheapest among the buses from Central to Stanley (but I dont know about the minibus fare though)

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~ Stanley, during daytime

I also took bus no 6 back to Central, loitered a while in Central before I walk to the Peak Tram station for a ride up to The Peak.

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~ Duddell Street Gas Lamps

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~ The famous Central-Mid Levels Escalator

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~ Lan Kwai Fong, on a weekday, during daytime


And.. up to The Peak, I visited Madame Tussade's Wax Museum. Ah.. the last time it was under renovation :P I cant miss it another time rite?

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Side note: As I strolled along Lan Kwai Fong, just couldnt help thinking that it would be nice if Calv is around :P (oh well.. if u know him, you will know what I mean)

After the "Religious Trail"...

Covered the "religious trail" by around 4 pm. Colleague called to meet up for dinner at 7.00 pm in Causeway Bay. I figured as there was still time, I decided to grab another chance to see if I could secure a nice picture of the Central view. From Wong Tai Sin, I took the MTR to Prince Edward and dropped by the Flower Market and Yuen Po Street Bird Garden as I missed both during my 1st trip and the other day.

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~ Flower Market

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~ Yuen Po Street Bird Garden


From there, I walked to Fa Yuen street... and in the short pass-through the street, I got myself a shawl :P and took the pediastrian bridge to the Mongkok MTR station. Got down at TST station & walked to the Star Ferry Pier (again!) I know, I know... I'm rather crazy in that sense

Took the ferry to Central but sigh... its even more misty than ever. Have to try right...
From pier, I walked cut-cross IFC and over to Prince Building to get a tram to Causeway Bay. All in all, it took me about 2 hours... of course with all the loitering :P

For dinner its usual affair of noodles... but after that, my colleague brought us (Day and me) to eat this boiled egg and milk (but got people call it stewed milk and stewed egg...shrug) at Yee Shun Milk Company. There were 3 of us and there is this note at the bottom of the menu saying that number of order must be at least 1 per head (e.g. there was 3 of us, so we should order 3 items) otherwise, we would have to pay HKD 10 for hogging the seat. (of course they dont use the word hogging)

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~ boiled milk and boiled egg from Yee Shun Milk Company

side note: its really not bad u know.. the boiled milk & egg :P

Religious Trail :P

Ok.. it just so happen that the routes to those temples are near each other.. mmm.. or was it planned that way? Anyway, I wanted to go to the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery as I missed it the last time as we spent too long in the HK Heritage Museum. However it was rather far in Shatin, and when I went google around, noted that there are another 2 places nearby worth a stop - Chi Lin Nunnery and Wong Tai Sin Temple. There you have the "religious trail" :P

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~ 10,000 Buddhas Monastery, in Shatin


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~ Chi Lin Nunnery, Diamond Hill


The present-day buildings have been rebuilt and their style is of
Tang architecture. The beautiful garden in front of the nunnery is open to the
public free of charge.

Its buildings are the only ones to be built with
wooden rooftops in modern Hong Kong, without the use of a single nail in its
construction. This is based on a unique architectural style from the Tang
Dynasty which uses special interlocking systems cut into the wood for
construction.

Covering a space of 30,000 square meters, Chi Lin Nunnery
has strikingly beautiful statues of the Sakyamuni Buddha, the goddess of mercy
Guanyin and other bodhisattvas. These statues are made from gold, clay, wood and
stone

Source: Wikipedia

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~ Wong Tai Sin

I went on a Sunday and it was fully packed - young, old, male, females. Everybody seems to have prepared to pray. I've even seen people fished out lighter from their own pocket to light the joss sticks.

Side note: I had muscle ache the next day from climbing the staircase to 10,000 Buddhas Monastery

The so-called "rural trail"

Well.. it was so-name by one of my colleague when she noted that I was going to Sham Shui Po and Cheung Chau. Oh well...not that its really rural rural but comparatively to the HK island, Kowloon ... it might be.

After checking out of the hotel in Sheung Wan, I took the MTR to TST and checked in to a budget hostel in Mirador Mansion. Despite the very notable size of the room but it is a very, very convenient place - with Star Ferry Pier within a short walking distance, MTR station almost next to it and KCR station down the road.

Sigh... sad to say that I miscalculate on the time, not expecting that it would be really dark by 7 pm. By the time I left the budget hostel it was already about 1 pm, also I had to change more $$ as initially wanted to pay for the room via credit card but somehow it cant went through and I paid with cash. Anyway as I wanted to spend more time in Cheung Chau, I decided to go to Sham Shui Po first.



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~ Stalls selling electrical stuff in Apliu Street


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~ Jockey Club on a racing day

By the time I left Sham Shui Po, it was about 3 pm. Took the MTR back to TST and walked to the Star Ferry Pier. Took the Star Ferry crossed over to Central and walked to Pier no 5 which would take me to Cheung Chau. The journey is about 40 mins to an hour. So by the time I reached Cheung Chau its about 4++... sigh...

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Top row (L-R): Overlooking from Cheung Chau are ferrys and boats, taken from the ferry itself, bicycles and bicycles parking at the side of the road

2nd row (L-R): Main street in Cheung Chau (Praya Street), hehe.. another on the boats, Pak Tai Temple

3rd row (L-R): Wind surfing centre, Hometown Teahouse run by a lovely Japanese lady - sushi, tea and red bean cake is served during teatime for HKD 20, night view of Cheung Chau from the ferry

By the time I finished walking around Cheung Chau town, it was rather dark though only at 7 ++ pm. Wanted to venture off further, however as it was rather dark with limited street lights, I dare not go off from the town area. :(

Side note: I miss the red bean cake by Hometown Teahouse in Cheung Chau :

Last day of training

Day 5 of training. As Friday was the last day of training, it was scheduled to end at 3 pm after another lunch :) We had our last lunch together at a hotel in Cyberport before went back to hotel to put down that big file.

As friend wanted to go meet up with his wife & mother-in-law and I wanted to continue my unfruitful hunt of anime figurines at Mongkok. So I left hotel alone, taking the tramway to Central before changed to MTR and got off from Mongkok.
(If you ever realise, I have never board a minibus. Reason is very simple, I never know where to shout for, "please stop, need to get down")

I round and round Mongkok and found those really, really, really nice figurines but it was too expensive. Sigh... oh well.. you got it right, I didnt buy any. Thereafter, I walked to Fa Yuen street, Goldfish Market, Ladies Market and Temple Street. It was rather late and I missed the opening time of Jade Market, Flower Market and Bird Street. (The Flower Market and Bird Street, I went another day but didnt get around to peek at the Jade Market. Not that I want to buy anything from the Jade Market anyway :P)


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~ Fruit stall in Fa Yuen street

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~ Packets of fishes in Goldfish Market (it is parelel to Fa Yuen Street)

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~ Stalls after stalls in Ladies Market

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~ Rows and rows of fortune teller in Temple Street

Side note: Fa Yuen street is a morning market, hence it closes early about 9 pm. It has a very wide range of things selling including nice clothes, knick knacks, toys... very nice place :P

Walking alone in Sheung Wan

Day 4 of training. Friend's wife and mother-in-law came from Malaysia to join him. I'm being nice and stay away from being a light bulb, decided to roam by myself. As the previous nights we reached hotel rather late and I noticed I was drinking more coffee than usual, I decided to retire to bed earlier. Hence only roam at Sheung Wan.

Taking the bus together with friend, he getting off at Central and me got down at Western Market. From there, I just walked all the way back to hotel. Its really not far... but took me awhile as I went in all the convenience shops along the way :P


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~ Western Market at night... taking from an overhead bridge

Had a quiet night where I had a wantan mee for dinner opposite the hotel I stayed, and redeemed the welcoming drink while reading Lonely Planet ;)

Side note: Sheung Wan is really quiet at night where shops closed really early.

Another short stop in Central... and Mongkok

Before went to HK, Bay Bee Dino requested me to bring something for her brother. The days prior I had no plan to go to Central but somehow ended up there. I didnt bring along the thing that wanted to bring for her brother, so had to go to Central again (not that I lament about it anyway)

As the appointment with Bay Bee Dino's brother was at 7 pm, and we had more time to spare (colleague went together with me), we decided to grab an egg tart or 2 before dinner.


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~ This is where the famous shop for egg tart in HK - Tai Cheong Bakery, located at Lyndhurst Terrace in Central. Friend bought 2 egg tarts, and I got myself an egg tart and a "sa yong" something like doughnut. The egg tart costs HKD 3.50 one, so does the "sa yong"

After passed thing to Bay Bee Dino's brother, we took the MTR crossed to Mongkok. Despite down an egg tart right in front of the shop, we were pretty hungry by then. So dropped in at the 1st shop, KFC... haha..


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KFC in HK comes with a spaghetti, soup, salad and of course chicken (with ham on top) - at least the one I had had that.

After had dinner, we just walked around with friend keeping me company, cos I was hunting for figurines which unfortunately was unfruitful.


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~ Mongkok street at night

Then we saw this Hui Lau Shan dessert shop (in fact its all over HK). We cant resist it despite its cold and we are not really hungry anyway.


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~ Mango puddings. The one on the left is mango with pamelo


Side note: I noticed egg tarts in HK are those really yummy ones that "crushed" when u bite as compared to the ones in M'sia

Evening activities at Repulse Bay and Stanley

The organisers of the training are really a bunch of understanding people. Understood that we would love to go walkabout after training. So on day 2 of training, there was this evening activitiy scheduled for us.

The initial plan was to bring us up to The Peak and enjoy the breathtaking nice view. However, the sky has not been very kind with mist covering single building/view. Hence changed of plans to a short trip to Repulse Bay and Stanley. In a way, it was lucky for me as I did plan to go to Repulse Bay and Stanley on one of the days. Oh well.. in the end, I did return again to Stanley as we only dropped by for a very short 15 minutes and even the Stanley Market already closed for the day. As for Repulse Bay, I make do with the short stop.

We travelled from Cyberport on a chartered bus to Repulse Bay.

Repulse Bay (淺水灣, lit. Shallow Water Bay) is an area in the southern part of Hong Kong Island, located in the Southern District, Hong Kong.

The well-known Repulse Bay Beach is located on a beautiful bay with a long line of coast and smooth sand. It is a Grade 1 beach for its good water quality. In addition, large waves rarely hit the beach, making it an ideal place for swimming.

If to reach by public transport, there are buses via Central to Stanley such as 6, 6A, 6X, 260.

~ Info from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repulse_Bay


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~ the famous bridge at Repulse Bay.

Pilfered this picture from Wikipedia

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketOne of the organiser told me that if I am to take a bus to Repulse Bay, need to get down from the bus when I see this building. As for the hole, it is said for feng shui. Something like dragon looking at the mountain behind through the hole and good feng shui.
After a short while of walking around, we left in the same chartered bus to Stanley before proceed to have dinner in Causeway Bay. No shopping, just loitering around in the cold wind... its nice :P


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~ The Murray Building, at night.
Murray Building was once a government building in Central, it was dismantled in 1982 to make way for new buildings. The facade was stored in a warehouse after the building was dismantled, and the facade was rebuilt in Stanley in 1998. It was open to the public in 1999. It houses several restaurants and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum (see below). When it was rebuilt, the ink used to label the pieces had washed off, and when they had finished constructing the building, they had six columns left over. These columns now stand outside the building.
Info from: Wikipedia

After 15 minutes in Stanley, we had a very full dinner in Causeway Bay

Side note: I think I need another battery for my camera...

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Night at Central @ 050307

Training ended at about 5 pm daily. After 5 pm, we would loiter somewhere instead of head back straight to hotel. Grin. Understandable right?

2nd day in HK, we headed to Central. Hopping on the same bus (M49 or M49P) with the same fare of HKD 10 would bring us passed Sheung Wan straight to Central. Actually I didnt really know where to get down from the bus, but then Central should be obvious.. no?

Haha.. anyway, I found out that it is not hard to recognize. See the ferry pier, opposite it is the huge IFC, you know you have reached Central. 2nd day there was indeed cooler than day 1 where we were happily strolling and had the thought of "shouldn't have bring the jacket along".

Walking towards IFC from the Central pier, crossing this bridge...

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Anyway, we met up with a senior in uni who is doing his PHd in HK Uni (smart eh). My senior and my colleague's coursemate. Anyway, while waiting for him, we just loiter around Central. By the way... it was raining.


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We were in one of the buildings in Central. In the maze of the buildings, they are actually linking to each other. One can walk between buildings and not get wet :P

Side note: I like Central. If you want food, there is good food. If you expensive stuff, there's rows and rows of branded stuff. If you want buildings, the buildings are great ;)

Monday, March 26, 2007

Training at Cyberport

The main reason I was at HK was this training. This 5 days training was held in Cyberport. As the name suggested, sort of like IT hub. Likewise our Cyberjaya, the company which trained us had their IT stationed there, as well as their training academy.

I have not been to Cyberjaya but was told, ahem... Cyberport more advanced than Cyberjaya lor.

This is the outside of the building where we had our training. It is basically a mall but attaching to it, a IT hub/business centre.

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Going in, would passed through a passage looking out to scenaries of Cyberport, overlooking Lamma Island (I was told, but getting there would need to take ferry from Central, unless of course, you chartered your own ferry/ship)

Anyway, to reach to the lifts, one would passed by teleconferencing rooms, flat screen TVs...

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Looking out from the glass panels, one would notice of high rise building, trees...


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Side note: *phew* Exams finished. Had a fulfilling dinner at Dontaku :P
 
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