The Yat (One) And Only Journey…

Malacca Day Trip With Family - Jonker Walk6

Well it was about 4 weeks ago where my dad had an impromptu plan to visit the historical state of Malacca on a 1-day trip..

It was our first family outstation trip after my mom had passed away in 2006 and not like we traveled a lot when my mom was still around back then..It’s like a first-timer thingy..

So off we went off early in the morning for some breakfast before the 1-hour plus 2-hours trip..

A big mistake was we took the LEKAS highway via Kajang route, where we thought passing by Seremban would be faster as Cheras is nearer to LEKAS (Lebuhraya Kajang-Seremban)..

Once we reached Seremban we had to take a detour and exit to PLUS highway to follow Johor Baru, which is the very same highway if we were to follow KL-Seremban highway..

So a reminder to first-timer to Malacca, unless you are staying in Kajang-bound area, keep off LEKAS highway to go to Malacca..Always take KL-Seremban highway..

So on the highway it’s all the way follow road sign on the highway and we exited at Alor Gajah if not mistaken..By the way, my family is not a keen user of GPS-device, though we did try it on my phone for that trip..

Once you’ve passed the toll plaza, follow Pusat Bandaraya Melaka or something like that..

Straight away we headed to Jonker Walk (or some say Jonker Street) as most people know there’s nothing much to do in Malacca other than going to Jonker Walk..

*Kedai Kopi Chung Wah - Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball*

Our first stop in Jonker Walk, to find Kedai Kopi Chung Wah, the Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball shop..

It’s located at the end of Jonker Walk connecting to the famous red colored Christ Church Malacca..

There were a few chicken rice ball shops but I’ve heard of good reviews on Chung Wah so we decided to queue up despite the long queue under the hot sun..

The queue was not like freaking long but I guessed we’ve waited at least 30-40 minutes, standing under the hot-burning sun..

Coincidentally, while we were queuing, I bumped onto Akira “Jian” ceo, Jacquelyn, and Alex..

*The chicken rice balls*

*Steamed chicken*

I would say it’s not like superbly delicious but it’s way better than a lot of chicken rice..The rice balls are to die for..

It’s difficult to find any chicken rice that you can eat just the rice without putting any sauce or gravy on it..In Chung Wah you can..

The steamed chicken is quite tender and not too salty, which is just right and just dip into the chili for better taste..

*Both my sisters Min, Eshan and my dad*

Once again I wouldn’t it’s especially great that you have to travel so far just for it but if you are already there, why not?

*Walking distance*

In Malacca town, where Jonker Walk, Christ Church, and few other places are all just walking distance..

*Trishaw rental rate*

Other than walking around you can also rent a trishaw which is equipped with sub-woofer audio system blasting on Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” and Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life”..

*Walk walk*

We opted to walk around instead of taking the trishaw..

Reminder, do apply sunblock lotion and take necessary pre-cautions to deal with the heat in Malacca..

*Ice kacang*

After the long-haul under the hot sun, it’s best to sit down and have a bowl of ABC a.k.a ice/ais kacang before you leave..

We didn’t stay for the night nor stayed for satay celup dinner due to fatigue and the heat is hitting us..

So off we went back to KL at about 5pm..

It’s a good journey and definitely will be there again..

Posted: Eats, Travel & Places

Larut Hill 4×4 Challenge 2009 - SS12

Larut Hill 4×4 Challenge is a 2-days event where the first day is somewhat a qualifying day..

By getting through all six SS (so-called circuit) without getting disqualified, participating team would get to take on the real challenge, going up Larut Hill..

There were about 22 teams or so participated in 2009..

*Oris Ladies Team*

So the starting point was at Taiping Lake Gardens where the participating teams got to exhibit their cars to the public..

Well I kid you not, there were lots of people there early in the morning especially families..

*A classic MG TD2000 car*

This classic MG TD2000 car is owned by one of the organizers..It’s quite an eye-catching car especially when it’s in red color..

I have no worries looking at this car being driven around in Taiping but absolutely no in KL..I don’t think it’s a good idea for driving a convertible car in crime-prone KL..

*Mitsubishi Storm*

One of the Mitsubishi Storms in this challenge..Some cars looked so nice just like a new car where some others look rugged due to dirt and mud..

*The Ng Family*

This is Wilson’s family, from his parents to his wife to his younger sister and husband..All of them are rooting for the Oris Ladies Team..

Read on for more photos..

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Posted: Events, Travel & Places

Larut Hill 4×4 Challenge 20092

Okay this is one very delayed post happened in November 2009

It’s the 3rd Larut Hill 4×4 Challenge in Taiping, Perak..Obviously it’s in Perak because Laut Hill (Bukit Larut) is in Perak..

Well I was pretty busy back then with my job and all and long story short here it is..

Thanks to Wilson who invited me to join his camera crew for this expedition..It’s quite an experience..

When we reached Taiping, we settled down at Flemington Hotel, very near to Taiping Lake Gardens..

Flemington Hotel is also the official hotel for accommodating the VIPs, officials, participants, and some of the media people..

*Flemington Hotel*

It sure is a beautiful hotel in such a place and its rooms are pretty luxury too..It also has a swimming pool on the rooftop..

So let’s have a look at some of the 4WDs..

*Oris Team*

This 4WD is one of the sponsored cars by Oris, the official sponsor for the Larut Hill 4×4 Challenge..

*Oris Ladies Team*

The first ever all-ladies team in Larut Hill 4×4 Challenge, also sponsored by Oris..

The ladies team actually consisted Wilson’s wife Rachel Ting and his younger sister Adeline..

Both ladies and guys team are Suzuki Vitara and tuned to perform better..

*Team from Johor*

Other than the Oris Team, other participants are either they are true 4WD enthusiasts whom joined on their own or some rented a car..

Some of them went by the same method as F1, like Brawn GP team, Brawn is the name of the “owner” and tuned up with Mercedes engine

Same goes to this 4×4 Challenge..Some “owners” rent out their cars to enthusiast drivers just for this competition..

*4WD #102*

This 4WD owned by a British, or maybe German..Can’t really remember..Looks nicely maintained right?

*The owner*

FYI, he built this car all by himself..by using only the chassis and perhaps the body, other parts were modified by himself, hands on from scratch..

He’s joined the previous 2 challenges and still remained one of the regular participants..

He performed some adjustment on the car right there and then..

*Former Champion*

This was the former champion for 2 consecutive years and they were aiming to win it for the third time to keep the trophy worth thousands of ringgit..

Winners for 3 consecutive years get to keep the trophy and this competition is only in its 3rd instalment..

In another words this team is pretty much the favorite and almost everyone (officials and media) have had high hopes on them..

*Other 4WDs*

Here are some of the 4WDs driven by participants and officials..

Some are nicely tuned and some looked scrappy but it’s pretty powerful..

Well that’s all for now and I shall continue what’s in for Day 1 of the competition in next blog post..

Posted: Travel & Places

Singapore Trip - Singapore Flyer, Esplanad, Merlion2

After our last stop at The Mint Toys Museum, we proceeded to the Singapore Flyer, said to be the world’s largest observation wheel standing at 165m from the ground..

Going around with Nuffnang and with the collaboration with Tourism Singapore, we were able to enter the Singapore Flyer for FREE~!!!

*The Flyer*

If you really want to know the price, it is SGD 29.50 for adults, SGD 20.65 for children, and SGD 23.60 for seniors..

There are many other packages and you can check it HERE..

You can book the whole capsule for your own function, which of course will cost a bit of money if you were to do so..

*On our way up*

This is a bit of wide angle which I’ve tried to get as much of the sky for a better effect..

It was about 5pm at that time and the sky was quite moody, hence the greyish-no-cloud sky..

*River meets sea*

This is where the river (I suppose) meets the sea..

More breath-taking photos after the jump..

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Posted: Photography, Travel & Places

Langkawi Trip - Cable Car, Sky Bridge, Black Sand Beach, and Waterfall5

Okay here I’m picking up where I have left of like, some time ago..It’s my trip to Langkawi yay wtf..

It’s on the final day of our Langkawi trip and we have plenty of time until our flight at 7pm, which we need to be at Langkawi Airport by 5pm..

We checked out rather early, had our breakfast, and started to wander off to the places that we’ve missed on the first 2 days..

We were also trying to finish up as much fuel as we can because we over-pumped, thinking that we might travel alot..

*The yachts at Telaga Harbour Park*

*The Loaf, bakery owned by Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir*

I’ve heard much about this bakery, The Loaf, owned by our ex-Prime Minister Dato Seri Dr Mahathir, and this is my first time seeing it..I heard there’s a branch outlet in KL as well..

After a short visit at Telaga Harbour Park, we proceeded with Langkawi Cable Car in Oriental Village, which is about 5-minutes drive from the harbour..

*Langkawi Cable Car*

This is where we took off on the cable car to reach to the top of Mat Cincang Mountain, where 2 stations are built up there..

The Langkawi Cable Car fare is RM30 for adult and RM20 for children..They are offering 50% for Mykad users aka Malaysians..

*Animal Farm*

This is the entrance to the mini animal farm where they have rabbits and deers..

Nothing much in there as the rabbits were kept in cages when we were there at that time..There are certain times where the farmkeeper will let them out in the farm..

*Cable Car - Station 2*

This is the Station 2, where we saw from Station 1..

Earlier on before we went up, the management had closed the operation of the cable cars due to heavy rain and strong wind..

Lucky enough, operation resumed not long after the rain stopped and the sky was quite clear after that..

More photos after the jump *toink*..

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Posted: Photography, Travel & Places

Hainanese Curry Rice @ Maxwell Food Court, Singapore0

After our URA visit, we went to Maxwell Food Court which is just across the road for a quick lunch..

Been hearing how sucky Singaporean food is if compared to Malaysian food and all, I had a hard time deciding what time eat..What’s more in a food court!

Walked around and scouted around, bingo! The stall with one of the longest queues..

There was only 2 stalls with the longest queue, at the time we (CheeChing, Jade, Jian, and I) arrived..

One is a ABC-selling stall..Another one is this stall, Hainanese Curry Rice..

*Hainanese Curry Rice @ Maxwell Food Court*

So I queued up..It’s actually some kinda mix-economy-rice kinda buffet style..

While queuing i can already heard people ordering their food in Mandarin and all *gasp*..

My turn, the boss asked in Mandarin, “Dine-in or take away?”..

I replied, “Two rice, dine-in”..One for me and one for Jian..

Then I just pointed at the things that I wanted..Looked at the price board, so I chose prawns, eggs, and pork chops if not mistaken..

Costs around SGD 3.50 each..Okay, not bad..Around the same price as in Malaysia if you don’t convert, that is..

*Mine*

This is my garlic egg with fried prawns..

*Jian’s*

This is Jian’s garlic egg and pork chops..

Taste wise, quite good! Perhaps it’s my initial expectation is being set to a very low standard, the rice is actually very nice..

Okay the curry is very nice and very appetizing..Made me want more of it..Okay I just got a big appetite..

Asked around other people what’s nice and what’s not..So I ordered carrot cake..

*Carrot Cake*

There is white and black carrot cake..Logically, black means with black soy sauce and white maybe lesser..

So I thought black would be nicer..Ordered a big one, costs about SGD 3.00..

Shared with the others..Umm, not THAT nice coz I expected something nice since I’ve asked around already..

It’s a tad bit sweet, perhaps it’s the black soy sauce..The girls didn’t really like it..Jian was full..Ended up I finished like 80% of the plate..

Now you know what to order? *winks*

Posted: Eats, Travel & Places