Come 1st January 2009

IT is time to buckle up the rear seatbelts.

Or else the driver (me) will be fined RM300.

Here I am blogging from Singapore. Coming Tuesday will be a new semester so I'll spend some time here before going back to UTM (Universiti Tak-tau-macam-mana-baru-boleh Maju).

Visiting to Singapore this time is a different one. Why?

Because I'm using the newly opened Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) building (which later renamed to Bangunan Sultan Iskandar for what reasons I do not know. A place how nice also sounds not nice already).

The building is new, clean, look organised, has lots of curvy roads

There is still a problem - TRAFFIC JAM. From the new CIQ building to Singapore, the cars were moving very slowly because we had to pass through the old Immigration building which has yet to be torn down. Imagine, from two lanes to become one.

This is also the first time I'm taking my car into Singapore

Good thing that the new CIQ building is in operation cuz the officer-on-duty seldom do their jobs in the old one. Last time we just waved our passport at the officer on the counter (without stamping) and we could just go off. So it is time to say 'Bye-bye' to the old building where my friends and I always used.

This is where we used to come out after coming back from Singapore

Today my aunt family brought us (me and mum) for breakfast at Tiong Bahru. The Bak Kut Teh in Singapore is very different from the one in KL. Back in Malaysia, our soup has more herbs wherelse the one here has more black pepper.

The soup is white, not black

Then we headed to Funan DigitaLife Mall cuz aunt wanted to buy a new laptop. There is like the Low Yat of KL. Seeing the prices there made me thought that the stuff are cheap. Of cuz I have to multiply them by 2.4.

In the end, with the help of my cousin, she got a Dell Inspiron 1420 for S$1299, with a three-years international warranty.

Funan DigitaLife Mall

Some photos while on the way:

Chinese New Year's decoration is up in Chinatown

With so many 'kam'

A building

People queueing up in front of Central, Clark Quay

Then we went to Little India. My cousin didn't want to go so he took the bus/MRT back alone. At first I thought the area was going to be like Brickfields in KL or Indian street in Georgetown, selling Indian, Sami Velu and Deepavali stuff.

I was so wrong. It has more than that!

We walked in a mall called Mustafa Centre. It has almost everything!! So big and packed with many things. Name anything and you will probably find it there. Supermarket, household items, books, electronics etc.

And what's more? It even opens 24 hours, on everyday.

There is a place to go now other than 7-Eleven

By the time we came out of the mall at about 6.30pm, the streets were already filled with people. Mostly Indians and Bangladeshis. There were stalls, gatherings, and people walking all around the place. For a moment I felt like I was in India.

There are everywhere.

Since today is a weekend, they spend the day out and meet out with friends. One thing I noticed is that all of them dressed up neatly and they do not dare to do anything (harmful) or else the Singapore government will have to send them back. So don't play play with the goverment here.

As for dinner, we went to a nice food court at Balestier Road. There are also many cheap but good hotels around the area. Probably be an economic place to stay, plus it is not far away from the city.

And look what mum collected from her aunt yesterday?

Bags of used toys. But they still look new

She can be Santa Mama Claus already.

A Church Wedding

LAST Saturday Perry invited some of us to his sister’s wedding ceremony in a church at Bukit Nanas. The function started at 4pm but Chin and I arrived there at about 45 minutes earlier. Some of the guests were already there and registering themselves at the entrance.

It seemed like we were the youngest there cuz it was Perry’s elder sister who got married and therefore there were many of her friends’ and relatives, as well as those from the bridegroom’s. We saw Perry’s mum and she invited us with a big warm smile before asking us to take our place.

Soon, Perry arrived with his sis and dad in a Benz. He became the driver of the day. Lucky enough for him able to drive in a S-class Mercedes. His dad was too afraid to take the wheels, in case of anything goes wrong.

Anyway, like what we usually seen in the movies and dramas, the bridegroom would be at front waiting for his bride, which is accompany by her dad. Likewise on that day, Persis Dineen Rodrigues, together with her dad, Philip, walked slowly to the front to greet the (happiest) man of the day, Mah Jee Onn.

You see, Perry is a mixed of Portugese dad and Chinese mom. That explains his last name, Rodrigues.

The rest of the gang, Randy, Yee Mei, Yuen Cheong, Yu Jian and Sendhil arrived just as the ceremony started.

Bride and parents

As usual, in a Catholic wedding, there will be prayers, hymns, Father’s speech and the exchange of vows and rings etc. There were moments when both the bride and groom has to say out “Yes I will, Yes I have etc” and “Please accept this ring as my blablabla ” in front of the priest but I'm sure the most awaiting part was when the priest would say “You may now kiss the bride” and “I now pronounce you man and wife”.

After everything both the newly weds will walk down the hall and there was supposed to be flowers throwing at them like what we always see in the movie. However, that didn’t happen that day. Probably the church authority didn’t want to have so such mess and the trouble to sapu everything on the floor at the end of the event. A little bit disappointed though.

The guys

A group pic

BUT, there was one thing we could not miss – the flower tossing by the bride. Yee Mei was already waiting for that moment I guess. Hehe. Honestly I have no idea why is the tossing for? My guess is that the girl who got the flower will probably be the next to get married.

So Yee Mei was getting ready, hoping to catch the bouquet of flower. Perry even hinted his sister on which direction she should aimed before tossing.

Did she get it??

No, unfortunately. Probably the time isn’t right yet, is it? =p

After the ceremony and the photo taking sessions, there was light refreshment served next to the church. I quite like the outdoor kind of catering with those white tents on the green green grass. You know, it feels so English.

Makan time

As it was just refreshment, the foods served were mainly kuih, swiss roll, karipap with coffee/tea.

L-R: Randy, Yee Mei, Yu Jian, Sendhil, Perry, Chin, Me, Jason

After some photo taking, we stayed and chatted for awhile before getting back home. A open house dinner will be at the house this coming Friday.

A Kung Fu Day Out

Update: A sequal to this show is already in progress. Can't wait for it.

MAYBE I haven’t watch Kung Fu film for some time. Or maybe I seldom watch Hong Kong film in the cinema. But I must say that this movie Ip Man (pronounced as 'Yip Mun' and not I.P. Man, Iron Man etc) is really good. I give it a two thumbs up!!

The best martial art movie I ever seen

I was watching it with Nicholas in MidValley a while ago and it totally blew me off. The Wing Chun style kung fu somehow did put us Chinese in a proud stand. Even the Japanese karate can’t beat it. I was also impressed by the fast paced move of every action. Totally awesome!

One of the fight scene

After the show ended, I could see that people were very satisfied on the movie, with all the expressions and comments. The kick, the punch and the flips were all being well-choreographed (by Sammo Hung). Suddenly I can feel the spirit of being a Chinese.

Nicholas and I was discussing whether this movie will be shown in Japan. Cuz it showed some irritated sides of the Japanese during the occupation time. I am not standing on any side, just saying that the Japanese era did give us especially the elder generations a big impact. Even until now people still can forget and forgive of what had happened.

One thing that the movie didn’t disappoint me was, Ip Man didn’t die in the hand of the Japanese. He stood and fight for what the people and the country deserves. On the other hand, he seems like a good and calm person as well as a loving husband and dad.

Ip Man (叶问) and one of his student, Bruce Lee in real life

Ip Man (potrayed by Donnie Yen) on the set

Okay, I shall not reveal too much about it.

Also, if you remember the GTO Japanese drama during our Form 3 time, there is a guy who you might find familiar in the show. =)

Conclusion, it is very worth for the RM12 ticket we paid.

20.12 is

Watched the movie 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' with mum and cousin last night. Mum seldom step into the cinema but yesterday was a different case. Earlier, she saw the movie trailer on TV and thought that an invasion was REALLY happening at somewhere before sis told her that it was just a movie trailer. Therefore she thought it was gonna be a nice movie.

For me, the story was just alright. Mum even felt asleep during part the show. I like the digital effect though. This movie is actually a remake of the 1951 science-fiction film.

What got surprise me during the show is this guy (Robert Knepper):

You might recognize him as T-Bag from the series Prison Break

He is a Colonel of the army forces of the United States in the movie. Such a contradiction from his role in Prison Break. Then, I searched more about him on the net and look what I found:

This is HIM (right) in one of the Star Trek episode many years ago

Haha. Doesn't have the villian look yet.

Anyway, I just got back from my cuti-cuti Malaysia trip two days ago. There are quite some photos. I've posted some of them in my facebook and IF I have the time I'll blog about it. Too lazy do things lately. =p

Wai Luen will be coming in a short while and we'll be going to a friend's sister wedding in a church. I have attended a funeral in a church but this will be my first time for a wedding function.

So I guess I'll better go get ready. That's all for now.

Wait, two more pictures which I've done.

Happy weekend!

Wine, Beer and Chocolates

I'M back from Langkawi last night. Bought chocolates and some alcohols cuz they are way too cheap!

On the curved-suspended bridge

Will be heading to Penang later in noon. Have a nice weekend!

Northbound

GOOD morning! Today I got up quite early as I am leaving KL soon. In one and a half hour's time LCC and I am gonna meet Hui San in Kepong Sentral and off we go to the north, to continue our road trip journey.

Will be staying at friends' house and some guestshouses during these few days cz we do not intend to spend too much on this budget trip. What we wana keep are nice memories and photos, photos, photos!

These are the few places which we will be dropping by. Hope the raining season will not spoil our planned-but-unplanned trip. =)

Langkaweee

Peeenang

Gua Tempuruuung

Pulau Paaangkor

Will update more when I am back or if I get any connection later. Till then!

Another Day

IT is holiday now. And I am getting rotten at home already. There are so many movies I have yet to watch, James Bond, Quarantine, Bolt, Twilight, Madagascar etc. Am desperately looking for a movie date.

Sis said from this point looks like a girl

Ya meh?!

HELLO, it's ME lah!!

You see, staying at home sometimes make me so bored. So this is what I did today.

I have no idea why my sis got so excited!

Tomorrow I'll be heading back to Malacca with family. Another day has passed. Sien...