Bersih 3.0

I believe we need reforms in the Electoral Roll. I believe in clean, free and fair elections. That is why I decided to head down to Dataran Merdeka and join the Bersih 3.0 rally with my friends. My friends and I are peace-loving, laid-back and educated. We are there not to create trouble but stand up for justice. You want to know what was in my bag? A book. 3 bananas. A change of t-shirt. My protein shake. A bottle of water. A pen. A piece of paper. A nail clipper was in my bag the night before. I took it out and left it at home. The furthest thing in my mind is to go violent. I believe nearly all of us were like-minded.

When we gathered at Pasar Seni, we were all in celebratory mood.

Friends playing Monopoly Deal

Balloons and flowers

All I can say is that it felt like a huge carnival. Like a picnic of bananas.

Walking to Dataran Merdeka

Walking to Dataran Merdeka

The walk to Dataran Merdeka was done in an orderly manner. My friend picked up a towel lying on the road (somebody might have accidentally dropped it) and since we couldn't find a nearby rubbish bin, I asked her to just stuff it in my bag first so as to not create rubbish on the road.

Once we reached the Masjid Jamek station, we just couldn't move any further. We were crammed like sardines.

We made our way to the Bar Council building where we sat down (it's a sit-in protest) and peacefully cheered on to the cries of the rally leader that we will not breakthrough the barriers and leave at 4pm sharp. It was 3pm then.

We sat and saw them standing

This was my last shot of peace because fifteen minutes later, with no prior warning, gas canisters were shot and they started spraying everybody. What entailed after that was utter chaos. They cornered us in an alley next to the Bar Council building and sprayed at us at the entrance and gassed us at the exit. With nowhere to run, suffocating, tearing and in a dazed state, people started panicking and a near stampede happened.

I can remotely understand if you release a little spray just to get people to disperse since you want to rush back home for tea or to catch The Avengers but to corner us like that in an alley and endanger our lives is nothing short of an act of violence by a vicious bully. Didn't we tell you that we will be leaving at 4pm? Didn't we behave ourselves? Didn't we keep to the boundaries you have set? Then why behave like a moron?

You see, Saturday was an opportunity for the government to show me that they are larger than politics. It was a chance for them to show me that they are mature, gentlemanly in their approach and have the people at their heart. At least pretend to do so and show me you're shrewd and politically intelligent since GE13 is so close and you need to win people's hearts. They didn't even do that. They screwed up big time!

I am not a big fan of politics. I generally don't trust politicians. All politicians. I am not a BN supporter and neither am I a PR supporter. I am a Malaysian who wants to see an intelligent candidate, with a heart for the people and the country rise to power. If PR can do the job, then PR it is. If BN can do the job, then BN it is. However, after Saturday, BN needs a huge kick in the behind at a rigged GE13 for them to wake up.

Planning my next backpacking trip

These past two weeks has injected some sort of renewed passion for backpacking. The last trip I did was exactly a year ago to Vietnam and I'm itching to go on my next adventure. Honestly, I'm dying to go to Slovenia but I doubt I will be able to make it this year. The cost of flying there itself is enough to render me broke and penniless. Plus being in a new job and all, I don't think I'll be able to get three weeks off from work to travel.

However, Sri Lanka seems to be like a viable option. Looking at the time-cost factor, this seems to be the best place to go for me to get my dose of the sun, sand and sea. Sri Lanka seems to beckon me for new adventures off the beaten path.

The sight of the beautiful beaches is just too much to resist. Typing this out is getting me very excited already :)

The Pearl of the Indian Ocean

I've got my eyes set on this. I hope it materializes.

Name ikan tu ape, eh? (What's the name of that fish?)

One of the biggest problems I have is trying to identify the fish on the menu. I was at a Malay stall just now and had major problems trying to understand what are the fishes being offered. In very typical Johorian Malay, I went like, "Name ikan tu ape, eh?" (What is the name of that fish?).

My first time eating Ikan Terubuk or Shad/River Herring... Lots and lots of tiny bones in it. Very delicious... Only for those who are patient!

Ikan Kembong or Chubb Mackerel... I think. That's what the  guy at the stall said.  I am also quite poor at identifying the types of fishes...

The thing is if I know it in English, I won't know it in Malay. If I know it in Malay, I don't know the word in English. If I know it in Chinese, then I won't know it in Malayalam or Tamil. You get the idea. It's really very frustrating for me as well as the waiter who is trying to successfully guess the fish I'm describing. After scouring the internet for a solution, I found a simple guide on malaysianfood.net as well as some of my own personal additions to the list on important fish names in Malaysia that would be very helpful in this multicultural and multilingual country of ours. The following guide is for English, Malay, Cantonese (not Mandarin, sadly) and Tamil. Hope this helps:

Ikan Bawal Putih : White Pomfret. Chong Yee [Chinese], Vowal Meenu [Tamil].
Ikan Bawal Hitam : Black Pomfret, also called Pompano. Hak Chong Yee [Chinese], Karuppu Vowal [Tamil].
Ikan Bawal Selatan : Silver Pomfret. Pak Chong Yee [Chinese].
Ikan Bayan / Ikan Ketarap : Parrotfish, also called Tuskfish orWrasse.
Ikan Duri : Catfish. Tong Sat [Chinese], Mulluvalai [Tamil].

Ikan Dori (Ikan Perahu Nelayan - based on Google Translate) : Dory Fish

Ikan Haruan : Snakehead fish.
Ikan Jenahak : Golden Snapper.
Ikan Kakap : Sea Bream, also called Porgy or Porgies.Ikan Kakap Merah : Red Sea Bream.
Ikan Kayu : Tuna. Kam Cheong Yee [Chinese].
Ikan Tongkol : Albacore Tuna. Kam Cheong Yee [Chinese].
Ikan Kelah : Malaysian Mahseer, also called Greater Brook Carp.
Ikan Kembong : Mackerel, also called Chubb Mackerel or Indian Mackerel.
Ikan Kerapu : Grouper. Sek Pan [Chinese].
Ikan Kerapu Pisang : Yellowfin Grouper.Ikan Kunyit : Yellowtail Snapper.
Ikan Kurau : Treadfin. Tai Mah Yau Yee [Chinese], Koduva Meen[Tamil].
Ikan Merah : Red Snapper. Hoong Yee [Chinese], Sikappu Meen[Tamil].
Ikan Parang : Wolf Herring. Sai Toh Yee [Chinese].
Ikan Pari : Stingray, Skate, Skate Wings. Po Yee [Chinese].
Ikan Pari Hantu : Manta Ray.
Ikan Patin : Silver Catfish.
Ikan Selar : Scad.
Ikan Selayang / Ikan Tamban : Sardine. Sa Ting Yee [Chinese],Siru Meen [Tamil].
Ikan Siakap : Barramundi, also called Asian Seabass or Giant Perch, Aozhou fei yu [Mandarin]
Ikan Susu : Milkfish.
Ikan Tenggiri : Spanish Mackerel. Kau Yee [Chinese].Ikan Terubok : Shad, also called River Herring.
Ikan Yu : Shark. Sar Yee [Chinese].

Now you are ready to order a fish dish from the menu like a pro no matter who runs the restaurant!

Sepang F1 2012

Every week on Monday, I tell myself to take it easy during the weekend; to just chill and do nothing. It never happens. Secretly, I am glad it is so.

Over the weekend, I headed down to Sepang for my virgin experience of a live F1 race. My ears were cherry popped by the sound of the cars zooming pass! Orgasmic! Ok... the choice of words is going a whole different direction.

The qualifiers on Saturday was great. Traffic wasn't bad. Parking wasn't difficult. The weather was great for racing... Blistering hot!

Beautiful day for an F1 race



Yeah, I wore a t-shirt and jeans on a blistering hot day...

The place was buzzing with activity and people having a good time.

I had problems trying to snap pics with my iphone...



Safety car



SLK 200 upclose...

A friend of mine commented that the thing he looked forward to the most in the F1 race are the grid girls. I beg to differ. Give me this beauty over the girls anytime, man!

And of course... the Ferrari fan

The Qualifiers ended with the two McLaren cars in front with Hamilton taking pole and Button behind him. Good 'ol Schumacher came in third.

On race day itself, the weather was bad and traffic was "ridonkulous". I had to summon my off road rally driving skills to make it on time. Upon arrival, parking was "ridonkulous to the power of 2". Again, when faced with escalating "ridonkulous-ness" I had to pull off crazier antics which includes... Wait, hmmnn... which I shall not mention here... to find a parking.

I was drenched; this time in my shorts, singlet and slippers... how nice! Only one good thing from the rain though...

Yeap... Grid girls! Ok, so now... Grid girls vs SLK 200? Images are powerful, aren't they?

Heavy rain... Safety car out with Hamilton trailing behind. So much drama in such short time...

The red flag came out after that and race was suspended. I was keeping my fingers crossed. I didn't want the race to be called off! I was praying hard for the rain to subside and for the race to resume.

Teams busy getting their cars ready...

Thank God the rain subsided and the race was scheduled to resume behind the safety car.

With the safety car out of the picture, the race began proper.

Track spray was still pretty bad though...

A poor pit stop was costly for Hamilton which saw Alonso take the lead with Perez from Sauber in 2nd.

Perez was just phenomenal. He was doing a great job closing in on Alonso but alas, the Spaniard took it for Ferrari. It would have been awesome if Perez took it!

The sun was out proper after the race, just in time for sunset which was quite pretty.

After the race...

Sepang F1 Circuit does look pretty at sunset

My bro, Merv decides to practice his marching drills

A few more sunset shots and then I promise I'll stop

Decided to stay back a little longer to capture this one...

And finally, this one... Ok, no more!

It was an awesome experience. The next time someone tells you that watching the race on Tv is better than watching it live, please ignore that person. Go catch this!

Robert's Char Kuey Teow at Seksyen 17

Last weekend I went on a Char Kuey Teow hunt to establish a place where I can get my CKT fix when I need one. I usually get my fixes on weekends because that's the only time I can cheat and eat my favourite greasy, carbo-filled meals. I try to keep a strict diet during weekdays. Anyways, forget about the strict diet part and let me tell you about Robert's Char Kuey Teow.

Robert in action...

Let me introduce to you... Robert! Robert is a super nice guy, polite and not grumpy unlike those vendors who tend to be rude when business is brisk. He graciously allowed me to be a paparazzi while he cooked up a storm on his wok.

Robert cooking up a storm

And the end result...



My plate of Char Kuey Teow...

As you can see, the prawns aren't tiny shrimps. He throws in lap cheong for a tinge of sweetness and your CKT is served on a leaf. The charred taste is there but not too overpowering as I know many who don't quite like too much char in their Char Kuey Teow.
Robert's Char Kuey Teow will rock your socks off! It is one of the best Char Kuey Teows I have tasted in PJ. It beats the Penang Char Kuey Teow in SS2, Sea Park and Damansara Uptown.

However, I'd still have to say that the Char Kuey Teow in Penang and the Char Kuey Teow bangku in Taiping is still the best around. Robert's one comes pretty close to matching those standards. With a price tag of RM 4.50 in PJ, I think it's worth every cent!

RM 4.50 for a plate of very delicious Char Kuey Teow...

Robert's Char Kuey Teow is in Restoran Say Huat, 1083, Jalan 17/29, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It is situated opposite a huge open air car park.

Happy food hunting!

The Water... *now say it 10x slower and whisper*

This week has been pretty hectic with my offshore training starting on Monday through Wednesday. I braced myself for the early morning jam from PJ to Ampang but to my pleasant surprise, the roads were clear and I was super early. I thought that it was due to my genius of planning and execution that I could beat the jam. Sadly, it wasn't the case. It was due to the school holidays! I wasn't complaining! I gladly embraced my good fortune and cruised my way to Ampang every morning with a broad smile on my face. :D (Gosh, now it looks like a Facebook status update...!!!)

Nothing really eventful happened apart from the fact that I had to sit for a simulation helicopter crash in a confined space and roll over underwater as well as jump 20 feet off a platform. I aced it, of course! *adjusting bow tie... because I wear bow ties all the time...

To be truthful, I looked really calm and composed in the midst of it all (I can see myself from a third person's view all the time too...) but my mind was racing with all kinds of possibilities and outcome. Now it may seem that I am very comfortable with water and have no problems with it... yes and no.

I always love the waters but it doesn't mean that I am competent or confident in it. I nearly drowned when I was 11 years old at Pangkor Island. To cut the whole story short, let's just say that it involved an idiotic friend, a float... or rather, an idiotic friend who took the float while I was in the water and God's grace. I still loved the waters but now with a newfound fear as well. Drowning is a terrible way to die, trust me.

However, I loved the water too much to allow my fear to keep me away from it. I signed up for swimming lessons, struggled, overcame my fears and the rest is history. Don't get me wrong. My fear for the water is still there. It's a healthy fear; a form of respect, if you may. I know what it can do to me. I know its power. I just merely learned how to adapt myself to its environment and manage my fears of it and most importantly, enjoy it.

As for jumping into the water from a 20 foot platform, it's no different from jumping from the side of a swimming pool. The only difference is that it takes you longer to hit the water from a 20 foot platform. It's all in the mind I guess.

The next time you're afraid of something, try facing it. You may not overcome it the first time around. Give it a few more encounters. Maybe sometimes you just need to know your enemy a little bit better or perhaps sometimes, more importantly, it's about you knowing yourself a little bit better.

Getting used to a new city

Moving to a new city is both exciting and uncomfortable. It's a love-hate relationship. Here are some of the things I have to deal with:

1. Traffic jam

I hate traffic jams. Who does? I don't know of anyone who does. It irritates the living daylights out of me to get stuck, crawling on some road fighting for space with other drivers. I solved this problem by running my life in a way that I beat the crowd... everytime. How? Firstly, I rent a place very near to my office; 12-15 mins drive during rush hour. Secondly, after work, I hit the gym, which is also very close to my office... 5 mins drive during rush hour. Thirdly, I never drive out for lunch. Never. Fourthly, if I want to hang out at the mall during the weekends, I am at the mall by 10.30am. I will then proceed to do whatever I want to do in the mall the entire day-watching movies, eating, reading, relaxing at a cafe etc. I know it sounds very rigid but I prefer rigidity to traffic jams.

Jam on the LDP...



Bulatan Mahameru... Now, why would I want to get stuck in such situations...





2. Food

I hate not having an idea on what's good to eat. Plus, when I want to host friends and guests, I prefer to bring them to places that I feel is good. Whether it's good or bad, it's up to them to decide but at least, as a host, I can do my job of hosting. Right now I am trying to figure out what's good to eat. Thus far I've found a couple of good spots to eat Hokkien Mee, Hainanese Chicken Chop, Nasi Lemak, Indo mee goreng, curry puffs and ikan bakar. The hunt continues.

Hainanese Chicken Chop at Jln Dang Wangi...







3. Where to get my barang-barang

I pride myself in having lubang for this and lubang for that. Now I got no lubang for anything. I am trying to figure out where to get the best deals for supplements, cologne, a hair stylist who cuts my hair without ruining it... etc. I intend on getting onto a steep learning curve to figure things out ASAP.

These are my struggles and solutions thus far. This sounds like a very serious post... Hmmnn... I found this pic online:

Internet meme used in the recent anti-Lynas protests in Kuantan... very creative!