MELAKA

Salam & hello! 

This is my first entry for my travelogue project and I am so excited to share it with you. This time around it’s going to be a long self indulging entry! Hehe..I’ll make it short for the next entry. :)

Family trip is one of the things that I anticipate most every year (besides Bonus). It’s really a joyous moment when you get to spend quality time with your loved ones, catching up with each other on life’s updates. That keeps the family bonding nourished & stay strong. I just wish my late Dad could be here with us (May Allah bless his soul).

So for 2010, the trip to Melaka was discussed months ahead but the actual arrangement was done, the very LAST MINUTE of course! L. Itinerary and accommodation was in-charged by yours truly. It’s no joke to arrange a trip for 21 people. Yikes! Btw, all of us agreed to cook our own meal during our visit, rather than eating out. So below are the criteria shortlisted for the selection of our accommodation:  

1. Spacious for big group (5 families)

2. Cooking facilities & utensils

3. Fully furnished (bed, pillow, blanket, etc)

4. Easy access to grocery store, tourist attraction, etc

5. CHEAP! Hehe..

That leaves me with only 2 choices. Apartments or home stays. But due to our limited budget (MINE, actually) I opt for home stays. I spent a week surfing the Internet & asking from friends to find the best accommodation that suits our criteria. Bear in mine, December is the month of long school holidays so anywhere you go the hotels would be fully booked! Same goes to home stays. I guess people are really into the Home Stay concept now. I did found several good places but unfortunately all are fully booked. Finally I came across YUNUS HOMESTAY, Bachang, Melaka, advertised in one of the website. No pictures included. It’s a double story house with 4 bedrooms and cooking facilities. It just opened in October, so non of my friends knew the place but all agreed the location is good. I called the owner (Pn. Mariam) and lucky for me they still have vacancies on my planned dates. I’m afraid we won’t find anywhere else to stay so I straight away book the place for 2 nights. Talk about GAMBLES, huh! A few days before our trip, I found this blog www.yunushomestay.blogspot.com) and thank God was I relieved! The place seems nice.

Below are the REAL pictures of the place we crashed for 3 days and 2 nights (literally speaking).It was much better than we expected!

Entrance

See the massage chair?? :)

Room at Lower Level

Room upstairs

Master bed room

Balcony

YUNUS HOMESTAY (double story terrace)

Contact: Pn. Mariam ( 013-7782525)
Location: Taman Berinchang Utama

              (15-20min from Banda Hilir & Plaza Tol Ayer  Keroh)

Rate: RM300 (holiday season) RM260 (normal)

Facilities: 4 bedrooms (fully furnished)

               3 bathrooms

               Stove, fridge, kettle, complete cooking utensils.

               TV (but no Astro)

Plus points:

1. Walking distance (200m) from Giant Supermarket! Since we’ll be cooking our own meal, first thing I did after unloading our stuffs at the home stay was to shop for groceries. Easy as walking in the park!

2. Massage chair available at the house! This is our most loved item in the house! (Imagine all the tiresome walk around Melaka for 3 days..sob..sob)

3. Almost fully furnished! All we had to bring was just some extra 'toto' mattresses.

4. The owner, Pn. Mariam is a very helpful and considerate host. Just tell her your need and she’ll try her best to fulfill them. I lapp you la kak mariam! 

5. It's a bargain of course! For 2 nights, we only have to pay around RM33.33 per person. And we collect RM10 per person for the groceries. Am I a Budget Guru or what?! Clap! Clap! 

Muzium Kapal

Taman Buaya (didn't go inside)

Aerial View of Melaka from Menara Taming Sari

Menara Taming Sari

Fun Fare!

In front of Pn. Mariam's House, Kg. Morten

Muzium Kemerdekaan (very informative!)

The signboard speaks for itself..
(shorter line after 40 min queue)

Kota A Farmosa / Bukit St. Paul

Taman Larangan / Forbidden Garden

Muzium Kesultanan Melaka

Bukit St. Paul

Peak of Bukit St. Paul

Zoo Melaka

Zoo Melaka (Note: There's a lot of unique animals here, you just have to come and see for yourself)

Taking fresh air/sea breeze after a long day

Lunch picnic at Marina seaside (Our pre-cooked dish: saute mushroom with broccoli, chicken soup / soto ayam, and various side dish. YUMMY!)

Muzium Kapal (they blow the horn just before closing!)

Important notes:

Parking space would be the biggest turned down in Melaka. You may have to park your cars few kilometers away from your destination so make sure you travel light and wear comfortable shoes. Bring some water with you as it’s hard to find people selling food on the street. (No “penjaja” allowed policy). Be prepared to queue in long lines at most of the entrance place (Zoo Melaka, Menara Taming Sari, Melaka River Cruise, err, toilet also). It can be irritating and exhausting, but try to keep your cool okay. Don't rush, just enjoy the experience. But if you had to, think Amazing Race Asia! :)

2010: Final Post

Salam & greetings!
Blogku dah bersawang dan naik semak samun setalah hampir 8 bulan tak di update..tsk..tsk..tsk..bizi keje ke senah?? konon...padahal sejak2 keje tmpt br ni belum kul 6 ptg dah ngadap FB or dok dpn TV kat rumah..sempat la aku tgk si Chinta Chanduri tu mati dlm baju pengantinnyer ittew..owh! takde update, sbb takde citer menarik utk dikongsi. Life adalah sgt normal. Takde drama2, takde episode duka berendam ayor mata, NADA. A bit bored u may say, tp bagus juga mcm nih. At least emosi berada dlm tahap yg sgt stabil. Tidak fluctuating. Hihihi..


I did some deep thinking. Honestly, I think my blog is a total crap. I put no justice to my writing skill in here. I need to make something beneficial of my blog. Rather than just to pour my heart out which has a no ending story, I'm thinking of turning it into a travelogue. You see, I love to travel places, so much! But since my budget is often limited, I prefer the DIY style. And a lot of my friends complimented me that I really am GOOD at this. I like doing research from the net & from people's experience. And of course, finding the cheapest but comfort place is the ultimate victory! (Read: cheapskate). Hehe..why not? Better splurge all the money on trying all the good food instead. So I'm in the midst of compiling my old pictures and itinerary of my traveling experiences. When everything is all set, I'll start writing soon. Resolution? Let's just start small. Can't wait for 2011! 

XOXO,
tim. 

 

'Office' sick..

Salam..

I've shifted into a new world. I've changed job. Motives?

1. At my previous company, I was assigned to handle this one dept. My direct boss was actually from a different dept than mine, so most of the time I worked independantly. But because of that too, a few other managers acted like they were also my boss. Giving me instructions on this & that, I can't make my own decisions, can't do things my way, but when things go wrong I'm the first to be query! My GM is more dissapointing than ever, all he wants is good result, but he never care what shit we have to go through! Almost everyday I had to staybacked up to 8-9 pm in order to get my work organized, I gave 110%! I was so sick of driving at nite from work & arrived home 40mins later. It was brain & energy draining, I just lost my motivation to work. I need a change, or else I'm gonna drown. That's when the new offer comes in.

2. New company is known for the Japanese working culture - dicipline & systematic. They work long hours too, but they have good system to support them. I can claim OT for all the extra hours, plus it is only 10mins drive from my house! Most important, I see this as an opportunity to gain more knowledge & experience, to prepare myself for the next level in my carrier. I can't be a mere officer forever right?? I also dream of starting my own bussiness someday. I know I have the potential, but it's still inadequate without the new skills, knowledge & experience.

3. The pay is much higher than my old place. I'll just swallow all the 'bad' things @ my new place. HAHA!

Yeah, apart from all this, I must admit. I am 'office'sick..I miss my old place. I really2 love my old collegues..they are more than collegues, they are true friends..They sends me SMS every now & then, telling how much they miss me. Especially, the European working culture is totally different than Japanese. Both have pro & cons. I'm still adjusting. But hey, I'm a survivor! I can survive anywhere!! (note: self motivation..)

I'm still in mix emotions, but I still have along way to go..
XOXO.

An old post.


I went to KL last Feb for a friend's wedding. Managed to catch a train at 6 pm. The ride was a smooth sailing. My sister was quite late to pick me up at KL Sentral, so I took the opprtunity browsing over stuffs @ GME Factory outlet. Bought 2 pairs of Diesals shirt at Rm56.90. Kewl. But the shoes, owhh man..found some awsome pairs of stillettoes with bargain price!! I walk to & fro for almost 4 times, thinking wheather i should buy them or not. But I end up declining the shoes, walking away with almost teary eyes..(drama!!)..Uhuk..I just can't walk in high heels! Uhuk!!

Back to the topic, after the wedding on Saturday, I catched a taxi from my sister's house to Bandar Tun Razak LRT station. I bought a ticket to Masjid Jamek as I always do, meaning to change to Putra LRT which will bring me to KL Sentral. As I was waiting for the train, I was quite confuse to see a KTM station next to it. Ehh, bila plak ada KTM kt sini? That was when I realized the taxi guy drop me @ LRT Bandar Tasik Selatan! Patut la mcm penah dtg sini..I was there once when visiting my friend in UKM.I should have opt for the KTM komuter. Direct to KL Sentral..Sengal..hehe..but never mind that. I can use this route next time.

As I only dropped by KL once in a blue moon, I always got confused which way for the right train, left or right? But it's not a problem really. I always survive by asking ppl around. So I saw a bunch of young Malay gurls (bebudak sekolah yg overly dressed up) and ask one of them if this is the right train to KL Sentral. I asked her twice, she just looked at me blankly, and WALKED AWAY!! What??? Then I quickly asked another gurl the same question, and she too WALKED AWAY!!! what the #$%^&&...All of a sudden a chinese lady rush towards me asking if this train is going to Ampang. I just said, "Sorry aunty but I also dunno lorr..those gurls dun wanna tell me!" "Haiyya.." The chinese lady said. Lucky a young boy later showed me the right train, even though mcm nak tak nak jer..better than nothing right?.

I was shaking my head thinking about the incident. Apa nak jadi le bebudak KL skang ni..tak hormat org lansung. They are leaving in their own fairytale world, and don't care about other ppl. But I don't blame them 100%. Thanks to their super kewl pa & ma yg also dun like ppl to care about their children..(jgn jg tepi kain org..)

So, finally I managed to arrive @ KL Sentral 1 hour b4 my departure time. I sat there, waiting for the gate to open with L.M Montgomery novel in my hand. Out of no where, a chinese girl approached me, asking me if I could look after her bags (total 4 of them!) coz she need to collect her train ticket from her friend @ the monorail station. Giloss!!Train in leaving in 30 minutes time. But I said okay, since we will board the same train but better be quick. She took my hp number and ran. I can't continue my reading, as the clock is ticking but the gurl is still no where to be seen. When everybody storm down to board the train, I text her and said I can't wait for her anymore, but I put her stuffs under the chairs. She keeps texting me apologizing for the trouble. I really felt sorry for her. Then just a few second before the train's leaving, I saw her! I patted on her shoulder & she say thanks again & again. She look like she just completed a marathon! hehe..

The chinese girl dropped off @ Kampar and we waved at each other. Then I received an SMS from her, saying her many thanks, and she hope to by friends with me, and meet again in the future. I replied her, and was smiling all the away to my home town thinking about the chinese girl and 'those' Malay KL girls. Maybe you have to be a kampong girl to know the meaning of courtesy, and I'm glad I'm one of them.

XOXO

A Chat With An Old Friend..

Assalamualaikum..

I just ended a 2 & a half hours conversation with an old friend on YM. Wow, we knew each other since secondary school (i was in form 4 & he was form 5). He was my first & last local pen pal. Masa tu semua org tgh gila mencari kenalan dalam majalah Galaxie. And now, after 12 years we still haven't got a chance to meet each other face to face. We did exchange some photos (zaman2 suci dulu) & we talked to each each other on the phone every Raya until we completed our university years. I guess work & personal life parted us. We stopped calling each other after some time, but I do keep track on his updates on Friendster (laa ni semua layan FB nooo). He had good job after grad, been to overseas few times, in relationship 2 times (hehe, aku kira aa...), and just recently changed his job to Cyberjaya.

Looking back, I think he is one of the 'best' decision I've ever made in my life. He's always been a good influence, kind of a mentor to me. From study tips (bdk MRSM katakan..), religion (mula2 x pandai kwn ngn pompuan, pehtu pandai sendiri jer...), love life & carrier wise..It just felt so good to have a conversation with him and what I cherished the most is, we have a common understanding of alot of things in life, atau dlm kata lainnya pemikiran kami 'sekufu'. It's amazing how we can really talk about anything, or everything. The only guy next to him which I can have a decent conversation with was my-ex (which is a longggggggg time ago).

I really missed having a good, meaningful conversation with someone like i used to have with him. (and my-ex). Growing up, they played a very significant role in my life. Listening to their word of wisdoms is like a therapy or me. I've never mentioned this to them, but I looked up to them highly. Err, do I missed my ex?? Naaa...I wish him well, we're just not meant for each other. As for my pen pal, we might not be as closed as we used to be like our skool time, but I pray he'll find happiness, and also find a gud girl as a wife soon! We r not getting any younger, Azam!:)

XOXO,

TIM.

Crash Boom Bang (Part 2)

Assalamualaikum..
Haa..tu ramai la yg dah kene Monday Blues tu..esok nak keje kan??? well, akak takde blues pun sbb dari khamis dh keje..malah, td pun akak pi office ngadap komputer sensorg..(apa la nak jadi dgn aku..)

Okeh, to those yg rajin nak baca, yesterday morning (saturday), when i was busy patting compact powder to my face (bg extra puteh la konon) i heard a very loud BANGG...I tell you, it was so loud I was stunned for a few seconds. Gaining conscious, I quickly stormed out to the front hall. I saw something, exactly like what I've imagine before this. A crashed car, scattered sliding doors, and thick smoke suffocating my chest. No, it's not a scene from a movie, it's my MOM pipel!! stuck in her 6 months old VIVA..Ya Allah, rasa nak pengsan! Lucky she's okay, and lucky my WLK next to her car suffered a slight scratch only. Huhu! Lucky no one (nor cats)was injured during the incident.

I was so againts my mom wanting to buy an automatic car because she hardly ever drove a car. she has a license, but that's about it. so, i told her to enrol for refresher course for drivers, then only buy a car. That was what my late father told me before, when i wanted to buy my own car. He only let me drove it on my own after 1 month of free refresher course from him..But then again, my mom hardly ever listened to me, neither do I. And yesterday the thing that i was so worried of actually happened. She said she mistakenly pressed the fuel pedal instead of the brake pedal. But for me it is simply because she's not yet confident & comfortable with the car !! I have my sisters & brothers to be blamed as well coz they are the one who made her wish come true, just to make her happy & to stop her from nagging.

I guess I was so angry because I already see it's coming, and that loud bang..My God, I still could hear it in my ear drum. It was nasty, and my house was without doors for half a day.

Ohh, I already have so many things that gives me head aches, I'm gonna let this one go. I just hope somebody at least learn their lesson.

Esok aku dah keje..duhhh..

assalamualaikum..
kat umah i tgh ada org dtg skang.. i plak dok layan blog..haha..burinks nyer..td siang the whole family went to tapah. my brother in law beli dusun durian. the banglo was still under construction but i assume by end of the year it will be completed. enjoyy!! we had durians and nasik lemak by the river and the childrens held their very own diving competition. not so "betul" way to celebrate raya..but then again, it's the only time we can have the whole family gather around. aku rasa kera-kera dalam hutan tu pun tension dgr suara kitaorg terjerit-jerit.

hmm, i had a bad incident yesterday. mende kecik je pun, but it made me wonder (again..)about how some people can take others for granted so hmm, "innocently". get what i mean?? wat-wat mcm tak bersalah and bg alasan bodoh. alahai, i pun sempat la smash barang sedas dua kepada sahabatku ittew, "ehh, aku tak kecik ati la, biasala kawan-kawan mmg mcm tu. apa sgt la setakat tunggu ko 2-3 jam tu..mende kecik jer...". ok tak?? kalau x paham gak aku kene ckp jawa lak pehni..ruined my raya jer. to make things worst tv umah lak wat perangai xleh start..so, melepas la i nak layan filem2 & drama2 raya..aduhai..esok kalau x siap gak tv tu aku gi tgk "NUR KASIH" dkt kedai mamak..

oww, kenapa sy kene keje esk??
1. saya tak sanggup nk cuti solid seminggu dan balik opis just utk kene bombared dgn org2 sengal kat kilang tu..at least, sy ada preparation 2-3 hari..hehe

2. dh dkt end month, target RM1.5 mil is far from achievable..tp management tak abis2dok perasan..sure wat2 tergezut nnti, sdgkan dr awal bulan kita dah present sales portfolio bebagai..buhsan aku dgn org2 ni..bdk2 production sure kene bambu, sian diorg..tak sampai ati lak aku nk cuti best2 kat umah..

3. hehe..sebenarnya aku ni simpan cuti utk sabah trip end of october nnti..bukannya aku baik sgt nak keje..hehehe..padan muka korg warga kilang S*A*C* sekalian..aku takde nnti pandai2 la korg wat planning..hahahahha...

ok la, kalau i buhsan i update lg k..(ada ke org tingin nak baca ponn???)

p/s: aku nk bisnes sendiri laa..ada sesapa nk bg modal tak?? :))

XOXO

SELAMAT HARI RAYA & MAAF ZAHIR BATIN

Assalamualaikum..last day puasa ehh?? I'm at C.C next to a PC house right now. Quite bengang coz i just found out that my new notebook cannot connect directly to the phone cable for internet dial-up. I have to change to stremyx or broadband..huahhh betapa ketinggalannya aku tentang dunia IT ni..then again, i was never a gadjet freak..hehehe..takpe la, after raya my next mission is to buy either celcom broadband or digi broadband..anybody have any suggestion??

oklah, i nak balik dah...mengamuk mak i kang kalau lama2 sgt lari dr tugas..esok dh nak raya..so, di kesempatan ni saya nak mintak ampun & maaf pada sapa2 yg rajin singgah blog saya yg hina ni, mana tau kot2 ada yg berkecil hati..

till then, take care!!