Fields of gold

Recently as I was picking up the hobby of photography, I followed a group of photographer to one of the most scenic place in the Peninsula Malaysia. It is Sekinchan in Selangor which is the most famous paddy fields in the state. Paddy field is of course not foreign to most Asians but in Sekinchan, you can literary drive to the paddy field and go down and take a really close up look. No wonder avid photographers treat this place like heaven. I have taken a lot of pictures of wineries and have not seen up close what paddy looks like. So, here's my day in Sekinchan during the harvesting season.

Reminds me of the song by Eva Cassidy

You'll remember me when the west wind moves, upon the fields of paddy

You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky, as we walk in the fields of gold

So she took her love for go gaze awhile, upon the fields of paddy

In his arms she fell as her hair came down, among the fields of gold.

Ahhh ... simply beautiful.

Location : Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia
Travel : December 2011

United Buddy Bears in KL!

Have you heard of the Berlin bear before? I have gotten it as souvenir from some business associates from Germany and it is mighty precious and beautiful. Anyway, I just found out that this Berlin bear now holds even more significant meaning. In 2001, they introduced the Buddy Bear exhibition in Berlin. The bear now measures 2m tall instead of the 10cm tall bear in my house. It has since grew into a different proportion altogether. Artistes from all over the world painted a bear to represent their country and these bears tour around the world in the quest to promote living in peace and harmony and hence the United Buddy Bears is born.

So, a total of 143 buddy bears has made its way to Southeast Asia for the first time. It is right now being exhibit in front of the Pavillion mall until February 2012. As a bear lover, I have of course made my way there the moment I heard about. It is just very timely to have the bears here right now because of the festive mood and the Christmas decorations around town. It just make the reason the buddy bears being here a lot of meaningful.

Country : Israel

The body symbolises the western wall of the holy temple of Jerusalem. The bear is holding the 3 menorahs (fire) of love, hope and and prayer.

Country : North Korea

Top part of the bear shows Paektu Mountain in North Korea, bottom shows the Hallasan Mountain in South Korea. Joining the town mountrain symbolises the unity of the Korean people.

Counry : Vietnam

Who isn't capable of love, lost the will to live

Country : United States

Liberty Bear

Country : South Korea

Based on the legend of the female bear who marries Hwanung and gaves birth to Dangun who sets up the first states of Korea.

Country : Myanmar

All the symbols and pictures are protector of Myanmar.

Country : Moldovo

Moldovo is a green land and the bears tells a few satiric stories happened in the past 20 years.

Country : Seychelles

Aspiration of the people and the environment of Seychelles

Country : Poland

Polish Folk History

Country : Luxembourg

The theme of the bear is symbolism of creation.

Country : Tajikistan

Bekhrus which in Tajiki means 'The best day'. 

 There are just too many bears ... I'm gonna go hug them one by one.

This is the United Buddy Bear that represents Malaysia! Peace y'all!

And this is a special bear that touches me.

It promotes respect for all life, not only human beings but all-beings. 

Location : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Bangkok Revisited

So, aside from my post-holiday disaster in the post-flood Bangkok, here are highlights of my recent travel to my absolutely most favourite annual holiday destination.

1. I found a new must-go restaurant. You know for times and times again, we have been going back to Ban Khanita or Cabbages & Condoms which is like the touristic place. This time around, my brother has brought all nine of us to this place which was introduced by this Thai colleague of his. Located in Huai Khwang, Nan Thong restaurant took about 45mins taxi ride from central Bangkok but the ride is absolutely worth it. The food is superb, the price is unbelievably reasonable and the atmosphere is uniquely Thai!

2. Madame Tussauds has arrived in Bangkok! No, I did not go in. You know, went to one, went to all. But for those who has not been to a wax museum and take photos with celebrities; now, you don't need to go to London or Hong Kong, there is one in Bangkok.

3. Finally, I'll like to reveal the holy place of my annual shopping-without-thinking pilgrimage which is none other than the 'Platinum Fashion Mall'. OK, there you go, I've said it. For many years, I have discovered this place from a local friend of my girl friend. And we have been indulging in it quietly. But recently, it has been out in the open so, there you go. Don't go Chatuchak, don't go MBK, just go Platinum. This is the place when you don't even think about bargaining because it is so cheap, this is the place where you wish you can bring them all back because the design is so good, this is the place where we mere mortal gets to buy DVF, DVB or what-haves-you inspired clothes. So this year my shopping activities has cost me a total of  ... jeng jeng jeng ... USD185 for 22 pieces of clothings.

So, this is my short Bangkok revisited trip.

Location : Bangkok
November 2011

The post-holiday disaster at a post-flood Bangkok

Last week, despite all warnings and advice not to go Bangkok due to their recent recovery from the few months long flood hitting the whole country, I went nevertheless.

I can explained. First, it was almost monumental to be able to gather the entire family, the whole nine yards (I mean, people) to be free at the same time. Secondly, we managed to book a beyond believable cost of air tickets like 6 months ago. How much do you think it cost to fly nine people from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok? It cost less than USD700!!! And finally of course, I am very doubtful that if we cancel the trip, we will be able to get the same price in the future. So, we went.

And I hate to say this, those people were right! All of us fell sick. In fact not just sick but so sick that I couldn't even switch on the the computer. I was down in bed for 3 whole days which almost never happen to me. My poor 5 year old boy runs a 39.2 celcius temperature one night. So, lesson learnt!

However, although with all the post-holiday disaster at a post-flood Bangkok, I did have my fun. See, Bangkok is like my holiday hometown. I have to complete these 2 missions before the year ends :
1. my annual shopping-without-thinking pilgrimage,
2. my annual do nothing but massage-day-and-night ritual.

Without completing these two missions, my year will not be complete.

So, now I can have peace.

Sate Senayan in FX

I don't know if I've mentioned this somewhere in my blog but I'm a terrible terrible blogger when it comes to food. Mainly because I don't really take any picture of the food before I dig in and totally spoilt the presentation and then decided it is so good but a bit too late to take a nice picture. So whenever I'm travelling, I tried to make it a point now to take some pictures before attacking the food.

Back to my recent business trip in Jakarta, I was kind of bored eating the same deli food over and over again. So the day before I left, I decided to try a restaurant located in FX Mall called Sate Senayan. I thought, OK, lets tried how good is sate in Indonesia.

OMG, the few dishes that we ordered are definitely to me A+. It is so good in fact we came back for lunch the next day just before we leave for airport. The Soto Ayam A+, the sate A+, the tahu bakar A+. I gotta say that if you want to try out some local food in Jakarta, this is a good start. Centrally located in the FX Mall in Senayan, it is clean, comfortable and nice.

Location : Jakarta, Indonesia.

Thumbs up for Harris FX Senayan

Last month I spent a week in Jakarta for business. Tried very hard to go to Kelapa Sunda but my travelling partner refused to. So in the end, I caved in my hotel room. The last visit to Jakarta, I found the FX Senayan very appealing and since my trade show is in JCC Senayan, I booked into the Harris in FX.

This is the exterior picture of the building.

I was assigned into a room on the 45th floor and boy the view is fantastic. Harris is actually located on top of a very uber-trendy mall in Senayan. So although I paid the rate of USD90++ without breakfast, there is no problem at all. There are Starbucks, DeliFrance and House of Muffin, all suits my breakfast need.

I really seldom writes about the hotel that I stayed in unless it is very good or very bad. For Harris in FX, I must say it is a thumbs up. The hotel is similar to Ibis concept but I find the room bigger. It is very clean, very trendy and guess what ... they provide FREE WIFI! That is double thumbs up.

Most hotels provides cable tv nowadays but in Harris, they also provide the Star World, AXN and E! channel. I feel so at home and didn't missed any of my shows.

This one earns like 10,000 points from me. Essential oil in the room ... OMG, how cool is that. The room smells so calm and relaxing, almost like I'm in a spa.

All in all, if you are in Jakarta for whatever reason, staying in Harris FX is the best choice. Location - good, Hotel - good, Food - good, Price - good.

Location : Jakarta, Indonesia (Oct 2011)

Logos Hope, the Floating Bookshop

Have you heard of MV Doulos before? Well if you haven't, then you can continue to read this. If you have , then just skip to the photos. See MV Doulos is the oldest ship in the world that is still working. I fondly remember it as the floating book shop. I visited it when I was really young. Basically it is run by a group of missionary to spread the word of Jesus. In 2009, the MV Doulos is no longer allowed to sail anymore as there was apparently some ruling against it. We don't want it to sink with the crews right? So now it is park somewhere in a harbour in Singapore and probably serves as a floating restaurant.

So, in replaced of MV Doulos is the MV Logos Hope. It serves with the same idea, sail around the world and stop at each country as a floating book shop.



So I brought my 5 year old son to Logos Hope for the experience of going inside such a big ship and of course to hear the word of Jesus.

I don't remember that we were entertained during my school days when I was in Doulos but we were entertained with a short play by the crew on "Secret Treasure" play. Guess you'll know that the secret treasure is not gold or diamond but the most important book in the world, the Bible. Why treasure? Because it gives you the secret to eternity life! Ah, I like that concept. Brilliant!

And of course after the show, the kids get to take a picture with the crew.

After the play, we proceed to the book fair. Didn't managed to take any picture because it was so crowded. And then as we head out of the book fair, we walk through a maze of pictures ... hmmm, its the Prodigal Son's story, well the modern version of it.

And of course the kids get to turn some steering as if they are driving the ship.

Or to take silly pictures such as these ones. Take your pick, captain or diver?

Docked in Pulau Indah, Klang, Malaysia in October 2011

Happy 11.11.11 everyone!