Dawg

Just a picture of a dog here. Enjoy

Photo taken at SPCA Selangor

Night Market

Here's a photo taken at the pasar malam (night market) in Kinrara, Puchong.

Beauty in Nature

I went to Taman Negara some time ago. Besides looking for animals or doing the canopy walk, there are many more things around us that are naturally beautiful. One only has to open up your eyes and learn to see it.
Here are some pictures. Enjoy!


 

Mooncake Festival

Mooncake festival, or what is better known as the mid-autumn festival, was on 22nd September this year. It is traditionally the harvest festival in China, but also celebrated by many Chinese descendents overseas. Read more about it in the link provided.

It is a time to eat mooncakes (hence the name of the f estival). The classical mooncake is one made of lotus paste, but now I’m surprised by the many varieties out there in the market, including the popular durian version in Thailand. The traditional ones are becoming rare! And I miss my mum’s homemade ones too.

It is also a time to hang lanterns. A popular thing with kids. While I was young, I remember playing with paper lanterns and some cartoonish ones made with wires and coloured plastic paper. Also a time to play with candles – an excuse to play with fire. These days, lanterns come in so many varieties including battery operated ones!


When lighting lanterns, be careful not to cause fires!

But above all, it is an excuse to get together with family and friends.

Day trip to Malacca

Malacca (or Melaka in Malay) is a nice place for a day trip. And, of course, as a Malaysia, we travel for food!
First stop, chicken rice balls. There’s always a long line here.

But it was worth it. The place was cool, food was good – even though there weren’t enough “balls”.



After that, some chendol with gula melaka… mmm… what else is better on a hot hot day?

At that time is the ‘chung’ festival too – so the nyonya kind is available.
 
Then you probably see trishaws quite extravagantly decorated (and some with very loud music too) everywhere!

Then you have the creative ones who actually sell advertising space (think of the apprentice!). Smart move.

Changes in KL after 2 years

Its been 2 years since I started working in Bangkok. Being back in KL after that time, even when I’m back every few months, there are certain changes that I noticed.

In an earlier trip back home, while queuing up at the duty free in the airport (LCCT), the lady behind me produced this stack of money to pay. At first I thought she was trying to pay in Chinese Yuan. But after a close look, what do you know, we now have new RM 50 notes!

Other things I noticed is that there are lots of developments in the outskirts areas. New shopping malls, new housing estates, new high-rises, new highways. So many new ‘happening’ places that I have not heard before. Even familiar places becomes a bit alien. Imagine me telling people, “yes, I know that place”, but after further details I realise I know none of the new landmarks, buildings or roads (except for “Bali” – apparently that reference is still used even if that place has been burnt down 10 years ago). The city is growing - where did all these extra people come from?!?!

Road rage is definitely more prominent than ever. It is becoming a norm that people describe incidences of violence on the road and how drivers try to pull over other drivers to give them a piece of their mind. I always say that Malaysians have split personality while driving (me included), even the most docile person will turn into a foul swearing monster behind the wheel. Nothing much is being done to upgrade our public transport, so more and more people are forced to drive their cars, even with the escalating price of petrol. And KL is definitely more jam than ever (and I forget how stressful it is until I am stuck in one!). Is it really surprising that there is road rage?

More people are speaking English – Malay, Chinese, Indians – more people in KL are just speaking better English these days.

Inflation is horrible. All prices go up. I realise a simple lunch costing more than RM 5 is normal these days (before I left, RM 5 was a bit extravagant). While in Bangkok the prices remain about the same despite the global economic crisis, simple lunch there still costs not more than RM 3. Our currency is being devalued, but does your salary remain the same?? Another thing, I know that the 1 sen coin has been discontinued, but I was surprised when nobody now cares to return your 5 sen change anymore. What is happening to the value of the Ringgit?

Politics – ah, how to summarise this? After the GE 08, each time I read the news its like one of those HK drama series. You never know how the plot twists and you’re always looking forward to the next episode to know what happened. At least people are now more questioning.

Anyway, I’m now back in the land where the switches are terbalik.

Left side is on, right side is off. Confusing huh? (I still am after 2 years!)

Thaipusam @ Batu Caves

Timing is right and I find myself in KL again in time for Thaipusam this year. So this year I actually pulled myself outta bed before 5am and went to Batu Caves again (still late, as some of my friends were there from 3.30am!).

What’s different this time? Well, firstly the crowds climbing up were not as crowded, so I managed to actually get up to the caves this time.

Not too crowded at 5am…

 

Inside the caves…

And the queue coming down from the caves…

 

And I also noticed a few more details this time round.

Instead of the normal oranges and apples, I saw coconuts hanging on hooks this time. Also saw people carrying chains around themselves. And I also noticed people actually rolling up to the base of the stairs… 

Who them proceeded to crawl up the stairs, and finally walk into the temple at the caves.

 

And finally, I leave you with my favourite pic of the day.

Haircut anyone?

Things that make you go HUH?

Huh?? Anyone knows what they’re trying to make here?

Moving house

Family is gonna move house soon, but only 5 mins away from the current one. Dad currently busy managing the renovations.

Mom + Dad gonna take the master bedroom with a huge closet (walk in closet?). Bro’s gonna have 2 rooms combined to have more space for his toys. Me? I’m gonna be given the smallest room (also will be the “guestroom”), measuring 9x10 feet! Room colour looks iffy… maybe I can help make it better when I’m back.

Or maybe the cats will be happier to have it.

Welcome home, Nat

What a welcome I had. On the plane before landing the pilot says “SELAMAT PULANG KE TANAH AIR” (Welcome home to your homeland). Aww, feeling warm and fuzzy already…

Then, when I reached home. Not even 5 minutes later (only enough time to put my luggage on the chair), we had a POWER CUT!!

Not only that, the days after that, we had a WATER CUT!!

It had been a long long time before we had any such cuts. Maybe I brought it home???

Malaysia in Tanzania

Malaysia would be the last thing you’d expect to see on the other continent. However, walking through the lanes of Stone Town in Zanzibar, you might bump into this…

 

What’s the truck carrying??? Boxes of oil… 

 

 

Closer look… its palm oil…

From Malaysia!  (aahh… effects of globalisation)

Thaipusam @ Batu Caves

It was Thaipusam on Sunday. It has always been an interesting event to photograph. The people from AsiaShutter and Flickr even decided to go there from 4am to avoid the crowd and get a parking space. Too bad I'm not an early bird. I went there at 4pm instead.

Anyway, it was still super crowded. I didn't even go up the stairs. But instead, I went to the area beside the river where they all start the procession.

First, by a bath by the river. Clean water was provided, though some people still used the icky river.

 

Followed by some prayer and offerings.

 

Then some people go into a trance.

 

Then they put on the kavadi and/or pierce their tongues or put hooks on their bodies.

 

And then the procession starts. They will walk from here right up the stairs into the main temple. Some will stop and dance along the way, all still in a trance-like state.

 

Even children can do this for the Gods.

And after all is done, you can quench your thirst from here: