Photo from holiday on the other coast

This was from my last holiday on the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. This was a trip which I didn't really enjoyed much about.

Day 1, it was a long ride to Kota Bharu. We took North South Highway and turned into Butterworth Kulim Expressway at Seberang Jaya. Then into the and Grik Highway en route Baling, Grik, Jeli, Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas and finally into Kota Bharu. Luckily it was a sunny day and the green scenic on the Titiwangsa mountains were breath taking. Our first meal in Kelantan was great too. I love the nasi kerabu and ayam percik served by the Yati Ayam Percik stall at Jalan Long Yunus.

Day 2...my mouth wide open looking at how our public officers were working. We were rushing here an there through out the hold day and yet nothing done (Read my experience here).

I was rotting with the orchids in their office

Our eating out plan wasn't good either. We tried the recommended pulut tapai at Selera CPT along Jalan Long Yunus. None like the tapai and the cendol base was tasteless.

The chinese food at Medan Selera Kebun Sultan was rather poor. After meal desserts in the TeaTalk Kopitiam on the opposite road were less satisfying. And the cough mixture like coffee drink at Hayaki sucked!

Day 3 Most accomplished in a day. Sunrise at Pantai Cahaya Bulan, yummy nasi dagang at Kwang Ling and temples visit in Tumpat. Kelantan has nothing better than the not so well maintained Buddhist temples.
After long hours under the hot sun, we headed back to town for some cool air. So we visited the KB mall, in which my driving skill was put to test...2 turns to get to the car park on the 5th floor. No wonder, the car park attendant stopped me before I got up and asked, "Boleh naik?". I was puzzled. Anyway I answered "boleh" and then only to discover that I signed up for the roller coaster ride. What made the situation worse was we witnessed a MPV on the opposite direction got itself scratch against the wall...ziiiingggggg. Kelantan architect really boleh and the officers lagi boleh. Such a crazy plan can be approved and built to reality.

We didn't stayed long in the mall. My mum was worry all the time we were in the mall. She was worried of how I could drive down later. So to calm her, we left early and hit the car park again and left after another round of roller coaster ride.

In the evening, with the GPS leading our way, we manage to find our way to the best Siamese restaurant in Kelantan. It took us approximately half an hour to Chiang Mai Restaurant at Tumpat. It was worth the drive for the prawn doughnuts and the spicy sour fish...yummy!
We left Chiang Mai minutes after the rain started pouring heavily. Scary moment to be in such an alien place with wild grown one meter tall grass on both side of the narrow path. The raining cats and dogs when we finally passed the clogged bridge linking Tumpat to KB...the bridge seemed flooded. If bridges could be flooded, more over the low lands. No wonder flood was such a big issue to Kelantan. Blamed it on their architects and officers at JKR and pejabat tanah.

Not even half way through the bridge, the KB city in front of us just went black off. No street lights or anything other than the vehicles lamps. This was just a super bad bad for me and my fellow Kelantanese. Wonder how could they stand such a disastrous day? According to the locals, it was normal for the whole or half the city to go back off.

in the world of darkness...in our hotel room

Day 4 My sis learned that her posting would be out today so we were in the pharmacist dept in Pengkalan Chempa early but nothing changed. She got posted to Hospital Daerah Machang. We rushed to the Bangunan Persekutuan for another round of waiting and finally headed to Machang.

Machang was a small town...way smaller than Sungai Bakap.

Day 5...We were back to civilization. I love Penang and am grateful to be a Penangite. Got Haagen Daz buffet treat from sis as my holiday compensation.

For more photos, please visit my facebook album.

IIP : White Cane Day and Mangrove Planting

These were the 2 recent Intel Involved Program that I joined. I was really into the programs, so they were no photos out of my lovely EOS.

White Cane Day...it was on last October 10th, 2009. There were approximately 200 participants, each volunteer was paired up with 1 visual impaired participant from St. Nicholas. I was enjoying my time talking to him through out our journey.

photographed by Shiu Inn

great to learn from him...he was so optimistic and brave. We were both same age. He was normal until few years back.

Mangrove Tree Planting...it was on 7th November at the Sg. Sembilang, Juru. We were there to plant hundreds of trees. It was under the hot sun at close to 10.30am. I almost fainted at the site after planting teens of trees. Really exhausting to pull myself out of the mud...aiks...I got myself dirty and scratches on over my feet and hands.....Anyway it was an enjoyable and valuable project.

half my pants were in mud...this is how I was after 1 round of washing

Damn...my words were so 准

My poor car's rear windscreen was broken overnight right in front of my house.

I don't know how much it will cost me but my insurance protection was for maximum of RM800 only. I may need to chip in for the windscreen and definitely I have to pay the full amount for the tint.

I do have a suspect in mind. He is currently one of my neighbour and soon to be not. He is staying and running a 'mamak like' restaurant in my uncle's shop lot. There is controversial between my uncle and him. He has an outstanding rental for 6 months. So my uncle decided to stop his water supply and electric supply. As my father has been helping my uncle to collect the rental all this while, he came over to negotiate with my father. He said we were rich and treated the poor badly...'got to kesian them'.

I overheard their conversation and I advised my dad not to interfere in this matter. It was my uncle's decision to lock the supplies, so let the tenant speak to the landlord straight. We were in no good position and I even said this 'we are in disadvantage looking at all our cars are parked outside. They can easily scratch on our cars and we can't do anything'.

So my dad took my advice and informed the tenant that we were out of the case and they shall deal with my uncle straight. Oh...this was on last Saturday night. So on Sunday morning, my uncle and grandpa were here to negotiate with the tenant. They managed to collect RM500 and a 3000Bahts and recovered the supplies to the tenant's use.

The restaurant's business recovered on Sunday morning and was still opened when I returned home close to midnight yesterday. My car’s windscreen was still fine too. Now on a Monday morning my rear windscreen was already broken.

For the past hours, I was busy calling insurance offices to enquire about my claim...asking if it was necessary to lodge a police report and how was the claiming procedure like while my dad called his friend also our insurance agent over my case. According to him, they didn't have claim over rear windscreen before....yup, normally it was either the front windscreen or the side windows. My case was the one and only one odd case in the office.

I am helpless now. I can't stop those uncivilized acts. I can only pray hard for them to move out peacefully ASAP and my family and I quickly move into my big bro's house ASAP too.

look at the holes and the cracks

obviously this was done with intention

gotto wrap it up before the replacement comes into place

KKM and JKN Kelantan sucked!

I wonder if this was normal for them?

My sis received her posting letter pretty late if compared to her friends. The letter mentioned that she is to report in for duty to JKN Kelantan on 16 Oct(Fri). As the letters were sent by KKM in bulk, she has to call the state office to confirm the reporting date since it is holiday in Kelantan (Friday is an offday in Kelantan). The officer asked her to report in on Monday, 19 Oct.
My mum and I accompanied my sister there. We left for Kelantan on Sunday. On Monday morning, we headed to the Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri(JKN) Kelantan at Wisma Persekutuan. She was there to report to the state authority. Family and spouses were kept waiting outside while the newly transfered pharmacists were directed to the meeting room. An officer walked in at close to 9am and deliver his welcoming speech. After a winding speech, they were told by the officer that their transfer to the state were not made known to the JKN Kelantan, hence nothing has been arranged for them. Anyway, they were asked to report to the Jabatan Farmasi at Pengkalan Chepa.

So we rushed to the Jabatan Farmasi, hoping that her placement is based on 'First Come, First Serve Basis'. It took us approximately 15 minutes to get there but we were kept waiting long. The newly reporting pharmacists were kept waiting in the meeting room again while parents and spouses were all waiting outside.

While we were waiting, the officers were busy...busy dilly dally, chatting and moving in and out of 'dewan makan'. They were all busy with their Jamuan Hari Raya I supposed. So we could only wait, wait and wait only.

Finally at close to 11 o'clock, one of the newbie's mother who is a doctor, started to 'mengamuk'. Complained to the officers impatiently. Thanks to her mother, finally the 'Penolong Pengarah' went into the meeting room to meet the newbies. Another round of winding lectures, they were told that the department was not prepared for their transfer in. So they were asked to wait till after the placement list being endosed in thier Wednesday department meeting and letter would be out by Thursday morning.

My sisters and her new colleagues asked what should they do before they know their placement and guess what he replied? He said something like this, "Kamu kena datang ke office seperti biasa dan buat apa yang sepatutnya." ...puzzled, 'What can pharmacists do sitting in the meeting room together all day?'

Since we were there with May, she decided to take a few days leave and only return to office on Thursday to get her posting letters while we could venture and discover Kota Bharu.

However on the Tuesday evening, she learnt about the posting decision was out from her friends....didn't the officer mentioned that the list would be out no earlier than Wednesday? the meeting got brought forward, canceled or what :-( My sister and WT were sent to Hospital Machang, in a small and slow pace town. What worsen their emotion was when they discovered X( a 'he') actually got posted to Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II. X met up with the officer personally and told the officer that he was a first class honour student and it would be a waste to send him to those hospitals in rural area...well well, I didn't know that the results would matter even after working for a year. Ridiculous!

There were a lot other factors that the officer could take into consideration...gender and distance from the newbies hometown, and the past year performance were more important in my opinion...or to be fair, just do a random draw. Again this prove that in Kelantan, officers were super inefficient and their words could not be taken seriously.

So on Wednesday morning, my sister and WT went to the office to collect their letters and to appeal the department's decision. It was pretty tough for girls to start off their life in an alien rural area. They didn't get to meet the officer. According to his asst., he was away in Johor and would only be back few days later...trying to hide away ya?

My sis and WT have no other choices but to report to Hospital Machang as being commanded. Hospital Machang...physically, the hospital compound was big but the number of patience was low. The bed occupancy was low, approximately at 50%. There were 4 doctors and guess how many phamacist they have. There were 6 pharmacist.

1 hospital : 4 doctors : 6 pharmacists

Given the doctor pharmacist ratio was 1 : 1.5. Crazy! More pharmacist than doctors!!!!!!!!!!!!! This huge hospital was

UNDERUTILIZed and OVERSTAFFed.

They have been hinted that working there was pretty easy...'boleh bergoyang kaki'....

However big the hospital was, there was no quarter for them two. My sis and WT were initially promised a quarter, so we didn't bother to hunt for house elsewhere since the quarter looks fine but later were to receive call from the hospital staff saying that they have overlooked. That huge quarter must be emptied and reserved for another soon to join doctor. Damn...'sekejap boleh, sekejap tak boleh'.

With this kind of management and attitude, Malaysia's public healthcare sector can never progress and we people are going to suffer.

Signing off,
Poor Malaysian

Scroll, Career, Car and House

Time for reflection again.

Stepping into my 2nd quarter of the century, I have possessed a local made scroll, a stable income career, a local made car and a double story terrace house on joint names. Well...I have a lot now.

At times, I asked myself “What more can one ask for?”. I know there isn’t any definite answer to this question. It changes over time.

When I was in school age, I learned about the importance of education. So I wanted good results to confirm me a place in the university and hoped that it would help me settled in a high profile job and earning big bucks.

When I was in university, I learned about the importance of soft skills and led to the doubt about my past believe. I juggled my studies with a lot of additional activities. So I wanted a simple scroll but rich resume to secure me a career in the correct organization which pays generously.

Now that I am out of our education system and venturing into the working society, I fell lost at times. Unlike old times, I don't have a clear short term goal. It is very vade now. But these, I know are my wishes for the year and many years to come, "May I lead a stable and happy life and for peace and health of all humankind."

Happy Birthday to myself :D and thanks all my family and friends for those wishes, presents and meals ;P

Recent sales and promotions

I just crashed into these sales recently and was glad to be able to dig so much out of them.

Times Book Mega Clearance at the D'Piazza Mall, Bayan Baru - 6 books for RM20 only....

Levi's Grab'EM Sale. Manages to get 2 pairs of jeans both at 40% off from the original price of RM279 and RM259.
Haagen Daz Indulge! All You Can Eat - RM33.90++...couldn't imagine myself eating so much ice-cream again.

Penang food coverage for Sept/Oct 2009

Some sharings and comments on Penang food.

Toh Soon Cafe at the back alley on Campbell Street...this is one of the best charcoal toast in Penang.


Sarkies Corner - E&O Hotel...very value for money lunch buffet in Penang...the salmon and oyster are excellent!

超全茶樓 (Sweet Paradise Restaurant)...a very crowded dim sum restaurant in Butterworth. Must be there early to get a taste of the corn bun....oh yes...the steam fish with bihun is another famous delicacies there.

Ecco Cafe...cosy little cafe on Chulia Street...serve excellent freshly made pasta and pizza...I love their pasta...Pasta is a must there.


Restoran Soon Chi...situated along the main road of Jawi. Many food variety...seafood very fresh and at reasonable price.

Sungai Puyu laksa & ais kacang...my frequent visit place in my childhood...always get to customize my ais kacang...additional red bean, corn, no cendol, no raisin and less sugar...yummy!

Ah Ma Dessert...I like the taste and presentation...love their Monte Carlo Chicken, must ask for extra salsa...overall the food and presentation is good...they offer value for money service but looking that its location, it may be a little pricy in this neighbourhood.


Khuntai Restaurant...one of the best Thai food in Butterworth. Must try their tomyam and sour & spicy fish.

Last and not to forget...Haagen-Dazs's current ongoing eat all u can promotion.

Her move to Kelantan

Instead of Medan, I am off to Kelantan today. My sister get posted to Kelantan. Which exact hospital or KK is still an unknown. She was hoping to be place within urban area.

So Kelantan here I come...going to jalan jalan cari makan!

Oh yes...we may head up to Cameron Highland for a short holiday if she manages to get a week off duty...

Ll update on our journey later! Tschuss!

My Sponsor Child

It was a year ago when I made my commitment to sponsor her. Initially I wished to be in touch with her but after thinking twice, I wished not to be very much involved with her emotionally. So I kept the first letter I wrote for her. Anyway, she was too young to understand my lengthy words and our letters exchange would be a burden to her family. The past letters and cards were written by her father. I would rather he spent more time with her.

Today I have received an email from WVM on Sponsor's Visit to Singkawang, Indonesia. Shall I go? Shall I meet her in person? Shall I be there to witness what my little contribution mean to them?

To go or not...I pray for her health and well being!

Time to withdraw

I have been wasting too much of my time on facebook. It's time to withdraw for my own sake...need to dive into my career, my commencing master program, my family and my other favourite pass time.

MidAutumn 2009 Gathering

It has been years since I last played a lantern. Despite the rain, my cousins still manage to enjoy themselves on the rooftop.











It was time for bonding...mothers, fathers and their children.