UntoldCityLife.com

A sweet memory share by QQ  

I re-visit Taiwan on end Nov’07, for work reason. The weather is a bit cold as now is their Winter time, but I have forgot to get a ‘Winter Time’ brand clothes with me although I was gentlely reminded by friends and colleagues there :0) Besides working which take up 70% of my time, I still have a happy moment on food and their convenient stores.

I love to visit their convenient stores like 7-11 or Hi-Life as it is like a minimarket in Malaysia, besides selling fresh vege…You can get wide range of soft drinks, teas, coffee, soya milk, fruit/vege juices!!

And the next reason is they are selling different types of chewing gums which couldn’t found in Malaysia. I have to admit that they are really good in packaging in terms marketing strategy which will creates lots of instant buying desire. Each pack of chewing gum cost about NTD 39.

I love the BLACK BLACK from Lotte brand. As self explain by it’s name, the chewing gum is in black colour and it is super hot and make you awake. Good to bring it with you when you have to attend a boring meeting or conference. Another brand that I like is Xylitol that has the same function to awake you. Those fruity chewing gum is a bit sweet for me yet the colour of the chewing gum is really attractive. I guess kids will love it very much!

I have tried the McDonald’s pork burger which we could never get it from Malaysia

The taste is so good~~~ Or maybe this is the 1st time I tried pork burger which made me have other ‘burger’ experience beside chicken&fish,haha!!

Beside this, I have also tried some local foods from night market yet have forget to take the pictures as was hungry and just want to fill up my stomach. Food that worth to try from the night market will be the ‘Hao Da Da’ chicken chop, Bubble tea, ‘Shui Jian Bao’ which you can get it from Shi Da or Shilin night market.

While looking the souvenir for my friends, I am also getting something for myself. To clarify 1 thing here, I am not a softtoy big fans, yet the innocent faces of the little monkeys have driving me crazy. So, I have decided to bring them back to share with you all…..hehe..

Popularity: 43% [?]

Article written by AverageJoe

Well, some facts about Filipino are actually not quite true from my first article, Getaway - Part 1.

The correct version is, You know you’re Filipino IF
- You think Christmas season begins in September and ends in January.
- There are at least 50 people on your Christmas gift list.
- You always leave some room at the dining table for a couple of unexpected or uninvited guests.
- At parties, everyone fights to chop the leathery skin of a dead pig.
- You like sweet spaghetti.
- Your car horn can make different sounds.
- You know that no last minute maneuver on the road is considered preposterous.
- You are passionate about love as you are about religion.
- Your carry-on luggage requires a small fork lift.

Taken from You know you’re Filipino if…A Pinoy Primer.

During my stay in Philippines, I flew from Manila to Cebu and took a 2 hrs ferry ride to Bohol island.

What’s so special in Bohol that I had to travel so far all the way from Manila? Tadaa. A small animal named Tarsier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsier). They can be found in parts of the Philippines and parts of Indonesia. However, they used to be all over the South East Asian Islands. It has been estimated that there are between 5,000 and 10,000 left in the world.

Visited chocolate hills (I don’t get to eat or buy chocolate here).

It is composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills of about the same size, spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers. They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name.

I also had a boat ride to Loboc River.

Visited museum.

And lastly, eaten a python alive

Popularity: 45% [?]

Article written by AverageJoe

As you may aware, I went to Philippines for my year end trip before embark to a new project. It’s a local company and some folks actually pronounce it as “screw-me”. I shall not reveal more since I gave my project manager this blog’s URL. Otherwise, I’ll be “screwed”.

Thousand of people asked why I chose Philippines for my destination. Well, these are the reasons:-
1. Flight was free and btw, on business class.
2. Accommodation was free as well.

I have never been to Philippines so I guess it’s for the experience, truthfully.

I want to be able to agree when people share facts about PH.

Fact 1, the guys in PH pee by the road side (open air toilet if you define this as a toilet).

Fact 2, there were guards everywhere even in shopping malls (with big gun). They actually open and check your bag. Imagine I had to do this for bloody 20 times in a day because I went from mall to mall. Or even in the serviced apartment I stayed.

Fact 3, the kids in PH like kayaking.

Finally, Pinoy (Filipino) does their pedicure in the park.

To be continued…

Popularity: 48% [?]

Article written by AverageJoe

I consider myself quite adventurous to try new things in life. Well, we live only once so heck it…

During my recent trip to Philippines, I tried the fear factor egg (embryo egg) which they call it Balut in Philippines.

World -famous Pateros eggs? I’m not sure of the meaning of Pateros so I google it. Pateros refers to the following place:
Pateros, Metro Manila, a municipality in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Cool, so it is actually world-famous Manila eggs. Or, simple eggs-sotic

This is the look of the egg, nothing unusual right?

Wait till you crack it.

Nice isn’t it. Eat it with a packet of salt. Yummy yummy…

Ok, well. I didn’t finish it, just 2 bites. Hehe.

Try it the next time you are in Philippines.

Popularity: 42% [?]

Article written by AverageJoe

Friend : Are you interested to join me for sky trekking?
Me : What the heck is that?
Friend : Join me then you ma know lor.
Me : Since I’m free on that weekend, count me in lor.

Adventure begins…

This is what I did there for close to 2 hrs.

Cool right? Sky trek is actually jungle trekking on top of the tree, so to speak.

We started with briefing session.

Followed by a little practice before the real show. Would not die if were to fall from here

Real show begins… The zig zag challenge

Flying fox… I enjoyed it. Look at my face. He He. (Still can show off)

This was really hard

Long bridge where it’s hard to balance when you are in the middle

The monkey jump

Stop for a little break. Civilised way of drinking water

Me, still standing after the adventure

There are actually more photos of the challenges but I’ll take forever to show it here. It was a nice adventure and I’ll definitely go again. Anyone?

For more information, you can visit their website at http://www.skytrex-adventure.com/content.html.

Prior booking is needed for this event.

Popularity: 53% [?]

An UntoldCityLife.com’s Travel & Places by Xiao Loong Zi on a Penang X’mas trip

From Cititel 11th Floor

For just 3D/2N, 2 Guys and 1 Girl nearly lost in the island of Oriental Pearl for the sake of Penang-style crazy X’mas. In fact, all 3 of us been to Penang before. This trip was actually initiated by a guy called “Mr. Right”. Yes, he called for the trip, he chased people to join his trip, he wanted Cititel so much and guess what ….. he cannot make it at last… (Anyway he was penalized to share part of the accommodation fare as a cancellation fee). Among us, 2 Guys and 1 Girl, the girl is known as “Miss Anything” because her opinion is always “anything”. The “2 Guys” were me and the “Mr Chauffeur”. Mr Chauffeur loves his only “wife” very much and he was so reluctant to let us touch it. So he drove all the way up and down.

Day 1 - Sunday 23, Dec 07 - From Broga to Mines to Kepong to Ipoh to George Town

The journey started around 8am++ from Broga reaching Mines at 9.15am to pick me up by “Mr Chauffeur” then heading to Kepong to pick Miss Anything. The story shall not began here but in Ipoh …

At 12.30 sharp, we reached Ipoh toll and was lead by a friend of “Miss Anything” to go for lunch in “Ipoh Oldtown”. In a very crowded restaurant, we tried Ipoh’s “Char Kuay Teow”, Rojak, “Sotong-Vege” and “Chicken Rice” as s.hown.

A unique and distinct Rojak using special kind of sauce

Feel the peanut in the curry sauce, a special Sotong-Vege in Ipoh

The best “Char Kuay Teow” I ever had. But very small portion - RM3.00

To our surprise, Ipoh served better foods than in Penang especially the “Char Kuay Teow”. Ipoh is a lovely town for foods and Chinese pastries. These are the famous and established shops we pass by, we bough more than 8 packs of “Xian Peng” here.

Each pack of the “Xian Peng” costs about RM6 - RM7 in “Kun Lum” (our lead brought us here because this is the best brand)

Another famous Chinese Pastry - Lam Fong

The locals know that this is the best Noddle shop

The “foreigners” always come here! (I was told the above is better than this)

We continued the journey towards Penang and enjoyed the following scenes:

A tunnel somewhere after Ipoh

Nice green Padi field

An expensive and terribly jam Penang bridge.

Yeah, we are on the Jelutong expressway towards GeorgeTown

A heritage historical strait-times buidling?

At 4pm++, we reached Cititel after terrible jam in GeorgeTown! We almost lost as most ways are one way.

The only X’mas decoration in Cititel

Our very “tiny” small bed room

Our room furnitures…. everything is just so small here

Another small corner

Small bath room

Small toilet

This is the only place to shower!

My mobile bed as an additional request or else I have to sleep on the floor :(.

Do you think Cititel Penang deserves a 4-stars rating? 3-stars will be reasonable!

After checking-in, we rested a while that took more than 3 hours. We wanted to visit Batu Ferringi beach to enjoy the sunset and white-sands walking but it was too late! We reaching there just-in-time for dinner. First impression of Penang foods….. very sucky! Went to Global Bay, an attractive food court and had “Char Kuay Teow” again.

An attractive food court called Global Bay

A disappointed “Char Kuay Teow” (Ipoh serves better than Penang)

Another disappointed “Kuay Teow Mee” with very little Kuay Teow

A kind of Penang-style Lam Mee that was just OK

***

After the dinner in Batu Ferringi, we went back to Cititel and walk around in George Town. Lastly, we found this Upper Penang Road, a hip-hop disco-like atmosphere with full of pubs and bars. We settled down in a cozy Japanese restaurant to drink Sake, supper and chit-chatting.

An old shop selling dim sum (very classic style)

The night scene of Cititel. Left of the Cititel is an Hindu Cineplex.

A happening disco-atmosphere street of Penang Upper Road. (Outside of MOIS)

Rakuya Japanese Restaurant & Sake Bar

Our drinks, a Japanese Hatkusuru sake rice wine and fruit juices

My seafood fried rice as my supper, very yummy!

Then, we called it off the day and went back Cititel to sleep :). Stay tune for upcoming Day 2 story.

Popularity: 48% [?]

Article written by AverageJoe

I was staying in Dusit Resort, Pattaya City. It’s rated as 5-star hotel but too bad, no time to enjoy the facilities in the hotel. I wanted to try Devarana Spa from Dusit but it’s way above my budget. Full package starts from THB3000.

Since I’m too stingy to fork out this amount of money, I tried hand, foot, body and shoulder massage outside the hotel for just THB700 which lasted for 2.5 hours. Not a bad deal eh? It’s called Let’s Relax, a very decent place and nice ambience as well.

Snapshot outside Let’s Relax.

Wide range of spa products from Let’s Relax.

The massage room.

The massage process.

As for shoulder massage, this chair is being used.

Me on the chair

We like this place very much and the price is affordable. A must visit place if you are a spa lover.

Popularity: 31% [?]

Uniquely Singapore! This is a place that you must visit if you are in Singapore! You can’t find it in Malaysia!

An UntoldCityLife.com’s Travel & Places by Xiao Loong Zi

If you are not a local, you might not have heard of the ONLY “Gods of Fortune Temple” in Singapore! Why? Because this temple is located far away from the city, in a town called Sembawang. It is actually near to Senoko Loop or the famous Senoko Power Station. For Johorian of Malaysia, you just need to cross the sea to Woodland of Singapore, and then take a taxi or bus from Woodland to Sembawang or Senoko. Most of the local taxi and bus drivers in that area are aware the presence of such temple.

See, it’s actually very near to Malaysia!

How I know it? (UntoldCityLife.com must share it with you)

One day while working on my client site in Senoko, I heard a gossip. One of the colleagues of my client won a “lottery” or “4D” as a result that he visited and prayed hard to the Gods of Fortune in Sembawang :). Since Chinese are so superstitious, I for sure will pay a visit to the Gods of Fortune Temple :). For your info, I got one big red envelop from the Gods after my praying. In the read envelop, I saw a 4 digit numbers “2008″. Yes, it was “2008″ and this number came out twice in Singapore for the last two to three months ago :). Anyway, I am not a gambler, I visited the temple to pray for other stuff :p.

Steps to pray in the temple:

i) Make your donation at any amount at the counter. And then, you will be given a pack of praying stuff including: 21 golden incense sticks for praying to 7 Gods, a book of paper for burning to Gods of Fortune, 1 small bag of dried tea leaf, 1 small bag of sweet food and 1 red envelop that contained your lucky numbers.

ii) There are a lot of Gods inside this temple for to pray for. Each of the area has been numbered so that you can pray the Gods in sequential orders.

Chai Shen Ye (Gods of Fortune) as seen are sitting inside the temple

Step 1: Pray the Sky from here

Step 2: Pray these Gods

Step 3 - Pray Guan Yin God

Step 4 - Pray the King of Castle God for Hell

Step 5 - Pray the Tiger God

Step 6 - Pray the Gods of Years

Step 7- Pray the Sea Dragon King God

My 1 dollar comment!

It would cost you about $18 - $20 for 20+ min taxi journey from the city to this temple. Give it a try as you could be the next lucky person on the “lottery” or “4D” :). Good luck friends!

***

If you like to read about “Travel & Places “, please click at Category “Travel & Places ” at the right side

***

You could win a “Prestige Platinum” dinner if you read this “Want to have free dinners with Xiao Loong Zi at Shangri La Hotel? “

***

Popularity: 70% [?]

Article written by AverageJoe

I’m back. It was indeed the most tiring travel this year. I have been to Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand (3rd time this year) and this is the worst trip ever. I have been working for straight 36 hours this time.

This is my look after 36 hours staying awake.

I reached Pattaya at 4 something and headed straight for early dinner due to bad lunch provided by MAS on the plane. They had replaced the meal with only sandwiches, an apple and Cadbury’s bytes. How pathetic.

This is what we had.

Tom Yam Goong

Pork Omelet Rice

Sweet and Sour Fish

I ordered Pad Thai

It was indeed a nice meal. It’s easy to find a nice food in Thailand. Everything is so delicious, or a-loi in Thai language.

After our meal, we walked around the street of Pattaya for sight seeing.

1. Pole Dancing Bar

2. Street Food. Thailand is a land of food. You can get anything at any time.

3. Duck or chicken (varies) - I’m sure you know what I mean.

4. And Viagra if you need one. You can get everything on the same street.

5. No money? Don’t worry. Currency exchange and ATM on the move for you.

6. Cheap guest house available if you can’t afford hotel.

But if you could, settle in for this…

To be continued …

Stay tuned …

Popularity: 54% [?]

Article written by AverageJoe

Away to Thailand from 28 Oct 07 - 3 Nov 07. Will update once back. Please come back to see my “interesting” article on xxx… :P 

Popularity: 23% [?]