Orchard Christmas - Sweet Christmas '08

Here are the pics i promised :) I admit i'm not a good photographer, but that's what stepping out is all about.

X'mas Spirit

Actually, i wanted to share some pics i took at Orchard yesterday nitez, but then again, i left my portable hard disk at office so i didn't get to copy them. I'll do it ASAP, so that you guys can see how freaking many ppl there are at ORchard 2 days prior to Christmas. My Uncle, Cousins and me had to find a place for 2 hours before we can have our dinners. Can you imagine the crowd there? Before we go on further, I just want to share some Christmas songs i find good this Christmas. Enjoy~~

Feliz Navidad

Santa Baby

Lastly,



I would like to share all my love, peace and joy~~ :) Live by Faith pals~~

Luv...

Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex

I'm pretty sure those who are frequent travellers between JB and Singapore are aware of this new building.
It is within sight from City Square and also Pelangi Mall. The authority had to demolish the Bukit Cagar Flat in order to build this complex. Because of that, they had gave out subsidies and also built new homes for the people there. How great sacrifices are made to give way to urban development~~It is indeed a huge building which intends to be shelter for various other organization, including, PLUS, immigration, Customs, Road Transport Authority, KTM, Police, Home Security, Perhilitan, Veterinary, Home Security, Timber Industrial, Agriculture, Health Department, MBJB, and Tourism. - I know it's huge, but can it fit all??? ~ Malaysian Government~

Secondly, this Iskandar Complex started operating yesterday - luckily i am not there to encounter the disastrous opening, what a disgrace to Malaysian. As expected, the situation was chaotic. Several problems were noted and it is indeed a national humiliation. I quote from Wikipedia

"Motorists entering Malaysia from Singapore were greeted by a plague of problems such as long queues, traffic confusion and teething problems. Public transport was also badly affected some commuters when interview said that crossing the causeway took them almost two hours from the original fifteen minutes before the new checkpoint opened. Although the new checkpoint boasts 76 lanes for cars, these 76 lanes split from only 1 lane that enters the complex. This is because there are only 2 lanes entering the complex. Of this two lanes one is for cars and one is fro buses and other vehicles. There is also a lack of signs and policemen causing many motorists to get lost within the complex."

Instead of ceasing the massive traffic, they are exacerbating the situation. Insufficient Police? Custom Officer? My foot.. for the past 1 month, i have been travelling back to JB every Friday night, all i can say is that they have a handful of custom officer but only a few that are working. Talking about that, reminds me of the Automated counter for passport. I wonder what the **** is that for. It is full of bug~ it has not been QC~ yet they still dare put it out for display. OMG~! Another thing which brings out the anger in me is the Causeway. Over here in Singapore, there is a walkway for pedestrians. Then, when we reach this place:

We have to walk on the road - find a way to walk safely in the midst of moving vehicles. IT's so freaking precarious~~!! We still haven't reach the part where we have to cross the road to get to the custom clearance. I really wonder why Malaysian engineers and designers are so ~~ it's ineffable~

I guess that's all for all the complains i have. I wish i could snap some pictures to share with you all my woes :P but then, given the condition of my phone, i doubt if i can do it within this few weeks. Waiting for $$ to get new phone or camera~~ Lastly, i hope the traffic will get better this evening because i'm going back to JB later~~

Trip to Sungai Petani - Sunday noon

After that heartiest breakfast, we went to get more souvenirs - more in the sense, i've bought some from Penang already.. So, here are everything i've bought and intend to bring back to JB.


All these costs me about RM110~~ Officially bankrupt~!

Then, i took some pics of Mei shan's dad's trophy...



Yea.. He's a golfer.. Quite a good one :)

Lastly... Here's lunch...





Lastly.. The one thing i came all the way from JB to SP for.....


YES!!! BAkZhang~~ it's so tasty.. Mei Shan's mum's Bak Zhang... I brought a dozen of them back to JB.. Feel pai seh.. but then, i can't help being gluttonous... This is Diana - the food lover~~

So, i guess that's the end of everything i've done for the past weekend. Life is so wonderful despite all the bad things - ya, i mean my blurness for answering TOEFL - but then again, food covers up every flaws in my life :) A toast for all the food in the world~!!

Trip to Sungai Petani - Sunday morning

After a long and satisfying saturday night sleep, we woke up to have tea and dim sum with mei shan's parents. They are so healthy :) Pictures mean a thousand word...

Ham Sap Noodle - not the horny hamsap - but salty and wet

Ma Ti Gao - Chestnut kuih - very sweet

Trip to Sungai Petani - Saturday

Last weekend, i went to Penang for TOEFL, but then again, why izzit that the title is "Trip to SP"? coz i went to SP after the test :) Basically, i don't wish to talk about TOEFL, it's better to share the joy compared to the sorrow.. haha... Let's give our eyes some treat...

Special man tou with fried seafood in the middle - very yummy and special~

Pandan coconut - very sweet and smells nice


Stir fry tau gua and ku chai - mei shan's mum favourite



Steamed prawn - uncle tendered from the pier


pipa duck - old duck so not nice :(


pork leg - very soft and tender and not oily nor fatty


sizzling egg - special dish

steamed fish - not fresh
Actually, there's a story behind this fish. Uncle (mei shan's dad) tendered a fish (ang zhor) earlier that day. When they brought the fish over to the restaurant, they sliced the fish at its stomach, then~~ a part of the flesh was spoiled. It seems that the fish has cancer =.=''' That's why we ended up eating the fish from the restaurant.




11 of us finished everything served. Left one duck tight - coz it's not nice >.<

After that, we went back to mei shan's house. We reached home at about 10pm, but i couldn't sleep because i was too full~ bloated~!! I could only sleep at about 12am... And all those food cost about RM 150.00.. Cheap? For Singaporean mayb, but it's at a small village, i think they overcharged...