How I Spent My Weekend

Malacca trip once more, but this time it's with my colleagues.

Mini Malaysia & Mini Asean - Two words. Huge disappointment. We thought we’re gonna be giants in a land of miniature Malaysia.

Turned out, Mini Malaysia basically comprises of 13 houses on stilts, designed to show the cultures in each state – Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sarawak and Sabah. Some houses were well furnished, while others were pretty run-down. The Penang house was alright but the flag was very battered.

The house with the best interior design would be the Malacca house. Biased betul. LoL.

Similarly, Mini Asean comprises of houses of Asian countries i.e. Philippines, Thailand, etc. We saw Philippines’s and Thailand’s houses from afar. Didn’t even bother to enter or check out the other countries’ houses.

The RM 12 entrance fee was so not worth it but at least we managed to create some fun for ourselves.

Rating: 3/10

All of us were hot, sweaty and hungry when we left the place. Wanted to go Bachang for the famous pai gu mien (pork ribs noodle) but apparently, Bachang is the name of an area, not a street or the shop name. GPS was pretty useless in such situation.

And so I S.O.S.ed my Malacca friend – YHsin.

It was past 1pm already and he was still sleeping -_-“

The hungry us then decided to go for the famous chicken rice ball at a shop at Jonker Street.

But before that we entered a very well furnished and decorated chicken rice ball shop and get the camera working.

SN made the funniest and biggest blunder that day. Thinking that the rice balls were as firm and compact as a fishball, she forked one rice ball and swung it around. Within the next minute, the rice ball split into two, half landed on the table while the other half flew up high and landed on the floor behind her.

Rating: 7/10

We then took a casual stroll along Jonker Street, making many pit stops along the way.

There were many interesting stuff to see. We stopped by an antique store. They had lots of cool stuff i.e. gramophone, antique furniture, antique precious stones and several pairs of very old and worn shoes. The one which caught my attention was the gramophone. The owner was quite nice cause he demo-ed and played a disc on a gramophone.

There was indeed a huge difference in the sound quality.

A water well

Another interesting stop was a very young boy hacking away a round block of gula ketuk.

Although it was a damn hot day, I actually had fun!

Rating: 8.5/10

It was 4pm by the time we were done walking. Arleen wanted to bring us to a very good cendol place but it was closed =(

We then decided to have pork satay BUT it was closed as well =(((

We ended up having crepes at Melaka Raya. I didn’t like it cause the dairy taste was too strong for my liking but the others gave two thumbs up.

Rating: 1/10 for me, probably 9/10 for the rest

Next stop – Baba Nyonya food for dinner at Nyonya Makko, Jalan Melaka Raya. We had asam pedas fish, kangkung belacan, pongpay chicken, cencaluk egg and chicken popiah. Love the pongpay chicken!

Rating: 7.5/10

Before the four of them depart from Malacca, we made a final stock up on local delicacies i.e. coconut sweets, pineapple tarts, durian sweets, etc.

We were hot, sticky, sweaty, stinky and yucky but it was a fun trip indeed. Next trip currently in planning phase!

Our Malacca Trip

We’re a bunch of excited young adults.

Itinerary:

Date: 7 November 2009

Partner(s) in crime: Melissa, SanNien, Gary, KokYee, Erica

Tour guide(s): Arleen, Benjamin

- Both are Malacca babies.

Tagger(s): BW

- Will join us only when he's off duty

Departure spot: Pangy’s residence @ Shah Alam

- Breakfast at Shah Alam

Scheduled arrival at Malacca: 1130

- One and a half hour car ride

Food Stops:

- Pork Chop Noodle @ Bachang

- Satay Celup @ Ong Kim Wee Road/Capitol

- Pork Satay @ Jonker/Kota Laksamana

- Ikan Bakar @ Umbai Road/Portuguese Settlement

- Fried Oyster @ Jalan Bunga Raya

- Baba Nyonya Laksa @ Jonker Walk

- Pineapple Tarts @ Madam Goh's, Jonker Street

- Baba Nyonya Food @ Jalan Melaka Raya

- Cendol + Durian @ Jeeta Groove

- Chicken Rice Ball @ Jonker Street

Sight Seeing:

- Mini Malaysia

- Christ Church @ Red Church and the dead Eye of Malaysia, since we're gonna explore the local delicacies at Jonker area

Departure time from Malacca: 2200

- All gonna depart on that day itself but me

My manager saw the sketch on SNien's table..

Manager: What's this?

SN: Our Malacca trip

Me: One day trip this Saturday!

Manager: *points at our declaration signatures* LoL first time I see such thing.

Both: *laughs*

Manager: What do you guys plan to do there?

SN: Makan, since not much interesting sight seeing spots

Manager: This is the list of food you're gonna have in a day??

Both: Yes!

Manager: Oh my goodness!

LoL. Excited excited!

T.T

Remember when I said I'm bound to complain about my complexion after eating a packet of raisin chocolates?

Which I hope I will not have to complain about it?

Can I complain now?

T____________________________T

Don't know if it's that stupid pack of chocolates or my insufficient rest at night throughout my stay at my friend's place. Hmm.

Of Ghouls, Devils and Darth Vaders!

An update on the past week.

Bunked in with a friend of mine for a week due to certain reasons.

For 5 working days, I could afford to get up later than usual and still reach office like 5 minutes early. I no longer have to wait to be fetched from the LRT station cause it takes only 5 minutes to walk to and from the station.

Staying in PJ damn happening compared to where I am at the moment lor. Haiz.

Dine at Fish & Co. Was once a waitress at the Penang Gurney Plaza branch. Reminiscence betul.

Won 1 pool game, out of 3. I would have won the 3rd game if I didn't make a silly mistake when pocketing the black ball =(

After my disappointing performance at the pool center, we intruded the Halloween showhouse after it was barricaded (It was past 10 pm). When a security guard came to halau us, Aaron made him snap a pic of us. LoL.

Went IKEA since Chok wants to get some new furniture for his new house. Damn rich la that guy. Envious.

The people around sure think we crazy ady.

Since it was Halloween, both Chok and Aaron got themselves cute Halloween accessories.

A: You get this devil horns la. Suits you well.

Me: No way. You get one then I will too.

Aaron bought this, which I think looks very much like his own face.

And Chok got himself a cute pair of horns.

Me, nothing =P Aaron accused me of tricking him into getting that prop.

The plan was to dine at T.G.I. Fridays but it was full house so we went to Tony Roma's. My first time there!

[L-R] Aaron, me, Saufi as Darth Vader, Chok and sweet Mandy.

Food kinda good but a lil pricey for someone with peanuts salary like me. This month I damn broke T_T

Had pleasant surprise when a bunch of teenagers dressed up for Halloween entered Tony Roma's and walked from table to table.

Some ice breaking and photo session before we called it a night.

My first Halloween. It's pretty good, I'd say but it's probably the company.

Would also like to thank the gracious host and his housemate for their hospitality for the entire week =)

Random Updates

Random update #1

Sleepovers are fun. New place, new roommate and housemate, new faces at LRT stations, much shorter home-work-home traveling distance and time, etc.

Plus, my broadband connection is damn stable in my friend’s room, although there isn’t any window sighted (dining area - room window not counted). Digsby never failed on me, loading YouTube videos are way faster, and there is zero need to hit the ‘Refresh’ button.

Nice right?

Friend’s housemate is moving out soon. I would have taken his room if the rent is not that expensive. Plus, I’m not even sure if I’m gonna stay rooted in KL for long.

Found a good morning note on the mirror this morning.

“Morning. You look angelic when you’re sleeping”

I look angelic when I’m asleep? But I thought I look angelic all the time =(

Random update #2

I woke up feeling a lil unwell today. Felt feverish, but it was soon gone after a nice morning shower.

It returned the moment I stepped into the icy cold office. The management kept saying cut cost cut cost. Ish. They should start by reducing the number of air conditioners in here. During lunch I felt slightly better cause it’s warmer but it worsened after lunch. That’s when I decided to consult the company’s dr.

After a series of got cough-sorethroat-flu-fever-bodyache or not questions, she concluded I had a mild fever. No wonder head felt so heavy. Like now. It made me answer a very important question stupidly.

Dr: Take two tablets of this twice a day, after meals, etc etc..

Me: Ok ok. Thanks.

Dr: Want MC?

Me: Don’t need la, I think.

See. Can’t believe I said I don’t need an MC. Which idiot would not want one anyway? Ishhhhh. Regret regret.

Random update #3

Though slightly feverish and head damn heavy now, I’m happily eating Van Houten chocolates with raisins to keep my forehead from landing onto my lappie in the office.

Yes, I’m eating my complexion’s worst enemy. You’ll hear me complaining about my skin imperfections soon but I hope that will not happen.

Then again, maybe not. Peanuts are the biggest of the biggest enemy.

At KLCC

Met Fong for the first time in like..three years? The last time I saw him was during his convocation back in 2006.

Fong: Hie Erica. It’s been a while so I’ll promise not to bully you today.

Yeah, right.

At Isetan - G2000 men’s section.

Me: You think this is nice?

Fong: Like pyjamas.

Me: How about this?

Fong: For your boyfriend? Got size ‘S’ or not?

Me: No wor. Aiya doesn’t matter wan ma if it’s a little bigger. Casual top wat..

Fong: Loose shirts make people think they got it from a cheap sale cause such cheepo shirts usually no more size.

Me: Hmph. Fine. This one?

Fong: Let me try it on. Looks good. But everything looks good on me.

Me: -_-" This pink shirt?

Fong: I don’t mind. Thanks!

Me: -___-" You wear pink wan meh?

Fong: Yeah, but depends also *points at a bright turquoise shirt* This shirt looks like the paper effigies people burn at Taoist funerals.

Me: -__________-" Can’t you give better comparisons?

In the end, I didn’t buy anything.

Fong stepped into KFC. I followed. He scanned the two nearest staff and picked one less gangster-ish looking.

Fong: Bro, nak tanya mana McD ya?

Staff: (Dengan selamba) Oh, McD kat atas.

Fong wasn’t satisfied cos the staff didn’t have that bengang look so when we were at McD to get sundaes, he wanted to ask the cashier boy if they have Zinger burger.

But he didn’t. Thank God.

Fong and I, at Memory Lane’s cashier counter to pay for his dolphin soft toy. Cashier girl handed the credit card receipt. Fong looked high and low for a pen until she pointed at a pen right below his nose.

Fong: Oh sorry ya. Too much sex impairs the vision. Itu, ada kat cawan tu *points at a decorative mug with lines behind him*

Cashier girl: *looks at me and gives an embarrassed smile*

OMG SHE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT ME!

Me: *covers my face* Saya tak kenal dia punya.

Fong: Tak kenal, tak kenal. Tinggal dalam bilik hotel yang sama saja.

Me: Dia gila dah *Fast fast push him out before he continues on*

Wrote this on purpose because he asked why I never mentioned him in my blog. Nah, there you go!

Bonus for you girls – His pretty boy picture. He’s getting a lil too pretty I felt threatened walking beside him.

P/S: Fong, I steal this from your FB.

Sky Bar

Made a fuss on Facebook on Tuesday night and I finally get to go on Thursday night. Before this, I never had the chance to join my friends to the much talked about Sky Bar cause I was either needed back in Penang or I had more important stuff to attend to.

The interior with an indoor pool

Didn't managed to get the best seats - Sofas overlooking KLCC building. All were occupied by the time we arrived =(

At least we managed to book one with a view like this.

Pardon the picture quality. Time for a new camera phone! *hint hint hint*

The expensive drinks:

My lychee rose martini

Aaron's Jack Daniel's

He emo-ing =P

A picture upon leaving

Magnificent ambience, nice drinks, great company, everything! There will definitely be a next time!

Susan's Story

Susan's grandmother passed away last week. Susan's sister passed away yesterday. Why?

Below are my attempts from my non-psychotic brain:

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susan got incest with her dad, grandma found out, susan dun like her so she killed her grandma. then after a few days, susan found out her sis also got something something with the dad. so she killed her sis.

WRONG!!! A clue... there is a guy in the story...

eh my previous ans got the dad as the guy ma. grandma killed susan's bf cos he very teruk, susan not happy so she killed her grandma, susan;s sis blackmail her and threaten to turn her to the police so susan killed her sis.

No No No... think deeper... more detective want... not tvb drama

okay. first, susan killed her grandma. then, during funeral, susan saw her bf (or the guy she likes) go pujuk susan's sis, who was super duper sad. susan got jealous of the sis, so she killed d sis.

A bit closer

susan killed grandma. a few days later got funeral. during the funeral, susan saw a guy. but the guy was eyeing susan's sis. she got jealous. so she kill her sis. correct correct?

No no no... think westernly...hahaha

Not cantonese-ly.... Hahahaha.

susan killed grandma. a few days later got funeral. during the funeral, susan saw a guy and likes him. but after the funeral susan saw her sis kau yeh with the guy. so she killed her. western enuf or not. Haha

Nooo! Ok, give you a clue laaa, it's not about jealousy.

Susan's granma just die lah... no murder... and the guy appear in granma's funeral...

huh. means susan's grandma died. at funeral, susan saw a guy, likes him but he go kau yeh with her sis so susan killed her sis?

Its not kau yeh lah... dun keep thinking of kau yeh... LOL

you say western mah! Haha

Ok, dont think Gossip Girl, think CSI. Hahahaha

OH. at the funeral susan saw this guy. but i dunno what the guy has to do with anyth. maybe he detective. but anyway, the guy told susan he suspect susan's sis kill her grandma. so susan go kill the sis

No no no...

susan's grandma died. she saw this lengzai at the funeral. thinking he would appear in her family's funeral, she killed her sis so she can see this guy again. tell me its correct..very demotivating lah everytime get wrong ans

Phew!!! Finally!!!! You can join our club now.

hahaha yay. what lah u gary. u say think western i tot kau yeh mah. Cis

Western not only know how to kau yeh k... LOL

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The Perfect Path Which Was Closed

Just knew about the existence of PETRONAS Penapisan Melaka (PPM).

It’s in MALACCA!!

Of course I got slightly excited but was cautious in putting hopes on it. I have not the slightest idea on the EE engineers’ job scopes in PPM but..what the heck right? Better to be bonded but near than to be bonded and got thrown 6-7 hours drive away, with the condition – It must be technical.

Fussy or not?

And so, I contacted a staff from PETRONAS Group Talent Sourcing first thing in the morning:

Morning (name)! I would like to ask about PPM. Are there any vacancies for EE engineers?

And he replied:

Hye Erica. Referring to your inquiry, currently there’s no vacancy for EE in our Melaka refinery

=( =( =(

Lucky thing we did not put high hopes.

Try this! Susan's grandmother passed away last week. Susan's sister passed away yesterday. Why?

Rumour says this question is used in prisons to access the psychotic level of the prison inmates. So if you get it right, remind me to stay away from you. LoL.

Crossroads

Confused, I am. Am I confident enough to face this challenge in life, which if I fail, would cause an impact my life? As much as I want to go for it for the sake of my career and finances, I won’t deny I am afraid to be tied down to the long bond. It’s no different from being imprisonment for 10 years.

It’s so hard for me to adapt to my personal life right now when it’s just an hour plus drive away I cannot imagine how it would be if it became 6 hours apart.

I remember telling my friends not to put personal life into consideration when it concerns their career and future because there’s no guarantee things will work out fine. But now? I feel like a hypocrite.

I’m actually hoping to get another job offer, which is still pending. Just went for an interview some time last week. I think my chances are pretty low, considering the fact that I’m bonded. But to think that they were still willing to give me a chance to tryout means something, no? Sometimes it’s good to be over-optimistic =P

I’m supposed to decide by today. HOW?!

Secure the PET job, forget about the other more interesting job offer and be tied down for the rest of my life. I mean 10 years.

Reject the PET job, patiently wait for the other more interesting job offer and take the risk of not getting it.

It’s been 23 going 24 years and I’m still as indecisive as ever. Well, at least I decided where to go for lunch today it caught my colleagues by surprise =P