MaKaN-MakAN TriP.....PrinCe oF WaLeS iSLanD

槟岛食游记

上一次到槟城游玩已是三年的事了。。。

这次趁着年尾的长假，再次造访马来西亚东方之珠-槟城。

还未出发前，我还忙着赶完手头上的工作，所以并没有特别做些什么准备，没预定住宿，更没计划任何行程。。。随性嘛！反正船到桥头自然直。。。嘿嘿！坏习惯！

果然，桥头最后还是直的。当然还要谢谢婷姐的朋友大方收留我们，让我们省下了住宿费。这对新婚夫妻和婷姐一样来自怡保，人很好，招待周到。我们心存感激，希望他们生活永远美满，和即将出世的宝宝能健健康康！到槟城的第一站，我们来到了市中心。刚刚成功名列世界文化遗产的槟城给我的感觉就好像怡保一样。两个城市都蕴藏着丰富的文化遗产，很‘中国式’的庙宇，古老的街道，英式殖民风格的建筑等等。更明显的是它们都是以华人作为历史主流力量而发展出来的城市。

说起住在岛上的人民嘛。。。来自怡保的友人都认为槟岛人的确有点‘岛民心态’（对不起，槟城的朋友）。。。p/s: 我也曾在某某杂志及书刊阅读过有关报道。

这趟旅程并没有所谓的参观博物馆，拜访寺庙，或到海边游玩。原因：天气太热了，同游的友人不喜欢这些消遣活动，及大部分的观光景点我都到过了。

位于光大附近老街的某某老店，我们品尝了好吃的‘煎堆’，还真的不赖！至于老街的阿叁叻沙‘Asam Laksa’及炒粿条嘛。。。的确是‘嘛嘛’罢了！炎热的天气迫使我们放弃了户外活动，我们选择了大部分城市人的消遣活动-逛购物商场。在商场里，我们都献出了‘第一次’，就是做Fish Spa。Fish Spa也就成了我们消磨时间及等待肚子消化食物的活动。p/s：到底是什么道理，为什么我们还要付钱让鱼吃我们的死皮？

谢谢贵姐的妹妹边带孩子便做导游带我们到非常‘卡拉’的海边餐馆享用好吃的特别‘虾面’。虽然我并不怎么喜欢吃虾，但还是觉得这虾面不错！当然还有让我至今还十分怀念的‘Penang Satay’，味道独特。一度让我误以为槟城的福建面就好像我家乡那‘黑黑，粗粗，大大条的福建炒面。最后才搞清楚原来槟城人说的福建面就是我们俗称的‘Penang虾面’。

我其实还蛮讨厌吃虾面的，但既来之，则安之，唯有试试。。。我朋友说很好吃！我？

发现‘猪肠粉’还真的有蛮多吃法。早前曾看过某电视节目介绍怡保的‘猪肠粉’配咖哩汁，而吉隆玻的就配黑黑甜酱。在槟城，他们的‘猪肠粉’可是配带有虾膏为的黑甜酱。p/s:发现槟城人还蛮喜欢在食物里加入虾膏，比如‘槟城有名的福建粽的酱料，水果Rojak，Asam Laksa等等。我个人蛮喜欢的‘麻籽’，花生味浓郁，弹口不黏牙。不错的咖哩鱼头，味道鲜甜浓郁，非常适合下饭。但我们实在太饱了，并没配饭吃，所以味道重了点！临走前的最后一餐，我们还在犹豫应该到Tambun吃海鲜，还是到怡保吃鸡饭。最后还是决定吃海鲜。Tambun的海鲜餐还不错，但环境十分糟糕，卫生很有问题，超多苍蝇。吃的好不是味道！同时也让我在这趟槟岛之旅留下‘难忘’的记忆。

可恶的警察 ！

早上驾车上班的途中，经过一个转弯处的时候。。。
突然从弯角的盲点位置“跳出”一位警察。。。
让我吓了一大跳，也让我差点撞向路旁的石礅。。。
当我一回神时，警察示意我把车停到路旁。。。
“SXXT! 到底他想干什么？一大清早就躲在路旁吓人。。。”
警察走到车旁说：“Lisen"
我有点不爽地从皮夹拿出驾照，一边问到：“Bang, kenapa road block kat sini, i terkejut tadi tau?”
警察一副好像诡计得逞的样子说：“itulah, macam ni baru boleh tangkap orang yang bersalah。。。nasib baik you ada pakai sit belt”
“yalah, memang nasib baik... saya tadi nyaris-nyaris terlanggar divider tu...”
我真的快要气爆了!他们竟一大清早在这里埋伏。为的只是要捉没系安全带的驾车人士！
太过分了，这样可是很危险的！
虽然早已习惯大马警员的办事作风，但我还是觉得他们这样做实在太过分了。。。
他们怎么能在这里守株待兔呢？
我拿回驾照后，二话不说地驾车离开。。。
不然我还能怎样？ 无奈！！

ArE We ReaDy?

这几天，我都不太想去看新闻报道或报章，不是因为我太忙，

而是我真的不想看到电视荧幕中或报章的画面。

一幕又一幕惨绝人寰的场面，只会让我觉得人生无常。

对！没错。。。我讲的正是发生在印度的恐怖袭击。。。
我并不认为我是一个有大爱的人，

但往往看见那些无辜丧命的人们，我就会感到莫名的伤心及心痛。

常常在想：人类的力量已经是那么的微不足道了。。。

无论我们研发出什么先进的技术或机器，花多少力量与时间，我们始终还是无法超越大自然的灾害如地震或水灾。。。

那么，人类为什么还是要自相残杀不可呢？

写到这里，坐在冷气房电脑前的我不禁回想起我们拥有的一切。。。

感觉好幸福。。。

还记得学校老师常常这样对我们说：“你们应该觉得住在马来西亚很庆幸，因为马来西亚鲜有天灾且生活安逸。”

对！生长在马来西亚的我们都很幸福。。。

从懂事以来我都是这么认为的 。。。

但自印度发生了恐怖袭击，看到印度官员对此次灾难的处理及应对方式后，我又了个新的想法。。。
正因为马来西亚很少发生天灾或其他灾害，当有一天我们遇上灾难时，我们可懂得怎样去应对?我们准备好了吗？

钱不够用...

打开信用卡结帐单惊然发现这个月的汽油费竟高达六百零吉。。。

这个数字可是有史以来最高的（平常的汽油费为四百零吉）。。。

汽油价格不是下降了吗？怎么我的汽油费还是那么高呢？？

真是摸不着头脑！

现在终于知道为什么《钱不够用》这部电影会那么红。。。

因为现在每个人真的钱不够用！！

大家都说大马的经济将会跟随美国的金融灾难慢慢衰退，那么这次的经济衰退会对我带来怎样的冲击呢？

想到这里。。。惟有改变消费方式咯！

1。减少出外用餐（当减肥咯，一举两得！）

2。减少逛街（这个好像有点难！！）

3。不要冲动花费（要这样折磨自己吗？会很难受哦！）

4。减少奢侈品的花费（旅游/度假）真的要这样吗？

想着想着：还是觉得不行不行！！那我的生活哪里还有乐趣？

还是觉得省钱固然重要，生活还是要继续享受。。。

怎么办？

惟有更努力赚钱咯！

WiSh Me HapPy BirThdaY......

Romantic?Touch?Happy?Enjoyment?
Thanks to dear dear who planning such a romantic, cosy atmosphere and unique experience for my birthday celebration.
I will never forget all the effort you did......
"千言万语都不能表达我对你的谢意，我知道爱情并不该只用谢意来表达，你不计较的付出令我十分感动。一次又一次不经意伤你的心更是我不该犯的错误，惭愧的我时常装着一副大男人的表情想必令你觉得厌烦了吧？感谢上天安排这样的你给我。对于我的任性和不成熟，感谢你的包容。亲爱的，我永远爱你！我并不敢保证什么，因为不想让你失望。但我会好好珍惜你！”

Venue: Sekeping Serendah
Sekeping Serendah is a nice private resort located in Serendah, which is quite close to Rawang Town. It is somewwhat located in the rainforest. As on the way getting into the jungle, we passed by some orang asli villages and some winding roads. We took about 45 mins to reach the place from KL which is not too far from the city and i think not many people know about this place as well.
Reached there at about 7:30pm and the sky is almost dark and it’s drizzling. Both of us were amazed by the scene of the glass sheds when the 'resort keeper' lead us to the place. The double storey shed is mostly made by glass and most of them can be opened. There is no air cond, but only fan.

There are also basic kithen equipments for us to use such as fridge, kettle, some dishwares and microwave. Sofa is made of steel and table is made of a piece of steel too. As for the shower- it is an open-air concept bath room, and since it’s a glass shed, everything is viewable from the staircase and above. The open air shower area is really cool, however they have water heater. Rainforest is just around and we can actually hear the sounds from the jungle while showering. Great experience!!

So-called 'candle light dinner'After exploring around the shed, dear start to prepare for the dinner. She was busy to light up all the candles she brought (try to create the romantic atmosphere, hehe!!). We didn't use the bbq pit outside the balcony because we brought our own food. The scenery in the day time is as pretty as the night time. Reading books with bubbly sounds from the brook and the insect sound from surrounding was really a big enjoyment there. Besides, chit-chating and taking photos are the other activities during night time. Jump into the swimming pool nearby for a cool refreshment was the ideal activites during day time.
It was really a good experience for both of us with lots of memories and moments.

Glass Shed built in the forestUnique ornament at swimming pool

Nice Photos of Taman Negara

Here are some nice photos took by my travel buddies during our trip to Taman Negara......

My TaMaN NEgArA TriP (PaRt 2)

Taman Negara Exploration
Activity 1: Cave exploration
For those who visit Gua Tempurung before, the cave in Taman Negara or Gua Telinga to be exact is just an ‘ice kacang’.
Torch light is a 'must' to bring along the cave exploration. Pitch dark inside make us almost see nothing (You will appreciate the creation of torch light). Pungent smell with guano filling the rocks and pathway made me felt so uncomfortable. Bats are everywhere in Gua Telinga and they are just 2 to 3 metres on the top of you. I think this was my 'closest-encounter' to the bats.
The cave started out with a wide entrance and progessively become narrow. Why i said this cave is not adventurous because its total path is only 80 metres long (only takes about 15 minutes to complete the whole track)...... However the limited space in it actually make it enjoyable (you have to squeeze your body into a very narrow hole).

Activity 2: Bukit Terisek hiking
Hiking up to the famous Bukit Terisek was not as tough as i thought because the hill was not steep indeed. Along the way, our guide was showing us some rare plants such as Tongkat Ali, Cik Fatimah, Tualang tree and Gaharu tree that appear along the trek. We just takes about an hour to reach the top. At the top of Bukit Teresek, you will find yourself the perfect picturesque view of the whole Taman Negara.

Activity 3: Canopy walk
As my friend said:"A visit to Taman Negara, however, is not complete until you have done the canopy walk." This was the longest canopy walkway in the world which installed above 40m. It winds over 400 meters in the forest canopy allowing us to view the rich and diverse flora and fauna at the very summit of the forest. Situated high in the canopy are rickety bridges made from ladders and rope, which get our adrenalin pumping as we do a loop around a section of forest. However, the views were spectacular.

Activity 4: Visit aborigine village
We continue our activity to Aborigine Village meet orang asli (Batek) who are nomadic people and never stayed long in one place. According to our guide, a death or sickness in one of their family member may also cause them to move. They wear t-shirt same like us but their look a bit like African. There are only less than a thousand of the Batek (which meant original people in penisular Malaysia) left and they are mostly concentrated in Taman Negara. They are highly superstitious and shy people who kept very much to themselves living a way of life thousand of years old. What we do in their village? We learn how to obtain a clean drinking water in the jungle and how to start a fire without matches and how to hunt with their special weapon build from bamboo.
Activity 5: Water rapid shooting

We really have the most enjoyable time during water rapid shooting. There were two boats racing down the stream while all of us busy splashing water at each other. It’s free-for-all water fight between these boats. Very fun when 'fighting' with the other boat and splash them.

Activity 6: Night jungle walk
Through a path along Mutiara Hotel, we came to a building where we were to see a documentary on Taman Negara. Walk into the air-conditioned hall to watch a documentary video of Taman Negara. At the Night Safari, the guide lead us to a pathway to watch the nocturnal wildlife in action. Again, we need powerful torchlights. We had no luck to see any animal in action, but we did spotted some stick-insects having intimate moments, spiders or mini tarantulas, giant centipede, snakes, mouse-deer and illuminating mushrooms.
We climbed onto the watch tower to try to hopefully catch sight of some large mammals. It was so dark that looking out the observation deck, we just saw a sheet of black. I guess our luck were bad that day because we can't spot any animal at the observation deck.