How to Make Popia

Dinner Tonight

Its popia night!!!

Fruit: RockMelon (Indonesia), not sweet...

Indomee noodle...

Then put chicken curry on it.. and you have curry chicken noodle :)

Malaysian Election - A view from "Penyibuk" (bz body lah tu)

I used to admire the Regent of Perak, Raja Nazri Shah because of his modern view of government and governance issues. However, when, the opposition party won the majority of the Perak state seats (http://www.nst.com.my/Election08) in the recent election, 31 Vs UMNO’s 28, he choosed the Menteri Besar from the party which won the LEAST seats in the State Election. No doubt this small party (PAS) is the king maker, i.e., 2 of the members could defect to UMNO, giving UMNO 30 seats hence a majority to form a government, however, logically one would think that DAP should have the right to be upset. Then came the statement, that the people in Perak must remember that Perak is a “Malay” land…. So much for a progressive, modern and fair Prince….

Anyway, I was impressed with Sultan of Selangor’s support and understanding of different races in his state though no deputy Menteri Besar from the minority was chosen. Nevertheless, I began to admire him because of obvious his respect for other races. I remembered that he was the one who started to reduce the number of datoship (knighthood) in Malaysia as he realized that there were too many datoship was given out annually, some bought, some through cronyism via the Menteri Besar’s suggestion and some with dubious record. Those who are convicted of criminal offense would be strip of his/her datoship... Maybe we should have that kind of system in Brunei... there are too many dato who berlagak too much... mengambang lagi... sekali kena sue bankrupt, habis ilang title... padan mua

Then came the impasse from Trengganu. After two weeks of state election, Terengganu still has no Menteri Besar because the person chosen by Abdullah Badawi was rejected by the Malaysian King, who is also the Sultan of Trengganu. It’s about time that royalty ask the Menteri Besar to be transparent and not be corrupt during their tenure, as exemplified by the former Kedah Menteri Besar, who was also rejected by the Sultan of Kedah? Terlampau banyak business yang dubious... check this site why the Sultan of Terengganu IS angry with former Menteri Besar, Datuk Idris.. http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/4974/84/

If there’s nothing to hide, then why all state documents were missing from the Menteri Besar office when a new one was appointed? More excitement to be seen in Penang as the new Chief Minister will surely reveal any embarrassing politically motivated projects which enrich some section of the society…

No party hopping in the future? Well, Dr. Mahathir wouldn't like that, he was the one who perfected the art of party hopping ... otherwise, in the 1990s, Sabah wouldnt have fallen to the hands of the BN team... The opposition party of course, would love to have this law pass in Parliament, its the BN group which has to be careful.

Si Bei Lo... Uniquely Singapore

Tourist attraction, from far and wide, to the Kuan Yin Temple, at Bugis.

Just like when we fly to Bangkok, Thailand, we always stop and pray at the Kuan Yin Temple

Performing Artists...

The Physically Challenged are they to earn some legitimate income...

Bus stop with a map to guide a visitor... do you see this thing in Brunei?..

The temple is located inbetween flats... but since the temple is there first before the flat, the temple is surrounded by the (newer) HDB flats

What Brunei Could Learn...

Urban Planning in Brunei needs to be improve... When we go to other countries we are quite impress with the infrastructure provided, but when we look at our country, we just wish they could do better if not the same as Singapore..... Not KL though... its badly managed and so darn polluted!

Well maintain walkways and grounds

But not the hanging laundry!

Proper bus stop with proper shading

Bus station at each major town

Ugly KL... Polluted everyday
KL Mayor cant seemed to stop the taxi drivers from parking at bus stops, not using meters and other cars from using the bus lane... and many more lah..

Chinese Temple and Miri....

Muara Chinese Temple on Chinese New Year's Day

The Nasi Lemak at this Miri Town shop is not bad.... you can try it next time you drop by Miri..

CNY 2008, Site and Scene at BSB Chinese Temple

Must have items for CNY - Prawn Crackers... Brunei have one of the best prawn cracker in the region... depends on where you buy it I guess...

Praying for good luck at the Bandar Seri Begawan Chinese Temple, the day before Chinese New Year

From young, they have to be taught....

CNY 2008

It's been nearly 2 months since I last update anything in this blog. I got a new digital camera but feel a bit awkward when taking picture... self conscious... duno why.. Anyway, here are some of the pictures taken this past 2 months...

Nuts

Shark Fin... though how real it is, i dont know.. ahha

Begawan Solo cookies from Singapore seemed to be a new trend in Brunei, not only for CNY but also for Hari Raya and other occasions.

Lunch in Limbang Town...

Lemiding with Thai sauce?Udang Galah in Sambal Sauce - yummy

Pork leg and mun-tou

Crab in ... dunno what's the sauce name, something like bettermilk but they add on "telur masin" on it

Site and Scene of Bandar Seri Begawan

Site of Tamu kianggeh..

The Brunei Hotel in BSB

A scene in the BSB's Tamu Kianggeh...BSB's only Chinese Temple... behind the temple is the PGGMB building

Durian kuning, ubi, lengkuas?....

Kuching trip

Sibu town

The famed Astana, former resident of the White Rajah of Sarawak

The new Chief Minister's office in Kuching??

Some historic buildings on the Sarawak riverbank

Eastwood Valley hotel, Miri

Merry Christmas and Happy Advance New Year 2008 for all readers.... Cheers

Back to Brunei, via Miri...

Things happened along the way back... but I wouldn't write it down... Basically we spent our Christmas eve in a uncomfortable area and position. Thank God, things went well...

We had to stop and stay in Miri and while all the major hotels were full, we were introduced to Eastwood Valley: Golf and Country Club, along the Miri by-pass, Padang Kerbau. It was a $$$ well spent as the rooms /chalets were spacious and cozy. Though it was quite a distance from the Miri town, about 3-5km, however, with RM100 per night, what more could you ask???

Dragon fruit was sold around RM8 per kilo along the Sibu road... there were numerous durians but as long as its not durian kuning, malas to stop... hee

The Eastwood Valley chalets...

The major hall for reception. According to the locals, many people go to this hotel for Wedding reception, its the grandest in Miri apparently...