Backpackies. com

Brief Touch on Penang's Introduction

2009-12-30T16:22:00.000+08:00

Penang was originally ruled by the Malay Sultanate of Kedah. In 1786, it was handed over to the East India Company in exchange for military protection against the Siamese and Burmese armies threatening to attack Kedah. On the 11 August 1786 Captain Francis Light arrived on Penang and named it Prince of Wales Island in honor of heir to the British Throne.
When Siam attacked Kedah, Francis Light did not provide military assistance, and this caused the Sultan of Kedah to attack Penang in 1790. Of course the British who were better equipt with modern fire power, easily beat Kedah's forces.

The Sultan was forced to sign an agreement between the East India Company noting that Penang was to be handed to East India Company in exchange a fee of 6000 Spanish Dollars per year.An annual sum of 10,000 ringgits continues to this day be paid by the Malaysian Federal Government to the state of Kedah.
In 1826, Penang, along with Malacca and Singapore, became part of the Straits Settlements under the British administration in India, moving to direct British colonial rule in 1867. In 1946 it became part of the Malayan Union, before becoming in 1948 a state of the Federation of Malaya, which gained independence in 1957 and became Malaysia in 1963.
The island was a free port until 1969. Despite the loss of the island's free-port status, from the 1970s to the late 1990s the state built up one of the largest electronics manufacturing bases in Asia, in the Free Trade Zone around the airport in the south of the island.
In early July 2008, George Town, was recently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside with Malacca. It is officially recognized as having a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.

Horror Rides @ Pesta Pulau Pinang

2009-12-02T01:00:00.007+08:00

Tom Cruise......and this hot chick ....certifies..that Pesta Rides...rock!

Holly crap man! Ok firstly i would like to make it clear that the people in this feature are all adults aged 27 and above. Who by the way, have taken stuff to the limit like solero drops at Genting, or Sky dive in Auckland etc.

Ok for those who don't know, Penang has something called Pesta Pulau Pinang every year. It is the mother of all fun fares in Penang. It is a fun fair, a exhibition, a carnival all rolled into one. It is an annual ritual for Penangites to come to this place every year. (Well at least for me when i was a kid)

For those who dont know where it is. It is located next to the Sungai Nibong Bus Station.

Entrance fee to Pesta was RM 3 for Adults and Rm 1 for child.

The grounds are really big and it takes at least a good 3-4 hours to cover it, if all the stalls are open. But thank god they are not. Well i remember back in 1998, the Pesta Grounds were always
full with stalls and even overflowed to the side streets where makeshift stalls will be put up.

The stalls that were operational sold some snacks, abit of agricultural stuff- but who wants to go to a carnival and buy plants. Oh, there is also a registration booth for eligible voters in Malaysia.

Besides that,there are artist shops, souvenir and clothes, to bed sheets and carpet shops. It is worth it if you have a couple of hours to burn. After all, it is a different atmosphere from shopping in the mall.

So comes the rides. No carnival is complete without the rides. Well back in the days..when i think i was 15. I can still remember a particular ride i took that really scared the shits out of me. It was this innocent looking contraption that looked like a toilet role. Riders would go in to the inner circle and get strapped with a fixed metal chain. "Fixed" which means, only a certain size of people can ride this ride. Once everyone is strapped, the entire toilet role starts spinning. The G force is so strong that, the riders are virtually hanging upside down when the roll, spins 180 degrees. (No wonder fat people cant sit in). Imagine a fat guy starts falling down when the machine stops.

Ok enough of history. So what i can sum up from the rides here is that. If you are looking for extreme excitement where safety is left in the car with your seat belt, and crying and vomiting is the norm, then step in.This Euro wheel is the mildest of the lot. Ok but beware, because, what may seem mild is actualy VERY WILD.

The Euro Wheel is like the ferris wheel which goes really slow.

If you have experienced the solero shot at Gentings,you will know that its really scary to some, especially those who take the seats that is facing out to the mountain of nothingness. When you face simply cold air up 1 km in the air.....in suspense...as seconds pass by..... your heart seems to be in Limbo. "To jump or not to jump"!

And when it suddenly drops down at blinding speed..(literally closing my eyes), you can feel your entire gut..... being sucked in! Scream if you must, but most likely you wont be able to. Air stops going in to your lungs...as you hold your breath in horror.
You will experience a small tiny jerk when you jerk back up after....hitting the base..of the ride.

Well this little tiny bugger...doesnt seem intimidating at all. Let along being on the ground and so short. Well ..dont let looks deceive you.

There was 2 kids....small kids...about maybe ....10 or so. Well to be honest....after seeing what the ride is about..i seriously question if they should be on there. Well....they may have made the height limit...but not the age. (im guessing the operator also let them in just like that)
You know whats the worse part of this ride is. Its a jerker! It goes up in repetitive stages....and jerks! And im telling you ..it jerks...so hard that...the poor kids were screaming ...!
So imagine for such a short fart..... it jerks..like 10 -15 times.....for ..maybe ...5 stages! And when its up there....it jerks....again ..all the way down.
*warning* just make sure you dont eat full for the ride.

The Vortex!

This is the killer of them all.

Mother of horrors! It spins.... 720 degrees in total.....meaning you spin on the inner.... chair....and also on the outside. Which really means you are constantly ..spinning nonstop at HIGH SPEED.

But the real farked up thing about this is, that the ride has a long waiting time. They will wait for customers before starting the ride. The last people we saw on there (those in the inset pic), was up suspended in the air for a good 8 minutes ....before the ride started. And the ride was for 20 minutes. It was simply crazy. The guys who came out..was literally shaken and shaking!The lethal weapon was another highlight. Unlike the "Wipe out" at Gold Coast , this ride simply goes round and round. Till you get really dizzy.

Traditional swings? Thing again!
These swings...at max speed ...will hit 90 degrees...at around 80kmph....

Even the caterpiller rides for kids ...looks so scary! Agree?

But for ...fun....its a real max out location to go to. Certainly worth trying out.

Cheap! Good! and Big Budget hotels in Penang! @ www.backpackies.com

2009-11-11T16:13:00.002+08:00

Ok! here is the deal. Whenever you are visiting big cities where the cost of transportation has already eaten half of your budget, the last thing you want is to do, is to pay through your nose for some decent accommodation. Im not talking fancy butler, soft goose feather duvet sheets and a buffet breakfast here. I mean lets face it. Most often when we are traveling, we only need a decent, clean, comfortable, safe room to put up in. Anyway, 80% of the time is all spent outside on the road sides an in shopping malls.
Hell the only time i ever see the room is when i check in, get drunk and pass out, and when i check out!
So where do i find such a place without having my pocket holes enlarged.

When visiting Penang, unless you can get some good deals off the internet for places like Tune Hotel, or if you have a rocking fetish that for some reason you must stay in Hard Rock Penang. Then here are some options that i suggest.

For you budget seekers, options are:

1) Old Penang
This place is pretty chic and has gone big on the renovation and looks. Its ultra modern look combined with its hint of heritage flavour makes it one of the most ideal guesthouses to stay in.
They have chosen to go with the dark wood furniture mix, and have managed to create a very stylish out look for their rooms, lobby and common area. Plus they serve breakfast! A recommended stay! Pity they only have 14 rooms....so book fast.

2) Starlodge
Now this baby here is a one off class along Muntri Street. It is very near to Chulia Street and also walkable to all the other coffee shops, clubbing areas (UPR), and bus stops. Rooms are fairly clean and comes with attached bathrooms. It is hard to find a match for such value.
3) 75 Travelers lodge
Budget travelers should have a go at this. The rooms available here is off the budget radar compared to the other choices given here. The guesthouse also provides free wifi.
4) Hutton Lodge- This place is a good deal to stay in. The rooms are clean, people are friendly and its location also ideal. Rooms are resonable priced.
5) Ali Feringghi House
This is the only guesthouse that is not in Georgetown. Located 5 mins from feringghi beach, this is a good place to put up, if you like the beach. The rooms are clean, and comfortable. Drinking alcohol is not allowed in the guesthouse as it is muslim operated. There is a bar where you can hang out tho, just in front calle Sunset Bistro. It is one of the most recommended beach side bars around Penang.

If you are looking for something different on the more heritage side.
Try hooking up with heritage 1926.

What we have to say?: this is one huge mother freaking mansion! The corridor is so long, and with the hanging chandeliers, honestly it looks like im one of those really important royal...back in the colonial days. The floor is wooden and because its old (they dont call it heritage hotel for nothing) it gives out a kinky squeak when you walk around the room. Room is spacious and clean. The room is pretty standard with the usual, aircond, hot kettle and coffee and tea making facilities. Staying here is very different and it is an experience especially you like it quiet. (The place is so big, that noise cant travel that far).

Police Bribing in Asia

2009-11-04T16:38:00.003+08:00

You know whats ironic about the whole situation of "police is out in force" because of increased snatch thief cases on the roads? its because it is an opportunity for them to earn extra cash!
Bribery and corruption is something the governments of Asia aren't particularly proud of, but the worse thing is, they don't acknowledge that it is a problem to them! Its so deep rooted into the whole countries administration system, that any force to weed it out, would be deemed as a threat against the very people that takes money from the system.
so here we are, not sure weather to feel safe or scared that there are more police out, patrolling the roads.

I was really pissed off when i got pulled over by the Malaysian police after doing 110km's/ hr on the highway.Well the speed limit was 110! well it was raining and i think maybe the camera couldn't snap properly.
He insisted that i was speeding, and pretended to look at my number plate. It took him like 5 minutes to just look and hint to me that he wanted something. He kept telling me that, i needed to go to the police station to sort things out. And like that would take me 2 weeks.

So ok, i asked him if there was any other way to solve. I cant prove that i didnt go past 110km/hr, and i cant argue that he is bluffing. So i innocently i asked ...and he just nodded and asked me straight in my face if i wanted to be his friend. Errr i said, yeah ok. What do i have to do?

RM 50 bucks to be my friend. Straight up, thats the minimum price of bribery nowadays. Well of course ive heard cases of begging to the policeman telling him you dont have cash, and he will do away with 10 bucks....or even a packet of noodles. (I would have done that, if my mum wasnt by my side) - Pity she already took up a few tens....to show the police man.

So ultimately unless you follow the law straight and straight, then you wont need to worry. But if you happen to get into a tight spot. Remember the golden phrase " is there any way to settle this"?
Then bargain like its friday night in Patpong!

The other case was when i was in Indonesia. Man i tell you, bribing in Indonesia is like first nature to them! Well the police caught me doing an illegal turning on my scooter to the main clubbing area. Checked my "VALID" licence and all and told me straight up. "Jalan Salah!" (Wrong Road), You need to pay 200000 Rp.
I didnt have so much cash with me at that time, and no way in hell am i going to get suckered into paying that much. Latest price list for bribery is (20000 for locals, and 100000 for foreigners)
OK this is what you have to say:
You:I left my wallet in the hotel
Him: ok ill hold your vehicle registration and you go get it.
_______________________________
YOU STALL AND PRETEND TO THINK

Next you say, sorry sir. But i scared ill get caught by the police on the next corner for not having my vehicle registration. Ill pay you what i have now. Is it ok?

Then you start to negotiate.
Important point here is to stall as much time as you can. This makes it look like you regret what you did.

All the best! And thank god for bribery. If not, the world would be square!

Mee CRC @ Larut Road, Penang

2009-10-29T22:06:00.004+08:00

I must admit, when i do have the craving to feed on some nice mee goreng/ mee rebus, 3 places comes to my mind. And one of it is here at the corner of Larut Road Penang. Its famously known as Mee CRC (because the stall was formerly @ CRC- Chinese Recreation Club).
Mee Goreng (Fried Noodles)/ Mee Rebus (Boiled noodles with gravy) is usually cooked by indians or mamaks (indian muslim).Hence the other name : Indian Mee!

Well Mee CRC along the corner of Larut Road (near hotel Royal), is very much different from the normal type of mee goreng found else where.
The difference?
When you mention Indian Mee in Malaysia, its a choice of either FRIED- mee goreng or WET- mee rebus. The normal indian mee, is reddish in colour due to the dye and also the amount of chilli and tomato sauce used in the gravy mix.

Mee CRC - If you are ordering the goreng (fried) version, its minus the red dye. The noodles are fried with some light seasoning, chopped vegetables, and the usual squid, egg, and soy bean curd. Its different because, instead of the tomato and chili puree taste, you get fresh stir fried tomatoes, chillies and fried tofu, so there is a bit of sweet juicy and raw texture to the side ingredients of the noodles. Making it a surprisingly crunchy, fresh and tasty chew every time you munch down.

Mee Rebus (wet) on the other hand sees a very significant difference. The cooking style is different, as the gravy used in the normal version is very thick and red (with puree, like mentioned above). Mee CRC is splashed over with semi clear egg drop soup, green vegetables, fresh tomatoes, cooked squid,bits of chicken meat, potatoes and bean curd. The soup makes the whole dish really light. It doesn't leave an after thick taste in your mouth.
*Like i said, its a different way of cooking it*

The noodles -whether wet or dry is served with a side dish of chopped up green chillies, and a slice of half a lime.

Some say the lime must be squeezed in before eating, to give it the tangy taste. But i say its optional. For the rebus (wet) version, i prefer it without the lime.

Is Marijuana Addictive!?

2009-10-29T17:35:00.005+08:00

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or we'd rather call this tongue spinner WEED- which doenst really matter, as it all sounds the same when you get high tho!

Marijuana is the buds and leaves of the Cannabis sativa plant. Which explains why Marijuana is also called Cannabis.
Who started it all? According to some literature the Chinese have been cultivating Marijuana 2000 years ago. Imagine a "Made in China" on a packet of weed! Everything is made in China!.

The plant Cannabis Sativa, is believed to originate from somewhere in the northern region of Himalayan Mountains. An average plant grows from between 12 to 18 feet, blooms from late summer to mid fall. Theres the male and female flowers, but its the female flowers that you what.Female flowers grow in spike-like clusters and remain dark green for a month after blossoming, until the seed ripens. Hashish or Hash, which is more powerful than marijuana, is made from the resin of the cannabis flowers. The concentration of THC and other cannabinoids varies depending on growing conditions, plant genetics and processing after harvest.

In Cambodia -when ordering at Happy Herb Pizza, you get a choice of your pizza being not so happy, happy, or extra happy. The happier you go, the more marijuana they put inside. And if you go extra happy, the folks at Happy Herb Pizza will take care of you quite nicely.

Smokin IT
Smoke goes in the lungs and is absorbed into your blood stream, THC takes seconds to reach your brain.Initially you would feel relaxed,happy and a "on top of the world" and light headed-ness feel. Your eyes may dilate and become more intense.THC in the brain acts to enhance the senses and feelings. Therefore some users may experience, paranoia or panic after smoking it. THC is known to affect our brain's short-term memory, body coordination, increases your heart rate and raises levels of anxiety.

Eating Marijuana
Marijuana enters the stomach and the
blood absor s it there. The blood then
carries it to the liver and the rest of
the body. The stomach absorbs THC more
slowly than the lungs. When marijuana is
eaten, the levels of THC in the body are lower, but the effects last longer.
Effects of Marijuana (Varies with Users)

• Getting high
• Problems with memory and learning
• Distorted perception
• Difficulty with thinking and problem solving
• Loss of coordination
• Increased heart rate
• Anxiety, paranoia and panic attacks
• Severe changes in appetite
• Interrupted sleep or even insomnia
• Mental dependence on the drug(craving to get high)

Initial effects of THC
wears off in the body
after 1 -2 hours.
But the chemicals
stay in your body
for a much longer
time. (3-10 days)

1.) Spread the weed evenly across
the rolling paper
2.) Fold the end closest to you toward t
he top of the rolling paper
3.) Fold it while rolling the paper
covered weed in between your fingers
4.) Lick the glue end of the paper
and finish rolling the joint

*make sure you mix it with tobacco. If its too pure, itll make your world spin ...like hell

Killing time in Air!

2009-10-29T17:14:00.004+08:00

4+1 things to do on a long haul (flying a budget airline)

First up, when you are flying budget, you know that you only paid for a seat and that’s it. “No Frills” means you need to pay for water, food and even for a blanket, if you are shivering cold. We heard that there are some airlines that even charge you for going to the toilet.

Most of these long hauls (>3hrs) can be pretty boring. Here’s a list of things you can do to ease it:

Browse through that in-flight magazine as some of these magazines are filled with useful travel information. Who Knows? Your destination might be the featured story. Most articles give tips on places worth visiting and the low down on the best chow. It gives you an idea of what to expect when you get to your destination.
Rock and load your I-POD with a good melodic selection to keep those ears entertained. Nowadays, you can even load movies on them. Should easily keep you occupied for a couple of hours.(Until your battery dies off) – Then you need to get those emergency power chargers that uses a 9V or a single AA battery to super fast charge it. (Cheap made in China ones for 2 USD)
Get cozy and comfy. Relax, bring along your neck roll, take off those contact lenses, and get some rest. It is always good to feel rested before you start your holiday. Remember to stay hydrated and make just do some light stretching after your nap. (To avoid DVT- deep vein thrombosis)
Fill up those immigration arrival cards! It’s always the last minute rush to get your particulars filled in the line before immigration check point that you realize you don’t have a pen with you. Fill it up first, it will save you time.
GO gaming! Well we aren’t talking about “Mario-ing” on your personal 3.5” personal screen. It’s more of taking advantage of the intellectual games they usually put on the middle spread of the travel in-flight magazines. (Sodoku, word puzzles are the usual)
Strike up a chat with the air-stewards and air stewardesses. Remember it’s a long haul. Chances are they are also bored of the same old routine. Share some stories and maybe “fingers crossed” they are staying overnight at where you are going. Take the chance! Remember, they have to smile to you. It’s part of their job!

Getting your seats Upgraded!

2009-10-29T17:09:00.000+08:00

Hot tips to get your flight tickets upgraded for FREE!

Upgrades of flight tickets usually occurs when the airlines is overbooked, when flights are cancelled last minute without notification or if you bitch about a mistake they made consistently to the manager over and over again.

Upgrades are like nice surprises, that keeps the travelers happy, which unnoticingly actually lets the airlines create an addiction out of it towards you. Like they say "once you've tasted first class, economy will never be the same"!

First thing you need to do is get yourself a frequent flyer membership card. Almost every airline has its own card nowadays which can be a real pain in the ass. Try to get one from Star Alliance or One World that has more partners in it, which broadens your options of flying. Before upgrading, airlines will give members priority over the rest of the passengers. Of course, nowadays almost everyone has a frequent flyer card. So it helps if you are silver or gold.

Kissing ass is of course one of the oldest methods in the book to get things done. Being nice to the check in staff and requesting to be put on the upgrading list also works the same. (This is subject to availability on the flight)

The price of the tickets purchased, determines the chance of upgrading. For those cheapskates who purchased the cheapest promo economy tickets will have to rely on luck, but for those who have purchased full fare tickets, will have the advantage of getting upgraded if you decide to change your flight schedules, and the plane that you choose is fully booked. Two ways works the same here. Being bitchy or being nice!

What ever it is, good luck on being upgraded!

Packing light- To avoid paying extra luggage!

2009-10-29T16:47:00.004+08:00

"All guests (except infants) are allowed only one (1) piece of hand carry luggage on board provided that it does not exceed the dimensions of 56cm X 36cm X 23cm and does not weigh more than 7kg"
Sample of checked in baggage prices are >> here

Bad Backing - 100% Backache Guaranteed!

It’s common to just chuck everything you "think" you need for a holiday in to the biggest bags you can find. And if you think backpacking is merely lunging around huge body sized killer backpacks when you travel, you’re wrong!

Travelers who travel around with huge backpacks are not necessarily backpackers, just lazy packers!

Here is why you need to pack light on any trip!

Its NOT FUN! Having to lunge around a 20 kg backpack with another 5kg in front.
It saves money! Light weight means no overweight charges on flights, no need for storage and porter services and you can easily fit everything into a bus or a taxi.
Its safer! Less bags means less things to take care of, and less chances of losing it.
Its mobile! Less/light bags allow you to move around further without tiring yourself. Very practical, when first arriving and when you are wandering around looking for a place to stay.
It gives you peace of mind. In case you went on a shopping spree, you need not worry, as you would still have extra weight allowance on the flight.

Try Packing Light

The type of bag you use is essential. Make sure you are using a sturdy, light weight bag when travelling.

Sometimes the bag alone is already 8kg (which doesn’t leave you much, to carry, as most budget airlines standard limit is 15kg). So make sure you weight your empty bags first. To see if the bag is strong, I used to know a friend, who jumped and started pulling on the shoulder straps with both hands just to check if it rips. It sounds logical, as you wouldn’t want to end up with snapped straps half way through the journey.

Come up with a standard check list that you will use over and over again. This list should include the bare necessities you need for each trip. E.g. Passport, clothes, shoes, toiletries, travel adapter etc. This check list ensures that you only pack the essential items for the trip, and also make sure you don’t forget anything.

Roll your clothes up. This enables you to fit more clothes into the bag, and ensure they are not crumpled. This saves space compared to the conventional folding of clothes. Size down your toiletries, by putting them into smaller bottles (Liquid and solids are the heaviest to carry). This includes shower gels, shampoos and toothpaste. Get the combos! Nowadays there is the hair shampoo and conditioner together in one tube. This saves plenty of space, instead of having to bring a bottle of each.

Help - Facial Rescue!

2009-10-29T16:34:00.003+08:00

Read this!! This is something i typed out.....to have a clean healthy face!

Lets do tea!

2009-10-29T16:26:00.006+08:00

"Chinese Tea is a beverage, Chinese tea is a pass time, Chinese tea is a culture" Waste no time, Lets do Chinese Tea" - www.chinese-tea.net.
Weather its CHA in mandarin, CHAI in Arabic, or TEE in German, Tea is still the worlds most popular beverage.
The english word TEA came about when the English traded tea with the Chinese, the Chinese called it TAY and was pronounced TEA by the English.
Chinese Legend has it, Tea was discovered by the Chinese Emperor Shennong in 2737 BC when a leaf from the Camellia Sinensis tree fell into the emperors boiling water.
Chinese tea was probably first found in the South-West part of China where the tropical climate which was humid was great for the tea trees. Apparently if you go there now, you can still find huge 2700 yr old wild tea trees and 800 yr old planted tea trees there.
Theres 4 categories of tea- Green, White, oolong and black. The difference? White and green tea is cooked after picking, to avoid fermentation (by natural enzymes in leaves), Oolong is semi fermented and black teas are fully fermented.
The more fermented the tea leaves are, the stronger the flavor is.

Can shisha kill you?

2009-10-29T16:12:00.005+08:00

Shisha is just as addictive as cigarette smoking.
"very often people refer to the tobacco as "Shisha"= Incorrect. The common term for tobacco is Massell! (Arabic nomenclature)

Craving for a smoke of Shisha after a meal? Or simply wanting to get "high" while relaxing with friends? The common question people seem to have is, weather shisha is as addictive and harmful as cigarettes. "Doesn't the water filter off the dangerous stuff?"The Shisha/Hookah culture has been gaining popularity in Asia,especially in Malaysia and Singapore. Its been seen as an alternative to the tradisional, teh tarik or coffee at the local mamak/coffee joint. The best part is, modern traders nowdays offer both!Just to brush up on history, hookah or hukkah in Hindi is a single or multi stemmed (often glass based) water pipe used for smoking.It is believed to have originated from India. Yes, most of us have the conception that it comes from the middle east. Apparently it was the indians who started it. Operated using a water filtration concept, hookah is used to smoke herbal fruits and floral flavored tobacco.
There are plenty of terminology for this apparatus, Narghile is the name used in Syria,Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Turkey where the "n" is dropped in Arabic pronunciation. Narghile is derived from the Persian word nargil which means coconut, and in Sanskrit narikila suggesting the early hookah was hewn from coconut shells. In cafes and restaurants,it is rare for the smoker not to order an individual hookah as the price is generally low.But for those who are sharing one, cafes usually provide separate plastic mouth pieces that you can attach for personal hygiene. Believe it or not, in some places, Iran for example, the mouth pieces or "Amjid" is usually made from wood or metal and decorated with valuable stones.

Do it your self "Hookah"
The hookah is usually made of 4 components.

The bowl, or the head of the hookah is a container made from clay or marble is used to hold the coal and tobacco.The bowl is loaded with tobacco, and covered with alluminium foil and perforated with tiny holes. Hot bits of charcoal is placed on it allowing the tobacco to be heated up.

The plate is used to keep your supply of hot coal.

The body of the hookah is hollow (to let the smoke flow through) with a gasket at the bottom. The gasket has one minimum opening for the hose but can have multiple openings making it a multi hosed hookah. (usually for the longer bodied ones)

Theres a valve at the bottom, near the connection of the gasket and the water jar. It controls the air intake into the hookah. Closing it decreases the dillution rate, thus creating more intense smoke.

How it Operates
The glass jar is filled with sufficient water to submerge the inner
tube which is attached tightly to it. Tobacco is placed inside the bowl on top of the hookah with burning charcoal on the tin foil. When you inhale, air is sucked and heated by the hot charcoal, heats up the Tobacco, producing smoke, passing through the tube into the water, up the hose and into your lungs.

Tobacco/Molasses
Tradisionally tobacco is mixed with sugar based syrup together with bits of fruits and extract to give it the sweet fragrant smell. Some times these flavours are derived from adding artificial flavourings including the all time favourites, mint, apple, chocolate and others. Blending flavours has become the latest "in" thing, which smokers think it gives a more complex flavour.

Effects of Shisha
Some might think that smoking shisha isnt as harmful as cigarretes, but the real truth is, because of the prolonged period of smoking shisha it exposes the smoker to more smoke. The water absorbs only little amounts of nicotine from the smoke, thus making it addictive. "Using the waterpipe for 45 minutes, could triple nicotine, exposure and substantially increase your intake of carbon monoxide, plasma nicotine and heart rate. Did you know the amount of TAR (mg) from 1gm of Shisha Tobacco is almost 72 times the same yield from 1gm of cigarette? Here are some sites for additional reading. Last but not least, we know you enjoy a puff of shisha. Just like anything else, do it responsibly.

One night in Bangkok

2009-10-14T17:34:00.009+08:00

Bangkok's vibrant and highly explosive nightlife offers an almost infinite choice of nightlife options. From glitzy bars and cocktail lounges in Sois of Thong Lor and Ekamai, to adults-only multiplexes of Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy ; Bangkok surely has something that is tailor fitted to your desire.

Thai beer being so cheap and good, there is no reason not to kick start the evening with a drink at the many beer gardens in Bangkok. Happy hours at bars are usually from 6- 9pm. Suan Lum Night Bazaar near Lumphini Park has a great open air international beer fair that offers 3L beer towers for THB 550 onwards.

The lively Silom/Sathorn area is a throbbing nightlife center.

Dodgy Patpong seems to attract all kinds of people for two simple reasons. One: for a bargain at its famous night market; and two: to watch strippers (men & female) dancing at the go go clubs or simply to watch one of the many "banana, ping pong, apple, tiger shows" there!

There are actually two sides to Patpong if you didn’t know. At the junctions end of Patpong, to the left is actually where you get lady boys or “katuey's” and to the right is dream boy alley, where stripped down and oiled up beach boys will lap dance on you for THB 500. Gay pride is the proudest along Silom Soi 2 & 4.

For more adult fun, be sure to visit Nana Plaza where its surroundings seems to remind me of a scene from Prison Break, ‘Trapped in Sona Prison’, except the rooms here are flooded with neon lights and gyrating go-go girls that seems to be pulling every passerby to watch a "show". Soi Cow Boy (Soi 21 & 23) sees a similar scene and is worth checking out.

Bed Supper Club

Itching to spend some cash? Then check out some of the biggest clubbing scenes along Sukhumvit Soi 11. Bed Supper Club is one of Bangkok’s “to be seen” spots in this City of Angels. White mattresses are strewn out for clubbers to lounge about; while sipping on chilled cocktails and enjoying the spinning beats of both International and Local DJ’s. Bed has some talented DJ’s and certainly knows how to bring out some world class talents on special occasions. Tuesday is Hip Hop night while Wednesday is Model Night. Also check out the famous Q bar (www.qbarbangkok.com). Touring International DJs often stop by to perform here. Wednesday is Block Party which plays hip-hop and funk classics, where ladies get in for free. This club features everything from house, hip hop, soul to RnB.

Grab a breather and impress those girls you’ve just met by hanging out at the Three-Sixty Club at the Millennium Hilton Hotel. Perched up high on the 32nd floor, with a full 360 degree glass view of the entire metropolis, you are bound to mesmerize your date with a frozen strawberry martini coupled with a dazzling view below. This club plays world class jazz, setting the mood for the night.

Fear not, we did say we are a backpacking website didn’t we? Head over to legendary Khao San Road where street parties flare up every evening from 6pm onwards. Mobile street pubs serves up "Extra Strong" buckets of Thai Whisky/Red Bull and Coke mixes (THB 280 per bucket) to a variety of shots that by the end of the day, you won’t mind the fact that you are actually sitting on a plastic stool in the middle of the street. The friendly and lively atmosphere there is hard to beat. Getting tired of sitting on the street? Then head over to Lava Bar which is a dark underground hip hop/Rnb club which plays trance music towards the end of the night. There are some pretty cool chill out bars with live bands along Phra Athit Road, Sunset Street and Trok Mayom perfect for easy listening.

Khao San Road

If you’re ready to rub shoulders with young flirty Thais and absolutely love RnB and Hip Hop, then head over to RCA (Royal City Avenue), which caters to a trendier and younger crowd. Boasting excellent sound systems and split-room clubs, clubbers get to party to the music of their choice. RnB heaven Slim and Route 66 lead the pack and get crowded by 11 with Bangkok’s dressed to kill urban youth. This place goes crazy especially on weekends.

Unofficial clubbing/drinking
Those who seek for more party after 2, head over to Hollywood Club in Ratchada to pound the night away till 6am. Alternatively, you can try some street drinking at Khao San where alcohol glasses and bottles are masked with plastic and paper cups to avoid police detection.

Clubbers note:
Most clubs and bars do not have any cover charge. If they do, most likely you will get 1 or 2 drinks with it. Officially, clubs in Bangkok are supposed to close by 2am latest. Legal drinking age in Bangkok is 20. All patrons must carry valid ID and lastly, smoking in clubs is a big no no.

Keep up with the latest club happenings in Bangkok:
www.bangkokgigguide.com
www.lastnightinbangkok.com
www.bangkokrecorder.com

Feasting in Songkla Thailand

2009-10-09T05:28:00.009+08:00

Songkhla....yes..pronounced.."Song" "kaa" "la".

Well for those who dont know where this is, its at the eastern south tip of Thailand near the Malaysian border. It faces the South China Sea. Driving from Hadyai, takes about 1hour, and about 6 hours from Bangkok. This is your average sized Thai town. Its major roads are centered in the city center which is like about 3-4 blocks big.

If you are stuck here in Songkhla for a night or so, its good to know a few things that im about to share. Firstly, your hotel would either be near the beach, e.g BP Samila Resort or in town, e.g. Pavillion Hotel.

Which ever your hotel is, dont worry because the public transportation fleet is A one! The famous "tuk tuk" and "moto sike" will take you anywhere, anytime. Costs from THB 10 onwards.

There isnt much to do here in Songkla, so ill talk about food. One thing Songkhla prides it self on, is its food!

First stop, if you are hungry, make sure you visit 7-11 first. 7-11 in Thailand is a super saver! They stock up on everything from sandwhiches to sausages to even hot noodles and rice!

Of course this is where i get my beer!

Drinking ban is enforced here in Thailand at certain times 9-11 am and 2-5 pm. If you are getting your beer from the coffee shop, then no one will stop you.

So continueing on to my food expedition, i love to stop at any of the small little stalls to see what they sell. First is the steaming "Sarapao", which is similar to the steamed dumplings in China, Malaysia and Singapore which is served in "Dim Sum". The "Sarapao" is much smaller in size than the Chinese "Pao". Fillings include pork or chicken.

These are just bite sized and good for a munch before terrorizing the rest of the stalls.

Next will be the "bahulu", which are small buttered cakes, in the shape of a deformed clam.

Plenty of margerine is used to cook this, that's why its fragrance can be smelt 2 blocks away. It is sold in packs of 5. Bahulu is best eaten when still hot. As when it gets cold, it starts to "sweat" and become soggy.

I stopped by at 7-11 again to get a drink as most of the road side stalls dont sell beer. Ok, im not an alcoholic but during the afternoons, it gets really hot. A nd nothing is more refreshing than a Bicardi Breezer. Only THB 55 per 330 bottle. Try the lime, it rocks!

My hands get itchy and grab a bag of "Lays" chips. I can't believe how much it costs. In Singapore and Malaysia, this is considered premium snack. And best of all, they even have EXTRA SPICY THAI SAUCE FLAVOUR! excellently tasty. A nd cos t me THB 22. See the good sign i put next to it. Well they dont cheat you by stuffing air more than chips just because its cheaper. I tried it, and certifies its all good.

Oh and don't forget the Bueno Chocolates. They are cheaper than Malaysia and Singapore. THB 18 in 7-11. (Unless you buy it in duty free, then its not counted)

Ok moving on to the heavy stuff. This is like the mother find of all times. I was walking along the street to look for a nice place to eat and i stumble upon this place. Wow weee the queue was like maybe in tens, and they just keep on coming and going. So i remembered what was the motto, "where there is alot of people, the food is surely good", i went and order a plate. There were two versions, one is the flat rice noodles and meat with vegetables and the other was rice with meat and vegetables. The man cooking this was literally using his two hands to scoop up meat in to its wok. And he prepares about 15 pla tes at once. Heres pictures to prove it. So this place is a must. (but this is a pork dish, so its not halal).

His stall is in front of the large super market with KFC in it. Don't really know the name, but there is only one center there.

The satay (BBQ meat on skewers) here are fantastic. When i ask what meat it is, they said its pork. But when i tasted it, it tastes like rabbit. But im sure they werent lying to me, from the honest auntys face. Each stick cost THB 2. So its pretty affordable to go crazy on it with beer. The sauce that has some peanuts (almost similar to Malaysia/Singapore) is also delicious.

I was on my way back when i spotted 3 more stalls. One was selling Thai Mango/Papaya Salad, which on normal days, if i wasnt such a glutton at the start, i would have ordered a helping of spicy sourish yet refreshing Som Tam (Salad). Vegetables like shaved cabbage, chopped green long beans, tomato,lots of chili puree and not forgetting the mango and papaya, are all mixed and stomped with a granite mallet. Fresh lime is squeezed to add to the tangy taste. MMMM mmmm! Absolutely tummy tantalizing! Cost about THB 30 a plate.

The other stall would be the fried chicken stall. Amazing that this guy has 4 huge woks filled with boiling oil to cook all his chicken. And this doesn't stop at just the opening of the stall. He is constantly throwing in the chicken and scooping it up with what ever free hand he has.

I had to try one, to see what the fuss was about. The chicken was ok. KFC must be hurting inside because his stall is just infront of KFC!

The last snack i got was the small strips of juicy deep fried pork. They are sold in packets and eaten with a type of chili sauce. Amazingly this compliments the beer i was drinking which was Leo beer. Great Stuff to try!

Coming to a seafront town and not eating seafood is like commiting a sin. Coming out from your hotel, head out and grab one of the "tuk tuk" or "moto sikes" an tell them you want to go to "Prontip Restaurant" which is in facing the sea. The entire beach front is lined with seafood outlets. They arent very different from another. Just take a pick.

Hope you enjoy your stay in Songkhla. Please do write and tell me, about new places that you would like to recommend if you are ever in Songkhla.

No no to Prostitution and booze in hotels

2009-10-08T04:34:00.003+08:00

This interesting sign hanging out from a hotel door, caught my eye!

Usually hotels and guesthouses arent that bold to single out the words "prostitute" and "alcohol" together.

In modern times like these, where countries of South East Asia is rapidly developing, the common thought of cheap hotels and motels to be "chicken farms" is still very much alive.
"Chicken farms" is the local slang for prostitution dens. The idea long ago was that motels like these that charge maybe RM 20- 50 an hour, is for men to take women up for a quickie, and surprisingly this idea still sticks to the minds of locals nowadays.

Not all motels and budget hotels are like that, and i beleive that this sign is a way of the hotel owner trying to express that to the public. Nowadays there are decent motels and guesthouses, that are dotting our country. This is not only happening in malaysia, but also in thailand, indonesia and other neighbouring countries.

Its very common in developed countries, that guesthouses are mushrooming due to the expensive hotel rooms available in reputable hotels. Hotels are capitalizing on this fact, that most people dont dare to stay in cheaper motels/guesthouses for the fear of insecurity.

Much have been done from the guesthouses, and motels to change this perception. For example installing cctv's, locking the main doors, and also prohibiting soliciting in the premises.

All these are signs of motels/guesthouses taking action to change the perception of the locals.

Some guesthouses and motels even go to greater lengths to ban locals from the premises. This is due to the lack of civic mindedness and inconsideration to the other guests, like bringing alcohol and women to the rooms.

I totally agree with the sign here....that boldly states what it represents!

To share an incident with all of you:

I was staying in a motel along jalan bukit bintang recently. This place a pretty reknown backpacker joint. So anyways, this lady was sitting with the boss outside at the lobby, when i entered. After saying good night to the boss, i went in to my room.

10 minutes later, i hear this lady speaking in chinese, telling the boss, that she wants to go to sleep.

From the conversation, i could gather that a man has just arrived and was waiting for her in the room. She was denying that any hanky panky was going to happen and she said...she only wanted to sleep. So ...right....10 minutes later.

There's this...errotic moaning sound ..echoing thru the halls. Man ..was it loud. Because the walls were made of thin wood, you could hear it also in the lobby.

I joined the other ppl who stuck their heads out of the door to see what was happening. (just to show that the noise wasnt coming from my room)! ;)

The sound must have continueed....for like half an hour. It was like they were filming porn in the room! I can guarantee that really disturbed the entire ground floor customers.

This goes to show how inconsiderate ...locals are. Hence why the sign! ;)

hope this changes the attitude of locals

IN considerate train passengers KTM

2009-09-23T21:38:00.003+08:00

As a huge fan of the KTM (keretapi tanah melayu) train, that plys the peninsular malaysia regularly, i always opt to take the train down to KL from Penang, because firstly its a night train, and if i were to get a bunk, i can get a good nights sleep throughout the entire 9 hour journey. Long, yes but ...the beds are comfortable to sleep. NOT! when there are inconsiderate people on board. To all you out there.....you know who you are!

Please please close the door! when you pass each carraige. As i must shamefully regret to say that the train system in Malaysia has never been upgraded since maybe the time they first installed the tracks. Ok some of the doors between each carraige has automation features on then. (AUTO MATION) really means, that although it was designed for people to just step on the pressure activated switch on the floor, the door will slide open without having to lay a single finger on it. But ....actually this is what you get, a man (who works for KTM) standing at the other side, who will AUTOMATICALLY press the door release button to let you in and press the CLOSE button after you crossed to the other side. Well im not complaining ...cuz i still dont have to open and close it myself. It is AUTOMATED right.
Now the only part where i start complaining is when the f**ker...goes Ular...(snake away from work) and is gone for hours. Then there really isnt any one to open and close the door. So ....some stupid people, who only knows how to ..open the door. They will just continue walking to the other carraige, and wont care about the others ..WHO ARE TRYING DAMN HARD TO SLEEP....in the other carraige.

a TIP you must remember when you buy train tickets is....(im getting in to trouble for letting this secret out, cuz then ill get plenty of competition for my fav...bunk) to request that your bunk is in the middle of the carraige. Those bunks near the door, forget about sleeping liao. Youll need like a strip of sleeping pills to ....sleep through the racket!

So please. Some doors arent automated. All im asking is some consideration to close the door after you.
Its really evident ..that if you know how to close the toilet door...why cant you close the ..... carraige door.

cipet....

BULLSHIT EDUCATION SYSTEM- what a joke!

2009-07-09T04:53:00.004+08:00

Read this first http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3443271 before you continue.
Imagine i was just having a chat with my friends in thailand yesterday when they suddenly popped the question on why my home education minister decided to change the teaching language of science and maths to Bahasa Malaysia. No offence here, but being a science student and i say this representing most of my friends, that most of the terms in these two languages (especially when you go to higher levels) are all in english! so why the hell are we teaching our kids science and maths in malay? Im not saying that malay is not a good language, but im saying that by teaching our kids english, they have a better chance of finding a job next time when they come out and work . (unless they are happy being a farmer or a fisherman).
It pisses me off that these people dont see beyond whats infront of them. If students are failing because they changed the education system from BM to English, then we know whats the problem! its either the teachers arent proficient in English or ...we need to really buck up on teaching the students english especially in rural areas. This will give them a chance to jump out from the "rubber estate" life and have a better standing chance to get a better job elsewhere.
The government is only promoting the people to opt for international schools rather than government schools.

Is this the new governments reforms? ....damn

Starbucks Coffee Jelly

2009-07-01T15:17:00.005+08:00

Moi, Pigsy, is a caffeine junkie, and also a die-heart fan of bubble milk teas. So Starbucks' latest offering seemed too good to be true. The best of both worlds!? Could it be? Is world peace at last a reality? Will I eventually settle down with a filthy rich husband and join the league of elite tai tais???

Anyways, I had to try for myself this perfect concoction.

EPIC FAILURE. My dreams were squashed on the first sip. Skinny latte and agar-agar proves to be a disastrous pairing. The 'Coffee Jellies' were merely soft, watery versions of our local agar-agar, with a hint of sweetness. I guess I had high expectations when I had to fork out RM14+ for a freaking cup of coffee... WTF!

So moral of the story is pairing 2 good things don't always guarantee you an awesome product. Just like me and Ryan Reynolds will never work out because we just don't have that spark together...

Missies misbehaving

2009-06-30T14:05:00.015+08:00

So the travel bitch aka booza-holic is away on some secret mission in the middle of nowhere. Which means time for his prettier, sexier and crazier alter-ego to come out and add some pizazz and sex appeal into the site.

So without further a due, let's hit it off with some Friday night antics shall we?

Here are the babes on their Friday night prowl, from left to right: moi aka Pigsy, agent T & agent K.

The world got news that day regarding Farrah Fawcett's passing (rest her soul), so we decided to pay tribute to Charlie's Angels by posing as -

Ah Tu's Angels!

Our mission that night was to daze and seduce and ultimately bring down the evil loan shark Mr Yamate. Us angels fought through the night utilising every artillery we have! There were butts

boobs

legs

and oral.

We eventually managed to hypnotize his minions and they brought him down with the ultimate tit-alizer!

At last, good triumphed over evil and we the Ah Tu's Angels saved the whole entire freaking universe from falling into the hands of evil yet again!!

Now, say thank you!

Kwai Leng Kou at Qiang Yi Tang- no honey! WTH!

2009-06-20T20:04:00.000+08:00

Well if your ever at tesco... or any of their outlets....
and you are the regular KL person that eats this "tortoise something" (im sorry my Chinese isnt that good) and my friends told me its something to do with tortoise. (im assuming it doesn't come from the tortoise tho) you would most likely like it with honey or sugar syrup! cuz on its own its bitter!

well the thing is ... this one doesn't come with honey or sugar syrup. Man ..thats really shitty ...that i have to eat it without sugar....

She said..there is already some sweet liquid in it. Bullshit me again! kanineh.

Try it yourself!

Laptop Bag

2009-06-20T19:55:00.000+08:00

This is a cute laptop bag i got in thailand.

Cant find anywhere else. Also very soft! nice to touch when bored.

Woo hoo ......man drink this ..face can go all red! Rossy cheeks! Bullshit!

2009-06-20T19:44:00.000+08:00

hahah this has got to be the silliest ad that wants to bullshit us!

Lol. so rosy the cheeks!

good ol' sweet chee cheong fun!

2009-06-20T19:41:00.001+08:00

Guys you really need to try this sweet type of chee cheong fun!
The sauce is thick enough, sweet and rich. (but sweet until can get diabetes) Its at gentings...coffee shop behind hamid khan school in Island glades penang.

Go try man!

Sushi Buffet on the eve of a public holiday!

2009-06-20T19:27:00.000+08:00

My good friend just got back to Penang from Labuan and like any "normal" Penangite "food" is the first thing on the mind! I think its like this psyco mental thing that they just need to eat all the penang food they can find because they "miss" penang food.
Well so i decided to just change the scene and head to QB = queens bay mall to check this buffet promo going on at Sakae Sushi. (cuz honestly i was famished)
anyways....so we got in and the sign said Buffet starts 3pm. So we were there like 2.30pm. I had a lil chat with the supervisor about the promo and we decided to wait.

30 minutes....to a penangite when it comes to food is like a grandmother year. Loooong.
And the worst part was, they sent this damn bangla worker to tell us....that the promo wasnt valid today!

If you check the brochure it states only NOT VALID ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
but you know...we were there on the EVE. so we called the supervisor an complain.
The answer the lady gave was the break that pissed me totally.
This was the conversation between us.

Me: maam, how come this promo is not valid?
She: sir..not valid because tommorrow is agongs birthday.
Me: ya i said....i know its not valid on public holidays but today is not a public holiday.
she: yes i know...its not valid on eve also
me: where is this on the poster?
she: oh ...i know the problem. Alot ppl complain already. i cant do anything. If you want you complain la.
me:yes im complaining to you now!
she: yes...dont complain to me. complain to KL!

you say i damn tulan o not. damn shit. If you do go there....pls give them hell on my behalf. *what they say is not stated on the poster!"

Checking out some kewl happy stuff....on youtube

2009-06-17T10:17:00.000+08:00

Having to sleep late and wake up early ....in the mornings .....is just a bummer.
Starting up ..the day ...and perking it to the next level is a ugly task!

Heres some of the clips i watched to cheer me up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WlZZGOjxeA&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b6zSbRnc8k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyYZUhSeRYc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLY7yI1xV-M&feature=PlayList&p=13F0C3460C6B5202&index=0

Stay positive....and smile! it helps! :D have a great day!

A large chips = a small chips

2009-06-10T13:03:00.000+08:00

well here goes the story... who hasnt gone up to the counter...order a meal a fast food outlet and turns out the chips content are much lesser than its supposed to be?

Then the guy behind the counter blames you that you shaked the box.
The fact of the matter is a small fries should be small, a medium should be medium and a large shouldn't be a medium!

Do check your fries before you leave the counter. Just give it a 1 shake and see what happens. Sometimes you dont need to do that either. Once you moved the box, its all dropped down.

Fight for your right! Dont....be complacent. If you are.....the only people suffering is....

the person who eats chips!

"Should english be a compulsory subject"?? that shouldnt even be the question!

2009-06-10T00:00:00.000+08:00

This is really disappointing that some Malaysian politicians are even considering this question, when English is now the most widely spoken language in the world.
As a malaysian myself, i feel so pai seh and sad to even bring this topic up.The matter of fact is:
Our politicians should be answering the questions posed to them, instead of shooting off another question just to get away with having to answer the question!
Look lets face the facts, that if the real concern is that if we make (if we already havent)English a compulsory language, that the rural students will fail. Then let me say this by, saying either they arent studying hard enough or the education system is not doing its job.
Yes english should be made COMPULSORY to ensure that students nowadays are equipt with the necessary skills and language to go far in the modern world today.

*if they are aspiring farmers and fishermen then we can excuse them if they fail SPM*

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/20090608/tts-muhyiddin-english-993ba14.html

Myth or Rotten Nose

2009-06-05T10:21:00.000+08:00

So says my friends friend who knows a friend (which is normally the case, and its never, oh i heard that...)....that apparently the lobby of the Petronas Tower 1 lobby smells of petroleum. Its been said that Petronas apparently spray some petroleum based perfume or fragrance to simulate the whole oil field environment.

Ok i went in to the lobby(yes i brought my nose, and my friends nose with me) just to prove this story. Well the weird thing is, he says he smells it, but i dont. (most probably because all that standing too near the gas pump at the petrol station has killed my nose senses)

Result is pretty inconclusive. We did ask the lobby attendant, but he says its the normal smell.

Please smell it and see what you find. Im curious

Foodie Lookout - Yummy Chicken Lasagna on da flight!

2009-06-05T10:04:00.000+08:00

"New" marked on the in-flight Air Asia menu caught my eye. On picture the lasagna seemed to pop out of the menu.
ok...i peeled out RM 9 to the air stewardess and she came back 5 minutes...later with my piping hot lasagna! Man ...creamy top..with generous portions of minced chicken was simply tummy satisfying. Portion was considerably ok. Go get one!
If your wondering, *i dont work for air asia*

Rating (1-5)
Deliciousness: 4.5
Served hot: 4
Worth the money: 4
Portion: 4

Malaysian airport H1N1 Screening .. "a joke"?

2009-05-31T14:10:00.000+08:00

Sure! who would want to self declare him/herself for having a small flu or fever to risk being quarantined with other H1N1 potentials?

Recently i got off a international flight at Penang International Airport.
Passengers were given a declaration for, to fill up. Questions like

1) Were you in one of the affected H1N1 countries ..but did not specify where was the countries. THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHICH COUNTRIES ARE AFFECTED. "WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT HAS HAD RECENT CASES?"

2) Were you in contact with anyone suspected of H1N1?
Well the thing is, we wont know, as the symptoms are pretty normal. Not unless you have had that person checked out at the hospital

3) Do you have a cold or slight fever with sore throat?
Well, this would definitely give me away for quarantine.

So after filling up the form, with address and contact number. Just hand in your form and off you go. Welcome to the wonderful world of Malaysia, where they only worry when you have it!

No more boring showers alone! Bath with a friend!

2009-05-31T13:42:00.001+08:00

Sick of boring routine showers? After a days walk either exploring or shopping, you are at least entitled to a certain degree of pampering. But when your backpacking, your on a budget.No sweat. Get your very own fun colored bath buddies. Sized slightly bigger than your hand, they come in vibrant assorted colors,e.g white,sky blue, lime green, lavender purple and many more. Massage them against your body to create lather, giving you a good scrub down.Works especially well with fragrant shower creams or bath soaps. So why wait!? Get one for a pampering great time. Each for RM 25

"Who says backpackers cant be pampered"

Quest for Cheap Shisha-Arab Street Singapore

2008-09-04T18:49:00.000+08:00

Suffocation unable to find shisha in Singapore, unlike my home town in Penang, i launched a island wide search for a cheap hit. Well you can always go to Clark Quay where they have shisha at any of the MIddle Eastern restraunts there, set you back SGD 25 a hit.
For those of you who doesnt know, i personally think shisha is a great way to get high, once mixed with beer or any type of alcohol. *tip* Take a deep breath, hold, take a shot of alcohol, and exhale.... repeat for results.

So ok, i took the MRT to BUGIS- cost me SGD 1.50 fr Bueno Vista. Fr BUGIS, walk towards Raffles Hospital, and if it is n your left, then you are facing North Bridge Rd. Walk straight, you will see 2 nice alleys on the right(Bali Lane, Haji Lane) before Arab St (3rd road to the right). Take a stroll in to them and you will find some really nice restored geniously decorated with some out of this word creativity and grafiti. There are some cafes, pubs, and boutiques, as well as a kick boxing studio to my surprise there. what i like most about the entire layout is that the buildings are all mined up in a very alley close like position, and with all the decos around, gives me a feeling like im in a mini fashion town o something.
Arab St, was just the next road down, where it wasnt what i expected, I mean i was expecting to be over whelmed by arabs, none was in sight. I mean ...ok there was a few...(countable) walking around. ..
Theres plenty of cloth, cotton, fabric, shops around, with ample supply of tailors hanging around each corner. :( no shisha stick for sale!
There also carpets, decorations, and some souvenirs available. I turned in to Baghdad st where things started to get more colourfull, theres restraunts, and gift shops as well as ...i dont know what you call these shops...those that sell everything from socks to ...shampoo to kites. YOu know those multi purpose shops.
Then BINGO, there was some really nice cafes at the corner and restraunts where you can get nice western, middle eastern food as well as what i was looking for shisha!
SGD 20. hahaha saved 5 SGD in the end! oh yeah ..theres also a really nice mosque (Sultans MOsque) there, where you can take pictures. I think the area, would be really nice to walk in the evenings - around 5-7pm, when the muslims break -fast(preparing for Hari Raya-Malay New YEar), as there will be lots of foodstuff and goodies sold there

Journey down south- Penang-JB-Singapore

2008-08-23T19:45:00.000+08:00

The Journey down south!
Penang to Johor Bharu and onward to Singapore
The journey overland by bus from Penang to Johor Bharu, takes approximately 9 hours, that is you manage to get on the right bus that takes you direct to where you are going. Bus tickets cost around RM 50 to RM 90. I paid a handsome RM 65 for a bus ticket from Penang (Sungai Nibong bus terminal) to Johor Bharu (Larkin Bus terminal) where my plan was to go over to Singapore then by bus or taxi. Bus arrived punctual at 11am, and took the normal time of 4 ½ hours to KL. It was a night mare from then on, I didnt realise 90% of the passengers in the bus were heading to KL. This bus company had been selling bus tickets to JB with the intent to stop in KL to sell more tickets without telling us! (its important you need to confirm where the bus takes you and weather it is a nonstop bus).Stopping in KL (Puduraya Bus Terminal) we were trapped in traffic. (Puduraya is famous for its jams). We had to wait another 1 ½ hours for the touts to fill the bus with passengers again, as the bus driver refused to start he journey if the bus wasn't full.
Bus continued the journey at 5.30pm, and took 5 hours to get to Larkin. Another advice during bus transfers, as these bus companies are most likely operating together, they would ask any passengers from one bus to other buses just to fill a certain bus, if you are to go to the toilet, just be stern that you need to use the toilet, as these waits and transfers can take an astonishing 1 hour plus. If you are at Pudu, stopped just out side the bus terminal and you need a quick hop in tot he toilet, theres one near A&W, at the corner opposite the bus terminal. There is also one in KFC, also opposite the Bus terminal and also in the bus terminal itself, on every floor, near the staircases.
Another tip when you are taking any of these buses, although these buses mostly feature plush executive seats and other state of the art, devices (some of them), most of these buses have bad suspension, therefore it is best to ask for a seat in the middle of the bus. This would make your trip more comfortable and bearable.
Arriving at 10.30 pm, wasn't exactly fun, but fortunately there was a convenient taxi stand just down the road,(if you are facing the terminal, just turn to the right and walk straight, bus station is across the road, and the taxis run by meters). I stayed at the Pan Pacific that night, after much torture.
Journey onward to Singapore. Well if you are in town, theres a convenient bus stop where most of the Singapore transit and Causeway buses stop, as well as taxis. This is the Kotaraya Terminal, and there is regular buses to woodlands and onward other stations in Singapore. The operating hours are from 5:30 to 24:00. Will cost you about SGD 0.90 cents. All buses, will take you to the mentioned destination. Weather it is across to Singapore or not. If you are at the Malaysian side of the check point, then you will have to pay, RM 0.90 cents to go to Kranji MRT station, Or RM 2.50 to Queens Street. You are safe once you have reached any MRT station, as you can easily get on the MRT, SMRT(bus) or a cab from there. Be sure that when you are crossing the crossway from Malaysia to Singapore, you do take the Malaysian Taxi over, and not the Singaporean Taxi. This is because, it costs RM 50 for a Malaysian taxi to cross over, stopping at Bugis, whereas you will be paying the same amount in SGD in a Singaporean Taxi.
If you are taking any bus- be it, a full time travel bus, or a public bus, make sure you keep the stub or number of the bus in hand, because as all buses require you to get down with all your luggage, and check through customs, you might just miss it, if you are being held up for no apparent reaeson. Do make sure you fill in the immigration form, (you can just get it at the side counter before the queue) and fill it up, to save time. They will ask you to go back to the end of the queue if you dont have it filled up.
Lastly once you are in Singapore, if you are on a budget, just stay on the public buses or MRT to save cost, other wise the cab is a faster option. There are appropriate signs and information, so you wont get lost. Enjoy your stay down south!

Sabah KK in 5days

2008-07-31T23:37:00.000+08:00

Traveling Borneo esp to Sabah is HIGHLY recommended for those who worship nature, sea, sand and a lil sea food gastronomic in between. Sabah is home to the Highest Peak in South East Asia - Mount Kinabalu, Diving Extravaganza- Sipadan, Mabul and also to some of the world renown beaches and my personally recommended seafood.
KK or Kota Kinabalu is the Capital where you get in. There are 2 terminals, about 30 mins apart. If your entering by budget airlines like the most of us you will arrive in terminal 2, tanjung aru.(others will be at the KK international airport). There are a couple of choices to town. The easiest is to grab a cab, from the coupon counters- charge RM 20. If you see a cab handy dropping some one off you can also board it, and pay without the coupon. Avoid doing so if there is a queue tho.
Mini Buses/Vans are the other option, charges ranges from RM 1 - RM 2.

KK town is a simple city, made of 3 main parallel roads. Walking in the city is the most convenient way to get around. But visiting the other attractions require some mode of transport.

Day 1- Upon arrival, if it is late in the evening, your best option is to put up in one of the guest-houses in KK town, as most of the other destinations are far away.
Ive stayed in New Horizon Travelers Lodge just on Gaya Street. The place was owned by a real friendly couple, which i must say i am shy to admit that i forgotten their names. The place had 24 hour security, as if you needed to get in you needed to punch in a code. There are only dorms available in this guest-house, a choice of air conditioned or the fan. The shared toilets come with hot showers, soap and are clean. There is a common rest area where you can have a simple toast with kaya-local jam like paste made from coconut milk, sugar and fresh eggs. http://www.kaya.sg/kaya_recipe.htm for recipe. Sometimes they use pandan leaves for flavoring.
New Horizon is just a walk away from the main town where you can get food.
For a feed, i recommend trying the tuaran mee, the kon low mee (both dry noodles) served with either minced pork or little fried/steamed dumplings filled with meat. The noodles should be tossed around to get a good mix of its mixture of sauces added to it.
Other wise, you can go for some BAK KUT TEH- which is a hot herbal soup, with cooked meat, meat balls and veges in it. Eaten with steam rice, its good on a cold day!
A good place for sea food is GAYA SPOT, think you need to get a taxi there. The prices are reasonable due to its distance. But you can always opt for the water front for more convenient, its more pricey tho. I still remember the Italian restaurant there is serves up pretty good Seafood Spagetti Olio! (talk to the chef to have it customed spicy!- just the way i like!)

So in the evening just have a charming dinner by the water front and drinks later at any of the pubs there. There isnt much you can do at night in KK, unless you have a car. The best clubbing scene to be is still Shenanigans (just below Hyatt hotel)- a walk away from New Horizon Lodge. Theres a live band, and usually the place is crowded on a weekend, till you are refused entry till someone comes out!

Day 2- Start your day off with a good breakfast, as most shops open at around 8.30-9am. If its a Sunday morning, the famous Gaya Street - Tamu - Morning Street Market is on Gaya Street. Most budget accommodation is just a walk away from this. Starts around 8 till 12. Here locals display their fare, from home handicraft, to fresh vegetables, and other odds and end. Worth going to have a look!
*Tip* if you do like bananas, and the King of Bananas- Pisang Raja, which has a really filling creamy sweet texture to it, is among the cheapest bananas here in KK.(costs a bomb in Peninsular). So Just try your luck at the fruit stall selling bananas. Used to buy it off this old lady, on the side of Gaya street.
Visit the islands! Once your armed with your local yummies in hand *as there aren't any food stalls on the island*head to the jetty, its north east if you are facing the sea. There you can grab a speed boat, to any of the 4 islands for around RM 23 for each island or RM 33 for 2 islands. The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is a national park and a RM 10/pax adults, RM 6/pax child, (non-malaysian) fee is needed for the park entrance fee.It is Rm 3/pax-adult, Rm 1/pax child,(Malaysian). Its a 15 minute boat whizz to the islands where the activities include, dving(need to contact a diving operator for this)check www.sabahdivers.com to gauge the pricing. Seemingly i heard to get a Open water course in Sabah is the cheapest in Malaysia. Rates are like Rm 488 for a basic OW course.
Rental of snorkeling gear is Rm 10 each. Try to snorkel in Mamutik, Sapi or Sulug. Manukan is the largest of the islands but due to being overcrowded, the corals are mostly all destroyed. Nothing much to see but a couple of colored fishies. There is of course water sports there as well.
Camping is an option if you want to spend a night on the island. Tents are rent-able for Rm 30 (4pax), Rm 40 (6pax), try asking at the Tourism Center along jalan gaya on where to get the tents.
Might be easier to call them +6088 212121.
Day 3- Conquering Mount Kinabalu! The usual hike takes about 2 days- as you need to spend a night at mid point - Laban Rata to resume the arduous climb at 2 am to make it to the peak for sunrise. (do make accommodation reservations early) http://www.suterasanctuarylodges.com/.
I always seem to just stare in awe of the magnificent Kinabalu Mountain, as the view from the park gives you a view where the mountain just towers up in to the heavens.The peak is constantly covered in clouds. The biggest attraction in the Park would be the Kinabalu Botanical Garden, and one of the worlds most prominent mountains, Mount Kinabalu which peaks at 12, 455 feet above sea level. The park is opened from 7 am - 10 pm.The Park Head quarters is one of the suggested places where we suggest you put up weather you are climbing or just there to have a relaxing trip.Tha park is 1600 meters above sea level, where it is cool and breezy, where the activities are either you can go over to kundasang for the suggested activities, to mesilau nature park for a day trip, chill in the park or even better, we suggest you do all three if you have time.
There are small wooden lodges from all price ranges, and as usual check with backpackies where you can bunk in the cheapest. Most of the time we would recommend dorms, and the activities we recommend in the park are jungle trekking, having your own group BBQ, or just chilling in the main hall, of the park, where theres a nice fire place where you can chill and order drinks. Remember the food and drinks in the park are more expensive. You may get cheaper food and drinks in Kundasang, or just outside the park entrance where they have stalls serving normal local food.
You can check this link for the park rates, and also on how much is it to climb the mountain.
http://www.sabahtourism.com/en/destination/124-kinabalu-park/

Poring Hot Springs - usually this is "THE" destination to go, after a long tiring hike down the mountain, relaxing those muscles in the sulfur pools. Poring Hot Springs
The springs still within the Kinabalu Parks, is a another attraction among locals and tourists alike, as it offers jungle trekking, small waterfalls and caves within trekking distance,canopy walk 100 ft - 200ft above the tropical rainforest, and above all the hot sulphur pools to relax those weary muscles.Trekking starts beyond the hot springs towards the mountains as there are two jungle trekking paths. The one path is a short route, estimated to be completed in about 1 hour or so, at the end of which awaits a 10m high waterfall. The second path is a 3 hour return trek, the reward of which is the highest waterfall in this part of the world at over 100m high.The canopy walk, is roughly about 2kms in total, and in some areas are elevated up really high. There is an observation deck after the first segment, where you can take snap shots of the surroundings. There are local art, made from crystals and stones from the surrounding location sold just outside the park gates for souvenirs, cost you about rm 1 to rm 10 depending on size. Usually advisable to visit the springs after Climbing Mount Kinabalu, to soak in the pools to relax the body muscles. The public pools are usually full, and it takes ages to fill during peak times as everyone will be waiting to fill their tubs from a centralized pool. Best to soak at night when there isnt any crowd. There are however private tubs you can rent, that comes with a private changing room as well, and the tub fills faster too! There are a variety of accomodation available here, ranging from double rooms, to an entire cabin to yourself as well as dorms. Refer to backpackies guide for where to bunk.If you are visiting the Springs after Kinabalu Park, make sure you retain the Kinabalu Park entrance ticket, and you dont have to pay for the Poring Springs Entrance. There is a restraunt near the swimming pools that serve reasonably priced food. For cheaper food you can try the stalls by the road side just outside the entrance.
For bunks surf http://www.suterasanctuarylodges.com/.

Day 5- Heading home, its best to get some souvenirs. A good place to get handicraft at a bargain would be:
Handicraft Market - City Center
Just beside the wet market, the same row as the waterfront-just behind Center Point Shopping Center, is where the locals parade their handyware. Cheap trinkets, to bags to hand made pearl necklaces are all for bargain. Some of these pearl jewelery, and other handicrafts are unique and would cost heaps in other places, especially Peninsular Malaysia. Theres this really cool, cylindrical long bambo shaped instrument that is filled with sand, painted and imitates the sounds of the sea waves. The market opens from 7.30am -7.30pm, however we would like to suggest you go during the mid day, and not during the early or late hours as it might not be safe. Also watch your bags at all times.

There are more treasures on the east side of Sabah- Sipadan, Sandakan
Ill post it on the next blog. Have a great backpacking experience!