Bewitching Bali

Gunung Batur at Kintamani

I was in Bali with the Ex-Cons late January 2008. This was a trip that we had planned since April 2007 due to AirAsia's free tickets promotion. Anyhow, we didn't know that the trip was going to be so strenous. We were treated like regular tourists (some of us were first timers with scheduled tour), didn't know what to expect. We took our programme for granted and didn't do any studying before we went there:p

Our guide, Pak Made (pronounced ma-dei) was very knowledgeable, helpful and I must say very patient with us. He explained everything about Bali's cultures and religion. Its surprising to see Bali people who looked like us but went to pray in the temples, or bringing their canang or offering to the spirits. Everywhere in Bali you can see this kind of custom. Bali is very picturesque and all of us just loved to take pictures instead of really listening to the guide (ha!). Anyway, so much you can learn within 4 days about Hinduism and their culture, by the end of the tour, we had information overload about Bali. Plan your trip well and ask other travellers because some places you can skip (the temples are almost the same).

Some tips to the would be travellers to Bali:

Shopping:

Bargain stalls at Tanah Lot and Tirta Empul is excellent, bring lots of cash, look out for handicrafts like carved boxes, paintings, beaded sandals, figurine, bowls made from cinnamon stick. Please refrain yourself from buying at every stop that the guide bring you as they might be quite expansive.

Must see places in Bali:

Tanah Lot temple (in the sea), Uluwatu temple (hanging from a 70-feet cliff), Kintamani to watch Gunung Batur (active volcano), Bedugul (beautiful lake), Tirta Empul (purifying place for the worshippers), Jimbaran Bay for the sunset, Tanjong Benoa for fish and turtle watching (at a conservatory). Be sure to engage a reliable travel agent.

Extra tips:

Bring drinking water as it can be very hot and dry in bali, wear cool & comfortable clothes.

Selling Dreams

My new favourite commercial in the radio is CIMB's savings promotion campaign. Basically, if you (the innocent but green-eyed listeners out there) save RM500 in CIMB, you might stand a chance to win the Mercedes S-class. The commercial is quite hilarious, which goes something like this :
Son : Dad, I'm gonna buy the new Mercedes s-class (son sounds like a bum,
dude-style)
Dad : Uh huh (sound of papers rustling, imagine dad reading the papers)
Son : So, can you give me some cash
Dad : You must be dreaming that I wanna give you RM700,000 to buy it!
Son : Actually, I only need RM500
Dad : Huh! Then I must be dreaming then, ha! (Typical Malaysian snorts)

And, so the commercial goes blah blah blah into its campaign. I'm not an agent for CIMB or anything, its just that the commercial made me think of another joke and the whole connection to this train of thought. The joke goes something like this: YB dies and goes to the gates of heaven, but couldn't decide whether he wanted to go to heaven or hell. Then, he was sent down to hell for a day to decide, where he met all his friends and they were having such a good time, drinking, laughing, playing golf, etc. Next day, he spent it in heaven, which was good, but serene and he felt bored. So, he requested to God to go to hell, and God complies and sent him there. In hell, he was shocked to find out that the condition was nothing like yesterday, all his friends were miserable and garbage all around. So he asked them what happened. Now, here comes the best part.....wait for the punchline....."Yesterday we campaigned YB, just like you did when you were alive, today you voted!!!"

Ha! That, my friends, is the true scenario of the election. Both stories above are about selling dreams. Repeat, selling. It doesn't necessarily comes true. I know that I'm very unlucky in these contests, I never win, maybe I'm jinxed, me thinks. But somehow, some people out there still thinks they have a chance at winning. Maybe they'll get lucky, who knows. Its the same with election, you never know the character that you voted for would be able to deliver his promises. During campaign, they tried to potray the best character, the best manifesto, the best supporters, heck, even the best campaign poster! But once they have won, you won't even feel their presence.

To be honest, I don't even know who are contending in my area. I just know that their presence will be felt at the balloting area. I wanna do the safe and right thing.......but sometimes I feel that, THEY have become too complacent and secured and smug in this position that THEY are in. Maybe, I should do otherwise, and perhaps that'll ruffle their feathers. But my vote is just one vote. Maybe it doesn't change anything. I'm not even a political activist, but working in and for the ruling government inadvertently opened your eyes and ears to information that are privy to the Higher Authorities and sometimes the knowledge makes you sick. You think, maybe THEY should get a wake up call. If the OTHERS win more seats, they would be their check and balance. Maybe that one vote counts to shock THEM from their complacency....then maybe there'll be some changes from the age-old traditions. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky after all!

Drive & Swear

This morning's Light & Easy was discussing about a study of people in the office who goes potty-mouth or swearing to release work tension. It made me think how true it is. You feel tense then you swear to release some steam. Blowing off steam is fine by me, but I do not approve of people swearing in the office and saying nasty words that other people would feel uncomfortable with it. Just a light potty mouth session would suffice, I think.

Anyway, my favourite swear words these days is a**hole, which is said privately in my car. Its simple and really potrays the person that I'm swearing at:) Since I been driving to work the past week due to the absence of my other half and the availability of the car to me, I found my self uttering the swear words freely. I am pissed of at Malaysian drivers, the women drivers in particular. Hey, no offense to the ladies out there, but your driving sucked. Its true that women driver are the worst, hence all the jokes about women drivers. But Malaysian drivers are very kiasu and kan cheong, they would take every opportunity to squeeze pass the traffic, without considering other people and sometimes endangering other motorists. I might also be in this category, but I do compromise in some situations: 1. people crossing the road, 2. motorists who bother to signal, 3. animal crossing, 4. handicap drivers.

The journey from Gombak to PWTC is not that far but in the morning Jalan Genting Kelang can be quite hellish. At 7.30am, the cars start piling up and everybody would lose their road ethics in order to make it on time to work. Cars start to cut each other's queue, millions of motorcycles criss-crossing in between cars, buses stopping by the side of the road, people crossing the road, other cars coming in from junctions (having discovered a shortcut way). You can imagine how bad this road is every morning. And when you give way to one car, then another car, would try to take advantage by cutting in the way. You do good to people, somehow, other people would take advantage of you. But this is the Malaysian drivers' culture, either you be bugged by it or live with it! At the end of the day, it doesn't matter which cars cut your queue...I am quite satisfied if I can swear at them and self assure that I'm the better driver for being more considerate.

To keep my sanity, I now practice this mantra: I am a better driver that you...I am a better driver than you...

Of Public Holiday and Public Service

Today is a public holiday for Kuala Lumpur because for ten years Samy Vellu and the Indian community had faught for Thaipusam to be a national holiday. Alas, only KL was announced by Pak Lah to enjoy yet another excuse for not going to work while the Indians celebrate their tradition:p Maybe that was a sort of compensation for the Hindraf demands??!! Maybe that's why they are quiet for now.......there's another public holiday coming up on 1st Feb 2008 for Hari Wilayah KL.

Thank God too, that today's a public holiday. I was getting fed-up commuting via LRT. Being in the rat race, everyone gets to work at the same time by LRT, which results in massive people jam in the train and at the Masjid Jamek station. Especially now that the Masjid Jamek station for the Putra train is being upgraded and promised to be ready on 23 Jan 2008, which I don't think will be ready by then, from the look of it. For the past 3 months, everybody is forced to take the long underground tunnel to the other side. Of course you can image the amount of people walking in the tunnel to/fro Masjid Jamek station, sound of the footseps resounding off the walls like the KLPN cadets doing their morning march with those heavy army boots. Trod, trod, trod.....

Perhaps it's just me, but I find that some people are bloody slow than others, and there are some think that they are fast enough while walking on the fast lane. Of course there's no fast lane per se dedicated to the fast walker (which I think should be measured at 3-steps per second) in order to qualify to walk in that invisible "fast lane". All fast walker knows this and wishes those bloody slow people won't walk on it. These "slow" people seems to drag their foot when walking or when they walk with two people or more, would take up the space for other people to bypass them. It would need tact or faster pace, say, 5-steps per second.

Another thing that really pisses me off at the Masjid Jamek station is the illegal peddlars selling their items every morning and evening, when people are going to/from work and really makes the walking area very congested. And some people, without warning would just stop to look at these peddlars. There are police stationed at Masjid Jamek's Putra & Star LRT, which is a good thing, but they don't do anything about this situation!!! Maybe it's not in their jobscope but can't they relay it to the authorities in charge?!!

I don't know how Malaysia can progress if the publice service situation is not taken seriously by the government and local authorities. Food for thought, maybe we should cut down on our public holiday so that some works are not interrupted by it. For the betterment of mankind, and perhaps for the soundness of mind.

I'M Dreaming Of My New Home

It's not really that grand, but it's our own! A corner 3-bedroom apartment in a 3-storey apartment building. I'm already dreaming on how to decorate it, buying furnitures, paint, etc. More excited when I visited IKEA, and see their house concept. I guess people liked the IKEA's ideas becoz of its simplicity, cosiness, room & cost effectiveness. Another good guide would be Impiana. Look out for the small living area edition. Really helps to give more ideas on how to utilise your limited space.

A lot of ideas going round in my head right now - I like the minimalist look which save space and have the really uncluttered look. I also like the classy look which gives an air of richness, think Bohemian crystal on the consul table. I'd like to make it cosy where one can just relax in one own's environment. I'd also need more space to put all my stuff in! Guess I'd have to make do with the space. Never ever buy things without moving in first into your house. Always plan what you want to buy based on your need and cost and concept. I'd make the mistake of buying a bedroom set, a sofa and most recently on my trip back to BP, i bought horrendously mismatched day curtains. My other half knows about my impulse buying, but when I buy it from my own money, he can't say much. That means I'll have the liberty in decorating the house in my own way. Yipee! Every girl's dream to make their dream house. I'm gonna love this house so much, that I'll make it cosy for friends, family, and yes, even cats to come visit:) but this won't materialize till March for the moving in.

Maybe during my trip to Bali this mid Jan, I'd be able to find some really interesting stuff to decorate my dream house with:)

DomestiCATed

I miss my 3 baby kitties - Bebek, Blackie & Baby, which I've sent back to my mum-in-law. But I had to do it coz we were running out of space in my small 2-room apartment. I was with them when they were born last September, fed them, cleaned their cage, poop, even cutting out their hair becoz of infestation. I hope they have a better life and space in kampung:(

Only cat left is their mother, aptly named Mami. She's preggers again after last month's mating season. I'm sure her kittens would turn out cute since she was courted by half-male persian cats.

Mami is a very odd cat. She comes into our house thru the window, which have a steep window ledge. She insists on coming thru the windows, eventhough I have opened the door for her and called her to come in. She understands when I called out her name, but typical of feline behaviour, she'd silently declined the open invitation and opted for the more adventurous entrance. She drinks straight from the water bucket in my bathroom if ever I forget to provide her fresh water after her Whiskas meal. She would always play it cool whenever I laid down her plate of Whiskas and water. But when I turned my back, she would have a go at it. Whenever she wanted something, she would never meowed out loud like her brat kitties. Instead, she would look at me with those huge eyes (and probably telepathy!), and I'd know what she wants.

Even my other half has resorted to calling her Mami and would occasionally give her water or let her out/in. Of course cats like comfort, Mami has taken to sleeping in my spare room. And once, she even slept with us on our bed! But Mami is a good cat as she poops outside and knows how to take care of her kitties. She doesn't demand much except for food, water, the occasional petting, place to sleep.

My dream cat:)

Domestic Goddess

In my quest to become a domestic goddess, I spent my spare time watching the food series on Astro, from Jamie Oliver to David Rocco to Surreal Gourmet to the ultimate domestic goddess, and my favourite, Nigella Lawson. She is absolutely beautiful and British, and unashamedly passionate about food! Its the way she gorge down the food after cooking each recipe makes your saliva drip :p All the cooking series does give me inspiration to cook wonderful meals for my family.

Still, after watching all the cooking series, I'm still no better. I still cook my pasta the same way, fried pasta that is, with tomato puree, chili & tomato sauce (the Malaysian style!), sausages or with ground beef/chicken. But, hey, the family loves it because it's still a hit for weekend meals, BBQs and potlucks. It's the easiest meal that I can do within half an hour, without fuss. My favourite one dish wonder recipes are: shepard's pie, paella with chicken, fried pasta. Sounds sophisticated but those are really the only things that I can cook in an instant, and can make do with any ingredients available.

I know that I should be cooking more Malaysian dishes really, i.e rice with all the accompaniments, mee rebus, laksa, rendang, etc. But I feel that Malaysian cooking is a lot of hassle, involving lots of ingredients that you can't do without, or it will result with a dish that doesn't taste authentic. Don't get me wrong, I love Malaysian food and the ingredients are what make it unique in its flavour and smell but cooking it is another matter. Or maybe I haven't mastered it yet.

My mum's an expert in simple Malaysian cooking. Last Hari Raya Qurban, she taught me how to cook chicken rendang within half an hour, which involved cleaning the chicken, preparing the wet spice (red onions, ginger and lengkuas) and dry spice (can't remember all but there's star anise, cinnamon stick, ketumbar), coconut milk, season to taste. Dump everything in a pot and add coconuty milk when the chicken has started to cook. That was the only cooking involved, and the rest is just letting the rendang simmmering on the stove, and voila! Delicious rendang for Hari Raya Qurban.

I think I should be learning from my mum how to cook simple Malaysian dishes to please my other half:)

Why Should I?

Yes, indeed, why should I? Adhering to some rules that were created to satisfy some bureaucratic system for the "greater good". What can they do to me, who's breaking all the menial rules, just to maintain her sanity and individuality in this environment that doesn't make sense? The answer is: they won't do anything. But they will judge you based on a pre-concieved ideas that they get through the grapevine. . If they have something against you, nothing will sway them from the idea that they have firmly planted in their mind. Nothing you say or do will change it, ever.

I must confess that I'm an individualistic person working in an environment that promotes team spirit. But all I find is that they are a gossipy lot, who have a penchant for office gossip, non stop yikkity-yak about other peoples' lives. I'm not into this scene, I'd rather do my work, with less bureaucracy, back-biting, and boss-hating environment :p I like people who are honest with their job, and do it with the utmost integrity. There are only a handful of people that have that kind of dedication towards their work. Sadly, the bosses doesn't see it the value of their staff. They rather like pretty words to caress their egos.

I don't believe in appraisals, because it doesn't reflect the true personality of the person who is delivering his/her job. Nor it is a correct judgement on the amount of work that person have done. If somebody is able to suck up to the boss to get more marks on their appraisal, then so be it. I'm not gonna do that, I believe that good will prevail over evil. I suggest that appraisal should be done in other ways, probably judgement of the person/s should be done individualy and focusing on their strengths and improving on the weakness. Bosses are created not only to act as a boss, but to guide the workers into the greater good. If the boss doesn't realise it, then he must be a fool.

Alas, the fool and his ship will soon sink.

"The Greatest Decision in the Universe"

That's what Jamilah told me in the instant messenger. This was her reaction to a thing I did yesterday, and of course she was quoting it from the Nobel Peace prize list :p Anyhow, those words kind of reflected to what i felt for what I did yesterday, the greatest decision in the universe, my universe that is. I don't really like to talk about my work here, but this incident warrants me to do it, as it has to do a lot with me personally. This is what happened yetserday:

My boss, let's call him Boss A (no name given to protect identity), had told his PA to tell Boss B, to tell me at 3pm on 5 December that he has chosen me to be the MC for that night's function at PICC. WTF?! That was too short a notice, but I knew that I could do it. It was a function hosted by a VVIP, for 300 German agents, organized by. I have been an MC for a function of 400 pax, I was also requested to be the MC on the day of the function previously at Prince Hotel, I could do it. Not that I was too a great MC, but I have conquered my stage fright in my earlier days, through training and I could do it. Compared to some people, I don't necessarily have the best voice, or the best words, but I was there and available.

Anyway, when Boss B asked me to be the MC, I didn't exactly said yes, he saw my hesitation, I said better find another person to be the MC. I heard that somebody was approached to be the MC, but they have given the execuses that it was too late. I was feeling trapped, and pissed because I knew that the request came from Boss A. He could've easily ask me, like what he did the previous day to ask me to do something, through call and sms. But he didn't...

There was another incident. I became the MC for a previous function in Prince Hotel, Boss B promised that I would be given a token of RM400. Hey, that's an incentive for you to be MC, so that other staff would do it too. There's nothing wrong in receiving that token, because we have to make some sacrifices like time spent at dinner, where you have to come at 6pm for an 8pm function, which normally would finish at 10.30pm if you're lucky. Anyhow, Boss A refused to sign the release for the payment of the token. That kinda did it for me. Why the hell shouldn't I be paid like everyone else??? Am I not good enough for the money? What about me sacrificing my time?? I don't care for the dinners, and at that point of time, for the money. This is about recognition of your boss for what you did, to the Division, and ultimately to the country. I'm doing something for my country, and why can't he appreciate it??

Anyway, I rejected to be the MC on the grounds that it was a short notice, and I already have something to do that night. I don't think that the event would fall apart without me, and it didn't. I didn't feel the usual remorse or guilt. I have a right to say no, and I exercised it.

I have made a point of standing up for myself, and ultimately I realise, if I don't do it, then nobody else will.

Starry, starry night

On my way to IKEA today, the radio played Don McLean's "American Pie". I was feeling nostalgic, remembering that I had bought his "Best Of" collection sometime ago, and now sadly the cassette has been misplaced. Not that I'd be able to play it coz I don't own a cassette player. Some of my favourite Don McLean's songs are "Wonderful Baby", "Vincent", "Driedel", "La La Love You". Somebody in the office played "Vincent" on her PC last week, I was quite surprised as people in my generation don't normally listen to folk music, not especially Don Mclean. The airwaves nowadays are dominated by alternative, hip hop, R&B and others. Some songs are ok, but I still prefer Light & Easy.

I'd have to say that my dad have influenced me a lot in my choice of music...he used to play the Beatles, Don McLean, Simon & Garfunkel, Ella Fitzgerald in the car. I like oldies, and the 70s music....

Don McLeans songs are quite haunting and beautiful, I'm not an expert in discussing songs and lyrics but song like "Wonderful Babies" makes me feel like I'm in one of those Disney babies cartoon, with the water nymph and babies floating on water...."Vincent" is a tribute song to the tragic but talented painter Vincent Van Gogh - his lyrics:

For they could not love you,

But still your love was true.

And when no hope was left in sight

On that starry, starry night,

You took your life, as lovers often do.

But I could have told you, Vincent,

This world was never meant for one As beautiful as you.

For more "Vincent" lyrics and sample of the song, please visit this website:

http://www.oes.org/page2/7194~Starry_Night-Vincent_vanGogh_Starry_Starry_Night_Don_McLean.html

The Land of the Logs

View from my hotel room

I was in Stockholm in September. Never in my life would I thought to find myself there. I don't really know much about Sweden, except maybe, IKEA. I was unprepared with the beauty of Stockholm, the offical tourism website was boring and the pictures looked dead. It didn't really leave a good impression on me. I was forewarned by my colleague to take lots of pictures, but I didn't believe her.

In reality, Stockholm takes your breath away. The cleanliness of the town, plus the gothic buidings, the cool crisp air, all added to the charm of Stockholm. It'd be interesting to know that Stockholm is an archipelago of 14 islands. The Vikings originated from here! How authentic is that?? And to prove it, they have a real life size Viking boat that sunk on her maiden voyage at the Ship Museum. Monuments of the king scattered in the city, the palace of the king and also buildings from the 18th century.

Like most European countires, their stores closes around 6pm, so all your shopping must be done before that. Souvenirs are plenty and affordable, provided that you don't exchange Kronor to RM, or Euro to RM (Euro1 = RM4.90).

There are about 200 Malaysians there, and what I can deduct from my brief visit there is that the Malaysian Embassy worked hard to maintain the Malaysian community by having regular gathering. During the Ramadhan, incidently when I was visiting, we breakfast in the Embassy and had Solat Terawikh together. I can see that the Malaysian community there is quite close and well knit.

There are some Malaysians who calls Stockholm home, like the couple who owned Restaurang Tullange, who hails from Melaka. Their children are born and bred in Stockholm, but still they kept the Malaysian citizenship. The sad truth is, Asians are second class citizens in Stockholm. They are usually looked down upon and bullied. Even if you became their citizen, it would still be the same. Therefore, it's wiser to keep the Malaysian citizenship than rather be a second class citizen in a froeign country.

Swedish are quite eurocentric, but surprisingly they are also adventurous, in the culinary sense. We had invited our driver to break fast with us, and they had gladly accepted Malaysian hospitality, trying every local cuisine that was served, even eating sambal belacan! Not an easy feat for an European.

Visiting Stockholm was interesting and I would definitely go there again if have the greens to support me! *sigh*

What UMNO General Assembly means to me:)

Every year we will have the UMNO General Assembly in PWTC and it only mean one important thing to me and my friends...shopping! Yep, that's right. We don't care about the politics mumbo jumbo, we only care about the hundreds of sellers bringing in their goods during the assembly. You name it, they got it....from the lowest quality of songket to the most expensive songket you'd ever come across in your life, from the best quality of brooches to the really cheap ones, and also, good quality hand painted batiks (now that the government is enforcing everyone to wear batik on every 1st and 15th of the month).

It's a jungle out there, with the thousands of UMNO delegates bumping and touching God-knows parts on your body. But being out there and bargaining for the wanted items is part of the fun. Some weird and outrageous things on sale this year: the tree that died and brought to life (elixir of life?!), terubok masin (fine in the market, but not in the open exhibition), RM500 kebaya top, RM6000 songket, the Dempo snow creams (hate them and their promoters), ladyboy selling perfume, Caely bras.

Can't wait for the next UMNO General Assembly. It's a shame that they always have it in the middle of the month, when your pockets have run dry!

Malaysia, and all that jazz

I've worked in the tourism industry for 5 years, and that by the industry's standard is still a baby. Because tourism is a life-long industry, its based on relationship, networking, trust and marketing. Well, you got to know how to market your country, u got to believe that your country have something special that others don't. That will be the edge that put you above or at par with the rest. Not just doing some event like the open house celebration just for the sake of doing it, but truly doing it from the heart. Malaysia is still lacking in terms of hospitality and attitude in the service industry. The degree of our professionalism is still questionable.

I've travelled to some parts of the world, and sometimes you are humbled by the fact that other countries have history older and richer and more enrooted than Malaysia like the Vikings. What are the Malays, but having orginated from Indonesia, the Chinese from China and the Indians from India? Aren't we all immigrants initially, and that's why people wants to ensalve us!

Western countries are more modern and developed, sending people into space can be part of tourism now. We have just sent an astronaut to space, and that by the western definition is not an astronaut but a spacetourist eventhough he had gone through NASA training....and we spent billions for that...not an easy feat.

Malaysia is growing on its own pace...we have natural beauty and history and the fact that we are truly multiracial, makes us truly Asia...other Asian countries may beg to differ, but can they argue that they have three major races that still practice their language, culture and religion freely? That is Malaysia, my friend, a true melting pot of culture.

Am proud to be Malaysian, but the government really need to buckle up with the development of the country whilst at the same time maintaining our unique culture. Too much politicking and cronyism could ruin a country.

I rest my case.

Of being me

I was feeling pissed this morning. I received emails from people who just don't know how to do their job and in turn made my life hell. I called and yelled at them. Those who know me might think that it is out of character for me to act this way. Unless, of course, it's THAT time of the month again.

I guess PMS have to do a lot with me being so bold and having the hell-I-care-if-I-hurt-your- feelings atttitude. I was a bad ass today, I yelled and said what comes in my mind and I knew that this is just temporary. PMS gave me the extra boost to be the person that I think I can become - controversial, daring, independant.

In reality, I would avoid any controversy or any kind of confrontation. I would always be nice to my workmates, and there's no animosity and tension, which makes my working environment more peaceful . Sometimes I wonder if I'm being a hypocrite, but I decide that I don't like to quarrel with people or create a negative working environment, which in turn would make my life miserable.

But for once, I would also like to be the person who speaks out for herself, not afraid to be looked at if I made any mistakes, be more independant and more self assured. I guess that's something that I have to learn along the way and not just bank on my hormones during PMS :P

Weekend round trip

It was the weekend leading up to my first year anniversary and I had plans to go to Melaka on Sunday to celebrate. The weekday was quite a hellish one as there were endless meetings, presentations, arrangements, last minute requests and dinners that I had to entertain. So I was looking forward for the one night stay in Melaka and just hang out.

Then, my other half decided that we should go back to Batu Pahat to pick up some durians from his abah's kebun. I was not too excited about it but I was telling myself that I only had to endure it for one night and the next we will be off to Melaka. Anyway, to cut a long story short, we went to BP on Saturday and Sunday we were off to Melaka. But we stopped by at Ayer Hitam as my mother was asking me to look for some souvenir items for my brother's kenduri. I have now officially became my brother's wedding plannner team. My task is mainly:

1. scouting for appropriate souvenir items to be given to guests; and

2. procuring the said souvenir items.

If I wasn't married to somebody from BP, I wouldn't have known about Ayer Hitam. The place is like shopping haven for Malaysians its like Bukit Kayu Hitam or Nilai 3. You can buy all sorts of gifts, hantaran arrangements, bunga dulang, ornaments, wood products, kerepek, plastic flowers, etc. Anyway, this was my second time scouting the items. The first time my mum's theme was bakul mengkuang, which I had bought a few samples but none of which she liked. This time around it was swans, so I had to scout for replicas of swans, which I had found and again, she didn't like any of it. So she decided that we should go to Nilai 3 this coming saturday.

Coming back to my journey, on from Ayer Hitam, we drove to Melaka and arrived around 4pm and checked in to Aldy Hotel. The room was quite small and typical of a 3 star hotel but the toilet and wardrobe area was quite new which I can tell by the look of the tiles. I always thought that I can travel cheap and easy but years in tourism have spoilt me and now I have developed a liking to luxury hotels. Well, who doesn't? But you need enough dough for it, and of which I am seriously lacking of :P

Nonetheless, I think that Aldy Hotel has the best location in Melaka as it is situated in front of the strecth of road from the Stadhuys leading up to A'Famosa. Walking around all the historical places was easy and the first place we visited was the A'Famosa, and we actually went to the Dutch graveyard after the azan maghrib, it was creepy thinking of the dead people in their tomb but we walked on till we reached the end of the graveyard leading out to the back of Stadhuys. Then we went for some ikan bakar at perkampungan Ikan Bakar Terapung Umbai which only took 20 minutes journey and a very excellent place for all the fresh seafood by the sea. Our meal of half kilo kerang, half kilo kupang and one ikan siakap was only RM38 ringgit. Compared to the RM7 prawn each in Langkawi, i think this meal was comparatively cheap. Definitely a must if do in Melaka! My other half even suggested that we do it again if we go back to BP via Muar, hence save toll and also have a delicous meal on the way.

All in all, it was a good getaway and not such much on the anniversay celebration but the most improtant thing is we have spend it together in a meaningful way. Can't wait to plan my next holiday :) now, just to persuade for my other half to agree for the snorkelling thingy at Pulau Lang Tengah in Terengganu....