Saturday, July 25, 2009

Vietnamese Food in Viet Kong Country

In Southern Vietnam 12-19July2009.

Colourful sticky rice sold by street hawkers. Tastes are quite dour. Worse it was topped with a mixture of sugar and salt. The Vietnamese really like their sugars.

The colour purple.

Mekong Specialties

They call the fish the Elephant Ear Fish. From the Mekong river. Put a piece of the fish on a rice paper, add some vermicelli, those veges and wrap it like a poh piah. Some fried spring rolls in the picture too. Those are yummy though a tad oily.
The fish alive, in the local market... well, I think they are the same type of fish.

River fish cooked in tamarin and herbs soup with veges. I think its their local version of asam laksa but definitely more watery. Theres lady'd finger, pineapple, some other vegetables. Not really to my liking. Its tasted sweet and slightly sourish at the same time although the sweetness is overpowering. I dont even like the way it smells. Phoung Nam Restaurant in Can Tho City.
Lemongrass Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City.
Platter of local appetisers. Clockwise from the top. Fresh springrolls, fried springrolls, shredded chicken with cabbage and fish 'balls'. Love em.
Bun Cha Gio & Thit Nouong (Rice vermicelli with fried prawn springrolls and grilled pork). Soupless.
Heo Noung Me (Charboiled pork with sesame served with vegetables and rice vermicelli) lower corner. Nice... but I have expected better.

Do Bien Xao Mien (Baked seafood with glass noodle in claypot). Yummy..

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Grilling Mongolian BBQ

First time I came across Mongolian BBQ was in Taipei, Taiwan back in 2002. Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Penang this time around.
Mongolian BBQ does not actually involve barbequing or at least my understanding of what is barbequing. It is more kind of like grilling. Using different ingredients but only one cooking methods. Paying almost RM40 for it seems 'stupid' it to me, but since my friends wanted to try, so 'cincai’ la.

Basically Mongolian BBQ’s concept is simple. Pick what you want from an array of small cuts of meats. Here they have beef, chicken, lamb, fish, prawn and squid.
Add in whatever greens and mushroom that you want, then pick whatever sauces, seasoning or combinaton of seasonings that you want or think suites the mix.
The quantities are up to you. People who tend to be heavy handed like me will usually regret the outcome.
When you are satisfied, bring the mix to the cooks. Over a big flat ‘roti canai’ style grill pan, using two spatula, the cook will grill it for you. I still remember the cooks in Taipeh uses a pair of gigantic chopsticks too.

The cooks will add nothing to your mix except maybe water. So you got nobody else to blame if you don’t like what was served up. Hey, you are the one who did the selection. You picked what you wanted.

There are the salads and starters, and deserts and fruits too.


About 5 or 6 other dishes. The fried rice and fried shanghai-style noodles are too salty. But first time I am happy having white steam rice at a buffet. As I said earlier, I overdid it - adding too much seasoning and sauces to the grilling, making them too salty that I really needed the white rice to helps.

Only manage to have two plates and another plate of grilled vegetable before I gave up. Need two cups of strong coffee to get rid of the charred/burned aftertaste. Not going again.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Western Australia 17-25 Mac 2009

Yallingup
Margaret River

Surfer's Point, Margaret River, early morning.

Mammoth Cave, Margaret River

On top of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Augusta


Albany


Albany Windfarm


Torndirrup National Park, Albany


Esperance



Pinnacle Desert





Perth City



Night view of the city, from of King's Park.

Skyline of Perth City, with the Swan Belltower on the right.

St George's Cathedral


Fremantle


Fishing Boat Harbour
Fremantle harbour


I Am A GOOD Man

I just realised that I am such a GOOD man. I am that GOOD that my wonderful reputation preceeds me and spreads across the WWW and anonymous people are writing in just to seek my help.

Me, just imagine, a simple and humble man. Me. I cant help but to say that this just lead me to the conclusion that I am that GOOD.

I am not gloating here. I have proofs. Read on.


Proof Number 1 (mail dated 11Jun09)

Dear sir/ madam,

I will first introduce my dear self to you. I am from HARERE ZIMBABWE, I am the first son of Late Mr. Muyama Kokayi .My father was one of the Zimbabwe White and black farmers that lost their farm land from political crisis of President Robert Mugabe.My dear i got your contact details why making my research through online network because i am looking for any person who is capable of handling my late father fund which he deposited in one of South Africa Security Services. However, because i am on political asylum here i cannot operate in any financial institution that is why i have contacted you to help and invest the money in your country why i will be in silent partnership with you.

I have made arrangement and the fund has been transported to oversee through a Diplomatic Delivery which the Security Company Services have help me out. The amount involve is $10.5 Million Dollars. My Late Father deposited this money to purchase some machines for the farm before his dead. Because the Government of South Africa want to return all the money that was deposited in their country by the farmers during the crisis and move them back to my Country Zimbabwe.The Security Company inform me about this development that is why i ask for their help to have the fund move out of the country to a country where it will be save. But i feel that investing the money will be in the best interest of my family since this money is what left for my family.

I urge you to understand the situation that i am into now. Again i want to assure you that this transaction is 100% rick free .If you are willing to help me to invest this money in your details why i will be a silent partner for a security reason. Contact me and i will send you all the information regarding the fund were you will contact them in oversea for clearance. Please note that your detail is needed.

Yours Full Name
Home Address
Fax Number
Phone Number

And your International Passport or Driver License. As soon i get this information i will forward them for exchange of Beneficiary were you will have to sole right to claim the fund.

Private Email Address: (muyamagaba707@sify.com)
Faithfully Yours

Mr. Gaba Muyama

Although I really dont get what Mr Muyama means by '100% rick free', I am compeled by my GOODness to assist him. That bloody President Mugabe, robbing that poor Mr Muyama. Of course poor not in the monetary sense.



Proof Number 2 (email by "Saeed Ahmed" saaedahmed@yahoo.com dated 31May09)

Dear Friend,
As you read this, do not feel sorry for me, because I believe everyonewill die someday. My name is Saeed Ahmed a merchant in Dubai, U.A.E. Ihave been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms ofmedical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live,according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life sowell, as I never really cared for anyone(not even myself) but my business.

Though I am very rich, I was never generous, always hostile and onlyfocused on my business as that was the only thing I cared about. I assumedbeing a shrewd and mean businessman meant no room for failure in life. Butnow I regret all this as I know that there is more to life than justwanting to have all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me asecond chance to come to this world I would live my life a different wayfrom how I have lived it.

Now that God has changed me, I have willed and given most of my propertyand assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a fewclose friends. I see this as a rebirth for me, a chance to do somethingright for once, so God can have mercy on me accept my soul so, I havedecided to give also to charity organizations, as I want this to be one ofthe last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money tosome charity organizations in the U.A.E, Malaysia, and India. Now that myhealth has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore.I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts anddistribute the money which I have there to charity organization inBulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves.Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended withwhat I have left for them.

The last bulk consignment of my money which no one knows about, is thehuge cash deposit of twenty million dollars $20,000,000,00 that I havewith a finance/Security Company abroad. I will want you to help me collectthis deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations. I have set aside10% for your time and service.Please reply me with honesty as soon as you receive this eMail.

God be with you.Saeed Ahmed.
NB: For confidential reasons you can contact me through my personal andconfidential email address saaedahmed@live.com

See, I am such a good man that Mr Ahmed give me his personal and confidential email address. Such a wonderful man this Mr Ahmed.



Proof Number 3 (via email from MR.TAN WONG(tanwong012@yahoo.com.hk) dated 28May09

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Tan Wong director ofoperations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an obscured businesssuggestion for you. That will be a great benefit for you and me. It involve the transfer of Twenty Four millions Five Hundred Thousand UnitedState Dollar($24,500,000,00) deposit in my bank So, Twenty Four millionsFive Hundred Thousand United State Dollar($24,500,000,00) is still lyingin my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers memost is that according to the laws of my country at the expiration 8yearsthe funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government ifnobody applies to claim the funds. Against this backdrop, my suggestion toyou is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin toMajor Fadi Basem so that you will be able to receive his funds Transfer.

Should you be interested please send me your full names and currentresidential address and I will prefer you to reach me on this emailaddress (tanwong012@yahoo.com.hk) which is my private email address and finally after that I shall provide you with more details of thisoperation.Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Mr.Tan Wong.

I will help you Mr Tan ... or is it Mr Wong. Anyway, I am GOOD enough to be interested. We definitely cannot let your goverment steal all those money. Imagine with that amount of money, how many Christiano Ronaldo they can buy? Okay la, maybe only his left ear with a diamond stud attached. But who knows what that might lead to.

Then every one will be watching the HK Premier League. That will definitely scare the shit out of me.


Proof Number 4
Deleted the email address before copying it over here.

Attention: Proposed partner,

My name is Barry Tootell. I am the chief Financial Officer at the Cooperative Bank United Kingdom. My contacting you is based on a secret discovery of the sum of £28..250.390.00 (Twenty Eight Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand,Three Hundred and Ninety Pounds Sterling) only, in a secret foreign account.It will be in my interest to work and finish this transaction with you. If you can be a collaborator to this transaction, please indicate your positive interest immediately for us to proceed if not please ignore. Remember this is absolutely confidential because my Bank does not know about it.

Warmest regards,
Barry Tootell,
Chief Financial Officer,
Cooperative Bank. United Kingdom.

Dont play play. Mr Tootell is the CFO lo. Very high ranking one. You dont usually get request for assistance from such high ranking people. It s like Bill Gates calling up to say 'tolong'. Further more, he called me his partner even before I agree to help him. Such trust in me. My GOODness must really spread around.


Heck, I am good enough man that my would be assassin mailed me to forewarn me about the impending danger that I am facing

Proof (via email by "Bary Gary" info@mail.org dated 10Jun2009)

To You!

Just to let you know that fews weeks from now you will be out of thesurface of the earth if you dont comply with me, I have all it takes nowto kidnap and kill you, i have been sent by somone very close to you andyour family even in your work place to kidnap and kill you. I have allthe neccesary informations i need to carry out my mission, I know whereyou go from time to time, i know who you visit i know your work place, iknow when you nomarly live the house for work or any where, i belivevery soon you will be dead, it takes me time to draw out your map now ihave all i want to kidnap and kill you, My boys are around you any whereand every where you go to.Mind you dont act smart by trying to inform the police or any otherauthority about this, as it may interest you to know that i haveconnections any where and every where in the world even in your countrythere where you live, I have conections with the FBI,LAPD, even with topGovernments officials in high offices. Dont bother to know who i am or whosent me, because that is not neccesary now all you need now is to contactme through my private e-mail if you want to comply and know mor about this(E-mail:bary.blackkiller.gary9@gmail.com).

For now i say Bye meat.

RegardsBary Garyxxxxxxx


See, I told you. The next time you see me, better call me Good man. Now, I better go to open up a bank account as soon as possible. I will not want Mr Muyama, Mr Ahmed, Mr Wong and Mr Tootell to doubt my sincerity, my willingness to help and of course, my goodness.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Does Angels Sound Like This?

She might be William Hung's equivalent in looks. (okay, me bad)

SUSAN BOYLE, remember the name.... see the talent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

minute 2.07 of the clip, the host said it perfectly "You didn't expect that, did you? Did you? NOT!!!"

She totally blown me away with her singing talent. My eyes got watery and I am choked emotionally listening to her singing and the reception she received after she started singing.

And I also like the fact that she seems to be feisty, fun, able to make fun at herself and I wish her the best in her impending new career.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Wind Farm, Albany, WA March2009


This post is in honour of Earth Hour 2009, and all the people in the world who participated in it.

I was lucky enough to be somewhere where clean renewable energies are being succesfully produced and utilised. The Wind Farm in Albany, Western Australia.

They appears on the horizon, like those peoples in rubber suits in those Ultraman tv movies. Giants suddenly appears against the blue sky.



"The road to the top"


Excellent panaromic view. The Southern Ocean.





Standing under one of the turbine, the majestic sounds of the blades rotating are truely and thoroughly imposing.



True, very true