Pulau Aman - Jan 2009

I have heard about Pulau Aman, a set of twin islands just off Seberang Perai back in the year 2000. It has taken me about than 9 years just to explore this part of Penang.

To reach the islands, a short ferry ride (RM6.00 round trip) is needed. The ferry terminal used to be at Tambun, not has now been relocated to Batu Musang at Batu Kawan. Just head towards the "white elephant' Penang Batu Kawan State stadium and go straight all the way. You will need to go over a hill to reach the recently built ferry terminals.

Pulau Aman is a small traditional Malay fishing village, more famous for a paradise for anglers than anything else.

Fishing boats dominates the arrival jetty on the island.

"The missing anglers".

*picture heavily enhanced

Theres actually nothing much to do here if you are not into fishing. The jungle tracking trails are quite abandon and tonnes of garbage drifted to the beaches and seashores. Stupid visitors who littered the jungle trails and beaches with styrofoam containers makes me sad.

The mee udang sold on the island's restaurant is among the other things highly recommended here. I asked the makcik manning the restaurant, what else are famous there besides the mee udang. Her answer "nasi udang, kuey teow udang, semua udang" :)

The mee udang tasted good, but not really spectacular. My humble opinion, nott really worth the price (around RM7.00 including my drink). This is, of course not including the price for the boat ride. Believe better mee udang/ketam at Perkampungan Juru.

When we are there, the cool sea breeze is really blowing. Relatively unpolluted compared to the seabreezes near Weld Quay or on the Penang Bridge. Nice place to relax and unwind. I wish I had a hammock, and a place to take a relaxing nap.



Not a worry in the world. A simple life. I envy them. But the again, these kids dont have a DSLR :) hihi

2009, for better or worse... WELCOME

A new year begins today.

Dont know what to write. Dont want to write.

Just wanna wish everybody a Happy and Prosperous new year ahead. Tough it out and we will emerge victorious again.

I want a Bangsa Malaysia

There is an old Malay saying “Gajah depan mata tak nampak, kuman seberang laut nampak”.

Shahrir Samad was quoted yesterday as saying “it did not make sense to ask those who were strong to reduce their strength for the purpose of having a so-called level playing field.”

I though this was always the BN, opps ...UMNO’s goverment’s policy.

I don’t know about you but I always feel the level and quality of our education system, from primary up to the universities was brought down, so that more Bumiputras can graduate.

Malaysian local universities are already known as ‘graduate churning factories’. Quantity over quality. Then they complaint about graduates not having soft skills, no able to speak English, no confidence. And when it is reported that there are lots of unemployed graduates, they burnt more moneys to have more trainings for these unemployable graduates. And when that also fails, they do another stupid thing. Recruit them into the public service. Then they complaint about the ineffecient public service.

Ask any teachers, they will tell you how public exams are getting easier by the year. Why? My opinion is so that the non Malays will not get smarter and the Malays will think they are smarter.

Then theres the NEP. The strength of the non Malays in business are weakened in the name of helping the Malaysa. What about that? Isnt it true that goverment contracts are deliberately not given to non bumiputras so that they wont grow so much. Isnt this the same thing?

But those are my thought.

But back to Shahrir’s comment.

They are not asking UMNO to weaken itself. They are just asking UMNO to stop being a fool. No more 'bodoh-sombong' attitute. Why must we accept 'ketuanan UMNO'? Because non Malays are second class citizens here in Malaysia? We are asking for a genuine partnership. A partnership where not everything you say is right and what everybody else says is wrong if you dont agree to it. We dont want your scraps. We dont want your leftovers. Accept that BN's component parties weaknesses is a direct result from UMNO's strength.

Accept that. And there will be a hope for a real bangsa Malaysia.

UMNO Cheras Head's Ho Liau Equations

Well, according to this fellow Syed Ali Al Habshee, the Cheras Umno division head;

Suing Utusan Malaysia = Challenging honour of Malay (because Utusan is owned by Malays)

Challenging honour of Malay = Challenging UMNO.

Questioning the azan = questioning the honours of Malay and Islam.

He was commenting about the RM30Million defamation suit filed by Teresa Kok againts Utusan Malaysia for reporting something that even the affected party, a mosque in Puchong, denied Teresa was involved with.

Wah, like this also can ah?

The guy also started a fund for Utusan to fight the suit. He also ask others to donate to the fund. Maybe can also la. Since those UMNOputras have so much money, they should start collecting the RM30Million now. After all a slander is a 'fitnah'. Unless our 'independent' judiciary acts up funny again.

How ironic, the guy was talking about Islam and honours, but would blindy support a lie, because to him, UMNO and Malays are untouchables in this country of ours. Its their holy right, they wanna tell a lie which resulted in a person arrested under the ISA also can, don't question!

Like they say, kalau tak suka, keluar dari sini!

Cars and Marine Creatures

We have being seeing car designers getting design inspirations from fishes and sea creatures.

From the wonderfully looking Mitsubishi Lancer 2007, with its Great White Shark look

to the Honda Civic 2006, which reminds me of the hammerhead shark,

to the fugly 'dugong' look alike Toyota Vios 2008.

But the champion of ugliness (for me at least) is the Hyundai Accent. Guess which fish it reminds me of.

The puffer fish!

Not same meh?

Branded Durian

Among the few first time I have tasted the expensive stuffs. Went for a trip to Stall 168, Balik Pulau.

Green Skin (RM12.00/kg). Charaterised by the bright green colour of the husk. Not as flavourful as the other variety tasted today.

Ho Lor (RM16/kg) - the best of the lot. Full body fruit with smooth texture. Very fragrant. Called Ho Lor because of the shape of the fruit and pulp.

Ang Her (Red Prawn) RM(16/kg). Tinier spike.

Melaka Chicken Rice Ball

Formosa??.... Hoe Kee??... Chung Wah was the one recommended to me.

The chicken rice ball stall at Kedai Kopi Chung Wah is said to be the original Chicken Rice Ball shop in Melaka. The non pretentious shop is located at the beginning of Jonker Street and is visible from the Stadhuys.



The rice balls are really smooth, melting in your mouth. The highlight of this trip. The chilli dips are very nice. The chicken are a bit tough, but still enjoyable. Served traditionally, including the bones and gut parts. Not drench in heavy soy sauce. Unlike the other outlets, Chung Wah concentrates solely in selling the chicken rice ball. No frills.

Expect to queue during lunch time.