I Am Not A Blog

Coromandel Town to Auckland Ferry

2011-08-05T10:41:00.020+12:00

This finally concludes my posts about this first trip I took when I first came to Auckland. FINALLY. I took this trip in the tail end of January and I'm only finishing it now. Phew.

Instead of taking a bus back to Auckland, I decided to take a ferry which would be faster and afford me different views. We sailed through the Hauraki Gulf, which is pretty sheltered and so had a smooth journey. The photos say it all:

One of my favourite photos from this trip

Beverages for your refreshment

Ample space to move and stretch

The engine is so loud, you wouldn't hear it playing anyway

Bikes travel free

Outgoing cruise ship, with the Auckland Harbour Bridge in the background

City skyline

Hmm how much do these apartments cost?

Thanks to PC and his flatmate who picked me up from the wharf and saved me another bus trip back.

Driving Creek Railway, Coromandel Town

2011-08-03T10:12:00.046+12:00

Driving Creek Railway is definitely the tourism gem of the Coromandel. It's a single man's labour of love over 30 years as he built the railway by himself (mostly) section by section. Rather than repeating the same words, read the excellent history from their website.

The 1 hour ride was enjoyable even if I felt cramped in the small seats. I was sitting across from a New Caledonian couple with their toddler so I amused myself looking at them teach the daughter how to apply sunscreen. The breathtaking parts were when we emerged from bush into a clearing and we could see across the Hauraki Gulf to all the islands nearby.

Pottery on display, presumably made on site

Previous tour group coming in

Brick kiln

Tour guide explaining do's and don'ts

At certain points during the trip, the driver has to come down and switch tracks as it's going to go up the other way

There are 2 trains on every tour

The original final stop

Final stop

The Eyefull Tower

Observation deck offering wide views - notice the pollution free sky bursting with unparalleled levels of UV rays

One of the tunnels we drove through

It's just amazing how one person has the vision and the dedication to take this through to the end.

Coromandel Town, Coromandel

2011-08-01T10:00:00.000+12:00

On the last day of my trip I journeyed to Coromandel Town via Tairua Bus Company. The plan is to catch the afternoon ferry back to Auckland instead of returning by bus. I had quite a few hours to kill so I took a short stroll around. It's a quaint town with lots of old buildings that make you feel like you're back in the past century...

i-Site Information Center

I kept my main luggage at the i-Site while I went exploring on foot with my day bag.

The main street

Even the flag is frayed. WTH?

I like seeing how architects try to make their church stand out from others while maintaining the basic motifs

I was done with the town itself in about an hour, so I took a long walk to Driving Creek Railway set outside the town. There are no buses, and I'm not keen to call a taxi (not that I saw one), so it was either hitchhike or walk.

Next post: Driving Creek Railway

Tea Party

2011-07-13T15:35:00.000+12:00

As I don't drink coffee, I have resorted to trying out different kinds of tea to battle the boredom of plain water. It's also a great way to warm up when it gets a bit chilly. At the moment I've got 8 teas in my office drawer:

Green tea with lemongrass and lemon
Whole leaf Chinese white tip green tea
White tea
Chai tea (black tea with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper)
Lemongrass tea
Pomegranate & grape fruit infusion
Tamarillo & honey fruit infusion
Guarana herbal tea (containing as much caffeine as a standard cup of coffee)

This is in addition to the complimentary tea stocked in the office - English tea, jasmine green tea, and South African rooibos (red bush) tea. On any given day I'd take about 3 or 4 different types of tea - of which I'll limit to a single cup of tea with creamer and sugar. Everything else is taken sans sugar.

I've also got chamomile tea at home for relaxation and sleep aid, but that's not something I need often in a place like New Zealand.

Review: Squids Bar and Restaurant

2011-07-07T21:04:00.001+12:00

On the penultimate day of my travel I decided to treat myself to a proper good meal. For 6 days I've existed on Subway sandwiches and hastily cooked pasta meals in hostel kitchens, so enough is enough!

My phone's Ovi Maps GPS application has a Trip Advisor utility that combines tourism reviews with the address, so it can suggest and show me nearby places. Under restaurants it recommended Salt as the #1 place to eat, based on user ratings. So I eagerly made my way there:

I stood near the entrance and inspected the menu posted. No one came to ask me if I wanted a table, so I just walked in and plopped down at a table in the al fresco area overseeing the marina. It could have been a pretty peaceful sight if not for the 5 or 6 kids playing roughly while their parents socialize, uninterrupted by the ruckus.

But the thing that broke the camel's back was being ignored. Passing waiters did not bother to hand me a menu or serve. After 5 minutes I got up and just walked out. I instead dined at the eatery across Salt - Squids Bar and Restaurant. What a great choice!

Continue reading my review of Squids after the jump.
Read more »

Review: Cat's Pyjamas, Whitianga

2011-07-04T20:58:00.000+12:00

This hostel was one of the better ones I stayed at in this trip. Though quite crowded we're sufficiently spread out, with plenty of common areas to relax. It's a short 5-10 minute walk to the marina and beach, so a strategic location.

The manager is very friendly, though the resident cat may not always be! Tairua Bus Company (Nakedbus) transports can stop and pick up from this hostel - just let the driver/hostel manager know in advance.

Cat's Pyjamas reception

Well equipped kitchen with working stuff!

Dining area inside

Lots of places to chill outside

Catch some sun or sea breeze here

Living room with books and DVDs

Common bathroom

Cathedral Cove @ Hahei, Coromandel

2011-06-11T21:33:00.000+12:00

Nearby Whitianga is the town of Hahei, which has 2 main attractions - Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. Due to my trip planning I did not manage to visit Hot Water Beach. I later found out that summer isn't a good time to be digging your own thermal pool in the sand anyway. Now would be different though!

Cathedral Cove was featured in the second Narnia film - Prince Caspian. In case you don't remember (it was such a forgettable movie after all), watch the trailer and see where they are at 0:45:

It seems only in Narnia can kids run through the cove as in reality the place is cordoned off and declared unstable.

My experience continues after the jump.
Read more »

Auckland Town Hall

2011-05-31T08:41:00.000+12:00

The Auckland Town Hall is not the current town hall. Rather, it has been converted into an events centre. I came here to watch a comedy show during the recently-concluded NZ Comedy Festival 2011.

I'll be sharing more of these photosynths in the future - they were taken using my >iPod Touch 4 with the excellent free Microsoft Photosynth app. I'm still blown away by how well it makes use of the iPod's hardware to stitch together such awesome panoramas.

(You'll need to install Microsoft Silverlight, a small free plugin)

Whitianga, Coromandel

2011-05-14T22:01:00.000+12:00

Whitianga was my next stop after sleepy Thames, and it was the most enjoyable leg of that trip. Fronted by the beautiful Mercury Bay, Whitianga and its neighbour Hahei is a popular base to explore the highlights of the Coromandel - Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.

Whitianga itself has plenty of holiday homes ('bachs' in Kiwi slang - short for bachelor home) and a marina for boaties to park their sails:

It doesn't have much in the way of natural attractions besides Mercury Bay itself. However, all it takes is a 5 minute ferry ride across the mouth of the harbour to get easy walking access to some stunning scenery of the region.

Map of area across Whitianga

Ferry services: $2 adult each way

Photos of the ferry and some of the places mentioned in the map is after the jump.

Read more »

Driving License

2011-05-06T07:52:00.038+12:00

Note: This is in the series of blog posts I wrote about my preparation to move to New Zealand. Although I've been in Auckland for 4 months, I wish to complete the series in the next post. The original date stamps will give you an idea of how time-consuming migration takes. The 'New Zealand' tag will bring up all related posts.

[Originally written 23/12/2010]
You don't actually need an International Driving Permit to drive in New Zealand. Your current driving license is valid for up to 1 year as long as it has not expired. The other condition is that it must be in English, failing which, you need to provide an acceptable English translation.

For Malaysians, the easiest and cheapest way to do so is to get an official translation from JPJ. Firstly, prepare a photocopy of your IC and driving license, both front and back. Then, at any JPJ branch, ask for the translation application form from the enquiry counter (it's where you get a queue number).

Inform the officer at the enquiry counter once you've filled in the single page form and he/she will direct you to a staff member who will check your forms and take your payment of RM10. That's it! It will be ready for you in half a working day.

[End of original post]

Since I came here and started driving, I've mulled the idea of getting a NZ driving license. The benefits: lower car insurance excess ($400 less!) and it's a valid proof of age ID (as opposed to using your passport).

Unfortunately, I'm not from one of the "lucky" countries who can convert their driving license to a full NZ license. Oh no, Malaysians have to retake the full exam - both road code and practical driving test. This will cost about $200 in fees alone, and I'm not willing to spend that time and effort!

In my original post I mentioned that foreign driving licenses are valid for 12 months in New Zealand. I found a loophole, as explained by the NZ Transport Agency agent - the 12 months validity resets itself every time I enter NZ. So as long as I leave NZ and reenter it every 12 months, my license is good to go again!

Review: Gateway Backpackers, Thames

2011-05-05T08:15:00.023+12:00

I stayed 2 nights at Gateway Backpackers when I was in Thames, and I found this to be a cozy homely place with one pitfall.

Pros:

Situated right next to the Information Centre and the bus stop for InterCity and NakedBus coaches.
Free use of washing machine
Nice sun deck for those lazy summer days
Very reasonable rates

Cons:

No locks on dorm rooms. As the reception is located in a separate building, thieves could easily slip in unnoticed, not that you'd expect many offenders in a place like Thames. Still.

More photos after the break:
Read more »

Costs of Moving to NZ

2011-05-04T21:14:00.000+12:00

This is in the final post in the series I wrote about my preparation to move to New Zealand. The 'New Zealand' tag will bring up all related posts.

Since Day 1 I've kept a running total of how much it cost me to fulfill my dream of moving here. Of course I've spent much more the moment I touched Auckland soil, but this was the bare minimum to get me here in the first place. This post is really only useful for Malaysians.

Note: I omitted airfare, but in case you're interested I paid RM3035 for a one-way MAS ticket (it was the peak post-Christmas period). You'll fare better with budget airlines and off-peak journeys.

Certificate of Good Conduct
Commissioner of Oath to verify application form (RM4/page) x 4 = RM16
Postal Order to "Akauntan Negara Malaysia" = RM20.50
Pos Express A4 envelope as return envelope = RM4.50
Pos Daftar mail to the Foreign Ministry = RM2.50

NZQA Qualifications Assessment*
Apply course structure from INTI = RM24
NZQA International Qualification Assessment (NZ$770) = RM1750.00
UPS Express Saver delivery = RM89

Silver Fern Job Search Visa
Online application fee (NZ$200) = RM460.00
UPS Express Saver passport delivery to receiving office = RM50
Return courier fee = SGD20 = RM50

Medical Checkup = RM260.00

Misc
Passport photos = RM17
Passport renewal = RM300
English translation of driver's license = RM10
Parcel shipment by sea (15kg) = RM81.10

* Depending on the visa you are applying and where your tertiary qualifications are obtained from, you may not need to incur this cost.

80% Winter Mode

2011-05-03T10:24:00.029+12:00

While the northern hemisphere celebrates spring and all things life-giving, we on the other side of the world are bucking up for winter.

Here are 3 ways my habits have changed:

I'm using a Thermos flask to keep hot drinking water. I avoid keeping water in plastic drinking bottles as it gets cold too fast. And I've been drinking more tea than usual - my preference is green tea or rooibos tea.

I bought a hot water bottle (a.k.a. hot water bags)! They're now selling it for about $6 and I'm actually impressed it keeps the heat well through the night. Starts off being too hot to touch, but by 4am (early chill) it's perfect to place on the chest. My electric blanket has also been switched to Level 2 (out of 3 possible heat levels).

I'm skipping morning showers. Instead I fill a small plastic tub with warm water and use a face towel to wipe up. Only thing missing is a white "Good Morning" towel to give me a nostalgic tingle! (My fingers and toes are still tingling, but from the cold and not nostalgia)

Credit: Little Thoughts

Random: Self-cleaning toilets

2011-04-28T21:51:00.000+12:00

These toilets are pretty cool. When unoccupied, it can clean itself. To get the toilet seat you have to press a button. A hatch opens up and the toilet seat is placed for you, all clean and disinfected.

There's also a time lime to using the toilet. When your 10 minutes is up, the door opens automatically...

Thames, Coromandel

2011-04-25T09:46:00.000+12:00

After spending 2 nights at Hamilton, I continued my journey via a 2 hour van ride (Tairua Bus Company, purchased via NakedBus) to Thames, the gateway to the Coromandel Peninsula. Most people pass through Thames without much thought, but I spent a couple of nights here due to the arrangement of my bus tickets.

Which was just as well as the rain that hounded Hamilton followed me here, so I had a terrible time moving about. That is still saying much, as Thames is a really small town with 2 parallel main streets. Where it really shines is the number of heritage buildings - I felt transported back to the gold rush days when I walk amongst the old buildings. Check them out!

More photos after the jump.

Read more »

Review: YWCA Hamilton

2011-04-22T21:34:00.000+12:00

I spent 2 nights at the Hamilton YWCA hostel. You do not need to be young nor female to stay here, and they are the most value-for-money hostel near to the city.

From the main road

Activities hall/office

Flat units

For $30 a night you get a small, but private, single room like the one below:

A single room

It even comes with a towel, a rarity for hostels. They are also open for long term stays, and I've seen a few residents who look like they've been there for quite a while. If I remember correctly, the weekly rent is $140 for a single.

The main disadvantages:

Still relatively far from the city centre, compared to other hostels. It's not within the free city circuit bus network, so you need to walk slightly more than 1km to Victoria St.
Common kitchen has limited utensils. Each resident is given a sauce pan (small pot), a bowl, a small plate, a large plate, a small cup, and a pair of fork and spoon. They have some knives and chopping board in the kitchen, but there are no other pots and pans. I had to get really creative with cooking my meals.

Random Hamilton

2011-04-22T09:30:00.000+12:00

It was a rainy time in Hamilton and so I didn't take many photos, especially the main Victoria St. These will have to do:

ArtsPost - old post office converted into commercial art gallery

Waikato Museum - permanent exhibits are free and highly recommended

Falun Dafa movement at the farmer's market

Weekend farmer's market

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton

2011-04-20T09:18:00.000+12:00

Hamilton Gardens was the highlight of my visit to Hamilton City. Located a few kilometers away from the city centre, there are public buses (about 5 a day) but a car is definitely more convenient.

Basically a large botanical garden, the thing that sets it apart is the focus on gardens as a historical/cultural concept rather than particular flora. Yes, there are the usual "here's 15 different types of roses for you to mull over" areas within its huge 50 hectares, but the part that I liked the most is the Paradise Garden Collection, which features themed gardens from the Italian Renaissance, Chinese, Japanese, English, American Modernist, and Indian era. Separated by high hedges, taking just a few steps transported me from a pagoda to a tea house to a mini Taj Mahal!

More pics under the fold...
Read more »

I Return. Slowly.

2011-04-19T08:42:00.021+12:00

Responsibilities of being an adult are quickly catching up on me. Weekends are not filled with 6 hour video game marathons or hanging out at the gym. Rather, the carpet beckons to be vacuumed, my laundry needs to be washed, and my car needs to be treated.

Then on Sundays I spend an average 4 hours cooking my meals for the coming work week. I'll be blogging about this week-long cooking practice later - definitely interesting for all you bachelors out there.

With all that activity crowding my free time, forgive me if I am not punctual with my posts. I did a quick check at my stats and I'm still getting a healthy 50 hits a day, so I'll try not to disappoint! First order of the day is to quickly write up my holiday posts from the summer. Autumn chill is already encroaching so it'll be a good reminder of nice weather gone by.

You can also expect lots of "Photo of the day" posts instead of long write ups like this.

More on Azuma Japanese Restaurant, Queensbay Mall, Penang

2011-04-10T20:02:00.000+12:00

(This is an old post that was supposed to go out but somehow did not)

I've flogged about Azuma a few months back. This visit was a simple birthday celebration for a friend, and this was what 3 of us ate. The total bill came up to RM95.90 (we ordered some items that were covered in the previous post). Take note that the proprietors also run Edo Ichi in Island Plaza and their menus are more or less identical.
.

Beef Enoki Maki - RM 18

Salmon Tataki Maki - RM 22

Dragon Roll - RM 22

Inverted maki roll

Tamago

A Close Shave

2011-02-23T07:39:00.000+13:00

I've accepted a job offer in Auckland, so I'll be taking a short break from blogging to settle lots of stuff related to starting work in New Zealand. As usual, those experiences will be turned into blog posts in the near future!

What I really wanted to mention is how devastating yesterday's Christchurch earthquake was. Last September's earthquake was huge but damage was minimal, while buildings literally crumbled to the floor yesterday. Case in point: the hostel I stayed in when I visited last fortnight is sadly no more. What if I decided to tour Christchurch this week instead? Or took up the job offer there?

My prayers extend to survivors and victims in Christchurch.

Hiatus Extended

2011-02-17T08:44:00.000+13:00

Interviews with a few companies are going VERY well and things are coming down to the wire. I've completed my main bulk of interviews and it's now up to them to give me an offer in writing.

As a result I am extremely tied up with finding accommodation and sorting things out. Please bear with me as there might be very limited updates till I have time to organize my 1000+ photos from my 2 trips and put them into writing.

Homemade Nasi Lemak

2011-02-16T09:42:00.011+13:00

Ahhh... if there was a 1Malaysia dish, Nasi Lemak would be it. This was my first time cooking it, and while the rice needed more sodium, it brought me back home for 6 minutes.

Elderly

2011-02-15T09:40:00.003+13:00

Saw this sign outside a retirement home in my suburb. Should they have drawn a walking stick?

Buskers

2011-02-14T09:36:00.011+13:00

Queen Street has a lot of buskers, and I always see someone new when I walk along it. One of the most interesting ones so far is the quartet who plays classical pieces on request. Definitely something different from the singing dude on guitar (though I did see one guy on guitar with a great voice in Hamilton).

This is Scandalous!

2011-02-11T09:34:00.005+13:00

Since when did Malaysia represent a mild curry sauce while Singapore is hot? This is grounds for WAR!

(Yeo's is a Singaporean company, right?)

Homeless

2011-02-10T09:33:00.000+13:00

Like any city, Auckland has its crime underbelly and vagrants. This is a homeless guy sleeping behind a church. When the sun sets on Queen Street, the main shopping drag, I can see all the rootless men coming out of the alleyways to claim the street as their own*.

*(I'm just being dramatic, it's not as bad as I make it out to seem).

Bus Stop and Timetable

2011-02-09T09:27:00.008+13:00

This is an example of a bus stop and accompanying bus timetable. There are many different designs and this box type is common in suburbs. Note that they usually only have shelter on one side of the road. The opposite bus stop is only a pole with no protection from the elements.

Duck!

2011-02-08T09:25:00.003+13:00

What would you do if you woke up to find this on your front lawn?

BodyJam 57 DVD Presenters

2011-02-07T12:18:00.000+13:00

This is a dream come true - meeting the role models I follow on my Les Mills BodyJam DVDs. They're currently rehearsing for BodyJam 57 and their guest presenter is Nicole Sanchez, a Taiwanese who's now residing in Texas.

Lying in front of me is Gandalf 'G' Archer, the genius Program Director who made BodyJam the unique fitness class that it is today. To my right is Carla Fitzsimmons, a LM veteran who's been seen on DVDs for the longest time!

Blog On Vacation

2011-02-07T09:13:00.000+13:00

When you read this I'll be in the middle of a 12-day vacation in some parts of the South Island. I actually have enough content for the next 3 to 4 months but I do need to find time to sit down and write about them. Till I have that time, I'll break from my normal schedule and post a random photo from Monday to Friday.

Thanks for your patience and enjoy the pictures!

Sending a Parcel

2011-02-02T08:23:00.087+13:00

It's recommended to send only clothes and personal belongings to avoid being taxed by New Zealand Customs. Food items and furniture (especially wood!) will likely cause hassle on your part.
If you are re-using a box, it's recommended (but optional) to wrap your parcel in brown paper and tie it with twine. The plain brown paper makes your destination address stand out clearer.
Take note of the maximum box size restrictions. I read it wrongly and had to take it home to be sized down and re-wrapped. Analyze the measurements carefully!
A + (2B + 2C) <= 2m and A <= 1m
You can choose for it to be shipped by air or by sea. Seamail takes very much longer (up to 3 months) but is also much cheaper. You can check Pos Malaysia parcel rates online.
Pos Malaysia has very strict weight brackets for sea mail (1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 kg). If your parcel tips even 0.1 kg over a limit, you'll be charged for the next bracket. I put through a 14.8 kg parcel and I could get so close thanks to my reliable luggage scale. They are more accurate than bathroom scales for low weights such as parcels. There are many designs but I used this type:

[End of original post]

Although they claim to take up to 3 months for seamail to arrive, my package arrived in about 5 weeks, including the Christmas and New Year holidays. I'd say that's a pretty impressive speed, considering that airmail costs 3 times more but promises it within 2-3 weeks.

However, take note that Pos Malaysia's online parcel tracking system isn't reliable. It showed that it was sent to Customs at KLIA but no further updates after that. I got a bit nervous in the days leading up to my departure as the system kept telling me it hasn't left Malaysia and the Pos Laju staff could not provide any additional details. I was afraid it got lost or got stuck in Customs - I had a lot of nice clothes and shoes in there!

Luckily nothing untoward happened and it arrived at my temporary lodging, still in its unopened state (brown paper and twine).

Raglan, Waikato

2011-01-31T17:02:00.000+13:00

This post contains text excerpts from Lonely Planet New Zealand, which helped me plan my holidays here. It's not the definite resource but it's a good base to start from.

I started an 8 day holiday around some parts of North Island on the 20th of this month, and I'll spend the next few weeks posting photos and experiences from my laidback trip. I hadn't realized it when I planned this trip, but I actually went from coast to coast, from the Tasman Sea on the west up to the South Pacific Ocean on the east, with a little jaunt through the Hauraki Gulf in the middle. Get ready to feast your eyes on lots of sea and beautiful beaches!

My first stop was Raglan, a famous surfing town not unlike Piha Beach but with more surfing spots. Bruce Brown's classic 1964 wave-chasing film The Endless Summer features Manu Bay (Lonely Planet, 2010) which was where I stayed during my short jaunt into Raglan.

I woke up that morning at about 5.30am so I could catch an early bus into the city. Reaching my final stop at 7.15am, I walked up to the SkyCity complex which was where InterCity buses depart. I hopped on the 8am bus to Hamilton and arrived at the Hamilton Transport Centre ahead of schedule, about 2 hours later.

All my bags are packed, ready to go...

InterCity coach terminal, SkyCity Auckland

I explored Hamilton a little bit on foot before my mid-afternoon bus to Raglan. It costs $7.50 one way (adult) on the Raglan 23 bus. It takes about 45 minutes to reach Raglan and you'll pass by plenty of rolling hills and at one point, a windfarm. It's amazing to see the really huge windmills and to see them perched on top of green hills, their blades rotating and generating clean energy. The bus passed it pretty quickly so I didn't manage to snap a photo.

Along SH23

More rolling hills for your viewing pleasure

Due to job interview commitments back in Hamilton, I had less than 24 hours in Raglan. A free shuttle drove me to my hostel and I immediately dropped my bags and went out for a short tramp (New Zealanders call hiking 'tramping') down to Ngarunui Beach. The track is well-maintained and sign-posted by the DOC (Department of Conservation).

Sign post before the track

Going down the hill to Ngarunui Beach

A short 20 minute walk down the hill leads you onto the beach itself. It's too bad that I visited during low tide because there were barely any surfers in sight. But in return I had a mostly-deserted beach to myself and I walked along it for an hour, just soaking in the sound of the ocean waves and getting a nice tan.

Ngarunui Beach from the lookout point

On Ngarunui Beach

The next morning I went to the lookout point again to see how it looked like with a rising sun before I checked out and caught the 10am bus back to Hamilton.

Ngarunui Beach with the rising sun

Wouldn't you want to just sit on this bench and let time float by?

The famed Manu Bay from afar

Manu Bay close up

Invited: Kristal Seafood at Jalan Burma, Penang

2011-01-28T06:59:00.078+13:00

Kristal Seafood is located opposite Perkeso building in a small shoplot. During lunch time it hosts a popular duck rice shop but from dinner time till early morning (1.45am!) Kristal Seafood takes over. It is your typical choo char place with (literally) hundreds of dishes at reasonable prices. They hover around RM10 for small, RM12 for medium, and RM15 for large. You really can't fault those prices.

They've been operating for over 5 years in the double-storey shoplot. If you are looking for a more comfortable dining area, you can sit upstairs in the air conditioned room. Even better, you can have freshly cooked food delivered straight to your home if you live nearby. There's a minimal delivery charge depending on what you order, and the proprietor says many people order a few dishes to be delivered as an alternative to slaving over the hot stove themselves.

Store front

Kitchen

Delivery service

Downstairs dining area

Upstairs dining area (air-conditioned)

For this invited review we were treated to a great sample of their best dishes. Let's check out some photos and my review of them:

Braised duck in young ginger

Braised duck in young ginger:
The gravy tastes well balanced, with the light spiciness of the ginger coming through but not overpowering your palate. The duck flesh itself is tender and not too gamey.

Tau ju kut ong (pork)

Tau ju kut ong (pork):
It has a nice crispy shell and is very flavorful. It goes so well with steamed rice and the pork quite literally melts in the mouth! I'd have this again.

Fragrant eggplant

Fragrant eggplant:
It's just the right tenderness which is important for me. Some cooks just make it too soft and mushy, while others undercook it. Many brinjal dishes somehow end up quite oily, but not at Kristal Seafood. It has a nice sprinkling of minced pork, and together they make a great combination (if a bit typical and unoriginal).

Dry fried french beans

Dry fried french beans:
If you haven't attended a food review with floggers before, what usually happens is that every one models the dish to their heart's content until the dishes run cold and their memory card explodes. Well, even after all that the french beans here were still quite crispy. It wasn't soggy at all, and a bit of salted fish was added for a well-balanced taste.

Steam fish

Steam fish:
While my dining partners were raving over the great fish texture, I was focused on the very normal soya sauce gravy base. I expected something sweeter and fragrant.

Nestum prawn

Nestum prawn:
This is another must-eat. It was the first time I noticed cooks mixing in eggs with the Nestum, to marvelous effect. The body of the shrimp has been shelled but the head is left intact. This is great because the prawns were deep-fried to the point you could eat the whole thing as it is without having to remove the skin (thus negating all the egg-Nestum goodness).

Spices deep fried tofu

Spices deep fried tofu:
As you can see, Japanese tofu was used and it is fried with chinese black mushrooms, minced pork, and salted fish, then poured over a freshly cooked omelette. Great accompaniment to rice.

Kam heong mantis prawn

Kam heong mantis prawn:
This has a little of a spicy kick, and is great to go with beer (according to the others). Once again, the main recurring theme of their food is "not too oily", which I'm only too happy for.

Marmite chicken

Marmite chicken:
Ahh, a truly classic choo char dish. I wonder who had the idea to slather yeast extract on fried chicken? The sweet and sticky dish is always welcoming to me, and the chicken prepared tonight is very tender (if lacking the crispiness of the mantis prawn before this).

Horseradish soup

Watercress soup

Lotus root soup

Soups:
Lastly, we were served with 3 different types of common home-cooked soups. At only RM 5 per small bowl, it's a fantastic deal if you are craving for some heartwarming liquid (that is not beer)

Getting there:
GPS Coordinates: 5.43074,100.312813

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Kristal Seafood
224-B, Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus, 10350 Penang, Malaysia.
(Opposite Wisma Perkeso)

Tel: 04-2272218
Mobile: 012-4383962
Mobile: 016-4456882

Contact Person: Mr. Lim

Operation Hours: 4.00pm – 1.30am

LFML Meal

2011-01-26T10:59:00.000+13:00

Low Cholesterol/Low Fat Meal (LFML)
These meals are low in total fat and dietary cholesterol, with minimum saturated fat and no added fat or fatty ingredients.

I would have preferred a High Protein meal, but that’s not really an option on any airline.

A low fat meal on Cathay Pacific (source: Nomadic Pinoy)

By far the biggest benefit of ordering Special Meals is that I do not need to wait to be served. Without them, I have to wait for the flight attendants to wheel their cart to my seat before being served. Depending on where you sit, they might have run out of options and you’re stuck with what you don’t want. By specifying a Special Meal in advance, you are usually served ahead of the rest.

Of course, getting stuck with what you don’t want is not solely the domain of Standard Meals. After all, you don’t HAVE a choice with Special Meals – you need to eat whatever is served. And since not many people order Special Meals, there’s the very real possibility that the food comes from a freezer rather than freshly cooked hours before.

I guess the only way is to try it out myself! If you have tried Special Meals before, do share your experience!
[End of original post]

I did order the low fat meal option and didn't regret it one bit. As the flight saw full capacity there were many special meal requests and I didn't get it any quicker than others. But I felt I was served tastier food!

For dinner it was a large piece of lightly grilled salmon (or maybe they just microwaved it) topped with herbed potato wedges and garden vegetables (broccoli and carrot). The salmon was quite tasteless (it took me quite some time to figure it out before the light pink flesh gave it away) but the sides were delicious.

LFML dinner with a little white wine

For breakfast the next morning, while others had to pick between omelette or nasi lemak, I had a nice chicken thigh stew. The tasty gravy helped the baked potato and fresh mushrooms go down very well!

LFML breakfast

And I got healthy canola margarine and fresh fruits instead of pure butter and chocolate cake (though some would disagree that's better).

I wouldn't hesitate to order special meals again. If you decide to do the same, please make sure you reconfirm your request at least 48 hours before departure and once more when you check-in. The Indian couple next to me had requested for a vegetarian meal but didn't follow up, and it got lost somewhere along the line. Lucky for them, they had spare vegetarian meals for the cabin crew and they were given that instead.

As an unrelated tip if you really like airline food, always take daytime flights as we were only served twice in this overnight journey. If you travel long-haul during waking hours you can be sure of being served at least every 2-3 hours.

Queen Street and Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

2011-01-25T06:32:00.019+13:00

Queen Street is the main shopping street of Auckland, while Viaduct Harbour has some high end flats and hotels. This is not a comprehensive coverage of either, and there'll be more photos in the future of these iconic Auckland City highlights.

Civic Theatre - old movie theatre, but with IMAX screen at the back too

Looks like a place that Clark Kent or Peter Parker would be employed

Britomart - main terminal for public transportation

Britomart details

Inside Britomart

Ferry Terminal

Ferry Pier

Viaduct Harbour in the distance

Thrilling jet boat ride

Model sailboat on display

Voyager Maritime Museum

Sailboat

Viaduct Harbour

View from Viaduct

What bird is this?

Auckland Harbour Bridge in the distance

Albert Park, Auckland

2011-01-24T05:12:00.009+13:00

Albert Park is the nearest park within the CBD and is really nice to walk around on a spring or summer's day. It sits in between Auckland University and Queen Street.

People sit down just to have their lunch or for a little noon siesta

Old trees extend their reach towards the concrete jungle

Walking towards the middle of the park

Park center - more people having their lunch amid the great weather

Landscaping around the park

Fountain

Albert Park

Piha Beach Cafe @ New Lynn, Auckland

2011-01-21T11:20:00.005+13:00

As I previously wrote, we visited Piha Beach and took a brief stroll around. It was just the right time for lunch after that so we stopped by the quite-recent Piha Cafe. According to my kiwi tour guide and Lonely Planet, the opening of this cafe has been strongly resisted due to fears it'll "commercialize" the area. But it's been suggested that it's actually due to a businessman protecting his monopoly on the area.

Whichever it was, the cafe was successfully opened in 2009 and it's enjoying very brisk business with its average-tasting fare and spotty service.

Sustainable architecture (solar panels, large windows) and plenty of alfresco areas

The inside is cool even if it's a little hot outside

The self-ordering counter

It was a busy day when we went and our waiter told us so. Yes, even though there is a self-ordering counter up front, we had a waiter come take our orders. Unfortunately the kitchen proceeded to mix up our orders and serve those who came later, first. This is always a sore point for any customer, no? I've already ranted the same thing with Carnavon Street's Duck Rice.

'Cab' (cabinet) food

Since our waiter advised us that the grill is backed up, we ordered from the cabinet. Each item costs $9.50 and it's basically pre-cooked food that's been kept in the fridge and waiting to be microwaved. It's pretty pricey for things that barely qualify as entrees.

The grill

Pumpkin risotto - lacks kick

Blue Cheese pie - not bad

Bacon and avocado focacia - average but fresh

Now you know how to help stranded whales - pasted on the wall

They sell products geared towards surfers - so don't get your mind in a knot with 'sex wax'

Getting there:
GPS Coordinates: -36.952978,174.472632

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Job Hunt Update 2

2011-01-19T11:09:00.001+13:00

I'll be starting a 3 week holiday around New Zealand tomorrow, but at my first stop in Hamilton I'll be taking some time out to attend an interview with a well-known web/software development house.

After more than 4 interviews with IT recruitment agencies, this will be the first interview with an actual employer. Excited!

Update 7pm: Oops, wrong! The interview I mentioned above would be my second real interview instead. I just got a call a couple of hours back that another big company will be doing a phone interview with me soon.

7th January

2011-01-19T10:59:00.041+13:00

Note: This is in the series of blog posts I wrote about my preparation to move to New Zealand. Although I am already in Auckland, I'll be continuing with this and completing the series in a few weeks. The original date stamps will give you an idea of how time-consuming migration takes. The 'New Zealand' tag will bring up all related posts.

[Originally written on 4/10/2010]
I started researching for the cheapest flight to Auckland more than 6 months ago. Saving a few hundred dollars could mean surviving jobless another week, so price was everything.

I had initially pinpoint Royal Brunei as the cheapest way to go. For about RM2.2k, it will take me from KUL-BWN-AKL. I just had to add another RM150 for a MAS flight from PEN-KUL. Total damage < RM2.5k.

Before discovering that Royal Brunei actually flies to Auckland, I had shortlisted either Malaysia Airlines (RM2.6k on their MHlow fares) and Emirates (RM2.4k thereabouts). Singapore Airlines was just too expensive (RM3.1k) while both Thai Airways and Cathay Pacific did not offer anything below RM5000 for a one-way ticket.

So I thought I was pretty smart for finding Royal Brunei.

Ahh... if only.

The phone interview 2 weeks ago gave me hope that I might secure a job offer before the end of the year, so I held off on purchasing the ticket. However, it's a well-known fact that the NZ recruitment process can move at a leisurely pace, and it quickly became obvious to me that it was true in this case.

I decided to buy the ticket now, and lo and behold, Royal Brunei no longer had the RM2.2k tickets! They were now going for almost RM2.5k, which meant it was probably better to go for Malaysia Airlines (Royal Brunei is a 3 star airline vs the 5 star MAS).

Lo and behold (again)! MAS ran out of MHlow fares as well! The next step up, MHbasic, was RM3k, which meant it was probably better to go for Singapore Airlines (I keep hearing it's better than MAS...).

And lo and...! OK, not really. SIA stayed at the same consistent price of RM3.1k.

I was initially going to go for SIA since it was just RM150 more than MAS, but I read the fine print and found out that MAS charges less for itinerary change/cancellation fees. That was really critical in the event that I needed to go earlier or even cancel my journey altogether (*touch wood*), so in the end I supported our national carrier (which really isn't that bad, except for their short-haul economy class meal boxes that really reeks of economy-ness).

Malaysia Airlines plane (taken from caribb)

To cut a long story short (for those who jumped straight to the end), I bought my MAS ticket for RM3035, about RM500 more than I had initially budgeted for. RM500 could cover one week's expenses in Auckland, so it's quite a big hit any way you look at it.

There's yet another story to come about my travel plans. Due to the wording on my visa, I may need to show proof of outward travel. That will be another post for another day.
[End of original post]

In the final paragraph above I mentioned about the proof of outward travel. As a protection against overstayers, Immigration has the right to see (in my case as it's written in my visa) my ticket to leave New Zealand at the end of my stay.

I got the brilliant idea to buy a ticket to Sydney as it would constitute 'leaving NZ' and I could visit Ivan at the same time. There's strong competition for trans-Tasman routes and so it's very cheap to fly between Australia and NZ.

With extra research I found better news - Air New Zealand's tickets can be fully refunded with the "Flexibility" option. For an extra $300 I could change and cancel my bookings anytime and be given my money back. So in the end that's what I purchased and got a refund for.

But they never asked to see my ticket.

Piha Beach, New Lynn, Auckland

2011-01-17T09:55:00.007+13:00

Piha Beach is one of the world-famous surfing beaches. Perhaps the word 'notorious' suits it better, as there's at least one drowning every year and it has spawned its own reality TV show Piha Rescue. The waves of the Tasman Sea are indeed high and strong, and it wasn't even high-tide when we visited.

And in case you're wondering how the NZ English accent sounds like:

The other key highlight about this beach is that the sand is black due to iron sediments. So it's impossible to walk bare-footed on a hot sunny day as the iron absorbs the heat and will burn you.

Ironically, the best view of the beach is from far away

The rocky outcrop divides the beach into two

Notice the black sand?

The beach is divided into 2 by a large outcrop. The left side is more sheltered and is safer for swimming with life guards on duty in summer. The right side is really wild and a sign warns you so:

It's too dangerous to swim in the surf area

Washed up seaweed. It's definitely a different species and very rubbery!

The route to Piha is quite scenic and you will pass by the Arataki Visitors Center, so make sure to stop by.

Summer Flowers in Auckland

2011-01-16T17:31:00.000+13:00

Most houses have a small garden and they love to plant flowers. Here are 3 common ones I see. The 'black rose' is creepy. I know it's not a rose but what flower is it? Do fill me in!

Arataki Visitors Center, West Auckland

2011-01-15T18:54:00.001+13:00

We visited world-famous Piha Beach on a Sunday. On the way there we stopped by Arataki Visitors Centre, a small but nice looking building with great views towards the south of Auckland.

Arataki Visitors Centre, front

View towards Manukau and beyond

Photo frame and ice cream shack

We then proceeded to Piha Beach, which I'll blog soon. Here's a teaser...

Auckland Suburb Sights

2011-01-15T17:22:00.001+13:00

A simple recreational park within 10 minutes walk of my house.

Mary Griffen Park

Black Canyon @ Jusco Bandar Perda

2011-01-14T22:36:00.000+13:00

Couple of months back I went to have dinner at Black Canyon. Pretty surprised that the food was quite good! But the green tea latte tastes so artificial that I don't recommend it.

Anyway we ordered from their value set meals which come with a free bowl of tom yam soup. While devoid of any squid or shrimp or veg, it tasted pretty darn good!

I'm not sure what marinade they used for the chicken thigh, but it was so good I ate the whole skin, which I almost never do (even for KFC!).

Worth a try if you are shopping there.

Resignation

2011-01-12T15:28:00.000+13:00

Auckland Job Hunt Part 1

2011-01-11T10:37:00.002+13:00

I started casting my net months before my arrival but all recruiters thanked me for my interest but asked me to contact them when I've arrived.

Well, now that I'm here I sent out reminder emails to all those who expressed interest, and we'll see how the replies go.

Blockhouse Bay, Auckland

2011-01-10T09:04:00.000+13:00

Kia Ora!

I’m still jetlagged but let’s start you off with some photos of my temporary dwelling and neighbourhood.

Auckland airport from the carpark. There was no time to take more photos of the airport as my friends were waiting and parking costs $5/30 minutes.

The cozy 2 bedroom house from outside

My temporary shared bed. What a wild blanket!

The small, but well-equipped kitchen

The house is at the end of a cul-de-sac, so it’s reasonably quiet

Looking down the street outside the house

An interesting way to make sure drivers really slow down for humps

Matsuki Japanese Restaurant

2011-01-07T15:00:00.006+13:00

Due to a major upheaval (I'd consider moving countries a pretty major one) my blog posts will be a bit brief so bear with me!

Matsuki is one of the oldest Japanese restaurants in Penang, situated in Pulau Tikus near a traffic crossroad. Come here for the rustic ambience and good value set meals. Although set meal prices are the same for both lunch and dinner, you get an extra scoop of Haagen-dazs ice cream if you come during lunch hours.

Ample parking in front

Simple but relaxed ambience

Japanese decorations add some flair

Wakatori Set (RM 18) - deep fried chicken with unagi sauce

Sukiyaki Chicken Set (RM 18) - thin sliced chicken and vegetables in claypot with sweet sukiyaki sauce (beef also available)

Location
GPS Coordinates: 5.433503, 100.312816

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Turbulent Emotions

2011-01-07T05:55:00.001+13:00

I'm officially leaving Malaysia (for who knows how long) tonight! I can't believe it's happening! Over 12 months of planning and uncertainties have slowly worked itself down to this moment. As one journey ends, another will begin when I step off the plane.

The most surprising thing I've encountered is how many true friends I have around me. It's hard to find sincerity among the many who just say hi-bye, or who stabs you in the back, or who relies on you for free tech support (NOT naming and shaming here!). But as I prepare to depart on my journey, there are many who are genuinely sad to see me go and who really made time to meet up even though they were busy.

You know who you are. Thank you.

It really makes it harder to leave, but I take it as a sign that I'm doing something right with my life. I've gotten plenty of well wishes, promises to send me off at the airport, farewell meals, and even ang pows. I hope to continue to be surrounded by true friends and kind strangers - my kalyana mitta.

Long journey ahead... (swiped from Nac Datta)

Till I get settled down my blogging frequency might be sporadic but I hope to maintain 3 posts weekly, even if they'll be a bit short...

First Phone Interview

2011-01-05T15:12:00.000+13:00

Note: This is in the series of blog posts I wrote about my preparation to move to New Zealand, which is finally happening this Friday! The original date stamps will give you an idea of how time-consuming migration takes. The 'New Zealand' tag will bring up all related posts.

[Originally written on 18/9/2010]

Last Thursday (16 Sept) I managed to have my first ever international phone interview. It's remarkably rare for NZ employers to hire from abroad, but I guess the fact that this organization is a well-known multinational had something to do with their hiring culture.

I applied for a couple of roles on their Careers website about a month back. Then last week one of the HR personnel e-mailed me to find out more information about my interest to work with them. Soon after that, she suggested having a phone chat, ever mindful of the 4 hour time difference between us.

It so happened that 16 Sept is a public holiday (Malaysia Day), so I promptly arranged to have the call made at 8am Malaysia time (12pm NZ time). I was extremely nervous beforehand and couldn't really push my breakfast down. 5 minutes before 8 I stopped eating and sat patiently in front of my iMac, handsfree properly attached and thumbs nervously twiddling.

Sharp at 8am, the phone rang.

The night before, I spent some time preparing outlines to some common questions. Standard issue questions like, "Tell us about yourself", "Why do you want to work for us?", "In your CV you mentioned experience with abc. Can you describe more about that?"

However, I forgot to prepare for the most obvious question of all: "Why do you want to move to New Zealand?"

Let's just say I managed to give a minimally satisfying answer.

It did unnerve me a little for the rest of the interview, but I kept my cool throughout the other tougher questions, like: "Describe a situation where you had to cooperate with people outside your department", and "Describe a situation where you gained the trust of your customers".

We ended 15-20 minutes later (I lost track) on a very good note. I made sure I smiled and kept myself sounding casual and relaxed. She did the same. She described the roles available in more detail and said she'll get back to me in a week after talking to the hiring teams.

One of the main points we talked about was my availability. They wanted someone pretty quickly, and with their standard notice period being 4 weeks, I could understand why. I assured her that I could come over as soon as I served my 2 month notice here, and she seemed understanding.

So now it boils down to a waiting game, and if they are interested, the pay negotiations. The job is based in Christchurch, where living costs are lower, but life is dead-er. There's a reason why its moniker is the Retirement Home of NZ!

Still, it's pretty miraculous that an Asian like me could be offered a job while abroad, so I'll very likely take the offer. The job sounds fun and I feel more secure starting in a large organization where there are more concrete processes in place and I'm less likely to be scammed than working in a small software shop.

If I ever grow tired of Christchurch (let's ignore the possibility of earthquakes shaking things up), I'll probably move up to Wellington before Auckland. That way I would have had the chance to see the entire country.

A bit early to fantasize, I know. But I've come so far in my dream and the pieces are starting to fit. It's hard not to fantasize =)

[End of original post]

A few weeks and many follow-up mails following the phone interview, the hiring manager said that I wasn't qualified enough for the role. Even so I still kept a good tone with the HR contact and hopefully it will yield something in the future. As of now though, I'm moving to Auckland and trying my luck there!

First Look: 1st Avenue Mall Penang

2011-01-03T15:17:00.026+13:00

A few weeks ago I showcased one of the two new shopping malls in Penang, Straits Quay Mall. It has skyrocketed in popularity over the Xmas weekend and I heard the fireworks display for the New Year Countdown was exceptionally impressive.

Let's take a look at the other new mall today. Right smack in the middle of town, 1st Avenue Mall is located near to Prangin Mall, Komtar, and Traders Hotel. It's a compact mall with none of Gurney or Queensbay's size, but this can be an advantage as it's extremely walkable.

Frankly, I am still waiting to be blown away by the stores here. The anchor tenant, Parkson, is a been there done that kind of place, and I'm equally underwhelmed by the other shops (as of posting date). But if it is managed well, I can see myself shopping here more than Prangin Mall and Komtar which has devolved into crummy bazaar-like places that is devoid of fashionable taste.

One of the nicest touches is the observation deck on its highest floor - I can see this being a popular place for night time musings and lovers' inappropriate public displays of affection.

Let's take a quick look around, shall we?

Parking lanes are wide and easy to maneuver

Entrance into the mall, from the parking

Parking rates as of posting date

Their highest floor is called Cloud 8

Brand spanking new karaoke

Red Box is running some RM1 promotion that has drawn long queues

Simple Xmas lights

Toilets are bright and clean (still)

Anchor tenant, Parkson

Main entrance

Carnavon Street Loh Mee and Char Koay Teow

2010-12-31T16:20:00.000+13:00

Just a short post today. It's my last day of work at my current company and I'm busy clearing things out!

Most have their favourite Loh Mee and Char Koay Teow stalls. I'm sharing one of mine, both situated under the same roof at a corner coffeeshop along Carnavon Street, near Prangin Mall.

They are open in the mornings for breakfast.

It comes with lots of pork slices and spare parts. Ask the uncle to hold the spare parts if you are not keen.

3 medium sized shrimps with duck egg

Job Hunt Begins

2010-12-29T14:32:00.008+13:00

Note: This is in the series of blog posts I wrote about my preparation to move to New Zealand. The original date stamps will give you an idea of how time-consuming migration takes. The 'New Zealand' tag will bring up all related posts.

[Originally written on 18/8/2010]

After my visa was approved, I began paying closer attention to my Seek RSS feed. The great thing about Seek is that you can save a job search (".Net" in my case) as an RSS feed, so you can be notified instantly of new openings. I noticed an uptick of relevant job vacancies, so I spent about 3 days re-writing my CV for the New Zealand market. According to my research, recruiters prefer longer CVs rather than short summaries. By putting in all the major experiences I've had along with generous whitespace, I managed to pull it up to 8 pages.

Till date I've submitted to almost 20 vacancies. I've had 2 outright rejections, and another one informing me that none of his clients will hire over Skype or video conferencing. That's the market these days - plenty of candidates in NZ itself. But a hopeful story emerged on ENZ forums last week. A fellow Malaysian managed to get multiple job offers by going on a 4 week recreational trip so I know the job market is receptive right now.

Dad has been urging me for the longest time to do the same thing - go for a recce (recreational) trip to scout out interviews, but I am reluctant to do so. What if I fail to secure an offer within that month? Will I have enough funds to go on another interviewing trip? But if I wait till next January to formally begin my 6 month hunt, will the jobs still be there?

Decisions, decisions...

[End of original post]

As I'm reviewing this post at the end of December, I'm glad to report that the jobs are still there. While there was a sudden decline last month, things have picked up again and I'm seeing many ads for hiring in the new year.

I've also pared my CV down to 6, and then 4, pages. While their preference for longer CVs remain, there's no point being overly wordy or having too much white space. I went back each time with more brutal rewrites and omissions of details I deem unnecessary. I'm quite happy with the 4 page version which conveys the same amount of fact as the original 8 pages.

Second Look: Straits Quay Mall Penang

2010-12-27T05:20:00.000+13:00

If you missed the day shots, check out my first look at Straits Quay Mall.

Have you checked out the huge Christmas tree at Straits Quay Mall? If you haven't you've only got a few more days to camwhore with it! I went back recently with Dad to capture the look at night. All photos are courtesy of my Dad. Enjoy!

Pulau Payar: Trip Review

2010-12-25T19:47:00.001+13:00

This is a wrap-up and overall review of the Pulau Payar trip I went on, courtesy of Langkawi Saga Travel & Tours Sdn. Bhd.

There are basically 2 categories of travelers - those who love long vacations (14 days in Europe) and those who prefer shorter sojourns (a weekend in Bali). Obviously you can't have too many long vacations but you can definitely afford several short holidays in a year. This is where Pulau Payar fits in - a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of Penang into more relaxed surroundings.

In honesty, your experience on this trip will very much depend on the weather (what trip isn't?). It was unfortunate that we met with rough seas on the ferry ride there. Seeing our conditions, the crew quickly distributed black plastic bags for us to puke into. I didn't vomit but I kept my eyes tightly closed and focused on how the catamaran swayed up and down.

I was still a little dazed after reaching the platform, and the fact that the platform is out in the sea and has a slight wobble didn't help. The inclement weather worsened and poured buckets of rain on us. Luckily it cleared up in 30 minutes and we had decent sun for the rest of the day.

Again, due to the fact that it rained cats and dogs earlier, the water was pretty murky and I couldn't see right to the bottom when I snorkeled. The same was true for the underwater viewing tunnel. Having been to Redang Island, I do not see as many colourful or varied corals. As of the time of writing, global warming has caused some coral bleaching. As a precautionary measure the authorities have closed off certain parts of the marine park to preserve them.

What our tour guide Jafri mentioned is true though - what Payar Island lacks in corals, it makes up for in marine life. I definitely see more fishes, and they are bigger too. When I was at Pulau Redang, I remember catching a glimpse of a baby black-tip shark at a distance and tried to get closer to no avail. But over here in Pulau Payar, you can see so many of them easily in low tide:

I would like to give kudos to the buffet lunch as well. I didn't expect such a large variety of food, and quite decently cooked too. Don't expect Michelin-star quality, but at least it's not under/overcooked, too oily, too dry, too spicy... etc. The braised lamb was tender and delicious, and the spaghetti bolognese sauce was tangy enough to my liking (meaning they didn't skimp on tomato puree). The local kuih, however, was not too my liking and the fried fish nuggets were a bit bland.

I felt much better after getting to the island - the solid ground helped me regain my sense of stability. The sand on the beach is quite fine grained, so you can walk bare-footed but watch out for dead corals and sea urchins. Jafri even managed to catch a sea cucumber (not the edible type) just a few steps into the water.

In conclusion, Pulau Payar makes for a great day trip from Penang when you want to get close to sea life without having to cross the peninsular to the Perhentian Islands. And Langkawi Saga is running a promotion for locals, so it's even more affordable for Malaysians to see a side of their country without burning a hole in their pocket.

Many thanks again to Langkawi Saga Travel & Tours for sponsoring the trip for me and and other bloggers.

Check out my other posts on Pulau Payar

Pulau Payar: Marine Park

2010-12-24T15:16:00.001+13:00

The Marine Park obviously encompasses the island and the waters surrounding it. If you are going straight to the island and skipping Langkawi Coral's reef platform, this post will be of use to you.

There is a separate RM5 charge for adults that goes straight towards the running of the marine park. Before going please verify if this RM5 is included in any fare you pay.

View of the island from the pier

The great thing about Payar Island is the sheer number of fish in shallow waters. You don't have to walk very far out to see many fishes:

Snorkeling and fish feeding

According to Jafri (tour guide), it would be even better if we came during high tide. I believe that's true. If this is what I can see in low-tide, just imagine what I might see if there were deeper waters:

OMG Black-Tipped Sharks!

OMFG even more sharks!

The juvenile sharks were swimming happily (and rapidly) among their prey. I even managed to see one shark feed on a smaller fish.

Marine Park Information Centre

View of the pier from the island

There are other things to do besides snorkeling here. For one, you could try a short jungle trek. We didn't attempt it, but at 183 steps it wouldn't be very challenging and you might get to a more secluded beach.

A short jungle trekking track is available

According to Jafri, there were a few lodgings that were built without obtaining prior permission, and so they have been abandoned even though it's finished. In a way I'm glad as this helps preserve the environment.

Abandoned constructions

There are showers and toilets just next to the Information Centre, and life guards are on duty.

Clear waters

Check out my other posts on Pulau Payar

Pulau Payar: Food Options

2010-12-23T15:30:00.070+13:00

I didn't notice any food stalls when I visited the island, which basically means that you have to bring your own food... unless you join Langkawi Coral's packages which come with a buffet lunch. The buffet spread begins at around 12.30pm and since there was a huge crowd on Sunday, 2 buffet lines were set up and a nice variety of food was prepared.

Let's get 2 things out of the way: the food is Halal-certified and there are vegetarian set meals available (pre-order required).

The vegetarian set meals are not buffets, but there's still plenty of different dishes in chinese-style cooking to fill up even the hungriest visitor:

Vegetarian set meal

As for the main buffet, here is a quick pictorial on what was cooked up that day:

Salads

Cold tuna salad

Coleslaw

Corn and sausages salad

Fruit and beans salad

Buns (Butter available)

Fresh vegetable salad

Appetizers

Spring rolls

Loh Bak (5 spiced meat rolls)

Cabbage soup

Entree

Fried rice

Fried mee hoon

Spaghetti bolognese (I believe minced chicken is used)

Stir-fry vegetables

Braised lamb with green peas

Potato wedges and cocktail fried fish

Fried chicken

Sweet and sour prawns

Desserts

Oranges

Pineapple

Watermelon

Traditional Malay kuih

Jelly (agar-agar)

Chocolate cake

Beverages

Bon apetit!

Check out my other posts on Pulau Payar

Pulau Payar: Snorkeling and Scuba Diving

2010-12-22T15:00:00.025+13:00

The main reason for Pulau Payar's popularity is its abundant corals and marine life, and tourists come here to snorkel or scuba. There are many advantages to go with Langkawi Coral's packages as you get to experience those things easily.

Firstly, snorkeling equipment is provided free of charge. Life jackets and snorkeling masks are abundant, and you can even rent vision-corrective goggles. But please keep them carefully as there's a hefty penalty if you lose them!

Life jackets

When you're ready to get your toes (and every other part) wet, just step off any of the 2 side ladders into the standing platform. This platform is great as it gives newcomers a chance to get comfortable with the sea first. And if swimming's not your strong skill, you can just sit there and feed the fishes, as many people seem to do:

Standing platform for non-swimmers

Here's a tip before you go to Pulau Payar: Stock up on bread, fresh or otherwise. The fishes love them, and if you dare, hold a piece of bread in your fist and submerge it into the water. Presto! A fish spa for your hands! (Beautifying results may vary)

Feeding the hungry fish

The fish that's nibbling your fingers

For a real taste of snorkeling you can venture out to the open waters (within the marked boundaries) and check out the corals and sea creatures. From a safety aspect, there are lifeguards on duty on the platform itself. In fact, I witnessed lifeguards pulling an elderly man back to safety - I believe he may have exhausted himself out in the waters.

Another small platform is tethered nearby

We didn't try scuba diving, but you can certainly come here to do that. They rent everything you need to scuba, and they have a few divemasters ready to head out with you.

Scuba diving equipment

Putting on their scuba gear

Ready to go

Another great thing about the Langkawi Coral platform is that they have a beginner's area for scuba diving. If it's your first time doing it, the divemaster will bring you down to the depths from the comfort of the platform:

Beginner scuba divers enter here

I really think this is great! If I was a scuba noob, the last thing I'd wanna do is to dive down in the middle of nowhere. It's definitely reassuring to know that dry land (figuratively) is just 10m straight up.

Obviously if you're an experienced diver, you can go out further where it's less polluted and more populated (with marine life, not humans).

Check out my other posts on Pulau Payar

Pulau Payar: Langkawi Coral Platform

2010-12-21T15:04:00.027+13:00

The platform

Though you can get to the island with other tour operators, it's obvious that Langkawi Coral is the major player here. They run the first and only coral reef platform in Malaysia, and it's definitely worth the visit if you go to Pulau Payar as it eases your snorkeling and scuba diving activities.

The basically have many cafeteria-style tables scattered throughout the platform, and you are free to use any of them. They also have a nice sun deck on the upper level, which was unfortunately closed for repairs when we visited. Besides that, they have 4 shower cubicles with fresh water that immediately flows into the sea - so no soap or shampoo is allowed! There are also 2 toilet cubicles that sometimes need queueing up.

Main deck of the platform

Upper sun deck (closed for repairs as of Dec 2010)

One of the main attractions of the platform is the underwater observation tunnel. Observe sea life without getting wet! Although it's just a short loop, plenty of windows let you peek out into the marine life around the platform.

Entrance to underwater observation tunnel

Down to the tunnel

Glass windows afford views on both sides

No drinking water is provided so bring your own or buy your refreshments and souvenirs from the souvenir counter:

Get your souvenirs, refreshments, and diving bookings here

The counter is also where you book your diving sessions (more on this next post).

Check out my other posts on Pulau Payar

Pulau Payar: Getting There & Around

2010-12-20T16:21:00.000+13:00

There is no accommodation on the island, so you can only do daytrips. In a way this helps preserve the cleanliness of the area. Anyhow, the 2 most popular base for trips out to Pulau Payar would be Pulau Langkawi and Pulau Pinang (Penang).

Although I only took the catamaran ferry from Penang, I'm guessing it is almost the same with trips originating from Langkawi (but with a shorter journey).

For those based in Penang, you'll enter the pier from an old side gate. Just look for the famous Jubilee clock tower and it's right opposite. You can park your car at the nearby Fort Cornwallis parking for RM7/day.

Jubilee Clock Tower

Pier entrance for most passengers

There are only a few ferries in the morning and they depart on time, so don't be late! An announcement will be made and you will proceed through to the new Swettenham Pier complex:

New Swettenham Pier Complex

At check-in you will be provided a wrist-band and notified of your assigned seat number. Note that you have assigned seats for the journey there but it becomes free seating on the way back. Our catamaran that day was "Zon 2" and after dropping us off at Pulau Payar it proceeded to Langkawi Island.

Zon 2 catamaran to Payar and Langkawi

We got the same ferry back to Penang, but our tour guide Jafri mentioned that this is not guaranteed, so don't leave any belongings when you disembark! The journey back to Penang leaves at about 3.15pm, and it takes about 2 hours either way with a speed of around 24.5 knots.

Seats inside Zon 2 - non reclining and thin cushions

Zon 2 has an upper deck where you can catch some sea breeze if it's not raining, and two small toilets that I didn't attempt as I didn't want to wet my pants and shoes!

Upper deck affords fresh air

Thanks to Jafri I also managed to take a peek at the cockpit. It was a really cramped space with lots of different instruments and buttons for the captain to press, pull, and turn:

Zon 2's cockpit with the captain on deck

Once you arrive at Langkawi Coral's platform, you can easily visit the Marine Park on the island itself via shuttle boats. I saw 2 types of boats - one is a glass bottom boat where you can see the sea life as you cruise along while we took this boat where more people could fit in:

Transfer boat between Langkawi Coral's platform and the island

Our tour guide Jafri takes over the shuttle's controls

It's only 3 minutes from the platform to the Marine Park jetty.

Pulau Payar Week

2010-12-20T04:00:00.001+13:00

We interrupt your regular scheduled blog posts with a whole week full of Pulau Payar goodness! I visited the charming island for a day trip with Dad and other bloggers last Sunday and for the rest of this week I'll be sharing my experiences and useful information for you.

Update:
Here are direct links to all my Pulau Payar posts. Enjoy!
Getting There and Around
Langkawi Coral Platform
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Food Options
Marine Park
Trip Review

JenxDan Lifestyle @ Chow Thye Road, Penang

2010-12-17T16:06:00.001+13:00

In the vein of reviewing vegetarian food like last week's Lily's Vegetarian Kitchen, today let's take a look at one of my favourite non-meat restaurants - JenxDan Lifestyle.

They serve a mix of Western and Asian cuisine (more of the former), which I think is a refreshing change because most vegetarian restaurants in Penang are Chinese or Indian cuisine based. So when one is hankering for a good meatless pasta or burger, where does one go? Answer: JenxDan.

Situated along Chow Thye Road, just behind the more popular Harvest In Cafe, it's easy to miss JenxDan among the many other famous eateries along that road. But keep a close eye on the left as you go down Chow Thye and make sure you stop by for their great pasta. I visited one evening with a vegetarian and picked a few items from the menu that I've never tried before:

Vietnamese Roll (RM 4)

The Vietnamese Roll is pretty authentic. Not that I've visited Vietnam before, but the translucent skin and spicy & sweet chili sauce go together like fries and melted cheese.

Mini Cheese Burger (RM 4.90)

We both found this to be overpriced for what we got. Described as whole meal bun with cheese & vegetables, there was plenty of veg but only a quarter of a cheddar slice. Perhaps we were expecting something more elaborate rather than a sandwich we could easily make ourselves.

Seafood Pasta (RM 8.50)

Cooked with cheese, seaweed, vege fish, and vegetables, this actually tasted pretty average and plain. At the end of the post I recommend a few better pasta choices.

Shitake Sauce Pasta (RM 7.50)

When I read Shitake sauce I was expecting some kind of creamy mushroom sauce. But it's actually soya sauce based, and therefore tastes Oriental rather than Western. I was also expecting some real, fresh slices of shitake mushrooms, but they were no where to be found. It tastes OK with a hint of sweetness and the shitake (but just a hint!).

Chinese Mahogany Fried Rice (RM 5.50)

Now this was excellent. The mahogany added a nice fragrant texture throughout each bite. Definitely better than the normal chinese style fried rice. I find it a little oily but my dining partner assured me that's the nature of mahogany.

Unfortunately, the food we had that night did not rise above "Good". When you visit, it's better to try some of the established favourites, such as:

Mushroom Soup
Pumpkin Soup (with ginger to give it a spicy kick!)
Creamy Mushroom Fettucine (3 types of mushroom in a cream base)
Pumpkin Pasta
Pasta Bolognese (I could hardly tell it was vegetarian meat)

JenxDan store front with parking for 2-3 cars

They open everyday for lunch and dinner everyday except Sundays. If I'm not mistaken, they run a set lunch promotion during weekday afternoons.

Definitely worth a try if you think vegetarian food is boring and too "Asian". Though lacklustre this visit, it's still one of my top meatless cafes to visit in Penang.

Getting there: GPS 5.425304,100.321289
(Please note that Google Maps currently misspells Chow Thye as Chong Thye)

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Silver Fern Job Search Visa... Approved!

2010-12-15T15:58:00.013+13:00

Passport: Certified copy

Medical/X-ray INZ 1007: Original (X-ray film not required if no abnormal findings)

Certificate of Good Conduct: Original

IELTS Test Report Form: Certified copy

NZQA International Qualification Assessment: Certified copy

Evidence of sufficient funds: Certified copy (I printed quarterly statement from Maybank2U and went to a branch to get it certified by bank officer for free)

She checked out that everything is fine and that concluded my application. I asked if they could delay the visa processing so that I would have a longer time to enter NZ but they were fixed on their policy of following... erm... policy.

True enough, a week later (21 July 2010) I received an e-mail stating that my visa has been approved and I have 6 months to enter NZ. I now have a month to send in my passport for the visa sticker to go on.

As my passport will expire in November 2011, I will renew my passport tomorrow and send in the new one instead. It'll be too costly to transfer the visa sticker if I wait till November 2011. In this case, I have to send in both the old and new passports. Also, I need to write a simple authorization letter to allow INZ to charge SGD20 to my credit card for the return courier.

This completes the most bureaucratic step of this journey. The next steps will be harrowing emotional steps:

Breaking the news to friends
Resigning from my current position (some bridges will undoubtedly be burned here)
Finding a job (getting ready to deal with tonnes of rejection)
Finding the cheapest air fare (more financial than emotional)

[End of original post]

If you have long hair, please make sure it doesn't obscure your eyes in your passport photos. The photographer didn't warn me about this and I had a few strands of hair covering my eyebrows. When I went to get my queue number at the Immigration Department, I was warned that my photos could be rejected on those grounds. Thankfully it was accepted without problem and I got my new passport a few hours later (the process is really efficient now!)

And this is how the visa sticker looks like on my passport:

Silver Fern Job Search Visa sample

Uniqlo @ Fahrenheit 88

2010-12-13T13:51:00.146+13:00

I first encountered Uniqlo when I worked in Beijing. Curious about this huge boutique at Sanlitun, I walked in with doubts but walked out a true believer. I even complained about the damage it did to my wallet. In fact, my colleagues and I managed to squeeze one last shopping whirlwind through Uniqlo on the day we flew off! That was how addictive their fashion is. I've never been a brand loyalist before this but I've come to trust Uniqlo to have great looking and affordable apparel.

With that in mind, you can imagine my utter joy when I found out that Uniqlo was opening its largest store in South East Asia right in Fahrenheit 88, Bukit Bintang. Although I wasn't as fanatic as that dude who queued up the night before its opening, I did do a KL road trip last weekend with Uniqlo as a top priority.

Before I describe the clothes I bought, I'd like to address a common criticism I hear from the non-believers. Uniqlo KL has had immense success since its launch but this has been used against it. "I don't want to have fashion clashes - I see people wearing them everywhere," a friend says.

I can totally understand if he browsed around and decided that their look is not for him. But to hear about its success and then not giving it a fair chance with that lame excuse is strange. After all, how many of us walk around with exclusive clothes specially designed and tailored for us? So give Uniqlo a good look and you might just surprise yourself - like my friend S who didn't have high expectations but walked out with RM100 in merchandise anyway.

OK! Enough with the proselytizing - so what did I buy?

(Photos taken from Uniqlo Singapore's Product Search where possible)

Premium Down Light Vest - RM 169.90

I'm really surprised at how light this vest is! What's more shocking though is that they are big sellers. I wanted to get the proper jacket (with the sleeves and hood) but they were out of XL sizes. They run a bit small, so most people gravitate towards larger jackets. But to actually run out of XL? Is KL that cold?

Micro Sleeve Half-Zip Long Sleeve T Shirt - RM 59.90

Ever wondered what's it like to roll around naked on fluffy clouds? Wear this. I couldn't stop caressing it!

Dry Sports Waffle V Neck Long Sleeve T Shirt - RM 39.90

I bought this because it was on sale but it turned out to be a great purchase. It's very light and breathable, great as a first layer.

Heat Tech Strip Crew Long Sleeve Round Neck - RM 59.90

Heat Tech is a special kind of fabric formulated by Uniqlo that actually generates heat when it comes into contact with liquid (i.e. sweat). Hence the higher prices but if it works as advertised, totally worth the premium.

Heat Tech Check Long Johns - RM 59.90

Ahh... an essential of winter clothing. I bought another black one but they're a bit shorter while this one runs to the ankles. I'll wear the shorter one as an inner layer on cold days, while the full length tights will serve well as my pyjamas.

Dry Stretch Stripe Band Low Rise Boxer Briefs

Cotton Block Check Boxer Briefs

I got both together for RM 25 (ongoing promotion). They are of good quality and so RM 12.50 per boxer brief is cheap compared to other common brands.

As is obvious from my shopping basket, I'm stocking up on essential clothing for cooler climates. Which was just as well because they're only showcasing their fall/winter collection at the moment. The thicker, warmer clothing didn't seem to deter the enthusiastic hordes though! I expect an even bigger crowd when the spring/summer clothes come in, especially their UT Collection which is sorely missing during my visit.

Total damage = RM 474.30! That's the largest amount I've spent on clothes in a single receipt. On the bright side I got some freebies from Fahrenheit 88 for spending more than RM 300 and using my MasterCard.

Lily's Vegetarian Kitchen @ Madras Lane, Penang

2010-12-10T13:01:00.064+13:00

One of the most popular vegetarian cafes in Penang is Lily's Vegetarian Kitchen at Madras Lane. A group of us visited Lily's on a late Sunday morning and the place was already half full. Their main draw is the wide range of ala carte food items, ranging from local favourites like Koay Teow Soup to western standards like Vegetarian Chicken Chop. The pricing is reasonable too.

They operate on a semi self-service basis. Make and pay your order at the counter and a number will be given. When your food is ready waiters will bring it to your table, so make sure you display your assigned number prominently and keep your receipt in case of missing deliveries.

Frankly I find the food average on this visit but there's no denying they provide a nice change from the usual vegetarian economy rice that most are subjected to.

Cassava Spring Roll (RM4)

Cassava is a root plant similar to japanese sweet potatoes (are they even the same?). It's the nicest thing I had that day - freshly deep fried with a crisp outer layer and soft center.

Lasagna (RM10)

This was my main entree. When I made my order, the cashier warned me that it takes 15 minutes to serve this, which makes sense for a baked dish like this. Guess what? It was served in 5 minutes, even before the noodle dishes below! I was surprised but biting into it clearly revealed that this was a pre-made lasagna. It was probably microwaved which is the only way it could be ready in 5 minutes. The pasta was already soggy, but the filling was actually decent. If only it was made fresh.

Mee Jawa

Cronos commented this as pretty tasteless. It's even obvious from the photo that there wasn't much tomato puree in the gravy.

Koay Teow Thng

The Koay Teow Soup was not too shabby but there's not much you can expect from this dish anyway!

Order at the counter at the far end

Getting here: GPS Coordinates 5.417397,100.326816

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Medical Checkup

2010-12-08T15:10:00.000+13:00

Peed into a cup.
Took off my shirt for a chest x-ray (had to hold my breath and really push up against the plate).
Tested my vision (only 1 mistake in the 20/20 range).
Blood pressure reading.
Stripped down to my underwear, and then the doctor proceeded to check my eyes, ear canal, body inspection, and even peered into my underwear twice.
Finally, the doctor drew my blood but had some difficulties getting the needle in, resulting in a large blue bruise on my elbow for the whole week. Nurses are more qualified in this regard!

It took less than an hour, and everything was ready in 4 days. Everything came back fine except a couple of points on my blood test. I suspect it might be related to the haphazard way the doctor took my blood...

It's been a long journey to get to this stage, but I've completed almost everything that I can. I only need to print out my bank statement and bring everything to Immigration New Zealand (Singapore branch) on 13th July...
[End of original post]

Since my chest x-ray did not show any abnormalities, I did not have to submit it to INZ but I brought it just in case. In the end, it was not asked of me.

Gintell Rest N Go Station Massage Chair

2010-12-07T04:41:00.000+13:00

Walk around any major shopping complex in Malaysia and you are bound to bump into this. Gintell has modified their massage chairs to accept cash notes in exchange for massage.

I was at Island Plaza Penang attending a company training and saw this. Seeing that the mall is practically deserted on a Friday afternoon with zero chance of bumping into a colleague, friend, or family member, I decided to try it.

3 minutes of massage costs RM1, so I put in RM5 for 15 minutes of mechanized relaxation. The chair leant back and it quickly went to work on my back, butt, and calves. If you're ever curious to try it, I suggest just going for the 3 minute quickie because that's how long one cycle lasts. Towards the end of my session I could already predict what's going to happen next.

The main massage happens on the back, using a combination of rolling and kneading actions. It felt best on my shoulders and I found myself pushing myself deeper into the chair to get a stronger sensation. The calves are continuously massaged with a squeezing action, while Gintell saw fit to put a vibrator under the seat and count that as massaging one's gluteus maximus.

This experience has thought me that 1) massage chairs are a big waste of money, and 2) I wouldn't want to be caught in a crowded mall while passers-by whisper and point at the guy who's getting a massage in public.

Steamboat at Spicez Cafe, Prangin Mall Penang

2010-12-03T14:08:00.000+13:00

Shop front

Prangin Mall has plenty of eateries, mostly forgettable fare. But this cafe located in the middle span of Prangin Mall (3rd floor) has been operating for many years, popular for their steamboat and tomyam soup base.

Dad and I ordered the "Personal Luxury Set" meant for 1-2 pax at RM37.80 (comes with 1 choice of soup - clear, tomyam, or spicy ma la). Well, I'm not a big fan of tomyam (except some authentic Thai variants) so for this steamboat session we only had the clear soup base. I'll say that the clear soup base is pretty tasteless. It only became 'drinkable' after cooking the various meats and vegetables in it. I would have preferred something more herbal - a few dates and chinese wolfberries isn't that expensive!

This set comes with:

Instant noodles, di wang noodles, tang hun, bi hun, yellow noodles, or rice (Choose 1)
Beef, mutton, or pork (Choose 2)
Prawn, chicken slices, sotong slices, sotong ball, fish ball, crab stick, vegetable ball, dumpling, chinese mushroom, abalone mushroom, bean curd slice, vegetables, cabbage, egg, enoki mushroom, meat ball, tou ki, and fish wantan.

Pork and mutton slices

Although it doesn't look like much, we both left Spicez Cafe feeling very stuffed! Drinks are quite expensive. If you're a big fan of tomyam, try theirs. You don't have to go for steamboat as they have normal tomyam noodles to whet your appetite.

Location:

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涮涮樂 Spicez Cafe
33-3-65
Prangin Mall, Georgetown, Penang

NZQA: Of UPS and Assessment Results

2010-12-01T14:03:00.021+13:00

Note: This is in the series of blog posts I wrote about my preparation to move to New Zealand. The original date stamps will give you an idea of how time-consuming migration takes. The 'New Zealand' tag will bring up all related posts.

One of the requirements to be granted the Silver Fern Job Search visa is a recognized bachelor's degree. As I wrote earlier, my Coventry degree via INTI's 3+0 program is not automatically recognized by Immigration New Zealand. (You can easily check if your qualification is exempt from assessment for New Zealand immigration purposes)

Hence, I had no choice but to send my degree for assessment by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). The post below is about the time I tried to courier my documents over to New Zealand, and the ensuing chaos (on my part).

[Originally written on 9/4/2010]

I finally got all my documents ready to be assessed by NZQA. Even a few months back I started looking for a courier to send my precious documents to NZ. These are my original degrees and transcripts, mind you. Re-applying for them in the event of damage or loss will potentially drive me insane.

I didn't want to go with the local Pos Laju - they don't strike me as being overly reliable especially when it comes to tracking packages. I was determined to go with the large companies - FedEx, DHL, or UPS. An interesting side note is that none of those 3 have a presence in New Zealand. At the airport they are handed to a local courier who does the actual deliveries.

I went online to get a quotation. Here's what I found out:

It's impossible to get a DHL quote. Either their website is very badly designed or they only accept walk-in enquiries. I couldn't find out how much it costs for me to send it to NZ.
FedEx quotation works but their website is tad bit more hassle. Plus they're charging RM90+.
UPS online works splendidly and gave me a quote of RM80+, slightly cheaper than FedEx.
Pos Laju comes up to RM60+ but I'm not sure if they have pickup facilities, which all the above 3 have.

So this morning I prepared everything and got it ready to ship. The online process went smoothly and I got the packing slip printed.

Here's where things started to degenerate.

I looked up where to drop-off my package and found that the only location in Penang was in Batu Maung...

... or so I thought.

I didn't want the hassle of scheduling a pick-up if the drop-off centre was so close to office (this was before I knew pick-ups are free). So during lunch I went to find the MAB New Cargo Complex and discovered it was exactly that - a warehouse to store cargo for all the major couriers.

I got extremely suspicious that this might not be the right place to send my documents but I approached the security outpost anyway. The guy looked really puzzled and I decided to call the UPS toll-free number. After being put on hold for 2 minutes she advised to me to their drop-off office nearby. It was also somewhere in Batu Maung but an unfamiliar road (Lintang Batu Maung 4). I spent a good 10 minutes hunting for it before finding it tucked in a back shoplot.

I thought, "This farce is finally coming to an end." But the security guard gave me a shocker - this is just a package collecting outpost! The drop-off office has moved to Menara TNB in town! My heart sank deep but my temper rose. Why is all this not on the website! I was simmering in hate and I've wasted close to an hour dealing with this. I got the number of the new centre off the phone and went back to work.

I kept calling the new UPS office several times until 2.20pm when someone finally picked up the phone. She sounded indifferent when I asked her if they were open on Saturdays. She advised me to call the toll-free number again and request for pick-up. At this point I felt defeated and decided to just do that. (This was still when I thought I'll be charged for pick-ups).

Although the toll-free number leads to an automated service, pressing any option will lead you to a human instantly. And I do mean that - I didn't even hear a ring when the operator started talking to me. It was here that I learned that pick-ups are without charge, and he arranged for someone to pick the package up from me before 4pm. As of now (3.35pm) I'm still waiting. They have called me to confirm my location and now all that's left is to wait.

Today has been a nerve-wrecking day, what with organizing a talk, creating a DHL shipment, and goose-chasing the DHL service centre. Hopefully the delivery goes smoothly and NZQA can start assessing my degree next Thursday. I really need it to have it soon to apply for the Silver Fern visa!

[End of original post]

[Originally written on 26/5/10]

My NZQA assessment of my college certificate and degree finally came back, and I'm so relieved that they were assessed at Level 4 and Level 7, respectively. All you need to know is that they're equivalent to their NZ cert and degree counterparts. Therefore I will have no problem proving my qualifications to Immigration New Zealand regarding any visa applications present and future.

Now I only need to go for my medical checkup.

[End of original post]

Favourite BodyJam Tracks

2010-11-29T15:39:00.129+13:00

I've been replacing Les Mills BodyJam classes for the past few weekends, specifically: 30 Oct (FF), 6 Nov (FF), 12 Nov (FF), 13 Nov (FF & FS), and 20 Nov (FF).

Every instructor will invariably have their favourites - these are the songs that are usually crowd pleasers and stuff instructors will pull out when they haven't had time to properly plan a tracklist. Rehearsing for my replacement classes have really made me think of what my members will like vs. what I would enjoy teaching. Hitting the sweet spot between those two requirements is a constant struggle, especially when I don't meet those members every week.

That's a discussion for another day though. Ever wondered if we shared the same favourite tracks? Take a look:

BodyJam 33 - Hey Mama: The Black Eyed Peas have that magic touch when it comes to creating beats that make people move! This classic is great when there's 5 minutes in the first half to fill up.
BodyJam 34 - Rich Girl: Still one of the sexiest recovery tracks ever. Here's a little bit of BodyJam trivia for you - Since BodyJam 33 (May 2005), only THREE recovery tracks were exclusively sung by white artistes. Gandalf Archer has predominantly favoured urban R&B songs by black singers for recovery tracks. Therefore, doing Rich Girl once in a while provides a nice change of style.
BodyJam 37 - Jazz Rock block: One of my all-time favourite blocks that showcase the genius that is Gandalf. I know I'll never get another BodyJam block that is as technical and challenging as this. Although at a long 22 minutes, you never feel it because there's so much to absorb and so many little details to execute. And if you look at it from a choreographer's viewpoint, it's just amazing how G structures the learning process.
BodyJam 38 - Ran Kan Kan block: Again, there's so much texture in this Latin block that I can do it for 15 more times and still find something to improve on. Featuring one of the fastest turns in BodyJam, I always find myself coming back to this when I'm bored by the diluted choreography in today's Latin tracks.
BodyJam 41 - Trash Jam: I'm a sucker for Jazz tracks and this one is just a cardio killer!
BodyJam 44 - Warmup: New Day and Conga make an unlikely alliance to start a class right. Although New Day has some foot work that might confuse new members, Conga is a great way to introduce the Latin feel before more complicated routines later.
BodyJam 45 - Warmup: The transition between the intro and the Bollywood hip-hop is pure magic, and so are the moves. It gets pretty dragged out towards the end though.
BodyJam 45 - Global Electro block: Super fun and super cardio, again with lots of technical details in the House footwork to master.
BodyJam 46: The whole release rocks!
BodyJam 47 except Beat Goes On: The majority of this release is also pure BodyJam magic!
BodyJam 49: Sandcastle Disco is my favourite warmup ever and the class also finishes with the best Womanizer remix on the planet. WIN.
BodyJam 50: Another faultless release, except maybe the fact that it is a cardio killer and I'm always left breathless within 30 minutes!
BodyJam 52 - Tektonic Bouncy Madness: The music in this second half really takes the cake - each song makes me want to dance harder and better. The first song sets the party, but the moment Right Hand Hi kicks in, my heart rate lifts just anticipating what's to come.
BodyJam 53 - Disco Twenty Ten: Show me one person who doesn't like this. Anyone? The members go absolutely gaga over it!
BodyJam 54 - Warmup: Warmups for the past few releases have always started out being chill and groovy. This one was such a nice change - it was like a bolt straight to your heart. And Toni Braxton totally surprised me with Make My Heart.

Other blocks that I really like but do not know how to teach include the Dance4Life block (39), Krump Klub (40), Jam de Podium (42), and Disco (43).

Whether you agree or disagree with my choices, sound out in the comments :)

First Look: Straits Quay Mall Penang

2010-11-27T01:19:00.002+13:00

(Update: Check out the night shots from my second look at Straits Quay.)

Two new malls opened in Penang this week, the centrally located 1st Avenue Mall and the seaside Straits Quay Mall. As I was at Island Plaza for some work-related training this week, I took the opportunity to visit Straits Quay Mall just now. It officially opened today and from the look of things I feel excited about its direction!

There are only a handful of shops currently open for business, but aggressive shop renovations are going on and pretty soon it'll be buzzing with people, especially come Christmastime. I love the feeling of the place, both expansive and expensive! E&O managed to bring the colonial charm of its downtown hotel onto this reclaimed land in Tanjung Tokong. You can't help but feel glamorous walking around this place... until the wallpaper salesman pushes a flyer into your face.

With Gurney Plaza getting unbearably crowded (parking is horrendous and traffic crawls during peak hours), Penang is primed for a refreshed shopping experience. I expect 1st Avenue Mall to absorb the upper middle class urbanites while Straits Quay will squarely aim for the big pocketed.

While the view would undoubtedly be spectacular at night, you'll have to make do with some late afternoon photos shot with a camera phone :) Do yourself a favor and go soak in the nice relaxed atmosphere before the crowds spoil it all come December.

Quick 360 degree view from the quay-side:

Parking ramps are a bit tight so please be careful if you're coming in your Merc S-Class

Inland-facing side

The largest Xmas tree in Penang will be lighted up 3rd Dec 2010

Just imagine side walk cafes in 4 months time

I'd love to celebrate my birthday in the tower

A nice sea facing walkway for families and friends to gather

Nice architectural touches

Question mark?

Some booths have set up operation

Residents can access the mall easily - convenient or security risk?

Getting there: GPS Coordinates 5.45810, 100.31329

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Lebuh Carnavon Duck Rice

2010-11-26T14:00:00.065+13:00

After my negative reviews on a Taiping food court last Friday, I'm afraid today's review won't be equally kind.

There are a few famous Duck Rice stalls in Penang, and this is undoubtedly one of the top. I last had this many years ago and decided to pay a re-visit for the purpose of this blog. Unfortunately we didn't even get to eat it so this is more of a rant post.

The problem is that they do not have a good system of tracking orders. Furthermore the coffee shop operator claims that they are unwilling to hire extra hands. Hence you have a husband who does the butchering and a wife who takes and serves orders to the roughly 30 hungry customers.

What could possibly go wrong?

Take away customers eyeing their lunch hungrily

We arrived at 12.45pm to a packed place, but we found a small table at the far end of the coffee shop. It was actually located along the outside corridor, and so was not highly visible. And as it turned out, "out of sight, out of mind" was the motto that the wife operates on.

We were prepared for a longer than usual wait, but when customers who came much later were served before us, it's really hard not to get hot around the collar. Two reminders went unheeded, and after 30 minutes we stormed out of the place.

Look at how many ducks they'll sell in a day!

All the wife needed to do was to write down orders as it came in to avoid this problem, but success breeds failures in this case. As they will always have overwhelming support, they do not have the economic incentive to improve their process. One or two pissed customers will hardly hit their bottom line!

At any rate, if you would like to try this, I recommend going at 11.30am. I won't be returning here anytime soon.

It is located at the corner of Lebuh Carnavon and Jalan Cheong Fatt Tze

How to get there:

View Larger Map Get Directions

Silver Fern Job Search Visa

2010-11-24T14:06:00.002+13:00

Note: This is in the series of blog posts I wrote about my preparation to move to New Zealand. The original date stamps will give you an idea of how time-consuming migration takes. At the end of each post, I will add in new details. The 'New Zealand' tag will bring up all related posts.

[Originally written on 30/3/2010]

I was already eyeing this new visa type when it was announced late last year. Now that more details are out, I'm considering applying for the Silver Fern Job Search Visa instead of a Working Holiday. The online application opens from 27 April, and the main impediment is the quota of 300 places annually. 300 places for the whole wide world?! I expect it to run out by the first month...

The reason why I couldn't apply immediately on 27th April is because my degree has not been assessed by NZQA. It will take at least 2 months to get the results back. I will courier everything over to NZQA by early April and hopefully I'll get a favourable result from NZQA while there are still spots for the visa.

Fingers crossed...

[End of original post]

[Originally written on 27/4/2010]

The Silver Fern Visa is a new group of visas introduced in 2010 to attract highly skilled workers to NZ. Only 300 places are allocated a year, and they were offered beginning 27 April 2010, 10am. All 300 slots were snapped up in half an hour, and I'm really thankful I'm one of them.

I set my alarm to go off at 5.55am. Pulled myself off the bed and logged-in, and was pleased to find that there were still slots available despite my initial fears. I have been waiting for this since end-2009, after all!

The form is pretty basic and simplified from the residency application. Thanks to my earlier practice run, I could fill up the form very quickly. I had a minor shock when my MasterCard wasn't accepted for the NZ$200 application fee. I might have been a bit blur in that ungodly hour and mis-typed a number. Anyway, I quickly whipped out my Visa card and it managed to go through with a receipt number of #22. Phew!

I now have 3 months to submit all the required documents (more on that next time) to the Bangkok receiving branch. My main concern now is my NZQA assessment of my Bachelor Degree. By default I qualify for Level 7 but if there's something the assessor doesn't like and she downgrades me to Level 6, I can kiss my NZ dreams goodbye.

....

Well, not goodbye but it will be very very difficult.

[End of original post]

I consider myself very lucky to have obtained a spot on this visa program. It is very rare for countries to offer open work visas when one does not have a job offer. Since this visa was just introduced, awareness is still low. While I was surprised that all 300 were taken within half an hour, I expect next year's response to be stronger once people learn of this great visa.

The Wizard of Oz by Sri Pelita School

2010-11-22T13:29:00.002+13:00

The Sri Pelita international school in Penang stages a musical every year. It is also done as a fund-raising activity - one would think an international school would be sitting on a pile of cash from the school fees but apparently not!

This year the students put on The Wizard of Oz, a classic for both kids and adults. It was my first time attending their annual play but I went away impressed. Costumes were great, lines were delivered with aplomb, and I was wholly impressed with their efforts to coordinate so many young children. It was cute when some of the younger children broke out of character and waved excitedly at their parents!

I have to give most of my kudos to the girl playing Dorothy - the lead character. (Could someone fill me in on her name?) It was definitely not easy to remember so many lines and do most of the acting. I have a feeling she'll grow up to be a Rachel Berry ;)

Photos were taken with my Nokia C6-00, and you can see the dark environment is really pushing its limits.

Dorothy in Kansas

Ding dong the witch is dead!

Dorothy meets Scarecrow

The Cowardly Lion tries to bully our travellers

Arriving at the gates of Oz

The choir sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Curtain call

For a minimum donation of RM25, it was certainly an evening well-spent. I won't be around for next year's staging, but do keep an eye out and support local artistic endeavours. We keep talking about moving away from an examinations-centric education system, thus we should encourage such holistic approaches by actually attending them!

(Hat tip to Scott for recommending this musical last Saturday)

New template again

2010-11-22T04:33:00.000+13:00

For all you RSS readers, come check out my new blog template. Something cleaner and less cluttered while I think about where to take this blog in the future.

Restoran Taman Tasik, Taiping

2010-11-19T15:39:00.034+13:00

Hey, who knew my flogging* would go regional! We stopped here for lunch on the way back from Kathina at SBS. Alas this will not be a kind review. In fact I have purposely removed the maps and coordinates in the hope that you would get lost finding this place, thus ending up someplace nicer.

This is not an attack on all Taiping food - I know there are fantastic places to eat. I just doubt this is one of them. Feel free to direct me to where I can get great Taiping hawker fare in the comments.

Very close to the iconic Taiping Lake Gardens, this food court is fairly large. There were 4 carfuls of us and I didn't hear anyone praising the food. Let me do a quick run down of what we had:

If you see this, move along.

Hokkien Mee - salty

Pan Mee - decent

Wan Tan Mee - salty

Bak Kut Teh - soup was unremarkable and yam rice was not fragrant

Koay Teow Th'ng - best among what we had but still average

I didn't manage to take photos of the chicken rice, but it was rated unfavourably too.

Where are the great Taiping food guys? I know it has something more to offer than kaya kok and heong pneah.

* flogging (v.): Food-blogging

IELTS

2010-11-17T13:46:00.017+13:00

We were arranged similarly, with fewer candidates and better carpeting (from Jack Hynes/Flickr)

A huge thanks to Ivan for sharing his e-notes and practice papers with me. They were extremely helpful! I think I aced the Listening and Reading tests. A few tricky questions as always but I think I won't get more than 3 wrong answers.

Writing was a little tricky. When I reviewed my Question 1 answer in the last 10 minutes, I realized I interpreted the charts wrongly. The base conclusion should still be the same, but I assumed that Chart 2 is a progression from Chart 1, when in fact they are representing different data at the same time period. I hope I don't get penalized too much for that.

Speaking was the worst module for me. It was the only thing that I couldn't practice the format properly. And coincidentally, the examiner was Rovena Capel, my old teacher from high school. I worked with her on the school debating team and school magazine. I'm not sure if this helped me (she knows I have a decent command of English) or hurt me (she expects a stronger command of English from me), but I will find out soon enough.

It didn't help that the topic of my Speaking interview was about childhood memories. Ugh! I have a bad memory and it's hard for me to dredge up the past. I would have preferred forward-thinking topics like global warming, the death penalty, or delinquency. As a result, I stuttered quite often and didn't perform up to my best. I literally saw my Band 9 result vanish in front of my lips.

Waitaminute.... Band 9? Ya that was my idealistic target. I wanted to prove to myself that the excellent student in college still existed!!! But after the Speaking test, I'm revising my expectations down to a Band 8, which is still pretty damn excellent!

I shall update once I get my Test Report Form.

[End of original post]

[Originally posted 2/4/10]
I scored the following IELTS scores:

Listening 8.5
Reading 9
Writing 8.5
Speaking 7.5

Overall Band 8.5

=)

As a funny anecdote, I lost my candidate slip with my candidate number on it so I spent an hour guessing the combination on their results website. I knew it was something simple with a few 1's and perhaps an 8 or 5. In the end I gave up and called up British Council to get my number back. If I knew they were so willing to give out the number, I would have called them up earlier. But it's definitely a privacy concern.

[End of original post]

Kathina @ Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary

2010-11-15T15:58:00.175+13:00

Pre-reading:

What is Kathina?
What is Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary? (Buddhist monk training center)

On 7 November I went to Taiping to participate in Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary's (SBS) Kathina celebrations. If you've never heard of Kathina or SBS, you can read the provided links above.

October and November is peak Kathina season in many Theravada Buddhist temples. I haven't been to many Kathinas in my life but I can safely say that the one in SBS is extremely well-organized.

I woke up at the ungodly hour of 3.45am on Sunday morning. We left home at 4.30am and after picking up other carpoolers, we set off for Taiping.

As SBS is nestled on top of a hill, there is limited parking and driving up the steep slopes is something best left to experienced 4WD drivers. To avoid having the devotees hike up the hill, volunteer 4WDs have been roped in to transfer us up and down. It was very well planned out and there were traffic marshals at both ends making sure there's only one way of traffic at any one time.

Offering of Kathina cloth to the monks

I estimated more than 500 people there, and it could well be pushing a thousand. Another sign of the massive scale of this event were the roughly 10 stalls dishing out free food. And this isn't the usual diluted red bean soup and cold fried noodles either - we're talking about fresh bowls of laksa, curry mee, char koay kak, and even a Burmese dish that tasted unlike anything I've had.

Devotees helping themselves to breakfast

At nearly 10.30am the main event for the devotees began. In a line that snaked through the entire compound, devotees stood ready with a small cup of rice. The rice was managed by a group of well-trained youths. After offering a few grains of rice to each of the 18 monks, the plastic cups were collected and re-distributed to others down the line.

Devotees offering a small scoop of rice to each monk

Closely following the monks were 2 groups of kappiyas (helpers). The first group held a tray of requisites for the monks, while the second group held a tray of souvenirs. It was in this latter group that I was roped in to. After a thorough briefing on what was expected of us, we took our assigned spots. We walked directly behind the monks, and with each devotee we were supposed to let them "offer" the tray. This is done symbolically by either lightly lifting the tray or touching the offered items, and then saying "Sadhu" (a word of praise in Pali language).

Kappiyas bringing around trays of requisites and souvenirs for each monk

This turned out to be a very spiritual experience for me. The entire walk through the compound took 65 minutes, and as I continuously mumbled "Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu" to the devotees I had time to reflect. I also enjoyed the brief moment of kinship with each devotee as they sincerely offered the tray, negating my feelings of thirst and the soreness in my arms. Plus, the feeling of walking barefoot was quite enjoyable! (Except on gravel.)

Requisites prepared by Burmese devotees

This event has rekindled my faith somewhat. I've always thought of Buddhism as a beautiful and intelligent religion, but I'm turned off by the organized portion of "organized religion". I've seen first hand how the involvement of humans tend to mess things up. Politics are bound to creep in and I often witness people enforcing "their" interpretation of what's right on the masses. This might involve ousting people who disagree with you and even influencing temple abbots to be on their side. Yes, just like national politics!

Offering souvenirs to Kumei Sayadaw and 17 other monks

As I offered my tray of souvenirs to Kumei Sayadaw, the most senior of the 18 monks present this year, he looked into my eyes and his gaze pierced through me. You just know when it happens. It's that knowing feeling that someone has seen beyond your eyes. It was a brief moment, but it will stay with me for some time.

Lebuh Cecil Food Court

2010-11-12T14:57:00.096+13:00

After the last 2 reviews of middle-range establishments (Daorae and Azuma), it's time to go back to Penang's roots: cheap and good hawker food!

This food court is a favourite place for Dad and I to go on Sunday mornings. (In fact, the food shown here was taken over 2 visits on 2 separate weekends) They are next to a wet market (which is currently being rebuilt) and we find that food courts attached to wet markets have cheaper prices. I'm not sure if this is true for everywhere, but it definitely is for Anson Road Market, Terrenganu Road Market, and today's spotlight: Lebuh Cecil Food Court.

Front facade

This food court is open throughout the day, with different shops open at different times. All the food shown here are available for breakfast, and I have not verified with shop owners if they are open till lunch or dinner. Basically, your mileage may vary.

One unique thing is that you will see many repeat stalls. For the morning session I counted at least 3 Loh Mee/Hokkien Mee stalls, 3 Koay Teow Th'ng stalls, at least 2 Char Koay Teow stalls, and so on. I've taken photos of the stalls so that you will order from the right one, but I see no harm trying out the other stalls. I believe each have their own clientele that keeps them operating for so long!

I had this excellent duck meat koay teow th'ng that comes with slices of lean duck, meat balls, and fish balls. It was good value for something under RM 3 (I forgot the actual price, sorry!). It seems to have a brand name, and I can see the whole family helping out on Sunday. Though they seem eternally busy, my bowl of noodles arrived less than a minute after I sat down. Amazing speed!

Duck Meat Koay Teow Th'ng

Lum Lai Duck Meat Koay Teow Th'ng

This is an excellent Char Koay Teow to try! I've tried 2 stalls and this is by far superior with more flavor and less oil.

Char Koay Teow (RM 3)

She sells other food besides Char Koay Teow

Not featured here is a plate of Jawa Mee (RM 2.80) just opposite the CKT stall. Though the tomato gravy had a good sourish kick, the cook skimped on the ingredients and it came out pretty bland and forgetful.

On our second visit there, we started off with what must be one of the cheapest chinese pancakes (commonly called Ban Chang Kuih/Ban Chean Kueh/曼煎糕) at only 50 cents for the basic version (crushed peanuts). You can have it with extra fillings but even this basic version is crispy and delicious, getting your appetite ready for the other foods on their way.

Ban Chang Kuih (50 cents for plain crushed peanuts)

Another great value find at this food court is Char Hor Fun for RM 2.80! Check out the substantial portion given. There's a perception that dishes like Char Hor Fun, Hokkien Char, and Ee Foo Mee are premium hawker and they are commonly charged higher, something like RM 3.50 to RM 4.00. But this stall just proves it otherwise. And of course, the taste delivers too.

Char Hor Fun (RM 2.80)

Char Hor Fun/Yee Foo Mee/Hokkien Char

Parking will be tough during peak hours as it's located in the heart of the old town, but come on a Sunday morning and you can literally park on its door step. The chicken rice here is also good but only opens late morning. There's a lot of variety on offer here, and I look forward to showcasing some other good picks from this place soon.

View Larger Map Get Directions

Certificate of Good Conduct 6 Months Validity

2010-11-10T13:16:00.063+13:00

Note: This is part of a series of hidden blog posts I wrote about my preparation to move to New Zealand. Though posted weekly, the original date stamps will give you an idea of how time-consuming this process takes. At the end of each post, I will add in new details that I have learned since then.

[Originally written on 23/3/2010]

I just found out recently that New Zealand's immigration department (NZIS in short) will only accept Certificate of Good Conducts up to 6 months old. Darn.

I'll have to spend RM30-ish again to get a new Certificate because my first cert is dated January.

[End of original post]

Luckily I didn't have to because I submitted all my supporting documents (including this certificate) a few days before the 6 month expiry date.

A Certificate of Good Conduct is a piece of A4 paper issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that basically states that you are a citizen of good conduct with no prior blots in your history. It is required as a background check for long term migration processes, and some countries issue a Police Certificate instead.

Certificate of Good Conduct Sample

For Malaysians, this can be obtained from Kementerian Luar Negri in 2 ways:

Queue up at their Putrajaya headquarters with the necessary forms.
Send the necessary forms and a self-addressed self-stamped envelope to Putrajaya.

Option 1 is the fastest while Option 2 can take up to 3 weeks (or more). However, (this is unconfirmed) Ivan mentioned that the wording on certificates is different. Option 1 is worded to sound like it's a preliminary check, while Option 2 is a more comprehensive certificate. Again, I can't confirm this.

I went with Option 2 as I already detest traveling to KL, what more Putrajaya! I downloaded the English forms from the Ministry of Foreign Affair's Forms page. Just fill it up, get it stamped by a Commissioner of Oaths, and send it over with the required fee. I placed a self-address Pos Ekspres A4 envelope to ensure it arrives promptly, and it arrived 2 weeks later without any complications (which would be a totally different story if I were Anwar Ibrahim) :P

BodyJam 55 Tracklist

2010-11-08T14:16:00.048+13:00

It's been some time that I blogged about BodyJam, which is still my favourite group fitness workout after all these years. Here's the basics about the upcoming new release:

BodyJam 55 Poster

Warmup
1. Favorite DJ (Clinton Sparks)

Isolations
2. Shawty Get Loose (Lil Mama feat Chris Brown & T-Pain)

Hip Hop
3. Baddest Gangsta Ballet Dancer (Big Poppin G)
4. DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love (Usher feat. Pitbull)

Salsa 2010
5. Andale (Nicola Fasano & Steve Forest South Beach Mix) (Stereo Palma)
6. Livin’ La Vida Loca (Pablo Flores English Radio Edit) (Ricky Martin)
7. Samba All Night (Extended Version) (Bellini)
8. Samba De Janeiro 2010 (Manuel De La Mare Smash) (Bellini)

Recovery
9. Carry Out (de la Roche)

Show Me Jam
10. Gettin’ Over You (Computer Love)
11. Hotel Room Service (03 Remix) (Pitbull)
12. Not Myself Tonight (Laidback Luke Mixshow Edit) (Christina Aguilera)
13. Show Me Love (Danni Oak)

Groove Down
14. Rapture (Alicia Keys)

I'm very excited about Salsa 2010 - a little bit of singalong Ricky Martin always gets the party started! I'm a huge sucker for club latin tracks so will be keeping a keen eye on this one. I'm still waiting for one that will surpass the latin from release 38 and 47...

What's not so great is the number of cover songs here, no thanks to PPCA of Australia. Les Mills classes, especially BodyJam, have always used mainly original songs, a rarity in other popular classes. But new licensing rules in one country spoiled the party for the rest of us. Gah!

Next round I'll recap my favourite tracks from old BodyJam releases!