Loh Gwo Burne for Keadilan, Kelana Jaya

PREVIOUS UPDATE! The day before the Elections...
My blog from 7th March 2008

UPDATE! The day after the Elections!
Results are here ... And photos of Kelana Jaya too!

Who's Gwo Burne?

Personal Details
Name: Loh Gwo Burne
Date of Birth: 26 February 1974
Place of Birth: London, United Kingdom

Goals
To keep moving forward. Be revolutional and evolutional in approaches.A strong believer in justice and integrity. Fully committed to fighting corruption and crime !

Education
Poi Lam (Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina) Primary School, Ipoh
ACS Secondary School, Singapore
We were hostel-mates at Oldham Hall, Singapore!
University of Hull (LLB Hon, United Kingdom)
China University of Political Science and Law (LLM, Beijing, China)

----------------

Some excerpts from his BLOGspot ...

To the High Office of the Citizens of Kelana Jaya (P104),


I wish to categorically put to rest the many rumours that have been circulating with regard to my candidature in Kelana Jaya.



Yes, I am a fresh rookie and yes I am contesting against a veteran politician and "NO" I was not given this Parliamentary seat as a reward for coming out in the open with the Lingam video, or that my father has paid PKR to be allowed to contest.



So allow me to explain further, throughout our childhood and now into our adulthood, my siblings and I have been indoctrinated into speaking up and standing up for the truth. Our family is opposed to the gross corruption and dishonesty that we are faced with day to day in Malaysia. It was in this light that we took a decision to come out in the open and expose the current state of the judiciary. The expose came with a personal risk not just for me but my family.

Given the current culture of BN of cover up, con and spin, I would like to throw out this challenge to Lee Hwa Beng, would he have testified against VT Lingam and bring to the forefront the state of the judiciary in this nation, if he was in my place?



I wish to verify that I am contesting this seat on my own accord and I preferred a constituency in an urban area rather than one in a rural area. My upbringing being mostly in Ipoh, Subang and Kuala Lumpur. I feel confident that I will be able to well represent the Malaysian urbanites, in particular the people of Kelana Jaya as I have a good understanding of urban living.

I wish to say that I belong to the New Generation of Malaysians, who are prepared to stand up and take risks for the love of our country. We young Malaysians who are tired of the constant corruption, nepotism and lack of accountability in the civil service. Now we say enough is enough, we say that we want more respectability and pride for the citizens of this Nation.

We stand for a better Malaysia where Honesty, Integrity and Accountability will prevail.I know that PKR is a good platform for me, for it will allow me the freedom to speak up and be the voice of the people in Kelana Jaya when they elect me. I know that under the capable and competent leadership of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, I can be moulded to be a good custodian of Public Interest.



If I win this election I will setup a permanent office in Kelana Jaya to serve the Rakyat in this constituency. I will address all issues according to facts and justice.I do recognise that of utmost importance is the effectiveness of the administration.


So to you my bosses, the people of Kelana Jaya, I humbly ask you to allow me to serve your needs and speak up for you in Parliament, for I am young, full of energy, enthusiasm, initiative.

To you I bring, my international experience accumulated over the years of my working career, to you I promise to serve to the best of my ability.So I look forward to your vote of confidence.

In your service and your humble public servant to be.
Loh Gwo Burne



Ps. My favourite quote ...
"I studied in Sunway College so I'm quite comfortable with Kelana Jaya,” said Loh.

BMW SS1D

Really nice Sabahan plate spotted in Port Klang ... SS1D ... looks like 'SID'? Maybe that's his name!

BMW used by Royal Malaysian Customs

You can spot this BMW Kastam (Customs) car in Port Klang ... rather regularly!

Mango Mania @ Bangsar

Add: 36 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: +603 2283 6899
My previous visit here



One has to be patient with the service here though, the cashier was slow in processing my card, and they seemed really 'BLUR' about what we ordered. Usually bringing us an item we ordered with another totally random item that we didn't ... hmm, not sure why!

The cakes didn't have the WOW factor ... RM$7.90 and RM$8.90. And they were small!



Cube Cube Mango (RM$14.90 - ouch!) ... a LOT of mango in a smoothie like drink!
We also tried a Mango Madness (RM$9.90), as well as a couple of Yoghurt Smoothies (RM$12 each). No complaints in general, but not particularly satisfying too.


Nevertheless, a nice pleasant cafe environment, well air-conditioned, not too busy ... and just a good place to catch up.

Whikeroom Bilique, Bangsar - Relaunched!

Congratulations to the Whikeroom Bilique team :-)
Previous party at Bilique!



Yummy lamb, tofu and more! Washed down with Carlsberg of course ...


Add: Whikeroom Bilique @ 34 & 36A, Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, Bangsar
Tel: +603 2287 3436

Sauvignon Blanc - Clifford Bay and Kim Crawford

Starting to really appreciate Sauvignon Blancs from Marlborough, NZ ... these 2 bottles were about RM$70-80 each, good value for a nice crisp white.

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc was produced from premium quality Awatere Valley grapes grown in the renowned Marlborough region, in New Zealand. Its described as ... "This wine shows the vibrant tropical fruit aromas of ripe Sauvignon Blanc. the full bodied palate is long, exhibiting intense passionfruit flavours, which linger through to the crisp finish."

I agree!



I've yet to savour the Kim Crawford ... but will let you know how I get on! I am expecting it to be equally good :-)

Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc ... "Selected from various low yielding vineyards in the Wairau, Brancott, Waihoepai and Awatere valleys, these Sauvignon Blanc grapes were machine harvested and protectively handled. After juice clarification the wine was innoculated with pure, aromatic yeast strains and cool fermented. Once dry the wine was stabilised, filtered and bottled."
" Aroma: Classic Sauvignon characters of cut grass and tropical fruits are dominant on the nose. Palate: Unfolds with flavours of passionfruit, gooseberry and subtle herbaceousness. The wine is mouthfilling with good texture and finishes well with cleansing acidity and great length."

Where's Marlborough?
Marlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. Marlborough is a unitary authority, both a region and a district, and its council is located at Blenheim. Marlborough is known for its dry climate, the picturesque Marlborough Sounds, and Sauvignon blanc wine.

Sparkling Ribena

Slurp ... simply refreshing!

iPod Nano with Belkin TuneBase FM

Ergonomically sound, seamless interface, and works a treat!
The Belkin TuneBase FM iPod - FM transmitter cost USD$79.



Belkin says ... "By seamlessly integrating an FM transmitter and car power adapter, TuneBase FM provides an exceptional, all-in-one solution on the road. Improved FM transmission delivers crisp, clean audio performance in your car. A built-in transmitter wirelessly connects to your car stereo on multiple FM channels, from 88.1MHz-107.9MHz. Featuring four programmable memory slots that let you easily toggle for the best performance, TuneBase FM easily ensures you access to the best available frequency. The holder secures your iPod and features an innovative, flexible-steel neck for easy repositioning. The package includes tray adapters to fit iPod video, 4G, photo, mini, and nano."

Indonesia customer visit day

First time we had a banner at work! Just like a tour group :-)

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007) - Superb!

Source: DVD (SS2)

"They're as straight as can be, but don't tell anyone"

No simpler way to describe the film then ... I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry is a comedy about 2 straight, single Brooklyn firefighters (Adam Sandler as Chuck Levine , and Kevin James as Larry Valentine) pretend to be a gay couple in order to receive domestic partner benefits!

Genuine all star cast, with superb and very credible performances from each ...

Adam Sandler ... Chuck Levine
Kevin James ... Larry Valentine
Jessica Biel ... Alex McDonough
Dan Aykroyd ... Captain Phineas J. Tucker
Ving Rhames ... Fred G. Duncan
Steve Buscemi ... Clinton Fitzer

Good Luck Chuck (2007) - A blessing and a curse!

Source: DVD from SS2

Dane Cook gets cursed... oops HEXed, and (I don't wanna spoil the comedy) gets a gift that most guys would die for ... but ends up hating the curse, because he falls for ... Jessica Alba. How does he get out of this? Watch the film!

ps - Interesting coincidence that Dan Fogler (Randy Daytona - the lead actor in BALLS OF FURY) was ALSO in this film , this time playing the disgusting pig-like (but oh so funny!) Stu Kaminsky!

Balls of Fury (2007) ... Wicked!

Source: DVD from SS2

A really REALLY crazy film ... watch it with an open mind, and you are likely to be tickled silly ... it really is a HUGE comedy with TINY balls :-) The one-liners, the slapstick and the extreme nature of what is generally a gentile sport made me laugh so loud!

Great characters in the film were played by ...

Dan Fogler ... Randy Daytona
Christopher Walken ... Feng
George Lopez ... Agent Ernie Rodriquez
Maggie Q ... Maggie Wong
James Hong ... Master Wong
Robert Patrick ... Sgt. Pete Daytona

and perhaps my favourite ...

Thomas Lennon as Karl Wolfschtagg!

I shall leave IMDB.com to describe this mad film :-)

In the unsanctioned, underground, and unhinged world of extreme Ping-Pong, the competition is brutal and the stakes are deadly.
Down-and-out former professional Ping-Pong phenom Randy Daytona is sucked into this maelstrom when FBI Agent Rodriguez recruits him for a secret mission.

Randy is determined to bounce back and recapture his former glory, and to smoke out his father's killer - one of the FBI's Most Wanted, arch-fiend Feng.

But, after two decades out of the game, Randy can't turn his life around and avenge his father's murder without a team of his own.

He calls upon the spiritual guidance of blind Ping-Pong sage and restaurateur Wong, and the training expertise of Master Wong's wildly sexy niece Maggie, both of whom also have a dark history with Feng.

All roads lead to Feng's mysterious jungle compound and the most unique Ping-Pong tournaments ever staged. There, Randy faces such formidable players as his long-ago Olympics opponent, the still-vicious Karl Wolfschtagg.

.. Can Randy keep his eye on the ball?

... Will he achieve the redemption he craves while wielding a paddle?

.... Is his backhand strong enough to triumph over rampant wickedness?

I am eligible!

Hey, I think this means I can vote!
This is a really useful site ... SPR Website

Kampachi @ Pavilion KL

Kampachi can now be found at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur!

Add: Lot 6.09.00, Level 6, Pavilion @ Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL
Tel: +603 2148 9608
Opening: Daily10.00 am - 10.00 pm

As described by Kampachi, "This renowned Japanese Restaurant expands for the very first time outside an Equatorial hotel and is located in the most exciting retail mall to open in the Golden Triangle in nearly a decade. For the first time in Kuala Lumpur, handmade soba noodles are made fresh at the restaurant daily."



Its located on the very nice 6th floor of Pavilion mall ...



Kampachi also describes ... "THREE to four minutes, that is the time you have to consume the freshly made soba noodles when the waiters serve the dish to best savour the flavours.
That was the advice given by Kampachi at the Pavilion general manager Chiharu Yabe, who believes that it was about time Malaysians were formally introduced to the buckwheat noodles that the Japanese love so much."

We actually thought the soba noodles were sub-par, and a little on the chewy side ... wasn't particularly impressed. But the beef broth was really yummy! Unagi was good too.



Soft Shell Crab Maki - Good, but kept breaking up!


A couple of bento boxes ... yum.
We agreed that the highlight dish was the Japanese Curry, slurrrrrrrrp!


I preferred the Chawan Mushi at Rakuzen ... but overall still a good meal.
Thanx Xn for the treat :-)


Not cheap at approx RM$300 for the feast!


ps - More Kampachi notes about their latest outlet ...
As for the menu, the items listed are faster to prepare items to cater to shopping mall clientele who may not have as much time as customers at a hotel.
Quality wise, Lim assured that there would be no difference, as the chefs serving at both restaurants are both long time students of Kampachi’s master chef Lew Tin Sin.
“Kampachi at the Pavilion will have the same food supply as Equatorial, so customers can be assured of the same quality that they have come to expect at Kampachi,” Lim said.

Espressamente Illy Coffee, Pavilion

Espressamente ILLY

Add: Lot 3-10-00, Level 3, Pavilion @ 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL

Nice drinks, in a pleasant cafe facing the sidewalk ... pity the a/con was off, so hot!

Neve Fondente (Cold Latte!) - RM$14

Fresh Orange - RM$13

Rolex - CIMB event @ Pavilion, KL

Rolex - CIMB Bank event at Pavilion in KL
Another great party by the Valiram Group, 27th February 2008


This SACI Rolex Datejust cost well over RM$200k ... ouch! Hmm, the MUMM champagne went well with all the nice timepieces ...


It was a Chinese New Year event ... hence the free caligraphy. Hey, that's my name!


At the close of the event ...

Hong Leong ATM - Funny!

Spotted at the Hong Leong Bank ATM, located at Bukit Tinggi in Klang .. heh heh . Fish scales!?

Shocking ass?

As seen at the local Eng Ann, Klang branch of Alliance Bank ... whats a shock ASSorber?

Salmon Porridge with extra TLC

Been feeling really under the weather ...


Special porridge ... slurp :-)

D'lixious at SS2

SS2 in PJ is a source of many a good food ... hmm, I remember reading a blogger's Jalan Alor Project, maybe I should do Super SS2 Project!
Anyhow ... here is another GEM! D'lixious is located at 94 Jalan SS2/60, PJ. Telephone: +603 7873 9080

Note the 'constant rain' effect you get when you look out the water-windows, chintzy or cool? Take your pick!


X.O. Sauce Fried Rice (RM$9.90) - Slurrrp!



Sweet and Sour Pork Chop Fried Rice (RM$9.90) - Divine!! Perfectly executed cutlets of pork in a very delicious sauce.


X.O. Sauce Carrot Cake (RM$5) - A little bit of a let down I reckon, too spicy and not carrot-y enough!


Then came the deeeeeeeeeelicious desserts!
Soya Bean milk with Sesame Dumplings (RM$3.80)
Foo Chuk Yee Mai (RM$3.80)

Sunset over Subang Jaya

Sunset over Subang Jaya ... caught on the Kesas!

Tim Sum at Soho by Jun, One Utama

Soho by Jun
Add: G218 One Utama Shopping Centre, 1 Lebuh Bandar Utama, PJ
Tel: +603 77222 155

This restaurant presents well, looks the part ... but whoooaaa it's expensive AND the service is so darn slow. There were only 3 or 4 other diners, who were already eating, and each dish still took over 15 mins to arrive. Poor!

Big Leaf Pu Er tea - Serves two (RM$6) and some non-recognisable wanton-skin-like starter, which we weren't charged for.


Very modern chic' restaurant ... sort of like Reunion in Bangsar Village, but set in a more airey / well lit atmoshpere.
Towel @ RM$1 each.


Crispy Pineapple Custard Bun (RM$4.90) aka Poh Loh Pao.
Eeeeeeeep! So bad!!
Especially when compared to ... Wah Lok at Singapore still rocks!


Shanghai Sticky Rice Shu Mai (RM$5.60)
Not bad and rather interesting ... the only edible dish I reckon!


Black Beans Spare Ribs (RM$5.60)
Quite tasteless ... and so boney!


Pomelo Mango Cream (RM$10)
Again ... tasteless. Overly creamy. I want the one at Reunion at Bangsar Village II

Back to the price (which was the other let down after the slow service!) ... it was just too expensive at between RM$8 to RM$10 per dish of tim sum. I only tried it out on that particular day, as they were having a 'happy hour' (Week days, etween 2.30pm and 5.30 or 6pm), which meant 30% discount on all dishes (But not on the yucky Pomelo cream, bah!). No chance of me ever returning!

ps. Best moment? When I pressed the 'Bill' button .. good riddance!

Mark's Assam Laksa, One Utama

Add: Mark's Asam Laksa @ Lot G213A, Ground Floor,
Promenade,1 Utama Shopping Centre, Bandar Utama, PJ
Tel: +603 6273 5530





Mark's Asam Laksa ... or as they spell it, Asam Laksa, is located on the old wing of One Utama. It may be simple, discrete and small, but it packs a whallop ... good food!
AND, great SERVICE too. The waitress who took our order was polite, and didn't try to 'push' drink sales like most places do. Even asked which part of the chicken we wanted for the curry.


The Assam (as I like to spell it!) Laksa was full of flavour, and not too fishey. Spicey but not overly so. Great balance - The secret of a good assam laksa!



The simple maggi mee goreng, served with some delicious and generous portion of curry chicken, was equally good!


Surprise! The meal even came with a nice yummy bowl of Hong Tau Sah (Red Bean dessert), slurp! All this for just over RM$14. Good value!

Tong Kee - Superb egg tarts and sponge cakes!

Thanks to Babe in the City's Blog for the addresses!

Tong Kee Brothers Confectionery
Main Branch : 16, Jalan Brunai Utara, Pudu,
55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: (603) 242 9958
Operation Hours:6.00am - 6.00pm

Branch : No. 18, Lorong Brunai 3, Pudu,
55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: (603) 242 9923
Operation Hours:6.00am - 3.00pm

Branch No. 2 (known as TK at the signboard) :
Jalan Cerdas, Taman Connaught
(same row as Gafan Restaurant, or Sedaya College side)

Branch No. 3 : Persiaran Mergastua, Kepong Baru

Counters:
Lai Fong Restaurant138 Jalan Bandar, Kuala Lumpur
Wah Cheong Coffee Shop17/29, Petaling Jaya


This is WHAT they are most famous for, and it's gooooood!


My absolute favourite ...
I just love the simple way it is rolled up in a bit of transparent-paper!

Yau Yat Kar - Local Chap Fan in Bukit Tinggi, Klang

I am blessed with a yummy chap fan eatery, yes the whole coffee shop ONLY serves chap fan, with over 40 varieties ... slurp! Free soup as well :-)
One of many previous visits ... click here!

TAA1 spotted

TAA1 = TA A1 = Looks like TA AI ... Big Love :-)

QRC1 - Sarawkian in town!

Spotted near Tropicana ... Many Q plates in town these days!

BMW M3 - Sweet!

Fierce ... sweet ... Must be an E46 M3 ! Our NKVE is full of nice cars :-)

I could barely keep chase at over 140km/h, in order to shoot these 2 pics ... Thank goodness for IS on my G9!

Arisu Korean @ Riana Green, PJ

Arisu serves some of the best korean in town I reckon ... tucked away inside the Riana Green condominium complex at Damansara.
Add: Riana Green, Jalan Tropicana Utara, PJ
Tel: +603 7803 6737

My previous visit to Mrs Kim's restaurant

We always enjoy the starters ... which keep getting re-filled!
The bottomless cups of Korean green tea cost RM$1.50 per head.


And of course the de' rigueur ... Dolsot Bibimbap! (RM$18)



Koreans describe it best ...
Bibimbap ... A Creative One-dish Meal
Bibimbap is simply a bowl of rice that is mixed with various kinds of vegetables, together with mushrooms, a fried egg, and ground meat, and seasoned with red chili pepper paste. A dribble of sesame oil can add to its savory taste. To foreign nationals who are not familiar with Korean food culture, the concept of bibim (mixing rice with side dishes) might seem somewhat obscure. The basic objective of bibimbap is to combine various ingredients with rice in order to create a harmony of contrasting tastes.

I can't remember what this dish is called, but its my favourite, pork slices and tang-hun like noodles with straw mushrooms in a very VERY hot broth, served in a claypot ... used to think it was Bulgogi, but now I realised Bulgogi = Marinated sizzling meat! Oops :-)
UPDATE! Its called ... Tuk Bae Gi (RM$20)



ps - Total damage for the meal, just over RM$45.

Rojak Singapura @ Nasi Kandar Pelita, SS2

A sweeter variety of rojak, more a-kin to chinese lobak where one can pick different varieties of goodies including sotong, fishballs, potato fritters, prawn crackers, sausages etc etc ... really REALLY good!

This Rojak Singapura was purchased at Pelita in SS2 ... RM$12.50 for the yummy tea-time treat!
Add: Pelita @ 1, Jalan SS2/64, PJ
Tel: +603 7874 9072

Soo Kee, Sea Park in PJ - Ipoh Kuay Teow

SOO KEE Restaurant, located opposite the SEA Park market, is one of the legends of the Klang Valley eating scene.
Add: 33 Jalan 21/17, PJ
Tel: +603 7876 7736
Note the short opening hours ... 8.30am to 2.30pm

Some research revealed ...
Cheng Chee Loong and his mother, Woon Sai Lan, have been running the restaurant since the mid-1970s, moving to the present location in 1982.

What's good ...
Ipoh koay teow with shredded chicken and prawns
Steamed chicken with oyster sauce (Mom swears that this may be the smoothest chicken in town!)
Prawn wan tan in soup with vegetables
Taugeh (bean sprouts) with soya sauce, fried shallots and chopped spring onions



Sunday breakfast is an important family ritual :-)


ps. Mum's little gift for her car, which I got from Kentucky (Famous for its Triple Crown / Kentucky Darby!)

Honda NSX at SS2

This superb example of an NSX really stood out at SS2 over the weekend ...



Some excerpts from Wikipedia about this important piece of car history ...

The Honda NSX (Acura NSX in North America and Hong Kong) is a sports car produced between 1990 and 2005 by the Japanese automaker Honda.

It has a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, an all-aluminium body and chassis, and a V6 gasoline engine featuring Honda's VTEC system.
"NSX" is an acronym for "New Sportscar eXperimental".

The production NSX was designed by a team led by Chief Designer Ken Okuyama and Executive Chief Engineer Shigeru Uehara, who was also in charge of the S2000 project. Its first public appearances as the NS-X were at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989, and at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1989.
Japanese Formula One driver Satoru Nakajima was involved with the NSX's development, performing many duties related to chassis tuning.
Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna and American Bobby Rahal also participated in the car's development. Senna was given an NSX by Honda, although details of this car and its fate are unclear.

Upon its release in 1990, the NSX was a design ahead of its time, at only 1170 mm (46.1 in) in height only 141.3 mm (6 in) taller than the legendary Ford GT40.
The car showcased Honda's racing technology, exemplified by the NSX's ultra-rigid, ultra-light aluminium monocoque chassis, aluminium suspension, titanium connecting rods, forged pistons, aluminium valves and high-revving capabilities — the redline was at a lofty 8,000 rpm. Today it is still known by many as the most reliable exotic car with many examples exceeding 100,000 miles without any reliability issues.
The car's strong chassis rigidity and cornering/handling capabilities were the results of Ayrton Senna's direct input with NSX's chief engineers while testing at the Honda owned Suzuka Circuit during its final development stages.

The NSX was initially assembled at the purpose-built Takanezawa R&D Plant in Tochigi from 1989 to early 2004, when it was moved to Suzuka Plant for the remainder of its production life. The cars were assembled by approximately 200 experienced, hand-picked staff from various Honda factories.

Honda designed the NSX in search of the perfect balance between power and reliability and thus produced a powerful naturally aspirated engine suitable for the abuse of road racing.

Fancy Dress Dinner @ Holiday Villa, Subang

My company's Annual Dinner at Holiday Villa in Subang ... Theme was ' A Night of Stars ' !



Pirates of the Carribean


Phua Chu Kang! My favourite outfit of the nite I reckon ... Great job, Wong!


Dick Tracy, Pochahontas ... and, well ... me! We also had Cruella d'Ville from 101 Dalmatians, and Don Johnson from Miami Vice!


May the Force be With You!


Is this weird or what ... Tiger Woods meets Darth Maul!


Yoda!

Tim Sum @ Taman Megah, PJ

Cheap and good ... nice simple tim-sum breakfast at Taman Megah, in Petaling Jaya. Slurp!

I was struggling with a bad cold ... so didn't wanna chance it with oily variants of Tim Sum .. hence it was mainly the STEAMED and BOILED varieties to start. Good steamed pai-kuat, nice porridge, and really good siu-mai.

Then I succumbed ... Loh Mai Kai, Pao, Big Pao, and great Chee Cheong Fun (Char Siew). Hey at least I didn't go for any deep fried varieties!


My standard Teh Si ... check out those SUGAR crystals on the edge of the cup! Teh Si is supposedly tea with evaporated milk and sugar, slurrrrp. What a way to start the weekend!

Pee Car!?

Not sure how popular this series of registration plates in Penang would be ... PEE !?

Brembo 6 pots for a lucky BMW!

Stuttgart Motor, an independent BMW uber-service shop, in PJ ... had this on display, it was already booked up for either a 5-series or a 6-series. Sweeeeeeeeet! Check out the ...
1) Price! RM$17k !
2) Size of them discs ... 380mm is 15 inches. Just for the brakes!

Kolo Mee ala Sarawak @ Restoran Gembira

Check out what you can find at Taman Megah's Restoran Gembira ... not far from Pang Kor Fish-head Curry (and Fatty Crab on the road opposite). The Kolo Mee is really good!
Add: Restoran Gembira @ 39 Jalan SS24/8
Taman Megah, PJ

Tea Time ... La Manila and Bread Story

Yummy tea time ... Nescafe Gold and some pastries from La Manila and Bread Story in PJ :-)

Bak Kut Teh @ Petaling Street

Tucked away in a little corner of Petaling Street, known as Madras Street, is a 43 year old Bak Kut Teh joint! Serving what my dad calls the Teo Chew style BKT, which is a ligther version of the Klang BKT, it is GOOD!


I had a stinkin' cold ... and this was just what I needed. Hot BKT! We ordered 2 cuts of meat, Pai Kuat (I preferred this) and 5-Fah-Yoke. Seems the method of eating this style of BKT is to DROWN the rice (which is served plain white style, none of that oiley rice) with soup!


The Chee Cho Keok (Pork Trotters, with lotsa ginger) was nice too. Pity I didn't like the tea, which I think tasted like gunpowder ... Thit-kun-yum?

Restoran Ong Lai (Goh Kee), Jalan Ipoh, KL

Tucked away along Jalan Ipoh .... Restoran Ong Lai ...
The Map, thanks for the recommendation :-)



This is the signature dish ... Fish-head meehoon, but I thought it was only average.


I much preferred the Tapioca Noodles ... slurp slurp! So good, we had to re-order a second helping!


Other dishes were rather good too .... including Stir fried Siew Yoke, Hokkien Noodles (Choh / Rough meehoon), Foo Kwah (Bittergourd), Hor Chien (Oyster Omellette). Washed down with some refreshing Kat Chai (calamansi) juice.



Thanks for the treat, M :-) RM$110 for a banquet!

Allegro - Italian, Subang SS15/4

Close to Taylors College in SS15/4 Subang Jaya .. likes a little cafe called Allegro. Ask for Claudio, the chef! Louise Fon had recommended the place ... and it was rather good.

The pizza quattro-thingamagic was excellent ... but the pasta (Alio Olio somefink) was too HOT!

Alfa Sportswagon @ Subang

Sportswagon? Simply another name for STATION WAGON!
Nevertheless, a rare sight in Malaysia ...

Big Apple Donuts, AEON Mall in Klang

Slurp ... here's ONE Big Apple cafe where one does NOT have to queue ... the one in Bukit Tinggi, Klang's AEON Mall :-)


I like the donuts ... espesh the Peanut Butter, White NZ Cheese and b ones!


Simply get a cuppa coffee (The cappucino is good) and one gets a simple yummy glazed donut for free with it!


The spelling on the inside of the packaging is funny ... I do like the Valentine's box though, despite it being 2 weeks after Valentine's!

Terra Blues - Blue Potato Chips from USA!

Brought an interesting packet of chips back from Kentucky, USA!

Korean Kimchi Instant Noodles

Hmmm, does this constitute home cooking? I think it does! Hot but yummy!

1901 Hotdog ' Food for Friendship '

Mmmh, I love a good hot dog ... RM$6.50 for this yummy 'dog!

Damansara Palace - Chap Goh Mei Dinner

Our Chap Goh Mei celebration at Damansara Palace ... the food was good! Great choice of venue, gals.

Detailed recollection of the names of each dish, and how they actually tasted - click here!

Add: Plot A, Persiaran Surian, Jalan PJU 3/31, PJ.
Tel: +603 7801 5055



Even the pepper-chips were yummy ... I hope the sharks-fin was fake! Oh oh ...


My favourite dish? The prawns! Delicious!!


I miss Tai Yee's Lap Mei Fan in Ipoh ... but this was a rather good 'commercial' alternative!


Heh heh .... everyone loved the dessert!


Our final loh-sang of the year ... My seventh I think, I've lost count!
GONG HEY FATT CHOY!

Damansara Palace - Celebrating Chap Goh Mei !

Our Chap Goh Mei celebrations at Damansara Perdana restaurant ...


What gorgeous Ang Pows!


Hmm, do I spot another BLOGger!? :-)
Click here - Lianne's excellent write-up on our makan!



Gong Xi Fa Cai ... Year of the Rat, 2008!


What's Chap Goh Mei? Here's Wikipedia's description ...
Chap Goh Meh or Tzap Goh Mei (十五暝; pinyin:shí wǔ wěi; lit. "fifteen night") represents the fifteenth and final day of the Lunar New Year period as celebrated by Chinese migrant communities.
The term is from the Hokkien dialect and refers to the fifteenth day of the first month, which is the occasion of the first full moon of the New Year.
The occasion is marked by feasting and various festivities, including the consumption of tangyuan.
In traditional Chinese culture, it is also celebrated as the Lantern Festival or the Shang Yuan Festival. In Southeast Asia, however, it coincides with the Chinese Valentine's Day.
It is also when young unmarried women gather to toss tangerines into the sea, in a hope that their future spouse will pick it up – a custom that originated in Penang, Malaysia.

J&R Damansara Heights

A really fun dinner on the eve of Chap Goh Mei ... at J&R in Damansara Heights. Been a while since I was last there. Food's still good, though service is sometimes 'not' with a smile!


Meat platter after meat platter :-) Dynamite 'hot' sausages were popular, but I preferred the lamb chops. Didn't think much of the siew-yoke.


Oooh ... dessert time! The cheesecake was especially good.


Final damage? RM$400 for all of us. A really good evening ... :-)

Bon Voyage Mia!

A nostalgic meet-up with Audrey, Gavin and Mia at the Shangri-La KL tonight ... it has been nearly 9 years since we last met!


What a great evening :-)


ps - Just returned from the US, really tired ... will update more pix of the US as well as other makan over the next 24 hours ... Nite nitezzz :-)

Herbs n Food in Subang - Cloudy Bay & other wines

Thanks to Uncle Lee Beng, found a new wine shop in Subang ... its actually a chinese medicinal hall, but they have an excellent selection of wines, including Penfolds Grange Shiraz at over RM$1,000 a pop! I chose 2 more modest examples :-)

Cloudy Bay (Marlborough, NZ) - Sauvignon Blanc 2006


d'Arenberg Coppermine Road (Mclaren Vale, Australia) - Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Bee Cheng Hiang, Subang

In the tradition of chinese new year ... one must visit Bee Cheng Hiang or one of the MANY bak-kwa (chee yoke kon / roast pork) places!


These guys now sell something called Gourmet Bakkwa ... sort of like CHINESE BACON. Bloody expensive at nearly 10 ringgit for 100g! It's dammmmmmmn good!

McClient Florist, SS2

Had a great experience with a local florist in SS2 ...
McClient Florist Online Shop

Whilst I was in USA, I ordered a bouquet at 8pm (Equivalent of Malaysia 8am), and five hours later ... voila, they were delivered! Easy to use, friendly website, which accepts credit cards.

I've also been to the shop in SS2 ...

Add: No.20, Jalan SS2/67, PJ

Tel: +603 7876 2966

Email: contact@mcclientflorist.com.my

... and its full of good ideas for gifts, selling small gift tokens, soft toys, as well as beautiful fresh and artificial flowers.

Nasi lemak - The morning after

Had the pleasure of enjoying some scrumptious nasi lemak ala Village Park (Damansara Utama) ta-powed home :-) ... the morning after I arrived home. I had been nasi lemak deprived for a week!

Thai Air : BKK to KL ... Breakfast time

Finally! The last flight on my trip home from the US of A ... Bangkok to KL via Thai Air, Economy/Coach this time. Here's a cheap way to get plenty of legroom, get an Emergency Exit Aisle seat :-) Lucky me, cos' the Airbus was packed!



Breakfast was rather yummy I have to say ...

Mango Tree @ Bangkok Airport - Pad Ka Prao

Couldn't resist having some breakfast even though I only had 20 mins to check-in time :-) Here's my meal (My usual pad kaprao as always! This time it was CHICKEN) at Bangkok Airport ... not as yummy as the PORK VERSION I had at Novotel Bangkok Airport the night before, I have to say!

Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Airport

Wikipedia describes ... Suvarnabhumi Airport (IATA: BKK, ICAO: VTBS), also known as (New) Bangkok International Airport, is the international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand.
After numerous delays and decades of planning, the airport opened for limited service on 15 September 2006, and opened for all commercial flights on 28 September.
The airport is located in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province, about 25 km east of downtown Bangkok.
The name Suvarnabhumi was chosen by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and refers to the golden kingdom hypothesized to have been located somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Designed by Helmut Jahn of Murphy/Jahn Architects, this airport has the :
world's tallest control tower (132.2 m), and the
world's second largest single building and airport terminal (563,000 m²), a little smaller than Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok Airport) (570,000 m²)
and larger than South Korea's Incheon International Airport (496,000 m²).
Suvarnabhumi is one of the busiest airports in Asia and Bangkok's primary airport for all commercial airline flights. The airport inherited the airport code BKK from Don Mueang after the older airport ceased commercial flights.

Ps. Check out the queues at Immigration!


Pps. View from my hotel (Novotel) ...

Stir fried pork with Basil & Chilli ... Pad Kaprao

It was 1am by the time I arrived at my nice hotel room in Novotel Suvarnhabumi (Bangkok Airport) , but I wasn't going to leave Thailand without eating my favourite dish!
Pad Kaprao is Chilli & Basil stir-fried with your choice of meat ... I had minced pork aka 'moo' ... Slurp slurp! So good!!
Room service ... About 280 Thai Baht.



Check out my baggage tag ... 3 flights later, and I still had my bags. Phew!


Wonder why I was chosen for extra security checking at Cincinnati Airport, haha ...

Narita - Bangkok : Another Japanese meal

Here's another yummy Japanese meal I had, this time on the United Narita to Bangkok flight ... greens followed by eel / unagi. Slurp!


Hmm, I wonder how the TRADER VIC's meal would have tasted ...

Chicago - Narita : Good Japanese meal

I like United's service of flight staff (Can't be said about their Cincinnati ground crew, who screwed up my colleague's preferred seating) .. and quality of food. See below for the yummy Japanese meal served on my last long haul flight, from Chicago O'Hare to Narita, Tokyo.

Similar yet different from the last 'big' Japanese meal on United a week ago!

Piece of Chicago Eli Cheesecake, yummy ....

And finally ... time for breakfast just before we landed at Narita. Refreshing!

Yokoso Japan! Narita Airport

From the lounge at Narita ...


The lounge served good simple sushi (beancurd roll) ... and a nice set-up, very relaxing!


I wandered around the shops as I had an hour to kill ...

Japanese Vending Machines @ Narita Airport

Always interesting to see the number of vending machines in Japan ... here's just a few examples from Narita Airport!


120 Yen or RM$3.60 for a bottle of water ... reasonable considering this is Japan I guess!

Quiznos Sub - Chicago O'Hare Airport

My first Black Angus Sub (USD$7.80) at Chicago O'Hare ... It was good. But the Chilli Soup (USD$2.70) was EVEN better, slurrrrp!
Review of my first sub at Quiznos Sub a week ago!

Cincinnati to Chicago

My recollection of my short 1hr 20min flight from Cincinnati to Chicago O'Hare ... Finally, I got a WINDOW SEAT which allowed me to take some pictures!


Found it rather funny, and not very comforting, that the plane I was in was assembled in ...



The plane was so small, many passengers had to unload their hand-carry, back into the cargo hold! Here's a photo of Cincinnati Airport ...


Photos as we were approaching Chicago O'Hare ... Chicago was covered in fluffy snow!

It seems, until recently ... Chicago O'Hare was the world's busiest airport! Check out the QUEUE of planes waiting to take off!

Here is me at the terminal ... I love Chicago O'Hare!

Cincinnati Airport - 'CVG' ... " Florence Y'All "

Wikipedia describes ...

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (IATA: CVG) is located in Hebron, unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, United States and serves the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area.
The first airplane landed at the airport January 10, 1947.
Despite being located in Boone County, the airport operations are governed by the neighboring Kenton County Airport Board.
The airport's code, CVG, comes from the nearest major city at the time of its opening, Covington, Kentucky, although the airport authority likes to say it stands for "Cincinnati Very Good."



What Ju says ... Hey, I'm on my way home!
When... I left at Cincinnati local time = Friday 15th Feb, 11am

Funny...
(1) Had a fun conversation with the limo driver that brought us from Belterra to the airport, a one hour ride. "Florence, Y'all" and "WKRP in Cincinatti" spring to mind :-)



(2) The United Air / Skyways stewardress introduced herself as Angelina Jolie on the short 1 hr 20 mins flight between Cinc-Chicago O'Hare, and the pilots as Brad Pitt and George Clooney!

Cars & Lawnmowers @ The Belterra

Here's me on a John Deere costing USD$1,500 immediately after breakfast, before we checked out of The Belterra ... And another view of the entrance to the Casino!


Couldn't resist shooting 2 more cars whilst I was waiting for our transport to take us to Cincinnati airport ... a Mercedes SLK 350 (Model R171, launched in 2004, and through its new 3.5 L (3498 cc) double overhead cam V6 engine ... displaces 200 kW (272 hp DIN), achieves 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, and has an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph) and another HUGE Escalade!

Time to head back to the land of more modest engines, do I hear 660C and 1.3L? I can't wait!

Breakfast @ The Belterra

Last breakfast at The Belterra ... after a week of 'enjoying' Continental style 'nothing-breakfasts' ... this sure made a change, a FULL hearty UNHEALTHY american breakfast, haha!! USD$10 all-you-can-eat, including tax.



We were packed up and ready to go home!

Aquarium Cafe @ The Belterra

Time to start off with a beer ...


Alongside a 60 foot salt water aquarium with some familiar faces from the sea, including a Puffer Fish, lies Aquarium Cafe. I had an average Prime Rib, and a decent Salad with Asian Dressing.

Ben & Jerrys @ The Belterra

On my last night at The Belterra, I was full up ... but could not resist walking by Ben & Jerrys once again!


USD$2.60 of magic ... My fave of course, STRAWBERRY.

Belterra Resort - Its thawing!

Just as I was packing up to leave Belterra and the US , it started thawing ... Awwww!

Kentucky Speedway - Icey!

As I was waiting for my transport back to my resort , I took a couple of piccies of the flora at Kentucky Speedway !



The road back to the Belterra ... Takes only 10 mins from the resort, but it seems on Raceday, the queues on the road mean that the journey takes THREE HOURS!

Kentucky Speedway

Today's my last full day at Belterra ... as the conference finished in the afternoon, I made a special visit by myself to the Kentucky Speedway! Took a free ride via the security van (!) of the casino, and got dropped off there for a 1 hour walkabout! Mad, eh :-)


Statue of local hero and NASCAR Daytona 500 winner, Darrell Waltrip ... "As he moved into the Cup level in the 1970s, his aggressive driving and outspoken style earned him the nickname Jaws ..."


At the Kentucky Speedway gift shop /ticket office ...


Its really quite stunning ... imagine 70,000 fans on race day!


More shots ...



I went for a walk-about ... the gift shop isn't really big, but there's plenty of stuff for the race fan!


OK, goodbye :-) I am so glad I managed to visit despite the tight shedule, transport difficulties AND weather!


So, what does Wikipedia describe about this location ...


Kentucky Speedway is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) motor speedway located in north-central Kentucky, near the community of Sparta, Kentucky; approximately halfway between Louisville, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio, and is additionally 70 miles (113 km) from another fairly sizable market, Lexington, Kentucky.
The track was designed to host a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and has hosted NASCAR Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series races, as well as IRL IndyCar Series and IndyPro Series races. However, NASCAR officials have refused any discussion of a Sprint Cup Series race being moved there.

Cars are BIG in America!

I keep seeing bigger and bigger 'cars'!


The Cadillac Escalade is a full-size luxury sport utility vehicle sold by the General Motors luxury brand, Cadillac. It was the division's first major entry into the popular SUV market. The Escalade was introduced for the 1999 model year in response to German and Japanese competitors and to Ford's 1998 release of the Lincoln Navigator.
The Escalade project went into production only 10 months after it was approved. The standard Escalade is built in Arlington, Texas. The name Escalade refers to a siege warfare tactic of scaling defensive walls or ramparts with the aid of ladders or siege towers.
Both the Escalade ESV (Based on the Chevrolet Suburban) and Escalade EXT (based on the Avalanche pickup truck) were made in Silao, Mexico before the 2006 redesign; the new Escalade ESV is sourced from Arlington, Texas.


The Chevrolet Avalanche is a four-door, six-seat pickup truck with a somewhat SUV-like flavor, known as a "sport utility truck". Avalanche is based on the full-size long-wheelbase General Motors SUVs (such as the Chevrolet Suburban), and itself forms the basis of the upscale Cadillac Escalade EXT. On Chevrolet's website, the Avalanche is listed as an SUV or a pickup. Avalanche features four full-size hinged doors with seating for 5 or 6. The open bed in the back can be extended into the back seat area by folding down the rear wall (or 'midgate' as GM markertes call it) of the cabin and removing the rear window. A series of three removable panels provides a watertight top for the cargo bed.


The Chevrolet Silverado (along with its GMC counterpart, the GMC Sierra), is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.
As of 2006, the Silverado pickup is the 2nd largest volume vehicle in the United States, behind the Ford F-Series pickup truck.
Combined with platform-mate GMC Sierra, the platform usually outsells the Ford F-Series, which is actually made of two different platforms for standard and heavy duty models, not counting SUV derivatives such as Suburban, Tahoe, Escalade, or Yukon.
For the first half of 2007, 310,896 Silverados were sold in the U.S., compared with 355,438 Ford F-Series. With 99,293 GMC Sierras also sold in the same period.

And yes ... Hmm, there are still 'mid-sized' cars in America... haha!

Still icey at the Belterra

Can't wait to get home to the warm weather ...


I was bored whilst waiting for my free transport to the Speedway :-)

Carrollton to Belterra

The journey back from Carrollton to Belterra Casino ...

Toyota Prius - Hybrid car!

You get all sorts in America ... the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Prius happens to be The Good! As spotted in Carrollton ...

Wikipedia ...

The Toyota Prius is a hybrid electric automobile developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation.

The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, making it the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. It was subsequently introduced worldwide in 2001.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the 2008 Prius is the most fuel efficient car sold in the U.S.

According to the UK Department for Transport, the Prius is tied with the diesel MINI Cooper D as the second least CO2-emitting vehicle behind the Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDI.
The Prius has won several awards from magazines, engineering groups, and consumer groups.

Factory visit - Carrollton

The road to Carrollton, Kentucky ...


We arrived!


Farewell ...


ps. I love the green hard hat!

14th February 2008

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

A day to celebrate love, not just amongst husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends ... but think of it as a day we re-celebrate our love for our families and friends :-)

Cheers from Indianapolis!
Jules

------------------------------------------------------

A bit of research from Wikipedia indicates that ...

Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14.
In North America, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

HISTORY
Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.
Until 1969, the Catholic Church formally recognized eleven Valentine's Days. The Valentines honored on February 14 are:
Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae): a priest in Rome who suffered martyrdom about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome. and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.
Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae): He became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been killed during the persecution of Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).

AND, there is even an entry on AntiValentism ...

Valentine’s Day has been dubbed as a “Hallmark holiday” because of the millions of valentines exchanged each Valentines Day and a large portion of these cards that are purchased are Hallmark cards. Many companies and businesses make large profits from selling massive amounts of cards, flowers, chocolates, candies, stuffed animals etc. Many people believe this takes away from the values, significance and meaning of Valentines Day.

Ice in the car park!

Same view of ice and snow once again at the front parking lots ...


This is me PRETENDING to smile , cos' I had really wanted to go to the Kentucky Speedway!

Nothing runs like a Deere ...

Spotted at the Casino ... these were some of the prizes on offer!

Buffet lunch @ Belterra Resort

A small selection from the buffet lunch here at the Resort today ...

It was cold!

I guess Speedway was called off , cos the weather was this way ...

To Speedway or not to Speedway ... that is the question

Yay ... I thought we were gonna go to the Speedway!


AWWwww alas ... the weather was just too bad ... cold and icey!


Here's the consolation 'prize' ... haha, a toy die-cast car!

-----------------

Extra note!

CertainTeed to Sponsor No. 66 Chevrolet in the Sharpie 500

CertainTeed to be Primary Sponsor of Jeff Green and the Haas CNC #66 Chevrolet for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway

CertainTeed Corporation, one of North America’s leading building products manufacturers, is pleased to announce a one-race, primary sponsorship of the Haas CNC Racing #66 Chevrolet and driver Jeff Green for the August 26 Sharpie 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at the Bristol Motor Speedway.

The 2006 race marks the second consecutive year CertainTeed has been the primary sponsor for the Haas CNC Racing entry at the Sharpie 500. Last year the Haas CNC car sponsored by CertainTeed, and driven by Mike Bliss, finished seventh, the team’s best finish of the season.
Peter Dachowski, President and CEO of CertainTeed Corporation, says the company is again looking forward to increasing the visibility of its brand through racing. “We are thrilled to be part of one of the largest spectator sports in America. This primary sponsorship is an exciting way to showcase the CertainTeed brand to the millions of fans, including our customers, who will be watching and attending,” he says.

As a primary one-race sponsor CertainTeed will be prominently featured in a special paint scheme on the car that has been designed exclusively for the event. Green will also wear a CertainTeed-branded fire suit. “This is one of the highest television-rated races of the season and one of the hardest tickets to obtain,” says Dachowski. “The excitement generated by this event and our participation in it will provide a tremendous boost to our brand visibility.”

The company’s logo will also be featured on all Haas CNC racing uniforms, merchandise, pit row equipment and the car hauler. In addition, Green will appear and sign autographs at the CertainTeed pre-race hospitality event at the track Saturday afternoon.

CertainTeed sister companies, BPB – North America and Norton Abrasives, are also taking advantage of the highly touted race. The BPB logo will appear on the lower rear quarter of the #66 Chevrolet, while the Norton Abrasives logo will be showcased on the deck lid.

BPB, which was recently acquired by Saint-Gobain, is the world leader in gypsum wallboard and a leading supplier of ceiling tiles and finishing products. Norton Abrasives is the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of performance abrasives. Saint-Gobain of Paris, France, is the parent company of all three companies.

Cold morning!

Due to go to the Nascar-KENTUCKY speedway today ... and its cold.
"Feels" like -14 c it says ... oh oh!

Belterra - Snow snow ... everywhere!

Woke up this morning to see that the landscape had changed to purely white ...




A quick check on the weather ...




The car park was also covered in white!

The Great Steak & Potato Company, Florence Mall

Here's my lunch today, a Philly Cheesesteak from The Great Steak & Potato Company, in Florence Mall. Cost just shy of USD$7 before taxes. It wasn't spectacular!



David's Japanese teriyaki meal ... Cost USD$7 as well.

Florence Mall, Kentucky

Florence Mall

Add: 2028 Florence Mall

Florence, Kentucky 41042-1443

Tel: +1 859 371 1231

Hopped onto the mini-van to head out the local mall, Florence Mall, located some 1 hour away from Belterra Resort. Its actually across the state border in Kentucky. Would have cost USD$120 for the ride, if not for our company sponsoring it :-) Nice!

America has everything ... even a shop devoted to caps!

On the way to the mall ...

Crown Taxi sent a Ford mini van to drive us to Florence ... approx. 50 mins away from Belterra. It was a frosty, windy day ... but no signs of snow. Yet!

Corvette Z 06 - 500 BHP and more!

Spotted here at the hotel!

Check out the owner's registration ... " C6 4 ME " Wicked!

\

Wikipedia describes this American muscle car ...
The new Corvette Z06 arrived as a 2006 model in the third quarter of 2005.
It has a 7.0 L (7,008 cc/427.6 in³) version of the Small-Block engine codenamed LS7.the Z06 achieves 16/26 mpg (city/highway), output is 505 hp (376 kW).
Dave Hill, the chief engineer for the C6 Corvette, says that it is a much further departure from the standard Corvettes and more like the C6-R that GM is building for the American Le Mans Series.
Its performance is similar to the Ford GT and the Dodge Viper SRT-10. Official performance figures indicate that the Z06 can reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in just 3.7 seconds from a standing start in first gear.
In the summer of 2005, GM and Corvette Racing driver Jan Magnussen brought the new Z06 to the Nürburgring in Germany. Magnussen drove the Z06 to a time of 7:42.99, few cars have posted faster times. Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds in their March 2007 comparison test.
In addition to the larger engine, the Corvette Z06 has a dry sump oiling system, something typically found only on race cars. Connecting rods made out of titanium further lighten the reciprocating mass of the engine while making them stronger than the steel rods they replace. Altogether, the Z06 model not only produces more power, it revs faster and higher than any other Chevrolet LS-motor.
In a radical departure from anything Chevrolet has ever done before, the primary structural element of the sixth-generation Z06 is aluminum instead of steel as on the non-Z06 cars. The hydroformed aluminum frame remains dimensionally identical to its steel brethren but is significantly lighter. The front fenders are made of carbon fiber to reduce weight, while wider rear fenders allow for the wider tires necessary to deal with the engine's increased power.
The Z06 officially weighs 3132 lb (1421 kg), giving it a power to weight ratio of 6.2 lb/hp (3.8 kg/kW).
The Corvette Z06 is the first 500+ hp production car to avoid the U.S. Energy Tax Act.

Belterra Resort - Its cold here!

Braved the morning -12 c cold to take these pics of my hotel ...

Belterra Resort - The views

Here are some views from my room at different times of the day ...


At sunrise this morning ... and in the evening when the snow started falling ...


The golf course at sun-rise, morning, and late in the evening when the snow started coming down ...


My room card ...

Travel Adaptor - Swiss

Was useful in Bangkok ... and extremely useful in the States!
Converts any plug to any socket, rock on :-) RM$83 from KLIA.

Jeff Ruby Steakhouse, Belterra Casino

Add: 777 Belterra Drive, Belterra Casino Resort and Spa, Belterra, Indiana.
Tel: +1 888 235 8377

I was absolutely knackered from the journey, and just wanted to have a quick meal. I was glad that the staff at Jeff Ruby's were courteous and promptly sat us down.

The bread and butter combo was excellent, but I found the French Onion soup a little on the salty side. Nevertheless, it have a quick dinner at the hotel ... Chose Jeff Ruby as I felt like a steak, and it was a rather posh establishment (opulent furniture, lighting and ambience ... Desribed as 'Culinary Entertainment!'), most of the gentlemen dining were in dinner suits, oh oh. Never mind, the experience was still delicious!
What was poor was the Newcastle Brown Ale, which seemed weak and flavourless :-( Similar experience for my colleague who had a bottle of The Black Stuff aka Guiness!



As it was our first visit to Jeff Ruby's ... Matt, our very helpful waiter, informed us that their steaks were dry-aged (Supposed to increase the flavour ... sure did! Slurp!) and they really turn up the temperature to char the exterior of the meat, whilst leaving a juicy / red inside! He recommended the Fillet Mignon on the bone Medium-Rare USD$55 ... and I went for it! It was my first time ever, as my usual choice would have been Medium! Suzanne, you are right ... a great steak should be enjoyed close to rare!.



Total price of the meal for the 4 of us ... USD$200.



Further research on a Cincinatti blogger's site exposed the following ... "in 2007, Zagat rated Jeff Ruby's better than the top steak houses in New York-- including Peter Luger, Del Frisco and Sparks. Pretty impressive."

Belterra Casino Resort & Spa, Indianapolis

Sunday, 10th February ... Finally, at 6pm, I arrived at Cincinnati ...

I was promptly whisked away to the Belterra Casino Resort & Spa :-)

I liked that I was greeted by Ben & Jerry's and Starbucks as I entered the resort, haha!

Here's a recap of the journey ... (All times local to where-ever I was!)
1) Saturday 5pm - KL to Sentral
2) Saturday 6pm - KL Express train from Sentral to KLIA
3) Saturday 9pm - Flight No. 1 ... KL to Bangkok (2 hours)
4) Saturday 10.30pm - Stayed over at Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport Novotel
5) Sunday 4am - Woke up, checked in at Bangkok Airport
6) Sunday 6.40am - Flight No. 2 ... Bangkok to Narita, Japan (6 hours)
7) Sunday 1pm - Quick transit, then it was Flight No. 3 ... Narita to Chicago O'Hare, USA (13 hours)
8) Sunday 1pm - Time difference is a weird thing! Arrived at round about the same time I left Japan! Long transit ... 4 hours at O'Hare
9) Sunday 4pm - Departed on Flight No. 4 ... Chicago O'Hare to Cincinatti!
10) Sunday 6pm - Frank the transfer driver picked us up from Cincinatti airport ... Had all our luggage (PHEW!) and was feeling really lost, zonked and tired!
11) Sunday 7pm - Arrived at Belterra!

Note that when I arrived at Belterra in Indianapolis, USA ... it was the equivalent of Monday 8am Malaysia time ... As I had departed Saturday 5pm from home in Klang, Malaysia, and arrived Monday 8am ... It took me 39 hours to get to my final destination!

SaniSeat Toilet by Scrub, Chicago O'Hare

Duh ... what's this at O'Hare airport's toilets?

Check out the magic!

BMW 328Xi Coupe ... Chicago O'Hare

BMW 328Xi with 'all weather drive' xDrive and a 3 litre in-line 6 cylinder engine, on a Ci / Coupe model! Retails for USD$37k, spotted outside O'Hare in Chicago.

ps - Chris C and John T, eat your hearts out!

Quiznos Sub, Chicago O'Hare airport

This was quite a yummy sandwich / submarine ... USD$10 and a few cents for a large bottle of water and a 12 inch sub ... Honey Mustard Chicken was my choice. Jaleno peppers (the yellow un's!) were really hot ... sort of like wasabi, it travels up your nose! Haha :-)
Getting used to paying 6% of tax on top of what-ever I am buying!



Wikipedia ...
Quiznos Sub is a fast-food sandwich franchise that specializes in toasted submarine sandwiches.
As of 2005, it is the second-largest submarine sandwich shop chain in North America, passing the older and slower-growing Blimpie, though still a fraction of the size of Subway.
There are over 5,000 shops located in the United States, over 300 in Canada, and 100 more scattered in 20 other countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Aruba, Cayman Islands, Japan, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Turkey, El Salvador, Guam and Panama.
In 2002, Wendy's Supa Sundaes acquired the rights to the brand for franchises in Australia (and later, New Zealand) but were unsuccessful in launching the chain in either country. Quiznos no longer operates in either country.
All of Quiznos' sandwiches are served toasted, although they will be served untoasted at the customer's request. The best selling subs are the Classic Italian, the Mesquite Chicken with Bacon, the Prime Rib Cheesesteak, the Chicken Carbonara, and the Turkey, Ranch and Swiss sub.
While Quiznos did not originate the toasted sub, their rapid success is thought to have led to other chains following suit. Subway began offering toasted subs in 2004; Boston Market began toasting their sandwiches in 2005, and Blimpie began offering toasted subs in 2006.

Chicago O'Hare airport

Sunday, 10th February 2008

Touched down at O'Hare in Chicago, USA ... en route to Cincinatti.


Icey ... snowy ... outside! Thank goodness I was inside the airport, it was -20c , along with gusty 20mph winds outside.


Ah, Eli's Cheesecake. The same as the one served on the flight.


Other sights ...


Here is me trying to get a free connection at the Red Carpet Lounge ... no free internet despite ALL these hot-spots!


Four hours of sitting around and walking about ...

I remember being here, years ago ... and nostalgic to see somethings hadn't changed! This is my walk towards Gate C, to catch the last flight of my long journey to Indianapolis!

One last shot from the Red Carpet Lounge ... Have to say that the lounges in the domestic terminals of the States are really humble compared to other lounges in Asia! There wasn't even any cooked/hot food ... bah!

Bangkok - Narita : The meals

I was so impressed by United's menu on this flight (I had never seen such a detailed description of a dish with so many items on a flight menu!), that I had to choose the Washoku zen Selection.

And that was only the starter ... time for the mains!


Yummy Eli Cheesecake for afters!


Then I went to bed for some hours ... and we were nearly there!


And ... it was time for breakfast.
A delicious mushroom omelette with a perfect rasher of Canadian bacon at the side.

And some yummy fruit to go alongside too ...

Bangkok - Narita : The flight

United Airlines UA884 was very comfortable ...


In the event of an emergency, one can ALWAYS use the USD$5 / minute Satellite Phone. It rocks! WINK!

Narita - Chicago : Time to board the plane!

After travelling 6 hours, from Bangkok to Narita, Japan ... it was time to get on the 'big' leg of our journey to the States ... Narita to Chicago, flight time 13 hours. Yawwwwn... tired!

Novotel Suvarnabhumi - Bangkok Airport

The first leg of my long journey to the US of A ... KL - Bangkok, and stopped over for a night (more like 4 hour's sleep!) at the new Bangkok Airport hotel ... it was nice. Very posh!

I especially liked the 'Conrad-style' bathroom connected to bedroom via blinds.


I couldn't resist taking a couple of pix of the lobby area, from the vantage point of a 3rd floor internal corridor/balconey ... posh eh. Very roman with the marble and grandeur, and yet it manages to be very modern!


Here's a view out my room window ... just before I zzzzzzzz'ed off, alarm clock set for 04:15 am ! Then it was time to catch my flight to Narita, Japan!

KL - Bangkok : The first of many flights

My journey to the US of A begins .... Saved a wad of cash (despite having to stay at BKK Airport's Novotel twice!) by flying via BKK instead of directly out of KL :-)

Food Review time! This was the first of many airplane dinners I would have in the next week, here's a black pepper beef meal with (as always on planes!) over-cooked rice, as well as a non-descript vege-egg dish on the left of the 2nd photo! I do think THAI air serves some of the best Y-class/coach-class food.

Gong Hey Fatt Choy - 'Open Table' at Rich's

CNY gathering on the night of Day Two at Richards' ...


Richard opened a bottle of The Macallan, aged 18 years ... nice!


Joy prepared the supper and dessert ... Delicious Kangkung Sotong / Siew-Yoke, and a fabulously light Cheesecake.


Out in the garden ...

Basil / Thai Nudle Bar @ Bangsar Village I

Basil / Thai Nudle Bar is located at Bangsar Village (old wing
Add: G 10 , Ground Floor , Bangsar Village , 1 Jalan Telawi Satu, Bangsar Baru.
Tel: +603 2287 8708

Pad Thai (RM$13), Pineapple and Prawn Fried Rice (RM$13), Kuay teow with Dry sauce (RM$13), Otak-otak (RM$14), Basi Leaf Beef (RM$13)


Other items included water (RM$0.50) and water melong juice (RM$7). Total bill for the 3 of us, was just shy of RM$85.

iPhone - Nice skin!

Delifrance - Pastries for breakfast

Some pastries for breakfast on the morning of CNY Day Two ... not easy to find any good eateries open on CNY! Was pleasantly surprised to be given a 'Kum' (Tangerine) when we walked through the door of AEON Bukit Tinggi Mall in Klang!

Here's the breakfast at Delifrance, Ground Floor of AEON Mall.

Yee Sang ... Loh Hei ... Loh Sang ... best ever!

Aunt J makes the BEST ever Loh Sang ... This was my 6th for this CNY, and it turned out to be the best yet!

Ah ... the true 'spirit' of celebrating CNY! Blackjack!


Some rather yummy drinks ...
Of special note ... Arran Single Malt is a Single Malt Scotch whisky distilled by the Arran Distillery, Lochranza, Scotland, the only distillery on the Isle of Arran. Arran Distillery was founded in 1995 and is the first legal distillery built on the Isle of Arran in over 150 years. The water for the malt is from Loch na Davie.
The distillery of the Isle of Arran was founded by Harold Currie, former director of Chivas. The spirit produced in the distillery has officially been called "whisky" since the summer of 1998. To celebrate this event, a limited bottling has been released, to restore an ancient tradition. There used to be about fifty distilleries on the island, but most of them were "moonlight" or illegal distilleries.



Chien, cheers bro ...

Audi Q7 ... Bangsar

I was walking into BV1 on Day Two of CNY, and this caught my eye ... the first Audi Q7 I had seen on our soils. Surprise surprise, it was a Singapore registered unit!



Wikipedia ...
The Audi Q7 is a full-size luxury SUV produced by German automaker Audi since 2006.
It was designed with the help of engineers such as Jack Malde and McHewgor.
The Q denotes a new family of vehicles for Audi, designated the 7 in its placement between the Audi A6 and Audi A8. It is also considered the first true SUV of Audi, since the existing Allroad is only a derivative of A6 Avant, and thus lacks the shape of a conventional SUV.
The Q7 utilizes a modified version of the Volkswagen 7L platform. Based on the Audi Pikes Peak Quattro concept car, the Q7 is designed more for on-road use and was not meant for serious off-road use where a transfer case is needed, but in an offroad test through the Australian Out-Back it fared remarkably well for a luxury "soft roader". Although it lacks a low-range transfer case, it has a central differential lock and an adjustable-height air suspension which helps in offroad situations. The production model was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006.
Audi South-Africa runs a very tough offroad course with the Q7 where it actually proves itself a better off-roader than most would give it credit for.

The Social ... A bar @ Bangsar

Add: 57-59, jalan telawi 3, bangsar baru,kuala lumpur
Tel : +603 2822 2260


Cheers, bro!

Gong Hey Fatt Choy, Rufus!

Day Two ... Pai Nien time :-) with Rufus and family.

Rufus loves me ... maybe cos' I am wearing his favourite colour!

Gong Hey Fatt Choy @ Teck Chien's

Late nite pai nien at Chien's :-)

Chinese New Year - Game on!

Blackjack time :-)

Here are the poochies ... Fatt Choy, Bluffy and Jack!

Gong Hey Fatt Choy!

Best wishes for a safe and prosperous Chinese New Year ...

Gong Xi Fa Cai .. Gong Het Fatt Choy to all of you!

Chinese New Year - Day One

Day One of CNY has arrived !!

Pai Nien at my family home ... Coco was all beautiful :-)


The traditional Si Family Clan NASI LEMAK lunch :-) on Day One of course ...


Ah hah ... I set up the Tripod for this precious shot :-)


Gong Hey Fatt Choy Uncle Meng, Aunt Yoke Mooi, Sam Yee Poh and family!


Next was a visit to the local Port Klang temple ...


My family visiting my home for CNY ...

Chinese New Year - Reunion Dinner

My family reunion dinner 'Tuan Nien' on the eve of this year's Chinese New Year :-)
Shah Alam


Hmmm, making up for a short Chinese New Year ... I am loh-sanging practically daily!!
1) Cheow Yang in PJ
2) Royal Yacht Club, Port Klang
3) Ming Room, Bangsar Shopping Centre
4) Hiong Kong Soup Restaurant, Kepong
5) At my family home!


Great time, thanks mum!


Cheers everyone ... here's the Si Family clan !!

Sam Mei Bak Kut Teh @ Pandamaran

Last BKT before the Chinese New Year ... Prepare for a 20-30 minute wait, and then the food would arrive quickly in under 5 minutes! Previous review

Gong Hey Fatt Choy from my dive gang!

Venue: Hiong Kong Soup Restaurant at Kepong
Group: My dive kaki!

It is that special time of the year .... Time to Loh Hei !! Yee Sang time :-)


That's the very nice propietor of the restaurant ... funny guy!


The kaki ...


Hey, Ah Siang!


Time to loh loh loh!!


Lots of special good wishes ... both diving and non-diving related!!


GONG HEY FATT CHOY everyone!!

Hiong Kong Soup House Restaurant ... Loh Hei with dive gang!

Add: 5 Jalan Wangsa 3/7, Taman Wangsa Permai, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +6013 388 5000
May organised this Chinese New year meal for the dive gang ... and boy was it special. Great food, hard-to-find location, and super company meant it was a boisterous and fun evening, the guys arrived at 19:30 and it was 23:15 by the time we left!

The Shark Bone soup was outstanding .... deeeeep flavours, incredible!


Then came the 3-selection starter ... Fried ham fritter, Minced Pork and Lotus.


The prawns were very tasty in the thick soya sauce, but not the freshest quality ...


The steamed fish was of a very high quality, with beautiful superior soya sauce.
Seems the sides of the fish , near the fins , was good for the complexion ... and the whiskers for ... VIRILITY!? That's according to the Captain dude anyway!


Big Bowl Dish! Interesting HEAVY dish ... triple dish of Duck + Pork + Chicken!


I loved this ... So did Ah Siang, "I don't eat brinjal, but I am eating this brinjal!"
Deep fried sotong / squid, with Brinjal 'french fries'!


Stir fried spinach ...


Dessert of chinese pancake was a little too rich ... and the Red Bean to accompany it had too much orange peel.


RM $298 for the seven of us ... a bargain!


Ps. The Loh Sang was also included in the meal ... it will be featured on the next blog!

WB1 spotted ... What an old car!

WB1 , nice!
Caught outside SS2, on the way to the LDP ...

Chinese New Year lanterns at SS2

Gong Hey Fatt Choy from SS2 in PJ :-)