Steve Jobs - You shall be missed

Apple devices have been intertwined with my life for many years now :-) Here are some fond memories ... I have my dad, SW, YH, and BT to thank for this obsession with Apple products!

1980 - Apple II Plus, my dad got us our first home computer, which I later found out to be a "compatible" model :-)

Then came ... 1987 - Macintosh SE, what I felt was one of the first iconic designs of Steve Jobs! I think this one SW and myself got from some Singapore Uni garage sale, for like 50 SGD!

Same bro .. SW, asked me to get the Apple MessagePad 120, I think this was launched in 1996, but we may have got a used one some years later! Handwriting recognition was putzzz, but for a Mac-diehard, we just had to get one!

In my uni days in Manchester, I used a Power Macintosh Performa 6200 (PowerPC 603 processor, circa 1995) ... and some time between 1998 - 2000, I got myself the really cool looking iMac DV (Thanks, BT!) in Malaysia.

Music devices? I still have the iPod Mini which was purchased in Singapore circa 2004-2005 (Never ever got an original uber-cool white iPod 1st generation though), and later on my ex-boss gave me an iPod Nano back in Christmas 2007, which I use to this day!

And most recently in 2010 ... Me and bbG got our current Apple devices, oops tools ... My MacBook Pro 13 (Which I fondly call, "Al"), and bbG's very-used iPad (1st generation).

Steve Jobs on the National, the local paper here in the UAE ... 25th August 2011. You shall bemissed, you are a visionary, an inspiration and a genius.

The journey is the reward ... "We used to dream about this stuff. Now, we get to build it. It's pretty neat."

Update: 6th October 2011

Six weeks after the above post ... The world, and I, said goodbye to Steve.

All I can say is ... Thank you.

Top1 Chicken Rice, Klang - The best chicken rice in our books!

Chicken Rice Shoot-out ... The 4th and FINAL Contender
We have found ... The champ!

Add: Jalan Gelugor / Jalan Meru, Klang city centre
Warning! You will have to brave the infamous Klang road-work jams till end-09
Located: Oppsite Maybank and Chi Liung Plaza (Now, CIMB and LHDN)
Tel: Tan Kia Lok @ +6016 284 6962

View of shops opposite this road-side eatery...

What makes food special? It creates a desire to want, a warm fuzzy feeling, and the sensation of "I want to eat this" when one wakes up in the morning! Top1 chicken rice satisfies all of the above, and this makes it ... our favourite chicken rice in town!

Perfectly steamed chicken, the right blend of HOT bentong ginger and milder 'normal' ginger, delightful soya sauce, superb soup, incredible rice (Have it the normal way, or if Tan Kia Lok is not so busy he would roll you some chicken rice balls if you asked nicely!) ... and the best customer service experience ... this is incredible stuff!

Art of Mee Pok / Bak Chor Mee - Jalan Tua Kong Lau Lim, Singapore

Add: Jalan Tua Kong Lau Lim @ 308 Bedok Road, Singapore 469469

BRILLIANT! I like springy, tasty and flavoursome Mee Pok ;-) aka Bak Chor Mee ... What a good start to the day!


SGD$3 portion sans shrimps on left, and SGD$4 portion on right (note the two fresh little shrimps!)







History: "The story behind the jln tua kong bakchor mee wars"
Source: Singapore Uber-Flogger iEatiShootiPost
Mantra: Never waste your calories on yucky food
Author: Sumosumo

In the 80s, 132 used to be opposite siglap centre. 132 is the original one. this guy used to sell by the hundreds. very popular with east coast residents. then he moved to JTK.
In the 90s, this old man wanted to retire, but noone to handover his business to. So he taught his so-called godson, who was his helper, and handed the reins over, for some kind of royalty. so the JTK bakchormee continued to do well, with this young man at the reins.
The corner coffeshop one beside siglap centre was set up as a copycat.then the old man came out of retirement, and started his current stall, 132. there was a dispute as they became business rivals. so the protege at jtk got fed up and moved to simpang bedok.
when he vacated, the owner of the coffeeshop rode on the vacuum left behind and took over the stall left behind at Jalan Tua Kong.
And thats the story behind so many bcm stalls in the east.





Bro Sumo asked for extra helping of crunchies aka lard / chee yau char ... Hey, it works!




Bro Sumo chose an interesting can of "pop" to wash down the meal, I noticed he had some salt added in too. PH Sales and Marketing (Singapore) is the distributor of Heng Sheng's (HSC) Oldenlandia Sparkling Water. Described as a traditional drink made from Chinese herbal extracts known for their cooling properties and detoxicating effects, HSC Oldenlandia Water is bottled and canned for easy consumption.

Soup, Chicken, Cucumber, Beans, Tofu and Rice for the soul

Nothing quite like home cooking ;-) Bliss!


“A Jewish woman had 2 chickens. One got sick, so the woman made chicken soup out of the other one to help the sick one get well.” - Henry Youngman

“Marlin: ... and the sea cucumber turns to the mollusk and says, "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?” - Finding Nemo

“Have a mouth as sharp as a dagger, but a heart as soft as tofu” - Chinese proverb

Want some Political marketing and Consulting services?

Remember my write-up on Bitung's (Sulawesi, Indonesia) elections a few weeks back, when I was on my Manado dive trip ? Some"one" left this comment..

Legislative elections in Bitung, Manado - Sulawesi
I offer My services for Political Marketing and Consulting. i Guarantee for success in election for a party or a person. Political Consulting must be started at least two years before election to get good results. if you are a party leader or a Political personality and or a association, and if you want to get political consultation just contact me and i will do the rest. just email me with full requirement and contact details to aftab@insert_name_of_some_dodgy_website_here.com

A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electroal campaigns, wherein representatives are chosen or refernda are decided. Political campaigns also include organized efforts to alter policy within any instituation or organization.Marketing activities designed to influence about political issues, particular candidates for public office, or public issues and mind set of general public, politically called voters.

Although political marketing uses many of the same techniques that other forms of marketing do, it is actually used to promote a concept or an idea, rather than a specific product or service, and to motivate people to vote for that idea.

Publish Reject (aftab) 3/31/09

Only one place for "comments" such as these ... DELETE!

Heng Kee Bak Kut Teh, PJ Old Town - Dinner, anyone?

Add: Jalan 1/10, PJ
Tel: +603 7785 1663
Opening hours: 5:30pm - 12:00am (closed on Mondays)
GPS Coordinates: 3.085387, 101.646935 (Unconfirmed, I don't have a unit!)

This is the 20+ year old Heng Kee, located in PJ's Old Town. My first visit here!


Interesting BKT joint, where you can order accompanying side-dishes eg. Kam Chum Koo (Straw mushrooms, much like Enoki), veges, mushrooms, yau char kuay, Tau foo Pok etc.


Light broth served with side-helping of Tau Foo Pok :-)


Thick broth with large high-quality chinese mushrooms ...


Nice stir fried "Poh lay sang choy" ... Large portion.


Pai kuat and Yuen kuat - Our choice for the night. Good quality porky stuff, but alas I am a Klang boy at heart... I prefer the thicker variety at Sam Mei of Pandamaran, or the more flavoursome Under The Bridge BKT, and certainly I felt this pales in comparison with the Original Teluk Pulai and the very popular Teluk Pulai at Taman Rashna Klang!
But as my friend WL once told me, "Every Klang lad has his favourite stall, don't diss other BKTs!". I agree!


Hmm ... how convenient. The restaurant served an extra bowl of soup, as all the dishes were served :-) Total bill for 2 pax was RM$35, which is decent considering the extras we ordered, i.e. veges, tau foo pok and mushies.


klue.com.my seemed to like this BKT!
Located in one of the oldest parts of the city, this place is charming and vibrant. Brightly lit, spacious and clean, it's flooded with people at dinner time. The soup is a somewhat thin but tasty broth, which they are very generous with. The meat is always tender and infused with just enough herbal aroma. The intestines and stomach, mushrooms and tau pok are pretty good too. Service is prompt and pleasant at most times.

And preciouspea.blogspot.com considers this a perennial family favourite too!
Been eating at this place for the past 20 years and the quality still as good as before. That is why I have been going back for my BKT dosage at least minimum once a month. In fact, it was listed as Top 20 best BKT in Malaysia by one of the Chinese press. While I don't fancy the thick version from Klang, those who prefers the clear version should give this place a try.
... total damage was only RM66 for 6 adults. Can barely walk to the car after such a nice and satisfying meal.

Beware! Fumigation at Bangsar Village (BV2) Carpark

BEWARE! At midnight last night ... this horrid sight of fumigation, with a putrid smell and resulted in my friends struggling to breathe whilst experiencing an eye-watering sensation, greeted us!



Hard to believe this is BV2, yes Bangsar Village II.

(1) Why carry out fumigation when there are still cars parked on the floor?
(2) No signage to warn drivers as they park, nor when we were let into the stairwell by the guard
(3) The guards and car park attendants didn't even wear masks to protect themselves, and were just going about their motions in that cloud of gas!

Truly... dissapointing!


UPDATE 15th Jan 2009
I wrote to the BV customer service team, and LJK promptly replied, and apologised profusely. Seems there was a breakdown in communication, which led to this. Lets hope it never happens again!

DucKing at Jaya One is a fraud!?

Add: DucKing @ 8-G Block M, Jaya One No.72-A Jalan Universiti , PJ
Tel: +603 7957 9819

Hmm! Shock, horror! After enjoying the duck (and fish!) at this restaurant in Jaya One, at both Whye Mun's farewell meal and my first visit to this restaurant with my family .... I found out from a local online forum and the local dailies that it may be a fraud!

Hmm ... but the food is good :-)

WARNING NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that PT. Makmur Utama Bersama, a company incorporated under the laws of Indonesia with a registered office at JI Metro Pondok Indah Blok IV-TA, Pondok Indah Mall 2, Lt.3 No 340-341, Kebayoran Lama, Jakarta Selatan 12310, Indonesia, is the owner and proprietor of the above trademark and also the copyright which subsists therein.
Restaurants bearing the above trade mark are a well known restaurant in Indonesia. The above trade mark has been registered in Indonesia under Reg. No. IDM000010663 and Singapore (series of 2 marks) under Reg No T07.20173A. PT Makrmur Utama Bersama has also filed an application of the same mark in Malaysia under Application No. 08003300.
TAKE NOTICE that it is wrongful to use the above trade mark without the consent of PT. Makmur Utama Bersama. PT. Makmur Utama Bersama has never consented and/or allowed any parties in Malaysia to use the above trade mark in respect of the aforesaid services. Further, PT. Makmur Utama Bersama has never set up any restaurants bearing the above trade mark in Malaysia.

Any person of firm or company, without permission of PT Makrmur Utama Bersama reproduces or uses the above trade mark without the permission or consent of PT. Makmur Utama Bersama is infringing their rights.
PT. Makmur Utama Bersama shall take steps to protect their rights in the above trade mark and will not hesitate to take legal action against any person, firm or company that infringes their rights including, among others, injunction, claim for damages including aggravated damages and accounts or profit.

Kung Fu Panda (2008) : Prepare for awesomeness!

Source: DVD (Kota Damansara) - English version
It has been out since June '08, and I finally got to enjoy Kung Fu Panda this week ... MAGNIFICENT!


A superb voice-over crew that includes ...
Jack Black ... Po (voice)
Dustin Hoffman ... Shifu (voice)
Angelina Jolie ... Tigress (voice)
Ian McShane ... Tai Lung (voice)
Jackie Chan ... Monkey (voice)
Seth Rogen ... Mantis (voice)
Lucy Liu ... Viper (voice)
David Cross ... Crane (voice)
Randall Duk Kim ... Oogway (voice)
James Hong ... Mr. Ping (voice)



I had always enjoyed Pixar style animated movies such as Toy Story, Incredibles and especially Monsters Inc, as well as Simpsons The Movie but Kung Fu Panda raises the bar even further. Why?
1) Beautiful storyline
2) Incredible CGI / graphics
3) Credible voice-overs that lend itself to the storyline and characters
4) Fantastic storyline
5) Cheeky one-liners and profound (Yes, profound!) thoughts laced throughout the film!

This is a story about a lazy, average, slacker panda, named Po, who happens to be a huggggge (pun intended!) of Kung Fu, but actually works in the family noodle business (What's the secret ingredient!?).
Po gets thrown into the role of fulfilling an ancient prophecy (Who's the dragon warrior, and what will he learn from the Dragon Scroll?) , and studies Kung Fu from Master Shifu along his idols - The legendary Furious Five - Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey.
Their mission? To defeat the snow leopard Tai Lung !



Just a few of my favourite quotes!!

Po: There is no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness.

Tai Lung: You... you're just a big... fat... panda!
Po: I'm not a big fat panda. I'm *the* big fat panda.

Tigress: One would think that Master Oogway would choose someone who actually knew kung fu.
Crane: Yeah, or could at least touch his toes. Monkey: Or even see his toes.

and my favourite one ...
Oogway: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift.
That is why it is called the present.

Famous custard and yummy Hor Fun at Kong Heng - Thean Chun, Ipoh

Kong Heng and Thean Chun (Never realised it was 'fondly' known as the Hall Of Mirrors) are a pair of legendary kopi-shops in Ipoh, located side by side. There are LOTS of stalls, but noted below are some of our favourite ones.. We just couldn't resist stopping by Ipoh en route to the OTHER eating mecca, Penang!

Add: 73, Jalan Bandar Bijih Timah, Ipoh

Chicken kuey teow soup (RM3.50) - one of the finest, anywhere!
RL ... "Order your own. I am not sharing" ... That about says it all!


Popiah (RM1.70 each)


Chee cheong fun


Fruit rojak


And one musn't leave out the Pork Satay ...


Finally, one of the most legendary of items here ... Caramel Custard (RM2).


Great to meet up with friends there ...