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February 12 New Year Countdown at Explanade Penang (Fort Cornwallis)The New Year Countdown at the Penang Explanade was packed with people. The jam to get there took about 30mins. So if you are interested in joining the next year even, do go early :) Don't park close to the explanade though. For one, it is going to take you even longer to get out of the jam after the event. Also you probably have to pay the illegal parking attendee outrages fees.
 Roundest and Biggest moon in 52 yearsFeb 9 2009 was the 15th of Chinese New Year Lunar calendar. Which is also known as the last day of Chinese New Year.
As usual, on the 15th there was the full moon. But what is unusual is that the moon that night was supposed to be the roundest and biggest in 52 years.
Experts at the Beijing Planetarium said that the distance between the moon and the earth is estimated to be 365,000 kilometers, or 19,000 shorter than the average distance. So it will appear bigger tonight.
For those who missed it, here's a shot of how it looks like :)
 KLM Valentine sales! KL to Europe for RM777 only?!It happened again. A friend of mine bought tickets to Europe and was paying 35% more. With two person traveling the extra $ paid comes to around RM 3K.
At that time, though KLM ticket price has increased compare to the time I wrote about it, but the gap with Singapore airline is still about 35%.
I guess for a once in a while trip and without being hold hostage by Krisflyer, KLM is a pretty good option.
KLM is doing a promotion on this Valentine's day and the ticket price (prior to tax) is only RM777. Pretty attractive I'd say.
here's the link: http://www.klm.com/travel/my_en/special_offers/14_feb.htm
 November 28 Good morning VietnamIndeed Vietnam is awakening. In a lot of areas.
Stayed in Ho Chi Minh City for a week and experienced the warm of the weather and its people. Really an experience to remember.
Lodging in the city is relatively cheap and so is the food. Many variety of Vietnamese food can be found easily around the city. If you know where to go, you can find them cheap. We had a good meal that feed 8 of us for only about 40 ringgit. Good value for money but not your typical kind of restaurant.
 Pho (rice noodles) is generally the easiest to find. Look around the road side or small alley, there might be a Pho stall right there. There is a shop called Pho 2000 by the Ben Thanh Market which Mr Bill Clinton patronize before. It's pretty good and suitable for a short break before going back to the Market for more bargains.
Ban Xiao (Vietnamese pancake) is good too and so is the Vietnamese spring rolls. And of course, all these have to go with the fish sauce.
To cope with the warm weather, a good way is quench the thirst with fresh coconut water. But the best is the ice-blended fresh fruit juice. You can select from almost any fruit that is produced locally. They are heavenly. Usually I'll have one in the shop and one on the go!
July 31 Cool Lake Como (Largo de Como)Because of this song by Gwen Stefani I fell in love with the beauty of Lake Como and purposely made a day trip there when I was in Milan.
The place is full of character. Picturesque Italian town by the lake with the Alps as its backdrop.
In early spring, you can see the snow capped Alps peaking out of the back of lush green hills, blanket under a clear blue sky.
The perfect place for dreams and love stories.
July 23 Kawaguchico Kogetsu Onsen (河口湖 湖月温泉)This is by all means the best onsen experience I have had in the Fuji Kawaguchico (富士山 河口湖) area.
Since there are many interested in onsen, I feel like sharing it here.
The reason of why it's one of the best can be clearly seen from the following pictures taken by the onsen hotel themselves.
Basically you bask in the majestic and mesmerizing view of the Mount Fuji, a crazy feast of heavily experience for your body and mind.
map to Kogetsu Onsen (河口湖 湖月).
July 21 A hybrid car is such a cool breed - Toyota PriusToyota Prius (pronounce "Pre-Us") is the hotter than Brangelina in the states.
They just couldn't make enough of them to satisfy the demands there.
After checking out the availability and rental price, I decided to go for it and use this car for my one week trip in the East Coast.
With the soaring oil price, at the end of the trip, I had to give myself a pat on the back because it turned out to be a good decision. It saved us a lot of money on the petrol cost, as my friends and I was driving thousand over miles around East Coast cities.
It is especially obvious when I compare it with the petrol I spent on a day trip to Boston driving a Cobalt (Chevelet).
The entire journey using Prius from Beacon (NY) -> Niagara Falls (NY) -> Washington D.C -> Philadelphia -> Beacon total up to around US$190.
Whereas my day trip from Beacon -> Rhode Island -> Boston -> Beacon total up to US$150. Price of gas per gallon at that time is US$3 - US$3.3.
Apart from an amazingly gas efficient engine, the car is a gem to look at and move like a breeze. I really love the driving experience.
Very spacious boot. 5 of us travel together and we managed to put all the luggages inside.
Mercedes Benz's type of "hand brake" system.
Keyless ignition. Press a On button to start the car, like starting a PC.
Integrated controls on the steering, not only control volume but also air conditioning and etc. Gear is so small and easy to control.
Super cool dashboard with lots of info. Overwhelming at first glance but really is very user-friendly.
The Energy Monitor is animated to show what is powering the car at the moment and also the current MPG.
For more photos of the car, check out my photo gallery.
July 09 Penang Georgetown is now one of the UNESCO World Heritage City (WHC)I feel so impelled to blog today. As yesterday, on July 8, 2008, Penang Georgetown and Melaka cities have been granted the title of World Heritage Cities.
 After visiting many heritage cities in Japan, I feel so privilege to be living in one right now.
I believe this is only the beginning. Penang has so much more good things to offer.
But there are still plenty of work to be done, to bring Penang to a greater state of readiness for foreign visitors and also to preserve the various treasures and charms hidden in the midst of the pre-war buildings.
Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca
Monkey Beach + Muka Head Hike
June 25 Niagara FallsNiagara Falls is simply awesome!
Soaking in the mist, breathing in the air and taking in the magnificent view is already enough to leave a lasting impression.
But there is more to do at the falls than meets the eye. The Maiden of the Mist ride and Cave of the Winds are 2 attractions that let you get up close and experience the falls. A couples of hours is required for these 2 attractions but they are sure worth the time. If you didn't bring any slippers, you should go for the Cave of the Winds first as they give you free sandals, in addition to rain coat.
While the Maiden of the Mist brings you closer to the largest falls - Horseshoe Falls, the Cave of the Winds let you "touch" the American Falls.
I still remember on the Maiden of the Mist, you can "taste" the Falls as the boat move closer and closer to the Horseshoe Falls. The sound of the falls grew louder and louder as the mist grew thicker and thicker. I felt like I caught a glimpse of God's magnificence right there when the Maiden was drifting only a few hundred feet from the Horseshoe falls. Surrounding the boat is nothing but thick white mist and the thunderous sound of falls. Really an amazing experience.
The Falls is especially enjoyable when you go at a hot summer day.
June 13 MIT and Harvard CampusWalking down the hall of MIT or Harvard has been dreams of many people. And for me, I always wonder how it feels like. And today I get to experience this charming place in the Boston city area called Cambridge, where it is home to 2 of the world most renown universities.
I found out that, indeed they have wonderful campuses. The universities and the surrounding area blend together without any visible boundaries. And that makes the residential area, restaurants, pubs and etc has a elegant and scholarly feel to it.
In addition to all these, the campus have a really good view over Boston city.
Even if you don't like school, this place will make you fall in love with books again. Definitely a must visit place if you are in Boston.
Tea party in BostonThe minute I arrive at the vicinity of Boston I was stuck in a horrible traffic jam. One that could rival that of New York. The traffic report on the radio says that there are a couple of accidents. So I guess on a normal day it should be like this. They have lesser tolls and that's already better than New York.
Having arrived late in the evening has some privileges. For one, finding a parking spot is much easier. Within the city, some road side parking is open up to the public after working hour. Since I arrive on the hour (6pm) I have plenty of fresh parking spaces waiting for me :). In the end, I park my fuel hungry 10 year old Chevy Cobalt by the road beside Hard Rock hotel, and for FREE (6pm - 2am). Otherwise will have to pay around 20 if were to park in a parking garage.
It's nice to walk in Boston. As if the city has been built or designed for that. Pedestrian stroll along many of it beautiful and history rich district. Everywhere you go, you see people strolling leisurely. Even on a weekday you can feel that there's calmness in the air. The weather is terrific and the views are great.
June 11 Green apple in the Big AppleNew York is a wonderful city that I think everybody should visit. Some people say if you haven't been to NY you have been to the States. And I think they have a point.
New York is famous for its sky scrappers, financial district, central park, Broadway, yellow cabs, museums and other prominent landmarks. Because of this, it's impossible to cover NY in a day trip.
On the very first day, I only managed to visit the Statue of Liberty and Wall Street. The second day, 5th Ave, Empire state building and Time Square. And the third time is today, will update the details later.
June 02 Thank you TechEd 2008 for the Microsoft Lifecam NX-3000!!Receive this great news when I arrived in Chandler, Arizona. The tiredness from 10 hours transit, 16 hours flight and jet lag seems bearable all of a sudden
 My first portable webcam!
I have one that comes with Dell LCD but it's different story when it's portable and a Microsoft!! Bloggers out there, if you want to win some really cool stuff from Microsoft TechEd, better start blogging (NOW) and find out more about Microsoft TechEd, which IMHO is the coolest event in Malaysia for techy.
Thank you TechEd!
 Dave, Heather and Sierra
April 29 Tech·Ed SEA 2008I could hardly believe it when I received an email from CrystalEdge, the event organizer of Microsoft Tech.Ed SEA 2008. They informed me that I have won a Tech·Ed SEA 2008 limited edition T-shirt. This is way too cool haha... I can't say that I am the lucky type but I am definitely very happy to get this limited edition Microsoft HULK-color T-shirt. Thanks CrystalEdge for making my day. April 22 Tech.Ed SEA is back!Is there anything better than 2 consecutive years of Tech.Ed SEA in KL? Well, it's 3 consecutive years of Tech.Ed in KL of course!
 I was there for the first time last year and really enjoy the entire event very much. Who says technical event has to be boring.
It's very well planned and most of the speakers are good and technical. In fact, some of the workshop is so good and popular that there's not enough seat for everyone. I think the seat allocation is about 30 or so, so it's pretty small class. I hope this year the workshop can accommodate more people. Of course there are trade offs when the class grew big, but ~30 is really too small.
It's great to see that Tech.Ed is back. All in all it's a great event, definitely able to learn a lot while having a great time.
Just wondering where will geek night's out be held this year...
 The event is once again held at KL CC (Convention Center) right next to KLCC (City Center). The venue is impeccable and so is the food.
Anybody who is working with Microsoft technology/platform and would like to learn more about the existing and in coming technologies should definitely sign up for this. Don't miss it!
Night shot of Petronas Twin Towers.
Photo taken at Zouk during Geek's night out, a MUST GO event during Tech.Ed.  April 09 KLM Europe Special from MYR1,850!KLM is doing an amazing promotion (Last minute) with their Europe special. Tickets to many European countries from RM1,850 only!
Last year while searching for a ticket to Europe for my friend, I also checked their ticket price. At that time it was RM2350 and was the best deal in town. Now a year later, it is RM500 cheaper. In Malaysia where prices of almost everything are rising, I am really glad to know that there are something that go down in prices.
The total air fare comes up to be RM3,256 after tax and surcharge. Still much cheap than SIA.
Comparing a same route ticket from KL-Paris, SIA would cost RM5,019 whereas KLM only cost RM3,256, which is ~35% cheaper.
Really fantastic. But it's only valid until end of April.
Just thought of sharing this great deal with those who happen to be looking for a last minute European getaway :)
KLM fare:
SIA fare:
January 25 Monkey Beach + Muka Head HikeI haven't hike the Monkey Beach trail since the last time my US counterparts visited years ago. It's nice to hike this trail again after all these years. The Monkey Beach trail is one of the many nice trails within the Penang National Park, at the North West corner of the Island. Highly recommanded for nature lovers. I was pleasantly surprised when I reached there. Apparently they have constructed new builds to administer the park. Visitors are required to do a simple registration at the counter before entering the park. There are some cool things within the park which I hope I can witness one of these days. Apparently two species of turtles frequently nest on the west facing beaches from April to August and between September and February. Also sometimes dolphins are spotted at the coastal seas of this park. In addition, the sunset here is ‘scenic and spectacular’ as we are at the west side of the island, and have an open view of the Malacca Straits during sunset. It reminds me of the awesome panoramic view of Pacific Ocean at Point Reyes. Further up Monkey Beach is the Muka Head trail. It is a short trial up the hill to the Light House. This I think is one of the two light houses in Penang. The other one being the Light house at the Fort Cornwallis. The trail up hill is not easy but worth the effort. The view from the top of light house, open 9am – 2pm, definitely worth the 40mins of work out to get there! More photos in photo album.
November 24 Merry Christmas!!Wishing Everyone
T T T
T T T T
Merry Christmas
T T T
T T T T
T T T
T T T T For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 September 17 TechEd 2007Microsoft TechEd 2007 is finally over. Although tired but still feels it’s not enough. There are some really good sessions, where the presenter really brings home the point and also managed to inspire the audience a little. However there are a quite a few sessions that make you want to switch the track and see if there is something more interesting going on else where. But unfortunately there is none. It seems like all the good ones are pack in the first 2.5 days, leaving the rest of the days with very little to look forward to. In addition to that, some sessions run out of time but some finished in ~30mins, the sessions duration can really use a little adjustment. Instructor led classes were alway very full as only 30 seats available. For a conference for ~2000 people, the instructor led classes' seats are in really shot supply. Anyway, overall, the event has been run very successfully. The staffs on site were very helpful. Food is good; The venue at KL CC right next to Suria KL and Petronas twin towers is impeccable. And better yet, the next year’s conference is going to be held in August, during the Malaysia Mega Sales period. So after Tech Ed session finishes, the delegates can start their KL CC shopping spree session :) How convenient!
August 20 The much anticipated Microsoft TechEd SEA 2007 is finally here!!Well, it is not like I need any special reason to visit KL, but given that the up coming trip is to attend TechEd, just adds a whole lot of excitement to the trip =) From the Agenda I can see the folks at MS have really out done themselves by packing a lot of sessions and topics to the conference, and this is really a good thing to developers. Personally I wouldn't want to miss this big thing that's happening right at our door step. It's a good opportunity to gain knowledge, build network and tap into industrial trends. And of course, the usual inspiring farsighted keynotes would be something that I look forward to as well. It'd be pretty exciting to see so many fellow developers gather together through this one of the country's largest technology education conference. With more than 2000 IT Pros and Developers, for more than 100 sessions, by more than 90 speakers from all around the world at the KL Convention Center. To add icing to the cake, the conference ticket can be potentially be "free"! =). There is one that is bundled with MOC training course and they are FULLY claimed through PBSB/HRDF funds. Now there's even more reasons to attend this not-to-be-missed conference. So, check out Microsoft TechEd SEA 2007 and see you there! :) |
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