Bangkok Here and There

I had arranged a family vacation to Bangkok few years back but unfortunately, Bangkok encountered the most serious flood disaster, I have no choice but to cancel the trip and change to another place .... 

Since then, the desire to go Bangkok was subsided ...

.... until few days ago, an opportunity given to me to Bangkok to attend the VIV Asia 2013 -  International Trade Fair for Animal Production, Animal Feed and Bio Tech for livestock.

It was a working trip, limited time for me to move around Bangkok for photo shooting ... I took a bit of spare time to capture some photos while I was walking on the street.

Bangkok, a big metropolitan city and larger than Kuala Lumpur, my first impression was not so good because the city looked unorganized. Traffic jam everywhere, worst than KL.  I notice the electrical cables were build on top of the road instead of underground, they looked very unorganized and kind of dangerous. Population here is large with high density and a stressful city.

Travelling by car in Bangkok requires patience. My KL friend who is now working in Bangkok told me, she acquired much patience after driving in Bangkok, KL traffic jam becoming nothing for her ... hahaha...

More cars now in Bangkok, the Du-Du cars are becoming lesser in demand because more taxis are on the road, and it becomes more dangerous by travelling with Du-Du car. However, for short distance travelling is till a good transport due to lower fair, but you need a brave heart as the driver will zi-zap on the road.

People in Bangkok are superb polite and courteous. It's indeed a best place for a good street photography.  

  

The only regret is that I have too little time to do a proper street shooting ... maybe one day, it will be good if someone can get my photography buddies to come for a photowalk in Bangkok, but again ... I think is too hard to get visa for such a place ... kakaka!!

Food is awesome here ... Thai food is famous of its hot and spicy favor. Tong Yum Goong is the dish you won't miss. It tastes very refreshing if you can stand for the sourness and spiciness.

This Thai dessert is what I like most ... beside mango, can put durian ... emmm .. yummy.

Thank to a supplier ... I have tried some expensive dish too ...

Okay, enough to make you feel hungry ... go and grab something to eat :)

If you asked me what place is good to stay in Bangkok, I would suggest to stay at hotels nearby Bangkok Skytrain especially near BTS Asok Station, it is an inter-exchange station that access two train routes. Many hotels are surrounding this area. The famous shopping center Terminal 21 is just next to the station. 

As I have extended stay, I moved out from my 4 star hotel (due to over booked) and found a decent boutique hotel nearby.

This place is called Grottino Residence and Restaurant. It is opened by "ah moh" or "Gwailo", and certain standard is maintained. An Italy restaurant located below and you need to enter the hotel through the restaurant. It cost 1850 - 2100 BHT per night, which I think is reasonable. The room is clean, bed is big for "ah moh" size, even the tower has two tower length, awesome place and the rates are consider reasonable for a comfort and convenient stay.

Ah~ ... time moves very fast in Bangkok ... 

Time to leave ....

Photowalk in Petaling Street

Wow ... time flies ... especially when you are having fun ... Lols..

15 days of Chinese New Year had passed away with a blink of eyes. Everything is getting back to normal, namely, back to work, traffic jam is return in Kuala Lumpur, people faces look much more tension. 

Many people are busy catching up with their unending works. 

Me, with no exception, started busy again.

Last Saturday, I managed to break from my normal routine and follow my friends for a photowalk in KL. We picked Petaling Street, a nice place for street shooting (actually we all don't know where to go, literally, we have visited most parts of KL).

The street was empty in an early morning. Majority people went for early breakfast. 

Many restaurants, food outlets and hawkers are at the surrounding areas of Petaling Street ... variety of choices for breakfast are available, be it porridge  chu chong fan, laksa, wantan mee, nasi lemak, halal or non-halal... all kind of street food are waiting for you .... 

There is a flea market every Sunday, you may find all sort of second hand goods or old stuffs. I saw many electric gadgets are selling there, look like a place to dispose stolen items, hence, we have to be careful not to capture photo of these people, they might not like it. The flea market is situated at the back lane of Petaling Street.

Photowalk are fun and adventurous. Fun in the way when you managed to capture a nice photo ... 

But, sometime, unfortunately, we may meet up with unfriendly people, then will get scolded loh. Never mind lah, photographers have thick skin. LOLs.

However, the most entertaining part of photowalk is our own "syok sendiri" (self entertaining) act such as this :

hahahaha ...  

The End.

Foodtography in CNY

Chinese New Year had arrived ....

We Chinese celebrate this auspicious day in the first day of lunar calendar which is fall on the 10th February 2013. The celebration will last for 15 days. As Malaysian, we have gazetted public holidays of 2 days, since the 1st day of Chinese New Year is fallen on Sunday, we are getting continuous 3-day holidays.

The eve of CNY is very important to Chinese, traditionally, it is a must for all family members or relatives to return home for a family reunion. No matter how far you stayed or worked ... this is the time that everyone will pack and goes back to their home town and celebrate these auspicious days with their loved ones and family.

My earlier blog did mentioned as Chinese loves eating and treat eating is an important thing in life, "人以吃为天" ... Therefore, it has becoming a culture that all families will have "Big Do" (heavy cooking), especially the older folks would be busy in preparing food for the a family reunion dinner.

For me, it is not so "Big Do" but rather "Big Eat" ... Ha! ha! ha!

On the eve of CNY, I have to go two sides of families ... (hear some evil laughing sound) kekekek !! I know what you're thinking, you devil ...  kekeke ... I know you are thinking that I have two wifes .....

Lols ...Ha! ha! ha!

I have lunch with my wife family then followed with my father family reunion dinner. Next day, I have 2 breakfasts and one lunch appointment waiting for me ....

Don't believe ... let me show you the photo ...

My wife's family luncheon started at about noon ... It was a full course Chinese lunch and off course, traditionally, we must started with "Loh Sang", or it calls "Yee Sang" or "Prosperity Toss", this dish consists of mixed shredded vegetables, variety of sauces and condiments. Everyone wanted to "Loh" (toss) Sang in order to get some "Ong" (prosperity). It becomes a culture in CNY.  

Raw salmon is added, it represents "Sang" (or life/living) ... when we started tossing, people will say good words or prosperity quotations, believing that the prosperity, good luck, good health and having abundance life will become true.

Well, for me, I do it as a way of a culture as Chinese, my prosperity, health and abundance blessing are coming from the above, the Lord Jesus Christ ... and not from the YeeShang. LOls ... :)

But I do love to eat Yee Shang ... they really taste yummy...

Emmmm ... yummy

 

To be honest, the food in the restaurant is "so so"  .. I will not mention the restaurant name, the full course is quite costly and my brother in law was generously paid for the whole lunch.

After lunch, with the gap of 5 hours ... here go another round of food .... 

*************

Continue "makan" again

Traditionally, we don't go out for eating, most restaurants or cafes are closed during CNY. We have pot-bless style that every family will contribute a dish 

This year, the food is awesome ... plenty ..... I think I will put on a few kilogram ... 

This year, I contributed my "La-sau" cheese bake potato with cauliflower, and I used beef and bacon to add favor ... for sure a popular dish for the night ... kekekeke, if you don't believe, check this out ...

Da! Da! .... Chang! Chang !!!

he! he! he! ... how's about that ? it looked yummy, right?

This dish is awesome and it was made by my nephew, a young man ... good presenting, look like next generations are coming out to cook CNY dishes, the older generations can seat back and enjoy the food liao .. hahaha

 Again, we have "Yee Sang" ...

Well, roast pork is a popular dish for a auspicious occasion like this.

Burp !!

After all the good food .... time for desert. 

But, I am not showing you because ice cream with fruits and cookies are too sinful to show ... LOLs...

**********

On the first day of CNY, I will be getting at least 2 breakfasts and 1 lunch. First destination is my wife's aunt house for breakfast.

    

Then ... I have to visit my father side for breakfast and lunch ... 

Wow ... I have "Lian Kaw" as breakfast ... this is a special desert that only can be eaten during Chinese new year. It symbolizes moving up, if you are working, you will get promotion, if you are study, you will get good result.  

Lian Kaw is made from glutinous flour and sugar. it tastes sweet. It can be steamed or oil fried, after steamed, just add some coconut floss .... yummy!!

Wow !! ... look at the food ... there are awesome. They can make you feel like in food heaven .... 

Don't believe, check it out ...

 
Wow ... I think I have enough .... I better to show you one photo to see all ... hahaha

  ...... not enough ?

 

Hahaha ....



Wonder what to eat tomorrow !!??

The CNY still not over yet ... expecting more food and more eating ...

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Emmm.... may be some western food for a change .. LOls.


The end.
    

  

    

Foodtography?

Hah!!

Food Food Food .....

There is one Chinese quotation saying "人以吃为天". It means eating is the ultimate purpose in life as human being ..... or rather I would say, as Chinese ... LOLs

Ha! Ha! Ha!

It is kind of true, because many people just won't mind to travel long distances to look for good food. Being staying in a multiracial country, we Malaysian are blessed with all sort of cooking in Malaysia.

Recently, my phone SD-Card got corrupted, luckily I have done my backup ... while I was sorting out my phone photo ... I was amazed the number of food photos in my phone, before it really gone, I decided to pick a few to share with you. I hope I did not make you hungry ...

Keekekekeke.....

I remembered this shop is located at TTDI. I think the name is meatwork. I still remember that night my family and I went out to order a birthday cake for my father, without any intention to eat as my family have taken their dinner ... , but I was hungry, so we decide to drive around and we found this place.

To my surprise ... the food quality is very good. Although I did not try their signature dish - meat!! .... but the salad and the potato dishes that I ordered, tasted very good .... the coffee was very creamy and tasty ... a cafe that I will be back for more food.

************

If you ever come to my office to fetch me for lunch, most likely I will bring you to eat my favorite Loh Shi Fun ... It has a unique name, 月光宝盒,it means moonlight precious box ... the name was used because it was hold in a clay pot located in a wooden stove, before you eat, need to stir to mix the sauce with the mince meats .... very tasty especially eat with the sour chili sauce.

Yeow Chin Liang is a food lover, he knows where to find good food. Normally, when come to friend gathering, he is the one who suggest where to eat. However, this round, I brought him to try out the 月光宝盒, I think he loved it and it was not a regretted lunch. 

************

For my photography buddies, this is not strange to them. When we have our photowalk at Tiong Nam areas in Kuala Lumpur, we will pay a visit at this market areas especially. The nasi lemak sold by an old couple is so tasty, people queuing up to buy. The  bread with dried meat is another store that I usually go, the lady boss is very friendly ... just the hospitality will bring you back to this place again and again.

Yummy ...... no word to mention, buy looking at the photo, use your immagination to taste ... LOls

************

What next ??? 

let me dig my phone memories .... kekekeke

*************

A blogger said in his blog that this is the best nasi lemak with fried chicken in town ... Well, I think is nice but it still haven't reached my standard to made me beat the crowd to eat there ....  Every time, when I pass by uptown, the shop is so crowded, I have to give it a pass ...

Well, if you said is best in town, I do agreed if you refer as uptown ... hahahaha

 ************

Burp!!

So full already loh ...time to have some fruits ... a photo that I took in Singapore Pan Pacific Hotel. One of the best place for good food.

I think I better stop. 

Although I have so many food photos in my phone but if I continue to show you one by one in my blog.. I think my blog will turn into a food blog and you will "bau sei" .. hahaha!!!
 

kekekek !


Well, wait til next round when I am hungry again, I will share with you ...


Bye ... 

The end...

First Dinner with Friends in New Year 2013

Wow ...

Wow ...Wow ... 

a dinner that cost everyone RM80.00 ( to be correct, need to x 5 ... hahaha)

Just five of us, we really know how to "wallop" food. Look at the amount of dishes that we have on the table plus refill a few times.... we can really eat. We are so so full after the dinner.

By serving all side dishes (it called banchan in Korean)at the same time is the Korean style of eating, it is not like the western food divides appetizer and main course clearly, or like the Chinese dishes which come out one by one ... the Korean like to send all dishes out at the same time ....

Well, no complain about the RM80 ...(although we think is expensive), but personally, I think it is well spent.

Why???

Well, the worthiness is not based on how nice the Korean food is, in fact my personal opinion think that the taste of Korean food is so so only (not used to the taste of kimchi) ... 

It is also not because we celebrating someone birthday and we buy him an NG bag as gift !!?  (kekekeke, some of you may know what I mean ...)

Or ... It is not we are enjoying a first class service in the restaurant ? 

No No No ...

Then ?

The money was well spent because we were having a good time with good company in a simple dinner. 

Just a simple reason :)

Good dinner + Good friendship = Good time = Worthiness 

Nowadays, good friends are hard to find. Especially we came across many disheartening stories how a good friendship ruined simply because one is hurting another ....

I am graceful because I have friends that share common interest and very "chin-chai" (accommodating) but caring with one another. We do enjoy each other company. We sometime gossiping about things that happen surrounding us. We sometime motivate if one having difficulty ...

That's what friends are for .... 

A true friendship is to build and not to destroy !!

Well, the dinner is awesome ....

better said that because we are paying so much ... hahahaha

I don't recall I have taken typical Korean food before, i think this was my first time eating a transitional style that many side dishes being served at the same time ....

The BBQ meats were very tasty and tender ... the meat texture was just nice and not over cooked, and very juicy too. Thanks to the experience waiter that grilled with right timing ... very good customer service too ...

All my friends there are crazy about instax camera ... so we ended up taken two photos for memory ...

ops ... 

Why is the Hokkaido Cake there? A Japanese cake in a Korean restaurant ?

Invasion of country !!? LOLs..

Hahahaha ...

Thank to Mr Yeow who bought Hokkaido Cake for everyone ... 

They are yummy :)

Okay ... time to go .... 

Emm .. before that, if you think the photo is not up to your expectation, because it was taken using my hanphone camera ... the quality of the photos are so so loh ... 

I am okay even a blur shot because I don't set my standard too high until I become pressurized by it 

or got possess by it .... 

I control photography and not photography control me ...


Hahahaha ...

Bye .... time to sleep!!


잘있어

당신을 다시 보게 ...
 

My First Blog in 2013

My hand is itchy to write but I know I can't because i am still working.

First Blog of the year is expected to be better, well, that's the general expectation from many readers, but sorry, my first blog is going to be very simply, short but not sweet ... not even got a photo.

Furthermore, not sure got readers or not .... may be I am "sendiri song" (self - entertained).

kekekekeke ....

But, one thing for sure, after another 15 minutes, I am going to fong-kong and time to have Korean food dinner with my friends. If Korean food nice, maybe I will blog about it...

but don't set high hope.

Hahahaha ... 15 minutes is damned fast .... okay, fong-kong lioa ....

  

Bye ... 

Note : fong-kong = after office