MINI CRUISE GETAWAY #2

25/5/2014

It must be due to the gentle lolling and swaying of the ship that we managed to get a night sleep. We did not hear the waves nor the rain (we were told it rained last night) as our cabins were below the portholes! Went for a stroll along the Deck 9 to catch the sunrise....

Misty sunrise... all's quiet and peaceful  at the  Deck 9 ...

Behind my sister is the Fitness Centre  with its sauna

Finally the sun is up.... signals another sunny day....

A morning stroll along the Deck 6 where the lifeboats are kept and this is the jogging track and basketball court. We had our buffet breakfast at the Chinese Restaurant again....normal breakfast items, nothing special. 

After breakfast it was time to settle any bills outstanding and to get back our IC before checking out.  The ship docked around 10.30am and we were disembarked shortly thereafter. There were some mis-communication with some of the passengers and the tour guide as to where to wait after disembarkation, as a result we had to wait for almost an hour before finally leaving the pier thus missing out the places which we were supposed to visit... ie the Chew Jetty and temple. 

The guide then brought us to the CF Food Court for a quick lunch...    

How can I come to Penang and not eat the obligatory Assam Laksa.... this one was delicious and not so messy and dirty looking because...

the stall vendor has got this certificate ... he also sell popiah (spring rolls) and it was equally tasty too. 

After lunch, the tour guide must have mellowed down and he took us on a walking tour around the heritage streets... for some street arts....

I am sure my sister Vicky could love this ....

and this...

so my sister stood in for her to take this photo..hahaha!

And I read that only crazy English men could walk in the midday sun! It was so hot! Now  this must be the punishment that the tour guide mete out to us for not listening to him! hahahaha but we all seemed to love it!

Interesting recycle items - not sure  whether they can stand the weight.....

Don't throw your old shoes or the one that the dog have miss,  away...they can recycle also! 

Cute shop... selling you guess it... all things related cats and dogs!

Pity  we have no time to browse around... sure can get something for my doggies and kitties. 

Guess you know which one this is... too many were waiting to take the photo, so I took from this banner!

This sure bring back memories for her (my eldest sister) and me...... she is the one who had taught us to ride the bicycle... which sadly I had failed to do so todate. According to Vicky (my youngest sister) she used to fetch her from school on the bicycle too and everyone thought she was Vicky's mother!

beautiful facade of the heritage shophouses. 

Finally, we ended the walk with this art piece at...... 

this shop... the appetising aroma of freshly baked buns- salted egg yolk, egg tarts etc and a much needed cold drink of herbal tea and soya bean. 

Then it is time to depart from Penang and we reached Kampar for our dinner around 5.30 pm.  It was again another sumptuous dinner - steamed chicken with ginger dipping, steamed garoupa, herbal soup, Deep Fried prawn with butter and coconut milk, Deep fried honey spareribs etc.

Thereafter it was all the way back to KL .... with the tour guide entertaining us with his hilarious jokes.

Thank God for a such a pleasant trip with wonderful friends... its the journey not the destination that counts. 

Have a happy weekend everyone. God Bless. 

  

MINI GETAWAY #1

24/5/2014

  

Eat First and most important... travel while you can still walk.... 

I had a very happy entertaining weekend with my collegues ...we have been working together almost 30  years and its over 20 years since we travel together and you can imagine the fun we had when we come together.  It was a mini getaway to Penang for a 1 night cruise on the Star Libra.   

We had an early start from KL and by the time we reached Penang it was lunchtime.  Our first stop was a tour to the Kek Lok Si Temple and of course for the famous Assam Laksa......which we did not take.  

Most of us have been to the temple before and so chose to wander around the market area while waiting for the rest of the group.

 Been to this area before and yet how could we have missed this place...

Rows and rows of the biscuits that we grow up.... the rectangle biscuits with lemon cream.....

 the "toh chee peng", colourful wafers biscuits and don't forget the sultanas biscuits....(these were the ones which I bought...hahaha).  I know, I know... these are easily available at the Pasar malam in KL, but just cannot help myself! They look so tempting and they are so crispy and fresh!

Packets of prawn crackers, snacks and those roti which are delicious with a cup of coffee!

Just a nostalgic photo .. 

  

 Came across this lad making his puttumayam - very mild pandan flavour so maybe it was just for the colour.

Indian Apom-

While we are thankful for the very good weather,  we were also being frazzled  with the heat,  so much so that we seek refuge in the coolness of  a bank's ATM center to wait for the rest of the  group that went up the temple.  

The Star Cruise depart from the Port Swettenham Pier and after an hour waiting for them to process our boarding card.  This card double as  the key to your cabin as well as a credit card as no cash will be transacted for whatever purchases made on board.  We will have to settle the final bill on departure from the ship.   We finally were allowed to board the ship around dinner time.

 

Star Libra (behind partially blocked)- with a capacity for 1,480 passengers within its 10 decks with  a total of 740 cabins. It has 8 bars and restaurants, 2 swimming pools, 2 jacuzzis, basketball court and a jogging track. There is also a karaoke lounge, disco and nightclub and also a fitness center too.  That truly means there is no shortage of entertainment and fun for your holiday on board.

The reception area and  there was a pianist playing to welcome us onboard... 

My girlfriends and ex-colleagues! 

trying to locate our cabins...its like a maze.... 

finally inside our "room" for the night.... compact and clean.  My sister sharing the cabin with me.  

How nice to receive these tea sachets!  

We decided to go for our dinner without wasting much time as we were hungry by then. Our first stop was the Chinese cuisine........ 

The set dinner menu- herbal soup, braised pork belly, Fried Fish (think it was the golden pomfret); chicken with chinese sausage, siew pak choy with wolfberry and a small plate of tomyam noddle salad, accompanied by rice and chinese tea as well. The above set was for 4 of us. It's first come first serve and servings were according to the number of pax at a table. Lastly dessert was sea coconut with longan tong sui.   

If you are still famished, then you can go up to Deck 9 for the international buffet which open till 9.00pm. There is also live band to entertain you while you are having your dinner- great atmosphere... you have the open sea, the gentle lapping waves and the cool breeze.   

The sun was setting by the time we went up...

sit down and relax and enjoy the sun set with the platter of fruits...

Beautiful sunset and skyline 

It was so relaxing - the cool breeze and laughter and singing and of course more food...

Finally it's dark by the time they demonstrate the safety drill and sad to say, saw less than half the passengers were present for this! Now I wonder what could happened if suddenly we were to experience something like Titanic! By this time, we watched excitingly as  the ship had started to sail towards the highseas! 

We went back to the decks below  and along the  corridors are some beautiful paintings and arts. 

Lights, camera and action.... let the show begin..

The live show  at the Star Dust Lounge- Simply the best - sizzling dance routines  and acrobatics shows from a Brazilian troupe.  No photography was allowed but it was indeed a very entertaining show.  

After the show, we made our way to...

"Open sesame"... door to instant money and wealth . 

This time I did not try my luck and it was just a quick tour to the Star Club Casino- it was too smoky and crowded inside and by the time we came out, the smell of cigarette clings on our clothes and hair...urgh!

So that's end a perfectly happy Saturday.     

PRAY FOR THE STRAYS - WESAK DAY TRIP

13/5/2014

I read about the events that had took place in temples for Wesak Day in the newspapers.

It was a great day to honour the birth, the enlightenment and death of the Lord Buddha, day of offering prayers and day of asking for blessings be it for self or for the country.

Surprisingly, I was not able to read about events that was linked to dogs except  about the stray dog that was shot because "it appeared  to look aggressive and was barking".... now I wonder who deserve to be shot!.

Anyway I had an exhausting but fulfilling day trip out on Wesak day with my new friends whom I met at the organic farm.  Both Christine and Sally are ardent dog lovers and if I thought I am doing something for the stray dogs,  I have been put to shame by  what they are doing. Christine had 9 dogs - all strays at home besides sponsoring and volunteering at the LASS- Lost Animals Soul Shelter and Sally herself also sponsoring a few dogs. Thank God for all dog lovers around the world.

It was a bright and sunny morning as we made our way out of KL and our  first stop was right into the nature....

and the Sg. Sendat waterfall at  Ulu Yam ..... I am very "ulu" did not know there was a waterfall here..hahaha

Quite a well organised and maintained place.... 

the roaring short waterfall.....

Some of the kids were already jumping down the cascading water to the cheers on the onlookers!

the peaceful river and its nearby picnic areas

Saw a group of teenagers from the 7th Day Adventist Church enjoying themselves...

........... and they shared their  BBQ vegetarian kebabs with us!

After relaxing a few moments, it was time to move on.... got stuck in the traffic going out  as hordes of visitors were making their way in... ..thankfully there were guards to direct the traffic..

Well, those kebabs were just the "appetisiers".... here comes the "mains" at this restaurant in Ulu Yam.... 

  

delicious fish cakes and fu-chok

the popular Ulu Yam Loh Mee- thick yellow mee smothered in equally thickened gravy with a tinge of the black vinegar... to me its tasted normal.

It was time to walk (or it is drive) off the heavy lunch and we were on our way to see the glass houses at Sekeping@ Serendah....

the pathway leading to the glass houses ... which is out of bounds for visitors..

this place is very serene and amidst the natural forest.... so imagine if you were to pay (quite expensive I was told) for these and then to see visitors roaming around  disturbing the peaceful ambience.

So we just tarried here for a while to enjoy the greenery....

Fantastic company.... from left: Sally, Ivy, Race and Christine.

And  there is another waterfall in Serendah .....this place look more commercialise and we did not stay long as it was very hot then.

Final destination for the day.... LASS.... 

Well kept enclosures- this area for the newcomers -  and they are building a pool in the compound so that the doggies can enjoy and cool themselves..

they definitely look happy, healthy and well fed... but they do need lots of love and a pet now and then...

So heartwarming to see them playing around...

following us around... this open area is for puppies... some of the Taylors Uni students were here constructing the playpen for the puppies.... God bless these young adults.... 

The person in charge... God bless her for the kind work that she is doing... explaining to us their needs..dogs food, old towels and clothing (to dry the dogs), rice and of course sponsorship of the dogs most welcome as they do not have any government support.  But the most important of all, she told us, is to have time to drop by and play with the doggies and love and pet them so that they don't feel abandoned or neglected.  We are planning  to help raise funds for them.... all sorts of contributions and suggestions  are welcome. 

It was already sunset by the time we left the shelter and make our way back to KL.

Dinnertime..... 

their signature dish.... pumpkin mee with "fish paste" 

this Fried Meehoon was very tasty.... no seasoning from soya sauce.. just cabbage and dried prawns.

Pumpkin Mee with the fish paste... not the usual fish paste but which are so light as taufoo pok (soyabean pockets)

The pumpkin mee tasted quite ordinary udon mee... could not get the pumpkin flavour though. 

But overall it was a satisfactory meal..

Thus ended a very meaningful day for me.... good company, tasteful foods and got to show some love to  the doggies... so don't shot the strays, they didn't choose to be strays...