Monday, January 07, 2008

Ipoh, 14-19 Dec. 2007

About 16 adults and 7 children by 5 cars we drove to Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
We departed at 8.00am and stopped by at 2 resting place along the way (Ayer Keroh and Sungei Buloh Jejantas Restaurant) for lunch and restroom. We reached Ipoh about 5 pm.
Ipoh is known as "Mountain city", because its city is surrounding by the mountains. And, a lot of caves, but most of them already taken and use for religious purpose (both Chinese or Indian).

We stayed at Mee Ying's parents' house at Kuala Kuang Village, Chepor, Ipoh. Nearby there is a small river that the water flow from the spring on the mountain. The water is cold and clear. We really had a good time there... The place still original and nature. Only available one small eating place, simple toilet and changing place. This place is known as Ulu Chepor, Tambun.
Each one of us (except Bagio, who is the photographer) deep into the water and play happily.

We plan to come back here again, if there is any chance.
The cost to play in this place, if you drive is only RM 1.00 per car per entry, otherwise just walk in and dip into the water.
We celebrated Patrick birthday on 15 Dec with candle stick on durians... (as we forgotton to buy cake for him).

15 Dec 2007
After breakfast Yam Cha, we proceed to Gua Tempurung (means "Coconut Shell Cave"), located at Gopeng, Ipoh, near Kampar, about 30 minutes drive from Ipoh city.

Gua Tempurung is quite a large cave with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites.It is located inside Gunung Tempurung (Tempurung Mountain), which it is named after. The marble and limestone mountain is crossed completely by the 1.6-2 kilometer main passage with its cave river.

The cave was once used by the communist as a hideout between 1950 and 1960. They offer 4 different types of tours, both dry or wet adventures. All tour will be accompanied with tour guide, who will explain and shows us different type of formation, such as elephant, boar, car, long hair lady, Osama bin Laden, etc.

We joint the second tour, Top of the World, which is the highest point of the main passage. Here at platform five the developed part of the cave ends. The tour guide told me, why they called this part "TOP OF THE WORLD" is because in this place we can reach the ceiling of the cave (for those with enough height and at certain point only). We are at the highest point of the cave, before we turned back. The journey will take about 1.5 hours go and return, depend on how fast we walk and how many times we stopped for rest, as we need to climb the stair case that quite high.

Is worth to visit this place.
For those who understand Malay/Bahasa Indonesia, can get more story from this blog... http://www.geocities.com/dethate/guatempurung.htm
More information in English with the tour/ticket price can be seen from http://www.cuti.com.my/outdoor/caves/tempurung_rate.


17 December 2007
Morning we went to try Ipoh White coffee... is really nice! Also tried the curry cing jong fun (sometimes like horfun), very unique and nice. After that we proceed to Sitiawan/Manjung to visit the saints there..
In Sitiawan we had seafood lunch and try the famous es chendol. Look at the way the seller dressed...
The chendol very nice, only RM 1.00 per bowl... The location is near Indian's temple in Manjung.








The Ipoh food that you have to try, at least:

1. Chicken Bread at Restaurant Yau Kee ("Roti Ayam") at Kampar.

Available in 2 sizes and 2 flavour: curry and herbs. Both very nice. The price Small RM 25.00, Big RM43.00.
They also sell other dishes and chicken biscuits which are very famous snacks from Ipoh.


2. Ipoh horfun/kweetiau with taoge chicken at Restauran Ong Kee (Tauge ayam), Jl. Dato Tahwil Azar, Ipoh


The atmosphere is nice, dine on the road side with open sky (as long as no raining). At walking distance from this place you can find 'pasar malam' (night market), but you have to come after 8pm, as the night market is starts late.

3. Yam Cha at Ming Court Hongkong Tim Sum Sdn. Bhd.
They are serving small size of assorted Dim Sum. If we come with few people, we can try more varieties of dim sum. Remember to come early, otherwise has to wait very long and nothing left... as people of Ipoh like to come here to have breakfast and brunch.. especially on Weekend and public holiday.
The price per serving is about RM 2.00-RM6.00

4. White coffee at Old Town White Coffee, Jalan Persiaran Bijeh Timah

In this area, Old Town Ipoh, you can find many "kedai kopi" (coffee shop). They not only selling the famous white coffee, but also other snacks and dishes. We tried the Yong To Fu, Curry horfun, toast bread.

I like to the coffee taste from Sin Yuan Foong... very nice .. If you want to buy the coffee powder, buy the black one, not the three in one coffee. 600 gr will cost you RM 16.00, more expensive than the 3-in-1 package.
But somehow, when you do yourself at home, the taste will not be the same with if you drink it there...... any secret recipe????

5. Different types of Chinese Food
We tried: East Ocean Seafood Restaurant, Tuck Kee, Anika Selera (Dong Gu Ting), and some kopitiam and traditional market.

















Happy New Year 2008

Wow.. time is flies.......
Now we are at 2008 already.

December 2007 was our good month and very enjoyable as we went for holiday to Ipoh and went back to Indonesia.....

I will write more about our experience with some pictures.....

For all of you there......... WISH YOU THE BEST FOR THE NEW YEAR 2008
MAY GOD THE ALMIGHTY BLESS EACH ONE OF US ACCORDING TO HIS MEASURE.

Friday, December 07, 2007

Robert & Katherine

Last week (27 Nov - 5 Dec) we got visitors from Surabaya, Robert & Katherine (Hernanto's sister) accompanied by Melani. They came to Singapore to seek a second opinion from the doctors here as Robert was diagnose with nasopharynx cancer (aka Nose cancer) stadium 4.
We all very shocked when we heard about this news as last October they just came to Singapore for some short holiday and everything was alright. The symptoms were only appear on 2 November and in the beginning the doctor was suspect it just a sinus problem.
After 2 weeks, suddenly his right eye's motoric was effected and can not move accordingly (deviation of the eyes) and his hearing also got problem. He went for MRI and the doctor vonnis him with Stadium 4 of Nasopharynx cancer. Further information about the cancer symptoms can be found here
The results from the doctor in Singapore also confirmed the results from Surabaya's doctor.

This case made me realize how life is really unpredictable. The life style also can cause a lot of problems if we are not careful.

I just wish the best for Robert and Katherine. May God blessing and guiding you to choose the best treatment to be healed.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Visiting from Overseas...

10 October 2007
Andreani Liem Wan Ming came to Singapore for training. We met at the lobby Grand Central Hotel for about 1 hour. Wan Ming was my boarding house mate when we were studying in UKSW, Salatiga (1983-1985). Now she is living in Surabaya, my hometown.



13-19 October 2007
Hernanto & Melani from Surabaya came to visit their daughter who is studying in Singapre, Stella.
They stayed with us while in Singapore.
I went to Vietnam, 14-17 Oct with them.

24 October 2007
Marian de Souza from Melbourne was here to visit her family. We went out for dinner with Richard & Chen2 at Toa Payoh. Unfortunately, forgot to take pictures.


1-5 November 2007
Two church friends from Davao, Phillippines (Sis. Perla and Sis. Consuelo) came to Singapore and stayed with us. Their group was 49 peoples and stayed in different houses. Others than Sis. Perla and Sis. Consuelo, Elena and John Chang (Korean but live in Manila) stayed in Bukit Gombak also.
Saturday, 3 November 2007, I brought them to Orchard for shopping and East Coast Park.




Then we went to Harvey Ave for the meeting.

Sunday, 4 November 2007, after church meeting, we brought 4 of them to Bugis for shopping, and continue with West Mall for last minute shopping and dinner at Sakei Sushi.




They flew back to Phillippines on Monday Morning, 5 Nov. 07. Bye... hope to meet up with u all again.!
God bless His Recovery.

7-10 November 2007

Fransisca from Jakarta is my bisnis partner and friend that always support me.
She came here for a short holiday and break.
I just brought her to Sentosa and VivoCity on 8 November 2007.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Vietnamese Food

My Tho and Minh Long


Monday, 15 Oct 2007
After breakfast, with Araki's car we went out to hunting for plants, but nothing much we can find. Then, we decided to go to Son Be, another district of Ho Chi Minh City, about 30 minutes from City Area, to visit the show room of Minh Long Ceramic. For those who like to collect figurines, small items, bowl, plates, cup, etc.. you can come here and get it cheaper. But.. please remember your baggage allowance..

Tuesday, 16 Oct 2007

We joint one of the local tour agent, Saigon Tourist to My Tho (read as "Mee Toh"). This town is about 2 hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City.

The town of My Tho is lies on the left side of Mekong River. We enjoyed a cruise on Mekong River, then ride on a hand-rowed sampan under a green canopy of water-coconut trees. Stopped at few places to enjoy the seasonal fruits, honey tea, and lunch of country delicacies. For adult, the price is USD40.00 for full day tour (08.00 - 17.00).

Saigon, 14-17 Oct 07 - City Area

Sunday, 14 Oct 2007, by Jet Star 07.25-08.25 AM, flew from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, alone. Bagio could not go with me because of his works. My 2 friends, Hung & Lan, flew with Tiger Airways in the afternoon. I did not take Tiger Airways, because the price is higher compare with Jet Star (different about S$100.00 and the timing, I prefer Jet Star).
I took airport taxi to downtown (cost U$5.00 plus toll VND5,000-equal to S$0.50 at the time I exchanged money).
We stayed at Inge Araki's house (Lan's sister) at Vietnam Golf & Country Club, about 30 minutes from HCM City.
From Saigon Centre, you can take a walk to see:

1. Reunification Palace (admission VND15,000/U$1.00).




Design as the home of former president Ngo Dinh Diem, the US-backed leader of Vietnam until his assassination in 1962. This building is the most notable for its symbolic role in the fall of Saigon in April 1975 when its gates were breached by North Vietnamese tanks.
2. Notre Dame Cathedral



The cathedral is closed to visitors except during Sunday services.
This neo-Romanesque cathedral was built between 1877-1883. The Romanesque towers is about 60m with a large white statue of the Virgin Mary. Located nearby the General/Municipal Post Office

3. Municipal Post Office (Buu Dien)

From outside and the view inside the post office. Sunday also open!!! Not only for tourist, but also open for postal business.
In the rear of the building, you can see the huge portrait of Uncle Ho (Chi Minh).



4. City Hall
Originally was a French Hotel constructed between 1902 and 1908. Is not open for public.







5. Ben Thanh Market






Ben Thanh Market was opened first in 1914. Crowded, narrow aisles and many pickpockets!
Selling T-Shirt, handicraft, aluminium wares, silk, bamboo, and lacquer. Also fresh and cooked local food. Surounding the markets, open air stalls will start the business when dawn. One of the best place to try the authentic local cuisine. Also can continue with your shopping for the souveniers in the night bazaar.
6. City Museums (Entrance fee: NVD15,000/U$1.00)
Display of Nature and Archaeology, Revolutionary struggle, The Economy, Ethnics, The Culture, and the history of foundation and development of the Country.

From one place to another, you can walk slowly while enjoying the traffic that terrible scary and nice old building. Also, do not forget to check the electricty wires along the road...

Further from Saigon Centre, you can go to Chinatown and visit Ben Thay Market, by taxi or try the ricksaw.



Thursday, October 11, 2007

Selamat Hari Raya


Untuk yang merayakannya, kami berdua mengucapkan


SELAMAT HARI RAYA

MOHON MAAF LAHIR & BATIN
Bagi-bagi ketupatnya dong...........!


Wedding Chok/Nancy

Saturday, 29 September 2007
Our friends, Chok&Nancy, married last Saturday, 22 September 2007 in Hua Lian, Taiwan (Nancy is a Taiwanese). And they had a wedding testimony meeting in Singapore on 29 September 2007 at CSC Farrer Park.




They asked me to help with the flowers arrangement including the hand bouquet and corsages. With a little faith and hestitation, I asked my teacher to help me to prepare the flowers. Here are the results:


May God bless both of you and let Him be the HEAD of your family.