Day trip to Ipoh

Made a trip to Ipoh last Sunday for some good weekend excitement with 4 other friends. Started the journey to mainland minutes past 8 a.m. after a simple breakfast of coffee and toasts. Traffic was light and the morning air crisp. Adele and a game of Taboo kept everyone awake in their seats.

Made it to our first pit stop - Foh San, the well-known dim sum place after asking for directions. The double tiered eatery was swamped with customers. With the intend to keep some room for more food, we wet our morning appetite with some nice tea and servings of dim sum.

Next on the agenda was a cave, the Kek Lok Tong (carrying the meaning of the cave of ultimate happiness in Chinese). I have been to the Perak Cave ages ago but this was somewhat different. Instead of narrow staircases laced with smoke and the smell of incense, open space and fresh air welcomed us. It was truly rewarding for urbanites like myself, especially after a hearty meal. Miniature table-top landscapes lined the staircases leading to a huge cave entrance, a very interesting entrée for visitors.

Upon completing my mission of exploring nooks and corners of the cave (which included gawking in mental awe at the statues and natural rock formations), I found Yang and Peter resting their tired feet, basking themselves in sunlight at the other end of the cave. This opening overlooked a small garden, with a pond as its centerpiece. I rested myself a bit as well, while waiting for the rest to finish their adventure (Jim was busy leaving his mark in the washroom). Glorious sunlight and cooling breezes do make a difference after all. I should get myself outdoors more often.

Raindrops fell as we were wrapping up the visit. Off we went in the car, in search of more food. Ipoh is famous for beansprouts, chicken and “hor fun” (a type of flat noodles). We stopped at Lou Wong’s for these 3 items. Lunch consisted of hor fun in clear soup, eaten with beansprouts and chicken seasoned in similar manner (soya sauce, sesame oil, white pepper as I can tell). A mouthful of smooth hor fun with crunchy spouts and nicely done chicken is how one  defines good food. I was once told that the water here contributed significantly to the quality of sprouts (shorter and thicker than what we normally have). I have no doubts that I can live solely on beansprouts here if given the chance. Despite of the pour outside, it remained hot and humid. We took in and burned calories at the same time.

Into the rain and the car again, caffeine addiction (for some in the group) determined our next hunt – the search for coffee. With the car parked for an all-natural carwash, we went in search of Nam Heong coffee shop (supposed to be serving the best and most original white coffee in Ipoh) on foot. Pacing up and down the same street looking for this particular shop brought us pass a couple of really nice stalls selling curry noodle and egg custard (accordingly to Yang). With the help of GPS (oh god!) and upon seeking help from a local, we managed to reach Nam Heong in one piece (and alive, having dashed across a busy road). Coffee was all we ordered, as there were not much space left in our stomachs.

With nothing much left to do, we left Ipoh with stomachs filled to the brim (and brains intoxicated with caffeine). The homeward bound journey was wet and quiet (most of the noise came from music). Yang drove heroically despite of being tired (a million thanks sweetie!), Peter didn’t do much to keep him awake (piak piak!). Someone fell asleep and got his picture snapped by me (photo shared and removed on Facebook before he realized the crime).

An undeniably fun Sunday I must admit. Time spent in the company of nice friends are always great!

What I am reading - Bitterwood

The first installment of a trilogy – The Dragon Age by James Maxey.

It is a time when powerful dragons reign supreme and humans are forced to work as slaves, driven to support the kingdom of the tyrannical ruler King Albekizan.

However, there is one name whispered amongst the dragons that strikes fear into the very hearts and minds of those who would oppress the human race. Bitterwood. The last dragon hunter, a man who refuses to yield to the will of the dragons A legend who is about to return, his arrow nocked and ready, his heart full of fiery vengeance…

Hotel K - According to the inmates

”Police at Poldabes said, ‘Do you want to have sex with me, we can drop the charges?’ She agreed and was taken out of Poldabes and had sex with the policeman… But her sentence was not cut. She got the maximum of five years.” – Elsa, inmate, talking about her friend

”She writes: ‘I love you, my darling. I miss you, I need sugar, I need coffee, I want to have shabu.’ Men who have drugs can easily find a girlfriend. If you give her a little bit of shabu, she loves you very much.” – Thomas

”Cell tikus was disgusting, disgusting. The toilet was filled up with dry shit. I found out why it’s call cell tikus [rat cell] because the first time I went in I had to take a pee and I took it on the hole The dry shit became soft and the rats came out of there, so in the dark I listened to them.” – Ruggerio

” Your main goal is to get free, but beside that, if you still have a little freedom if you pay the money. You can bring cans of beer, movies, girls, whatever you want, but every step you have to pay the money.” – Den

“You know how Kerobokan is, it’s a joke. You can bring an elephant in if you want!” – Ruggerio

Hotel K - According to the inmates

“People couldn’t imagine what is behind those walls at Kerobokan.” – Ruggiero, Brazilian inmate

”It’s a mental camp. In this place, you get worse, not better.” – Mick, Australian inmate

”They demanded 12 years for me, but I talked to the prosecutor and the prosecutor asked me if I had money so that I could deal with my case. So I paid over one hundred million rupiah [$25,000] through my lawyer and the court gave me punishment for 6 years.” – Nita

”From the beginning, Iwan was Number One VIP. He is the one who can openly use a laptop or hand phone because he’s the one who is the Number One sponsor for the jail. Whatever is needed, he’s the one who takes out the money. Even if the chief of jail wanted to go somewhere, wanted to go to Jakarta, he was the one who paid the money. He’s the one who takes care of it, plane fare, hotel, everything. With money, whatever you want, you can do inside. Whoever wants to sell drugs inside the jail, no problem. Every week you have to pay the money to the chief of the jail.” – Den, Nepalese inmate

What I am reading - Hotel K

Welcome to Hotel Kerobokan, or Hotel K, Bali’s most notorious jail. Its walls touch paradise: sparkling oceans, surf beaches and palm trees on one side, while on the other it’s a dark, bizarre and truly frightening underworld of sex, drugs, violence and squalor.

Hotel K’s filthy and disease ridden cells have been home to the infamous and the tragic: a Balinese King, Gordon Ramsay’s brother, Muslim terror bombers, beautiful women tourists and surfers from across the globe. Petty thieves share cells with killers, rapists, and gangsters. Hardened drug traffickers sleep alongside unlucky tourists, who’ve seen their holiday turn from paradise to hell over one ecstasy pill.

”This book is dedicated to anyone travelling to the tropical paradise of Bali. Be careful. It could be a holiday you never forget. Even one ecstasy pill could cost you thousands of dollars and a stint in the hellhole Hotel Kerobokan.” – Author Kathryn Bonella.

”Now I realize how precious pure laughter is, it’s amazing. Even a smile is very rare here. A laugh is priceless.” – Inmate

”It’s like the end of the world. It’s crazy. You feel dead when you’re breathing. You just want to get drunk to take your mind out of this place.” – Mick, Australian inmate

”So many times I drive past those walls; I could never have imagined what happens inside. What happens inside goes far beyond my imagination before.” – Ruggiero, Brazilian inmate

The truth about the dark heart of Bali explodes off the page, a true page turner!

The incident at Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)

Following the controversy of a KFC customer being assaulted by one of their employees, and the viral sharing of the video clip, each and everyone of us has got something to say. KFC stated that they will not apologize until police investigation is being concluded. Supporters of the KFC employee said that he was being provoked to hit the customer. The male customer and his female companion said that they never hurled any insults at the personnel. So who is the real victim here? Who should we be listening to? As rational individuals, we should not listen to anyone but rather examine the hard proof we have – the clip. What transpired between them during the time of incident does not matter as there was no recording of the conversation. You may wish to take statements made by witnesses into consideration, however that is not necessary for myself because the value they hold is negligible.

Whichever party that raised their fists loose, regardless of the degree of provocation. The victim who did not make the first punch has the right to lodge a police report of assault, even if he/she fought back. Let’s see if the judiciary system in Malaysia is fair, and to what extend. As for KFC, they should say something more appeasing to the angry crowd rather than being arrogant at this moment.

No one should resort to violence under any circumstances unless they are prepared to suffer the consequences. I have no devious intention to shoot every single employee working for KFC (I did after all continue my support after a few unpleasant experience with them personally) due to one bad egg, but the truth is it was in the basket, and there may be more. It is time someone take this as a lesson well learned, employees and employer alike.

After all the videos of KFC personnel contaminating the food on purpose, the latest incident serves as the last straw for me. I shall now stop visiting KFC and all other eateries under the same umbrella, as a consumer with integrity and for my own health

Kentucky Fried Chicken or Kentucky Fight Chicken, your choice!