Saturday, January 26, 2008

30 year old rojak

Right smack in the middle of KL, there's still a little part of the olden days left untouched. Aside from the existence of the Monorail, there's this row of shops across the road from HKL on Jalan Pahang that gives you that feeling of the years gone by.

The shops are old and run down but still occupied. To complete the scene, there is this Ah Pek (Old man) selling rojak buah there as along as I can remember. I've heard people saying that his rojak is good but have never tried eventhough I've passed there a thousand times.

Yesterday I decided to stop by and buy a pack of rojak from this Ah Pek. His stall is those old type with the big black bicycle attached to it.

Ah Pek was very smiley and courteous :)

I asked him how long he has been selling rojak there, he showed 3 fingers. I asked him "30 years?" just to confirm. He nodded. I spoke to him in Cantonese thinking that's what most old people in KL speaks.

Right before I left the stall he smiled and said "ban ban chiak". Then I realized that he was Hokkien.

Isn't it amazing that someone doing the same job for 30 years and can still be so cheerful and pleasant? The simple joys of the simple ways of life!! :)

How was the rojak?

The verdict: Ho chiak!!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Drama minggu ini

Haven't been updating my blog on my wonderful trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. Sorry but there's been some drama and crisis going on in my personal life right now. So, I don't really feel up to it.

And yeah, I finally did get to cross out going to an Onsen Spa from my wishlist. And yes, it was a wonderful, liberating feeling to prance around in ur birthday suit!

Anyway, do check out the photos on my facebook if you like.

Facebook Japan Album 1

Facebook Japan Album 2

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Ohiogozaimas Osaka!!

Just had a really wonderful vacation this Christmas. In Japan with my BFF aka Sui Poh!! We've been friends since we were 13 but she lives in Boston now. But distance can never stop friendship kan?

After arriving at Narita airport, had to put on an innocent face to pass through customs as I very well know I had brought lotsa food from Malaysia which is not allowed there including a tupperware of fresh Siew Yoke!! ;) Fortunately, I passed through everything without any problems.

Upon reaching Tokyo via the Narita express, BFF and I took another train, a Shinkanzen, Osaka-bound!

View of Mt Fuji from the Shinkanzen


Osaka


Osaka at nite!


Me and Sui Poh!

How can one come to Osaka without having their famous Takoyaki? There were Takoyaki stalls everywhere!! We didn't know which to pick so we just hentam la.



Takoyaki... mmmm!


Me chowing down some Kani (crab)


Me chowing down some Okonomiyaki

Boy, I'd sure need intensive gym after the trip with all that good food!

At the subway, Sui Poh showed me a sign... she said that Japan is a highly stressful place and many commit suicide on the train tracks. This sign simply reminds these people, don't jump onto the train tracks during rush hour. Hehehe... kalau nak mati pun, don't disrupt other people's schedules. The puntuality of the trains are amazing!


The hotel we stayed in Osaka was Hanshin


It was a pretty nice place. Rooms were comfy, not at all cramped. Very very very worth it for the price we paid!


Hot spring water flowing from the bath! :)

Then we went to Universal Studios.



I'm gonna eat u up, u giant Takoyaki!

But the lines were crazy!! So we decided not to go in. Just hang around Osaka doing other stuff together is fun too. We wouldn't want to spend precious vacation time in queue after queue.



We went to the Takoyaki Museum. Bought lotsa Takoyaki crackers and other snacks there too.


Then we stopped for lunch at a Udon place. Yummy!


More to come after this!!