Weekend Trip - Tg Sepat, Aug 8 2013

It was about 4-5 years since I been to this place. The particular location was once made happening by AhXian, a local Chinese food channel, and that was the time I was one of those who 'flocked' into the village.

This time round, I could not recall what brought us there. Only recalled there were 3-4 cars that Sunday, on which we went on a Sunday family day trip. To me, its another adventure over a weekend day trip. Couldn't miss any food or shopping.

Stop #1 - Mr. Black Hainanese Pau shop 

(Google Coordinate : 2.659064,101.566369)

Some prefer to queue up for the famous one in the main village area, but we so happened met a warming local at a coffee shop. She'd been very helpful and pointed us some hidden places to shop. The locals prefer this pau shop, not sure why. Perhaps is to avoid the heavy tourist crowd, for some reason, the famous one seems to be overrated. I didn't had a chance to buy them the last round, neither this time. Honestly, I am not a pau person, hence I didn't even buy anything from this Mr. Black pau shop.

Mr. Black Pau Shop

Stop #2 - Kerepek Ubi

(Google Coordinate : 2.659611,101.568236)

Another local introductory buy the lady in her motorcycle. Good quality and deal for locally made snacks - potato chips. It comes with 6 flavors, can't remember all the favors but I know I liked the black pepper the most.

Kerepek Ubi Uncle's home

Uncle's stock

Stop #3 - Ever famous Pau at Tg Sepat

No tourist will miss this location. In fact, it's just a street away from where we bought the chips. Look at the queue, and it flew all the way to the main street. Imagine how tourists queue up under the hot sun.

Since we didn't fancy, we made ourselves towards a place to chill. Passion fruit drink was nice. And its local coffee was good too. It's shopping time!

Queue at the famous Pau

Passion fruit drink

Local coffee

Stop #4 - Home made fish balls

(Google coordinate : 2.659611,101.568236)

Another hidden supplier for the locals. We made to another local's house for their homemade fish balls. It was great, and obviously not commercial. Just like those feel of not needing to literally fight with tourists.

Home made fish balls

Made to fed under the hot sun

Stop#5 - Hai Keng Seafood

(Google Coordinate : 2.655535,101.566227)

Last highlight by our local guide. Another local hidden place to dine. We all love the  traditional ambience, overlooking the sea. We had pretty nice sea breeze that afternoon. Lunch was good, with serving of tody + stout, local fried fish, and many many special local dishes we had not try before. It was tasty.... awesomely good.

Hai Keng in Hokkien means Sea View

Local styled restaurant

Toddy with stout

Lala fried Bihun

Local fried fish

Fish meal and fried cuttle fish

The bill for 12 pax

Stop#6 - Gold Coast Morib

This was unintentional, but we wanted to check out if we could have any possible plan to have a 2 days 1 night stay over.

Gold Coast Morib

The Lobby

Crab hunting by the beach

Very summarized trip report. Nevertheless, the lunch was great :) Return is on its way.

Love my spine - Part 1

Couldn't exactly recall what else I had in my pending blog list. Time has flown so fast, that I had not been able to stay in front of my MBP for more than 10min over a weekend. Is either that, or I was away somewhere out there. Someone been asking if I am joining trip advisor lately, lol.. Oh well, how I wish if I could do that outside of weekend, isn't that cool? *dreaming*

Honestly speaking, I am a lazy freak whom lack of determination in yoga. Being a occasional yogi made me learned a lot on my own spine and vertebra, in such it had been a long while since I realized my spinal vertebra had been in 'tensed' condition for a number of years. Self observing is the greatest lesson I had learned in my yogi life.

Know your spinal structure here. I have severe tense on my cervical spine (neck) C6-7, causing discomfort on my neck and lately on my right hand shoulder. This had been a prolong problem, which I discovered it since younger days. Upon discussion with my yoga instructor, it seems my back spine is slightly longer than a normal Asian. Hence, I would find myself not able to fit into most Asian build chair, things made worse when I get myself on a lazy spine most often. 

Knowing the problem but not correcting it, will cause continuos discomfort. I decided to try on some easy and lazy product out there. Been eyeing BackJoy Posture+  for the past couple of months before I decided to give it a try when Isetan had 10% discount on this product. This product particularly help lifting our lumbar, but it does not 100% correct my cervical spine problem. Nevertheless, I do find 'some' improvement  over my back, as pressure does not really force my butt to the seat. It's recommended for whose buttock needs to stay on the seat most of the time.

Next is my other relatively pricey investment for my neck. This iZest Neck Relax supposed to correct my cervical spine misalignment. Super simple tool, but I would need to invest 10 minutes a day to correct my spine. So far its still in good use, hope I could continue to be determined in using them all.

Health is treasure, be mindful of own body and soul. Happy exercising and give more attention to own body.

Dive Trip - Redang Island Jul 20-22, 2013

Yes! 1st dive trip of the year. Felt excited prior to the trip, as it brought us many of our 1st time memory. It was fun to have bunch of close friends who dive together. We had achieved the best collaboration ever in a friendship, compared to others experiences, I am very pleased to have such a pleasant group buddies whom can travel together without much hesitation.

Alright... what's 1st?

• First time driver to the east coast - she enjoyed it and plan to do more... yeah! means we will have more of such trip?
• First time stopping by for dinner at Cherating - yes, my partner is from the east and he never bring me there before, nevertheless he introduced us this place for dinner
• First time checking in a remote hotel passed midnight, in the middle of a 'kampung' golf course - yes, we pulled over a night at KT Golf Resort before continued our journey to the island
• best still... we booked the hotel on the same morning itself, via Agoda (it was on 50% sale!)
• First time for me, visited KT China Town - we went round and round hunting for breakfast, since it was fasting (a.k.a. puasa) month, it's impossible to get nasi lemak or nasi dagang for breakie
• Enjoyed the slow ride and patient search for every single direction, no issue for having a wrong turning, coz the group will keep ourselves up with positive energy...
• First time holding my new GoPro Hero3 Silver edition - but I lost all my pictures and UW videos due to rewrite setting on the set (ouch!! such a good lesson learned, should have learned from a friend whom eagerly download the pics every day) 
• Pic/Vid which I missed the most? - A doggie came by sniffing my camera @ Turtle Alley & the cute Nemos underwater :( (well, at least I kept them in my memories for the mean time)

Here we go... off from the office

Restaurant Duyong, Cherating for dinner

Atap restaurant view

KT China Town - stopped for breakfast

Turtle Alley

Other 1st?...

• I twisted my right ankle while stepping off from the ferry, oh no.... on the 1st day of dive? I could not believe it, but I didn't gave up... managed to get myself up and asked for some iced on it while my friends proceeded with check in
• Didn't injured myself badly, I guess (at that moment). Had my Phiten gel handy, that saved my ankle from further swelling. Thanks to my friends who being patient with my slow baby steps while walking up and down the stairs, and the sandy path towards the dive boat :(, guess I burned more fat and energy that time, for dragging my foot with the heavy tanks on my shoulder

We settled at Redang Bay Resort. Rooms are not as great, typical budget Redang styled! 3 of us had a newly renovated room but the other 2 had a bad experience with the old room just next door. Thank god they are not those who made a great fuss on such services. Our team leader tried to ask for change, unfortunately it wasn't successful.

Despite some minor indecent experience, we did enjoy the company. Dive visibility wasn't great, and we didn't seen much compared to our last year's trio trip. Any, the experiences and togetherness counts.

Our room

A lot of time were spent on land. There was one of the lunch and interval time, we found the glaring blue skies, and we had privilege where we don't need to join the usual non-divers who have their lunch and dinner at the dinning hall. Lunch was reserved and served at the bar.

Super blue skies

Lunch at the bar

Nice deco

Redang Bay Main entrance view

After the last dive, some of us went for long walk checking out other potential resorts for us to plan our next diving trip. Apparently, there are many more clean and looks-up-scale resorts, similar to Laguna Redang's standard along the beach. Worth to explore for next year or following year's trip.

Mo Mo Tea place... still exist after so many years

Last day... check out day. We need to gather rather early that morning, around 7am as the main ferry will depart the island 730am. The island authority has centralized the ferry service for all the resorts, instead of having own boat service, they are now sharing a larger ferry departing and arrive at Shah Bandar, KT ferry terminal. It's disadvantage for timing reason... not many options except the few we could take.

Early morning 630am view

My tired ankle...

Bye Redang Island

 Many many 1st time experience within the trip, some wasn't a good one.. nevertheless, it was a great outing. Good company, good food, good laugh... Till then for the next trip. Due to my busy schedule this year, looks like I will only have this one and only dive trip in 2013. Hope to have more trips this year. Till then buddies!

Healthy Living - The Neti Pot for nasal irritation

Many weeks ago, when haze struck us here... my yoga instructor reminded us of this tool. To be honest, I had this tool many many years ago (at least 5?). Never had the chance to try, or rather lazy to try. 

My nose was rather irritated during the 2nd mild strike of haze couple of weeks ago. Thus so, I made this virgin trial into my nose. Such an interesting way of nose cleansing. With some mild salt water in it, pouring over form one nostril to another. For first timer like me, you might find its a little irritated not only at the nose, but you may find your ears and eyes get irritated. Nevertheless, my nose were such clear after that. It's good to keep this cleaning regular at least once a week.

It's call Neti Pot

Youtube has always been a good How-to guide for almost everything.. :)

Worth a try for a healthy lifestyle. 

Body Healing Techniques - Isogai

Being a yogi (limited practice) for the past 7-8 years made me feel going no where further, except with a slight improvement for my body strength, I am yet able to relax and hold myself flexible. My 1 week once lesson (with some skipped classes over the years), I would say I am still able to maintain some of my inner strength, but honestly, I should have done better. I am honest to say, its all due to my laziness and lack of determination.

Looking at the brighter side, I learned a lot on my own body and bone structure, through the continuous  sharing by my yoga teacher. Her sharing are not limited to yoga poses, spine and bone structure, core muscles strengthening, most importantly we learned to identify our inner self, through the bottom of our heart. It may not be a pure meditation practice, but through words and experiences sharing, some stories could reflect our own self with its pretty much similarity. I enjoyed such classes (that's why I have been with the same teacher for the past 7 years).

Isogai technique - quick intro. I find it the simplest technique one could use to strengthen back muscle, correct misalignment of pelvics, and many many more. Being a lazy person (me), I find myself more interested on this exercise. At times I could have dozed off to sleep. However, my only failure is to keep up its determination. Only thing I need is a flexible belt.

Check out the youtube video below, if you are interested to try this out. When you are on it, one could feel the legs been adjusted immediately.

Glow your inner self, grow your health.

Travel - Chiang Mai Thailand, May 18-20 2013

The travel report is late, yes.. again. Spent most weekends outstations, as well as coping with the unnecessary hot weather, which killed my inspiration most the time (in a word, lazy!)

It's a budget trip, with 4 other friends. Started off with a budget airway, budget boutique hotel, budget transport (motorcycle), street budget foods, and a budget hired package.

Food - Let's start with foodie. Glad that the group loves street food, where its usually tasty and one could understand the local's taste, well from the bottom of their hearts. Helpful link.

Food.1 - Khao Soi House

• One should not miss, as this is authentic Chiang Mai's delicacy noodle. I loved it over the 1st visit here last year, at one of the mall. Re-tried one on a Western restaurant, which didn't turn out authentic. Here, this time we found out there's a recommended one at the airport itself. We didn't rush to hotel check in, hence took some time to enjoy our brunch! awesome.
• Khaosoi House at Chiang Mai Airport
• Khao Soi - egg noodle in curry, added with ornament like salted vege and onion on the lime. Usually served with shredded pork or chicken, love it when it comes with shredded egg or crunchy stuff. Yum! 

Khao Soi House

Carnation - C

Thai's Teh C is nice ya!

Settling down for our 1st meal 

Price list - Had Khao Soi mhu (pork!)

My noodle!

Food.2 - Warorot Market food stalls

• We missed this market on our last trip. Hence, couldn't give it a miss, though it was a little disappointment here. Apparently, this is a local market and serve mainly the locals. Most of the stall keeper could not converse in English.
• It wasn't too easy to get a motorcycle parking, but we  managed to get it sorted out.
• The market mainly serves dried stuffs, and if you wish to get some dried longan or any dried fruits, this is the place to hunt for, you can't get it from most tourist spots.
• We managed to grab some food for lunch, at the upper floor where some food stalls available. The Pad Thai ain't fabulous but its consider good. Price ranges 35 - 40 Baht if I am not mistaken. However, the coconut milk dessert was fantastic, with the price of only 10 Baht for 3 types of filling. I had my favorite water chestnut with nutmeg and cendol.

one of the market entrance

Dried food stuffs

Upper deck food stalls

Pork Leg rice 

Pad Thai 

Coconut milk dessert

Looking down from the top floor

Food.3 - Outside In Cafe & Studio

• Located just outside of Empress Hotel, where I stayed the last visit, but didn't get the right time and chance to try. This is a superb cafe place, plus if you'd like photography. They have the right lightings to take a shoot, plus free Wifi for immediate FB posting :)
• We came by this place again, with the recurring visit for Best Massage located just next door. 
• Cafe price are reasonable, and they serve some speciality coffee, i.e. banana coffee. I went for its Thai Styled iced coffee.
• Next visit, I will wish to target some of the listed 30 cafes in Chiang Mai!

Iced coffee - chill for hot weather 

Coffee Menu

Beans & Prep

For sale

Nice art work around

Food.4 - Anusarn Market Food Stall

• Tried this stall last year. Jintana's Happy, so called at the banner. We have simple dinner with full table of Thai Food, tomyum and green curry for sure! 
• Meal was at 800 Baht for 6 pax. Satisfying, that's for sure.

Open aired food stall @ Anusarn Market 

Simple meal

Food.5 - Dry Pork Egg Noodles & other more

• Certainly, this is the highlight of the trip. We had this noodle for 2 consecutive nights. Just love the dried egg noodle with pork. First night we were served with braised pork leg, which was super yummy as they ran out of stock for the normal pork. 
• What's so special of this noodle? Check out the picture below, it served with grounded peanut and garnish of dill and parsley. Tasted so good.
• We stumbled into this eating place, after our Day 1 midnight massage at Best Massage. The restaurant is located at the main street off Empress Hotel, heading towards night bazaar. It opens 11AM till 2AM.
• Priced average at 40 - 50 Baht.
• They served many kinds of noodle, apparently its a Chinese cooking shop, while the locals like noodle very much.

Type of noodles

Soup based noodle 

Dried pork egg noodle

Not sure what's the name.. its says Noodle Soup Thai Style 

Stalls cook infront of the shop

Food.6 - Fish Noodle

• Partner & I had to hunt for food every morning, as our hotel room didn't come with free breakfast deal, whereas the rest came with.
• We drove down a few blocks from our hotel, and found a noodle shop that served fish noodle. It was tasty, and it came with many types of fish balls, fish cake and even fish noodle servings, came with clear up. It was tasty, but couldn't remember why I didn't finish my portion. Perhaps was a little rush that morning.

Fish Noodle

Hotel - Partner booked our hotel from agoda, after many weeks of monitoring he found this hotel were on 50% discounted rate, and its boutique styled design was rather impressive. We gave it a try. Normal room were only at 900 Baht per night, incl. breakfast. Check out their official website 9w Boutique Studio. Rooms come with theme.

• Specialties - Themed with music, at the moment you stepped into the room, toilets are clean, themed bedroom was rather impressive
• Some disappointment - Shower gel holder was ceramic type and it couldn't hold well on its stand, not out fault as one of  our friend broke it... while the hotel wanted us to pay for it. 150 Baht wasn't too expansive, but still... I wasn't too pleased. Some tiles, in my room were feeling apart, I had to be rather careful for not jumping over them.

Oriental themed wash room 

Oriental themed bed room

Unique sign board

Check in counter

Exterior view

Sight Seeing Trips - Featuring some temples (In Thai - Wat)

Temple.1 - Wat Phra Singh

• The 1st temple we visited upon getting our rented motorcycles. Few of us wasn't too familiar with the bike yet, as most drivers have not been driving one for at least 15 years! The super hot weather didn't make us good, glad that I had my arm cooler :)
• The temple has a few buildings, featuring the latest modern down to the oldest building. I guessed. They have a school beside too. I took a few good shoots here, thanks to the blue skies!
• We had to pay for visitor entrance fees, while locals don't need to.
• Visitor needs to adhere to proper dress code guide, glad I was prepared, with a knee length pants and non-sleeveless shirt

Monks having their lunch before noon

Main hall - visitors sit and set for peace

Voodoo

Nice statue 

From inside out 

Wonder who uses these chairs - monk?

Decorated with $

Outside in 

Next building 

Towards last building & monks

Temple.2 - Wat Chedi Luang

• It's a wat which were partially destroyed and collapsed during a major earthquake in 1545, it was rebuilt sometime 1990. Came along with it, they have a beautiful architecture wat build in front, along the Sunday Walking street. It's pretty nice at night, except the wash room was not open during Sunday night market.. 
• Why would I emphasized on toilet? Oh well, I was urgently needing one that night, which I had to pay 30 Baht for a visit at a nearby restaurant. In case you are walking a long the busy yet long street, expect to pay a penny for toilet visit ya.

Wat Chedi Luang - memorable temple

Temple.3 - Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

• This was one of the destination we need a hired taxi to chauffeur us. A Toyota fortuner took 6 of us, excluded the driver. If not mistaken, we hired for the day trip at the price of 2000 Baht for the car and driver.
• This wat is special and its plated in gold, up the hill along the way from the airport. Heard the Thai's will walk all the way up to the temple during Wesak celebration, which happened to be a few days after our trip.
• I managed to take the proper steps up the hill, scenic view I would say.
• We paid 30 Baht each for the entrance fee
• Took a 1 hour walk around the park and temple, for me nothing much as I am not a temple fan.
• We shopped for some T-shirts at the downhill entrance, at a rather reasonable price compared to the commercial night markets.

Dragon walkway

Entrance Ticket 

Buddhas surrounding 

The most scenic view of this temple

Even the floor was gold

Massage - This is something one could not left behind, before departing any Thailand tourist location. I am not a truly fan about it, but won't mind for some at the super reasonable price compared to KL. I enjoyed foot massage, Thai massage, and now rather preferred the aromatherapy oil massage.

 Massage.1 - Best Foot Massage, towards Empress Hotel

• Not really one of the best, but partner and I ran out of idea where to bring other folks for a quick afternoon massage. We decided to re-visit this place since we confirmed it was rather clean.
• We made 2 visits during this trip, one was on day 1 afternoon when we were super sweaty! Yucks... but they still made it professionally and satisfactory. Second was on the same night, we went back for foot massage after a long walk at the night markets - Anusarn and Saturday Night Market

Best Massage - Not really the best

 Massage.2 - Fah Lanna Massage

• Heard this is a recommended one by many tourist and trip advisor. I was put off by its mini squeezy massage room, then only happened to know this is just a small branch. Well, at least they managed to fit us all 6.
• I had Body Scrub with Sakura Aromatherapy massage, and the smell was fabulous.
• We made booking one day in advanced, as it was usually full.

Transport - Main mode of transfer was our rented motorcycled... :) A day was on a hired taxi by the driver of JoJo (pronounced as YoYo). And the air transfer was by Air Asia with a super early flight out from LCCT, 630AM. Our taxi ride supposed to start by 4AM from my house, but it was towards a shock and surprise when we both only managed to wake up at 4AM :)

Rented Motorcycle

Bye Chiang Mai

End of travel report.. till the next travel in line. :)