In my recent business trip to Manila, I have observed a thriving work commute cycling community. Most of the cyclist wears shorts and carries a bag which I suspect a change of clothes when they reaches work. Most of the bikes were Mountain bikes, then Road bikes and I did not see a Single multi color Fixie. There was one guy cycling Strida, he was all suit up for work. Strida has Belt drive, so he needn’t worry about his pants getting greased.  I got to get a belt drive for my Fixie. In Penang, most of the cyclist who commute to work are foreign workers. There are only a handful of peddlers that cycle to work in FIZ. My hope for 2012 is to have more commuters cycle to work in FIZ, lessen the traffic and CO. 

The weather was good till after Phattalung where it started to rain. The Phattalung to Trang stretch is also the hilly and single lane stretch. From the border to Phattalung, the entire road way was double lane and was very pleasant to drive. Also, there was not that many cars. It was Sunday and it was not busy. There were a few Malaysian cars that zip through us, treating the road like the Malaysian Highway. Though the Thai road with double lane feels like a highway, it does not have the safety features of one and going in a high speed is risking it. We had some problems with our Garmin in Trang. I miss a turn and the map was not complete as there were roads that the GPS did not display. Trang to Ao Nang road is more Kampung with single lane going through rubber estate on the left and right. We arrive at Ao Nang at 4.30pm.

The drive back was faster as there were no rain, but we spent some time in Hatyai having lunch and the border held us up for another 2-3hrs, we took a good 12hrs on the road before arriving home. Driving to Thailand just need to remember to bring a few things. 1-Car Registration Card (Photocopy is sufficient), 2-Insurance (Purchase at the border), 3-GPS (Garmin MFM maps are quite complete, except for Trang)

Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh

I found this place through Google Places and Bloggers. The Google Places coordinate on Google Map is a little off and we had a hard time finding the place the first day. As in all Malaysian Bak Kut Teh restaurants, all kinds of Bak Kut ingredients are available with sides of tofu and assorted vegetables. Sadly, the vegetables we ordered did not come. Each of the dishes are presented in small plates and the prices are based on how many plates you consume. The Bak Kut tea has a very strong medicinal taste with a pack of heat to it.  Its very different from those had in Peninsula Malaysia and its a must try for those who visits Kota Kinabalu. Even the Chinese Tea (Tie Guan Yin) was served on a tiny cup and the flavor was foreign to me.  It complements the Bak Kut Teh well. Yu Kee BKT Facebook.

Fook Yuen Cafe

I We took a cab to this restaurant for breakfast and the cab fare were more expensive than what we spent on the food.  This is the sad state of Malaysian Taxi where out of the capital of Kuala Lumpur, metered taxis are almost non-existence or the meter were never used. We later found out that Fook Yuen Cafe has a branch at Gaya Street and we had our subsequent breakfast there. This restaurant offers Bread, Pastries, Toast/Steam Bread with Kaya and Fried Noodle/Rice with assorted sides such as sausages, yong tou fu, etc.  We started with the recommended Butter Kaya toast and Milk Tea (Teh Si).  The Butter & Kaya Toast was better than the steam ones and was much more generous compare to Old Town Kopi Tiam. The Milk Tea need some getting used to. We later develop a liking to it and found that it goes well with oily food where it helps to wash away the oily after taste on some of the food offered.  Fook Yuen Cafe Facebook.

Five Star Chicken Rice

I stumble upon this place while searching for Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh on the first day. This was the brightest lit shop at Gaya Street and with a few patrons. We decided to try it out and was not disappointed. The chicken was very smooth and tasty.  We also had the soup with fish cakes, though it is not the best, it complements the Chicken rice Well. Five Star Chicken Rice Website.

SEDCO Complex Seafood

Can’t come to Kota Kinabalu without trying out the Seafood. We just had to try out one and found this Sedco Complex at Kampung Air, Kota Kinabalu. Coming from Penang (Andaman Sea), we were very interested to try out the local (South China Sea) catch. We tried the 4 dish above, RM50 for Tiger Prawns, RM50 for Sea Crab, RM50 for Rock Fish (with green bones) and Sabah Vegetables fried in Sambal. There were various types of seafood, and since there were two of us only, we couldn’t try all, plus, we were not that adventurous. At Sedco Complex, there were about 3-4 Seafood Restaurants there, with each concurring their end of the complex. Some bloggers said this place is cheap, we thought it was ok and definitely cheaper than the Chinese Seafood restaurants scattered around the city.

Tuaran Mee @ Seng Hing Coffee Shop

On our last day, we went to Seng Hing coffee shop which was famous for it’s Tuaran Mee and Laksa. Tuaran Mee was indeed unique and we have not come anything like it in Peninsular Malaysia. Its yellow egg noodle fried with sausages, roast pork and egg. The laksa or Curry Mee is also unique where it is sour, more like a fusion of curry powder, coconut milk and tom yam. Tuaran Mee comes in Fried or Soup version and it is the most ordered dish among the patrons there. Tuaran Mee from around the web.

We enjoyed our stay at Kota Kinabalu as much as we enjoy the food there. Mostly, the unforgettable Tuaran Mee and Bak Kut Teh marks Kota Kinabalu as one of the Food City of Malaysia.

As The plane was about to land, I remembered that I would have to go through Hong Kong Immigration before I could get to Shenzhen. I have forgoten to fill up the landing card, so I will have to do it at the counter. Usually I would rush through point to point, but this time, I decided to take it easy. Clearing the plane, I followed the crowd and listen to some of the loud conversations as we all walk the long journey. It seams like the plane landed on another terminal as at then end of the walk was a train that leads to immigration.

I took my time to fill up the landing card and proceeded to the packed snake like queue. I lost count of the number of counters open. An officer lady in a distance was flagging people to a shorter queue and I quicken my pace. I compose myself as I waited for my turn. The immigration officer held up my passport and took a long look at me, the he check the passport again, and another long stare. The time seams to stop for a while. A sign of relieve when he continued to scan the passport and stamp it.

Off I go through baggage claim and to the ticket counter. There seams to be some changes, the counters were still there, but now running another kind of services, express visas and hotel transfer counters. Starbucks was just next door and I went for a mocha and a couple of pastries before went looking for the ticket counter. I decided to ask the Express Visa counter and the ladies there were very kind to take me to the Shenzhen Van ticket counter instead of just shrud me off or just point me to the general direction. She must get some commission out of this I thought. To my surprise, after showing me the counter, she return back. After a short queue, I bought a ticket to Shangri la and off I go to the van pick area.

It was a black Toyota Alphad MPV. I took the third row seat and hand over my passport. This is a first time I am in an Alphad and it is much more roomier and comfortable in the third row seat than my Alza, of course the price of one second hand recon Alphad can buy 4-5 Alza. We passed a couple of huge bridges that look like the Golden Gate and Penang Bridge. Disneyland must be near by as there was a couple of road sign in the shape of Disney logo.

The Hong Kong immigration at this part is very interesting. While still seated in the MPV, we just have to show our face and and the officer will process our documents. The driver continues and return us our passport.  The Chinese Immigration is where we alight and leaves the nice and comfy MPV behind. A short walk to meet up with the immigration officer again the officer took his time. Time seams to stop during these moments. A couple of stamps and a bag scan, I am in China. The MPV for this part were no more Toyota, but China own. Still ok and the journey to Shangri La was short.

That is when I purchased a Japan travel Guide book, by Rough Guide. The Rough Guide to Japan was a very useful book. It has the much needed information on places of interest, local culture, and everything one need to know about Japan, especially before going there. Most of the guidebooks are almost the same, with different books having their own different strengths. Some books have plenty of pictures, and some books have great maps. I picked this book because it has some detail about climbing mount fuji, which the other books didn’t. For those who wants to save some cost, Google or yahoo is a great source. You can get everything you need from these search engines. However, the guidebooks do give some extra advices, such as promotions, or cost saving tips, like special subway passes, that you don’t see in google if you don’t ask for it specifically.

We sat on the book and it became a coaster for our coffee mug for quite a few months, and about two months just before the trip, I booked the Ryokan in Tokyo. Ryokan is the traditional Japanese hotel and are also the cheapest accommodation you can find in Japan. After we have identified a few from the book and tripadvisor.com, I mail them and the keepers replied the very next day. Extremely fast in response and friendly. Without hassle, we have all the basic things set for the trip. Now, the gritty details on where to go and transport. That took us another few weeks and in under a month before the trip, we were all set. Everything have been planned out, and I enter them into the Yahoo Trip Planner. In short, the guidebook compiles all you need to know in one paperback, while with Google, you have to do the work of compilation your self. If you love to do research, you can skip buying a guidebook.

From Penang to Tokyo, we first have to transit in Singapore and change planes. As the journey takes 6-7 hours from Singapore, we wanted to get a nice seat. We tried checking in a couple of days earlier online and could not (maybe because the tickets were mileage claimed). So, we went over to the airport and to the airline office to get some help. The lady over the counter was very helpful. She got us an excellent seat, the best seat of the house with plenty of leg room.

After we have checked in and left our bags at the Ryokan, we head for the Imperial Palace.  This was our first destination, and it was already 10-11am.  We first came out from the Tokyo subway Station.  The Train Station behind it looks like the Train Station in Amsterdam, and if I remember correctly, its a replica of it.  From the Tokyo station, we proceeded straight towards the Imperial Palace.  Along the way, we passed a nice fountain and we first came to the Imperial Plaza, which is a huge empty place with tiny path cutting across gravel stones.  Its like giant Japanese sand garden, nice.  We were greeted with bus loads of tourist and all of them alight at the Imperial Plaza and made their way by foot to the Nijubashi Bridge.  This bridge is on every guidebook and also all web and printed city guides.  This is where you can see the Imperial Palace with a nice angle, with the white building on top of the hill and then a bridge and waters and plenty of greenery.  It was over rated from the guidebooks.  I was expecting much more and when arrived, only the tiny top floor of the imperial palace can be seen, and have to crowd with many tourist to get a photo of the entire scene.

In front of the Nijubashi Bridge is the Hibiya Park.  This park was a stark contrast from the Imperial Plaza.  The Imperial Plaza was all grey with pebles, while the Hibiya park was green with grass and gigantic bonzai trim trees.  Comming from the congested city line of Tokyo, the Palace grounds provide a breath of fresh air and reminds us that we live in a wonderful green nature.  We walked back again towards Higashi Gyoen, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.  On the way, to the Otemon Gate, we passed many Swans lingering on the water surrounding the Moat.  Not sure if they are there the entire year round or seasonal, but it was nice and something that we don’t usually see in Malaysia.

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This 2010 Hatyai family trip started out with loads of bumps and ended like the Mango Sticky Rice.  Sweet Sour Mango and tasty sticky rice, leaving us contended for the rest of the year.  About a month back the family decided to go Hatyai for the Raya holiday.  Its been a year since and we had a great time in the previous trip.  But the hotels in Hatyai was fully booked during the Raya holidays and so we decided to spend the Malaysia Day holiday in Hatyai instead.

I bought the Alza so that we can drive there as there were 6 of us, it was an overnight decision as we really needed a MPV once a while and Alza just fit the bill.  So, we were all excited to drive the new car in and have a great time in Hatyai.  The mood started out great till we got onto the car and lock the doors.  The GPS failed.  The Garmin keep crashing and 30 minutes later we departed with a broken GPS.  Fatty tried to get it to work on the entire hour up to Changloon and to our disappointment,  the GPS was as good as a paper weight.

We decided to take the van instead.  The funny thing is once we got onto the van and was well on our way to Hatyai, the GPS starts to work.  Devine intervention? I don’t know.  The problems did not stop there.  Once we got there, the New Season Hotel that we were excited to try turn out to be a huge disappointment.  For THB1000 a night, the hotel put us up on Level 3, next to their air conditioning unit.  They hum the entire night leaving us hadly any sleep.  We check out the next day and went to Mayflower Hotel for THB920 and it was a much better hotel.  At the New Season, we went for the massage at level 2, Fatty had the foot massage, I had the Shoulder and Back Massage and my wife and her sister went for the oil massage.  Fatty and Sister In Law had a good time, I had a sore shoulder, my wife had a back pain from the massage.

Well, it was not all bad, for all the bad things, there is an equal good thing to balance things up.  Fatty bought a cheap Zebra kettle, bought a whole new set of clothes for the family and had Swenson ice cream every day (Yes, it was that cheap) and loads of Mango Sticky Rice.  So, till the next Hatyai trip, its time to trouble shoot the GPS device, wonder what happen..

The Taling Chan Floating Market is located at the Taling Chan District Office.  A relatively small floating market serve fresh foods and open only 3 days a week (8.30am-4pm Weekend).  The market was not that accessible so we took a cab from our hotel at Sukhumvit.  The cab drop us off at the District Office, which is just next to the floating market.  Comming to the floating platform, there were stalls on the left and right side of the road selling a range of items from food to handicrafts.

There were two side to the floating platform, left and right and both have boats on the side selling food of various kinds.  While we were getting to the platform connected by a narrow bridge, we saw some visitors feeding a swamp of fish.  The fish looked huge and they were battling over the bread thrown onto the river.  I notice a lady was selling bread for THB 10 and so I bought one pack and gave to May Lin.  She happily feed the fishes and at occasion, the fishes splash and everyone around turn and have a look.

Finish feeding the fishes, we proceed to the platforms to see what is on sale.  First thing i notice was the tiny little stools and tables on the middle of the platforms.  Almost all the tables were filled, this shows how popular this place is.  There was a range of foods from fry, soup, rice to bake and BBQ.  We just had our breakfast so none looked appetizing.  There was a boat selling BBQ fish, the fish was about 1ft long, a huge fish that was first rub with salt and then BBQ over low charcoal heat.  Many patrons bought the fish and I could see them enjoying it.  I on the other hand just feed some huge looking fishes, and can’t stomach the thought of just feeding the fish and then slaughtering them for a meal.

The Taling Chan floating market was relatively small and there was only a handfull of boats with some of them selling the same items.  After covering the entire platform, we proceeded to have some refreshing coconut water before catching a cab to Chatuchak Market.

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The restaurant is located very close to Bukit Cina (map below) on Jalan Temenggong.  It is actually a block to the left of the Gurdwara center.  It is actually opposite Seng Heng, you can’t miss it.  They finish serving by 10am. 

After successfully settling down, we just accept the offer of the first cart that came by, some kind of cheong fun with pork and prawn.  It was much better than the regular prawn cheong fun that they served.  We ordered a few more fried and steam stuff before picking up our tab and left.  The food was cold and the service was horrible.  But we understand as there are just too many people.  I don’t think any restaurant can give proper service and food quality in such capacity…

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