Gathering, K-style

28 June 2008 @ Little Korea, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

This gathering was pre-planned many months ago, for SuHan to meet up with everybody else in KL. She has been finishing her studies and working now in Melacca all this while after we came back from Korea's internship together.

[left to right in heads order] Kylie, ChinNam, SuHan, ShuYun, Me, ShinKeat, DeYan, PeiSi, ChauLun

It's been almost one year since we all last met, so I suggested to have a Korean style gathering since everybody missed korean food so much. So we went to Little Korea in Ampang for lunch.

물냉면 [Mul Naeng Myeon] Cold Noodles

순두부 찌개 [Sun Du Bu Jji Gae] Hot and Spicy Tofu Stew

What's Korean food without unlimited 반찬 [Ban Chan] side dishes

Everyone's busy eating while Mr. Baek's busy socializing

Another special guest for our gathering is ShuYun, who completed her Masters in Dongseo University, Korea. She's been a great Nuna [sister in korean] bringing us everywhere and spending time with us in Korea. We'll never forget those moments. =)

ShuYun and Me

After lunch, we went to Lotte Mart which is on the same row as our restaurant is. Looking at the things sold feels like we're all in Korea again. I bought Milkis [milk and soda carbonated drink], and so did the rest.

I love the taste of Milkis [it's expensive leh]

Too bad SuHan and ShuYun had to leave early, or else we would had gone to another place for Sam Gyeop Sal [Korean BBQ]. Anyway, glad to meet them again and hope to have another K-style gathering soon. Billy, out.

Pit Stop 1: The Golden History of Angkor

2 June 2008 @ Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap, Cambodia

A lot of things has happened these few days. But I still have to update something from my trip or else I'll get some whinning. So here goes.

Everyone put a night at my house before we left for the airport at 4.30am.

Checking in Air Asia to Siem Reap

First SS shot for the trip [more to come!]

We're off the ground

It says "Siem Reap Internation Airport" [Don't ask me, I just know]

Yeah!! It marks the start of our 22-days journey

From the airport, we met Mr. Sovoeun. He drove his uncle's car to pick up tourists to earn a living.

He became our personal driver cum tour guide for the next few days and he's really good and honest. And he's only 23 this year.

If you need a taxi in Siem Reap, do contact him at 012-491227 [handphone] OR jonsovoeun@yahoo.com [email].

Checked into our guesthouse [Ivy Guesthouse]

Small toilet

It's quite decent but the weather is HOT! [wished there were airconds]

As usual, I'll be posting a lot of photos with little descriptions so that you don't get bored with words.

Next will be the walk around town and stepping into the Angkor complex. Billy, out.

Next post: Walking Around Siem Reap

My Graduation Trip

As most of you know, the trip lasted 22 days with three other friends of mine. Now, I'm going to elaborate a little more before I start posting my photos.

There are four main pitstops in our trip:

• Siem Reap, Cambodia - The Golden History of Angkor
• Bangkok, Thailand - The City of Life
• Chiang Mai, Thailand - The Cultural Experience
• Luang Prabang & Vang Vieng, Laos - The Jewel of Nature

These names are given by MinBee and myself. There's actually a special theme in each place we stop.

I shall elaborate more when I post about them in the future. Stay tune! Billy, out.

The Happening

24 June 2008 @ GSC, 1 Utama

It marked the end of our 22-days graduation trip to Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.


Everybody's turned darker, but it was a great trip. We decided to eat Bak Kut Teh as dinner and watch a movie for celebration.

Due to the fact that we have lost contact with the cinema for 3 weeks, we don't know which show to watch. After voting, majority chose The Happening.


The four of us didn't know what the heck The Happening is all about. We just chose it because we like the poster and it looked rather mysterious. We entered the cinema hall without a clue what the story line will be.


The movie is rather interesting and the idea is quite unlike the others. As usual, there're some expected scenes and also some unexpected outcomes in the show.


For you who haven't watch the movie, I'd just say that many people died and whoever killed them is remained unknown. For me, I think it's the yucky greenish thingy that's killing everyone in town. Never thought it'd be them eh. =P Billy, out.

Final Stop in Vientiane

I've just reached Vientiane, the capital of Laos at 1.30pm local time.

We'll fly back to Malaysia the next day [24 June].

Roti Canai, Chicken Rice, Char Kuey Tiaw, Nasi Lemak! Here I come!! Billy, out.

Greetings from Luang Prabang, Laos

Finally, we've reached the final country to be visited, Laos, The Land of Million Elephants!

It took us three days to get from Chiang Mai, Thailand to Luang Prabang, Laos. Two of the three days were in a slow boat on Mekong River. It's a torture riding on the boat.


Though Laos is a poor country, the condition here is not as bad as I think. At least they still have so-called "hi-speed" Internet for me.

I think it's quite peaceful and safe here but some of the things as not as cheap as you think. Even visiting a small temple costs RM8.

Talking about the currencies here, they do accept a lot of different currencies. The widely used ones are Lao Kip, Thai Baht, US Dollar and Euros.

We'll be traveling to the south of Laos for the rest of the trip and then back to Malaysia from Vientiane. That's all for now. Billy, out.

Currencies

Travelling to other countries meaning changing different currencies. Here're some of the currencies used throughout the whole trip.

Cambodian Riels

Exchange rate: 4000 riels = RM3.2 = US$1

Although Riels is the official currency for Cambodia, people in Cambodia still do tradings in US dollars. As US$1 is about 4000 riels and 10cents is 400 Riels, Cambodians always return the change in Riels rather than the US coins.

Other than that, it's quite hard to recognize Riel notes as the same value may have various colour and design. Took me quite some time to actually get used to it.

Thai Baht

Exchange rate: 10 Baht = RM1

Thai Baht is a very stable currecy and is widely used in the whole of Thailand. It's also very easy for calculation [for Malaysians] as it's about ten times the value of Ringgit.

They have 20, 100, 500 and 1000 Baht in notes while 1, 5, 10 Baht in coins. It's quite easy to recognize but collecting coins as change is tedious. I shall get rid of all the coins before I leave Thailand.




Lao (Laos) Kip

Exchange rate: 8500 Kip = US$1, 2500 Kip = RM1 *edited*

Honestly, I don't know how Kip looks like yet because I'm still in Thailand. But I heard that USD is also widely accepted like Cambodia. So I shall see when we get there.




US Dollar

Exchange rate: US$1 = RM3.2

USD has been a standard in converting currencies in the world. As it's also being accepted in Cambodia and Laos, sure do we preprared ourselves with some US Dollars. It can come in quite handy.



That's all for now. I should be riding on a slow boat to Laos now. Billy, out.

* All exchange rates are as of June 2008
* All exchange rates are in approximation only

Greetings from Chiang Mai, Thailand

I'm now in my third pit stop, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Just came back from a 3-day trekking in the jungle to see the tribes, elephants and rafting. It was really exhausting yet satisfying.

Everything is good here. Nice people, nice guesthouse [with free Internet on a slow computer], nice weather, nice food. And I think there're more English-speaking Thais here than in Bangkok. [weird]

I should get some rest here before heading towards the next pit stop. Cheers everybody. Billy, out.

잘가

Five young ladies are heading towards Busan, Korea to undergo industrial training today.

Wishing them all the best in all their undertakings and enjoy their stay there.

Members of B&B Backpack Gang

A little history of B&B:

B&B was formed by Kuan, MinBee, LeongKee and me. It is the name of our group who always go to trips together. The first time we use it was the trip to Taman Negara. [Day 1, Day 2, Day 3]

Then we also went to Kota Kinabalu, Johor, and many many other celebrations together.

Initially, B&B stands for Beauty and Beasts but I think it'll sound better if we change to Beauty and Brains. Each member has a nickname that end with ~B too.

This time, only 4 members of B&B gang head out for the 22-days backpacking challenge. They are...

Kuan - The leader, The oldest, The navigator

MinBee - The photographer, The secretary, The grandmother, The alarm clock

LeongKee - The mysterious I-have-no-opinion guy, The camcorderman

Myself - The banker, The doctor, The youngest but smartest

I can't wait to plan for our next trip already, though this one is not over yet. Hehe.. B&B Forever! Billy, out.

Greetings from Bangkok, Thailand

I've crossed the border of Cambodia-Thailand and staying in Bangkok now. It's not so hot here because there're air-cond everywhere.


We're facing a bigger problem of communication here as all the signs and menus are in Thai. Worry not as I'm still alive blogging here and not starved to death.

I'm going to try the famous Tom Yum Kung tomorrow! Billy, out.

Gears for my Graduation Trip

These are the stuffs brought with me for the 22 days vacation.

Backpack and waist pouch - clothes, sleeping bag, toiletries and etc

A good pair of sandals for walking miles and miles of neverending roads

Medications [don't forget I was a St. John first aider. So, I'm the "doctor" for this trip]
Proud to be an ex-SJAMer ^^

Most important - Lots of money!
[I'm the banker for this trip as well. Heavy burden... ]

Not to forget, we also brought along a really good camera [DSLR], a normal digital camera and a video camera. Wootz~

This is a scheduled post, so by the time you read this, I'd probably soaking in spa or having special massage in Bangkok. Billy, out.

Greetings from Siem Reap, Cambodia

I've reached Siem Reap safely and renting a computer at Internet cafe to go online now.

It's freaking hot and dusty here and we've been through a lot of "wind wind rain rain" in these few days..

Please stay tune for more updates. Billy, out.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company

24 May 2008 @ Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., The Curve, Mutiara Damansara

This is the dinner right after me and my friends here became part of the unemployed citizens in Malaysia. After a long discussion, we settled at Bubba Gump at 9pm.


The interior of the restaurant is rather interesting. It has two storeys and there are lots of sign boards and posters hanging around.



The food finally came after waiting for donkey years while all our stomachs are growling.

Forgot the name - Fish with some sauce on top of mashed potatoes

Garlic bread - to go with the sauce in the photo above

Caesar's Salad - taste great with a touch of vinegar

Fishwich - The largest fish fillet burger I've eaten. Lovin' it.

Salmon and Veggie Skillet - Perfectly grilled salmon andfresh vegetables to go with rice

Salad with grilled chicken

Chocolate Cookie Sundae - freshly baked chocolate chip cookie at the bottom with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream for the top. Oh, yummy chocolates~

After filling up our poor tummies, it's time to get high - photo shooting session!

The "Stop Forrest Stop" sign is to stop the waiter if you need any help. Jillian puts the pail on her head! I think the pail is for throwing rubbish in it and she puts on her head.

A group shot - [standing] PingNee, Daniel, Jessica, Steven, Jillian, [sitting] Denise, XinWei, Me, Teresa

At the stairs

The ladies

I was surprised that they have their own souvenir shop right outside the restaurant. They have shrimp soft tors, t-shirts, tabasco sauce and many more.


Most of my friends didn't enjoy the food served. I guess Teresa did a great job in selecting the right dish from the menu, I'm satisfied with all four dishes I shared with her and Jillian.

Aside from that, I think the service is too slow and we need to wait too long for the food. Perhaps it's a saturday night and there're too many customers to be served. Yet, I think it's not a good reason for a bad service.

If you're a seafood lover, you can try to check it out when it's not so crowded. Billy, out.