Inner City Blues

I’ve heard stories about people are willing to travel miles from the place they are currently at, to a place just to taste a certain particular food where it is famous for. I have long thought that those people must be too stupid or just generally have too much free time at hand and have nothing else better to do. Well, i thought wrong. My girlfriend and i, traveled 120km from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca just to eat, Chicken Rice. Here is our saga.

Left my house at about 1100hrs and only made one stop for fuel and stock up supplies for “breakfast” which i think is perhaps the most daring thing i’ve ever done to date. Forbidden’s fuel tank supply was only good for about 120kms according to the digital odometer provided and i wanted to pumped in an extra RM50.00 worth of V-power but my girlfriend reckoned that what we have is sufficient. Placed my trust in her and begin our journey. There were about 4 to 5 stops in along the way which i missed ALL of them and we are draining on just about 50km of estimated fuel capacity which would take about another 5 minutes drive before it displays “—” Just right before the Ayer Keroh exit, there was one petrol kiosk, pumped in RM20.00.

I’ve been to Malacca once 2 years ago so i couldn’t remember AT ALL how to go to that chicken rice shop where they it was nice because i wasn’t driving and so i didn’t pay attention to any details at all. Plus, i wouldn’t have expected that this day would come, to do the things that i once considered as redundant which is actually not =) Reached Malacca at about 1300hrs and acquired my route destination via Victor, JC and Vanessa for that matter. As soon as we parked our car at Jonker Street, it started pouring -.-

We couldn’t find “the restaurant” and after asking for directions, we are still lost -.-! we got sidetracked in between and we miraculously wandered from the beginning of Jonker Street to the end of it and still couldn’t find it and to make matters worst, it was raining T___T girlfriend’s feet was bruised from all the walking and so we just agreed to settled on the next chicken rice shop we see but i was somehow determined and not willing to give up until i found the restaurant i want to find. After spending about 30 minutes walking on the streets, we finally found it =’)

Apparently, we walked passed this restaurant the moment we walked into Jonker Street and right until now i am still puzzled on how in the world can that happened. Thank goodness it didn’t take long for them to serve food on our table because we were exhausted from all that walking, we were thirsty, we were hungry. Literally, quite miserable but luckily the chicken rice was good. Girlfriend smiled and everything went well after that ^^

For 2 people, we are given 12 rice balls and we subsequently ordered another 12 balls and the later order proved worthy because it came right out of the rice cooker whereas the earlier one that was served, tasted more like they were there since early morning. The surprising thing is they didn’t asked us which part of the chicken we would want to have unlike other conventional chicken rice store here, then again i thought it was normal for them because afterall people come here just to eat the rice balls and not the chicken.

The bill added up to a whooping RM27.00 which came quite a surprise for me on a lunch for two. Having satisfied our chicken rice balls desires, we walked out of that impossible restaurant and continued walking along Jonker Street. Just that morning i was thinking to myself before i left home on the issue on whether will my camera ran out of battery while we are in Malacca but i shoved that thoughts aside thinking that, how can i get so lucky, right?

I am that lucky -.- battery went dead after 10 or 15 shots and thankfully, there was my N78 to the rescue T__T

This is Jonker Gallery and apparently it is the “capitalist” of Jonker Street because in this street itself they have like 5 to 6 stores which sells almost identical items. What is the point? Beats me *shrugs* but i got to admit, they have things that are quite unique to the eye and interesting at the same time, pretty mind provoking XD Why this picture? If you haven’t noticed it yet, it’s the chicken on top of the sign board, thank you very much!

Spend a few hours in Jonker Street itself and then we went for a second round of chicken rice ball at another store which seems to be the “popular” one because they have all the pictures of celebrities coming in all attached to a wall and although their employees all looked like creatures from the deep sea and they all carry a very weird character, they served pretty decent chicken rice balls and a plus point here, they actually enquire which part of the chicken you prefer. So, minus one mark for the first shop!

This restaurant also sells Ice Kacang and Malacca is famous for it because they uses Gula Malacca instead of brown sugar and it really makes a difference T__T we then proceed out of Jonker Street and into “The Stadhuys” area and do a bit of historical explanation to my girlfriend before we head over to a street side Ice Kacang seller and paid RM1.70 for an Ice Kacang which tastes NOTHING like Ice Kacang >=( and the sole reason why that happened is because we are plainly cheap ._. the nice one we had earlier costs RM3.00 OK!

We knew the government relocated the “Eye of Malaysia” to Malacca from Titiwangsa and the last time my girlfriend and i saw this ferries wheel is when we are not a couple yet and we didn’t get the chance to get on it and so since we are on a road trip, even before night fall i told my girlfriend that we are going to get on it no matter what. It wasn’t a difficult task locating this thing because it’s so blardy huge and Malacca is so backward that you can hardly see any building that’s higher than a 4 storey. If you miss this thing, you must be extraordinarily more blind than a blind person, seriously.

You got to believe me when i said that this thing looks better when night transformed completely and it has all the light effects on and i must say, it was a good thing that my S5 batteries “recharged” itself enabling me to capture this baby =) The ticket was RM20.00 for adult if i’m not mistaken and you can use your MyKad and your Student ID at the same time to obtain double discount, girlfriend paid RM16.00 for 2 tickets.

It was a very comfortable ride in the gondola because it’s very well air conditioned and the insides are very clean.

This is what you will see when you are up there, the view of Malacca town basically i think or it could be something else. I am not sure.

… and this is the Pier alleged to have the “Satay Celup” restaurant on it but we never made it to turn into this place because we kept on overshot the junction. I wouldn’t say the “Eye of Malaysia” ride is the best way to see the skylines of Malacca at night because partly due to the reason that Malacca isn’t really a very well developed state and skylines are only attractive if there are many brightly lit tall buildings like the ones in Kuala Lumpur but that doesn’t mean the ride was a waste of time.

I came to a conclusion that, the ride isn’t all about what you can see when you’re on it. It’s about who you are with, on it. It makes hell lot of a difference. My girlfriend and i had great time while we were on it and we hardly paid any attention to the surroundings.

After the ride, we went in search for Malacca’s infamous “Satay Celup” and we almost gave up on it because we just couldn’t find it even after driving around the town and circling the same area for 3 times. We decided to just head back Kuala Lumpur and eat dinner there and when all hope seems lost, we saw a signboard that led us directly to this place =D

You are given a pot of satay sauce all to yourself, much like a “lok-lok” kinda affair and you proceed into the shop where all the ingredients are placed in a refrigerated window.

…such as this

…and this. Take whatever you feel like eating and go back to your table and dip away ^^! I think the price is quite economical, RM0.50cents for one stick, definitely cheaper than those “lok-lok” trucks you see around town. We ate 30 sticks with 2 cups of drinks and it only costs us RM19.70!

Will definitely go back if we ever go to Malacca again but it’s going to be pretty hard seeking out this restaurant again because i have forgot how to get there -.- but hey, it’s an adventure so it’s not supposed to be all “planned” out =D

Left Malacca at about 2100hrs and the road back is not kind to me at all T___T drove at an average of 160kmph and it took me nearly one and half hours to reach back Kuala Lumpur but on and all, it was a fun experience =)

Malacca Roadtrip
Distance : Approximately 240kilometers (to and back)

Toll : RM14.80 x 2 = RM29.60
Fuel : RM40.00
Food & Misc. : RM27.00 + RM9.00 + RM4.80 + RM5.40 + RM1.70 + RM3.00 + RM10.00 + RM12.00 + RM19.70 + RM16.00 [Paid by Girlfriend] = RM103.60

[Total Cost = RM173.20]

This is only if you want to know =)

Might Be Upgrading

Should i be throwing myself over a used 2 year old and dSLR?

It has always been my dream to own one but is it really practical or necessary considering my circumstances now that i’ve purchased the S5 which is a year old come this August and has been performing more than well beyond my expectations?

Friend, Marc told me that his friend is giving the Nikon D40x for a thousand with kit lens attached of course. It is “quite” attractive i must say but then again, it’s used for 2 years. Gawd knows what happens in between that 2 years, ever since i bought that second hand Nokia N80 phone of mine, i have stopped believing in used goods anymore.

However, if i am able to fetch a relatively high resale value for my S5. There is a possibility that i might just upgrade but then again, the S5, i’ve got to admit is a very fun machine compared to the old and boring dSLRs which is purely for one to solely indulge into photograph, bokeh tendencies.

Will seek counsel T___T

“Great Couple Meme” (Girlfriend Edition)

Girlfriend used to have a blog but not anymore and so since i answered the “meme” in my capacity, it’s only mutual that she does the same otherwise this would not be called a  “great couple meme” but instead the “memoirs of a lonely man” T____T

Republishing it without any substantial alterations but for bold and italics.

1) Tell us about the first time you met and your first impression of him/her:

The first time we met was somewhere in August, 2007. It was a meeting that I looked forward to as I was really excited to meet up with that sarcastic ass who asked me to ‘fuck off’ when I touched his head virtually online -.- He was surprisingly cool and didn’t even bother looking at me when he spoke to me. I felt a little unappreciated when he dropped onto Andy’s bed and slept WHILE I WAS THERE, just 2 meters away. One hour of prettifying myself was futile WTF.

2) What’s a weird habit or quirk that he has?

He is obsessed with touching the corner of his cargo pants. Obsessed, I tell you.

3) What makes him sad?

Transformers 2 coming out only in July. Not being born a girl so he could play with eyeshadows and nail polish AND admire Daniel Wu and Justin Timberlake OPENLY, wtf. When I don’t reply to his messages fast enough. When he wakes up every morning and find that Forbidden is still a Gen 2, and not a LS 460/BMW(any version). When I chat with non-females. When I don’t show appreciation for the things he does for me. XP

4) What makes him angry?

I would say me cheating on him, but then I realized I don’t even get to speak to the opposite sex, let alone flirt. WTF. When I go out with my friends and ignore him. Sucky drivers who do not use the signals. People who are rude to/disrespect his family.

5) What excites him?

Me. HAHAHAHAHA. Transformers. Cars. dSLRs. When his favourite songs come on radio. Good pictures. Gadgets, generally.

6) Tell us something funny about him?

He does PERFECT hamster dance. Hahahahahahahaha

7) What’s he like at home?

Pretty much how he is outside, just crazier -_-. Like to tease his mother and scare her by sticking his arm into his shirt and say ‘ma, chiu!’ Likes to explore his semi dSLR and experiment with pictures and Photoshop.

9) Describe his room.

Neat. Contains 3 fishes and 2 rats. And 2 bears, 1 dolphin, and 1 Christmas tree.

10) What’s his best friend like?

Have a personal servant. Used to drive his dream car =p. Chatty. Organizes ze best BBQ party. And very very very blur hahahaha.

11) Do you know who he hates the most?

Basically everyone except his own family and me. Untrustworthy people. My ex. My friends. -_-

12) Have you met his exes?

Nope.

13) Do his parents like you?

I think they do. I am so likeable and adorable, what’s there not to like about me *flicks hair*

14) What’s the first thing he would do or say if he fell down and scraped his knee?

FUCK!

15) What would he do in an emergency situation with other people involved?

1. ‘Ahhh see! Damn stupid. Like that also can crash. Stupid la, stupid somemore. Wanna act yeng.’

2. ‘DRIVE LA, see. what see! Accident never see before meh! Stupid Malaysians damn like to stop traffic wtf.’

16) Which shop would he spend most of the time at in a shopping mall?

Shoe shops. Because his girlfriend has a newfounded shoe feti… passion.

19) What kind of movie would he choose at the cinema?

Action movies, e.g. Transformers. Adam Sandler/ Ben Stiller’s movies. Fucked up LAME movies. -_-

20) Describe his taste in music?

Very nigga. Jazz. Any Justin Timberlake’s songs -.-. He’s ok with most genres.

21) If he wasn’t going out with you, who would he be going out with?

Someone who would not love, adore, and appreciate him a quarter as much as I do. =p

22) What item in her wardrobe would you like to burn?

Anything that screams ‘I AM BRIGHT. WEAR ME’. *hint* *cough*

23) What is he good at?

Gadgets. Computers. Cars. Keeping me. =p

24) What is he totally horrible at?

Surprises HAHAHAHA. Nope, telling me we are going to share a McDs meal for dinner on our anniversary 5 times in 2 hours will not work.

Art.

25) What’s something about him that is annoying/infuriating?

Him not allowing me to pay when I want to!. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is the stubborn can die. >=( And his CONSTANT thoughts of me wanting to cheat on him WTFFF.

26) What’s something that you two fundamentally disagree on?

The issue of friendship and humanity. And racism. -_-

27) What’s something that you two agree whole-heartedly on?

BMW rocks.

28) Is he possessive?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

29) Why would he succeed in life?

Too egoistic to fail or to be thought as useless. He has this crazy strong drive to do the things he wants to do just to prove himself. He is insanely tidy for a guy and he is also very street-smart and wise. He knows a lot more than any guy his age.

30) What is the coolest gift that he has ever given you?

MY ideal boyfriend.

31) What does he avoid at all costs?

Trannies. Malays. Socializing or making small talks. Kids.

32) What does he spend the most money on?

Me *guilty*.

33) Describe his typical Sunday.

Usually start with him shaking me out of bed. When failed, he’ll pull me out of bed, dress me, and drag me into the car to send me home before his class, or just let me sleep in until he comes back from class hahaha.

34) Why would he be dangerous?

His angry nature. Temper worse than a bull when he is pissed. Drives like one too. -.- Freaks the shit out of me -.-.-.-!

35) Tell us about a time he looked absolutely gorgeous.

In suit =p. When he is asleep =). And when he stares right through my eyes, and into my oozing heart, while holding me close to him =)).

36) What’s something about him that would surprise all of his friends?

He can be a very romantic person, and when you know him long enough/when he gets TOO comfortable with you -.-, he will start doing lame dance moves and expect you to follow. And that he can be quite vain. And he likes to flex his biceps and say he is secretly Vin Diesel’s brother (because they share the same first name, and the size of biceps WTF). And the fact that he has a smelly pillow (security blanket ok people) that he simply can’t live without. Hahah

37) What do you love most about him?

His scent. How he loves me so unconditionally and spoils me until my mom stops him from over-spoiling me -_-! FYI, my very own mother has also asked him how he can possibly put up with me and all my unlady-like habits for so long. Wtfwtfwtf

38) The biggest lesson you have learnt from loving your soulmate.

I learned that there IS a soul mate for you out there. Your other half. Before he came into my life, I have always believed that there is someone out there who is meant for you. But whether you found him/her or not, that’s your luck. I never stopped believing, and he was my greatest reward. I have also learned that when you loved someone deep enough, you’ll change what you believe in for years, just to refrain from bruising his feelings. And that you will eventually pick up all his bad habits like sniffling The Smelly Pillow yourself -.-, or scold vulgar Hokkien words.

Although i must admit that my girlfriend’s version has a level of profanity beyond danger but if you read everything as a whole, you can extract the sweetness it in ^^