Snake killer

No, this is not an Indian cat. Some kampung cat which had its fun with the snake, killed it and coolly walked away.

Indian Delicacies

One of the horror stories before I came over was how easily everybody got food poisoning over here in India. Some said it got so bad that you are unsure whether to puke it out or shit it out.

One thing they didn't tell me though. Food here is godly taste good as hell.



I only managed to try their chapati, naan and briyani so far. Yea, you can easily get them back home, but its a total different league here. The ammount of side dishes accompanying the bread, and the tantalizing aroma immediately sent my taste buds craving for more, even now as I am writing this. The existence of curry back home is a mockery to the curry served here. God, I might spit at the fake Indian food back home.



Another thing India is famous for should be their mangoes.



I bought two kilos of these mangoes for only 70 rupees (RM5). Sweet succulent fruits they are. You could even separate the flesh from the seed by squeezing it with the skin still on, and then suck the flesh and juice out from a hole.

All this great food here, and guess what, no diarrhea.

Wait. I did have slight diarrhea, but that was from having 6 mangoes in a go.

Incredible India

Headlines this morning was all about the Pakistani terrorist launching rockets into Punjab.

I am in fucking Punjab. Thankfully it was some other city near the India-Pakistan border.

Yup. I am now in Chandigarh, Punjab in India. It was just a week ago when I was still enjoying my favourite meal of herbal pork stew aka bak kut teh in Malaysia. After enduring weeks of horror stories from India, here I am to witness the truth with my very own eyes.

Honestly, I still find it hard to believe that I am in India. It is a very surreal feeling and I only have fragments of memory of how I got here.



Transited at Changi Airport for a whole 7 hours

The moment I landed in Delhi, it felt different. I have never seen so many Indians in my entire life. No, that is not a racist statement. They were just … everywhere. It was a freaking sea of brown people.

I got into a car, and headed to my hotel in Gurgaon, Delhi. I felt safer in a roller coaster ride. The roads of India had no rules, more like a free for all deathmatch. They accelerate with their horns, come within inches from each other, stop abruptly in the middle of the freaking highway after missing a turn, drive in reverse and also drive opposing the traffic. Longest ride of my life.

Crashed the moment I reached my hotel in Gurgaon, Delhi. Woke up about 5am the next morning due to time difference and got ready for another long road trip up North. It was only 280km apparently to Chandigarh, but the freaking trip took near 6 hours. It was interesting the first 2 hours. Their road transportation varied from lorries, cars, rickshaws, bicycles, to horses, cows, and even donkeys. You could even find warthogs running around freely.


A view outside my hotel in Gurgaon. And I thought Malaysia was hazy.


Looks like this area was bombarded.

The scenery for the next 200 kilometers was more or less like this:


Poverty.


Abandoned.


Messy.


And barren.

The surroundings improved slightly up north. There were more trees, a lot of paddy fields and less dusty. Chandigarh is known as the greenest city in India and that is quite true with trees and parks surrounding the whole place. The place isn't as crowded as Delhi and more men in turbans could be seen around.


But you can still easily spot horses and cows in Chandigarh.

Reading and hearing about India can only tell you so much. Experiencing it for yourself is a whole different thing. Really. How the heck did I end up in this shithole fascinating country.

Play-Asia.com

Ever since I came upon Play Asia, game shopping had never been easier. Just a few simple clicks, and a parcel would be delivered to my office within ten to fifteen days. Ample duration to finish off a game comfortably. Plus with a 5USD discount coupon with every purchase, that'd easily make it cheaper than most places in Malaysia.

Shopping around for original games around here can be pretty disappointing. Besides Gamer's Hideout at the Cineleisure, I can say all the other shops are pretty fucked up. Showing off their fucking attitude when their products are marked up sky high. URRGGggHHggHH!! Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. Just die maggots scums!!!!

Only problem would be its just too convenient. Too convenient. I am leaving my room less. I am getting glued to my couch. Game after game delivered to me. Life couldn't be better. MuAHAhAhAhAhAhA!!!!

Bangkok, finally

Okay, guess it took me a while to update it. Well, lets just keep it sweet and short.



The inn which we stayed at, Sawasdee Banglumpoo Inn. It was pretty cheap, so I didn't have much expectations about it but it turned out pretty alright. This inn had the least negative comments on the net, and personally I have no complaints about it at all. Clean, cozy and perfect location (just beside Khao San's road where all the night life and entertainment was.)



Khao San road. A really lively place filled with pubs, clubs, massage parlors, hawkers, restaurants, peddlers, convenient stores, you name it. The whole street was filled with foreigners and Thais trying to take advantage of them. Tuk-tuk drivers kept pestering to take us for hookers and happy ending massages. Yea, I guess you can get almost everything there on Khao San road.



First day was spent at the huge market, Chatuchak. Huge is an understatement. If you can't find something there, most probably you won't be able to find it anywhere else in Bangkok. They sold almost everything, from food to clothing to pets to giant Buddha statues. It was like some maze and it was easy to get disorientated over there. The noise, the energy, simply fascinating.



Boat noodles, one of the Thai food which you can find anywhere. Spicy soup which blended perfectly well with the meat and noodles. This was one of the stalls at Chatuchak with cauldrons of boiling soup and mountains of meat. This stall is flocked by the locals themselves, and that is the best indication that the food there rocks.


Mmmmmmm, yea I know. My mouth is watering too...


Some Jamaican shop (ran by Thais) at Chatuchak selling Rasta stuff, from Bob Marley t-shirts to bongs to marijuana designed accessories. Somehow you can find these Rasta themed shops easily in Bangkok. And in Khao San, there are many outlets who braid and dread hairs. A good place to be Rasta-rized.


Huge prawns being baked alive. Can't get any fresher than this.



Went for Calypso, a cabaret show later that night. One of the most talked about cabaret show in town. Got tickets from a tour agency at my inn and it was cheaper than purchasing it directly from the official booth itself. If I recall properly, I paid 600 baht for it when it costs 900 baht at the official booth.



I really enjoyed the show. Would definitely go again if I were to drop by Bangkok again. The beautiful boys girls, the changing backdrop, the lightings, the costumes, the lip syncing, the humour, the music, some nipple flashing was simply spectacular.


No, those aren't real ostriches. Everyone seems to ask if they were real. Notice the fat human legs under the bird.


They portrayed many different cultures from Japan, Korea, Spain, Europe and of course, Thailand.


A spectacular play where they incorporated a war/fight scene into a beautiful dance.

After the show, we thought of heading to Patpong for some night life. But a fucking tuk-tuk driver had to spoil the night. He brought us to some secluded back alley and insisted that that was Patpong. There was only one dodgy bar there with a couple of pole dancers. He later then added that it was some big Buddha day in Bangkok and all the other shops would be closed. Not convincing. Asked him to bring us back to our inn.

Along the way, he offered to take us for some food which we agreed to coz we were hungry. Ended up bringing us to some restaurant with lobsters and expensive looking fishes. A bowl of tomyam there cost 500 baht. Fuck this guy. We walked out and decided to head back to our inn, with or without that fucker. He sent us home and charged us triple the fare insisting that he brought us to a few places. He even had the cheek to give us his card and ask us to call him the next day as he could bring us around. It can be pretty insulting being treated like a moron.

..............................

The actual plan for the next day was to head out to Ayutthiya, on our own. Thankfully and luckily, we came across a travel agency and booked a tour there for the following day. And it only cost 500 baht for a day's tour. Change of plans and we decided to visit the other famous spots like the Grand Palace, temple of Dawn and the river tour.


It was about a 15 minutes walk to the area, and during that 15 minutes we were approached by a few tuk tuk drivers who insisted that it was big Buddha day celebration and the temples were only open to locals. Seriously, fuck them all. Everyday is some fucking big Buddha day to them and there would be a few special temples open to public that they could take us to. We ignored them and carried on with our original plan, which went smoothly.


To all the Buddhists who become vegetarians every now and then, I believe there must be some sort of contradiction in the religion practiced. Well, I dunno. It's your choice.


The majestic view of the Grand Palace.


A fusion between European design and Thai architecture.



We hired a tour guide over there for 300 baht, and it was worth every baht. It wouldn't have been that interesting if we were just trying to appreciate walls and paintings and Buddha statues. Add a little pinch of history to it, and that can really spice things up. Yea, I know my shirt is a little tight. I was conned. I was told that the cutting was bigger and was the same as double XL. Fucking whore.



After that we went for a river tour around Bangkok. Paid 700 baht for it, and it was a pretty lame tour. Took about an hour staring at mud colored waters and houses on stilts. Only consolation was that I could rest my tired feet a little.



The river tour ended at Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn. Whatever man. By this time, I was tired of walking and sick of looking at temples. Yea, splendid architecture, nice stone carvings, nice Buddha statue, but I can only take so much a day.


Another pic of Wat Arun.


Another damn pic of Wat Arun.


Scenery from the top of Wat Arun.


Oh yea, we went to another temple after that, Wat Po. Yea, yea, nice big sleeping Buddha there. NEXT!!!



We were basically in Bangkok for four days and four nights. Ample time for us to have a day trip, a nice evening nap, and night trip. So, we decided to check out another one of Thai trademarks - Muay Thai. We paid the most for this ticket, a whooping 2000 Baht!! Ring side tickets!!



Foreigners would be sat around the ring. There was a section with filled with policemen and another section filled with locals. ALL the locals were screaming, jeering, shouting and betting openly. A pretty scary sight. They somehow managed to place their bets just by giving hand signals and nodding. But it was rowdy as hell. Wouldn't want to be there for a 100 baht.



Most of the fighters were kids or in their early teenage years. Was kinda disappointed with that fact. Yea, they were bulging with muscles and stuff, but they were kids!! My opinion changed the moment the bell rung. Those kids could fight! Slashing kicks and piercing jabs. Any of those kids could kick my ass easily. Or rather rip my ass!



One thing about them, I really admire their sportsmanship. Even after being pounded and having blood spilled, they still respect each other and life goes on as usual after that. I bet if that was a tournament in Malaysia, a gang would be waiting after the match to finish up the winner.

.....................

Third day in Bangkok, Ayutthiya.

Woke up real early that day, grabbed a quick breakfast (more boat noodles) and headed to the pick up point. A couple of Japs and some Europeans were in the same tour. We fitted into a mini bus and the journey was near to two hours. A Japanese sat beside me and slept on me the entire trip. Nice. Never had I imagined that I would sleep with a Japanese. Okay, I guess slept on and slept with gives a whole different meaning.

Anyway...


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That fucking Jap!! 2 hours of Japanese drool!!

Luckily, we decided to go with the tour. Initially, we planned to take a train to the area and explore it on our own. If we had done that, I bet we would have wasted a whole day doing nothing. The ruins were situated far from each other, and there was hardly any vehicles around. Even if we had charted a taxi, it would definitely be more than 500 baht each.


Our tour guide for the day. Looks like Yoda, and speaks like Yoda. "Ayutthiya very old. Very old it is."


One of our first stops. Can't recall much of the details, but this really took my breath away. There was just too many steps to the top.



More ruins.


This place was my favourite of Ayutthiya. It was under Sri Lankan influence and the pagodas were really fascinating. You haven't really been to Ayutthiya unless you've been here.


Would definitely go there again in future. Seeing it in pictures cant even compare.


Some warning sign which prohibits certain actions. We only came across this sign at the last stop, so I guess it's already too late.


We already did this.


And this.


This ruins kinda gave me the Mayan feel. I never expected myself to enjoy historical ruins, thinking that its just some old destroyed wall and rocks. But I guess I can't really explain it in words. The word fascinating has been overused in this entry.


One of the Buddha statues which was still in good conditions. Most of the others were destroyed and severely damanged (most without heads).


And this is the most bizarre thing in the area. According to Yoda, the Buddha statue is buried in the ground and rises out of the earth along with the growth of the tree. It took more than 30 years for it to rise that high. So he says.


Checked out MBK, one of the largest malls in Bangkok on our last night. More shopping and we drained every last baht we had.


Dinner at MBK's food court. Totally different from Malaysian food courts. Clean, cheap and excellent food.

Bangkok. Missing it already.

Prawn fishing

My first prawn fishing trip turned out to be a pretty sweet one.

I had been rather skeptical about prawn fishing all this time but was I wrong. These little critters tend to bite at a much higher frequency and the tugging at the super light rod can be really exciting.


Hmmmmmm.....prawn.......


Hmmmmmm............cholesterol.............

Okay okay! It was more exciting cause I was actually catching something?

Even removing prawns from the hook can be 'fun' with their pincers pinching and nipping around.

Time to look up some prawn recipes.

Bro's first gig

So, my brother had his first public gig. And being a supportive big brother, I decided to sacrifice a precious Sunday to watch some gig.

His band, Unexpected Mercy, received invitations to perform at the Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur, some French language school along Gurney Road. Took me half an hour to hail a freaking cab to get there. None of the cabs ran by meter and the price varied from ten bucks to as high as fifty bucks (this mofo was really pushing his luck).


Alliance Fancaise de Kuala Lumpur

I was expecting it to be some stage in the city with lots of sweaty people moshing around but when I got there, I was wondering if I was at the right place.


The mansion


The grand stage

It was just a tent set up in the garden with some mats on the grass. Some Frenchies were lazing on the grass munching chips and gulping beer, enjoying the racket. It was quite pleasant when the bands played some slow songs, accompanied by the sounds of birds chirping and gentle breeze.

And then came my brother's band. Unexpected mercy my ass! It was us who were begging for mercy for them to stop.



WOOOOOOORRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAAARRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

WWWAAAAAARRRRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!! ORRGHHH! ORRRRGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Aron on the bass, 2nd from left.

Apparently, they were singing some English song (so I was told) . The only word I understood from them was "Thank you." at the end of their performance.


Hot french chick

But it was a rather different Sunday compared to the normal boring ones, so I guess it wasn't a bad day after all.

Freedom Festival 2008

"FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" yelled Tracy, whenever she met us or saw us online prior to the rave.

Yea, we went for the Freedom Festival 2008 (last week, yea, this post is long overdue) at the Admiral Marina, Port Dickson. "Two Days of Sun,Sea and Sand with two Wicked Experience, two Times Fun" was the theme for the festival, but we only went for a day and reached there at night, so we didn't see the sun, the sea and the wicked experience was cut down more than half.

But heck, it was my very first rave and it wasn't too bad. Tracy was ecstatic one, being a fan of Tiesto and Cosmic Gate. Cosmic who? Yea, I'm not really a fan of trance but at least I've heard of Tiesto. So a little new experience wouldn't hurt I guess.


Secret characters yet to be revealed.


The gang. Mee Loon, Marvin, Tracy (doing the muka cipet) and Jackal being fascinated with Tracy.

When we reached there, the whole place was brimming with cars and we had to park a mile away. Bengs made good money out of nothing charging sky high prices to park cars on their bapak punya jalan. At the entrance, we were checked thoroughly for drugs, weapons, liquor or whatever illegal we could smuggle in. Even the airport check wasn't this bad.

The moment we were in, we were swarmed by skimpy clothed girls over and over again trying to sell us cigarettes. They kept pestering us even though we've bought a few already. Luckily we could just ignore their lustful voice and persuasiveness. All of us but one. Jackal. He was conned into getting more cigarettes.


There was basically two stages in the area. The main one played trance and another smaller one playing club tracks. This one played the club hits.


Cosmic Gate in action at the main stage.

We headed over to the main stage and joined a huge crowd who were all head banging, shuffling, dancing, screaming, whistling and chilling. Trace started doing her joget and Marve started his free style. Eventually Marve got high enough to strip and dance topless.


A closeup of the DJs from the screen.


By the time Tiesto came on stage, we were all like crammed sardines in a tin. Everyone just went wild and the energy in the area was just crazy.


I guess Tiesto's music was that good that it made people horny and make out.



We reached there about 8pm and it ended at 3am. 7 hours of standing and head banging totally drained the life force out of me. I could no longer feel my legs by then and I was glad as hell that it was over.

Besides the rave, we basically rounded the whole of Seremban. As far as I remember, we were just eating and sleeping most of the time. Had a taste of some of the best delicacies in Seremban, courtesy to Marvin.


The first thing when it comes to Seremban's delicacies is their beef noodles, so they say. We had this one at the Seremban market. It was okaaayyy la...


And Serembanians always boast about their siu pau. Here we had it fresh out of the oven. Consumed it piping hot and it was heavenly. Really loved their egg tarts. The real deal.


Marvin's weird bitch who attacks her own tail like her nemesis


We dropped by here again the next day for massive tabao-ing.


Second round of beef noodles. This one was a shop specializing in beef noodles and I really loved it the noodles there. Makan sampai pecah.


The heavenly beef noodles of Seremban.

I'm missing those few delicacies already.

I want more....