Where everyone speaks!

I had two events on Saturday. One was the Hari Anugerah Cemerlang 2006 in the morning and the other was a birthday celebration during the evening till night. Waited for Ivan's ride at about four in the evening. In his car were three other friends. Giju, Xue Jieh and Chee Cheng. We had a smooth ride to Rafferty's house. Ivan knew the road there, so no time was wasted finding the house. Disembarked from the vehicle and spotted his dad outside the house. We went into the house as the front gates opened up. His house is at the end of the row but not a corner lot. A huge recreational park was just right beside the house. Want to play? Just hop over the fence. Time to eat? Hop over the fence another time. It's so convenient.


A view of the park

We were the first few people who were present. The guys went to the other part of Kota Kemuning for a game of basketball. I stayed behind together with Rafferty and Chee Cheng. We looked around the house, tried to get the karaoke machine working and some chatting. Managed to get Chee Cheng to pose for some shots. Actually, it was on her free will! Heh.


Pretty, no?

Rafferty had a unique chess set. It was made from bones. I played chess with Chee Cheng while Rafferty played with our cameras. Shots were taken by him. More pictures in her camera! Nicer too!


The Chess Set


Me vs. Model

Not long after, the guys came back from their crusade. More people came too. We sat around the living room, had a drink each and talked.


Three girls, one guy

We went outside to have a steamboat dinner together with some pre-cooked food. The curry then was delicious. Had meehon with it. It was superb. Moving on to the steamboat, there were crab sticks, fishballs and all the usual things you would put into the hot boiling water. I sat right infront of the steamboat, dominating the food which enters into the water. Ha ha. We were all fed.


Kit Yuan


Andrew

After dinner, we went inside to enjoy the air conditioner and socialised. Of course taking pictures is one way to socialise =). Some guys are too great of a camera prostitute that he puts girls to shame.


Lens breaking...


Groupie!


Melissa and Hooi Leng


The chicks

I went home at 11.00 PM or so.

How did this end up here?

I received a letter from my school regarding the Excellence Awards Day a few weeks ago. Well it's more like I collected it from the school's office. Anyway the event took place just a day ago, in the school's assembly. I reached school around 8 AM. Fifteen minutes later than the stated time in the letter. But you see, it's all Malaysian timing. No harm done reaching then. Walked through the front entrance, towards the office where the welcoming committee was. Registered and walked towards the assembly where tents were erected to shield us from the sun. Met a few teachers and inquired on my seating. Sat down and wasted minutes of my life.


Choir from SRK USJ 12

The event kicked off with a performance from a choir which consisted of students from the primary school next door. They were coached by Mrs. Jill though. They sang SMK USJ 12's school song. A little too quick at the beginning but they manage to sing along with the rhythm in the end. A little inexperienced? The next song was a patriotic song, common during National Day.


Awarding of certificates

The day moved on with the awarding of certificates to students who topped their classes as well as scoring the highest marks in a subject for that form. As usual, it would be awarded by someone with status. Standard protocol on receiving the certificates was compulsory. People went up the stage and went down continuously. The crowd must have been getting bored. Well, me too. I suppose.


The crowd


Kim Leong and Vincent

We took a break awhile after all these as the other VIP supposed to award certificates to those who did well in the PMR and SPM examinations was not present yet. Everyone took a breather. The VIP entered the premises with a bang. Traditional Kompang was pounded repeatedly while everyone stood up as a sign of respect.


Zapin

Next up was a traditional Malay dance called the Zapin. It was performed by our own students of different races. Those guys were already long in that business. Have been watching them perform the same routine during my high school years during big events. I guess after that were a few speeches and then a multimedia presentation.


Kevin Phang


Me

After that, the awarding of certificates continued. The steps that we were told to follow was take a bow, wish the Datuk good morning, receive the certificate, shake his hands and utter the words "thank you". I went up, I bowed but I can't recall whether I greeted him with his Datuk title. Ah well, respect is earned and not asked for.


Of friends

Woke up from bed and it was the second day in Indonesia. Went down to the hotel's restaurant for a breakfast buffet. I can't recall what I had for breakfast but all I know that I had a few half boiled eggs. Guess what, some people left eggs in the water and did not bother to collect it after that. Perhaps it just slipped their minds. After breakfast, we headed of to the nearest malls. Yes, by foot. Not many of the shops were open as it was a weekend.


Here comes the rain deers!

Well, my mom headed to a shop which sells clothings simillar to baju kurung over here. It seems that she has befriended the owner of the shop. However, the owner was not there at that time. Beside the shop was another shop running a similar business. It was owned by an Indian couple. Wow.


The shop

My dad bought a cup of sweet corn.


More cheese!

Here's a scene from the shopping mall.


Shopaholic's paradise

We had enough of that shopping mall and went on to another one. Which was quite far away. We had to walk our way there. Oh by the way, roads in Jakarta have big ditches along it. For what? I guess it's to prevent flooding of the area as Jakarta is a swampland. The water was stagnant though. It stinked.


Castle

For the first time in my life, I saw an escalator which spiralled. Not the typical straight ones you would see daily.


It's so much fun!


Night scenery

Once again, didn't have dinner on time. We walked back to the hotel under the cover of darkness. Quite dangerous and scary! On the way back, we bought some corn. We had our dinner in the restaurant's diner.


Corn!


Mango pomfret


Sup buntut ( no, im serious )


Hotel pool

Alright this is a continuity of the Indonesia post. To every humans and a donkey/puffer fish, thanks for your patience. My gratitude given. After having lunch at the restaurant, we headed for the shopping malls. We visited malls where the rich spend their time shopping time there. Majority of them are Chinese Indonesians. I'm speaking the truth alright. Vehicles were screen for any bombs or suspicious material. Security was tight. Even entering the mall on foot, you would be screen. With a bomb detector. I didn't trigger any alarms. Ha ha.


Mom with an expensive bag


This is really a 3D TV

Sorry that I forgot to inform you all that I went during Christmas last year. So well, as usual there will be Christmas decorations all around.


There's a kid in the snow!

Snowmans are not a common sight in Malaysia. So, my sisters and I took turns to pose with it.


Snow queens


Take that!

We left the mall and headed to another mall which was nearby. We did not have dinner anytime soon even though it was supposed to be dinner time!


Jingle bells, batman smells...

There was Christmas carolling too. Sang by the local Indonesians!


"Hark now hear the angels sing"

Walking around, spotted something out of the norm. Instead of dummies to model the clothes, there were real people! They had to remain motionless behind a glass screen for who knows how long. Ah well, I attempted to simulate the guys post and the females were giggling away. The guy looked pissed.


I want to be a model!

For dinner, we decided to buy some bread. We stopped by Bread Talk to get what we wanted. Guess what? It's a big hit in Indonesia.


We want bread!!

Waited for my dad's colleague to pick us up from the mall, to the hotel. My leg was about to die by then.


Blue bird!

The world is a good teacher.
I learn alot of things today.

I'll be having my test tomorrow. Woot =)

How many of you would have been to Indonesia? Not the paradise islands. The heart of Indonesia. Jakarta. I am quite sure not many have been there as it does not serve as a tourist spot ( well at least to me ) but the capital of that country. Alright, let me take you on a tour! My family and I booked a flight on a Malaysian Airlines airplane. We were waiting at the gate even before the aircraft arrived. Wasted time relaxing on the available chairs. The aircraft taxied not long after.


The avian

The plane took flight and everything looked extremely small beneath us. I like take-offs. The sudden increase in speed gives me a nice feeling. Not to mention the moment the plane leaves the ground too. Right, the flight to Jakarta took around three hours I think. Well, breakfast was served during the flight. I took nasi lemak. We had to fill in forms too before entering the country. I hate filling in forms. Such a hassle. I helped people to take their own photo!


The cabin

Touchdown. We disembarked the plane and headed for the exit. Of course we had to collect our luggage as well as going through checks at the customs. We went for a toilet break before hand. Tandas is replaced with kamar kecil here. There was an aquarium in the toilet too.


I'm a giant!

Right, we got a taxi to send us on our way to the hotel. Guess what? Taxis here are of good vehicles. Contrary to what we have here. Ah well, some might say that Indonesia does not have a national car and so on. All the taxis here seem to be associated with the word bird. They have blue bird, silver bird, yellow bird and big bird. We rode the silver bird! ( haha, you can stop laughing now )


Hello, we are about to experience the ride of our life

The hotel is about twenty minutes drive from the airport. Saw many swamp lands beside the road. This confirms the facts in the Grography books! We reached the hotel by the name of Ibis Mangga Dua. Just beside a railroad and many stalls. The lively hood of the people there. Checking into the rooms were also a hassle. Apparently we were too early. It was before check out time I suppose. Sigh.


The hotel


The bathroom

We wasted no time have lunch. We exited the rooms and met up with my dad and his friend, who drove us to a chinese restaurant.


The city, Jakarta

Yeap, even in Indonesia, we had to have Chinese food!


Angke restaurant? Uncle la...


Drinks


I think its eel


Garlic chicken


Tauhu


Sweet and sour pork


Bird


Pork. A must have