blackpeanut.com

One of the reasons I like about travelling nowadays is that internet got so many informations today and it is very easy to know where you should go and what you should do in a new UNKNOWN place.

I surfed few times on Kuantan food, Kuantan roadtrip and even ‘10 must-do things in Kuantan’ so that my small road trip with my family to this east coast city could be a bit more eventful and productive compared to only pampering myself in the resort’s room and doing nothing much (end up I didn’t get to pamper myself at all).

First day was quite uneventful. It involved a very long drive to Kuantan, which is already quite energy consuming. Went to LowYat to look for younger brother who is working there prior to driving to Kuantan.

This is the place I spent my 3 days - Swiss Garden Resort & Spa, Kuantan.

Kinda like the idea of ‘pools of water’. Water means money kan?

It was raining heavily at dinner time. A search on google on Kuantan’s food revealed a T&L restaurant recommended by some blogger. That’s the place we went. Actually not many hawker center (from what I see/went) that we passed by during the drive to town.

T&L restaurant is along Jalan Beserah. Quite at the border of the town.

Char Kuey Teow which reminds me of my specialist (this is not char kuoy teow rounds!) and it tasted a bit burned.

Nasi lemak which is highly recommended! A lot of people came here to tapao back. Long queue as well. Others are quite okay as well.

Got another picture of chicken wings which all of us like a lot but the picture consists only of bones (aftermath), so I don’t think it will promote any appetite if it is published here.

But food in Kuantan is expensive. Dinner for 4 in hawker center is almost RM50 (our breakfast the next day costs also around RM50 as well, breakfast you know…) :S

Went to sleep early at 9pm. Fatigue kicks in but with the honorable vision of climbing up hill the next day.

Time to wake up tomorrow - 4.30am.

Finally found this farm. The long arrows don’t seem to point the right way!

Enjoy the pics after long hiatus of not-touching-the-camera. Mostly taken with Tamron. Noted that the focusing speed is very slow. Well, what to do, it is a 3rd party lens. But in term of pictures, my camera’s shuttle speed still pull through.

The ticket is RM 8. And RM 3 extra if you are bring a camera along. I seriously think that if you like to snap stuffs and like close ups details that other people can’t get, consider getting a good zoom lens - the L lens. Might cost a bit like 3k plus but I think it is definitely worth it. The Tamron without image stabilizer is killing me, but if you think on the bright side, a good way to teach you to stand real still!

I like these colourful love birds.

The butterfly farm is certainly lacking of colourful butterflies. Most of them are flying around when I was there, hard to get a still pic! Mostly are quite dull, some really nice ones were on the fences high up, hard to snap as well.

And a good collection of other reptiles like this and snakes. I HATE SNAKES. So sorry for not taking any pictures of them.

And the one of the visitors favourite.

It is still worth the RM8 but a bit (really as in really a bit bit) disappointed. No wow here and there. Ordinary butterfly farm provided if you are a fan of snakes. No photos from my new 28mm thou, too close up and they fly away.

Vung Tao is a place where you can visit if you happen to be in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh. It is not really expensive to take a fast boat there. The journey was pleasant for us at least.

Since both of us are lazy bumps, we decided to stay in the hotel directly opposite the port where we landed. A fever was coming up to me that time. Lazy to walk. Well, and greeted by really nice Vietnamese girls.

Vung Tao is a peaceful seaside town, with unstable electricity supply (they take turns to supply parts of their city), and much less traffic compared to the hectic Saigon.

We rented a bike for 2 days, and ride along the coastal roads during evening, which is highly recommended! The traffic flow of Vietnamese cyclists is superb. When you are on a bike there, you experience the real Vietnam deal.

The view during evening was superb. A great place to rest, and for me, a good place for me to recover from that stupid high fever that I got when I was there.

Open air church, kinda romantic right?

Sunset was even better. People start coming out, chilling at the seaside, talking, eating ice creams, just like how a small quiet town should be.

Very cool..

Hope the pictures did the talking.

Finally I’ve got time to sit down and blog! Can’t believe my last update was on the 1st of May! I thought I had updated something view iPhone or something but weirdly it didn’t published successfully. Nevermind. Cut the crap, and have a feast of pictures which I took in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

Things that really intrigue me.

Saigon’s telecommunication. The mass wiring and I wonder how could they probably differentiate which is which? Anyway, it still shows that they are seriously doing something on their network. Haha.

Glad that the hat is still quite popular in Vietnam.

And so many many many scooters, Vespa and Yamahas! I like the traffic in Vietnam. A foreigner would at first think that it is hell and everything seems to be without rules and system but actually, when the drivers are nice enough to tolerate each other and give way, there is no need for much traffic lights. And Vietnam’s bikers totally fit the bill.

I could cross a road with my eyes closed. And I would be safe. But imagine doing that in Malaysia. Malaysia’s drivers/bikers are way too rude to compromise anything for their own good.

And Vietnam’s own delicacy ‘Pho’ is a must try! We went around the area trying all sorts of Pho :)

The Pho.

The very much missed (even when we are back in Malaysia) shrimp noodles and curry noodles. 5/5.

And the Vietnamese version of ‘kuih mangkuk’.

This is my traveling partner, who is very intrigue by the coffee mixer and how he is suppose to do it. Luckily we didn’t embarrass ourselves too much. The shopkeeper girls are seriously friendly as well, even thou they don’t know any English and we are practically showing signs and trying our best to get our messages across.

Nah, one of the many landmark of Saigon. The Notre Dame.

Poor, but happy? Or contented.

This is mostly what we see during the day 1. More to come, and our adventure to Vong Dau.

Today I woke up post call. Luckily yesterday’s rain didn’t bring me any open fracture which I need to enter OT to assist!

Anyway, woke up in the cooling morning is quite refreshing! And then the next problem is, don’t know what to do.

Albert had text me the other day saying he is in Malacca but he didn’t contacted me after that.

So, as usual, pulled Karen up for breakfast, at this place near jonker street which serves dai pao with gravy in it!

Dimsum for Sunday morning is always nice. But no pictures, too bad.

And later on meet up with Albert in chicken rice shop, and brought him to walk around the place. Nothing much as usual as he has limited time. Chendol was a must.

And I was surprised when I saw Shihmun’s at chicken rice shop hugging that sign board because of the heat.

-__-”

She never told she is gonna come. I think she wanna paktoh so I pandai pandai didn’t kacau them during that first part.

After sending Albert off, I meet up with Shihmun n bf instead. And had a walk to Qing Yun Ting, a place where I had always wanna go but well.. procrastinator.

ShihMun praying to get married fast.

And I went to tilik my future. Quite straight forward and true also. I think is the exact thing that I need to hear now.

And later on add oil for myself. LOL. For myself and family I should say. Add oil means jia you. I need to jia you here and there. Can see my name there?

And I like what is written on one of the door.

You can interpret it differently as ‘Who am I?’ or ‘I live for who?’. Very deep kan?..

Monday coming…. :(

The main reason I had wanted to be in KL the previous weekend was to witness the hot air balloon festival. But it turned out to be a side dish as more interesting things happened.

Started off with Friday dinner of a very sinful Japanese buffet.

Went with a colleague and Cyrena. I was never good in eating but I guess both of them fully unleashed their belts and stomach sphincter. Ate like nobody’s business! I think they served good food. And the best is it is unlimited, and you just order whatever you feel like having on the menu.

But of course, for every 100gm which you left over, you have to pay RM5.

The next day went out with bro to Petaling Street for breakfast and jalan jalan.

This time he introduced me to some good food instead. Haha. It is good to see how he grows up, and I guess it is the same way for him to see how I grow up as well.

And later on meet up with Phooiyan for chit chats the whole afternoon. Err.. for the first time.

And at night went to Putrajaya for this.

See the darth wader.

And lots of firework!

And the next day went out with Cyrena to get her precious.

Took some time before choosing one. It really stands out from the others. Constantly moving around and ’standing’ up, climbing up the side of the cage, very abnormal for a rabbit.

But I guess abnormality is what we like?

And went to the mother of all flee market, just adjacent to Petaling Street.

The entrance.

You will be surprised of what they sell. From used underwear to stolen handphones. From milk powder to porn. From used newspaper to broken light bulbs. You name it, and it is there. It is as if people are selling whatever things that they can lie their hands on.

But if your eyes are sharp enuf, you might find something worth the bargain. Cyrena spotted one Amcorp mall flee market seller wondering around there. I guess it is an easy business to buy and sell. LOL.

We spotted 2 original phones, blackberry curve and nokia E71, both stolen/grabbed/whatever, selling at RM700. It was a bit chipped, but I think our conscious is doing some good. Never buy stolen goods.

It is nice walking around Petaling Street in the morning. You see life, and nice unique life.

Imagine how disappointed we were when we failed to wake up for the next day’s hot air balloon fun fly. Missed the morning round, and the evening round was canceled because of bad weather.. Sigh.

Conclusion, didn’t even see those balloons in the sky!

Mana itu balloon?

Anyway, since I was quite happy with the long fireworks on Saturday night, this trip is still worthwhile.

KL. Love the lights.

Paid 2 Ringgit for car park, 7 Ringgit for entrance fee, and I’m already in the zoo, ready to shoot headshots.

Basically I think the collections are good. With an emphasize of species of kancils and deers, and surprisingly more tigers than national zoo!

Since my zoo frenzy wasn’t quite over yet, plus I visited the crocodile farm with very close contact to birds and etc, this visit to the zoo didn’t really wow me much.

I went around 4pm, hoping that the animals would wake up from their afternoon nap, but too bad, most of them are still napping. Grrr..

However, have a look at what I’ve got.

The birds collection is good. But I have the fences. The openings are SO SMALL! It is like not bigger than 2cm x 4cm. Too tight lah, and my lens can’t really focus properly. Grrr.

The glass panes aren’t clean properly. Wish large patches of whites which I don’t know is due to what. Making photography a pain in the ass.

And I have to take a pic of this Iguana. Shit. They let it lie around freely at the area where people are suppose to put their hands when they look into the pond to see what is there. I seriously got a fright that the f word almost flew out from my mouth. So damn ugly.

Cute red panda. To balance back that ugly iguana’s aura up there.

Another cute creature.

And I’m happy I capture some of the kings of the forest.

I think I generally like predators more. Hmm :)

A well spent 600 Ringgit for a 55-200mm Tamron right?

Sorry for the long hiatus without any post. Had been busy and am happy that I survived my first ortho oncall. It was almost nightmare. Note the word ‘almost’.

Anyway, Cheryl came to visit me last weekend. And me as the 5 month old pseudo malaccan, brought her family and her around this small town.

On the first day, I woke up early and manage to get some morning view of the town, as warm up.

If you are truly melaka people, try to guess where this above pic is taken. Haha.

The entrance to the red town at 8.30am in the morning. Very peaceful and full of those ‘morning’ feel. I don’t know what I’m talking about.

They arrived around noon, and I brought them to Jonker street for some durian chendol and rendang mee at shop no.88. They seem to like the food, those kind of food that I like.

And we had a walk and visiting shops along Jonker street. It was noon, hot, but that was the first time I actually have a look at what they are selling inside those shops (usually just walk by).

Some random paparazzi frenzy.

Brought them to eat Asam Pedas in Kota Laksamana after that. No pictures taken. Was day dreaming :)

The next day, woke up and brought them to You Ee for breakfast. Later on visited A Famosa and those area around that.

Lunch was in Makko. Again, no pics because I was day dreaming. The heat is too much to bear. However, they certainly like that sago dessert with lotsa gula melaka.

Went back for nap, and afternoon, when I was on the way to fetch them out for dinner, I saw this.

So many people playing kites! One day, I will fly mine, with my wishes written on the kite. Hehe. I bought one half a month ago and it is still inside my room, awaiting time for departure.

Sigh.

Dinner was in Portuguese Settlement for seafood.

Pictures before meal.

Later on, went back to Jonker for that Melaka river boat ride!

And said bye bye at the entrance of Jonker street early at night as I have to be oncall the next day :(

Anyway, some shots of that beautiful night, with its big big moon.

Good night!

Waiting for next tour guide experience!

Had wanted to visit the Taman Rama-Rama but when I drove all the way there, what I saw was just a construction site. I guess they are still managing. I wonder where is that old Taman Rama-Rama. Anyway, I was quite sceptical about the Taman Buaya actually. It is small, and well, there are lotsa crocodiles but they are all bored, hiding in the shades from the afternoon burning sun.

Air yang tenang, jangan disangka, tiada buaya.

I took loads of buaya/crocodile pics. But I guess not everybody is a fan of crocs. I like the eyes but I don’t really like the whole idea of this creature. They are kinda… well… ugly.

Haha.

And they have a small collections of snakes and lizards.

Nice? Hehe.

And I was surprise to find this big cage in the croc farm with some beautiful parrots, birds and ducks.

Like fake right?

But beautiful ducklings do exist, who would care to be a swan. LOL.

Would like to name this pic the 3 brothers. Very very colorful and cheerful creatures.

They even french kiss, tongued each other..

Of course, some 100 pics were taken. And I think these are some of the nice ones. Enjoy!

Enjoy the pics :)

Eating that chocolate coated grapes.

Very very nice lo han gor.

The uncle who sells that curry mee at the dunno which corner of Jonker street. Saja wanna make him famous.

If you did notice a small difference in the pics taken this time, it is because I bought this…

50mm finally. But I wonder I would spend another cent on photography or not. LOL. Need to save for more important purposes!