danchan-randomthots

Pulau Tikus and its good food...

2011-06-11T03:30:00.000-07:00

Pulau Tikus...my favourite town on the island of Penang. I always get a nice feeling whenever I'm in that area. Besides being near the sea...Gurney Drive is just a stone throw from it...it also boasts of nice hawker food in the various coffee shops found in the town. One of them is Swee Kong Coffee Shop which is located on Solok Moulmein just opposite the Pulau Tikus Police Station. I usually go for three things whenever I go to that coffee shop...the hokkien mee (Penang's prawn noodles), fried wantan and the original apom balik. The hokkien mee has a nice prawn-flavoured soup and is normally sold out before 9a.m. I like the fried wantan because of its crispiness and its adequate fillings and the apom balik is authentic to me because it is cooked in claypots and of course tastes original and nice. Check them out if you happen to be in the area.

yummy hokkien mee at Swee Kong...

the crispy fried wantan...

and of course the original apom balik...notice the banana leaf below it...supposed to add flavour to the apom...

Happy food hunting and as usual have fun always!

nice weekend

2011-03-04T02:11:00.000-08:00

Had a great time last week...went to Hard Rock Hotel, Batu Feringgi to listen to Strollers 2 belting out hits from the 60s and 70s. It was like taking a stroll down memory lane...more so with this band cos the drummer, Hussein is the original member from The Strollers who were very popular in the 60s and 70s. How could I forget their hits like "Do what you gotta do", "Silly Joke", "Midday Sun" and "Just As I Am"? Anyway before we went to the hotel we dropped in at Guan Guan Cafe located just after the Parkroyal Hotel for an early dinner. Food was okay except this time it was a bit too salty for some of us. But most of the time the food is nice. You can check out...its inchi kabin (fried chicken marinated with a certain spice), garlic fried squids, prawn omelette, sambal fried kangkong and its spring roll (my favourite).

@ Guan Guan Cafe

Strollers 2 @ Hard Rock Hotel

lew and yours truly with hussein and desi (both in the

middle), drummer and leads/percussion respectively

say "rock on"!

The same weekend also attended the opening ceremony of Galeri Seni Mutiara (2nd gallery) at the invitation of our artist friend, Mr Koay Soo Kau. The gallery is located at Lot No.2 & 4, First Floor, The Whiteaways Arcade, Lebuh Pantai, Penang. Below the gallery is OldTown White Coffee. It was nice catching up with an old friend. Check out the gallery if you happen to be in that area which is slowly being 'refurbished' to bring back its past glory.

with Koay Soo Kau (the guy in white shirt)

partial view of the gallery on Church Street

the gallery is above OldTown...

Till the next posting, rock on always...

breakfast at winter warmers

2010-04-17T23:47:00.000-07:00

Those who know me well will know that I'm a Subway breakfast loyalist (ahem!). Have been there regularly for breakfast (and actually dinner as well) since they offered their breakfast set from 8am till 11am daily. Initially the outlet at Juru Auto City was quite empty at times but today it's a different story altogether especially for the breakfast hours at weekends. It's now normally full of people and today wasn't any different. The place was packed and the queue was rather long when I arrived at the Juru outlet...and all my favourite seats were already taken. So I decided to pop in next door at Winter Warmers which also offers its own breakfast set
(The Croissant and Sandwich set served with coffee or tea)
(The view outside Winter Warmers at Juru)

The breakfast set is also offered from 8am(I think) till 11am. It comes in two choices...the Croissant or Sandwich set. Both choices offer a tuna, chicken or egg filling and is served with tea or coffee...free flow. The Croissant set is priced at RM7.90 while the Sandwich set is priced at RM6.90. Both sets taste equally nice and if you sit outside you can also enjoy a nice view of Auto City and watch the world passing by while you you sip your coffee or tea. A good place to relax and chill out on a lazy Sunday morning....check it out guys!

Have a nice Sunday!

Teluk Intan Chee Cheong Fun

2010-04-11T04:40:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a long time since my last posting...guess I must have been bitten by the lazy blogger's bug. Anyway I really want to share this item with you guys as this chee cheong fun (picture above) from Teluk Intan is tasty and so different from the normal one. It is filled with either minced pork or dried shrimps and is eaten with pickled chilli without sauce!

A former student of mine who is now teaching in Teluk Intan bought two packets for me last week and I really enjoyed it especially with the green chilli. (Thanks CK.) You can add your own chilli sauce if you want to.

So if you are in Teluk Intan, check out Liew Kee (Ah Lek) chee cheong fun at 725, Jalan Hill, Teluk Intan. The business hours are a bit unusual though...from evening till early morning! And of course while you are there, don't forget to drop by at the famous Leaning Clock Tower of Teluk Intan.

Have fun!
Teluk Intan chee cheong fun with the pickled chilli.

of siTigun and good coffee...

2009-11-30T06:11:00.000-08:00

Finally managed to drop in at siTigun cafe/coffee house to check out the coffee there. This place was highly recommended by a friend (LPC) and I must say that I absolutely agree with him that the coffee at siTigun is simple awesome. We tried out the ice-blended mocha and it tasted deliciously nice. We also ordered the tiramisu which was simply yummy-rummy with a distinct rum flavour. The outlet has a very laidback feel...a place where you can enjoy good coffee, tasty snacks and food...and the right ambience for a good conversation. It has free wifi too if you need to connect with the cyber world. It is located among a row of heritage shophouses on Jalan Nagore just after the New World Park in Jalan Macalister. Check it out if you are looking for a place with good coffee. Note: It is closed on Mondays.the facade of siTigun coffee house...

the signboard along the five-foot way...

the great tasting ice-blended mocha...

the yummy-rummy tiramisu...notice the cocoa powder sprinkled on the top layer of the cake...
the Holland fries served with mayonnaise mixed with mustard...

And before we left the place we also 'ta pau-ed' some muffins(vanilla walnut) and croissant...and they all tasted nice as well even when eaten at home.

Mmm...another simple joy of life...

Till then...enjoy your holidays and have fun...as always!

a very random post on...what else but... food

2009-10-10T05:47:00.000-07:00

Food talk...just to share with you guys...this place called No Eye Deer serves nice and tasty fish and chips and chicken kapitan briyani rice. The place is located just opposite the Island Plaza in Tanjung Tokong where Fatty Loh chicken rice used to be. It is situated on the first floor of the 2-storey shopping complex sited there. The fish n chips is a bit different as the chef uses siakap for the fish and the chicken kapitan briyani is yummy...provided of course if you like curry. And you also get to enjoy a nice view of Jalan Tanjung Tokong from where you are dining. Go check out the place if you hapen to be in that area...the signboard of the cafe-bistro...

the view outside the cafe...

the tasty fish and chips...

and of course the yummy chicken kapitan briyani...

And talking about food...am going for my fave nasi lemak at Kapitan Kopitiam in Seberang Jaya now. Signing off from Starbucks Sunway Seb Jaya...adios and as always take care...

of SS, Hard Rock Hotel Penang and TGIF

2009-09-23T01:20:00.000-07:00

Gosh...we are already midway through the 10-day Hari Raya break...time REALLY flies when you are having a good time. Have done most of the things that I have planned for the break with a few more to go before school reopens 0n 28 Sept 09. Anyway had a great start to the holiday by checking out SS Juru on Friday night. Still kinda finding it hard to believe that SS would come to the mainland...guess that proves that anything is possible these days... Anyway found the place to be just like the one at Upper Penang Road...in terms of decor esp the orange colour and even the layout...just that the one at Juru is much more spacious...and the music was great...Nice place to chill out...SS at Juru...

Then on Saturday, checked out the Hard Rock Hotel at Batu Ferringhi, Penang. Since it was opening day, we were given a guided tour of the hotel by one of the hotel guides...a pretty gal, may I add...hehe. I like the place...it's a cool place with character. The hotel is adorned with images and statues of the Beatles, guitars and even clothing of rock stars...think Chuck Berry, Elton John, the Temptations... And the pool is simply awesome...being the largest free-form pool in Penang (26,000 sq feet) with it's own sand island...and a kid's playground complete with water guns and slides. But what caught my attention was the rooms at ground level...they have direct access to the pool...yup...open your balcony door and you can just wade or jump into the pool...now that's really cool...And guess what...even the check-in counter is so unconventional...you may even miss it if you don't look carefully...just look out for the lobby bar and you'll know what I mean. And of course...the famed Hard Rock Cafe (though not as big as I've expected it to be...)and the Rock Shop...check it out guys... partial view of the swimming pool...

the giant Chuck Berry guitar in front of the hotel...

guess who's sitting in front of the Hard Rock Cafe?...look closer...looks like President Abr.........

but is it?

notice the rooms on the ground floor that open up directly to the pool...I like that...

another view of the pool...part of the sand island is visible at the bottom right-hand corner...

and of course the Beatles watching over you when you you are swimming in the pool...

Go check out the place guys...and have a rocking time:)

And before I end this post...would like to share these 2 pics with you guys...both items from TGIF Queensbay Mall...the first one is the boneless chicken wings served with crunchy celery which you can eat with the mayonnaise...and the second one is the Sizzling Chicken n Cheese served on a hot plate...the whitish spread on the plate is sizzling cheese...

The taste...yummy...

the boneless Chicken Wings...

the Sizzling Chicken and Cheese...

Till the next post...adios and take care!

time flies...and some rocking news...

2009-08-31T08:30:00.001-07:00

Time really flies especially during holidays...yup the mid-term break is over and it's back to work starting tomorrow. But then the Hari Raya break is also not too far away from the corner so am looking forward to that too...hehe:) Well as the title of this post suggests...would like to share some rocking news with you guys...firstly Winter Warmers is now open at Juru Auto City...have tried the Deep Fried Garlic Chicken and the Teriyaki Chicken Rice...and both tasted good to me...and I'm sure you know about its very English ambience...

Then of course if you are a regular visitor to Auto City you would have noticed the orange building that's coming up in front of Maybank Auto World...that's SS which will be opening VERY soon...guess weekend nights won't be the same again in Seberang Perai...
Winter Warmers at Auto City...next to another favourite joint of mine...Subway...

that's SS...which should be opening at any time now...

And then the mother of all rocking news...Hard Rock Hotel Penang with its Hard Rock Cafe will be opening on 19 Sept 09 at Batu Ferringhi...so all you Hard Rock Cafe fans...make sure you make a trip to Batu Ferringhi and check it out...

And before I end this post...couldn't resist sharing the two pics below with you guys...

The delicious baked crabs which we had at Sa Liap Ka...a restaurant in Sungai Bakap...the food there is nice and the price is reasonable...another dish I would like to recommend is the Bamboo Prawns which is now served in a metal trough...I guess bamboo is quite hard to come by nowadays...eat the prawn curry sauce with deep-fried 'mantou'...

And of course the delicious, tasty crispy curry puffs which we bought from a bakery shop at Lagenda Heights in Sungai Petani...the pastry is very puffy and the filling of slightly spicy potato is just nice...

Till the next post...may I wish you well, take care and have fun as always!

'live' from lagenda heights...sungai petani

2009-08-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

Yup...the August mid-term school holiday has begun...and that means you can forget about deadlines and get to do all the things that you enjoy doing. And that's exactly what I'm doing right now...blogging 'live' from Lagenda Heights in Sungai Petani...hehe. Actually came to SP with family to visit a good friend staying in Bandar Puteri Jaya. Sungai Petani does bring back a lot of memories 'cos my wife and I stayed here for a few months in the mid-80's. Back then it was quite a sleepy hollow but today the town has really grown. And right now I am in Lagenda Heights which is just outside SP town. The place is really cool...neat and tidy with residential houses, a shopping mall, shophouses and lots of F n B outlets...something like Auto City in Juru. Had dinner at Cennai Curry House which serves delicious Indian cuisine and our favourite dish there is the Briyani Chicken set. It's our second visit to the restaurant. You should also check out the Hariyali Begum Mint drink which has a nice n strong minty taste. And of course I am blogging at where else but OldTown Kopitiam which is sprouting like mushroom everywhere. Have posted some pics below to do the rest of the talking...please excuse the pic quality which is not so good as they were taken with my handphone.

OldTown Kopitiam...Lagenda Heights...which provided the free wifi...it's Monday night but the place is bustling with people...mmm...enjoy life la...

the Village Mall...

Chennai Curry House...where we had our dinner...check it out if you do come to SP

ah...the yummy delicious chicken briyani set...

Red Island Cafe...related to the one in Penang...I guess...there's one just opposite One-Stop Midlands Park in Pulau Tikus

Love n Freedom Restaurant Leisure Bistro...whataname...if you are curious as to what they serve...check it out the next time you are in SP.

Guess what...Winter Warmer's will be opening an outlet in Auto City soon. Read about it in my next post. Till then...enjoy your holiday...and more importantly enjoy your life. Take care:)

visitors...

2009-08-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Had two visitors in school today...Jeslyn and Lina. Both are doing fine in the fields they have chosen. To both of you...Jes and Lina...all the best and remember to do whatever you have chosen with passion.

jeslyn and lina...

makan trip to ipoh

2009-07-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, eight of us went on a day-trip to Ipoh to savour some of the culinary delights the town has to offer. And glad to say that we were not disappointed. Our first stop was the Foh San Restaurant which by the way has moved on to a bigger place on Jalan Leong Sin Nam. It's actually just a short distance from it's old location. The new place is big occupying at least 5 shoplots...with a nice ambience for a dim sum restaurant...but more important the dim sum was as usual tasty and delicious. One item which kind of aroused our curiosity was the dumpling with 'lo mai kai' filling plus shreds of turnip...refer to pic below.

at Foh San...

the old Foh San restaurant...

and of course...Foh San at its new premises...awesome...that's what i call progress

ah...delicious dim sum...

the dumpling that got us curious...

and voila...the mystery is solved...

After a delightful breakfast it was time for a nice cup of white coffee at Nam Heong coffeeshop located in the old part of Ipoh City. This coffee shop is supposed to be the place where Oldtown white coffee came from. The coffee was good...rich...thick and creamy. Anyway we noticed that the shop had many hawkers selling a variety of Penang hawker delights like Penang char koay teow, laksa, hokkien mee and so on...We were quite impressed by the char koay teow and hokkien mee...esp the aroma floating in the air and we told ourselves we must give it a try the next time we are in Ipoh. After Nam Heong we went across the road for another cuppa...at Sin Yoon Loong coffeeshop...just to compare its coffee with that of Nam Heong and I must say it tasted nice too...though not as 'kau' as NamHeong's.

Nam Heong coffeeshop

the white coffee at Nam Heong...

just opposite Nam Heong is Sin Yoon Loong...

the white coffee at Sin Yoon Loong...

Next we moved on to Kek Look Tong...a limestone cave just after Ampang. The cave is quite big complete with all the interesting cave formations. I like the place because it's very serene and cool. And behind the cave you can find a very nice lake with limestone hills as its background. After resting for a while there...actually we were waiting for the dim sum to be digested...we went to our next stop i.e. the Sun Yeong Wai Restaurant which is well-known for its roast duck. And again we were not disappointed as the roast duck was excellent. I'm no fan of ducks but this one was really good and yummy..

the entrance to Kek Look Tong...

stalactites and stalagmites...

the serene lake behind the cave..

Sun Yeong Wai which is well-known for its roast duck...

ah...notice the roast duck...its head...I mean...

And finally after the sumptious late lunch...we moved over a few doors away to Yee Hup to shop for some its famous biscuits especially its charbroiled hiong peah. Soon after that we headed for home...

Yep...it was definitely a great trip...mission accomplished...and my overall verdict...without a doubt...'HOR CHIAK'

Have a great day!

Launching of School Rakan Muda programme

2009-07-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

73 pupils and 2 teachers (Pn Jamalia and myself) went to SMK Mengkuang on 18 July 2009 to witness and participate in the launching of the state-level School Rakan Muda programme. Various activities such as a paint-ball competition, rock-climbing, tug-of-war, lawn bowling, traditional games, demonstration on safe riding (motor cycles) and various performances - Jit Sin High School brass band, gamelan, boria, stage performance by Farah, tae-kwondo and silat were held on that day. There were also exhibitions by some government agencies. It was certainly a hot and tiring day but despite all that I think most of us had a nice and enjoyable time there. Check out the pics below...
the 'penghulu' of group A (Sivan) and his followers...

janice and friends...

can u spot the 'penghulu' of group B (Hafiz)?

Farah rendering a song...

the rock climbers...

you can do it...Janice...

performance by Jit Sin High School brass band

paint ball...

Hafiz enjoying his lunch...sedap...

prizes galore...

going to the movies...then and now

2009-07-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

Just love going to the movies since I was a boy and that would be in the 60's and 70's. It was a great form of entertainment then and of course entertainment was so scarce in those days...unlike today. We even had a movie club in my primary school...Hutching's School and I was definitely a very loyal member of the club...attended every single meeting of the club where all we did was to simply...watch movies...yeah! Mmm...they don't have such clubs in school anymore, do they? And yes I watched movies of all genres then...spy thriller, horror, adventure, western (cowboys and red Indians), comedies and musicals (The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Fiddler On The Roof, My Fair Lady....) Really enjoyed those movies...

But then the cinema scene in those days was so unlike what we have today. Back then the cinema halls only had one screen each. Seats were quite uncomfortable with wooden arm rest and some having wooden seats. The seats were divided into two main classes...upstairs (called the 'dress circle' then...RM2.00 per ticket) and downstairs. The downstair seats were further sub-divided into 3 classes...first (RM1.40 for a ticket), second (Rm1) and third class (65 sen...yes you heard me...65 sen for a third class ticket!) The cinema floor was quite flat and it would be your rotten luck if you had a tall guy or a couple-in-love sitting in front of you. You will have a hard time straining your neck to the left or right just to follow the movie. Still remember a story told by David Arumugam of the Alleycats whereby he said his hair was full of 'kuaci' skin after he had come out from a cinema hall...David has an afro hairstyle...he still has...and the guy behind him must have vented his frustration on David's hair...

Below are pics of some of the more popular cinemas in Penang in those days...the Odeon Cinema which is still standing and screening movies today...but only Tamil and Hindustani ones I think; the Cathay Cinema building is also there but it has been converted into Mydin Emporium (it was my favourite cinema then...saw lots of great movies there) and of course the Capitol Cinema which has been torn down for the Komtar project. If you look carefully at the last pic, you'll see the Capitol Cinema in the background advertising 'The Exorcist' which was a really frightening movie. Story had it some movie-goers fainted while watching the movie...remember Linda Blair and her head-twisting stunt...gosh! I saw that movie in-between my HSC exam! That was in 1974...35 years ago!

The Odeon Cinema on Penang Road

The Cathay Cinema also on Penang Road

The Capitol Cinema at the junction of Maxwell Road and Penang Road

A cobbler plying his trade ...Capitol Cinema is in the background

But today going to the movies is just heaven compared to what we had in those days. The cineplexes are so clean and comfortable. The seats are fully-cushioned and because of the sloping floor your view will not be blocked even if the couple in front of you decides to be well..kinda intimate...(of course you'll be mumbling why didn't they book a couple seat instead!) And of course the sound system...THX and all those stuff...is simple superb! You have to pay a little bit more for all these...no more RM1.40 seats...but you get value for your money...check out movie day on Wednesdays. To ensure you get a seat, you can even book your tickets online or by phone.

Now that's what I call progress:)

Well I guess that's all for this post...till then...

Have a great time at the movies!

p.s. Looking forward to watching Obsessed, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Public Enemies, The Taking of Pelham 123, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and The Proposal...yep I do watch romantic comedies....

michael jackson and farrah fawcett

2009-06-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

Sad but true...Michael Jackson has passed away...supposedly of cardiac arrest. Who could forget his 'moonwalk' and his various hits like 'Beat It', 'Thriller', 'Billie Jean' and not forgetting his earlier hits like 'Ben' and 'I'll Be There' which I particularly like. Dubbed as one of the greatest entertainers of all time, his album 'Thriller' was one of the world's greatest selling album, selling more than 50 million copies worldwide. Of course MJ was not without his share of controversies like dangling his baby over the balcony but whatever it is, I will always remember MJ as someone who gave so much to the world with his brand of energetic and sensational entertainment.

Michael Jackson...your music will live on forever...RIP

And on the same day, another star Farrah Fawcett also passed away due to cancer. Will always remember her as Jill Munroe, one of the original Charlie's Angels. Who could forget that iconic poster of her in her one-piece red swimsuit? I had that poster with me in my late teens and even early twenties! And her curly locks which a lot of women would love to have...

So farewell to you too Farrah Fawcett...thanks for the years of entertainment you gave us...and may you rest in peace too...

food glorious food

2009-06-20T04:36:00.000-07:00

Food...Malaysians favourite topic. We actually talk about food most if not all the time. At breakfast we talk about lunch, at lunch we talk about tea, at tea we talk about dinner and of course at dinner we talk about supper...'siew yeah'... At other times we talk about the best food in and around town...you know what I'm talking about. It's just Malaysians' favourite topic.

So I thought why not share with you guys some of my favourite cafes and food outlets that I like to hang out at. They are not arranged in any order of preference...in fact they will appear at random as and when I have taken some pics of these places.

One of my fave beach cafes is pictured below...Sunset Bistro at Batu Feringghi just after Parkroyal Hotel. The drinks are reasonably priced and you can enjoy them with some finger food. It's a great place to chill out...you are actually sitting on the beach and if you are lucky you will be able to witness the sun setting over the horizon...beautiful sight...

Sunset Bistro...yes you can have your drinks and laze on the deck chairs which belong to them

Sunset at Sunset Bistro...not that awesome on that day

Another favourite cafe of mine is The Satay Hut at One-Stop Midlands Park in Pulau Tikus. The place is breezy most of the time and I just love the mocha cafe served there. The complex is of course no longer as bustling as it used to be but there are still a number of shops which are still open and can serve some of your needs...check it out yourself...

The Satay Hut

Mocha Cafe at the Satay Hut

And finally if you are craving for halal Chinese food you can check out the restaurant at the Kulim Club in Kulim of course. The food is okay and two of my favourite dishes are the marmite chicken and the szechuan fish which appear in the picture below. However you have to be a member of the club to patronize the place. Or you can go there as a guest of a club member.

Some of the dishes served at the restaurant in Kulim Club...am sure you can easily spot the marmite chicken and the szechuan fish...........

Till the next post...smile, laugh and have fun always!

ps. Do you eat to live OR live to eat?

of reading and sexy men...

2009-06-09T08:43:00.000-07:00

A Star columnist recently said, “…men who read in public are sexy…”
Mmm…an interesting thought indeed…and was also wondering whether it prompted more men to take up reading…in public of course…

Anyway besides making men look sexy, I think reading is indeed a very healthy pursuit. When I say reading, I’m not only talking about the usual light-reading materials like newspapers and magazines, I am also talking about books…yep, books…fiction as well as non-fiction.

Consider what reading can do for you…
* it exercises your brain
* it makes you think
* it enlightens you
* it empowers you…with knowledge
* it informs you
* it rejuvenates you
* it motivates you
* it encourages you when you are down
* it makes you imagine and fantasize
* it takes you down memory lane
* it sharpens your analytical skills
* it can make you laugh or cry…and
* it entertains you…yep reading can be likened to watching a movie…in fact sometimes people will say that “the novel is even better than the movie”…

Quite a list, wouldn’t you say so?

And the best part about it is you can do it…anytime and anywhere. It’s also a good companion, you could say. But the sad thing is a lot of Malaysians don’t read. The findings of a National Library survey showed that only 13 percent of 27 million Malaysians read books. I’m sure we can do better than that. I still remember in the early 60’s and 70’s I used to see a lot of Australian personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force based in Butterworth reading a book on the ferry on their way back to the island. Many of them were staying in Tanjung Bungah at that time. It was like a daily ritual for them…and a good one I should say.

Now, what about me, you may ask. Well I must admit that I don’t qualify to be a bookworm but I certainly do my share of reading. I read all kinds of books, fiction and non-fiction…
To give you an idea of what I read, I have posted pics of some of the books that I have read and am reading.

So guys...read on...not to be sexy looking but for the reasons that I have mentioned above.

Remember...'Reading maketh a man'.

Have fun!

of latin coffEA, circle and late nights...

2009-05-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

Check out the Latin coffEA (pic above) which is available at Seventies Kopitiam located right in front of Momo which is next to SS at Upper Penang Road. It has a nice pleasant coffee taste...not too strong. But if you like 'kau' coffee, then I won't recommend this to you. Besides this, you can also check out the 'nasi lemak' there...

Just a reminder to the 'circle' members...

remember 11 June 09...5 pm...sunset...

It's 3 am (Sunday) right now...and am still wide awake...typing this post...

This is one of the things I like about school holidays...being able to keep late nights without having to feel guilty about it...and of course without having to worry whether I can wake up in time for school or not...

Somehow I just love late nights...it's so quiet and peaceful...and I can really concentrate on whatever I am doing...be it reading, watching a movie, listening to music, marking exam scripts....

Of course there are also many other things that I like about school holidays but I guess I'll have to write about it in another post...

Good night eveyone...

mmm...in another 6 hours will be having my fave sunday breakfast at u-know-where.....

Happy Holidays!

2009-05-27T03:34:00.000-07:00

Would like to wish all the students of HSBM especially 4ES, PBA, PBH and PAF
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Have a great time, enjoy yourselves but don't forget to do your holiday homework...
See you guys in school again on 15 June 2009

Holiday homework Upper 6 MUET June 2009

2009-05-27T01:31:00.000-07:00

Question

The Malaysian Examination Syndicate has proposed limiting the number of subjects that can be taken by SPM candidates to no more than 12, in view of the increasing number of students taking up to 19 subjects in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination. Is this a good proposal? Give your opinion, supporting it with specific reasons. You should write at least 350 words.

Holiday homework Lower 6 MUET June 2009

2009-05-27T01:22:00.000-07:00

Question

Imagine that you are taking part in an elocution contest. The topic of your speech is
"Why I am proud of my country". Write out the speech in not fewer than 350 words.

Holiday homework Form 4 Eng Language June 2009

2009-05-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

LATIHAN CUTI SEKOLAH
BAHASA INGGERIS
TINGKATAN 4
BULAN JUN 2009

In conjunction with the Safety Awareness Week in school, an essay-writing competition was held. Write an essay entitled ‘Dangers Around The House’ to be submitted as an entry for the competition.

In your essay, include the following:

- overloading – many extensions and electrical appliances
- worn-out wiring
- faulty switches
- touching an electrical switch with wet hands
- the kitchen – place where danger is ever present
- leaking gas cylinders
- cylinder heads and hoses that are substandard
- sharp instruments – cuts, bruises due to carelessness
- pot and pan handles sticking out in people’s way
- hot water and oil

When writing the essay you should remember:

- to include all the points given
- to add two additional points of your own
- to write in paragraphs

of 'garbage trucks' and their 'garbage'...

2009-05-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

Have shared these thoughts with some friends before so I thought to myself…why not blog it and share it with more people. The thoughts are not exactly my own…came across them in my emails and I feel that they are rather true and useful in helping us to cope with the daily stresses of life.

I used to tell my family that there is so much stress…anger, frustration, impatience, arrogance, ‘kiasuism’ and the list goes on…on our roads today. Encountering impatient and rude drivers (motorcyclists included) on our roads has become a common daily occurrence. And how do you normally react when you come across such a driver? Yep…you want to blow up and do or say something nasty…but STOP…please don’t do that.

Instead just think of these people as ‘garbage trucks’ which are filled with full of …you know what…and who have just dumped some of their garbage on you. Do not pick up their garbage and dump it on other people…your loved ones, friends, colleagues, students, customers, neighbours and even strangers. You know it’s just like having a bad day and you can’t control your emo and let it out on others… Don’t do that cos it just ain’t fair and moreover if you do, you are actually helping to spread garbage around and thereby become one of them…a ‘garbage truck’!

By now you may probably be asking : “So how should I react?” Well if they look at you, just wave at them, give them a smile and wish them well. (If you feel that you can’t do any of these, then just ignore them. Just tell yourself that the guy is having a bad day. Don’t let such people spoil your day. After all you may not even get to see that guy again for the rest of your life!) Anyway I think I can already hear some of you protesting: “Wa like that also can one ah…?” Well you can actually…it’s not easy as it requires a lot of patience and a very forgiving attitude…but if you can you’ll find less anger in yourself, feel much happier and be more at peace with yourself. Besides that you’ll be helping to spread more cheer and goodwill in this world…which is exactly what the world needs more of these days

Give it a try…really try…and feel the results…

By the way if you are one of those courteous, well-mannered, considerate, kind, patient and law-abiding road users, I SALUTE YOU…keep it up and help make this world a friendlier , happier and better place to live in.

I WISH YOU WELL AND DRIVE SAFELY!

Penang National Park

2009-05-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

A National Park in Penang? Yep...we do have one in Penang...and its entrance is located at the end of Telok Bahang Village where the 'End of the World' Seafood Restaurant used to be. The restaurant has since been relocated to a spot facing the roundabout in the village. Actually the park has existed for a long time as the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve since 1928 (think...Muka Head and Pantai Kerachut) and it was only gazetted as the Penang National Park on 10 April 2003.

Anyway on the 9th of May 09 some friends, my missus and I made a trip to the park. The last time I went there the seafood restaurant was still there but today the place has undergone a 'makeover'. There's a grand entrance to the park (the pic above), the park office (the pic at the bottom) and a beautiful exhibition hall with interesting exhibits of the attractions at the park at that spot. After registering ourselves at the office (foc) we started our hike along the beautiful trail. To cut a long story short my missus and I only made it to the first station that is Teluk Tukun while the rest of the guys made it to the USM Research Station which is supposed to be the second station. The more energetic hikers will of course find their way to Muka Head or Pantai Kerachut where there is a meromictic lake which is unique because it is seasonal and has two layers of fresh and seawater!

The park is a haven for nature lovers because there is an array of beautiful flora and fauna along the trails. The two pics above are typical scenes you can see along the way. Believe me it is a nice place to get away from it all...far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. A good place to de-stress...to be close to nature and should I say to lose a few kilos provided you do not have a good hearty 'makan-makan' at the end of the trip which we unfortunately or maybe fortunately (hehe!) did on our way home.

So if you are looking for a place to relax and get away from the maddening traffic and crowd, why not give the Penang National Park a try? Who knows you may even get to like the place and well...fall in love with it.

The pic on the left is a view of the park office with the sea in the background. The pic was taken from the exhibition hall which is on slightly higher ground.

breakfast at starbucks

2009-05-17T00:51:00.000-07:00

Am really getting to enjoy my sunday breakfast at starbucks (auto city). Yep they do have a b'fast set...they call it b'fast pairings comprising a tall brewed coffee and a food item of your choice (costing RM4.80 and below)...u can choose one of these: a croissant, strawberry doughnut, chicken sausage roll or a cinnamon bun...all for RM6.50 plus 5% govt tax. You can change your drink to a tall latte (hot or cold) by adding RM3. The deal is available every day up to 11 am.
Of course besides that you also get to enjoy the starbucks ambience...air-con (a good way to escape from the heat we are experiencing now), soothing music, nice comfy sofa, free wifi, magazines and not forgetting the peace and quiet (at least most of the time) which I appreciate very much when I am trying to read someting there...
Mmm...a nice way to start off my Sunday mornings...
p.s. The muffin in the pic is an a la carte item.
I don't have any shares in Starbucks...in case u r wondering...

Penang in the 60s

2009-05-15T04:34:00.001-07:00

a vegetable seller in Penang in the 60s

and of course who could forget the 'roti' man who came every day without fail on his trusty bicycle to sell his bread...

Pictures like these give me a feeling of nostalgia about the good ole days when life was much simpler, slower and more peaceful...

Public speaking competition

2009-05-15T04:13:00.001-07:00

the contestants for the Public Speaking Competition
held on 28 April 2009 in conjunction with the
English Language Week

the contestants' co-ordinators

supporters...

the chairperson and timekeeper...

the contestants on stage...

Photography session

2009-05-15T03:04:00.000-07:00

Pupils of 4ES getting ready for their class photo shoot...notice Megha smiling away:)
All the best to you guys in the coming Mid-yr exam!

2009-05-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Another random post...

Blue skies and everything nice...that's what a popular DJ used to say during his radio show many years ago. Glad to say that the DJ is still very much alive and kicking today. Anyway it was a beautiful day with blue skies when I took this photo at auto city from where I was sitting...at one of my fave cafes there. I'm sure you can guess the name of the cafe :)

2009-05-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Just a random post...

For those of you who have not been to the school for some time...this is how the facade of block C now known as Bangunan Abdullah Badawi looks like. I'm sure it brings back a lot of memories especially for those of you who studied in that block.

2009-05-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

English Language…how to improve your proficiency in the language

My students have often asked me: “Sir, how can I improve my command of the English Language?” and my answer has always been this: USE…yep use the language every day…listen, speak, read and write in English every day. Language is a set of habits…so if you want to be proficient in it, you have to use it habitually. An analogy…if you want to be a good badminton player, what must you do? Play badminton every day! The same goes for the language.

Here are some of the things you can do to improve your language skills:

LISTEN to the radio (there are lots of English radio stations you can tune in too), the English news, the dialogues in movies (reading the subtitles is not the same as listening), English speeches, everyday spoken English as often as you can.

SPEAK in English every day…with your family (I know some of you are saying…sir, my family members don’t use English at home!), then with your relatvies, friends, classmates, teachers, salespersons, people manning service counters, over the phone, when ordering your food at McD, KFC, Old Town, Manhattan Fish Market, Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Subway (how can I not mention it…hehe) and the list goes on…

READ English materials every day…newspapers, magazines, journals, story books (fiction and non-fiction), online materials, etc.
Reading can actually be a joy. To quote someone from an article I read the other day:
“Words soothe when you are sad; stories thrill when you are bored; knowledge clarifies when you’re in doubt.” So well said.
You don’t have to buy all the materials I have mentioned as some of them are available in the school or public library. You can also borrow or exchange books and magazines with your friends.

And of course…

WRITE in English every day! Ya, I know some of you are already saying “sir, but how?”
This is probably the least used skill among a lot of students. So how can you practice your writing skill on a daily basis? Well for starters, you can keep a journal or a diary and jot down something in English in it every day. It could be something that happened to you or your friend, an interesting observation, a nice quotation that you came across, a new word that you have just learned, anything actually…as long as you take the trouble to write it down in English. If you are unsure about the spelling of a word, please look it up in a dictionary. You can also write emails or even blog to sharpen your writing skill. Or you can even write poems (I know…I know some of you are already smiling or ROFL) but actually I do know some students who actually do that during their free time…and these are the guys who normally score in the English Language papers during the examination.

Well I have shared with you some ideas on how you can improve your language skills. So it’s now up to you to put them into practice. Remember: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

And I would like to end this post with this useful reminder:

To learn how to LISTEN well in English is to LISTEN to it
To learn how to SPEAK well in English is to SPEAK it
To learn how to READ well in English is to READ it
To learn how to WRITE well in English is to WRITE it
In other words if you want to be proficient in English,
USE IT EVERY DAY

2009-05-04T02:53:00.000-07:00

To all the students of PAF SMK Tinggi Bukit Mertajam 2009

All the best in the MUET Speaking Test

Just a few reminders:

Arrive punctually for the test
Remember to bring along your I/C and MUET exam slip
Stay calm and be cool during the test
You all can do it!

Good luck!

2009-05-03T04:34:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!
Have set up this blog to enable the exchange of news, views, ideas, thoughts and opinions on the teaching and learning of English. Besides that, as the name of my blog suggests, I may also do random posting of anything that may or may not be directly related to the teaching and learning of English. Anyway feel free to share your views and thoughts but kindly observe proper decorum when leaving your comments. Thanks.