boon's log 5109.06: Randoms...

Brush with celebrity...
We had the honor to attend one of the ceramahs by the Menteri Besar of Perak, YB Dato' Nizar Jamaluddin at the Penang Kompleks Penyayang recently. He really has a gift of the gap - he was able to capture our attention through his ~2hr ceramah. YB Sim was the facilitator and I believe this must have been one of the first (of many more) ceramahs he's conducted since the Perak fiasco started. He touched on behind the scenes of the entire Perak saga - most of which were not covered or revealed by the media. He also touched on how Mr 1Malaysia and his deputy (Deputy Mr 1Malaysia) had a hand in the conspiracies. It was a truly informative evening and it rejuvenated most (if not all) of all who attended.


Fullhouse


YB Dato' Nizar Jamaluddin


Press Conference

Ab's Birthday bash(es)...
We decided to go ahead with Ab's birthday plans despite our recent loss. We thought that it would be a good idea to lighten up the mood a little and lighten up, it deed. The birthday bash started with started the 1st in Penang, followed by Part II in Ipoh and then we wrapped it up at the Hard Rock... Ab totally enjoyed herself, with presents and birthday cakes... Thanks to all who made it possible.


Bash #1 in Penang


Bash #2 in Ipoh


Bash #3 at the Hard Rock, Penang... Snake Charmer.

Learning her ABC's...
We started Ab on some more serious writing skills, and started with Annie Apple. Previously, we did get her to recognize and write some alphabets here and there, but never really got down to more serious business. We are glad that she enjoys it and it's a great encouragement to see her liking it. Time really flies - it feels like almost yesterday when IL and I were in the delivery room and now she's learning to write her ABC's...


Ab learning to write...


boon out...

boon's log 2509.07: Happy Father's Day!

We were back in Ipoh for Father's Day. Dinner was at Tai Thong, while Father's Day lunch was at Indulgence, Ipoh. This is the second time we were there for Father's Day and I have to admit that I am impressed with them yet again - in fact, I think they've improved from the last time we were there. Dad ordered the Father's Day Special while the rest of us just went for Ala Carte. Ab ordered the do-it-yourself topping pizza - where most of it went into Mom and Dad's tummy.
The grandparents once again never failed to surprise their grand daughter with gifts - from pop-pops to cooking-toys bubble-blowing-gun. Gosh, it's like her birthday, rather than Father's day! ;)

Anyways, we demanded that the toys remained in Ipoh, lest it will clog up her room with more toys (!!!).

Oh and it finally rained - perhaps a "present" for all the Fathers who WASHED and WAXED their cars (!!!). Yeah, I had to re-wash the car after arriving back in Penang to remove all the corpse I collected along the way home. But the rained did not help much in cooling down the weather, though. I still feel the heat... And what better way to cool down at the end of a long day (and weekend) with nice chilled-glass of beer... AAAaahhh......

Well, Happy Father's Day to all and to the rest hope you had an enjoyable and restful weekend. Pumped up to face the week ahead?! If you have not noticed, it is the mid of the year next week...


Indulgence, Ipoh


Father's Day Special


Father's Day Special appetizer


Father's Day Special entrée


Lambshank... yummy....


Daily Special Brew


Waiting to serve


Indulgence Exterior


Chocolate Mud Pie


Sunday Special


Winding down...


boon out...

boon's log 2409.04: Wear black, drink black, have fun

***Live report from Bayan Baru Old Town White Coffee***


IL and I decided give the "1Black afterwork Coffee" event at Bayan Baru Old Town White Coffee a try. The tag line for the night is "Wear Black, Drink Black, have fun." We (IL and I) had a lot of questions before going for the event - will there be barricades? will there be riot police? will we get caught like what happened in Ipoh - for wearing black and drinking kopi-o? Will the shop owner decide to close the shop or deny us entry into the shop? I even went to the extent of asking IL to wear grey so that she will be able to bail me out in case I get caught! Haha!

Anyway, it turned out to be a rather peaceful night. About 15 or so of us turned up. The "unmentioned intention" of the gathering is basically a "silent protest" against the way that things have turned out in Perak recently - the so-called death of democracy. Besides that we all made new friends and vouched to meet up again.

One funny thing we noticed was the shop manager - he was pretty nervous the entire night - he kept taking photos of our table with his mobile phone and kept a watchful eye at us in case anything happens. I guess we kinda stressed him out a little bit tonight. Hopefully he will come to accept that we are just gathering like any other group of people - just that we are wearing black and drinking black.


Notice anyone in black t-shirts?


It's all about the coffee...

Well, it's time to go home.

boon out...

boon's log 2009.04: Perak Poli(tic)wood

That's what I think the state of politics in Perak is in. It is so Hollywood, in this case Perak Poli(tic)wood. How absurd can things get, such that a Chief Minister goes back to his own office for 7 hours and then re-escorted back out of the office? There is also no doubt about how visible "double standards" are being practiced. And no doubt, the respective authorities will come out and justify their "double standards" practices. To me, it does not matter. no need to waste time explaining!

The Rakyat knows.

No matter how much they justify or explain their actions, how much stories (or lies) they try to tell us and jam it down our throats, no matter how much media control and banning of the ugly truth (though the PM declares media freedom)- it does not matter anymore. I am confident that the Rakyat today is wise enough and is capable to discern the truth from all the lies, hypocrisy, falsity, deception, dishonesty and deceit. We are no longer the gullible bunch we were 50-over years ago, who will just take whatever the authorities drops on us. And it is really sad that the authorities still act and think that we are (a gullible bunch)!

It is so evident from the recent Perak Embarassment and the May 7th incident - the ugly side of things, and how visible-to-the-public that the authorities is trying to cover up and sweeping things under the carpet.

I mean, C'mon! Don't take us as fools. At least give us some credit. In this time and age, what kind of lousy (if not, stupid) tactic is "banning the airing and publishing of the truth"? Ever heard of the Internet? Ever heard of Cellphones with Cameras? Ever heard of Email? The method of banning the media from displaying the truth is so stoneage!

Fed-up... really fed-up.

Having said all that, bottomline is - enough is enough. Does not matter which party they are in - just STOP wasting time and money and arresting innocent uncles and aunties who just wanted to have a cup of coffee at their local coffee shop and act like mature and responsible people's representatives. Every minute spent/wasted in this nonsensical dogfight, is actually wasting the rakyat's tax money. We did not pay them to do all these hollywood-stuffs in front of us.

by the way, here is the image that everyone should have seen it at least once. this is the same image that the authorities tried to cover up and prevent from further distribution. Oops...




boon out...

boon's log 2009.01: Randoms - Free Gas, Ab's dim sum again, and "amazing" Perak

IL and I were out lunching with our colleagues last week (think it was Tuesday), but the moment we climbed into the car, the "gas indicator light" toggled indicating that we needed gas. But EY suggested that we gas up after we makan. So we met up with the rest of the folks at McD SunShine Square for their lunch promotion.

So, after filing up our stomachs, it was time to fill up the car's "tummy". The nearest option was the Shell down the road. Abandoning the remaining 5 in the car, I went over to the pump. I was about to stick the Bonuslink card into pump register, when I noticed, to my surprise, the LCD screen showing "Lift nozzle and start filling" - I was expecting something like "Insert Bonuslink card or Credit Card". Stunned me for a little bit as I looked around for Candid Camera or You've been Punk'd crews around! I turned to EY who was also shocked. I lifted the pump and shoved it in and started filling (as indicated by the LCD screen). And it was working! At that point of time, being the Asian as I am, I scolded myself for not lifting the V-Power but the normal unleaded instead. But just before that thought left my head, the pump stopped and the digital screen showed 30.00 - it was then I was thankful that I did not lifted that V-Power pump in the first place - ;).

Went back into the car and EY went, "Act normal and let's get out of here!" Haha! The person at the register must have mistakenly keyed in RM30 to that pump and forgotten cancel the transaction. Well, it is not everyday that you can get free gas, right?

So, look at the LCD screen FIRST, the next time you are at the gas station before you stick in your credit card.

Oh, and we (kinda) bumped into Mithz while driving back to work - he was enjoying his sweet juicy papaya at fruit stall by the FTZ guard post.

***

My parents returned from their S. Africa trip on Thursday and were staying over the weekend in Penang. And as usual, it's dim sum for breakie when the grandparents meet grandchild. So, it's Northam Suites for dimsum last weekend. They serve up a pretty nice spread and delicious dim sum. Plus, with a Citibank (or HSBC) credit card, you get a 50% discount off. It was a nice time catching up with my parents on the happenings in Ipoh and also about their trip. Sounded like they really had a good time.


Dim Sum at Northam Suites, Penang


Ab enjoying her egg tart at Northam Suites, Penang

***

By now most of you must have heard about the High Court's ruling that Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the legitimate chief minister (menteri besar) or Perak. It is truly refreshing news indeed, especially after what happened in the State Assembly last Thursday - an incident that was reported in many international media/press - imagine, a Malaysian state's assembly making its way into the international media. It is truly "amazing" and somewhat embarassing at the same time.

But the question that still rings in my mind is that we needed to go all the way to the High Court to fully comprehend the Monarch's powers? We need to have a high court judge to clarify what the ruler's real powers are? Did someone also mention that he was Lord President before (1982-1984, according to Wikipedia)? Well, we may never get the answers to these questions, if you know what i mean.

Well, an interesting turn of events indeed. Oh, and SO coincidentally, the Ruler is not in the country, and Mr Nizar will only meet up with the Prince tomorrow. So, looks like there ARE still some signs of democracy in this country and that the judiciary can still be depended on. Let's hope that what happened in the last 3 months will be learnings for our leaders and not to be soon repeated (if not at all). I guess the policital saga in Perak is far from over, but with this ruling, it truly does turn the tables for the National Front.

boon out...