i.Gemz, it's OFFICIAL!

Went for my first ever i.Gemz practice today at BGF. We will be doing 2 songs for the upcoming Majlis Sambutan Hari Wesak 2011 Peringkat Negeri Selangor which will be held at Bangunan SSAAS Shah Alam on the 5th of June! Of course as new comer, I don't get to do lead (yet). Haha.... so was assigned as supporting singers for the existing lead. :) The songs that we will be doing are i.Gemz's signature songs it seems, which are Dharma Shines In Me and Breathing In, Breathing Out. Everything went A-Oh-Kay just now.... We got the melody and assigned parts pretty well. Except for me, there's one part that I keep on getting confused as I have to hit the low notes. But I'm learning... I'm learning.... :)

Oh! And yes, like the title of this post has mentioned, I am now part of i.Gemz! It's OFFICIAL! *grins* They gave a welcome "speech" right before we left. Haha..... How...erm? Surprising? LOL! :P :P :P

If you are up or near Shah Alam on that day, do come support us! It's free by the way. Event starts at 9pm. See you if I see you! ;)

400 feet above ground

I did something fun today! *grins* Went with 2 other friends to Pulau Indah, Port Klang for an afternoon of paramotor flight! If you don't know what paramotor is, it's actually similar to parasailing where there'll be a parachute behind you but this doesn't involve any boats. Instead, you are seated on a chair-thingy which is being mounted with a HUGE fan! It relies solely on the force of the fan to push you up to the sky. Can't imagine it? All right here's a pic:

Ran by a company called Air Venture, this flight actually costs RM150. But I bought it at a discounted price from Groupsmore.com at 50% off! To be honest, I wouldn't have went if it wasn't for the half price. Cause the whole thing only lasts approximately 10 to 15 minutes. RM150 for 10 - 15 minutes? You do the math! LOL!! XD

Overall it was not bad, really. I mean, it's not all thrilling and scary. In fact, I find it very relaxing! Luckily it rained before we came and the sun wasn't completely out yet. So it wasn't blazing hot when we are up in the sky. Mild wind, beautiful view of the Malacca straits, ships, fishermen, and mangrove forests make it a really enjoyable ride!

I would rate it as good if it wasn't for the ever-so-confusing-and-very-high-tendency-to-get-lost-route to reach the take off site!!!!!!!!!!!!! We took an HOUR to find that bloody place and asked about 10 people for directions! The worse thing is, when I called up the management to ask for directions, they just asked me to look at the map! I was totally speechless.... I mean, yessssss........ it's difficult to describe it over the phone because the roads are really secluded and confusing! AT LEAST make a better map with more details on it! I am not sure if it was my problem with the map or it's the map that was just too vague? I prefer to think the latter, thank you very much. :P

We road there was a very bumpy one! I felt like I'm in a kangaroo pouch! No joke! And my car was a total mess when we reached. Muddy....... T_T

To (not) make things better, the whole field was full with bull shits! Literally, bull (and cow) shits! =____="""

According to the villagers there, the roads are not completed yet. So getting there IS difficult and yes, my GPS doesn't register the place too. So, if you are thinking of going, please go early and READ THE MAP PROPERLY beforehand! To find out more about this activity, go check out their website at www.airventure.biz

Some pics for your entertainment. Enjoy! :D :

Oh! There's a self recorded video too at http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150609200350413&comments

Self updates as on 19/05/2011

It was a 4 months hiatus this time... >.< Wow! I realized the older you get (in academic years that is), the less time you have for yourself...

As of today, I had had completed Year 3 of my dental course, which brings down to 2 more years to go! I admit, it's not a bed of roses when I was in Year 3. Handling patients was a challenge, bombarded with constant pressure by lecturers, rushing requirements, competency tests, lab works and my typical day ends at 6pm. Not to mention the need to revise and prepare for exams when those dreaded papers are near. Well........ I have to say that I need to get used to this kind of life as the next academic years will be far worse, or so said my seniors! Sigh....

Well, anyway, boring things aside, I had had many things happened during the last semester. I realized I haven't blog about my drama competition this year! Quite unfortunately this time, we didn't win nor we got any placing. The reason? Hmm.... I guess the story line was a little poor this time. And we made a mistake, we left a gap at the back stage and audience had had a good view on what's happening back there and laughed when they are not supposed to be. But I had fun! I played 5 characters this time! LOL! Yeah I know..... but 3 of them are really minor roles. Not to worry, I swear, next year..... we'll be on top of the list again! A wounded tiger, is the fiercest tiger! And I am soooooooooooo gonna act again for ONE LAST TIME! *eyes shining*

*Theater: Naskah Buat Kekasih; Role #1: Saudagar Abas*

I have been very active in religion nowadays. Ok.... very active is an overstatement. Let's just say I am active. Yes.... I am affiliated to Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) ever since I joined INCOVAR Dhamma Camp in 2009. Recently, I went for an audition to be a part of an elite English speaking Buddhist singing group in Malaysia! They are called the i.Gemz which is under BGF. And has had 2 albums produced already. Their songs are fresh, young and modern. Their mission is simple, spreading the Buddha's teaching through inspirations of music and songs. So..... I went for the audition (one day before my final exams! Crap. LOL!) and...... they liked me! They love me voice! :D And I was asked to join their practices now and maybe will do a debut performance during the Selangor state level Wesak Celebration on 5th June 2011! I would like to say that I am part of them now, but according to them, I am just shortlisted wor..... when will they confirm me? I do not know. Hopefully soon! I love singing and having a chance to record singles excites me! :P

Besides that, am pretty active in sports the last semester too. But no.... not during my exam period. Had a lot of fat storage going on *holds spare tire and starts cursing*. I need to lose them A.S.A.P.!!! >.< Cause I've got lots of plan going on the break which requires me to look good! :P :P :P
Joined an inter-college swimming competition held by my university. First time participating.... didn't get myself any medals. But it was good experience! And swimming is a competition is both tiring AND stressful! Haha.. :) Still in the university's Taekwondo team. Got elected as Treasurer (again). I really wanna quit as I have a lot of things in my mind and I know next year will get worse. But....who knows.... hopefully I can find time doing what I enjoy doing and not just facing books all the while. I need a life man! XP

Currently having a 4-months holiday break! I know..... it's damn long right? Usually we will get only 2 months. But apparently, the Malaysian government wants to synchronize Malaysian public universities academic schedule with those overseas, especially the West, in order to attract more foreign students to our local uni. Which means, I will graduate 4 months later! ARGH! Then again..... I think I should enjoy this break and yes! Blog I shall........ :D

Project-κ 21: Dry Bak Kut Teh @ Terminal 2

Seremban may not be so famous for its Bak Kut Teh as it is, after all, usually associated with Klang! However, this restaurant called "Restoran Bak Kut Teh Fei Chan" at Terminal 2, Seremban offers a new twist to the traditional bak kut teh! They have DRY bak kut teh and other signature dishes! Now, now.... dry bak kut teh isn't something totally new! Klang apparently had this for centuries (exaggeration here)! And so, to find this in Seremban is really my first. Hence, the need to recommend this place not only to tourists but locals alike!

Besides the said traditional bak kut teh (that is meat in soup) and the dry version, they also have a couple of dishes which are worth mentioning and highly recommended by me! One of it, which is my family's favourite, is the Spicy Burning Meat (for bao yok). I wouldn't elaborate the traditional bak kut teh as seen below as I believe everyone would have known how bak kut teh tastes like. Strong and flavourful with herbs which is perfect to be eaten during these cold monsoon seasons at night! It literally warms you up! :D

The dry bak kut teh..... didn't taste as what I would expect it to be! Haha.... when I heard of the word DRY bak kut teh, what I had in mind was meat (and other common bak kut teh ingredients) being stir fried till all the herbal essence being infused into the ingredients, dry or in thick herbal gravy. Try to imagine the traditional bak kut teh being slow boiled till dry so that the meat in it locks in all the herbal goodness! (OMG! My saliva is drooling!) Hahaha..... :P

But Fei Chan's version was somewhat similar to braised fried pork (char cu yok). Stir fried in onions, dried chillies and ladyfingers. The half fatty and skinny pork chunks are tender and flavourful to taste! It was not bad..... like I said, a change to the traditional type. Worth trying!

Now, the highlight would be the Spicy Burning Meat! I love this! My family love this! We all love this! LOL!!! Pork slices being stir fried with LOTS of dried chillies, bird's eye chillies (cili padi), dried shrimps and salted fish. Then topped with onion slices and onion leaves! It tastes really really good! This is highly recommended! Seriously! Don't be afraid because of the name of this dish... it won't burn your tongue off! I mean.... it's not THAT hot! But hot enough to keep you perspiring and mucus running from your nose throughout the whole meal till you find yourself an air-cond to cool you down! Hahaha.... But really..... it's good! :P

Of course, like any restaurant in their right mind, they do serve greeny vegetables stir fried to your liking and also yau char guai too. Below is a sample of vegetables (bo lei sang choy) I ordered just to complete the healthy balance diet! :)

Also, this restaurant serves Chicken in Rice Wine, Chicken in Hua Tiao Wine, Braised Trotters in Vinegar, and Sauna Bak Kut Teh (recommended by chef) which I have YET to taste them! 

Restoran Bak Kut Teh Fei Chan

31-G, Jalan Era Square 3,

Era Square, Seremban,

70200 Negeri Sembilan.

Tel. no.: 010-2799972

Business hour: 11am - 3pm; 6pm - 10pm

Opens everyday EXCEPT Monday

Embracing the first sunlight of the year...

It's 2011! It's a new year! *shit*...

Anyway, while almost everyone was out in various locations around Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya for countdown, I was trying to sleep early (at 10pm) on New Year's Eve as today, we woke up at 3.30am to go for a hike at the infamous Broga Hill in Semenyih as we wanted to do "something new" and "different" way to start the New Year!

We start to move out - convoy style! - at 4.15am after picking up everyone, to this alien place. NONE of us knew where the place was! Thank goodness for GPS! Hahaha... Broga hill is situated near University of Nottingham at Semenyih. It's hard to describe the directions, but here are maps from blogs I referred to. (A & B)

We reached at around 5.30am with constant slowing down and waiting for each other at every toll gates. It was pitch dark once we were there! (Note: PLEASE bring torchlights! Each and everyone of you should have one!) We were so lost at the parking area (which is an oil palm estate) initially as there were no signs where the heck should we start hiking Broga hill! So, we waited and followed the crowd! LOL!

Surprisingly, we are not the only one who wanted to start year 2011 in a "new and different way"! Just as we parked our cars, there are 5 to 6 more cars coming to the exact spot! This place IS kinda popular!

Initially the roads were kinda flat and was an easy stroll up ahead. Saw a sign that states "Broga Hill - 1.8km" and "Gunung Tok Wan - 4.2km" and we knew we were on the right track! All hell broke loss once we passed by a run-down, very basic stall with a banner that says "Jalan Murah" (I am pretty sure they meant "JUalan Murah"! Hahaha...) or it DOES literally mean that the paths uphill is cheap! Well, no doubt bout that! It IS! X_X

The paths are mud trails! Uneven surfaces, holes and craters everywhere, some really narrow walk, jungle path and finally a rocky, barren STEEP ascend to the peak! AND I WAS WEARING SKIN-TIGHT JEANS AND SLIPPERS!!! FML! Imagine the difficulty in doing so! There were a few instances that I nearly slipped! (So note: Wear APPROPRIATELY! Shoes DEFINITELY - old ones if possible! Put ALL items in a bag pack, do NOT hand carry! You won't have enough hands to grip for support!)

We reached the peak of Broga hill at around 6.30am ~ roughly about an hour hike! It was STILL pitch dark... :/

And considering there was no sunlight yet, you BET, it was FREEZING cold!!! Imagine your sweat drenched shirts and windy breeze blowing at 60kmph (ok...I'm exaggerating), I can literally feel my bones shaking! NO JOKE!

While waiting for sunrise, (some of us as usual), shiok sendiri lah! Taking out camera and snapping everyone and everything eventhough they know they can't see anything but themselves in a black surrounding! =.="
Oh....and I start munching brought breads to warm up my body! Brrrrrrr~~~ (Note: BRING SWEATER along!)

Mr. Sunrise finally came at around 7am! With a pathetic white streak of lights....

Then at about 7.30am, everything starts to be visible as the day starts to brighten up! Mr. Sunrise can be fully seen by then! *grins* :)

~This was my best photo for the day!~

After MORE shiok sendiri-ness, we finally had enough and descended down at around 7.45am and step down on base at about 8.30am! Almost everyone was tired.... and I had to go pee! Got scolded by the car park attendant because apparently we were parked IN THE MIDDLE of the main road! Hahaha.... didn't know mah~~~ First time ok! Got space mai park lor! LOL! I pretended to be dumb and my coursemate, Mildred settled with her... :P

Dashed to the nearest petrol station, "let go of the water in my tangki (full tank wei~)", found a random restaurant in Kajang, had breakfast and headed back to UM for shower and ZZzzzzZZZzzzzZZzz......

AND THAT is how we do it! HAPPY NEW YEAR guys!!! :D