Today,

I am not in very good mood today.
Partly, from following the election process in HS and the manner it was conducted, at this stage of time, and at this age. I do not know, I am not a politician, just a normal Malaysian, and I do not feel good, somehow, the way we conducted it. And the main theme is just using money, and which means only money talks, nothing else. And if it ever happens, that money really buys the votes for the winner of this election, it says something, that is very critical in the type of voters that we have, or am I wrong with this?
Is it not right that in the election, we have to choose the best candidate that can represent our interest, our rights, and voice our concern in the Parliament or in the state assembly? Someone that can work for us, and with us?
It confuses me, anyhow with this whole process.

But having said that, and having read the book written by Mr. Zaid Ibrahim (Saya Pun Melayu, of which I have written an intro here before) and judging from what he has written in his blog and comments he has given during this interview, I have a personal liking to him, and I have a feeling that he is more of a Malaysian first . I could be wrong, but my sixth sense told me so, and I always believe this.
Anyway, that is my own personal opinion and this is my blogsite as i say, I would write what I feel in my heart. And although Mr. Zaid Ibrahim has lost in this by-election, I trust he will stand up to all these, and continue to serve Malaysians at large. And I want to share these two words in Mandarin with Datuk Zaid Ibrahim,... 加油(jiayou)!!!! (hard to translate with more precise words, but sort of work harder and it will end up with positive results, or berusaha dengan lebih gigih lagi, tanpa berputus asa, dan keputusan yang lebih baik akan dikecapi).

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Choong, Beijing

Happy Birthday, Natasha (22nd April...)

OO, another niece's Birthday, and this niece has been staying almost all her childhood with me, seeing her growing up into adulthood...haha, time flies.
And that is Ms. Natasha Gooi...........and working in a Sepang resort now.
Hei, already a grown-up girl la, so must know how to think before taking any actions yeah.
And hope you have a successful learning opportunity in your present job, and of course a successful career too, my dear Natasha.



From Uncle...........in Beijing

Mihara, Octopus and ......

Business card, with tel number and Octopus:) logo

Light Box, restaurant signage in front of the restaurant.
A baby Octopus.


A menu, well lite up, using advertising box or lightbox
ceramic chopstick holder, I think this is the male version
ceramic chopstick holder, I think this is the female version

a starter, tentacles of Octopus:)

Steam egg with Octopus. 'Cawan mushi"

Appetizer, Kimchi styled. The other type, actually, I am not very sure
This is the portion that I didn't really enjoy, cause they say Japanese
do not waste any parts of Octopus, seems like some "waste' material.....not
going to disclose here:)
Sashimi Octopus
Tempura Octopus

Rice, in rice steamer, this is cute:)
Octopus rice, with small mushroom

With dessert, this one, no Octopus,,,,,

Most interesting part, my colleague translated in full for me to write
here in my blog. the smoked or dried tentacles of octopus, and they
recommend you to mix it into the warm sakei, and drink it after
immersing a few pieces of tentacles into the sakei. Octopus flavored
I suppose.... but did not try this, too full already.
Today, altogether, I have spent about 4 hours in Shinkansen, about 2 hours in local train, hence, damn tired. But all ended up well though, esp, with my dinner. You see, I am in Mihara (三原), about 2 hours by Shinkansen away from Nagoya. It just happen that this is next to seaside, a harbour, which is about 2 minutes walking distance from my hotel or motel to be precise, called Mihara city hotel, which is again, about 4 minutes walking from Mihara train station.
Ok, the main point is, my colleague booked a restaurant for dinner. And we were on the way to the restaurant, he said, Choong-San, I am not sure if you like Octopus, but.......... I said, no worry, my favourites. And guess what, everything in this restaurant is about Octopus, from Sashimi to Tempura, to rice, to sushi............ouccccccccchhhhh. Pictures will tell everything.

And right after dinner, went over to Jusco (place where you find Jusco means this place is a bit far away from main city areas, though you called this Mihara city, it is just a small city, may be 300-400K in population size. But Japan is a rich country with good facilities. Even with this population size, you have the Subway, railway, highway, biway, all the way ready for you to move in and out.............

Choong, Mihara city, Japan

Happy Birthday, Kate

I am not good in remembering this. Nancy's, Natasha"s, Pingarping's, Loulou's, all, I cannot remember. Sis is better in remembering all these, and even reminded that Kate's Birthday would be in April. Anyway, happy belated ones, yeah, dear Kate.
Trust the cake your mum made for you was a nice one. Happy Sweet 3, and soon, happy sweet 16 (oh gosh, I can't imagine how I look like by then). But okaylah, when Natasha was born, I can't even imagine how I look like 24 years down the road, but, haha, still look okay loh.

Toyobashi-田桥

I am in a city called Toyobashi, 2 stations away from Nagoya by Shinkansen, which means about 20 minutes away (380KM/hour), then calculate the distance.

Just taken some special Yakitori here (barbecue chicken meat, but it is special in this region, just like China, each region with their own special food, their own special beer, their own baijiu, their own mineral water, their own food, their own special hotel, their own special underwear, oops, what did I say...), they have the same here in Japan too.

OK, not going to type much here. Last nite, got very little sleep, cause I drank too much tea, and will prepare some slides, then go for my sleep.

Nite.

Choong, Toyobashi

Macha Ice Cream with Dango Balls.....And Sakura

After seafood noodles for my dinner, and after my 1.5 hours walk along the imperial palace, I went for my favorite destination, that is having my Macha tea ice cream with dango balls.
Macha is the powder form of green tea and dango balls are the glutinous rice balls (eeee).
I will try to make this one of these days. Since I forgot to bring my camera, this is a rough idea of how it looks like (picture taken from website).



And white strolling, I still manage to see some remaining sakura on the trees, and here is one of the picture I have taken (from some flowers that I have plucked from a Sakura trees)

I think this is one of the loveliest flowers you can find around, esp. when the trees are in full bloom.

And tomorrow, will have to get up early, to move to next destination, that is to Taiyo.


Choong, Tokyo.

My Late Grandma......And A Cup Of Milk

In Marunouchi hotel and they have this service, that is to send a cup of milk, warm fresh milk to its guests (of course you can reject). But if you have not tried Japanese fresh milk (especially from Hokkaido), they you will not know why drinking fresh milk in Japan is such a joy. It is delicious, superb..................... and simply fantastic. Try that, yes... sila cuba, anak anda akan tumbesar dengan cepat sekali,......haha.

Anyway, talking about warm milk, it reminds me of my late grandma, who used to make a glass of warm milk for me, when I was a boy, to make sure I grew up fast. She always want me to grow up fast, as she was getting older at that time..............ooooooooooooo, and now that I grew older, she is already somewhere else. That is life, isn;t it, time wait for no one........ To grandma, thanks, for the milk that you made me drink every nite, and especiallly Nestle milk powder. Susu Tepung Nestle............ and I talking about my ah ma, I miss you my dear Ah Ma. Wherever you are, I miss you still.............
And this flower and the song are dedicated to you and I also hope you like the flowers I placed for you during Chengbeng.................

晚来的春天-The Spring That Never Comes.....Or

In Chinese saying, this means also that a person who find love very late,... whatever that means.
This year, Spring in Beijing never seems to appear, and it is a very cold and long winter months. Even now, at nite time, I have to use two layers of blankets, you cannot imagine that. And my Spring and summer fashion wear, all are gearing up and shouting to see the sun, but what can the owner do, as the spring seems not showing up herself, and Winter is fighting hard to retain its reign. Dear winter, please allow Spring to show up, without which, Summer will never show up, which means my colorful clothes will never get enough sunshine, which also means my sexy legs will never have a chance to get enough Vitamin D, which also means ..... Hei hei hei, look who is talking now, and whatabout, ehm ehm.................

Sharing some flowers I have at home. Will take some pictures of magnolias when I am back to Beijing this weekend.

Choong, Tokyo