Tracy Huang's concert-16 May 2015

With my best buddy in Taipei, Dr. Devil....

One of my favourites, when she sang with Chen xiao xia on mingliao..明了

This concert was the one I had been waiting for, for a long time, since I started becoming a fans of hers many years ago. And you know after the "pain" of waiting for so long, finally, dreams come true,,,,so here I am flying from Shanghai, again, after just I left Taipei a week ago.
Concert, overall was good, but I think it could be that she has not been singing for too long, it could be that she has been too emotional, in the final part of the concert (thinking of her husband), she was not singing much at the end, esp the crowd's favourite, 哭砂。。。may be she is tired not very sure.
But the best part of the concert is when she were singing the dancing tunes, like Dancing queen, 来自心海的消息。。。and when she was crooning two songs accompanied by orchestra--that was the best part of the concert..my opinion.
Nevertheless, whatever it is, the most important thing is, my dream come true and I enjoyed this concert a lot, in the sense that it has been a long waiting, and a wish fulfilled.

And not forgetting of course this concert, like my friend say, though overall cost is expensive, just treat it like I am visiting him. Indeed, thanks Dr. Devil, I appreciate not only for your kindness in organising  the concert every-time I came over for it, also, for us to catch up. It is meaningful way for us to catch-up and communicate, our ways, haha. I hope we will have more time to enjoy more concerts in the near future.

Regards,
Choong
Taipei

My Trips And Experience to Japan (Tokyo And Osaka), lately

I have not written this yet, due to my busy schedule, but I just want to record it down, my own experience.
All of us are aware that presently, we do not need Visa to visit Japan, and on surface, it looks like we are "welcome or having a little bit improved status" but I think it is not the actual case, from my own experience.

The first time was in November last year, I think, on my way back from Mexico city, and as I was using Singapore Airlines, I made a stop at Tokyo Narita airport.
Upon landing, the passed through the immigration easily without much question.

Then when I was about to pass through the custom, when they saw my Malaysian passport, then things started. First, they asked me why I flew from Mexico, and secondly, when I stopped at Tokyo. Sometimes, I can understand they do not really know, in this world there are genuine travellers, they are people who can love another country a lot, and for myself, I have great affinity to Japan, since my first trip there in year 1998...and ever since, it has become one of my favorite countries.
Back to the story, then they officers asked me to go to another room, as they would like to check on my luggage and search my body...they asked if I have any form of drugs with me...finally of course, I was cleared and they apologised and say thank you to me for the cooperation. This I can understand, perhaps I was picked randomly.

The second incident happened recently, when I was there for my business trip, on 8th February, and I was flying to Kansai airport from Shanghai. Again, Immigration, I have no problem, once at custom they started asking questions.
Where are you from? I said Shanghai, and why are you here, I told them for business, Then they asked me to open my bags, and I showed them the PC sheet samples. Then in Japanese they talked, Shanghai Kara, Malaisia passporto....(from Shanghai, Malaysian passport). Then they said for two days, it is too short, and you brought too big luggage and we would like to search on you. I said please... Then again they brought me to the room....
Then they asked me if I brought any drugs, and they wanted to search my bags and my body,...I oblige....and they even said my purse look full and big, I said, by all means, please check. Of course I came clean...

But the questions I have are:
why picked only on Malaysians....None chinese were picked up
If Malaysians were their worries, then revert to the Visa application method
And there are people like me, true tourist, true professionals, and true shoppers....everytime I came I spent money, I shopped, I obeyed laws and rules in Japan, and most importantly, I create a lot of business opportunities with companies and friends in Japan...Please check my records....
It upsets me, and it will be more if I find out that they purposely picked me just because I am Malaysian working overseas.

At the same time, I hope Malaysians abroad must help to improve our own image...our reputation....to minimiser this form of perception.

This is just my personal record, a kind of my traveling experience.

Thanks.

Choong
Hongkong Feb 28th. 2015.

Gifts

When your nieces or nephews know who to send or buy you gifts, then you know they hv grown up. This sunspecs, my  Spider-Man tshirt n my angkorwat tshirt ...etc and I am thankful n touched with all these little gestures.

10 February

Today, another year to add on to my life on the earth..thanks to my creator...thanks to my belief...and thanks to the universe for my life.....

I am thankful, for this year I am able to celebrate it here, and I did not really planned it in advance. Last year was in NZ, the country I like most and this year here, the second country that I like in AP, after NZ. They are just like twin countries, one in the north Hemisphere and one in the south.

Kamahira-San came for the tea and treat me to a nice cafe and pie/cake....I appreciate this a lot.
And the chance to also visit a friend, Yuki is also good experience....

I feel blessed and I appreciate this a lot...on this special day for myself.

Choong
Osaka Airport
10 February 2015

Thanks, Simone

Life is a mystery.....is it not.

Well, I believe it is....

This evening, together with my colleague, after our training, we went to a mall for some shopping and then dinner. We park our car into a car parking area in a shopping mall, without realising the gate closing time is at 730PM, and have been joking that we might ended up not getting our car. And that really happened, as we talk towards the parking are picking up our car, both gates are locked.

We rewind a bit of this story, where actually, one colleague Zhao was suggesting that we should pick up the car first as he sensed the gate might be closed. Hence Liu together with me, we walk in another direction and trying to look for our parking area, that is P3..but we only found P1, P2 and P3. Hence, he suggested we might as well finished our meal and then go to pick up the car together.\

And during the time when we ate, I suggested that we go there before 8PM, again, having a feeling that it will close soon..

And forwarding this event, our car (and only car left ) was really locked in the parking area. Panicking, we yelled or shouted, hoping someone to be in the parking lot, that will help us. Our phone is not working, as we do not have any roaming service and hence, there is no other choice except looking for help.

Then we walked back to the mall (which already closed) , trying to look for help. I went to the restaurant, trying to talk to a lady, but she spoke no English, and she directed me to talk to the restaurant waitress which I did, and she then advised me to go to the casino and look for the people there, for help. And I rushed there but again the lady, with not so willing to help look, answered me that she do not speak English. Then  quickly run to Mcdonald, to look for help.

I try to look for the restaurant mgr, but he was busy, and my eyes then has a "contact" with Simone, and then I walked towards him, and asked if he speaks english and he said yes, and then I asked if he can help us, and he said yes, and without any hesitation, he just walk together with  me to the car park. It was raining along the way yeah and weather is like 8 deg C, cold and wet.

And as we walked to our parking area, a car came out (just in the nick of time....if I am allowed to use this phrase)...and the two guys in the car just open their car window and talked to Simone asking if his car was left inside. And Simone answered him that, it was our car, and then Simone told me that they are the operator there, and going back to open the gate for us....\

You know how I feel like,?

I feel like a win a lottery

I feel like I am laughing our loud deep inside

I feel with full of gratitude

I feel like our creator hear us

I feel like angel is sent to help me

And I believe you sow what you get, go good and you have good and blessing in return.

我好感恩。。好感激。。。。谢谢my creator....

Thanks and nite.

Choong

Stabio, Italy

New Recipe To Try

Ingredients

• 1 egg*
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2/3 cup milk
• Scant 1 1/2 cups (170 grams) tapioca flour
• 1/2 cup (packed, about 66 grams) grated cheese, your preference, though we got the best results from Mexican farmer's cheese - queso fresco
• 1 teaspoon of salt (or more to taste)

Special equipment recommended:

• One or two mini muffin tins. Mini muffin tins are about half the size of a regular muffin pan. The muffin openings are about 1-inch deep, and 1 3/4 inch wide at the top.

*It helps when baking with eggs to start with eggs at room temperature. If you don't plan ahead (that would be me, usually) you can put the egg in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to gently take off the chill of the fridge.

Method

 

1 Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a mini-muffin tin. Put all of the ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth. You may need to use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the blender so that everything gets blended well. At this point you can store the batter in the refrigerator for up to a week.

 

2 Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until all puffy and just lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack for a few minutes.

Eat while warm or save to reheat later.

Note that Brazilian cheese bread is very chewy, a lot like Japanese mochi.

Read more: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_brazilian_cheese_bread/#ixzz3IimFFALE

Krabi-Part 2

Short note on this trip, in general, I am quite happy with this trip. Second day, besides swimming (not going to miss out the pool), then together with my friend, Lye, we chartered a car to Krabi town. It was nice trip, I bought a specs and also we ate at the nite market, Krabi walking market, trying various local food. Price here is quite reasonable....here. Coconut for example is Baht 200 versus Baht 400 at Ao Nang. And having the chance to go for the massage...at Aonang, thanks to our driver for taking us there. I think the swimming, my first pic wearing my trunk,,,,is a very nice one.

I think from this trip this time, I found that we are quite fortunate to stay nearby countries with beautiful nature, seaside, and you can swim and enjoy good food throughout the year. It is a kind of blessing, really and I feel that, irrespective where I go to, for work, for visit, South East Asia, with special reference to Thailand, will always be in my heart, cause I just love to be there. It is like a second home for me...Thanks Thailand. 

I am back home now and very soon will be going for a small project in Shanghai, but I think it opens up a lot for me now, in all aspects...and I am contented and feel grateful to my creator. Thanks my creator for the love shower upon me, and I appreciate that.

Choong

KL

A Visit To Krabi

This visit was just an impromptu kind of decision, with a friend, and it was decided right after a conversation since I thought I have the "time". But then once that was confirmed, there were a few changes taking place. And I have to fork out RM 300 to change the date and now, right after this, I will be going to Shanghai soon, for a short assignment there. That is another story altogether.

Coming back to this, Krabi, before I landed, and as I was seeing through the window seat, giving me the impression it was quite green and beautiful.. as it was descending, I saw more of Palm trees, and as we landed near the airport, I saw a lot of them, reminding me of KLIA, haha. Airport is a small one, but I find that the toilet is very clean (compared to ours, esp at Penang airport).

Krabi airport is still far away from the town centre and from the hotel I am staying, it is about 45 minutes away.

Sofitel, I think I like this hotel, mainly the swimming pool, I think the longest, swimmable pool that I have seen and used so far. Very nice and I think I will continue using it until the day I leave.

But location wise, it is not the best one as it is far away from many places.....

Having visited another town, Ao Nang, I think they have better location there, and more nicer hotels, like Krabi resort, Thai Village resort,  IBIS, Holiday Inn...to name a few and also nicer restaurants like the Hilltop......

One thing I dislike is that transportation is very expensive here, from hotel to town is Baht 500...for a 20minute ride, I think it is expensive. And you have to negotiate, haha.

Shopping is also very expensive, I prefer to shop in BKK, or Hadyai, and I think the price they quote there, for example, Massage is much cheaper compared to here.

People here are quite nice in my opinion, despite the fact that the weather was gloomy the whole day, and it rained throughout the whole day...

That's all for now...

Choong

Sofitel Krabi