Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Paint Ball Game at MAPACC

27th November 2010, Saturday, 9.30am arrived to MAPACC (Malaysian Paint Ball Academy) at Petaling Jaya. Enter via Tun Hussein Onn Eye Specialist. The place is located at ASTAKA Sports building. Quite difficult to find a parking bay. You can view the location at :-
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100707176877641090913.000467bbad96b32171c7f&source=embed&ll=3.104456,101.646473&spn=0.01112,0.019205&z=16

Suprised to see so many teenagers playing paint ball and was shock that they were not wearing any vest for protection. Looking the way they shoot each other with near distance, it was scary and painful.  I questioned Wei, why they teenagers are not wearing any protection gear, well their paint ball pressure is very low therefore the gear mask is sufficient. Is up to the individual to wear the vest .

Our briefing starts at 10.30am by Wei. First we got to sign a form to declare that anything happens to us we would not make MAPACC liable for it..some sort of death liability. 

Then follow on the protection gear - we should wear the gear mask all the time and also the vest. Most of the guys tried to be HERO and not to wear the vest.ha!ha! After one game, you will know how important is the VEST. We refer the gun as MARKER. We need to ensure the safety button is off when we finish the game and before we enter to the war zone.

We divided ourself into 4 teams since we got 20 people. Each team got 5 person. The rule to win is that one of the team mate got to run to the opposite gate and touches it. Is very difficult and dangerous task to do.

We entered to the wall zone and the referee gave us another briefing. We got to test our marker by shooting few palettes. Then we get in to our ready position and run to the nearest sheild and start shooting.

I got shot on the head and leg, it was painful.  Guess paint ball is not my cup of tea. It is an experience and make sure you can endure the pain. 

If you keen to have a paint ball game among your frens, you can contact the following person :-

WY Wei @ +6016-332 3372 or +6012-337 0775

Sofian @ +6016-332 3337

YP Wong @ +6016-332 3370 or +6019-983 3370

KK @ +6019-318 7266

Visit mapacc web site at http://my-npl.org/mapaac/?author=1

Prawn Fishing

Prawn fishing is back again after so many years. This time is not in the shop lots.
You can fish prawns or cat fish. They served food and you can also do your own bbq.  Surrounded with landscape and greeneries.  Per hour is only RM15 and normally we will spend at least two hours there and it cost you RM27.

Tried fishing at night but did not get any prawns....so sad!! Even told the owner to replenish prawns in to the pond. Guess is just my luck. A 3 year old boy also able to catch few prawns.  Is really not easy as it looks. Got tactic to it.  The lady who sat opposite me kept getting prawns every 10 minutes. Really embarrassed.
Well, at the end the boss gave me 5 prawns to bring home....ha!ha!

This place is not even outskirt. Is located in Klang Valley. This place is known as Tropicana Prawn Fishing, is the row of nursery near Tropicana. Is behind Jaya Groccers and Water Lily. 

There are golden rules when comes to prawn fishing - never be late and never bring a jinx with you .ha!ha!  This rules are from the PRAWN LOSERS....ha!ha!  Paid RM27 and FISH 0 prawns...sob...sob....

No worries will try again......this time will try to fish in the morning.....at 10-11am onwards according to the regulars...ha!ha!

After 1 week - the result is the same....
Well tried at 11am, also did not able to catch one prawn. The boss is very nice, he thought us the technique and help us to fish for prawn.  The technique is that you got to move your bait cos you can't wait for the prawn to look for you, you got to look for prawns by moving the bait.

Shanghai and Hangzhou - Sept 2010



Shanghai at night



Took MAS to Shanghai. The flight was delay for half an hour due to 17 passengers yet to board the plane. Well, I guess this people got to catch the next flight as I don't see any of them boarding the plane. MAS standard has drop tremendously, the food is horrible.  Is it because I took the morning flight, food either nasi lemak or omelette with potatoes top with cheese. No words can describe. 

We also took the morning flight back to KL and the flight was delay for 1 hour and 15 mins after everyone boarded the plane, this is due to the air traffic congestion. The food is even worst, you either have chicken with spicy sauce or deep fried fish with noodles. Gosh the food combination is horrible. The appetizer is some sort of cold chicken, no ones dare to eat. One look at it, you want to puke.

We drove to Hang Zhou and stayed at Marco Polo Hotel which is 15 mins walk from West Lake. The hotel room is clean and spacious.  Please take note that tourist attractions closes at 5pm.

We went to watch Impression of West Lake directed by Zhang Yi Mou and music composed by Kitaro. Highly recommended. Really impresss on the show, they actually perform on the west lake. They built the platform and raise it at night for performance. In the morning the boats can still go through. The shows is about love story how the couple met at the west lake, fall in love, married and then separated.  Refer to the pictures shown below under Impression of West Lake.

You should tried foot reflexology in Hangzhou, totally differnt. At the end of the massage, they place the fire in the cups to push the wind out from your leg. You can't find this in other places. The centre opens till 4am.

We visited Wu Zhen, Water Village, 2 hours drive from Hang Zhou. Highly recommend this place. You can walk around the village and then take the boat ride. The entire boat can fit for 8 pax only cost RM40 per boat. 300 families still leave in this village.

Wu Zhen is famous for chrysanthemun tea.

Pictures of Wu Zhen Water Village

We visited West Lake, took a boat ride to one of the island in West Lake. West Lake is very huge and they have different island on it. You need to spend at least 1 day to tour entire West Lake.  A lot of walking to do.

West Lake

One of the famous pagoda at West Lake. You need to walk up all the way. We did not go up...

Temple at Hang Zhou

Temple at Hang Zhou

We had dinner at Wu Ji Hotspot at Shanghai. They are famous for fresh fish head to cook in the hot pot. You can either choose ma lat or herbs as the soup base. We tried both. 

Fish head weights 3.8kg

Soup based - herbs and ma lat

We went to Yu Garden @ Cheng Huang Temple which is famous for steam dumplings @ siu loong pau at Nan Xiang Restaurant. This is the so called famous restaurant. People mountain people sea. They have different rates depends where you dine in the restaurant. If you order take away, it will be much cheaper. If you go up to the first floor and wait for tables then is also another rate. If you queue up and to have a table reserve for you, your rate is also different. If you choose to order set meals then will be another rate.  Lucky my cousin took us there otherwise I will be very confuse on their system.


Look at the number of siu loong bao orders



steam dumplings @ siu loong bao

This bao cost RM11 just to drink the soup. Was dissapointed with the soup cos too much pepper. They did refund us for this bao after we complain. The soup supposed to be very sweet and tasty. Dissapointed!!

The so called famous "Tung Poh Pork Meat" at Hangzhou. It cost RM7.50 per bowl at Zhi Wei Guan Restaurant. I find it too oily.

Tong Poh Pork Meat

Stinky Tau Foo

Visited Shanghai World Expo.It was 35 degrees. We went in to the expo at 2pm where the crowd are minimum. We do not need to queue at the security check. We visited Taiwan and China Pavillion thank to a friend who got us the fast pass. We spend 1 hour queuing in to Taiwan Pavillion cos each time they only allow 25 people to enter. When we first enter to taiwan pavillion, you enter to 4D and 720 degrees. What do you mean by 4D? 4D means that you can feel and smell. You can smell the flowers fragrance when it shows the flower animation. Then you could feel water splashing on you when you see the dolphins splashing. It was amazing. Then the next section is to talk about Taiwan Sky Lantern. You can make your wish by choosing the wish list from the touch screen. Then stand backwards to see your sky lantern written with your wish from the LCD. You can also feel the heat.

electronic taiwan sky lantern

You being serve taiwan chinese tea and at the same time enjoy a performance. At the end of the visit, you are given taiwan pavillion recycle bag, the cup which you drank the tea from, hand sanitizer, one packet of drinks. The tour  is only less than 20 minutes.

We visited China Pavillion and we got to queue for almost 1 hour. Unfortunately my camera is not good when taking dark environment. I must said China Pavillion really feature better life better city. They featured water villlage, national treasures, children inspirations, the land of flowers, enerygy and wind, the structural from the past and present. I understand that after the expo ends in October, China Pavillion will still be there therefore I suggest you should pay a visit.  The organisers should consider providing a special lane for foreigners as we travel so far just to visit this expo unfortunately we are not given any privileges. Majority of the people entering to the world expo are mostly mainland chinese.  Guess no foreigners would like to queue for hours for each pavillion.  That's why some of the friend will enter to the expo after 3pm where most of the tour groups already left. Total got more than 100 pavillions and is impossible to visit 15% of the pavillion unless you spend few days.

We get culture shock in Shanghai, there is no such things as Zebra Crossing. The cars, motobikers, cyclist don't give way. It is worst than Vietnam. No Taxi stand available and very difficult to get a cab.
I don't think any malaysians can drive in China, those cars don't give way either and they seldom use signal. When the driver is driving, we are shouting. Therefore my cousin advise all of us to close our eyes and pretend to sleep. ha!ha!

Pictures of Shanghai World Expo

China Pavillion

Macau Pavillion

China Pavillion

Hong Kong and Macau Pavillon

The wall is cover with animation featuring water village inside China Pavillion

inside china pavillion featuring wind and energy

inside china pavillion featuring energy

inside china pavillion featuring garden lotus, this is the exit to china pavillion

inside china pavillion featuring wind and energy

Future car display at china pavillion

People queuing to enter to china pavillion, this is only one section of the queue which is below the pavillion

Taiwan pavillion at night

China pavillion

Shanghai World Expo night view

Night view where you could see led lights display

Oriental Pearl night view, took this picture when we are at the boat

Shanghai bund night view

Pictures for Impression of West Lake Performance



Impression of West Lake



The stage rising from the lake

Hokaido, Japan, August 2010

My dreams finally came true, always wish to go to Hokaido. Took Japan Airlines night flight to Narita. Arrived Narita in the morning and then took 2 hours bus jouney to Haneda, domestic airport. Landed on Hakodate which is of one of the most beautiful port cities of Japan and one of the first three ports in Japan opened for foreign trade in 1859. 

Visited the Motomachi Roman Catholic Church and the white Russian Orthodox Church is Japan's first Greek Orthodox Church.  (renovating when we were there). 

On the way we bought melon and mix ice cream and grilled squid to eat.

We visited Mt. Hakodate and took the cable car to have a panoroma view of the city and the fine natural harbour.  Great view!!

We stay in tatame and the bathroom are really small. Weather is really hot and hokaido people don't practice switching on air-conditioned. This year the weather changed and it was 35C. Normally summer in hokkaido the weather is between 17-26C.  We booked a private room for hotspring and the cost for 1 hour is only RM37.

Next day, we visited the Assaichi Hakodate Morning Market, Japan's biggest seafood wholesale market.
We had grilled scallop and abalone. It was ok, nothing spectacular. It is really fresh.

Sea Unchin

Then on our way to Lake Toya we stopped by at Seaweed Museum to buy seaweed and biscuits. The journey took us 3 hours to reach Lake Toya for lunch.

Our lunch are steamboat with prawns, scallops, salmons, chinese cabbage and pork.  Very healthy food and no oil.

Visit to Mt. Uzuzan and took a ropeway to view the active volcano rising from the valley.

At the same time, visited the Bear Ranch which has 102m long brown bears. The bears are so adorable, waiting to be feed with biscuits. You can purchase the biscuits from the vending machine, each packet cost 100 yen which is RM3.70.The bear will do all kinds of action just to get the biscuits. Make sure you save the biscuits for the last group of bears which are cage at the end of the ranch. 

After that we  visited Jigokudani (Hell Valley) at Noboribetsu.  Jigokudani is a part of an old crater. We did not walk all the way in to see the crater and the hot water bubbles.  The sulfur smells are too strong.

We check in to our hotel and the guide advise us to wear Yakuta for dinner. gosh, it was so hot and no air-conditioned in the restaurant. Some more we are eating hot pot. It is buffet style therefore you can eat fresh salmon, squid, scallops and etc.  

We are so lucky that we are able to see the Ghost Festival where there are fire crackers and ghost performance.  The shows starts at 8.30pm and is just walking distance from our hotel.  The guide ask us to wear Yakuta to join the festival unfortunately weather is too hot, so all of us change into our tshirts and shorts.  On our way back, we stopped by at Panchinko outlet to check out the place and see how to play. Panchinko is a japanese gaming device use in the amusement and gambling area, similar to pinball machines.

The guide took us to cherry plucking. Have you ever eat cherry from the tree? It was fresh and yummy. We had cherry feast..ha!ha!

We stopped by at Furano Cheese Factory and we tried their milk and it was so nice. Must try their milk!!.We stopped by at one of the restaurant for lunch and we were given one slice of melon. Melon are very expensive in Hokaido, one melon can cost RM129. After lunch we visited lavender shop where you can buy lots of lavender product such as pillow, lavender skin lotions, soap and etc. The driver and guide took us to additional farm so that we could see different views and flowers. The flowers are so beautiful and the view are magnificient, exactly what you see in the emails or postcards.

Then we reached Tomita Farm and we saw lavender and the smell are so nice.Tomita farm is one of the famous lavender farm in Furano. It started to rain heavily therefore we left the place and went to Biei, another magnificient view of the hill where you can see wheats, an ingredient for SOBA.

Magnifient view from the tower -golden wheat at Biei

We reached Sounkyo and stay over night, The hotel is build behind the ravine. After breakfast, visited Sounkyo Gorge, is a giant gorge consisting of 100m cliffs formed by the erosion of tuff, and forms the center of the Daisetsuzan National park. Saw Ryusei-no-taki Falls (shooting star falls) and Ginga-no-taki Falls (milky way falls), great view and must see it.

We travel to Otaru. Otaru renown as "foreign country in the north".  Visited Otari Canal, Ishiya Chocolate Factory famous for its white chocolcate. Visited the Otaru Handicraft Street where famous for glass handicraft and musical box. Bought a cow musical box to add in to my cow collections.

Most Expensive Musical Box in the world

We drove to Sapporo where is the capital of Hokaido.We had our King Crab Buffet in Sapporo. All you can eat long leg crab and hairy crab. The hairy crab really not nice, not much meat. The long leg crab is salty. This is because there is no fresh long leg crab during this period. The fishermen catches the long leg crab in October, and then cooked the crab and freeze it. That's why the crab is salty.  We also order Kobe beed and the cost is RM300++ which is 9000 yen for 200gm.  The Kobe beef really melt in your mouth. Must try!!  Shops closes at 8pm. Rush to Daimaru Departmental store to shop for toys unfortunately can't find any toy shop.

Beef, Lamb, Hairy Crab, Long Leg Crab - unlimited refew

Long Leg Crab

Hairy Crab

After breakfast, visited Hokaido Shrine to make pray and make wishes. Then went to Tanukikoji Underground Shopping Street and were given only 1 hour. Therefore very rush and also cannot find toys like Gundam here.

Lunch we had RAMEN, no words can describe the bowl of ramen. It was so delicious. Consist of 3 big scallops, 2 pieces of pork meat and also we are given 3 pieces of Gyoza to eat. I could not finish the bowl of ramen cos too big bowl. Really wasted...but this ramen is alot better than those we ate in Tokyo.

Went to Sapporo Factory Outlet to shop, we only given 2 hours here and the outlets are huge. Nike, Addidas, Rockport are really cheap.

Time to said goodbye to Sapporo and we headed to Narita by flight. Stay overnight and after breakfast we flew back to Malaysia.   So sad and now back in to reality.  Overall Hokaido is good for sightseeing and hotspring. Yeap I miss out the hot spring section, i did try the hot springs....it was nice and really an experience.  We did went for the private and the public hot springs. Both experience are different.

I highly recommend you to book your tour with Ming Ming Travel Services Sdn Bhd from Kuching.

Tel : 082-419953 or email to mingtrvl@tm.net.my

My local guide name is Felicia. She is really good and also a great friend of us. Our japanese tour guide known as Polly. She is really great and she got everything in her bag and we told her tat she owns an doreamon bag. She teaches us how to use the lavender skin lotion and highly recommend you to buy it cos you can't get this in Malaysia.  The most important thing that i left out, Polly took us to cherry plucking which is not in our itinery. We pluck cherry and ate on the spot. Really cherry feast. In KL, one cherry cost 90 cents. 

Hokaido is famous for hot springs, melon, scallops, long leg crabs and sightseeing.  Tokyo and Hokaido are two different world.