:: The City of GMT/UTC 0 ::

This will be my last blog about London, I'm afraid it'll be an overkill.. further more its not like I was there for eons. Just merely plus/minus 192hours including sleeping and flying.

It is summer now (then).. Two days before we arrived BA (British Airways) experienced a strike at Heatrow airport, not very funny.. The lack of staff on the airport is very apparent as the line thru the immigration is bloody long. I really appreciate our M'sia's automated passport gate.. so techy. Did you guys know now that we can also use our IC on the same machine back in Sepang?

Sepang = 1, Heatrow = 0

I was staying in Ruislip with my cousin. It's located on the North West of London a.k.a. Zone 6. The public transportation there are awesome. Almost everything/everywhere is linked by tube! (i thought its called 'underground' but the LRT, MRT system there is called Tube.. silly me).


First thing that I notice was the weather.. it was beautiful. 22'C max and averages around 19'C the whole week I was there. Flowers are everywhere and trees are bearing fruits like no-bodie's business. Also learned one thing.. there are two types of apples. One are sour (for cooking) and the other are sweet (for eating of course). Almost every resident will have at least one apple tree.. dunno why.. proly cause all the houses there comes with a backyard that the size of 20feet (w) x 80feet (l)!!! Yes.. every houses are like that..

a typical English house

Food and drinks there are not very expensive. Seriously!.. it'll be even cheaper if you work there. Please do not try converting to RM for everything you spend on. You'll wanna kill yourself.. hahaha!!.. Prices that I remembered paying for are like:

• Burger King Meal (Double Whopper set): £2.8
• One Mineral Water (in National History Museum): £1.3
• Tube ride (whole day + returns @ kid's price): £1.4
• Chinese Lunch for 5pax (char siew mee & drinks): £28.9
• Starbucks Café Latté with Hazelnut Syrup: £2.4
• Beer (averages): 0.88p - £4 .. yup.. cheaper than water @ some place and they serve in pint

The cars are DIRT CHEAP!.. i mean really really cheap if you work there la.. a New Peugeot 307 1.6 Triptronic Auto will costs you £15k. (M'sia price is bout 130k) A New Honda Jazz 1.4 i-DSi costs bout £11k. 2nd-hand cars are even cheaper!.. 99' BMW 318i coupé ranges from £2000!!

Note: 'Quids' are normally known as a slang to replace the word "Pound". e.g. "the bottle of water is 1.3 quids" instead of "1 pound 3 or 1.3pound".

Tube Map @ South Ken's Station

Malaysia = 0, London = 1

The community there.. they're quite friendly mostly, Malaysia always promotes itself as the centre of "Masyarakat Majmuk" (Diversed Community).. but it's no freaking way we're gonna compare ourselve with London. On the streets of London, you'll see roughly 961types of ethnicity in a second.. (just joking) tee hee hee.. :) But there are definately more race and much much more diversed than Malaysia by a huge lots. Whilst walking the street, I heard (to those I understand & gauge frm the looks) Indonesian language, African, Mandarin (China & Taiwan), Cantonese, Italian, French, Korean, Tamil, Hindi & even Malay.. one very famous bumper sticker in M'sia was spotted there as well "Satnam Sri Vaheguru".. they're definately Sikhs..

Malaysia = 0, London = 2

Places, places, places.. Not many famous places that I've been but I'm glad that we manage to squeeze some minutes to visit the National History Museum. The world most famous museum!!

Big Ben, London Eye, Harrods, National Science Museum and also the Winsor Castle. After walking and sight-seeing, one might notice, London as a famous world city has not much of high-rise modern building. Everything was old, everything has its sense of nostalgic and history in it. Far different from the skylines of KL nor S'pore nor any big Asean city.

Actually during the whole trip, I was holding the camera most of the time thus, I didn't really have much photos of myself and the environments. Saddening..

The best part during this whole trip was being able to meet my cousin whom I've never met since.. er.. forever. Knowing that I have two beautiful 2nd cousins/niece and one naughty cousin/nephew. My dad has the best time as well, he met up with his schoolmates (frm Bukit Bintang Secondary, PJ) that he hasn't seen since 12years back!

Anyway, I can't think of anything else to say bout London no more, this will be a closure and I did enjoyed the trip and will keep in my heart as a place that I'll re-visit again.

p/s: dun bother looking for ciggie there.. it's 4.9 quids per pack!!!.. I was officially a non-smoker in that 8 days..

Winsor Castle - Hazel: a picture taken by me!

:: Some Pict ::

After all blog & talk.. Here's some picture for ya viewing pleasure:-


Me n Sis n Ben (without head)

- I'm so tired that day.. my eyes damn bengkak!


Me n Dad n Eye.. London Eye..

- The bloody wind is strong.. I didn't gel my hair.. My body clock says it's 4am +8GMT


Look! it's the Winsor Castle!


Picadilly Square


My nieces Hannah (left)& Aimee (right)

- I call them my nieces (they're my cousin's daughters) but they call me their 2nd Cousin.. I dunno why.. In Cantonese I'm their "Piu Suk" but for the Gui Lou's I'm their '2nd cousin'.. Trust me! we had a long long debate on this.. we just let it be.. hehehe..

Aimee calls me "Uncle Ed" tho..


Me n Thames n Winsor (far behind)

- On Tina's (my cousin's wife) boat ride to Winsor Castle..


Me n My Cousin frm London

p/s: When I mention 'my cousin' means he's my deceased uncle's son...

Anyway.. there will be more picture uploaded to my Multiply account soon.. abit too tired for uploadin picture now.. Gonna sleep, tomorrow will be a longggg day again!..

:: In a Big Big Plane up High High ::

As you'd have known that my flight was delayed due to some crack they found under the plane, and it has to be fixed right away, I was trapped at Heatrow for two more hours. Finally got to board my flight at 12am and here's the journey like:

MH 001

It's a norm for me to actually to just jump onto the window seats and start glueing my eyes to the moving sceneries. I always feel like a little kid everytime I do that, anyway.. the food came not too long after that. Twas good! I was hungry.. you know they say that it’s not good to eat before you sleep? To hell with that.. when I woke up, this’s what I saw on the telly on the headrest in front of me:

Current Location: East of Kiev, Istanbul
Land speed: 877km/h
Altitude: 9448m
Outside Temp: -43c


Local time @ Departure: 03:42
Local time @ Destination: 10:42
Expected arrival time: 20:02
Current location time: 05:42
Time to destination: 9+hrs

Makkah: 3300km NE

Hitting the day @ 877km/h leaving twilight behind, a nice warm purple sky in between the two. Shadows of misty clouds pillowing the topography of the earth beneath reflecting indigo n orange sunbeams from the horizons r magnificent to watch..

Engine sound r muffled by the headphones singing fusion harmony combining eastern & western cultural musical instruments. Pleasant dreams should follow once I've close the window to the beautiful scenes of the remaining Europe. Good morning Dnepropetrovsk..

Woke up, still not arrived yet. I thought I could sleep thru the 13hrs flight, Silly me. I'm currently around the regions of the Himalayan Mountains. NWestern part of India. Let’s watch some movies..


Current Location: West of Kabul & East of Qandahar
Land speed: 981km/h
Altitude: 10058m
Outside Temp: -33c

Local time @ Departure: 07:31
Local time @ Destination: 14:31
Expected arrival time: 20:02
Current location time: 11:31
Time to destination: 6hrs 3min

The earth looks so alive from here with the mountainous crease on the surface forms some sort of beautiful designed sand dunes... shaded light brown mountains panning wide towards the horizon. Just amazing. I'm still tired.


Awaken again, time to destination is 3hrs 33mins.. WooHoo!! One little nap & I crossed the whole India continent! The clouds reflecting the sunlight making it an effort to push the window cover up. Nothing much outside.. blue sky, White clouds & the sun is showing off now.

All I could see was '9M-MPK' written on the right wing of the plane. (I’m seated on the right side, of course) Well, there's seems to b more commotion inside now as many has awaken.. tho the cabin is still very dark with lights emitting mosty from the 'TV' on the front seat, occasionally from the galley.

The ride now is quite bumpy, hitting the clouds as we flyin' towards Bay of Bengal, my mind was thinking of the TV series 'Lost'. Ed!! Stop thinking nonsense!! Now.. I wonder when they will serve food, am hungry again!

Current Location: NW of Culttack & Puri, India
Land speed: 864km/h
Altitude: 11277m aka 37000 feet
Outside Temp: -44c

Local time @ Departure: 09:52
Local time @ Destination: 16:52
Expected arrival time: 20:00
Current location time: 14:22
Time to destination: 3hrs 12min
Makkah: 4774km SE

Not too long after they served us food, I’ve arrived at the shore of our very own Malaysia and it took my mind off for poking and scribbling notes (blogs) onto my little O2XDA. It wanders off to what’s happening to Malaysia whilst I was away.. do I have to start work so soon?.. Oh no.. the haze.. wait.. the heat and humidity!! Arghh!.. (I know deep down I should stop bitching and be glad I’m home, after all I grew in this land.. )

Hello Kuala Lumpur..

:: Back! ::

Finally! I'm home!!.. exact time 920pm 8+GMT (M'sian Time). Home sweet Home..

Oh yeah.. that dreadful flight scheduled for 20th Aug, 10pm 1+GMT (London Time) was delayed till 12am, due to some crack they found on the doors for the plane's wheel. Thus, they have to change it there and then.

I reached Heatrow at bout 730pm.. thinking I could chill.. and of course I was given extra time even!!.. Anyway, MAS crew & those BAA (British Airport Authorities) was very nice (i know we deserved it) to spend us Starbucks at their 1st & Business Class Lounge. We're all allowed to spend £10 each person!! Hoorray!!.. (a ice café latte costs around £2.5) So I took cookies, chips, sandwiches, salad and some sweets.. (sorry chinese mentality..) mine amounted to about £9.1..

Finally we're allowed to board at around 1145pm 1+GMT.. another long walk back Gate 35.

I'm actually unpacking whilst typing this.. Making use of my time before I get too lazy to blog or forget this part of Edwin's little adventure or wait till the jetlag gets to me? of course not!..hehehe.. also cause I miss everyone here laaa..

Anyway, will blog bout my inflight next.. Hey..!! it's 13hrs +2 kay..!? what do you expect me to do? Sit and watch TV? (actually I did that.. 3 movies, 3 naps, 2 meals and some korean & japanese radio shows..) Thank god I'm not on a 30hrs flight from NY back...

:: 2nd Last day in London ::

Here I am, enjoying the weather of sunny London summer thinking of what's happening back home. I dread the 13 hours flight.. This serene calm country side called Ruislip (pronounced as 'Rice-Lip') is where I'm staying currently. Also am using my cousin's computer to go online.

Due to the nature of my trip here, the norm holiday mood is quite a mixed up one I'd say. This is not the way to enjoy England but nonetheless I try.. only been to a few places of interest (London Tower, Harrods & Winsor Castle) I've been after 5 days here.

I'm now off to Buckingham Palace and if time permits I'll be at the famous Tower Bridge as well.. Till we meet again on Sunday. Cheerios!

p/s: HhHaAaPpPyYy Birthdayyyyy Sue Lynnnnn!!!

:: In London ::

The burial ceremony will be held tomorrow 16th Aug, at about 2pm (London time); bout 9pm Malaysian timing..

My watch still showing Malaysian timing of 11pm.. still suffering from JetLag..

:: In memory of my Pak Pak ::

Pak Pak (that's Cantonese for calling your eldest uncle on ur father's side.. basically your father's eldest brother).. I have always feel nostalgic whenever I pronounce the phrase.. Till today I can't tell why am feeling that way.

He's one man that I know throughout my life as my father's only brother and not only that he's someone I know exist but also I never thought I would ever meet.

You see, he has migrated to London when he was around 23years old (if i'm not mistaken).. He never step a foot back to Malaysia from then onwards (I guess I'll never know why he leave this country..) until 6years back. The first visit after almost 40years. I was thrilled to have met him in person, I recalled I was very happy to see him.

I remembered my dad went to London to meet up with him back in 1997/98. They have been corresponding thru snail mail before that, and every time his letter comes to my house.. I noticed in his mail he would ask about me and my sis well being. That made me feel real good about this guy. Think of it as for someone you never met before in your life.. asks bout your well being..

So he's been coming back to KL annually since 2001 to celebrate either Christmas or CNYear with us. I have always welcome him in my house. He's one cheerful guy, with big big belly.. I do think of him as a Santa in disguise. Squity oriental eyes hiding behind his black wired-framed glasses, he never fail to put up a smile, I can still recall clearly how he sits in my living room and ask how my day was.. I remembered as well that he always ask me to go London with him, tho I know I can't due to financial constrain and I always think there will be time.

I haven't seen the sight of him since 2004, that was last year.. I thought he'll be back, but to my surprised he didn't. So, I decided to e-mail him.. to my deareast uncle Chong Wah.. a.k.a. Pak Pak. I mailed him twice.. No reply.. I never understand why he didn't. Was he too busy? Did he not care bout me/us in Malaysia anymore? I wouldn't know..

Yesterday, I got a call from my dad.. he told me that my Pak Pak has passed away. I was shocked.. speechless.. at the time I'm not sure how what I should be feeling at all.. I guess that's one part of the reason why I feel so agitated easily today other than the bloody haze.. the image of him whilst in KL keeps flashing thru my mind today..

So..I'll be going to London on this Saturday morning for his funeral.. Anyway, I'm fine and take care to all of you bloggers out there.. I'll be leaving this page for a rest till I'm back on next Sunday (20th Aug)..

Peace out! & Wear Mask!

:: The Haze that Fogged us all ::

This morning while I was driving to work many thoughts runs thru my mind... All these haze & masks storiess and API (Air Pollution Index) and AP (Approved Permits) news sardined the front page national papers really got me thinking..

Let's start with the most un-interesting one.. AP story - when will this long-winded story ends? Whatever the issue is I think Rafidah is one hell (both good & bad) of a woman..

Secondly, the more important one.. APIndex - Kuala Selangor and Klang has just official been declared "State Emergency" their rating went up exceeded roof-topping 500!!.. really really bad now..

Now, I work in the middle's middle of KL .. and I got my pair of mask yesterday. Actually it's a gift from a fren.. :) .. The burning smell on the street really agitates me. I do look silly wearing the mask walking around, and to my surprise many ppl I noticed were quite oblivious to the situation, or was it like Iz says "not cool" factor that people worried bout? (esp. in around Lot10/Bintang walk area) I say fuck that cool/un-cool shit.. I'm a smoker but I still wear that mask.. tho it's like "being in my own habitat".. it's two different thing..

Back to the thoughts that ran thru my mind this mornin'.. I was thinking..

• should I just pretend I am sick and take 2 days MC?.. I can blame it on the haze.. ngeh ngeh ngeh..
  
• Is the government gonna declare a public holiday and make us all stay home if the situation gets worst?
• Wassup with those ppl who doesn't wanna wear mask?
• Why don't they cloud seed?.. (i found out why when I read Iz's blog a minute ago)
• All those middle-eastern-black-robe-womens-tourists are in luck.. since now everyone is covering their face, they dun have to bother to buy mask.. they have been covering their face since 12years old .. or was it 16?.. 18?.. arrggh.. u get the idea...

Oh yeah.. I found out whilst I was in MidValley today for lunch.. All pharmacies in that mall limiting only 2 masks/person. Lucky I got mine earlier..

I think I should take MC and go S'pore as well..

:: Font-aint-right ::

Hmm.. u know wat?.. I just noticed that the font on this bloggie pagie is not ritie..

What I'm trying to say is.. I normally (always..) use Firefox Browser to read/do/edit my blog. Today, I 'accidentally' used Internet Explorer Browser to check my page.. Bloody hell, scare the shit out of me!.. my fonts!.. It's damn chat big!

To most of ya'll it might look norm, cause I guess many many (bout 50%) using IE to browse the Web and the rest is using either Opera & Safari browser.. but arghhh!!.. the fontttt... it's damn big and ugly!!..

Wat to do~~ tell me.. okay okay.. here's two pic of my blog page for your comparison..

Internet Explorer

Firefox

Normally I use this 'compose' to compose my blog and my font size i set to 'Normal Size' with 'Arial' .. I can't set it to 'Small' cause when I view my blog with Firefox.. it looks so tiny I can't even read!.. Sighh..

p/s: Click on the picture to see it clearly..

:: Vain-pot ::

I was out with Jason and Ee Leen yesterday to MidValley for lunch right after my gym session..
Twas a quick lunch and since it's still quite early before my next appointment (meeting my S'porean friends.. at 8pm), so we went to shop abit.. yeah.. abit.. since I wanted to buy that eye-cream for my puffy eyes since May.

Anyway, I've been getting complains (comments...) from frens bout my deteriorating complexion and the fine-lines on my forehead is getting worse. It never really hit me till someone actually said I look haggard last two weeks ago.. Arrghh!!.. can't take it anymore.. age is taking its toll on me pre-maturedly.. and knowing what I do for a living.. its time to do something..

Walking around MidValley.. We went to inquire around for the perfect eye-puffy-dark-circle-care product. I almost died when I heard how much 'La Mer' was selling their eye-cream.. MYR500!!!!.. fuckin' crazy.. they should change their name to "Lamer" instead.. yeah.. tat's in English.. (for your info, that cream thingy is smaller than the Perodua's Kancil gearknob!)

Suddenly something struck me.. That Biotherm Homme range looks cool..

The sales girl was very helpful.. She's quite good at it as well.. Helping and advicing on what I'll need and on top of that she even wrote a formula for me on how to take care of my skin.. (using their products of course). To cut the story short.. I ended up buying:-

• Biosource - Clarifying Cleansing Gel
• Biosource - Clarifying Lotion
• Age Fitness Power 2 - Utra smoothing concentrated 1st signs of aging essence
• Hydra Detax Yeux - for my puffiness dark circles - Moisturizing and Detoxifying
• D - Stress - Concentrated Anti-Fatigue & Energy Booster Gel
• Source Thérapie - Concentrated Tissue Mask - for Instant Hydration
• Happy Legs - Icy Leg Gel for toning and contouring (free)

In total I spent MYR350 on cosmetics.. ON COSMETICS!! gawdddd... and to think, I was only looking for an eye-cream..

Oh yeah.. since I bought so many things at once..(a total accumulation of 350 in one receipt) I'm now a proud member of the Biotherm Club.. (point system thingy..) great marketing gimmick..

wait.. how do I use the essence again??..

:: Last Quiz / Personality Test for the Month ::

You're Anne of Green Gables!

by L.M. Montgomery

Bright, chipper, vivid, but with the emotional fortitude of cottage
cheese, you make quite an impression on everyone you meet. You're impulsive, rash,
honest, and probably don't have a great relationship with your parents. People hurt
your feelings constantly, but your brazen honestly doesn't exactly treat others with
kid gloves. Ultimately, though, you win the hearts and minds of everyone that matters.
You spell your name with an E and you want everyone to know about it.

Take the
Book Quiz
at the
Blue Pyramid.

This is scary... I'm tellin you it's happening again.. I've got a girly virtue.. and I do spell my name with an E...

:: suprise suprise! ::

had a wonderful celebration on 'my day'... In total if I counted correctly I've had 7 cakes!.. ranges from - Durian, Oreo Cheese, Cappucino, Tiramisu, Tiramisu and Tiramisu and Tiramisussssss...

Ahh.. am so happy.. I dunno how to even express it.. Well, I just wanna thank all who have wished me and celebrated with me and took the effort to come to Alexis even tho tomm.. will be a work day..

Thankssssssss to all...
Attendees on 3rd Aug at Pei Yoong's House - Adrian, Steven, Sebastian, Jia-Li, Winnie, Jing, Gloria, Kit and of course Pei Yoong (happy birthday to you as well... ) and her friends...

My colleagues @ office - Chris, Delia, Ashwin, Alison, Dani, Bryan, Jeff, Vijen, Zul & Jacquie

All my family members of course...

Attendees on Alexis - (if i remember correctly) - Lam, Anne, Debbie, Collin, Adrian, Sebastian, Jing, John, Naufal, Sue Lynn, Phoebe, Cynthia, Peter, Valerie, Henry, TJ, Joelle, Noelle, Johnson, David, Alex, Winnie, Bryan, Jason, Ee Leen, Ah Eng, Jhat, Ah Meng, Pin Hun, Stanley & Eugene (our waiter)... hopefully i didn't miss out anyone here..

Also not forgetting my friendly blogger.com friends whom I neva met in life... both Izchan & takakohazelnut (thanks for the song... ;) )

I'll remember today definately!! .. one of the best birthday I've ever had!

Last but not least to Jia-Li... thanks for the little BIG suprise.. :) the experience will definately gonna stuck my memory for a long time to come!.. you gonna get urs!!

I also found this two pic posted at SueLynn's & Cynthia's blog...

Cynthia's Blog

Sue Lynn's Blog

Still wondering.. Where In The World they got this photos... ??!?!?!

:: Scary News ::

Today, Monday.. i mean.. well.. few hours ago.. but anyway..

I was reading the paper (TheStar).. and saw something that kinda shocked me.. There's this little girl that was drowned in their condo's pool cause her leg got sucked in by the hole that supposedly cleans the pool water..(exists in all pool) and it was so hard that 4 men couldn't pull her out till the security guard turn the switch off..

The scary part was she has just celebrated her be-earlied birthday on Sunday cause her actual day falls on coming Thursday the 4th.. Mine's on Thursday as well!!!.. OMG!!.. I was thinking of celebrating it early as well!!.. sighh.. damn ker lian..

:: Wakeboarding ::

Well.. here's some pictures on my first wakeboard experience.. it's kinda cool.. did it at MINES resort last few weeks ago.. More pict on my multiply, there's a video as well.. Went there with some of my S'pore friends.. ahh.. nice nice nice..

That's the way to start it!.. stand up stand up!!..

Me & Shermae

The beautiful sunset at Mines Beach Resort

GOOoo Jean.. Gooo!!..

One of the silly thing is I didn't get to snap my own picture cause I forgotten that I brought my camera, just left it in the bag whilst I was in the water.. Well I managed to get up (first two trials[ beside the boat]) till the last part (behind the boat) I was dead tired.. drank damn lotsa water.. ewwww...

:: Harry Potter Quizzie ::

I'm like Minerva McGonagall... Hogwarts' Deputy Headmistress and head of Gryffindor house.. Damnit..


Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

Interesting.. I have a woman's trait.. Sigghh.. anyway, check this one out as well...

The sorting hat says that I belong in Hufflepuff!

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, and treat them just the same."

Hufflepuff students are friendly, fair-minded, modest, and hard-working. A well-known member was Cedric Digory, who represented Hogwarts in the most recent Triwizard Tournament.

Take the most scientific Harry Potter Quiz ever created.

Get Sorted Now!