First Vacation Since Sem Break

My first vacation since sem break, guess where?

No?

No?
No?

No? Okay, last hint..

Got it?

Answer : Penang!

That's right. I'm supposed to go Penang with my society but the trip was cancel. So, instead, I went with my family. It wasn't pre-planned but my first bro, Jeanette and her family coincidentally went on the same day too. And we stayed pretty closed to each other, to boot!

Day 1
So, we arrived at Penang at noon. We met up with Uncle Seow, my dad's friend who was kind enough to let us stay at his vacation home in Prima Place.

The living room. The apartment was very well decorated.

After we unpacked and rested for a while then about 5.30 p.m., we went to Queensbay Mall for about 2 hours. It's big, yes, but maybe because it's still new, there were still some shops unrented. In my opinion, Queensbay's interior wasn't as classy as any other shopping complexes in KL. I mean, the interior did not make the mall looked expensive. If I could compare it with any other shopping complexes, I would say Queensbay's standard is a little lower than Jusco Bukit Tinggi, only smaller.

Ate noon dim sum at a shop opposite Queensbay.

At night, after returning from the mall and showered, my brother, who was surprisingly pretty familiar with Penang, took us to New Lane for dinner. According to my brother, there were supposed to be a LOT of stalls lining up the street side but unfortunately, because it rained at that time, not many (in fact, were were just 2) opened. So, we ate at a restaurant there.

Jasmine soup tong yuen and 3 other types. Oh, yummy~

I was too indulged with my food, I forgot to take pics of my own food.

Because it was raining and Gurney Dirve was pretty congested, we headed home to our apartment early and rest for the day.

They call these, 'Apong'.

Day 2
The night before, Chee Choon (my Photography Society chairman who is a Penang-lang), spoke to me on the telephone and told me the direction to Jelutong Pasar. I got to know this place from Khai Chiah before I went to Penang. According to Chee Choon, Jelutong Pasar opens for the everyday, for the whole day. If want breakfast, go to Jelutong. You want lunch, go Jelutong. Dinner, yes you guessed it, go Jelutong. So, we went Jelutong, indeed. There were a lot of people walking around the pasar and eating there, either from the stalls, or shop, or both.

In a restaurant in Jelutong Pasar.

We were lucky we did not waited long for a table. I ordered 'chee cheong fun' and tea for breakfast. Perhaps because of the slight difference in the slang of Hok'kien, it was pretty confusing when spoke to the Penang-lang. I ordered hot tea. So, the waiter asked if I want milk in it (ai gu leng? When we usually say ai gu lin?) I thought he asked if I want it cold (ai uu leng?). Then I said no, then yes. Because of that, the waiter laughed and got our orders mixed up.

The tea was excellent! It was delicious! The chee cheong fun was just like how it's like in Klang, only without additional fish balls, fish cakes etc.. When I entered that shop, I saw a stall that sells 'roti bakar' and there was a long queue. Curious, my kayah ordered 2 pieces of toast. And I finally understood why would people queue for so long for the toast. The 'roti bakar' can easily make Uncle Lim, Kim Gary or Oldtown Kopitiam embarrassed. It was so tasty I wouldn't mind eating it everyday.

Teh ai gu leng XD

Chee cheong fun.

The best 'roti bakar' I've eaten so far.

Right after breakfast, my brother (who did not stay in the same apartment as my family) called and asked if we want to have breakfast together with Jeanette's family. Since Penang is all about food, okay! We waited for my brother and Jeanette's family at Fort Cornwallis. This fort was where the British empire watch over Penang from invasions. They have canons and stuff there, just like Melaka.

View of Penang from Fort Cornwallis.

Saw the canon?

The oldest hotel in Penang. Existed since the British Empire and withstand the Tsunami.


The 9 Kings celebration was very celebrated in Penang. There were vegetarian food stalls at almost every road side.

My kayah once watched 'Ho Chiak' and got to know one of Penang's speciality, 'ais kacang' with fruits and ice-cream. So, my brother took both families to New World, which was a food court to eat that 'ais kacang'. Well, the 'ais kacang' was unique but the taste was just normal.

There were ice-cream, mango, banana, and papaya in it.

After our second round breakfast, we went to 2 temples- The Burmese Buddhist Temple and the Siamese Temple. I didn't know that God would catch up with technology too. When my mom and sis went to 'kau chim' ('tilik nasib' in Cantonese), in the Siamese temple, there was this machine with a wheel where when you put your coin in, the LED will start to turn on and off and finally stop at a point and that's your fortune. The traditional way was to take a bundle of bamboo sticks and shake them so a piece of stick would drop out. Well, I don't know how true the fortune is but there were peopl queueing to put their coins in for furtune. So, I guess it's okay?

The Burmese Buddhist Temple.

The technology God was watching up with.

Yes, I was in Penang :)

Me, Jeanette and bro.

The sky started to get dark by the time we exit the temples to go to Kek Lok Si. Half way to Kek Lok Si, it started raining and the massive jam did not help. So, instead, we went shopping in Gurney Plaza while it cease raining. Gurney Plaza was smaller but much more happening than Queensbay. And there were more crowd as well.

After about an hour plus, we went to search for food again. We did not exactly search for food. Rather, it was my brother who took us to well-known hawker stalls. We went to this shop, where there were no other stalls save for one 'char kueh teow' stall outside. If I thought the crowd in the shop in Jelutong Pasar was huge, I must have mistaken because the number of people waiting for food in this char kueh teow shop was double. My dad was wondering how good can the char kueh teow be. Alright, maybe it's special since the aunty used charcoal to fry but that's all. So we waited and waited and waited and finally, after one miserable hour, 7 plates of the oh-so-famous-char-kueh-teow was served. It was yummy but certainly not worth the time waiting and certainly did not worth RM 6 per plate! One small plate where I can finish in less than 10 bites.

2 prawns, 1 hour and RM 6 char kueh teow.

Anyway, our next destination was Batu Ferringi. I guess this was the most exciting part of the vacation. I went for parachuting! Wooot~! It was awesome!! I'm so trying that again the next time I have the chance. Out of so many youngsters in both families (my bro, Jeanette, her 3 other brothers, my sister and I), only my brother and I took part. It would be fun if everyone took part, yes? The price was RM120 for 5 minutes but it was worth it, I tell you!

Batu Ferringi beach.

That was me and my bro :D

Landing...!

We survived! Yay~

We went straight for dinner after we left Batu Ferringi. My brother again took us to New Lane and this time, yes there were a lot of stalls lining up the road side. It's just so Penang and I loved it!

People sit from road sides to inside shopping mall.

Stalls by the road side.

After dinner, we headed home and rest for the day.

Day 3
We had breakfast at the canteen just a floor below our apartment. The food was okay. I had tea and egg sandwich.

There were 4 triangles but I've eaten one before I took a pic XD

Then, we went Kek Lok Si temple. There were a lot of renovation going on there. That's why they need lots of donation. I did! Look..

Poof of my donation.

I heard from my dad that the temple planned to build a free hospital as well. I don't know if that dream will come true for that temple but I guess it's a good thing.

In front of one of the buildings in Kek Lok Si.

Both the horses :D

At 12 p.m., we went back to pack and met up with my dad's friends. They were Captains who sailed, junior or senior to my dad. It was quite fun listening to their history and Uncle Seow was so so hillarious! All his jokes made me laugh XD

We rushed home before 4 p.m. to avoid jam in the Penang bridge. Well, it did not work since it started to jam at the Penang bridge by the time we reach there at 3.45 p.m.. We stopped at Tapah for dinner and reach home at 9.30 p.m..

Several facts I discovered while I was in Penang:
1. The fathers are all very young. I was quite a number of young men, aged probably 23-26 holding babies. So, they are either young or looked young.

2. More Penang-lang have tattoos. Beautiful ones on their arms.

3. I ordered only tea (for drinks) when I was in Penang.

4. Penang speak Hok'kien but much more polite than Klang Hok'kien.

All the while when I was in Penang, Chee Choon was very kind. He called and messaged frequently to ask if I'm okay with him bring me around Penang but sadly, everytime he invited, I declined. I really appreciate his kindness and I'm so 'pai seh' for rejecting all his kindness. Also, thanks a lot to Khai Chiah who told me where to go in Penang and Guat Shan who took care of my bonsai. Hahahaha!

Penang is pretty fun. If you have the chance, go!

Being Unbias

I actually learnt this in my Political Science. Since we were dealing with people manipulating symbols, we had to guard ourselves against biases. Now that I do not have anymore politics to study, I found the 4 techniques pretty useful in life. Which is why I'm sharing.

You see, when we're told something by someone, we tend to take in the information either raw or filtered. If the information are filtered, most of the time, only 70% filtered because human mind will always favor what he or she likes. Nothing can limit what a person wants to think or believe except that person him/herself.

Another thing is, one would usually see right in him or herself. For instance, if you had an argument with your mom, you would surely say your mom is the one at fault. But how sure are you? You see, an argument occurs because there's one or more conflicting ideas. So, where do all those conflicting ideas come from?

Reasoned
The first thing you need to consider when there's an argument or when you need to make a decision, is reasoning. Reason is a technique where you make an assumption.

Think of lots of maybes'

For example, when your mom scolds you all of sudden for something you do not understand, make an assumption. Maybe something like, 'Okay, she misunderstood something.' or 'She's in bad mood, I can see.'

I know you might think that if your mom scolds you just because she's in foul mood, certainly she's at fault. Yes, but think about it. If you're in bad mood, you want a release too. The only difference is, your mom is being more irrational by releasing it on you. See, another assumption. The assumption may be wrong, but it definitely make you feel better.

Balance
Balance, to me, is a very important technique whenever you deal with people. Because everyone have different thinking, we cannot run away from this technique. In balance, we were taught to see things from different angles.

I strongly practice this. By the way, the picture above was one of my wallpaper.

Let's say you heard a gossip about yourself circulating in school. And you heard that gossip was started by one of your friends. What do you do? Cut your ties with that friend? Well, maybe but before you do anything irrational, think of why would that friend of yours said such gossip?

Perhaps in his or her opinion, that gossip wasn't wrong. Maybe, in her opinion, she was telling the truth and not a mere gossip. But what she saw was a mistake which makes her true statement a gossip. You might say, well, if it isn't her matter, then don't bother. Like I've mentioned earlier, we can't control a human mind, now can we?

So, in other words, in balance, what may seem right in your eyes might not be the case for another. Look through different perspectives!

Theoretical and Supported with Evidence
The remaining two aren't very applicable but might be useful in certain situations.

Theoretical tells us that not everything in life is an argument. When someone tells you something and you're not pro with it, there's no need for you to correct that person. S/he is just stating her/his opinions. If you did, however, corrected that person with your idea, an argument starts.

The same thing when you're making a decision. When person A tells you that person C is talking shit about you because s/he was jealous of you and person B tells you that person C did so because she wanted to betray you, you don't need to purposely choose one to believe in. They're just stating their opinion or what they heard from some other people. There's no need to support any side of the argument.

Do research before concluding what you think is right.
Don't be surprise when the truth might not turned out what you think it was.

Supported with evidence, well, it's basically about doing a little research before concluding something. This is useful, for me, at least, during shopping, to avoid overspending. LOL. Well, at least I'm no bias towards the things I want to buy or have bought.

They say you only live once. So, live it as you like.
True, but others only live once as well.
So, don't let how you live (making decisions) effect other's life.

The bottom line is, whatever argument there is, whatever decision there is no make, stay neutral. Don't take sides. It'll make your day. Well, at least it works for me :D

Have a nice day!

Happy Birthday Bloggie

It started a year and a few days ago when Guat Shan, Ah Wei and Sito urged me to create a blog. Guat Shan said that I have a lot to talk (or I prefer the word 'share' XD) so I should start one. Ah Wei said it would be interesting and Sito had recently (at that time) started a blog.

Before I started blogging, I was actually hesitating. Reasons are:

~ I'm afraid I might just be 'hangat hangat tahi ayam'
~ I'm afraid I wouldn't have the time (konon nya la~~)
~ I'm afraid my life wouldn't be that interesting to share

But I created one anyway.

Happy 1st Birthday, elizanatsuko.blogspot.com!

And look, my little blog celebrated his (yes, I want my blog to be a 'he') first birthday this year. And through this blog, I made a couple of new friends. The most obvious one, guess who?

MR. XIAN FU *applauses*
(I hope I got the right person)

To everyone who reads, thanks for reading all this while and I hope you'll continue reading :D

Group Haircut

First ever outing, ever since I came back to Klang, was to Sunway Pyramid. More precisely, to A Cut Above, to get our hair cut, obviously.

Our appointment for the hair cut was at 2 p.m. but we left early at about 10.30 a.m. to catch a 12.20 p.m. Love Guru. But we had our branch at Subway first.

Guat Shan, your eye need a drink or something?

After lunch we went for our movie and managed to snap a pic or two in the cinema toilet. When we were about to snap a group photo, someone suddenly walked in! That was embarrassing.

At this exact moment, a girl walked in and *covers face* it was embarrassing.

The movie was just so-so. It was lame .

So, the movie last for 90 minutes which was about the time for our hair appointments. We had our respective hair dressers. My hair dresser was Sara. She's quite friendly, telling me about hair, herself, about she's from Ipoh and stuff.

Before the haircut.

My sis, Guat Shan, Ah Wei and I had our hair washed, cut and blown whereas Shiau Ping did an additional perm. You know, those kind of frizzy spoilt-hair-like perm.

Some PJ people.. XD

The duration for wash, cut and blow was 2 hours. We went to Kim Gary and met up with Guat Shan's cousin whereas my sis went to meet up with her friends who coincidentally were having fun at Lagoon, while waiting for Shiau Ping.

Ta-da! How do we look?

After haircut. I know my hair is curly but I did not curle it.
This hair style is called double layer :D

After an hour and a half, Shiau Ping's hair, I don't know, looked like half burnt but she liked it. I guess that was all matters anyway. I teased her through out the whole time I was with her and shockingly, my mom said it was nice. Shockingly, because my mom isn't the type who, in my opinion, likes those kind of hair style.

I was too caught up with teasing her I forgot
to snap a picture of her with her new hair do :(

We lingered around, shopped around and finally went home at 7 p.m.. The entire journey in the car was insane. We used songs played on the radio to describe each other's hair. I was insanely lame, I could committ suicide.

Our next destinations (as planned for now) are:

~ to have 'tong sui' on next Monday
~ to Cheras pasar malam on next Wednesday
~ to Sri Hatamas for seesha (however you spell it) next Wednesday as well

I'm so looking forward! :D

JB Birthday BBQ

Last Tuesday was JB Elephant's birthday but because it was exam week, we decided to postponed his birthday celebration to yesterday. I know, 'What? JB Elephant?', right? His actual name is Wee Huat but for some unknown reasons, he's called JB Elephant. JB for short.

JB, Bangladesh (Jun Hong, reason for nick name is unknown), Ahmad (Chun Sern) and Parkinson (Chen Fai) were all Guat Shan's classmate actually. But they're my lecture mates as well.

Anyway, so the BBQ was planned like 2 weeks ahead. But the real planning only started on Thursday. We (Guat Shan, Sito and I) were in charged of chicken wings and stuff whereas the guys were in charged of sausages, nauggets etc.

Before the BBQ started, there were several tasks we need to do like getting bricks, frying the food, preparing the drinks, cutting the fruits etc. and call it gender bias but, yes, the girls were in charged of these tasks. Thanks to Shiau Peng (no, not my housemate. This is another girl from my lecture class) who came earlier to help around, we got things done faster.

Sito was an expert at fruits cutting but Shiau Peng had some difficulties removing
the skin. The slices were supposed to be triangle but they turned out square.

Pencuri bricks!!

*Points to the right* See? I helped as well, okay?

The BBQ was supposed to be held in the Johorian's house but they asked if we could change the venue to our house in stead. Well, I guess we had to since they do not have any furniture in their house. Yes, no furniture at all. They have a broom hung on their living hall as a portrait, for God's sake.

So, the guys came over to my house at about 7 p.m. to start the fire. They brought along one of their friend, who was also one of Guat Shan's classmate, Eng Hui (I think). Eng Hui was very helpful as well.

They were fast at starting the fire.
Intro: from left, Bangladesh, Ahmad, JB, Eng Hui.

Eng Hui.

Not long after that, the BBQ started. We had some good laughs at Bangladesh's jokes, JB's silly actions, Parkinson's words and their overall conversation. They're just so funny!!

They ate.. whatever JB BBQ-ed for himself.

Can you smell it? No? Try coming nearer to the screen :D

BBQ-ed chocolate banana!

Yes, I know Parkinson. The corn was delicious but no need to eat until so ganas la..

When the BBQ had just started and the guys were still into BBQ-ing.
After like 5 minutes, they got bored of it.

Like always, there's cho tai tee!

Need I say more? Cho Tai Tee is practically a tradition!

Then it was birthday-song singing time. I looked at the cake and I was like, "Oh my god! He's 20 already!". I mean, I know he was turning 20 but it has always been like, you know, a party for someone my age or a year elder but this was like 2o! The first digit is no longer 1. It's 2! You probably don't get what I mean but no worries, I planned to blog about age sometime soon :)

Look! 2 big candles! No longer one big candle.

The belated birthday boy.. I mean man(?)

We had a little chat, plans for the long breaks and soon, the Johorians (except Parkinson who was from Kampar itself) went back home. Then, we (the housemates and Shiau Peng) went to Ghany for the last time before we head home the next day.

I know the 2 bottles, right? But I did not even have a sip.
I'm a good girl :D

Shiau Peng and Ah Wei.

Ermm... I guess they're drunk? Nahhh! Just joking XD

Bangladesh: I've always wanted to be a cute girl! How do I look? *wink*

I'm now back in Klang and no plans. YET.

Graduated From Degree Year 1 Sem 1

It's the end! Yes, the end of me being a first year degree sem 1 student. Yay!

I don't know if it's a good thing or bad. Good because well, everybody loves it when exam ends. Bad because it simply means sem 2 is coming.. but not for another 3 months! LOL!

Anyway, my last paper ended today and overall, I hope I did well.

No more nerdy Eliza.. for 3 months at least.

During the exam week, Leon, my family, Ah Wei visited. My kaiyah is on his way here though. I guess Leon and Ah Wei just miss how we used to study together during our previous study and exam weeks?

So much for visiting.. He's practically asleep most of the time.

Guat Shan got sick all of the sudden yesterday night. One moment she's laughing and the next, she's in the toilet vomiting. I know it sounds funny but, yes, that was what happened.

This was sick Guat Shan punye face. So not sick wan?

So, after my final paper, we (Guat Shan, Sito, Ah Wei, Shiau Ping, Wei Khiang and I) went to enjoy ourselves in, yea, you guessed it. Tesco. Hey, I know you must be thinking, 'It's just Tesco.' but Tesco is currently most happening place in Kampar, ok? Don't believe?

See? All UTAR-ians were there.

We had sushi, shopped for groceries, shoot some hoops, and shot each other.

Itadakimasu!

I told you we shot each other!

Not long after I reached home, I received a message I've been waiting for the longest time! I drove out as fast as I could and came back with.. TADA!

Thanks, I know I'm cool~ LOL!

My brand new Stereo Earphone Headset a.k.a an earphone-like mp3 player. After starving and suffering for dieting to save enough money , I finally have enough money to buy this oh-so-cool mp3 player! (not that it's really expensive though)

It's only 2 p.m. and I've already received message asking me to attend a so-called 'after exam celebration gathering' in Ghany. I know, I have happening classmates :D

Finally, I'll be back in Klang by Saturday noon and I'll be there for like 3 whole months! I don't know if I should be glad. Alright now, time to enjoy my mp3 player!

On Hiatus

It's my study and exam week now so I'm announcing a hiatus here. I'll be back once my final examination ends which is on the 18th this month.

On a hiatus~

Of course, I'll update if there are any interesting events. Until then, happy hiatus and happy studying to me, good day to you! :D