Bangkok Shopping Spree

When mention about Bangkok, this is what a girl would think.

And this is what we, the guys, think.

 

On my recent birthday in December, my wife suddenly asked me if I fancy a trip to Bangkok, Thailand. She will pay for the air ticket as my birthday present.

Since I have only been to Phuket and Krabi before, I think this would be a great chance to have a look at the place where girls described as the "heaven for shoppers".

How wrong I was.

Apart from the bustling red light district and countless massage parlour on the street, for me, it seems to be the heaven for both guy and girls in term of shopping.

We arrived late evening and check in immediately into the hotel first. The Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel.

Priced at about RM250 per night, I think it was a good choice for its setup, and most importantly, the location, which is a walking distance away from the BTS train station and the Platinum Mall, where you can do hell-a-lot of a shopping.

The view from hotel lobby. Place where you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner here.

View inside the room.

The overall setup was modern and most importantly, it is clean and comfortable and spacious enough for couple especially.

And it comes with a free Wi-Fi and lots of local and international movie channel on TV. So, nothing much to complain.

It is located about 10 minutes walk away from the Platinum Mall in Pratunam area,  rated as one of the most popular + cheap shopping place for fashion clothes and accessories wholesale.

A t-shirt like this would cost about RM20 per pc.

And about RM39 for a formal/casual wear for guys.

But if you were a football fanatic (like me) who wished to purchase cheap club jerseys from the shelf, you may not want to end up here.

During the trip, I tried to google the best place to find football jerseys. Some people told me Chatuchak market and the "Kaka" shop near the MBK mall would be the best bet. But personally? This is how I would rate it.

Chatuchak - Big disappointment. The jerseys on sale looked old and "fake". I mean it is fake anyway, but the last thing I wanted is my football jersey looked like a pair of car washing clothes.

Kaka Shop, near MBK mall - The quality of the jerseys are good. Price was OK. But the selection was really limited. A lot of the shop provide services for jersey and number printing. But still, I walked out from there without buying anything.

It was quite disappointing at first as one of my main "mission" for this trip was to grab as many football jerseys as I can.

Then came the Eureka moment.

During one of those afternoon walkabout, me and my wife decided to part ways as she was trying to get some dress from the Platinum mall. And I was feeling so sick that I was planning to walk back to hotel on my own.

Then underneath a flyover bridge, between Platinum Mall and my hotel, was a row of stalls selling t-shirts and stuff. Then I saw the jerseys.

The quality is excellent and the price is cheap. I managed to negotiate for 10 jerseys for myself and my friends at about RM22 per piece.

This is how it looks like.

So you can judge yourself by its look.

As the hotel we are staying in are quite strategic in term of location, most of the time we spend are on foot.

But if you get too knackered and decided to stop walking, don't worry, Bangkok has lots of this guys.

Just make sure you check the price beforehand as Tuk Tuk does not come with a meter like a usual taxi does.

To summarize our trip, this is the breakdown (Approximate) that we spent during this trip.

(Price for two person)

Airfare (Air Asia) = RM 900
Hotel (3 D 2 Nights) = RM 500
Food + Transport = RM300
Shopping = RM 2,150.00 (!!!)

As you can see, the cost of shopping worth much more than the rest.

So, in the future if your other half (especially if it is girl) invited you to Bangkok, just make sure that you bring enough cash with you.

Before the trip I was questioning her, "Do we really need to spend 2K on shopping alone?".

She didn't answer directly.

She proved to me.

That even a guy can go crazy while doing shopping in Bangkok.


 

The Loss of QZ8501

2014 was a tragic year for aviation industry.

MH370 case came as a surprise and hit the news headline for quite a while. Then, the MH17, shoot down. Which I would say, just pure bad luck due to the theory of "mistaken identity". (which we still couldn't confirm to date).

Then on a lovely Sunday morning in December while I was having lunch with my family, I received a newsfeed from a foreign media on Facebook indicating that an Air Asia flight has lost contact during its flight from Indonesia to Singapore.

Compared to the two previous incidents, this time I would say I am one of the "first few" people who received the news. To be honest, I still think it could be a Hoax or mistake.

But when The Star news published the incidents (about an hour later), I knew the unbelievable has happened.

I believed many people would have the same reaction as me. Total disbelief. Then when the feeling started to sink in, then come the feeling of sorrow and anger surfaced. Then again, come the questions of what went wrong, conspiracy theories,  and many more.

I used to travel quite a bit by air and honestly, although the fear of flying does exist naturally (for me especially), I have never doubt that air travel is still one of the fastest and safest travelling mode in the world today

(Picture taken from one of my flight back to Malaysia from Shanghai, China)

 

 

As expected, the news channel on the television for the next few days were flooded with the news of the disappearance of the airliner.

 

Theories after theories was unleashed, the so-called "experienced airline pilot" interviewed on their opinions, updates on the current SAR (Search and Rescue) operations were like the "7-11", non-stop over the next 24 hours.

 

Then came the phenomenon which I have expected. That happened almost every single time we have lost an aircraft. The "cameo" appearance on the different type of "Social Media persona" especially on the Facebook page.

 

 

The first group, the "Normal" people.

 

 

This group of people offered prayers and word of support to the family and friends of the victims on the missing airliner. Like most of us who can't do anything apart from offering our moral supports and prayers to pray for the safe return of their loved one.

 

The second group. I called this group the "I-see-what-I-post-what" kind of people.

 

The main criteria of these lots are those who just "like" and "share" whatever that crossed their path without thinking twice.

 

 

Like the one who posted the abovementioned pictures from a different incident, to co-relate to the QZ8501 accidents.

 

This would be the same group of people that if (I say IF) you tell them that the QZ8501 was down due to the pilot "went out from the aircraft to take a smoke in mid-air", they will immediately buy your stories, and then share in on their Facebook, write on their Twitter and wrote a 10 pages of blog post on their website.

 

Then, the next group, the "Expert" one.

 

This group of people could came from the different kind of background, from aviation experts, pilots, science professors, stock broker, secondary school students to the butchers.

 

Personally I am not too worried about this group.

 

 

Everyone of us (you) are entitled to your own opinion. It is fine for me as long as you don't claim that you are an expert and says something without any base evidences.

 

The last group, the one is classified as the "classic" one, surprisingly this does not appear this time.

 

Or should I called it as the "VIP Clown Club". That managed to hit the box office from the media from all around the world.

 

 

 

From what I have gathered from a reliable source of news. Apparently in the case of QZ8501, some of the "Bomoh" or medium has declared that they will offer the help of the government asked for it.

 

And based on their humble opinion, the plane has ended up in the seabed. (At the time of writing, part of the wreckage have been found on sea, and the sonar technology has detected that most likely the wreckage could be found on the seabed".

 

As for this guy? This is as much as he can do or say from his "Magic Carpet" stunt show.

 

 

 

1. "I will slap him like a crocodile" on Khairy tweet calling him an "embarrassment".
 

2. "The plane is either in the air, or in the sea" - WTF...better don't say anything..

3. "The plane was held by some "spirits", and I am trying to free them" - .....(Speechless)

In the end, the plane was still missing. The only thing is the new found status and popularity for him on YouTube, Android apps and etc.

But joke aside, hopefully 2015 will be a great year for everyone. Especially for the aviation industry.



 



Every now and then, when I saw a plane flew over my head, it is like a second nature to me now that, I, will always mumble to myself.

 

"Have a safe flight guys. See you on the ground".

 

 

 

 

I am a proud tax payer

I am a proud tax-payer.

Every Malaysian should be one of those proud taxpayer.

Some people questioned the reason why should we give away our hard earned money to the government?

You have good highway.

Only then, occasionally comes with potholes and traffic jam especially during festive season.

 

Also since we pay taxes, we get to enjoy one of the "smartest" tunnel in the world that helped ease traffic and for flood mitigation purposes.

 



 

But occasionally this is what I would normally noticed in KL especially during rainy season.

Well, up to this point, I still try to keep my cool and saying "Yes, they screwed up, but I have done my part by paying taxes isn't it?"

Not until recently. Being such a loyal tax payer, a day prior to my departure to Hong Kong,
I received this wonderful letter from Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) or the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) asking for "additional payment".

Funny thing was, from the first to the last page of the letter, there's not a single word telling "THANK YOU MR. WONG FOR BEING SUCH A LOYAL TAXPAYER, HOWEVER, DUE TO SOME SPECIAL REASON..."

To be honest, I will feel much better that way.

Now I think LHDN (or the government) are just plain unprofessional.

It also means from 2010 - 2013 you guys never did a detailed job looking through our documents or tax submission?

Of course la, during working hours, you go mamak for afternoon tea break.

Ask you one or two questions, you said...

 

 

Now that when these somebody run out of cash for this.

 

 

 

 

We became the "Cash Cow"

 

What do you think? Put it this way.

 

Crude oil price dropped around the world, and we are still talking about reducing the subsidies in Malaysia.

 

"Surprise additional Tax Payment" like in my case.

 

Implementation of GST in 2015.

 

I only can think of one thing.

 

If we still don't change the leadership of this country, there will be a serious problem.
 

 

 

MAS Business Class for Less than MYR 200

Travelling can be a fun experience at time.

Even better if you were given a chance to ride on the business class section.

I was on a Malaysia Airline flight back from Shanghai to Kuala Lumpur after a 10 days working trip between Hong Kong and China.

I considered myself a "moderate and kiasu" frequent flyer. Ask me why? Because for almost every airline company I have used, I would apply for their frequent flyer card with the view of collecting points and rewards.

All I need to do is just to call the airline call centre and make the reservation with the points I had in my Enrich Frequent Flyer Card.

As my points was going to expired this coming December, I decided to redeem the "Enrich award flight", which means zero fare in a business class cabin en route to Kuala Lumpur just for the sake of the experience.

All I needed to forked out was the tax and surcharge less than MYR 200.

(Being a budget traveller, I never see the need to pay ridiculous amount for the treatment, which in this case, can be as high as MYR 5,000 as opposed to the MYR 1,200.00 per way in the economy class).

The business class section treatment starts even before I boarded the plane.

I was entitled to enter the club lounge while waiting for the gate to open. Here you can basically have a good rest and meals (and of course, beers) in which, is all complimentary.

But I must say there is nothing to shout about the business lounge section in the Shanghai Pudong Airport. I think even the McDonald's have the better set up and environment.

(It could be different in other airport, but definitely nothing to shout about in this airport).

A random selfie with my travel partner this time before taking off. Look at our happy face.

In Economy section, you will be addressed as "Sir/Madam".

But I guess since we "pay more theoretically", we were addresses by our Surname.

Call me first timer, I wouldn't care less. Because at this moment, I felt...

Even the cabin crew took some times to talk and mingle with us, like asking how was my stay in China, the reason of travelling, name of my dogs and etc.

Funnily enough he never asked "Do you enjoy paying the expensive amount of ticket for a business class ride with the record of two fatalities in one year?"

But honestly, I never doubt their safety record. One was missing without a clue, and another one was just pure bad luck.

 

 

In the business class section, the menu would be slightly different compared to the economy class. It was a 3 or 4 course meals and free flow of drinks including wine and beers. (Not sure about the news but heard that alcohol would be banned soon in all Malaysian Airline flight).

 

as for the taste of the foods, I have no comments. It was taste just about the same with a 4 course meals on the ground.

 

 

 

 

As usual, the whole journey from Shanghai to Kuala Lumpur would take about 5 hours in total.

 

While lying in the comfy and spacious seats, I Immediately dozed off after half an hour into my movie.

 

Well for most of the travellers, business class is something that you may afford, but wouldn't think it would be a good value for money to pay more just to sit in a different section of the plane.

 

It was the same case as mine. If it is free, why not?

 

But one thing is for sure, sometimes you can get just as lucky with Air Asia X. I remembered in my previous blogpost that I have managed to grabbed the "cheaper than economy section" business class seats when I was back from Beijing.

 

Honestly, it is just as good as the MAS.

 

The only difference is you get the "Pak Nasser Nasi Lemak" as the complimentary meal and a bottle of mineral water.

 

But who cares really?

 

Try your luck, if you experienced the same thing like me, do share me your experience too!

 

 



 

Tamarind Springs

My wife used to describe me as a "boring" type of guy. Example?

 

One of my everyday favourite lunch agenda, almost without failed would be the traditional Chinese "zap fan" (mixed rice).

 

So one day out of the blue when I told her I wanted to bring her to "somewhere special" for dinner, the look on her face was just priceless.

 

It was as if I was telling her that we are going to fly to Dubai for dinner and come back on the same day.

So, it was actually a recommendation from a Dutch friend, an expat who live in Malaysia. Being Dutch, sometimes I just wonder when he meant "the food there is super lovely", also means that "it is not spicy like sambal belacan".

Well I thought just give it a shot.

So I went to this place, called Tamarind Springs. The details of the restaurant is in their website.

http://www.tamarindrestaurants.com/

I failed to take loads of photos from this place, which is a disappointment of having my waze turned on and drained my battery while looking for this place.

As a matter of fact, it is not far from the Ampang International School. Yes, in Ampang.

When you arrive, there will be a free parking spot which is taken care by a security guard who will walk you to and from your car as the measure of your personal safety. (Or make you feel like a VIP).

 

 

 

 

I have been warned that the price of the foods are "not the cheapest in town". So we started off with 3 dishes + 1 soup and 450ml of wine and see how it goes.

 

And my goodness. It was the best fish I ever had in my entire life.

 

 

 

My wife, enjoying her glass of wine.

 

My wife, if I could compare her to someone, it would be like the Simon Cowell from the American Idol.

 

Always critics about the food, always critics about the price, almost about everything.

 

So I was taken by surprise, when I took my credit card out and paid RM354.00 in total for this dinner all she said was "It was cheap!"

 

So it is my turn.

 

 



 

As for the environment, it is definitely a place for you to bring your first date to impress her. The place was absolutely romantic and quiet, and you can chat away peacefully without any noises and interruption.

 

Out in the terrace area, it was surrounded by trees and little view of the KL city landscape. You will feel like as if you are having dinner in the middle of the jungle.

 

Only difference is, you don't have to worry about tiger popping up from somewhere.



 

 

It was such a nice and romantic dining experience, when I immediately noticed that a couple about a table away from us was actually kissing each other. (My phone no battery, so don't ask about the picture please).

 

So guys, go to their website and check out their offers.

 

There is one in the KL city centre too, which is called Tamarind Hill. So do not get confused by that.

 

Heard that it is the same concept, but I have never gone there before so I reserve my comment on that one first.

 

Just make sure you bring your credit card along.

 

And do not do this stupid face when you got your bill.

 

 

 

 

 



Jakarta hotel, traffic and a retarded immigration officer.

I gave my vote of confidence to Malaysia Airline last week when I decided to travel to Jakarta.



 

 

To be frank, it has been a while since I enjoyed a turbulence-free ride from the start of the journey through to the end of it.

 

A lot has been said regarding the traffic like Jakarta. If you think traffic in KL is slow moving, traffic in Jakarta - Madness.

 

Hence I was told to arrive earlier in an afternoon flight rather than an evening flight.

 

I was lucky enough not to have worried about being cheated by cab drivers over here. A cab was booked for me under the Golden Bird company, which is one of the most popular cab service provider here in Jakarta. And their price are reasonable too.

 

 Bet you never seen this in Malaysia.

 

 

It is funny to see the names in the display. How I wish my parent named me as "Kamolchai" or "Sturock" last time.

 

I don't know. The name just sounds sexy.

 

I was booked to the "Kristall Hotel" which is at the south side of Jakarta. The distance between the airport shown on the map was 34.3km.

 

But guess what. It took me almost 2 hours to reach the hotel.

 

Make no mistake, it is not exactly the Holiday Inn group kind of hotel. But I am fine with that.

The surroundings are actually more like a Balinese set up on the outside.

The interior of the room.

They even have a small kitchen where you can actually do some simple cooking and come with a water dispenser and free bottle of beer and a can of coke. (Complimentary stuff doesn't come in too often).

My room was overlooking the swimming pool which was great. Unfortunately, no bikini babies around at that time.'

Our evening was filled with beer as usual in the "Satu Lagi" Bar (Which means "one more" in Malay language)

I did not managed to check out the city for the next two days as I was having meetings planned and I was supposed to fly back to Sarawak on the next day.

Talking about first impression, something happened when I was supposed to leave the country.

Remember those arrival cards that the air stewardess passed to you on the plane to fill it up and you are supposed to keep hold on it until you leave their country?

I went to the immigration counter. This was the conversation between me and the officer:

Immigration Officer (O), Me (Me)

O: Go where? (Broken English).

Me: Flying to Brunei. Here is the arrival card for return.

O: (Point to the card) The plane number is wrong. It is not the same flight number as your tickets.

(The thing is, it is not supposed to be the same! As I travelled into Jakarta on a different flight)

Me: Of course it is not the same. It was the plane I boarded when I came in to Jakarta!

O: You don't know how to read? This says "Departure Card".

Me: (Getting angry) Of course I know. I am supposed to return to you guys as I am LEAVING. (WTF is happening here?)

O: (Gave a long sigh, didn't say anything)

Me: So what now, should I change this flight number on the card? (It was stamped, it was not supposed to change!)

O: (Sigh again, still didn't say anything or instruct whatsover)

(For a few minutes he kept on asking me, you don't know how to read?? I told him I can read in three different languages, so of course I can read!)

So I went to the other counter, got it stamped and I was cleared right away. With no problem at all!

Double standard? No I don't think so. Now it reminds me that maybe that guy was trying to get some money off me.

What a jerk.

If he was asking nicely then maybe it is a yes. I wouldn't pay a single dime to this guy, if I did, I will make sure he took it from my leg.

But I was so tired as it was an early morning flight. So I have no more energy to argue and how I wished I could make a uturn back and slap his face with my passport.

What a retard.

He should be brought to the runway and get run over by the plane. Worthless pr*ck.

Hopefully in the future I can write more about Jakarta rather than its traffic congestion issue and their retarded immigration officer.

Would love to meet him up again on my next trip so I can give him a proper slap in the face.

I love Jakarta.