Tun M's Kedai Roti

I have heard about it and have read about it in the papers.
Finally, I patronised it.
The high class kedai roti is called:

The setting is rather upmarket.

Standing there, you may have the feeling that you are in Europe.

But actually, you are in PULAU LANGKAWI.

Go Around the World on 4 Wheels

While in Cherating, we met this friendly Swiss couple, Kari and Ulla. They have been on the road for 14 months since April 2008. During those time they have been to Croatia, Albania, Greece Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India ,Singapore and Malaysia. Their next destination will be Thailand and the neighbouring countries, then off to Australia and New Zealand .


So they will still be moving around for many more months or years to come, in this mobile home that they named passionately, " friieda" .

They blog about their journey through here:

http://www.friieda.ch/

The blog is in German and I used the babelfish to translate it into English.

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/

The ever obliging Kari was kind enough to show us the interior of his "home". It is a very well equiped mobile home with all the basic amenities. How nice if I am as courageous and as brave as Kari and Ulla to see the world like this
.

Next to friieda was parked this "German Tank". It is "home" for another German couple.

The lady of the "house" was busily cooking. So we didn't have chance to chat.

Wish you all the best in your future endeavour, Kari and Ulla.

Cherating

The whole family went to Cherating recently for a few days of sun and fun.

Whenever the word 'Cherating' was mentioned, friends would ask:

" You went to Club Med ?"

" No lah, Club Med very expensive le, where got so much money?"

Actually, We booked this place.

The chalets are quite ok actually, considering it only charges RM88 / day for a family unit with a queen and a single bed, and attached bathroom.
The only setback is that they are not by the beach. We had to walk 5 minutes to go mandi laut.

A bit inconvenient la.

If I have known, I would have booked this chalet instead.

Just walk out the door and one can jump into the sea.

I will most likely stay here if ever come to Cherating again.

How to kill time in Cherating ah?

Go snorkelling?.......... already done that in Pulau Redang and other pulau.

Go for river cruise and watch fire fly?...... not very keen.

Join a guided tour to look out for mother turtle laying eggs? ......... no fun

Aiyah just go mandi laut la. During low tide, walk 100m into the sea and the water is still only knee deep.

or just admire the beautiful sunset

or drive 20 minutes to Kuala Kemaman, at the border of Trengganu


Although the weather was very hot and the sun was burning the skin, the view of the open sea was beautiful.

A bit surprise to find a rather grand SJKC here. Must be quite a large number of Chinese staying around this area.

My Hifi "Silk Road"_ Part 2

The first addition to the system was
a phonogram(record) changer. It was a UK made
unit .
This was an automatic player. A few records could be stacked up on the spindle and they would be played one after another.

Purchased in 28/1/1968 at a cost of RM69.

It was connected to the radio's mono amplifier, driving a 12" speaker and a tweeter.The speaker cabinet was made of reinforced concrete. Very unique indeed.

The phonograms(record or vinyl) came in 2 sizes; 7 inches diameter ( speed 45rpm) and 12 inches diameter (speed 33 1/3 rpm).

Average cost of a small record at that time was RM2 and that of the big one was RM6

All purchases were documented.

He is my dad's favoutite singer.We had a full collection of his albums.

The last entry was in 1/9/73

Of course I still bought records after that, but never border to keep track

The next upgrade was this stereo Monarch Amplifier, bought 11 months after getting the record player .

Being a sterophonic unit, it had to be connected to a pair of speakers( left and right channel) So a second speaker cabinet was added. But the second cabinet was just made of plywood, not concrete.

My Hifi "silkroad"_ Part 1

It was my father that exposed me to the world of audio sound.
This is the first audio set in the family, a German made Greatz multiband radio which I am still keeping.
It is a valve set. At that time, transistor still unheard of.

( this pic was just taken recently)

This is its birth certificate.

It was bought in 1958 at a cost of RM496. At that time 496 was a lot of $, may be my father's 3 months pay.

During those years, FM station was unheard of. So the norm was to tune to 'Medium Wave'(MW) or Short Wave(SW)

But too bad, although the radio still looks beautiful, it is not functional anymore. The wires had been bitten by rats. Hopefully one day I can find the time and gather enough passion to restore it.
I still have some collection of spare valves.

The 1st valve on the right is called"the cat's eye". It is used as a tuning indicator. It is lighted up as a green circular display. When the radio is properly tuned to a station, the display will narrow down to a fine green line. Very interesting.

All roads lead to Kota Bahru

There is a saying that says " All roads lead to Rome".
But to me , all roads lead to Kota Bahru. From the East-West Highway, we can go to KB through Tanah Merah, or through Machang, or through Rantau Panjang. I have been to KB a few times, but I was not certain which one is the best route for travelling, until this latest trip.
If we follow the road signs, the best bet will be going through Machang because this stretch is wide and straight. But the ' slow and steady' Kelantanese drivers will really test one's patience. They seem never in any hurry at all.
Anyway, being not that adventurous, I always take this route.
Through conversation with a local this time around, I was told that the shortest route is through Rantau Panjang. True enough it shortened our return trip from KB to Jeli via Rantau Panjang. The downside is the road is more winding and need to pass through a few road blocks.

So maybe the road signs should add some wordings like these:

By the roadside to Machang , the sign should read :
" Ke Kota Bahru, Laluan selesa untuk pemandu sambil lewa"

By the roadside before junction to Rantau Panjang,
" Ke Kota Bahru, Laluan optimum untuk pemandu mengejar masa"

Wuahahahahaha...............








The main attraction of the east coast states: beautiful beaches.

Travelling between Kota Bahru and Kuala Trengganu also faces the same dilemma; use the coastal roads D7 , T3, T1 though the kampongs, or use the inner road 3 that is more winding and hilly. The choice is yours.

New experience_Home Stay

1st of May, Worker's Day is on Friday. I have 3 days break. A petrol head friend suggests a long drive to Kelatan and Trengganu. Being a last minute plan, we couldn't find any available hotel room. Luckily a colleague gave a contact for Homestay accommodation in Kota Bahru. We just grab it.

In my mind, homestay in a kampong means maybe putting up in a place like this:

The place we booked was quite deep inside a kampong. So the host had to meet us in town and led us in......

.

.

(I always look left when I pass through this part,

especially at night)
.

.

.

.

.

.

jeng,

.

.

.

jeng, jeng.

.

.

.

. jeng, jeng, jeng

.............. to our great surprise!!! we were led to THIS place!

Woa! a bungalow man!!!!!

Walaueh! Homestay in a mansion in the kampong. That was the last thing we would have expected.

The host stays upstairs. We had the whole of downstairs to ourself.

There is a living room and 2 bedrooms

Dining area and a second hall.

It won't lose out to staying in a hotel. I would say we were very lucky to have found this place.

We were even told we were the first customers. Wow!!! how lucky we were. Should have asked the host to let us cut some ribbons before entering. Hahahaha.........

So............, if you happen to be around KB and feel like breathing unpoluted air in surroundings like this

You should contact the friendly host, Encik Aminuddin.