Tuesday, 22 April 2008

Jakarta, Indonesia

Hmm..what can I say about Jakarta? I have never been to Jakarta but I sort of expect the city to be something like KL. Guess what? I personally think Kuala Lumpur is way much better, obviously.

Come to Jakarta if you love traffic jams..



Come to Jakarta and take their Lan Jiao
Blue Bird Taxi, the most reliable transportation in the city because they have established a very reputation in terms of quality of service and the usage of fare meter, if you get what I mean.
But most of the time, you will experience yourself waving your hand around your face just to shoo the mosquito away or if you are lucky like me......this is what you get


In Jakarta, its very normal to see people selling stuff along the road or even congested highways which have 3 lanes and close to residential area.



During one of the working days, I was offered a packet of lunch by one of my client's staff. Reason? It was his birthday so he bought everyone a packet of Nasi Ayam Penyet for lunch. Cute eh? Maybe next time for my birthday, I will buy Chicken Rice for my close friends.



During the weekend, we went to
Ancol where the public can visit the 2 famous beaches (Carnival and Festival Beach) where there's cable car along the beach, a theme park called Dunia Fantasi, water parks like the Atlantis Water Adventure and SeaWorld.


Indonesia's foreign BeachBoys


In the cable car


One of the beaches


Sampan or boats for those who wanna "sail" out to the sea

The Atlantis Water Adventure Park


So~So~So Scandalous. Scroll up to see who..

Jakarta is also a place where you can find donuts...I mean famous donuts everywhere you go.


Donuts


Shared and ate 6 donuts before exploring Mal Kelapa Gading

In the evening, we went to Ciputra which is a hotel cum shopping mall.

i-Crave donuts


Till now I still don't understand what does Baso Malang means..

By the way and before I forget, my 2 weeks stay at
FM7 Hotel has been wonderful because its only a 3 stars hotel but the quality of the food and services are almost as good as 5 stars. Visit their website for more info because I forgot to take pictures of the hotel.

No..this is not FM7 Hotel..this is the famous Cathedral Church in Jakarta


The official name is Gereja Santa Maria Pelindung Diangkat Ke Surga, consecrated in 1901


Inside the Cathedral Church

Statue of Mother Mary carrying her son, Jesus

Looks like those european churches

The altar in the Cathedral Church


Another part of the church where this area is to pray to Mother Mary

Am I in Europe or Jakarta?

Food stall along the streets

In Thailand, we can find Tuk-tuks but in Indonesia...

They call it Bajaj

One of my mission in Indonesia is to get to Holland Bakery and buy the famous Kek Lapis and Kek Surabaya as humbly requested by Lin's mom. Came to this outlet to make some reservations to be collected on Sunday when I depart for Malaysia since they have an outlet in the airport.

Inside view of the Holland Bakery outlet

One thing quite special about Holland Bakery is that, they do bake Disney themed cakes


Kek Lapis Chocolate (104,000 Rupiah) and Kek Lapis Pandan


Kek Lapis Tikar and Kek Surabaya

Because I love my friends so much, I endured great challenges bringing Krispy Kreme and Holland Bakery Cakes back to Malaysia. On Sunday, due to some problems which my colleague encountered with the hotel, we were delayed for more than 45 minutes and I was so worried that I couldn't buy the the donuts and collect the cakes from Holland Bakery.

The Krispy Kreme shop is located at terminal 1 where my departure hall is at terminal 2. Luckily the hotel driver was patient and kind enough to let me do my last shopping. I was running with a heavy laptop bag on my back and struggling to get through the crowded airport and busy looking for the paper which consists of special flavours requested by my beloved friends.
After paying for the donuts, I was really wondering if I bought too much. I did not count the number of donuts and I just kept pointing and pointing and pointing at different donuts until the guy said,"Beli 6 lagi, baru ada diskaun" then only I stopped.

My colleague was quite shocked to see the number of donuts I bought and both of us rushed to the check-in counter before we can collect the cakes from Holland Bakery from the domestic departure hall. I had to run to another end of the airport again just to get the cakes and by the time I board the plane, everyone was staring at me as if I am selling donuts and cakes in Malaysia.


I definitely violated the rules and regulation. Each passenger is only allowed to carry a hand luggage not more than 7 kg. I thinkmy krispy kreme, cakes and laptop bag weighs more than 15 kg.

I can't imagine if they refuse to let me board the plane and force me to eat everything before I can board the plane.

I think I will die.

Sunday, 6 April 2008

Teapot Cafe, SS 2

Last Wednesday, I met up with my ex-colleague for dinner at SS 2's Teapot Cafe. The reason why we met up was to celebrate a few things.

1) I did not attend her farewell when she resigned a month ago.
2) To congratulate her for getting a new job.
3) Her victim boyfriend romantically proposed to her for marriage.
4) My promotion..
5) Christmas, Chinese New Year, Valentines Day...wahahaha...

Name on plate

The bar or counter..whatever you call it

The Chicken Paprik Rice (RM 10.90) she had was quite good because its quite spicy.

My Chicken Kiev (RM 21.50). So-so only

She insisted on ordering this for dessert...


The Eclair Chocolate (RM 2.00) per piece....not bad..quite nice for a light dessert.

Catching up with her was really fun. She can crap non-stop and I don't understand how her boyfriend can stand her. I can tolerate her because.......we are the same kind. Hehe..

Miss Wong Chee San

Is this considered cam-whoring?

I hope not.

Tuesday, 1 April 2008

Hard Rock Cafe, Kuala Lumpur

Grace Tan and I are very punctual employees. On March 21st, we left our respective offices sharp at 530pm and 545pm so that both of us can shop for "last minute" presents for the March Babies (Lin Lin, Jessica, Michelle and Jian Eu) and also Jack's belated birthday dinner celebration. Grace walked from Bukit Nanas Monorail Station to ZOUK so that I can pick her up from there while I get stuck in traffic jam. This time around, we chose Hard Rock Cafe Kuala Lumpur as the venue to celebrate their birthday as I have a RM50 voucher from Jit Jian for my own birthday gift last year. Thank you, JJ!

Grace Tan a.k.a the energetic, super semangat, power woman prepared a list of stuff that we needed to buy and do once we reach MV. After shopping for all the presents and "materials" and dinner at Nandos with Kok Fai, she reminded me the things that I need to do the next day.

First task : Go Ikea and buy a photo frame. (Around A3 size)
Second task : Buy birthday cake.

Guess what?! I bought the frame and I happily went to pick her up around evening and showed her the frame.

Grace Tan : Stephen? What is this? U bought this frame for yourself issit?

Stephen : No..The frame that you wanted lor..

Grace Tan : Why is the size so small?!?! I said slightly around A3 and RM 9.90 (RM 9.90 info given by Lin Lin)

Stephen : Yalar..RM 9.90 ma...correct lor..

Grace Tan : Nooooo...this is like bigger than A4 abit only.. I want bigger than A3!!

Stephen : Die..how ah?

Grace Tan : Let's call Michelle and Jian Eu if they can buy... (After the phone call)...Ok, they will buy before going to HRC.

Stephen : Phew...OK, let's go!

Grace Tan : Stephen..where is the cake?


Stephen : Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I forgot!!!

Grace Tan : I wanna faint!! Give you 2 simple task also fail miserably. Aiyorrrrrr...

Stephen : Argh..I need a personal assistant already. Come..faster!! Let's go buy the cake!

Both of us reached
Hard Rock Cafe Kuala Lumpur and parking at Concorde Hotel was almost full until the management had to open up the tennis court so that other cars can park in. That night, HRC was quite packed with foreigers because of the Kuala Lumpur F1 Grand Prix the next day. Parties were held all around Kuala Lumpur which caused additional unwanted traffic jams.


Hard Rock Cafe Kuala Lumpur.


Lin and Jess.


Forgetful fella and Power Grace.

All of us took quite a long time to study the menu and it was really very hard to make a choice on what to order because you just feel like trying everything on the menu. Thanks to my mistakes, Jian Eu and Michelle reached half an hour late. Thanks Michelle and Jian Eu.


Min Hao and Jack.

For starters, we ordered..


Hard Rock Nachos - fresh corn tortilla chips piled high with Jack and Cheddar cheeses and seasoned pinto beans. Served with sour cream, chopped green onion, pico de gallo, jalapenos and a side of fresh Hard Rock Grilled Salsa.

Paul ordered..


Famous Fajitas - Choice of grilled chicken of beef served with pico de gallo, shredded Jack and Cheddar cheeses, fresh guacamole, sour cream, shredded lettuce and hot flour tortillas.

I ordered..


Hickory BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger - A fresh 7 oz. Certified Angus Beef hamburger, basted with their special Hickory Bar-B-Que sauce and smothered with caramelized onions. Topped with crisp seasoned bacon and melted Cheddar cheese.


The only reason why she took a photo with me is because of the burger...hehe


Jess also the same.. :(

Grace Tan ordered...


Herb Grilled Chicken Breast - A boneless, marinated half-pound chicken breast, grilled and marinated with fresh herbs, garlic and pure olive oil. Served on top of smashed potatoes, with oven-roasted mushrooms and a light herb sauce.


She only eats if I feed her.

Jack ordered...


Something which is not on the menu downloaded from the internet. Hahaha!!


Busy writing birthday wishes for each other during dinner...

Min Hao ordered...


Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Que Chicken - Famous Southern-styled, half chicken, molested rubbed, grilled and basted with their authentic Hickory Bar-B-Que sauce. Served with seasoned fries, fresh coleslaw and baked beans (missing from the plate).

Lin and Jess shared the...


Jumbo Combo - A delectable array of their most popular starters that's big enough to share. Includes Santa Fe Spring Rolls, Hickory-Smoked Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Potato Skins and Tupelo Chicken Tenders. Served with 4 different sauces for mixing and matching.


Jian Eu ordered..



Marinara Pasta

Michelle ordered..


Cajun Chicken Sandwich - Grilled Cajun-spiced chicken breast, topped with seared Cajun Andouille sausage, melted Cheddar cheese and fresh lemon mayo. Served on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, red onions and seasoned fries.



Shortly after the waitress cleared up the table, its time to give out the presents...Michelle's first..


Grace Tan made the gigantic Stitch birthday card herself and we also bought a book for Michelle.

Lin asked Paul whether he knows what creature is that. He answered,"Pokemon?" I think its a good thing that he got it wrong. Proved that he is not into kiddish stuff. Haha

Jessica's...


Another masterpiece from Grace Tan.

Lin Lin's...


A box full of various types of dark chocolates.. My evil plan is to make Lin Lin chubby..


Her reaction was so funny when she saw the dark chocolates. Hehe..almost fainted!!

Jian Eu's..


Engraved pen with his name on it.


March Babies.


With Jack and Grace.


Jack was very fascinated with the Japanese "Mona Lisa" that night. That lady in the picture is actually Yoko Ono.


Get what I mean?


Honey Bee Cake.


Poor Jack can only have her birthday cake 2 months later. Happy ending for the night!

Thanks to the wonderful food and atmosphere in

*Those highlighted in yellow are additional facts that I left out. For more info, please read the comments.