DeSTRESSing Activity: Cameron Highland (>,<)V

After 2 postings in final year, i've found a group of posting mates that we can 'ngam & kamcheng' togather despite our differences. Circumstances had made us housemate for almost 2 weeks at Teluk Intan (during Internal Medicine) and immediately we fall in love with each other..haha. We even throw an Open House at Teluk Intan..

Ok, enough about the gushy-mushy feeling..So, we went to Cameron Highland for a 2 days and a night.I'm willing to sacrifice my Siemens 10 km run for this vacation. yeah..i need some de-Stressing activity. Cameron Highland's weather reminds me a LOT like BAndung and Jatinangor...oh how i miss dat place..hurmm. The food was superb..We go there and eat A LOT.. I hope i don't gain weight..hehe

A picture of us playing bubbles (thanks to Miss Nina Hoklai's influence) on a suspension bridge..oh ya da guys are addition to the Mag7. They are our Pak Supir+Sappam (driver+ guard in indo language)


Time tunnel museum is like a collectors display of things from before independence up till 90's. I just like the desk....


We also went to usual place at cameron like strawberry farm, bee farm,cactus valley and tea plantation. The strawberry + yougurt + honey just made my day more sweet & happy...nyum..nyum..


Fresh salad.........grrr



Boh tea plantation was superb. The road was tricky to. It was there since 1920's (some knowledge gain from the video at the museum). I just fell in love with the cafe which was built at the edge of the hill..Wish i have a villa there...haha. They fertilize the tea with aeorplane..so, u can imagine how bis is the place.



ok...so, now back to reality. After 4 hours journey.Thanks to our Pak Supir for his driving skill & effort. We went back home safely,alhamdulillah without injuries or accident. Will start surgical posting the next day...Hepato-billiary team here I come (>,<)

Travel to UK & Holland during Spring!!

Alhamdulillah, I was able to fulfill my dream to travel to UK. Decision was made 4 months earlier. I manage to get a cheap ticket to Manchester (RM3200 return). Off i go to Manchester, travelling from KLIA alone and get 12 hours transit at Doha (that's why the ticket is cheap...haha). Lucky the return flight only cause me 1 hour transit. Anyway, alhamdulillah, nothing bad happen while i'm travelling alone for the first time in >2hours flight journey.Total flight journey was 14 hours...total duration of trip=15days...

Special credit to my cousins Nabila Yusoff, Azmir Hisham Ahmad and Zaid Hakim Iskandar & his fiancee' Jannah Radzif. Thank you for the good care and babysitting me while i'm there. Sorry for any inconvenience (",)

University of manchester




The Old Trafford stadium

Piccadily Train Station

at York (about 1 hour from manchester) day trip


Alton's Tower Theme Park at Staffordshire (2 hours from manchester train+bus) day trip. COooooooL rides :)


3DAYS TRIP TO EDINBURGH (colder than manchester,brilliant architecture,love the buildings,very-Harry Potter-like)

backpacking to edinburgh

The view from Edinburgh castle..



sterling castle..


Firth Forth Bridge,end of our countryside trip at edinburgh ..


3NIGHTS 2 DAYS TRIP TO HOLLAND (Brezzy & cold!!,beautiful,cute buildings,canals-a little bit like venice,full with old bicycles,I LOVE TULIPS!)

Holland trip...amsterdam city

one of the buildings at Amsterdam city


Keukenhoff Lisse,the Tulip garden..Holland


Windmill!!


Clogs revolution...


Subahannallh, i can see a lot of amazing creation of Allah
Masyaallah,a very LOVELY experience,(",)

Bali..

Salam,



I just got back from BALI..Yes..BALI! I would like to describe Bali as a tropical paradise with fusion between west and east. There's A LOT of tourist that you can meet everywhere.



Finally i get to go there.Alhamdulillah! It was a challenge as a Muslim because of the food(the famous food is Babi guling)and there are full of half naked people.Thus,we got extra lesson on ANATOMY of human body.The funny thing is,we became the center of attraction there instead of girls in bikini..hehe.Because its quite hard to find tourist we head scarf on with fully clothes on.

Regardless all of it I'm PROUD to practice Islam in this condition. I also experienced praying inside the car.

Why i want to got there? the first and foremost is i want to experience the beauty of Bali.Next i want to see the culture of Balinese people that have close relation with Hinduism. Third, i want to make my last 10 days in Indonesia more memorable..huhu.

Is Bali suitable for us Muslims to spend their holidays?? Yes, there are a lot of interesting places you can go besides the beach that are full with half naked people or pubs and night clubs..Just ignore those places and spend your quality time on nature and cultural activities like what I've done with my friends. Totally NO drug, NO alcohol and NO sex...

The most memorable thing is scuba diving. This is my 2nd time as explorer diver(without license).My first time was at Perhentian Island,Malaysia with my brothers and we immediately fell in love with it.We planned to make it a family thing as we all will take the course at UKM and get the scuba diving license. Its not cheap but it's worth it.


My total expenses through out the Bali trip is only 3.2 million rupiah for 6 days.if including plane ticket is about 4.2 million( about RM 1,500). We traveled to almost all the tourist spot with 4 days of charted car with driver. We also get to buy a lot of souvenirs at the factory with grocer price( thanks to Agus our driver who bring us there).

So, here is the summary of my trip...

Day 1,Sunday, 26/4- we just walk around Kuta beach


There's no Angkot but they use this colorful mini bus instead for short distance transportation along the beach.


(Charted car with driver from day 2-5)

Day 2,Monday, 27/4
* Water sports: Para sailing,flying fish,banana boat and scuba diving( we did some negotiation on the price and manage to get acceptable price for these 4 activities)

* Garuda Wisnu Kencana Park(GWK)- Watched very big statues here!
* Ulu Watu, watch Kecak dance here!
* Seafood dinner at Jinbara under the star and moon light by the beach, we can see the airplane landing area from Jinbara beach.
(manage to get the cheapest restaurant)
Kecak dance



Day 3,Tuesday, 28/4
* Watched dolphins at Lovina beach have to cross Bali from south(Kuta beach-where we stay) to North.Took us 3 hours journey.Get to watch sunrise here.
* Kintamani and Batur Mountain - still active volcano
* Batik factory,get to take home some specially requested batik painting as souvenirs with cheap price.

At Lovina Beach where the sun started to come out......I'm speechless


Day 4,Wednesday, 29/4
* Taman Ayun- the nicest temple we visited so far

* Alas keraton- monkeys all over the place...scares me..huhu
* Bedugul-nice highland at Bali, a little bit cool like Bandung
* Tanah Lot- a temple on a big rock that looks as if its floating at the sea.

Day 5,Thursday,30/4
* Watched Barongan and keris dance

* Shopping at Bali Creative-factory that produce souvenirs.we shop at grocer price (",)
* Visited Medical faculty of Universitas Udayana

* Watched sunset by the beach..Subahannallah,very beautiful




Day 6,Friday,1/5
*Back to Jakarta..then Bandung by road.

I'm tired but very happy.The moments i had there was unforgettable.Insyaallah I will visit Bali again to experience the beauty of Allah's creation.

Wasalam.

Sound of music.......

Salam,

Today i would like to share my experience visiting Saung Angklung Udjo(SAU). It is one of tourist attraction in Bandung. I just discover this place last year.Alhamdullilah I finally went there on last Thursday.



The visitors are mostly Caucasian.When i visited SAU, there was about 3 buses of Caucasian that are mostly Dutch. I'm quite suprised with the number of 'Mat Salleh'(Indonesian called them 'Bule') cause i only see them rarely in Bandung or Jatinangor.I guess Caucasian prefer Arts,culture and music compare to us Malaysian who spend their money more on 'appreciating shopping'.

The place was aspired by Pak Udjo and is continue by his son now. For more info you can log on into their official website http://www.angklung-udjo.co.id .The ticket is 50,000 for locals or students(make sure you bring your student cards) and 80,000 for foreigner.

What is angklung? It is a musical instrument that is made from bamboo. The sound is soothing and refreshing. I once watch an Angklung orchestra at Institut Teknologi Bandung(ITB) during 'International Day'.I immediately fall in love with it.

This trip was memorable for us siblings as regardless our differences, we share a common passion on music with our parents too.I can say its a 'Family thing' We like orchestra, life music,traditional performances and also theater.I've been longing to watch this cultural show for a quite some time.

My brothers with Pak Herman, A sundanese family friend that work as Music Officer at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia(that's how my brothers know him)


The cream of the visit is actually the LIVE PERFORMANCES.All performances done by their students age as little as 2years old till late teens. Up till now, there are about 500 students of SAU.At morning they go to school, after school they come with their parents to SAU to learn and perform.

Cirumcision Parade with Kuda kepang dance...



The performance is done daily from 1530-1730.The show is divided into 2 parts with 15 minutes break in between. The performance was started with Kuda Kepang dance.Then there's a cirumcision parade and celebration and proceeded with 'Tarian bertopeng'.
There's also wayang golek and musical instruments performances(Rumba and Angklung).
Musical instrument performance.....


We also gets the opportunity to experience the excitement and togetherness in playing simple songs.Yes,that's right... we get to play Angklung.It was a wonderful experience for us definitely!!

finally..my hands on angklung(",) Get a little help from Sylvi 11 years old girl next to me.Already learns angklung for 2 years.Notice the Angklung necklace??That's is actually our ticket(nice idea!!)



with Lily, a 2years old girl.She dance during Kuda kepang dance and Circumcision parade.Sooo..CUTE!!



Something interesting at SAU,...SAVE the EARTH..Go..go..GREEN!!


Toilet eh?? Very clean and nice art and design...


I hope this place will continue to grow to maintain the Sundanese Culture in the future.It is great to see the young generation knows their culture and roots. Moreover, they spend their time on something educative while keeping the culture alive.It is better than spending more time on watching television, computer games or Play Station

Wasalam.

Bye..bye Mr P

Salam..

Today I have to say good bye for a while for Mr P. We've been together for almost 2years now(",)



I bought the portable Yamaha piano at Braga Music, Bandung in July 2007.It was quite cheap compare to Malaysian price.It cause me some 4 million rupiah including transportation to Jatinangor(45minutes from Bandung city). Well, even though Mr P isn't cheap, i think he worth every rupiah on him.

Mr P and me have a lots of moments together..We did a few performances together.He ease my mind sometimes especially during exams when my brain is 'jammed'.He listen to my voice while i sing without complain..hehe..he practically obey my fingers on him..Any men can't match him(",)

I and my brothers are passionate on music.At home we play duet and trio numerous of time and we did some performances too..However non of us make it as our major studies.(extra info; Both of my brothers are engineers in communication, working with ASTRO).I miss the moment and since i'm coming home we can meet up and turn the house into a studio..sorry neighbours(",)

For Mr P transportation, i asked my brothers help.Since electronic gadgets are fragile,I'm worried with Mr P safety if i send it by shipping.At the same time, the come here for holiday and mission to find Factory outlet Levi's jeans. They manage to find it but unfortunately their sizes are not available.So, they bought Burberry, Hugo and Pierre Cardin instead... Each cost less than 200,000rp(Rm 80)

Believe it or not..this is my 4th time to Kawah Putih at Ciwide, Bandung


Finally..i get to experience something new...GEOLOGY MUSEUM


Frankly,its quite boring.However, i finally know that 16,000 years ago Bandung is filled with water. See the dotted line area that is filled in water.


Dissapointed!! They are not real T-Rex when i knock the bone i can feel it is actually made from plastic



The CREAM of the whole day Trip...SAUNG ANGKLUNG.It was a WONDERFULL experience.Worth every rupiah we spend on the ticket( 50,000rp for locals, 80,000 for foreigners) I will post a special entry for it tomorrow.


End the day with Java Bean Coffee near our hotel...coffee Latte' on left, coffee Mocha on right..nyum..nyum


Alhamdulillah the piano is only 15kg.I called my first brother, and he told me that they manage to transport it without extra charge.I hope Mr P will be transported safetly....AMIN

SEE YOU AGAIN Mr P at Malaysia...i will miss you.
Wasalam

Recall...

Salam

I just want to recall back what I've done after finish my final exam during this pass two weeks.Does it compatible with my post exam plans?

Well alhmdulillah i manage to fulfill most of it.

My first project: the art of embroidery...changing this.....

into this....


On Food,instead of making I've decided to be the eater not the maker.hehe...
I experienced Japanese and Korean delicacy around Bandung. On last Monday, i follow a group of my class mate to Paris Van Java(PVJ) for sushi at Sushi Hana.Compare to Hanamasa,Hanamasa is better in term of food choices and price.

crabmeat salad..nyum..nyum


Sadly i can't go to Jakarta and Malang for a few reasons. However, i get to go Taman Bunga Nusantara(TBN) and Kota Bunga at Bogor.

Yesterday i went to a Waterfall and stream recreational area at Citengah with 17 other girls (classmates). We charted 2 Angkot(Angkutan Kota) which cause us 20,000rp each to get there.
Naik Angkot from our house...


The nearly an hour journey is quite adventurous as we go through curve and zigzag roads.


However, the nausea all fade away as we get to experience the true nature of waterfall stream spa..


I had a WONDERFUL time there to ease my mind, experience and appreciate the beautiful creation of Allah


The latest book i bought is 'Laskar Pelangi'. The author Andrea Hirata is an AMAZING guy to wrote such a beautiful novel. This is my first time to explore this kind of novel.I like the way he describe and develop each paragraph.

He used the common knowledge and integrate it with the novel.For example, he used scientific names to acknowledge the plants and trees. He also makes analogy of what he trying to convey by using common known history and civilization.

Lucky i live in Indonesia for nearly three years because i can appreciate it more since i understand Indonesian language.I'm planning to buy the other three books to complete my cllection of the tetralogy of Andrea Hirata books.

However,I'm sure we Malaysian can understand it also because there's isn't much different between Malaysian and Indonesian language.


picture taken from http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laskar_Pelangi

Wasalam