Wantan Mee @ Yi Garden

Another of my favourite haunt for tasty wantan mee in Penang is at Yi Garden located at the junction of Macalister Road and Lorong Selamat.

The wantan mee comes together with char siew (roast sweet pork) and cost around RM3.00 per bowl. The different between this wantan mee and others is due to the big wantan! Each bowl of wantan mee comes with 3 big wantans. You can really taste the prawn inside the wantan.

The big wantan bring back memory to my hometown in Bidor, whereby the famous Pun Chun Restaurant also serves big wantan.

A father's duty

Ever since i came back to Ipoh, it is my duty to pick up my son from his school every evening from Monday to Friday, except when i'm sick, outstation or scholl holiday! I've joined the 'Parents-picking-up-children" club!

Koay Teow Thng @ Kedai Kopi Seng Thor

Kedai Kopi Seng Thor, located at the junction of Kimberly Street and Carnavon Street in Georgetown, is famous for its Lor Mee and Fried Oysters. However, I prefer the Koay Teow Th'ng (Cooked Koay teow with soup) stall.

The soup is totally different from others in Penang but quite the same as those in KL i.e boiled pork noodles.

The stall is one of my favourite Koay Teow Th'ng stall in Georgetown and patronise it for the last time before returning to Ipoh.

Raining Season in Ipoh

In Malaysia, we do not have 4 seasons but only 2 i.e wet and dry seasons. During end of September to November each year, we always experience rain almost every day.

The above is a view from my new office in Ipoh. Dark cloud appearing and will be following by heavy rain. Will be a wet late evening. Very accurate weather forecast!

Back to Ipoh

I'm no longer working in Penang since Sep 1, 2007. Accepted a job offer from a long established public listed company in Ipoh and joined them with effect from Sep 10, 2007!

Hmm, glad to be home with my family and is with them all the time!

World Coldest Ice Cream

Took my daughter and son to Ipoh Parade to try the world's coldest ice cream i.e

-40 degree C! We ordered strawberry, mint and grape favour. Each cup size 4 oz cost RM4.90 each before government service tax. Taste? Nothing special!

Ernni's 11th birthday cake

Ernni's 11th birthday cake, originally uploaded by See Teck.

A low key celebration for Ernni's 11th birthday at home. No birthday party but a dinner treat at Sushi King, Jaya Jusco Kinta City. After coming back from dinner, everybody is waiting for her to blow the candles and cutting a 2kg tradisional Indian butter icing cake!

Happy birthday!

Gunung Semanggol Rest & Service Area

Another Rest and Service Area (RSA) that i always frequent when i travel back to Penang is the Gunung Semanggol RSA. It is located at KM190 of the North-South Expressway, 500 metres away from the Bukit Merah interchange exit no. 150.

The place is Wi-fi enable!

However, please be careful when you order the food. The food at the RSA might be cold and stale!

You can see from the picture that the RSA has been heavily decorated with Malaysian flags in conjunction with the celebration of 50th anniversary of the independence of Malaya!

Wantan mee @ Restaurant Sai Lam

Restaurant Sai Lam is situated at the junction of Carnovan Street and Chulian Street, in Georgetown, Penang. At night the junction is alive with famous hawker stalls like fried fishhead mee-hoon, porridge, fried yee mee, curry mee and fruit juices. And not forgeting the satay with sweet potatoes sauce!

Penang is not famous for its wantan mee. But there are a few exceptional places where i like the wantan mee. One of it is located at Sai Lam Restaurant. Beside wantan mee, they also offer beef soup mee. The stall open throughout the day and night.

The wantan is great filled with pork filings but no prawn. While for the dry wantan mee, it is a bit crunchy but perfectly cooked! There are some pieces of chicken and char siew added to the mee. The soup contained beef stock but they are quite stingy on it. You will not get a bowl of soup if you do not order additional wantan. For RM3.70, i get the wantan mee with 7 pieces of wantan.

The Nuffnang Community Goes Green

Today Nuffnang community goes green and fulfill a dream by using its influence to help an environmental organisation, WWF and Honda project i.e Honda - WWF Rhino Rescue Project.

This project with a pledged of RM5.00 million over a period of 5 years to save the Sumatran Rhino.

The Sumatran Rhino (Dicerorhinis sumatrensis) is one of the most endangered of the rhinoceros species!

As influenced by the Nuffnang community, I do my small part by contributing this little blog and embedded the cute little green rhino icon on my Blog!

Flaming Platter for One @ Manhattan Fish Market

Manhattan Fish Market, originally uploaded by See Teck.

I was with my doctor friend having dinner at Manhattan Fish Market in Penang, Queensbay Mall.

The picture showed how the flaming of the prawn when you ordered Flaming Platter for One, one of the Manhattan Fish Market specialty.

This platter consisted of one large grilled catch of the day and 3 pieces of the awards winning flaming prawn.

Totally agreed that the flamed prawns are good!

The Gift of Life (Malaysian Donor Card)

I hereby announced to the world at large that on September 9, 1999, i've pledged to donate after my death, all organ and tissues, including of kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, eyes, bones and skin, may be removed for the purposes of transplantation.

I was 34 then and healthy!

After 8 years later, now, i'm, scare and worry that all my organ and tissues may not be that healthy anymore to be donated.

My Blood

This is a digital image of a drop of my blood magnified under a microscope. I took this sample during one of the Bio Young campaign in Ipoh Parade on one weekend.

My blood type is under ABO Group "O" and Rhesus (D) Positive.

Must get my doctor to analyse it.

Australian Wagyu Beef @ Maria, Ipoh

Last Saturday, August 11, 2007, i brought my family together with my mother-in-law to have western lunch. An occasion to celebrate MIL coming birthday. Though my MIL dislike western meal.


Having read so much of Maria Restaurant, an uptown western restaurant located at the Greentown, Ipoh, we decided to patronise the place.





MIL ordered Grill Salmon, my wife ordered set lunch i.e grill chicken in traditional herbs while my daughter, Ernni ordered Pineaple chicken chop. As for me, i always wanted to try kobe/wagyu beef. Looking at the price list, Japanese Kobe beef cost RM165/100 gm and Australian Wagyu beef cost RM75/100 gm.

I ordered a 230 gm Australian Wagyu beef, grill to medium well done. Recommended to eat the beef either medium or medium well done.

How is it taste? Grainny, juicy and tender. I like it despite the price! The cost, RM172.50 for a 230 gm piece of Australian Wagyu beef! I couldn't wait to try Kobe beef.

I'm featured in The Star Biz on August 7, 2007

Transocean to meet RM40mil capital requirement

Tuesday August 7, 2007

By SHARIDAN MOHD ALI

PETALING JAYA: Transocean Holdings Bhd, a Penang-based logistics company, will comply with Bursa Malaysia’s requirement to increase its minimum issued and paid-up share capital requirement to RM40mil to remain listed.
Bursa decided to grant an extension to Transocean until Aug 18 to submit a proposal to comply with its listing requirements.

Financial director Chong See Teck said the company was trying its best to submit the proposals to the relevant authorities before the deadline.
He told StarBiz that Bursa had granted the extension in view of the agreements signed with Kumpulan Kenderaan Malaysia Bhd (KKMB) and Usmeta Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, both wholly-owned companies of Nadicorp Holdings Sdn Bhd.

In the first agreement, Transocean agreed to sell 12 million of its shares at RM1 each to KKMB. This exercise, which will boost Transocean’s current paid-up capital of RM28.9mil to over RM40mil, is expected to be completed by year-end.

Chong See Teck“KKMB will have a 29% stake in Transocean and the proceeds will be utilised to acquire the total equity interest in Usmeta for RM8mil,” Chong said, referring to the purchase of Usmeta in the second agreement.

“The remaining RM4mil will be useful to enhance our tight cash flow and working capital.
“Going forward, the company is seeing ia reduction in its gearing,” he said, adding that as at March the group’s total borrowings stood at RM17mil. He also stressed that Transocean had been disposing of its non-income generating assets since 2003.

To date, the group has sold its land in Sungai Petani (Kedah), its land in Balik Pulau, old head office and a double-storey shop lot in Seberang Perai Tengah (all in Penang), and a double-storey shop lot in Pasir Gudang (Johor) for a total of RM6.2mil.
“We expect to see improvement in our financial performance by the end of our next financial year,” Chong said.

He said Usmeta, which manufactures and rethreads used tyres, would boost the group’s cost efficiency in tyre usage after the takeover.

Transocean, which has been in the red since 2002, was suspended from trading since Nov 28 last year due to its failure to comply with the minimum paid-up share capital requirement.

It posted a loss of RM3mil on revenue of RM43.8mil for the financial year ended May 31. In its third quarter ended Feb 28, it recorded a cumulative loss of RM1.1mil on revenue of RM32.2mil. But Chong was confident that with the improvement of its cash flow, the company would be able to focus on its core activity in providing bonded land transportation and haulage services between Penang and Singapore. Currently, these business segments contribute 70% to the group’s revenue.

“The recent liberalisation of haulage tariff and one-box rate for both 40-footer and 20-footer containers are improving our operational costs,” he said.

Grill Salmon @ Soba Yoshi

Soba Yoshi Japanese Noodle Restaurant is located at Krystal Point, Bayan Baru. It is one of my favourite Japanese restaurant which i always patronise with my private physician, Dr Chan CK.

Picture here is Dr Chan with his choice of Salmon Teriyaki.

This is my choice of Grill Salmon in butter sauce!Both the salmon dishes cost RM18.00 each.

Ang Saik Keng's Wedding Dinner

Ang Saik Keng & wife, originally uploaded by See Teck.

Attended the wedding reception with cocktail and dinner, of Mr Ang Siak Keng & wife, Lee Wai Ling, at Pinang Ballroom, Traders Hotel on Saturday, May 26, 2007 (the date is corresponding to the 10th day of Chinese 4th moon).

A 7th course dinner were served with entertainment and speeches from friends.

Siak Keng, is a lawyer by profession and he is currently attached to a large lawyer firm based in Penang. I known him since a few years back when he joined the lawyer's firm.

Congratulations! and blessed you with many offsprings!

Coconut drink @ Lorong Abu Siti

Coconut drink @ Lorong Abu Siti, originally uploaded by See Teck.

During the hot weather in the afternoon, it is best to go for a coconut juice to cool down your body heat!

There are 2 shops located side-by-side, famous for its coconut juice at Lorong Abu Siti in Georgetown, Penang.

Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant

Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant, originally uploaded by See Teck.

There are a lot of Indian restuarant along Penang Street, Georgetown. Some are vegetarian some are not.

One of my favourite is the newly renovated Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant. Not to have vegetarian food, but to get my dose of Madras coffee for RM1.20 which taste and had better value than the local kopitiam, Starbucks or CoffeeBean.

Hokkien mee @ Ah Beng

Hokkien mee @ Ah Beng, originally uploaded by See Teck.

One of my favourite Penang dish is hokkien mee (known as Prawn mee in KL). Of all the places that i've tried, i like the most is from the Ah Beng shop located at Wisma KGN, Weld Quay, Georgetown. Costing only RM3.00 per bowl.

The speciality of this hokkien mee is the soup i.e beside the normal prawn shell, they also added in the pig bones as stock for the soup!

I normally will clean up the whole bowl including the soup.

In view of the high colestrol, i'm restricting myself to 1 visit per month!

My hypertension medicine

My hypertension medicine, originally uploaded by See Teck.

I'm on 5mg of Lisinopril and 50mg of Atenolol to control my hypertension.

Sake Teriyaki Zen @ Miraku

Miraku Restaurant is the latest Japanese restaurant in Georgetown, Penang. It is situated at First Floor of the latest hotel in town, G Hotel. The restaurant is own by Texchem group which based in Penang.

Miraku in Japanese language simply means a great place for customers to enjoy good food.

Yes, i do agreed with it. Miraku has a nice environment to have good Japanese food. All the staff there greet you welcome upon stepping in and great you thank you, upon leaving!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47997523@N00/511806236/, originally uploaded by See Teck.

Sake Teriyaki Zen @ Miraku

The Salmon teriyaki cost me RM28.00, a bit pricey for Penang standard but I am not complaning due to the good ambience of the restaurant. However, my complain is that the salmon fish is a bit small!

G Hotel

g Hotel lobby, originally uploaded by See Teck.

G hotel, is the latest hotel in Georgetown, Penang. Located at Gurney Drive, the hotel building is linked to the ever-popular Gurney Plaza, a leading shopping centre in Penang.

The hotel is decorated in homage to a modern and contemporary design.

The lobby is awashed with interior light effects and with designer furniture for customers. A good place to meet up with friend for chi-chatting or business meeting!

The Edge Financial Daily

TheEdgeFinancialDaily, originally uploaded by See Teck.

A new financial daily in Malaysia was born on today, Tuesday, May 22, 2007. It is available from Monday to Friday and priced at RM1.50 per issue.

The paper is published by a PLC co, Nexnews Bhd. They are also the publisher for The Sun, the nation's FREE newspaper and the weekly financial paper, The Edge.

Nexnews are controlled by Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Mr Tong Kooi Ong. Pursuant to the announcement on May 9, 2007, they are taking the company private by offering to acquire all the shares hold by the minority in the PLC.

By the way, today is also the 10 years of home-going of Mr Tong Kooi Ong's father!

PFY1877

PFY1877, originally uploaded by See Teck.

An accident happened this morning at the junction of Gat Lebuh Armenian and Victoria Street, behind my office. You can see from the photo that the cargoes carried by the truck has came out to the front. The windscreen of the truck was smash!

As usual, in Malaysia, any kind of accident will attract people. The reason, they will look for the truck registration number and bet the number with Sports Toto, Magnum, Pan-Pool and etc!

Bukit Gantang Layby

Almost every Sunday, when i travelled back to Penang, I will stop at the newly built/renovated Bukit Gantang Layby located at KM230 north-bound of the North South Expressway.

The area has been landscaped with a Balinese Garden and house the tropical fruits village. There are stalls selling tropical fruits and tit-bits.

The sun-set view from the Balinese Garden is a must for all travellers back to Penang.

Wesak Day

The second Tibetian temple is just behind the first temple. The 2nd temple has a hugh Buddha statue built in between the limestone.

Tibetian Temple

Wesak day was celebrated on May 1, 2007. For this year prayers, i went to 2 Tibetian temple to pray. Both temples are located site by site in Tambun, Ipoh.

Siamese Temple, Jalan Tambun, Ipoh

I don't remember taking this photo. Most likely it was taken by my 7 years old son using my Sony Ericsson K610i handphone, when we passed by the area.

The temple is a famous temple and every year i will go there to pray during Wesak Day.

For this year, 2007, i went to a Tibetian temple in Tambun town for the Wesak Day prayer.

Wisma Great Eastern, Penang

Another new building is up, right in the commercial business district in Georgetown, Penang!

Wisma Great Eastern, a 5-storey office building with one level of basement carpark located in front of the Esplanade, situated at the junction of Lebuh Light and Lebuh King. It has 84,320 sf of lettable area space and will be available in June 2007.

It is a mixture of old and new. The old building located in the front is annexed to the new 5-storey office block.

Omron R7 Blood Pressure monitor

I got a new toy! An automatic wrist blood pressure monitor (Omron R7) to monitor my blood pressure. Well, as advertised, Omron is a trusted worldwide brand. This unit witha position sensor which determines the optimal wrist position for measurement. It can memorise 90 sets of readings. It is compact and lighweight, which i can take it with me when i'm going outstation.

Hmm, my latest reading, 141/89 and pulse 88. OMG, I'm on the borderline! Must measure it daily.

A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime

I got this wonderful message from my friend :

A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, ora lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, youwill know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It isusually to meet a need you have expressed. They havecome to assist you through a difficulty, to provide youwith guidance and support, to aid you physically,emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like agodsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at aninconvenient time, this person will say or do somethingto bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.Sometimes they walk away.Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realise is that our need has been met, ourdesire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer yousent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON . . .Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.They may teach you something you have never done.They usually give you an unbelievable amountof joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; thingsyou must build upon in order to have a solid emotionalfoundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love theperson, and put what you have learned to use in allother relationships and areas of your life. It is saidthat love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

My hometown, Bidor as in WikiMapialaysia / Perak / Bidor

WikiMapia: Malaysia / Perak / Bidor

My hometown, Bidor located in the state of Perak in Malaysia as seen in WikiMapia.

Goddess of Mercy Temple

When i was very young, i was told that i have been adopted by the Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin, as a godson. This is an old Chinese belief that all young children must be given to the gods for adoption.

So here i am, far away from where i lived, do go to the Kwan Yin temple, one of the oldest temple in Penang for praying every month. I will try to pray on any ordinary days but not on the special occasion like the 1st or 15th day of the Chinese calender or during the God or temple celebration.

DOCFILES: 16Mb SD Card

DOCFILES: 16Mb SD Card

My Toshiba 16MB SD memory card was featured in docfiles blog. Thanks to Doc for the effort. I was having dinner with him the other day when he checked my Palm TX and found the SD card in the leather folder.

This SD card is my first SD card. I got it free of charge when i bought my first digital camera, (Minolta).

Think about it now, i'm currently using a 1GB 80x Transcend SD card to keep my personal data, photos and music. Need to upgrade to 2GB very soon. What is the use of the 16MB SD card? Maybe can fill in 3 mp3 songs!