Ini kalilah!

In less than 10 hours the democracy process of my beloved tanah air will start. In my personal opinion, change is better than not changing at all. Yes, change will be painful at first but all will be good after. I don't think there will be anything to fear even if there's a change of ruling party for the Federal Government. Well, maybe those BN cronies will be a bit scared lah.

Which ever party or candidate you are voting tomorrow my fellow Malaysians, I wish you all Happy Voting tomorrow.

“Change is the only constant in life.” - Heraclitus.

(王菲 2011 巡唱 – 吉隆坡站) Faye Wong 2011 Concert Tour - Kuala Lumpur

While Jacky Cheung is coming to Malaysia this December for his Jacky Cheung ½ Century Tour - Malaysia (张学友1/2世纪演唱会 – 马来西亚). Another pop diva from the 90s to 2000s will be having her come back concert tour in Kuala Lumpur this coming November. She's non-other than Faye Wong (王菲). She'll make a stop at Kuala Lumpur on 6th of November 2011 8pm at Putra Indoor Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

Good news if you're a Citibank credi card holder because you'll be able to go for the pre-sales, limited to the first 2000 tickets.

CITIBANK Pre Sale Launch on 19th August Only applicable to TicketCharge office, hotline, internet and its authorised outlets.
- Limited up to 2000 tickets only. Once 2000 tickets taken up, sales will close prior to 9pm.
- 15% off for 1st 500 tickets purchased with any Citibank credit card.
- 10% off for tickets purchased with any Citibank credit card.
* Limited to 4 tickets per transaction
* Seat Selection : System Select Best Seat Available. (no seat selection provided)

Another good news is for you Celcom subscribers.

Official Launch 20th & 21st August Only
- 10% off VVIP, VIP 1 & VIP 2 tickets for the 1st 100 tickets purchase by Celcom subscribers
- 5% off any other category tickets (except VVIP, VIP 1 & VIP 2) for the 1st 300 tickets purchased by Celcom subscribers.
- Dedicated Priority Queue for Celcom Subscribers
* Limited to 4 tickets per transaction
*Seat Selection : System Select Best Seat Available. (no seat selection provided)

For Faye Wong fans you can buy your tickets from TicketCharge.

Here's the seating plan for Faye Wong 2011 Concert Tour - Kuala Lumpur (王菲 2011 巡唱 – 吉隆坡站).

票價詳情：RM180／RM280／RM380／RM480／RM580／VIP2—RM680／VIP1—RM880／VVIP—RM1080（不包括RM3手續費）
Ticket Pric：RM180／RM280／RM380／RM480／RM580／VIP2—RM680／VIP1—RM880／VVIP—RM1080 （Excluding RM3 service charge）

Notice that the most expensive ticket is selling for RM1080? It's RM392 more expensive than Jacky Cheung's concert's most expensive ticket which sells for RM688. Maybe it's because it is Faye Wong's come back concert and also Jacky Cheung has two shows instead of one. Sigh, two of my favourite Hong Kong singers are having concert here back to back. If I have the cash, I will go to both. If not, I will have to choose either one. Whom shall I choose then?

Gary Chaw 曹格 - Back In Control (曹之在我)

It's been almost 1 and a half year since Gary Chaw 曹格 released his last album. A month ago, he released his latest album Back In Control (曹之在我). Lucky for us Malaysians, Sony Music Malaysia decided to distribute the album. So after Jay Chou and Lee Hom, Gary is another composer/singer that is under the Sony Music Malaysia label in this region.

Gary Chaw was back last week for a short press conference on his latest album Back In Control (曹之在我). Thanks to Sony Music Malaysia and Kel Li, Tian Chad and I got to attend the press con. The press con started off with MYFM DJ Royce Tan doing a brief introduction and then continued by showing us the MV of 爺爺 (Grandpa). It's a song written by Gary for his grandpa that he was not able to be by his grandpa's side when his grandpa passed on. The tune is very touching and if you watch the MV and has the same experience you might feel like crying too.

After the MV screening, it's time for Gary Chaw to come on the stage. Royce stated to ask Gary about the experience of making the MV for 爺爺 (Grandpa). Gary said,"I didn't think too much of it at first. The production team hired an 80 year old actor to pretend to be my grandpa. When the shooting starts, the "grandpa" start to pat on my head and say "乖，乖 (guai, guai)", and my tears started to flow out non-stop. This lasted for a few minutes only than the director shouted "Cut". When I looked up, I saw that the director is crying too. He has the same experience of never got the chance to say goodbye to his dad that has passed on."

Being a Sabahan, Gary told us that he should come back to Malaysia more often because now he is not used to the weather here and got a running nose once he got back here. Yes, we're all looking forward to that. It's good if you'll held a concert here in Malaysia too, Gary. ;)

Adrian (Managing Director of Sony Music Malaysia) presenting a souvenir to Gary to wish him “马到功成”.

Gary signing his autograph on the backdrop

There are ten songs in his latest album Back In Control (曹之在我). Going for a newer direction, breaking away from his previous albums. Most noticeable is of course the song he wrote for his grandpa, 爺爺. A very touching ballad that is written to remembers one's elder that has passed on.

"丑角 (Comic Relief)" is a love ballad that talks about how one is only a comic relief to the one he loves and is happy to be just able to do that even though the one he loves doesn't love him back. A very Gary Chaw's style of ballad that one can find in "背叛(Betrayed)" and "無辜(Innocent)".

For some easy listening and a Jazzy feel, I will opt for "喔愛 (Oh! Love)". It's not the normal heavy sadness song that one normally found in Gary Chaw. This song is about how one is openly admitting his love to his loved one and are happy about it.

One would have thought that it's a 中国风 (Classical Chinese meet modern music style) kind of song when listening to the opening of "驚天動地 (Earthshaking)". I was surprised that it turned out to be a rock song. Not those overy powerful rock song like heavy metal rock but still able to pull up a punch. Nicely done in the music arrangement here.

I can find the playfulness of Gary Chaw in the song "WHY WHY" by singing in different tone and attitude in each different phrase. It reminds me of his previous song "咖哩熱狗 (Curry Hotdog)". It's one fun and catchy song to listen to. I found myself singing the chorus just after listening to this song for 2 times.

悲歌王 (Sad Songs King) as the name suggest is not a happy song lol. Well, it's not too sad either. Another typical Gary Chaw's ballad. For those that was attracted by his style of ballad when they first know him will like it. As for me, it's a bit too cliche.

I feel very relax when I was listening "大女人 (Strong Woman)", the arrangement of this song is more to the relaxing side as if one is lying on a beach thinking about the woman he loves that is a strong and modern woman 大女人 and he himself is a 小男人 (the man behind the woman).

香檳時光 (Champagne Time) is another Jazz piece in the album but it's more towards the big band kind of Jazz. Well, Frank Sinatra happens to be one of Gary's favourite singer. I can imagine the MV being Gary on the stage singing with a band behind him in a lounge.

I don't know why I kept thinking of "Loving You" by Minnie Riperton when I am listening to 我也愛你 (I Love You Too). I was like waiting for the la la la la to come up but half way through the song I noticed the different already. Instead of continuing slow and easy like "Loving You" there will be the climax that goes into loud and high notes.

"片尾曲 (Ending Theme Song)" is another typical Gary Chaw's style ballad song. Oh well, this why fans love him anyway. It's his personality in his music.

Gary Chaw 曹格 - Back In Control (曹之在我)
01 爺爺 (Grandpa)
02 丑角 (Comic Relief)
03 喔愛 (Oh! Love)
04 驚天動地 (Earthshaking)
05 WHY WHY
06 悲歌王 (Sad Songs King)
07 大女人 (Strong Woman)
08 香檳時光 (Champagne Time)
09 我也愛你 (I Love You Too)
10 片尾曲 (Ending Theme Song)

My favourites are 爺爺, 丑角, 喔愛, 驚天動地, WHY WHY, 大女人, and 香檳時光. If you like Gary Chaw's music, this album is a must buy. Those that don't listen to his music can start by buying this album.

The talented Gary Chaw 曹格

Me, Gary Chaw, and Tian Chad.

Fabulous Food 1Malaysia - Char Kueh Tiow

There are so many wonderful food in Malaysia. Food here are usually mixed with influenced from the different races of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Peranakan and East Malaysian. One particular hawker food that I think would be quite 1Malaysia is Char Kueh Tiow (fried flat noodle).

If it is Char Kueh Tiow, of course most Malaysian will tell you that Penang is the state that has the best Char Kueh Tiow. This hawker meal might even have first come from Penang. One can find this hawker fare being sold at any local coffee shop in Penang, which is very common. Any of the stall can dish out a fairly good Char Kueh Tiow.

There is this lane in Penang call Lorong Selamat where there's two stalls are famous for their Char Kueh Tiow. One is cooked by a man and another is cooked by a lady.

Below is the Char Kueh Tiow cooked up by the man. Look at the humongous prawn that is used in the dish. Chinese sausage, Chinese chives, beansprout are the must to make this fried flat noodle. Of course, pork lard is used to make it more aromatic and flavourful. You can read more about it here in my previous post. Oh, be sure to brave through the long queue for this popular Penang hawker fare here.

Lorong Selamat (man) Char Kueh Tiow RM 6

Walking towards the end of Lorong Selamat, you will see this fiery woman doing her things in front of the piping hot wok. She's doing non other than cooking up a nice Char Kueh Tiow for her customers.

Taste is not that different for both of their Char Kueh Tiow. Some will say the man make better char kueh tiow while other will say that the lady make a more tasty one. Why not try both of theirs and compare it yourself to see which you like it better. Taste is one very personal thing that is very different from one person to another. Read my previous post to find out which one I liked better.

Lorong Selamat (woman) Char Kueh Tiow RM 8.50 (with more and bigger prawns)

Not traveling to Penang? Not a problem. I won't categorized char kueh tiow as a 1Malaysia food if it can only be found in Penang. Down in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, Selangor, there are many coffee shop that has stall selling this delicacy too.

If you happened to stay in Eastin Hotel, Petaling Jaya. All you have to do to take a taxi from the hotel to Section 17, which is only about 5 minutes drive from Eastin Hotel and go to Restoran Say Huat for Robert's char kueh tiow (fried flat noodle). Say Huat is one of my favourite place for lunch when I am working on a Sunday. The stall that attracts me here is of course Robert's.

Robert's fried kueh tiow.

It is one of the fried kueh tiow that I found in Kuala Lumpur that is on par with the one found in Penang. Since, I stay around in Klang Valley, so this is then nearest Penang char kueh tiow that I can gets my hands (my mouth) into. Of course the prawn used is not as big as the one in Lorong Selamat but the price is not as high too. Be in mind that the portion here is quite big, so for small eater it's better to order a small portion (RM 4) and share :p. Big eater order a plate of big size (RM 4.50) will do.

Restoran Say Huat
Jalan 17/27, Petaling Jaya

Google Map here.

The reason I say that char kueh tiow is a 1Malaysia dish is because not only Malaysian Chinese like this food, all Malaysian like char kueh tiow too. That's why there's the mamak stall kueh tiow goreng and Malay kueh tiow goreng. The different is that no pork is used in creating the dish. Yet it still taste quite good. There's a Malay stall in HP Tower food court, stall no. 2 I think dishes out some very good Halal char kueh tiow that can put some Chinese hawker to shame.

Speaking of pork-less fried kueh tiow. I have to mention this stall run by a Chinese couple in Restoran Seng Lee. They only sell one dish and that is char kueh tiow. They don't use any pork or pork lard in their char kueh tiow hence you won't find Chinese sausage in the dish.

Taken around 2.30pm hence it's not packed.

During lunch time on a weekday, this place will be packed and almost 80% of the customers eating char kueh tiow. So if you don't want to wait for about 45 minutes for a plate of pork less char kueh tiow then come around 10 to 11am or after 2pm. Usually they closed before 4pm.

Mid sized prawn.

Even though pork lard is not used, but the flat noodle is cooked to fluffiness that the texture is very nice when you put it in your mouth. Generous amount of beansprouts and Chinese chives put in gives it a good natural sweetness. The prawns are not as big if compared to Lorong Selamat, Penang but I can say it is big for Kuala Lumpur standard. A small plate sells for RM 4.50 and a big one sells for RM 5. Now they only sell one size that cost RM5, this is to speed up things maybe but I still have to wait about 30 minutes during lunch time =P

Those of you that is crazy for pork lard might not agreed with me. Although I like pork lard too but I will have to say that this fried kueh tiow without any pork or pork lard if not better is as tasty as those cooked with pork lard. Why not try out something different for once?

The fruit rojak (mixed fruits salad with prawn paste sauce) or Penang rojak that is selling outside the coffee shop is very good too. Most customers here will order one as dessert or appetizer.

Address:

Restoran Seng Lee
8-6, Jalan Batai, Damansara Heights
50940 Kuala Lumpur.

Open from 10 am onwards and during lunchtime. Close on Sunday

Google map here.

A Typical Malaysian Day

I was born, bred and live in Kuala Lumpur. The only 'kampung' (hometown) I know is PJ Old Town where my mum is from. As a typical Malaysian adult, I woke up in the morning getting ready for work. Once in my car I will switch on the radio and listen to my favourite show from 988, "Hello, Good Morning". You get to know the latest headlines from the newspaper just by listening to this show. You will hear people complaining about a new policy that is being debated in the parliament or whether extending the toll collection is better than raising the toll fees by 10% in 2009.



DJ Jeff from 988, the co-host of "Hello, Good Morning"


Once I reached my office, which is a 20 minutes drive from home (jams included). I'll stop by stall just outside the office building by the corner and a buy a packet of Nasi Lemak Paru from a pak cik and his son.

Economical yet satisfying

After logging in to my desktop and my workplace, I'll take the packet of Nasi Lemak Paru and go down the cafeteria to eat it with a glass of teh tarik ordered from the Mamak. It just goes so well with the nasi lemak.

Come lunch me and my colleague will that the shuttle bus provided by the company to Pusat Bandar Damansara building to have 'chap fun' (economical rice). Have our choice of vegetables and meat. Which will cost about RM 5.00. Yes, pricing is about there in the City.

After work, I'll go home and catch up with my favourite show from 8TV. Ho Chak! Which show the audience food around Malaysia. By watching this show, I will know where to find some good local delicacy if I plan to travel to Shah Alam, Ipoh, Malacca, Johor Bharu, George Town, Seremban, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu, Kuantan, Kuala Kangsar, Alor Setar, Kuching or even Kota Kinabalu. Each of this places have their own uniqueness. A good way to take the buzz off the hectic city life.

My favourite host from Ho Chak! Ah Yoon (吳家潤)

Come late night, I might go to the mamak stall and have some roti canai and teh halia and watch EPL with friends. Once in a blue moon, me and my colleague will indulge in some sin but good food such as Bah Kut Teh. Not advisable to eat too often for those with high blood pressure or heart problem =p

Malaysian prefer open air dining

So, from what I just written you'll know that what I like about Malaysia is firstly the food and then the friendly people like the pak cik that sells nasi lemak by the road side or the mamak that make a good glass of teh halia. Freedom to speak in my mother tongue (Cantonese), listen to a radio station that I prefer and watching TV programmes that I like.

About 4 more weeks from now will be our country, Malaysia's 51st Independence Day. To celebrate this, The Malaysia Page has publish 50+1 Malaysia book, which showcases photographs of the uniqueness of Malaysian and Malaysia. This book is now on sales here, and will be available in major bookstore later. There is a Special Offer now if purchased online. Oh, if you're a blogger, you might have a chance to with this book too from this contest.

Thanks to Kelly for posting about this and thanks to QuaChee and gang to work hard and publish such a wonderful book.