San Antonio (Day 1): Seaworld Fun!

It was 27th Nov 2008 when I went for this short weekend trip to San Antonio. After that I've been preparing and going for a couple of longer vacations which explains this long overdue post. Anyways, the highlight of our trip to San Antonio is the Seaworld park. The highlight of Seaworld? It's Shamu the killer whale.

There are quite a few activities in Seaworld, San Antonio. Even though they say that this is the shabbiest Seaworld in US. It's good enough to satisfy me. The only park I've ever been to before this is Genting Theme Park.

Anyways, the shows are scheduled in such a way that we have to rush from one to another in order to make it to all of them. The first one was the seal, sea lions and walrus show with a Christmas theme.




Seals / Sea lions having thnx giving dinner. Envy envy.


This walrus is supposed to be Santa doing sit-ups.


Nat. Geo. pic as never seen before, two sea lions getting at it! :D

After that it's off to see some penguin feeding plus Q&A session.


I was paying attention during the feeding + Q&A session, thus no pics of penguins rushing for food.

Then it's to the star of the day, Shamu's show! We're sitting quite near the pool (within the splashzone). Ended up wet after a tail flip splashing session by one of the whales. It was a really involving and fun show I'd say.


Killer whales doing a belly up. Looks cute until the splashed the water with their tail fins.


Acrobatics.


Amazing backflips from gigantic killer whales. I have to get a faster lens. Can't capture all these fast action.

After a quick meal, it's off to see dolphins, beluga and more people in tights. :)


A beluga whale. Never seen these things before. Portrayed to be very gentle creatures.


Dolphin feeding cum petting session.

There's a 4-D theatre as well featuring the Polar Express, no pics for that though. After that it's time for some action. Lucky for us, one of the guys are not a big fan of adventurous rides. So he look after the stuffs while we go yell our lungs out!


Ready for some Steel Eel action?


Village ppl excited at their first US coaster ride!


Just a perspective shot to see at what height this ride is. Our rear ends actually got lifted off the seats during the 100ft quasi-free-fall drop.


This is another ride with impressive 360deg twists & turns.

To end our day at Seaworld. It's a stroll around the park taking in all the other sights there.


Jelly fish. Ain't they beautiful? If only they don't sting.


Santa's job is real hard these days. Diving santa?!!?!


Fun antics from the ppl in costume.


This is the smelliest place to pass by. I was really struggling to take this pic.

New Year, New Resolve, New Challenge

First off, Happy New Year Everybody!

Just like that and we're through with 2008.
My new years have always been mundane as I'm not a strong believer of new year resolutions. The most exciting new year for me was being stuck in a traffic jam after being bugged to see fireworks on 31st Dec 2007/1st Jan 2008.

My crossing over to year 2009 was spent sleeping and resting in El Paso, Texas. Why I was in El Paso? That's a tale for another time, after I've posted my long overdue posts of my other travel destinations. However, I wish to share my last breathtaking view of 2008 at a viewing point on the Franklin Mountain. Overlooking 3 states in 2 different countries or so said the guidebook.





The year 2009 must have been a really depressing year to look forward to for a lot of people. What were you thinking when you celebrate the New Year this time around? For me, I was lying in bed watching the news after 600 mile drive. What went through my mind were several big "bangs".

"Bang" no.1 - The sound of aerial bombings and rocket launchers in Israel-Palestine conflict.

"Bang" no.2 - The sound of the oil barrel hitting rock bottom (prices). Mixed feeling on this as I'm in the O&G field of work. Hooray for lower gas price at pump. Nervous and sad due to reduced profit margin in the O&G business (translated to job insecurity / slimmer pocket)

"Bang" no.3 - The sound from credit "crunch" and bursting of the economic bubble supported by excessive spending of Americans (or citizens of the developed countries in general).

"Bang" no.4 - The sound of the "tin-tin kosong" in Malaysian politics banging around doing nothing substantial.

Amidst all these depressing events that happened in 2008 and carried over to 2009. There are some glad tidings as well. Numerous friends and even family got/getting hitched and enjoying/going to enjoy marital bliss. Continued good health of the people I love.

The New Year certainly brings with it new challenges. For me, it would involve a lot of decisions. To stay or not to stay, to invest or not to invest, which path to take? etc... I pray for wisdom and resolve in making and sticking to these decisions when the time comes.

To the newly married, I wish you a blissful marriage. To everybody, I pray that you have the strength and renewed resolve to face this trying times. Above all, I wish you good health as the chinese saying goes "as long as there's a green hill, you won't run out of firewood" ... if you get my drift.

Lazy Bones, Recession & Wedding Bells.

It's been quite some time since I last updated this blog. I actually have quite some material to write about... mainly to share some pics on my trips to Dallas and San Antonio. I even went to the tallest building in Downtown Houston for a view of the Houston skyline and to the newest park in Downtown Houston. Alas all these pics are sitting in my PC waiting to be edited and re-sized. I really have to put a post-it note somewhere on my PC to remind myself to edit those pics.

The reason for these lazy bones?

I was so tired after work everyday, staring at the glaring monitor >9 hours a day. With the gloom of economic recession, everyone has to be in top performance yet face the uncertainty of a pay raise, bonus or even a job. This can be really depressing. With each passing day, the bad news get worse. Reading the newspaper is kind of like a listening to a doomsayer. Well, we can't do anything about the recession other than be prepared for the worst and pray for the best.

These two-weeks had been especially hectic for me. I've been rushing through a lot of things at work. Partly due to the fact that I'll be taking a couple of days off work for a short vacation and mostly because I have to wrap things up before the coming holiday season.

Talking about seasons... what's up with everyone? It seemed like this year and the next is the season for marriage. My long time friend, SY is getting married on 27th Dec, ex-classmate, YT on 28th Dec, another ex-classmate, CM a couple of weeks ago, a friend proposed to the girlfriend/soon-to-be-wife a month back and finally hot news which came to me yesterday... my friend/sec. school senior WJ is getting hitched sometime mid next year. Phew... what a long list! Well, since I knew of all this occasions, was invited to some of these but would not be able to attend any due to geographical constrains, here's a big CONGRATULATIONS! to all of you. Wishing you all a happy and blissful life together!

Well, that's about it I guess. Perhaps after my coming vacation and with the Christmas holidays, I'll have plenty of time to prep those pics and tell the story of my travels.

Big Sam!

It was a really healthy weekend for me. For the first time during my stay in US, I went for a hike. A hike of about 7 to 8 miles! Darn proud only. :P

The season is autumn, though it did not make a difference to the view here in Houston. It looks almost the same year round. The slightly cooler weather however, made the hike more enjoyable.

The place is Huntsville State Park.

The crowd, a whole bunch of people from WHCC.

The journey. Starts from a eating place in Bellaire (chinatown). With Mike voluntarily offering his car and taking the wheel, Michelle & Victor (the entertaining couple) and yours truly as noisy passengers.

The experience. Interesting, but not again. Fed mosquitoes, worn myself walking for 4 hours. All for 1 view. One!


The dangers of hiking!


If this is considered a nice view, then there are 2 views along this 4 hour hike.


The view of the lake. I have to admit that it's a breathtaking and welcoming sight ... especially after 2.5 hours of hiking.


This pic should be named "The Fleeing James". That's the view of the better part of our chosen trail.


Tired and spent. The crowd trudging along towards the car park.

What is a trip without a pic to show that I was there!


A bit blurry due to wrong focusing. Should be a good enough proof of my participation though.

Almost forgot.

Before we reached Huntsville State Park, we stopped by the Sam Houston Statue. Supposedly some historical big shot.


Here's his mug shot...


That is said to be the worlds largest statue of an American Hero. The one in white! not the one in black!


Finally... a group photo to end this post. With special thanks to Patrick the organizer, Mike the driver extraordinaire and Michelle & Victor for great company!

Crazy Saturday

A few weeks back, we were supposed to go for lunch at Ulu Yam for the infamous Loh Mee. Ulu Yam is famous for its Loh Mee and also a destination for outdoor wedding photoshooting. There are a few waterfalls nearby which we planned to visit after the lunch..

While we were enjoying the lunch, it started to rain... After a bad experience in Kuala Woh, we dared not visit waterfalls during heavy rains anymore.. A crazy idea strike my colleague... Why not go to Genting Highlands? It is just 27 km away.. slightly more than 30 minutes drive..

It was still raining when we reached Genting Highlands

Cold weather.. See .. SH and I were wearing sleeveless t-shirts and shorts

Nothing better to do than taking pics because all the "God of Gamblers" cannot go into the casino in shorts and slippers.. :p Lucky for me... or else I'll be bored to death..

Walking through the garden, it reminds me how my schoolmates and I used to disturb love couples who were dating at the garden at night :P. That was 9 years ago.. How time flies..

There was another time I went to Genting Highlands with CY out of boredom during the uni days.. We took a midnight train from JB to KL Sentral. And then a bus directly to Genting Highlands..

While I was enjoying myself in the Theme Park, Tweety smsed me about a quiz that was scheduled on Monday.. OMG!!! I had a quiz on Monday but I was still enjoying myself in the Theme Park.. I totally forgot about the quiz! But lucky.. I still managed to pass the quiz..In fact, with flying colours.. Phew!! Thanks to CY for the tutorials :) Miss him so much..

Tired of walking, we sat down at Starbucks for a cup of hot and aromatic chocolate. What is better than a cup of hot chocolates/coffee in the cold and windy weather?

A cup of hot chocolates is better than a jacket?

On the way down the hill, we stopped by at a temple..

See the view.. Their photography skills are improving...

Night view of Genting Highlands..

This trip reminds me that Genting Highlands is not only about its Theme Park and Casino. There are more things to do other than gambling and yelling your lungs out in the roller coaster. If you have the right bunch of friends, you'll enjoy yourself even though you are shivering cold... even though you do nothing than posing for pics and drinking hot chocolates..

A Bunch of Naughty, Notorious, Noisy yet Intelligent Brats

I happen to stumble upon the blog of a long time friend today. Although the blog was not updated for a long time, there's this entry which brought back a lot of memories.

I wish to add some details to the period from Standard 4 to 6 in her blog from my point of view. I was her classmate during that period, and continued to be until we finished our high school.

However, unlike her I had been assigned to this class since Standard 1. Perhaps that is why I was rather intrigued to be commented as "a bunch of naughty, notorious, noisy yet intelligent brats". Furthermore, I never realized that my class used to be feared by teachers.

4 Jingga - If my memory serves me right, this was a special year through out my primary school years. This is the year when the classes are reshuffled and students are differentiated according grades. Quite a few new classmates were introduced to us and some were sent to other classes. We started off with our classroom situated in the end of the oldest buildinng in the school. When I say old, I do mean really old. It was a colonial school and the school was established since 1903, the building itself was perhaps slightly later; 10-15 years the most! There's even a few black and white portraits of the founder's children hung high on the walls of this classroom. Giving it a really gloomy and chilling atmosphere, especially early in the morning. We were a very active bunch of kids back then, but then again, at the age of 10, who wasn't? We played all sorts of games (utilizing pebbles, bottle caps, rubber bands and even rulers) that were perhaps irrelevant in this modern times.

5 Jingga - This year, we were located in a classroom which used to be a Science Lab. I have no idea why the teachers would locate us in this class if we were naughty and notorious, but I'm glad the did. The laboratory was probably not in use for quite some time as all the apparatus and specimens looked really ancient. Part of our activities during the absence of teachers are to explore the multitude of specimens preserved in formalin, the curious apparatus and various substances in glass jars. I remembered us being curious and fascinated with ferrous powder, various colored sodium compounds, as well as preserved snakes and lizards. Perhaps the most interesting to happen that year is the explosion/fire caused by an ancient propane tank in the laboratory during the school holidays.

6 Jingga - The year started off with a bang. A bang in the form of the strictest and most fearsome teacher, Miss M. The person who got the first slap from Miss M is none other than, Tweety, the owner of the blog that got me started writing this. Despite having a super strict teacher, we still did have a great time. Games are played in a more subtle way. We were no longer playing with games that attracted attention and loud. The most interesting game was perhaps the one which I never played. It was very popular among Tweety's group of friends and it was played using none other than our thick textbooks and exercise books. Really hope that Tweety or any of my ex-classmates could elaborate on this game.

Looking back, I would say that we were active, playful and perhaps noisy. However, we were no where near naughty and notorious! :P

I assumed that Tweety's intention when she started the post was to depict her journey of life, which she sadly stopped updating after crossing the Causeway.

I hope that this post will reach her someway and I hope that she'll continue her story and at least give an end to what she started.

Welcome Home or Farewell?

A month ago, I was back in the land of shredded chicken broad noodles (kai si hor fun), penang laksa, nasi lemak and roti canai for a short home trip. A moment very much look forward to for someone like me. Someone who has a multitude of love affairs with food.

A few colleagues got together for a small homecoming dinner at this nice restaurant in Pavillion KL. As usual, the mastermind of all outings among my colleagues, Kenneth initiated the event. The sms that came to me was to meet at "Tian Di" Restaurant. There I was searching hi and lo for this elusive restaurant. A short phone call later to get the relative location of this restaurant revealed that it was "Dain Ti Hill" instead... WTF! ... *moments of total silence*...

Anyway, we had some pretty simple dishes for the dinner. But the one which features tofu with salted egg yolk is very memorable. It is a dish made of simple ingredients yet has very rich contrasting tastes. The soft silky texture and .... urm...tastelessness? of tofu against the sandy texture and salty taste of egg yolk.





I particularly liked the way they serve the cocktail as well. In a beautiful vial surrounded by 6 conical tiny glasses over a bucket of ice. Sadly, due to very bad memory, I couldn't remember the name of the drink.



The highlight of this restaurant? It's the 50% discount for Citibank Card members!!!!

We ended the dinner with the signature Haagen Dazs Ice-cream Fondue. Which in my opinion is slightly overated and did not justify the price.



So, you might ask, what's so special about this dinner? and how does it justify the title?
Well, to me, instead of welcoming me back, this dinner is my farewell to the mastermind of this dinner. This guy is not only a fellow colleague or friend, he's the travel desk, PR guy, tour leader, "yum yum sik sik tuen" (~drink drink eat eat group) organizer, dried seafood supplier, dirty talk initiator... and much more. So again, Kenneth, I bid you adieu and wish you well in your studies!

The Grand Opening!!!

After much procrastination and running out of TVB series to watch, I’ve finally made up my mind join my fellow established friends in the blogging world. With that I eagerly welcome all to the launch of *drum rolls* CY’s Foot Steps. I wanted this to be a place for me to chronicle my footsteps. Footsteps on staircases, “kaki lima”, gas pedals, sandy beaches.....footsteps on life’s path and footsteps left by others.

To begin I have to go back to the year 2005, recalling my final footsteps in the world of innocence, carefree and pocket money. It was really a vacation to remember, due to limited funds, four friends who have yet to embark on the rat race decided to have a final hurrah in Fraser’s Hill.

Each with different aspirations and vision come the following month, drove a long long way up to this cool and nostalgic town. And I do mean a long long way. For those uninformed, two winding roads lead to this single one way street up the town. The east and west side of the mountain range. On that fateful day, the western approach was closed due to landslide and we have to drive all the way to the other side of the Main Range (“Banjaran Bintang”)! A freaking 3 hours more journey!

However, the vacation was truly interesting, with re-enactment of horror films, embarrassing photo shoots and pushing the physical limits through hiking (well, it’s only my physical limits to be precise...the rest of the gang are perfectly fine). I still remembered that the vacation ended with us wondering when we will have the opportunity to vacation together again.

3 years and a couple of months down the road, all the four of us have yet to go on a vacation together. *Ahem*Ahem*..people, can we do something about this please?

All I have left now (in this PC at least) of this final footstep of a carefree world is this photo.