The Penang Food Hunter 2

The Penang food hunter continue to prowl!

1. Char Kuey Tiaw (Fried Rice Noodles).

Classic must try in Penang. Bouncy rice noodles, eggs, bean sprout, and prawns, stirred fried within a burning hot wok. Oily, fiery, and packed full of punchy deliciousness!

I let my appetite be the punching bag of a plate of champion de la champ Char Kuey Tiaw prepared by an old uncle on the corner of Siam road, Georgetown. 

Eggs skillfully toss into the hot oily wok, followed by rice noodles portion picked into the wok. With his almost wife-like stature spatula- given that it was worn out till the point that his hand touches the wok when he fry- he added chillies, prawns, bean sprout and other ingredients into the wok. 

The left hand holding his fan, the other holding the spatula, with his hero-like swag, he stir and stir... and still stir till all the fragrance within the wok spurred out at once when it was serve on the plate. And those fragrance never failed to make my stomach growl every time...  in the 45 mins I waited for my plate.

All wait was worth it once that boxing champ was on a plate served in front of you. A plate of Char Kuey Tiaw with sumptuous amount of prawns, Lap Cheong and bean sprout. Every mouth was full packed of flavour and taste of its ingredients! All thanks to that magnificent charcoal frying and the hard work of an old uncle, under a small stall, on the corner of Siam Road.

My plate of boxing champion @ Siam Road, Georgetown.

Open after 5.30pm till stock last. Day: Unpredictable and dependent on the weather.

Do go to sit at the coffee shop across the road for dine-in customer.

2. Prawn paste fried roll

One of my favourite dim sum dish in Penang! Perfect mixture of minced pork and prawn meat wrap in a thin crispy crust. One bite into it equals to 2 seconds of floating-up-in-the-sky time! hahahahah. That was how

Live Passionately

My oh my... Did you realized how short life is?

I did.

It was yesterday. The day I went to my favourite spot in Penang- Penang botanical garden. The routine was to have a walk around the park before I starts my usual dance practice. However, what I felt today, was non of the routine. It was different... in a good way thou.

As usual I walk, passed the river that cut through the garden. Sweet sound of river flowing with self-proclaimed marathoners running pass me. As usual I swift came to a junction, to the right- an easier crowded path, to the left- a steep assent with a few walkers. As always, I took the left one, for the better view.

I usually gasped a lot walking up the steep, but not this time. I was calm, my breath was steady, and I felt 'Sheldon Cooper' like- No thanks to 'The Big Bang Theory' sitcom marathon I had for the past few days. For the past few times walking, I was only in indulge of the view. But this time, I tried to smile more, and allowed whole of my body enjoy the surroundings more than usual. My breath was calm and my body was in contempt. It felt magical at times (perhaps it was Yiruma's music playing tricks on my mind).

The Penang Food Hunter

BIG BIG apology for not been updating my blog for long! For yours truly had suit up and got a new life (a job).

It was a fantastic start to this new life when I was 'shipped' to the world infamously dubbed 'Pearl of the Orient', for my first assignment. Instantly, I knew I gonna be very fat, very soon...

Hence, my Penang food hunting days, begin!

1. Lee Chee Kang & Claypot Chicken Rice
It was never like the famous Penang laksa and the cooling Teow Chew  Cendol combo at Jalan Penang. But what I stumble upon during my after work hunger pangs, was a rather interesting combo- Hot steamy claypot chicken rice and cooling Lee Chee Kang (a mix of peanuts, kidney bean, jelly, white fungus, and other ingredients in a sweet cooling broth).

The rice was cooked upon order. One big scoop into the center of the pot, I released the pleasant tingling ginger and soy sauce fragrance. Exposed then was abundant chunky chicken and juicy mushroom. Aside from that tongue burning sensation, you can find tiny chunks of salted fish hidden within the rice, adding a real tinge to the already sinful flavour. Dunk into the egg- 80% cooked- to add a layer of awesomeness into the rice! And to cool down all the heat, I gulped down the freshly sweet and cool Lee Chee Kang. 

Awesome find @ Taman Chai Leng food street, Lebuh Kurau 5, Taman Chai Leng, Perai.
Open at random days after 6 pm. Good luck!

2. Egg crusted chicken floss and BBQ meat sandwich.

I was given the 'Its normal laaaaaaaaa' respond when I describe to my friends how god dammit delicious this was. One piece of BBQ meat and chicken floss stuck between lightly pan-fried egg crusted soft breads, and glued up well with honey.

One bite into the cloud like soft bread with a crispy egg exterior, you flew up to the clouds. A deeper bite into the juicy meat and flavour packed floss, you just hit the stratosphere. One final bite released all the sweetness them honey can offer, you'll reach heaven and scream out loud: OHHH MY GOD!!!!
It was not normal people! Not at all!

The trip to Bahau, Negeri Sembilan

I spontaneously got myself invited to one of my university senior's wedding at a place called Bahau. Bahau where? I asked that same question to my long time friend Ang PY when he came from Penang to Klang to head down there together. All both of us got was a not so reliable address, even less reliable Google Map and a whole lot of heart.

I had an idea to make this trip even better, I suggested we eat all the way down, from Klang to Bahau. And that is exactly what we did!

We first hit Qi Xiang Restaurant at Taman Eng Ann, Klang to savour upon Klang's infamous delicacy- Bah Kut Teh. Sipping on heavenly herb thicken gravy, biting on those sinfully succulent pork, top off with fragrant rice and yao cha kue, was an unforgiving taste bud pampering.

We almost forgot that we just had a heavy meal just minutes before when order our self some Klang famous Mee Hoon Kuih (a type of flour based hand kneaded noodles) @ Fatty Mee Hoon Kuih House, Taman Berkely, Klang. To stand there waiting for seats and still drooling without your food after seating for a long period of time is a norm. Our waiting was later paid off with a bowl of tenderly bouncy thin Mee Hoon Kuih, bathed in  sweet fragrant anchovies soup, and garnished with pork lungs, succulent pork meat, and crispy fried anchovies. I would not mind come here and wait all over again.

With our stomach heavily filled. We next head to Seremban to continue with our next chapter of food hunting. Frustratingly, Google map failed me again. We missed the exit we suppose to exit out from the highway. Plus my decision to take instruction from my friend and his outdated GPS, cost us an extra 30 minutes before we manage to met with some of our Seremban's friends. 

Go, Job Hunting Go!

It had been a good time going job hunting!

Here I wanna share some interesting findings and perhaps some useful tips that I had discovered throughout my time being a job hunter (roar!). Is all of my personal experience and my own accounts being a fresh graduate looking for a job. Some of you might agree with me and some of you might not. But let hope it do become a good read for anyone that were recently graduated, soon to be graduating, or had graduated since god-know-when but still haven't get a job (like me).

A brief introduction about me. I am a food science graduate of one of Malaysia public university. Been taking a 'long leave' since I graduated last November only recently beef myself up to go job hunting.

Here goes...

1. Take The Time.
Most of the graduates 'oven' freshly out of their study life, will be eager to hastily get into the job market. Most of their reason being wanting an income, being the family breadwinner, hastily stocking up experience, and most predominantly, doing what they 'suppose-to-do' like what most graduates did. I will say, take your time. In Malaysian public university scene, I can daringly say that most of us do not get the courses that we wanted. So there is no wrong in taking the time to figure out what you ultimately want to do.

In the long run, taking that time, will be better than spending 1-2 year in some job that ultimately you will quit because you did not enjoy it. Go travel, go do volunteer, go do some peacekeeping project, or go do whatever you been longing to do. Take that time to do some self discovery, in the meantime, reward yourself of the long study life you had been committing for years. Take that rest that you thoroughly deserve, that you would not regret, before braving into having a job, your life.

2. Open Doors.
My first interviewer said to me. 'Shian, life is about opening doors, not closing them.' These few words was the pivotal point during my job hunting days. That I decided to go look for more, rather than sticking to one opportunity. Do not put barriers in yourself, but go explore every opportunities. Don't limit yourself with your own understanding, but go broaden that understanding.

Love

Love is those tears you shed,
knowing that there is someone that loves you.

Love is those sweet smile,
blossoming out on a sight of the one you love.

Love is never giving up,
even when the world is against you.

Love is about holding hands,
imagining yourself getting old, still holding her hand.

Love is about giving,
and receiving.

Love is not to be valued,
It weigh of nothingness, not exchangeable, and only adds up.

Love is in the sweat of your parents,
in the heartbeat of your child, and in eyes of your one and only.

Love is about getting caught,
of doing everything right.

Love is not to judge,
but to share.

Love is about looking up to the sky, and fall.
Knowing that there is someone there to catch you.

Love is about spending time,
not money.

Love is about changing,
from being you, to being together.

Love is on the thought of love,
there is someone love represent.

Love is the biggest thing,
that came with the smallest gesture.

Love is simple,
complicated, complex, silly and controlled.

In the end,
Love is still that four letter word,
that give meaning, to what we do everyday.

Live well people,
Shian

So people, tell me, what is your love? Feel free to leave a comment =)

The Barbershop

I am going Nostalgia again...

Remember the scent of soap and talc, mixed with the smell of rusted steel and rotten wood? Remember the outdated magazine and Old Master Q comic you flipped through while waiting for you turn? Remember the lightness you felt after a good trim? Well, that was the barbershop of our childhood.

This barbershop, was always filled with grumpy men. Complaining about politics, aimlessly flipping through newspapers, talking on how close they are in winning yesterday's jackpot lottery, reminiscing about the good old glory days and hiding from their wives. But was never there to trim their hair. All in the midst of noise from the TV nobody watches and oldies on the radio nobody listens. And that was the barbershop, we grew up with.

Remember then when hairstyle was recognized through numbers? "Uncle, today number one!" And you will come out looking like a monk. Or if you are up for it, you can choose your hairstyle based on a few poster of famous pop star of that time like Aaron Kwok, Andy Lau or Jacky Cheung, pasted all over the wall. But was rare to see your hair turned out like theirs and left you wonder what magic they possessed to make them look that good! And that was the barbershop, of dreams being handsome, broken.

My 20 Awesome Experience Backpacking Sabah (1 to 10)

Truth to be told. My Journey to realization series had been dragging for long. If it continues at this rate, it would take me years to finish them! No thanks to my long winding writing, and with my laziness at terminal stage. I might as well save them up, if I were to publish a book about it. *laughs* Inspired by a post my friend wrote. Here is it people, My 20 awesome experience backpacking Sabah. In no specific order.

1. Volunteering at Tampat Do Aman Eco Resort.

For the free accommodation, for the nice food, for the amazing people, and for the breathtaking view. Volunteering was a good way to get the most out of a beautiful place, without burning a hole in your pocket. Tampat Do Aman Eco Resort (TDA) located in the most northern Tip of Borneo and managed by the infamous British expat, Howard Stanton. Surrounded by picture perfect beaches, the friendliest Rungus people, exciting wildlife and serene village life. But all these beautiful things came with hard work, real hard work. Me and Toby pouring sweat six day a week, working on upgrading and constructing TDA. We got our hands in carrying everything from food compost to trunks of coconut tree, landscaping, transporting, tank cleaning, to design and make furniture, waiting, painting and constructing. One can never imagine the hard work we did, unless you go try it yourself. The best part was perhaps seeing all our effort come to realize in making TDA a better place for all its guest, while not forgetting the cold shower after and that cold nice beer later!

My 20 Awesome Experience Backpacking Sabah (11 to 20)

Check out 1 to 10, click here.

11. Lost in Liwagu trail, Kinabalu Park.

I blame the misleading sign and my own adventurous heart for getting me lost in the Kinabalu park for almost 2 hours. But thankfully I end up with an interesting story to tell you. It was when I blazed down Liwagu trail, the longest trail within Kinabalu Park measuring up to 5.6 km. While I can smell the end of the trail just a kilometer away, I went down a trail that lead to the Liwagu river. I was misled into this when I encounter a confusing sign. The lost trail was not easy to blaze through, thick jungle vegetation and poor marker signifies that this trail had not been used for long. Thinking that there must be a way out down the road, I continue on, when the right choice was to turn back. Then the trail got harder and harder to blaze through, there was this fast running water and slippery rocks I need to overcome, and there was this gorge only connected by two very slippery thick steel pipe was only the few ridiculous obstacles I need to brace through. The Liwagu river was the main water source for the people of the mountains. My thought was if I followed the main supply pipe line, and follow the flow of the river, I believe I could get out of the jungle soon. This thought was slowly disappearing as I moved further inside the jungle and further away from the river. But my determination to get myself out of this situation push me harder overcoming those knee deep mud and uphill climb.

Must I say, that was awfully lots of cracks and burst on those aged supply pipe! They never failed to keep me wet all the time. When I reached the top of the hill, and miraculously there was phone reception!

Car-less

It happened this morning after a typical morning drive. My car was crippled. Which no fault should be blame on anyone. Nevertheless, my family was now left one car-less. My family now need to work around with only one car, to run all the errands that we usually do with two.

It occurs to me, how we a typical Malaysian family, depend so heavily in our own vehicle. Without owning yourself a vehicle, we would be would stripped of our mode of transportation. We simply could not get anywhere efficiently.

Mind I said, efficiently. We could still get to the place we wanted to go, but it would just take too much time and too much effort to do it. In Malaysia, Malaysian just would not opt for taking long term commitment into taking public transport unless if they really need to.

The messed up educational system. - part two

Warning: This would be another of my classic Long Winding piece. I appreciate you to bare with me and finished what you had started. You had been warned. hahhahahaha! Enjoy!

Continue from The messed up educational system: part one. click here to read it before you continue.

Since when was doing what we can, meant that we want it? Well, since you are in the educational system I am in. Teacher will be like: 'So Shian, you score great in this bla bla subject, you should go do this/ of become this! Because you can!' Me: 'Errrrr, so I should score bad at it to show that I do not like it? I thought scoring good result was one of my responsibility in school.' Well, being good at it does not necessary means I liked it! hahahahahhaha. Too long had our society had judge one's passion and happiness, based on how many number one you had. By how many A's you had, seems to determine how much you enjoy something. Since how long the words - This is an opportunity of a lifetime, you should be thankful you had this while others don't, tricked us into entering some sort of competition, or activities, or events, that we did not even enjoy, that we did not even happy about? And then I did well, I won titles. How I hope I do myself proud more than I just do the school proud. Proud that I have made the decision that I am happy about, proud that I truly enjoy this experience, rather than being forced to it. Knowing for titles and medals a student won, are mostly merit points for the school, something they can boast around during formal ceremonies which mostly involved personnel from other schools. The Saya Lebih Hebat (I am more superior) attitude. So what happened to that student, if he was put into that situation unwillingly? A parade of glory that was not meant to be, an effort which was not willingly put forth? Guess the school got what they want, in the expense of what the student wants.

The messed up educational system - part one

Education, had and always will be the most important value in ones life. I had a 'Wonderful' 17 years being in the supposedly self-claimed world class Malaysian educational system, if you take constantly indecisive and frog jumping policy of the ministry as a plus point. I trust many would agree if I said that our country educational system was and still is, messed up. The different stream, the forced choice, the jumping policy, different enrollment policy entering higher education and many, many more. I would more than happy to share my own experience. I wished those who plan to had kids or having kids now, to have a thought, upon going into this 'proud' system. Is not that you could not go in, but have a thought. Cause you could not expect the bull to change its attitude towards red cloth in just a few years. (I am just being cynical.)

I start off gleefully entering my first class in primary school, anxiously. (I purposely omit Kindergarten which I thought made me play more than I learn). I was being place in a partly-governmental governed Chinese based school, where Chinese language was the main medium of educating and communicating. It was a brilliant move by both of my parents on their part, as I am a Chinese descent, I should learn Chinese. I still thank them now for making that choice then, as I can now communicate in Chinese language, read some of the Chinese character, but sadly I lost my ability to write Chinese somewhere during my secondary school. I still remember the look in my mum eyes worrying if I can get through the first day in school smoothly, first day was never easy for most children and even worst for the parents. Saying they are overprotective, was an understatement. Thankfully after two weeks we would be free from our parents sights, while the teacher take a sigh of relieve too. Then it started, every students are placed in different groups (classes), obliged to study all the same sorts of subject, english, chinese, malay, morale, science, maths and a few more.

Tradition Lost in Generation?

Recalling back how I was awoken by the knock on my door. It was early. Those tired eyes slowly opening, the overcoming of that desire to get back to sleep, the strength to get myself up sitting on the bedside and the ever comforting stretch after standing. My mum was waking me up for our annual praying and offering to our ancestor. It was Winter solstice, obvious when we made a few dozen of rice pudding ball - or what we Chinese called - tang yuan - the night before.

Throughout the years, my mum had been up preparing as early as five in the morning; and a few days before. All in the name of tradition. I was always impressed at how one lady, could filled the offering table crowded with food of all sort: steamed chicken, juicy pork, fried fish, spring onion, raw vegetable, steamed cake, assortment of fruit and chinese kuih as well as rice, tea and rice wine. All for our respectful ancestor, who spirit will return home and had a feast during this festive season. This tradition of food offering had been passed on from generation to generation since obviously, a very long time ago. Hahaha.

I had since the age I was able to hold a lighter and light the joss stick up for prayers, I had been a part of this important tradition. Not that I know why am I doing it, I never been explained. I thought that was the best way - in action - to respect and honour our ancestor. After lighting up the joss stick, I will pray for all the gods and goddess asking for blessing and good health, then asking the same from my ancestor, plus inviting 'them' to return home for the feast and offerings we had prepared. Given I was the eldest grandson for my grandparents and the eldest son for my parents. The responsibility to uphold this tradition befall on my shoulders, not by choice, but by the sake of keeping the tradition alive. My mum will then toss one ornament to determine if my ancestor spirits were home. One head and one tails signified to agreement of what my mum asked for, whereas two of the same side, not agree. It was important to leave the front door open wide to let 'them' in. We then waited for 'them' to enjoy the feast, after the ornament signaled in agreement.

I am a believer in spirits of ancestors. I believe that they somehow affects our lives, in a good way, and they deserve respect. However, this belief would not even passed any form of scientific scrutiny. Since human had that need to know and understand everything, many arguments  about traditions and ceremony had been sparked off. The scholars presume that everything we do in life need to be understood and explained scientifically. Leaving us to question, why are we doing this? Or worst, giving us a reason to not do it. So long have the society want labeled everything either it was right or it was wrong, but not what we believed it was right or it was wrong.

Then it was time to burn offerings (paper models like cloths, shoe, money and more), which we believe will be received by our ancestor's spirit, that 'they' would lead a better afterlife. While we are throwing hell's note and paper clothing into the burning flame, my mum asked me. Son, would you still do this in the future? or would this would end in your generation? or perhaps your next generation? I joked by saying, this I got to ask my future wife if she would do it with me. We had a good laugh about that, and we finished off the offerings burning by pouring tea around the furnace in circle, so that 'they' will be able to claim it in the afterlife. My mum later tossed the ornament again to asked if 'they' are done with the feast. We only be able to clean the place up after a toss of agreement. After many attempt which resulted in disagreement, we got the signal that they were done. Good thing 'they' liked what we had prepared for them.

The truth is, I will do it in the future. Not because to allow the tradition or ceremony to continue, these were always be just an act. And action changes with progress of time, not necessarily improved, but changed according to one's lifestyle. Who know, joss stick would be replaced with indestructible glow stick in the future. What do not change was the love and respect we had for the passing, the joy of doing one thing together as a family, the calm and peace it brought and the belief that we are, in our own way, doing what we think was right.

During this festive season, I hope that we do have joy in all the things we do. That we never will complaint, whine or even escape from any form of tradition practiced. Do it for love, honour, respect and of cause, for  family.

Hereby wish all my readers, a very Happy Chinese New Year. May this Dragon New Year be filled with peace and joy.

Live well people
Shian

Journey to realization: The Tip Of Borneo part two

I am officially a volunteer for Tampat Do Aman under the supervision of Howard. Before my volunteer stint kicks off, I was fortunately to be allowed a one day free and easy around the area. I was given a chance to choose which ever activity that Howard's activity center offered. From bike trip, to jungle trekking as well as snorkeling. I chose the bike (Is what British call for a bicycle) trip, seeing the beautiful beaches I would visit and some lovely villages that I will go through. How would I know that? Howard had a big map made on a big spread of plywood inside the activity center, of the whole trails and the places you would visit and go through, with some not-so-prefect hand drawn picture.

Well, at least he got all the symbols consistently drawn. Toby and Emmi will be joining me. Toby was being tasked to mark the bike trail , while Emmi just being Emmi at her break time. I was anticipating some smooth easy ride down the trail when I decide to take up this trip, I even doubted Toby's decision to carry two big bottles of drinking water. But I followed suit, fearing for the worst. Then it started, just barely 50 meters from the activity center, the uphill. My movement was rusty, my leg started feeling the stress, my understanding on how those gears works are shady and I am starting to sweat. No thanks to the last time I rode a bike was 7 years back, and it was a BMX. Step by step putting my leg down the pedal, seeing how wonderfully the bicycle converts biochemical force into a force that pushes the bike forward by the seemingly perfect combination of gears, chains, cables and disc. My heart was racing fast for all the exercise I did, and I reach the top of the uphill. I felt great. Until Toby rode over the hill effortlessly, rode passed me, turn back and said: 'There are even more steeper one down the trail.' That is not encouraging at all! I thought to myself.

One uphill, then another uphill, then another, we rode through them. It was hard fought. But after any uphill, there is always a downhill. To ride through downhill, you just gonna let the earth gravity do its wonders, and  I got the small break I need to what seem would be, a long and hard ride. After that series of uphills and downhills, we reached the junction from where visitors from Kudat or KK must turn in, in order to reach the Tip of Borneo. Toby stopped to go attach the mark - plastic bottle painted sky blue inside out that we did before the trip - on one of the road sign, while me and Emmi catches some breathe. This was the first time that Emmi rode this trail too. It was a delight to know that I am not alone. Toby then explained: 'Here after was a series of very steep uphills and downhills, it will be very hard and tiring.' We just rode past a series of uphills and downhills and that was not the hard and tiring part! I thought. So we rode on, we past some village houses, everybody seems to greet us with a warm welcoming smile, guess you can't see these in the cities. It seems that working for one of the most famous people in Kudat had made Toby a celebrity in these region too. Kids cheered when he rode past and villagers greets him whenever they saw him. Maybe it was just because he was the only tall Caucasian residing around here. Well, remember about what Toby said about the hard and tiring part of the trail? It just got worst when we reached upon what seems to be a transition point from tarmac road to gravel roads with rocks of all sorts of size. Here on it would be hell!

And hell it is! In front of me stood an uphill of maybe 15 degree steep of about 200 meters. Pushing our gears to the minimum, every step I made on the pedal only move the bike a little distance, the peak of the hill never seem reachable. But in the end I did, I did reached the peak, panting heavily and gulping in a lot of liquid to keep me hydrated. Perhaps it must be miracle at work that I made it or maybe it was just me creating that miracle. No challenge is too hard of a challenge, if you put will and hard work into it. Three of us reached the peak (Emmi resolved in pushing the bike instead), we had a rest while Toby put up some mark. The next was the downhill, which was equally steep as its uphill. I thought this would be a breeze with gravity as your ally. But no, as soon as you launch yourself from the peak, because of the steepness, the bike would just go faster and faster and faster! It was one of my scariest experience, seeing myself not wearing any protective gear while zooming down the steep, my body and the bike wobbled hard, hearing the rubber wheels rubbing the gravels to the side, and all I can hear in my mind was I gonna fall! I gonna fall! I gonna fall!. But thank god I did not fell from the bike, even when I thought that I certainly would. Another miracle! While I savoured on my success of overcoming both the uphill and downhill, I was dumbfounded seeing that Toby was already on the peak of another uphill, which I need to climb next. I am eager to get to the  uphill where Toby waited for us, and asked how he did that, I wanted to be able to zoom down and up the steeps like he did. While we waited for Emmi at the peak, who still resolved in pushing the bike, Toby taught me a few tricks and skills in easily overcoming and downhill and uphill of another with ease. He explained it like a piece of cake, like I am a veteran professional biker, short and brief. Emmi met up with us, and Toby went fourth to show me how it was really done (did I said Toby was an adventure biker). He launch himself from the peak, reach maximum speed by sticking his body to the bike to achieve aerodynamic while pedaling, pedal hard when he started going uphill, and like a roller coaster, with a breeze, reaches the top of the other uphill. He signaled me to give it a try. My heart was racing hard, sweat was pouring from my forehead as I slowly pedal to the point where I suppose to launch myself to this ride of my life. My mind was resisting what I was about to do, like how any mind would do when they sense danger was ahead. I was determined to go on, despite what my mind was thinking. I shook my head from side to side, getting that thought away, and let my heart prevails, I wanted to do this. I launched myself from the peak, and my bike going faster and faster. My body responded by gripping the brakes, I know I got to let them go to reach the speed I need for the uphill. Just like throwing off a heavy weight from your shoulder, or releasing the most feared from you heart, I let go of the brakes. I arched down towards my bike, pedal hard at the highest gear, keeping my handle straight, seeing all around me zoom passed fast. The resisting wind flow around my body with a force that gripped all my fear away from me, and allowed them float to the history. I felt free, the most free I had ever felt in years. I reached where Toby are in matter of seconds. I do not believe what I just did, my breathe was no longer panting, my heart was at peace as I had left fear behind me, I was happy. Toby congratulated me for what I had did, I thanked him for teaching me. From that moment on, I never look back.

Me and Toby on the bike trail. Thanks bro!!

Me with Emmi

After some hard pedaling, we reached our first beach down the trail. The Bawang Jamal beach. It was not the prettiest beach on that trail, but it was one of the most isolated one with no village nearby. Thus you can enjoy a piece of beautiful sand and sea just by you own, with minimal disturbance. Guess this beach must be a heaven for those couples who wanted extra privacy. We went for a quick dip in the water and was on our way to our next beach, the Kulambu beach! We stopped at the junction where Toby need to fix up the mark. I am surprised when Toby asked us if we wanted to go into this beach. He explained that it was almost a seven kilometers ride down the road to the beach. Without hesitating, me and Emmi unanimously agreed to go fourth (it was only around two kilometers at most, guess Toby got a problem with distant measurement). It was a smooth ride, aside from being chased by a few dogs which are not fond of visitors. The view from the road was serene, with houses peeking through jungles of coconut trees - those kind of place you want to grow old at - the peaceful village of Bawang Jamal. I almost fell down while being totally mesmerized by this view, you should know how good the view was right. And then, I saw the beach.

The shorter side of Kulambu beach.

The longer side of Kulambu beach

The view was evenly breathtaking. Two separate beach, one stretched out long, one short, beautifully converge  in a V- shape sand bar connecting the mainland with the Kulambu island. Yes an island! I was excited when Toby told us that you can walk by foot to the island, provided it was low tide, when the sand bar was exposed. Too bad that the time being the tide was high, he suggested that we come another time for that island as there would be under current that would swept us away at high tide. Being totally immersed into my surrounding, absorbing any sights and sound, with the soft wind kissing my face. Simply standing at the point where both the beaches converged overlooking Kulambu island, where the wave from both side come slowly hugging the sand bar, I felt peace. It was one of the many peaceful moment I felt in Tip of Borneo. The Kulambu beach was one of the most visited and developed beach around Tip of Borneo aside from Kelampuan beach (the one long beach beside Tip of Borneo). The downside of that was it was much more polluted as you can see a lot of rubbish lying around. They have small huts build like the one you will see in the picture above for visitors, where we took our well deserved rest, to be physically and mentally prepared for the challenges up ahead. Where I would face them, with a smile.

Kulambu Island at the back

The point where both beaches converge, you can see wave from both sides, and Kalumbu Island at the back

After overcoming a few hills, which starting to become more and more enjoyable rather than the hell that I previously expected, we reached the junction turning into our next beach, the Lorok Kecil beach. It is the crescent beach you can see up at the map, overlooking a cove. Toby, his eighth time riding this trail, explained to us that there will be a very steep concrete road down the trail leading to Lorok Kecil beach. He warned us to be really careful, apply our brakes accordingly and choose to push down instead. I doubted his warning after being falsely informed of the distance to Kulambu beach. But he was proved right this time, after just 100 meters down the junction, stand before me, a downhill so steep they needed concrete with large traction strips for traction. I estimated it at a 25 degree drop. Toby being Toby, launch himself down without fear. Me being pumped by the confidence overcoming my fear of going downhill previously, followed suit. I race down the steep, steep downhill, applying my brakes accordingly, without fear. Until I saw a corner, fear rushed through me again, in my mind I thought that in this speed I would not make it, I will crash and hurt myself badly. But seeing Toby passed the corner effortlessly with speed, I thought. If he can do it, I must be able to! I brace myself for any crashes, prepared to protect my head if I crashed, I go for the corner. I bent down my body, slant it to the left, gripping the handle hard, pray for the best, and I did it! The momentum took me crossed some big rocks easily, and down the hill. I squeeze the brakes hard when I saw Toby doing the the same, and I came to a complete stop. The me in my head scolded me, what the hell are you thinking!?! He was an experience off road biker! You would have fallen to you death! I was just too thrilled to listen to what myself is saying. Sometimes, we need to take some crazy risk, just to feel alive. I am glad I took that risk, I felt more alive than anytime I been at that moment. While we are waiting for Emmi to come down, Toby wanted to show me one small waterfall just 30 meters into the woods, which sit in some 3 acres of land own by Howard! He had again amazed me. Unfortunately there was no waterfall as it will only appear after some heavy rainfall, there was only a one story high rock face and a pool of water, sit beside some dense jungle. Toby light up a smoke, while Emmi slowly approched, I sat down on one rock, again being in the moment. I am glad again I be able to have found peace. Next, Lorok Kecil beach! We gone through the village of Lorok Kecil, some 20 odd house nested closely in a field of grass, with smoke rising out from some houses from the the effort of preparing dinner. It was  four in the evening when we got to Lorok Kecil beach, one and a half hour after we left the activity center. Lorok Kecil was beautiful. A cove sheltered by two land mass, offering only a small peek towards the open sea, gave its beach one of the most gentle and most beautifully sounded wave. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Waves coming in from the small window peeking into the open sea

Sun almost setting

the coconut jungle just beside the beach

Toby and Emmi walking on some very fine sands

The water source for the villagers nearby

The gentle wave

Me being me

The friendliest dog we met on the trail 

We spent quite a long time chilling in Lorok Kecil beach, one of the beach I am very fond of. A small paradise with only us walking in it. Unlike the much developed, much polluted and famous Kulambu beach. We left Lorok Kecil with heavy hearts, It was just too beautiful to leave, but we got to get back before dark and we have one more beach to hit. I had a hard time pedaling up the steep downhill turned uphill now. I ended up pushing my bike up, which was equally hard as pedaling. After some time down the trail, we now stood in front of the mother of all downhill in that trail, it was as steep as the one leading to Lorok Kecil beach, it was longer and it also had a corner! This was the last downhill after the treacherousness hilly trail, no more major uphill and downhill after this. My rightfully stay-out-of-danger mind decide that I should push my bike down, and I did, but only for a while. Seeing Toby racing down again provoked me to do same. I got onto my bike, without fear, with all the confidence of the world, I race down the last downhill with might! I was very happy when I braked and stop safely below the hill, seeing Toby smiling at me like he was really proud of what I just did. Or maybe he was just laughing because I have only be able to do in after a while. Damn you Toby!

The last mother of all downhill, even Emmi got on her bike and go for it!

Then There it was, one of the nicest village I ever set my sights on. A large field, with three to five wooden houses clustered into one, chickens running around, with the water buffalo grass grazing, children playing, housewives chatting outside, village men just got back from work, being welcomed by their love ones and under a setting of a sunsets and coconut trees. Everything seems so peaceful, just like how I imagined a village would be.

The beautiful and peaceful village of Longgom Besar

The village of Longgom Besar and the Village of Longgom Kecil was split by this river running in the middle.

fascinating view 

We rode into the village with most of the villagers smiling and greeting us, and kids cheering on us when we rode by. Some villagers was somehow fascinated to see a tall white man suddenly appeared in their village on a bike. It was fun to watch their reaction when Toby say hello to them. We rested on the bridge connecting the two village while Toby hung up more trail mark on the bridge, after given permission by one of the villagers.

Chilling on the wooden bridge

Toby with mangrove forest behind him

The trail leading to the mangrove forest plank trail, where you rode among mangrove trees.

The mangrove forest ride was sweet but sadly a little bit too short. Somehow I did enjoyed the little escape I got by riding below the mangrove tress from the ever ferocious Sabah sun , which already left me very tan since we started the bike trip. At the end of the mangrove trail, there was a hanging bridge running across a larger river, only 3 planks in width. We had a hard time getting ourselves and our bike across the hanging bridge. The bridge was wobbly, you can't get a good foot hold, and did I mention that the bridge was occupied by a lot of villagers enjoying fishing from the bridge. There were friendly enough to let us passed by although I felt that our presence there with our bike sort of ruining any peaceful mood for fishing. I am sorry people!

On the hanging bridge with Emmi and the villagers

The view from the hanging bridge

After the slow navigation across the hanging bridge, we reached to a long stretch of beach, what Emmi called the most beautiful beach she had seen. When even the locals said it was good, you got to believe it was. Again I will let the picture do the talking.

Magnificent view

A beach that we have no name for it.

Fine sand, soothing wave, open sea and a breathtaking view, what more can you ask

The sunset on the ride back

Unfortunately we could not stayed at that beach for long, it was almost dark and we only finished half of our journey. We got to move, and move fast. The long and hard pedaling had taken its toll on my feet, toe and you guess it, my butt! Toby explained to me that I did not adjusted my seat correctly, and the fact that I am wearing flip-flop. The ride back was grueling. Aside for being thirsty, tired, and the immense pain from my butt and toes on every pedal I made, we came to see many fascinating view passing through more villages, paddy field, mangrove and coconut forest and children cheering us on. And I definitely would not forget the adrenaline rush that made all my pain faded away, making me pedal like a mad man, going as fast as possible, to run away a crazy dog who chased down anything with wheels, in this case, me. It was still a dreadful experience for me being chased by dogs, although I was never bitten before. The worst part was when Emmi and Toby laughed cheerfully while they stayed behind watching me getting chased by crazy that dog. Guess seeing me suffer really made them happy. On the way back, I felt like a kid, constantly asking 'Are we there yet?' Toby will kept saying 30 minutes more, after he said 30 minutes more 20 minutes back. You can never trust this cunning tall white man. hahahahhahaha! To save my butt from further pain, I constantly ride the bike standing up. The sad thing was, standing up will hurt my toes, whereas sitting down will hurt my butt. Thus you can know that it was pain all the way. To make matter worst, it was turning dark 

One tip for you people who want to ride in the dark, when the forest was just beside you, never, ever try to open your mouth. Or you will make the tons of insects flying around you your dinner. I heard insects are attracted to heat and light, guess all of us are all heated up after the all the heard work pedaling. The insects kept on coming even when I reach the earlier junction when we start of at. There I thought I could relieve a bit. Then I recalled of the few hill I gotta go through during the start of my journey, ohhh no. There on, I tried to mustered that little ounce of energy left in my body, and pedal on. Here on, the promise of an ice cold drink sitting down at the restaurant was all I got to make me move those tired legs on. Like what Dory in Finding Nemo had said, 'Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.' Only this time it was pedaling. Just keep pedaling, just keep pedaling. Uphill, a corner, a downhill, another corner, a downhill, an uphill and four more hill, and there it was, I had Tip Top restaurant in my sight. I conjured out my last grasp of energy, pedal down the last downhill, braking hard and parked my bike nicely into the activity center. And there it stood, the holy grail, the pandora box, the hidden treasure, the promised land, you named it. A beautiful square cabinet made out of a combination of aluminium and steel, with tempered glass door and a cooling system to make its inside forever cool, the fridge! Without hesitation, I opened it up, grab two cans of cold drink, and gulping them down my throat mercilessly. It was the best feeling in the world! I kept telling myself I am alive! I am alive! 

Thinking back of all the crazy thing I did, the fear I had overcame, and fun I had, the freedom I enjoyed so much, those speechless views and them beautiful people that I take this journey with, I never will trade anything for this experience. 

It was one of the happiest moment in my life. 

I thank you Toby, for teaching me the art of riding a mountain bike correctly, those not so encouraging words, and being the best bike trail guide in the region. 

I thank you Emmi, for just being you, and for your company.

I thank you Howard for the bike.

and last but not least. I thank you, BIKE. Thank you for carrying my fat ass across a crazy 20 kilometers bike trail. You had suffered hard.

Thank you BIKE!!!

Stay Tuned for more

Live Well people

Shian

Share My Mess: The Funny Thing About Human Beings

This is a thought shared by Paulo Coelho in his book, Like the Flowing River. Much explained how life is now using contradictions. I hope It would help you realized a little bit more about life.

A man asked my friend Jamie Cohen: 'What is the human being's funniest characteristic?'

Cohen said: 'Our contradictoriness.

We are in such a hurry to grow up, 

and then we long for our lost childhood.

We make ourselves ill earning money, 

and then spend all our money on getting well again.

We think so much about the future that we neglect the present, 

and thus experience neither the present nor the future.

We live as if we were never going to die, 

and die as if we had never lived.'

Funny huhhh...

Live well people

Shian

Journey to realization: The Tip Of Borneo part one

The most important part of my stay in Tampat Do Aman (TDA) was not the experience I had, or what magnificent sights I saw, but the people. Experience and sights are only of that moment of time, but friendships, they goes on and on and on! Hell Yeah to that! The people at TDA, soon not only became friends, but they became my family. They took me in with open arms and open heart, laugh with me, work with me as well as took care of me. Hence, hereby I proudly and honorably introduced to you, the good people of TDA.

Staffs at Tip Top Restaurant, Tip of Borneo, Kudat, Sabah.

 Howard G. Stanton

A British expat raised from hell!! No I'm just kidding, about the British expat... Mr. Howard Stanton, a pure British, known locally for his fast slinging English speaking and his passable Malay speaking ability, which most of the time left me clueless about what he is talking about. A man with a history that he so proud of. A degree graduate of tourism management, started as a platform builder, soon travel around the world to Shanghai, the Caribbean, and Sabah to name a few, working from bartender to manager. Setting up Orang Utan Sanctuary in Rasa-Ria Resort, Sabah, serving drinks for high prolific guest in the Caribbean or managing the workings of an high end hotel was his A-game. A qualified diving instructor, served as a rescue diver in the army, with more than 3,000 dives under his belt. He played the game of rugby for the West Indies, knocking down runner on the international field and thinks football was a game for sissies. An international Cabbadi player and the first internationally recognised white man referee for that game which was traditionally of the Indian. A man who return to the shore of Sabah six years ago, with eight thousand pound in his pocket, trying to build his dream from square one. See how far now he had made and achieved since then. Managing Director/CEO of Tampat Do Aman, who currently manages two establishment, the Tampat Do Aman Eco-Resort and Tip Top Restaurant, while not forgetting ongoing projects to build chalets and private resorts, adding to the empire of Tampat Do Aman. A man of Compassion and believe in giving back to the community, he sets up a home for children-in-need in Kudat town, grooming children up to serve the community better and show them how good a person they can become. A man who not only help himself, but helps the people and the community around him, by aiding the locals to set up businesses of their own, bringing in basic improvement for the locals and doing his best to preserve and expand the local Rungus culture. A man who woke up early the get the best that everyday can offer. A man who did not eat his word, and will try his best to make every thing works. He was a man who prefer to get his own hands dirty and believes that every problems can be solved by trying. Do not tell him you could not get it done, he will show you how it's done.  A man of love. Love his fiance, his job, his responsibility, his dream and his life. A man who firmly believe that you can achieved anything that you want, with will, passion and a plan. A man who would die, while he still live.

Contact him via email: stanton_howard@yahoo.co.uk

or give him a call: +6013-8808395

or check out Tampat Do Aman Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/tampatdoamanKudat

Toby Wright

Literally a landmark for Tampat Do Aman with him standing out, or should I say standing 'tall' among all of us in TDA with his 6 feet 3 inch height. The scary part was that he will still grow taller given that he was still nineteen when I met him. A chef before he came to volunteer three months ago at TDA, but barely seen him with a pan cooking food for us. Love adventure biking, going through challenges, and exotic animals. A lad who would rushed to his food, beers, ladies and thankfully to his works too. Best few sentences to describe him: Work like a madman, rest like a boss, Set fire on things with a flick of his finger, drinks like he is sweating alcohol all the time and smoke like he had three lungs. His weapon of choice no matter what he is doing was the hammer and the machete (the parang) which he owns six of them. A lad who is proud of his nipples, yes nipples, and yes yes yes nipples. He proclaimed that he has one pair of the biggest man nipples that no one had ever seen, which he shamelessly flaunt whenever he had the chance to. I politely say, he is a ladies man, and I stressed the word politely. A good chap to work with, to have fun with, to chat with but perhaps for the ladies, not the best man to brought home to your parents.

The Ladies of Tampat Do Aman

From the left: Emmi, Grace and Lorraina 

Emmi, the feisty one. Never will let you go once she had an idea for an outing and that plan includes you, she make sure you be there. A girl who age should not be mention. Waiter cum sink hygiene supervisor :p at Tip Top Restaurant. Who always in the  hunt for that short period of rest time in between work which works quite well with her favourite snack, 'Have a break, have a Kit-Kat.' A girl who always spice up an situation without fail with her contagious liveliness and cheerfulness. She was someone who adore the beach, the stars and every beautiful scenery her surroundings can offer. A girl who I presume had a liking towards Toby, always messing up Toby's smoking session or playing games in his mobile phone. They would really make a cute couple. Yeah Emmi I know, thumbs up to that right!

Grace, believe it or not, in her early 20s, a mother of a beautiful baby boy named Dylan. A full time mother on the weekdays, work part time waiting tables at the restaurant during the weekend to make ends meet. She was blessed with one of the most radiant smile that would always light up my day. Remember to look out for that free smile if you happen to swing by the restaurant during weekend, them are magical! Thumbs up to that eh Gracie!

Lorraina, a graduate of Management and Science University in west Malaysia, Howard's fiance, restaurant manager for Tip Top Restaurant. The thing I remembered most about her was her very contagious signature laugh! You can almost heard her from miles away when she laughed. And that awkward slap on your back like you really made a good joke, but in fact you did nothing. She are the one who famously gave me the nickname of 'Justin Terbalik' (a twist of Justin Timberlake), and manage to give everyone a good laugh, everyone but me. A girl who loves to sings, and sings almost every single time when I saw her at the restaurant, and we end up going into duet mode on that song. A darling in the kitchen and a loving fiance who had the kindest heart. Thumbs up for being so lovely ya Lorraina!

J (not in photo), a lady in her late 30s, if not early 40s, was the head chef of the restaurant, the head honcho of the kitchen. The one that make menus in the restaurant spring to life with her cooking. Who had a rather interesting few marriages throughout her life. A mother to I do not know the exact number of her children. They pop up gleefully all the time visiting her during work in the restaurant. A women who deserve credit for her ability to take care of that much child at once. Make if not the best fried rice and fried noodles around that area, the largest portion. That one plate of rice or noodles could manage you your lunch and dinner. She was a women who owns many certificate of skills from her previous vocational training, from sewing to painting. She once said that these would help her in life, as she had many mouth to feed at home. Thumbs up to that!

The Men of Tampat Do Aman

Muisin, head of construction works of all the projects of Tampat Do Aman. He was the one who literally built Tampat Do Aman Eco-Resort from ground up. Master in woodscraft and carpenting, and also the master in sleeping on them wood. A father of seven children, all grown up pursuing their own interest throughout Malaysia. Always the one that arrives on time with his motorcycle, if he is late means that he is not coming to work at all. One strong and experienced man who would build anything from big cultural center to small benches according to Howard instructions. A good lad with a lot of life experience under his belt.

Rony, comes from a family where most of the guys currently working or once worked with Howard. Just 20 years of age when I met him. Master in hammering, machete wielding, jungle trekking and tree climbing. He was a lot stronger than me when you see him carrying tree trunks twice the size of his thigh and twice his height long, with ease. Toby's smoking partner at break time during work. Owns a mobile phone who rings every five minutes indicating incoming messages from his crush he so shy to speak of. A guy who can survive in the jungle for ten days with only a machete in hand. A responsible lad who get his job done neatly all the time. A great friend indeed when he would unconditionally help you when you are in need.

Adorable creatures of Tampat Do Aman

Fred the Duck

Fred the duck, the beak of hell, the weirdest duck I had ever seen! She was named Fred before Howard are able to tell the gender of a duck. Tough luck Fred! To Fred, there was only three purpose of her living. One was to just eat. She would quack all day just for you to feed her. If you do not, she would bite anything she set her sights on (especially your toes). The second purpose of her living was to drive us crazy. She would stand in front of the door of the toilet staring at you and make you feel awkward. She would peak any door that she can find closed, with you inside. She would gladly shake her tail feather once you called her Fred. Trust me when I say she loved her name a lot. Loves the rain, would stand out of shelter when it rains. Will chase you down hard and peak you mercilessly if you ever bullied her. The last purpose of her life was for us to drive her crazy. We would chase her down just to see her lift her fat ass up the ground, just to pissed her off. We would sprinkle water on her to simulate rain, seeing her so happy with it, we will stop doing it, again just to drive her crazy. We would talk about cooking her up in front of her, always thought that she would feel it and got scared. A crazy duck indeed. but a duck who would always put a smile on your face, if only she did not bite your toe. 

Toby's pet lizard

One of the weirdest pet one could ask for, a wild lizard. But a weird guy like Toby ought to have some cool pets right. Here is it, Toby's pet lizard, a rather inactive creature. Spent almost all of its time lazying in a landscaped cage that Toby made specially for it. It is the first wildlife that most of the guest saw during their visit in Tampat Do Aman. Which many find it amusing. Toby fed him with sago worm once a while, so he need not hunt for his food. The only time we got him out is when he did not eat his food and we thought that he was sick. We got him out, trying to set him free. It seems that he hated Toby a lot for keeping him caged by biting his hand before he runs of energetically into the bushes. That was the last time we had ever seen it. 

Fury the slow loris

One of the rare exotic mammals you can find in Borneo, sightings are rare this close up as they are wild. Mostly active during the night and sleep during the day. Here you can see Fury is in the cage Toby built for his lizard. Is bizarre coincidence that he would end up here. We had Rony set up cages around the jackfruit tree with mango fruits as bait to catch rats that been eating up our jackfruits. To our surprise that we got him in our cage in the next morning. Don't let his adorable eyes and his furry appearance fool you. He tried to bite off everyone's finger who tried to touch him, hence the name Fury. Many guest are lucky to see Fury, especially during daylight, where they mostly hide high above branches. But we only kept him for a day as we think that he belonged to the wild. Muisin explained to us that he tried to tamed one for two years, but never could. Thus we open the cage up during the night, and watch him very very slowly climb out the cage, to the common room, made a U-turn, and to the dark of the night he goes free. I guess that slowness of his was true to his name (slow loris) after all. Although it was only a day we had him, he was one of the coolest pet we had ever had in Tampat Do Aman. Live well Fury!

Well there you go people, the wonderful people and creature you have in Tampat Do Aman. A place is beautiful, is because of its people. And this was and hope it always will be, one of the most beautiful place I had ever been, because the people made it such. It was truly my honour to have know such beautiful person, such lovely hearts that would take more than a friendship to define. It was great introducing them to you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. On my next post, allowed me to take you to an experience and meet more interesting people as well as do more crazy stuff, a ride of my life that I would not forget. I am eager to share them all with you. :)

To be continue...

Live well people

Shian

Interested to know more? Check out the whole of my Backpacking trip through Sabah.

Click here for Part One.

Click here for Part Two.