Friday 27 July 2012

吉隆坡:优游的四天三夜流水账

我已经想不起,我最后一次这么悠闲地在一个城市游走是几时的事了。没有预定行程、没有计划、没有包袱……

我们原本打算到仰光走一趟,但选举后大家心里不知怎的总觉得有些什么说不出的不妥当,对于到那儿旅游的兴致急转直下,于是,都选择不去了。不过,反正买了槟城吉隆坡的来回机票,我们就选择到首都游荡游荡。

Fahrenheit Suites, KL
我们在Fahrenheit Suites住了三晚,这酒店公寓不算豪华,但非常舒适,小小厨房应有尽有,客厅落地窗旁的那懒人榻简直就是午睡天堂。最重要是地点一流,公寓就在Fahrenheit 88商业广场楼上,对面就是Paragon Mall,走几步就是Lot 10、Sungai Wang,地铁站单轨火车也都在附近,对于无所事事、没有预设时间表的我们简直再方便不过。


Fahrenheit Suites & UNIQLO, our favorite shop of the trip

同行的小妹妹说,和我在一起,她们总有机会做很多“一生只会做一次的事”。这一趟,我带她们到Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS 观赏Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra的精彩演出。当第一把小提琴拉出第一个音符,我就看见她们双眼发亮。是的,即使你觉得自己不会欣赏音乐,你还是会被这华丽的音乐打动,因为音乐本是宇宙语言,只要有灵性,必会欣赏。
中场休息时她们说在这么棒的音乐厅听过了音乐会,以后在槟城怎么听其它的演出?唉...是有一点无奈。槟城贵为马来西亚其中一个以文化城市自居的地方,却连个像样的音乐厅也没有。

原本以为出席音乐会得穿formal wear,我们还打算穿得像贵妇似的,在音乐会结束后找个fine dining餐厅狠狠地宠爱自己。谁知道原来Dewan Filharmonic PETRONAS最终还是得向马来西亚民情低头,现在只要是smart casual就可进场。我们少了个‘扮靓靓’的理由,也乐得穿了条普通连身裙就轻轻松松看场音乐会。音乐会结束后,我们到Ben's吃一餐好的,也就高兴得什么似的了。

(Ben's 又平又净,谁到了KLCC想找吃的,这绝对是个上佳选择)


隔天,大伙儿睡到自然醒,早餐无望,只好到Paragon找Brunch吃。兜了一圈,决定吃日本餐。以这餐厅的价钱和格调来说,食物不错,不过服务水准稍微差了一点。那服务员反正就是把两个小妹妹气得“扎扎跳”。

吃罢,我们到戏院预定晚上的戏票,谁知道即使是工作日,傍晚、午夜的Avengers一票难求。我们反正也没有什么特别的事要做,趁大家都在工作,我们就立刻买了十分钟后的戏票,高高兴兴地过了一个早上。只是哦,KL戏票贵得什么似的。真可怜在KL工作的朋友们。




看完戏我们也只是在购物中心里溜达,买了几本书,败了些衣物,走累了就拿着我的voucher到Haagan Dazs吃一顿贵妇下午茶,外头是火热太阳,我们在店里头慵慵懒懒的消磨一个午后。
吃毕,炎热不散,回公寓睡午觉去。哈哈!


晚上,晶晶怀念读书时代到茨厂街溜达的时光,我们不忍拂她的意,也就叫了一辆的士往茨厂街转。我们这才发觉首都的的士费还算公道,从Fahrenheit到茨厂街车资才RM9,还便宜过搭地铁。

到了茨厂街首要任务就是到“金莲记”吃一碟正宗炭炒福建面。那些‘要命’的猪油渣是所有古早味最让人牵肠挂肚的重要元素。(我对于现代人为了‘健康’而拒吃某些食物,造成一些食肆改变家传食谱觉得最为‘不健康’。很多时候,许多人类文化遗产就是这样无知的被变了样的。所以,我们一定要支持坚守原则的老字号)

吃罢晚餐,在茨厂街草草走了一圈。谁都提不起兴趣。晶晶对于自己当年酷爱茨厂街这个事实显得无法接受,我们都笑她老了……‘那些年’是回不去了……




也来一张‘到此一游’的照片

隔天小妹妹们决定窝在Bukit Bintang一带继续疯狂购物,美美和我则打算当个‘尽责’的游客,到飞禽公园走走,刺激刺激国家旅游业。飞禽公园真是做得不错,任意飞翔的鸟类种类良多。可惜由于天气很热,我们的兴致不算太高,在公园里走了近三个小时就投降了,美美‘急call’弟弟来载我们去吃大餐。

小弟把我们带到组屋后巷穿梭,看见聚苑补品楼的招牌时我可欢喜了。通常,在这么不起眼的角落也有顾客不辞辛劳寻上门,食物水准必定不错。这家小店原来早已大名鼎鼎,许多大马和新加坡的电视台、报章、杂志都曾经介绍过。最特别是里头有中医师坐镇,会替你把脉再给你介绍适合的补品。我们和中医师没有缘分,只有胡叫一通。小弟叫了一盅药材汤给自己,再点了一只鸡、一碟豆芽,我和美美最怕吃药,叫了一盅两个人喝。那帝王鸡很香,炖得入口即化。药材汤不是我们所爱,批评的话就不中肯了。喜欢药材的朋友下次到吉隆坡别忘了去尝尝。


吃了午餐,我们回到公寓,我开了Sheila Majid和Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra合作的演唱会CD,在我的favorite spot看书、听雨、睡午觉。在工作日,没有什么比这样的悠闲更奢侈了。

睡觉的都睡醒了、shopping的都满载而归了、在公寓里也lepak得再呆不下去了,我们这才想到晚餐。我们在Lot 10的“十号胡同”企图偷窥吉隆坡的过去五十年的饮食文化。这,应该是全马购物中心里最棒的food court了吧? 据说这是YTL Group的老板为了孝顺爸爸,把爸爸最爱的许多老字号食肆都请到这个美食中心,好让年老的爸爸可以在卫生、舒适的环境里重温旧梦。此说不知真假,但反正这概念就便宜了我们外来游客。只要在一个美食中心就可以尝尽吉隆坡几个老字号,还有冷气呢!我可求之不得。
有人可能觉得这些食肆在这样的环境就失去了原来的味道,然而,对于我们这些没有童年情意结在作怪的游客来说,这实在是个好地方。颂记牛肉面、何荣记云吞面、汉记靓粥都很棒啊!

晚餐后我们这群迷途羔羊仍然只在Bukit Bintang一带闲逛。也不是没有其他去处,只是大家都懒。此趟首都游不为观光游览,只为休息充电。有时候,我们甚至选择窝在公寓里看了一套又一套的电影也不出门呢!
最后,我们还是再次回到Paragon。由于该看的、该逛的、该买的都做完了,我们也没认真shopping,还是到Godiva吃夜宵比较实际!
喝了香滑热巧克力,一夜美梦。


隔天,又是自然醒。原本计划好到什么名店吃早餐的,最后一概放弃。乖乖到Paragon的The Loaf啃面包去。(前首相的店铺面包真的选择良多,我们这一趟也不知光顾了几次,给他赚了多少钱呢!)Paragon的The Loaf的地点一流,我们选择坐在户外洋伞下,风总是阵阵的吹过来,特别凉快。篱外车水马龙、人头攒动,伞下却是一片静谧安宁,坐在这儿吃面包喝咖啡,有一种众人皆睡我独醒的味道……



吃了几个钟头的早餐,大伙儿才匆匆忙忙到UNIQLO作最后冲刺。
为了弥补我们吃不到“镒记”和“德昌”的遗憾,我们决定必须找一家老字号吃一顿方可离开。
最后,我们决定千里迢迢,又乘地铁、又走老远一段路的到“适苑”吃午餐后才飞回槟城
吃饱后大家的评语一般,但我觉得草草下定论对这老字号不公平。我们一来肚子还饱得很,二来扛着行李走了老远的路累得什么胃口都没有了,三来我们食量太小以致点菜时顾虑太多而没法点上老店的招牌菜。
总有一天我会再来尝尝!

(看看别人怎么说:
vkeong.com )



Other itineraries:
2017 - Germany: Upper Middle Rhine Valley One Day Tour (Stay tune)

Thursday 26 July 2012

学脚车记

不会骑脚车,一直是我遗留在童年岁月的遗憾。所以,连题目,也是属于小学作文惯用的“学脚车记”。:)

从我买了脚车的那一刻起,我就想着自己该会在部落格里写写自己学脚车的过程。应该会是学脚车记(一)、(二)、(三)这样子写下去的。没想到学骑脚踏车原来这么容易。(哈哈,‘晒命’机不可失!)

话说今天(噢,好象已经是昨天了)我因突发事件讨假一天。原以为到了中午应该可以解决,所以把脚车和轻便的衣服带上,打算在中午和晚上八点之间的空当,到青年公园学脚车去。后来事情有点儿更动,我是到了三点多才终于可以坐下来好好的吃一餐(也不知道算午餐还是下午茶)。

躲在Campbell House里头,外边毒辣的阳光让我好想打消了今天学踏脚车的念头,一边吃、一边上网、一边和尼泊尔半工读生闲聊。到了六点,太阳看起来比较和煦了,我终究是不愿意违背自己对自己的承诺,于是给了钱,匆匆到旧关子角找个好地方学脚车去。

刚开始的时候,时间还早,大草场上运动的人不多。我自顾自的想办法搞清楚这两个轮的交通工具究竟该怎么运作。后来有个婆婆看上我,开始和我闲聊,说得兴起,连内裤都翻下来给我看她的瘀伤。我既得想办法平衡,又不好意思撇下寂寞的婆婆不理,忙得不可开交。

不久后,来运动的闲人越来越多,我开始成为叔叔伯伯阿姨阿姐们的焦点。原本还有点儿不好意思,可是我看那两个在拍婚纱照的新人在草场上任人摆布,众目睽睽下摆出各种姿势,我总不可能比他们“瘀”吧?这样想,就坦然了。

“你这么大才学脚车啊?”“为什么一个人来呀?”“老了很难学的啦”“抬起头来不要看地上”“不要紧,我也是二十多岁才学踏脚车的”……反正建议、指点、鼓励应有尽有,我可真不好应对。再加上那脚车头不知怎的就歪了,手柄抓正时车轮至少是25度向右,我连平衡都还不会,还得offset呀?差点儿就要以这为借口,改天继续努力了,幸亏有个叔叔派了他的儿子来给我调车头,这才得以继续。

后来,有个法国小男生实在看不下去了,跑过来向我比手划脚的。我猜他是想扶着我帮我一把,我也老实不客气一口答应。说来神奇,他就扶上了那么一次,我踩着踩着,就绕遍整个大草场了。那些旁观了一个小时,为了我还没学会而咬牙切齿的观众个个拍烂手掌。

我昂起头,感觉凉风吹拂脸庞,傻傻地笑着。挑战自己成功的感觉真棒!

当我还在自我陶醉着,不知怎的停不下来,撞上小树。这时又有人前来教我使用煞车器(呵呵,真不好意思,之前完全没想过自己会一学就会,所以根本就没打算弄清楚煞车方法),这一路练习,要停下来时不是跌跌撞撞就是撞墙了才停得下来,狼狈得很。最后,经过几番摸索,终于可以很‘优雅’地停车,我这才甘愿告别叔叔伯伯阿姨阿姐们,把脚车折起来收进车尾箱,计划着下一次的练习……


我原以为会危机四伏、波折重重;我预计了伤痕累累、遍体鳞伤;我决定了屡战屡败、屡败屡战。谁知道,学踏脚车原来真的这么简单。嘻嘻!

Saturday 21 July 2012

Unreasonable Goal

Anthony Robbins always talk about "unreasonable goals".
Every person that has rocked the foundations of humanity has been unreasonable. Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat to a white person was at the time being unreasonable, but because she was unreasonable, she managed to change the world.
So, be unreasonable with your goals, be unreasonable with your dreams, be unreasonable with your life and aim for something that is currently thought impossible.

For a person that has never learnt how to ride a bicycle for the past 35+ years,  setting "able to ride a bicycle before age 36" as one of my 2012 Q3 goal sounds unreasonable to me :)
Plan to organize a "Georgetown-Jalan-Jalan-Cari-Makan-Bicycle-Tour" by year 2012 also sounds very unreasonable too :)

I know this goal is something super boring / not challenging for most people. However, for me, overcoming the fear of falling down, and put down my pride and learn how to ride a bicycle in the public at the age of 35+ is a huge step for me.

Well, here I am, got myself a RM680 (pleeeaaassseee don't tell my parents!) foldable-7-gears bicycle.



Stay tune for my progress :)

Monday 16 July 2012

槟城低调的意大利餐厅

我和美美在网上看见一家开业不久的意大利餐厅,找了好久,终于找到了这家在码头附近的没有招牌的低调意大利餐厅。

一步入餐厅,感觉非常良好。餐厅设计得简单而优雅,天花板非常高,给予一种很开阔的感觉。我一眼就看中了一张昏黄灯光下,摆着鲜黄非洲菊的小桌,喜滋滋的准备开始我们的意大利大餐。

Menu上的食物标价看起来不怎么便宜,但我们反正拿了免费音乐会入门票(本来一张要RM63呢!),这也就霍了出去,叫服务员介绍他们的招牌菜,于是点了一个starter、一个意大利面、一个main course和两杯饮料。



首先送上的是免费的面包。我们不久前才在Suffolk House吃晚餐,人家送上的是新鲜出炉的热烘烘香喷喷面包,这一篮子就实在引不起我们的食欲,撕了一小块来尝尝,冷的,什么香味也没有。


Gamberetti - RM22

Starter是Gamberetti,bacon包鲜虾,卖相非常好,虽然稍微咸了些,但口感非常好,bacon反正就是香。只是哦,RM22只有三只,实在有点儿贵。不过,既然好吃,就没什么好投诉的啦~

Aglio Olio - RM18

我总是相信,要试看一家餐厅的厨师有多棒,点一碟Aglio Olio包不会错。通常,越简单的东西就越显功夫。这一碟,不过不失。

Salsiccia alla griglia - RM42

我们点这一道主餐时,虽然menu上清楚写着Italian sausages with potatoes and spinach,但我们怎么也没有想到是两条超小的sausages配上三块马铃薯!好吃的话还无所谓,那意大利香肠干瘪瘪的,唉……

Lemon tart - RM22
 吃完了正餐,我们反正还有时间,又被那橱窗里的各类蛋糕弄得意犹未尽,于是心痒痒地,点了一个lemon tart来吃,蛋糕偏甜,美美和我都不爱。Menu上没有甜品的价目表,但我们心想小小一块蛋糕会有多贵,谁知道竟然被敲了RM22,真是心痛!

就这样子,我们两个人以近乎fine dining的价格吃了非fine dining的食物,这几样东西加tax加service charge吃了一百五十大洋!改天到Suffolk House吃两人RM64的下午茶平衡一下!

这店该介绍还是不该介绍呢?见仁见智。你要是和我一样贪新鲜,去试试无妨,据说酒类良多,或许你会喜欢。至于我呢,我是不会再去了,要吃意大利餐我还是回去Bella Italia。

Sunday 15 July 2012

The Manganiyar Seduction

槟城的世界文化遗产日搞得有声有色。作为槟城子民,我不想错过这盛会,所以,虽然近来忙得不可开交,我还是抽出了时间,和美美赴了一场难忘的音乐会……


Manganiyar是北印度一个少数族群,他们即信奉回教、却也保留着印度教的信仰。他们是沙漠上最专业的音乐家,千百年来用音乐诉说着故事……在古老的印度,他们是Rhajasthani王国王宫里御用的乐师,他们的表演从来不允在民间流传。然而,千百年后,古帝国烟消云散,这美丽神秘的音乐依然在沙漠上传唱。

舞台一早设好了,默默地等待着观众们入席……

我们碰上了雨天,大会堂湿漉漉的,观众们好不狼狈。节目原该八点开始,但主办当局体谅雨天为大家带来的不便,把节目延迟至八点半。









时间一到,整个大会堂骤然黑漆漆一片。其中一格的灯泡缓缓亮了起来,帘儿拉开了,不知名的古老拉弦乐器悠悠响起,一位穿着白袍的老音乐家懒洋洋地哼着古乐。渐渐地,一个个帘儿被拉开了,越来越多乐手加入了他的阵容,有歌唱的、有吹笛的、有敲击的,逐渐把音乐推向狂热的交响。


舞台有时候是沉静的、墨黑的,有时候是热情的、璀璨的。那古老的音乐在光和影的配合下为世人展现了一种令人屏息的梦幻。




其中,指挥和观众互动的环节非常有趣,好像小学音乐节的节奏考试似的,他打个节奏观众也打一个,开始时还挺简单的,大家一来一去倒是有趣得很,后来他的节奏俞见复杂,台下的掌声最后只能乱成一片,大家也笑成一团。
到了节目尾段,音乐一步步趋向疯狂,舞台上的灯光开始迅速转换,指挥狂热地大幅度舞动着,救灾台下观众的心情随着被领到顶峰的那一刻,音乐和灯光骤然终结。那种快感非亲眼目睹绝不能想象。




谢幕时掌声如雷


监制谢幕后上台讲故事,轻描淡写地说着他们的艰辛,开玩笑的说团队一行四十个回教徒在美国入境时如何被刁难如何被盘问七八个小时的故事。我可以感觉到那种为发扬这古老音乐的坚持和信念。

这个世界,总有一些少数,因为单纯的对于“美”的崇拜和执着,而积极地为世人保留下了人类文明珍贵的瑰宝。

感恩……

Saturday 7 July 2012

The Ancient Scrolls of Success - Scroll III

Well, I know, it is super weird to have a blog title that starts with "3" out of no where. Sorry about that. But since this is MY blog, I can write whatever I like. Who cares :)
Today I had a great revisit of Scroll III - Persist Until You Succeed, where it was read to us with passion and commitment. I'm touched, and here I am, sharing the scroll with you:


I will persist until I succeed.
In the Orient young bulls are tested for the fight arena in a certain manner. Each is brought to the ring and allowed to attack a picador who pricks them with a lance. The bravery of each bull is then rated with care according to the number of times he demonstrates he willingness to charge in spite of the sting of the blade. hence forth will I recognize that each day I am tested by life in like manner.
 
I will persist until I succeed. 
I was not delivered onto this world in defeat; nor does failure cross in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep. I hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.

I persist until I succeed. 
The prices of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning. And it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal. Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step. Yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never do I know how close it lies, unless I turn the corner. I always take another step. If that is of no avail I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult.

I will persist until I succeed. 
Henceforth, I will consider each day's effort as but one blow of my blade against a mighty oak. The first blow may cause not a tremor in the wood, nor the second nor the third. Each blow, of itself, may be trifling, and seem of no consequence. Yet from childish swipes the oak will eventually tumble. So it will be with my efforts of today. I will be liken to the rain drop, which washes away the mountain, the star, which brightens the earth, the slave who builds a pyramid. I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking.

I will persist until I succeed. 
I never consider defeat and remove from my vocabulary such words and phrases as ‘quit’, ‘cannot’, ‘unable’, ‘impossible’, ‘out of the question’, ‘improbable’, ‘failure’, ‘unworkable’, ‘hopeless’, ‘retreat’, for they are the words of fools. I avoid despair. But if this disease of the mind should infect me, then I ignore the obstacles at my feet and keep mine eyes on the goals above my head, for I know that where the dry desert ends, green grass grows.

I will persist until I succeed. 
I will remember the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good. I will persist with  knowledge that each failure to sell will increase my chance for success at the next attempt. Each nay I hear will bring me closer to the sound of yea. Each frown I meet only prepares me for the smile to come. Each misfortune I encounter carries in it the seed of tomorrow’s good luck. I must have the night to appreciate the day. I must fail often to succeed only once.

I will persist until I succeed.
I will try, and try, and try again. Each obstacle I will consider as a mere detour to my goal and a challenge to my profession. i will persist and develop my skills as the mariner develops his, by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm.
 
I will persist until I succeed.
Henceforth, I learn and apply another secret of those who excel in my work. When each day is ended, not regarding whether it has been a success or a failure, I attempt to achieve one more sale. When my thoughts beckon my tired body homeward, I resist the temptation to depart. I make one more attempt to close with victory, and if that fails, I make another. Never do I allow my day to end with a failure. Thus I plant the seed of tomorrow’s success and gain an insurmountable advantage over those who cease their labor at a prescribed time. And my harvest will be full.

I persist until I succeed. 
Nor will I allow yesterday’s success to lull me into today’s complacency, for this is the great foundation of failure. I forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this is the best day of my life. For now I know one of the greatest principles of success. If I persist long enough, I will win.

I will persist! 
I will win!


For those that had never heard of "The Greatest Salesman in the World", it is a book written by Og Mandino. It serves as a guide to a philosophy of salesmanship and success. Stay tune, I may post other scrolls as of when I feel like it :)
  • Scroll I - The Power of Good Habits
  • Scroll II - Greet Each Day With Love In Your Heart
  • Scroll III - Persist Until You Succeed
  • Scroll IV - You Are Natures Greatest Miracle
  • Scroll V - Live Each Day as if it Were Your Last
  • Scroll VI - Master Your Emotions
  • Scroll VII - The Power of Laughter
  • Scroll VIII - Multiply Your Value Every Day
  • Scroll IX - All is Worthless Without Action
  • Scroll X - Pray to God for Guidance