在KK山水之间：四天三夜（二）

九月一日（Gaya Street; Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park; Waterfront; 宿Marina Vacation Condo @ Marina Court Resort Condominium ）

这一天，我们一早就起床到Gaya Street Sunday Market逛。或许是我太久没有逛街市，我总觉得这儿挺好、特别的，五花八门、琳琅满目。而且那些小狗呀，鱼儿呀，特别可爱。不过，由于我们并没有什么特别想买的，也就走马看花地绕了一圈，然后往Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal走去，和不愿早醒的另一群汇合。一路上，我们尝试靠海岸走，发觉KK虽然是首都城市，但海水基本上还非常干净，在码头往下看仍然可以看见海底和小鱼，KK居民真叫人羡慕。

我们在Jesselton Point五号柜台要了往Sapi Island和Manukan Island的两岛配套，每人二十五元，外加RM7.50的税收，以及RM3的入门票，我个人觉得非常便宜。从KK往这些海岛只不过二十分钟左右的船程，方便而简易，再加上这儿椰风树影水清沙幼，真的值得一游。

当然，你要是期待像Sipadan岛那种顶级潜水地点那么迷人，你毕竟还是得恶补地理常识，并调整expectation。可是，要是你以平常心来这儿游玩，这儿必定不会让人失望。

Gaya Street牌坊

我们乘下午两点半的船回KK。累了的乘的士回去休息，精力充沛的则选择步行回去，以便可以好好的看看这个美丽的城市。可是，或许适逢星期天，大多数商店并没有营业。

我们在朋友大力推荐下，在Gaya Street的怡丰咖啡店喝了非常香浓的双层拉茶，是非常好喝香滑，但是要RM2.50一杯哦！我们又观察到这家咖啡店的客人多点“辣沙”（咖喱面），我才想起做功课时曾经看过这家店以辣沙闻名，于是又点了一碗尝尝。咖喱是挺香的，不过这样的咖喱面并不合我口味。这么一碗要马币五元！亚庇食物真正贵！

傍晚，我们到Waterfront等待日落。这一次运气好，我们看着那“咸蛋黄”缓缓地跨过水平线，跌入地球的另一端……

日落完毕，我们经过一番周折才来到著名的大茄来吃晚餐。原来虽然说是在Star City，但毕竟隐蔽，是得绕到建筑物后头才看得到这家店面。我们十六人两桌共点了下图这一些食物。每桌食物包括招牌豆腐、两道青菜、甘香螃蟹1kg、咸蛋螃蟹1kg、七星斑800g、东风螺1kg以及生蚝（每只马币七元）。
这一顿丰盛海鲜餐正适合作为一天的句号。

（Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park入门费每人共RM35.50，浮潜用具一套RM10；Sapi Island上的快熟面午餐一碗RM３；Waterfront饮料一杯RM6；大茄来海鲜晚餐RM509)


请你也读：
在KK山水之间：四天三夜（一）

在KK山水之间：四天三夜（三）

在KK山水之间：四天三夜（一）

今年四月订下亚航槟城直飞亚庇的机票后，还以为这次必定要攀爬中国寡妇山了！谁知道原来国庆日假期是超级旺日，上神山的固打早就满了，真是“明年请早”！征服寡妇山的计划取消，我们只好把焦点转至KK的锦绣山水之间。

一如往常，先容我略谈行程及费用（除非特别声明，否则费用皆以十六人计），改天再细说各处印象。

八月三十日（宿J. Residence）

Excitedly waiting for our flight at Penang Airport

到达KK机场，已经是中午一点多了，再加上十三人互等的，拖拖拉拉直至我们离开机场已经是两点多的事了。我们原本的行程是随便买了一些食物在车上解决直奔京那巴鲁国家公园，但团内孕妇喊饿，我们也就乖乖的在市中心解决午餐。我们的司机Penny姐说沙巴人普遍上较西马人早吃午餐，中午两点过后其实已经难找吃了，只好草草把我们放在小贩中心解决（我们就这样子错过了著名的生肉面）

首尝Buah Tarap

午餐后直奔J. Residence。一路上风景不错，卖水果、蔬菜的摊子比比皆是。我们听说上山前那个小镇的黄梨特好吃，又听说这儿的玉蜀黍比金马伦的美味上百倍，所以我们总是走走停停的。司机极力推荐buah tarap，我们孤陋寡闻，第一次看见这貌似nangka　/　cempedak混合体的水果，也就乖乖掏腰包以马币三元买了一粒尝尝。我不爱重口味的水果，对这实在没什么兴趣，尝过就算。

一路上山路蜿蜒，偶尔一阵冷风，我们立刻堕入白茫茫的云雾中。要不是有经验的司机，这条路还挺危险的。

到了J. Residence，大家都懒惰了，哪儿都不想去，就呆在大自然中休息。晚餐到附近的“仙园”吃火锅，又贵又不好吃，服务态度又差， 我们的大厨忍无可忍，回到J. Residence立刻大展身手，为我们准备了非常美味的“满汉全席之蘑菇篇”作夜宵。


（J. Residence三人间RM99,Villa(三间双人房）RM480；包两辆van两天一夜RM1,700;仙园十三人火锅晚餐RM218.90）


八月三十一日（Desa Dairy Farm+Poring Hot Spring+Rafflesia Flower Viewing+Mari Mari Cultural Village;宿Marina Vacation Condo @ Marina Court Resort Condominium ）

我们早上起床看日出，然后享受了几个小时的树林中的静谧。早餐后check out往Desa Dairy Farm出发。

途中停车和害羞的寡妇山拍照

大家都说这可媲美纽西兰的农场，我没到过纽西兰，没法做比较，但这农场倒真是值得一游。

广阔蓝空下绿油油一片，叫人心广神怡。在这儿大伙儿最卖命摆‘匍士’拍照，团体照也拍了不少，很有八十年代游神州的旅游照片的感觉，那种大地任我游的豪迈感觉。而给小羊儿喂食也很有趣呢！羊儿吃草吃厌了还会攻击背包、衣服，热情过度。

大家拍了照片、买了奶制品就继续往Poring Hot Spring 出发。

泡温泉也用得着这个？

或许因为假日，人潮汹涌，看起来像公共泳池甚于温泉。

幸好我对马来西亚的温泉从来不抱任何期望，所以也没什么好失望的。

最叫人跌眼镜的是那久仰大名的Canopy walk。我们读了这么多部落格，个个猛赞，又说山路有多难行，结果我做了周全准备（还特地穿长裤怕雨林地上的草丛），没想到轻轻松松就走完了，canopy也不算太长，真的没有传说中这么震撼咯~

非常青绿的入口

在Canopy Walk听参天古树细说当年……

在开往Poring的路上，司机Penny姐一直盆算着我们遇见臭名远播的莱佛士花的几率（花只盛放七天左右，而且通常在深山里头要步行好久），把我们搞得心痒痒的。所以从Canopy下来，一听说每人马币二十元有得看离山路不远的莱佛士花我们就决定机不可失（真的，反正可能一生人就只看一回），立刻要了！不过，我们想象的是可以蹲在花旁细看，可以嗅一嗅这大花的尸臭，当然也包括了把头贴近花儿拍照然后在脸书上炫耀。谁知道进到林里，才发觉得隔着木篱远观，一朵枯萎了，另一朵已近生命尾声尽了传宗接代的使命所以不再发出尸臭味。十六人共给了马币三百二，大家心痛，只好轮流和莱佛士花拍张远远的合照弥补钱包的大洞。

从林间走出来，我们到邻近的Round Inn吃午餐。套餐分量相当大，味道普通，在这样子的旅游区我们倒不太在意食物品质，免得自己懊恼。

吃了午餐我们就从Poring赶往Mari Mari Cultural Village。

一路上Penny姐讲着许多天马行空的故事，大家却渐渐睡得昏昏沉沉，只有我非常尽责地entertain Penny姐，因而有幸认真地看了这片土地。车窗外蓊绿高山延绵不绝，在蔚蓝天空下显得特别辽阔，于我一种云山堆里看青山的淡然。

大伙儿总是在停车购物时苏醒，对这一排开阔的水果、蔬菜摊子特别感兴趣。蔬菜水果都卖得非常便宜，而且新鲜好吃。
我们因为一早听说这儿的奶油果（avocado）非常香甜，一路上总是很认真地找着，最后找着了，一斤才五元，Penny姐却说还未熟透叫我们别买，我们按捺不住好奇心，只好以三盒五元的价钱买了切便的来尝尝，真的很好吃哦！据说奶油果汁更是一等一的上品，可惜我们就是没喝着。下次吧！

到了Mari Mari Cultural Village，时间还早，我们就在“村”里到处走走逛逛拍照。这“文化村”比我想象中大，沙巴五大族都在这儿，而且到每一族的“屋子”都有许多互动，比任何一个我所曾去过的文化村都好玩。（下次再仔细报告）。整个行程从傍晚六点开始，节目结束后还有自助晚餐，我们离开时已经近九点了。

我们预定Mari Mari Cultural Village时，还可以预定不含来回亚庇交通的门票，每人RM80。（我们一行十六人还获得折扣，十五人送一人的门票。）可是在写部落格时我再查看价钱表，他们已经统一票价，含交通马来西亚公民每人百四哦！



Marina Vacation Condos的老板见我们久久不出现，还打了电话来关心一下。我们到达时还有员工在apartment楼下迎接我们，把我们带到我们租下的单位，服务真的挺不错的。


（Marina Vacation Condos六房penthouse 每夜RM850；Round Inn午餐套餐一人RM18（不过我们十六人仅点了十人份）；Poring入门票一人RM3;Poring Canopy Walk另收费一人RM3、相机每架RM5；莱佛士花一人RM20; Mari Mari Cultural Village RM1,200)

请你也读：
在KK山水之间：四天三夜（二）
在KK山水之间：四天三夜（三）

Naked Turtles

I worked in a place where the definition of human rights is slightly different from the rest. There is an internet monitoring software in place to monitor employees' browsing activities,and also to filter out those inappropriate contents and websites. We are used to the "over-sensitive" software which filter out almost anything and everything. Our Google experience almost always end up in "Access Denied" page, even when we were searching for some technical terms. I thought nothing will ever surprise me anymore, until today......

We were crazy about Sipadan / Mabul / Maldives these few days. One of my colleagues searched for "Semporna" and he ended up in "Access Denied" page again.

When he took a close look, to his surprise, Sem-porn-a Island Project was categorized as "Pornography/Sexually Explicit"!! Classic!

We were joking that Sem-porn-a website must have a whole gallery of naked turtles. We must be protected from the risks of aroused during working hours.

Why I Can Relate to Sheldon Cooper - Dress Up

I can sure relate to Sheldon. I hate dressing up. Dress up to please others is more of animal instinct. I think. Of course, I do dress up once in a while, for the function, not to my liking.

I need only comfortable clothing. That's the primary criteria for selecting my daily wear. Of course, having some geeky / cute / nerdy / funny design gives me extra secret self-amusement.

When I was in my secondary school, I once told one of my close friends that clothing to me is for keep warm and for socially correctness. She was shock, and I rarely use that phrase in making my points in my life anymore.



Why I Can Relate to Sheldon Cooper:

• Star Wars Fans
• The Need of Perfect TV Screen
• Being Accurate
• Hate Dressing Up
• Acoustics Sweet Spot

A Secret Introvert

那天在朋友的FB post看见这“23 Signs You Are Secretly An Introvert", 我发出了会心的一笑。我至少中了四分之三（却也偷偷庆幸自己没有全中。小学时候老师爱谈中庸，我觉得那是人性中近乎不可能的事，却也相信这是我穷这一生人必须学习修炼的事。四分之三，过之。）

我小时候对于人生的意义、对于世间一切真真假假想得很多，小学时候还曾经差点儿走火入魔了，特别怪胎。不过，我一生人总是幸运。我没有对任何成人谈起，却在仍然无知的时候选择了对的管道，在书堆中找到了依靠。过后又因为音乐、因为文学、因为前人的一些伟大宗旨，我把钻牛角尖的精力放在砥砺琢磨，这就无惊无险走过青春期了。

我并没有停止追问人生的意义，我并没有停止追逐真理。只是，我学会了平衡，平衡寻觅的步伐及矛盾的挣扎。

我想告诉所有正在迷茫中的青少年，别害怕，你一定会找到笃定的方法。

Steak Frites

Steak Frites is the restaurant of Hotel 23 Love Lane. If you don't pay attention when you drive through Love Lane, you are going to miss this humble little restaurant.

I love the interior of this restaurant. Nostalgic-chic. It is more of nostalgic. It reminds me of some old kopitiams that I visited as a kid. The impluvium and stairs somehow bring back some vague memories at my grand-aunt's house.


This restaurant is not as better known as it deserves, most probably because of its extremely simple menu. There are only 2 items listed in the main course menu: 150g of Australian grass-fed tenderloin steak (RM49), or 200g of Australian grass-fed tenderloin steak (RM60). (I'm alone during my first visit because it is just hard to have friends that crave for steak at the same time, especially most of them don't eat beef!)

All main courses come with salad and fries. The salad is served with French dressing. Fresh and simple, had my tongue ready for the fragrant meat. The steak is served with generous dollop of Chef's special butter and basil. Full of flavour and juiciness.
Even the fries are good too!

They have very friendly staffs and the ambiance is very welcoming.

I'll be back! :)

Address: Lorong Love, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Phone:+60 4-262 13

pathway to the boutique hotel

Penangites' memories

Schrödinger's Cat

Look at today's Google home page! It is Erwin Schrodinger's 126th birthday!

Just in case you do not know who Erwin Schrodinger is, he is the one that is famous for Schrödinger's cat Paradox. (Of course, this Nobel Prize winning physicist's contribution is much greater than just the theoretical cat)

I'd like to celebrate the great mind with Sheldon's explanation :)

Why I Can Relate to Sheldon Cooper - Being Accurate

I know how annoying it is to have someone constantly correcting your mistakes, I also know how annoying it is to have someone constantly nagging about the inaccurate facts. I knew this years ago, but it is Sheldon that makes me realize how annoying (yet funny) is this habit and I'm now consciously trying to suppress my urge to correct others in my daily conversation.

However, my colleagues will tell you how I fail from time to time, and how not funny I am when I do this. I just love being accurate. I even love to have someone else corrected me so that I learn another new facts. The only problem I have is, how could I make it as funny as Sheldon?


Example 1: Captain hook's hand was eaten by a crocodile not an alligator. If you're going to insult me at least get your facts straight.




Example 2: Where exactly does the half-sandwich come from? Are you giving me half of someone else's sandwich, or do I have to wait for someone in the restaurant to order the other half? (To be honest, I have the same question when I first visited USA too!!)



Example 3: 
Penny: I give up. He's impossible!
Sheldon: I can't be impossible; I exist! I think what you meant to say is, 'I give up; he's improbable'. 




Why I Can Relate to Sheldon Cooper:

• Star Wars Fans
• The Need of Perfect TV Screen
• Being Accurate
• Hate Dressing Up
• Acoustics Sweet Spot

A Happy Customer

It was all started with Wei Wei bought me a lovely T-shirt on-line.
It was bought from Threadless, and it is named as "Mozart: Decomposing since 1791". It is clever, nerdy and funny, and I love it!
However, this didn't turn me into an on-line shopper. Not yet.

Mozart: Decomposing since 1791

In the beginning of this year, I accidentally fell in love with The Big Bang Theory, and I was crazily searching for the nerdy T-shirt and shower curtain online, and that's how I ended up became an on-line shopper. Threadless is the online store with all the crazy/funny/nerdy designs, and all these designs come with awesome names, just like all the classic art work!


(1) First Purchase
My first purchase was cool. It was separated into 2 shipments because some orders were available while some orders need re-print. The first parcel I received was a great art in a squishy bag :)

My first ever Threadless on-line shopping experience

It contained a very cool T-shirt that is full with spoilers. This T-shirt is named "Spoilt". I didn't want to over pampered myself so even though I love this design so much, I decided to buy for En and not myself.

Spoilt

I also got myself a pack of 3 notebooks, as my future travel journal.

From left: "Thumbper", "Field Study 01" and "Break Free"

The second batch of my first purchase did arrive as planned. I had an extremely bad episode with POS Malaysia. Anyway, due to Threadless' excellence customer service, I was so glad with them (and of course, so glad with all the e-vouchers too), I had my 2nd purchase real soon....

From left: Life of Pie, Hugs Keep Us Alive, Life of Pie, Midnight Snack

(2) Second Purchase
During my second purchase, I was telling myself that it is ok since I'm only going to spend with my 20% discount voucher. So, this time, I decided to spend the voucher on all the more expensive series, including Marvel, Disney and Sesame Street.

To ease my guilt, I bought one each for Wei and En too. En got a very cool Vitruviron Man, while Wei got the one that she previously pointed out as super cute "Bad Hair Day".

Vitruviron Man

Bad Hair Day

I, on the other hand, got myself THREE!!!

From Left: "Evil Dr. Porkchop", "We're Gonna Need a Bigger Cookie", "Infinito"

I bought "Evil Dr. Porkchop" because, you know, who doesn't love the imaginary Evil Dr. Porkchop!? You'd especially enjoy it if you watch Toy Story 3 in Cantonese, where he appeared in a dramatic entrance with Andy shouting "邪恶猪扒博士来啦！"

I bought the "We're Gonna Need a Bigger Cookie" not because I like Cookie Monster, but I think the Jaws-Poster-design is clever and funny. I could almost hear the ostinato bass dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum....

I HAVE TO buy Infinito! It reminded me of the crazy Spanish-mode-Buzz. Just in case you forgot about that hilarious scene, watch this:



(3) Third Purchase
I forgot how, but after all the great experiences I had with Threadless, I ended up with 3 e-voucher that worth USD10 each. To stop myself from the extremely-frequent-on-and-off browsing of Threadless website, I've decided to spend that 3 e-vouchers in one shot and end the short term addiction. (Well, you should notice, I didn't say "final purchase")

From Left: "Penny", "The Three Trials", "The Gaming Revolution"

I wanted to get Ah En a Star Wars inspired design named "Emperor". The Force is strong with this one. However, the die hard gamer opted for "The Gaming Revolution", which I don't quite understand. I mean the design.

I got myself "The Three Trials". Something only the Indiana Jones Fans would get excited about. Besides, it is never easy to find a great Indiana Jones T-shirt. The last time I went to Bangkok night market, they have almost every famous films design, except Indy!













And I just got to buy "Penny"!
Though some people complained that it looks nothing like Kaley, but I think that's the point. You have to guess!
First, of course, it is a penny.
Secondly, you must pay attention to see "In Nerds We Trust" to link it to The Big Bang Theory, and hence, Penny :)
I love it!












I look at my Threadless experience, and I concluded their success as below: 
1) Excellence customer service is the key! 
If Crystal (Threadless Help Ambassador) is not as friendly or as helpful as she is, I might have gave up talking to POS Malaysia, and I might have considered that a loss. Most probably, I will never visit Threadless again, or worse still, totally abandon online shopping FOREVER!
2) DESIGN is the soul.
Threadless have endless cool designs that made it stand out from various on-line T-shirt shops. It suits the needs of huge spectrum of coolness :)
3) Embrace talents
Threadless welcome talents all around the world to submit their art work to various design challenges (with different themes). I bet this is how they get endless sources of awesomeness.