I find that these days in KL there are increasing numbers of snatch thieves. Maybe it did not happen to you before but ask around your friends, chances are quite a few of them had been snatched before or had heard of similar stories or have even seen it before but did not do anything to help. Yet another typical Kuala Lumpurian attitude, the mind your own business attitude. It's sad to know that there are people with such kinda attitude.
Just yesterday my friend, CY's hp was snatched from her hand while she's calling me. We were supposed to meet up for dinner in Sentul. Her god bro send her to the restaurant, as she's getting out of the car she tried to call me to ask where exactly is my location and that is when her hp got snatched. Yes, snatched from her very own hand. The call she made went through and I did pick up her call and keep saying 'hello, hello' and no one answer me back. At the same time, I heard from the phone and saw a guy on a bike sped off very loudly. At that moment I still did not know her phone got snatched until my friend call her other phone. That's when she told us her phone got snatched. The guy who snatched her phone practically scratch her face to hurt her in order to snatch the hp. That's how desperate these people are. All this happened in few meters away from the restaurant which have a lot of customers but in the darker area.
According to CY, there's a guy standing in front of her but did not do anything to help her. She said she did gave out a scream but I guess it's too noisy there that we did not heard it. She got a scratch mark from the thief on her eye. Right below her eye. She was very shocked from the incident. She did not sleep well last night. She's still shocked from the incident. Her first time being snatched thief victim. Who isn't? When I got snatched I was as shocked as she is if not worse cos my whole bag was snatched. I lost everything from my wallet to my car key and my new clothes!
But this serve as a lesson to us especially the girls. Avoiding talking on your hp while walking alone cos it make us easy prey. Don't put your hp, car keys etc on the table. Never leave our bags on an empty chair beside us no matter sitting in the restaurant or outside of the restaurant.
You think it won't happen to you just because you are in a upper class area? Think twice cos I was snatched in a upper class area. No matter where we go, we must be alert with our surrounding especially people who look suspicious. Even when I am driving back home alone at night I tend to be extremely careful. Never know when someone is tailing you home to rob you.
Sound pretty unsafe in KL? I'm not too sure either. But I try to avoid certain areas and be extra more careful especially at night when I'm alone.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Happy Mid Autumn Festival 2008
It's the Mid Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival as many may call it. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar chinese calendar. To most chinese, we will go back to our hometowns to have reunion dinner and mooncake while 'moon bathing' with our respective families.
Same goes to my family except this year mom is working thus no celebration. But an aunt was kind enough to invite the family over to have lunch with them.
Nevertheless me and my bf decided to take things into our own hands. Not anything bad but we cook up a pot of treasure for the whole family (both side of the families). Previously when I went to KK in March, I had bought some sea cucumbers and abalone for our families and finally today we decided to cook everything in a pot :)
Chicken abalone soup with mushroom and sea cucumbers
Ingredients
1 kampung chicken
1 pack of abalone which I bought from KK (it consist of 10-11pcs)
3 big pieces of sea cucumber (which I bought from KK too- frozen)(soak it in water to soften it)
15-20 pieces of mushrooms (soaked overnight and sliced half)
a few slices of 'dong kwai'
a handful of red dates and 'kei chi'
1. Firstly we must clean the abalones. It's quite small in size. Not as big as those we eat in 'Ah Yat Abalone' of course. Apparently it's very hard to clean these abalones. U need a 'abalone scrub' to scrub it to remove the dirt sticking on the abalone. Those which I bought are wet abalones and not dried abalones. It's very hard to scrub away those dirt. If it can't be remove, trim off those dirty edges. Or u can try using baking soda to clean it. I did not try that.
2. Next, clean the kampung chicken. This is my first time cleaning a whole chicken. Although the seller already chop and remove the skin but there's still a lot of fats and internal organs of the chicken that need to be removed. It's a bit yucky when u stuff your hand into the chicken to remove all the internal organs. It feels slimy and stinky. Set it aside after cleaning the chicken.
3. Once the abalones are clean, stuff it into the chicken together with the mushrooms and the chinese herbs as well ('dong kwai', red dates, 'kei chi')
4. Put a pot of water to boil. Take out the sea cucumbers which are soften and sliced it. Set it in the fridge as it won't be needed till later.
5. Add in the left over of the abalones, mushrooms and herbs which can't be all stuffed into the chicken into the pot. Add in the stuffed chicken as well. Close the lid and let it boil in medium heat.
6. Once boiled, turn down the heat and let it boil in low heat for three and half hours. Add in the sliced sea cucumber during the last 45 mins as it will 'melt' in the soup. I guess the quality of the sea cucumber is not that good either. Add salt to taste when the soup is done.
Yes, it's that simple only. BUT, it's a lot of works to do especially on the preparation part. It was my first time handling abalones. Even my mom don't know how to cook it. So, this time I'm learning from Chef Steve hehehe
Verdict : The abalones is not as nice as those we had in restaurants. Can't complain much as we are only amateurs and I can't afford those big juicy abalones (these are cheap abalones RM 50 for a pack only). The whole pot of soup is very 'sin tim' (cantonese word as in 'hoi sin' that 'sin') The chicken is so soft and tender that the meat practically falls out from the bone. The sea cucumber almost 'melted' all in the soup. The abalones had shrunk to even smaller size. It is very chewy and not much taste. It's unlike those restaurant's where it is cooked for a few hours before it is served. For those who don't like the chewy tasteless abalone, sliced the abalones and cook a separate sauce to go with it. It taste better that way :)
I'm quite satisfied with today's pot of soup. I had too much of it till I can't eat anymore mooncake. But I did had some mooncake at Steve's place last night. The 2 of us enjoying our lil 'moon bathing' in his place while having mooncake and chinese tea. The traditional chinese tea with all the small pots and lil cups etc. He's the expert in 'kung fu' chinese tea. Explaining the art of making 2 small cups of nice aromatic chinese tea.
With different sizes of the tea cups, the tea actually taste different. The long tall cup of tea have a smoother taste while the round cup bring a thick taste. It's a very unique art of drinking tea which I don't know until now :)
Before I go to bed, wishing everyone a Happy Mid Autumn Festival!
Same goes to my family except this year mom is working thus no celebration. But an aunt was kind enough to invite the family over to have lunch with them.
Nevertheless me and my bf decided to take things into our own hands. Not anything bad but we cook up a pot of treasure for the whole family (both side of the families). Previously when I went to KK in March, I had bought some sea cucumbers and abalone for our families and finally today we decided to cook everything in a pot :)
Chicken abalone soup with mushroom and sea cucumbers
Ingredients
1 kampung chicken
1 pack of abalone which I bought from KK (it consist of 10-11pcs)
3 big pieces of sea cucumber (which I bought from KK too- frozen)(soak it in water to soften it)
15-20 pieces of mushrooms (soaked overnight and sliced half)
a few slices of 'dong kwai'
a handful of red dates and 'kei chi'
1. Firstly we must clean the abalones. It's quite small in size. Not as big as those we eat in 'Ah Yat Abalone' of course. Apparently it's very hard to clean these abalones. U need a 'abalone scrub' to scrub it to remove the dirt sticking on the abalone. Those which I bought are wet abalones and not dried abalones. It's very hard to scrub away those dirt. If it can't be remove, trim off those dirty edges. Or u can try using baking soda to clean it. I did not try that.
2. Next, clean the kampung chicken. This is my first time cleaning a whole chicken. Although the seller already chop and remove the skin but there's still a lot of fats and internal organs of the chicken that need to be removed. It's a bit yucky when u stuff your hand into the chicken to remove all the internal organs. It feels slimy and stinky. Set it aside after cleaning the chicken.
3. Once the abalones are clean, stuff it into the chicken together with the mushrooms and the chinese herbs as well ('dong kwai', red dates, 'kei chi')
4. Put a pot of water to boil. Take out the sea cucumbers which are soften and sliced it. Set it in the fridge as it won't be needed till later.
5. Add in the left over of the abalones, mushrooms and herbs which can't be all stuffed into the chicken into the pot. Add in the stuffed chicken as well. Close the lid and let it boil in medium heat.
6. Once boiled, turn down the heat and let it boil in low heat for three and half hours. Add in the sliced sea cucumber during the last 45 mins as it will 'melt' in the soup. I guess the quality of the sea cucumber is not that good either. Add salt to taste when the soup is done.
Yes, it's that simple only. BUT, it's a lot of works to do especially on the preparation part. It was my first time handling abalones. Even my mom don't know how to cook it. So, this time I'm learning from Chef Steve hehehe
Verdict : The abalones is not as nice as those we had in restaurants. Can't complain much as we are only amateurs and I can't afford those big juicy abalones (these are cheap abalones RM 50 for a pack only). The whole pot of soup is very 'sin tim' (cantonese word as in 'hoi sin' that 'sin') The chicken is so soft and tender that the meat practically falls out from the bone. The sea cucumber almost 'melted' all in the soup. The abalones had shrunk to even smaller size. It is very chewy and not much taste. It's unlike those restaurant's where it is cooked for a few hours before it is served. For those who don't like the chewy tasteless abalone, sliced the abalones and cook a separate sauce to go with it. It taste better that way :)
I'm quite satisfied with today's pot of soup. I had too much of it till I can't eat anymore mooncake. But I did had some mooncake at Steve's place last night. The 2 of us enjoying our lil 'moon bathing' in his place while having mooncake and chinese tea. The traditional chinese tea with all the small pots and lil cups etc. He's the expert in 'kung fu' chinese tea. Explaining the art of making 2 small cups of nice aromatic chinese tea.
With different sizes of the tea cups, the tea actually taste different. The long tall cup of tea have a smoother taste while the round cup bring a thick taste. It's a very unique art of drinking tea which I don't know until now :)Before I go to bed, wishing everyone a Happy Mid Autumn Festival!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Hassle of Getting A Car Number Plate
To those who know and have bought cars before will know the hassle of getting a 'good' car number plate. Unless of course, u don't need any special numbers thus, less hassle. This is my second time going to JPJ to buy my car number plate. The first was with my ex and it wasn't that hard. Maybe it is due to he bought common number.
If u log on to JPJ website,the numbers are categorized into premier value number which are those single digit numbers, interesting numbers such as 11, 333, 8888 etc and popular numbers such as 1000, 2772, 7788 etc. But the number which I wanted to buy is not in either one of these category. Usually, when u buy a new car, the sales person will help u handle all this hassle. I guess I was unlucky to have a not so competent sales person. Initially he told me he could help me to get the number I want for RM 300++ then it become RM 400++ then it turn out to be RM 500-600 cos he ask a runner to help him buy that number! I was very pissed off with his ever increasing price tag for the number and so I decided to get the number from JPJ myself.
Early Tue morning, I wake up as early as 7am and prepared myself to go JPJ. Luckily it's nearby my house. I reach there 7.30am and already there are a few people queing for the relatives departments to open up! Since I was there with my dad, I asked him to go join the Q upstair as that's the place where we are suppose to go for application for number plate, while I wait for the forms counter to be open. The form counter open 5 mins earlier than the other department. I grab a form and quickly fill it up and join my dad in the Q. By the time I reach the staircase, the Q is already until ground floor. Am so glad that dad's place was the 4th but sadly by the time the Q reach me, the lady told me that the new number is not open for sale yet. Thus no waiting numbers for me and I have to wait indefinitely.
I waited for an hour plus before the lady say we can Q up again for the number. By this hour a lot of people already Q-ing and long line have been formed. I did sort of jump Q cause the few of us are the early bird bunch and it's pretty unfair for us to have waited so long and to join the Q again. Lucky the lady recognize us and gave us the number or else I would not have be able to get what I want.
I'm the 5th person. Not too bad. A very good chance to get the number that I want. I reach the counter, pass the forms to the lady and tell her the number which I want. The number is still available and it only cost me RM 340 plus RM 10 service charge. At this time I panic, cause dad went out for breakfast and I don't have enough money for it. I only have about RM 150 in my purse and the lady in the counter said I have to pay her and no waiting or pre book number. I called my dad and he's quite far from the place. In the meantime, I have to do what I had to do.
To borrow money from strangers!!! Yes, it is embarrassing but if I don't buy the number now I would not have got it. I asked the uncle at the next counter but he seem very angry with the JPJ lady and say 'don't know' and left. Lucky at the time, the lady serving me is also handling another issue with another customer thus I get to pro-long the time while waiting for my dad. Eventually there's this guy (which I think is a runner) who's familiar with the lady came ask her something and so I grab the chance and asked him to borrow me some cash to secure the number. I assured him that I won't run away and I will wait with him for my dad to reach. Lucky me, he's very kind and he did borrow me RM 170 for me to buy the number cause at that time I only have RM 180. Dad came in just in time to pay the lady and I don't have to borrow the guy's money after all. Phew! what a situation.
Finally mission accomplish and number secured but the hassle of getting it..... really not so worth it but think of saving at least RM 200 to pay a runner to buy the number, brings a smile to myself :)
If u log on to JPJ website,the numbers are categorized into premier value number which are those single digit numbers, interesting numbers such as 11, 333, 8888 etc and popular numbers such as 1000, 2772, 7788 etc. But the number which I wanted to buy is not in either one of these category. Usually, when u buy a new car, the sales person will help u handle all this hassle. I guess I was unlucky to have a not so competent sales person. Initially he told me he could help me to get the number I want for RM 300++ then it become RM 400++ then it turn out to be RM 500-600 cos he ask a runner to help him buy that number! I was very pissed off with his ever increasing price tag for the number and so I decided to get the number from JPJ myself.
Early Tue morning, I wake up as early as 7am and prepared myself to go JPJ. Luckily it's nearby my house. I reach there 7.30am and already there are a few people queing for the relatives departments to open up! Since I was there with my dad, I asked him to go join the Q upstair as that's the place where we are suppose to go for application for number plate, while I wait for the forms counter to be open. The form counter open 5 mins earlier than the other department. I grab a form and quickly fill it up and join my dad in the Q. By the time I reach the staircase, the Q is already until ground floor. Am so glad that dad's place was the 4th but sadly by the time the Q reach me, the lady told me that the new number is not open for sale yet. Thus no waiting numbers for me and I have to wait indefinitely.
I waited for an hour plus before the lady say we can Q up again for the number. By this hour a lot of people already Q-ing and long line have been formed. I did sort of jump Q cause the few of us are the early bird bunch and it's pretty unfair for us to have waited so long and to join the Q again. Lucky the lady recognize us and gave us the number or else I would not have be able to get what I want.
I'm the 5th person. Not too bad. A very good chance to get the number that I want. I reach the counter, pass the forms to the lady and tell her the number which I want. The number is still available and it only cost me RM 340 plus RM 10 service charge. At this time I panic, cause dad went out for breakfast and I don't have enough money for it. I only have about RM 150 in my purse and the lady in the counter said I have to pay her and no waiting or pre book number. I called my dad and he's quite far from the place. In the meantime, I have to do what I had to do.
To borrow money from strangers!!! Yes, it is embarrassing but if I don't buy the number now I would not have got it. I asked the uncle at the next counter but he seem very angry with the JPJ lady and say 'don't know' and left. Lucky at the time, the lady serving me is also handling another issue with another customer thus I get to pro-long the time while waiting for my dad. Eventually there's this guy (which I think is a runner) who's familiar with the lady came ask her something and so I grab the chance and asked him to borrow me some cash to secure the number. I assured him that I won't run away and I will wait with him for my dad to reach. Lucky me, he's very kind and he did borrow me RM 170 for me to buy the number cause at that time I only have RM 180. Dad came in just in time to pay the lady and I don't have to borrow the guy's money after all. Phew! what a situation.
Finally mission accomplish and number secured but the hassle of getting it..... really not so worth it but think of saving at least RM 200 to pay a runner to buy the number, brings a smile to myself :)
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Illegal or Legal Car Jockey Service
I'm sure those who goes out clubbing will know of these so called 'car jockey' people. Was wondering if they actually have the license to operate as a car jockey and to actually park your cars at normal roadside with white or yellow line or even a proper out door parking lot??
This is what happened to me last fri night in Solaris, Mont Kiara. And yes, I'm darn pissed off by these car jockey. First of all, they did not put a proper sign or whatever to block that area to tell public it's ONLY meant for car jockey. Secondly, it's a roadside with white line so meaning I can issued summons by DBKL. Fyi, that area is under DBKL jurisdiction.
That night after dinner, I'm supposed to go a friend's club to celebrate my friend's birthday party. Those who know that area should know that everyone park on the roadside and some even park by the main roadside. It's quite a secluded area so it's not a busy main road. When I reach there I'm so happy to spot a roadside parking which is empty and near to the club I wanna go. After finally finish parking my car, come a guy knocking at my window. He told me that it is a jockey parking and that I have to pay RM10 and give him my car key. I told him that this is a roadside with yellow line (that time I didn't realised it is actually a white line) and that I can be issued summon by DBKL and if he is gonna pay for my summon or not? He smiled and kept on arguing that it is a jockey parking and that I have to pay and give him my car keys. I told him once again that it's a public roadside and asked him why I should even give him my car key when I parked my car there myself!!! Isn't it RIDICULOUS?? It's a public roadside. It's public area.
Then I asked for his operating license as a car jockey service. He said he don't know and that he is only a worker there and all those bullshit. Obviously they don't have a operating license or else he would have shown it to me. I told him I rather get summon than paying them. I'm really pissed off by them cos not only they can't provide me with a operating license, they want to even charged me RM 10 for parking myself and want to take my car keys!! I so wanted to just get off my car and walk away but I fear for my car safety. Not advisable for me to mess with these people as u never know if they will do any harm to my car or not. I was driving alone that night. So after arguing for 15 mins, I relented and drive away. Again I spot another roadside parking and again same thing happened. I'm darn pissed off. I really am. I give up and I have no choice but to park at the main roadside. When I was walking toward my friend's club, I tried to took pictures of these guys collecting money from public who park there and also too picture of that place. I told myself I am definitely gonna write or call up DBKL to make a big complain on this.
After that night, I regretted moving out from the roadside parking. Why? Cos I should have just got off the car and walk away telling them that if anything gonna happened to me or my car, I'm gonna lodge a police report against them and I should even take the picture of the guy. This is what I regretted. Nevertheless I am going to DBKL tomorrow and make a big complain about this people. Until I got the truth from DBKL, the next time I'm there I will know what to do.
This is what happened to me last fri night in Solaris, Mont Kiara. And yes, I'm darn pissed off by these car jockey. First of all, they did not put a proper sign or whatever to block that area to tell public it's ONLY meant for car jockey. Secondly, it's a roadside with white line so meaning I can issued summons by DBKL. Fyi, that area is under DBKL jurisdiction.
That night after dinner, I'm supposed to go a friend's club to celebrate my friend's birthday party. Those who know that area should know that everyone park on the roadside and some even park by the main roadside. It's quite a secluded area so it's not a busy main road. When I reach there I'm so happy to spot a roadside parking which is empty and near to the club I wanna go. After finally finish parking my car, come a guy knocking at my window. He told me that it is a jockey parking and that I have to pay RM10 and give him my car key. I told him that this is a roadside with yellow line (that time I didn't realised it is actually a white line) and that I can be issued summon by DBKL and if he is gonna pay for my summon or not? He smiled and kept on arguing that it is a jockey parking and that I have to pay and give him my car keys. I told him once again that it's a public roadside and asked him why I should even give him my car key when I parked my car there myself!!! Isn't it RIDICULOUS?? It's a public roadside. It's public area.
Then I asked for his operating license as a car jockey service. He said he don't know and that he is only a worker there and all those bullshit. Obviously they don't have a operating license or else he would have shown it to me. I told him I rather get summon than paying them. I'm really pissed off by them cos not only they can't provide me with a operating license, they want to even charged me RM 10 for parking myself and want to take my car keys!! I so wanted to just get off my car and walk away but I fear for my car safety. Not advisable for me to mess with these people as u never know if they will do any harm to my car or not. I was driving alone that night. So after arguing for 15 mins, I relented and drive away. Again I spot another roadside parking and again same thing happened. I'm darn pissed off. I really am. I give up and I have no choice but to park at the main roadside. When I was walking toward my friend's club, I tried to took pictures of these guys collecting money from public who park there and also too picture of that place. I told myself I am definitely gonna write or call up DBKL to make a big complain on this.
After that night, I regretted moving out from the roadside parking. Why? Cos I should have just got off the car and walk away telling them that if anything gonna happened to me or my car, I'm gonna lodge a police report against them and I should even take the picture of the guy. This is what I regretted. Nevertheless I am going to DBKL tomorrow and make a big complain about this people. Until I got the truth from DBKL, the next time I'm there I will know what to do.
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