Common Sense that Not Common

snow is melting nowadays.

If there is some foreigner who read this, they must be fill with questions mark on top of their head. What is so special about all this tips? However, for someone like me who never stay at overseas, especially go through the winter, there are so many things that I never know until I came to Norway. As the title said, common sense for them but not common for typical Malaysian.

1, what to wear?
Always wear more layer instead of thick layer. This is a reminder I got from Kitt Yin before I came to Norway for the first time. Before this, I don't really understand and keep on asking her why? ( I like to ask why a lot on everything until Nic feels that I am annoying) Now, I am fully agreed with what she said. The main reason is you are not going to be outdoor all the while, once you go indoor, it will be warm again, then you will have to take off the jacket. Even go ski or staying outdoor at -20 degree ( the maximum I have experience, so those -25 or -30 I have no idea how it feels), long john (thinnest will do) + T shirt + cardigan/sweater + jacket will do. Jacket means even the thin layer as long as wind and water proof will do.

2, get wet?
snow/water or wind proof jacket, glove, shoe are important gear during winter. Sometimes, the weather is not too cold and bearable. You will feel very cold when the snow stick on your body and it melt become ice water or when the wind blow through your cloth. So as long as you can keep the wind and snow away, you will not feel cold anymore.

I couldn't open the balcony's door because the snow accumulate for the whole winter has block the door.

3, nose bleeding?
put a plate of water under the heater. Nose bleeding is an ordinary problem for people who just reach a cold and dry winter country. It is because the inner layer of your nose is too dry. Usually, you will be fine after few days and always ensure the humidity in the room.

4, skin itchy?
it means your skin are way too dry. Sometimes the skin will be so dry until it turns grey color. If regular body moisturizer cannot solve the problem, I recommended to use some body cream. And body shampoo also change to creammy/oil type which your body still feel slippery even after how many times you rinse off.

ya...the picture quality is bad, however, people are skiing instead of walking in the pic. (if you can see,haha)

5, feel cold?
I believe this is going to sound peculiar for some people. But, it is a good lesson I learn from one Norwegian colleague. I find it is really useful. A lot of people claimed that they will gain weight during winter because the weather is cold and they have to eat more to keep warm. But, I don't see that at Norway. When you feel cold, you shouldn't stay in the house and keep eating. Instead of staying at home when it is cold outside, you should go outside and walk or sport or whatever. The best way to keep your body warm is to move your body! Either go ski, shovel the snow, ice climbing, cycle, or just to take a walk around the housing area. (okay, I saw Norwegian jogging in the snow which I feel that is too extreme) If the snow is too much till couldn't go out, then just move around in the house, mop the floor or vacuum the house. It is always work. Eat more will not make your body feel warmer la, sial meh...

6, slippery road?
must must must! must change the tyre before winter come. Or else...you will be ends up like me. remember my first snow in norway incident? You will not know when the first snow will come, so is better you change one month before winter. If your car are more advance, it should have the ESP button. I don't know what it stands for, but it should be something like when you step on the break, you still can turn your car instead of lock the tyre.

7, Car fog?
remember that the air conditional must turn to allow the air ventilation inside the car. The outside air has to flow into the car to prevent fog on the window.

car versus snow level

8, Tyre stuck in snow?
don't spin the tyre too fast. The more power you step on the pedal, the tyre will spin faster, at the same time, it will lose the grip on the snow floor. So the best solution is let the typre slowly slowly spin and get back the grip to move forward.

9, wind screen water
ohh...don't forget to change the wind screen water to those unfrozen under -16 or -30 degree chemical. If not, once winter come, the whole tank of wind screen water will be froze to ice. Then you have to be prepare you can't clean your wind screen for the whole winter, otherwise, you have to remove the whole tank and melt the water inside.

Many people ask me to post some winter and snow picture, however, I don't have much snow picture. I don't know where to take, how to take and what to take. I have try my best and hope you enjoy the picture on top for the time being. I guess, I will have more winter pictures soon.

about winter? To be continue...

Pattaya, Thailand

Pattaya beach

Before we went, we asked a lot of people where shall we spent most of the night. Bangkok? or Pattaya?

Friend A said Pattaya is just like Batu Feringgi, nothing is interesting, no need spend so many night.

Friend B said Pattaya is nicer because got more pub more night life.

Friend C said Bangkok? 2 days can finish liao la!

Friend D said you think leh? I had been visit Bangkok for 4 or 5 times, Bangkok definitely is the best la!Thailand is a place that had been visited by too many friends of us.

The more comments we accumulate, the more confusing we get. In the end, we decided to spend more days at Bangkok instead of Pattaya. Although a lot of people will surprise what can we do with so many days at Thailand, still we feel it is not enough. Maybe Nic and I were travel really too too slow,Bangkok...still have some places we haven't visit; Pattaya....I am not tan enough. I am still able to lie on the pool for few more days, explore more foods and etc.

Mango with Glutinous rice

If wanna talk about the quality of the beach, Pattaya is no way compare with Redang, not even Cherating. However, if you are going to Pattaya with a thinking that it is going to be a relaxing beach destination, then sorry, definitely you will be very disappointed. In the other hand, if you ignore the point that it is a beach instead just treat it as another famous tourist spot. Then you will full of surprise and enjoy it!! You wanna know what is the surprise I am talking about? =)

The world wide famous transsexual lady show… ( we went for Alcazar instead of the Tiffany)

Live sex show…male and female, male with male, male + male + female! Shemale show

Vagina show…or is it called ping pong show as well?

Surprise?!

I have heard a lot a lot of story about it. I guess I knew since I was real young. Penang is near to Thailand, so there are a lot of auntie uncle who always travel there. Those shows has been there for 10 or 20 years, so I knew it really long time ago. But, "know the existing" and "watching with your own eye" is really two different thing.

Pretty ya?

Talk about transsexual, Nic is always very proud of himself because he can so called "look through" whether is a she or he either from the apple, attitude or gesture. After the Alcazar show, about the transsexual at Thailand, the only conclusion that Mr Nic have to say is…no need waste the effort to distinguish whether is a she or he. As long as they are pretty, it is fine. Those shemale…they are just too perfect! In every single way. The body, the face, the gesture, and some of them don't even have Adam's apple!

Male and female having sex in front of you? Something like watching porn movie lo. Male + male + female? Okay la… But, male + male with karma sutra position and like gymnasitc? Argh!! It just…just freak me out. Eewww… (clarify, I am ok with gay but not seeing them in their own private action,ok?) Zhi Ying said she went for the live sex show at Amsterdam. I saw those banner but I didn’t go in. From the way she describe, it is not much surprise. I went in to the Go go bar at Amsterdam, lady with bikini dancing on the bar pool (something like Patpong bar, which is so common for Thai). And I also know there is a bar at Amsterdam where every waitress and waiter are totally naked. Still, I would like to say Amsterdam is nowhere compare to Pattaya. Hahaha…If you have a chance to travel Amsterdam, save the money for those show and spend on trying new weed since you can watch all those show at Pattaya with much lower price and more entertaining.

Vagina show…ya…heard of it…many many times. But, when you are there, with your own eye, even Mr Cool – Nic's jaw is just....drop. Put live bird, fish, tortoise, shaving blade into the vagina, blowing off candle, shooting banana with it…er…enough action talk I guess.

Is it fun? Isn’t it fun? We are not talking about the quality of the sand, how beautiful is the sunset or sunrise, no beach talk. But just listening to all I have mention on the above, I believe it already worth for a trip there.

However, all the show I said are prohibitted to take picture. They are very strict on this, ok? So I couldn't attach any of those "interesting" part for the trip. Nevertheless, here are some candid photograph during the stay. Enjoy!

ps: I am trying to have some slide show with those picture. But it seems like this code is not too good and I am lazy to do anything on it right now. I will get a better code for the next photo post.

wedding bells...

had the good fortune of being in kl for zh's wedding on valentine's day - cheeky guy to pick such a date for his wedding... he won't have trouble remembering the anniversary date now... and 1 gift for 2 occasions... how smart is that? hehehe...

i already had to miss out on ang's wedding and i'm praying hard that i won't miss zh's wedding as well... and guess what? looks like my prayers were answered indeed! well, i'll keep this post short and sweet... it was a beautiful wedding and i'm so very glad that i was there to witness it...

anyway, to zi hui - congratulations bro and have a blessed marriage... was really happy to be a part of your wedding... =)

zi hui and sze yann moments before exchanging vows...

you may now kiss the bride - never thought i would see this scene... thought we were forever young... =P

mr and mrs lo zi hui...

the newly weds walking down the aisle...

the next couple headed for the aisle?

victoria institution

this for me has always been victoria institution... i have never known it by any other name... but to hear it officially recognized as victoria institution does put a smile to my face...

however, this school is not just about the name and the past glories... and no - i shall not condemn the school or it's students for all the "shortcomings" or "failure" to live up to it's traditions... all i want to do is to remind the current victorians to wear the school badge with pride and to always remember these lines from the school song...

Let us now with thankfulness

Praise the founders of our School

Let us now with thankfulness

Praise the founders of our School

For their foresight and devotion

Some who came across the ocean

Some Malaya's own sons

All true Victorians

Let us next remember here

All who passed through this our School

Let us next remember here

All who passed through this our School

Not one race but one in feeling

For a school to each appealing

That instruction be not all

Nor this School just roof and wall

Let us lastly pledge ourselves

Ever to uphold our School

Let us lastly pledge ourselves

Ever to uphold our School

In our work and in our leisure

With such zeal and in such measure

That the new Victorians

Match with Old Victorians

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok city night view

Nic said that I am going to have a long post. Since he already make the promise, it seems that I have no other choice. Before this, I am enjoying my holiday at Malaysia. During that period of time, I am really too busy to meet every single of my friend until I totally ignore this blog.

But now, I believe is time for me to record down my trip to Bangkok.

Traffic jam at 10pm?

I have heard a lot of people said how busy Bangkok is but until today I have never been to a city which is really more busy and dense than Kuala Lumpur. I know that New York, Tokyo, Jakarta, Mumbai, Shanghai will definately more crowded than KL since I never been to those places so Bangkok is consider the first city I feel the busyness.

The amout of car, people, building...wow...eye opening. The traffic jam which is so bad until 24 hours jam, the jam for the whole highway which might be 10km long. I believe due to the traffic jam, it trains all the tuk-tuk driver's amazing skill a 90 degree turn, from third lane cut into first lane in split second. The taxi driver that can follow the car in front all the way without even letting a motor bike over take him.

Tuk tuk driver that peeking through the mirror, laughing at us because we were so scare with his driving skill.

ei ei...don't keep on talking bad about Bangkok. Many friends of mine who like to visit Bangkok definately they have their own reason. Food is always one of the factor that whether I like a place or not. Like I don't mind to go Italy for few more times because its cheap and nice wine. And Bangkok will definately a place that I will go back again if I have the chance because of the food.

The food is not only cheap but the variety and quality of it really really add a lot of credit to the whole trip. No matter the food in the restaurant or snack at the road side also always surprise me. Needless to say, the world wide famous tom yam, the green curry, the pork satay that Jason mention in his blog, the mango sticky rice, the fried kueh teow, the kueh teow teng, even the wan tan mee! Oh my god, it is enough for the list now.

Almost forget to mention about my carelssness about the trip. Whenever I travel at Europe, I will always check the weather forecast before I go. Before I go Thailand, I am very excited for a holiday with hot sun, windy and beach. When I am packing my luggage, I brought all my short pants, mini skirt, strapless T shirt. But I am so so so wrong!! I thought Thailand is South East Asia country. I thought all Asia country will be as hot as Malaysia. Silly me! When I reach Bangkok it was during the winter time. Bangkok with winter? Bangkok with 14 degree celcius? Much colder than Genting Highlands? Haih...really really shame by sillyness. =p Lesson learned, no matter where you guys are going in future...must! must check the weather forecast before travel.

As all the tourist did, we did visit all the tourist spots and shopping centres.

Enough story telling in the beginning, let me write the rest of this trip in an Engineer way. haha...

Siam paragon, centre world - cheap levis and bra for ladies. Besides, it is a good place to see a lot of pretty secondary school girl with sexy uniform hanging around the shopping mall.

Pratuchat - a must visit place if you guys plan to buy souvenier or any T shirt. One very important tip, must buy at least 3 pieces or above. The price will be total totally different if you buy more than 3 pieces.

Patpong - it looks exactly like Petaling Street except along the street there are full of pubs where got young ladies who wear bikini and dancing on the stage.

The only good auntie at Floating Market

Floating Market - full of bad bad hawker who sell super duper expensive stuff to tourist except for an old auntie who is selling cake. The worst part is all the souvenier they sell I can guarantee you can find the same stuff at Bangkok city with much cheaper price. They are bad not only because they sell expensive stuff, they will not give you back your changes if you give them big notes. They will either ask you to give them the rest of the changes as tips, or they will push something else to you as in return. BAD!

Grand Palace - hmmm....it is really grand as the name said. But, like Vatican Musuem, please estimate you need to spend one whole afternoon there. And please be prepare that it is going to be very very hot and tired after the visit.

Temple of Dawn

Dawn Temple - Although the Grand Palace has a very nice temple which bling bling from every single angle, still Dawn Temple is a not bad place to visit if you have the time. Some how, it has its own uniqueness. The detail of the craving and the steep steps are something different from the other temple.

Some of my friends said that I never put any picture of Nic and I together at Facebook. Let me attach a picture of us took at Grand Palace here. The temple grand, gold and shine or not?