Tugas Penting Duta Jalan-jalan Tempat Menarik dan Makan-Makan Alor Setar

Memandangkan pilihanraya dah dekat. That is before March, people. Behold! Lepas ni akan ramai la orang offer bagi bantuan, ada orang pakai smart-smart ramai-ramai datang rumah korang dengan orang kamera, salam2 then bagitahu dunia diorang concern pasal korang. 

Aku pun sebagai self-appointed Duta Alor Setar menjalankan tanggungjawab. So, aku pun bawa orang, kamera ke tempat-tempat menarik yakni - Muzium Padi, Pusat Sains Negara (Cawangan Utara) dan Menara Alor Setar. 

Nampak tak maksud aku dalam perenggan pertama? Nampak tak how merapu people pakai baju smart-smart, pakai tie masuk bendang? Ini semua nak raih undi ni. 

Ada satu lagi gambar kat masjid. Ramai gila orang. Aku mati-mati ingat ada orang mati kat masjid. Ye la, masjid kat Malaysia ni kan, besar-besar, banyak, yang datang time masuk waktu solat pun berapa kerat je. Or masa terawih. Or masa solat raya. Or masa ada orang mati. Tak ambik pun la. Busy dok narrate cerita dari rotating viewpoint tu. Ye, menatang tempat duduk kita tu rotate 360' secara perlahan-perlahan. 

Korang bila masuk, fokus tang padi tu sudah la. Dari membajak, menanam, padi menguning, ambik padi, bakar sekam, bajak pulak, mengair. 

Ini adalah benda paling aku rindu. Takde langsung sekarang. Dulu time aku sekolah rendah, sempat main menatang ni. Tong pukul padi. Aku pun kenal half of barang-barang yang diorang display. Tua kah? 

Ini adalah rombongan aku. Amjad, tak da dalam gambar. Dia busy berlarian. 

Aku bukan nak jadi Grammar Nazi, cuba korang bayangkan if pelancong datang sini? Development Personality? As if Tokoh Pembangunan? Ngok. Pakai Google Translate la ni. Its Founding Father, pakcik. Dalam ayat tu tulis la - "founding father who contributed to the development of Kedah".

Bila sampai kat Pusat Sains Negara (Cawangan Kedah) we were too busy playing with the stuff there. Banyak dan kejar masa sebab diorang tutup lampu satu per satu starting dari belakang. 

Ini je antara yang sempat diambik. 

Bila sampai kat Menara Alor Setar, sempat makan rojak je. Pastu hujan.

Aku kena masukkan dalam planner lepas ni nak pi mana plak. Oh, sibuk bebenor la time ni. 

SOSEH: Dari Meja Duta Seronok dan Tempat Makan Alor Setar

Yesterday, I pegi Langkawi. Just a day trip. Ala, dapat tiket feri free. Biasalah...

I do know its not in Alor Setar, duhh.... But, hey, its still in Kedah, kan? *bats eyelashes*

Went to Lubuk Semilang, Pantai Cenang and did some shopping kat Ismail Group. There's an awesome Thai Food Restaurant right at the corner, depan dengan Bayview Hotel. Sedap, I'm telling y'all!

And, by the way, I guess I kena juga juga buat spek mata. I know I will look gorgeous wearing one. I taknak la bila I nampak anak lembu lagi, I panggil dia rusa. Silly me! Awwww...

See you when I see you..

Ciao!

XoXo,
Flutterbyazwa

NEWS: Dari Meja Duta Seronok dan Makan2 Alor Setar

1. IMAN KOEYTEOW
Lokasi: Jalan ke Shahab Perdana

Reviu Flutterby: Boleh la, char koeyteow kerang dia boleh tahan. Portion sikit, so, kalau lapar, sila order dua atau tiga. Ada juga nasi ayam, satay dan western food. I rasa okay la tempat ni.

2. RESTORAN MEKAH
Lokasi: Dua pintu dari Amway, Mergong
Reviu Flutterby: Main attraction adalah nasi mandi ayam/kambing. Boleh pilih antara size S atau L. L boleh la makan dua orang. Daging kambingnya adalah imported. Nasi sedap, however, mana2 kali you all pegi pun, nasi dia sejuk. Sayang tau....

3. NASI LEMAK SULTAN
Lokasi: Berdepan dengan Menara Peladang, Jalan Teluk Wanjah
Reviu Flutterby: Nasi lemak mamak. Nuff said.

4. NASI ROYALE
Lokasi: Berdepan Taman Belimbing, menghala ke Alor Mengkudu
Reviu Flutterby: I like it, like it sooo much! The chicken and beef and the gravy. Yomsey!

5. MEE ARIF
Lokasi: Parking Area, depan bangunan kedai Taman Intan
Reviu Flutterby: Selalunya I call je si Arip ask him to bungkus mee kuah dengan mee goreng. Sedap gak. Kuih keropok dia i suka bite it!

6. RESTORAN WONG SOLO AYAM PENYET
Lokasi: Depan Tat Nasi Ayam, Jalan ke Shahab Perdana
Reviu Flutterby: Selalu gak makan sini time lunch. Tapi nasi ayam penyet kat Sunway yang i makan dengan FarrahJoyy paling terbaek ahh! Meleleh air hidung! Mencik!

7. KOPITIAM WAWASAN
Lokasi: Kompleks Alor Setar, Kanchut
Reviu Flutterby: My source of makanan of every day life at the office. Nasi lemak, roti canai, western, roti telur, pek nga, goreng2... last time, there was this akak yang jual nasi kerabu. Sedap, but closed already.

Asal baru sekarang nak update dan buat kerja sebagai Duta Makan2 dan Tempat Seronok? Biasalah, nak dekat mengundi ni kan... Tunggu Anwar masuk belakang je, pilihanraya ON! LOL!

p/s: gambar nanti i letak, okes!

Siri Kembara Alor Setar (A Hippie's Project)

Tahukah anda Alor Setar menjadi sebuah bandaraya pada tahun 2003?

Tahukah anda tiada lagi flyover menyeberangi sedari kolej Sultan Hamid hingga masuk ke Pekan Alor Stetar?

Tahukah anda juga Pekan Rabu kini mempunyai escalator merentasi jalan kerna kempen menggunakan jejantas instead jadi anak2 ayam berlari-larian ke seberang sana untuk pergi ke Butik Saerah?

Tahukah juga bahawa sebagai seorang yang gagal geografi Alor Star dan setelah menjadi hippie, adalah menjadi sebuah projek bagi gua untuk mengenali tanah tumpah darah terchenta ini?

(Fine, gua bengkek kat orang mempersoalkan kehebatan tai-kah-ceh gua kat area Pekan Rabu)

Okay, SEBAB MUSABABNYA gua banyak masa lapang dan sebab gua ingat nak songlap sehari SLR adik gua. Agak-agak, dia nak bagi pinjam dak? krik krik krik

[Angguk cepat! angguk! angguk aku kata]

Jadi, apa kata kita lakukan Siri Kembara Alor Setar!!! Berikut adalah list kembara untuk sehari. List ni nanti aku tulis dengan magic-pen berwarna warni atas kertas dan cross satu persatu. Macam aku buat kat Melaka dengan Halia dulu.

1. Muzium Negeri
2. Balai Besar
3. Balai Nobat
4. Balai Seni
5. Masjid Negeri
6. Muzium Padi
7. Pusat Sains Negara, Cawangan Utara
8. Pekan Rabu
9. Galeri Seni Lukis
10. Muzium Diraja(beza eh dengan Muzium Negeri? eh?)
    
11. Terusan Wan Mat Saman
12. Masjid Zahir
13. Menara Alor Star
14. Tempat kelahiran Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
15. Rumah Memorial Tunku Abd Rahman

Sapa nak ikut gua aka tukang bawak kereta, tukang dengar cerita, tukang teman beli roti dan air mineral dan makan dalam kereta dan tukang posing dalam gambar?
Gua buruk, tak sanggup nak cam-whore anymore. *sigh*
ANGKAT TANGAN~

Siri Jelajah Gua ke Goa 4: Shopping-shoppingan, Jalan-jalanan, dan Pantai-pantaian

First Day: Miramar Beach and Panjim

Angie, Shoko, Urna dan gua sempat shopping pada hari pertama yang mana gua hampir muflis hari itu. We went to Miramar Beach and Panjim Market. I love beaches! Woohoo!! We stopped at Soul of India and I bought sari, pashmina, some hanging elephants, keychains, blouse, plus i got free cat-like-thingy-craft which I do not know whaffor.

Second Day: Marivel Beach
After the conference, the Entertainment Committee, Kumar bawak all the delegates ke Marivel Beach. Thanks to Madam Subha, gua beli capal satu. Pasir kat sana sangat halus dan gua yang gemuk ni hampir tenggelam dek kerana kehalusan pasir tersebut. Especially bila gua gila pakai sneakers pegi pantai.

Jauh gak la Dona Paula ke Marivel, gua rasakan keannoyance-an gua terserlah bila 3minit sekali gua tanya dalam bas tu - "Are We There Yet?"

Gua sayang Bablu dengan Henri yang layan gua main Laut Arab tu. Takde orang lain yang layan gua. Gua terharu. Bablu punya handphone adalah mangsa gua untuk kontek cousin Sanjeet. (by the way, cousin dia hensem!)

Giler ah, havoc betul warga ANNI+AiNNI ni! superb+supporting! Ada sorang delegate dari India nama dia Miloon, muka dia sejibik Mithun Chakraborthy! Sumpah, gua tak tipu! Dan dia belanja gua makan eskrem chocolate hazelnut! Yeay!

Third Day: Boat Ride Panaji

Rajin Entertainment Committee kitorang bawak kitorang jalan2. Malam tu gua teringin nak tengok Irfan menari atas bot disko kat Panaji tu, tapi gagal. Dia taknak. Hampa gua. Dan gua telah berjumpa dengan buku dan ruas dalam arena sinis - gua kenalkan Alec kepada korang. Giler ah, cam Simon Cowell pun ada dia ni.

Fourth Day: Old Goa, Bombay Bazaar, Panjim

Gua bernasib baik last day ada Keira, Urna, Werk, Angie dan Shoko pergi jalan2 sebelum balik. Kitorang sempat pergi St. Xavier Church, tempat di mana St. Xavier disemadikan. Goa ni banyak influence Portugis kalo korang nak tahu.


Kemudian, kitorang buat shoppingan kali terakhir kat Bombay Bazar. Macam dalam Amazing Race, gua dan Angie pakai tarik je pape yang berkenan. Bila gua bawak balik, gua tak tahu apa yang gua beli.

Oh, Entertainment Committee dah bertukar tangan ke Keira. She is soo good allocating time untuk bershopping dengan jayanya.

(entri kali ni cam kanak-kanak sekolah rendah kan? kemalasan melanda. nanti gua santekkan situasi dan ayat2)

Siri Jelajah Gua ke Goa 3: The Real Deal: The Conference

Siri Jelajah Gua Ke Goa 2: Saat Getir Gua di Chhatrapathy Shivaji Airport

We were advised not to tell anyone that we were attending a conference especially kalau ada perkataan human rights dalamnya. First time naik MAS, gua taktau pakai remote control. Bapak lawak macam nak mati. Habih, gua selama-lama ni naik low-cost je. Nak acane? Nasib baik brader sebelah cool dan baik hati.

Sampai ke Mumbai International Airport, lepas turun dari kapal, gua try bau India. Dulu, masa kat UIA, ada orang yang pergi India balik eksaited bercerita bila sampai ke India, terus bau India. Gua berdiri lama kat luar tu, try bau India. Tipu la korang, mana ada bau pape.

Masuk dalam building, kita mestilah menclearkan passport kita di kaunter imigresen sebelum masuk menclaim luggage. Sekali gua dapat satu uncle Sardarji.

"Where are you staying in India?"
"The place called International Centre Goa"
"What is that place? Is it a hotel?"
"Yes, it is a hotel."
"Why is it called International Centre?"
"I dont know. Why dont you ask the owner?"

Gua diam sekejap. Siap la kalo gadoh dengan Sardarji tu. Mungkin diorang akan hantar gua balik Malaysia. Gua tanak. Gua nak jumpa Henri. Heh.

Bila gua keluar, gua terus ikut flow insan-insan keluar pintu Arrival. Gua check juga, kot-kot ada shooting filem ke, ada orang menari-nari macam citer hindi tu ke..mana nak tahu, gua boleh jadi ekstra kat sana. Sekali gua tak jumpa pintu masuk balik airport. Hoh, damn!

Gabrao mat, gua cakap kat diri sendiri. Mujhe saval acchi lohgo hay.

Chewah! Bhangra!

4kali mamat tu ulang "Yu von need to take the cab, yu go ask the sekkiu-rity to let you back in the aerrpot.take a free coach inside"

Lepas gua buat muka kesian kat pakcik security perut bulat dan gua paham apa dia kata kat kawan dia! "Yeh, kehsa admi hey? Tum suno nehi?" Vavi la ko, pakcik. Gua senyum muka kesian. Damn. Jatuh ego gua waktu itu.

Dia bagi tapi dia bising. Gua masuk ruang Domestic Transfer, beberapa ketika kemudian, gua nampak Shoko, Angie, Boyet dan Ellecer. Dan gua tahu waktu tu, Tuhan ada dengan gua. SENTIASA

Siri Jelajah Gua ke Goa 1: Percubaan Beramah Mesra KLIA

For the first time, gua sampai kat KLIA dan akan naik kapal kat sana. Ingatkah anda insiden perasan gua ke Manila? Okey, kita tutup cerita Manila. Oleh kerana terlampau eksaited, gua mengambil inisiatif untuk beramah mesra dengan warga masyarakat KLIA.

Percubaan Pertama: Beramah dengan Akak Kaunter
Verdict: Gagal
Gua senyum manis sesampai di kaunter check -in MAS.
"Hi, akak. Ini pasport saya. Saya nak pergi India"
"Terima kasih. Tunggu sekejap ye"

"Saya eksaited ni nak pegi India. First time pegi India. Akak pernah pegi India?"
Akak tu tak layan. Gua tahu dia tidak dibenarkan untuk sound direct penumpang MAS.
"Ini passport awak, boarding pass. Boarding pukul 7.30pm"

Percubaan Kedua: Beramah dengan Budak Umur 7 Tahun
Verdict: Gagal Juga
Sambil menunggu nak boarding, gua lepak dekat kerusi depan kaunter last dalam KLIA tu. Tetibe sorang budak laki2 datang berdiri depan gua sambil pandang tepat kat NIPS di tangan gua.
"Nak ke? Meh la duduk dengan akak"

Diam. Tengok NIPS.
"Awak nak makan coklat dengan akak tak? Mari la dekat sket"
Diam. Tengok NIPS. Blah

NIPS? Ala, korang tahu tak lawak makcik takde gigi yang hisap gula dgn coklat pastu anak menantu dia habiskan kacang atas meja tu? Lawak kan? Kan? kan? ----------- Fine, nevermind.

Percubaan Ketiga: Beramah dengan Kakak Security
Verdict: Hampir berjaya
Sesampai di mesin scanner gah berdiri, dan setelah beg-beg gua melaluinya, kakak security mintak gua buka beg pinjam gua yang kalerful. Dia kata ada liquid. Gua akur dan buka.

"Awak nak pergi mana ni?"
Gua terharu. Pertama kali orang tegur gua dulu. "Saya nak gi Goa, tapi pegi Mumbai dulu"
Akak keluarkan lotion Imari Seduction gua. Dia pandang gua. "Ini 100ml, dik. Kalau 100ml takboleh bawak naik, kann? Awak terlupa keluarkan eh?"

"Habih, akak nak amik ke lotion saya tu?"
"Bukan amik, akak rampas, sayang..."


Percubaan Keempat: Beramah dengan Abang Security kat Gate 2
Verdict: Cemerlang
"Dik, adik nak pergi mana ni?"

Tak cerdik sungguh. Gate ni kan untuk flight ke Mumbai? Gua senyum. "Saya nak pergi Bombay"
"Buat apa pergi Bombay? Awak study ke kat sana?"
Gua rasa gembira. Tak pernah orang kata gua muka kaki study. "Tak lah. Saya dah kerja"
"Habih, pergi buat apa kat India?"
Gua amik beg-beg gua "Saya nak jumpa kawan. Eh, boifren saya kat sana"
Wajah Arjun Rampal dan dibelakangnya ramai insan berpakaian warna warni menari gembira menyambut gua di Goa jelas di mata. JELAS.

Gua salahkan FarrahJoyy.

Madness in Manila

Note: The entry is Manglish style, so if you understand you understand la..

Last week, i attended the 4th Regional Meeting on Human Rights Defenders Forum in Manila, Philippines. So, here's a sneak peak (wahah! like artist i tell you!) what happened so i wont miss any if i story-story to you or i don't need to story to you at all since i oredi wrote an entry on it.

Okay, enough with the Manglish. I myself find it hard to understand.

Madness of Day #1
I thought i lost my car key since I couldn't find it in the 'orange bag'. I thought i lost it in the cab and made a big fuss out of it and called Aya Joyy and actually asked her to find the cab. Stupid, i know. I ransacked the whole bag in the LRT. I opened every single zippers, took out all the stuff and still, couldn't find it. One fine moment after two hours banging my head to every single walls i saw, I found the stupid key in my bagpack.

And I was excitedly heading to KLIA thinking the Cebu Pacific Airlines was there. A lovely akak approached me and asked what i was looking for.

"Cebu Pacific kak, Cebu. Pegi Manila, bukan pegi Sibu"

"Your flight is at 1am, right? Its at LCCT"

I had to take a bus to LCCT~ Annddd....the safety belt on Cebu Pacific didn't fit me.


Madness of Day #2
Once i arrived, i went to find a good spot in the Ninoy Aquino Airport, Terminal 3 to sleep for 3 hours before taking a cab to Bayview Park Hotel, Roxas Blvd. I was so tired. We were advised to take THE yellow-metered-cab but i only saw the white one. Once i got in the cab, i saw the yellow one with people queuing for it- nice, very nice!

Once checked in at Bayview, i went out roaming Roxas Blvd and saw this magnificent place called Rizal Park which is also known as the Luneta. When i said it's magnificent, trust in me, it is! The park has a lot of monuments, gardens, orchidarium, chess ground (it was fun watching the uncles playing chess there, i dont know why) and they gonna have water fountain (its in progress currently). FYI, it was the place where Jose Rizal was executed. The park is so huge and i think i lost a couple of pounds just by walking there.

My roommate was Regina seo-seung-nim, a Korean lady working for the House of Human Rights Korea (hope i got it right) and she was very keen teaching me hangul, knowing that i can speak 10 phrases.

And when i opened the laptop i brought with me to the forum, ( i was happy that the office allowed me to bring the laptop, never had that privilege) i found out i brought the wrong adapter! How madnessly awesome was that?!

Madness of Day #3
The first morning, I was greeted by the guy from Maldives who actually remembered me back from Bali. He was like "hey, we wet in Bali, do you still remember me?" Cute guy like you, of course la i remember! So sweet of him, normal people would've forgotten me, WHY? coz i look... hummm, normal?

During break i met YSS, he was waving at me and all of the sudden, I high-fived him. Why did i do that? It was a mystery to me too. Yes, it will scar him for life. *facepalm*

I didn't understand why OP was a bit unfriendly, I met him a couple time before.. but Veracruz was nice. He is working with Gaya Nusantara. A LGBT rights organization in Surabaya.

The first night, we were invited to the launch of Women's Right Reproductive Mobilizer (yes, yes, i'll check) by WGNRR. The performance were great, i like the two guys who sang the "Babain" song. (Psst, it means 'Woman'). Had a great time with Annabel, a high school teacher volunteering for her human rights organization, Corazon and Renee. Wanted to request the brothers to sing Aftermath (acoustic) but it would be weird. And, Kamayan Restaurant served babi golek. Shouldve taken photo..dang!

Madness of Day #4
On day two of the forum, a lot of people found out about me talking good hangul (like i told you, it was only 10 phrases!), even the Special Rapporteur of United Nation knew - thanks to Wonsun oppa and Gayoon ohni. I hijacked Ausma's laptop to tweet and facebooking. Sorry Mar..*hugs*

The Pinoy famous whistle blower was a the forum too- Mr Jun Lozada! Dude, it take a lot of courage to do what you've done. We had one, but he ended up died tragically. *sigh*

Toru was so busy running around and that I couldn't say hi to him. But he did 'cuit' me. (what is cuit in English wehh???) Adorable! The only two things i said to him were "the internet is not working" and 'ohaiyo gozaimasu, toru-chan"

And i also didn't have a chance to chat with my superwoman, Lady M. (just don't tell her i said that, she might freaks out, she might think I'm a weirdo, probably lesbian..sheessh) Yes, I was flailing over her awesomeness over and over again! I envy you JL!

At night, Puspa, Jixun and me joined Jonal and his crew to dine at the San Miguel's Bay, just across Mall of Asia for seafood! We were enjoying the uncles' live band and the whole night I was 'trashing' Jonal and Boyett. So sorry, but that's how i roll with grown up guys. We trash each other. I'm not those typical girls who just giggle when a man making 'statement' of their age and size. I is empowered woman. ehehe... And you guys are like my brothers! Just thank God i didnt kick or punch you guys. I do that with my brothers and cousins. That's how we show our love.

And that handsome waiter who has friends working in Sentul, should have given him my number. Why i didn't do that? Why?

After dinner, we took a walk along the bay with Jonal kuya. He is very nice and his accident experience was really something and had transformed him to a Super Kuya! I would say exactly the same to him like his wife did: " if you ever die in that accident, i will kill you again" double death! His poppet is supercute!

Madness of Day #5
Day three of the forum and we got into groups and discussed on recommendations to UN Special Rapporteur and coalition of civil society across the region. Renee and Robie were like teachers. (And I like Robie's taste in shoe, they're unique)

Teaming up with Mook and Max was crazy! Thought Max was a loner but that was not the case, he can be very funny. We had several brilliant ideas but we couldn't describe it all thoroughly in the recommendations. And i met Vince, a LIBERTAS. I hate him for being sweet; remembering all the small things i did in Bali.

Puspa invited me to join her meeting Bianca and Mike at the Robinson's Place. They both talked politics! warghhh... i almost killed myself when i found out that Bianca is only 24, but her knowledge about the world's politics... *give her standing ovation*

Then, Mike dropped us at the Tomas Morato St near the Circle, Quezon City and joined the others at the World AIDS Day and LGBT 'Gay Pride March' Annual Celebration. First to be organized in Manila. Cool mayor you got there, Quezon City! And we'd partayyy~~! I made Paisarn gave me his sticker of "This is a gay-friendly place" and he also handed me a pack of condom. I wish i got the lube jelly for free too, never touch 'em. #curious

We chartered a jeepney on the way back. And i asked the stupidest question to Paisarn. It was a relief that he didnt throw me out from the jeepney. And dearest, you do; will look gorgeous in that white wedding dress.

Madness of Day #6
At morning, Mook and me went to the old Manila, Intramuros City. Mook is a really good photographer! we went to visit the Cathedral and a church museum there. The folks there were busy preparing for Viva la Virgen, a celebration to commemorate Mary, the Virgin. Have something to do with Immaculate Celebration if i was not mistaken.

We also visited the Fort Santiago, kinda reminded me of Fort A Famosa in Malacca. i love historical places! turn me on, baby! Okay, that sounded so wrong...

We also went to the National Art Gallery where we had to open several doors to see the exhibits there. It was like a puzzle, then we found out the building was originally the Legislative Building and turned into National Museum, which explained the countless doors and renovations.

By the way, they call buffalo - carabao. Kita panggil kerbau.. bwahahaha

After lunch, we headed back to Bayview and I took a cab with Jyotsna, enjoying the sunset on our ride to NAIA 3.

17 things you can only find in Malacca (ohsem weekend with Halia)

1. Went cruising on Malacca River with Halia and YB Irfan and saw ohsem villages on the riverside. But it gotten weird when suddenly at the end of Kg Morten and Kg Jawa, there built, a Pirate Theme Park. And there was this guy who washed his face with the smelly water. Everyone on the boat were like ’euuwww’
2. We headed to Kg Jawa, an-overrated place to bargain goods, so they got shops and they sells clothes/ household items, blah blah – but, when we reached its main street, it was ohsem to see all kind of warungs of Malays, Chinese and Indians serving local delights. Having cendol and gossiping about Ali Rustam, was kinda ‘out of the ordinary’.

3. Dinner at Grilled Seafood Restaurant, Kg Sungai Muara. We ordered, actually I ordered boiled clams, grilled sambal cencarus (pronounce: chen-cah-roo), fried prawns with ginger, black pepper crabs – we had to wait and hang around for 15 minutes before we could move. According to YB Irfan, we suffered from an ohsem stomach bon-bon.

4. Friday night means karaoke night at Jonker Walk. The Ah Sows’ were singing their hearts out. There were also goods that bring back those memories when we were kids – they have gula ketuk, coconut cookies, aiskrim lidi, dart bulu ayam, gendang pusing, etc. Not to forget, the antiques and curios..ohsem!

5. On the next day, (Saturday) we had breakfast at Indah Rahmania after Halia asked whether I eat mamak (girlfriend, I only eat what mamak cooked) before reaching Masjid Selat, a mosque on the seaside. The ohsem mosque was also visited by a group of tourists from Pakistan, with their weird poses in front of camera…

6. Later, Halia parked her brand-new, cute pink MyVi and we walked to Dataran Pahlawan and climbed the A Famosa Fort, at St. Paul Hill. An ohsem morning exercise, indeed. Made a wish at the wishing well and headed to Malacca Islamic Museum, when we saw the stairs again, we decided not to go in. Yes, we’re fat and too lazy.

7. Entering the Independence Memorial Building was ohsem when you’re not allowed to take pictures but you take it anyway. Learning the history (which I’m good at, and still ohsem at it) and one question stroked us – why the hell that UMNO use UMNO and not in Bahasa which is PEKEMBAR? That would be more ‘entertaining’…
8. Arrived at the 3D Museum, Beauty of the World Museum and Kites Museum – all under the same roof! The 3D Museum was ‘boooo’ but the Kites Museum was ohsemmm… (sing: I like flying kites, kites make me happy..yaya). The third museum made me thinking how stupid can man be when it comes to ‘being beautiful’. Bound their feet, pierced their chins, noses, ears with woods and iron, tattooed their faces, obsessed with corsets and bodices – man, *no word to describe*

9. Afterward, we walked to the Town Square – where situated Clock Tower, Christ Curch, Stadhuys and the Memorial Fountain. Daced to the ‘dondang sayang’ before we stopped at the famous and ohsem Big Clock Cendol. But I chose ABC and regretted it. Should’ve picked cendol.
10. We continued to Jalan Hang Lekir, saw ohsem historical buildings and arrived at Francis Xavier’s Church. It’s a gothic church built by Reverend Fabre from France. Unfortunately, it was closed on Saturday and we could not go in. Not ohsem for closing the church on Saturday, Rev.
11. We continued the journey and found Cheng Ho Museum and then the Orang Utan Shop owned by Charles Cham, who I thought was some foreigner decided to settle down at Malacca. Snapped some photo even prohibited, thanks to the ohsem akak at the store.
12. We reached the three religious houses – Buddhist temple (which I didn’t get the name) Sri Poyattha Hindu temple and Kg Kling’s Mosque. The street filled with antique store and we got chased by one Po-Po (grandma): “what you want? See? See what? Nothing to see, here only got masks, nothing to see” Yeah, Hatyai dejavu.. I can call it 'ohsem'… can i?
13. We arrived to the only and ohsem Wah Aik Hand-Made Boundfeet Shoe store. Had a warm welcome by the owner. Yeh-yeh (Grandpa) told that his family has been making the shoes since 1920s.
14. Later, we walked to the Samudera Museum, which have three different ohsem museums with the price of one. I harassed Hang Tuah, Alfonso d’Alburqerque, ibn Battuta and Awang Selamat. We met pakcik and makcik who will forever make fishing net and drying the anchovies.
15. Tired from the 4 hours walking, we headed to Tanjung Puteri Beach and cougaring some boys playing rugby. Ohsem view people, it was an ohsem view.

16. Hungry as bears, we stopped at the Asam Pedas Restaurant and ordered ikan pari and beef asam pedas. It was delicious, should the gravy is thicker, it would’ve been ohsem. We got back to Halia house and went out again with Halia’s mom and aunt shopping at the Nagoya and Mydin at MITC.

17. On Sunday morning, we had breakfast at the Nasi Lemak Ujung Pasir, thanks to the winner of Johor race, representing 2020 Motor Kel-laab~ before headed to Melaka Sentral.

3 other things you might want to know

1. Everyone who walked pass you have DSLR with them. True story. If you don’t have one, they will look at you like you’re from the 80s. not an ohsem feeling…

2. I met the ohsem Linness, a glambert I’d met at the GNT Kuala Lumpur. Didn’t recognize her, without her geisha look. But, then, when she started to laugh, I knew it. What a small world.

3. We parked at the Menara Taming Sari parking lot but never get to ride the ohsem rotating thingy ~ *sigh*

Pernah Juga Jahil

Membaca entri Sue Anna Joe bertitle-kan Terasa Jahil ni, aku pun nak mengshare-kan experience aku masa kat Bangkok dulu.

Bangkok adalah destinasi kedua kerja aku selepas Chiang Mai. Aku pergi satu meeting kat Windsor Hotel. Cantik tempatnya. Kat tengah-tengah bandar. Dekat je dengan mall segala bagai.

Tapi, oleh sebab kejahilan aku juga yang rambang mata nak mencuba makanan kat situ, dengan selamba aku kutip segala makanan tanpa kesah ada bekas ba-alif-ba-ya ke tak.

Terang lagi bersuluh sebenarnya dia letak sebelah2, tapi, aku tak rasa aku kesah waktu tu sebab kat kepala hotak aku yang kadang-kadang ada part sengal jugak ni, aku pikirkan Bangkok ada consider pasal makanan halal. Dan sepatutnya aku lebih berhati-hati mengambil pinggan ataupun mengambil makanan.

Di Chiang Mai, takde hal. Sebab adik-adik comel aku dari UM semuanya menjaga makanan aku. Diorang bersusah payah carikan makanan halal padahal aku cakap je aku tak kisah makanan vegetarian pun.

Jadi bila aku ke Bali, Kin dah warning siap-siap kat sana makanan berasaskan ba-alif-ba-ya banyak. Tapi boleh jumpa banyak makanan halal.

Dan bila aku kat hotel, aku dengan selamba-badak-sumbunya bertanya kat minah yang kerja kat restoran tu. "Kak, makanan sini halal tak?" Dia kaget (ewah) lalu menjawab: :"Ya, di sini kita tidak menyediakan ba-alif-ba-ya, mbak, jadi semuanya halal"

Dah sudah. Nasib baik tanya. Dan nasib baik takde ba-alif-ba-ya dalam menu restoran tu. Sepanjang aku kat restoran tu, aku makan makanan Jepun. Takde la aku komplen pun, sebab aku memang excited makanan Jepun. Semua ikan mentah aku belasah. Itu je la sumber protein yang ada.

Aku juga jadi pemakan buah-buahan, salad-saladan,cheese-cheesean utama kat situ.

Pengajarannya di sini adalah;

1. Kalo ke luar negara, sila berhati-hati dengan makanan yang korang amik. Ingat, pinggan bekas makanan ba-alif-ba-ya kita sebagai orang Islam tak boleh guna. Kalau dah tau, try opt pakai pinggan salad ke, pinggan dessert ke.. Kalau dah tak berpinggan, susah gak.

Aku tau soalan akan timbul, kalau diorang basuh sekali macam mana? Tapi, bagi aku, kita tak payahlah nak over-question yang tu sebab kita tak tau. Yang kita tau dia ada hidangan tu, dan pinggan paling besar la selalunya orang pakai kan.

Unless, korang rasa was-was jugak nak pakai pinggan salad, mungkin korang boleh pegi cari makanan kat tempat lain yang halal.

2. Di Indonesia, aku tak rasa maksud 'halal' adalah 'binatang yang disembelih oleh orang Islam dengan tatacara Islam'. 'Halal' kat sana lebih kepada 'binatang selain ba-alif-ba-ya)

3. Nak selamat dan taknak was-was, buat lah macam aku yang bersungguh pack megi Rusky-Tomyam ke Jakarta dan Bali. Kenyang je. Bukan lama pun nak stay sana.

Project "Jejak Kasih: Ramadhan Special" - A Post Mortem

Sesungguhnya manusia hanya dapat merancang, manusia yang pemalas juga yang rugi!

Beberapa entri yang sebelum, aku ada berkobar-kobar di dada nak memasak kat rumah dan ajak kawan-kawan datang berbuka kat Lorong Seri, Alor Star tu.

Malangnya, oleh sebab si gemuk ini menjadi pemalas bila di rumah dan lebih suka berbual manja dengan Damien @ Amjad, so makan di luar la al-jawabnya.

BERBUKA POSA PERTAMA - Kenny Roger's Roasters, Kampung Berjaya
Hari pertama di rumah, dah keluar dengan Dina, Dr. Pink Lady of the Valley, Dila, the Fotograper dan jugak Liza, the Rahman kuasa dua. Tak tahan ni, buka puasa dekat Kenny Rogers' Roasters. Sabar ada hilang sekejap bila waitress tak bawak-bawak sky juice aku, tapi ingat kitorang nak take-away sedozen muffin.... cacat!

Lama gak tak merapu dengan kawan-kawan. Paling sedap aku merapu bila aku cakap kat Nik (kiutlah dia tu, dari dulu sampai sekarang kiut)

Azwa: Kalo langkah bendul, adiknya tak boleh keluar ikut pintu depan.
Nik: (muka sangat concerned and bersopan) ye ke? ada ke macam tu?
Azwa: Ye la, (bersungguh explain) kat kelantan ada lagi orang buat benda camtu...
Nik: Kat Kelantan ke?
Azwa: (sangat sure) Ye, Kelantan

Ya ampun! Kalau dah nama member Nik, of coz la dia dari Kelantan. Best part is, aku tak maksudkan Kelantan! Dalam kepala aku nampak dua Jawa Johor yang cerita kat aku benda ni penah jadi kat Johor. J-O-H-O-R mangkuk!!

Mampus! Nik mesti ingat aku racist terhadap rakyat Kelantan!

BERBUKA POSA KEDUA - Pizza Hut, Jalan Limbong Kapal
Pagi bangun dah fikir nak masak bende untuk diorang. Sekali tengahari melengkaq @ mengulau dengan Amjad depan tv tengok Kala Hati, aku dah malas.

Azwa: Miza, jom keluar je la.
Miza: (mengutuk aku dengan jayanya. Ayat-ayat seperti bersungguh, semangat dan sebagainya keluar)
Azwa: Aku ajak Sue.

Hahaha.. sekali jumpa baru tau! Rindu gila nak mampus! Peluk-peluk, cium-cium, aku rindu kamu, rindu aku.... Dulu benda-benda kecik pun jadi hal. Nak merajuk.

Sue pun aku tengok penat sket, gile tunggu nak meletup je tu.

Tu la yang aku selalu emphasize kat budak-budak ni - "Bila ada kawan kecik hati dengan korang pasal benda kecik, percayalah, dia tu sebenarnya rindukan korang tapi tanak ngaku and cuba nak lupakan korang, malangnya tak berjaya so, buat alasan"... hah! panjang ko "Lesson of the Day" aku bagi.

Aku rasa puasa ni memang konsepnya untuk tidak bercakap banyak;

Azwa: Hari tu aku gi bebuka dengan Dina, adik dia ngan Liza. Kat Kenny Rogers
Miza: Laa...aku tak tau pun Kedah ada Kenny Rogers. Maju noh ada la ni... Kat mana Kenny Rogers tu?
Azwa: Kat Kampung Baru...
Miza: Ni kali pertama aku dengar Kampung Baru, Alor Star.
Azwa: Weh, ada la Kampung Baru. Kat umah adina tu. Kat Mergong tu. Yang depan sikit ada Pizza Hut tu...

Kawan-kawan, silakan fahami... Saya maksudkan Kampung Berjaya.

VERDICT OF THE PROJECT: 45% FAILED

10 Things you can ONLY find in Hadyai

1. We departed at 10.15pm and arrived in Padang Besar 6am the next day. Later on we were joined by our Thai tour guide name Auseman Isa, from Satun. He was pretty excited talking things in Thailand which 80% of them are not in Hadyai. Without proper bath nor brush the teeth, Abang Jack, the driver drove us around the city for breakfast, drink bird nest and shop for souvenirs at Nora Plaza, buy cashew nuts and prickly powder at Thai Lee Seng Factory and shopping (again) at Central Market.

2. Aside from "belum mandi", we had a good time at Central Market bargaining for stuffs. I bought myself a pair of jeans, some blouse and t-shirts and a handbag. Then, we met "you say can, auntie say cannot" when i tried to bargain for a blue cardigan for Aya. huhu. Heck, i didnt understand a word she said!

3. Went to hotel on tuk-tuk for 15 baht each and checked in Sakol Hotel, me and Wani found ourselves in a cheap-honeymoon-suite-for-eloped-couple kinda room (we also had huge mirror on the wall at the back of the queen bed) while the others have bath-tub, twin beds and area to jump around.

~hadyai's tuk-tuk~

4. Hungry people are angry people. Kak Wiznie and me walked around the block to find food. We went to mamak called Darbar Restaurant and FACT: Mamak anywhere in the world is freakin'ly expensive! We both had mee goreng (which actually instant noodle) for RM6.00 and milo ice for RM2.00! And please, put it in the menu as Fried Blackpepper Instant Noodle next time.

~tell me, which guy won't be tempted with this kin-of ad?~

~Mee Goreng aka Fried Blackpepper Instant Noodle~

~air menet~

5. On the evening, we walked into a shops-lane and got chased by the 'Go Home' uncle. He was annoyed by us touching his stuffs but not buying any of it and i felt sorry for Aya; she politely ask to take photo, but got a big "NO". He yelled at us several times telling us to go home.

~after got yelled at, we stopped to buy sticky rice with mango~

6. Then we went to Grand Plaza at Central Hadyai and met this cute-shy-guy selling necklace at a flea-market style in the plaza which Intan, Atun and Aya were enthusiastically bought a few. We had a short break at Dairy Farm and continued the shopping journey to the upper floors.

~this lady carves soap bars and turn 'em into beautiful flower~

~wanie enjoying her chocolate snowy milk~

~Intan check out stuffs she bought from the flea-market~

7. Tired and feel hurt from the 'Go Home' uncle, we went to a massage parlour and had a good foot massage - Kak Wiznie, Intan, Aya and myself, while Atun and Wani got body massage and they had 'quite an experience' in there...EHEM! We met 4 Malaysian marathoners with two escort girls and their pimp. The pimp showed "tiger show" ad in a magazine to one of the marathoners sitting next to me. My guess, they gonna have a GREAT NITE IN HADYAI.

~kak wiznie's blissful face, and aya picking her nose, the usual..haha~

8. Lepaking at a makcik's stall with nice Air Limau Perah Ais, we enjoyed the night scene at the Centre of Hadyai. And there was one tuk-tuk with flat-screen tv with awfully loud stereo. But, we surely will enjoy more if we were at THE SHOW for the midnight..wahahaha - well, partying with fried chicken and prawn for 200baht each in the hotel room is also ok whaatt....

~night view at Central Hadyai~

~the fried prawns and chicken stall~

9. We had breakfast on the 10th floor of Grand Hotel Plaza and shopped some more at the street with the excuse of "finishing our baht notes".

~girls doin' the shoppin'~

10. After watched a drama of Rivalry of the Pink in the morning at the lobby (it was hilarious to watch her eyes rolling up and down - a pink lady with jealousy), we head back to Malaysia at 10am. Enjoying Tomyam and Kau Lau Soup (which i only found out its a beef soup) at Padang Besar at 12pm and arrived in Cheras at 10.30pm

5 OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE TRIP
~just stomp on the Americans, Your Majesty"

1. Atun has a 12 years-old rival over a pony-tailed hair guy. The standard six tried to be a lady but doesnt work with all-pink outfit. Everytime she looks at Atun with THE pony-tailed-hair guy, she has this face like "stabbing Atun for a couple times in the chest with rambo knife until satisfied". Did you ever had that kind of crush before? I know i didn't

~atun, the one who got jealous-ed by, is cam-whoring~

2. Got a call in the morning asking for Haris. I did made it clear this is Azwa's room and not Haris's. She asked - "why you're in Haris's room?" errkk?

3. I feel uneasy around guy with freakishly huge body. I am fine with body-builders at the gym. But, if you're too huge, with turtle head in the making, kinda like the obese-for-bodybuilders.. that's scary. Oh, damn~! I'm starting to miss Jun.

4. Ah Yen, the tour guide from Malaysia told 3 funny stories which I heard like 10 years back. Sungguh retro...hohoho

5.We still and will always remember the 'Go Home' uncle.

~Hadyai city, view from the 10th floor~

Bali Conferencin' & Beachin'

THE ARRIVAL
My flight to Bali was delayed for more than two freakin' hours! I only arrived in Bandara Ngurah Rai at 10pm and definitely missed the trip to Ubud for "Kecak" dance.

Annoyed and tired, I found myself smiling when I arrived in Ayodya Resort - a palace-kind-of-resort with fusion of Balinese traditional architecture and elegance.

(I am trying my bestEST here to describe the place. its gorgeous!) and it has private beach!lalalalala

I stayed alone - with superb view! Check it out!

~the room~

~the view~

~rama lounge~

THE CONFERENCE
The 1st ANNI Conference on Emerging Issues relating to NHRIs went great. We were discussing on issues to be addressed at the APF meeting next door.

~the conference~

~the report which got my name in it~

One shocking fact i've learned that, too many LGBT peeps got discriminated and violated just for being different. They were even raped so that "they can go back to normal"? What the heck is "normal"? Whats wrong of being different? From all that i can see, they are human too. They want to live happily... Like any of us. *emo mode*

Also, we had a session with the SUHAKAM Chairman, Tan Sri Hasmy Agam and i asked him two important questions (and Yap said: Good questions worr!) :-

(Q) Uneven gender composition in the Commissioners and none of them have background to support women and children issues - one a Copyright law lecturer and another Indigenous People activist who will be based in Sabah. What is SUHAKAM's commitment in addressing these issues? (A) They will take into consideration on that matter. (He also said to me personally that Indonesia only have one lady Commissioner. Tan Sri, let's just focus Malaysia, shall we?)

(Q) Cooperation and collaboration between SUHAKAM and NGOs - there were first meetings and consultations- but never taken to the second stage. What about the new set? Will SUHAKAM be more lenient and supportive?
(A) They will check with the previous consultations and meetings and work out from there.

FACT: I GOT REALLY GOOD UNDER PRESSURE; AT THE VERY END. People wont believe that great stuff coming out from me at the very last minute..heh. if, y'know what i mean.


OTHER THAN THE CONFERENCE

• Conspiracy to buy Henri's birthday gift - it was fun teaming up with Poedji and Cess in buying Henri the batik shirt.
  
• We went to Kuta (pronounce:ku-te) on the first night for dinner at Made's Warung, had some shopping afterward and walking by the public beach.
  

~recommended for its specialties; the booze~

• They have the Legion Beach Festival 2010 (sorry, no details..ehem)
  
• One of their favorite craft is p*nis - They made it into various things-keychain, bottle opener, etc. i think Henri thought that I'm a pervert when I was excitedly pointed to rubix cube made from wood but together with that in a basket; is the p*nis keychain.

~call me a perv, i'm just providing you with evidence~

• I went to the beach on the last night and fell asleep on the lazy-chair. The breeze was fabulous. And I went again with Purnomo and Atnike before I took cab to Ngurah Rai on the last day.

• I KISSED A GAY AND I LIKED IT
  
• Went to shopping with Shoko-san from Japan on the last day at the Hawaii-Bali Pasar Oleh-oleh and had lunch at Nasi Padang's Restaurant
  

~photo credit: shoko-san~

AMAZING PEEPS: (I don't have better things to do..hell yeah)

Pak Rafendi
he is like THE living legend in human rights field in Indonesia. Husky voice, great smile, got the brain and the braun, also sempoi. He is THE coolest guy in the conference. (dont tell him that)

Irfan ( i think thats his name..)
This Maldivian surf-guy (not..) has the best english-uk-speaking-style ever! (flail over him, flail! flail) And extra mark when he thought that I was a university student. (in which it means I am cute..or clueless? hummmm)

Toru and Shoko
Nihon guy thought a white-living-breathing-horse is a model. And he said "Azwa-chan mo is kawaii"..ahaks.
And i'm blessed that I was able to go shopping and had lunch with my new girl from the East, Shoko-san.


Emerlynne Gil
This iron lady knows NHRIs across the region inside out~! (not good at describing people, but, she is super awesome!) and she is very supportive to me (coz u know me la - slow like turtle). She reminds me of Yang-Dizon. Passionate; at the same time, can be very sweet and adorable. Lucky man, you John!


Poedji & Siddarth
They fight for their rights and i know they will never stop and will do whatever it takes for people to understand them and accept them for what they are.

SWEET COUPLE RATING (i just feel that this is a must)

1. John and Em - they are soo sweet. John carried Em's heels and they walked along the beach
together. ****

2. John and Henri - they lunch/dine together, smoked together, they had 'girl-talk' over bedtime... ****

Bali was great! Great time, great people. Wish i can go back there. for holiday this time around, maybe. At the Kuta Beach, watching surfers..err.. surf? LOL