Spageti Kari Tuna

Resipi yg mudah n segera utk hari sabtu yg malas..

Bahan2
1/3 peket spageti, masak ikut arahan kat peket tu
Ayam brand kari tuna
Cili padi - ikut tahap kepedasan anda
Sedikit garam n pepper
Cherry tomatoes - potong separuh
Yellow onions - dadu
Parsley
Olive oil

Panaskan olive oil dan tumis bawang dan cili padi sampai naik bau manis n pedas. Lepas tu masukkan tuna, cherry tomatoes dan parsley n kacau smp sebati dgn api sederhana kuat, kalo kelihatan kering tambah sedikit air. Kemudian tambahkan sedikit garam dan pepper n tambah spageti yg telah dicelur tadi, goreng lebih kurang 5-7 minit, kemudian sedia utk dihidang. Boleh tabur parmesan skit kat atas. :)

wake me up hot chocolate

I love coffee. but i cant tolerate the caffeine in the coffee. to have de-caf coffee, sounded not right also. so i has come up with this  wake me up hot chocolate drink for the breakfast:

4 tablespoon of milo + A teaspoon of coffee into the mug. Add in hot water till 3/4 of the mug and add in
Marigold hl milk

Mmg sedap! Try it out!

Bday Excursion - Ho Chi Minh

Boarding time.
Yours truly berangan xyah menapak

Kami pegi berempat, tp flight pagi tu, kami berdua je, sbb yg lagi dua tu, mmglaa sama tarikh, tp rupenye departure time tak sama. Kami cuba gak minta diorg naik sekali, tapi tak dapat. Mungkin sbb seat kosong yg tinggal adelah hot seat je (n aku baru tahu kalo nak tukar seat g hot seat kena tanye crew dulu). Takleh komen lebih, sbb bukan salah AA.

Immigration

Kami sampai hcm pas 2 jam perjalanan n terus pegi immigration. Xde form2 nak kena isi, bagi passport je. Q agak panjang dan seperti komen2 di travelblog yg lain, pegawai imigresen die mmg x mesra, senyum pun susah. Selesai urusan di kaunter imigresen,  aku g amik beg dulu n agak terkejut, bila tgk carousel dah x bergerak, tp lega bila nampak beg dah diturunkan ditepi belt. Mungkin sbb limited belt utk menampung byk arrival drpd international flight, so carousel x round byk kali.

Communication

Sebelum keluar dr airport, aku sempat beli local sim card dr vinaphone. Utk memudahkan komunikasi dan mengurangkan unnecessary cost. Senang je nak beli sim card, sbb salesgirl kat situ pandai cakap omputih n penyabar orgnye. Dia akan ajar skali camne nak setup, cek balance, beli data utk internet. Nie breakdown kos dalam vnd dan rm:

Hanya di vietnam ade motor byk gini n kabel berselirat gaya gitu

	VND		RM
Starter pack	52,000		8.20
Top up	100,000		15.80
Diskaun 5%	(5,000)		(0.80)
Jumlah 1	147,000		23.20
Micro sim	25,000		4.00
Jumlah 2	172,000		27.20

Kalau hp x pakai micro sim, kos dlm RM23, dgn total prepaid VND125,000. Pastu aku beli data plan 150mb yg valid utk 30 days for VND25,000. Baki VND 100,000 tu boleh buat international call for 30 minutes. Tpkan, kalo dah ade whassap, mmg tak luak sgtlaa prepaid. So kalo tak perlu nak wat international call yang kerap, beli top up VND50,000 pun dah memadai.

Transportation

Misi pencarian teksi, mmg mencabar, sbb masing2 quote harga tinggi. Kalo diorang quote usd15, silala cari yang lain, sbb mahal!. Kalo xnak pening, kuar arrival hall, belok kiri, n cari teksi vanisunh n mailinh, yg pakai meter. Tp dlm kes kami, kami decide nak tggu lagi dua org tu utk jimat kos. Skali diorg dah beli tiket for VND220,000 around RM35. Mahal gakla, tp dah spread by 4, ok laa kot.

Fyi, kalo dari hotel ke airport bila guna meter hanyalaa around vnd 150,000. 

Money Changer

Nway, kalo nak tukar duit, boleh tukar kat airport kat hcm. Sbb rate lagi bagus daripada kat kl. Diorg accept RM, but kalo ade usd, akan dpt much better rate dr kl. N mintak terus small change kat situ. Korang takyahlaa buang masa stress n bengang bila x dpt small change kat money changer Malaysia, sbb diorg tak pegang byk vnd, so agak susahlaa diorg nak bg small change.

My advice, basically kena ade sume currency, RM, USD n VND. As usual, vnd is widely accepted. Tp kekadang bila tgh nak membeli, diorg akan quote dlm rm/usd, so korang leh decide which cheaper, n bayar in that currency. But bear in mind, no cents! Most of the time, korang kena round up kan figure.

Accomodation

Penginapan selama 4d3n kat hcm adelah di white hotel.  Book hotel di agoda je. Kalo nak book hotel cari yg dkt dgn ben thanh market. Sbb bkn saje dekat dgn ben thanh market, dkt dgn night market dan juga kedai makanan halal.

Tips mase nak cari hotel online- spend skit masa baca komen2 di agoda tu. boleh dpt byk gak useful tips and perkara2 yg korang tatau pasal hotel tu. 

Berbalik pada white hotel, kami fall in love at first sight dgn hotel ni. Cantik n bersih! Ade toilet hos, tv lcd yg byk gile channel, n pc with connection. Cons adelah agak sempit n tadek kettle. Kalo x nak sempit, bayarlaa lebih skit kan? 

Sbb flight aku mlm n aku tak ske nak packing2 di tengah2 lobi hotel n airport, aku amik late check out, so kena bayar additional vnd400,000. Berbaloi sbb aku rase selesa dpt kemas, n mandi n ade tpt solat yg proper before g airport.

 Ni bilik kami. But minus the window n yellow phone. More pictures at http://www.thewhitehotel.vn/en/gallery.html

Halal Restaurant

Kedai makanan halal kat sini banyak gak. Buat research siap2. N kalo ade handphone dgn gps lg senang. Ade lion city, VN Halal, Serai Restauran, Restoran Hj Halim. Harga makanan agak mahal. Dlm RM20 sorang sekali makan. Kedai2 halal serves Malaysian dishes dan ade gak Vietnamese dishes, portionnye agak byk dan rasenye pun sedap.

Tours

Kalo nak mencari tours yg murah kenala pegi berjalan2 n tanye at least 3 agents, supaya boleh dpt rough idea bape rate diorg. For us, kami cek online gak n lepas dah round 3 kedai n tawar menawar, kami dpt purchase 3 tours for USD 37.50 each, lebih kurang RM115 drp An Travel. Tp sbb agak tak cukup masa utk shopping, kitorg x dpt pegi city tours. N kalo diberi pilihan, better g city tours drp g mekong. Nonetheless, ini itineraries tours yg kitorg beli tu:

Half day Chu Chi Tunnel (recommended)

- pick up dr hotel kul 7.30 pg, tp kena menapak skit ke coaster

- 1 jam ++ ke chu chi tunnel, dgn persinggahan kat handicraft shop.

- Entrance fee tak termasuk skali, kena bayar vnd90,000

- tgk dokumentari, demonstrasi laluan ke tunnel, jenis2 trap, dan alami sendiri jalan dlm tunnel sepanjang 40m yg sempit dan gelap, (I survived that!) kalo korang claustrophobic dan faint hearted, jgn masuk!

- smp ben thanh market around 3 pm.

- mungkin agak boring bg sesetengah org. Tp menarik utk korang tau sendiri betapa susahnye masa zaman perang kat Vietnam dan juga boleh menjawab pelbagai persoalan yg ade mengenai viet com. 

_________________________________________________________________________________

Water Puppet (recommended) dan Saigon cruise

- pick up dr hotel by taxi . Water puppet tu mmg best! Recommended. Basically a 30 minutes show yg cite pasal kehidupan di Vietnam. Tp kalo anak2 korang jenis tak ske patung pelik2 cam dlm video kat bawah nie, takyah laa kot.

- Saigon cruise best gak sbb first time aku naik cruise atas kapal besar, sambil berlayar dgr lagu instrumental dgn angin bertiup, mmg layan. Tp to tell you the truth, view nye so so je. So better skip n spend kat tpt lain.

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Fresh rolls elephant earfish. Mknn paling sihat dan paling sedap!

Mekong Delta Tours

-pick up dr hotel kul 7.30 by coaster n tukar ke bas. Frankly speaking, tak ske bas tu, maybe sbb dpt seat yg tak best n leg room yg limited.

- perjalanan pegi 3 jam, balik 4 jam. Sgt memenatkan n pening kepala duk dlm bas yg tak bape sejuk tu.

- smp di port, kami naik bot yg besar, tgk floating market. Tp bukan mcm kat Bangkok, sbb ni cater for pemborong. N tak sesak langsung. Then kami singgah tgk proses pembuatan rice paper, poprice, coconut candy.

- then, kami naik sampan ke kedai makan. Best gak pengalaman nie. almaklumlaa budak bandar. Jakun kami amik2 gamba atas sampan. Besar gak sampan tu. boleh duduk dan hayati pemandangan dgn selesa

- kalo ade masa lebih, bolehlaa join tour nie. sbbnye makan masa satu hari. N kalo ade anak kecik, tak galakkan sgt, sbb aku pun tak selesa sgt, camne plak korang dgn anak2.

Spa

Kalo penat berjalan2, sini ade byk spa. Boleh tahan murah spa2 kat sini. Mase kat sini, aku pegi spa lemongrass dua kali. Foot massage n neck, shoulder massage. Impress dgn layanan dan deco spa yg simple tp menenangkan. 

Org bandar naik sampan. Jakun kejap! 

Shopping

Kalo korang nak tempah suits, baju kurung, jubah, blaus, dress, seluar aku cadangkan buat on the first day. Supaya korang ade masa utk fittings n supaya korang tak rasa frust sbb tak dpt tempah baju sbb kesuntukan masa.

Byk tailor di sekitar ben thanh market, tp unfortunately kami tak sempat nak ask around bape rega upah. Basically diorg siap dlm masa sehari. Kalo jubah tu, boleh siap dlm 3-4 jam je. (Seriously kalo pegi skali lg mmg aku akan tempah suits n blaus)

Operating hours ben thanh market 7pg-7mlm(sharp) . lepas tu ade ben thanh night market, dr 7.15 ke 12 mlm. Benda yg korang tak patut tak cuba adelah buah2 dia. Mmg sedap dan puas makan. Ciku, tembikai, pink guava sedap gile! Satu pek at usd1, mmg kena rip off skit kot. But kalo sedap n puas makan, takyah laa berkira sgt kot. 

Ape yg best kat ben thanh market? Kain chiffon, kain cotton silk, tshirt, ready made clothes, watches, handbag, wallet and even ade jual tv series box set yg murah! Kalo korang keabisan duit, leh tukar rm/usd to vnd kat money changer dlm tu. manelah tak gile memborong kan?

Tips shopping: Senaraikan harga barang yg nak dibeli di tempat anda, boleh dijadikan basis utk menawar, supaya tak end up beli harga yg x jauh beza dgn kl

Tippings, Bargaining and Others

Tippings - Nak bagi tip atau tidak? Aku baca teknik bagi tip kat sini, tp byk gak kate jgn biasakan bagi tip kat diorg, nnt diorg expect tip tu wajib. For me is simple. Kalo servis bagus, bagi je seikhlas hati, kira mcm sedekah. J

Bargaining - Kalo nak bargain kena tegar k! mintak 70% dulu, baru naik skit2 smp korang rasa berbaloi utk dibeli. Sebelum shopping, plan dgn group nak beli ape, supaya korang boleh beli byk skali, which means boleh bargain utk dptkan harga lebih murah drp biasa. Note: pusing2 dulu tanye harga.jgn beli kat stall or kedai laluan utama ramai org unless die blh bg harga plg murah. explore stall yg dlm2 skit,kekadang leh dpt harga lebih murah n choices yg lebih cantik

Hard Rock Cafe - one more thing, kalo korang ske collect tshirt hrc, jgn lupe singgah hard rock café ho chi minh. Naik teksi dlm vnd 27,000 dr ben thanh market.

Last but not least, kalo korang penggemar kopi tegar, jgn lupe borong kopi. Org kate kopi kat sini sedap. Aku no komen. Kafein kopi bikin kepala ni upside down! ;p

last but not least ini estimation of jumlah kos trip ho chi minh kali nie: 

	RM
Needs:
Flight - ticket	200
Hotel	184
Tours	114
Lunch n dinner	66
Transport	14
Prepaid starter pack	23
Total	601
Comfort:
Flight - Luggage n meals	109
Hotel - late check out	63
F&B - Others	18
Total	191
Splurge
Misc - spa	75
Total excl shopping	867

Overall, imho, hcm nie adelah antara lokasi percutian yg tak bape mahal, dh lebih kurang kk (tiket g kk mahal kot) Just kalo anda ske beach vacation, hcm nie mmg out of list la kan.

Big Bad Wolf Books Sale - Preview

First of all, to those who has never heard of BBW books sale, why don't u check out its website at http://www.bigbadwolfbooks.com . As, I'm writing this just to assist you with the preparation prior, during and after the BBW books sale.

As for this year, the BBWB is held at Mines International Exhibition Convention Centre (which is connected to the Mines Shopping Mall) from 7th - 23rd December. From 7/12 - 9/12, the books sale will be opened for 63 hrs (from 6.30am on 7/12 till  9.30pm on 9/12) an opportunity not to be missed. The usual operating hours is 9am-9pm.

The parking rate is cheap. Food is abundant at the mines shopping mall. Surau is nearby too.

Done with that, now let us talk about the navigating the hall.

Once you entered the hall, what you can see and search at:

Your left side - The cashiers. The biography and memoirs. Self help books. Art and Crafts. Nat Geo Photos Coffee book. Cooking book. Reference+Dictionary+Sci Fi+Travel+Puzzles book+Sudoku (besides the stairs&escalator)

Your right side - The Fictions (best sellers, romance, thriller). Books for young adults. Books for children (activity books, storybooks). Cooking book.Malay books. Magazines+Notebooks(besides the stairs and escalator). You can also find the temporary storage services nearby the magazines area.

Ok. done with that. Next is the tips!

Prior

1. No idea on what title to look for? why not google the top 100 books in ur fave genre (thriller, romance, mystery, etc) then check out the synopsis then decide whether to add in ur list or not.

2.Still have books that yet to be touched from prior years? take pictures of it and refer to it when u're in doubt whether you had already bought the book or not! 

3.Once you are ready with the list, take a photo of the list ! in case u forget to bring ur list, at least u have a copy of the list in the phone. 

4.Now, the list is ready, find urself a trolley which is crucial to reduce the unnecessary pain while carrying and searching for the books around the hall.

5.List. Checked. Trolley. Checked. Comfy footwear. Checked. Money/Credit Card. Checked. Now u're ready to go.

During

1. Be patient during queuing. The wolf pack is trying their best to ensure the hall is not too crowded so that everybody have a great time hunting for the books. 

2. Once you're in, if you don't have a trolley, you may request a box from the wolf pack 

3. When hunting for books, remember this:

 - return to its place if you decide not to buy

 - don't throw books

 - dont just limit urself to the list, there's so many super cheap books, why not try to read books from diff author?

4. If u feel and think that the books is too heavy for you to carry around, leave them at the temporary storage services. They have a very simple but efficient storage system. 

5. Before checking out, check your books.

6. When you're done, while or prior queuing to make payment, make an effort to arrange the book based on price as to ease the payment process.

After

1. After making payment, there are few activities going on at the exit hallway. 

- top secret stash (i dunno what it is about, as i was too tired to find out)

- stamp your book with BBW book stamp. i think there are around 5 designs with 5 colors.Cool stuff!

- there are also coffee stall

- do standby extra cash to grab the exclusive BBW merchandise - buttons, tote bag, shirts

2. Keep the receipt for tax deduction! :)

That's all what i can think of now. Happy hunting all! Signing out. :)

I Dont Need a Man

Let kick start the week with sumthing catchy ..



Miss A - I Dont Need A Man

English Translation:

This is for all the independent ladies
Let’s go

I can live well without a man
So if you’re not confident, don’t come to me
I don’t sell myself easily because
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (What?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (Really?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (For real?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man
I can live well without a man

I pay my rent with my money
I buy my own food, I buy my own clothes
It may not be enough but I know how to be satisfied
That is why I love myself (hey)

I don’t want to spend my parent’s allowance as my own
I’m too old for that
Isn’t it a given to not be burdensome to them?
That is why I am proud of myself (hey)

Boy don’t say
“I’ll take care of you, I’ll cherish you” no no
Boy don’t play
If you’re not gonna come with a serious mind

I can live well without a man
So if you’re not confident, don’t come to me
I don’t sell myself easily because
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (What?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (Really?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (For real?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man
I can live well without a man

Being cocky won’t work with me
I don’t know about anywhere else
I may not be as well off as you but
I overflow with confidence
That’s why I love myself (hey)

I want to take care of myself
The other girls may have rich parents or a rich boyfriend
And live comfortably but I’m not interested in that
That is why I am proud of myself (hey)

Boy don’t say
“I am your future, trust and lean on me” no no
Boy don’t play
If you’re not gonna respect me

I can live well without a man
So if you’re not confident, don’t come to me
I don’t sell myself easily because
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (What?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (Really?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (For real?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man
I can live well without a man

I wake up early every morning
And I’m busy all day
I don’t even eat a proper meal
But I do this because I like it
The money may be little but it’s from my own sweat
This isn’t a ring that a boyfriend bought me
My car, my clothes – I bought it all on my own
I bought them after putting money into savings, after giving allowance to my parents
If you trust men, what will you do when they leave you?
Are you jealous of me?
If you’re jealous, you lose

I can live well without a man
So if you’re not confident, don’t come to me
I don’t sell myself easily because
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (What?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (Really?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (For real?)
I don’t need a man I don’t need a man
I can live well without a man

Romanized:

This is for all the independent ladies
Let’s go

Naneun namja eobsi jal sara
Geureoni jasini eobseumyeon
Nae gyeote ojireul ma
Naneun hamburo nal an para
Waenyamyeon nan
I don’t need a man
I don’t need a man (what?)
I don’t need a man
I don’t need a man (jinjja)
I don’t need a man
I don’t need a man (jeongmal)
I don’t need a man
I don’t need a man
Naneun namja eobsi jal jal sara

Nae doneuro bangse da nae
Meokgo sipeun geo sa meokgo otdo sa ipgo
Chungbunhajin anchiman manjokhal jul ara
Geuraeseo nan nareul saranghae (hey)

Bumonimui yongdon nae doncheoreom
Sseugo sipji anha naiga manha
Son beolliji annneun ge dangyeonhan geo anya
Geuraeseo nan naega tteotthteotae (hey)

Boy don’t say
Naega chaenggyeojulge naega akkyeojulge no no
Boy don’t play
Jinjihage ol ge animyeon

Jallan cheneun andwae ttan deseoneun
Tonghalji mollado neomankeum nado
Jallajin anhatjiman jasingameun neomchyeo
Geuraeseo nan nareul saranghae (hey)

Nae himeuro salge ttan aecheoreom
Bumonim jal manna namja jal manna
Pyeonhage saneun geo gwansimi eobseo
Geuraeseo nan naega tteotthteotae (hey)

Boy don’t say
Naega neoui mirae nareul mitgo gidae no no
Boy don’t play
Nareul jonjunghal ge animyeon

Maeil achim iljjik ireonaseo
Haru jongil bappaseo
Bap han kki jedaero mot meogeo
Hajiman naega johaseo han iriya
Doniya jakjiman da nae ttamiya
Namja chinguga sa jun banji aniya
Nae cha nae ot naega beoreoseo san geoya
Jeokgeum neoko bumonim yongdon
Deurigo naseo san geoya
Namja mitgo nolda
Namja tteonamyeon eotteokhal geoya
Ireon naega bureowo?
Bureoumyeon jin geoya