Saturday, June 27, 2009

MJ, The way you make us feel & How you rock our world.

A phone call from Anna’s friend early in the morning saying that Michael Jackson has passed away, really shocked us. We thought it was a joke. We knew that Farah Fawcett was the one who died  that day. When the news channel (CNN, BBC and even Al-Jazeera) confirmed the death of the music icon, suddenly our hearts crushed. It was devastated, unbelievable, tragic & sad. Even though we are not fanatic fans of him, but growing with his music was something that we couldn’t resist. It was a tragic lost and I guess that’s make him a LEGEND. 

Michael Jackson collectiblesMichael Jackson collectibles
For the last 48 hours, all we can hear, listen, download, see around us is him. Why can’t he have it while he is still around? For the first 24 hours, 56millions downloaded “Thriller” album from iTunes. In Kuala Lumpur itself most of his albums sold out yesterday (funny thing.., these albums haven’t being touched for 5-6months, according to one of the music store staff). This makes him a hit again in the Top of the worldwide music chart. 

MJ & me@Madame Tussauds,NYC
No more bad things about him can be heard, it seems the whole world is forgiving him. For the last 12 years of health suffering, battle of law, financially unstable, he has finally rest in peace. Regardless of what media called him, He will always be remembered as King of Pop and Music Icon.



Michael Jackson collectibles
* I’m proud to be part of the HIStory World Tour 96 in Kuala Lumpur on 27 October 1996.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Shall we stay or shall we go...?

Pantasnya H1N1 merebak... Ada sekolah kena tutup lagi... Makin menjadi-jadi jugak virus H1N1 ni.. Alhamdulillah, Anna baru baik dari batuk dan selsema, suspen jugak ingatkan ada kena-mengena dengan virus tu. Seminggu jugaklah nak recover. Tapi dalam masa nak baik tu sempat habiskan buku kedua dari Andrea Hirata, Sang Pemimpi kesinambungan dari Laskar Pelangi. Tak sangka buku-buku beliau boleh didapati di MPH Bookstore. Nampak jer terus sambar Sang Pemimpi dan Edensor. Beliau ada sebuah lagi novel terakhir dari tetralogi ni, Maryamah Karpov. 

Sang Pemimpi & EdensorAnna's Cupcakes
Dalam masa yang sama, sempat lagi buat cupcakes untuk majlis cukur jambul saudara terdekat. Hehe..

Bila kerajaan keluarkan arahan untuk menangguhkan perjalanan/percutian ke negara2 yang serius dijangkiti Swine Flu, membuatkan ramai yang tertanya-tanya. Macamana kalau tiket kapalterbang dah beli (especially yang tambang murah), hotel dah booked dan cuti dah approved. Jadi serba-salah dibuatnya. Kami yang sedang merancang untuk next backpack ke salah sebuah negara yang dijangkiti ini pun sedang mencari alternatif bagaimana mengurangkan risiko dijangkiti.

Jika ada sesiapa yang senasib dengan kami atau yang baru balik dari negara2 tersebut bolehlah berkongsi tip dengan kami. Agak-agak vaksin Tamiflu berkesan tak?

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

300 pins and counting...

Excited when Faizal called me on Tuesday morning telling that my article is out on Kosmo! Thank You again to Adham and Kosmo! for giving us another chance to share our passion, but this time more on Anna's hobby.. Here we go.. part of the article.

Anna on Kosmo!Anna on Kosmo!
Still got the rockin' feel? with Faizal's post earlier on? Just to complete our journey, let me story a bit on our Singapore trip.

Inside the KTM trainInside the KTM train
As usual we took a almost 10 hour train ride to Singapore. Actually the trip only takes 8 hour but the checkpoint in Woodland yang lama. Tapi disebabkan ianya murah dan selesa, kitaorang tak kisah..Tapi this time in Woodland, ada pemeriksaan H1N1, suspen jugak takut-takut kena tahan, maklumlah kalau badan panas sikit nanti boleh detect. Alhamdulillah..lebih kurang pukul 8.30pagi selamat sampai di Singapura terus pekena Lontong Singapura, peh! Terus energetic. Top-up our ezlink card terus menuju ke Bugis Station.

SuperHub@Arab StreetBugis StationMasjid Sultan, SingaporeKampung Glam, SingaporeRoad sign
North Bridge RoadFaizal@North Bridge RoadCapitol TheatreFaizal's Favourite ShopSingapore Skyline
Since we arrived quite early for check in, we left our bag at the reception and ronda-ronda dulu. I must tell you this, The SuperHub hostel is strategically located (5 mins from Bugis Station), close to Masjid Sultan, and attractions to Malay Heritage. Dan yang paling best sekali, tempat makan yang banyak dan connivence store yang berdekatan. Within the 3 hours before we got to our room, Faizal and I sempat ke City Hall, where Faizal likes to shop his CDs and DVDs there. There is one place called, Gramaphone just opposite City Hall MRT station. Disebabkan eager to catch the concert, we went to Esplanade in case they have their merchandise to sell. Just to make sure we among the first to get it, but sadly they only have it during the concert. Patah balik to Bugis and got to our room. Wow! It is clean but the space, kecik yang amat. Price memang a bit pricey tapi kalau kat Singapura ni mana nak ada tempat yang murah in city centre. One night lebih kurang RM162 untuk 2 orang. This hostel is not suitable for those who're fussy with space and simplicity, but it's good enough for traveller who wants a good night sleep with everything else within reach. Well done, Ronnie and his mother who're running this place.

AnnaEsplanade, SingaporeArab Street, SingaporeSuperHub@Arab StreetBussorah Street@SingaporeDSC_0356
This time we have a few friends joined for the trip, especially for the concert. So we met them for lunch at Victory Restaurant opposite Masjid Sultan. Murtabak and their nasi briyani memang sedap dan banyak, so careful when you guys order them. While waiting for the concert, we went back to our hostel which is just 3-5mins walk from the restaurant to rest.

Makan-makan place in SingaporeLunch@Victory, SingaporeMasjid Sultan, SingaporeMasjid SultanArab Street
To get to Esplanade is very easy, just get down at City Hall station and follow the direction inside the station to Esplanade. Along the way, there are a few malls, such as City Link, Marina Square, Raffles City and Suntec City. This time Singapore Great Sale is not great anymore. My opinion is because their currency is high and the economy is so..so.. Pelancong memang sentiasa ramai di Singapura tetapi yang bershopping tak ramai sangat. Or maybe because we were there while they just started the sale so belum panas lagi... Anyway, we still shopped at few places such as Gramaphone, HMV and Bugis Street Market (this place boleh tahan jugaklah..ada banyak souvenir,T-shirts, streetwear and bags).

City Link mall, SingaporeRaffles CityBugis Junction MallMarina SquareBugis Street, Singapore
Orchard Road@SingaporeOrchard Road@SingaporeOrchard Road@SingaporeBugis Street BazaarEsplanade@Singapore

Bussorah StreetBest Nasi Padang in Singapore
Ok back to the concert, opps! Faizal has reviewed it before, OK after the concert, after my signing autograph session, Art Fazil told us to try this Nasi Padang somewhere in North Bridge Road and Kandahar Street, Warung Pariaman. He said this is the best nasi padang in Singapore and you have to reach there early otherwise..tinggal nasi je lah... Food lovers, check it out. Ikutkan nak pergi ke Mustafa Centre sebab ianya dibuka 24 jam (dah penat sangat tak jadi, we have been there before). Tempat ni ada jual macam-macam barang, anything that you can think of. Kereta pun ada jual kat sini. Kalau nak ke sana, turun di MRT Farrer Park. Anytime around the clock boleh pergi.

The next day, after breakfast at Sultan Cafe, we took a bus no.2 to Changi Prison Chapel and Museum. Took us about 11/2hour to get there. Actually there are 2 ways to get there, 1. Take no.2 bus and get down at Changi Prison Chapel and Museum or 2., take MRT to Tanah Merah and catch no.2 bus from there. It may save you 30-40 mins. Admission is free, but SGD12 for two person for audio guided tour which i found very useful. I was trying to relate their history and ours, definitely the same as we were together before. Have heard about Leftenan Adnan?, He was one of the heroes during that time. Japanese Occupancy has brought big impact on our previous generation but the Japanese has changed and developed a lot. Especially their country and people, but asking ourselves back are we changing? After all, what they have done to us can be forgiven but definitely not to be forgotten. Want to know more, please click here.

Sultan CafeBussorah Street@SingaporeChangi Chapel&MuseumChangi Chapel&MuseumUnkl347@Singapore
After that we headed back to city centre, trying to shop but couldn't find things that I wanted. Except for Faizal, he was enjoying himself with CDs and DVDs. Since our hostel nearby the Kampung Glam area, we actually spent our time visiting places around there.

Kampung Glam, SingaporeMalay HeritagePavilion RiauRumah MinangMalay Heritage
Istana Kampung GlamJalan-jalan SingapuraMasjid SultanBussorah Street@SingaporeIgnite Production, Singapore
The next day, before we check out sempat jalan-jalan di sekitar our hostel. Memang berbaloi stay kat sini, walking distance to many places. Kali ni, our backpack agak luxury a bit, we took a flight back to Kuala Lumpur with Jetstar. Harga promosi lebih kurang RM98 seorang. Yang senangnya, from Bugis station turun kat Tanah Merah dan naik ke Changi airport. Tak payah pening kepala..kena naik teksi.. Kita orang saja je pergi airport awal sebabnya nak jalan2 dalam diaorg punya transit mall. Hard Rock Changi tempat yang Anna sebenarnya nak pergi. Changi Airport ni memang best for transit, macam2 ada, shower room, free internet, free movie ada massage dan etc..etc,, Tak boring la kalau ada yang kena transit kat sini.

Changi Airport, SingaporeHard Rock Changi AirportChangi Airport, SingaporeChangi Airport, SingaporeResting Area, Changi Airport
Changi Airport, SingaporeChangi Airport, SingaporeLepak at Changi AirportTerminal 2, Changi AirportChangi Airport, Singapore

BudgetCouple
Tepat pukul 1.40pm kami berangkat pulang ke tanahair, macamana cantik dan best negara orang best lagi negara sendiri..kan?!

*We spent RM600 (train,hostels & flight) for 2 person, 3 days 2 nights.