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When we arrived in Krabi and checked in our hotel, we ventured out to the Krabi seafront town as well as to the Krabi beach. The town itself was clean and structured. We just browsed through the shops and only bought a few souvenirs. On the way back to the hotel we stopped at one of the stall to have our dinner. In Krabi, it is easier to find Halal Muslim food because there are many Muslim lives in the surrounding areas. In the evening we went out again. My wife was looking a anything worth and affordable to buy and for me, was to find something for us to do the next day. At the end, I bought a one day tour package consisting a tour to Pang Nga Bay, James Bond Island, Kayaking, Floating Village, Monkey Cave and Waterfall.

So the next day, Friday 25th Dec 2009, we went to Pang Nga Ba, which is about 1 hour 30 minutes away from Krabi. We took a long tail boat to James Bond Islands and took a lot of photos at the most famous landmark of Pang Nga Bay or James Bond Islands. You can see this landmark in every brochures available to promote Pang Nga Bay. Then we stopped at the Kayak center (this is additional cost) where my 3 sons took one kayak with the instructor to go around the caves and also inside one of the caves. Afterward we stopped at the floating village to have our lunch which was also Halal since the people lives in the village originally from Indonesia. There are also souvenirs shops at the floating village.

Afterward we traveled inland to the monkey cave. There were many monkeys around and the good thing was that these monkeys were not very aggressive. They only quite aggressive if they smell foods such as peanuts, bread or bananas. Before we end the tour, the last stop were the waterfall. Here we swam and relax for a while before heading back to Krabi. That evening, my wife went for traditional Thai massage and my children and I just wander around Krabi town.

The next morning we  just relax in our hotel before we took our taxi to Krabi Airport which is about 30 minutes from Krabi Beach. And we have about 2 hours before our flight home and the kids spent the balance of Thai Baht on internet at the airport.

Well, that was our family holidays overseas. This year, 2010, our annual holidays will be back to local destinations. If you would like to view the picture at Krabi, please click here.

We arrived in Phuket late in the evening. We went straight from Phuket Airport to our hotel, Andaman Beach Suites, the north part of the famous Patong beach. At the hotel, I was asked to pay extra RM 60 per room per night for an additional bed because my party consists of 7 people, whereas I booked only the normal twin room. I dont mind sharing the bed with my kids, which was practised all this while during our vacation without any hassle. But in Andaman Beach Suite, according to the receptionist, their policy is so strict. No such request shall be entertained. So, not to spoil the vacation, I just paid extra RM 360 for 2 rooms and 3 nights stay. And I have to put 4000 bath as security deposit. So, my suggestion, for those don’t mind the smaller hotel, do not stay in Andaman Beach Suite, Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand. There are so many smaller hotels around phuket, which are not so fussy as Andaman Beach Suite Hotel.

The next day, we just relaxed at the swimming pool, and take a leisurely stroll around Patong Beach, particularly Bangla Road, Patong, famous for the night life activities. However, during the day not much to be seen. We went to Jungceylon shopping centre. It consists of many shopping complexes. By 6:30pm we were already taking our transport to Phuket Fantasea, a highly acclaimed show in Phuket. The ticket price and transport for 7 person (no childdren ticket) was RM 1300, for a 1 hour 30 minutes show. But the show was really good.

On the third day, early in the morning, we went to Phi Phi Island using speed boat. It was very windy and the sea was rough. The 1 hour speed boat ride was very frightening.  Everybody was quiet inside the boat. In Phi Phi we visited Maya Bay, made famous by Leonardo De Caprio movie The Beach, Monkey Beach, lunch at Phi Phi Don Island and swimming and snorkeling in the afternoon at Khai Island, before we headed back to Phuket.

On the last day, we just stayed in the hotel before we checkout at 12 noon sharp (another policy by Andaman Beach Suite). We then headed straight to Krabi using private vehicle we hired (Toyota Avanza) costing us 2800 bath for the 2 hour and 30 minutes drive.Click here for the pictures in Phuket.

For the year-end holiday with my family, Bangkok was the destination that we decided to go when we made the plan in Feb 2009. This is because we have been to Indonesia (Medan, Jakarta, Bandung, Padang and Bali) and Singapore the previous years. Earlier we wanted to go to Bangkok then took the train to Chiang Mai. But after some research, we found out that the ticket price was quite expensive as well as it took the whole night to get to Chiang Mai. At the end we, we planned to visit Bangkok for 3 nights, then fly to Phuket for another 3 nights and then took private taxi to Krabi from Phuket for another 2 nights and then fly back to Kuala Lumpur from Krabi. Even though my wife and I have been to Phuket before, but our kids have not been to Phuket. The reason Krabi was in the itinerary because the air ticket to Kuala Lumpur from Krabi is cheaper compared to air ticket from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur. And it was also I have not been to Krabi yet.

In Bangkok we  stayed in Tango Vibrant Living Place Hotel hotel in Pratunam area. It is a modern hotel with a newly renovated room. Its location is very near to Pratunam Market where there are plenty of garment related stuffs.It is only about 5 minutes walk. Friday afternoon we spent in Pratunam market and also booking out trips for the next 2 days. On Saturday we spent the whole day in DreamWorld, Bangkok’s entertainment theme park. The highlight is Snow Town, Hollywood Action Show and the cartoon characters parade in the afternoon.

On Sunday we went to  Floating Market some 110 km away from Bangkok, in Damnoen Saduak. Our tour guide said this is the original floating market at Mekong River. The visit this floating market is to fulfill my desire since my school days after reading in the text book about this floating market. Along the way we stop at elephant trekking and monkey show sites and teak wood factory. In the afternoon we went to Chatuchak weekend market. It is a huge market selling almost everything. At the end only my wife, my daughter and my eldest son went inside the market, whereas myself and other 3 smaller children stayed behind and just relaxing in the park in front of the market.

On Monday,we went to Pratunam market again for last minute shopping before we went to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport for an afternoon flight to Phuket. The metered taxi fare from Pratunam area to airport was 250 baht. Goodbye Bangkok, but one place that I wish I have the time to visit is the Grand Palace. Maybe next time. If you would like to view the pictures of our time in Bangkok please click here.

As part of training program for new lecturer, a pedagogy training (P3 and P4) was conducted in Port Dickson Chorus Hotel on 14-17 Dec 2009. This is the continuation of the previous pedagogy (P1 and P2) training which was held in UNiKL City Campus from 30th Nov until 3rd Dec 2009. Participants came from various campuses and consists of new and experienced lecturers. It was a good mix of experiences and we had a very good training. The much anticipated event was the micro-teaching (P4) where all lecturers need to teach others for about 30 minutes and it was recorded. At the end, others will give their comments. This is important because it is not easy to teach the new generation of higher learning students who are exposed to so many things. That is why the lecturers must master the skills such as teaching, learning and evaluating the students. To view the pictures taken during the training, click here.

For 3 days, the new staff induction was conducted at Awana Genting. New lecturers from various campuses attended the induction. The first day was ice breaking session plus some outdoor activities. We were having fun. My group’s name was DECEPTICON. Decepticon is the name of one bad robot (from the movie transformer). Our group was the overall winner (to the other groups, just accept this). The first night we took the complimentary cable car ride to the Genting indoor theme park. The 2nd day and part of the 3rd day, all activities were indoor, mostly presentation from various departments in UniKL. At the end, everybody went back to their respective campusses to start their career to help to give formal education to young Malaysians. Happy teaching to you all guys. Click here for the pictures taken during the induction program.

Salam Lebaran guys. Please take note that I have uploaded the guide for assignment 2. Please download that file as your guide do prepare for the assignment. Happy working and studying. Cheers. Wassalam.

To all my Muslim friends, students and family, I would like to wish Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Maaf Zahir Bathin. You are cordially invited to come over to my house in Kajang during this month of Syawal. And few days after Syawal. If I decide to hold Raya open house, I will inform accordingly. Salam.

Salam, please take note that I have uploaded the 2nd assignment instructions in the respective subjects list . Please adhere to the requirement and due date. Selamat Berpuasa, Selamat Berbuka and Selamat Berhari Raya. Wassalam and Thank you

Do you know who is Endang S Taurina? Have you heard Tomy J Pisa’s song, Biarkan Aku Menangis? I am sure you know Gadis Melayu by Othman Hamzah. And Cintaku sampai ke Ethopia by Ria Resty Fauzi. With other singers, they performed in a concert called Konsert X’travaganza Nostalgia Semalam di Malaysia on Friday, 10th of July 2009 at Life Centre in conjunction with KL Festival 2009. The other divas from the 70s and 80as are Halil Chik, Datuk Malik Ridzuan,Tetty Kadi, Vivi Sumanti, Erni Djohan dan Zaleha Hamid. My wife and I grew up with these singers and their songs. So that night was really a nostalgic event because before this I only heard their songs on radio or through youtube only. But that night I listened and watched them in action.  I even shakehand with some of them (I am excited like small kid). Their voices are as good as they used to be in their prime time. Especially Ernie Djohan with her song Teluk Bayu. Please click here to see these Divas in action and some video caption of them.

On 13th-18th May 2009, I went to Padang and Bukit Tinggi with my parents and my mother-in-law. My parents and I are from Minang descendant and we are from Alor Gajah, Melaka, where the people there still practice Adat Minang and converse in Minang dialect. Even our dishes are with strong Padang influence.

We went there for 4 days 3 nights using package from Triways Sdn Bhd in Taman Tun Dr Ismail and they collaborate with RounSumatra travel company from Bukit Tinggi. We fly AirAsia to Bandar Udara Internasional Minangkabau, Padang.

The most famous product in Bukit Tinggi is the embroidery. They produce quality and up-to-date design of embroidery mostly for Modern Baju Kurung or Baju Kurung Pesak. And it is much cheaper compared to Malaysian prices. If you would like to view the pictures in Padang and Bukit Tinggi, please click here.

One of the things that I wanted to do in Bukit Tinggi and Padang was to trace the place mentioned in the song Ayam Den Lapeh, undisputedly the ultimate Minang song. If one ever heard the Song Ayam Den Lapeh by A. Hamid and sang by Elly Kassim in Indonesia and made famous by Anita Sarawak in Malaysia, one will notice that all the names of places in that song is actually the real name of places around Bukit Tinggi. I managed to visit most of the places mentioned in the song. I list here the lyrics of Ayam Den Lapeh:

Luruihlah jalan Payokumbuah
Babelok jalan ka Andaleh
Dima hati indak karusuah
Ayam den lapeh
Oi Ooi…ayam den lapeh

Mandaki jalan Pandai Sikek
Manurun jalan ka Palupuah
Dima hati indak ka maupek
Awak takicuah
Oi Ooi… ayam den lapeh

Sikua capang sikua capeh
Saikua tabang saikua lapeh
Lapehlah juo nan ka rimbo
Oi lah malam juo….

Pagaruyuang Batusangka
Tampek bajalan urang Baso
Duduak tamanuang tiok sabanta
Oi takana juo
Oi Ooi… ayam den lapeh
Oi Ooi… ayam den lapeh