Was there to participate in the the anti-toll-hike demonstration at Sunway Pyramid, 4pm 7 Jan 2007. I reckon about 1000-1500 people were there, with hundreds of other on-lookers/shoppers. The police with FRU were there as well, but I have to say they were very professional, exercising their duty with a sense of politeness and managed to work with the organizers to maintain an orderly demonstration for 2 hours plus. The demonstration is organized by a coalition of MTUC, NGOs, and opposition parties. The main issue I think everyone agrees with is not to pay no-toll at all, but whether the toll rates and hikes are justified, the seemingly win-lose-lose concession agreements signed, as well as the totally opaque manner in which all these are done. The government is acting as if the concessionaires are more important than the people, and is made worse when all the promises that Abdullah has made in the run up to the 2004 general elections have gone down the drain. It's time for those of you who have not registered to vote to please do so (very easily done, just walk into any of the bigger post offices with computers, fill up a form and walah!). Those who have registered, please think wisely before you cast your vote...you have already been promised the sky and the sea and the land in 2004 yet nothing has been delivered. Voting anyone but BN wouldn't be any worse than the monkeys we have now in Parliament and government. It is the least you could do as a citizen of this country, and our country is too important to be left to these bloodsucking useless BN politicians.

Our company gave us a nice treat this year...a fully paid 4 days 3 nights get away to Langkawi...and it includes our spouses/partners! Nothing to complain really as the organizing committee really did a great job arranging TWO batches of 300-500 people each to stay in Berjaya Resort Langkawi, plus some interesting team-building activities. Food is good, not to mention the really cheap beer and liquor! I was really drunk two nights in a row...hahaha!

Made a trip to Putrajaya's Dataran Putra at night after dinner, and realized they've closed off the square to vehicles. But we could still park in the surroundings and walk there. Apparently the square was used to manage the people preparing to leave for the Haj that night. From my cursory view, it seems there are more women pilgrims than men! Anyway, went about the square taking some pics. Somehow I realize my camera is not sitting level on the tripod...have to fix the problem.

Brought my wife to this tomyam stall to savour the tomyam and crispy fried kembung fish (mackerel, if i'm not mistaken). Had dinner there a few times with my friends, and wanted her to check out the tasty food at low price. We had seafood tomyam, petai with prawns (but it looks like prawns with petai...hahah!), crispy fried kembung fish (except for the main bones...all others are crispy enough to be munched down), and a vege dish. All in (including drinks) less than RM25. Directions: if you're coming from Sunway, go past the LDP toll (heading towards Puchong) and stick to the left lane. After the two turn-off into Kesas, stick again to the left-most lane and turn left...you need to turn into this road before you get stuck at the traffic lights underneath the flyover. Just follow the road (on your left will be walk-up apartments, while you'll see terrace houses on your right), turn right at the L-junction at the end of the road, and go straight uphill. Immediately after the apartments on your left (you'll see shophouses on your right), turn right and you'll see a row of simple stalls on your left. Karaz is the stall next to the carwash.

Small family get together to toast my mom-in-law's birthday at the Sam Yao restaurant in PJ State (same row as Standard Chartered and Maybank...corner lot facing Pizza Hut). The food is good, and you get good upper middle end Chinese restaurant fare at reasonable prices. They're famed for their 'Pat Bou Ngap' (duck stuffed with a multitude of things like water chestnuts, etc., and braised...i think) which requires a one day order in advance. Due to us living quite far from each other in the Klang Valley, it is rare for the family to be together.

Simple birthday do at mom-in-law's place.

Had dinner with our CG after not seeing them for quite some time (due to the little one lar!). It was the Raya week, and we met at Buonasera SS2 for some Italian food. It is just next door to the roast duck restaurant (Hoppy, I think)...same row as those dim sum restaurants. I've had dinner there once and the food was good and ingredient fresh...they use virgin olive oil for everything. Price is reasonable as well. But the major complain is the service. The staff they hired seriously need training in handling customers. Language is also a problem...half of the time they do not understand what the customers are trying to say, and the customers do not understand what the staff are trying to say. There was a table of 3 who came in, had the menu for like 15-20 mins before walking out frustrated because nobody attended to them. Due to the long holiday weekend, quite a lot of items were unavailable. All in I have to say it didn't go down well with my CG friends. Anyway, the night was also a chance for us to give my wife a birthday treat. Hehehe! (Sorry, no pics of the food...too busy eating...)

Ferried my mum to catch a flight at KLIA in the afternoon, and decided to take some pics of the airport. Need more practice with the composition and lighting.

Was taking a walk around Mid Valley on the Saturday before the long Hari Raya Puasa holidays, and there was a Gamelan musical group playing in the center court. Personally I find the music pleasant...it has a simple repetitive melody that seem to go straight into a person's soul, and have a soothing and relaxing effect.

Heard about this famous "lou ngap" (I think the English term is "braised duck") restaurant next to the MBPJ building at PJ State. It is just next to the UOB Bank building, and if the weather is fair one could choose to sit along the footpath. Tried the duck, eggs, and salted/pickled vege, and with plain rice porridge. While the sauce is quite flavourful, I find the duck a bit bland and tasteless. The only saving grace I find is that the meat of the duck is tender and not tough like other restaurant's/stall's. I have to say the crowd is big and the number of ducks they sell a night is quite awesome...but personally I've had better ones.