Phuket Island Trip (1)

As mentioned in the previous post, we (Me, Fern, SChee & Lucy) have planned this Phuket Island Traveling Trip since early of March 08. Finally the days have come and we success to make our first oversea traveling trip on 12 - 17 July 08.

We took 9:50P.M AirAsia flight from Miri to LCCT on 12/7, and reached LCCT at around 00:00A.M. We later took a taxi from LCCT to Lucy's sister house, which located in Puchong area. Ya, we managed to stay over night at her house before we proceed our trip to Phuket Island the next day afternoon.

Lucy's sister & brother-in-law

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Well, even though that time already is midnight 1:00A.M, but not the time go to bed yet, the host brought us four person went to the nearby 24 hour mamak stall to have the late supper. We ordered “teh tarik”, “roti pisang” & nasik lemak. All these foods are good tasting & delicious. While enjoying the meals, the host shared with us their good time & experiences in Phuket Island not long ago; they highlighted & recommended us things that we must have a look & try there.
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We slept at 3:00A.M. In the morning (10:00A.M) Lucy's sister drove us to the LCCT to catch the AirAsia flight to Phuket Island. Before leaving the house, we 4 travelers (from left: amei79, Fern, SChee & Lucy) not forget to took a group photo in front of the house. a

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As it was 1:50P.M flight, so after checked in the luggage, we still have time to walk & look around in the LCCT shop departments. Of course, needless to say, the book corners always can easily get my attention. I'm interested in a book (Rich Dad Poor Dad series) wrote by Robert T. Kiyosaki, "Increase Your Financial IQ"! [ Surely I'll buy one when get back to Miri. Ya, I just search it at Popular Book Store yesterday night, but didn't see this book on the rack ]

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I have read roughly 10 pages of the book contents, below are part of the contents that I managed to digest in very short time:
1. Money problem of the poor dad is not enough money; money problem of the rich dad is too much money. (the author did list down the money problems faced by both rich & poor dad).
2. If you solve money problem, your financial IQ grows, when your financial IQ grows, you become richer; if you do not solve your money problem, you become poorer, the problem often grows into more problems.
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[ My words: to get rich, we must first solve the money problem of poor to get ourselves out of the poor; and once get rich, we have another challenge, is to solve the money problem of rich to become rich forever, or get even richer til we are finally achieve the financial freedom. Then, to solve the money problem of poor and to solve the money problem of rich, which one is easier? I think it would be equally easy or difficult once we have success to "top-up" our financial IQ slowly in the money problem solving learning process! ]
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Remark: to be continued
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My First Oversea Travelling Trip

First of all, when you are reading this post entry, I think I just reached the LCCT (KL). Ya, I took the 21:40P.M AirAsia flight from Miri to KL, and should reach LCCT at round 11:50P.M. Together with me are Fern, Lucy, and Siao Chee. Then you must be very curious if you are a detail person and has noticed that this entry is posted on 12/7/08 at 00:00A.M. Does amei79 really in LCCT right now? Does he publish this post entry immediately right after he reached LCCT? Of course the answer is YES for question no.1, NO for question no.2. Well I'm using the "Scheduled Post" feature of Blogger to publish this post, wanna know more & learn how to do "Scheduled Post"? Okie, you can head on to A.P.P.L.E.
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We will fly to Phuket Island (Thailand) by tomorrow afternoon (12:55P.M, 13/7/08). We planned this Phuket trip since March 08. I almost miss this trip at very last minute, you know why? I have submited my leave form to HR in the middle of June, I applied for 4 days leave. End of June, HR told me that my leave not approve by Management, they asked me postpone this vacation trip, due to recently the business is slow & unstable due to launch of the new price list. So they wanted me put more effort on gaining back the doctors' support.
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I replied them that I have booked all the air tickets and hotel room, the bills are paid, so how can I either postpone or cancel the travelling trip? The management warned me that "in future, never buy any tickets without leave approval"! ~Sigh~ Does this make sense? Does this in-directly mean that we have to let management to plan our leave instead of we plan our own? -_-'''

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I replied "Im sorry on this plan & trip, but I have no choice, to buy cheap tickets at airasia & save cost, we have to buy as early as we can, so cant wait til the leave approved, unless we can submit the leave application & get it approved in 3 - 4 mth earlier b4 the leave date. so need ur kind consideration pls."

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You know, I'm so pissed off that time? I even have made a very bad desicion, if in case management doesn't want to re-consider my application (not approve my leave), I have only 2 options:

1. Apply 4 days unpaid leave. If still not approve, then

2. I will just quit the job. If quit, I will need to give the company at least one month notice, the mean time, I still have 14 days of annual leave (exclude the 4 days leave applied earlier); so probably after the submit of the resignation, I'll only need to work til 11/7, and start my long annual leave (14+4=18 days) from 12/7 to 31/7, I still able to catch my Phuket trip......: )

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Luckily, none of the above will happen......finally the management is kind to approved max 3 days leave for me. Anyway, since my Phuket trip is a 5D4N trip (13/7 - 17/7), another one day is needed, so what should I do? Still wanna me teach you meh, pandai-pandai lah! :p

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[ Remark: This is not really my first oversea travelling trip, I have been in Brunei for several times. Anyway, as Brunei is too close to Miri (around 2-3 hours journey, by land), so you won't have that special kind of feeling, and you won't feel like you are in oversea......that all for this time, will update you more on my Phuket Trip soon. TaTa...! ]

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MAS vs AirAsia

With Effect 1 May 08 (if not mistaken), Malaysia Airline (MAS) is launching their "Everyday Low Fares" project, and started offer free seat at RM0.00 (exclude the tax) which similiar to what AirAsia is doing. They have advertised this promotion on the TV channels, local newspapers & etc lately, so I'm sure you have heard about it. You can always log in their website for further & latest informations.

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This would be a good news to all of us, especially those who travelling oftenly, as now we have more than one option. Huh? Why I say like this? Well, if you are not a person who rich enough or a person who willing to spend extra money, certainly MAS won't be one of your option to travel with in the past, unless you have no choice; and no doubt AirAsia would be the only & the first choice to you. Since MAS also launching their so called "low fare" airline services now, so would you still need some time to consider & hesitate whether to fly with MAS or not?
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The next day, AirAsia has noticed the great competition & challenge fast enough, and has gave an immediate response to fight back its competitor, MAS. I heard some people said that part of the seats which the air fares were at RM69.xx at the 1st attempt, but it seem has been re-adjusted to RM39.xx. when 2nd attempt was made 30 minutes later.

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Do you see the image below, which I adopt from AirAsia's website? They claimed that "AirAsia, the true low fare airline, provides the lowest fares for all flights in our extensive route network, both domestic and international. We boast a spanking new aircraft fleet, great in-flight food and friendly service without compromising on our safety standards. You have to admit, it’s a bargain! Smart consumers know the difference. Get your calculator out and start doing the math. Calculators don't lie. "

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The CEO, Dato' Tony Fernandes even said that, we welcome you to approach us to have a refund for the extra money spent, if you found that the air-ticket (AirAsia) that you have bought is more expensive than the MAS one (same destination)! e.g: MAS vs AirAsia = RM68 vs RM88, AirAsia happy to refund you RM20! Isn't it sound great?

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So what do you think? Which Airline you prefer to fly with, MAS or AirAsia? When you are making a decision on which airline to use, you are actually make a choice between the "cost effectiveness" & "time effectiveness" . Of course for those who care more on the money, even if only save RM0.01, they will still choose the AirAsia.

Mind me to remind you? AirAsia has the higher risk of delay in the flight schedules. If let say you can make RM20 per hour, delay of flight departure time for may be only 1 hour may cause you loss RM6.50 (RM20.00 - RM13.50)! Can you image how much will you lost if you are a success businessman, or know well speaker who able to earn RM100 or above per hour? How about if you are rushing time to deal with a business or big project with a value of RM10,000 or more? Would you mind to loss a big amount of money just to save that RM13.50? Is it worth?

Anyway, for me there is not much different between MAS & AirAsia' services, even though MAS claimed that they provide 5 stars airline services. The only disadvantage of flying with AirAsia is that you may need to walk so far from the air-craft to the terminal building under the hot sun (raining day) upon arrived.

Lastly, MAS & AirAsia has makes most people dream come true, with " Everyday Low Fares", "Now Everyone Can Fly"!!! Isn't it great?

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Fund Raising Health Screening Campaign

I just attent a 3-days Fund Raising Health Screening Campaign in Limbang last week (22nd to 24th Jan). This being the 3rd join project between my company & Lions Club of Limbang Mandarin.

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Campaign banner hanging in front the clinic main door.

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Well the campaign was successfully conducted. On the 1st day of the campaign, 71 participants came to redeem the blood test with vouchers (profiling test consist of Full Blood Picture, Lipid Study, Liver Function Test, Renal Function Test, Hepatitis B Screening, Rheumatoid Factor, Free T4, VDRL, Urine Examination & Hepatitis A IgG at RM88.00). On the 2nd day of the campaign, 86 participants joined in & on the 3rd day (the last day), another 70 participants came for the blood test, make it a total head count of 227 pax.

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Although the response is not as good as the past 2 years (314 pax in 2006 & 298 pax in 2007 ), it was a great result anyway. Don't forget, Limbang just a small town!

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Newspaper cutting (Sin Chew Jit Poh)

Limbang Plaza, Biggest Building in Limbang

(Combination of Shopping Mall & Purnama Hotel)

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The view of Limbang River with Water Village
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Ground floor of Limbang Market, besides vegetables, fruits & other raw stuffs,
wine & alcoholic drinks found at here too at very low rate (of course is underwater one lah),
even cheaper than those free duty one in Labuan Island.
Few bottles of alcoholic drinks bought as listed below:
1. Chivas 12 --- RM65 (1 Litre)
2. Sheridan's Coffee Layered Liqueur --- RM63 (1 Litre)
3. Peter Vella (Red Wine) --- RM50 (5 Litres)
4. Benedictine D.O.M (法国朗酒 )--- RM58 (2 Litres)
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Pasar Tani Limbang - Dried local products (salty fishes, dried prawns, ikan bilis...etc)
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Pasar Tani Limbang - Ikan Salai (Smoked Fished) at RM16 per KG
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Pasar Tani Limbang - Lukan at RM10 per tray (Favorite sea food for Bumi)

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Pasar Tani Limbang - Rices derived from Bario

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Wild Durian? Local people called it Buah Ukak or Durian Ukak

( not as sweet as the durian eaten by Merdurian... :p )

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Buah Asam Paya - A sour fruits, a plant with thorny stem normally found at river bank

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8 Things Im Grateful For

I have been tagged by Hazel agian, this being the 2nd tags from her in Jan 08. Well this tag sound great "What the 8 things Im grateful for?". ~Sigh~Honestly, I never thing about it & embarrassed, all these while I seem take everyhing around me just for granted. That why my mind suddently becomes so blank so doubt & so frustrated when Hazel raised me this question!

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Anyway, I have tried my best to list you the top 8 grateful things that impact me deeply to show that Im not a bloodless guy with no sense & feeling! I want to be a thankful guy!

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1. Thanks to my dad & mum, they brought me to the world on 20 Feb 1979. Although not a rich family, but with your endless love, care, shelter & support, I able growth up happily & healthily! Here the begin of my life & future!

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2. Thanks to my siblings (4 brothers & 1 sister), with you all around me, I have a wonderful & memoriable childhood. Although we did quarrel, fighting & hate each other oftenly, this makes us become stronger & independent, and from that we learnt to respect each other & be more understanding!

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3. Thanks to all my friends, no matter you are a good friend or a bad friend, it really doesn't matter to me! Most important thing is I have the chances to meet with you all who having different family background, attitude, behavior, thinking, perception, culture & religion and etc. From the bad, I learnt the good & let this "good" be part of my life; from the good, I learnt the bad & try to not adopt the "bad" in my life. You all open my eyes!

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4. Thanks to my love, Fern, who being so nice, patience & understanding to me. I appreciate your care & encouragement when Im down. You light up my life with joy & happiness!

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5. Im great to have a job since Im graduated from university. Thanks BP for giving me a chance to join, stay & grow up with the company. I have my good & bad time here. Here I learnt the self management & development, marketing & communication skills and etc, and been given chances for travelling!

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6. Thanks to the natural environtments (life creatures & dead creatures) that surrounding me! With your existance, I have somethings to see, hear, feel & etc. My life & memories is not plain!

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7. Honestly, I only have few friends who join in the blogging life, only one is Active Blogger, the rest are "sleeping" bloggers. So thanks to all of you (who are strangers to me...:p), who recently reading my entry (blog), especially those who visit & drop comment(s) to my blog regularly, I really appreciate it! Without your continuous support & active participation in my blogging life, I don't know how long my interest in blogging will last?

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8. Lastly & of course I won't forget to say "TQ" to a person that I respect the most! Im not sure if you are a good guy? But I certainly agree that your aren't a bad guy! Hey, I still can hear your breath, you stilll alife! You have live your life meaningfully! Hope you have a bright & success future. Thanks Amei79.

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This tag can be for everyone, can be for no one too. In short, if you like this tag, please do post it in your blog.

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Im recently busy in travelling this week, so may not able to do blog hoping to my favorite blogs & other new blogs which has not been explored. FYI, I just attent my company's 7th NMM (Nationwide Managerial Meeting) in JW Marriot Hotel, Bukit Bintang on 19th Jan 07. This evening (16:20P.M), I will fly to Limbang to attend a 3-Days Fund-Raising Health Screening Campaign (22-24/1), which is a join project with Limbang Mandarin Lions Club. Have a nice day & thanks!

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6th Nationwide Annual Meeting

I have mentioned in my previous entry, that I in Cheras, KL to attend the company's 6th Nationwide Annual Meeting.

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I arrived KLIA at around 08:45A.M (13th Dec) and I have to wait for a colleague (Fam) from Sibu at the airport for 5 hours. Anyway, Im not bored, as I have brought along Fern's eldest sister's labtop so I can online there; between I always bring along 1-2 books with me when travelling, so I can read whenever Im free & bored.

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Fam arrived at around 13:45P.M, we took a taxi to the Crystal Crown Hotel which located in Kepong & around 1 hour journey from KLIA. We check in at around 15:30P.M & had a rest in hotel room til 17:30P.M.

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View in Hotel Room I

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View in Hotel Room II
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Im ready for the meeting, took a photo in hotel toilet 1st... :p
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At around 17:45P.M, we gather at hotel lobby, besides Fam, another 3 colleagues from Sabah, Betty (Kota Kinabalu), Mok (Tawau) & Emelia (Lahad Datu) had arrived too. When we managed to call a taxi at receiption counter, we met with other colleagues from West Malaysia's outlets, we separated in 3 cars, I went to Cheras Diagnostic Centre for the 5th Nationwide Annual Meeting in Ms Sin's car. She is a nutritionist at Taiping Diagnostic Centre, I met her one in Ipoh Diagnostic Centre last year in May.

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The meeting starts at sharp 19:30P.M & finish at 23:15P.M. The meeting's agenda as below:

1. Upcoming Pathology Act (related entry) & the importance of ISO 15189

~ My company is one of the 5 healthcare providers that accheived the ISO 15189 in Malaysia.

2. New healthcare services in the future: wellness coaching, aesthetic medicine & etc

~ To become a multi-tasking company, not only provide laboratory testing.

3. Latest Marketing Approach.

4. Others include open floor discussion

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Group photo of the 6th Nationwide Annual Meeting (to follow)

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We all were hungry after the meeting, so before get back to the hotel, 5 of us (me, Ms Sin, Chiam, & another 2 Malay colleagues who have the same name, Shikin) went for supper at BRJ Cafe, located at Wangsa Maju. I ordered a plate of "fried maggie mi with chicken" which is quite delicious & famous! Sorry no photo(s) to share, as a blogger perhaps you should know why... :p

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Next day morning (07:00A.M), before check out, we had our breakfast at hotel's restaurant, and had few snapshot at hotel lobby before leaving between 08:30 - 10:30P.M. We say "sayonara" to each other, as everyone has the different destination to go! I gonna miss you all... :)

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From left: Fam, Betty, Me, Mok & Emelia
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Me, Fam & Mok took a taxi to KL Sentral, Mok was later left to Midvaley alone as she had booked a hotel room near that area & her friend(s) will looking for her; while Fam met with her boy friend, Jeffery at KL Sentral & left to KLCC for hotel room check-in, and I went to Bukit Bintang alone by monorail, but will later meet with Fam & Jeffery again at Sungai Wang Shopping Mall. I buy nothing for myself, only a sweater bought for my girl friend, Fern.

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16:15P.M, it was time for me to take a monorail to KL Sentral & later to KLIA by bus, to catch the 20:40P.M flight to Miri. I had my dinner at Asian Cafe in KLIA, "Nasi Lemak Special" ordered.

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photo of mine captured in one of the KLIA's toilet
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I dined in Asian Cafe at KLIA
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I ate "Nasi Lemak Special"
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I found this machine at a conner of the check-in counters, it was for "seft check-in" purpose, especially for the passager(s) with only hand luggage. I never know there is such service at KLIA until now......shame oh! Anyway, to check-in with this machine, you must have the E-ticket number!

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Self-Check-In Machine in KLIA

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Dinner Set served in MAS Aircraft

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Luak Bay - Esplanade Beach

Hmm, too bad...my body has gave me some signals last few days...finally I get cough, which caused pain in the throat when coughing. But one thing Im sure is that I havent get the sore throat yet, as I had try to soak my throat with salty water, it not caused any pain...anyway, I lost my voice since yesterday...

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Yesterday (around 2:30P.M) I received a call from Sunway International Hotel, said that I have a free voucher for 3 days 2 nights hotel/resort room package, asked me go to collect this free voucher at Mega Hotel (Miri), at floor 11th, functioning room "xxx" (forgot the room's name). Had called Mega Hotel to have a clarification, and the operator told that it was true. Anyway at the last, I didnt make it, as assumed by Fern's sister-in-law (who works in Miri Marriot Resort & Spa) , it should be a travelling package promotion, by which if you buy one, you are entitled to such free voucher.
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In the evening (5:00P.M) I went to Esplanade Beach (Luak Bay) with friends, plan to have a swim, but the sea is wavy, not allow us to do so, so just walk on the beach. Below are fews shots at Esplanade Beach.

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We later went to Tanjong Sea Food Restaurant for our dinner.

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a..Belacan Midin

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a.."Manicai" fried Egg (树子菜/Sayur Cangkuk Manis)

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a.Cray-Pot Tauhu

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a..Herb Chicken

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a.Wet Fried Butter Crabs

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Video Clip: Luak Bay ~ Esplanade Beach

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And I found this from the newspaper today, by which State Government plans to build a 5KM long corridor to join the Luak Bay (Esplanade Beach) with the Tanjong Lobang Beach.

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