Natural Batik Village... a batik in making....

Location: Lot 4898, Batu 9 1/2, Jalan Kemaman, Kampung Chengal Lempong, 26100 Balok, Kuantan
Tel: 09-544 7335
Coordinates: N3°55.387′ E103°22.012′

Our journey continues to Kuantan, and on the way, we did stop by at this batik village. "Batik" is a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique to produce. We did some research to come over here as this is one of the biggest batik store available in east coast. Furthermore, batik is famous in east coast.

Our search doesn't let us down on the visit. Though from outside it's look like another store selling the clothes, but what really capture us during the visit was the manufacturing area besides the store. Maybe it was lunch break, when we visited the manufacturing area, it was no people at that time.

We are able to visit and see some of the cloth where it was hanging there for production. We saw a white cloth designed with some pattern, guess it was drawn with wax not long ago. One can freely design their pattern on the cloth. Most of design comes with flower design.

Once the design is ready, it will goes for coloring process. There are 2 method for the coloring:
1. Hand painting color where one will fill the cloth with colors by using brush.
2. Soak the cloth with color, and only 1 color for each soak.

After that, the next process is called "Color Fixing" where the dried cloths will be soaked into sodium silicate. Finally, the cloth will be soaked with soda ash mix with pipe water to remove the wax.

Here, the wax is boiled and ready to be use for waxing on the cloths.

Over here, the color is ready for the coloring process. There are lot of colors to choose from. One can use the brush to paint the cloth after the waxing process.

This is called canting, a wooden handled tool with a tiny metal cup with a tiny spout which the melted wax will seeps out.

Over here, all the finished products is hung up to dry. We took our time to see the finished product and also appreciate on the detailed workmanship done. We also came across to know that this center also provide lesson for the first timer or enthusiast to learn up the batik making process. One also can make their own master piece over here.

I would say this place is worth to visit to learn more about batik. It would be better if advance arrangement to be made in the first place. For more information, you can get from their official website: http://www.batikfactory.com.my

Short trip aka Birthday celebration

Took a short break after the hectic schedule ever since the CNY this year. The break coincide with Serene's birthday this year. Since it was really a hectic day, just a small celebration at home. Bought the colorful jelly cake as a replacement of the normal big cake. Anyway, it is with whom you celebrate, not how big the cake, isn't it?

The next day, we heading to Cherating, a small town furtherdown from Kuantan. We didn't have any high expectation as there is no really a good hotel to choose from the internet, and also the review wasn't that good. True to our expectation, the hotel that we stayed in not up to the par.

From Cherating, we did some scouting around the places and found out this small fisherman jetty which is in dilapidated condition. However, we did stop for a moment under the hot sun, and done some photo shooting.

After rounding the town, we found this beach. Not a very good beach to recommend, but just to relax for a while after the long driving journey. We didn't stop for long, as there is nothing that we can look forward around this area. We continue our journey to Kuantan later on.

Nearby Penang coast

Went to this fishing trip while we were on holiday to Penang. Weather was so nice, sea was calm and clear water that allowed me to go for this trip. Though it was so called last minute trip, as I only brought my reel and rod. Since it was go ahead, my other friend prepared the rest of the equipment and the itinerary.

Once we were on boat, we went to pick up the octopus from the sea. It was always the same spot, where the death seashell was thrown to the sea, surrounded by mud. The octopus will eventually goes inside the shell for hiding. When we pull up the shell from the sea into the boat, we were waiting for a while. Then the octopus will comes out from the shell and we will keep the octopus in the tank.

Once we throw the octopus into the tank, those octopus will spit out a thick blackish ink making the tank becomes black in color. The main coloring agent of the ink is melanin, which is the same chemical that gives humans their hair and skin color. As the boat moving, the water will be filtered and changed with the water outside from the boat, and once again making the water clear.

It was a good night. We did change for few spots during the night, and luck was on our side. And for this trip, it was one of my first few trip. Hence, I didn't manage to catch many but other fella fisherman able to get their fishes. In total, we able to get more than 20 fishes on that night alone. Once we landed, we dividing the fish equally. Hopefully I'm able to go for the next trip again on this nice island.

2nd Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon 2010

Location: Precinct 2, Putrajaya

This is the second year Malaysia hosting this event. We came here early in the morning to catch the morning session of the photo shooting session. Since it is Saturday, we decided to come early to avoid the jam. Soon, we were allowed to enter the compound for the photo shooting.

There is a bag called envelope where the pilot will lay it on the ground. We shouldn't step on the envelope as the pilot is preparing to blow the air into it.

At first, the hot air balloon is partially inflated with cold air from a gas-powered fan, before the propane burner is used for final inflation. I'm so lucky to get a view to catch this photo.

When the envelope starts to grow, there is a co-pilot helping to pull the string, which is tied to the top of the envelope. This need to be done slowly.

From here, one can see the envelope start to ascent and start to form like the shape of the balloon. At this stage, the pilot will start blowing the hot air into the balloon.

There is a burner that attached to the basket at each of the balloon. It will injects a flame into the envelope, heating the air within. The heater is fueled by propane, a liquidfied gas stored in pressure vessel.

This is how the envelope looks alike from the basket whenever the hot air balloon is ready to take off.

We are very fortunate to see all the hot air balloons ready to take off at almost the same time. Since the area is limited due located next to a lake, those balloons will one at a time. It will fly for quite a distance before landing. When landing, there will be vehicle pick up the pilot and the balloon.

For this year Fiesta Balloon, it does comes with new design such as Dark Vader and Levi's Jean.

There are also concurrent activities held at the same time such as para-motors, remote control aircraft flying display etc.

Hopefully this event will keep going on.

Phở 24 a.k.a Pho 24

Location: District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Phở is a Vietnamese noddles soup, which usually served with beef or chicken. This restaurant is a chain restaurant, where it can be easily spotted around in HCMC area. Apart from being delicious, I like the original taste which of course only can be found in the "home" turf.

Usually I would order the beef pho soup, while my wife will takes the chicken pho soup. Personally, it taste better with beef. However, it depends on individual what taste they would like.
When eating over here, usually I would order the mango fruit juice, as I love this fresh juice whenever in Vietnam. It is very fresh.
The nooddle soup is served with the vegetable, where one can mix the vegetable into the soup to make it more tastier. Generally, the local likes to serve the dished with raw vegetable, which I think make them more healthier.
We also ordered some side dishes, like fried spring roll. I'm not sure we are hungry or likes the local food over here. Just found that generally the food in this restaurant is well served and delicious.

With the environment in the restaurant, would recommend to try out the foods in this restaurant. From the website, found out this restaurant available on other countries such as Hong Kong, Philippines, Korea etc.

More information can be found in their website: http://pho24.com.vn/htmls/index.php?cur=1&language=en.

Nice food besides Bến Thành Market II

Location: Stalls besides Ben Thanh Market, HCMC

1. Prawn with Coconut
This is another delicious food, where it served with fresh prawn. Then, it will be heated up by burning it with fire blocks. Once it is hot, the waitress will come and help to peels off the skin of the prawns for you. By then, you can enjoy the delicious hot prawn. We like this dish due to the fresh prawn provided. One can see from the picture the reddish color of the prawn.

2. Fried prawn
This fried prawn (forgot the name), is a good recommended food. Forgot the name though, but have been searching for the name for quite some time. Previously, have been recommended by my Vietnam's friend, but for this trip, I tried to order it by myself, but I just be lucky to get it correct.

3. Dish like a taugeh, but it is pancake
This is for a light dish, where it can be eat like that serve together with the local beer here. Suggest to try this out here, if you have a big group travelling together and could enjoy more delicious food over here.

Wrap & Roll @ Saigon

Location: District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. There are few restaurants in the city, easily can be found. One of the address is 111 Nguyen Hue St.

This restaurant is famous for the delicacy that need to wrap and roll. Best of all, you can try it which they the restaurant has done it for you.

1. Fresh Spring Rolls with Pork & Prawns
As describe, this is made of pork and prawns. It is nicely rolled for you. It is delicious when it is dipped into the peanut sauce provided.

2. Northern Sytle Spring Rolls with Pork & Vegetable
Another roll. However, this is fried which must be ate while it is hot. Another nice dish that we would like to have while here.

This food also provided with the vegetable, and comes with the wrapper made from rice. One can try it with your hand to wrap it as nicely as possible.

3. Com Goi - Wrapped crispy rice with sun dried squid & flavoured ham
Nicely cooked rice. Maybe we are used to eat rice while having our lunch or dinner.

4. Others
Forgot what's the name for this dish. However, it's does looks like 'nasi lemak' for us. It comes together with pork.

5. Fruit Juice
When comes to HCMC, it would be good to try different kind of fresh fruit juice.