那些片断……

My 1st experience in creating such a clip. Thanks to iMovie for such easy and user friendly step-by-step. It's really fun doing this. This is the result. What do you think?

Ancol & Indonesia Indah

During the last day in Jakarta, we went to visit a few (just 2) tourist attractions. Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, aka Ancol Dreamland, was the 1st stop of the day after the Nasi Padang lunch. It's located along the Jakarta's Waterfront.

It has a theme park (Dunia Fantasi aka Fantasy World) well known for its rides, water parks, beaches, sports complex and resorts. Unfortunately, it's a bit run-down. I think the management need a good plan to maintain the area.

by the water

pics with us in it

No doubt, it's a great place for family weekend outing. But for us, there wasn't much fun. Could it be the age factor that made us so out of place there? Anyway, we just walked along the seaside, took some photos and left the place.

our main transport throughout the trip

Next destination - Taman Mini 'Indonesia Indah'. It'a culture-based recreational park. The main attractions would be the miniature villages that exhibit the culture, especially the architecture, of different ethnic groups from every province of Indonesia.

Besides, one could visit to the musuems (about 10) in this huge area. I'm sure it's the best place for the schoolkids to have different lessons here. It's an alternative to the boring chalk-and-talk.

the islands in the lake = map of Indonesia

Museum Komodo & Taman Reptilia house

The highlight of the day would definitely be the visit to the Komodo Dragon Museum. None of us would ever think that we could get such a close distance to the 'monster'! If it wasn't the worker, we would never have such a chance; and luckily, the pet had just had lunch. 

Varanus komodoensis

HC and the Komodo dragon

The age factor kicked in for another time. We didn't visit all the villages in this park. We were too lazy to walk. Of all the miniature villages, we visited only one - the Bali. In total, there're about 20 of them.

mini Bali

discussion on the next activity

優子姓名學

我也跟着恩来做个姓名学分析，看看我的个性。
照我来看，有的说对了；也有的讲错了！


姓名：刘建辉
性别：男生

內在想法
*想得比較多，簡單的事也常常想到很複雜（非常准确）
*頭腦不錯，求學時成績良好，很會做筆記（成绩还过得去；笔记做得再好，还是考不好）
*個性主動、積極，比較會去配合他人（有保留）
*對於不熟的人防禦心比較強（这是对的）
*看起來很好說話，但倔強起來比石頭還硬（陌生人都说我很cool喔）

外在行為
*很在乎自己的想法做法，有時無法容納他人的建議（很对）
*當自己覺得沒希望的時候，很容易自我放棄，突然會變得很脆弱（准得离谱）
*有創意、有才華，很會舉一返三（太看得起我）
*個性有時太過衝動，明知不可為的事會硬去做（后面那句⋯⋯）
*爆發力十足，但比較短暫，有三分鐘熱度的感覺（这是没错啦）

相逢何必曾相识

茫茫人海当中，有多少人已经跟一群朋友失去联络许久？你也是其中之一吗？在这个科技发达的年代，人与人之间的距离其实已拉进了。还出现‘六度分割理论’之说。可是，为什么找回老朋友还是那么难？

我想，很多时候那是人为因素所造成的。有电话、有地址、有email、有facebook、有friendster……能不能做到，只是在于我们有没有去做。守株待兔，只等着别人找上自己，完全处于被动状态，你觉得会成事吗？

当然，若什么联络方式都没有，那就要相信‘六度分割理论’。凡走过必流下痕迹。从身边的人，认识他们身边的人，再找出这些人的身边朋友，再去打听……我相信很大机会能得到你意想不到的结果。原来，彼此间的距离其实不是很遥远！

而我是怎样找回没有联络已久的朋友呢？我用过且不曾失败的——在农历新年时，寄去一张贺年卡。大部分人都以离乡背井到外面打拼，只有过年过节才回家。趁这个佳节，把贺年卡寄去老家，他们收不到的机会非常小。

认识我的人都知道我曾经是《星洲日报》学生记者队的。中学毕业后，都与学记队的朋友没联络很久。直到我在英国的第二年，突然心血来潮在农历新年前，寄了几张贺年卡给几位较熟的学记。就这样，慢慢地与其他人‘重逢’，也从中知道更多人的近况。

前几天，接到一通电话。是其中一位学记打来的。说今年是我们第15届的，相识的十周年。也就这样，邀我出席一星期后的小聚会。我当然是高兴不已，也答应将会赴约。这可是难得的机会跟大家聚聚叙旧啊！

这让我想起MY Astro《牛转乾坤庆团圆》主打歌——《庆祝》里的几句歌词：

来庆祝 来祝福
老朋友一起欢呼
经过这些年
重逢就满足
前尘和往事都历历在目
原来已经值得庆祝

你看，如果我当初没寄出那几张贺年卡，我不可能接到这一通电话、更不会知道有这样的聚会，因而错失与大家聚聚的机会。所以，别小看毫不起眼的贺年卡。记住：‘勿以善小而不为’；还有‘礼轻情义重’！你的朋友都在等着你啊！

Nasi Padang of Minangkabau

Date & Time: 11/11/2008, Noon
Food tasters: Vid, KH, MH & HC
Targeted Restaurant: Rumah Makanan Garuda, Jakarta Pusat

24 hours - to increase competitiveness?

This wasn't my 1st time being the taster of Nasi Padang. During my last trip to Jakarta back in the Summer of 2005, I'd already tried that, but not at this restaurant. Watching the waiters & waitresses putting the dishes on our table non-stop, was always the fun bit.

view from the entrance

Other than being less Curry-based, I personally haven't found out the significant difference of Nasi Padang to Nasi Kandar in Malaysia, or maybe Nasi Kayu Pinang, Nasi Campur or whatever one likes to call it. Unless I consider the non-food-taste element, like the Indian influence in Malaysia. 

They are all hot and spicy, unlike the Chinese 'Economic / Mixed Rice / Chap Fan / Chap Cai Peng'. The latter is more on stir frying, braising and of course, cheaper.

pic taken before the feast

the main thing - food

Overall, we were satisfied with the food here. Tasty and delicious. But, the down side: it's a bit more expensive than what we'd had for the past few days. That's the reason why we didn't eat the big prawns!