It may been a long time since I’ve even updated things related to work, due to the pile of work coming in at times. Somehow this time around, I’m sorta delighted it kind of come to an end (for now). This project roughly runs for an about 2 month less to completion, I could say nothing less than being stunned by the speed. lol.

Over the last weekend, had a chance to go over the actual store for the official launch at SoHo KL, Mont Kiara. The project is actually a brand new concept store focused on providing the best new experience in mobile retail shopping. That goes from everything touchscreen based interaction, to even a different and unique queue system where you don’t really need to stand in line to wait for your queue, but to go all around the store to play while let the customer service personnel to find you. Sounds cool, and it really does too.

Had a chance to stumbled across this showroom at Plaza Damas.

The good ol’ Plaza Damas

At the launch

The venue itself.

One of the attraction inside, an interactive game which is based on touchless motion where you wave onto the screen to interact with the objects. Think, minority report? There’s about 4 game that you can go around and play with for now, more will come later in later stages.

This is another unusual and out of the box interactive system where you can browse for offers and features the mobile company is offering through a touch screen interface. And yes, you can play around with the dangling items, and throw them around.

One of the most interesting feature inside the DiGi Wall, the DiGi story.

It seems like it’s pretty “WONG” (lucky) at that area.

And there’s a massive aquarium on the second floor.

All’s good is good. Actually I’m pretty delighted (once again) that to get to do this kind of project out of the ordinary loop of website design and same old stuff. Be sure to check out the place if you have time.

What’s before that?

This is how it looked like on the outside at night.

And this is probably one or two months before the launch.

Right on the strategic place, the roundabout in this area.

And if you walk right behind the store, you can get to see this massive highway that I had no idea where it leads to.

Some work in progress scene.

And right nearby there’s also some interesting Italian cuisine. I couldn’t really remember the name, something like “Brassierre….?”

Testing has been like part of our lives.

And that should be it. If you by any chance interested to work on this kind of project and wants someone to collaborate. I’m more than happy to be a part of it

Perhaps the stretch of months between September towards November would be the quiet-est moment in my blog, which could be that it’s a good or a bad thing altogether. It may look like I’m living a good happy life or on the other way around. But I still owe my readers apology for not updating even often. Work wise, I would say, a steady progression has made its way throughout the entire year until now. Lots of thing were done, while none of them would stands out spectacularly among the crowd, but at least I can say, I’ve learnt. The hard way. With a blink of an eye, a year is again reaching towards its end!

Round round merry go round

Had a chance to go towards the Singapore Flyer, and dinner on one of the Japanese restaurants. Tastes…normal.

And during the period of time is coincidentally are the Lunar festivals for the Chinese. Thus the lantern, autographed lantern.

And the amount you have to pay is pretty hefty too! Note to HSBC card users, that you will entitle for a free ticket if you purchase one by the card! That’s really good huh.

On the way towards the platform.

And unlike the usual one you see, this will be able to fit at least 20 people in one cabin, which you could actually opt for a private-cabin, but it would cost a bomb. I wouldn’t understand if anyone wants to have dinner inside these.

That’s the Singapore’s Marina Bay.

And right below is the casino that is still under construction.

Some interesting setup just right below the flyer.

Guess the lamp riddles? It’s really almost a cultural tradition for Chinese to have these activities during the eve of the Lunar festival where people will exchange different riddles just for the fun of it.

This is located at The Central, Clarke Quay.

It’s a cat…apparently.

And I assume this is suppose to be rooster?

And while most of the decors are interesting, this one seems to attract people or tourists around due to its depiction of history’s one most memorable moment where in “Chi Bi” (The Great Red Cliff War), ZhuGe-Liang diverted the enemies attention towards fake decoys and reuse their own arrows back towards themselves!

I had no idea what does the words on top means?

The moon on the eve of Lunar festival.

Thunder Tea!

It may strike as odd for a person like me to understand and appreciate this dish which is not really mainstream, which is literally known as “Thunder-Tea” which combines several spices and a lot of different vegetables mixed with a bowl of cold mint soup.

This shop is located right behind Berjaya Times Square along the stretch of shops that has seafoods around. Not sure about the name of the shop though. Somehow if you do like this kind of dish, you might also would be interested in trying out Vietnamese food which might strike some resemblance to you.

Look! Leg-less!

Playing the game for the name

While I have been working roughly close to a year, where it’s not closely related to education, but more towads advertising, it’s natural that I will need to somehow get tied to things like this, award ceremony and meeting people or socializing.

Well to be exact, this would be the first time I’ve attended this and I’ve not sure what to expect out of this though.

The peoples inside the award ceremony is made out of lots of different type of people though, and some familiar faces as well.

And though this may always be the best when you garner lots of award and fame as one, however as for me, most probably things like this will still be out of reach on my interest where I’d prefer to make good work, but not much of making out good network from talking and attending events. I think that’s what in my thought at that moment. Commercially speaking, it would seem earning more and more awards that a hand can even hold would be most profitable solution, but do you think so as well as an individual? How does it help a designer? To even get into this kind of scene without stepping your leg into the ‘advertising’ scene?

What’s been cooking daily?

And speaking of passing times, I had moved to a new place to stay as my rent contract has ended prematurely due to the main tenant is moving out of the country. Sad but had to deal with it.

Though this place seems dodgy and not as interesting as it should be at first, I got kind of used to it after a while.

Had to take buses and MRT at once to reach to desired destination though.

And finally had a chance to chill at this place known as East Coast Park where tons of locals will come to this place to chill over the weekend, from eateries, to roller blading, to cycling to even…camping in the city…

One of the local KTV in town.

Prices are pretty hefty of course if you convert it directly.

This is known as one of the most famous pig-organ stall in Singapore. Located near in between Bugis and Lavender.

If you are by any chance pass by this road named Jalan Besar, you might stumble across this shop. It opens until 5am in the morning.

New rooms, new housemates.

Potluck party as well!

While it’s been a month, but one of my colleague had a chance to go over to GuiLin in China for some wedding preparation/honeymoon. Took something back as souvenir.

This one looks dodgy at first…

And tastes really dodgy as well

I think it’s made out of flour and…flour.

Back in Malaysia where it’s more common to see weird and interesting shape of clouds. Strippy clouds this one it seems.

The past 2 day has been a great surprise to us in many ways, including the beauty of the place and people. And of course that made us realize to be at this place within 4 days, is not enough. That is why we are not shocked anymore when to hear foreigner to stay over 4 months for vacation (now that is what we call vacation).

Right in the afternoon, we took the shuttle bus down towards the beach for food, since we returned the bicycle.

And decided to take a try at a more decent looking shop on it’s local delicacies. Most of the waitress speaks English and able to communicate decently.

Chaba Thai Kitchen.

This costs around 10Baht!

This would be the main spotlight of the morning. Green curry chicken. Yummy!

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Welcome back and I’d hope you enjoy reading the previous post on the first day of Krabi. Predominantly, most of the time spent will be on Ao Nang beach instead of the main town, and you will know later. Please, unless you are forced to, do not waste your time to go to the town.

Trip to Phi Phi Island!

What would be the best way to travel around the most beautiful places in Krabi? Follow those trip packages! Do not be sceptical and afraid of the travel agencies in Ao Nang, they’re all good people, really. We’re informed that since the recent year, they had centralized most of the packages and brochure, in a way making our lives as tourist easier. The price would be shared the same across the whole place, so no matter where you ask about the price of a trip, for example to a day trip Phi Phi Island, it would cost you roughly 1,500 BAHT on the peak season. Note the peak season? I had previously mentioned it on the part 1 post, which they would have a different set of price. That goes the same to all other place that you intend to visit, I strongly suggest that you take up packages instead of venturing on your own. This not only will save you transport money, it’ll get you there directly.

We arrive in the morning with a the travel agency transported us to the front of their shop. And here we are with other tourists. Some of them seems like a long time, backpacker.

@rt Travel, just right behind the Ao Nang beach.

As usual, we started to make our move for the 1 day trip in the morning around 9AM. Perhaps for some, they would really like to try a 2 day trip instead. (You get to stay overnight on the island?)

We had to board on the boat to the towards the island.

And as a reminder from the boat captain, we’re required to take off our sandals and remove the sand from it, so that we won’t get blinded if the sand inside the boat ever fly around.

Here you get a little snipper of the boat, it’s a speed boat, that means it will travel really fast on water. And as told, we’ll be arriving in 45 minutes on that, however there is a more affordable option is to travel by long tail boat, at a much tamer speed, probably 1 to 2 hour?

There were roughly 30 of us inside the bot. Note : The only Asian were both of us.

The first stop! Of course this is definitely not Phi Phi Island yet, where it’s known as Bamboo Island. We’re told that most of the trip here are garnered by the weather. So the order of the island visit might not be the same always, due to the tide of the sea and weather. And it seems that they do really respect the power of the nature.

Inside Bamboo Island.

The water is just….surreal.

It is really that clear and green!

Though the place is blessed with such a beauty, it is still facing a risk of earthquake tremors or tsunami to due to it’s not protected by any other big island, like Malaysia which is mostly protected by the Sumatera Island from Indonesia. Back in the years of the big tsunami triggered by the earthquake from Acheh, which destroys lifes of million people back then, Phi Phi Island and other places around it suffered a lot of damages and lives which they took some time to pick up again and rebuild most of the places, especially shelteres for tsunamis.

While the trip to this island is short lived, around 30 minutes, we had to move on towards the next destination, and oh, that is our tour guide. Named…La la.

This is Viking Cave, where the locals are staying inside to take care of those bird nests!

The water around it. And we can literally see through towards the base of the water!

Though it’s not obvious here, there’s bunch of fishes inside!

And if you are not informed, snorkelling is also part of the package, we’re shocked to know that,  though it’s written on the brochure. And did I mention, the fishes are just right in front of you! and back of you! and side of you!

The mystical Maya Beach

Shortly not long after that, we are finally brought towards the place where it’s famous for its beauty and fame. Fame? This is one of the Phi Phi Island, called Maya beach, which The Island is filmed here.

It’s a beautiful sight, and I guess beautiful is just overrated and an understatement for this place. Did I mention the breeze from the sea is as if we’re on an air conditioned room at 27 degree? I’ll leave the judgement to you, you really have to go there and see it for yourself!

Lunch time! Buffet style, arrived at the main island of Phi Phi.

This island is predominatly occupied by the natives which are mostly Malays that is Muslim. There are resorts that you can spend your night here but most of the prices are bombastic. Due to the fact that most of the item can be found on the main island, it is not really wise to do shopping here, the price can go up to 3 times of the original price.

The wrong path.

Right after the trip, we decided out of curiousity, to head towards the town and stumbled across this interesting building which is indeed a mosque. Of course we would declare our verdict first on the town : THERE IS NOTHING THERE IN THE TOWN WORTH FOR YOU TO EXPLORE. Really. If you are not doing anything or if you have the need, do not go there, it is just not worth the time. I had to emphasize this due to most of the other site did mention about not visiting the town, but it seems that most of the people are curious like us, end up disappointed. (Though there is a nightmarket in the town). If you take the shuttle bus (which is a jeep transformed to a bus), it would only cost you 50 baht per person. On a private car, it would be 400 BAHT.

This is the Krabi town. And indeed, it’s a small one.

Had dinner at one of the shop along the main road.

It’s rather stuffy when you get into the city area, in comparison towards the beach.

Fried rice and Tom Yum Seafood!

And there is only one dominant bus stop along the main road that you can usually see a shuttle bus waiting for people to board. And one note of friendly advice, most of the time, if you are lucky, the bus caption would just proceed if there isn’t much people filling up the space, but at some time, they would ask if you would want to pay more for him to directly drive to the beach without waiting for more passenger, at a higher price, such as 400 BAHT. Note, and that is like… misconduct of business to me.

We got really pissed off so we decided to walk away and find another solution. At 300 Baht. So until we meet  again in part 3, try to avoid going to town. (Just a friendly advice)

In case you missed it :

• Part 1 : Destination, Krabi
  
• Part 3 : Destination, Krabi

This would be the second or third detailed review or sharing I will be doing from my trip. And I’ll be more than glad to let everyone in the world to know how beautiful this place is, Krabi. Located at the south-west of Thailand, just south-east of Phuket, Thailand, this small place provides you wonders and mysteries that will always astound you again and again. Be it the people, the food and the surroundings. You’ll just keeping humming the ”I’m lovin’ it”. However before I begin I must really thank my girl for arranging this trip for me. It’s suppose to be a suprise birthday gift and indeed, a really suprising one, and memorable one.

It’s started with the promotion few months back from Air Asia, giving free seats away around the different locations in South East Asia, including the ever popular Bali, Indonesia. What attracts her most is the price that made the decision to book Krabi, without knowing what is where it is. And of course, for the first timer like me, I had no freaking idea that place even exists in the first place!

Cut to the chase, this will be a 3 Part sharing which will go through the trip that lasted approximately 4 days 3 night in Krabi, Thailand. And to keep you excitied, few years ago, remember there is a movie by the name The Beach? starred by Leonardo Di Caprio? It was filmed in one of the most beautiful island in the world named Phi Phi Island.

Before moving, you’ll really need to remember to bring a travelling plug!!

Picture : Aurum Bangkok

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