A tasteless day

Again.

It began with a faint taste of hot honey lemon in Delicious. The lemon stayed in my mouth for few minutes with gradual unresponsive taste buds to anything on table. Peach and Banana Crumble was all but taste. So was the sandwich in The Garden. The pizza in Old Klang Road was another wet, floury biscuit that night.

An outing without flavour wasn't pleasant at all. To me, the foods were monochrome.

Pathetic as it was, the excitement from meeting Orange, Nicholas, Pikey and Bern was enough incentive. And of course, Nicholas's friend DMK.

Dear me, the tongue is so well after a night sleep, I can now taste the leftover food stuck between my teeth.

p/s: The picture is an external 1TB hard disk from PC Expo Midvalley. I can assure you that it has nothing to do with today's post.

[Jino] - A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot

Why must cakes be sweet?

This could be an overdue post only recently was inspired to write, however. On the 13th of March, of certain reasons we didn't get into Alice and her wonderland but instead Pikey, Bear and Nicholas together with me and Edwin landed our asses in Midvalley Secret Recipe - to kill some time.

Each of them picked their choices: Pecan Butterscotch, Durian Cheese, Chocolate Indulgence and Marble Cheese. Other than Marble Cheese, the rest were overly sweet and utterly yucky to me. Scratching my head to make a choice, I opened my mouth few times to speak but ended up only spewing silence. There are things that people will do even though they know it's pointless. No matter how pointless it is, they must do it in order to collect themselves. Even if it is a useless waste of energy, the action will be repeated. I am out of options. Now, I have to say it.

Do you guys take fiber cake?

NO!!! answered four of them unanimously and almost simultaneously only Nicholas sided me (edited and added 01 April 2010).

Why not? It's less sweet and close to tasteless.

That's why!

When such a perception becomes a reality, you have a clear challenge to change. Overpowered, I gave up the idea of sweetless dessert, my finger randomly landed on Chocolate Banana. Haiz... Diabetes!!!

Gazing at the peach coloured sky, I can't help to question my great sense of taste. Putting it a bit more bluntly, I am weird. 'Coz I lose my sweet tooth a decade ago. Don't get me wrong, I can never get enough eye candies.

I would really appreciate cake makers who satisfy our lust for something different. Let's try some bitter or sour cakes, shall we? They could sound very different and new and... weird as well.

But seriously, isn't there anyone on my side? Urghh!

[Jino] - A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot

Harry Potter and the Bon Odori - 18 July

Hahaha I feel asleep while writing this. Too tired last night.

Ever since its first debut, I hated that series as much as I hated G. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the same as the previous - never up to expectation. The story in whole is way too different from the original Rowling creation. And that is also why I detest everyone who wants to watch it so badly. I told aloud it sucks. I warned its boring. I reminded everyone it's a waste of money. Those people who don't know, they follow the trend blindly and 'enjoy' the sucky Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Then they claim how magnificent it was. I sarcastically applaud their experience. Good for them. But sometimes we can't oppose anything when it comes to fate. No matter how hard my heart wanted Ice Age 3, the desperado never gives up on Harry Potter. And I gave in to Albus Dumbledore instead of Harry Potter after preaching.

The story was just fine, not much battle and action scenes to be expected. I only read the book once and don't have good memory to the books. The whole book itself serves as an intermediate of the next finale and that is why I find it quite dull. But if my memory serves me correctly, the first year students are not allowed to join Quidditch team but in the movie Harry is seen holding a tryout session with the freshmen in the field. Did the movie get the book wrongly? Or was it me wrong? And before Dumbledore is confronted by Malfoy in the Astronomy Tower, Harry is paralyzed by Dumbledore, according to the book. Now, how does Harry hold his wand and ready for Malfoy's counter attack, as illustrated in the movie if he's supposedly stunned? And before Harry is leaving with Dumbledore to retrieve the Horcrux, Harry supposedly hands the remainder Felix Felicia over to Ron or Hermione, either one in case of Malfoy's foul play. But did I see Harry gulped everything in the earlier scene? I think the director modified a lot for his own convenience.

The most remarkable scene in the whole movie, I personally think the best of the 153 minutes was Dumbledore fends off the monsters in the lake when retrieving the Horcrux. I love any character that is wise and powerful. Such as Yoda in Starwars, Professor X in X-Men. In this case, Dumbledore. The scene is covered with fire ring by Dumbledore, despite his weakened body in order to protect noob Harry from danger. Very nice burning flame, that is his last play as the most powerful wizard, that's our headmaster of Hogwarts. Besides that I don't see other good scenes. None. You think newly appointed Potion master Slughorn is funny? Muahaha 'so funny'. Do you see the hatred of the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor Snape to Harry? No he does not show at all. 'Coz there is no mention any of his classes in the whole movie. The director did so badly in squeezing the book into a 2-hours movie, that the movie looks so horrible.

Oh oh oh by the way... there was one good thing Harry brought to us. In the midst of the crowd leaving the cinema hall, we found a RM50 note on the floor, which was used to subsidize car park and lunch later.

We rushed for Bon Odori after nice sleep in cinema. Panasonic Sports Complex was the venue for the 33rd Bon Odori 2009. For the sake of enjoying the Japanese festival for once, we drove more than 24km, up to the very unfamiliar Shah Alam. Arghh!!! MY PETROL!!!

No pics 'coz camera died before the festival started.

The brilliant driver (me) got us there safely. Surprisingly, we did not lose our way there! By the time we reached it's 6p.m., looking for a near parking space is hard. Maybe this is KL's Bon Odori, I see no fun at all.

Firstly I hate crowded area and the place was flocked with Malaysian and Japaneses, all over the place. I found myself suffocating. Ochlophobia? I don't like festivals and countdowns. If it's for 林宇中, I will probably consider XD.

Secondly, entertainment wise, there wasn't any games for us. I expected some traditional Japanese games such as goldfish scooping goldfish or spinning top but we could only spot a huge tent selling rubber balls. The organizer can at least prepare a cotton candy stall or a mask stall which makes the place more Japanese atmosphere. The only entertainment was the boring and repeating traditional dance throughout the 2 hours festival. There's no telling how I behave if Doraemon was there... There's firework in Penang's. Did KL have his? I left early so I wasn't sure.

Thirdly the food sold was not really attractive. Besides slightly overcharge which I care less, the taste was... quite ok la. Considering the food being prepared by students, right?

The day was interrupted at 7 p.m., when he saw someone. And because of that so happen that I saw him too, I cannot help feeling uncomfortable. My heart felt unease. I don't like him. Sorry for being emo. Change topic - weather. Not sure the real reason, the haze was so terrible on that day. Wait! Was it flying sand? Or was it cooking smoke? No sign of raining but the sky wasn't nice that day. My friend says a lot of lengzai lenglui walking around and he enjoyed cruising the place. Unfortunately I was so tired my eyes cannot see anything. Where's the camera!!!

We left the place about 15 after 8 due to unsustainable fatigue. But we had more dinner at Kuchai Lama and to have 烧鸡翼 at Kuchai Road instead going home for rest. This was also the moment I think my spirit rose highest in the day - 'coz of food? Finally 海底燕窝 at Edwin's house and overnight marked the end of 18th July. And... that's not the end yet ngek ngek.

How's Bon Odori? That's my 1st experience for me. Not bad but not a good one either.




[Jino] - A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot

Simultaneously Klang cum Maluri

26th June, breezy morning - Few of us represented Biochemistry Group 1 (except G) to celebrate Mr. Chuan's birthday in her hometown, at the same time to lay our fingers on their infamous bak kut teh. All the way to Klang, the 7 of us caught her by surprise and sang retarded version birthday song to mark her be-earlied birthday.

Note that her actual date of birth is 30th June, and 2009 is her 23rd year of life.

Going to catch her by surprise


Mr. Chuan was still in her pyjamas when we surprised her


Card and cake from all of us (G excluded)


Missionaries to Klang


Treat was on birthday girl's cousin


Makan time!


Our activity in her house

Picture sources: Canon Digital IXUS 90 IS (Siau Chien) + Olympus U1050 (Piew)

26th June, tainted night - U6BF finally managed to rekindle after failing Ipoh and Kuala Selangor trip by having simple bbq in conjunction with Len Yi's be-earlied birthday celebration at his future husband's mansion. Well, I didn't know the night was birthday including. All I thought was just another gathering. I was quite surprise too, not just Len Yi.

Note: Len Yi's birthday is on 27th June, she turns 22 this year.

BBQ was so bloody hot

Part of varieties - spare the carsinogens


Birthday girl was in pink


U6BF 四大天王 and 四大天后?

Picture sources: Sony Cybershot Skinny T (KKL) + Fiona's Canon
Yet to receive pictures from other cameras.

Loads of bak kut teh and tons of bbq. 2 cakes on the same day. How to not grow horizontally?

All of all, happy birthday to both of them.

[Jino] - A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot

Cycling and bitching. Oops beaching...

Still wondering whether to write a long one for this, or should I make it short and sweet?

Hurdle back to the holidays in May, U6BF's prettiest, most resourceful and most passionate secretary (she's the one and only secretary, and must puji a bit) planned a day hang out to Putrajaya and Bagan Lalang exclusively for dear BFians. A good chance for the us who once studied in the same room to now again rekindle and enjoy the memorabilia.

But why did she have to make it a day after my Langkawi? I was damn tired...

Halcyon 23rd May rendezvoused 10 of us - Ben, Phakai, Phon, Mel, Laushu, Ching Yeng, Soo, Eileen and Kian Ti. And me, not to forget. The day held perfect weather for outdoor activities. Soft solar ray penetrated clouds reached us in mildly scent. Let the wind came and passed, troubles and sorrows blown afar.

For Botanical Garden had an event going on itself, we switched to Wetlands in Putrajaya. Bravo, immediate plan B. Single bikes rented for pro bikers while double bikes for pros fetching noobs, we rode down the lanes for an hour. Hardly broke a sweat. Lunch was on Ching Yeng; she cooked us spaghetti from home. Other activities in Putrajaya was on feet to interpretation centre and nature eye-sipping. The only worth seeing creature was Greater Flamingo by the pond. Hmm... I had seen plenty in Langkawi :P. Langkawi's prettier.

I had to admit the ride itself was pretty uneventful. Dull, plain and messy. I couldn't smell any fragrance of nature, odour of poorly maintained lakes instead. Nothing was entertaining except the laughter and jokes we had along the way. Laushu can never forget the palm tree she had mistaken as banana tree. I still wonder how she did that.

Everyone's ready. Let's go!


Kononnya tak tau cycle?


Eileen and Phakai fast and furious


Laushu and her bike

Mel: Who says I cannot cycle? See me now?

Greater Flamingo pond


Spaghetti and grapes for lunch


Interpretation centre where air-cond was the main attraction


Kampung boy? Haha...

Group photo - banana trees as background

From Putrajaya we screeched into Bagan Lalang near Sepang, navigated by the half-functional GPS. On the way there Ching Yeng was looking for her camera film, a rare and ancient type. We couldn't find it in big cities like Alamanda but spotted it in rural area of Jalan Pelik, Sepang. Pelik kan? So sorry I fell asleep on the way, failed to realize time flew so quickly during the 1 hour journey to the beach.

Just seconds, we could see hunkies stripped into the sea. Either they couldn't stand the heat at the beach or they were so eager to burn down the calories they had from spaghetti; their passion to water peaked their adrenaline to such high level. Although it wasn't a pure soothing walk on the beach with voices of mother nature, the beach definitely had the smells I had remembered in my dreams, and never let me down. Waves knocking on my leg calling me forth. In real, I don't feel so ^^. Slightly exaggerating I guess.

Late evening, 1 hour after our arrival, hundreds of small kids marched in to where we camped. To say them disturbing was unfair, but to say they're annoying was just.

'Aqua-phobia' Ultraman stayed dry and cruised on the beach while others were enjoying their swim and dive and drink salt water. Staring into the vast ocean did help calm me. Been looking afar to indistinguishable horizons. But I see through it. No matter how calm you claim the ocean is, it is unpredictable when the next death will the ocean claim. Who would refuse to jolly in the sea if they had a chance? I just wouldn't, or couldn't.

Despite my camera was the only 'ultimate weapon' to keep myself off water, no one could escape the fate that one must get wet when he's in the beach. Unable to struggle off, the hunkies weightlifted and threw me into the sea. SPLASH, and I was soaked. Cis...

Not wet yet


The hunkies


From left: Ching Yeng, Soo, Laushu, Kian Ti


Sexy boy or ugly girl?


Children from nowhere


Sand art of my signature


Arghh my eyes hurt! Who's the culprit? Scroll down...


Jeng jeng jeng... Bangga punya culprit


All of us - edited and added 12 June 2009


Group photo - edited and added 12 June 2009


Sometimes cameraman also has to pose along to get nice angle


Sunset and silhouette

The next highlight was seafood dinner. Fishy boney shelly seafood, I don't like. My chopsticks fork only targeted fried sotong and kangkung, while I leave the rest under the hungry-an's mercy.

I cannot help but to pity the drivers. Not only they had to stay awake and drive under fatigued but to bear enormous responsible to keep us intact, in complete pieces. They were nevertheless the noblest guys of the day. Back in Sri Petaling where everyone first gathered in the morning, Phakai found his key missing. He couldn't have driven back home if it was not his sister's help to bring the spare key.

Smiles, sayonara, ciaoz, bye, see you, waves, kisses, hugs, anything that departed us exchanged - sign of enter-the-dream session. Indeed that day was another remarkable day U6BF had after long term of missing in action. Or was it me MIA?

The next day was another outing to Midvalley with friends. Dude, I need rest! Why is my schedule packed as such?

p/s 1: Photos are credited based on trendy signatures on the pictures.
p/s 2: Yet to receive photos from Ching Yeng's camera. Will update once they reach me. - edited and added 12 June 2009




[Jino] - A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot

Eye opening nocturnal feast - 31st March 2009

Easily taken in by sweet words and some plea, Jino finally stepped foot into Jogoya again, after considering the economy crisis that hits the land and the tight budget for Langkawi trip. In fact I agreed unwillingly 'coz I promised someone first. Breaking promises is so fucking pain in the ass.

Contacting Jogoya was a painful job. Reservation is required but they never pick up my calls. I strongly suggest Jogoya and other buffet restaurants to invest on customer service. But the truth is, I contacted them the wrong time. I started calling from 10 a.m. and of 'coz that is not their operational hour. "Belum bukak kedai la bro" - Chang Hoong. How blur ^^... Oops alright I take back my words.

We were discussing the details in Genetics lab session. Seems like Dr. Gideon paid some interest look in our plan. Maybe inviting him is a good idea, don't you think?

We went on 31st March, the day Baskin Robin was giving out their usual promotions. And I fortunately was exempted to belanja the merciful Shiau Li and Piew 'coz we will be having something greater that evening - Haagan Dazs.

Jogoya is one of the most popular talk-bout restaurants offering gourmets of land of rising sun at extremely peak price. Besides japanese, they offer western, indian, chinese and other delicacies. But I thought I would only place my attention on the japanese 'coz they are cute, white, open, innocent look, full of Asian aroma, fuckable, itaio, yamate etc. OOPS! Rumours of how fresh the food is, how varies the choices are, how soothing the ambiance are always circulating the KL folks. Rumours always deceive people, let me simply remind you.

The last japanese buffet I had was Shogun last year. Since Jogoya is having promotion - buy 1 free 1 and VIP 50% discount - you would be thinking why would we waste the chance right? We went in as VIP members and did not use the vouchers. Instead the vouchers will be resold to other people. Can't you see how food plays an important role as agent of socialization not just family, school, media and peer group? I still rem.ember my Jogoya experience very well but too bad it's history. Now when I thought I can regain new collection of Jogoya memories with some of my closest friends, coursemates, coursemates' other halves, unimates, coursemates friends from other school, the memories capped in my mind now are instead, the "cry of despair"...

We first hanged around in BTS till everyone gathered at 4 p.m. Few groups seperated - lunch, bowling, shopping, pooling, studying...

As everyone was here, including Wendy and EE and Chang Hoong and Cally, we entered Jogoya =.=... Can I not use the word anymore?

So, a total 18 of us occupied a room ourselves. What else can we boys and girls do when we are left together in a room? SEX PARTY!!! Let's rapeJogoya, if that's what in my mind you ask.

To my disappointment, I was very dissatisfied with the meal last night. I was expecting something similar to Jogoya 2 years ago that I remember, but 2 years later Jogoya has opened my eyes. Within the area of 62 foot steps, I could only see 4 types of sushi, 5 types of sashimi, no tako tako, waited 1 hour+ for 4 handrolls, waited 2 hours+ for lobster sushi, only prawn as tempura. And that's it? If this is the only thing Jogoya is capable of, I am very disappointed over their deprovement. To be very honest, I feel wasted yesterday 'coz the food did not satisfied me at all. Not even up to expectation and satisfaction. I came with hope to enjoy the food I thought I like butJogoya was a turn off. I went out of the room many times, hoping they will throw out something that I hope I can eat that night. But do you know? They never change the variety and disappointedly I shook my head.

Was the taste superb? - I would say so so. Too many choices till headache of which to choose? - WRONG! Lack of varieties. Nice environment? - Nothing special. Price? - Overly charged. Imagine you are paying 88++ (but we have discount), and they serve you food quality and quantity that do not even meet the eyes, yet you still hope miracles to happen in the 4 hours 30 minutes. That's how I felt yesterday. And next morning the feeling have not move a bit. Yea, regret, being cheated, disappointed, down, heartache, wallet pain pain, tears. Isn't foodsupposingly bring happiness? If you big business can make us pay RM 88++, then please do your part worth RM 88++, not just RM 30!!! I know la we pay half the price, but if this is how big business runs their business, you don't deserve my respect, not a chance anymore. Yesterday was not RM 88++punya standard!

The idea of doing free promotion for Jogoya changed immediately into negative detesting advertisement. There is no point telling how good it is when you had already experienced it firsthandedly to feel ARGHH, OMG and WHY while eating. I wasn't in the mood to snap photos of their food. It was an unexpected bad night, worst possible dinner and lost of faith. Yes,JINO IS CHEATED BY JOGOYA'S FAME AND REPUTATION!!!

Enough of the food. If we can think from the positive side, food is not the only matters of concern. Look around you, and you will see people who eat with you. It's a fate that we are able to dine together, and let's cherish this moment for a bit longer.

I swear upon my honour and pride as Jino the Ice God, I will never, ever visit that foul place. Not in this life anymore. If I break this promise, I potong my lj! Hear that? Everyone who reads this blog, I remind you once again that if you have anywhere in your pea brains to visit Jogoya, please do not do so otherwise you will feel how I felt. Fail to comprehend and risk yourself. Their varieties, their food turnover rate and their way of running business were real disappointment. Learn, folks of the world, that expensive food does not promise worthiness all time. Let me sum up. Jogoya is not just "not up to expectation", it is poor and bad when you think of paying RM 88++.

If I can return to yesterday, I would eat at my own house, save up RM 60 for Langkawi and gain satisfaction from my mama's dinner. If ever time can reverse its course...




[Jino] - A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot