it was on the new year eve of 2010 where we stumbled upon chance to revisit. i randomly chose a fair priced resort on the internet for a 3 day stay and headed for holiday villa cherating resort. shabby it is not, but neither it is fancy. heck i never cared much for hotel rooms anyway hence thrilled to find the beach area to be surprisingly pleasant, a long stretch of flat grassland sloping down to an empty and windy beach. coconut trees and tall willowy trees accentuate shadows against the horizon, such a calm and beautiful sight.

this feb, we had a wonderful opportunity to stay at eastern pavilion resort and spa (owned by holiday villa), 2 bedroom private villa equipped with pool+jaccuzi and a living room. it was a perfect weekend getaway from the city considering it’s only a 2 and 1/2 hours’ drive from KL on the newly extended karak highway.

holiday villa + eastern pavilion resort compound

solitary moment

love these trees

what used to be powder white sand.

located on the east coast of peninsular malaysia, the monsoon period is yet to be over hence sea water’s rough and dangerous with under currents running through it. so instead we make do utilizing the private pool as much as possible, water’s cold but not entirely unpleasant…

the lovely master bedroom view

evenings are so quiet and serene, it's as if time stood still for us.

~ THE END ~

I’ll never be tired of Long Beach, sure I’ve been here countless times but how can one ever get bored with sunset view such as this? Nevertheless, my growing attachment towards beach-life left distaste for the city more so than before.

On another note, due to growing tourist and local crowd, the beach front was in absolute mess when we arrived. I gathered our girly troops on one fine shady morning, did our bit to clear off trash as much as we can and even managed to recruit two environmentally concerned hawt frenchies :)

We took opportunity to visit a secluded beach on our last day, the locals named it “romantic beach”. The wind were against us that day, gushing in strong waves making it impossible for us to swim. However, we spent our mid-day on the quiet beach reading, listening to some tunes and snapping away our cameras.

Here are some of my photo collection:

Goodbye long beach, I’ll be seeing you again next year :)

mom at the back of my car, fishing out bananas as i was wailing 'hungry!'

typical miss datin who refused to ride in my sister's mini car :p

entrance to the buddha temple where no shoes or joss-sticks allowed

plenty greens surround this area, notice the chime bells hanging down in a row? they're used to run water down from the roof... so lovely!

the girly lees

a frenchie pops out from nowhere? nice background though.. and yeah i took the photo :P

guess who? that's right.. it's datin cyn again...

entrance to dad's altar

alex: in participation of tradition... we're glad he didn't choke from the fumes from the large joss-sticks

bro with flo.. how 'gay' :P

my mom and i, in front of dad's altar

looks a little like fairyland on the other side of the peep-hole

though it may be where the dead lies, there is something serenely calm about this place.

Another call for visit to this place is soon to come, this time is for the memory of dad’s passing day. Yes, this is a place where we go every twice a year, a place of remembrance.

Anyway, this special occasion was Emisz’ birthday, a supposed surprise poolside BBQ party at Poli’s. I mentioned ‘supposed’ because everything was going well on plan till our dear madame ‘blur’ Fei turned up to Emisz’ (not Poli’s) house door with a large bowl of cut fruits! When asked what she was doing there, she mumbled that she had plans with Poli for afternoon hangout. As far as Emisz was concern, he thought Poli would be coming around 6pm to pick him up for a simple dinner , just the two of them. Thank god Emisz had too much to drink the night before so he wasn’t really suspicious or anything  though I was convinced he knew we were up to something!

And so, after a while Fei turned up to the “designated” place with her super large bowl of cut fruits and there we had everything set up and waited in anticipation for Poli’s car to come round the corner. No doubt Emisz at the passenger seat had seen a few familiar cars of ours all parked within the vicinity of compound, but he was ever so graceful to play along with the “SURPRISE!!” welcome from all of us.. :-)

man about with club monaco sunnies

datin cyn: as usual has to bring her work everywhere...

the lovely smiling fei aka miss blur :)

the rest of the gang-pack!

the BBQ boys...

the long table

cupcakes for the birthday boy :)

The party ended the classic way – with the boys grabbing hold of Emisz’ chair and threw him into the pool. All for a good splash of fun :-)

Filed under: fragments of life, uncategorized Tagged: bbq, poolside party ]]> http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/birthday-emisz-it-was-a-while-ago/feed/ 4 3.147849 101.712726 3.147849 101.712726 meowsssss him.jpg CANON_S90 991 CANON_S90 994 CANON_S90 996 CANON_S90 1001 CANON_S90 1002 CANON_S90 1007 CANON_S90 1020 CANON_S90 1023 http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/hello-its-been-awhile/ http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/hello-its-been-awhile/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 03:15:27 +0000 styledelinquent http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/?p=1619 ]]> Dear blog,

I’ve not had my work schedule overfill my diary for a long while till July hits the calendar. I like being busy, in fact it keeps my adrenaline high and mighty, but I don’t enjoy closing business deals. I envy those who describing it like it is a form of foreplay before the climax, when deals are closed with succession. My break came through last Friday when my company agreed to opposition’s offer, a decision which will lessen a big chunk of burden of my shoulders from now on. Anyway, stress or no stress, one thing’s for sure, no situation changes my eating habit, cos I am still eating like a PIG!

P/S: Catch up with you again very soon.

xoxo
C

Year 1999. I stepped into a long narrow strip of what looks like a beach bar, on the second level of a very rundown Kelab Syabas. Hell I thought it looked familiar but after TimeOut sportsbar was replaced by Waikiki Bar, beach sand were added, charmingly enhancing its beach-like atmosphere.

While I really can’t quite recall who I went with during my first visit, it was with my ex-hubby Steve and our best bud at that time Randy where we became Waikiki’s very frequent beer guzzlers and pool-hustlers (the boys of course.. me.. I just watch, pose or cheer on the sideline ha-ha!). We were drawn to its authenticity and the unpretentious air about the place, with tasteful retro 70′s and 80′s music playing throughout the night in open air. It was also here where friendships cultivated from all walks of life and nonetheless filled many nights with countless drunk stupor, fun, laughter but also teary hair-pulling episodes (some big kahuna girl and I fought for the loo…*shy*)

Now, many years later, Waikiki Bar remains fond in the many memories of us friends, a perfect place to meet during special occasions such as birthdays and such. This could probably be because many of our lives are different now, some busier than others, some living further away, some grew conscience adopting a healthier lifestyle and some with family life. But heck, I’d still love to visit more often than now!

19th June 2010: Tonight it’s Fiona’s birthday. She’s nothing short of a great friend and a true-to-heart bohemian hot-chic. For years, together and with few others, we ventured out searching for perfect spots to beach bum and enjoy basic island life. Though many of them were unable to make it, the familiarity of the place with few of us same old faces made this night comfortable and fun to remember by. Or at least I hoped that was how the birthday girl felt, even after two rounds of Flaming-Lamborghini :)

too-long time buddies

Few rounds of american pool, just like old times :)

birthday girl, fiona… getting happier by the mug!

the usual suspects of Waikiki, not much different than from 10 years back :P

giggles and sloshed: a happy birthday girl

~~~

Filed under: fragments of life, photography, uncategorized Tagged: beer-o-clock, birthdays, photography, waikiki bar ]]> http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/waikiki-the-bar/feed/ 1 3.147849 101.712726 3.147849 101.712726 meowsssss fishtank waikiki_fi_bday 004 waikiki_fi_bday 006 waikiki_fi_bday 013 waikiki_fi_bday 032 waikiki_fi_bday 041 waikiki_logo waikiki_fi_bday 045 waikiki_fi_bday 036 http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/06/10/mother-nature-in-fury/ http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/06/10/mother-nature-in-fury/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:30:45 +0000 styledelinquent http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/?p=1524 ]]> Yes, even when she’s angry she never fails to hypnotize with the grandeur of beauty for all things. Here I am sharing with you some of the most mesmerizing photos seen forwarded to my email on Iceland’s eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull, 2010′s most catastrophic environment-damaging event and possibly in the last few decades.

eerily peaceful?

creatures of nature: they know these things…

it’s absurd the amount of dust collected on the ground as seen above.

and darkness enfolds the northern hemisphere…

very spooked out livestocks and horses.

-colored roof-top wooden houses reminded me of how much I miss Scandinavia.

a fearful sight yet so beautiful.

i love this photo, they have such thick manes those horses!

~~~

A terrifying photo found in one of an online news-page:

“The face of evil? This macabre photograph taken yesterday from aboard an Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter shows the three fissures on top of the glacier.”

Well, glad it’s over now… or is it?

Filed under: fragments of life, uncategorized Tagged: 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull, iceland's volcano, mother nature ]]> http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/06/10/mother-nature-in-fury/feed/ 1 3.147849 101.712726 3.147849 101.712726 meowsssss e03_23059473 e07_23050557 e08_23067193 e09_23052085 e15_23053791 e18_23057119 e10_23055663 e02_23042795 e19_23056757 e29_23070691 e25_23048757 e34_00009773 2010-04-16-faceofvolcanoXIR http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/escape-to-paradise/ http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/escape-to-paradise/#comments Sun, 06 Jun 2010 04:07:06 +0000 styledelinquent http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/?p=1471 ]]> It’s my yearly ritual, to visit the perhentian islands. Except for few new developments, the island changed very little from sixteen years ago when I first step foot on the larger island for my engagement holiday surprise. Even the boat rides from land port to the islands remained authentic. Small open-air boats which sits no more than 12 people (but usually cramped up to 20 people!) are highly powered with twin 150hp or 200hp motors will either excite or frighten the wits out of you. Not recommended for those who suffers sea-sickness.

The most memorable trip there was back in 1999 where I stayed for 2 weeks in few different chalets and beaches. I got to see so many parts of the island and its wonders. Lunch and swimming at secluded beaches, countless snorkelling trips (pity I don’t dive due to ear problem) far out in the crystal clear marine parks, amazing fruit and snicker-bar shakes and the natural living conditions where concrete development were scorned at. This was the year I discovered Long Beach, first thing I remembered when the boat reached shore was seeing around ten to twelve Italian chicks playing volleyball topless (he-he). Aside from that it was also the stretch of supreme white sandy beach and its waters so clear more enticing than any swimming pool I’ve ever seen drew me back here ever since.

For the many years, I tried to stay true and as close to nature as possible avoiding staying at the bigger resorts due to its damaging operation to the island waters and found few well-maintained mini chalets to spend my time in the sun with. Panorama and Mohsin Chalets at Long Beach were particularly impressionable. Mind you, these places offer only 12-hours electricity daily, minimal water availability (natural water from wells), no hot showers and mere basic ‘kampung-style’ rooms with a balcony consisting of two chairs and two large geckos resting on the walls. It was the people who ran these chalets that made my stay every year worthwhile. No amount of money could have bought such a genuine level of hospitality anywhere where warm friendships cultivated from then on. Sometime in the early year 2000, I arranged with my sisters and few good girlfriends to come along and till now they too are hooked to the secrets of this place.

Just recently I made a trip back to Long Beach only to discover the joys of holidaying lies in the basis of wonderful companionships. I miss girly trips with my beautiful long-time friends whom I hardly see these days and wish very much to have one with them soon. And oh, this time round I have also broken the cardinal rule of staying at a resort (buburesort) but all the same, it was a much needed holiday just to get away from all the noise and bustle of the city.

besut port is usually dirty and murky, this morning with clears waters was a definite sign of a good start before heading off to the islands.

bubu resort, sea-view honeymoon suite

the right-side of long beach where I beach-bummed out for the past many years, this photo was taken from a burnt down chalet (lily's) which is now taken over by a french-italian round-hut restaurant, world café.

The equator sun can easily melt one down leaving painful sun-burnt marks and dehydration. World Café (above) opened just 3 days prior to our arrival, is built on land where Lily Chalet used to be before it caught fire and everything burned to the ground. This was my favorite hang-out spot for many years. Lily’s restaurant was pleasant and convenient. They served marvy chinese claypot and sizzling stuffs along with some yummy vegan curry and rice. Behind there were two fairly decent toilets for beach-bummers to use. The restaurant was comfortable, unpretentious and very near to the beach which was great when we needed to grab cold beers off their freezer. But I guess change isn’t that bad, there is a quiet stretch of beach just before reaching Bubu Resort where I have wanted to explore. There simply is no resort or chalets, no parked boats and beach-brollies which also means hardly any people. Almost perfect.

sunset at bubu's sun-decks

my fascination on bubu's jetty built not-so-long ago- thousands and thousands of fishes swims beneath it, perhaps not such a eco-unfriendly jetty after all...

bubu's sundeck chairs where my book (i used it to 'book' the chairs) soaked in more sun there then myself :)

itinerary for the day: have a beer and ciggie first, then attempt to say hi to the fishes under the jetty..

playing-with-fire show at the beach's night parties. dj was off his head and spinning dub-step. hmmmm

image taken: courtesy of allan who insists to play with my camera shutter-speed, nice job :)

fresh produce from mainland transported to the resort to feed our daily hungry stomachs

the moon peeked out from the dark skies, i was fixated with its glowing beauty...

when the moon's full, many do go crazy - the werewolf theory :P

they were two men but all the same i find it a romantic sight.

estranged beauty of nature and two encounters of men.

managed to snap a photo of the resident pet "monitor lizard".. ain't he a beauty? :)

yes i know.. i do love the sight of the jetty!

boat ride back to mainland: an elderly of 80 years sat next to me (hands shown here) was enjoying the bumpy ride though he was sternly advised to sit further back. my sight did not let go of him till we safely reached the port.

~ THE END ~

Yesterday night I took some photos of LeeLoo, my cat who lies next to me every night. So hard to keep her still but I was relentless with my task. After I went to bed quite happy as I thought I captured some nice keepers.

Today during lunch I decided to download them so I can add them here. Then I saw it, the flaw. A big kahuna eye poo on my favorite full frontal face shot of her! I don’t have any software that allows me to “erase” so I had to improvise…

-> end result (ehehehe):-

Fortunately, that was just about the only photo with that unsightly flaw… will post up the rest soon x

P/S: That will be all for today. Sorry!! I am busy finishing up my work so I have can have a relaxing beach holiday for the next few days…. can’t wait to get there! :)

Filed under: fragments of life, uncategorized Tagged: kitty tales ]]> http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/05/26/leeloo-my-bolster/feed/ 0 3.147849 101.712726 3.147849 101.712726 meowsssss leeloo25may 024 http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/bubu-kl-perhentian/ http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/bubu-kl-perhentian/#comments Wed, 19 May 2010 04:07:27 +0000 styledelinquent http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/?p=1381 ]]> I first came to know about the Bubu Resort group about eight years back when they opened at Long Beach Perhentian. I visit the Perhentian Islands at least once a year for the last fifteen years staying in all sorts of resorts and chalets and hopped around to many beaches and snorkeling spots. I love everything about the island – peaceful, clear blue-green waters, white sandy beach with clear bottom almost like a swimming pool, no signs of overcrowding tourists and five-star resorts due to lack of development. (I will look up in my old photo library and post up some pics of Perhentian beaches and waters soon!).

That said, recently it is becoming more and more popular with local Malaysians and I have also seen plenty good reviews in TripAdvisor encouraging more and more foreign tourists to visit. In my opinion over-exposure will only cause further harm to the corals and marine life not to mention affects fastidiousness of the beaches which is not great at all!

Anyway, I discovered Long Beach Perhentian with a friend (can’t remember who though…). I tried many chalets, they are all very basic, electricity available for only 12 hours, no hot shower, A/C and the rooms are extremely simple. I didn’t mind one bit as I spend most of my time outdoors by the super gorgeous white sandy beach. This year I’ve planned a short holiday on Long Beach at the end of this month and I will be staying at the Bubu Resort for the first time ever… can’t wait! :)

One hot afternoon late last year, I looked down at my balcony and noticed the construction of Bubu Restaurant at the corner of Rae Hotel, just down the road from my apartment. Operated by the same owner of Bubu Perhentian Island, wood and beach elements were used to emphasize the concept of the place. There’s even a long sampan (boat) to display fresh seafood for BBQ. At first it was just a chill hangout place to have a couple of ice-cold beers but we have recently also just discovered that the food is simply fantastic! Fresh seafood and meats are usually served with gorgeous salads and grilled/mashed potatoes. Though I’ve ate there many times, I didn’t manage to snap any photos of the food as I tend to forget anything else when my meal is served :P but here are some photos of the cozy little restaurant taken 2 nights before.

the bar from our table view…

more view of the bar area… and of Allan :)

that’s the long-boat alright, in it were plenty of fresh seafood to choose from: fish-blue marlin, king fish, barracuda and garoupa, squid and king prawns

they have a fairly popular weeknight dinner crowd, above the restaurant is Rae Boutique Hotel.

Update:
As promised, managed to dig up some photos from last year’s trip at Long Beach. More to come…

Filed under: fragments of life, uncategorized Tagged: bubu restaurant, food talk ]]> http://meowsssss.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/bubu-kl-perhentian/feed/ 2 3.147849 101.712726 3.147849 101.712726 meowsssss bubu 002 bubu 010 bubu 011 bubu 015 bubu 018 bububeach1 bububeach