31 October 2008

What does it mean to have a succcessful career? There are some questions I throw to myself and I kept thinking how do I weigh myself in being successful in my career.

1. Is it when you earn a 5-figure salary?

2. Or when you are a director of a multi-national company?

3. Or perhaps you are managing 5 subordinates at one time?

4. You probably assist the company to earn millions of dollars a year?

5. You do not need to pay house or car instalments anymore?

6. You do not need to worry about your empty bank account??

7. You can afford to stay in suites while traveling??

8. You have the $$$ to just take a flight to London for a few days off??

9. You probably own more than 2 houses or 2 cars???

10. You have a full-time Indonesian maid who handles your domestic engineering???

I can go on and on and on with my imagination.

Nevertheless, I want to hear from YOU on what does SUCCESSFUL Career means to you. Please tell me.

30 October 2008

To all the TVB drama addicts, you probably has come across 大嶼山 (Cantonese: Dai Yu Shan), often mentioned by their actors and actresses.

大嶼山 is also known as Lantau Island, which is the largest island in Hong Kong.

In order to go to Lantau Island, first you must take the MRT to Tung Chung station. In fact, this is the fastest way to reach the north of the island. Then you can opt to take a cable car ride to the island.

Since the opening of the Lantau Link, a number of buses also cross over to Lantau, although they are considerably slower than the cable car rides and less scenic than the ferries.

The package that I had taken was Ngong Ping 360 and a bus ride to ‘Dai O Village’ and a bus ride back to Tung Chung MRT Station. All this for HK$86.

Ngong Ping 360  combines a spectacular 5.7 km cable car journey that takes in an impressive cultural themed village and the Tian Tan Buddha.

The queue on a working Monday is surprisingly long. However, we must know that Hong Kong is one of the top 10 tourists’ destination in the world.

Once you’re inside the cable car, feel free to look around. Enjoy the view around you. Start snapping around with your camera.

This is one of my favourite shots. It’s pretty scary for a cable car ride like this if you’re afraid of heights.

And you will be able to catch a glimpse of Hong Kong’s International Airport.

Argh… I wished I have a DSLR which can focus more on the planes than the sea!!!!!

From the cable car, you will be able to see the big statue of Tian Tan Buddha resting on a hill.

This is another view of Tian Tan Buddha from the entrance of the cultural village.

At the themed village there are a couple of attractions. The Walking with Buddha attraction gives an interesting introduction to Buddha, and has different stages, with headphones giving the narration in a variety of languages. The Monkey’s Tail is simply a silent animated movie, with a simple moral.

However, I didn’t go for these attractions. The weather was too hot and humid for me to endure any longer.

Our dear friend was trying to hold Buddha on his palm!!

For hungry wolves, you will find the vegetarian restaurant after this entrance.

Next to the vegetarian restaurant, there’s a temple and Po Lin Monastery where tourists flocked to offer their prayers.

From the entrance of cultural village, you would probably walk a good 10 minutes to reach here.

Open from 10am to 6pm, access to the Buddha itself is free, although entering the museum inside during busy times requires a meal ticket for the vegetarian restaurant; a snack costs HK$23 while full meals are $60 (normal) or $100 (deluxe).

Take a deep breath and start climbing up the stairs. Don’t look back if you’re afraid of heights.

If you look back, this is what you will capture with your naked eyes. What a breath taking view, isn’t it?

**I was cursing the weather as I walked up the stairs. It’s blardy hot! And now you know why I got tanned after coming back from Hong Kong*

At over 250 tonnes and 34 meters in height, this is the largest, seated, outdoor bronze Buddha statue in the world.

These are wonderfully sculpted Ngong Ping’s statues.

Though I was high up on a mountain and with the crazy blaring sun, the wind is not chilly enough to cool me down!!

Despite the killing-me-softly’s sun, I managed to capture this beautiful shot here. I hope you like this.

In my next entry, I will show you how Tai-O Village looks like.

27 October 2008

You cannot visit Hong Kong without tasting their local delicacies. Nonetheless when it comes to food here, you will be spoilt for choices as there are aplenty for you to test your taste buds.

Let me share with you on my jalan-jalan cari makan in Mongkok district of Hong Kong.

For breakfast, you may order a set of iced milk tea and a sausage bun.

OR…

Some shops do offer sets like the one above. For HK$22 (RM10), you get a bun, a fried egg and 2 sausages plus a glass of iced milk tea.

Breakfast in Hong Kong would set you back around HK$19 – 25 depending on your choice.

Mind you, separate orders would cost more expensive. For example, a glass of iced milk tea would be charged HK$13 (RM5.80) and a piece of egg tart alone for HK$4 (RM1.80).

The egg tart is comparable with the one I had in Ipoh. It’s simply awesome.

What about lunch and dinner, I hear you ask?

I simply could not resist the temptations their world renowned BBQ Pork and Roasted Pork posed to me.

Though I knew I was on a strict low-carb diet, I told myself “I just had to endure for a few days only! Let me eat when I am in Hong Kong!”

Steamed Chicken + Roast Duck Rice (with Iced Lemon Tea) for HK$35 (RM15.60) which is considered cheap for the Hongkies.

A dish of roast pork and some vege for 2 persons would cost HK$58. (You do the math yourself as RM44.30 = HK$100,  I am not sure about today’s rate though)

A bowl of Wanton Mee and Iced Lemon Tea for HK$32 would probably close shop if its converted to Malaysian Ringgit.

This shop offers different levels of spiciness for your noodles in soup.  But what’s with LEVEL 8?

Even with my high tolerance towards spicy food, I ordered the one with ‘4 Chillies – Most hot’ as I didn’t dare test my tummy. Thank God, the 4 star was super duper spicy!! It’s definitely hotter than Kin Kin’s Spicy Ban Mee or the normal Cili Padi you find back here in Malaysia.  I think if i took the 8 Chilies, I’ll need to shove a firehose down my throat!

A plate of BBQ pork and Roast Duck (with Iced Milk Tea) for HK$34 I know my Kev Bear will definately love.

Nissin noodles with Roast Pork and BBQ Pork (plus Iced Lemon Tea or Iced Milk Tea) at HK$34 tasted great with Belacan.

Just remember every set that you order, any cold drinks would need extra $$. For example, a set of breakfast including your drink is to cost you HK$19. But if you order Iced Milk Tea, they will charge you a total of HK$21.

Understand?

If you’re still hungry after your dinner, you can probably try out some street food especially near the Ladies’ Street and Temple Street.

You can find ‘Chao Taufu’, ‘Curry Fishballs’ and many other scrumptous bites.

Jom! Mari kita makan Tauhu Busuk sekarang!!!

24 October 2008

I had lunch at Kenny Rogers with my colleague yesterday. Upon my curiosity, I looked up the nutrition table provided in the menu.

I was shocked with the amount of calories consumed in a Quarter Meal with 3 Sidelines, a Vanilla-flavoured muffin and a glass of Ice Lemon Tea.

Quarter chicken (Black Pepper) – 554 kcal
Vanilla Muffin – 229 kcal
Macaroni & Cheese – 95 kcal
Mashed Potato – 61kcal
Fruit Salad – 55kcal
Ice Lemon Tea – 120

TOTAL – 1114kcal

Now the problem is, for every woman who’s not active in sports and exercising, they do not need more than 1800-2000kcal per day. And after consuming a Quarter meal at Kenny Rogers, they are left with only 600-800kcal to consume to maintain their holy weight. Can this be done? Even a bowl of mihun soup would carry 450kcal. A glass of orange juice may consist 150kcal.

Imagine eating 1114kcal for your lunch. Don’t forget your breakfast, tea time and dinner. Or even supper perhaps.  For that amount of calories, it would suit labourers or athletes who are burning fat every minute every second, not for office-based people who are facing the PC the whole day.

I guess it’s tough to maintain your weight these days!!!

Well if you are really on a diet, avoid Kenny Rogers. If you insist, just take the fruit salad! (Muahaha!)