District 9

Within my expectation I held for the movie against the good reviews it got. A good movie if you can stand some of the graphical scenes and of course the aliens which appears during most of the time. The storyline did left a few unexplained items but doesn't really matters.

Movie is set in johannsburg where 20 years back an alien spaceship landed there. It didn't have any invasion intention so the government decided to break into the spaceship and to their horror, millions of aliens were found which seems clueless and unhealthy. They were brought down and held in a large area called district 9. Soon it became a slum and a group of nigerian mobster managed to sustain illegal activities with the aliens. Selling them food like pigs, cows and cat food, the alien's favourite.

As years goes by. the prawn like aliens causes some distress among the citizens. So the government engaged MNU, some private group to relocate these 1.8 millions aliens. Funny thing is the team even needs to let the alien sign some eviction form as somehow that is the legal thing to do. The MNU head gave the lead job to his son-in-law, Wikus which he thought initially it was like a promotion but in such movies, this never happen. It was heaven to hell for him. MNU has been collecting the weapons these aliens were using, though having superior technology and power, it cannot be used by a human, seemingly created with biological elements.

It was Day 1 of the operation as Wikus lead a team to get the aliens sign the forms. MNU also has military teams at his disposal, Colonel Kobus is the man leading them. From the moment he appeared, destined he will die a horrible death. As Wikus go to hut by hut, you get to see all the graphical details of the aliens. Till he went to Christopher Johnson, yes the aliens all got names and also somehow understand english and more amazing, their gibberish, the humans also understand. He was collecting soem liquid and doing some experiment. Wikus accidentally spill it onto his face.

To protect the experiment, CJ's friend was killed while Wikus injured his hand. The work stopped and wikus went back and rest, then it started. He started to feel sick and nails fell off. Upon reaching home, he got a surprise party celebrating his promotion but he fainted. He was send to hospital, this moment started his hell experience. As the doctor unbandaged his hand, to their utmost shock, it revealed a claw hand, the mutated infestation started. He was taken away by MNU immediately and they stabilized his condition then used him for experiment which is test the weapons. Wikus was the only combined human and alien, tested he can fire those alien weapons.

That is not all, they wanted to disembered him to gather more information for this human/alien combination. He managed to escape and embarked his journey to recover his human form. MNU hunted him and sited him having illegal inter-species sex and was highly contagious. He couldn't see his wife and initially didn't believe him. He became hopeless and had to eat cat food. Till he found CJ again and found out that he had a way to recover him but it needed the black liquid which is in MNU.


He went from "charging into MNU to get the liquid" to "betraying CJ" then to "sacrifice to saving the aliens". How the nigerian mobster and Kubus died was quite a scene. 8/10

Year One

This movie though is slapstick kind but still sprung some surprises and have some really funny moments. Jack Black is Zed is a not so good hunter and his friend Oh is a gatherer. The starting scene was quite funny, Z hitting his own people with his spear on a hunting trip. Later, Z was caught eating the forbidden fruit. the tribe had to thrown him out. And he accidentally torched Oh's hut, so he followed him on his trip to find the end of the earth.

Along the way, they found brothers Cain and Abel. And witness Cain killed Abel by repeatedly stoning him to death, the slaptick way. But Cain still brought both back to his home, Z thought that was the luckiest day when his father told him he could sleep with his daugther but found out that she is a lesbian. Soon, Cain got Z and O to flee with him, if not, they will be blamed for his bro death.

They bumped into Maya and Eema, the girls both Z and O wanted to have in their tribe. They are captured and being sold as slaves. Cain ended up selling Z and O. But somehow during their trip, Sodomites attacked the slaves owners. Z and O managed to escape but doze off while they waited for a good time to save M and E.

So they continue their journey and saw Abraham trying to kill his son Issac, Z stopped him and told Abraham, Lord send him to stop him. So they brought Z and O back to their village, telling them the sin city of Sodom and Gomorrah. Next morning, they left after Abraham offered to circumsize them, quite a description. As they arrived at Sodom, they were captured and almost sodomized by the guard but was saved by Cain, telling he knew them.

While Cain show them around, the princess saw Z, seemingly think he is different as he didn't bow when she was there. Z and O joined the army so as not to being captured again. The part where they trying to join the first training was funny, as everyone was in line, standing in attention. They comically try to join them but in awkward positioning.

The king trying to get rain has been sacrificing virgins. The princess send for Z, wanted him to go into the Holy of Holies and asked whoever to help to get rain. Meanwhile, O was having a bad time with the high priest, getting him to oil his hairiest body. Both was found in the Holy of Holies and the King punished them to be stoned to death. But Z convinced them he is the chosen one and the public seems to believe, as the advisor trying hard with his hand motion to tell the King they should also go with the public reaction.

So Z and O was spared but was imprisoned. And somehow O was cuffed upside down and had to pee. So pee dripped all over his face. The King then mentioned he will sacrified the princess along with M and E. Of course, Z and O saved the day with some laughs. 8/10

Friday Dinner@Gulf Beach Restaurant

There is alot of stalls selling middle eastern food in the arab street area. This was our last option as the others are crowded. .

This one sells lebanese food. The menu is clear and straightforward. After some thinking, I settle for grilled boneless chicken with lebanese spices, there is a name for it, couldn't remember it.

And it was quite good, well grilled, the meat is succulent enough and the sauces that comes with are good.

The yellowish creamy sauce looked so much like hummus, the one you see in "Don't Mess with Zohan", but the waitress say is garlic sauce. The chilli is abit different with the usual ones we have, it is not savoury but just the right spiciness.

The lamb sausages are also quite nice but has certain spices in it. It comes with some vege like tomatoes and pepper but also drenched with some sauce which is quite sour. The highlight was the lebanese coffee, it tasted like double expresso with 甘草金银花. The guy should have recommended us to get the lenanese sweets with the coffee. You can see what was left the in bottom, a huge deposit in dung form.

Penang Day Four

Last day. The plan was to visit Kek Lok Si and check out before that. An early breakfast then wash up and final packing, then it was check out and pay up. We reached there about 9+ and our car was able to park just right outside of the foot of the temple. This whole place is made up of several temples, a pagoda and you can go right up to see the tallest guan yin in asia or the world, can't remember.

To go the top of the pagoda, you have to climb the spiral stairs about 7 storey, as it gets nearer to the top, the stairs gets steeper and steps narrower. Going down requires careful steps as well. Then is up the inclining lift to see the "in progress" guan yin. You can see pillars are being built around the statue. At this area, there is also another temple where you can see the 12 animals statues outside.

And not to forget, quite a number of souvenior shops along the way. We spend about 1 hr plus here and about time to leave for lunch then airport. Decided to head to queensbay mall to eat canton-i, there was one open in ION recently. Though it is along the way to the airport, we also horlan a few times before we got there. Supposedly the wanton noodles are good, the wanton are huge with generous fillings no doubt, soup is clear and typical wanton kind but lacks the typical MSG. The meat combinations is quite good, especially the char siew which is fatty. Soon we have to rush to the airport for our 1505 flight and of course, need to horlan but still in time to go Petronas to top up the car before return.

Reached airport about 2 pm only to know flight was delayed again. All delayed ends delayed. Anyway, delayed better than miss.

Penang Day Three

Day 3 started late so had the same buffet breakfast again. When we got ready, it was about 11+ .. 12. And we decided to drive across penang bridge to eat seafood near Butterworth, there is this 323 seafood place by the sea. Getting across the bridge was still okay but finding the place was quite a challenge, after numerous horlan and of course help from "bang" wil ... we finally reached !

Considered a late lunch. The seafood selection doesn't seems to be alot, anyway the typical ones were ordered, cereal prawns, fried squids, viet chicken, crab, vege and salted fish bee hoon. The only must mention is the bee hoon ... ermmmm ... yes the bee hoon. Fried till very mi and smooth yet savoury. The crab probably done in the wrong way, she mention something spicy but it taste more like L spices.

Time to head back to George town for the heritage walk. But truth is, somehow nothing much along the trail and simply is like we are the only ones. Maybe is Sunday, some places are closed. The fort wasn't open, not sure it shutdown or at that time already closed. Peranakan Mansion closed at 530 pm. Rest nothing much.

About evening time, no where to go so we head back to Gurney Plaza. And I found this Gelatomio ice cream cart in between the Gurney Plaza and G Hotel area, this was mention in some blog. I got the chocolate mashmarllow but somehow it taste spicy, I think is it something we ate during lunch that cause some reaction. Anyway, it was good, think it was RM 7.

Dinner was settled at Sushi King then head back hotel around 9+. Last day heading to Kek Lok Temple.

Penang - Day Two

I started day 2 with a very cold swim at the pool, located at the 7th flr. It is some kind of infinity pool overlooking gurney walk and the sea, not a full lap pool, despite the damn cold water still managed to go 10 over laps. Then it was wash up and breakie, spread was typical, too typical. The fried noodles and tom yum bee hoon are quite good, the rest are non-mentions.

Then we went off to Penang Hill, we did eventually get there. To get up to the viewing deck, you need to take a almost vertical tram. The elevation gets quite almost vertical when you close in. And you need to switch tram halfway, the way up is still alright, not too much people coming in. The tram is going up real slow the about 800+ m hill, no aircon, sometimes the fan don't work, if the weather is hot, I think it will be quite unbearable.

It was quite cooling up there and the view is not bad. Other than that, there is nothing much up there. The canopy walk is closed. You can walked up a flight of stairs then come to a L temple. Probably why we saw so many L, anyway we went down soon after. The way down is bad, alot of people and no control, like squeezing as much people in the cabins.

Lunch time. Heading towards the famous Penang Laksa near Kek Lok Si. Lucky we manage to find a parking, waited a while for the seats. 2.70 RM a bowl, nothing much in it but taste really good. Initially thought it will have some extreme taste, either too sour, too spicy or too pungent but it didn't. Worth the trip.

Then our plans to go to Kek Lok Si failed as a long jam towards the temple formed so we decided to head back hotel. But somehow, no power in our room. We called housekeeping to check. An L guy came after about 10+ mins but couldn't check because the power box is in the main toilet but tks is releasing "top 10 most toxic substance", coincidentally we watched this on discovery. Pity the guy need to go in and check, probably already kena brain haemorrhage.

He turned on the switch, power came back, he left. While we were resting on the sofa and watching TV, mr wil decided to go and contribute in other toilet. It was just that gum or that kind of "confirm must be you". It blackout again, somehow he mention he retreat at the last min. The problem with that toilet is if you close the door, without lights, it will be pitched black. He came out and while I go and switch back the power circuit. Power came back again.

We continue to rest on the sofa and watch TV. Then wil decided to contribute again since he retreated, as Mr "confirm must be you" goes in and use. It tripped again !!!
This time turning back the circuit didn't work. We have to call them again. This time L and senior L came, took a while for them troubleshoot, anyway it was fixed.

About time to head to Batu Ferringhi. This place is quite disappointing. To get there you need to negotiate a F1circuit with lots of bends, we did made it. We parked somewhere in the middle of the long stretch, attempts to find more good food didn't really materialize as we came unprepared. And we walked up rather than down, downwards seems to have a quite big hawker like eating place. Anyway, we settle for tse char. After dinner, it was stroll along the stretch of pasar malam but after a while it gets boring because the stalls simply duplicated along, selling pirated stuffs from bags, watches, DVDs, sunglasses, ties, cuff links and some souveniers.

Penang - Day One

Not a good start, the tiger flight was delayed due to late come in of the plane. It was supposed to be 1015 but became 1130, still okay. We arrived at Penang Airport around 1 pm, then went to get the rented Vios, took a while. After verifying the car, off we go. Plan was to go to Komtar first to get some penang info, we have 2 GPS software on hand, Sygic on my iPhone and Garmin on tks's nokia.

Since tks was the volunteered driver, wil try to get the garmin to plot the route, seems easy, was smooth till we make a wrong left turn into Jusco. So the garmin will say "re-calcuting", off we go again but still horlan a few times so we decided to check in hotel first. We sense something not right when wil keep saying we are 250 KM away. tks found out he may have chosen the wrong KOMTAR which is in JB, that explained .. kaoz .. why need 250 KM ? To verify against the garmin, I used my Sygic to plot as well. Finally, it seems we are on the right road, hitting Jalan Kelawi then Persiaran Gurney. The Gurney is along the coastal, seeming a 4 star 36 storey hotel.

Our room is 2902, a 2 bedroom suite at 340 RM per night. Checked in was smooth, gave the guy 5 RM who brought up the bags. Though 2 bedrooms, one is slightly bigger and with also a bigger bathroom. The living room has sofa and dining table. This area is good to hang around, rest and wait. The TV is crap, only 20" CRT but there is also one in one of the bedroom. There is also a small kitchen with a cabinet, sink, washing machine, fridge and cutleries.

We head out to Komtar around 3+. But horlan a few times again, so we settled for KFC along Jalan Hutton, housed in some old colonial like building. After food, to Komtar, the 3rd attempt. Traffic getting heavy and the trick in driving there is you must hiong with them but also with some controlled safety. The local drivers there rarely think twice, not to "merge" with you. Esp the motosikalist aka 闪电骑士, they drift like ESPN extreme sports and squeezed into the thinnest space. And also must mention, the roads has alot of y-junctions splits, the left lane merged as and when, driver rarely signal or horn, etc.

Anyway, we finally reached. Parked in some dark dungeon like carpark. Bad start continued as the 55th flr viewing deck has shutdown, together with the so called tourism office. Since there, we dropped by the neighbouring Pranglin Mall to get some food stuff. Then when we decide to head off to somewhere, the traffic turned real bad, jam and horning everywhere, so we just put back our stuff then take a walk along Jalan Macallister.

We went to search for Ghee Hiang, famous for its 马蹄酥 at 216 Macallister. It was quite a walk from where we parked, since we found it so we bought the stuff first. Drizzling still when we left and head back to our car. Traffic had ease so we head for dinner, at Gurney Walk Hawker. Drizzle had stopped when we reach there. It was quite crowded but still managed to get a seat. We had BBQ stingray, sotong, char kway teoh, oyster omelette and rojak. The sotong was good because it has some curry taste, made it savoury. So was the char kway teoh, dry type, no dark sauce but very good. The apom was also good, it is like ultra thin pancake wrap like a tube.

After food, drizzle came back so we head back to hotel.