Before I get caught catching snakes blogging, I better rush up my Day 2 trip. I really miss the cool breeze in Taiwan. Its been more than 20 days not raining in Miri and finally it rained heavily yesterday. =)

Early in the morning we took the MRT to to Taipei Mainstation. It’s 01-01-2010 New Year, which we assume it will be very pack in the station.  Although we have bought the HSR – High Speed Rail ticket earlier, but we still depart from Hotel around 8.30 just in case we lost of direction.

Arriving at Taipei Main Station roughly about 9 something in the morning. It can be seen that there’s lot of people heading back to hometown after one night of hectic countdown. As for us, today we are going to KaoShiung for our Wedding PhotoShoot. Exciting Exciting Exciting!

The train depart from Taipei Main Station and will stop by a few station around Taiwan. So we are going from the top to the bottom, which is the last stop called Zuo Ying. Train Ticket Cost $1490 for one way.

This is the first experience travel with High Speed Train, I’ve yet to try the one in Japan so try this also not bad la! haha. The speed is up to 263km/h or it could be higher. I don’t feel anything but time pass by very fast as it is really comfortable to sleep and watching the view all the way up to Zuo Ying. And I do have chance to try their Railway Bento too. Honestly speaking, although it looks good , but it taste bad! Once is enough.

The bridal shop – NY Vogue 1999’s wedding planner – Alan has arrange to fetch us from the railway station and we were transfer to the Bridal shop. From Zuo Ying to Ping Dong would take about 45 minutes to reach.

Alan is kind enough to show us all some great local delicacies, and he even bought us the very popular 50Lan’s Pearl Milk Tea & the Fried Meat Bun.

So this is the Bridal Shop.

It is a 5 storey building, more or less like what we seen in KL. But to me, they are more professional? But I just love the way of their photography shooting that’s why I’ve chosen to have my photo shoot here.

I was there to pick out the gown for the shooting, I was given 3 white gown and 3 evening gown.  NY Vogue are really professional compare to what I’ve survey locally in Miri. All their gowns are well organized and they even let you choose their gown over the screen. So I do not need to take out all the gown one by one. I just have to check through their catalog and they will show me the real piece. Isn’t that so convenient?

There’s too much too choose, but just that some are too fancy that I think it’s not suitable for me. Anyway, we have get it done within a few hours so its time for us to check out the stay which is compliment in the wedding package.

Basically the stay was fabulous, it could be classified as VIP rooms. Each of the room has different design and the one we got was the Balinese Style.  I think by this Motel stay itself has already worth for the package.

Everything was well planned, so we do have sufficient time to visit Kao Shiung. All the staffs from NY Vogue are real nice.  They sent us to the railway station again and we catch the train to Kao Shiung.

This is the first time we try the old type trains, its even older than our KTM.  However the trains were well maintained except of its speed.

The first destination we go is the night market. 瑞风夜市。There’s too much things to eat here!

You get to eat the big octopus 3 for RM 10 only~~!

Even the guava also super crunchy and sweet.

There’s a lot of local food that we never try before, dare to try?

The fun fair @ the night market.

Next we went to the other shopping street. Xin Jue Jiang Market. Also highly recommended by the local.

Here would be the shopping heaven for me. I found lots of cheap stuffs here.

Believe me, these specs are all RM10 only.. hahah and I bought 2!

It’s getting late, but I’ve yet to finish my shopping. But since I want to be a pretty bride, I got to go back early and sleep early. Hahaha.. Just around 10.30 we’ve reach PingDong and pick up by Alan again. It was a pleasant journey to Kao Shiung and I highly recommend girls to go shopping here. If compare to Taipei, all the things in Kao Shiung seems to be much cheaper. So If you have chance, this is a must visit spot! Do not missed it!

TuneTalk – Now everyone can Talk!

I know you must be saying me bragging Air Asia’s slogan, but Tune Talk who is under the Tune Group Companies come out the brand new mobile prepaid, which indirectly tell me NOW EVERYONE CAN TALK!

We just receive the fresh stock yesterday, so I was still a bit blank of how this things works. Bear in mind, this is something from Tune, it must be ExtraOrdinary from the ordinary Telcos. Truth to be told, the uniqueness of its systems makes me so curious to find out more about TuneTalk!

New starter pack is only RM5 consist of RM5 value.
Call Rate: 22sens/min Flat
SMS: 5sen/sms

You’ll be covered with RM100,000 insurance if your line stay active and top up RM30 per month.

There are a lot more benefit which you can grab here, such as “free AirAsia Vouchers?” … hohoho..;)

This brand new mobile prepaid  with leading number 0105 continue with your own desired number. All you have to do is, login to their official website, and get yourself an account, and start picking up yr favourite number. Sounds like picking yr hot seat huh? Yeah, that’s quite similar.

This is the 1st ever customer from Miri holding the TuneTalk. The procedures are quite fun, just like buying some ToTo / 4D numbers. For me its seems like a game, switching number as I like, and it is just a few clicks!

Let me show you how it works..

The current numbers starts with either 010-52 /53 / 54.

The numbers you had chosen will shown on the screen, and follow by sequence.

Just as simple as 123, I’ve done my selection!

He did the registration online, and pick-up the Sim Card from us.

If you are not an active internet user, you might think all these are not user friendly. Nope, you are wrong. You may come directly to any of the TuneTalk’s dealer and buy a new number on the spot.  The number will be given randomly once you activate your number. If you dislike the number, you may reject and key in 4digits of your desired number. By then the system will assign u a new number.

This is the number he picked and its activated!

TuneTalk.com, pick up your new number today.
Sometimes RM5 its even cheaper than a plate of rice

P/s:  Shhh.. if you don’t like the number you’ve chosen, you can change it online anytime!! It is so easy! But I bet no one would simply change their numbers unless he/she been stalked by someone.

This could be my first review for Tune Hotels, for the fact that I thought there should be a lot of people blogging about it. Somehow, I guess from my experiences with Tune Hotels, maybe I should be sharing it too.

So far, Tune Hotels are expanding. We’ve stayed in KK (one borneo) , Kuching (waterfront) and the latest Penang (Downtown). If its not because there’s an option to stay at 5-star sleeping experience at a 1-star, I bet all the above places I couldn’t have visited.

The most recent trip we’ve done was to Penang. Like I mentioned before, we were supposed to go Phuket, but we have change our mind and reroute to Penang. The room was booked 1 week earlier, and to my surprise, the room rates is only RM36 +/-. (tax / aircond 12 hours incl.)

HDR photos of Tune Hotel Downtown Penang

Getting There
We took a local bus from the Sg. Nibong Bus Terminal. You may choose to take a taxi but I think that would be much more expensive compare to RM1.50 per person.

Rapid bus: T304
Destination: Jalan Burma (Tune Hotel)
Fare: RM1.50

Tune Hotel Down Town Penang:

03-7962-5888
View Larger Map

Check-in to Tune Hotel Downtown Penang

Welcome to Tune Hotel Downtown Penang.

The lobby area is located at the 1st floor of the building.

We were there just on time to Check In, you can’t be there too early, they won’t entertain you. That was my experience in KK where they are quite lenient in cases like this, so don’t ever think to gain more hours of stay by go there earlier. This is not the same as other hotels.

The check in process are simple, and fast but then you gotta pay RM10 as a deposit for the key card then you’ll get the refund when you check out. Also if you would like to rent for the towels and toiletries, do let the service staff know. They will help you on that.

The staffs are well trained and very friendly, regardless of race.
We’ve always face situation where the service industrial will be biased in between foreigner and local customers. But this could never happen at Tune! Well done!

Let’s show you around the Lobby Area.


Other than the waiting area, there’s also a small cafeteria for a cup of tea.

You can also grab some travel leaflets and plan ahead your trip in Penang.

The best part, there’s free internet service. To be fair, you can only have 10minutes per use. At least can update my Facebook saying “I’m here in Tune Hotel Down Town Penang!“.

Check In is done, let’s go to the room! *wink*

I guess the lift is sponsored by Nippon Paint =.=

As advertised, there are 5 reasons to stay at Tune Hotels.

Let’s check it out, how true could that be?

5-star beds

Seriously , it is so comfortable that you wish to bring the bed home !

Although the room might not be as spacious as the other 5 stars hotel, but I think it consist of everything that I need and cut off all the unnecessary!

These are not wallpapers but its painted! Nice!

Power showers

I really like the bath room, especially the power showers. This would be my concept bathroom when my house is ready. Neat and the glass door would be nice for someone to peep you while you are taking bath. Ahak!

Central & convenient locations

Every Tune Hotels locate at the best and strategic place in town. For instance, we have all the best food surrounding us, and it was just a few minutes walks to the heritage site and shopping malls. Check out my food hunting post, and you’ll know how convenient it is.

Penang Eat Only Trip | Jalan Selamat | New World Park
Under the same building of Tune Hotels, there’s also 7-11 convenient store , CIMB Bank Kiosk, Captran – tour assistant and also a massage center.

Clean environment

I would say that the rooms are well maintain, and the cleanliness are always top. At Tunes, they care about Earth Resources. Less Waste, More Earth.

24-hour security

For security wise, other than using the new key card access system, they also have a small safe deposit box inside the room. There’s also security guarding the hotel entrance. If compared to KK (one borneo)’s experience, the Penang’s is doing far more better than my expectations.

Thumb Ups for Tune hotels, and double up credits to Tune Hotel DownTown Penang.

Tune Hotel during day time

Tune hotel at night..

This has been my best experience staying at Tune Hotel. Have you plan your next travel destination? If not, do consider Penang, there’s no regret on it.

Its been a while since the launch of I Love Miri Forum.

There’s a lot of people come to me and ask, what is this forum for? I would simply ask them, do you love Miri? If so, then get yourself active in the forum to show your love of Miri City.

At least that’s a little contribution to Miri that we could do.

ILM is just a few months old baby, in order to make it better, we need to give more exposure on it. The stickers are just done, let’s take a look how the stickers work.

We have 2 types of stickers.

1. The stick on type.

It can be sticked on the car surface.

Or can be on your laptop.

Or on the window glass.

2. We have road tax sticker type.

This can only stick on glass window but its hassle free, you can put it on and take it off anytime.

The stickers are for sale at RM2 and RM5 respectively.
Forum members may claim for FREE by exchanging their coins from the forum. Isn’t it fun?

In fact, we have start distributing our stickers at some public places. If you happen to spot one, do let us know. Who knows you’ll get rewarded?

Please login to ILM for more information. Have Fun! I Love Miri!!!

Food food food.
Penang is the Unesco World Heritage Site, but it should be classified as World’s food heaven.

Like I mentioned earlier, our mission is to EAT only. Thanks to Chanlilian, the famous Penang blogger, she introduced us to wander around our hotel, as there are lots of good foods somewhere around.

Noted.

After we check-in Tune Hotel, take a rest, and we are off to Jalan Selamat. Hmm, watch out for the tune hotel review.

At first we thought to have our lunch at Old Town Cafe, but it would be a waste if I did not try the local foods. From my research, I understand that Jalan Selamat is just somewhere nearby our hotel. I must get the famous CKT for my dear, he heart CKT so much.

Passing through Jalan Selamat, a row of old shops, mostly are not operating.

There’s also some other eatery shops and medical centre.

Kafe Heng Huat – The most famous Char Kuay Teow in Penang.

Our luck is pretty good. The good smell lead us to the roadside stall along Jalan Selamat. Although there was just about 10 stalls operating, but we found this!! The very famous Char Kuay Teow aunty, with her very stylish head and wearing a crocs sandals frying her very expensive Char Kuay Teow.

The stalls are just located by the road side.

This is the CKT aunty. The only conversation I heard is , Ai Heam or Mai Heam. Its pronounced to be spicy or not spicy.

The Char Koay Teow come in 3 sizes. Prices vary from the portions and numbers of prawns.

Kafe Heng Huat is actually just a normal coffee shop, but the main attraction mainly come from this CKT stall.

The aunty is assist with a girl for taking orders and a few aunty who will deliver the CKT to the customers.

Big Fire, Big Wok.

The truth that makes the CKT nice is due to the Charcoal Fire burning underneath.

The Charcoal was ignite by a fan.
Caution, Its HOT~!!!

Did you notice that her Crocs’s sandal was burnt by the Charcoal too?
Don’t play play, she’s wearing  a genuine Crocs la!

Ok, at the mean time lets take a look at the shop. See, it was Monday evening, but everyone seems so free, rushed here just to eat the CKT~!!!!

Regardless of Age, people are coming in and going out.

Its too delicious, and heartwarming, to see the mom is actually feeding her daughter a mouthful of CKT. Sweet.

30 minutes over.
I was so worry that the Aunty has forgotten our order. No… She’s not, she even remember that we ordered 2 BIG plates of CKT.

RM8.50 , spicy CKT with big PRAWNS.
It is really delicious…i was nicely fried, strong fire burnt smell~!

Anyway, this is a hot weather, do served with a glass of Fresh Ice Longan.

Other than the CKT, we can actually have the side orders from the road side. Hence I asked Alex to check out what else is edible. Ahem~

This is yet another PoPiah stall nearby.

My popiah in preparation progress.
RM 2.60 for 2 pieces. (min. order)

It’s actually a little but watery from the ingredient. Alex is not a fans for Popiah, he said Popiah is tasteless. But I’m the opposite, I love popiah so muchie!

Not to be missed, the Penang Asam Laksa.

Indulging?
I never know Sardin can be so tasty with Asam Laksa….

Yum yum, its spicy, its soury…

Although I hate the celery smell, but never mind, i can still ignore it and continue the yummilicious Asam Laksa.

Thumbs up for all the food from Jalan Selamat!

Another CKT stall, but not as popular as the Heng Huat.

Sorry boss, I’ll come back to you next time..

This complete the Jalan Selamat food hunt. Coming up next, New World Park , Penang.

Alex and I were away for a short vacation again last week. We only have 5days 4 night, hence we opt for a short trip to Penang.

I’ve been to Penang roughly about 5 years ago, that was when I had my graduation trip with a bunch of friend. So this is my second visit to Penang, definitely our mission is only aiming on FOOD.

Alex got the bus ticket earlier from LCCT. We took TRANSNASIONAL express bus from Pudu (KL) to Penang the next morning.

Bus fare: Rm35 – business coach, with 3 seats per row.

The 5 hours journey is not so long as compared to the journey from Miri to Sibu or Sibu to Kuching. This is much more comfortable, as we have so many gadget on the go. It so easy to kill the time.

We have internet 3g on the go, can update facebook. Ipod for music, and my spider web-Nokia 5800 fitted nicely on the seat, just for us to watch Fast and Furious 4.

YAY, this is the first time Alex cross the Penang bridge, must capture it down.

We reached Sg. Nibong bus terminal, Penang around 1.30pm. As a backpacker, we prefer to wait for a local bus that connect us to TUNE hotel downtown Penang. The truth is, we can save the taxi fares and allowed us to eat more local delicacies.

We went to ask one of a Rapid bus driver on where to get the T304 bus to our hotel. From his kind advice, we were asked to go to the opposite way, and the bus will pass by there.

After an hour of waiting for the Rapid bus T304, we start to frown!!

Why? Why? Why don’t we get a taxi and direct reach hotel? Why should we trust that driver??? Why don’t we just wait at the bus terminal?? Why do we want to wait by the roadside?

Thanks so much to the shed.

I don’t care, I trust with my research, its impossible that we will missed the bus.

Buses and buses pass by but there’s still no avail.

We almost gone crazy…and finally.. the bus is here.

Rapid bus:  T304
Destination: Jalan Burma (Tune Hotel)
Fare: RM1.50

To be honest, the bus driver are very helpful and friendly towards the tourist. We reached our hotel safely without any hassle. Tune Hotel Downtown penang has a great location that is easy to reach.

I heart tune hotel!!

Coming up next. Are you ready to join us for food hunt????

More info on Penang.

I just started to play Farm Town not long ago, like what I’ve written in previous post, Farm Town seems more interesting for me. I gotta admit, at least i sleep better when playing farm town, i don’t need to bother all the thief aiming my crops. All the people in farm town are hardworking, because they work for money.

So basically I have friends who says, I really don’t know how this game works. So I’m going to write down a simple guide here that I think it might helps you.

1. Initially, you do not have much credit, and most of the seeds are lock. Plant as much “GRAPES” as you can. The grapes will take 4 hours to harvest, and then go to the “Market Place” and hire someone to harvest for you.
* Don’t harvest your own, as you get to pay more if  you “hire” someone to harvest for you.

2. You can send gift to your friend daily, so at the same time you friend might send back some gift to you too. The gift will not deduct your coins and you can use it in your farm.

3. PLOW your field by your own, in that way you will add up your experience faster especially you are in the early stage.

4. When you have free time, do go to MARKET PLACE to get some job. This is really depend on luck and time. Sometime if you stand there whole day you wont get a single cent also.

5. Add more friend to your neighborhood. Add more than 10. Preferable add friends that are active in Farm Town, so that you can co-operate and trade your crops. This will also helps if you want to hire friends to plow for you.

6. When you have level up, then you can expand your field at level 15. Realtor Office. You can expand your field there.  But make sure you have enough points.

7. The Inn. If you are tired, go and have a drink and chit chat over there. If you are lucky, you might get a new friend there.

8.Among all, raspberries and grapes are the less hour crops. But the least hour it harvest, lesser the coins you get.Raspberries only available after level 10 if not mistaken.

9.If the seeds can harvest at 4 hours, meaning that you need to harvest them within 4 hours time. Else it will gone to waste, and all your effort is gone. Plan your time wisely.

10. Decorate your farm as you like. That’s the fun of the game.

I haven’t level up until the animals. I’ll come back more guides when I’m there.

farm town level 13

Hope you enjoy the game, and do share with us too if you have more guides.

Enough!! Stop setting alarm, and disturbing my daily routine!!!

Imagine, I need to set alarm on my phone just to make sure I remember to harvest on time. I need to calculate what is the harvest time, just in case I sleep late in the morning. That is really killing me.

Its time to stop my craziness over Barn Buddy.

I’ve receive several invitations to start playing at Farm Town. They told me Farm Town is more interesting, which I just choose to ignore firstly when I was so addicted to Barn Buddy. As I took a day off yesterday, I try to explore out and it does amazed me.

BARN BUDDY vs FARM TOWN

1. NO STEALING
Basically this is the best part of Farm Town, but end up it also lead to less aggressiveness towards the game. In Barn Buddy, even you have a guard dog with you, your crops can still be stolen. Wasted all the efforts after waiting for days to get your crops harvested and stolen by all your “friends”. Hey , thats the game. Take it or Leave it.

2. Plenty of seeds, animals, trees, flowers and tools.
In Farm Town, you wont get bored. Maybe in the early stage like me, I might be experiencing the poor graphic layout, and thinking that why so stupid to plant a few things only. Its actually go by level up, and you will get more chances to get more functions over the game. Not like what I have in Barn Buddy, other than weed, water or remove bugs, I got nothing much to do. Oh ya, just one thing, they teach kids to do stealing! What a good moral education here.

3. Interactive
You can chat with your friend while you are on the game, and even can join the market place to get interactive with people who are not under your same network.

4. Earn coins easily
The best part of the game, you have chance to get hire in the market place to work at their farm and you earn some coins! You don’t have to steal, but its really through your hard work. From time to time, there will be notifications on your farm asking you to help out your friend’s farm. You earn coins too!

5. Creativity
In Barn Buddy, the graphic and the sound seems very good. But even up to high level, your capabilities is only up to there. Things are different here in Farm Town. When you get to higher level, you can buy more things and that can really amaze yourself with your own creativities. I found one of this amazing farm. You see it , you’ll understand it.

So now, which one would you prefer?

Decision is on your hand. I’m going to my farm now. Come, Join me!