Ok, I need help. Planning to do a USA Road Trip with my Mum in 2007. We’ve not made any plans except a goal : 2007 USA Road Trip.

So, any suggestions, recommendations, etc. are welcome. It’s going to be tough planning a route via the net. So much information but so much to sort out, etc.

So far, I like what’s on this route. Then again, how long does it take to criss-cross USA and get back to Michigan?

Although looking at the flight costs during peak season, it’s pretty expensive at over RM7,000 (US$1,844). *shudder* In 2003, it cost me RM4,000++ (USD1,052) to fly from Kuching to Fort Worth, Texas.

Anyway, any suggestions, please drop a line in the comment section. Thanks.

Hi folks,

Sorry no pictures these past few days. Web admin is fixing some issues with the server. So, until some time next week, I probably will not be uploading any pictures. I could use Flickr.com but it just takes forever to load up on a Sunday evening. Courtesy of loads of kids on school holidays suddenly having a lot of time to surf the net.

In the mean time, will be trying out my new baby. And reading up on how to make full use of the camera. It’s a long but very useful read at the Canon USA site.

Have also highlighted to dear old Dad that I’d like a big enough camera bag for Christmas.

This is getting serious, folks.

I know that I will get an email from Mr. S who has been suggesting for me to move into the realm of dSLR for a really long time now.

Let’s see now… over the years, I went from this (Sony F77) :

…to this (Canon G5)…

…downgraded to this (Sony-Ericcsson W800i) to take more pics…

…and a few hours ago, major upgrade to this (Canon Digital Rebel XT – EOS 350D) at the Kuching PC Fair…

…and I love the speed it takes the camera picture (I’m just too excited).

Although, I’m more than a bit apprehensive about the camera vest that came with it. According to this posting, it could have been as old as 1999!!! It’s definitely going to go into the wash immediately! Probably will also pass it to my uncle. Still considering.

Update : And, ladies and gentlemen, the picture of the free gift :

Pink lock from The World of Peter Rabbit. And if you turn the lock to the other side, the Pikom website is there. Free with every purchase of RM300 in any one bill on the day itself, redeemable from the Pikom booth. They were sneaky as did not publish the fact that they did not offer any free gifts until you grab hold of their free brochure of the event.

I couldn’t resist blogging about this. Although, I must say they were extremely honest and polite throughout the entire conversation. Calls were to their customer support centers.

Phone Call 1 : Asking about Sony PSP

Wena : Hi. Does your PSP Zorro pack come with Zorro games?

Operator #1 : Sorry miss but it’s only the box. The only game is Ridge Racer.

Wena : Wah! So RM300 (USD78.95) extra just for the box ah?

Operator #1 : Errr… you get extra stuff also with it.

Wena : But your box got picture of Zorro on it. Surely you must have something with Zorro in it. That’s a pretty expensive box.

Operator #1 : Well, you do get a CD worth of songs.

Wena : What’s in it?

Operator #1 : errr…don’t know. Anyway, the Zorro theme is just the box.

2 weeks later, they change the promo site to include a table showing what you get with the box. Guess I wasn’t the only caller making this type of phone call.

Also note that Malaysia has a huge Sony manufacturing facility here and all their products are still very much so cheaper OVERSEAS than here. Take for example the above Sony PSP unit at Froogle search.

Definitely it’s the Zorro box. Oh, and the free neck strap and ID band.

And maybe another added free gift? I got a free metal miniature of that Sony Robot QRIO when I ordered the Sony Ericcson W800i.

Yeah, go figure.

Phone Call 2 : Getting the Contact No. for Sony Service Center in Kuching

Wena : Hi. What’s the contact details for the Kuching Sony Service Center? Have a camera that needs repair.

Operator #2 : Yeah. it’s …

Wena : Ok thank. By the way, is your website having problems? It’s been down for 2 weeks.

Operator #2 : No leh. Just went in and things were fine.

Wena : Errr… you’re from Sony and on the same network. Of course fast. From work and my home, I still can’t get in.

Operator #2 : Ok ok. I’ll let the IT folks know. They are doing some upgrade but should be done already.

Website came on a few days ago. Then down again. Then up again.

Generally though, the Customer Service Center is quite friendly. Their girls are very pleasant to speak to and are helpful. And when they mean that they will check and try to see if things can be speeded up, they really DO do it.

Note that this is Malaysia, not other countries. Sorry folks.

Update : Hi all. Sorry about this. This was actually a draft post that got messed up since Blogger.com has not behaving normally the past few weeks. Or it could have just been the server. Ah well. Below is the completing posting.

Guide : M – Male. F – Female. # – unique number to that particular person.

Last night, I attended a dinner with my colleagues for Mr. H who is leaving for Singapore next week. We arranged for a dinner at Rock Road Seafood, one of the oldest seafood restaurant in Kuching. It’s a place where the food is great although a bit more expensive than at TopSpot. Still, we wanted a private room to ourselves as we were going to be noisy minus too much liquor. The set meal we chose was Menu 4.

The blog posting will be slightly different today. It’s going to be filled with conversations that took place during the dinner. Yes, we’re all a huge bunch of jokers.

M1 starts telling jokes that are pretty disgusting i.e. the old man on the bus spitting into a Milo can and drinking up all his saliva again.

Wena : Doh! Why you tell that kind of story just before eat-eat one?

F1 : He want us to eat less so he can eat more. Sure one!

M1 : Haiya! So that I can have more.

M2 : This table for sure all food go through very very fast one.

F2 : Yeah yeah. Last time I sit with them ah, all finish fast fast.

Braised Seafood Soup with Beancurd.

F2 : (Pours vinegar in soup). Aiya! Put too much!

Wena : Put more soup in lor. Still got some in big bowl.

F2 : Aiya! Waiter take bowl too fast!! Still got some more soup there.

Cold Dish Combination : Spicy Pickled Jellyfish, Salted Chilled Chicken Slices, Fruit & Prawn Salad (the mountain of mayonnaise), Century Egg, Prawn + Chicken Meat rolls

M3 : Aiya you people so fast. (Serves E next to him). Pity F3 who isn’t fast enough to eat.

M4 : Aiya, you next to her can serve her lah. You fast mah.

3 min later.

Wena : Wah! So fast finish one.

M1 : It’s called TEAMWORK.

M2 : Too slow = no food. Simple.

Sliced garupa in Szechuan Style. Actually, it was pretty good as the fish meat was soft.

M4 goes to washroom. Comes back.

M4 : Wah! No more fish one ah. (Walks to 2nd table)

10 other guys screaming : Wei! What you do here! Go away lay! (Sounds of chopsticks hitting M4 chopsticks). M4 returns to table.

M1 : So little meh.

M4 : Other side hit my chopsticks. How to take? Stupid lah!

Mr. H gave a short farewell speech…

…which was interrupted by the arrival of the next dish : Boneless Chicken with Lemon Sauce

M2 : Go on go on talking. Distract people from the food. Then I can eat more one.

Wena : Doh!

Stewed Cabbage with Chicken Meat

Wena : Are you sure this is nice?

M1 : Yes yes. It’s the sauce that’s nice. Try it.

Wena : Hmm….nice.

Silence on the table as everyone is eating.

M7 (at next table) : Woi! You people so quiet! Eating is serious business ah! Like study for exam. Scary man!

Braised Sea Slug with Black Mushrooms.

M3 : Eat eat eat eat…must finish one.

Fried Noodles with Shrimps (Prawns).

M2 : Hmm…taste like Maggi Mee lah.

M4 : Just eat lah.

M1 : Come come come…everyone must help finish this one. TEAMWORK mah!

Wena : Yeah but you also must TEAMWORK to eat one bowl lah.

M3 : No thanks for me. *Covers his bowl with his hand.*

M1 : Aiya, come on lah. *Strokes M3’s hand.*

M3 : Wei! Don’t lah! *Moves hand away. And tries to cover his bowl again. Then 3 guys starts stroking his hand while M1 quickly fills his bowl with noodles.*

Longan with Almond Flavoured Soya Bean Curd

M1 : You’re very good at dividing the desert.

Waiter : Must divide equally one. Has to be good mah.

*Round applause around the table.

Chinese Pancake with Red Bean Paste.

M3 : Hmm…nice. What’s the glass turn-table called.

M2 : It’s a Lazy Susan. But not for eating lah!

The entire set meal per table is RM285 (USD75). One table sits 10 people.

So, that’s our meal for that night. Nice and yummy. The party was a blast and Mr. H definitely enjoyed himself and his gift.

New restaurant in town at the newest and interesting location in town. Mambo Kings at the Travilion although quite a number of people refer it to KTLD.

A lot of people recommended Mambo Kings so off I went to have lunch with my usual work-weekend pal, Lam. Or more like, I drag her along with me but she’s always a good sport to come eating with me on my food adventures during the weekend. Well, when it’s the working weekend that is. We usually try to eat at a new place during the weekends that we work. Excuse to go for a 2-hr long lunch break.

Onto the meals. Drinks always served first. Tropicana Frappe. I remember there was pineapples inside as well as some bananas. Can’t remember anything else! Woooppps! Errrm…ok, for a fruit juice drink it’s a wee bit on the high side of RM7.50 (USD1.97) which is about the same price of coffee at Coffee Bean, I think. I did enjoy it it a lot that I finished the whole drink. It was delicious! Healthy too!

Lam and I had the Prawn Noodles. Me with normal mee, her with Bee Hoon. It was tasty although not quite the same as the West Malaysian version. Something was missing but I couldn’t pinpoint what. It was generous fillings though although one has to be careful when eating this soup dish. There’s two holes by the side of the bowl that will tipped out the soup if one is not careful. How much? RM7.50 (USD1.97). Ok, don’t faint. It’s an air-conditioned restaurant so definitely more than the normal hawker prices. Still, it was a refreshing change from the normal hawker food i.e. less oily.

Chicken Mambo Salad i.e. chicken slices with fresh lettuces and raisins and walnuts with a touch of Thousand Island Dressing. RM9.00 (USD2.37).

All in all, it was a nice place to have a quiet meal. Lunch was pretty empty but dinner time is usually pack. Especially during the weekends, I’m sure. And that was my lunch today. Next week, another lunch spot elsewhere.

Details

Mambo Kings
Ground Floor, Lot 414,
Section 54, KTLD
Travilion Commercial Center
Jalan Petanak
93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Tel : 082-239816
Email : mumboking_travilion@yahoo.com