PM's Raya Open House Part 1 - Makan Time

First day of raya. First time Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abd Razak organising open house as Malaysia Primi Minister. But it was my second time to a PM's Open House in Seri Perdana. I visited Dr. M's Raya Open House many years ago.

Festivities and free food...I said why not? :)

So, around 8am, I took a Rapid Bus to Putrajaya. I was not alone. There were half bus full of people going to Putrajaya too, including a bunch of Chinese tourists.

Upon reaching KL Sentral, I looked for the feeder bus to Seri Perdana. No problem! They provided FREE bus service to the PM house too. Otherwise we have to pay 50sen per ride. :)

No queue? Hahah! I was early. I reach Seri Perdana around 9:15am.

The workers were busy making the last preparation anticipating the arrival of thousands of people.

The colour scheme of the day was purple and white. :) Not pink like somebody's website. LOL!

There were a few "stalls" serving ice cold cordial drinks along the walkway to Seri Perdana. Not very useful for me at that moment, but I guess as the crowd grew and the wait got longer, these stalls would provide cool reliefs to the those in the queue. How very thoughful! :)

Now, Malaysians most favourite four letter word - FOOD! :)

Kuih Talam, Bingka Ubi, Kuih Lapis, Kek Pisang, Bahulu, Soto Rembau, Mee Rebus Muar, Laksa Kuah Kedah, Roti John Pekan, Roti Canai, Mee Goreng, Kuey Tiaw Goreng, Lemang, Nasi Briyani, Ketupat, Rendang Ayam, Rendang Daging, Sate Ayam, Cendol, Tosai, Idli....the list went on. (Insert slurping sound effect here!)

I must say I was spoiled for choices! I took a plate of rice with rendang for starter and washed down with a bowl of ice cool cendol! Yum!

As reported by NST, Head chef Along Eu, of Kuzie Catering Sdn Bhd, estimated that 600kg of rice, 500kg of beef and more than 400 whole chickens were cooked and served during the day by a staff of 250! Wow!

Would you like to try my hot tosai? ;)

Some of the food were prepared fresh! What impressed me most is the traditional food demo! I love this!

Guests were allowed to participate in making the dodol and kuih wajik!

The art of making traditional delicacies is slowly fading. I think it is a very good idea to show new generation how these are used to be made in kampungs.

The cooked kuih wajik and dodol were served to the guests...

Yum! Dodol - the Malay "chewing gum" (left) and Kuih Wajik (Glutinous rice cake with palm sugar)

One peculiar dish that made its way to Dato' Sri Najib's Open House Menu was Roti John Pekan!

I am from Pekan (the Royal Town of Pahang) and I don't even know that Pekan is famous for Roti John! LOL!

FYI, Dato' Sri Najib is also Pekan's current Member of Parliament. See the connection?

So what is Roti John? It is one of the greasiest food I that I have ever encountered in my whole life! - pan fried bread plastered with fried eggs, minced meat, topped with tomato/ chili sauce and then smouldered with tonnes of mayonnaise! :)

Eat at your own risk! LOL!

Food was abundant. This photo was taken around 3pm when the Open House supposed to end! Still plenty left....

Some "brilliant" ones brought plastic bags to take home the food. Must be professional Open House visitors! Who would have thought to bring plastic bags to an open house like this?

(Note: To self - bring big plastic bags to Najib's Open House next year!) LOL!

Now the video....I'm sure you will salivate watching the yummy food! :)

See how Malaysia come together when it comes to food! :) As I said, FOOD is Malaysia's favourite Four letter words. :)

ENJOY!

Note: Soundtrack - Indahnya Di Hari Raya, a beautiful duet by Dayang Nurfaizah and Jaclyn Victor.

Coming next: Salam time with PM and his parade of ministers.

Ten Fainted @ PM's Raya Open House

According to the latest news from NST, ten people were reported fainted at the Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abd Razak's open house at Seri Perdana on first day of Raya.

Out of 10, I managed to caught one on video. As I was tucking in the delicious satay at the "orang awam" tents, I saw the paramedics; rushing the poor girl to the ambulance. When it comes to busybody news like this, I always have my camera ready. :)

Wonder what had caused the fainting spells? Eaten too much Roti John at the buffet table? Drink too much air oren? Stood too long in the knee locked position in the queue to meet the PM and his ministers? Too smittened by the Shah Rukh Khan lookalikes at the food preparation area? Well, the workers at the open house were mainly foreigners, probably from Bangladesh or Pakistan. :)

Could it be possible that she fainted after she had heard the explosive singing voice of our multitalented First Lady, Datin Seri Rosmah?

This photo was lifted from the internet. I didn't take this pic. :)

Heheh! I don't know.

According to NST, the VIPS were entertained by Rosmah, who took to the stage to sing several songs including the Lauren Wood classic, Fallen, from the Pretty Woman soundtrack.

I don't have the such privilege to hear her sing. There were two stages at the Open House - one for Orang Awam (common people - like yours truly) on the field and one for the VIPs in the residence building itself.

Perhaps that's a good thing, no? :)

Tearful Reunion on Hari Raya

A boy was separated from his family in a sea of wellwishers at our Prime Minister's Aidilfitri Open House yesterday. His eyes were tearing as he was brought on stage by the emcees.

Did he managed to get reunited with his family again?

Click play to find out...

More videos to come....from Seri Perdana, the official residence of our PM - Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun abd Razak.

Selamat Berhari Raya - 1 Syawal 1430

Saya ingin mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri kepada semua rakan-rakan and pembaca-pembaca yang beragama Islam. Maaf Zahir & Batin. Jika ada tersilap tulis atau terlanjur laku, janganlah di simpan di hati.

Kepada yang bukan Islam, Selamat bercuti!!!

Terimalah video Hari Raya rakaman dan suntingan saya sendiri. Video telah dirakamkan sekitar pusat-pusat membeli-belah di Lembah Klang. Lihatlah betapa unik and cantiknya hiasan-hiasan di shopping malls sempena Hari raya ini.

ENJOY!

Nota: Lagu latar - Selamat Berhari Raya, dendangan Dayang Nurfaizah & Jaclyn Victor.

Jalan-jalan Ke Melaka

The initial plan was a trip to Tasik Bera, the largest freshwater lake in Malaysia. Somehow the plan got scrapped and we ended up driving to Melaka for a weekender.

This is my first trip to Melaka after this historical city centre been listed as a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO on 7 July 2008.

Melaka is not only famous for her glorious history but also glorious gastronomical delights. This time, no running just eating and sight-seeing!

Our first stop was a famous Satay Celup (also known as luk luk) or "dipping satay" restaurant.

Fresh seafood, meat, eggs, vegetable, mushrooms are skewered on bamboo sticks. To cook them, we have to dip the satays into a pot of spicy peanut sauce which is placed into a hole on the table. Underneath the table is a gas cooker.

Each stick of satay costs around 50-60 sen. Definitely yummy! My favourite is the "yau char kwai". It really soaks in the flavour of the sauce.

Eye On Malaysia used to be located in Lake Titiwangsa in KL. It found a new home by the Straits of Melaka.

We didn't go up the Eye On Malaysia. Just took its picture from far with the dramatic sunset as backdrop.

Gigantic Ferris wheel...about 60m high providing visitors spectacular views around the Melaka river mouth.

After the sunset, we "loitered" around the ARENA area for some nightscene photographs.

Beautifully lit but devoid of crowd. I wonder how the businesses in this place are going to survive?

After we dumping our luggage at out hotel, we explored the Jonker Walk. I will cover Jonker Walk in a separate post because there were so much to see and eat there! Heheh! We also visited the red Dutch buiding - The Stadthuys and its surrounding.

We made a brief trip to the Portuguese settlement in the next morning. Nothing much to see there. Only one restaurant was open for lunch. It is recommended to visit this place at night or during the San Juan and Christmas festival.

In the afternoon, I made a "pilgrimage" to A' Famosa. A trip to Melaka is not complete if I don't visit this place. I just love the historical feel of this area. Heheh!

An Iguana basking on the cannon in front of A' Famosa.

It actually belongs to a man who charges RM5 for a photo with the gorgeous reptile!

"May I stroke your animal?..."

On a hot afternoon, this is a bowl of heaven....Authentic Durian Cendol with 100% Gula Melaka...Yum!

I have put together a video of the things I see and experience over the weekend in Melaka. Since Melaka was once colonised with the Portuguese, I use a Portuguese song as the soundtrack. Sounds familiar? Anyone know the original title of this cover? And by whom? :)

ENJOY!

Coming soon - more food at Jonker Walk. It should be renamed Yum Yum Walk! :)

Snake Dancer's Charm & Belly Dancing Delights @ Sunway Pyramid

As promised here is the posting on the snake dancers and belly dancers @ Sunway Pyramid.

Amazing! Salute to the gutsy dancer who handled the snake so well.

Not only she need to dance to the beat, she had to make sure she was not strangled to death by the slithery reptile!

I have no problem with snakes but I can see alot of people in the crowd squirmed!

Snake wrestling?

I not sure now the snakes handled the jiggly and spinning movements. :) Luckily for her there was no snake vomit. Heheh!

This dancer moved like a snake! Ssssso ssssseductive!

I Dreamt of Jeannie. Doink! Doink!

The belly dancing show started around 3pm, an hour after the snake dance. Same troupe that performed the Arabian Folklore Dance. I noticed the similar dance sequences and songs that they used. Hmmmm....

Again, fantastic costumes! Beautiful props!

I have never seen male dancer doing belly dance before. Erm...those fatty boys in the belly dancing class in the gym doesn't count. LOL!

The two male belly dancers were as good as their female counterparts in term of hip-shaking and butt-jiggling!

This dancer was the diva of the show! The one who got spun around like a rag doll in the video I posted earlier! :) Amazing!

Here's the video.

I really enjoyed the show and have been playing the video repeatedly on my laptop. I think I'm obsessed with snake belly dancing! Hahah!

ENJOY!

What a spectacular show!....If you missed this, you still have another chance this coming weekend to watch it LIVE at Sunway Pyramid! It's free and you can go shopping after that!

Hahah! I wasn't paid to promote this. :) I really like Sunway Pyramid which is located a stone's throw away from my home. It has everything I need in a mall...Love the FREE wifi....

Arabian Folklore Dance @ Sunway Pyramid

After watching Mika Hakkinen smoked the Sunway Pyramid driveway, I got back into the mall for some air-con.

I was just in time to witness a spectacular dance performance held in conjunction with the Sunway Pyramid's 1001 Raya Delights promotion for the Hari Raya.

Note: Photos quality not so good as they are screen capture from video.

It was very captivating like the dancers were just stepped out from 1001 Nights Epic. Harems...camels...Arabian music...Sexy Middle Eastern allure...

There were lots of twirling actions!

There were lots of hip-shaking actions! Watch Pak Haji's specs got steamed up!

There were spinning actions as well. I posted an entry about the spinning earlier. Click HERE.

I must say I am very impressed with the dance! Great costumes! Beautiful dancers! Impressive booty-shaking choreography! :P

I realized that I have missed the snake dance and belly dancing earlier (2:00pm and 3:00pm). I went back to Pyramid on the next day for the show. This means I have more video to share!

Check out the Arabian Folklore video here.

Warning: For those fasting, don't let it "batal" your puasa, OK? LOL!

ENJOY!

Mika Häkkinen @ Sunway Pyramid (Johnnie Walker - Join The Pact Supercar Demo)

Yup! I got this....An autographed promo card by the man himself - Mika Häkkinen, a Finnish racing driver and two-time Formula One World Champion.

After having ayam penyet for lunch, Frank, Lionel, William and I waited patiently at the main entrance of Sunway Pyramid. Four eager fans with cameras...

The main driveway of Sunway Pyramid was converted to a mini F1 circuit for the event! A very mini F1 circuit. :)

The eager Mika fans...

The eager Johnnie Walker gurlz...

One eager Chermaine Poo...

Chermaine Poo is sticking a thumb up for Mika!

Mika finally arrived with his entourage at 2:30pm sharp! I like this guy...Very punctual. :)

Joining the pact by signing a pledge - Never Drink and Drive. Joining Mika were Daphne Iking, Chermaine Poo and Reshmonu....FYI, Reshmonu didn't get to ride with Mika like the two girls. Just there to "grace" the event perhaps? :P

Guess which one is Mika's signature?

Mika then got suited up for the demo drive. Five lucky passengers get to ride with him - Sunway big boss, a contest winner, Chermaine Poo, Daphne King and ESPN's Lisa Wong.

The Caparo T1 Supercar. Me think it looks like a Bat Mobile. Heheh!

It really smoked the place! I could have sworn smelling the burning rubber as the car zoomed by like deafening thunder!

Daphne Iking. Was she enticed to ride with Mika? LOL! Can't resist the pun!

I like the slogan on her T-shirt - Save Water Get Dirty...:P

Mika was having runny nose.

I hope it was not H1N1..Heheh! Joking!

After a short interview with the emcee, Mika approached the fans who were waiting behind the barricade.

Autograph session time! He was obliged to stamp his Dooberman mark on pouches, caps, magazines, posters and even T-shirt which was still on the man wearing it!

I was beaming when I received an autographed promo card! Thank you Mika!

More interviews....

FYI, Mika is also racing against Lewis Hamilton (another F1 driver) to get as many "drinkers" out there to join the pact.

It was a fun outing my running photography friends. Thanks Frank, Lionel and William!

Mika says, "NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE!"

Mika left his marks in Sunway Pyramid. :)

Now, the video....

I was just standing behind where Daphne Iking and Chermaine Poo seats. They're gorgeous, even from the back! :P

ENJOY!

JOIN THE PACT HERE.