Can I tell you…that two weeks ago I was at Alexis Gardens sharing a sandwich with Joanne? I’ll tell you more about my trip to Kuala Lumpur in my next post. The point is a week later, last Sunday actually…she flew to Kota Kinabalu for seafood and an island tan, taking advantage of the National Day holiday to stay here for a couple of days.
Despite my feeble attempt at being a host, I managed to bring her to several places of interest before she returned earlier this evening.
Suria Sabah’s food court — Atrociously dirty on the weekends; but the fantastic view of the islands makes it bearable.
Pulau Sapi — The sandfly bites she came back with made me thankful…and slightly bad at the same time…as I was at work that day instead.
Seafood dinners at Welcome and Makanan Sedap— Joanne kept comparing the prices of crabs to the promotional ones of Twin-Sky she once had. So I’m asking you where is the best place to have crabs in Kota Kinabalu? Tell me.
Tanjung Aru Beach Hotel — Has a nice ambience for coffee and cakes at the Borneo Lounge and Bar. Oddly enough, you will find that it is more comfortable to remain in the toilets than at the lobby area. Find out why.
Each pencil is RM3.50 each. Contact me if you are interested.
As a small start to pave way for a mini blogshop, I would like to put up for sale — a collection of pencils I got from @Stellahsk who recently returned from her trip to Europe. These pencils come either sharpened or unsharpened (see the corresponding illustrations). All proceeds go into my Seoul travel fund in January 2011.
Noting the obvious reference to the flag colours of Germany, these set of four pencils were most likely purchased there. Who should buy: The person who enjoy the occasional grilled Bratwurst and Oktoberfest.
Synonymous with great artists, these two pencils picture the works of Michelangelo and Raffaello. Both Italian. Who should buy: The next great artist.
For the unfamiliar, these pencils are marked with the Vespa logo — a classic motor scooter brand in Italy. These two pencils come in two lovely shades of turquoise. Who should buy: Fans of this timeless classic.
These are a set of pencils from Switzerland. An extra emphasis on the last pencil, it pictures the edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) which is Switzerland’s unofficial national flower. Who should buy: Swiss-watch wearers.
There was a certain calmness that came with being in a taxi on a Friday evening. Apart from the mandatory question—”Where are you going?”, the driver remained silent throughout the journey as the vehicle made its way to our hotel. I was in Singapore with the family for the weekend to accomplish 3 things:
Attend the biennial Singapore Garden Festival
Partake in the Great Singapore Sale. Shopping lah
And to visit my sister who is in Singapore for her further studies
Our 4-star hotel was located on Bras Basah Road which, on a shallow note, gave me the impression that the word Bras came from the french word brassiere. Meanwhile, Basah actually means wet in the Malay language. If you read them side by side, they could easily cause a misunderstanding for any young adult like you. Wet Bras Road.
It dawned on me that I have been returning to this little country at least once a year. A feat, really, if you consider the costs of hotels. My next trip will be food-themed. And perhaps a Lion King musical to throw into the mix? Calling out anyone who wants to join—
At 6 on a Monday morning, I headed out with my sister to capture some morning shots of the Padang and the Observatory on Signal Hill for inclusion into a book I am currently designing at work. Waking up at six is just horrendous. I can wake up around 7 daily without an alarm clock. 6 on the other hand is like waking up for school.
Signal Hill or locally known as “Bukit Bendera” is one of the highest hills in Kota Kinabalu. Given its obvious name, the hill was used to signal ships approaching the harbour back during the olden days. Today, it is popular with tourists mainly for the spectacular view of the city one can view from the Observatory. It also home to the wealthy who are able to afford a luxury unit at one of the Peak properties. That said, it is also home to my maternal grandparents who own a small piece of land at the foot of the hill.
To be recognised as Kota Kinabalu city’s most exclusive residential area parallel to ‘The Peak’ in Hong Kong is becoming a reality — SBS Corporation’s vision of Signal Hill
What I noticed that morning was not the commercial value of the hill, but merely a pocket of green space. Like how Central Park is to New York. Or South Bank is to Brisbane. A breath of fresh air. I saw a group of elderly people doing their morning stretches at the Padang. I also saw morning joggers. Some running around the field. Some running up the hill. It is a sight that one does not really get to see if one is still in bed at 6am.
“Green spaces should have different levels of control, catering to different levels of the public, basically. Such a tiering system would have an enormous impact on quality of life.” — Alejandro Gutierrez on Green Spaces, Monocle Issue 15
As we pulled over at the Observatory, there was a couple in jogging attire enjoying the view. It was a serene, quiet setting with a dazzling view of the city. There was this bloke in his 40s, who arrived shortly after us. He sat in a corner enjoying the morning with a copy of the daily newspaper and breakfast. What an enjoyable way to start the morning!
When was the last time you were at Signal Hill? Tell me.
Of all things important and less important, we discover ourselves by the choices we make. We stay close to our loved ones. We migrate for better jobs. We argue to prove a point. We worry how we are seen in public. We worry what Paul picks. Choices.
In the grand scheme of things, we realize the significance of each relationship that we have. With the elders. With the work we deal with daily. With the people you regard as friends. Their lives and yours intertwined like a plate of spaghetti. The things that we do every moment, we like to think of it as part of the plan.
What is your plan? I always ask people this question. It lets them ponder. And perhaps something for me to respond better when they do reply. The plan has always been a set of guidelines with goals established for your convenience. What is your plan? Tell me.
I have always held great interest in wayfinding. So much, I wrote my honours thesis in that area. Something that led to countless hours at the local art institution nearby observing how people navigate spaces. I figured I could do this for a living if I remained in Australia.
Wayfinding is a professional discipline — part graphic design, part behavioural psychology — concerned with helping people navigate the airports, shopping malls, hospitals and neighbourhoods of today’s often-bewildering built environment. It’s getting somebody from point A to point B in the most comfortable and efficient way possible.
Call it a personal project. A monumental one if it gets picked up by everyone. I am rethinking the current city layout of Kota Kinabalu and how a better map and addressing system might help us find our way better. It is common for locals to describe the location of a place based on surrounding landmarks. For example, the Hyatt hotel is right next to Wisma Merdeka. The problem is that if you do not know where Wisma Merdeka is to begin with, this system will not work.
In Part 2 of this series, I’ll show you some of the ideas that I have and what other cities are doing.
If we have eaten together in Nishiki lately, I might have told you this before. This is one of my favourite restaurants in town. But that is not what I want to tell you about. It is design-related. A significant detail in Japanese toothpicks that you may be unaware of.
In most eateries around town, wooden toothpicks are available (some upon request). It is not strange to see people using it after a meal at the table despite it being a turn-off for some of you. You have the double-tipped ones. Some minted on one end. The plastic ones. And the “Japanese toothpick”.
The modern Japanese toothpick has a single point, with the other end blunt and encircled with grooves that give it a finial-like appearance. The decorated end is also functional—intended to be broken off at one of the grooves and so signal that the toothpick has been used. The broken-off part also serves as a rest to keep the soiled point from touching the table.
Apparently, the first Japanese toothpicks are somewhat different.
During the Edo period (1603-1868), a tufted toothpick (fusayôji) served as a toothbrush. The use of toothpicks originated with the Buddhist monks who travelled to Japan from India, via China, who were required to chew ‘shiki’ (‘toothwood’) each morning. Chewing on one end of these wooden sticks created a tufted section which was then used to clean the teeth.
I do hope you learnt something new today on toothpicks. Summary: If you ever come across one, remember have it rested on the broken-off part before you part the restaurant.
The following photographs happened on a Saturday night (04/06/10) at Shenanigan’s Hyatt and Rumba (taken by Mei) after a fantastic dinner prepared by Aiko at Dinoza’s place.
For the nocturnal few that know me, I am rarely seen at clubs or entertainment outlets. But when I do make an appearance, you can perhaps relate it to spotting a rare animal in the wild. An unexpected find. And just like the confused animal, I feel the same sometimes.
The waterhole or more commonly known as the bar serves alcohol to the masses (who can afford it) which is perhaps why people love to congregate here. You have the guy who tries to make a kill with his wingman. You have the female hotel tourists who seem to find enjoyment at the sound of Justin Beiber’s Baby. And if you look around closely, you might spot a few lip-syncing to Wondergirl’s Nobody. These were in fact the oddest songs I heard at Shenanigan’s that night. Made an early exit around 1am. The eyes were giving up and closing fast.
The way I see it. I meet new people every other week. And it varies among all of us. For the taxi driver, every passenger is someone new to meet. For the office-bound, a walk-in customer or the delivery boy.
Someone once told me the easiest way to meet someone new is to smile. What this person failed to elaborate was what you needed to do after smiling—talk. Always the hard part. A simple hello to begin with, followed by a random pick of topics to start a conversation with. And in most cases, we tend to end them with yet another question. A tedious cycle.
On Friday night, I was privileged to have been invited to Dinoza’s place for dinner with several others for a private home-cooked meal prepared by Aiko. I am no food connoisseur. The food was fantastic and it was not just because it was stacked together like what fancy restaurants do. Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. And a glass of red wine to go with it. Over dinner, I met three new people worth mentioning mainly because I still remember their names till now. They are Aiko, Joshua and Krystal.
To me, remembering a person’s name after meeting them is a great deal. Of which I am afraid I don’t do too well. What was the name of the last acquaintance you met recently? Tell me.
A quick sketch on the seating arrangements at Nishiki Japanese Restaurant, Kota Kinabalu.
Today, I like to write about how we decide where to sit. Obviously, there is not much to talk about if there is only a single seat in the room. Goldilocks had hers easy as well.
After having eaten, Goldilocks wandered into the living room to sit down. There along the wall stood three chairs—a big chair, a middle-sized chair, and a little chair. —Excerpt from Roald Dahl’s Goldilocks and the Three bears
Another scenario would be picking the seat at the cinema which follows a basic rule: Right in the middle, 1–2 rows from center. If you are watching it with a girl, make sure the person in front of her does not block her view. Change seats if required. In most situations, the guy usually sits on the left whilst the girl on the right.
A couple of nights ago at Mint, I got Em to look for a good seat whilst I was ordering food over the counter. She picked a four-seater table close to the windows. Brilliant choice. And I will tell you why in a second. Each choice is a result of a combination of needs that eventually decides where we want to sit subconsciously. These are a few I follow:
Refrain yourself from sitting under a fan or an air conditioner. Food turning cold before we finish eating is a turn-off.
If there is a standing fan nearby, always have the girl sit facing the direction of the blown wind. You do not want to see her ‘eating’ hair.
In the same note, do not let your guest regardless of gender sit facing sunlight glare.
Make sure that the girl’s seat is free from any unsuspecting food leftovers or unwanted stains. After checking hers, check yours.
If you have a corner table, avoid having the girl sit facing a wall. Fish tanks are OK.
The host usually sits in a seat where it is convenient for him or her to signal for the bill later on.
Best seats are secured through reservations and bookings.
On a date, making sure as a gentlemen to sit not facing the crowds… it’s a better choice if you sit facing the wall so you can focus your eyes just on her only :) — User-contributed
Each pencil is RM3.50 each. Contact 
