Juan’s Not So Mundane Life

a visit to green village early June

05Jul09

green tea knowledge and tasting! ocha!

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Randomly Laos (June 2009)

16Jun09

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Tags: laos

its empty

07Jun09

I think i’m losing it. I need my “mojo” back.

Feeling so still, so monotonous, so…blank…so wasted. Suffocated.

I don’t like being watched nor being controlled. I dont wanna hide anymore.

I need keys to my place asap. like ASAP.

I need to shoot, cook, get a dog, travel, swim, draw and be away.

All these shall happen very soon.

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never knew i had such difficult time getting a new rubber stamp done. took me nearly a whole week just to get it sorted. i find it both frustrating & amused really. Why do i always encounter such mishaps?

Shop # 1 @ the laundry behind office

ordered 2 self-inking stamp for RM50. not too bad. paid. pick up next day.

Next day, went over to find out that their machine was down. Pushed to day 2. Again repairman didnt turn up. Push to day 3.

Day 3, stamp STILL not ready. i asked for refund.

Shop # 2 @ photocopy shop

I realized I could customized my rubber stamp at this place and give this guy my .ai file. Oh well,next time maybe.

So I got this guy to do just simple round shape stamp with text and numbers in Arial. Pick up : next day. no need deposit.

Left the place, changed my mind, called them up instead and cancelled the order. Simply because I dont want my rubber stamp in Arial. yes, I’m picky when it comes to fonts.

Shop #3 @ Stationary Shop

Decided to take a little walk down the road from my office to get it done once and for all. Sign outside this shop says within 1 hour. Cool!

Hi, do you make rubber stamps? Yes we do.

Heres my file *hands over thumbdrive*. Later to find out they cannot open .ai file but can only open PDF. ergh. I had to go back office to resave file. Nevermind. Its only a short walk, I can do this! But before I head back, how much would it be ya?

Went thru their catalogue, the ones that can be done within the same day : RM43, but it was big. What I needed was much smaller.

Saw one that is RM27, pointed on it and asked, how bout this one? She took out the calculator, tap tap tap…and said, can be done today we charge RM60.

WTF?! Daylight robbery. 5cm X 2cm rubber stamp for RM60? I left immediately.

Shop #4 @ Printing Shop

I didnt give up. I believe there is a shop somewhere that I can get it done for sure! walked much much further down the road. Passed by another stationary shop. It doesnt look too convincing, looks like the one i was in before. Walks further, stumbled upon a printing shop. They didnt mention anything about rubber stamps, i decided to ask anyway.

Hey you!

smoking guy turns around; yeah?

Eh! you! Batman! (my ex-colleague’s nickname when i was working part-time)

Heyyyy!!!! long time no see!!!

Cut story short, I was so so happy to have found him running this shop and has a Mac machine. THANK YOU LORD! FINALLLLYYY!!!!

20mins later, I was out of the shop, paid RM27 for my self-inking stamp. Yay!

It was indeed a blessing in disguise

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yummilious beef claypot @ malacca

10May09

malacca, a historical town, also a tourist attraction now, is well known for its chicken rice balls, cendol, ice kacang, nyonya dishes and satay celup.

However, whenever I’m there, one of the place I will never miss is this – beef claypot.

A local dish ala “bah kut teh” style. It’s set in a intermediate linked house, an old uncle will cook these just at the entrance of his house and we will all sit outside with all the dust from the road enjoying the meal.

Also, not expensive. These 2 pots in the picture + some chinese ice tea came up to about RM90+, which is about 10bucks per pax? very affordable. very delicious.

Dont ask me for address, coz i really dont know the add. I just smell my way there! oh yeah, for those who dun eat beef, they serve bah kut teh also.

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Tags: beef, claypot, food, malacca, melaka

handmade clay lamp from Melaka

09May09

stumbled into a little shop somewhere in the lanes of Jonker Street at Malacca (historical town + tourist attraction).

Saw these lamps and candle holders the night before, but didnt have the chance to pick them up. Found the shop the very next day and really couldnt resist getting something. Really love the clay, rawness and texture of it all.

Big clay lamps varies between RM200 to RM400 each. Add on Rm15 for bulb + wire plug.

Small candle holders varies between RM30 to Rm50 each.

Go support the local artist!

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