Amazing Nibong Tebal trip (4) Octopus catching and mud skating

After our dinner, it's time for fun :D Each of us wear the kampung adidas. Oh we'd forgotten to feedback to the tour guide, although we have provide our shoe size to them few days in advance, but unfortunately they seems not prepared and some cannot find kampung adidas for their size, and have to go down with their own slipper.

I have not spend for mud spa, I do not know if those mud in spa center is different from this. But I am sure this is natural and smooth also :D Yay, give me 5, dare you?





The nice sunset stay for around 10-20 min only, then the sun was covered by the cloud.


Look at the cloud, I hope it won't rain. Got to keep my finger crossed.


The 'zhok tan 竹摊' clam. Of course, we put it back to the sea as soon after we take the picture. Clam can be easily seen and catch during low tide.




Finally have to say bye bye to the sun.


Before the tour start, we were advise on below:
1. Do not walk too far. As long as you can still see the boat, then it is safe, or else, find your way back to the boat.
2. Catch just octopus. Do not catch mantis prawn, if one want to, use some tool to catch it. Mantis prawn sting is very strong, it may cut through one people's palm and the cut might take few months to recover.
3. If you see snake, don't be scared. Just stay there, do nothing, the snake will goes away.
4. Wear your shoe tightly, do not wear shoe that is too loose.
5. If there are mud on your clothes, wash it using sea water before you leave.

The tour guide provided each of us head lamp, and a long elastic pant, to reduce mosquito bites. I found out the long pant is useful to keep my own clothes clean from mud.

Unfortunately we catch none octopus. The tour guide said maybe it high tide too fast, an hour earlier than normal day, due to the full moon gravity. Maybe the rain is about to come, so the octopus stay home. But it was a special experience to walk on the mud. One can sink very easily, so we have to keep walking, do not stand still. Another few tips:
1. If you get stuck, sit down, pull out your leg, rest for a while, then only start walk again. If you try to pull yourself out while you are still standing, it is very hard to.
2. When you step your foot on the mud, try to keep your feet flat. I figured a friend whose heel touch the mud first will sink into the mud easier.Keep your feet flat, for gravity point and you won't get stuck so easily.
3. Don't step on others foot print, those are softer and you will get stuck easier.
4. If you find it hard to pull out the shoe, just leave it inside the mud. While walking bare foot back to the boat, watch out for the creatures on the mud.

I cannot remember how long I surf on the mud. After I got back to the boat, notice the moon was so nice. Unfortunately there is no tripod, nor suitable place to mount the camera for nicer moon light picture.


Some catches.Can you see the crab inside the shell?


Mantis prawn.


Big cockles.


Big crab.


The boat head lamp, bring us back to the jetty. (Hey, engineers, this is innovative and cheapest cost design isn't it :p )


On our way back, it was quiet, only the boat engine sound. It was dark, only the starry night. It was dark, only the sparkling firefly.

We managed to see some firefly, the tour guide said the best time to see firely is around 8pm. Well, we definitely cannot catch that time slot due to octopus activity. Anyway, I am satisfied, the sparkling christmas tree is still in my head now, with the sparkling starry night :D

Amazing Nibong Tebal trip (3) Picnic in the middle of the sea

After we left the fish farm, we reach the place for octopus catching around 6pm. Yes, catch octopus, this is the main factor I joined this trip. I do not intend to catch some and cook them (Amitabha, Amen, whatever your religious is :p) , I was just hoping to experience how to catch octopus *chuckle*

We have to reach the spot before the low tide, or else the gentlemen will have to push the boat to reach the destination :p We will then have to wait until the water is almost gone, walk on the mud to look for octopus. Before high tide, we have to get back to the boat. When the water level is high enough, then only we can start the boat engine to leave the place. More on octopus catching in next post :)

Firstly, the tour guide put an anchor to fix the boat location. The water level was around knee level at this time.





While waiting for the low tide, we took our dinner. There were white rice, curry chicken, stir fried mantis prawn, broccoli + cauliflower, and chicken.




Here we are, enjoy our dinner in the middle of the sea. My very first time to picnic in the middle of the sea. And, more enjoyably, I have plenty of time for dinner, to wait for low tide, hohoho.

Amazing Nibong Tebal trip (2) Largest fish farm

According to the tour guide, Nibong Tebal has the largest fish farm in Northern Malaysia. It is a high return and high risk investment. The single piece of wood that we step on the fish farm might probably cost few tenth RM to more than a hundred. To build a fish farm like picture below, it probably cost RM 500K. However, the return is still good, if one is lucky to loss as less fish as possible. It requires appropriate experience to manage a fish farm. For example, the fish net need to be clean regularly. If not the 'seaweed' will cover the whole net, and the fish found no air to breathe.





If you have nature call in the fish farm, in the middle of the sea, where would you think you can find toilet? Hehe, it is at the left side of picture below. Open air toilet :D



There was around 400 fish farm in the past. Today, there are just around 120. Some of the investor moved their focus in bird nest business. How does it work? Get some empty building for the swallow to build their nest. You may think, then the villager there should be very rich. Well, the tour guide said, one is, if he doesn't fall in love with gambling. Well well, in Chinese idiom, there is one sounds 'One will lose nine game out of ten'.

Amazing Nibong Tebal trip (1) Let's start here

Since last short Kuala Gula trip, I joined colleague and friends for a 2 days 1 night trip to Nibong Tebal.


A kampung scenery.

We joined the tour organized by Amazing Planner. Here is their office by the river.

Here we go. The road will lead us to the jetty.




The tyre at the jetty, to protect the boat from scratch/crash.


The sky was nice!






Near the end of the year, there will be a lot of 白鹭 coming to this area.


The 'town' jetty.


The wave was not too strong, compared to those I experienced in Langkawi trip (Oops, this will be coming soon!) Some fishing boat is going at very fast speed !

Nibong Tebal, what's else? Stay tuned ;)

Cashflow 101 Board Game

Have you played Monopoly 百万富翁? A friend invited me to try out Cashflow 101. It is created by Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad.



The game gave a good overview of cashflow rat race and how to achieve financial freedom. For sure, it is not as easy as in the game, it is a mock game. However, it does gave some good overview for one to put more effort in his own financial planning.

What is your dream? Does your dream need money to buy? If so, please remembered to buy dream that you can afford beside doing investment/saving. Delay gratification is a key to rich was one of the key summary by the organizer. However, I would say Delay gratification is a key to achieve financial freedom.

Let's have a quick overview of the game. If not mistaken, maximum 5 players are allowed. Each draw a card with to start with., e.g. salary, debts and etc. Then we will write it all at a piece of paper provided, which is a summary of the role financial blueprint. We start with the rat race circle. Each one use the dice to make a move. While moving, there will be pay check cycle, doodads, charity option to roll two dice, small/big opportunity, the market and etc. Those are life mock situation. One of the organizer brought out a good point that in the game, when we hit doodad, we have no choice but to pay, but in real life we have a choice not to buy certain item. In the game, we have an opportunity to invest only when we hit small/big deal opportunity. In real life, we always have a choice.

It is recommended to play with experienced player, so they can give guidance in terms of the playing instructions and also the steps to achieve financial freedom relate back to real life. Thanks BL the organizer, SH and (oops I forgot your name, but I remember you :) ) the game coordinators.

It is available for sale in Mega Mall, Prai, Penang.

Xuan Xin Ramen Kitchen, Gurney Plaza, Penang 炫升拉面小厨

Back in July, my friend and I went to Gurney Plaza. We wish to get something new in the extended wing. Unfortunately most of them can be found in KL, thus we finally went to old wing Xuan Xin Ramen Kitchen. In general, I feel the food is okay.


Upper right corner is Ramen with Stewed Pork Ball 狮子头拉面 @ RM 12.80. My friend don't quite like the oily pork ball. The bottom left is Ramen with mushroom, preserved vegetable and beancurd sheet 雪菜豆根双菇拉面 @ RM 10.80.Bottom right is the Honey Dew Sago 蜜瓜西米露 @ RM 4.50. I preferred my own cooked dessert better :p


I am ordering the Ramen value set, comprises of Shanghai steamed minced pork dumpling 南翔小笼包2粒, plus any Ramen of choice in the menu (I choosen Ramen with SzeChuan soup 酸辣汤拉面), plus a cup of Xuan Xin Special mocktail 炫升特调饮品, @ RM 14.80 in total. The chinese tea is at RM 0.60 per cup. I am a bit disappointed that all mocktail are not from fresh fruit. Anyway, that is unavoidable.

XuanXin Ramen Kitchen
Address: 170-B1-08 Gurney Plaza, 12500 Penang
Telephone: 04-2272227

Earth 2100

Okay, by year 2100, most likely we will be at this earth no more due to aging. Why do you care then? Do you have kids? If you do, and I am pretty sure you will hope for having grand children. This is the earth they will live at, the earth at 2100.

Watch the rest of the part in youtube, or maybe abc news, if they still hosting it.

Harvest In Cafe, Georgetown, Penang

There are many 'hidden' restaurant/shop in Georgetown. One day, few colleagues brought me to Harvest In for lunch. The restaurant is almost full when we reach. Luckily we made reservation.
It is quite well decorated.


Fresh orange juice @ RM 3, Hot honey lemon juice @ RM 2.80, warm water @ RM 0.60.


Mexico grilled chicken @ RM 9.90.

Mushroom & broccoli spaghetti @ RM 9.90.


Chicken Tikka Masala @ RM 7.90.


Bombay chicken @ RM 9.90.

Hollandaise Fish @ RM 11.90. It is baked fish with coriander and herbs.


In overall, I love the food. The butter rice is tasty, the french fries is fresh and not too oily, the grilled chicken are nice in taste. But the portion is a bit small I think. But at that price with the nice environment, I think no complaint. If you are coming on dinner where set dinner is available, then it will be larger portion as it includes soup, bread and dessert.

Harvest In Cafe
Address: 10 Irrawaddy Road, 10050 Penang
Telephone: 04-2261718
Business Hours: Monday - Sat 11am - 3pm, 6 - 10pm
Closed on Sun
Closed for dinner on Tue

Good Master Bak Kut Teh, Bukit Mertajam 大山脚食王肉骨茶

I love Bak Kut Teh 肉骨茶. After read SP blog on Good Master Bak Kut Teh, I finally have a chance to taste it. It is opposite of Bak Kut Teh Good Master Restoran 食王（珍珠市）肉骨茶. Don't mixed up.

It doesn't look tempting. Low quality camera phone outcome :p Please visit SP blog for better photo. We ordered just a bowl of Bak Kut Teh for 2. At first bite, I feel the soup is not nice. But after a few bites, I started to love it. I do not know how to describe the taste, try it out yourself if have chance ;) However, YB still doesn't like the taste after the meal :p



The yam rice. I still think Chai Leng Park yam rice is the best I've ever had so far. Feeling hungry :p


It cost us RM 16 in total.

Good Master Bak Kut Teh
Address: Jalan Tembikai, Taman Mutiara, 11400 Bukit Mertajam Penang.
GPS location: 5.360474,100.44463
Opening hour: 8am - (sorry I forgot) I am sure they are open for lunch.

Do it right

When I’m working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong

This is a quote by R. Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983), American engineer, author, designer, inventor and futurist. Maybe I am an engineer thus when I read it, I have so much feeling with the quote? :p Anyway, I really does stop for few minutes to think about it. It reminded me of "do things right, don't do it just for the sake of doing," , because we are human, not robot.

Chikuma Japanese Restaurant, Sg Ara, Penang, Malaysia

When we go Sg Ara for dinner one day, surprised to find out there are few new restaurants. One of it Chikuma Japanese restaurant next to Teow Chew Meng 潮州铭. A friend told me this is formerly located at Gembira Parade.



I ordered a chicken Sukiyaki Set @ RM 15. All set include steamed egg, miso soup, and unlimited ice cream supply. It was a rainy day, I just wish to eat something with hot soup and rice. I ate very little ice cream, however, the green tea ice cream is not too bad.





Tsukimi Udon (vegetable and egg) @ RM 10.



Kake Udon (vegetable) @ RM 9.


The rice set is quite huge, while the noodle is not too big in size. Guy may not feel satisfied if they order noodle. If you asked me how's the food taste? I love my sukiyaki set and I feel the noodle is typical.

Chikuma Japanese restaurant
Address: 38-G Persiaran Mahsuri 2, Sunway Tunas, Bayan Lepas, 11900 Penang.

I forgot to ask for the opening hours :p