Nick Chan Dot Net

Afternoon Walkaround in Hat Yai City

Written by Nicholas Chan on January 24, 2010 – 9:02 pm -

After checking into the hotel, Novotel Central in Hat Yai, mom went to do her shopping on her own, dad went to look for massage and I was alone walking around on the street. It’s the downtown or city center of Hat Yai and it’s both tourist and locals populated area, everyone is here, very easy to roam around and I didn’t even have a map on my hand.

Right below my hotel is a shopping centre, Central. I didn’t went in to see, it’s a department store. Instead, I started off my walk from the shopping centre which is right across the street, Lee Garden. I was attracted by the large Lacoste logo and Apple logo. Cool, imagine such a small city has Lacoste and Apple. I only can find Lacoste in Kuala Lumpur here in my own country.

Enjoying the view and wind. =D

It’s nice to see people walking on the street. I always love happenings street and we usually can’t find it in Penang. Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur is happenings though. It’s not very hot in the afternoon, sun shines were blocked by the building so it’s shady.

Lee Garden is a very small shopping mall. I notice that most Hat Yai’s teenager and youngster come here to hang out just like I always go to Gurney Plaza with friends here in Penang.

Although it’s small, there’s many thing to see. The Lacoste shop is in there and Apple too! There’s little area in the mall called Idea Market, it’s like flea market and can see a lot of handmade stuff, and the best part is that it’s air-conned and pop music blasting around. Pretty cool.

Big prawn! Dare to eat?

I like coconut juice. Do you?

I didn’t really buy things because nothing interest me there. It’s just the same as in Phuket, Bangkok which I had visited several times before.

I only bought a mobile sim pack which was used to contact my parents and post photo to my Away From Computer.

Keep walking along the street and found another departmental store, Odean Shopping Mall. Although I am not a fan of departmental store, I did go in to take a look to see how different is their departmental store with us. Surprisingly, interior was not pretty but there’s many people inside and many brands too.

What to buy in Thailand? Thai made funny shirt, I have a few already so I was not interested. Fake AA imitation product? Even if I do buy, I don’t dare to take out also. Genuine FTW!

Food stalls are everywhere. Every few walks, you will see food stalls, cooked and not cooked. Thai’s street food seems delicious but I scared it’s not clean. I only drink coconut juice by the road side before only.

A motel’s lobby. A bit scary.

Walked a few street and things were the same. It’s just like an exercising walk for me on that afternoon, hanging a camera around my neck. For sure, I am a tourist there!

Cute kitty. Do you want to zh’ng (pimp) your car like that?

Walked until very far, didn’t know where was I but I still know the way back the hotel. I believe I walked to Kim Yong Market. There’s many things to see and I was just getting into it, and my mom called me for afternoon tea. Oh shit, didn’t get to roam the whole area.

Another thing I wanted to say is there’s many 7 Eleven convenience store in just a small area. Every few turn into different street, I saw 7 Eleven, I think I saw 3-4 7 Eleven outlets there.

Many fruits! Apple, you like?

I asked her to wait for a while before I was quite far away from her. Another 10 minutes walk only can reach her, she was at a coffee shop near Odean. =D

Tags: city, Downtown, Food, hat yai, Market, Shopping, street, Thailand, Travel, trip, walkaround
Posted in Lifelog, Thailand | Comments

Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards at Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore

Written by Nicholas Chan on November 3, 2009 – 12:32 am -

On the previous post, I talked about myself going to Vivo City in the afternoon, wasting quite some times there. We went back to the hotel at around 5 and reached room at about 5.30pm. Alvin was so lazy and jumped on to the bed. For me, I did not take any rest but was just surfing a little bit of the net only then I went to get ready for the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards.

I was expecting something grand, something like Oscar, with red carpets, camera, tuxedo, suits, gown and etc.

Because of my tiny body and short height, I can hardly get a pre-made blazer out there for me. I think I should go tailor-made one for me already, in case I need to attend such event again in the future (hope not very far future). I went for simplicity, all black and with my favourite polka dots tie.

I am always late, everyone was asked to gather at the lobby at 6.30pm, but I only got out from the room at that time. Took my camera with me, my phone and it’s all set. The lobby of the hotel is very small and I was so surprised to see everyone looking so gorgeous.

It seems like everyone had already been waiting for a while at the lobby already and the Nuffies had started calling names. Bloggers were just busy taking photos. I was so stranger at there because I found no familiar faces and not a face that says he or she is from Penang. So, I waited for me to arrive at Pan Pacific Hotel, only then I starts my “Hi, I am Nicholas, I blog at Nick Chan Dot Net, bla bla bla”.

There’s 4 bus parked at the back of the hotel. Ferrying around 150 bloggers from the hotel to the location. One thing I forgot to say is that, DSLRs were so common among them, almost every of the blogger has one, it’s so freaking cool.

We arrived at the ballroom side of the hotel instead of the lobby. It seems like everyone was already there and camera flashes were everywhere as we stepped into the cocktail area. It’s Western style, with people moving around with glasses of water and there’s chips on the table too as Pringles was one of the sponsors.

Boss Timonthy Tiah.

We have to sign ourselves up at the registration booth to get a Nuffnang booklet which works at an entry ticket. Then I spent quite some times at the cocktail area wandering around, looking at peoples, said hi to some I-didn’t-know blogger.

They even have this cool area set up for photography. Just like any awards show where the celebrities will stand there, pose for photograph or speak.

I’ll skipped my photos taken with fellow blogger first and go into the Nuffnang Blog Awards banquet hall.

There’s a red carpet out there, it’s real red and as I walked into the hall. Camera flashes on me again. I felt like I am a celebrity but in fact, everyone felt the same too. My table number was 36 and it’s quite far from the stage.

Though, that’s not the problem because there’s a big screen showing what’s happening on the stage at our place. The music in the hall was rather loud which made communicating a little bit difficult. We had Western styled, four course fine dining, which was also my first time and I liked it a lot.

Entertainment of the night was the very interesting illusion magic by hot Magic Babe Ning and JC Sum, very loud rock band, Electrico and the night was hosted by Amazing Race Asia’s host, Allan Wu.

It’s so interesting to see those nominated blog, now only I know that there’s so many good blogs out there. For the list of Winner, you can check it out here. I’ll still share you 2 names that everyone knows and it’s Xiaxue and Kennysia. Xiaxue was the biggest winner of the night as she got away with 3 awards. Cool.

My submitted video for Pringles competition didn’t get nominated and I believe I didn’t add in the tagline and it’s not in English. Somehow, I salute the winner, Jayden who is really pro in video making.

The whole thing ran quite well and ended at around 11.30pm. Pity the MC/Host Allan Wu because he’s always on stage announcing the winner and don’t get to eat with us. The only thing that made the event not-so-perfect was the lack of alcohol, I bet everyone will be high if there’s alcohol in the hall. But then, I am underage. Haha.

We did not really go home right after it ended, but it’s photography session with fellow bloggers outside the ballroom until near midnight. The last bus was really late because of some technical error. We almost need to call for cab to take us back to hotel but in the end, the bus was there.

Rocks!

Next stop: Same place but lots of photos with bloggers.

Tags: awards, ballroom, blog, bloggers, celebrity, Dinner, Food, grand, Hotel, nuffnang, singapore, Travel
Posted in Blogosphere, Cool Stuff, Event, Friends, Lifelog, Singapore, Travel | Comments

Sushi King after school

Written by Nicholas Chan on October 14, 2009 – 11:39 pm -

I don’t know do you realize or not, Sushi King’s RM2 for all coloured plate sushi promotion is back and tomorrow is the last day if I am not mistaken. So, yesterday I went to Sushi King with Chien Chern, Chai Wei and Yiphing. At first, they suggested to go to Prangin Mall, but I don’t want to because the place is pretty old, not-so-clean and was warm during my last visit, I prefer Gurney Plaza’s or E-Gate.

Phing and Wei were not fine with Gurney Plaza, they complained it is too far for them and in the end, E-Gate it was. Not bad, the place is pretty cool, well-litted and clean.

Now I started to drive already and no-good about driving is looking for parking. Some place doesn’t have a lot of parking space, E-Gate does, but for saving a couple bucks, I parked a little far in Tesco, it’s free and needed a little bit of walk. That’s fine for me and I’ll take it as a exercise. Hehe.

I was surprised to see a short line outside Sushi King. Seems like a lot of people were going for the RM2 thing.

Waited for like 10 minutes and we were in. I saw some of my school seniors at there but I got no idea who they are, just knew that we were wearing the same uniform.

Lucky to get a seat beside the belt. There are tables which are not beside the belt and so, have to self-service. It’s also good to because we can get our first hands on the purple and red plate food which is most expensive during non-promotion day.

None of us is a Sushi King card holder, the girls went to borrow a couple of cards from their friend for it. Thanks.

They actually stated that one can stays for only an hour in the restaurant due to limited seating, but we spend like almost 2 hours there. Perhaps there wasn’t many people waiting. I had 6 plates and it’s fun.

One thing, all these photos were accidentally deleted. It’s a little bit OMG, but luckily there’s recovery program. Phewww.

Tags: after school, e-gate, Food, Friends, fun, Penang, School
Posted in Friends, Lifelog, School Life | Comments

Steamboat dinner with a few friends

Written by Nicholas Chan on October 12, 2009 – 11:46 pm -

Last Friday, Boon Hoay, the schoolmate, friend, of the class next to mine asked me out for a steamboat dinner in Town Steamboat House. The last time I came here was last year’s Christmas Eve and I could feel that it’s something fun because, it’s steamboat and friends. We can talk and eat all night long.

Gonna thank Chien Chern for driving me there, he just got his driving license and I want to congratulate him here, as an appreciation.

The steamboat place is always crowded with people, so do last’s Friday. We wanted a spot on the outside but it’s full, we should have made a reservation at first. Inside wasn’t that good because it’s pretty warm. Imagine when the steamboat starts, it will be sweating a lot.

It was Boon Hoay, Chien Chern, Zhen Yuan and me that were there and started eating first, an hour later only then Zez Chien and Arron came to join us from as far away as Bayan Lepas.

It’s “Eat-All-You-Can” for RM17.90. We started our steamboat and grilling thing at around 7.30 at night, went to take the food for lots of round until half past ten. It’s a long three hour dinner for us and it’s so full. It’s always not a good idea to go for buffet or something like this because you will be feeling a little bit uncomfortable and bloated after the meal.

Just enjoying the process and talk cock time with friends. I did say about I dislike steamboat or BBQ, but doing it with a lot of friends is different, there’s people help me out on the food and now I got a concept that just put the food into the mouth whether it’s well-cooked or not, we are strong for it. Haha.

Hope to do this again soon but not so often because I don’t want to be broke. It’s fun!

By the way, met a friendly family on the next table, didn’t get the name but they asked me to help them take a photo, and here it is. =)

Tags: Dinner, Food, Friends, fun, georgetown, Hot, Many People, Steamboat, Sweat, town
Posted in Friends, Gathering, Lifelog | Comments

It’s Krrunch Time, Get Playful

Written by Nicholas Chan on October 3, 2009 – 1:45 am -

Hello people, it’s KRRUNCH TIME!

As you know, school is always boring, it’s just studying, reading, listening, sitting, watching, dreaming and sleeping in class. When a person gets boring, productivity gets slow down, what you think, what you do in school also will be in slow mo.

BUT, have you ever think of something fun, happy, smiling, playful, naughty? That’s life, life must be always about fun and happy and enjoy.

So here, on a usual day in school, I brought along the Pringles, the famous potato chips in a can to see what it will happened in class.

Everyone was just there doing usual things like talking and sleeping because trial exam has already over and teacher does not really teach right now.

I am not selfish and the Pringles were for everyone in fact. Just trying to make something fun in class, have something to munch with while going through some boring time.

When I bring some high tech gadget to school, friends in class would not really get excited. I think it’s probably because that there’s nothing much they can do with only ONE high tech gadget, another reason is, they are not so tech conscious. But food is different, whenever there’s sweets, bun, bread, anything that can goes in the mouth not tasteless, everyone get excited and started shouting, “I want! I want! I also want!”

Even those who were sleeping illegally in class woke up and ran for the Pringles! It may not be the smell, but it’s the krunching (crunching) and the FEEL of Pringles was around.

Pringles really gets people playful and fun. It was just a boring class, with teacher not teaching, but correcting the exam marks, then after opening up the chips, they got excited, they got naughty and even eat behind the teacher! This is really bad.

At first it was just one, two, three person that got their hands on the chips, then it’s four, five, six and eventually the whole class got to crunch in their mouth too.

The people was so kind and even treated the teacher the Pringles chips too. You can see the smile on the face of everyone. =)

That was not selfish but this is selfish. Haha, one person eat so many.

The playful, exciting, happy and fun spirit did not just get over after they cleared up the chips. I am studying in an all-boys school and when there’s no female student around, boys tend to get very naughty and can do up a lot of thing.

Like…

Feeling a little bit of gayness. Haha.

Try taking a can of Pringles to your class and see what will happen. =D

Disclaimer: The above photos are for contest purpose only and what you see does not really happen in our everyday school life. Eating in class is illegal but somehow, the truth is that there’s actually people who eats in class. Read smart.

It’s Krrunch Time, Get Playful!

Tags: 5SA1, Chung Ling High School, clhs, Cool Stuff, Eat, Food, Friends, Funny, high school, in class, Lifelog, Penang, School, School Life
Posted in Friends, Funny, Lifelog, School Life | Comments

Chung Ling Teachers’ Day 09:Party Time

Written by Nicholas Chan on July 23, 2009 – 11:49 pm -

Advertisement : There will be a furniture fair and expo happening in Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) tomorrow till Sunday. My dad’s furniture shop is having a showcase there and do go check out some good deal. Look for Ethnic Furnishing and there will be a lot of new wood-ware. The pass phrase for special discount is “Nicholas introduce me to your store.”. Hehe.

It’s another part for the Chung Ling Teachers Day celebration which happened a month ago. The last time, I shared about the food, the char bee hoon and some people, and now I am going to share about what happened after everyone finish eating.

After I finished my meal, very full, I quickly grab my camera and go around to see what people were doing in their own class. Found a class was playing dare with spin the bottle, interesting.

The dare I saw was putting ice cube on the nipple. LOL. One thing was that there’s too many ice cubes and people tend to play with it a lot.

Found my ex-classmate Wei Aik and Yi Fan while passing 5SA5. They were just sitting there, talking.

Another ice cube playing was putting the ice cube into someone’s pants. It’s cold man.

At the other place, it’s ice cube again, but it’s a whole pack of ice cube. It’s just ice cube everywhere on the lower floors.

But when getting back to the upper floor where my class is, they had a different games though. I saw Shi Hun, my class monitor being carried to the other class by the other class student.

Basically, they were playing dare too but it’s a forced dare act, it’s not spin the bottle or pick a lucky person. Shi Hun was the lucky one and the dare was pretty simple which was, eating the plain cold spaghetti with different sauce eg. curry, chili, tomato and a little soft drink. Ha. Too bad for him.

Then Andy from the other class was carried to my class but then he got nothing because Miss Teh got into our way. It was a bad timing, I think she should have step aside and leave us alone. Argh.

What we wanted to make Andy eat was a cup of I don’t-know-what-it-is prepared by Jing Min. I was not really involved in it, I was more likely a photographer looking at what they were doing.

I went out again, some class were quiet with people playing Chinese chess.

Another victim was carried again, from 5SA5 up to 5SA4.

Though, things turned out to be aggressive in the end but everything is fine. Some people tend to play along together but some don’t.

Party ended.

Disclaimer: What you see is not what you see, this does not reflect our daily school life, it’s just a Teachers’ Day celebration.

Tags: chung ling, Chung Ling High School, clhs, Crazy, dirty, Eat, Food, Friends, fun, high school, Many People, School Life, teachers day, teachers day 09
Posted in School Life | Comments