" If you change nothing, nothing will change "
" My Staycation & Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) free & easy day trip to Kota Damansara, Selangor on Saturday March 20 2021 (07.30>12.30), traveling by Rapid KL LRT & MRT trains from SS15 Subang Jaya > Surian MRT station (via Pasar Seni); my 33rd outdoor visit after the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO 1.0) by the Malaysian Government since March 18 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic; MCO 2.0 ended on March 4 2021 & switched to Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) on March 5 2021 allowing inter-district border travel but not interstate travel; my 2nd visit & meet up with KF Wong from Kota Damansara "
Travel itinerary (Rapid KL LRT & MRT train rides): SS15 Subang Jaya > Pasar Seni, KL > Surian MRT station & return (17km one way)
Expenses incurred (LRT train rides): Rm3.30 x 2 = Rm6.60 + food Rm11.40
My 2nd Visit to Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Saturday March 20 2021 - visit to Sunway Giza & Kota Damansara Town Center - my 2nd Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) & meet up with KF Wong in Kota Damansara
Each of us (our second try) enjoying a bowl of Nyonya cendol dessert (Rm5.70) in my morning chat with KF Wong & a lunch treat / hospitality from KF Wong in Little Penang Cafe, Tropicana Gardens Shopping Mall, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya
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| Nyonya cendol dessert - Rm5.80 |
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| My favourite - Fried Rice Rm16.80 |
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KF's Lunch - Nasi Lemak (Rm16.80)
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After the lunch, KF kindly offered to drive me around & I took a few pictures of some places of interests (Selangor Polo Club & Residency, Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve, Segi University, Sungei Buloh New Village, Sungei Buloh MRT & KTM station etc) in & around the Kota Damasara & Sungei Buloh area .... KF, thank you for your company making this Saturday weekend an interesting & productive one
Home made tong sui (sweet potatoes & yam & coconut milk) for my late afternoon tea together with youtiao (deep fried dough sticks) !
Ist Year Anniversary of Movement Control Order (MCO) March 18 2020 > March 18 2021 - the ups & downs of my daily LIFE during the New Normal Covid-19 period, trying my best to hold my chin up & keeping my spirits high in my world of travelling !
Thursday March 18 2021 marked the 1st year anniversary of Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed by the Malaysian Government. Despite the MCO, with the exception of the months of March & April 2020 (grounded at home), I was able to do a total of 32 staycation / outdoor visits ie inter-district & interstate (observing & adhering to SOP) to various places of interests in Kuala Lumpur, my home state of Selangor & the nearby states of Perak (1 overnight stay in Taiping), Pahang (1 overnight stay in Cameron Highlands) & Negri Sembilan (all these 3 states are within a radius of not more than 260km) ! Also, trying my very best to keep my spirit in traveling high especially during this difficult period & focusing my visit on touristy places (especially first time visits) in my home country or backyard - when the going is tough, the tough gets going ! I will probably continue to do more domestic travels in 2021, anxiously waiting for the lifting of border travels from nearby countries ! You could do some domestic travelling too with a little planning (a simple & no frill travel plan) & time management instead of bog down facing the 4 walls & confining in your home to pass your time !
Malaysia Covid-19 Current Situation (as at March 18 2021)
New Cases 1,213
Total Cases 328,466
Total Deaths 1,223
Total Recovered 312,461
Asean + Covid-19 Current Situation (as at March 18 2021)
Confirmed Cases Deaths
Indonesia 1,437,283 38,915
Philippines 640,984 12,887
Japan 449,713 8,678
Myanmar 142.190 3,203
South Korea 97,294 1,688
China 90,072 4,636
Singapore 60,152 30
Thailand 27,494 89
Vietnam 2,567 35
Cambodia 1,541 1
Brunei 203 3
Laos 49 0
Global Top Ten Current Situation (as at March 18 2021
Confirmed Cases Deaths
US 30,294,798 550,649
Brazil 11,700,431 285,136
India 11,474,605 159,250
Russia 4,428,239 94,824
UK 4,274,579 125,831
France 4,146,609 91,437
Italy 3,281,810 103,432
Spain 3,206,116 72,793
Turkey 2,930,554 29,696
Germany 2,610,769 74,677
Vaccination to begin Feb 24 2021 in my home country, Malaysia !
Covid-19 & I - Life goes on under a New Normal from March 18 2020 to March 18 2021 (1 year anniversary) amid some fear, anxiety, confusion & boredom (especially for retirees) in the early stages of MCO. During these 12 months, each of our outdoor movements had to follow Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under the Movement Control Order (MCO), Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) & Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) involving my home state of Selangor or when travelling inter-district / interstate & eating out from home ! In the worst case scenario, the affected area could be placed under an Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) meaning a complete lockdown for a week or so !
From March 2020 to March 2021, most of my staycation was accomplished, travelling together with my retired brother Weng & sister Inn & Mei (still working) using my brother's vehicle (guided by GPS or Waze) or by LRT & MRT trains; the saddest part was saying goodbye & farewell to my sister-in-law, Serene Chong (June 2020) & 3rd younger brother Kheong (March 2021), both of them passed away due to illness during the Covid-19 MCO period. May their souls rest in peace. The joyful part was the marriage of my second son, Wen Bin & Xue Hui, their wedding lunch was postponed twice (Dec 2020) due to MCO SOP !
March 2020 (No Staycation & outdoor visit) - national wide Lockdown in Malaysia, 1st Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced by Malaysian Government commencing March 18 2020 > March 31 2020 but extended ... the start of A New Normal in our daily life, face mask up, washing hands more often, social distancing, temperature checks, swab tests, queuing in supermarkets & wet markets, toilet rolls become a hot selling item; overnight Covid-19 has turned the whole world Topsy-turvy & upside down !
April 2020 (No Staycation & outdoor visit) - Planes grounded, now everyone can't fly ! Observing SOP, Stay home, young & old ! Freedom the first casualty in Covid-19 war. Pandemic grinds global tourism to a halt ! No doubt, 2020 & probably 2021 could not be a great year for travellers & wanderlusts ! Is it time to hang up your airwalk shoes for overseas travels or just wear them for your staycation (domestic travels), a temporary option ! A fine of Rm1000 (US$250) was imposed by the Government to MCO violators !
May 2020 - My Staycation No 1 (1 outdoor visit) - my first outdoor visit to Kuala Lumpur under Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), visited Kasturi Walk, Chinatown / Petaling Street, Suria KLCC / Petronas Twin Towers & Pavilion KL; my 70th birthday celebration at home ! A quiet Malay New Year (Hari Raya) in May, streets were empty of pedestrians & fewer crowd in shopping malls ! No "Balik Kampung" exodus for this Hari Raya under CMCO to curb the spread of virus ! A small birthday celebration at home, my 70th birthday this month in 2020 !
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| Petronas Twin Towers |
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| Suria KLCC Shopping Mall |
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| Kasturi Walk, Kuala Lumpur City Center |
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| Chinatown, Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Pavilion Kuala Lumpur - Malay New Year Decor |
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| My 70th birthday party at home |
June 2020 - My Staycation No 2 to 4 (3 outdoor visits under the Recovery MCO) to 1) Kuala Lumpur city center (Colonial walk & Heritage trail), Royal Klang town (Selangor) 2) Yulek Heights, Cheras (KL) 3) Port Dickson, Kuala Pilah & Bahau (state of Negri Sembilan) & Semenyih (Selangor) amid the pandemic crisis; Thursday June 25 2020 marked the 100 days of Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed by the Malaysian Government in battling Covid-19 pandemic ! "Farewell" Serene Chong (sister in law) who passed away peacefully, may her soul rests in peace in Semenyih Nirvana Memorial.
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| Murals on the River's Edge, River of Life, Kuala Lumpur City Center |
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| Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Central Market, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Royal Klang Town |
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| Taman Cheras Wet Market, Yulek Heights, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan |
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| Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan |
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| Bahau, Negri Sembilan |
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| Semenyih New Village, Selangor |
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| Serene Chong (sister in law) burial in Nirvana Memorial, Semenyih |
July 2020 - My Staycation No 5 to 7 (3 outdoor visits under RMCO) to 1) Shah Alam (Selangor) 2) Bentong, Raub, Bukit Koman (state of Pahang) & 3) Kuala Selangor, Sekinchan (major rice producing area), Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park (state of Selangor); a combination of new visits & revisiting old places !
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| Shah Alam, Selangor |
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| Bentong, Pahang |
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| Raub, Pahang |
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| Bukit Koman, Pahang |
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| Kuala Selangor, Selangor |
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| Kampung Firefly Park, Selangor |
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| Sekinchan, Kuala Selangor |
August 2020 - My Staycation No 8 (1 outdoor visit under RMCO) ie a 3 days 2 nights stay in Cameron Highlands together with my brother Weng + wife & sisters Inn & Mei - cool weather, touristy & relaxing ! A stopover in Bidor & our group enjoyed savouring wan tan mee soup & duck thigh noodle & buying home a few packets of Kai Jai Peng (chicken biscuit) & Sat Kai Ma (sweet dessert) from the famous Pun Chun shop ! For the first time in history, the National Day (Merdeka Day falls on August 31) 2020 celebration was held under a new norm - no assemblies & parades by uniformed bodies, government agencies & private sector !
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| Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Pahang |
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| Boh Plantations, Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang |
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| Water Cress Valley, Tringkap, Cameron Highlands |
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| Kellie Castle, Batu Gajah, Perak |
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Bidor, Tapah District, Perak
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Sept 2020 - My Staycation No 9 & 10 (2 outdoor trips under RMCO) to 1) Kampar & Teluk Intan, Perak & 2) a 3 days 2 nights stay in Taiping plus visiting Kuala Kangsar, Gopeng, Kuala Sepentang & Enggor, Perak; the highlights of this month visit was the Leaning Tower of Teluk Anson, the Royal town of Kuala Kangsar, the scenic Taiping Lake, the sleepy town of historic Gopeng, the fishing village of Kuala Sepentang / a charcoal factory visit & the pre war Victoria Bridge in Enggor !
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| Kuala Kangsar, Perak |
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| Disney Avenue, Kampar, Perak |
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| Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan, Perak |
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| Heritage House Museum, Gopeng, Perak |
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| Kuala Kangsar, Perak |
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| Taiping Lake, Perak |
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| Kuala Sepeteng, Perak |
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| Victoria Bridge, Enggor, Perak |
Oct 2020 - My Staycation No 11 & 12 (2 outdoor visits under CMCO) to 1) The Linc, Jalan Tun Perak, Taman U Thant, Kuala Lumpur & 2) Elmina Central Park, Shah Alam (Selangor), Asean Sculpture Garden & Blue Mosque, Shah Alam; my home state, Selangor was placed under Conditional Movement Control Order (Red Zone) banning inter-district travel !
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| The Linc, Jalan Tun Razak, Taman U Thant, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Elmina Central Park, City of Elmina, Selangor |
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| National Monument, Jalan Parliament, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Asean Sculpture Garden, Jalan Parliament, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Blue Mosque, Shah Alam, Selangor |
Nov 2020 - My Staycation No 13 to 20 (8 outdoor visits under CMCO) to 1) Section 2 & 7, Shah Alam 2) PJ New Town, SS2, Petaling Jaya 3) Subang Ria & USJ1 Regalia 4) Old Klang Road, Brickfield, PJ Oldtown & Gasing Hill 5) Puchong Jaya, IOI Mall & Boulevard 6) SS15, Subang Jaya 7) Bukit Bintang, Bangsar, & Mont Kiara & 8) Trec Kuala Lumpur
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| Section 2 Street Art Lane, Shah Alam, Selangor |
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| PJ New Town, Petaling Jaya, Selangor |
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| Durian Wonderland, SS2, Petaling Jaya, Selangor |
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| Subang Ria Recreational Park, Subang Jaya, Selangor |
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| Street Art, USJ 1 Regalia, Subang Jaya, Selangor |
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| The Tree of Hope Mural, Indah UPC Building, Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Street Art IOI, Puchong, Selangor |
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| SS15, Subang Jaya, Selangor |
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| Little India, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Trec Malaysia, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur |
Dec 2020 - My Staycation No 21 to 24 (4 outdoor visits under CMCO) to 1) Ardence Labs, D'Network, ICC Pudu & Pavilion KL 2) Pudu Market, KL City Walk & Suria KLCC 3) Saloma Bridge & Bukit Nanas & 4) Titigong, Kuala Klawang & Semenyih Dam; a silent Christmas eve this year ! Congratulations to my youngest son (Wen Bin) wedding lunch (extended twice due to MCO) in Jaya Palace Restaurant, PJ & my mother-in-law's 88th birthday party in USJ, Subang Jaya.
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| Ardence Labs, Setia Alam, Shah Alam, Selangor |
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| D'Network, Setia Eco Park, Setia Alam, Shah Alam, Selangor |
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| Sunsuria Setia Alam, Shah Alam, Selangor |
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| ICC Pudu, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Pasar Pudu, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur |
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| KL City Walk, Jalan P Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Pintasan Saloma, Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Pavilion KL, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Murals on Wildlife Wonders of Malaysia, Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC |
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| Bukit Nanas Murals, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Titigong, Jelebu, Negri Sembilan |
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| Kuala Kelawang, Jelebu, Negri Sembilan |
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| Semenyih Dam, Selangor |
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| My youngest son's wedding lunch in Jaya Palace Restaurant, PJ |
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| My mom-in-law's 88th birthday in USJ, Subang Jaya |
Jan 2021 - My Staycation No 25 to 27 (3 outdoor visits under CMCO) to 1) Cultural Walk, Brickfields, street art in Jalan Tambipillay & Maha Vihara 2) Batu Caves & 3) Sunway Pyramid, ushering a New Year - hopefully a great recovery year for the world's economy & reopening of border crossings, reviving the badly hit tourism industry worldwide ! A nation wide Emergency was declared in Jan 2021 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases !
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| Cultural Walk, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Street art, Tambippilay, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Buddhist Maha Vihara, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Batu Caves, Gombak, Selangor |
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| Sunway Pyramid, Sunway City, Petaling Jaya, Selangor |
Feb 2021 - My Staycation No 28 to 32 (5 outdoor visits under CMCO) to 1) Sungei Way 2) Petaling Street & Suria KLCC 3) Pavilion KL 4) Rainbow Bridge, Serdang, Artsphere & Putra Permai, 5) Sunway Giza, Sunway Nexis & Tropicana Gardens, Kota Damansara; not a prosperous Chinese New Year this year due to a spike in Covid-19 cases & tighter travel restrictions ! Vaccination under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to begin Feb 24 2021.
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| Sungeiway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor |
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| Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur |
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| Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur |
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| 3D Animation Golden Bull show in Pavilion KL |
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| Rainbow Bridge, Serdang, Selangor |
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| Artsphere, Putra Permai, Seri Kembangan, Sealngor |
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| Serdang New Village, Selangor |
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| Sunway Giza, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor |
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| Sunway Nexis, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor |
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| Tropicana Gardens, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor |
March 1 > 18 2021 - My Staycation No 33 & 34 (2 outdoor visits) to 1) Cyberjaya, Sepang International Circuit, National Automobile Museum, Sungai Pelek New Village, Pantai Bagan Lalang, Avani Sepang Gold Coast Resort, Mimi Dragon Fruit Farm & KLIA Mitsui Outlet Park, Sepang & 2) Kota Damansara. "Farewell" my 3rd younger brother Kheong who passed away peacefully on Sunday March 7 2021. MCO SOP violators face up to Rm10,000 (US$2,430) beginning March 11 2021 - not so fine from now on ! For a Rm10,000 fine, you can buy an equivalence of 1,540 bowls (or more in smaller towns) of curry laksa in my home country !
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| Cyberjaya, Sepang, Selangor |
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| Sepang International Circuit, Sepang, Selangor |
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| National Automobile Museum, Sepang, Selangor |
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| Sungai Pelek New Village, Sepang, Selangor |
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| Pantai Bagan Lalang, Sepang, Selangor |
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| Avani Sepang Gold Coast Resort, Selangor |
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| Mimi Dragon Fruit Farm, Bagan Lalang, Sepang |
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| Mitsui Outlet Park, KLIA, Sepang, Selangor |
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| Selangor Polo Club, Kota Damansara, Selangor |
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| Brother Kheong's resting place in Kwong Tong Cemetery, KL |
Post 1 year anniversary MCO - continued My "love the neighbourhood" daily morning walk in SS17, Subang Jaya, Selangor (30 minutes). Good Morning, Subang Jaya !
Thursday March 18 2021 - Lunch (4 assorted dishes of noodles + Chinese tea Rm39 = US$9.50) with my wife & sisters Inn & Peng in Restoran Hong Tian, Taman Equine, Seri Kembangan, Selangor after a shopping in Aeon Mall, Taman Equine
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| Shrimp Wan Tan Noodle Rm7 (Small) |
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| Smoked Duck Noodle Rm8 |
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| Taiwanese Minced Pork Rice Rm9.90 |
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| Fried Fish Head Noodle Rm13 (US$3.17) |
Monday March 15 2021 - Lunch with my wife in Restoran Soon Heng in Taman Equine, Seri Kembangan, Selangor after paying a visit to my elder sister Inn - wan tan char siew noodle Rm7.90
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| Wan Tan Char Siew Noodle Rm7.90 (Big), Rm6.90 (Small) |
Tuesday March 9 2021 - Lunch with my wife & brother Weng in Restoran Bintang Kemuning, SS18, Subang Jaya, Selangor - a plate of fried rice, Hokkien mee & beef noodle for 3 = Rm32
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| Fried Rice Rm10 (US$2.50) |
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| Fried Hokkien Mee Rm10 |
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| Fried Beef Noodle Rm12 |
Monday March 8 2021 - Family members's prayer prior to the cremation of my 3rd younger brother Kheong (aged 66) in Crematorium MBPJ, Jalan 229, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, brother Kheong passed away peacefully on Sunday March 7 2021 due to illness
Tuesday March 9 2021 - Offering my family's prayers to my 3rd younger brother Kheong (aged 66) who passed away peacefully on Sunday March 7 2021 due to illness - final resting place in Kwong Tong Cemetery, Bukit Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur, also the resting place for my mum, dad & 2nd younger brother Yuen
Kwong Tong Cemetery - Jalan Dewan Bahasa, Bukit Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur - founded in 1895, the largest & oldest cemetery in Bukit Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, covering an area of 333 acres of land & final resting place of many notable pioneers in Malaysia in 2007, this 112 year old cemetery was named a Heritage Park
Cityscape as viewed from Kwong Tong Cemetery, Bukit Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur
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