Monthly Archives: November 2007

Bak Kut Teh in Malaysia

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Searching for best bak kut teh (BKT) is not easy across Malaysia. Also it is very subjective so recommendation from others may or may not be accepted. Forget to post this one during my visit to Singapore Malaysia last July.

Okay, so far I love Bak Kut Teh at Melaka as the best one. It is located just in front of Comfort Hotel. Cannot explain more detail about the taste, but 2 hours journey from Kuala Lumpur will be worthy for a bowl of this Teo Chew style BKT. Remember that they only serve BKT from morning till 1-2PM, after that no guarantee of any soup left.

Melaka Bak Kut Teh

And, when I went to Petaling Street at Kuala Lumpur, got a chance to test BKT kakilima. Well, I don’t quite like its soup (to light) and pork also not to good because I didn’t see any bak kut (pork ribs) at all!

Bak Kut Teh Petaling Street

Any more recommendations?

Being Streetwalker

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Walking in Jakarta sometimes has some fun and joy. As my recent work at Jakarta Ring 1 Area, near Monas, I have been enjoying its well-built pedestrian. Park my car at IRTI (Monas Car Park), then have to cross Medan Merdeka Selatan. You have to park your car at IRTI because no parking is allowed at any offices in this street including American embassy. It has been designed quite well, that after walking out from car park, all you have to do is press a button in red-light traffic control to stop passing car to cross the street. Since this area is monitored by cops, cars and motorcycle will automatically stop when they see red light and walkers cross.

Jakarta Pedestrian

There is a transjakarta busway stop in front of the IRTI car park in case you want to continue to use bus. It is line 2 (Harmoni – Pulogadung). And hey, did I mention that its pedestrian is safe and confortable for a walk? It is 4 meters wide, surrounded by big trees that even in hottest season still don’t make any sweat.

From this street, I went to Jakarta City Hall (Balaikota), a building for Jakarta Officers and also Governor’s office. American Embassy also can be reached in 5 minutes walking distance.

KoranInternet.com : A New Detikcom Contender

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Just get a link to a new website : KoranInternet.com

It is basically a starting-up internet online news, a contender for Detik.com which has been exist for nearly 10 years. Its website design and navigation also ‘very similar’  to detikcom (its Advertising banner is also very annoying, thanks to Opera to block its content ).

I think it still need many re-work on easier navigation  and news channel.

Movie Review: Lions for Lambs

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My Rating: 9 of 10

Lions for LambsLions for Lambs is a pack of 3 different characters in which linked one another in not-so-complicated way. Played by Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, and Merrill Streep surely will give you some guarantees that this movie is quite serious. Telling about side story about Afgan and Iraq War engaged by US and also pointing finger to Iran for something.

I should not explain what the meaning of film title is to you. You will understand it by watching the movie and listing carefully what Robert Redford said. Watching this film is a great pleasure for me, when I didn’t read the synopsis before, I didn’t expect something, and so on. Just going with the plot, trying to complete the puzzle in the movie by myself.

I love this kind of film, a simple story that forces you to think. A story that gives you multi point of view and separate you with your other audiences. Later when reaches the end, you will have a political standpoint and your partner and other audiences may have different standpoint too.

Intersting that this movies is so simple in cinematographics, all main characters show their best: emotions and script reading. Robert Redford just perform most of his part in a lecturer room, most of the time just sitting. Meanwhile Tom Cruise also does little, sitting and walking around a room while talking. Merril Streep does little too.

Very recommend you to watch in the cineplex. Don’t watch it in home DVD format as I am afraid that you will fall asleep. Need concentration to watch this serious movie, but I can say it is worthed watching if you like drama with strong plot.

Pacific Place Opening Date (22 Nov 07)

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 One Pacific Place

After several months delay, Pacific Place Jakarta is counting days for soft opening. Rumor said that it will have opening date as early as 22 November 2007. The name was purchased from Hong Kong Pacific Place. Opening Delay is okay when they can commit to open all stores simultaneously on the day, a good lesson from Senayan City opening. You can see that Grand Indonesia is lacking of this simultaneously opening concept.

The complex will consists of Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Office Towers, Condominium, and Pacific Place Shopping Mall.  Located at Jakarta SCBD, very near to Semanggi, next to JSX/BEJ Towers.

Ritz Carlon Hotel will be 5 stars hotel with luxury rooms and facilities. This photo was taken by someone, focused on the open air area on top of pacific place complex.

Ritz

Still lack of information from officials and newspapers, but I believe KidZania and Blitz Megaplex will be the first ready to open. Flagship store will be M Pacific Place, managed by Metro, then will have Kemchick Supermarket, Electronic City (currently is adjacent to the complex) once was rumoured to move to this mal, too.

KidZania (http://www.kidzania.co.id) is a place for kids to play some roles in day life. Located at Level 6th of the mal, Consists of 3 zones: airport, city, and suburb. Airport is entrance zone before kids are taken to city to play, kids have to enter fake plane, to be told that they will fly to city, but actually just walk from nose to tail of plane. And suburb will host industries. Entrace ticket price will cost some bucks for parents, but I think it will be a reasonable price for middle-up class.
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Jakarta to Build More Inner-City Highways

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As planned and agreed by minister, get ready for more traffic starting next year 2008. Jakarta planned to build 6 more inner city highways (Jalan Tol Dalam Kota) as complement to existing circle highway.

As we will be happy to use it when it is completed, but construction will take 3-4 years to complete. Should be easy to imagine where the traffic jam will be since it will be build in the middle of city. Even – I guess – it will be more hectic than current development of busway.

Newspaper only describe 6 highways without detailed map.

  • Kemayoran-Kampung Melayu (9,66 km),
  • Duri Pulo-Tomang-Kampung Melayu (11,38 km)
  • Rawa Buaya-Sunter (22,6 km),
  • Sunter-Pulo Gebang (10,8 km),
  • Pasar Minggu-Casablanca (9,55 km),
  • Ulujami-Tanah Abang (8,26 km)

By googling a bit, finally I got the brief map of proposed new highways, (as described as 6 Peta Rencana Jalan Tol Dalam Kota), subject to change because government has to buyback the occupied land to build highways.

Here is the map. Click to enlarge.

Peta Rencana Jalan Tol Dalam Kota