1. Nei Jiang [Ximen] (NT1440 and NT1880 this is cooperate price you may not able to get this price)
The hotel is pretty clean and the service is good until they throw away all my gf contact lens(all no yet open) on the basin. All the contact lenses we gone and we were rushing for the wedding photography. Lucky, I managed to find on shop near ximen open at 9am. I made the hotel to pay for all the contact lenses after big argument as the cleaner refuse to admit she throw it away. The cleaner say it already in the bin when she clean the room. Waste so much time looking for contact lens and argument with the hotel. The manager took 1 hour and 30mins to arrive but told us 30 mins.
Distance from MRT: 5mins walk
Breakfast: Sandwich + box drink.
Recommendation: 7/10 (I took out the contact lens issue into this judging)
Location: 7/10
Note:  Their webpage is down during this posting blog.

2. Windsor B&B [Juifen] Recomended by kampongboycitygirl (NT 3200 and NT 3600 Weekday price)
The first impression of the B&B is pricey but i still go ahead as I never stay in this kind of place before. The distance of the B&B is far from the main road(about 15 mins walk) and climbing stairs is unavoidable. The view from the room is nice especially the windows is design with web to prevent mosquito so you can enjoy the natural breeze. I booked 2 different from for 2 days. Both have different design and style. Go ahead try it if you have extra cash to spent. The onwer of the B&B Mr Hzu Da Ge(Hzu big brother) is very kind, he even purposely bring us around Juifen by car to show us around Juifen waterfall and Green copper rock.
Distance from Main road: 15 mins walk
Breakfast: Sandwich+Fruit+Coffee/Tea/Chocolate
Recommendation: 7/10
Location: 6/10

3. Rotherburg B&B [Loudong] (NT3600 Weekday price) Recomended by kampongboycitygirl
This B&B every nicely decorated, you can feel the different of the quality compare to other B&B. Everything here carefully installed. The light/wall/wood/sofa/table deco. I managed to speak to owner and he told me most of the things here imported. Bad thing about this B&B there is nothing around. Need to take 15 min taxi to night market in Loudong. We just take a rest and have plenty of photo shooting in the house.
Breakfast: Too many thing to describe. They forget to give us yogurt as other guess have it. I did not request since the food already over kill.
Distance from anything: 15 mins car drive
Recommendation: 8/10
Location: 3/10

4. Forever ocean [Hwalien] (NT2500 Weekday price)
This the most friendly staff compare to any B&B i stayed. They carefully explain everything to me in details and I can feel they do happy explaining word by word in map(I asked alot of it). Both staff day and night(Vivi) very very nice. I would praise them in every way. Vivi speak mandarin like singing to you because she is Indonesia. B&B is walking distance to some shop lots but not night market. They have discounted price for taxi NT100 to anywhere in hwalien.
Breakfast: Sandwich+Fruit+Coffee/Tea/Chocolate very large portion. Male and Female breakfast are different. haha
Distance from shoplot: 15 min walk
Recommendation: 9/10
Location: 6/10

5. Julie House B&B [Ximen] (NT1800 and subsequent NT1200 same price for weekday or weekend)
I booked this B&B because i could not find any other place to stay. All fully book even it is 2 month advance. The room very small, I got no place to move after putting 1 cabin luggage and 1 big luggage. I have to leave my another luggage back outside the room. Breakfast only provided for 1 day, no breakfast for subsequent day. It pretty far from the MRT and the owner refuse to give exact location before booking.
Room condition quite dirty as the floor filled with some dust, the water from bathroom leak to the room cause bad smell. No lift. Water dispenser in common room has no water for 2 days. Good thing is washing machine can be use.
Owner help me to bring my 2 x 20KG luggage bag up and down the stairs. She is quite friendly and helpful.
Distance from MRT: 15 mins walk
Breakfast: Sandwich+Coffee/Tea/Chocolate
Recommendation: 5/10
Location: 4/10

I never heard of this otak otak shop so just go ahead and try their sample.

The sample are almost all taken when I reach. Could not even get clear picture as people squeezing to get a taste of it

After one try, walau…… so tasty. Even forget to take more photo of it. Try my best to test all favor.

Basically they have 4 favor in 50 piece per box.
Ikan(Fish) – Best selling – S$17
Udang(Shrimp) – S$24
Kepala Ikan(Fish Head) – S$17
Putih(White) Non spicy – S$17

We grab 100 piece. That 10 piece per person. I personally prefer Udang(Shrimp) favor.

So remember to contact them for booking and delivery. Address as below

Ruko Palm Spring B3 No5
Batam Center
Tel: +62 0778 707 1203

]]> http://www.tyjtyj.com/wordpress/2012/03/batam-otak-otak-by-pak-agu/feed/ 0 http://www.tyjtyj.com/wordpress/2012/03/batam-diana-layer-cake/ http://www.tyjtyj.com/wordpress/2012/03/batam-diana-layer-cake/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:55:10 +0000 Justin http://www.tyjtyj.com/wordpress/?p=194 After been to Batam so many times, finally I get to visit this famous Diana Layer Cake(or Kuey Lapis)

On arrival we were given sample to test on the original favor and prune favor.

After buying so many times by phone ordering and delivery, this time i get to taste the prune sample and prefer prune over original.

Let look at how they produce it.

So look delicious ? Yes it does. Don’t forget to buy some when you go to Batam next time.

Call them one day in advance to book to avoid disappointment.Oh they provide delivery but at same place far away charges apply.You can ask them to split the cake into 2 box so you can share with your friend.

Price for the layer cake during my visit

Original/Plain $25
Prune $29

Contact them using the address as below.

DIANA Layer Cakes
Komp. Taman Seruni Indah Blok G No. 10
Tel: +62 (0778) 466 906
Batam Centre

I need to go for pre lasik examination to check if my eye is suitable for the lasik. That cost RM120 once . The prelasik test took about 4 hour because need to wait for the eye drop to take effect. I go lucky as my corner actually thicker than normal person. So my operation consider low risk.

Due to financially complexity, I need to split my operation into 2 times, one eye at a time. Most people will do both eye at the same time.

So on 28 December 2011, I go for my first eye operation, the doctor decide to go for my left eye first as it is my dominant eye. Basically the operation steps are simple, open your flap, apply correction and close it.. sound easy right..

Here is what happen on the actual day
1. You were ask to change to the operation gown.
2. They will perform cleaning on your eye and area around it
3. Apply anesthetic around the eye.
4. Go into operation room(very cool). Lie on the bed and nurse will cover you with blanket
5. Doctor will apply some sticker to stop your eye lid from closing. Then apply suction cups to stop your eye from moving.
6. The laser will start to cut the flap. I need to keep focus on the blinking red light.  around 60 second.
7. After the flap bring cut, doctor will guide you to another bed. I have to keep my eye closed.
8. Doctor open the flap do some checking and begin the correction. I need to keep focus on green light and I feel sharp ice cool thing pinch into my eye. 60 seconds
9. Doctor close the flap and do some check.
10. Leave the operation theater and ask to close eye rest for 30 mins.

I need to perform the eye test the next day. Doctor need to check the flap is healing properly. My left eye unable to see close distance for 7 days. Means unable to read computer screen or handphone.

I need to come back for follow up test after 7 days and 1month and 3month.
Checkup and my eye showing 20/20 which is perfect..

Imagine you have to download 10 or 20 files from filesonic.com  without premium account, you will need to fill up captcha and wait for it download[might need to wait 20 mins before next download] then repeat again. If each file around 100mb, that will take you few days to download. So let me give you as solution. Some people call it anti recaptcha but it actually solve captcha using captcha.trader.

captcha.trader will be able to solve up the complex captcha for you. So all you do is queue up the download files in the Jdownloader and link up captacha.trader. Jdownloader will connect to captcha.trader to have someone solve the captcha for you. But wait everything come with as cost. Every captcha solved cost 10 point and you will need to earn that point. You must login to captcha.trader and help people solve their captcha and gain 7 point each correct answer.

Here is the step for the how process.
1. Download and install Jdownloader
2. Create account with captcha.trader
3. Install captcha.trader plugin to your Jdownloader.
4. Login to captcha.trader and start earning point/credit
5. Queue up your download in Jdownloader and see the magic works.

December
This has been as shopping month for me, I bought a Platonic Backbeat stereo bluetooth and Eye-Fi card from amazon, the shipping seems to be alot higher that expected but yet it still cheaper.

November
A trip to Bintan with love. It’s my most memorable trip and been very happy with the nice decorated room and time with my most love one.

October
I made my first trip to Singapore Zoo after been in Singapore for 4 years, it was raining heavily during this trip yet it enjoyable and we managed to hit all the main attraction. This is also the month we got united again with my ex cousemate. This year, we made tour to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

September
Surprisingly, September has been quite month for me. Apart from attending Joyce friend wedding in KL, there arent much things does this month.

August
Ah, remember this, I head over to Desaru, Johor with ex-colleague. Got the change to go back to days when I was small playing with the water slides.

July
That a trip back to Penang, where I bring my most loved person to “The Ship” for dinner.

Jun
This is the first time visit one of the seven wonder of world. It’s Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Also found I am not very interested in history

May
May was the month for Indonesia, I visited 2 places in Indonesia. A trip to Batam and Bandung. I cant remember how many times i been to batam so lets just skip that. Bandung is been as shopping heaven for girl. You can go just buy and buy cause thing there is so cheap. But the hotel is expensive though.

April
It’s another year I celebrate my birthday in Thailand. Also the first time, I hug other girl in front of my GF. Ops.. lets not elaborate further.

March
I had a early celebration at on of the high class restaurant. First time fine dining.

February
Got a pretty dress for my BB.

January
Ah, it Batam again…….

So here i got mine and configure up and running. One of the most advantage of this is the unlimited space capabilities. It can continuously uploading while you continue shooting, I notice the upload stop when your camera saving the file then it continues. It took about 2-3 sec to upload a 18 mega pixel jpeg file on the Wifi 802.11n network. I still have not get this tested on actual usage. My friend comment that this is draining lots of camera battery even when you turn it off. Well, I will test it out this Eye-Fi card this Chinese New Year in Malaysia.

PS: I found there is a store selling Eye-Fi card in Malaysia and the price quite reasonable. Hit the link below to see their price
https://www.mozuko.com/eye-fi-mobile-x2/

Searching thru all the hotel and reviews on tripavisor, I finally gives Bintan Agro resort a chance to hold this important trip. This price are reasonable comparing to those hotel in north east of Bintan. At lease something i can afford for the nice romantic trip.

The trip to Bintan took off from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, I wish to give her a relax and enjoyable trip so we go by Taxi directly from home. The ferry trip took use 2 hours 30 mins which really long compare to 1 hour 45 mins suggested by most traveler. Both of us were tired and we slept thru the ferry trip.

We arrived at Bintan’s Tanjung Pinang Ferry Terminal at around 2pm Indonesia time. I was expecting the place more modern compare to Batam but seems like it the same. The building are old and pretty rural.
We need to take another 45 mins van to the resort. I think I was lucky this time as I do not feel nausea which usually I do on the long trip. Road trip were pretty bumpy and the road are narrow. Most of the motorist does not follow the traffic rules. They just cross red light like no body business. Another finding is their house shape is only rectangle or square.

First impression on arrival of the resort is no very promising. The garden not well maintain and the furniture in the lobby are pretty old. The check in too quite some time and I have to decide the food for dinner and there is only 3 choice!!. Well maybe that’s their plan, I’ll go with it.

So they bring us to our room on ground flood(I asked for room exchange and was rejected. ).. I was hoping it is 2nd floor so i can have nice view of the sea and more privacy as I can leave the curtain open. I enter the room and I feel so surprise, the were nicely decorated. Very very romantic feel with the pink balloon all over the place. It has a small balcony outside(but no chair). Anything after this please see the picture.

Here come the next major decision of my life. The tablet that flood into the market like free device. Even uncle and auntie are look at it. What makes it so special to them ? I don’t know but probability their son, niece or whatever you name it needs it.

After going thru all the Tablet spanning in the market, I narrow down to major device that worth considering(Only refering to 10″. No point getting 7″ if you already have touch screen phone ). I am listing it down as least preference first.

1. Galaxy Tab 10.1″
This gets out the list first because lack of hardware support,  there no HDMI support and no USB support not mention any docking station and overpriced piece of hardware. I don’t in any direction this gonna standout of others.

2. Acer Iconia
Acer has everything I need about tablet, USB port, Docking station, standard micro USB port, 730g weight.
However there is one things bothers me anyway, It’s Acer anyway. My last Acer device barely able to pass 1 year without over heating issue. I am losing my trust of this brand for anything it come out with it.

3. Motorola Xoom
I finally ended up choose this as it have most out my requirement. Major item like Micro USB, HDMI, Tegra 2 GPU. One of the main consideration put in hope this device to get direct support from Google as it is AOSP Honeycomb.

Update 1 Dec 2011
Pretty regret about Xoom as the price from over S$888 down to 400 in just over 6 months. In addition to this, also learn that it might not the first to get ICS after Galaxy Nexus released. Furthermore, 12V charger also big problem as i need to bring addition charger to travel. Xoom not having IPS screen is a deal breaker considering I gonna look at the screen closely.