The journey (in an A380)...

For the last two weeks, I was in France for a training course and had the chance to ride in an A380. I first saw the A380 back in 2006 in its factory in Toulouse but being actually inside the plane is quite different because it didn't feel "big" in a sense until you see its wings compared to other aircrafts outside from inside the cabin. However, there isn't any double-decker plane around except the old B747 but that was a totally different era. The KLIA has structures (waiting area for embarkation made for the A380) but unfortunately for the birth country of the A380, the airport wasn't designed for it (had to climb the staircase inside the plane)...

 Getting ready for embarkation in KLIA: notice that the connecting platforms were in two levels, allowing passengers destined for the upper deck to enter directly into the upper deck without having to climb stairs. All one need to do is to pay a bit more for the economy tickets and you can have the upper deck seats which are far more comfortable and spacious. Besides, look at the waiting lounge...

 From Paris to Besançon, it was a train ride through the Bourguignon landscapes...

 At CDG, the waiting area was configured quite differently...

 One-level connecting platform so had to climb stairs inside the plane...

 Look at the other aircrafts to have an idea of the immense size of the A380...

 Sea of clouds outside Paris...

 And over the Black Sea...

Then into the evening skies of Asia Minor...

Sunday Market Rush

Last Sunday, I had to wake up very early in the morning to go to the Sunday market in Raub town because it is time to stock up on some foodstuff that can be frozen for CNY consumption, namely fish and meat. As expected, the crowd turned up in numbers even in the early hours ( I was there at 7:30 in the morning) and things were going fast...everything seemed a bit expensive, especially seafood like fish and shellfish. Otherwise, traditional food stuff still cost more or less the same...

 Pulasan was aplenty and reasonable at RM4.00 a kilo. However, they were tad under-ripe for me...

 Fancy the king of fruits at RM10.00 a clump (of 4 thorny fruits)...

 Petai, or Sting beans seems to be in season forever for the past few months...

An array of traditional vege - tiny green brinjals, caladium stems and tumeric...

 Freshly picked cucumbers were very reasonable...

 Some local herbs for the table...

 Only for the trained and acustomed tongue...pickled sting beans Jering and coco yam stems (which has an interesting flavour and texture if well cooked but will turn "itchy" on the tongue and throat if not well treated - an item to try for the brave and curious)

Fermented tapioca...

 Langsat is in season too...

 Keladi Tahun, the large purple variant. It is called so because the rhizome takes a year to form. I think it belongs to the ipomea family of climbers.

 Jackfruit and coconuts...

Gingers for a steal anyone...only RM1.00 a plate.

 Freshly plucked papayas were good but recently had a price increase due to demand from suppliers to larger premises in KL (according to the lady hawking these...)

 Kerisi now costs RM18.00 a kilo...used to be a poor man's fish, or is it still?

 Selar, it's poorer cousin, costing the same...

Farmed prawns at RM40.00 a kilo, something which is best avoided for economic and health reasons, whichever comes first...

 At RM60.00 a kilo, these tiny pomfrets actually costs pound for pound the price of prime chilled Australian beef.

 Farmed groupers and snappers at RM30.00.

 Traditional chopping boards made from rot resistant wood Tembusu.

 Steamed Chinese cakes.

My favourite - roasted ducks at RM40.00 a whole duck - still a bargain compared to the fishes!

Zen way to start 2014

It was said that certain zodiac signs will clash with the coming horse year (what doesn't clash these days?)...so I gather a bit of peace will be good to start off 2014. I had this video taken on a clear day in December 2013 after a break in the rainy weather...

The Foresty Officers had just cleared off a part of a thickett for their camp site and it was abandonned a day ago, making it convenient for non-campers like me. Plus point - quietness like never before except for the sound of rustling water, cries of cicadas and the wind...