Dinner With YB Dato' Seri Chor Chee Heung

Try to go as high as you can; the higher you climb a mountain, 

you get to see things in a wider perspective."

words of advice from Kim senpai

This is my first time flipping through the menu of the restaurant after so many visits.

The Minister of Housing and Local Government, Y.B. Dato' Seri Chor Chee Heung was in Tokyo recently with a group of delegates to have several meetings with the Ministry of Environment and some agencies in Tokyo. Accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Cheong Guek Mee, a group of Malaysian students and those who are currently working in Japan were invited for a dinner with the minister and his delegated at Rasa Malaysia Cuisine Ginza last night.

There has been a lot of different kinds of experiences from my several dinners with the Cabinet ministers who came to Tokyo in the past. Some brought mooncakes for us during a Hari Raya gathering, while some put us airplane at the last minute. I wonder if it is my curse that whenever I arrive late at the dinner place, the whole delegates will be there already, but when I am early, they will be there late; that even sometimes, didn't come at all in the end haha wtf!

The main table, where Dato' Seri had talks and ideas exchange with the students.

A table which was occupied with mainly Malaysian businessmen who has made it big in Tokyo.

So this time, I decided not to arrive earlier or later, but to be there on the dot, although in the end I was late by two minutes. Sorry-lar, there was some human traffic jam inside the station lol! Like always, my curse will always be there. The delegate only arrived there almost one hour later as our stomach were already started to growl like Malayan sun bears.

We noticed that somebody were missing from the delegate when they were in the restaurant; Datin Seri, the minister's wife. The restaurant is right in the middle of Ginza - Japan's number-one destination for luxury shopping, and the wife is late for the dinner. Hmmm, I shall let you think of the hypothesis and make your own kesimpulan haha!

The students who had a great time having casual conversation with Dato' Seri.

Each students were given a couple of little souvenirs from the Fire & Rescue Department. As I was the unofficial photographer (like always lol!), I wasn't seating on my table and I guess one of the staff of the delegates must have thought that I work in the restaurant or something. So, I didn't get my souvenirs.

Wanna ask also quite paiseh, so I just sat down after that, until Dato' Seri noticed the emptiness on my table haha!

Finally got my cute key chain (yang sedia menyelamat) and USB thumb drive. By the way, that time on the key chain has always been 
4:25 and 55 seconds until now lol!

The delegates had a meeting with the Minister of Environment, Mr Goshi Hosono and discussed about the waste disposal management in Japan, and how the system, especially how the rubbish are separated in Japan, can be applied in Malaysia. Like what the CEO of Alam Flora, Datuk Haji Mohd Zain Hassan who was among the delegates in this trip, it will take some time before the system can be fully implemented back home. It requires a strong commitment both from the government and the communities. Having multiples of laws alone is not enough if the enforcement is not carried out and civil awareness of the people is still absent.

Alam Flora has just recently signed a 22-year contract with the government, in which they will revitalise the rubbish management in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. Each household will be provided with a rubbish bin, and all the lori sampah will be replaced with new ones. As for the other states (except Selangor and Penang) in the Peninsular, it will be managed under two other companies.

Satay with peanut sauce and cucmbers.

Seafood tom yam kung.

Air bandung cincau.

Fried chicken with spice.

Stir-fry mixed vegetables with scallops.

Fish curry with brinjals and ladies' fingers, sweet and sour soft crabs, black pepper chicken with capsicums.

The two chefs behind the kitchen who prepared the sumptuous dishes.

Born and breed in Alor Setar, in the northern state of Kedah, Dato' Seri Chor Chee Heung continued his studies in law at Lincoln's Inn London in 1975. As much as he loved the life in London so much, his parents insisted him to return right after he completed his studies. So, the only way for him to stay longer there is by doing his post-graduate studies in Business Law at the same place.

Knowing that it is not an easy thing to bertikam lidah with the ang moh in courts over there, he decided to returned to Malaysia in 1980, and commissioned as a Member of Chartered by Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, where he practised law for the next fifteen years. It was during this time he met his wife, who was then working in an insurance firm.

Sharing his experiences during his student years in London.  

We talked about various stuff - current political scene in Malaysia, his thoughts about studying abroad, and even some personal stuff like his hobbies, etc. He has been a Member of Parliament for Alor Setar for the last five terms, since 1990, which prompted me to ask him if he is contesting in the coming general election. It was a negative reply from Dato' Seri, as he plans to take up his doctorate course after he retires from politics. It is inspiring to see the enthusiasm he have to improve himself despite age. At the same time, his believes the younger generations should be given chance to shine as well. Only if more MP shares the same sentiment. And by the way, he feels that the GE13 will be in June.

We also talked recent hot topics such as AUKU (Universities and University Colleges Act 1971), Lynas controversy and the many lubangs here and there through corruptions, in which I shall spare the details. However, I appreciate his readiness and transparency in not trying to deny that it existed in the "past", and "lesser" now. Anyway, it sometimes makes us wonder when one minister has one opinion while the other has a different idea on a certain issue. But I guess it is merely their personal view, which doesn't reflect the party of the coalition's stand.

At the end of the dinner, we spent some time talking to the working Malaysians who were at the dinner too. One of them was Kim senpai from Kangar, who has lived in Tokyo for the past 24 years! It was a nice conversation with him, a very bubbly, funny sometimes, and down-to-earth person. Talking to people like him, listening to his wise words of advice, sometimes makes us feel that there are still so many stuff in the world out there, yet to be explored.

A group photo with Dato' Seri and his delegates with the Malaysians outside the restaurant along the busy street of Ginza.

And just like how he put it, whenever there's an opportunity, grab it as soon as possible.

Moving To The World's Most Expensive City

"I was born and raise in a small town called Taiping,

and now I am living in a city, which starts with T too; 
they call it Tokyo."

random thoughts of the blogger

Old house in Inage (Point A), new house in Shinkoiwa (Point B) and soon-to-be working place in Akihabara (Point C).

I am now officially a resident of Tokyo, as I just moved in exactly one week ago. Technically, Tokyo has just been overtaken by Zurich at the top spot last month as the most expensive city in the world to live in; a position it has held on for more than two decades.

After sending out the one-ton elephant a few days earlier, what's left were some remaining stuff, which we brought along when we left Chiba and went to my new place in Shinkoiwa of Katsushika Ward, one of the 23 wards in Tokyo. Katsushika Ward lies on the north east of Tokyo metropolis and neighbours the cities of Matsudo of Chiba Prefecture, and Misato and Yashio of Saitama Prefecture.

In front of Nishi-Chiba Station (西千葉駅) with Kai Cung, before leaving Chiba for the new house.

Katsushika, a city which is full with waters and greens, at least that is what's written here lol!

My new house in Shinkoiwa is only five minutes on foot from the train station. It is a one-room studio apartment, which is just nice enough for a single person. Although I would have wished to have a more spacious room, especially the kitchen section, the rent will be more if I choose a bigger place. So, I guess this one is just about enough. Compared to my two previous houses, this one is by far the smallest in terms of floor area - only 14.46 square meters. That includes a mini-sized kitchen and a shower-cum-toilet.

Can't complain much-lah; everything here in Japan is mini-sized one. Besides, it is pretty new, as it was built just more than four years ago.

The neighbourhood basically is surrounded by houses, not shops and the main roads are a few blocks away; so it will be less noise, at night especially.



A back lane, which is a shortcut to my apartment. Full of plants, which I am sure my grandma and mom would love it a lot haha!



Precious Shinkoiwa (プレシャス新小岩). I know it sounds a bit corny but well, it is a "precious" place to live in lol!



Shinkoiwa 4-chome 10-13; that's part of my new address.



My unit's the one at the very end. 



First thing to see when I opened my door was this surat cinta from the management company haha!



This is before my stuff arrive. Still very empty and clean.



The bathtub and shower are in the same place together with the toilet bowl. So, while showering, can pause a while and shit, then continue to shower. 
 Save time and efficiency to the highest level right haha wtf!



Kitchen and the space to place the washing machine.



Mr Electrican from NTT Higashi Nihon setting up the Internet for my unit.

 On my first morning waking up in my new place, I was woken up not by the roosters, but guess what? Usually, in kampung, you have roosters to berkokok early in the morning as the alarm clock semulajadi right? But here in Tokyo, some stupid dogs was barking like nobody's business already since pagi-pagi buta. Damn noisy I tell you!

After a few days however, I think that dog must have gone somewhere. Just when I thought I will have a peace of mind from those unwanted natural alarms, now there is a black fat cat, which keeps meow-ing not only in the morning but at night as well. I have no idea whose cat was that, but he just loves to lepak along the lane behind my house =.=

The area around the South Exit (南口) of JR Shinkoiwa Station (新小岩駅).

There are many pachinko and entertainment outlets around this area.

You can perhaps learned some Arabian from Aladdin in Shinkoiwa haha wtf!

Lumiere Shopping Street (ルミエール商店街), is by far, gonna be one of my favourite spots here.



Had my first meal at my new place in a Thai restaurant - Mamita.



Green curry set meal. It was okay, but nothing extraordinary.

There was a shopping street which was right opposite of the train station, which stretches for about a few hundred meters long. Here, you can get almost everything you look for. A wide variety of food - not only Japanese food like the usual ones: ramen, takoyaki, 105-yen kaiten sushi, traditional cakes and snacks, but also Italians, Thai, etc. are abundant here. Other shops are pharmacy, 100 yen shop, bank, souvenir shop, optometrist, and many more.

Kesimpulannya, I just love this place!

The North Exit (北口) of Shinkoiwa Station.

The Ward Office of Katsushika Ward is located in Tateishi (立石).

Some statue greeting the visitors to the office. Not sure who's that, but I guess it must be someone famous in the past.

Of the few city and ward offices (Nagaoka and Inage) I've been to so far, this one is the biggest and it looks much newer as well.

Was given a text to make my life in this city easier lol! It has maps and guidance about the public amenities, library, what day to throw the rubbish, 
phone number to call in case of emergency, etc.

On the next morning, I took a bus to Katsushika Ward Office to have my new address recorded on my alien card. Alien card is something like an identification card for foreigners (whom they refer us as aliens, hence the name "alien card") who lives in Japan. I guess they Japanese immigration people had finally realised that it was not appropriate to refer us as aliens; who doesn't feel offended when people call you "makhluk asing", that beginning July this year, a new system to replace the alien card will take place.

After my stuff at the Ward Office was completed, I asked Kai Cung out to have lunch together. Of so many eateries, he suggested the very same Thai restaurant I had my dinner the previous day lol!

Lunch set meal consisting of kapao rice, pathai, tom yam soup and salad.

It was only my second visit here, I think that restaurant lady must have recognised me that she offered me with a free glass of coffee. The chef saw me from the kitchen, 
and he whispered to the waitress, asking her if I was the guy who ate here the night before, and she quickly nodded and "kap kap kap" him lol!

The stuff that bothers me a lot every time moving into a new place. Completing the forms to inform the water company the date I moved in.

Part of the booklets from TEPCO, the electricity company. Even their guide book looks so cute like mangas.

My first home-cooked meal at my new place. Kitchen still not functioning properly, so I just cooked some instant noodle with excessive carrots in a claypot haha wtf!

My seniors invited me out for lunch yesterday and as for now, there are five Malaysians who lives in this area - Sze Keat and his wife, my ex-senior from Nagaoka Kosen, Sean and Liew Qing. It was something like a reunion with the two of them after so many years haha!

Currently, I have more or less settled down with my stuff and everything but the place is still not ready to have visitors because it is still kinda, well, packed with stuff, including some of Kai Cung's stuff that he's now tumpang-ing here temporarily until he moves into his hostel. Once I have slowly discard those unwanted stuff and the place is ready to welcome visitors, then I shall have a simple house warming party.

Have to do make the house warming party as soon as possible before it gets really warm come summer haha!