Octoberfest at The Curve
Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 6:45AM
Yesterday started off with a short drive to Serdang where I was invited to participate in a campaign they had there at the hospital. It was essentially an update on thrombosis. I was to talk about new anticoagulations. The talk went well. Having finished that, I had to rush straight back to UMMC to finish off the morning clinic.
The clinic was almost done when I got back. I sorted out the ward issues in the afternoon before getting off, and took the troupe out for dinner and jalan-jalan at The Curve. We all had our haircut, took dinner at Marche and bought Suraiya her birthday present. Her birthday party will be on Saturday morning.
Haircut time
Catching up on Ironman at one of the video shops
While waiting for Mum choosing presents for Suraiya
The foyer between the Curve and E has been transformed into a beer garden it seemed for the Octoberfest, complete with a brass band in tight leather trousers - they appeared British though rather than German - singing away merry songs. The waitress were clad in dresses and skirts serving pitches of beer, skipping away to the beat. My boys were wondering what was actually going on. Puan Anita explained to them that it was a German tradition kind of thing. Getting drunk on beer in October every year. They still appeared confused after that. But true enough, it was for Octoberfest. Even Marche played in into the celebration with sausage promotions and what have you. With the brass band, singing, lights an all, it would have been an experience for the boys but it was kinda hard to explain to them about the beer and everything. They started to ask one too many question.
Moleskine mania at Tango MangoAfter getting Suraiya's present, we took it to be wrapped up at Tango Mango, a nice little gift shop on the first floor of The Curve, right above Marche. Oh boy! They had a very good selection of Moleskine there, and I obliged to buy a couple of pads - for work of course. Moleskine were just addictive.
Marche, Moleskine, Octoberfest, The Curve in Diary 
Return to Padang Kota
After Carnivall, Julia decided to travel to Penang to visit our Grandmother, and we brought the whole troupe round. We reached there just before the traffic jam and had a quick stop at Pahang Road. Before Maghrib, we went to Padang Kota for a spot of laksa.
For some reason, the laksa was rather poor that evening. Maybe we ordered at the wrong stall. Even the pasembor was a bit off. But with all their cousins around, my boys were rather occupied with playing and never complained. A lot have changed at Padang Kota. It used to be a more open and happening place with food stalls lining up the streets. With Penang status as a Unicef Heritage City, there had to ‘clean their act’ so to speak and off went the hawkers. Instead, they were placed in purpose-built eatery, with the non-halal stalls occupying the front and prime end. A few years back, there were pickets going on, but it was quickly squashed by the politicians. The Malay politicians were busy filling up their own coffers I’m afraid rather than looking after the locals. Sad to say in it? I guess it was down to the pressure of getting more tourists in. The Mat Salleh of course like their drink.
However, the place has been much cleaner than I remembered although a lot more could have been done. A new pavement, more parking slots, cleaner toilets for a start I supposed. The boys spent the time at the playground until they were tired. It was not bad going considering they had been at the water park all day earlier.