A Look Back at A&W in Malaysia

I remember going to a drive-in in Singapore. One of the first in Malaysia was at AIA buiding. I love their tuna sandwich and lemonade and was heart broken when they were discontinued because they claimed they were not popular with Malaysians.

Things went downhill after that. One had to drive to Shah Motel area in PJ for waffles. We had to avoid getting hugged by the blind bear mascot because it stinks. I found a quick and safe place to grab a Coney Dog. (as it was known then). Now Chicken or Beef Coney.

It was at the old railway station of KL The first outlet to get a root beer (as it was known then). Now RB in a chilled mug was Batu Road opposite Mun Loong. Now Kamdar?

Shall we talk about Kentuky’s jelly ice cream? Now KFC.

Don’t Be Square

In the first part of my story on Austrian entrepreneur Alex Mark, I wrote about meeting the owner and chef from Moussandra some 15 years or longer ago. He has since settled in Langkawi and we lost contact.

Fast forward to 2017. I started the hotel booking portal. In the early part of this year I was researching unique and strange hotels and I came across Das Park Hotel in Austria. It is a collection of five freestanding cylindrical rooms made from re purposed metropolitan drainage pipes. I was wondering how Malaysians will take to sleeping in sewer drain pipes or longkang as they call it.

Incidentally, I have been to Austria only once because me and Malaysian student friend, George, drove from Chur in Switzerland to Austria to look for beers after midnight. The guard at the small border post had not even heard of Malaysia. He and his German Shehperd dog examined our passports hard.

Found out that, by coincidence, Alex is operating a similar concept hotel on Langkawi Island, Malaysia, where he and family settled. First thing I asked Austrian Alex Mark is whether it is connected to Das Park in Austria and he said no. He said he liked the idea and decided to tubocharged it. He gave it a less cryptic name – Tubotel Langkawi, The keyword being tube. It is affordable compared to many other hotels and resorts on the holiday island and has a great view of the ocean. Each pipe is air conditioned, has a double bed, TV but with external shared bathrooms.

Book Tubotel Langkawi here and see more pics: https://www.agoda.com/partners/partnersearch.aspx?cid=1775757&pcs=1&hid=337916

Pics from Tubotel website at http://www.tubotel.com/website/ Their slogan is Don’t Be Square!

#tubotel #langkawi #nalaysia #island #tubehotel #beach #mycenhotels

Will The Real Me, Please Stand Up

I always thought it it was viral paranoia by people who will share any internet warning.

Today, I received a fake add friend request from my friend Melinda Song who is already a friend. Being suspicious, I wanted to message her husband Kenny Song to ask if she was hacked.

Before I can seek confirmation, she posted on her account saying her Fb was cloned identically. Her friends who accepted commented they received a message soon after asking for their phone number. Melinda posted some new pics which I dare not like not knowing if they are real.

It is all Facebook’s fault for they can easily detect clones and prevent the opening of such accounts. Like how Gmail will warn you that a mail was spoofed and may not be from the address claimed.

Should you be aware you are cloned, always report to Facebook so the fake accounts are shut and Facebook becomes aware of how widespread the issue is. By not reporting, you may be hurting innocent friends exposed to crooks.

There is no point warning people not to accept or declaring bravely you will never open a second account. Shit happens. Give people a means to contact you to verify outside Facebook.

Should you ever receive a second request from me, you can e-mail me at tvsmith@gmail.com to confirm, or reach me by Instagram @tvsmithmy or via Twitter @tvsmthmy
Or if you remember any mutual friends, contact them and they might know.

Or search for my website/blog at http://www.tvsmith.my/ or Google “tv smith malaysia”

If you need to find this post again, search for these tags on Facebook or Instagram.
#cloning #clone #cloned #fbcloning #tvscloning

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4th of July Fireworks

My American friend, Chris Raborn, the solo explorer, wanderer and born again photographer sent me a message just now with a picture “Thanks for the fireworks tips. I like how this turned out”

It is the Louisiana State Capitol Building in capital city Baton Rouge. Louisiana time is GMT -5 and it is around 1:30 am there local time now. Well done, Chris. We met when he was working in South East Asia.

“Thanks! You always have good photo tips” he added when I told him I am going to share it, Chis is at @chris.raborn.photography on IG.

Find a hotel in Baton Rouge via Mycen Hotels here:
https://www.agoda.com/partners/partnersearch.aspx…

I featured a picture from him at the holiday congested Yellow Stone National Park in April this year. He made my day to know I played a small part in the Independence Day celebrations.

#fireworks #4thofjuly #independenceday #louisiana #batonrouge #usa

The Goddess of Derrieres Deity

Critical Appreciation – 006

Zoila (@zoila_guerrero) is now at Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand, Previously, the jet setting Ecuadorian was seen in cities such as Prague, Warsaw and Milan. She enhances any beach landscape.

Kneel, clasp your hands and pray or bow to the Goddess of Derrieres deity or Queen of shapely backsides. 🙂

When you hand over your camera to someone, you need to examine the background yourself and remind your friend to avoid any distracting objects such as a lamp post or a building sticking out from your head? I didn’t like the rock behind her magnificent backside Solution? Move. It is a long beach.

Ko Pha Ngan is an island off Surat Thani in the Gulf of Thailand. See over 300 hotels and resorts here via Mycen Hotels:

https://www.agoda.com/partners/partnersearch.aspx?cid=1775757&pcs=1&city=17402

#tvscapic

#hailand #kophangan #beach #mycenhotels #equador #landscape #bikini #backside