Arcadia, Costa del Este

After an almost 40 hours journey (including transit waiting time in SG and AMS), I arrived in Panama City around 5pm something on 17th January. Waited for the company pick-up driver but he did not come. Was so frustrated. I had to call him multiple times and waited for 3 hours. Apparently, some misunderstanding on my arrival date as he came the day before but I wasn't there so he thought I'm not coming😏

I was so drain of energy to vent my anger...which I believe is not his fault but the office manager who gave him the wrong date. My boss who arrived at a later flight saw me looking like a dead fish pitied me too😥

And then I still have to find my way to get into the airbnb coz no one is there to guide or pass me any keycard....

So, i texted the office manager, and she gave me the instructions to open the door. Tried for 15 minutes then only manage to get into my 'new house'....almost wanna pengsan....was hungry, jet lag and tired 😰

Anyway, since I already so drain of energy (battery running low)...just simply snapped a few pictures of the apartment unit.

[Below] Laundry room with washing machine and dryer.

Walk-in closet

Bedroom

Living room

Dining table and living room

Kitchen with all the cooking equipment and fridge.

OK, quite a decent place to stay. Better than the previous apartment....coz this one comes with a view.....

But it was already nighttime so I couldn't capture the 'view' yet....gotta wait till the next morning.

McD Prosperity Burger & Kampung Vibes

[Throwback last Dec/early Jan] Had this from a Malay nasi campur stall in a local campus canteen. RM7 for rice with 3 dishes: ikan keli masak lemak, beansprouts and sambal potato wedges.

The view from the canteen...

So green...

It has the 'kampung' vibe, peaceful, serene and with lush greenery

Not far from the canteen there is a parking lot

The airport ERL passes by every now and then

cloudy day

[Below] The carpark lot is full coz it is a weekday morning

Campus cat lazying around the compound

I kacao her with my terrible 'meow' greeting....She stared at me like 'what the helly with this hooman?'

i'm just here to say hi😂.....don't be mad yea

Then she went back to her relax mode

The students nowadays are so lucky to have 24 hours warm food vending machine. During my time, we can only cook maggi if hungry at late night, or worse still eat biscuit or drink milo to survive till the next morning when the canteen opens again.

This vending machine has nasi lemak!

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Unrelated to the above, i miss my cny snacks!!! My favorite snack is always the arrowhead chips, but I seldom buy from outside...We usually DIY homemade.

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McD Prosperity burger....I had this for the 4th times already since Dec last year.

McD nuggets for my Christmas eve. RM26.70 per box of 20 pieces.

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[Below] Chinese nuggets😄

RM13.80 nett for 10 pieces of chives+pork dumplings in Fu Man Yuen restaurant.

Casco Viejo

Back in Panama again....

Passed by this old Catholic cathedral known as Metropolitan Archcathedral Basilica of Santa María la Antigua.

The last time I came here was in 2023, during daytime. This time was at night after the team dinner at a nearby restaurant. It looks creepy in dark....

[Below] Museum

The restaurant....

Starter was some corn chips

Will blog about that in the future....hahaha....

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Meanwhile, i bought my favorite assorted chips bag from the nearby supermarket. In this bag, there are plantain chips, potato chips and crispy bacon crunch. When you can't decide, buy a pack that has all 3 😂

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Back to seeing elevators with 'PB' floor which means Planta Baja (aka Ground Floor).

to be continued....

Pik Wah, Olive Hill Serdang

This is our annual family gathering, held every November to celebrate my aunt’s birthday. She never fail to invite all our relatives to join in the joyous occasion. She & her husband paid for the dinner banquet and did not expect any gifts in return. Yea, a generous aunt indeed.

They booked a private room with 3 tables. Not many relatives attended coz some elderlies were unwell or has mobility issue hence did not attend.

It was a Chinese banquet with 8 course meal which starts with cold appetizer platter (no picture taken).

Then, followed by double-boiled chicken soup.

My first time trying morel mushroom. Kinda tasteless, most likely the flavor already absorbed into the soup.

Steamed chicken, which is served with oil rice (not in picture).

Braised pork belly with mushrooms, broccoli and beancurd sheets.

[Below] Sweet and sour prawns. There's also a fish dish which is not in picture.

Dessert was red bean mochi and lotus paste sesame balls.

And tong yuen as well.

There are 2 birthday cakes which I only took a bite each coz I was too full from all the foods already.

Midam - Sundubu jjigae

Went to Midam Korean BBQ restaurant for one last time before leaving the country....

I had sundubu jjigae...which comes with 6 banchans

Then the Korean boss belanja seaweed and wished me happy new year😀(it was 2nd Jan then)

so it's 7 banchans now....

was super full after finishing the food....and the barley tea (did not finish coz it's a full bottle)

see, I don't waste food😀

total bill came to RM22 nett.

Ramen Abura

This is a Japanese ramen shop located in the neighborhood 'The Store' building, opened sometime last year.

with fast food style settings and kiosk to order food

specializes in dry-style ramen 'abura soba' or 'mazemen'

Instead of dry ramen, i had shoyu ramen.

It has charsiu and a whole soft-boiled egg. Tastewise just like ordinary average shoyu ramen.

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Tried Pizza Hut RM17 promo set meal.

I had tomato sauce spaghetti, potato wedges and mushroom cream soup.

The spaghetti has little chunks of chicken...taste mediocre. Fast-food standard. For such price can't expect much.

Final Day in Taipei

The ceiling at the hotel cafeteria

Breakfast - Porridge with 6 mini dishes

Nothing beats a warm porridge on a cold morning...yummzzz!

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Soy milk from 7-11 (next door to the hotel), tea egg and rice ball. To eat at the airport.

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What are sold at the bakeries in Taipei?

various kind of buns.....very creative

taro is quite popular here too...

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MAS flight meal - noodles with fish