Malfreemaps 1st Anniversary Mega GG at Ipoh, Perak.

The Malfreemaps First Anniversary Mega Gathering was held at the Dome Cafe of Majestic Station Hotel which located at The Railway Station of Ipoh. (N4°35.842' E101°04.411')

The community was created since September 2008. There are more than 12,000 members up to now. This is A GPS Enthusiast forum where everything from Global Positioning System to mapping knowledge are provided and discussion room. The FREE map provide from here cover Malaysia (include East Malaysia), Singapore, Brunei and some of South Thailand (The Thailand map was started developed few months ago). Feel free to visit the main website : Malfreemaps

I was there quite late and the place was full of peoples! This was also a good chance for me to meet up many old friends. Because most of the time we only meet in the internet forum, hardly can see each other...
I would like to share some photos of this unforgettable event!!

Antyong given speech (Admin of the Malfreemaps Forum)

The organiser from Ipoh - Ronchan

Special Award from Ronchan to Antyong

Foods and drinks also provided in the area. You can keep on talking, eating and drinking until you enough! haha!

Beside the foods, the Organiser also prepare the mfm Anniversary cake for everyone!

mfm Cake

After the foods, all members started their learning, discussion and chatting session....

Sharkteef (Forum Moderator) and Fancheng (Seremban Senior Mapper)

Members from all Malaysia and Singapore...

email2me (Blue) from www.foodpoi.com

Penang and Singapore members...

Practice and learning....Tlchuan (Blue) from Penang.

Tympg from Penang. Everywhere he go, he will bring his GPS map and paper map...

Sharkteef from Kuala Lumpur - New forum Moderator

Group photos of the event

The event was very successful with more than 70 peoples turn up. The Media reporter from Sinchew and China Press also attended the gathering.


I left the gathering around 5.30pm, most of them went to dinner together at Yee Man Restaurant at Lawan Kuda. I did not join them...
More photos of the event : Malfreemaps


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Related post :-
* Malfreemaps.com Mega GG (Gathering) at Gunung Ledang 2009

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Bye Bye To Gunung Ledeng Resort - Johor

When we woke up the next day (11am), most of the members had gone back...Left only 4 families - GPSSin, OngCC, Antyong & me.
So we decided to have our lunch at Muar. After almost one hour drive, we reached the Merlin Restaurant at Taman Orkid, Muar.

Our order :-
1) Vegetables
2) Muar Otak-Otak
3) Sambal Squid
4) Sambal Shrimp
5) Japanese Tou-Fu
6) Deep Fried fish ("Dragon Tongue" in Chinese)
7) Assam Fish x2 (The Signature Dish)

Our dishes......

The Famous Muar Assam Fish - our all time favorite!

They maintain the foods standard very well (Rated : 4.5/5).
I had visited this restaurant many time, and the Assam Fish is just Marvelous!! Except don't visit it during Chinese New Year, because I believe the main chef will on-leave and the substitute will take over....and the Assam Fish standard drop! I tried it once!

All of us were satisfied with the foods. Two thumbs up!

Francis was taking the photos of the foods...

It only took us about 15 minutes to finish all the foods on the table. You can imagine how delicious about the foods! Haha!


The damage was : MYR108.00 (For 8 adults and 3 children)
That was about MYR27.00 per family! It was just unbelievable CHEAP!

I will visit this restaurant very often! Do you?

Related post :-
* Malfreemaps.com Mega GG (Gathering) at Gunung Ledang 2009
* Seng Kee Restaurant at Jementah, Johor
* Malfreemaps Mapping Discussion at Gunung Ledang Resort, Johor
* Merlin Restaurant (Assam Fish) at Muar, Johor.
* Gunung Ledang Resort (Mount Ophir), Johor

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Malfreemaps Mapping Discussion at Gunung Ledang Resort, Johor

The discussion started after our dinner at Seng Kee Restaurant.
Where the big boys in one group and all others family members in other group. We discuss many issue about the map and the community. Purely serious discussion for almost 3 hours!

when it was about 11:00pm, someone ( I forgot who was that) said he need some water and the restaurant already close, then someone gave a very fast answer :"Just bring our Beer!"

Jaguar seriously work on the computer with the companion of the "Godfather" Beer from India!

Everyone were seriously discuss about the MFM map

The situation just seems like everyone found an Oasis in the desert! Haha! But the discussion still carry on and we need to discipline ourself.....
The bell rang on almost 1am! Then the discussion finished and follow by party time!! :)

Everyone started to change their concentration to the cold box!! We began our 'Talk-Cock" session again!
The Carlsberg beers were sponsored by MG and the Godfather beers by Edmund.

Our chit chat covered every topic under the sun! Even the Story about the Puteri (Princess) of Gunung Ledang. The history surrounding......
Fancheng (Member from Negri Sembilan) was so kind enough to prepare the supper for us! The "Seremban Siew Pow" and the "Tan-Tat". The Siew Pow is one of my favorite!

Seremban "Siew Pow"

Seremban "Tan Tat"

Jaguar trying show us that after so many can of beers, he still can post message to MFM forum.

right : Edmund, Jaguar and GPSsin

The session end about 4:30am! That was the time everyone were so tired and exhausted...
The night end with joyful moment! And....good night!


Related post :-
* Gunung Ledang Resort (Mount Ophir), Johor
* Malfreemaps.com Mega GG (Gathering) at Gunung Ledang 2009
* Seng Kee Restaurant at Jementah, Johor

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Malfreemaps.com Mega GG (Gathering) at Gunung Ledang 2009

We drive from JB around 12:45hrs. Exit at Pagoh Toll and towards, Panchor....then Bukit Gambir, Sagil....reached the Gunung Ledang Resort (N2°20.902' E102°38.154') at 15:45hrs.
I thought we were late to check-in, unexpectedly....most of the members also arrived at the same moment.

We had a bad luck that, our room 13A Power Point was not working. Call up the maintenance guy to verify but he cannot figured out the problem too! Luckily, we changed the next room. The staff at the Reception was friendly.

After settle the room, my wife & daughter exploring around the resort and I join the Malfreemaps group at the restaurant area to kick start our GG (Geek Gathering)! There were total of 16 members and their family.

We started with our 'Talk-Cock' session and it last for 2 hours until we all went for our dinner at Jementah.....

The smile of everybody face started our Gunung Ledang GG 2009

Everybody was excited about the 'GG' T-shirt!

Members from Singapore (Left) : Redstorm, Silverbeauty and friend from North.

The 'peace' by Singawon

You can hear the GPS map discussion at any minute!

Our camera man decided to take a group photos with the MFM Jersey...

Look at their mouth?? What going wrong??

Malfreemaps actually is a group of GPS Enthusiasts who love GPS and Mapping very much. We do it as a hobby and hope to see more peoples who have the same interest that can join this community. If you wanna know more about it, please visit http://www.malfreemaps.com

Our chalets during night time.....

Related post :-
* Gunung Ledang Resort (Mount Ophir), Johor
* Seng Kee Restaurant at Jementah, Johor
* Malfreemaps Mapping Discussion at Gunung Ledang Resort, Johor

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GPS is your Best Traveling Companion

Simple explanation for GPS (Global Positioning System)

Question : "What is the numbers on your blog?" example : N5°08.286' E102°48.663'
Answer : This is GPS Coordinates.

They are many types of GPS devices in our local market. The common 2 types are : Road navigation and outdoor activities. Range from MYR350.00 to MYR2,500.00. The popular brand in Malaysia and even international is Garmin. And the popular models available locally are : Nuvi200 series, NUvi300 series, NUvi600 series, GPS60 CSX, eTrex Vista HCX and eTrex series. All models are suitable to different application.

All the above mention devices are built-in the "Auto-routing" function that navigate you from one place to another. The devices will prompt or alert you in voice for the next turn and even some proximity alert, if you miss the 'turn' prompt from the device, please don't get panic....because it will recalculate another alternative route immediately.

Question : "What is the monthly charges?"
Answer : There is no monthly charges for it. Only the equipment cost.

Question : "Where can we get Malaysia and Singapore GPS map?"
Answer : MalSingMaps (It's FREE!!! The map also built-in with many and many useful POI)

Question : "What is POI?"
Answer : Places Of Interest

Once you get you GPS device, you can log-in to Malsingmaps and start to learn the step-by-step uploading map to the device. 2 versions available : Locked & Unlocked.
Locked : You need to contribute to the community to receive you unlocked code for the latest update map.
Unlocked : You can load to any device with this detail map, updated June 2007.

Another alternative is using PDA (Personal Digital Asistant) for GPS Road Navigation. (It's not suitable for outdoor activity because of it's not weatherproof)
Solution :
If you already a PDA owner, you can just buy another GPS Receiver (Bluetooth or CF type) to make it become your navigation guide.
Step-by-step configuration is available at Malsingmaps.

A little bit of me.......
I am using the second alternative.
I bought my GPS during 2003 because of I need to travel to Kuala Lumpur (from JB) twice a week. I wasted too much time on the road for searching my clients office therefore I decided to get myself a Navigation Angel!

During that time, I paid MYR650.00 for my Haicom 302 Compact Flash GPS Receiver and attach with my Dell Axim X5 PDA. I'm still suffering from map data because Malsingmaps hasn't born yet! So I paid another MYR450.00 for Agis MY & SG map. It's does not built-in the Auto-routing function in the map! But better than nothing.
Started from that day, I am a HAPPY GPS owner. It's really comfort while you drive to certain area that you never been before!
Until 2005, I found Malsingmaps! (previously was MySubaruclub) My nightmare on the road became history! And thanks to the Hardcore members from this forum make it become the most comprehensive Malaysia & Singapore GPS map today. (I call it Perfect!)

Recently, I just upgrade my PDA to Dell Axim X51V and pair with Wintec Bluetooth GPS (model : WBT-201/G-Rays II).

So I always advice my friends those who are traveler frequently , please get yourself the best traveling companion with the affordable price!

You will amazing with the navigation system! You won't travel without it!
* For more information about GPS, please visit Wiki : GPS.

I will update some pictures later.......

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