Anything and Everything

Food Review:Yuzu, Gardens (revisited)

2012-01-28T21:59:00.002+08:00

I had the chance to organize a team outing recently. Was thinking of a place to eta in Gardens as dinner will be followed by bowling, thus it's more convenient to have eat in Gardens.
After much consideration, Yuzu was chosen again. I must say, their beef is still as good. Love the food there, but not the price. We got shocked when the bill came but it's paid by the boss, so it doesnt really matter.

Sunshine came for a while

2012-01-26T19:25:00.002+08:00

Few days before New Year, our house has a visitor. This tame kitty just came from no where. He was very tame and likes to be cuddled. Everytime I open the back door, he will come running and leaped on my lap whenever I sit down. He was sunshine that brightens a gloomy day. Sadly, he's no more here. His owner came looking for him after a few days. The aunty said I am welcomed to visit her house to play with sunshine anytime.

I so wish that I can keep a pet again. A dog. A cat. But my parents and dear doesn't allow. I am too depressed if they pass away. I still remember vividly the time spent with Lucy. I miss her...:(

BBC's 50 Places to Visit Before You Die

2012-01-25T17:46:00.001+08:00

Which Ones Have You Visited?

1 The Grand Canyon USA
2 Great Barrier Reef Australia
3 Florida USA
4 South Island New Zealand
5 Cape Town South Africa
6 Golden Temple India
7 Las Vegas USA
8 Sydney Australia
9 New York USA
10 Taj Mahal India
11 Canadian Rockies Canada
12 Uluru Australia
13 Chichen Itza Mexico
14 Machu Picchu Peru
15 Niagara Falls Canada / USA
16 Petra Jordan
17 The Pyramids Egypt
18 Venice Italy
19 Maldives Maldives
20 Great Wall China
21 Victoria Falls Zambia / Zimbabwe
22 Hong Kong Hong Kong
23 Yosemite National Park USA
24 Hawaii USA
25 Auckland New Zealand
26 Iguassu Falls Argentina / Brazil
27 Paris France
28 Alaska USA
29 Angkor Wat Cambodia
30 Himalayas Nepal / Tibet
31 Rio de Janeiro Brazil
32 Masai Mara Kenya
33 Galapagos Islands Ecuador
34 Luxor Egypt
35 Rome Italy
36 San Francisco USA
37 Barcelona Spain
38 Dubai Arab Emirates
39 Singapore Singapore
40 La Digue Seychelles
41 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
42 Bangkok Thailand
43 Barbados Barbados
44 Iceland Iceland
45 Terracotta Army China
46 Zermatt Switzerland
47 Angel Falls Venezuela
48 Abu Simbel Egypt
49 Bali Indonesia
50 French Polynesia French Polynesia

Only 7 out of 50...:(

Happy Dragon New Year!!

2012-01-23T08:26:00.002+08:00

Wishing all a Happy Dragon New Year. May the year ahead brings lots of joy, plenty of wealth and most important, abundance of health.

Give a little

2012-01-22T19:42:00.000+08:00

It was my first time.
Donating blood that is....
I find it funny that they give you a cert after you donate. Why waste money printing it? Do you really need a cert to make you feel good in giving a little to the society?
I plan to do this every year. This is a way to give back.

I found some benefits of donating blood. Not sure how valid they are though:

1. No doubt the first and foremost advantage of donating blood is the exalted feeling of saving someone's life. If we donate the little excess blood in our body, it could save someone's life without creating any problem for us. Instead it would help to alleviate some major health problems like heart diseases.

2. Blood donation is an excellent way to get rid of excess iron accumulated in our body due to its overconsumption. Excess iron in the body can stimulate the formation of free radicals, which are responsible for causing damage to body cells and tissues. Free radicals are also associated with many diseases like heart diseases and cancer.

3. Iron overloading is also thought to increase the risk of heart diseases. Besides, iron oxidizes cholesterol, which is harmful for the arteries. Hemochromatosis is a genetic disease characterized by excess accumulation of iron in the tissues due to impropermetabolism. The disease can cause damage to many organs like pancreas, adrenal glands, etc. It may also cause diabetes, liver diseases and heart diseases. So, donating blood on a regular basis would help you to regulate the level of iron in your body. Studies have shown that donating blood regularly can be beneficial for the heart and circulatory system and can reduce the risk of heart diseases, especially among young people.

4. Besides, blood donation also burns the extra calories and reduces your cholesterol level. After donating blood, the count of blood cells decreases in our body, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells in order to replenish the loss. So, it stimulates the production of new blood cells and refreshes the system.
(sourced from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/advantages-of-donating-blood.html)

Resolution failed!

2012-01-21T17:58:00.003+08:00

One of my resolution is to post a blog entry daily but given the fact that I missed the last two days, so it's a failure! The hiatus is caused by the amount of work I am suppose to complete and also because I was down with flu the past two days. I'm almost 90% recovered and just went for a game of badminton. Feels nice to sweat it out. I wish I can say the same for my work. I hate doing reports!! Sigh, looks like I will have to work tonight to finish it off before I resume work next Thursday. :(

Official Video: Malaysia Airlines Missing You Flashmob at KLIA

2012-01-18T20:07:00.000+08:00

Well, not bad at all...IMHO...but it's too well-rehearsed and not much participation from the crowd...

it'll be cool to have more flash mobs around town...:)

No more cutie

2012-01-17T19:10:00.002+08:00

He's 3 and has gone to day care...

So no more cutie around the house. I used to rush back from work sometimes, just to play with him. :(

But honestly, if I am to look after him for a whole day, I think I will faint! :P Still not reach that stage of taking care a kid for a whole day. Play play a few hours can la...

F

2012-01-16T16:45:00.000+08:00

Every year, my mum will make prawn crackers. This year is no exception. I didnt manage to help out as my mum made it on a weekday without waiting for me...-_-".
Anyway, my dad was helping to fill up the tins with fried prawn crackers. I am curious why all the tins have been labelled with an 'F'. There's no fish cracker this year, so it does not stand for 'fish'.
So I asked my dad, what is the 'F' for. He 'selamba-ly' replied 'F' for Fullhouse....-_-"". I find it so funny!!!! Every tin is full house ma...except one with half a tin of crackers as not enough to fill it up. Hahahahaha.....

五月天:一千個世紀

2012-01-15T08:12:00.001+08:00

Was running this morning when this song played in my MP3. Even with my limited knowledge of Chinese, I know I want to use this song as one of my wedding's theme song. Particularly love the chorus....

啊啊我要和你一起走過一千個世紀
每次誕生我都要與你相遇
每次輪迴都為你

I have a dream~~(or rather a nightmare!)

2012-01-13T13:21:00.001+08:00

It was a beautiful day. I was at my dear's house, and his family invited some of the relatives and friends over for lunch. All was going well until the guests start arriving. To my horror, one of the family's friend is one of my ex-BF's family!! It was such an awkward scene. I somehow feels guilty. They've treated me very well in the past and when the relationship didn't work out, it was not a very pretty situation. Needless to say, I woke up in sweat! What a nightmare~~ or is it telling me something?

Lee Hom Concert Promo 2012

2012-01-12T21:31:00.000+08:00

9th Jan @ Kenanga City.
Didn't attend this time round. Why? Working....nah, don't think that's a valid excuse! Anyway, sharing some photos from Homaniacs fanpage in FB.

so cute! love the expression!

ok, this looks like he's scratching his backside and enjoying it! :P just joking!!!

And anyone going to his concert??

Food review:Sweet Chatz

2012-01-11T20:22:00.000+08:00

So, on days when I am lazy to write much, I will just post pictures of food! :P
Sweet Chatz is actually owned by TCRS Restaurants Sdn Bhd., the same company who owns The Chicken Rice shops chain. There are mixed reviews on Sweet Chatz but I personally thinks that their signature Durian Pancake is not bad at all. This time round, I ordered:
1. Chilled Pulut Hitam Paste with Durian

2. Nasi Kunyit with Curry Chicken

Love both dishes as they are flavourful and the portion is just nice for an afternoon snack!

I just don't understand

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000+08:00

I just don't understand....
What Justin Bieber has to do with nail polish??? One Less Lonely Girl collection? Very misleading!

Shop till I drop

2012-01-09T08:16:00.000+08:00

Every girl loves shopping. I might be a little shallow to say that but I am very sure that most people will agree. Personally, I love to shop. I do so very often few years back. I will just take a day off and wander around shopping malls.
However, the past year or so, I managed to curb this interest of mine. Few reasons -
1) Save money - I don't know why my taste got more and more expensive nowadays...:(
2) I got more than I can wear in my closet - everytime I want to buy something, I will always think of the less fortunate who desperate need new clothes
3) I got lazy :P - couple of hours walking in the shopping mall is so TIRING.
And then there is this thing about online shopping. I totally agree with Su on her thoughts about online shopping. It's just so easy to click click click and buy. But being the size I am now, there is no guarantee that the items will fit me nicely. I've return a few pieces and the courier charges are not so cheap! Some quality are not up to expectations as well.
I'm refraining from buying online but the clothes/shoes/bags all look so pretty in the pictures!!
CY has this policy - only buy something to replace another which is spoilt. I like this theory and is trying to adopt it.
With CNY around the corner, we have this tradition of buying new clothes. But is it really necessary? Honestly, I do not mind not wearing new clothes. But sigh, contradicting that, I just bought few new clothes last weekend. But then, that's because I need to utilise some vouchers which are expiring soon. LoL!
I went through my mum's closet the other day and some of her clothes from her younger days, fits me well. And it's the trend now for vintage clothes. Hence, I got more 'new' clothes to wear. Yay!

2012-01-07T21:47:00.002+08:00

I am supposed to T.R.Y to blog daily but I think I am going to give weekends a rest. I am just too tired! How come weekends are more tiring than weekdays? Aren't I suppose to rest and get more sleep? -_-"

Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger ft. Christina Aguilera

2012-01-06T07:50:00.000+08:00

since it's Friday, sharing something yummylicious aka adam's hot body! LoL....enjoy!

Kids say the darndest thing

2012-01-05T07:57:00.002+08:00

The kid that my mum babysits intepret the pic this way -> one person slipped and fell in the bathroom, then another person shows no sympathy, and gave him a kick in the butt...-_-"

chik chak

2012-01-04T07:57:00.002+08:00

I like taking photos but I can't get myself to learn all the camera jargons. Different types of lenses, setting apertures, ISO and all. I only know how to point and shoot.

A colleague once told me, photography is not all about talent. It' a number game. The more you practice, the more skilled you become.

But still I would like to learn more!

I also realise that I like to take pictures of object more than of people. I find it hard to capture the moment that involves people. Does this mean that I am not a people person? :P

urrrrgggghhhhh

2012-01-03T09:02:00.004+08:00

I know it's not auspicious to start the year with complaints but I can't help it! The condition in KL Sentral is getting worse and worse everyday! To add on to my disgruntles from last year:
1. It's blardy flooded when it rains! And because of all the contruction going on, the buses have to move very close to the pedestrian walkway, causing splashes of water on it.
2. The lights are turned off before 7 am. It's still dark at that time making it feels unsafe to walk.
3. Narrower walkway for two way traffic causing inconvenience especially for the blind. It's tough to navigate as when I am rushing, I need to dodge people from the other direction! Not good at all....
4. The elevator is still not working. Not to say that I would use it, but I really pity those who are carrying heavy luggages.
5. Poor air ventilation. I think I inhaled a lot of fumes from the buses and taxis for the past few months. :(
6. The pedestrian crossing light turns too fast. Imagine old people/the blind crossing the road.
7. Bus drivers shouting, trying to lure passengers. Come on la, if we want to take your bus to LCCT, we could have just ask or read the big sign on the bus. Worse is when they call me ah moi!

Urut

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000+08:00

My dad sprained his ankle about a week ago. Being a stubborn person, he wants it to be treated the traditional way. I am nothing against the traditional 'urut' or massage but often wonder how effective is it. I accompanied him a few times to this shop in Pudu Pasar. The exterior of the shop is plainly decorated with a few wooden chairs for customers and a counter for payment. There are old wooden cabinets and on it are jars among jars of traditional medicine.

When it was my dad's turn, we were brought to a room. The 'doctor' rubs the chinese medicinal massage oil on my dad's ankle. I thought he is going to use a lot of pressure and strength but he said that is not the correct way. Instead he uses a big handheld spot light which emits heat and points it at the injured spot. I am still a bit skeptical but then my dad can walk again after two treatments.

Bottle of own made traditional massage medicine

Anyone who knows my dad, knows how he cannot be house-bounded. He must go to the market every morning and he must take his walks, either morning or evening. I can feel that it's a torture for him to sit all day at home. When I went to the market with my mum, many people asked about my dad because they missed his jokes and humour.

During this period also, I felt the pressure to really take good care of my parents. I admit that I took them for granted. Small details like knowing what pills they take daily, paying attention when they mentioned that they feel pain anywhere, and even my mum's cracked heel problem, are all very important.

So, another resolution this year is to spend more time with my parents. I hope they'll stay healthy and happy always.

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-01T07:00:00.000+08:00

2012...the year that's suppose to be the end of the world, if you believed it anyway. For me, it's not the end until it really happens. It's just another prophecy.
Well, what I can foresee, 2012 will be another exciting year *wink*. So many plans and so many timelines to meet. But as the saying goes, we can only plan so much.
To kick start this new year, I am going to set another long list of resolutions. Long list of realistic and achievable resolutions. And this time (hmmm...same with many other times), I will T.R.Y to stick to it.
So, yesterday morning's 'char kuey teow' will be my last for many months to come as the first resolution on my list is to LOSE WEIGHT. You'll be surprise if I tell you that I have to lose 10kg to be in my ideal weight according to BMI *gasp*.

NO MORE FATTY FOOD!

Enough talk, I better put on my jogging shoes and run all those 'char kuey teow' off.
Have a good year ahead everyone!!! And remember, if you feel like you'r e in shitty situation, there are many more people out there in deeper shitty situation. So, count your blessings!

Smarter flyer, I am

2011-12-07T19:40:00.001+08:00

Smarter flyer, I am.

How many of us actually pay attention to the air steward/stewardess (unless they're pretty and handsome) when they do the safety briefing? How many of us will actually know how to operate the aircraft door in case of emergency and the cabin crew is not available? How many of us actually know how it feels like being in pitch dark environment filled with smoke?

I had the privilege of experiencing this today through the MAS smart flyer safety training. It was well worth spending the whole day at the MAS training academy.

The day started with a couple of hours of classroom training where we were briefed on all the safety precautions on board. We were then ushered to a room where we got the chance to perform CPR. Do you know the 5 basic steps of CPR? Just remember DR ABC.
D- Danger : make sure that you and victim are not near any danger
R- Respond : call and tap on shoulders of victim - if there is no respond, immediately call for help
A- Airway : Tilt chin back, push forehead, check for breathing
B- Breathing : Pinch nose, maintain head tilt, give two full breath
C- Circulation : Place one heel of hand in the middle of the chest, lock hands and give 30 check compressions

After CPR, we head down to the 'smoke' house. This is where we got the chance to extinguish fire. Two very important things to remember - aim at the base of the fire and do not hold the gas cylinder as you risk getting your hands frozen. After the 'hot' session, we then have to find our way out through pitch black and smoke.

The most interesting and fun part is jumping out of the aircraft. Yes, with the inflatable slide of course. We were taught on how to open the door in case of emergency. And then jumping out. It was really scary looking down the slide but after a couple of times, it is fun! Well, of course, you do not want to be in a real situation where you have to actually do the slide.

Last session is the swimming drill. We learnt how to inflate the life jacket, how to stay warm in a group in the water and how to attract attention when rescuer are near.

It was a very good training (with our pretty and ever so funny trainers) but of course, I hope I will not be in the situation where I have to apply what I have learnt. After all, they say flying is the safest mode of transportation. :P

2011

2011-12-04T17:16:00.001+08:00

DECEMBER. My favourite month of the year.

Christmas songs playing, malls decorated elaborately for the occasion, people going on long leave, school holidays, which means less jam during peak hours.

How time flies! I felt like it was only yesterday that I stepped into year 2011. It has been a fruitful and exciting year. I am feeling melancholic eventhough there's still a month left of this year.

It's still early in the month of December but I feel like writing about what a great year it has been. Blogging doesn't come easy nowadays. Maybe it's the lack of time or it's just plain lazy.

2011 - I travelled a lot this year. On and off to Melbourne, to some cuti-cuti Malaysia locations and to New Zealand (twice!) which I had the best holiday there, so far. Sad to say, the excitement of travelling alone is not there anymore. The adventurous me is dying! :( I still love travelling and exploring new places, just that I crave companionship.

Workwise, it has been a challenging year. Completed a project life cycle! yay! Nothing to feel excited about actually. It's a never ending learning process. Ups and downs, feeling motivated at times and feeling so low at another, I feel like giving up. Well, new year, new projects, new challenges. Hopefully, I will survive another year.

On a personal note, big plans in store for next year. And I don't even know if I am ready for it, honestly. It's just a very mixed up feeling that I can't explain. I just let nature takes it's course...

PRELUDE

2011-11-17T21:23:00.000+08:00

愛是永恆- 張學友

It's a little too early but can't help it!

:P

Gloom

2011-10-29T08:15:00.002+08:00

As I sat at the waterfront, enjoying a freshly baked bagel, I can't help but feeling lonely. As joggers and people walked pass with their dogs (cute dogs alert!), I am secretly hoping that I have someone beside me to share the view.
I am washed up with emotions these few days. Maybe because of the too much 'me' time. I've been over thinking. I don't know what's wrong with me. I should be excited about being in a new place, exploring it. I still enjoy it but I wish that I can share it.
I've been wandering around the city and walking for 4 hours non stop at one point, soaking in the culture and enjoying the breeze, well strong wind to be exact. It's always a passion of mine to explore and I used to love doing it alone but it's not the case anymore now.
Well, maybe age is really catching up.

Enjoy your weekend everyone....

Real deal

2011-10-15T19:27:00.002+08:00

I'm not sure if it's the aircond in the cinema or it's the great ending to the movie that gave me goosebumps. But I would recommend and give 2 thumbs up for it.
To be honest, I watched it because of Hugh Jackman. But Dakota Goyo steals the show (but Hugh is still yummylicious). Dakota plays Hugh's son in the movie. Initially, I thought that it'll be only another movie with machines and technology but I was wrong. The movie touches the heart and almost made me cry at certain scenes.

I'm not going to spoil the movie any further. Go watch it!

Nasi Lemak 3.0

2011-10-11T08:14:00.000+08:00

I've always like nasi lemak. I know I know...it's fattening but it's not too much to eat it at least once a month, right?
My mum can cook a kick-ass nasi lemak. I still remember when I was a very young kid, she used to open a stall selling nasi lemak but unfortunately, it was not successful because she didn't apply for a license, thus, always have to be on the 'run'.
Last weekend, I managed to coax my mum to teach me how to make her kick-ass nasi lemak.
My mum is a firm believer that making it the traditional way - no using the ready made chilli boh and no blender. So, I have to manually grind everything *muscle sore*...

This is the first time I heard of buah keras (candlenut). It's suppose to make your sambal thicker.

I'm not going to do a step by step (come to my house and I'll teach you!). And this is the finished product! It was hard work but worth all the effort.

Not bad for a first timer, right? (of course with mum's supervision, nothing can go wrong).

Il Divo - Amazing Grace

2011-10-02T21:32:00.000+08:00

Saw a friend posting this in FB. My favourite gospel. Just so beautiful.

Moo moo

2011-09-26T18:45:00.000+08:00

I'm a beef person. As much as I love pork, if given a choice, I would definitely choose beef.
Shame to say, as much as I love it, I barely know much about the different cuts of beef except the famous few like sirloin or t-bone. Nor do I know what's the different between normal beef with angus or wagyu.
And so, after the enligthening in NZ where I got to see a real angus beef, I want to learn more. And so Google I did.

For the description of the different parts, please go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steak

And what's the difference between wagyu/kobe and angus? The latter is found mostly in US and AU and has lower fat in the meat.

And so as a summary, order porterhouse/sirloin or filet mignon next time you crave for a steak. They're the most tender and also burns a hole in your pocket.

Weekend no enough

2011-08-09T08:07:00.001+08:00

Weekend is never enough for me. After work on Friday night right up till Sunday night, feels like just a few hours for me. Like my dear always says, it would be nice to have a 2 work day and 5 rest day policy.
Saturday started early for me, as usual. Went for a morning jog. Feels good to sweat it out.
Breakfast was at Hutong Lot 10. I live the BBQ pork and duck. And the Ice Kacang too!

We went to watch Wu Xia. The story line is a bit slow at the beginning but it's a unique storyline nonetheless. I am attracted to Takeshi's character. Yet again, Donnie Yen portrays a family man who tries to stay out of trouble but trouble wont leave him alone. I like the movie. (and I secretly fantasize of Donnie Yen as a perfect husband-though he's not that handsome, he just gives me a sense of security).

That evening, we finally met up for a game of badminton after talking about it for ages. It's funny because as we enter the hall, there are many pro players around and we wanted the corner court so that we'll not be the laughing stock! It was an hour of fun, laughter and sweat. Love it. (I guess the girls was angry after being 'attacked', hence the angry bird photo below.)

Sunday was grocery shopping day! Things are getting more expensive nowadays. Barely a few items costs above RM100. Sigh.
Since I missed all the durians in the office, I got a treat to 'Eat all you can' (eg. stuff yourself as much as durian until you puke).

And coffee after a 'durian' session is not recommended! I can feel my tummy starting to bloat and immediately upon entering the house, I have to spend some time in the toilet.

Sunday night ended perfectly with dinner with a view.

You see now why weekend is never enough?

Personality

2011-08-06T20:03:00.001+08:00

A friend sent me a personality test. There are nine pictures in the email and I need to choose the picture that is most appealing to me. And this is my result.

Introspective
Sensitive
Reflective
You come to grips more frequently and thoroughly with yourself and your environment than do most people. You detest superficiality; you'd rather be alone than have to suffer through small talk. But your relationships with your friends are highly intensive, which gives you the inner tranquility and harmony that you need in order to feel good. However it is no problem for you to be alone for extended periods of time, without becoming bored.

I think the result is accurate.

"'Til I Hear You Sing" [Taken from Love Never Dies]

2011-07-25T13:09:00.002+08:00

Captivated by this song.

The day starts, the day ends
Time crawls by
Night steals in, pacing the floor
The moments creep,
Yet I can’t bear to sleep
Till I hear you sing

And weeks pass, and months pass
Seasons fly
Still you don’t walk through the door
And in a haze
I count the silent days
Till I hear you sing once more.

And sometimes at night time
I dream that you are there
But wake holding nothing but the empty air

And years come, and years go
Time runs dry
Still I ache down to the core
My broken soul
Can’t be alive and whole
Till I hear you sing once more

And music, your music
It teases at my ear
I turn and it fades away and you’re not here

Let hopes pass, let dreams pass
Let them die
Without you, what are they for?
I’ll always feel
No more than halfway real
Till I hear you sing once more

So pretty

2011-07-22T07:33:00.000+08:00

Love this....

Taken from designerbridalroom.com.my

Improvement please!

2011-07-12T18:42:00.000+08:00

Since my bro in law had the operation, I have been driving on and off to work as my sister car pools with me in the morning and sometimes after work. I park near the MAB. It's about 10-15 minutes away from my office.
So, from my car to office, I need to walk through the bus/taxi pick up/drop off point in KL Sentral.
Now, I am not sure how many of you have been there. Walking through it daily, I just feel that someone should make that place more presentable. It's the hub for transportation in KL, for God's sake.
1. There is only ONE escalator going up and ONE staircase going down. So if the escalator malfunction, people will need to climb up the stairs. Imagine if you have a 15kg luggage with you. Now, imagine if you have TWO 15kg luggage with you. Or imagine people with physical disability.

2. Fine. If you have TWO luggage, you think you can just take the elevator. There is only ONE elevator and it's small, smelly and dark. And best of all, it has been down for like a month now.
3. OK so there is a signboard saying that porter is available. But of so many times I walked pass, there's no one standing nearby to offer any help.
4. You finally manage to get to the bottom of the staircase, to the sight of rude and loud bus conductor, asking everyone if they are going KLIA/LCCT. Taxis and buses waiting by the roadside, emitting smoke from their stalling vehicles.
5. Then you crossed the road to the other side of the walkway. A SMALL walkway, attempting to dodge people coming from the opposite traffic. Imagine a person, pushing a baby cart or lugging a big suitcase in front of you and you are rushing for time. Good luck on trying to overtake them. Also, it's very inconvenient for the blinds as the raised pathway for them is right in the middle of the small pathway. So everyone has to dodge and avoid bumping into them.

6. Sometimes, the roadside has pools of water, either by the rain or the construction. Better avoid the side of the walkway unless you want to get splashed by the passign taxis and buses. Oh, did I mention that it's poorlit lit as well?
Just hope relevant party will take action to improve the place. It's the first place some tourist see as they arrive from the airport. It's a shame to the country indeed!

Second half

2011-07-04T19:29:00.005+08:00

Time flies...
We're already on the 4th day of the second half of the year. Feels like it's just yesterday that I had my year end trip to Taiwan. Still reminiscence the time we spent there.

For the first half of the year, I'm struggling to fit in the new environment, new work challenge, new colleagues and new culture. It's been an eye opener and what I've learnt is - to say no at the right time. There were times when I feel down and demotivated but I've always manage to kick myself out of it. But then after some time, it happens again.
I think it's a cycle. Sigh...

So anyway, these few days were pretty interesting. I've learn something new about somebody (eventhough I've known this person for few years now) and it changed my perception towards that person (positively).
I went to a Spa in Aman Suria and gosh, it was an experience...It's not recommended at all. I shall not speak about it more. Who knows I might get sued (you know with bloggers being sued over their bad remarks on food, etc).
Met up with some ex-colleagues last Saturday. It's always good to talk about old times.

At night, the gang and I decided to go 'ronda-ronda di Putrajaya'. It was not a disappointment. Putrajaya is actually really beautiful at night, with the lightings on the buildings and bridge. Wonder when the government will actually do more to promote it as a tourist attraction.

Sunday was 'Transformers' day. Sad to say, not having enough sleep for two nights in a row, I nearly dozed off in the first half of the show. (or could it be from the full Sakae lunch I had?)

Something funny happened today. I put a RM50 note in the KLIA transit machine and guess what...all my change are in coins...I feel like I hit a jackpot. But luckily, I had it changed to notes at the counter.
So, what have you been up to?
Whatever it is...ENJOY the rest of 2011.

Food review:Lookout Point Western Food

2011-06-14T21:04:00.000+08:00

Lookout Point, situated in Ampang, is a place also known as little Genting.

Situated 300m above sea level, it has a fantastic view of the city and one can enjoy a beautiful sunset with the backdrop of Twin Towers.

There are a few restaurants here but we headed to Western Food because of the voucher we bought.

I would not say the food is great but it's not too bad either. I guess the view and the yummy-licious carrot milk compensate the rest.

I had Lamb with sausage. The lamb was well marinated but too much fat to my liking. Half of it is wasted because it's too fat.

He had Cordon Bleu which is more expensive and more delicious. Cheese was practically oozing out.

It was a hazy day thus, the view earlier was not too good but it got better after the sunset.

The place was crowded when we left. So it's better to go early and secure a place for good view. The road going down is poorly lit so be extra careful.

I hate archery

2011-06-13T20:24:00.002+08:00

I don't like archery. Period.

Imagine how ashamed I felt when an aunty next to me (and yes, it's her first time too!), have better on-target hits than mine. My arrows are all over the place.
And by end of the 20 minutes, my arms are sore and I am sweating like mad. It doesn help when my partner has a few bulleyes and I have none. Hmmmppphhh!! ><
The trainer said I didn't pull the string tight enough. The more I tried, the less energy I have. And the more I aim, the more off target I have.

So that's it. I don't like archery. Period.

As usual

2011-06-03T08:23:00.003+08:00

As I sat here, time approximately 7.25am, I'm surrounded by peacefulness. One look across the floor, I can only see one or two early birds like me. Not many people bustling around, no phone ringing, no keyboard typing sound.
The cleaner lady is vacuuming while humming a song. She's always so cheerful despite the hard work that she's doing.
In a few minutes, after my cup of morning coffee, I will be starting my 'hard work' too. Not physically demanding, yet, mentally exhausting.
Sigh, I know I should not be complaining as there are many out there in a worse position than me. But yet, I need to vent it out sometimes. The only way to help me stay focused is to think about the things I like to do. Traveling and photography, food and blogging, reading a good book while listening to Lee Hom. Those are a few of my favorite things.
Day in , day out, work is beginning to be so 'as usual'. I need something to put me at the edge, something to excite me again. I've been involving myself with the company's newsletter team and also putting an initiative in a small improvement project. Will this be enough?
I don't know but I know what I don't want to do.
I need courage and I need the support. How do I even start?

Designer phone

2011-06-02T21:02:00.000+08:00

If you are filthy rich, and I repeat again, FILTHY rich, how much would you spend on a luxury phone?

Guess the price of the phone above.
It's RM15k above. Yes, you read it right.>RM15,000.
That's the price for the phone above. Don't believe it?
Walk into a Tag Heuer shop and you'll be amused! Even a blardy bluetooth headset costs near to RM1,000.

Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song

2011-05-28T21:47:00.000+08:00

Haha...love this....totally what I need on a Sunday morning

battle of the bubble...tea

2011-05-25T20:57:00.000+08:00

What's with all the bubble tea shops everywhere nowadays? They're growing like mushroom after the rain.
With Chatime and Gong Cha from Taiwan, you can see people lining up to get their share of the drink. While Chatime has a lot more choices compared to Gong Cha, I still prefer the latter.

From the way they make the drink-with the milk on top, to the taste - you can actually taste the smooth milk combined with the refreshing strong taste of the tea. Chatime is a bit too normal. I discover Gong Cha in Mid Valley Gardens by accident as it's not really located at those prime areas. One should try their signature - green tea as well as winter melon.

So, go get your cup of bubblelicious tea now.

Food review:Celcius, Fahrenheit 88

2011-05-25T20:26:00.000+08:00

Celcius is a restaurant + bar. Located in the middle of the golden triangle, it's a crowded bar at night. But during the day, it was quite a quiet restaurant.
Food served are not that bad but they are not excellent also. We bought the MyDeal voucher, so it ain't that expensive. But if I were to spent on the normal price for the food, I'll think twice. Here's what we had (if I remembered correctly):
CAESAR SALAD

Crispy royal romaine tossed in Caesar dressing topped with garlic crouton, crispy beef bacon, boiled egg and shaved parmagiano
WILD MUSHROOM SOUP

Creamy wild array of porcini, girolles and portobello with shaved parmagiano and pesto oil
HONEY MUSTARD CHICKEN

Chargrilled chicken breast with honey mustard, roasted vegetable skewers with balsamic vinaigrette and mashed potato
TRADITIONAL FISH & CHIP

Crispy battered fish fillet served with steak fries, chick pea cur-sal and tartar sauce
CHOCOLATE LAVA

Hot chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream
MANGO CRÈME BRÛLÉE

Mango flavoured custard with caramelised sugar

where to next year?

2011-05-23T20:06:00.000+08:00

at least AA now has an option to save friends' details in a list. especially useful for us. Agree, girls? we dont need to blarrdddyyy key in everything again if the booking didn't go through or time out.

Good and Bad

2011-05-20T09:05:00.002+08:00

Quote of the day:

I would rather do the right thing and be cursed than do the popular but wrong thing and be applauded ~ Tun Hussein Onn, third Prime Minister of Malaysia.

There's good news and there's bad news. Good news is I won't be traveling in June due to project testing delayed, bad news is I wont be able to see Melbourne in Autumn (well at least the end of autumn)...
I've been there in summer, will be there in Winter and spring, so the only season I missed out is autumn...:(
I love autumn, though I've not actually experienced it. Falling leaves which sets the perfect scenery for some photography shots and the cool weather (not too cold). Sigh...

Photo: Craig Abraham

And I am going to be away this year on someone's birthday in August. *sob*
Well, on the bright side, I'm expecting my new toy this Saturday. Any guesses what it'll be?
*hint:I have the talent but don't have the right tool*

Immortals

2011-05-11T21:17:00.000+08:00

No prize for guessing who's the producers for this movie...

Post Towerthon

2011-05-11T19:41:00.001+08:00

Results are out. I scored a 37.08 mins. Not bad eh? But not great either. At least I don't have muscle pain the next day.
This is my 2nd Towerthon and 3rd time scaling up KL Tower. The second time was the most memorable. It was unexpected as it was a challenge in one of the treasure hunt I joined. We were quite shocked when we're asked to climb the 2058 steps of the tower to get our clues.
Anyway, one thing I realized about Malaysia - we are so poor in crowd control. We waited soooooo looooooonggggg to come down after the race, even longer than actually going up the stairs. That aside, we were being pushed into the lifts. No queues, no authority to control the crowd, no civilization. Imagine hot, sweating bodies, pushing at each other, waiting for the supposedly 4 lifts (which 1 malfunctioned) for easily half an hour.
It was bad. We should have just taken the staircase (which was only open up after they realized that the crowd is out of control).
Sigh, so another Towerthon for me next year? After the bad experience, maybe not.

eat, poo, eat, poo

2011-05-05T13:06:00.000+08:00

Me:The slimming specialist said that a healthy person should shit as many times as he/she eats a day. For example, if I eat three meals, I should be shitting three times a day. If this is not the case, it means my body needs detoxification.

Mum:Then that healthy person must be very busy everyday. Eat, then shit, eat again, shit again.

Me:-_-".

But true also...Makes sense.

Maroon 5 - Misery

2011-05-01T22:41:00.000+08:00

Weaving

2011-04-25T01:00:00.000+08:00

Did you know that elephants often have this rhythmical behaviour of moving/swaying their head and body from side to side? We noticed that during the trip tp KK. It was fun watching them do that. This is apparently a comon behaviour called weaving.
From this source, weaving is often displayed by elephants in captivity. The elephants in the wild are preocupied with daily survival that they do not have time to develop this behaviour.
Why do elephants weave? If its movement is being restricted, an elephant may weave until it reached its goal, eg. getting physical contact with another elephant. Elephant in zoos/circus lack everyday challenges in the jungle, therefore, they might develop this behaviour also.

Talking about elephants, fans of Robert Pattinson will be thrilled that his movie will be out soon. The name of the movie - Water for Elephants...(-_-"). Well, at least no more heavy makeup for him.

You've grown

2011-04-23T01:00:00.002+08:00

Look how big you've grown....
Kitty then...

Full grown adult now...but yet still playful as ever...

And newest addition to the family- your second batch of brothers and sisters...

Waiting is a long process

2011-04-22T14:51:00.000+08:00

I hate waiting and I hate going to the hospital. I bet every patient here will ask the same question, 'Why me?'. When I was admitted last time for the cyst on my wrist, it was a minor surgery. And yet, I hate the feeling of waking up after the anesthetic. Made me dizzy and nausea.
I can't imagine how my brother in law feels like now. He just had another operation as he has fluid in his lungs. That's the cause of his irregular heartbeat and breathing difficulties yesterday night. He's still in the ICU as of now. I am sure he has the same question - of all people, why him? No one can provide the answer.

I've already accepted the fact that life is unfair. But like the famous saying goes, when life gives you lemon, make lemonade out of it. I'm sure he will recover and live another ha;f decade more, at least.
We can't imagine the pain that he's gone through. The best we can do is just to be positive. I hope he will too. A positive mentality really helps.

Nothing is more important than health

2011-04-22T08:45:00.000+08:00

I hugged my sister yesterday. I cannot recall the last time I did. Or if I ever did.
My brother in law (BIL) was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday. He was having some breathing problem two days before that led him to do a check-up. The specialist admitted him on the day of check-up itself. They found that his right artery was blocked.
Doing a 'balloon' process is not possible. The only option is a bypass. So, the operation was on Monday and it went successfully. They took his leg's vein for the bypass. This is a common procedure. To know more about it, refer to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_artery_bypass_surgery.
And so, after the operation, his condition was good. He soon can sit up and eat solid food. We were very positive and happy to see hom recovering so fast.
But yesterday, he was transferred to normal ward from ICU. We went to visit him and was surprised to see his pale face. His heartby is very irregular and he is having difficulty breathing. They have to give him another bag of blood and air mask. He's not having appetite to eat and drink.
It is heart wrenching watching him. And my sis cried as she's too worried. I know how it feels. Watching the person you love suffering and you cannot do anything much to help.
The other day, my sister mentioned that she has take up the responsibilities that were handled by my bro in law previously. Tasks like paying the bills, maintenance fees or fixing the leaking pipe in their house. I know she misses him.
The last I heard this morning, he vomited few times. Is this normal after the procedure? He was sweating cold sweat from time to time. I just can hope and pray he will be ok.
To the rest of us, do take care of what you eat. And most importantly, find time to exercise. It might not 100% guarantee that you will be healthy but it is at least a prevention. Nothing is more important than health. We might think that money is more important now, but if you are sick, lying on the hospital bed, no amount of money make you feel better. And also, buy medical insurance.

Milky Straw

2011-04-22T01:00:00.000+08:00

Saw this in Melbourne and could not resist the temptation to buy it.

It comes in a variety of flavour. Strong flavour but too sweet for my liking. Still, it's something unique.

Bleeding

2011-04-20T19:23:00.001+08:00

I gave my mum a scare the other day. It was on the plane ride back from KK. Extremely exhausted, I fell asleep as soon as the plane took off. Not long after, I felt dryness in my nose. I rubbed it a bit and felt liquid dripping out. I thought I caught flu. When I look at my hand, it was covered with blood!
Blood keeps dripping out and lucky me, I have tissue just conveniently located in my handbag. I called out to my mum, who was also sleeping at that time and she was shocked. I used up few pieces of tissue. And thankfully the bleeding stop. I didn't know that I should not tilt my head backwards. I should have just apply pressure on nose.

Did a little googling (from Wikipedia) and here's something about nose bleed.

Epistaxis (from Greek ἐπιστάζω (epistazo) to bleed from the nose: ἐπί (epi) - "above", "over" + στάζω (stazo) - "to drip" [from the nostrils]) or a nosebleed is the relatively common occurrence of hemorrhage from the nose, usually noticed when the blood drains out through the nostrils. There are two types: anterior (the most common), and posterior (less common, more likely to require medical attention).

The causes of nosebleeds can generally be divided into two categories, local and systemic factors, although it should be remembered that a significant number of nosebleeds occur with no obvious cause.

Local factors
-Blunt trauma (usually a sharp blow to the face such as a punch, sometimes accompanying a nasal fracture)
-Foreign bodies (such as fingers during nose-picking)
-Inflammatory reaction (e.g. acute respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis or environmental irritants)
- Anatomical deformities (e.g. septal spurs or Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia)
- Insufflated drugs (particularly cocaine)
- Intranasal tumors (e.g. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma or nasopharyngeal angiofibroma)
- Low relative humidity of inhaled air (particularly during cold winter seasons)
- Nasal cannula O2 (tending to dry the olfactory mucosa)
- Nasal sprays (particularly prolonged or improper use of nasal steroids)
- Otic barotrauma (such as from descent in aircraft or ascent in scuba diving)
- Surgery (e.g. septoplasty and Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery)
- Leech infestation

Systemic factors
- Allergies
- Infectious diseases (e.g. common cold)
- Hypertension
- Drugs — Aspirin, Fexofenadine/Allegra/Telfast, warfarin, ibuprofen, clopidogrel,prasugrel, isotretinoin, desmopressin, ginseng and others
- Alcohol (due to vasodilation)
- Anaemia
- Connective tissue disease
- Blood dyscrasias
- Envenomation by mambas, taipans, kraits, and death adders
- Heart failure (due to an increase in venous pressure)
- Hematological malignancy
-Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
- Pregnancy (rare)
- Vascular disorders
- Vitamin C or Vitamin K deficiency
- von Willebrand's disease

I think mine was due to the low humidity of inhaled air. Hope it won't happen to me again or I will just have to wear a black shirt the next time I board a plane.

bundle of joy

2011-04-05T21:23:00.000+08:00

I find myself rushing back home after work nowadays. Rushing home to a bundle of joy....Just before I left for Australia few weeks back, mummy cat gave birth AGAIN. Not that I'm complaining as I have fieve little kitties to play with. Watching them grow day by day is a joy.
For the past week, I've been diligently cleaning them alternate days. They have flea. And cat fleas are not easy to get rid of. Every other day, I have to spray them with anti-flea spray which is mild enough for kittens. Their eyes are infected as well causing them to be red and swollen. I have to clean them with mild antiseptic.
Now, they're beginning to grow into a healthy bunch. They can eat rice. Watching them playfully running here and there, I really feel a sense of accomplishment and happiness.
Soon, I'll have to put them up for adoption. It's not going to be easier this time. I felt so attached to the last batch, it's hard letting them go. But I'm glad they found good owners.
Pics to come soon.
So, anyone wants to adopt a kitten?

the end is near?

2011-04-02T20:20:00.000+08:00

I had a very interesting question thrown at me today. Do I believe the 'End of Days' is coming?

My answer: Yes and no.

Now let me explain.
I do believe that the signs are showing. Mother earth is angry. VERY ANGRY. Whether it's human's fault or not, natural disasters is inevitable. Look at the earthquakes and tsunami recently. Christchurch, China, Japan and the most recent -Myanmar. All within the short span of few mths. Look at the casualties, over 10k of people died in Japan. These are all unpreventable. The radiation in Japan is like rubbing salt to the wound. Man-made disasters. Look at the issues in Egypt. Look at the wars created by human. I did a quick search online and found a few prophecies in the bible on signs that the end is near.
DON'T get me wrong. I do not have the intention to promote anything related to any religions.
Just found the article interesting enough to share.
http://www.contenderministries.org/prophecy/endtimes.php
On the other hand, I believe that we still have a long way to go before the end comes. IF it does (contradicting myself) come...Human can at least TRY to prevent manmade disasters. A nation affected by the wrath can bounce back stronger and with a renewed spirits. Even if the end does come, it might not be for another 100 decades. No one can predict what the future holds.

Lesson of the day:
Treasure all you have today. It might not be the end of the world, but who knows what tomorrow migth bring?
I also learnt a very strong word today. Agnosticism. Google that.

Idiot guide to creating a wholesome sandwich

2011-03-28T20:07:00.000+08:00

1. Wash vege (i like a lot of them) and toss with balsamic vinegar

2. Pop meat (i prefer salami than leg ham) in microwave for a few seconds...

3. Toast bread

4. Put a slice of cheese on toasted bread and melt in microwave for a few seconds

5. Cut up a fresh tomato

6. Pile meat, vege, tomato, mayo, dipping sauce, pepper on the toasted bread with melted cheese

7. Dig in

8. Wash it down with yummylicious juice....

Service with a smile

2011-03-17T06:10:00.000+08:00

Call me 'ah lian' or what, I'm impressed with the post office in Melbourne. The good service provided by the staff, smiling all the time. They are serving customer standing up! The post office not onlyl offers postal services, they sell all kinds of stationery.
Once you walk in, you are greeted with a clean, brightly lit store. You can find sections selling books, albums, greeting cards, stationery and reload cards. Although the queue was long, it took less than 10 minutes to reach our turn. And this is without any ticketing system.
Back in Malaysia, it took me about half an hour just to weigh my courier and send it out.
Post offices here are so conveniently located, near to offices and train stations. So, even if they are not open on the weekends, you can just drop by during lunch time and still make it back in time.
How many times have you seen a cashier look you in the eyes and says thank you? Here, not only in the post office, almost all stores' sales person are polite and friendly. And the cashiers really took the initiative to thank you. Sigh, I guess we still have a lot to improve in terms of providing customer services.

Dead fishes, millions of them...

2011-03-10T08:10:00.000+08:00

Gosh...what is happening to our ocean?

(picture source:http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/redondo-beach-authorities-report-large-fish-kill-at-king-harbor.html)

Millions of dead anchovies, sardines and mackerel at King Harbor, Redondo Beach in the US in just a short span of 1 day.

:(

其實你心裡有沒有我-Onn onn and Man man

2011-03-09T08:01:00.000+08:00

Just for the fun of it....since it's the 'in' news right now...:P

Merong Mahawangsa

2011-03-05T19:48:00.000+08:00

Most of you would probably have a vague idea of Merong Mahawangsa from the boring history lessons during our school years. Well, you can refresh your memory by watching the film Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa (inaptly named The Malay Chronicles: Bloodlines).

At first glimpse, it reminds me of 300. Remember a bunch of 300 burly, muscular men (lead by Gerard Butler) in war during the Spartan time?

After watching the trailer, it reminds me more and more of 300. The CG used, the fighting scenes, the half naked muscular men. Hmmm....Stephen Rahman-Hughes does look ooolalalallaa.....*drool*
Anyway, back to the film, it's a product of KRU Studios, directed by Yusry. Did I tell you that I used to adore KRU? I used to love their songs so much and I think Norman looks so handsone. I was young and immature then...LOL.
A lot of money (second to Puteri Gunung Ledang) and hardwork has been put in the film. Considering that it's a local production, I would say that it looks promising. It's going to be in the cinema next week and I've yet to see any serious effort in promoting it.

Below is the synopsis:
Based loosely on the 16th century historical document entitled ‘The Malay Annals’, ’The Chronicles of Merong Mahawangsa’ is an action-packed epic feature film, with mythical characters, magical moments and dazzling visual-effects sequences. Merong Mahawangsa was a descendant of Alexander the Great, a renowned naval captain and traveler who came to Asia several hundred years ago.
The year is 120 AD… a time when the Roman Empire is at the height of its power, during the reign of Hadrian – one of the Five Good Emperors. Meanwhile in China, the Han Dynasty is firmly cemented as the ruling empire and is expanding into Central Asia… one hundred years before the period of the Three Kingdoms. As the Roman fleet did their repairs and traded in Goa, they asked Merong Mahawangsa to escort a Roman prince to Southeast Asia, to wed a beautiful Chinese princess from the Han Dynasty. The Chinese princess and the Roman prince are supposed to meet halfway and be married on neutral grounds.
However, the pirate nation of Geruda had other plans. They decided to kidnap the Chinese princess and use her as ransom. En route to the Straits of Melaka, Merong Mahawangsa’s fleet was attacked by Geruda’s forces while stopping at a small island to replenish supplies.
Will Merong Mahawangsa be able to rescue the Princess and re-unite her with her betrothed in a marriage that is set to bring together two great civilizations from the East and West ?

Go watch it if you have time. :P Local film like this is hard to come by.

Island Escapade

2011-03-03T18:37:00.000+08:00

It's only 3.30am when the alarm went off. Blardy early and I've had just a few hours of sleep. But I woke up feeling excited. It's been a while since my last relaxing trip by the beach.
And so we departed to LCCT, which is by the way blardy crowded at 5.30am. We had our usual McD breakfast. And I still don't like the taste of their coffee.

After a 45-minutes smooth plane ride, we touched down at Kuala Terengganu's airport which is quite deserted. Our driver is waiting to send us to Merang Jetty. I was expecting a bustling jetty but what greeted us was practically a few pathetic-looking souvenir shops. And there's only ONE stall selling nasi lemak and some drinks. It's going to be a long 2-hour wait.

We sat down at that ONLY stall to eat a plate of nasi lemak and shared one cup of coffee and waited and waited for the boat ride to our island. We saw a small lizard ambushing a crab and swallowing it whole, legs and all.

And then, came one of the scariest moment of my life. We boarded a 8-person boat happily, not knowing what's waiting for us. I still managed to snap a photo at the beginning and then the driver stopped the boat and handed us big black garbage bags. I thought it's for anyone who feels like throwing up, but instead he asked us to put our bags in. I asked the driver, is it normal for the sea to be so rough and he said it's because the end of the monsoon season.

The waves was huge and the water was so choppy. I was holding so tight to the rail and water kept splashing at us. Few times, I feel like the boat is going to capsize. In my mind, I was thinking all sorts of nonsense. Whether I'll make it alive or not, I don't want to die like this. Haha...silly me, right? But it was one of the scariest moment for me. Not knowing how to swim is not helping and the safety jacket is not offering me much comfort.
After a 40-minutes grueling, butt-pain ride, we reached the island.

Was it worth it? Definitely yes! We were greeted with crystal clear water that can see through the rocks at the bottom. There are only less than 15 people in the resort and we had some quiet time.

There's no TV, no computer, no WIFI. Just the sound of the waves and the smell of the ocean that greeted us every day. Meals were served on time and it was not too bad.

We just lazed on the beach most of the time. We trekked about 30 minutes to another side of the island. The sight there took my breath away. There's no beach, only rocks but when we looked down, the water is so clear. I can sit there all day but the sun is not showing any mercy.

The manager told us that there are no animals on the island except for squirrels and monitor lizards, LOTS OF THEM. Daily, we can see them walking about behind our room. Not those tiny winy lizards, these are as a human body. I kid you not. But they won't disturb us unless provoked.

We saw some black, soft, spongy thingy and I guess it's a sea cucumber? Looks like shit though...

It was a very relaxing trip. We slept full 8-9 hours and did some trekking to burn off the food we ate.

Before we flew back to KL, we spent half a day in KT town. Visited the state musuem, apparently the biggest in Malaysia. The driver brought us to a 'crystal' mosque and it was not what I've expected.

We went to explore a market-Pasar Payang and the chinatown, which is only a street with some chinese shops.

The next time I'm going to any of the island there, it's going to be during the calm season. Or else, I will just fly Berjaya Air direct to Redang. No more rocky boat rides for me, no thank you.

Food:Sweet Chatz

2011-02-23T18:16:00.001+08:00

Sweet Chatz is actually a dessert chain managed by The Chicken Rice Shop Management. It was opened a few years back I think. This is the second time I've tried their food and it's not disappointing at all. I still remember I had the durian pancake last time and it was good. But their items are a bit pricey though.
This time I had:
Pulut + durian with coconut milk

I love this combination. The durian tastes yummy. Creamy and frangrant. It's a fattening combination but once a while won't hurt, right?

Nasi Kunyit with curry chicken

The nasi kunyit has just the right texture. Neither too soft nor too hard. Eaten with the curry chicken, it's very satisfying. The curry is not too spicy, has thick gravy and just nice for the rice.

Disturbing

2011-02-20T17:20:00.001+08:00

I watched Sanctum yesterday. I expect some breathtaking,kick-ass 3D scenes. But instead, I can't seem to get over few of the disturbing scenes.

Long after I reached home, I still remember that part where one of the actress got her hair tangled in a hiking rope, tearing her scalp off or one of the scene where the man broke all his bones and part of the flesh on his face was torn off. Another scene shows that survival means being cruel and it's either you die or I die.
I'm just so glad that I am not caught in any of the situations.
No cave diving or any form of diving at all for me. Colleagues kept telling me how wonderful it is underwater but it's a big no no for me. I get panicky when my feet can't touch the ground in the water.
While watching the movie, I do think of what if similar situation happens when I'm hiking. Thinking of Mulu hike few years back gave me the creeps. I could have just slipped and that's it. *shivers*
I'm just glad that nothing horrible happened. We can never be too careful.
Synopsis of the movie:
Master diver Frank McGuire (Richard Roxburgh) has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caverns for several months. However when his exit is shut down in a flash flood, Frank's team including 17-year-old son Josh (Rhys Wakefield) and financier Carl Hurley (Ioan Gruffudd) are pressured to drastically change plans. Having diminishing resources, the team must get through an underwater labyrinth to really make it out. Before long, they are up against the inevitable issue: Can they stay alive, or will they be stuck for good?
Taken on area off the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, Sanctum movie utilizes 3D digital photography techniques Cameron developed in creating "Avatar". Created to perform in severe conditions, the engineering employed in the action-thriller provides viewers on a breathless quest throughout crashing cliffs and towards the furthermost reaches in our subterranean earth.

蘇永康 - 男人不該讓女人流淚

2011-02-17T07:23:00.000+08:00

One of my fave song...not my fave singer though...:)

Weird dreams

2011-02-13T20:49:00.000+08:00

I've been having some really weird dreams lately. And I woke up remembering vividly.
Just yesterday, I dreamt of visiting the house that I wanted to buy from a dear friend. I remember her bringing me inside and touring me around.
On another day, I dreamt of someone dear to me falling into a river and drowning. And the worst part is, I can only watch from a distance, on a far away cliff, not being able to help. Woke up from that dream feeling pretty awful.
I dreamt of my ex-bf getting married. And I am actually surprised as I thought that I'll get married first....HAHA...
When I was young, a child then, I used to dream of falling. From a tall building, from a cliff, just anywhere. But I never land, just waking up everytime before I reach the ground. It was terrifying. But as I grew up, that dream never occur anymore.
I did a little google search on this and here's what I found:
"As with most common dream themes, falling is an indication of insecurities, instabilities, and anxieties. You are feeling overwhelmed and out of control in some situation in your waking life. Falling dreams also often reflect a sense of failure or inferiority in some circumstance or situation. It may be the fear of failing in your job/school, loss of status, or failure in love."
-taken from http://dreammoods.com/
So many strange dreams.

lookalike

2011-02-10T20:22:00.000+08:00

They might look alike but one has talent in singing and one has talent in acting....And I do think they should stick to it...

Aarif and Lee Hom

终身美麗 - 鄭秀文(Sammi Cheng)

2011-02-09T21:42:00.000+08:00

My song of the day~

Sins on V Day?

2011-02-09T08:03:00.000+08:00

Interesting:

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/2/9/nation/8024821&sec=nation

Hmmmm...I guess people have misunderstood the history and background of Valentine's day.

Food : Jarrod & Rawlins

2011-02-08T20:57:00.001+08:00

Jarrod and Rawlins is a combination of pub, restaurant, café or delicatessen.

Went to the branch in Damansara Heights and loved the environment there. The garden is spacious enough to hold a party and the top floor is perfect for a drink or two at night.

We ordered:

1. Chicken, Avocado and Mango Salad

I personally love the combination as avocado and mango goes well together. It is lightly dressed, thus making it appetising.

2. Sausages platter

Variety of sausages, priced per weight. We ordered too much as sausages can be very filling. One can choose different types of sauce to go with it.

(does this look like ****?)

4. Chicken Mushroom & Leek Pie

Crispy and buttery crust. Creamy and fantastic filling. Enough said...

5. Spicy Seafood Marinara of Prawns, Mussels and Calamari

Not too spicy, not much taste either but the seafood combo is fresh...

6. Guiness Steak Pie

Burnt crust, burnt taste in filling. Regret ordering this last dish.

7. J&R's Burger (Pork)
I was too hungry, I dug in when it is served and totally forgot to snap a picture. Juicy pork patty with nicely toasted bun. Served with fries.

I would not mind paying another visit (mental note: DONT ORDER TOO MUCH SAUSAGES)

For more info and outlets:
http://www.jarrod-rawlins.com/

Australia Day

2011-01-26T13:36:00.002+08:00

It's Australia day today. It's a public holiday. Having spending some days here, well, what do I like about Australia or Melbourne to be specific?

1. Great parks in the city. There's a park just outside my hotel and office. People BBQ in the park on a weekday evening, people jogs during lunch, people sunbath on the grass, people walks their cute dogs. Love it.

2. Different weather in a day. Extremely cold morning, sunny afternoon, showers in the evening...I love walking on a cloudy day as it's not hot and sunny.

3. Grocery shopping! There's so many variety of stuff to see that we can't get in Malaysia.

4. Queen Vic market. Many things to see, many things to buy. Great place to get some good snacks

5. Great sandwiches. I love them!

6. Uncomplicated roads. Wherever you walk, you'll be able to find your way. It's all in a rectangle.

7. Yummy coffee...Coffee is a big thing here. Every turns and corners, you'll be able to get a cuppa for the chilly day.

8. The Great Ocean Road. The beautiful scenery is etched in my mind forever.

9. Old infrastructure amidst modern buildings.

10. And I finally get to see a koala....awake and active. Do you know koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day?

MacGyver

2011-01-23T11:14:00.002+08:00

One of the TV channel here is showing Macgyver again. Anyone remember this famous TV show? It was one of my favourite show when I was young. Mainly because of Richard Dean Anderson. Hot and sexy during that time, I just can't resist him. I remember waiting eagerly once a week for the show to be aired on TV.

Big fish, small fish

2011-01-21T16:12:00.000+08:00

And so the question goes, 'Would you rather be a big fish in a small pond, or a small fish in a big pond?'
For me, I choose to be a big fish in a small pond.
Now, I'm a small fish in a big pond and it's definitely not where I want to be. I rather have something that I own whole-heartedly and passionately. Something that I build up from my dreams. EVen if it's small and unknown, I prefer to be doing something I look forward to waking up to each morning.
People might think that when you work for a well-known company, a big multinational company, and be good at it, it's consider a success. But to me, it's just living the life that people expected. And you know what, the grass is not always greener on the other side.
So, I don't like big pond. It makes me drown and it makes me stress.
And no, I don't want to be a big fish in a big pond too because some big fish in a big pond told me that no one is indespensable. In a big organisation, you are replaceable no matter how 'big' you are.
But life is never easy. Big pond or small pond, there are bound to be challenges. So which pond you prefer?

Another decade

2011-01-18T17:48:00.000+08:00

And so, my BIG day has passed. Yes, the day I turned the BIG 3-0. No longer in my twenties. And how did I celebrated my big day? Being sick the day before and feeling drowsy from the medicine I took on the day itself. Great, right? But I feel blessed. Blessed to be able to spend the day with family, with my loved one and with my friends.
3 decades and I still feel so incomplete. I feel that I've not achieved anything yet. People might tell me that it's not true. If it's not then why do I feel like a failure? I guess I am emotional at the time I am writing this. Work has not been so smooth. I feel lost and I have yet to set my feet on firm ground. I tried hard and still am trying.
I guess it's not that bad, work aside. I am loved by really great parents and sister. I found someone who really supports me. And I get to travel with friends and family each year. But there's something missing. Am I facing another phase of quarter life crisis?
Sigh...Welcome to another new decade of my life.

Food:Restoran Ayam Penyet, Shah Alam

2011-01-12T19:57:00.000+08:00

I have tried ayam penyet once in Jakarta and I totally love it. I fell in love with gado gado also. One evening, still figuring what to have for dinner, we passed by a newly open ayam penyet restaurant in Shah Alam and I know immediately I wanted to have that.
We ordered the ayam penyet, gado gado and another grilled chicken dish.

Excerpt taken from their website:
http://www.ayampenyet-ap.com/v2.1/

'Our signature chicken dish is a traditional Indonesian cuisine which originates from Surabaya. It is a popular chicken dish where the chicken is specially marinated with various spices and herbs. The meat is then smashed with a wooden hammer and deep fried until golden light brown. One of the unique feature in preparing this funny name dish is the art of frying where it is crispy from outside and juicy inside. Served with blazing hot scrimp paste (sambal belacan) and bits of crunchy golden brown fried fritter topping.'

'Traditional Surabaya salad known as “Rujak” (bean sprout, salad, cabbage, kangkong, potatoes) mixed with spicy prawn sauce, roasted peanut and with classic crispy crackers topping.'

'Aromatic barbecue chicken with added flavour of honey and lime juice. Serve with Indonesian soya sauce consisting of chop onion, garlic, spicy chilli and lime juice.'

I really enjoyed the meal especially the ayam penyet and gado gado. What makes or breaks the gado gado is the peanut sauce and I am totally digging the sauce here.

I hate you, Migraine

2011-01-09T21:37:00.001+08:00

I hate migraine! I hate it even more on weekends. It spoils the day.
Starting with a mild throbbing pain at the back of the head, it progresses until a stage where is causes nausea. I've been trying to avoid taking painkillers. But the pain is so unbearable and eventually, I gave in. If you think taking a nap will ease the pain, more times than not, i'll wake up feeling worse.
I'm not sure what triggers it. I woke up feeling fine, went to the morning market, had breakfast with parents and is excited to be going out for a movie with my dear.
Then Mr Migraine decides to pay a visit. I didn't enjoy the movie and when it finishes, I just wanted to go home and take painkiller. Sigh...
Googled and found some triggers of migraine:
http://www.medicinenet.com/migraine_headache/page5.htm
Chocs? or could it be hormones?
I've less encounter nowadays compared to few years back but I've notice that the pain is more intense now if it strikes. Am I being paranoid?

The true meaning

2011-01-05T22:34:00.000+08:00

Picture 1 - with a cane means people with backache after walking long distance
Picture 2 - with protuding belly means people with big tummy (or Michelin tyres)
Picture 3 - for people wearing boots
Picture 4 - for 'ke ai' people hugging a teddy bear or has any form of cute bears on them (aka Foong Ling)

Fourth day of 2011

2011-01-04T22:01:00.001+08:00

It's the fourth day of the new year and I've already failed 2 of my resolutions. First is to update my blog at least once every 2 days and second is to go jogging everyday.
:(
Just too tired to jog after work these couple of days and too little time to update blog. I haven't even read the newspaper from Sunday.
Sigh...
I am still left with 361 days to make up for these four unproductive days.
To a new beginning...starting tomorrow...

Wish me luck.

Goodbye 2010

2010-12-31T06:44:00.002+08:00

By the time you're reading this, I am probably at Taipei 101, waiting for the New Year count down. Before I digress, Happy New Year everyone!May this new year brings more happiness!!

Whoa...can't believe 2010 has passed by so fast.Time does fly, doesn't it?

2010....hmmm....a year of ups and downs...as usual.

I didn't run as much as I would like to. So-called semi retiring. But of late, I have the inspiration to run again. But due to uncertain schedules, I will limit myself to join only max of one running event a month. I will still run on a regular basis of course (trying to make it DAILY) and maybe take up badminton? :P

I traveled to China, Melbourne and Taiwan this year as well as some Cuti-cuti Malaysia locations like KK, Sandakan and Melaka. China was memorable. A family trip. I managed to scale Mount Kinabalu and would very much want to do it again. And my first time to Australia on a business trip. Quite an eventful year of traveling.

Career wise, it's a start of a new journey. Taking baby steps now.Am expected to be up and running very soon. I guess I need to be prepared with arms and knees guard as it will be a very challenging journey with lots of trips and falls in the process. I miss the old place once a while. But it's time to look forward and move on.

I managed to bake and learn to cook some dishes....Yay!! Hope I will find more time to do that in 2011.

I spent more time with my family this year. My parents are not getting any younger and I will want to be with them as much as I can. We organised a big birthday bash for my dad recently and it went smoothly.

Things are going well in the boy-girl relationship dept.....hehehe....stop asking me when I'm getting married. You'll be notified if it happens.

Not much of a bookworm in 2010. It's a bit hard finding time to read when I need to focus on work and read documentations instead. I promised myself to spend less time in front of the computer and more time on reading.

I'm reading a book now entitled 'A Book of Tomorrow'. It's an interesting story about a girl who found a diary. This diary contains her thoughts and day to day events, just that those thoughts and events are yet to happen.

happen. Would you like to know ahead of time about your future? For me, I would like to experience my tomorrow as it comes.

SO am I ready for 2011? Bring it on!

Food Review:Yuzu, The Gardens

2010-12-24T22:05:00.000+08:00

Good food coupled with great company....
Must try the wagyu beef. Sashimi platter is so fresh and sukiyaki is so yummy.....Kinda lazy to write anything more...Let the pictures do the talking

Yuzu

Squid

Crispy prawns

Soft shell crab with mango

Sashimi platter

Unagi temaki

My Wagyu don

Sizzling wagyu

Sukiyaki

Mushrooms...

Thanks Anna for the treat!

4 legged

2010-12-24T21:48:00.000+08:00

One of my greatest fear is of spiders...or arachnophobia...Big or small, hairy or not, the sight of them makes me cringe...

Even this 4 legged spider in the bathroom gives me the creepssss....

All I Want For Christmas Is You

2010-12-19T20:39:00.000+08:00

Feeling all Christmas-sy now.....

Merry Xmas to all.....

here fishy fishy....

2010-12-09T18:32:00.000+08:00

A day before I flew to Melbourne, I had my first experience ...in a fish spa. I have this voucher for a free 30 mins fish spa at Kenko.

I walked into Kenko in Pavillion, feeling gungho, where else, my dear is a bit reluctant. We are brought to wash our feet first with some soap. We chose a good place to sit and I began to feel a bit scared. There were so many fishes there...as small as half of my pinky finger and as big as twice the size of my index finger.

I feel so ticklish when they started to nibble my feet. Somehow, I didn't manage to attract a lot of fishes compared to him. He said it might be the soap smell that attracts them but I think it's because he got more dead cells. The fishes were swarming towards him. It took a while for them to come to me. I couldn't stand when the bigger fishes nibble on me....

After about 20 minutes, we decided to switch to the bigger pond with BIGGER fishes. And bigger means really big fishes...bigger than the normal ikan kembung we see in the wet market. And these are a bunch of aggresive fish. No joking...(think piranha)...The moment your feet touches the water, all of them will be swarming towards them. I cannot even hold my feet down for 10 seconds as it was tooooooooo ticklish. I admire dear because he can stand the big fishes. We left Kenko with softer feet and it feels so light to walk.

Will I try it again? Hmmm....

Miss home

2010-12-09T05:37:00.000+08:00

Fifth day in Melbourne. Enjoying the weather despite frequent showers. It's cold yesterday night when it rains.
Ate at an amazing pizzeria for dinner yesterday. The pizzas are just heavenly. Thin crust and crispy. Went grocery shopping twice and bought many snacks. Hope I don't get bigger when I go back.
Things here are generally a lot more expensive. A plate of normal fired rice plus 2 choices of meat/vege costs AUD7.50 which is equivalent to RM23.
Booked a day tour to the Great Ocean Road this Saturday. Heard that Mary Poppins musical is amazing. Hope I can find time to go next week else, it'll have to be the next trip. Cheapest ticket is about AUD80 but many said it's worth the price.
I might be back here mid Jan. It's going to be so hot then. Grand Slam is on during that period. Anyone interested? Ticket costs about AUD 120 onwards for the semis and finals. So damn expensive...Else, I might consider it too.
My colleagues are going to Tasmania this Friday. If I know earlier, I might have booked a ticket too.Sigh.
To be honest, I miss home. Another week to go. Till then...XOXO.

ps: oh oh and a mini cooper only costs about AUD 35k onwards ...cheap?

Food Review:Sage, The Gardens Residences

2010-12-04T22:22:00.000+08:00

Sage is apprently the sister restaurant of the all famous Cilantro. I am not really a fan of fine dining, but since it's a team dinner (aka FOC), it's not an experience I would want to miss.

With the price of RM150 for a set dinner, I got to choose an appetizer, a main course and a dessert.

We started off with complimentary warm bread and pesto/olive dipping...and some scallop thingy.

White and red wine was served before our appetizer, which I ordered Carpaccio of Wagyu with Plum Infused Konbu Sauce. It's my first time tasting Wagyu beef....and i loveeee it....It melts in my mouth.

For the main, I was hesitating between the beef and duck breast. I went for the latter because of the Foie Gras. The foie gras was so tender and soft, it feels like eating 'tau fo fah' as one of my colleague puts it. Smoked Duck Breast with Foie Gras and Red Wine Sauce.

For dessert, nothing tempts me more than chocolate-Chocolate Fondant with Earl Grey Ice Cream. Rich, warm and melted chocolate filling, paired with the not so sweet ice cream is just heavenly.

Sage has the perfect ambience for a quiet dinner with a reasonable price.

Lunch (Mon-Fri): 12pm-2pm

Dinner (Mon-Sat): 6pm-10.30pm
Closed on Sunday

The Gardens Residences Level 6,
The Gardens, Mid Valley City,
Lingkaran Syed Putra,
59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: 603 2268 1328
Fax: 603 2287 2189
Email: sagekul@gardenshtlres.com

Carrie Underwood - I'll Stand By You

2010-11-28T21:10:00.000+08:00

Carelessness

2010-11-21T21:23:00.000+08:00

Sigh...
First I lost the parking ticket which costed a RM50 penalty.
Then, I left my car key in the office which resulted of taking a cab home from the LRT station.
And now, I realise I lost my stored valued LRT card.
Come on....how careless can I be?
Pissed off at myself...
*slaps self*

how can u resist them

2010-11-17T12:07:00.000+08:00

Name:Patches (coz of the few grey patches on the body)

Name:Droopy (he got droopy eyes!)

Name:Twilight (the name just kinda pop in my head whenever i see this cutey-naughtiest of them all)

Name:Tigger (yellow stripes!)

Name: Sunny (suits him as he's one of the most playful)

Playful kitties and big miao mi (no not the mum but their big sister)

Similar colour?

It's so hard to capture them on picture as they kept moving around. Hyperactive I would say. They are learning to drink the milk that we gave and eating a bit of rice. I just love to watch them during their playtime. Really can't resist them!

it's important to eat breakfast

2010-11-12T20:25:00.000+08:00

It was one early Saturday morning. Had to wake up early for a pre-employment medical check-up in KLCC. We parked our car at an open air parking near Ampang Park because it's cheaper. I was rather hungry as I had to fast the night before. Cracking our brains on what to eat, when I saw the place, I knew that I wanted a good, sumptious meal of nasi kandar for breakfast. I can't wait for the check up to finish (*hopes the doctor didn't hear my stomach growling*). Immediately after that, we walked towards Nasi Kandar Pelita. It was barely 10am but the place is already crowded. People from all races were enjoying a good old plate of nasi kandar with the variety of curry and meat. I really enjoyed mine. I still prefer nasi lemak anytime but I guess it's who you're eating with that matters. It was a wonderful morning with my dear and a plate of nasi kandar+ayam goreng+mutton curry+vege+ teh ais. *burppp*

tik tok tik tok

2010-11-12T16:26:00.000+08:00

Tik tok tik tok....1 more hour to the weekend!!! I'm so sleepy........Yawn....

Have you noticed that it's hard to not focus at the mouth of a person that you are talking to face to face, especially if that person has a wide mouth with white pearly teeth and a big smile?

Well, which part do you focus most when talking with a person? The eye? The face in general? I find it hard to look directly in the eyes when talking to certain people...Not sure why though. Mayeb those people make me nervous.
These past 2 weeks have been interesting. Met a lot of interesting people that I still cannot remember their names. And got numerous comments about me not looking like a Chinese. I think I need to bleach myself fairer and change my facial features to be more Chinese - smaller, slanted eyes or maybe flatter nose...(no offense...:P)

I still find it hard to be outspoken. I am more of an observer. I can be chatty once you get to know me but I'm not someone who will initiate a conversation unless necessary. Need to practise more and more as communication is the only way that can help me improve my way of working. But of course not till the extend of being annoying and being perceived as trying to be my boss' pet.

Made with love

2010-11-05T16:03:00.000+08:00

Pats myself on the back for actually spending time to make these:

Love my burger with lots of mustard and olive.....

Salmon pizza with loads of mozarella

Peach and orange cheesecake

And yes, I now they are all full of fat but as long as they are yummy......who cares!

Mischievous kitty

2010-11-05T15:51:00.002+08:00

She's broken my mum's favourite vase, she's dragged my Mr Handsome (aka Mr Seal) underneath the bed and played with it until Mr. Handsome's whiskers came out, she's jumped up and down the tables and chairs most mornings, and she's left scratches on the walls. She's one helluva naughty kitty and when she's tired, she'll hijack our sofa and sleep. Like this:

We definitely cannot take care of 5 more kitties.

Going to put them up for adoption at SPCA. Till then, I better not get myself too attached to them as I know I will not be able to let them go when the time comes.

...

2010-11-03T21:00:00.000+08:00

New job, new role, new challenge...
Excited, yet worried.
Will I be able to take up the challenge?
Am I willing to spend more time on work for more money?
Am I willing to sacrifice my leisure time?

Food Review:Twenty One Tables and Terrace, BSC

2010-10-24T20:59:00.003+08:00

We saw a deal at MyDeal.com which we couldn't resist. 50% off on set lunch in Twenty One Tables and Terrace in BSC. The set lunch costs RM50+ on a normal day.
And so, one lovely Saturday, we headed towards Bangsar. We parked the car and went to look at the directory in search of Twenty One. After looking hi and lo, we realised that it is not in BV but in BSC. *slaps forehead*..LoL...
And off we go to BSC. And to our relief, the restaurant is in the directory this time. The entrance is a bit hidden and we have actualy walked passed it without noticing.
We were the only patrons at that time.
We places our order with the friendly staff. We were given a entree, a main and a dessert with choice of softdrinks. The starters came and soon after, followed by our meal.
For starters, we were served some oven-dried bread with olive butter and biscotti. This is my first time tasting olive butter and I love it.

Our entrees:
1) Deep fried potato salad with salmon : I'm a big fan of salmon and I must say that it tastes good pared with potato and fresh leafy veges.

2) Salad of marinated tomato & mozzarella & basil coulis : Not my favorite as it didn't bring out the cheesy flavour.

3) King prawn spring rolls with a sweet chili & tamarind dipping : Prawns...yummy...

Our mains:
1) Spaghetti aglio olio beef bacon, chili, coriander and olive oil : Spaghetti not cooked thoroughly and beef bacon lacks the taste....what a waste...

2) Chicken sandwich wrapped with tortilla : Doesn't look so tempting? But this is one of my favourite dish. The chicken meat is well marinated and the tortilla is just fantastic dipped with the mint sauce.

3) Prawn risotto with basil and tomato salsa : too watery. Missing something. Stil the best risotto is in Taman Segar.

Our desserts:
1) Dark chocolate ganache with dark chocolate cream, lemon curd & chocolate soil : What a mouthful. It's very chocolatey.

2) Passion fruit mousse with mixed berries & caramel ; A bit sourish but it's very refreshing.

3) Mango purée topped with white & dark chocolate foam : Very airy and light. Not bad at all.

Website:http://www.twentyone.com.my/

Office:+603 2287 0021

Location:t1 level 3 bangsar shopping centre (BSC)

Taken for granted

2010-10-14T08:43:00.000+08:00

We take things for granted. We have much more than some people, yet we still complain that we don't have enough.
From the conversation with a 'kak' from my office, I was quite surprised to find out that her house doesn't have electricity. She's living in Dengkil, which I thought is quite developed, in a orang asli 'perkampungan'. Every morning, she comes to work before 7am and goes back at 6pm. Once home, she needs to do house chores using 'pelita'. She's just living with rare necessity yet, she didn't complain.
This makes me feel ashamed. Nevermind that I didn't appreciate the luxury I have, but I still feel dissatisfied. When there's blackout, I will be the first to call TNB. I will feel restless not being able to use my PC. I will twist and turn as the weather is too hot to sleep.

Sigh...

:(

Enrique Iglesias - Hero

2010-10-12T19:33:00.001+08:00

Wrong choice of song for an evening jog?

But I'm still loving it....

It's all about timing

2010-10-10T15:33:00.000+08:00

There's so much going on these past few weeks. And the most important factor to me these couple of weeks is timing. Some events/ decision is purely based on timing. I can plan and I can hope but if the timing is not right, it'll not work. I'm someone who will over-think on small matters. I will imagine the worst case scenario and this worry the shit of of me....Just hope and pray everything will go smoothly. Else, I'll be leaping in a deep hole, again.

Volunteering

2010-10-10T15:21:00.002+08:00

Few weeks ago, I volunteered for a Pacemakers event. Despite a bad experience in my first time volunteering in a running event, I was lured to join this time by my friends.

However, this time, it turned out to be fun. Though I was stationed alone, with a red flag, I got many people (aunties and uncles) approaching me and asking questions. The venue this time was at Metropolitan Park, Kepong.

I like the surrounding here but my sister said sometimes the place smells of rubbish as there's a dumpsite nearby.

And again, the day will not be complete without a hearty breakfast @ Ful Lai, Manjalara.

Goodbye CBJ

2010-10-05T20:41:00.001+08:00

*this post was composed on Friday, 01 October

As was driving back today, it dawned on me that today might be the last day I will be driving on this familiar road. It's been six years. Six years work life in CBJ. It's not a very long period, not too short either. But one thing for sure, I am really attached to this place. I've experienced much during my time here. So many bitter sweet memories that will be etched in my heart forever.So many friends I've met here. So much exposure I've gained.

I get plenty of comments that it's very far to travel from Cheras to CBJ. Honestly, I'm used to it. There's no jam, at least for the first few years. I can't say the same nowadays. It's starting to get really crowded in CBJ with many new buildings and more companies mugrating here.

Few years ago, there's not so many eateries around. Not so many people and cars. I missed those days.

I love the environment here. It's true that CBJ lacks trees but it's a calm and quiet place, unlike KL center. The unique buildings, the long winding road, the sunrise that I get to watch on every clear morning. I will miss it all. I will miss the food in Dengkil. Sigh...my butter chicken...and kam hiong fried rice...

I'm a very sentimental person. Once I am attached to something, I will be very emotional if I have to part with it. I remember when Lucy died, I cry so hard that my loved ones will not allowed me to have another pet. :( It'll not be easy as I've gotten so used to working here. But I hope I will be able to leave with brave heart.

I guess nothing is permanent in this life. Sooner or later, I need to move. I need a change. And I'm pretty sure that I'll be back again one day.

Goodbye CBJ (although my last day will be in another 2 weeks)!