December 2010

Wow, what a month. Filled with activities and many joyous occasions. Never a month so happening. Of course, most of the time, esp. when you're in Malaysia, it involves this thing call food.


First of all, congratulations to my bestie Pink for getting married. Indeed it was a fairy tale wedding. Pls pray for me it will someday be my turn......as wonderful as yours (I'm optimistic, but it could be a long wait..hahaha). I am already missing you as my cool housemate and clubbing kaki. 

OPS's wedding was the week before. Was a simple but joyous occasion nonetheless. The so ever tall friend of mine got a wife as tall has he ;-) (She is tall!). I have to mention this: the jazz band that they hired that night was damn good. Best I've ever experienced in a wedding dinner. Though consist of only a keyboardist and a female soloist, they were absolutely brilliant. All the latest songs (think: Bruno Mars) and the male keyboardist had this really mellow voice. Was glad that I made a few new friends from HK that was at the table. I've never spoke soo much Cantonese in one night! One of them will be joining the Stand Chart Hong Kong Marathon this February as well.

SIF-Alumni: Lum, Me, Ee Yee at OPS's wedding dinner

Oh yah, my car arrived early Dec. Sold my junk away for a very very safe buy - a Vios. And just 2 days after I got my car, someone purportedly farted (times 5) in it. I am pissed 'til today(!) and therefore want this 'disastrous incident' to be mentioned in this post and written in my history books ... for forever. LOL

The Malakoff 12km run at Mont. Kiara/Damansara Heights was quite relaxing. My gang arrived to a huge crowd of runners; probably 12 km is very much achievable for many. Plus, the weather was just right for the run. Finally met Farah (yay!) at the starting line after our countless unsuccessful meet-ups at previous races. 

This is how we 'carbo-load'. No, it's more like 'protein-load'. HUGE, BEST-GRADE MACADEMIA NUTS from SYDNEY 

Aunt's kindergarden always become the party spot.

Baby Jasmine: German mix Indian-Chinese

My Christmas was celebrated on Sunday. Went to regular church service with dad and then went up to Klang to pick up my mum from my aunt's place. Somewhat an annual event, we celebrated Boxing Day at Aunt Nancy's and Chris kindergarten. I always always attend their dinner parties cause it never fails to impress me - the food is extensive and delicious, the party-goers are in a class of their own, the drinks are ample from Holland beer to a 21-year-Chivas to ice kacang. And my cousin just got a new little 6 week-old baby call Jasmine. Adorable to the max & fearless of parties and noise!    

My beer from Holland. Smoooooth....

Their free-flow of any type of booze or ice kacang or cendol u desire.

Of course, Malaysia won the Suzuki Cup. Never heard of this Cup, til....last week. Whatever it is, I had a bunch of replacement holidays to be wasted off due to this win. I'm in Ipoh and it's still December 2010. I'm still expecting a bunch of yum chas, food and booze before the year ends.


Other worth mentioning and I-had-so-much-fun events in Dec:

Callie's German Xmas party. "Frohe Weihnachten"!! 

Colleagues at 'Penang Village' celebrating our boss' Birthday

Beloved Uncle Max at L's Xmas dinner party

I'm absolutely optimistic about 2011. Dream more, may your dreams come true.  

"You may say that I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one" 

John Lennon, taken from "Meet the Schmucks"

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 EVERYONE!

Christmas 2010 at Pavillion.

Ohhhh my parents are here (again!). Not that I'm complaining apart from being the driver and tour guide for them for the whole of KL/PJ. Like cabby. Ah-mad, but without the gaji. 

I always have a good time with my parents! My mum is really fun to hang out with and entertainingly funny (not the slapstick kind). She always, always make my day. She disturbs me and poke silly jokes at me, and I always ask her to repeat her jokes to me. It's stupid, I know.

This time, it's Pavillion's Christmas decoration that they wanna check out. Honestly it's the best Christmas decor in town. We set at the centre court to the sounds of carols and a cup of cappucinno, just allow time to pass us by, wasting away. That's the "Merry'' part of Christmas.

Here are some of the photos:

Like father, Like daughter, we cannot live without our daily dose of caffeine.

12 things I want for Xmas

In response to KYspeak's post on his 12-wants on Christmas, and since I am in a Christmas mood, here's mine:

1. A new pair of goggles. 
My old pair that cost me HK$50 is missing. As a swimming teacher, it's a very essentialbarang.

 

2. A smartphone WITH dataplan.

I currently own a very old BB without a data plan whatsoever. I just use it to phone and text. When BB was first released in US my brother bought one. He gave it to me after he betrayed BB for an android phone, but it brought me no justice either - I had to 'break'/unlock the phone at Low Yat for RM50. You can tell fr far its a very very old BB Curve.

3. For once, one full pint of Guinness with my Guinness-addict girl friends!

I don't fancy Guinness. Honest. I drank a whole pint before, but nope, never liked it. No wonder my drink only-Guinness-only friends are already dissing me :P Can't I stick to my Heneiken?!

4. A coffee brewing machine.

The presser I bought was nonsensical. Because it does nothing for me. Something is very wrong. Maybe the water is not hot enough. The presser is now on the kitchen shelf collecting dust.

5. Starbucks diary/organizer 2011

My company this year provided each staff with the most 'creative' piece of organizer-cum-diary 2011. It's rubbish. Plain rubbish. It's more like a notebook than an organizer. Where's the calendar??!?! I saw this year's Starbucks' diary and was awed with the design. See how sassy it looks!

6. Drive-thru' that Starbucks @ Setia Alam

FP reminded me that there's a drivethru Starbucks near her new home. Must go!

7. Aunty Gemuk FAM Char Kuay Teow

My no. 2 favourite Malaysian dish is CKT (after Nasi Lemak). Yes, I have weird cravings near festive season. So, another must go!

8. Victoria's Station's Christmas Dinner set

I've never given myself a chance to savour a real Christmas dinner, oh yah except for the year 2002, when I was in England. There, I experienced an authentic (I dunno how authentic it can be) English-style Xmas dinner. Since then, it's your regular roti canai in the morning and laksa on a Christmas night!

9. The whole Nutcraker Suite by Tchaikovsky.

Last year, I attended the christmas orchestra by MPYO at KLCC. It was soo enjoyable and I got myself the balcony seat. The main composition being played that night was the Nutcracker Suite and I fell in love with the whole composition. I hope to get the original CD by Christmas.

10. What I don't want for Christmas!
Year-end-WORKLOAD! It's neverending....

11. More increment!

If not, how to buy the coffee-brewing machine!? - Achieved June 21, 2011



Christmas tree at my pad.



12. ....but actually, all I want for Christmas is YOU!

...but dunno quite know WHO that is yet. All I know is that I want to share this year's Christmas with some(any)one special. I'll find one :-)



Blessed Christmas Everyone!

Unexpectedly Penang

Starting line. I spotted myself out of the thousands of random pics. I was pretty good in Finding Waldo!

My run at Penang was quite an experience. First of all, I am doing this all my own. Sounds like syiok sendiri but I it's actually a brand new independent me in the making - woke up by myself, go to jetty myself, run myself (normal lah), kena thunderstorm myself, find transport back myself, ask for directions myself, walk back all myself. My parents teman me, but because the race was sooooo freaking early (1.30am I left the hotel, 3am race start)...they just don't bother but snored throughout the night, and when they woke up..it was as if nothing had happened - I was already back in the hotel before they even woke up!

Unexpected: Rain and huge thunderstorm from midspan of the bridge til the finished line.

I was pissed...because just a day before my race, my old Adizero was stolen from my apartment. Immediately, I took EL (it's Emergency, okay!) and bought the exact same one. I could have bought a New Balance which I once eyed on, but I needed to 'break' the shoes as running in new shoes can be a pain in the ass. But any Adizero doesn't require 'breaking'. You can run miles and miles in their brand new pair. They are famous for that......

Unexpected: Someone stole my only running shoes a day before a race. I place that fugly, muddy shoes outside for the whole week, but now only u steal!!

My mum and it was her Birthday today! Her wish? - "Take me to Fatty Boy"

Usually when you go Penang, you think of Har mee, CKT, chendol, Nasi Kandar.....but never will you think of Chicken Rice. Chicken Rice always is associated with Ipoh or Melaka or KL. 

Unexpected: my mum's recommendation (she visited before): Fatty Boy Chicken Rice off Restaurant 98 at Jalan Burmah, right under Tunes Hotel. It was sooo good! The roast chicken as well as pak cham kai was very juicy and the garlic chillie was just right! We also had chai-boy, chicken ofal, and siew-yok as well. They were all delicious but normal. WHAT WAS AMAZING WAS, UNEXPECTEDLY - the RICE. The oily rice itself was sooo fragrant and chi liap-chi liap, not very sticky. Just nice. And also, the customer service was good.

Come to Fatty Boy for the RICE. Tambah nasi!

Fatty Boy Chicken Rice also serves WanTon Mee. Early early also sooo many ppl eating already. The tables were fully occupied at 10am.

Of course, cendol must be part of the Penang's feast. We ate cendol at Komtar first, not the one in Penang Road. The cendol was as good because it's the franchise of the original. Think Old Town Kopitiam concept.


However, we still went to Penang Road's Joo Hooi's cafe for their assam laksa (CKT at Joo Hooi sucks!), and of course the famous Hainan Cendol store right outside Joo Hooi. People, please crowd around the cendol stall. Queuing is never in the vocab. Unexpectedly, it was approx. 15 min wait for my cendol....but wallop all in 1 minute!

One of the most satisfying vacations, as I've accomplished a lot in Penang -  in food and in race (2:41 min)

Soup

Terjumpa website ni: My Kitchen Snippets: Hearty Beef and Potato Soup

Macam best je. And easy to make.

Soup = comfort food....

Will try this recipe soon!! And post up pics of this dish....


Reminds me of Joel Marvin's asking me to join him for SOUP KITCHEN. Will tell him so. Soon.

What I found out about Running:

A bit of history:

I started running since my first triathlon in 1998. I swam well, cycled like shit, but ran okay. That was in Desaru. After that I was in S'pore doing the SAFRA biathlon, where I swam at the oily waters of Sentosa and ran 10km. After that, I quit anything which had the suffix ***thlon. However, I continued my running stint with the Ipoh Roadrunner's 10km run which was the worst run in my entire life because there was ZERO water stations provided. That time, I knew the president of the RoadRunner's club in Ipoh - Mr. Chong, and I knew where he stayed; almost met him to murderlized him for giving me such a dreadful time. Since then, I 'quit'. It was a 6 year hiatus.

In this 6 years - it was swim swim swim swim. That's all I did. Oh ya, Aikido too.

Then I quit Aikido. Swimming was always part of me. Can never leave swimming. That aside, I took up running again which started with the Stan Chart 2009 in KL. My first 10km in 6 years! Since then I did not stop. Every few months there will be a run for me! It progressed to 21.1 km for me lately. This week is my inaugural Penang Bridge Marathon 2010. Next year is the Stan Chart Hong Kong 2011 Marathon.

You'll need training, that's for sure. With any sport, comes great reponsibility(read: Spidey's grandma). If not, especially 21.1km, you'll sure to pengsan. Practice and train.

So that's what I did. I practice and train my runs all the time. Just run regularly lah...But I'll give you a few of my own tips about running based on my own experience. I found this narcisstically farny but ini adalah Kisah Benar aku pasal ber-lari:


1. Don't makan curry/chilly dish before that!

My sweat burned me! BURN. My whole body itched is soo itchy like that. Wait, no, it's not literally itchy...it's more like your body feels like you've just rubbed cabai burung all over it. Or your bath spa contained chilly-extract, not roses/flowers. It happened to me twice.

2. Stray dogs love runners.

I know I don't have the luxury of a gym, but it's actually my choice to run outdoors. I love running outdoors as you get to experience lots of going-ons around you, smell the breeze (of Puchong? :P), curi makan some cendol, you get the luxury of ppl berwisel at u, or meet another runner or two who says: "good luck!" when u run pass them. Bliss!

But u also get to meet stray dogs! These dogs are very territorial. I pass that place three times, and three times it barked at me. It barked at motorcyclist too. Actually the third time, it chased me. Now I bring a rock with me whenever I run. Worst case scenario? Read this. Bring a rock or else, a gun and shoot it (except if you're in Ipoh since it's banned di).

3. Music works for running.

But don't blast the music too loud. It's important to know your surroundings, vehicles behind/in front of you, hear the horns, footsteps of (probably) thiefs, snatch thiefs, OR DOGS chasing you. Cause the dog was actually already chasing me from behind, but I didn't know as my music was max!! Thank God I FELT something behind me and threaten the dog by facing it and make as if I am throwing a rock at it. Our encounter was mere 3 feet apart.

4. The Fat lady sings ...then overtakes you.

During a race, you get reallly aggitated when a fat person (sorry, don't like to stereotype but can't help it!) overtakes you. Sorry, nothing you can do. You're just unfit. And FIT does not equal FAT/THIN. You may be fat, but actually a very fit person with a strong heart and good stamina, no?

  

5. Run w/o socks

I do that ALL THE TIME. It's okay when you've got cool shoes like my AdiZeros. No pain, no blisters. But, honestly...on a real race...and at 21.1km...pls wear socks! Esp for night runs as the tar roads can be hot at night. Thanks BK for the Nike socks. Amazing technology there.

6. Register early for a race.

If not you won't be able to race. Period. Beg and beg also cannot join the race. Examples of very-fast-finish-the-quota-for-runners: Standard Chartered HK marathon and SC Singapore marathon. I guess I scratched through the SC HK marathon 2011! HK here I come! 

7. Don't overload on your banana

It happened to me! Once bitten twice shy. Consume Powerbar and banana are always the two most talked about (beneficial) tips for runners. Yes, you can eat banana, but if you ate too much like I did before a race, u tend to feel like a No.2 and it ain't too comfortable running while holding your a*s at the same time

8. Don't 'shower' at the water station drinks:

...cause you'll never know it's your extra sweet Gatorade. Hey, drinks are meant for drinking, k! If it's an International race, usually there's sponge provided. If you pour a clear drink over your head to cool down(which looked like plain water anyway, so can't blame you), you could have ants running up your pants while running the rest of the race. One sweet run for you there!

9. Runing is the only time where Carbo-loading is 'beneficial'



Of all places, it's Penang this weekend. Where carboloading means: Har mee, CKT, cendol, laksa, mua chi, gurney, seafood. But you don't want to laosai before the race, get it?  



My PBIM race kit arrived by hand. Courier person stayed at Seri Tanjung as well.



 10. I am searching for a running FACE BRA...think: Ally McBeal

I always knew that running causes you to be fit but wrinkly. Not a very good sport for the skin. The sun, the movements, and the many hazards and injury that comes with running - you'll need a face bra :P Nah, forget it. I saw this TVseries years ago called Ally McBeal. I remembered that they wanted into invent a face bra? Why? Cause of RUNNING. Cause running cause saggy skin. There! http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/5-surprising-ways-youre-ruining-your-skin-2391719

You know what: Stick to swimming. Swimming won't alleviate your skin problem, but at least it's less wrinkly and you age slower! :P



BIG BAD WOLF BOOK FAIR

http://www.bigbadwolfbooks.com/

The last time I remember it was held in Amcorp Mall. Lazy to go there. Now that it's held nearer to my office (the Fair is @South City Plaza) I made an effort and took advantage of the Friday long praying & lunch hours to head out there

This is my first time. Before I I stepped into the fair, I told myself strictly that "I cannot be tempted to buy so many books cause it's not entirely a good thing to overload on anything"

But I was soo wrong! About my own self. I binged on so many books just now!

Actually comparatively, I bought 'NOTHING' cause I see ppl buying boxes and boxes of books!!! So cheap marr. Sitting down in the cashier queue some more. Haizz, kerr lian..should bring cash marrr....tsk tsk.

But what's cool is that even if you buy sooo many books...you don't go pokai here. Most books are new titles and still soo cheap! RM8 only for a hard cover of your fav fiction from Ken Follett or Grisham to Rushdie!

A tip: Bring cash (thankfully I brought cash!) cause it reduces your over-buying of unnecessary books (books-that-u-don't-actually-read-but-because-it's-cheap-you-purchase-it) and the cash counter was sooooo much shorter and faster.

Queue

Another tip: Bring along (and make use of) a friend or your mum or dad. Ask them to queue for you while you slowly find your good books. Then make use of them again to bring those books back to the car for you.

I went alone, and I really couldn't carry all my books....so I literally dragged them to my car!

My box of books. Total of 13 books...

My personal opinion is that the travel books are a pretty good buy. Bought a book about diving sites in the world, SouthEastAsia travels, and about err...about Long distant running (don't ask me why, but because it's mere RM5.00)

Those books will last me a year. Enough of books!! Barely even open the latest book I bought 2 weeks ago.

2

Bought 2 books - one fiction, one non~

But that was more than 2 weeks ago.

Only read 2 pages of the first chapter.

Stalled for 2 weeks.

Will re-start reading in 2 days time.

Or only when 2 major reports-cum-presentations to GM is done.



The fiction I bought. 
The Man Booker's prize winner this year 2010.
The last Booker I read was 'Life of Pi' by Yann Martell which blew me off.
 I am hoping this will too.

Remember, Remember the 5th of November

V: It is to Madame Justice that I dedicate this concerto, in honor of the holiday that is sadly no longer remembered, and in recognition of the impostor that stands in her stead. Tell me Evey, do you know what day it is


Evey Hammond: Um, November the 4th.


V: *midnight church bells ring* Not anymore. Remember, remember the 5th of November. The gunpowder, treason, and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot....
 
 

- V for Vendetta

 
 
I vote this as one of the best movie I've ever watched. All time fav!
 
Okay.. now back to ANTM S14.

The 1-day-extra Diwali weekend 2010

Happy Diwali everyone! My company handed me soo manyof their own Diwali cards that I didn't know what to do with them. Even my next door neighbour had one from me this year (signed, H333!).

The weekend started early. On Thursday itself, after teaching swimming, we all went to karaoke to sing until 3.00am. This time, the regulars were joined by singing expert all the way from Tawau - our dear friend Adam and his darling FY!

Friends and I

Adam and FY in KL for swimming and K

Slumber overnight at my apartment, the next day, we went breakfast....then I picked up my parents. We all viewed the house we're about to purchase at Kota Kemuning. Nice area. Then we went to Empire to jln jln  sambil mencari tempat untuk membuang duit. Of course, duit terus dibakar on my new toy. Pink is the new black.

Went back my apartment with my new toy. Asked my banker dad about the PCG ESOS shares that I bought. Testing and charging my new camera (blekk... new broom sweeps clean), whilst lazing at home with my dear friends and family....

A shot of  my apartment using new camera

Friends and family lazying at home cause outside too hot

.....before leaving for Nref's Laksa-Mahjong party! 

(the mahjong was supposed to be side-activity actually).....

Nref's simple cozy apartment

Dry swimming

It's the Kickass Penang Assam Laksa night!! Nref's recipe memang tepat dan lazat giler! She made rojak buah. She even made her own belacan rojak sauce. I brought my homemade Tomyam fried meehoon while other brought drinks. More importantly, we got hold of Eric's boozes (my Swing!). 

Everyone makan Penang ori assam laksa

Home-made rojak and rojak sauce.

My fav junk

Je's flower = Burst!

However, the night was dominated by 3 mahjong addicts. Shame on us :P Whole night was just 'dry swimming swimming swimming'. My ass wouldn't leave the mahjong table. Thanks to Nref for having a lan-tou person like me to your party.

My flowers, pak-pan, joker and fatt choy. This round, I 'pau' di!

The 'Red middle'

Today, planning to run at bukit jalil. Penang Bridge International Marathon is in 2 weeks time..which means i need to: *intensify my training*


I can't wait for this Sunday: Running in Adizero & Running in heels with my kakis (read: membuang duit again).

Whole

The only obsession everyone wants: ‘love’. People think that in falling in love they make themselves whole?!? The platonic union of souls?!

I think otherwise.

I think you’re whole before you begin. And the love fractures you. You’re whole, and then you’re cracked open.

— Philip Roth

 

http://intherain.org/?p=169

Octopussy

Exactly at October 19, 2010 is my 1st Anniversary in Petronas!

I am loving every single minute with my team since Day 1. The work fits my personality and their technical demands is in line with what I had done during my Ph.D. There are definitely stressful times (like now!), where your brains are worked up 24-7 and you thought you just had a power nap in the office which turned up to be an hour's sleep at work! Opps! Since 1st anniversary is always known as 'Paper' anniversary = I have to say that I am given papers and tonnes of reports to do (Quarterly report, Annual Report, Monthly Report, you name it). Konon I am good in English here and I've been writing scientific reports during my Ph.D. years (but errr, wait til they read my pasar English in this blog). And errr...I am actually supposed to simplify all scientific reports here to layman's report. So, kononlah I am good in scientific report which doesn't fit the requirement anyway! Wuahahaha.

My department ppl are such foodie ppl, that I get FOC food all the time - Nasi Arab, Nasi Lemak, Nasi whatever, Bakso, Roti Jala, Sphagetti, etc.. Obviously no one here lets me cook - tak halal marr. Which makes me the luckiest person here! I am already known to just bring my stomach. Okay, okay, I did bring a watermelon or an apple or two. Only when being coerced.



Hari Raya company open house. HUGE HUGE HUGE buffet. YUmmmms



Makaning on the floor :)

I am known as the coffee addict at office. Who doesn't know that, eh? My colleague made me stop drinking coffee cause she saw me I drink at least two cups while in office - and if there's a meeting, make that three. Balik rumah, drink again...

My team had a team photo recently. My superior said this would be a photo full of great memories; might be our last (we all know why *wink*). Don't we all look like we came out from some penitentiary or what!??!!

BTW, half of my working life is actually in this huge 'prison cell' a.k.a greenhouse that requires hard labour. No matter how tough it is, I kinda enjoy every minute of it, esp. when you can start to reap what you sow, literally.

'prison cell' with plants.

soo amazing. plants growing soo well. All my hard labour.

October was also my luckiest month cause I get to see Adam Lambert live in KL! VIP seats some more. *muaks FP* His Falsetto is totally True. Better than what u imagined on TV's American Idol. Flawless. Such a handsome guy, but he needs a bit of gym work out. Spot his flabby arms while he danced gayfully :P I am still dreaming of the chances of being with him.

Next: My Halloween Party at my apartment 30 Oct 2010 7.30 pm. Wait for my personal invite. I will personally PM y'all.

Theme: Halloween, of course (hint: bedak sejuk).