Happy Birthday

It's good to be 28 years old again.

Though it was simple but my birthday celebrations were simply memorable for me. I never wanted a pompous nor lavish birthday celebration, just a simple birthday dinner with my friends is more than happy for me.

You must be dying to know what my birthday was right?

I wished for a handsome boyfriend. We will meet by serendipity.  Nah, this year is not the year for relationship (unless someone makes me to change my mind).

So I caught up with my old pal of mine and I never knew that we have been friends for eight years now. He must know me well since he asked me whether I still couldn't let go a person we were so familiar with.

I didn't answer actually because I miss him sometimes. Maybe he has a place in my heart that no one could replace. I guess I shouldn't think too much. People are leading a happy life now. But deep down in my heart, I treasure every moment I spent with him and it was happiest moment in my life. Well, I did wish I could celebrate my birthday with him but oh well, I've got my friends who are still care for me.

Okay back to my birthday!

Had a delightful pre-birthday dinner at Botanica + Co @ The Vertical in Bangsar South. I would say not bad. And there was a tall waiter who was not bad either. BTW, you see the missing part of the chicken? Someone stole it. 

Of all tables at the restaurant, this cat had to come to my table. How did it know I love cats? Maybe it was the unspoken cat language and purring.....

Bear bear cake from Chateraise Isetan @ 1Utama. Cute right?

And of course the full size birthday cake on my birthday

Followed by Yee Sang. "qgegiebijasbvsa qwfbqi vidmbsldjisehg" - chanted the Bangla waiter. Really, I'm not joking. Seriously, we had no idea what he was saying when he was preparing the Yee Sang. He must be worshipping Papa Smurf I guess.

Last but not least, the birthday dinner on my actual birthday at Greyhound Cafe Kuala Lumpur. It was nice and I didn't expect it was so value for money. 

That's all folks for my birthday celebrations this year. Chinese New Year is next. Before I end my birthday entry, I want to conclude it with a song. The title of this song is 'The Past Only Can Be Memorable'. And yes, it is a very old song and you know I love oldies because those songs are so simple but yet meaningful. 

I don't know much about Mandarin but I believe this song is very meaningful since it was played during my grandfather funeral. I believe it means;

Time has passed and can never return. Past relationships can only be retrieved from memory. Remember when we were child and were like couples; being innocent together through day and night. Spring breeze has blown the flower filament to red. You have been one year older. If you would break my heart and I won't come back like last time. I only can lean on you in my dream.

Kimball’s Culinary Workshop On Adding Drama to Daily Meals Affordably

Kimball, a popular Malaysian household name for sauces, pasta and other food products with a heritage of over 40 years, held its first culinary workshop on adding drama to daily meals affordably, with flair and flavor, as part of its on-going ‘Tambah Drama Dalam Masakan’ campaign.

The focus of the cooking workshop was demonstrating that making affordable, flavourful and dramatic meals at home is easy and convenient using Kimball’s quality sauces and pastas. The emphasis was on dishes that could be whipped up by newbies or experienced home cooks, with less effort but with maximum impact in taste and presentation, for more drama in the kitchen and at the dining table.

Participants for the workshop were selected based on the online submission of their most dramatic photograph while in the kitchen or at the dining table, in keeping with Kimball’s ‘Tambah Drama Dalam Masakan’ campaign.

The contest winners with the most dramatic photographs, and their ‘dates’ enjoyed an up-close and personal cooking encounter with celebrity chef, Sherson Lian, who is currently hosting the Kimball-sponsored ‘5 Rencah 5 Rasa’ cooking show on local television.

Participants who spanned a wide range of ages and cooking skill levels, were united in their passion to improve their culinary chops, indulge their love of good food and be rewarded for their preference for Kimball as their go to brand for a wide range of products.

Aside from the demonstrations of two recipes using Kimball products, the session was packed with useful kitchen tips and tricks that could help home cooks be even more efficient.

Chef Sherson demonstrated the Kimball Penne & Chicken in Mushroom Tomato Concasse, which showcased the versatility and flavor Kimball’s Mushroom Spaghetti Sauce, and the convenience of Kimball’s Penne to produce a wholesome meal that would please both children and adults. This dish can be prepped and cooked quickly depending on the individual’s kitchen skills, yet delivers a restaurant quality meal in the comfort of your home.

Kimball’s Chilli Sauce and Kimball’s Oyster Sauce, both Malaysian favorites, were the stars of ‘Udang Goreng Cili Assam Kimball’. Stir-fried prawns with tamarind and chilli, more commonly known as ‘Udang Goreng Cili Assam’ is a popular menu item at restaurants but isn’t cooked at home as often as most of us are unsure how to get the hot and sour gravy right. Kimball’s take on this popular dish ensures that it can be easily recreated at home.  The two sauces are combined to produce a flavorful base for the stir-fried prawns. This dish is so piquant it can be enjoyed over hot rice as a meal in itself.

The culinary workshop ended with a mouthwatering ‘makan-makan’ session, where attendees were treated to a feast of dishes specially prepared using Kimball products.

As a part of its ‘Tambah Drama Dalam Masakan’ campaign, which is all about adding a dash of Kimball’s products to the simplest dish for maximum flavor without breaking your budget, Kimball is also sponsoring the Malaysian culinary lifestyle TV programme ‘5 Rencah 5 Rasa’ which airs on TV3.

Hosted by Chef Sherson, the programme depicts one special Kimball recipe every episode, showcasing the versatility of using Kimball products in many different applications and dishes, forwarding the concept of affordable yet tasty meals known as ‘Jimat & Lazat’ on the show.

To find out more about Kimball’s easy, affordable and convenient recipes, visit their official website at http://www.kimball.com.my/, or log on to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KimballMalaysia/.

Mix It Up with Kimball’s More Flavourful, Yet Affordable Spaghetti Sauces

Have you ever craved for delicious, wholesome, home-cooked pasta dishes but have limited time and budget, to make them at home? You are not alone. It is time for a change by adding a dash of Kimball to a mix of simple ingredients for easy, convenient and tasty pasta dishes at home!

Kimball is a Malaysian brand with a heritage of over 40 years of understanding and catering to our uniquely Malaysian tastes. Kimball knows that Malaysian creativity and ingenuity will result in creative recipes that combine different cuisines for a taste that is so Malaysian!

The improved, value for money Kimball Spaghetti Sauces are now more flavourful and richer-tasting, thanks to more tomatoes, and carefully selected herbs and spices, making them more versatile and perfect for creating Western or Asian dishes.

The hearty, 350gram Kimball Spaghetti Sauces come in 3 variants; Traditional, that provides a rich tomato base; Mushroom, which features fresh bits of mushrooms for a more textured sauce; while the Basil & Garlic sauce is rich in herbs and spices to beautifully complement both Italian dish and Asian dishes.

These affordable, well-balanced, versatile sauces are available in major hypermarkets and supermarkets nationwide, with the recommended retail selling price of RM4.66 per 350gram bottle (inclusive of GST).

Add them to piping hot Kimball pasta for the quickest lunch or dinner staple; or make it a wholesome meal with the addition of vegetables, and meat or seafood. Delicious Kimball pasta meals, with meat and vegetables, can easily feed a family of four for a budget of around RM15, making them an economical and practical choice as the cost of living rises.

In line with Kimball’s on-going ‘Tambah Drama Dalam Masakan’ campaign, the brand has developed a series of recipes from quick and simple for busy days, to more elaborate dishes for passionate cooks who want to explore more creative dishes for their families.

Thanks to Kimball’s more flavorful Spaghetti Sauces, you can now choose the type of dishes you wish to prepare in the comfort of your home, as the ingredients used can be found in your kitchen and are readily available in local grocery shops.

Additionally, Kimball has developed a selection of delicious yet affordable recipes to inspire home chefs and kitchen newbies to get saucy and creative with the improved Kimball Spaghetti Sauce range. These include Kimball’s Cheesy-baked Macaroni, a favorite among kids and adults, the hearty Kimball Penne and Spinach Stew that will fill you up and warm you up, especially on rainy evenings, and Kimball Chicken and Fettucine Delight that is guaranteed to delight your taste buds!

KIMBALL CHEESY BAKED MACARONI

Ingredients: [if !supportLists]·      [endif]350g Kimball Traditional Spaghetti Sauce [if !supportLists]·      [endif]200g Kimball Macaroni, cooked as per instruction on packaging [if !supportLists]·      [endif]2 tbsp butter [if !supportLists]·      [endif]2 tbsp all-purpose flour [if !supportLists]·      [endif]5 pcs sausages, cut into 1cm length [if !supportLists]·      [endif]200g cheddar cheese, grated [if !supportLists]·      [endif]Salt, to taste [if !supportLists]·      [endif]Black pepper to taste

Method: 1. Melt butter, mix in flour and stir until smooth. Add in Kimball Traditional Spaghetti Sauce and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. 2. Mix in sausages, Kimball Macaroni and half of the cheese. Season to taste. 3. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. 4. Bake at 200°C for 15 minutes or until bubbly.

KIMBALL PENNE AND SPINACH STEW

Ingredients: [if !supportLists]·      [endif]350g Kimball Mushroom Spaghetti Sauce [if !supportLists]·      [endif]400g Kimball Penne, cooked as per instruction on [if !supportLists]·      [endif]2 tbsp oil [if !supportLists]·      [endif]1 red onion, diced [if !supportLists]·      [endif]400g beef/lamb cubes, boiled with 500ml water (reserve 500 ml stock & add water if necessary) [if !supportLists]·      [endif]2 cups spinach leaves [if !supportLists]·      [endif]Salt, to taste [if !supportLists]·      [endif]Black pepper, to taste

Method: 1. Heat oil and sauté onions until soft. 2. Add Kimball Mushroom Spaghetti Sauce, stock, spinach leaves and meat. 3. Cook until spinach is wilted. Season to taste. 4. Stir in Kimball Penne and toss well with sauce. Serve warm.

KIMBALL CHICKEN AND FETTUCCINE DELIGHT

Ingredients: [if !supportLists]·      [endif]350g Kimball Basil & Garlic Spaghetti Sauce [if !supportLists]·      [endif]200g Kimball Fettuccine, cooked as per instruction on packaging [if !supportLists]·      [endif]300g chicken breast [if !supportLists]·      [endif]1 tbsp cajun seasoning [if !supportLists]·      [endif]3 tbsp olive oil [if !supportLists]·      [endif]4 cloves garlic, finely chopped [if !supportLists]·      [endif]½ cup sweet basil, finely sliced [if !supportLists]·      [endif]Salt, to taste [if !supportLists]·      [endif]Black pepper, to taste

Method: 1. Season chicken with salt, black pepper and Cajun seasoning. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan, pan-sear chicken until cooked through. 2. Remove chicken and slice thinly. 3. Add and heat remaining oil, then sauté garlic until fragrant. 4. Add Kimball Basil & Garlic Spaghetti Sauce. Cook until it boils then mix in basil, salt and black pepper. 5. Serve sauce with Kimball Fettuccine and sliced chicken.

To find out more about Kimball’s Spaghetti Sauces and wide range of product, as well as a selection of delicious yet affordable recipes, visit their website at http://www.kimball.com.my/, or log on to their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/KimballMalaysia/ to discover more updates and information about Kimball’s products and how to maximize taste with simple ingredients you can find at home, for an affordable price!

We're lovin' it

Come 30th November 2016, Ipoh folks will bid farewell to their first  McDonald's.

If you were born in 80s and 90s and you lived in Ipoh, I believe this news is rather hard for you to swallow. This is not a regular McD. This McD played a big part in our childhood. As we learnt that the restaurant is closing down, our  cherished childhood memories are like the chalk drawing on the blackboard that we are so reluctantly to wipe it off.

This 30-year old fast food restaurant, occupying at a majestic building in the middle of city, is a time capsule that brings us back to our childhood.

I would be the happiest kid on earth whenever my mother brought me there. I remember that McEgg (different from today version) would be definitely my first choice of order. I still could recall that the packaging for Happy Meal was so attractive that you could build a house where the toys lived in. There was a upstairs during early days in which there would be a yellow slide and children balls pool waiting for me. Not forgetting the ice cream corner underneath the staircase in which the cream was much taller.

These were the memories for my childhood. It felt so innocent, joyful and carefree every time I recall it. Whose childhood memories weren't happy to be recalled?

I went there yesterday, it was filled with people. People were taking photos and they brought their younger children along. I bet those mummy and daddy were telling their children;

 "Son, this was the happiest place when I was a kid".

As I was queuing to make my order, so many memories flashing since the counter is still at the same place as before. I remember my mom would carry me up to choose my order back then. I was able to stand tall to make my order - well, she was looking for a place. Indeed I've grown up.

Memories are past and there's no valid reason for us to hold it on. The past is a handful of dust. It filters through your fingers little by little.

Thank you so much for the memories and you have left a mark in every Ipoh people's heart. You will be missed.

Lavo Ignites the Tropicana F&B Scene

M Group, the experiential food & beverage specialists behind CHAZE Whiskey Lounge and The Prince Chinese Cuisine, today launched its newest venue, Lavo – a restaurant lounge and wine bar at Menara Lien Hoe, along Persiaran Tropicana, in grand style.

The Glitz and Glamour themed grand launch, saw a who’s who of food, fashion and more indulging in a night of non-stop style, entertainment, great food and drinks.

Lavo, which boasts an extensive wine cellar, serves a delectable fusion menu. It opened for business in June 2016, and has been drawing discerning diners and wine lovers since.

The visually arresting outlet adds a touch of luxe to industrial chic for a sleek dining and event venue that is sophisticated and welcoming at a spacious 7,000 square feet. 

Lavo is the third act in the exciting M Group gourmand hub that will introduce six unique venues at Menara Lien Hoe. The second act, CHAZE, a modern speakeasy lounge whiskey bar has become a mainstay of Tropicana nightlife since it opened in December 2015.  M Group is set to be a playground for food and lifestyle enthusiasts filled with culinary delights, wine, coffee, and a vibrant party scene. It is billed as a haven for anyone looking for a quick escape from hectic city life.

With a wide selection on the innovative fusion menu, ranging from nibbles, appetizers, mains and a growing selection of desserts, there is something delicious for everyone, served in a relaxed, friendly environment – Asian fusion, Western, Italian pastas and pizzas, sandwiches, steaks and vegetarian culinary creations.

The impressive wine list featuring a wide selection of wines from around the world has had wine lovers making a beeline to/heading to Lavo.  New wines are featured each quarter in the restaurant and wine bar.

Lavo’s grand opening was hosted by Hansen Lee and Julie Woon.  It kicked off with a mesmerizing LED Water Drum performance that raised energy levels, and created a visual spectacle of light, colour and the dynamic fluidity of water, that had guests clamoring for more.

A fashion show by 176 Avenue, brought edgy fashion choices within reach and showcased Lavo’s suitability as an event venue par excellence.

Guests were entertained by the performance of Winnie K, who kick started her career by winning the Asia Bagus competition and is now active in the Indonesian entertainment scene. 

Guests enjoyed finger foods, canapes and nibbles courtesy of Lavo’s kitchen.

The selection of wines received much praise from guests for the quality, and uniqueness.

Pesta Makan-Makan Kimball Makes Dramatic Debut

Kimball, a household name in sauces for more than 40 years in Malaysia held its first one-day picnic-in-the-park styled food fest that added drama to the ‘good food’ list of foodies, families and fans in the Klang Valley, at Setia City Park, Shah Alam, today. 

Thousands of people tucked into a variety of Kimball-icious dishes, as Pesta Makan-Makan Kimball made a dramatically delicious debut.

The event saw more than 15,000 servings of a variety of delightful traditional and modern dishes being sold.  The dishes were developed by chefs, specially for Kimball. It showcased the creative use of Kimball products in dishes that can be easily whipped up at home for a dramatic taste, at an affordable price, while giving families and friends the ideal setting and activities to spend a relaxing day together.

In order to reward loyal Kimball consumers and thank them for their support, all dishes were priced at just RM1 to allow visitors to enjoy a variety of delicious dishes.

There were 12 delightfully named dishes including ‘Mi Ja-Wow’, ‘Spageti Bolognese Meletuppp’ and more that were quickly snapped up owing to their deliciousness.

The activities reflected Kimball’s ‘Tambah Drama Dalam Masakan’ campaign for 2016, that is all about adding dramatic flair to even the simplest dishes with a dash of Kimball, without bursting your budget.

With the six exciting zones,  ‘Tambah Selera’ and ‘Tambah Segar’ for food and drink, ‘Tambah Ceria’ and ‘Tambah Drama’ for games and activities, ‘Tambah Relaks’ for chilling out and picnicking, and ‘Tambah Rasa’ for special deals on assorted Kimball products, there was something for everyone.

There was also celebrity appearances by DJ Haniff, DJ Ray from ERA fm as well as host Azura Zainal.

In introducing the event, Campbell Soup Southeast Asia Sdn Bhd, General Manager, Mr. Paul Serra pointed out that Malaysians connect through food.

“Kimball understands Malaysians love for food, which is why over 40 years, the flavors of Kimball have become a favourite staple among Malaysians, making us one of the nation’s most trusted brands for sauces, and now pastas, too!”

“With this event we set out to unite communities, bringing families and friends together to enjoy a day out with relaxation, games, activities and most importantly for Malaysians, good food!  The food festival goers could try out the many delicious, easy and affordable to prepare dishes using Kimball, was a plus!” Mr. Serra said.

To find out more about Kimball’s easy, affordable and convenient recipes, you may visit their official website at http://www.kimball.com.my/, or log on to their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/KimballMalaysia/ to discover more updates and information about Kimball’s products and how to maximize taste with simple ingredients, and to use them in daily meal preparations.

Road Trip : Sekinchan

So my friends told me that there is nothing much in Sekinchan.

Once you have visited the paddy fields, made a wish upon the wishing tree, stroll along Redang beach and made yourself filled with seafood, that's it, you are done with Sekinchan.

So I went to Sekinchan over the weekend, I never knew those four attractions there could be so fun.

Though the journey could be so painfully long, around 1.5 hours from KL but once you have reached Sekinchan, it will be very convenient to navigate around since those attractions are located in the same vicinity and the town is small.

So how to travel to Sekinchan? You walk for 30 hours from KL, then you will reach Sekinchan. Come on, use your Waze and for Sekinchan, Waze is fine. And the coverage is pretty good there.


Paddy Fields

The piece of flat green land in the horizon signifies the Sekinchan's well welcome to its little town. Yes, you have reached the trademark of the town, paddy fields.

Since we didn't do any homework prior to our trip, we just randomly crashed into one of the factories which is opened for visitation (RM 5 per entry with free small packet of rice)

Please don't waste your time there because it was so crowded and I was like in the old folks home. Please don't get me wrong, I have utmost respect to senior citizens but not to those who didn't queue up. You could never imagined how chaos it was at the rice grain shop. My gosh! And they were really dare to walk across the diva! They should make way for the diva who is making his entrance.

Nevertheless, though it was chaotic but my 15 minutes patience were paid off with the cold cendol above. What made this cendol so special because it was mixed with brown rice and it was so refreshing and nice!

Wide open spaces indeed

Wishing Tree

I bet 60% of the wishes on tree are winning lottery lol. Though I'm pragmatic person but I did make a wish upon the tree. I even made three wishes! My wishes were to get a handsome boyfriend, to get a rich boyfriend and he shall bring me to Paris. Nah, my wishes were rather personal.

To get the red ribbon, you just have to make donation to the temple - donation without any required amount. Let's see my generosity pays off by making my wishes come true.

Redang Beach

My advise is don't get into the water since it was pretty dirty. Though there wasn't any water activity but the seaside was really bustling with souvenir and drink stalls. Well, for us, we flew a kite! FYI, the rainbow coloured kite had nothing to do with my sexuality preference, so happened there wasn't any choices left at the stall. I must say the bluish sky really blended well with the rainbow kite.

Seafood

Pardon me as I forgot the name of restaurant that we went to in Sekinchan. Come on, Ir an out of gingko ok.

The shop is a modern white building at the main road which has many seafood restaurant and turning to Redang beach. 

Anyway, though wasn't very packed but we waited for an hour just to get served. But it was all worth it. The food nice and the seafood was superbly fresh. And most of all, we had rude shock of our lives that it could be so cheap! We ordered mantis prawns, steamed fish, egg and prawn omelette and vege - it was only RM 60!

Though it only has limited attractions, but I really enjoyed my trip. Definitely will make second visit!

Pulau Ketam: Where Rainbow Paints The Crabs

If you are heading to Pulau Ketam, please don't ever look down. I'm not referring to look down on people there but don't ever look down beneath their houses. It's very dirty.

Since their houses are wooden houses on stilt so there is not proper sewage system there. Yup, all the waste will just go down underneath the house. The land underneath their houses is even being utilised as landfill.

Nevertheless, if you are able to ignore above shortcomings, Pulau Ketam is an ideal place for short getaway from the bustling city. Simplicity is what this fishing town has to offer. I've been living in city for all my life so it's really nice experience to back to basic sometimes. Let the pictures below narrate my travelogue in Pulau Ketam.

It's pretty easy to navigate to Pulau Ketam. Just take Kesas highway and follow the signage that leads to Pulau Indah. Alternatively, you may Waze your way to Terminal Penumpang South Port. Once you reach the port, you will be greeted by the giant golden crab. Alternatively, if you are plain lazy to drive, just take KTM to Pelabuhan Klang station. The station is just walking distance to the port.

You are require to take a ferry ride to Pulau Ketam which takes around 40 minutes. Be mindful not to lose yourself in Pulau Ketam as the last ferry ride back to land is 6.30 pm. You can check the schedule by simply clicking here. The fares wise, RM 7 per single way for adults. Alternatively, you can take speed boat which is only 20 minutes journey @ RM 10 per single way.

The picture above is the picturesque landscape once you have reached Pulau Ketam and I didn't filter this picture. As you can see, the shore is filled with mud. If you look closer, the whole land of mud is filled with crabs.

Look at the crabs. By the way, I hate to be a killjoy here. It may look cute but people's urine and faeces go into the mud also since there's no proper sewage system there. So yeah, the crabs feed on urine and shit!

Feed on human faeces and urine with so much nutritions, no wonder crabs in Pulau Ketam are so big

Tadaa! We are eating faeces that built the fleshes of these crabs. Trust me, it was very very juicy and fleshy. We had this at Restoran Lok Hian. Three pieces of crab only cost us RM 50!! 

The crabs are so revered in Pulau Ketam, the villagers there even idolize it at top of the temple!

There are not much you can do in Pulau Ketam except enjoy the tranquility and simplicity of this little fishing village. You may walk or rent a bicycle to visit the entire village.  No, there's no car and this what makes this village so peaceful.

Awww...look at these two love birds. Aside from umbrellla, please bring a long suncreen when you visit this village. Unlike me, I went there without any filter, I literally got sunburn and the dark patches are still on my body.

You will cross a lot of bridges and every bridge has its photo opportunity. BTW, the picture above is not filtered also.

When you at the edge of the island, you will see plenty of fishing port. Apparently, fishing is so popular there (duh, that is their main source of income) that Huat The Fish movie was filmed there.

The other attraction of Pulau Ketam is the colorful houses. Just look at the picture above, they even painted the house in LGBT colour. The rainbow must have fallen from the sky and splattered its colours in Pulau Ketam.

Yes, it is that dirty.

Seriously, I believe that there's a stiff competition going on in the village. Every house is like compete with each to be the most striking and colourful

Take sometime to enter the sundry shops over there. You could find some of the items that could reminisce your childhood 

Remember these bubble toy?

I'm not sure this kind of plastic ruler is still available in the market. When I was in the primary school, I like to stick the pencil into the opening and spin it.

Not sure the kids nowadays will appreciate boardgames. One of it, I don't know what is the proper name but I call it Aeroplane. To get out from the boxes, you have to get number 6 on the dice..gosh those were days....

That's all for my travelogue. Though it's dirty but Pulau Ketam is a really nice place to visit if you want to have a near and short getaway and quiet meditative experience and of course, nice crabs.

Something I Like About CNY

It's scary to know that tomorrow will be the last day of Chinese New Year celebration, right?

15 days of celebration comes to an end tomorrow. So how was your celebration this year?

Maybe I'm ageing that's why the celebration has become mundane, more like lack of fun. But at least, I really enjoyed my very long break and I did spend some quality time with my family.

Though it was mundane but there were few things that I really about this festive season this year:


Chinese New Year Movies Marathon:

Without fail, I'll watch almost every CNY movies in the cinema with my parent. It is really heartwarming sight to see when you see the younger generation brings their elders to watch a movie. It really signifies that we have grown up enough to pay for movie tickets and usher our parents to cinema hall. I still remember vividly that I was in my dad's mom to watch Stephen Chow's CNY movies but now I was the one who held her hand to cinema hall.

Talking about CNY movies, which one is your favourite this year?

For me, it's Mermaid. Not because it is Stephen Chow's movie but at least this comedy movie has its storyline and further brings awareness to our environment. Compared to From Vegas To Macau III, my gosh, I didn't know what the heck was going on. No storyline and the jokes were very very lame. And I wasn't entertained by the robots at all.


Don't you think Hong Kong Chinese New Year movies are getting lamer? Even our local Ola Bola could beat them easily. What happen to those golden era of Hong Kong movies in the 90s?

Thank God, TV had made the rerun of the old Hong Kong comedy movies. Thought I watched like 20 times but I still found it very funny. If i watch another 20 times, I will still find it very funny. The jokes and the acting skills of the veteran actors/actresses are simply timeless. Who could ever forget movies below:

It's A Mad Mad World

All's Well, Ends Well Too

All's Well, Ends Well

Journey To The West

Food:

I don't know how many animals that I've killed for this festive season. I shouldn't complain much since it was a blessing there were food on the table during Chinese New Year. Let's see what I had for CNY:

Yee Sang! I had it twice this year

My reunion dinner. Kudos to my mom and aunties who worked very hard for this very special meal. My favourite dish on the dining table definantely gonna be Sambal Petai, it was the bomb! Anyhow, it is not how many dishes nor what dishes are served but the people who eat with you at dining table during reunion table that counts 

Look at the Tiger Prawns~!

My family is rather unorthodox since most of the dinner during CNY were western food. So we went to my mom's favourite American Pizza place in Ipoh, MichaelangelO Pizzeria in Ipoh Garden East. It's still the best pizza place I ever been.

Not forgetting CNY tidbits especially nga ku!

Check out the price of Empurau fish! Named as 'Unforgettable' in Chinese, apparently it's the most expensive edible fish in Malaysia

Caramelised Roasted Pork at Vimtry, Damansara. I know it sounds deathly but it is really nice! 

Lychee Cheese Cake - the amount of cheese and lychee are just perfect for taste buds

Since I was in Ipoh, it would be a great waste if I didn't have my hometown local food right like Mixed Fruits Ice in Tong Sui Kai near Sam Tet

And Wern Tou Long - only in Ipoh. It's a shaved ice with lemon with jelly at the bottom. Great way to relinquish your thirst 

Friend Yeung Lui - succulent fried fish paste stuffed in varied manner at Big Tree Root, Pasir Pinji. It's a must have everytime I'm back in Ipoh

Of course, the cafes in Ipoh. I know Ipoh is very famous for its cafes (i think 30 over cafes to try out) but I only been to 10 or so. And the latest one was Petit Mary Patisserie. If you like a princessesy and homey ambience, this is the place for you!

Great ambience at the grea hotel of M Boutique, Station 18. Myth Esspresso Bar is the place to be if you want to have long evening chat with your friends. I think i spent two hours gossiping and bitching there :) 

The good old Ipoh, never loses its charm

Mundane right? Well, the quality time spent with family and friends matter. Furthermore, the celebration for my family this year had been toned down since my grandparents passed away last year.

This pretty sums up my Chinese New Year celebration. See you again in January 28, 2017! Once again, have a blessed Year of Monkey!