A lil of everything

Beautiful view from the peak of Heeren Street - the towers from the Chee Family's Mansion

I had fun reminiscing the good old days when I helped my late grandma make kuih kapit..

And you have to believe me that assignments is NOT fun at all! The sectional model is up for evaluation and it is another chapter of a new stage now. It's prototype week! How 'fun'! I'm missing a lot of other fun when doing this. I wanna go Kelantan and Terengganu and the submission have to clash with the vacation dates! URGH!!! Aku benci!!!

I miss making kuih kapit/kuih belanda(Peranakan name)/love letters.... suddenly, all the cooking tips from my grandmother gushed out of that little space I kept muted since 10 years ago. I suddenly missed her. With more memories spat out, I'm missing home, missing Babi Masak Assam, missing Chap Chai, missing sambal belacan mum's style, missing so many things about home! I miss the nangka tree that bears the best nangka fruit!! I miss the smell of morning breeze back home. I miss my family most importantly.

I think I'm having that one day when emotions took over the conscience. I need rest

p/s : I hate deadlines! I so hate deadlines! I'm sacrificing an Awana Kijal stay for free coz of deadlines!!! FUCK!

good ol' malacca

Despite hating the traffic and weather in Malacca, I must admit, there's no place like home.

That weekend brought together five people closer and stronger in chemistry. It was a humble breakaway from KL city when Henry and Jac decides to visit Malacca. Missing the Ayer Keroh exit was an irony with 3 out of 4 passengers in the car hails from Malacca - at least for goodness sake stayed in Malacca before or part of their family rooted in Malacca. Henry finally understood the grievances of my complaints about Malacca traffic when we arrive in Malacca town. Picked up Jasmine and we were just in time for lunch at my place. Mom was more than happy to welcome all of them with a sumptous lunch. Mom really cooked a lot. Everyone was indulging into true Peranakan dishes which you couldn't find anywhere else unless you know someone with the Peranakan blood. When everyone is already bloated, it is Coconut drinking session. Mom plucked the best ripe coconuts while dad chopped them open for a soothing dessert in a hot environment. Despire being in the kampung, I would say, even the trees and greeneries around my house are not helping in cooling down the temperature of the space.

Lunch over and we headed back to Jasmine's place to put our stuff in the guest room before venturing into her ancestral authentic Peranakan house. It was jaw-cracking! amazing amazing architecture from the past and I was truly blown away. The amount of precious things in the place is indescribable - all thanks to her ancestors for being such smart asses when most of the Malaccans are trying to kais pagi makan pagi, kais petang makan petang during postwar period.

Mesmerization moment's over and we headed down to Jonker Street for the famous dessert - Cendol. Had a blast! Everyone's bloated again~ After we had our cendol, we went for Satay Celup and several other places before southing to Pantai Kundur.

Went to church the next morning before heading back to Jasmine's place for oh-my-god-the-best!!!-ever Mee Siam I've tasted. It was so yummy, Joan finished the whole bowl of gravy left for the Mee Siam - minus the noodles! Sheish! After that, we headed back to my place to get my stuff before going back to Kuala Lumpur. On the way, we stopped by a shop in Tengkera for Tai Bak, ABC and Kueh Badak. It was just a simple soothing dessert perfect for such a hot weather.

Reached Kuala Lumpur with smooth traffic surprisingly on the Sunday before the end of school holidays. Went Pavilion for a simple movie - All's Well Ends Well. It was stupidity to the max! No gist but some parts were undeniably funny. After movies, we headed to SS2 for a quick bite before heading home with overloaded stomach and happy memories!

I lophe you guys! All of you!! I had a great time! LOPHE!!! :)

p/s : Assignment's next.. chao!

ASTAR Scrabble Challenge International

It was indeed a gruelling 7-game tournament, being one of the hardest and experiencing the most nerve-wrecking moments. With so much of prize money at stake, it was indeed nail-biting to watch the outcome of every games. This time around, top Thai Juniors Chaiwat and Thacha payed ASCI 09 a visit coming full throttle to win the top prize. Singapore's WYSC 2007 Champion - Toh Wei Bin made a partnership with SPEC's Ian Tay while Malaysia's hope lies on top seeds; WYSC 2008 first and second runners-up, Khoo Beng Way and Ramaraj. The other tough-dough was Karl Chin and Brian Lim from SPEC, Johor. I partnered Leroy Ong (Melaka Boleh!) in hope of that RM7000. *I came in second last year with Aaron Chong*

The hall was just freakin' cold as the temperature of the centralized air-conditioned space was not controlable. Everyone was embracing themselves through the game. I was dramatically chattering! Some of the upsets include a 2-0 victory over Ramaraj and Beng Way. It came from inter-school long-lost veterans - Benjamin Ong and Sui-Jon. Beng Way also lost to Mohd Khairi, CNY Tourney 09 Intermediate runner-up. However, despite the unexpected losses, KBW and Ramaraj managed to pip Wei Bin and Ian Tay for 3rd place with an extra pinch of spread. Wei Bin and Ian was the overnight leaders until they lost 2-0 to the Thais to drop to 4th place. My team came in second behind the Thais. Well, here's my review on my games.

#Game 1
Opponent : Syahilla
I won't say much because she is still a newbie and I am pleased I played a clean game! I made a nice found in the first move hooking the R to form AIRDROME. Played 3 more bingos - FLIRTIER, DRAGONET and SORBENT.
Score : 567 - 230

#Game 2
Opponent : Ruzaini
This game I played 2 non-words but was not challenged. I got confused with ROADIST* and ROADIES. Played ROADIST* through the 4-timer. Played WEEDIEST and FATIGUE to seal the game with a huge +414 spread. He said he was too cold to think. I am too~
Score : 602 - 188

#Game 3
Opponent : Toh Wei Bin
This is where the real challenge begins. After getting enough cushion to retaliate any possible damage, I played TWB. I was struggling with bad tiles, drawing 4Is and unfriendly combinations. Was trailing all the way with him played LEAFIER and URETERS. Almost to the end, my rack was BELNPT?. Hooking the OI, I managed to find POINTABLE and BLUEPOINT but I wasn't sure of BLUEPOINT. Hastily, I played POINTABLE and it was challenged. +5! :) This game is totally his since the beginning.
Score : 353 - 450

#Game 4
Opponent : Khoo Beng Way
This is another tough cookie! Having lost to him on several occasions, I have no confident whatsoever to win. I played my normal game trying to score maximum on every move. He leapt away with COTTAGE and BAPTISE. I played a 3-timer RECLINES and played big scored with Z, X and J. A phoney by KBW cost him the game when he played HUCKED*. At that time, I was struggling with 4 annoying I s. I tried balancing my rack and scoring maximum to not fall behind. I drew the final blank and played a bingo DRIFTED to win the game by mere 8 points.
Score : 404 - 396

#Game 5
Opponent : Mohd Khairi
He scared me a little scoring huge scores in the first 5 moves before he started fishing for a bingo - TRITONE. I played DISSEND* but was not challenged. He then played a phoney LEASURER* which was challenge off. I smacked him with SINTERY(86) and COZ(56) to seal the game.
Score : 484 - 335

#Game 6
Opponent : Toh Wei Bin
First game of the repeats, we met Wei Bin again. I prayed hard that Leroy would beat Ian Tay again after a superb showing in Game 3. Again! I got really bad tiles with only one small scoring bingo STOOLIES (58). He played PURCHASE (110), SUNDIAL (85) and DOWELING (82) and won the game by a huge margin. I was worried and devastated! But Leroy managed to beat Ian again! yay!
Score : 338 - 552

#Game 7
Opponent : Karl Chin
It's the last game. It's do or DIE! At this point, there's no clear winner. Anyone had the change to have a podium finish. Karl started off with PLANETS (74) and he said sorry. I was having AEEGIU? in my rack to hastilily play EUGLENIA*(82) to reach the 4-timer. I was pretty sure but the real word is EUGENIA! Urgh.. the word was challenged off! Having the same spot blocked for EULOGIAE, I played EUGARIES (62) to open up a chance for a niner. My next move was GROOMING (82) but he smacked me back with SMELLIER (68). He then made a huge mistake by opening the board for me to fit my VAUNTIER (82) perfectly. He retaliated with TACONITE (75). At this time, the scores were even. I had a series of maximum scores AUK (35), SIX (47), DRY (43), JERID (39), ZEA (32), FEW (27) and DIVS (56). He has relatively lower scores and I won by a +71 margin. Leroy was slaugthered by Brian Lim quite badly in the last game. I was very pleased with my game.
Score : 505 - 434

Click here my gambar glamour~

Overall, me and Leroy lost 2 games each for a combined 10 points to clinch 2nd spot. Thanks Leroy for a wonderful feat! Since this is my last year in a varsity, it was good money! I should be doing my model but it's still on 2D form right now. Oh gosh, I so need a spanking right now!

*exhausted*
p/s : will update the Malacca trip in the next post.

2009 for the wrabbits...

Career: Since no strong Lucky Star, you will get less supporting in your job position. You will encounter the trouble and spend more time to finish tasks. Therefore you don't credits in the job performance. Your hardwork will be credited and praised but not rewarded. *bloody hell!* But you still need to work hard, stay focus, pay attention on your words or behavior. Otherwise, your mistake might cause to be scolding or punishing, even get a lawsuit. Therefore, you need to keep your profile low and avoid argument with others in the company. Then you will be safe in your career future.

Money: Because of the troubles and obstacles in career, you don't expect you will have good achievement in money area. You should be happy, if you can reach the same financial goal as in 2008. Because there is no Lucky Money Star coming to you, you must not do the risky investment or gambling *I heard that!*. Don't be greedy in the short term return, you will lose all and regret in the end.

Love: If you are married, you might have some quarrel with your spouse about your children or family expense. If you are in love, you will spend less time with your lover. Unless you and your lover have been together for many years, your relationship might be turn cold after some disagreement. If you are single, you have the chance to meet the new friend, but the relationship won't last too long.

Health: Many Unlucky Stars are unfavorable to your health and your family members. You should pay more attention not only on your health, but also on the the seniors in your family. You need to prevent yourself from not only getting sick, but also get injury at work and at home.

Fortune: The luck of Rabbit people in the year of Cow is not that good. So you don't expect you will have good job performance or good financial return. But you shouldn't give up, you need to persist your determination, learn the experience and knowledge from the trouble. When your good luck comes, then all career investment will return and the wealth will increase after. Poor health could cause your mental and physical problems. You can spend more time with your family to relax yourself and take care the health of family members. Make sure no one get hurt by any accident in the year 2009.

*Seems like it's not going to be a great year after all..* Bloody Holy COW!

special announcement

At last, I found time to write something in this blog I left unattended for quite a while. It's bloody a week before CNY and the excitement is still not flaming. *skip skip skip*

Finally, I passed up my presentation board on time AND it's not the end yet. Presentation - I'm bloody first!, Sectional model, Dissertation, Astar Scrabble Challenge, etc... I'm so bloody busy.. need to sort them one by one now.

Back to the point, this post is specially dedicated to 'I-self-quoted' best gift of person in 2008!! I must say this girl-friend of mine is the best, funniest, lamest person ever! I must thank Joan for all the assistance throughout this few weeks when I struggled with my assignments. Sorry to cause you the worries. :D

Today had been an industrious day! Brought Joan to the bank, bought materials for sectional model, my car got *chik chak* by the summon camera at IPD in PJ new town * so geram!!*, collect board, went back to trim the white void areas off, went to college and lecturers went out for lunch, fetched Adelyn to WhiteBoard to fetch some laminate material, back to college, then pick up Linda and Anisha from Lapsoon and back to college, went back and cook my first meal halfway when Lily called urgently needed transport. And there I go again.. to Lapsoon and back to college. And now I bloody going One Utama.. I'm so tired using the same route 5 times today! :( huhu...

Crap! no mood to write today.. skip skip skip!

*I better get prepared or Joan will kill me!*

it's all about food and friendship

The Music Ministry Retreat in Cameron Highlands marked the end of 2008 SFX Lifeline Music Ministry Caroling Project. It is a weekend of pure enjoyment, relaxation, friendship renewals and bonding. I must say that this might be one of the best Cameron trip I've been to thus far! Apart from the absence of Joan and the driving fatigue most drivers faced, the trip had been nothing but perfect!

I must say this trip was the core motivator for me to chalk an early finish in the annoyingly huge model which due yesterday. Besides, I must thank my churchmates for being the BEST 'cheerleaders', giving me words of wisdom, faith and strength and for being such great companions, inspirations and motivators when I was struggling with my bigass assignment. I LOPHE YOU GUYS!

The whole fun started on Friday afternoon. With only 15 minutes of packing and getting ready, I brought extra unnecessary load of clothes and looked quite haggard. Ipoh was a humble town with many hidden treasures I would say. We headed down town and rushed to get the famous Ipoh Salted Chicken. It was drizzling all the time when we were in Ipoh but the rain wasn't a turnoff! After getting the Salted Chicken, we headed to a nearby street for the celebrated Ipoh Nga Choy Chicken Rice/Hor Fun. The taugeh was fantastic! Short and stout and sweet! My mouth is itching again! Soon after, we went back to Henry's place to unload our luggage and we went out dinner with his parents and brother, Alex. It was delicious and yet another hearty meal! I went back feeling bloated.

The next morning, we got up at about 5.45am and got ready for early morning Dim Sum in Foh San. I like the texture of the dumplings and fishballs. The green vege was awesome too! After breakfast, we went to Henry's best buddy's wedding. We were to follow them fetch the bride. It was a long fashionable wait but I could see the exurberance flashing on Henry's face. It was my first-time experience fetching the bride. After the whole traditional-rites-infused ceremony was over, we headed to Cameron Highlands to meet up with the rest.

p/s : 'We' here refers to Henry, Me, Jacqueline and Cani

First pitstop was the chapel. Beautiful beautiful chapel. We went there to say a little prayer! The first day in Cameron was quite free-going. We went to the night market for some greenies shopping, yummy creamy icecream I had rum and raisins!!, strawberries and honey! After that, it's Dinner time in one of the steamboat restaurants in Brinchang! Hot soup and cold weather are the perfect couple! :) So Day 1 ended with an exciting game by Becky Bong and Abang Jagung and Cani's dance class which lasted until 4am! I learnt Cha Cha! LOL! :D

Day 2 started with most of the members hiking in a nearby greensite. I was happily hiking on the bed. Had a great night sleep all alone on the bed! Sorry Henry for taking so much space away from you *doelike eyes* Patrick made me tom yum noodles. My breakfast continued with another bowl of cereal with strawberries and fresh milk! Checked out, and we are free and easy. So Henry, Usop and Jagung's cars went off to Sungei Palas Boh Plantation for sight-seeing and a sip of tea. It was really mesmerizing and we shouted to the top of our lungs at the railing while climbing up to the Boh Center.

After the wonderful tea sipping, we took pictures and headed of to get flowers and went up hill to Raju's Strawberry Farm for the BEST, yes I mean the BEST fresh strawberries with honey and fresh cream with drizzles of icing sugar and ice cream served with fresh strawberries topped with cream and strawberry milk shake like the best strawberry drink I have ever tasted with good companions and breezy drizzling.... WAH! Okay, I'm being OTT! :) I can't wait to go there again.


After the strawberrilysensationicious moment, we went down to Ipoh for mass in St. Michael's Church. It is one of the most beautiful church I'd ever visited. It's so pretty! We did took some pictures too! yes! In the church~ As mass adjourned, the rain was pouring so heavily, we canceled the dinner plans near Sam Tet School. Instead, we went for Dim Sum again at some place in Ipoh town. It's so de-dimsum-licious! I love everything! And the Big Pau is bigger than my head! A sumptuous Dim Sum dinner summed up to a sumptuous bill too! After dinner, we headed back to concrete, metal, cement, urbanized city of Kay-EL. No more cool weather with snow-like-rain-bouncing-on-your-face moments.

This time around, I missed the Tau Fu Fah, Hor Hee Fun and other Ipoh hidden foodstalls. Must ask Henry for another Ipoh food hunting again! It's so fun~ Everything masuk buku 555 okay? :P Sigh.. It's all about food isn't it Gabby?

*I LOVE MY FRIENDS and I MISS THEM ALREADY*

Tropicana City Mall

Each time I passed the Sprint Highway, this building will be an immediate landmark especially at night when the LED lights work its magic flushing vivid shades of colours on the facade. The itch to visit the place finally was satisfied with a mesmerising visit to Tropicana City Mall with Cani. The first thing which struck my attention was the double volume spaces in each floors. Food restaurants and retail outlets are of good designs. I must agree, I LOVE some of the retail designs. Damn! Those designers are lucky they got plenty of height to play around with! I think TCM will be quite a hit when it is fully open with all the 'on-the-way' tenants. Some operating retails include Body Shop, ESPRIT, FACESHOP, Nichii, Bossini and my favorite bookstore - BORDERS. :D Such a happy boy now.

The climax of the visit was the materialization of my own design! When I was doing my internship, the first project thrown to me was this retail project. To see 3D drawings bring converted to real life was really great! Though it might appear less fascinating to some people, but the joy of having your own design brought to life is just great! Such a proud boy now. The shop is Red Army Watches. Do check it out! :)

I was once again a victim of beautiful interior spaces. The pink shades in Penang Village drew me nearer and we went there for dinner. I love the environment - it's bloody red and pink! Ooo and I lophe the red sofa too! Penang Village is seriously a good dining place to consider. These are what we had.













Pumpkin Fried Rice RM12.90
Perfectly fried rice with pumpkin served in a poached pumpkin ring served with breaded prawn and acar. It's really good for a healthy hearty meal. Portion looked quite small but she was full!












Nasi Lemak Chicken Rendang RM 13.90
I swear to God this is one of the best coconut milk rice I've tasted. The rice is really fragrant and delicious! Served in a squarish mould, it is best paired with their sambal! Chicken is a little tough though but still taste nice. I love the sambal~ yum!















Soya Cendol RM3.50
Something you don't find often, a mixture of soya milk with bright green cendol and it tastes real good. A totally refreshing thrist quencher~



*I'm broke*

sorry, I've been away

I stared into my Studio 15 browsing through usual websites. Noticing I have not been writing anything in my blog, I barely could do anything as I was so tied with the Caroling Project, Christmas celebrations, assignments, New Year Celebration and the Music Ministry retreat in Cameron Highlands. Many happenings yet scarce time to even land my fingers on the keyboard to type a proper paragraph. Nevertheless, I'll try to find the time to share the experiences one by one.

For more in depth visionaries of these happenings, please visit www.facebook.com

*I'll have to sort of stuffs in life before laying them down chronologically in the blog*