squeak. speak. roar!

Some foodie shots from brunch with the crew at Marmalade, Bangsar Village :)

Apple crumble.

Apple crumble, custard sauce and hairy arms.

Benny brekkie. I know what you boys are thinking ….

Eggs, spinach, mushrooms, turkey ham and toast.

Muesli brekkie.

Mushroom, pine nuts and cheese lebanese wrap.

Green eggs. Where’s the ham, Sam-I-Am?? lol.

Pesto scrambled eggs, multigrain toast, mushrooms, tomato and avocado salsa.

Banoffee cheesecake. It was diabetes-inducing sinful. lol.

More from their website! I prefer the breakfast menu at The Pink Sage actually :)

How ingenious! The tag line is “Any taste for any thirst”. There was another drink next to it but I chose not to buy it. It was called “Whatever”.

Ha freaking ha.

I expect bloggers and the media orgs to go all out in covering the Permatang Pauh by-election. Even if you don’t want to hear anything about the bloody by-election, it will pounce on you and force itself down your throat or up your ass without your consent.

Get ready for it. I know I am :)

No, it is not a horse. It’s a retirement town for Brits. The very Grand Pier that I was at in 2005 to celebrate Shook Yee’s 23rd birthday burnt down last night :(

Fire levels Grand Pier pavilion at Weston-super-Mare

A huge fire devastated the historic Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare today.

The blaze, which began shortly before 7am, ravaged the pavilion at the seaward end of the partly-wooden structure. Smoke billowed over the Bristol Channel and was visible from south Wales.

It is thought a small fire began in the west tower of the pavilion. It spread quickly, destroying the building within two hours. There were no reported injuries.

Kevin Pearson, the chief officer of Avon fire and rescue service, said the fire’s cause was unknown but there were deep-fat fryers installed in the area where it was thought to have started.

It would not be safe to enter and examine the wreckage until later today, he added.

Six fire engines and 80 firefighters battled the flames at their height, and embers are still being dampened down.

Emergency workers are concerned about the risk of gaming machines exploding and shooting coins through the air because of the intense heat, and a cordon has been set up around the area.

Structural engineers are to investigate whether the cast-iron girders that support the pier have been damaged beyond repair.

The pier is held in great affection by the residents of the seaside resort.

The novelist Lord Archer, who once worked as a cleaner on the pier when he was growing up in the town, today said it was “the focal centre” of the resort.

“It will take years if it is to be restored to its former glory,” he said.”If they don’t bring it back, Weston will have lost its main attraction. The pier was to Weston what the Tower is to Blackpool.”

Andrew Horler, Weston’s mayor, said the blaze had hit the resort’s 104-year-old “heartbeat”. “I really, really hope it can be rebuilt - it’s pure devastation for the town,” he said.

“It provides jobs and is a massive tourist attraction. It is the very heartbeat of this town. I really hope someone is able to rebuild it.”

Business people said that, without the pier, tourism would suffer. “It is part of our identity, and it would really affect trade if we were to lose it,” Dee Williams, the deputy manager of a seafront hotel, said.

Anthony Wills, an expert from the National Piers Society, predicted that the structure would only be rebuilt in a “very truncated” form.

“It would cost a fortune,” he said. “Unless a miracle happens, I really can’t see it being reinstated even if there’s a big insurance payout.”

Brother and sister entrepreneurs Michelle and Kerry Michael bought the pier in February, spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on new facilities including a £500,000 indoor go-kart track.

A spokesman said Kerry Michael was “absolutely devastated” and had cut short a holiday in Spain to help his sister deal with the disaster.

The pier’s 100 employees face an uncertain future after bars and games booths were razed by the flames.

Their livelihoods will be addressed by Kerry Michael when he gives a statement this afternoon.

The pier has been hit by fire once before, when a 2,000-seat pavilion for opera, music hall and ballet was destroyed in 1930. The attraction reopened three years later, complete with the pavilion that was destroyed today.

The Edwardian-era pier was given Grade II listed status in 1974 and is one of two in the town. The other, the 1867 Birnbeck, which links the mainland to an island, is derelict, although there are plans to restore it.

I had such fond memories of that place. Sure, the beach was kinda gross and the weather was gloomy but it’s lovely to see all the senior citizens playing their slot machines and youths playing their Star Wars X-Wing games. We won some money I think. Shook Yee had lots of luck that day and won a couple of pounds. Not to mention the £1 toffee apples! They were so good.

Perhaps my favourite memory from the place is the best fish and chips that I’ve ever had in my life at Papa’s Fish & Chips (20 Waterloo St, Weston-Super-Mare, Avon, BS23 1LN, +44 01934 626565). Deep fried fresh cod and lots of malt vinegar! Oooh, the scampi, the scampi!

sigh.

I’m glad no one got hurt though.

I don’t buy or read that many magazines. The only ones I recall buying religiously were Smash Hits and Time (what a transition!) I confess, I have never bought a fashion magazine before. I just flick them off my sister. lol.

But I bought my first ever fashion magazine - Style: (yes, it’s called ‘Style’ followed by a colon) today!! Why? Because ….

August issue. RM8. Buy buy!

Upon closer inspection.

And erm, there I am! Inside!!

The picture of me featured inside is very flattering. So much so, you will not be able to recognise me. Even I didn’t recognise myself, which means the make up guy did a fantastically good job! I mean I’d put it all here but I have a policy of not putting pictures of myself over this blog. I’m in the company of very esteemed individuals (and friends) in this article about youths and politics so I am rather pleased. It was really fun doing the photoshoot.

lol.

Erm. So go check it out lah!! Abuthen? :P

p/s: Thanks to Siew Ching for the awesome piece :)

I got in touch with my old Starbucks mates recently. My former store AM and SM Thina, partner Melor, resident mechanic Nory and customer Mrs Chooi. The last one deserve special mention as something truly extraordinary happened.

As Thina and I went to 32 Square to find Melor, who is currently a store partner there, it was brilliant that Nory showed up too, as if fated to do so. lol. Next thing I know, Mrs Chooi and her husband walked into the store. Thina asked if I remembered her and my synapses worked overtime to do just that.

Mrs Chooi as a customer, as far as my memory serves me, has always scared me. I don’t really recall what she used to order (latte or ICOD, I think) but I knew she was rather curt and knew exactly what she wanted in her cuppa.

She also had a fascination with our Coffee Jelly promotion from way back when. I suddenly vividly recalled how she’d bring her Starbucks tumbler, fill it up with iced coffee and requested for some complimentary scoops of Coffee Jelly. lol. I always obliged. I even remember how she made her own coffee jelly which was unsweetened and she brought it to the store for me to try. Aww bless. My heart felt aglow from that.

Anyway, she spotted Thina and I sitting there looking at her and she was quick to break the ice and called out to Thina. lol. Everybody remembers Thina!!! After exchanging a few pleasantries, she looked at me and it was obvious she recognised me somehow but could not place my name on her lips.

“I know you and I recognise you. I may not remember your name but I remembered that you did law,” she said in her famed curtness. lol. You would not believe how amazing it felt that some customer from four to fives years ago remembered that I read law!!! :) As I shook her hand, I introduced myself and asked for her name. (Yeah, I did not recall her name either!) She gave me a quick glare, all in good faith I’m sure, and said “Mrs Chooi” and smiled.

Something snapped in my head and a flood of memories (most of them mentioned above) all came back and from shaking her hand, I gave her a hug :) She was quick to note that none of the Starbucks that she frequents now has the friendliness and warmth that the old Starbucks Jaya #003 exuded when we were still working there. I was a barista in SB Jaya you see from 2002 to 2004 and we were renowned for our excellent customer service. lol. We had A LOT of regulars that came back for our crazy and bubbly baristas. Ask any Starbucks regulars in PJ :)

She even remembered me as one of the first few coffee masters that presented coffee seminars in Jaya. “Now that was really good. You did it with Sharon and Kay. I enjoyed those presentations very much!” Mrs Chooi related to Thina and I. lol. I’ve almost misplaced that memory for sometime now. It was really sweet of Mrs Chooi to find it for me :)

She quickly bid her adieu to enjoy her cuppa with her husband. I swear at most she’ll say goodbye before she leaves. It did cross my mind that odds are I will not see her for a long, long time. But as little surprises in life happens, Mrs Chooi shortly after decided to approach me with this little bundle in her hand.

“I know I will not see you again soon but I thought I’d give you something. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve used this once,” she said as she held out this little rolled up thingy.

I looked at her in puzzlement at first.

“Is she actually giving me something?” I thought to myself.

“Open it and see if you like it. I made it myself,” she declared with a smile.

I unbuttoned and unrolled this dainty fabric parcel into a little bag!!!! :) :)

“Oh my, this is adorable! Are you sure you want to give this to me? I must give you something in return!” I sputtered hastily.

“I want people to stop using plastic bags unnecessarily. Well, the least you can do is at least give me your card so I can call you up,” she said adamantly in her trademark Mrs Chooi way.

I laughed and obliged as I grabbed my purse and took my name card out.

“Thank you so much! It’s so pretty!” I gushed. I was really, really touched.

sigh.

Her kind gesture really touched me. Looks like I will remember Mrs Chooi every time I use the bag! :) And how lovely is that?

:)

I think I found my favourite salad here :)

As you all may know by now, I’ve gone pescetarian slash flexitarian. I first tried this restaurant with Salina and I was pretty impressed that I went back again with Jas. lol. But yes, less talk, more pictures!

The restaurant is tucked in the corner of the mall. It is actually opposite The Daily Grind.

The shop primarily specialises in selling organic foodstuff.

The tom yam soup (RM5.90). It was sour but lacked the taste of lemongrass and the seafood sweetness. It was vegan after all with carrots and cauliflower :)

My iron lady salad (RM14.90). Officially my favourite salad since I started my new eating lifestyle. This salad made up of spinach, free range chicken, eggs, brown rice, onions, tomatoes, organic bean sprouts all mixed up in this yummy tangy balsamic vinegar.

A macro shot.

Jas’ Guang Dong Mee suah” (RM12.90). It was not too bad but I did enjoy my salad more. lol.

Broccolli, cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms, baby corn, some greens.

Salina’s Eggsperience (RM15.90). Pardon the pictures, I used my mobile as my camera was not with me at that time :) The soup was a little bland but salt is readily available. The vegetables however, was depressingly dry and far too raw for my liking.

Soy Burger (RM7.90). This burger was good. They placed it under snacks but it was quite a hearty portion that can actually suffice as a proper meal. The bread used was fluffy and the soy patty was some deep fried goodness there. lol. Complete with alfalfa, lettuce, carrot strips, cucumber, tomato sauce and mayonnaise.

CF Special Salad with Sushi Rolls (RM15.90). This is said to be a must have and I concur! The salad was leafy with the yummy balsamic vinegar that they use. It comes with some random little condiments (dried beancurd and miso tofu) which makes it a delight to pick and eat. The sushi rolls are yummy. But I found the seaweed to be too chewy because it has soaked up all the moisture from the rice but the filling made up of cucumbers and other vegetables were still crunchy.

The selection is quite varied with local and foreign favourites. They have soup, salads, chicken dishes, noodles, rice, smoothies, energy/detox drinks and even organic ice cream! lol. Service is extremely prompt and the ambiance is as quiet as it comes unless you are seated next to a bunch of rowdy school children …. or me :P That is quite unlikely though (seeing school children, not me). You can find more information about the company in the link below. Enjoy your organic adventure! :)

p/s: The only problem I have with this place is that *shock shock horror horror shock shock horror*, it’s a member of Berjaya Group. Ug. I’m on a corporate boycott against Berjaya by the way so this sucks.

Country Farm Organics
LG7, Lower Ground Floor
Bangsar Village
No. 1, Jalan Telawi Satu, Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603-2284 2094

Ah, my trip to Tioman Island. I didn’t have much time there but every second spent was lovely. lol. I wanted to do a full elaborate review on where I stayed etc but I’ll keep this brief. You should all go and enjoy yourselves at Tioman instead of reading this silly little post!

So Mas and I took the Transnational bus to Mersing in the morning. The arduous journey was fraught with difficulties. Delays took the form of a flipped car, road constructions and heavy rains. The driver took this crazy trunk road through Kluang and it was quite a sight - plantations and cows. lol. I’m a city girl lah, I’m nature-deprived. I had my Ipod jammed in my ears throughout the trip while Mas slept. We got to the Mersing jetty and bought our ferry tickets. During this time Mas and I noted two grumpy looking Caucasian girls looking soooo miserable. Quite the contrast to us crazy Malaysians. Yes, we were even amused that they were grumpy. lol.

The Mersing jetty as we waited for the ferry. Nothing here is on time by the way. Ferries are always delayed.

From inside the ferry.

The ferry ride was tiring, we did not know it was two hours long until a ‘Pak Cik’ told us. Again, I zoned out to music while Mas slept. I envy her. I wish I could sleep in all these random places. lol. When we got to Air Batang stop, we got off the ferry and marvelled at the clear waters!! What a start but it was already evening so we quickly got to ABC (Air Batang Chalets) to check in our stuff. We were sooo hungry that I whipped out my emergency cup noodles as a snack before having dinner proper at the chalet’s restaurant. After a diet Coke and an omelette, Mas and I sat under the stars and talked. Then I had a shower and slept.

Woke up pretty early the next day and I was all ready to catch a tan! Put on my bikini and soaked up the sun. However, the clouds started billowing in so Mas and I had breakfast before hopping on a boat to Coral Island. The boat ride was lovely - I do love wind in my hair and the splashes of ocean water around me. We were in the same boat as Andre and Gronia - from Germany and Ireland respectively.

Welcome to ABC! lol.

We stayed in an air conditioned room for the first night. It faces the beach.

The other chalets located on the hill. What an awesome view for them!

I felt so bad for this four-legged grasshopper :( But as soon as I took this picture, it took a mighty hop and off it went on its merry way :)

Mmm. Tanning towards the direction of the sun and chalets. lol.

As the dark clouds appear …

Boats in sight.

Leaving ABC beach.

When we got to the island, we went swimming at the quiet end. After swimming, we were taken to a spot of rocks near Coral Island for them to snorkel. I did not snorkel cos I did not have powered goggles or contacts but I decided to take a dip anyway. It was not a good decision as I started to feel nauseated due to the bobbing up and down motion caused by waves created by the passing boats which splashed over the rocks etc. I clambered onto the boat and Joi, the boat driver, expressed regret that he did not have any nausea pills with him. Eventually, I puked a mouthful of Darwin knows what and I had a good laugh after as the fishes excitedly ate it all up. “What colourful fishes,” I thought! :) I’m glad the fishes benefitted from my sick. lol.

Gorgeousness!!!

I do love the waves.

What’s the story, morning glory? I really love the idea of plants growing on sand without the need for consistent earth etc.

An addition to my pictures of feet collection. lol.

Mas stepping in.

Joi then took us to Salang beach where I had lime juice to calm the stomach. I rested my head and let the warm breeze dry my wet, salty body. I felt better after a while and filled my stomach up with a cheese and tomato sandwich. It reminded me so much of Boop Cafe - this sandwich bar in Redland, Bristol - where I worked. I’ve almost forgotten this delightful combination for the perfect sandwich on a gorgeous sunny day. What was missing was a bottle of beer really. lol.

Volleyball at Salang beach, anyone?

Salang beach. Very popular with tourists.

Anyway, Andre wanted to go back to ABC in order to catch his flight back to KL on time. Mas and I concurred because both of us will not be able to take any more motion sickness-inducing activities. So we headed back to ABC and bid our adieus. Mas went to nap while I entertained myself by sleeping on the chalet’s verandah to soak up some pretty strong sun.

This lizard was attracted to Mas. lol.

We stayed in a cheaper, non-air conditioned room for the second night. It’s the first time ever that I’ve slept in a ‘kelambu’ (big mosquito netting draped over the bed). lol.

I woke up fairly toasted. lol. Just the way I like myself. I then had a shower and went for a walk with Mas to the nearby kampungs at Air Batang. I snapped some pictures of course. Mas was amused at my delight when I see Barisan Nasional or Umno flags around. It was weird. At that point in time I was trying to feel what it is like to be a ‘grassroot’ Umno supporter. What are the issues? What are their lives like? I write about grassroots so often that it was refreshing to be put in their shoes, well, sort of :)

Blue skies.

Nature and concrete.

Burger Slrrp. I thought this was so cute.

Primitive graffiti.

Air Batang jetty.

Vista.

Glisten. Like dancing lights in a distance.

Fastest vehicle here are motorcycles. So yes, kasi slow sikit.

I was not longer in Pakatan land. So I sang ‘Inilah Barisan kita’ secretly :)

The sun was beaming throughout, we both had a popsicle and picked up some snacks from a few small tuck shops that line the little paveway between the houses and beach. Mas decided to go to the beach to sleep while I caught up on my reading. I think I nodded off a little bit later, the calming sounds of waves crashing ashore did the trick for me :)

Sunset!

We had dinner a bit later. It was BBQ chicken and squid, some rice and chips and stir fried vegetables. Gronia joined us later and we shared some stories. It was great fun, lots of stories and exchanges. Soon after I went to rest my head while Mas and Gronia carried on with their misadventures late into the night. lol.

We woke up pretty early the next day to catch the ferry back to Mersing. Mas got sick. Well, me too, sort of but nothing came out. Sorry fishes! lol. Again I stuffed the two little white Ipod headphones into my ears and psyched myself to think I was on a plane going through some turbulence. Hahaha. It worked a charm and I made it back to land perfectly fine. Phew.

From the jetty.

Bye Tioman!

Turquoiseness.

As we had a about 1.5 hours to kill, we had brunch. Since I was in Johor, I had to eat lontong. I love lontong. I really don’t know why. Must be the vegeliciousness of it and the play of sambal with yummy sayur lodeh stew. Mmmm. It was also interesting to note that I bumped into Alicia, a former colleague from Starbucks from way back when. I haven’t seen her for about 5 years now, it was amazing! We actually started working at the same time and we were pretty close then.

Lontong. Must learn how to make this. Who knows good lontong in PJ?

The bus was punctual and I was very pleased with that. The journey back was a little more interesting. The driver actually took town and trunk roads all the way to the Seremban exit into the North-South Expressway. We were going through Kuala Pilah where we stopped at this restaurant in the middle of nowhere where it cost 20 sen to use the washroom. We thought the driver most probably gets a free meal from the owner for bringing a bus load of visitors there!! We also passed a Python Park and a siew pau empire and a Senawang Giant. lol. Random, I know.

Pay 20 sen or you shall not pass (motion). lol.

Just to illustrate how in the middle-of-nowhere we were at the ‘restoran yang tak ada nama’. lol.

We eventually reached Puduraya by 7pm or so and we made our way to Pasar Seni LRT where I boarded the train back to home :) That was my trip. I didn’t do much but that was the point - to just get away and do nothing but soak up the sun, sea, sand and self :) I’m planning my next holiday. Will share those thoughts sometime later!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! x

Contacts:
- Transnational: (603) 2031 1430, (607) 799 3155. KL to Mersing is RM23 one way. Call to check for schedule. Tickets must be purchased from counters.
- Air Batang Chalets: Hafaz (013 739 2200, 013 922 0263, 013 715 7798, 09-419 1154) Rates available in website.
AC rooms are RM150 a night complete with hot shower and tea/coffee making facilities.
Non-AC rooms are RM50 a night with a kelambu :)
- Bluewater Express Ferry services: (607) 799 4811, (607) 799 8518. Mersing to Tioman is RM35 one way. Never on time by the way and watch out for touts.

Oh it just keeps getting funnier and funnier ….

From Mkini:

Bung Mokhtar Radin (Kinabatangan - BN) today made an about-turn by admitting making an obscene gesture in the Dewan Rakyat during a dispute with some of Pakatan Rakyat MPs yesterday

“Yes, I did it but it is not what it means. Everybody has their own perception and it is not rude and it is not what people think it is,” said the Kinabatangan MP when met in the Parliament lobby.

Yesterday he denied making the gesture, describing his hand movements as the palm hitting a clenched fist.

He further reiterated today that he was angry with some of Pakatan MPs who had called him bodoh (stupid) and that was what triggered the Sabahan MP to do the gesture.

Not so much the news as opposed to this gem of a video, actually :) Go Hanief! lol.

p/s: I’m back, yes! More to come soon. I’ve been sooooooooo busy, it’s not even funny :(

Happy birthday to us! :)

Click!

Conversations between me and Monkey …

Monkey: Mummy, mummy, please don’t cry.
Me: *choke choke sob sob* Looks like its just us from now on :(
Monkey: It’s okay, mummy. I still love you *hugs*
Me: Happy birthday sweetie *hugs*
Monkey: Happy birthday mummy.

*cuddles*

p/s: Sorry, comments closed for previous post. It was getting abused with free speech being hurled irresponsibly.

… the break up.

Happier times!

Dear friends,

It has been two years and 16 days that I have shared my wonderful life with Nat. Throughout the two years, there were bumps and hiccups that were normally fixed by promises of change and working hard in making things work. However, we hit a bump recently and there was no solution to that bump. Painful as it is, we have decided to end this relationship. Reasons that will remain private to us, all I can say is that it all ended amicably. Nat can have his cake and eat it :)

Besides the highlight of being together everyday, there were moments that stood out that deserves mention - Monkey, Nat’s arrest where I think I promised never to let Nat go, forums, movies, snuggle muggles, childwen galore lol. Emo as I am, I am crying as I type. It breaks my heart that this had to happen and I would really hope that everyone would respect our decision. It’s funny how I felt that this warranted a public announcement because we are oddly and somewhat a public couple. lol. I guess I’m being too self-absorbed but I felt it was necessary to clear the air that we are now two separate entities.

I’m a mess right now. 2008 has been personally one of the worst year I’ve had. I can safely say I’ve hit an all-new low that I am not accustomed to. The feeling of having my heart ripped out is not easy and I can only find strength from …. well, I don’t know. I’m seeking it from within I guess and I’m trying my darnedest best to speed the healing process.

I’m also writing this because I needed closure. And a reminder that I need to be strong. I hope this would discourage Nat from making any attempts to fix this but I think that’s highly unlikely and that is okay. I’ve done my best and given my all. I have nothing left.

The beating of a hollow heart is deafening. And I’m the only one that can hear it.

I love you, Nat. I will love you always. Thank you and your wonderful family for everything. May you find the joy that you seek.

<3

9pm, June 4, 2006 - 3am, June 21, 2008

Oh by the way, it’s my birthday tomorrow on Sunday! The irony of everything really. I’m trying so hard to laugh about it :) :(