Siu~V: October 2008

Happy Birthday KiMi!

17th October was KiMi's 29th birthday so Happy birthday to my fave F1 driver!!

SiGhhh, I could stare at those dreamy eyes forever...

9 Oct was a wet Thursday where the fishes came out to play in the rain and three 'kolams' were formed. It was an off-day for me and boy oh boy have I been looking forward to this famous fish-head noodle in a place that I shall call 'ABC'. Why so?...coz even my buddy who brought me there does not know the exact street name of that place... :P Anyways, it turned out it wasn't meant to be for me and fish-head noodle...the shop was closed! As disheartening as I felt when Kimi does not make the podium, there was a glimmer of hope to find another fish-head stall (steamed kind like Chan Sow Lin style, but suits me just fine..) nearby. It was crowded as well but the tauke was quick to get us a nice little windy spot for the two of us.

"This man came alone and he is having an entire head all by himself..."

Very rarely we find a good 'Sa Lei' drink! Not sure but I think it's called buah kedondong.

Man at work

About half hour of waiting and it started to pour...

sOOO many orders...which one's ours??

...still waiting...check out the heavy downpour behind. We had to move a couple of times to avoid the dripping rain water coming through the tent above our heads.

Wouldn't want any rain water going into the drinks now, do we..

Finally! I like my head with lots and lots of ginger and red chilli. A sprinkle of chopped cili padi on top would have added more oomph! to it.

Only had one other dish, the ever-popular 'Lettuce with Oyster Sauce'...the fish-head man literally took like only a minute to dish this out!

YES, I find the name of this place on the receipt...Cheras Flats Steamed Fish...(ok WHICH flat in Cheras, now that's another question)

So,you have the option of...

(a) Driving around Cheras looking out for this man and his little stall; or

(b) Picking up the phone and calling Yong Yin Yin at 012-365 2088...(haha, that's not really her number...she'll kill me!)

Total waiting time = almost 45 minutes
Time taken to devour entire fish head = 10 minutes!
Verdict = 7/10 (could do with a less saltier sauce) but I'll definitely be back simply because I like the way the fish-head man works...very organised and customer-friendly.

Main event was later that day, attending my company's Deeparaya celebrations at our Training Centre, Ampang. Those committee members were hard at work with the preparations for the night event.

Here I am amongst

the VPs and AVPs!

True picture of racial unity and harmony!

These people must be laughing...

...at this skinny goat.

Poor goatie...

There was a 'kolam'* competition which saw 3 teams participating. Here's Kolam 1,

Kolam 2,

Choy Phyll and Kolam 3. She is in a Murut traditional costume, something she's been longing to wear for more than a year now since buying it. Looking Murut-y alright...

*Rangoli Kolam (colourful Kolam) uses lime stone powder and colored rice flour for its cleansing properties. When setting foot into the house, one should step on the Kolam to clean their legs, while the rice flour also helps feed the insects, like ants.

Girls just wanna have fun! especially when you look this good... (",)

Sa-cheh and her 'enthusiastic' Corporate Direct girls (Belinda, Normala, Joey, Baizura and Chin)

Everyone making a bee-line at the buffet table. Food was prepared by 'Kampungku Catering' (As I googled it, I think it's the one from Lake View Club, Subang Jaya; 03-5634 6222).

Food was surprisingly good...as long as they've got my Roti Jala..kwang kwang kwang

Lemang and rendang, soto ayam, tauhu bakar with kangkung and sotong were goooood.

These 3 looked so guilty taking the food!

Choy Phyll who was full of Passion that night eventually went on to win Best Dressed (Traditional Costume). I bet the white belt I lent her played a huge role in her winning the title!heehee..hmm do I look 'fat' in this photo :-x

Spiderman spotted in Mid Valley

Now that I got your attention (^_^)...nah, it wasn't Spiderman that we met, but rather the 'Prince' honoured to have 3 'Princesses' dining in his Cafe one fine day.
For you have never patronised this cafe, let me just say it is like any other regular HK-style cafe where you find some 95% uniformity of dishes in their menu; from nissin noodle to cheese-baked rice to my all-time fave Borsch soup (still wondering why the name is so similar to the brand 'Bosch'). Here's what we eventually ordered:-

Doesn't this ham-egg-cheese-tomato sandwich look deliciously healthy?! The portion is impressive though.

Rice with Soya Sauce Chicken and Egg- one of those dishes which can be found on the menu of every single HK cafe out there. Looks like mixed rice eh?

They call this 'Nasi Bojari'-and I thought this dish can only be found in Mdm Kwan's. Seems that this is actually an Indonesian royalty special dish.

Not a bunch of rotten-looking eggs this is, but rather the pungent, nutritious herbal eggs from Purple Cane, which I am glad is still priced at RM2/3 eggs. Just last week, I was dumb-founded to know Eu Yan Sang was charging theirs at RM1/egg. Well, unless they're giving me Omega eggs, I think I'll stay away from their inflated prices.
BJ's guide to "How To Eat A Sandwich"

'Spiderman'-inspired egg!

I'm surprised the Centre Court did not have any Diwali decorations...instead they have this mini stage set up in the East Atrium and Indian dancers were strutting their stuff.

Later we got to know Panasonic was holding their Eco-Products Exhibition and they were giving away bags and energy-saving bulbs simply by filling in a Q&A form.

"These objective questions are driving me crazy"

Moment of truth..do I get the bag or not?? Nevermind, while she checks my answers, put on a winning smile first.. :)

Why we were behaving so suspiciously ar..haha...it's not like we stole those bags..err..

Up close and Panasonic!

It's All About The Good Food in Penang...

FINALLY...after months of a so-called 'arduous task of photography editing' (couldn't you have come up with a better excuse ar, VictorYap..hehe),

I can now post up a short story on my little trip to Penang with the family. Unless my short-term memory has failed me (yet again..errgh), I think the date was 23-25th May, 2008. I know for sure the year is correct! It was part of Dad's surprise birthday gift and coincidentally also Irene's maiden visit to the Pearl of the Orient.

We started our journey first morning crow of the rooster (not that there was one in Genting Klang). Either that or this photo is on black-and-white effect..
Starring :

Jason Ho (Driver and Main Organiser of 'Cuti-Cuti Penang')
Co-Starring : Millie Yap

(Human Navigator/'half-bucket-of-water' Tour Guide)

Cameo Role by : Ms. Ji Pee Es (Electronic Navigator/ Speed Reminder - she kept reminding us to slow down!)

Guest Starring : "I am Macho-macho man...Victor The Great!"

Special Appearance by : Durian Yap/ Birthday Boy...67 and looking as sassy as ever...

With 'Hot-looking Mama' (wow could she look any cooler!)

& neck-strained Irene and Siu V!

Most important prop on the set...Ria Baby (without her, we'll still be stuck in KL)

Detour to Bukit Merah Laketown Resort (developed by MK Land), a ghostly town that's what I call it!
Where IS everyone?

This place houses the only conservational Orang Utan Island in West Msia (http://www.bukitmerahresort.com.my/)

Penang Bridge in sight means we have reached our destination! hmm already I can smell the Penang Food...

Looks like someone's even more excited than I am!

The most talked-about Asam Laksa is from Ayer Itam, Penang (the one at the foothill of Kek Lok Si Temple). I couldn't agree more as it was a perfect blend of hot, spicy and sour bursting in your mouth all at once! I think the key is definitely the otak udang (shrimp paste) to bring out the taste. Down it with an ice-cold refreshing glass of sugarcane and it's heaven!
Personally, I have always avoided this dish

because I hate mint leaves 0_0'' so if I absolutely have to eat this dish, I go only to the BEST like the stall in Food Republic, Pavilion (eh-hem...spoken like a food connoisseur.. )

Penang Lor Bak ('Lor' = sauce, 'Bak' = meat) can be found in almost any food court but what differentiates the deep fried meat/ pork sausages/ tauhu is the sauce and how tasty their meat are.

Asam Laksa man hard at work. You can find the tallest heaps of vege and onion at their stall and be amazed at how their hands move like clockwork to produce hundreds and hundreds of bowls of AL.

A very satisfied-looking bunch of people after a hearty meal

Accomodation : Parkroyal, Batu Ferringhi (www.parkroyalhotels.com).

A view of their pool

Lounge area - very spacious and relaxed

The orange-themed hallway leading up to the rooms...

"Hands up!"... Even the rooms look like one giant orange that we're sleeping in..ours even came with our own private balcony.

We played this highly-addictive, intellectual (and to some point, nerve-wrecking & hair-pulling)game, 'Traffic Jam' during our journey. Am looking around for the game set though. Try it out yourself at (http://www.gamegempaq.com/games/Traffic+Jam)

Dinner was at this damn good Nasi Kandar stall..sorry I can't remember the street name.

but I do remember the mutton curry and telor dadar was extremely sedap! Price was very reasonable too.

Jason then brought us to this seafood stall where I never had to work so hard just to get food into my mouth. Until my last breath, I still could not suck those snails out of their shells!

Now theseee, I only see on the beaches..I did not know they're edible! Thankfully, they're slightly easier as I could pry out their rather hardy & rubbery flesh using a toothpick.

Aaaahh now this is more like it...my fave Chilli Crabs. Painstaking task of de-shelling the crabs but highly rewarded by its sweet white meat!
Piping hot Fried carrot-cake still in its bag

I am a huge Bubur Cha-Cha fanatico and I never imagined the cold version sold in Penang tasted just as good! I was hooked on the Gurney Drive bubur cha-cha for 3 consecutive days.. ;P

Morning after, my family chilling in the pool area after a buffet breakfast. I, who was still in bed then, luckily did not miss any of the delicious treats as I found the buffet to be most impressive. Priced at a normal rate of RM 50, the spread was limitless and I like that they gave mini bottles of St Dalfour jam.

"Finished your breakfast, SylviaYap?..We're going to see some monkeys"

Irene and Me getting ready to go out to sea

We had a private boat to bring us to Monkey Beach (Teluk Duyung), a 20-minute ride from Batu Ferringhi. I also learnt that alternatively, you can trek (vigorously) for 2 hrs from Telok Bahang.

Wind so strong, smile also senget ... :-/

Dad standing like that reminds me of David Caruso in CSI:Miami

A very secluded and quiet Monkey Beach - no hotels, stalls or crowd here..just some BBQ pits for tourists.

There is also a lighthouse on this island, built in 1883.

GRRoWWLL...makes a great shot for some horror movie about mutated-monkeys on a killing spree!

naah, actually the monkeys are really really tame....and hungry all the time! If you're looking for a place that offers tranquility, privacy and romantic moments, this is the beach to come to, whether you're human or monkey.

Hold a piece of bread in your hand and they come charging at you. Be more adventurous and hold a banana instead!

ok I'm not getting any closer to a monkey than this...

As if I could actually get a monkey to look in the camera direction and s-m-i-l-e...

Trekking further into the beach...

...we found a stream of flowing cold water, and boy, it was so deep our ankles were drowning.

I love white sandy beaches!

I love big rocks

I love looking for buried treasure!

I love the cool breeze!

Macho-macho man

Meet Blackie, a new friend we made on Monkey Beach!

Group photo with Blackie! I wished Blackie could follow us back to the island...huuhuu.

Time to head back after an hour and half with nature

See how unbeliveably clean the boat was. All in all, it was a worthwhile trip for only RM 150.

Never leave Penang without having eaten a plate of their famous Char Kueh Teow!

Lam Mee is it? (funny I could remember eating this..keke)

This is a very narrow, old-fashioned coffeeshop where we had traditional local favourites but...

mostly we ate here because of this famous Teochew Chendol stall just outside the shop!

We went to Him Heang and bought lots and lots of Tau Sar Pneah (Green Pea Biscuit; most famous local delicacy)..but still saving some room in Ria baby for more fooood to come!

Go up to the cool Penang Hills/ Bukit Bendera (830m above sea-level) using the famous Swiss-made funicular trains (trams). History lesson : Do you know these hills were founded by Sir Francis Light during horse-back riding in 1788? However, it was only during the 19th century that construction of a $1.5 mil railway track began. I may not have known this myself but I sure know how to Google! hehe

Up here, you will find an Indian aunty weaving nipah leaves into little insects and for only RM1, you get to bring home Mr Grasshopper.

Great Canon shot!

Brother, Sister and I

ok last shot last shot...Canon's gonna break anytime now

This is Pasembor, Penang version of Indian rojak and the one from Gurney Drive is very good - fried cuttlefish, tauhu, kangkong, sengkuang, potatos and the nutty sauce binding it all together is perfect!

Happy Birthday Daddy dearest!