Siu~V: 2009

buh-bye 2009, harlo 2010

I can't believe 2010 is finally gonna be here. So begins a new decade and gone are the 200x years. Do you remember when we used to watch those futuristic films and at that time, 201x was D future? And here, we're about to live it!

Before the strike of midnight, before popping of the champagne (or fruit cocktail) bottle, and before the fireworks display, guess it's always good to reminiscence the good, the bad and the ugly of 2009.

So I did.

My list of firsts in 2009...(as far as I can recall la)...

- flew on my first Firefly
- went to my first charity home
- discovered the worth of a 1971 '10-cent coin' :)
- conquered gunung nuang, broga hill for sunrise and gunung bunga buah
- discovered new Japanese eating places, favourites being Tenji, Sushi Zanmai, Yuzu and the most recent Sushi Tei......gambateh!
- joined in the mad queue for purchasing Amanah Saham Wawasan 2020
- experienced the Sky Trex Adventure
- participated in a few treasure hunts and loving them!
- attended the Bon Odori festival
- watched Black Eyed Peas in concert
- went to Taiping for holiday
- had someone to sing a song specially written for me..(you'll never guess what song..)

Now, on a 'not-so-fun' side, I have reason to kick myself in 2009 for the following reasons...

- missing out on Jason Mraz and Linkin Park (in Spore) concert,
- not being lucky enuf to win grand stand F1 tix in Sepang
- not being able to watch KiMi race anymore
- for coming soooo close to winning the Taiko trophy
- becoming more and more of a lazy bum to put on my hiking shoes :<
- spending too much OT in the office? (hey, at least I don't go back Saturdays)

Some historic moments in year 2009 ....

- joined in Earth Hour (remember this? it was on March 28)
- at the same time, also saw the world economy going into a bad slump, making us all worried about retrenchments while those who still have their jobs are grateful
- the passing of Michael Jackson, in which the impact of his demise was as huge as Elvis'. I just wish all those scoundrels would stop making big bucks out of his iconic death.

And what an unforgettable way for me to bid farewell to 2009 as I send my grandma off on New Year's Day tomorrow. Never thought I would be counting down the seconds to 2010 at a wake.

With the close of 2009, I welcome 2010 with open arms!

Instead of making resolutions (and breaking them by year end), I'm gonna call it

*My 2010 Achievements*

- To adopt much healthier lifestyle which in my case simply means
..... To sleep earlier (erm, time to REintroduce my 11.30 curfew)
..... Drink more water
...... Eat more fruits and vege
...... Climb more hills more often
...... Eat more sashimi (heee...for the good cholesterol ler)
...... Finally learn to SWIM

- Keep aside more savings

- Appreciate and cherish my loved ones and most loved one MORE

- Awaken my domestic side which has been dormant all this while and do a damn good job (As I now have a condo to take care of, which basically means more cleaning and cooking, being handy around the house, learning to be Miss-Fix-It-All, etc….Wwow, finally feel like a grown up :P)

- Be up for another promotion, perhaps? (boss, are you reading this?)

- Bring mum and dad on a well-deserved holiday

- Be an aunt maybe? (erk, now I sound so old)

- Win something BIG in 2010..like a car or handphone.. No more slow cookers please

- Continue to be a happy bubbly blogger bug spreading the happy germs around me =^.^=

One last piece of advice - dun believe everything you read.

HaPPy NeW YeaR 2010!!

christmas 2009 ~ zang toi

Ever shop-and-dined at the same place?
Pass by this place all the time and finally got the chance to dine here with Yin and Jin.

Tucked deep in a corner inside Parkson, Pavilion is our very own Kelantanese-bred designer brand, Zang Toi and just beside it, the West 57th St. Cafe by the same INTERNATIONAL brand.

Like experts scanning and analysing the menu for the best value-for-money set dinner, which starts from RM 15.90+ (only!)..main course + drink + dessert. Okayyyy maaa..

This place exudes simplicity and class. Brilliant.

I like the fact that not many people dine here (maybe it's because not many know about it, at least before they read this), so it's perfect for hideaway couples to eat in privacy! heee..

Pose pose a bit while waiting for our food to arrive.

Drinks are here!

Ice lemon tea and fruit tea punch is EXCELLENT-O!

But glass too small, could only manage a few gulps and it's all gone! boohoo..

Mushroom soup....nice....subtle and not too rich till you're too full to eat your main.

We only chose 2 mains, The Mixed Platter with Hainanese sauce (Beef sausage - goooood, chicken chop and lamb chop) with curly fries and salad on the side. I give it 7/10.

Would try their other sauces next time :)

This Nasi Lemak is sooo worth the price. Check out the size of that chicken!

Only thing, the sambal isn't spicy enough (probably to cater for those ang-mos that dine here)

Poor Jin had to be the one to finish those fries coz I wasn't feeling too well and erm, Yin's philosophy was '1 fry = 1 cigarette'

ooooh my fave...you JUST GOTTA TRY their CHOC BANANA cake....they SO TOTALLY beat the crap out of Secret Recipe's version. No KIDDING!!

The other dessert we chosen was Choc Fudge which was HEAVEN as well!!

In fact, I preferred this one than the Choc Banana.

Gawd, at some places, the dessert alone would cost you >RM 10 and you get it together with the set dinner here....super unbelievable!!

If you're in for some shopping, step next door for their clothing, or get yourself a Rock Bun (for only RM 1.50!) or amazingly enough, these decorative medieval-looking mirrors hanging on their walls are also for sale...

Not expensive la...only about RM 3000 - RM 5000 !!

I'm definitely going there again....not for the mirrors, but the C A K E !!!! See u there ya!

christmas 2009

How was Christmas for you? Were you sight-seeing in town to admire the beautiful lights and decorations while soaking in the christmasy atmosphere?

Or were you busy receiving presents from any Tom, Dick or Harry (who cares, as long as you get PRESENTS!!)

Like how I got these 2 cute drinking glasses from Yin and Jin.

Or maybe you were one of those who attended a Christmas musical drama called 'The Everlasting Light' in Sime Darby Convention Centre...

Thanks to the invitation from Sarah, I got to see a 40-member choir and 25-piece orchestra perform yuletide songs and church tunes in true Christmas spirit. Which reminds me I have yet to find someone to accompany me sitting through one of those performances in Dewan Philharmonik.

It was a remarkable live performance especially from this African church troupe who flew all the way here to belt out gospel songs. Felt like I was listening to Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls. Powerrr..

One of the highlights of the night was when this artist (dubbed the Chinese 'Lat') was invited on stage to draw a painting right before our eyes. It was then to be auctioned to raise money for the church and help the needy.

It quickly became apparent that he was painting some kind of bird. I know, lighting sucks but only because the whole hall was dark and the only spotlight was on the artist.

In no time, ta-daah...a masterpiece is born!

Here's an up-close shot from the projected screen...(that explains the blurness).

A mother eagle feeding its babies in a nest, with the sun set in the background.

Now, are you ready for some magic?

As the painting is turned upside down, it becomes something else...(!!)

It becomes Jesus Christ!

Only I can't figure out what the eagle eye when turned upside down is.

Is that supposed to be a mole?

Still, amazing isn't it.

And for this impressive effort, the painting was sold for RM 5,000.

However your Christmas was, hope it was filled with much love and peace from family and friends.

In a couple of days time, you get to do it all over again. yey.

miss you dearly, poh poh... xoxo

Grandma passed on just 5 hours ago (7.12 pm). Dad said she left us peacefully after a couple of weeks of battling her failing organs while in the ICU. At least the suffering's over for her now. And she's in a better place. She's led a good life in her 80+ years of raising 4 sons and 2 daughters, not to mention a 'boisterous' bunch of grandchildren ;P

I shall be going back to Malacca soon in a sorry state of health myself (fever, flu, cough, sore throat....yup, the 'empat sekawan'). And my flu has worsened between sobs. *sniff*

I miss you dearly, poh poh..

I miss the cute little expression on your face as you grew older, though you spoke less these few years, your laughter is always our source of joy, your words, though rare, are warm and wise.

Rest in peace and know that you're forever in our hearts.

'Mei Yoke'

DELIcious for Yin's birthday

5 girls + 5 boys recently went to DELIcious Restaurant located at the GF of Marc's Residences along Jalan Pinang opposite KLCC. And so, why were we all here?

To have dinner lor.

AND to celebrate someone getting one year older..erm, wiser I mean.

Everyone's first time here (I believe) so for a start, it looks promising from its exterior ;)

We actually had a theme going on here (we were supposed to all wear BLUE as it was Yin's fave colour) and coincidentally it also seems to be the restaurant's theme colour as they have aqua green and navy blue cushions matching cream sofas.

And we were greeted by a very cosy and calm interior of white birdcage lamps(trademark!) hanging from the ceiling. Minimalistic decor yet maximum effect!

Only danger of me going to these type of dim-lit restaurants - I easily doze off.

The threesome, as usual...heee

Yup, birthday girl can pose with any guy she wants in the room.

Moon can pose with any girl he wants in the room (?)

This one is exclusive geh... soree soree if I just made you wince, lol.

I just have to show you the food they served! With such a name for a restaurant, everyone was expecting dinner to be damnnnnn sedaaaaaap!

This is one of my fave all-time drinks. Used to be much more chocolatey though when I last had it 3 years ago.

THIS, I forgot. It's either the Thai Cooler or Lemongrass and Lychee Frost. Still, both are their best-sellers. Refreshing but you just gotta get used to having serai in your drink.

Very very red raspberry cooler!

For the vegans (SOOO not Derek to be ordering this... till we found out he just had a real heavy, protein-loaded, LDL cholesterol-friendly buffet at ShangriLa the night before... -_-)

Best-seller no 1

Best-seller no 1 + some mee to go along with it (just like how I like only rojak and some like MEE rojak)

I was surprised that Tan with such high-demanding standards ended up with this dish. Like to 'call chicken' is it?

3 people ordered this. I think 'sundried' was referring to the tomatoes they used. Otherwise, how to eat pasta that has been dried under the sun?

This apptizer came recommended by our waitress which I think I could have made better.

Birthday girl Yin ordered this. Told her she can order anything she wanted + soup + salad + blah blah but this was all she wanted. Ok lah, at least it was the most expensive main course amongst us. Eh-hem. Also the reason I cannot reveal the prices here coz she's my regular bloggee (is there such a word since i'm the blogger?)

I think she mentioned something like her mum could have done a better 'sweet n sour fish' at home......

Or maybe it was me thinking aloud.

Here comes my order of a 'not-as-crispy-as-I-wanted Salmon'. And the asparagus was SOOO old, it was as if the restaurant knows I'm fibre-deprived.

Luckily the fish was tender and potatoes fluffily full of flavour (heee that's a tongue-twister!)

I get better money's worth salmon from Imbi. heee.

Overall, the food's not bad but ain't super though, for the price you pay.

I would say stick to their best sellers. There's a reason they're called that.

Sure your Seafood Pasta tasted THAT good, Mark? Or just want to look good for the cam cam.

I was more looking forward to their much talked about, legendary desserts.

Oo-la-la, their dessert's corner!

What's left of their desserts for the day...Not much variety here probably coz mostly sold during the day or they don't make too much coz they make it fresh every day?