Europe Trip - London Day 2

Maybe we had been getting enough of sleep for the past few days, on our 2nd day in London, Qiaoyi's mom woke up very early... (FYI, I'm sharing room with Qiaoyi's mom & brother). When she woke up, I woke up too. Initially I thought it's already maybe about 7am or so, but checked out my watch, it's only 5 something in the morning... and looked, I even can took a picture of this through the window of our room.

Beautiful sunrise between London Eye & Big Ben

The canteen in the hotel is homely type. The worker will ask for your choice, then they will prepare it in the kitchen rightaway.

Breakfast was included also... it's a traditional English breakfast - sausage, baked bean, ham and egg with orange juice and coffee or tea

Wailoong, me and Qiaoyi's mom @ Stanley House Hotel entrance

Queue up to buy tube ticket
If purchase ticket after peak hour, the ticket will be cheaper. Since we will not be spending many days in London, we decided to get the daily ticket - £5.60, unlimited ride

We actually had planned to visit s few places, but we were flexible too. 1st station, we planned to walk to Buckingham palace to watch the Changing the Guard.

Then on the way, we passed by this, a shop selling souvenir related to the royal family

The batch on the gate

One of the statues on the corner of the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace

Posing @ Buckingham Palace
They said when the Union Flag flies from the Palace means the Queen is not in residence

Statue of Queen Victoria

This is either the Angel of Justice/ Truth

This road is called The Mall

A cute little girl posing for her father

The carriage

Waiting for the Changing the Guard

At Buckingham Palace, Changing the Guard takes place at 11.30 am. It is held daily from May to July, and on alternate dates throughout the rest of the year.

Changing the Guard was lead by the band

It took about an hour for the event. And there are a lot of ppl, tourists waiting for the moment. We saw it half way and decided to leave earlier to avoid the jam.

When we went off, we saw these horse guard with silver hat and black horse

We then decided to go to Hard Rock to get the T-shirt. I have collected a few, e.g. Hongkong, Sydney, Bali; so I wanted to collect the London, Paris and Amsterdam too

On the way, we passed by Wellington Arch and a park
(I have no idea what's the name of this park)

Qiaoyi's mom & me @ Wellington Arch

Crosses in the park

Resting & fruit eating @ the park

Pigeons @ the park

It was about 12 something, so, we decided to have our lunch @ Hard Rock

Lunch @ Hard Rock Cafe

Qiaoyi's family & I

The merchant shop is next door...

Coming out from the England telephone booth (aka Superman's changing room) with my Hard Rock paper bag. hehe

Then we walked to the nearest tube station to visit the new stadium, on the way, we saw this

Yeah! our home brand... LIMKOKWING University

It's summer time, the local people enjoying the sun @ Green Park

Waiting for the tube

The new Emirates Stadium

The nearest station to Emirates Stadium - Arsenal

Half way walking, Qiaoyi's mom shoes have spoil, so, we went shopping!
That day was very hot, I mean the weather, shopping was a good idea to stay away from the sun.
But I have forgotten where was the place we went shopping d, if not mistaken, I think is Oxford Street.

After shopping, we were exhausted... but the day was still young, too early for dinner and we didn't want to go back to hotel yet, because once rest, you would not want to come out again. So, we continued our journey...

Next, we went to see the Big Ben & London Eye.

Frankly speaking, Big Ben had chased away my sleepiness and tireness.
When I walked out from the station, omg, I looked up and saw this huge and tall Big Ben standing in front of me... it was very soul-stiring and amazing, I don't know how to describe this feeling, but I felt so touched.

Kenleong shot me taking this picture

Big Ben standing tall near the exit of the subway

Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminter Bridge, River Thames and me

Under the Westminter Bridge
Big Ben as the background

Walking across the bridge, there are The London Aquarium and London Eye

A long-leg elephant statue in between The London Aquarium and London Eye

A gondola of London Eye

A Dali sculpture near London Eye
The human body sculpture separated into 2 with an egg in between...
Do you have any idea what's the meaning behind?

A street performer imitating Charlie Chaplin

@ The Golden Jubilee Bridge to take picture with London Eye & Big Ben

My body "battery" left about 20% after visiting to Big Ben & London Eye, but before we go to China Town again for dinner... how could we miss out Tower Bridge? Initially, we were thinking, shall we just skip Tower Bridge, anyhow, we will be back to London again after the tour to Paris and Amsterdam.
End up, we still managed to drag ourselves there... no regret tho, Tower Bridge is another amazing building in London.

The tiny yellow flower on the way to Tower Bridge... beautiful right?
I looked enjoy in the picture but the flower was really smelly...

LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN
FALLING DOWN, FALLING DOWN
LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN
MY FAIR LADY...
I know, this is not the London Bridge, but since young, when we sing this song, the image of Tower Bridge will appear in our mind.
Unfortunately, we didn't manage to see the bridge open up from the middle... no big boat passing by.
This is the last picture of the day, because both of my camera and Kenleong's camera batteries had died off...
Visited to so many places and took so many photos... must be la...

This photo was taken a day before, my friend said the roasted duck is famous in town. So, after the long day, we didn't want to explore anymore... we just took the recommendation and walked into this restaurant...
Ya, my friends are right... the food is really delicious

I felt a little excited going to bed, because the next day we will be in Paris d!! Yeah!!

p/s: some of the photos were taken from Kenleong's camera, same to the previous 2 blog entries and coming up blog entries about my Europe trip.

Europe Trip - London Day 1

After a good night rest... we woke up earlier to catch the Megabus to London. Besides, we got to leave some of our luggage with the concierge too, because we will be back to the same hotel in Glasgow after London, Paris and Amsterdam.

The breakfast was included, it was pretty simple but we enjoyed it. There are cheese, butter, croissant, bread, all sort of coffee, hot chocolate, milk, tea and cereal free flow. Had little surprise in the morning. Wailoong joined us for breakfast together with Chihmun, he just dropped by, said hi to everybody before he went to work. I thought I can only see him after traveling to those cities.

FYI, Megabus takes about 9 hours from Glasgow to London (8.30am - 5.30pm). Meaning which, we will be spending almost a day in the bus. So, Chihmun suggested us to take some bread from the hotel to eat in the bus, although the bus will stop few times in different stations, but it won't be stopping for long, probably just enough for you to buy some snacks or a toilet break.

On the way, we saw a lot of farms, which they use to keep sheeps, horses or cows; mountains too of course...
1st hour in bus, we think that's interesting, because if you have by chance took the long distance buses in Malaysia, we can saw only palm plantation, or rubber plantation.

But in 2nd hour, 3rd hour, 4th hour... zzzzzzz

The driver was driving carefully, not too fast, very stable, it's absolutely different compare to our country. Then they changed driver half way, which I think this is very responsible. If you really want me to complain something, I think the seats are a little bit small (it's just ok for me but I wonder, how those big size "ang mo" sit comfortably in the bus?).

Scenery on both sides of the highway

1st stop at Preston
I think this is the town area, buildings are very old but unique

If there's a reality show title "If you think you can sleep", then I think I will be the champaign. No la, I think everybody also can sleep. Because really has nothing to do in the bus unless sleeping, day dreaming, reading and thinking.

Reached London after about 9 hours in the bus

We reached Victoria Station at about 5pm something and our hotel was a road or 2 from the station, Qiaoyi had done a very good job in booking of this Hotel - Stanley House which the location of the hotel is absolutely very strategic, near to the tube station, bus station and etc.

When we were there, Diong already waited for us in the lobby! Yeah! He is a very good friend of us in high school and not only him, me too, looking forward to seeing him. Of course I did notify him before I go and we had already fixed that day to meet for dinner.

I asked Diong to invite Karchin too, Karchin is another high school friend of us working in London. When we were about to depart for dinner, Karchin greeted us at the entrance. Wow, how amazing... we never see each other for about 2 - 3 years and now we were seeing each other in a foreign land. The even amazing part is, these two friends, both were working in London for so many years, never see each other. I couldn't believe that.
So, that night was a little gathering for us - Qiaoyi, Kenleong (Qiaoyi's husband), Diong, Karchin and me.

@ Victoria Train Station
Our first group photo in London (in fact, in the trip too!)
Diong was helping us to take the photo.

Diong brought us to China Town for dinner, how to reach there? By tube la... tube in London is very convenient, it's connecting everywhere.

But the crowd scared me....

1st time taking the tube... looking at the map, it's very complicated... but no worries, we have good tour guides - Wailoong, Diong and Karchin

Street performer @ the tube station

The long elevator
There are few levels of tube rail underground, I have no idea how those genius engineers built that.

2nd group photo of us
@ China Town, London

The menu of the Chinese restaurant where we dined in

Below were the dishes that we ordered

Duck! one of my favourite

They fried the meat and teared into pieces, then wrap in the dumpling skin with special sauce
Yummy

Hongkong Gaile

Forgot the name of this dish, not very nice...

Steamed fish

Toufu

Eggplant with minced pork

This fruit platter was complimentary, the presentation can only impress those guai lou... hahaha, (dry ice in water)
According to my dear friends working in London, they said watermelon and some tropical fruits in London are very expensive, so, no matter how full we were, we got to finish that... hahaa

Diong and Karchin spent us that dinner... I asked them why? They said because we came all the way to London, that's why we have to be their guests. Then I laughed...
When Diong was back to KL, we all wanted him to pay for the bill, reason being he is earning pounds... this is so funny... no matter where, he always kena bullied. hahaha

The mini gathering dinner
Standing on left: Kenleong, Diong and Wailoong
Sitting from left: Karchin, Qiaoyi & Wailoong's mother, me, Kenleong's parents and next to Kenleong's mother is Qiaoyi

After dinner, we walked around...

Les Miserable
One of the famous play in London... unfortunately, out schedule all packed up, I didn't get to watch any

SOHO - red light district

Diong said the show is funny... I hope I can go back to London again to watch the play

The black cab

Street artist

Ripley's Believe It or Not ticket counter

Karchin & I @ Ripley's Believe It or Not
The other 2 "people" are fake one, but the texture of their skin are so close to a real human

begger? or he just felt asleep on the street?

Paddington bear... should have gotten it when I saw it...
I didn't bought any Paddington Bear throughout my trip in London... :(

The famous video display and neon signs mounted on the corner building, a landmark @ Piccadilly Circus
My friend said, McDonald and Coca-Cola advertisements are always up there

High school buddies...
from left: Kenleong, Qiaoyi, Karchin, me and Diong

Statue of an archer known as Eros standing tall in the middle of Shaftesbury memorial fountain

The fountain @ Trafalgar Square
From Piccadilly Circus, we walked aross some streets, and we came to Trafalgar Square, Diong and Karchin told us that, in day, Trafalgar has a lot of pigeon, so, they called it pigeon square too.

Then we took the bus back to our hotel.
Before we separated, I insisted to take this photo... dear friends, I'll always miss you... and thanks for everything you guys had arranged for us.

Europe Trip - Flying to Glasgow

I'm lucky enough to travel with my 2 best best girl friends this year... In April - travel to Macau with Kitman, end of June - travel to Europe with Qiaoyi.

It took me a long time to make up my mind until I finally made my flight ticket payment to Glasgow. A lot of concerns behind, but, after all, not going to look back now.

Qiao Yi and her mom were going to Wailoong's (Qiaoyi's brother) convocation in Glasgow, then Ken (Qiaoyi's husband) and his parents tagged along, so, I'm the only "outsider" there.
(Thanks Qiaoyi and her families for me taking me as an outsider)

June and November are usually my busiest months in the company, still wanna to thanks my company for granted me the long leaves after the company national recognition rally. I can't really sleep well a week before I departed to Glasgow. Busy for the preparation and rehearsal, and I had not pack my luggage until the very last minute.

On 27th of June, the function ended at 7pm. I got home at 8pm, showered, dinner, final packing, rushed to Leisure Mall to purchased a brand new camera... (ya, I know I'm crazy, I shouldn't have had take this risk, luckily the camera that I bought - Panasonic TZ7 didn't disappoint me, the functions and pictures turned out nice). At about 10.15pm, my parents sent me to Qiaoyi's house to take a cab to the airport.
(I still couldn't believe I did all those things in 2 hours, but my luggage was real heavy and big, because I just threw everything in, to be safe, I pack a lot of extra clothes)

I was exhausted, but I got very excited when Qiaoyi told me a good news. (Can't reveal without her permission).

We met Ken & his family at KLIA at 12am (28th June). Checked in, walked around and boarded. We were going to Dubai for transit.

We took Emirates, the seat was not very comfortable, but luckily I was tired enough, and I was able to slept all the way to Dubai.
(Actually was planned to grap the chance to watch a few movies that I wanted to watch, but really beh tahan the tireness)

Flight took off at 2am & reached Dubai 8.30am (Malaysia time)/ 4.30am (Dubai time). Got to wait another 3 hours in the airport for the flight to Glasgow.

Dubai Terminal 3
Although Dubai Terminal 3 is much bigger and more beautiful than KLIA, I'm still very proud of KLIA

Qiaoyi & me @ Dubai Terminal 3
with our half wake-up look

Dubai money has almost the same rate as RM, me and Qiaoyi changed RM50 each.
Later, we found out, the cost of living in Dubai is double or even triple of KL.
A meal of McD cost about 25 Dubai dollar.

In the flight again... yeah... heading to Glasgow
A brand new world for me
(a kampung girl making a big leap to a western country)
Ahh~~~Got to sit in the flight for another 7 and a half hours agin!!

At 12.30pm (Glasgow time), finally... finally...
Excited? Can't feel the excitement yet, still very blur after long hour in flight.
Although there was still an expectation there.

Toilet time! What is this?
teeth wipe dispenser, told you d, I'm kampung girl, never saw this before.
But I didn't try... because my teeth were still clean. Why? The flight attendance woke us up from time to time to eat and drink... and I didn't have bad breath... hehe

Wailoong came to pick us up at the airport...

He guided us to take this transit back to hotel

A big light bulb (right) - ME!

The bus stop at Buchanan Bus Station and our hotel, Express by Holiday Inn is just a short distance away. Love both of the room and location of this hotel.
The room is very clean and spacious, beds are comfortable. Location wise, it's in the town, close to bus station, Buchanan Street (the shopping street) and a lot of restaurant nearby.

We checked in to the hotel, rest & freshened up abit, then Wailoong brought us to George Square, I think he is very excited to see all of us, he was eager to show us around in glasgow. We too, very excited... with a little bit tireness.
4pm in Glasgow = 11pm in KL
The first time I experienced jet-lag...

The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
The hall where Wailoong's convocation was held
Has no idea who's this with a cross on his forehead
By chance captured a seagull in flying in the picture too

A street performer with Scottish Kilt @ Buchanan Street
Cool!

Summer time, flower season
I love this pink, especially with the greyish cement backgroup

JAMES WATT
if you don't know who he is, go study your physic again

There's a lot of statues on tall pillar in George Square
James Watt is the only statue that I know

The flower arrangement in George Square...
Very bright and interesting combination of flower and colours

Glasgow City Chambers @ George Square

Youngsters chilling out @ George Square

We then headed to Rumours Kopitiam for an early dinner @ 6pm
(1am Malaysia time, real early right?)
Rumours is opened by a Malaysian, and they served Malaysian/ Singaporean food.
I think Rumours is a most often visited restaurant of Wailoong, that's why he brought us there for our first meal in Glasgow. However, we just came from Malaysia, errrr... we actually not yet missing Malaysian food...

We ordered Hainan Chicken Rice, Yin Yong, Nasi Lemak, Chinese Style Fried Rice...

The portion is huge! Probably also because of the jet-lag, I can only take 1/3 of my dish. The rest was wasted... so guilty.

Since the next morning we got to wake up early to catch our bus to London, we decided to call it a day.
I went to bed with slight disappointment, because I still haven't met the one that I thought I will be meeting.

Bidor

Think of Bidor, I think of "gai zai beng" (chicken biscuit). My parents definitely know Bidor better than me. After Sungai Klah Air Panas, we headed to Bidor for Duck drumstick noodle! Duck... one of my favourite!

It's only about 15 minutes drive from the hot spring to Bidor town. When we parked our car in one of the lorong, we saw this shop, which has been on TV before.

Yea, they are making and selling all these cute little "gong zai beng" (doll biscuit)

Piggies baking in oven

Tortoises, waiting to be entered to the oven to bake

This year is cow year.
This cow family has just came out from the oven and displayed nicely at the counter

In town, there are fruit stalls on both side of the main street.
I think because it's fruity season now, the stalls are selling various tropical fruits, you name, they have it

Finally we reached the noodle house... gosh... it's only 5 something, close to 6pm, how come the restaurant already jam-packed with customer?

A family enjoying their food, I think, they are like us, has a family day out

The menu & kitchen

There is a small counter in the middle of the shop selling "wu gok" (yam bao filled with bbq pork).
This old man is working hard to pack the wu gok in box to customer. He is real fast and professional.
When I entered the restaurant, there was already a long queue at the stall.

The filling
I think the taste only so so... no doubt, it's fresh from the wok, but I can easily find a better one in some of the dim sum restaurant in KL, eg. the Kuchai Lama one.

They have counter selling some local homemade biscuit too

Almond Lou Po Beng (wife biscuit)

Another type of Lou Po Beng

At the entrance, this stall is selling bbq pork (cha siu) rice
We didn't try this, because we have already ordered our duck drumstick noodle, but look at the meat... mouth watering already

Phrases compose with the name of this shop "Bun Zan"

Tada... here comes our duck drumstick noodle
"wantan" noodle in herbal soup with tender duck drumstick
Although the restaurant has no air-con, weather was hot, we were sweating like nobody business and the bowl was hot, but still, we enjoyed the noodle very much.
As I said, when you are eating with the right person, you will easily satisfied with any presentation or taste of the food
(of course the food shouldn't be too difficult to put into mouth la)

The uncle was pulling out those stewed duck meat in herbal soup from the steam oven

The aunty was preparing the noodle

This is the restaurant in sepia mode

The restaurant has real lots of people waiting for the tables, after we finished our food, we got to give the seat to other long-waited customers.
Time was still early after the dinner, so, we decided to walked around the town, we shopped coffee powder for grandparents, shopped around those fruit stalls and "yim guk gai" (salted chicken) shop. We took dinner early, so, this yim guk gai is perfect for supper back home.

Sungai Klah Hot Spring, Perak

In a sunny Sunday, my dad suggested a family breakaway. Yeah, it has been a long time we never had a family day out. Initially he was suggesting Malacca, but I wanted to go to the hot spring they always mentioned. My parents been there couple of time with their friends without me, so, I was "nagging" them to bring me there... Then they agreed! oh yes, I'm a spoiled kid.

Departed from KL after breakfast, we reached there in an hour of drive. Actually that day was pretty hot... I'm the only weirdo in the family who is not afraid of "hot", my poor parents, they got to bear with the sun and accompany their unreasonable daughter to HOT SPRING in a HOT DAY!

Got to wear this band to enter the Hot Spring
Got to pay to get in, you know!

Our luggage, cute right?

The canteen...
from a Chinese-always-business minded point of view, the government should get some real restaurants in, in stead of let those local Malays selling only soft drink and nasi lemak or mee hoon goreng there, somemore in a crowded Sunday, food sold off before 1pm. Where's Starbucks? Where's McD? Where's KFC? No sushi? No Haagen Dazs? Hey, wake up, if the government really wanted to make this place a tourist spot, do something!!!

Dad & mom walking to the hot spring swimming pool...
I wanted to try something else... So, I didn't follow them... let them to have some private time together.

tiny fish in crystal clear river... of course, the water in this river is cold one

Water in the hot spring pool is too hot... the children cool themselves down with this pot of cold water

There are a lot of pool with different temperature
This pool is real hot, you can't soak yourself in. Even I tried to put my legs in, I can only bear with it for less than 15 minutes. But it is good for therapy, enhance blood circulation!

This is the eye. Hot water keep flowing out. With the boiling temperature... nobody can be able to touch the water... except... the eggs!

The guy is waiting for his eggs to get boiled... hehe

This is a family pool, the water temperature is only around 30-35 degree celcius

This is one of the swimming pool at the entrance...

This is another swimming pool after the canteen

Foot reflexology under the hot water

Hot water fountain

And I ended up enjoying myself in this room - I bought myself a half hour back massage (Ayurveda style, using spices powder to rub the back)
After the massage, my body was full of spices powder. She offered to help me to shower off... gosh, so embarasing. I think she get my signal, she only clean my back and left me in the room to clean myself.

A private hot spring jacuzzi next to the massage room
In my package, I was only entitled a back massage, but the message lady is kind enough to allow me to dip in the jacuzzi.
I am not daring enough to get myself naked in the pool (it's open air), luckily she allow me to wear my t-shirt in.

My shoulder stiffness and pain has relieved after the massage.
What a good way to pamper myself!

Walked around the garden, the trees are all well-labelled with family & species name.
Picture above is a ripen coco, below is an infected one, yuck!

Unknown fruit

Unknown flowerss..




yer... geli geli


I love this flower... as pure as lotus

胭脂红
My dad was very happy to see this... he said he used to pick a lot of this during his childhood
but how come it's not red in color?

The 胭脂红 tree

A lot of durian trees along the entrance... and now is the fruiting season...
My mom hoped there's one falling down and we get to pick a fresh one home...
but mom, isn't the durian only falls in the middle of the night?

Real lots of durian!

Direction: From KL north up along North-South Highway, turn in at Sungkai/ Trolak exit, turn left, follow either the Felda sign or Sungai Klah Air Panas sign then you should be able to find the place... exit on the left from the main road to the road leads to Sungai Klah is not very far from the tol.

I strongly recommend this place for family day trip, resorts also available, but it's quite pricey and I think room is limited, pre-booking to avoid disappointment. Click the link for more information
http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com/hotsprings.html

Penang in May 2009

Penang is one of my favourite state in Malaysia... not to mention is because of the food, in specific, my good friends are there - LingTze, ILeen. Don't know if this is related, Penang also my dad's birth place. NO, I don't really think so, he grown up in KL, not Penang... his entire life has nothing to do with Penang, except that's his birth place.

My work brings me to Penang again in May. I stayed in Cititel... and I like staying there... the room is not too big, just nice to fit me in, most importantly - clean! This time, they gave me a room which has a perfect view of Komtar.

Crossing Penang bridge, on my way to Prai...

Curry fish head... famous in Butterworth...
The stall selling this is in one of the kopitiam in town
A bit fishy... and the curry tasted like those indian curry. Nice to go with rice.

Yam rice
wow... Hardly find this in KL d
Last time there was a bak kut teh restaurant near my house selling this, and my family always love to have dinner there on Sunday. Since the restaurant has moved, we hardly find any good one in the neighbourhood.
Never expected that I got the chance to eat this again this time. Nice!

Above is braised pork and below is pepper pork soup, eating with the yam rice...
Although all these seems like shouldn't eat in a hot sunny day, but... just love them regardless of the weather... my sensory cells to "hot weather" aren't working most of the time.

Because after Butterworth, I will need to be in Bukit Mertajam, so, I was heading there without checking any hotel availability. Coincidently, in such a small town, all of the hotels were being fully occupied, why? Election!! Not again! The nearest clean, comfy and affordable hotel that I could get my friend & operator to recommended to me is B-Suite.
I really don't mind to go back to Penang Island again and especially when I entered the room... It's absolutely worth it!


The view from my room in B-Suite Hotel

Opera

My grandparents used to sing Opera for living... but I know nothing about this mysterious traditional art, erm... when I get older, maybe should learn a lesson or 2, should be fun.

However, the Opera that I'm posting now is not the Chinese drama, Opera... it's a restaurant, located @ Upper Penang Road...

I went to Penang for my company's centres stock audit in May. My dearest "hubby" - I Leen brought me candle light dinner @ this restaurant
p/s: althogh she just got married, but she will always be my dearest hubby, forever..., opps, sorry, I'm not a lesbian either

Once we step in, a friendly waiter came to greet us and lead us to a nice corner right away. At the corner, a modernize chandelier was right at the back of I Leen, the waiter then light up the candle held by a stone craving doll on our table, at that moment... I was drown, I felt lucky to dine with such a wonderful and pretty angel in my life!

Nice ambience

I'm sure he is also enjoying the ambience alone in the restaurant

I Leen ordered Aromatic Duck as starter to share

This is similar to Beijing Duck - crispy roasted duck skin slice and wrap in rice paper, eating together with spring onion and special sauce.
But this Aromatic Duck is tear the roasted duck meat and wrap in egg paper, similarly, eating with spring onion, carrot slices and special sauce.

Yummy

Then, main dish, I Leen ordered their spicy chicken with cashewnut and I ordered western dish - Fish & chips

I think the main dish was only a pass, nothing special, in fact, I like fish deep-fry in another way, not this.

Dessert... ya, we actually couldn't finished our main dish, because we wanted to save some space for the desserts.

Deep-fry banana roll with vanilla ice-cream
I Leen likes this

I forgot about the name for this, it's fresh manggo and the vanilla ice-cream was wrapped in thin crispy flour coat
Nice presentation!

It was a memorable and pleasant night to dine out with I Leen. After we finished the dishes, it's already very late at night, so, we decided to go back to the hotel. Then, she stood up and started walking out, I was in shock! Hey, we haven't pay yet!
Then she laughed, ya, we don't have to pay... then only I realized, before the desserts were served, I Leen went to the ladies and at the same time, she already settled the bill... No matter how I asked about the amount of bill, she refused to tell and refuse to accept my money.

Oh my angel... what can I say? Thank you my dear...

Mother's day dinner

Gosh... mother's day was 3 months back... and now only I post up this. pai seh pai seh...

Like last 2 years... this year, besides than the top that I knit for my mom (actually that was suppose to be CNY present, haha), I cooked for both of my parents too.

As usual 3 dishes + 1 soup... let's check out the recipe book!

The weather is getting hotter... so, first thing crossing my mind was, make something more cooling, less heaty

Roasted Pig's Trotter and Dried Bai Cai Soup
(recipe from Quick & Easy Hawkers' Fair by Alan Kok)

Ingredients:
1 roasted pig's trotter (500g), cut into pieces
(of course I ask the butcher to help me)
1 dried cuttlefish, cleaned
200g bai cai, cleaned
50g dried bai cai, soaked and cleaned
1500ml water
salt to taste

Methods:
1. Blanch roasted pig's trotter and pork in boiling water for a short while. Dish up and cleaned. (this can also help to remove some of the oil too)
2. Place all ingredients into a double-boiler. Double-boil at high heat for 3 hours. Add salt and taste. Serve hot.

Actually, I should put the roasted pig's trotter at the bottom, so the soup taste can taste better and more salty, because the bai cai & dried bai cai taste slight soury.
Then I was too greedy, wanted to put everything in but my double-boiler isn't big enough. I should at the beginning reduce a bit of meat and bai cai. End up, this bowl is just "ngam ngam" for 3 of us, some soup flowed out when it boiled.

My dad is a typical cantonese, he loves this soup very very much... as much as I do!

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The following 3 dishes need plenty of garlic... garlic in different shape...


Chopped garlic, garlic slice and peeled garlic in small pips

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Crispy Garlic Flakes with Plum Sauce Chicken
(recipe from Hawkers' Fair... Best of All Time Favourites by Chef Phang Fah)

Ingredients:
2 chicken whole legs, cut into pieces
(I learned from my previous mistake, I don't dare to chop, so, I ask the man chop for me)
10 pips garlic, peeled and sliced thinly

Marinade:
1 tbsp light soya sauce
1 tbsp shaoxing wine

Sauce (mixed well):
4 tbsp water
4 tbsp plum sauce
1/2 tsp sesame oil
salt to taste

Methods:
1. Mix chicken with marinade and marinate for 30 minutes.
2. Deep-fry sliced garlic in hot oil until golden brown and crispy. Dish and drain.
(when you see the color is slighly lighter than expected, should start dishing up, or it will be very dark after cool down)
3. Deep-fry chicken in hot oil until golden brown and cooked. Dish and drain.
(I didn't really deep-fry it, I only fry with oil until cooked)
4. Cook sauce in a wok until thick and sticky. Put in chicken and mix well. Dish up, sprinkle fried garlic flakes on top and serve.

I sprinkle some spring onion on too too! Make the color to be more interesting

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Fish Head with Garlic & Roasted Pork
(recipe from Hawkers' Fair... Best of All Time Favourites by Chef Phang Fah)

Ingredients:
1 fresh water fish head (I use "Wan Yu")
100g roasted pork, sliced
2 cloves garlic, peeled
10 slices ginger
2 stalks spring onion, cut into 3cm length

Seasoning:
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1/2 tbsp light soya sauce
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp shaoxing wine
dash of pepper and sesame oil
200ml water
1 little corn flour water for thickening

Methods:
1. Rub fish head with 1 tbsp ligh soya sauce and deep-fry in hot oil for 2 minutes. Dish up.
(my mom said, if you doesn't want your fish to look so dark, can just ignore the soya sauce)
2. Deep-fry garlic in hot oil until golden brown. Dish up.
(in stead of deep-fry, can saute with a little bit of oil until fragrant)
3. Leave 1 tbsp oil in wok, saute ginger until fragrant. Add in the remaining ingredients, fish head, seasoning and cook for 5 minutes. Remove fish head, thicken the gravy with corn flour water and pour over fish head. Serve hot.

The head is too big... the head and the meat broke into 2 when I was trying to dish up... hahaa
I put them back before I pour the gravy.
Because head is big, meat is thick, there's some part of fish has not fully cooked yet. I should cut the meat, so it can be cooked faster.

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Stir-Fried Spicy Assorted Beans
(Hawkers' Fair Simplified by Alan Kok & Bryan Ong)

Ingredients:
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp chopped garlic
2 tbsp dried prawns, soaked
100g long beans, cut into 3cm length
100g sweet peas
100g lady's finger, sliced
100g egg plant, sliced
1 red chilli, shredded

Seasoning:
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1/2 tsp sugar
dash of chicken stock granules

Methods:
1. Deep-fry long beans, sweet peas, lady's finger and egg plant in hot oil for 1 minutes. Dish up.
2. Heat up 2 tbsp oil, saute chopped garlic and dried prawns util fragrant.
3. Add in the remaining ingredients, seasoning and stir-fry until well-mixed. Dish up and serve.

I failed this dish... too much oil d... I should have use the kitchen tissue to reduce the oil before step 3.

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The mother's day dinner!!!
It's not easy to make a dinner... that's the reason why I usually rather go home for dinner, unless I told my mom in advance I'll be eating out with friend, so she doesn't need to cook so much and most importantly, effort will not be wasted.

THANKS MOM FOR TAKING GOOD CARE OF ME & DAD.
AND I WISH HER HEALTHY AND HAPPY!

张智成 - 暗恋

词曲：彭学斌

四目交接的时候 不要停留太久
适可而止的问候 关心不能太过
好奇也别去探索 妒嫉只能深锁
如果忍不住寂寞 也不能对你说

啊 好朋友 啊 我的好朋友
不小心的沉默 不想让你太难过
我们就站在落地窗的两边
就算触碰也有了界限
如果跨越过彼此那道边界
是靠近还是更遥远
相信我们走到另一个境界
搭肩高唱友谊万万岁
要是我爱你变成了语言
什么会多一些 什么会少一些

就让别人去猜测 我们清白的很
就让自己去承受 那种清白的闷
就算我只是朋友 能不能有要求
如果会发生什么 也是我想太多

啊 好朋友 就只是好朋友
不小心说出口 微笑中藏着难过
我们就站在落地窗的两边
就算触碰也有了界限
如果跨越过彼此那道边界
是靠近还是更遥远
你会不会也曾闪过这感觉
一念之间就要差一点
要是我爱你 变成了利剑
什么会被消灭 什么才会复原

那是我的底线 继续将你暗恋

[Wonder how can the composer/ writer of this song understand so much about secret love? Furthermore, he can describe and pictured the love so vivid until you could actually "see" the 2 main characters' "reaction" by just listening to the song once.]

Macau Trip

My trip was in end of April, but now only I have time to post up this (I know this is another lame excuses).

I went with 2 very close friends, Kitman & Lingtze (they are bloggers too). Kitman came back from US, and we wanted to go for a trip, because we never go for any holiday trip since graduated from high school. Then Lingtze wanted to go too, because she never been there, so to me & Kitman. Furthermore, in March, there's a Matta Fair, although our trip wasn't book in the fair, but is during that period where a lot of travel agencies were doing some promotion. But I think our trip was a bit costly. Each of us have to pay around RM1.3K for a 3 days 2 nights trip. Do you think it is expensive? (Package including 2 nights hotet stay, 2 breakfast @ hotel, half day tour, air ticket & airport transfer)

We enjoyed the trip very much and we took a lot of pictures (yes, believe me, I mean A LOT). That's why I got to categorized mine and make it into these...

p/s: some wording might be too tiny, got to click on the picture to enlarge in order to view & read clearly.

Must see 1...

Must see 2...

Must see 3...

Must see 4...

Must eat 1...

Must eat 2...

Must see 5...

A big mistake that I made was, I brought only t-shirt, singlets and shorts, and it's Macau raining season when we were there. The weather was cold enough to kill me, especially when the wind blow, Gosh, we girls always yelled out loud when we walked out from our hotel, and made a turning to the road to Senator Square. So funny.

One thing I got to say is, although our hotel wasn't a very nice one, I mean the room, a little too small and smell a bit, but the location is very strategic and the breakfast there is very very delicious.

Will definitely go to Macau again, it's such an interesting place to explore...

More original photos can be view @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/11702386@N03/sets/72157621787366451/