: : Mum-Mum : : Eat-Eat : :

: : 3rd Day of 2004 : :

Can’t say much for today except that I now have a very painful pimple growing underneath my right eye!!! What a bad way to start the new year. On another note, since my trip to the USA, I haven’t found a single bottle of St. Ives Clear Pore Cleanser in KL or in the USA! I hope they haven’t taken it off the production line. Favourite facial care but then again, why am I blogging about it? My pimple was bad enough. Urgh.

Had some stir-fried tong yau for brunch with Granny. I missed this while in the US. Crunchy and sweet at the same time. Great with oyster sauce and a firm favourite for me and Granny. After that, I got hungry again about 3 hrs later after viewing Renee’s posting on Chilli Lobsters. Wah! It look so delicious that I got peckish after that. Made a quick call to Min Yen and 30 minutes later, it was off to Song Keng Hai for some belachan bee hoon.

This gal, ah… so shy one! Don’t want to take picture. So, Min Yen, here is a picture of you averting your face and using your wallet and handphone as cover. :p

I had the ais jagung @ iced corn drink from this stall whereas Min Yen ordered the sugar cane with coconut from the stall behind this one.

We then both had a regular plate of belachan bee hoon from this famous stall.

Seeing a notice for chai kueh @ turnip cake, we had a small plate as well as ordering small one to go for Granny.

This was my iced corn drink @ ais jagung and the belachan bee hoon we both had. The sauce was great and the additional ingredients were cuttlefish, sliced cucumbers and bean sprouts as well as the chilli sauce and belachan @ shrimp paste to go with it. Definintely tasty and refreshing. According to Min Yen, this stall serves the best belachan bee hoon amongst all the stalls in Song Keng Hai. The stall is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The drink on the left is freshly squeezed sugarcane juice with coconut milk and coconut flesh. Tasty and delicious looking alright. On the right, is the chai kueh @ turnip dish which is stir-fried with egg and some pickled veggies. Honestly speaking, my Granny makes a better chai kueh dish. It’s easy to find the turnip cake uncook here and just fry it again at home.

Song Keng Hai is facing the only rugby field in the whole of Kuching town. Not well maintained because not many rugby teams around. The grass was a bit long but it looked like someone was in the process of cutting it down.

And this is the famous flowerhorn fish that is adored by the Chinese community due to the Chinese-looking-characters on it’s body. It was floating around in an aquarium at one of the stalls in Song Keng Hai. An expensive fish, it retails for a few thousand ringgit (a few hundred US dollars), an expensive fish to showcase in a hawker centre.

After that, it was off home for me and Min Yen went to W.G.Cycle for her training session. Came home to clean up my hamsters’ cages and give them a bath. They were stinking quite badly so it was time to do it. Well, that was my 3rd day of 2004. How was yours?

: : Blog Meets & Spicy Chicken : :

Well, it’s going to be a jumble of postings from all over the world now. The variety is going to be interesting but the truth of the matter is that I’m too lazy to organize my pictures in a chronological manner. Still, the mix and match approach should bring along different types of dishes to everyone’s curiosity and probably whet some appetites along the way.

As Grace is organizing another Book Swap Meet, I thought I’d better hurry up and post up the pictures taken from the last one in December 2003. Again, it’s at the same place : KL Sentral’s Starbucks Coffee … err… place? When in the US, I saw a Starbucks at every Barnes and Nobles bookstore. A great place to sit down and sip a cup of tea to relax and enjoy something to eat as well.

Took a snapshot of the painting facing the tables we were sitting at. Thought it look pretty good and then wondered how much it really costs. I find Starbucks very pricey after drinking coffee at Coffee Master in Kuching but after going to the US, realised that it was slightly cheaper after the currency conversion.

We weren’t the only ones having a coffee meeting that day. On the left hand side of the table, you can see a more serious session going on.

Cakes cakes cakes! I remember buying a packet of Kettle Chips instead. IreneQ had a chicken sandwich, I think, and someone ordered a slice of Chocolate Cheesecake. Can’t remember who. Chooki, April and Ryuu bought food from Kenny Roasters and ate them in Starbucks. Haha! BTW, Nicholas, your book is still with me but cannot return it to you during the next meet. Some time this year, you’ll be getting it but not in January 2004! So, have to wait. :p

After that, Chooki suggested we go over to Old Klang Road to a cafe (whose name eludes me at the moment) for dinner but because of the massive traffic jam, IreneQ, Albert and myself decided to go to Sunway Pyramid instead. We went to look for my corduroy jeans that I needed to bring over to the US. Corduroy jeans will keep one very warm during the winter months.

After buying my jeans, we went off to eat at Nandos Chicken which Albert swears that it is so good. Something new for me so I thought why not? Thanks to IreneQ for being such a good sport that day for fetching us around and having dinner with us there.

While waiting for the food to come, I took awhile to read up on the stories on the wall. Click on the pictures for a bigger size picture for easier reading.

The plastic chicken reminded me (figuratively) of the skinny, scrawny kampung chicken until Dr.Liew posted up this picture! Urgh! Will never EVER touch the plastic holder again!

There were 4 different table sauces available. Can’t remember the names of the sauces. Think there were 3 spicy ones and 1 garlic sauce.

Grrr…they ran out of the Peri-peri version so we had to settle for the Lemon and Herb version of the chicken. Albert was pouring the hot peri-peri sauce like mad onto his plate. He adores sour chilli sauce. One day, you should try Jalapeno chillis. Think you’ll like that.

After that, we parted ways. Albert to catch the KTM back to the train station and catch the bus back and IreneQ send me back to Kelana Jaya. It was a nice ending to a busy day and I had a great time with you all.

Till we meet next in KL!

: : Blog Meets & Spicy Chicken : :

Well, it’s going to be a jumble of postings from all over the world now. The variety is going to be interesting but the truth of the matter is that I’m too lazy to organize my pictures in a chronological manner. Still, the mix and match approach should bring along different types of dishes to everyone’s curiosity and probably whet some appetites along the way.

As Grace is organizing another Book Swap Meet, I thought I’d better hurry up and post up the pictures taken from the last one in December 2003. Again, it’s at the same place : KL Sentral’s Starbucks Coffee … err… place? When in the US, I saw a Starbucks at every Barnes and Nobles bookstore. A great place to sit down and sip a cup of tea to relax and enjoy something to eat as well.

Took a snapshot of the painting facing the tables we were sitting at. Thought it look pretty good and then wondered how much it really costs. I find Starbucks very pricey after drinking coffee at Coffee Master in Kuching but after going to the US, realised that it was slightly cheaper after the currency conversion.

We weren’t the only ones having a coffee meeting that day. On the left hand side of the table, you can see a more serious session going on.

Cakes cakes cakes! I remember buying a packet of Kettle Chips instead. IreneQ had a chicken sandwich, I think, and someone ordered a slice of Chocolate Cheesecake. Can’t remember who. Chooki, April and Ryuu bought food from Kenny Roasters and ate them in Starbucks. Haha! BTW, Nicholas, your book is still with me but cannot return it to you during the next meet. Some time this year, you’ll be getting it but not in January 2004! So, have to wait. :p

After that, Chooki suggested we go over to Old Klang Road to a cafe (whose name eludes me at the moment) for dinner but because of the massive traffic jam, IreneQ, Albert and myself decided to go to Sunway Pyramid instead. We went to look for my corduroy jeans that I needed to bring over to the US. Corduroy jeans will keep one very warm during the winter months.

After buying my jeans, we went off to eat at Nandos Chicken which Albert swears that it is so good. Something new for me so I thought why not? Thanks to IreneQ for being such a good sport that day for fetching us around and having dinner with us there.

While waiting for the food to come, I took awhile to read up on the stories on the wall. Click on the pictures for a bigger size picture for easier reading.

The plastic chicken reminded me (figuratively) of the skinny, scrawny kampung chicken until Dr.Liew posted up this picture! Urgh! Will never EVER touch the plastic holder again!

There were 4 different table sauces available. Can’t remember the names of the sauces. Think there were 3 spicy ones and 1 garlic sauce.

Grrr…they ran out of the Peri-peri version so we had to settle for the Lemon and Herb version of the chicken. Albert was pouring the hot peri-peri sauce like mad onto his plate. He adores sour chilli sauce. One day, you should try Jalapeno chillis. Think you’ll like that.

After that, we parted ways. Albert to catch the KTM back to the train station and catch the bus back and IreneQ send me back to Kelana Jaya. It was a nice ending to a busy day and I had a great time with you all.

Till we meet next in KL!

: : R & J Wedding Reception : :

Well, I decided to put up pictures of Rex’s and Fiona’s Wedding Reception. The pictures were taken without the flash so some of it came up very yellow. Oh well. It was a beautiful affair at Hilton last Saturday night. There was a pianist as well as 3 string musicians. The music was beautiful and I bet that for the next few weddings in Kuching, there will be a pianist around. We had dinner music to the wonderful tunes from the Sound of Music. Am not sure whether the musicians were from the International Music House or from the Sarawak Symphony Orchestra.

Somehow, there are a lot of cutleries on a dinner table before the food comes. Also, it’s a chore trying not to hit everything that something falls onto the floor.

At every table, there is a welcoming drink of tuak @ rice wine. These were excellently done with a woven piece of small matting and even the cork on top had a small weave around it.

Our dinner menu. Very tempting, that’s for sure.

The first item on the menu was the four varieties of cold combination. Hmm… the name doesn’t sound too right but the food was good. It was strips of jellyfish, cold steam chicken, beef ribs and small squid or octopus (I couldn’t be sure).

Next on the menu was the soup. Took us awhile to realise that the green bits floating on top was actually the asparagus. Still, it was a delightfully light and delicious soup.

The roasted chicken with shredded mango in ‘Siam’ sauce was really nice. The name was a bit dodgy but I guess what they were trying to convey was that it was a Thai dish. To tell you the truth, Bangkok Thai (another restaurant) would have cooked it better but the roast chicken was very delicious. Mango was a bit overripe but then again, I like them a little bit sour.

Now this was the deep fried red tilapia fish in black pepper sauce. It was fried so crispy that it was nearly impossible to cut! Haha! Actually, the waiter was suppose to cut it into smaller pieces for us but he forgot to do it. Ah well. Luckily, Tidan already went to bed so this fish didn’t have a chance in a million on being left uneaten on the plate!

The rice came all wrapped up in a lotus leaf but it didn’t look that steamed to me. Looks pretty fried! Still, tasty tasty tasty all the way and we had quite a fair bit. Yum! Can’t go wrong with a good ol’ fried rice dish amongst Asians.

This dish had a queer name : broccoli with double mushroom. I didn’t see any double mushrooms but there were two different type of mushrooms there. In any Chinese restaurant, the broccoli is cooked with black mushrooms in oyster sauce. Why? Dunno. Anyone? It’s a favourite dish that is repeatedly ordered in Asia.

The Szechuan smoked duck with flower buns was the last dish on the menu. Well, the last MAIN dish, that is. Definitely very tasty and delicious. The flower buns are actually deep fried pau @ white fluffy buns (Chinese ones, that is), which went very well with the duck and sauce. Yum! Luv those things!

This was supposed to be the beancurd with longan in syrup but I couldn’t see any beancurd! Saw loads of jelly though. Finished the longans but did not eat any of the jellys.

My cousin-nephew Max. A young casanova? Well, he can definitely play the guitar although if you’re expecting romantic songs, think again. The roses were cute though. And that baby-face grin…awww… Wouldn’t it be great to pinch those cheeks? And I will remind you in a few years time, Max, about this picture, when you’re old enough to be embarrassed by it all.

Again, more cousin-nieces and cousin-nephew. From left to right : Caris, Edward and Joanna. The hero of the night was Edward who kept rushing around asking for everyone’s email and writing it down on a torn-up gift cake box. Haha! Why the hero? He saved his cousin, Joanna, from a shark-wannabe, with the help of his Dad and Uncle Tucker in a kilt! Long story that but you have to ask them for it.

It was a beautiful night of songs and a wonderful rendition of Burt Bacharach’s Close to You from Auntie Phoebe on the piano. Can’t get used to calling her just Phoebe even though we’re cousins. A cousin with a son who is 3 yrs younger than me and the same age as my sister? It’s a long story. My favourite part of the song :

On the day that you were born

The angels got together

And decided to create a dream come true

So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold

And starlight in your eyes of blue.

– Close to You, Carpenters.

Anyway, time to snooze and get some rest. This chesty cough which doesn’t seem to be going away is giving me problems at night. It doesn’t come when the aircon is on but when the fan is on! Grrr…. oh well. Good nite!

: : R & J Wedding Reception : :

Well, I decided to put up pictures of Rex’s and Fiona’s Wedding Reception. The pictures were taken without the flash so some of it came up very yellow. Oh well. It was a beautiful affair at Hilton last Saturday night. There was a pianist as well as 3 string musicians. The music was beautiful and I bet that for the next few weddings in Kuching, there will be a pianist around. We had dinner music to the wonderful tunes from the Sound of Music. Am not sure whether the musicians were from the International Music House or from the Sarawak Symphony Orchestra.

Somehow, there are a lot of cutleries on a dinner table before the food comes. Also, it’s a chore trying not to hit everything that something falls onto the floor.

At every table, there is a welcoming drink of tuak @ rice wine. These were excellently done with a woven piece of small matting and even the cork on top had a small weave around it.

Our dinner menu. Very tempting, that’s for sure.

The first item on the menu was the four varieties of cold combination. Hmm… the name doesn’t sound too right but the food was good. It was strips of jellyfish, cold steam chicken, beef ribs and small squid or octopus (I couldn’t be sure).

Next on the menu was the soup. Took us awhile to realise that the green bits floating on top was actually the asparagus. Still, it was a delightfully light and delicious soup.

The roasted chicken with shredded mango in ‘Siam’ sauce was really nice. The name was a bit dodgy but I guess what they were trying to convey was that it was a Thai dish. To tell you the truth, Bangkok Thai (another restaurant) would have cooked it better but the roast chicken was very delicious. Mango was a bit overripe but then again, I like them a little bit sour.

Now this was the deep fried red tilapia fish in black pepper sauce. It was fried so crispy that it was nearly impossible to cut! Haha! Actually, the waiter was suppose to cut it into smaller pieces for us but he forgot to do it. Ah well. Luckily, Tidan already went to bed so this fish didn’t have a chance in a million on being left uneaten on the plate!

The rice came all wrapped up in a lotus leaf but it didn’t look that steamed to me. Looks pretty fried! Still, tasty tasty tasty all the way and we had quite a fair bit. Yum! Can’t go wrong with a good ol’ fried rice dish amongst Asians.

This dish had a queer name : broccoli with double mushroom. I didn’t see any double mushrooms but there were two different type of mushrooms there. In any Chinese restaurant, the broccoli is cooked with black mushrooms in oyster sauce. Why? Dunno. Anyone? It’s a favourite dish that is repeatedly ordered in Asia.

The Szechuan smoked duck with flower buns was the last dish on the menu. Well, the last MAIN dish, that is. Definitely very tasty and delicious. The flower buns are actually deep fried pau @ white fluffy buns (Chinese ones, that is), which went very well with the duck and sauce. Yum! Luv those things!

This was supposed to be the beancurd with longan in syrup but I couldn’t see any beancurd! Saw loads of jelly though. Finished the longans but did not eat any of the jellys.

My cousin-nephew Max. A young casanova? Well, he can definitely play the guitar although if you’re expecting romantic songs, think again. The roses were cute though. And that baby-face grin…awww… Wouldn’t it be great to pinch those cheeks? And I will remind you in a few years time, Max, about this picture, when you’re old enough to be embarrassed by it all.

Again, more cousin-nieces and cousin-nephew. From left to right : Caris, Edward and Joanna. The hero of the night was Edward who kept rushing around asking for everyone’s email and writing it down on a torn-up gift cake box. Haha! Why the hero? He saved his cousin, Joanna, from a shark-wannabe, with the help of his Dad and Uncle Tucker in a kilt! Long story that but you have to ask them for it.

It was a beautiful night of songs and a wonderful rendition of Burt Bacharach’s Close to You from Auntie Phoebe on the piano. Can’t get used to calling her just Phoebe even though we’re cousins. A cousin with a son who is 3 yrs younger than me and the same age as my sister? It’s a long story. My favourite part of the song :

On the day that you were born

The angels got together

And decided to create a dream come true

So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold

And starlight in your eyes of blue.

– Close to You, Carpenters.

Anyway, time to snooze and get some rest. This chesty cough which doesn’t seem to be going away is giving me problems at night. It doesn’t come when the aircon is on but when the fan is on! Grrr…. oh well. Good nite!

: : 1st Day of 2004 A.D. : :

As I’m sitting here, sipping a big enamel cup of hot camomile tea and Mum sleeping behind me, am sort of sitting down and pondering on what has happened so far on the 1st Day of 2004. I know it definitely did not start at midnite as I was snoozing away but rather at 7:30 a.m. Would you believe that I was reading in bed? The simplest pleasure in life for me is reading in bed. Hmm…unromantic, I know.

Well, I started the day off with some cheese slices from the block of cheese from Lolly. Her daughter, Devong, had it in her backpack for the entire duration of the trip. So, it was cheese with herbs and bread for breakfast. Cheese with cummin seeds would have been nice as well. Yum!

After that, it was off to the shops. First, it was a drive down to 7th mile (or rather, Kota Sentosa as it has now been renamed) to get Mum some cheap batik style sarongs (RM3.90 – RM10.50). Was very tempting to buy some but when would I ever wear it? My Mum seems to be of the opinion that when I’m as old as Granny and her, I will start wearing them. Oh oh… After that, it was rush down to the Goldsmith to pick up Jas’ bracelets which were being repaired and Mum got me a necklace to match the heart pendant she bought for me. Gosh! I’m pampered today. Then, a drive down to look at some shoes and watches. After that, LUNCH!

Mum wanted to eat some indian food so we went here to eat. It’s along Nenas Road.

Both me and Mum ordered this.

We also had some popaddom and acar @ pickle cucumbur and carrots with curry powder.

Ordered some Indian bread to go with the curry : this is the Garlic Naan.

Am not sure what this was : couldn’t remember. It was some kind of bread with vegetables stuffing inside. The stuffing was peas, carrots and mash potatoe. Anyone?

We had some mutton masala curry with peas (the left dish), and some sort of vegetarian curry (dish on the right).

After that, we went to Sarawak Plaza for shoes, books and the pharmacy. Then, a drive back to Tabuan Jaya shoplots which was completely pack with Chinese people shopping for the Chinese New Year celebrations. After driving once around the entire compound for parking, we had enough and went back home to rest to try again later. Even trying again later, it was impossible to find any parking available. Well, while resting, Mum came across some old photographs so decided to put them online and embarrass a few people.

Me and Ming (the two toddlers) were sitting on Yen (Ming’s brother). Think we were 3 yrs old then.

This was taken at one of Jas’ birthday party. Yeah, the theme was 80s disco gals (I think!). The makeup was wild but the clothing? Hmmm… Think I was 11-12 and Jas was 8-9. Was so long ago. You haven’t seen the one of hear wearing a wedding gown of a yellow fairy yet. Hee hee!

Granny, my sister and me (furthest right). Think we were 11 and 9 when the picture was taken. Anyway, after that me and Mum went off to the distributor for Chinese New Year Ornaments. Below are the pictures taken at the shop.

Well, that’s it people. My 1st Day of 2004. How was yours? Oh yeah, and me in my dress with my niece (although she is older than me, the relationship is through marriage), Yolanda, and my stepmother, my Sina’ on the far right. Nice dress leh!