Hello!

So much have been neglected here. So much so that saying sorry sounds so trivial. Oh well 2017 has come and gone and we are well into February of 2018.

WHA!

Like, did I miss blogging? I certainly did. And do. But when you keep stopping midway into a sentence and ran out of ideas to phrase yourself properly, you just stop and can't finish. Can't finish. For like 6 months ago! Haha.

Anyway, this is a short update. Last Dec we had a family trip to Koh Samui, Thailand... a beautiful gem of an island. Every year since my girl turned 1 in Dec 2015, it has been a bi-annual tradition for us to take a family trip away from home.

 Koh Samui, Thailand @ Dec 2017

So for this year when she turns 3.5, a return trip to Danang, Vietnam in June sounds like a really good idea since the last we went there in Dec 2016, it was 'winter' to them and it was wet/rainy/cold throughout. They say June is summer in Vietnam, so hopefully we could have more time under the sun, on the beach and in the pool. Which are my daughter's main playground. Me? I only usually just enjoy the FOOD and the SCENERY of a new place. :-)

And how has your 2018 been so far? I look forward to mine with lots of hope, faith and prayers.  Hope it's not too late for me to wish you all ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Danang's best - Vietnamese iced Coffee ...

I have perhaps discovered the best coffee in the whole wide world. It may not be Starbuck's class, but it is definitely in a class of it's own. Behold the Vietnamese Iced Coffee.

This little delightful discovery was made in Da Nang, Vietnam last year on our annual birthdays cum anniversary family trip out of the country. I mean, I have always known that Vietnam has wonderful coffee, I just didn't have the opportunity to savor and appreciate it back when we visited Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in 2014 (at the time, 5 months pregnant, no caffeine more than a mug a day).

1 part coffee, 1 part milk. Not just any coffee, specially brewed Vietnamese coffee. And not just any milk, Vietnamese own special condensed milk. Apparently, the milk is part of the secret. I tried using Malaysian owned Susu Cap Junjung, nope, didn't even come close.

Even though it's half-half, the taste is not even sweet, yet just the right bitter-sweet or 'kaw' that I would look for anywhere. Man, I still wish I'm in Danang now where I can have it every morning.

Even my little girl loves it. We had a last cup at the airport on the way back to Malaysia, and Sasa practically drank half of mine. Good girl.

Vietnamese Iced Coffee on the beach, by the pool, anytime anywhere. Oh by the way, this is a really late post. Maybe when Malaysia Airlines fly to Danang someday soon, I'll return here to get my daily dose. Till then. (pictures are strewn here and there ... sorry. Blogging on the go).

December... my month of many celebrations!

Yes!! I turned a year older yesterday! A Year Wiser so the saying goes! Another number added to the 3 series. Yes I am getting very old! But wait for it...!! I celebrated in Penang! Why Penang? Because we just came back from Krabi - celebrating our 2nd Wedding Anniversary AND our lil one's 1 YEAR BIRTHDAY! Penang was the stop-over, the anticlimax after the sun and food in Krabi! So yes it's a 3-in-1 Holiday Package! And we just got home today! I'm still a little bit jetlagged (kononnya) cause we had an early flight! Of course everybody slept! But me, cause the lil one slept on me so I must stay alert to be her steady pillow!

December is my favorite month!! We get to do this every year I hope! I hope lah! If the finance permits! Oh Why am I shouting! Hahaha! Cause I'm still excited!! Ahahaha! *crazy old birthday lady*

No cake... A hot coffee to go is very generous enough... *sans makeup*

Sorry sorry, must be the adrenaline rush from the morning travel and lacking sleep.

Anywayyyyyyyyy... This is a short one okay, because I haven't been blogging much and none at all in December, but I'll be back! Stay tune for the Holiday Trip review for the best tom yam found in the unlikeliest place and best/worst hotels!

Meanwhile, if you don't hear from me again after today till New Year, here's us wishing you:

Have a blessed holiday everyone! Love you bye!

Holiday home-cook experiment ...

Since it's a long holiday Raya weekend, I thought it would be a good time to finally try out that pork belly with salted fish recipe I saw Rose did... She made it sound so easy, so yeah, I tweaked the recipe a little to suit whatever ingredient I had at hand and our taste buds.

My Ingredients:
1 strip of 3 layer pork, sliced to bite size
1 salted fish (I used ikan kembong... is that what it's called?)
Garlic and onion
Fresh chilli
2 tablespoon of fish sauce
1 tablespoon of Tong Nam soy sauce (for the colour only) --- of course must be Tong Nam
And a teaspoon of cornstarch diluted in a cup of water
Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing

My method:
- I fried the salted fish first until a bit crunchy. Taking it aside and using a fork, I shredded up the salted fish.
- Next, using the oil from frying the salted fish (the oil by now would have the smell and flavor of the salted fish, just the way I like it), fry the garlic and onion until fragrant, then add in the 3 layer pork. -- Mix, fry and then cover so it will cook on its own, for at least 5 minutes. Uncover, mix and fry, cover again until the meat becomes slightly tender, for perhaps another 5 minutes.
- Then add in the shredded salted fish and fresh chilli. Mix and then add fish sauce and soy sauce. Mix and then finally add in the diluted corn starch.
- Fry and cover for another 5 - 8 minutes. Or you can take a bite to see if the meat is done.
- Transfer to a plate and garnish.
- No salt or chicken stock needed. The salted fish would be all the seasoning you need. Next time I'll try Salted Ikan Tenggiri, it's smellier and nicer :D...

VOILA! My version of 3 layer pork with salted fish!

3 layer pork with salted fish...

Served best with steamed white rice and best eaten when fresh out of the wok. And because it's for dinner, I also dish up a simple easy-to-fix vege: steamed brinjal in chilli oil paste. These days I prefer to steam my vege because it's simpler, faster and healthier (and because I'm kinda lazy sometimes).

Just mix the ingredient (garlic, sliced brinjal, chilli oil paste, Maggie chicken stock powder, mustard oil) in a bowl, and steam for 20 minutes and voila! You may also opt to use olive oil for this steaming business. :-)

Steamed brinjal in chilli oil paste...

So there you have it... a no frill easy peasy home cooking. Who says cooking is hard? Have a great weekend everyone!

Easter Monday home-cook day ...

Note: This was supposed to be last Monday's entry... but the pictures came late.

Spending a day off resting at home with lil Carissa on Easter Monday because I had to work over the weekend and I miss the late mornings with her. This is me trying to compensate for those precious moments. Babies grow up very fast, I know, so I don't wanna miss out -- at least trying my best not to -- on her day-to-day development.

Ah. Since it's rest day, I had a bit of time and energy to visit the kitchen. So here's Easter Monday dinner! Simple dish of dad's organic ayam kampung cooked with terung asam. I'm not sure if the term 'spring chicken' is the translation for 'ayam kampung' but as a way of explanation, my dad has a small chicken farm which he tends to every day as a hobby. Ok maybe 'farm' sounds too big... chicken coop then. He bred them organically, more for the meat, so I'd say they're lean, mean and very healthy. Dad's chicken meat supply never runs out, halleluyah for the family.

Sup Ayam Kampung Terung Asam
The What:
- A quarter of a spring chicken or ayam kampung (I select the best parts)
- Half of a terung asam (because the one I had was big in size)
- a stalk of lemon grass
- onion and garlic (blend or crushed)
- dry chilli (blend or crushed)
- fresh bird's eye chilli or cili padi
- Maggie chicken stock cube
- a young turmeric leaf
- 150ml water

The How To:
- Easy lah. Throw everything in a pot, and cook over slow fire.
- Ayam kampung meat is known to be a bit tough so simmer until tender for 30 - 45 minutes
- You may taste the seasoning every now and then to see if the broth is nicely flavored and if the meat is tender enough.
- If you prefer, you can always exchange the turmeric leaf with coriander leaf, although it probably won't taste as exotic.
- No oil is used in this cooking. What you see came from the chicken... =)
- When it's done, just scoop and serve hot with a plate of steamed rice. Simple right?

There you go... Voila! A simple anybody-can-cook meal. 

Easy peasy chicken soup...

I'm a budak kampung and so I kinda like my plate of rice submerged with the glorious spicy hot broth, the more banjir (er... flooded) the better.

Flooded...

HAPPY BELATED EASTER EVERYONE!

Holiday Pt 1: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam ...

(WARNING: Picture-Heavy post! And I might bore you, so read at your own risk...)

We shall not sit too long on it otherwise it shall become another untold story. So here goes some unfiltered version of the Vietnam holiday experience, although not much of an audacious exploratory  recount, but adventurous all the same. Kinda like going on a second honeymoon really, but with baby otter and two other young adults on tow. :-)

#TrippinAsean14 buddies + baby otter...

Planning in advance is crucial because it saves a lot of money. A group of four of us bought our flight tickets 5 months in advance, which cost like nearly RM1,500 per person for 2 countries, 4 cities (including KL) and 6 stops in between, and that's not even on no-frill flights. A few days before we flew off, the flight cost soared to 50% per person, so yeah, I'd say it was a pretty good deal. Accommodation was cost-shared as well and since none of were fans of backpacking, we tried to squeeze in as much comfort and luxury in between wherever we can. Tips: Always book in advance. MAS offers price-slash flights these days so why not take advantage of that? Air Asia is not bad either, except less comfort. Hotels are cheaper if you book direct, but Booking.com is also good alternative although you might pay a little bit more for convenience (and you can review them later if you don't feel they meet your expectation. Hehe).

Meanwhile, the three nights we spent in Ho Chi Minh City went by pretty quickly. HCMC or also locally fondly known as Saigon, is pretty hot this time of year. They literally call it 'summer' by the way. I could feel myself browning by the seconds every time I went out for a walk around the city. But then again, that's the whole point of a vacation isn't it, to get a tan? So-called lah.

 Blue blue sky... and hot hot summer weeks...

Contrary to popular belief, HCMC is a small city with a lot of small well-run boutique hotels in the popular tourist spot, District 1. If you're looking for hotels with pools in this area, go for the 4 star and above, although they would be a bit far from the main attractions.

We stayed at Bali Boutique Hotel, as per recommended by a friend who ever stayed there before. It was a risk, but it had a very strategic location, near to restaurants and night spots and within walking distance to most tourist attractions. They had the full hotel service that I found very convenient especially the airport transfer. Tips: If you're traveling in a group to all these tourist spots, it's better to pre-book the airport transfer service because you know exactly what you will be paying for and you know they will standby for your arrival. You don't want to be harassed by the many cabbies offering some other deals waiting outside the arrival hall. Saves you the headache too. Plus I like seeing my name on a placard, like a scene from a movie. Haha. 

 I think he was expecting a dude, but what the heck...

The girl at the reception, Ms Nguyen whom I've been emailing for the past months prior to our arrival, were very helpful, pretty and soft spoken... although for the life of me, I could not decipher most of the English she spoke. Maybe it's the tongue... they all sound a bit French. Very romantic sound really, but it was of no help most of the time. We had to go by hand signals to get our meaning across. Imagine that.

I kept calling her Ms Nguyen, but then after staying here for 2 days, I noticed most of the people there had a Nguyen somewhere in their name... and also on the buildings, and road names. So I did a quick Wiki-check, and voila! The name is quite prominent. An estimated 40 percent of Vietnamese is surnamed Nguyen, wow.. special indeed. And as per Wikipedia ..."The Nguyễn Dynasty awarded many people the surname Nguyễn during their rule, and many criminals also changed their surname to Nguyễn to avoid prosecution. As with other common surnames, people having this surname are not necessarily related..."  Ah...

Anyway... the first thing I noticed about Saigon -- and it's a really in-your-face kinda experience -- was the death-wish traffic condition. They drive on the right side by the way, like the Americans do. There were more motorbikes and scooters on the road than there were cars or public transport. And everybody is his/her own master on the road. And everybody drives below 50kmph. And everybody uses his/her honks to the best of their abilities at all times. And if you want to cross the road, the hell with it. Go on and cross at any time you please, hold hands and walk slowly, some motorist will surely give you way or they will honk their way to mean 'Let me pass through first'. Here in Malaysia, people honk each other when they are pissed at another driver (and it usually follows with a cuss), or when they want to attract attention. You don't do that in Vietnam okay. Having a honk saves life. 

Saigon road rule no. 1: Drive slowly and turn when there's no approaching vehicles...

You know, funny thing, you don't really read about road accidents in Saigon. But you do everyday in Malaysia. Hmm...

Saigon's hospitality is astounding. The locals everywhere makes me feel like I'm back in my kampung, where everybody minds their own business and yet still take good care of each other. They don't scowl at strangers, they smile and make you feel like you're part of them, and they don't bother you much, especially us who looks like (thank God for that) Vietnamese too. The only problem I have with them is like I said, the language barrier. Tips: Remember to speak slowly and make hand gestures. Most don't speak English but they understand basic words and signals, and I don't  blame them. Years of trying to get rid of the Western influence after the tragic war, now they have to play host in order to support the tourism industry.

But you know, although I said they were a hospitable lot, please don't fall prey to their easy money-making tricks. For example, some traders acted really really kind and generous to volunteer to help you with something, for example, take pictures, and lots of lots of them... and then request for tips. Keyword: Volunteer. Well, I don't mind as long as I get my couple pictures taken. Most of them don't mind how much tips you give them either. So that's fine. Another one is, there will be some traders on the street balancing items on their shoulders which could be fruits, food etc. Then they will smile at you and just thrust that thing on your shoulder, gesturing if you want your pictures taken with it. You know, part of the Vietnam experience. Then they will tell you to buy whatever is on the basket, or ask for tips because you those in pictures.

Yeah, that happened to Don and Joseph when the two of us were away on a tricycle ride. He got duped of course, hahaha... but he managed to talk his way out of it, poor thing. Conveniently all his cash were with us (for safekeeping purposes of course) so he showed his empty wallet to the coconut trader. If not... habislah. Tips: You can be kind and generous once, but you know, they seem to have some sort of networking going on among themselves, like an sms blast or something informing you as an easy target. If you do it once, 10 others will suddenly appear! So when some unsuspecting old lady thrust that thing on your shoulder with a cheerful face, shake your head and run far far away.

Duped: Don balancing coconuts...

While that was going on, the two of us were on a terror ride of our lives! We thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to go on the Tricycle ride across the terrifying traffic, and I must say, I was on the edge on my seat the whole time! Sheesh... I think the baby otters enjoyed it though. He was squirming with excitement a lot giving me that bloated feeling. Traitor...

Uncle tu nampak termengah-mengah pulak... haha

Hah...When we got to our destination, which was the Notre Dame Cathedral, we wanted to take pictures with our drivers. At first they happily obliged, and then one of the uncle insisted he took our shots together. I wanted to teach him how to use the camera, but he waved me off cheerfully, and started snapping away at us like a pro. And then he happily asked for tips (for being our photographer, on top of what we already paid him which was 150,000VND one way per person anywhere standard ride -- do the maths yourself)... Turns out the pictures he took was well... as seen below...

 At least I got my head in the frame ...

 
... and we only checked after we paid the tips. Oh well. After witnessing how the ruthless uncles maneuvered the traffic with us as their burdens, I supposed, we don't mind tipping them a little extra. Tips: If you want your holiday pictures taken, folks, find another tourist who will gladly do it for you for free, and only ask that you take their pictures on their cameras in return. Otherwise, take pictures yourself people, buy a monopod or bring a tripod if you don't want to have to spend tip on the locals. Not that I'm saying it's bad, but you know, you do need the spare dongs for your other ventures. If you're well off, well, why not right? Help the locals. 

As for the tourist spots around HCMC, we didn't go to many places especially one that cost a day ride like the cruises. *mommy cannot stand sitting too long in a car ride, tummy gets uncomfy. Cruises also specifically mentioned they do not cover insurance for pregnant ladies, so yeah, no go.* So we mainly just stayed around town and checking out the city tour on foot. Thankfully, most of the hotspots were within walking distance.

 

Outside the War Remnant Museum... with the many US tanks...

The War Memorial or Remnant Museum is a good place to learn the war history of Vietnam. Gruesome violent pictures, heroic acts, names of every American soldiers and leaders who were involved in the war, names of every Vietnamese leaders who were implicated or otherwise massacred in the war, civilians and etc... Personally, I found the visuals and captions very depressing and if you were an American, you would stay out of this place because even I could feel the hostility and hatred stemming from every word.

Seen inside...

Despite that, the museum still gets hundreds of visitors per day. Entrance fee is 15,000 VND (equals to RM3) and they close during lunch break. I found myself repeating the war history of Vietnam again and again to fellow travelers, as best as I remembered, so they won't confuse it with Cambodia or their neighboring countries. Whatever you watched on movies about this war, is usually told from a US-perspective. If you want to know more, come to Vietnam and experience it yourself. Not that I am pro-anything, but I supposed all those stories I watched -- Platoon, NAM Tour of Duty, Heaven & Earth... -- doesn't tell the whole story.

Cho Ben Thanh Market is 15 mins walk from our hotel. Despite the hot sun, we managed to GPSed our way to there, after ensuring we got the compass right from Ms Nguyen. The place is a shoppers paradise really, for those who live for hard-bargained items, i.e. If you've shopped at Petaling Street, or Pasar Besar Payang in Terengganu, or the Filipino Market in Kota Kinabalu, then you can visualize Ben Thanh perfectly, except twice the size, and triple everything else.

Bargaining for souvenirs to bring home...

They have everything you can possible imagine, even a food court, and very packed although very well organized. Best of all, some of the traders can speak Bahasa Malaysia! Shows just how many Malaysian visitors they get in a day huh. I'm not a fan of bargaining, particularly because I'm not really good at it and I use my emotion/heart most of the time than I do use my head. That's a bad thing in this market you know, because they can easily spot an easy prey like me and bank on my feelings. Which is why among the four of us, Donovan was the most ruthless when it comes to bargaining, and we tend to let him do the talking while I hide. Haha. Tips: Learn how to bargain, and yes you must bargain here. Don't easily fold, wait for them to crack, but don't be hardheaded. They have mouths to feed too. Everybody has a price, so do they. Be kind and yet firm.

Refuelling at Ben Thanh food corner before the next round...

Oh we went to a few more places, but I think I have already put up a LOT of pictures in here. If you noticed, am trying very hard to squeeze everything in one post. Haha. And I haven't even reach the best part yet, the food!! Shall we go there?

Before we came here, I asked my good Vietnamese friend about the food I should try. She gave me lots of names (which I had to do Google Image on  just to make sure) and some must-trys. She told me to eat carefully and try to stick to restaurant/cafes because being pregnant, the last thing we want on a holiday trip, is a stomach upset. A few months ago, I would've ventured on street food -- which is highly recommended for the adventurous -- but I must always remember to not indulge and that I am now eating for two.

 Rice paper rolls with lotsa raw veges. Very healthy...

Do you know that the Vietnamese, particularly in Saigon, makes the best ice lemon tea? They use Lipton tea of the best kind in most places we dined in. Tea is also the safest to drink because they use boiling water to sip the tea in. The ice however, is a risk. But so far, I had no trouble. Tips: Careful though about what you drink. They don't have the best water filtration system in the world and it doesn't hurt to check whatever you drink. Hot drinks are the safest like tea and coffee because they need to use boiling water to sip them. If you must, order canned or bottled drinks. Even TripAdvisor would advise you on this.

A class of its own. Best ice-lemon-tea ever...

The first meal we had clearly gave us a view on how the locals fare everyday. They feast a lot on greens, herbs and those are best eaten raw. In fact, the greens come with every pho dish. I rejoice on this fact because it gives me the opportunity to dine on healthy stuff, however my companions aren't so thrilled about it. Haha. It's any wonder you don't find any fat let alone obese people in Vietnam!

Greens... greens... and lots of greens...

This fried mini vege pancake below (I forgot what it's called) has so much bean sprouts in it it's practically covered! I've never eaten this much taugeh in my entire life than I did when I was in Saigon. Not complaining though... no no.

Mini fried vege pancake...

I tried some of the food I was recommended, but mostly I forgot to take pictures. However the ones I did snap were pretty much a revelation by itself. Every dining experience is a gamble for us. You never know when you will be served nice foods or when you will be served foods you think aren't what you expect. Even the noodle pho is often a hit and miss. Sometimes they're really nice, sometimes they're just too bland, and sometimes they taste funny. Well, trust your gut instinct and be open to anything. Tips: It's important to ensure the noodle soup you eat are steaming hot, no harm to be careful at all times. Be adventurous, but be open to any possibility as well. Tips 2: When venturing into street food, observe locals. If you see many locals flock to the area or to the stall, chances are the food is nice and safe to eat. However, like I said, it's a gamble.

This is Banh Zeo... crispy pancake. Awesomeness!

So I think that wraps up the Ho Chi Minh 4-days-3-nights trip! There is a lot more to write about but I think my travel companion has covered it too. As a bonus, you can also read a different review about this awesome place from my partner in crime HERE!!

We left the city for the next stop -- Capital City, Hanoi -- with a somewhat sad but a happy feeling that we made it all the way here. Would I return to HCMC? Maybe 10 years from now just for comparison.

Contemplated to actually take the night train to Hanoi, but the long journey plus we might miss a lot along the way changed our minds. It is a 48 hour ride with a night spent on board. And so we boarded the Vietnam Airlines instead, just for the experience. I'll tell you all about that later...

 2 hours flight from HCMC - Hanoi. A little sustenance on air...

Meanwhile, don't stay away! NEXT UP... Holiday Pt 2: Hanoi City, Vietnam!! Have an awesome weekend people!

Lil one's adventure holidaaaaaaaay!

Ah... second post for the month of May on the second last day. No wait, this is the third post! We made it! Hehe.

Progressing at 3 months and 1 week along today has been an amazing journey. We made it to through the first trimester with flying colors! Well, we kinda cheated there a little bit since we only discovered baby otter's existence like on the 9th weeks... so yeah. Good job procrastinating on that test kit hah. I wondered how much coffee I consumed without knowing. I seriously don't encouraged stalling after you feel suspicious of symptoms and changes. Although in my case, there was some tiny bit of technicality that caused me to snuff out all hopes, but just when I was about to shrug it off, it turned the table on me and proved itself positive and persistent! Just like a fairy tale drama twist...

Google pix: Crazy about cute tiny knitwear like those...

Well thank God for tiny miracles. I don't know what I've done right in my past life to deserve it.

Anyway, while I'm a roll here...

Found myself hungry a lot quicker even after I just ate, but that I eat less portion compared to before. I also discovered that after I ate my fill, any other pictures of food (especially those of my favorites) will render me nauseous. So Instagram after meal time is a no-no. Strangely, my system seems to be accepting milk - which I used to gag on - like I've always drank it my whole life. Pretty awesome huh. And there's the frequent past midnight trips to the bathroom, but that one is normal or so I read somewhere.

It's such a tender feeling. One that keeps me close to my Creator for He brought and gifted this life to me to be responsible for. It's like, carrying another person makes me care for myself more. I used to be so carefree with whatever I eat, wherever I go, whatever I do... but now things have drastically changed and it's all for the better. My waist is expanding sideways... weird. I thought it should be bulging frontward. Haha.

Oh by the way, I'm a sucker for sambal kicap (Tong Nam brand) cili padi belacan gula to dip with any fruit, preferably asam. The taste for it just double-folds at this stage.

Spicy soy sauce dip & local mango...

Oh yes we have been busy being a lil cookie monster. Food adventures everywhere! This month alone, mah little otter has been on early adventures -- work related of course -- to scenic Sandakan of Sabah... where we had Earl Grey tea and thick English scones and strawberry jam under a shady tree at Agnes Keith Tea House... just like the English do ... And ikan bangus bakar!

 Sandakan...

... And then a week later, we flew to small oil town Bintulu for another weekend of duty...
 

 Bintulu...

... With all that movement, I think we deserve a little holiday ourselves, right? Soon -- about 4 days from now, we will be jetting off to these breathtaking destinations!

Goole Pix: Make a really wild guess where...

Talk about a loooong weekend! Wohooo!

Gawai Festival is two days away and the rest of that is the much much much awaited hoooooliiiidaaaayyyy! So here's to the holiday seasons folks!

SELAMAT HARI GAWAI!

SIRAMAT ANDU GAWAI!

AND 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Valentine's Day Home and Away...

So last month, I was planning ahead for a couple trip up north to see the first-ever-of-its-kind event to be organized in this State. I mean, country music right? I'd be insane not to go!... even if I don't know half of the bands they're featuring. But no matter cause that's the whole point of going, to get to know the bands. 

Excitement got me going making all the necessarily arrangement in advance. Flights, accommodation, tickets, and even mentally listing down what we should do on a daily basis throughout the short trip. Nah... kidding. Hey I even bought a pair of boots just for this occasion! Haha. We were supposed to be on a relaxing Valentine's Day getaway anyway.

Alas. A week before our scheduled trip, my office received a directive about holding an official event on the same date and in the same vicinity - Miri, at the same time the concert were supposed to start. To summarize it painfully, I would be working. Instead of linedancing at the Festival. And I would expect to finish at least two hours to midnight. In which... I hope to get off a bit early and scram to Park City in record time!

Well, when you gotta work, you gotta work. I could have said no and justified it, but that won't be practicing what I preach to my peers and subordinates about priorities and such. Plus... I'd have to deal with the inner conviction of letting my colleagues down when that's actually my job. (Note: I am not a class A employee. I just do what I need to survive.)

So there it is. I would still be where the Festival is, I hope to even drop by no matter how late, and by God, I hope to get reimbursements on my flight at least! Sucks that it has to be on the same weekend huh. Otherwise I would've enjoyed this adrenaline rush that work brings all the time.

If you happened to be in Miri this Saturday, do go over and tell me all about the first many sessions I'll be missing. Ticket is at RM80 for a whole day event (2pm - 12am) and is also available on sale at the entrance.

MEANWHILE, have I wished you yet? Happy Valentine's Day all my lovely punchkin munchkin lambikin pumpkin readers you all! If you don't celebrate, that's ok.

 My forever Valentine... 

By the way, those roses and other bouquets and huge teddy bears they're selling by the roadside since two days ago... well, if you like to splurge, go ahead. Am sure your chosen partner will love the gesture. <3 I don't mind being at the receiving end either, just not huge teddy bears.

Not that I'm even making any fuss about it, but this just happens to be our first V-Day as a married couple. And yes that's kinda a good deal to at least do something special about it (now that the V-Day getaway is as good as half spent on some other business).

And that's how I found myself in the kitchen, spending an hour fixing an easy recipe that comes with tedious preparation. And voila!! The Pre-Valentine's Day home cooked dinner filled with love: LAKSA SARAWAK!

My serving: using vermicelli rice and everything else supplied in abundance.

For the record, this isn't my first time fixing this Sarawak specialty dish. This is actually my second. :D And I like to believe I nailed them both times! (Or at least close lah...) Note: It's simple to make, it's just the tiny accompaniments that made it a little laborious.

The husband cum Royal Food Taster preferred yellow mee (prawn mee) for his ...

I'd like to bring my parents but daddy's not really into big crowds nor smoke-filled areas. His eyes won't be able to stand it. Me neither (on the ciggy smoke) but some stuffs you just gotta brave to get what you want.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! 

HAPPY WEEKEND!

HAPPY ROCKIN THEM TWIN FIDDLES AND STEEL GUITARS!

Today is 'Increase Your Psychic Powers Day'

Oct 31st is what I just said a second ago. No seriously. Google it up. If you think you have psychic ability, you know I'm not bluffing. And if you insist you have psychic power, today is especially created for you.

How to increase it? Try this little exercise: Read my mind. If you can. Go ahead. Predict my next adventure. Need a little clue? 

I feel a hearty localized big-bang breakfast coming next Saturday. Read my lips. And today's short note is brought to you by a dash of coffee imagination and lots of caffeinated visualization.

Coffee and 'kuih cakoi' with coconut-custard filling

p/s: Fare thee well October! And may the odds ever be in my favor. Amen.

Vacation Part 2: BALI, Island of the Gods ...

Notes of Warning: First of all, picture heavy, so let it load easy first. Secondly, journalized for sharing purposes only, not for showing off. Thirdly, might be boring and long-wordy so read at your own leisure or go ahead scroll for visual effects.  

So after spending 5D4N in Phuket, it wasn't nearly enough. If you ever found yourself feeling down the moment you board the outbound flight home, you know you will miss the place and what it represents. You also know you should return someday. But if you feel happy leaving, there's probably something wrong with you. Hahaha. So if you missed reading Part 1 of this holiday, not a problem, just click HERE.

Four hours transiting in KL before the next adventure with low phone battery, low netbook life, and nothing much to do, what's a partly sunburned lady gotta do but kill time with the conveniently packed DIY manicure?

 Asking two guys' opinions proved to be a little colourful. Tada!

All geared up and ready after a strong dose of coffee, next Destination: Bali!
 

 

Abiding by the usual trademark ... Hello Bali!

Oh we can never have enough adventure in our lives. There's always something new to discover about a new place. But after that amazing restful I'm-totally-a-tourist few days in Phuket, the next adventure is a bit of an anti-climax and more of a recuperating period, although never any less fun. And if you've been to Bali, you'd know why.

I had only one purpose to be in Bali, and that was to fulfill the wishlist of experiencing Bungee Jumping - the daredevils' game. However, we were told that the bungee jump tour in Seminyak has been cancelled (or put on hold) for the last 3 or 4 months due to a hotel construction happening nearby. Boo. Disappointed, yes, but crushed? No-o way.

Gateway to the Legian beach... a trace of religious influence

This famed island of the gods, a small part of Indonesia, Bali is a much hyped exotic international holiday spot. Like most resort city, Bali also offers the same island tours, snorkeling, diving, elephant rides, and visits to tourism spots. Which, I must add, we decided to forgo since we already did much of that in Phuket.

If you read your wiki right, Bali is a majority Hindu community who observe worship rituals in their everyday lives. These you would practically notice everywhere all around you in Bali. Most of the tourist attractions here are of ancient and unique temples. These hospitable community have a high sense of respect and awe for their places of worship, and they expect no less from visitors.
 

We didn't know there was a temple behind us until a guard told us to 'Be Careful Leaning'..

We arrived a bit late in Bali that day and thanking God for small favors of the wisdom to book a transport in advance with the hotel. Otherwise you would have a massive human traffic jam waiting outside at the airport arrival hall in the form of taxi drivers, van operators, etc. and you might never know how they'll charge. Besides, having your name written on a placard and held up for everyone to see is secretly kind of fun you know.  (Tips: It's always safer to request the hotel/villa or wherever you're staying to arrange transportation to ferry you there. Pay a little more for convenience or if you're lucky, they're complimentary.)

If you do your homework prior to getting here, you'd realize that Bali offers nice hotels and private villas. Some come cheap, some with extra deals, some with impressive views, some with strategic locations, some with well written reviews ... but all come with the right amount of hospitality. It's only a matter or preference. So, hotels over private villas? Obviously the best deal won.

This Suntara Villa Legian is a luxurious cheap (by our standard) villa in Legian, about 10 minutes walk to Legian Beach. We found this via Booking.com and Trip Advisor and per-arranged via the same spots. Sites really help huh?

L-R clockwise from top: Entrance, communal and dining area, 

kitchenette, and private pool

For those who prefer hotel's service like breakfast buffet, dining etc, it's best to just stay in a hotel. This villa offers a chef service with a fee, but we decided nah... we can prepare our own breakfast and dine outside. [Tips: Staying in a villa offers you more privacy and freedom of space and movement. If you travel with kids, it's probably better to stay in a hotel where you have the staff's attention at all times. Here, they practically leave you alone (with phone numbers for easy reach in case of emergency), and only come the next day at noon for housekeeping tasks. WiFi is free and internet connection is awesomely fast.]

(L-R clockwise from top) Overall building outlook, poolview,

master bedroom, and living room view from top.

Although the walkway to the villa is poorly lit (and so is mostly everywhere else at night, as we noticed) and being Malaysians who are normally paranoid about thieves, muggers, snatchers, and whatnots ... our guide who brought us there kept saying 'Di sini aman saja' (it is safe here)... like reading our collective thoughts. I didn't even see a guardhouse nearby. But well hey, the whole time we were in Bali, he was right! Bali is, in their own words, 'AMAN' (peaceful or safe).

The beaches in Bali are relatively longer than in Phuket. Less crowded with tourists, but almost the same activities going on: surfing, sun lounging, mobile markets, etc.

Entrance to Legian Beach... Never Say Maybe?

According to a taxi driver, it is a stretch of beaches than combined Legian, Seminyak, Kuta and Tanah Lot. If you walked the whole stretch on bare feet leisurely, you'd reach the end in perhaps, 45 minutes to 1 hour? We only got to the end of Legian and almost crossing to Kuta  in less than 15 minutes. What a walk! Oh did I tell you? We stayed in Legian, not far from Kuta, where all the hype is. It's a walking distance everywhere man. I can't believe the amount of walking I had on this holiday alone! Amazing energy too! Haha. [Suruhlah I jalan kaki di Kuching, sorry la...]

Barefoot and loving it ...

The walk wasn't without its trials and temptations. Everywhere we went, some locals were ready to intercept you with offers of goodies or services to purchase. Some were less pushy but some were a trifle insistent. When we stopped by and rented the sunbeds (about RM10 each for 4 hours, I think), a few ladies came over immediately. And as usual, we thought it would be a good idea to get a massage while sun lounging (we never learn... sigh) ... But a cheap deal of RM15 per person for an hour, it wasn't a bad service at all. What was bad was this lady selling bracelets and bangles who won't go away. She begged me to buy her bracelets. Uh-huh, begged. Ignoring her didn't work obviously, she sat rooted to the spot even as I closed my eyes. See that white bead bracelets in pic below? Yes, in the end that piece caused me RM30 to take home. Oh well...

Good beach massage by a strong-hand aunty...

The bracelet lady walked away happy with her bounty and went to harass someone else. There were like more than 10 ladies in the same area offering the same goodies, so each time one passed by, we pretended to be asleep or keeping busy conversing with each other. That lady below wasn't so lucky...

Read both their body languages...

Tips when on the beach: Smile, be friendly but try to ignore the mobile sellers, unless you do intend to purchase something from them. If you buy from one, another one will harass you to buy something else from them. They usually target your human compassion, playing on your weakest moment, and score a deal with a sulky look. I don't know how but yes, they literally resort to that. Rent a sunbed nearer to the Legian Beach, it's more private and quieter on that end than in Kuta. Sunbeds costs about the same.

Hair braiding anyone? 

Henna tattoo, hair braiding, meni-pedi, food ... and more offered at the beach. Cool huh, if only my hair was longer.

Then there's swimming and surfing. Some of the locals even offer you surfing crash course with a minimal fee, but on the day we contemplated just that, it rained in the evening. So yeah...

 What's the point of going to the beach if you don't plan to get wet huh...

Some moments are to be cherished forever ... good company, good mood, lovely place... What more can you ask for?

That classic old school moment...

Walking the streets of Bali is an unforgettable experience by itself. If you don't join any holiday tours (like we didn't), the next things to do are sightseeing and shopping for souvenirs. From Legian to Seminyak to Kuta, they basically offer the same tourists bring-home stuffs.

Le guardian angels...

Spas, tattoo parlours, souvenir shops, gift T-shirts, dresses, etc... they're everywhere in Legian. And currency exchange outlets are practically everywhere for that emergency moment. [Tips: Remember to do your souvenir shopping in the daytime because they mostly closed by 5pm or 6pm. Only the malls open at night, but those sell standard items you'd find in your own country too. And if they asked you, try not to tell you're from Malaysia. Apparently this will give them more bargaining power over you, like using their 'Harga Tetangga' they called it. As if calling you to return the favour. It's not a bad thing, it's just that well, neighbors code of conduct stuff that you sometimes kinda have to oblige with.]

An interesting sight: A mobile 'bubur kacang' peddler...

Don't know what to buy for your loved ones at home? There are plenty of 'I Love Bali' teeshirts, household items and decos, replicas of branded stuffs etc. And for the single friends... look what I found! For that brow-raising moment with your mothers... try this!

Oh they're massive bottle openers, with tiny balls ... found abundantly in Bali.

I also discovered an interesting and unique brand in Bali... a whole building dedicated for it. Atticus - the dead bird concept store, as I'd like to put it. Poor mockingbird. The brand, originating from the US, is quite cool. They offer street wear, sport attires and gears, sunglasses, etc... mostly for men though. I wonder why I never saw this anywhere in Malaysia before.

Poor birdie...

All I got which was a statement in itself, was this lovely singlet. And one or two beach dresses besides. I gotta shop too right?

Indeed!

Next on my favourite subject: Food!

This place is mostly memorable to me because of the food. Not just any food -- street food. I heard tell when in Bali, forgo the restaurants in favour of smaller shops by the streets. They're much nicer, cheaper, and you get the same hospitable service. I mean, this Warung Enak was just 5 minutes away from our villa and to think that we almost didn't cross the road to go there because the outer appearance looked unimpressive. They serve a really mean Nasi Campur (mixed rice) which consisted of white rice of the best quality, chicken meat partly shred, curry potato, chopped long beans salad, peanuts, salted vege, hard boiled egg, and the hottest yummiest sambal I've ever tasted. A little bit of everything goes a loooong way for the taste buds.

 Nasi campur...

Bali is also famous for its 'Babi Guling' or suckling pig. They say, you can't leave town without trying this dish. The famous one, as per our taxi driver's recommendation, is near Kuta but they only open in the daytime. So we tried it instead at this small unknown shop not far from where we stayed, and it was equally (I hope) nice.

 

Nasi babi guling ... also a bit of everything...

The price is almost the same as the mixed rice and their condiments are nearly similar. I don't know what it is about Balinese and long beans but they're an exquisite addition and goes well with any dish. I don't even eat that much of it back home.

Not enough? They're so crispy you must ask for extra...

When evening came, the only eateries open are the restaurants, hotel cafes,and bars. They're not bad either, but a little pricey than our usuals.

 Clockwise from top left: Nasi merah bebek goreng (fried duck), 

lombok ayam nasi merah (chicken dish), seafood basket, and mixed rice hotel version

[Tips: Finding food in Bali could prove to be a challenge for Muslims, but there are available halal spots if you know where to look and they'll post a sign outside too. But for the rest, hey indulge! Opt for street foods as they are cheaper and way nicer. Avoid the mobile food sellers because those stuffs have been everywhere. Unless you see a smoking hot dish, better to eat at a proper shop or eateries.]

Nightlife in Bali is nothing much compared to Phuket. Kuta is the center of it all so if you want to get there, you can walk for about 10 to 15 minutes if you know your way. Or you could hail a cab (there are a lot of taxis in Bali going around every other minute and they're not that expensive) and tell them where you want to go. Better yet, ask them to recommend the best hangout bars in town. Some taxi drivers are known to be really friendly and tourist-oriented... when they're not trying to sell you a tour or something.

This is one of the sights we passed by in Kuta... a dance club with dancers doing their hip moves calling for patrons.

The reggae club we went to wasn't bad except I didn't know half of their songs, and the vocalist plus band members weren't much to look at. We ended up finishing our drinks, getting bored and started checking our phones for nothing...

 Anti socials...

On our last evening in Bali, we decided to revisit the club we went to on the first night. The band was average only, and while there were one or two eye candies up there on the stage, they lose out in the talent department. We had fun nonetheless cracking up jokes among ourselves and observed the other patrons having fun.

 Here's to the last evening in Bali...

Someone is apparently promoting he was single that night... however mommy and daddy didn't approve much. Hahaha

 

 Break for advertisement...

On our way back, taking the long route home to enjoy the night scenery, we passed by the Bali Bombing Memorial, a stone's throw away from the club. If you remember, the tragedy which occurred on 12 October 2002 was the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia. The memorial was dedicated on 12 October 2004, the second anniversary of the attack. On its wall are names of victims and it's sad to note some of them are half locals and half tourists, and some are quite young too.

 

 The Bali Bombing Memorial...

Across the road from the Memorial, according to the taxi driver who drove us home that night, is the ground zero... where the most famous and popular club back then stood. Now it held nothing.

 

The bombing site across it...

Okay. This trip is rapidly closing up and heading towards the end. Sadly I didn't get to try the famous Kopi Luak, not because there weren't any, but because all those walking kept me thirsty for colder beverages. And taking coffee at night recently proved a bad move, so yeah. However I did try Bali Kopi -- at least la kan -- unfortunately I didn't like it much because it was a little too bitter and too tangy for my preference.

Bali Kopi... looks nice but I think I like my own local white coffee better...

To wrap things up... Remember when you leave Bali, you have to pay service fee to the government of Indonesia. This will be collected at the airport before you check in for your flights. It's only Rp150,000 (do your own conversion). Nothing is free people. Be a good tourist and don't question anybody.

 Pelayanan Jasa Penumpang...

So then. How have you all been doing thus far? You all doing okay? Feeling attractive? Good! Feeling like you need a holiday? Yes? Great! Feeling a little envious? Oh don't be, because I'm here to give you a push in the right direction. No matter how many reviews you read, you will never know until you experience it yourself. And no matter how many times you say you want to go on a holiday, it will never happen unless you do something about it.

Remember, planning is essential. The company you join with is crucial. Go with people you love and enjoy hanging around with. And there cannot be too many decision makers in one trip alone. Whatever it is, keep your finance in good order and don't spend more than you can afford. So start filling in that piggy bank now, or start a new fund. Who knows, the next trip might be just around the corners.

The end.