Friday, April 24, 2009

My Big Day Soon



I guess my single hood is about to end soon. It will be a start to a new chapter in my life with someone which I love the most. To take the vow as a husband and wife is not a game. Once you commit, it done. No turning back point for us in Roman Catholic belief that once you are married, you are one with your partner for the rest of your life. The teachings forbid divorce and if you divorce, it will be a sin as you have taken a vow in front of God in church. After enduring for the past few weeks on the pre marriage course and preparing for my big day, I keeping to ask myself am I’m ready? I’m ready for it but there is some feeling of butterflies flying in my stomach when closer to the date which falls on 2nd May 2009. Actually 1st May is the wedding will begin with my Melanau cultural wedding ceremony. Hope I’ll be flying back tomorrow with my other half for the last preparation of our big day. Hope she feel as what I feel now. Nervous, scared and etc. All mix feeling which I can describe as a mocktail of feelings where all the feeling are all mix up. I hope, everything will work fine.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Anything and Whatever Drinks


Ever wonder, when we at a coffee shop or at a local food stall with bunch of friends, sometime some of our friends or even we can’t decide what to drink. Some will say, “Whatever Lah” or “Anything Lah”. Don’t be surprise that there is such drink named as “Whatever” and “Anything”. It was a Singaporean made product and hit the market like storm. You may get this drinks at most 7-Eleven in Malaysia.

Anything and Whatever drinks.

“Anything” comes with 6 uniquely effervescent carbonated soft drink flavor which is Cola, Cola with Lemon, Apple, Fizz Up, Cloudy Lemon and Root Beer. When you purchase this “Anything”, you will not even know what flavor you will get until you have a sip of it.

Carbonated soft drink with mystery flavor inside.

For “Whatever”, it also comes with 6 uniquely refreshing non-carbonated drink flavor which is Ice Lemon Tea, Peach Tea, Jasmine Green Tea, White Grape Tea, Apple Tea and Chrysanthemum Tea. The concept are also the same with it sibling “Anything”, when you purchase this “Whatever”, you will not even know what flavor you will get until you have a sip of it as well.

Non-carbonated soft drink with mystery flavor inside.

You all may visit the website for detail which available at http://www.anything.com.sg

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Portugese Grill Fish @ Oasis Midvalley

Yesterday, while I was waiting for my other half to finish her appointment at nearby shop, I went wondering around Midvalley and see all kind of people behaviour. The rich is damn rich, the wannabe rich but they are really not and the middle class. Do you know that there are 3 food courts in Midvalley? The one renowned is in the 3rd floor food court named Food Junction which usually packs with people. The second food court is in a hidden place from people is the food court named called “Makan Place” located on the ground near to the famous donut shop Big Apple Donut. This Makan Place is not that exclusive like normal food court and it targeted craver is for those low income earner workers working in MidValley city. At least, the Midvalley management does care about the people working there as mostly not all can dine in expensive outlet and fast food. Recently added food court was named as “Oasis” which can be found on the 2nd Floor. Here a variety of food can be found. The most stands out shop are the Portuguese Grill Fish. You will see a lot of people are queuing up just to have the food. It’s spicy dish but yet you will come again and again each time you go to Midvalley. Just like me, after I eat spicy food for sure my stomach will grumble the next day. You can choose from a wide array of seafood, e.g. sting ray, squid, prawns and clams. It comes with a plate of white rice to tone down the spiciness. With RM7.90 for each meals and waiting for your food, is really worth it.

The most stand out stall in Oasis Food court - The Portuguese Grill
Array of grill seafood can be choose.

Grill Spanish Mackerel aka Tenggiri with Petai and Lady Fingers Vege

 Grill Sting Ray with Cuttle Fish and Lady Finger Vege

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Putrajaya 1st Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009

Last month on 19th - 22nd March 2009, it was the first time Malaysia organized it’s 1st Putrajaya  International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009. And I have the chance to glimpse of this magnificent and unique hot air balloon design with my own eyes. I miss the chance to ride on the hot air balloon as the time i reach there in the afternoon, the session to ride on the hot air balloon was close to the public. They only arrange the session ride on the hot air balloon in the morning. But never mind, I hope next year i can ride on one. Putrajaya is such a big place and you easily get lost there. Even those working in Putrajaya also can get lost. That day, I’d lost my way to the place where the Hot Air Balloon Festival was held. But at the end, i follow a group of cars and i manage to get to the festival area. Although the weather is hot, a lot of people still waiting by the gated area of the launching area for the balloons. I snap few pictures of the events and it’s an event that worth attends to.
 
 Putrajaya Administration building.

 
The mosque building by the lake.

The boat reminds me of Venice.

The famous bridge in Putrajaya.


 
One of the participant preparing his hot air balloon.

One of the hot air balloons in the air.
 
 
Few of the air balloons up in the air.
This clown balloons seems to be looking at the other balloon in the sky.

 
Some of the unique hot air balloons.

Another view of the balloons.

Bunga Raja aka Queens of the Nights

Have you ever heard a flower called Bunga Raja aka Queens of the Nights? I’m pretty sure some of you might be wondering how the flower look like. The remarkable thing about these flowers are that the flowers blooms only during the night, and remains for one night for few hours. Their fragrance is subtle yet strong and another unique feature about this plant is that the buds originate from the edge of the leaves. I’m not aware that my mum’s planted this flower at home until I was back in my hometown for Christmas last year. According to my mum, to have this flower and blooms in the olden days in my kampongs can consider as a blessing. There will be a gathering amongst the kampong people at the owner place and they will have makan makan till the flowers are full bloom. This was the olden days where I found that some of my people cultures are fade through time. Here I post some of the bunga raja pics. Beside white color, there is a pink colour bunga raja which according to my mum had bloom in the month of November. Hope during my big day i can see both white and pink bunga raja blooming.

The flower bud which yet to blooms.

The Bunga Raja full blooms.
 The bunga raja front view. Such a beauty.

Kuching Padungan Big Pau vs Cheras Taman Connaught Big Pau

For those who are from Sarawak, we sure be proud with our own big pau which we can found and buy in Padungan at shop named Sin Kwang Foochow Big Pau. The owner is a Foochow from Sibu and she can speak Hokkien very well and fluently. This shop you can’t miss in Padungan road which is on the same row with Everise. Each time I go to Kuching or my siblings coming over to Key Ell, I will ask them to tapau for me either this pau or kolo mee. Some said it was the biggest pau ever sold in Malaysia.
The famous big pau shop in Padungan Kuching.
Different type of pau available which you can choose either cold or steam.
A view of the pau one saucer plate. Quite big for us.
The ingredient inside either you can choose chicken/pork with egg.

Since I’m a bit like a food hunter in Key Ell and I have my own car to drive, I guess that statement should be change as I had discovered a place sell a bigger pau than the big pau sold in Kuching. One word can describe, it’s Huge!! The pau is sold behind a truck beside the shop house road near to the main road. You can’t miss it. The owner commercial name is ANDY LAU and according to him that his family started this pau (steamed bread dumpling) business in 1992 at Taman Connaught, Cheras and named one of their big buns after a famous sexy Hong Kong actress called Yip Chee May aka Amy Yip. Then, I asked our Mr. Andy why he named the bun with this actress name. Straight away he smile and answered me back, “I think you have not born yet or you still small to recognize Amy Yip”. Then he starts to tell the story how he found his marvelous creation. Few people had approached Mr. Andy and commended him on the quality of his pau taste, and some of them asked him to create a big pau, as big as Amy Yip’s breasts! Amy Yip is some actress who was lucky and blessed with a pair of enormous breast’. Try to Wiki or Google it for more info. The weight for the pau itself is 660g, half kg plus and the ingredient contains chicken, pork, eggs and sengkuan (jicama). Yip Chee May Tai Pau is a favorite not only among the locals in Cheras or Kuala Lumpur but also those from outstation. Beside this Pau he has a much bigger pau than this Amy Yip pau but you need to place an order before hand cause it customs build.

The famous Ong Kee Truck selling various of pau by the main road side at Taman Connaught, Cheras.

The menu price with Mr. Andy Lau holding one of the Biggest Pau. Do you dare to eat that big Pau?
Bought the biggest pau ever. See how big is the pau compare to the normal 12" plate.

The fillings inside the Amy Yip Pau.

Maps and Location:

View Food Hunter in a larger map

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Spotted Mr. Goldie and Mr. Silvie at Bukit Bintang

Golden Man and Silver Man in Malaysia!! Yes indeed, we in Malaysia do have our own version Mr. Golden and Mr. Silver man. You may spot this Golden Man and Silver Man at Bukit Bintang outside those stretches full with those shop offers foot reflexology. you won't miss them. For Mr. Goldie, he’s not alone with his daring approach to get attention from the crowd. He is been assisted by his partner I think his wife which also help him to collect money from the crowd but also with few reptiles such as python and a full grown iguana. This Mr. Goldie love to pose in front of camera if you ask him to pose. Below is a pic of Mr. Goldie.

Mr. Goldie struck a pose with his cigaretes lighted up.


Mr. Goldie with his reptiles companions.


Another pose of Mr. Goldie Man taken by other bloggers.

Beside Mr. Goldie and his helper, not far from him is Mr. Silvie. Mr. Silvie is not as big as Mr. Goldie and he does not have any assistant. Just sitting there just like act like a statue. Remind me of Mini Me in Austin Power. Below is a pic of Mr. Silvie.


A lonely Mr. Silvie. You may take pic with him and drop few of your spare change into his silver tin.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Best Fried Snack Food in Brickfields

After the Easter mass which end up at 2:00p.m, I shoot up to brickfields area where I need to pick up my other half from work where she will be finishing at 3:00p.m and usually I will hang around Brickfield area to spare my time. At first, I want to have a quench of ABC aka Air Batu Campur but it’s raining. So I called off the plan and end up with buying some food from the famous stall selling the banana fritters and other fried snack food which one should try if comes to Brickfields area. Usually I always stop here but since I have opened a blog, I don’t mind to share some info where to get nice food. So let us go back to our story on this particular stall. This stall situated opposite the entrance to the YMCA on Jalan Tun Sambanthan on the street pavement outside the corner coffee shop. You won’t miss it. This little stall just sells some of the best fried snack food and I’m not kidding. Few bloggers also comment the same thing. They are selling banana fritter (using Pisang Raja), curry puffs, sesame balls with peanuts or red bean filling and the “nien ko” sandwiched. Some people need to queue for the food no matter the weather is rain or shine, people keep on coming back for more once they taste the food offered by the stalls. The stall also offers a pick up calls where you need to call the shop owner through the owner mobile to place your order and pick up the food from the stalls when you reach in Brickfields. The shop have a very unique systems at work, some of you say i’m might be kidding where he use an intercom to communicates with fellow family members which located a room above a groceries shop not far from the stalls. The other family member will lowered down a basket with the raw material prepared on that floor. Very creative but yet unique. So the prices of the items are as follows:
Banana Fritters (RM0.80 each), Sesame Balls (RM0.80 each), Nien Ko Sandwich aka fried “kuih bakul” (RM0.80each) and curry puff (RM1.00).

The stall which always been busy entertaincustomer request. Some people have to waits for their turns for the snack.



Sesame Balls with fillings either peanuts or red beans. See only few lefts and yet a lot of people still standing beside the stall to wait for the snack food to be ready after frying.


I purchase 5 banana fritters and 2 Nien Ko Sandwich


5 golden curry puffs. Yum yum.


The banana fritter using Pisang Raja. See how crispy and tempting it looks.


The most unbelivable taste. The banana melts in your mouth and the outer cripsy golden is really that crisp. You all should try some and I'm really not kidding.


The curry puff is almost as big as my palm. Fried till golden perfection.


The curry puff filling really sastifying. Worth with the price and worth waiting.



Nien Ko Sandwich which is a sandwich of a yam and filling with kaya.



See how the filling are so pack up between those 2 yam. Really nice.


You may also visit the other website which also recommend this food as follows:
http://www.haveyoueaten.net/2007/11/22/fried-bananas-at-brickfields/

Maps and Location:

View Food Hunter in a larger map

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Easter Sunday Mass at St. Anthony Church Pudu

Today is Easter Sunday and I went to church as usual. Usually I attend English mass and sometime I attend BM mass. I attend a 12:00 noon BM mass service at St. Anthony Church Pudu. This church was built in 1911 and the location is right down near to the worst traffic flow in KL which is near the Puduraya station. Been brought up in a Catholic church which usually use English in most of my life, went to BM mass is such a good experience. Although the language been use for the services is not the same but the sequence are the same for all the mass services. When I arrive at the church, there were flooded with congregation praying and no space to sit. Even the church builds 2 tent side by side the church but yet it still full. I was standing in one of the tent before I decided to stands at the back of the church. Most of the goers for BM mass in this church mostly are Sabahan, Sarawakian, Orang Asli and Indonesians. Some you might see some Indians and Chinese attend this BM mass either there are more comfortable with BM mass or the same case like me, missed the English mass services in the morning. For choirs for this particular church, the BM mass services have marvellous voices and you will impress with it when they sing (but it’s in BM). The mass start at 12:00 noon and end up at 2:00pm. There were some treats after the mass but since too much people, I rather leave the church as my car I parked was blocking someone else cars. So, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all have a blessed happy Easter.


The church front view where some stalls selling food and drink been opened by the roadside.


I was standing behind the tent before i stand behind the church. See how pack is the church.


I manage to squeeze myself into the church but yet still standing behind next to the confessional room. See the few big pillars which holds the church fondations.


View of the altar.


A close up view of the altar. Really love the stained glass effect.


The choir pillar which seldom been used by most colonial builts church.


A nice shot of the church over the gloomy skies.