Life is a journey. Enjoy It!

My First Typhoon 8 Experience in HK

2011-09-29T10:52:00.000+08:00

I am used to thunderstorms in Malaysia but that did not prepare me for my first typhoon 8 experience in Hong Kong. Yesterday evening, the HK Observatory issued a typhoon 3 warning which means strong winds are in store. When we first arrived, we experienced a T3 signal but it did not go further than that. In the wee hours of the morning, the typhoon 8 storm signal was issued, courtesy of Typhoon Nesat. With maximum gusts ranging from 82-115 kilometres per hour, it was no wonder I did not get a good rest last night. Despite securing all doors and windows, the strong gusty winds somehow found their way in through ducts and I could hear rattling throughout the night, accompanied by the sound of crazy howling wind outside.Schools and offices are closed. Buses do not run. So, it's a holiday for the majority. Since I work from home, it doesn't make much difference. J is away and is scheduled to fly back today. For now, it appears that the flight is on schedule, but we'll have to wait and see. Thankfully, I managed to take Kess out to relieve herself this morning before the rain hit. There were lots of debris and broken branches on the road and we did not stay out longer than necessary.When the rain started, the view from my window was like this:

Half an hour later, I could hardly see outside.

So, what should one do when a typhoon 8 signal is in place? Well, the HK observatory tells us to:Complete all precautions now before gales commence. Lock all windows and doors. Fit bars into positions and insert reinforced shutters and gates if available. Adhesive tape fixed to large window panes in exposed positions will reduce damage by broken glass. Do not stand near windows on the exposed side of your home. Move all furniture and valuables away from these areas. Make sure you have a safe place to shelter, should windows be broken. Now is the time to decide which rooms you will use to shelter if the windows on the exposed side of your home become broken. Owners of neon signs should arrange for the electricity supply to their signs to be switched off. Park your car where it is least likely to be damaged. Avoid staying in the street. Return home as soon as possible if conditions so permit. The T8 signal is supposed to be on for the whole day. Let's hope it doesn't increase to a T9 or T10 signal. Fingers crossed.

The changing season in Hong Kong

2011-09-21T10:43:00.008+08:00

Autumn is here. The change from summer has been gradual. The days are shorter - the sun rises a little later in the morning and it gets dark by 6.30 pm now. It used to be that the late evenings were cooler. Now, even the late mornings are cool. This means that Kess and I can go for longer walks in the morning, even if we get a later start. Before, during the peak of summer, our little beagle will let me know when she wants to go home by doing her own u-turn and pulling me back, usually only after walking for about 15-20 minutes. She would be panting not long after we start our walk. Today, this beagle was raring to go and we actually walked past the Wan Chai Gap Road for the first time since she arrived in Hong Kong. In fact, I had to gently nudge her to do the u-turn as we would have to cover the same distance back.

Having lived in Malaysia where the only seasons we have are rain and shine, and daylight is fairly constant throughout the year, I look forward to experiencing the four seasons in Hong Kong. We were told that last year's winter was quite cold by Hong Kong standards. I wonder how our beagle will adjust to the cold weather, having lived her 9 years in a tropical country. J and I noticed that she has more fur now on her belly. Before, we used to see the spots on her belly. Now, those are covered by soft white fur. I suppose being in an air-conditioned home during this past summer is good preparation for her!

It's now 3 months since we've relocated to Hong Kong. I guess I've finally adjusted to it being home. It's been fun exploring new places and experiencing new things. Recently, our families came for a visit and we were able to revisit some of the places we used to go to, like Stanley and the Peak and explore new places like Lamma Island. Shopping was fantastic and we were all a little poorer after our shopping spree. At least we now have a fabulous new wardrobe! Of course, being Malaysians, we tried out new restaurants as well. It is so much more fun to have a big group for meals coz we get to try more dishes. I really must put together a to-do list for visitors and post it on this blog. I guess this will go on my to-do list!
Hong Kong by day and by night

Adjusting to Hong Kong

2011-07-19T20:43:00.006+08:00

It's been 5 weeks already. How time flies. We are slowly finding our way around Hong Kong, our new home. It's the second time we're living away from home so we know what to expect when adjusting to a new country. I still remember standing at a loss at the detergent aisle of a Bangkok supermarket trying to figure out which laundry detergent to buy because I couldn't read Thai. I couldn't even decipher the brand logos. This time round, grocery shopping was a little easier. Sure, we still had to figure out which supermarket suits our needs best. But, it's all part of the process of familiarization. I enjoy the huge selection of imported food products. But I do find it odd that fresh chicken is so expensive and not readily available. I still miss my car for grocery shopping! Now I have to make multiple trips as I can only carry 2 bags if I'm on my own. Alternatively, I plan my purchases so that it exceeds HKD500 and get delivery. Even so, I have to carry all fresh and frozen produce home coz those can't be delivered.

Another aspect of living in HK is the walking. Since the majority of HK residents use public transportation, walking is part and parcel of daily life. Gone are the days of home to car to mall/restaurant/class/whichever the destination and back to car then home again. I've never walked so much in my life! The good thing from this is it's good exercise. Top this off with the 2 daily walks with our beagle, I should be getting fitter (and hopefully, trimmer).

Summer time in Hong Kong is humid and balmy. Even though we are used to the humidity in Malaysia, the humidity here is much worse. We are always amazed each time we empty our dehumidifier at the amount of water in the container. Add that to the amount if walking we do in HK, it's very common for us to be drenched with perspiration as we make our way from one place to another. Summer time also means rain so we never leave home without our umbrella. The good thing about the rain is the much cooler weather that comes with it. Summer time also means typhoon weather. So far, we've experienced Typhoon 3, with gusty winds and lots of rain. Living on a high floor, we can really hear and feel the strong winds. I can't imagine what Typhoon 8 would be like...

Summer time is also sale time! I haven't had much opportunity to go crazy shopping as yet, but I've scored some pretty good deals. The only thing that one needs to contend with is the crowd. Locals and tourists alike flock to the malls. So one must really be prepared to deal with the large number of people.

Eating in HK is great. There is a huge selection of cuisine here. Dim sum brunch is very popular. We've discovered that the trick is to go before 12pm if you want to get a seat more easily.Apart from the larger Chinese restaurants, a lot of the eating places in HK like the "tai pai thong" are small, probably due to the high rental cost. One has to get used to sharing a table with strangers. Don't expect to linger and chat during peak meal periods. You're expected to vacate once you have finished eating. In fact, some restaurants give you an allotted time for your meal once you're seated. Since we've been to HK many times before, we're used to this. But I suppose it would feel quite strange if one is a newcomer here. While I love the food here, I miss Malaysian food. Can't wait for my friend to come with supplies of curries so that I can have a taste of home at home.

First Day in HK

2011-06-08T20:47:00.003+08:00

The last couple of weeks have been hectic as J and I prepared to relocate to HK. After all the planning and preparation, we've finally arrived in HK to begin a new chapter in our lives. I must admit that I leave home with a heavy heart. Despite its many imperfections and the high rate of migration of our friends to the Land Down Under, Malaysia is still home for me. I will miss my family and friends. I will also miss my favourite local dishes, ranging from nasi lemak to "har meen", roti canai to rojak. What can I say? I'm Malaysian :-)

We touched down today this afternoon and was greeted by a beautiful summer day in HK, with sunny blue skies (a real treat in HK). After a late lunch, we went grocery shopping as we had nothing at home. Thankfully, the supermarkets here offer free grocery delivery as we had over HKD1,000 worth of groceries. It would have been a challenge lugging all that back home without a car. I will have to get used to the high HK prices for some of the goods here, especially dairy products, which is almost double the price in Malaysia. We bought take-away food from the supermarket for dinner so that we didn't have to go out again. So, our first meal in our new home comprised of rice with small portions of steam chicken, siew yok, tofu and fish and brocolli and cauli stirfry.

Tonight, I look out of the window of my new home in HK and admire the bright lights of HK city from one view. I am thankful for the lovely green hills on the other side of our apartment, as it reminds me a little piece of my backyard in our home in KL. It'll continue to be busy in the coming 2 weeks as we open accounts, get new mobile numbers and sort out all the other administrative issues that come with moving to a new country. Kess will arrive next Friday. We do miss our little beagle, but she's in good hands at the moment with my parents. Can't wait to see her again. Hopefully, she won't be too traumatized by the journey. I was told by a fellow blogger who's also moved with her Great Dane that us humans tend too worry too much and that the dogs actually cope better than expected. Let's hope so. Then of course, there will be quite a lot of unpacking to do when our shipment arrives in about 2-3 weeks time. Once we have our things, we should be feeling more at home.

Well, one door of our lives are closed, and a new one has just been opened. I don't know what's in store for us but I do know that God does. That is enough for me.

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.”
Flora Whittemore

The Best of Takayama - Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)

2011-03-28T15:57:00.014+08:00

It's been nearly a year since my trip to Japan. The earthquake, tsunami followed by the nuclear plant disaster has changed the landscape of Japan. I considered if I should continue to post about my trip and came to the conclusion that in the midst of the horror and tragedy, I want to remember the beauty of this nation.

One of the highlights of our visit to Takayama is the Hida Folk Village - a large open-air museum with a collection of antique houses from the region. We bought a bus and entrance pass from the Takayama bus station for 900 Yen.

Make sure you have on good walking shoes as the village is quite large, featuring over 30 farmhouses and traditional houses. Slip-on shoes would be preferred because you have to take your shoes off before you enter each traditional house.

Before I talk about the traditional houses, I have to talk about the view. We were blessed with a beautiful weather that day. This is what we saw...

...a breathtaking view of the peaks of the Japan Alps. This more than made up for not being able to see Mount Fuji when we were in Tokyo!

The village itself was no slouch either. The houses surround a lake and has rolling hills as backdrop.

The Japanese have such a keen appreciation for their culture and have taken great steps to preserve it. A lot of these houses were dismantled from their original sites and rebuilt in the village. I had originally wanted to visit Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO world heritage site to see the famed gassho-zukuri, the thatched A-frame style farmhouses. However, due to lack of time, we had to scratch that off our list. I was very happy to have gotten the opportunity to see an original gassho-zukuri at the Hida Folk Village.

The gassho-zukuri has steep thatched roof, designed to withstand the heavy snowfall in the region. Apparently, the name means "constructed like hands in prayer", as the roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer. The steep roof provides a large attic space to culivate silkworms.

Each house will display a sign to tell visitors a little bit about the history and time period of the house.

In some of the houses, you will get to see traditional crafts taking place, like weaving.

Most of the houses will have a traditional fireplace near the front of the home...

Some larger than others...

The Taguchi's house (village headman) is beautifully furnished with multiple rooms.

Others are much simpler...and used to display artefacts, such as this sledge.

The Hida Folk Village gets a thumbs up for showcasing Japanese culture and history, in a beautiful surrounding.

Be Still

2011-03-15T20:03:00.003+08:00

Water is life. Yet, the very thing that man cannot survive without also brings death. I just cannot believe my eyes when I saw the giant waves of the tsunami sweep everything on its path, tossing trucks and ships like toys, destroying homes and buildings in Japan last Friday. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami resulted in thousands killed, thousands missings and tens of thousand homeless.

It is incidents like this when one realizes how helpless mankind is. Despite how much we have progressed and think that we're self sufficient, we all need God more than ever.

Still
Hide me now
Under Your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father you are King over the flood
I will be still and know You are God
Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father You are king over the flood
I will be still and know You are God

Pigging out at Elcerdo, Changkat Bukit Bintang

2011-02-20T16:20:00.001+08:00

I've heard so much - all good things about El Cerdo, a Spanish restaurant in Changkat Bukit Bintang that I decided that it was time to check it out myself. So, despite the rain, J & I, together with two of other "makan" buddies made our way to the city centre for a pig-out. After all, Elcerdo specializes in all things porky!

To start off our gastronomic journey, we ordered the Spanish Ham Platter, an assortment of Jamón Serrano & Jamón Iberico ham with a Variety of Chorizo Sausages and Condiments - salad, nuts, cheese and rock melon balls. The ham eaten with the rock melon balls combines the salty and sweet beautifully.

Next, we had ribs, which is supposed to be black pig ribs, if I'm not mistaken. The grilled ribs had a wonderful spiced flavour, very different from the American ribs we've eaten before. Whilst, it was a little tough to get off the bone, nevertheless, it unique flavor makes this a worthwhile dish to order.

We then moved on to the reason we came to El Cerdo - the famous roasted suckling pig - so tender, you can even cut it with a plate...I kid you not. When the waitress served us the suckling pig, she would tell us the story behind the chef who came up with this dish. Then she would demonstrate how to cut the pig with a plate and invite one of the patrons to cut. And then for good luck, you then break the plate into the wooden barrel (I suppose it helps reduce the cleaning up). So, when you eat at Elcerdo, be prepared for a little bit of fun and lots of plate breaking!

Our next main was our only non-pork dish for the night - paella with king prawns and scallops. Cooked just the way I like it, moist, but not too runny, the paella was also a winner.

Finally, for dessert, we ordered their homemade tiramisu with mango sauce and their special, off the menu raspberry ice-cream cake. The tiramisu, was light and fluffy, whilst the layered tangy raspberry ice cream complemented the sweet cake. All in all a good way to finish off out meal.

Our verdict?
We were as happy as the pigs on our doggy bag.

The food is fantastic - the bill for an appetizer, three mains, which included a 1/2 suckling pig), two desserts, two sangrias (the white wine pear sangria was delicious), two juices and two bottled water came us to close to RM500. It's worthwhile to save up to dine here for a special occassion!

Elcerdo
43&45 Changkat Bukit Bintang
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2145 0511

The simple spirit of Muhibbah

2011-02-12T11:12:00.000+08:00

It sometimes amazes me how simple unity or Muhibbah can be. It's not a trumped up call by the politicians or a slogan/propaganda that every Ali, Ah Kow or Raju latches on for personal gain. Instead, it's simply appreciating, respecting and enjoying each other's culture.

On the eight night of every Chinese New Year, one of our neighbours will host a lion dance performance - a troupe that performs amazing feats on stilts. When we walked over before the start of the show, a young Malay boy was already sitting outside the house, waiting eagerly for the troupe to start the dance. Later, more neighbours start trickling in - young and old, Malay, Chinese and Indian, all out to enjoy the lively and loud performance. More than that, it was a great time catching up with each other, people whom we may not have time to talk to apart from the occasional "Hi".

And really, that to me is the best example of Muhibbah.

The Best Of Takayama, Japan - On the Trail of Food and Markets

2011-01-30T13:10:00.002+08:00

Takayama is a foodies' paradise. A compact town, the main sights of the old town are located within walking distance, which is a good thing as we really appreciated the walk to set-off our non-stop eating.

We started off the day with a visit to the Miyagawa morning market. This small market which caters to both the locals and visitors is located by the river with a row of shops on 1 side and make-shift stalls on the other side.

At one of the shops, we bought some Hida beef bun for breakfast - hot, steamed fluffy bun with minced beef filling. It was delicious. The bun was incredibly soft, and the beef, succulent. The Hida beef bun rivals the best char siu pau (barbeque pork bun) in Hong Kong.

For dessert, I tried a Sukune Kabocha pudding, a pumpkin pudding topped with a rich brown sugar syrup. It had a smooth velvety texture and was full of flavour. Yum!

Energized after a delicous breakfast, we wandered around the shops, sampling the various local offerings from the Hida district region. We came away with black bean tea, Hida beef granules and wasabi granules (both are wonderful condiments to add to cooking).

We also did some people-watching...

Next, we headed to Sanmachi Suji, the centre of the old Takayama. The three main streets - Ichi-no-Machi, Ni-no-Machi and San-no-Machi are lined with aged-dark wood traditional buildings which houses shops, sake breweries and museums. It really is quite pleasant wandering in and out of the various shops, admiring the traditional wares, sampling some sake and local food.

The exterior shop front of a sake brewery

The sake brewery at the back of the shop

Pretty sake bottles on display

A pleasant discovery - a serene indoor garden located within a souvenier shop.

Not surprisingly, we walked away with bags of Takayama goodies, ranging from Propolis essence to doggie figurines!

Later that day, we had one of our best meals of our Japan trip at Maruaki Restaurant (look out for the large cow display at the front of the shop). We splurged on a Hida beef lunch (knowing that we won't have an opportunity to taste such high quality beef for a long, long while. In any case, most restaurants have cheaper lunch sets, so if you want to enjoy a nice meal in a restaurant, it's best to eat during lunch).

We ordered the grill beef set - check out the lovely marbling on the beef.

We also tried the Sukiyaki beef set. Seeing our puzzled faces, the waitress showed us how to cook the Sukiyaki. First, she took the huge chunk of pork lard to season the shallow iron pot. She then took out the lard, poured some sauce (soy sauce, sugar and mirin) and gestured to us to start cooking the meat and vegetables. She then cracked the raw eggs into a small bowl and made dipping gestures to tell us to dip the cooked food into the raw egg before eating. It was amazing that despite the language barriers, the waitress was able communicate to us the right way to eat sukiyaki.

The Maruaki Restaurant in Takayama gets a double thumbs up!

After such a heavy meaty lunch, for dinner we opted for a simple roast pork ramen noodle at what I would call the "Red Dragon" Restaurant since I couldn't read the Japanese sign. Fortunately, they had an English menu with pictures so we had no issues ordering our meal.

This simple but delicious noodle dish was just what we needed to finish off our trail of food and markets at Takayama.

Homemade Chinese Barbeque Pork (Char Siu)

2010-12-31T16:06:00.014+08:00

One of my specialites developed over the last few years is chinese barbeque pork or char siu. I guess practice makes perfect and this dish remains a favourite with my family and friends. The only problem with this recipe is that I don't measure my ingredients. I just add a dash of this and a dash of that. Also, I tend to improvise my ingredients depending on what I have available in my pantry so my advice if you're trying this recipe is to be adventurous :-)

Here is my recipe, to the best of my estimation...

Serves 4-8 (depending on whether you're serving other dishes)
1. 8 strips of pork belly (you do need a fatty cut in order for this dish to be successful. A fatless cut would result in a rather dry and chewy char siu)
2. 1 jar (240 gm) of Lee Kum Kee Char Siu sauce
3. 1/2 jar (120 gm) of Lee Kum Kee Hoisin sauce

4. 1/4 cup of honey
5. 1 tablespoon of five spice powder
6. 2 tablespoons of lemon/lime juice
7. 2 tablespoon of Lea & Perrins Worchestershire Sauce
8. 1-2 teaspoons of thick soya sauce
9. 1 tablespoon of Chinese wine
10. 1 teaspoon salt and pepper
11. 1-2 tablespoon of Maltose sugar (Mak Ngah Tong)

Marinade:Mix ingredients 2-10 in a deep glass dish. Place each strip of pork belly into the marinade and make sure that each pork belly is coated with the marinade. Using a fork, pierce the meat to allow it to absorb the marinade into the meat. Ideally, the marinade should totally cover the meat. Marinade overnight in the fridge.

Pre-Roast:45 minutes before roasting, take out the pork belly from the fridge. Preheat oven to 180C. Wrap your roasting rack and tray with aluminium foil (it will make cleaning up much easier). Slit some holes on the rack to allow the liquid to drip down to the tray. Place the pork belly on the rack and pour half of the marinade over the meat.

Now for the key ingredient - maltose sugar. Pour some boiling water onto a large bowl. Place the maltose sugar jar into the bowl. This will warm up the thick maltose sugar into a more liquid syrup, making it easier to pour on the pork belly. Using a large spoon, scoop up the maltose sugar. Lift your hands high and start lacing the pork belly until the maltose sugar coats the pork belly fairly evenly.

Roast:
Roast in the oven for around 30-45 minutes. Midway through, turn the meat and baste with the remaining marinade. If you wish, you can also add the maltose sugar again (I used to but don't anymore). When the char siu is cooked, remove the meat from the rack and the gravy from the tray. Once the meat is cool, slice and serve with rice or noodles. Enjoy!

Love that keeps on giving

2010-12-26T21:08:00.003+08:00

It's Boxing Day today. Time to put away the gift boxes. For many Christmas is about Santa and Christmas presents. For some, the toys will be played with for a a seaon before being tossed aside. Rarely will gifts last forever. But Pastor reminded us during Christmas service, at its heart, Christmas means no matter what else will disappear in the future God's love will last forever.

1 John 4:9-10
By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him.
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

The Best of Takayama, Japan (Day 1)

2010-12-18T11:37:00.014+08:00

As we made our way south from Tokyo/Hakone to Kyoto, we took a detour cum side trip to the lovely town of Takayama, in the mountainous Hida district (west of Honshu Island). The journey on the Shinkansen involves a change of trains at Nagoya. The train journey from Hakone inclusive of transfers takes about 4.5 hours, but the scenery in the Hida region is spectacular. We also discovered later that the food rivals the scenery!

One of the many beautiful gorges in the Hida district

In spring, the cherry blossoms bloom by the riverside

Upon arrival in Takayama, we made our way on foot to our hotel, The Rickshaw Inn. As mentioned in an earlier post, it makes sense in Japan to use the luggage forwarding service. The Rickshaw Inn is centrally located in town. This small narrow inn is very popular among travellers as it is clean,reasonably priced and offers a little kitchen and laundry facility.

Our Japanese room - mattress on tatami mat.

Taller individuals (6 footers and above) should be careful when exiting the bedrooms as the door is quite short. They post a notice to be careful on the outside door but not on the inside. The bedroom is spacious but the bathrooms are rather narrow, typical of Japanese hotels.

We headed out to dinner to Origin, a Japanese pub (izakaya) located close to the train station. You won't find an English signage in the front, so look out for the bamboo poles.

As you enter the pub, you will come across a bar counter. Further inside, there are more rooms for dining. Origin has English menus but the staff don't speak much English.

Before we came to Japan, we had only heard of the famous Kobe Wagyu beef. When we arrived at the Hida district, we discovered a well-kept Japanese secret - the Hida beef - titled "The best beef in Japan" at the Eighth All Japan Beef Convention". Like the Kobe beef, the breed is also the Wagyu, but raised at the Hida district. Apparently, the success of the Hida beef is thanks to one bull "yasufukugo". According to some, since the yasufukugo was born, the Hida beef has become more marbled and tasty. I have to say that the Hida beef is the best I've tasted! Our first experience with the Hida beef at this local izakaya was good, but the best was yet to come.

Hida beef on Hoba Miso (DIY grill beef with Miso sauce on magnolia leaf)

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.

~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

The Fujiya Hotel in Hakone

2010-11-04T13:29:00.013+08:00

Accomodation in Hakone is expensive. Due to its proximity to Tokyo and its hot spring attraction, prices of decent accomodation can be quite high. In the end, we settled for the Fujiya Hotel located at Miyanoshita, Hakone-Machi. Because we had done our research beforehand, we already expected the bedrooms to be tired-looking. However we really only needed a place to sleep and at@USD100+taxes, their special anniversary plan for foreigners was worth it. The promotional hotel rate has since gone up to USD132+. The other aspects of the Fujiya Hotel - its architecture, gardens and history more than made up for its room decor.

Built in 1868, this aged, but graceful hotel has hosted many famous people ranging from rock stars (John Lennon) to royalty, actors to politicians. The Fujiya Hotel's architecture is impressive. We could not help but admire the intricate carvings and splendid details as we wandered around the hotel grounds.

They even have an indoor English chapel for weddings!

The Fujiya Hotel gardens are beautiful. As we were there in spring, we took a morning walk around the gardens which was in full bloom.

There was a quaint little hut with a water wheel - a favourite picture-taking spot among the guests.

Sit by the koi pond and enjoy the serene surroundings as you watch the golden fishes move gracefully underwater and listen to the gentle splash of the miniature waterfall
.

Be sure to pay a visit to the Fujiya Hotel Museum. Read about the history of the museum, its founders and guests. Wander around and admire the ancient knick knacks - like this picture of the "International Mustache Club".

If you're a Beatles fan, you will love this picture of John Lennon & Yoko Ono taken at the hotel.

The hotel has also kept its guests books from its early years.

The Fujiya Hotel is truly a grande dame among hotels!

Highlights of Hakone Free Pass Route

2010-10-19T17:20:00.003+08:00

Hakone Free Pass Loop:
Hakone Machi (Lake Ashi cruise)- Togendai - Sounzan(Ropeway) - Gora (Cable car) - Hakone Yumoto (Train) (can also be done in reverse)

On our first day in Hakone, we started our tour with a bus ride from our hotel, the Fujiya to Moto Hakone. The weather was not in our favour, with intermittent rain and wind. But armed with borrowed hotel umbrellas, we plodded on. Our first stop was the Old Cedar Highway. It was awesome walking on the footpath surrounded by 400 year old cedar trees. The tall sturdy trees provided some respite from the rain and it was lovely to enjoy the serene surroundings.

From the Cedar Highway, we made our way on foot to Hakone Machi at Lake Ashi to board the pirate cruise boat to the other side of the Lake. At this stage, it was pouring cats and dogs. We really couldn't see much and as luck would have it, a bus-load of tourists came on board the ship, turning the pirate boat into a real pirate boat of the past - loud and noisy!

We went through the rest of journey on the ropeway, cablecar and train, just going through the motion and not really able to enjoy the sights, because it was just too dark, wet and cold. Fortunately for us, the weather turned and we had beautiful blue skies and bright sunshine the next day. We decided to repeat the Hakone Loop, and we were glad we did. What a difference from the day before! Instead of looking out from blurry windows filled with raindrops, we could actually enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake and volcano mountain.

I thoroughly enjoyed the ropeway as it gave a bird's eye view of the volcano craters at Owakudani. The hot springs water from the volcano are channeled by pipelines to the various resorts in Hakone.

Be prepared to hold your nose because the sulphur fumes smells like rotten eggs!

Whist we're on the subject of eggs, every visitor must try the "black egg" at Owakudani. These eggs are 3/4 boiled, and are cooked in the volcano hot springs. Apart from the black shell, they taste just like normal eggs.

Still a couple of volcano-boiled eggs didn't quite satisfy the hunger pangs after we completed the loop at Gora, so we headed to the Gyoza Centre, a cosy little cafe which is about 1 km from the train station for a meal of dumplings.

After that we hopped on the train for a slow ride down to Hakone Yumoto (Note: the bus is a faster way to travel, where available. From Gora, you must take the train.) At Hakone Yumoto town, we browsed around the 2 rows of shops, enjoying more food! It was particularly enjoyable seeing how the snacks were made.

The Best of Hakone - Hakone Free Pass

2010-09-26T13:26:00.009+08:00

The lovely "onsen" (hot springs) town of Hakone is a perfect getaway spot from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo city. The locals think so too, so be warned of the crowds during weekends and holidays. If you're a visitor, it would be best for you to plan a trip during a weekday if you prefer a more relaxing getaway without the maddening crowds.

Located around 100 kms West of Tokyo, the best way to experience Hakone is to get the Hakone Free Pass. The Hakone Free Pass provides a round trip return ticket from Shinjuku Station to Hakone as well as unlimited boarding of participating buses, ferries, trains, cable car and ropeway for 5,000 yen (2 days) or 5,500 yen (3 days). If you're not planning to return to Tokyo, consider getting the Hakone Free Pass from Odawara (3,900 yen) and just buying the 1 way ticket from Shinjuku Station to Odawara. I would also highly recommend paying an additional 870 yen one way to upgrade to the Odakyu Ltd. Express Romance Car for a more comfortable ride.

You can book the pass on-line and collect it at the Odakyu Sightseeing Centre in Shinjuku Station. They have a counter for international visitors. Together with your pass, you will get a circuit map which shows you the best way to get around Hakone using the various forms of transportation below:

Hakone Free Pass Transportation:
1. Odakyu Romance Car (pay to upgrade)
- From Shinjuku Station to Odawara/Hakone Yumoto

Hakone Tozan Bus
2. - The most efficient way to travel within Hakone

3. Hakone Tozan Train
A leisurely 40 minute ride from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora.

4. Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (Lake Ashi)
A splendid way to view the beauty of Lake Ashi aboard a pirate ship: Togendai - Motohakone-ko - Hakone-machi

5. Hakone Ropeway
Enjoy the panaromic view of the the mountain and hot springs: Sounzan to Togendai

6. Hakone Tozan Cable car
Take the short ride from Gora to Sounzan on this Swiss made cable car

The Hakone Free Pass is definitely worth getting. When we first arrived in Hakone, it was raining so we did the entire circuit without getting the full benefit of the views. Fortunately, we had blue skies the next morning, so we repeated the entire transport circuit, this time, with full enjoyment of the view. I'll share more about our experiences in the next post.

The Best Of Tokyo - Ramen

2010-09-14T14:24:00.003+08:00

I love a bowl of steaming hot ramen noodles. Apart from the springy ramen noodles, crisp fried garlic slices and sliced roast pork served in creamy white miso soup, I love the Japanese hard-boiled egg, with its bright orange yolk. Here are 2 places which I found for good ramen in Tokyo. The first ramen shop which came recommended by the Lonely Planet is called Komen. It has a chain of 12 ramen shops in Tokyo. For non-Japanese speakers, look out for the 2 Japanese words encased in a large circle above the shop. I went to the Komen in Shinjuku (3-32-2, Shinjuku-ku, corner of Meiji-Dori and Koshu Kaido). This two storey ramen shop is big by ramen shop standards. They also have a branch in Harajuku.

Komen Ramen at Shinjuku

Big pots of stock for the ramen soup

Ramen with roast pork and white miso soup set - 990 yen

I stumbled onto the second ramen shop quite by accident. We were window shopping on the busy streets of Harajuku when this sign caught our attention. Walk down the stairs to a cosy little basement shop. Unfortunately, I don't know what the English name is but this shop is further down the street from the Lotteria at Takeshita Dori. The ramen is served in a stone bowl, which keeps it piping hot. In summer, the cold ramen is also quite popular. Personally, I found the ramen at this shop better than Komen.

Sigh...I wish I was back in Japan!

"We are noodle folk. Broth runs through our veins."
Mr. Ping, Kung Fu Panda (2008)

The Best of Tokyo - Cirque De Soleil's ZED

2010-09-10T13:13:00.011+08:00

A friend recommended us to watch Cirque De Soleil in Tokyo, a recommendation that we were glad to have followed. Tokyo's Cirque de Soleil features the performance - ZED, a program that is shown only in Japan. Located at the Tokyo Disney Resort (10 minutes walk from JR Maihama Station on the Keiyo Line or Musashino Line to the Theatre via IKSPIARI and the Disney Ambassador Hotel), the Cirque du Soleil Theatre Tokyo is a resident theatre for Cirque du Soleil, designed specially for ZED.

We opted for the non-peak show at 4 p.m which is cheaper by 1,000 Yen compared to the 1 p.m. peak show performance. For foreigners, if you want to book your tickets on-line, go to the HIS Travel website which caters to non-Japanese speaking clientele.

Since the Cirque du Soleil Theatre Tokyo is located next to the Ikspiari shopping mall, you could spend the whole day here, enjoying some live entertainment shopping and eating first before catching the Cirque de Soleil performance later in the afternoon.

On a hot summer day, pop by Folletti Gerutta for a cool gelato. It's worth your while to brave the queues.

Be sure to look out for the Mickey Mouse buses and trains which ferry hotel guests to Tokyo Disneyland.

As with the theatre, the story of ZED was specially developed for Japan. The main character is ZED, a blonde afro-hair-styled "living poem" in the imaginary world of Arcana. The performance opens with a pair of hilarious clowns, and progresses to various breathtaking acts comprising high wire, bungee, flying trapeze, juggling, lassos, etc, etc. While not a flawless performance, the show is highly entertaining with outstanding special effects and high energies levels. One can't help but be drawn to ZED's adventures.

All in all, catching the Cirque de Soleil performance makes for a nice day trip out of Tokyo city!

Being Thankful...

2010-08-24T09:08:00.007+08:00

I received this email from a friend. It's about being looking at life from a different perpective and being thankful for things we ordinarily complain about.

I am thankful:

For the wife
Who says it's hot dogs tonight,
Because she is home with me,
And not out with someone else.

For the husband
who is on the sofa
being a couch potato,
because he is home with me
and not out at the bars.

For the teenager
who is complaining about doing dishes
because it means she is at home,
not on the streets.

For the taxes I pay
because it means
I am employed .

For the mess to clean after a party
because it means i have
been surrounded by friends

For the clothes that fit a little too snug
because it means
I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work
because it means
I am out in the sunshine

For a lawn that needs mowing,
windows that need cleaning,
and gutters that need fixing
because it means I have a home

For all the complaining
I hear about the government
because it means we have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot
because it means I am capable of walking
and i have been blessed with transportation

For my huge heating bill
because it means
I am warm.

For the lady behind me in church
who sings off key
because it means
I can hear.

For the pile of
laundry and ironing
because it means
I have clothes to wear.

For weariness and aching muscles
at the end of the day
because it means I have been
capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off
in the early morning hours
because it means I am alive.

And finally, for too much e-mail
because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.

The Best of Tokyo - Gardens, Markets & Temples

2010-06-25T09:37:00.019+08:00

Despite the towering buildings that crowd Tokyo city, pockets of green oasis can be found to get away from the crowds. Located alongside Tokyo Bay and within walking distance from Tsukiji Market, the Hama Rikyu is a wonderful garden to visit for a change of scenery. It also has historical significance as it was once the garden of the shogun lords during the Edo period.

After a fresh sushi breakfast from our early morning visit to Tsukiji Market, it was very pleasant to stroll around the well-landscaped garden. The garden opens at 9am and has an entrance fee of 300 yen. The jewel in the crown in the Hama Rikyu garden is probably the historic 500 year old pine tree.

To preserve this piece of living history, support beams have been built to hold up its sprawling branches, not unlike a bent old man needing a walking stick to support his weight. With skyscrapers in the background, this is a classic example of the harmonious relationship of modern and old Tokyo.

We were thrilled to discover a cherry blossom tree that was still flowering in mid-May. We can only imagine how spectacular the garden would have looked during peak cherry blossom season...

We found a spot on a hill to enjoy the full splendour of the Hama Rikyu Garden whilst enjoying our dessert picnic of Mochi (Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice) which we picked up from Tsukiji Market.

If you're tired from all the walking (during our entire trip, we did the most walking in Tokyo!), catch a Tokyo cruise (720 yen) from Hinode Pier to Asakusa.

Whilst, it may not be the most scenic city cruise, it is nice to give your aching feet a rest and enjoy the breeze on your face during the 40 minute ride. If you like, you can even count the number of bridges you pass (Hint: it's more than 10).

At Asakusa, we headed to the Nakamise shopping street, a delightful area for souvenier shopping and more food tasting! We even managed to pick up a treat for our beagle from one of the stalls.

The Nakamise shopping street leads to the main grounds of Sensoji Temple.

Take some time to admire the intricate designs of the lamps on the red entrance gate.

We finished off our half day outing with a late lunch at Kagetudo, a rather cramped traditional restaurant. The small interior is decorated with old pictures. Tacked on its wooden walls, bags of toys (some of them reminds me of toys from my childhood days) are for sale.

This restaurant specializes in two main items. The main meal is a selection of cold or hot udon/soba noodles with tempura.

To finish off the simple meal, try the sweet Japanese bun (similar to polo bun). All in all, good value for money and a nice way to end our half day trip to Hama Rikyu Gardens and Asakusa.

The Best of Tokyo - Tsukiji Fish Market

2010-06-23T07:50:00.028+08:00

The Tsukiji Fish Market ranks highly on my Tokyo to-do list. Generally, I am not a big fan of wet markets because they're crowded, dirty, wet and smelly. The Tsukiji Fish Market surprisingly is not dirty or smelly. It is busy and the floors are slippery, so do be careful and wear covered shoes with good grips.

When you're planning your holiday in Tokyo and want to include Tsukiji Fish Market in your itinerary, check out the calendar on the Tsukiji Fish Market website to make sure that the market is open on the day you plan to visit. Most tourists visit Tsukiji to see the tuna auction in action. On certain busy periods of the year, the tuna auction is off-limits to tourists. If you're lucky enough to be in Tokyo when viewing the tuna auction is permitted, make sure you're there early (officially 5.30 - 6.00 am, although I'm aware that some people are there even earlier). Even if the tuna auction is closed off to public, it's still worthwhile to make a trip to the market. The plus point is that you don't have to be there so early.

The closest train station to Tsukiji market is the Tsukijishijo Station on the Oedo line, which is about 1 minute walk to the market. You can also access the market via different stations served by the Hibiya, Asakusa, Ginza and JR Yamanote lines but be prepared for a 10-20 minute walk. Also take note that if you plan to be at Tsukiji before the trains start running in the early morning, you would need to take a taxi.

Outside the market, we came across a map of Tsukiji Market on the wall. To be honest, it wasn't much use to us in the end because once you're inside, it's easier to just wander around than to try to follow a map!

Tsukiji Fish Market is a working market. This means that for the vendors and buyers, this is business. As a result, a lot of them have very little patience with visitors getting into the way because they are too engrossed with taking pictures or admiring the fresh produce! So, do be mindful when you are in the market. The narrow pathways narrow are shared by both buyers and special market "trucks" that resemble steam rollers.

When we entered the market, we came across this stall selling dried seafood. We couldn't resist the wonderful selection of anchovies and Hokkaido scallops and walked away with a couple of bags.

We then wandered around the stalls (always mindful not to get in the way) admiring the wonderful and sometimes strange (to us anyway) range of fresh seafood.

When your stomach rumbles for breakfast, head outside to one of the many restaurants for a fresh sushi breakfast. I know it sounds strange to have raw seafood for breakfast, but it's one of those unique experiences when visiting Tsukiji Market, so we dived in. There were a couple of restaurants with long queues but we didn't want to wait so we opted for a cosy place nearby which was busy but was able to accomodate us. Once seated, we took a look at the picture set menus.

J opted for a Bentomi don (a variety of raw seafood topped on a bowl of rice)...

...whilst I chose a more traditional Sazanka sushi set. In the end, we both agreed that the sushi set was a better option for our taste.

To top off our delicious sushi breakfast, the chef, who was really intense when he was preparing our meal turned out to be a real sport, serving our trays with much gusto and musical accompaniment. He happily posed for us with a cheery "Cheeso" (the Japanese variation of "Cheese").

We later walked around the shops surrounding the market, wishing we had room in our stomachs to sample the tantalising snacks.

We rounded off our outing to Tsukiji with a cup of brewed coffee at Yonemoto, a local coffee shop. Somehow, breakfast isn't complete without a cuppa!

Our next stop for the day - the nearby Hama Rikyu Gardens.

The best of Tokyo - Culture

2010-06-22T10:01:00.018+08:00

Tokyo - you either love it or hate it. Some say it's way too busy and crowded. Others love the hustle and bustle. I personally think that there is something for everyone - from shrines to palaces, haute couture to street fashion, Disneyland to Cirque, electronics to gadgets, sushi to ramen...just take your pick! The next few posts lists what I really enjoyed about Tokyo.

Culture - Meiji Jingu (Shrine)
Whilst Tokyo is very much a cosmopolitan city, surrounded by tall buildings and neon lights, there are pockets of culture that is very much a part of this multi-faceted city. One of my favourites spot for culture is Meiji Jingu. To avoid the crowds, make an early start to this Shinto shrine which is located in a lovely garden (take the Fukutoshin line to Meijijungumae, JR exit, South Shrine Gate). At the start of the park, you will be greeted by tall imposing wooden gates that are typical of Shinto shrines.

Along the way, witness the face-off of sake drums versus wine barrels.

If you're wondering why there are wine barrels on the road to a Shinto Shrine, read about the philosophy of Emperor Meiji on Japanese Spirit and Western Knowledge.

After a lovely stroll shaded by tall trees, you will arrive at the entrance of the shrine.

Typically, before you enter the shrine, visitors will perform a ritual cleansing of hands and mouth. As a foreigner, don't worry if you don't know what to do. There is a sign to assist you. Whatever you do, don't drink the water from the ladle. We saw some visitors doing so - not very hygenic at all!

For 500 yen a piece, Shinto believers can offer up prayers and gratitude written on a wooden tablet to the deities.

As with places of worship, Meiji Jingu is also a place where weddings take place. We noticed that Japanese wedding family and guests typically wear black for weddings, which is a big no no for Chinese weddings.

And if you don't mind tourists snapping away, you can also take your wedding photos at Meiji Jingu!

Meiji Jingu gets my vote for an experience of Japanese culture and religion in Tokyo.

Tokyo Experience - Navigating Shinjuku Station

2010-06-06T16:48:00.009+08:00

There is much to see and do in Tokyo. Admittedly, we didn't get to experience Tokyo in its full "busyness" as we were there during the Golden Week holidays. So we didn't have to be squished into the trains during peak period, or encounter the hordes of work crowds crossing the streets of Tokyo.

Our first experience of Tokyo city was Shinjuku station, probably the busiest train station in the world serving more than 3 million passengers per day. Arriving on the Narita Express (we got the NEX + Suica pass), our first order of the day was to go to the Odakyu Information Centre to collect our Hakone Free Pass. This was not an easy task. First-time visitors to Tokyo and Shinjuku Station can attest to the daunting size of this train station. It serves as the hubs for the JR, Odakyu, Keio, Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. Get a copy of the Tokyo subway map from the Narita Airport Information Counter as well as a copy of the JR trains to help with your Tokyo travel.

Whilst it's fairly easy to catch the trains operated by the different train companies - follow the signs and make sure you have allocated enough time because some stations can be a couple of kilometres apart, it's more complicated trying to locate the exit you need to take (there are about 200 exits) or as in our case, locate the Odakyu Information Centre. Add the language barrier to the equation, you have four jet-lagged tourists climbing up and down the stairs asking for directions, being led on a wild goose chase.

We managed to locate the Information Centre after about 1/2 and hour or so of traipsing round and round. The Odakyu Information Centre has dedicated personnel to assist foreign visitors so we had no issues getting our passes. By then, we were more than ready for lunch. Options are plentiful as the Shinjuku Station is connected directly to at least 8 malls. The department stores are a great place for food. You can either opt for the bento sets at the basement of the deparment stores or check out the restaurants at the top floors. We headed to the top floor of the Odakyu Department Store, just above the Odakyu Line Concourse. We had our first Japanese meal of our trip - tempura and cold soba, the first of many delicious meals. One of the best tips we learnt about eating in Japan is to check out the menu boards in front of the restaurants. The pictures of the food sets and prices can help you decide what to eat. Make sure you remember which one set you want because the restaurant may not the English language daily special menu in the restaurant. If the restaurants don't have a menu board outside, chances are it's quite an upscale restaurant.

After a very satisfying lunch, we headed towards the Marunouchi Subway line to catch the metro train to Shinjuku Gyoenmae to go to our hotel. Which brings me to my next tip - it's probably easiest to stay at a hotel near to smaller station like Shinjuku Sanchome or Shinjuku Gyoenmae. That way you can avoid the experience of trying to locate the exit you have to take out of the 200 exits at the main Shinjuku Station.

"The only way to be sure of catching a train is to miss the one before it"
GK Chesterton

What Living in Thailand Taught Me

2010-05-30T13:55:00.004+08:00

A friend of mine was lamenting about the language challenges of visiting Japan. As a result, he did not enjoy his travels to Japan. On the other hand, despite my lack of Japanese language skills, I loved my trip to Japan. I pondered about our two different reactions to the same circumstance.

My conclusion? Living in Thailand has made me more open to visiting a foreign country where English is not the first language and is not widely used by a wide majority of the locals. I admit it was tough going for me the first couple of months living in Bangkok. I remember my frustration during my first grocery shopping trip. I could not figure out the laundry detergent to buy for my top-loader washing machine because all the packaging was in the Thai language. Thankfully, I later found another supermarket that had small English labels on the shelf. There was another time when we were eating at a local open-air restaurant. As we were not well-versed with the Thai language at that time, we pointed to a dish that another patron was eating, thinking it was fried squid. When our dish came, it turned out to be fried intestine!

There are probably a dozen or more such stories - driving on an unfamiliar highway interstate and not being able to read the Thai detour directions, having to memorize a few local Thai dishes names so we could order at local shops when we travelled out of Bangkok, not being able to understand the commentaries when watching a Thai performance, etc, etc. As a result of having experienced first hand the language challenges of living in a foreign country, I think that I have become more accepting of people who don't speak English and perhaps, even more adaptable when visiting a country like Japan.

Live and learn!

Top 10 Tips for travelling in Japan

2010-05-24T17:27:00.010+08:00

I just came back from two weeks in Japan - travelling the recommended route from Tokyo to Kyoto, with stopovers in Hakone (the land of Onsen) and Takayama (the land of Hida beef). It was one of my best holidays. Despite the language challenges, travelling in Japan on your own is very do-able. Here are my tips for travelling on your own in the Land of the Rising Sun:

View of Tokyo city from the Metropolitan Government Building

Lake Ashi, Hakone

Hida Folk Village, Takayama

Golden Temple, Kyoto

Before the Trip
1) Do your research before hand! This will help you decide on your itinerary and keep you posted on latest events.
- Go online to the travel websites - Frommers, Lonely Planet, Fodors,Japan National Tourism Organization,Japan guide
- Buy a travel guide book (it's worth the investment!)
- Visit the travel forums on the travel websites. You will find useful tips from the questions posted and answers provided by the regulars

2) Get accomodation reviews from Trip Advisor
- So far, I've not been disappointed by my hotel choices based on the reviews provided by Trip Advisor users.

3) If travelling by train, use Hyperdia to plan your travel times and budget.
- Note that the Japan Rail Pass may not be worth it if you don't make a return trip from Tokyo to Kyoto. Use Hyperdia to help you evaluate.

During your Trip
4) Use the Takkyubin (luggage forwarding services)
- If you have a big luggage bag, make use of this unique service to transport your luggage from the airport to your hotel and from one destination to another. This will save you the hassle of lugging your luggage up and down the stairs in the train stations and to your hotel. We used Yamato or Black Cat on our trip. Very reliable. You would need to pack one day's clothing with you as delivery is often the next day.

5) Buy a Japanese language pocket book
- This will help with basic communication. It came in handy for us in asking about food!

6) Wear comfortable walking shoes
- You will be doing lots of walking - Apart from walking for sightseeing, some of the major train stations like Shinjuku and Tokyo Stations are huge! So be prepared for lots of walking.
- If possible, wear slip on shoes and make sure your socks don't have holes. Some temples, shrines and even accomodations, especially Ryokans and inns require you to take off your shoes before entering. Slip ons are just more convenient.

7) Speak softly on trains
- The Japanese are by nature soft-spoken and polite. On trains, most Japanese don't carry out conversations. Instead, they read or play with their phone. In fact, we discovered that the Japanese love to use the flip phones, the reason being that the the longer phone allows them to speak closely (and hence, softly) on the phone!

8) Bring a large suitcase, if you're a foodie
- We came back with one suitcase filled with Japanese delicacies, ranging from soba to mochis and green tea Kit Kat! In fact, the food markets was one of our favourite places to visits - Tsukiji Market and surrounding shops in Tokyo and Nishiki Market in Kyoto.

Tsukiji Market surrounding area

9) Buy your duty free Japanese whisky and sake on your way in if you don't have a direct flight home. We found out the hard way and missed out on the Japanese whisky (which can only be bought in Japan) because we were transiting in another country.

10) Go with an open-mind!
- Be open to the culture, food and people. Visit the temples and shrines, markets and department stores. Go for a cultural performance and enjoy the street fashion of Harajuku. Try some unagi and black bean tea.

- Don't be afraid of the language barrier. You'll be amazed at the generosity and graciousness of the Japanese people. Sure, we had challenges in asking for directions at Shinjuku Station as not many people whom we asked could speak English well. But we also encountered a well-spoken Japanese young man who approached us whilst we were trying to decipher the map at Shinjuku Station and went out of his way to take us to the Metropolitan Government Building.

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.

James Michener

If at first you don't succeed...

2010-04-19T21:08:00.007+08:00

... try and try again"

Today, I managed to do a roll-over* at my Pilates mat class. I've been struggling with this exercise in past classes and have never managed to do a successful roll over on my own. So, when my Pilates instructor told us to do the roll over exercise three-quarters way through the class, I mentally groaned and thought to myself "Oh no...". Anyway, I gave it a go. To my utmost surprise, I actually managed to perform this exercise on my first attempt. I could not believe it. It was probably not the most graceful roll over, and yes, I needed to use my hands to support my buttocks to assist the roll over - but I did it! I still have to keep working on it to refine my technique and learn to roll down properly but after a taste of success today, I am confident that I will be able to master this exercise not too far in the future.

The key to success is to keep trying, keep practicing, keep going. And when success finally comes, it will taste so much sweeter because of all the sweat (literally, in this case) and tears (for all the aching muscles after each class).

So whether it's trying out a Pilates exercise, or learning to ride a bike, or sitting for a test, or going for a job interview, or securing a business deal, if at first you don't succeed, try and try again. Don't give up. Success comes to those who work at it!

* Generally, a roll over exercise involves lying on your back with your hands by your side and extending your legs upwards at a 90 degree angle. Using your abdominal muscles, you then draw your hips and legs over your head until your legs are parallel to your chest. Deepening your abdominal muscles, roll onto the broad part of your shoulder. Slowly roll down, using abdominal control to peel down one vertebrae at a time.

Risotto with Prawn and Bacon

2010-04-10T17:20:00.006+08:00

It's been a while since I experimented with new recipes. I've always been a big fan of paella and risotto. Maybe it's the Asian in me - rice is such a big part of my life. I've been wanting to cook a paella or risotto dish for a while but was not able to find the medium grain Arborio rice in Malaysian supermarkets. The Arborio rice has a high level of starch which absorbs many times its weight in liquid, resulting in a soft and creamy texture. So, on my last trip to Australia, I bought a pack of Riviana Arborio rice. To be honest, I was quite surprised at how easy it is to cook risotto. However, if you're looking for a quick dish, then this is not it as it requires a fairly long cooking time and constant stirring. If you have the time and patience, this dish is worth it. As with all recipes, you can substitute the ingredients according to your fancy.

Ingredients (serves 4-5)
2 tablespoon olive oil
30 gm butter
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
600 grams streaky bacon (or as much or as little as you want)
600 grams prawns, seasoned lightly with salt and pepper (again, as much or as little as you want)
2 cups Arborio rice
4 cups stock, simmered (you can use chicken or a combination of stock. Since I was cooking fresh prawns, I used the prawn shell and head to boil into about 1.5-2 cups of stock. I used chicken stock for the rest)
1/4 cup white wine
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Basil or Italian parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Method
Heat a large heavy based saucepan. Fry about 1/3 of the bacon until crispy and set aside. Note, since I used streaky bacon, it was not necessary to add oil as the bacon will ooze its own fat. Add a little olive oil and stir fry the prawns until it's pink. Remove and set aside.

Heat the rest of the olive oil and butter in the pan. Add the onions and stir fry for a few seconds. Then add the garlic and the remaining bacon and fry for about 3 minutes. Stir in the Arborio rice and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes or so, until the rice slightly colours, stirring regularly. Add the white wine and simmer to absorb the liquid, again, stirring frequently (Note: this is a constant theme when cooking risotto!).

Begin adding stock, one cup at a time. I found it best to add the stock slowly, stirring well and allowing the rice to absorb the liquid, before continuing adding the stock. So, for one cup, it may take about 2-3 pours. Continue to do so until the you have finished adding all 4 cups of stock, making sure that you stir dilligently! You will see the arborio grow plumper as the rice grains absorb the flavourful liquid. After you have added all 4 cups of stock, taste the risotto. If the rice is still crunchy, you may need to add a little more water or stock until the rice is fully cooked. Season with salt and pepper.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese and basil/parsley. Dish out the risotto and add the crispy bacon and prawn. Enjoy the fruit of your labour!

I've eaten risotto at restaurants where the risotto is way too mushy and is served in a bed of starchy liquid. Personally, I prefer my risotto like this - you can see each plump and juicy individual grain.

Rice is born in water and must die in wine.
Italian Proverb

He is Risen!

2010-04-04T16:08:00.004+08:00

This morning as we took Kess for a morning walk, we were greeted by the sight of a rainbow. Now, in the days of Noah (Genesis 9:13) the rainbow was given as a sign of God's covenant with His people after the great flood that destroyed the whole earth, all except for the people and creatures on Noah's ark. The rainbow was God's covenant that a flood would never again destroy the earth.

On this Easter morning, the rainbow reminded me of more than just God's promise not to destroy the earth. The rainbow was a symbol of God's redemption for mankind through His son Jesus Christ. Jesus, who bore no sin died on the cross for mankind's sin. Yet the story does not end there. If it did, there is no redemption for us. Jesus is risen! Death could not hold the Son of God in its grip. So, we have eternal life because our Saviour conquered sin and death on that Easter Sunday.

Balinese Cuisine at the Uma, Kota Damansara

2010-03-21T13:37:00.011+08:00

One of the family traditions I cherish the most is celebrating birthdays together. Not only is it a good time to catch up with the family, it's also an excellent time to try out new restaurants. I really enjoyed Balinese food from my last trip to Bali, when I discovered the Bumbu Bali Restaurant at Tanjung Benoa in Bali. This was my first taste of the Balinese Rice Table or the "Rijsttafel", which essentially is a set menu comprising rice served with vegetables and meat condiments.

So, when my sis suggested going to the Uma, a Balinese restaurant at Kota Damansara for our latest round of birthdays celebration, it was a lovely trip down memory lane for me. We opted for their "Nasi Ratus", which is equivalent to the Balinese Rice Table at the Bumbu Bali. The portions are fairly big. We ordered six sets with 2 extra rice for the 8 of us. We ended up trying seven sets (they accidentally served us the Babi Kecap Manis which we didn't order, which turned out to be a happy mistake as it was very good).

The verdict? Absolutely delicious! The Nasi Ratus set is served on a bamboo basket, layered with banana leafs. Depending on the set, the rice and vegetable condiments may vary. A sample of the condiments include minced fish satay, shredded chicken salad, tempe goreng, sambal mbe and sambal tomat, mixed vegetable salad and fried long bean. Our absolute favourite was the Grilled Tuna set. The tuna was fresh and marinated in fragrant Balinese spices, not unlike our otak-otak, but much lighter in terms of the marinade.

Dad loved the Pork Rib Curry Nasi Ratus set (yes, this place serves pork - hurray!). The curry, which has a similar colour and texture to our Kurma curry complemented the tender pork rib perfectly.

The house specialty - Bali Bebek - Balinese steam duck. Served in a bowl of soup, very much like our Soto ayam, the duck literally melted off the bone. We also tried the fried duck set. However, of the two, I personally preferred the steam duck.

The happy mistake - Babi Kecap Manis (Sweet Sauce Pork)! Succulent and flavorful.

The pork sate set was scrumptious too. The sate was served on thick bamboo sticks and was well-seasoned enough to be eaten without any sauce. The rice, Black-eyed pea rice which had light sprinkles of nuts and herbs was my favourite rice accompaniment.

On the other hand, we found the grilled chicken set rather dry. To be fair, it was tasty but just paled in comparison with the other, oh so very delicious sets.

The meal which came to slightly over RM200 for the 8 of us was very reasonable. So, if you had a yearning for some good Balinese cooking, but don't have the budget to fly to Bali, head over to the Uma at Kota Damansara (7-G & 7-1, Jalan PJU 5/21, The Strand, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya). Be sure to make reservations (Tel:603-614 2271)!

Postscript: I paid another visit to the Uma in May, 2010 and was pleased that the food tasted as good as ever. As we were there with two first-timers, we ordered our top three favourites - the tuna, pork sate and pork rib curry nasi ratus sets for our group of four. We made sure we had room for dessert this time round. Fans of "hak lo mai chok", or glutinuos rice porridge aka bubuh injin would love this dessert. Served with coconut milk and gula bali, this dessert is rich and creamy. We'll definitely be back again.

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. ~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

Hua Hin Beach Resort - Plearn Wan

2010-03-04T16:39:00.012+08:00

Hua Hin Beach Resort is a favourite destination among Thais. Unlike Pattaya, Hua Hin is fairly unknown to foreigners or farangs. Located 200 kms south of Bangkok, this is a popular weekend getaway with journey ranging from 2.5 - 3.5 hours depending on traffic conditions. Anyone who's lived in Bangkok can attest to the heavy traffic on the expressways leading into and out of the city!

In addition to the refreshing seabreeze, cooling waters, fresh seafood, there is much to do in Hua Hin if one wants a different scene. Our friends took us to Plearn Wan. It is described as a “Center of joy and happiness ... stop the past in order to tell the various tales of Hua Hin in the past ... toward present” on its website. It's actually a huge wooden complex designed based on the old wooden shops in the past, with shops and stalls selling food, souveniers, etc.

Highly popular with the local tourists (colourful buses, MPVs and cars fill the parking lot beside Plearn Wan on weekends) due to the cutesy shops and numerous photo opportunities (Thais love photography), it really is quite fun walking around the shops, snapping away and deciding which yummy desserts to try.

I highly recommend the soft love letter made on the spot. You can choose from a couple of different flavours - yam, banana, etc. Absolutely delicious!

Who can resist one of Thailands most famous desserts - mango sticky rice ("kao niao mang muang")?

Mini crispy pancakes with a choice of fillings - shredded coconut, sweet corn, taro, kaya (coconut jam), etc, etc.

Have some ice cold local coffee to accompany dessert, very similar to Malaysia's local coffee. I thought that the use of the rafia string to hold the paper cup was quite clever!

Watch a local artisan at work as he fashions a horse from candy...

Admire old and current photos of the royal family. It is very common to see shops hang pictures of the royal family from various eras. The Thais highly revere the king. This particular shop in Plearn Wan had quite a good selection of prints for sale.

I was told that in the evening, the look and feel of Plearn Wan is quite different from the day. Unfortunately, time did not permit for us to make a return visit at dusk. Still, we had a pleasant time roaming the "streets" of Plearn Wan, experiencing a little bit of "old" Thailand.

The Frailty of Life

2010-01-27T12:33:00.007+08:00

Can you imagine what it would be like to kiss your partner good night and then to wake up and find that he/she has passed away? This is exactly what happened to a friend. His wife was awakened in the wee hours of the morning when she heard him groan, as if in a bad dream. By the time she had put their baby aside and turned back to him, he had already passed out. When the parademics came, he was pronounced dead - just like that. A husband and father's life was cut short, in his prime.

Job 14:1-2 says "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure." All of us have to die one day. That is a sure thing. We'll never understand why God chose to bring this man, well-loved by all, back to heaven. But we do know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

At our friend's wake last night, all who gave an eulogy spoke of his gentle spirit, his willing heart and his ever-ready smile. That's exactly, how J & I remember him. He was a man who lived his life on this earth well - serving the Lord with joy and gladness. And now, He is in a much better place with his heavenly Father. Whilst we rejoice in that knowledge, we regret the lost years and mourn this temporary separation. But we know we will see him again one day. God bless you, Kumar.

Romans 14:8
"If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

Home Makeover

2010-01-12T16:42:00.002+08:00

It's wonderful living in tropical country, especially when I read about the below freezing temperatures that the Northern Hemisphere countries are experiencing at the moment. Brr....

But the constant sunshine, coupled with heavy rainfall extracts its price on one's home. Cracks and greenish mold appear on the outside walls. J & I decided that it was time our home got a makeover for the new year. Nothing drastic - a couple of fresh coats of paint and remedial works. Fortunately, our friends had just completed renovation on their new home and we were able to secure the services of her contractor.

Day 1 of construction (I finally get to say this line which I hear ever so often on Restaurant Makeover) is prep work. As with all things, starting off on a clean slate is important. Dirt, sediments and peeling paint needs to be stripped off before applying new paint, otherwise the new paint doesn't last. Fortunately, we had bright sunny weather in the morning as the painters cleaned the walls and surfaces with the aid of a heavy duty water pump.

The painters have absolutely no fear of heights.

Kess can't resist checking out the water pump machine.

In the late afternoon, it rained cats and dogs. Fortunately, they had finished with cleaning the walls. The painters move inside to prep the interior walls, skimming over cracks and holes.

My bright orange feature wall now resembles a modern art painting.

At the end of Day 1, I'm exhausted - between supervising the painters, supervising Kess (so that she doesn't disturb the painters), working on a project and cleaning up after the workers leave.

Day 2 of construction - the workers are here bright and early. Taking advantage of the sunshine, they continue with the outdoor work - fixing the cracked cement edges on the roof and applying a layer of sealent on the exterior walls.

Like clockwork the heavens open up and rain falls down in the late afternoon. Hopefully, the sealant had time to dry. Again, the workers are forced to do work indoors. It disrupts their work pattern, but Mother Nature often has different plans to ours and it's up to us to adapt.

End of Day 2 - My home resembles a construction site with paint cans, ladders and a muddied garden! When the workers leave, it's time to clean up again. Sigh...

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. ~Author Unknown

2009 - The Year That Was

2009-12-31T17:40:00.002+08:00

Time really does fly, especially when one gets older. I can't believe that 2009 has come and in a few hours, gone. There were challenging times but all in all, it's been a memorable year. I've had the opportunity to do what I really enjoy - travelling, both for work and pleasure.

Indeed, as I look back, I realize that I am truly blessed. I have a family who loves me, surrounded by friends who care, and saved by the grace of God. What more could one ask for?

These are my photo memories of the year 2009:

January - College reunion

February - Chinese New Year

March - Lazing by the beach at Langkawi

April - Enjoying a cup of tea at Cameron Highlands

May - J at Mount Kinabalu (for the 3rd time!)

June - Was a slow month

July - Sometimes the simple things in life are the most memorable

August - A night out at Il Padrino

September - The Great Ocean Road Trip, Australia

October - Shopping on Regent and Oxford Street, London

November - In awe of the Taj Mahal

December - Christmas in Bangkok

The Taj Mahal - Seven Wonders of the World

2009-11-30T12:47:00.003+08:00

Work has brought me to some places that I would never have otherwise visited. During my recent travel to New Delhi, I managed to squeeze in a day trip to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The 200 km journey to Agra was long - it took us almost 6 hours. Despite it being a Sunday, traffic was heavy. In addition to cars, the roads were crowded with all forms of transportation - motor-powered and animal-driven. From time to time, a cow may block the road, oblivious to the traffic or the honking. One thing about Indian driving that drove me up the wall is the honking. People there love to honk with or without good reason. In fact, the trucks have a sign painted on the back "Please honk". Go figure!

Despite the long and tedious journey to Agra, the Taj Mahal is definitely worth a visit. It is truly a spectacular specimen of Mughal architecture. It's no wonder the Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Taj Mahal has a romantic history. It was built by a grief-stricken emperor, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Despite her pregnancy, Mumtaz followed the Emperor to the battle field. She went into labour at the battle field and died whilst bearing their fourteenth child. According to our guide, Mumtaz had a vision of the Taj on the bank of the river Yamunna and had requested the Emperor to build the mausoleum in her honour. The Taj Mahal took approximately 22 years to construct.

The main gateway to the Taj Mahal is the Great Gate "Darwaza-i rauza".

As you walk through the archway of the main gate, you will see the Taj Mahal centered through the archway. Symmetry is one of the key features of the Taj Mahal, a theme that one sees over and over again.

Once you pass through the gate, you will see the Taj Mahal, a towering image of white marble against the backdrop of the brilliant blue sky and surrounded by lush green gardens. Our guide informed us that the Taj was meant to be seen as a live painting, with the primary colours of white, blue, green and red. Indeed, it is a masterpiece. When the fountains are off, you can see the reflection of the Taj Mahal in the water of the pool. The four surrounding minarets not only adds depth and dimension to the Taj Mahal (if you covered the minarets, the tomb complex would appear one-dimensional), it also reflects the symmetrical theme prevalent throughout the Taj Mahal.

Close-up, it's impossible not to be impressed by the mastery of the Taj's builders and designers - from the Islamic calligraphy to the sculpted flowers...When one considers that the Taj Mahal was constructed in the 1600's without the tools of modern day construction, it is an amazing feat indeed.

At each side of the main complex, there are two red sandstone buildings which are mirror image of each other. The building on the left side is a mosque, which is still used today for Friday afternoon prayers. The building on the right side was built for architectural symmetry.

The Taj Mahal truly does deserve its spot in the Seven Wonders of the World. It is not only a stunning display of Persian, Indian and Islamic architecture but a display of true love from an Emperor for his beloved wife.

What New Delhi Taught Me About Gratitude

2009-11-17T01:26:00.004+08:00

There is a Sunday school song that goes something like this "Count your blessings one by one". Too often, we forget to do that. It's only when we see others less fortunate than ourselves that we are reminded of how much we have been given.

On my first trip to India, I saw first hand how the poor in one of the world's largest populated nations live. It's not something one forgets easily - families building make-shift homes on the sidewalk. I was told that some of these people have to pay "rent" for the sidewalk space. Livestock and strays forage for food in piles of rubbish. Horses, cows and donkeys that pull carts filled with supplies look mal-nutritioned. People cram into buses, three-cycle motorcyles, trucks and tractor or animal pulled carts, some hanging precariously. Children have to work, be it in the paddy fields or selling souveniers to tourists.

Of course, not all of India is like that. But during my 5-hour car ride from Delhi to Agra, home to the magnificent Taj Mahal, I saw these scenes repeatedly. After an experience like that, I'm not likely to be complaining about the "hardships" of life anymore. My troubles compared to the daily struggles of these people and animals just to survive day to day seems insignificant. If there's one thing my experience in India has taught me is to count my blessings one by one.

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have, we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more."

Brother David Steindl - Rast

The Taxi Phenomenon in Singapore

2009-11-10T22:22:00.003+08:00

It's been years since I was last in Singapore. Last night I experienced what I would call the "taxi phenomenon" in Singapore. M & I decided to go to Vivocity for dinner at the Serenity Spanish Restaurant. After a delicious meal of paella and tapas, we decided to head back to the hotel. We followed the taxi signs in the mall. As we had no trouble catching a taxi there, we did not expect any difficulties for our return journey. After all, we saw a long line of taxis queuing for passengers when we were dropped off. Boy,were we in for a surprise!

Once we were outside, we saw people scattered around the curb, sticking their heads out looking out for taxis. There were a couple of taxis, which had the hired signs on without passengers. We were puzzled. So, we asked someone where the taxi queue was and was told it was further ahead. Later in the queue, we discovered from a local in the line that the taxis we saw earlier were pre-booked. We soon learnt the hard way why people pre-book the taxis - after one hour of being in the queue, which by all intents and purposes wasn't really that long, the lack of available taxis at 9.30 pm became very clear to us. As visitors to the country, we were caught unaware by this phenomenon. We were so desperate that we even considered taking the limousine across the taxi queue. The $40 quote stopped us. The wait - 1 hour, the journey - 10 minutes.

The question is - does the lack of taxis at the stands cause more pre-booking or does the increase in pre-booking perpetuate a shortage of taxis at the stands? Or maybe, they just feed each other. Whatever the answer, I have now programmed the phone number of a taxi company on my phone - just in case!

British Humour

2009-10-31T13:26:00.006+08:00

And what a property it was...

Anyone fancy a game of giant chess?

Can you read this?

2009-10-06T09:20:00.003+08:00

I received this in my e-mail today. I thought it was a really interesting experiment. I could read it. See if you can read this too.

Fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Sick as a Dog

2009-09-12T05:35:00.002+08:00

I just posted this phrase on Kess' blog for the Dog Series, so it seemed appropriate to use the same title for this post.

Who would have thought that a little thing such as a tooth can cause such pain and agony and bring a grown person to their knees? Having gone through the experience recently, albeit as an observer of a loved one (LO) suffering, I can testify that being "Sick as a Dog" from a tooth ache is no fun at all. It is even more frustrating when the root of the problem cannot be traced accurately as one can't really pinpoint where the pain in the mouth comes from.

The problem first started with sensitive tooth-like symptoms when LO experienced a stinging sensation when consuming cold or hot drinks, ice-creams, etc. So, LO went to the dentist who, like a detective had to perform tests to figure out the problem. X-rays came back negative but the dentist was able to test via the use of cold air to identify the sensitive tooth. He also recommended the removal of a wisdom tooth as it was starting to impact on the other teeth. LO postponed the wisdom tooth removal due to work commitments but took the doctor's advise to chew gum (to stimulate saliva which is one of the most powerful defense mechanisms in the body), apply tooth mousse and use sensitive teeth toothpaste.

A couple days later, the tooth ache became unbearable and LO had to see the dentist again. As with the last visit, x-rays did not reveal any problems. So, the dentist had to go via a process of elimination to try to detect the problem. Physical examination of each tooth also could not reveal the cause of the pain. The wisdom tooth had to go. The next day, during a follow up visit after the tooth extraction, LO complained of short bouts of sharp pain when consuming liquids. The dentist used infra red tooth by tooth and this time, discovered a hair-line crack. This time round, LO experienced pain during physical examination unlike the previous visits. Like a split durian, the crack probably became bigger over time. As a temporary measure, the dentist did a draining procedure to alleviate the pressure and the pain. Next, the root canal and crowning treatment will begin over the the next couple of weeks.

So, was the wisdom tooth extraction in vain? I guess we'll never know. But what we do know is take care of your teeth! The 32 small whitish structures in your mouth deserve all the care you give them. So visit your dentist regularly and practice good dental hygiene. Oh, and don't crack your teeth or you'll really be sick as a dog.

Italian cuisine at Il Padrino Restaurant

2009-08-29T15:50:00.012+08:00

J & I are always on the lookout for good Italian food in Kuala Lumpur. Having lived in Bangkok for almost 2 years, we've been spoilt by the wonderful selection of hams and sausages served at our favourite Italian restaurants there. When we came across a review on Il Padrino, we knew we had to check it out because it actually serves Parma Ham (or Prosciutto di Parma), thinly sliced dry-cured ham, a rare treat in Malaysia since most Italian restaurants are halal.

Since we were there to celebrate a special occassion, we decided to splurge and go for the full works, starting with the appetizer "Antipasto Misto Il Padrino, a platter consisting of Bresaola (air drief beef), Tomato Buffalo Mozzarella, Calamari, Parma Ham with Melon and Grilled Vegetables. The menu states that the portions are for two people but if you intend to order one main each, you can request for a half portion, which is a great way to taste a little bit of everything. What a wonderful way to start off the meal. The Bresaola was so tender it literally melts in your mouth. The slightly salty parma ham was balanced beautifully by the sweetness of the melon. The plum tomatoes complimented the mozzarella whilst the calamari and grilled vegetables added a warm touch to the cold appetizers.

For the mains, we opted for the Pizza Il Padrino (comprising parma ham, tomato slices, buffallo mozzarella cheese and rocket salad served on a thin crust pizza) and Costolette Di Agnello Scottatido (Grilled rack of lamb served with roasted capsicum, potato and rosemary garlic sauce). I had high expectations for the parma ham pizza as it's been a year since I've last eaten it in Bangkok. Whilst it did fulfill my craving for parma ham pizza, I have to confess that I was a little disappointed at the amount of parma ham on my pizza. I also didn't quite enjoy the rocket salad on my pizza and would have prefered basil instead.

The grilled rack of lamb was a winner in our books. Cooked to medium well, it was beautifully browned on the outside and was a lovely shade of pinky red on the inside. Because it was medium well, the meat was juicy and tender.

At this stage, we were already quite full but could not resist the classical Italian dessert, tiramisu. Not only was it a treat to look at, but it was a sweet finish to a very satisfying meal.

The Il Padrino is definitely worth a second visit. Next time, we hope to come with a bigger group so that we can try a greater selection of food. Service is attentive and its Godfather-themed ambience is welcoming. We'll be back.

Il Padrino Italian Restaurant & Bar
50-G-A, Ground Floor
Wisma UOA Damansara
No. 50, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights, KL
Tel: 603-20938596

A Time For Me

2009-08-24T16:35:00.001+08:00

I woke up this morning to a brilliant blue sky - the kind that we've not seen for a while in light of the haze we've had. It reminded me of the same beautiful day I spent in the Andaman, Langkawi earlier this year. And like that day, it would have been a waste to spend it indoors. So after my regular morning walk with Kess, I decided to pop by the park for a brisk walk to get my heart rate up (Kess tends to sniff every tree, branch, hydrant and electric pole so we usually end up with a leisurely walk). Later in the morning, I took my parents for a follow-up visit to dad's cardio and then had lunch with them at a popular Hakka restaurant. I got home just in time to catch a bit of the hunky "Take Home Chef" on the Asian Food Channel. After all that food, it was time for a quick nap.

Refreshed and awakened by a strong cup of Ipoh white coffee, I decided it is time to update my neglected blog, which brings me to this very moment in time. The very fact that I can do this today, on a weekday, is a gift - a gift of time. Ever since I started working from home last year, I've really cherished the flexibility of working from home. Sure, it requires an incredible amount of discipline because unlike working in an office, there isn't a punch-in clock or a sign-in sheet or a raised eyebrow from the boss to keep me on my toes. What drives me is deadlines. Yes, I can choose the hours I work but sometimes my choices mean I have to work nights or weekends to get the project done. For today, it is good enough that I can choose to take this weekday off for myself.

Tomorrow, it's back to work. A deadline awaits.

"Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people can't buy more hours. Scientists can't invent new minutes. And you can't save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you've wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow."
~Denis Waitely

My Beagle and Me - The puppy years

2009-08-16T00:41:00.001+08:00

I finally watched Marley and Me, a hilarious tale of Marley, a "clearance pup", hyper-active, storm-fearing, trouble-causing Labrador and his humans, the Grogan family. I laughed at his antics, sympathized with the Grogans and as warned, cried bucketfuls at the end when the family had to finally "let Marley go" when Marley was ill with a serious stomach disorder.

I couldn't help but think about my relationship with Kess, my beagle. J and I welcomed her into our family 7 years ago. For us, she is more than a dog, more than a pet - she is our child.

There are some parallels between a puppy and a baby, although it is much easier having a dog than a child. As part of her "potty training", every time she woke up from sleep, after play and after meals, we used to place her in a small fenced area in our garden to pee and poo. Of course, she didn't always cooperate. The worst times were when she woke up at the wee hours in the morning and whined to be let out of her crate. Bleary-eyed and groggy, we would let her out and place her into her fenced-in spot. We would then sit on the bench and waited, and waited some more. Our neighbours probably thought we were wonky!

Like Marley, trouble is also Kess' middle name. She did not like to kept in a confined area. We had to abandon our noble ideas of crate training as she would just whine and claw at the crate door. We then decided to keep her at the laundry area next to our kitchen - a bigger area should do the trick, so we thought. We fenced the area off with dog fencing and went off to bed. A couple of hours later, our blissful sleep was interrupted by a heart-wrenching yelp of pain. We jumped out of bed and rushed to the back. Our little beagle pup, in her quest to escape from her "prison", had tried to climb over the dog fencing and had gotten her paws stuck in the gaps. This was the start of her famous escapades, and we knew we should have named her "Houdini" after the famous magician and escapologist.

Family - Life's greatest blessing

2009-07-31T11:14:00.003+08:00

~ The love of a family is life's greatest blessing ~ Author Unknown

In these past few weeks, I've really come to appreciate the meaning of family. I felt really sad when I read the headlines in the Star about children abandoning their parents at government hospitals. It does make you wonder what have we become in today's society? Have we lost our sense of humanity and compassion?

When dad was scheduled to go in for a total knee replacement surgery, my sisters and I rallied around my parents, giving our support in time and finances. I'll be the first to admit that it was tough. Our regular routines were thrown topsy turvy with hospital stays and visits. Post-surgery,there were errands to run and more follow-up visits to the hospital. Yes, it wasn't easy, but I guess it's the least we could do given the sacrifices that mum and dad made to raise us and provide us with a good education. They saved and scrimped so that we could have a better life. We do, thanks to mum and dad.

Action Speaks Louder than Words

2009-07-15T04:53:00.002+08:00

"Action speaks louder than words"

Sometimes love is best expressed by action. Dad just went for a total knee replacement surgery two weeks back and more recently, gave us all a scare when his heart rate spiked to 149 bpm and he had to be admitted to ICU. Throughout the numerous trips to the hospital and post-surgery recovery, mum's been a rock. It is not easy to be a care-giver, especially when the patient is frustrated and in pain. But mum is a trooper and I am so amazed by her love for dad.

In our Asian culture, especially among the older folks, it is not common to hear them express their love with the words "I love you". But then again, action speaks louder than words.

Take Charge of Your Health Today

2009-06-25T15:46:00.005+08:00

"When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease. ~V.L. Allineare

Over the last couple of years, I've seen my dad survive a heart attack and colon cancer. It's scary. Nowadays it is not uncommon for any one of us to know personally of one or more person with cancer. Maybe it's the world we live in today - Pollution in the air, hormones in our food, contaminants in our water, etc. Seeing my dad endure all the pain and suffering from surgery and treatment is a strong reminder to take care of my health now for my future.

I love food and am not likely to be vegetarian anytime soon. I am a strong believer in eating delicious food (translate to not so healthy stuff) in moderation and adding more vegetable and fruits to my diet. I also believe that when we eat home-cooked food, we have more control over what goes into our bodies. Hence, apart from cooking dinner most days (less salt and oil), I now bake my own bread (which is a breeze with my Kenwood breadmaker), make my own cakes (reduced sugar)and boil barley and herb drinks, or as the Chinese call "Liong cha" (which helps cool the body in today's hazy and hot weather). Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy going out for meals from time to time.

Exercise is the other important component for good health. Due to his bad knee, my dad used to give the excuse that he can't exercise. Now, based on the advice from his orthopedic surgeon, he is working out on a recumbent exercise bike which has a back support to prepare for his knee replacement surgery. The point is we shouldn't give excuses for not working out. There are many exercise options to compensate for injury if only we bother to find out. I've just taken up Pilates this year and find that the stretches and exercises strengthen my muscles and back. Strange as it may sound, I actually look forward to my abs and other muscles aching after a workout because I know I'm working towards a stronger body.

My New York Journey

2009-06-20T12:30:00.001+08:00

It's taken me almost a year to finally complete my posts on my New York journey last summer. I'm glad I finally did to provide myself a written memory of the trip. Towards the end, I had to rack my brains to recall the highlights and places. So, I can imagine a few years down the track, it would be even worse!

We started in New York city, made our way north west towards Finger Lakes, with a shopping stop at Woodbury before that. We then headed west as we visited the southern tips of the major lakes heading towards Castile. We ended up at the beautiful Niagara Falls and journeyed back eastwards, this time on the northern tip of the Finger Lakes towards the Southern Adirondacks. Mapquest made planning our journey easier as it provided us with driving directions. It's not 100% accurate but it does a good job!

Highlights of our trip:
1) Seeing the famous icons of New York - Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Central Park, Rockefeller Centre, Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square and the Wall Street Bull

2) Visiting the United Nations and sitting in the the General Assembly Hall and the Security Council Chamber.

3) Walking down Broadway and watching the live performances

4) Shopping, shopping and more shopping!

5) Staying at bed and breakfasts and making friends with our hosts. We particularly enjoyed getting to know Napoleon from Fox Ridge Farm.

6) Spotting unusual surprises on our journey

7) Enjoying the great outdoors

8) Savouring the beautiful sunsets

As the theme song from the movie New York, New York goes:
"Start spreadin' the news, I'm leaving today
I want to be a part of it: New York, New York.”

I Love New York!

Lake George - Southern Adirondacks

2009-06-11T16:00:00.002+08:00

Lake George greeted our arrival with summer sunshine and dreamy cloud-dotted blue skies. The 32-mile long lake is a hub of activity filled with sightseeing cruise boats, kayakers, swimmers and picnickers all out for some fun in the sun. It's definitely a tourist hot spot with no shortage of accomodation, eating and activity options.It was fun strolling down the streets in town and checking out the colourful shops selling souveniers, t-shirts, ice creams, handicrafts, etc. We managed to find a little china porcelain dog to add to our beagle collection.

But it soon became too hot to be outdoors. To escape the afternoon heat, we headed out to the factory outlets on State Route 9, not too far out of town. At this stage, I've lost count of the number of factory outlets I've visited in the state of New York. Let's see, first there was Century 21, then Woodbury, Niagara, Waterloo and now Lake George! Talk about shopper's haven - we'll worry about the credit card bill later...

That night, we decided to skip the tourist restaurants and opted for a local favourite which is off the main tourist streets. The East Cove restaurant is a cosy log cabin which serves great food.

We definitely stood out at the almost full restaurant, as we were not only the only tourists, but also the only Asians. At this stage of our trip, we were pretty used to it. Outside of New York City and Woodbury, we had only seen 1 other Asian family during our road trip around New York State. The contrast hits you on the face, especially since New York City is a giant melting pot of diverse cultures and skin colours. Anyway, because we "stood out", we drew the attention of a couple sitted near us, the Reicherts. They were curious as to how we knew about the East Cove since it was out of the tourist belt. Again, we had to thank Frommers - our New York guide book pages were dog-eared at this stage of our journey. The Reicherts are a lovely couple and we enjoyed our short conversation with them until our dinner arrived. What a dinner it was - Maine lobsters and grilled pork chop. Yummm....

Later, we popped by the supermarket to buy a tub of Ben and Jerry's for dessert. This was our second ice-cream for the entire trip as we were both down with a cough earlier. Sadly, it would be the last ice cream in New York as our road trip had come to an end. The next day, we headed back to New York City for 1 last night before we caught a flight back home. In direct contrast to the day before, and in matching with our mood, the weather was gloomy as the drizzle bade us farewell.

Words of Wisdom

2009-06-03T12:07:00.005+08:00

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. ~Plato

This philosopher hit the nail on the head. We all need exercise for healthy living. The trouble with us human beings is that we are too lazy to get up and get out for a workout. Ever since we got Kess, our beagle, we walk twice a day, no excuses. It's a commitment we've made to Kess and ourselves. So, we get at least 30 mins - 1 hour walk a day. So, if you need a reason to go for a walk, get a dog!

If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise. ~Author Unknown

Adirondack - Back to Nature

2009-05-18T13:15:00.003+08:00

The Adirondack, located north of New York State is an outdoor lover's playground. You can go hiking, moutain biking, boating (of all shapes and sizes), fishing in this 600 million acre forest filled with peaks, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Given our limited time on our New York trip, we could only spend 3 days. So we focused on the Southern Adirondack towns of Old Forge and Lake George.

In summer, Old Forge is extremely popular with families simply because there is so much to do. Bear that in mind when you choose your accomodation. We stayed at the Water's Edge Inn, which is located opposite the Enchanted Forest/Water Inn. So, there were lots of teenagers and children, which also translates to little peace and quiet.

We rented some mountain bikes and armed with a map of the area, set off on a bike ride around Inlet. It was a sunny day and once we were off the highway and in the trails, it was beautiful. We were disappointed that we were not able to cycle by the lakes as these were private property. So, we had to content ourselves sticking to the forest trails.

J, being the more adventurous type decided to attempt the uphill narrow track Vista Trail.

I was happy to stick with my wide and flat trail.

That night, we both agreed that we should treat ourselves to a nice dinner after our 20 miles ride. Based on Frommer's recommendation, we headed to the Seventh Lake House. If it weren't for our travel guide book, we would have driven past the restaurant located between Inlet and Raquette Lake and missed it altogether. As you can see by the number of cars parked outside, this was a popular dinner venue because the food is fantastic.

After burning all that calories earlier that day, we loaded up on protein with our orders of steak and lamb chop. Both meals were cooked to perfection. We couldn't ask for more.

After dinner, we caught a beautiful sunset at Raquette Lake. Now this is what life is about!

Niagara Falls - Romantic getaway

2009-05-06T11:26:00.003+08:00

Niagara Falls - Close up view from Maid of the Mist
Did you know that Napoleon Bonaparte's younger brother, Jerome had his honeymoon in Niagara Falls in the early 19th century? Since then, this magnificent falls remains a favourite wedding and honeymoon spot.

J & I were thrilled that we would finally get a chance to visit this magnificent falls. My New York friend said that Niagara Falls was too commercialized. I suppose it's true to a certain extent. However, I felt that one person's experience very much depends on where one stays. And I couldn't have picked a better spot than Hillcrest Inn. It is located on a quiet street, far enough from the "commercial" activities, yet, close enough to walk to the Falls. The hosts are friendly and down-to-earth and really made us feel like home, going the extra mile to provide little touches to make our stay memorable. My only regret is that we only stayed 1 night at this beautiful home.

The living room done in sophisticated grey and white

The cosy sun room

The romantic Hillcrest Suite

It was hard to tear ourselves from our gorgeous room but we only had 2 days and we did come to see the Niagara Falls. So, we took a leisurely walk by the Niagara River and headed downtown towards the Falls. It was amazing to see how fast the river flowed and hear the sound of the river as it rushed down to the Falls.
But nothing could prepare us for the sight at the end. We went up on the Observation Deck to get a full view of the mighty Niagara Falls,in all its glory and splendour - it took my breath away.

I wanted to get a close-up view of the Falls and the best way to do it is to go on the Maid of the Mist boat ride. It is incredible to experience the Falls so close. The boat took us the base of the American Falls and then to the basin of Horsehoe Falls. Bring along a waterproof camera, a sense of adventure and be prepared to get wet on this amazing boat ride. Don't worry, they provide a blue raincoat!

Little blue people queueing up in an orderly fashion to board the boat.

Can you spot the rainbow on the left?

We somehow managed to find a clear view for a couple shot (which is amazing considering the boat was full!)

The Observation Deck, the Canadian Maid of the Mist and a rainbow.

We couldn't get enough of the Falls so we headed to the Cave of the Winds for Round 2. We took a 175 feet elevator ride down to the Niagara Gorge. It was cold and damp. We then walked on the wooden walkway to the Hurricane Deck.

Hmm...seems mild enough from here. I wonder why they provided us sandals on top of the yellow raincoat?

Now I know why...The strong gusts of wind and wild sprays of water is enough to make a grown man shiver!

J standing bravely next to the Bridal Veil Falls

We had enough of drenching but still not enough of the Falls. So we headed to the Horseshoe Falls on Goat Island.

We also managed to see a fat beaver, totally oblivious to the Falls and the crowd.

And to top off a perfect day, we had dinner at the Top of the Falls Restaurant, enjoying the view of the Horseshoe Falls whilst having a delicious dinner of pork chop and New York Steak.

Words of wisdom

2009-05-05T16:16:00.003+08:00

Life is fragile. No one know what's round the corner. All you can do is to live each day and take it as it comes along. As the former president of the United States once said "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." ~Theodore Roosevelt

Amazing Love

2009-04-12T16:12:00.002+08:00

Today is Easter Sunday. The day Christians rejoice that Jesus who was crucified on Good Friday for our sins was resurrected - defeating Satan and death once and for all. It's the day that I am reminded of God's amazing love for us, His children. The song below by Graham Kendrick describes it so perfectly.

Amazing Love by Graham Kendrick
My Lord what love is this?
That paid so dearly
That I, the guilty one, may go free.

Chorus:
Amazing love, oh what sacrifice
The Son of God, given for me
My dept He paid, and my death He died
That I, might live.
That I, might live.

And so, they watched Him die
Despised and rejected
But oh, the blood He shed, flowed for me.

And now, this love of Christ
Will flow, like rivers
Come wash, your guilt away,
And live again.

Pork chops with apples recipe

2009-04-05T20:20:00.004+08:00

One of my greatest passion in life, apart from travel is food. Now that I work from home, a big advantage is that I now have more time to experiment with different cooking styles and recipes. I have always wondered about the technique used by chefs in almost every cooking show I've seen - Chef at Home, Restaurant Makeover, Jamie Oliver, etc., of pan-frying the meat and then roasting it in the oven. I always thought it seemed like a lot of work and more cleaning up to do! But I figured I should give it a try to see what all the fuss is about.

I dug up my "Cook with Jamie" cookbook and tried out Jamie Oliver's Old-school pork chops with apple and sage. I have to admit that pan frying the pork chops and then roasting it in the oven does make a difference in the taste! I think that searing it for a couple of minutes seal the juices in the meat and then roasting it in the oven which uses undirect heat cooks the meat beautifully. I definitely will try it again.

Here's the pork chop recipe:
4 x 250 gm pork chops with bone
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Olive oil
2 apples - unpeeled, cored and cut into 8 wedges each
A knob of butter
A handful of fresh sage leaves (I substituted with basil as I didn't have sage available - the best part of cooking is using what you have and not worry about following the recipe to a T)

Preheat the oven to 200C. Make deep cuts on the fatty side of the pork chop and tenderize the meat with a kitchen hammer or blunt object. Season the chops with salt and pepper. Pour the olive oil into a hot pan. Carefully place your chops in the pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes each side. Place the chops into an oiled baking tray. Then, add the apple wedges and the butter into the pan and fry until lightly golden. Lay 4 wedges of apple on top of each pork chop. Top up with herb (sage or in my case, basil) and drizzle olive oil on top. Bake the pork chops in the oven for about 5-10 minutes. Serve with your favourite potato dish and vegetables.

If like me, you would like additional apple sauce to accompany your pork chops, here's a simple recipe for the apple sauce.

Apple sauce recipe:
3 apples, peeled, cored and sliced (if you like a little tartness, use green apples. Otherwise, any type of apple will do)1 tablespoon water
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons soft brown sugar

Put the apples into a small saucepan with the water, allspice, cinnamon and sugar. Cover and cook on low to medium heat for about 15 - 20 minutes until soft and pulpy.

Enjoy!

Words of Wisdom

2009-04-02T08:07:00.004+08:00

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

How true it is. Sometimes we forget that families are God's gift to us. And sometimes, like God's other gifts we tend to neglect this gift. Let's make time with our families. Have a meal together. Go for an outing. Let's not have any regrets when it comes to one of the most important things in our lives.

Grand Canyon of the East - Letchworth State Park

2009-03-28T10:52:00.002+08:00

I love the outdoors and would love to visit the legendary Grand Canyon one day. But since, we were on the eastern side of the United States, we decided to head towards the Grand Canyon of the East - Letchworth State Park. Located along the Genesse River, 35 miles south of Rochester, this luscious woodlands spans 14,350 acres and boasts of 3 major waterfalls, one of which is 107 feet high!

We stayed at the Glen Iris Inn, located in the park, itself. The country inn was the historic former home of William Pryor Letchworth and overlooks the gorgeous Middle Falls. The inn itself is beautiful and brings back the elegant feel of yesteryears. The only setback is the rooms are tiny, probably the smallest that we've stayed in all our travels.
Glen Iris Inn

But the location more than made up for it. There is something soothing about sipping a cup of coffee whilst listening to the thunderous sound of the Middle Falls and watching the white foamy water cascade down like a smooth silk.

Middle Falls, Letchworth State Park

The Letchworth State Park is an outdoor lover's paradise. Take your pick of swimming, fishing, hiking, hot air ballooning, whitewater rafting and canoeing (require permit). We stuck to hiking. There are about 66 miles of trails, the best are located on the south end. We were thrilled by the wildlife we saw on our hikes - deers, vultures, tons of birds and even a shy beaver.

Turkey vultures viewed from the Archery Field lookout point

A rainbow glistening in the sun

The majestic cliffs of Letchworth State Park

Lower Falls

Upper Falls

The Letchworth State Park truly deserves its title of the "Grand Canyon of the East"!

Finger Lakes - Corning Museum of Glass

2009-03-15T19:03:00.000+08:00

I am a big fan of Corningware. I especially love their range of Corelle plates because they are so light, durable and does not chip easily. So, when a fellow bed and breakfast guest at Ithaca raved about their visit to the Corning Museum of Glass, we decided to make the slight detour south west from Watkins Glen and headed to the town of Corning, home of Corning Inc. and the world famous Corning Museum of Glass

The museum is housed in a futuristic looking building, with lots of glass (naturally) which lets in natural lighting, giving it a sense of spaciousness and airiness.

Once inside, you're greeted by a modern glass artpiece which resembles the Greek mythological figure Medussa's hair of hissing serpents
There is so much to see and do at the Corning Museum that you could easily spend a whole day there. Take a look at their scheduled shows and tours and plan your visit around these. There are many beautiful works of glass that literally takes your breath away, ranging from the classical to the whimsical, dresses to fruits, modern to historical. Take your time to wander around the different rooms and appreciate the versatility of glass art.

You must catch one of the Hot Glass Shows. It is awesome to learn how the glassblowers create beautiful vases and bowls.

And then, if your creative juices are flowing, sign up for one of the glass making classes (it's not just for kids)
Perhaps one of my favourite section of the museum is the Interactive Exhibition where we got to try out cool glass gadgets!

The Corning Museum of Glass is an absolute delight. My only regret is that I couldn't buy a beautiful set of Corelle plates from their gift shop to bring home with me!

A Tour of the Finger Lakes Region, New York - Wine and Much More...

2009-03-09T15:50:00.003+08:00

"Finger Lakes" - I remember thinking to myself what a strange name! However, I soon found out that the Lakes (11 in total), which were carved by the glaciers in the last ice age got its name from its resemblance to the fingers of a human hand. How cool is that? The five major fingers (lakes) (from east to west) are Skaneateles, Cayuga, Seneca, Keuka and Canandaigua. If you're wondering why the names of the lakes are such tongue twisters, they're actually Native American (who were the original inhabitants in this region).

The Finger lakes is quiet and peaceful - a pleasant change from the hustle bustle of New York City. If you enjoy the cosy setting of a bed and breakfast, you will not be disappointed by the range of quality bed and breakfasts. Apart from its bountiful vineyards, numerous state parks and waterfalls dot the region. Because each lake is long and slender (like a human finger), and major towns are located at the north and south ends of the lakes, the best way to visit the region is to drive from east to west (or vice versa, covering the bottom (or top) of each lake and then heading up (or down) to cover the other end of the lake.

Our first stop was Cayuga Lake, where we discovered the delightful restaurant, Simply Red Bistro, located at Sheldrake Point Winery on the west bank of Cayuga Lake. We also took a short but pleasant hike at the Taughannock Falls State Park to the Taughnannock Falls which is higher than Niagara Falls at 215-feet. Despite its height, the volume of water flowing down the falls cannot match the mighty Niagara. Still, it is a beautiful attraction and well worth a visit.

We headed out westward to Seneca Lake next and stayed in the quaint town of Watkins Glen. I have to admit that the view of the Seneca Lake is my favourite of all the lakes we visited on this trip. It could be that we had beautiful weather on that day and witnessed a gorgeous sunset. We grabbed a bite at one of the restaurants by the lake and enjoyed the view. What a way to end the day.

Watkins Glen is also home to the Watkins Glen State Park, which is not-to-be missed. This 776 acre slate gorge, is the oldest and most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks. The Park has 19 waterfalls and awesome walking trails. This was my favourite hike and you'll see why:

Upon recommendation of our host from the Reading House B&B, we stopped by the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, a highly acclaimed German vineyard which was also recommended highly by Frommer's. Famous for its Riesling, we were not disappointed by the wine we tasted. However, we opted for a bottle of Gewürztraminer as it wasn't something we could get easily at home.

Our third stop was Keuka Lake, a small Y-shaped lake.

We stayed at the Village Tavern Inn, in the small quiet town of Hammondsport. The Village Tavern Restaurant serves good food. I thoroughly enjoyed the seafood paella. The next day, we visited Dr. Konstantin Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars. Set on the slopes of Keuka Lake, we enjoyed wine tasting with a view. The gentleman who served us was very friendly and we had a great time chatting. We couldn't resist buying a bottle of Rkatsiteli and Gewurztraminer to take back with us. The wines are excellent, especially if you like sweet fruity flavours.
Stay tuned for more of our Finger Lakes tour.

Words of Wisdom

2009-03-01T16:22:00.004+08:00

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers,pray for powers equal to your task"
Philip Brooks (Tentmaker.org)

Sometimes, all we need is a change in perspective to help us live life well. We can't always choose our circumstances, but we sure can choose how we respond to circumstances.

Valentine's Day at Rib Lee's

2009-02-17T15:00:00.004+08:00

Aaah...Valentine's Day. A day to celebrate romance. Flowers, chocolates, cosy, candle-lit dinners for two. OK, back to reality. The truth is there's nothing romantic about paying exorbitant prices for flowers during Valentine's Day. Cosy, candle-lit dinners for two? In the last few years, we've tried going out to some fancy restaurants with "compulsory" Valentine's Day set menus. But, how romantic can it be when the next table is just a mere-10 inches away? We've also celebrated Valentine's Day home-style, which is nice, except that someone has to do the cooking (me)and washing up (J)!

So, this year, we organised a Valentine's dinner with a few friends, at one of our favourite restaurants, Rib Lee's located in Hartamas. Since J & I discovered this restaurant last October, we've been back 4 times because we absolutely love the food and the fact that this restaurant serves pork! The six of us were seated at the balcony. Despite my initial fears that it would be hot without air-conditioning, it turned out to be a cool evening and we all had a great time.

Whenever we come to Rib Lee's we always have a tough time deciding what to eat because we really enjoy the dishes we've tried and want to order it again. At the same time, we also want to try the other options in the menu. Tough...Choices and decisions. Rib Lee's had a Valentine's Day Menu but also gave us the option of ordering ala carte from their regular menu. We decided to opt for a mix of the the tried and tested - Roast Lamb with Rosemary, Bourboun Ribs. Olio with Pork Croutons and the new - Caesar Salad, Smoked Duck Salad with Orange Slices, Risotto with Bacon, Smoked Duck Breast. For dessert, we picked their Valentine's special Strawberry Parfait as well as the Mud Pie and the Triffle. It was the perfect ending to our meal.

Our friends, who were first-timers at the Rib Lee's were very satisfied and vowed to return with their families (after all, we were celebrating Valentine's Day...so it was an adults only affair that night). The only downside to the evening is that 1) the Caesar Salad was rather ordinary; and 2) the service was rather haphazard. Somehow our requests rarely got executed the way we asked. We could tell the staff tried their best.. Still, the rest of the food more than made up for it. We'll definitely be back again, and again, and again...

It may not have been a romantic night in a traditional sense, but it was definitely a night of celebration - Good food in the company of good friends. What more could a gal ask for?

Rib Lee's
No. 40-1 Wisma CKL (1st Floor)
Jalan 23/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03-6201 0180

Note: My other favourite which is a must-try at Rib Lee's is their Roasted Pork Knuckle. Yumm...

Perseverance Pays Off!

2009-02-16T16:30:00.000+08:00

After I had written my last post, I had a personal experience with chillies and perseverance. Every Chinese New Year, we visit my aunt who lives down south. Her garden abounds with great bounties of vegetables - chillies, eggplants (brinjals), choy sum and siew pak choy. My aunt, bless her heart, always tells us to pluck the vegetables and bring them home, which we happily oblige.

We came back with so much chillies this year, we pickled the green chillies and blended the red chillies with garlic. Last year, we made fried green chili sauce. Nothing beats the taste of freshly grown, home-made chilli sauces and pickles.

Anyway, I remember moaning and telling my aunt how I attempted to grow the chili plant from the chilli seeds we got from her trees last year. I sighed. My chilli plant had lots of leaves, some occassional buds, but not a green chili in sight. Still, I continued to fertilise and water the plant with waning hopes that it may produce fruit one day. Imagine my surprise when I spotted a large green chili hanging on the branch when I watered the plant last Sunday. When I looked closer, I saw another one just behind it. I was thrilled... After about one year, my perseverance paid off. Looks like I'll be having some home-grown, freshly cut green chilli to accompany my dinner tonight! Can't wait to taste the fruits of my labour.

Perseverance

2009-02-13T17:40:00.003+08:00

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Marianne Williamson

Since I just wrote a post on Kess' blog on perseverance called "It's dogged as does it", it seems fitting to do a similar post. It is so easy to just give up when things don't go our way - when we don't get the promotion, when we lose our job, when someone stabs us on our back, the list goes on... We live in tough times. No one knows how long this downturn will last. The challenge is to rise up again when we fall and grow to be a stronger person.

Muhibbah (Unity)

2009-02-05T10:52:00.007+08:00

It was the third day of Chinese New Year and we were having breakfast at our local hangout. As I looked around, I noticed bright red Chinese New Year decorations adorning the ceiling and walls. Cheery "Gong Xi Gong Xi" songs playing over the speakers added more festivity to the place. No, we were not in a chinese coffee shop... We were in a mamak restaurant. Here, people from all races and walks of life gather for a teh tarik and roti canai. And because it was Chinese New Year, the restaurant owner decided to celebrate along with his fellow Chinese Malaysians.

It was the night of the eighth day of Chinese New Year (for those who are not familiar, Chinese New Year celebration spans over 15 days). Every year, my Hokkien neighbour hosts a fantastic Lion Dance show at his house, complete with acrobatics. Again, people from our neighbourhood from all races and walks of life turn up to witness the spectacular acrobatics of the agile Lion Dancers performing to the beat of the drums. I saw an Indian family. Both mother and daughter were wearing cheongsams.

There are far too many incidents of intolerance and irrational behaviours due to differences in cultures and beliefs. This Chinese New Year, I've had the opportunity to witness the true spirit of Muhibbah in our multi-cultural society. This is how we should celebrate unity in diversity.

"Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with, and perhaps the most dangerous thing for a society to be without."
William Sloane Coffin, Jr.

Mechanical breakdown

2009-01-23T21:02:00.003+08:00

We don't realise how much we rely on our appliances to make our life easier until it breaks down. Have you ever wondered which appliance you couldn't live without - even for 1 day? Well, over the past year or so, we've had a couple of mechanical breakdowns in our household appliances - TV, washing machine, air-conditioning, fridge. So which one can't we live without?

First off - the TV. The idiot box is very much a part of our rest and relaxation. But, we could live without it for a day. We can still entertain ourselves by reading or going to the movies.

Next, the washing machine. Another critical household appliance which prevents my hands from becoming a prune. I still remember my younger days when I used to have to help my parents wash the clothes by hand. It was no fun! But, when our machine was out of order for a few days, we still had other options. we sent my clothes to my mum's place for washing! On a worse case, there is always the good ol' kedai dobi or laundromat.

Air conditioning - In our hot Malaysian weather (especially in the last couple of days), this is another important appliance in most homes. With global warming, temparatures are soaring. How can we sleep without it? Well, when ours didn't work, we had to make do. Off with the quilt and on with the mosquito coil. Fortunately, when ours broke down, we had a spell of relatively cool weather. It also helps that we live near the hills, so temparature was at least 1 degree cooler.

And so, the winner is...the Fridge. Yes, this is the appliance we cannot live without. We had contemplated getting a bigger fridge to replace our 10 year-old fridge, but not so soon as we had just replaced our air-conditioning. Apparently, the fridge had other ideas. One night, the fridge compartment stopped working. When we discovered it in the morning, panic set in. What was I going to do with all my perishables? It didn't help that I had gone to the supermarket to stock up on groceries in view of the Chinese New Year holidays round the corner. Why oh why didn't we just get the fridge when we thought of it? We would have saved the hassle of finding temporary storage for my perishables and rushing madly to the electrical shops to get a fridge that could be delivered on that day itself. Then, there's the mad rush to unload the many bottles and jars of sauces and condiments and dried food from the old fridge when the delivery guy finally arrived with the fridge. But before we could breath a sigh of relief, let's not forget that the new fridge can't be turned on for 3 hours after delivery to allow the gas to settle.

Anyway, the moral of the story is this - If your fridge has passed the 10-year mark, get a new one whilst the old one still works to save yourself the hassle. Of course, if you're one of those people who doesn't cook a lot and doesn't have much food in your fridge apart from a couple of beers and some eggs, then it really doesn't matter. Otherwise, pencil this into your diary, which in our case is 2019!

Communication Breakdown

2009-01-19T09:17:00.003+08:00

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
George Bernard Shaw

When was the last time you had an argument with someone? What was the cause of it? Chances are it's due to communication breakdown.

J & I had gone to the trails at the hill for some exercise. At the start of the trails, he started to jog off and said something about meeting at the guardhouse. I wasn't too pleased. I thought that we were going to walk together, spend some quality time together. He didn't mention the run earlier when he asked if I wanted to go to the hills. Perhaps subconsciously, I ignored the signs when he strapped the heart monitor earlier. What is done is done. He was off before I could say "Aye" or "Nay".

Now, there are 2 guardhouses in the hills - One at the crossroad and the other downhill at the start of the trail. When I didn't see him at the cross road, I reasoned that since he ran, he would be ahead of me and he would be at the guardhouse downhill. To cut a long story short, he wasn't. I waited and waited, seething. As it was getting late and we had dinner plans, I headed home by myself. Meanwhile, J was waiting and searching for me at the guardhouse at the cross road. He back-tracked hoping to bump into me (which obviously didn't happen since I was waiting downhill).

This was a classic example of communication breakdown. Could we have avoided all the stress and frustration if we had communicated properly? I think so. If we had taken the time to communicate our expectations from the start or if we had taken the time to clarify our meeting place, we would have both enjoyed our exercise time more. Perhaps, we should heed the advice of the Greek philosopher, Epictetus who said “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

The Friends We Make In Our Journey...

2009-01-09T10:37:00.012+08:00

Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose. ~Tennessee Williams

When I was a kid, I remember one of the phrases we used often in school was "I don't want to friend you" whenever some kid offended us or didn't want to share something, or for whatever petty reasons. Of course, all was forgiven the next day, and we're best buddies again. As we grew up, we made friends at different stages of our lives. When we moved on to our next journey, some of these friendships drifted apart due to time and distance. Yet, for those moments when they were in our lives, they made a difference, be it temporary or permanent.

Then years later, we meet again. Last night was one of those special reunions. The four of us met at Cava, a Spanish restaurant located in Bangsar. With some friends, it feels like you've never been apart. Whilst we're not exactly the same people we were back when we first became friends (more gray hairs and a couple of pounds difference give and take - probably more give than take), deep down, we're not that different from who we were in high school, or college or university. And as Ralph Waldo Emerson so aptly puts it, "It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." .

Over good food (the Tapas, Tenderloin and Osso Bucco are highly recommended) and a glass of Chilean wine, we reminisce and laugh about the good old days (was it really that long ago?)- of weekend volleyball games and bus rides, of spaghetti bolognaise and Hard Rock Cafe. Memories forgotten are brought back to mind. We celebrate a birthday with a Chocolate Dream - if you're a chocoholic like me, this should not be missed! ("Happy Belated Birthday A!"). Perhaps, even more importantly, we celebrate life and friendships!

A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world. ~Lois Wyse

Words of Wisdom

2009-01-05T11:17:00.002+08:00

Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.
Marsha Petrie Sue

It's 2009 already. How time flies. At the start of a brand new year, let us be bold and face the new year with courage, hope and no regrets. Happy New Year!

Homemade Spaghetti Meatball Recipe

2008-12-29T13:12:00.003+08:00

I used to love the meatballs in Ikea. However, the last time I ordered it, I was disappointed to discover that the meatball was processed and had the texture of the pork meatball you would normally find in the Chinese porkball noodles. What happened to the chunky mince??? Anyway, after that disappointment, I decided to cook my own meatball. Usually, this would require a lot of work but I found a recipe where instead of frying the meatball, you could bake the meatballs instead. So, there is no need to slave over the stove. Just pop it into the oven.

Meatballs:
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
3 slices bread, crumbled (toast lightly and blend in food processor)
1 kilogram minced beef (can substitute with pork)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped parsley (can substitute with other herbs - fresh herbs preferred but if not availble, can use dried herbs)
1 clove garlic, smashed, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

In a medium bowl, beat eggs lightly; add milk and bread and let stand for about 5 minutes. Add minced beef, onion, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper; mix gently until well blended. Shape into about 24 meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place meatballs in a generously greased large shallow baking pan. Bake meatballs at 220°C for 25 minutes.

If you wish to serve spaghetti with the meatball, you can whip up this classic tomato sauce to accompany the spaghetti. In my earlier days, I used to buy the spaghetti sauce in a jar. Then J & I "outgrew" the tomato-based sauce and moved on to olio. Since I discovered this simple recipe, we have re-discovered our taste for this classic sauce.

Tomato Sauce
1 kilogram ripe plum tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup snipped fresh basil, oregano, or parsley

Peel, seed, and finely chop the fresh plum tomatoes. Or, if you're lazy, like me, skip the first 2 steps. Heat oil over medium heat, sauté onion until tender. When it just begins to turn golden, add remaining sauce ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, if necessary.

Spaghetti
Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Serve spaghetti topped with meatballs in sauce; sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Simply Red Bistro, Sheldrake Point, New York

2008-12-19T10:30:00.001+08:00

New York City was exciting, but after a week, we were happy to leave the bustling city to explore the rest of New York State. We headed towards the lovely wine region of Finger Lakes. Our first stop - Ithaca, located on Lake Cayuga. Based on the glowing recommendation from our bed and breakfast hostess, we decided to drive to the Sheldrake Point, a winery in Ovid, about 20 minutes away from Ithaca to have our dinner at Simply Red Bistro. It was worth it. Apart from its great location by the lakeside, we had one of our best meals here during our New York trip.

We were there on a Monday night, which happens to be their Southern Night with live music. We were there early but the place was already packed. Fortunately, we managed to get a spot at the bar. Do make reservations if you plan to visit to avoid any disappointments.

J opted for the Country Style Pork Ribs whilst I had the Creole Seafood Jambalaya. The pork ribs were so flavourful and melts in your mouth. It was definitely better than the one we had in New York city! I've never tasted Jambalaya before and I was not disapppointed. The seafood- shrimps, scallops, mussels were so fresh. Cooked together with chorizo and wild rice in seafood stock, it was a meal to be had! The cornbread...Yummy!

We were really full after our main meals but we were told that the desserts were delicious and should not be missed. So, we ordered the Slow Ass Ginger Spice Apple Cake (which was highly recommended) and the Dark Chocolate Capuccino Mousse (I can't resist anything with dark chocolate). I'm glad we heeded the advice as the desserts were absolutely wonderful!

We really enjoyed our meal at the Simply Red. Not only did we meet talented Chef Sam Izzo (we were amazed at how young she was), we also enjoyed great conversation with the bartender and the gentleman we sat next to at the bar. Good food, great conversation - an unforgettable experience all round.

Simply Red Bistro
7448 Rte 153, Ovid, NY 14521
607 532 9401 ext 111

Christmas Thoughts

2008-12-17T09:34:00.004+08:00

Christmas is not about Santa
Nor is it about presents
Jesus is the reason
For the Christmas season

Every mall is decked with bright cheery Christmas trees and decorations. Crowds of shoppers doing their last minute Christmas shopping. We dream of turkey and pudding, and wonder about the presents we'll be getting under the Christmas tree. While it is wonderful to exchange presents and cards and spend time catching up with family and friends, let us remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. It was this time more than 2000 years ago when a baby boy was born to a virgin, a gift from God to His people - a Saviour to redeem us from our sins.

Rising above the pain

2008-12-12T10:33:00.006+08:00

Amidst a heartbreaking tragedy, a man rises above his pain and forgives. "I don't blame him, I don't have any hard feelings. I know he did everything he could," Don Yoon said. He asks people to pray for the pilot. Yoon lost his entire family - his wife, 2 baby girls and mother-in-law when a fighter jet crashed into his home in San Diego on Monday.

I was in tears when I saw the press conference two days ago. Here was a man who have just lost his loved ones to a tragic accident. No one would blame him if he demanded for justice and accountability from the authorities. Yet he did no such thing. Instead he exhibited such compassion for the pilot and deep belief in God. May God's grace and comfort hold him up in this time of sorrow.

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Words of Wisdom

2008-12-06T16:08:00.002+08:00

Sunset at Santorini,Greece

"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator"
Mahatma Gandhi

After witnessing the other night's smiling moon phenomenon and many beautiful sunsets, I can't help but be reminded once again about how great God is. I am in awe.

Smiling Moon

2008-12-02T10:20:00.004+08:00

Last night, I received an SMS from a friend. It said "Go look at the moon. Quick. It is smiling back." I thought it was a really strange message but decided to go out to the garden and check it out. True enough, there was a sleeping crescent moon and two stars above it. It looked exactly like a smiley face. What a wonderful phenomenon! J took out the camera and tripod and managed to capture it. There is no photo manipulation. It is exactly the way it looked last night.

Discount Broadway Tickets in New York

2008-11-25T17:00:00.002+08:00

I love watching live performances. So, when I was in New York, I couldn't pass on the opportunity to catch Broadway shows. I discovered that I could get half price tickets via the TKTS booth, so that means I could catch two shows for the price of one!

However, if there is a show that you really want to catch and the shows are really good or are fairly new, then chances of getting tickets at the TKTS booth are slim or non-existent (for e.g. Wicked and Lion King). Thanks to a friend, we managed to get Lion King tickets from the Minskoff theatre at full price. At least, we didn't have to pay a premium from third party websites. The Lion King was awesome - right down from the creative animal costumes to the jungle props to the world-class music (who can forget the haunting tune of Elton John's "Circle of Life"). Lion King was worth the top dollar paid!

In New York city, there are 2 TKTS booths:
1) Times Square - Located "under the red steps" In Father Duffy Square on
Broadway and 47th Street.Sells day-of-performance tickets only
2) South Street Seaport - Located at the corner of Front and John Streets, near the rear of the Resnick/ Prudential Building at 199 Water Street. Sells tickets to evening performances on the day of the performance, and matinee tickets the day before.
Although, it's located downtown, we went to the South Street Seaport as the booth opens at 11am whilst the Times Square booth only opens at 3pm. Do go earlier as the queue usually starts before the booth opens. Be prepared with a couple of show options because you don't know what shows will be on sale that day.

However, there is still a good selection of shows on sale. We managed to get really good seats (on the 3rd row) for Hair Spray. We were so close we could see the sweat on the faces of the performers. The show was very entertaining. There were groovy dance moves and catchy tunes. We found ourselves tapping our feet and rooting for Tracy Turnblad (everyone loves to see the underdog succeed)!

I really wanted to catch Mama Mia. Unfortunately, there were no available discount tickets on the days we went to the TKTS booth. That's the luck of the draw. Fortunately, Mama Mia (the London production) is coming to Malaysia in December. So, I will get to see it after all - at full price. Still, there are some things worth splurging on!

Korean Proverb

2008-11-09T10:06:00.003+08:00

Words have no wings but they can fly a thousand miles.

Korean proverb

I was just in Seoul and was inspired to share a Korean proverb. Blogs are a classic example of this proverb. Words on our blogs traverse across continents and time differences!

Cruising Around New York City

2008-10-28T21:10:00.014+08:00

After a gruelling 20-hour flight, jet-lagged and bleary eyed, J & I decided that the best way to stay awake on our first day in New York was to go on the Circle Line Cruise. A bit of fresh air was just what we needed to combat the 12 hour time difference. So off we went to Pier 83, West 42nd Street, NYC to purchase our tickets. Whilst we were queuing at the ticket booth, a local who was ahead of us approached the couple in front of us and ourselves to offer a discount coupon he had cut from the newspapers. We were pleasantly surprised by this stranger's kind gesture and thought that it was a wonderful welcoming gift. (Later, I decided to pay this gesture forward and gave away my Woodbury coupons which I didn't use to strangers who could use it. Isn't it amazing how one person can affect so many others.)

We opted for the 3-hour cruise which took us around Manhattan Island on the 3 rivers (Hudson, East and Harlem). We cruised pass the 5 boroughs (Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx), below the 7 major bridges (including the famous Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges) and saw over 25 NY icons, including a close up of the Statue of Liberty. As we were there when the New York City waterfalls (designed by Olafur Elliasaon) were on display, we were able to enjoy these four man-made falls close-up. The river cruise also offered some unique sights which we would not have seen on a bus tour. (Check out the picture of the train carriages). What a lovely way to spend a lazy day in New York city.

New York City waterfalls

Manhattan Bridge

United Nations Statue Of Liberty

New Jersey

All forms of water transportation

Fancy a cruise???

Need a water taxi to cross over the river???

How about a ferry across to Staten Island???

Old train carriages are laid to rest...

Words of Wisdom

2008-10-24T16:40:00.001+08:00

"I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career"
Gloria Steinem

I guess it's true. It's usually the women who grapple with this issue, especially if they have kids. Maybe it's in the genetic make-up of a woman, or perhaps it's due to society's expectation of a woman's role in the family. Whatever the reason, I believe each woman has to choose her own path.

I have known women with children who work full time and known others who gave up their careers to look after their children. Some have gone back to work after their children are grown. They have struggled to re-learn skills and acquire new skills before re-joining the workforce. Some countries have a system in place to assist these women. In other countries, you have to do it on your own.

It's tough. But women have prevailed. Eleanor Roosevelt puts it aptly when she said "A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water"

Sanity Tips For Working From Home

2008-10-21T16:15:00.006+08:00

I came across an article from the News Straits Times on working from home tips. I've extracted and posted it below:

1) Get Out
Getting out of the house once a day is a great way to energize yourself and prevent boredom.
Comment: It is easy to be be stuck at your desk when it's a busy period. I'm glad that I have Kess. Going for walks with her gets me out of the house twice a day for exercise.

2) Workspace
Keep your work place separate from the rest of the house. By keeping the area you work out of sight, it is easier to relax when you're not working. It also prevents family members from picking things up or moving projects you could be working on.
Comment: This tip was the reason why I decided to designate a separate room as my home office as opposed to working in the living or dining room. Besides, it also helps put me in a working frame of mind without the distraction of the TV.

3) Take Short Breaks
By taking a few minutes off to load laundry, read the papers or do the dishes, you will be able to relax and come back refreshed.
Comment: Taking short breaks applies whether you work in an office or at home. Our brains and body needs a short break to recharge. Of course, the infamous long tea breaks typically associated with certain organisations does not fall into this category.

4) Hours
Decide on number of acceptable hours to work each day and stick with it.
Comment: I agree that one should be disciplined, especially when working from home. However, the beauty of working from home is having the flexibility. So, if something else pops up, I would just make up for it another time - as long as I can meet my deadline. One just need to be sensible with time management.

Words of Wisdom

2008-10-10T08:30:00.000+08:00

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” Unknown

Last week, I was busy reorganising my study to become a proper home office. This required planning the most efficient work area and acquiring new bookcases for filing. At the end, I felt a satisfaction knowing that the time spent organising was well spent.

Best New York View - Empire or The Rock?

2008-10-08T18:48:00.000+08:00

I have always had a soft spot for the Empire State Building ever since I watched the movie Sleepless in Seattle. It was such a classic scene when Meg Ryan's character was supposed to finally meet with Tom Hank's character at the top of the Empire State Building after a build-up of near misses through out the movie. So when we went to NY, I really wanted to go to the top of the Empire State Building.

In the end, I opted for Top of the Rock based on visitor reviews on Frommers as well as recommendation from a New Yorker friend. Whilst the Empire is higher than the Rock, you get the best of both worlds with the Rock. You get to see great NY views as well as front row seat view of the Empire itself (see photo on the top left).

To top it off, there was hardly any queue to get into the Rock, unlike the Empire. Our friends who opted for the Empire queued under the hot summer sun for 3 hours. We were in and up in less than 15 minutes! The ride on the lift is really cool. You have to ride it to believe it.

Entrance of the Rock

Magnificent chandelier at the staircase

Souvenier shot to remember our visit

A little bit of history

View of Central Park

Perfect Timing

2008-10-03T16:31:00.002+08:00

Ecclesiastes 3:11
"He has made everything beautiful in its time..."

God's timing is always perfect. Just as I was ready to end my self-gifted sabbatical, He provided me the job that I was looking for. Now, I'm working from home and am happy that I don't have to get stuck in traffic commuting to work. Truly He has made everything beautiful in its time!

My Favourite New York Shopping Spots

2008-09-21T18:08:00.005+08:00

I love shopping in New York. There are bargains galore during the summer sale period that will drive any shopaholic crazy! Here is a list of my favourite New York shopping spots:

1) Macy's Herald Square

For its central location (151 West 34th Street), Macy's is my pick for city shopping. This Macy's is located in historic charming buildings (yes, it spans over more than 1 building) and claims to be the world's largest store. If you're an international visitor, head up to the Visitors Service Centre to apply for a Welcome International Savings Card, which offers 11% savings in all Macy's stores for 30 days after validation. The savings also applies for items already discounted! There is a great selection of branded names. I loved their Clearance sections and was pleased with my purchase of DKNY jeans and Le Sport Sac bags at great prices.

2) Century 21

Em & I stumbled upon Century 21 (22 Cortlandt Street) when we ventured downtown to buy discounted Broadway tickets (a subject of another post yet to be written...). Em had read about it in a NY brochure and we decided to check it out. What a find! They stock designer merchandise at bargain prices. During the weekend, "Fashion Worth Fighting For"their motto comes to life. The place is jam-packed with locals and tourists rummaging (or fighting ...) haphazardly through stocks of designer goods ranging from clothes, bags, shoes, electrical, household, etc, etc. You really require lots of patience to shop as some sections, especially the women's clothing area tends to be rather dishevelled. But it is well worth the reward. Count on making more than 1 trip!

3) Woodbury Common Premium Outlet

Set in the lush Central Valley, about an hour's drive out of Manhattan, Woodbury Common is the mother of shopping centres! With 220 premium outlet stores which offers fantastic savings, you may not even notice the scenic backdrop of the surrounding green hills. And if you want to save even more, register online to join their VIP club to get exclusive online coupons and a free VIP coupon book. One word of advice. Go early to find a good parking spot, wear comfortable shoes and then shop till you drop. There is something for everyone - from Coach (there was even a queue to go into the outlet) to Corningware, Osh Kosh to Brook Brothers, Samsonite to Tag Heuer. This is a shopping paradise!

After one full day of traipsing from 1 outlet to another, it was so good to be able to relax at the Inn at Stony Creek, a bed and breakfast located in Warwick, about 20 minutes drive from Woodbury (for more pictures, read my post on bed and breakfasts) . We just kicked off our shoes, sat on the porch and enjoyed nature's bright fire-fly show and listened to the symphony of crickets. Then, we headed up to our cosy room in this lovingly restored historical farmhouse for a well-deserved rest. The next morning, we were treated to a scrumptious breakfast of oven-baked french toast and sausage patties. What a lovely way to end a shopping spree!

4) Waterloo Premium Outlet

You would have thought that after all that shopping, we would have had enough. But during our travel around the scenic Finger Lakes Region, we couldn't resist dropping by Waterloo Premium Outlet on Route 318, Waterloo. Somehow, we managed to clear some space in our car to add more shopping bags. After that, we had to call it a day. No more shopping for me until for a long while...Well, at least I got all my Christmas shopping done :-)

Words of Wisdom

2008-09-18T11:12:00.005+08:00

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
Winston Churchill

Following through my last post on our visit to Philea Home, I wanted to share a quote on giving. Giving isn't just about money. It's also giving of our love and time. In the busy world we live in, we are sometimes so preoccupied with getting more. Sometimes it feeds itself, the more we get, the more we want. And in the quest of making a living, we forget to make a life. We have no time and energy to give to our loved ones, let alone strangers. So, take a step back to reflect and make a life by giving.

It Is More Blessed To Give

2008-09-17T09:58:00.003+08:00

Last Sunday, this phrase became more than just a phrase to me. Our cell group visited Philea Home, an orphanage in Kapar, Klang. Our intention was to bless the 20 kids with a special meal and gifts. We were even able to obtain sponsorship from a hypermarket to donate baking goods as the home volunteers wanted to bake cookies during the festive season to raise funds. So, after church service, off we went with cakes, games and goody bags in our cars. When we arrived, the McDonalds' meals were already there (McD's agreed to make a special delivery even though the home was outside their delivery area). The kids were really excited as they hardly ever get such a treat.

We spent the afternoon singing songs and playing games with the kids. They had so much fun (we did too, despite the sweltering afternoon heat) and thrived on the attention. After the activities, we had cakes for tea, another special treat for them. By then, their curiosities got the better of them. They couldn't resist peeking into the bag of goodies we had lined up by the door. As each bag had a name, they were looking to see which bag was theirs...Kids will be kids! When we called each child individually, it was a pleasure to see the sheer joy in their faces as they came up to receive their goody bag.

Truly, it is more blessed to give than to receive. We went with the intention to bless the children. In the end, we were the ones who were blessed.

My friend Doris captured some amazing shots of the children. Check out her post on our visit to Philea.

My First Award

2008-09-13T13:30:00.003+08:00

Dear Sweet Jasmine has given me my very first award. It is nice to be able to share this with Kess' blog (given by Uncle Bok Jae). What an honour. I want to pass this on to:

Congratulations!

Words of Wisdom

2008-09-10T10:09:00.002+08:00

"Followers may doubt what their leaders say, but they usually believe what they do."
John C. Maxwell

How true it is that action speaks louder than words. How sad it is that a majority of our political leaders have yet to learn this truth...

My encounter with the firefighters

2008-09-09T11:40:00.005+08:00

After my post on the NY firefighters, I actually had an encounter with the Malaysian men in red yesterday. No, there wasn't a fire at my place...Thank goodness!

It all started on late Sunday night when we heard mewing coming from the airwell up on our roof. We also heard a thudding sound as if someone (or something) was knocking against the door of the airwell. Needless to say, it wasn't a restful night...

The next morning, we heard the mewing again. This time, it sounded desparate. Obviously, the kitty couldn't figure out how to get off the roof (typical!) We had to do something. Hubby had to go off to work. I wasn't brave enough to climb up the stairwell. What was I to do? My neighbour suggested I call the Bomba (Malay word for firemen). They sent a team within 20 minutes. I was amazed at their efficiency!

They came equipped with their animal pole and thick leather gloves. Had a quick chat with the friendly firefighters and found out that cat rescues from the roof are a common occurence. Sometimes when the firefighters show up, the cats decide to "rescue themselves"...Since there was silence, they thought that this may be the case. But they were good sports and went up to check anyway.

They found one frightened and angry kitten, hiding behind the water tank. It must have found its way through a gap and couldn't get out again. Now I understand why they had thick gloves. The lil' kitty was spitting, snarling and scratching like crazy! Mid-way, the frightened kitty poo-ed, leaving a trail of poo in my home! Sigh...

It wasn't pleasant cleaning up the poo and wiping my floor throroughly with disinfectant. It cost us money to call in the pest control to fumigate the roof against fleas (our neighbour's home was infested with fleas after a cat gave birth on their roof). We didn't want to risk flea bites.

But, we were grateful to the men in red. Often times, we don't think very highly of public service. This team of firefighters did a wonderful job rescuing the kitten. Not only that, they performed this public service cheerfully! Well done, to our Malaysian firefighters!

How to say Thank You...

2008-09-06T12:04:00.002+08:00

I did a post on "How to say Thank You" in different languages on Kess' "It's a Dog's Life" blog. Thanks to my blogger friends from all over the world, the initial list of 4 has now expanded to 20. So, if you want to learn some new languages, check out the post. If you know of new languages not already listed, drop a comment and I'll add it to the list.

New York, New York - My impressions of the city

2008-09-04T18:34:00.003+08:00

I can never watch CSI NY, the Nanny, Project Runway, Sleepless in Seattle (remember the scene where Meg Ryan finally meets Tom Hanks at the top of the Empire State Building after missing each other for most parts of the movie) or a host of other TV shows and movies the same way again! I never realised how many programs out there that are filmed in NY! It is exciting to be able to recognise the icons of NY city and say I've been there!

NY Icons

Statue of Liberty

Empire State Building (viewed from Rockefeller Centre)

Central Park (viewed from Rockefeller Centre)Broadway - The Lion King

Brooklyn Bridge

NY is by far the busiest city I've ever been to. People everywhere. Locals going about their own business, tourists gawking at the famous sights. It's a city where you can be anonymous if you choose to because it is so easy to get lost in the sea of colourful faces. Yes, NY is a cultural melting pot. It doesn't matter what colour or race, you'll feel right at home. Another thing about NY, it's a city that never sleeps!

People, people everywhere

Times Square - midnight

Canal Street Subway Station

One of the unique aspects of NYC is the firefighters. We never failed to see the fire engines whizzing past every single day (and night) we were there. They're kept really busy!

Firefighters

Tribute to the brave firefighters who perished in the line of duty

New York is truly an amazing city! There are so many facets to this fascinating city, which I'm sure the locals can attest to. As a visitor, I am glad to have tasted a glimpse of NY life, if only for a few days.

Words of Wisdom

2008-09-03T14:32:00.003+08:00

Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.- Oscar Wilde

Everyone makes mistakes. But, if we learn from our mistakes, then we become "experienced" people!

Bed and Breakfast - An Alternative to Motels and Hotels

2008-08-29T17:13:00.002+08:00

I discovered my first bed and breakfast, Ashton Gate in Tasmania, Australia. I loved it! So did my mum. She still remembers the delicious breakfast! Since then, whenever I travel, I try to look out for bed and breakfasts to stay in.The best way to find a B&B is to check out the local B&B directory (which Frommers will normally provide). And as I've mentioned in my Top 3 Travel Guide post, check out reviews in Trip Advisor. I also like to view pictures of the B&B so that I know what to expect.

How do you know if you would enjoy staying at a bed and breakfast?

You love meeting new people. Apart from meeting the host, usually, you would have breakfast together with other guests at the dining table. At the end of breakfast, you'll be amazed at how much you've learnt about the other guests.
You appreciate old houses. Most B&Bs are restored old homes and lovingly furnished with antiques.

Inn at Stony Creek, Warwick, New York

You cherish the personal touch. Each room is unique. The better B&Bs will also provide chocolates and toiletries.

Hillcrest Inn - Niagara Falls, New York

You want to go local. The hosts are more than happy to recommend local places to visit and local restaurants for dining. We have not been dissapointed by the recommendations!

Sheldrake Point Lakeside Bistro, Finger Lakes, New York

You don't mind walking up stairs with your luggage (or if you're lazy like us, leave your suitcases in the car and just bring up a small overnight bag).

You relish a good cooked breakfast. When we were in New York, we really enjoyed the cooked breakfasts served in the B&Bs. (The complimentary bagel and cream cheese served in some motels pales in comparison. Some hotels don't even provide complimentary breakfast)

Breakfast Menu - Inn at Stony Creek, Warwick, New York

B&Bs are not for those who:

Require room service.
Want to sleep in or leave early (Most B&Bs serve breakfast between 8.30-9.00am).
Want to party all night.
Prefer to keep to themselves.
Must have a television. Not all B&Bs have television and cable. So, if you're a TV die-hard fan, check first.

After one bad experience in Victoria, Canada, we try to avoid B&Bs with too many rooms. Sometimes the host may not be able to cope with too many guests. We actually missed our tour as the host could not get breakfast ready in time. Other than that, we've totally enjoyed our stays in the B&Bs and our interactions with the hosts and other guests. It is an eye-opener experience. After all, one of the best thing about travelling is to learn about other people and cultures. What better way to do so than to talk to people?

Chinese Stir Fried Beef with Ginger and Spring Onion

2008-08-26T09:57:00.005+08:00

It's been a while since I did a recipe post. Since Kess's blog had a post entitled Ginger and Beef (if you're wondering why a dog blog has this heading, click and check it out), this ties in nicely with that. This dish is comfort food for me. Simple and delicious.

Ingredients

400 gm beef steak
1 tsp light brown sugar
1 tbsp light soya
2 tsp Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
2 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tsp cornflour
2-3 stalks of spring onion (scallion)
A few small pieces of ginger
3 tbsp vegetable oil

Method

Slice the beef into thin slices.

Marinate the beef with sugar, soy sauce, wine and corn flour for about 30 minutes.

Cut the spring onion into short sections. Slice the ginger into thin slices.

Heat the oil and stir fry the ginger until golden. Add the beef and stir fry until the colour changes.

Add the oyster sauce and spring onion. Blend well and serve.

A reflection on life

2008-08-24T08:00:00.003+08:00

Niagara Falls, New York

Today, I am thankful for the life God has given me.

Psalm 139: 1-18

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because
I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together
in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake, I am still with you. "

Thank you, Lord.

Words of Wisdom

2008-08-20T12:02:00.005+08:00

"What happens outwardly in your life is not as important as what happens inside you" Rick Warren

Everyone goes through life with problems. Yet, not everyone faces life's challenges the same way. Some become bitter. Some become better. The real battle is really within us. Someone hurts us. Do we choose to harbour bitterness against the person or do we choose to forgive? Tragedy occurs. Do we grieve for a moment and then choose to go on with life or do we dwell in grief?

Joni Eareckson Tada is an inspirational figure. She became a quadriplegic after a diving accident in 1967. After two years of rehabilitation, Joni re-entered the community with new skills and a fresh determination to help others in similar situations. “My church made a huge difference in my family’s life as they demonstrated the love of God in practical ways,” says Joni. Joni founded Joni and Friends, an organization accelerating Christian ministry in the disability community.

What a difference God can make in our lives! With God's strength, we can overcome.

Isaiah 61:3 "and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."

The Simple Pleasures of Life

2008-08-15T16:14:00.007+08:00

I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex. Oscar Wilde

In the midst of crazy schedules, gridlock traffic, increasing prices (for everything!) and the general madness of life, it is good for the soul to take time to appreciate the simple pleasures of life. Yesterday, I was blessed to experience two simple pleasures of life.

During the day, I spent some time with little C, a precocious 3 going on 4-year old. We were hanging out at the children's pool. The wind blew some leaves on to the pool. Now, we adults would either ignore this or be annoyed that the pool was now littered with leaves. But not this little boy. He started a game of collecting the leaves (and even went to the extent of gathering the leaves by the pool deck and spreading them in the water! Not sure if the pool cleaner appreciated that!). We then had a game of hide and seek with the leaves whereby we took turns to "hide" the leaves in the water whilst the other person would have to seek the leaves. Later, we created little fountains with our hands at the mini waterfall in the pool. Aahh...the simple pleasures of life - a little boy and his imagination.

The essence of pleasure is spontaneity. Germaine Greer

My second encounter took place later that night. J & I met up with a family we knew when we lived in Bangkok. The Kohs were one of the first friends we made when we first moved to Bangkok and really helped us settle in the place we called home for 1.5 years. Despite more than 10 years age gap, our friendship bloomed. Conversation flowed over dinner as if we were never apart. With some people, you just pick up where you left off without any effort. We really are blessed to count the Kohs as our friends. The simple pleasures of life - true friends.

A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart. ~Author Unknown

My Top 3 Travel Guides - Don't Leave Home Without It

2008-08-12T19:46:00.004+08:00

I've never been a "tour group" type of traveller. Somehow the thought of waking up at an unearthly hour every morning to go on the bus by 7am, long bus journeys with only photo stops at famous sights, meals at tourist-catered restaurants isn't my cup of tea. For people who don't want to worry about planning a holiday, tour groups is the way to go. However, I much prefer a free and easy type of travel which means a lot more preparation for each holiday. Fortunately, with the internet, one can plan an entire holiday from the comfort of home without the aid of a travel agent.

My top 3 travel tools for planning a holiday are as follows:

Frommers is an excellent starting point for on-line research on a holiday destination. Unlike some other travel guides, Frommers actually has a fairly comprehensive on-line site. So, I could actually plan an entire holiday itinerary without purchasing the guide book. However, I do highly recommend getting the destination book to bring along on the trip as it comes in pretty handy for dining and sightseeing suggestions. I find their "What to do in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 1 week" very useful for planning my itinerary. Most of their suggestions are spot-on. I also like the discussions on their Travel Forum as I can learn from other people's questions and experience. Frommers will also provide the URL for the official destination website which should also be checked out.

Once I've decided on an itinerary, I use Trip Advisor to evaluate accomodation options. Bear in mind that different people have different opinions and expectations. I find accomodations with more reviews, both good and bad provide a more rounded view. Whilst there is a risk that some reviews may be "engineered", I think that eventually the truth will come out as the person who may have been influenced by a "positive" review will post a negative review if the place did not meet up to their expectations. Again, my own experience with the accomodations reviewed by Trip Advisor have been mostly positive.

Once I've decided on where to go and stay, I use Map Quest to provide specific directions for my driving holidays. Whilst the car rental company will provide a state map, Map Quest has proven to be invaluable again and again for accurate points to point directions. It provides distance and driving times which is useful for planning my itinerary. Together with estimates of petrol/gas prices, this is a usefel tool for budgeting for the fuel expense.

There you have it - my top 3 travel guides which I don't leave home without whenever I travel!

Home Sweet Home

2008-08-11T14:03:00.005+08:00

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. ~Lin Yutang

What a true saying! Whilst I love to travel, after being away from home for 3 weeks and sleeping on different beds and unfamiliar pillows, it is so good to come home and rest my head on my old familiar pillow. There truly is no place like home (and my own bed)!

Thanks to Blogger's Post Options, I was able to prepare some posts before my trip and schedule it whilst I was away. Cool, huh!

Food for Thought

2008-08-04T21:12:00.000+08:00

I received this via email from a friend. Provoking food for thought.

A Message by George Carlin
The paradox of our time in history
is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
wider freeways , but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment,
more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,
drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired,
read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever,
but we communicate even less

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character,
steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands,
overweight bodies, and pills that does everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you,
and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones,
because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe,
because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you,
because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it.
A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment
for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak!
And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. and always remember:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Words of Wisdom

2008-07-28T09:00:00.000+08:00

The Bible contains a wealth of wisdom. This week, I've selected a passage from 1 Corinthians 13 on love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

When I reflect on the characteristics of love mentioned in the passage, I realise that this standard of love has high expectations. I confess that I often fall short of this standard, especially with my loved ones. Have you noticed that often, we are more impatient and unkind with our loved ones that we are with strangers or acquaintances? Let us pray that by the grace of God we will be able to love with this kind of love.