As I Sit Here...9

As I sit here, reading Sally Anne Morris’s ‘Trick or Treat’, I find myself noticing the last sentence in this paragraph; “Lucy nodded back self-consciously, aware of her puffy eyes and swollen nose. She was not a good-looking crier.” :weep:

I have come across that particular or similar line a few times in my fiction-reading history and it makes me wonder, (1) Should we be crying nicely? (2) Can we cry and maintain our immaculate face and make-up?

I mean, you cry when you’re sad, right? (Well, most of the time, I don’t count the times you cry from laughing so hard). So when you’re sad and you’re crying, won’t tears flow down your eyes? And don’t your nose and cheeks start to turn pink? Also, don’t your face kind of scrunch up from all that sorrow, anguish, pain, whatnot? When all that is happening, can you actually maintain that perfect facial expression? :struggle:

I've seen myself cry before and trust me, it's not a pretty sight, hahaha! Why on Earth would I want to cry prettily anyway? Maybe it would look good on my resume, "Can cry prettily." I should get hired pretty fast, huh? ;-)

The Ugly Girl-ling

It's hard not to feel like the ugly duckling of the bunch when you're constantly surrounded by smoking hot chicas all the time. I mean, yeah, people might tell you that "Oh, you're pretty" or "Don't be silly, you're attractive too" but these are what people say to you, who, let's face facts, are usually your friends and family. But how about what you yourself see when you go out?

Case in point. The girls that I usually hang out with are all lovely (let's focus on physical beauty for the meantime, alrite, but that's not to say they're not lovely inside too. Don't put words in my mouth :X-P: ). Anyway, whenever I'm out with them, it's hard not to notice the stares and looks they get from the opposite sex. And it's not those leery 'I-wanna-get-in-your-pants' stares, it's those 'Wow, what an attractive woman. I would like to get to know her' looks :inlove:.

And sometimes it doesn't stop at the stares, they even get guys coming up to talk to them :hypnotized:. A foreigner actually went up to one of my girl friends right on the streets and said, "You're beautiful." Yeah, yeah, you might be thinking the guy just wants to test his luck but the point is, that totally random comment from a random guy made her feel so much more beautiful and appreciated as a woman. If I actually take the time to relate every single approach my girl friends and cousins have had from guys, I would have to make an entirely new blog.:eek:

When I look at each and every one of the girls I usually go out with, I kind of understand why guys are so attracted to them. Like with my friends L and M, L is the Chinese beauty with a beautiful singing voice and a really addictive laughter while M is this tall and thin dark beauty who looks really good in skirts and has beautiful eyes. My best friend E has this cute round face which lights up whenever she smiles or laughs and has really long silky hair (she managed to turn the heads of the male employees at One Utama's Live It Up! recently).

As for my cousins, we have A who has this captivating wavy hair, lovely body figure and a face that simply attracts attention and wolf-whistles. Then there's S, the diva of the group, who is always immaculate in her dressing and her make-up, looking all hot and sizzling no matter where she goes. Let's not forget I, whom I am always thankful she's wearing a tudung (head scarf) for she'll just knock out every man in her sight with her no-mercy combo of long fairytale wavy brown hair, fair skin, petite body and very expressive face. And last but not least is Z, who is the quiet one of the bunch, but it is that quiet wisdom and silent sense of humour that emits from her adorable face that is so attractive (she has a very cute laugh too).

Okie, for the sake of argument (because I know I'll have some family members protesting), here's how I am; I am one of two types, depending on my mood, which are either the gangster jeans-and-jacket girl or the gothic nothing-but-black girl, which apparently some guys find totally scary and unapproachable. :-?

I'm not saying I'm jealous or envious of them (truthfully I'm not, my family and God knows that very well) O:-). I'm actually really proud of them, even more so with their individual attitudes and personalities. But sometimes no matter how hard your family (or you yourself) tries to make you see that you're beautiful in your own way, it's just hard to feel good about yourself when time after time, the attention is on them and hardly ever on you :wilt:, not that I'm the attention-seeker type, mind you. Just feeling kind of down after recent events.

So, to the family who tries so hard to make me believe in myself, I do once in a while but this post is written so that you can actually see why I think the way I think. And yeah, this is how I think most of the time. :-D And please don't go into the whole 'Girl, you know you are each special in your own way' lecture because I've heard it so many times, I know it by heart. :laugh: This is just my way of letting loose of some emotional stress, that's all, nothing more. :victory:

The Dealt Hand

Sometimes life deals you a hand where you have no idea which action to take. Should you fold and live to gamble another day or should you take the risk and play the round, hoping that you won't lose much or at all?

There are times when the hand you are dealt with looks good but not good enough for you to know for sure that you're going to win. You can decide to play it out and hope to chance, luck, God, whoever, whichever, that you would win the round. But if your confidence is kind of shaky, then maybe it's better for you to fold and hold out until you are dealt with a hand that you are much more comfortable with.

Then again, some people would say that it's not the dealt hand that determines the win or lose, it's the person holding the hand. Even though it's a losing hand, someone who knows how to handle it would make the most of whatever was given, or even better, someone who is clever would be able to turn the losing hand into a winning one.

So which one am I?

In my younger years, I usually play with whatever hand I was dealt with. No matter how bad or good it looked, my motto was always, "Go with the flow." I mean, there's got to be a reason why God dealt me this hand, right? Why not just play the round on the off chance that something good might come out of it. True, I didn't come out all clean and scrape-free from some of the dealt hands but hey, I survived, didn't I?

But now, as I approach my older years, I find myself cautious to the point of being suspicious. The hand that I am dealt with looks good, but then again, does it look good because I want it to look good? Is it good enough? Can I play this hand and come off unscathed if it were to betray me in the end? Or is my expertise too low to be able to handle it properly?

It is at that point of thinking that I start to back off because it is safer to not play than to play and risk my soul, my heart, my mind, my money, whatever, whichever. True, I might miss out on the winning of a lifetime or something semi-good, but perhaps I find myself too old to gamble anymore. When I was young, it didn't seem that I would lose much should I choose to gamble; the healing process was quite quick for me to get back on my feet and play again in no time at all. But with time and death knocking on my door, constantly reminding me of their presence, I find it hard to just go with the flow anymore.

C.S. Lewis was quoted, "You play the hand you're dealt. I think the game's worthwhile." Here's my thinking: I don't think I can afford to play games, in life, in relationships, anymore.

As I Sit Here...8

As I sit here, reading the newspaper (a very rare occurrence), I noticed something slightly disturbing. I have started to take note of the names of accident victims.

I don't think anyone, including me, would ever like to find out that someone you know has died in an accident (or worse, murdered!) in the papers. I still remember the few times I've seen names I recognized in the papers and trust me, it's not a good feeling. Chills crept up from my toes to my head as I realized exactly what I was reading and I had to keep the fact that "No, it's not a story" constantly through my mind.

Perhaps that is among one of the many reasons why I don't really like reading the newspapers. Everyday, without fail, there is always rape, murder, killings, corruption, etc. slotted in with all the happy news of weddings, births, election winnings, etc. It's like having my emotions put through the wringer, going "Awwww!!" at the latest pet story or smiling at a new scientific discovery only to flip to the next page and frown in disbelief at the new drugs hitting the younger generation or swearing angrily at some injustice done to someone. Sigh, it's only 10am in the morning and I'm already emotionally tired. :-((

Yeah, yeah, this is reality. This is the real world, get with it, girl, but still.....don't you wish there was one day, just one single day, when nobody is being hurt or abused in any way? Just a thought.

Stranded 2

Writing about my mom forgetting me in the first Stranded post reminded me of another incident when she left me behind.....in a foreign country. :wilt:

On a group tour in Thailand one year, the bus brought us to this gigantic mall-like place where they sell local spices and ingredients. The whole busload came down so there were alot of us here and there in the shop. Being a young teenager, I stuck with my mom the entire time and eventually got bored. Standing a few feet away from her as she bargained and chitchatted with the counter lady, I turned around to watch the other counters.

It was a few minutes later when I turned back to my mom, only to find her missing. I shrugged inwardly, thinking she must be just a few counters away. So I walked around slowly and started to notice that the group I was touring with were getting less and less. Thinking that some of them have gotten bored and went back on the bus, I continued my search for my shopaholic mom. Going completely around the entire shop, my worry grew steadily as my mom stayed missing.

I peered through the glass front door and saw that the bus was still there so I didn't start to panic yet. Walking a few feet away from the door, I heard running footsteps and saw my mom bursting through the door.

Apparently, after buying her stuff, she looked at her watch and hurried to the bus. Sitting in her seat, she started to put her purchases away and heard the tour guide asking if everyone was on board. My mom nodded and said 'yes' along with the group as she finally leaned comfortably into her seat. She glanced at the seat next to her and only then did she realize that she had left her daughter behind. She yelled at the tour guide to wait as she flew down the bus steps to get me.

I still can't believe to this day how my mom can actually not realize she had left her daughter behind. Suffice to say, I was not happy with her for that entire day. :smug:

Food Review: Ikan Bakar Fend

Every town usually have their own famous favourite eatery. Like for TTDI, it's Muhibbah. For SS2, it's SS2 Murni. For the previous Lim Kok Weng area, it's Wiliams. Well, for the Kelana Jaya area of SS6, it's this corner lot Malay restaurant that's gaining increasing popularity and customers day by day. Let's get smoking with Restoran Ikan Bakar Fend.

[caption id="attachment_1998" align="alignleft" width="270" caption="Restoran Ikan Bakar Fend"][/caption]

Located at the corner shop of E-G-01, Jalan SS6/20A, Dataran Glomac, Pusat Bandar Kelana Jaya, my Kelana Jaya friend told me that Restoran Ikan Bakar Fend used to operate out of a white van just outside the nearby mosque and was always packed with customers, regardless whether it's lunchtime or not. I guess they made more than enough money to actually open a real shop in mid-2008, much to the happiness of their customers, both old and new.

[caption id="attachment_2001" align="alignright" width="180" caption="Employee roasting fishes"][/caption]

Now what's so special about this place? The food, and only the food, which is how a real eatery should be.  :-))  The main focus here is the 'ikan bakar' (roasted fish), which is the first thing you will smell and see as you approach the restaurant. A lone man can be seen right at the front, fanning smoke as he flips and roasts tons of fishes on his gigantic grill. True, the smoke can be irritating to some but it's all part and parcel of eating 'ikan bakar'.

With my friends encouraging me to try the 'ikan bakar', we went inside to queue and choose our fish. Yep, this is not a sit-down-wait-for-waiter restaurant. You have to line up and pick the fish you want (my favourite is the 'ikan pari' (stingray) and you can even pick which part of the fish you want), and then pay before you can sit and enjoy your meal. Don't worry about drinks, once you sit down then someone will come and take your drink orders.

[caption id="attachment_2019" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Choosing your fish"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2020" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Choice of chickens"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2004" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Ikan Pari Bakar with rice and sauces"][/caption]

The 'ikan bakar' comes with rice, tom yam soup and chilli, costing you around RM7+ inclusive of one drink. I have tasted better tom yam soup before but Fend's soup isn't too bad but the chilli is damn spicy so for those of you with a weak stomach, don't say I didn't warn you.

Aside from fish, there's also chicken available but I haven't ordered that before, though some online reviews said it was quite good. There's also a small stall selling 'sup tulang' (a meaty soup) and mee hoon soup, but the appeal of coming to Restoran Ikan Bakar Fend is the 'ikan bakar' so give that a try before you taste anything else.

[caption id="attachment_2010" align="alignright" width="243" caption="Chi Kong Mangga"][/caption]

There's also quite a few tasty desserts and drinks to try aside from the heavy meals. My friend ordered something called Chi Kong Mangga (about RM3), which is some sort of jelly with mango and a few other fruits. It's really delicious and cooling on a hot day, especially after eating all that spicy food.

If you want something more familiar, try their ABC. I've seen some of the other customers ordering it and I'm definitely going to try it the next time I'm there.

[caption id="attachment_2015" align="alignleft" width="162" caption="Ice Bandung"][/caption]

My favourite drink there is this tall pink drink I saw someone ordered, which I immediately asked the waiter to bring  me one. Apparently, it's an Ice-blended Bandung with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, costing about RM2 if I remember correctly. This drink is simply lovely in my opinion.

The restaurant may not be super clean and it may not look much, and the service is not spectacular but the food is the reason to try the place at least once in your life.

Judging by the amount of customers Restoran Ikan Bakar Fend keeps getting, I have no doubt that it will be there for many years to come. Enjoy!!

As I Sit Here...7

*This was written in advance on Thurs 16/7/2009 at 2.52pm in anticipation of my no-Streamyx weekend in Ipoh.

As I sit here, at One Utama's Starbucks, waiting for my car to be all clean and fresh from the carwash, I can't help but think that Malaysians are a bunch of free-loaders. Yes, this post is going to hurt your feelings, especially to those who attempt to get something by giving nothing.

I sit at this Starbucks regularly. I have to because I have to wait for my nephew to finish his classes and it's a pain to go back and forth when I can just sit somewhere for a few hours to do my writing. Now because I sit here for hours and days, I have seen many types of people, and today, I see free-loaders...lots of them.

I have sat here for about 55 minutes now. At this very moment, there are three occupied tables around me on the raised platform and all three tables are people who are using Starbucks facilities without purchasing anything.

One table directly in front of me is a woman who has been charging her phone with Starbucks's power socket since even before I came. She did not purchase any drink or food. At the table right beside me, there are two girls who came and dropped their bags and started doing their homework, also without purchasing anything. The table diagonally from me is a man who is using his laptop (charged by Starbucks's power socket) and probably accessing Starbucks's internet connection. He too did not purchase anything.

Let's say that maybe Starbucks doesn't mind people coming in and using their electricity and Internet and occupying tables that paying customers should have a right to (the Starbucks employee came by to check our tables twice without saying a word to the freeloaders), but don't you think it's at least a little bit courteous of you to purchase something? I would never sit in a cafe and use their facilities without at least buying a cup of coffee. In a way, it's like paying for the convenience they provided us. But nooooo, these people just sit there, unashamed that they are actually free-loading off of other people's money.

True, Starbucks make a lot of money. True, Starbucks might overcharge their food and drinks. True, Starbucks might be owned by the powerful Berjaya Group. But that still doesn't give the public a right to think that they can leech off of them. If they can do it at Starbucks, don't think they won't do the same to other, less wealthy, less popular cafes and eateries that need every cent they can get to survive (I just lost one of my favourite cafes at the Curve that provides free Wi-Fi a few months ago).

Wake up, free-loaders, unless you want karma to come and whack you in the face by placing free-loaders in your path, leeching off your goodwill, money and property.

You know what's the funny thing I noticed? With the exception of me, every 'customer' on the raised platform are all free-loaders while every single table on the floor all have at least one cup of drink on their tables. I am ashamed to be sitting up here with them. :reallypissed:

As I Sit Here...6

As I sit here, at Mutiara Damansara's Burger King Drive-Thru, I had a sudden thought run through my head. If we can have a drive-thru for burgers and a drive-thru for ATM (at TTDI apparently), why can't we have a drive-thru for our groceries?

I can just imagine it now (and I actually did have a short vision right at the drive-thru). I'd pull up to the window, wait for the counter-person to stick his/her head out of the window and asks me for my order.

"Hi, can I have one Gardenia loaf, a dozen eggs and a Dorina butter please?"

"We only have Nutriplus eggs. Will that be alright?"

"Yeah, that'll be fine. Oh, could you also put in a small packet of Milo please?"

"Ok, that will be RMXX.XX. Please wait a moment while I bag your items."

Yeah, yeah, I know, kind of a long daydream for someone waiting for her burger, but think about it, I think it will be a damn convenient way to buy groceries. I mean, most of the people who goes to the supermarket already know what they need to buy, they even make a list to bring with them. Can't we just hand the list over to a drive-thru grocery and not waste all the time of searching for items and ending up buying stuff that you don't need or want? Someone should check into this possibility.

I wonder if there are other industries that can have a drive-thru. Hmmmm... ?:-)

Stranded

Have you ever been stranded somewhere, either by yourself or by other people? I have gone through some really humourous (well, it's funny now but it wasn't back then) times of being stranded. Here's one my cousin recently reminded me. She said she'll never forget this as long as she lives.

Back when I was younger, I kept hanging out at my cousin's house in Shah Alam (about 25 minutes drive from my house). Either my dad or mom would send me there and pick me up after they were done with their chores and work. So one day, my mom sent another cousin and I over to play.

As usual, just before evening, my mom came to pick us up, and here I have to relate my cousin's side of this experience.

My cousin was already settled in the back seat with all her stuff while I was still standing outside the car with my door ajar. Suddenly, my mom put her car into gear and started to slowly drive the car away. With my door still ajar, I sarcastically said, "Bye, mom" but still she drove on and the movement of the car caused the door to close lightly.

My cousin, who was in the car, could only look at my Shah Alam cousin and I through the rear window as we slowly became small specks in her view. She turned quickly to the front and said to my mom, "Auntie, isn't your daughter following us back?" To which my mom did not reply.

My poor cousin thought my mom was angry and so she kept quiet, not daring to say anything more. Just as they were reaching the highway toll, which was about 5 minutes from my Shah Alam cousin's house, my mom asked me, "Is my book there at the backseat?" When there was no answer from me, she repeated her question. That's when my cousin burst out in a panic, "She's not here!!"

It took my mom 5 minutes before she realized that her daughter was not in the car with her. When she first drove away, my Shah Alam cousin and I thought she was joking or will notice my absence just before she turned off the road. We could only stand there and stare after the car, my cousin in puzzled wonderment and me in a somewhat nonchalant anger with my hands folded across my chest. Apparently, we were still standing in the driveway when my mom sped back down the road to the house. :sweat:

For The Loss Of A Star

At 8am on Friday, 26 June 2009, I was awakened by the beep of an SMS from my brother. 'Are you going around today with one glove, black armband, face mask and black hat as tribute?', it read. I replied drowsily, 'Michael Jackson's Day ke?' (Is it Michael Jackson's Day?). And my eyes grew wide as I read the next SMS, 'No. He just died.'

A person who really knows me would know that I had admired Michael Jackson since I was a child, since he started singing solo and even throughout his many changes. I have every one of his albums, with the exception of the 25th Anniversary album, and even had my dad buy me the movie and music video collection when it came out. I still remember when KFC in Malaysia had the Michael Jackson promotion where you can take a picture with his life-size standee. I was ecstatic, even though it wasn't really him.

At this moment, Facebook is filled with dedications and tributes to the 'King of Pop'. He has touched numerous fans with his songs, many of which are soulful and has the power to make you dance around or make you weep in tears. He was a true genius in music.

However, at the same moment as tears and tributes are shouted out, there are jeers and criticisms alongside them. As I looked through my newsfeed, most of my friends' status updates were paying homage to Michael Jackson, but some of the people commenting on their status were writing some pretty mean stuff.

As the 'King of Pop' has passed away after the Malaysian newspapers were printed and as CNN is not available for my Astro, I had to google to find out the real story. I read only the headline story of his death and immediately closed the browsers after that because even on the news website, there were already twisted articles written about him. The pop idol that many have loved was not even buried in peace yet and already the vultures have descended with their repulsive behaviours and ugly words.

I am not ashamed to admit that I loved him, that I admired him, even when he went through drastic appearances, even when he was accused of crimes ranging from molestation to breach of contract. No matter what people said about him, he undeniably changed the world of music, contributed many wonderful songs and touched souls everywhere. Just because he was famous and rich, people sought to take advantage of him, to bring him down, out of greed, out of jealousy and out of pure hatred. Yet underneath it all, he was still human, a human like any other with feelings and emotions, capable of making mistakes and wrong decisions but also capable of making a change in people's life. The people who ridiculed and condemned him without concrete proof and reason forgot that they themselves are human just like him and it is without a doubt that they will face the same ridicule and condemnation that they inflicted on him, God will see to that.

As I am writing this post, I am forced to disable comments for it as I have seen the ugly side of people who are not able to hold their tongues and their fingers from saying and writing discriminatory and uncalled remarks on the passing of Michael Jackson. Who cares about which religion he is in? Who cares what he was accused of doing? Who cares whether he abused drugs? We have lost a great figure in music and all these people could think about is 'what more bad things can I say about this man'. It is often times like this when we will see the blackness of a person's soul and heart. May God save your pitiful self.

It is a sad day for his fans, friends and family, and even the sky in Malaysia mourns his death as it rains throughout the day, as though the tears of his many loved ones fall from the heavens.

To the late and great Michael Jackson (from 1958 to 2009), at the age of 50, you left this chaotic world to finally rest in peace, away from prying eyes and condemning mouths. Your life was not in vain for you have touched many with the music of your creation, with your wish to 'heal the world'. Your music and your memory will still live on in the hearts of your loyal fans, your true friends and your beloved family. We have loved and will still love you always and forever. Rest in peace.

[caption id="attachment_1898" align="aligncenter" width="296" caption="Commemorative picture with a life-size standee of Michael Jackson. May you rest in peace. God bless."][/caption]

Food Review: Takoyaki

I :heart: Japanese food and one of my ultimate favourites is okonomiyaki (a sort of pizza). Wikipedia described it as "a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning 'what you like' or 'what you want', and yaki meaning 'grilled' or 'cooked'." The first time I had the chance to eat it was at Sakae Sushi, but they took it out of their menu a while back. So imagine my happiness when I saw that this new Japanese shop at 1 Utama's new wing is selling it.

[caption id="attachment_1854" align="alignleft" width="270" caption="Takoyaki"][/caption]

Simply named Takoyaki, it's located at LG311F of the new wing (right beside New York New York Deli and opposite Cold Storage). Their menu consists purely of Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki, which in my opinion, taste pretty good.

The Takoyaki is a sort of ball-shaped fried batter and, according to Wikipedia, it's made with 'tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, green laver, mayonnaise and fish shavings'. It's usually filled with baby octopus but in Malaysia, however, we seemed to have innovated the takoyaki by filling with it other ingredients.

[caption id="attachment_1859" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Takoyaki (fried octopus in batter)"][/caption]

For Takoyaki's takoyaki, you are offered a choice between the traditional baby octopus, prawn, or sausage and cheese, which costs RM4.00 for 3 balls, or tako (octopus) or unagi (eel), which costs RM4.50 for 3 balls. Served in a boat-like paper packaging, you can either eat it there or have it packed for take-away.

You have to eat it while it's still hot so that the warm filling almost melts in your mouth along with the delicious topping. Once it gets cold, the taste is not as good. However, my cousin said that the takoyaki sold in Jusco's food centre, opposite the supermarket, is better but to each his/her own. :-) By the way, the exterior looks exactly the same so be sure to ask the cook which one has which filling or else try it and find out.

[caption id="attachment_1873" align="aligncenter" width="240" caption="Cook making okonomiyaki at Takoyaki"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1864" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Okonomiyaki (sausage & cheese)"][/caption]

The Okonomiyaki tastes about the same as the takoyaki and is available with the toppings of baby octopus, prawn, sausage and cheese, unagi and seafood, all at the cost of RM8.00 each. According to the cook, the seafood okonomiyaki consists of prawns and baby octopus toppings but since I only had one slice of it, I can't confirm it. It's easier to differentiate the okonomiyaki because you can see the topping through the lines of mayonnaise and tempura flakes. It is also served in a paper box packaging for easy eating and take-away.

[caption id="attachment_1869" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Okonomiyaki (seafood)"][/caption]

One okonomiyaki will fill you up just like a regular meal but for some people, the taste of the okonomiyaki sauce and the mayonnaise might make you 'muak' (fed up) so it's best for first-timers to share it with someone.

Of course, being an eatery, there's bound to be drinks and I'm happy that Takoyaki offers bubble tea in their beverage menu. Ever since 1 Utama's Yippee Cup closed down, I had nowhere else to buy decent bubble tea in the shopping mall.

[caption id="attachment_1879" align="alignleft" width="144" caption="Peach Milk Bubble Tea"][/caption]

I love peach so I ordered a plain, 'bubble-less' peach milk tea while my cousin had the bubble milk tea with the same flavour, which are both RM4.00 each. The choice of flavours is tremendous so don't be surprised if it takes you a while to decide which flavour you want.

As if choosing the flavour wasn't hard enough, then you have to choose the drink type. There's flavoured tea (green tea or red tea), milk tea, snow shake, snow blended and ice blended. I haven't had the chance to try the snow shake and snow blended so I'm not sure exactly how it looks or tastes like.

[caption id="attachment_1882" align="aligncenter" width="240" caption="Beverage choices at Takoyaki"][/caption]

There are so few people manning the small shop (about 2 employees) so you might have to wait for your food because as far as I can see, only one person cooks and makes the drink. If there are more than 2 employees, then it might be a little faster. If the batter is already prepared, it shouldn't take the takoyaki long to cook, maybe around 5 minutes, but if the batter isn't ready then be patient because it will take about 10 minutes. The okonomiyaki, though, will take a while because it has to be cooked in a pan on the stove.

It may not be a swell place to have a proper meal or a date but it's fun to sit and chill while watching your food being made right in front of you. Enjoy!!

As I Sit Here...5

As I sit here, back again in One Utama's Starbucks, a big group of foreigners walked up onto the mini-platform where I and a few others were currently sitting at our respective tables. Imagine my surprise (and annoyance) when one of the kids sat as nonchalantly as you can be into the seat right opposite me at my table.

Now, I don't know how other cultures are but in Malaysia, you don't simply plunk yourself down at a table which is currently occupied, even if there's an empty seat and even if there's only one person there. You ask permission if you could sit there or if you could take the empty chair. You do not just sit as though it's your house, it's a breach of 'comfort zone'.

What's 'comfort zone'? Let me explain. Everyone has a personal space which they would feel uncomfortable if someone comes too close. It's like how annoyed you feel when you're lining up and the person behind you keeps standing too close to you. It's like how weird you feel when a total stranger walks side by side with you. My comfort zone is extremely large when I'm out alone and when I'm sitting down in a cafe or restaurant, my comfort zone spans the entire table that I am at, regardless of its size. So yes, you are breaching my comfort zone if you're a stranger and you sit unwanted and uninvited at my table. Shoo!!

People might find my need for personal space unfriendly and rude but that is how it is. Would you like it if you ordered a meal and I invade your table by taking some of your food without asking and without being offered any? Would you like it if I breath down your neck while lining up to buy movie tickets? Would you like it if I keep jumping and dancing into you at a concert? Would you like it if I stretch my hands out into your face in the cinema? Yes, now you understand the need for personal space and the importance of 'comfort zone'.

You know what I'm most disappointed in regarding this matter? The parents are right there, not four feet away, and they didn't say a single thing to their 'space-breaching' son. :reallypissed:

A School Story 2

Here's a school story that I don't remember but my high school friends do.

One day, four of us decided to walk to Subang Parade to meet up with some friends. Keiko was terribly tired and lagged behind slightly with Dyna while Michelle and I was up front. The walkway we were on was just opposite Subang Parade, where a stall was selling 'pisang goreng' (fried banana) nearby a huge drain.

Being in front, Michelle and I were not aware of what was happening but as Dyna and Keiko remember it, it went like this.

Keiko, being tired, was not obvious to her surroundings and simply walked on, not even noticing that she has somehow walked right into the drain path and fell into it. Standing in the drain, with only her head sticking slightly out, she wondered why her view has gotten distorted and puzzled over why she could only see legs. She stared for awhile, still standing in the drain, before it finally registered in her head that people were laughing and that she had somehow fallen in without even realizing it.

Pity her, as she tried to climb out by herself, the rest of us were too busy laughing to help. :rotfl:

Father's Day 2009

It's hard to be a good daughter when your father doesn't live with you, when your father has moved out from the house since your early teenage years, when your father has another family.

My parents are not divorced by law, they are merely separated. I'm sure that there are many other children in the world who are faced or have faced the same or similar situation as mine. The thing is, how do each of us handle it?

Unlike some fathers, I should be thankful that my dad, at the very least, still support us financially and still tries to maintain a communication line between us. However, it still seems unfair to me that the kids on the other side are able to see him everyday and go on holidays with him while we only see him once every few weeks or so. We would see him more often if it wasn't for his other wife, but that's a story for another day.

So how am I spending Father's Day with a father I don't really know? What did I buy for him? Well, for starters, we're going to see him for a while at his house. For gifts, I bought him some wooden stationary from Arch, they have really good stuff. I usually give him pictures and photos of us because he doesn't have any of us, but ever since his other wife harshly commented on this, I decided to stop for awhile to shut her up. Other than that, we got nothing else planned.

My dad would like his other family and us to get along but how do you get along with a woman who stole your dad from your mom, who got pregnant out of wedlock and thereby forced your dad to marry her, and who make snide remarks and complaints whenever your dad is not around? How do you get along with step-siblings who obviously was not taught the Malay culture of being respectful to guests and elders? Like most other people with a step-family, it's hard to the point of being impossible for the two, or even three and four, families to get along. Those with good step-mother, -father and -family should be thankful.

Anyway, for this Father's Day, I still want to wish all fathers, young and old, a very happy Father's Day. However, I have a piece of advice to give to them.

If you really love your children, don't marry another woman unless your children agree to it and unless your children can live harmoniously with her, and unless you are able to treat all parties fairly. Many times, Malay men in particular abuse the Islamic religion that enables them to marry up to four wives. They always fail to remember that this four-wives entitlement is only to those who are fit financially and emotionally, to those who are able to support all wives and children fairly and equally. They never remember this!

My dad does not realize the emotional stress he puts on me back when he and my mom were fighting, and now when he tries to push the reluctant families together. If you truly love your children, then do not submit them to the same emotional stress that I have been through and am still going through.

So.....to my dad, whom I don't even know his favourite colour, whom I don't even know if he wears a tie to work, and many other seemingly minor yet important details, Happy Father's Day.

As I Sit Here...4

As I sit here, outside Mid Valley's Kim Gary restaurant, I couldn't help but stare at each of my friends. I haven't seen them in a while so having the chance to hang out with them again was great fun.

It's hard to believe that more than 10 years have passed since we graduated from high school because we still act the same; our behaviours, our automatic ability to be at ease with each other even though we haven't seen each other in such a long time. Of course, there are some changes in each of us but our conversation is still filled with laughter and merriment just like before.

I'm sure that some of you are aware that in every group of friends, there are different categories of people, like the joker, the storyteller, the laugher, the beauty, the listener and the academic, to name a few. As the hours pass by, it became obvious to me who is which among my friends.

Filled with stories, which some of us don't even remember, is Keiko, whom I noticed is the main talker whenever the group is together. She is the one who keeps us entertained with numerous stories and keeps us up-to-date with the latest gossips. Michelle is, without a doubt, the laugher whose laughter is loud and contagious and has been since our high school days. She is the other story-teller when Keiko runs out of topics. Djoanna is the quiet one, usually listening to the conversation yet contributing unexpected quips and lines every so often. Keeping the laughter going with her vivid imagination is Dyna, who comes up with some of the weirdest and comedic story lines. As for me, my role in the group changes with the situation but I'm usually the observer and in school, I was the reader who always had a book at all times.

We were missing two more members from our usual group in high school, though. From what I remember of Mel back in school, she is usually the clever one with somewhat of a dry humour and wit. Ena is the sarcastic one with a sharp tongue that is funny to us but might seem hurtful to some.

I'm not trying to brand people or place them in a certain category or anything, it's simply the way we are. It's like that quiz I keep seeing in Facebook recently, 'In your circle of friends, what label are you?'. We could be totally different when we hang out with other friends but when we gather together, this is what I observe and I wouldn't want them to change in any way. :-)) I'm sure after this post, you will start to notice the 'label' and 'roles' of your own friends.

It's sometimes a shame how fast time goes by and how little time we have to meet up with one another. And so, I hope that we can still have fun together even as we grow older, even though we are married with kids, and even though we are busy with work. Here's to more fun and enjoyable outings!! Cheers!! 8-)

Food Review: Singapore's Book Cafes

When I was rounding Singapore by myself a while back, I decided to go round the famous book cafes that were featured in the Time Out magazine and that were raved in the blog-sphere. To my delight, I managed to find (thanks to my handy map) all three of the book cafes I looked up but only two of them met my expectations; 25 Degree Celsius and The Book Cafe.

[caption id="attachment_1750" align="alignleft" width="186" caption="25 Degree Celsius"][/caption]

25 Degree Celsius is located at #01-01, 25 Keong Saik Road, which is kind of hard to find as it's not visible from the main road. I went down the wrong road twice before I finally found it. The first impression you get from it is the white old- fashioned exterior of the shop with its modern shiny chrome-like signboard, a combo of old and new.

As you step into it, you start to think whether you accidentally wander into a book store until you catch sight of the dining area at the back, decorated mainly with white tables and furniture. The whole front of the store is filled with shelves upon shelves of cookbooks, culinary delights from East to West.

You are allowed to browse through the books at your leisure but I am unsure of whether you can browse the books while you eat as there is the possible chance of you dirtying the pages. However, when you have had your fill of delicious photos and exquisite recipes, you can then whet your appetite and thirst with 25 Degree Celsius's menu selection.

Having walked for a few hours in the middle of the afternoon, my throat was parched and I asked the helpful lady of the book cafe to suggest a nice refreshing drink and a dessert. She recommended a cooling Ice Fruit Tea (SD$8.50) and a lovely Warm Chocolate Cake (SD$12.80).

[caption id="attachment_1756" align="alignleft" width="216" caption="Warm Chocolate Cake"][/caption]

The Warm Chocolate Cake is served with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and half a strawberry, and is drizzled with chocolate sauce. The cake itself is soft and moist with warm creamy chocolate in the inside. I know it's bad to show  a picture of a half-eaten food but I couldn't help myself, it was that good. :-D

[caption id="attachment_1761" align="alignright" width="167" caption="Iced Fruit Tea"][/caption]

The Ice Fruit Tea really hits the spot on a hot day with its chilled fruity taste. I would have loved to try one of their main meals but since I had dinner planned with my friend, I had no choice but to content myself with dessert. And it was well worth it, I dare say.

The next day, I went to find the other book cafe I was itching to visit. Apparently, it's not that hard to find but you need a cab or car to take you there as it's far from any near MRT. I almost resigned myself to miss it but managed to squeeze in a visit at the last few hours before my flight back.

[caption id="attachment_1766" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="The Book Cafe"][/caption]

The Book Cafe is set up at #01-02, Seng Kee Building, of 20 Martin Road, Robertson Quay (I keep pronouncing it as 'Coo-ay' instead of 'Key' :razzmad: ). It's easy to miss as you wouldn't expect a popular book cafe to be located in a political-looking building.

The outside may seem formidable with its formal signboard but once you step inside, the interior welcomes you  invitingly. Nice dark chocolate tables and chairs are arranged on hardwood floors at the cafe side of the shop and a long menu board hangs on a far corner of the wall while magazine shelves and music posters hang on the other walls.

The book side of the shop has big comfy beige couches and light brown coffee tables, and tasteful book shelves line the walls filled with all sorts of titles for adult and children. The books are not for purchase, mind you, and are only for browsing. There are also overseas newspapers as well as my Singaporean friend told me The Book Cafe is popular among foreigners living in Singapore. The book section can be cordoned off with black curtains for private function.

[caption id="attachment_1773" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Interior of The Book Cafe"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1774" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Book Section"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1771" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Hot Cocoa & Apple Pie"][/caption]

Here, too, I decided to pass on the main meals as it was already 5pm and so, I picked a nice Hot Cocoa (SD$5.95) and the recommended Apple Pie with Ice Cream (SD$7.95). The Hot Cocoa is not sweet but has just the right amount of cocoa. As for the Apple Pie, it's very good, possibly one of the best apple pie I've had. Apple pies are usually too tart for my taste but The Book Cafe's pie is just nice with some sweetness. Unfortunately, it crumbles too easily.

We had a few book cafes in Malaysia but many have died and gone. I wish there are some nice book cafes nearby but the one good book cafe I heard about is located way in the middle of KL City. There used to be one in Damansara Perdana but either it's invisible to my eyes or it has gone away. So if you're ever in the vicinity of any of the book cafes in Singapore, I highly recommend you to try it out. Enjoy!!

Mine, Yours or Ours?

When does your personal blog stop being your own? I've been having this problem recently, which kind of affected the frequency of my postings. I find that I am unable to blog about what I truly feel and instead am actually stopping myself from blogging because I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings. It's difficult when your logical side to not offend anyone interrupts your emotional need to write out your frustrations.

Some people who start a personal blog usually want to talk about what they did, how they feel, anything and everything personal about themselves. It's kind of like an online diary where you can vent your frustrations and share your experiences. There's no point calling it a 'personal blog' if you limit yourself to things that you think people won't find offensive or get hurt while reading.

Look, the world is HUGE, filled with so many different people. You can say that Harry Potter is stupid and offend numerous fans, and you can even say Harry Potter is great and tick off the people who view magic as the devil's craft. No matter what you say or write, no matter how tactful you try to be, there will be times when you will unknowingly (or knowingly, whichever you please) piss someone off.

Malays have this saying that goes along the lines of, "Siapa yang makan cili akan rasa kepedasannya", which directly translates to "Whoever eats the chilli will taste its spiciness." No, it's not a chilli-eating contest or whatnot. It means that those who have done something wrong will usually feel the brunt of their wrongfulness. This saying usually applies to people who feel offended when someone makes a general comment and he/she feels that it's regarding them.

For example, I can simply say, "I don't understand why smokers are so inconsiderate" and my friend could get all riled up, thinking that I meant him/her because he/she smokes and he/she likes to puff up in front of me. These are the type of people who can get upset at every little thing you say or write, even though you are talking about someone totally different, because they think it sounds like you're talking about them. And sometimes it's because of people like this that some bloggers start to re-think about what they want to write so as to avoid such problems.

I want to let my frustrations loose. I want to show my anger through my writing. I want to have the freedom to write about my annoyances and about people who take advantage of me and whatever else I feel because heck, this is my blog. I pay for the domain, I take the time to ensure the webpage is maintained and so I should be able to write whatever I want in my blog. And I'm gonna start doing that right now!!!..........maybe. Or maybe tomorrow. Hmmmmm, you know what, let me sleep on it and I'll get back to you. :blush:

Food Review: Garden Cafe, One Utama

Trying to find new places to eat is never easy. After a while, every place starts to look the same, the food starts to taste the same, and the service never seems to improve. So I'm kinda glad that I finally had the chance to put all those mamaks and 5-star restaurants aside and go for something in the middle. Let's take a stroll through the Garden Cafe in 1 Utama.

[caption id="attachment_1668" align="alignleft" width="190" caption="Garden Cafe Main Entrance"][/caption]

I still remember when the Garden Cafe was just an unused space, just a whole lot of empty space hidden by the escalators. It's hard to imagine, as I walked down the hallway to the eating area, that they had done so much changes to it.

If you take the real entrance of Garden, which is where the small booth is beside Reebok, you forget that you're actually in a noisy shopping complex and you start to feel more relaxed with each step you take, filling your eyes with white picket fences, white tables and chairs, and white overheads decorated with endless greenery, flowers and mini pots of plants. I half expected to see Princess Giselle from Enchanted flitting around with birds and squirrels. :-))

[caption id="attachment_1674" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Second entrance after the small booth"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1696" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Interior of Garden Cafe"][/caption]

The service is the first thing you will notice about Garden. Each staff seems to be on high alert whenever a customer needs anything. And they're always doing their rounds around the entire place and trust me, Garden has many corners that some waiters can easily forget about.

[caption id="attachment_1705" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Soda Lavender, Soda Rose & Red Apple"][/caption]

The menu was quite extensive, covering Western and local main dishes, snacks and appetizers, and plenty of desserts and drinks to choose from.

For drinks, my cousin and I chose some of the soda selection; Soda Rose and Soda Lavender (RM11.90 each),  which are carbonated soda drinks with flavoured syrup. My Soda Rose is very yummy but my cousin described her Soda Lavender as 'our uncle's cologne'. For those who order this drink, please stir the syrup fully before drinking it, or you might just think you had swallowed a mouthful of soap. :laugh:

Since one of my cousins didn't feel like eating, she just ordered the Red Apple dessert, which has sorbet ice-cream squeezed into a red apple. It tastes heavenly, especially when you scrape off a piece of the fruit with the ice-cream and add a touch of the chocolate syrup.

[caption id="attachment_1708" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Garden Sandwich (RM13.90)"][/caption]

The rest of us were feeling a tad hungry so we ordered the Garden Sandwich (RM13.90), the Garden Black Pepper Chicken Chop (RM17.90) and the Garden Beef Burger (RM15.90).

The Garden Sandwich is a triple-decker sandwich with egg, lettuce and slices of chicken/turkey ham accompanied with a side of salad and fries. There's nothing special about this dish but for the price of RM13.90, the sandwich is slightly cheaper than other posh restaurants that I've been to.

[caption id="attachment_1713" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Garden Black Pepper Chicken Chop (RM17.90)"][/caption]

The Garden Black Pepper Chicken Chop has just the right amount of seasoning and black pepper sauce. The meat is soft and juicy, easy to cut and chew. If I'm not mistaken, this dish is served with small bits of potatoes hidden under the chicken and topped with some asparagus.

[caption id="attachment_1715" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Garden Beef Burger (RM15.90)"][/caption]

The Garden Beef Burger is my favourite among the three dishes. Its meat is really soft and the taste reminds me of my other favourite burger at Damansara Perdana's Pannaz. The side dishes for the burger comprise of salad and fries.

Truth be told, there's nothing really specially about the dishes we ordered but the environment and fast service play a big part in the enjoyment of our dinner. I was amazed at the fast time the food was served to us. Even with a full house, we got our dishes before we realized it.

Located at the New Wing of 1 Utama, at LG308CC to be exact, the Garden Cafe may not have anything special as far as food goes but it's really a nice place to chill out with friends, family and even your loved one. The price is reasonable and the service is quite fast, and though the portion may look small, it's actually more than enough. Enjoy!!

As I Sit Here...3

As I sit here, in my room, late in the night, I start to think about the recent happenings going around me. A couple of people close and dear to me are sad at the moment and it breaks my heart to see them go through a difficult time in their relationships.

Human relationships are never easy. It's because humans are so complex with different brain waves, numerous emotions and unexpected behaviours. We are filled with stubbornness, egos and strong-headed-ness. We are so focused on our own emotions and our own selfs that it blinds us from other matters. If we were to take all those things away, it would, perhaps, make relationships so much more smoother, so much more clearer. And yet, if we take all those things away, it wouldn't make us human anymore.

I have went through many relationships, some I am not proud of. I remember the few times when I threw my self-respect away and begged for my ex to work things out with me, to give our relationship another chance. But.....it turned out to be a bad idea.

What I'm about to say next may seem harsh. It may seem stupid and egotistical to some people. It might make sense to others and it might offend the rest. But this is what I learnt from experience.

Communication is one of the main keys in sustaining a relationship. If one party, or both, do not open up, how will the relationship move forward? Many times, relationships break down because of failure to communicate. Failure to express how you feel, what's going on, what you like and dislike. You might think keeping it to yourself will help matters, but let's face it, you know deep down in your heart, you keep it to yourself because you're afraid. It could be you're afraid of confrontations, afraid to let your real self show, afraid that your partner will not love you anymore, afraid that you will argue more. It's fear.

But then, if you do communicate, it's pointless to shout, throw tantrums or go off in a huff after you made your points. Communication is talking things over with a clear and logical mind. If you start shouting, you won't hear what the other person is trying to say. Both parties have something valid to say, their own opinions, their own perceptions. Also, there's no point communicating when the only things to come out from your mouth are hurtful, illogical and sarcastic remarks. We have countless brain cells, let's use them to our best advantage.

I strongly believe that if my partner doesn't want me anymore, there's no reason for me to stay. It's just like how my former boss didn't appreciate me and treated me like some worthless person, so I packed up and left. My life is too short to stay with someone who doesn't want me around. Yeah, you might feel that you were used and that leaving the person will give him satisfaction.

But think of it this way.

It's stronger of you to leave than to stay because leaving something safe and venturing into the unknown future is harder and riskier. You might want revenge over him/her because of the way he/she treated you but the best revenge is to have a happy life of your own. Let God take care of those who hurt you because what He has in store for them is worse than anything you can possibly do to hurt them. I have seen this happen many times and that is why I strongly believe in karma.

I believe that some things are blessings in disguise. I believe that things do happen for a reason. And I believe that, no matter how unfair life is, no matter how much you disagree and hate what happens, God put you through this for a reason. It could be that it would make you stronger or it could be that He thinks there are better things in store for you. But no matter what He puts in your path, remember what Kelly Clarkson said, "God will never give you anything you can't handle, so don't stress."

To my loved ones, your family and friends will be there for you through this hard time so don't hide yourself in a corner or a locked room. We will get through this together. With lots of hugs, kisses and love. :heart:

Movie Review: Angels & Demons

* Where there are movie reviews, there will be movie spoilers.

A hushed battle, hidden from the public, has been going on under our eyes and nose for centuries. A battle almost as old as light versus dark, a battle which involves many great figures, it bears its head once more from slumber to seek vengeance for the slained, for beliefs. It is a battle between faith and science, a battle between the Catholic church and the Illuminati.

No matter the different opinions the world has had over Dan Brown's famous, or infamous, books, 'The Da Vinci Code' and its sequel 'Angels & Demons', you must give credit to his ability to tie religion, art, and history together. No doubt that a lot of research must have been made to ensure that the plot remained believable to the point of being factual and true, as I understood alot of people took it to be.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="217" caption="Angels & Demons (from thecinemasource.com)"][/caption]

Following the success, or rather the major love-hate publicity received, of 'The Da Vinci Code', the filmmakers continued Robert Langdon's educational journey of understanding the church and the many secrets surrounding it. From helping to uncover the secret left by Leonardo Da Vinci and safeguarding the last descendant of Jesus Christ, Robert Langdon (still played by Tom Hanks) now finds himself rushing against time to prevent the slaughter of 4 Preferitis due to become the next Pope and saving the lifes of the people in Vatican City. As per the plot in the previous movie, Robert Langdon and his team follow a series of age-old clues around the city.

It took me a while to get into the mood of the film. I find myself more adaptable to 'The Da Vinci Code' than to its sequel and I had to struggle a few times to get my head out of the whole 'Jesus Christ's biggest secret' and into 'the secret brotherhood of the Illuminati'. Be warned, at the beginnings of the film, you'll be wondering whether you stumbled into the wrong movie theater as it starts off like a spy-cum-scientific film and is spoken mainly in a foreign language.

I think the biggest flaw of this whole film was the foreign language spoken (was it French or Latin, I wonder) in numerous scenes throughout the movie. While those reading the Chinese and Malay subtitles (like me) would understand the dialogue, those who don't will find themselves lost at sea. They really must put the English translation during those scenes, even though some people overseas might understand the language. Think of the entire world, people! :curse:

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="322" caption="Some of the stars in action (from guardian.co.uk)"][/caption]

The plot is, in my opinion, somewhat a bit over the top. I mean, come on, one singular man plotting revenge against a whole city? Killing a renowned scientist, inflitrating a top secret research lab, stealing a scientific matter capable of bombing a whole city, kidnapping four grown men and overpowering the police and Swiss Guard? A bit tad much, don't you think? Even a whole group of masterminds will take days to execute all that and this lone guy does it within a day? :shock: We need more men like this in the army, police force and CSI.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="350" caption="Vittoria Vetra & Robert Langdon searching through a church (from z.about.com)"][/caption]

The movie is kind of like a documentary of the churches in Vatican City. Robert Langdon went to at least five of them in the course of the movie and we even get to see a library of sorts under the city where past books and treasures are kept in well-preserved rooms. There's a scene in this library that is filled with tension and ends with a sort of dark humour. I enjoyed that scene tremendously. :-D

The filmmakers did a mistake!! Well, perhaps it was intentional and perhaps it might escape the viewers' notice but it was soooo obvious to me. The real prepetrator actually revealed himself in one sentence that just sounded odd when he said it. Seriously, the filmmakers need to edit that or rewrite that dialogue. It was a total give-away and instantly aroused my suspicions and I was right!! :victory:

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Ewan McGregor as Camerlengo Patrick McKenna (from hollywood.com)"][/caption]

Aside from that maybe intentional,goof, IMDB (the Internet Movie DataBase) website has not reported any additional goofs. Either the filmmakers did too good a job or IMDB does not want to get involved in the battle that seems to be going on off and on the Net regarding the movie's 'blasphemy' of the church and take on the Illuminati

If you're observant, you can note the difference between the extras and the real people. There was a scene where you can clearly see people gawking at Tom Hanks and the film crew as well as some barriers erected to prevent non-casts coming onto the set.

Personally, I like 'The Da Vinci Code' better but my boyfriend prefers 'Angels & Demons'. He says it's easier to understand.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="288" caption="Conferencing on the next step (from filmofilia.com)"][/caption]

This controversial movie is perhaps a mind-bender for a lot of people but I admire how they are able to put the plot and the movie together even with all the filming restraints against them. Filled with action, tension, beautiful scenes of Vatican City and informative dialogue on religion and history, this film is a must-watch for those who are open-minded enough. You'll be surprised at the ending as the complicated plot becomes even more so, and what you may have thought or deduce throughout the movie will shatter with new unforeseen revelations.

P.S: I'm kind of glad that my religion does not allow statues. Some of the statues and artworks shown in the movie are quite scary to me, no offense.

Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca (a.k.a Patrick McKenna in the film): Open the doors, and tell the world the truth.

As I Sit Here...2

As I sit here, in my car, driving along the LPD, I can't help but wonder.....WHY DON'T MALAYSIANS USE THEIR BLOODY SIGNAL INDICATORS??!!

I simply don't get it. Is it that hard to move your hand to the indicator? Is it that far? Will the indicator shock you with a thousand volts of electricity? Will your car starts to transform into a dragon?

It seems that Malaysians are now telephatic, able to read the minds of their fellow drivers that they're going to swerve into the next lane or drive abruptly into a turning. Malaysians are now able to read people's car language just like how some people are able to read a person's body language. This is the discovery of a lifetime!! :-/

You know, since Malaysians don't use the indicators that much, or at all, why not just do away with them altogether? My boyfriend and I were talking about this very same topic a few days ago. Maybe the government should allow car buyers the choice of whether they want the indicators. They can save, what, maybe RM30 per indicator and our local car producers can save money on having to wire the signal lights. :silly:

And you know what's the most stupid thing? Most of the people who don't signal and drive like they own the roads are usually the ones who complain about other people's driving skills and road behaviour. :razzmad:

Ugh, look, people, it's really simple. When you need to change lanes or are turning into another road, pleaseeeeee, for God's sake, just click that indicator. It doesn't take any major amount of energy and the indicators are positioned to be within easy grasp. :struggle:

Food Review: Homst Restaurant

Sometimes we find ourselves going back to a place we used to love but had forgotten over the busy years filled with work, friends, family and events. For me, Homst Restaurant is one of these places.

As I stepped onto the blue tiles, a flood of memories washed the cobwebs in my brain away and I remembered the many occasions my dad, my brother and I had eaten here. Perhaps, one of the reasons I stopped coming to Homst was due to my now-estranged father but re-visiting the place made me remember why I liked eating there in the first place; the food!!

[caption id="attachment_1533" align="alignleft" width="253" caption="The first and original Homst Restaurant"][/caption]

A Chinese Muslim restaurant, Homst is not much for the eyes but the menu is a whole lot for the stomach. Located at 48, Persiaran Za'aba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur (my area, woohoo!!!), it is one of the few restaurants that had withstood the many changes TTDI has seen over the years.

They serve Chinese-style food, not unlike the menu at Muhibbah (another well-established restaurant in TTDI) and is, as my dear companion for the day said, "Not bad, although I think the taste is slightly different because of some missing ingredients which I don't they can use since it's a Muslim shop."

[caption id="attachment_1539" align="alignright" width="224" caption="Wet Buttered Chicken"][/caption]

I have to admit that I didn't exactly knew what I wanted to order since I haven't been there in ages so I decided to go with what my cousin always ordered when she eats there; Wet Buttered Chicken (around RM12 for a small size, which is more than enough for two people). The sauce is amazing, although some people might get 'muak' (fed up) with the buttery taste. Just like my cousin, I highly recommend this dish but don't order it all the time unless you want to gain weight. It's sinfully delicious. ;-)

[caption id="attachment_1546" align="alignleft" width="238" caption="Kung Po Chicken"][/caption]

My companion ordered the Kung Po Chicken with rice (which is, I think, around RM10). You can really taste the chilli in the dark sauce, giving it a combination of salty soy sauce and slight spicyness. Amazingly, it offsets the buttery gravy of the Wet Buttered Chicken so I think we made some good selections. I like the fact that both the chicken dishes didn't have bones in them, except for very small pieces. I hate biting into a piece of chicken and cracking my teeth on a stray bone. :razzmad:

[caption id="attachment_1549" align="alignright" width="238" caption="Kangkong Belacan in Oyster Sauce"][/caption]

Of course, whenever I eat rice, I must have veggies. So I ordered one of my favourites, Kangkong Belacan in Oyster Sauce (less than RM10 for a small size). My companion really loved this dish. I was surprised because to me, it was just one of the most common dishes ever but I guess the taste must have really struck his core.

There are other dishes that you can try such as the Sharkfin Soup (if you're okay with eating an endangered species) which is mixed with crab meat or chicken (these dishes are expensive though, with the smallest size priced at RM22) and any of the fish dishes. One of my absolute favourite, which I can't find elsewhere, is the Yam Basket. It used to be on Homst menu but they took it out years ago, saying that the item wasn't popular at all. However, my cousin told me that they still have it. I guess we have to special order it.

Let's move on to service and environment. The service is not bad. The moment you sit down, someone will attend to you, handing over the menu and taking your drink orders. The food is served quite fast too, unless there's a crowd or you order way too much for the cooks to handle.

[caption id="attachment_1557" align="alignleft" width="270" caption="Inside Homst"][/caption]

Don't expect too much for the interior though. Like every other mamak and local middle-class restaurants, the furniture and fittings are common and normal. If they really do up the restaurant, I doubt the menu would be as affordable as it is now (it costs the two of us RM30.50 for 3 main dishes, 3 rice and 2 drinks). But to me, as long as it's clean and I don't find insects in my food or crawling around my table and chair, I'm fine with it. The restaurant is open-spaced though so do expect the next table to start puffing on their cigarettes.

Apparently, you can call them up at 03-7728 0760 and order some dishes for take-away. However, some people said that Homst is opened daily until 11pm but is closed from 3pm to 6pm so maybe it's best to use the number to check on their opening times.

If you can't come all the way to TTDI to taste their food, you can try their second branch at Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara. They have the same menu there but there are some additional stalls inside it so you have other food choices to fulfill your tastebud's needs. Enjoy!!

Movie Review: Star Trek

* Do I still have to put a warning that there may be spoilers in this post?

"Space...The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship, Enterprise. Her on-going mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life-forms and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before!"

It seems to be a year for origin movies, what with the X-Men Origins: Wolverine just out last month, now we get to see the origins of the crew for one of the  most famous spaceships in all-time history; the Starship Entreprise.

When I first heard that Star Trek was out, I thought, "Oh, it's just another continuation of the TV series or something." I never got a hint on the movie synopsis or the movie trailer. Frankly, I simply wasn't interested in watching it. But..... I'm glad I did. :-))

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Star Trek (from filmofilia.com)"][/caption]

Take the original Star Trek and mix that with some handy-dandy CGI, futuristic vehicles and gadgets plus a dash of modern youngster attitudes and you have yourself a worthy science fiction movie to watch over and over again. For a very mild Trekkie like myself who knew the characters only so-so, it was an eye-opener. How Captain Kirk meet Spock? How did the 'Beam me up, Scotty' phrase came about? Everything you need to know about the team of Captain Kirk is all answered in Star Trek.

It's not serious and full of aliens like I had thought. Well, there are aliens and there are seriousness but the dosage is just right.

Chris Pine, who plays James T. Kirk, captures the arrogance of this trekkie newbie quite well, although I hardly remember Captain Kirk being that much of a windbag, but well, adolescence does make one spiral out of control. Being the hero and all, you get to encounter every scene imaginable, from being isolated on a somewhat deserted planet to puffing up like a toad while trying to sneak onboard the Enterprise and all the way to having to deal with both the present and future Spock (played by Zachary Quinto), who is actually his nemesis.

Yep, you read that right; Spock and Kirk actually started off on very, VERY, bad terms. You simply must watch the movie to grasp the situation.

For those who have watched Harold & Kumar, you must watch John Cho in his role as Hikaru Sulu. His first scene was hilarious!! :rotfl: Another laugh-till-you-cry scene is the 'mispronunciation' of a command issued by poor Pavel Chekov (Anton Yelchin) whose Russian slang was simply too much for the starship to interpret. There are many other funny scenes as the movie plays itself out (my favourite being the sudden appearance of Scotty, played by Simon Pegg) so you'll definitely be entertained.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="322" caption="Some of the crew for the Enterprise"][/caption]

I have to admit that the casting people did a great job in searching the perfect actors/actresses to play the characters. Not a single person was less than admirable in their assigned role.

Though the goofs are numerous, I personally think that the quality of Star Trek in its story-telling, CGI and overall factor is a step higher than X-Men Origins: Wolverine (my deepest apologies, Hugh Jackman). So if you love the Wolverine movie and you're a Trekkie, you'll love Star Trek. :-D

Scotty: I like this ship! It's exciting!