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: