Ramblings of a Hotelier's Wife

Cute & Interesting stuff

2010-10-19T09:00:00.002+07:00

I can't help but took pictures of it when I saw these stuff at ~~my office~~ the mall the other day.

Sanitary Napkins & Pregnancy Test Kit vending machine inside the ladies restroom

It's not FREE but at least made available!

With all the restaurants, cafes & ice cream parlors here, it helps to have this machine! Well, just incase you want to reconfirm how overweight you are! :-) hehehe

Incase the eating and shopping gives you hypertension, no worries... you can always check your blood pressure here!

Well, this kaugummi (chewing gum balls) dispenser is soooooooo cute!

I'm totally addicted to this moreLomo apps!

My quest to learn to cook

2010-10-04T20:37:00.000+07:00

Those of you who knows me well, knows that I love to eat. However, when it comes to cooking, that's another story all together! I'm not saying that I can't cook at all. I can. Simple food that is! The kind that you will not find in any recipe books. I just cook according to what I feel like cooking. Salt and pepper are my only secret ingredients. And I must be doing something right because my husband's plate is always clean! Oh yes, prepared pastes that you can easily buy at the supermarkets are my besties too!

Well, that's about to change. Having moved to Pattaya a month ago, I met a new friend. She's from Indonesia and loves to cook!

She agreed to teach me how to cook some of her favourite dishes. So, the first dish that I'm going to learn is Beef Rendang. According to Wiki, this dish originated from the Minangkabau ethnic group of Indonesia.

The preparation leading up to the cooking day deserves a paragraph to say the least! One of the ingredient is candlenut. I went to every supermarkets in Pattaya to look for this nut and no luck in finding it. I even went to Bangkok looking for this nut and still no luck. I was roaming Pahurat street (it's like little India in this street) and still couldn't find it. They have all the nuts, beans and spices that you can think of but NO CANDLENUT! The vendors told me that no one sells it there. They even suggested to use macadamia nut as substitute. I also met an Indian lady from Singapore who told me that she has been going to Pahurat for years to buy her ingredients and she has never seen candlenuts. Not willing to give up easily, I continued my search for this nut at the supermarkets. I went to the top three supermarkets in Bangkok and still couldn't find it. In the end, my friend had to call her Indonesian friends to ask if they have any. And luck was on our side this time. We managed to get some. So, if you are coming to visit me, please bring a kilo or two of candlenuts! :-)

Below are the ingredients. Please note that the amount used was base on our personal taste! We like it extra spicy!

BEEF RENDANG

Ingredients

5 kg of Beef ( I prefer Tenderloin, cut into chunks)

3 pcs Tumeric Leaves

6 pcs Kaffir Lime Leaves (finely sliced)

3 pcs Dried Buah Asam Gelugor

6 tbsp Cooking Oil

2 tbsp Sugar

4 pcs Lemongrass (white part only)

2 cups Fresh Coconut Milk

1 cup water

Salt to taste

Spice paste

2 kg Red Chillies (discard the seeds)

250g Cili Padi (Bird's Chillies)

12 pcs Shallots (medium size)

10 pcs Garlic Cloves

2" Galangal

2" Ginger

2" Tumeric

A handful of Candlenuts

Method

1. Chop the spice paste ingredients and blend it in a food processor until fine

2. Heat the oil in a stew pot, add the spice paste

3. Add the beef and the pounded lemongrass and stir for 3 minutes

4. Add the coconut milk, water and buah asam gelugor. Simmer on medium heat, stirring frequently until the meat is almost cooked.

5. Add the kaffir lime leaves and sugar, stirring to blend well with the meat

6. Lower the heat to low, cover lid and simmer for about 2 hours or until the meat is tender and the gravy thicken

7. Add salt to taste, stir well for another 3 minutes

BEFORE

AFTER and ready to eat!

However, I was told that rendang is best eaten the next day. So, let it cool and refrigerate. When re-heating the next day, add half a cup of coconut milk (you may add more if you prefer to have extra gravy).

Thanks Shinta for teaching me to cook this recipe! NO MORE rendang paste packets from the supermarket! :-)

p.s. This 5 kg of rendang was nicely divided into 3 households that feeds 6 adults. Each household kept 2 extra servings in the freezer for rainy days! hehehe

I'm NOT a Shoe-Aholic!

2010-08-25T19:33:00.000+07:00

When I was still in primary school, going barefoot was the norm. During the rainy season, I will wrapped my white canvas school shoes nicely with plastic bag and will only take it out to wear once I reached the classroom.

BATA was the only brand that I knew then. I think every kid at that time had that white canvas shoes. I never cared much about shoes then. I'll wear whatever mum bought for me. At one time, I think I even got so hooked to wearing that black kung-fu shoes. You know, the one that Bruce Lee's wore in all his movies.

*Picture googled!

It was only when I was studying and living in Switzerland that I became interested in shoes. The birthplace of Bally. As a student, I could not afford to splurge on expensive shoes. Whatever money my parents gave me, went towards paying my school fees and living expenses. So, "admiring from a distance" was more like it at that time!

And then, the time came when we have to do our practical training. My application at the Swiss Hotel in Zurich was accepted. And the best part was I am getting paid and provided with free accommodation. During my first month in Zurich, I went to Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich's main downtown street and one of the world's most expensive and exclusive shopping avenues. I could spend hours there window-shopping. Admiring all the shoes on the window display.

So, it was only natural that I bought a nice pair with my first pay!

Sentimental value :-)

The window shopping continues for a while. It was only after I came home to Malaysia and when I was earning a good salary that I started to splurge on shoes. My favorite working shoes then was Bally and Bruno Magli. In the past few years though, I like Celine.

Sometime not just the shoes but also

hehehe :-)

My dear husband thinks I only have about 30 pairs of shoes because he unpacked them for me when we arrived here in Bangkok. I think he was curious just how many pairs I have. What he doesn't know yet is that there's actually another box of shoes in storage! :-)

I'm going to miss this street

2010-08-19T19:08:00.023+07:00

Seven months ago, we packed up and left the Philippines after living there for 18 months. We spent a month vacationing back home in Sabah. Hubby then left first to start his new assignment in Bangkok, Thailand. I stayed back to look after the renovation work in our apartment, which took longer than expected. Finally, I flew to Bangkok in mid April to join my hubby. We knew that we will only be here for a few months before packing up and move again. And that few months is coming to an end soon. Like, next weekend!

I've come to love (and sometime hate) the street where we currently live. And here's why...

I relax here at least twice a week... sometime, thrice! ssshhhh

My favorite Starbucks in Bangkok.. not so much for the latte but to hang out, read my books etc. It used to be an old house.

This is the sewing machine of Khun Pok which she "parked" outside of my favorite Starbucks. She replaces my missing buttons, the broken zippers or alters the length of my pants!

And yes, the food. My favorite thing...

No.43, that's the name and also the address of this Italian restaurant on Langsuan Road.

We eat dinner at this Thai restaurant at least once a week. We just love their steamed fresh garoupa with lemon & chilli gravy! *drooling now...saliva all coming out*

Another Italian eatery just behind the apartment. Great banana muffins too!

This Korean restaurant is in our apartment building. I go here for lunch to enjoy their Beef Bulgogi.

Hubby and I go here for dinner on weekends. Great steaks and pastas!

This is where I buy our weekly groceries. I cook dinner on weekdays only and in our house, the kitchen is closed on weekends! It is only open when hubby wants to cook my favorite food :-)

You want to know what I hate the most about this street?

The idiot (street vendors) who urinate in public!

My Hair Story

2010-08-04T18:00:00.010+07:00

When I was about 12 years old, I complaint to mum that my scalp were itchy. Not just normal itchiness but like REALLY itchy! Upon inspection, she found human hair fleas. I must have caught it from the other girls in school. So, she decided that it was best to cut my super long. Easy to look after, she said.

So, there I was standing outside our house. Mum with a pair of scissor and comb, getting ready to cut my hair. I haven't cut my hair in years. I was nervous. Without warning, she snipped my hair. The minute I saw my hair on the floor, I started to cry. Really loud. Must have been because the neighbour came running out to look what's happening. They probably thought I was being spanked or something. Only to find out that mum was cutting my hair. Actually, my hair wasn't even short. Still long... shoulder length! That's till consider long, isn't it? So much drama over nothing!

Over the years, I pretty much kept my hair long and straight! When I came back from Switzerland in the late 90's and started working, I decided to perm my hair. Again, I kept my long spiral curly hair for a few years.

Are you ready to see my hair styles for the last 10 years?

Hunter Valley Sydney ~2000~

This was during our honeymoon to Australia. We spent a few days in Sydney before heading to Heron Island for a week!

Salzburg, Austria ~2001~

This photo was taken outside the Mozart's House. The house where he was born.

London ~2002~

I can't remember which street this was. However, I recall spending plenty of £££ around the area! Does anyone know where this is?

Seoul, South Korea ~2003~

We were living in Seoul during this time. Not for long though... just 9 months. One of the place that I like to take visitors is the Deoksugung Palace, where you can see the changing of guards!

Beijing, China ~2004~

Just arrived in Beijing and the first place we went to visit is the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square!

Beijing, China ~2005~

It's party time! And yes, I do get my hair done nicely when I have dinner parties to go to. This picture was taken during the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs @ Kempinski Hotel Beijing.

Beijing, China ~2006~

Bush senior was in town and staying at a nearby hotel. Security was so tight, even at the hotel where my husband was working has an army of police and some K9 dogs.

Huang Hua Great Wall, Beijing China ~2007~

Hardly any tourists here. Mostly locals. Went hiking with a group of friends from the fitness club. I was so tired but it was fun!

LCCT Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia ~2008~

Just about to check-in with my sister for our shopping spree trip to KL :-)

Prague, Czech Republic ~2009~

When it's hot & humid, this is how I styled my hair! :p

Bangkok, Thailand ~2010~

This photo was taken at the Royal Barges Museum during our Chao Phraya River tour.

After searching for a hair stylist for a few months, I finally found one that I actually like and can trust to cut my hair. Are you ready? *drum roll please*

Beijing China ~2007~

Oops! ... the things we sometime do in the name of themed parties! In this particular one, it was something to do with bird and feathers! Hence the "bird nest" hair do! And that earrings... I made it myself, from ornaments for my xmas tree!

Okay, I know you can't wait to see my new hair style. Are you ready now?

Tadaaaaaaaaa! What do you think?

I took this picture using the lomo apps on my iPhone. I'm so addicted to this apps!

That my friends, is my hair story!

Gone too soon

2010-07-09T18:18:00.002+07:00

I don't feel like blogging lately. Not that I have nothing to ramble about. On the contrary, I've got plenty. I'm just very sad :-(

You see, recently I had this weird dream. I dreamt about a friend in the Philippines. I got to know her while we were living there. A few months after knowing her, we heard she wasn't well. Only later, the husband told us that she was suffering a relapsed after being cancer-free for a few years.

Anyway, I dreamt that she came to visit me. In my dream, we were still living the Philippines. She arrived in this huge bus, one that looks like a luxury tour bus. It was full of people but I only recognised her husband who was seated in the back. It was only her who came down to see me. In the hotel lobby. With her was a rack full of nice clothes & accessories.

She said, "My dear, I won't be able to come here and visit you anymore. Before I go, I would love to give you something special. Please choose and take anything that you like."

I told her, "Thank you but I will not take anything from you because I will see you again." Then, we hugged each other and said our goodbyes.

Early Monday morning, my husband got the sad news from her husband. She passed away on July 4th. I was shocked. I couldn't say anything. I just cried...

And then, the following day I received another shocking sad news. Another friend passed away due to cancer. She was my classmate in high school back home in Sabah. Although I have not spoken or met her for a very long time, we kept in touch through facebook. I didn't know she was sick. She never mentioned it. I don't think anyone knew except for her family.

Her last entry in facebook reads, "... want to be remembered as the girl who always smiles even tho her heart is broken and the one who always brightens your day even tho she couldn't brighten her own..."

She will be forever remembered as that girl and more.

Gone too soon. Rest in peace my friends!

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death;

neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Celebrating under the Maldivian Sun!

2010-06-22T17:30:00.071+07:00

Maldives, the sunny side of life! However, there is more to the Maldives than Sun, Sand & Sea. It has many luxury resorts that choosing which one to stay will be quite a challenge. Lucky for me, I didn't have to do anything because hubby did all the arrangement directly with the resort. I was only told about it a few days before we left.

Destination.....the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island!

We arrived almost midnight at Malé Airport. We were met & greeted by the Conrad staff upon arrival who briefed us about our overnight stay in Malé as well as the departure and transport arrangement the following morning. The only way to reach Conrad is by seaplane and it doesn't operate during the night. That's why we are staying overnight in Malé and it was recommended that we stay at the Holiday Inn Malé, a short speed boat ride from the airport. Another option was the nearby Hulhule Island Hotel but we felt that it was too much to pay $300 just to sleep for a few hours.

We had an early start the next day. We checked out at 8am, took the speed boat ride again back to the airport where we checked in our luggage for the seaplane ride. Then, we boarded the Conrad coach to go to the seaplane terminal which is just a short distance away. Once you get here, you are ushered into the Conrad lounge and served refreshment while waiting for your ride to the island. Oh yes! Don't be shy to ask the therapist to give you a FREE head & shoulder massage (it's on first come first serve basis).

And if it's your lucky day, you might be flying in this

Maldivian Air Taxi painted with the Conrad's logo!

Otherwise, you will be traveling with this one

Maldivian Air Taxi

A cute little bag given to you before you board the seaplane... Bvlgari Cold Towelette, no less!

Half hour later, we arrived in P A R A D I S E !

From here on, let the picture tells the story. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words!

This luxury resort is spread across two private islands and connected by this bridge. You can either walk, take the dhoni (boat) or just call the concierge and they'll pick you up with the buggy!

The Deluxe Water Villa where we stayed for 5 days.

Bubbly & fruits courtesy of the Conrad!

It was raining when I took this picture, otherwise this is the view

Spectacular indeed!

Don't worry... no one can see you while you enjoy your hot bubble bath! Unless of course, the neighbour decides to go for night swim :-)

The Bathroom with HIS & HER wash basin

The neighbour is no where to be seen... so, go ahead and enjoy your bath :-)

Your very own private sun deck with a jacuzzi pool!

This is the sun deck of the Deluxe Water Villa where we moved to on our last day for a day use because we were checking out late and they need to get the existing villa ready for the new arrivals. The only difference between this villa and the one we stayed is....

Can you spot it?

Can you spot it now?

When we didn't feel like going to the beach, we just hang out here or go snorkeling. After all, it's only a few steps away

You can get your mask and fins from the Dive Center

If snorkeling is not your thing, you can always go on this Glass-Bottomed Boat and watch the fishes!

Perhaps go fishing with the Chef onboard this...

super cool fishing boat!

Watch the sunset & enjoy a mocktail OR

take a night walk to watch the fishes along the bridge.

Parrotfish invasion!

This particular coconut tree is the most popular spot for picture taking by honeymooners! And then, there is the daring ones

:-)

The beach area near the Beach Villas

Another beach near the Spa Retreat

Basking under the Maldivian sun! Guess who? :-)

The Quiet Zone ~ no screaming kids here! We like the infinity pool here.

The Over-Water Spa

Not many places where you can watch baby sharks swimming while enjoying your massage. You should go during daytime and on another day, at night!

The Garden @ The Over-Water Spa

The Spa Retreat & Mandhoo Spa Restaurant

Spa Water Villas

Vilu Restaurant and Bar

Near Rangali Bar/Pool area, a great place to enjoy your afternoon tea or in our case, afternoon snacks!

The thatched-roof restaurants

Sunset Bar and Grill

Ithaa, the only Undersea Restaurant in the world and one of the reason why hubby took me here for our anniversary!

*Picture taken from the Conrad website

View of Ithaa from above during the night

Enjoying our anniversary dinner... 8 courses only :-)

After dinner, we found this in our villa

Someone actually took the time to cut out each letter using leaves!

And yes, we got this super moist chocolate cake too :-)

I'm lost for words to describe how beautiful and unique this place truly is... Seeing is Believing!

Vielen dank mein Schatz! Ich ♡ dich und will dich ewig lieben! :-)

Anniversary Surprise

2010-06-04T19:46:00.001+07:00

It's our 10th wedding anniversary and hubby took me to....

And instead of writing a long and winded story about the whole trip in one entry, I will do a picture story in the next few blog entries. It makes it more interesting.

May 28th, 2010 ~ Day 1

We could have flown to Malé direct from Bangkok on Bangkok Airways but husband decided to book us on Singapore Airlines so that we will fly via Singapore. Do you know why? So that yours truly can do retail therapy while on transit :-)

Digging in :-)

I must admit that Changi Airport is one of my favorite place to transit. I can buy all kinds of stuff here. From handbags to gadgets, chocolates to skincare and make ups, books and magazines.. and the list goes on.

By the time we arrived at Malé airport, it was almost midnight. In Maldives, seaplanes or boats are your mode of transportation to reach your island paradise. And since the seaplane only operates during day time, we have no choice but to stay overnight in Malé. Our friend recommended the Holiday Inn Malé which is another 8 minutes away by boat. There is actually a hotel near the airport called Hulhule Island Hotel but our friend thought it was rather expensive to pay US$300 just to sleep for a few hours. Not that the Holiday Inn Malé is cheap, it still cost US$200 a night. Then again, nothing is cheap in Maldives.

View from the Holiday Inn Malé

After just 5 hours of sleep, it was time to leave again and catch the early morning seaplane. And I must admit that I hate flying in small planes. It's even worst if it's the kind that lands on water!

This is our ride!

As soon as we took off, my fear of flying in small planes varnished because I was too busy taking pictures. What a breathtaking view!

Spectacular!

This is where we spent the next 5 days... celebrating our anniversary!

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

So, come back and read more about our trip in the next few entries.

The aftermath

2010-05-24T16:55:00.003+07:00

After 2 weeks of staying in the hotel, we are finally returning to the apartment today. Things seems to be getting back to normal. Well, curfew is still not lifted but at least we don't have to worry about the rallies or protesters anymore.

Yesterday, we decided to go to the now infamous Ratchaprasong to check out the aftermath of the protest and we were greeted by thousands of volunteer doing a major clean up. From washing the street, cleaning sidewalks, restoring electricity lines and collecting garbages. Soldiers guarding the area, business owners who have closed their business due to the rally are out on the street, handing out free refreshments to the volunteers, people are laughing and cheering each other on, after all it is indeed the "Land of Smiles". Enjoy the pictures!

The now infamous street... a great shopping district in Bangkok!

CentralWorld, the 2nd largest mall in Southeast Asia

Volunteers busy scrubbing the street

CIMB-Thai, an ATM that doesn't disperse money

Scrapping off graffitis

Starbucks team giving out free ice lattes

BTS Chitlom Station near our apartment

The Police booth at the entrance of Langsuan Road where our apartment is located

More scrubbing to be done...

It won't be ringing here for a while

No botox here either...

While some movie producer is taking advantage of the scene

Just like it says... together they can!

This is for real

2010-05-20T22:18:00.010+07:00

When I arrived in Bangkok 36 days ago, I had a long list of things to do and see in this Land of Smiles! Sadly, that changed pretty quickly. I'm sure most of you are aware of the situation in Bangkok. This is the second time we evacuated from our apartment and moved into the hotel for safety reason.

But this time, it was different. You can feel something's not right. You can almost smell something's brewing. And it's definitely not coffee!

And yesterday, I witnessed the changing skyscape of the city centre from a distance. I spent the day taking pictures and I will forever remember this day!

Buildings were set on fire by disgruntled protesters! That tall building on your right is where my hubby's office is located and not far from there is the apartment.

More than 30 buildings and public facilities were set on fire including malls, TV station, hotels and banks!

This went on and on for the whole day!

The saying goes, "If nothing goes right, go left!" But in this case, you better go right! Or you can always cross the river like we did.

With curfew being imposed, it was awfully quiet last night. I was looking down the Chao Phraya river and the water was so calm. I wish the situation on the other side of the river was as quiet and calm!

No worries, my husband and I are both safe and will continue to stay in the hotel until the situation goes back to normal.

Not just any ribs!

2010-05-11T17:03:00.000+07:00

Last Saturday, we wanted to go out for dinner and eat ribs. Not just any kind but BBQ Beef Ribs. Now, being new here and knowing very well that normally it's almost always prepared with Pork Ribs, we were finding it quite a challenge to find the Beef version. Thanks to Google, we found a restaurant called "Great American Rib Company". Their menu is available online for viewing and there it was, the ribs we were looking for.

Face of a happy diners! :-)

By the way, their Buffalo Wings are the best!

Kundasang

2010-05-07T14:44:00.001+07:00

During our recent trip to Kundasang, I followed my sister to visit one of the nursery nearby. Did't know hibiscus can flower THIS big! Apparently, in Kundasang it is possible.

While there, we also visited the Kundasang War Memorial. It's nice to wander around in there and take pictures in the gardens. Also, don't forget to watch the short video about this war memorial and the Sandakan Death March.

Tires and sticks

2010-05-01T12:38:00.001+07:00

We've been staying in the hotel for a week now. We thought we could go home already. However, we were told to extend our stay for a few more days. So, yesterday we decided to go back to the apartment to get extra clothes. We knew that the access road was closed but we didn't expect it to be this way...

Protesters cordoned the parameter with tires and bamboo sticks!

Thank goodness our driver managed to find a back alley near enough to the apartment and we only had to walk for about 100 meter.

The access road to hubby's office building which is closed for 4 weeks now.

Is this going to end soon?

View from my window

2010-04-28T16:25:00.005+07:00

After thursday night's incident where one would think you are watching a James Bond movie in the making, we were asked to check-in into the hotel over the weekend for safety reason. Although nothing much happened over the weekend, we were asked to stay for another night. Just incase, they say. Lo and behold, early on Tuesday morning, we got a call to inform us that the access road to our apartment is blocked by the protesters. So, the stay is now indefinite. There's no reason for me to complaint about this indefinite stay really except that I'm bored!

Sure, there is the pool and the spa. But honestly, there is only so much massages I can handle. The location is not so ideal for me. There are only 2 nearby shopping centres. One is a place where you can find souvenirs and tailors AND restaurants. Not my kind though. The other one is actually not too bad but it's always over-crowded and after 1 hour, I have pretty much seen it. So, what do I do?

I sat by the window of our suite and took pictures!

My afternoon snacks!

2010-04-26T15:15:00.002+07:00

And yes... I ate it all :-)

One Night in Bangkok

2010-04-22T17:33:00.000+07:00

Well, that's just the song! I'm here indefinitely.

This is only my first week here and already I'm liking it. There are many nice shopping centres nearby. On top of that, restaurants and spas within the vicinity of our apartment. Even a trip to the supermarket is enjoyable because I know that I can find all the things that we like! I also found a nice Starbucks, a place where I can hang out.

I've been spending the last few days unpacking some of our stuff, mostly my things... clothes, shoes etc. Hubby has nicely unpack some of the kitchen stuff, just the essential to use for now. We don't want to unpack everything because we will move again.

Hopefully from next week onwards, I will have time to explore this fascinating city and blog more often.

When I can't think and hungry!

2010-03-25T15:23:00.004+07:00

When I can't think of anything else to blog about, I normally browse my albums and find a picture or two that I can just upload and write a short description. So, today is one of those days. It must be because I'm hungry that I was drawn to this particular photo. As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words... :-)

Nasi Lemak @ The Olde Station Kopitiam, City Mall

For the benefit of those who doesn't know what Nasi Lemak is, please click HERE.

World Kidney Day

2010-03-11T19:37:00.002+07:00

I went to City Mall today with my sister for a late lunch. The place was busier than usual. When we entered the concourse area, we saw people lining up for something. Getting closer, we then realised that today is World Kidney Day. The National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia has organised free health screening for the public. They also put up posters where you can read and find out more about our kidney's function and related diseases. They were also promoting organ donation.

It doesn't cost you anything (except your time) to read some information about our kidney here. I lost one kidney in late 2003 when I was living in Seoul. I didn't even know that there was something wrong with my kidney. A tumor was discovered during my annual medical check up. I had no symptom. No pain. Nothing! But I was lucky that it was discovered early and got immediate medical attention.

It's worth every cents to get your health screening done!

Renovation gives me headache!

2010-03-09T14:43:00.003+07:00

After a long wait, the contractor has finally agreed to start work last Monday. I was thrill to say the least because that means the sooner it gets done, the sooner I can leave and be with my husband in Bangkok. So, Monday came and indeed I was happy that they actually showed up on time. They shutdown the water supply to the master bathroom and started removing the toilet bowl, water closet and the wash basin. Good first impression. And then, the boss said, "Okay, we removed the debris now and be back in the afternoon. I need to go and fix pipes at another house. Emergency case." What can I say? Off they went and never saw their shadows till this morning. I called the boss to ask what happened and if they are going to show up tomorrow and work the whole day. The answer was, "of course, we'll come at 9.30 tomorrow morning."

So, this morning they came on time. Brought their stuff and started drilling. Oh boy, I thought my ear drum was going to burst. Not only is the noise coming from my own unit, but I found out that my neighbour down below is also renovating. Double whammy with the noise. Thank goodness for "lunch break"! At least I can relax for an hour.

And so, I thought! Suddenly I heard loud music from another neighbour, to the tune of Pussycat Dolls "Jaiho! Jaiho! I got shivers, when you touch away, I'll make you hot, get all you got, I'll make you wanna say Jaiho!.... A revenge for making all that noise!

These are pictures to give you an idea of the progress so far.

After 10 years of wear and tear, it's about time to renovate. Plus I can't even find spare parts whenever the flushing system breaks. Can you see that non-matching water closet cover?

Fixtures and Fittings disappears and so are the workers!

This is what they have done so far... and it's already 3.30pm! They can only drill for another hour.

And my head continues to spin...

Clumsy me!

2010-03-04T21:03:00.001+07:00

My husband is always amazed at how I can possibly "hurt" myself while doing house chores. You know, doing things like ironing, cooking or even opening the fridge door. Recently, while cooking this happened to me.

Auch!

And you thought I was gone!

2010-03-03T21:18:00.023+07:00

It has been slightly more than 2 months since my last post. To begin with, we left the Philippines. In my last post, you saw the picture of me "supervising" the movers. My husband and I went back to Malaysia to celebrate Christmas and New Year with the family. We stayed on since my husband was on leave for a month. We didn't want to go back to Austria in winter. We still prefer to go back there during summer or late spring.

Anyway, instead of writing a long story about what we did, where we went and so on, I thought it would be much better if I upload pictures and write a short descriptions.

We spent New Year's Eve here.

We slept inside this bamboo hut

and the rest preferred sleeping inside their tents!

Awhile ago, we heard about a suspension bridge in a village not far from my mum's house. It's the most talk about bridge because it's one of the longest suspension bridge in Malaysia that cost around US$207K to built.

Lampada's Suspension Bridge

It connects Kampung Lampada and Luba Pelumpung. Not much of water in this river but during the rainy seasons, this bridge is the only means of crossing to the other side. Also, there is another river next to this one, where we actually had a little picnic.

The second river where we had our picnic. And that's my sister in this picture :-)

Caught this "Paparazzi" taking picture of my sister swimming.

That's her!

One early morning, we decided to pay a visit to our cousins at the Nature Reserve at the Shangri-la Rasa Ria.

Year end is normally the rainy season and this year was no exception. One weekend, despite the heavy downpour we went ahead with our plan to drive home to mum's place. After all, it takes about 2 hours drive only. And then comes the flooding.

Still, we managed to get through this one.

But we got stranded here for 4 hours. We had to wait for the flood water to recedes. And what better way to kill time if not...

...eating! Hubby, although very tired but still enjoying his Soto Ayam (chicken soup with noodles) and Teh Tarik Halia (Pulled Ginger Tea)

The following day, the flooding got worst in another area. We decided to take a drive and took pictures.

This is not a river, it is part of a road!

Not so sure what he's pointing at...

When I was little, my parents used to take us to Kionsom Waterfall for picnic. I think the last I went there was some 30 years ago. A long time indeed. Since hubby never been there, we went there to take some pictures.

I nearly fell on the rock trying to take a close-up picture of this bug.

Hubby kept saying that one evening he wants to go and take picture of the City Mosque in Likas. Finally that day came and off we went.

Likas City Mosque

Taken at sunset.

When I say we take pictures almost anywhere, I really do mean it. Take a look...

The scenery along the road on our way home to mum's place.

When you start to hear fire crackers and see fire works lighting up the sky at night, it means Chinese New Year is coming around the corner. It also means the start of sleepless nights. For 15 days to be exact! Oh well, if you can't beat them, join them :-)

At the Sunday Gaya Street Market

Yick Nam Lion Dance Troupe performing for the public.

Speaking of Gaya Street Market, this is also the place where my sister bought her pet dog, a mixed breed Shih Tzu. Here's Muggle.

Muggle

Hubby and I spent most of our time exploring local sights and of course, eating is also part of the itinerary. We would drive all the way across town to eat our favorite food at our favorite restaurant. For example, this Chicken Pao (Steamed Chicken Bun).

I can eat 3 or 4 of this in one sitting! No kidding!

Oh yes, I almost forgot. We have moved to Thailand. The Land of Smiles :-) Will blog about it soon.

Good night!

Here we go again!

2009-12-18T07:54:00.001+07:00

Packing up, that is! The not so enjoyable part of expat life.

They do the hard work, I just make sure it's done! :-)

Shoes, but not mine!

2009-12-14T07:53:00.001+07:00

Not really in the mood to blog, so I thought why not take a picture of me wearing my hubby's shoes!

Isn't this cute?

2009-12-09T09:47:00.001+07:00

I bought this pair recently after eyeing it for so long. I didn't want to buy it at full price since it wasn't really something that I need. More like, something that I want because it's cute! It's Christmas and it was finally on SALE! :-)

I'm Alive & Kicking

2009-11-14T10:43:00.006+07:00

Just incase you are wondering why I haven't blog what seems to be ages ago! I'm still on planet earth and having a great time back home in Malaysia.

Too many fun stuff to do, too little time to blog!

Have a great weekend. I know I will :-)

Factory 798

2009-10-23T07:55:00.000+07:00

While living in Beijing, we used to go to this area called "Factory 798" in Dashanzi Area. Built by the Russians in the early 1950s as part of a war-reparations deal with Germany, the large scale state-owned plant in Beijing churned out electronics items by the million. Architecturally, the sprawling pile, then officially named Factory 798, was and remains pure Bauhaus, after the style of German designer, Walter Gropius.

Its significance as a state-owned entity dwindles in the 1990s due to falling orders and others factors, the results being that thousands of workers lost their job. The conversion of 798 into a number of individual workshops became the only way to its survival as a viable property.

But that was before. Today, it is the centre of Beijing's art community. One can find local and international galleries here. And since art collecting has become a fashionable hobby among many, so there is a quietly but vibrant atmosphere in this area as you browse the galleries or visit the classy cafes that has sprouted like mushrooms!

Some pictures taken while strolling the maze-like art district!

Happy Birthday to me!

2009-10-21T15:04:00.004+07:00

It's not everyday that you get to hear this kind of alarm clock tune trying to wake you up in the morning!

Yep, this was my husband's way of wishing me a "Happy Birthday" this morning! I wasn't sure if I heard the alarm right but then, it got louder and louder which prompted me to finally open my eyes and got up!

Practically spent the whole morning reading and replying emails and of course, text messages which keeps coming on my mobile phone. Then, I had lunch at the cafe. Supposed to be a light lunch since hubby is treating me to a nice dinner tonight. By the time I finished eating my food and ordered coffee, the staff came singing the birthday song and one of them holding a birthday cake. Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake, my favorite! There goes my "light lunch"!!!

Okay, it's my birthday and I'm allowed to brag about my gifts! Blamed it on my sister because she was the one asking about it. So, here's what I got :-)

Firstly, I really wanted to have a portrait done. So, I gave a recent photo of me to the artist to draw. When it was ready for collection, he told me that it will be my birthday gift from him. Apparently someone told him about my upcoming birthday (this was given to me a week ago).

by Pierre Banzon, a Filipino artist!

Some of you know (my husband included!) that I'm into handbags! So, he bought this for me from Sapphire Ministore, one of my shopping lair!

COACH New Pop C Glam, a gift from hubby :-)

And then, hubby knows that I really like iPhone but I don't want to buy it because it is too expensive. Not really something that I need or can't live without. After all, there is nothing wrong with my old Nokia N73. It works perfectly well. Needless to say, hubby feels that I deserve to have one since I've kept our expenses in great shape so far. Allowing us extra $$$ to splurge! So, indeed I am finally getting an iPhone although I still need to wait for two more weeks for it. A friend is helping to buy it from the Apple Store in Hong Kong because I wanted to have one that will work with any wireless carrier regardless of the country. One that does not require me to sign up with a particular network or service provider. Yes, it does exist and it's fully legal.

As Mark Twain once said, "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

Backgammon anyone?

2009-10-18T20:13:00.000+07:00

Picture credit to www.fotosearch.com

I learned to play Backgammon during my very first trip to Austria in 1997! It's an interesting game to play but I must admit that I'm not very good at it.

Hubby and I played this afternoon and of course, I lost! Oh well, better luck next time.

I took a break from blogging!

2009-10-16T17:29:00.029+07:00

I haven't blog for more than a week now. No, I didn't go into isolation or anything like that. Not at all. I just didn't feel like blogging at all. I did read your blogs. Those that I follow, of course.

Here are some stuff that I want to share with you. Things that I did or went to while I was "missing in action".

Well, it's Oktoberfest month. Last Saturday, our Swiss friend at the Marco Polo Hotel invited us to a big dinner party at his hotel. The party was held outdoor under a huge canopy and the tickets were sold out! We didn't need to worry about tickets since we were invited. We had plenty of food, drinks and of course, entertainment! To give you an idea what this fest is all about, enjoy this Youtube video!

Hubby is wondering why the most famous German Festival of all times is fully reliant on Austrian music?

Yep, hubby doesn't drink beer!

~ ♡ ~

As always, Tuesday is my day with the ladies who lunch. Last Tuesday, Mrs.M hosted the lunch at her house. Our friend, Mrs.A was leaving the next day for the US, it would be nice if we have a potluck instead of going to the restaurant. So, for this occasion, I cooked Shrimp Curry :-)

There were 11 of us that day. A newcomer brought along a friend, whom she just fetched from the airport. I can't even remember her name now. I only remembered her saying that she came all the way from Florida, used to live in New York and in a midst of building her resort in Bohol, Philippines. More and more people are asking about joining the ladies who lunch on Tuesdays. Quite honestly, I'm beginning to feel it's getting a bit "out of control". Don't get me wrong. As they say, "the more, the merrier". However, one can no longer talk softly, otherwise the person at the end of the table can't hear you. There is also that person who only want to talk about herself and nothing else. One also need to get use to the sparkles from the diamonds and almost certainly warrants a sunglass. No kidding! One lady always shows up as if she emptied her safe box at home!

~ ♡ ~

I also enjoy listening to Michael Bublé. Here's a recent video titled "Haven't Met You Yet" that I want to share with everyone. It is also especially for Ekan. He writes well and he shares quite a bit of personal stories in his blog... love life included! So, I thought he will enjoy this song :-) If you haven't read his blog, please go ahead and read it.

That's my story till now. Oh yes, I'm also busy packing because I'll be flying home to Malaysia in 12 days time. Two suitcases filled up and one more to go!

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

2009-10-07T11:03:00.001+07:00

Life's too short to wake up in the morning and worry!

We can sing too!

2009-10-04T17:21:00.000+07:00

The past few days, I've spent quite a bit of time exploring youtube. You know, just clicking songs randomly. They are many talented Malaysians singer/songwriter but this one is my favorite of the week!

"Just You and Me" by Zee Avi. She is from the tiny town of Miri in Sarawak (East Malaysia) on the island of Borneo!

Achtung!

2009-10-03T09:30:00.004+07:00

If you are like me, a person who (quite often) doesn't really pay attention to the airline's safety video announcement onboard, then you might actually find this one interesting!

The only thing I actually familiarised myself with before take off is the emergency exit! And of course, the food and beverage menu :-)

Feathers on my hair

2009-10-02T17:03:00.001+07:00

Actually I don't really feel like blogging today. Then, I read Amy's blog and saw those pretty headbands and it reminded me of the hair clip I bought recently from Accessorize Vienna.

Yes, that's me all ready to party!

Missing autumn

2009-10-01T15:51:00.019+07:00

TIME TO WINE! Okay, I'm finally trying out this "Thursday Tirade" that Amy from Just Add Walter created. Please do visit her blog, it's super cool!

Back to the weather now. It's funny but true, how the weather can change our mood. How we feel about ourselves. How the day is going to turn out. It seems like it all depends on the weather. I mean, it is true, isn't it? Well, at least for me it is. After freezing my you-know-what for 4 years in Beijing, living in the tropic (again) is of course my absolute favorite. And mind you, next to the beach, no less! When it's sunny and the sky is blue, my mood is definitely on high gear. The good mood, that is. Very often, Hubby will find me reading a book or just enjoying the scenery by the beach, under a coconut tree drinking lemongrass ice tea!

Can you see me near the rock fountain?

Lately though, the weather has been gloomy. The past 2 months or so, it's either raining or very foggy-like weather. It's the typhoon season here in the Philippines. That's what they say. So, apparently this kind of weather is normal.

Took this picture this morning from my balcony. Normally, you should be able to see the horizon.

This is when I'm wishing for autumn. I love the vibrant colours of autumn. It lifts up my mood!

Fragrant Hill, Beijing

Oh well, how's your Thursday?

Declutter for Charity

2009-09-30T17:29:00.015+07:00

Last night, I ransacked my closets and took out all the clothes that I rarely wore or those that I have been saving for the day when I can fit into them again! And this is what I came up with between the two of us. Of course, 90% of it came from my closets!

Well, at least this is now going to be given to people who are in dire need of help. Not just clothing, but food and medicines. Click here to see pictures and read the news about the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines.

To find out how you can help, please visit The Philippine National Red Cross website.

Weekend Getaway!

2009-09-28T17:40:00.019+07:00

*Picture credit to www.polaris-dive.com

We've been planning to go to Cabilao Island for a while now. Just to relax and enjoy a dive or two. So, hubby made all the arrangement for us to leave on Friday morning and return on Sunday afternoon.

However, the evening before we left, our friend and also the owner of the Polaris Beach and Dive Resort, where we will be staying called up to tell hubby that the weather is not looking so good. He remembers that I don't like traveling on those banca especially in rough sea condition. And he's damn right about that! This is how a banca look like. Basically a pump-boat made of bamboo and plywood!

So, imagine yourself traveling in one of this in the open sea during bad weather!

Friday morning came and he did call up. He says that the weather is still not looking good and in fact, the country is expecting typhoon Ondoy in the late afternoon. But hubby is determine to proceed with the plan. Bobot, our driver drove us to this town called Argao in the southern part of Cebu Island. It took us 2 hours to get there. Our friend told us to look for the Captain at Barangay Langtad (a small fishing village). This was his instruction on how to find that Captain. "Turn left when you see a signage that says "if you cannot solve the problem, then you are part of the problem". You should be able to see Amelie, the boat."

After driving around twice in this small village and still could not find this boat, the driver finally stopped and asked this group of people admiring their catch of the day. A blue marlin, no less! And we were lucky because three of the guys were actually waiting for us. They carried our dive bags and took us to the boat. One of them said something to me in their local dialect. Which of course, I have no clue what it means. I then asked him if he can say that again but in English. Yep! He was confused indeed. Anyway, he just wanted to let us know that the Captain will be back in half hour and he apologised for making us wait.

We boarded the banca and made ourselves comfortable. There was another guest on board, Robert the English guy.

It didn't take that long for the Captain to appear. He went shopping! I can see that he bought fruits, vegetables, mineral waters, noodles and even brooms. Noticing that I was staring at the groceries, he smiled and said, "for the resort, Maam."

Ahoy! and we arrived safely on Cabilao Island after a 45 minutes banca ride. Upon arrival, we were served with a nice tall glass of ice lemon tea as welcome drink. After settling into our room which is cottage-style, we were ready for lunch.

After lunch, hubby decided to go for a dive. The weather wasn't looking so good but he went ahead anyway. Well, if it rains it doesn't matter. I'm underwater, makes no difference, he says. The rain came pounding and suddenly we were experiencing strong wind. We couldn't even see them anymore. I was hoping they would abandoned their dive and return to the resort. One thing I would never understand. Men!

So, why should I worry too much, right? I stayed in our room and enjoyed my afternoon siesta!

An hour later, he came back grinning. Excited to tell me that despite the bad weather condition, he still enjoys his dive. Apparently, it was normal underwater!

The rain finally stopped in late afternoon. This gave us the opportunity to hang out under the little cabana and enjoy our sundowner! We had an early dinner and call it a day! Only to be awaken by loud noise middle of the night. The rain came again and this time, even stronger wind. We could hear trees falling and coconut branches falling on our roof. Needless to say, we continue our sleep.

The next day, we got up early. The wind has mellowed down but continue to drizzle. We enjoyed our breakfast and because it was not ideal to go out diving again, we just relax and did some reading on our terrace. Before we know it, it was time to eat lunch. I must say that the food is good. The kind of food that mama would cook for you at home. Simple but tasty!

After lunch, we continue with our reading again. Yes, we do have plenty of books that we need to start reading. And then, suddenly the wind came pounding again. Tree branches were flying, the furniture were flying and even that little cabana collapsed! The staff came running to collect the chairs that was strewn all over. They quickly dismantled the little cabana that collapsed and put it away. They tied up the roof of the remaining cabanas to the coconut trees so that it doesn't get blown away. We were actually enjoying ourselves watching an emergency procedure in full throttle, island style! Unfortunately, due to the weather condition, we were not able to take out our camera and take pictures because we don't have a waterproof casing. I took this picture of the collapsed bamboo cabana using my Nokia N73.

Reading continues and as usual, we enjoyed our sundowner! Although the sun is hardly visible... but really, who cares!

On sunday morning, the weather is actually not too bad. The sea is rough, big waves and still a bit windy but it's actually sunny. After breakfast, we asked the staff what time the Captain can take us across.

Staff : No Maam, no crossing over today. Too dangerous. Captain will not leave.

Hubby : But, we have to go home today! We must leave soon.

Staff : Sir, not possible. I will call the Boss and ask what to do.

Hubby : Ok then. Please let us know as soon as possible.

Staff : Yes, Sir!

About 15 minutes later, the staff came to inform us that we will be able to leave the island but not with their Captain.

Staff : Sir, Maam Maria (the lady Boss) said we will arrange for you to take a different way to go home.

Hubby : Ok, and how do we do that?

Staff : Sir, first we take you on motorbike to the island's pier. It takes 20 minutes. Then, a small banca will take you across to another island for 20 minutes. Don't worry, it's safe to cross over because the sea there is not rough.

At this point, I was a bit worried. Why is it alright to cross there but not from here? Only then she explained that it was a narrow channel and "hidden" between the islands.

Staff : After you cross over, the driver will take you to the ferry terminal in Tagbilaran. About 1 hour drive.

Me : How do we identify the driver?

Staff : Don't worry Maam. The driver will come to you. Please pay him a thousand peso.

At 9 am, we paid our bills and left on two motorbikes. I must say the ride was quite scenic. We passed through the village and kids were out waving at us. It also started to rain again. We quickly boarded our banca and I was really worried because it was a small old banca, no roof and without life jackets! Hubby assured me that it will be okay. By the way, the sea was a bit rough but I guess the boatman knew what he was doing. He maneuvered it well. And indeed, the driver came looking for us. I guess if hubby was the only white looking man there, it's quite easy to identify us.

We were on the road for an hour and were hoping that the driver stepped on it so that we may be able to catch the earlier ferry. Luck was on our side. We were able to catch the 11.35 am "Ocean Jet". And of course, we only left at noon time. As soon as all passenger boarded, the rain came pounding. When we left the ferry terminal and out in the open sea, big waves came crushing and the group of students on board were screaming. This was going on for about 1 hour. And here I am trying very hard not to get seasick! On the other hand, hubby was enjoying the movie. All I can see was an elephant running amok!

Finally, we reached Cebu Port at around 2 p.m. By the time we got home, I was really tired, hungry and still feeling the swayed of the ocean.

Despite all these, we still enjoyed the trip and I finally finished reading Eat, Pray, Love!

What a week!

2009-09-24T11:21:00.228+07:00

I was on leave for a week. I decided it was time to take a "vacation" and spend time away from iMac and MacBook. Not only are my fingers in need of rest, my eyes needed it badly too! Staring at the computer screen for hours started to strain my eyes. I was actually seeing double every time when I try to read the exposure reading on my camera. Seriously.

So, I am going to ramble what I've been up to during this much needed "vacation". And here it goes...

Sat, 19-09-09
The Roaring 1920's party last night turned out really well. Great food, great wine and great entertainment! I even met new friends. And yes, I also learned how to play Poker. After losing a few times, I won during the last round. And I won BIG! Unfortunately, this gambling was just for fun and not for real money! Sigh!

Sun, 20-09-09
We went off to our friend's resort just across to the other island. It's just a 20 minutes boat ride. While I catch up on my reading, Harald went for a dive. And of course, the day wouldn't be complete without the compulsory sundowner before catching the last boat to go home. Mango Sangria, anyone?

Mon, 21-09-09
Just relaxing at home. Did the laundry and read magazines.

Tue, 22-09-09
Met with the ladies who lunch. We finally went to have lunch at a restaurant outside the mall. It was actually nice. It even has a nice garden where you can sit and enjoy dining alfresco. Unfortunately, the locals prefer to sit and dine indoor in order to enjoy the full blasting air-condition that even my European friends need to wear their cardigan or pashmina to keep warm. The food is great too. Definitely great pasta and pizza selections. It used to be someone's residence before it was converted into a restaurant. Not just any restaurant, but an Italian restaurant run by an Italian man! The only disadvantage of this restaurant is the location. It's not easy to find especially when the streets here are narrow and one way only. So, you'll probably end up making a few wrong turns before finding it. Needless to say, we were the only crowd for today's lunch. They were 13 of us and we must have made the owner happy because we were served a bottle of Limoncello Liquer for free! What can I say? Only La dolce vita :-)

Wed, 23-09-09
Like the Italian says, "Il bel far niente."

Thu, 24-09-09

We attended the "South African Wine Tasting" event at a nearby resort. Great music performed by musicians who came all the way from Johannesburg, courtesy of the South African Embassy! My favorite finds for the evening were; Niederburg Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz; Fleur du Cap Pinotage; Bellingham Pinotage.

Something weird but not funny happened! This lady whom I met once during one of those "Wine & Cheese Club" events was also there. She had a bit too much of wine tasting. She was talking (or trying to) when suddenly, she groped my friend's boob. Our friend was so shocked and didn't know how to react. I swear this lady didn't even realised what she just did and moved on to another table to "disturb" them. She talked loud and like... in your face! She can't even stand straight. The sad part is, her husband was there and he was oblivious to what's happening. At one point, she nearly fell on the floor and I think the husband finally realised that it was time to take her home. So, they left. The husband holding on to her since she could hardly walk by herself. Unfortunately, they didn't go that far. On our way out, we passed by them near the pool. She was sprawl on the sun lounger and crying out loud. We were embarrassed for the husband.

The Roaring 20's

2009-09-18T14:56:00.000+07:00

The hair is done. The make-up is done. The nails looking all pretty. It's going to be a night full of glitters and dramas!

Credit for photo: HERE

What was it?

2009-09-16T13:02:00.005+07:00

Ta da !!! Grilled Black Pepper Chicken :-)

It's Tuesday!

2009-09-15T21:03:00.041+07:00

Yeah, yeah... no big deal! Well, for me it is. It means I get to meet my friends in the city and enjoy their company as well as the food. It means shopping day for groceries and sometime, shopping for moi. It means I get to hang around for a good 4 hours and sometime more in the city. Do I sound like I live in a remote place? Well, you see, we live on another nearby island. To go to the city, we have to cross the bridge. Besides, I'm the only one from the circle of friends who lives here. Kind of lonely sometime. For us, we are here because hubby's work is here.

So, who are these ladies who lunch with me every Tuesday?

These ladies are a great bunch of "normal" people. They actually have a life other than bragging about their wealth or their waist size! And we really do like each other. We come from different part of the world but we have one common interest, EATING! At our table, we have a Danish, a Polish, three Filipinas (one married to an American, one to a British and another one to a Frenchman), an Irish, a French, an American, a Romanian and yours truly, a Malaysian! It's a small group and we prefer it that way. Anyone who doesn't "behave" will not get invited the next time. That would be someone who annoys everyone, only talk about self and knows everything under the sun... sometime even above and beyond! We do bring along a guest or two whenever we have friends or families visiting us. And while there are many restaurant to choose from, we only like a few. So, every week we rotate and sometime, we take turn to host lunch at out house!

Today, it was Be who hosted the lunch. She arrived here recently with her British husband. They were living & working in Dubai for many years but decided to retire a bit early and just enjoy life. As always, we were well fed! Some even a bit tipsy after a glass or two of sparkly!

After lunch, I went to the mall with only ONE thing in mind. That is, to buy a hat for hubby to wear to the party this coming Friday. Yeah, another one of those themed party ~ 1920's! I was lucky indeed because it didn't take me long to find one. With plenty of time to spare, I wandered around the mall to check our what else is new. Noticed that the usual "SALE", "30% - 60% DISCOUNTS", "BUY 1 FREE 1" signs has gone into hibernation. This wandering around was of course a big mistake and I'll tell you why!

There is a store called Charles & Keith. It's a Singapore based company that sells shoes, bags, belts and sunglasses! I've seen this store back home in Malaysia but I never actually step inside. Just looking at the shoes displayed by the windows, it doesn't look so comfy. Besides, I don't really wear heels. I thought why not I check it out this time. They must be selling good shoes since it was busy with customers. And yes, I actually found a pair of wedges that I like. The sales girl managed to convince me to try it on. "Just give it a try, Ma'am. It's alright if you don't want to buy it", she said. As they say, the rest is history! I ended up buying it.

Then, I thought... ummm, why not I check out that Beauty Bar. For sure I won't buy anything there. I'm not really a make-up person and it is always the last thing that I would buy. But something happened on the way there. I passed by this store where I bought my fit-flops. Yes, that one that has a tag lines that says, "Get a workout while you walk." One of the staff was standing outside the store and he greeted me. He then went on to say that they have some new designs that I might like. To cut the story short, indeed I ended up buying a pair of...

Electra "Bronze" :-)

In addition to this pair, I already owned these two :-)

Electra "Black"

Walkstar III Jelly "Strawberry"

I know some might say that I'm being rather extravagant on my purchases, but for someone like me who suffers from Plantar Fasciitis, this is one of the best fit-flops around. On top of that, it's fashionable and comes in fabulous colors!

Can anyone guess what was the last item I bought before heading home? Look out for the answer tomorrow.

p.s. Pictures taken from www.fitflops.com

I know it's Fiesta time but enough already!

2009-09-13T21:56:00.001+07:00

This is the song that I have to listen to the whole day! I truly enjoy "Bollywood" movies and even attempted to dance to this particular tune. I've seen the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" not once but twice! And yes, I really do enjoy listening to Pussycat Doll's "Jai Ho" but listening to it being played over and over again is proving to be too much to bear.

Coffee with the ladies or cook lunch for hubby?

2009-09-10T12:44:00.036+07:00

Yep, that is the question!

The ladies who normally do lunch, will be meeting this afternoon for coffee instead. One of them is going home to the States and will only be back in December.

I promised my hubby that I will cook chicken curry for today's lunch. So, no brainer there. I kept my promise!

See you ladies... next Tuesday!

Ladies who lunch

2009-09-08T18:45:00.074+07:00

I stumbled upon this song's title and decided to check it out on Youtube. I thought, "oh cool, something for my blog." It reminds me of the ladies who attends the parties that I don't really want to go to but have to!

Click HERE for the lyric.

STRESS about nothing

2009-09-07T17:05:00.015+07:00

Life's stressful and anybody who says otherwise is in denial or is trying to sell something. It's just a fact of life, that's all. We all need to get over it and deal with it. However, I do think that we often make life more stressful than it really is.

Here's my favorite example. We stress about our health, you know, what we eat, how we exercise, how small (or in my case, how big) our waistlines are. Really, stressing over our health just makes us feel worse about ourselves and makes us more prone to stress related diseases. It's a vicious cycle. Our ancestors never worried about calories or carbs. They didn't "eat healthy" because they wanted to lose weight and stay fit. There was war going on. I don't think worrying about diet plans was on their mind. They just ate what was available. They ate simply. And look at them, they lived to the ripe old ages of 90 and more!

Nowadays, there are hundreds if not thousands of books written about how to overcome stress. How to eat healthy. How to stay Fit. How to lose weight. It's endless. Here are some that caught my attention, not because I read it, but because the cover attracts me.

Having seen all these wonderful covers, I was inspired to "melt the butter" my way! So, while hubby went to gym, I decided to go to the Steam Room. Yup, the one where you enter a room and it's damn hot. You try not to suffocate or faint!

While I didn't become skinny at this very first session, it had the power to make my cheeks turn rosy. No stress there!

T . G . I . F

2009-09-05T11:21:00.018+07:00

I'm not talking about the T.G.I.F. here. Although I must admit eating is involve. It's more like, Thank God It's Friday! That means, we are going to a party.

Speaking of party invitation, you don't get those cute invitation card anymore. Yes, the one that is printed on paper and comes with an envelope. Seems like everyone is tech savvy these days. Going paperless is in. Less paper means less tree cutting. Anyway, we got invited to a friend's 50th birthday party. The invitation came in a form of SMS. The one that appears on your mobile phone. This is how it read, " Hi, I am celebrating my 50th on Sept 04th at our wine store. Drinks & hors d'oeuvre . 5pm to 10pm. Come anytime. Let me know if you are coming. Hope to see you two." And I thought SMS stands for Short Messaging System!

Off we went to this party last night. Got there around 7. Seems like the party was already in full swing. Saw familiar faces. Greeted them. Found the birthday boy, where else, but behind the bar. After wishing him, we managed to find an empty space to stand and chit chat with the other guests. This is again one of those party where you get invited to and meet the same people. So, my evening went like this.

I haven't seen Mrs.H for awhile. Greeted her and straight away she mumbled something in her native language. I reminded her that I AM FROM MALAYSIA! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND YOUR LANGUAGE! She said, "Oh yes, I keep forgetting that." And then, she went on to inform me how busy she has been and going to be. Has been busy on vacation. Going to be busy because she needs to fly out somewhere to remove furniture in their condominium and put new ones. Basically, she just want to make sure that I know they have a condominium in the big city and that they went for a nice summer vacation. Yes, this is the kind of stories I get to hear on Friday night.

Then, there is Mrs.B whom I haven't seen since Christmas. She's someone who doesn't like to go out and meet the other ladies. She sends her daughter to school, goes to the gym, go buy groceries, pick up daughter from school, go home. That's her. We've invited her many times to come and join us for lunch but she always declined. I'm busy, she said. The other ladies does exactly the same thing, except for declining lunch invitations. We sometime take turns to host the lunch at our home and everyone bring something. You know, a pot luck. One time, she told one of the lady that she will never invite people to their villa. Troublesome was her word. According to my Dictionary, that means "causing difficulty or annoyance." Imagine that. How would you feel if someone told you that. She's also very selective of whom she want to be friends with. Well, this behaviour was when she was still the first lady of a hotel. You know, the hubby was the BOSS. Not anymore. That's why last night she was super friendly. Even asked me when is my next lunch date with the ladies. Can you let me know, I would like to come along, she said. So, a lesson to be learned. Don't be a snob! Life's much more enjoyable when you are humble!

And then, there is Miss B. She works for a bank. Holds a high position. She only greeted my hubby. And I was standing right next to him. She probably think that I am one of those local wife who doesn't speak much English, what more a brain and being there just for decoration. Although, I must say I'm not much of a decor! But definitely has a brain! Hahahaha :D

I almost forgot to talk about the hors d'oeuvre. Actually it was not just hors d'oeuvre. It was a full buffet spread, complete with a whole Lechón a.k.a. suckling pig. We didn't eat, except for nibbling some chips. We already planned to have dinner at the nearby Mexican restaurant.

So, that's how our friday went.

Tristan and his artwork

2009-09-01T19:47:00.019+07:00

Some of you know that we have been sponsoring orphans in China for a while now. The first little girl, Vanessa has meanwhile found her permanent family as she has been adopted and moved to the United States.

Since then and for almost one year now we have been sponsoring this little boy who also did not have an easy start. Tristan was abandoned in the square of his hometown and taken to the local orphanage. They tried but failed to locate his parents. Tristan was born with a heart condition that is quite serious - PDA and Pulmonary Atresia. As a result of these conditions, he started out very weak and cyanotic. In fact, has just completed his 1st surgery but his body has recovered steadily and he is growing stronger.

So, we were really happy when we received this painting along with strands of red beans with a little tag attached to it that says, "A red berry grows in the south country; The boughs are full of them when spring arrives. Gather some, I pray, and fill your pockets; These are the best forget-me-nots!" by Wang Wei (Tang Dynasty)

And every month, we received an update (via email) and here is the latest report from his Nanny that says:

“One year old Tristan is now stronger and taller. He is getting healthier, and is also in a very good mood. Every day he is very happy playing in the game room. Tristan is very fond of music. When music starts to play he can shake his body to the beat. He also likes to take walks outside. When he sees the small animals along the road he gets very excited. The cars on the road make him laugh. Tristan is able to climb and crawl now and he can greet people with his hands. He is very fond of eating the meals that we serve the older kids and he also likes eating biscuits. He is really cute. Everybody loves him. He is able to say mom now. When guests come, he will greet them and waves his hands to say goodbye when they leave. He is able to hold on to the bed to stand up. He is very smart and is able to learn the way adults do. He makes everybody happy!"

We only hope for the best for Tristan and will update you from time to time about his progress.

6 months old

His 1st birthday

1 year 1 month

Tummy bug ruining my social life

2009-08-29T17:23:00.009+07:00

I'm down with "stomach flu". What? Flu in your stomach? Well, that's what I called it. According to WebMD, flu has nothing to do with it! The medical term is "Gastroenteritis". It sounds so geeky :-)

Well, we are supposed to go to a friend's housewarming party tonight. But, this particular bug decided to pay a visit late last night and is ruining my social life for the weekend! I'm trying to think where I caught it from. Was it that Sweet and Sour Dory that I ate yesterday during a very delayed lunch at the mall or was it the Lobster and Duck Confit Salad that I ate for dinner?

Catching this bug is no fun at all. I'm spending most of my time in the bathroom. I might as well stay there and get comfortable. Or at least, try to.

As a remedy, I took some herbal medicine. It helps a bit. Hubby suggested that I should pay a visit to the doctor's office. Knowing me, that would be my last resort. So I said, "I've no fever anyway. I'll be okay."

Let's hope I get better real soon. Otherwise, I might really need to pay the Doc a visit tomorrow.

Now, where's that ginger-ale?

Just feel like blabbing it today

2009-08-26T19:23:00.003+07:00

I am often told that I am so fortunate. That I have a great life that others could only dream of. After all, I called a 5 star hotel, my home. I have a driver at my disposal. A housekeeper who does all the cleaning. You tossed all your laundry in the basket and it comes back washed, ironed and nicely arranged. If cooking is not your favorite thing to do, no worries. You have a few restaurant to choose from. When you don't feel like stepping out of your comfort zone, food is only a phone call away. When you get stressed out from all the lunches, shopping and dinner parties, the spa is only a few steps from your door. And just incase your jeans is beginning to feel a bit tight, don't fret. The gym is also at your disposal!

You get to attend social events, be it formal or fun parties. You get to mingle with the city's creme de la creme! There really is nothing to complaint about. Except for the bad weather, maybe.

The truth is, it is not always a stress-free life. It is not always just about lunches with the ladies or going for your manicure appointments!

You lose your privacy. You live in the hotel and the staff knows your every move. Things you like and don't like. The laundry guy even knows the colour of your underwear! Although, I chose to hand wash ours. Yep, me washing the laundry with my hands.

Then, there are parties to go to. I'm so stress just thinking of what to wear. People here enjoys having a themed party. So, you really don't want to be a party pooper. And it's not easy to find dresses or gowns here for such events. And I really don't want to spend so much money for a dress that most likely will be worn once! For example, next month I'm attending a 1920's themed party. I have nothing in my closet that's any where near to this era. So, I bought a flapper dress during our trip to Austria. If we didn't go back to Austria, I would have to get one tailored here. That alone is stressful. Tailors (or Designers, as they like to call themselves here) seems to think that all foreigners are rich! As if money grows in our backyard.

At parties, these are the common questions that I get asked. Which designer are you wearing?Who's your make-up artist? Where are you going for your next vacation? Why you don't have kids? Since you have no kids, how do you keep busy? And the list is endless. Sometime, I do feel like telling them off. But these people are not just any body. They are somebody!

Then, there are those who shows up and decided to pay you a surprise visit. Of all days, on a Sunday morning. One time, I got a call from the Concierge. Telling me so and so is here and want to see you now in the lobby. Oh, this one really gets me all fired up. Of course, I won't go down to the lobby. I'm not expecting anyone. It turns out that one of the lady is going to the island for the day with her family and wanted to park their car in the hotel. They are worried it might get stolen if left in the unsecured space near the pier. For this, they must disturb your Sunday morning.

Don't get me wrong. I am grateful and feel so blessed. But I'm also just human. I have my ups and downs too. Some days I feel great, other times, I don't.

Oh well, I better log off now. Take care everyone.

Doing a Budget & Recording our Expenses

2009-08-18T20:02:00.004+07:00

Many years ago, I did not really bother to keep an eye on my expenses. What more having a budget and sticking to it. I was working then and earning a good salary. I figured, as long as I have some money in the bank and I don't owe anyone money, except for the mortgage, I will be okay. After all, I don't really splurge or go on a shopping spree every time. In fact, at the end of every month, I would still have money left. So, I was not like living from paycheck to paycheck.

Things changed when we left Malaysia and moved to Seoul, South Korea. I quit my job and on top of that, we aren't actually living in the cheapest city in the world! I read and was told that things are very expensive in Seoul. It was not until I got there that I realised how expensive it was!

So, hubby suggested that we come up with a monthly budget and monitor our expenses. After 3 months living there, we roughly know how much we spent every month. Knowing that Maths isn't exactly my favorite subject, hubby researched and found a software that would make it easier for me. All I have to do is enter the details and it will do the calculation for me :-)

Dealing with different currencies is not exactly my favorite either. Thank goodness for the software because it does the conversion too! So, from Korean Won (KRW or ₩), it will convert it to the US dollar. Then, I needed to have it in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) as well, so that I have a better idea of how much we spent. My brain can't quite absorbed the numbers in Dollars! Just like the Euros. I think everything is cheaper because the number seems so low. Then I convert it to Malaysian Ringgit and I have a shocked of my life!

2004, the year when we started and came up with our monthly budget and expenses. This is how we started. First, we listed down the items that we will need on one column. For example, groceries, personal care, transportation cost, shoes, clothing, dining out, gifts, electrical goods etc. Trust me... we have a long list!

Then, the 2nd column is the budgeted amount for each item. The 3rd column should indicate the actual amount spent (Actual Expenses) and the 4th column indicates the differences between Budget & Actual. Now, in order for this to work and actually mean something, you will need to keep all shopping receipts and write down in your notebook or whatever it is that you used to write notes. Tech savvy person might use their mobile phone, iPhone and what have you! It doesn't matter which one, just make sure it's noted down. With this, you then enter the amount in the spreadsheet under Expenses Column. In the beginning, it does feel tedious and mundane. There are even times I felt like giving up. But once I got used to it and started to see the benefit of having one, it was rewarding. Rewarding? How can something like this be rewarding? Depressing will be more like it, right?

Well, you might actually find out that you have some money left! This "leftovers" as I called it, can be used to reward yourself. A good example will be, if you have budgeted buying a new pair of shoes this month for $30 but you didn't buy one, you can use this amount to top up something else that you budgeted for the following month. (But please do not amend the amount in that column!). Let's say a handbag that you budgeted for $25, now you can splurge and get one for $55. Of course, it would be better if you don't spend it all the time. Budgeted amount not spent means it goes into your saving!

About 2 years ago, we switched to a program called Money Dance which we found online and paid a one time fee. This software is even better and user-friendly. With Money Dance, I am now maintaining two separate records. One for our household budget and expenses. The second one for my personal finance. I can compile all my account into one i.e. savings, assets, investments, mortgages etc.

Just imagine... I can see how much I've spent on handbags, shoes or even on massages and manicures at any time :-)

November is the time when I will prepare our budget for the following year. So this year's budget and actual expenses will be of great help. Oh yes, don't forget to include all your wish list into that budget. I certainly don't!

Remember, having a budget and spending within your limit does not mean you are depriving yourself of a nice lifestyle or even splurging on expensive items. It does not mean you have to live like a pauper. Just living within your means. What you can afford and have a better understanding of your finances. There is no point living and keeping up with the Joneses when you can't afford it.

Now... let see what goodies are still on that list. iPhone 3Gs? Muahahaha :-)

p.s. I am not a Financial Expert and I do not get paid to write about any of the software program mentioned in my blog! I'm just sharing my experience here! :-)

No more colorful suitcase

2009-08-15T13:57:00.023+07:00

I like colorful suitcases. I really do. Before my hubby met me, his suitcases were black. Then, I became part of the traveling entourage. From black it changed to bright yellow, red & ice blue!

Mind you, I have a very good reason for this changed. It would be easier to identify our luggage at the airport, I said. I mean, have you seen those luggage on the airport's conveyor belts? Unless you tie up a colored ribbon, it won't be easy to identify your luggage immediately. You really need to pay attention and read the tag. Otherwise, you might even pick up the wrong one and only realised it when you get home or reached your hotel. Brands like Samsonite and Delsey are popular. So, chances of someone else having the same design, color and size is very high. And that's why we have suitcases in different color.

However, upon on our return from the last trip to Europe, I told hubby that the next suitcase we are going to buy will be BLACK. Yes, that's right! No typo error here. BLACK it is. And this is the reason WHY.

The dirt and scratches are very obvious! I can't get rid of it anymore. No matter how hard I scrubbed it.

And yes, the combination lock on this 12 years old luggage is broken too! The local Samsonite retailer told me it will take 3 months (maybe 4) to get it repaired. Forget it! I'll just buy a new one :-)

(p.s. Qatar did not break our luggage... someone else did while it was on transit).

If counting sheep doesn't work, try praying

2009-08-14T16:17:00.013+07:00

I read somewhere that if you have a hard time falling asleep, try counting the sheep. Well, I tried that. It didn't work though. I even counted up to a 100 backwards but my eyes refused to shut. Then, it came to me that maybe, just maybe, I should try saying a prayer. But then, I haven't done that for a while. In fact, it has been a while since I last went to church. And yes, I'm not ashamed of admitting it. It doesn't mean I am a bad person. Am I?

Ok, we are getting a bit off track now. Let's continue with the counting sheep and praying story!

Here I am lying on my Heavenly Bed® alone since Hubby is away for the night. Thinking what to say in my prayer. First thing that came up to my mind was my friend who is fighting bone cancer and currently undergoing a series of chemo.

So, I started praying asking Him to help my friend so that she will recover very soon and to have the energy and strength to fight this dreadful disease. There were other things that I said as well. It doesn't matter. No need to write everything here. One thing for sure is that I fell asleep. I must have been. When I woke up, it was broad daylight. I didn't even get to say, "Amen".

We Slept at The Imperial Riding School Vienna

2009-08-06T21:08:00.013+07:00

Something happened to our hotel reservation and we ended up staying at The Imperial Riding School Vienna, a Renaissance Hotel. As we stepped out of the taxi, I kind of wonder what kind of hotel did they walk us over! With such a name and seeing a horse statue, I was thinking did they send us to the wrong place! But then, the automatic door opens and we arrived in the lobby of the Renaissance Hotel. I must say that this hotel is actually quite nice although a bit small and humble in presentation. I guessed to preserve the originality.

Hotels in Vienna are fully booked. We were told there are about 40,000 Jehovah's Witnesses followers from around the world currently in Vienna attending a mass baptism & conference that includes sightseeing tours. And yes, while walking along Kärnerstrasse, we saw them. We could tell because they were all wearing badges!

This hotel is quite near to the city centre and you can actually walk for about 15 minutes or so to get there but we opted for the S-bahn (fast train). The station is right next to the hotel and it's only 1 stop away. You can buy a 24 hours ticket that's valid for all public transportation within the city for €5.70 per person. It's definitely worth it if you are planning for some sightseeing around the city. Get off at Landstrasse station and walk to Kärnerstrasse for your shopping spree or visit the St. Stephanplatz, Opera House, The Old City, The Spanish Riding School AND of course, this is also where you can find the Original Sacher-Torte!

This hotel was a former Horse Riding School back in 1850. And yes, the original pillars are still intact and are part of the supporting pillars on the lobby level. Needless to say, we did enjoy our stay!

Sacher-Torte

2009-08-05T20:03:00.002+07:00

One would have thought that I would be sick of eating cake by now after eating all the cake and strudels in the past 2 weeks. My mother-in-law has got this thing about baking when we are at home for our annual visit. She bakes almost every day and she made sure we finish it. Because tomorrow will be another cake! Then, there is also the afternoon coffee at my sister-in-laws and as if that was not enough, Frau Spindelbӧck (Christian's mum) who lives in the same neighborhood invited us over for an afternoon coffee. As always, with coffee comes the cake! Not just one, but two type! By the way, Christian is hubby's best friend since childhood.

But Sacher-Torte is not an ordinary tart or cake! If Hermѐs is the IT bag, then this is the IT cake. And when in Vienna, you should make an effort to try it. And not just in any café, you must (yes, MUST) go to the Sacher Café at the Sacher Hotel on Kӓrtnerstrasse near the Opera House and eat the Original Sacher-Torte. And for heaven's sake, please ignore the nearby Starbucks Coffee and for once, drink a real coffee!

The picture on this blog is a Sacher Wȕrfel (cube) which I ate! It tastes exactly like the Original Sacher-Torte. After that 3 scoops of gelato just minutes before heading to the Sacher Café, I really could not handle a big slice of cake!

Lech in Summer

2009-07-26T20:01:00.011+07:00

After spending a night at home, we were on the road again. This time we drove to Lech am Arlberg to meet our friends. They are currently living in Basel, Switzerland and we made arrangement to meet half way. Except that it took us 6 hours and them 3 hours. But we aren’t complaining. We took it easy and even made a stop in Innsbruck for a nice lunch. It was my 3^rd trip to Innsbruck and I still enjoy it everytime. Love the old part of the city. Pedestrian zone is great for wandering around and of course, I must admit that the ice cream here is something not to be miss either.

The "Golden Roof" at Innsbruck Old Town

By the time we arrived in Lech, it was almost 3 pm. After checking in at Pension Bühlhof, we walked to the village centre to meet our friends whom we haven’t seen in 2 years.

Lech is famous for skiing in winter. The rich & famous including royalties come here to ski. That's also the reason why it is so expensive to come here in winter. Even a night at a pension will easily cost you more than €200. And yes, if you are a shopaholic, don't worry because you can still buy your Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and the likes here but it will cost you more though.

For people like us, who doesn't care much for skiing (including my Austrian husband) this is a great place to go in summer. You can go hiking, cycling or simply do nothing other than relax and enjoy the scenery. And don't forget, it's quite chill at night... so a glass or two of your favorite wine doesn't hurt!

Enjoy the pictures!

Pension Bühlhof

Lech, voted "Most Beautiful Village in Europe 2004"

Formarinsee

Fresh air, blue sky!

Trip to Czech Republic

2009-07-23T21:00:00.031+07:00

After a good night rest, we left this morning for Prague, Czech Republic. As soon as we crossed the border between Austria and Czech Republic, we saw rows of casino on both sides of the road. And even at 10 in the morning, you’ll see prostitutes standing on the road side flagging down motorists.

The weather was great and so we took our time, enjoying the sights and sounds along the way. We stopped in České Budějovice for lunch and took some photos. People are friendly and of course, spoke English as this is becoming a popular tourist destination.

From České Budějovice, it took us only 1 hour to reach Prague. After checking in to our hotel, we went out immediately to check out the surrounding area since the hotel is located in the Old Town area. It was within walking distance to all the tourist attraction.

After breakfast the following day, with our camera in tow we headed out. I must say that the city is very clean and people are friendly. In between walks, we stopped for coffee break or bought ice-cream to keep us cool as it was hot and humid.

Below are pictures of some of the places we saw during our trip to Czech Republic.

City Hall, České Budějovice

Samson's Fountain at the Přemysl Otakar II Square, České Budějovice

Municipal House, Prague

Powder Tower, Prague

Astronomical Tower, Prague

Charles Bridge, Prague

The exhibition inside the museum contains over 60 torture instruments with explanations of the torture practices. I didn't go in because the smell from the nearby toilet was so unbearable!

Long flight but so worth it

2009-07-22T20:42:00.003+07:00

We left yesterday for our yearly trip home to Austria to visit the family. This time, we will be away for about 3 weeks as we will also be making short trip to other cities.

We flew with Qatar Airways and this was my first time flying with this airline since we didn’t have much of a choice. The service was excellent. The food and wine selections were great. Plenty of movie choices, from the latest movies to TV series or sitcoms. And of course, not to forget the Dom Perignon J

The 9 hours flight was a bit rough and you do have to hold on to your champagne flute if you don’t want it to end up on your lap. Closed to midnight, we finally arrived in Doha. Here, we had 3 hours of transit time but we’re not complaining since this airport has a Premier Terminal that caters exclusively to its First & Business class passengers. The business class lounge were huge and of course, free flow of beverages (alcohol included) and great buffet selections. Duty free shopping is also fantastic but still expensive!

When it was time to board our flight, a special bus came to collect us. The aircraft was slightly smaller this time and the business class was full with 12 passengers. Apart from me, hubby and another passenger, the other 9 were a family of 2 adults and 7 children. Luckily the children were behaving well. Although, you do need to be careful not to step on their father or the younger daughter who was more comfortable sleeping on the floor!

It took us 5 hours or so to reach Vienna. This time, the flight was smooth and I was actually able to sleep for a short while. At this airport, we had 3 hours transit before catching our next flight to Linz. I was tired but still managed to survey the Duty Free shops J

Finally, we reached home in Austria after 16 hours of flying, 6 hours of transit, 3 airports and another 45 minutes drive. We were so tired but it was definitely worth the long flight.

Going on vacation

2009-07-21T16:17:00.002+07:00

Yahooooooo... we are finally leaving for our trip home to Austria. It's a long flight but it's going to be worth every minute of it.

Take care y'all :-)

The King Just Landed...

2009-07-16T15:32:00.016+07:00

A Kingfisher, that is!

While reading some online news and enjoying a cuppa, I heard a loud thud as if something just landed on our balcony floor. I quickly went over to check and there it was, a very giddy White-collared Kingfisher. It flew straight into our glass window. Must be thinking another buddy is flying in the same direction :-) I was not able to take a clear picture though!

Life is Never Dull

2009-07-15T19:36:00.004+07:00

Blood pressure is almost back to normal. Although I still need to see the doctor to confirm this. But I reckon since the headache is gone and I no longer feel the stiffness around my shoulder, then I must be fine.

Also, I can actually bear the noise. Or have I gone partially deaf? Never mind...

Last Sunday, we ate Japanese food for lunch. My favorite is the Sashimi Moriawase (shown in this picture). Of course, this was just an appetizer!

Then, in the afternoon I remembered about the fruit that hubby asked the gardener to plant a while ago. Recently, he showed me the first fruit. So, before it disappear for whatever reasons, I took pictures. It's a Passionfruit.

Then, Monday came. It's also a day when our helper would come. That means, I have to sort the laundry. I need to separate items for regular washing and dry cleaning. And yes, I need to fill up a form as well. The usual laundry/dry cleaning list that one would find at hotels. One time when I was away, hubby puts the laundry in without the list. They actually came after him asking for it :-) Of course, they have no chance of getting one.

Oh yes, she's also "noisy". That sound she makes while cleaning drives me nut. And you haven't seen her vacuuming yet. Never mind the noise from the vacuum cleaner. It's the way she handles vacuuming itself is the problem. My trunk in the living which hides my "treasures" and acts as coffee table is bruised. I must have told her a dozen times to be careful and it seems okay for a while and then, it starts again. Nowadays, I can't even be bothered to say anything. Let her beat the hell out of it... with a vacuum cleaner :-) When I can no longer stand it, I normally end up hanging out by the beach reading my book or flipping magazines while waiting for lunch time.

Tuesday is my favorite day. Well, Sunday too since it is hubby's day off. But Tuesday is special. I get to see my friends for lunch and coffee afterwards. This past few weeks it has been a bit quiet. Most of them are away for summer vacation except for two. Yesterday was only lunch for two instead of three. The other friend is in the hospital. She had surgery. We visited her after our lunch and she's recuperating well. I can't say what surgery. That's not important. Her doing well is :-)

It's Wednesday and you know who is coming. Yep, our helper. She's here Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. That's all I can handle. Given the choice, I would not want her to come at all. But then, she would be wondering why we don't want her and even offended. She has served all the previous Bosses. I survived four years in China without an Ayi (Helper), so not having one here would have been just fine.

And so, off I went to the beach. Till my next blog.

A Stressed Out Hotelier's Wife

2009-07-10T16:59:00.031+07:00

As you noticed, I haven't blog in the past few days. It's not because I have nothing to write about. Quite the contrary. I was just so overwhelmed dealing with the thing called "stupidity". I thought having other people rather than yourself do all your traveling arrangement (among other things that is) is a godsend. Well, I was wrong. How difficult it is to book flights online? Easy, right? Even a computer illiterate can do it since all you need to do is click and follow the instruction (and of course, a credit card). Well, apparently this is rocket-science for someone! When making the booking, she only put one passenger instead of two. Of course, the first transaction under hubby's name went smoothly. Next, she booked my ticket using my husband's credit card, that's when the problem starts. It says on the screen, "name of credit card holder do not match passenger's name". What does she do? Called me of course! Asking for my credit card details. I gave all the detail. Even willingly gave her my secret password. I explained that my credit card is password protected, meaning she will get a little pop-up window asking to enter a Verified by Visa password. She assured me that everything will be taken care of. "Nothing to worry, Ma'am" was her exact words. Later, she even called up to confirm that the booking is done and a printed copy of the transaction will be given to hubby. I am also told that the airline will email me my e-ticket.

The following day, I still did not get my e-ticket. So, I told hubby about it. Upon checking, he found out that a wrong email address was given! At this point, I'm trying not to get upset. I read somewhere it's bad for my well being. I mean, how difficult it is to type my email address? Especially when it's actually my name and has 3 letters only! Apparently it's quite difficult if what you see is not what you typed! I don't even know what I'm trying to say here. This alone requires a blog in itself.

Of course, she's panicking already. The boss's wife is not happy. She better quickly get it fixed. She called up the airline office in Vienna to make the correction and only to be told that they can't issue my e-ticket because the credit card was DECLINED!!! When she relayed this to me, I could feel my blood pressure going up. Unbelievable! How can it be declined when I haven't spent a single cent on it! I've used this card for 15 years and not once has it been declined. So, why now?

Out of curiosity, I then logged in into my internet banking. To my horror, the section where I can normally see my credit card details has disappeared. I called up the bank immediately. After answering all the questions to certify that I am indeed the right person (I felt like a criminal being interrogated), Jerry, the person who answered my call told me that they blocked it because there was an unauthorised charges. He assured me that it will be activated within 10 minutes! That's why I like HSBC... they're so efficient and professional!

In the meantime, I finally received an email from the airline in Vienna. Not my e-ticket though. The email was to inform me that they failed to charge my credit card and advising me to get in touch with the issuing bank. I immediately replied informing them that I just spoke to the bank and it will be activated within minutes. Hallelujah! I finally got my e-ticket!

Did I mention that she booked my husband on business class and me on economy for the first leg of our flights? Well, she thought it was okay to confirm me on economy and wait list me on business class. After all, we would still be flying together in the same plane. Luckily this was rectified immediately.

Moving on to another stress inducing issue. LACK OF SLEEP! Yes, why would I be lacking in sleep? I'm unemployed and if I want to, I could stay in bed all day long. I live in a spacious and beautiful apartment. On top of that, in a resort environment. The view is fantastic and just a few steps away, is the beach. So, here's the problem. At night when it's all quiet, there is this sound coming from the basement. A humming sound from Mr. Boiler. I swear that even the floor vibrates. Hubby is lucky because it doesn't bother him. I mean this guy even sleeps through typhoon... no kidding! Sorry but nothing can be done about this noise. Mr. Boiler stays where he is and continues to annoy the hell out of me.

You would probably say that I can catch up on my sleep during the day. Take a siesta. After all, I have nothing to do. Well, that is also a problem. You see, we are blessed with great view of the pool as well. So, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. I have to endure the sound of screaming kids and adults. Why not? After all, they are on vacation and just having a blast.

Oh yes, there is also Mr. Neighbor upstairs. He keeps me awake too. At least, twice a month it sounds like he is moving furniture around. Rearranging it. The noise isn't so bad. But, the hammering sound is just too much, especially if it's at 11 p.m.!!! This has stopped for now because I got Mr. Security knocking on his door :-)

Last night, I had a headache. A pounding headache. Took paracetamol. Yes, I have a cabinet full of medicine. The kind that I do not need prescriptions from a doctor.

By now, I am already looking like a panda. No amount of tea bags can remedy it. Not even that expensive eye cream that the sales girl managed to convince me into buying. I'm also feeling lethargic. Like the machine is breaking down. I complaint to hubby that I don't feel too good. He suggested that I better pay a visit to the house doctor. And so, I did. I explained to the doctor how I am feeling... lacking of sleep, headache etc. etc. I probably sounded like a spoilt brat! He took my blood pressure and for the first time, I have a reading that is higher than usual. 140/90. He assured me that this is normal and probably only due to lack of sleep. He prescribed sleep & relaxation.

Oh gosh, what a long winded blog. But I did warn you.

I'm so looking forward to our trip home to Austria. 11 days to go and counting...

I ♡ PINK

2009-07-04T09:51:00.011+07:00

I know, I already have plenty of handbags and I certainly do not need any!

And then, I saw this Coach Bonnie Canvas Tote #13379 from one of my favorite online store. So how?

* Picture taken from Sapphire Ministore

It's so HOT

2009-07-02T12:19:00.006+07:00

I want the air-con nowwwwww!

Mactan's Sunset

2009-06-29T18:03:00.003+07:00

Photo of the Day

2009-06-28T08:29:00.002+07:00

"Sunrise" Photo taken on Sunday, June 28th @ 4.55 a.m

Kopi Tenom

2009-06-25T13:35:00.008+07:00

Remedy for homesickness!

Goes very well with "roti kahwin" (bread, butter & kaya) :-)

What's for Lunch?

2009-06-24T13:59:00.014+07:00

Grilled Chicken with Potatoes!

This is what I prepared for today's lunch. The easiest for me & "asa'dap" (tasty) according to my husband :-)

Out & About

2009-06-23T18:41:00.010+07:00

The heavy downpour did not hamper my plan to go out and meet the ladies in the city for our weekly lunch. Since our driver is on medical leave due to a fall last week, I was happy to take the free shuttle bus. After all, the ride is never dull.

I was rather early for our lunch appointment, so I wander around the mall. Wah! big SALES signage everywhere. First stop, Marks & Spencer. However, I didn't find anything that I really fancy. Those that I want were new arrivals and of course, normal price :-( I swore never again to pay FULL price for their items. Last year, I bought a blouse because I really like it, and only to have it on sales a few days later at 70% OFF!!!

Then, I checked out the handbags at Rustan. The first bag that caught my attention was a Liz Claiborne satchel. It matches the wallet that I bought online recently. Anyway, it was expensive and I could probably find it online at a much lower price.

With 15 minutes to go before my appointment, I headed to the Bookstore to get my favourite magazines. "Imported magazines" are so darn expensive here!

Then, it was lunch time :-) We were all craving for spicy food and ended up at Lemongrass. The green curry (chicken) was delicious!

Before I knew it, it was 3 p.m and time to catch the shuttle bus. Oh ya, I still managed to grab some Dunkin' Donuts... I'm eating it now :-))

Remembering Dad on Father's Day

2009-06-21T10:02:00.005+07:00

It has been almost 10 & 1/2 years since our father passed away. That day was January 23rd, 1999. I was still working in KL then as Director of Rooms at the iconic Hilton Kuala Lumpur along Jalan Sultan Ismail and renting an apartment at Conlay Condominium. I was at home and alone when I got that call. Aaishah, my colleague and apartment mate was away at that time. I can't remember though who called me. I think it was my younger sister, Letty. Or was it Onong, the eldest. Anyway, it doesn't matter.

What matters is that not only on Father's Day but always, he is remembered. He did the best he could as a father, husband and as the representative of N.6 Langkon. He also proved that a kampung boy (village boy) who worked as Tukang Po'om (the "spray man") as we called it in the kampung (village), can achieve anything regardless of who you are. His job title was Assistant Malaria Technician. He went from one village to another, taking blood samples, giving out anti-malaria medicine and providing anti-malaria spray. I would sometimes tag along to the hospital where he would sit all day long looking at blood samples under his microscope and in between, patients would come to give blood samples. I think that's the reason why I hate needles!

His fate changed in the early 70's when the late Tun Fuad Stephens came to visit Bandau (Kota Marudu) and he was also looking to set up an office for the party’s branch. At that time, mum was running a kedai runcit kampung (minimart) located right next to our house and Tun Fuad was always making a pit-stop there and having his “meet the people” sessions. It was during one of this pit-stops that Tun mentioned he was looking for an office space. My mum then suggested to my dad that they rent out our house and we can stay inside the kedai runcit since it was built with living space, complete with 2 bedrooms, kitchen and shower room. In those days, toilets were built separately and away from the house.

Sometime in late 1975, he got involved in political activities and quit his job. Mind you, he didn't get paid any salary. Luckily, the house was rented and mum continued to look after the shop. They also planted paddy, vegetables, fruits and reared chickens (giving us free chicken meat or eggs). So, we never really needed to buy food except for the occasional meat or fish. For birthdays, mum would bake homemade cake using an improvised oven made of an empty "Khong Guan Biscuit" tin.

Then in 1976, he was nominated as a candidate for BERJAYA party and won the election. In April 1976, he was appointed as Assistant Minister for the Ministry of Youth & Sports and served until July 1983. To this day, he remains the longest serving Assistant Minister for the ministry. He then moved to the Ministry of Finance as Assistant Minister and stayed there for a while. I can't really remember till when. I must ask mum on this...

Apart from his constituency, he also helped individuals. He got them jobs and put them through school. I still remember, there were others (boys & girls) living with us. The house was always crowded. Some were relatives. These young people were able to go to school with the help of our parents. Dad even fought for those who did not qualify to get government scholarship or loans because he believed they deserved the chance. Some even went overseas to study. He did all this and a lot more without expecting anything in return! So, on Father's Day and always, let us all remember him.

So, not bad for a kampung boy!

Photo of the Day

2009-06-19T12:52:00.002+07:00

"Smiley"

What we did today?

2009-06-17T17:02:00.012+07:00

Today is a public holiday for Lapu Lapu City. That means hubby is having a day off. We're thinking of where to go jalan-jalan. I suggested we go sailing since we didn't manage to do it last Sunday. However, H (yes! that's what I called my husband from now on) said to wait till the weekend since I'm having a bit of cold, plus the weather doesn't look great either.

Instead we decided to go out for lunch and try out that TGIF's that some of my friends been talking about. Some like it, some don't. But hey, we all have different taste! Anyway, I ate the Spicy New Orleans pasta and H had the Beef Ribs. While my pasta looks good, it didn't translate into taste. The Beef Ribs that H ordered looks good and actually tasted good BUT the meat was tough! Maybe... just maybe... if we came for dinner, it would have been tender!

And for dessert, we headed to Gelatissimo for ice-cream. We both had 2 scoops of Rum & Raisins. Yummilicious :-)

Then, we did grocery shopping.

On the way home, stopped at Marina Mall to get DVDs for the weekend.

And before you know it, daylight is almost over!

The COOLEST Phone

2009-06-15T15:38:00.025+07:00

I know, definitely not this one... kind of "outdated" isn't it?

Well, I'm not one who changed mobile phones that often. In fact, I am still using my Sony Ericsson S700i which my husband bought as a gift in 2002. This model is so old that if anything happens to it, I won't be able to get it repaired. According to the service centre at CPS, it's an obsolete model. I must say that it still works perfectly fine!

Then there is also this Nokia N73 (yes, another old model) that I got... oops! took from my husband. He got it as gift from work and that means it will automatically goes to me :-). Well, he prefer his XDA O2 anyway. This phone is actually great. The only thing that drives me crazy is the blinking light which becomes very noticeable at night. So, I try to avoid having it near me except when traveling as I need the alarm. Btw, my brother is patiently waiting... :-)

YES! This is what I'm talking about! The latest iPhone 3G S. I'm praying & hoping that Santa will get it for me this Christmas :-)

Inside the Trunk :-)

2009-06-14T09:21:00.041+07:00

Yes, I stayed up that night and emptied the trunk...

I won't go into detail of what I actually have... otherwise, you'll figure out how many I actually have :-) However, I will let you peek into some of my favourite handbags.

By the way, all my designer handbags are purchased during SALES or given to me as gift! I also like less known or non-designer handbags. I'm not into what's "IN" or "OUT" of seasons. I buy it simply because I love it !!!

This classic CHANEL is my 1st designer handbag which I got in 1992. Although it's OVERused, it still looks as good as new.

I've used this GUCCI many times since it's so easy to match.

My husband bought this JIM THOMPSON with a matching blouse in Bangkok.

I ordered this Liz Claiborne's leather satchel from my friend (Ellie) in the US. Please visit her Begtangan Ladies website.

I've always wanted a white handbag and during one of my trip home to KK, my sister Loritta (a.k.a. Onong) gave me this beautiful CARLO RINO :-)

BALLY has always been my favourite brand for work shoes. However, when I saw this pinkish Cashmere Moka collection, I could not resist!

Another Liz Claiborne from the mosaic collection purchased from Begtangan Ladies. I bought a matching wallet too :-)

I love this CELINE bag so much that I bought a matching shoes.

My one and only FENDI.

This BRAUN BUFFEL large handbag was another gift from my husband :-)

COACH is my latest favourite brand, especially those with striking colours!

I also got this Etienne Aigner leather from Ellie @ Begtangan Ladies.

I got this COACH legacy collection in 2007.

What's hidden inside the Trunk?

2009-06-12T09:01:00.017+07:00

My family & dear friends knows I have these two extra large trunks that I lugged around (well, not literally). While living in Beijing, I always wanted to buy this nice smelling trunk made of camphor wood. However, my husband don't really want me to buy it because it's kind of bulky and we really don't have space for it. But being me, I found the best reasons why I needed it. One will be for our winter clothes storage and another one for my handbags so it doesn't take up space in the wardrobe. And in the near future, we can also use it as coffee table. See... who says I'm not creative?

So, last night I dug my trunk where I stashed away my collection of handbags & wallets. I kind of knew that I have quite a few but I can't really remember what I have in terms of brand, design, colour etc. Believe it or not, I even took the time to check every pockets of each bag & took pictures. By the time I was done, I found RM30, 100 Peso, 12 Euro, lipgloss, pens and face blotter :-)

Wait for the big REVEAL ya :-)

Bloody Noisy!

2009-06-10T22:48:00.008+07:00

Yes, I'm hot, very hot right now! Not temperature hot, MAD hot! It's almost midnight and the bloke upstair is driving me mad! I don't know what the hell is he pounding with his hammer on the floor. This is not the first time this has happened though. But I've had it tonight. I AM GOING TO LODGE A COMPLAINT!!!

Child Sponsorship

2009-06-07T20:57:00.020+07:00

I've read stories about Child Sponsorship in print media or through browsing online. However, I never actually thought much about it until we moved to Beijing in the summer of 2004. My story goes like this...

We had a printer that we wanted to give away. I googled charity organizations in Beijing and I found one that caught my attention. And they were actually looking for someone to donate them a printer since the one they have broke down. So, I got in touch with them and told them that we have a printer to give away! At the same time, I told them also that I have used clothes that I don't need and are still very good condition. They happily told me that the Ayis (babysitters) will be happy to take it.

Two years later, we upgraded our computer and bought iMac. Again, I called up the foster home and asked if they would like to have our PC. Of course, they were happy to take it. It was around the same time that my husband was looking for charity organization as part of the hotel's community service. He then suggested that perhaps we can go and visit the foster home whom we have donated our stuff.

So, together with few people from the hotel, we headed south of Beijing and drove for almost 2 hours with cookies, cakes & toys for the kids. It was during the "house tour" that I first saw this cute baby girl. Her name is Vanessa and she was only 6 months old at that time. She was abandoned by her parents because she has serious heart condition that needs surgery. They were at least 30 children under the foster care.

This is Vanessa at 6 months old.

With my birthday around the corner, my husband asked what I wanted for my birthday. I told him that instead of buying me gifts, I would like to sponsor a child from the foster home. It cost US$35 a month to sponsor a child. The sponsorship will stop once the child is adopted but you also have the option to discontinue at any time. And of course, we sponsored Vanessa. We even went there to celebrate her 1st birthday and that was the second & last time we saw her. She was adopted last year and now living somewhere in the US.

After that, we decided to sponsor another child. This time a baby boy. His name is Tristan and he was also 6 months old when he was abandoned in the square of his hometown and was taken to the local orphanage. They tried but failed to locate his parents. Like Vanessa, Tristan too has a heart condition and has already undergone his 1st surgery. Although we have not met him in person, we do get a monthly report on his progress from the foster home. So far, he's doing well.

And here's Tristan at 6 months old.

And that's my story...

If you skipped a few Latte in a month, you'll be able to feed & provide education for a child. It cost only RM50 a month to sponsor a child through www.worldvision.com.my.

Sleep, Sunrise & the Sparrow

2009-06-04T09:47:00.009+07:00

I couldn't sleep well last night. I wasn't feeling so well to start with... I was feeling feverish and my foot were cold. Really cold, as if it's winter time! Even my tummy weren't feeling so good. Plus I have lingering thoughts over something on my mind. And since I couldn't go back to sleep, I got up slightly before 5 a.m.

While hubby is fast asleep, I decided to take out the camera and sat on the balcony waiting for the sunrise (which I probably only get to see once or twice a year... ). Nothing extra-ordinary about this shot but having sat there at this hour to enjoy the view and listen to the waves is quite special for me :-)

And yes, later this morning I saw the bird again!

Gotcha!

2009-06-02T09:55:00.001+07:00

I've been trying for weeks now (months actually...) to take a snapshot of this sparrow that come and goes on our balcony. But, by the time I get hold of my camera, it's gone! Early this morning, I finally managed to do so although it's a shaky picture :-(

I will continue to make an attempt for a better snapshot!

I'm an Addict

2009-05-29T09:56:00.002+07:00

Yes, I'm addicted to this thing called FitFlop. It makes you FIT, FIRM and TONE! Here's what I'm talking about...

My first pair was this one... bought in Mac '09 :-)

WALKSTAR III (Black)

And then... the unthinkable happened! I bought these two pairs.

WALKSTAR III JELLY (Strawberry)

ELECTRA (Black)

I suffer from plantar fasciitis and with FitFlop, I can walk for hours and not feel any pain on my foot!

* Photos taken from www.thefitflop.com.

Wonders of the Sea

2009-05-24T15:24:00.004+07:00

A year ago, no corals were seen on this artificial reef. Today, it's sprouting every where!

Enjoying the Sunset

2009-05-17T19:23:00.002+07:00

Earlier on, we sat at Manny O's to watch the sunset and enjoy our Sangrias :-)

* Photo taken with my Nokia N73

It's Coke ZERO for me

2009-05-13T17:56:00.003+07:00

I don't drink carbonated drinks that often. Not only because it's apparently not good for my waistline (so, I'm told by friends) which I don't really care about, but purely because it gives me hiccups!

In those days, it was either Coca-Cola or Pepsi. That's it! Nowadays though, it's quite different. Going through shelves & rows of carbonated drinks in supermarket is no longer an easy task. You simply can't ignore browsing and checking out all these drinks in fancy packaging. Here in Cebu (or in the Philippines), anything with L-Carnitine sells like hot cakes! I've tried a few, but I don't like the taste of it. On top of it, it's so sweet. Not so sure about weight loss effect as well. For me, I kind of like Coke ZERO once in a while to quench my thirst :-)

* L-carnitine is widely used as a natural method for weight loss since it enables burning of fat at much higher speeds. It can also decrease your cravings, increase your energy during exercise and increase your metabolic rate. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE GOING ON ANY DIET PLAN.

* Photo taken with my Nokia N73

I am BORED!

2009-05-04T21:53:00.002+07:00

I didn't feel like going out to the city. On top of that, all my friends are away. The nearest friend left in town lives 2 hours away from where I am. So, I was bored and hungry. By the time I ate lunch, it was already 1.30 p.m. After lunch, I decided to take out the camera and go to the beach and take pictures of whatever I can see around me. So, here there are:

A Banca - you can rent one of this for island hoppings.

Ferry from Punta Engano Pier (outside Hilton Resort) to Santa Rosa, Olango Island.

Fishermen - I'm still trying to figure out how they catch the fish because I don't see them holding fishing rod or any form of fishing gear!

Triple X - stands for the buffet table for tonight's BBQ dinner by the beach.

Normally, it's the girl that's all covered up to avoid sun exposure! In this case, it was this Korean man.

Road Trip

2009-04-26T20:02:00.007+07:00

A friend from Beijing is currently visiting us. So, it was perfect when we got invited to a birthday lunch up north in Sogod. The drive took us almost 2 hours yesterday and as soon as we checked in, we headed straight to the beach. It was indeed a very relaxing day.

Today was the birthday lunch. We were treated to a lavish lunch and the desserts were to die for. I mean who wouldn't enjoy a rich super moist chocolate cake!

It was already 3p.m. and quite honestly, I could not sit any longer. The rain came and that gave us a good excuse to leave. I was so stuffed with food and drank ice teas like there's no tomorrow to cool me down. It was just too hot & humid.

We just got back home 2 hours ago and I'm already feeling sick and looking for panadol. Not so sure if it was the ice teas, the rain drops on my head or the air condition in our villa last night. Whatever it is, I'm going to sleep now.

Kepala pening bah :-(

KK's Not So Secret Garden

2009-04-17T18:29:00.004+07:00

One evening, we were running out of idea where to go for dinner. My brother then suggested to take us to this place in Sembulan. He couldn't really tell us where it was but just said it's like a food court with a very nice ambience & good selections of food. And I must say we were not disappointed.

So, the next time you feel like trying a new place, go check out this place! It's located next to Grace Garden.

Playing with our new 50D

2009-04-15T14:25:00.002+07:00

Since this is my last weekend in KK, I decided to go to the Sunday Market at Gaya Street and play with our new camera. I'm not very good at photography but I enjoy taking pictures. So, here's what I took last Sunday.

MH Stimulus Package

2009-04-15T11:14:00.008+07:00

I just browse MAS website and saw that they have launched MH Stimulus Packages for various destination. I was so excited BUT then, what a disappointment! Nothing STIMULUS about it :-(

If they think a return flight to Cebu for more than RM1,000 is CHEAP than I have nothing else to say!

What I Saw Today

2009-04-08T20:40:00.007+07:00

I'm back at my mum's house in Kota Marudu. It has been awhile since I last came back here and actually stay for nearly a week. Anyway, what I wanted to blog is about something that I saw today. I've been doing some gardening and I seems to find coins everywhere around the house. Even on the garden floor! When I asked my mum about it, her reply was something like this.

"Your sister lah tu... I always collect it for her and placed it inside her piggy bank." And so, I went looking for that piggy bank so that I can deposit what I found.

And look what I saw....

The Best Ngiu Chap

2009-03-30T17:28:00.005+07:00

I've been to many place where they claimed that they have the best Ngiu Chap in town. From Foh Sang to Menggatal, but the best is still at Kah Hiong Ngiu Chap in Lintas (same building as another one of my favourite restaurant i.e. Restaurant Sedap).

They served two kind of Ngiu Chap, the one with fresh meat and another one with stewed meat. Our favourite is the one with stewed meat :-)

Prone to bruising

2009-03-29T11:22:00.007+07:00

I'm one of those people who bruised easily. Even after a body massage, I'll bruised if the therapist apply strong pressure. However, in this picture it was the car bonnet's cover! So teruk kan? Sakit lagi tu :-(

Every where I go, people stare at it. Macam lah sia ni kana pukul...

Fit Flop

2009-03-20T21:17:00.006+07:00

I've been wanting to buy this "Fit-Flop" ever since I arrived here. Every time I passed by the store, I would go in and try a few but I'll leave without buying it. Not that I didn't find a pair or two that I liked... it was the price. It cost RM240 and that's a lot of money for a pair of "slippers" no matter what fancy name it was given.

But today, I noticed that they have new designs. Great choice for colours, too. I actually like the white pair or even the sparkly one but then again, it was more practical to get a darker colour... dirt won't be that obvious :-) That's why I ended up buying the black pair.

And what's so special about this "slippers"? It's the Flip-Flop with the GYM built in. Some of the benefit are :-

1. Every step you take in your FitFlops helps tone and trim your legs.

2. FitFlops work your bum muscles more.

3. FitFlops have been shown to have a significant effect on the toning muscles of your thighs.

Let see about that in a month or so...

Here's the link to check it out www.fitflop.com

Shopaholic Series

2009-03-18T10:13:00.016+07:00

Last night I was reading this very entertaining and hilarious book and before I knew it, it was already 3 A.M.!!!

I enjoy reading her book series... something we all can relate to, shopping!!!

Oh ya, I finished reading it too :-)

Photo Credit: Taken from www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/kinsella/books
I can't activate this link *sigh*

ASB's 2008 payout of 8.75 sen a unit, down from 2007

2009-03-17T15:37:00.004+07:00

Having read about EPF dividend payout yesterday, I got curious about ASB's dividend and bonus for 2008. So, I googled it and here's what I found...

December 15, 2008 15:43 PM

ASN Declares Income Distribution Of 7.00 Sen Per Unit For ASB

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB) Monday declared an income distribution of 7.00 sen per unit for Skim Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2008.

The wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) also announced a bonus of 1.75 sen per unit.

PNB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji said the income distribution portion would involve a total payout of RM4.22 billion, almost equal to the allocation made for the ASB income distribution last year.

The bonus portion would involve a total payout of RM678.03 million by PNB, he told reporters at the ASB income distribution announcement here.

According to Ahmad, the payment will benefit 6.56 million unitholders who currently hold 62 billion units of ASB.

Up to Dec 10, 2008, ASB has recorded a gross income of RM5.14 billion and dividend income from investee companies contributed RM3.12 billion or 60.71 percent of the gross income and profit from the sale of shares contributed RM1.58 billion or 30.75 percent.

The rest of the income at 8.54 percent or RM439 million was derived from investments in short-term instruments and other investments.

The income distribution and bonus will be automatically credited into the respective accounts of unitholders who will be able to update their accounts beginning Jan 2, 2009.

All transactions for ASB at its head office, ASNB branch offices and agents will be suspended from Dec 9 to Jan 1 to facilitate the calculation of income distribution and bonus.

ASB is a fixed price equity income fund, opened to Bumiputeras aged 12 years and above, which is aimed at generating long-term, consistent and competitive returns to the unitholders while ensuring the preservation of capital at minimal risk tolerance level.

PNB president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman said under the unstable market conditions, four percent reserves were carried to next year.

"PNB restructures its position regularly because we are a long-term fund manager. We want to maintain our performance and portfolio to consistently provide competitive returns," he said.

-- BERNAMA

EPF Declares 4.50% Dividend For 2008

2009-03-16T20:49:00.007+07:00

I just read online that the dividend for 2008 is lower compared to 5.80% for 2007! It will be credited into our EPF account on March 23rd, 2009 (according to their website).

Osodih... kuroyon poh.

An excerpt from The Star Online News, 17th March 2009:

EPF declares 4.5% dividend for 2008

PETALING JAYA: The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Board declared a 4.5% dividend yesterday for its members, blaming the lower rate of returns on the global economic crisis.

EPF declared a 5.8% dividend in 2007.

However, despite the financial meltdown, EPF recorded its highest ever earnings of RM20bil in gross income last year, up 9.36% from the RM18.29bil recorded previously.

“While last year was challenging due to the unprecedented global financial crisis that has impacted economies worldwide, EPF’s investment portfolio for the year performed better at the gross income level compared to 2007.

“But due to the sharp decline in the equity markets, a large provision has to be made, resulting in marked reduction in net income,” said its chairman Tan Sri Samsudin Osman.

The dividends will be credited into members’ accounts on March 23.