Sungai Besar Trip- Part "Yee"

Okay... part thwoo... :P

This trip is truly enlightening and thought provoking - to me, that is. In this mere 3 days 2 nights, I was blessed to be able to not only catch a glimpse, but also experience a lil part of the Kampung Malays' lifestyle. No doubt, I love being in participant observation... hehe...

Though I did not manage to 'tour' about my friend's granny's kampung this time, but there is no less in the amount of fun I greedily indulged. Upon her mother's insistence that I MUST visit their new house ( kampung style bungalow ), therefore I went, I makan-ed, I jalan-ed, I balik-ed to the city where I belongs... :P They are a courteous, generous family - well, very much alike the typical Kampung Melayu kinda people we used to read about in those Sekolah Rendah 3M days.

After a 2 and a half hours of bus ride and suffered 3 days of being called ' ah-tine' by her parents ( well, they just resisted calling me Christine despite being corrected again and again), these are some of the more interesting stuff I wanna report to kalian... *ahem*cough*cough*

This, rakan-rakan yang dihormati, is known as 'Roti Saddam Hussein' there. Its actually bread stuffed with spicy, sambal chicken ( more like chic bits) being deep fried. They actually has many funny-funny names for few kuihs that we dont usually sees in KL. There were few types more I sampled which I couldnt remember the names - and also didnt get to take the pics - as I felt it might be a lil rude to that in front of her whole family of kampung ppl ( her aunts and cousins were present too). Her uncle even joked that there might be a Roti Osama coming soon. I definitely am looking forward to that :P

Ahhh... This nolstalgic item brought me back to while I was 5 years old. Its rather rare to be served Coke in such way nowadays where I lives.

P.S : The restaurant is actually a horribly shabby, dark and dirty, plus! crowded with hamsap-ooking pakciks. Other than the Coke, the food aint anything to blog about :P *jahat-me*

These are the interesting 'ornaments' in their house - antique irons! Those kind ppl from olden days put hot coals in it to iron their *er...* wateva they wanna iron :P I like these irons a lot - too bad didnt manage to seludup one of them back. FYI. , one of the iron is bigger than the other. Apparently they came in diferent sizes.

Budak bandar like me was fascinated by the kampung's version of naming this plant. Cuba teka? Ta-daa... I present to you - Pokok Ekor Kucing! :)

This Si Belang and Si Putih are 2 out of the 5 kittens own by the family. The way they were sleeping were almost symetrical - couldnt resist, must take their pics..hehe..

So that basically sums up my trip there. Just a plain trip, but it brought back many memories on my part and reminded me how lucky I actually am now. The kind of life I lead now - which at times I took for granted, is actually far much prosperous and liberated compared to them living in the urbs. Shall treasure this eye-opening experience and learning to appreciate, to be more grateful to all that I possess now...

Sungai Besar Trip- Part UNO

The past weekend, I went to Sungai Besar - one of my Malay buddy's kampung. Many of you might be unaware where it is - well, its situated farther up from Kuala Selangor, in Sabak Bernam. A small town actually. I've been there in 2004, so this is my second trip there. Her parents insisted that I must go see their new house - so there i went. Her parents are friendly and generous folks. And since I dont have a kampung to go back to ( I'm 100% KL-ite! ), I just cant resist the opportunity to experience kampung life - especially from a Malay's perspective.

In this first part of my blog, I shall present the loot I sapu-ed from the Sungai Besar town. Well, it's a small town, typical 'pekan' ler. There's nothing much special on sale - normal everyday stuff. What interest a partial-shopaholic like me [ :P ] was how common things were sold there at a much lower price than our so-called 'bandar'. Once you compare the price difference, you will see how cekik-darah our 'city' merchants are. Of course, kampung ma... The partial-shopaholic me managed to lug these back to modernization... hehe...

There's this so called ' gerai bundle' where they sells [what I suspect la] 2nd hand stuff. Grabbed each if these at only RM1 each. Washed and sterilized it [ :P] to use as Fatty Lucky's toys.

Got these at 50% at the HOT MARKET next to KotaRaya. Went to check it out when I reached KL. Apparently they were having a clearance sale. Got both at rm5. *ngek*ngek* I also bought a top at only RM19 at KotaRaya. Never in my life I though I would buy clothes from *gasp* KotaRaya. That place is so 3rd world - if you get what I mean... I can tell, it is constantly populated with 85% of foreign workers, where the balance of 15% comprises of our locals who are the shopkeepers. That place reek of heavy cigarette smoke and smelly you-know-whom. But, if one is rajin and patient, one can scout for lots of cheap and nice goodies there. And of course, if one is courageous enough to brave the sea of foreign workers :P

Got the chance to visit MYDIN. Sort of like Giant hypermarts, but they mostly sell items in bulk quantities and at cheaper prices too. Again, it is the place crowded with foreign workers and lower-income locals. I bought the bodyscrub at rm12.20 when the G hypermart sells it at at least rm14. And I cant resist - the cheapest razors I've ever came across! rm2.70 for 10 of them! *pengsan from joy* I do suggest that it is the place to shop for groceries for families as they sells at relatively lower prices than our *ahem* dominant marts, though they dont offer much food stuff.

The cheapest wrapping paper I've ever bought! Can you believe it - 4 pieces of them for only rm2? Averaging at rm0.50 each? An avid wrapping paper collector like me just cant resist :P

My fav fur-fur HP accesory at only rm1.50 each! They are selling it at at least rm3-4 here in KL. The rest of the colors were not so nice - so it limited me to buy only one :P

Cant resist these rhinestone earrings - those good quality ones, you know, not the type they just stick the stone on a stick - bought them at only rm3 each pair! Muahahahar! Half of this pile is souvenir for my cheemuis ok!

Another must-buy from me :P These seamless undies were sold rm12 for 3, one at rm5.50. In KL, seamless undies are priced usually at least rm8. Bought some as souvenirs too *wink*

A gift from my friend's parents - kain to make baju kurung. Thanks loads upon their generousity!

Other than these, I also bought a handful of hairclips - damn cheap ok! rm2 each - which I knew some place in KL selling EXACTLY the same clips at rm4-6! Bought me brother a ring - which are also damn cheap compared to KL prices. Especially the pile of ribbons I bought. Each roll of ribbons are sold at only rm0.60 there while in Kl, at least rm1.50! Needless to say, I bought 8 rolls of them for my crafts... heehee...

So there you go... The story of how I am now announcing my bankrupcy...

Fatty Lucky Cam-whoring

Is that food?

Oh, its not food.

*sigh*

I shall be hopeful! Sure got food wan!

Hehehe... I know you have food! Char siew pau!

Will I get some of that char siew pau?

Yesss! Char siew pau...er...bits...

Enough Abortions Already

What the hell is happening to the people around me?

For the past few months, I've been bombarded with the *cheng cheng cheng* "news" that some of the people I knew somehow had an abortion before. Please, help me locate my jaw... somewhere...

Last night, another "news" that a friend of mine is pregnant. She SMS-ed me to ask WHERE can she get an abortion... In the middle of the night some more. WTF? Er... in this case... yeah - its the fu@% that causes it :P

She asked for my help. Should I? The condition she currently in all pointed to the need to abort the child. Both her and her jerk of a BF ( Pardon me, I dont call him a jerk bcos he gotten her preggers - but he MEMANG the worst BF I've ever known ) came from slightly below average family and are both studying. Both came from different races and to make matters more complicated, one of them is a Malay. Apparently the choice of 'sharing' the news with families are a total No-No and abortion is the only solution.

What rocked my world was - I actually accompanied her to the consultation and saw the foetus in her womb... OMG... And to know she actually going to abort he/she... breaks my heart... All these years, I am someone who are not against abortion, but this one time, I dont want her to do it - though the circumstances call for it... Maybe because I actually saw the foetus... And it is big enough to look like a human adi... *tsk*wipes tears*Sniff* If its still a blob of congualated blood I can accept but this...

By the end of the day, its not my call for the decision. All I can do is to help her through this ordeal. I've heard enough abortion stories, and now, have to indirectly participate in it... Thank God that none of my cheemuis - yet- have such problems, or I'll really go crazy with worries.

Seriously, I hope that I hear no one - at least those around me - will have to go through this. I pray hard and shares my merits with all hoping that this abortion will be the last...

Pretty Scones

While I was on my 'shopping week', we had to rest our overworked feets and quench our thirst ( no, not the thirst of more bargains) and chose this cute lil cafe at OneU NewWing's lowest floor.

The lil cafe was very comfy, with unique furnitures. SP especially terlalu suka one of the chairs till needed 'assistance' to erm... pull her out of it to go home. :P The ambiance was very pleasant - dimmed lightings provided the comfort of lounging at home and given the patrons a sense of privacy to have their own chat. The tealight candlelight provided at your table added a feel of tranquility - perfect for romantics like moi... :P


These were just normal scones. Again, the theory of packaging proves their worth. Though just a pair of simple scones with strawberry jam, butter and whipped cream, it was presented to look so yummy - you could forgot that they are at a steep rm7 for *gasp* 2 pieces of plain scones. Yeah - me suka kena tipu - as long as me ditipu dengan gembira... muahahahahahar!

This shop's F&B is okay but are well presented. Prices are expected in line with their presentation and decor. Definitely a place for yumcha-ing and lengthy chats as they provided very comfy settings.

Shopping Week!

Muahahahahar....! I am officially broke this month! And partially for the next :P

Yep, I did nothing other then shop-eat-shop-eat-shop for the past week :P There seems to be sale almost everywhere - why ar? At this time of the year wor? Not even time for mid-year sale... Hmmnn... And I couldnt seem to control ... erm, my wallet :P So many things at bargain while me having such low capital... ai... But it was fun nontheless. Retail therapy maybe? Or plain blurred judgments? But, hey, I need those shoes!

Here's my loot from the 'reckless' week, heehee :

Pumps for those freezing hours at Uni's library aka freezer. 50% off leh!

Pumps for my future interviews during job hunting :P Yeah, a lil early for that but, hellooo? Preparation mar... Keke... And the main reason of buying this fur-fur pair was due to the reason I had been lusting over them for quite some time but mmn ser tuck buy till now - 50% off! Yippie-yippie-ya-ya!

My 1st batteries operated eyelash curler *blush*

Impulse purchase of these earrings. Cheap-mah *wink*

My fav romance novel. And the book I had been eyeing for quite some time liao. @ 25% off! OI! MPH not always got sale ok? :P

Yep, TheKedaiBadan is having SALE! Got these at 50% off! ROTL

My new pair of sunnies!

I also bought a yellow top at 50% off... That pic seems to be too blurry hence its absence.

So you see... Almost all of them is at 50% off... How could a lowly mortal like me resist the temptation? *blink*blink*blink* OK, ok, I admit-lah... I am a partial shopaholic. Happy? :P

Gone are the orgasms of retail sapu-ing. Now, is the tide of consequences. Time to ikat perut...

When one loves too much

*sigh*

Its that time again in the journey of life where one arrived at the junction - to turn left or right? In my 'junction' this time, I have to decide between 'giving up' or 'continue to "try" '. One may tell me that its easier to give up than to try, yet another may tell me never to give up. Or worse, advises Confucious - take the middle path. Sorry Confucious, no middle path this time.

I guess 'giving up' shall be my most possible way out. I tried 'trying' but one keeps disappoint you again and again and then, again. Maybe I've changed. Maybe WE've changed. Our perception and beliefs are no longer linear. What you thinks is alright is not acceptable of mine. Maybe you think that you are being kind, but reality is - you are being cruel without realizing it.

I know ...

I shouldnt expect someone to live up to my standards. I have been told - I am overly sensitive. Its true - I am commitment shy. Its hard for me to get close with someone, but when i do, I fell hard into it. I take seriously those who are dear to me. Those that are not, I dont care a FU$% what will happen to then. I fiercely loves and am doggedly loyal to those I loves.

Everyone has their own views and perspectives. There are many things about me too that you may not see eye to eye with. BUT...

I just cant ignore the fact that - our beliefs contradicts. I just cant accept the decisions you made. I dont see your point/s. I got disappointed that you actually behaved that way... It hurts you know, to see the person you care so dearly to do things that you never believed they would. It tears my heart chunk by chunk to know how you make a fool out of yourself. It drains my blood profusely to witness how you entangle yourself in that web of karma. It kills me immediately to see how a smile turned into misery on your face in a split minute of a phone call.

I cant take it anymore. Yeah, I care too much, but its just me. Its best if I just give up and walk the other way and 'no eye see'.

I guess, by walking away, I can yet cherish those beautiful and wonderful moments we shared.

Thanks for everything but the heartbreak.

Food Blog

Yup, finally my new hp joined me in my life journey...keke... This means there will be more pics for you guys to sakit mata from now on :P Will have to bersabar with the blurry pics now till i gets my digi cam ya! *wink* Yup, my purchase was sealed at SgWang and, yes, the guy who sold it to me is cute! Muahahahahahahahahahar...! The guy in the stall next to his is even more *gasp* lets just say - sooooo the type i lust over... :P Yeah, WL nearly have to use her teeth and claws to drag me away... :P Well worth my onehour-trafficjam-drive there... kekeke...



Ok, my virgin food-blog :P Hopefully there'll be many more on the way! After the purchase, the blood-deprived-turned-high-blood-pressure-me ( Just donated blood in conjuction with WesakDay and after salivating over those cute hp sales people :P ) staggered my way to the rooftop floor for dinner. We, the 3 pigs ( WL, Pammie and Me ) decided to try out the Jap place there. The piggies in us took the BBQ Buffet which is RM28.80++. Quite a bargain la as it includes the sushi on the kaiten-belt ( in this case, its a train running on railways with plates of sushi on its trailers ), ramen, soba, teriyaki and many more in a listed menu. Didnt take many pics as my hp batt was low.

* Drool - SP - drool for not joining us last weekend :P *

I do not highly recommend it though. Well, the food was so-so. Like I quoted it that day - Pirated Version of Jap food. They look like Jap food, but tasted oh-so-different. Its like they substituted the ingredients with local ones. Even the shoyu sauce tastes like the ordinary kitchen light soysauce. Pammie said that even the wasabi didnt taste hot too.

What I like though, was the teriyaki beef, agedashi tofu, the oysters and the sashimi.

The ambiance was not bad. The booths were comfy and provided some privacy. Hey! Pigs like me needed some privacy while pigging out - just in case a handsome guy sauntered past and saw my pig-feasting-face :P The staffs were nice and patient while answering to our numerous orders again and again...hehehe...

Overall, shall give it a 5/10 la. Heehee...

Yippie-yippe Ya-Ya!

Yippie-yippe Ya-Ya!

I finally have in possession a brand new Nokia 6111!

Yippie-yippe Ya-Ya!

Such a happy yet woozy panda today!

Malaysians - and they think they are wiser...

I was reading NST the other day and came across this article. Apparently there's this board in Malaysia which is in-charge of languages or sumthing which in short form also known as MALAS. Sori, i terlupa the full name liao.

This fella, the head of this MALAS board, was on his petition to stop Malaysian screen to showcase the Da Vinci Code. Well, you must be guessing - aiya, must because itu story punya religious issues la pasal they tak mau kasi sama dia naik. Well, gotcha! You are wrong.

Ya, i was shocked at the truth too. Their main call for it to be banned was due to the title of the movie itself. The very intellectual people in the board claims that the title is indirectly influencing, especially young people, the wrong usage of language. People will start using 'da' to replace 'the'. Youngsters especially are already using hip-hop style languages which are not correct. Unless the producers changes the title to 'The THE vinci code ' ,it should be banned from the Malaysian screens.

I was like - can some kind fella help to retrieve my jaw from the muddy ground, please?

Excuse me, dearest intellectual beings, the word ' da' in the title - the DA vinci code - refers to the works of Leonardo DA VINCI's not THE Vinci's work. It has NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING to do with trying to convert the already poor in English Malaysians. Unless, of course, you all want to get our famous bomohs to call Leonardo DA VINCI from the graves to - erm, discuss about the change of his name to Leonardo THE Vinci?

And the ironic part, in the end of the article, they claimed that they have yet to receive response from the producers of the film. Ha-ha.

Me student - you no believe?

Quick! Show me which ever bottle of anti-aging cream that miraculously works overnight and i'll buy it no matter how much it costs!

Desperation - you can smell it from one mountain away. Yup - that was what punch me in my old face the other day.

There's this kopitiam near my uni - the ONLY chinese glutton-stalls restaurant around that area where almost all chinese students in my uni flock to for an economical meal. And so there was I, on the hour and half before my exam starts, to have some brekkie.

In those critical few hours before the paper starts, i was multi-tasking again (well, a habit I cant stop :P) - trying to eat, read, memorize and text-messaging. I suppose the Pan-Mein aunty recognized me adi from my frequent trips to her stall and she flashed me a big smile. Prolly cos i ordered from her :P

Pan-mein Aunty : Exam, huh?

Sleepy-me : Ya lor...

Pan-mein Aunty : You study at the uni here?

Sleepy-me : Ya.

Pan-mein Aunty : Oh... So you oso work around here? Then go for exam later la isit?

Sleepy-me : Huh? No la...

Pan-mein Aunty : * Surprised look complete with eyes rolled big * You study part time, then only need to come for exams rite?

No longer Sleepy-me : NO ar... Me full-time student la... *blushing furiously*

Pan-mein Aunty : * Even more surprised, eyes rolled even bigger, now added a big hole in her mouth* ah.... ( and quickly squirried away... )

O.......................M..........................G......................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I seriously need to 'kim tou' man! And that day, I wasnt wearing any make-up and i totally was in a casual hooded jacket with a long, bohemian skirt. I do wanted to scream when i saw Pan-mein Aunty's facial expression. Do i seriously look old?

*sigh* Btw, this isnt the first time. A few times, even my uni's security pakciks only allowed me into the uni's premises upon VERIFICATION of my student ID. *double sigh* And dont even start on those salespersons who were never ever suscipious that i might still am a student.

There was even once, when i politely tells a credit-card salesman that i'm not working yet, he just draw a big smile on his face and replied, " Oh, its ok. Maybe your husband can sign-up and now we are having a promo - where supplementary cards issued to their spouse entitles them a free...blah...blah... " F@#$%^%$@#*&^

So you see - I am so totally look old. I might as well just start my application to join the senior citizen's club. Gawd - hand me that bottle of anti-aging cream please - oh, what the hell - hand me the complete range!

When you thinks that you are wiser...

At times, I do wonder - what kind of a mother I would be to my future kids. From my observations through my part-time job at a local pediatric clinic, i came across different styles of parenting - where some amazes me and some, well, puzzles me... Well, its just me - the curious, fatty cat :P

But i do have to admit that i've managed to pick up lots of tacit knowledge about life and parenting from this job. Despite the bullying working hours and okay-la pay, i can conclude that i gain more from the job than the job on me. The experience changed my pigeon-holed view of parenting and childcare.

Back to the topic of the day, what i intented to share isnt about my oh-so-meagre job but of a funny yet liberating scene i witnessed that comes from an innocent ( or maybe not ) lil girl.

I was at the big M fast food chain in Taipan, USJ waiting for my take-outs. It was not yet the busy hour therefore i managed to erm... witness the scene rather explicitly. :P

A mother with her daughter, who prolly about 6-8 year old, was queuing behind of me. Apparently they were just back from a violin music class ( noted the violin case that girl was carrying) and the mother wanted to get a snack for her to last till dinnertime.

As common as it is at fastfood chains, one can come across plenty of kids ranting and 'persuading' their parents to get them the happy meal - not for the meal but the toy it comes with. And so the lil gal too was telling her mum REPEATEDLY that she wanted the toy. I wasnt 100% sure-la, if that mother of hers was trying to 'lann-see' or show off her fabulous parenting but this was what happened.

Like most parents, that mother started to tell her daughter (in a loud enough voice) - well, the more descriptive word should be - 'reasoned' with the little girl how much is the price difference between a normal set meal and the toy-meal and how many toys they already in possession back home. The lil girl whined again about the toy, and her mum told her that the toy is not necessary and insisted that they purchase the burger ala carte. The lil girl sulked.

Well, nothing out of ordinary rite, you will question me. This is where the best part come in.

The sulky girl then points to the little box placed strategically beside the cash register where they 'encourage' customers to make little donations of small change. The mother - I guess was acting pandai-pandai and anxious to show her fantastic parenting, (again, in a loud enough voice) explained what the box is for.

Mak yg pandai : Oh! That box is for charity wan... You see, here it says - RMCharityCollection.

Lil girl : Ah... Got a lot of money inside!

Mak yg pandai : Yup, people put money in there so that can help other people.

Lil girl that LAGI pandai : Oh... mum,then why you never help people wan? (looking back at her mum in big, round eyes)

Embarrassed mum : er....er.... (then pulls her daughter to the next queue to place their order)

Pai-seh anot when your child loudly ask you why you are not donating some change to help others. You see, some parents thinks that they are smart enough to carry parenting in a different approach from our traditional parents. What some of them overlooked is how witty kids nowadays are compared to doinky us previously. That lil girl's simple question totally outsmarted her mum. I wonder why that mak yg sebelum ini macam pandai sangat suddenly was dumbfounded with the girl's question. Even me know how to answer to that question - but thats not my daughter.

So, friends, the moral of this story is, give that damn kid that darn happy meal with toys to avoid them embarrassing you in public :P

Of course, dont try to berlagak pandai and try to act like a highly-educated parent in public if you are not prepared to deal with circumstances your child will ask you some challenging questions. I have to give kudos to that lil girl who managed to shut the f@$% off her snobby mum.

This bookmarks my life's lesson not to deny kids of that happy meal toy or they'll revenge on you in the form of public humiliation. *wink*