cafe con leche, por favor

I didn't start drinking coffee till I went to Uni. Seriously. I thought caffeine was bad bad bad.
Till I took a sip of hot aromatic coffee...


WOW! I couldn't stop drinking since. Enjoyed every sip of it.


Can't say I'm a coffee addict cuz a day without coffee is fine for me.
Drinking coffee at night doesn't even keep me awake. I could even sleep so well.
I find paying a high price for coffee is ridiculous. Especially terrible coffee...
But then, in KK, I've been contributing a lot to Starbucks. Howard Scultz should employ me one day...

As much as I love desserts in a fancy cafe/ bistro or restaurants, I'd try their coffee as well. If I find it worth drinking. Recently I went to Alexis,Mid V with Mei to try their cakes and coffee( for me). Loved the cuppacino. :) 

Few days later, had tea time in coffee chemistry. I was wondering what kind of flavour Amaretti is, the waitress couldnt describe to me but showed me a Monin flavoured syrup bottle...Nevermind that.

coffee mocha

 I ordered the Amaretti flavoured cuppacino anyways and when I took a sip, it reminded me of a biscuit that my dad brought back for us. Jo said it's chocolate. But I still feel it's from a biscuit..

Amaretti cuppacino

True to that, when i googled it, it's actually almond macaroons! well..close enough to biscuits.. and Amaretti stands for macaroon in Itallian.

If your friends fancy a cuppa in a cafe but you don't like coffee, no fret. You can opt for green tea latte. It's caffeine free :). Provided it's on the menu that is.

Sushi buffet at Umai-Ya

Looking back, I'm so lazy I haven't update my blog since I started my masters. Well it was pretty busy and crazy. Since I can have the time to blog now I'd like to start my entry where my bestie treats me for sushi! :)

Mei booked me on a Saturday for a sushi buffet about 2 weeks in advance before I came back for CNY hols. Apparently it's hard to book this restaurant and needs at least 1 month booking in advance. U can try your luck a week before as well.

The last sushi buffet I had was in Tao 2 years back, on chinese new year week as well, and it was a setback. The portion became small and quality wasn't as good as before. Not sure how it is now.

Since it was on the 8th day of Chinese New Year, the suppliers are still in holiday mood. Bad for us cuz we didn't get our oyster and there were no ice creams! :(

Still it wasnt so bad cuz the service was good and we kept ordering Salmon. Lots and lots of them, 49 pieces! might be more too :)

The salmons were fresh!

They actually serve a lot of varieties and I kept eating and forgot to snap pics. Oh greedy me. So I am left of only these few pics :p

cold soba

Unagi was out of stock too and this was the closet i could ordered.

Overall it was alright, I want to come back again to try their oysters and desserts but apparently their price has gone up in Feb as they are expanding the menu. We'll see...

Many thanks to Mei for the treat. I tell myself I HAVE to treat her back in some way, like a green tea latte, but my attempt failed! She returned me the money back so fast and ran back home. Wait till I start working and we'll have a better sushi buffet k Mei! in a 5 star hotel!

for reservations call 0377264410 (Damansara outlet)

Fish me(e)

Ever heard of fish noodles?

Yup, noodles made of fish. Er..not fish as thin as noodles..lol ok my joke isn’t funny.

ANYWAY, I’ve been meaning to try this famous fish mee in Damai since I got back this month but since I don’t have a car yet I couldn’t…till this morning.

ABOUT time that I have to get my jab so I asked Hayden if he can give me a lift to the clinic and I’ll treat him breakfast. Sounds like a good deal eh? =D

APPARENTLY, this fish noodle from a restaurant called Yung Hwa is so famous that it will be sold out by 10am. So we were there 9am. Not too early and not too late. But the place was packed  that we had to wait quite a while before we get ourselves a table.

They say good food is worth the wait.

HOWEVER, my order didn’t come correctly and I didn’t know till I just ate it. It’s impossible they can make fish mee to meehun look-a-like that good. What machine they use to make it so fine like meehun? I thought. The noodle really tasted like meehun, and it IS meehun. :s

fishball meehun RM5

Turns out it was the wrong order they sent but I was OK with it. No big deal cuz the noodles taste good.  Maybe I should have confirmed with the lady who took down my orders . Make a complain.  But it’s the weekend..so chill-lah.

SO I get to steal some of Hayden’s fish mee. Muahahahha.

fish mee RM6.50

It’s actually just like fishball only in a flat shape. it has a nice firm texture, chewy and little bit of springiness. I'll come back for a bowl of my own fish mee next time.

One thing most I miss about KK when I was in KL is the fish noodles, the beach AND Fu Yuen coffee. Now I'm back I'll be sticking around longer enjoying good food, wonderful friends and spectacular scenery in Sabah. :)

Hennesy Artistry at KK White Room

Hennessy Artistry- The Global Art of Mixing.
I was lucky enough to be able join the event this year in Kota Kinabalu as so happened Hayden told me he had extra tickets to White Room for Hennessy Artistry . I was SO EXCITED (ecstatic in fact =p). Just in time when I'm back in KK for my MBA registration week.

registration booth

Ever since I've watched the event in youtube where it featured Fay Hokulani as the host for Johnnie Walker- Black Circuit Lounge Party and also Vodoo in Penang, I really wished I could join one of these cool events someday. My wish came true when Hayden (http://chanqingsheng.blogspot.com) told me he had extra tickets and turns out it's from Chloe ( networkedblogs.com/nhCjn) whom I met many months back from KK Twestival AND She's also a finalist from Miss Borneo Tourism Queen International 2010 bagging Miss Charity, Miss Popular and Nature's Guardian. Talk about gorgeous people!- Barney Stinson .Thanks Chloe  :)

from left: Hayden, me and Chloe

As we passed by the photo booth Hayden saw DJ Roxy and he instantly took the opportunity to take a pic with her before she is taken away by some other media personal. He was so proud showing it off to his friend, Yong Lim, who became utterly jealous.

We were also introduced to some fun and games that night where there'd be a chance to win an exclusive limited edition Hennessy bottle for the top 5 scorer of Fruit Ninja. Next to the game counter was a mixing bar where we're taught how to mix our drinks with 4 flavours of our choice, either apple, berry, ginger or citrus. I'd prefer Hennessy apple as it tasted much sweeter.

               

the tickets wohoo!!

Then we headed to the music mixer corner as if we're the DJs shuffling the music. Not sure if I'm tone deaf of what but I can't tell the difference in the music when I maneuver the disc that looks like carrom disc-only bigger in size.

Feeling a little warmed up we headed to the VIP lounge (oooo feeling exclusive)where all the media/blogger and VIPs hang out. Aside from fun and games so what's the best thing about joining such events??

                                                      Free Flow of Drinks!!!!!! =D

Yoong Lim and I 

 and of course with good company as well as meeting other cool bloggers.

                                       Me and Jessica                               Kate from copykate.blogspot.com

                                 

Lim taking a pic of me and Sherrie who flew all the way from Kuching to attend this event

 a really cute bun :) www.cutebun.blogspot.com

 The moment DJ Roxy starts spinning and doing her thing the feeling was beyond control as if the whole world shook, meaning to say it really made my body feel like dancing along with the beat as the vibration and the wavelength of the music (Give me everything-pitbull feat Neo) transcript to the beat of my heart. Ok I'm talking gibberish but in short. SHE IS AWESOME!

DJ Roxy

I definitely felt as if I'm home in KL with the way DJ Roxy played and suddenly miss my girls and our clubbing times in Zouk, it would have been better with my clubbing kaki around.  It's unfortunate though we couldn't stay longer for DJ Reeve and my legs were already killing me!! According to my friend Joshua, who was working that night for the event said DJ Reeve was 5X better than DJ Roxy. I missed it :(.

Nevertheless it was a great night in KK with our VIP/media passes able to move from upstairs to downstairs, tasting Hennessy drinks, taking great shots (I meant pics) and tearing down the roof by the music played by the invited DJs and not Reshmonu too :). Although It would have been better if the crowds were more happening like in KL. But hey! I can't be comparing as different places has different kind of crowd and  I must say it's definitely the best clubbing night I had in KK!!

showing off our VIP/media passes

                                                    Cheers to Hennessy Artistry @ KK!!

                          (pictures courtesy of chanqingsheng.blospot.com)

most delicious finding in balik pulau

When mentioned about Balik Pulau, Penang people will associate it with...............DURIAN! lots and lots of them.

 Unfortunately yours truly here don't like Durian at all...it's been that way since young. I can't stand the pungent smell, slimy and soft texture of the flesh. and my whole family loves them. but me. don't get me wrong  i don't despise durian, just don't like it.

While they are busy enjoying their durian i went to hunt for food and this is what i came for...Balik Pulau LAKSA! 

Siam laksa/lemak laksa

asam laksa

I can proudly say the laksa here is the best compared to the ones i ate in Penang island not to mention that the portion is bigger and the fillings are more and it cost only RM3.50 (Big) . I love the laksa lemak more than the asam one as the taste is rich in flavour and creamier. I don't mind drinking the whole soup as it's really that good! So you're wondering where is this coffee shop that sells this delicious, ho chiak , paling sedap laksa eh? it's in this coffee shop called...

Kim's asam laksa

It's a rather small corner coffee shop and the place is pack especially on the weekends. We were lucky we didn't wait long  for a table. I could see people standing for 30 mins or more and still they are willing to wait for good food. The coffee shop is not that hard to find and its located at a "T" junction. 

As you passed by the bus station located at your right side you head all the way straight till u see a "T " junction with signboards directing to " Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah" where Jo is standing in the pic below.

The coffee shop is just right behind those signboard and if you see there are many people queuing up, you know you're already at the right place. =)

So even though u're not a Durian lover you'd still find something you'll love in Balik Pulau island. 

So Bon Appétit !

Bako National Park

If u're ever in Kuching, Bako National Park is a place you should go to if u're into nature, jungle trekking, get a little tan and experience the wild life at night.

 Sadly i wasn't able to book a room as it was full due to the coming Rainforest festival that week and the place was fully occupied :(. So we went for a day trip and departed early to catch the 9am bus. The Rapid Kuching bus to Kg Bako cost only RM3.5 one way/person and the last bus back to Kuching is 5pm. So plan your day there wisely ppl!

For this trip we  prepared:

·         sports attire (up to you as long it’s comfortable)

·         sport shoes

·          slippers

·         sufficient water

·          sunblock (you don’t wanna get burnt)

·         a hat

·         extra clothing (u’ll be wet for sure)

·         camera (snap snap snap!)

                          We had our breakfast nearby before we catch the 9am bus.

sio bi

soya milk

kolo mee (thick mee)

The last time when i went to Bako National park with my friends ,we were totally unprepared. I wore a tank top and a beach pants, the girls wore slippers and carried a nice handbag, boys were in jeans and non of us brought enough water or hats to shield us from the scorching sun. Yup we went to Bako for a shopping spree alright..only it's a jungle out there. Still we carried on and it was a great experience till i plan to go back there again. i did :) 

The bus ride was around 1 hour.Once you reach the jetty, best if u could share the boat ride with other travellers like we did or else the boat ride will cost u A LOT. (normally it's 5 in a boat) one boat cost about RM75 inclusive of the entrance ticket to the park( i forgot how much exactly) and this is just one way.The price has increased. On our way back from the park Jo and I paid the boatman total Rm18 per trip since he could fit 2 of us into the boat on the way back with the other tourists. 

We headed to Teluk Pandan to see the sea stacks and had a bit of  a difficulty while we were jungle trekking since it rained the day before. The path were muddy and i had a heartache when my new ADIDAS shoe got stuck into the mud T_T. what the heck, we just continue on anyways and worry about washing the shoes later.

Jo walked so fast that i had to catch up real quick while busy taking pictures :)

at Pandan kecil ( the tiny cobra sea stack is near Jo's left ear)

I wanted to go down to the beach but i forgot to bring my swimwear :( Jo wanted to go to the waterfall which is a 1 hour journey of trekking away (according to a tourist who we bump at the cross junction). But we took longer time to reach there than he did. Jo felt utterly disappointed the moment he saw the waterfall..u'll know why..

The water was BLACK! I didn't even wanna soak my feet in it..but Jo did and complained why is it so "contaminated"

Got me thinking that Kionsom waterfall in Sabah is way better .

Kionsom waterfall trip 2010

Other than that, the park is great and would be better if we could spend the night. Jo said he'll definitely plan the next visit to Kuching. Right after we got back KL and paid grandma a visit she said both of us are so dark... Guess we got burnt. but Jo was worse as he didnt wanna apply sunblock. Boys.