TRIP BACK TO KL

From 25/1/08 - 27/1/08, I abandoned my darling son RJ in Singapore with my helper and my hubby...reason??? Cos my "eldest son" aka my nephew aka my godson's water baptism. He invited me to attend cos he really hope that I can witness his "BIG DAY"...

I took leave on Friday and took First Coach back to KL. Overall am very satisfied with First Coach, the bus is clean, comfortable with individual LCD screen just like aeroplane...and most important it's INEXPENSIVE. The boarding and arrival point is good too...board from Novena Square and alight at Bangsar LRT station.

Well during this trip I break all my diet...ate many things...what did I had??? Asam Laksa, Curry Laksa, "Kon Lor" Loh See Fun, "Yau Yee Oong Choy"/Kangkong Cuttlefish, Wanton Noddle, Curry Chee Cheong Fun with Yong Tow Foo, Fried Kuay Teow, lots of Malay kueh and Soto Ayam, Tim Sum, Roti Tissue and Maggie Mee Goreng....haha Friday 4.30pm till Sun 2.30pm, I ate all of this...but thank God all sharing one lah...great satisfaction but very fattening....

Shop a lot too but all for RJ and not for myself. Only got 1 Tshirt (rat year) for myself. As for RJ, I bought 4 sets of pyjamas, 2 pants, 1 shirt and 1 set of Tshirt with pants. Keep telling myself that I should stop buying for RJ...just can't control and stop myself.

Daryl's baptism was good and short...below are some photos during his baptism service.

CHINESE NEW YEAR FEVER...

Wow I'm really in the mood to search and feel Chinese New Year fever. After visiting Singapore's Chinatown, I went to KL's Chinatown, Petaling Street (PS)...but it's a real disappointment. Nothing much to see...only have lantern hang around the place, that's all...of cos the same old things, they sell cookies, Chinese New Year decorations and clothes and pussy willows..

See all this nice cute girlie CNY costume (how I wish I have a girl and I can buy one)...

Another reason for me to visit PS is to walk down the memory lane...during my university days I used to go there quite often...I'll go there and buy the "old man" 's pineapple tart, drink the mata kucing drink, eat mua chee or buy "sei ngan chye" 's duck wrap...

But am quite disappointed cos I can't find my favourite pineapple tart, no mua chee and no duck wrap...even the mata kucing drink is no longer serve in the metal bowl...no kick...I MISS THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS....

The only consoling things is that I get to eat good Asam Laksa, Curry Laksa, Dried Lo See Fun and Kangkong Cuttlefish. Wow all this food is good and SHIOK!!! The Asam Laksa really give you the KICK, the Curry Laksa has some "treasure" which you can't really find in Singapore....Dried Pork Skin!!! The Dried Lo See Fun was very good, why can't I find such nice dark sauce/kon lor noddle in Singapore.

There is also this apam balik (mian chang kueh)...looks nice and yummy but I was too full to try it...

Given me another change I'll still go back to PS again to find all those things that I can't find...there's more good food to explore in PS...spend more time there when an empty stomach....YOU WILL NOT REGRET!!!!

BAKING FOR CNY

Another thing that people always do before CNY is baking cookies....you can surely smell cookies baking around your flats...well I decided to join the "fever" and try to bake some Almond Cookies (recipe given by Fanny).

Turns out quite ok lah, except that I've overbaked it...but not too bad for me cos I didn't bake since I was in Sec 3...am quite happy with it...but I discovered that I don't really enjoy baking that much...I prefer cooking more than baking.

Share some pictures of my baking day!

Trays of cookies before baking

My very 1st batch of Almond cookies

GONG XI GONG XI....

Lunar New Year is coming.....This year is the year of RAT and it's my year!!!!

(see Mickey Mouse Home Decorations)

So what do Chinese normally do or buy to prepare for this big celebration??? Let me take you for a tour at Singapore's Chinatown to get the "feel" of the Chinese New Year preparation....

Decoration on the Street at Chinatown

Another Mickey Mouse Deco, all lighted up!

Nice Bonsai and Fortune Plants

Pussy Willow (yet to blossom)

Streets decorated with Lanterns

People buying Preserved Meat

Different sizes of Lap Cheong

Here are some slide shows on 3 ladies who went and paint CHINATOWN red!!!

DO I STILL LOOK THE SAME ????

Recently I found some of my old university friends in Facebook and they say I didn't change much...face wise probably didn't change much except I no longer have the innocent and care-free smile and look. Can see I've age liao...but in terms of size...NO DOUBT...I'm getting FATTER and FATTER.

This 2 are my most recent photos

I went and digged some of my old photos to show how much I've change in terms of look and size...

Picture taken in 1998

Picture taken in 1997


Picture taken in 1996

Picture taken in Aug 1996

Picture taken in end 1995

Picture taken in 1995

Picture taken in 1994

Picture taken 1994

Picture taken in 1994

Picture taken in 1993

Picture taken in 1992

DO YOU THINK I STILL LOOK THE SAME?????

2008....What is my New Year Resolution???

Welcome 2008!!!
A lot of things has happen in 2007, some good and some bad.... What ever that it's good, I'll cherished and treasure those moments and for those bad moments, I'll just have to learn from it and move on with LIFE!

What I hope for year 2008....

1) To lose at least 3-4kgs in total. Why only 3-4kg when I know I'm far above my ideal weight??? Cos I think 3-4kgs it's more achievable, to get to my ideal weight it's impossible...if I can lose 4 kg, I am quite happy liao. Anyway need to eat healthy food and will try to exercise more. I WANT TO STAY FIT and pretty...hehe

2) FAMILY PLANNING....hope to be blessed with a baby by this year. Well this mean that I have to work hard...preferably a baby girl. Hope to give birth before my birthday in November.

3)Financial - Hope to be financially strong this year. If possible hope to save more $$ this year. Must set a side some saving every month

4) Spiritual - Want to get closer to God, want to build up my foundation on God's word. Need to discipline myself to read and medidate on God's word. For things that has happen in 2007, I'll have to learn to let go. I need to focus more on God and not on human.

5) Hope that all my family members will stay strong and healthy and for those who yet to know Christ, hope that salvation will come knocking on the door soon!

At the time being a bit mental blocked, can't think of any liao...will try to add on more later, if there are any!

Wishing all and myself a BLESSED YEAR 2008!!!

Last Day in Taiwan (26/12/07)

SQ 871 ETD Taiwan 1410 and ETA Singapore 1850

Finally it's time to go back...In fact I'm looking forward to go back to Singapore. Even though I enjoy Taiwan but I missed my dearest RJ very much...miss his cheecky smile and actions, miss him calling me Mama and give me big bear hug!!!

The minute I touched down, I quickly go to the Duty Free Shop then went and collect my luggage cos I want to see my RJ. The minute he saw me from far he start screaming MAMA and run to hug me....SO SWEET...I don't think I want to leave him behind again next year....

HOME SWEET HOME.....I MISS MY DEAREST RJ

6th Day in Taiwan (25/12/07)

Suhua Highway National Road/Chiufen/Taipei Ximenting & Shihlin Night Market

Once again we travel on Suhua Highway but this time not so fun liao, cos the driver is speeding...we were so near the edge of the ravine...very scary. I think I had Claustrophobia, can't wait to get out of the bus and hoping the end the winding road journey.
So stop in 1 small town called Su Ao for lunch and bought some local snacks. I tried 1 special snack - ice cream wrap in popiah skin with grind peanuts and coriander leaves.
Chiufen - a place where you see old fashioned way of life that still exist. It's like an ancient city selling a lot of local goodies and snacks. Most of us bought from the shop called Ah Xin, as recommended by our tour guide.
After that we went to some Feng Shui centre where quite a few of my colleagues bought their lucky charm ornament.
Dinner was good, we ate at this unique restaurant call the Five Cents Driftwood House Restaurant. The interior design is very nice and unique. Food also not too bad. If you are in Taipei do check it out. They also have branches in Taichung and Tainan.
After dinner we checked in to a 5 stars hotel, Brothers Hotel. Not too bad.
Ximenting - Were told that it's like Orchard Road of Singapore with many shopping, but didn't manage to get anything there.
Shihlin Night Market - Went there mostly for food, and I manage to eat the famous Ah Zhong Mee Sua. Bought a pair of sandal and some toys for RJ there.

5th Day in Taiwan (24/12/2007)

Suhua Highway National Road/Hualien/Taroko National Park/Eternel Spring Shrine/Linzi & Tea Centre/Seven Star Lake/Ami Aboriginal Cultural Village

Early in the morning we need to leave Shangrila Leisure Farm, too bad! Felt that we should spend slightly longer time there.
Suhua Highway National Road - very winding but very nice scenery along the road.
Seven Star Lake - the best tourist place in Hualien. The beach is marvelous and very beautiful. I love it...strong waves, sometimes feel like tsunami is coming
Taroko National Park & Eternal Spring Shrine - didn't trek the park cos too high up and too tiring. Just stay around and take some pictures
Ami Aboriginal Cultural Village - so so only...not very interesting, probably my expectation too high.
After we check into our hotel, a few of us went out the check out the small town of Hualien. Guess what, the sandal that I bought in Taichung gave way. I have to walk barefooted to a nearest supermarket to get a sandal. I also tried Smelly Beancurd, YUCKS>>>>>taste horrible n terrible!!! Will never ever try that again

4th Day in Taiwan (23/12/07)

Taiwan High Speed Rail/National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall (Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall)/Yehliu/Shangrila Leisure Farm

Morning we took a high speed train from Taichung to Taipei...suppose to be very fast but we can't really feel it....
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall - I think they change the name to Democracy Memorial Hall. In Chinese meaning sounds like Freedom Hall...that's why you can see we do a lot of flying pose...
Yehliu - I like the most...very nice and scenic but too bad it was raining. Can't really stay long enough to admire the formation of the rocks.
Shangrila Leisure Farm - Nice cosy hotel. Can you imagine, my bedroom has 4 single beds...big hor...After dinner they have some traditional games such as tops, making tang yun, bubbles and also play fireworks.

3rd Day in Taiwan (22/12/2007)

Shuli Snake Kiln/Sun Moon Lake/Wen Wu Temple/Peacock Garden/Yi Chung Street Night Market

Shuli Snake Kiln - a lot of pottery there. Very nice and we saw a documentary how they made the pots traditionally...AMAZING!!!
Sun Moon Lake - we heard so much about how nice Sun Moon Lake is but to me so so only, not really very scenic. After lunch some of them went to Wen Wu Temple.
Nothing much at Peacock Garden too.
But I like Yi Chung Street Night Market, we ate a lot of good local food...SHIOK!!!!! but 3 pairs of shoes and a pair of boots there.

2nd Day in Taiwan (21/12/2007)

Martyr's Shrine/Leo Fu Village Theme Park/Taichung/Feng Jia Night Market

Marytr's Shrine just see the ceremony of changing guards
Theme Park was fun, we spent almost 4 hours there. We played the roller coaster, there's a safari bus ride, we also tried the 3D motion master movie. Last but not least, we played the water rapid and got ourselves all wet. Overall it was very fun. I didn't try many of those "too adventurous" rides.
Feng Jia Nite Market was good. I bought many necklace there at very good price, bought 2 pairs of pants and 2 pcs of shirt for RJ. Find that it's too short a time, can really shop and eat a lot of things there. We tried their local food called Big Intestine wrap Small Intenstine...not as yucky as you thought...it taste good but super long queue...I begin to like Taichung!