Finally, I found my camera cable! I haven’t been able to find my camera cable lately and so I can’t load pictures into my computer because I don’t have a memory card reader.

Also one of the reasons why I can’t been blogging much lately. (ahem, excuses, ahem)

Now that I have my pictures, not many because I lost my interest to snap thinking I couldn’t use them anyway, I will blog about ancient events. Let me start with my birthday on the 7th of May.

Days before my birthday I was feeling quite depressed because every year there’s difficulties celebrating my birthday as it falls on the unfortunate month of May when everyone is at their busiest and stress level raises to a dangerous point.

It wasn’t that bad years ago when I was still staying in Damansara Jaya because I had my housemates, or at the very least, I had my loyal roommate who made quite sure it’ll be an occasion. Nothing big and fancy but a very warm one.

A group of friends will gather for dinner no matter how busy they were and as a friend told me recently that she fail an assignment because she came for my birthday dinner celebration and she never fails, as so she claimed if my memory did not fail me.

Now, living away from them, getting together is hard. And also they’ve graduated and started working. So I started having quieter birthday celebrations which is not a bad thing because the warmth of it has never dampen but I do miss my bunch of friends really much…

Anyway, it hit me harder this year because I’m not taking any examinations and so I had a lot of time in my hands when everyone’s pot of work is boiling hot and steaming.

It struck me that the situation will never change and every year, no matter what, it’ll always be the same. I’ll never have my bunch of friends back! I know I sound like a puppy whining for more when my bowl is still full, making a big fuss about something which is not exactly matters of life and death but it did hit me hard. Maybe it’s because I had too much time to think…

However, on my birthday eve I decided that I have to snap out of it and so I embarked on a journey of peace and quiet… to Sunway Pyramid. I will enjoy being on my own, tranquilize in the aura that surrounds me, making peace with solitary.

My dose of instant peace and happiness…

My favourite Norwegian Smoke Salmon and Egg Sandwich can instantly bright up my day! Then I sat there quiet sipping ice fruit tea while reading The Secret Garden, a wonderful book which was once made into a movie that I like very much but still can’t find it because it was a very old movie, looking up once in a while to watch the ice skaters.

When I felt that I’ve sat there long enough I went for a stroll along the aisles of the shopping center taking my own sweet time in searching for a birthday present for myself. I wanted a pair of shoes of a certain design, and I’m quite particular about having the design that I had in mind, so I went on a hunting spree.

And guess what?! I found it! That very design that I made up in my mind! Although the outlet didn’t have my size, I am told that the outlet in Times Square has it and they will hold it for me for a week! Was super excited and super happy about it! And my Dear took me to Times Square the very next day!

Here is the shoe which got me all pumped up! It looks a bit squashed up because it was kept in a box for quite some time but it’s still a beauty!

Happy Birthday to Me and I’m Happy!

Still on the 6th of May, everything was going perfectly well until some guy who couldn’t understand the word NO approached me wanting me to have a drink with me. But it was only a minor hiccough and I was not going to let something as insignificant as this ruin MY DAY!

Later in the evening my Dear came over to my place to pick me up for dinner. We headed to KLCC and had a nice meal in San Francisco Steakhouse. I guess we were starving at that time and laid all our concentration on the food because I forgot to take any pictures.

After dinner my Dear took me to Sky Bar. I have always wanted to go there and my Dear had actually planned to take me there on our very first Valentine’s Day but the servers there screwed up the table bookings. I think I didn’t know my Dear was going to take me there or I would have dressed up.

A nice view of the Twin Towers + champagne = bliss

We tried to take pictures of us with the Twin Towers but all of it turned out looking awkward. Well, I guess the Twin Tower looks good without people blocking the view.

And I think champagne will be my new favourite alcoholic drink.

The drink I’m holding in the picture is not pure champagne though, we toasted it at the strike of twelve and I finished it because it was so so goooooood~ , it’s champagne mixed with peach I think.

ON MY BIRTHDAY, my Dear took me to Times Square because I so badly want THE pair of shoes and it was a simple and nice day out filled with lots of love!

I had a wonderful surprise when a friend called to wish my Happy Birthday all the way from UK! Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate every warm wishes from my friends and family. It’s just that I never expect to receive an oversea call! That certain friend had shot my happiness level to a bursting tip!

Super Duper Happy!!!

One more surprise awaits me at home – A cake from both my brothers!

Thank you everyone, friends and family, for remembering and making my day! I had a wonderful birthday, special thanks to my Dear who made the effort the celebrate it with me in the midst of assignments and examinations.

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One more day and Chinese New Year 2010 will be officially over. Sad as it is, the fun and the joy goes with it too. Up next in line is a whole year of work. 

Ok, it might not be that bad but that’s the way it is in my mind right now.

I had lots of fun this CNY! So much fun that I totally forgot to take pictures! The only pictures I got is taken by my dad during our big family reunion lunch on ‘nian chu er’ (mandarin), the second day of Chinese New Year.

I had a marvellous dinner at home on CNY eve cooked up by my talented mum which I helped out. I said to myself before the dinner that I am going to snap a picture of each and every food on the table but totally forgot.

The culprit was most certainly the pungent aroma of the delicious food and, of course, the thrill of having my uncle and my cousin with us for dinner this year.

Our big TEH family gathering always happens on the second day of CNY.This year we had our lunch in Sun Li How Fook, Ipoh. We had two big tables of 10 this year. Too bad we have so many family members who are overseas and couldn’t make it back or else it would be even merrier!

From right, my uncle, cousin, cousin, brother waiting for our food.

Yay, let’s ‘lou sang’!

‘lou ah, lou ah…’

The other table oso ‘lou ah, lou ah…’

Everyone looks so happy when lou-ing sang. Haha…

Happy and satisfied…

Well, as usual, the food in restaurants aren’t at their best during CNY probably because of the crowd but I think we’re all happy and enjoyed every moment of it. It’s not the food that matters, it’s the joy of being together and sharing the food we have.

Now, let me introduce my cute cute nephew –

Baby Issac!

He’s only 10 months old but he’s already a lil’ man. Very steady… He’ll just sit there and watch while everyone’s chit chatting as if he’s analysing every movement, every thing that’s going on.

When I last saw him he was just a new born sleeping quietly in the living room while we chatted softly with the mum and dad. Now, he’s so big and heavy! It’s a wonder to see how much babies grow.

The most adorable thing about him is that he lets me carry him whenever I want. I went to him when I saw his mum, my cousin, carrying him into the restaurant and he immediately wants me to carry him! Love him to the max! I’m missing him already…

After the reunion lunch, all of my relatives came to my house as usual to hang out and chit chat. This year we even skyped with two of my cousins who are overseas and couldn’t make it back. One’s in UK, doing his PHD, and another one’s in Japan, pregnant and couldn’t get on the plane. But we’ll see them next year. I’m so looking forward to it.

Besides meeting up with my relatives I also meet up with lots of friends which I forgot to take pictures of our gathering.  Anyhow, I still had a lot of fun catching up and meeting them. My only regrets, besides the photos, is the fact that I didn’t have time to meet them all.

Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year!

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I had initially planned to write about this last week, on Valentine’s Day, but failed miserably. But who could blame me??! It’s Chinese New Year!

Anyway, here we go. Well, for starters, we all know that this year’s Valentine’s Day has PERFECT timing. It fell on the FIRST day of CNY! Great!

You can’t really go out and celebrate all day with your loved one that day because you are expected to spend time with your family on the first day of CNY. Things gets even worst for inter-state relationships. I’m so lucky I”m not in one.

With all the inconveniences in mind (not forgetting the crowd and jam in our hometown), we decided to have our very own Valentine’s Day celebration which was 4 days earlier.

My sweet Dear had everything planned! So, on the 10 of February 2010, we celebrated our Valentine’s Day.

I got up early that morning, dressed up and dolled up, and my Dear came and pick me up around 11.30am. He was waiting for me at the basement by his and when I walked up he took out a bouquet of beautiful red roses. *meltz*

I got in the car and Dear drove to KL. Guess where brought me to?

Shangri-La Hotel! A 5-star hotel!

He had booked a table for us in one of the restaurants in this hotel.

Lafite Restaurant.

According to the information that I have gathered through the world wide web, it is a award-winning, fine dining, French/Western/European cuisine restaurant with a lot of good reviews.

This place is certainly beautiful with class. I didn’t snap a picture of the environment of the restaurant in fear of being stared by the angmohs in suits who were most probably socializing with business partners and talking millions and billions and are far too important to bother about a kampung girl like me.

Anyway, we had the Showcase Lunch which is apparently a famous feature of the restaurant.  

“Diners can also opt for Restaurant Lafite’s Showcase Luncheon which has all the correct ingredients for a memorable culinary experience.

This includes unlimited gourmet starters and appetizers, a main course prepared a la minute by chef Campbell using fine quality ingredients from countries as far as France and Norway, and a dessert sampler of five different sweets served exclusively to complete the luncheon.”

Taken from www.sun2surf.com

Appetizers and fruits were showcased around a cylinder, tank thingy which I quickly took a picture of and hence the sengat-ness.

By the looks of it, it is only one round but you’ll be spoilt with choices. Note that this is only the appetizers.

While waiting for our main course we stuffed ourselves with a variety of appetizers. Boy they were yummy!

Complimentary bread lofts of 2 kinds with dips.

A mini cup of chowder. These were served to us by the waitress.

Below are the food which we took from the show case.

Citrus Bubble Tea. (or something like that)

Now this is a very special and fun drink. It’s only a mouthful and the brownish coloured thing is actually a bubble which will pop in your mouth releasing the liquid inside it. I didn’t really take notice of the taste because it was simply too fun!

From top right, clockwise, is Unagi (marinated, I think), mac and cheese, prawn salad and salmon/tuna?

I sucks when it comes to names, persons or dishes alike.

The left one is turkey meat and the mini popiah thingy is, I think, scallop wrap something something.

Clockwise from above we have grilled mushroom, avocado and the popiah, again.

I think we tasted a few more thing and had more than I have snapped. The dishes were artfully decorated and petite but they were still very filling. And we had already laid off the bread items.

By the time our main courses were served we were already half full but they were too delicious to be left unfinished. For the Showcase Lunch there are 6 choices of main courses for you to choose from.

My Dear chose Lamb Shank.

I was contemplating between the duck and the beef. After much thoughtful consideration I finally made up my mind.

Ladies and gentlemen, Wagyu Beef.

Yums Yums… I so badly want another bite of it now.

Both dishes were Great! Delicious! Tasty! Yummy! I so wish I could have to duck too…

Anyway, not forgetting that this a post about my Valentine’s Day Celebration with my Dear and not about the DELICIOUS food, here’s a picture of US.

Too bad there were shadows on our faces and my camera is most uncooperative that day. It keeps shutting off by itself! OK, it’s actually my fault for I forgot to charge the battery and it was dying down.

I still love this pic nonetheless!

Then came desserts.

Pretty, aren’t they?!

It is to be devoured from bottom up. First is the pineapple sherbet something, forgot the name, don’t remember the name, strawberry with sugar icing and chocolate mousse. And they tasted fabulous!

We passed coffee and tea because our stomachs were stretched to their limits.

Then I went to girls’ heaven – a washroom with mirrors EVERYWHERE!

Really, you could see every angle of yourself!

I really believe that you can tell the standard of a place by visiting their washroom. This one was super clean and neat and designed with class. Of course the lighting must be perfect or else it would turned a lovely washroom like this into scary creepy place.

After such a filling lunch we had to walk it off so we headed to Pavilion and caught a kiddy movie after a stroll. ‘The Spy Next Door’ was really funny. Not so much about the plot but of it’s clichés-ness. A typical children spy movie.

Our celebration ended that night with the clicking sounds of wine glasses in Republic, Sunway Pyramid.

Not forgetting about my Valentine present from my Dear.

This is to match the birthday present which I gave him last month.

My Happy Dear!

Now we have couple perfume!

Thanks Dear for such a wonderful day that I’ll never forget. You gave me a big big present with the celebration and all…

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