Airport and me

I frequent the airport and went up airport cab with the boss more often than I get to travel, on an average of once (or twice) in a month. Most of them were waiting for the boss’ arrival or sending him off. Almost all my friends know very well that I have a 7.5 years-old driving licence which I have never fully been utilized, yet. Shame on me, but I have made up my mind before my driving license next due by Feb 2012,I must make sure that I am able to drive independently,I mean to have the freedom all at my own pace geared with full courage. Is this possible? No doubt, this wish will be listed (again) for the coming New Year 2012 resolutions. Yikes :).

Most of the time, I reach the airport earlier; I really mean a lot earlier. I have done/tried so many things to kill my time, such as going online with KKIA’s wifi, snapping around the airport like the-girl-who-came-from-the-Mars (but that was when the recent KKIA was in their infancy-stage and had just been newly operated for the first few weeks) and most of the time rummaging my handbag if I can find something to keep myself occupied. The only thing I can do was to fish out my compact camera and snap around random things around me :).

Many of the times, I would usually settle with wedges or flats, never slipper. This was the slipper I bought for RM10 when my heels bit me hard after one whole day of walking before we went for the boss' alumni dinner in 2009. It was kept untouched (in fact I misplaced them) until I stumbled upon them inside a random plastic bag that very morning. Feeling a little exited over a long-forgotten-but-found, topped up with a rainy morning; voila! I fell for them that morning ;P.

I don't really have the high affinity towards nail painting as I have very fast growing finger nails but almost retarded toe nails. Even if I do, I would usually go for transparent paint. So, on one of the rare cases, when my not-so-crafty ideas came, I have decided to add in a little color to my nails. Unfortunately, I don't have the guts in trying sparkling pastel color, yet. So, i ended up with plain french manicure ;P.

See, the moment I started my time killing session was only 7:31am. Can you imagine what time I touches down the airport? :P For your information, flights via Airasia and MAS Airline the boss used to get landed at 9:00am and 9:15am respectively.

Scrolling up and down with my phonebook contact,1 Borneo was my first contact. Talking about 1B, I recollect some good old days (or maybe reflections of my silliness for my personal account) :). The boss known me well as a scardy cat instead of a tigress, whom I have always loved to address myself. Before I learnt taking 1B shuttle bus on my own only in my final year (thanks lovelies Joyce and Kuo), the boss used take a cab to the uni (to rent a car from a uni student) and taking a cab back to his hotel in the city after returning the car to the owner just for us to go 1B from my uni during my second and third year of studies O.o. The car was parked for a good 5 or 6 hours in the parking lot, and ended up paying for nothing.

I don't usually put the scientific calculator in my bag to use in any situation when I am out. Simply because, it had not been taken out from my bag since our last paper in May ;P and Bio oil is a must for I have an occasional dry finger skin.

I heart this hair tie which also can be taken as corsage very very much. I have ever thought of donning it with my shirts or dresses but unfortunately the wool felt is a little shabby and worn out :(. I have been hunting high and low for local based online shops selling beautiful corsages or fabric pin, but to no avail. 

Spicy Sambal Mini Spring Roll

Spicy sambal mini spring roll was my all-time favourite. Back then, when I was a kid, I recollect that we only managed to purchase this through direct seller like Amway or Cosway since my family are not into any home baked/made cookies or any snacks. Unlike these days, we can conveniently buy these homemade version from the supermarket, but their availabilities are on the seasonal basis.

Last two days, I spent a good two hours (I only made about 100 pieces) in the kitchen wrapping and frying my first attempt for mini spring roll to go along with iced calamansi juice, which complimenting each other very well. The spicy shrimp paste was courtesy of my paternal aunt for us to go with dinner as condiment, since there were leftovers in the fridge I decided to make mini spring rolls (i.e popiah or 簿饼). The first 1.5 hour was spent for halving the popiah sheets into 4 sections and wrapping while the remaining 0.5 hour for frying. It was easier than I thought although they did not turn out neatly . My next aim (someday, more likely a dunno-when) would be trying my hands on to make the spicy sambal shrimp filling *self-motivation* :-).

Yearning for kolok mee

I am missing kolok mee so much, the authetic Sarawak kolok mee. I am blessed with Sarawakian friends and rummie during my uni years who occasionally bring over some authentic kolok mee after a semester break *bliss*. Last Thursday, on a rare weekday, our cravings peaked up thus off we went to Tony's Corner, the eatery my mom frequented and tapao-ed (i.e take away) us every Saturday morning, located 3 minutes drive from my home simply to satisfy our cravings.

Tony's Corner signature kolok mee

Their mee tasted as nice (my personal justification), and definitely better savored dine-in than tapao-ed one. Their fragrant spring onion and shallot condiments made me craving for more, but somehow I am still yearning for some authenticity out of it :).

Technology withdrawal

I have been suffering from cracked skin mainly on my index finger on the right for more than 2 weeks now. It all began with some minor shedding of skin and my finger tips turned coarser, before they turn dry and itchy thereafter. Started from last week, they tend to get sore and bleed as a result for excessive cracking. In fact, this is not entirely unusual for me, as it occurs on seasonal basis (although we don’t have winter season that contributes to dry skin).

I have tried several hand creams or ointment and currently I prefer to stick on Bio oil, to ease the dryness and most importantly, I like the non-greasy feeling it offers. At the moment, I am punching the keyboard with 9 fingers, I am grateful; at least I don’t have to resort with technology withdrawal :).

They are back :)

A good friend of mine commented that I have not been updating my blog as frequent as I used to (amI?) :). Perhaps, my posts are getting a little less cheong-hei (i.e long winded) these days. Getmy key word? Less, which implies I am still quite cheong-hei :). So, here's a little in-detail but trivial post which I would most probably give it a miss during my uni days. Since I have the time now, I'll just give it a go lah :D.

After many many moons(coming to one month), I have finally gotten back T-shirtswhich I sent for alteration lastSaturday. In fact, I came to know about T-shirt alteration only in the recentyears. But start sending my tee for alteration since last year, when I foundthe tee shirt sold during the Statewide Fellowship was too big for me. A sisterin Christ offered me to do the alteration for me. She did not want to chargeme, and I have ever received her sweet gesture for a couple of times before this where she insisted.

But for the sake for long term service and courtesy wise, I was adamant to pay her. It was only RM5 per piece which is very reasonable and my highlight hereis that she has very neat handwork, that is what matter most. That also explain why I don't mind waiting, as she was a busy tailor. Ever since, I started sending my tees (only those typical activities tee or those that unisex tee that only comes in big S, M, L sizes) for alteration. What I needed to do is only to attach a tee of the size I wanted my other tees to be, the other day I sent along my Padini S size ladies tee, and they turned out exactly the same cutting :).

Can you spot the Mickey Mouse cartoon print on the cabinet? That was our wardrobe when we were kids and the three of us have one each and they are still sitting at the corner of our rooms. Quite space consuming and not very practical these days but they are classical! :)

Looking at the tee, I quickly google up for Japan latest updates. Apparently, the city is recuperating and coping well, but the after shock effect is still very much felt. Please do not stop praying for Japan and a little prayer goes a long way:).

A glassful of goodness

Had a glassful of chilled goodness comprises of white fungus, ginkgo nuts, wolfberries, red dates and dried longan to be paired with two slices of French toast sprinkled with fried oat for breakfast this morning. Bliss! :)

Cooking Frenzy

The boss once gotten me a recipe book for almost 3 years now, the first and only recipe book I have ever received from him or anyone since ;P. I guessed the only reason wasthat he wasn’t convinced that I have went round it and make a full use of it, which was indeed true. It was the edition released prior we Chinese ushered into new lunar year of the earth oxen (2009).

I feel so guilty. Not only that I have not shown my full appreciation to him for gifting me the recipe book but I have not kept to my word of showing off my masterpieces. Over and over again, when I mentioned that I will make full use of it, he’ll give me that look ;P. Until that day, when he stared at me and suggested I try my hand on a recipe or two in a month (feeding myself) and the rest will be under his expanse, I was humbled and cannot help but feeling tad guilty. I will get round to it, I promise I will. It’s about time to churn out something from my fridge and kitchen cabinet =).

I can read 华语

The 7th Asia Christian Book Fair (3rd-5th June 2011)

I first stumbled upon its advertisement during a breakfast at Kwong Tung Chai charcoal roasted duck Kolombong. From that split seconds, we, the siblings made up our mind to go and have decided when and what time to reach at that very moment :). Given that it was a rare occasion, less frequent than we have the chance to get up on MV Doulos, hence we wouldn’t want to let go the opportunity and planned ahead to be among the early birds on its first day. My recent English NIV bible was bought from MV Doulus back in 2007, and first brand new bible was bought when I was in my primary two. Being a banana Chinese, who can only survive speaking Hakka as my mother tongue, a handful of Mandarin along with smattering Cantonese, I cannot write Chinese characters except for my name and some kindergarten level characters at the same time recognizing some simple characters, but to certain extent.

I have been struggling and make a resolution after another, unfortunately simply mojo I have in me cannot stand alone, and self learning is almost unattainable for me without any language sifu. Heard of some bilingual bibles from some church members before, despite the pin yin availability, there were some downsides; such as the availability for pin yin were either its availability was only for the New Testament or it can only be purchased in Korea (the publishing country of this bible), and so on. So, my main aim visiting this exhibition was the wisest decision, ever!. My prayer was granted and I found a bilingual bible which enabled me to read Chinese with guided pin yin for every character, and most importantly it is a complete Bible :). How to not feel euphoric when I can tell everyone that "I can read 华语 (Huáyǔ i.e Mandarin)" ? LOL I am so pleased that it’s a Chinese with pin-yin and New King James version; instead of King James, the version my mom have been using until today but a challenge for me who have been accustomed to NIV.

Among the participating booths were coming all the way from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Peninsular Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru), China and Singapore. I got this from a Singaporean booth, the only booth selling this bible beside Johor Bahru’s, which is selling it with slightly higher price. I got my deal for a jaw-dropping deal at only RM150. Expensive? Super cheap! The retail price was RM228. What a bargain eh? :)

My concern now is to get familiarize with the index which is only available in Chinese Character. Opps, yes I am a person whose very much dependent on index :P. And I am currently scouting for a box with the right measurement (too bad they were either smaller or way too big) or hand-made (or maybe tailored) cover or casing to house my new bible =). By the way, I heart Japanese fabric with abstract design or colorful print very very much. Hope I can manage some and DIY a cover, someday!

Less than 2 days

We touched down Tawau airport with MAS Airlines as early as 8ish on the 19thJuly 2011, returning to the city the following night. Although it sounded like a dash-and-go trip, but in fact, there were ample of free time for us to kill, in that short 2 days 1 night trip. But, we didn’t manage to do any shopping or to tour around the town though. The last time I trod my feet there was in 2002 for Chinese New Year. Throughout our less than 2days trip there, our itinerary was very much an impromptu. Nothing has been planned earlier other than for official matters. The rest was spent in our room and relative’s houses. A very short but somehow we had some quality bonding time with the relatives.

On the first day upon arrival, we took a cab and headed straight to where my brother is going to further his studies and out-grow his teenage phase and coming back in the next 0.5 decade as an adult (excluding the occasional weekends or semester breaks that he’ll be home :P). After we have settled down with all the dorm registration, we were initially planning to go down town and tour around at our own pace before catching up with our relatives after the Sunday School classes.

However, boy oh boy, there was no taxi nor public transport going into the campus. We learnt this only from a senior student whom we brushed shoulder with by chance. He was a great help, but unfortunately to no avail since it was a semester break, the school compound was all quiet and tranquil with no sight of any passer-by or students yet. From what we understood, one shall walk to the nearest junction, which is about 5 kilometers (an approximation I made with the aid of imagination based on UMS’ route from SEIT to the furthest dorm) where public buses or taxi when luck strikes would be passing by. A lesson learnt here :). But thank God that after we have decided to give up and walk to the junction, after mom and I changed into our flats later on, we spotted a taxi chauffeuring a student, who was returning to the dorm. Voila, we hop into the cab right after that :).

While we were going on the cab heading to the town, our plan was called off as my uncle called up, and we decided to meet up at the Shell petrol station at Tmn. Bintang. So, off we went and had our breakfast at one of the well reputed kopitiam among the Chinese locals there. A mental note for myself that when ordering for drinks in most of the coffee shop, one shall emphasize accurately how you want your drinks to be prepared like; whether its a combination with condensed milk, evaporated milk, sugar or so forth. They will usually ask; but according to my aunt, if you look local, they will usually presume that you were ordering merely of what you mentioned added with water (i.e milo kosong or kopi kosong). I was dumbfounded when I was first asked what do I want to add to my drinks. The silly me surmised that they might be offering some special add-on(s) for hot drinks; i.e pearl, nata de coco or maybe jellies O.o

Below are some snippets and quick glance on what we did there, very much like a closer-to-the-nature getaway :P

Beautiful orchids

My aunt has a farm of reasonable size planted with varies of crops. Below clockwise from top left are dragon fruit buds, dragon fruit flower which will only bloom during night time with baby fruit underneath, goat’s manure used as fertilizers and eventually the organic dragon fruit.

From top left are part of the field planted with dragon fruit trees, dragon fruit tree with a couple of withered flowers (I heard a lot about the flower, but unfortunately I didn't get the chance to see it blooming during night time), we hand peeled the fruits back at our rest house, the fruits from our harvest that afternoon.

Calamansi and kaffir lime

A couple of amusement hours with this pretty and active toy poddle, Pearly. Not forgetting, a money lover too. Her batteries was perpetually in the full bar.

On the second day, most of the time was spent for registration. Everything was settled by 3pm before we headed for a hi-tea with my aunt and her husband before they sent us to the airport for our flight home.

Cute as a button!

During our very short (less than 2 days) trip to Tawau recently, we didn’t managed to tour around the town, not to mention spending some quality time at their flea markets. I called it flea market as I am hoping that it is going to be a flea market, without having any idea of what lies inside the largest market in Malaysia or what their Sunday Market may offer apart from their well reputed and famous dried salted seafoods, amplang as well as blinjo crackers. Those were the only limited things that came into my mind in split seconds when i heard of the name of that city.

Yes, I am one happy girl if I have the chance to pave around flea markets or any bazaar except for the part where brushing shoulders with other pavers is an obligation. The feeling is so touristy. Lol. That also explain why we try not to miss out strolling along Gaya Street whenever the boss happen to come over during weekend :).

Although we were not on a holiday there and a mere two days and one night trip, yet I am glad that we managed to squeeze in some quality time with our immediate relatives there, which I am going to mention on another post. Besides, something really worth mentioning are these two cutie sweethearts! This little fierce button, Chocolate definitely likes her photo to be taken. Whenever I called up for her, she would stay and gaze up her head like this ;).

As oppose to Chocolate, Pearly the poddle is way friendly but it took me so long before I can get a decent photo of hers. To get a decent photo of hers was an uphill task. Whenever I have just taken off my lens cover, before I can start focusing, she would twist and squirm about without fail. Hence, I managed her close-up photos only with my hand phone and pns compact camera while stiffing her with another hand. This explains the inconsistencies of photo size in this post O.o

She is indeed an attention seeker. Whenever she finds that you have given up on her, she would climb up the stool and leap onto your lap requesting to be cuddled. How can one resist the glint from her big round eyes? :)

Oh yeah, she was well trained to ask for ang paos (red packets), money to be exact. When someone lift open their wallet, she would move both her hands gesturing gong xi gong xi. Such a money minded fella :)

Lastly, this is her bed, also where she secretively placed all her possessions ;). Only money notes with money scent are acceptable. It was very comical to see her securing the money under her tongue (very safe and tight) and wiggling towards her basket and place her money safely. If you squint hard enough, you could see a piece of paper in her basket, that was only after the paper was placed long enough inside the wallet and has money scent on it, which they deliberated it. Soo cute! :D

Marine in Living Color

UMS' Marine Aquarium & Musuem (17th June 2011)

The East coast of Malaysia is definitely blessed with all kinds of marine gems and wonders. Not forgetting to mention about the numerous numbers of islands, some calls it paradise. Unfortunately, I have never landed my feet on the piece of land in the middle of the sea, have never dunked in my toes into the glorious crystal blue sea nor riding the ocean passing islands.

So the visit to the uni’s aquarium museum was quite an eye opening for me to the marine in living color. I think I am among the last alien on earth who have never stepped into the museum throughout my 4 years of undergraduate studies here. Although Marine BioValley of UMS does not offer a very spacious area of exhibition, but at least it offers a glimpse of what lies beneath the waves ;).

The atrium welcoming visitors with ‘artificial’ sensation of being beneath the waves.

I didn’t know that we have an humongous skeleton of among the largest mammal, the Cuvier’s Beaked Whale right at our backyard ;) Besides, there was also a steno bredanensis, or dolphin in our layman English. I learnt that ‘steno’ in Greek means narrow, referring to dolphin’s beak. This is a rough-toothed dolphin because of its thin lines of enamel running vertically down their teeth, which made them feel rough. According to the details from the information board, this poor dolphin was found dead a month after she was discovered full with wounds struggling hard to free herself by a group of fishermen in their fishing net in Tuaran.

The museum area offers a fetish collection of stony corals.

And also the horseshoe crabs. It was said that there are only 4 living species can be found in the whole world, of which 3 of them can be found in Sabah. The remaining species can only be found in North America and the Gulf of Mexico. We are lucky, aren't we? ;)

The aquarium section was the area I loved the most. All the tiny, colorful, fragile looking creatures were awly beautiful. Among them are the seahorse (Hippocampus kuda). Despite having seen a seahorse for several number of times, only upon this visit, I came to know that female seahorses lay their eggs in a brood pouch on the males before the male fertilizes and incubates the eggs until they hatch. Another wonderful creation of God ;)

As nasty as it may look, this is called crown-of-thorns or Acanthaster Planci. It is categorized under the same group of starfish, and was honored as the largest sea star in the world but they are the most efficient coral predators, contributing to the underwater ecology 'cancer'.

Different kind of starfishes (or sea stars).

Bottom: Clockwise from top left were among the enormous fish dominating the gigantic aquarium, followed by the oh-so-huge grouper probably the largest fish I have ever seen in my entire life, coral catshark and the bamboo shark.

Various type of soft corals. They might not look as appealing here, but trust me; they are oh-so-beautiful! I cannot resist myself from staring at their almost transparent and colorful feature.

The sea turtle only make its grand appearance when luck strikes. We were practically ecstatic and overjoyed when it came near to the display glass ;).