13 Mid-Autumn Festival Balloon Display At IPC

Imagine our ooh and aah at seeing this. It was a huge balloon dragon installation hanging as a centrepiece at the atrium of IPC Shopping Centre. Majestic and inspiring. I did not get the name of the balloon sculptor but he or she is certainly inspiring. The 50ft long dragon however, that I have its name - Yang! How fun to be involved in such a project and I bet they love their jobs.

Mid-Autumn Festival Balloon Installation at IPC Shopping Centre
50ft Dragon

We spotted this person in a balloon rabbit costume cutely bobbing along the row of shops. The rabbit has a name too - Moon!

Moon Rabbit and The Dragon .. RoarrrRRr!

Further in the background, behind Yang the dragon is a small garden made of balloons  - it was a landscape of trees, birds, a bridge and a beautiful phoenix named Yin. Yin and Yang *wink*

Mid-Autumn Festival Balloon Installation at IPC
Yin at 9ft Tall

Mid-Autumn Festival Balloon Installation
Garden of Harmony

Mid-Autumn Festival Balloon Installation
Garden of Harmony

This was our adventure last Sunday in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival but the installation stays up until 30th Sep, which is this weekend. So there's still a chance for anyone keen to pop in for a look-see.

Hej means hello in Swedish. We passed this sign at the end of the bridge above Ikea Cafe. I couldn't resist a photo because it was such a cheerful piece in yellow.

Hello, IKEA Fans

Mooncake Day was a little quiet for us this year since we'd already caught up with our friends and family earlier. Also, greedy us had eaten all the mooncakes up leaving none for the actual day! They were just too delicious to resist.

I leave you with a photo of the moon I snapped in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The Moon - A View from Kuala Lumpur

17 Eats : Awa Mee Bar, Mid Valley Megamall

Thanks to our elders, we are close to our cousins. They make our family life interesting. We have the numbers for rounders, badminton, police and thief and so much fun. There were ups and downs but also much love between us. Relationships in the old days are just that - colourful and solid.

Cousins are those childhood playmates

who grow up to be forever friends.
~ Anon

We celebrated my cousin's Birthday last weekend at Awa Mee Bar, a lovely noodle restaurant at Mid Valley Megamall. It's always an exciting affair researching for new places to eat - so many choices, so little tummy space.

Spicy Seafood Dry Noodle (Awa Mee Bar, Mid Valley)

The ambiance was pleasant, bright and clean. We were already feeling the effects of joyfulness as we sat down.

Awa Mee Bar, Mid Valley

Awa Mee Bar, Mid Valley

The food presentation, though easy enough, is genius -  this establishment serves noodles with a piece of fried mushroom that looks like undersea coral. The soup that came with was divine.

This was what we ordered. Tonkotsu Dry Noodles that came with a big bowl of soup for me and hubs. Do you know what tonkotsu means? I googled - Japanese broth made from pork marrow. Yum!

Non-Spicy Tonkotsu Dry Noodle (Awa Mee Bar, Mid Valley)

Tonkotsu Dry Noodle Soup (Awa Mee Bar, Mid Valley)

This is the soup that came with Spicy Seafood Dry Noodle (see the first picture of this post if you want a look at the noodles).

Spicy Seafood Dry Noodle Soup (Awa Mee Bar, Mid Valley)

These are the noodle soup versions, which my cousin and my friend ordered - Tonkotso Noodle Soup.

Top-Left Clockwise : Cutlery Kept In A Hidden Drawer at the Side of the Table,
Chilli Dip for Noodles, Tonkotso Noodle Soup,
One White Rice Noodle and One Yellow Noodle.

 
Hotpig Claypot - Yes, you read right. There are a couple of funny named dishes on their menu.The meat was tender and flavourful in this one. So good to eat that I feel a craving slowly coming on right now. Greedy me.

Hotpig Claypot (Awa Mee Bar, Mid Valley)

There is a 'handsome' dish on the menu. Lol.

Handsome-leh (Awa Mee Bar, Mid Valley)

It was nice to dine here as we were treated really well by the staff. Also nothing beats good company, and the people I'm with is definitely that!

Price-wise, it was reasonable. We spent about RM20 per person - one bowl of noodles and a glass of drink. Hotpig not included.

Drinks (Awa Mee Bar, Mid Valley)
Sour Plum Tea and Honey Pomelo Tea - RM5.90 each

Awa Mee Bar
Address: Mid Valley Megamall, T-043, Third Floor Mezzanine, Mid Valley City, 58000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Telehone: 03-2280 0772

14 The Orchid Park At Perdana Botanical Garden, Kuala Lumpur

Do you love orchids? I do, for their beautiful unique flowers and their long-lastingness. It's been a long time since Hubs and I last popped into this corner of Perdana Botanical Garden. The orchid park is located on higher ground in a quieter area where only the occasional jogger passes by. It feels like a 'secret garden' sort of place.

I remember making countless trips here in preparation for a treasure hunt. We were a team of three girls, just hitting 20, second year of college. Hopes were high. Alas, the running around was too much for one member and we lost the heart to continue as concern for her welfare hit us. Still, we had a great time and was excited by the orang utan soft toy we had earned from the hunt.

I thoroughly enjoyed my walk here this particular Sunday. There were many orchids in bloom and I could not resist snapping many photos! I wasn't the only one - there were other makciks swept away by photography therapy too.

Feast your eyes on these beautiful blooms. Identifying orchids is not as easy as I thought without a guide - Google wasn't my best buddy in this research so I have left out the names.

Pic 1 - Orchids at Perdana Botanical Garden, Orchid Park

Pic 2 - Orchids at Perdana Botanical Garden, Orchid Park

Pic 3 - Orchids at Perdana Botanical Garden, Orchid Park

Pic 4 - Orchids at Perdana Botanical Garden, Orchid Park

Pic 5 - Orchids at Perdana Botanical Garden, Orchid Park

It may not look like there are a lot of flowers from this distance.

Orchid Park, Kuala Lumpur

Let me show you a close-up. Lots of blooms, as you can see.

Pic 6 - Orchids at Perdana Botanical Garden, Orchid Park

This park has a lovely water fountain near here, which I have not shared a photo of in this post. Perhaps next time. 

Orchid Park, Kuala Lumpur

Orchid Park, Kuala Lumpur

Pic 7 - Orchids at Perdana Botanical Garden, Orchid Park

Pic 8 - Orchids at Perdana Botanical Garden, Orchid Park

Pic 9 - Orchids at Perdana Botanical Garden, Orchid Park

Pic 10 - Orchids at Perdana Botanical Garden, Orchid Park

A bit of history. Officially opened in 1986 by the wife of our current Prime Minister.

Orchid Park, Kuala Lumpur

There you go. Which orchid did you like most out of these? Pic 3 is my favourite - I love those twirls.

16 A Shiok Time At Swiss Dream Circus

Shiok-lah, that's how I would describe the Swiss Dream Circus. The performers put on a spectacular show. I was enthralled the moment Evgenia, the violinist and songstress, came on. Me, that emo makcik who sobs to herself dramatically when reading sad storybooks, had to dab her eyes once-twice in the middle of her performance.

The circus was all sorts of good fun and positive vibes. Hubs and I bought a bag of popcorn and water from the stalls stationed outside the entrance before going into the 4PM show. I asked the usher if we were allowed to snap photos - she replied, "Oh, yes!!" . I was excited to know that this was going to be a laidback thing with fun for everyone in mind. In case you're wondering, I did not abuse the camera privilege!

I was so caught up with the amazing acts I was seeing that video-ing and snapping pics became the last thing on my mind. I did, however, very quickly managed a few just to show off to friends and family. Lol.

It's hard for me to say which act I loved most. I just enjoyed it all. The breathtaking aerial acrobatics, the jaw dropping pole dance, the funny clown, the omg knife routine, the mesmerising diabolo spinning skills, the incredible Russian bar act - it was magical to me. In case you're keen to see the list of performers who made this show a success, I leave the link here for your convenience.

These are the few pics I snapped.
Can you get up from a split using no hands? Yurie Basiul did it flawlessly!

Yurie Basiul - Swiss Dream Circus

This is part of the knife throwing act. I was cringing in my seat, worried for the lady on the fast spinning wheel! Phew! No one was injured.

Igor and Tatiana - Swiss Dream Circus

Evgenia ended the show with a beautiful rendition of Time to Say Goodbye. Sniff. Wipe eyes.

Evgenia - Swiss Dream Circus

A look at the circus inside and out.

Swiss Dream Circus, Desa Parkcity

Spellbinding Stage Effects
Swiss Dream Circus, Desa Parkcity

Seats Getting Filled Up Quickly
Swiss Dream Circus, Desa Parkcity

There you go. That's how we spent our Sunday evening. Early next rain-fresh morning, we were blessed with a rainbow in the sky.

Rainbow in Kuala Lumpur

Oh, how I enjoyed my long weekend! Yes, it was four days off for many of us in Malaysia with two public holidays back-to-back.

20 Eats : Grandpa Lamb Noodle, Bandar Kinrara

Have you tried lamb noodles before? I haven't, not until this if I remember correctly. I knew I had to pop in for a taste when I saw the word 'grandpa' - for me, it can only mean comfort food!

Hubs and I ordered two bowls of Original Lamb Noodles (small bowl, that is, a regular sized portion) and a plate of fried dumplings. The picture speaks for itself - it is mouthwatering. I couldn't wait to slurp all that up.

Grandpa Lamb Noodles (Rice Vermicelli), Bandar Kinrara

I found the broth tremendously delicious and it brought on memories of my grandmother's cooking. She was always thorough with meal preparation. Such was the case with this bowl of noodles. The lamb meat was fall-off-the-bone tender evident of long hours of cooking, the soup has a depth of flavour that says - "Nope, not just a salt and pepper thing."

Grandpa Lamb Noodles (Flat Rice Noodles), Bandar Kinrara

Each bowl costs less than RM15. I don't remember the price exactly since we didn't save the receipt.

Fried Dumplings

The restaurant is clean and airy with a feel-good ambiance.

Grandpa Lamb Noodles Restaurant

If you're in Bandar Kinrara, this would be a good place for a meal instead of the usual hawker fare.

Grandpa Lamb Noodle
Address : 16-G, Jalan BK 5a/2c, Bandar Kinrara, 47180 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia.
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Grandpalamb

A little about the owners : http://www.malaysiabest.my/?p=9608

12 Eats : Thai Style Noodles at Meng Yang Restaurant Two

Hubs and I have been to this kopitiam several times. They sell an array of hawker food from char keow teow, chicken rice, curry noodles to chap fun - these are comfort food for many Malaysians.

However, it was not these local favourites that drove me to write this post. I was enamoured by the tasty Thai style noodles I tried recently and think it deserves mention. Sharing is caring, it is popularly said!

Excited us ordered a bowl of Thai Chicken Noodles and Fish Maw Noodles after seeing several banner stand displays outside. We opted for rice vermicelli when asked which noodle we preferred.

Thai Style Chicken Noodle,

I was itching to dig in as soon as the food arrived so it's a good thing that I'm very cincai with my photo-taking. Snap-snap, done! Not only did the noodles look good, it was truly delicious. The broth is smooth and tasty, a cross between lor mee and imitation shark fin soup. I found the chilli an awesome accompaniment and eagerly dabbed a generous amount onto each scoop of meat and noodles.

Thai Style Fish Maw Noodle

Hubs and I were thrilled when we saw two boiled quail eggs in our bowl of fish maw noodles. One for you, one for me, so it goes. I have always preferred this over chicken eggs - I believe it's yummier, a personal taste thing. 

Thai Style Fish Maw Noodle with Quail Eggs

This is the stall - located inside the corner shoplot, near the back.

Thai Noodle Stall at Restoran Meng Yang Two

Since we've been here more than once, here are pics of the other food we've tried. There's chee cheong fun (top-right), prawn noodles (bottom-right) and a plain bowl of pork soup (bottom-left).

Restoran Meng Yang Two

Restoran Meng Yang Two
Address: No. 2, 2A, 6 and 8, Jalan Teknologi 3/6C, Seksyen 3, Taman Sains Selangor 1, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.