14 Confessions Of A Frog Who Took A Peek Outside

Katak di bawah tempurung (Frog under coconut shell) is a popular Malay proverb which describes a person who lives in a small world, someone with limited knowledge of what's beyond.

"On the rocks, ma'am? " asked the waiter when I ordered a Bailey's.

"Huh?"  the only word that left my lips as grey stones and brown pebbles flashed through my mind. I wrinkled my nose slowly.

"I mean, with ice, ma'am. "

"Ohhhhh.....! "

Well, that's embarrassing!

Do you recall first moments in your life? Your first bite of a Famous Amos cookie , that time you grazed your car, the first time your guy held your hand? What happened above was one of my firsts. I laugh at myself every time I think about it and go, "Gosh, did that really happen? "

This is me walking down memory lane.

Where I come from (which is a little island far, far away), coffee is a fuss-free drink that has no airs. It is simply served black or with milk. That's as easy as it gets.

The 'coffee queen' is a title reserved for someone who loves drinking black coffee more than once a day. Sorry about that, but there is no glory in being a white-coffee drinker here! Aah...life was uncomplicated then. We were happy just gathering around, sipping our drink, no thoughts on the correctness of coffee preparation or where it came from.

It was only when I moved to the city that I was slapped with the likes of Espresso, Cappuccino, Mocha, Latte. Gone were the days I could just walk in and say, "Kopi-O, satu!" (Black coffee, one!) without sounding like an unpolished old auntie in a regular coffee shop.

So, the first time I walked into Starbucks, I was in a daze and just asked for coffee.

"Which one? "

"AAaaaannnnyyyyy  one....." My eyes darted across the menu. Oh, help me God! It looks like I'm latte when it comes to jumping on the coffee bandwagon. It's an americano thing, no? I'm sure mocha is not a call to buy more cars and espresso is not telling me to be quick in my decision. Macchiato has nothing to do with the mafia, surely!   

If you have been following my blog, you'll know that I'm not big on coffee. While I feel that I've come a long way since my first Frappucino, I long for the good old days when camaraderie took front stage and coffee knowledge stayed a far distance behind.

For the anti-Starbucks folks, there's the more gourmet Illy brand and if you can't afford that, then there's a host of 3-in-1 or 2-in-1 coffee packs sold in supermarkets. Many Malaysians have great love for coffee, whatever kind I believe, and they try to outdo each other too.

"Ah Pek coffee ah, very nice! Drink before? "

"Have you tried this? The latest in the market! Great stuff! " which really translates to "I discovered it first! Hah!"

I have often felt the urge to hand them a trophy for 'Unpaid Employee Of The Month'. Haha-ing that thought!

How this post strayed so much into coffee, I'll never know...slurp. I'm ending this with a little something for coffee newbies. Caf-ay lah-tey, anyone?

Source: http://visual.ly/illustrated-guide-coffee-drinks

This frog has jumped a step forward.

10 Penang : The Golden Pagoda Bell Tower

The Golden Pagoda Bell Tower

The Golden Pagoda Bell Tower - there's a feeling of grandeur in its name and this is further reflected in the intricate gold-painted carvings that surround the building.

The tower is located within the vicinity of Dhammikarama, a Burmese Temple founded in 1803, along Jalan Burma.

I had a lot of fun exploring this place. The temple site is well maintained, housing several beautiful religious structures and sculptures, some really small, some huge! The bell tower is a fairly new addition and an interesting one. 

I must warn you that this place draws large tourist crowds, by the way. The best time to visit? When you don't see buses around. It's the best advice I can give, if you know what it's like to have large groups of people circling around, going ooh and aah around you.

And don't get me started on my photo-taking experience. I have occasionally bumped into natural photobombers, the ones who don't even realise their uncanny talent of appearing out of nowhere. Here I am ready to take my shot of this amazing sculpture. My finger is halfway down and poof! I see a family in my snap.

The smiling wife is halfway towards me, "Hello there, would you mind helping us?" whilst handing out her camera.

"Uhh, sure...." I smiled in return. What! No! Yes, I do mind! Grrr, be nice now.

The 4-storey Golden Pagoda Bell Tower was built in 2011 to house marble replicas of ancient Buddhist shrines from 22 countries.

This is what it looks like inside (photo below). At the top of the gold pillar, the word 'ANONYMOUS' is inscribed, for a donor who doesn't want to be named. I've always found that a little weird and if given the opportunity, I would rename 'ANONYMOUS' to 'A Friend '. 

There's a lift at the end. This makes it very convenient for visitors. Penang's humid weather makes taking the stairs a challenge. On a cool day, I wouldn't complain.

Ground Floor - The Golden Pagoda Bell Tower

The marble replicas, an ambitious idea by the chief monk, are displayed in the first two floors. I have a close-up of one.

Marble

The work of Burmese artisans. An amazing piece.

Marble-carved

The view at the top is great. This corner overlooks the temple grounds.

The temple grounds of Dhammikarama

I bet this crow feels on top of the world. It stood confident against the wind and threat of rain.

Aah, a crow

The higher floors of the bell tower hold various religious sculptures.

Kassapa Buddha

Akasind Deva

Statue in front of the tower (left), Kakusanda (on the right)

A little note on the Golden Pagoda Bell Tower.

About Penang's Golden Pagoda Bell Tower

I enjoyed walking around this wonderful place, so this is one stop I would recommend to anyone visiting Penang, especially if they're into religious history.

12 At the Preview of Avens Residence, Southville City, Bangi

1st June 2014, an SMS about a project preview on the only link homes in Southville City reached me. A dramatic line that called out to my curiosity. We (hubs and I) decided to join the Mah Sing fanfare.

The place is a little difficult to find but nothing that Sara couldn't handle. Sara's what we call our Google Map GPS navigation phone app, by the way.

It was drizzling when we arrived. This did not deter us from exploring the park, which was designed with several water fountains. The garden is gorgeous. Typically designed, but no less a joy to wander.

Water Fountain at Southville City Show Gallery

I waited for the water gushing from this fountain (pictured below) to reach as high as it could before I took this shot. A jogging track surrounds the pond. That's always a plus for me....in case I decide to move out of my sedentary lifestyle and take up running. My friends will go, "Yeah, right," on this one.

Fountain at a pond

Here we are at the very modern-looking show gallery. I think this will make a very nice home design too.

The crowd was so-so at 1PM-ish. We walked right into Dato' Joey Yap's Feng Shui session. He was explaining the merits of owning a square home Feng Shui-wise to the crowd.

Dato' Joey Yap

Below is the show unit for Avens Residence, a 2 1/2-storey and 3-storey link development. What do you think of the facade? I think it's great. I do like balconies, even better if it doesn't face my neighbour's. I am not considering buying a unit for myself. I'm just imagining the possibilities. 

The interior is bare and basic, leaving you full potential to renovate it to your needs.

The location is hardly prime but I believe it will improve once the area is fully developed. From my calculation, that's a lot of years to wait for an old lady.

Avens Residence Show Unit

We left after an hour of checking the place out. I love this open-air archway that leads to the parking lot. It's a neat idea.

An archway with climbing plants

As larger raindrops begin to fall, we hurried to the car. I couldn't resist stopping for a quick snapshot of this artwork, just to show my friend who loves cats a lot.

Kittens

In case you're interested, Avens Residence is tagged at a lofty price close to RM900k.
Website: http://www.southville-city.com

14 It's Rice Dumpling Day!

Rice Dumpling

To those who are celebrating, I wish you Happy Dumpling Festival! 

It is also known as the Double Fifth Festival because it falls on the 5th day of the 5th month in the traditional Chinese calendar. Some of you may also know it as the Dragon Boat Festival. Dragon boat racing is a customary event that has been held annually for more than two thousand years on this festival day.

If you're curious to know how this event came about, click here --- > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duanwu_Festival.

I've not been to the races but I do have my fill of rice dumplings! We usually buy the ones with fillings of meat, egg yolk and mushroom. This is the first time I'm trying out red bean rice dumplings. It's not bad. Sweetish, of course.

Red Bean Rice Dumpling

Coincidentally, I've been tagged by a friend to snap five photos each day for five days, beginning today. It's a day of fives! I hope my photo skills improve a little after this exercise.... who am I kidding! This is my submission for Day 1:

Rice Dumpling Photo Challenge

Have you had any rice dumpling recently? ...It's not too late to get some! ;)

18 Growing Edibles, Gardening Jargon

The first seed of parsley, cili padi (bird's eye chili) and coriander was tenderly stuck into soil months ago. I blogged about it here.

Coriander never saw the light of day.... I'm just being funny, but I am devastated that nothing came out of those seeds because it happens to be my favourite herb. I use bunches of it!

I decided I could wait no longer and planted vegetables over the same patch. It's not that I've given up hope. I am a great believer of miracles, having watch a ton of Disney cartoons. I have faith that one day in between green foliage of pak choy, a coriander sprout will burst out of the ground and thrive like the rainforest of Borneo. And I will have a field day slashing generous bunches of fresh coriander for that pot of green curry.

In the meantime, spring onions have become my next best friend because it's the easiest to grow. I also added several other edibles to my little garden, like ginger and the white stemmed pak choy.

Here's a little peek on how some of my plants are doing.

The cili padi tree stands seven inches tall. Will I be seeing chilies soon? I'm quite sure I will!

Cili Padi

This parsley is two-and-a-half inches tall. Two other sprouts are coming along really slowly. Parsley, to me, would be a tortoise if it were an animal.

Parsley

Pak choy sprouting quickly! I still don't see any coriander. Do you?

White-stemmed Pak Choy

As I delved deeper into gardening, I learned some new words and names along the way.

Mealybug - A really tiny insect that resembles white cotton candy. I brought it home via an infected Portulaca. It first attacked my Mona Lavender. Then, it went for my ten-year-old cactus. That miffed me. I had to trim my plants bald and say goodbye to my cactus. The nerve of some insects...hmmph!

Germinate - Really, this is a happy word. It means that the seeds are developing into shoots. Woots!

Compost - Decomposing organic matter used as soil fertiliser. Ugh! 

Perennial - An everlasting plant. That would be my cactus, I believe...if not for mealybugs!

Bolt - When a leafy vegetable (mostly) prematurely flowers to produce seeds before you can harvest the crop. It hasn't happened to me ...yet. I can't decide whether to look forward to this or not - it would be exciting to harvest your own seeds, right?

Growing Edibles - Growing food plants.

Right, that's all about my gardening. Now, to share about a great green initiative I discovered while surfing the net. Are you someone who's concerned about the environment and want to help? Then, the Free Tree Society Kuala Lumpur is a great place to start! Check their Facebook page and website for details.

They give out little plants on environmental days. If your home is bare of any, this really is the best thing you can do for Mother Earth. Get some and green up!

A green thumb spirit is all you need to get that garden growing!

8 The Internet Bookworm

Have you ever wondered if anyone reads your blog for real? I don't mean just popping in for a comment. I almost always do. Maybe it's because I have time on my hands. Maybe I'm an internet bookworm. Who knows.

I used to read into the wee hours of the morning. There was this unexplainable need to finish the book against good judgement. Perhaps the bags under my eyes are not tied to my genes after all. It could be a result of countless late nights dedicated by a drive to know 'what happened next' in the story.

As I grew older, my interest dimmed. I was tired from work, gym and I got caught up with being a zesty 20-something. This is good tired. I come home, zonk out and wake up with thoughts of taking over the world. I had the gojira roar.   

The internet wave hit soon after. The job? Less inspiring. I became bad tired. Lethargic. It was time to buy a house and a car. Reports and numbers were my new social life. I still read. Insurance manuals, staff memos, employment act, if that's what you call reading. Spirited life slipped away. Domino mundaneness followed... 

Fast forward today, I read blogs and news portals. It started out as a way to simply pass time but now, it's how I keep myself updated with what's going on in the world. Even books are going digital. I felt guilty about it for awhile. I asked myself if I was killing book authors out there. Will future likes of Stephen King and Jane Austen be no more? Our music collection began on a vinyl record. Now, it's on youtube, free. Aaah..I dwell on this too much!   

I love blog reading. You get to engage the author. That makes it really interesting. I feel a connection. I even read an entire fantasy series on a blog the other day. The only thing 'not fun' about blog reading is that you never know when the next story is going to be posted. I'm going to 'haha' this with a finger pointing back at me. Silly.

Sometimes, I find gems of advice, like these:

Let me be the first to say that my mom told me that if you don't have something good to say, just don't say it ~ Abbe Odenwalder (This IS How I Cook)

My dad always says, "People who don't save, live hand to mouth." ~ Izdiher

Sometimes, you need a break from your family, and travelling alone can give you time to relax and sort things out ~ Shirley Tay (Luxury Haven)

In one's journey in life, it is important to experience all sorts of things; be it sweet (and lovely), unpleasant (sour), sad (bitter) and spicy (excitement). ~ Trishie (Under Lock And Key)

But who needs those branded bags anyway. Who to judge your value based on the items you carrying or putting around your body? ~ Rose (Rose' World)

These words are born out of real experiences. The internet is a wealth of real life stories, of which many will never be printed into books.

No longer am I limited to knowledge passed down by what my ancestors have experienced either. I may have learned the basics of cooking from mom, but I learned tricks and techniques from the internet. I have quite a collection of printed recipe books. I sheepishly admit that this is most likely a burgeoning hobby like stamp collecting.

So, am I becoming an internet bookworm? I guess. My pet peeve about it - I can pick up a book and read it for two hours straight without disturbance. Try doing that on a pc without someone saying, "Get off the computer already!". Oh, the unfairness. Crossing my arms and pursing my lips on this one.

I end this post with a small quote...which I may or may not elaborate on later. Now I'm just being cheeky.

14 Putrajaya : Sightseeing

Millennium Monument

The Millennium Monument is an interesting structure. It is the first national monument to be built in Putrajaya.

Some of the things that make this place special:

- Our former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir, buried a time capsule at the base of this tower. It will be unearthed in year 2020.

- The structure is designed to look like Malaysia's national flower, the hibiscus, when viewed from the top.

- It acts like a lighthouse at night. Sweeping light across the area, it serves as a guide for cruise boats as well.

- The glass panel along the railing is engraved with a little of our history.

Putra Mosque

Putra Mosque is a sight to behold. The minaret is one of the highest in the district with five tiers, a representation of the Five Pillars of Islam.

There are many beautiful buildings in Putrajaya. The mosque is just one of it.

Marina Putrajaya

We made a stop at Marina Putrajaya out of curiosity. Marina Putrajaya is a water-sports facility. There's waterskiing, wakeboarding, yachting, a swimming pool and even 'Flyboard-ing'. Until recent, I've never heard of a 'Flyboard'. It's something for thrill seekers, I soon found out. 

More photos of what I saw from this spot:

Marina Putrajaya Stadium

Ministry Buildings at Dataran Gemilang

From left: Attorney General Chambers,
Ministry of Rural and Regional Development,
Ministry of Communication and Multimedia,
Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government,
Ministry of Women, Family and Community

Fresh hanging flowers along the floating dock

Driving around Putrajaya is always peaceful. There aren't many cars on the road. The streets are quiet on weekends. Here's another beautiful building we saw - the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

In 2012, it won the award for Best Congress & Convention Centre in Asia - Business Destinations (Travel Awards).

A little about the number one in front of the flag poles. This is the symbol of the 1Malaysia slogan, which is often blasted on our radio and TV. It is an initiative by our current Prime Minister calling for national unity and efficient governance.

Putrajaya International Convention Centre

Moving on, Putrajaya has many beautiful bridges. I blogged about it here. This is the Seri Wawasan Bridge.

Seri Wawasan Bridge

If you have noticed, many of Putrajaya's iconic buildings and scenic spots surround a huge lake. It is very well maintained. There are several parks in the area. There are also little huts, like the one below, and benches for people to sit and enjoy the view.

Every time I see this photo, I envision myself sitting on a red-checkered picnic mat, weaved basket beside, sandwich in hand, wearing a wide hat, book, fluffy pillow...nah, that's not even possible until late evening, not even under this hut! Hot and humid weather it is until rain clouds appear. If it were cool and sunny here, I'd be hanging outdoors all day. How nice that would be.

I found a picnic spot!

Well, that's just a small taste of Putrajaya. I have yet to visit the botanical garden, the wetland park, agriculture park, empangan park.... phew! That many!

 

22 Instant Kampua Mee from Sibu!

This is it, Kampua Mee. Not just any kampua mee but 'the' one from Sibu.

I first heard about Kampua Mee from Rose of Rose' World, who mentioned it on her blog. It looked so good that I was itching for a taste. The other reason? I just love trying out new stuff.

Anyone can walk up to me and say that something's not delicious, but it will never thwart my plans to try it for myself. For me, taste is a personal thing. Some will like it, some will not.

Anyway, back to this delightful kampua mee which Rose was kind enough to send over so that I could have a taste. Thank you, Rose! ;)

Bang, bang, bang! The postman knocked loudly on my door late one evening, while I was mulling over what to cook for dinner. I was really excited to see the package. I had no idea what was inside, of course and tore it open as soon as I had signed off the mailing slip.

Look what I got:

Sibu Instant Kampua!

Isn't it lovely? Each packet of noodle comes with two packs of seasoning. One of soy sauce and one of lard. L-a-r-deedah..you read right. And that's what makes this instant noodle so special. Well that, and the fact that this mee is sundried and free from preservatives.

Kampua Mee seasoning - soy sauce (left), lard (right)

I decided at that moment that this would be dinner. It's really simple to make. Boil the noodles in water until it is softened/cooked. Drain and stir in the seasoning. I added some extra ingredients, topping the noodles with fried minced pork and garlic. Then, it was garnished with slices of chili and spring onions. Makes it a little more vibrant.

Ingredients to top my kampua mee

Voila! Nice? Yes, hubs asked for more...more! I found it yummy and very different from the regular instant noodles we find in supermarkets. 

Kampua Mee with minced pork, chopped spring onion and chili

If you're keen to try some for yourself, contact Rose. I'm just kidding!

You should really contact 'thekitchensibu' on Facebook. I believe they've worked something out for those residing in KL/Selangor. 

16 On Chocolate Malt and Packers Best

I get the feeling that people are proud to be associated with coffee. It is almost always mentioned everywhere and it sounds classy. No one ever says, "Chocolate malt or tea?". I've watched enough shows with that overworked line, "Here's your coffee, Hun,"  followed with a scene of the husband rushing off to work. Oh, the banality of it all.

I'm a chocolate malt kinda girl. It's what I need to start my morning and what I have before bedtime. If I were a character in a book, I would probably sound uncool.

She stepped out onto the verandah with a steaming cup of chocolate malt in hand.
 
She winced at the chocolate malt stain on her coat.
 
She spilled chocolate malt on the table.

You get the point.

I've been through many brands of chocolate malt drink. Some powdery fine, most lacking punch. For those on a tighter budget, Milo is a luxury. I've always wondered if there was an alternative. This drove me to explore what was out there.

I've put up with long periods of 'tongue-blekkking'  moments. This whole chocolate malt adventure is a journey that has spanned several years.

Just a month ago, Hubs stumbled across Tesco's Packers Best. The price was good - only RM22 for a 2kg pack. I've been through a lot. There was little spark left to be too excited.

But by golly, did we hit the jackpot this time! It is the closest thing to milo that I have ever tasted. The texture is similar too - not too powdery, has some 'body' to it. Today, I tear open my second packet. I am so proud of this discovery. You'll have to excuse my excitement.

I think I'll just buy myself a ribbon sash to sling over my shoulder, like how beauty queens do it, and appoint myself 'Packers Best Chocolate Malt' ambassador. Friends will say I've gone bonkers.

Packers Best - Milo alternative!

Last week, whilst shopping in Tesco, I bumped into a guy snapping pics of milo on his phone. In me, was a strong urge to lean over and whisper, "Try Packers, it's good." I didn't want to creep the young man out. That's what sales promoters do! So I walked away, grinning that I had kept myself in check.

Anyway, if you're looking out for an alternative, this is it - as close as it gets and ten ringgit less. Give it a try and lets have your thoughts on it.

12 Penang - The Reclining Buddha at Wat Chaiyamangalaram

Wat Chaiyamangalaram houses one of the largest reclining Buddhas in the world. Several sources on the web (I am unable to verify the accuracy) state that this Thai Buddhist temple was constructed in 1900. It sealed itself as one of Penang's most visited places when the reclining Buddha was built in the late 1960s.

Although this marks as my second visit, I found it as interesting as before. Left to my own devices with like-minded friend in tow, it's easy to be in high spirits.

I was only a child when I first visited the place and often referred to the statue as 'The Sleeping Buddha'.

Jen and I made our way to the temple armed with a simple map and empty energetic chatter. Our day's adventure kicked off from Evergreen Laurel Hotel, where we had spent the night. The walk along Jalan Kelawei was a pleasant experience thanks to slightly gloomy weather and shade provided by trees. A turning led us to the temple. Souvenir peddlers hogged the area around the entrance.

We walked in, awed by the view before us. Statues of mystical dragon serpents and giant warriors guard the door to the main shrine.

Wat Chaiyamangalaram

The golden Pagoda at the back lent an air of ancientness :

Wat Chaiyamangalaram

It began to drizzle. We rushed towards the main shrine where the reclining Buddha rests. The 108-foot long gold plated sculpture was surrounded by adoring looks from many tourists. It's beautiful ...but  my enthusiasm was a little marred by concern about losing my shoes. Haha..that! I could not shake the icky thought of walking barefoot on rain drenched roads.

Visitors are asked to remove their shoes before entering the area. A signboard hanging above the steel rack warned us of shoe thieves. My carefree spirit took a small dive when the temple assistant politely informed me to keep close watch of my Nike pair. I wanted to thank his helpfulness as much as I wanted to 'un-thank' his advice - if only such a word exists!

"Unthank you for your advice, Sir! My calm spirit is now lost..lost with worry!"

The reclining Buddha of Wat Chaiyamangalaram

Another angle of the reclining Buddha of Wat Chaiyamangalaram

Smaller statues were stationed along walls around the reclining Buddha. This was one of my favourites (below). It carries a serenity I cannot explain. It is estimated that thirty thousand embossed Buddha images cover the walls.

At peace

An animal sign from the the Chinese zodiac has been carved onto the pedestal of some of these statues. I guess those born in the year snake will put their donation into the red collection container where the pedestal bears the same symbol, and so forth. Behind, are urns containing ashes of devotees in niches set in walls.

The 12 Chinese zodiac signs

I recognise only the Goddess of Mercy (second from right) in this picture :

More statues at Wat Chaiyamangalaram

Here, candles in the shape of a lotus flower is used for prayer. I have been told that in Buddhism, the lotus flower is a symbol of spiritual enlightenment or an awakening.

Lit lotus candles

We passed the sea of serpents again on our way out :

Serpents guard Wat Chaiyamangalaram

Going in, going out, the gateway!

The gate to Wat Chaiyamangalaram

Before leaving, Jen and I 'quenched our thirst' on Thai coconut ice cream, which we purchased from an ice cream vendor near the gateway. Can ice cream be a thirst quencher? This was light enough to feel like a yummy drink. In humid weather, I say yes!

That covers my visit to Wat Chaiyamangalaram. I hope to be back a third time!