It's been a while since I wrote on this space but I might just update this space more often. Why?

I would probably need to reflect and keep track of how I am feeling - I could have probably done this in a private journal but I would need to get a small one first. And this is just faster (but who knows that I might just get one today.)

Technically, I am trying to find ways to be happier again. Now when I typed this out, it sounds slightly dramatic.

08:19

Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day!

Spending my first Christmas away from home, and it is different. Although it's nice, it's just different. Well, I ate a lot that's for sure just minus the partying I guess. 

I just feel a tad more homesick because it's the festive season. I would usually spend time with family and friends: eating, drinking, and definitely laughing a lot. So, I have a pretty quiet Christmas this year. Also, because it is December, I get a little sad. Just thinking about 6 years ago makes me sad. December is a pretty rough month, my late father's birthday and also his death anniversary. 

But I'm loving Boxing Day, went out early in the morning to shop, and it's amazing how SO MANY people would wake up early to shop on Boxing Day. I see the reason; SO MANY GREAT DEALS!

This year, I spent Christmas with the Mings'! Almost vomited my food because I was so stuffed. 

Oh! You know, winter solstice is one of my favourite festivals. Partly because I get to get involved in making the glutinous rice balls. My grandma NEVER lets me help her cook any dishes, she gets all cranky every time I try to help her. So yeah! Since I wasn't able to celebrate it back home, why not celebrate it here right? So, it was a very Malaysian celebration (even we had a Malaysian Christmas where I made Bak Kut Teh), we had a few friends over for nasi lemak. I was glad I managed to pull it off, the sambal tasted just like how my grandma made it back home- SUPER HAPPY. Also made ayam goreng berempah and tang yuan (because it's not a celebration without it!).

My failed You Tiao, it tasted more like Churros than the actual You Tiao.

I guess that's it for today, a short brief post.

Till then,

xx

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23:40

Made a short trip to Singapore about a month ago because I've not been there for more than a year. Singapore will always be a place I'll visit, mainly because of the great company and food. This trip was a pretty much last minute plan (and a food trip) and so happen it was the "Great Singapore Sale", so it is a double win!

So Aj was supposed to bring me around but he had some last minute work to do, so it was just me and my cousin, whom I've not met for over a year plus. It was a great, catching up with our lives and such. For lunch, we went to Clinton St. Bakery Co. & Restaurant (they have franchises in New York, Dubai, and Tokyo) The restaurant is not very spacious, hence, it's quite cramped. With tables so close, it feels there's no privacy at all. Although the food presentation was somewhat nice, the taste? It is pretty decent, nothing to shout about.

What I had were Crispy Potato Cakes with Smoked Salmon, Caviar (salmon roe) & Lemon Crème Fraîche. To be honest, the potato cakes are too crispy, but they were quite generous with the amount of smoked salmon. - $19

Jo had their Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich. I had a small bite of her chicken, and it is really tender and well seasoned. So, if you were to ask me "Will you ever return to have it for the second time?" I would say "No" simply because I think I had better. Like Artichoke cafe serves really good food as far I can remember. 

I was really excited for this bit, I heard there was Lush Cosmetics in Singapore and obviously I had to hunt for their shop. Reason why I love Singapore is because they always have a variety of cosmetic shops that we can never get in Malaysia. I got 3 bath bombs for $39 - one for my sister and 2 friends who have bath tubs in their home. So that was great! The gift of giving makes me happy. 

Next stop, dinner! The amount of time spent discussing dinner was absolutely long. I had a friend who posted about this Korean Restaurant which sells this awesome looking dish called, Snow Cheese Chicken Bumbuk. It looks so delicious and it looks like I would puke at the end of dinner if we ever had that. 

After much debating on where to eat dinner, we settled for Carvers and Co. BEST decision ever. The food is undeniably delicious and affordable. One thing I've learnt from travelling is that - Never convert, yeah you can convert certain things but when it comes to food (depends on the individual I guess, some would not convert when it comes to material goods, I don't know). Don't. Sometimes, converting stops you from having fun on your vacation. The three of us (Aj, Joselyne and I) had Braised Beef with mash ($18), Steak and Eggs ($20), Cola Ribs ($18) and Bacon Chips ($9). My Cola Ribs was so flavourful and it was so tasty from the meat right up to the bones. See, how affordable it is one to one? I could die a happy kid from all these good food.

Candied Bacon Chips...mmm yasss! ($9)

Braised Beef with Mash Potatoes ($18)

Steak and Eggs ($20)

Cola Ribs! Oh yes, those sticky ribs. ($18)

I finally tried Katong Laksa at 328 Katong Laksa. It is actually really yummy. It's creamy and the sambal prawn paste is really flavourful as well. That helped elevate the dish. I had it on a rainy day so it was perfect. 

Katong Laksa at 328 Katong Laksa

Next, was probably my highlight of the day. I finally tried Fat Cat Ice-Cream bar in Bedok, it's something different for me I guess apart from the same old waffle and ice-cream. They had a more refined dessert menu, what's more awesome is that they sell wine! That's my heaven right there. So the special of the day was their deconstructed Som Tum ice-cream, it sort of tasted like som tum and I like it! What I absolutely enjoyed was their Gourmet Charcoal Waffles with their homemade Salted Egg Yolk Sauce, also not to mentioned that the scoop of ice-cream we chose was delicious! We had the Butter Beer and Earl Grey Lavender. 

That's our pre-dessert before the Som Tum. It's quite interesting but I remembered not enjoying it as much as I thought I would.

Heavenly waffles, god of waffles. Praise this waffles and ice-cream.

Deconstructed Som Tum.

After dessert, I rushed back to grab my things and made my way to the airport. Didn't do much there, so that kinda summed up my trip; A Food Adventure.

I meant to update my blog immediately when I got back from Singapore, believe it or not, I had this post in my draft for a month now. I'm always telling myself that I should blog more but I never did. Maybe, I'll try harder.

So next stop? Madrid! 

Stay tuned. :)

21:19

Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year is definitely one of the holidays I always look forward to every year because it's the only time where I'm able to see my relatives who lives out of KL. I had a massive family reunion dinner on Saturday and my schedule was packed with visiting and eating so much. 

Of course it is tradition to wear something new on the first day of the New Years, and I did just that. Went on with a nude look this year because every year I'm in red. 

Tried to pose like my sister hah!

One of my favourite things about Chinese New Year is being able to catch up and bond with friends and relatives whom I've not seen for ages. 

There were so many people at my place but I can't help but take pictures with my niece. I introduced  the snapchat face detection feature to her and she couldn't stop asking to take pictures. Anyway, meet Valerie. 

Bonding over wines, beers, tea and soft drinks, not forgetting awesome Chinese New Year snacks are definitely the bomb! That's the thing about beers, it gets everyone in a good mood. So,  I got a few bottles of Chang Beer from Baan 26 (love their Thai Food by the way, the Tom Yum is so spicy..I can't even) recently and yes, I've been saving it for Chinese New Year. I remember having my first Chang Beer in Bangkok while having some grilled cuttlefish and it was one of the best combinations I ever had after a long day of walking. The beer was smooth and easy to drink, unlike a few beers I've tasted. Plus, the weather was so hot, that bottle of really chilled Chang Beer really hit the spot.

That is just a few snacks at the background, I have been eating so much of it - breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Also, I've noticed that the bottle of the beer is different this time. I don't recall the bottle being green but I guess it just looks better now than before. 

Old Chang Beer Packaging

Well, it definitely looks more elegant than before and the bottle has a nice grip, fits my tiny hand.

Decided to do a 90 degrees photo challenge with the beer, I've not done it before so I was figuring hard on how to make it look more realistic. But to be honest, I think I failed in that department. 

Does this look like I'm doing a handstand on the bottle? Well, obviously not really because I would be up skirt. I have to thank Ming for being my photographer and being able to stand my photo directions - from making him stand on a stool, adjusting the angles and what nots. 

How well could you do a 90 degrees perspective photo? Could you beat mine? ;) Join in the Snap & Share challenge and upload it on your Instagram/Facebook with the hashtag #ChangBeer!

 

I guess that's all for today! Till then. :)

P/s: For more information on #ChangBeer, visit:

https://www.facebook.com/changbeer/?fref=ts

xoxo.

10:00

Currently, I have this one song which is stuck in my head. I've been listening to it a lot while working. I've liked Beach House for the longest time and now I fell in love with it even more.

This cover of this song is not that bad as well. Sometimes I'm annoyed with Spotify because they do not have the latest album of some artists but this will do. 

23:34

I've got a feeling that January is going to be one heck of a month for me. It's been what? 2 weeks into January and I'm swarmed with work. Throw me a float already.


via GIPHY

To be honest, I'm quite stressed out (mainly because of work and also my University applications) and in order to ease my mind, I'll always go back to my happiest thoughts/vacation memories. What I'll do is, I'll always scroll through my phone to search for my photos of Lombok. Oh, how I missed that place so much. Well Lombok was so...peaceful, breathtaking, relaxing, different. The only time I abandoned my phone, enjoyed the tranquility and just disconnect with the world for 4 days. That was the best time of my life.

What's a vacation if you're constantly on your phone checking your social media accounts right? It's not, really.

It's 3AM and I am not asleep yet, partly the reason why I am not asleep is because I've played volleyball earlier. You know sometimes when you think you will be tired after a workout or after playing a sport but you become more active instead? Yeah, I'm having that but I think reading a book will help me sleep.

Till then!

-O

03:33

I've decided to change the template of my blog today/tonight. The template before was way too messy and hey! I kinda like this one, I know it is pretty empty but hold on for now.

Also, I'm going to try to keep this space updated with my nonsense.

-O

02:36