Happy 30th Birthday to Tourmaline Bear

My birthday cake, it's called 'Fruity Garden'. See the fruits decorated on top?

A must for the Chinese, the basic traditional Chinese way of celebrating one's birthday..
Angpows (or red packets given by the elders) and two red hard boiled eggs.

Finally, I am thirty. Last Sunday, I celebrated my 30th birthday with my hubby and MIL. I had a good sleep despite some occasional coughing at night. I've waken up earlier to do some laundry as usual - it's a Sunday routine, otherwise my hubby would not have enough socks to wear, hehehe...

We had a quick and simple breakfast in the morning because we wanted to keep a lot of space in our stomach for Japanese Lunch Buffet at Pearl International Hotel, Old Klang Road. When my hubby and MIL had bread and buns, I had two red coloured hard-boiled eggs (symbol of harmony and happiness). I had a good time eating them with soya sauce, the taste is just too yummy... do make some and have them, you will love the taste. Then I proceeded to read my newspaper and checked my FB and emails. When the time was almost up, we got dressed and headed to the hotel.

This is the first time I felt bad... why? I didn't manage to snap any related pictures for the Japanese Lunch Buffet that we had. There are a variety of choices of Japanese food - sushi, maki, handrolls, teppanyaki, sukiyaki, tempura, miso soup, and of course fruits and desserts... Personally, I still prefer the sushi and maki made by Sushi King, enough said. Desserts? My personal favourite - chocolate ball - it is round and it is so soft and smooth inside. I felt like helping myself to all the chocolate balls available, but my coughing reminded me to take just one. I even recommended to a pregnant lady to try it!

Time flies when you enjoyed yourself. I had a good meal, at the same time I felt I'm getting old to eat that much already. Sooner or later, before I know it, buffet lunch and hi-tea are going to be out of my makan list, how sad =( sigh... but, maybe once in a while will do no harm, right?

In the late afternoon, we managed to get to Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya. The name of the shop where we got the birthday cake pictured above is Cake Sense. Their choices of cakes are not that many but they managed to bake and decorate their cakes in detail. We had to choose a birthday cake (for me) which did not come with nuts (almonds, walnuts, peanuts, no!). This is to cater for my MIL who pitifully has to stay away from all the nuts and beans in the world (her favourite food!) in her diet.

Now, let's look at the Fruity Garden... It is decorated with lots of fresh cream and fruits such as slices of pineapple, kiwi, peaches, grapes and longans. There are two layers in the cake and in between the two layers is spread with lychees, juicy ones... We had the cake in the late evening before we went out to pack some food for dinner, nice century egg with pork porridge.

It is sort of a routine for birthdays celebrated in this household. However, there's a difference this year... I managed to share two big slices of my Fruity Garden with two adorable kids - Hayden and Aldan, my yoga mate-cum-good pal's sons. Listening to them wishing me 'Happy Birthday Auntie Tourmaline*' with their cute voices made me wonder and ponder about having kids to call my own...

Surprise, surprise, if you checked the Chinese lunar calendar, my birthday this year came with a bonus! The Mid Autumn Festival which falls on the15th day of the eighth lunar month every year was also celebrated on the same date! So, I have moon cakes and a birthday cake to celebrate =) This should be the first time in my life for me to have double celebrations!

To all my friends, colleagues, and students, I wish to thank you all for all the wishes coming to me via emails, e-cards, facebooks, SMSes and cards and not forgetting the gifts too. To my dearest hubby, the treat to the Japanese Buffet Lunch, a gift and preparing the red eggs for me. To my parents and parents-in-law the Angpows (pictured with the red eggs above)... and to my brother, a digital camera which is on its way coming to me... To my yoga mate-cum-good pal, thanks for the mitt and the soap. Last but not least, I would like to thank the companies that are thoughtful enough to send me Birthday wishes every year wihout fail.

My Favourite Kuih!

From a Ramadhan Bazaar near where I stay,
kuih ketayap, kuih koci, tepung bungkus, lepat pisang,
wrapped in green banana leaves,
feast your eyes!

Ramadhan Bazaar, Lembah Subang

Aren't they colourful? Oh, I've forgotten to joke with them... they should have come out with 7 colours like the rainbow! Nice to look but too sweet to taste! From left, watermelon juice, honeydew juice, sweet corn juice, Milo (thin chocolatey malt drink), and Bandung (milk + rose syrup).

To Fu Fa with either white sugar or black sugar (Gula Melaka). Best eaten as a dessert when they are hot... To Fu Fa is good for health too with less sugar of course...

The display of assorted kuih-muih (Malay cakes). I was allowed to snap a picture of makcik and her kuih-muih. Of course, I bought some for my tea too...

Look beyond the assorted kuih-muih (Malay cakes) for the delicious Ayam Percik (Splashed Chicken according to Puteri Saadong) which are being prepared.

I have an 'assignment' given by Puteri Saadong this time around when I have the chance to visit Lembah Subang's Ramadhan Bazaar for the second time. It is not an assignment exactly but it is more of a sharing with all fellow Malaysians who are living abroad, especially Puteri Saadong and her beloved family. I wished I have visited a bigger Ramadhan Bazaar but given time and (wo)manpower constraints, I believe this short visit is wonderful enough.

I was a little bit disappointed when I saw the number of stalls today. There were not as many stalls as the ones I saw on my first visit there earlier this month. The 'part-time' hawkers are probably worried with the unpredictable weather, raining cats and dogs. Thus, I had missed taking pictures of delicious Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice) and Nasi Tomato with Ayam Masak Merah (Tomato Rice with Chicken served with red gravy), and not forgetting Assam Laksa, Mee Rebus and Yong To Fu too. My timing wasn't that good today. I hope my husband and I are managed to taste the Nasi Tomato with Ayam Masak Merah before the month of Ramadhan ends soon. Just looking at them or imagining them make me salivating... yummy!

I was there for a mere 15 minutes in the hot sun (read: good weather) but there were some people who were looking at me instead of the food and drinks! I was dressed in a quite-striking red baju kurung and holding my camera phone snapping pictures away from the selected stalls. Boy, it's a dangerous assignment, as there were motorcycles and bicycles passing behind me.

The stall keepers at the colourful drinks stall were curious to ask whether I was from a local newspaper. After thinking for a few seconds, I told him that it is an assignment to be completed for Puteri Saadong! I told them a bit (read: a bit) about her and he told me to go ahead to snap pictures and share with the Internet community, and do not forget to provide him her feedbacks during my next visit. Well, how have I replied? I gave him a smile... For your information, the stalls selling To Fu Fa and the colourful drinks belonged to the same family.

When I was there, I managed to observe that people of all walks of life are there during the late afternoons and evenings of the sacred month for Muslims. I could also see not only Malays but also Chinese and Indians were busy choosing what to have for their 'buka puasa' sessions at home too. Well, I believe foods in Malaysia is one of the many mediums that are able to unite all the tummies of our multicultural society.

Since there is another 15 minutes (Malaysian time) to break fast,
I wish all readers "Selamat Berbuka Puasa!"

A Gift for Someone Special

A pair of Rose Quartz earrings and ring for her... in a handmade double-decker box (idea is from a mooncake box)...

Her last day was on 31st May this year. She was counting her days towards her optional retirement. Most of us were happy for her but some of us didn't want her to leave. She is such a lovely woman who has touched many hearts, apart of her students and few of her colleagues, she touched mine...

She was on leave when I got to know her from her colleague, Ms K. I guess I know her workstation better than her in person. I was given her workstation to be my workstation temporarily when I joined the institution. I heard from a couple of colleagues that she is a very, very, very nice person. And from then on, each day, I couldn't wait to meet her in person. I saw her finally when she had to be back to complete some documents and I had the chance to thank her personally for allowing me to 'squat' at her workstation while waiting for another colleague to vacate hers. She did not fuss and generously told me to make her workstation like mine...

When her leaves ended, she had to report herself to be back to work. I got a new workstation which was, well, most of the time facing her back. I loved to talk to her, especially to seek her advice on her expertise - grammar! I loved so much to listen to her explanations given on the technicalities of English language, simple and sweet. And of course at the same time, we were counting the days together for the day to call her optional retirement day.

A week before the day, we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant at Old Klang Road. Some of her students joined the lunch and sang her a beautiful song. She was so touched that her eyes welled. We had a good lunch and a dessert, which is her favourite carrot cake. It is indeed both a sad and glad gathering that day.

Now, I am back to her workstation again. Most of the time, in the mid of hustle and bustle at Level 4, I would be thinking of her and look at the things she has left behind for me...

To you, Madam LBY, I miss your laughter and smile. I wish to have learnt more from you of your knowledge and experience in the field we share when you were still at Level 4. Wherever you are, I wish you all the best and best of health...

Happy 51st National Day, Malaysia!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBoqvZHcqY8

I felt emotional when I first saw this advertisement on TV. The part when En. Hanafi showed his son Aiman, the amount of money he has saved for him to study in a university abroad.. It is not a small amount after saving for so many years by selling cempedak.

How I wish if every kid in Malaysia has a heart like Aiman. He never gives up and the best part is, he finds alternatives when his beloved dad could not fulfill his wants. He is such a filial son to his parents that even he makes it a point to seek permission from his dad to study abroad. From the point he was young till he has grown up a graduate from a university abroad, he still knows his grassroots and he never neglects his dad's dream of owning a 'Abah Punya' Harley.

If you manage to pay attention to the manner En. Hanafi replies to Aiman everytime he makes a request (a fishing net and a toy car), he has actually used one of the many ways of how parents can communicate with their children and their children can listen to them (there's a parenting book in the market which I can't recall the title).

Aiman: Abah, boleh belikan Aiman jala ikan?
Dad, can you buy me a fishing net?
En. Hanafi: Aiman, kalaulah abah ni banyak duit, bukan jala ikan, jala ikan Jaws pun boleh beli, tau tak?
Aiman, if I had money, forget the fishing net, I'd even buy you a shark's net.
Aiman: Jala ikan Jaws?!?
A shark's net?!?

En. Hanafi does not scold or provide any negative answer. What he does is actually to allow Aiman to fantasize that he will only get what he wants if his dad has a lot of money and that the cempedak tree grows golden leaves... His dad shows sympathy that Aiman is not able to get what he wants by explaining that 'he wishes to oblige but...'

In a nut shell, a 3-minute and 3-second moral-valued commercial has made me to ponder and share my points of view. My National Day wish this year is I hope kids in Malaysia will do their best in their studies for the next generation of Malaysians to have a better tomorrow in their society, economy, politics and what-so-ever.

Happy 51st National Day, Malaysia!

My Jumbo Floppy Doggie

It's in the year 2003 when I had to repeat my Language Studies paper for the first time. Due to my heavy workload, I realized I didn't do much revision after failing to achieve the minimum in the last paper to sit for this exam for the second time. I left the examination hall very much earlier, the first time in my life! Throughout my schooling years, I would sit glued to my chair till the teacher/invigilator with a happy and relieving tone shouting "Time's up!!!", only then would I surrender my answer booklet. But this time, it was so unusual, I had given up too quickly and much earlier than I thought... Where did I go feeling depressed? I went to KOMTAR Penang, it was still a shopping complex then, with my future MIL. We wandered aimlessly and my sight landed on a soft exterior thing. It's huge and sweet looking. I felt so much better just by looking at the eyes... I forgot about my depression and my exam. There were a few colours to choose from too! After a short discussion with my future MIL, I've decided on a chocolatey fella, which looked very much a dog, rather than blue, pink or white... I carried the doggie in my arm to the cashier, paying RM49.90 (it's a huge amount to own such a big fella, but it's better than paying medical fees), I didn't care much, this fella is going home with me! I got a shock of my life when the cashier kindly told me that they didn't have a plastic bag for the doggie's size! Oh my, should I return this fella to its shelf? I couldn't be carrying it all the way to my car... it's a distance from where I was standing!! Finally, with the sounds of laughter and giggles, she offered me a plastic bag big enough to pack my doggie home. I was so happy that it's a joke after all (yah, too happy till I had forgotten that I should be angry with the cashier). Since then, my jumbo floppy doggie has been with me wherever I am.