This is IT

His life journey ended sooner than anyone thought - GONE TOO SOON. Like most people, I am an ardent fan of Michael Jackson - I can safely say that he is the best-ever artist. We even played his songs for our grand entrance during our wedding dinner on 18th July 2009 :)

During Oprah's live interview with him in 1993, he mentioned that "he is nature's instrument to deliver the art of music to everyone" - how aptly said. He is definitely one of a kind.  During this interview, it striked me how eccentric he appears to be - and yet, how soft-spoken and gentle he is. When he was asked to perform the moon-walk, as soon as the music was turned on, he was instantly ALIVE and all the dance moves came naturally to him - an effortless feat for him. 

The movie "This is It" showcases his rehearsal of his much-awaited come-back concert this year - how he gave his heart and soul during the rehearsal. Watching this compiled behind-the-scenes movie is akin to watching his concert. Thank God, they had the recordings. Otherwise, all his effort will not have been showcased to his die-hard fans. Whatever said, he will remain a legend forever. He carried important messages with him - to protect mother earth and to keep on loving - and his legacy will live on...

Fusion Salad with Orange-Balsamic-Vinegar dressing

Menu for today's dinner: Fusion salad with orange-balsamic-vinegar dressing. Deliciously crunchy and a wholesome balanced meal.

Ingredients for the salad: Organic raw pea sprouts, blanched asparagus, oranges (sliced), tomatoes (sliced), baby potatoes, and boiled eggs.

Ingredients for the dressing: Fresh orange juice, mustard, balsamic vinegar, honey, and olive oil.

 

Delicious Char Kuey Teow

I don't normally like to eat this delectable dish outside for health reasons. So, this time I took to making this dish at the comfort of our home - and the result ----> pipping hot kuey teow with melt-in-the-mouth cockles and sweet succulent prawns - simply scrumptious! And the look on the face of your loved one tucking into his plate of char kuey teow - priceless!

As I was reading though some blogs, I learnt that the secret to making a good char kuey teow is the high heat of the wok & the control of the timing of cooking and the use of the freshest ingredients. My favorite ingredients in any char kuey teow is the prawns and half-cooked cockles - love 'em! The reward of cooking this at home is that you can add as many prawns and cockles as you wish.

Herewith is the recipe:

Ingredients:

For the chili paste:

3 fresh chilies

12 seeded dried chilies (soak in hot water until it softens)

3 small shallots (peeled and sliced)

1 tsp of oil

A pinch of salt

(NOTE: Blend all these ingredients together until fine)

Sauce:

5 tbsp soy sauce

1 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp fish sauce

1/2 tsp salt

(NOTE: Mix all these ingredients until the sugar and salt is dissolved)

Main ingredients:

14 shelled and deveined prawns (submerge in ice cold water and add 1 1/2 tbsp of sugar - leave aside for 30 minutes or so - this gives the prawn the succulent, juicy & sweet taste)

500 gm kuey teow (flat rice noodles) - the best will be to get the fresh ones; but, since it's difficult to find the fresh one, I bought packed kuey teow from Tesco. Make sure the kuey teow is completely loosened and there is no clumps.

500 gm bloody cockles (extract the cockles by opening its shell - this is very time-consuming but well worth the effort!)

A bunch of fresh bean sprouts (soak in cold water before using to maintain its freshness and crispness)

A bunch of chives (kucai) (remove about 1-inch of the bottom section and cut the remaining chives into 2-inch lengths)

4 cloves of garlic (chopped finely)

2 eggs

Steps:

1. Heat up the wok with 1 tsp oil and stir-fry the grinded chili paste until aromatic. Dish out and set aside.

2. Clean the wok thoroughly and heat it over high flame until it starts to smoke (this is the secret to making a good char kuey teow - a super hot wok).

3. Add 2 tbsp of oil into the wok and add the chopped garlic. Do a quick stir. When you see the garlic browning, it's time to add the next ingredient.

4. Drain the prawns from the ice water and add it into the wok. Make a few quick stirs until the prawn starts to change color (this has to be quick as to prevent the prawn from over-cooking).

5. Add the bean sprouts into the wok and immediately followed by the kuey teow (flat rice noodles).

6. Add about 3 tbsp of the sauce into the wok and stir vigorously to blend well. (taste and if needed, add more of the sauce). (There will be balance of the sauce which you may store for later use).

7. Using the spatula, push the noodles to one side, and add a little oil on the empty area and crack 2 eggs on it. Use the spatula to break the egg yolk and stir to blend with the egg whites. Flip the noodles and cover the egg; and wait for about 15 seconds for the egg to cook.

8. Add about 2 tbsp of chili paste (this is the spicy version!).

9. Continue to stir-fry and make sure the egg is cooked through. Turn off heat.
10. Add the cockles to the wok. (I love the cockles to be half-cooked - the heat of the noodles will slowly cook the cockles).

11. Finaly, add chives. Do a couple of quick stirs, dish out and serve immediately.

( NOTE: In all the steps above (Steps 2-9), the secret is to stir-fry it quickly using a high flame)

Indulge! Mouth-watering and so darn good - my husband couldn't stop praising me :)

Onde Onde

 

It has been a very long time since I baked or made any desserts. Today I was craving for onde onde (pronounced as 'on-day on-day'). The thought of gula melaka (palm sugar) oozing out from the poached dough got me running to Tesco to grab the necessary ingredients to make this dessert. Onde Onde is basically a bite-sized pocket of gula melaka encased in a glutinous rice flour dough, coated with shredded coconut. This dish is a real joy to consume, where the explosion of sugar with the first bite is addictive in itself - YUM! This is a traditional snack for Malays.

The key points of good onde onde are the nice fragrant pandan leaves and the luscious gula melaka (palm sugar). Herewith is the recipe:

Ingredients:

250 g glutinous rice flour (tepung pulut)

220 ml pandan juice (To make the pandan juice: Blend 5-6 long pandan leaves with 200 ml water and strain using a sieve to obtain a smooth juice.)

150 g  gula melaka (palm sugar), finely chopped (so that it will melt evenly when the dough is poached)

150 g grated coconut

A pinch of salt

Steps:

For the dough:

1. In a large bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour with pandan juice and knead lightly.

2. Pinch a small piece of the dough (about 40 g) and drop it into boiling water. When the dough rises up the surface, remove it with a slotted spoon and shake off the excess water.

3. Mix the poached dough back into the main dough and knead well to form smooth dough.

Note: Don't over-knead the dough as it gets sticky the longer you touch it. As soon as there is a smooth dough, you can stop kneading it. The best is to use a ladle to mix it so that it doesn't stick to your hands. The final dough should be very soft and slightly sticky.

4. Cover the dough and set aside for about 15 minutes.  

Grated coconut:

1. Mix the grated coconut with a pinch of salt.

2. Steam the grated coconut for about 3-4 minutes.

3. Leave to cool completely.

Poach the dough filled with gula melaka:

1. Bring a pot of water to boil (use the same pot of water you used to poach the small piece of dough as mentioned above).

2. Pinch a marble-sized portion of dough (about 15 g each) and flatten lightly.

3. Fill the center of the dough with gula melaka (palm sugar) and roll them in your palm to form a smooth ball and cook the glutinuous rice balls in boiling water.

Note: the longer you hold the dough, you will notice that it will start melting and the dough will basically stick to your hands and it becomes difficult to form a smooth ball after that. The best way is to quickly roll the ball and drop it into the boiling water. Ensure that all seams are tightly sealed to prevent the dough from breaking apart in the water.

4. When the rice balls float to the surface, remove them with a slotted spoon and shake off excess water.

5. Leave to cool.

Final step:

Coat the glutinous balls with grated coconut and serve immediately.

A refreshing morning

A beautiful morning is so refreshingly motivating - just breathing in the fresh morning air jolts me awake. And the birds - they look so happy flying freely. I just love sitting and sipping a cup of freshly squeezed fruit juice while enjoying the sunrise - it excites me beyond words. It's magical to enjoy these live forms that flow into you through the simplest things. I'd slow everything down to enjoy things like this everyday.

Law Abiding Citizen

I love courtroom dramas - love the suspense and the debate that goes on. That was what I thought this movie is all about. But it is so not! It is full of suspense and totally catches you off-guard. The movie's message is about the corrupt judicial system and a single man's attempt to bring it down and teach an important lesson. Will he succeed? I shall not reveal more as it might spoil the suspense. I would rate this movie 5/5 - with its superb plot and and a great performance by Gerald Butler - this movie fares way better than Surrogates.

Nexus Karambunai - Post Hiking Pampering

After our Mount Kinabalu hike, we checked in Nexus Karambunai Resort to rejuvenate and relax. One of Alfred's friend mentioned that this IS the place to stay. When we arrived there, I was absolutely amazed by the size of the resort - it is a mini-heaven so to speak. Even though this place is situated away from the Kota Kinabalu town, it has all the facilities - golf course, botanical garden, jacuzzi, restaurants, mini market, etc. The size of the place is simply mind-boggling.

When we were honeymooning in Mauritius, we concluded that Beau Rivage is the best ever place to stay. But after coming to Nexus Karambunai, we changed our mind and agreed that this place is simply breathtaking and clean! Whenever we go to some beaches in Peninsula Malaysia, most often than not we are dissapointed at the littering that goes on. In Nexus, the beach is combed every now and then for rubbish - and it's so clean. I absolutely love the ambience of the whole place - they even have a giant chess set overlooking the beach for the visitors to play. At night, it is absolutely romantic to stroll along the beautifully-lit sidewalks shadowed by palm trees. It is surely a place for a romantic getaway. And they have fantastic beach - with its shoreline stretching endlessly. It's a private beach with only the resort guests allowed there - so there's absolute privacy. The beach chairs are so comfortable to laze on - and it's all well spread out. You need a bicycle to get around the whole place - that's how huge the place is. We would definitely recommend this place to honeymooners and families. And the food served at the restaurants are delicious. Everything seems to be perfect here - yes, it's too good but it's true :)

At the breakfast area @ King Fisher restaurant

The balcony of the room we stayed in - gorgeous view

The beautiful private beach

 

Mount Kinabalu (Gunung Kinabalu) DAY 1: - Hiking Adventure #6

Mount Kinabalu is situated in the East Malaysia state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. It is the place where you could see breathtaking sunrise from above the clouds, 13,435 feet (4095 meters) above sea level.

We've finally achieved our dream - hiked up Mount Kinabalu and got back home safely despite some mishaps. We had to go through a number of challenges just before the hike - Alfred hurt his back while lifting a heavy bag just hours before the hike - but we decided to continue as he could still walk; in the middle of the hike, the sole of one of his shoes came off and we had to secure it with a string; had to continue our hike despite the weather condition - it was raining heavily; and me falling down somersaulting during the descent haha! We didn't allow all these to dampen our spirits and we kept going.

It's amazing what the human body can endure when you have an end in mind. Despite the obstacles, we persevered and took one step at a time and learned to listen to our instincts. We both respect nature and believe that no one should under-estimate the mountain - there's something sacred and spiritual about the mountain and we gave our utmost respect to it.

Our itinerary on Saturday (the day before the hike):

• Arrived at Kota Kinabalu at 9.20 a.m. on 24th October 2009 (Saturday).
• Checked into Cititel Express - it's simplicity is aluring despite the size of the room (the room is very small and compact - but the modern interior design makes up for its size).
• Packed our bags - separated the items which we will be carrying and the items for the porter to carry.
• The next day, after breakfast at the hotel, we were picked up at about 7.30 a.m.
• We made a pit-stop along the way to Kinabalu Park - we had to wait till 12 p.m. before the ascent for the Climbathon participants to finish the race.
  

The views during the pit-stop before Kinabalu Park

At Kinabalu ParkAt Kinabalu Park with our guide (in the middle)

Day 1: First Phase of the climb - Day climb from Timpohon Gate up to Laban Rata following the summit trail (Length of hike: 6 km hike; 1407 m):

The entrance at Timpohon Gate to the rest point at Laban Rata resthouse (3,272m above sea level) should take 5-6 hours to reach for average fit person, after which you will check-in to dormitory style accommodation. The little markers at the side of the pathway that indicated how many kms left to Laban Rata was really helpful in keeping us motivated and moving.

• Since it was Climbathon day (from 24-25th October 2009), we had to wait till 12 noon to start our hike - so that the path is clear for all the participants to descent.

• We started our hike from the Timpohon check point at 12 p.m.
• From here the trail rises steadily as a series of rough, uneven steps, right up to the overnight huts at Laban Rata (3,272 meters/10,735 feet). Along the way there will be 7 shelters (pondok), where each shelter have toilets and untreated mountain water source. The shelters afford the weary some well earned rest at intervals and the water tanks will make it easy for you as you do not have to carry heavy water bottles with you.
• Initially, the weather was fair. At about 12.30 p.m., it started to drizzle - and we were went like "Oh, oh! Let's keep on walking". The guide mentioned that it rains almost everyday - since it was approaching the monsoon season. After a couple of minutes, it started to pour heavily - we kept on walking, knowing that waiting does no good - we have to reach the accomodation facility at Laban Rata before it gets dark.
• After a gruelling 5 hours hike, finally we reached Laban Rata at about 5.00 p.m. - all drenched and cold. It felt so good to walk through those doors into a warm dining area.
• Took a quick shower - to our horror, the water heater was not working! The water was icy cold - and I had to bite my lips and take a quick icy-bath. It took me hours to warm myself up as the hostel room was not heated as well. Shared the room with two friendly Australian girls - despite getting drenched from the rain, we managed to giggle about the whole episode.
• Had a early hearty dinner (we were starving!) at about 6.00 p.m. and we settled into our bunk beds . The whole night, I could hear our roommates moaning from fatigue and the cold. I couldn't sleep that night as I was excited about the next day's hike up to the summit (despite knowing hat I had to wear my completely-wet-shoes - that part which I was so not looking forward!).

Before dinner, we went to the balcony of the guesthouse to admire the sunset - it was breathtaking - foams of clouds lining the rays of the setting sun. It was just darn cold standing outside - especially with the icy-cold-shower-effect.The dining area:

Note: Packed lunch is provided before the start of the hike, and early dinner at the Laban Rata guesthouse. 

Things to Bring (Timpohon gate to Laban Rata):

• Since it is a day climb, it is usually warm and sunny (unless of course if it rains). So lightweight clothing like T-shirt is sufficient.
• Good hiking shoes (a high-cut shoes is preferred to prevent ankle injury).
• Hiking sticks (I absolutely need it!)
  
• Cap
• Water (Dilute the oral rehydration salts in the water)
  
• Raincoat (You can buy disposable raincoats at Kinabalu Park)
• Face towels
• Tissue papers
• Insect repellent
• Chocolate, nuts, energy bars, cookies (I enjoyed my NIPS along the ascent to Laban Rata - it kept me going! - it's funny how chocolate tastes much better while hiking Mount Kinabalu).
  
• Your backpack. Better to have a waterproof one. We packed everything in double plastic bag in case it rains - and rain it did!).
• Camera
• Towels, toothbrush and toothpaste.

We asked the porter to carry most of the things needed for the night stay at Laban Rata - it came up to 10 kg - most of the weight is from the water bottles. The porter charges RM 8 per kilo of weight to be carried up and down. The stuffs we carried are water bottles for the first day hike, cameras and food.

Mount Kinabalu (Gunung Kinabalu) DAY 2: - Hiking Adventure #6

Day 2: Second Phase of the climb - Night climb from Laban Rata to the summit: the final and toughest part of the climb:

Above Laban Rata, the trail continues as a series of wooden ladders, fashioned out tree roots and branches, and smooth granite slopes. The final stretch crossed a jumble of boulders where a misstep could mean a twisted ankle or a fall. When the weather is clear, climbing the bare granite above the tree line is fairly straightforward. But mist and rain can blow in at startling speed. With visibility close to zero, climbers can easily stray into areas above cliffs where a false step can mean certain death - that was what our guide told us - so scary!

As there will be only one stop at Sayat-Sayat Hut for another registration, given a whistle for safety precaution and refilling your water, it is advisable for you to bring your own small water bottle.

The chain of events as follows:

• Woke up at 1.45 a.m. and had breakfast at 2.00 a.m.
• Started the ascent to the summit at about 2.45 a.m. (we were late because of last minute packing for the early morning climb). The guide told us not to bring the hiking sticks because we'd be using the rope to climb halfway through. I feel somewhat 'handicapped' without the sticks - so the next time I will definitely bring the foldable hiking sticks. And we wasted some time buying the ski mask at the hostel (it was below 5 degrees Celcius outside - and it's colder than the average day because of the previous day's heavy downpour). And since our shoes and most of our clothes were wet, we were freezing! But once we started the hike, we kinda got used to the cold - and plus the climbing helped to keep our blood circulating. We plodded on and on - since it was pitch dark, the walk seemed never-ending.
  

The starting part of the hike from Laban Rata to the peak

• The rope part was the most challenging one for us - luckily it was dark, so we didn't really freak out at that time. It was the descending part from the steep edges that was so nerve-wrekking. The best position is to descent backwards holding the rope and occasionally look on your left to ascertain the steps.
  
• Finally, we reached the peak! (Didn't look at the time as my watch was already spoilt from getting wet from yesterday's rain - but it was getting bright on the horizon). It felt so good to take a break to catch our breath at the peak - and the sense of accomplishment of having finally reached the peak! Unfortunately though, the sky was covered with thick mist by the time we reached the peak- and we could not see the sunrise :( As it started to drizzle, we quickly started to descent from Low's peak (the last thing we want is to get wet again!) and the guide told us to quickly descend as it becomes harder if it starts to rain heavily as we need to hold on to the rope at the steep edges when descending. Our biggest dissapointment - not taking any pictures at the peak. It was like "we arrived and we couldn't see the sunrise and it's already time to leave".

Source: http://wikitravel.org/en/Mount_Kinabalu (didn't manage to take any pictures as it started to drizzle)

• Reached Laban Rata at 9.00 a.m. Took a quick breakfast and started our descent at 9.30 a.m. Reached the Timpohon Gate at 1.15 p.m.
  
• Contrary to common belief, descending is worse than the climb. Hobbling down the trail with all that weight thumping on your knees and ankles can be excruciating (this is where wearing ankle and knee guards help a little to cushion the impact on your knees and ankles). That is when I fell down somersaulting like a chimp - just lost the grip since the path was slippery. Got hurt a little - but thank God I could still walk. I continued descending as to forget the throbbing pain on the back of my neck due to the fall.

Some of the shots on our way down (we took our time descending since we were still exhausted from the hike to the peak)

Carson Falls (about 500 m from Timpohon gate)

The cold and thin air is something one should take seriously- breathing oxygen-deprived air can cause altitude sickness (crushing headaches and nausea). Thank God we didn't experience that - must be because we took it slow and steady - to acclimatize our body to the altitude. During our Mount Nuang hike, albeit being challenging, we didn't have to deal with high altitude (which generally makes it more difficult to breathe).

The sense of achievement of having successfully scaled Mount Kinabalu can't be described in words! Finally! Our dream fulfilled - we hiked up Mount Kinabalu - the majestic mountain standing tall and mighty in Kota Kinabalu. It has been a long journey - all the training prior to the hike has finally paid off. Throughout the hike, we persevered and kept going. I would say that the hike has definitely taught us some invaluable lessons. 

Lessons Learnt:

• Survival makes you stronger - I never realized I could pull myself up using the rope - when the fear of falling grapes you, you hold on tight to the rope.
• The most beautiful moments in life are often where we least expect them. In between of taking a break to catch our breath when ascending to the peak, we turned off our head lights to conserve the battery - and to our amazement the darkness revealed the beauty of the mountain. The stillness of the dark night is simply beautiful. And when I looked up, hundreds of stars were glimmering nudging us to continue our journey despite the fatigue. That was the most priceless moments during the entire hike - the darkness of the night on the mountains and the brilliantly shining stars. That's why it pays to always keep looking up and looking forward! Hiking teaches us just that.
  
• Hiking mountains teaches you to maintain focus and persevere - it also reminds you the triviality of some things that we allow to get to ourselves - all those small matters is certainly not worth our time - don't sweat the small stuff!
• We had to grapple with the fact that Mount Kinabalu is anything but a walk in the park. We spend hours miserably dragging our feet through the beating rain the day before. Patience is a virtue here!

We are definitely going to hike this majestic mountain again – this time, we will go on a non-monsoon season and make sure we take lots of nice pictures; and we will use a different trail – the Mesilau Trail – which is supposedly more scenic. I think Mount Kinabalu certainly deserves a second hike! 

Things to bring from Laban Rata to Low's peak:

• It is a night climb, usually cold and windy. So, bring plenty of warm clothes - wind breaker or jackets, long sleeves shirts, thick trousers or cargo pants and thick socks.
• Headlight (is better than torchlight as most of the time after a certain point, you have to hold on to the rope in the dark).
• Ski mask
• Gloves
• Water bottle
• Raincoat
• Some snacks
• Camera 

Note: Supper before the ascent to the peak and breakfast after descending from the peak is provided at the Laban Rata guesthouse. Lunch is provided at the Kinabalu Park restaurant.

Carrot Thosai

On my previous post for carrot thosai recipe, I added the carrot mixture to the batter the next morning before fying it on the pan. This time, I added the blended carrot mixture to the batter and leave it to ferment over night. Also, this time round I used 4 big carrots to be added to the batter. The thosai turned out fluffy, sweetie-carroty taste, and wholesome.

Red Bean Soup

Ingredients:
1 cup red beans
Gula Melaka (palm sugar) to taste
Low fat milk
Evaporated milk

I slow-cooked the red beans in a multipurpose cooker for about 2 1/2 hours until the red bean is soft (for fast cooking, you can soak the red beans overnight). I love to have it pipping hot - a simple comfort dessert on a cold-rainy day.

Penne Pasta with shitaake mushroom

Today's dinner: Penne Pasta with Shitaake Mushroom. Head chef ----> Alfred. It was good :) Topped with lots of mozarella cheese - yummy!

Banana-Orange Smoothie

Lusciously thick and filling - a wholesome start of a brand new day.

Deepavali 2009

This year is Thala Deepavali (the first Deepavali after one's marriage) for us. So, we celebrated Deepavali this year in Melaka. My mom bought us new attire to be worn on the first day of Deepavali. This is my record-breaking Deepavali year - I didn't bake anything. This year, I just did the eating and the feasting :) The significance of Deepavali is that there's always lots of mouth-watering food to look forward to - my favorite being idli, kurma, and rendang; and all the Indian sweets, achi murukku, and murukku. And I love the merry-festive-mood of having all our family members and relatives over.

We went back to KL the day after Deepavali to visit Alfred's cousins and grandma and in the evening we went for the open house at Alfred's parents place. Had great fun and looking forward for all the wondeful Deepavalis to come.

30th Birthday @ Phuket ~ 10-12th October 2009

It was my best birthday celebration - welcoming the 30s in style - actually the number 30 completely slipped my mind - I still feel like I always do :) So, it's true that age is just a number.

This time, we decided to take a break from the beach and try something different. We stayed at Patong in Phuket and enjoyed the night-life there - we are not the night-club-sort-of-person, but Patong's nightlife is really happening! To a certain extent, it was a culture shock for both of us. It's a common sight to see transvestites almost in every street in Patong - and it's amazing to see them all dressed up and groomed to perfection.

Things we enjoyed in Phuket:
1. Simon Cabaret

A ladyboy show - it's the ultimate transvestite extravaganza! It's a show to rival Las Vegas - with its spectacular display of colour, originality and fun. A single show runs the entire range of musical theatre from cultures around the world - Chinese, Bollywood, Korean, Egyptian, among others. My favorite was the Bollywood dance - they can really dance! We were amazed with the show's extravagant costumes, make-up, bright lights, excellent sound system and sets which takes us from Egypt to Latin America to China and back to Thailand in themed displays of classical dance and song - truly a mind-blowing experience :) And the soloist impersonating Tina Turner was absolutely good!

For most parts of the show, we sat quietly stunned by the appearance of the most beautiful women who were born as males - we just couldn't believe our eyes.

Beyonce impersonator - she's darn talented!

2. Phuket FantaSea

It is a 140acre theme park, with loads of activities and entertainment, a festival village with carnivals, games, handicrafts and shopping. A sharp contrast to Simon Cabaret, Phuket FantaSea show is more of a historical and cultural showcase of Thailand. The one and a half hour show has great sound and light effects, and is beautifully coreographed - with 30 or so elephants, mock battles, wonderful acoustics and pyrotechnics and aerial ballet in a state-of-the-art theater that seats 3,000. The elephants were all well trained - but then, it's still an exploitation of animals of some sorts - which I don't condone. In between the cultural show, there were magic shows and comedy acts.

Overall, we loved the experience and the details put into the construction and design of the entire place and also the excellent service and management - but honestly, the show itself was not that great to be advertised on such a grand-scale like that.

Some shots taken in the colorful and vibrant theme park:


The magnificent Palace of the Elephants is fronted by a glorious reconstruction of a Sukhothai-era stone palace, with intriguing elephant statues. This was amazing!

We were impressed by their buffet hall which holds 4,000 people and the food is good with a large spread of vegetarian, Indian, Japanese, and Chinese cuisines. Despite the magnitude of the crowd, the service was excellent and everything was so well organized.


3. Night-life at Patong
Happening, jazzy and mind-blowing just to walk along the main streets after 10 p.m. Even the policemen were seen selling the tickets to watch some kinky performances *shudders in disbelief*

4. The food!
Totally enjoyed the spicy Thai food! A gastronomical fare.

Tom Yam Goong

Bean Salad

A spicy fare!

The cook was tickled to her bones seeing Alfred sweat profusely after taking in the spicy papaya and bean salad. She even brought some more chillies and jokingly asked if he needs it to be more spicy, haha! He was the one who repeatedly told the cook "Spicy - just the way you eat".

Glass noodle seafood salad - it was darn good - and spicy!

The famous crepe guy! His crepes are hot-selling items along Patong beach

Banana-peanut-butter crepe - crunchy and delicious! We went back the second time.

5. Patong Beach
On our last day, we strolled along the Patong beach and just sat and enjoyed the beach for a moment.


6. Massage
It is so cheap to get a massage in Thailand - for an hour, oil massage is RM 30 while traditional Thai massage costs RM 20. We went for oil massage on my birthday - it was relaxing and rejuvenating. On our last day, we went for traditional Thai massage - it was Alfred's first experience - I just couldn't stop laughing seeing him being twisted and turned and bent by a lady.

7. Shopping
Did some shopping - and some exciting haggling!

The service industry here is very well-organized. The tickets to Simon Cabaret and Phuket FantaSea is practically sold everywhere. Our entire stay there was pleasant and entertaining.

And our kind tour agent, Ya arranged for a honeymoon suite for us at Royal Paradise Hotel - this is what I call a value-added service!

Surrogates

A thought-provoking movie - about the role of technology as a double-edge 'sword' - and about the obsession of human beings for perfection and beauty. In this movie, high-tech surrogates were invented to substitute the human form - where humans live in isolation and interact through surrogate robots. The high-tech surrogates allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves - fit, good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles - enabling people to experience life from the comfort and safety of their own homes - and rendering them invincible.

Since the face and the physique of the robot is chosen by the human counterpart to represent him/her, the identity of anyone becomes ambiguous - a fat man can choose a hot-sexy-chick-human-robot to live in the outside world, while he sits in his comfort of his own home controlling the movement of his surrogate. Quite freakish to think about this type of technology - causing the absence of real human interactions and the lost of real identity of yourself.

My Prince and his antics

Caught red-handed! He ransacked my bag and dragged out my camera charger. We had a great laugh! Now I know who has been ransacking my bags.

Btw: Check out Prince's new hairdo. 'Stylist' ---> my sister - Prince ended up as the laughing stock for the day.

Favorite Quotes

Some of my favorite quotes on healthy eating:

~ When you are busy loving life, food becomes less of a mistress.
~ Listen to your body; it will tell you what it needs.
~ Food is fuel, not a drug for our soul.
~ Bless everything you put into your mouth.
~ Cultivate a sense of gratitude for your food.

Becoming Breast Aware

It is important to be proactive and seek more information when you discover a lump on your breast. Breast self-examination is a good practice but self-diagnosis is definitely not.

The most common causes of a single breast lump are:

- Fibroadenoma – A benign solid tumor formed by glandular and fibrous tissue
- Fibrocystic changes – benign breast changes
- Cysts – Benign, smooth discrete fluid-filled sacs
- Non-invasive cancers – Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
- Atypical hyperplasia – Fast-growing abnormal cells
(Source: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/becoming-breast-aware)

I just came back from an ultrasound scan. I was advised to take evening primrose oil when I spotted a lump on my right breast (classified as fibroadenoma) on January this year. When I went for a follow-up check today (after 6 months), the lump on my right breast is no longer detectable. But now, there is another small lump on my left breast (classified as the same - fibroadenoma) - which the doctor said nothing to worry.

I had few questions which I clarified with the doctor and radiographer. How does the ultrasound scan reveal whether the lump is cancerous or not? Is my breast dense? (Lumps or other changes are more difficult to detect via mammogram if you have a dense breast - which then calls for ultrasound scan). What is the difference between ultrasound scan and mammogram - which one is better? Mammogram is only recommended for women above 35 years of age. Besides seeking clarification from the experts, I believe that ultimately you are the expert of your own body - and I should continue paying attention to any changes in the breast and go for a follow-up check.

Ignorance is certainly not a bliss when it comes to health matters. The best thing to do is taking action and seek as much information as you could. As Dr. Oz said, "If you aren't sure, explore some more".

Here is what you should be paying attention to:

• Size and Symmetry – Breasts come in all shapes and sizes; from AA to DD and beyond. As weight is lost or gained, particularly during pregnancy, the breast will vary in size. Normal breasts can be unequal in size and shape. What you are looking for is an unusual increase in the size one breast and if one is more pendulous than the other.
• Nipples – When examining the nipple you are looking for changes in appearance, direction (pushed inward) and if there is any discharge other than breast milk. You are also looking for skin peeling around the nipple.
• Skin – Here you want to see if there is any dimpling, puckering, ridges, redness, rash, scaling on the skin, areola, or nipple. Note any prominent vein patterns.
• Nodularity – This is the part that gets tricky. Monthly hormonal changes during menstruation can cause the tissue to become tender and nodular. What you are looking for is a new lump or thickened area, which may or may not be painful or tender. You want to note the shape (round, oval, or irregular), margins (defined or irregular), texture (rubbery, soft, firm, hard) and if it is movable or fixed.

(Source: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/becoming-breast-aware)

Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) - Hiking Adventure #5

Every hiking experience is different and each tells a unique story. This time, it is no ordinary hike. To train prior to our Mount Kinabalu hike, our next hiking destination was Mount Nuang. Mount Nuang is one of Selangor's highest mountains with the height of 1,493 metres (4,898 ft). Its peak marks the meeting point of three Malaysian states; Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Selangor. The mountain itself is the highest point in Selangor and part of the Titiwangsa Mountains. It is a good training place for trekkers and also one of the difficult mountains to trek.

We woke up early and had a hearty breakfast of massala thosai at Estana Curry House just next to our condo. We left our place at about 7 a.m. and reached the base of Mount Nuang at 7.45 a.m. To get there just follow the sign to Cheras and exit at Hulu Langat and head towards Pangsun. The drive to the base of the mountain is very lovely - the sights of small huts for picnickers scattered along the beautiful stream.

Once you reach the base, you need to register yourself at the ranger’s office before you can embark on this hike. It cost RM1 per person.

At the base of the mountain - looking for sticks to hike

We started our hike at 8.15 a.m. and reached Lolo campsite at 10 a.m. ,where we relaxed by the waterfall for a minute or two. We proceeded to the second camp and reached Pacat camp at about 11.45 a.m. Pacat camp is situated at an altitude of 1,067 meters (3,500 ft). We took an hour of lunch break there - sat back, relaxed and breathed in the fresh mountain air around us and the mist that floated by - absolutely amazing - and we were accompanied by honey bees!

Pacat campsite

Normally, people will camp near Lolo or Pacat campsite before proceeding to the summit. Since we were not planning to camp overnight, we decided to use the remaining bits of our energy to descend to the base. We started our descend from Pacat camp at about 12.45 p.m. and reached the base of the mountain at about 3.45 p.m. (approx. 3 hours to descend from Pacat camp to the base). All in all, it took us less than 7 hours to hike from the base to Pacat camp and return.

Details of the hike:
The journey up the mountain can be described as going through 2 phases of hiking:
First leg: A long walk of about 5 km (with a gentle upward gradient) to Lolo campsite and waterfall.
Second leg: Walking up a continuous and fairly steep slope for about 2.5 km heading towards Pacat camp. The trail becomes increasingly more arduous from this point onwards. Pacat camp is situated at 1,067 meters (3,500 ft).

Ascending to Pacat camp

1st part of the hike:

It was no easy stroll in the jungle. The hike was about a 70-80% uphill and about 20- 30% downhill hike from the beginning. It led from a yellow dust road used by trucks and motorcycles to move up and down the mountain to gather forest fruits such as durians and banana trees.

We were flanked by pine forest along both sides of the trails at the beginning of our walk. The start of the trail is termed as the 'Never Ending Road'. I didn't feel the distance that much when we started our uphill journey - I was gung-ho and enthusiastic to reach Pacat camp as quick as we could. It was the return journey that was excruciating - the walk back seemed never-ending. The boring walk was actually an unmaintained and badly damaged road that stretched for 5 kms - it's a gravel+mud road with a gentle upward gradient.

The Never-Ending trail

Leaving the pine trees at the lower level, the track soon returns to lush tropical jungle interspersed with beautiful wild bamboo groves - absolutely gorgeous. At the end of the 'Never Ending Road', we were so elated to come across a stream - it was therapeutic just to hear the flow of water gushing down the stream. We had to cross the stream (I purposely got my shoes wet so that I could feel the refreshing cold water - and boy, it was fun!) and head towards Lolo campsite.

Crossing the first stream

2nd part of the hike:

With each step, the trail gets harder. Here, the trees and scrubs get thicker and denser, and the trail is narrower. It gets rather tough when you are about to reach the Lolo campsite - dealing with moderate to high steepness in some areas. For most parts though, the trail is surrounded by thick jungle; and on the way to the Lolo campsite, you will also need to cross several streams. Be on the lookout for leeches! We were lucky not to have any of the thirsty bloodsuckers on us.

Crossing the second stream heading towards Lolo camp

When you reach Lolo campsite, you will come across a waterfall. It is a nice respite after a muddy walk. (Some of the streams that we had to cross had strong currents - it must be because of rainfall the day before - we had to be careful as not to fall while stepping on the slippery rocks as we crossed the stream). We reached Lolo campsite at about 10 a.m.

At the waterfall near Lolo camp (this is a bigger waterfall stream which we had to cross)

The trail from Lolo to Pacat camp increases in difficulty and gets more “vertically challenging”. Using a hiking stick may help, but it all depends on the weather too. Since it rained the day before, the path was muddy and slippery - which made it more challenging. I actually fell and slid down when we were descending - it was darn slippery and muddy. And there were many big fallen trees during the journey that we had to climb over and underneath. It is indeed a total body workout - and it is excitingly adventurous!

The trail towards Pacat camp

At Pacat camp - finally

Overall experience:

Overall, this would be a challenging hike for beginners. For us, it was one fantastic climb albeit being a challenging one. We enjoyed the refreshing break at the waterfall, the river crossing, and the weaving through the “obstacle course” of fallen trees and muddy terrain, while being entertained by the sound of baboons 'performing' a 'concert' of some sorts and colorful butterflies greeting us along the hike and the sound of the buzzing bees. Such is the vibrant ecosystem that stretches throughout the trek that exposes Mother Nature at her most natural form.

That is the reason I fell in love with hiking - it is so therapeutic to just take one step at at time persevering and maintaining focus and at the same time taking in the beauty of nature. It also challenges my endurance level - both physically and mentally. And it feels good to be completely drenched in sweat. The best part is the descending - and finally getting into the car, feeling overwhelmed with satisfaction - the feeling is priceless - termed as the hiker's 'high'. And the next couple of days, the aches here and there serves as a sweet reminder of the adventure we had.

Mount Nuang - this is "that" climb around KL for city folks to experience endurances and gauge their readiness for Mount Kinabalu hike.
Length of hike - about 9km
Level of Difficulty - 5th toughest mountain to climb in West Malaysia

Contact
Pejabat Hutan Daerah Selangor Tengah,
Pangsoon, ulu Langat
43200 Cheras,
Selangor, Malaysia

Phone no.: 03-90752885