Fong Lye Taiwan restaurant, Desa Sri Hartamas KL

Went to the Fong Lye "mothership" at Hartamas, for New Year's Eve dindins and it was excellent as always! Thanks to TC for the treat :-) Cheers, mate.

Add: Fong Lye Taiwan Restaurant @ 9, Ground Floor, Plaza Prismaville Jalan 19/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, KL
Tel: +603 6201 7998

Other branches:
1) Mid Valley City shop
Add: Lot T208, 3rd Floor, The Gardens, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, KL
Tel: +603 2282 8699
2) Imbi shop
Add: 94 Jalan Imbi, KL
Tel: +603 2145 6061

Here is a review of my previous visit to this eatery.

Excellent yin-yang themed starter and interesting vege dish to follow...

Tender duck, delicious! Seng Kuah tofu was good too.

Si chi (Lion's head!???) soup .... Deeeelicious. Hmm, can't remember what the other dish was, but it was all tasty!

Perfectly fried mah-you fish!

Pork ribs.... and the awesome basil-infused ginger-laden Three Cup Chicken, their signature dish!

To wash down the meal, fruits and the BEST limonade aka lemonade.

RM$650 for the 12 of us, including about 8 Tiger beers.

Happy New Year's eve, one and all!!

Modesto's Easy Pizza, Plaza Damas at Sri Hartamas

Located: Ground Floor, Plaza Damas

Simply average pasta, which was very quick to arrive, I had the Spaghetti Bolognaise. About RM$13 inclusive of taxes.


What was most shocking...
I was observing the 2 waitering staff, wolf-whistle and taunt a young girl who was walking past the pharmacy opposite :-(

Ipoh Slice Chicken Hor Fun - Next to Weng Hing at Imbi, KL

Add: Next door to Weng Hing Coffee Shop - 183, Jalan Imbi, KL
This coffeeshop is located next to the legendary pork noodles known as Weng Hing.


Smooth Chicken Slices Hor Fun ... and the Pork Balls in soup were excellent too, with just a hint of minced cuttlefish.


Thanks to L for the New Year treat :-) and for recommending this place ... here's to more good food in the year to come!

ps. Fu Chuk Yee Mai, simply average...

Happy New Year from Coco the Wonderdog!

Coco the Wonderdog wishes one and all...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Stevie Gerrard of Liverpool in the news - Whiston, Merseyside!

A clip from The Star today (31st December 2008) ...



Why am I remeniscing?
I remember my days in the UK, when I worked at ... Whiston!

New Year's Eve breakies with dad ... Wah Chai, Bukit Tinggi Klang

Add: Wah Chai Kopitiam, Lorong Batu Nilam 1D


Sharing New Year's eve breakfast with my dad ... this is the life :-)

Happy Birthday, J @ leveL7even, KL Hilton

leveL7even - Sophisticated Urban Multi-Event Venue
KL Hilton @ KL Sentral

Happy Birthday J :-) What a birthday bash!



Awww...


Happy Birthday, J!


A bit of finger food anyone?


Beautifully presented food ...


Macallan 18 flowed all night ... hmm, whose Cosmo is that :-)


Gosset - Grande Reserve ... Cheers!

Nikon D700 and Creative Lighting System (CLS)

This is the Nikon D700 :-)


Wikipedia
The Nikon D700 is a full-frame digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by the Nikon Corporation in July 2008. It uses the same 12.1 megapixel "FX" CMOS image sensor as the Nikon D3, and is Nikon's second full-frame digital SLR camera.
The D700's full-frame sensor allows the use of non-DX F-mount lenses to their fullest advantage, with no crop factor. (When a DX lens is mounted on the D700, only a DX-sized portion of the camera's sensor is used.) It bears a physical similarity to the Nikon D300.


The Si-fu!

Crash course in CLS (Creative Lighting System), with the use of a SB-800 and SB-900 Speedlights!

Joining in the fun!

More details from Wikipedia about this magnificent camera!

Nikon's 12.1-megapixel FX-format (23.9 x 36mm) CMOS sensor

Two Live View shooting mode (hand-held and tripod modes)

Continuous Drive up to 5 frames per second (8 frames per second with the optional MB-D10 Multi-power Battery Pack. )

Nikon's Scene Recognition System, utilizing the 1,005-pixel RGB sensor 3D Color Matrix Metering II

Approx. 95% Viewfinder Frame Coverage

Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module featuring 51 AF points with 3D Focus Tracking

Electronic rangefinder function compatible with manual focus AI/AIs lenses using any of the 51 AF points

Active D-Lighting (3 levels: Low, Normal, High or Auto)

3-inch LCD with 920,000-dot (VGA) resolution and a 170° ultra-wide viewing angle ISO sensitivity 200 - 6400 (100 - 25600 with boost)

Magnesium alloy weather sealed body for dust and moisture protection

Nikon F-mount lenses 10 lens presets per user profile to improve program functions for non-CPU lenses and to include EXIF information

Aperture sensing ring on the body for readout of AI/AIs manual focus lens aperture settings

Built-in Sensor cleaning system

Built-in flash with 24mm lens coverage

Nikon’s i-TTL flash control Support for the Wireless Transmitter WT-4/4A

HDMI HD video output

Ming Room Tim Sum, BSC - Bangsar Shopping Centre reopened!

Add: THE MING ROOM @ 3rd Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Bukit Bandaraya, KL
Tel: +603 2284 8822

Yes, BSC has reopened! With its new glass frontage, it has been given a new lease of life. Thank goodness Ming Room remains excellent. Thanks to R for the treat one lunchtime :-)



The tim sum was really good!

Char Siew and other very yummy timsums (Except the Poh Loh Pao which was too coconuty!)

The beef noods as well as the porridge (Pei Tan Kai Yoke Chuk) were deeeeelicious!

R recommended the Prawn Noodles, and it was good :-) A truly different variant, tomato-based and creamy, lovely!

We had kwai lin koh, ice-cream ... and mango pudding (of course!) for me.

Hmm, I was last here at the beginning of the year during Chinese New Year ... and now, as the year draws to a close, we return to the Ming Room :-) HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

Blackberry Curve v Nokia E71

Hmmm, two of the most popular "phones" in the market today!



Similar form-factors, but so very different in their approach ... Blackberry v Nokia!

Ip Man (Donnie Yen - 2008) - Bruce Lee's Kung-fu master

Cinema: TGV Bukit Tinggi Klang (RM$11)

Simply brilliant! What a way to end the year ... My first chinese film in the picturehouses this year, and it turns out to be one of the best films of 2008!


Excellent direction by Wilson Yip, and a fantastic portrayal of Ip Man (IMDB.com describes him as "the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun") by ... Donnie Yen. Brilliant kung-fu sequences choreographed by the in-imitable Sammo Hung! Other cast members were excellent too ...
Simon Yam ... Zhou Qing Quan
Siu-Wong Fan ... Jin Shan Zhao
Hiroyuki Ikeuchi ... Miura

Australia (2008) - Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman

Cinema: GSC, One Utama (RM$40)

This epic is directed and written by Baz Luhrmann.
IMDB.com ... Set in northern Australia at the beginning of World War II, when an English aristocrat inherits a cattle station the size of Maryland. When English cattle barons plot to take her land, she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn stock-man to drive 2,000 head of cattle across hundreds of miles of the country's most unforgiving land, only to still face the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by the Japanese forces that had attacked Pearl Harbor only months earlier.



A relatively compact cast for such a "large" movie (Both in terms of the scenes as well as the 2hr 45mins duration), highlighting some of the most beautiful barren scenery in Australia, with a soundtrack to match ... Hugh Jackman (Drover Ray), Nicole Kidman (Lady Sarah Ashley) and Bryan Brown (King Carney).

Not your typical movie, with a slow and sometimes disjointed story-flow, but what made up for it was the filming ... such beauty, and simply perfect for the big screen. Pity about the Malaysian censorship cuts, grrrr!

Biggest Santa in town? KL Hilton!

HO HO HO! There's a towering 2-storey tall Santa ... at KL Hilton :-)

Probably the best TOILET in the world ... Toto Neorest, KL Hilton

This Toto Neorest unit can be found on the exclusive 7th floor, private party area. The wireless remote unit mounted on the wall is probably as high-tech as most families' home entertainment systems!


Why is it the most amazing, high-tech, BEST toilet in the world? Check out this description by Toto USA...
Toto’s NeoRest 500 is a high-tech aware toilet and integrated washlet warm-water personal cleansing system that features smart-sensor design and Cyclone Flush Engine. The petite compact model is ideal for small bath spaces.
Washlet technology transforms the traditional toilet into a warm-water personal cleansing system. Controlled by wireless remote the seat features multi-task functions that provide gentle front-and back-aerated warm water spray, which can be regulated for water pressure and temperature.
Features include: 20" tall; extends 26 ¼" from the wall; toilet seat and cover detach with an easy one-touch operation; timed cleaning mode; automatic lid opening and closing; concave rim; automatic dual flush water conservation modes; tankless; heated seat, deodorizer automatically engages and provides a white noise that masks sound.

Toasts More - AEON Jusco Bukit Tinggi mall, Klang

Add: 2nd Floor, 1 Persiaran Batu Nilam 1/KS 6, Bandar Bukit Tinggi 2, Klang
Located: Next to the TGV cinema

Quick dinner at Toast Box, located at the AEON Bukit Tinggi Mall in Klang (aka Jusco).
Rice with Beef Skewer, surprisingly tasty.


And the deceivingly hot ... Tom Yam fried Mee Siam.

Happy Christmas, Ashley! BBQ by Wong Catering

Add: Wong Catering Services @ 16 Jalan SS 4D/14, Taman People's Park, PJ
Tel: +603 7876 6585

Thanks to Ashley for the invite to his Christmas Barbe, at Bangsar :-) over the weekend... The lamb was sooooooo good! The Tigers hit the spot too :-)

Restoran Clan - Tim Sum, Sri Petaling

Add: 140, Jalan Radin Anum @ Sri Petaling, KL
Tel: +6019 382 5455

A very popular timsum place at Sri Petaling, which is off the KESAS highway (Turn off at Carrefour). Thanks to IK for recommending this place, can't believe I managed to wake up in time for this meal!

The signature dish ... Kai Wor Pao. This creation literally translates to "Chicken Nest Bun"!
Best described as a cross between Loh Mai Kai and a Char Siew Pao! It was good :-)


The other timsums were reasonable, though unspectacular!


We washed down the meal with some tea hand-delivered from Hong Kong, Sao Mei Tea or White tea, it was refreshing and so smooth! The final damage, at just over RM$30 was decent value.

Happy Birthday Joy @ Taman Megah Orphanage

On a Sunday morning, the gang met up near the Taman Megah badminton centre, cos' Joy had the brilliant idea of going to the orphanage on the occasion of her birthday :-) She didn't want any pressies, just for us to give up our time and money to the home. Brill!

This ain't BLUEtooth...

Add: Pusat Penjagaan Kanak-kanak Cacat Taman Megah (Taman Megah's Handicapped And Disabled Children's Home) @ 2, Jalan SS24/10, Taman Megah, PJ.

Located: Not far from the Badminton Hall, which is close to Fatty Crab - Pang Kor Fish Head Curry, at Taman Megah.

Tel: +603 7806 1143

Tel: +6017 887 6597

Happy Birthday, Joy!

Lunch time :-)

Friends, new and old...

We had a meaningful time with the kids at the home :-)

Joy arranged for Johnny the Clown to entertain the kiddies!

PY always lends a hand :-) Cheers mate!

We've blown a lotta bubbles this Christmas season :-)

Next, it was time for the kids to dance, sing and entertain us :-) Aww...

Group photos!

The smiles say it all!

Till we meet again...

La Salle Klang '91 reunion - J&R Damansara Heights

Remember these faces :-) Happy Christmas everyone!


Friends from a-far ....

I hadn't caught up with my La Salle brethren since 1989!

Always a great place to hang out ... this is Jarrod and Rawlins aka J&R, Damansara Heights.

The Social at Bangsar serves great Aromatic Duck and pastas too!

Add: the SOCIAL - No 57&59 , Jalan Telawi 3 , Bangsar Baru , Bangsar, KL
Tel: +603 2822 2260
Located: Opposite Bangsar Village II, same row as Chawan.

Aromatic Crispy Duck (RM$30) - Recommended by R, and still tastes as good as the first time I had it! H was in town, so it was time for some dinner :-)
Served with thin crepes, sweet plum sauce, chili oil, julienned spring onions and cucumber.


It was pasta time again!
Marinara Aglio Olio (RM$24)
Squid, prawns and clams in roasted chili and garlic oil


Carbonara salmon with Spaghetti ... Very good too, but a wee bit salty.

Dave's Pizza Pasta Vino, One Utama

Add: Dave's Pizza Pasta Vino - Lot G209, Promenade, One Utama, Bandar Utama
Tel: +603 7725 4017

I was very pleased with the taste of my Aglio Olio, but pity it wasn't al-dante enough!


As Wikipedia describes ... Spaghetti all´aglio, olio e peperoncino (also called spaghetti aglio e olio) is a traditional Italian pasta dish. Many attribute its origin to the region of Abruzzo, however it is quite popular elsewhere in the country. The sauce consists mainly of garlic fried in oil, plus peperoncino (dried red chili peppers).

The Calzone was bursting with smoked pork sausages :-) and bacon!


ps. Thanks to L for this treat, and espesh for recommending this place ... It was an easy choice to choose Italian over bowling :-)

Celcom - No Dropped Calls Here, One Utama

No dropped calls ... damn funny!

Panadero Bakery - Lovely breads! Centrepoint, Bandar Utama

Add: Panadero Bakery @ Ground Floor, Centre Point Shopping Center, Bandar Utama

Tucked away in a little corner of the unassuming Centre Point "mall" at Bandar Utama ... is this bakery. Great service as well as lovely, warm and fresh breads are winners in my book!

Toyota Crown - As luxurious as a Lexus?

I was excited to see, whilst heading towards the NKVE, one of the rarest of Toyotas... The Crown!

As described by Wiki...

The Crown has evolved into a line of full-size luxury sedans by Toyota. The range was primarily available in Japan and some other Asian countries, originally designed to serve as a taxi. It was in later years sold in the United States during the late 1950s and up until 1971.

The Crown is Toyota's oldest sedan still in production. It is outranked only by the Century and the Majesta in social status. The Crown is used by many Japanese companies as the company limosiune.

Most models of the car are distinguishable by a front "Crown" badge, but the common Toyota badge is usually used on the rear.

Did you know? This is the 13th reincarnation of the Crown, also known as the S200.

The new Crown is available in 5 different trim levels: the basic Crown Sedan; the Crown Royal series which is a more comfortable and luxurious car; the Crown Athlete series which takes the luxurious aspect of the Royal series but has more aggressive styling and sporty features; the Crown Majesta series which is larger and has more luxurious features than the Royal series; and the Crown Hybrid series which is a trim level designated for the hybrid V6 drivetrain. The Crown is one of the first vehicles to have a 3 Dimensional Satellite Navigation System and boasts many features that have not been developed by other luxury car makers. The Crown is set to rival the European BMW 5 series, Mercedes E-class, Audi A6 and the Japanese Honda Legend & Nissan Fuga. This is the Longest and widest Crown to be built.

Umai-ya Japanese, Damansara Uptown next to HSBC

Located: Between Starbucks and Izzi, next to HSBC Uptown, Damansara
Add: 49G, Jalan SS21/37, Damansara Utama, Uptown
Tel: +603 7726 4410

Branch: G-3A, The Place, Jalan PJU 8/5D @ Bandar Damansara Perdana, PJ
Branch tel: +603 7729 0015

My first trip to this little and unassuming japanese, this is ... Umai-ya


L and A shared a Unagi boxset ... Slurp.


My choice ... omelette on rice, it was perfect after a "heavy" Xmas Eve night :-)
The dragon maki was rather good too.

I can never resist Miso Soup, espesh when it is RM$5!

In fact, I found all the ala cartes to be of good value.

Never easy to prepare ... Agadeshi Tofu, which was rather good!

ps. Once again, it was nice catching up with new friends, M and A. Cheers to L for intro'ing me :-)

Meal at home ... The day before Christmas eve

Nothing like some home cooking amidst all the excesses :-)

Healthy healthy! No sugar, no ice :-)

Ricardo's Christmas Bash!

Cheers to R for organising this year's Christmas bash :-)

Designated bartender aka Papparazi Trainee!

At the start of the party :-)

Party on!

Bubble blowers!

Hahaaa....

The targets!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Its Berrytime at Christmas!

Blessed Christmas everyone :-)

Food prepared with love at the Si Family Christmas Party 2008!

Thanks to AC for hosting the party, and to all my fabulous relatives who prepared so much great food this Christmas dinner night :-)

The 2008 Si Family Christmas party!

Woofmerry Christmas from Duchess!


The lads talking about WRX's and Rock Band 2 ....


Our family's posterboy ... Nokia and Anchor can call me anytime for a booking!

Fellow SLR user in da house!


Ah ... the lovely ladies :-)

Its makan time!

Skype, Kev in Aussieland and my sam yee poh!

Merry Christmas, mum :-)

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!


Thanks for the pressies :-)

Christmas Eve - Mambo, Velvet at Zouk

The view we had whilst we queued up on the "Guest List" queue!


We ushered in Christmas 2008 at Mambo, Velvet next to Zouk, KL


MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!


Merry Christmas!!


Drink up!


Some idiot from the next table stumbled and fell onto our GLASS table, luckily my G9 survived and so did our bottle of Glen!

Nite nite Mambo ... till next time :-)

Jit Xin at Bukit Tinggi, Klang, revisited!

Add: 8 Lorong Batu Nilam 27A, Bandar Bukit Tinggi 2, Klang
Tel: +6016 3187 178

J enjoyed the soup ... slurp. Just like home, preserved vege soup!


Pork Ribs in Guiness marinade ... delicious. And rather good Chicken with Dried Chilli too :-)


Can always count on consistently good food at Jit Xin, at reasonable prices, approx RM$32 for the meal. This is a regularly frequented restaurant of me and my family :-)

DucKing at Jaya One is a fraud!?

Add: DucKing @ 8-G Block M, Jaya One No.72-A Jalan Universiti , PJ
Tel: +603 7957 9819

Hmm! Shock, horror! After enjoying the duck (and fish!) at this restaurant in Jaya One, at both Whye Mun's farewell meal and my first visit to this restaurant with my family .... I found out from a local online forum and the local dailies that it may be a fraud!

Hmm ... but the food is good :-)

WARNING NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that PT. Makmur Utama Bersama, a company incorporated under the laws of Indonesia with a registered office at JI Metro Pondok Indah Blok IV-TA, Pondok Indah Mall 2, Lt.3 No 340-341, Kebayoran Lama, Jakarta Selatan 12310, Indonesia, is the owner and proprietor of the above trademark and also the copyright which subsists therein.
Restaurants bearing the above trade mark are a well known restaurant in Indonesia. The above trade mark has been registered in Indonesia under Reg. No. IDM000010663 and Singapore (series of 2 marks) under Reg No T07.20173A. PT Makrmur Utama Bersama has also filed an application of the same mark in Malaysia under Application No. 08003300.
TAKE NOTICE that it is wrongful to use the above trade mark without the consent of PT. Makmur Utama Bersama. PT. Makmur Utama Bersama has never consented and/or allowed any parties in Malaysia to use the above trade mark in respect of the aforesaid services. Further, PT. Makmur Utama Bersama has never set up any restaurants bearing the above trade mark in Malaysia.

Any person of firm or company, without permission of PT Makrmur Utama Bersama reproduces or uses the above trade mark without the permission or consent of PT. Makmur Utama Bersama is infringing their rights.
PT. Makmur Utama Bersama shall take steps to protect their rights in the above trade mark and will not hesitate to take legal action against any person, firm or company that infringes their rights including, among others, injunction, claim for damages including aggravated damages and accounts or profit.

Blackhole, Sri Hartamas

Add: 22 Jalan 25/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, KL

A spesh evening with dear new (hmmm ... feels like I have known them for years!) friends! Merry Christmas CY, UM, B and Y!

Always time for some mee-hoon, ikan bilis and satay ...

Hic ... Hic ... The black stuff "a meal in a glass", Black Label and Long Island Tea too!

Tennis Night at Sunrise Damai, Mont Kiara

This is my Prince tennis racquet from the late 1980s, it is a Prince CTS Synergy DB26.
Found a little write-up which included a simple specification of this racquet which was rather popular in its day! I think Gabriella Sabatini used it?
"Double Bridge (DB) system reduces string vibration and gives the racquet a muted feel. Liquid Crystal Polymers in the shaft and grip also reduce vibrations. In the mid to low range of power for Prince racquets"


It was our first tennis night in ages, played at Damai in Mont Kiara, the surface was an interestingly spongey synthetic grass, which was (thank goodness!) not too fast!


We had a really good time!

Killer back-hand, CL!

Please do not step on the toilet bowl!

Where else besides Malaysia can one find a sign such as this?





ps - As seen at a restaurant in Hartamas :-)

Taiwan Noodle House, SS2 PJ

Add: 20, Jalan SS2/61, PJ
Tel: +603 7877 2375
Located: Along the same row as McDonalds & next to SEGI College PJ, and alongside The Cave "Couple restaurant". (Yes, that's the one that looks like a futuristic swiss cheese in the pic below).


Zha Choy (Preserved vege) Taiwan Noodles (RM$6) and delicious Pork Chop (RM$4.50). Scrumptious!


Here's a ... Previous review of this much loved coffeeshop

Price of gas in Malaysia, RM$1.80 per litre

Remember back in June 2007, when the price of petrol was nearly ONE RINGGIT MORE per litre!?

Well it is now ...

Brunch @ Fogal Meat Market, Plaza Damas - Sri Hartamas

Add: N-1-4, Plaza Damas, No. 60, Jalan Sri Hartamas, Sri Hartamas, KL
Tel: +603 6201 3206
Tel: +6016 982 8023

My second time at Fogal, another fine eatery at Plaza Damas!

A hearty soup to start, Spicy Tomato with 2 slices of garlic bread on the side, an impressive start with a "kick"! The Apple Tuna Salad was only half decent, but a refreshing change from all the meats which were to arrive!


Was rather surprised that the waiter brought over the main course so soon after the "starters" arrived ... Here's our Big Fry Up Platter, about RM$44. Most of the items were good, except for the steak which was highly unimpressive.


Sir, how would you like your steak done?
How about ... Blue Rare (Eeeeep!).


I liked the kebabs here, one's beef and one's chicken. Both were good!

It was a really nice slow brunch, pity about the dessert that followed ... TERRIBLE Apple Crumble. It was NOT crumbly at all, and was sloppy / mushy, GRRRR!

Ah... the Tiger more then made up for it :-)

ps - A little tidbit from Nigel of Just Heavenly...

Not only does Fogal's sell meat but they also serve good, hearty, very Australian inspired food.The meat they sell is brought in to Malaysia from Australia and raised in Kluang. On their own farm and with their own processing facilities. They feed their livestock whole grain for a few months before they slaughter and process them. This from Dave. One of the chaps I was talking to at Fogal's

Koh Tong (Dongzhi / Winter Solstice) Dinner, Restoran Imperial @ Bukit Tinggi, Klang

Koh Tong or the Winter Solstice in the chinese calendar is always an occassion for families to get together ... this was our dinner :-)

Add: 4627-4633, Wisma AMI, Jalan Gambus 2, Taman Desawan, Klang
Tel: +603 3323 1917
Located: Opposite AEON-Jusco Bukit Tinggi Mall, Klang
Previous reviews: Tim Sum meals here

Asparagus and Belacan - Very young, tender and fresh. Good!


Home made Tofu and Veges - Excellent.


Interesting facial expression on this fish ... Cheong Ching Fei Chau Yue.


Honey Pork Ribs ... A little on the sweet side, but good nevertheless.


Good value meal, decent chinese restaurant, fast service, and the bill for the four of us came up to ... RM$77.



ps - Wikipedia even has an entry for this festival...
The Dōngzhì Festival or Winter Solstice Festival (Chinese: 冬至; Pinyin: dōng zhì; "The Extreme of Winter") is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the Dongzhi solar term on or around December 22 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest; i.e., on the first day of the Dongzhi solar term
The origins of this festival can be traced back to the Yin and Yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "Returning").
Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan (湯圓, Cantonese jyutping: tong1 jyun2; Mandarin Pinyin: Tāng Yuán) or balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinuous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Each family member receives at least one large Tang Yuan in addition to several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed.

Retro Company Annual Dinner, PJ Hilton

My company's annual dinner at PJ Hilton, the theme was ... RETRO!

Time to Retro!

A great time!

Lucky me!

Hmmm...

Sure Pizza, Plaza Damas at Sri Hartamas

Add: SURE PIZZA @ P37, Plaza Damas Ground Floor, Hartamas Shopping Centre, Jalan Hartamas 1, KL
Tel: +603 6201 6014
Opening hours: Daily (10am-10pm)
Note: Pork-free
Located: Next to Sao Nam (Vietnamese), and opposite Kim Gary.

A return to one of my fave Italian places in town :-)
Sure Pizza - Best eaten when piping hot! RM$32.95


Linguini Pescattore, we enjoyed this very much! RM$25.95


Always a favourite ... Tiramisu, RM$15.95

Bangsar DVD Shop - Only in Malaysia!

Wow... how blatantly "obvious"!


Hmmm....


ps - Doubt these guys are affected by the economic downturn!

Congratulations Vector International Malaysia!

Congratulations to all the team at Vector International, Malaysia!


Vector International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, since its establishment in August 1996, has been focusing in the provision of Automation and Information Technology solutions for industrial applications such as Human-Machine Interface to Enterprise Resource Planning and Manufacturing Executive Systems. The company also offers dedicated services such as Consultation services, Networking, OEM Engineering and other branches of engineering, Project Implementation and Management, Training, Maintenance and Support. Together with approved System Integrators, Technology Partners and Solution Partners, Vector International is able to meet the specific needs and requirements of its customers without obligation.



The team :-)

Canon EOS 20D ... a classic!

Let the party begin!

Hic... hic...

Congratulations, bro!

Greenpoint Yarra Valley 2005 Chardonnay and food - Wine House @ Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas

One of the hidden gems in KL I reckon ... this is Plaza Damas. Lots of little one-off shops, which I like, both for food and for shopping. Nice wine place, good pancakes place, excellent pizza/pasta place, good chinese place, and even a bookshop and more!

Add: G-17, Ground Floor, Hartamas Shopping Centre, 60, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Sri Hartamas, KL
Tel: +603 6201 0830


My wine selection ... 2005 Greenpoint Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley, priced at RM$137. Refreshing and lives a nice lingering taste on the palette!

Caesar Salad (RM$16) - Good, Chili Dog and Smoked Bacon (RM$18) - Really good, Aglio Olio with Bacon (RM$20) - Again, this was good.


My fave ... Italian Meatball , RM$16.


One can even order from the restaurant next door, Eric Tsang's Restaurant ... Really good Sweet and Sour Spareribs of Pork, RM$20, and Yangzhou Fried Rice (Excellent!) at RM$12.


What a treat ... wine, tapas-style foods, and chinese too! Brilliant concept, and a place I will return to!

Fatburger by Magic Johnson, airflown from Macau!

What may this be ... I had never heard of Fatburger, but a dear friend who returned from Macau insisted on bringing me one :-)


Fatburger is an award-winning fast-food restaurant chain co-owned by Magic Johnson that operates in the United States and Canada and uses the slogan The Last Great Hamburger Stand. It is especially popular on the West Coast. While a fast food restaurant, the food is cooked and made to order.
The chain remained mostly a California chain until the late 1990s, when it began a significant expansion in North America. There are currently 93 Fatburger restaurants.


Former professional basketball player Magic Johnson, through Johnson Development Corporation, is one of the owners of the parent company.
Former talk show host Montel Williams co-owns several Fatburger restaurants in Colorado. Bay Area rapper E-40 also has a stake in the company as a franchise owner, and played a key role in bringing the first Fatburger restaurant to the San Francisco Bay Area.
On August 15, 2003, Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc., owned by Andrew Wiederhorn, completed a $6 million investment and financing package for Fatburger Holdings, Inc. ("Fatburger"). Fatburger operates or franchises 93 hamburger stands located in California, Nebraska, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, Louisiana, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, New York, Canada, and China.
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The verdict? Gorgeous beef patty, nice bun, and it tasted so gooooood even though I had put it in the fridge over-night and then toasted it on my little Oven Toaster. Can't wait to eat it FRESH ... one day!

Black pepper pork cutlets at home

I love being home! Mmmh ... the black pepper pork cutlets were amazing :-)

Delicious Curry Chicken ala Yanna

Stir fried greens


To finish the meal ... some fresh chestnuts :-)

Back from Thailand ... finally!

Home cooked meal ... What a welcome home :-)

Thai Air TG 417, Bangkok - Kuala Lumpur

Flight: Thai Air TG 417
Route: KL's KLIA - Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport
Time: 4:40pm - 7:45pm (Delayed landing, 20 mins)
The positive ... Thai Air phoned to ask me to go to the airport at least 3 hours before my actual flight, which was due to depart at 7:15pm. The limo driver got me there so quickly, that Thai actually bumped me up to the earlier flight time, so I was on my way home!
The negative ... Plane had to go on a holding pattern above Sepang, as there were no landing slots available, and we finally touched down 20 minutes late, just past 8pm.

Three weeks later, I was finally on my way home!

Hmmm, the bread roll was served in my coffee cup, there was no other space on the little tray! And the handle of the plastic coffee cup was in my potato salad... uhhh.


Simple but rather delicious meal ... I like the food served on Thai! Chicken in soya sauce, with fragrant rice.


Flying coach, I always ask for the Emergency Exit Aisle seat ... ah, all the leg room in the world :-)

Benihana Japanese Tepanyaki steakhouse, Marriott - Royal Garden Plaza, Pattaya

Yay, the final night course dinner had arrived, and the venue was the Royal Garden Plaza, which is adjacent to the Marriott (Add: 218 Moo 10 Beach Road, Pattaya). Benihana - Japanese Steakhouse, is actually run by the hotel.

Our entertainer cum chef for the night :-), introducing the buffet menu to us. About 700THB, all you can eat (meats, squid, veges, rice), as well as a starter area with soups, sushi and sashimi, AND a dessert area for "afters" as well. Good value!


Garlic fried rice, in the shape of a beating heart, by our Chef Khun Kenji


What is Chef Kenji doing with that egg?


Before he broke the egg into the rice, he made a "snake" omelette!



Delicious Saba Fish



Teppanyaki chicken, beef, and pork

Veges were good!

Pla-Mer or Squid wasn't my thing, but my Thai colleagues liked it!

All of it washed down with some crisp Asahi Super Dry...

The starter station, with basic sashimi and sushi, as well as japanese green salad and miso or onion soup.

Some of my team mates ... cheers guys.

Cigarettes in Thailand ... a visual Health Warning!

Would this put you off smoking!!?



ps - The above are ciggie packs here in Thailand ... Eeeeeep!

Fajitas and New York Strip Steak, Henry J Beans Pattaya

We were back at Henry J Beans after a long day today ... nice!

A's choice ... Caesar Salad, with side order of garlic bread.
She commented, "Where's the strips of bacon!!?"


My NY Strip Steak, cooked to medium, and really good. Only 550 THB.


YT's beef fajitas were delicious! Especially the bed of peppers and onions...

Sirloin Steak ala Thai @ Henry J Beans Bar and Grill, Pattaya

Located: On compound of Amari Orchid Resort, at the north end of Beach Road, Pattaya.


My 500THB steak, worth every penny! The spicy thai dip was scrumptious!


YT and AC both loved their chicken fajitas, yummy!


This is Thailand ... land of sauces, and an ice cold Heine. Fab!

Yum Som Oh (Pomelo salad), Amari Pattaya - Thailand

Dinner late one evening at Amari Ocean Tower's 3rd floor restaurant, Essence ...

One of my favourite dishes, Yum Som Oh (Pomelo Salad) served with grilled river prawns. Abour 250 THB.

The mains wasn't half as good as the starter ... Linguini with Olive Oil and Chilli. About 300 THB.

M chose the Tom Yum Khoong, no complaints!

Pad Kaprao minced pork and a Recipe! Pattaya, Thailand

Pad Kaprao is described as a meat stir fry with Thai sweet basil, chilli & spices. I like the Moo Sarb (Minced pork) variety best, especially when topped off with a Khai Dao (Fried egg).

This was my dinner late tonight, 40 THB on the Pattaya-Naklua road, quite close to opposite the Family Mart near Dusit.




ps - Here's a recipe from bellaonline.com

Basil Chicken (Gai Pad Kaprao)
Serves 2 as one dish meal or 4-6 for a full Thai meal
Here is my version of Basil Chicken/Gai Kaprao.
Ingredients
1 lb. boneless chicken breast, cut into small 1/4" pieces
6-8 cloves garlic, finely chopped
6-8 shallots, thinly sliced
1-2 Tbs. peanut oil for stir-frying
1-2 Tbs. fish sauce (nam plah), to taste
1-2 tsp. black soy sauce
*optional1 cup fresh Thai holy basil (bai kaprao), or Thai sweet basil (bai horapa)
4-6 small kaffir lime leaves (bai ma-grood), very finely slivered
5-10 Thai Dragon chiles (phrik chee fa) or Thai Bird Chiles (Phrik kee nue)
Generous Dash of ground white pepper

Prep each ingredient and set aside to allow quick stir fry technique.
Leave the fresh basil leaves whole; the flowers may also be used. Heat a wok until the surface is smoking hot. Add oil to one side and swirl to coat the wok surface.
Add the chicken pieces evenly over the surface of the wok. Sprinkle generously with the white pepper. Do not stir, allow them to brown and begin to turn colour.
Then add garlic and shallots and stir fry until the chicken is no longer pink. Add the chiles and slivered kaffirlime leaves continue stir frying.
Then add fresh basil leaves and fish sauce to taste. Stir and mixwell. Stir-fry another half a minute, or until the basil is wilted and the chicken is cooked through.

Sunset over Pattaya, Thailand

Here are some shots with my Nikon D80 and Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 , at sunset this evening. Shot from Pattaya beach.


Can just about make out Pattaya Tower in the distance...


My favourite shot


The sun sure sets quick!

Henry J Beans Bar and Grill - Dinner, Pattaya

Located: On compound of Amari Orchid Resort, at the north end of Beach Road, Pattaya.

Dinner with my team mid-last week :-) Starters galore!
Tex-mex fare ... Buffalo wings, Calzone pizza, Stuffed potatoes, Nachos, and Caesars Salad.

The team :-)

My mains ... a huge Rack of Ribs, which was rather good.

C had the Steak, and it was fabulous!

Tuk Tuk ride down Beach Road, Pattaya

Here's the view looking out the side, back and "front" of a Tuk Tuk.

Here's a view along Beach Road as the tuk tuk travels down the road, you can flag one down anywhere simply by making eye-contact with the driver, or waving. When you want the driver to stop, there are buzzers, or simply bang the roof like I do!

Pattaya Klang!

They basically travel one way up the road, and then make a loop back. Each way, any distance, costs about 10THB or RM$1.

Oishi Ramen Japanese, Pattaya - Thailand

Location: Royal Garden Plaza, adjacent to the Marriott Pattaya

This was lunch from last weekend ... another restaurant I used to frequent a few years back :-)


Green tea ... an Oishi product.


Pork cutlet and Egg Omellette with rice - Nothing to shout about, but it was convenient! Should have chosen the ramen / noodles...

S&P S&P American Fried Rice - Royal Garden Plaza, Pattaya

S&P is a very popular and large chain of Thai restaurants across the country, there's even an outdoor area (Reminds me of Delicious, BV2!) where I sat. Water @ 15 THB.


Kai Yang (Grilled chicken) @ 85 THB. Delicious, served with a wickedly spicy but tasty sauce!


American Fried Rice @ 115 THB - Simply delicious. I used to eat this a lot (as I frequently visited S&P, probably on a weekly basis!) when I resided here, and it brought back fond memories ;-)


Never without sauces in Thailand...

Roundabout near Dusit that is now a U-Turn, only in Pattaya!

Thailand's got many interesting laws and signs, enforcement is a different thing altogether!

Do not use your Mobile Phones whilst driving ... Well, I think that's what it says. Enforcement? Zilch!


Here' s a scene from the road leading from Pattaya to Naklua, which is separated by "what looks like" a roundabout!


Go through on the right?


Notice there is a barrier, and it is more like a "u-turn" then your traditional circle / circus / round-about!

Christmas preparations in Pattaya, Thailand

Beach Road entrance of Royal Garden Plaza ... Bizarre colour for a Christmas tree!

Rudolph @ Royal Garden Plaza

At the adjacent Marriott, Pattaya...

Good morning ... Sunday in Amari Hotel, Pattaya

Good morning from my last Sunday in Pattaya ...

Hotel breakies at the Amari Ocean Tower :-)

Can't resist the Khao Tom or Rice Soup ala Thai, and Porridge each and every morning :-) Deeeelicious!

Khao Man Kai - Thai Chicken Rice, streets of Pattaya

This is Pattaya... I was rather bored with restaurant food, so went on the search of some street food last night :-)


Located: Pattaya Sai Song


Another adjacent landmark, across the road, is the infamous "cabaret" Tiffany's of Pattaya.

Starters ... Ba Mee Heng Moo Dang (Kon Loh noodles with Char siew) @ 30 THB.

Rather dissapointed, noodles were dry and the char siew was poor! I miss KL...

Another stall served ... Khao Man Khai aka Chicken Rice, 30 THB. Much better!

Some cut fruits ta-powed home from a large local supermarket chain, Big C.
Som Oh "Pomelo" @ 39 THB (Approx RM$4)

and, "Pines" aka Pinapples @ 29 THB (Roughly, RM$3)

Burapha Golf Course, near Chonburi - Laem Chabang

Happy (Belated) Birthday, to the King!


One Saturday morning ... We had some Padkaprao Kai with Kai Dao, was delicious. Located outside Burapha golf course, you can't miss it!



This is the golf course...


My guys in action :-)



Strange sight on a golf course ... fire in distance.

My buddies ... and the set of Ping i3's which I really enjoyed using!

Pi C and Khun K ...

Hmm, three signs indicate prizes in store for any Hole In One's.

Burapha's signature hole...

Our final hole, D9, the very long Par 4. I finished the round with a 48 front-9, and 56 on the back-nine.

Laem Chabang Driving Range - Golf and Thai snacks

Went to the local driving range, a few days before our round of golf... Here are piccies from late one evening.


My buddies


Thanks for the loan of your spare set, Khun B!


Best thing abt the driving ranges here? Great service, cheap (500+ balls and all the food below, for RM$65), and nice food!


Fried chicken wings ... Anchovies (Ikan bilis) salad.


Pork salad ... Beef jerky.

PS Bowl Pattaya, Thailand

Add: PS Plaza, 3rd floor, Central Pattaya
Tel: +66 3842 0965
Opening hours: Daily 11:00 am - 2:00 am


They gave me a nickname (Nikon!) ... "D80 No D90" , and Big M who loves his vodka in HUGE shots ... 200ml (Yes, he can down 200 mili-litres of the lethal stuff!).

P obviously practises continuous improvement ... 6, 7, 8, then 9!

Our team

The local team :-) an d the prize for the worst aggregate score of the night!

Henry J Beans Bar and Walking Street - Pattaya

Lipovitan D and some Thai whisky ... lethal, but we quite easily downed it!


Gin and Tonic time!


More photos from Pattaya's notoriously infamous ... Walking Street

Italian-Thai food @ Wandee House, Pattaya-Naklua

Location: Wandee House @ Pattaya-Naklua Road
Tel: +66 38 367813 , +66 81 7011 188

Excellent dinner choice by B and P tonight, and great value too. All the food below AND two large Singha's for ... RM$120.


Spinach cheese bake... delicious. And my stuffed chicken wings with minced pork and mushrooms!


Squid ink fettucini ... P's choice, and it was DELICIOUS, but what a spicy whallop it packed!

B's choice ... Pork cutlet stuffed with cheese and ham, and my Spaghetti with Clams and Bacon. Both were good!

My dear friends :-)

Here are some directions!