Reaping The Fruits Of My Labour

I was a really good girl (again) and woke up for a 20 minute jog on Saturday morning... I guess I must have pushed myself enough because now my leg muscles hurt like sh1t!
:(

I suppose it's not all THAT bad...
Well, walking around on flat ground is ok but the moment I try to walk up or down a flight of stairs...
*sniffle*
... every single step is dose of wrenching, burning, knee-weakening AGONY!

If exercise is good for you then why did God make it hurt so bad?
*groan*
And when am I gonna start losing weight anyway?
*prods self in jiggling belly*
Hrrmmmmm......

Haha....
Anyway, Happy Monday everyone.
:)

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Fantasy Race : Tortoise VS Internet

Winner : The TORTOISE!
Mr Tortoise says: "Eat my dust, Mr Internet!"
No, seriously: I really do think a cute little tortoise can move faster than the average internet speed now...
*sigh*
:(

Well, it's been absolutely painful trying to upload photos for my food review posts... and the loading time for most of my usual web haunts are soooo slow....
I do hope that they are able to fix those underwater data cables quickly!

Ooh, ooh...
On a more positive note: I'm so proud of myself!
Why?
Well, yesterday morning I succeeded in waking up early, prying myself off my comfy bed and actually went for a jog around my condo compound before going to work....
*Yay*
:)
"Woo hoo.....!"
Sure, I only jogged for about 15 minutes... but it's a start, right?
(In the words of P: "It's not much... but something is better than nothing lah...")

I'm trying to make it a 2 times/ week ritual and just work my way up from there.
(It's about time I started trying to work off those extra pounds that I put on in 2006 and 2005....)

Wish me luck!


TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Sri Ayutthaya

This time, our dinner group re-visited Sri Ayutthaya...
(Some of the others had come here last year... and I had "borrowed" Lenny's review previously...)

This Thai restaurant has been around for ages and usually comes highly recommended as a slightly more expensive but delicious place for Thai food in the Bukit Damansara area....

The Dinner

The ambience there was nice, lots of wood and nice touches like little elephant statues, carvings and water features....
(Like a high-class Thai "kampung house" style):

A look at Sri Ayutthaya, inside and out.....
With any visit to a Thai restaurant, one "must have" is the Tom Yam soup so we started off with that:
The Mixed Seafood Tom Yum Soup
Strange....
I have heard that the Tom Yum soup here is nice but I really didn't like it...
It was oily, sweet and a bit thick VS. my ideal Tom Yam soup which should be "ching" (clear), sour and smooth.
There was a rather generous amount of seafood inside though, so no complaints there.

We ordered an array of mains to share... Thai Fish Cakes, Green Curry Chicken (no photo - sorry!), Red Curry Beef, Assam Fish and Deep Fried Calamari:

Clockwise from top left: The Deep Fried Calamari, Assam Fish, Red Curry Beef and Thai Fish Cakes
Overall, I like the Calamari the best. The batter was crunchy and light but the squid was tender, with a slight sour zing.
YUMMY!

The Green Curry Chicken was also ok as the sauce was thick and flavourful...
(It tasted excellent with the rice!)

The Thai Fish Cakes (which tasted like mushy "Otak-Otak"), Red Curry Beef and the Assam Fish were only ok.
Nothing particularly wrong with them... they just didn't knock my socks off.

At the end of dinner, there will be a waiter with a large desserts tray for you to choose from:
The dessert tray.....
Basically, other than the mango with glutinous rice, the little bowls show you the type of toppings you can choose to be added with the shaved ice and sugar syrup... There's quite a variety ranging from simple jellies to exotic fruits.

Here's what we chose (can't remember the names):
The desserts.....
I didn't think that they tasted that great...
(Basically, they're just like varietals of Ice Kacang except with less stuff in it)
They only cost about RM6 per bowl though, so it's ok as a simple and refreshing way to cool your tongue after all that spicy food.
:)

At the end of the night, I just couldn't help but feel a little disappointed since this place had always been recommended to me as a slightly overpriced but delicious place to eat Thai food....

Hmmmm, maybe it just didn't suit my taste buds? Or, perhaps I was expecting too much?
Oh well..... I suppose it's still worth a try if you want to dine at a Thai restaurant with a nice ambience in the KL area but I don't think I will be going back there anytime soon.

So, it's: Nice ambience, friendly waiters BUT hits & misses on the menu and the food's a bit pricey considering the quality and serving size.

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Sri Ayutthaya @ Bukit Damansara Heights
(Same row as Victoria Station in Damansara Heights)

Taste: 5.5
Ambience : 7
Service : 6
Price** : RM50++ per person
Parking: Painful if you get there after 7pm

** Approximation - "Sharing" style meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2094 2333
Opening Hours: 11am - late

NO PORK SERVED

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Sri Ayutthaya, Thai, Bukit Damansara

Happy New Year

2007 is finally here...!

... and this year is the year of the *gasp* PIG!
(It's the Year of the Fire Pig to be exact)
(TIDAK HALAL!)
:)

Hmmm, yummy pork.
*cough-cough*
Erm.... anyway, I was curious what the stars hold for me this year so I checked out a few Zodiac/ Astrology sites.
(Yes - the stuff my bf lovingly describes as "nonsensical mumbo-jumbo")
Now, apparently 2007 is not going to be such a great year for me:

CAREER
An year of recovery.
While 2007 will be better than 2006, you still have many obstacles in your path. You lack enthusiasm.... If you stay disillusioned with last year and the current lack of progress, you will fail. Pull yourself together, seek advice... to regain your status.
Take the initiatives boldly, be tolerant with colleagues, follow your benefactor's suggestions, pursue your path with determination and you will see your luck evolving slowly but steadily. Competition and work pressure will pile up, but proceed as planned with total focus and concentration. Your personal skills and strengths will be put to test in hostile environments. There will be last minute hitches.... Voluntary changes will open up more doors..... If you are employee, consider career switch or job change or internal departmental transfer. But promotions could bring more severe responsibilities.
Do not get into arguments or disputes in the office. Avoid confrontation with your enemies and ignore rumours. Display the statue of the Mentor Kuan Kung in the North West for protection and timely guidance.
A good year to expand your social networking and add to your many friends.... In 2007, you are being "eyed" by certain shady, scheming characters - display the icon or genuine photo of the White Tiger, for your personal safety.

MONEY
A strangled inflow of money is further depleted by unexpected and unwanted expenses.... Do not indulge in shotcuts to earn quick money - you will end up in legal problems.
Invest more on Health Insurance Policies. Stay away from speculative schemes and gambling - you hardly have any windfall luck this year. Be careful when signing documents and do not act as guarantor for anybody. Keep a set of Dragon & Phoenix Coins alongwith a set of "Four Guardian Kings" Coins with your main cash.

HEALTH
Worries will spoil your mental health. Relax, unwind and meditate. Seek medical help immediately if you get any of these problems : microbic and viral infections, respiratory problems, persistent cough, sinus, aching body or spinal discomfort. An elderly family member might pass away.
If you were born in 1969, have a thorough eye checkup. If you were born in 1945, you may have to undergo surgery this year. If you are a female born in 1969 or a female born in 1981, you could face gynacological problems. If you were born in February, you are prone to injuries in the limbs, tendons and bones.

LOVE
Not a good year to marry. Singles should extend their courtship period patiently through to next year. Married Roosters, while being alert, should also continue to trust their spouse and ignore the gossips. Resist the temptation of unfaithfulness. If your personality is challenged by your life partner, assert your independence without domination.
To avoid pessimism and depression from disrupting marital harmony, consider shifting your home or devote fully to raising a new garden. Place a pair of Pink Mandarin Ducks in the South West of your bedroom.

(If you're interested in getting your own forecast, please click on THIS LINK... This one is for the Rooster zodiac but there's some other zodiac specific forecasts linked at the bottom of the page...)

Well,... it's just a forecast of what COULD be, I suppose....
There's really only one way to find out if it all comes true....
(Although, I must say, some of those predictions are terribly generic while others are hilariously specific....!)
:)

PS/ Don't worry... I'll put up some food related stuff in a little while... Just be patient, ok?

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Love and Marriage?

Hrmm....
Apparently arranged marriages are not extinct in the modern landscape of KL after all...
(And this is a real eye opener for me)

It felt really surreal going over to the house of my friend for her wedding kenduri last weekend and having the thought lingering at the back of my head that she is marrying a guy she didn't date, probably doesn't really know and definately didn't choose for herself.

In fact, I had this strange imaginary scenario in my head:
*bride walks up to groom*
Bride: Oh, are you my groom? Hi, my name is Hz.
Groom: Why yes I am... Hi, my name is Fb. Nice to meet you.
*they both shake hands*
Bride: Cool. So, shall we continue with the rest of the wedding now?
*wedding festivities then continue*

Well, the groom looks like a nice guy anyway, so:
A big hearty CONGRATULATIONS to Hz and her new hubby Fb!

*hugs*
Remember, dear: Statistics show that arranged marriages, more often than not, outlast "love" marriages in terms of happiness, stability and sheer staying power.
(Erm.... not that "love" marriages aren't good too... *looks over her shoulder to see whether Hani&Tariq or Tj&Khalil are reading this*)


TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Carnaval of Carnivores

Meat, meat, meat and more meat...

Last Friday, we ventured to Carnaval Churrascaria in Damansara Jaya for Chen's surprise birthday party...

There, they serve a Brazilian Buffet meal.
What is that, you ask? - Well, it's an array of freshly grilled meats brought to your table on large skewers and served onto your place by friendly waiters till you say:
"No more for me, sir... I think my arteries are clogging up!".
:)

The Dinner

Located at a corner lot shop in the old Parkson Atria area, the interior of Carnaval is dimly lit but has a cheerful colour scheme - mostly yellows and orange, with a simple but otherwise comfortable ambience:

A look at Carnaval, outside and inside.....
There are basically 2 choices here:
1) RM30++ for the Salad buffet, or
2) RM45++ for the Salad & Meat buffet.

The salad bar was excellent!
There was a wide range of yummy vegetable dishes (at least 14 different kinds)... from Asian tasting Vermicelli salads to the more traditional Western style Potato Wedges and Coleslaw.
(Ooh, the Tomatoes with Vinaigrette and the Deep Fried Eggplant were excellent!)
Some of the yummy vegs that I ate.....
What about the meats?
Well, there was a wide array of choices for all you carnivores out there.... They had 2 kinds of lamb, 2 kinds of beef, 2 kinds of chicken, fish, prawns, sausages and (for the more adventurous) chicken giblets and even grilled pineapple.
The waiter serving meat and my plate of gluttony.....
Overall:
1) Beef (both types): Not so good (Slightly tough...)
2) Lamb (both types): Great! (Juicy and tasty...)
3) Fish: OK (Tender but not very flavorful)
4) Prawns: OK (Nothing special...)
5) Sausages: OK (Again, nothing special...)
6) Chicken Wings: Delicious!
7) Chicken Meat: OK (Also nothing special...)
8) Grilled Pineapple: Yummy! (Juicy and very appetising, with slightly sour taste)

All in all, I was pretty satisfied with the selection of grilled meat (as well as the pineapple). If I have one complaint about this place though, it would not be on the food, it's on how severely overpriced the water is.

Yes, you heard me (and let this be a warning to you): Each bottle of water costs RM10++.... And mind you, it's not any kind of fancy-shmancy imported water either, it was Eu Claire... which probably sells for less than RM2.50 at any given grocery shop:
Expensive water.....
No wonder the waiters were so happily and attentively refilling our glasses and bringing new bottles of water for us!
:(

*sigh*
I suppose since their actual buffet is pretty cheap (as compared to let's say, Bom Brazil in KL which goes for about RM60++), they have to try to "make up for it" by charging higher prices on drinks....
(Floyd said that they usually do not charge for water on normal weekdays (Mon - Thurs)... but I can't verify that because I've only been there once)

So it's: Casual, comfortable ambience, friendly waiters, great range of meat and salads BUT hits & misses for the meats and EXPENSIVE drinks (the water, specifically)

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Carnaval Churrascaria @ Damansara Jaya, PJ

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 7
Price : RM30/++ (Salad bar only) OR RM45/++ (Salad Bar & Meat) per person
Parking: OK

** Buffet (as stated), excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-7725 2252/ 7728 5411
Opening Hours: 6pm - 10pm

NO PORK SERVED

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya, All You Can Eat, Brazilian Buffet, Carnaval Churrascaria, Buffet

That Time Of Year Again

Sh1t.
I can't believe it's the 27th of December already....
Only 5 more days till the New Year!!

I usually get pretty moody around this time of year... if only because I am never happy when I measure myself against what I wanted to achieve for the year...

For example:
Q1: Has J lost 10 pounds of fat yet?
A1: No. In fact she's gained about 5 more pounds.

Q2: Has J started earning indecently large amounts of money yet?
A2: Are you kidding? Her salary increment in 2006 was only about 4%!
(And 4% extra of what what was already very little is really not much of a difference at all....)

Q3: Has J grown to be a better person this year?
A3: Ah.... it depends on who you ask but mostly, the answer would be NO.

Ok lah.
So maybe my yearly resolutions are a bit typical.
(You'll definately not find any "Oh, I want to join the Peace Corps" or "I want to donate all my money to charity" sorta goals in there.... not yet anyway...)

So for 2007, I'll go about this a bit differently.... Instead of setting lofty goals, I'll try to have slightly more measureable and achievable targets:
1) Just lose the extra 5 pounds as a start,
(No more banana leaf rice for lunch! *waiiiil*)

2) Read at least one (non-fiction) book every 3 months,
(Feed brain with facts!)

3) Negotiate much harder for a better increment (at least 6%),
(3 years working experience has to be worth something, right?)

and
4) Be nicer to parents and darling bf.
(No more snapping at them when stressed out with work! They shouldn't have to put up with my sh1t!)

5) Oh, and one more: Drink less alcohol! Drink more water!
(Only 4 3 2 beers a week, maximum!)

That's a start I suppose....
So, what are your New Year Resolutions for 2007?
:)

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Friends With Money

[ BEGIN EDIT ]
(March 2010)

Not that it's newly opened,... but I just found out that Siu Siu has a branch in the Sungai Besi area.

Address:
No. 1, Kampung Satu Seksyen 93,
Jalan Sungai Besi,
57100 Kuala Lumpur.

Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm (Closed on Tuesday)
Phone No.: 016-370 8555

I haven't been there before, but you can refer to AWOL's review or Ah King. :)


Trying to give you more options,
J

[ END EDIT ]


Quite a few Saturdays ago, Nick was a darling and invited a few of us for dinner at a nearby Chinese restaurant called Siu Siu in the Taman Seputih area.
(So that we could help him spend his bonus money - muahaha)

Now, anyone who was in the KL/ PJ area last Saturday will know how insanely heavy the rainfall was that night - drains overflowing, people up to their ankles in water (and rising), etc and the corresponding traffic jams, of course....

It was basically the sorta rain that you could get soaked-to-the-bone wet in 2 seconds if you didn't have an umbrella OR soaked-to-the-bone wet in 10 seconds if you DID have an umbrella.
(Bloody torrential tropical rainfall *grumble*)

The Dinner

Anyway, we finally made it to the restaurant, settled down and ordered our food... We were all wet, cold and hungry so we may have gone a little overboard with the ordering....
(Hmmm,... 6 people eating 7 dishes and 1 soup? So greedy!)

The restaurant was very basic in terms of ambience - concrete floor, zinc roofing, round wooden tables with washed out holey red tablecloths and plastic chairs... but it was clear that this place was popular as it was absolutely packed that night:
The restaurant interior....
It was so funny though, there was rain water dripping from some parts of the roof which dripped onto some of the flourescent lights, making the entire restaurant black out TWICE.... That, and one of the drains behind the restaurant overflowed leading to a sudden mini "flash flood" of muddy water across half the restaurant.
*lol*
Yeah, it was a pretty eventful night.

We started off that night with a Salted Vegetables and Tofu soup to warm ourselves up:
The Salted Veg and Tofu Soup.....
The soup was good - wholesome and robust.
(I would have prefered it a little saltier though)

Then, onwards to the mains...
We had the Roast Duck, Claypot Crabs, Chili Crabs (served with optional "Man Tao"), Marmite Spare Ribs, 4 Heavenly Kings Vegetables (minus the Petai) and the Butter Prawns.....

First up, the Sweet and Sour Crabs with Deep Fried "Man Tao" (chinese buns):

The Claypot Crab:

The Roast Duck:

The Butter Prawns:

The Marmite Spare Ribs and the "4 Heavenly Kings" Vegetables:

(Haha - so much, right?)
:)

Anyway, let's put it in order of how much I liked the dishes...
Good - Both type of Crabs, Butter Prawns.
The crabs were fresh, meaty and fragrant (yum)...
The Butter Prawns were also good - fresh and delicious. If they were just a biiiiit crispier though, then they would have been great.

OK - Marmite Spare Ribs, Roast Duck, 4 Heavenly Kings Vegetables (minus the Petai).
Spare Ribs were ok - a bit too salty and sticky for my taste....
The meat of the Roast Duck was nice but the skin was sadly, not crispy at all. Luckily it wasn't too "fat" so it wasn't all bad....
The 4 Heavenly Kings Vegetables (a fancy name for a dish of fried long beans, four angle beans, brinjals and petai), fried with Belacan was not too spicy but generally, just ok.

Overall, it was a good meal...
(THANK YOU, NICK!)
:)
However, as we were rushing off after dinner (since it was still raining lightly at the time) I forgot to take a business card from the restaurant.
(Bah! Silly, silly J!)

I will try to update the contact details soon.....
(Sorry!)

So it's: Good food at good prices BUT horrible parking and slightly run down, "rustic" ambience

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Restaurant Siu Siu @ Lorong Syed Putra Kiri, KL (near Taman Seputih area)

No. 15-11, Lorong Syed Putra Kiri,
50450 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 7
Ambience : 4
Service : 6
Price** : RM 25/++ per person
Parking: OK ***

** Approximation - Chinese meal, excluding drinks
*** They have a small, run down parking area just opposite.
Telephone No.: 016-370 8555/ 016-309 8038
Opening Hours: 11am - late (Closed on Mondays)

NOT HALAL

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Sui Sui, Local Food, Siu Siu, Seafood, Taman Seputih, Chinese

Sometimes Love Comes In Little Boxes

YAY for presents!
This Xmas, my darling got me 2!
One decoy present (placed under our teeny weeny Christmas tree):

(What's inside?: A little bottle of perfume)

And one "real" present!:


(What's inside?: A pretty, pretty silver ring with a heart design)
*jumps up and down excitedly*
It's so PWETTY!

I love both presents (especially the second one) but now I feel super guilty....
The silly boy wasn't supposed to get me anything already since we had already very impatiently exchanged our Christmas presents much earlier.

I can't complain though, can I?
(Muahaha)


TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Long Weekend + Lazy Blogger

= No further updates till Tuesday....

Have kept myself very busy doing things like sleeping in, watching movies (Eragon: Dragons rock!), eating junk and staring blankly at the pile of work stuff I so optimistically brought back home to read.

:)

Well, I hope that you are all having loads of fun on this long weekend..
*hugs*
(Once again)
MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love,
J

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Season's Greetings

Here's some Xmas love coming your way.....
Merry Christmas, everyone!
*HUGS*

Whether or not you actually celebrate it, I hope that will be surrounded by your friends, family and other loved ones.... having fun, enjoying each other's company and some yummy food as well!
:)


Love,
J

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

When You Wish Upon A Star

I have been a very good girl this year (relatively anyway) so anyone who wants to give Santa a helping hand to reward me this year... Well, please feel free to pick from this list:

J'S XMAS 2006 WISH LIST
1) A Louis Vuitton bag

... yes, yes, it's a bit typical but well, it would be nice to like, ONE "top range" designer bag in my closet of bargain bin clothes...

2) A box of La Maison chocolates!

Supposedly the best in the world... I am really curious how good they really are....

3) Datuk Jimmy Choo's shoes

... because I want to find out just how fantastic Mr Successful Malaysian Designer's shoes are...

4) Jewellery (Cartier, specifically)!

... because every girl needs her bling-bling....

(And if someone out there is feeling PARTICULARLY generous...)
5) Aston Martin Vanquish

... because my Proton is getting a bit old already....

:)
I'm (most) probably asking for too much....
... but hey, it's fun to dream once in a while...

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

It's A Miracle!

Yay! My Blogger account is accessible at the office again....
(... ever since they moved out of Beta)

Scoreboard: J, 1... Evil IT ppl, 0!

Haha...
Well, something tells me that today is going to be a good day.
:)

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Young Again

*YAAAAAAAAAWN*
=_=

Oh man.
I am REALLY not young as I used to be....
I've only been working late 2 days and I'm already feeling so tired!

At least the weekend was great anyway.

Saturday was lazy as usual...
... but Sunday was special because I was a flowergirl at my friend's wedding!
:)

Yup.
A FLOWERGIRL!
Haha.
That was only my 2nd time ever in such an important role: Once at my cousin's wedding (when I was 7 years old) and then on Sunday.
(Erm... am I getting too old for the job though?)

*lol*
It was all good fun:
Standing on the red carpet, throwing flower petals and confetti - YAY!
(Made me feel young again)

Anyway, congratulations Tj and K!
*hugs*
You two make such a great couple - may you keep each other happy forever....


TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Singapore Express

Here's a quick one... (sorry lah - busy with work)

Like many other Hong Kong concept eateries, C-Jade Express's ambience is bright and chirpy:

We started off with the Beijing Dumplings (approx RM6.50):

Overall, it was "OK" - the dumpling filling was reasonably flavourful but the "skin" was too thick. Fortunately, it wasn't very starchy though.

I tried the "Char Cheong Mein" (ermm... that roughly translates into Meat Sauce Noodles I think):

This noodle dish costs roughly RM9 and I suppose it tastes ok but I was disappointed because I was expecting somethine more along the lines of the normal "Char Cheong Mein" with the thick noodles and the savoury sauce with minced meat.
(Arrgh - I miss the Shanghai Dumpling restaurant in Melbourne Chinatown... *sigh* They had an excellent "Char Cheong Mein")
Instead what I got was a savoury but slightly sweet sauce with chunks of meat and the normal wantan noodles....

My mum opted for the special "2 Meat Rice" dish:

Basically, for around RM9.50, you can choose 2 types of meat (roast pork, roast chicken, crispy pork, etc) to be served with your rice.

My mum had chosen the crispy pork and roast pork - I was pleasantly surprised when I stole a piece (or two). I always expect shopping center chinese food to taste bad but the pork here was pretty good.... Definately not excellent but better than average (for a shopping center).

Generally, the food there is ok - it tastes alright and is pretty affordable (you can eat there for less than RM15).

There are not many Non Halal chinese food choices in Midvalley anyway so there's really not much "competition" for it in the direct vicinity. In any case, it's worth a try... (I suppose it was always just a matter of time that this popular Singaporean chain made it's move into the Malaysian market)...
:)

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Personal