Celebrating love is never too late

You know it's the time of the year (again) when shops everywhere are starting to stock up on roses & gifts. It's the day when couples come together to celebrate love. Valentine's Day was on Monday, a working weekday which made it difficult for us to arrange dinner. Most restaurants were full & from past experience, the menu is usually limited to Valentine's Day set dinners which is extremely pricey.

WL & I decided to postpone our private dinner to Friday in order to avoid the crowd. We chose to dine at WIP, one of the restaurants cum bar at Bangsar Shopping Centre (BSC). As expected, the crowd started to build up quickly at the eateries at BSC on a Friday night. When we arrived, we were ushered to our reserved table at the corner of the restaurant. The ambient still feels warm & mellow despite the dim lights that casted dark shadows in the interior.

WIP's food menu consist of a diverse variety ranging from Western & Italian to Asian & Indian dishes. We thought it would be safer to order the usual & started of with a bowl of mushroom soup. Our favourite~ =)

Each of us ordered a main course - Chicken Corden Bleu for WL, Coastal Aglio Olio for me. And a third dish called Sake San pizza for sharing.

WL's selection was pretty unique cuz it combines both the savoury chicken ham & slightly salty cheesey flavour. Despite using chicken breast, the meat was surprisingly tender & quite juicy but lesser fat. A plus point for those avoiding oily meat. My pasta dish was uber awesome! The spaghetti was cooked al dente & the olive oil used was just nice to give its aromatic flavour. The seafood was superbly fresh & the chilli flakes really spiced up my taste buds. My only complain was it was a little too spicy for my liking. But then again, it wouldn't matter if you're a spicy lover. The pizza was wonderful too for its fresh salmon & unique taste. However, the presentation was messy & I felt this should be improved soon.

Next, we ordered some alcohol for the heck of it cuz it seemed awkward to not have one when all the tables have at least a glass or a bottle of alcohol. WL called for a glass of Classic Mojito...

...while I got myself a Lynchburg Lemonade.

Being the first time drinking a cocktail concoction, my cocktail turned out to be a tad too strong. It got me lying on the table within 30 minutes, head feeling dizzy & the urge to throw up anytime soon.

Well? I rushed to the washroom to puke anyways. :/ The night turned out to be a memorable one minus my tipsy moments. Food was amazing but pricey as expected. The ambience is not bad but it can be quite noisy at times. For me, I felt it was a little too noisy to have a private conversation cuz the fairly large crowd is busy chattering away, clinking glasses to glasses of beer, bubbly, wine, you name it.

It was a wonderful night well spent with WL. We still had to deal with the growing crowd at BSC cuz it's one of the "it" chillout location but we avoided the crazy crowd on the actual Valentine's Day. Last but not least, Happy Valentine's Day to my beloved WL! It's our 3rd time celebrating it & more to come. Love you~ *hugs & kisses*

Mass yee sang tossing

My company's CNY dinner was definitely an eye-opener. Maybe cuz back in my YHS days, we didn't have the privilege to organise extravagant dinners in conjunction with any celebration - CNY dinners, annual dinners etc. Hence, joining one of my company's usual dinners & witnessing such grandeur seemed overwhelming.

Our theme for the night was "Shanghai Night" which means everyone was expected to don a piece of traditional Chinese clothing, be it cheongsam, qipao or samfu. The dinner was held at the Grand Ballroom, Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa. Decorations just outside the ballroom was captivating with cherry blossom trees & a mini pavilion at one corner.

A Chinese orchestra was invited to perform at the cocktail area while guests arrive in a rainbow of "shanghai-ed" colours. I was surprised that the organisers recruited 4 people - 2 guys, 2 ladies - to be the model/ambassadors for the night. They were dressed in bunny themed clothings to usher the Rabbit Year. It was interesting & amusing cuz they wore bunny ears on their heads & a short tail attached to their butts. Not to mention these 4 people wore quite sexy clothings, further creating the ambience that I'm some sort of Playboy Mansion. LOL. XD

I was expecting the dinner to start off with a lion dance opening ceremony - a typical auspicious gesture for good wealth among businesses with employees & business partners of Chinese majority. Spotted is a lion dance masthead seated nicely while the troupe waited for all the VIPs to arrive.

The lion dance got into action as soon as the guests filled up the ballroom.

The dinner consist 8-course dishes served halal with a mass yee sang tossing among 53 tables of employees, agencies, suppliers & dealers alike. The variety of performances were limited to the Chinese orchestra & a special performance by one of the Miss Malaysia contestants (I think).

Overall, the dinner was okay cuz it was sorta an avenue for everyone to social around & strengthen ties. Thankfully enough, I wasn't forced to gulp a glass of beer~ =D *Phew*

First week

I've just ended my first week at my new workplace. Not surprisingly, things were going a little slow these few days cuz most people were still not back from the CNY holidays. And I supposed the first week meant getting familiarised with the operation & the key people are need to work closely in time to come. Remember names was definitely a daunting task cuz the team is just so...huge. Period.

Then there's the daily morning assembly. Yeah, you got me right. Not Monday morning assembly like our schooling days but morning gatherings among the staff & management on a daily basis. What exactly do we actually do during the assembly? We sing our company song (how patriotic!), followed by reciting the 7 principles. Finally, the speaker of the day will give a short speech about any topic...usually set by HR. The assembly lasts about 10 mins long so it's not too bad. But the constant repetition of company song will no doubt make you remember it in no time. Speaking of patrioticism, eh? Hmm...

Our company is pretty strict on information sharing & documents are not allowed to be seen lying on our desks. This means ensuring the our workstations are tidied up & stuffed to the drawers, locked them before leaving the office. Plug points must be switched off after shutting down the PC & whenever we leave the department for lunch, lights need to be switched off as well. It's our continuous effort to embrace the "eco ideas" global campaign that instills eco-friendly lifestyle among individuals, at home & workplace.

One odd culture or should I say it's a privilege that we have a tea lady who not only ensures the pantry are properly stocked up & boiling water available at all times but to have her serve your preferred drinks at your cubicle. How does she do it? She pushes a trolley containing cups filled with hot beverages & pots of various drinks ie tea, coffee, Milo & yadi yada. All we have to do is tell her what we need & she'll prepare it right away. She does it twice a day - once for morning tea & 2nd round for teatime. Trust me, I've never ordered anything - not even once from her cuz...I just couldn't adapt to this. At home, I refused anyone who even attempt to make me Milo even though they're making one for themselves. I just prefer to be independent & make my own Milo Fuze.

Sad to know that my immediate superior will be leaving soon cuz I'm afraid that I couldn't cope up. There's so many things to learn yet so little time. I guess people come & go when you least expect it, right? There's bound to be obstacles ahead but here's hoping for a good start at my new company. Wish me luck! =)

Reunion

Families hardly cook nowadays during CNY. Mainly cuz most old folks are no longer capable & the younger groups being tasked on to do the deed are avoiding the hassle of cooking large servings for everyone, especially those who lack experience. None in my family cooked on the 1st day for the past 2 years or so as we've been patronising Chinese restaurants, just like everyone else.

This year - like last year - we had our 1st day dinner at Imperial Garden, PJ. Don't be surprised by the atypical CNY set menu's poor quality cuz they're mostly prepared in advance & in large quantities. Honestly, I didn't enjoy any of the dishes cuz almost all the dishes turned cold even before it was served.

Anyways, any recall of the incident when my Grandpa was admitted for cerebral haemorrhage just weeks before CNY? It was a horrifying experience & there wasn't any CNY mood in the air. Thank God the nightmare is over & he's back to usher the new year with us.

What a frail old man he has become~ =( Cuz he refuses to eat different food. Oh well...what else can we do. *sighs* Btw, we noticed this rather huge signboard at the Ipoh Interchange. I missed out a few earlier signboards as they looked even more hilarious cuz it looks like a typography art. I'm assuming many vehicles might've drove past by accident & missing the turn to Ipoh. Hence, the enormous signboard to ensure no one misses it again!

Not to forget a rather bizarre product - a drink supplement to increase male virility~ -.-" We saw this billboard at a town while on the way to our relatives' house.

My CNY weekend pretty quickly without realising it. It was a very short break before I start my new job. There're bound to be more reunion dinners & gambling sessions with ex-colleagues, friends & family alike after this. I'll be gambling but not with my own money. It would be WL's money instead. =P Happy CNY peeps & here's hoping for a prosperous year ahead!

Farewell, YHS

After serving one month notice upon resignation, today was my last day at YHS. It wasn't exactly a memorable one cuz it was CNY eve hence almost half of the company staff were out of office. I could've bid my last farewell to all of them. Oh well...*shrugs*

I spent hours spring cleaning my cubicle; disposing lots of papers which were piling high at my drawers. So much cleaner than before but still lots to be done in order to make my workstation tidy. However, there's not much I can do since lots of old files can't be disposed. In the end, my cubicle is still as messy as before.

I sat there thinking about everything that happened in the past 2 years. How time has changed everyone of us. How many ppl have come & left. How friends or foe were made. And the number of times that I've changed my workstation.

I started off from a small cubicle at one corner...

To a bigger & more spacious workstation but at the expense of a photocopier in front.

And finally, cubicle of my own with a guest chair in front of my desk.

I'll miss my humble little cubicle. The little sanctuary hidden at one corner, peaceful enough for me to stay occupied in my work. I said my last goodbye to my employee ID before surrendering it to HR. That's the end of my chapter in YHS.

Big discounts

I was in for a panic attack as CNY nears & yet I've not gotten any shopping done. Here's a problem in my family especially my grandma who expects each & everyone of us to be clad in new clothings - top to toe - which makes shopping for something I fancy & pleasing the elderly simultaneously is getting increasingly difficult. What's more, for some odd reason the red clothings sold around this time never looked good.

Honestly, I almost gave up searching & was tempted to wear my old clothings. I decided to drop by at WH, 1U with WL to try our luck since a large placard was displayed outside the store with "Relocation Sale" printed on it. Relieved I was when I found what I wanted whereas WL only bought a few shirts cuz most of them wasn't up to his liking. Guess how much the bill turned out to be?

Much to my surprise, I enjoyed 50% discount for each item I bought. All this while, WH was not known for selling affordable apparels cuz the prices range from RM80 onwards. Apparently, WH is relocating to one floor below but will be re-branded to cater to premium market. O.O Their clothings are really not worth buying yet they plan to sell it even higher than before after the re-branding. Anyways, I have one less thing to worry now that I've also managed to grab a pair of wedges at RM29.90. Thanks to all the wonderful discounts, it made my day! =)

WL turns 28!

This year, I celebrate WL's birthday in a slightly different manner. Instead of going out for a fancy dinner at a lavish restaurant, I ended up cooking pasta for him. And prepared a surprise - which ended up not being a surprise eventually - a cake for my dearly beloved. =)

We added a little twist to the pasta dish by using pork to mix with the bolognese sauce. It's little pity that WL couldn't consume beef & since chicken in pasta sauce doesn't taste as good, we used pork for its natural fats & savoury taste. We garnished the pasta with some egg & fried a few slices of luncheon meat for variety.

Our dessert for the day was the cake, of course. This cake differs from the usual ones we purchase from bakery or cake stores. It's homemade & consists of thousands of thin layers. That's right, it's none other than mille crepe! For a start, I ordered a vanilla flavoured to try in case the other flavours aren't too convincing. The multiple crepe layers are fused together with fresh light cream & vanilla custard whereas the top layer is glazed with caramel for a smoky sugary flavour. To save cost, we collected the box at one of the pick-up points at PJ.

Once opened, the sweet aroma filled the air & there lying in the box a freshly baked vanilla mille crepe made to order for WL. However, I was quite disappointed to see a poor presentation of the cake not cuz the cake was messily done. It was the birthday greetings which looked like ugly scribblings done by an amateur using cream.

One note of advice: the cake has to be chilled at all times!! Or else the cream in between the layers will melt & the cake will end up looking like ugly goo. WL seems very please with the token I gave him =)

Upon taking a bite, the crepe & cream melts together in your mouth like butter - so soft & light. What a heavenly taste! The cake keeps you wanting more with every bite. But it does fill up your stomach pretty quickly so I bet that you can only manage at most 2-3 small slices at most. I took the first slice which is slightly bigger than medium & I got stuffed easily. By the 2nd slice, I didn't feel like eating cuz my stomach insides started to swell up; signalling to stop eating.

It was a simple, private celebration between us. WL was all smiles & I'm truly glad that he had fun. Happy Birthday sweetheart! Hope you like my arrangement on this special day of yours~ =)

Lomo-fied

I've been actively taking pics using my iPhone after downloading a pretty interesting app recently. The app is called Lomo Lomo which simulates the effects of a Lomo camera, allowing you to capture images similar to the original device.

Here's an intro for those who have no idea what Lomography is all about. This form of photography emphasizes casual & candid snapshots. The cameras used are analogue film cameras which produces overexposed, light leaks & grainy effects on the pics. These imperfections are considered art especially among Lomo enthusiasts cuz the effects give a vintage feel & personal touch to the pics.

Nothing comes cheap when it's art related. Each Lomo camera costs at least RM300 or more as it only has one type of lens for a specific filter or effect. Fortunately, Lomo has offered a cheaper alternative for us by designing an app for iPhone. It's available free for download on the App Store. I downloaded it & started snapping pics immediately. And I'm amazed by the results produced!

See the different filters that create gorgeous pics of nostalgia. =) Cool, huh?

Of course, not all things come free. If you wish to try out new filters for different effects, in-app purchases are available at $0.99 per filters. Not that I'm gonna buy them anyway cuz whatever sampler that is given is more than enough to whet my hunger for candid photography. Yay to iPhone apps!! =D

Graduating!

Some of you might already know but this is for the benefit of those who are not aware. I was offered a new job & will be starting on the 5th day of CNY. It was a big decision for me but I've decided to take up the challenge. After all, I no longer have any reason to stay & the remuneration package in my new company is not too bad.

I kept on reminding myself that if I leave any job to embark on a new career, it has to be for a good reason. Not cuz of any issues working with bosses, colleagues etc. No doubt part of the reason was due to someone, but I've a very strong reason to say that I have finally reached the maximum point of knowledge gain in my current company. There is nothing I can learn anymore even though there may be more things I could learn from my immediate superior.

Sadly, the culture in this organization doesn't encourage its employees to be bold enough to experiment & explore new ideas. The company doesn't cultivate freedom of speech & not bothered to nurture/groom talents. It's a good training ground for someone who is fresh & just graduated but a definite no-no for those who wish to expand his/her potential.

I have no regrets working in my current company for the past 2 years cuz not only it was a good training ground but it brought me the love of my life. I know you peeps are rolling your eyes but it's true. WL is no longer working here anymore but having him around in the same company is definitely the best memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. Now it's time I move on to pursue a new journey in hope of better prospect & greater learning experience.

Wish me luck! =D

New year, new resolution and...new toy?!

The new year came & passed by so quickly. Have you all set your new year resolutions? For the first time in my life, I actually thought carefully & listed out my new year resolutions. Not much, only 3 as I'm trying to avoid being too ambitious. Being realistic means at least giving me some form of assurance that my goals are achievable. That way, it makes this year a more meaningful one. =)

My 2011 resolution would be:

1. Get a new job.
2. Save more money.
3. Tidy up my junk.

Out of the 3, I have successfully achieved the first resolution for the year. Yippee! I've found a new job but I shall be keeping mum for now until everything's firmed up. =P Moving on the 2nd resolution, saving money is indeed a long term effort. I think I did ok in this aspect though there is definitely room for improvement. What's more, I think I have failed miserably. Why? Cuz I just splashed almost 3k for a brand new toy. XD I supposed the pics speak for itself.

Still not getting the idea? Then this should work.

That's riighhhttt!! I'm now the proud owner of an iPhone 4, powered by DiGi.

It wasn't a rash decision as I've been thinking of getting one but not so soon. I was using the Nokia Xpress 5800 previously owned by WL. Initially, I quite liked the phone for its good audio. Somehow the phone started to irritate me a lot cuz the OS hangs easily & its Wifi doesn't switch of even after we have manually did so. Its MSN was a nuisance cuz it doesn't receive new IMs by itself unless refreshed manually. What's more, the earpiece started going wonky as there were so many incidents when I had to receive urgent calls & I just couldn't hear the person on the other line. How frustrating!

Come New Year's Eve, me & WL were hanging out with our colleague when we came across the DiGi roadshow at the Golden Oval, 1U. I was tempted but contemplated much cuz I was supposed to only purchase it probably after CNY. And so I've decided to sign up the MNP, waited 24 hours for my network to switch from Maxis to DiGi before I went back to the roadshow to collect my phone. Thank God for the amazingly fast service. I would've died if the network is not ready & I couldn't collect it from 1U on the last day of the roadshow. Where on earth am I gonna collect my iPhone if I missed it & had to arrange a collection with the dude who services me but his office based in Kajang??

When it was my turn to collect, I was unfortunate to encounter some issues with credit card limits. It was sorted out quickly & yes, the phone is finally in my hands. Seeing the packaging somehow makes me feel both exhilarating & amazed at how slim & sleek it can be in order to store the phone.

Inside the box, there is a simplified version of the operation manual. For the complete version, you will need to download them from the net. What a smart way to save cost.

Due to the slim body & intricacies of the phone, a micro SIM is required to power the network. In order to insert/remove the SIM, a metal pin is provided to aid the process.

Every iPhone set comes with a USB cable cum charger & a handsfree earphones. Can't imagine such a compact box could fit so many items.

There you have it, a simple review about what's inside an iPhone 4 box. I'm still in the midst of getting used to typing text messages on its Qwerty keyboard & downloading the essential apps. Oh boy, I was supposed to be talking about resolutions. How far I've strayed away from the original topic. Let's get back on track. Speaking of resolutions, my 3rd resolution is to tidy up. That's err...a long-term commitment. Especially when it requires full cooperation from my roommate aka my little sis. Much of the stuff piling up high - important or trash - are basically hers. *sighs* Let's hope she'll do something about that.

As you can see, my progress in achieving my resolutions are not going too well. Haha! XD At least I've found a new job that pays higher, which eventually leads to higher chances of saving money (hopefully =P). Things should be better when I start my new job after CNY. =)

Two years

It's been two years & we're still going strong. I'm proud to say this is the 2nd time WL & I celebrated our Christmas together. One might've assumed that we would've planned for a big bang celebration or dine in at a lavish restaurant. Nothing extravagant, peeps. We only went to Riblee's on Christmas Eve, the restaurant where we celebrated my birthday. Mainly cuz their smoked ham quesadillas is so irresistible~ Yum!

On Christmas Day itself, we stayed at home most of the day. This was the best time ever spent together cuz it's only the two of us. We had Koko Krunch for breakfast - I munched happily in front of the TV while WL busily tapped on his lappie with mouthful of cereals in his mouth.

We went out for lunch at a hawker stall before dropping by at Giant for some grocery shopping. Our initial plan was to cook pasta for dinner but it was scraped off in the end. We didn't buy any ingredients to cook but instead went out for dinner at this coffee shop. I'm not particular about dining in fancy restaurants when it comes to anniversary celebration. But it was a pity that the food we ordered at that coffee shop was below expectation. After dinner, we had a drama marathon until almost 2am. XD

The next morning was pretty much the usual peaceful & quiet environment. Just both of us lazing around, making Koko Krunch for each other & sitting in front of the TV & lappie to munch away. Since we didn't managed to complete the drama series the night before, we resumed the marathon again right up to lunch hour. Not wanting disrupt our drama session, we ordered Domino's delivery. Such sinful indulgence is hard to miss! =D Without doubt, we ordered our usual selection - Aloha Chicken & Classified Chicken - NY crust & thin-crusted respectively. Yum!!

WL fetched me later in the evening & I really didn't feel like going home. It was so much fun & so relaxing. It should've been forever...*sighs* Back to reality. I still have some chores to do back home in preparation for the early CNY. We should have more anniversaries like this. =)

Holy matrimony of the rich & famous

This year is probably the year of celebrities' weddings in the local scene. The first to walk down the aisle was Andrea Fonseka with her Australian beau of 2 years at one of the 5-star hotel in KL. Such is their whirlwind romance that she has to accept & be a rather young stepmum to a 17-year-old daughter belonging to his husband & his ex-girlfriend.

Next, we have Harith Iskandar, at 44, getting hitched to doctor & part-time model, Jezamine Lim who is only 27. There's nothing much sensational about this wedding except that it's a mixed marriage & the couple's age gap is pretty far. I guess love really does transcend age, race & geographical boundaries. =)

The next wedding that I'm about to mention is not really a celebrity couple. But no doubt, the reception was celebrity laden mainly cuz the guests were mainly the rich & famous. The interesting about this marriage is that the groom is actually my cousin sis' cousin who is - if I'm not mistaken - chief creative director at 8TV. And the his beloved wife is Stephanie Caunter, sister of Marion Caunter. Sure bet that you understand what I mean celebrity laden ;). Another juicy fact to note that the groom used to date Xandria Ooi. Ain't this exciting? Keep on reading & you'll get to read even more gossipy news. =P

Perhaps it's the trend nowadays or it's the coming of age, Xandria Ooi wedded his fiance, Yuri Wang not long after my cousin sis' cousin got married. I'm guessing that both the cousin & Xandria didn't attend either weddings. Hmm, fair enough.

Lastly, news have confirmed that the much rumoured relationship between SM Nasarudin & Marion Caunter are taking to the next level - marriage. Their union was dubbed the Wedding of the Year, celebrated with much pomp & grandeur. Not only their guests were of celebrity status but many of them are politicians. As if having such influential guest list is not enough, the couple held the reception at Mandarin Oriental KL occupying the largest ballroom they've rented. Sure bet the food is extremely expensive but it made me wonder if they actually tasted good.

Since CNY 2011 is coming soon, we're sure bound to encounter or read about more interesting weddings in 2011. Let's see who will be tying the knot this year. XD

Christmas Town

The Christmas deco was put up not long after I came back from Singapore. WL & I decided to drop by one of the malls for some window shopping & to enjoy the Christmas mood. After all, the Christmas month not only gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling but it's also an important month for both of us to spend more time together. =)

We went to 1U cuz apparently the deco seems really beautiful compared to last year. I caught a glimpse of some pics posted on FB by our friend when some workers were busy setting up the decorations according to this year's theme. It did looked like townhouses. So it was true. A very Christmas townhouse with an artificial skating pond.

The townhouses are actually shops operated by some retailers to display their Christmas goodies. The buildings are not fakes; visitors are able to enter the building & also climb up to the 2nd floor.

For some odd reason, visitors were able to stand on the artificial pond when it was supposed to be off limits. Since we wanted to take pic of ourselves on the bridge, WL & his colleague had no choice but to join the crowd as well.

We took the last shot at the Christmas town before we left to show proof that we were there. =P I mean, who wouldn't want to be part of such scenic Christmas deco. We don't get this often in Malaysia & I'm proud to say that we are way better than our neighbouring country this time which is supposedly famous for hosting extravagant Christmas deco. Sad to say, there was nothing to shout about this year when I was there. The escalating inflation & economic crisis must having its toll on the deco budget.

Last but not least, an aerial view of our very own Christmas town when the coast was clear at the artificial pond.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that we'll be in for more surprises on the deco next year!