Purple has now turned blue... purple is joy, yet blue is hope!

掌握一生的幸福。。。

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

My 2014 in review...

As one grows older, we tend to appreciate life more (or perhaps I have grown old mentality). God knows. I am still grateful and blessed with what I have, living life positively and be good to own self and others. 感恩。

Things went alright with the expected in the year 2014. Had several short and long trips planned and all went well. As all of those been posted here in my blog. Learned and picked up some new knowledges and skills, some were posted here too, i.e. my air plants :)

We adopted a Pomeranian, given Foxy a friend to play and talk with. She was given away by our regular pet shop, in good cause and rescuing her. The moment we had her, her toes were all swollen and been living in fear. Not sure what happened when she was with the previous owner. While she was not too fortunate before, she wasn't with us either... her right leg was broken. :( oh sad.... but thank God, she recovered well by self-healing technique. Thanks to a kind vet's advice, saved us RM5K for the bone surgery too. Life would be difficult for her if the surgery took place, her movement will be difficult. Glad that we didn't took that move, else she will suffer for the rest of her life.

My name is QQ
On the not so positive side... I have lost 2 grandma within this same year. It was rather sad and tired in getting through those moments. But on a brighter sides, it was s little relief to their old aged suffering due to sickness. We all felt the pain for both you, but we are sure you have gone through those pain and been on a better "life" now. RIP...

On my own self... it was rather an unfortunate experience, while I had an accident over my business trip overseas. I was injured with broken ribs! Ouch.. many couldn't imagine well, but felt the pain for me. I was alright, good thing I was accompanied by a few helpful overseas colleagues and most importantly, I was calm enough to grab the ice-cubes from the nearest vending machine, apply them on my hurt ribs.. follow on with other medical procedures, to be accurate its more on inspections. Likewise doctors diagnose, no cast and nothing can be done except pain killers and self healing. Im fact, I had only 2 tables of the below Advil 200mg, my pain level was still bare able. Am I crazy? Well, I learned new things from this incident. Take precautions steps, if you would think a condition is unsafe. Well, if things had happened, accept the fact and stay strong for the next consecutive steps needed to let you recover. No point wasting time to complain... "what if... what if... won't it be not happen if..."

Besides, I get to know Panadol/Paracetamol and so are called ibuprofen in the States, they are pain reliever and anti-inflammation pill. Good knowledge for me.


To those who notice, I just too curious to learn new things and pick up some interest along my way. It's lessons in life, we just have to brave through those circumstances. Of course, support from friends and family are equally important in one's life, I would say...

Other that those incidents, I spent some of my pocket money with gadgets. One for my home lappy desk (it then turned out be a gift later on), another for my kitchen. Some might think we should well spend our hard earn money to prepare for next year's GST. On the other thoughts, shouldn't we spend now to avoid being taxed. Haha.. life goes on. At least, that was what I planned for my brand new bread maker. My next year's breakfast will rely on it for the weekly supply. :) Good thing about this breadmaker - it's smaller with just 250g as opposed with my old 1kg type, other than having its own automatic release of yeast & nuts/raisins for better timing control for the dough. I am satisfied with its result thus far.

BOSE SoundLink Mini
Breadmaker
As a closing remark, wishing all Merry Christmas! And a good start for 2015... May all be filled with love, and happy always. Stay healthy and safe always. Cheers. Little virtual token, partially self made (only the glue part :)). Bought them when I was on holiday in Taiwan.

Merry Christmas clips!

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Gardening World - My collection of Air Plant a.k.a. 空氣鳳梨

It has been a while since I last showing off my green fingers collection. Was inspired by a Gardening FB group lately, on this special species of plant. Tillandsia, believe is the scientific name of Air Plant. What's so special about it? A plant living without soil, just needed some sprinkle of water (about 3 times in a week) will suffice. Perfect for a super lazy me! By the way, they do serve as air purifier too. That means I could chuck away my Medklinn and Sharp Air Purifier?... time to tell.

Out of curiosity, I went to hunt for them at Sungai Buloh, the largest nursery in Klang Valley. Walk along the stretch of nurseries within the old Hospital area.. apparently many of them selling Air Plants. But mind you, it could price starting of RM10 to some top ranged price, for just one tiny stalk.  Some of  the stocks I found along Sungai Buloh, these are not mine.





Others at the bottom are my home collections. So far I have only handful of them. One bloomed with flowers on the every first week I took it home. Was so pleased with the pinkish purplish flowers!

Week 1
Week 2
Week 4
The other species I had was a local type.. and it bloomed too, after week 2.




Following 3 other types below, I don't think they will bloom. Seeing them healthy every day, branches out new leaves represents new life~ I am pleased they grew well off my hands. 




Looks like serai


Time for more collections? Let me find time for the garden shopping, and reading up all kinds of tips posted by those experience gardeners out there. 

Some references (Chinese) - http://twflowerangel.pixnet.net/blog/post/225617336

Friday, October 24, 2014

Dive Trip - Bubbles Dive Resort, Perhentian Island, Jun 21-24 2014

2nd dive trip of the year. It was not unusual, if timing permits, we will usually grab a trip from the yearly MIDE event. Here goes our deal for 2014 - Bubbles Resort was our choice. Indeed, it was a good choice. I will describe more later.

Some time in April, we grabbed an air ticket deal from Fire Fly with only RM78/pax round trip. Good deal! It's all inclusive of 20kg luggage, in which we need it most for diving gears. Our started off from the office after work, we headed to Subang Airport. Post check in, we walked over opposite for seafood. I made a greatest mistake just before I stepped out from office - took a pill of Vitamin C. That means, no seafood for me within 2-4 hours. Gosh!! I didn't get to enjoy my early dinner.

In order to fight tiredness, we stayed over night at a budget hotel at Kuala Besut, walking distance off jetty to Perhentian island. T-Lodge, quite some good reviews from Agoda.

There goes our wait at the jetty...

Besut jetty
Testing GoPro
Bubbles Resort location
Upon reaching the resort, we had to wait for about an hour before lunch. It was a very leisure and less crowd day. Just nice for the laid back group of ours. 9 of us, including a non-diver and an open water student. Let get around the small family operate dive resort.

Wall mural
Turtle Sanctuary and gathering room
Trail Luggage car
Lovely couple
Our room - Nearest to the jungle
Open air shower room
We enjoy each of the meal served. It was superb, extra ordinary compared to other typical resorts. They serve good quality food, diet and health conscious us will know and feel it. Selection of food were just nice, not too much and not too little. Best was NO MSG! Indeed, for real we don't taste MSG in our food. One of the lunch meal which made me remembered well was the juicy satay! The beef satay tasted like steak! Wholesome yummy! Other days, we had local food with the mixture of Western. Nasi dagang (the healthy red rice type) was a plus. We were well treated with healthy and quality food. Thumbs up!

Check in counter
Tasty satay served with wedges!
Salad wrap with pancake, gado-gado and nasi dagang
Here's the highlight of the trip. Scuba diving. Dive center was well organized, most of the dive masters were from overseas. We didn't had good experience with the Westerners in previous trips, but those in this trip was just awesome. They were real friendly, perhaps its due to the less crowded environment, and not-so-commercial attitude of the owners. We had great chat with them, great dive waiting area, lots of hammocks, and other facilities like kayak and so. It was excellent place if one likes quietness and family get-together. Owner's kids do get to play along the beach, and even in the sea kayaking. Whole lot of child-hood activities, where a typical kids today won't experience or even dreamt of.

My GoPro Hero 3 was functioning well this time. Happy me! Was able to captured some good shots, but visibility was rather low. Light was low too, some days were gloomy. We didn't get to do our last dive, which was supposed to be a night dive. Storm came by and went swept away our heart. No worries (told ourselves hard), there will be next time...

GoPro shots
More of little fishes
School of fishes
Divers too
Creative shower area
That was the storm coming!
Relaxing at the bench
Lastly, a little self-made video of the dive trip. Sorry for the shaky and low quality video, as I was too eager to produce it fast :)


It was a 4D3N trip. Upon checking out on the last day, we had our lunch at Kuala Besut before heading out to Kota Bahru. I had lunch here several years ago... when I had my other dive trip for AOW certification. The restaurant serves Vietnam coffee, it was my first trial with the little tool. Kinda exciting. Coffee after meal is a blessing.

Seafood Lunch 
Our dishes 
Vietnam Coffee
Coffee for all of us 
Our hired van 
Lastly - Flight off
I kinda missed Bubbles Dive resort. Had a mixed feeling if we should be trying other resorts next year, or continue to visit this place again.. till then, hope we have decided for our next year 2015 dive calendar.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Weekend Trip - Annual Durian Trip to Balik Pulau, Penang, June 2014

Welcome back... myself in blogging. Well accompanied with my new Bose SoundLink Mini :)

I have been going through my photo album back and forth, looks like I didn't have chance to utilize my Olympus mirrorless camera as much as I wish. Honestly, I still have not get good grasp with the shutter, still prefer my old DSLR.

Nevertheless, managed to get hold with my camera during this trip. Being a back seat passenger can be rather relaxing. The weekend trip was rather simple. Mission : Durian eating at Balik Pulau, any corner, everywhere, as much as we could... which we all ended with a surrender flag! No more durian for the next few days!
Passing By Ipoh

By the evening, after work. We headed up north. Stopped by Bukit Tambun's Jetty Seafood (船头海鲜楼)  for dinner. Food was not bad, perhaps we were very hungry at that time. The kuah-less satay selling next door tasted good. 

As we approaching Balik Pulau late night. Not many choices for durian stall left. The first stop for durian was at Durian Pak Haji Balik Pulau. After getting the first fix, the second came right after our check-in to the host's home. Oh dear.. full supper.

Next morning, thank God our brunch was not durian. Balik Pulau market's food stall was our one-stop shop for Penang street food. But, our dessert right after brunch was durian. This will be the entire highlight of the trip! We were spoilt with many fresh durians, especially those famous breed of Balik Pulau. Eating varieties of durian must come with sequence. We we taught on how to enjoy it from the mildest, to the strongest. Session was really enjoyable, but to taste till the last bit of strongest... It caused us close to alcohol hangover, seriously... Some breed which I still remember, i.e. 青皮,紅蝦,林鳳嬌,林鳳嬌女兒。。can't remember the rest.

Durian orchard visit

Mid day
Little Durian tree
Durian on the tree
What's this? .. Buah Pala
Ops! It's ripe
Time to enjoy fresh Durian
Orchard Doggie
Little sight seeing around Balik Pulau. I couldn't remember the name of the place.

Scenic afternoon
Wave was rough.. somewhere facing Andaman
Paddy fields
Time was too early for dinner. We tried exploring some hilly road up to Bukit Genting. This place was recommended by our host before. End results, the place was unexpectedly scenic, but food was so-so. They served Thai dishes, simple us find it's alright... the sunset view was superb, overlooking the sea and paddy fields. Bukit Genting Hill Leisure Park & Restaurant (小云顶中泰海鲜)

Shy sunset
Garden below the restaurant
The restaurant
Sunset
Water Chestnut.. not at par
Green curry chicken
Stuffed crab
Belacan Fried Rice
Late evening view
Scenic ya!
Ops... our food didn't end there. We headed for some snacks back at Balik Pulau town.  Balik Pulau Eng Lee Fried Chicken 

Hope to return again, next year.