今年，決定給自己來一個心情寫作。給潛意識中的我，一個擁抱。
－ 感謝我自己，不斷努力維持生活，也不忘了快樂
－ 感謝我家人，給我一個家
－ 感謝我朋友（沒有多少個），給與我關懷與笑容
－ 感謝我的伴，一路來的陪伴
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Coffee Machine
Honestly, it wasn't my idea to get one of such high maintenance toy! I had been the victim for such machine. As much as it could serve, I need to clean them up each time it gets into use.
Well, I told myself 'who knows I am going to be a barista' soon? This is my training ground for making a good coffee in future. And well enough, this require lots of 'trial & error'. All started with you tubing, I tried with a ready grained coffee powder which was meant for filtered coffee.
And well enough, the spending partner did his homework too, asked around from some experts, bought a few packets of grounded coffee bean, including the Illy Arabica, which then finally went perfect with my coffee machine.
There are just a lot to learn. In order to make a fresher coffee, selecting the right bean is a wide range of knowledge. This made me needed to buy several other accessories - coffee bean grinder, stopper, milk froster mug, thermometer, coffee cups an saucer and a set of glass for my favourite Afagato.
The family of coffee machine started with this, Philips Saeco's HD8325/08 manual expresso machine. No build grinder, and it is ever basic. To me, it has been ever complicated to operate, it failed me couple of times, when I first used the BON filtered coffee grained pack.
I soon tried you-tubing, and this movie helped me a lot. Especially on the milk frosting part. :)
The companion of coffee machine started with these 2 sets of cups from Ikea (in fact I broke 1 cup before, and replaced it). I specially bought a set of small glasses for my favorite Afogato (coffee with Vanilla ice-cream) on the visit for the replacement cup.
Well, I told myself 'who knows I am going to be a barista' soon? This is my training ground for making a good coffee in future. And well enough, this require lots of 'trial & error'. All started with you tubing, I tried with a ready grained coffee powder which was meant for filtered coffee.
And well enough, the spending partner did his homework too, asked around from some experts, bought a few packets of grounded coffee bean, including the Illy Arabica, which then finally went perfect with my coffee machine.
There are just a lot to learn. In order to make a fresher coffee, selecting the right bean is a wide range of knowledge. This made me needed to buy several other accessories - coffee bean grinder, stopper, milk froster mug, thermometer, coffee cups an saucer and a set of glass for my favourite Afagato.
The family of coffee machine started with this, Philips Saeco's HD8325/08 manual expresso machine. No build grinder, and it is ever basic. To me, it has been ever complicated to operate, it failed me couple of times, when I first used the BON filtered coffee grained pack.
 |
| Philips Saeco |
The companion of coffee machine started with these 2 sets of cups from Ikea (in fact I broke 1 cup before, and replaced it). I specially bought a set of small glasses for my favorite Afogato (coffee with Vanilla ice-cream) on the visit for the replacement cup.
 |
| Ikea Cups |
 |
| Ikea Glasses |
My coffee accessories then further increased with the addition of a entry level Coffee bean grinder, the Krup F203. All the way from US, and it is important to check the input voltage of the machine, a regulator is usually needed for US electrical stuffs. I needed one with the price of RM30. Thanks to a colleague who usually helped me as US courier-man, and even for Tokyo courier services too. I think this machine cost me closed to $20, while I had other accessories which made a total slightly above $25, a presser, a thermometer and a small milk froster mug.
 |
| Coffee bean / spice grinder |
 |
| The accessories |
My 1st trial on the grinder. The bean wasn't fine enough, and it is manual, been difficult for me to handle its level of finest. So far, I am still practicing it with some cheaper beans I got from Chiang Mai BON cafe. More practice required... where I hope practice makes perfect.
 |
| BON cafe dark mocca bean |
 |
| The beans |
 |
| The grinded effect |
Some tasty coffee I have tried at home.
 |
| Afogato with Free Mori bread |
 |
| Cappucino with Arthur's Crepe Cakes |
 |
| The classic look |
Herbaline's Butterfly Threading
This marked my first ever experience with Butterfly Threading facial. Thanks to the available treatment from my ever trusted beauty facial saloon, and of course a friend who introduced such kind of facial treatment many years ago (mind you, he's a guy!) It was an extra ordinary experience with such treatment, compared to normal facial treatment.
 |
| Herbaline leaflet |
Watch the video which well explains how it was done. A layer of powder was placed and the true thread artwork starts after that. Be mindful, it was real painful, especially for me as a first timer. Tears went off a couple of times, till I really prayed how long else it will finish. The threading itself took me almost 30min. Then it continued with face massage (gua-sa 刮痧), I love this to the max! With the soft aloe vera gel they used, it had been so cooling plus the massage that came by with the jade stone. It was a true pampering one, the cooling gel helped soothing my skin.
For full information, check out their website here.
What's the effect and feel out from it. I couldn't explain much at this point of time... except kind of itchy once a while, I would say my face feels fresh. The beautician said I would need to apply more moisturizer in order to avoid dryness. So, I'd need to be more hardworking for the next 3 days. :)
Saturday, September 1, 2012
女王 - 愛自己
看完了沒？還沒呢！哪，為何開始做評論了呢？
不曉得，今天時間多的是。開始想想自己的未來，自己的夢想，是否沿途中走向往了合適的道路，連接那個美麗天堂。想了很多，連我按摩師今天也說我的腦袋呀。。。快要膨脹了！嘻嘻，有那麼厲害嗎，說真的，覺得也有一絲絲的疼痛。
1，說真的，這本書帶給我很多靈感和感觸。引導我想闖入兩性作家的領域。（哈哈！想的天真，我哪有文筆的才華呢？）
2， 一旦，讓我問了自己很多問題？很多要對自己更好的理由。（雖然自己已達到了80％，但還硬要補充自己的天份，讓自己過的人生更精彩，更有意義）
3，本性內向與孤獨的我，是否有更好的解決辦法，讓我心靈的話，一一的分享到世界每一個角落（既然再也找不到分享的對象）。寫作應該蠻不錯吧！。。。嘻嘻，又發夢了！
3，好讓我認為，女性天生聰明。享有多彩天份，可以更愛自己。毅力和堅強的自我考驗，尤其是心靈上，真的值得敬佩。
不曉得，今天時間多的是。開始想想自己的未來，自己的夢想，是否沿途中走向往了合適的道路，連接那個美麗天堂。想了很多，連我按摩師今天也說我的腦袋呀。。。快要膨脹了！嘻嘻，有那麼厲害嗎，說真的，覺得也有一絲絲的疼痛。
1，說真的，這本書帶給我很多靈感和感觸。引導我想闖入兩性作家的領域。（哈哈！想的天真，我哪有文筆的才華呢？）
2， 一旦，讓我問了自己很多問題？很多要對自己更好的理由。（雖然自己已達到了80％，但還硬要補充自己的天份，讓自己過的人生更精彩，更有意義）
3，本性內向與孤獨的我，是否有更好的解決辦法，讓我心靈的話，一一的分享到世界每一個角落（既然再也找不到分享的對象）。寫作應該蠻不錯吧！。。。嘻嘻，又發夢了！
3，好讓我認為，女性天生聰明。享有多彩天份，可以更愛自己。毅力和堅強的自我考驗，尤其是心靈上，真的值得敬佩。
 |
| 女王－ 愛自己 |
“報告完畢”，有結論嗎？好像沒呢。。。還說要寫作，還是發個夢吧！^-^
Sunday, August 26, 2012
DIY - Homemade Salted Duck Egg
Bought these duck eggs from Balik Pulau's fresh market some time ago. It was relatively cheap there, about RM0.60/each, as compared to here for about RM1.00/each.
I remembered browsing through the newspaper before, for some recipe involved. Searched through the internet (again) for a recipe to follow, as I could have misplaced those newspaper cuttings. Roughly found some quick one to follow, rather stumble la!
Apparently they are many method in making, be it dry or wet type. I choose the wet and soak type.
Quick steps, which I could still remember:
1) Wash and brush the eggs clean, keep them to dry
2) Boil about 1 litre of water. (there are many times and spices you could use to prepare the salted liquid). I choose to use English breakfast tea with red chili for its flavoring. Boil them with rock salt (I used 2 small packet of rock salt, it was slightly too salty. Perhaps 1 packet of 100gm salt is good enough).
3) After boiling for 5min, cool them down.
4) Prepare a glass container to place the egg.
5) Once the salted liquid has completely cool down, pour them into the glass container with eggs.
6) Keep them in cool dry place for about 3 weeks.
Here's my result. It was perfectly made. Except for the slightly over salty to my taste, and its look! ;)
Texture after cooked was alright. The egg skin was rather brownish, all thanks to the tea color. I would change other flavoring next time.
I remembered browsing through the newspaper before, for some recipe involved. Searched through the internet (again) for a recipe to follow, as I could have misplaced those newspaper cuttings. Roughly found some quick one to follow, rather stumble la!
Apparently they are many method in making, be it dry or wet type. I choose the wet and soak type.
Quick steps, which I could still remember:
1) Wash and brush the eggs clean, keep them to dry
2) Boil about 1 litre of water. (there are many times and spices you could use to prepare the salted liquid). I choose to use English breakfast tea with red chili for its flavoring. Boil them with rock salt (I used 2 small packet of rock salt, it was slightly too salty. Perhaps 1 packet of 100gm salt is good enough).
3) After boiling for 5min, cool them down.
4) Prepare a glass container to place the egg.
5) Once the salted liquid has completely cool down, pour them into the glass container with eggs.
6) Keep them in cool dry place for about 3 weeks.
Here's my result. It was perfectly made. Except for the slightly over salty to my taste, and its look! ;)
Texture after cooked was alright. The egg skin was rather brownish, all thanks to the tea color. I would change other flavoring next time.
 |
| Brownish Eggs |
 |
| After Boiled |
 |
| Going with my fried rice |
 |
| Ta-da, ready for my meal |
Some Recipe I went through (in Chinese):-
Happy trying :)
Monday, August 20, 2012
Dive trip to Perhentian Island, Jul 20 - 23 2012
Another dive trip for the year. I have been dragging in completing my Advanced Openwater Diver license for the past several years, this time round I finally found a buddy to complete the course with.
I didn't prepare well for the tests at all, in such I was little disturbed during the exams. To be exact, I didn't study my course material until the night I camped at my friend's house. We were all camped at her place, as we took an early flight in to Kota Bahru the very next morning, 630am.
We settled ourselves at Arwana Resort, Perhentian Besar. We didn't have much expectation of this resort, though they have better facilities. In fact I was told the facilities were much better 3 years ago. Oh well, Malaysian service and maintenance always stayed at the same level of expectation. Meals were not included of the stay, except for breakfast. We need to grab our food from nearby stalls, be it lunch and dinner.
Oh.. back to on my dive test. Some of my test went well, except for buoyancy which I had earlier confessed to my instructor which I may not do it well, indeed that happened. I was disturbed with a deep dive planned earlier, as I could not gt down into the water, God knows why...
Fortunate enough, my night dive was good and I did my navigation well. Though it was total darkness during night dive, but the use I torch was kinda interesting. Only down side was the inability to sense your surrounding.
Overall, the trip was good, mainly because we choose to fly. That safe lots of energy and made us less tired.
I didn't have many picture taken during this trip. Unlike my other dive mates in which they all have UW camera with them to play with. I don't as I am yet to master my UW handling skills.
Some pictures were taken while waiting for our meals, particularly dinner.
I didn't prepare well for the tests at all, in such I was little disturbed during the exams. To be exact, I didn't study my course material until the night I camped at my friend's house. We were all camped at her place, as we took an early flight in to Kota Bahru the very next morning, 630am.
We settled ourselves at Arwana Resort, Perhentian Besar. We didn't have much expectation of this resort, though they have better facilities. In fact I was told the facilities were much better 3 years ago. Oh well, Malaysian service and maintenance always stayed at the same level of expectation. Meals were not included of the stay, except for breakfast. We need to grab our food from nearby stalls, be it lunch and dinner.
 |
| View from Arwana Lobby |
 |
| From our room |
Oh.. back to on my dive test. Some of my test went well, except for buoyancy which I had earlier confessed to my instructor which I may not do it well, indeed that happened. I was disturbed with a deep dive planned earlier, as I could not gt down into the water, God knows why...
Fortunate enough, my night dive was good and I did my navigation well. Though it was total darkness during night dive, but the use I torch was kinda interesting. Only down side was the inability to sense your surrounding.
Overall, the trip was good, mainly because we choose to fly. That safe lots of energy and made us less tired.
I didn't have many picture taken during this trip. Unlike my other dive mates in which they all have UW camera with them to play with. I don't as I am yet to master my UW handling skills.
Some pictures were taken while waiting for our meals, particularly dinner.
 |
| 1st nite BBQ dinner |
 |
| Candle lighted dinner |
 |
| Satay was nice |
 |
| Overall dinner |
I could not remember what we had for dinner the 2nd night.
But I can definitely remember we had BBQ eat-all-we-can dinner for RM29ish/each on the last night. We had our dinner at Flora Bay's restaurant, and was told the place been newly renovated. It was clean.
 |
| On the way walking to dinner place |
 |
| Hazard |
 |
| Dinner buffet - all grilled |
That marked the end of my dive trip. The visibility throughout the 3 days dive were not good, barely 5M. However, the experience was good. We went Sugar Wreck for wreck dive, and Tokong Laut for deep dive. Terumbu Tiga (T3) was pretty interesting, where I was asked to go through many 'holes', its was in fact the many gabs in between the stones area. We basically hang on to the walls, and my buddy almost lost his GoPro camera when I was struggling for a second while air trapped into my pocket BCD. In fact, I wasn't not comfortable with the rented BCD I had from the dive shop in KL, but what to do as I have to hang on to it throughout the trip. Sad.
Getting ready for my next deep dive trip... Hmmm... can't wait and count down to it. It will be a lovely heavenly and romantic place to dive. :)
Singapore, Jul 15 - 18 2012
Month of July wasn't easy, in can be exciting either way. I have been rushing a few spots, piled at work, study cum training, and lastly a stressful dive trip.
Nevertheless, I made it through! Am glad time had passed. This trip to Singapore was rather lonely, oh no.. I should say I didn't engage anyone except a couple. Hence, my day was rather filled with training and work.
Capturing here, will be all foods I managed to rip over this trip. I was rather adventurous this time , though I have been dining alone most of the time, except the first day.
Food hunt started right after touched down. Met up with a couple which we earlier intended to grab dim sum for tea. We tried East Ocean restaurant at Shaw but later noticed they had shifted to Ngee Ann plaza. Alright, by the time we reached there, it was then closed between 3-6pm something like that. We then headed to PAUL instead. A French tea place, I was rather excited since I don't really have the chance to dine French in KL. I had coffee with Macaroon set, plus fruit pies to share, as well as a savoury to share. It was good!
Takashimaya was our next stop, and ta-da... what's this?
Our plan wasn't fix. As we were planning to dine at a Japanese restaurant , we ended up stumbled into a ramen shop at Raffles City Mall - Menya Mushashi (food blog here), it seems famous for its black ramen, but none of us went for that. Soup base was alright, noodle was nice, somewhat better than KL's ramen. With that we ended the met up, and I had to get ready for my 3 days headache with study.
Upon checking in to Grand Hyatt Singapore, I was disappointed this time round, as I was given the back building, without the usual split rooms I used to have on the front building. I wasn't comfortable on the 1st nite though. Slowly adjust to the room on day 2 onwards.
My lunch during training was rather simple, every meals in the nearby food court. My course mates were very friendly, mostly Singaporean and one Arabian.
My breakfast was rather plain most of the time, as I don't really like dining alone for buffet. So, I rather hit to nearest McD for breakie, or grab some buns on the way to the training center. There was once I sat myself in a cafe nearby my training place. Had a bagel and coffee. This coffee shop named Black, decorated with many old-timer sofas, especially those seen in the 1970s or 80s - interesting.
1st dinner - Tony Roma's which supposed to dine with a traveling colleague, I ended up alone. Baby pork ribs was tasty, the portion went just nice for me. Yummmy!
2nd dinner - Ippudo ramen @ Mandrin Gallery. This was superb too! Soup and noodle was so tasty, topped with an egg too. No wonder it's one of the famous ramen in town.
3rd dinner - alright, heading home and grabbed some salad at a Sport's baron Changi Airport.
There goes my nice meals. Oh no! I'm hungry now! Till the next time... Singapore, I have yet visit Marina Sand Bay and Universal Studio!
Nevertheless, I made it through! Am glad time had passed. This trip to Singapore was rather lonely, oh no.. I should say I didn't engage anyone except a couple. Hence, my day was rather filled with training and work.
Capturing here, will be all foods I managed to rip over this trip. I was rather adventurous this time , though I have been dining alone most of the time, except the first day.
 |
| An upgraded economy class seat on MH |
Food hunt started right after touched down. Met up with a couple which we earlier intended to grab dim sum for tea. We tried East Ocean restaurant at Shaw but later noticed they had shifted to Ngee Ann plaza. Alright, by the time we reached there, it was then closed between 3-6pm something like that. We then headed to PAUL instead. A French tea place, I was rather excited since I don't really have the chance to dine French in KL. I had coffee with Macaroon set, plus fruit pies to share, as well as a savoury to share. It was good!
 |
| Coffee & macaroon set |
 |
| Fruits Pie |
 |
| Biker's helmet in pink |
 |
| Menya Mushashi @ Raffles City Mall |
 |
| Menya Mushashi Ramen |
 |
| Chilling |
 |
| The room |
My lunch during training was rather simple, every meals in the nearby food court. My course mates were very friendly, mostly Singaporean and one Arabian.
My breakfast was rather plain most of the time, as I don't really like dining alone for buffet. So, I rather hit to nearest McD for breakie, or grab some buns on the way to the training center. There was once I sat myself in a cafe nearby my training place. Had a bagel and coffee. This coffee shop named Black, decorated with many old-timer sofas, especially those seen in the 1970s or 80s - interesting.
 |
| Sofas |
 |
| Bagel with coffee |
 |
| Dinner @ Tony Romas |
  |
| Baby Pork "ribs" - before & after |
 |
| Ippudo @ Mandrin Gallery |
 |
| Ippudo's classy interior |
 |
| The Ippudo Ramen |
3rd dinner - alright, heading home and grabbed some salad at a Sport's baron Changi Airport.
 |
| Simple salad |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)