S̄wạs̄dīka, Wantan Noodles

Introducing Wanton Mee Hat Yai Version @ Lee Garden Hawker Centre @ 350 Baht
It was a magical combination. Delicious soft veggie noodles coupled with meaty deco. Unlike the Penang version, the wantan was not particular delicious but the meatball was awesome and the brown unknown food was incomparable. Scanty portion, which makes you crave for more!

4/5 star-rated

Review: O'slee Rosehip Complete Eye Cream

Oh-I-ain't-young-anymore-conscious, unavoidable addiction as a to Mark Zuckerberg's creation (Or not his?) and the shrinking cum darken of my charming eyes like many aging ladies have prompted me to become one of the preys of the skincare industry. I swear to myself that I can't wait till my fine lines are out. Thus, I have started my eye care regime with O'slee Roseship Eye Cream (RM59.90 for 15ml).

That's not my leg!! >.<

Review: Now that I have been using it for the past 3 months, I must say that the effect isn't obvious. However, it does manage to moisturize the areas surrounding my eyes and thus, NO FINE LINES!!!! At the same time, seeds do not grow and I do not feel oily after using this eye cream. My dark circles are yet to be reduced though I can see my eyes are instantly revitalized after each application (guess it is due to the ingredient of caffeine). But as I said, it is just not obvious! However, I did read from somewhere that this kind of eye cream is exactly what people of my age need.

Just like the sleeping mask, the scent is most favorable though it could be detriment to the skin. Another perk is that stop using the eye cream would not worsen my eyes condition.

Also, the price is affordable though not cheap.

Re-purchase: I guess the skincare industry still has much to offer as I am still a beginner. Of cause I wish to test out other eye creams as well. So, its a "No" for now!

Back to the Past: Penang Peranakan Mansion a.k.a Green House

The year of Rabbit 2011 marks the 24th year I live on the Pearl of Orient (old liao=.=). It has never appeared in my wildest dream that there is such a place. A complete recollection of the residence of affluent Babas and Nyonyas (which is the remnants of Chinese mixed Malays who do not profess Islam). A close resemblance to the old house in Macalister Road I spent most of my childhood (except that the antic furniture was not that ELABORATE.. probably my ancestors are poor Babas & Nyonyas). This is the Pinang Peranakan Mansion @ Church Street I found out lately.

Does this courtyard reminds you of any drama??
Yes, it has appeared in one of the local dramas.
That's Hui Liy, who hailed all da way from KL, just for this mansion. : )

This is a graduation words of wisdom to Phoey.

Diligence is the key to a successful career. And Thriftiness leads to prosperity. The way the Peranakan educated their descendants.

I was trying to sharpen my photography skills. Ke ke ke ke!!

Tok Panjang in the "Little Nyonya"series. There are two mirrors at each side of the room, and the master of the household (who sit @ the place where I sat) could have the entire view of the house. O ya, only family members dine on this table.

Equality is one thing you can't find in a Peranakan family then. The sophisticated room on the right belonged to a son (and the Gong was used to summon maids.. wow!!) and the simpler room on the left was owned by a daughter.

Playing "Zhi-ki" (Your poker today) ..
The amah in "Little Nyonya" also played this for pleasure.

Post-visit Remarks:

Pro: We absolutely enjoyed the entire tour. Every single moment. Feeling as though we have gone back to the end 19th century, we were enchanted by the tales behind every piece of chair and the expression of every person in the murals and photos. Whatsmore, the tour guide was so knowledgeable, meticulous and rather patient. (Ask for a guided tour, or else it would be like visiting Manchester Stadium without knowing what the heck is MU) And the location was strategic. Must-gos for its photography & historical values. We spent almost 2 hours there. LOLz

Cons: It cost us RM10!!! The promotion to the locals, especially Penangites, was extremely limited that my mom has never heard of it =.=. And they sort of forcefully persuaded us to buy Nyonya kuih-muih. Of cause, we didn't.

Laughing with Dusty: Hoo Hoo Haa Haa .. Yeah!!

Stressed out? Frustrated with credit card bills? Had a bad patch with your other half or fussy colleagues? All you have to do is to laugh out aloud. In other words, to undergo laughter therapy - to laugh for nothing. :-D

Dusty the laughter trainer & I
(O ya I din't gain any weight anyway ... its just a matter of angle! >.<)

Laughter therapy originates from Indian & its called laughing yoga (cool huh?) The benefit of laughing is borderless and I can only remember one which 10minutes of laughing is equivalent to dunno how many minutes of walking, and thus it is good to keep you in shape (Dusty's look speaks of this, as she's 50-year-old mom with a 20-year-old daughter) and chase away unanticipated ailment.

Some examples of laughter therapy I could recall include:
1) Fake laughing by mimicking the Hoo Hoo Haa Haa sound, cheating your brain to believe that you are happy, then you become happy : D

2) Laugh & breath at the same time. Your inhale must be shorter that exhale. You know, to get rid of the CO2, you are out of stress promptly!

3) Love your body! Every part of it!

4) Sawadika Ha Ha Ha ... Ha Ha Ha Ha Looo.... Yeah!!

5) Motion laughter - to attach movement with laughter. E.g. making a circle and co-operate to laugh together

6) Cry laughing ... woo woo wooo ha ha ha ha ... looking at your credit card bills and laugh your heart out (hmmmm..)

Kudos to Hospice Home Penang (Rumah Hospis ) for organizing such a superb session!!!
In addition to meeting tones of cheerful volunteers...

Post-therapy Remarks: I have emerged as a positively empowered person and was actually stress-free for couple of hours. However, it is not very practicable daily as mom & even my neighbours would have thought that I am nuts laughing out so kuat, regardless of how effective the therapy actually is... HAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHAH... but it is very suitable as an energizer during group programmes

Indians are simply amazing!

Forgive me for sounding racist. Oppression and prejudice against women in India were way serious than in Malaysia then. But their spirit to go against all odds was nothing less than Malaysians. Much much more, as a matter of fact.

Don't forget to check this out!

But... I don't have enough cash

Firstly, the sales girl wasn't me..

Me: Can I pay this cardigan using credit/ debit card/ MEPS cash?

Sales Girl: Yes, with at least minimum RM50 purchase. (A stupid breakable rule)

Me: But... I don't have enough cash... and I really really adore this cardigan... please let me use la!!

Sales Girl: OK la, you can use

Me: :->

So, the next time you are on a spend-thrift & are short of cash & are too lazy to queue up for an ATM machine .. just use this trick..

Successful rate: unknown

Dead Men Tell No Lies

There is a time to live and a time to die. If you own some savings in da bank or 1 Malaysia Trust Fund (because you are so damn lucky that the govt granted you 100 units upon uni entrance), have a few hundred bucks of EPF or SOCSO, possess a Myvi or a motorbike under your name, carry a Canon D500 or iPhone4, and hope that those stuffs go to some specific person e.g. your concubine or BF or even BFF upon your sudden leaving of real world - you ought to have a WILL (wasiat) to kuasa the same. At the same time, owning too many wills causes fuss to your loved ones e.g. died leaving 2 wills

Layman: I wished I did not die... sigh~

Fairy: It is very wrong for you to be greedy, you know .. for you have lived for the past 65 years..

Layman: I died leaving 2 wills ... 2 wills are totally different ... sigh~

Fairy: Ok, then the 2nd will is the valid one lor : ) ( as per Re Palmer's Goods)

Layman: The 2nd will was thumb-printed instead of signed wor... sigh~

Fairy: No worries .. Thumb-print is a valid signature : ) ( as per Thiang Kai Goh v. Yee Bee Eng)

Layman : The 2nd will was not made by lawyers ...sigh~

Fairy: Who cares, as long as it is in writing, signed by you, attested by 2 witnesses, when you are sane, and when you are over 18 years old : ) (S5(1) Wills Act 1959)

Layman: I hope I can rest in peace then ... sigh~

Fairy: You could, as long as there is no vitiating factors such as you were mentally-ill (as per Re Ng Toh Pew deceased)

Layman: Sigh~

In short, make sure you scribble something on a piece of paper or on your shoes or purse before you die, as that could be a will too, if you are too stingy to have a will written by a lawyer. : )

Once in a Lifetime

18.12.2010 - Red Box Karaoke 1st Avenue, the philanthropist of the week blasted Penangites with this promo whereby you can scream your heart out with just RM1 (complimentary 1 beverage + 1 meal/pax). Provided that you are one of the first 50 persons per session.

18.12.2010 - I did something Penangites don't always do and I vouched to be one of the 50 lucky persons during the 10am session.

Excited as we were, I, HZ, MC and SP went as early as 7.30am to queue for our lucks. Regardless of mom's refusal and friends' mocking, we went anyway, for the reason we live only once. Anyway, there were already 30+ people lining up =.= . So, Penangites aren't as laid-back or un-kiasu at all .. And since it was hours away from the session, we played Doraemon UNO.. until something happened and we no longer had any mood to continue with the game.

Above are the crazy 4 final semester students (the one holding the phone was included) in the queue. Despite the incident, we managed to go in. We paid only RM4.40 for the 2-hour session. And I shall conclude the session was fun and worth the long-wait + embarrassment. Special thanks to HZ's mommy & SP's vouchers. After all, we were all winners for the UNO games & the singing (or SCREAMING.. keke)

Shall I do it again in the near future? I will take serious consideration:-)

Review: Herbaline Nano Pimples Cream

Cons: Highly priced at RM88 (or RM80) for 20g, Herbaline Pimples Cream does not work magic on me like it has worked for Lili. Based on my approx 2-month experience, pimples would subside in 3-4 days' period after day + night application. Since I am instructed to spread it evenly on my face, and it does not prevent the growth of new pimples. The amount used on each pimple is substantial. Also due to my skin color, I actually looked pretty pale after applying it.

Pros: The scent is decent, J'adore! It is a perfect concealer I would say as scars can be perfectly covered. Not diminished though it is promised that it would lighten scars.

Repurchase? I definitely don't think so ... : )

Errr ...I'm a lawyer!

One of the perks of working as Scott Brand Ambassador @ Jom Heboh TV3 2010 was that I got to distribute orange balloons to kids. Believe me, it's the most self-fulfilling & confidence-boosting task ever. When you appear from the booth with a bunch of orange balloons, you command great attention when kids and parents would surround you like a swam of bees and endeavour to grab balloons from you. Just love the task! Anyway, there's this man who came to me when I was doing my job.

Pak Cik: Can I have a balloon for my son (while his son looked @ me innocently)

Me: I'm sorry as our balloons are strictly for customers only. (Then, I began to promote the cheapest package available)

Pak Cik: Ah moi, please la! I am a police man. (softly he uttered, or should I say coerced?)

Me: errr ... I am a lawyer!!

Pak Cik: ....(Speechless and left)


LOLZZ!!