Lemon, oh Lemon

Today I tried another traditional homemade remedy for cough after a fellow blogger gave me this tip.

WestGirl says the simple remedy for dry heaty cough is drinking warm water with lemon juice.  She says I can add a teaspoon of Manuka honey if I like. 

And like the garlic with honey mixture which I tried yesterday, this one is also  dazzingly delicious. I'm going to have another glass after my dinner.

Here's a link to the benefits of drinking warm lemon water.

ENGLISH VERSION and MANDARIN VERSION of Lemon Tree

A Spoonful of Honey with Garlic

As cough syrup makes me feel drowsy, I decided to try something traditional.  It was my friend Mary who suggested trying the garlic with honey mixture to cure my cough.  This morning Nona Shella prepared it for me.

Shella pounded four cloves of garlic, before squeezing the juice out.

That's Mary at the centre of the pic flanked by Shella (left) and the crazy cougher yours truly.

It was "sedap gila" (yummilicious) --- the garlic honey mixture --- way better than cough syrup.  It warms the throat as the mixture goes down.  Hmm.

Garlic, a herb commonly used to season the cooking oil when frying or in soups, is known to treat a wide range of ailment.  Among them, bronchitis, hypertension, liver disorders, flatulence, colic and fever.  It is also used to prevent cancer.

Christmas Three

with Lynn Mazlina A. Majid and Mary Victoria Dass.

Many thanks to Mary, her mom and the rest of the wonderful Dass family for the kind hospitality in their home yesterday.  We were there with Taufik Salimin, and we all enjoyed the delicious meal prepared by Mary's Mom.

Need to rest now.  Selamat Malam.

The Vow of Kai and Mika

"...that all we can ask is that we leave it having loved, and being loved." 

from the novelization of "47 Ronin" by Joan D Vinge

I love the epic 47 Ronin.  It was sheer visual splendour.  I've always been fascinated with stories that have shape shifters, sorcerers and witches. The CGI effects was done just right, not over-the-top.

I don't totally disagree when people say Keanu Reeves's acting is "wooden", or that he and Kou Shibasaki who played his love interest in the movie, lacks chemistry.

In spite of that, I still enjoyed the film that depicts courage, loyalty and honour.  Such qualities are indeed rare.

The tale is about a band of samurai warriors who lost their master, and became a ronin.  They vowed to avenge their master's death, even if it meant they would eventually have to die to achieve this. To garner such steadfast loyalty, Lord Asano must have been a leader who had earned the respect of his men.

But what stirred me even more was the vow made by Kai (played by Keanu Reeves) and Mika (Kou Shibasaki).

Kai said: "I will search for you through a thousand worlds, and 10,000 lifetimes until I find you."

"And I will wait for you in all of them..." was Mika's reply.

It may be mushy, but that scene just melts my heart.  What if.... they do come back, and in all the lifetimes, they came back in different forms with multiple character flaws?  For instance, Kai came back as handsome as his former self but he isn't the gallant warrior anymore.  He's a selfish bloke with pent-up angst and anger.  And he doesn't treat women with much respect.

And Mika was reincarnated not as her former virtuous nor ravishing self, but someone with tonnes of negative traits.  But because of the vow, they meet again.  Will true love prevail and stand the test of time?

I would love to think YES.  True love will conquer all, no?

Lil' Bits of Heaven

Pix by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

Vietnamese beauties (from left) Lam Huyn Bich, Trang Truon Anh and Nguyen Thi Thuo Hien were busy shopping for Christmas hats and headbands at the Johor Baru City Square on Christmas eve for a big Malaysian Yultide celebration tomorrow.

Pix by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

                                      
 Lam Huyn Bich and Nguyen Thi Thuo Hien are feeling the joy of Christmas.
                                                      

Pix by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

Malaysian beauties Johor Baru City Square promotions executives Joyce Lee (left) and Elizabeth Koh on the 6th floor of the shopping mall in Johor Baru seen here with one of the 11 angel statues put up in the mall.

Lee said the mall spent RM250,000 on the Christmas decor themed "Lil' Bits of Heaven".

Well done!  It does feel like "Heaven is a place on Earth," in my humble opinion. 

Merry Christmas!!!

Celebrating Tang Yuan

A Family Gathering

The Chinese community celebrates the Tang Yuan festival today (Dec 22) where balls of various colours made from glutinous rice flour is boiled and eaten together to symbolise family unity.

Though this is a family gathering of the Yeow family, I'm glad they invited me to join them. 

with Ang Kee Kai, who is nearly two years old

These balls are round like Tang Yuan.  But Aunty has absolutely no idea whether we are playing pool, billiards or snooker.

 Let's ask Aunty Shella.  Ok, she says its billiards.

And now it is my turn to take a shot.  As I was holding the cue stick, I suddenly remembered an office outing that took place a long time ago.  I wonder if any of my former colleagues still remember that outing.  I also forgot all about that episode until tonight.  Memories...

After a game of billiards  --- billiards or billiard??? ---  I joined the Yeow sisters for a little karaoke session,

followed by a photo shoot with all 6 of the Yeow sisters.

The Yeow sisters with their mother.  Thank you.  I had so much fun tonight.

A Journey of Ingenuity and Discovery

I've often wondered what does the presidential suite of the Renaissance Johor Bahru in Permas Jaya look like.

The suite costs Malaysian Ringgit Five Thousand a night at Renaissance, the signature lifestyle brand of Marriott International.

Well, I got a glimpse of the suite during a familiarisation tour of the hotel on Friday (Dec 20).

The 345-room hotel also has the deluxe room, club room, junior suite and pool terrace.
I am more than happy that I got to stay in the junior suite located on the 16th floor, which costs about RM700 a night. My 24 hour stay seemed like a journey through a world of ingenuity and discovery. An awakening of the senses. After all, "Live Life To Discover", is the tagline of the Renaissance.

Upon arrival, I was invited to have lunch at the non-halal Wan Li Restaurant where the hotel's executive chef Foong Wai Loong churned out the

Mango Peking Duck

Pomelo Mango Sago

coffee chicken, watermelon durian  prawn, dancing durian puff, among others.  Chef Foong has clearly discovered the recipe for novelty as one can see from his creative menu and culinary presentation.   

After an invigorating hot shower,  it was meal time again at the Cafe BLD (Breakfast Lunch Dinner) where a sumptuous buffet spread awaits.  I found the Irish stew absolutely irresistible.

Check out the oysters, prawns and mussels available at Cafe BLD

The all-day dining outlet was filled to capacity, as usual.

The tour included a visit to the gym, the pool, ballrooms and executive lounge, among others.  I was told the 5-star hotel will be opening a spa in the first quarter of 2014.

Is it a sin to have so much fun in one day? The thought crossed my mind as I drifted into sleep that night.

- to be continued -