Hot Sauce Experiment

Today is sambal making day.  I'm experimenting really.  I am making two variations of sambal.

Sambal 1 (Recipe)

15 fresh chillies
three limes
a piece of belacan (dried shrimp paste cake)
salt and sugar

Put the cut chillies into the blender.  Add a cupful of water with squeezed lime juice and a spoonful of sugar and salt and blend at low speed.

Meanwhile toast a piece of belacan in the frying pan.  Pour the blended mixture (not too fine) into the pan with the belacan and fry till the spicy condiment looks and smells nice.

No cooking oil was used for the sambal.

Here are the two sambal that I made today.  In case you're wondering where's the recipe for Sambal 2 where dried chillies, garlic, ginger and onions were some of the ingredients... errr, I think that one didn't turn out well.

At least one sambal was a success. Yes!

Feb 15 Street Party in Setia Eco Cascadia

If you haven't made any plans yet, mark Saturday (Feb 15, 2014) in your calendar for the "Festive Colours of SP Setia" street carnival from 5pm to 10pm at the Show Village of Setia Eco Cascadia in Johor Bahru.

There will be 3D fireworks set to blow your mind, and 150 street performers who will entrall and captivate you.  There will be fire eaters, Spanish masqueraders, Samba dancers, stilt walkers, cheerleaders, lion and dragon dance performances as well as lucky draws with attractive prices such as an iPad Air and an iPad mini to be won.

Children will love the inflatable games and Candy Street which will have an array of sweets.  There will be activities like sand art and face and body painting.
 

Setia Eco Cascadia

And if you decide you want to stay in this paradise, the Aurora double-storey houses and bungalow units are open for viewing and booking during the "Festive Colours of SP Setia" event.

The Bungalow Show Unit at Setia Eco Cascadia

An artist impression of the backlane garden of the Aurora unit.  If you book a unit on Feb 15, 2014, you are entitled a special bonus worth up to RM30,000.

Don't miss the opportunity, and don't miss the fun.  See ya on Feb 15.

For further info on the development, go to Setia Eco Cascadia

The Monkey King

The TGV cinema at Bukit Indah, Johor Baru, was packed yesterday.  Tickets for The Monkey King was all sold out for the 8.30pm screening, so I had to watch the 9.30pm show.  The previous day, both the 8.30pm and 9.30pm shows were fully booked when I got there at around 5pm.

I have always been a big fan of Donnie Yen.  The Hong Kong action star has such awesome moves.  My all-time favourite Donnie Yen movie --- SPL --- love the knife-baton fight scene in the alley.

Donnie Yen then went on to star in movies like "Seven Swords", "Ip Man" and "Dragon Tiger Gate".

In the Monkey King, the story of Sun Wukong started with the battle between Good and Evil, and how the protagonist was born from the crystal of a deva/goddess.

Sun Wukong has many negative traits such as arrogance, brashness and impudence, but he also has a big heart and cares for the well-being and happiness of all, not only his own.  Both the dark forces and the light wanted him on their side, but eventually it is Sun Wukong who has to decide which side he wants to serve.

The Underworld resorted to trickery while the Heavenly beings offered free will.

The CGI effects was nothing to shout about but the storyline and  Donnie Yen's stellar portrayal of Sun Wukong deserved a thumbs-up.  There were also moments where I had burst out in laughter.

The Monkey King reportedly grossed $1.8 mil on Jan 31 and took in $20 mil throughout China on the first day of the Chinese New Year. And it garnered $4.5 mil during the three-day CNY weekend holiday in China.

The film will undoubtedly achieve number 1 status in both the Malaysia and Singapore's box office.

Much To Be Thankful For

Gray and Baby.

There's much to be thankful for today.  Let me start by telling you about  Gray, a five-year-old German Shepherd, and 10-month-old Baby, a cross between a Beagle and a Cocker Spaniel or a Duschand, I'm not so sure.

No one wanted Baby so my big-hearted aunty took her in.  She is part of the family now.  Both Gray and Baby get along fine.

While Shella's busy in the kitchen helping my aunt prepare lunch, I was playing with the dogs in the living room.  Really thankful for this moment.

Finally, lunch is ready.  Can't play no more.  My aunt has given me the recipes for "chicken rendang" and "sambal".  Thank you for that and the hearty meal with my aunt and uncle.  I am definitely going to try to make the sambal when I get home.  Shella can handle the chicken rendang.

My aunt also shared with me a sad story about my other aunt, who is her sister.  My other aunt is a widow.  She is suffering from dementia and is living alone. Let us all do all the good that we can now, and pray that we do not end up in such a sad state.

I have yet to say what I am most thankful for today.  While I was on my way to my aunt's house, the wheel of a black four-wheel drive in front of my car suddenly came off.  I saw smoke coming out of the tyre and the driver lost control of the vehicle just a little bit before coming to an abrupt stop.

I was very calm at the time, and the car following behind also managed to stop in time. That's why Never Never Never tailgate another car.

Drive safe everyone, stay positive and do all the good that you can. 

Bulge Concealer

I've been practising the "halfway house between the 2-3 quarters" pose where you don't stand straight for the camera. This pose is said to hide the bulge.

striking a pose at the Renaissance Johor Bahru

Normally, I don't like to pose.  I just stand straight, smile and wait for the shutter to click.  I must have been in a crazy mood when this picture was taken.  A tourmate once told me, if you don't strike a pose for the camera then you won't get to look at the pictures and laugh.

As for the bulge, I don't know if it was the thick vest or the pose that did the trick.  (NOTE: The vest, which I had bought from Suzhou, China, was not made from real fur).

No animal should be killed for its skin or fur.

outside a silk factory in Suzhou, China

This was taken in November 2012.  That's Sally, a really cool and beautiful lady.  I was just standing and looking into the camera when she came over and showed me how to strike a pose.

Back to the issue of the pot belly,  another way to conceal or reduce it is to take a deep breath and hold it in until you hear the shutter click.

Another trick that I can think of is to crop any image from the waist down.

Me, Shella, Dian Atiqah Zuraimi and Rospawati Huri..

Any other suggestions?

Bigger Feet or Shoes Have Shrunk?

I need to lose weight.  I can't wear my new shoes.

I didn't know our feet will also grow when we gain weight.

I bought two pairs of new shoes about two months before the Chinese New Year.  When I put them on recently, I had to force my feet in.  I don't think I would've bought them if they had been so tight.  Did I buy the shoes in the morning?  I can't remember.  It was two months ago.

I admit I couldn't keep my hands off the pineapple tarts, almond cookies and love letters these past few days coupled with ginger ale to drown my sorrows and it's making me more pear-shaped than ever.

with Nona Shella and Rospawati Huri at City Square Johor Bahru.

It was nice to meet up with my best friend, Rospawati, from secondary school.   We are still as blur as ever, just like the good old days.

At the Galleria@Kotaraya in Johor Bahru enjoying donuts with Rospawati, her husband Zuraimi Aine and their very lovely daughter, Dian Atiqah Zuraimi.

They just arrived from across the Causeway.  I grew up in Singapore but things are not like what it used to be anymore in the republic.  Nowadays, if you were to throw a stone in the street you will likely hit a foreigner with it.

Both Zuraimi and Rospawati are currently undergoing a six-month long leadership course in order to remain competitive in the fast-paced city.

What they love most about Johor Baru?  The traditional Malay cuisines, kuih-muih and pepes ayam/ikan. Rospawati also loves to go to the pasar tani for perishables every once in a while.

It was a fun-filled day.  But news of the Mount Sinabung volcano eruption in Indonesia took away some of the fun. Please send prayers to the victims and their loved ones.

I need to watch my diet and exercise.  I love my new shoes.