Beyonce is an Alien. Seriously.

I'm very confident that nobody in this world could do what Beyonce could, and this assumption alone brings me to my conclusion that Beyonce is an alien. I watched her I Am... World Tour DVD and i just couldn't believe what I saw. Not only that she's superhot, her body is flawless, she could flex like The Matrix, she sang all songs holding a microphone and did her difficult dance routine at the same time (over and over and over again around the world), her voice is crazy good, she could bend down backward wearing high heels and sang simultaneously, WHO IS SHE?? Seriously!!!!!! 

If you think Beyonce is not an alien, please try the Single Ladies routine.. I'm sure you couldn't get even the first few steps right. Watch the video and try. And i take this opportunity to declare that I'm a fan. :)

Do You Have A Song?

 


This is my song and it perfectly describes us. There were plenty of butterflies in my stomach, my mind vigorously wanted to put a face to this person I was missing. The feeling was so strong, I wasn't quite sure how it happened. I'd never even met this person and I didn't even know how he looks like. I honestly believe that we were really meant to be together. Everything just felt into places when we finally met. It felt like I've known him before and my heart just surrendered. Every time i hear this song, my heart melts and all the memories came flushing back to me.


So, what's your song?

Winter, Summer, Autumn and Fall of 2010

This year is awesome. So many things happening in my life, my husband bought me a Tod's on my birthday (well, that's a highlight, isn't it?) and on top of all that I've got to experience more of the world. The best surprise of all was snow in Hannover, Germany. I wasn't prepared for snow at all; bought myself a pair of high-heel boots which I had to take it off after 10 mins because of the heavy snow. And I also didn't expect that Sunday is an off day in Germany. Came out very early in the morning to visit the Great Garden and felt like kicking myself in the butt when I saw a field of snow covering the garden. It's very cold and everything was closed!! That's called total teeth-clenching experience!

After Germany, my family wanted a break and we flew to Gold Coast Australia for a week. This place is really beautiful! You don't need to add color to your photographs, they are perfect! The weather was nice, the people were laid back, all was good. Tia enjoyed the theme parks and I enjoyed Danger Point so much. Took a few mental images of that place and keep them safely in my mind for my stress shots.

In May, we went to the UK again. This time only me and my husband. Spent almost 10 days, 7 days in Birmingham working and a couple of days in London. A visit to Shakespeare's kampung was really interesting. I love the country feel and the tulips!

London offered us a different feel. Metropolitan but a bit gloomy. This time around I got to meet my brother and he brought us to Camden Market, a very interesting flea market with nice halal food to warm our tummies. And of course we took the cruise along the Thames. Awesome!

In September, I landed in Istanbul, Turkey for a business show.  This place is so majestic, my camera was tired. The history, the mosques, the people, the food... interesting. I love tasting local food near the Bosphorus River while inhaling the melancholic air of Istanbul city.

In November, I flew to South Korea for a 6D 4N free travel courtesy of my beloved company. South Korea is so beautiful in autumn, I didn't want to go home to only look at green leaves!! The food along the way was ^&%$#$ but at least I found myself loving the Kimchi. Had a bottle in my fridge to snack in the middle of the night.

I will end this year with another trip to Singapore. Tickets to Universal Studios are booked and the room at Goodwood Park is waiting for us. I'm all excited to welcome 2011 but my memories in 2010 are priceless. 

Remembering My Mother

Losing someone is always a great ordeal. I lost my mother two years ago. We had lost her to Alzheimer way longer than that; the disease took her away from us, replacing her with someone we barely recognized. The pain (of losing) just doesn't go away, does it? It stays with you at all times, it becomes a part of you. It feels like walking with a wounded heart that's never going to heal. Hurting you the most at your vulnerable moments.  

Ironically, she never left me. Her death brings me so much closer to her. She's not here anymore but she's always with me, offering me advise every step of my way. Her words come to me when I needed them the most. She's always here with me and I miss her a lot. 

My mother was a strong woman but a naive one, but she fought through her life til the end. She was a great mother through and through. Why didn't I see it when she's around? How could I search for perfection in an imperfect setting to begin with and didn't realize that she's my only perfection in my life? She stuck by us through thick and thin, without having enough means to get her by. We only know how to dwell on something we didn't have when in fact it was really difficult to even have the things we had. She never quit on us like we did her. What had she asked of us that were so burdensome? Why couldn't I be a good daughter to her at the right time?

Every time she cut an apple, she would ask us to have some first before she put any bite in her mouth. She didn't have many apples to share yet she showed the best of her with one single apple. Her children were her everything. Why didn't I learn that fact? It could save us a lot of petty arguments and broken hearts. Why did we expect more from her when she had very little to begin with? 

My mother wasn't the kind who would caress us or spoke in a soft tone; her life itself was harsh. But beneath it all, she loved us with all her heart. Let the world turned against her children, she'd never would. Life was never fair to her but she remained loyal to her only husband who left her hanging 37 years ago. Figuring out life with a dozen of kids, I believed there were times she wished her life was different but never once she turned her back on us. Even on him, she's loyal til the end. For her, he was her only love, her only husband, the love of her heart. My mother was not a quitter. It didn't matter that he didn't even care to come to her funeral; what matter was that she loved him to death.

She knew no letters, she knew no words; her life was one big complicated monotone puzzle. But she nurtured us so we could have a better future. And as always, we forgot that fact all the time. Children often think that a mother's heart is made of steel. Words wound. They inflict pain. Many times I saw her teary eyes because of something we said. But mothers are made forgiving, I reckon. Now that I am a mother, I understand better.

I took her soft hands in mine, she hold them tight. She recognized me, she even called my name. I asked for her forgiveness, she told me to not worry about a thing, I have no sins with her. I would never know whether it's me that she saw on the last day I saw her alive, but in that brief moment, it broke my heart. I could have been a better daughter to her, why hadn't I? She's my mother through and through, and I just couldn't be bothered, could I?

When I came home during holidays, she'd wait for me, sitting near the window looking outside, happy to see her daughter came home. Eager to make my favorite coffee, eager to have dinner together, eager to spend time with me. Her children were her life, why didn't I know that? Mother's heart soften at a sight of her children.  She's really proud of her kids. When we excelled at school, she'd tell the whole village about it. Her children were her only pride, why didn't we understand that fact? Bare with her for a minute while she bragged about it. Why was it so hard? We were her only pride. What else matter?

The older I get, the more I realize that I'm more like her that I thought I was. I couldn't stand to see the bedroom door opens when I sleep, even a slight. I couldn't stand seeing people doing things slowly, I would want to do it myself. I'm starting to repeat things I say. Tia says mama born in Tiger, that's why I'm fierce but I'd do anything for my kid in her time of need. How would Tia remember me when i'm gone?
 
I remember my mother everyday since her passing and she's here with me, all the time. I was not a good daughter to her when she's in need of me. But I hope I could redeem that for the rest of my life. She was a great mother through and through despite of so many adversities in her life. She was my great mother who I respected, loved and admired.

Oh how I pray that Allah puts her soul amongst the pious' souls and I hope she receives my gifts often enough if not everyday. Mak, forgive me for all my sins to you and I hope to meet you again when the time comes. 

Gorgeous Korea

We flew to South Korea recently for a short vacation. I didn't have much expectation by looking at the itinerary but I knew that Korea is picturesque. November is still autumn and it's so perfect for me to snap some cool pictures with my new camera. Just look at the color of autumn, isn't it gorgeous? The temperature is around 4-15C, perfect to walk around. My favorite place is Mount Soerak National Park; we stopped there for a few hours and I wished I could stay there longer. A gorgeous, gorgeous place! All of these photos were taken by yours truly.  

At Nami Island, famous for Winter Sonata

Fiery red maple leaves

Loving the contrast between blue skies and the red leaves

I can stare at this picture for long

My favorite shot of them all

The Mount Soerak from mountain top

And my gorgeous husband bought me this gorgeous Amethyst ring, as a gift from him to me for this trip. I am a lucky person, am I not? :)

Cupcakes & Steak!

CAUTION: This entry would make you wanna forage for satisfying food and I have to say, it might leave you disappointed if you read this at 12:03pm.

I'm not so much into cakes but who can turn down these babies? So cute I could eat a full plate of them or so I thought. I don't indulge on these cuppies that often but when I crave for them, nothing would stop me from looking for these cuties at a small shop in UpTown known as The Wonder Milk. My favorite is the one with the rose(s). I love the taste of the icing on my lips. One cup could almost buy me a plate of McDonald's super saver lunch. You can buy a box of 6 at RM25 and they call this discount. :P  Strawberry icing, Rocky Road.. OMG.. writing about this makes me craving for more.... I swear if America's Next Top Model is not on air tonight... 

Cupcakes and coffee make a perfect combination, yes?  And my choice was Creme Brulette. Didn't know what to expect but this drink really surprised me. A shot (yeah, a shot) of this coffee priced at RM9... cafe latte topped with a layer of hard caramel... really satisfying.

And this cafe has something-something for guys who accompany their loved ones too. I'm sure it's the idea of the husband. :) Chunks of grilled beef on top of hot chunky fries savoured with bbq sauce titled perfectly as Super Beef Fries. It's not a superhero food, it's just food for superheroes. Perfection!

How could you not crave for this sweet indulgence... tell me..

And on Tuesday, we went to our regular Steakhouse to have our juicy steaks at a very humble restaurant. If you could stare this photo without any tears running down your cheeks, this could be your place. 

We enjoy our favorite juicy steaks with this mustard grain and HP sauce. Total awesomeness! 

Surprisingly, my husband settled for 150gm of lamb steak on this visit. Perhaps he had lunch here that afternoon.. haha! Here at this place, you can have giant-size burgers, custom made, anytime. Seriously!!!

And for me......medium well Angus steak charcoaled to perfection. How could I not drool over this? How could I?? 

After we experience steak at Las Vacas, steak at other places just feels flat. 

Las Vacas Meat Shop

No 23, Jalan SS5A/11, Kelana Jaya 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, MalaysiaTel: +603 7874 0711; 

Fax: +603 7874 0655

Kelana Jaya (near Wisma FAM)

OPERATING HOURS

Mondays (Closed)

Tuesdays - Thursdays (10.00am - 9.30pm)

Fridays & Sundays (10.00am - 10.30pm)

Saturdays (10.00am - 6.00pm)

Do You Know What You Want In Life?

That's a difficult question for me to answer. I have been reading The Secret, Who Moved My Cheese, but now I realize that I don't have anything to pursue. Don't laugh. Do you have any? I don't have a specific goal or target that I want to achieve. Some people wanna earn RM500,000 annually, 2 big cars, 2 big houses, 2 wives, etc. I don't have a specific goal. Sometimes I want to start something but it had never materialized the way I imagined it to be. People say you have to be good at something to actually start making money out of it. So far, I was paid for my translation and writing jobs. Nothing more. I did sell some pineapple tarts 10 years ago but I don't think that counts. My colleagues gave good reviews of my Nasi Ayam but they don't wanna pay for it, these cheapskates. I want to be doing something, to put my name on something. Maybe I need to be a bit serious in life. I have actually this idea that I think I should pursue but I need to have my consistency to making this a success. For now, pen off.

I Salute Women With Multiple Kids

Yes I do. Time and time again I find myself admiring women with a lot of kids. I have 11 siblings but that's different. Being a kid and being a mother is a totally different thing. Mothers run things. You have to manage your home, and that's freaking hard! You think it's innate, it's God-given talent. It's totally NOT! The cooking, the washing, the cleaning... OMG.. a lot of work! 

I don't do my own laundry. There, I say it. I don't. It takes a lot of my time. Laundry means sorting, washing, drying, folding, storing and ironing. Just the thought of doing laundry could give me panic attack. I send my laundry to the neighborhood launderette, and I do my small laundry on the weekends. It suits me. And I only have a kid and a husband. Couldn't imagine if I had more. I could probably die. 

Cooking is another matter. I love cooking. It gives me pleasure. But not everyday and not when I'm tired. I can easily escape this because I have only 3 in my family and eat out is an option. How to escape when you have more kids? Eating out equals a great adventure and it could easily turn into a hoo-haa anytime, plus the bill is something to think about also. Even worse when you don't really know anything about cooking. 

Having a lot of kids means that you need to give your kids attention. How to do that when you yourself is tired and in need of a break? When Tia throws a tantrum, I feel like throwing mine as well. Haha! It's not that easy to pay attention equally to all your kids. When I was small, perhaps I craved for attention but knowing very well that I couldn't get it, I just did my thing. How to read story books to many kids? How to listen to what they say all the time? It amazes me how mothers with multiple kids could do it. Seriously. I found myself struggling with only one kid. Balancing between what she wants and what I want and what my husband wants -- not easy! I love my Tia so much, she's my everything but at the same time, I'm just human and definitely not the candidate of the best mom award. 

So for moms with a lot of kids out there, I salute you! 

Gambar Hiasan: Lontong I made for my family of three. Yumma yumma!

Life is Too Short: You Need A Powershot, No?

This is a candle container from Turkey 

This is a plastic flower in my room at the office

this is a flower my friend received on her recent birthday

this is my daughter liking her noodles

this is my daughter playing with her noodles

 this is her posing for me

and our new kittens kiss.

these pictures are telling a story

.

.

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as......

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.

.

all of these photos are taken with my new camera

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.

.

.

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.

.

.

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Canon Powershot Pro S90

Do I know squat about camera?

No.

Do I want nice pictures?

Definitely

Why did i decide on this one?

Tamy advise me. Haha!

And I'm getting ready for my family/company trip to Seoul Korea this 3rd Nov 2010. 

it's me and the camera manual tonight

:)

Stage Your Beauty, Honey!

Listen up girls! In case you are looking for eye makeup for less, this is a good time to spend your money. Don't get me wrong... neither that I am paid to blog this nor that I want to show you that I'm uncontrollable when it comes to spending money... but I write about this only because.... it's a freaking good deal. 

Buy one palette of Stage eye makeup for RM135 and get the other palette free plus one lipstick (any color you want), free as well. Total saving, RM183. This is seriously a good deal. I choose a very red lipstick that'd make Gwen Stefani shy. Hubby... don't worry, I won't apply this lipstick when i'm with you. :)

Don't be intimidated by the colors.. they are actually nice colors after you blend them on your skin. And don't be afraid to mix them up with the other colors that you have. Combine that electric blue with black or dark brown, voila! Combination of orange and gray is fierce. I love the colors, they spark your creativity.. besides I have tons of earthy... chocolatey... dark colors that can turn me gothic in no time. 

The only downside to this is, these are the only two palettes you can choose from, but what are you complaining about? It's freeeeeeeeeeeee. And if you get anything above RM100, you can buy Stage foundation at RM25. Stage foundation has nice finishing to it, I wouldn't mind spending that money for a good base. 

I told my colleagues about this yesterday and they show me theirs already. My persuasion skill is not bad huh? Hehe.  Now we have to call one another to make sure no same mix on the same day or perhaps we could draw a chart to schedule the colors. Chet! 

Stage stores are available in Pavillion and Midvalley, if there are anymore stores, I don't know.                        Find them yourself. 

A Ring From Paris

My husband went to Cannes about a couple of weeks ago, stopped by Paris for two days to look around. Knowing very well that his wife is in love with rings, he found this gorgeous Egyptian-inspired ring at the Musee de Louvre. My husband loves simplicity. I, on the contrary, love things a bit colorful. This ring is everything that he is and everything that I am. This ring is perfect for me. And best of all, this ring has nothing to lose. No stones, no blings, no worries. When you live together, you can actually read your spouse's mind better. :) Love you so much, honey!

Eat, Pray, Love: Did You Expect An Action Movie?

It's been such a long time since I watched a grown up movie and I'd been kinda waiting for this one to show. However, after reading tons of reviews in the Internet, I was a bit scared to watch. I like the book, I was afraid that the movie is going to screw it up. Haven't watched New Moon yet and most probably would not and I was utterly disappointed with Kite Runner, the movie. So, I went into the cinema, ready to be let down.


First of all, I found the husband of Liz in this movie rather too disconnected to her in every sense. Julia Roberts is huge and when you put her besides someone trivial, it's just awkward. If I were watching DVD, I'd fast forward whenever the husband appear, plus he's not good looking. Don't judge me, I have eyes. Perhaps, it's meant that way but I maintain that it's a casting mistake. After a rather stoic divorce request by Liz, entered James Franco as David, her love affair during her divorce process. And when everything else in her life didn't excite her (including sex with a 28 year old hottie) she's so afraid of being zombie-like and decided to take off to three different places, Italy to eat, India to pray and Bali to find love. Obviously she has money and for those who don't,  you can try local towns. 


What surprise me was the fact that there were 3 guys beside me watching this movie on a working day. What's up dudes? Your wives or girlfriends refuse to join you or you prefer to cry alone? They were in their complete office attire, I swear.


I wasn't exactly sure what's Liz looking for in her life or what's she afraid of. Afraid to forgive? Afraid to let go? Afraid of trusting? Not sure. Whatever they were, she had issues. If not, she wouldn't end up abroad for a year, looking for herself. I think people in the West prone to overthink stuff, as if their souls are always empty and they appear constantly wanting something. Thinking is good on the one hand but on the other, you can't find answers to everything. Life itself is an unplanned journey. Though your parents may have planned to have you, YOU itself was the result of something random. If it's well planned out, God would tell you your mate(s) name(s) or deliver you your date of death somewhere along your life. 


And for those who trashed this movie like nobody's business, why did you watch it in the first place? If you are into action movies, James Franco would not be Spiderman's nemesis in this one. Javier Bardem would not kill even an ant in this movie. He's crying so hard when his 19-yr old son left for college. This is a movie about a woman's journey in discovering her (love) life. First of all, most guys would stay out of the way. Second, most girls would not want to torture their guys for 2 hours plus. Third, at the end of the day, life would work out fine when the writer is a woman (unless it's a japanese writer, I can't be certain) :)


All in all, I found myself liking the movie and thinking that Ketut would take a plane someday to Hollywood.