Embarking on a Chao Phraya sunset river cruise with my eldest daughter, Alycia, was one of the highlights of our Bangkok escapade—a journey filled with exploration, culinary delights, entertainment, and breathtaking views that left an indelible mark on our hearts. Our river cruise adventure began on our third day in Bangkok, following a morning of mall hopping that took us on a whirlwind tour of the city's vibrant shopping scene. From the innovative design of Terminal 21 mall, resembling an airport complete with a shopping guide resembling a passport, to the modern allure of the new EmSphere m ..read more

As the days of my upcoming Bangkok trip with Alycia draw nearer, my week has been abuzz with excitement, anticipation, and a whirlwind of preparations. From ensuring my financial readiness to mapping out our itinerary, every moment has been dedicated to ensuring a seamless and memorable journey ahead.  Early in the week, I embarked on a quest to ensure that my financial logistics were in order. This involved visiting multiple banks to activate my debit card for international usage and applying for an additional card to provide backup support during our travels. Ensuring access to funds ab ..read more

In the heart of Taman Taynton View in Cheras lies a hidden gem of gastronomic wonders - Fatt Hei Len Restaurant. Tucked away in a neighborhood area, this unassuming Chinese dai chow type restaurant may not catch your eyes at first glance, but once you step inside, you'll be greeted with an air-conditioned ambiance buzzing with diners eagerly savoring the delights on offer. Among the array of tempting options, we decided to start with their signature Sang Har noodles - a tantalizing concoction of freshwater prawns fried to perfection atop a bed of flavorful deep-fried noodles. The succulent pra ..read more

There's something truly special about surprises, especially when they come in the form of delectable treats from your loved one or a friend. Today, I had the pleasure of experiencing one such delightful surprise from my hubby, and let me tell you, it was a moment of pure culinary bliss. As I went about my day, my phone rang, and to my delight, it was my husband on the line, asking me to go to the lobby for a surprise. Now, I must admit, I'm a sucker for surprises, particularly when they involve food. True to form, my hubby never fails to deliver when it comes to satisfying our taste buds with ..read more

Kwan Kee, a popular street cafe recognized by the “Michelin Guide Hong Kong” opened its first store in Malaysia in Petaling Jaya in November 2023.  Kwan Kee was awarded Hong Kong Michelin Guide-Recommended Street Food for 6 consecutive years from 2016 to 2021. They use the traditional stone grinding method to make the flour instead of using store-bought ones. Hubby came home with two boxes of Kwan Kee desserts last night. I didn't eat them until the next morning, right out of the fridge. One of the boxes consists of rolled glutinous rice flour dough wrapped with assorted fillings such ..read more

When hubby and I made the tough decision to bring Haru back from the cat boarder's house just a day before our trip to Ipoh to celebrate CNY, I was already mentally and physically prepared for it.  I had already done a lot of reading on bringing a cat in tow for a road trip.  I read up since the lockdowns were lifted and I knew that one day I would have to bring Haru back to Ipoh with me.  In fact, during one of our trips back to Ipoh last year, I bought chain link fencing and fixed it to the door of Haru's room, which is a room outside our bedroom. The area where Haru will be r ..read more

On 16 February 2024, Sherilyn turned 19, marking another milestone in her journey of growth. Our celebration this year held special significance as we gathered in Ipoh on the first day of Chinese New Year on 10 February 2024, to commemorate her birthday in advance. This is the second time that Sherilyn celebrated her birthday in Ipoh with my parents and brothers. If Chinese New Year happens to fall in February, we would be able to have a double celebration in Ipoh when my brothers return to Ipoh. Sherilyn's birth on the 8th day of Chinese New Year in 2005 remains etched in my memory with vivid ..read more

Sherilyn doesn't have to go to college today, so I jumped at the opportunity to get her to accompany me to bring Haru to the vet's clinic.  Haru's due for her annual vaccination and bi-yearly deworming pill. As I'm the one driving, I need someone to carry Haru in the car. Inside her usual tote bag, snugged under Sherilyn's armpit. Haru behaved really well, wasn't trembling as bad as the previous time, and only hissed briefly at the vet. She didn't cry when jabbed on her thigh. Back home, Sherilyn spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen, whipping up a big pot of Kore ..read more

Tuesday, 13 February 2024 (Chor 4) Hubby made an impromptu whim to go to Ikea at My Town early today - to get a new shelf for Cass and a workstation for me.  We had our brunch at the Ikea cafeteria as it was my choice.  I've not eaten at the Ikea cafeteria for ages (easily more than 7 years) and I missed the Swedish meatballs and grilled salmon.  The quality of the meatballs has somewhat degraded. In fact, everything that we ordered tasted meh. I knew that hubby would surely be having a second round of lunch after shopping at Ikea. Long queues at the cafeteria ..read more

The last time we celebrated CNY in Ipoh was in February 2020, the year Covid gripped the world and changed things forever. Exactly four years later, we were back again to have a wonderful reunion with my family.   This CNY is a little extra memorable as we brought Haru along with us. After a failed boarding for Haru, we had no choice but to lug her along with us to Ipoh. And I have no regrets about it. I managed to desensitize Haru's phobia of car rides and I'm still working on desensitizing her fear of meeting new people.  With Haru in Ipoh with us, I needn't have to worry abou ..read more