Leaving on a Jet plane…

Well, I am literally leaving on a Jet plane tomorrow, a JetStar plane to be exact! haha!

Trying to be optimistic bout a trip to a very very familiar place with people that I haven’t interacted much with over the past year. I’m not trying to brag but I have been to Bali about 4 times over the last 3 years. Each with different company. So this will be the 5th escapade to the land of mystic healers and haggling marketplace. As much as I love the sun and the sea, I am over Bali. On the last trip I made there last year, I was very much disappointed with the island’s spirit. I just don’t feel the warmth of Bali. Everything was overpriced. The highly acclaimed ‘to be seen at’ Kuta beach is getting a tad tired with persuasive street vendors and beggars alike.

It is sad seeing a place that once captured my heart go down the path of over-commercialization. Yes my friends, Bali is over commercialized to the point that it has become overrated.

If I had it my way, I would love to spend a week or two living amongst the lush green padi terraces. What could be better than to be greeted by fresh mountain air in the morning? On my virgin trip to Bali, I ventured through its winding streets and I found a gem. It was a small art gallery that conducts batik painting lessons. Its a small humble gallery where the painter give a little one on one lesson to the aspiring artist. When I saw the Balinese artist showing a a little demonstration to assumingly his student, a blond caucasian lady, that moment was imprinted in my mind. I have to do this. I will take a month of sabbatical leave to come back to Bali to learn oil painting from this master.

Excited, I went in search of my travel companions to share with them the jewel that i found. The next morning, i brought my friends down the same street, recalling my way around the narrow paths, in search of the modest gallery. Mysteriously, I never did found that place till today. Who knows, I might get lucky this fifth time there…I might just prance upon the little art haven…

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Koi Koi Away!!

I had a miserable start to the day. Nose was running, rain was pouring..head was pounding…i guess you got it…I got the works..everything that could go wrong above the shoulders basically did. So off i wet to the polyclinic, as much as I dread the long waiting time. Its either i wait out at the poly or go to work with a stuffed head.

Lets fast forward to the bit where I was done with my consultation and on my way back home. A sudden craving for pudding milk tea crept up in my mind. Since that was only available at Pasir Ris, I decided to get the next acclaimed best thing, milk tea from KOI Cafe, which is along the route home.

Naturally there was a long line of people waiting for their order of ‘Kois’. I hopped in line too, curious to check out the hype behind this bubble tea cafe. The first line that you step in will lead you to a cashier where you will place your order for the type of Koi drink you want. In turn, she will had out a numbered slip and usher you to another line for your to collect your drink. At this point, I had approximately 16 people in line ahead of me. Judging by the number of cups  waiting to be filled up, looks like Im going to be there for awhile.

Finally my ice cold Honey Milk Tea is ready!! Accompanied with a red straw, i pummeled that shard smack centre into my Koi. The first sip was a welcoming frothy milky goodness with a chewy surprise. And those chewy balls my friends, are called pearls. Its actually a gelatinous chewy black ball thats made of flour shaped into black balls and boiled to a perfect chewy texture. I can see why people are willing to spend their lunch break queuing for this drink. Its rich, cold, not overly sweet and full of milky goodness wetting your palate.

My only peeve about the drink is, it was half filled with those pearls, not a good thing if you are thirsty. Would i queue that long for a cup of tea? Hmm, perhaps not. I’d stick to my usual Honey Red Tea from Sweet Talk. =)

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Mee Chilli

Its a cold rainy day, and what could be better den slurping a good bowl of noodles and nestle in your favorite couch and watching the good old telly…

Today i shall attempt to recreate that mood at home, seeing that Im going to have to spend the day alone as everyone else is either at work or school. So naturally I headed out to the local supermarket round the corner to get, wait for it…., strawberries….haha!

Okay, those strawberries will be for dessert later in the day. Alrighty, Im gona get started on a noodle dish that I used to eat when I was a kid.

The dish is called Mee Chilli. My mom use to buy this home for me from a hawker near our place. Its is similar to the regular mee goreng (fried noodles) but it uses a different kind of yellow noodles. Flat egg noodles are typically used in this dish, cooked with a special spice mix or also known as sambal with sliced beef and prawns. Several years ago, the hawker closed down due to some renovation work, and never came back.  So that was a huge bummer!

Im goon head to the kitchen to recreate that mee chilli while it rains out there…

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Pasta my day…

Woke up watching Masterchef and the contestants were asked to prepare spaghetti in clam sauce. And that was the inspiration for the day.

Off i went to the supermarket to grab some ingredients. Although i know I’m suppose to be prudent and yet I cant resist the items on the shelves of the supermarket. As usual, i went over budget. I spent twice the amount that I had set out to. Oh well, now i have the luxury to choose from the many pasta recipes to whip up. Will upload pictures of the meal wen im done cooking in a bit.. tarrah….

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Happy New Year!!

Many will argue that making resolutions are uncalled for for new year. When change is needed, it will happen regardless. Thru my years of experience, resolutions serve as a reminder and benchmark of my destination. I just have to work on the journey there over the 365 days that i have. Years that I did not make any resolutions for myself, i find that there isn’t any sense of achievement or rather, there isn’t a destination or pit stop in my journey. And the years that i had one, I am much more productive and focused in whatever i do.

Hence, I have decided that this year on I shall be more assertive in making decisions, especially when it involve my life, my happiness and my significant other. I have done much thinking and it is high time that i finally leave my organization for a less hectic working schedule. I would want to spend more time with my family and my kitchen, to cook more, that is. Armed with my new cammie, I shall document my life with illustrious pictures.

Motto for the year is Me first in the kitchen.

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