mini staycation in Penang & balik kampung

 

  Just last month I did another trip back to home sweet home with the fam~ We also did a mini staycation in Penang in Sunway Hotel Georgetown just so we can spend more time in the island. 

Some other spots we visited include the Penang Bird Park, Batu Feringghi, Esplanade, the Aquarium, and Botanical Garden (my fav place!). Expect tons of food shots 😋

Post CNY & Valentine's Day

Hello people~!

I know it’s been a month since I last blogged (>.< ) Been in festive mood and then not in festive mood because my holidays got cut short because I had to get back to KL to work. After that I’ve been on lazy mode because it has been my work peak season while on weekends I have been doing my social catch ups with my buddies plus shopping (I’ve been shopping like crazy!)

Anyway, I know it’s a tad too late but I do hope everyone had an amazing Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day!

Myself, CNY was awesome (before it was cut short because P1 Internet was not working at home. Brilliant!) and my family had our first CNY 8-Course meal! No, it is not our family culture for CNY bu this year we were expecting special guests. Dad was like, since you children are paying, we (mom) eat for free and laughed cheekily. Us siblings went harharhar. Purse was bleeding wth ( ≧∇≦ )

So here are photos of our 8-course meals (Missing the dessert tho).

After tossing the yee sang~

After that we went around Penang Island to show out guests our favorite rendezvous.

Not a trip is complete without trying the Assam Laksa. A lot of shops were still close for CNY so we settled for the one in Balik Pulau.

Also ordered nutmeg juice, a specialty in Penang.

Freshly juiced, yo!

~ ❤ ~

On CNY eve, mom cooked a bunch of food like every other years. Ate all the yummy food before I got shipped back. It really was too bad I didn't get to stay long enough for steamboat (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)

On CNY~

and ginger longan tea which I'm so hooked!

On another day we went to Gurney Drive for tea time. Had a bunch of stuff including pasembor, Muar Chee, rojak, ikan bakar and two bottles of lychee with soy milk curd.

then temple visiting at night~

~ ❤ ~

As of now, I’m also occupied planning my 2017 Cuti Cuti Asia trip (That’s what happened when you’re the planner among your friends)!

When it comes to travel, this year I'm expecting a lot of firsts!! First time visiting Kuching, Bali, Bangkok and Australia. And of course, first time flying to so many places in a year! I’m thinking about learning basic Indonesian language which won’t be much issue, I hope, since it’s quite similar to Bahasa Malaysia then attend local cooking classes in Kuching and Bali and learn how to surf (those are the plans as of now) ! I find myself needing to get out there and learn new skills now that I stopped going to Japanese classes *sad*

Unfortunately, because of all this Cuti Cuti Asia plan, I had to postphone Japan trip _ AGAIN _ for many reasons. One already planning to visit countries around Asia and another having made a promise to meet up with my long time friend in Australia this year. On the bright, fun-est and best-est parts are I get to travel to meet my dear longtime friend and with BFF in my other Asian countries adventure!

Life is AWESOME!!!

In case you’re thinking why the fuck I can afford to go to this many places, am I filthy rich? I wish but not just yet, this time I’m going on a super tight budget with this many places on my list. Thankfully, the places I’m going are rather affordable and I managed to find an awesome flight promo! Comment below if you want me to tell y’all my secret to be able to travel to all these places!

Balik Kampung Food Post

Balik kampung is Malay for "to return to your hometown" and for my mom, that meant the opportunity of stuffing me with tons of food ( =____=;) My parents kept asking if I am eating enough, even though I'm pretty sure my love for food and age have made losing weight quite a feat hahahaha #AsianParents #loveyouguyssomuchy

Which brings me to posting what I was fed ate the short weekend I was back. Mom was complaining I came back to short else she would "bring me around for more food". Wasn't too sure if that should make me feel bad or relieve...

If you don't believe me, see what we ordered for dinner the first evening I was back.

 

Mind you, these are a lot for three! What's more, I ended up eating most of it cause they're too full...

Food was good, we went to one of our family's favorite restaurant and ordered salted chicken à la Ipoh-style which was nicely cooked _ succulent and soft.

Then, this salted egg fried lotus root. Salivating just thinking about it.

Curry wild boar with not-cooked-enough beans but curry was good.

And sliced, steamed fish.

Later back home, drank ginger tea _ my favorite drink this year. Mom had made it earlier using ginger, longan and rock sugar. So-o-o good. Mental note to self to try making bachelorette-size ones. 

Plus, I omnomnom-ed keropok or crackers which my parents bought from Terengganu (in white container).

Mom fried some more after I nomnom-ed all of it (//____//) 

The frying process is very interesting, check it out!

~ ❤ ~ 

 Day 2 I woked up at 9.30AM, missing my chance to go eat Dim Sum but parents bought me pau. Later, lunch was at one of our favorite food court and you bet, we ordered a little bit of everything.

Black vineger pork, curry fish and blanched vege topped with fried garlic and soy sauce. Never tried this stall before but boy, they're good. And all for RM20, a price you probably can't get in Kuala Lumpur.

Apart from that, we had crispy on the outside and succulent in the inside roast duck goodness. Omnomnomnom everything happily but full!

Did I mentioned there was cendol aka shaved iced as well? ( =___=!)  Yeah, welcome to Malaysia, the country with tons of yummy food and people who knows how to enjoy them twenty four seven.

I attended a wedding dinner that day so go check my previous post if you wanna know what Chinese's 8-course wedding dishes look like.

Fast forward to day 3 breakie before I leave for KL. Had porridge and tons of pau cause aha, aha I like it! Also had fried dumpling stuffed with salted pork filling.

Told you there were lotsa pau-s!

Wedding of a long-time friend

Hello, people~! 

Yes, I know I haven't been blogging for a while but I have a new portfolio and the whole transitioning plus trying to figure out the blanks on my own has got my occupied. Obviously, work comes first but boy do I miss writing! :/

Anyway, I just got back from home sweet home yesterday evening from home sweet home from attending of a friend who I have known since high school. Ok, I didn't know him then yet but we happened to be in the same uni and that was how I found out. Yes, I'm that unsociable bug.

Feeling super happy for him now that he's found the love of his life. Congratulations, Semuel! 

Unfortunately, we could not get a chance to speak to him during his wedding _ having not met him in 2 years myself, and close to a decade for my high school mates! _ as he was at his own table. Later busy going from table to table to do the "Yum Seng". Chinese for "Bottoms Up". I don't know how to put it in words but from what I found in the internet, 'a Cantonese term that literally means “drink to victory," is usually practiced in wedding celebrations to congratulate the groom for marrying his beloved woman.' 

 

 Here's how it was done in the wedding

 

 

The couple went from table to table and repeated the customary cheer. Usually the younger generations cheered the loudest, much more if the group is a close friend to the groom or bride LOL

 Since it's a Chinese-style wedding, 8-course meals were served. (Forgot to take one pic and some of the pic are blurry cause I was trying to snap quickly LOL)

 

 

In between the waitress helped topped up our glasses with wine to the annoyance of my friends who had to keep their heads clear to drive back hahahaha. I didn't have to bother because my another high school mate and neighbor gave me a ride. Lucky~ hehehehe. 

Tho, a curious question, can you actually get drunk with wine? Never actually tried it but the dudes were totally trying to avoid drinking at all cost.

Me in the wedding dinner while waiting for the next dish to be serve. 

Yes, I wore the same dress in the last wedding I attend too :D Love this dress tons! And yes, my friend was photobombing me #noedit

When it comes to Chinese dinner, there are a lot of waiting involved so much that a dinner can dragged for 3 to 4 hours. Though the hired musician and singers plus all the catching up amidst the loud music helped filled the waiting, which was not too bad. There was even time to discuss on my upcoming get together :D 

But oh, I do need to highlight the awesome singers and musician. The groom and bride choice of songs that night was awesome _ oldies which many of us 90s kids and most importantly, older relatives could relate too. A lot of my friends agree that catering to the latter is important, and I got to vouch this is such a splendid idea. Well, in case you're looking for inspiration for your Chinese wedding. I got a few more ideas, if you want to know, ask me in the comment box below hahaha