Kokopelli

they make me feel young all the time ;-)

Just Me!

i ♥ polaroid effects that i painstakingly editted it myself :P

New Year's Resolution. Gah!

Ok supposed I didn't have any New Year's Resolutions. Yada yada yada. I've said it tonnes of times. No thanks to Fadzli, I'm inspired to list down my very own. I'm such a lalang I know. So here goes..

To a more happy and carefree life!

1. Diet starts TODAY!

Enough said.

2. Hit the gym often

Exercise regularly to work and tone the body (not just to exercise the eyes!)

3. Salsa!

Almost forgotten how much fun it was after not doing it for some time.. need to add more "attitude" and groove into it. Pick up more styling and confidence! Might consider taking up Zouk dance cos its oh-so-hawt!!

4. Travel

Next destination: Bandung <3

5. Pick up new hobbies

Hiking, scuba diving & muay thai (doesn't hurt to know how to kick @$$)

6. Read more

I have been buying too many books and have yet to read them. Need to find time to read.. preferably by the beach!

7. Write a book: Fat and Fabulous!

Just kidding. But I do want to write more creative pieces. Short stories perhaps? But first I need to close my eyes and go to a happy place. Zzzz...

8. Explore new opportunities

Hoping for a career change. Perhaps a job that pays more? Tired of being broke bah.

9. Be more courageous and less shy

I mean what is there to lose right? Be it in interpersonal relations or trying new things. Step out from comfort zone and just do it! One who hesitates is lost. Try everything (or everyone) at least once!

10. Search myself

Practice #9 and I will find #10

P/S: there are 2 aspects; financial and time management that I resolved not to resolve as it is and will be a perpetual dilemma. I need professional help.

SO what's your New Year Resolution?? It's ok to NOT have one. But it's kinda fun though.

Goodbye 2009.. Hello 2010!!

Day 1 of 2010:

Actually I did not plan to have any new year's resolution this year. My new year's resolution is.. I will have NO new year's resolution! Gah. Knowing me, I constantly need a reminder. Even have lists of things to do on my mobile phone otherwise will procrastinate till God knows when.

So here are just 3 things I hope for this year (yay, I love doing lists!):

1. To be in better shape.. anything but round

2. To have a career change (for the better) *fingers crossed*

3. To be happy.. even though single!

I would say I had a fair share of fun in 2009. It would surprise me to hear people lamented that it was a bad year.. for me it was just as good. Even better than my previous years I would say. A lot has happened over the year; had to get used to mom being away so long and so far for work, me moving out to a new place in KL, my first debut in performing arts for KLPAC's Short+Sweet competition, attended numerous auditions just to explore oneself and of course met many wonderful people along the way..

Wow I think 2009 should be named "My Debut Year". Last July during my cousin's wedding it was also my debut performance, a duet song with my cousin, Philip. Just like when we were kids we liked to sing in front of our relatives and play the back-then-famous reality singing competition, Asia Bagus. Well I guess all that training paid well. My cousin leads vocals for his band and as for me, well.. I love to sing in the showers!

Speaking of debuting, 25 May 2009 also marked history as my first debut on TV as a sidekick in a live talk show on RTM called Di Luar Lingkungan. Though it was only 5 minutes of fame, I enjoyed every minute of it. Till that day I have been hoping and still hope I get to do more of it. More of TV I supposed. When will my next opportunity be? On the downside, 2009 have been the most attempt at auditions and resumes I have ever had or sent and they have all return void. But that doesn't mean I will give up, NOOO! Come 2010, things are going to be different I hope. I pray for a better career that will take me to greater heights so I can do more and achieve more.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

-- Jeremiah 29:11.

Apart from that, 2009 has also been an award winning year for me. Well it was awarded for my works I did in 2008 but of course presented the following year; Ministry of Health and from Bernama itself. It was literally one after another. After having received award for Best Health Radio Program that night, the next morning it was Best Radio Broadcasting Award. Double happiness! And recently just last October after having completed the International Journalism Fellowship (IJF) with a bunch of vivacious people across the globe, being awarded the best local participant was really the icing on top! Oh how I miss my IJF mates!! They really added colour and life into my year end. Can't wait to see them in Bandung this year!!

Deep down in my heart I KNOW that 2010 will be a good year (at least that's what I really hope for).. not to mention my birthday even falls this year on 10.10.10!! That is awesome right?? So it's gotta mean something.. Can hardly wait to see what's in store this fabulous year!!

Happy New Year everyone!!

"No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those who love him"

-- 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Addicted To Kolok Mee

A bowl of scrumptious kolok mee bound to tantalize all of your senses!

"Slurp!"

"God this is delicious!" I thought to myself as I took another mouthful of the springy noodle drenched in fragrant oil.

On the table there was silence. Just the sounds of chopsticks clanged with the porcelain bowl.

Meanwhile in my mouth, there was an orchestra of flavours. Springy noodle. Sweet juicy roast pork – all begging to invade my senses and bring me to a who le new world of satisfaction.

Topped up with crispy minced meat, mixed together in savoury lard. Simply marvellous!

Within minutes, all that was left is the greasy bowl and a smile of sheer delight on my face.

"I just love to cook", she smiled when asked why she did it.

"The secret recipe is the lard. And garlic oil. Those were the most important ingredients for kolok mee" Anna Ng says with much pride in front of her stall at the corner lot shop along the streets of Kuching.

"I have tried others and made my own research on how to cook a delicious kolok mee", she said. And she should know, as she has been in business selling the beloved local dish for the past four years.

"I usually fry the garlic combined with lard and that makes the noodles so fragrant. The chopped meat is maintained to its original taste."

"Therefore my noodles taste different from others. And many of my customers like it."

Kolok Mee is a type of noodle dish commonly found in Kuching, Sarawak.

"Kolok" in the local Hokkien dialect describes the method of the noodle is being cooked.

Springy egg noodle blanched in hot water that looks like instant noodle and served in lard with some condiments like sliced pork and minced meat. It is served throughout the day – for breakfast, lunch and even supper!

Kolok mee resembles wantan mee which is popular in the Peninsula, but with an oomph to it!

The difference between the two however, is that kolok mee is not drenched in dark soy sauce and water is not added to the noodles when served. The helping of noodles also does not come with wantan. Instead, there is minced pork together with slices of roast pork or char siew.

Kolok mee comes in two common flavours; plain or seasoned with red sauce. Either way they taste just as good! Not to mention it is reasonably cheap too. A dish can cost anywhere between three and four ringgit. Cheap, delicious and amazingly satisfying. What more can you ask for?

Since Kuching has a sizeable Chinese population especially of Hakka and Hokkien descent, kolok mee is very much entrenched in the food culture here.

To suit the local Muslim community, the kolok mee is even replaced with strips of chicken instead of pork. That way everybody gets to savour the local delight.

For John Lister Chan, 31, kolok mee reminds him of home.

Thus, whenever he leaves town, the first thing he would look for upon returning to Kuching is kolok mee.

"Because it is our hometown's special dish. You can't find it anywhere. It is famous here in Kuching", he gushes on as he shared about why he loves the dish.

"Kolok mee is our traditional food. Therefore the government should promote this dish as our local pride before it is forgotten”, he laments.

"Kolok mee has a history of many years but nowadays the locals tends to switch to other foods such as dimsum"

For every cat you see in the city, there you will find kolok mee. Literally, everywhere around the city. It is undoubtedly everybody's favourite traditional dish.

However it is more than just a hearty bowl of noodles. It is close to the hearts of many locals. To them that is where home is. This simple yet delightful dish does not just bridge the local community but has even got me, a non-local, caught up in its craze.

“A bowl of kolok mee please?”, I smile to the lady standing behind the stall. I watch her prepare the meal as she places the sliced roast pork on top of the noodles.

My memories took me back to 3 years ago. That was the last time I had kolok mee. It was love at first bite. And that was all I have been thinking of since my recent flight to the city of cats.

Anna brought the dish before me. My nose tingled as I caught a whiff of the rich aromatic smell. I delightedly picked up the chopsticks and mixed the noodles together with all the accompaniments inside the bowl, blending them together to a perfect harmony. I took a mouthful of it. And another. And another..

Ever since then, I have been having them for 3 consecutive days. And I’m not even complaining. Why? Because I simply just can’t get enough of it!"

Puppy Brown Eyes

He held my hand. His fingers entwined with mine.
Shy. I pulled away.
My mind went ahead of me.
He's just fooling with me, I thought.
So I pushed him away.
After dinner with the rest, he held on to me tightly asking me to stay.
I wriggled my arms from his hold.
I walked away.
Was I too much? I was quite flattered I must say.
He's adorable and I liked him.
But it's not possible. We are not possible.
I'm afraid he even thinks that I was into girls!
Cos I was hanging out more with them.
But the facts is, I'm in love with those puppy brown eyes.

The Other Woman

“You think I didn’t know what you were doing? Late nights, drunk, smelling of women.”

He just walked in the door, ignoring the screams of his wife.

He placed his brown leather bag down on the sofa and starts to unbutton his shirt.

“You were with that woman huh??” She grabbed his shirt violently, inspecting the fabric and demanded an explanation.

One hand on her waist.. “I smell female perfume.. How could you do this to me?? I‘ve been with you for 10 years!! And our children??”

Two little girls in their pyjamas, quietly sitting at the staircase. The smallest one hugged her doll tightly as her sister held her and they both started crying.

He just ignored her. Nothing came out of his mouth. As he sits down and flicked through the channels on the remote control.

She began to loose control as she rummaged through his leather bag. Papers flying across the room.

“What are you doing?? Are you out of your mind??” He stood up and his held on to the bag.

“HAH! What’s this you bloody bastard?!?” She held a black pantyhose right in front of his face.

“Tell me who’s that slut?? What does she has that I don’t have??”

“I’ve been wanting to tell you if you weren’t so crazy woman..”

“These pantyhose are mine..” he snatched them back. Later he held out a bright pink wig from his bag.

“Don’t worry honey. There is no other woman. He’s my ex-boss.”

Her jaws dropped as her knees weaken and like a feather she allowed gravity to pull her to the sofa.

He then placed the wig over his head, turned around and walk towards the door. He swayed his hips as he walked out the door with HER red heels.