Auckland city

T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) by will.i.am ft. J.Lo & Mick Jagger

2012-01-12T02:42:00.000+13:00

I'mma recent.ly dev.eloped a g.reat liking for da Hip Hop gen.re :)
The b.eats are awe.so.me but the lyrics are just so wrong... (rude, dumbed down)
not something that kids/teenagers should listen to...
Then again, I wouldn't have known what the lyrics are about if I hadn't looked it up online...
So I guess I can be for.give.n for liking the song before I knew what it's all about :p
My fav.our.ite Hip Hop song at the moment is T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) by will.i.am ft. J.Lo & Mick Jagger...
yeah...you'd never have guessed that J.Lo's voice is in it too! :)
so I'mma share this vid.eo that I found on You.Tube... (uploaded by InterscopeGeffenAM)
and the lyrics (below)

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juVKpvYjb-8)

Lyrics:-
(Source: http://www.directlyrics.com/william-hard-lyrics.html)
Oh my goodness, this beat is so hard...
Oh my goodness, this beat is so hard...

[will.i.am]
I'mma go hard, hard to the core
Hard like moth* f*c*in liquid swords
Harder than worldwide stadium tours
I am the future, delorian doors

Will he survive? Never deceased
I don't think I'mma ever gonna rest in peace
I'mma kill the game, leave the rest in pieces
Now everybody want my recipe
Tell a jealous chicken I don't know what the beef is
I'm just making money for my grankids' nieces
I'mma work hard, that's my thesis
This beat is the sh*t, feces

Pardon me ma'am, I'mma go dumb
Smart.i.am, I'm complicated, hard.I.am
I end the beginning, then start it again

[Jennifer Lopez - Hook]
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home

You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home

Oh my goodness, this beat is so hard...
Oh my goodness, this beat is so hard...

[will.i.am]
You can get that, or you can get this
You can call a demon, I'mma call Jesus
You can get a curse, you can get a cross
You can go to work, or you can be the boss
I'mma be the owner, be a thought donor
I'mma go hard, like a muthaf*c*in boner
I'mma make the beat put the people in a coma
You can be a geek or be a rolling stoner

I woke up in the morning,Hard like morning wood in the morning
Woke up thinking about microphonin'
E.t own the mic phone the homeland
Will.i.am The Hardest Ever lyrics found on http://www.directlyrics.com/william-hard-lyrics.html

I'm way out like NASA
I'm way over here I done past ya
I get stacks of cash, you get cashews, I go hard, statues

[Hook]
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home

You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home

[Bridge]
Now let me take this time to say I don't wanna lead you on
You can go hard or you can go home Well I, I know it is a lot to take but I don't wanna lead you on
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard...

Wait a minute, I'mma make it a little harder
I'mma make it a little harder
Give it to you a little harder
THIS IS HARD....

[Mick Jagger]
Hard like a rock n roll
The time bomb's tickin', explode
Baby this is dynamo
Better move back now
It's bout to blow
Hard like Geometry, and Trigonometry
This is crazy
Psychology
Get it baby
I'm bout to win
Watch out now
I'm going in

You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard..

Ok...one thing that bothers me is how much frigging money they make writing these stuff!
Dude, it could have been you...could have been me
Yo, we slogging away 40-60 hours a week
we working so hard
is that fair, is that not?

Working Holiday Schene (New Zealand)

2012-01-11T09:04:00.001+13:00

Hey peeps :) :)
Sorry for the long delayed blog posting about the NZ Working Holiday Scheme (for those who are interested). Just been swamped with work and AutoCAD classes over the past few months... I really enjoyed my time in NZ and for those of you who would like to experience working abroad...I'd recommend it :)
Application is instant (online)
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/

After the visa approval, you can start planning your trip to NZ :)
some of the sites that I found helpful were:-

1) http://www.trademe.co.nz/

yes, this is a very useful site for finding almost anything you'd need as a new traveler to NZ - from accommodation, household items, jobs, etc

2) http://auckland.gumtree.co.nz/

similar to TradeMe...
except that ad postings are free :)

The ideal travel time will be in Jan (when the weather is slightly warmer) - more opportunities to experience farm work.

So, back in 2009 I quit a rather promising job to experience life in a remote part of the world (after much deliberation) and enjoyed every single moment of it :)

Being the ambitious type (career-wise), it was a tough decision - did I want to be a high-achiever, be a Public Relations Director by the age of 30, or did I want to experience working/living in a new place while I was still young? I chose the latter...

6 months went by very quickly...
There is, however, a down side to the NZ working holiday visa - you are only allowed to work up to 3 months with any company (yes, you need a new job every 3 months).
Then of course, it is also exciting to experience working in different organisations.
I would recommend signing up with recruitment agencies as a Temp staff :)
- this will give you the opportunity to assist in various projects for their clients (usually in the areas of Marketing, Customer Service, Data Entry)

Here is a list of recruitment agencies in Auckland:-
1) http://www.kellyservices.co.nz/
2) http://www.alphajobs.co.nz
3) http://www.quinnstaff.co.nz
4) http://www.adecco.co.nz
5) http://www.frogrecruitment.co.nz/

For those who are interested in work in the hospitality sector, check out
http://www.providore.co.nz

Fast forward 3 years - where I am now, working & traveling in the US. For those who are interested in exploring this part of the world, you may consider applying for the H1-B Visa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-1B_visa)

'Metrocard' art :)

2010-10-07T10:16:00.004+13:00

I wonder how many Metrocards are thrown away in NY every month...
Here's a bicycle decorated with used Metrocards:)
It's a brilliant idea
it'd be interesting to see a Metrocard-themed shop/restaurant some day

The first time I came across "Babies R Us", I was quite amused:)

I was used to seeing "Toys R Us" stores in shopping malls, but I didn't know that "Babies R Us" stores exist...until 3 months ago

A poster found on NYC train...

"Please Don't Hold the Doors

You delay the train and everyone on it.

Help this train and the next one stay on schedule.

Thousands of trains are delayed every month due to customers holding doors."

Again...I found this amusing, because I used to be one of the culprits who delayed trains, lol:p

Free wi-fi @ JFK Airport, NY :)

2010-10-02T11:32:00.017+13:00

The free wi-fi's only for 20 minutes...but still, it's free :)

The JFK Airport departure terminal is really quite nice

Lotss of restaurants...

Pleasant deco... (I like the poster of the fish :) )

Souvenir shops with the signature "I heart NY" t-shirts

A "caviar bar"
It's my first time seeing a caviar bar & it amazes me how a business model that's based entirely on serving caviar & wine survives (especially at an airport terminal)!
that place is so darn expensive
wouldn't people rather have a really nice meal at Haru's, Buddakan, or Maialino?
or purchase something with more "volume" -like, a nice tailor-made suit?

okay,..maybe those people were just sitting there having drinks & not eating caviar
well, then shouldn't "caviar bars" offer more food items on their menu?

I have a hard time understanding the rationale behind "caviar bars"
I know it's meant to be classy, sophisticated, etc etc
but eating caviar at a fine-dining restaurant is different!
you'll probably have caviar & then followed by entree
so, you needn't worry about having bits of black eggs sticking in between your teeth
I guess you're at a "caviar bar" with your family, then it really doesn't matter even if you coloured your tongue black
that caviar bar is no "family dining place"
no no no

oh...well, I digressed :p
what else is in JFK?
- CNN Newsstand

Messina Gelato: Best Gelato in Sydney :)

2010-09-16T11:21:00.000+12:00

Funny NYC Subway ads :)

2010-09-13T13:40:00.004+12:00

"Still a virgin?

For help call 888-743-4335

Toll free"

(but...why would virgins need help?)

"PUBLIC B.O. NOTICE:

Persons emanating foul body odor in confined spaces may be reported and cited for olfactory violation"

(Olfactory violation? lol :) hehe)

The real NYC:)

2010-07-15T02:29:00.005+12:00

I was pleasantly surprised to find colourful tulips along sidewalks/buildings in New York:)

I had always thought that the 'real' NYC is dusty, polluted... graffiti on walls, just like how it's portrayed in Flight of the Conchords- a popular comedy series in New Zealand

(Below: Flight of the Conchords cast)

(Image source: http://whatsontv.co.uk/blogs/tvspy/files/2008/12/flight460.jpg)
In Flight of the Conchords, the musicians depict the hardship of the artist community - NYC is fun if you have money & a job, but it can be depressing living in this big city if you're an unknown musician and you don't get any gigs. There are too many talented musicians/artistes!
__________
Another thing that is distinct to NY is the ubiquitous breakfast carts where you can get fresh muffins, bagels, donuts & other types of pastries:)

'American breakfast' = home fries, omelette with Swiss cheese or Americn cheese, & toasted bread

The portion's unbelievably huge

There are many things that's nice about NY...but I remember that I was quite shocked to find that there are no washing machines in apartments here.

No washing machines, no clothes dryer

But the laundry services here is far more affordable compared to most other cities :)

It's quite easy to find $1 per pound laundry services

...and they wrap your clothes nicely into a litlle parcel

Neatly folded too :)

"Bagels" are the new (Dunkin) "Donuts"?

2010-06-22T00:17:00.007+12:00

In Malaysia, Dunkin Donuts sells donuts

In Australia, New Zealand, Singapore + anywhere else, I bet DD sells donuts

But in the US, Dunkin Donuts no longer sells donuts as much as it used to

Walk into a Dunkin Donut shop in New York

- you'll see...

more "bagels" than donuts

"flatbread sandwich with eggwhites"

(very healthy, I'm not complaining :) I hardly eat donuts. I'm glad DD has other healthier items on the menu, but the egg whites taste 'weird' - spongy. I hope they're real eggs;p)

Malaysian Organ Donor Card :)

2010-06-19T07:25:00.001+12:00

I'm lucky to have very liberal parents.
I signed up as an organ donor back in 2006, and I still carry the Malaysian Organ Donor Card with me wherever I go.
Organ donation is against my parents' religious practices, but they didn't stop me from wanting to be an organ donor.
Of course, I wouldn't dream of donating parts of my kidney as long as I'm alive :p
I'm not that selfless...
but when I'm gone from this planet, I'd like the idea of being able to have my body parts reused to save other people's lives - eyeballs, teeth, heart, lungs, intestines ;p anything - rather than letting them go to waste

That's a very radical thing for a Chinese to do.
Chinese culture believe in burying or cremating bodies of dead people.
When it's my turn to leave this planet some day, I wouldn't want a funeral.
I'm supposed to want a funeral, shouldn't I?
After all, people that I know of who passed away - relatives, neighbours, etc - all of them had funerals.

When I was in school, I used to be more religious (I think ;p). For instance, I'd burn incense during exam period because Mum told me that I'd get better grades;p ;p lol

I stopped doing it when I was 14 and an avid reader of the Environment column in The Star newspaper - I came across an article about how incense-burning cause pollution & cancer.

Fake "breakfast seafood" in Manhattan :p

2010-06-14T14:33:00.011+12:00

I'd consider myself as quite the seafood connoisseur, but even then I was fooled :p

For weeks, I had been dying to try the breakfast 'lobsters' served only at one Japanese-owned cafe that I pass by quite often in midtown Manhattan.

When I finally tried the "lobsters", I realised that they're actually 'lobster cakes' : MSG-laden flour + artificial colouring & loads of other chemicals

They look like real lobsters, don't they?

But that fake stuff taste disgusting. They should be banned (at least, from the breakfast menu)!
Silly me, I was craving so much for seafood that I bought 3 of the fake lobs

Other food items at the Old Bridge Gourmet Deli are probably okay

The ambiance is good

Free water for diners

But at the moment I'm still very traumatized by the "fake seafood experience", I don't thimk I'm likely to revisit that deli anytime soon

Thanks, Old Bridge
From now on I'll stick to bagels & eggs for breakfast
I miss New Zealand yogurt ;p
NZ's got the best yogurt in the whole world

American "Tuk-Tuk"s?

2010-06-13T21:06:00.004+12:00

Wasn't expecting to find "Tuk-tuk" carriages in New York :)
I was taking a walk in Central Park and saw these!-

There you have it :) It's the American version of Tuk-tuks

This reminds me of the New Zealand BAXIs

"Curried Goat"..."Jerk Chicken": A taste of Jamaican cuisine

2010-05-18T12:47:00.006+12:00

In New York, there's more to fast food than just burger & fries
- and if you know how to choose the "right" food, it's easy to eat healthily, even when you're at fast food joints.
I'd recommend "Curried Goat" and "Jerk Chicken" - available at a Jamaican fast food joint -Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill

Whatever your choice of meat is, be it Goat, Beef, Chicken or Fish (yes, they do serve fish :) real fish. Not McD stuff) - they come served with vegetable + bean & rice

The best part of it all - they're all MSG-free
The gravies are flavoured using natural ingredients - spices (cardamoms, anise, ginger, fennel, etc)

I went to the Golden Krust outlet nearby 135 St. station
The ambience is nice
It's quite spacious for a fast food joint
Oil paintings of Jamaica on the walls...

Clean chairs & tables

Why is "Jerk Chicken" called Jerk Chicken?
Well, I don't really know
but from what I found out,..."Jerk" means "spicy"
Jerk Chicken = Spicy Chicken

The "Genius" who painted an oil fin heater...

2010-05-14T08:51:00.008+12:00

The oil fin heater painting is a meticulous piece of artwork!
But I have a hard time trying to appreciate the ingenuity of the painter.

There are probably at least 5 layers on paint on the heater

but there's not a single drop of paint on the floor
How...oh how did thou manage to do this?
Thou's magic touch paralyseth the heater :(((

it's not an easy task painting the heater without making a mess on the floor

but the Genius who painted the heater didn't know that you're not supposed to paint a heater

because if you do, it won't work anymore!

so...now I have this giant heater in my room that I can't get rid off

thanks to the Genius

My new room on the upper west side :)

2010-05-05T14:08:00.006+12:00

Pros - It's spacious :) - more than twice the size of two double beds (I miss having a gal pal around, so if any of you wanna have a holiday in NY between now & July, lemme know),

- less than 20 metres from a subway station & Gristedes supermarket
- free wi-fi

- no bed bugs/fleas, no old stinky carpets...but I was still inclined to be prepared before I moved in.

I couldn't find any flea bombs but I found Swiffer (it gets rids of dust mites).

- not fully furnished...but at least you get a bed & a cabinet.

Okay...I know it's messy;p but I took this pic on the day I moved in. It's a lot tidier now.

Cons - no washing machines...

& there's only one washroom...;p

Blueberry bagel with "egg" & "cheese"???

2010-05-05T07:02:00.008+12:00

The cook gave me a "surprised" look when I asked for a blueberry bagel with egg & cheese.
Okay, I admit that it's unusual... :)

but it's much healthier compared to a blueberry bagel with icing sugar/jam,
plus - I can tolerate that unusual combination.

that's why i'm not fat.
it's not because I have the Asian genes.
Caucasians think Asians are naturally petite
that's not true!

I'm careful about what I eat.
You should eat like me too, if you want to lose that belly ;p
Of course, an occasional sugary bagel doesn't hurt at all - but you'll feel lethargic if u have just carbs for breakfast.
There's so much to see & do on a fine morning in NY, so I didn't want to ruin my energy level

I've tried all the savoury bagels - sesame, poppy seed, flaxseed, onions/garlic
I just haven't sampled all the sweet variety
I badly wanted to try the blueberry bagel
but I didn't wanna mess up with my breakfast by having it with icing sugar.

This is supposed to be an onion bagel, but it doesn't have a hole in the middle like all other bagels do

A black bagel called "pumpernickel" - my favourite

Bagel with pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, poppy seed
I had it with chicken (yum)

Sesame seed bagel with cream cheese. I love cream cheese:)
Delis/bagel shops usually have 3 variety of cream cheese
- scallion cream cheese
- vegetable cream cheese
- LOX cream cheese (cream cheese mixed with smoked salmon)

In Manhattan, you can go to a deli anytime & there'll be fresh bagels waiting for you

This is a pumpernickel with scallion cheese

Funny & "special" signboards at Beijing airport

2010-05-05T02:21:00.002+12:00

The mainland Chinese are conservative in many ways...

You'll hardly catch them wearing a low cut top, but they're surprisingly open-minded when it somes to using toilets.

For many decades, they are used to toilets without doors.

& then there are also the toilets with dysfunctional doors-

like, a transparent door made of glass pane (what purpose does it serve, lol;p?)

1 -inch high doors
& if you come across toilets with fully functional doors, you'll find that people don't bother to use them
yet, they get all upset & glare at you if you accidentally enter the toilet while they're inside

Found at the airport

When the new Beijing Airport was built, they get new toilets with fully functional doors

but people are just so used to not locking toilet doors

& they need to be reminded

"Special" disinfection

"Special"- purpose Toolbox for Toilet

What else is "special"? ;p

15-minute Dark Choc Brownie recipe :) (Low-fat, reduced sugar)

2010-03-09T05:49:00.012+13:00

Dark (60% cocoa) chocs are lower in fat + good for your sex life ;p
I love dessert, but I don't like anything that's tooooo sweet
unfortunately, that's what most ready-made cakes are like
- they contain too much sugar
So, start making your own dessert:)
it's easy
What I have here is a fool-proof dark choc brownie recipe:)
- yes, it CAN'T go wrong AT ALL if you use the 3 key ingredients listed below
& you only need 15 minutes to mix it up & pop it into the oven:)
- ~~and then you can go have a quickie with your partner & practise the Lusty Leapfrog position while waiting for the choc brownie to cook~~

There are 3 main secrets to making good low-fat choc brownies :)

1) use good dark chocs (Lindt)

- and they'll turn out nice, no matter
(well, it doesn't have to be Lindt, but if you can get some good 50% & above choc bars.. that would do :) )

but of course..if it's for a big party, you may wish to substitute Lindt chocs with dark cooking chocs - eg Cadbury or Nestle
But cooking chocs suck - they render this "waxy" aftertaste in ur mouth

...my advise is - splurge on the dark choc, skimp on the flour/butter
You don't have to buy expensive butter/self-raising flour
they're all the same
- just get the Home Brand items
more people buy them & they're always fresher

2) fresh self-raising flour

- check the expiry date before purchasing.
The fresher the flour is, the more active the raising agents are

- and hence, the cake would rise more beautifully

3) use "salted" butter. real butter. no margarines

- do you know that real butter is actually healtier?

yes, the cholesterol content may be higher compared to margarines, but the calorie amount is about the same + 'pure' butter contains far less chemicals

Salted butter brings out the sweetness of the brownies - and you won't have to use quite as much sugar

The Recipe:)

a) The bottom layer

2 cups plain flour

1 1/2 cup melted butter

Mix well & line the bottom of the cake tin with the pastry

Prick the pastry with a fork

b) The middle layer

1 1/2 cup pure butter

1 1/2 cup icing sugar

5 large eggs

1 cup high-quality cocoa powder (Hershey's)

1 teaspoon 'real' vanilla essence ( not the fake vanilla flavourings, please. it's gonna spoil the brownies)

Mix the above ingredients. Then add

2 cups self-raising flour

Pour into the cake tin. bake at 180 degree Celsius for 40 minutes

Melt 300g dark choc (Lindt) with 1/2 cup skim milk and pour over the brownies

Put the tray in the freezer for 5 minutes.

Then add chopped almond, pecans, hazelnuts or any other kinds of nuts that you prefer

'Weird' Pumpkins are so 'common'...(no pun intended);p

2010-03-08T15:52:00.001+13:00

It's not difficult to come across weird-looking pumpkins:) lol
In the past 6 months, I have seen at least 10 unsual pumpkin shapes
These are some of the beauties...

It looks a bit like a teapot
of course, those of you who are mischievous enough might notice the phallic extension ;p

... and this looks like...~~(it won't be appropriate for me to mention it here)~~

Flower-shaped pumpkin

Don't ever shave! Just pluck ;) (using a tweezer)

2010-03-07T19:42:00.010+13:00

Advertorial
Whether or not you'll be wearing a sleeveless top/dress, do make it a habit to pluck :)
If you pluck often enough, you won't even have to shave!

Plucking is much better than shaving:-
(1) smoother
(2) armpit hair regrows at a much slower rate if you pluck
(2) hazard-free;) you needn't worry about accidentally shaving off your skin

What you need - a good pair of stainless steel tweezer

I started plucking ever since I had my first hair - at 15
so, I never had to shave
Some of my girlfriends used to shave, but ever since they started plucking, they LOVE it!
Do try plucking :)
If it hurts on your first attempt,..try using a bit of topical anesthesia

Where to get a good pair of tweezer:)
- Sasa Cosmetics - http://www.sasa.com/

Sasa.com offers round-the-clock access to the best beauty and health products – worldwide shipping. Skincare, fragrance, makeup, slimming, haircare, nailcare, bath and body care, health and beauty supplements, as well as men's products

Beautiful Auckland skyline :)

2010-03-07T19:13:00.001+13:00

Here's a pic overlooking the harbour taken at the ASB Tower on Wellesley Street :)
(where Delucas Cafe is)
The view from the offices at Lumley Centre is much better, of course...
but hey, this view's not bad too:)

Other places to see in Auckland :-
- Albert Park
- Parnell Village
- K-Road
- White House Entertainment Centre ;p hehe

Things to eat:-
- Gengis Khan Mongolian BBQ
- Istanbul Kebab & Pizza
- Restaurant & Sake Bar (Korean)

Spicy "Ma Po" beancurd: Best dish on a cold winter night :)

2010-03-04T16:53:00.005+13:00

Mapo tofu owes its unique taste to "Szechuan peppercorns"
- which renders a numbing feeling on the tongue
it's spicier than curry
more lethal compared to wasabi
I love it! :)

It is a combination of tofu (bean curd) set in a spicy chili- and bean-based sauce, typically a thin, oily, and bright red suspension, and often topped with minced meat, usually pork or beef.

Mapo dofu is probably one of the best stuff to eat in the winter:)
keeps you warm

Whether you're in Europe, Asia or America...you can easily find Mapo dofu in Chinese restaurants

Crunchy vacuum-fried NZ mussels (Low-fat) : D-I-Y :)

2010-03-04T03:10:00.005+13:00

Discovered a good recipe for crunchy vacuum-fried NZ mussels when I accidentally dehydrated some fresh mussels while cooking them in the microwave :)

The "dehydrated" mussels taste as good as the Japanese deep fried baby crabs (omg..I sound so cruel) - normally sold in small packages of 100-200grams.

The best part about the mussels :)
- no oil is used for frying them.
Crunchy + low-fat

Remember the egg bombs? :)

It's funny how some of the best recipes are discovered when cooking experiments go wrong...

Have you ever seen a "Public Handphone Charging Booth"?

2010-03-02T17:55:00.001+13:00

This is totally new to me...
I remember having wished that there are such handphone charging booths, but I didn't see any when I really needed one

So, nowadays I make sure that my handphone batter have enough juice whenever I leave the house.

Saw this handphone charging booth in Parkson @ The Mall, Kuala Lumpur
(opposite Putra World Trade Centre- PWTC)

RM1.50 per use :)

pretty reasonable

Well, we do need more public handphone charging booths! :)

Boss, gimme a "Rava Telur Bawang Tosai/Dosa"

2010-03-01T20:38:00.004+13:00

One endearing thing about Malaysia is that
- you can hear anyone calling just about anyone else a "boss" :)
At schools, teachers call the naughty students "Boss"
It's meant for sarcasm, of course :)
eg, "Boss, tolong senyap sikit" (Boss, please be quiet)

At corporate organisations, you might sometimes hear CEOs calling the security guard a "Boss"
- "Selamat pagi, boss"
In Malaysia, it's perceived as a gesture of humility

Take a walk at a morning market - you'll hear something like
"Boss, kasi satu kilo peha ayam"
"Boss, I'd like to buy 1 kilo of chicken thigh"

Guys also call their buddies "boss"
But, nowhere else will you hear the word "boss" as commonly used as when you're at a "mamak" (South Indian restaurant)
My favourite "mamak" dish is "Rava Telur Bawang Tosai"
-served with coconut chutney, dhal curry and chicken/lamb curry

It tastes a bit like savoury french crepes :)
- just spicier

What's a "Rava Telur Bawang Tosai"?
- well, it's an egg + onion + spices crepe :)

Gotta go, Boss :)

Asian "caviar"? ;)

2010-02-26T20:26:00.006+13:00

Every time I'm back in my hometown Kuala Lumpur, I'd hunt for Nasi Lemak
On this trip, I have found the perfect Nasi Lemak! :)
- and it's all because the chef made one lil' interesting twist to the traditional Malaysian dish.
It's served with "asian caviar"

Notice the small (but very pregnant) anchovy-like fish? :))
60% of its size is its own eggs :)
very fattening - but very very yum :)
it tastes somewhat like fried cheese + egg yolk

The "Asian Caviar Nasi Lemak" is served at U-Cafe @ Sungei Wang Plaza, Kuala Lumpur
Lot No. C025 (Fiesta Street)

What I like about it:)
- moist & piping-hot steamed coconut rice
- generous servings of sambal (sweet & spicy chilli paste)
- aromatic chicken "rendang"
(rendang's quite similar to curry - except that fresh spices & 4 types of ginger (kunyit, lengkuas, etc) are used instead of dried powdered spices)

When I passed by U-Cafe, I thought it offers mediocre stuff like Old Town White Coffee, PappaRich...but I was pleasantly surprised by the food quality :)

If you ever visit Kuala Lumpur, don't leave the city without trying the Asian Caviar Nasi Lemak!!! :)

I used to like Madam Kwan's nasi lemak... but over the years, I found that the quality has deteriorated
- the chicken are overcooked & tasteless
- too much liquid in the curry/rendang (bland)
- the portion has also shrunk

That's Nisha my gym-buddy back in Uni :)
We went to Madam Kwan's when she and her hubby had a honeymoon in Malaysia
Gal, if you're coming back again, we'll go to U-Cafe this time :)))

How do u say "Karangahape" Road? (New Zealand)

2010-02-26T16:44:00.003+13:00

In Maori language, the vowel 'a' is pronounced as 'aa'
- just like in Malay & Indonesian languages

Karangahape Road - a famous street in Auckland, New Zealand - is often mistakenly pronounces as "Kay-rang-gay-happy"

Over the years, Karangahape Road acquired a shorter name - K Road

But still :) heritage/history is important
and it's good to know the original name of K-road
So, here's the story about the famous road in Auckland city :)...

From about 1900 to the early 1960s Karangahape Road was Auckland's busiest shopping street with many clothing shops large and small along with several Department Stores. Most retail chain stores had branches on K Road, often in preference to Queen Street. During the interwar period most of Auckland's main shops selling furniture, musical instruments, radios and other household appliances were located here.

After 1965 K Road lost most of its local customer base when construction of the inner-city motorway system resulted in over 50,000 people having to move out of the surrounding areas.

The downturn in trade led to many shops closing and the relocating of businesses to other areas of Auckland. This accelerated the decline, and by the early 1970s the low rents meant it had acquired a rather seedy reputation as Auckland's red light district.

Since the early 1990s there has been a move away from this image due to newly constructed apartment blocks attracting residents back to the area, as well as a general gentrification of close-by areas like Ponsonby.

Nowadays only very few enterprises are connected with the adult industry.However, the 'Las Vegas' is thought to be New Zealand's oldest established strip club, and its nude 'Vegas Girl' sign has become somewhat iconic.

(Image source: Wikipedia)

Alongside the few remaining shops and venues catering to the sex trade, K Road currently boasts an eclectic collection of shops, cafés and art galleries. At night its restaurants, bars and nightclubs make it a major part of Auckland's social scene.

Yummy Indian snacks at Rasui Restaurant

K Road has become a centre for much of Auckland's bohemian scene, with many venues for alternative music and fringe art as well as the LGBT community. It is also home to many trendy Op shops.

K Road in Pop Culture

The song Verona by New Zealand rock band Elemeno P, from their album Love & Disrespect, refers to the cafe/restaurant/bar of the same name at 169 Karangahape Road.

The current Verona building dates from 1923 and gets its name from the Victorian house that previously occupied the site; Mrs Bishop's "Verona" Boarding House

Fo more info: http://www.kroad.com/

Suspect pleads guilty to NYC subway plot

2010-02-23T20:13:00.002+13:00

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 By A.G. Sulzberger and William K. Rashbaum
Source: The New York Times

NEW YORK -- The Afghan immigrant at the center of what authorities described as one of the most serious threats to the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks pleaded guilty Monday to terrorism charges in what he said was an al-Qaida plot to detonate a bomb in the New York City subway.

(Image source: allvoices.com)

Najibullah Zazi admitted that he came to New York last year near the Sept. 11 attacks anniversary to kill himself and others on the subway, using a homemade bomb. He characterized the plot as a "martyrdom operation" that he was just days away from executing when he said he realized that he was under government surveillance.

Mr. Zazi, 25, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn to charges that included conspiracies to use weapons of mass destruction and to commit murder in a foreign country, and to providing material support for a terrorist organization. Mr. Zazi is scheduled to be sentenced June 25, when he faces a possible sentence of life in prison.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said at a news conference in Washington, D.C., that the Zazi case represented one of the most serious threats to the United States since the 9/11 attacks.

Throughout the 45-minute proceeding Monday, Mr. Zazi seemed unaffected by his circumstances, even smiling through his dark beard on several occasions. And when he spoke, he did so in an unapologetic, matter-of-fact manner, explaining that he was driven to terrorism by his concerns about the U.S. military's actions in Afghanistan.

In recent weeks, Mr. Zazi -- who was born in Afghanistan, raised in Pakistan and later attended high school in Queens -- had begun providing information to prosecutors as part of the initial stages of an agreement that led to his guilty plea Monday, according to two people with knowledge of the case.

There have been additional arrests in the case, including his father, his uncle and two Flushing High School classmates. Mr. Zazi agreed to cooperate in part out of concern that a widening inquiry would result in more charges against his family, including his mother, said one person involved in the case.

The 10-page plea agreement was sealed by Judge Raymond J. Dearie, but the arrangement suggested that prosecutors believe that Mr. Zazi can be a valuable source of information.

On its own, though, the guilty plea marks the successful prosecution of a terrorist in an advanced plot in which explosive materials similar to those used in the 2005 London subway and bus attacks were actually brought into New York. In some other terror cases, plotters appeared to lack the materials or knowledge to make good on their threats.

Mr. Zazi said he decided to go with friends to Pakistan in August 2008 to join the Taliban in fighting the U.S. military invasion of Afghanistan. While in Pakistan, he received training in making bombs, and was persuaded by al-Qaida operatives to return to the United States to be a suicide bomber.

After his return from Pakistan, he soon moved to Colorado, where he worked as an airport shuttle bus driver and began assembling the raw materials, including beauty products, for a bomb. Mr. Zazi said he drove Sept. 10 to New York with some explosives. He said he planned to set off the bombs in Manhattan subway lines as soon as they were ready.
When he suspected he was under surveillance -- his vehicle had been stopped while he drove across the George Washington Bridge -- he decided to abort the operation, dumping out some of his homemade explosives and flying back to Colorado, where he was arrested Sept. 19.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10054/1037893-84.stm?cmpid=nationworld.xml#ixzz0gLAj0qYZ

Finding TRUE LOVE via the relationship-free pathway

2010-02-23T17:57:00.021+13:00

A lot of people ask why I'm single
Like most people, I do want to find my true love someday :)
but I just choose a slightly different (and I believe it to be the 'better') approach :)
You see, I don't think you need to be in 1, 2 or 3 year long mutually-exclusive relationships to 'test it out'
If there's 'love', 'personality compatibility' and 'sexual compatibility', that's all it takes :)
If you're sooo in love, compatible & happy together - well then, just get married!:) lol
but if you're not in love -and you're highly incompatible, being in a 3-year relationship isn't gonna improve things

(Image source: http://boxedambivalence.wordpress)

So, instead of wasting 3 years "trying to understand someone" or "trying to make things work", you would be a lot happier using that 3 year to get to know other people who could be more in love and more compatible with you :)
(eg, casual dating)
Agree?

Casual dating = intimacy + opportunities to understand/get to know the other person + keeping your options open

If a relationship goes well, it could be the best things that ever happen to you :)
but if relationships don't end well, they affect many aspects of your life - your work life (yes, if you have a break-up, it sucks, and it affects your mood, your work performance), your health (if you feel sad, ...it's not very good for health either)

(Image source: http://movies.about.com/library)

The purpose of 'relationship' should not be for 'understanding' the other person
It is unwise to enter into a relationship before you understand the other person's general ideals/goals in life
of course, you don't have to know everything about him/her
after all, getting to know another person is a life-long process :)

so, what's "compatibility" all about?
It's not about trivial stuff like liking the same bands/movies
It's about sharing ideals that are important
eg., if you're health conscious, you'll be happier with a partner who's also health conscious
if you're a non-smoker, you'd feel happier with a non-smoker
if you're a calm person, you'd be happier with someone who's not too temperamental
if you're debt-free and careful with finances, you wouldn't wanna end up with a gambler

(Image source: http://blogs.abc.net.au)

Well, at the moment I don't yet have a personal success story to share:)
but at least, I feel calm/happy :)
and I know that my work/emotions won't be affected by relationship break-ups
- and perhaps, that itself is a success story :)))

I feel that way because I don't think there's a need to live life in a certain way
- there's no need to get married by a certain age, have kids by a certain age...
As long as one's happy, that's all that matters :)

AIDS Walk New York, 16 May 2010

2010-02-22T01:19:00.002+13:00

Since 1986, AIDS Walk New York has raised more than $105 million for HIV programs and services in the tri-state area, and has grown into the largest AIDS fundraising event in the world.

("Use condom sense" ;p lol)

In 2009 alone, 45,000 participants, many of whom were members of 2,880 corporate and community teams, raised a record sum of over $5.6 million for. More than 1.2 million people in the United States are estimated to be living with HIV.

AIDS Walk New York is notable not only for its size, but also for its diversity. People of all ages, races, and backgrounds come together each year in a massive, powerful, and inspiring demonstration of compassion and action.

Prominent corporations and organizations that have helped lead the way over the years include: Barclays Capital, Bloomberg, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CBS 2, Daily News, Decoration and Design Building, Delta Air Lines, Duane Reade, Deutsche Bank, EMD Serono, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Gap Inc., Kenneth Cole Productions, Liz Claiborne, M•A•C Cosmetics, Macy’s, Morgan Stanley, OraSure Technologies, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Target, Time Warner, Viacom/MTV Networks, Whole Foods and Zipcar.

AID Walk New York 2010

The 10k (6.2 mile) AIDS Walk route begins and ends in Central Park.

When : SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010
Walker Sign-In: 8:30 a.m.
Opening Ceremony: 9:15 a.m.
Walk Begins: 10:00 a.m.

Becoming a Star Walker:)

Becoming a Star Walker is easy, and anybody can do it! When registering online as a Walker, be sure to mark the box indicating that you would like to join the Star Walkers Club and set a goal of raising $1,000 or more.

If you have already registered but wish to join the Star Walkers Club, simply log in to your Fundraising Headquarters with your username and password, click on "Edit My Profile", and change your answer to YES under the Star Walker question.

You can also contact the Star Walker Coordinator, Scott, at (212) 807-WALK (9255) or scotth@aidswalk.net and let him know you would like to join the Club. In order to participate in the Star Walkers Club event activities and receive the associated benefits, you must be registered as a Star Walker prior to the day of the AIDS Walk.

Low-fat snacks @ Choice Bakery, Auckland

2010-02-17T16:29:00.000+13:00

Ever wondered how Chinese girls manage to stay so slim (despite eating like horses)?

Well, they don't have super-high metabolic rates

The secret is in their choices of food..especially Taiwanese desserts, which are literally like 'diet food' - yummy, but almost fat-free

If you're in Auckland, good news:)

You can easily get those fat-free cakes at Choice Bakery outlets
The one that I normally go to is at Newmarket
The Japanese Cheese Cakes (no added butter)
are light, fluffy... :))
(ohh yumm, I'm in heaven - just thinking about it)

"Butter-less" cakes

Now, instead of having the usual pound cake, you eat 200-300 calories less per serving with these:-

These cakes have a higher protein content

(more egg whites used in the recipes, to compensate for the fat reduction)

Wife cakes aren't exactly my favourite...but I'm including the pics here just in case you might wanna see what they're like :)

and then tehre's something similar to the "wfie cake" except that there's "red bean paste" inside the pastry

not very healthy - it's just lots of sugar, oil, flour & boiled mashed red beans

Pastizzi: Ricotta-filled traditional Maltese snack :)

2010-02-16T15:05:00.002+13:00

Pastizzi (cheesecakes or peacakes) are ricotta or pea filled pastries which are the most popular and best known culinary export of Malta).

(Image source: farm2.static.flickr.com/1375/145...65f6.jpg)

Pastizzi (singular: pastizz) are popular amongst Maltese people, and are also produced amongst the immigrant communities of Maltese in Australia, the US and Canada.

In Aus, traditional handmade pastizzis are available at Pepe's Pastizzi (http://www.pepespastizzi.com.au/)

Pastizzi lend their name to "pastizzerias" - the dozens of fast food outlets dotted around Malta which primarily sell pastizzi (along with pizzas, qassatat, timpana and sausage rolls).

(Image source: http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpres...assallo)

Pastizzerias also do a rice dish called Ross il-Forn (Maltese for Rice) that is rice cooked in the bolognese sauce and has a pastizzi pastry topping.

In recent years, an inter-family chain "Maxim`s" has taken a dominant share of the pastizzi market, though most pastizzerias are still small, local family concerns. Although a matter of personal taste Maxim's are considered to do the best pea cakes on the island.

(Image source:everywheremag.com)

Pastizzi are typically cooked in batches of 30 on wood furnaces on black metal trays. Pastizzi come in the two standard ricotta and pizelli (pea) varieties, with the ricotta version notably the more popular of the two. Pea pastizzi's are also called pea cakes, which is easier for tourists to say.

A slightly different puff pastry version of the snack is sold at more stylish cafes. Pastizzi are particularly popular snacks on Sundays in Malta, with vendors all over the islands opening in the early hours to cater for late night clubbers and early morning hunters alike. Pastizzi have a particular place of pride in Maltese culture and are light-heartedly considered one of the nation's unique achievements. Locals consider no visit to Malta to be complete without eating some pastizzi.

Sahaa: best African restaurant in Aus & NZ:)

2010-02-16T02:52:00.006+13:00

Tucked inconspicuously in a line-up of ethnic eateries near the busy intersection of Khyber Pass and Broadway (Auckland, New Zealand) , this superb little restaurant is a real off-the-beaten-track, local haunt.

You don’t often come across quality Algerian, Morrocan and Tunisian flavours in New Zealand.

In fact, Sahaa is the only one of its kind on the whole North Island, something that makes its menu shine even brighter.

Naturally, tagines are the specialty here and the setting is positively North African exotic with a private, traditional low-seating area, a family dining room complete with Moroccan fountain, colourful pottery on the walls and dainty glass cups from which to sip your mint tea.

Chef-owner Makhlouf (Marco) Benyettou cooks dishes from his native Algeria as well as Morocco and as well as Morocco and Tunisia.

Benyettou’s wife Dianna undertook the waiting duties by herself; ranging around providing efficient and knowledgeable service in a low-key dining room with lemon-yellow walls, Moorish pendant lamps and a smattering of rugs.

Tagine dishes symbolise North African cuisine, and here at Sahaa they are brought to the table piping hot and placed on a decorative tile in front of you. The conical lid is then removed so you can eat from the cooking platter.

The lamb, apple and prune stew ($26) - the large dices of lamb were very tender, and the fruit contributed a heady sweet-savoury character.

This dish was what good restaurant food should be: sublime in its simplicity, yet the sort of thing that would be difficult to recreate at home.

Sahaa's wine list was small, made up of good value Australian and New Zealand whites and reds, selected to match the food.

However, an evening at Sahaa does not require spectacular flourishes. The low-key service, calm atmosphere and satisfying food invite you to relax and enjoy your food, wine and company.

More info: http://www.viewauckland.co.nz/restaurants/sahaa-review-57866.html

Prices: Entrées $10 - $24, mains $20 - $26.

Contact:
475 Khyber Pass Road,
Newmarket,
Auckland
Tel: 09-523-4578
Fax: 09-523-4578
Email: sahaarestaurant@hotmail.com

Bloomberg's Hottest Anchorwoman :)

2010-02-15T02:35:00.002+13:00

What I like most about Bloomberg's Starting Bell is that the anchor has 'real' knowledge in Finance.
She's not just a pretty tv face.
She's intelligent, sexy...and very articulate :)

Betty Liu brings an award-winning wealth of experience in print, radio and television.

Before entering television, Betty was the Atlanta bureau chief for The Financial Times where she made a name for herself by breaking news and profiling top corporate and political leaders such as Coca-Cola ex-chief executive Douglas Daft, former Home Depot CEO Bob Nardelli and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Her coverage of the biggest Fortune 500 companies based in the South (Coca-Cola, Home Depot, UPS, FedEx) earned her a spot on TJFR's "Top 30 business journalists under 30 list" three years in a row.

The FT also nominated her for a Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for her series of articles on immigrant labor in the South.

(Image source: http://tvnewscaps.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=etc&action=display&thread=192&page=4)
Betty Liu is an now an anchor for Bloomberg Television in New York.

(Image source: http://tvnewscaps.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=etc&action=display&thread=192&page=4)

Betty was formerly an anchor and correspondent for CNBC Asia, based in Hong Kong. She covered the daily market action in the Greater China region for all of CNBC's morning shows including the signature program, Squawk Box. She anchored the coverage of the China market meltdown in February 2007 and also anchored CNBC's newest show, Capital Connection, which launched in March 2007.

(Image source: http://reportercaps.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=othernetworks&action=display&thread=11377)

Betty is also a book author and has written about personal finance. She published the financial and lifestyle guide, "Age Smart: Discovering the Fountain of Youth at Midlife and Beyond" (Prentice Hall, May 2006), which was turned into a month-long weekly series on CNBC Asia called "The Good Life". Her book led her to writing a bi-weekly personal finance column in The South China Morning Post.

Prior to joining The FT and CNBC Asia, Betty was the Taiwan bureau chief for Dow Jones Newswires - the youngest ever in Asia - and a Hong Kong-based regional correspondent for the newswire. In 1997, she received a Dow Jones Newswires Award for her coverage of the Asian financial crisis.
She has written for The Wall Street Journal, Far Eastern Economic Review, and Philadelphia Magazine.

Betty was born in Hong Kong and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with an English degree. She is a mother of twin boys.

Funny sightings;) : Renoma's very NAUGHTY underwear designs

2010-02-13T20:04:00.011+13:00

Still haven't decided what gifts to buy for Valentine's? ;)
Renoma's new limited edition "tiger print" underwear is only available this year :)
So, hurrry up & go grab some for your bf/hubby
Renoma came up with this funky design in conjunction with the year of Tiger (Chinese New Year)
The first day of the Chinese New Year coincides with Valentine's day this year, and hence... :))

Roarr!!!!

(oh...how I wish I have a bf!!:p)

For those who would prefer a more conventional design, there is the heart-shaped print underwear :)

...and black colour briefs with leopard print band

My favourite is the skimpy one (below ) ;p

mua hahaha
it looks so sexy ;p;p;p

Renoma's extensive collection of boxers, briefs, T-shirts & socks :)

Oh yes :) you should get the red colour tiger print t-shirts too :))

CASHing in on ACADEMIC writing :)

2010-02-11T03:46:00.016+13:00

Ever wondered how you can apply your Harvard referencing skills in the real world to make GOOD MONEY? ;)
For many years, academic writing has been deemed as irrelevant to the real world - the corporate environment.
But now :) internet has opened up an unlimited possibility for earning quick income ;)
Hence, academic writing has become the NEW lucrative income source - and a TAX-FREE one (for freelancers out there. if you're an ad company, of course you've gotta pay taxes;))

Why?
The biggest advertising channel out there is.... not Google, not Yahoo
but... WIKIPEDIA :)
Yes, Wikipedia
Companies YEARN for a place in WIKIPEDIA
but it's not easy to get into Wikipedia without a bit of clever manouvering ;)
Try posting any articles that are not up to par with the Wikipedia standard - it will be deleted instantly
yes, the voluntary moderators are merciless...

So, how do you post a Wikipedia article successfully?:)
You need to know the biggest loophole
- ie, IMMACULATE REFERENCING
not an impossible task...but requires a great deal of patience
But hey, if you're one of the 1% people out there who can write good Wikipedia articles...congratulations :)
you're providing a very very IN-DEMAND, very very NICHE service.

Less than 1% of the population has the determination/patience to read, write, summarise, edit and compile pages of Wikipedia articles

Good news - if you're a book geek ;)
If you're not, it's never too late to learn to be one
- and you should!
It's now time to re-read those uni books that you've abandoned for many years ;)
Good luck :)
Well, why am I sharing this precious info, knowing that I'll be having more competitors in the future?

1) Wikipedia's a big pie
there's a limit to the number of Wiki articles I can write in this lifetime :)
besides, I don't wanna be writing only Wiki articles ;p
(no matter how good the pie tastes...sometimes we need a bit of "variety" in life - abit of cheesecakes, a bit of ice-creams, waffles...)

2) If I don't share this info...some probloggers will figure this out someday, and attempt to sell e-books & seminars for this no-brainer piece of advice
(now if you're a pro-blogger & you're reading this, don't try to be a leech. Internet wealth should be shared by all. If I catch any of you trying to sell this idea in your 'expert books', BEWARE- i'll hunt you down :p - for the sake of potential Wikiwriters' welfare. So...Yaro Starak, John Chow...etc, be good boys, please. "Don't use this info for commercial purposes, I repeat". Does it make you feel happy when poor novice writers have to spend a fortune on your highly exaggerated materials? If you're earning as much as you claim to, why not do a bit of charity? Now if you wanna share this free-of-charge in any publication, you're most welcome to do so, but please be ethical & give credit to the source)

3) well, I can probably become a millionaire by running a Wikiartices company, but money's not my only motivation in life. I plan to take things easy once I reach 32 (that's in 6 years time)...find my soul mate, get married, and if I happen to have kids, maybe I should breast-feed for 2 years? No time for Wiki articles then...;p
I'll be filming some home videos with step-to-step guidelines on how to... ermm, breast feed ;p
and share the vids with all of you via Facebook & YouTube

*Licensed by Creative Commons* :PPPP

Michael Jackson's kids are so CUTE! :)

2010-02-11T02:40:00.001+13:00

Surprise surprise :) Who'd have thought that MJ's sons are so good looking!

(Image source: telegraph.co.uk)

The kids at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, with Lionel Richie

MJ's eldest children, Prince Michael and Paris Jackson accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of their late father.

Where to find FREE WI-FI in Central London :)

2010-02-08T20:36:00.000+13:00

(Source:http://www.timeout.com/london/features/6187/Where_to_find_free_wi-fi_in_London.html)

The Social
The Social, spawn of the legendary Heavenly Social club night held at Turnmills in the 1990s, has been a haven from the horrors of Oxford Street for a decade. Free wi-fi is available in the top bar where you can nestle in the diner-style booths and indulge in such homely comforts as pie and mash or fish finger sandwiches. Beers include Hoegaarden and Kronenbourg; the cocktail list features exotic creations such as a cucumber martini. In evening live music is a regular fixture, so it’s probably not the place to hold your business meeting.

The Social, 5 Little Portland St, W1W 7JD (7636 4992/www.thesocial.com).

Bedford & Strand

You’ll encounter lawyers tapping furiously on their laptops at lunchtimes at this elegant wine bar-cum-bistro in a basement off the Strand. Choose from the wine categories of ‘Honest’, ‘Decent’, ‘Good’, and ‘Staff Picks’. For eats, order from the respectable, if slightly unimaginative, à la carte menu.

Bedford & Strand, 1a Bedford St, WC2E 9HH (7836 3033/www.bedford-strand.com).

Brasserie de Malmaison

You can get free wi-fi in the bar, lobby and dining room of this luxurious boutique hotel. Ask for a card from reception and you’ll be able to take advantage of the internet to your heart’s content for up to eight hours. The low lighting and soft upholstery will provide an intimate setting for you and your Mac. The ‘Home Grown and Local’ menu serves oysters, among other delicacies.

Malmaison, 18-21 Charterhouse Square, EC1M 6AH (7012 3700/www.malmaison-london.com).

Christopher’s

Open-access wi-fi is available in the buzzy Martini bar at this Covent Garden venue. Open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Christopher’s, 18 Wellington St, WC2E 7DD (7240 4222/www.christophersgrill.com).

The Diner
This is the place to come for the open access wi-fi washed down with American fast food. The all-day breakfast of pancakes, omelettes and Mexican treats is more than enough to power you through a three-hour Facebook-athon.

The Diner, 16-18 Ganton St, W1F 7BU (7287 8962/www.thedinersoho.com).

Eagle Bar Diner
It’s probably best to avoid this place during lunchtimes if you’re planning on stretching a Budweiser out over an afternoon’s worth of email catch-up – it gets quite busy. Otherwise it’s a perfect place for a big burger and fries washed down with a mammoth milkshake.

Eagle Bar Diner, 3-5 Rathbone Place, W1T 1HJ (7637 1418/www.eaglebardiner.com).

Hawksmoor
Given there can often be a dirth of pews to pull up in this debonair steakhouse and cocktail bar, you might prefer a branch of Coffee Republic for setting up your mobile office for the day, but if you are happy perching on a barstool, have a penchant for saucy cocktails and highly acclaimed slices of beef, then this is the wi-fi place for you.

Hawksmoor, 157 Commercial St, E1 6BJ (7247 7392/www.thehawksmoor.com).

Joe Allen

This restaurant opened in 1977 and has been a popular haunt of the theatre crowd and tourists alike. The menu changes daily and might include such dishes as slow-cooked pork or corn-fed chicken breasts.

Joe Allen, 13 Exeter St, WC2E 7DT (7836 0651/www.joeallen.co.uk).

Shampers

Shampers is a lively, no-nonsense place that serves British food and wallet-friendly wine and Champagne. It gets very busy at lunch and dinner times, and it’s hard to imagine a lone internet surfer hogging a table. Nevertheless, the manager is very happy to hand out the wi-fi code to anyone who asks.

Shampers, Kingly St, W1B 5PE (7437 1692/www.shampers.net).

Zetter

In the heart of Clerkenwell, Zetter (a boutique hotel), is the place to head if you’re in search of comfort and style. Your fellow surfers will probably be monied sophisticates from the neighbourhood who are there for the weekend brunches and elegant setting.

Zetter, 86-88 Clerkenwell Rd, EC1M 5RJ (7324 4455/www.thezetter.com).

Café at Foyles
Fresh juices, healthy salads, top-notch sandwiches, Monmouth coffee, plenty of seating, jazz on the soundsystem… the café in Foyles provides a buzzy environment in which to wile away the afternoon surfing the web. If you tire of digital reading, pop downstairs to buy an old-fashioned book.

Café at Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0EB (7440 3207/www.foyles.co.uk).

Scandinavian Kitchen

Quirky café and deli serving delicious Swedish open sandwiches, gravadlax, herrings, meatballs and the Danish ‘red hotdog’, apparently the Vikings’s favourite snack. In the spirit of Scandinavian egalitarianism there is a fair usage policy, so in other words you shouldn’t abuse their good will by sitting there all day and not buying anything (and yes, that means you will be frowned upon if you nurse a single cup of coffee throughout the lunchtime rush).

Scandinavian Kitchen, 61 Great Titchfield St, W1W 7PP (7580 7161/www.scandikitchen.co.uk).

ICA Café
Since its Peyton & Byrne makeover, this café and bar has become a super-stylish destination in which to dine on simple, tasty food and sip on a cocktail or two. The daily membership fee has been scrapped so it’s free to get in. Take your laptop and update your blog on aesthetic discourse.

ICA Café, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH (7930 3647/www.ica.org.uk).

Hummus Bros
A temple to chickpeas, Hummus brothers serves, erm, houmous, with a wide variety of toppings and wedges of warm pitta bread. There is open wi-fi access but this is essentially a busy fast-food restaurant so avoid lingering at peak times. There’s another branch on Southampton Row.

Hummus Bros, 88 Wardour St, W1F OTJ (7734 1311/www.hbros.co.uk).

Camera Café

(By the way, these aren't my boobs:p)

The idiosyncratic Camera Café brings a touch of Parisian eccentricity to London. The front of the café is a shop with cabinets jam packed with second-hand cameras: anything from beautiful old Leicas to restored Hasselblads. In the back is a small but cosy café. French music is played and the walls are covered with photographs hung at jaunty angles. All the juices come freshly squeezed and the Thai food is excellent.

Camera Café, 44 Museum St, WC1 (7831 1566/www.cameracafe.co.uk).

Horrified to find that I ate Thai Pig Skin Snack :P

2010-02-08T04:58:00.004+13:00

Nice golden brown hue, crispy & aromatic...
fried pig skins taste better than potato chips!

I had a shock when I saw the packaging...

yucky, how'd I have known that pig skins are sold as snacks?

The cholesterol level's scary

Ukrainian Prime Minister is a hottie! :)

2010-02-07T00:27:00.006+13:00

I've heard (Yulia) Tymoshenko's name many times on BBC (my fav radio station), but I thought "Tymoshenko"s a guy.
It's only today that I found out that Tymoshenko's such a hottie!:)
When I first came across her pic, I almost thought it's a pic of Audrey Hepburn

(Image source: scrapetv.com)

Can you see the resemblance?

(This is Audrey Hepburn)

(Image source: http://community.livejournal.com...060.html)

(This is Yulia Tymoshenko)

(Image source: mts1.wordpress.com)

Guess wot - she's 49 yr old!
But she looks more like 32 than 49. Amazing!

Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko (Ukrainian: Юлія Володимирівна Тимошенко, [ˈjulijɑ ʋɔlɔˈdɪmɪriʋnɑ tɪmɔˈʃɛnkɔ] Julia Volodymyrivna Tymošenko, née Hryhyan; born November 27, 1960) is a Ukrainian politician. She has been the Prime Minister of Ukraine from January 24 to September 8, 2005, and again since December 18, 2007.

(Image source: astrologyweekly.com)

Omg...she looks good in any hairdo!:)
She looks like a Middle-Eastern beauty when she sported black shoulder length-do

(Image source: ex-spring.blogspot.com)

She looks cute even in a futuresque Lady Gaga-like outfit! :)

The sporty look suits her too. When she posed on scooter, she looked even better than Danica Patrick! - except that I wish she'd have a different hairdo here

(Image source: thepotvinreport.wordpress.com)

Tymoshenko's plaited hairstyle became iconic at the time of the Orange Revolution. When asked whether she visits a professional hairdresser, she responded that she does her hairstyle herself. According to image consultant Oleh Pokalchuk, Lesya Ukrainka's hairstyle inspired the over-the-head braid.

(Image source: flintultrasparc.livejournal.com)

Audrey Hepburn had a prettier face, but Tymoshenko scores bettter as a sex kitten - well, her boobs are bigger ;p hehe

(Image source: bittenandbound.com)

Samantha's Online Shopping Mall :)

2010-02-06T18:59:00.002+13:00

Samantha recently launched her online shopping mall :)

Check it out;)

www.dyuemall.com/luv2shop

It's the ultimate one-stop shop :)

You can find anything, from 'innocent' goods like household items, health products, books, DVDs, to really naughty stuff like specialty condoms & 'male masturbators' ;p...

clothes, accessories...

cute dresses for special occasions :)

- like Hen's Nights ;) hehe

snacks, sweets... :)

gourmet ice creams :)

etc etc

So, what are you waiting for? ;)

Log on to www.dyuemall.com/luv2shop

Samantha in "Sex Museum", Amsterdam ;)

Hooters Girls :) (@ Aloha Tower Drive, Honolulu)

2010-02-03T04:32:00.003+13:00

To be honest, the food at Hooters aren't exceptional.

But no matter how unimpressive the cooking may be, it's still worth a visit

- just to see the sexy Hooters Girls ;)

(Image source: http://www.sporttruck.com/pinups..._16.html)

;P *salivating*

They look so sexy that even the mediocre "KFC-quality chicken wings" taste so heavenly!

...and of course, I love the colourful wall decorations at the restaurant

This pic was taken at the Hooters outlet @ Aloha Tower Drive, Honolulu

Some pics of the food:)

My favourite is the "Mahi fish fillet" - which is only available at the Hooters outlet in Honolulu

What I like most about Hooters - no matter which restaurant you go to, the girls are very nice and friendly :-) With me in this pic is Brianna

Over the years, the issue of Hooter Girls have attracted a great deal of controversy - criticisms from extreme feminists

(Image source: http://www.ebcak.com/archives/399)

Well, so what if Hooters Girls are for decoration?;)

I enjoy looking, & I'm not even a guy or a bi! ;P

There are also many guys out there who are for decoration, lol - like David Beckham, Andy Roddick, the Calvin Klein models

(Image source: http://euroross.blogspot.com/200...ive.html)

Well, so what if Hooters girls or 'guys' are for decoration? ;p

It just makes life more interesting!:)

Website: http://www.hooters.com/

Gaga News: Lady Gaga won two Grammy Awards :)

2010-02-03T04:25:00.007+13:00

... and she got Elton John to wear a pair of gold-dust covered glasses + an unusually big "star of David" ear-ring - while they're performing a duet at the awards.

(Image source: http://static.technorati.com/promo/3419/lady-gaga-elton-john-grammys.jpg)
I apologize for the blur images ;P
there aren't any pics of Elton John wearing that ear-ring so I had to copy it from the YouTube vid

(Image source: YouTube)

Pic:
Lady Gaga poses backstage with her awards for Best Dance Recording and Best Electronic Dance Album at the Grammy Awards on Sunday :)

(Source: http://www.northjersey.com/photos/photocb0202_530.html)

Lady Gaga's performance with Elton John at the Grammy Awrds double up as quite a good magic show :) - disappearing acts, fires, etc

Lady Gaga Fashion & a wacky song titled "Telephone";)

2010-02-02T16:36:00.000+13:00

Lady Gaga summed up:
Interesting clothes ;), more interesting personality, LOUSY song titled "Bad Romance", MUST-LISTEN-SONG of the year titled "Telephone" Ft Beyonce.
It's awesome! :)
simple & playful lyrics, but I just love the beats!
It reminds me a lot about Aussie group Madison Avenue's song titled "Don't Call Me Baby"

Boy, don't we all love to see what she wears next? ;)
This is a reindeer outfit that she wore fore Christmas

This was what she wore for the Grammy's Awards :)

She's a very nice person:) - not at all a primadonna. I once read an article about Lady Gaga buying pizzas for her fans during an autograph session so that they won't go hungry

Source: http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/awards/23033/wacky-wondrous-fashion-wins-on-grammys-red-carpet/

Quaint Japanese goods at Yaoko Marketplace, Narita Town

2010-02-02T01:17:00.004+13:00

Flights between North America and Asia often involve a layover in Narita, Japan. Since the international airport at Narita (New Tokyo International Airport) is far from Tokyo and in a country that seems impossibly expensive, here are some ideas on what to do during your hours, days and perhaps night in Narita.

I spent most of my time exploring quiant Japanese goods at Yaoko Marketplace :)
I was given a free day-use room at Nikko Hotel.
The hotel provides free shuttle service to Narita town - where Yaoko is located

Yaoko Marketplace a great place for a bit of shopping & a bite to eat. There is a wide variety of prepared food and an area at the front called a cafe. The cafe has a microwave and free green tea.

Colourful cakes

My favourite: fresh scallop salad
Japanese scallops are quite unlike New Zealand scallops;p
Japanese scallops don't have ~~a huge orange colour penis-like thingy~~

Plenty of fresh fruits

Light snacks

wide variety of rice crackers :)

Yes, we all know that it's meant for a 'home made cake'

Colourful mochis:-)

Info source: Mike Newman's Narita Layoyer Page

Mike Newman's Narita Layoyer Page is geared toward folks who intend to stay in the vicinity of the airport, including nearby Narita City - while waiting for the next flight.

What on earth is a NUNUFISH Bra?

2010-02-01T08:10:00.000+13:00

The bra name's hilarious :) LOL

But it's good stuff - strapless.

It's like... the new "Wonderbra" - feels & looks real

Nunufish bra is invented in Japan

Aww... the Japanese models in the bra catalogue look hawt too! :)

Does size matter? What do women look for in bed?

2010-02-01T05:46:00.008+13:00

Why am I writing this?
Reasons:
(1) The discourse of sexuality has long been dominated by men,
(2) Male-centric sexuality discourses (in the world of pornography) have always purported that "bigger is better"
(3) I understand that it is not easy being a guy, especially if you can't help thinking that girls prefer 'big' guys... and you're not that big.
But in reality, does size matter much to real girls?
Nope.
I know that for a fact, and I would like to end the misery that many guys are facing
- the self-depreciating feeling that you're not as 'big' as that guy in the porn vid...

So, what do girls look for?
Well, NONE of my girlfriends go for size
neither do they need someone who's super athletic in bed
& many (surprisingly) many of my girlfriends are still virgins (late 20s, 30s)
why?
It's not because they're against pre-marital sex
but because they're looking for that 'special connection'
...that warm fuzzy feeling :)
They have to be "in love" before they're in the mood for physical intimacy

What then do girls look for in a guy (& in bed)?
Well, they "generally" go for "substance" - personality/virtues
ie, would you still love her in the next 20, 30, 40 years of your life?
So, if you're a guy & you're ever worried about your size...stop worrying
because she's not looking for "big"

When girls are attracted to you (personality, etc - the whole package), they don't care if you're big or small or long or short or curved or straight.
Just like how you wouldn't care whether a girl's boobs are big or small or pointed or round, if you truly like her.

Okayyy.... :P
so what if you have a beautiful penis & you know it & you DON'T suffer from penis size-related inferiority?
Well, don't brag about it!
You wouldn't want a relationship that's built upon the ...errm size of your member
You want 'substance'
You want a future partner who'll still love you just as much even when you get older... & start facing age-related issues that you don't wish to think about right now... like ED...impotence...
(Sorry for being a party pooper :P)

Sex position known as "The Lusty Leapfrog" ;)

2010-01-29T06:40:00.000+13:00

According to Cosmopolitan magazine, it's one of the BEST sex positions :) :) :)

(Source:http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/tips-moves/5-pleasure-positions-2)

"Hovering in a sexy squat above your man — rather than sitting or straddling him squarely — gives you the perfect chance to clench him tight.

(Image source: http://images.craveonline.com/article_imgs/Image/sex-moves-he-loves-600.jpg)

"This is one of the easiest positions in which to flex your PC muscles around the glans of his penis, which can initiate an intense orgasmic response," says Paget.

This erotic arrangement also allows for better command of pacing and depth of thrusts (it's easy to vary between deep and shallow), which helps put you in control of your climax, says Kenneth Ray Stubbs, Ph.D., author of The Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions: The Tantric Art of Love.

(Image source: smart.fm/goals/search?keyword=Esperanto)

"Squatting will help you feel the entire length of his shaft as you encircle it, and the muscle tension created by holding yourself above him will really add to the intensity of your pleasure."

How to Do It

Straddle your man (lying on his back) and slowly lower yourself onto his pelvis, sliding his penis inside you as you go.

But rather than sitting down in a straddle position, raise yourself up off him in a squatting position. Put your hands on his thighs, stomach, rib cage or upper chest for support.

(Image source: http://www.runnersworld.com/iyogalife/cms/uploads/1/SexWH_1.jpg)

Start by sliding yourself up and down his member by lifting your lower body up and down — a totally different motion than going forward and back like regular woman-on-top.
Vary your pace, starting with some fast, teasingly shallow thrusts that touch only the tip of his penis, then move down into deep, slower thrusts that envelop him completely.

The fabulous friction you'll create will give you the double bonus of amazing sensations all along the edge of your vaginal opening when you pump shallow and on your G-spot when you pump deep.

(Image source: hangmen13.16ops.com/.../01/sex_breakfast_lar.jpg)

And if you try leaning backward and resting your hands on his thighs and knees, the sensation will even spread to your clitoris — and the natural arching of your back will open up your body for him to fondle.

Umeke Market & Deli, Honolulu

2010-01-27T11:17:00.003+13:00

Umeke Market Deli is my favourite place for yummy organic food :)
The food's so good that I went there at least 5 times!

My favourites: Tofu lasagna, spinach casserole, turkey meatloaf & "Naked" natural fruit juice ;p

(Yes, it's 100% natural! Preservative free. Unlike "Simply Squeezed" - the organic impostor)

For those of you who wonder what Umeke means, it is the Hawaiian word for "calabash". It literally can be translated to mean "wooden bowl". In ancient times, Hawaiians used the umekes for medicinal purposes as well as for cooking. Nowadays, umekes are often given as gifts or awards in both cultural and business gatherings. Umekes are also used for keeping favorite items (e.g. small keepsakes and treasures).

The deli section at Umeke, filled with dozens of salads and side dishes

Preservative-free pomegranate & blueberry juice

Trying out the yummy Free-range Chicken Curry Salad

(Cotton shirt by Arcadia, Sunglasses by Elle)

Clockwise, from top left: (1) Free-range Chicken Curry Salad, Squash & Butternut Casserole, Turkey Meatloaf

Clockwise, from top left: (1) Turkey Meatloaf, (2) Spinach Ricotta Casserole, and (3) Grilled Veggie Lasagna

Parking space for "bicycles" :)

Umeke Market is located along the Kalanianaole Highway (nearby Kahala Mall).
Address: 4400 Kalanianaole Highway, Honolulu

Plenty of parking spaces for cars too!

Website: http://www.umekemarket.com/

Umeke Market and Deli is a family owned and operated business by husband and wife team, Daryl and Michelle Yamaguchi and sister, Debbie Yamaguchi. The Yamaguchi family has had long-standing roots in the Hawaii food industry, as far back and the mid 40's. Their grandparents operated the "E.S. Yamaguchi Family Market" in the old Farmer's market building in Kakaako.

Daryl and Debbie Yamaguchi opened the Kaimuki Health Market in 1997 and have grown and renamed the business and added Michelle's expertise in the kitchen as a mainstay of their deli. Michelle has created many tasty and delicious menu items, including her own recipe for her tantalizing "veggie burger", the ever so popular Turkey Focaccia Sandwich, Chicken Adobo and Veggie Foccacia Sandwich.

Articles about Umeke Market & Deli:

http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/maincourse_article/fresh_natural_plate_lunches_on_bishop_street/

http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/8193/108/

I didn't know PINEAPPLE ice-creams exist! ;) yum

2010-01-27T05:05:00.001+13:00

My new-found love :) - Dole Plantation's pineapple ice-cream

Light, fluffy
& not too sweet (unlike fruit sorbets. I'm not a fan of sweet sorbets)

it's virtually fat-free
Be prepared for a long queue!
(but it's worth it nonetheless :) )
When I was there, I saw at least 5 other tourist buses!

(Swimwear by Blush!. Lip gloss by Estee Lauder)

A nice patio for visitors to enjoy the cool breeze while sampling fragrant pineapple ice-creams

About Dole Pineapple Plantation

(Source: Wikipedia)

Dole was founded in 1851 in Hawaii as Hawaiian Pineapple Company by James Dole, who opened his first pineapple plantation in the central plateau of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Today the company does business in over 90 countries and takes in upwards of $5.3 billion in annual revenue. It is owned by billionaire David H. Murdock.

Colourful plants along the driveway

Eucalyptus trees...

A map/directory located outside the main building

A stall selling home-grown fruits and veges- paw-paws (papayas), pineapples, sweet potatoes, etc

A souvenir shop where you can get nicely-packaged Hawaiian snacks - Macadamia nuts, sugar-free chocolates, preserved pienapples, amngoes, & coconuts, pineapple ice-cream (of course!), organic honey, cereals, fridge magnets... etc

A drink called FumFum?? :)

2010-01-26T16:36:00.031+13:00

I'd regard cocktail names like Singapore Sling and Bloody Mary as pretty adventurous... but Fum Fum?;p
It's way too extraordinary & umm... naughty :p

Well, TEZA Co. invented a new tangy cocktail recipe and gave it a very sexual name - "Fum Fum" :P
It's a combination of the work "fuck" + "cum" = Fum
Even if it tastes really good, when I go to a bar I don't think I'd be bold enough to say, "Can I have a glass of Fum Fum, please?"

But then again, it's an interesting drink to have if you're having a party at home... or wedding/birthday function :)

So, I'm now gonna share the recipe with you...

This is the new funky layout of Teza's interactive website

...and this is the recipe for FumFum. Just click on it if you'd like to view it.

I'm too lazy to transcribe the recipe :P

You'll need a carton of Teza's "Lemon Mandarin"

Well, my favourite Teza drink is Velvetberry :)

...or Velvel Underground

I love berries :)

Too bad I missed the berry season in NZ...

Website: http://www.teza.co.nz/
Email: teza@greenstonedrinks.co.nz

Oh I LOVE hair extensions :)))

2010-01-22T07:24:00.011+13:00

My apologies for sounding like an airhead today ;p
I can't help it... I'm just a girl, hehe

So, there you have it - I love hair extensions!! :)
Absolutely love them

You can wear them any way you like, without having to worry about damaging your hair

You can have them combed out straight...

Or curled

or wear them up in a ponytail

have your hair short 1 day

...and long the next day

Oh, don't you love hair extensions? :)

Well, if you ever think about getting hair extensions, go for "real" human hair :)

don't ever ever get synthetic stuff
Real human hair doesn't tangle easily
You can also use curling thongs & straighteners for DIY hairstyling :) without worrying about melting the extensions

There are many methods of hair extensions
a) glue-in
b) weaved
c) micro-rings

I had the micro-ring extensions :)
which are probably the best method (if you wish to avoid having your oen hair damaged)
I won't recommend glueing
I certainly won't recommend weaving
(lasts longer - up to 6 months. But your own hair will be pulled out if you handle it a bit too roughly)

Condom-like stationery called "Thimblette" ;p

2010-01-14T04:00:00.003+13:00

Remember the cute condom-shaped thimblettes with ribs and dots?

Chanced upon the "improved versions" of the originals;p

Snapshots of Auckland is proud to present the

2009/2010 Winter Collection of ~~condoms~~ thimblettes, I mean

1) Light blue ribbed and dotted thimblette with holes

2) There are even some colourful breast pouches to go along with the condoms ;p

3) the transparent & ultra-thin versions...
Oh, they glow in the dark too ;) hehe

Bigger sizes

Errm... these ones look like they've been used before... :P

Thimblettes' other name - Finger Sack
(errm...can someone please come up with a better name? Finger Sack is sooo unromantic)

My personal trainer's blog :) - aprilsiow.net

2010-01-13T21:47:00.013+13:00

I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce all of you to my favourite personal trainer - April

- and to congratulate her on the official launch of Aprilsiow.net

She's the epitome of a modern woman - smart (Economics grad), adventurous, healthy, independent, steroid-free... etc (I can go on & on)

Oh, she has climbed Mount Kinabalu too!
(Mount Kinabalu is the tallest mountain in South East Asia)

What I like most is that she achieved her toned body through "real" and "realistic" workout regimes
- not with the aide of performance enhancement drugs and freakish Hollywood-like fitness obsessions (ie, Demi Moore & Victoria Beckham)
- no bulimia, no anorexia, no bygarexia

Omg...I wish I can jump like that too...

I don't choose my fitness role model based on the size of their muscles
I don't see The Rock (Dwayne Johnston) as a fitness role model

I see Tom Welling (Smallville actor) as a better male fitness role model

(Source:www.starswelove.com)

I also don't see Pamela Anderson as a healthy role model

I don't even see her as a sex symbol

Gosh, if I were a guy I'd much rather ~~squeeze some smaller boobs as long as they're real & I won't have to worry that the implants are gonna burst~~

(Source:http://themexbox360.craveonline.com/albums/userpics/10022/normal_Pamela%20Anderson%205.jpg)

I prefer April's holistic approach to health & fitness
& body too
(no fake boobs, fake pecs, bicep implants & whatnot)

To her, health & fitness is not a fad
It's not an obsession
It's just...a lifestyle
& a very good one :)

Anyone can be a blogger :)

2010-01-13T21:05:00.002+13:00

Blogging is so easy :)

But pro-bloggers make it seem 'Oh so difficult' so that you'll buy their overpriced books & subscrible to their newsletters.

Today, I'm going to share with you some self-empowering tips (yes, they're free of charge :) ) about the 'how-to's of blogging, and you can be assured that I'm not trying to sell you some "How to Blog" books at the end of this blog post.

Blogging is

- simply putting texts and images together

you don't need to write long articles

just use Picasa for easy/quick uploading of photos

download it here: http://www.picasa.com/

and of course, you don't turn into a pro-blogger overnight :)

so be patient & keep blogging :) - if you have the passion for it

If blogging is not your cup of tea... then don't bother

there's nothing worse than having a job that you don't like

___________

Well, this is the story of my humble beginning...

Money was probably the last thing on my mind when I first started blogging back in 2004 ;)

I blogged simply for the joy of sharing travel stories and new discoveries with the people around me.

At that time, I was a Journalism & Political Science sophomore at Monash University (Gippsland, Australia), far away from family - and was having a wonderful cultural exchange experience that I wanted to share with my folks back home.

But over time, my blog became a series of experiments that have somehow turned out well :)

I have yet to make a million bucks like Anthony Robbins or Dr Patrick Dixon, but my blog became a launch pad for occasional freelance work & well, ...free goodies ;)

The top question that you'd most probably have at the back of your mind is
- How do you make money through blogs?

Tip no. 1: Use your blog as a canvas to display your talents -
a) share your cooking skills and recipes - eg, like my favourite recipe queen Chanit
b) be generous with your knowledge - like Dr Patrick Dixon, CEO of Global Change

In my case,... I'm pretty much a guinea-pig who experiments with just about anything when it comes to food, consumer products, services, online tools...

and GADGETS, of course! :)

Though I wasn't a tech student, I was very curious and experimented with Ruby on Rails, Open Source tools, photography, Joomla, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop, and all-things-Web2.0 :)

Tip no. 2: Be different :)
My initial foray into the tech world was fraught with difficulties as most online information were heavily infused with Silicon Valley jargons.

Realising the need for more reader-friendly tech writings, I began writing stuff that both the tech geniuses and the non-geeks can relate to, ...and got noticed ;)

Tip no. 3: Go global ;)
Yes - go global!
Join Facebook, MyBlogLog, BlogCatalog, Entrepreneurs Econnect - interact with bloggers, entrepreneurs & readers from all over the world - not merely with individuals of close geographical proximity.

With VOIP, WWW and air travel, virtual work teams can be established anytime, anywhere :)

Take a moment and reflect on this : -
Why does Stephen King go Bollywood? Why does Shah Rukh Khan go Hollywood? The reason is to leverage on each other's geographical markets.

Similarly, a start-up team consisting of members from the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East will be much more well equipped to build a business empire compared to an all-American or all-Asian group.

But on the other hand, entrepreneurs can't just get any Tom, Dick or Harry to be their biz partners - because that would be tantamount to a business suicide! Hence, there is a great deal of opportunities out there for freelancers around the world - as more and more entrepreneurs look toward bridging the "skills" gap within their own team :)

The great news is - with language translation software, you can communicate with anyone without the need for a common language:)

Some of the most satisfying projects I've ever had were the translation of German, Japanese, Chinese, Korean & French web content into English ;)
- you get to learn new languages in the process!

How to be a good viral marketer
1) Take time to understand the products/services that you promote
2) Build your reputation via personal branding (like Seth Godin)

By the way, I wasn't suggesting that you copy his looks...

Mobile phone radiation 'protects' against Alzheimer's??

2010-01-13T16:50:00.001+13:00

(Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8443541.stm)

After all the concern over possible damage to health from using mobile phones, scientists have found a potential benefit from radiation.
Their work has been carried out on mice, but it suggests mobiles might protect against Alzheimer's.

Florida scientists found that phone radiation actually protected the memories of mice programmed to get Alzheimer's disease.

They are now testing more frequencies to see if they can get better results.

The study by the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre is published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Genetically altered mice

It involved 96 mice, most of which had been genetically altered to develop beta-amyloid plaques in their brains, which are a marker of Alzheimer's disease, as they aged.

The rest of the mice were non-demented.

All the mice were exposed to the electro-magnetic field generated by a standard phone for two one-hour periods each day for seven to nine months.

Memory benefits

The memory benefits of phone exposure took months to show up, suggesting that a similar effect in humans would take years.

The researchers conclude that electro-magnetic field exposure could be an effective, non-invasive and drug-free way to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease in humans.

They are currently testing whether different sets of frequencies and strengths might produce a more rapid and greater cognitive benefit.
Chuanhai Cao, another author of the study, said: "Since production and aggregation of beta-amyloid occurs in traumatic brain injury, particularly in soldiers during war, the therapeutic impact of our findings may extend beyond Alzheimer's disease."

The authors say previous studies have linked a possible increased risk of Alzheimer's with "low-frequency" electro-magnetic exposure like the energy waves generated by power and telephone lines.

They say mobile phones emit "high frequency" electro-magnetic waves that are very different because they can have beneficial effects on brain function, such as increasing brain cell activity.

Good sauce, but... "obituary-style' packaging

2010-01-13T08:49:00.000+13:00

Remember the yummy Whittaker's chocolates and J.H. Whittaker's mugshot? :)

Well, here's one of my favourite chilli sauce brand- "Lao Gan Ma" (Old Step Mum) which also has a similar obituary-style packaging

Most of the products with obituary-style packaging seem to be good, eh?
What an eerie coincidence!;p

Where to get FREE INTERNET in Auckland City

2010-01-13T04:55:00.003+13:00

In Auckland, free internet is non-existent.

Not even at Starbucks or McDonald's

At most, you can get 1-hour free wi-fi at Esquires Coffee outlets

But even then, it's not entirely free

You only get 1 hour internet usage with every purchase

So, I was really happy when I chanced upon a secret hideout that offers 15 minutes free internet ;)

(Well, 15 minutes is better than nothing, eh?)

It's a shop called "Queen's Digital World" - located on Queen Street, of course :)

Lot No. 25...

Dear Aucklanders, ...enjoy a bit of free web surfing while it lasts ;) hehe

What you'll get for taking photos of charred Starbucks scones;p

2010-01-13T04:37:00.003+13:00

Remember the charred cheese bacon and herb scone? ;p

Well, Starbucks caught me making fun of the scone and ...err...sent me two coupons

- but it's gonna be really awkward for me to use them in the same outlet :p

really really awkward

Why?
Because the coupon has these wordings:
"We apologize that your Starbucks experience was anything but wonderful..."
Gosh...I wouldn't want the barista to know that I made fun of the blackened sandwich

Starbucks, couldn't you have sent me a gift card of some sort instead of a "complainant's coupon"?

I grew up with Muslims & Christians...

2010-01-12T23:00:00.002+13:00

I don't understand the uproar & the Molotov cocktail bomb attacks in Taiping following the court ruling pertaining to the use of the word "Allah".

I don't know who these terrorists are.
They are totally unlike my Muslim friends.

Religion has never been a big issue throughout my life...
My Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist friends get along perfectly well with each other
- In Malaysia, this sense of oneness regardless of ethnicity & religion is known as "Muhibbah" (Arabic)

I went to a "Convent" girls school in Brickfields (an Indian town in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), where 80% of the students were Muslims
- we played and eat together
I ate pork, they ate beef
I attended their religious classes out of curiosity
They taught me how to pronounce the word "Allah" correctly
They also taught me simple Arabic

We remain good friends up till today...

At our Malay friend's wedding... :)

We even wore the same navy blue dress back in school :) :)

So, who are those terrorists who bomb innocent people?

What's Taliban? Who are they?

They are definitely not the same kind of Muslims my friends are.

Funny looking Monkfish @ Sydney Fish Market

2010-01-12T07:45:00.010+13:00

Monkfish is the "cutest" fish specie that I've ever seen...

yes, "cute"
(Cute: ugly but adorable [Oxford dictionary]) ;p
I wonder what it tastes like...

Huge upturned mouth...
- it has this perpetual "sad" look
but to me, that's what makes the monkfish so endearing
you see, it has such an unhappy-looking face that I almost felt obligated to cuddle it in my arms

There are at least 5 seafood retailers @ Sydney Fish Market
- but the biggest & busiest one is probably Claudio's

Apart from monkfish, you can find the more usual types of seafood like.. umm, Salmon heads...hehe:)
(at least, these are my favourites)

Moreton Bay bugs... (they taste somewhat like lobsters)

Abalones...

and of course, the famous New Zealand mussels :) :) :)

There's a vege/fruit shop in the building that sells pumpkins for 99 cents each

& a few cafes/restaurants that offers outdoor dining (famous for Fish n Chips), where you can eat alongside the greedy seagulls ;p

There's also a gourmet shop (Blackwattle Deli) that sells cheese, wine, organic pasta, homemade sauce... etc etc

"Sydney Fish Market was established by the NSW Government in 1945.

SFM is the largest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the world's second largest seafood market in terms of variety outside of Japan, SFM auctions over 100 species daily.

Sourcing product both nationally and internationally, SFM trades over 13,000 tonnes of seafood annually."

(Source: www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au)

A very expressive seagull :)

2010-01-07T06:50:00.001+13:00

Bird oh bird...

what have I done wrong? :p

why are you scowling at me?

How I ALMOST ate DOG FOOD (Chocolates) ;p

2010-01-05T06:31:00.008+13:00

By now you probably know that I love chocolates, especially dark ones;p

So, it's perhaps not a very surprising revelation that I almost ate Home Brand's "Choc Drops" for dogs.

Hey, it's not that I'm dumb...but the Choc Drops were placed at the mini shelves near the cashier, where you'd normally find food items FOR HUMAN like "chocolates", mint, chewing gums...

Hence, when I was waiting for my turn to pay for grocery items while shopping in Foodtown (now taken over by Countdown), Quay St (Auckland) I almost picked up a box of these...

...until I spotted the other items besides the Home Brand Choc Drops

So... I really am not that dumb... ;p
Or at least I refuse to believe it

I mean, Home Brand is a brand that I'd normally associate with "human food items" like butter...

cheddar cheese

self-raising flour

but not dog food!!!

Ok... Home Brand, I'm overreacting ;p
You are most entitled to carry any types of products you wish - be it for human, cats or dogs...

But FoodTown or Countdown really shouldn't put that stuff here! LOL :)

....especially above Watties' stuff

A bar named THE CLINIC :) (but it looks more like a hospital)

2010-01-04T06:07:00.002+13:00

(Source: www.singapore.com)
"Clinic’s unique alfresco is easily identified by its hospital whites, colourful pills, syringes, drips, test-tubes and paraphernalia in all manner of the clinical, all in tribute to the tongue-in-cheek pop art of Damien Hirst.

The mood is at once controversial and conspiratorial. If you’re in on the joke, the ironic pharma-kitsch décor will appeal to you.

The diverse space allows a crowd with varied tastes to enjoy their own brand of entertainment."

If you wish, you can even opt to be drip-fed

(Just kidding ;p)

Location: Block 3C River Valley Road,

#01-03 The Cannery,

Clarke Quay

Tel: +65 6887 3733

Open: 17:30 - late

Honey, I SHRUNK McD's burgers !

2010-01-02T08:12:00.008+13:00

Alamak!!
McD's Fillet-o-Fish Burger looks so pathetic that I almost had to cry when I looked at it.

McD darling, have some common sense, pleeez...

How can the burger's diameter be smaller than the diameter of the already-very-tiny plastic cup? aiyoyo...

Fair enough, I understand that you got into a lot of trouble because of unflattering revelations in the film "Super Size Me", but you don't have to start Mini-Me-ing your burgers, do you?

(Source: Wikipedia)

"Super Size Me is a 2004 American documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker.

Spurlock's film follows a 30-day time period (February to beginning of March 2003) during which he eats only McDonald's food.

The film documents this lifestyle's drastic effects on Spurlock's physical and psychological well-being, and explores the fast food industry's corporate influence, including how it encourages poor nutrition for its own profit.

Spurlock dined at McDonald's restaurants three times per day, eating every item on the chain's menu. He also always "super-sized" his meal if given the option—but only if it was offered.

Spurlock consumed an average of 20.92 megajoules or 5,000 kcal (the equivalent of 9.26 Big Macs) per day during the experiment.

As a result, the then-32-year-old Spurlock gained 24½ lbs. (11.1 kg), a 13% body mass increase, a cholesterol level of 230, and experienced mood swings, sexual dysfunction, and fat accumulation to his liver."

Coffee + Mini-Me burger + hash brown = 9 bucks

*shakes head*

I wouldn't be complaining if you hadn't shrunk the size of the burger to half its original size...

Why I chose Great Eastern Life Insurance :)

2009-12-30T17:48:00.013+13:00

I guess I'm really really lucky that my siblings are a techie & a finance expert :)) My bro's an Oracle expert & my sis' did ACCA
Bro's doing some really cool projects at an MNC, sis is a top exec at a public-listed company...
There's always someone to help fix the modem/broadband, format com hard disk, telling me what shares/bonds to buy, & which life insurance to choose :) :) :)

When it was my turn to buy a life insurance, I just asked my sis
She calculated & compared the present/future value of dozens of life insurance packages and came up with the conclusion that Great Eastern Life's the best

(I have a complaint though. The Policy Certificate looks so dull, gloomy... it almost looks like a death certificate, touchwood. *cringe* Geez, can't you guys whaking come up with a more colourful design? I know, we all buy life insurance for "that reason"...but c'mon, the policy cert design doesn't have to reflect that!)

By the way, Great Eastern Life is not paying me to endorse their products
I'm just sharing some useful info with you guys, just in case you're shopping for a life insurance & don't have anyone to rely on for advise, apart from insurance agents

I would have bought AIA's insurance had it not been because of my sis' due diligence
Why?
cuz AIA's Sales team is excellent
I'm have a soft spot for good customer service...
would I have regretted if I had bought AIA?
I don't know ;)
...umm, if I know for sure that Uncle Sam's gonna bail us out forever, then I'd probably go for AIA

5-star McDonald's outlet

2009-12-19T06:04:00.003+13:00

The McDonald's on George St (Sydney) isn't like a typical fast food outlet. The deco is just way too "5-star"

Ahhh, I'm not complaining, though ;) hehe

But, having heard rumours about McD's "fake burger cheese", I was just a "little bit" worried that the chandeliers would break and land on my head

Absolutely loved the ambience

Somehow, the deco made me think of Phantom of the Opera

Comfy cushioned walls :)

Television screens :)

Free wi-fi :)

Oh, McD, even if you're indeed guilty of serving us fake orange-colour cheese all these years, I'd still love you for this beautiful 5-star outlet on George Street!:)

I know it sounds crazy, but I do think that the fake cheese taste good... ;p

Cousin and nephews :)

2009-12-09T15:43:00.005+13:00

Was mucking around with my cousin & nephews :)

My cousin (Trist) from Cheras & my sis' 9-year -old son (Meng Kit) :)

Meng Kit's brother, Meng Jun - watching tv

'Sun-Maid girl' makeover sparks controversy

2009-12-04T18:33:00.003+13:00

Hey peeps, I'm now indulging in trashy news & enjoying every single moment of it:)

A quick run-through on what's new on Yahoo Finance

- the Sun Maid raisin girl's new look :)

I absolutely love it!:)

but the new makeover has drawn criticisms ..."that the newly made-over raisin girl looks like a Barbie Doll in Amish attire" (by the way, what's Amish?;p Google l8er)

The blog for conservative magazine The Weekly Standard noted that the new Sun-Maid girl looks "as if Julia Roberts decided to don a red bonnet and start picking grapes,"

(Hey, what's wrong with that? I absolutely like Julia Roberts. She's the perfect actress- perfect voice, good looks & good acting skills)

while the feminist website Jezebel.com remarked that it looks as if she's had “some implants.”
(Ok... girls, I think having implants is a sign of female liberation. So, don't get all upset. Guys have pec implants too, don't they? but it doesn't make them any less disempowered)

Since 1915, the face of Sun-Maid has been Lorraine Collett Petersen, who, according to the company's website , "was discovered drying her black hair curls in the sunny backyard of her parents' home in Fresno, California."

Petersen was then asked to pose for a watercolor painting holding a basket of grapes while wearing a sunbonnet.

In the years since, the company has tweaked its trademark design occasionally to keep up with the times, but every variation has always been based on the original pose by Petersen.

While the Sun Maid girl had a "makeover", Kim Kardashian had a "makeunder"
Don't know who Kim is but have seen her pics in girly mags like New Idea while waiting for my turn in supermarkets & thought she has nice boobs

(Source: http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/a-line/kim-kardashians-makeunder/315?nc)

I think she looks even better without heavy make-up
A bit like an exotic Middle Eastern belly dancer

More funny sightings in Sydney;)

2009-12-04T03:33:00.006+13:00

"BUTT AID" diaper rash ointment

Optic illusion: "Happy ~~HOOKERS" I mean~~ HOCKERS" signboard

Why on earth would you name a kebab shop "Chicken Spot"???

Funny menu :)

"Salmon avocado big sushi roll"

"Grilled eel big sushi roll"

"Mixed sashimi big sushi roll"

Ok, I know you're like...big ;p

but you don't have to mention it all the time, do you?

Yes, I know they're very fresh

Sleepy sleepy sleepy...zzz
continue later ;p

G'nite, peeps
sweet dreams

Flickr

2009-12-04T03:10:00.001+13:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Delucas Cafe, ASB Bank Tower, Albert St, Auckland City

2009-12-03T01:10:00.002+13:00

Delucas Cafe is like a woman having her PMS ;p
- unpredictable
sometimes, the food portions are unbelievably huge,
sometimes, they are so tiny...
the prices remain the same - regardless of the portion
the food variety is impressive
but the QC (quality control) is... nada

Sometimes, the food is so good that every bite tastes heavenly

Sometimes, you pay a premium for soggy stuff that are left over from the previous days

The cheese scones on 19th Aug 2009 tasted pretty good

Skip the quiches and pies - too much pastry & too little fillings

The food always look good, though :)

**My sincere apology for the sexist interlude about PMS - in case any of you might have been hurt by the joke ;p

The purpose of this blog is to provide quick entertaining read for web users out there :)

Kings Cross: Journey to... Enlightenment :P

2009-12-02T08:35:00.003+13:00

Kings Cross is such a unique place :) hehe
Came across a Book Exchange store that isn't exactly a "book exchange" store

No books ~~(Errm, who'd bother to read books when they can get free porn vid clips on YouTube?;p)~~

Just some comfy looking footwear cheekily named "Big Tits Slippers" ;p

Also came across a Tool Shed that's quite unlike other toolsheds I've seen in my life

Oh yes, you can find a wide array of tools in there

-eg, a rubber duckie ;p

Yes, rubber duckie ;p

I find it very ironic...

that an adult toy shop is selling kids' toys (I was expecting something more ~~'adult'... like kangaroo scrotums)~~

and that a sundry shop sells penis-shaped water guns (below). Ermm, wtf?

WTF?

Lol :), why would an adult want a rubber duckie?

why would a 3-year-old boy want a penis-shaped water gun?

Pie Face :) - a cafe like no other

2009-12-02T02:35:00.003+13:00

Pie Face doesn't just sell pies!

It probably has the widest selection of goodies compared to 99% of all other cafes in Sydney - approx. 30-60 items in any outlet.

...sanwiches, pies, cakes, cookies, muffins... *slurp*

I was in one of those occasional "healthy phase" when I chanced upon Pie Face but the goodies were to tempting so I couldn't help but grabbed myself a slice of "Chocolate Flourless Cake"

It's a novelty to me :)
You see, I've never tried any "flourless" cake before

Yes, it's yummy :) but if it were a lot more chocolatey & less sugary, it'd have been "perfect"!
I liked it so much that I went back again the next day to try the Cherry Muffin (made with fresh cherries :) yumm)

Another thing that I like about Pie Face is the cheery atmosphere:)

Pie Face was founded in 2003 by Betty Fong and Wayne Homschek. Prior to launching Pie Face, the founders were best known for their designer fashion label, Paablo Nevada.

At one of their fashion shows, they decided to serve pies to the audience to get everyone in the mood. The pies were very well received, which got them thinking pies vs frocks...

A couple of months later, the two were having dinner and talking pies when they conceived the idea of putting faces on pies to determine thier flavour.