Bella's Birthday!

It's my little princess Bella's birthday. This year she decides to to celebrate her birthday in Universal Studios Singapore. (well...why not since it's very near to where we are staying.) 

I can't believe that time flies so fast. My babies are growing up too fast!! (I guess every mother would say that!) This time around is our second time going to USS. 

Standing in front of the Universal Studio's Globe.

Bella's cousin, Chez is also going together with us this time. 

The Madagascar ride.

The Madagascar Merry-Go-Round.

Shrek's Door!

Our lunch. Nothing fantastic but then something to fill our tummy before we ran out energy.

We all taking a snapshot with Frankenstein.

Characters from The Mummy. (Look at those abs!)

Timeless beauty...Ms. Marilyn Monroe.

After taking picture with Marilyn Monroe, Dallon becomes Darilyn Monroe.  

Dallon's favourite character I suppose. A picture is definitely not enough for him. 

Then we decided to take some family pictures before we call it a day.

We had so much fun. We didn't have to line up for a long time for any rides. They went on the Cylon roller coaster for more than 10 times I think. This time around is definitely a better experience than our first time here (cause that time was school holiday and the place was jam pack like crazy!) So, please take our advice, don't come during school holidays, that's if its possible of course. If you can't help it then, just enjoy as much as you can.

After that we went to Secret Recipe in Vivocity for our dinner before heading home for my birthday girl to cut her cake.

Bella's Birthday cake.

A family picture.  :)

We always try to take a family picture whenever we can. Simply because we cherished the times we spent together. Another reason is we can see how our babies grow before our eyes each time a picture is taken. Therefore, I always tell both Bella & Belle, it doesn't matter where we are, as long as we are together, everything will be fine because we will always have each other to count on.

Well...I know in this post I didn't say much. It's because I feel that the pictures is enough to tell the stories in USS. Have a good day everyone.

XoXoXo

Phuket Getaway.

This trip to Phuket was a last minute decision. We knew that it was a low season in Phuket but what we didn't expect is that it would rain every day when we're there.

Despite the damp weather, we still enjoyed ourselves. That's the holiday spirit talking here.

The birds-eye-view of Phuket

Amazing isn't it?

Once touchdown the at the Phuket airport, both of us were SUPER excited cause it's our first time in here. See our happy face? Hehehe

We didn't know that Phuket is also celebrating the "Kew Ong Iah" vegetarian food festival. It's a big yearly event in Penang where everyone would enjoy vegetarian food at a cut-throat price and happily paying for it. (Siao, right?)

Coming back to Phuket, the private taxi that we took to our hotel in Patong Beach costs us THB 650. It's about 30 - 45 mins drive. On the way to our hotel, out taxi driver stopped at her tour office, where one of her colleagues managed to sell us some day tour. (Lucky for us they are not con men/ladies)

We bought 2 day tours. 

When we reached our hotel, we were like...Waaaaa. It's exactly like what they say in the website. Alfresco Boutique hotel. Nice and cozy little hotel.

I like how the hotel is designed. They uses only RED and BLACK. My favorite color!!! YAY!! Simple and elegant, just the way I like it. The pool is amazing!

We LOOOOOOVEEEEE the room!!  :) Makes me feel right at home the moment we stepped in. For the price that we are paying (comes with breakfast as well), it's definitely one of the best deal we've gotten so far! Highly recommended!! Practically there's nothing bad about the hotel.  <3 <3 <3

We definitely had a good night sleep cause it was raining the whole time. The best time to stay in the hotel and catch up on our lost ZZzzZZzzzz's.

Day 2 - ATV and elephant ride.

The ATV ride was only for 30 minutes. Not that fun though. Then after that we walked to the elephant camp which is just 5 minutes away from the ATV camp. The stench of the elephant poop were bad. Ugh! We didn't get to take pictures of us on the elephant cause we refuse to buy the things that the trainer offered to us, then, he also refuse to take pictures for us. Sigh. 

After that we head straight back to the hotel, where we went straight for shopping. We rented a motorcycle for only THB 250 for 24 hours. We have to wear a raincoat most of the time cause it was raining cats and dogs. All I can say is...it's a WET & FUN holiday.

Day 3 - Phi Phi Island

Then the next day we went for the Phi Phi Island tour. It was raining the whole time but the beach is still packed with tourists. Didn't manage to get loads of pictures because our camera is not water proof camera. (We forgot to buy the water proof casing). We did snorkeling as well, but then it was a big disappointment. (Think prolly Pulau Redang would be a better place to snorkel)

The beach is packed with tourists....funny people who would wear a bikini then a raincoat. I was like...WTH??? What is the point of wearing a bikini if you don't wanna get wet, right? Well....I guess all kinds of people exists. Hehehe.

Well, for the shopping over there, I would say it's exactly like what we have in Batu Feringghi, Penang. Every single thing have to be bargained. Every single shop is selling the same thing. So we just bought a few things as souvenirs for Bella & Belle.

There's this mall, JungCeylon, which is just 5 minutes drive from our hotel which is WOW! Loads of things but then everything is "supermarket pricing". Who would wanna buy expensive stuff when just across the roads there are tons of imitation goods. (Probably only Penangites would think in such a way).

See the picture of me holding a cup "Blizzard"? The ice cream is to-die-for! They have to serve it upside down or it's free! Cool right? I ordered the Mocha Almond flavor.  :D (Have to have some Ice cream to make me happy right? Since the weather is sooo gloomy)

Day 4 - Back to Penang.

We checked out from the hotel at 2pm. The ride to the airport was about an hour due to the heavy traffic. I guess TRAFFIC JAM and RAIN comes hand in hand, no matter which part of the world you are in.

We bid Phuket goodbye. Will definitely come back again with my Bella & Belle.

XoXoXo

My GRADUATION.

After so many years of studying in college, I am half way there (because I plan to get my PhD mah...). Getting my Bachelor of Communication (Honours) in Persuasive Communication from Universiti Sains Malaysia is definitely one of the proudest moments in my life.

Luckily, I have my lecturer-friend Ms Felicia Aw to help me in getting my graduation robe cause at that time I was in Singapore. Many many thanks to her!!

I couldn't really sleep the night before because I was excited. (But kinda...just kinda...sad that the robe is purple in color, those who knows me well enough will know the reason why). Woke up early and went to McD to have breakfast. Then we head straight to USM.

When we reached there, the place was quite packed already (I guess I wasn't the only one that's excited huh). Then I went to the designated room to register and get my smart card.

Then, I started wearing my robe. I looked around and realized that everyone wore it differently. So, I was like OK...and I ask hubby to help me. He took 45 minutes to get it right. Sigh. Honestly, I was annoyed even though I know he just wants me to look good cause it's my big day. But still...standing there for a freaking 45 minutes, without air condition, I guess anyone would "heat-up".

My convocation is on the 23rd September 2011.

Everyone gathered at the entrance of the hall at around 8.30am, lining up, waiting anxiously to go in and grab the best seat. Parents & family members smiling happily, all armed with cameras, waiting to get a shot of their daughter/son, in my case, wife.

I was seated at the back row. Could't really see cause....ahem...I'm obviously not that tall. Then we have to sing the national anthem to show respect. Then each student is called out according to their schools to go up the stage to receive the scroll from the VC.

The convocation hall.

Me receiving my scroll. Luckily Hubby manage to take this picture in time.  

Mortar board throwing. It's a tradition I suppose.

With all the KDU-USM batch - Muneer, Micheal Andre, Jolene, Evelyn, Sea, Me, Angel, Abigail.

Me with Angel & Abigail. After going through the thick and thin, here we are.  :)

Me with my Auntie and hubby.  <3

I took my graduation robe back to Singapore because my Bella & Belle couldn't attend my graduation. They just started school in Singapore. I'm so sad that they are not able to attend but then luckily I'm allowed to take back the robe for a week or two. And most importantly, they were both happy for me and proud of me.

Me & hubby with my Bella & Belle.

Purposely took the robe back to Singapore so I can take my graduation picture with my princess.

3B. My love. My life.

Now that I have graduated, there's so many things on my mind. Before I reveal any of my future plan, I would like to take some time off to relax and unwind and concentrate more on both my girls. I need to help them settle down in Singapore before I start on anything.

My next destination.....    :P  

XoXoXo

Steve Jobs

Created by: Infographic World

Life in Singapore.

As you can see, we hardly blog this few weeks. It's simply because we hardly go out when we're here. We always eat our lunch and dinner at home.

The never-ending malls, both Bella & Belle are not very keen in going, so I'm like  -____-

Anyway, school has started for them, so they are actually kinda busy with their homework and they have a lot to catch up as well.


So...if there's anything interesting then we will definitely blog about it.

Hugs.


XoXoXo

Quotations...

Don't know why I just feel like I wanna share some quotes.

Sounds odd, somehow this morning the urge to blog kicks in.

Anyway....here are some quotes to share :


"Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman." - Author Unknown


"Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies." - Proverb


"A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success." - Robert Purvis


"Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason." - Author Unknown


"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt." - Author Unknown



"One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure its worth watching." - Author Unknown


And lastly,


"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be" - Douglas Adams




Hope you enjoy reading this few quotes.  :)




XoXoXo

A Bar-B-Q Plaza experience.

Bar-B-Q Plaza. I've been walking past the place for months in Gurney Plaza. I was reluctant to step inside. (Don't know why) It looks kinda interesting from the outside, but its somehow not tempting enough to lure me inside...till 2 days before I left Penang for good.

I was like ... why not? It won't be that bad.

The place is very nice and clean. (That's the most important thing from me...I know it may sound a bit funny since I was born and bred in Penang, I should be able to tolerate the level of "cleanliness" in most Penang's restaurants)

They even have a step-by-step on how to cook using the hot pot.

There are 6 steps all together. So, let's see if I actually follow the steps.

Look at that golden hot pot. Doesn't it makes you feel like royalty already?  Hehehe

Then our food is served.

Raw meat and vegetables and udon served with 2 bowls of white rice. We changed two white rice to garlic rice. The garlic rice is not fantastic tho, definitely better than white rice eh.   :P

The meat that is served to us is frozen. So we have to wait a little while before we can start to cook.

Okay....now let's follow the steps.

Step 1 - Once the chicken stock soup has been poured and the lard has been greased on the hot plate, place the vegetables in the soup.

Look at the piece of LARD (which is FAT) that is given to us. Ugh.... We have to use that piece of fat to grease the pot.

Step 2 - Proceed to grill the morsels of meat and seafood on the hot plate.

Step 3 - Leave the beef to cook till it turns light brown, as over cooking it will affect its tenderness.

Look at the blood oozing out when we grilled the meat. A bit "geli" la for me.

Step 4 - For the other meats and seafood, it is cooked once it has turned golden brown.

Step 5 - For the soup to be sweet, continue to add more vegetables.

Step 6 - Lastly, you may place the udon noodles in the soup for it to be cooked for about 30 seconds.

We even ordered additional 2 side dishes.

Bacon Roll. OMG this is absolutely freaking delicious! I love it sooo much!!!! It comes with some cheezy sauce which is awesome. It's definitely a must-try dish if you're there!

This is potato prawn roll that we ordered. Nothing great. So you skip this dish (if you want to of course). It comes with the same cheezy sauce as well.

Well, overall the food was good. It was worth it. We had fun. Tho' I find it a weee bit troublesome when cooking vegetables and udon cause the space is limited, and there's not much soup to drink as well.

If you like the idea of spending some time chatting with family and friends while eating, then this would be a good place.

XoXoXo

BaNaNa Leaf Rice

Nasi Kandar and banana leaf rice - favorites!! Definitely we would prefer banana leaf rice cause nasi kandar is known for its "cleanliness". There's only one place that we would go to for banana leaf rice.

PASSIONS of KERALA which is located in New World Park, Penang.

This is how the shop looks like...(just in case) you decided to go there after reading my blog.  :)

The rice set comes with banana leaf as the plate and 4 side dishes, which is usually vegetarian dishes, and it varies all the time. 

But there's only a few dishes that we would always order. 

The fried bitter gourd. Although we seldom eat bitter gourd, this happens to be our all time favorite. It's a must-have dish.

Fried chicken. This is also another must-have dish. Both Bella & Belle will never say no to this dish.

I also ordered fried fish. Which is just ok. 

We didn't order a lot cause only me and Dallon were eating. Bella had her lunch in school because it was her last day in school that day. Usually I would order mutton curry and chicken curry and stuff myself crazy but then, we still have to save some space for our tummy cause there's still lots of food on out waiting list that we have to eat before we go over to Singapore.

This is how we enjoy our banana leaf rice. With our hands.  :)   Delicious isn't it?

This is how one should fold the banana leaf after the meal. (**I forgot which way - either fold upwards or downwards) This is to show that we enjoyed the meal. 

**If I'm not mistaken, there's a meaning to the way we fold the leaf after our meal. One shows that we enjoyed the meal and another shows that we are not happy with it. So, if you're unsure, after your meal just tell them that the food was great. Simple and easy.   :D

All in all, this is definitely the best place if you want to eat banana leaf rice. The environment is great, parking is easy and the most important thing  ------>  the food is GOOD!

We will definitely be there again on our next trip back to Penang.

XoXoXo