Thursday, 30 July 2009

morning with Mom in Sunday Market

I never quite enjoy going to markets. Hated it as a child. Preferred sleeping in late and wake up later for mom's delicious brunch. Why I haven't grown the size like my dad is anyone's guess.

This trip back (after shipping AJ to his parents), I jumped out of bed at 7am and ran downstairs before mom went out marketing. Besides spending time with her, I took the opportunity to look at sights that I'd never taken interest to before. The aim that day: To buy crabs!! and get hold of any goodies I could 'smuggle' back into UK.
The colours of the market are just lovely......


This amout of yam would cost a bomb in UK.....

I have no idea what these are...buah jering??

Delicious jambus......yummm...with sour plum dips.

Dried sotong....

Sago worms....delicious to be eaten raw or fried. I used to crave for these wriggly wormies..but didn't have the stomach for them this time.

Crabs!..They were not in season thus we couldn't get big ones. I absolutely love crabs..especially my mom's curry crabs. I think she's the only person in the world who can make that. I doubt I could ever recreate this dish...coz I'll never overcome the first hurdle..KILLING THEM.

Yummylicious Malay kuihs...

Sugar cane drinks. Apparently this is quite unhygienic, so we've been banned from drinking this ever!

Well...colours and sights and tastes I won't get to see for yet another year.

Trip back home June 2009

I haven't written in a while...not quite sure who reads my blog anyway besides a few whom I MADE them to.

Nothing much had happened since my last entry; although I'd been home and back since. And almost finish my year in my 'new' job soon; and we'd bought a second car;...and the list goes on.

Went back home in June for a fortnight. The trip was tiring, but worth it nevertheless. I missed my family so much, being away for so long now. The aim of the whole trip was FAMILY, and FOOD. Didn't leave much space for anything else although we did cramp a few slots for friends. It wasn't easy especially we when we needed to split out time between Kuching and Miri.

Met up with a few childhood friends; but in a way, everyone's grown up now and and have their own lives and commitments. The fact that we're not in the same line of work just made the drift a bit wider I guess. But if Jer and PH were home we'd have a blast I'm sure....still able to chat till early morn though Jer will probably need to BF (breast feed..MUAHAHA). Also met up with a couple of close friends from work. It seems everyone and almost everyone had moved on since I left, to greener pastures and more training. I'm happy everyone's progressing in their career...they all deserve it I'm sure. But I couldn't feel a pang of regret; had I stayed on would the opportunities been better than what I'm having now? All the sacrifices I made in the name of love; hope love would be enough to fill the setbacks I've had so far...



Well...to food and sights of my beloved hometown (not country, but hometown)..




We went to possibly the best Japanese in the world, in Brunei when we were in Miri. Yes...Brunei not my country but still...the best Japanese. Forgotten what it's called now...but here's the food we had.





















Haha..no..we didn't go to Japan. We did go back to Malaysia...allright. Will show pictures closer to home...











I probably had more than my share of kolomee but never took any picture of it. I guess the taste (God..the taste of it..) will be forever stored in my head.

More pics in the next post..

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Spring is in the air....

Finally...a bit of sunshine. More blue skies. Less rain..err..perhaps not, but much much warmer now.

The flowers are starting to bloom....and daffodils everywhere!

Spring is my favourite time of the year. I just love the colours (when it's not raining that is). The red, pink, blue, violet, green...and yellow. I'm crazy about yellow....it just makes me feel happy!

We spent the afternoon sipping coffee and tea by the lake today, catching up with some reading while admiring the sun and view.

I think it's about time I get out my trainers and do a bit of running. Desperately need to shed off a few pounds..well..more than a few pounds that I've put on over the winter. Until then, I have to put off the plan of buying a new set of bikini. Need to loose those unflattering curves...

Any dieting tips anyone?

Friday, 6 February 2009

When we lament about our shitty lifes.....

We're just creatures of habits, ingrates, a bunch of whiners. We moan and groan about almost everything everyday of our lives. Myself included....my sisters and AJ will vouch for that. We complain about our jobs, our spouses, our siblings, our parents, our friends, our bosses, our collegues, the cleaners at our workplace, the strangers on the street... We invariably fail to suppress the green eyed monster within ourselves and againsts our better sense compare ourselves to superior others: an acquaintance with bigger eyes, boobs, taller, slimmer that us; a supposed friend with a handsomer partner, bigger house, better jobs. Ever been in the situation when you tell yourself you have nothing to prove, and do the exact opposite? And how often do we compensate by doing better in other departments, just to fill what we think we lack compared to others? And how often do we get disappointed because we can't fill that void?

Not many of us wake up every morning feeling grateful for what we have. We delude ourselves into thinking "The heck with the society's/family's expectations, I bloody do whatever I want." And yet when we fail to reach that set 'social norm', we sink into self depreciation and momentarily forget our achievements.

Why can't we for once be truly happy with what we have, and forgo the perpetual struggle to attain what we don't have? And embrace whatever situation we're in. And be grateful to have a healthy body and mind. Haven't we learn that the grass is never greener on the other side?

Over the past few weeks while I lament about the insignificant dissatisfactions in my life, I had the opportunity to deal with patients who unfortunately do not have the luxury to do just that. I have lost count of the patients I've broke bad news to over the weeks. I can't even begin to imagine all the emotions that gone through each of them when being told of having a terminal cancer. How does it feel like living on borrowed time? How to tell them to be strong when they hold on to your hands telling you "I'm afraid to die....when doctor?" When I see them day to day trying to come to terms with their conditions, struggling with their pains, fighting for their breaths and still have the courage to live the remainder of their lives; I feel small.

I think of all the times I spent agonizing over menial things...I feel small...

We have so much to live for. Let's not waste any time by whining or moaning over it. Just live...when we still can.

Monday, 26 January 2009

A belated X'mas post









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Haven't the time to blog lately. Ever since Christmas/New Year weekend I've been working non-stop. Couldn't help walking the wards zombified, and coming back home daily with aches and pains all over. Thank God for a week off for Chinese New Year break. Regret though I couldn't make it home again this year. I miss home soooooo much..so much.


Some pics taken on X'mas dinner. Me and Andy toiled whole day that day for a nice dinner. Glad to have the company of family and friends, the little that we have here.