Life in Bkk - An Introduction

Today marks the end of our 46th day living in Bangkok, and the start of our 2nd week living in what will be our home here for the next one year (or so before we upgrade to a bigger space).

Before we came here, I was beating myself up worrying over whether I would like it here, if I could get used to not having a car to go around in, the people, the place, everything, but surprisingly, Bangkok is a wonderful place to live in and I'm starting to really like it here.

No doubt I may be car-less, or have communication breakdown with almost everyone I meet, but I've learnt to love not having what I had back in KL.

I love not having a car now because the public transportation here is aplenty and convenient. Plus, the walking has toned up my leg muscles, and increased my stamina. Also, the traffic here is atrocious!

I love not being able to speak the local language because I absolutely love the feeling of coming across someone who does speaks my language and fluently too!

And most of all, I love having a whole new place for me to venture out into and discover new things! Of cos this also includes discovering new shopping havens!

But what I love most about this country is that the people are all very religious, spiritual and loyal to their King.

This means that the people here would never hurt me to steal from me. I'm not saying that they won't steal from me. There are a lot of pick-pocketing and conning happening still. I'm saying that these people would never intentionally hurt you just to steal from you.

I've never felt so safe walking out alone with both my kids as I do here. Back in KL, even driving out does not make me feel as safe.

But having said that, no matter how much I am beginning to like it here, I still miss KL very much. I miss being familiar with all the roads and shopping malls. I miss being near to my family and of course, I miss my friends too.

But God has plans for all of us, and for now, He has decided that Bangkok is where we will be. I just pray that all will be well with His guidance and love as we start our new adventure here.

Turning 32

And so, I turned 32.

Unlike every other year where I get depressed about turning a year older, this year, I actually felt blessed.

I guess it's because of all the sad and morbid news around - people I know dead or dying, friends of people I know dead or dying (just from Feb - Apr this yr there were more than 8 deaths), parents losing their children due to kidnapping/illnesses/accidents/etc., and so on.

So to be healthy and alive at the age of 32, with 2 healthy kids, a wonderful though somewhat of a nag husband and surrounded by my beloved family members (all intact and healthy!), it's a HUGE deal to be thankful for.

My birthday wish this year is not to have less wrinkles or more money, but to be able to have the chance to celebrate another birthday next year, healthy and surrounded by my husband, my 2 kids and all my family members as I did this year (although having less wrinkles and more money is welcomed too)!

Dancing Fish

It's almost 2am and I can't sleep.
Super hungry.
Half an hour ago, I already whacked 4 slices of pork floss sandwiches and 2 beh teh saws.
Still hungry!
But dunno what to eat anymore.
So I decided to blog :/


This is me today:
Top: Forever 21
Shorts: Romp

Went to Dancing Fish for dinner with the Puff-Puff girls. Also to celebrate Mich's birthday and her first Mother's Day!


The restaurant serves Malay-Indon cuisine and the food was just oh-so-effing-awesome I cannot!

There were 6 of us all together (not including the kids) and Tjin and I went on a rampage while ordering. I think we almost about ordered everything on the menu!

Mich was like you both could have just told the waiter what you DON'T WANT from the menu lor.


We ordered two BBQ Platters, two Dancing Fish (fried fish, the restaurant's name sake) - one w sambal and the other w mango kerabu, a whole Bebek Goreng (fried duck), a whole Ayam Panggang (fried chicken), sambal prawns, pucuk paku vege, beef rendang...what else? I think that was about it, I guess.

Ya, I know.
For 6 people.


I didn't really get to eat everything though, cause I was too busy handling the fussy pot Dylan who was being extremely fussy tonight.

Whatever that I did try though, did not disappoint. The fish - awesome! The duck - awesome! The pucuk paku - awesome! The prawns - awesome! The beef rendang - awesome!

For dessert, we had cendol w durian ice-cream, and lemongrass jelly with mango rolls and durian rolls.

The durian rolls - awesome!!!!

(i'm making myself sooooool super hungry now!!!)


Dinner came up to RM516 in total (including drinks and beer and rice and etc. Their barley is refillable by the way).

Will definitely come back again.
So glad there's gonna be a branch in Setia City Mall!

BlossomMich, have a great birthday, a fantastic Mother's Day and many many more to come, yes!

Here's to 15 years of friendship and counting! Muaks muaks muaks!!!

Happy Labors Day

Today is May 1st.

In exactly 2 months from today, my life is gonna be completely different from how it has been all these while.

I'm having mixed feelings.
I'm excited about the changes.
I'm happy we were given this opportunity.
I feel blessed, even.
I'm nervous about the future.
I'm worried things might not be what I'm imagining it to be.
I'm scared of the unfamiliarity.
I'm curious about how life will be.
I'm looking forward to embracing a whole new culture, country.

But I know very well that this change is for the best.

I know because God told me :)

So here's to 2 more months of familiarity!

Cramping & Instagram pics

Blogging from my phone because I realized my last blog was like from ages ago.

Decided to be lazy (and because it's already 1.30am) and just cramp in as much as I can of what's been happening. Cheated by including Instagram pics ;)

Have not walked the pasar malam since before I gave birth to Dylan so we decided to give it a try last Sat.

Went at 6pm hoping to beat the crowd.
Ya right.
Almost died.
Felt like I went through war when we finally got home.






Tapowed nasi lemak, tambah nasi, with paru for my dinner and had durians for dessert.






Celebrated my Fil's birthday the following day. They came over, SK bought 6 slices of cakes (for 5 ppl) from Secret Recipe for the cake cutting + candle blowing + song singing session, out of which NOBODY ate so I ended up keeping 4 freaking slices of cake in my fridge.

The other 2 slices my Mil wanted me to keep as well but I made her take it back (what the hell was I gonna do with 6 slices of cakes anyways). At first she didn't want but when she overheard me telling SK that I'll give those cakes to the guards if his parents don't want it, she quickly agreed to bring it back with her.



Renee's school was closed last week (and will stay close till next Wed) due to HFMD so instead of being cooped up at home with Dylan and her one whole day and driving myself crazy, I decided to bring her to that new playland in 1U.

Kathryne and Roy met us there. Kathryne and I for gossip session, Renee and Roy for play date session.

The kids enjoyed themselves so much they each 'stole' a balloon from there.

RM20 per child, unlimited time, definitely worth it!











My dinner of nasi lemak, tambah nasi, with paru and fried drumstick during one of those nights I was too lazy to cook.



Today, I attempted to make pancakes for the very first time!



As you can see, I failed miserably.

BUT...

...both Renee and SK gobbled up the entire plate. I only ate 3 pieces ( and the 3 pieces I ate were the ones nobody wanted cos they were overly burnt -_-' ).




Our new couch also arrived today.
Bright bright red!
Custom made especially for me!!!
So happy!

Both kiddos also enjoying the new couch.
Good riddance to our old white couch which was covered with scribbles, puke / poo / pee / food stains!



Was complaining over and over again about how Chatime is sprouting up all over the world BUT in Setia Alam when I stumbled across this gem today!

We attempted going to the pasar malam again, to tapow dinner, when I spotted a new shop nearby.

Ice Cooler.
Whoa!

Sells bubble tea drinks.
So of course I had to try.
I had their signature pearl milk tea and SK had their Honey Lemon Honey Vinegar drink.

So super yummy!
And the pearls nice and chewy!
Can definitely give Chatime a run for their money.






Dylan, sleeping like a boss, while we sat around drinking our Ice Coolers.

Tapowed nasi lemak (again!) for dinner. This time from a Chinese nasi lemak seller.

My dinner - nasi lemak (tambah nasi) with curry wild boar and sambal sotong...

SO. ABSOLUTELY. YUMMY. CAN. DIE. HAPPY. DOT. COM.


Also saw putu piring and since I've been craving for it since last week, decided to give it a try.

SO. YUCKY. CAN. DIE. DOT. COM.

NEVER again!



Ya. That's all I've been doing.
Eating nasi lemak on almost and everyday basis.
Certain advantages breastfeeding, no?

Marinated Baked Pork Chops

This dish is so super delicious and so super easy to make, it's definitely a keeper!

The sauce goes fantastic with rice and/or bread!

Found this recipe online and improvised on it a little and BOOM!, I suddenly have a family favorite!

The hubs loved it so much that he slurped up all the sauce with bread AFTER he had it with rice! Even Renee finished up her whole bowl of rice easily.

This recipe serves 3 but the hubs and I are big eaters, so it could serve 4 as well.

Ingredients:

6 pieces of lean pork chops, trimmed.
2 tablespoon white soya sauce
4 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 tablespoon brown sugar
4 tablespoon tomato sauce
2 teaspoon lemon juice

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 170'C.
2. In a small bowl, mix the soya sauce, vegetable oil, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, tomato sauce and lemon juice together until properly blended.
3. Place the pork chops inside a medium sized baking tray and spread half of the sauce over them. Make sure sauce is evenly spread and meat is covered.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, covered.
5. When done, flip the chops over and spread the remaining sauce over them.
6. Bake for 10 minutes, uncovered.
7. Serve with rice and/or bread.

The pork chops can be substituted with chicken as well.

Hope you all love this dish as much as me and mine do!

Do share with me if you think there are ways to improve on this recipe to make it even more va va voom!

Happy CNY 2012

(pic was taken early this morning when we were all still fresh and energetic)

After a long 1st day of visiting different relatives, I finally have time to sit back and relax a little.

And also to take some time to wish my readers (if I have any), a very Happy & Prosperous Dragon Year ahead!