Mini Reunion at Bla Bla Bla

I've never been to any reunion before. And last night I did. I went to a mini reunion. Why mini? Because there were only 5 of us. There were a few more who also live in Kuching, but they couldn't turn up for various reasons.

Anyway, I was the earliest to arrive. Bla Bla Bla restaurant is pretty cosy, although I didn't like the incense smell in the ambience. I think they have the zen kind of theme, I don't know. Then, my ex classmate, Gwen came, followed by Alicia, Celestea and Pamela. I haven't seen everyone in like 14 years!

Everyone look the same, like Gwen said. Everyone look gorgeous, classy and elegant too. It's nice to catch up with everyone, reminiscing about the good old days when we were teens, and talking about our present and also future.

One for the memories :)

The food at Bla Bla Bla was really good! We had soft shell crab, midin stir-fried with red wine, lamb, salmon with cangkuk manis, duck meat, and prawn. Most of them are the restaurant's signature dishes, picked by Alicia, who has been there before. I personally think that the food there is not too pricey, compared to its huge portions. And they're absolutely delicious too! I have no complains!

Sorry, no pics of the food, though. :P Gwen has them all in her phone, but I didn't take any foodie pics.

Gwen announced that she and her boyfriend, Danny is getting engaged today. So congrats, Gwen and Danny! Wish you guys all the happiness in the world.

I'm so glad I made it to the mini reunion. Part of the reason why I came anyway, even though I was reluctant at first was because Gwen personally invited me via Facebook, since she didn't have my number. I was rather touched that she thought of me, when everyone else, even those who were close to me in school or college didn't bother to contact me to meet up whenever they're in town.

I also love how we spoke in English when I wasn't good in verbal English back in school. Everyone has become mature, although we're still young at heart. I think I'll say yes to future high school reunions, but perhaps not to college or uni reunions. We'll see.

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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PA Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Being an arts and crafts enthusiast, I would love to go to Pennsylvania. Perhaps I could go with my best friend, Yenny, who loves arts and crafts as much as I do. The perfect roadtrip for us would be the Artisan Trails. We would surely appreciate watching quilters, potters, and even glassblowers in action, creating beautiful masterpieces.

Route 30 and 40 West: Handmade Along the Highway would be our first visit. This 160-mile stretch has so much to offer, and I'm excited just reading about it. Dozens of marketplaces await us, and shopping for handmade gifts would be so much fun.

Next would be Route 30 East: Pennsylvania Art Experience. This would be a two-day trip, perfect for the weekend. This 36-mile long trip include visits to view the tile art of Steve dePerrot, Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum, and more. These places are located alongside the Susquehanna River, and if you love water, there are many water activities to be done there as well.

There are a few more routes to take in the Artisan Trails roadtrip, but these two are the ones I would pick first. Just writing about them makes me excited.

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Ask, Seek, Knock

I've successfully booked and paid for two return tickets for my brother and I. Where to? You can probably guess. Anyway, now we'll need to earn and save more money for our accommodation, food and shopping.

I'm hoping to be able to add more new stocks on my online store. That's the only way I can generate more money, other than joining bazaars. I'm hoping to join one in April. Keeping my fingers crossed! If Jojo and I can both get a job, than it would be awesome.

God has been really kind to us lately. I think praying daily helps, just like it has been helping me a lot all the while. I haven't been a great Christian, but I'm trying my very best to pray every day. Heck, I pray a few times a day, every day. The prayers help me deal with all the negativities around me, and they help me avoid feeling depressed.

Image source - zazzle.com

I'm not showing off how much I pray, but I'm just sharing that it works, no matter what you believe in. When there's no one else to turn to, turn to God. He's always there. If He doesn't answer you immediately, He just wants you to be patient and to have faith in Him. Trust me.

I've been listening to a lot of music lately. Been listening to Narmi, getting back to listening to OAG, and some old and new stuff. I want to go for karaoke! I read that Radhi and OAG is coming back with a new album. Yay!

Oh wasn't Adele awesome at the recent Grammy's? Congrats, Adele! I heard that she'll be taking a 5-year break from the music industry, which is a great move. She deserves it anyway. All the best, Adele!

I have quite a number on projects on hold, actually. I really need to get them done, because I've been procrastinating lately. Good luck to me! :) Happy Thursday peeps!

The Street Bazaar 2012

Crafty Heart at The Street Bazaar 2012

My weekend has been uneventful. Shocking, huh? Anyway,  participated in The Street Bazaar last Saturday. I didn't make much, but I liked it that the crowd is different from the crowd at The Bloom Bazaar. I also loved it that the organiser played indie music the whole day.

Parking's a nightmare, though. The venue was at Old Courthouse, which is very near to Kuching Waterfront. There was Sarawak Regatta going on, and of course the parking spaces were all occupied. I think this is the main reason why most of the people I know who came to The Bloom Bazaar, didn't come to The Street Bazaar.

The space could be bigger too, but since it's fully air-conditioned, I guess it's okay. I wish I had more support, though. I only had my brother with me, who had to go somewhere else because there were no available parking space and he didn't want to park by the roadside. I wish my bff Yenny was there with me; we would have such an awesome time.

Anyway, I can't wait for the next Bloom Bazaar in April. It's not confirmed yet, but I'm hopeful. There's ample time to restock and make more creations, and I hope this time I'll be able to share a booth with a friend. I'd love to take more pics of the event, and more pics of myself, of course. Hope you like the pics of my booth at The Street Bazaar 2012. View the post here. Happy Monday!

Weekend at Damai Puri

Jojo and I went to accompany our dad to a corporate function cum family day for his office 2 weeks ago. Damai Puri didn't disappoint, although I prefer when it was called Damai Lagoon, when it had a different management. 

Children's swimming pool at Damai Puri

We could see the children's swimming pool from our room at level 4. Our room faces the sea, and it was a heavenly sight.

Jojo in the swimming pool

While our dad was busy with his function, Jojo and I had fun. Jojo went for a swim, while I relaxed by the pool and enjoyed the sea breeze. I'm so happy for Jojo because he can enjoy swimming again, since he had the reverse ileostomy procedure. 

I kind of dislike the new swimming pool in Damai Puri. I liked the old one, particularly the man-made waterfall, and how the swimming pool had several areas with various depths.

It was a very windy day

I loved the scenery. Beaches in Sarawak are beautiful, but I've always been fascinated with nature. I remember how beautiful the caves and mountains are in Pahang when I went to Gua Kota Gelanggi and Gunung Senyum with Yenny back in 2007.

I really enjoyed myself while accompanying Jojo at the pool. I just relaxed on the lazy chair, closed my eyes, and listened to the sounds around me. It was a windy but sunny afternoon, and I loved the breeze.

Look at the view

For me, the most important thing is that Jojo enjoyed himself to the max. There's nothing more important than that. He has had a couple of rough years, and yet he is so strong that he amazes me all the time. He is my source of motivation, and I hope I can do the same for him too. 

Enjoy the pics!

Our mirror image :)

Flying Kites at Pantai Abang Amin, Sematan

 I had so much fun at my dad's kampung last week. I'm glad I went back for the second time after Gawai with Jojo.

Jojo and Damooq flying kites :)

We went to the beach, Pantai Abg. Amin in Sematan and played kites for 2 days in a row, but the most fun I had was on the second day, on 8 June. Jojo and I went with our cousins, Chilo and Damooq, who are brothers.

The boys goofing off in the water

Love this shot!

Our kites didn't fly much, but we had fun taking pics. I made my little cousin, Damooq jump in the water and took shots of him. Then, we took group pics, and it was awesome. I had a lot of fun laughing and just goofing off, I wished we can do it often.

One of the few shots with me in it

I will definitely go to the beach more and take more pics when I balik kampung again soon. Hope you had a fun holiday as well.

Lunch at SCR Express, E-Mart Lee Ling

The last time I tried the food at Singapore Chicken Rice aka SCR was a long time ago. When Jojo brought me to SCR, I was pleasantly surprised with the new SCR Express. 

Nice interior design

Clean environment and nice ambience

SCR Express was introduced back in 2007. Jojo and I went to 2 of the SCR Express branches in Kuching, and one of it is just near our home. I loved the one at E-Mart Lee Ling. We went on a week day for lunch and there were not many people there. I've always loved a place that's not too crowded.

Love the lights

I also loved that our seats were next to the window and I could snap some photos of the booths at the ground floor. The outlet was clean, brightly lit and the seats were comfortable too.

One of the stalls downstairs

I had sarsi cincau (sarsaparilla-based drink with grass jelly) with sweet and sour fish rice, while Jojo had mango juice with spicy sambal chicken rice. The food at SCR is delicious, and we've tried the one at Hock Lee Mall, also in Kuching, and the food there were even better.

Our drinks :)

Jojo's order - Spicy Sambal Chicken with White Rice

My order - Sweet and Sour Fish with White Rice

That's another post altogether, though. Enjoy the pics!

Scary Funfair Rides

I'm not a naturally adventurous kind of person. I can be adventurous and spontaneous when it comes to safer things like food, but when it comes to rides at funfair or theme parks, I am so not into them.

However, recently I went on a scary ride with Jojo. There's this funfair that is currently going on at our neighbourhood. It's not a real funfair. Why I call it that is because the funfair is not the expensive type like a real theme park. Everything looks old and the paint on the rides is chipped everywhere. 

The ride I went on with Jojo was the ship, the kind that sways up and down, up to 180 degrees. It was very scary for me, although I'm not really afraid of heights. It's the lack of safety features that scared me more. Lol!

Anyway, I might hop on any other rides at a proper theme park in the future, provided that the rides have excellent safety features. I will never go for rides at this particular funfair anymore. It was fun, though, no doubt. I screamed like I've never screamed before! Jojo kept laughing at me and at the others who were on the ride with us, and a lady actually cried. I so get her because the ride is pretty scary, and it felt like it moved forever.

Jojo on the Paratrooper

Jojo up high on the Paratrooper

Jojo went on another ride, which is called the Paratrooper. That one looked even scarier, because it's like you're being lifted around into the air at full speed. I just thank God we're safe, and I'm glad I managed to brave myself to climb on that ride. After the ride, I felt so good, I feel like I can do a bungee jump.

Let's see if I will get another chance to do something spontaneous soon! 

Flying Umbrella at Kuching Waterfront

Last night, I went to Kuching Waterfront with Jojo and our dad. We've cruised pass the Waterfront many a times, and there were always people playing with some kind of flying objects with blinking LEDs there. Jojo has always wanted to see what the fuss is about, so we went.

DUN Building can be seen from Kuching Waterfront;
the building is across the Sarawak river

I took pics of the Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri across Sarawak River, the Square Tower, and the Old Courthouse across the road from the Kuching Waterfront.

Square Tower

Old Courthouse

I was amazed with the ambience. There were many people at Kuching Waterfront, and many were enjoying themselves, playing with the Flying Umbrella. The Flying Umbrella is a toy that is launched up to the sky using a slingshot mechanism. Its wings provide resistance and allow it to turn and fall down slowly. I wish I took a video, but I forgot. :(

Astana from Kuching Waterfront

As you can see in the photo, it is a very simple toy. Jojo bought two of different sizes, and my dad had a blast trying it out. Lol!

Flying Umbrellas

I love how the lights change in the fountains, and I managed to capture some pics using my digital camera. I didn't want to come along, but Jojo thought it won't be fun if I didn't. I'm glad I did! It was so much fun, although I suck at playing the Flying Umbrella. We thought the name is funny, but when I Googled, there it is!

Fountains at Kuching Waterfront

There were many sellers selling the same toy, and they were selling other decorative items that also has lights. So pretty!

Colourful items for sale at Kuching Waterfront

We'll definitely be coming back to play the Flying Umbrella more. Hope you had a fun weekend too!

Jojo and his Flying Umbrella ♥

Lunch at Kluang Station, The Spring

I went to The Spring with Jojo recently to watch Burlesque. We had lunch at Kluang Station. We wanted to try their nasi lemak and see what else they offer.

Jojo had nasi lemak beef rendang, and I had nasi lemak lamb curry. The rendang and curry were good, but too bad, the sambal (spicy prawn paste) was salty. I didn't even finish my sambal.

Kluang Station - Nasi lemak beef rendang

Kluang Station - Nasi lemak lamb curry

We love the selasih (that's basil seeds) in our drinks, though. I had sirap limau (grenadine with lime) and Jojo had sirap bandung (grenadine with milk).

Kluang Station - Sirap limau and sirap bandung with selasih

The bill was RM30.85 for two, including taxes is quite reasonable, but I wish the food tasted better. I love the ambience there, though. 

The seating area of Kluang Station, The Spring

Kluang Station wall decor

We're planning to go to Planet Sambal near Kuching Waterfront soon. We drove past the restaurant countless of times already, and being huge fans of spicy food (and food in general lol!), it's very enticing. Hopefully we'll be able to sample the food there soon.

Lunch at Station 1 Cafe, The Hills, Kuching

Jojo and I went to The Hills in Kuching a few weeks back. In case you're wondering why it's always the two of us, it's because it's always the two of us. Lol! Anyway, Jojo was craving for nasi lemak (rice cooked with coconut milk and eaten with spicy prawn paste, cucumber slices, peanuts and friend anchovies), so we went to The Hills, in search for an outlet that serves that. We had a look at the menu at the Station 1 Cafe entrance, and we were enticed. 

As we entered the outlet, I was impressed with the decor. There were split floors and different sections for smokers and non-smokers. There is one section with couches and coffee tables, with a framed black and white picture of Audrey Hepburn on the wall. I didn't like the tacky Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year decorative items, though. I thought they were not placed properly.

Station 1 Cafe - You can see the upper level

I ordered three layer tea and Jojo had sour plum drink. We ordered a set of lobster balls as appetisers. I had lamb chop, while Jojo ordered fried rice with chicken rendang. We loved the food, although the lamb could be softer. It was sort of tough and I had a workout trying to cut it into small pieces.

Our drinks, three layer tea and sour plum

Lobster balls

Lamb Chop

Fried rice with chicken rendang

We spent less than RM55 including service tax, which was considered reasonable. I bet the ambience is better at night, and I think the cafe closes last at night for drinkers and happy hour customers.

Lunch at Yukimi Sushi

Jojo and I had were craving for sushi last week. We went to Yukimi Sushi, Kuching's local Japanese food outlet. It's also the first halal Muslim Japanese restaurant in Kuching, and probably in Sarawak.

The outlet is located near E-Mart at Lee Ling Commercial Centre, Jalan Matang, and it's just near our home. Jojo told me that the outlet has been there for a few years, and strangely, we've never been enticed to try it out before.

We ordered Yukimi's takoyaki as appetisers, which is said to be a favourite among Yukimi's customers.

Takoyaki - RM3.90

Then, I had grilled salmon bento set, and Jojo had torikatsu (chicken) bento set. The bento sets were different from the images on Yukimi Sushi website; even better, I think. We love the seaweed and the rice portion is generous! The prawn tempura was fresh and super crispy too! Oh did I tell you that the bento sets come with free hot green tea?

Grilled salmon bento set - RM12.50

Torikatsu bento set - RM12.50

Hot green tea

Then, we ordered one of the sushi sets, but I forgot to take its pic until we had the salmon sushi. Lol! The sushi had very mild vinegar taste, and therefore, it's perfect for those who are trying out sushi for the first time.

Sushi set - RM11.20

We spent RM40.10 there and I think it is not too bad. We had healthy food and the prices are reasonable, although the ambience could be better. Yukimi Sushi restaurant will definitely get more visits from us.