Nurture them like your baby

After avoiding for 3 years, I finally took up the challenge to contribute back to Asiaworks. I volunteered to staff before my new job started. Oh yea, I got a new job offered that doubles my current pay. 'Staff' in Asiaworks context means, to be a small group leader and encourages the participants of the training to explore what are the possibilities in their choices and in their life.
It has been a tiring month for me, juggling between family, work and in addition to that, I am committed to these people who has chosen to transform their life. Never thought it is that tough, but just because of that, I have new level of understanding about the term 'Staffing'. I used to think that 'staffing' is just to call the participants up and check on their homework, pretty much the mechanical part of being a small group leader to facilitate the training room as conducive as possible. It is actually more than that. The trainer's word that struck me about staffing, is about the tenderness & closeness of handling these people, love them unconditionally and its like how a mother nurture their baby. I suddenly felt I am actually full, a love filled person who can love a stranger unconditionally and nurture them like my own baby. It is how much passion I put on them that has led them in making the choice to transform their life. It has been very profound journey to me for the whole 1 month.
And the one last important message I got is:-  It is a gift from GOD to be able to see greatness in every single human being and recognise each one of them as the masterpiece of God!

Restoran Duyong, Cherating

Five years ago when we first visited Cherating, we found this hidden Thai & chinese cooking restaurant. It is built on a wooden deck by the sea. If you are visiting in the morning, you will be able to have a panoramic seaview seafood lunch. Whilst visiting at night, you will be able to experience the traditional asian fish village restaurant overlooking Gebeng (infamous Lynas) shore.


Despite the 45 mins drive from Telok Cempedak, we were back there again for good food after 5 years. 






Thai Fragrant Coconut to quench our thirst








Seafood Tomyum Soup 
This is first time I've seen fish ball in tom yum soup. The soup is sour, salty and spicy. Not much seafood in it, all I can remember is fish balls!










Fried Vege, Fried Mackerel with ulam & sambal belachan -small (RM10)
Value for money, the brinjal and banana fritters were very crispy. Sambal belachan is hot and rich in flavour. 






Claypot crab with glass noodles
Crab were too small, and doenst have a lot of meat. But the glass noodle was evenly coated with ginger, peppery black sauce! Awesome!






Fried Kailan with salted fish (RM 20)
The kailan is too old. And I think it is very very pricey!






Garoupa in Chilly Lime sauce
Garoupa is fresh and is steamed, coated with lots of garlic, chillies and lime. Absolutely tasty!

Ratings:

Ambience: 5/10 

Service: 5/10

Food: 8/10

Price: $

Halal

Verdict: Authentic Thai cooking, if you are a spicy lover, you are going to love this. Don't order vegetables, too pricey!

Restoran Duyong, Cherating
BT 28 KG, Cherating, Duyong Beach Resort, Kuantan
Tel: +609 581 9189
Operating Hours: 09:00 - 23:00

Restoran Mei Hiong, Kuantan

Just like anyone else (IT savviest) would, I googled to find out what is the best food in town. 


Kuantan is near the sea, hence it is famous for seafood, dried salted fish etc. Looking at what's interesting, 8TV has introduced in Ho Chak food programme about shark meat in Kuantan before! Having the hate of people gobbling down shark fins at wedding dinners (that explains why we choose not to serve shark fin soup in our wedding), it has a lot of guilt this time round to have shark's meat for lunch. Trying to justify and lessen my guilt, it is brutal to take the shark fins off the shark and throw them back to the sea, whereas, in this case, the shark is killed for its meat and is far off better than to let the shark die in a struggling way. Full of Sin still, I chose to experience shark meat for this ONE TIME!






Fried Shark Meat & skin with chillies
The texture of the meat taste like sting ray, the skin taste like the catfish's fat (omega 3). 








Fried slipper prawns with dry chillies and onions
The slipper prawns are fresh and springy in texture. The sauce coated on the prawns are sweet and spicy, just the way I like it.




Oyster Omelette
The omelette is over cooked, it was dry and the oysters has shrunk. Not recommended.






Bitter gourd Soup with fishball
The fishball is big and taste fresh, but i find the bitter gourd is too little.




Stir fried Potato Leafs

Ratings:

Ambience: 4/10 (Two shops, one shop is airconditioned)

Service: 6/10

Food: 7/10

Price: $

Non-halal

Verdict: Overall is good, shark meat alone is over rated  :)

Restoran Mei Hiong, Kuantan

No. 52b, Jalan Tanjung Api, Padang Lalang, 25050, Kuantan

Tel: 09-5177581

Trio Celebration

It was a celebration trip to Telok Chempedak, Kuantan. Mother's day + Father's Birthday + Justin hit his record breaking sales volume this month!

We decided a 2D/1N trip to Kuantan and stay in our favorite 5 star Hyatt Regency, Kuantan. I have always dream that one day when I got married, I want to bring my parents to trips together with my family. Although this is a cheap short stay, it is the first of many to come.

We had fun spending our time eating at places we are not familiar with, and laying around the beach, sun bathing, swimming. I think my parents had a greeeaaaaat time! When I asked them when was their last time swimming in the sea, they told me it was before they got married. Instantly, I knew I made the right choice for them. 

I have learned that spending quality time together wins expensive hectic trip.

There is more to come...

Food review:

Restoran Mei Hiong, Kuantan

Restoran Duyong, Cherating
Restoran Hoi Yin, Telok Cempedak

Restoran Meng Key, Kuantan

Yamagoya Ramen @ Solaris Dutamas

I always look forward to Saturdays, coz usually we will either eat out or I will be the one cooking, or even fun, we will have friends coming over for simple gathering. Since we had tea at The Bee's, we decided to stay at the mall for dinner. 

I have heard compliments about this ramen shop where they made their ramen in the shop and have their pork bone soup fly in from Japan. Without much hesitation, I know we will be visiting this ramen shop in no time!

We had a hardtime locating the shop because it is not located in the mall, but rather the dutamas (old wing?) side, opposite thirty four. It was crowded, and we were at the bottom of the waiting list. The waiter is very friendly, and assured us that we will get our seats in 15 mins time. Well, if the ramen is that good, 15 mins is definitely worth the wait. While queuing for our turn, I noticed there are quite a number for Japanese dining in too! Yea, I am quite convinced.

The ramen making machine has taken half of the shop front space, hence limiting their seating capacity. 

They kept their promise, and we got our seat in 15 mins. Without much hesitation, I ordered Yamagoya Ramen (signature) & Yamagoya Ramen with Black Garlic. The service is fast, we got our food in 5 mins.

The ramen (noodle) is cooked to perfection in the right springy texture. The strand of the noodle is not as thick as what we usually had, just slightly thinner. The broth is A-W-E-S-O-M-E, although I find it slightly too salty. Adding in the sesame seeds into the broth even enhance the flavour.

The black garlic Ramen is almost the same like yamagoya ramen but topped with black garlic. I find the black garlic flavour too strong and has covered the original flavour of the broth. 

Ratings:

Ambience: 5/10

Service: 7/10

Food: 7/10

Price: $$

Verdict: worth the wait! Definitely will come back for more!

Yamagoya Ramen @ A2-G2-8, Solaris Dutamas

Operating Hours: Mon - Thurs 1100 - 2200; Fri - Sun 1100 - 2300

Tea-ing @ The Bee's, Publika Dutamas

My friend YL got very excited with the new Galvanic Body Spa and bought the gadget from us. Not trying advertise here, but the galvanic body spa works on my flabby arms, 5 mins 1 cm! Here's some of the pictures what galvanic body spa could do. 


She has always wanted to take off the 'muffin top' and hence, ended up with this solution : ) Making people around me beautiful is always what I wanted to do. Or should I say, I'm happy to surround myself with beautiful things, beautiful people...


Since she has a craving for churros, we decided to check out churros in town. I've been to WIP, but I decided to try somewhere else, and ended up at The Bee's @ publika, Dutamas.


We ordered Nachos, it is probably listed as one of the lousiest Nachos ever. The chips are not crispy, and was served in a bowl, hence the dips, mungbeans, sour cream, cheese were not evenly spreaded. 3 of us didnt even manage to finish it.



Next was the churros, served in two dips, chocolate and caramel. We thought the dips were too little for 4 sticks. The churros was bland & starchy. I didn't even taste any cinnamon or sugary coating at all. Very disappointing.





"Wikipedia:A churro, sometimes referred to as a Spanish doughnut, is a fried-dough pastry-based snack. Churros are popular in Spain, Latin America, France, Portugal, theUnited States, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands."


I took the last chance, thinking that the Guinness flavored ice cream would not go wrong, but fail to impress me either.




The only thing that I enjoyed most is the contemporary style alfresco garden experience. The staff is friendly and the menu has got a wide selection.

Ratings:

Ambience: 7/10

Service: 8/10

Food: 4/10

Price: $$

Verdict: Love the ambience. If I were to come back again, it will probably be just for tea and nothing else :)

The Bee's @ G2 Publika, Solaris Dutamas

Opening Hours:

Daily: 9am - 12 midnightwebsite: http://www.thebee.com.my

Plan B, Publika Dutamas

It's was last year November 2011 our last catch up session with WY. Ever since we've got married WY gave birth to her lil princess we were not that closely connected. Yea, I could understand how it feels like nursing a child. NOT EASY!


Yesterday, we decided to have dinner before she's going into labor in July. Yes, this July 2012, she's going to give birth again : )! So, we decided to find a place closer to her house, Publika Dutamas is the nearest choice. Then, we have to choose a place where it is toddler-friendly with good food, thus we landed on Plan B.

Plan B has a unique decoration, retro-ish and contemporary. They have renovated and the furniture and layout is slightly different from the photos in their website.


Love their menu to bits, printed on recycled paper and has their Plan B carved on the wooden board. Nice!

We were all hungry and we ordered some food to share. 

 roasted cherry tomato pomodoro RM16 

The spaghetti can be more al-dente. The sauce and cherry tomato is roasted to perfection.

Chargrilled Cheese burger RM25 

The burger patty is juicy, it is served with 3 big onion rings. The nutty salad is awesome! Fries are a lil dry, I would prefer they serve chips instead.

Garlic Bread RM9

Cant' complain, it is above average.

Chocolate Cookie Bar RM5

The chocolate and the cookie melts. For that price and the amount of slices, I will come back again for this.

Chocolate Truffle Torte RM11

This is extremely rich. Love this to bits, but if you do not fancy sweet stuff, skip this. Its like eating fudge. I will come back for this when I m depressed!

Macadamia Caramel Cheesecake RM13

Macadamia has always been my favorite, can't say its very yummy, I think there's room for improvement.

Oh, btw, do not order their lemonade, it is the lousiest that I have tasted so far.

Ratings:

Ambience: 8/10

Service: 6/10

Food: 7/10

Price: $$

Verdict: Love the ambience and their variety of desserts. Will be back to pamper my sweet tooth.

Plan B @ G2 Publika, Solaris Dutamas
Contact: +6 03 6205 5318

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 12 midnight
Kitchen last order: 11pm
Bar last order: 11.30pm
website: http://www.thebiggroup.co/planb/#