Ops Pisau Cukur 2011

Nak ketawa bila baca komen Norzah on FB (I am not sure which wall post) that goes ..." happy hunting J". Auwww terasa diri ini predator sangat. Tapi bagus juga encouragement tu. Nak tunggu being the hunted, rasanya the next 10 year i will be "haunting" instead of "hunting" hahahaaha

However a long pillow talk (until 4 am ) with my friends on Blackberry Messenger group conference, I realised my hunting operation need more than just domestic goddess training, total makeover and kewl gadgets. I have suspected it few months back after reading Oprah Winfrey's article in a Health Magazine but after chatting with my friends, it sort of affirm that my thyroid problem datang balik. But instead of being hyperthyroidism, it became hypothyroidism. I read some health articles on the Internet that hyperthyroidism may eventually lead to hypothyroidism. In my case I was no longer under medication and treatment since year 1998 and my last health screening in 2002 showed my thyroxine hormone was OK.

We were discussing about my friend's struggle on coping with his gf silent temper due to hypothyroidism. So I pun tercerita lah about my family and friends struggles with my studden change in behaviour, the confusions and heartaches they had to go through. That time I was in boarding school, my teachers thought I had disciplinary problems pulak ... you know sebab trouble sleeping at night I couldn't wake up sometimes and had trouble concentrating. I knew then I was not well but I was also confused with the illness. Until my Auntie Rose (mum's elder sister) helped me out as she too had the same problem. It turned out my other Auntie Rose (dad's elder sister) also had thyroid problems. Aiya ... I inherited the Roses genes rupanya.

Back to the pillow talks, as my friend explained further about the hypothyroidism symptoms ... I think my heart stopped beating for a while. I felt like I was being diagnosed. I sort of like mistaken my sudden weight gain/lost or mood swings as effects of stress and aging. I felt depress for no reasons sometimes ... again I blamed it on stress. But some other signs like dry skin, sleepiness, keletihan and tak tahan sejuk ... haiya that's it. I am going to get medical checkup by end of this week.

So as I waited for my "mood problem" to be solved by end of this week, yesterday afternoon I decided that I should start my domestic goddess training by cooking special dish for dad for lunch. Barulah terhegeh-hegeh nak carik buku resipi yang beli jer tapi tak pernah buka. Btw, I inherited another of the Roses gene ... passion for cooking!

Auntie Rose Penang really spoil me rotten here. I am soooooo the Princess here. Oh my Gucci!!! Sampaikan pegang senduk dan periuk pun dah rasa sangat janggal. Bagaimanapun bagi memastikan operasi ini berjalan lancar, selongkarlah mana-mana periuk belanga and kuali at our town house kitchen. Then I went to Chowrasta Morning market beli asam jawa and fresh kunyit/cili giling. Don't play play u know ... here in Penang, curry, rempah giling is sold by Chinese, with recipes handed down from generation to generation.

I decided to cook Red Snapper Gulai Assam Tumis for my dad, based on Auntie Rose recipe, which was handed down from my grandma who learned it from my great-grandma. Yes .... I am from Cina Peranakan family. One day I'll post photos of my great grandma in her baju panjang. I have tasted many so-called peranakan dishes by some so-called peranakan sellers but I wish to state here that Auntie Rose cooking is authentic Peranakan. Cukup segala rempah, pedas and what not. Sometimes it is not the elaboration in the cooking preparation ... it's the flavours!

The verdict: Dad loved it sooooo much and minta me to cook again. Yeaaaaa .... Jom kita memancing!

Bienvenidos 2011

Chakkkkkk .... suddenly it's already 2011.

It always feels like "it was just yesterday" we celebrated the arrival of the yesteryear on New Year. And as usual, most would just copy paste whatever resolutions they had the many last years. Me included. Easy ... as humans love planning but to get plans done, so many excuses. Just like my HOT PANT and BIKINI dreams hahaha

Anyway, I intended to get this entry done and published by the stroke of midnite. Satu kali YY and myself chatted about our 2011 strategies and 2010 painful memories, I heard countdown and fireworks from Georgetown (oh yaa... I stayed at the townhouse for New Year).

YY sent me a wish and popped up the "dangerous" question?

Hahaha, akak pun tak sangka ... so bold and spontaneous (and honest). But to tell you all the truth, yesterday morning when I woke up from my slumber and started to think of my achievements in 2010 and whether or not God has answered my prayers, I realised not only HE answered most, siap bagi extra lagi!

I tak tipu ... in 2009, hati I banyak meronta nak travelling daripada nak kawin. When I prayed to God, I can feel the yearning and desperation inside me when asking for blessings to see the world but when asking for finding the ONE, ada macam satu hesitation. Its like ... jalan2 dulu baru kawin. And another thing ... once married, not only your new family will pull u to the ground, your husband's family, your own family, your extended family ... and being a person making my own decisions throughout my life, listening to someone else making plans for you is a NIGHTmare hahaha

Why the change of heart? Kalau nak tau ... I suggested you all to watch this movie ... The Young Victoria. A story about the life of the young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. I love this movie, siap research lagi about the characters in the movies ... who they are, how they influenced Queen Victoria's thinking/life etc etc... In a certain way, it has similarities with my own personal life. Kat mana tu, I taknak cakap.

Of course, it may not be easy to find a person like Prince Albert. But if I prayed hard, maybe I get someone better. Right? If last year, I just planned to visit few places ... sekali sana sini pulak God make me travel. Hmmm ..... inviting thoughts jugak if many hunks fight over you kannnnn .... hahaha

Sawadee Ka - Phuket 2010

I have abandoned my blog ... again (and many times before). Too many things happened back to back, to many info for me to digest within this 6 months period. I would say my life is quite eventful the last few months, travelling, planning and executing projects... not what I expected when I accepted the offer to head the Penang State Office.

Luckily, which also to my suprise, the political climate here is quite OK. I have some blissful time plannning and executing my works without nasty interruption or intervention from certain parties/groups or individuals. As long as I know how or where to draw the line and think for the best interest of the people.

Anyway, I named this entry Sawadee Ka - Phuket 2010 as I planned to visit Phuket again (some times not too soon). I was a bittttttttt disappointed with the trip despite the hundreds of photo taken. First, Phuket has so much to offer but our time there was so limited. Need at least 5 days if you really want to enjoy Phuket. That includes visits to Phi-Phi Island and Krabi. I couldn't even enjoy my exclusive hotel though I got huge discount for it from Agoda.com! Phuket has so many beaches, each with its own specialness ...

I chosed Kata Beach, instead of the fame Patong Beach, as I would prefer some private time to enjoy the beach without all the hustle bustle or sea of half nude people. I planned to travel down from Kata to Patong for some night life ... but unfortunately, our night time are filled with shows like Fantasea and Simon Cabaret ...

Secondly, I was damned tired from meetings, travelling from KL-Penang the week before and not forgetting the pre-launching of the Penang Hill furnicular trains. Plus the night before our departure to Phuket, I pandai2 ajak member clubbing at Hard Rock Cafe hahaha ... By the time we arrived in Phuket, all I really wanted was a deep sleep!

Third, I underestimated Phuket. Didn't do my homework and leave everything to the travel agency and one of my staff. I didn't want to use an agent initially but considering the hassle to find transport and our time was very limited so I agree to the ground arrangement. Was quite ticked off when the tour to Phang Nga Bay was conducted in Mandarin.

And like I said earlier, I underestimated Phuket ... to be honest, my main reason of choosing Phuket was it seems to be rivalling Penang in everything ... including heritage tour. Penang is so lucky there are not many direct flights to Phuket and I don't consider people "transitting" in Penang Airport (and contributing to the numbers of tourists arrival) as tourists.

I overlooked the beautiful beaches, cheaper goods/services and extra special "entertainments". But anyway, I still enjoyed myself there ... However, it still can't rival my Chieng Mai tour with the best tourist guide ever, Aey. Until Emel was angry with me complaining and comparing....

Okay people, I would blog about each places individually ... not to cramp in one entry. So many tales to tell.

10.10.10 @ 10.10 a.m

Wish something great and memorable happen at this date and time.

The 200th Entry - Sayang Kinabalu

Is written in Imperial International Hotel, Kota Kinabalu. Taking a short break from "merenung" the computer screen, finding ideas to write the paper.

As I was writing this entry, I feast my listening pleasure to the song of Kimin Mudin - Sayang Kinabalu. Best bah lagu tu ... very nostalgic. Very sad when Nel, PKPL Sabah told me that the singer passed away this year due to heart attack. May God bless his soul. Many do not know that the late singer is the brother to Asmin Mudin who composed the song Gemilang by Jacklyn Victor and Kau Ilhamku (Man Bai). After Proton Saga Kelabu or Jambatan Tamparuli, I think almost everyone in Sabah know how to sing this song.

This year I balik to my forth kampung on Government budget in conjunction with World Tourism Conference. Unfortunately I could not totally enjoy and join the whole conference as I need to complete my kertas renungan and at the same time judge some blogs for 2ndBlogFest.Asia in Penang. In between, I suffered period pain and stomach cramp ... aiyooo!


Nonetheless, I tried to enjoy my hotel in terms of location and facilities as much as possible as shown in the photos below. So travellers to KK, I highly recommended this hotel and of course Le Meridien as it is really in town centre and surroundings are shopping areas like the Centre Point, Warisan Square, Philippine Market or Sinsuran area. For 3-4 star hotel, I think the price is reasonable. I paid RM 200 for deluxe size room, of course after government discount maa...

Jangan macam seseorang itu, recommend satu hotel atas alasan very cheap and good ... sekali orang sebelah batuk or kentut pun boleh dengar.

Of course while here in KK, I must meet up with Suna. Anyway, the development in KK never fail to amaze me. KK is so happening now compared to 16 years ago when I first step my foot on the Land Beneath the Wind. I don't mind posting here next time ... best bah!

Anyway, got to go. Nanti-nantilah saya sambung balik ya!