Tuesday, September 30, 2008

What's in my bag? I've been tagged by Lianne!

I've been tagged by my friend in Germany, Lianne!

Here are the rules.
Find a safe quiet place free of significant others, nosey meme makers, priests, nuns, all things religious and men in general. (If you're a guy just reverse this process to male and tell us about your wallet, tool box, briefcase or metro sexual accessory.)
1. Dump the contents of your handbag in a pile
2. Take a photo of your handbag and the contents
3. Be brave and explain to your fellow bloggers what lurks inside the handbag.
4. Tag others who might want to embarrass themselves
5. Answer these questions:
Describe the contents of your handbag.
What's the most important thing in your handbag?
What's the most embarrassing thing in your handbag?
What's the smallest thing in your handbag?
Is there anything illegal in your handbag?

As I described in Lianne's blog, I don't carry a hand-bag ... unless I am travelling abroad! So here's my "travel bag"!


What's the most important thing in your handbag? Gotta be the plastic (credit cards) and moolah (cash! cash! in various currencies ... Sterling, Greenback, Thai-baht, HKD, and Ringgit even!).
What's the smallest thing in your handbag? Gotta be my trusty thumb-drive!


Second most important ... My berry and Nokia!


What's the most embarrassing thing in your handbag? Hmm ... come on now, who put this in my bag! I know it was a gift from someone ... haha!


My camera ... My daily "ride" is a Canon G9, but I have started giving my Nikon D80 (with the very flexible and excellent quality Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8) a work-out as well! Yes, it fits into my "travel bag", I kid you not!


What's the smallest thing in your handbag? Hmm ... or perhaps it is the golf tees I seem to find in each and every bag and wallet I have, as well as all my shorts pockets! I also seem to collect a lot of golf score-card pencils!


Is there anything illegal in your handbag? Not today!

Who shall I tag?
Cumi and Ciki
Masak Masak
and, The original Chocoholic

Thanks for tagging back!
Fat Boy Recipes

Amazing Race Asia 3 - Episode 3 (Vietnam)

This is the 3rd episode of the Amazing Race Asia 3. It was originally aired on AXN in Malaysia, at 09:00pm - 10:00pm on 25th September 2008, but I missed it ... and finally caught the repeat earlier this morning, 12:15am - 1:15am (1st October 2008). Phew!

This leg was based in Hue, which is the capital city of the Thiên - Hu province, in Vietnam. Seems that between the years of 1802 and 1945, it was actually the imperial capital of the Nguy Dynasty and is well known for its ancient architecture. Located along the banks of a river, in central Vietnam, it is 700 km south of the Hanoi.

Ah ... my eye-candy from the Philippines is still in the race .. Tisha Silang with her moaning, complaining and foul-tempered boy-boy Geoff Rodriguez.


I liked this challenge best ... but was surprised with the producers' little consideration for road traffic dangers! I am sure many Malaysians like myself, are rooting for Bernie and Henry!


The two Malaysian teams did really well in this leg ...


Other challenges...
Roadblock - one team member had to retrieve seven coins representing the seven emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam at the tomb of Minh Ming, bring them back to Khai Dinh Tomb and put the coins in the correct order of the reign of the emperors.
Detour - Choice between Sticks and Stalks. In Sticks, teams must make ten incense sticks using the demonstrated method. In Stalks, teams must whack rice stalks to fill two platters of unhusked rice.
Additional Tasks
- In the Caltex service facility, teams must pick a marked jeep to change the tire and engine oil.
- At Quoc Hoc Park, teams must search a marked cyclo for their next clue.

Wikipedia.. Hue is best known for its historic monuments, which have earned it a place in the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The seat of the Nguyen emperors was in the Citadel, which occupies a large, walled area on the north side of the river. Inside the citadel was a forbidden city where only the concubines, emperors, and those close enough to them were granted access, the punishment for trespassing being death. Today, little of the forbidden city remains, though reconstruction efforts are in progress to maintain it as a tourist attraction as a view of the history of Hue. This was the site of this leg's finale!

Victorious!


It's time to say goodbye to the beauty queens ... Pailin & Natalie. I am sure Natalie (Miss Universe 2005) is looking forward to going home to her Thai tennis superstar hubby, Paradorn Srichaphan!

Diana Krall meet and greet, Coach Pavilion KL


Thanks to the Valiram Group for the invite to Coach, Pavilion, for a "meet and greet" session with Diana Krall.


Lots of people!!

Diana Krall checking out the Coach boutique ...

A lady's favourite car registration ... BAG5 - Bags!

Spotted in Bangsar ... what a fabulous car registration! BAG5 looks like ... BAGS!

Dragon-i at Centrepoint, Bandar Utama

I usually enjoy going to the Dragon-i at Lot S313A, New Wing of 1 Utama Shopping Centre (Tel: +603 7725 8822), but decided to give the one at Bandar Utama's Centrepoint a-go one lunchtime. I made a good choice!

Add: G115, Ground Floor, Centrepoint Bandar Utama, 3 Lebuh Bandar Utama, PJ
Tel: +603 7728 6866

Lovely simple but tasteful decor, with lots of blacks, reds and ... uh ... dragons!
ps - Beware! If you want the menu, it will cost you RM$500. Check out the inside front cover, hah!


My choice ... Plain la mien (RM$8), nice! And, the delicious and tangy signature spare ribs (RM$22).


W had the La Mien and Pork Ribs combo, RM$16. He seemed to enjoy it, whalloped it all down!


B is always predictable and chose the Fried La Mien, which he enjoyed to the last drop! RM$14.


ps - 3 persons, RM$80 for lunch, not the cheapest, but at least the food here is always consistent!

Impul 112S - Nissan Micra or March with Goal Post!

Hmm, what a odd little car ... I know this as a Nissan Micra, or March, but here it is known as an Impul 112S!


ps - If you are really REALLY interested, found one in Zerotohundred.com
Model: Nissan Impul 112S 1.4 (A) CBU
Colour: Black
Year: Registered in Feb 2005
1 Owner
Mileage: 16,500km
Full original bodykit + nice rims
Clifford Alarm system
Asking price: RM80k neg.

La Bodega Lounge, Jalan Telawi @ Bangsar - Brilliant service!

Add: 1st Floor, 18 Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: +603 2287 3808
Interesting and apt description on ExpatKL ... "La Bodega Lounge could pass off as someone's living room, albiet with bottomless supllies of wine, champangne, cocktails, Cuban cigars and tapas, plus and obliging wait staff."

Gin and Tonic - Not any gin, but lovely smooth Tanqueray. Fabulous!


And ... Deep Purple. A RM$20 concoction of Skyy blue vodka, Ribena, Cranberry, and Blueberry fruit. Hmm ... not really my thing!


ps - Ask for Jas/Jaz, the resident manager, his customer service skills are legendary!

Monday, September 29, 2008

Tang House of Fishball, PJ

Pork-free? Want a healthy-ish meal, and in a hurry? Look no further then ... Tang House of Fishball.

Simple fish-ball soup, and crunchy noodles served with some minced chicken and onion oil. Check out those large pieces of fish-cakes.


What confuses me about this place ... It goes by so many different names!
Tang House of Fishball, Damansara Utama
Teow Chew 60s Fishball, Seapark PJ
Hainanese Taste Tien Pin Mee Pok, SS2 PJ

Mamak time post drinking - Mosin @ TTDI

Add: No 109, Jalan Aminuddin Bakj, TTDI @ Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL

Ah ... me and the lads headed out to TTDI one night, uh... early one morning, for some maggi mee goreng and Nasi Kandar (Ayam madu ... pretty decent) doused in various gravy's. Good stuff! Thanks for the treat DL :-)


Ps - Review of previous visit to Mosin

Hing Loong Taiwanese Noodle House, Damansara Uptown

Add: Hing Loong Taiwanese Noodle House @ 87, Jalan SS 21/37, Damansara Utama, PJ
Tel: +603 7710 8334
Opening hours: 9:30 am - 6 pm


The "starter" we ordered ... some preserved veges, which would have been decent if not for the copious amounts of chopped garlic bits sprinkled over the top. Eeeww... nasty garlic-y aftertaste!



Taiwanese sausage - Sigh, bland bland bland!



Szechuan Style Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (RM$5.90) - The pan-mee-esque noodles (sort of like mee-pok found in Singapore) were decent, but somehow the broth lacked "ooomph". Better with the sambal, but still ... not quite there!



Deep fried Pork chop (RM$3.50) - Average. Nothing to shout about!



Dry Dumplings / Sui Kao (RM$4.90) - Taiwanese dumplings, the skin was just too thick.


The verdict ... Sigh, overall, not a good experience (Bill came up to RM$23.60) at this restaurant!