Hey mates, here I back again...Why so late? Can I use back the same reason - I am just simply BUSY? Haa...I was chatting with my greatest buddies back in Aussie (JZ and PW). It's so hard to have such golden chance to sit down and chat virtually over the internet. Oh ya, I am really delighted to be able to meet my boss - JZ and his dear (LM) @The Curve, Damansara last week. Really miss the life back in Brissy, boss...I want to go back!!!!!!
Sweetish Red Velvet Cake@The Laundry, The Curve
JZ with his dear, LM...Lovely birds!
The reunion of the food monster and his "boss"...
When we were talking about our life back in Brissy, JZ suddenly popped up with a question whether I can teach his dear to cook my signature dish - Homemade white sauce pasta. Without any hesitation, I just verbally described those ingredients and the steps for that recipe. But, I have promised them to publish this luscious recipe for people to savour this wonderful dish whenever they want...Come, make a wish and I will grant you one!!!
When people mention about pasta, what would you think at first? A staple food from Italy? Red sauce is the only sauce available for pasta? Pasta is actually a generic term for variants of noodles, food made from a dough of flour, water and with/without eggs. Pasta can be served in red sauce (often calls as Bolognese or Napolitan style), white sauce (Carbonara style) or even used in making soup.
Varieties of pasta...
Kev's Wonder Recipe - Homemade White Sauce Pasta (Carbonara Style)
Angel Hair White Sauce Pasta with Grilled Butter Fish (Thin like hair pasta)
Ingredients:
General Pasta & Others
A packet of pasta of your choice (Spaghetti, Fettuccine, Angel Hair, Spirals and etc.)
Olive oil or cooking oil
1 medium size of onion (chopped)
1 clove of garlic
200g of Bacon cubes
2 capsicums (green, red or yellow)
2 chopped tomatoes
For white sauce
4 tablespoons of melted butter
2 tablespoons of flour
2 cups of fresh full-cream milk
1/4 teaspoon of salt, pepper (alter for individual liking)
Italian herbs or other dry herbs
Optional: White wine for extra luxurious fragrance
Procedures:
1. Firstly, boil a pot of water for cooking the pasta. **Remember: Don't put oil into the pot of water but only 10g (2 tsp) of salt per 1 litre or (2 pints) can be used as a rule of thumb for seasoning** When the water comes back to a rolling boil, add in the pasta and give it a good stir to keep the pasta pieces from sticking to each other. Cook about 12-15 minutes, for al dente or chewy texture, taste, or break open a piece of pasta to test for doneness. Drain the pasta and retain a cup of pasta water for later use. 2. Secondly, Put some oil on the heating pan and add in all the bacon cubes. Fry until slight golden brown colour. Add in both chopped onions and garlic cloves, then fry together with the bacon cubes. 3. Put in the chopped capsicum and tomatoes to stir-fry together until it is slightly soft. Remove all the ingredients from the pan and put aside for later use. 4. For making the sauce, start by adding the melted butter on the hot pan, follow with the flour - a little at a time - the mixture will thicken up to the consistency of wall paper paste (roux). When the roux has turned from yellow to white, then you can start adding milk - a little at a time - until it is enough for the whole cooked pasta. Put in salt and pepper for taste. Then, add in herbs or white wine on personal preference. 5. When the sauce is slightly boiling, add in the cooked pasta and the pre-cooked ingredients. Mix well until all the noodles are coated with the thick white sauce. **That's why I don't add oil into cooking pasta noodle** 6. Magical Step: Add in the cup of pasta water and stir the pasta for 1 minute. Switch off the stove and the pasta is ready to be served. Topped with shredded Parmesan cheese if you are dairy-product person...
P/S: By following this recipe, you can easily have a homemade pasta meal in under an hour - any day, any time of the week...You can always expand your imagination by substituting the ingredients or pasta type to make your fully own pasta...
Angel Hair pasta (from Cold-Storage sales) and present from Adelaide - Garlic&Herb Fettuccine pasta (Thanks to my houssie - Ernest)
Arh, its 15 minutes to 12 midnight and my stomach is growling! Gotta go to bed to resist having any thought of grabbing a biscuit to munch...Alright buddies, thanks for reading such recipe and please try it out for yourselves. Do throw some questions if you have, I will try my best to answer 'em all~ Till then, ciao and a presto~
Holaa...mates, how's it going? I know I know, I have been MIA for almost 2 months hay! Ermm, can I use "BUSY" to summarize things up? I guess all of you out there must be %@#%^*...Alright, calm down please...I will elaborate more in this post!
"Everything happens for a reason", it was chosen as the title for this post because the phrase is so bizarre but yet too good to be true. I am gonna thanks to the Empress Bee for inspiring me to have such thoughts. We will always think that why things have to turn out in this way, can't it be better outcome or at least some satisfying and persuasive results. I will let those photos to demonstrate all my experiences that I have gone through in these recent years!
Incident 1: Why did I leave my friends behind and studied in Aussie Land in year 2005? Reason: Because its my childhood dream if I have the chance to further my study and broaden my exposures in Australia, especially Brisbane...this reminds me of my 1st ever family trip to a western country back in year 1997.
My childhood friends...get to know them since primary school...We have had lots of wonderful memories...KL trip (2005)
Cute guys with smillies...Grab one, girl? (Main's birthday - 2005)
UCSI Biotech Gang (2005)
Incident 2: Why am I being called as Food Monster? **Thanks to Optimus Team in Brissy** Reason: Because I was being raised up in an environment that is full of food choices, both eastern and western cuisines. The people there have high expectation on anything that is going into their mouth and the kids out there are spoilt for choices.
In addition, the lifestyle of my family that is always opting for better and more delicious food to please our high-demanding tummies. I always try my best to learn and pick up the proper cooking skills to prepare great meals for all my friends during my living in Aussie, really miss it much...I am sure those happiness and enjoyable expressions are the best gifts for every chefs...!! Yes, kitchen is always my great place to try out some food creations~
**Beware of all the mouth-watering food photos...please keep out of reach of those starving people out there**
Traditional chinese cuisine - DimSum (2007)
Penang delicacies in Swatow Lane@Penang (2007)
Creamy, dreamy and yummy chocolate experience@Max Brenner, Melbourne (2006)
Premium sashimi platter@Sono, Brisbane, Australia (2007)
Super meaty meal@Handorf, Adelaide, Australia (2008)
Gigantic yet finger-licking good Fergburger@Queenstown, New Zealand (2009)
There are still millions of food pics which I decided not to upload as they will bring up some serious problems... :P Just to sum this up, I Love Food...its just that simple~
Incident 3: Why am I so proud of being a Penangite ? **For your info, a resident of Penang is colloquially known as a Penangite** Reason: Penang island is a paradise for food lovers who come from all over the world to sample the island's unique cuisine, earning Penang the nickname of the food capital of Malaysia.
Moreover, I have all my childhood memories in Penang, from the day I was born, going through different stages of life and even until now... It is true that Penangites are the hardest people on Earth to get satisfied with their daily staples. We, as Penangites, are always having high expectations on the food, in terms of taste, flavour, fragrance, outlook and pricings...Agree with me?! **Giggling**
The signature transport in Penang --> Penang Ferry has been serving people since 1920 and even until now!! Salute...
The Proud of the Pearl of the Orient - Penang Bridge (completed in 1985)
A must-eat for every Penangite --> Hokkien Noodle (a.k.a. Noodle with rich prawn broth)
Golden Laksa@Balik Pulau, Penang --> Fat Vermicelli with shredded Kampung Fish Broth~
Besides that, we have numerous shopping centres that are able to compete with KL, the capital city of M'sia...Namely Gurney Plaza, Queensbay Mall, Aeon Seberang Prai, Time Square Penang and Komtar...We should be proud of ourselves, right?
Incident 4: Why did I make up my mind to leave Australia, waving goodbye to all my best mates in Brissy in year 2009? Reason: Because all my family members are here in Malaysia and I need to admit the reality that I have to move on in my life...My last trip back in Brissy was really mesmerizing~ I will never forget all the wonderful moments that have gone through in these 3.5 miracle years with my best buddies in Aussie, you guys ROCKS~!!
Below are those unforgettable photos taken in Down Under...
A tropical boy's 1st time stepping on a snowy ground - Skiing@Mt. Buller, Melbourne, Australia (2006)
My 1st time action in the sky...SkyDiving@Queenstown, New Zealand (2009)
Summer trip@Dreamworld, Gold Coast, Australia (2007)
Nice shot, HW@Albany, Perth, Australia (2007)
Jump up high, buddies!!@Rainbow Beach, Sunshine Coast, Australia (2008)
Singing High@Sunnybank, Brisbane, Australia (2007)
Farewell dinner@Pane e Vino@Brisbane City, Australia (2009)
Posing with the pharmacy people@UQ, Brisbane, Australia (2009)
Farewell outing with the Optimus Team@Brisbane Square, Australia (2009) From left: Darren, Me, Jenny, Millie and Chermaine
Of course my best mates ever...Ernest, me and JZ@Mondo, Brisbane, Australia (2008)
Once I have return to home country, it means I need to catch up with all my friends back as much as possible...Gotta find back all the laughters and have more great time with all of ya~
Awesome group of friends known since primary school@Tao (2008)
Gathering with CLP buddies@Winter Warmers (2009) From left: AhGoo, HooiTing, SzeHuay, Lipin, me and LCS
In short, everything happens really for a reason, if not, few reasons...We need to think wisely, make decision precisely and plan things ahead to avoid any possibilities that lead to failure. That is my thoughts about it...How about you guys out there?
Yeap, I have promised to all my friends that I will try all my best to keep contact with them...please count on me, folks...Wish you good luck in your undertakings, people... Arh, its time for lil Kev to keep moving on, have to work tomorrow *Yawn*!! Till then...
Harlo mates, I'm back here again to make my bloggie to be more lively~ Ever since I have started my life being a hardcore worker a.k.a. workaholic, there's always one thing that I won't forget even though how BUSY and TIRED I am...Guess the magic word........................ YESH, it is FOOD~
According to the great Wikipedia, Food is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fibers and water, that can be eaten or drunk by an animal or human for nutrition or pleasure. Haa...Below are some of the examples that suit in both nutrition and pleasure purposes. Enjoy and get drooled with these awesome creations that benefit the mankind.
My life isn't complete if without TIMTAM~ I surrender to ya!
Weekends are the best moment for all the stressful workers~ For me, I've got the chance to go One-Utama Shopping Centre@PJ to enlighten my much demanding tummy! The lucky person that has joined me with the food expedition was LCS...My best buddy since primary school. He is also another glutton that is quite finicky when come to food...Such a great companion for food trails ~
Eye-catching and spoilt-for-choice food menu@Nippon Yataimura in 1-U
Nippon Y's Signature ChaShu Ramen
Dreamy Soft-Shell Crab in Tempura Batter...Crunchy, crispy and tasty
Pan-fry Mayo Chicken Don...
Grilled Teriyaki Salmon Steak...a taste of the sea~
Do you think having a main meal without desserts can satisfy our tummy easily? Then you are wrong...Mains without nice desserts is analogous to a hot cappuccino without creamy milk froth on top...that is totally unacceptable! **Oops...I'm over reacted hay, please forgive me huh**
A sinful yet seducing place for great cocoa - Theobroma Chocolate Lounge
Theobroma Chocolate Lounge is originally from Melbourne, Australia. They have just recently ventured into oversea markets like New Zealand and now in Malaysia. Apart from this luxurious chocolate display outlet at 1-U, they have another identical counterpart at The Pavillion, KL. The menu list is extensive and the pricing is trully correlate to the quality offerings. It is just like the favourite phrase from Dr. Lance Newey, my great lecturer in UQ - "A Big Bang for the Buck"~
Hot Belgian Dark Chocolate in Mug n' Warmer - Rich and tongue-excitement~
Hot Belgian Chocolate with Caramel - Sweetness in your heart~
Let's Theobroma...anyone?
The concept of Theobroma Chocolate Lounge makes me recall back all the wonderful experiences I had in my favourite chocolate stores in Aussie ---> Max Brenner and Koko Black in Melbourne and Sydney; Cocolat in Adelaide. I will never ever forget those "CHOCOLATY" experiences....YUMM! The purely 'chocoholics' menu are making me totally indulge in the lovable 'staple' and have my smudgy mouth left behind! Napkins are just a display on the table~ Haa...
That's what we call - A Complete Dining Experience with desserts being the second protagonist...If I have the chance to have such food on every weekend, I would more than happy to work hard on the weekdays~ Tummy oh tummy...You'll be treated well...:P. But, not to forget to do EXERCISES after such high calories meals...! Well...I just simply love food...Do you?
Haloo...how's ya doing, everyone? I just can't imagine that I have infected with Working Group Syndrome (WGS) - the infamous 'Monday Blues'. Arh...the time just pass by like a glimpse of light! I don't want to work blindly from morning until night, 5 days a week...Therefore, I am here to write up a post due to popular demand from my loyal readers **:p**.
Can you imagine how nice if someone (except your great mummy or daddy) can be your personal chef, specially cook up a great meal for you? For me, it is such a romantic occasion that I will never ever forget...Today is a special day for me because it is someone's special day too! I'll just take this opportunity to publish the full dinner menu that has stored in my mind for long...please savour those dishes:
Caesar Salads and Bread Croutons with Italian Herbs Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar Dressing Homemade Creamy Mushroom Soup
Mains
Handmade Gnocchi Pasta with Bacon Cubes in White Sauce, decorates with Cherry Tomatoes and Spinach Grilled Unagi with Teriyaki Sauce and Sesame
Desserts
Blueberry Cheese Cake with Shredded Dark Chocolates Hot & Fluffy Bread Pudding with Raisins
Wines (couple with mains and desserts)
2005 Grant Burge - Cameron Vale Cabernet Sauvignon from Barossa Valley, Adelaide - Slightly dry with oak fragrance and cherry flavour 2008 Grant Burge - Lily Farm Frontignan from Barossa Valley, Adelaide - Smooth and fruity wine
~---------------------------End of Dinner Menu-----------------------------~
Yeap, I've been wanting to prepare these meals but somehow I haven't got the chance to do so...aiks~ Who is going to be my honorary guest? Heee...that must be only for the mysterious person~ **Giggling :P**
Ahem, those wines are my favourite collection wines from Adelaide...Still remember the Adelaide Trip in Winter 2008? Had so much great memories with JJ sis, ZZ bro, Lena sis and Adeline sis...!! It was an awesome winter breakaway!! Ok, I have to admit that I MISS AUSSIE!!
Can be the front page for "Time" magazine...Handorf German Town, Adelaide
The Beauties and the Rainbow~ (From left) Lena sis, Ade sis and JJ sis Beerenberg Strawberry Farm@Handorf, Adelaide
ZZ bro and I, posing with our wonder stuff@Barossa Valley, Adelaide
I am so thankful to all my friends that I have met throughout these awesome 3 .5 years in Aust. I won't be able to make it without all of you, helping me, giving me advices and accompanying me through the hard times.
Roller Coaster Ride@DreamWorld - Summer (21st Nov 07')
House Warming@Campus Grove (29th Feb 08')
Soccer match (Aust VS Iraq)@Suncorp Stadium (1st June 09') From left: Jocelyn, Ernie, me and my best buddy in Aussie (JZ boss)
Happiest moment in Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne (22nd Dec 08') From left: KC, me, Ernie, SH and Lil KC
I have been sending off all my buddies all these years, with all my sincere wishes for them~ Now, its my turn to receive those blessings...I left Brisbane, Queensland - The Sunshine State, officially on 8th March 09'...T_T
Thanks for the efforts, gals... (7th March 09') From left: Charmaine, Millie and Cut-cut princess - Jenny~
The muscular Optimus leader - Darren bro...
Congrat Darren bro and SiokHwee sis upon your wedding@JB~ (2nd May 09')
The image of my last day in Brissy is still deeply hoarded in my heart, I will never ever forget all of you, my friends...
Thanks for sending me off, Lena & ZZ bro...
My supernatural houssie - Ernest (Thanks mate~)
Arh, there are PLENTY more of the photos that I have yet posted up...those great moments will always store in my memory and shall never fade...Let us keep this precious friendships and maintain forever. I am sure that we will be meeting up again no matter where we are in the near furure...I wish all of you best of luck in all your undertakings...Cheers, buddy~
I miss you much... and I'll be BACK!!
**Happy Birthday to Ernie...he is officially 22 years old now on 23rd May 2009 (just a month before mine)**
Harlo everyone, how's ya doing? Apologize for being vanished for a period of time. I have made a few crucial decisions and gone through a huge transition in my life. Yeap, I have decided to return to my home country to proceed to another stage of my lifetime journey. Today is 16th March 2009, it also marked as a "Brand New Day" to pursuit my dream life and temporarily putting a full-stop in student life. However, I still have two-sided feelings about this life-changing decision and I have to admit it will take some time for me to adapt such changes. I will definitely try my best for that, get my fingers crossed and open my eyes widely to see things clearer (DD boss, am I right?)
For sure I am sad to leave all my great mates and food in Brissy, you guys have been so awesome~ "Food monster", that's the nick that is been given by the Optimus Team, I will always remember that!! Thanks for your companion all these while and I will never forget all the great times we had together for the past few years! I wouldn't have been a person I am today without all of your supports and cares. I sincerely wish all of you having a bright and prospective future, please do keep contact. Take good care...Till then, I have faith that we will meet each other in some part of the earth in the future...^^
Below are the "great catch" early this year...enjoy~ Dusk@Inderawasih football field, Penang, Malaysia.
Glamorous lightings@Kek Lok Si temple, Penang, Malaysia.
Harlo mates, how's it going? Hohoho, Merry Christmas, everyone!! I've just got back from my superb wonderful trip in Melbourne, don't really want to come back from that fantastic & fun city!! Great city, friendly people with nice weather!! I will blog much about the trip soon...so stay tune for that~
Yeap, finally, I have graduated with my postgraduate course (Master of Technology and Innovation Management) on this very special day, 15th Dec 08', at University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. After a year and a half of hardships, its time for me to step up and face the reality to get into working career!! There were 2 important things that made this a very special day. First, my ever beloved dad and mum managed to attend my convocation, my two brothers (Hooi & Jiow) with their warmest regards and the luxurious Tissot!! Second, KC & her family attended my convocation too...really thanks to them for spending their precious time here.
The gigantic UQ signboard...
Thanks Dad & Mum...Happy to see you here!
Thanks dad, for nurturing me, teaching me, protecting me all these while!!
Million thanks mum, for tolerating my stubbornness...
Khor family & Teoh family...Thanks and appreciate for the time here...
All the master class transformers with PhD Optimus-leader (Darren) From left:Jake, Jenny, Millie, Darren, Charmaine, me
Thanks Ernest, my great housemate...for being my private cameraman!!
Thanks fellow friends, you guys have been so AWESOME~
Big sis (Lena & JJ)...thanks for "looking after" me huh... From left: Lena, JJ, KC, me, Penny
My great coursemates...Caramel (formerly Jasmine) and Charmaine
Good luck, guys...keep contact ya~
The two sisters...Little KC and KC Snr.
This marks the temporary end of my formal academic career, at the age of 23. But I will keep learning for sure, from people around me, things or even news around the globe. It is always intriguing to meet people from different cultural backgrounds, demographics and geographical locations~ I'm really glad that all my fellow senior friends (the usual gang) have done with their study career too, some will go back for good and be good government servants (Kidding ya)...some will apply for PhD studies (Good on 'em)! No matter what it turns out to be, I will be here to wish them best of luck for their future in all sincerity!! Please keep in touch, people...miss all of you~
Hot summer, hot hot summer!! The heat wave is hitting the Sunshine state (Queensland). I can't wait to head south for cooling weather...The scorching sun has burnt my skin and I'm like a big PeachyBoy now...;-( Someone please help me to treat my sunburnt cheeks...
The graduation week has started from this week onwards, the dates of the convocation differ according to the faculties in the university. Oh yea, I have successfully finished my postgraduate course and the convocation will be held on 15th Dec (Monday), Weee~! All my fellow gang of friends (biotech geeks) have graduated on 1st Dec as well...JZ has booked me in to be his personal photographer, hmm...its time to sharpen my skill before YOU come over next week...heee!
I have known all of them ever since my arrival in Down Under...These 85' born people have been my greatest mates, chilling, eating, growling, fooling and so on...Time passes in a glimpse and our study life has put up with a great fullstop. However, our friendship will definitely continue to grow for sure...These are all the wonderful moments:
All-time soccer hardcore fans (My Barcelona vs JZ's Real Madrid)
Its your turn, folks...!!! Congrats...
For those Pharmacy graduates (ZW, KF, Shirley, Amy, Ena), I have to apologize for not able to attend your convocation on the 12th Dec as I will be in Sydney with my family. Hereby to congratulate all of you, take care and stay well...
I wish you all the best, may all of you have a prospective future and shine like Twinkle Little Stars...Without all these cares and companies, I wouldn't been able to keep going until this point...Thank you, my beloved friends...
**That it comes and it goes, and I can't seem to hold **and there's nothing i own, and it breaks me when it goes
Hee, I'm singing Dido's song (It comes and it goes) in her latest 3rd album - Safe Trip Home!! The Red music review even termed Dido as British soul-folk siren kills softly with songs and said that if you only listen to one thing this month..I'm so ecstatic to get her album this afternoon when i got to know that JBHifi already has the album stocked in. I'm been anticipating this album for so long after her previous records 5 years ago.
Dido's 3rd creation - Safe Trip Home
Deluxe Edition set - with enhanced cd (including 3 bonus tracks)
Dido's soft-pitch yet subtly seductive power voice really tying me closely to her songs, listen over and over again!! Being a die-hard fan for Dido, I've been followed her songs ever since her debut song with Eminem named "Stan", which is a theme song for 8 Mile movie starring Eminem. This album is aimed to continue in creating micracles after the successful results from its predecessors - 1st album (No Angel) and 2nd album (Life for Rent).
Inspiring songs...Nice!!
Head to iLike.com to hear all the tracks...ENJOY!!
Alright, now come back to my story here...Yeap, finally I've done with my final exam for MTIM course, will have to move on in my life...Work and earn some pennies? Stay or Go? PR application? I totally lost my direction...But one thing that I stand firm is that, I will never forget to EAT, because I'm da Food Monster...Muahaaa! Just like this...
Throat-burning curries@Curry Connection with (from left) YiXin, Darren, JJ!! YUMMY~
I will continue to get some guidance, advices, ideas from the people around me, including you! Yesh, its you! Hmm...will get back to you guys soon with some updates about our much long-waiting farewell steamboat dinner at my place tomorrow...Ok, till then, catch up with you guys soon...For the one who is still stressing with exams, GOOD LUCK! For those who is free-of-bound, just CHILL!! Take care, cheers...Summer is here~
Heyo folks, how's it going? Hope all of ya are doing well...don't be too stress with works or studies...!! I've been rushing my heavy-loaded assignments, aiming to finish them before the Swotvac break (Study break for uni students)~ Aikkss, don't have much time to do revision...ooh ooo :-O!! I'm really flattered that someone did try out my recipe...feel so honoured here!! Let me introduce the FUN-Sized girl -->Nicole!! Thanks for that oo~
Why not we take this opportunity and put away all your tasks (just temporary), and savour something YUMMY! This post features one of my all-time favourite desserts --> Bread Pudding. The hot and fluffy soft texture with sign of crispiness, I'm gonna die for this...
Kev's Wonder Recipe - Wonder Bread Pudding
Ingredients: A: White Bread - 1 Loaf (approx. 750g) B: Peanut Butter/Fruit conserved (any choice of your liking) C: Fine White Sugar - 100g Butter - 300g Milk - 200mL D: Egg yolk - 3 (discard the egg white) Vanilla Essence - 2 teaspoons (optional) E: Dry/Fresh fruits or nuts
Procedures: 1. Firstly, spread a slice of bread with the peanut butter, with another plain bread stacking on it, and spread with the peanut butter, again stack with a plain bread. It is then formed a 3 bread block. 2. Remove all 4 sides of the bread edges (as it will affect the pudding texture), and then cut them into tiny cute square blocks. 3. Arrange those tiny bread blocks onto a baking dish, scatter with some raisin on top of the breads. 4. Mix together fine white sugar, butter and milk and cook with low heat. At the same time, add in the egg yolks (one at a time) and vanilla essence for more fragrance. Constant stirring is needed. 5. Pour the above mixture to cover all the bread cubes, make sure each of them is well-soaked with the delicious mixture. 6. Place the baking dish on top of a roasting pan filling with water to reach halfway ip to the sides of the baking dish. Bake for 40-50 minutes with 170 Celsius until it turns golden brown. 7. Let it cold down on a baking rack and serve immediately when it is still HOT...
P/S: The sugar content can be adjusted according to personal preference...feel free to 'mix n match'!! I'll bet you'll get addicted for such delicacy...hehe! It is always fun to do some baking yourselves at home...hope you guys can try this out when you need something to MUNCH!!
Alright, have to continue working on my LAST assignment as I will be heading for the BBQ session with all my usual gang later@ SouthBank...Its gonna be hot out there...Applying Sunblock is definitely a MUST...Till then, take care mates!
Aikkss...I was being poked by JJ to update my procrastinating bloggie~ Yeap, I'm back here again to inform all of you about my status quo!! This post is specially written for the roadtrip we (WJ, PW, Alice, Michelle, JJ, little KC, Ernest and I) had to this well-known garden city - TOOWOOMBA!! The city has the flower festival every year in Spring season, only IF there isn't water restriction at the area~ For now, let's yumbayamba....haaa!
All the crew-members...ehh? No, WJ was the photographer, credits for him ;-P
Once we've got our private transport - Toyota Tarago, we began our long-haul journey straigh-away with me being the lone-driver...haa! Ernest was my man-made GPS despite having Jane (MK's favourite GPS device) to further help us in locating the exact landmarks and destination. It took us around 2 hours to reach the high-lanscape city...
See? Serious driver hay...must make sure the safety of all my passengers
Toowoomba i-centre - A must-stop place to get full information
Our first stop will be the biggest open-garden in the city - Queens Park Garden. I'll let those pictures speak on its own...
Queens Park Gardens - Time to fully utilise my dear Issie (IXUS-75)
Hot spring with delightful Brissy kids...
Flower carpets...
Below will be the vivid flower shots...Photos captured manually with Macro function and ISO-400 settings
Purple Blush...
Surrounding with TULIPS...Little KC and I
Love this photo particularly...From left: Me, JJ, WJ, Ernest, Lil KC, Alice and Michelle...aiks, PW was the photographer this time, applause for her, folks...!!
Yeap, following will be the photos captured in the 2nd garden with asian theme - Japanese Garden. The garden is situated beside the University of Southern Queensland.
Nice and serenity environment...
The crew-members for Toowoomba's FlowerFest 08' (srry WJ, you have to be the photographer for us, thanks!)
Finally, the ultimate complete crew members shot...
Nobody is happier than I am now...Woohoo~
But, nobody wants to be like him...
Little cute 'Puppy' statue, visited you 3 years ago and here I'm again...take care there...stay cute until my next visit oo...
Fragrant Lavender...sweetest thing in my heart~
Lil KC and I...
Alright folks, this is my most "flowery" post I've ever had before, hope you guys enjoy this short and quick walkthrough to the garden city... For more detailed experience, please visit JJ's bloggie...
Till then, I need to rush for my assignments...Not to forget to say welcome to those honourable guests from Newcastle (Joelene and others), happy to see all of you enjoying your Brissy trip so far...Take care, buddies!
Hellooo...how's it going? Had about 6 hours of sleep but yet still feeling a bit lethargic, maybe I've had alcohol overdose? "Thanks" to my dear big sis - JJ for pouring nice wines into my "Magical Belly" yesterday! Of course, not to forget to thank Machi for her magnificent imported sake from Japan, YUMMY!! Having constant pressures from my fans (as if), I've decided to update my bloggie after a month's time...Yeap, welcome to my first ever Kev's Wonder Recipe post, have to thank JiaJi for suggesting this awesome bloggie idea!
As you can see from the title of this post, it is about my secret recipe that I really proud of...Haaa! I've even got the praise from the ever-experienced baker - Aunty Cindy when her trip to Brissy last month...I will churn out more brilliant and yummy recipe in the near future!! I have altered the baking ingredients needed by referencing to various basic butter cake recipes together with humble baking experiences, let's try it out:
Versatile Cupcake - Basic Recipe
Servings: 12 equal size cupcakes with standard baking tray
Ingredients: Combo A: 150g butter 140g sugar 1 tsp of salt 270g self-raising flour
Melt the butter and put i n both sugar and salt, beat it until light and fluffy (where the butter mixture is sort of well-mixed).
Sift the flour with a sifter into the butter mixture and stir it well.
Add in the eggs one at a time and beat well (add the first egg then mix them well before adding the next one).
Add the milk simultaneously while folding the mixture at the same time.
Don't forget to scrape the bottom of the mixing bowl to make sure the batter is well-mixed.
Scoop the batter into muffin cups/tray until 70% of the column. Then bake at 170 Celsius for 45 minutes in the centre of oven until in turns golden colour. It is then ready if the skewer comes out clean from the middle of the cupcake.
Open the oven lid to half and leave the cupcakes sitting inside for 15 minutes before taking out to be served.
You can add any icing sugar or any of your favourite fruits as the topping. As for the locals here, they prefer to place a thick layer of sweet butter icing sugar with attractive decorations and colour...
Just like this...Birthday cupcakes for KhaiChin from Samantha's sis...SUPERB!!!
Hope all of ya try it out and feel free to give me some feedback, thanks...!! Aikss, its 15mins to 12noon, I need to catch up with my studies and presentation slides. Alright, that's all for today, will probably post up my latest creation - Fried Radish Cake's recipe as soon as I could, till then, take good care yoo!! Yea, anticipating John bro and Joelene to come over to Brissy, get yourselves some sunlight in this brilliant sunshine state!!
Totally Carnivorous @ Handorf Inn Hotel - Adelaide (5th July 08')
Harloo everyone, how's it going? After a long long "rest", I'm back here again to lighten up your day! Thanks to Nicole for asking me to be hardworking, won't procrastinating again, gal~ This post is about the yummy German cuisine I had during my winter trip to Addie (Adelaide)!! Really thanks to all my friends in Adelaide for your sweet hospitality for bringing me around, hunting for good food and sight seeing~ **Sorry for those vegetarians, this is for the Meat-Lovers**
Handorf is a prestigious tourist spot that most people would love to be there for a taste of Mediterranean exhilaration. The German descendant village is full of history, heritage and hospitality nestled in the picturesque Adelaide Hills.
The German town in Winter season
The members of the epicure team were: Ivan, Khai Jue, Chi Hou and I (all Penangites). Both Ivan and Khai Jue are my high-schoolmates in JSHS and we haven't met each others for so long since we left high school. Our mission objective was to "conquer" the Handorf Inn Hotel and fully transforming to be the REAL Carnivore....muahaha!! Here we go...
Let's have a sip of hot mocha in such cold weather - simply the BEST
The famous Handorf Inn Hotel@Handorf, Adelaide
Hassle-bassle in the shop...
Once we have settled in for our dining table, the waiter handed us a well-pictured menu with superb choices of food to be ordered. Of course, we have ordered all the signature dishes that the restaurant has to offer...Since we are dining in a German restaurant, we definitely won't miss the throat-soothing beers that are complement to the delicious dishes!!
Hofbrauhaus Munchen beers on tap for you to experience - "The Original Brew of Bavarian Kings!"
The 1st dish - A Taste of Germany Platter
The meats were so succulent and tender, accompanied with the crispy skin...Oh man, that's HEAVEN!! German sausages had its own uniqueness as various types of herbs were added into the minced meats...thumbs up!
The 2nd dish - Giant juicy pickled pork hock (knuckle)
The pork knuckles is another limelight of the day as the meat was so juicy. This dish is different from what we used to have in Chinese or Thai restaurants which is deep-fried version to have the crunchy and crispy texture. The pork knuckle was lightly seasoned and scalded in hot simmer water to preserve its original juiciness of the meat. The complemented sauerkraut (sour cabbage) and Rhine potatoes with mustard seeds sauce were the best side dishes to add another different taste and flavour to the meats...YUMM!
The 3rd dish - Handorf Inn's Char-Grilled Pork Ribs (1kg)
Hoho...we won't be a great carnivore without having these gigantic pork ribs to satisfy our hungry stomach. The pork ribs were served with the home-made garlic sauce, the crunchiness of the meat was another flavour-adding point to make the dish to be so tasty! Big mouthful of meats then "flowing" down a with big mouthful of beers, nothing can beat this...!!
Khai Jue, me, Ivan and Chi Hou (delighted to meet up the Penangites in Addie)
Its such a great experience to have fun with all of ya, bro!! Really looking forward in seeing all of ya again...take care, come over to Brissy anytime!! **Kev is craving for food and saliva keep dripping, :-P**
The wonderful rainbow cutting across the sky was a great endpoint for this dreamy meal...
Alright folks, it is all for today's post. Finally I've successfully to write up this post after such long slack!! Will have lotsa readings and assignments to catch up, till then, all the best to all of ya...CHEERS!!
Harlo everyone, I'm back from the ever-wonderful Adelaide city 2 days ago!! After being nagged for long by my friends to update my blog, so I'm here to write up new post reluctantly...Its probably have to blame on my tiredness! Guess what, I accompanied my tech-geek friend, JJ, to queue up for the long-waiting iPhone which had launched today!! Moreover, Australia and New Zealand are the first nations among other countries to enjoy the technological gadget, due to the differences in time zone! After a long, boring, full-of-shyness wait for around 4 hours, JJ has finally managed to sign up a 24-months iPhone 3G contract with only AUD$56 monthly charges and given an exclusive AUD$300 worth of credits!! She was jumping up high for joy...so excited huh, gal !! Well, for me, I am still appreciating my current Nokia 6270 and hope it can help me up for longer periods, thanks buddy! I guess everyone outthere is screaming out **softly** for the Adelaide photos? Err, I will post them up shortly, please be patience ya!!
Alright, from the topic of this post, you guys should know I'm writing up a special report for my newly arrival Gundam HG model - Gundam Throne Zwei!! The parcel has arrived at my place when I was still in Adelaide and gonna thanks to my neighbour, Dr. Fong, for keeping the parcel on my behalf ^^
The gundam model box - all the way from Japan!!
The pilot of the powerful machine - Micheal Trinity from the Trinity Family
The word Zwei means number 2 in German and there are total of three Gundam Throne (Eins, Zwei, Drei - 1, 2, 3). Hee...it just needed 1 and a half day to finish off the assembly process, I supposed it was less complicated than the Kyrios, let's have a look at the finished product...
The tough, versatile and close-combat ultimate machine
Gundam Throne Zwei with its purple GN-drive - Close view
Ready to rumble on the action base...
For more info about this masterpiece, please click on ---> Gundam Throne Zwei I have two gundam model on my desk now: Zwei is on my left hand side while Kyrios is on my right side...YEA, there are such a great decor to light up my day...haaa!!
Yeap, that's all for today, I'm so tired now, woke up at 7am early morning. *YAWN* Will be right back as soon as possible for the Adelaide posts, no worries pals...take care!!
Hallo folks, how's it going? Deeply apologize for my laziness and procrastination in writing posts, have been busy eating :-P!! The Sem 1, 2008 has finally came to an end, lots of my friends are graduating in this semester, huh, gonna miss all of them. Just realise I'm no longer that young, childish, nor stubborn like before as I need to be the person that is 23 years old. Well, I will continue to improve as a responsible student, as a good mummy's boy, as a friendly buddy for all my mates **Sniggering**
Yeap, I'm gladly that I'm proceeding to my last sem of my current study, hmm, its been a long long time ago ever since I stepped on this Aussie land!! It will be my 3rd year here to enjoy the 4 seasonal country with lots of Kangoroo hooping around...haa!
Oh yea, please have a look at all my birthday pictures that are taken during my 3-days long birthday feast...haa!! Err, Jess, I'm kinda lazy to describe the sumptuous dinner we had together but it is no doubt one of the greatest dining experience I ever had before...heee!! Really thanks and bow to all of ya for making my birthday to be so SPECIAL...let's chill~
Have a sneak peak on my birthday cakes:
Thanks JY, Penny, SL for the decoration efforts...cute little Butter-shortbread man!!
Thanks JJ, Clara, ZZ and Lena for the seducing Baci cheesecake from Shingle Inn...YUMM!
Catch all my other photos here in "My 23rd birthday celebration": Part 1 ; Part 2
Dusk sky at Southbank...it is so vividly colourful, just simply the best!
Yeap, another half an hour to begin my food expedition being a truly epicurean in Adelaide...Just can't wait to savor the succulent meats, sweet & fluffy pastries, indulge myself in the world of FOOD...;oP !! Alright, I really need to get going as I haven't done packing my luggage, gonna catch a bus to city...take good care, pal ! I promise I will be back soon after I'm back from the wonderful food heaven...Till then, good luck and cheers!! ;-)
Go, Socceroos!! Aust VS. Iraq match @ SunCorp Stadium (1st June 08')
Harlooo...finally my ADSL2+ internet has got back to its full speed, yippie, enjoy the storming fast browsing speed. With less than a week of time, I need to boost up my revision works to be fully prepared for the exam. Aiks, must FOCUS on books, lecture notes, practice exams, can't slack anymore ya!! **Sry KC, will be kind of neglecting you but its just temporary, i will try my best to get back to you ASAP, just enjoy trip back home and help me to EAT please!!**
Yeap, as I have mentioned above, this post is about the fabulous worldcup qualifying match for Asia region countries, where Aussie were battling with Iraq (the former Asian Cup champion) for 3 important points in their group stage qualifying round. It is sort of chance of lifetime to have the match held in Brissy because most of the big games are always carried out in bigger cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Thanks to Queensland's Premier and Sports Minister for their efforts to bring such blockbuster match for brissy lads to enjoy!!
We (JZ, Ernest, Jocelyn and I) caught an exclusive train from Toowong train station for the match at SunCorp Stadium (beside Milton train station) with free public service if the football match ticket is shown to the officers. Cool huh...free rides, mates!!
Crazy huge crowds heading to the match of fame...
Largest stadium in Queesland...with capacity to fit 52,000 people
From left: Jocelyn, Ernest, me and JZ - An aussie at the back trying to squeece into our pic...haa~
As it was my 1st time in my life to watch a live soccer match in a stadium, I was so amazed with the atmosphere and the ampleness of the smooth and silky turf...
3 match referees and players from 2 nations were warming up...
The Aussie supporter bay...
Posing infront of the football field...
With concession ticket worth of AUD$35, we managed to get a place at such high altitude view...
The battling teams were lining up to sing their national anthemes...Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh and FIFA President, Sepp Blatter were there to witness the honourable match!!
I was wondering if I couldn't have clear view of the whole ground but it was surprisingly apparent enough to see the player dribbling...All the star players except Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill, Lucas Neil, John Aloisi, Archie Thompson were there to compete for their kangaroo country!! Of coz, my favourite Harry Kewell (former Liverpool FC midfielder) with his valuable oversea experiences has no doubt deserved the captaincy for Socceroos!! The conspicuous player with his outstanding dribbling, handling and passing skills was the limelight of the night!!
Soon after the match get started, Iraq has threatening the Socceroos' goal post but luckily the iron-willed Mark Schwarzer was there to deny all the scoring chances...!! Both sides missed a string of scoring opportunites in the first half. Just 2 minutes after the second half of the match started, the former Liverpool star has headed the free-header ball delivered by Brett Emerton and crossed past Iraqi goalkeeper Noor Sabri. The whole stadium has immediately turned out to be a pandemonium, everyone was so delighted of that goal!!
Socceroos members celebrating Harry's goal...
Australia has dominated possession but had to withstand a storming finish from Iraq, who had three clear chances in the closing minutes. At about 7.30pm, the match referee has blown the fulltime whistle and Socceroos have grabbed the vital 3 points with the final score of 1-0. The Aussie team coach Pim Verbeek was satisfied with Socceroos performance but with a promise to bring out the best of the team eventually along the qualifying matches.
Harry was approached by match commentators for post-match analysis...
I thought it was a really great experience to have watched the live soccer match even though the exam is just around the corner...aiks...will strive hard to prepare and get through of the upcoming 4 TOUGH papers!! Alright, its 12.10pm noon, its time for me to get my stomach satisfied before it grumbles...wahaaa...take good care and all the best to all of ya out there. I'll be back shortly!! Cheersss, mates!!!
Harlo everyone...such an embarrassment for me to greet u guys here...haven't been blogging for quite some time :p As you know, busy with assignments **sniggering** I've been so restless these days as keep giving myself pressures to finish all the assignments up...finally handed in my last assignment of the sem on Thursday!! Becoming a big panda boy...need some facial sessions, sounds so lame...haha!
Arh, talking about Thursday, I've been awaken ever since 4am the day before to watch the UEFA Champ League battle between MU and Chelsea. As I'm not supporting both teams, so remained neutral to enjoy pure soccer!! In the end, I have no choice but to congratulate MU for crowning in the Europe!! Hope my fav Barca will be back on its winning track again...I've faith in you, buddy!! On that same day, I had my late class, as usual, its until 10pm...aiksss!! After reached home, I straight away headed to have my comfortable late shower. **Opps, sorry KC, promised not to have late shower d, such a restive boy arh**.
Emilyn, Jess, JZ and I had planned out something evilish for Ernest's birthday surprise. About 10mins to 12am, all the members had gathered at my place without telling Ernest in the first place .
3 'wicked' fellas with the birthday cake...
Just sharp at 12am, I started the whole event by going into Ernest's room and told him that I was starving...any food to fill up my stomach?! Ernest apologised to me as he didn't prepare any food for me since I've classes till 10pm...Then, the rest of the members just appeared at Ernest's room and started singing birthday song. Ernest was so astonished to see everyone here...
Big reaction from that birthday boy...
He never expected that we would celebrated his birthday because it was so late and everyone was so exhausted after a long uni day...By giving the same reason that I'm so hungry, he quickly urged everyone to go down to kitchen and cut the cakes for everyone...
Yummy rum&coffee flavoured sponge cake from French Patisserie (Thanks Emilyn and Jess)
The birthday boy...formally an adult huh....
Happy moment...(Ernest, Emilyn, Jess, me and JZ in his MU jersey)
Hoho, being a food monster and dessert lover, its so fast that i've slurped in 2 slices of 'sinful' cake...normally I try to control myself not to eat anything after 11pm, haaa!! Ernest then thanked everyone for putting such efforts to celebrate his birthday!! Just about an hour, we had done with all the cleaning works. Emilyn, Jess and JZ then left our house by greeting goodnite to each others...Yesh, finally I managed to go to bed after such a long day!!
The hard works were worthwhile afterall, Ernest was so delighful!! Thanks again for everyone to have this evilish plan successfully executed. Alright, gotta get myself prepared for the birthday dinner later at Valley...catch up with you guys later...take good care, people...;-)
Harlo harlo, its a sunny yet windy day! Everyone out there is so actively doing outdoor sports, which makes me feel envious! Aikks, you have to sacrifice in order to get something you dream of, right? Hope my leg recovers ASAP and I will get to go outside and have fun like others do!!
Like a piece of ART, don't you think so?
Yeap, let me continue our roadtrip to the ever-beautiful rainbow beach at sunshine coast! Just after our lunch at KinKin hotel, Issac has decided to pull himself off from the trip for safety reason and PW's bro - Wei Jian has volunteered himself to accompany Issac all the way back to Brissy...Wah, such a great housemate huh (Issac, WeiJian, PW and Belle are staying under the same roof).
KinKin Country Life Hotel...Get some beer, mates?
The Aussie Choppers!!
So, here we go, 2 rented cars left to continue our adventure! There were 4 pessengers (KF, KF's dad, Ernest and PW) in my car along the way to rainbow beach. The three huge piggies were dozing off at the back and 'keep asking' me to join them into their 'amazing' dreams~ Luckily KF's dad was beside me to discuss all the funny stories in car learning center, now I know lotsa secrets!! **JPJ, you ain't that good...whaahah!!** XD
After a straight 2 hours of drive, we finally made it to the well-known beach!!
That's the Pacific Ocean, but where's the bikinis?! :P
No bikinis but monkeys JUMPING!!!
We got to know another main tourist spot from the locals there, its called the SandBlow~~ Just like a dessert~
Nice dusk view from the SandBlow...
All of us just fooling around, playing the multicoloured sands...yeah, this is the best appreciation ever...listening to the wind blowing sound and watching the sky getting dark gradually!!
Can't get to go there? Just 'CLICK' it....hehe!!
Cute cloud doggy, see that?!
Yea, that's our 1day trip to Sunshine coast...KF's dad is also a great food eater as he knows lots of places with yummy food...Its so nice to have such yummilicious and mouth-watering conversations with him along the way back to Brissy!!
Alright, time for Ernest and I to cook a feast for friends as they are coming over to our place to have dinner later...have to get myself prepared !! Cya folks, have a great weekend!
Aloha all, its 2nd of Apr today!! Arh, it signifies that my assign's due date is approaching...can someone please help me out with that? Hee...being a lazy and procrastinating young lad (I'm still young, right?), gotta keep myself more organized this sem...
Oh ya, the Easter break has just passed, some of you would wonder what have I done during the holidays...The answer is ---> Assignment Week!! But, I did manage to escape from the boredom and went over for a road trip up north to Sunshine Coast with gang of friends on 22nd March 08'...woohooo!! I want to see sunshine and bikinis....:-P !!
3 Awesome cars to 'send' us to the paradise... Issac's Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Tiida & Hyundai Elantra (both rented from Europcar)
Our trip route was going up north via M1 highway then connected to Bruce Highway straight to Rainbow Beach. For your info, M1 highway is Australia's coastal highway joining Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria states. It needs to drive for 1000km from Brisbane to Sydney by using this stretch of highway. The 1st stop was the Glasshouse Mountains Point Lookout. The Glasshouse Mountains consist of 5 major peaks.
Glasshouse Mountains Point Lookout...
Ernest and I with the highest peak among Glasshouse Mountains
But, things turned bad when Issac's car had a gearbox failure and we were trapped in the middle of jungle. KF's dad, who is an experienced instructor for car learning center, has tried his best to get the car driving to the nearest town to seek for mechanic.
The anxious Issac...What is he going to do?
The agony of every roadtrip
We reached a small town named Kin Kin and managed to get the local mechanic to get the car fixed. It was 2pm and everyone has yet to have some food to keep the stomach silent, so we decided to stop by and had our lunch. Kin Kin is little town where we can sample the farmlife pictures...Mooo...lots of separated farms with sheep and cow herds...
Ernest, KF, HW, Belle and I with herds of cow...
As a gluttony and always hunger for more, awesome food will always on the eating list...
Special pork chop berger with chips...
Beer-battered Fish & Chips with garden salad and homemade Tar-Tar dipping sauce
All the hungry munchies...
The comparison between 'BIG' & 'SMALL'....Delicious!!
Arh, looking at the yummy and attractive food photos, my stomach starts growling for food! Time for lunch here, then have to continue to work on my assignments!! I will be back for part 2 as soon as possible, so please stay tune...Catch ya later~~ Have a wonderful day!
Its a wonderful night especially get to catch up with friends, moreover at someone's 21st birthday party!! I was kinda exhausted as I've gone to city to meet up my ex-coursemates for lunch...Yummilicious Japanese sushi at Hanaichi, wow...that's absolutely the BLAST for the day! Once I've reached home, I gotta rushed to prepare for tonight's Lisuan birthday party...That's her 21st birthday party, wish her all the best throughout the year!! I've cooked the requested 'Creamy mushroom angel hair pasta'! Hee, luckily it managed to satisfy everyone's stomach...
Yeap, its been a quiet day as my housemate, Ernest has joined up the field trip to Lamington National Park (near GoldCoast)!! As you can see at the title of this post, I'm gonna write about one of my favourite anime series --> Mobile Suit Gundam 00. This anime is really famous and hot all around the world with several subtitles...cool huh?!
Celestial Being Gundam Pilots - Setsuna, Allelujah, Lockon, Tieria
I'm gonna picked Allelujah for this current post as I've bought the Gundam Kyrios's 1/144 HG figure, brought it all the way from Penang and assembled here in Brissy as my housewarming decoration!!
Allelujah with his gundam machine
The box cover from Bandai...
Let's rock, Kyrios in Action position...
Near shot with Macro function...fine and detailed structure
Kyrios in Flight position...Transform!!
Hee, can't wait to get another one in the near future but its kinda hard to get gundam figures here in Brissy...will have to do some research about it then....
Oh yea, just a sneak peak of my housewarming party held few weeks ago...too lazy to put them up...hehee, so just enjoy abit at the time being...hee!!
All the happy people warming out my house...heee
From left: Me, KF, ZW, HW, Sailo and PW --> where is JZ?
Here he is...The all-time MU supporter...cheers mate~
Will definitely be a good boy to upload these pictures as soon as possible...haaa...been too busy lately **trying to get a good reason**!! Yeap, can't wait to meet KC up and 1 year is counting down from now...haaa~ Hey folks, have a great weekends out there, take good care there...Nitez **Kev with even smaller eyes**
Hohoo...Its really a hot day in Penang! Its Monday, 18 Feb 2008, I will have 3 days remaining till the day going back to Brissy!! Honestly, I would love the living style and culture back in M'sia but not working life though...Really hope the upcoming nation election can improve local living quality which is beneficial througout all the generations, provide more job vacancies for new & freshie graduates and prolong the unity of all the Malaysians plus indigenous races!! Time isn't there to wait for people, in contradictory, people should learn how to manage time and appreciate them by heart!! Like myself, I have at least used it to meet up all my best buddies, mates...**AS IF**
Firstly, my trip down to KL for chinese new year has given me the opportunity to meet up Joey for lunch @ The Curve!! The Curve shopping mall is attached with the gigantic cinema mall named CineLeisure and the bazaar stalls are another main attraction for the famous hang-out place! We decided to dine our lunch at a Swiss restaurant called Marche. The restaurant has used a fresh-market concept to present the customers with fresh & tasty feeling, having their meals hassle-free.
Interior of Marche Swiss restaurant...
Seafood Fettuccine with creamy white sauce...YUMM!!
Of coz, the super dessert has completed the whole course of meals...
Devilish Tiramisu with shredded dark chocolates...
Secondly, my trip back Penang this time is also a special one as I've managed to meet up KC during the CNY days...We are both studied in the same secondary school but we never know each others until my winter trip to Melbourne in year 2006. It is such a coincidence where we were in the same local trip to The Great Ocean Road. We were like...."AHHH, you're from JSHS, don't you?" Its such a laughter when we both talked about it again...
KC's favourite - The Ginger Bread Man
Wahaa...The monstrous Ginger Bread Man...
We spent the day at KC's house, chatting & learning photo-taking lessons (with Macro & Colour Accent feature). She was so amazed with the feature and find it so interesting, haa! Yeap, I like the feature as well, especially when u want to take some near object with blur vision at its background...that's what we called 'ART'!!!
Macro mode - Caltex glass as the main focus object
Colour Accent Mode - Only sensitive to Gold, Yellow and Green colour elements...
Another sample with Colour Accent Mode - My favourite " The ruins of St. Paul, Macau"
Alright, today is 21st Feb (Thursday), also Chap Goh Meh - The 15th day of CNY! Feel so fortunate to have the chance to come back for 2 months vacation...Arh, don't feel like to go back Brissy but still have to accept the truth and cherish the time we have with family members, friends, of course not forgetting all the yummilicious Penang authentic cuisines!! Okay, will keep in touch with you guys, its 10.55am now, gotta recheck my luggages...See you back in Brissy, mates...Have a great day!!!
Its really been a WHILE since my last post hay...if memory serves me right, that's will be ever since LAST YEAR!! Wah, time flies...I've back to Penang for 2 months + 1 day!! Gosh, what have I done so far?! Just purely EAT without doing anything that is beneficial?? ><"" Nono, U're WRONG! At least I did travel down to KL, working in dad's office for a month, accompany family for N times (:D), met all my best buddies in CLP and IG and etc. Here's some attached pictures to keep ourselves delighted even during stressed and busy days...
Let's start off with the ever pinkish skyline at dawn....Just love it~
All my best ever buddies known since primary school time, cheers matess!! Too bad AhPin wasn't there...
'New' Kids on da block...haaa~ Yoyoyo...
Gotta say sorry to them as I didn't make it for the annual gathering trip in last July...That's my bad, but at least I did please u guys with super duper big bottle of redwine...wahahaha~ All crazy alcoholics...
Why CNY has been so important among chinese throughout all age levels? Haaa... For small, young and big children (like I do) would definitely answer with the ecstatic red packet or Ang Pao in Mandarin!! These red packets were believed to protect the elderly from having sickness!! For elders or married person, it will be a headache festival season as they need to distribute these packets for people like us...wahaha!
Another reason is that CNY is somehow the only time for every relatives or families to gather and share some stories and gossips....haaa~ I personally love reunion dinner lots...get to eat all those yummmy food~ Food monster reincarnation!
My whole family and relatives (mum's side) in KL
Shu Yi, Cheng Yi and I...Look at that cute boy in the middle~ All the cousins went over to Bangsar for a chilling drinks while simply chatting about ourselves...working stories, some sense of humour stories, had fun for that night!!
Hope I will be coming back soon to catch up with all my cousins again, till then, please do take care of yourselves, wish all of you best of luck and happy as always do...!! Yeap, that's my short and simple CNY post part 1, just stay tune for 2nd post...Weeee~~
Arlooo...You'll be weird why would I say "I'm feeling happy right now"?! Heee, it's because I am GOING HOME tomorrow!! Yippie yayay!! Gonna thanks to all my fellow buddies, mates, buddies and coursemates, really appreciate all the things that have done so far in this year, will try my best to keep improving to become "Kev-al-mighty"~!!! Haaa...
This year has featured lots of nice and wonderful moments, for example: 1. My awesome trip to Perth in Winter 07: Click "Perth Winter Trip 1" & "Perth Winter Trip 2" for more photos and details!
2. My Graduation Convo at UQ Click "Graduation Convo" for more photos and details!
3. My 1st time to public auto exhibition at Brisbane Click "AutoSalon Car Exhibition" for more photos and details! Heee, I guess some of those 'colourwolves' out there must be drooling now...!
4. My 1st "World" in Gold Coast - Dream World Click "DreamWorld" for more photos and details! There are 4 famous 'Worlds' in Gold Coast, Brisbane, Australia at the moment, namely Movie World, Sea World, Dream World and White Water World. I also went to White Water World in the beginning of Dec, but I haven't uploaded those pics yet :-P
Yeap, I've just shifted to new place for next semester and helped out with friends on their house-moving missions as well~ Later will have to help Pei Weon out to move her stuffs into her new place, hahaa, see ---> I'm so helpful and FRIENDLY **Yakkksss!**
Ooh ya, finally we made it to have a gathering lunch together with all TIMS7317 coursemates, err not all but our "Optimus Prime" Darren, "Cut-cut Princess" Jenny and all time "Food Monster" Kev were there to have a BLAST~ Darren, me and Jenny @ Pane e Vino Italian Restaurant
Recently, few of my friends have graduated at UQ too, wish them all the best in their future career life, be happy as always, gotta miss you guys here!!
Sam's Graduation (Kuan, Sam's mummy, Sam and I)
Alright, time to go now, will be flying off to my great and wonderful hometown --> Penang tomorrow morning!! Can't wait to be back at home, miss all of ya lots...Till then, wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! Cheers~
Harloo, today is being officially called up as the end of Sem 2, 2007 for UQ students. Life being a 1st year of postgrad student (haha), its nonetheless feeling quite anxious and exciting like all the freshies do...LOL. Yeap, just got my result for 1st sem as business student, hmm, still need to put in more effort...haaa!! Still feeling kinda tired after my short yet exhilarating trip to Sydney...had a serious sunburnt, i don't think most of ya can immediately recognize me already...!! **Kev is feeling sad**
Alright, back to our main topic today, its about :"FAITH" !! This is kinda abstract thing to be believed in and yet it is so bizarre till we have to really admit its presence. This has to begin with a short story...During my last sem for BSc course few months ago, I had chosen an elective psychology course. I've managed to know Samantha (or Jou) as we had the same tutorial class. Just after the exam period, I've lost contact with her, without any hints on finding her back. Haa...
After few months later, I've got to know that Sam is actually SiewWei's cousin when we chat about her. Then, finally we had the chance to have a dinner together before Sam's departure back to M'sia. Somehow, Sam is also Ernest and Jess's best friend~~Haaa...the world is so small, all my friends are being linked to each other until we discover it slowly with time passes by...Therefore, we must always appreciate all our friends and everyone has to have commitment in keeping contact with each others and no taking for granted attitude is allowed!! Heee....
Italian Style @ Vino - Chicken pasta, Marinara Fettuccine and Fungi Risotto
The all-time food monster (Kev, its me)
From left: Sam, ChoongYi, SiewWei
All da munchiesssss....
Somehow, I managed to meet up another highschool classmate (ZiMing) who is now studying in NZ, came over to Brissy to visit JZ few days before. It was so coincidently to meet up with her when I went over to JZ place to have some chit-chat....haaaa...I really cherish those 'faith' that we have now and hope our friendships can last forever....Heee~ Take care pals, till then, will update more frequent from now onwards.
Yooo, its been a month and 15 days since I last blogged!! No choice but have to concentrate on uni stuffs....sounds like a good student hayyy...!! Haa! Just had a paper this morning, now anticipating for the last 1 to come...of course, gotta work hard as well.
My brain is just simply not working mostly because 'lack of good food', so decided to post up something here...haa!! This post will be writing about my recent life updates. It is mostly about my newly added sweetie that will accompany me for some time, let's welcome my Canon IXUS 75....heee!!
My babie with 'monstrous' SD memory card...
'She' will give me a BIG hand in recording some wonderful memories
Heaps of thanks, buddy!! FujiFilm A310....!!
Yeap, a 2GB memory card will allows me to shoot and store up to 3500 pics if setting to normal picture quality!! Below is the sample pic taken by Ixus 75...very fine with true colour....obviously, its about my newly found snack, Pocky Mousse (fully imported from Japan)
Oh Yea, gotta thanks to my TIMS7317 groupmates for the awesome group works throughout the semester!!
From left: Darren, Me, Jenny, Eva, Kim
Fooling around in da class....!! "Pinch, Pinch!"
ALright, its 3.20pm here, big sun has again appeared....arhh, its so hot here~~ Still 1 more paper to go, must put some effort as well....heee, after that will be my ULTIMATE EATING trip....wohooo....good luck for all the people who's having exam out there, good luck in all the undertakings as well...Take care!
Harloooo...finally i get to have a short yet satisfied break after all the restless days and nights!! It will be a week off for all the uni students...but basically its just an assignment week for me to catch up with the remaining assignments...arhhh~ Headacheeee...!! Due to ah Joe's alarming reminder to update my bloggie, I decided to post up something that happened ages ago...haaa
Why are we working hard for these days? In order to 'survive', 'live' in these 'materialistic' world, blah blah...lots more reasons which could be important than that!! For me, I seriously think that its 'Live to EAT' reason....haaa~ Such a glutton me...yummy
Interior of ChaChaChar restaurant, award-winning fine-dining steakhouse
As you can see, that's the interior setting of the restaurant at Riverside, Brisbane city...It is situated at Eagle St. Pier where all those high-class and quality restaurants, pubs...hohoooo...It was also part of welcoming lunch for JJ's great friend, Adeline who is working as a pharmacist in Adelaide at the moment...Once she reached our place after a 4-hour flight, we just headed straight to the 'dream dining' place to satisfy our stomachs...
In-house deco...modernized art
Wagyu Rump - Grain fed cow
T-Bone - Grass fed calf
Scotch Fillet - Grain fed calf (Award-winning steak in Brisbane)
All 3 main courses were ordered to prepare in medium-rare, that's really ecstatic when you had your first bite! You can immediately feel the tenderness and natural flavour of the greatly char-grilled piece of creation...The beef wasn't hard and dry at all, it still retain the moist, matched superbly with the sauces and freshly-ground pepper...
Heee...its the most anticipating time for dessert-lovers like 3 of us...
Finger-licking good...Above: Chocolate Fondant; Down: Fresh Lemon Tart
Choc Fondant with Raspberries sorbet and choc puddings
The dessert were the lime-light of the day that put a well 'full-stop' for our 'taste-budding session'!! I really like the deco of those dessert, immediately spared a special space in our stomach to welcome these yummilicious 'after-meal delights'...
Happy mates (Adeline and JJ)
You're always welcome to come over to visit us more oftenly, Adeline...hehee!! Looking forward to go Adelaide next time to continue hunting my 'divine' food life...YEAH!!
For more info about the restaurant, please visit http://www.chachachar.com.au/home.html Time to bed for now, so tired after working, hee! Somehow i feel hungry after seeing all these pics... **Kev is drooling~ Bye for now, folks, take care~!
Aloooo....its so cold down here, such a cold-spring time! I've an off today as I don't need to go for classes, works! The piggy JJ is still sleeping, somehow she is already late to go lab~ Hehe. Hey folks, please welcome my all-new moussie---> VX Revo
Travel from one end to another with ease, together with feature packed buttons, HAPPY**
It is time for me to catch up with some info research...Just realized that I haven't really done enough info searching after the group meeting 2 days ago...ARHHH >_<"" Therefore, I've decided to get myself 'immersed' in the world of knowledges ---> UQ & Brisbane State Library!! Haa...here's what I need to 'digest' before next meeting...
The mighty Aussie Government's Science & Innovation Policies
Super-duper thick 'collection of papers'
Heee...not all those boring stuffs for me this 'Food Monster'....definitely accompanied with some entertaining yet intriguing COOKBOOKS....wahahaha....
From Top: JamieO, AntonioCarluccio's Pasta and EatArt
Jamie's way of cooking...FUN and YUMMY!!
Antonio's pasta recipes...simple yet delicious way to make good pasta~!
The Art of Eating...EatART
Sometimes, friends often ask me why you need to use up some time in food decorating? It will be the same mixed when you get them down into your tummy? I always reply them with "Food decoration is an important point add-up step, diners will be delighted to see their even 'humble' food could be 'king-like' delicacies in which further enhance their dining experiences!!" Haaa, speak like a chef huh?! But i really love to EAT!
Alright, its time for me to cook for lunch before starting my read-up later...We need energy, thus we need FOOD! XD Take care there....till then.
Yo...lazy bum-bum Kev is back here! Been too tiring for lectures, seminars, tutorials, group discussions, works....you name it, I'll have it here~ Just back from work and decided to blog for a while...
Its about the 'GRAND' visit by YueHan from S'pore. He and I used to hang out together with other mates during our college life in Inti Int. College Penang (IICP). That's so called the '4 Musketeers' - YueHan, Jason, AhPao and I. Jason is in Melbourne while AhPao is in Perth to pursue their studies. YueHan has done with his undergrad degree in Biotechnology in Monash KL. Guess what? He is now a super duper SIA air steward...Woohoo...!
Its me and YueHan (still that muscular since ever before)
YH used to study his 1st year in Brissy at QUT (Queensland Uni. of Technology) about 2 years ago...Being study alone here, he can't resist the homesickness despite having LOTS of friends esp. girl friends...SMIRK**~ Thus, he decided to shift everything back home during the time i came over here to continue my undergrad studies...What a 'coincidence'....!! This time, he was a visitor to brissy and also his 1st official airflight service for SIA~! Definitely a sanguining experience for him!
Long-life Penangites (Me, YH, Dylan and Sam)
Lily with all the Penangites - I, YH, Dylan, Ailene and Sam
Of course, he made good use of his 1 day stay in Brissy by meeting up his dear 'girl friends'!! Haa...those were his great friends that he has known during his study life here back 2 years ago~ How happy he was...keke~
Steamboat dinner...yumm!
At the same time, we got to know Lily during lunchtime meet-up! She is originally from Taiwan, also a SIA air stewardess that on-service in the same flight as YH. Yippie, will have another local guide when my visit to Taiwan next time...I felt so honoured to have the chance to take photograph together with 2 nice and friendly SIA air-steward and stewardess. **Kev is happy**
Me, Lily and YH (Welcome to on board and thanks for flying with Singapore Airlines)
Best buddy ever!! Cheers~
Even though the direction of our dream and future is different, but I'm sure our ironed friendship will remain immutable...I sincerely wish you all the best throughout your career and hope to meet you up as soon as possible in the future, take care, YueHan!!
Halo...its 9 minutes past 11pm here, haha...Just started my new casual work as food preparer at Fancy's Fillings...not bad, suits me as I'm a gluttony as always! Haa...
Here's a nice song that reflects my current feeling and situations...Sometimes we are not the same internally in relation to our external look...hee~ Must keep on motivating ourselves to get things going on till they reach their goals...cheers man!! **Kev is sleepy -_- ~
WATT Modern Dining @ NewFarm, Brisbane - 29th July 07'
Hiyo! Been busy for the past few days...had a consecutive 6 hours of lectures yesterday plus an hour of tutorial today! Back to uni life, O.o ! Thought this kind of life could put on a temporary full-stop, but it seems that I still need to work harder again and no more procrastination especially in dealing with those headache yet 'lovely' assignments...
Okie, let's talk about FOOD matters to ease our heavy-stressed life, regardless working and studying life...hee~ It was 29th July, Sunday, JJ, Clara and I have decided to have a great lunch together as to celebrate my recent graduation! Haa...I get to know about this restaurant from travel websites and official Queensland Tourism website. The ever famous restaurant was the winner of the 'Restaurant and Caterers' inaugural Best Al Fresco Restaurant category for both 2004 and 2006.
Its a restaurant that provide fine dining, so already expect the food will cost a blast...Let's explore what's so special-->
Za'atar spiced lamb rump on gorgonzola polenta with wilted spinach & thyme jus (Medium cooked) - AUD$32.50 (~ RM97.50)
Starting with the 1st dish, the word 'gorgonzola polenta' (yellow triangle crispy block) immediately caught my attention. After having a bite of it, the texture is like fried cream croquette. According to JJ, gorgonzola is a kind of cheese while polenta is made of boiled cornmeal. The lamb is mediumly cooked thus still contains the original and freshness of meat juice...Absolutely thumbs up with it when you have a bite, together with the sauce provided...
The atlantic salmon has been cooked in an interesting way...The chefs have done a great job by frying the skin of the salmon block until crisp...and accompanied with some herbs plus the ever fragrance Chorizo which is pork sausage that used dried, smoked red peppers for colouring purposes!
Pan seared pork loin with 'budgi werri' prunes, celeriac puree & apple & raisin chutney - AUD$34.50 (~ RM103.50)
The 3rd dish seems kinda normal on its outlook yet extrusive when you have tasted the tenderness of the pork. It is just so soft until you can't imagine it is actually pork loin...The use of dried fruits like prunes, apple and raisin for making the Chutney has been an innovative step involved in food preparing...
The Three Epicureans (JJ, Clara and I) - Delightful
WATT has successfully acquired modern ideas and incorporate into their dishes...Stuffs that originally use in other purposes have amalgamated with our daily food products and turn into 'God's creations'! Simply thumbs up for that...I've included into my 'Food Monster' list and will definitely visit again in the future...
Before the main dishes, we have also ordered an Entree: Freshly shucked pacific oysters with 'WATT' patrick & crispy pancetta which is cost AUD$18.50 (~ RM 55.50) and a side dish: Chips with garlic aioli - AUD$6.50 (~ RM 19.50). Therefore, the total bill for the fine lunch was AUD$125.50(~ RM 376.50) with standard exchange rate in which AUD$1 to RM3. Hee...
In exchange with the elating dining experiences, my wallet, had suffered 'worst drought' ever~ OMG, someone please help me~!! Just after the lunch, I immediately headed back home and baked a cake to satisfy my 'glutton and bloated' stomach...
Strawberry Butter cake...
Yumm, but I think the cake's texture is kinda hard as I've overbaked for another 5 mins...haaa...will definitely make it better next time...
That's all for my big day?! NOT YET.... Baked Cheesy Cupcake - Rich in cheese...woot O.o
'Thanks' to both Clara and JJ, for giving me this sinful rich cheesy cupcake to satisfy my tummy...I guess I need to work out for extra few hours to compensate with all the calories and fats intake....hahaaa
Haa...Its almost time for me to do some revision before going to bed...Till then, have a good one, guys and gals...!
Hoho, I'm back in less than 2 hours since the last post! Record huh, Joe? Keke...My new postgraduate course has been started since last Monday (23rd July), just 3 days after my undergraduate convocation !! I also feel its little bit too fast without enough of break...Hmm, that's my decision, gotta sacrifice for that to achieve my dreams...hahaa~
Yeap, Mabel (great friend from S'pore) had flied back to S'pore for good just a day after her convocation too...She left her 'gal gal' - Frosties behind as she is still applying for the permit to transport her dear doggie to S'pore from Australia. Mabel's cousin, Joycelyn, who is stilll studying her final semester here, has been Frosties's temporary guardian here till the permit get approved. The latest news from Mabel, saying that her gal gal's permit application has being granted and Frosties will be leaving Aust in 2 weeks time! Congrat Frosties, able to reunion with your mum soon...hehe.
Joycelyn had brought Frosties to my house few days ago. Both JJ and I had the chance to see Frosties and played with her for a while before she heading back to S'pore. Here's some pics taken when Frosties visited our house...
Ever cute Frosties...she is 1 and half years old...
Say hi to the camera...
JJ just loves Frosties so much
Wish ya have a brand new life back in S'pore, hope I can visit you again when I go singapore for trips next time, till then, Frosties~
