Waiting..planning...

After been busy with my thesis for the past 2.5 yrs, my sudden 'freeness' is so foreign for me. This period of waiting making me so uncertain about my life. FYI, I just submitted my 1st revision of my paper & my 3rd draft (hopefully my last one before submitting my 3 months notice form) to my supervisor. So, now I am waiting for her 'positive' feedback & get on with the correction. Yes, I know there will be some corrections. I do hope, it will be minor correction and not major because I do have a dream that I can start the submission process before I am leaving again to Denmark for Christmas.

What I do everyday?Hmm..well, for now I am still quite busy meeting up with my friends after been away for 3months. Lots of catching up to do & gossip to share. We just had our usual food gathering at my place last weekend & it was a blast! Lots of laughter & fun as usual. Oh yes, I am busy applying and eyeing the job market too. After 5 years of 'vacation' I do feel anxious and nervous thinking about going for work again. The thought of going through series of interview get my palm sweating as well because this time, I am not going to join the field that I left previously. Hell, my last interview was more almost 10 years ago! I feel like I am freshly graduate (well, technically I am) individual who will be working for the first time. 

Hmm..what else I will do?? Well, we'll see. I always come out with something. But I do wish one thing, that I have a private jet so I can go to Denmark anytime especially when I miss my other half. Ah yes..I will try my hand in making Sarawak layer cake somewhere this week. I never want to do it before because of the work that involve in making it. But out of the blue today I thought, I should do it.

OK..that's about it for today. I am off to do some reading. Daaaa..

Back to Asia

I am finally back in kl after spend 3 months in Denmark. I just can't believe how hot the weather is back here. The moment I walked out from the air plane, I was already greeted with the hot, humid & stuffy weather of KL. Even the airport does not feel cold at all for me & as a result, I am sweating even in an air condition's place. I guess I was born to live in a cold climate.

After a long 24 hours journey including 13 hours sitting on a plane, I am so knacked and groggy & feeling so dirty. All I need at that moment is a cold shower & a nice soft bed to lay down on. Waiting for the luggage for almost 1hr, I just can't wait to be at home. I was a bit worry that my luggage might on its way to Jakarta. hahaha...because the flight that I am on, is actually on the way to Jakarta. They only transit in KL for 30min. Thank God that my sister is already waiting for me at the train station & thanks to her, I also have my dinner prepared! She even clean the house the day before so it won't be so dusty after 3 months of being unattended. Thank God for sister. :)

Today, I woke up early because I need to clean the house thoroughly; the rooms & balcony. Man...am I tired. Haven't got over my jet lagged and I am already busting my ass cleaning and scrubbing the house! Well, I just can't stand the dust & knowing that I have not do any cleaning for so long so I put my tiredness behind & get to work. So, I can rest for the remaining of the day. Tomorrow, it another busy day so I should rest well today.

Ahh..my friend call & she asked me for dinner! Got to go. See ya ..

Saturday chat..

I have been silent for a while from here because it has been some sort of busy weeks for me. I have been busy reading my own thesis & correcting what needed to be corrected. Have to make sure every single details are look at because my 'bos' has the tendency to spot the minor mistake & after few spotted mistake, she will dismiss it as not good at all, without even reading the rest. That is why I end up amending things a few times and I realised that sometimes, the changes goes in a circle mode.

Anyway, I have submitted my 3rd draft & hopefully, that will be my last draft. At least in term of major changes because literally, I do not have so much of time left. At the same time, I also submitted one paper, which I hope will get publish in one of the reputable bioethics journal. Keep my finger cross for that. Now, it is not in my hand. I have done my part & I hope it be good news. As I always told myself, I will give my Best, the Rest I leave it to God.

This is my last weekend in Denmark. My three months stay has come to an end. I will have to endure the long hours journey on Monday. I hate long haul flight because it's very tiring. Luckily now they have a direct flight from here to Amsterdam without going through Denmark main airport in Copenhagen. At least I will only have one change of flight & I do not have to carry my luggage because it will be check in all the way to KL. Each time I have to fly off, the only thing that I really look forward to is the moment when I am landed at the destination & a nice comfortable sleep on my own bed! As usual, I will travel alone. My other half will not be with me because he has no holiday left except for Christmas. I don't really feel so sad because I'll be back here again in Dec. So, it will only be for 2 months. Furthermore, I am looking forward to settle the MAJOR part of my PhD; the starting of my thesis submission.

Well, FYI PhD thesis submission took a very long time. According to the email I received last week, the formality of thesis submission for PhD will take at least 5-7months. That provided everything goes well & only require minor changes. So, I am praying so hard that my process will be as smooth as possible. There are too many protocol & approval to go through not only for me but for my supervisor. So, hopefully, it be smooth for both of us. And in the time being, I pray that I can find a suitable job too. I think after 5 years of 'vacation', I just can't wait to go back to the workforce. Furthermore, I have two major party to do after I finish my viva & convocation next year.Hheeh..it be nice if I am able to pay for it instead of having my hubby to sponsor it.

We will be staying in this weekend, just spend time with each other. I literally have pack my stuff. Won't bring so much this time because I'll be back.Just brought my shorts, jeans & a couple of baby tee because according to my friends back in Malaysia, it is HOT back home. So, I better enjoy this cold weather before I am heading to the OVEN!

Ayam masakmerah pedas

Hubby went to Las Pal mas de Gran Canary for ship inspection. It was so last minute that we can't manage to get a reasonable ticket for me. It is a long journey to go there because there is no direct flight to go there & that explain why the ticket is damn expensive (equivalent to a return tix to KL). So, with a heavy heart I agreed to stay at home.:(

On the first day alone, I thought I want to cook something that I have wanted try for so long. Furthermore, I really wanted to eat the dish. So, I get on my gear in the kitchen & start cooking. I defrost the chicken part & marinate with salt, pepper, chilies flakes, paprika. Yeah.. I know but I want the chicken to be spicy when I deep fry it. Suddenly, I remember that I brought chili powder so I took that out & mix with the chicken's part too! hehheh..

 Yeah..my chicken is red & spicy & ready to be fry! Fry the chicken in hot oil & put aside.OK..I am not those people who can literally take picture of each & every step they do when cooking so I will have to skip some here. Hehhehe

 This is my chili paste. Very spicy & not for the faint hearted ok.Hheheh...I made my own chili paste mix which consists of shallots, garlics, dried chilies, cili padi & ginger. I suppose to add lemongrass too but lemongrass is not so easy to find here. You will get to see it at the supermarket if you're luck. But, the ingredients that I have is sufficient enough. So, I fried this paste (not all of it) with hot oil until fragrant. Then you add tomato puree & tomato & honey. Fried for a while before you add the fried chicken. When the whole mixture is boiling, put some green peas & salt. And the end result...

 Tadaa...very spicy ayam masak merah. At least it is not sweet like at the mamak shop as I don't put too much honey. Just to get the honey taste. By the way, for the chili paste, it should have lengkuas too which is even rarer sight in Danish supermarket. Hehheh..I guess I have to get that greenhouse ready ASAP so I can plant my own 'exotic' ingredient and then I can have an authentic M'sia cooking. For now, I just have to improvise. I eat the ayam masak merah with nasi briyani! Yup..I finally made it myself, courtesy from my sister. She is an expert in making nasi briyani.:)

 I wrongly estimate the water level so it a bit wet but who cares.Hahah...next time I do it, I better measure the water instead of just 'kamikaze' style. But the taste is there & I only lack of two ingredient: daun ketumbar & serbuk kunyit.

Ahh..my lunch & dinner for yesterday and I guess it will be the same dinner for today as I cook quite enough for 2 days meals. Hahah...And that small black looking thing at the side is my own version of sambal belacan tumis! Loving it...

This is so spicy that I won't offer it to anyone.Hahhah...I blend lots of dry chillies, lots of chili padi and shallots. Then I fried the blend ingredients in a hot oil & then put in the belacan. My goodness...after that my kitchen was literally smell like crap! Hahha...I have to spray lots of air freshener before my hubby come back.Hahha

So, there's my own version of M'sian dish. Man..I wish I am in KL. No need for me to do, just go to one of the mamak stall.hahahha...

Malacca trip

Every year, I invite my parents to come to KL to stay with me. It is much easier since I moved into my own place. At least they can sleep in a proper guest room rather than sleeping in the hall like they used to when they visited me when I was still renting with my brother & another friend.

So, one day I decided they should come & I bought them their ticket & off they go for a 2 weeks vacation in KL. Well, not that they never come down to KL, in fact, they been to KL or other part of the peninsular so many times. Just that now my dad has retired and my mom busy taking care of my old grandma, I think they do need some time off & leave Kuching. This time, we do not plan to go for getaway because two of my nephews will be having their national exam (UPSR & PMR) so my sister banned any vacation until October.Hehheh..

But we decided to go to Malacca & just walk around. Since, it's the nearest to KL and my sister has a place in PD, where we plan to stay the night. We reach Malacca quite late because we need to wait for my nephew to finish his extra class & we need to drop by at my sister's place in PD to leave all the stuff in the car, and we decided to use the old road instead of the highway...brilliant! We thought that we can cut short the journey but instead, I think it's longer!!!

Finally, after driving so long and hearing my niece..are we there yet? Is this Malacca? (she never been to Malacca)..Where is the place? etc...etc..we finally reach Malacca. Got our parking & we're off to the Taming Sari Tower. Great! My mom is not so keen on going for a ride/tour to a high tower but we manage to convince here that the ride will be only for 10min (and yet we paid Rm20 for it..per person okkk).. All because the kids want to go for it.

Eagerly waiting for our turn to jump into the tower although my mom was not so eager to do so.Hhehhe..

 Ok...all smile. Look at my mom..forcing herself to smile.Hahha..

We're going up...

 Of course, I took a picture of myself..smiling..because the inside the tower, it has air condition! It was hot in Malacca that day. In fact, I feel that Malacca is always hot!

 This is the shop lots just opposite the Pahlawan Square.

 I believe this is the up coming new township in Malacca town.

 Pahlawan Square from above. When I first came here 20 years ago, this is just an open field where you can enjoy a bull's ride.

New hotel in front of the Maritime Museum.

 There are always a lot of visitor coming down to Malacca during the weekend. I guess because it's the nearest to KL besides N.9. And there are more things to see and do in Malacca compare to N.9 anyway.

 Just below the ship (Maritime Museum) there are abundance of eating place. This is the river bank project that the state was working on when I was here last time with my in law. During that time, the whole river bank was still on construction.

 Up we go to the museum. Luckily it was cheap, Rm3 per person and RM1 for kid. Again, thank God for air conditioning.Hehhe...I just don't feel like going our from the ship.Hheheh

 This is the new hotel near the river bank, Casa del Rosa (if I am not mistaken, that is the name). Look very nice though. I am thinking of spending the night here one of these days.:)

 Now, the river front is very pretty.

 You can get on the river tour if you like.

This is the main reason we come here, to go to Jongker Street! It was just after CNY so that why the dragon is still there.hahahah...

 Lok-Lok...ahh.. I miss this.

 Jongker Street is always busy! So crowded that you literally brushed your body among each other. Actually, I was searching for one part of Jongker St. that sell lots of this old chinese's biscuit that we used to eat when we were little kid. But I can't seem to find it. I bumped into it when I was here with my in law. One day I shall return & investigate. Then I will bring my sister again.Hehhhe

 After such a long journey (not due to the distant but the travelling) & not forgetting the hot & humid weather, I still manage to smile for the camera. At least I look decent still..heheh

 Found this place and we just sit & order. The food was not great & the service was slow but the kids were hungry so what the heck!

Look at her face..with her hair all over her face..hehe..she's very tired & hungry..So, after dinner, we went back home to PD. Manage to grab some night market's foods and did bought some nyonya biscuits. We reach my sister's place at 11pm. Tired & hungry, we took shower, took our dinner & sleep!

Pimples

I hate PIMPLES! Damn! Lately, I realised that my pimples are sprouting like mushroom! I really have no idea why. I thought cold weather do not enhance the growth of pimples unlike the humid & hot weather in Malaysia. One or two I can close one eye (tutup sebelah mata)...heheh...but 5 all together???? Noooo....I need to act fast before it multiply.

I have a bad pimples day when I was 19 years old & gosh, that was the lowest point in my life. I just can't lifted my head up when I walk around the campus because I am so ashamed of how I look. My face was just literally red because of the pimples. As soon as the semester break begin, I rushed back to Kuching & met up with one of the skin specialist, who are also my sister's friend. And that is the start of a long & painful journey for me; also known as the road to recovery. I spend a lot of money to cure the acne on my face and it took me more than a year to completely free from it. After that, it is the start of eradicating the acne scar on my face. For more than 10 years I am pimples free & I finally found the product that really help me.

And now, at 34 years old, it make a come back.Damn! So, today I headed to the nearest pharmacy & get myself Clearasil. That is the oldest pimples products that were ever produce before the rest of the latest product emerged. It is not so expensive & easy to find here so I choose to use it as a temporary solution to my pimples problem. I hope it work it MIRACLE!

As soon as I touch down in KL next month, I am headed to the dermatologist. I need to know why it come back after so long. Probably due to the hormone change or environmental change or the product that I use just don't work anymore. Whatever it is, I will find the roots problem!

Weekend blues

Here's the thing, I told my friend that I am planing to do a checkerboard cake to bring to my in law for coffee. WELL...that does not turn into reality.Hahhaha...

The thing about me is that, when I am not in the mood, I refuse to bake. Why? Because if I bake anything when my mood is bad or just not into it, the cake will turn into a disaster. Something somehow will go wrong. So, there goes my cake.Heehehe..

Why am I not in the mood? Well, simply not I guess. I never look forward for weekend for as long as I can remember. When I was small, weekend mean we need to go to the cocoa plantation and work our ass off for the whole weekend. And not that we get paid doing so because we need to chip in so that out family have extra money. So, don't even think about getting any monetary reward at the end of the day. When I am a teenager, I do like weekend when I was still in the boarding school because me & my friends have so many activities. But when I left boarding school, I don't look forward for it because I can't meet up with my close friends who are all still staying in the dorm.

When I came out from the university & work, I don't really like weekend because I don't go to work. Yup, I am one of those who rather spend time at work than home. I visited the factory almost every weekend when they need to run production not because I have to but because I want to. Now, I am back to be a student again, I also don't like weekend because I spend most of my time in KL alone & my hubby in Denmark. Yes, we live apart for the past 5 years where we will meet up every 3-4mths. So, weekend have to be spend alone for me. Occasionally I do meet up with my gfs but I don't bother them so much on weekend because they most probably have their own plan.

Now, here on weekend in Denmark, I hate it too because my hubby will spend all days, all weekend in his 'office'. Gods knows what he do there. He always have some project to do. And here I am typing this while taking a break from watching documentary on youtube. BORING! So, who said when you are married you will be free from boredom? THINK AGAIN!

So, that is the story of my life for today, And Dy..no cake for now. We try again next weekend if my mood is up to it.Hahhaha...because all I want to do now is to accumulate some fat & lay in bed, watching documentary online with some chips on my hands. Adiosss...

Lonely is the nights

I have no problem being alone or staying alone at home because that is how my life is back in KL. But here..now that is really testing my 'braveness'..hahaha

The moment my hubby told me that he had to go for ship inspection in Paris, I just got the feeling that I won't be going along. Normally, when he went travelling to inspect his ship..well his company's ship by right but since he is the one in charge of building it from scratch, the ship is literally 'his'.hehehe...Anyway, if he go for ship inspection elsewhere, I normally tag along. That was how I end up in Germany & Holland last year. This is it's PARIS! I really want to go but it was just a one night trip so he decided that I shouldn't tag along because he be on board the ship until midnight. And there is a high possibility that he might sleep on board together with the crew. So...errr...ok, I rather be sleeping in my own bed.

So, few days before he fly to Paris, I am also so anxious and nervous. My mind just can't stop thinking, how am I going to survive this. Very stressful event  indeed.hahaha...

Well, you guys need to understand that all my life, I have always live in a house with gate, grills all over the doors & windows (even our toilet window have grills ok..) and dogs as well. My parent's place in the country side (kpg) have 10 dogs!!! Or when I am in KL, I have 4 security guards to watch over my place when I am asleep. But this place...I have none of that!!! It's like an open air market...hahaha...Man..I keep thinking, how can I sleep in peace without all four majors of security aspects??? Tapi, being me...I berlagak macho...buat donno & tell myself..come down..I'll be ok. My only consolation is that my sister in Texas also have to be alone almost all the time when her hubby's travel. She's ok so I must be ok.:)...menenangkan jiwa katakan

So, the first night, I make sure all the windows & doors are lock and that including my bedroom window. Have the torchlight with me, all my phones inside the room, my laptop, ipod and some 'weapon'. Took my travelling pill, which literally knocked me to sleep within the next 2hrs. Hahaha..I slept listening to Suria FM. I found that the house is too quiet for my liking so a little bit of music will be just nice. 

Woke up at 2am because the bedside lamp light is still on & I can't sleep with light on. So, turn it off. Found that I am a bit sweaty due to no air circulation but I don't care. Not going to look outside the window while I am opening it. Little bit of sweat is healthy right?? Hheheh...

Finally, I slept soundly and woke up at 650am. Am I relieved the I survive the night alone & looking forward for hubby to come home. Just when I am excited thinking about not spending the night alone again, I received a phone call that I just hate to receive. He told me that he is stuck at Paris's airport because Amsterdam's airport had to be temporary shutdown due to some 'bomb' incident. DAMN! Just what I need! Somehow, I got the feeling that this will happen. Damn it!

But since I am writing this, glad to say, I also survived the second night. I did what I did on the first night, took a sleeping pill! Hahhaha...I know I will be ok the next time I'll be alone here (not too soon I hope). I just have to get use to it, just like I am use to be alone in our condo in KL. 

The end.

Cucur ikan bilis

Suddenly yesterday I was craving for cucur ikan bilis or cucur pusuk (in S'wak language). So as I woke up this morning, I took out the flour, ikan bilis/pusuk, baking powder, spring onions, shallots and of course salt & pepper. Now, I have not made this for a very long time but it's not a nuclear science formula. Anyone who are bodied abled should be able to do this without recipe.

You just literally throw everything in a bowl & add hot water & you're ready to roll! So, there I was frying my anchovies fritters (translate from Malay to BI)..ehhehe...I came out with 7 pieces. So, made myself a hot pot of coffee (in this house, there are no instant coffee so making coffee is always by the pot)..:) Had my breakfast with cucur ikan bilis & hot coffee with milk & sugar. And of course, while I am doing my thesis & chatting at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking!

I saw a picture of checker board cake from a friend's blog while I was eating this. So, I decide to try bake it this weekend & invited my in law for coffee. I plan to get the checker board bake pan if this cake work wonder this weekend. Hehhehe...hopefully it will because I ain't gonna eat all of it! Someone has to..

I will update you guys on the cake ....if I make it though coz it all depend on my mood.:)

Danish summer

It seem that this year are going to be a wet summer in Denmark. There are more rainy days than sunny days this summer. The sun was high up at 5am until 930pm for the past 3wks and I really enjoy it. But it mess up my sleep because as soon as the room is bright, my eyes cant seem to sleep anymore. For the past few days after I arrived here, I constantly woke up just before 6am because out bedroom is so bright when it's not even 6am! This is the down side of having a total blackout curtain in my room in KL. The room remain dark even when it is 12 noon!

During the good day, I did a lot of outdoor activity related to the house as this is the only time that most people renovate their house or do some painting or weeding or even gardening. I manage to get myself tanned because even when the sun is right at the top of your head, you just don't feel hot at all. Well, I do sweat but not like when I am in KL. That is the advantage of a hot & dry climate. But the down side is that the next thing you know, you're DARK! Well, nothing much I can do about that now.:)

Soon, the daylight will get shorter & the temperature will drop because autumn will be here. That is the starting of all the gloomy and cold weather, and I expect it to have lots of rain too. This is the time that people started to hibernate in their home including me. But I won't be experiencing the autumn so much this year because I'll be in KL during that time, busy preparing for my pre-viva & thesis submission, and entertaining my friends! The next time I am here, it will be winter. I have no idea how cold the winter will be this year but no matter what this year will be a great winter because my parents & sister, and her kids will be here! YES! At least some part of my family will be here to celebrate Christmas with me.:) NICE!

Back to Herning

This is my first entry since my arrival in Herning. The town is ok but I prefer to be at home.  You see, my hubby has to stay in Herning during the weekday because of our house distance from his work place is quite far. It is very tiring to rive 2.5hrs every morning & 2.5hrs every evening just to go to work. So, he has no choice but to rent a room here. When I am here, I will normally follow him stayed here too. Well, I do not see the point of me flying thousand of miles just to be stuck at the farm all alone & only get to spend time with him on weekend. Lebih baik aku stay kat KL kan...

I am not the merayau person when I am here because stress la jalan2 sine because smua benda pun cam mahal. Since I am still unemployed I prefer to just stay put. So, mesti you guys wonder what the hell do I do in the room the whole day. Well, for those of you who do not know, I am currently trying to complete my phd thesis and trying to produce at least two high quality paper to be send to some respective journal soon. So, basically I write. Yes, almost the whole day. Doing phd is all about lots of reading and writing and thinking. Therefore, I feel this so called current lifestyle do suit me. It very quiet here and I am all alone during the day. I still do my exercise when I am here, at least 2-3x a week.

In the evening when my hubby come home from work, we went to the pedestrian walk just to walk around & go for window shopping, There are two huge mall here so somethings we do our shopping there. I wish this place is near the town centre so I can walk there sometimes but it's ok. Tomorrow we wil go back to the farm so I am looking forward for that.

Now I want to layan Jelangkung, some Indonesian horror movie from the year 2001.

Dinner

Again, today I do not need to cook for dinner. Yes!!

We went to my in law for dinner. They are serving fish fillet & some other fish dish. I was not feeling so well so I just ate very little. Not eating will mean rude so I have to eat something. You see, my in law live nearby, very near actually as you can practically run to their house within less than 20minute. So, we visit each other very often and invite each other for dinner when we're up to it.

We used to stay with them when we were back in Denmark from China because we rented the place to some family who happen to have the least care about taking good care of our house. I don't know what else to write. I knew I supposed to write something but right now, I am not up to it. I guess I am really not feeling well. Not having enough sleep also play some part because although it was raining heavily last night and we did open our window, I felt that the room is hot. I guess I am getting sick.

After coming back from my in law's house, I feel very cold and that is another sign that I am getting sick. Tomorrow we will have a bbq here with my in law as it will be my hubby last day of summer vacation. We will leave to Herning first thing in the morning as he work there and we will live there for the weekdays. It's not so bad because it's just 2.5hrs drive from here compare to taking a flight to China as previously.

OK..I really need to lay down.I will update you guys again tomorrow on what I suppose to write today.:)

Vietnamese Chinese Restaurant

We went our for dinner today. So that is great for me because I have a day off from cooking. Cooking everyday sometimes reaching a point where I have no idea what else to cook. Once in a while, dining out will be great.

Tonight, we want to join the crowd and rush to the newest chinese restaurant in Saeby. The price was not so bad. Introductory price for adult is 99DKK and 45DKK for children below 12 yrs old. Chinese restaurant in Denmark in general love to serve buffet dinner. When we reach the restaurant, it was 530pm & the table are almost full. The opening is from 5pm to 8pm. So, see people here don't normally eat out and if they do, it be until 8pm because during that time, most shops and restaurants are close. Only bar/pubs are open. 

We sat near a group of Swedish family and my gosh, the place is full of kids that make lots and lots of noise!! People always said that Asian like to breed, well, what do you know, so is Danish! Some, even have 4 kids! In current situation, 3 kids is already considered to be too much! Besides, the noises, the foods they serve is OK. Well, nothing compare to Malaysian chinese foods but it's bearable for Danish standard. Not that they know the different between a modified and an original taste of chinese foods anyway. 

I had little bit of here and there..some fried rice, fried noodle, chicken wings, spare rib (which I honestly think, mine is way better!), beef stew, spring roll (very obvious that it's  the frozen one), fried squid and mix vege with shrimp. And I had ice cream too as the dessert. I am not actually a person that someone should bring to a buffet dinner because I don't actually eat a lot. But I do like to take bits and pieces from different kind of dish, just to taste how it is.

The waiter/co-owner was speaking Vietnamese with me as she clear the table, which I am not surprise because in Denmark, the Vietnamese is the largest group of Asia migrated here years and years ago. I just wish they serve authentic Vietnamese cuisine because besides Thai foods, Vietnamese food is my next favorite foods to eat.

Well, overall, it was not so bad though I wish it can be better. One thing that I want to see here in Saeby is Chinese groceries store that sell authentic Chinese ingredients. I am yet to found one. If there is one, then it be easier for me to find Asian ingredient the next time I plan to cook Asian for myself & my hubby or when I invite my in law to come for dinner because they also love Asian food. So, far they have taste the authentic one since yours truly is the one who cook it.:)

Let see, whether I can dine at the Thai restaurant I saw in Fredrikshavn.:) See whether they really serve real Thai food or the modification Thai food to suit the local taste bud.

Pulling grass

My back and finger are damn painful because practically the whole day I spend..ok..half a day, I spend with pulling grass in from of my house. I wish I can used any kind of machine to do it but I am talking about this grass that grow in between the stone. My hubby don't like to do it, and so am I but if we like the front yard to look spotless, one of us have to do it. Unfortunately, that task fall to me.

We did try use vinegar as my father in law said, vinegar will kill the grass but I don't see it working so much. Some do die but most still standing tall and green! The best time to do it is now, when the day is long and the weather is hot enough to allow you to wear short pants and singlet. It will be so uncomfortable if you have to use layer and layer of cloths pulling grass! 

Armed with my ipod, I practically chat with my friends on YM, listen to my favourite gospel singer from Indonesia and pulling grass! Talk about multi-tasking! Hahaha...Since we live in a farm house, I have the privilege to sing my heart out in the middle of the yard without anyone looking our from their window and started to call the psychiatric personnel.Hheheh...So I sing and sing, and pull and pull. 

Glad to say, almost half is done now. Really love to see the stone is clear and no stump of grasses come out from it. Glad I decide to do it because now, I dont even want to see the grass.

Raya

Raya is approaching soon and I bet most of my Muslim friends are busy baking biscuit and cake and making sure that they get new cloths. Some even already having their holiday starting this week. I always like Raya since I was small because the idea of visiting my parents' Muslim friends is very exciting knowing they will serve various types of dishes, biscuits, cakes & tidbits. And they serve in abundance too!

Not to mention, there will be a lot of nice Malay movie show on tv. This is the time to catch up some local movie that I think not worth it to pay for. As years go by, Raya is more to spending time at home for me. I go out with my friends, whoever that stay in KL and not going anywhere. We will hangout at the mall, and mind you, the mall is always full of people during festive season. That is life in the big city. Movement don't just stop just because it's Raya or CNY because business has to open as usual.

This Raya, I will be missing the fun and missing the Raya music..Raya sales..Raya movie..hell, I already missing the Pasar Ramadhan. Something that I always look forward to because I love to try old and new foods available there. When my parents are staying with me in KL, my dad & I will make it a point to go down to Pasar Ramadan & shop for food. As usual we always end up buying too much.hahaha..

Since Raya will be coming soon, in fact, it is this weekend, so I think I decided to do some Raya cooking & invite my in law to join me. It at least make me feel that I am not left behind. Now I need to find my menu for Raya! I will update my Raya feast soon!

Monster cake

Baking is always been my passion. I love to bake. I search for reason to bake cakes/biscuits especially the one that I never bake before. So, today I bake a chocolate cake with vanilla butter cream icing, and I made a monster face on it. Well..I don't really see the monster but the 'owner' of the cake is satisfied so I guess it's ok.:) Since she herself draft the monster face on the cake before I do the frosting according to her design. I told her to use fondant to do the design and that fondant is also my lining for the monster.

Ok..all my ingredient is ready. My Kenwood is out & I am ready to bake! I love to use my Kenwood Kitchen helper because it really is a helper! I do not have to worry thinking about the batter flying here & there when I use the normal hand mixer. But I have to admit, when the batter is not so much, hand mixer is the best.

 I always use brown sugar instead of white so that my cake won't be so sweet. I try to make sure that my cake is 'reasonably sweet'. Main reason why my brother only like me to bake cake for him.

 And I seldom use cocoa powder unless I can find Hershey brand. So almost all my chocolate cake are either using real chocolate that you & I normally eat (dark or milk chocolate) or I use baking cake. So, my chocolate cake really have the real chocolaty taste to it.

 My baking tray is all doll up.:)...I have lots of these, thanks to my MIL who always buy it for me when it's on sales because she know I love to bake. I am yet to have a square baking tray. I think I need to put that in my birthday or Christmas list this year.:p

 This I bought in KL and brought here. Luckily I did that because it is very hard to find here in Denmark & even if I find it, it is damn expensive. This is because most cake here used marzipan, which is abundance and cheaper. But not everyone like the taste of marzipan/almond paste.

Now my batter is in the oven. The whole kitchen now smell like chocolate cake. Yummy! Love that when I cook, the smell of something baking.

 I cut it into a square shape & place it on aluminum foil on top of a plate. So, it be easier for me to transfer it later.

 I used my hand mixer for the icing because I won't be making so much of it. Easier to use this.

Here it is! Ok..nothing like sesame st. character but the 'owner' of the cake is very happy & satisfied because does look like the monster that she want. And she approve that it will be the best cake tomorrow in school!

BBQ

Today was a good day. The weather was nice. Sunny all the way until 8pm. Now the sun has started to set in. We invited our in law to join us for bbq dinner at our backyard. We always have bbq when it is summer because that is basically the only time when sitting outside until 8pm won't make you froze to death.

I received a package from my sister in Texas today. She send me some mexican chilies so I thought I will blend it dry and marinated my meat with it. She said the chilies is very spicy so I am so excited to try it. I have a high tolerance with spicy food and I love to try anything that people claimed to be very spicy. But it was not so spicy as I expected it to be. Probably I didn't put enough chili to make it hellish hot! 

But it's ok. I enjoy my meat anyway & we finish the dinner with strawberry & coffee. Because I am lactose intolerance I can't really drink milk or anything dairy directly but I really love to mix the cream with the strawberry. So, I mix it anyway & as expected less than 30min, nature call!! Hahhaha....

Ok..got to go now, I want to watch some tv. Today I work very hard cleaning all the window! Man...that was hard because my house literally have many window. Tomorrow, I have a baking project to do. My first every monster cake. So, now I need some rest.:)

I'll update you guys with the process of making a monster cake.

Fondant 2 tier cake

My husband just celebrated his 40th birthday. Months before the birthday approaching, he already talked about it that he need to have some celebration and invite few close friends and relatives. Reaching 40th years old is some kind of a milestone age, well at least from where he comes from. Because I know, from where I come from, 40 or 50 or 30 years old, doesn't mean anything. It's just another age.

So, as the day approaching I decided to do a special cake for him. I never tried my hand on using fondant when making cake before. So, I would like to try this time. And I also never make a 2 tier cake photo cake. So, I bought some of the ingredient from M'sia and brought it all the way to Denmark. Thank God I bought the fondant in M'sia because it is so damn expensive in Denmark.

On the day before his party, I woke up early in the morning & start doing my thing. I decided to do 2 tier rainbow cake with edible picture and frost it using fondant. Since it is his 40th birthday, I think it will be a memorable if I commemorate his life in a cake.

 I wont show how the batter were made as I assume everyone know how it was made. This is just a normal butter cake. The only different is the variety of colour involved.

 Actually the cake is not so thick, it's very think. So, 7 layer of cakes is not actually as high as I imagine it will be.

 There goes, five colours is ready. Now getting ready to do the frosting.I just used the usual vanilla butter cream icing. It is easy to do and it's good as  a 'glue' for the fondant. The fondant was very hard! Man..if I have to rolled it everyday, for sure my arm is way muscular! Hahaha...so, I have to ask the birthday boy to help me.

This is the top layer. It look so smooth! I love using fondant except the rolling part. But I wish I have the fondant levelling tool. Then I believe it look more sharp and smooth. But for now, this is good enough.

 Ok.I didn't take picture for the 1st tier. So, here the almost finish 2 tier rainbow cake with edible picture. As you can see, there is a picture of my hubby when he was just a little baby. I got all the picture from my MIL. She gave me these pictures years ago so I get to see how my hubby look when he was a young boy.

 There was a picture of my in law too, it was taken during their trip to Sarawak. There is his picture with his favourite dog.

 I don't like to do piping because it involve too much icing & most of the time, the icing is wasted. So, luck for me, I have this edible chocolate lettering. Luckily I have enough alphabet for all the wording I need.

 Yes, our wedding picture also included & my favourite picture of him, the one on the left, using the bell bottom pants.:D

 Some picture of him taken in China when we visited the terracotta warrior site and also when he first came to the longhouse.

 Brought the candle from KL, just in case I have no time to search for it here. And that is the whole cake, the finishing touch. I am so happy with the outcome & I received huge compliment for the presentation. It took me almost 12hrs to finish all of it. Man that is tough! hahha..but for my husband, I'll do it again.

This is how it look like, rainbow cake. Ok..not exactly the actually rainbow colour but it will do.I realised that the colouring here is not as strong as we have in M'sia. Talk about healthy conscious.

Choices

Everyone has to make a choice in their life & I do believe everyone has a choice regardless what are the choices. Not making decision and just follow the flow is a choice in itself. I was having a conversation with a friend one day and we happen to have a topic of choice.

Now this person think that kids are not given any choice when it comes to making choices but I do believe that they actually do have a choice. Now I am not talking about anyone below 11 years old here but beyond that age. From my years of observation, kids are not all innocent and stupid but they are rather smart and can be very manipulative at times. I do not give any excused nor will I make any excuses for bad behaviour because God has provide us with a sound mind to think. Well, unless you are mentally retard than I think you can have a little credit for that or what I would say, close one eye.

Research shown that children grew up with a depress or alcoholic's parents are tend to be depress or becoming alcoholic themselves when they grow up but it also can be the other way around. They are prone to such living style but it is not genetically connected, which means they do have a choice. This is not like having a Huntington disease where it is transferable genetically. I have quite a number of friends that I know personally, who grew up in a broken family or parents who are alcoholic but they turn out just fine, in fact, even better than their own parents has ever been. These group of friends told me once, they made a choice not to succumb to the same way of living, which they hate so much and vow to be different. And they did, superbly.

You see, we have a choice whether we want to admit it or not. Unless you were born with some sort of genetic diseases that will be different story all together. But nowadays, there are some medical technology that enable parents to avoid the birth of a genetically sick child but that is a matter of their personal choice. Again...choices are available. Regardless good or not, ethical or not, right or wrong...it still is a choice.

Conclusively, I am a firm believer that everyone has a choice. There is no such thing as no choice.

Longhouse (Iban) wedding

Today is the day that I have been waiting for. I have never witness an Iban wedding in my life ..EVER! So, I am so excited to witness one today. My auntie woke up quite early as I can hear the pots and pans making sound downstairs. Me & my brother slept in an air conditioning room while the rest sleep outside...yeah ..yeah..we're cheating. But I can't sleep if it's too hot and that is normally the case in a typical longhouse in the month of June.

I woke up & help a bit. Nothing much actually because my aunt only cooked two type of dish. According to the programme that was passed to everyone, the bride's entourage will arrived at our longhouse at 3pm. But you know what, they only arrived at 645pm! I have no idea which planet does their time following but on earth that is like almost 4hrs delay! We waited and waited until we no longer eager to see them arrive anymore. Everyone is fed up because they are all tired. Delay in arrival will mean that all the programme are pushed behind schedule. As their van stop at the side entrance of the longhouse, guess what...there are 25 people coming out from the van! Serious shit! Hahahha....I don't even want to imagine how on earth they can fit inside that van and it was an old van! Probably that's why it took them 4hrs because they were overloaded so the van can'r go very fast!hhahaha...

 Not the entire entourage but these are the group that fit inside an old rugged van that normally can fit only 12 people. There are 25 of them! Can you imagine!!

 Miring ceremony was performed as the guests arrived to honor the 'petara' or God, spirit and ancestors.

 The welcoming committee.Hehehhe...

Everyone is waiting outside their room now to see the entourage. The whole group will go from one unit to another, from one end to another and every unit will serve them either with soda drink or tuak. This is the time for the us to see who are our guest. For those who are single, this is the time to search for available partner.Hehhehe...

 The first person to lead the entourage is normally representatives from the welcoming longhouse.

 One of the welcoming party with Iban traditional vest and head gear. The pants is the modern part of the outfit though....hehhehe

 Of course the 'chief' have to be part of the welcoming comittee.:)

 This is the groom's mom.

 This little girl is always used as the young 'mascot' each time there is a ceremony in the longhouse. I have no idea to whom this girl belong to but can't deny that she does look pretty here.

 This is the boy band. Actually I was wondering how the boy band look like. I thought that it be like those boy band that make live performance in a hotel/lounge.

 Tipah tertipu!! hahaha...that how I feel when I saw these 3 boys playing the traditional instrument.

 Now everyone gather at the groom's ruai and of course everyone bring their dishes to be share by many.

Eating time! This is what most people been waiting for the whole day. The time for feast!

 After the gathering at the groom's ruai & listening to some introduction of the guest and whatever announcement that follow, everyone go back to their own bilik and it's time to place the food outside for everyone to eat. This probably the largest and longest buffet you can ever found! Hahaha...

 The buffet table is stretching from the first bilik to the last one. So, you basically can go as far as you want in search of your favorite dish or in search for new dish that you haven't try yet.:)

 This is our table. We share with two other bilik. It's all traditional Iban dishes but of course there are some individual who want to add a new twist to the all Iban food so it won't be too traditional.

 Finally, I get to see the wedding cake. Can't even fit the whole longhouse.....hehehe

 Finally, at almost 12midnight the bride & groom came out. Man! That was long, in fact, this is the longest wedding ever in terms of the waiting time. The waiting started from the first step of the programme, which is the arrival of the bride's entourage. Gosh..talk about timing!

After like 15min, I just left & went to sleep. Can't wait any longer to go to bed. It was a nice experience to witness the wedding but I hate the waiting.