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I am getting ready!

This time I have made myself mentally strong! I cannot give up! Perseverance.

Mount Kota Kinabalu, here I come.

And keep tune! I'm going to take a lot of pictures! Nice one!

See ya in 5 days time.

On his birthday

Birthday, ah, birthday.

This is the 3rd birthday that I had celebrated with Yang.

The first birthday, we were still at KL, he was working in KL and I was still studying. I remember we went over to TGIF that located near bukit bintang. And I bought him a Seiko watch, he loves it.

The second birthday, we were both already working in Sg. He worked late that day, until 12 plus. I was already waited him in the room, without any light on, holding half a dozen of donuts (he loves donut) with lighted candles on top. *Surprise* When he stepped into the room, I sang the typical birthday song euphorically, he dazzled, jolted. And I bought him nothing (because I was too broke that time as I just settled down in Sg), but he still loves it.

The third year, nothing special, as I am not a romantic type of person. Since his wallet has worn out, I just need to buy him another one. He don't really like it when I spent money on him, but I like to buy him something, at least after I got my bonus this year. *smirk*

I gave the wallet from the luxurious Salvatore Ferragamo to him 00:00 sharp, 16th May, and wished him happy birthday as usual.

It's leather, but I not so sure what kind of leather it made from, mayb it's from calf.

I bought it from a warehouse sales from Changi Airport, I have acquaintance working there, it's 70% off! Such a good bargain.

Yang sloted in all the cards and money, new wallet!



Actually I was testing 123 my Lumis Lx3, all photos taken with LX3.
I certainly love it to the max!

************

The night, we went over to Sushi Tei at Orchard for dinner.
I should have brought my new camera but I have totally forgotten to bring it out. So, it was all taken by my sony erricsson C902. Sigh!

What does this sign mean?

California maki with avocado.

Temaki Temakizushi, literally known as hand rolls are cones made of nori seaweed and filled with sushi rice, seafood and vegetables. This is my fav soft shell crab temaki.

And it's way better than the one at Sakea Sushi.

Before.

Heating the Nabemono (鍋物, なべ物, nabe a big pot + mono stuff).

With raw egg.

And with thinly sliced beef but I don't take beef, it's for Yang.

Whole set close up. Is this consider sukiyaki?

Grill eel with tofu.

Katsudon.

Both of us were wearing purple coincidently. Wtf. Haha!
Enough pictures, here we go for scrumptious Japanese gastronomy! Mouth-watering while taking all the pictures. We then finished up in a very fast pace because we were starving. This year, no cake for him. Just a simple celebration.

Tips for bf's birthday celebration: don't go overboard as you used up the idea in a year time. If not he will expect more next year! Be simple!

My latest gadget... Huraay!!!

I've just got myself a brand new camera. Actually this is the very first camera I owned. Was searching around what type of camera is suitable for a really clueless newbie. I wanted something more then normal digital camera, but not as complicated as DSLR camera. I was told to get a compact digital camera instead. There it is, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3!

I can tell it can really take a clear and vivid photo, even for a noob like me. I love it so much!!! This is the best $700 bucks I've ever spent. More photos to be uploaded after the KK trip end of this month. *Excited* 

You can read this review from dpreview.

My goal is very simple, to get a camera that could capture the happiness of life.

My first macro shot!

So, wear a smile. One size fits all! 

Tribute to my mother

Every second Sunday of May, people celebrate the mother's day, to express gratitude for the hardships they have done for bringing us up.

I remember when I was young, mom always urged me to do my schoolworks as I was way too sluggish to finish my exercise books. She herself would be sitting by my side to watch out on me patiently, until I've completed all my works, and check on my spelling one by one, no matter the time of day. Thank you mom for doing this for me, and now I've graduated with a Biotechnology degree and working just fine.

I remember when I was young, mom always cooked genuinely traditional homecook food for my family. I love her ABC soup, love her lotus peanut soup, love her herbal ginseng soup, love her steam egg, love her curry chicken, love her japanese tofu with mince pork meat and even love her simple stir fry flowering cabbage. Thank you mom for doing this for me, and now I've grown up to be just nice and healthy as always.

I remember when I was young, mom always awake all night when I was sick. She woke me up at 3 o'clock in the morning and make me take my tablet and cough syrup, help me change my wet towel that place on top of my forehead. Thank you mom for doing this for me, and now I am strong and know how to look after myself.

I remember when I was young, mom always came to school whenever I having any performance during the school events, be it a monday morning weekly assembly talk, or a teacher's day gymrama routine, or a childrens' day chior performance. My mom always sat quietly in the audience seat, watching me and be proud of me, she was being very supportive of what I love to do. Thank you mom for doing this for me, and now I have more self confident and knowing who I am through my own eyes.

It's been the 5th year since I last celeberated mother's day with you.
How are you up there? I believe that you are doing great.
And I am doing good now. Daddy, jie jie, hong, lin lin, and yiyi are doing great as well.
I just wanted to tell you that Happy mother's day!
I (we) miss you... every single day...
Rest in peace.
I (we) love you!

The last homemade card from 5 of us.

All your mother wanted to hear from you was just spending quality time with her, a simple thank you and a warm hug. Just as simply as that. Can't you do that?

The Islands Caretaker, Ben!

Wow!!!! Ben, 33 from Petersfield, Hampshire, England has got The Best Job in the World!!

He is way too lucky (not purely luck) to have this DREAM job ever out of 34,700 video entries from almost 200 countries !!!!

All he needs to do is snorkeling around, diving, blogging and enjoy the luxurious Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef. And the most important thing is, get paid with a salary package of AUD $150,000 for the six-month. Imagine for half a year you just have to basking in the sun, napping whenever you like. How wonderful life is to him!

A lavish Peranakan high tea buffet

Since it's a long weekend, and Yang just finished his actuarial exam for this semester, I don't mind being mollycoddled myself a little bit! Yeepee.... Went over to Chatterbox, Meritus Mandarin Hotel in Orchard for the Peranakan dishes in a dazzling fusion of Chinese and Malay cooking.

Chartterbox is located at the 39th floor at grand tower. Apparently, Chartterbox is renowned of its Hainanese chicken rice (which cost $20 per serving), I will definitely try it out on my next visit.

The buffet started at 2pm sharp, we arrived at around 2.20pm but that time wasn't that crowded yet. I still can see some lunchers waiting for their chicken rice to be served.

I was too hungry given that I didn't have my breakfast and had just attended 2 yoga classes (also I told myself, this would be my breakfast, lunch, dinner + supper). Who won't go overboard when it comes to all-you-can-eat buffet!

Can't wait to have it all in my stomach! *slurp*

My fav Lemon Grass Prawns, I love it because the shell has already been peeled off, cut off the dirty hands part.

Wow, girls favorite nyonya dessert! It looked too scrumptious to be eaten...

A large mouth-watering spread of assorted nonya kueh awaited me!!! The kueh was my best-loved, especially the nine layer colourful kueh! Hardly get it in Singapore. I remembered last time this kind of kueh can easily get in any Pasar pagi in Kuantan. Miss those local kueh mueh...



Best timing high tea, 3.15pm. and I was already full.

What a mess... We were chattering in Chatterbox for quite sometime because we were too full to move around... It cost $32++ for the high tea buffet and I think it's pretty worth it.

My ratings: 3.5/5 stars

Yang and me at lift, going for a shopping spree, was looking for windbreaker and some climbing preparations to mount KK end of May. Another trip to challenge my limit!