Share a coke with: "John and Maria"

Wala...
could not be happier..!

He is the sweetest guy ever

he actually lied to me and drive all the way to Doncaster, going back late to the office (late as in leave at 11.48 and not back till 2pm) just for this..
and so many other sweet lil things that i could not imagine

te amo, mi amor..

Being wreckless

Never in my life, i have to cancel my flight.. especially when its an international flight, knowing the kind of person i am..
but ya, things happen..

i was at the airport with my sister, the queu was so long, they've been saying there's a bit of technical difficulties with the belt for the luggage that make them processing things a lot slower.. i was not worried at all, things were good, i still got people behind me that means i wont miss my flight..
guess what?
not until its my turn to check in!
the lady asked for my passport and my sister's.. i gave her both, but she asked me again.. and i told her u got two over there.. and she said, but this one is expire! and then it hits me rite away..!
expire from august! how crazy is that..

obviously i could not fly at all, the immigration wont let me in, etc etc..
and i have to return back till it got renewed..
it was a Saturday, which means i cant do anything till Monday..
and i went straight to the consulate on Monday, lucky lucky.. they can help me out to fasten the process in a day time.. im getting my passport back today (Tuesday) and am flying back to Indo tomorrow morning..

bright side of it?
I got to celebrated HIS bday before i go..
even though it kind of sad that i have to leave in the morning, but i guess its good enough compare to nothing..
but yea.. morale of the story

"Make sure your passport is still valid before you buy your international ticket"

Fraction(s)

..random jokes that we picked from our christmas BonBon crackers

Coburg trash and treasure market

I scored big time at my last visit to Coburg trash and treasure market!
or at least, i think i did ;)
I did not plan to buy anything, besides food market that turns out to be none there, unlike the other flea market that i went (cant remember the name, blame this stupid memory).. but who knows what to expect in a flea market, rite?

so, come and see what i scored last time
the whole set of world encyclopedia for $30..
it is old (1979's), but it is in a very good condition, and it will add up nicely in my bookshelf later on..
there are 30books in total..
a lil bit dusty, and yes it gave me that smell of old books which i love!

and i think it would be interesting to see what i could have known since 1979 (not that i was born just yet that year), that i havent known till now still.. :)

Share a coke with : "John and Anna (Maria)"

Well, i have to be happy with Anna for now..
since only God knows why is it so hard to find a "Maria"..
..the most common female name that I can think of in this world!

Introducing the new look of my cambridge satchel, embossed!

Yes yes yes yes! I had it done, embossed, in gold, M.A.R.
and i am supa dupa Happy about it..

So here it is, a pic of my sexy cambridge satchel bag with its MAR embossing.
I got my bag from the Cottage Industry, the only supplier for Cambridge Satchel in Melbourne, and as im sure everyone knows, they dont do embossing..
i dont know why arent they interested in providing this service, knowing that a lot of their customer will happily pay big bucks to get it done there..
well, i guess it might not be worthed to buy the equipment, or they just dont want to get too caught up with its fanatic fans.. you know how some fans can be difficult to please?!


So, the lovely lady in the shop always answer everyone who asked about embossing with the same answer..
"you can bring it to some book maker to get it embossed"
well, having english as my 2nd language, who knows that book maker can have a different meaning..
no wonder its really hard for me to google up some book maker here in Melbourne..
in case anyone interested, here's a link from dictionary.com for bookmaker definition..

book·mak·er
/ˈbʊkˌmeɪkər/ Show Spelled[book-mey-ker] Show IPA
noun

1. a person who makes a business of accepting the bets of others on the outcome of sports contests, especially of horse races.
2. a person who makes books.

it tooks me a while, until i realise that i might need to search with a different term..
tell me about it! but seems like no one has ever figure it out either..
anyway, i googled up "book binder" instead of "book maker" and *whoala....*

out of all results, i chose this one, since its quite close to where i live,
and the guy replied my email rite away,
and he charged me for $35 (acceptable i guess),
and he's Russian..
.. ok am kidding, i dont even know how he looks until i went there..

so moral of the story:
"think out of the box" and "get your satchel embossed, since it looks sexy!"

till next time!

iBake, yay! - Nastar

He made me bake..!
and amazingly, i was happy..
not even being grumpy about the post-baking dishes..
weird, ey?!

Besides how happy he look when i gave him the whole container with this lil cookies on it, and how he keep on saying he liked it, i really think that it turns out good..
this is the 3rd time i bake this cookies, and it just keep on getting better each time..
so sweet of him, he kept the last piece of it for me, and when i told him am going to offer it to my other colleague, he gave me this sad look that i just cant resist..
so i ate it myself :) classy!

Anw, got my recipe from a friend's blog here
Nastar (Indonesian Pineapple-filled Cookies)
Nastar
For the pineapple filling:
1 can (440 gr) crushed pineapple, DO NOT drain
150 gr sugar
1/2 - 1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

1. Dump everything into a medium saucepan. Cook until caramelised, mashing the pineapple gently.
2. Transfer into a bowl and cool. Shape into small balls and place on a baking paper-lined baking tray. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until needed.


For the cookies:
125 gr butter, chopped, cold
25 gr powdered sugar
1 egg yolk
150 gr plain flour
25 gr cornstarch

1. Mix butter and powdered sugar on medium speed. Do not overmix - we don't want to incorporate too much air.
2. Add yolk and mix well. Sift together flour and cornstarch. Mix on low until combined.
3. Take 10 gr of dough and flatten it. Place one pinapple ball on the center and enclose with the dough. Place on a lined baking tray - cover with plastic wrap if necessary, to prevent the cookies drying out. Repeat until dough is used up. Do NOT brush them with egg wash (recipe follows) prior to baking.
4. Bake in preheated 180 C oven for 10 minutes. Take out and brush with the egg wash. Return to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until the tops are nicely browned.

Egg wash:
1 egg yolk
1 tsp milk
1 tsp honey

1. Mix together all ingredients in a small bowl. Make sure the honey is dissolved well and the mixture is no longer lumpy.

Fairlie Tony Bianco - Saddle Black Suede

Fairlie Tony Bianco - Saddle Black Suede is what am getting next from TB!
and since am leaving in a week time, i reckon the wise-st thing to do is to wait till i get back..
who knows it might be on sale by that time, rite?

Aviator vs Wayfarer - Ray Ban

Different people have different likes and dislikes. I just cant decide which one to get. or at least to get first? ;)
aviators or wayfarers.. always is the question!

IMO, aviator goes well with any face type, and its classic..
i honestly think everyone in this world should have at least one pair of aviator..
Basic rule:
narrow face should go with small size,
otherwise go with medium
and large only if you really have a wide face.. :)

so this is what i got at first..
cant remember precisely when, but it must be somewhere around Sept
Black Ray Ban Aviator - RB3449 004/9A

i was not planning to buy another pair anytime soon..
but who can resist this piece of promotion that a friend gave to me..

so yar, i quickly get my warfarer, not just one, but two!
blame the promotion ye? not me!
Black Ray Ban Wayfarer Square - RB2151 901 for me...

and Black Ray Ban Wayfarer - RB2140 901 for Dad!


Short story..
yar i got two pairs of Ray Ban in my hand now..
and am happy..
very bery happy :)

Moi Libertad

It was 4th of October, the first time I got my tatts done.
Never thought those tattoo place are that busy, I was practically jumping around from one place to another just to find one that will take my appointment on such a short notice..
I even tried to just walk in, hoping they'll take me once i showed them how "tiny" this tatts will be..

Well anw, I can only got it done at Studio 283 on Maribyrnong..
The guy looks ok, the place looks decent, its all good.. so i was excited!
and here is what I got at first..

guess what happen after 4weeks?
almost half of it need retouch.. :(
he said it was something to do with having it done on my finger skin, which is not a very recommended place for a tattoo..
he did his retouch on it for free, but it doesnt seems to work either..
he charged me for $60 at first and free for the retouched..
but guess what? ya.. it still come off..
again!


third take, decided to get it done somewhere else..
found this place close by to my office, and it was way a lot more convincing and well known..
a friend told me this place specialises on Japanese tattoo, but to be honest, this place looks professional on whatever they're doin..
Gian even told me when he get his tatts, he'll get it done here
The place called Soul Inn House
Get it done last Thurs, so lets see how it goes in the next 3 weeks..
ciao!

Shoes on Power Lines

One day i went to St Kilda, and on our way home i saw this pair of shoes tied together by the laces hung up on power lines..
i find it interesting,
but not as interesting until i found out about the meaning behind this small lil fraction..

Apparently in the urban core in most American cities, if you're looking to score for some drugs, u suppose to look up, not down..
and why is that?
cause once u see this hanging shoes on a wire, then you know there's a dealer around the corner..
how smart is that?

well, let me correct my choice of word..
how interesting! is that? :)

well, just thought ill share this bit here
pic taken from here

It's Almost... time!

I will need to warn ya, that this might sound a bit sentimental here..
But i really do miss HIM, and i just cant help myself from counting the time all day long..
So, i decided to find an online countdown timer.. well its easier, isnt it?
Surprisingly, trying to find this online countdown timer itself is not as easy as i thought.. zzz..

But then lucky me, i found this link
and decided to go with the 1st option..

"Best 3 Free Online Countdown Timers

1. E.gg Timer
Just imagine that how exciting it will be when looking at the large countdown timer for an important moment during a party or a meeting.

Whether these 5 Firefox add-ons or these 10 websites, they are available for you to track time, and most of them are also available for you to countdown time, but their time clocks are not as large as those of below three professional online countdown timers:

On the E.gg Timer website, you can set the target time by entering something like “1day”, “1hour10minutes10seconds”, or “1years10months”, then you will see a big countdown clock starting automatically in a new page.

There are no ads on the countdown page.

2. Online Stopwatch
On the full screen page of Online Stopwatch, you can click the “Count Down” button and set the time, then you can watch a big countdown clock, which won’t start until you click the “Start” button.

You can also track how much time elapses by clicking the “Stop Watch” button.

There are Google AdSense advertisements on the countdown clock page.

3. Online Countdown Timer
The Online Countdown Timer website is interesting, since you can change the countdown clock size to Small, Medium, Large or X-Large, and you can also change the background color to Blue, Black, Silver, Green or Orange.

There are Google AdSense advertisements above the time.

Among the above three free online countdown timer, E.gg Timer is my favorite, since there are no ads. How about you? Which one is your favorite? Or do you have any other online countdown timer? Share with us by adding a comment."

owh.. and here's my link

Sexy Vintage Cambridge Satchel Bag :)

Okay..
I should have learnt my lesson long long time ago, that ordering food with empty stomach, NEVER is a good idea..! and this time, my food is my hunger for this fully sexy bag i've been eyeing for agesssss..

and yes.. it is the Cambridge Satchel bag..
Fine, I tend to be a lil hyperbole when writing my blog, but seriously.. this bag is one hell of exception for me..

this bag is fully sexy, chic, practical, neat, sophisticated, modern and vintage all at once.. geez do i really have to put all of this words down to describe this bag? YES is the answer..
and plus, how else on earth something can be both vintage and modern? but this bag is.. you just have to see it urself to actually feel it.. that ofc if u havent seen one before, which is less likely.. since it is everywhere now..

lets hope those ones u've seen is not the fake one.. i hate it how some local brands were starting to copy it..
just make sure if u cant resist to not buy this bag (it really is WORTH the price of it), please do buy an original one.. and not a fake one..
this bag price is very reasonable, knowing how good the quality is..

you can buy em online directly from Cambridge Satchel company, or u can ofc check the nearest stockist in ur local place from their link..
notice there is not much stockis here in Australia, which is why i was so excited when i finally got to buy one (actually TWO, i know i know.. im getting there, bare with me, the story is not over yet..) from them..

i first noticed this bag from a girl on the tram that i figured must be living in the apartment next door.. i bumped to her wearing this bag multiple times, and everytime, i just cant help myself to stare at it trying to figure it out.. what brand? local or international? what leather? etc etc...
sadly, just when i think im ready to be crazy enough to ask her directly where she get it from, i never actually bump to her again.. how pathetic am i?!!
anw, i saw a couple wearing the same bag of Red Satchel when i was having a korean bbq dinner weeks after.. i wanted to ask them so bad, that i waited for them to finish (am trying to b polite), but then i lost courage :( that happen again omw home from QV just days after, but i couldnt catch up with the girl since it was really crowded..

well, short story.. the next time i saw a girl wearing a FAIRLY similar bag, i know i just have to ask her.. well, i dont really have the courage again, but lucky me, GIAN has been a big big hero to me.. He asked the girl and she gave us a name.. me and Gian has decided to check it online once we get back home.. thats when i found that she was not wearing a Cambridge, instead hers was from a local Melbourne designer.. (fyi, it was not bad, but pls can people have some courtesy to not claiming others ideas for once?).. looking at the bright side, that was when i found out about Cambridge..

takes me a while to decide if im going to buy it online from them directly or to actually go to our one and only one stockist in Melbourne, Cottage Industry.. decided to buy one from Cottage Indusrty since am not sure about the size..

what happen next? they are low in stock and i have to put my number down and wait till the next 2-3 weeks for new delivery.. they dont take orders and u just got to surprise urself to see whats included in the stock next time..
well, when i finally got a call, i went straight away the next morning, with one goal in mind.. grab a satchel in vintage size 14" or 15".. and thats it..

i end up buying 2 vintage satchel, one in 14" and another one in 11"..
no embossing (which is sucks) but i promised that i will find one here in Melbourne..
it was not that easy to find one, but i think i might be able to have it done sometimes next week..
ill keep u all posted.. but atm, enjoy below..


FYI, this bag is provocative, it attracts comment.. be prepared to be jealous since people will notice ur bag more than u.. :)

cause it takes TWO to TANGLE

Understanding the causes of conflict in your relationship is the beginning towards resolving the problems between you and your partner.
..cause it takes two to tangle
so theres no such thing as absolute blaming in any kind of relationship

when bf gf decided to break up,
its not whose fault
but more like whats causes it

ofc its easier said than done,
but doesnt mean its not true
and definitely is not rubbish talk

i once heard,
being in a relationship is like building bird nest,
u keep coming back building it slowly,
but doesnt mean u need to stay and go no where else

keep your eyes open,
listen to your heart,
and feel the love in the air

no more dwelling over the past for me
people can talk
people can judge
but I got to dECIDE how I fEEL
and what I should or should not DO
or how I got to BEHAVE
(not like people know better how i suppose to behave anw)

so,
bye bye you bunch of hypocrite

love,
new MARIA

Si Iglesias

Be Elephant

Elephant in the jungle
..dont annoy
wont annoy

..dont disturb
wont disturb

..and here we goes

When i first decided to start this blog,
i have no idea that it will bug me this much,
that i feel like i owe them for every single stories in my life..

Thing is, i have never had this much stories in my life for these past 2 months..
So many things happened, so many close friends to update, and this blog is one of em'

lets see where i can start..

what about, i finally got my hair cut..
BOY-ish one!
*check list*

and my tattoo
"libertad - freedom"

no more, ME & Erick
its just ME..
(yes, we break up)

seems like i got my hay fever back already

am going back to indo at the end of the year instead of nov
meaning am not going to attend erick's sis wedding as well
(like it or not, i cant refund or xchange my previous ticket, so there u go, $580 for nothing)

i joined gym, and no its not the woman gym next door from my office nymore
i went to another gym, bigger 1, more exciting :)

am thinking about change of "nuance" in my life..
work, apartment, everythin on it..
plan less, do more..
do what I want..
be my own pleaser..

owh, and unless any1 missed this, RIP Steve Jobs

Married Life

Indonesian Spices (English - Indo)

Ah.. few days ago i remember my housemate was asking about some of the indonesian spices name in English, and i thought i have it somewhere in my blog..

Well, apparently not, so am going to make it happen now..
I always use this web link here as my reference before, so am just going to copy paste it, but you can always check it out in the original link to see the pics of each spices here..

Hope it helps.. bon apetite =)

ANCHOVIES, DRIED (ikan teri): small salted dried anchovies are used to season some dishes.
Available in most Chinese stores. Unless they are very tiny, anchovies are usually less than 2.5 cm (1inchi) long.
Discard the heads any any black intestinal tract before frying.

BASIL (daun selasih, daun kemangi):
Two varieties of this fragrant herb are found in Indonesia. They are generally added to dishes at the last minute for maximum flavour.
Daun kemangi has a lemony scent, while daun selasih (identical to Thai horopa) is more similar to sweet European basil, which can be used as a subtitute.

BEANCURD(Tahu): Beancurd, introduced by the Chinese, is now widely used in vegetable dishes and salad, providing inexpensive protein.
Beancurd is sold in cakes about 8 cm (3 inches) square. This beancurd is sometimes compressed to expel much of the moisture forming hard beancurd cakes.
Do not confuse regular beancurd with soft or 'silken' beancurd sold in many stores abroad; this is commonly used for Chinese soups and in Japanese cuisine.

CANDLENUT (Kemiri): A round, cream-coloured nut relating to the macadamia and Queensland bush nut, this has an oily consistency used to add texture and a faint flovour to many dishes.
Store in the fridge as candlenuts turn rancid quickly. Subtitute with macadamia nuts, raw cashew or almond.

BILIMBI, SOUR (belimbing wuluh): This pale green acidic fruit about 5-8 cm (2-3 inchi) long, grows in clusters on a tree.
A relative of the large, five-edged sweet starfruit, Bilimbi is used whole or sliced to give a sour tang to some soups, fish dishes and sambals.
Sour grapefruit or tamarind juice can be used as subtitute.

CARDAMOM (kapulaga): About 8-12 intensely fragrant black seeds are enclosed in a straw-coloured, fibrous pod.
Try to buy the whole pod rather than cardamom seeds or powder for maximum flavour, and bruise lightly with the back of the cleaver to break the pod before adding to food.

CELERY (seledri): The celery used in Indonesia is different from normal western variety, with slender stems and particularly pungent leaves.
It is often refereed to as 'Chinese celery' abroad and is used as a herb rather than vegetable.

CHILLIES (Cabai, also called cabe or lombok): Several types of chilli pepper are used with the amount of heat increasing as the size diminishes.
Green chillies are the unripe fruit, and have a flavour different from ripe red chillies. Fresh, finger-length red chillies are the most commonly used in some dishes, especially in Sumatra.
Dried chillies should be torn into pieces and soaked in hot water to soften before grinding or blending.
Hottest of all chillies are the tiny fiery bird's-eye chillies (cabe rawit). To reduce the heat of the dish while retaining the flavour, remove some or all of the seeds.
Be careful to wash your hands throughly after handling chillies as the oil can burn your eyes and skin. You may even like to wear rubber gloves.

CHIVES, COARSE (Kucai): Coarse chives, flat leaves about 30 cm (12 in) long, are used as a seasoning; although the flavour is more delicate, spring onions (scallions) can be used as a subtitute.

CINNAMON (kayu manis): The thick, dark brown bark of a type cassia is used in Indonesia, not true cinnamon. The latter is more subtle in flavour and considerably more expensive. Always use whole bark, not ground cinnamon.

CLOVES (Cengkeh): This small, brown, nail shaped spice was once found only in the islands of Maluku.
Cloves are used in cooking les frequently than one might expect, but add their characteristic fragrance to the clove scented cigarettes or kretek popular through out Indonesia.

COCONUT(Kelapa):Coconut are widely used in Indonesia, not just in cooking but also for plam sugar, alcohol, housing, utensils, and charcoal.
The grated flesh of the coconut is frequently added to food; it is also squeezed with water to make coconut milk.

CORIANDER (ketumbar): Small straw coloured seeds with a faintly orange flavour, coriander is of the most commonly used spices in Indonesia, and is often used in conjuction with white pepper and cumin.

CUMIN (jinten): Together with coriander and pepper, this small beige elongated seed is one of the most commontly used spices in Indonesia. Take care not to confuse it with fennel.

FENNEL (jinten manis): This seed is simiar to cumin, although slightly fatter, whiter, and with a distinctive fragrance reminiscent of aniseed.

GALANGAL (laos): A member of the ginger family with a very tough but elusively scented rhizome which must be peeled before use.
The best substitute is water-packed slices of galangal sold in jars, generally exported from Thailand.
Otherwise, use slices of dried laos (soaked in boiling water for 30 minutes) or as last resort, powdered laos (1 teaspoon = 2 ½ cm/ in)

GARLIC (bawang putih): Recipes in this book were prepared with Indonesian garlic, the clovesof which are usually smaller and less pungent than the garlic found in many Western countries. Adjust the amount to suit your taste.

GINGER (jahe): This pale creamy yellow root is widely used, not just to season food but its medicinal properties (it helps digestion, expels intestinal gas, improves the appetite and is believed to be good for colds).
Always scrape the skin off fresh ginger before using and do not substitute powdered ginger as the taste is quite different. Fresh ginger keeps in a cool place for several weeks.

JICAMA (bengkuang): Native to tropical America, where it is known as jimaca, the somewhat confusingly named yam bean is actually a tuber with a beige skin and crisp white interior.
It is used in salads and some cooked vegetable dishes; water chesnuts make an acceptable subtitute. Many Indonesian ingredients are now widely available in Asian supply shops and even supermarkets abroad.

KENARI: A soft, somewhat oily nut found in Maluku, almond is the closest subtitute.

KLUWAK: Kluwak nuts come from the kepayang tree (Pangium edule) of Indonesia & Malaysia, a member of the flacourtia family (Flacourtiaceae).
The oily, hard-shelled seeds superficially resemble Brazil nuts. Meaty seeds are edible after the poisonous hydrocyanic acid is removed by soaking and boiling them in water.
Fermented kluwak nuts become chocolate-brown, greasy and very slippery. Cooked seeds are used in a number of popular Malaysian and Indonesian dishes.

KENCUR: Sometimes incorrectly known as lesser galangal, the botanical name of this ginger-like root is Kaemferia galanga.
The correct english name, rarely encountered, is zedoary Kencur has a unique, camphor-like, flavour and should be used sparingly.
Wash it and if you're fussy (most Indonesians aren't) scrape off the skin before using. Dried sliced kencur (sometimes spelled kentjoer) or kencur powder can be used as a subtitute.
Soak dried slices in boiling water for 30 minutes; use ½ - 1 teaspoon of powder for 2.5 cm (1 in) fresh root.

KRUPUK: Dried crackers made from shrimps, fish, vegetables or nuts mixed with various types of flour are enormously popular as a garnish or snack.
They must be thoroughly dry before deep frying in very hot oil for few seconds, so that puff up and become crisp.

LEMON GRASS (serai, sereh): This intensely fragrant herb is used to impart a lemony flavour to many dishes and can also be used as a skewer for stays.
Cut off the roots and use only the tender bottom portion (16-20 cm / 6-8 in ). Discard the hard outer leaves.
If a whole stem is added to a gravy during cooking, it should be bruised a couple of times with the edge of a cleaver or pestle to release the fragrance, then tied in a knot to hold it together.

LIME: Several types of lime are used in Indonesia. The most fragrant is the leprous or kaffir lime (jeruk purut).
IT has virtually no juice bzt the double leaf is often used whole or very finely shradded, while the grated skin is occasionally used in cooking.
Round yellow-skinned limes slightly larger than a golf ball (jeruk nipis) and small, dark green limes (jeruk limau) are used for their juice. If limes are not available, use lemons.

NOODLES (mi, mie): Introduced by the Chinesse and a firm favourite everywhere. The most common varieties are fresh spagetti-like yellow egg noodles (bami) and dried rice cermicelli (mihun).
Transparent noodles made from mung pea flour (sohun), called either jelly or glass noodles in the West, are used in some soup and vegetables dishes for texture rather than flovour.

NUTMEG (pala): Always grate whole nutmeg just before using as the powdered spice quickly loses its fragrance. Whole nutmegs keep almost indefinately.

PALM SUGAR (gula merah, gula jawa): Juice extracted from coconut or aren palm flowers is boiled and packed into moulds to make sugar with a faint caramel taste.
If palm sugar is not available, subtitute soft brown sugar, or a mixture of brown sugar and maple syrup.

PANDAN LEAF (daun pandan): The fragrant leaf of a type of pandanus sometimes known as fragrant screwpine is tied in a knot and used to flavour some curries, desserts and cakes. Bottled pandan essence can be subtituted.

PEANUTS (kacang tanah): These are ground (either raw or cooked) and used to make sauces; deep fried peanuts are a very common garnish or condiment. DO not salt fried peanuts before storing to avoid their going soggy.

PEPPER (merica, lada): Whole black or white peppercorns are generally crushed just before use; ground white pepper powder is also used on certain occasions.

PRAWNS, DRIED (ebi): Used to season some dishes, these should be soak in warm water for 5 minutes before use and any shell discarded. Choose dried prawns that are bright pink in colour, avoiding any that look grey or mouldly.

SALAM LEAF (daun salam): A subtly flavoured leaf of a memeber of the cassia family. The flavour bears no resemblance whatsoever to that of bay leaves, which are sometimes suggested as a subtitute.
If you cannot obtain dried salam leaf, omit altogether.

SALTED SOYA BEANS (tauco): Salty and with a distictive tang, this Chinesse ingredients is used to season some dishes and to make a savoury side-dish or sambal. Available in jars, sometimes labelled 'Yellow Bean Sauce'.

SHALLOTS (bawang merah): Widely used throughout Indonesia, shallots are sliced and eaten raw in sambals; pounded to make spice pastes; sliced and added during cooking, or sliced and deep fried to make Indonesia's most popular garnish.
Packets of deep-fried shallots are generally available in Asian supply stores. If they lose their crispness, scatter in a large baking dish and put in a very low oven for a few moments to dry them throughly.
Cool throughly before storing. Indonesian shallots are smaller and milder than those found in many Western countries.

SHRIMP PASTE, BLACK (petis): A very thick syrupy paste, usually sold in jars or plastic tubs, with a strong shrimp flavour, petis is used to season some sauces;
perhaps best known as an ingredients in Rojak, a fruit and vegetable salad drenched with a hot, sour, faintly fishy sauce.

SHRIMP PASTE, DRIED (trasi): This very pungent seasoning oftem smells offensive to the ininitiated. It is always cooked before eating, which kills the smell and greatly improves the flavour.
The best way to prepare shrimp paste is to spread the required amount on a piece of foil and to toast it under a grill or dry fry in a pan for about 2 minutes on each side.
If you prefer to avoid the pungent smell during cooking, wrap in the edges of the foil before cooking. If the shrimp paste is to be fried with other paste ingredients, it does not need pre-cooking.
Widely known overseas by its Indonesian name, trasi, or the Malay term , belacan, shrimp paste ranges in colour from purplish pink to beige to brownish black and is generally sold in a cake.

SOY SAUCE: Two types of soy sauce are used in Indonesia: thick sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), which is most frequently used as a condiment, usually with added sliced chillies, and the thinner, saltier light soy sauce (kecap asin).
If you cannot obtain kecap manis, use thick black Chinese soy sauce and add vrown sugar to sweeten it.

SPRING ONION (daun bawang): Sometimes known as scallions or, in Australia , as shallots, this popular herb is often used as a garnish and to add flavour to many dishes.

STAR ANISE (bunga lawang): An 8-pointed star-shaped spice, dark brown in colour, with each point containing a shiny brown, round seed, this has a strong aniseed or licorice flavour.

TAMARIND (asem jawa): The pod of tamarind tree contains seeds covered by freshy pulp which adds fruity sourness to many dishes. Packets of dried tamarind pulp usually contain the seeds and fibres.
To make tamarind juice, measure one part of pulp and soak it in 3 parts of hot water for 5 minutes before squeezing it to extract the juice, discarding the seeds, fibre and any skin.

TAPIOCA (ubi kayu): The root of this plant, also known as cassava, and the tender green leaves, are both used as a vegetable. The root is also grated and mixed with coconut and sugar to make a number of cakes.
Fermented tapioca root is added to some dessert dishes, while the dried root is made into small balls and used in the same way as pearl sago. Subtitute spinach for tabioca leaves.

TEMPE: This javanesse creation, cakes of compressed, lightly fermented soya beans, is increasingly known to health enthusiasts internationally.
It is rich in protein and has a delicious nutty flavour. Often available in health food stores. No subtitute.

TURMERIC (kunyit): A vivid yellow rhizome of the ginger family, this has a very emphatic flavour. Scrape the skin before using. If fresh turmeric is not available, subtitute 1 teaspoon of powdered turmeric for 2.5 cm (1 in) of the fresh root. The leaf of the turmeric plan is sometimes used as a herb, particularly in Sumatra. There is no subtitute.

WATER CANVOLVULUS (kangkung): Sometimes known as Morning Glory or Swamp Cabbage, this aquatic plant is full of nutrition and has an excellent flavour.
Often steamed and used in many salads with a spicy sauce. The tender leaves and tips of the plant are used, and the tough hollow stems discarded. Available in most Chinese markets, often under the Cantonese name, ong choy.

Najwa Mahiaddin

Been lazying around on Saturday morning,
doing many youtube-ing, wasting time..

And found this video.. she's actually real good..
Find this link for her short story as well..
Seems like she won the Malaysia next top idol..
and for some reason, they dont mention anything about her being the daughter of the vice in Malaysia, which i adore..
*take your own journey in life, ur parents has done enough by raising u so far*

Play play play..


Najwa Mahiaddin: Malaysia’s next top idol!

"Everyone look out for Najwa Mahiaddin. This girl really has a superb voice. It simply oozes soul...

Jazzy tunes and soulful songs –Najwa Mahiaddin has serious chops to knock your socks off.

From Muar to Melbourne and now, back to good ol’Malaysia, Najwa had always known that the music industry was where she wanted to shine, despite her parents’ cautious and conservative advice.

‘Why-don’t-you-studymedicine-or-engineering’ became the catchphrase for her parents after she sat for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), which led to this soulful 22-year-old taking up Electronics Engineering –all the way in Melbourne, Australia.

"I initially wanted to study Audio Engineering because it would be the closest I would be to music and its related fields,"she says over a phone interview.

"Unfortunately,it was not among the courses offered and so I chose Electronics Engineering, which was the next closest thing."

After spending four years in the land Down Under, she returned (homesick!) to Kuala Lumpur (KL). She admits, readily, that in the end, she could not endure engineering anymore.

"Deep down, I know my parents are very proud of me and my music, especially my mom. My dad was more reluctant, but now they have accepted my choice. They have come to terms that I will never go back to engineering."

Her journey into music had been a lifelong love for her–when she was much younger, she used to sing and perform for her family members.

"I used to make up songs and perform for my family, just for fun," she laughs."And I was so into Grease back then, too! It remains my favourite musical till today."

She continued to sing, even while she was studying in Melbourne, participating in performances among the student community –one of which, she describes jokingly, was even a little like American Idol.

"It was called Friday performances, where students performed on Friday nightson certain weeks. The other students then have to vote for who they want to see in the‘finals’. Usually the teachers act as judges to choose a winner."

She continued to show her stuff during Jazz Night performances, and other small and intimate gigs among student communities –until a friend suggested one day that she put her songs up on MySpace (an online portal famously credited for launching the careers of artists such as Marie Digby).

Four cover songs were what she initially uploaded to her MySpace, until comments, messages and compliments started coming in. This also marked the moment she started to be involved in the local music scene.

"I met people in the music scene (such as Mia Palencia and Reza Salleh), who would ask me to perform. And I did –I would come back to KL during my study breaks to perform for No Black Tie and in places such as Bangkok Jazz," she recalls.

She remembers her excitement when she found out that a vocal workshop, organised by Mia, was going to be held during one ofher study breaks. From there, she found her passion for songwriting. "Then people began to say ‘hey,you write your own songs’ and I was invited to join the Bedroom Musician Series," she says. "Now that I am finally back in KL, I can perform more than ever."

Indeed, this bubbly girl has been making waves –most recently performing at the Youth ‘09 convention and at the anniversary celebration of No Black Tie. Hersoulful jazz sound in her husky and quietly confident voice has also been heard in a duet with Malique Ibrahim on his solo debut album, and her six songs on MySpace have received a total of over 120,000 plays to date.

One of her songs, Innocent Soul, was sung in dedication to the lives lost in the war in Palestine."I wrote it while I was still in Melbourne, and at that time the war in Iraq really left an imprint on me," she says. "The song is about a boy, who had lost his mother to the ravages of war. I used to write so many love songs, but there are other aspects of love –between a mother and a child, for example.‘Innocent Soul’ was born from that."

That’s how she finds the inspiration for her songs–through experiences, whether personal or from her closest friends. She also draws from the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, singers whose influences reflect upon her own music. This singer with a heart iscurrently pursuing her degree in Music at the International Collegeof Music (ICOM).

"College is fun," she enthuses, and when asked of her interestsand hobbies during her free hours, she comes up with a surprising answer.

"I want to say that writing songs and singing is my hobby, but now that I am doing it for real, I can’t say that anymore,"she jokes. "What I am interested in now is lomography!’

Lomography is a photography technique or style which emphasizes casual shots and snapshot photography that are off-kilter, blurry or are ‘happy accidents.’

"There was an exhibition during the Youth ‘09, and I bought a lomography camera. I like the freedom of lomography, and how you can do whatever you want without worrying about ‘real’ photography," she saiys.

For the future, however, she has her sights set recording an album after she graduates from her 4-year course.

"I have always wanted to, but somehow the right time has yet to come for me," she says, with just a touch of wistfulness. "But once I graduate I will have more time, and maybe someday I may even want to run a record company."

With big dreams and a great voice, coupled with tonnes of passion, this girl is definitely a singer to keep your ears peeled for."

moment has passed..
things happened..
what matter most is what we do next..

happy August

what taste good, cant be good for you
and
what's good for you, cant taste good as well

WRONG!

Chiropractic..

Erick is not the sweetest guy that a girl can possibly have, or the most romantic, or the most easy to talk to.. But for sure, he is the most caring guy that I ever have, and the most loyal, plus the most reliable and honest..

Based on that statement, Erick is not the kind of guy who buy his GF jewelry, or shoes, or bags, or clothes, or cosmetics..
..instead..
he bought me this Chiropractic assessment voucher..

He knew i got problems with my back..
and massage does not seems to help that much anymore..
i can not stand carrying heavy bag at all..
and he probably start getting annoyed with me complaining about it..

so, there it is..
me + chiropractic appointment that can only be redeem in either Bulleen or Mentone..
unfortunately, the Bulleen one, which suppose to be closer to my place, is closed on weekend.. so i can only come to the one in Mentone..
apprently the place that i went (*Peak Potential) has got better reputation for its services in Mentone, so lets stop being negative and be more positive.. =)

My first assessment was two weeks ago, the doctor was so confident that I went to the right place.. he asked me to walk, to bend to each direction, assess my foot, and took some xray of my spine..
He explained to me how does chiropractic works..
I would consider him as a very easy to understand kind of doctor, instead of the "too sophisticated" kind of doctor..
so, i decided to come back again..

and last weekend was my second appointment..
he explained to me how my neck has got some problems, which most likely is the cause of my shoulder and back pain..

image from here
see how the neck suppose to has a "C-shape"?
mine was like a "/" instead of "C", which means i started to loose some curve as well..
Apparently this can be fixed with simple exercise, which will probably be started next week..

the next issue with me is my foot which is not balance in terms of its power and strength.. surprisingly, he told me that i have been using up to 70% of my right foot and only 30% on my left one..
this one has caused my waist to be one side lower than the other.. scary uh?
but hopefully by doing what i have been told, i will get better soon..

anyway, just feel like sharing a bit..
"Every steps COUNT"

happy Birthday Papa, and soon Mom as well..

The Next Big Things - Google Guru

Have you ever think of a song but can't figure out which one is it..
and all that you can think about is bits of its lyric..?
Bingo bingo.. Lucky us, we live in a modern era, where we got Google guru to search for us even just from those tiny bits of lyrics..

Or have you ever tried to search for someone's background, and with just his/her name, where will you start? Google!
*Okay, some of you might answer Facebook, but what if his/her profile is private?*

Or when you tried to search for a tutorial of whatever it is in some forums, blogs, etc.. where will you start? Google!

Google itself has even be recognised as a verb in the English dictionary..
we shall now say "Just Google it!"

BUT.... Have you ever think what happen when you want to search for a song, but you can only remember the melody of it?
and Have you ever think what happen when you want to search for a map to a particular place when all that you have is a picture of the place?
and Have you ever think of searching someone in the cyber world, when all you know and all you have is his/her picture?

Would not it be more fun of GOOGLE if we can search based on pictures and melodies?

I think this is going to be the next big things that might evolve the era of Google Guru, or possibly a new GURU?
who knows, rite?

Mind your own business, please..

one need to decide if he/she would like to be involve in other one's live..
if you still interested, be nice and stick with it..
but once you said no, mean it..
dont bother looking back..
or else other might feel annoyed or betrayed..

i love my life..
..with or without you..
and i mean it..

Longest Week (end) i EVER had..

PR granted..

Erick got sick..
Take Away Dinner at Clayton..
Rushed to hospital..
Erick got appendicities..

Spend the night at Monash Clayton Hospital Emergency Room..
still.. Spend the day at Emergency Room..
Moved to proper patient bedding room..
Wait another night for his surgery..
Got the surgery the next morning..
Spend another night on the hospital..
Finally come out from the hospital..

Went back to city..
Went out for video making at friend place..
Dinner..
Home..

and.. FOUND OUT TRUST is the most EXPENSIVE THING ONE CAN ASK FOR..

*perfecto*

when u wait long enough

Good things come to those who wait..
..and i am officially a PR of Australia

*enough said*

Billie Holiday - Legend of Jazz

Now or Never

I'll Be Seeing You

The Very Thought of You

My Man

Summer Time

All of Me, baby...

Jazzy Version

Old Fashion Version

Neat Version

All of me, why not take all of me?
Can't you see I'm no good without you?
Take my lips, I wanna lose them
Take my arms, I never use them

Your goodbyes they left me with eyes that cry
How can I get along without you?
You took the part that once was my heart
So why not take all of me?

Your goodbyes left me with eyes that cry
Now I am lost without you
And now that you took that part that used to be my heart

All of me, why not take all of me?
Can't you see I'm a mess without you?
You took the part that used to be my heart
So why not take all of me?

maling kok TERIAK maling

..maling teriak maling..

takut karena tau..
iri karena ingin..
pergi karena kalah..
marah karena lelah..
ingkar karena gagal..
cuek karena jelek..
peduli karena pura-pura..

capek

i am a PR of Australia

i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia
i am a PR of Australia...
..soon

am coming home

just before i forgot to put it in..
am coming home in ... 6 months from now, for about one month..
1. to attend Erick's sister wedding
2. to meet my family
3. to get my hair done
4. to catch up with some friends
5. and for the sake of cheap ticket..

i got a $580 return ticket with a 3 hours stopover in Malaysia..
and that is a BARGAIN..

..leaving on a jet plane..

Cirque du Soleil Melbourne - Saltimbanco 2011

My oh my, i feel like i spent way too much money on clothes now..
i have been thinking how in the world would someone need this much clothes..
but shoes is not included, woman does needs a lot of shoes..

anw, what got me thinking this way is when im about to buy my Cirque du Soleil ticket..
their last year tour to Australia was when i still have no idea what the hell is so special with this circus.. until one day, i watch ANTM and *boom*.. one word, AWESOME..
i put a note in my head that if they ever decided to come back to Australia, i will have to go.. my friend, Tommy, did go last year and asked me to come with him, but i refused after knowing the ticket price is around $150.. but, as i said, if they are coming this year, i am going to watch..
so here i am, i hate the fact that i should have safe some money for this kind of events.. instead of clothes.. haish..

ok ok, more about Cirque du Soleil itself..
if am not wrong, last year show was Alegria..
this year show in Australia is the Saltimbanco one, which will be cheerfull and colourful show..
just what i needed to keep my self-esteem high.. =)
a quick reference from their official website
Saltimbanco -from the Italian "saltare in banco", which literally means "to jump on a bench"-explores the urban experience in all its myriad forms: the people who live there, their idiosyncrasies and likenesses, families and groups, the hustle and bustle of the street and the towering heights of skyscrapers. Between whirlwind and lull, prowess and poetry, Saltimbanco takes spectators on an allegorical and acrobatic journey into the heart of the city.

Saltimbanco is a Cirque du Soleil signature show inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show's eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope.

5 days before May ends

i dont know what happen to me, but i rarely touch my own computer this month..
i was so cought up at work, that when i got home i dont feel like facing a screen anymore.. well, at least not where i have to be the one who take control.. i do watch TV, a lot actually, but its different, i do nothing when i watch TV.. rite? *evil self defense*

anw, this is 5 days before May turns to June, and this is my first post of the month..
but, there's an old saying "quality over quantity"
so here i am, bloggin for May posts..

anw, if any of u notice, i blog at 9:08 am for this post.. meaning: AM NOT AT WORK..
i am sick, and decided to take a day off..
i've been sick, practically, the whole month, (see, another reason why i cant blog) with this stupid flu.. i dont know since when i become this weak.. i used to be that strong one at school.. the one who never get sick and take a day off just over flu.. the one who IF sick, will recover very quickly.. but thats just not me anymore.. and i will put the blame to the weather for this..

just so you know, i decided to take a day off today because i feel that i can spread the flu easily in the office if i persist to come.. i have been annoying enough to my colleague with my coughing and my bad wet voice.. not to mention my runny nose.. and stupid me, i was tempted to eat some mcd fries last night.. ( i only took like 3 or 4 of them but thats apparently enough to wake the sore throat back on ) plus, tomorrow is an important day, which is Friday.. i need to generate this report by the end of the day, that can be quite challenging.. not to mention we are all going for a farewell lunch for one of my "soon to leave the company manager" at 12:30.. i bet it wont finish by 2pm.. so, lets recover baby, and do your work tomorrow..

SICK makes me..
want my MOM..
i am such a baby girl rite now..
but i want to get well soon..

dream DO come true - Royal Wedding

I guess being able to witness one royal wedding in ur life is quite something, eh?
Eventhough its only from the big screen, still, its like, not eveyrone got the chance to witness the change of the millenium, rite?

So, I would not say much about it,
pictures will do the work..
*source is from everywhere* i would say courtesy to the Royal Family itself for the pics..

How To "How To"

happy Easter baby

Oh My Gosh,
i loveeeee long weekend..

It's all started on Friday
and ended on Wednesday..

long weekend means: short weekend at work..
means: lets have some fun =)

happy easter, baby..

pic from here

They said "the more, the merrier"
... true?

"Being an Adult is Totally Over Rated"

When we were young, we want to be an adult..
..but you know what?

"Being an Adult is Totally Over Rated"
To start with, adult has to earns a living.
Adult has to pay their own rent.
Adult has to manage their own bill.
Adult has to be able to take responsibility.

Adult adult adult
Basically, adult has to know how to be responsible for their own life.
Responsibility is totally sucks? Haha

Lets think about the time when we were young, and you thought having a bad mark in your report card and has to face your parent is a big big nightmare..
How funny life can be, eh?

Fraction

"One Level Up" Neighbour

This is so cute..
Me and my housemate was just went back from having lunch when we found this little note inside our apartment..
We have noticed before that every now and then our new neighbour(s) are these guys who seems to enjoy their small little party in their balcony a lot.. When i say neighbour here, i mean "one level up neighbour" who live in the apartment right above ours.. As far as i know, their apartment should have the exact same blue print with mine's.. But i think there are more than just 3 guys living there.. I once met with one of them who just finished swimming and he seems to just get a bad bad sunburn, and then another one who seems to do jogging a lot, and another one who seems to look sleepy all the time, and another one who looks like an adventurous kind of person to me..

Anyway, look at what they sent us..
a lil friendly note from our neighbour..
...ah how cute...

Count Your Calorie, Bitch =(

First..
Am still doing my daily journal on MyFitnessPal, yay me..
I noticed sometimes i went over my daily calory allowance, but most of the time im doing allright.. It has been handy having it with me, so it reminds me to "behave" when having my meals.. But now I have a plan.. STICK WITH IT on WEEKDAYS, and get your REWARDS on WEEKEND.. =)

This apps has gimme a lot of new knowledge, like how 2 slice of wholegrain bread is almost equal to 1 whole cup of rice.. How 1 muesli bar that my colleague and i are usually snacking worth 150calories.. How all kind of junk food like one cheeseburger is worth your whole calory consumption of the day.. How small gum like 5 Wrigleys (Red one is my fave) worth 6 calories.. How water got ZERO calorie.. How tea and coffee worth not even 2 calories per table spoon.. How one spoon of olive oil (regardless how good olive oil is to your heart) is worth 300calories..

How big the difference can a normal milk and skinny milk make.. How big the difference can one bag of Smith Chips (45g) compare to rice cracker.. How big the difference can Crispy Chicken Sushi and Tuna Sushi make.. How big the difference can Water Spring Tuna and Thai Curry Tuna make.. How big the difference can Light Cheese and Normal Cheese Kraft make..

I might soounds picky about food lately, but I know its for my own good.. and hopefully others as well.. I never stop others from eating any kind of food if they want to, but I might as well tell them what I know.. it will be fun being on the same board with your friends, eh?

Now I am Scared

I need some confidence injection, asap, please..

She is 18

Happy Bday sista..

Look what mom dad got you..
and your friends..

Be good good good, will ya?

i am on My Fitness Pal

last weekend, a friend of mine introduce me to this app on iPhone..
This apps basically helps you to monitor the number of calorie that you had for the day..
at first, it ask you questions like your weight, height, daily normal activity, and your plan of exercise.. it was not easy at first, as the more precise you are, the better your counting is.. but the downside is, you might be surprised at how much calorie you got just by eating a burger..

it calculates my daily calorie needs, which is 1200. it was ok on my first day, but then i got 450calorie over on the next one.. hopefully this will help me to be on track with my diet plan..

so,lets see if i can keep it at least for a month..
=)

iPad 2 is here

i just dont understand how people care so much about having it from the very first day of its release..
cant they wait for 1 or 2 weeks so that they dont have to queue like this..
they were the queue in front of Apple Store in Sydney.. i got the pics from here

or like this..
the line in Chadstone infront of Apple Store..
the iPad is only ready for sale at 5pm, but people starts lining up from 6am infront of the entrance.. geezzzz...
btw, i got this pic from my friend's FB Ruku

oh btw, i think my left eyelid is swollen, and it becomes red as well..
not on the eye, but on the lid..
i might need more time to sleep then ever..

owh when will this whole business stop?
i want to sleepppppppp...
..till i blog again

I am officialy is one of the Victim of Marketing Campaign

ah.. ya, the story about victim of marketing campaign..
will write it more later,
when i got the time? the courage? the willingness?

..continued on Saturday, 26 March, 12.34AM

I am so not proud of myself for this..
how come i become victim of Marketing Campaign, again and again..

Couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine told me that Hoyts and Village had this special deals to buy online movie ticket for only $7 (normally its around $11, or even $15 on weekend). So i was so excited, and dont even bother to think much, and decided to buy 6 of those. See here, my only consideration was: i wont watch movie by myself, so at least Erick will go with me, which means 2 tickets at a time, and i consider 3 movies are not so much. and then what happen?
The ticket will expire on the first week of April. This means i only got around 3-4weeks left, and this 3-4 weeks have been really busy for both of us.. i ends up forcing him to watch movie with me eventhough the time was not too convenient for both of us..
i know, i am acting silly

So that was one, then what else?
Another good friend of mine once told me a website thats having a one day sale of many the good sport shoes brand. I realized it includes Converse and Havaianas. I quickly told Erick, as he's been talking a lot about buying new shoes (and it has to be Converse) and Holly, as I know she's been looking for good price in Converse as well. Then what happen with me? The website mention something about combine delivery. So i figure, i have to buy something for myself as well, so that I wont miss this big chance. This will make everyone happy too, cause it means less delivery cost for them as well, rite?
Turns out, again, the delivery cost was increased when there were more items added. Again, i have already decided to buy that I dont feel like cancelling it.
I am a very easy customer to target, am i not? zzzzz....

and there were more and more stories, but i guess enough about me being a victim of marketing here..
i promised myself not to fall into those ads easily anymore..
..at least am tryin not to,..

pic from here