Thanks, Simone

Life is a mystery.....is it not.

Well, I believe it is....

This evening, together with my colleague, after our training, we went to a mall for some shopping and then dinner. We park our car into a car parking area in a shopping mall, without realising the gate closing time is at 730PM, and have been joking that we might ended up not getting our car. And that really happened, as we talk towards the parking are picking up our car, both gates are locked.

We rewind a bit of this story, where actually, one colleague Zhao was suggesting that we should pick up the car first as he sensed the gate might be closed. Hence Liu together with me, we walk in another direction and trying to look for our parking area, that is P3..but we only found P1, P2 and P3. Hence, he suggested we might as well finished our meal and then go to pick up the car together.\

And during the time when we ate, I suggested that we go there before 8PM, again, having a feeling that it will close soon..

And forwarding this event, our car (and only car left ) was really locked in the parking area. Panicking, we yelled or shouted, hoping someone to be in the parking lot, that will help us. Our phone is not working, as we do not have any roaming service and hence, there is no other choice except looking for help.

Then we walked back to the mall (which already closed) , trying to look for help. I went to the restaurant, trying to talk to a lady, but she spoke no English, and she directed me to talk to the restaurant waitress which I did, and she then advised me to go to the casino and look for the people there, for help. And I rushed there but again the lady, with not so willing to help look, answered me that she do not speak English. Then  quickly run to Mcdonald, to look for help.

I try to look for the restaurant mgr, but he was busy, and my eyes then has a "contact" with Simone, and then I walked towards him, and asked if he speaks english and he said yes, and then I asked if he can help us, and he said yes, and without any hesitation, he just walk together with  me to the car park. It was raining along the way yeah and weather is like 8 deg C, cold and wet.

And as we walked to our parking area, a car came out (just in the nick of time....if I am allowed to use this phrase)...and the two guys in the car just open their car window and talked to Simone asking if his car was left inside. And Simone answered him that, it was our car, and then Simone told me that they are the operator there, and going back to open the gate for us....\

You know how I feel like,?

I feel like a win a lottery

I feel like I am laughing our loud deep inside

I feel with full of gratitude

I feel like our creator hear us

I feel like angel is sent to help me

And I believe you sow what you get, go good and you have good and blessing in return.

我好感恩。。好感激。。。。谢谢my creator....

Thanks and nite.

Choong

Stabio, Italy

New Recipe To Try

Ingredients

• 1 egg*
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2/3 cup milk
• Scant 1 1/2 cups (170 grams) tapioca flour
• 1/2 cup (packed, about 66 grams) grated cheese, your preference, though we got the best results from Mexican farmer's cheese - queso fresco
• 1 teaspoon of salt (or more to taste)

Special equipment recommended:

• One or two mini muffin tins. Mini muffin tins are about half the size of a regular muffin pan. The muffin openings are about 1-inch deep, and 1 3/4 inch wide at the top.

*It helps when baking with eggs to start with eggs at room temperature. If you don't plan ahead (that would be me, usually) you can put the egg in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to gently take off the chill of the fridge.

Method

 

1 Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a mini-muffin tin. Put all of the ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth. You may need to use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the blender so that everything gets blended well. At this point you can store the batter in the refrigerator for up to a week.

 

2 Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until all puffy and just lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack for a few minutes.

Eat while warm or save to reheat later.

Note that Brazilian cheese bread is very chewy, a lot like Japanese mochi.

Read more: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_brazilian_cheese_bread/#ixzz3IimFFALE

Krabi-Part 2

Short note on this trip, in general, I am quite happy with this trip. Second day, besides swimming (not going to miss out the pool), then together with my friend, Lye, we chartered a car to Krabi town. It was nice trip, I bought a specs and also we ate at the nite market, Krabi walking market, trying various local food. Price here is quite reasonable....here. Coconut for example is Baht 200 versus Baht 400 at Ao Nang. And having the chance to go for the massage...at Aonang, thanks to our driver for taking us there. I think the swimming, my first pic wearing my trunk,,,,is a very nice one.

I think from this trip this time, I found that we are quite fortunate to stay nearby countries with beautiful nature, seaside, and you can swim and enjoy good food throughout the year. It is a kind of blessing, really and I feel that, irrespective where I go to, for work, for visit, South East Asia, with special reference to Thailand, will always be in my heart, cause I just love to be there. It is like a second home for me...Thanks Thailand. 

I am back home now and very soon will be going for a small project in Shanghai, but I think it opens up a lot for me now, in all aspects...and I am contented and feel grateful to my creator. Thanks my creator for the love shower upon me, and I appreciate that.

Choong

KL

A Visit To Krabi

This visit was just an impromptu kind of decision, with a friend, and it was decided right after a conversation since I thought I have the "time". But then once that was confirmed, there were a few changes taking place. And I have to fork out RM 300 to change the date and now, right after this, I will be going to Shanghai soon, for a short assignment there. That is another story altogether.

Coming back to this, Krabi, before I landed, and as I was seeing through the window seat, giving me the impression it was quite green and beautiful.. as it was descending, I saw more of Palm trees, and as we landed near the airport, I saw a lot of them, reminding me of KLIA, haha. Airport is a small one, but I find that the toilet is very clean (compared to ours, esp at Penang airport).

Krabi airport is still far away from the town centre and from the hotel I am staying, it is about 45 minutes away.

Sofitel, I think I like this hotel, mainly the swimming pool, I think the longest, swimmable pool that I have seen and used so far. Very nice and I think I will continue using it until the day I leave.

But location wise, it is not the best one as it is far away from many places.....

Having visited another town, Ao Nang, I think they have better location there, and more nicer hotels, like Krabi resort, Thai Village resort,  IBIS, Holiday Inn...to name a few and also nicer restaurants like the Hilltop......

One thing I dislike is that transportation is very expensive here, from hotel to town is Baht 500...for a 20minute ride, I think it is expensive. And you have to negotiate, haha.

Shopping is also very expensive, I prefer to shop in BKK, or Hadyai, and I think the price they quote there, for example, Massage is much cheaper compared to here.

People here are quite nice in my opinion, despite the fact that the weather was gloomy the whole day, and it rained throughout the whole day...

That's all for now...

Choong

Sofitel Krabi

Sesame chiffon cake

Bake this also for the first time, Recipe  as follows:

Ingredients:

• 6 egg whites 
• 60 gm caster sugar 
• 1 tsp cream of tartar 
• 80 gm cake flour 
• 1/8 tsp salt 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 25 gm black sesame powder 
• 5 egg yolks 
• 30 gm caster sugar 
• 50 gm extra light olive oil 
• 80 ml milk 

I found that sesame is a bit "heaty" after consuming.......

Happy trying.
Read more: http://en.christinesrecipes.com/2013/02/black-sesame-chiffon-cake.html#ixzz3I6Blq865

As I Recall

Among all my ex-colleagues, I have been meeting Ms. Ong quite frequently, and she is like an elder sister to me. And we talk and discuss a lot of issues and things. And I am glad that she has been my great supporter and has been listening to a lot of my grouses, mostly related to work.....I appreciate that a lot, Siew Guat. And also through Ms. Ong, I have had the chance to do a few kind of charity related donation too, though amount is not too big but through her charity activities, I have this opportunity too. Thanks again on this.

With Cheah, after I came back from China, we have had a few face to face meeting. Cheah was my supervisor many years ago when we were in Acidchem, and through him I learned a lot of "entertaining skills, esp with Japanese and Koreans....and he drinks well too.

Time really passes and we have been knowing each other close to 18 years...OMG, since my first working year in Acidchem....we are old getting older, but wiser, are we not... and still look quite young, haha.

But I treasure this moment with them,....it is nice and very comfortable.


Choong
BM

Apple Banana Muffins

Seems like this is very easy to bake, very tasty and successful rate is very high and all my friends and relatives like it. So I just want to keep this as a record here for the recipe:

Ingredients: 

• 1  apple, about 125 gm 
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder 
• 2 large ripe bananas, about 320 gm 
• 60 gm melted butter (I use margarine)
• 100 gm sugar 
• 1 egg, beaten 
• 125 ml milk 
• 240 gm cake flour 
• 1/4 tsp baking soda 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 1/8 tsp salt

Read more: http://en.christinesrecipes.com/2012/01/banana-apple-muffins.html#ixzz3HoOHVUMu


Happy trying.

Choong

We...Me.....I....

These few days were spending time with relatives, sis, cousins, uncle, niece and nephews....
And now I am sitting at the airport, flying out middle of the nite to solve some problems....and also at the same time, planning on my new next job/assignment.
At the same time, I am also reading an article, about Indonesian President's latest move...all these makes me think.

A country, if it is economically strong, and able to give and provide good jobs to its citizens, are very important, hence you see places like S'pore, China....I am hoping for the best to happen and take place in my home country too, seriously speaking. I am back home for close to a year, and of course my main purpose is to get well rested and travel a bit, and in the last 2-3 months, trying to find what  is possible for me to do in my home-country. Went to 1 interview (until the final round of two, and was informed i possibly lost because my salary expectation could be too high)....but it seems there is nothing much for me, for now, I think. And before you give any comment, please also take note I am already 23 years in Sales and Marketing, hence what do you expect me to compromise to? to which level? And was it because I am expecting more or was it because there wasn't much options available? I am not sure, but I was looking for a base back to my home country, as I think I can spend more time here, I am getting older, my sister, my cousins, my relatives, and able to spend more time with them are quite a nice thing....Anyway, it is my wish....

And having said that, sometimes I wonder what is enough for a person.....what is important in life? It has nothing to do with contentment, as I am basically a very contented person, but then, when you look at the cost of living that is spiralling every year, then do you not need to rethink, for yourself...and your close-family members...I am not sure, I think seeing my niece and nephews, how would they be able to buy a place of their own in the next 10 years.. with their present salary? I doubt it actually....I am not sure. and that also makes me rethink...how am I able to do something to help...don't know...that is life I think.

But one thing I am sure, I treasure this one year period I have been "out of job", or the time I have taken out and spending a lot of quality time with them...I feel good, I feel blessed and I am very happy....sometimes, I believe this universe is very funny, they arrange things in certain ways, certain sense, beyond explanation and I am positive and hope that, in future, it will be better for all....and I am hoping things I wished for will materialised....

Choong
BayanLepas International Airport

P/S I am missing my sister, my niece and nephews all at home and feel bad that I could not accompany them for a good meal tonite.....but sometimes, I think good things will happen in future when we treasure them...and treasure us, at the same time......

pandan chiffon cake

I am getting better and very much into chiffon cake, and today, I bake this Pandan chiffon cake but with coconut milk (normally people do not use, and I follow Christine's recipe). Anyhow, I think it taste better, the outer layer (like love letters, when u use coconut milk, you know the smell after baking).

You can see from picture one that the skin looks very even and golden in colour, but the problem is with me using too little panda juice, hence not green enough (and I do not like to use Pandan extract nor do I like to use colouring, hence my Pandan cake has further room of improvement needed. But overall, it taste quite good. 

Recipe:

• 5 egg yolks
• 20 gm caster sugar 
• 100 gm cake flour
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 100 ml coconut milk
• 2 Tbsp pandan juice (see below for making pandan juice) 
• a few drops pandan essence/pandan paste, optional
• 3 Tbsp olive oil 

Ingredients of egg whites: 

• 5 egg whites
• 60 gm caster sugar 
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

• mix yolk, sugar, coconut milk together, then panda extract then the mixture of flour (flour, soda), and finally, olive oil.
• Once the egg whites ready, mix into the yolk mixture,
• Bake at 170 deg C then to 150C
• ready when needle inserted come out clean and dry.

Movie-Cafe Waiting Love 等一个人咖啡

Watched this movie two days ago, after hearing so many reviews and comments about it.
In general I like it, and why I said general, it was because certain parts of the movie can be a bit too 长气， too long winded or a bit too much acting, that makes it a bit boring, not until the remaining 30% of the movie. I like the part when the angelic guy is revealing the true identity of himself and also when Vivian Chow was crying when she drank the cup of coffee and when she read the message from his deceased bf......that is very touching.
I like the final 30% of the movie, but overall, I like the content and theme of this movie, and I think it is worth watching. This is a Taiwanese movie, hence a lot of local Taiwanese culture will definitely be inside.....and one must learn to appreciate the local culture only then u are able to understand more of the movie.

Choong

Apple Banana Muffins

Recipe: (from Christine'srecipe)

• 1  apple, about 125 gm (I use green apple)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder 
• 2 large ripe bananas, about 320 gm 
• 60 gm melted butter 
• 100 gm sugar 
• 1 egg, beaten 
• 125 ml milk 
• 240 gm cake flour 
• 1/4 tsp baking soda 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 1/8 tsp salt 

Method:

• mixed cut apple with cinnamon, put aside
• meshed banana mixed with melted butter, beaten egg, sugar and also milk.
• mix flour with baking soda and baking powder with salt.
• Then mix everything together, stir lightly
• Pour in the tray or mould and then bake at 170 for 15-20mins.

Very easy and very fast to make.
I have taken 3 so far, taste very nice, soft and you can reduce a bit of sugar portion if you think it is too sweet, but I think the sweetness is okay if you are taking with plain tea.

Choong

Book To Read-Your Erroneous Zones

I was trying very hard to get find this book, even major bookstores in Penang and KL, they are either running out of stock or do not have any copy of it, or not selling this. May be it is too big label to carry or may be no so many so many readers are interested. Anyway, I would really suggest that you read this book, if you are looking for personal development, self improvement for your life (here I am talking more of spiritual type, for long term betterment of yourself), esp. since young we have been brought to think in certain ways, of which I think it was not right, and after so many years of living as a human being, I finally found the answers to the questions that keep boggling my mind. And looking positively at the development of my life and the current stage I am in, I feel very blessed, because I have the chance to read many books, esp, my recent contact with Dr. Wayne W.Dyer's books, and the lessons and experiences he is trying to share (he has also a fb link, please look for him if you are interested).

This book tells a lot of "errors" esp in our thinking, from the time we we born until now, not because of our parents fault, or others, and not because they were trying to misguide us, but them themselves had been thought to think that way too....and this books highlighted a lot of "errors" we have, in our thoughts, our behaviour and our actions...hence please try to read this one.

and to share a bit, you have quotes like this:

If you believe that feeling bad or worrying long enough will change a past or future event, then you are residing on another planet with a different reality system.

It isn't the experience of today that drives men mad. It is the remorse for something that happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may disclose.

There are two days in the week about which and upon which I never worry. Two carefree days, kept sacredly free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is yesterday....and the other day I do not worry about is tomorrow.

Happy reading.

Choong

BM

I love this article- 2004 versus 2014...happy reading.

I got this article from zero edge,http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-10-11/why-do-new-york-restaurants-suck-surprising-answer , and I think it is good to share...it is everyone's problem, which includes you and me,,,,,and I think it is a very good article, and very much true....haha. happy reading.

Portuguese tarts...

Actually, this morning I woke up and was thinking what next recipe to try, and this tart coming to my mind, but as I have very conventional oven, it is not easy to bake the traditional cantonese egg tart, hence I chose this Portugese egg tart, due to the oven condition and temp.

Recipe is based on Easy Recipe cookbook which I bought.

Recipe:

Ingredients of crust:  

• 200 gm  plain flour
• 25 gm cake flour
• 125 gm  butter 
• 55 gm  icing sugar (I think 50gm should be enough)
• 1 egg, whisked 
• a dash  vanilla extract

Ingredients of custard:: 

• 2 eggs
• 70 gm  caster sugar (I shall try to reduce to 60gm, still too sweet for me)
• 150 gm hot water
• 75 gm evaporated milk 
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Happy trying, I think this is good for afternoon tea.

pumpkin pie/bread

well, since I am crazy about Pumpkin, hence been looking for and trying different recipes, and this is one of them. Actually, I wanted to try this recipe in full, but since I do not have all the ingredients and wanting to try something different, I add in my tangzhong, and hence, I have different outcome, which looks more like a pie rather than a bread to me.1 1/2 - teaspoons nutmeg

Origina recipe

1 - teaspoon cinnamon 

1 1/2 - cups Truvia Baking Blend (brown sugar, I use normal white sugar, only 1 cup instead)

1/2 - cup canola oil

1/2 - cup unsweetened applesauce (I do not have this)

2/3 - cups water

1 - cup canned pumpkin 

3 - cups self rising flour, sifted (do not substitute)

50gm tangzhong

Teh Tarik Macha leaf..chiffon cake

One of the best chiffon cake that I have made so far, modifying the recipe shared by Christine's recipe.

The recipe:

Ingredients of Earl Grey tea milk (Ingredient for teh tarik, macha leaf

• 120 ml fresh milk (I use Japanese green tea, freshly brewed, then add in a pack of The tarik, 3 in one type)
• 6 gm (about 6 teaspoons) Earl Grey loose leaves (did not use this)

Ingredients:

• 5 egg yolks (Eggs-Type B)
• 20 gm castor sugar (only use 17gm)
• 110 ml Earl Grey tea milk -as mentioned above, I added in a bit of the green tea leaf
• 100 gm cake flour 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 80 ml canola oil 

Ingredients of meringue:

• 5 egg whites 
• ½ tsp cream of tartar 
• 60 gm castor sugar

Temperature: Varies between 150-170 C.

Shared with cake with friends and feedback was positive. This colour looks so nice and beautiful.

I love this recipe.