Friday, August 17, 2007

Free Lunch at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

Met up with my good friend...the lovely Melissa yesterday...and both of us were treated for a buffet lunch - Negeri Sembilan cuisine at the Circle Restaurant, LMKK. Thanks to Kenneth! Debbie joined us too...we gossip, we laugh-laugh and eat as much as we can. The food..of course pedas-pedas and oklah still can telan..but it was the dessert that I go for..kahaha.

I don't remember the name of the dishes..cos main hantam get whatever I see..gudoot! But I know got kambing rendang, Negeri Sembilan's sup laksa, telur itik and telur masin, grilled ikan pari-pari (I don't know how to eat that) and etc. Ate appetizer, soup and main course in one time.







Now dessert time...yummy..yum..mixed of ice-cream sundae (we did our own toppings), local kuehs and western cakes...look at Melissa enjoying her sundae...tempted?





Took another photo..when everyone is full and bloated..see..terlampau cinta kolesterol...my blouse punya button pun mau terkeluar already..malulah.

If you like spicy food, go try lah....

Thursday, August 16, 2007

If I were to have a tattoo?

Having a tattoo on my body is in my wish list. I don't know when or I'm not sure if I'll ever get one..but I would love to...I could imagine the pain I have to go through...the needle cutting through my flesh and then blood flowing..ouccchh! If I want to have a tattoo...my design would be either the Madonna and Child or my daughter CJ...or perhaps I'll have both instead.


Madonna & Child (Painting by Bernadino-Luini)


My daughter CJ

Here's another version of Madonna and Child..(of course not for tattoo..just sekadar gambar hiasan)


Art by Jon Rose


Madonna (the singer) and her adopted child from Africa

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

1st Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival on 11 August 2007




Listening to Jazz music from the distance.....


With Flory and Debbie....eh..ada gaya macam artis kah?



Last Saturday (11 Aug), hanged out with Debbie, Flory and some new friends that I just met like Benny, Gabriel (a guy from the US and Deb's new acquaintance from Couch Surfer.com) at the Jesselton Point where the 1st KK Jazz Festival cum Charity Concert were also held. We did not buy any tickets cos it is so damm expensive..cost like RM50 & RM100 and we don't know and not sure how's the quality of the performance yet so we just listen from a far sambil we makan our dinner at the boardwalk area.

By curi-curi listening from the distance which is good enough than paying RM50, there were more performances by local acts such as the Jesselton or Jazzelton (?) Quintet, Mia Palencia & Roger Wang of Double Take and students from the Sabah Institute of Art (SIA) and West Malaysian's Farid Ali played the Gambus with a Jazz touch...which sounded really good and cool actually than what I've expected..of course it sounds better with other accompaniments like the drums and bass guitar than just the Gambus itself. And then the international performers are Son2Nos from Venezuela and Denise Mininfield from the US. I like Mia Palencia's jazz rendition of Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean'. I say..overall, the music was a-okay and pretty inspiring except for one or two local soloist..their voice was a bit out and Jazzless. Inspired me to want to learn how to sing jazz now....maybe if there's a 2nd KK Jazz Festival next year, see lah..I might go this time. I LOVE JAZZ even moreeeee now.

Here's some photos..courtesy of Benny..he's a cool guy with a big and nice camera..and expensive too..see pic below..see what I mean..hehe..(if you wanna know you can check his blog at www.limadang.com). Anyway, thanks for the pics Benny!




Mia Palencia & Roger Wang (Double Take)



The two handsome hunks from Son2Nos




Farid Ali with his Gambus

Friday, August 10, 2007

Picasso Wannabe

I am a huge fan of modern art especially abstract ones...like the paintings of Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kadinsky (not sure if I got his name right). I enjoyed visiting the Sabah Art Gallery during my singlehood days. I have not been there recently but I remembered clearly that there's a lot of great works by our local artiste. I was so inspired that I too jadi a Picasso wannabe..konon. I did a few paintings a few years ago..one or two got lost somewhere in the closet but I found my sketch book and I saw my so called art masterpieces....makes me want to start painting again. I admit am not really good in arts..but painting abstract is easy..cos you simply just paint like no meaning one..but of course you have to think of a title before or after that.

Children at Play (2005)

Tsunami 2004 (2005)

Have a nice weekend!

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Junk Collector

I think these stuffs are cute..I really like! Ya..ya..ya...I know..say I am a bit childish (?). I am still very much a child at heart and nothing wrong in that as long as I am happy..I don't want to end up being a mama tua...hahaha.




Bought them during my last trip to Labuan in June this year, at first I thought of buying them for friends but I end up keeping them. The little paper bags are meant to put the gifts and duty free/cheap chocolates for giving to friends..but I like them too...mmm..me..what a bad friend.☹





I collect things..some are junks..(don't hairan..I even collect candy & chocolate wrappers..who knows these junks could be valuable/priceless in the future..in 20 years time or so..if I am still alive by then..palis-palis/touch wood..kekeke) I am now starting to collect handphone accessories. And oh yes..I love to shop for stationeries especially notebooks...those cute and cool ones..eh..remember the buku 555..I think that notebook is a classic...but I don't buy that one lah..my grandma has a few to record all the hutangs of people who comes to her old rice mill in the kampung a few years back.



I like this Junior Disney Princess Hansaplast..cute eh. It only cost RM6.60 from Guardian Pharmacy. I bought Shrek The Third and Winnie The Pooh the other time..very useful whenever I have a boo-boo..at least it looks better than using that ugly plain ol brown handiplast..which we use to call it.



This Power Puff Girls Tissues are cool too.

MICCI Sabah Branch Annual Luncheon on 7 August 2007

Phew! I am so glad and relieved now our Branch Annual Luncheon that was held 2 days ago at the Kimanis Ballroom, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu is OVER and I guess everything went well and smooth running as planned. The CM turn up..which was good and so did some of the Cabinet Ministers but of course there's some VIPs and invited guests didn't turn up at all and some cancelled their attendance at the last minute which is quite frustrating but it's okay..normal. We had 39 tables and the Ballroom was so cramped up. So far I received 2 comments..but nothing bad. I think my appearance looked terrible that day..my hair was abit messy and I am felt bloated..but of course I so 'bayi sihat' jugak bah (Sshh..I was on PMS..silakut..wrong timing bah) Anyways..I am stress free now..I wanna go treat myself something nice.








At the end of the day..It was a good job well done!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

I am back...from a whole morning of attending our Company's Committee Meeting and followed by Briefing on Human Resource Development Fund which I have coordinated. Good...that function is done and over with..now I have to concentrate with our Annual Luncheon to be held on 7 August at Kimanis Ballroom, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu and like the previous years, our Chief Minister is our Guest of Honour. I just hope he won't cancel his attendance at the last minute and get one of his Deputy CM to represent him. So far, I managed to get 38 tables (including tables for VIPs/invited guests) and 4 companies has yet to confirm if they are buying a table but seems like they would..most likely. But Kimanis Ballroom can only fit 40 tables comfortably. Most of the major hotels in Kota Kinabalu are members of our Chamber and its Hyatt turn this year to hold our luncheon..last year was Le Meridien KK and maybe next year back to Sutera Harbour Resort again...see we have to rotate...like giving chances..give these hotels some business...anyways...I am quite stressed up with this luncheon thing...but I am okay..use to it...ok enough about that or else I jadi crazy nanti.

Now...here's something very cute and interesting! I like...

I just love this cute illustrations of 'Mama' by one of my fav illustrator/artist/craft designer, Kim Kutner (Kim's Suitcase). Kindly check my 'The Creative Minds' Links.





Do you love jazz? I love jazz..who don't. To all Jazz lovers, check this out...



The Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu's 'The Atrium' on Sunday, July 29 and August 5 at 3.00pm - 5.00pm. Could be interesting.

Hey, do you love bananas...I'll go nuts about bananas...It's my favourite fruit..kalah my love for durians..hehe. Here's some interesting facts about bananas...if you already know or read it somewhere..good lah.

BANANA

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!
This is interesting. After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressured jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by nacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill of a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster of surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”

Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe…polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit! So go eat a banana today☺