Penang trip n chendols!

Penang was a good trip just to relax especially after all the rushing around. We stayed at Hydro Majestic hotel which was a nice place to stay in near the beach. We didnt go to any beaches or anything because we only had one day there and we wanted to eat as much as we can.

The night we arrived we ate so much and still had supper because we wanted to fit in all the food before we leave the next day! It was like abusing our bodies man! The ochien was yum, i like the part which the corn flour and Marc likes the egg so the oyster part no one really like...

Tried the chendol at Penang road and it didnt taste as great as it did a few years back ;( The ice kajang tasted much better!!! It seems like I was drinking coconut milk instead!


This chendol was at penang cafe at the curve.


One of the best chendol I've tasted was durian chendol in Melaka. This chendol is what I prefer - something not so "coconuty" but when mixed together it gives the perfect mix of red bean, jelly, ice and coconut milk not to forget the brown sugar too!:


We tried thier assam laska and kuay teow there too.

Hong Kong

During our trip in Hong Kong, it was basically raining the whole time we were there! We had to borrow the hotel's umbrella and pay a deposit everytime we used it!

Hong Kong is definately very vibrant and colourful with all the lights at night. It is very crowded and packed, and I thought Singapore was bad but it's like 10 times worst!!!

I am amazed at the differences and similarities between Hk and other parts of Asia. Breakfast was a good experience here because some places did not have english in their menus so we had to point to pictures!

A typical breakfast here is a either macoroni soup with ham and egg or egg sandwich or congee or dim sum. They seem to have eggs and ham everywhere we go!



Simple egg sandwich with milk tea



This breakfast place we went to only sold Chee cheong fan, congee and soya bean milk (which I believe they made themselves):



On my last day in HK, I still have not tried the polo bun that I came here for so amazingly we went to this cafe and they had it there!!!
It is very big with a slab of butter inside it, I wouldnt say it was that great but with my milk tea anything taste good.



Talking about similarties, you don't actually have to travel all that far to get similar food back home like this in Ipoh: Kaya toast and milk tea. Yes I love my milk tea and Im starting to like the Xi Mut tea at Old white town coffee now everywhere in KL. Probably more popular for Malaysians than Starbucks!



As for ice Kajang and the lot, you also can find it back home. At the shopping mall beside our hotel, we decided to have dessert at one of this japanese restaurant that sells the most amazing desserts i've never seen in my life! There were so many to choose from and I honestly wanted to try them all but just stuck to what I knew best - red bean green tea shaved ice topped with ice cream. I can't believe I finished the whole thing myself! - It was huge! That's probably how I put on the weight! ok part of it anyways!

Short trip back to Singapore

We decided to drop by Singapore for a day since we happen to be in JB so might as well.

For dinner, we decided to have chicken rice and stopped by Bugis to meet up with a few friends and oh my goodness I am amazed at the change! At the basement of Bugis used to be a food court and a few shops in the middle selling bags and the like. Now, it's filled with more food and more food!

It looks like a night market where they sell all kinds of finger food except that it is in the shopping mall with air conditioning inside. There were lots of new food concepts that I've never seen before. There were food from Taiwan, China, Korea, Japan etc etc it felt like I was in Taiwan or something! "(even though I've never been to Taiwan but it looks like those markets I see on TV)

Mochi Ice cream with all different flavours, you can buy these in a box like how you would buy moon cakes etc:



Fried stuff on sticks:



Korean food: Meat on sticks



Pancakes: this one was always there but had to take a picture of it since I didnt have one this time



I was going to take more pictures but I felt really weird standing there in the midst of everyone looking so I only managed to take a few.

I wanted to buy and try everything but obviously that is impossible because we were going to have dinner and I can't finish everything?? But I had to try something so I tried this otah thing which again is a new concept for me because I've seen Otah in the leaf but not like this. It's called Otah taquito and there were a few flavours: Crab, chicken, prawn, nyonya and I tried the crappy I meanet crabby one. It tasted abit like crepes but with that Otah spicy taste.



Too bad I didnt have much time there to look around...next time.

KL - parts of the trip

First day in KL dad bought us chee cheong fan from the market and it was absolutely delicious! I especially like the sweet sauce and I could probably just eat the cheong fan with the sauce FULL STOP.



Dim sum in KL is yum too! We went to this place where they make the dim sum themselves and they are so cute! The sizes of the dishes were so small compared to the ones in NZ! The big Pao was so HUGE but was really delicious as you bite into the egg and meat and the juice of the meat comes out!




Had many other food here but didn't take much photos of them.

One thing I've started to enjoy is eating Bak Ku Teh. However, ever since dad brought us to this place in Klang I've had second thoughts. The meat was so tender and the soup was delicious! Too bad I didnt take any pictures of it however, I do have this picture of Bak Ku Teh we had somewhere in Subang and it's very different as they have more added ingredients to the dish.



Went to Kim Gary during our stay here as well because I really enjoy eating HK food but this time the food does not seem to be that great. Thank God there were other things to go with that like this red bean shaved ice hahaha...and of cause the ying yang cha.


Another new thing I've tasted is hawaiian roti...instead of the normal roti or even the cheese or kaya one... there is a hawaiian roti. Inside is as you expect pineapple and sausages topped with mayo. It was an interesting taste.


Banana leaf rice was something I've heard of but never actually seen before. I was amazed at how it works! They used banana leaf as the plate and the waiter will come and dish the food onto the leaf. You will get a few veges as side, rice and curry of your choice!

Organisational Rhythm

At church tonight Pastor Paul shared about being in rhythm and how having the rhythm will help us focus and stay on course on our mission.

He shared about how momentum is the outcome of both the acceptance of the mission and the degree of rhythm attained throughout the team.

Resetting Rhythm

1) Live with clarified purpose
2 Tim 1:8-13
2) Have an intentional focus
3) Committed in spirit

I thought this was quite cool: if we don't deal with our disappointments, it will become discouragement and if we don't deal with discouragement it becomes disengagement.

An unchecked environment reveals what is in our spirit.

Deep...very cool thought about how in our lives, in our church to keep that rhythm going we need to think about the above points. It is what keeps us going.

Bananas

Today the weather looked groomy and I had bananas in the fridge to finish up before I go so I decided to try a new recipie, this time with crumb topping like the ones you find on apple crumbles.

After baking and eating I went to one of my fav chinese bakery again to get my pork floss bun and banana cake...sigh I need to stop buying all these bakeries!!! Btw, I know I just made muffins and had some and u're probably asking why I still went to the bakery??? Yap...welcome to Ching's world. I don't know myself!

Banana Crumb Muffins
Original recipe yield:
10 muffins

PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 20 Min
READY IN 35 Min

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10
muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.

In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking
powder and salt.

In another bowl, melted butter, sugar, egg, and mashed bananas

Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

Crumble topping:

In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and
cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse
cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick
inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.



The muffins look burnt because of the crumb topping caused by the brown sugar so it's not me that burnt it ok ;)

Addiction

Being addicted to the Word of God is the same method of being addicted to other things in life. The more we put ourselves in it, the more it consumes our physical and mental life. Yet I find it so hard. How easy it is to be addicted to other things and simple things like coffee, work, stuff...but where it really matters is our hearts.

How often do we check our hearts so that when Jesus comes or when things happens we are ready, or perhaps more ready than not?

To walk in faith and power in my life I need to cultivate that hunger to read more of God's word, to draw from his word so that in whatever I go through my thoughts and actions comes from God.

Heb 4:12-13

The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double egded sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it jugdes the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

His word is full of wisdom and guidance. It is so true that as we trust in him and put him in the centre of our lives he brings peace and love. Perfect love casts our fear.

John 11:37

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, steams of living water will flow from within him.

When I'm tired, go to God
When I'm confused,go to God
When I'm dry, go to God

Drink, consume, draw, take from the Lord, for his spirit will give us strength from within. A spirit that is living because God is a living God that enables us to do great things if only we believe!

Life is not meant to be done alone, no man is created to be an isolated island but to be in relationship with the Lord.

What makes a good coffee

I have no idea what really makes a good coffee. For me, it's all about the texture of the milk, the foam, the coffee beans and of cause the chocolate and marshmallow or even better some cafes serve it with chocolate fish!

At the moment from memory I know that the cafe downstairs at 277 n columbus cafe Sylvia Park serves it with chocolate fishes!

I also like the way the top of the coffee is designed. I wonder how they do all those patterns! I know they use a spoon or toothpick but I just wonder how they do it.

Chilling out

Had lunch at Columbus Cafe in Sylvia Park. Columbus cafe has very nice cabinet food and mum's fav is lamb shanks with roasted potatoes at the side. I tried this thai pumpkin soup with toasted bread at the side. It was very creamy and nice but was not very hot as in it was still cold. I'm pretty impressed with the picture taken by my phone.



Drinking soup makes winter seems more real...made me think about the time this guy came into work at Euroasia and shared with us how he helps put together cook books and how for winter it's mainly about soups and winter food. I'm still in awe at how many different ideas and recipies can people come up with! Inspired.

Tonight friends are coming over for dinner and for dessert since it's cold I felt like baking apple crumble topped with ice cream for dessert.

I found this recipie online but altered the recipie a little. We had it with vanilla ice cream while the pie was still warm and it tasted divine!

Ingredients
250 g very soft butter (but not melted)
3/4 cup castor sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla essence
grated rind of one orange (I used a lil Lemon rind instead)
2 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsps baking powder
400g can Diced apples (I used sliced apples)
icing sugar to serve with

Method

1. In a bowl or food processor beat together the butter, castor sugar, egg, vanilla essence and orange rind until creamy and well mixed.
2. Add the flour and baking powder and stir or pulse to mix well.
3. Spread 2/3rds into the base of a well greased and floured 23cm loose bottom cake tin.
4. Spread over the Diced Apple.
5. With floured hands dot the remaining dough over the top.
6. Bake at 190oC for 40 minutes.



There are many apple desserts to try but it's best served warm with ice cream/cream on top for a nice winter's dessert!

Bon A petit!

Beautiful

I just thought of spending time this morning admiring the beautiful things that is around us. God is so beautiful, simple and everything about him is about beauty!One of my favourite books Captivating shares about how we as females are created to show off his beauty and how we should be treated as his daughters!

The picture of the fallen leaves was taken while walking to church one Sunday and it was such a beautiful day with the peaceful slience around me. I walked through the leaves kicking them as I stepped on them admiring the beautiful colours and how it contrasted with the road, the houses, the trees.



As I'm writing this, a very old but good song popped into my head :

Something beautiful,
Something good.
All my confusion he understood
All I have to offer him was brokennes and strive
But he made something
Beautiful of my life

This song reminds me of how God does not look at our brokenness and how weak we are. In fact he uses our weaknesses and mould us into his image - Beauty. How awesome is he that even though we as humans are not worthy he loves us so much that he wants us to become something he intended us to be!

Kingdom Heaven Keys

Today was my last day of work before I go for my 3 weeks holiday to Hong Kong and Malaysia. I am so looking forward to it.

I went for a foot reflexology at Sante Spa today because I needed a massage so badly. The lady who massaged me spent more time on my shoulders and neck because she could feel lots of tension there and told me I should have done a body massage instead! After that massage I honestly felt like I could do with so much more!

After massage went home and prepared mee rebus for dinner. I just used one of those prima premade sauces and bought fresh noodles and bean spouts. It was a quick and delicious meal just before going to life group.

Life group...didn't feel like going at all but after praying for a friend of mine on the phone prior to preparing dinner I felt so much better. I was reminded of how Satan wants to STEAL KILL AND DESTROY us and rob us of our joy, our future and our relationships! Satan always uses the same old tricks in his book and we always fall for it. It's so true though how Satan uses the things that we are weak in and we know in our spirit that it's not right but we still fall into it. It is definately a choice that we have to make to step into the spirit man and flee from temptation!

So...I went to life group and there were only a few of us - the smallest in numbers I've ever been to. It was good - small and intimate. We talked about Pastor Paul's sermon on the key of commitment to multiplication.

The scripture reference was based on the talents Mat 25:14-30 on how the ones that were given the talents went out to trade to gain more and the one that did not was lazy and did not use what was given to him to multiply.

Multiplication based on 4 keys:

1) Identifying and value the gifts that we have
- Need to stir up the gifts within us and be BOLD and use it to build God's kingdom.
2) Invest beyond self
- By focusing on what GOd wants, we will be fruitful and there will be discord and confusion
3) Need to empower and increase through hard work
- Need to put in the hard work and glorify God through our hands
- Bringing the Kingdom of Heaven down to Earth
4) Make decisions of completion
- Finishing what we begin, marriage, work, writing, and just being discipline in what God has called us to start.

Malaysian dinner at home

Today is Queen's birthday so no work today. Spent my day just at home watching dvd and being lazy. Having bad headaches lately which I am not sure why but it's been very uncomfortable. Walked to Charmaine's place and waited for Siaw Hui to come back to prepare all her specialities!!!

She made Kolo mee, Chicken rice and Laksa!!! She is so good in preparing all these being out the WHOLE afternoon!!! I honestly felt like I didn't have to go back to Malaysia if I get this everyday!

Not only was the food good, another good thing happened today.
Ken proposed today at Bastion Point! So sweet...at last! haha congrats to them ay and what was amazing was she had to worry about preparing the dishes for all of us tonight too!! Well done Siaw Hui!

I wanted to take some videos to show mum and dad but they were too shy so I didnt manage to take Ken's speech but it was definately very unexpected and I'm so happy for them and my to be sister in law!



It was a very full night with lots of cakes and conversations about different cultures and how different cultures had different traditions in marriage!!!

Ok about the food, I didnt manage to take the rest of the food but this picture of kolo mee really looks like the ones that are being made at the hawker where they pull the noodles to mix with the gravy!



And Voila! The perfect kolo mee home made! Yummmmm