UTOPIA

Tenji2 Japanese Buffet

2012-01-27T16:24:00.002+08:00

The department lunch was being held sometime last week.

After much consideration, we have chosen Tenji2...

Well, they have aplenty of food choices

ranging from raw to cooked, and not to mention a huge selection of Soba, with its condiments...

a whole bar for sushi, but somehow it doesn't taste fresh, the rice was abit hardened as if it was left overnight

and more sushi's at another counter

kimchi, some seaweed and preserved stuffs

if you wish to place your order for them to cook some ala-carte, here's the place!
u can order grilled chicken wing too...

the dining area

the round-table dining area

japanese-seating dining area

separated with doors

and now, back to the foods....

they have some raw seafood

and ready-made fishballs, crabmeat, processed meat for your steamboat

and the below are some hot dishes, their fried salmon is yummie!

and the tempura counter...it is also one of the most popular among the patrons, as most of the fried stuffs being emptied the moment it was being served!

and they have various sauces to go with the steamboat and tempuras

dessert was ice-cream, though not much choices

but u can also opt for "ice kacang"

some cookies

and some fruits to dip into chocolate fondue

bon appetit!

Kenny Rogers Roaster

2012-01-26T17:13:00.001+08:00

One of my favourite food chain is none other than Kenny Rogers Roaster. When it was first introduced in the country, their restaurant was packed and the queue was long.

As time goes by, people may have tasted it too often and there no longer have long queue...

but instead, long wait!

I'd prefer to queue at the counter and wait for my turn to choose my dishes rather than being served at table and endure the long wait, besides having to be charged 10% for service!

anyhow, minus the extra charges aside, their side dishes are still my favorite

especially the coleslaw, potato salad and mashed potato!

not to mention also their vanilla muffin is still the best muffin that i have ever tasted!

too bad, the roaster was just so-so!

well, the pictures may be deceiving, despite the chicken abit dry, somehow, the above picture can still get me droolin'

bon appetit!

And I am the new Project Manager...

2012-01-26T17:11:00.000+08:00

It such a kind of them to send me this card!

New Year card from Thailand (above)

oh btw, after being officially assigned as the Project Manager taking over Senegal projects, all sorts of mail including hardcopies being diverted to me...

The brown envelope shown here is my first hardcopy mail from Senegal!

i m still overwhelmed with my new role and the tasks given...

WISH ME LUCK!

Local Craving - Curry Noodle

2012-01-26T17:04:00.000+08:00

I used to favor this curry noodle at the neighborhood morning market.

Not b'coz it is nicer than any other place, but i get to observe a variety of people's behavior while enjoying my hot & spicy bowl from this corner stall.

Observant? not at all...

just abit of KPC (kay-po-chi)

well, the noodle isn't someting to shout about, but it has a few extra ingredients where we can hardly see in any other version.

Here, it has barbequed pork (char siew)

fried wonton

chicken slices

long bean

fried fermented bean curd (taufu pok)

and to kick in some spice, add-in a spoonful of belacan (chilli paste) on top of it!

it sure leave u screaming and sweating throughout ur eating ordeal!

An affair

2012-01-21T16:07:00.000+08:00

Me & my "office darling" used to have an affair during our lunchtime at a secret meet-up place by the pool site ;-)

Leisure Time

2012-01-20T16:38:00.003+08:00

I miss the moment when i have much leisure time during the end of Dec 2011...

things could go tremendously opposite the week after, and things could change drastically with a different dimension in jst one nite!

horrible isn't it?

Nothing is constant...

The only constant thing is changes...

it happens every single moment, and it is scary

certain things are just hard to let go...

but i have to let go my friendship and mutual trust...

just hoping that one day they will realized...

that i m doin it all with good intention and with pure heart ;-)

Midnite Review

2012-01-20T16:31:00.003+08:00

This would be my first & last proposal review...

Till then, au lang syne and I will move on...

to a greenier pasture and to a far-away land...

half the globe away...

i'm gonna miss this moment ;-)

Happy Chinese New Year!

2012-01-20T15:40:00.002+08:00

I dun usually go to shopping malls to have a look-and-feel of the CNY decor...

but jst happened that i passed-by Cheras Leisure Mall as it was an outing with colleague...

it was full of ambience with a pair of dragon hanging from both corners, surrounded with many red lanterns!

over at the office, my cubicle is being blessed with a mini-sized mandarin orange, very 'ket lei' wan...

and i spread my 'ket lei' to other cubicles too!

some artist created a masterpiece on the oranges!

till then

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR !!!

Chatime

2012-01-20T13:57:00.000+08:00

An outlet has been opened nearby my area.

The place is cosy, and sometimes packed with patrons.

My first debut of Chatime...is Lemon Honey

and 2 days later, i went to buy their infamous pearl milk tea...

tasted so-so oni, the pearl is munchable but hard to digest!

My new handbag!

2012-01-20T02:18:00.003+08:00

a gift to myself for best achievement in year 2011...wuakakakaka!

do u likey?

Commercial Buildings and the Office

2012-01-19T19:35:00.000+08:00

Surprisingly, despite a small company, the office in Hanoi is decorated with various paintings...

the below was claimed to be coated with gold!

on another side of the wall, 3 paintings hung side-by-side

the antz!

a closer view of my fav piece of art...

and the 'ancient coin' painting at the entrance!

it seems that the boss is also a re-seller of paintings...with some ranging up to 20K USD per piece!

i wonder which one is that?

outside the building, while waiting for the taxi back to hotel...my itchy hand snapped a few pictures...

Hanoi is an artistic place, even their tiles are colourful and nice looking!

their buildings are not too commercial...with some being SoHo

just like this office-cum-residential building

there are also some new ones which looks modern, like the one below...

and some colonial buildings built during the pre-war era

as mentioned, Hanoi is a very artistic place, even the internal flooring has tiles with paintings on it!

this place is really full of surprise and varieties...

finally, the bird-eye view of the city from the office...it was hazy on that day....or should i say the city is hazy all the time???

there goes my 2-day trip in Hanoi city...

Vietnamese Dining Experience

2012-01-16T20:05:00.000+08:00

When i was in Vietnam, the sales guy brought me to various fine dining places to enjoy the authentic vietnamese cuisine or mayb some of it, fusion of french-vietnamese food...

somehow, most of the restaurant are in vietnamese name, hence i could hardly recall them!

all i can say is that most of such restaurant are nicely decorated with western interior

very Hanoi-style...

though the interior looks western, it has some influence of local taste...just like their food

the below was my plate for breakfast, taken from their buffet line with lotsa choices ranging from southern, eastern and western

and i m gonna miss it!

On my second day, the sales guy took me and a few biz partners to this cafe located at the heart of Hanoi city.

the below picture shows the sideway walk, and some street vendors will sell their items from the basket as they travel on feet.

some stalls outside the place, along the pathway

inside the restaurant, i ordered ice blended mango for a hot day

and the set lunch that i ordered...it tasted so-so only...the pork chop was too dry and hard!

thankfully the lousy lunch has been compensated with a hearty dinner of 4 dishes comprising of vege, beancurd, fish and beef...

i was too hungry then to snap picture of each and every dishes

my hearty meal was supplemented with cashew nuts and Vietnamese iced coffee, yummielicious!

till then, bon appetit!

Microsoft Windows Server 8 Sharing Session

2012-01-12T19:47:00.000+08:00

It just happened that i was clearing leave on Dec month-end, and somehow an ex-colleague texted me to attend this so-called his debut talk in an Microsoft sharing event.

This was the first time of me attending such technical sharing session on a product that is yet to be in the market.

also, it was also my first time listening to his talk

despite not knowing much about the product, i gained some insights on how the virtualization works in MS Windows Server 8, and also some knowledge on bitlocker vs trucript

the event ended at 6...i was darn tired by then coz of the yellow fever jab that i took that morning...

but anyhow, seeing my ex-colleague now who is so successful has inspire me to be like him, someone who put interest in his job. Working is not just for the sake of getting things done but also as part of interest and learning process. And eventually success will come after.

Food Craving - Assam Laksa Noodle

2012-01-12T18:50:00.000+08:00

By now, you must tink that i m a maniac who keep on posting food pictures to make u guys hungry and drooling!

Perhaps yes, but nothing can stop me by doing so, so much so for a food enthusiast who keeps on craving for....all types of food!

And this isn't the first time of me posting Assam Laksa on this blog...

i just luv tis sinful, hot & spicy & sourish spongy rice noodles!

Food Craving - Wonton Noodle

2012-01-12T18:37:00.000+08:00

I craved for alot of foods lately, with one of them being the dried wonton noodles.

Well, i prefer both soup-based as in HK version but the local version is not bad too!

I just luv the spongy noodles and the succulent char-siew (barbequed pork slice) blended together...

not to miss out, the wontons....

gosh...i m droolin' now!

Masquerade

2012-01-12T18:18:00.003+08:00

The much awaited company annual dinner was held in mid-Dec 2011.

Why is it much awaited?

Nope, not b’coz of it’s mischievous theme. “Masquerade” is definitely a great theme but not to someone who dislike pretending ‘mysterious’.

Anyhow, it was held at the same venue as last year, Shang-ri La Hotel, with food sucks like hell...i wonder why they still choose this place despite the lousiest food I ever had!

My matching handbag with the flower-steel necklace

the masquerade mask which i eventually did not wear

N’way, good thing is that my teammate won something from the lucky draw!!! A Samsung Galaxy Tab!

And not to miss out the opportunity to hold his ‘luck’…(hey, wadhaya tinkin?!!) I faster grab that poster and snap a photo with it…with the hope that I could have some of his luck on the next draw!

Photo taken on 16 Dec, 2011

Fast forward half month later….

December birthday bash organized by HR, 30 Dec 2011…

I almost wanting to skip it, despite being a December baby, coz firstly I was on LEAVE on that day hence lazy to go back office, and secondly, I was about to be late for sure as I was still in IOI Mall when the party is about to start. Nevertheless, I managed to reach there @ 4:45pm, and guess what??

It was yet to start and hence I still stand a chance to witness the lucky draw. Rule of the game: Only those who present will be qualified to claim their gift.

And while I dun expect to be drawed, the luck strikes me!

I won one of the 3 angpows given out by company in the lucky draw! Wow! Cash prize of $100! (okay, cheapskate me, but it is still MONEY!) woo-hoo!!!

Food Craving - Nasi Lemak

2012-01-09T20:47:00.003+08:00

When it comes to local food, nothing beats my cravings for a plate of hot nasi lemak

(cococut milk rice)

I just luv how it is being served on a big plate!

was having a breakfast 'promotion' in KLCC the other day when i wasn't working...

life is such a bliss when we can stroll around places, enjoying sips of "teh tarik"and a nice plate of "nasi lemak"!

i will definately miss nasi lemak alot if i m to leave this place!

Mon Boulangerie

2012-01-09T20:37:00.000+08:00

With nothing much to do and wanting to try out the new eatery place, i blindly walked into this restaurant to satisfy my cravings.

Well, no regrets, the food portion was H.U.G.E

not to mention the price is reasonable too! it's real deal that values for ur $

never in my life to see a huge set of chicken maryland!

the piece it is almost the size of the plate...

the entire set comes with a big piece of fried boneless chicken meat, sunny-side-up egg, a hotdog, mashed potato, mushroom sauce and a fresh garden salad in thousand island sauce!

it was very filling and delicious!

the ambience was nice too

besides, the interior is enuff to capture ones attention

thumbs up for the owner for taking effort in decorating the entire place...making it so cosy and homely

every corner is hung with paintings and arts

there were also some cookies sold at the entrance

I luv their christmas cakes, though mini, it was crowded with fruits

do u see that clock? I shall get one in my new home!

the wall paintings are just so nice and artistic

it was christmas season then, the curtain has some snowflake pattern

not just that, it is all over the glass panel too!

there will definately be a second visit for me...

like it to the MAX!

Food Craving - Fish Head Noodle

2012-01-09T20:08:00.000+08:00

i m so craving for fish head noodle now...

with the milky creamy soup

and the bits and pieces of succulent fish...

Training @ Sunway

2012-01-04T22:23:00.001+08:00

My darn good boss had alwiz wanted us to polish and excel in our area...

but v r a bunch of stoopid people...

hence all of us being sent out for a 2-day course training...

despite that...the bunch of hopeless us oni fool around...and not paying attention to the speaker...

but when it comes to food...we were all awake!

unfortunately, it was just so-so...though the dessert was nice

it was buffet style...hence a lil' bit of everyting

the fish with yam noodle is someting new...

tastewise so-so

ambience is okay

we were being fed well during the training...till i fell asleep in the class session...

am i hopeless enuff???

Foolin' Around

2012-01-04T22:06:00.002+08:00

It has been more than a year since I last had my real “holiday”…I mean being carefree from responsibilities and workload!

The 4^th quarter of 2010 till the entire year 2011 has been very hectic and dynamic as I worked so ‘hard’ to adapt to the fast changing environment, but not enjoying my life well enuff. Thankfully my boss is so darn good to let me “OFF” (of course by utilizing my annual leave!). Hence I can go foolin’ around…

After my Vietnam assignment, I was like….having my next “honeymoon”…i had a great time "holiday-ing"!

Despite living in the city, i hardly stop-by to enjoy the every corner of it...and this was the very few opportunities that i have to loiter around the city...

Not oni that, i m pleased with accomplishing my wish-list:

1. Do my shopping like there is no tomoro. I conquered the major malls in KL and PJ, enjoying the Christmas deco….such a wonderful life when my colleagues were still battling with ‘work war’ in the office!

2. Attended my nephew full moon feast.

3. Attended my cousin bro wedding.

4. Attended my schoolmates wedding, yeah, they married each other! Oh so nice to wed your high skool sweetheart!

5. Went to service my car.

6. Went for annual dinner.

7. Had numerous birthday feasts with families & colleagues!

8. Get a haircut.

9. Polished my nails.

10. Got myself a ring, nope not a wedding ring!

11. Got myself a handbag, after years of using the old one!

12. Do some banking and recalculate my worth...

13. Stroll around Petaling Street, too bad it has changed so much that I dun feel like being in the Chinatown.

14. Went back to my Form 6 school, after leaving school for 10 years!

15. Went to Cheras Leisure Mall…yeapz u read it rite! I m so longing to go to this lil’ mall when there are plenty of bigger malls out there…Anyhow, is good to be there again after 15 years!

16. Claimed my free movie ticket and watched “Puss the Boots”..i fell asleep in the cinema...and I dun manage to watch the ending...too bad!

17. Taken my jab, finally!

18. Went for my ex-colleague seminar…first time seeing him speaking on stage after knowing him for more than half decade. And now he is speaking @ Microsoft event!

19. And I managed to drop by my old office using his access card….nostalgic visit in the evening!

20. Bought myself a book!

21. Strolled around the neighbourhood shopping district for clothes but found nothing special, nevertheless was glad that I finally hav ventured that area after 1.5 year of longing to do so!

22. Tried a variety of foods that I longed for months…nasi lemak, assam laksa, curry noodle, chicken chop, big mac, prosperity burger, fish head noodle, wanton noodle…I gained so much weight now!

23. Camwhore in the fitting room!

There was just so much leisure during the entire month of December that I felt like having a whole-month holiday! Finally, I have accomplished some of my long awaited wish…Alrite, is time to get back to work!

The Wedding

2012-01-04T21:43:00.001+08:00

Nope, it isn't my wedding...

It was my cousin bro...

And i can't help myself from being fascinated with some of his wonderful bridal photos...

It was taken @ both KL and Taipei

i jst luv the backdrop

it was so 'grand-ish'

and...sweet!

and the couple is really photogenic!

okay, back to the wedding itself...it was held on mid of December...at a very humble church in the city center

so glad to see him wed his college sweetheart...well they hav been dating for 10 years!

the one-and-oni that is meant for each other...

the groom may now kiss the bride!

smooooch...

the black merz as wedding car

luncheon was served after the solemnization service

yummy food! another feasting moment in the year-end!

and now...the most popular question among the aunties

who's next?

Last Christmas (Part II)

2012-01-04T21:31:00.000+08:00

Apart from malls, i also went snappin' pictures @ some major hotels in KL & PJ...it just happened that i was there for some occasion & i can't help myself from capturing the so-called "most-wonderful-time-of-the-year"....indeed it was!

Here's some from Sunway Pyramid Resort Hotel

And the below were taken @ Shangri-La Hotel

what did i get on my final day in the office?

let's see...

thanks so much to my colleague for tis wonderful gift...and i shall see her 11 days later!

woo-hoo...loooooongggg holidayz!

Last Christmas

2012-01-04T21:11:00.001+08:00

Had been conquering the malls on the last holiday season
it was the year-end sales...

Christmassy tunes filled up the air and blinking lights and ornaments decorated all over the place!
Some photos taken...

The Gardens

and Mid Valley Megamall

here's one from Suria KLCC

and Sunway Pyramid

i miss the holidays!

Vietnamese French Fusion Cuisine

2011-12-24T00:29:00.000+08:00

The sales manager whom i went with for this trip brought me to savor some "good" food around in Hanoi.

Thought that this time i can sample some exotic stuff, such as dog meat...but nope, i was being brought to some fine dining instead...

in their fusion-style restaurant

The starter was fish soup & cream soup with rice biscuit

the below is also part of "starter" which is seafood in dunno-what sauce.

It consists of raw salmon slice, squid, scallop, shrimps, oyster...

it was so creamy that i felt full rite after that dish

then the tamarind sherbet was served, before the main meal

here is the main meal, scallops!

i forgot what sauce was that, but it was yummy...

dessert, which was egg custard with vanilla ice-cream and a slice of cake in between

i was too full after the entire meal, hence with nothing much to do, while my mouth is munching food, my hand is busy snappin' pictures

of their pattern-ed floor tiles!

Bon Appetit!