Rare moments (once a year phenomena) - bustling night market in KK
KK's yearly tradition of night market on the night before New Year Eve. The whole town will be jam here and there. The price of fresh produce will of course be higher than normal. Hey, sellers - why ar??? Not all Chinese are bloody rich, ok. As a result, people would just go to these night market for the ambiance and merry sake. Oklah, may be will get one or two items since we jammed all the way here.
1st and 2nd day of Chinese New Year: Guess what? Markets and shops are not open. Lucky everyone had bought their week long supply of vegetables (which by the end of the week will become soggy). Even coffeeshops are not open for your regular tea, pau and siew mai session. So, time to learn how to bake!
Today is a historical day for me. Finally stepped into Kionsom for the first 24 years of my life. It's one of the nearest waterfall in Kota Kinabalu.
However, the waters today is very murky. I was told that usually the waters are clear but because it has been raining for the past few day, hence the Teh-C waterfall. Don't get thirsty, k ;-)
Entrance fee is RM1.50 per person. 15 minutes drive from Bukit Padang via the hills.
With Sarah, Serena and Arlene
Many staircases leading to different parts of the waterfall.
Teh-C buffet today.
I'm at the 3rd floor.
None of us girls feel tempted to take a dip today. We shall save it for another time when the water is clearer.
I'm also having a Christmas theme for my 'original' blog at Paw Scribbles for a festive cheer (I still keep the blog address).
Happy Holidays!
The scene at Sacred Heart, Kota Kinabalu after midnight mass. My first try on my Sony Ericsson's C905 panorama feature. Everything looks perfect except for one part.
The proton Iswara looked as though it whizzed too fast. But actually I din't connect the pictures properly..hehehehe
1st try lah!
25.12.2009
Finally changed my blog's theme!
I'm so not used to not being able to post my pictures extra large. Have to resize one of my Pangkor pictures.
Really glad my Birthday was after the exam. It was my first time celebrating it in KL. Supposedly I could've celebrated it with friends but because my mom was at KL that time....so...yeah.
But Dom took me to Shogun in Sunway Pyramid. Then I know he hid the new wing from me previously...so many new shops!
The Shogun in Sunway has a slightly different variety than the branch in 1Utama. Here, they have chocolate fondue and even ginseng tea! My dream to taste the fondue finally came true.
Mouth watering sushis....YUM YUM!
Birthday camwhoring session
Mom booked a night in Swiss Garden International Hotel. Facilities not bad but the location is a bit troublesome, difficult to travel except by taxi.
I don't know why sometimes taxis are unreasonable. Such a near distance from the hotel to KTM station Kuala Lumpur would cost RM15! Even when I took a taxi from LRT station Cheras back to my condo would cost RM4 (for 5 minutes ride) where the meter ticks especially faster than normal. This is what I don't like about taxi. They want to earn a living and gain symphathy from others, on the other hand cheat their passengers. Why would I say this? Because a taxi ride from LRT Bandar Tun Razak back to my condo (which the distance is longer, 15 minutes ride) cost only RM5.40.
If the taxi departs from hotel, no matter how you plead with teary eye that you are a local ..they will not use the meter but instead charge you an exhorbitant fee, eg: RM15 for a 10 minutes ride.
Don't mention buses. They're cheap but the amount of time spend waiting for them to come and depart equals to walking yourself to the destination.
In conjuction with Kenny's birthday and after exam celebration, my first holiday stop (25.7.2008) were in Puchong having a nice steamboat buffet in Shabu-Shabu. It has similar restaurant in Wangsa Maju called Shabu Mix. However, the one in Puchong offered wider variety for a reasonable price.
I like the concept of having your own pot and pick your own choice of food. It's hygienic, simple and fast. And the induction cooker is pretty efficient, except that your food won't taste like "wow".
With Kenny, Dom, Chee Hong and Melvin..and ors
Yum! A nice bowl of soup. My favourite wantan is there
I'm in deep need of good and sumptous food to regain weight again. After few months of stress, finally I can eat as much without the urge of going back home to study.
On the last day of exam, I can hardly swallow my lunch because I was sooooooooooo exhausted! Few of us went to watch Dark Knight in Midvalley. I must say that the late Heath Ledger is superb acting as Joker! His acting was even better than the Batman himself. And of course Maggie Gyllenhaal was so charming in the show. I still remember her character in The Secretary. She looks a lot like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kirsten Dunst.
The after exam look..all with dark faces..Deborah can't even look straight at the camera
No camera inside the cinema!
At night, we had dinner with some future lawyers like Rosey and Samuel. So much of inspiration of meeting them after the exams to get some ideas what will become of us if we happen to chamber.
By 8.30pm that night (23rd July 2008), I was dropped dead tired and had to go home. Brain started to malfunction.
Welcome to the year of the rat, where the cat will feast! Hohohoho....cats will be happily pouncing on every rats that they'll see.
the cat patiently waiting
Then it posed...taking a comfortable position
Hello, rat!
credit to Dom's aunt..cat
Wishing all my family and friends a happy and prosperous new year, may your studies and/or career be fruitful and in abundance. Wishing you all good health with peace and joy in the family.
I heard over the radio that those who are born in the year of Ox, will have a great year ahead! Those who are lucky, may you bless others who are not as lucky as you.
The year of the rat is coming soon...and I'm also going back to Sabah soon..hooorraayyy! Few days back, I have been to 1U and The Curve in search for a beautiful pair of shoe, but search ended in vain. Nevertheless, once again I've captured some scenic view of the CNY 'feel' there....but nothing beats Bt. Bintang's CNY feel. That's where Chinese young and old shop for their new clothes at a more affordable price for their favourite fashion trends from the Far East.
I like the bluish color of the window panes reflection and sky amidst those hanging red lanterns.
CNY is suppose to be spring festival. Here, we have it the summer style..as always (even Christmas). Beautiful clear blue sky, such rarity in Kuala Lumpur.
I was mesmerised by the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu for their performance of Christmas Cantata on the 24th December 2007 when they performed carols of all time favourites, before the mass. One of their best performance was this carol called "Twelve days of Christmas". I didn't know it was a religious caroling song until I checked the web when I reached home. The choir leader even introduced to us the meaning of this song and each stanza. Let me put to you the song and the lyrics first. Enjoy~
Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree!
The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. i.e. the Church.
1st Day: The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them. The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the Cross.
2nd Day: The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.
3rd Day: The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and love—the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1 Corinthians 13).
4th Day: The "four calling birds" refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
5th Day: The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
6th Day: The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation.
7th Day: The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
8th Day: The "eight maids a milking " reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.
9th Day: The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
10th Day: The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments
11th Day: The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.
12th Day: The ‘twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles’ Creed: belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.
"So the next time you hear "the Twelve Days of Christmas" consider how this otherwise non-religious sounding song had its origins in keeping alive the teaching of the Catholic faith. "
Let us not only think of huge fancy celebrations and parties. Today, we celebrate the birth of Christ which is a beautiful gift from God so that we may be saved. Shalom and Rejoice!
