Istanbul (not Constantinople)!

I'm currently smitten with this song, in it's many cover versions.

Dark chocolate

coco, originally uploaded by babychic.

Inside a chocolatier along the charming Braga street, Bandung.

Not just any grafitti

iffy, originally uploaded by babychic.

Have I mentioned enough times that I love Bandung alleys? They even carved faces out of walls. Fantastic.

The ponder stool

take 5, originally uploaded by babychic.

I love the idea of a stool in the middle of an alley. To let a wanderer to pause, ponder, reflect, idle, rest, whatever, then move on.

Hanging Monastery

Image from http://english.cri.cn/4406/2008/01/30/1122@319058.htm

In the midst of researching upcoming China trip. I chanced upon the hanging monastery (悬空峙).

I read about them many many years ago and instantly knew I needed to see them with my own eyes one day. Their images are locked in the place where I store my wish list of mystical, sacred places I need to see, feel, touch before I die. Thinking of these 'places' makes my heart race, spine tingle and fist clenched in excitement.

And to now finally know their exact location, I know I'll be haunted by desire until I can be there to arch my head up and hold their spectacular-ness in full view.

leeturrl pinkie

leeturrl pinkie, originally uploaded by babychic.

The owner had 3 adorable fluffy rabbits. The cutest was Mimi, her owner coaxed her to be photographed. But Mimi was a diva and refused.

I'm reminded of Enid Blyton

rabbity stew, originally uploaded by babychic.

Somehow there's a rabbit that had this exact same expression in Enid Blyton's goblin land imprinted in my memory. Hmm..

the hood

the hood, originally uploaded by babychic.

I love the narrow lanes and back alleys along Dago street, Bandung. It's lined with colorful graffiti full of character.

I found a piece of green in Bandung

, originally uploaded by babychic.

From Russia with love

I've to give a big I-heart-it shout out to this blog in baffling Russian with bafflingly cool gorgeous amazing photos.

p/s: I'm planning a trip to Tibet next year and chanced upon this Russian blog while researching on Contemporarynomad.com a blog about 2 guys who quit their job to travel the world full time, neat innit?

About having the guts to pursue your passion

Click to read this inspiring NST article about my friend Chen Chow: AYA Awards: It's payback time for Yeoh.

Had my first ever pedicure and

painted my toe nails black.

Love the experience. Think I'm gonna do this every fortnightly from now on! My feet never felt so pampered before..

Also shopped and managed to buy new clothes since...Chinese New Year?!? But it wasn't easy, I'm so fussy!

I'm gonna start taking better care of myself. A recent forwarded mail reminded me the quite often true case that:
- when you're a teenager - you've time + energy but no money
- when you're working - you've energy and money but no time
- when you're old - you've time and money but no energy

Hence since I'm now working, I'm gonna make sure I've the energy and time to use my money wisely.

Time to research on investment, cook up some travel plan and enjoy life generally.

Finally can breath easier. Last 2 weeks were crazy and stressful. Not much fun.

Went to office as well this morning, did 2-3 hours work. But as a whole, this weekend actually FEELS like a real weekend.

Gave myself a treat by having dinner at Senayan City, posh shopping mall, 5 minutes drive away. Did some shopping. Been so long since I shopped (half a year since I bought any new clothes/accessories I think) that I felt like a fish out of water. For some reason couldn't find anything to tickle my fancy, I've high expectations when it comes to parting money with shopping haha.

Of all the restaurants to choose from, I picked KFC. Well I was actually craving ayam penyet, am recently addicted to it because of the fiery cili that comes as sides but couldn't find it, hence KFC was the closest pick. I don't like the KFC sets here, all sets comes with rice instead of coleslaw, buns and mash potatoes.

Couldn't resist when I saw "Pho 2000" just beside the KFC stall, hence ordered one bowl of "pho bo" (beef pho). Damn underwhelmed again. This is the 2nd time I was dissapointed with the pho I had in Jakarta, both times with Vietnamese franchises, Pho 24 and now Pho 2000. What's wrong? The soup are too bland, I've had much better pho in KL, wonder if it's problem with Jakarta branch or real vietnamese pho suppose to be bland??

Been having problem with the CF card with my DSLR, hence not been taking pictures. Probably go out to buy one next weekend.

I'm sick of hotel food, literally. Suspect my food poisoning episode last Friday might have been due to what I ate at the hotel's executive lounge. Plus eating too much of rich, meaty, cheesy food is sickening. Hence have been craving endlessly for Malaysian food, especially Penang hawker food.

Can't wait to go home for Jawi chai kuey, Penang hokkien mee, char kuey teow, valdor beehoon mee etc etc... plus my mom's cooking. :)

Priorities

I never thought I'd have to choose between career and family.

It is still undecided, so I might not have to make the tough decision ultimately.

But if I do, how should I choose?

I don't want to work for money.

I want my life to mean more.

Especially after seeing how death can come swift and sudden. I want to do things close to my heart before it's too late.

I sort of know how I'll decide because I know what I want, but still "what if" is making me hesitant.

I've grown a lot within these 3 months offshore. Gosh I'm tired but I'm thankful. It's awesome to exploring and expanding my potential.

Yet I want more, or shall I say I want something different.

I want to be even more intellectually challenged, I want to solve difficult yet meaningful problems. And my obsession was always in asking questions and seeking answers.

So, the question now is: Have I started seeking? What is that? How? (I should've known myself enough to know I seldom stop with a question!)

As you can see I'm thinking out loud here.

And now, bedtime.

See you tomorrow my brain.

The family

My sister account of how we came to being: http://carmenheah.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-soul.html

One heck of a human being

The first time I've ever seen or heard of Coach Don Meyer was 15 minutes ago, on a replay of this year's ESPY's awards.

And it was the most piercing moment of inspiration I've ever felt.



I'm especially inspired by his passion to coach. Teaching or be specific, passing the knowledge I'm accumulating along to as many people as I can is something I really really want to do, sometime down the road, when I'm good enough to. And Coach Don's love of coaching really strikes close to my heart.

"Don't whine. Don't complain. Don't give excuses."

These 3 statements will forever slap me in the face in challenging moments to come. I hope with all my heart.

Don't cheat, especially don't cheat on your life.

I heart Quest Crew

Quest Crew is dope. And I love it even more that they all have Asian roots.

Indulgence

Indulgence , originally uploaded by babychic.

My favorite cake.

At least up to now.

Secret Recipe's Chocolate Indulgence.

Heavenly combination of chocolate cake layered with black and white chocolate mousse covered by another layer of chocolate sprinkled with some shredded coconut at the top.

Note: The picture is taken from the piece I just had this afternoon from the Secret Recipe outlet inside Pacific Place, Jakarta. And I must say the quality is no where near those I've consistently tasted in Malaysia. Their durian cake was much better.

My dinner last night

2 chocolate buns. Only cost me 13,000 Rupiahs or 4 Malaysian bucks.





Actually I couldn't finish the second one. Too much chocolate for one day..

Tribute to their hero

Just found this: The same Filipino inmates who danced to "Thriller" have just composed a new dance in tribute to MJ.

They practiced 9 hours non-stop on Friday night into the wee hours of Saturday morning, only taking breaks to eat and when it rained. So that they can do this:



I'm so glad they chose this song. A very, very beautiful song that MJ co-wrote with Lionel Ritchie to raise aid money for the poor in Africa. Not to mention one of the best selling singles of all time. And how cute and inspirational that the Filipino inmates carried flags of different countries. Very befitting tribute to showcase the global reach of MJ's appeal.

He won the hearts of the world.

How cool is that?

Very cool apparently.

This clip of 1500 inmates in a Philippines prison dancing to "Thriller" has over 24 million hits.



There's so much said about MJ these couple of days, I feel there's no need for me to add anything more. I'm just listening to his songs, watching the 24 hours news coverage over CNN, ABC, tributes over Channel V, reading friends Facebook MJ comments, following MJ tweets, downloading MJ hit songs.. just immersing in this global cultural thing as it unfolds second by second.

The man's a paradox. He is. So powerfully talented and yet painfully vulnerable.

I've somewhat mixed feelings about him.

But ONE THING that I'm 100% certain is that He spawned a global cultural movement that transcends all boundaries. He did it while he was alive and he's doing it again after his death. And that is VERY COOL.

Let's celebrate

The durian season.

I bought a piece of durian cake from Secret Recipe the other day.








I can still smell it. Yummy.

Falalalala la lalala

falalalala la lalala, originally uploaded by babychic.

Christmas lights @Portugese settlement area, Melaka, Dec 2008. Thanks Fabian for the Malaccan hospitality!

Pamper

honey latte@marmalade, originally uploaded by babychic.

A warm cup of honey latte.

Enjoy a me and myself moment at Marmalade, Bangsar Village II.

Nasi Padang @ Sari Ratu

Nasi Padang @ Sari Ratu, originally uploaded by babychic.

Sari Ratu is my ex-boss favorite Indonesian restaurant.

Every time I'm on business trip to Jakarta with him, we end up dining there.

They serve Padang cuisine.

The service lay a huge spread in small plates on your table and you choose what you want.

Like a buffet. Only the food gets to you instead of you going for it.

The gigantic prawns were very yummy at RM10+ a piece.

Though be careful to ask for details. That plate behind the giant prawn, 2 lumps on curry? My friend unwittingly ate it only to find out later to her horror that it's cow's brain. :)

peek-a-boo, little-boy-blue

peek, originally uploaded by babychic.

Photo taken from visit to Wat Arun, Bangkok, March 2008.

Now the brother's in it too!

Please don't tell anyone this, but just found the brother's blog and what a weird name he's given it: Leave your turtle shell.

Hehehe!

Real life love story

I was on the bus waiting to be shuttled to LCCT last Sunday and had time to do one of my favorite past time - people gazing.

I saw this young couple, hand in hand coming down the escalators. They stopped in front of the bus, a peck on the forehead and both parted ways.

The boy came up to my bus. On the steps of the bus, he couldn't help turning back searching for the girl friend. "I'll miss you" clearly written on the face.

I was curious to see if she would turn back at the same time. It would be just like the movies then.

She didn't. Already on the escalators back up, the boy only caught her back.

He moved on.

Just when he's walking past my seat, the girl turned her head and it was her turn to search for the sight of her sweetheart. And again I can read the "I'll miss you" on her face.

But of course he didn't see her turning back, just as she missed his.

But I saw it.

And their genuine display of sweet affection made my day.

It was after all just like the movies.

Or shall I say: movies are just like real life!

Is there anything the man can't do??

The media is abuzz with Obama's fly swatting skills.



Single swat and he got the bugger? Impressive! And with such poise too.

He sure gets my vote if he joins the "so you think you can swat flies" competition.

Not even Hollywood could have come up with a better leading man.

I thought with Bush junior, America couldn't have done worse. And with Obama I think they couldn't have done any better.

What a world of difference.

So I think Alex Wong can dance his hat off

I'm hooked on So You Think You Can Dance, love talented dancers.

Guess most people had the same reaction that Mia Michaels(eyes popped open, jaw dropping, drooling)had when we all saw Alex Wong perform his solo for Vegas week (clip below)


And then he was cut due to his contract with the Miami City Ballet.

I think many audiences are as gutted about it as he was.

Nonetheless his appearance on SYTYCD Season 5 albeit brief has already exposed his name to the limelight, garnering him fans beyond those who'd seen him performed for the MCB.

He's actually won quite a number of international accolades as detailed on his profile page at The Winger.com.

Hope he returns and get into SYTYCD Season 6 top 20.

And meantime hope more clips like the one below surface on the net. The guy's not only a talented dancer, he's hilarious!

p/s: Alex is the guy on the left with the stuffed hip. As he wrote on his blog, this was taken while they had free time waiting to perform in MBC's Don Quixote (hence the custome).