Netmoirs of A Solemn Rover

Otak Otak For Luv

I promised Bee to bake or cook something for her birthday treat. I offered cake or some cooking, and at last she choose to have Otak-otak. Otak-otak known as Fish Mousse in English, and 鲤鱼包 (Li Yu Bao) in Chinese. I never prepare Otak-otak before therefore this request comes as a big challenge for me. Being the tough and hard-headed person I am, I decided to not back down even though it was something I have never done before. Cooking is never a problem as I was born with cooking...

Pai Ti Kong

Today is Pai Ti Kong (Pray Heaven/Sky God aka Jade Emperor, 拜天公), a Hokkien/Minnanese culture celebrated for more than a millennia now. As for us Hokkien's, PTK is day of remembrance to God the almighty which is the Taoist equivalent to Allah. His close associate is the Kitchen God who did reporting to him every year of how well 'behaved' the tenants are. Well, those are the beliefs anyway. We didn't miss out sugarcane as this plant is a symbolic plant for the Hokkien. The sugarcane...

B’s Visit, Post CNY, Pre PTK

Picking bee from KL in a bus for the first time. Bee not driving as her car was being serviced. I took the earliest bus and reached Pudu right before noon. Prowled around while waiting for bee. Not knowingly that Bee took a cab from Masjid Jamek instead of taking the LRT to Plaza Rakyat station, I immediately got a call from her. She is already there. Without wasting much time, I hurried to Bee. She had just unloaded her bag, and phwoarr...it was a 'flying' bag! I drag be along while she...

Second Day CNY

Woke up just before noon. Relatives arrived as early as 11am. Soon we hear loud chatting and mutterings coming from uncle's house. 2nd aunt, Chong Lee & Mui Sim brought their baby along. Took some pics and mingle with more visiting cousin to our room. Ah Beng arrived for awhile as he needs to rush back to Teluk Intan to his wife's side. Chong Lee and wife can't stay that long either, and not long after that everyone assembled at uncle's place. Lunch then served with everyone randomly...

First Day CNY

Got up quite late, had breakfast together. Since I got a call earlier that Keng Woo, Cherrie and Wai Kyan is coming down for a visit, I did some preparation for them. They arrived just after lunch and reached Bidor around past 2pm. I met Keng Woo & Cherrie during the Transformers event in Queensbay and have not see them ever since. As for Wai Kyan, I only meet him during the gathering in Taipan last year. So all of us did a lot of catching up on each others life that day. After...

My Not So Dramatic Chinese New Year Eve

It was pandemonium in the house today and this Chinese New Year will be my first in five years. The feeling was awesome as we partake tasks of helping mom. Since sis was available, we did our prep while waiting for younger bro, sis-in-law and dad to arrive home. Bro and sis-in-law (SIL) arrived home much earlier eventhough they had to battle their way through the pillaging massacre of the Batang Padang highway stretch from Tg.Malim to Tapah as many commuters are exiting that same bloody...

When Cupid Wrestles With Tiger

It is not surprising that Valentines Day was meant to be celebrated with loved ones and the same applies to the Chinese New Year where family became the ultimate priority. But these two occasion usually refer to the same kind of love but in a different form - Valentine is for your lover and Chinese New Year for your family. But this year, Cupid is on a collision course with Mr.Stripey the Tiger. Although it applies to only Chinese people that celebrate Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year,...

The DIY Man For Chinese New Year

Well, this week is the final stage of CNY cleaning and decorating. While sis and mom was struggling with their little confectionery, I am working tirelessly on the ladder - doing some wiring for the lanterns and toasting myself in the hot sun doing some paintjob. We had a firecracker micro flashing lamps with 8 functions chasing controller powered with a mere 2.5A. Besides the firecracker micro lamps, I need to power up 2 bulbs to be enclosed in a double strawberry shaped lantern suspended...

Facebook’s New Face

For those who haven't got your new Facebook layout, you might be in the queue. Seems like Facebook is doing it stage by stage. I got mine 'activated' yesterday (Friday). The latest layout had not much difference apart from the menu placements. On other words, they look pretty 'slimlined' Here is the news quoted from AP; "Facebook is redesigning its site yet again, this time to better emphasize applications, games and search. Links and items have moved around the home page as Facebook...

Countdown To Chinese New Year

Just a fortnight more to go before the tong-tong-chang-ing day, I suddenly feel the surge of deplorable to-dos. More projects in mind still looming. Uncertain when to start, I will try to trigger these issues after Chinese New Year. I haven't start decorating my house until today. Just after 'work', I will do some garden work. The pearl grasses in the garden, centre-part is in a sad state. They became yellow, as a result of an illness (I guess). I am not sure how to remedy these, but I hope...