FOOD

Veg Fish Farm Thai Restaurant, Ampang Selangor

Long weekend is the best, unfortunately all good things need to come to an end (therefore I am back at work).

H and his family (including myself) went to this place called Veg Fish Farm Thai Restaurant at Ulu Langat or near the Ampang Lookout Point which has now been closed permanently.

I guess I was having a boring public holiday mood so I decided to tag along to this place and I really do not have high expectation though I am rather curious as I have heard about this place on numerous occasion from my brother who has frequented this place more often than he should (he does stay the furthest away though).

After a short drive we arrive at the door step and the place does not look fantastic ( I mean basic red plastic chairs and typical chalet type dining where it is perched at the side of this man made pond). I think it's different to what city slickers are accustomed to and some may appreciate the view though.

 

Alright let's get to the food. The food that is being offered is Thai style cooking food. There are a variety of seafood, meat (excluding pork), vegetables and desserts too. My father in law ordered seafood tom yum (Thai spicy and sour soup/broth), baby fern stir fry with garlic, chicken feet salad (not for me), catfish salad, baked (on charcoal fire) shell fish and crab, tilapia fish cooked in Thai lemon broth and a few other dishes which I cannot really remember (and coconut drink for everyone - it costs RM5.00 here and I usually get my stock of fresh coconut from my local fruit vendor at RM3.50 each). Seriously before I can even start my lunch I saw rodent/pest on the loose. MONKEYS!

If you have not seen a monkey real life (the ones you see in the zoo does not count) these ones are wild and the monkeys practically try to gorge themselves with the food left on the table. The problem with this place is that they do not have enough waiter/attendants to clean the tables after the patrons have finished (half finished) and left their table. Further the rubbish bins are left opened or maybe the monkeys figure how to open the lids and decided to have a party there. The rubbish bins are also placed at each section of the platoon and it's really undesirable. What made matters worse is that the monkeys will jump on unattended table and help themselves to the pot of rice left on the table. I am beginning to wonder whether did these people continue to serve the same pot of rice to unsuspecting patrons. EEK!

 

Review on Food:

Let's just say the food is not authentic Thai. Thai food is supposed to be full of robust flavour like sourness from the lime and spiciness from the chili which flavours are really lacking from our food. Am disappointed. The salad that we ordered really fall flat and the condiments for the baked seafood is sad - only one type of dipping sauce which seemed watered down. I mean you are in a Thai restaurant, you do not even have a decent 'nam prik'. Food is expensive and I guess I will not be coming back for the second time.

 

The only thing that is different is just the view I assume but many restaurants have catch up and this is really just a gimmick as we know it, so I really do hope that the owners will buckle up.

 

 

 

 

Hungry fishes that are not afraid of human. The funny thing is that you can buy fish pellets at RM2 to feed them. Smart owners, get the patrons to feed the fish huh.

Really really expensive crabs, I have better ones at Selayang.

Food glorious food? Nah.

 

BOOK

Parenting Based on A Book

Parents do not like to be told hold to teach and discipline their children, just like how most (arrogant) chefs do not like to be told how to cook.

 

I am a parent and I needed help in how to communicate (discipline) my child. Seriously during my parents generation they just discipline my siblings and I in a manner which they think is appropriate (or just for the sake of shutting us up) or in accordance to the method that their parents have inflicted upon them during their childhood.

 

As I am older now, I do think that my parents methods are flawed and leaves a lot of undesirable and unpleasant marks on me. One of it being most significant is that I find it hard to communicate my feelings as we are taught to repress our feelings and not to show them as it is a sign of weakness (so much bullshit here) and the most famous phrase of all 'Children are to be Seen and not Heard'. How wrong is that. Nevertheless I do understand what generation my parents came from and why they would have acted in the manner they did.

 

First of all I am from a typical 'Chinese family' - a father's job is to put food on the table and a mother's job is to make sure that the children are well managed (i.e. children should not utter a single sound/word when the father comes home from a hard day of labour or the children will get some heavy beating and be locked away). Secondly, my parents would have endured the same practices by their own parents (some crap practises to pass around huh). Thirdly, actually being typical 'Chinese' says it all.

 

I realise that at some point or another H & I may have used some of those practices on our children (ok I don't lock my children, I just asked him to stand in a corner). I felt SUPER guilty and I hated myself. Changes need to be made.

 

I did some research and I bough a few books to read about communication (well I do want to foster good relationship with my children so that they will not be 'emotionally' jaded when they grow older).

 

 

Book: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish

 

Being a parent does not come with a manual as all children are different (that's what you think). Further there's never a manual in how to be a good mother too right. However at certain point in our lives we want to make things better for the ones we love so we make the effort and take the initiative to change. I hope my children will grow up to have emotionally stability and learn to never fear their feelings or worried about how they can talk to H and I (yup I have difficulty talking to my parents about the emotional stuffs because I really do think they do not know how to acknowledge my feelings, besides they like to side step the issue). Let's all be good parents to our children.

 

*Quick Review



 

The book is likable with real problems that parents can relate to, which I believe happen in all household. It offers several insight in how to handle the 'problematic' situations and it teaches parents to change their mind set in how to communicate and acknowledge their children feelings. I am only on the first chapter but so far so good. My real life example as below:

 

I bought a present for my son's friend and my son insist on opening the present. My son kept asking whether he could open the package even though it was not for him.

 

In normal situation all parents will just say NO. What an easy answer but it is wrong as all parents should also know that saying NO never works anyway so why bother saying it but if used correctly it can be very effective no doubt. The book teaches that in a situation when a child is not able to obtain what he/she wanted and what should be done instead. See below:

 

 

 

 

I tried it with my son by asking him to imagine that we are having the present in our hand. We start to tear off the wrapper and to our surprise we found a gift even better than what we thought was in the present. Guess what, he was a happy camper. He seemed satisfied with that and we went on to talk about other things after that. I was surprised and pleased. I know that there will be situations where it might not work but then again I am still on Chapter One. I am hopeful. My son was happy that I could relate to him.

 

I have also used another method as suggested in this book to acknowledge his feelings when he refused to do something asked him too. The best thing of all is that I prevented a melt down and the task was completed faster than how it normally would. It's all good.

 

Good luck to parenting!

 

DEATH

Passing Away of A Friend

It is with much sadness to say that a friend passed away* on 30th October 2013 (which happened to be on her daughter's birthday). I am not trying to sound morbid although I do every now and then as the word 'death' reminds you that you are not immortal and we will all leave this earth one day to be united with our maker. At the same time it humbles us and we begin to think that past hurt is a past and whatever that had happened in the past is no longer important. Let us cherish our love ones, treat each other with compassion and respect every moments of our lives.

 

Tribute to a friend

 

Dear HSH, your passing at such a young age is a great loss to your daughter, young son, family members and all your friends who love you. Words cannot describe the sadness that is looming in my heart (the tears that is welling in my eyes) when I heard the news and I can only imagine how your children would have felt. The tribute written by your daughter saddens my heart even further as she states that she had lost a wonderful mother, a friend and how you will never watch her graduate, see her on her wedding day and held her firstborn.

 

You are a wonderful woman and you smile all the time. You are tough but not a pushover. Most of all you exudes love and it was felt by all who knows you. Rest in peace and may God bless your soul.

 

*Cancer is such a treacherous disease of the mind and body. Let us all pray that a cure will be found.

 

:(

 

 

 

TRAVEL

Hiking At Nepal

Wednesday! Mid working week. Should my countdown to my break starts now, well it's still more than two weeks away.

As I will be doing plenty of walking and hiking in Nepal, I do not think ballet flats or heels is suitable for this trip. I have seen so many blogs where the blogger actually travel and walk on four inches heels (I mean seriously even walking in the city with four inches heels cannot possibly last you more than three hours straight unless it's really a sit down holiday). For one I am not built to walk in four inches heels for long duration as I can be rather clumsy. Besides I think my travel style is comfort all the way though looking nice is a plus point.

 

I have ordered a pair of combat boots from Shopbop and it looks good and the comfort level is way up there. There's a mini heel at about one inch perhaps. Ha ha. Better than nothing I suppose.

 

 

Sam Edelman Combat Boots*

 

*Review

 

I have yet to test this on the road yet and I think I should as you would not want the new shoe to pinch any part of your leg during any trips at all as it will be so uncomfortable and you might just regret purchasing the shoe in the first place.

 

Anyway so far I think it has a good weight (not too heavy), fits the shape of my foot and enough comfort and padding on the ball of the foot while walking.

 

I like this pair as it has a few options for you to wear the shoe, either via the front (the lace up feature) or just slip in by unzipping the back feature (and it comes with double buckle at the back of the shoe). Nice touch I must say.

 

 

Women and shoes, what a terrible combination. I just cannot have enough of shoes but I also realise that I always stick with the same pair of shoes that provides comfort the most but then again not every occasion warrant for the same pair of shoe. So my purchase here is justified (I hope H reads this).

 

Chow :)

 

 





 

HEADPHONES

The Travelling Headphones

I am so looking forward to my next trip. Yes, will be leaving the children and H behind. It is time for H to harness his fatherly love and for him to hone his skills (which he claimed he possess over the children). We will see.

OK the thing with flying is that you are always provided with the cheap plasticky looking ear phones for you to plug into the airplanes entertainment system. Not only that it does not hold it's place half the time, it flattens the hair and it is not flattering on whatever hairstyle you are having as by the time you reach your destination to start your holiday your hair is a *blah*.

I have made two purchases recently and I am trying to see which one I will be taking with me to my holiday.

 

 

One is from Jonathan Adler (very stylish looking) and another is just Sonic-Ear (simple).

I guess I am returning the Jonathan Adler one as I suddenly remembered that I do not need a hairband like apparatus above my head, besides I do not want to attract too much attraction with its stark and bright design. So I am sticking with Sonic-Ear as the head piece is really behind your head and it hangs there (I don't think it will ruin my hair and gives me a flat head look). It's simple and very discreet looking. I know some people favours ear phones but I find them annoying as I can never find anything that fits properly. Guess it's my only problem though it does allow for easy storage.

Counting down to my holiday now.

EXERCISE

New Attire & Gear

After giving birth to two kids, the body is never the same. Welcoming saggy and hollow skin coupled with tiredness and lack of sleep almost every other night is not great actually.

It is all good and joyful to have the children but due to lack of exercise for the last three years I realised it is time to pick back up the habit to exercise.

I guess the best part of it is to shop for new attire.

Happiness!

Exercise here I come.

*Update as at 28th October 2013

Yes I have swam. The feeling is good. Exercise is supposed to give you that adrenaline rush and the pumping of blood from you heart to your whole body provides colour to your cheeks (flushed cheeks sans blush - the natural way) and strenghtens your muscles and joints too.

I bought the (traditional looking)  swimmer above due to several reasons:

Reason 1: Well, it does cover tummy bulges (pooch), ha ha but thank gawd mine is not that serious and I still favours two pieces; and

Reason 2: It's meant to be training swimmers for one reason, it stays put. Has anyone tried to swim in their bikinis? Well when you do freestyle, lets just say that the bikini will go left and right leaving your boobs uncovered. Urmmm ... not great.

Ok my next mission is to put my sneakers (aka trainers) to the test.

Happy exercising folks.

WATCH

Michael Kors & My Classic Tag Heuer

Another day to kill and it's only getting closer to Friday. I can feel it in the air. It's all good.

 

I have been having my old classic ladies Tag Heuer for the longest time. It was a gift from my father and the first 'luxury' watch I ever own at the age of 17 (yes, I do know that Tag is not that luxurious in comparison to other more well known brands like Roles or Patek Philippe perhaps). It is a sign of being a grown up as I still remember the day I stepped into the watch shop to purchase it. It's also a sign of entering adulthood as I was given the power to choose and I do know that children possess too much of that power too nowadays. (My son chooses what he wants to wear everyday and it drives me crazy. Anyhow I try to trick him into wearing what I want him to which works sometimes.)

 

My classic Tag Heuer which I am still using.

 

So I have been having this watch for the longest time (more than 10 years!!), crap I feel old now. Ha ha, but a good watch is an investment and it lasts forever if you take care of them. I am now into lifestyle watches as the fashion term coins it.

 

Michael Kors ('MK') watches are petty nifty if you want nice looking watches that does not cost a bomb and yet it is a cheat sheet that looks like those really expensive investment watches which I have mentioned here earlier. I bought a white MK sports watch recently. It has the potential to look even better (but at the price I am paying for the rubberised strap I do not think I will get the ceramic ones as the latter costs USD100 more).

 

 

MK Sports Watch

 

I have been eyeing a few MK watches from a website and it all looks good. I think I might just purchase another one or maybe two when the sale season hits (and hopefully they will be discounted). Other designs which I quite like are as shown below.

 

This is called MK 'The Everest'

This baby is such a Rolex lookalike at a fraction of the price. Love!

 

 

The real 'Kahuna' 

 

 

Decision time .... which to choose now?

 

Have a good Wednesday :)