Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday

When we live in a hot and humid place like KK, public holiday is usually spent in an air-conditioned place. Having migraine also prevents me from venturing outdoor esp. to the islands just to relax. The journey seems to be too arduous for me.

Unlike in the Down Under, we can go to the beach to have bbq and then play games like unisex football or exercise such as playing tennis or squash before sitting down to have a meal together to catch up with one another.

Sophia booked a table for the two of us at Soul Out, Grand Borneo Hotel, 1 Borneo for buffet hi-tea. This time her youngest brother also joined us.

Sophia came to fetch me so that Jeff can use the car to go out if he chose to. Before she parked her car at the carpark, I alighted from the car to go to buy movie tickets. After our meal, we wanted to watch a movie.

I have not heard any previews on the current movies so I have no idea which one is worth watching. There were not many people queuing up to buy movie tickets and therefore I waited for Sophia and her brother to arrive.

We had the choice of ‘The Book of Eli’ starring Denzel Washington or ‘Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief’. Both of these were showing at 2.20 or 2.30p.m. In the end we bought tickets for the latter movie.

We arrived at Soul Out and I like their white colour scheme, with the furnitures and walls all painted in white.

Sophia’s brother recognised one of the cooks, whom he said frequented the coffee shop where he sells budget noodles for breakfast.

At first we sat at a table next to the window. We could not feel the air-conditoner at all. We felt stuffy. After two rounds of food, we changed to another table where we can feel at least some air from the air-conditioner.

Though this restaurant does not serve as many selections of food as compared to say Cafe Promenade, Promenade Hotel, at least there were some dishes which I like. But Cafe Promenade charges almost double of Soul Out. They are the beef which was so tender and the lamb curry.

By the time we were leaving, there were more people in the restaurant.

Sophia and I went for the movie but her brother did not join us.

Normally I would feel slightly cold inside the cinema but today I do not feel cold at all. There were a lot of people watching the movie as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

On the way home from 1 Borneo, Sophia and I saw this scene before us - a combination of smoke from a blazing factory and dark clouds.

I only had sweet and sour crabs for dinner.

He’s Never Too Early and He’s Never Too Late

Today everyone in Down Under is celebrating Australia Day.

One of my friends from KK who lives in Victoria with his wife asked me whether I would be celebrating today.

Well I wish I could cos Down Under was my second home. I lived there for more than a decade.

Come to think of it, I do have something to celebrate this day and I have the Lord Almighty to thank. Thank you Lord.

Two days ago I was praying that I would get paid this week for the claim that I made about a fortnight ago.

Last month I paid my ING insurance payment using my SCB credit card and the amount is due at the latest by this Sunday. Since I started using credit card, I have been clearing all my credit card debts at the end of each month. I have never paid interest yet and am not about to start to do that now.

But the problem is I do not have enough cash to clear all the credit card debts. And I would only get my pay cheque at the beginning of next month, which means I would have to pay credit card interest.

That would be a complete irony. On one hand I am investing into insurance but on the other hand I would be charged high interest for my credit card debts. It is not meant to be like this. I do not want to be in this kind of situation.

This morning I was exhilarated when someone delivered my claim. I banked in the cheque today. Hopefully the cheque would clear either tomorrow or Thursday and I can withdraw the balance of the cash that I do not have enough of on Friday and then clear my credit card debts.

My prayer was answered today. Indeed He’s never too early and He’s never too late. He's just on time. PTL!

Awal Muharram 2009 (Holiday Day 2)

One of Tracy’s sub-tenants moved out so I was able to stay in a room of my own. I had to share the bathroom/toilet with another sub-tenant Lee though.

At 7.00a.m. I was awakened with the need to go to the loo. I actually had to go twice due to the spicy food I had last night. I always forget the doctor’s advice not to have too much spicy food.

Tracy’s friend Elaine was kind enough to lend her a 30 years old Honda to drive so she could still go out.

We went to Tian Tian Lai Restaurant, which is very near Tracy’s house and had brekky there.

When I wanted to take photos using my digital camera, the batteries died on me. I nearly had a heart attack cos I did not bring the charger with me. It was not an intentional act. I could not find it at the 11th hour.

I quickly changed into another set of spare batteries which I brought with me. When I switched on the camera again, the 'almost running out of batteries' warning sign came on. I nearly had a second heart attack.

I was in a desperate situation as I still have two days ahead of me. Once again, desperate situation called for desperate measure. I resorted to prayer and prayed that I could continue using the camera. When I switched on the camera this time, the 'almost running out of batteries' sign did not come on again. I thanked the Lord of heaven and earth for answering my prayer instantly.

Tracy had to go for tuition and she dropped me off at Asia Jaya Station to take the train to KL Sentral.

From KL Sentral I had to walk a big round to go to the monorail station since the plot of land in front of KL Sentral is under construction.

I took the monorail from KL Sentral to Bukit Bintang Station. As I came out from the station, the rain was drizzling. I brought my foldable umbrella with me and so I was safe.

I walked to Pavilion Shopping Centre.

There were not many people since the time was only after 11a.m. Christmas decorations are everywhere.

This restaurant is open by the former PM, Dr. M. I was contemplating of having lunch there just to try out.

But as I walked around, something else caught my attention. I always love Vietnamese food. (My friends and I used to have it for Sunday brunch after church during study days in Down Under)

Before I proceeded to the restaurant, I stopped by the loo. On the way to the restaurant, the shoes shop Bata caught my attention. I went in and found a pair of shoes I like, which was not on sale at the Bata shop in Karamunsing Complex during the previous Sunday I was there. I bought the pair of shoes.

La Lot by Du Viet won over The Loaf.

I checked out the menu to make sure they serve ‘Pho’ before going in. The waiter came out to attend to me and he definitely looks Vietnamese so I was really hoping that the chef would be Vietnamese as well.

I ordered ‘Pho’.

The ‘Pho’ smelled great. The beef tenderloin tasted they had been slightly grilled before being boiled. It tasted so soft and seemed like melted in my mouth. The only thing I did not like was that there were ginger inside the soup and therefore I had to take them out one by one cos I do not like to eat ginger. Overall a very satisfying and enjoying gastronomical affair.

The chef came out to talk to one of the waiters and he is a Vietnamese.

Before I left the restaurant, more people came to eat at the restaurant - a Malay family, then a Chinese family and lastly a Japanese elderly couple who sat near me. This Japanese couple also ordered 'Pho' as well.

Then it was time for some serious shopping. I went to Parkson Departmental Store.

The toilet has a lounge area where people can sit down and it does not smell at all.

The tissue holders to hold tissues use for wiping hands are located beside and above the sink.

This café is located inside the departmental store and therefore the clothes on sale may have food smell.

After Parkson, I went to Tangs Departmental Store. A lot of stuffs are selling up to 80% off. But I did not find any clothes or pair of shoes which I could buy. In the end I found a wallet selling at 80% off.

By the time I wanna leave Pavilion, I saw children were performing on stage.

There were so many people and I could not wait to get out from the place.

I went to Lot 10 to check out the food stalls at the basement. Lily told me some of the stalls had been relocated from Petaling Street. There are a lot of choices of food available but because most of the stalls are operating on an open air concept, I can smell cooking smells everywhere. But the worst was in the midst of all the cooking smells, I can also smell sewerage smell. Yicks!

I went to Isetan and then walked across to Sungai Wang. Went into Parkson Departmental Store. I tried on some clothes but I did not find any I wanna exchange for my cash. I also went into some other shops including Metrojaya Departmental Store but still I could not find anything that I fancy.

I left Sungai Wang and walked to Berjaya Times Square. As I walked up the escalator, there were so many people queuing up to go up as well.

This shopping centre was filled with lots of people as well. And there was a group of people performing on stage but the music and singing were deafening to my ears. They were singing Christmas songs with a twist of rock in them.

I did not stay for long cos the music was too loud. i decided to go home and while walking to the Imbi monorail station, I called Tracy to tell her that I would be having dinner with her tonight.

After I bought my monorail ticket and as I walked up the stairs to the train platform, I fell down on the stairs. The teenage boy who was behind me spoke in Mandarin and told me to be careful. Thank God I was still able to walk like normal.

I found a cab outside KL Sentral monorail station and went into it. When I arrived home, Tracy was not home yet and therefore I rested. There were two bruises on my left knee. My right hand near the wrist also had two bruises. I kept on rubbing them so that the bruises can heal quickly.

Tracy and I went to the same place where we had brekky this morning for dinner.

There was a crowd at the restaurant already.

The 'ABC' soup tasted a bit weird. It did not taste like the ones we usually have at home. I think it was a bit on the sweet side.

The veges would be too spicy for people who cannot take spicy food. I thought the captain should have had the courtesy to ask whether we can eat spicy food and not just assuming we can. The dried prawns accompanying this dish were fried and blended well with the veges.

The Marmite chicken wings had been thoroughly marinated before cooking. It was so delicious until I was speechless. Yums ...

After we went home, I was online for some time before going to dreamland.