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The Little Escapade, Part 2

1 Nov

The plans for the ‘Little Escapade’ was a little different from our previous trips to Ipoh. We stayed at Z Hotel this time, a new boutique hotel with an impressive cafe offering a wide range of artisan coffee, tea and cakes. But these drinks and desserts were not on our mind, local food was.

We walked quite a fair bit going on a food trail during this trip. I think Ipoh can rival Penang as a food paradise. We had two dinners at two different locations which were very good. Simple and cheap, we were definitely sated.

 

Day 1, dinner #1

  

Day 1, dinner #2

 The ‘hor fun’ in Ipoh is really, really good. It’s a known fact that it’s the water source at this place that makes the ‘hor fun’ and beansprouts taste different. Besides these two, we find that we also like the local coffee and snacks.

We made many foodie stops, trying a little of everything so that we get to eat as many varieties as possible. And with everything within walking range from the hotel, we did not have to feel guilty with the input.

 

The long breakfast queue for dim sum

  

Day 2, breakfast #1

  

Day 2, dessert after breakfast #1

  

Day 2, breakfast #2

 The peanut snack is one amazing snack. We found ourselves queuing up twice to buy it. On Saturday we were in line for half an hour only to abandon the attempt because it would derail our golf plans. So the next day, we went again and ended up queuing for an hour and a half! A friend asked was it that good and worth the wait? Yes I would say. The taste is definitely unique.

  
On Sunday, we had two breakfasts so lunch was not even on our mind. Working off the breakfast, we walked and discovered Concubine Lane, an interesting lane that has quirky shops as well as street vendors selling trinkets and snacks. With such wonderful discoveries, Ipoh is fast becoming the choice option for a getaway for us.

 

The little boy with his ice ball

 
By mid-afternoon, it was time to leave and head home before the traffic built up. And with a car full of food and snack purchases, I think this ‘Little Escapade’ was a deserving one. I sure look forward to our next destressing trip!

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The Little Escapade

31 Oct

Last week work in the office was very trying. I was kept so busy, the iPad was ignored as in managing my virtual games. Instead I had to manage my design projects with my team on the challenges we faced. Initially I thought I would set up my canvas over the weekend and exert some creative energy into painting but when a friend suggested an impromptu overnight getaway with them, we readily jumped at it without hesitation.

The destination? Ipoh.

For all my life, I have never frequented Ipoh as much as the last two years. All this due to friends, food and golf. This trip was termed the ‘Little Escapade’ simply us to getaway from the work stress. With Saturday being a public holiday, the thought of a possible traffic crawl did not even deter us to make the trip.

We had a really gastronomic time and a wet golf outing over the weekend. The weather did not stop us and we ended up playing in the rain, and being totally soaked. The wrist felt good, there was no nagging pain and the condition was not that hot with the clouds and rain.

There were many firsts as far as golf was concerned. My raincoat was totally utilized throughout the game. And for once, my umbrella was used to shield me from the rain instead of the sun. Despite such measures, everything was soaked – the golf bag, the shoes and socks, the cap, myself, right down to the sports bra and undies. But I didn’t care nor felt any discomfort. In fact, I was having the time of my life!

We were also very naughty, sneaking in three cans of imported beer. But we drank only the 12% ones for we felt if we did the 16%, everything would go downhill. So we decided to tell the flight behind to bypass us to save ourselves some embarrassment. However, when the rainy condition persisted and no siren sounded to abandon game, not many flights stayed on to continue like us. We basically had the place to ourselves. It was a really fun outing.

We completed 16 and a half holes before calling it quits. Not so much from the rain but rather due to darkness. We could hardly see our balls flights. We really had a blast and after a nice hot shower, a good dinner capped off the day.

 

Day 1 lunch before tee off

  

The beer choices

  

After the rain…

  

 

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Brand Loyalist

25 Oct

I am a brand loyalist I must say. If I buy a product of a particular brand and like it, I will continue to buy it as long as I have a need and use for it. Like my handbags for example. It has to be Salvatore Ferragamo. Different sizes and shapes for different occasions, all my handbags–save for one Furla–and two pairs of shoes are Ferragamo. Brand loyalist. Let’s not even go into the other stuff… 

Recently the loyalty in me acquired yet another Thermos to my collection! There’s already five flasks (six if M1’s unit is also counted) of different sizes and there I was purchasing another. 

It could have been a simple thing but I suddenly needed my coffee to be always hot. So a sipper lid was required. But I didn’t fancy having to use my flask every morning for my coffee because the flip-top is too tedious to flip plus the flask does not have a handle like a mug. And frankly with this criteria, there are not many choices out there, that’s why I ended up with yet another Thermos product.

The purchase was a mug, the ThermoCafe serving this different need. And I love it.

  

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New Flavors

6 Sep

After my supply of the super fragrant G7 Vietnamese coffee finished, I decided to be a little bit adventurous and moved on to new brands to try. And sadly, they pale in comparison. Sigh…

The Douwe Egberts Smooth Caramel may smell nice but is only good with sugar which I prefer not to add to my daily intake. So I can’t drink this every morning although I do admit I occasionally have a coffee (a ready 3-in-1) with creamer and sugar, it’s not often. Have cut down my sugar intake with coffee for the longest time and have gotten used to it. A strong black is always good and preferred. 

The Percol Smooth Colombia is slightly better but its aroma doesn’t perk me up as much. Well, gotta make do. A decent coffee is better than no coffee in the morning to start the day!

  

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Happy Anniversary

1 Sep

What?! It’s that time of the year again for us to gush over the year that has gone by and add another notch to the marriage. Didn’t we just meet at a recent graduation party in Queens, New York? Or was that eons ago? Goodness, no wonder I feel more and more like a dinosaur.

Last year, being the 20th anniversary–a special milestone–we went off to Khao Yai, Thailand but this year, only a simple dinner which was a short drive away from home. Have we mellowed and lost our sense of wanderlust? Why not another faraway trip like before? Could it be a 21st anniversary is not as big a deal as a 21st birthday? 

Truth is, we did talked about going somewhere but we couldn’t decide – golf trip versus a beach getaway. So nothing came out of this indecision. I guess we are fine to stay put in the end. So yesterday, a simple early dinner sufficed to mark the occasion and we even included M2.

It was cozy, quiet and nice until the crowd came in. Well, another year, another milestone, another strand or two of white hair on the crown…

Happy anniversary hubby!

  

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Serial Eater, Part 2

29 Aug

Looking at M2 eating Honey Bunches of Oats made me want to eat cereal too, so I bought a box that comes with almonds. This is where our tastebuds differ slightly. She prefers with strawberries while I am into nuts.

It made me also recall my college days and cereal eating habits, which is highly not recommended. I think I would balk if my girls ever did what I did.

I think it was my Junior year and whenever I had 8.00am classes, I was never on time waking up, thus leaving very little time to get ready. Everything had to be super quick and breakfast was always stuffing my face silly with cereal then washing it all down with one or two gulps of milk. 

With five minutes to spare, I would be scrambling out of the apartment, zipping across the main road on my Giant mountain bike to get to campus and still be on time for class. Amazing. 

What’s even more amazing was that this routine was repeated just about for every 8.00am class during that one semester.

  

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Serial Eater

26 Aug

I find it coincidental that M2 is eating the same cereal brand that I had eaten dinosaur years ago. When I was in college, I used to eat Honey Bunches of Oats and loved it; now my M2 eats it too. The same brand but probably not the same range as I don’t recall the exact details. Still… Gone are the days when she used to have bread and butter for the morning meal, now it’s cereal.

And M2 loves her cereal so much that she eats it everyday for breakfast before school and also during tea time after she comes back from school. Sometimes she even eats it for lunch. But I must admit, she’s more of a serious serial eater (pun intended) than me.

  

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These Are Good

4 Aug

When I went off to Vietnam to play golf a month ago (wow! A month ago!!!) hubby requested to buy coffee and I got these. 

This brand, G7, is really good as the coffee smells very aromatic and tastes really good. Whenever he makes it in the morning, I could smell it from upstairs. In fact the whole house will smell of coffee! Mmm… nice.

It comes in three types, the 3-in-1 (with sugar and creamer), the 2-in-1 (with sugar only) and black. I must admit the black one was from the hotel room’s supply. The other two, you can buy from the market.

So if you happen to be in Vietnam and a coffee lover, get these. They are good.

  

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Belated Treat

4 Jul

My M2 turned 15 last Thursday and I was not here to celebrate with her as I was in Ho Chi Minh City. I reached home slightly after midnight on that night and managed to wish her because she waited for my return. 

Where did time go? My goodness, 15 years old. Didn’t I plan a Lego-themed birthday party for her not too long ago? Wait a minute… that was when she turned ten! My goodness, 15 years old now.

Over the weekend, we made it up to her and gave her a belated treat, starting off with a movie, ‘Finding Dory’ and a fancy Japanese dinner, followed by another movie the next day, ‘Independence Day Resurgence’. We had a good time.

My dear M2, you may be 15 and all grown up but you are still my baby. Kisses.

 

My baby

  

My kindy-going baby

  

All grown up!

 

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Dinner Time

26 Jun

We were recommended to go to Ngon 138 Restaurant, which was kinda like a food court. With little stalls within the place, you walk around to see what appeals to you and order to your liking. They also have a menu for you to order dishes.

We decided to order one of everything to share and this worked out well. With so many of us, we get to try a little bit of everything. Yum… Delicious.

Vietnamese food is very flavorful but because I avoided the chili bombs, tonight’s choices don’t feel as spicy as Thai food . After the meal, we are headed to the Ben Tanh market to look see. It’s amazing that the bus has wifi, that’s why I could post my stories.

  
   
 

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