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Chinese New Year in Bangkok, Part 3

16 Feb

My Fitness rings on my AppleWatch Series 5 have been off the charts with so much walking we have done. Perhaps it’s a good thing to burn all those calories consumed. My legs hurt to high heaven, but the food discovery continued. After the rest from the Chatuchak outing, we took a cab to Jodd Fairs Night Market.

Colorful food choices at the Jodd Fairs Night Market. Highly recommended to visit.
Dinner was on the table liner. Spicy squid, pineapple fried rice, and ribs. The pork-neck bone soup was killer spicy with the mountain of green chili that I removed!

We seem to have discovered more places to eat during this trip. Even on our past golfing trips, food was not a priority. Jodd Fairs felt like a more organized Chatuchak. The food vendors were clustered, with all types of mouth-watering food, and the sights and smells were so tempting! It’s nice to find new things to try.

Some exotic edibles – insects, crocodile meat, snails, prawns, and squid.

The walkways between the stalls were more spacious than in Chatuchak, and we could browse slowly without blocking human traffic. However, nothing caught our eyes, for we had bought what we wanted already from Chatuchak. It was another tired-to-the-bone night when we returned to the hotel. As a result of such a schedule, I did not have the energy to write anything to upload and share.

I knocked out a little past midnight. The next day, it’s another full itinerary to visit the temples.

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Chinese New Year in Bangkok, Part 2

15 Feb

We all slept well–after all, it was a long and exhausting day–and were ready for the second day’s adventure! After breakfast in the hotel, we took the BTS to Chatuchak, the famed weekend market. Chatuchak is the place to go for discovering and buying things to your heart’s content.

Exciting place
Look at the plump chicken on display! We had noodles for lunch and pork belly on-the-go

Everyone was on a mission to buy things on their lists. The offerings there, in terms of choices and colors, were so much; too much until it confuses you! Hahaha. Be sure to stick to your intentions – otherwise, you’ll end up with too much or too little.

Happy with my pouch purchases!

So, I managed to buy my things, plus some others. I couldn’t resist, and it was a good bargain! Nevertheless, we had a fun but tiring day in the hot conditions – walking, seeing, haggling the price, eating, and absorbing all the colors and smells of the weekend market.

When the will to continue walking and shopping dropped to zero, it was time to return to our hotel to rest. By nightfall and somewhat rested, we were ready for the next adventure.

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Chinese New Year in Bangkok

15 Feb

On the first day of the Chinese New Year, we flew to Bangkok, a first for us to be abroad during this festive time. Waking up in the wee hours of the morning was not ideal, especially after returning home late from the Reunion Dinner. But it was unavoidable because we had to be at KLIA early. There were news reports that the airport could not cope with the volume of travelers, so it was better to be early.

Beautiful dragon display at KLIA

Luckily, it turned out well, and our departure was on time. Yay, the holiday has begun!

It has been some years since our last trip to Bangkok, and it was nice to be back. Although it was muggy, humid, and hot, it did not matter. We were ready with USB-powered fans to keep us cool. There was so much to do, see, and eat!

Always amazed with the electrical cables in Bangkok!

Soon after we checked in, we did not waste time and got going. We walked to check off the list covering coffee, gelato (an impromptu stop), and kakigori stops. The flavors were good, for lack of a better word, and fueled us to keep moving.

Discoveries this trip

We continued our walking discovery of the vibrant city, and before we knew it, we were at The Commons for dinner. Another check off the list. Dinner was safe comfort food, but we did try a Peruvian ceviche, which was excellent with the varied flavors in a mouthful. It had been a long day by then. Time to get back to the hotel!

Comfort food and tried a new dish

Sleep beckoned the minute we entered the room. After the hot shower, it was time to hit the sack to recuperate from the day’s adventure. I clocked in more than 20 thousand steps! Yes, I was dead tired. What a start to the holiday.

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Reunion Dinner 2024

9 Feb

Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year, and the Chinese community will gather with their loved ones for the ever-important Reunion Dinner. This year, we are not traveling North to hubby’s hometown. So, no long six hours or more drive to endure along the Plus Highway. Phew.

Instead, we are staying in town to celebrate the occasion with my brother’s family and Mom with a home-cooked sumptuous spread. Sometimes, families eat at a restaurant if they don’t want to cook up a storm. We tried this before but did not like the time restriction imposed.

As restaurants find this a lucrative business opportunity, Reunion Dinners with set menus are often allotted a two-hour session. Typically, there are two slots – an early session at 5.30 pm or a later session at 7.30 pm. And diners have to rush through the meal in a noisy atmosphere. You can’t eat at a leisurely pace with the clock ticking!

So eating at home is best. The family will gather this evening for our Reunion Dinner 2024. Here’s a toast to usher in the Year of the Dragon to bring peace and bless us with prosperity, good health, and much happiness.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

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Countdown to the Year of the Dragon

6 Feb

The new Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, is three days away! This year, the Year of the Dragon falls on Saturday. I thought I had time to prepare for it since it’s in February this year, but nope. I wait until the last minute to get my act together.

Getting ready to toss the Yee Sang

Somehow, the New Year feeling is not there. I’m not feeling the festive vibes, and I’ve done only two tossing of the Yee Sang so far. Businesses everywhere are thriving, selling Chinese New Year-related items, yet I find myself uninterested. One can also find temporary tents along the roads and street parking lots selling firecrackers and mandarin oranges.

Street vendors selling firecrackers

We used to buy a fair bit of mandarin oranges but never the firecrackers. There is no need for this purchase because we will experience firecracker shows (and noise) from the neighbors and beyond!

So, as we count down to the New Year, with the Reunion Dinner first this Friday, I take this opportunity to count my blessings for the past year. While health-wise, it was challenging – I am thankful to have come out of it without further complications.

Who knows what lies ahead for the Year of the Dragon, but let’s take it in stride. Here’s wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous Year of the Dragon!

Kung Hey Fatt Choy / Kiong Hee Huat Chye / Gong Xi Fa Cai / Happy New Year!!!

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Day Trip to Teluk Intan

2 Feb

Two weeks ago, we did a day trip to Teluk Intan to see the Leaning Tower of the town. We were not disappointed. We took the new West Coast Expressway instead of the usual Plus Highway, and the drive was pleasant enough.

I must admit it was our first time visiting the tourist attraction site. Although not as towering as the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy in terms of height (25 meters versus 57 meters), the structure was beautiful and just as intriguing. We enjoyed being tourists despite the heat of the mid-afternoon sun.

An obvious tilt
The difference in height on two sides of the tower
The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan

Lunch soon after at the local coffee shop was an eye-opener! The prices were so cheap compared to prices in the city for the same orders. Well, being a small town, I guess the affordability showed. After the satisfying lunch, we decided to head home as there was nothing else to see or do.

We saw a Tapir road sign along the drive instead of the typical version with a cow that we see on the highway warning of animals crossing in the area. The funny thing was each time there was a Tapir signpost, they looked different. Consistently inconsistent in terms of the image of the Tapir. Why?

Tapir crossing sign post

It was interesting because we were on the trunk roads, cutting across plantation land. What if we did encounter a Tapir crossing? Wow, unimaginable. Then again, it would have been scary because the animal is rather huge and can be dangerous for us in the vehicle. Thank goodness, nothing of that sort, merely Tapir road signs mostly and not the animal.

Day trips are fun to discover the country. We should do it more often, and I look forward to planning the next outing.

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Limping, Not Leaping into 2024

2 Jan

Several days before ushering in the New Year, I was out with a nasty cough and flu. It was most depressing. Even the New Year fireworks at midnight could not lift my spirits.

You could say I limped, not leaped into 2024. I have been sapped to the core, nursing a watery nose and teary eyes. The sneeze just cannot come out! Ugh. What a weak start to face the new year. I’m just hoping for a speedy recovery.

The good thing about this misfortune is the sudden weight loss. I have been trying so hard to shed some pounds towards the fourth quarter of last year but have failed miserably. With so many occasions and birthday dinners, it was hard.

But with my current situation, I have no appetite, and going out is too much of an ordeal. And the pounds are gone! It’s nice to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I will recover and face 2024 head-on.

Happy New Year everyone!

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Merry Christmas 2023

26 Dec

Merry Christmas, everyone! It has been a low-key festive time for us because of the wet rainy season. When it rains constantly, the mood is not there to do anything! Luckily, we did most of our Christmas shopping online, capitalizing on the 11.11 and 12.12 online sales blitz, and there was no need to go to the mall at all.

As usual, the family had our Christmas dinner on the Eve, and it was a good spread of choices. I baked a pork tenderloin and called it a ‘Pork Log’ because of its sheer size to feed 16 people!

The Pork Log process. I cut off a portion to fit the Pyrex!

Initially, I was fickle-minded about what to make, as recipe ideas kept popping up on my Facebook news feed. The final dish was my third choice after two earlier attempts at something different.

Here’s wishing everyone a wonderful time, and let there be peace. Merry Christmas once again!

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Chinese Winter Solstice Festival

22 Dec

The Chinese Winter Solstice Festival, or Dongzhi Festival, is today, and the family will celebrate the occasion with a meal together. Typically, the highlight of the occasion is the Tang Yuan, the glutinous rice balls dessert, and not the dinner, which is usually nothing too extravagant.

Over the years, our family’s version of Tang Yuan has evolved in taste and color. It used to be just the traditional white and pink balls, but more colorful ones have appeared over the last few years. In terms of taste, besides serving the balls with piping hot sweet ginger syrup, we have crushed peanuts with sugar sprinkled over the colorful balls. However, we hardly make them with sweet fillings, such as black sesame or red bean, because it’s too much work.

Another thing about this festival is the occasion being everybody’s birthday. When one eats a glutinous ball, you are officially a year older. When I was a kid dinosaur years ago, eating one was never enough. And I worried about eating a dozen glutinous balls because I would have to add a dozen years to my age. Hahahaha.

Here’s wishing everyone good health and happiness during this Dongzhi Festival!

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A Touring Pro?

5 Dec

Over the weekend, hubby and I attempted to do the unthinkable – playing four rounds of golf like a touring pro! Did we succeed? Well, almost.

The drive in one car with our friends to Sri Menanti Golf Club was pleasant, as there was hardly any traffic. The weather was cooling, and although our one flight teed off at almost 9.30 am, we did not feel any heat.

At 9.00am, the temperature was cool with the low hanging clouds at the clubhouse

The golf course was a gem of a discovery. Narrow, undulating, and unexpected, it was an enjoyable golf course. The best part – buggies were allowed on the fairways. Nice.

After the game, we had a hearty local lunch near the course before heading to Malacca for the night.

Come Sunday, the rest of the group arrived, and our second game was together with them at Ayer Keroh Country Club. Yet another round with the buggy on course, I didn’t feel the pain of walking because I didn’t walk that much! Such conditions help the body not to exert too much and be able to go on pain-free the next game.

The third game at Tiara Malacca Golf & Country Club was a taxing one despite being buggy on the course as well. The fairways were dry, the roughs were nasty, and the sun was a scorcher. Everyone felt the heat to the core.

I was constantly going into the bunkers, and it annoyed me to no end. Adding to my frustration was my erratic putting with the Spider after doing so well with it for the past few games. Sigh.

The three-day schedule pales in comparison to a touring pro’s. I hardly felt like one anyway when we had buggy on-course games. Despite this advantage, the will to go on was there, but the body and mind could not. We gave up the last game. Sigh. On a brighter note, we had good food each time and plenty of friendship bonding time.

Professional men and women golfers are remarkable athletes. While I aspire to be like them, playing several games in a stretch, if I cannot even handle three days of buggy on-course games, what more walking long golf courses for four days in a row? Hats off to them!

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