A Leisurely Drive

28 Dec

The goodbyes were swift and short. We left at ten to fill up the petrol tank before hitting the highway. Traffic was not that heavy and you could say it was a leisurely drive.

It’s always nice to drive past the paddy fields

I took another painkiller, this time more for the headache developing from the lack of sleep and not for the endometriosis pain which subsided. It’s going to be a long day and I didn’t want to be in any discomfort throughout the journey.

We decided to go to Matang for seafood porridge instead of crab porridge at Nibong Tebal. And it was worth the detour, Matang being further from the highway compared to Nibong Tebal.

Satisfying loaded seafood porridge

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Unexpected Attack

28 Dec

I had a horrid unexpected endometriosis attack last night! I suspect it could be due to having the extra sips of the boba drink that triggered it. The Xin Fu Tang was all milk and cream and it was actually very nice – not too sweet as we thought. So a couple more sips was all it took and I suffered the consequences. Sigh…

The pain was building up before dinner and I took a painkiller before going out. We had Thai food which was actually very nice but the pain by dinner time overshadowed the food. When we got home, I had to take another painkiller and it didn’t help. Almost keeled over. What a spoiler. Hrmph.

This morning I am feeling slightly better despite a restless night. The worst is over. Phew.

We say goodbye to the (grand)parents today to continue on with the food trail to other parts of the country. I need to be more careful on my food intake to avoid another unexpected attack.

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Non-stop Eating

27 Dec

After the morning market excursion, we decided to drive a distance away to eat Ah Cheng Laksa. This name has become a franchise brand and they have shops everywhere but we hardly eat this back in KL.

The humble beginnings of a franchise

However today felt like a good day for Assam Laksa. And apparently this stall in front of the house (presumably Ah Cheng’s home?) is the original beginnings of the brand and we were not disappointed.

Cold desserts for a hot day!

Assam Laksa (top) and Prawn Mee (bottom)

The desserts were very yummy. And both the Assam Laksa and Prawn Mee were very flavorful yet not too overpowering and the portions were just nice so we didn’t feel overly stuffed. Which was a good thing because we went for a body massage after that.

I opted for a head, neck and shoulder massage while M1 did a full body massage. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough masseurs working, so hubby just waited for us.

My masseur wasn’t the best I must say. Half the time, she was just pressing my shoulders, messing my hair, pinching and squeezing my arms instead of working the knots and veins. I felt both my arms were being bruised from her actions.

And the chair that I sat on when I had to switch places for her to work on my back, oh my goodness! It squeaked every single time when she pushed rather than massaged my back. Not quite what I had hoped for… thankfully the session was only an hour and not more.

After a quick stop to get a boba tea, we came home to rest and planned for dinner. I feel so bloated just thinking about it. We have become eating machines with all this non-stop eating!

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An Interesting Morning

27 Dec

The al fresco breakfast place was a short drive away. Tucked in a corner of the parking lot adjacent to the housing flats, we found a table. While everyone had coffee and Roti Canai, I took only two bites of Roti and had a cup of hot tea, served with ice on the side. Interesting.

Nasi lemak, Roti Canai, a frothy milk coffee and my tea, ice on the side

M1 decided to try the packet Nasi Lemak which turned out to be more of a Rice with Curry Chicken than Nasi Lemak with the usual cucumber, anchovies, peanuts and egg condiments.

After breakfast, we drove to the morning market for some fresh coconut and to our delight, the fishmonger was in action, descaling a huge 18 kilos grouper. What a sight! It has been an interesting morning.

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About Last Night

27 Dec

Big Tree Foot was basically an eatery place under a big tree. The place was packed but we managed to get a table. Hubby and M1 joined the long queue to choose the Yong Tau Foo choices and we waited for half an hour, despite being super fast and efficient, before the order came.

Dragonfruit juice, noodles and Yong Tau Foo

The Yong Tau Foo was something different from the usual Chicken Rice fare if we were to stop in Ipoh town, so a good choice. The Chee Cheong Fun was very nice. After lunch, we bought some snacks from the Indian uncle and also went to the famed confectionery shop nearby, not to buy but to see the queue line for the peanut brittle candy. The things people endure for food. Amazing.

We arrived at hubby’s parents house by 4.30pm and had a good rest before venturing out in search for dinner! Goodness, I feel like a glutton.

Otak-otak, Satay, noodles, grilled squid & stingray and popiah

Dinner was a good spread of several choices. Thankfully, we had three others joining us (the parents and an aunt) for the occasion otherwise we wouldn’t have ordered so much. Still… burp.

We are now on the way to breakfast and I’ve decided to just take photos and don’t eat because I am still full and need to digest last night’s intake. It’s been a packed food trail!

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Boxing Day

26 Dec

It’s Boxing Day and we left town to continue on with the food trail. After the sumptuous Christmas Eve dinner, we spent a very chilled Christmas Day at the mall and checked off a few more items on the ‘To Eat’ list.

The Christmas Eve dinner spread

At Din Tai Fung for xiao long pao & other favs

Milk tea ice cream and black coffee ice cream

We then watched the IMAX version of Star Wars the Rise of Skywalker which was very entertaining. Shopping was not on the agenda that much, rather a cold beer was preferred at our favorite haunt that we brought M1 to.

Cheers!

So this morning, we left home at ten and headed for Big Tree Foot for lunch instead of Ipoh this time. We felt a different destination would be nice for a change. But before we reached our intended destination, the Agromall was a must-stop to buy some local fruits!

We bought some fruits

At Big Tree

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The Night Before Christmas

24 Dec

As our food trail has taken off with almost every meal eaten outside – far more and frequent than what we are accustomed to, every night when I stand on the bathroom scale, it’s with a sense of trepidation. I know it won’t be a result for the faint-hearted!

Today being Christmas Eve, a big dinner feast awaits! My discipline has slacked with all this constant eating and I find myself snacking on itty-bitty morsels of Bakwa (Bee Cheng Hiang’s gourmet bacon and sliced pork) for breakfast despite still feeling somewhat full from last night’s Nasi Kandar dinner. So for lunch, maybe something light just to lessen the guilt. Hahaha… as if this would work.

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These are so good to snack on!

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We each had a hearty plate of Nasi Kandar. Top right: a frothy ginger tea (Teh Halia)

It has become tradition for us to gather at my sibling’s home with his family for a festive dinner on this night before Christmas. This year with the exception of M2, all family members are present and it will be a boisterous gathering.

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Merry Christmas!

As always, there’s going be a lot of food and drinks to enjoy, a lot of presents to exchange, and lots of noise and laughter making the annual occasion a treasured family affair. Will I stand on the scale when we get home after the celebration? Hmm…

I thank all my readers, family and friends from near and afar for the continuous support and interest in reading my blog. Here’s wishing all a very Happy and Merry Christmas!

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Tough Act to Follow

23 Dec

So M1 is back, albeit a two-hour delay at Inchon Airport and losing some precious time, we take what we can and make the most of our time together. Starting with the food! We have been eating out constantly to check off her ‘To Eat’ list and it’s a long list for such a short trip.

Thosai Rawa and Roti Bomb, butter bun and Koi boba tea

French beans, tofu, steamed fish, coconut water and crabs galore (salted egg and buttered)!

Look at that happy face and the packet Nasi Lemak, breakfast of champions

It’s a tough act to follow for us especially because of what we have been doing all this while – the 16/8 IF diet. Suddenly we find ourselves eating all this variety of food and at odd hour intakes that we’re not used to, it’s too much for us. So we have to pace ourselves. As for M1, she’s in food heaven!

Hutong Village at Lot 10 in the city centre

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Let the Food Trail Begin!

20 Dec

Last night M1, our firstborn came back from the US for the Christmas and New Year holidays. The flight was delayed two hours and it felt forever before she came out from the arrival hall at KLIA.

It’s a wonderful reunion again after visiting her in June for her graduation. Unfortunately, M2 opted not to return and instead has flown off to London for her Christmas holiday.

Nevertheless, a family get together is always about food besides the bonding time. Thus we will embark on a food trail to attempt to check off all the ‘must eats’ on her list. There goes the 16/8 diet! Oh well, it’s not always she returns, so we will indulge as well with her.

Thosai rawa

Roti bom

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A Major Disaster

17 Dec

At the end of July, I signed up for my golf club’s Annual Championship tournament which was held for two days over a weekend in August. Looking back, pairing determination with pain was not a good combination to manage. In this context for me, it was dealing with my endometriosis pain with work deadline and playing in a tournament. It proved to be a major disaster resulting in a mental breakdown of sorts. A first for me.

As time drew close to the tournament, I had another painful bout of endometriosis attack. So bad I almost wanted to pull out but I didn’t because I thought I could manage. I thought wrong.

On the first day of the tournament at the Hills course, I was on painkillers to deal with the pain and discomfort to stay focused. I came back with the most varied score ever, being a stroke-play format. It ranged from a two (birdie on a Par 3) all the way through to an 11 on the Index 1, Par 5 (because of two balls in the water). In other words, I had every number (and several repeated) on my scorecard… except an eight though. Strange.

On the second day, the tournament was delayed because of rain and we teed off at the Lakes course after a 45-minute wait. I started off fairly well and held up okay for the first seven holes. But disaster struck by the eight hole, Hole 17 (we started on the back nine).

The humidity in the air suddenly became very thick and I had an unnecessary urge to tee-off harder to pass the pond. Never do that. When you try harder, the harder you fail. I ended up with three balls in the water!

It was a disaster unfolding before me and I was the star of the drama. That morning on that Par 4, I came back with an eye-popping 14! A 14 on a Par 4, worse than the 11 on the Par 5 on the first day. I told myself to calm down and don’t get too emotional by it.

However the next hole, the Par 5 being another fearful hole, my doubts doubled in my ability to overcome the water factor. Remember, this is the feared Pacific Ocean water hole that I crumbled during the 2018 Iron Challenge tournament.

Thankfully, only one ball went into the water. But a silly pull to the left cost me and I ended up with another double digit. Hmm… not good. But I was thinking the worst was over and I can still recover because the front nine is actually more manageable to play. I thought wrong again.

I suspect the four balls into the water rattled me but somehow I didn’t acknowledged this and when I teed off on Hole 1, I put another two balls into the water! By now I was like, WTF?! The legs were jellied and the confidence zilch beyond comprehension and in a blur, another double digit on the Par 4.

When we got to the second hole, a Par 3, I was so sapped of life and when I put yet another ball into the water, I told myself, that’s it. I’m going to withdraw. I’m not a quitter but with disaster after disaster piling up with every hole, the event was becoming a catastrophe of epic proportions and too much for me to shoulder. There’s no point to go on playing. What recovery would there be at that point, mentally especially? I’m just killing myself out there and if I continued, I would end up detesting the game so much and just chuck away all my clubs.

With my mind made up, I took a drop for the third shot for formality but was convinced I couldn’t launch it across the water and indeed proved myself right. A classic case of a negative thought attracting a negative action! The ball dived into the water. Ahhhh…… speechless. The mental state of mind was just oh-so-cruel.

I could not go on, having a major breakdown dealing with playing golf in a championship tournament; I simply couldn’t golf anymore. Immediately after that, I drove the buggy to see the referee who happened to be nearby and I informed him of my intention and decision.

Looking back, I really can’t comprehend what unraveled that morning. The endometriosis pain was suppressed that second morning and wasn’t the reason yet I crumbled so badly. This outing takes the cake over the Iron Challenge experience I must say. I simply don’t have words for it. I sat through the remaining holes with my flight mates and came back with an ‘NR’ for my attempt at this year’s Annual Championship.

Lesson learnt: if and when there’s pain lurking before and during any important golf tournaments, do not try to be a heroine to pair them. It’s a proven recipe for a major disaster because not only the body cannot withstand but the mind simply cannot cope.

So after that last game of the year, I’m glad I am stepping away from golf and will be resting to heal both the physical and the mental to recoup. When the new year comes around, I hope to find love again for this crazy game called golf and be able to enjoy playing it without issues or disasters of epic proportions.

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