Window shopping spree… Whee!!!

After a whole day of mugging, I decided to visit my neighbor 1Borneo Hypermall, only to be welcomed rudely by a shocking announcement at the entrance on the parking charges starting 01 April 2009. But my spirit was not dampened as it’s not yet the date so I breezed in and parked somewhere in the LG floor to visit my all – time favourite stores.




First stop was Sasa! To check out if the sale was still on, and I was happy to announce that my favourite Kate brand is still having discount for their Deep Eyes eye colour. Previously RM 49.90, this 5 – colours set was now RM 37.80! After pondering whether I should get that gorgeous gold – green colour set, since I’d already purchased the silver-deep pink hues last week, I moved to the Maybelline shelf, and my God! The Black Forest EyeStudio was running out fast! No surprise since Cleo listed it as one of those glam, shimmery eye colour, and of course, the 10% discounts for its RM 29.90 price. Sigh… but I’d already gotten the beautiful deep green shade so I’ll move on to… What’s this? SilkyGirl items too were still discounted 10%! And goodness me, the RedEarth eye pallets are just so bright and funky… but the price was not funky so I could just drool over it and made my way out while waving bye – bye to the friendly guard (hey, he assisted me last week while I was debating on what eyeliner colour should I pick ^_^).

Moving on next… TuneStore.com. I spent 15 minutes ogling the sexy stilettos on display, since I had added this label as one of my fav after purchasing their gorgeous black, strappy, 3 - inches - high stilettos. Then the make – up aisle again, where I had some make – up lessons previously with one of the salesgirls on how to apply smoky eyes. But their sale was less tantalizing than Sasa so I moved on.

To the neighbouring PadiniCo. to ogle more shoes, Vincci this time. There were just too many that I loved! I just adore those sweet kitten heels with the velvety and silk ribbon bows! Meow!!! And those bangles! The square, silver bangles and also the cream clutch purse… Sigh… I think I better get going…

To Souele! Though their styles are like those of Message, but they have a subtler cutting and deco as compared to the other. I’d been meaning to get that sweet long white blouse of soft lace material for such a long time but it’s still hanging on the 15% discount rack instead of the RM39.90 and RM49.90 racks… Sigh…

So I dragged myself to Harris to flip through some works of Dan Brown and peruse through the chick lit racks before moving on to…

Elianto! To ogle on the selections of eye pallets, dreaming of fitting them into the sweet, floral – patterned pallet boxes. But I’d acquired their Fairy Shadow Kit 02: Mystery & Romance (6 colours! Easily matched to boot!), and also their Moisture Lipstick 06 Deep Plum (so silky & devine! But with a hint of weird scent) previously, so I’d wait till they run out at least half of them. Te only thing about some of their eye pallet is that it’s just so not water – proof without the make – up base so don’t wear them to go to a teary movie. You’ll come out either smudged or totally wiped off. But it sure saves on buying make – up remover…

Watson, my all time favourite stop for toiletries and also make – up since they are forever having sale! I just love perusing their make – up aisle as they have so many brands! Oh, ZA Lip Vibrante Lipstick sheer lip colour is just plain divine! Silky, shimmery, subtle but SEXY! And for less than RM20!!!

Finally, the dessert of my spree. Body Shop… I can only dream of owning anything from their make – up brand as they are just so expensive. But the casing! The colours! The shine! But I was comforted by the fact that their shower gels and lotions are still in affordable range. Recently their Japanese Cherry Blossom collection was such a hit, the body mist sold out in a jiffy all over Kota Kinabalu within a few weeks time! I was lucky to be able to procure the shower gel and lotion, though I was wistful over the body mist. Soon… please come in more soon!!!

And so, with tired feet, I dragged myself home. With my wallet intact too, since it was intended from the start. I guess many people will never understand how I managed to spend 3 hours walking around in and out of many stores without actually buying a thing. But that’s window shopping for you. Till next time, I’d be soaking my feet in hot water.

Earth Hour, 28 April 2009, 20.30 – 21.30.

Actually I received the e - mail recently from Nuffnang notifying me about such thing (one of the benefit of joining Nuffnang is that you get informed of such fun event in advance ^_~), and I was quite excited at the prospect of at least half of the world will go dark on the day at that particular 1 hour. In fact, even in UMS, there was a campaign going on about it.

And so on the fateful night, nearly everyone turned off their room lights and the common lights in halls, bathrooms and so on, and UMS plunged into a semi – darkness state except for the stadium lights, street lights and all those central – controlled lights. Well, can’t have all of them turned off for safety reasons. Those who hadn’t turned off their lights were reminded by unofficial patrollers who knocked each and probably every room to ensure everyone switched off their lights.

It was AWESOME!!

Some were having flash light games from block – to – block and “dark” parties, while I preferred the quiet of my room before I decided to come out and enjoy the “dark hour”. And whoa… the fireflies were visible and were so pretty that I just stood there at the balcony enjoying the rare sight that would only arise when the university blacked out or such. It was gorgeous…

And so, the Earth Hour finally ended, and when the lights came back, the magic disappeared.

But still, somehow, I really enjoyed this brief darkness. Till next year!!!

I want a DIGITAL CAMERA....

Sigh... I'm kind of regretting my 5 - years ago decision to take up PTPTN loan... Should have taken JPA, the recipients receive RM12 000 yearly... Let me see, what was the reason last time I decided to forgo it... Ah, it's the 10 years government bondage i.e. working in government institution for 10 years...

If I'd taken the JPA scholarship, a camera is a dream come true... And a brand new handphone every year. Branded clothes... Good food... New laptop... Even a Keris motor bike.

Sigh... I should have taken JPA...

Kids... And traffic jam...

This week is the (re-)start of my suffering... The school holiday is over and so are the peace of KK roads... Come school opening, and so more cars on the road, back to the days of slow - mo behind the wheel... And people cutting / nosing in from emergency lane (Thanks a lot people. You just contributed more to the jam. Love you all.).

I'm not fond of kids, to put it nicely. To me they are annoying, noisy, NOT cute no matter how cute other people say they are, something that I do not wish to have within 500 m of my parameter. But hey, here I am living on and sharing this planet so.. there they are...

Some people may admonish me by saying, "Hey, you were a kid before too!" and I'll say "So what?". I mean, now is now, before is before and I would not say that everyone have to love me, just like I am now. So what?

Kopitiam: Old Time White Coffee

Status: Serve no pork

Venue / landmark: CityMall; 1Borneo Hypermall, 1st floor (when you see Dome, turn left, next to Jaws).

Basic RM per meal: RM 10 (w/o tax)

Marble – topped table and chairs aside from those comfy plush seats, flower lamps, sepia photos of coffee and food… it’s a classic set – up of old time kopitiam, topped with old time kopitiam menu of kopi and toast, half – boiled eggs, nasi lemak, noodles and a variety of fusion drinks, it’s a perfect place to chill with a light munch. It’s just plain classic, like the old time of our parents but with modern comfort.

Marriage nonsense

It is interesting (and also horrifying) to note that certain traditions are still implied during this day and age. One that has similarity in all races is the arranged marriage through families, with or without the children’s consents.

I’m not such a big fan of arranged marriage when it involved coercion and force, to be frank. Some may accept it as filial duty, but it seems somewhat wrong to force such union and lifetime commitment upon those who do not wish for it. And the complications that arise are usually not pretty. One that I’d encountered recently was a bride who ran away on the day of the wedding. This is one case where she was called back home suddenly one day and was put through an engagement without any notice from the parents or future in – laws. Apparently the parents loved each others’ children. Wow. Oi, I wonder where is the respect for this poor bride – to – be? And who’s the one getting engaged / married here, I wonder.

Anyway, the engagement proceeded and with the wedding date looming, she was forced to go along with the preparation since she did not dare to protest and call off the engagement. Plus point, the couple didn’t seem to be able to strike up a comfortable relationship. So where is this leading to?

Thanks to our caring society that sniffs gossips miles away, breaking off engagement is not as simple as it seems, what more with your parents breathing fire. Bonus point, when the couple is highly – educated, a trophy wedding it is.

My sincere condolences to such weddings.

Happily barbequing at Fraser's Hill...

It's so cold that it's perfect to start the grill! Not me cooking anyway, just helped to chop up some vegetables for the accompanying roasted vegetables side dish. The colours were so vibrant that I couldn't help but snap a photo ^_^ The water was ice - cold so I abandoned the kitchen after a while and let my friends continue the rest...




The finished product... Roasted chicken with lemon - butter sauce, pan - roasted vegetable, fruit salad and toasted naan bread. LOVELY!!




And for dinner, there was roasted cow tongue with some left - over roasted vegetable. The tongue was amazing despite the appearance, so fatty that the fat was oozing out during the grilling and while served. I love cow tongue! Not many parts of Peninsular enjoy such thing, only Kelantanese and Malacca Malay folks so far that I know eat such part of the cow.

It's cold! It's SOOO cold in Fraser's Hill!!

My recent visit to Fraser's Hill left me numb with the temperature being 18 degree C. It's all fog and mist day and night... I had on a T-shirt, a sweater and a wind - breaker to brave the cold everyday during my daily walks to the heart of the town.

The Smoke House looking "smokey"...

Some lovely flowers that I couldn't help but snap...