Christmas is coming

My favorite time of the year is less than a month away. First Christmas at The Merlot and I am quit excited about it. I will be cooking for Christmas and it is like using the small kitchen for the first time too. It will be challenging trying to multi-tasks in the space limiting kitchen but I think all should be well.

Party dates are set, get ready the presents and eating my Christmas dinner...hahahha..

By the way, I am warming the kitchen, cooking pasta this Tuesday, Louis drag the ideas when I told him I will be cooking (he is on course and on office hours, that means he can have home cooked dinner for the entired week, so bless. isn't?)

Free Upgrade at Banyan Tree....not Pong Pong Tree

We went for our annual Bintan trip and great thing happened. The ferry journey was better than expected, no sea sick till 5 min before reaching and I immediate felt better after throwing out. It rain while we were travelling and the rain stop the moment we arrival.

As we travel via Emerald Class, we were invited to wait at the lounge while we waited for our passport to be cleared at the custom, no Q-ing. After checking out, we went to the Banyan Tree counter, took some photos while we wait for the private Jeep to pick and send us straight to the BANYAN TREE. (By the way, the private Jeep service cost us US$12.50 one way..expensive ya but what to do)

The good news arrived while we are waiting for our room to be ready. We had booked for the Bayview Villa that cost us US$360 for a night but were given FREE upgrade to Sanctuary Pool Villa that cost US$675/night. Sanctuary Pool Villa was more than double the size of our original Villa and we got a private pool to ourselves and we had two bed rooms. It was pure indulgence and luxury, who needs to leave the villa when we had everything, right? Nothing beat Free Upgrade and this must be the best deal that happened to me so Far!!

Service at Banyan Tree was top class and they were responsive and reactive to our needs. Foods served was delicious and the view and serene environment was calming. Warning, all this came with a very steep price tag.

Nevertheless, go ahead and pamper yourself once in awhile, try Banyan Tree and you will be addicted...Trust me!!!

Grandma birthday celebration

is more of a family get-together. Due to grandma condition, we decided to cater buffet instead of eating out. As usual, grandma threw a little tantrum when she found about the celebration but was later convinced that a little gathering is good. She didn't want any birthday cake and we went along with her wish. Then again, birthday celebration without birthday cake was quite an anti-climate, lesson learnt.

As usual, I was assigned to organised the dinner, I went for Manna Pot (caterer) with strong recommendation by my colleague, but the foods was quite disappointing, too salty. However, as noticed by my cousin, the two boys who delivered the foods were quite good looking, that's the whole point right, foods so-so and they sent good looking boys to distract us...perfect move.

Highlight of the night is of cause my granny and my little (not so little after all) niece and nephew.

[Grandma not ready for camera]


[Grandma still not ready for camera]


[Grandma is finally ready..vain]


[Almost complete family photo...you know who you are..]

2 weeks before the race

I am 2 weeks away from the SCB marathon, things are not looking too bad. Bought my new shoes, had my first run with the shoes today. No blister but my toes still cramp up. I was having a breezing first 3-4km run and when i hit 6km (i think) the toes started to cramp up. I was breathing in and out harder to forget the pain but I have to stop when it got worst.

Why is this happening to me? I am beginning to feel worried about the run.....

Home cooked dinner

One of my dear friend think that my blog is getting too boring and suggested that I try something new. He asked me to buy a cook book and cook all the dishes in the book. Objective is really to learn and understand the process of cooking, and the feeling while cooking each dishes. After I master the dishes, I can invite friends over for dinner and taste the foods. Not a bad idea, but I am not really into cooking now, so will save this good suggestion for later stage.

Anyway, although I might not be cooking new dishes anytime soon, I have cooked my favourite Japanese curry for dinner. Yummy.

Hen's night..

Was looking at some of the photo albums in Facebook about Hen's night and it all looks like it is the LAST party of the bride. During the Hen's nite party, the bride-to-be is usually challenge to do some daring tasks that they are usually shy or not so stylo for a lady to do. Asking the best looking guy in the house to buy her a drink, what's the point when she is getting married soon right?? Other than the bride, the sisters are more daring during the party too, is it becos everybody have the licence to approach anyone??

So, the point is, why do we have such a party for a person who is about the get married? Shouldn't we have such party for our friends who are single and available instead, it should be fun right?

Big boobs, shall we hold a party for you like this? Rachel might kill us but we can hold one for her too, how about that? Good idea??