One HEART brings one SMILE.

AKI's Mooncake Festival 2012.

AKI stands for Alumni of Keele-ers International
(consists of all the amazing people, like *coughsMEcoughs*)

We have been working on this project/event for many months now. It's a night where children from different kindergardens would come together and enjoy the night with planned programme for them to enjoy. Also, to celebrate Mooncake Festival with them. The whole idea is to raise funds for charity (by selling mooncakes and on donations). 

We did the same thing 2 years back and the response was great, that's why we decided to do it again this year. All our donations are given to Nasom Penang (National Autism Society of Malaysia) and Ruyi Home (for the underpriviledged children with single parent). Both of these amazing NGOs also participated in our event that night (no kindergardens this year which I think was good seeing that we didn't have a lot of manpower, heh)

So, the last day that we could still raise funds was Saturday itself and we have a team who went to Chung Ling on Friday and I joined them on Saturday. Students don't really buy mooncakes cos it's pretty expensive for students and we didn't think that they would carry at least RM15 in the pocket to school so we decided to open it up for donations, at any amount! There are students who even donated 50 cents (such kind souls to really wanna help these children even with their last few cents!)

after spending 45 minutes of saying loudly "Donation for the autistic children" to every students who walked pass by us to go to the canteen (the only way to canteen), I decided to write it on the board (why didn't I figured this earlier. Hmm)

drank this once years ago. Saw it in the canteen and a happy girl, I was indeed.

the team behind all the raising funds (they were at KDU almost everyday) You guys, best!

the two boys decided that they would sit down and let the pretty girls 'attract' the boys'! So, I gave them work to do! Haha. Cut out the decorations, which they happily did.

we ladies memang powerr! We collected around RM300 on cash donations and RM200 plus on mooncake sales. All that happened within the two and half hours in Chung Ling. Wow :)

After Chung Ling, we went back to college to meet up with the rest of the team and head for lunch at New World Park, where Koay and I had probably the worst bak kut teh, ever! And while the rest went back to college to prepare other materials (for lantern making), Koay and I went to APT for our RM5's hair cut and hair wash! Afterall, the emcee needs to relax first before the night starts, heh!

stage and deco.

 foyer (notice the not-alligned-red-lanterns-behind-the-banner)

 buffet area (p.s I did the printed colored words. Nice, yes?)

food catering from Homes Chef Garden (partly sponsored by them as its a charity event)

yummy chocolate cake sponsored by mommy :)

sunquick orange drink with lots of ice.

After all the setting up and months of hard work, it's finally the time to kick start the night. The helpers were all dressed in either blue or white. All the handsome boys and drop-dead-gorgeous girls were ready to rock the night and making sure those kids will go home with smiles and lots of goodies! :)

oh! and we've got some supports from the home yo!

speech by the Head of Business Department, Mr. Prakash and Vice President of AKI, Vernon. 

our supporters. Not many in numbers but it was great!

first up: Mikael's stroytelling session on how Mooncake Festival existed. All the kids laughed, all the helpers laughed and all the teachers laughed! Mikael oh Mikael, such joker.

 then, it was coloring timeee! All kids' favorite time (okay, maybe not all. I never really liked coloring when I was young)

they gave their 100% because it's a contest! Three winners to walk away with three amazing prizes! (I had no idea what the prizes were, btw)

the boy on the right is cutenessss overload wei.

dinner after that.

all the hungry people in the world unite.

the next activity is making lanterns! This, the kids love.

*pinches*

Mikael guiding the kids step by step.

the emcee also jaga kids. syiok betuii!

After making lanterns, we also gave away ready made cartonned lanterns. I was actually telling them that there's only one lantern left and who wants it, and their happy reactions were priceless.

of course they were more happy when they found out that they each get one with lighted candles too!

so, we took them out for few rounds in college, to the darker areas. emcee jadi lantern-guide.

seeing pretty lighted up lanterns held by wonderful kids and the joy on each their faces, really priceless.

and we sang 'twinkle twinkle' (don't know other songs d. haha)

oh, I'm so happy looking back at the pictures la.

they also blew the candles to the count of 3. Oh how I love kids when they are this obedient! :)

PRIZE GIVING! (at this point, most of the helpers were quite tired d and I was pretty much losing the voice but the kids, they were more jumpy than ever!) They all left the place with goody bags each!

the group picture.

and because we had so much fun and it was a great night, here's another photo of us :)

one HEART brings one SMILE.

Homes Chef Garden Restaurant.

AWESOME NYONYA CUISINE IS IN TOWN!

It's like FINALLY that my aunt and her daughters are in this line of business!

They have always been the best cook in the entire family!

I still remember the taste of the apple soup that my aunt made when I was 7-8 years old! It was insanely delicious that I still remember it till now. Imagine how good it was! :)

When we were told the news that they were gonna open a restaurant, we were all so overjoyed! Cooking is in their blood!

My aunt (Kelly's grandma) and her eldest daughter (Kelly's mom) are the two main cooks! Her youngest daughter is the one running the business up front! And my uncle handles the PR, and he's sooo good in it! :))

And did I mention that the interior of the restaurant is elegantly simple? Love the lightings! :)



LIKE their facebook page to see more photos and details and latest promotions! :)

the map to the restaurant.

You've got to try it first then you'll know that it's really that good!

My personal favorites so far are the sambal petai and ju hu char! :)

MRC Heritage Walk 2012.

It's so weird that I woke up at 6 o'clock in the morning today and not feel sleepy at all. VERY VERY WEIRD. Called the babe but he sounds soo sleepy so didn't want to bother him and tried so hard to fall back asleep again, but it didn't happen! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!?

I want my sleep. I need to sleep. I was taking my shower at 7:30am! Even mom was shocked to why I bathe so early! this.needs.to.not.continue.

Anyways, one of the things that happened this week (the busiest/most packed Saturday and Sunday, by far).

Sunday, 22 September 2012.
MRC Heritage Walk (MRC stands for Malaysian Red Crescent)

It's a lot like Star Walk, except that this one we walked around the Heritage sites in Georgetown. Knowing myself, i would never sign up for this kind of walk-walk thing. It was just one day that he told me that we're going on a heritage walk on Sunday. I was like "Are you telling me that we're part of it or you asking me to join?" He's like "No, you are already part of it. It's RM30 per pax and paid d sumore." Hahaha. To cut the story short, this is a charity event and his mom bought two tickets for us.

So, being charitable and supportive as we already are, we were at Esplanade one hour before the event starts. WE WERE SOOO SLEEPY, goodness.

Overall, it was pretty fun. I remember collapsing onto the bed when we got home. Not that it was a very long distance also. It's just Sunday and Sunday morning cannot exercise so much ehh laaa. Heh.

The 5km walk covered heritage sites such as the Yeah Kongsi (Khoo Kongsi more famous leh!) Dr Sun Yat Sen Penang Base, the Penang Islamic Museum and the Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh. The route also covers the ‘Street of Harmony’ where St George’s Church, Kuan Im Teng Temple, Sri Mahamariamman Temple and Masjid Kapitan Keling are located.

More than 60 prizes to win in the lucky draw including a Honda motorcycle, China Airlines air ticket and hotel vouchers. AND WE GOT NOTHING! Oh well, we aimed for the motorcycle so that we could sell if off and use the money to fund our trip to London! But all hopes, crushed. Heh.

very sleepy us.

the sea water, super clear.

watched the sun rise a lil.

satu manusia pun tak ada.

packed within 15 minutes.

ready to rock the heritage sites.

four 'wristbands' (it's colored hair band!!) to collect along the way to join the lucky draw.

free drinks (which is totally sucky)

kita memang boleh.

found a great spot at the field, while waiting patiently for lucky draw to start.

the numbers that were never called. pfft.

one of the performance: Oppa Gangnam Style with the rest of the crowd.

We were so tired, but we didn't want to just stay home and sleep or play games *coughs*koaynolife*coughs* so we decided to go to the mall (since I had to collect my shades also) and watched Resident Evil.

I only managed to sleep for one hour after coming back from the walk. *moodswings alert*

But he made it better when he lets me have my Thai Tomyam at Queens food market (just 15 minutes before movie begins)

And now, college has started (him back to being a disciplined nerd) and 'real work' (meeting clients on my own) will be starting soon! *woots*

Sweet Surprises.

It's exciting that weekends are here. No idea why this week felt like there was more stress than any other weeks ever since I started.

Also, silly has been coming with quite many of surprises and it's really sweet, I must say. He's never really the romantic type of person, I think. And somehow when he does something totally unexpected, it melts me.

Like how he bought breakfast from McDonalds after spending the wee hours there with his bff and have it delivered to my doorstep in person. Honestly, I was very blur still when he came.

*rhythm of love's ringtone playing*
Me: Hello.. *in a very very sleepy voice*
Him: Morning babe! *sounding really hyper*
Me: Going home now? *both eyes still close*
Him: Yes babe.. I'm outside your house! Open the door!

(at this point, I didn't believe he was outside my house)
You see, I did this prank many times on him. Sometimes, I really was outside his house, but many other times (most of the time, actually) I just called and told him I'm outside, and he would rush to the door and find no one there. Haha. Once, I even texted his sister to find out what he was wearing so that I could make it seems so real that I was hiding in the garden. It was hilarious! He obviously bought it. Poor boy. So anyways, I wasn't gonna fall for his 'prank' this time.

Me: Huh?
Him: Fasterlaa! *sounding very impatient*
Me: Seriously laaa!
Him: Yess!
Me: *hung up the phone and walked to the door*

And there he was standing with the breakfast. At first, I though he was gonna come in and watch me eat. HAHA. But he just passed it to me and gave a morning peck and off he went home with Jack. Shooooo shweeeeet! Later in the day, he asked how was it and I told him my dad/mom drank the coffee because I don't like coffee *moment of silence in the phone* Then I suddenly just burst out laughing and said "You forgot that I don't drink coffeeeeee!!" But I wasn't anywhere near sad or angry cos he forgets sometimes. Haha. Koay ah Koay.. :)

Do you know he used to make sandwiches for me when we have morning class? As in he would wake up earlier to prepare them. *melts*

And then once, I was craving for bang chang koay for a few days d but never really get to buy them. So one time, I was sitting in the college canteen with Mikael after a morning class (he was at home cos his class was later in the noon), and then as I was talking to Mikael, he walked towards us and place a white plastic bag on the table and said "It's for you." I opened up and saw two pieces of bang chang koay in it! This boy knows how to make my day. JUST BUY FOOD! HAHAHA.

And then another time was when we had a huge argument and I was home. We argued d ma so we didn't want to go out anymore. Angry at each other d whatt! So, I just stayed home and watched TV. The next thing I know, I heard my mom talking to a man in the kitchen. And then my mom walked to the living room and passed me a plastic bag (yes, bang chang koay again) and told me that Adrian give eh. Suddenly, the heated argument doesn't seem so big anymoreee! :)

And how he would call me 5 minutes before my alarm goes off. So that I won't hit snooze and sleep through my working hours! :)

ilovemybestfriendtobits.

I am definitely blessed.

I Look To You.

So, I was listening to the radio (lite.fm) in the car last night and this song was playing.

I Look To You by Whitney Houston (I suddenly realized this is by far, best song ever!)
Good job, Whitney!

And at that moment when I was listening to that, I immediately thought of my grandpa. Stuggled to keep those tears in but I managed to.

It has been 422 days since he has gone back to Heaven. And it still feels like it was just yesterday that he left.

This is actually my first time of having such pain and sadness within me even after a year. My first time of knowing what it really feels like to lose someone this close to my heart. And it sucks big time.

When i was a kid, life was simple and easy. Because he was there. I remembered how every morning after his shower, he would walked over to his small mirror that can be opened up that was hanging on the wall, and then he would apply the shaving cream and then shave. He let me do it for him once. I remembered how he would secretly buy back chocolates for me without my grandma knowing and how we would giggle quietly about it. Memories like this, thank god they stay forever.

Then, it was time for him to see the Big Man, after seven years of battling cancer.


When I was counting on how many tickets would I need for my convocation, I teared up. He's that one person that I want to see when I'm on that stage. The one person that I know for sure would be super proud of me. That one person that matters so much. But no, no chance of that. He's not going to be there but I know he is proud of me.

The cemetery where he is at became the place I find my peace of mind and strength. I find joy and it makes 'missing him' not that bad anymore.

"I look to you

I look to you

After all my strength is gone

In you I can be strong"

We all miss you dearly, Mr.Kang! :)

Poison of Two.

The worst thing that could happen to two food bloggers (jokes on us, hah)

FOOD POISONING. 

The funny thing was it's NOT our first time getting this at the same time because of the same food that we ate. 
What's more funny is that it's also NOT the first time that we got it from the same food brand.

First time:
We were just probably 20 minutes before a movie and we decided to get something to eat in the cinema. I was craving for sushi so we decided to get sushi. And we opted for Jusco's sushi in Queensbay since it's cheaper and we were kinda rushing too. We got the one with many different choices. And the next thing we know, we were super sick the next day, with all that vomiting and diarrhoea going on. 

Second time: 
Same thing. Before a movie, I wanted something light to eat. i didn't want sushi obviously cos we knew they don't sell fresh sushi. So, i went and buy some fried potato strips thingy! Jusco's one! And it tasted horribleee! And then, we got this. THIS HORRIBLE FEELING OF YOUR BODY BEING SO WEAK! And we both got so many medicines because of Jusco! Pffft! 

Definitely no more Jusco's light food for me, anymore. Shuckssss.

His.

Mine.

Got 2 days MC because of it. Good also la since I really needed a good long rest. And now, it's back to work.