TG for Friends

Choo flew over from Tawau for work and was bunking in at my place for two nights. Since the makan gang is freer on Monday night, Lily decided that we should eat seafood at one of the shops at SEDCO which was offering RM8.80 per dish.

It has been many years since I was last here. Personally, I do not really like going to this area though it's well-known for its fresh seafood because I thought that the shops here have over-priced their food and I have heard that sometimes they really go for an overkill especially on those hapless, unsuspecting tourists / out-of-towners. I'd much prefer another establishment that's cheaper yet offers really fresh and tasty seafood.

RM8.80 per kg

The whole area has been spruced up with extended roofing from one block to the other and homogeneous tiles on the floor. It definitely looks clean and spacious.

My eating buddies:

Jenny & Choo

She's the reason why we're here.

Lily & Cat

We They may be petite but when it comes to eating, don't underestimate them! ;)

Sophie can gobble up much too though it shows, physically :(

Fried oyster with eggs

Sweet & sour crabs

Claypot beancurd and vegetables

Shells / "Tung Fung Lo"

The portions were large and great-tasting although I find that the crabs were too much on the sour side. Another gripe of mine is that the waiter mixed-up our order and delivered our shells to the next table although we had placed our order first. By the time the shells reached our table, it was more than one hour since our placement of order and we had lost the eating momentum.

Yes, there's such momentum - we want our orders to be continuous and not disrupted coz that will interrupt the joy of eating.

This is how much Jenny can eat

vs

Choo's miserable four pieces (after waiting for too long)

We only had to fork out RM15.70 each. Cheap!

And that sums up my third joy of the day!

TGI Raining!!!

After getting my supply of skin cream, I left the specialist centre and saw that it was raining.

The first thought that crossed my mind was: "Oh no! I didn't bring an umbrella!" Only then did it dawn upon me that it's raining after more than two months of the oppressing and depressing drought!!! And my car was parked just next to the covered car park joined to the specialist centre and I wouldn't get wet at all! *silly me*

I was so overjoyed to see and smell the rain that I just had to snap a pic of the gloomy weather and wet ground.

Raindrops on my windscreen!

And the best thing that got me excited was - I got to switch on the windscreen wipers!

Using the wipers!!

March 29: Car

So the falling rain is my second joy today!

TGI Mushrooms!

After a 2-hour wait and only a 5-minute consultation at the skin specialist today, it has been confirmed that I have fungal infection and not some dreadful life-sapping diseases.

I can, therefore, safely conclude that it's some sort of 'panau' or 'hon pan' in layman's term or as what my best friend during uni days, Elaine, once said jokingly to me upon seeing those patches on my forearms: "Sophie, get those treated or you'll start growing mushrooms!"

 Pharmacy

After waiting for another 20 minutes at the pharmacy for my turn, I was given three tubes of Mecandin Cream to treat my fungal infection, enough to last until my next appointment on May 10.

Fungus killer

It's good news and the first joy of the day!

Updated on Oct 17, 2010:

I've noticed that this post has been viewed by random visitors. My guess is that you've googled "Mecandin" and it has led you here. Hi!

Actually when I was given the cream, I asked my pharmacist friend about it but she has never heard of it. Neither does my doc who had referred me to the skin specialist at QE. Hmm... that's quite disturbing, but whatever it is, it got rid of my fungal infection. Only used 2/3 of a tube when the patches disappeared from my arms. 

Here's more info which is stated on the tube for you all since the photo above is unclear.

MECANDIN CREAM 2%W/W 
15 g

Each gram contains:
Miconazole Nitrate ............... 20 mg
Preservative: Banzoic acid ..... 0.15%w/w

Storage:
Store below 30*C.
Protect from light, heat, moisture and freezing.
Keep out of reach of children.

Please refer enclosed leaflet for indications, usage (dosage), precautions/warning, contraindications and other information.
[I don't have any leaflet since the pharmacist gave me only the 3 tubes prescribed by the doc with the instruction to apply it on my skin twice a day after shower.]

Manufactured by:
MALAYSIAN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES SDN. BHD. (101323-U)
Plot 14, Lebuhraya Kg. Jawa, 11900 Penang, Malaysia.

Hope that helps! :)

Sunday's Food

As usual, after classes on Sundays, Theresa and I would go food-hunting. We'd both be famished as always. 

Studying is mentally and physically exhausting - serious!

Hence, it's also a good or sorry excuse (depending on how you view food) to stuff our faces!

We went to 1B - no prizes for guessing - and ended up in Secret Recipe, which we also went to the previous week. Before that we went and bought the tickets for a movie - Under the Mountain (Verdict: Unbearably boring, predictable and stiff-acting).

It's my choice because I love its Chicken Cordon Bleu! We shared these two:

Chicken Cordon Bleu (minus the fries & replaced by greens)

Dory fish with cream... (couldn't recall the exact name)

The chicken was good but the same couldn't be said about the fish. Something's funny but I couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly. Theresa said it was too salty.

We normally don't do this but alas, the temptation was too great while waiting for our movie's screening time. We I kept seeing the waiters / waitresses delivering those orders of tiny goodness to the tables around us.

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Choc Moist Cake

March 28: Secret Recipe, 1B

We both SHARED one.

Moral of the story?

Do not linger for too long at a diner after the main meal or else be prepared to eat more fattening food.

Okay, I shall put the blame on the poor timing between meals and movie.

Dumplings

While rushing for my assignment on Friday night, last minute work as usual, I took a break and cooked 'dinner' for myself.

It's an instant dinner which consisted of instant noodles and 'instant' dumplings (sui jiao).

The dumplings were bought by Unc Tom all the way from Sandakan since he was there for work. According to him, it's the best and most well-known and slightly more expensive because one of the ingredients used is century egg - my favourite!

 Instant dinner

March 26: Home

Couldn't finish the noodles but I devoured the eight pieces of dumplings.

Verdict? It's overrated. I'd much prefer those from Hong Kee in Damai, anytime.

'Mummified'

Went for my facial appointment today. It was my second one this year after I'd stopped for nearly one year.

Sophie - as much as she hates to admit it - is aging and needs all the help she can get! :)

All the skin scrubbing, cleansing, pampering, moisturizing, massaging, tightening to save and preserve what's left. ^ ^

I've always wondered how I looked like whenever the beautician has applied the layer of tightening mask over my face so I just 'blindly' clicked away.

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Would love to smile, if I could, but I can't!

March 24: Beauty Parlour :P

And no, it's not a ghost!

Chilli

Went out to buy some stationery and decided to grab a meal at Rafflesia. It is not so much of its servings of chicken that I was there.

Roasted chicken rice

It is the chilli sauce that attracts me! I can't seem to get enough of it!

With chilli!

March 23: Rafflesia Chicken Hut

I think they serve the best chilli for a franchise. Yums!!!

Hazy

It has been many weeks since it had last rained. Everything is turning brown; the grass, bushes, trees.

Since I have been staying indoor all the time, I've been spared from the arid weather.

However, today I had to pick up my bro from town and when I drove out at noon, I saw the hazy and smoky sky. The haze has reached street level and it was smoky all the way to town. The grass along the streets have all turned a sad shade of yellow and brown! Such a depressing sight!

I could even 'smell' the haze! How sad!

 

 Hazy

March 22: Home

Positivity

This principle was put to good use today.

For the past one month, one of our assignments is to produce a teaching video. The four of us, the 'older' less computer savvy students, relied heavily on our youngest member, Emmanuel, on the technical part. He was just so good that he used another newer version of the movie editing software to create our video. The final product in terms of the technical aspect was beyond the 'older' member's our expectation.

For the presentation this morning, Emmanuel, our technical man, was not able to join us as he was involved in a Taekwondo competition.

Alas, the group presentation did not go well as planned. Halfway into the video, the video lagged and did not run smoothly. My heart broke when I saw that because I knew it shouldn't have been the case as we had tested it many times just earlier on.

It was just such an awful feeling to see our baby - the video - lagging and being distorted. I had really wanted to cry because it just did not do justice to the hard work put in, especially our techie's. Because of the distortion, the impact that I had hoped our video would showcase was, to a degree, lessened.

It was beauty distorted!

Fortunately, our lecturer insisted that we run the video again after every group had presented. This time, we played it on our laptop - and it was smooth!

True beauty was revealed!

This unexpected technical error is the 10%. Being such an emo femme, I would have been overly affected by what had happened. I was, however, quick to remind myself to be positive and not let my emotion run too wild.

Yes, I was disappointed. The presentation did not go as planned. The first viewing of the video was painful to watch. The impact was lessened. I didn't feel good about it.

But it was unexpected and beyond our control then. We've done our part but the unexpected just had to happen.

Reflection:

• Expect the unexpected.
• When the 10% strikes, just let it go - snap out of it, quick!

Sophie still has a long way to go but she's very consciously working on it!

I love my group!
L - R: Emmanuel, Theresa, Nazri & HaleeB

March 20: Room 3

Awake

Still awake, having just completed my preparation for the presentation tomorrow this morning.

It's been quite awhile ever since I had to be still awake at this hour working on something fruitful.

Strangely awake that I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to sleep.

90/10 Principle

Received this very, very long forwarded email. Just skip this if you detest forwarded mails. It's some motivational thing by Stephen Covey.

Discover the 90/10 Principle

It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations).

What is this principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you.

90% of life is decided by how you react. 

 

What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us.

We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic.  We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How? By your reaction. 

 

You cannot control a red light. But you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react. 

 

Let's use an example. 

 

You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened.  What happens next will be determined by how you react. 

 

You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. 

 

Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.  After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home. 

 

When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? The way you reacted in the morning.  

 

Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?

B) Did your daughter cause it?

C) Did the policeman cause it?

D) Did you cause it? 

 

The answer is "D". 

 

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. 

 

Here is what could have and should have happened. 

 

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "Its ok honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having. 

 

Notice the difference? 

 

Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. 

 

Why? 

 

Because of how you REACTED. 

 

You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction. 

 

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! 

 

React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.  

 

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? (A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? 

 

WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive? 

 

Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it. 

 

You are told you lost your job. 

 

Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job. 

 

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take outpour frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. 

 

Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse. 

 

Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it. The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle. 

 

The result? 

 

Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.  It CAN change your life!!! Enjoy...

Just a reminder for Sophie, who's very prone to being reactive in a bad way...

The 15 Days

Backdated post: Feb 14 - Feb 28

It's already March and CNY is over. Good things just end a lil too quickly.

As I have mentioned earlier, I've been very lethargic. The best word is: lazy!

I'd just post some pics here of the fifteen days of CNY though I do not have a pic for everyday and that's coz I'm... lazy. Thought I'd include another two days of my pre-CNY activities.

Warning: Post consists of mostly food pics taken with my low quality handphone and one-liners.

Feb 10 was a hectic and fruitful day for me. Alas... it was also the day that made me sick coz I was out the whole day in the extremely hot weather trying to get many things done. Serviced my car, changed my malfunctioned front passenger door lock and my reverse gear lights, bought some plastic cherry blossoms deco, bought and changed my car seat cover, went for facial, had a late lunch, went to the dentist, went to a shopping mall to buy a chest of plastic drawers for my bedroom and more CNY deco.

Returned home and set up my drawers and deco, did my laundry, bathed, lie down on the sofa and  that's when I started to feel queasy and chilly. I had not been feeling too well since the previous two weeks. Had been trying to keep any sickness at bay but that night I knew I'd lost the battle.

 

 New car seats cover

Feb 10: Car

True enough, the next morning I woke up with a fever and sore throat and worsening coughs. Went to buy medicine and rested at home coz I didn't want to get too sick. Was downing litres of water to rehydrate my system and cool down my body.

 

After a good night's sleep, I woke up on the 12th feeling much better. Took my med and rested the whole day coz I really wanted to go to the annual night market. It's kind of like a tradition for me to just join in the merry-making and buy last-minute goodies. CNY this year was quite subdued so I had wanted to feel the mood at the night market.

 

Went with Sim. We had dinner before walking the whole long stretch of open air market and going in the shopping centres and shops along it. Bought a dress and dried pork meat. Met up with Yvonne and Esther for drinks at Little Italy to end the night.

Went home and lost my voice. Took my med and slept.

 

 Pre-CNY night market

Feb 12: Segama 

Woke up and totally lost my voice. Rested and drank litres and litres of water the whole day. Bought more med, vitamin C, cough syrups and pain killer.

It was the worst reunion dinner coz I couldn't really eat and was feeling miserable.

To my surprise the next morning I was feeling good though I had myself a very sexy voice. Skipped the morning service and went for a dim sum buffet with Spinxie. I could eat!

After buffet, I had a few friends over at home before we visited a friend's home. Came home and my condition worsened again.

  

Day 1 - Dim sum

Feb 14: Silk Garden, Pacific Sutera

Met up with long-time friends who are around in KK or who were back from overseas. A good update from everyone.

  

Day 3 - Group photo of ex-JFYers

Feb 16: Lorraine's home

My bro, Kenny, actually joined a Chinese chess competition during CNY and won the fourth prize. Didn't know he was that good. No wonder a few days before the competition he signed up onto an online gaming site, hogged my computer and was religiously playing online chess to hone his skill for the real battle against 'older' competitors.

  

Day 4 - Hamper

Feb 17: Home

Had an appointment with the skin specialist at QE. There was only one specialist on duty in that department that morning - the rest were on leave.

 

 Day 5 - Registration counter

Feb 18: QEH Specialist Centre

Met up some Form 6 friends coz Sia made his annual pilgrimage back to KK from Spore for CNY. But the 'VIP' turned up late and left early... =.=

 

 Day 6 - BPF & YMH

 Feb 19: Old Town, City Mall

Classes resumed that weekend, on Sat. Had Sarawak Kon Lo Mee at a coffee shop. The food was delicious but the weather was so unbearably hot!

  

Day 7 - Sarawak Kon Lo Mee

Feb 20: A coffee shop

Met up with Spinxie and Monica for lunch on Sun after class. Ordered ice-cream with 'fresh' fruits. 'Fresh' fruits = raw carrots!!!

  

 Day 8 - Ice cream with carrot

Feb 21: Upperstar, Damai

Renewed books at the uni library, looked for some materials, slapped with a summon from uni's security coz parked illegally just so I need not walk that far (serves me right!), settled summon, drove to 1B to enquire about buffet offers, called up Gertie, she was free, met up and had lunch with her, jalan-jalan and then went home.

Day 12 - Lunch out

Feb 25: Yoshimi

It was a public holiday on Fri and I went for a buffet with Spinxie and my bro at Souled Out, 1B. Priced at RM26++, it was surprisingly delicious for that low price. Limited choices but good enough.

  

After sending Spinxie home, went and brought Michelle to the beach - jalan-jalan, took some pics, waded in the water, my slipper broke, chit-chat, had dinner and then went home.

    

  

 Day 13 - Sophie posing...

Feb 26: Tg Aru Beach

Another weekend arrived and had classes again. Went to the same Kon Lo Mee shop again... This time ka liau... Yummy!

  

Day 14 - Kon Lo Mee (ka liau)

Feb 27: A coffee shop

The last day of CNY ended with mom's home-cooked dinner together with Unc Tom, Aunt Laura and Anna (Vic's gf).

 

Day 15 - Mom's home-cooked delights

Feb 28: Home

I know it's already way too late to ask but I'd ask anyway...

How was your CNY? :)

Serenity

I enjoy watching beautiful skies - glimpse of sun rays peaking through puffy clouds against the blue sky.

I tagged along a friend to the mountains. While she had to work, I spent my days driving around and visiting some sites on my own.

Was driving across a bridge on my way back when I saw the view of sunset from the mountain. Just had to stop by the roadside to capture these.

Touch of Heavan
March 11: Kundasang

How peaceful is that?

Misunderstood

Have you ever felt misunderstood?

I'm feeling so misunderstood right now.

And I wonder if it's because of my assumptions or I had jumped into conclusion too quickly or it is just the way my brain functions / how it is wired.

Am I the odd one out? I wonder.

Or am I just being overly sensitive?

Sigh... susah jugak...

 

Photo credit here

March 18: Feeling

Serious Addiction

My addiction to Korean drama serials is currently at a very hazardous level. I can't seem to tear myself away from the idiot box.

For the past month or so, I've been faithfully following at least one, two, three series a day!!

9.15 a.m. - 9.40 a.m. - Here Comes Ajumma

9.45 a.m. - 10.10 a.m. - Reversal of Fate

10.15 p.m. - 11.25 p.m. - Dalja's Spring

It's crazy! Okay, okay, I'm crazy!!!

Any other activities will have to be scheduled prior to or after the above stated time!

I used to be addicted to Korean drama serial VCDs a few years ago. I'd watch at least 3 - 4 episodes per sitting after work daily. It was quite tough to quit the addiction. I thought I'd quit but now it's back with a vengeance!

Sigh... Scary coz my life revolves around it.

Now am feeling guilty coz I have spent so much time watching them but oh, they are so, so good!

My consolation is that Dalja's Spring has just concluded yesterday but Sophie is now suffering from its withdrawal syndrome. Is seriously thinking of going to town and buy the whole set of DVD coz she has missed a few episodes and for keepsake...

 Photo credit here

Photo credit here

  Photo credit here
March 17: The Cover

Sophie is absolutely smitten by:

The storyline,

‘Dalja’s Spring’ is the story of Dalja, a 33-year old single at a crossroad of whether to remain single or get married before she gets older. The drama aims to comically and candidly portray the reality and undying pursuit of romance of a thirty-something single woman.

The love triangle of Dalja, Taebong and Gijoong brews conflicts over love versus marriage. Taebong, a hunk six years younger than Dalja, works as substitute dates and becomes Dalja’s fake boyfriend. Gijoong is the type who dreams of an ideal and rational courtship. The drama also highlights the life and work of women in their thirties through Dalja who is a talented managing director at a home shopping channel. (Source: DramaWiki)

The talented and clumsy lead actress, Chae Rim,

 Photo credit here

The mysterious and charming adorable, broody, tall, lanky, handsome and a hunk of lead actor, Lee Min Ki,

 Photo credit here

AND the soundtracks...

So much so that for the first time in Sophie's life, she actually searches for the songs and learns to download mp3 from one site (an achievement from Sophie's point of view), replays the soundtracks on her computer whenever she's onlining, listens to the songs when she's driving, in the toilet and before sleeping, and has even set two tracks as her handphone ringtone and morning alarm!!

@@ Crazy, I know...

It will be quite many moons weeks before I'd get tired of these tracks.

In the mean time, please allow Sophie to enjoy the music while it lasts... ^ ^