Food Tasting @ Philea Resort

Last night during dinner with my family, I received a call from Connie Chin, the Marcom Director for Philea Resort and Hotel in Ayer Keroh inviting us for a sumptuous Chinese New Year Lunch with the resort owners.

Rainbow Yee Sang with Nowwegian Salmon

 In Melaka as in elsewhere, there is a traditional gesture that the Hoteliers and Restaurants do every New Year and Local Festive occasion and that is to come out with delectable food menus’ which will then be showcased as that properties pride and joy.

Now days another tradition that has seeped into our Malaysian culture is the tossing of the ‘Yee Sang’ Plate.

Resort Owners hosting the Lunch

 Chinese New Year is incomplete without Yee Sang or ‘Lo Hei’ as they call it in Malaysia these days.Yee Sang  is commonly found as the starter for Chinese New Year meals and is best enjoyed with large groups of family and friends, voicing aloud auspicious wishes to one another. 

Cold Dish

Each of the numerous ingredients, including salmon, pomelo, radish, peanuts and olive oil to name a few, are all symbolic of tidings of abundance, success and fortune for the coming New Year, or so it is believed . Ushering in this Year with food and good company under the auspices of friendship and good fellowship, we were paraded with these fine properties best New Year menu selection comprising of Salmon, Double Boiled herbal Chicken with Kiwi, Fried Garoupa and Giant prawns.

Double Boiled Herbal Chicken with Kiwi Fruit

The MarCom Director -Connie Chin joining us for Lunch

                                       
                                                    It was indeed food fit for a King.

Baked Kampung Chicken ala Hong Kong

Fried Garoupa in Tomato and bell pepper sauce

Time and again though, when we are invited for these food tasting events, it never fails to come to our attention how unadventurous Malaysian palates are. For all the various elements that is incorporated in a Local Chinese Dish, we never see the variety that our counter parts in Hong Kong or Beijing is able to savor. 

Tee Mei Fong making sure everyone's plate is full

Tiger prawns in cheese and coconut cream

I do believe we are a very traditional people when it comes to taste as I am quite sure the various Restaurant Chefs have the capability to reproduce much of the fine menus they have acquired over the years working all over Asia but when it comes to Food, people will only pay to eat what they are familiar with, I suppose.

Braised Mushrooms with Snow Fungus

But, that is an issue for another day. On this particular afternoon, with the dusty winds and hot sun beating down on the world outside, in our air conditioned comfort, we are at peace.

Nothing quite beats having a good meal with good company in a pleasant environment and nothing comes close to Philea when comfort is called to question!

This group ended up having a good two and a half hour lunch here in Philea as the Marcom director and her exec kept all of us satiated and happy with their fine selection of the resorts menu selections.

Definitely recommended!And by the way, for those of you who are still reading up to this panel, here's a surprise word play I received recently through my EMail.
Enjoy: 

Places I have been to:

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Resolutely 2013

Well now, the month of January is almost at its zenith and it is time to look see the distance (if any) of my resolutions for the year 2013 and how it fares.

Ok. That was a short trip, as regular readers of my writing will know by now, my perseverance with such ill equipped wishes of flavorful minds is more often than not, rather short tempored. 

To the long suffering readership of this Blog, this will come as no surprise. I dare say in all other manner of life and career, I can be a rather compelling study; sometimes slow on the uptake but always articulate, quaint but never aloof; most people can see I was never engineered for abstinence… from anything godly nor those resembling the  sinful.

The needle on my genetic dial oscillates between “delightfully eccentric” and “occasionally unhinged” without ever going close to “stupid crazy”. Flirtation with self-denial has always been an affront to my DNA. Live and let Live, I say !

Why should I not shun the false allure of temporary withdrawals from indulgence, which often enough brings other rewards not least the avoidance of a delusional moral superiority over my brethren and other good men?

We are people who believe what we are told to believe. That is how they taught us in school, at work and during play. Sometimes, we are convinced of certain realities. Other times, we are persuaded into them. Most of the time, we just move clockwise with everyone else. 

But I dare say there are myths attached to the benefits of abstinence, including those of the dietary and sexual kind. These extend well beyond forgoing the occasional lunch time ‘quickie / snookie’ or even a few glasses of a chilled frothy beer during tea time with or without your gang.

To examine the ins and outs, as it were, of celibacy, what more do we need read, other than to call as chief witness for the prosecution, Mr Tiger Woods.

Between 1997 and 2008, he was the world’s finest golfer, winning 14 major championships. During this period, we later discovered, his performance between the sheets was no less dazzling than his exploits on the course.

To put it mildly, he was a serial philanderer with a penchant for cocktail waitresses.

Then, in November 2009, one of Tiger’s adventures was exposed by the National Enquirer.

His personal and professional life fell apart, leading to divorce and a 45-day programme to help overcome his problems. By all accounts, he has given up the meaningless affairs.

But here’s the mystery- with them, it seems, went his golfing mojo.

Woods is now merely a very good player, nothing more, with no major victory since before he conquered his “sex addiction”.

A study by Queen’s University Belfast, published 16 years ago in the British Medical Journal and later reproduced ad infinatum by other arty farty journals confirms that sexual abstinence among men above 40 is harmless, but only if practiced in short  sporadic bursts.

By contrast, those with a high level of sexual activity enjoy a death rate of half that of laggards who barely participate. 
So, guys/gals, when your partner catches you el flagrante delicto- be they male or female, and next asks, “What do you think you’re doing?” the appropriate answer should be: “Trying hard to stay alive.”

Anxious to avoid a similar mismatch with my biological make-up, I have for several years adopted a contrarian resolution to the New Year; give up nothing.  If anything, I drift towards mild excess, as an antidote to the most depressing time of the year.

Long nights of December/January, counting my cash left over in the wallet as the ang pow giving periods are here again !

With rainy, drizzly days ahead and a miserable, economy-enforced absence from my personal pleasures at the slot machines and from my twice weekly 2 hour massages for the duration of this period ( to save money and face) -when the time comes to visit the in-laws and their children.

Simply keeping the cork in my bottle, will not, I suspect, secure me a seat in the promised Kingdom. Neither will it guarantee good health if abstinence returns the bad mojo I would suffer should my dry spell be extended.

The more I observe friends giving up this and that for what they perceive to be the triumph of deferred gratification, the clearer it becomes that, for all but a blessed few, the sum of our vices really does need remain constant.

A few years ago, a certain party buddy of mine, a former Prisons warden turned multi level marketing entrepreneur, decided to abandon booze after waking up face down on the kitchen floor with a nasty gash on his head. 

To the amazement of his inner circle, including me, he had little difficulty staying off the drink for several weeks. (We suffered tremendously during his absence for want of a third leg)!  

In that time, however, he disproved the universal weight-loss theory by resorting to large portions of rice and meat to overcome his obvious desire.

The poor ass must have been simply suffering horribly, for when he finally came off the wagon, though his eyes were a little clearer, and his complexion marginally less darker, his waistline was ginormous !

Something similar happened to another player in our group, who quit the drink only to switch to junk foods and cigarettes. The last time I saw him, he was doing a passable impression of a rotund uncle in a Hawaiian shirt and matching trousers somewhere in one of the lanes leading to the Bunga Raya whorehouse.

What may seem to you readers as my silly remark is actually validated with a cruel stamp for about 15 years ago, my old man had been diagnosed with lung and liver problems of the Terminal kind.

Told that he had six months to live, Dad, then aged 62, bravely, but I believe foolishly, embarked on a course of clean healthy living in the hope of buying a little more time.

As part of the brutal process, he had to reduce his Roti Canai and Mamak mee routine & he was also told to give up all his Camels and fave brandy for breakfast routines’.

From that moment on, Dad’s deterioration seemed to accelerate. The trajectory of his decline became much steeper as his morale was low, and he was literally warned to abstain from what the doctors said was sinful living.

He died nine months after deciding to embrace his doctor’s advice rather than polish off the contents of his drinks cupboard. Having watched Dad’s ugly demise, I am now certain it was the wrong choice.  Whatever time he gained – if any – was not worth the sacrifice of indulgence. 

 

Thankfully, he left behind in his will to me, a dozen bottles of Grand Cru's, Single Malt Whiskies, many sticks of Cohiba and a special case of Chateau Baron de Rothschild.

I for one, now coming to my late 40’s, being independent of my familial duties, though with 2 grand kids; and with my other familial duties and responsibilities all dealt with and comfortably settled, am certain that his mistake is not one I intend to make.

Cheers everyone!

Friday Friends

Michelle and I had a nice Dinner at the Mahkota Mall over Friday night, as it has been quite some time since we went out -just the two of us. She recalled the superb set of Bulgogi chicken and Caesar's salad she had in Breeks Cafe some time ago, and so without much ado, off we scooted to Mahkota for a Breek !

Chicken Bulgogi

Celery Slush Drink

Korean Kim Chi

Caesar's Salad

 On the way home from the shopping mall, we received a call from friends that they were going to drop over within a few minutes to the house for some R&R. Of course, we had to inform them to drop in a little later as we were still in Melaka Raya at that hour. But, with this group, there really isn't any changing of schedules !

So, we quickly got some Ale, Red Bull, Cheese and Biscuits to go along with the Ice Vodka & South African wines we had at home. 

It was a quarter to 11.00pm when the group sauntered in one by one, and we all had a blast shooting the breeze with everyone. The music selection for the night to start us off in a good mood was music from the late 50's and some Acapella from the Dean Martin era. 

The ladies were treated to some really nice liquorice type of amaretto from Hawaii that was brought by Sandra and the cheese selection with biscuits were a  superb match to the wines and Amaretto.

Along the way, just around 1.00am, everyone started getting a little hungry and I smashed together some foot long chicken sausages for everyone to bite in.

The party got a little raunchy and naughty at about this time but it was all in good sport!
The party ended around 3.00am as Angie had to clock in at work by 8.00am with good spirits shared around and good times enjoyed by all. We all had such a good time, we decided to meet at Angie's place the next night to continue the good times !

Wednesday's Wolf

Malacca city in the early 2013’s.

It’s not quite a scene of Bacchanalian excess, but this earlier image of  a small town without much night life is easily shattered once you get to stroll around the Melaka river and its adjourning streets in the Old Quarter of Malacca. Enjoying a high-spirited dinner just hours after a hard day’s work with friends of fervor- after hours in Melaka need not be a traffic infused nightmare as everything is close by and near to each other. 

What used to be out-of-the-way spots for F&B are now all within short drive away-thanks to the many highways and thoroughfares built in and around this city

Sitting down with good company, watching the sun climb down after a hot and sultry afternoon whilst enjoying the wispy  trade winds blow serenely across the still hot streets- along places like Heeren Street, the Malacca river in the foreground and diners enjoying their drinks and dinner; enjoying the banter of friends-  these are the days to remember.
With street scenes right out of the post card surrounding you , scented wafts of Indian incense filling your nostrils and sultry images of beautiful people out for evening of entertainment and fun, malacca at night promises of fantasies that come true.

With a fine selection of both east and western dishes & Fusion Food around the corner of almost every street here, Malacca offers the gamut of succulent tasty food from hawkers styled food- who abound, right down to Grills and fine food at posh restaurants like Casa Del Rio & Harpers in Jonker street.

It also helps that Music is alive and kicking within the streets of Malacca with selections of R&B, Jazz and Dance music abound in almost every mom and pop - hole in the wall type of establishments, right across to more established Lounges and Clubs. 

I cannot deny that life is good in this quaint City and – the sponge of amnesia has often wiped the memory clean of the previous nights conquests and travails; but the city and its people are very forgiving and forgetful  with one's personal shortcomings. It's easy to make friends here. The laissez-faire attitude of the locals and visitors in this fine city never ceases to amaze me. People are genuinely out for a good,jovial time. You just have to smile and be inviting to meet new and exciting people every day.

Ahh...Malacca. The place I was born in, lived in, and will probably be buried in !

Monday Meets

Pictorial Study of the Melaka Tourism Association's executive members during their monthly meet.

This particular meet was done at the Honky Tonk Cafe in Lorong Hang Jebat with full attendance from the members. A Superb Dinner of local and western dishes followed and many sat around enjoying the view of the malacca River whilst entertainment was provided to them via the fluid flurry fingers of the proprietor-Joe Fingers.

All in all a well conducted meeting with nice atmosphere and jovial crowd.

Perkembangan Pemikiran Abstrak

Pemikiran golongan yang dikenali sebagai  manusia disampaikan secara tersurat dan tersirat dalam rangkuman pemahaman bahasa dan ontologi bahasa mereka.

Falsafah  sesebuah individu merujuk kepada pengalamannya sebagai seorang Manusia yang mungkin ada kaitannya dengan metafizik, epistimologi, etika, logik, dan estetika hasil interaksi mereka terhadap  sekeliling mereka(yakni-alam benda, alam flora dan fauna yang ada  di sekeliling mereka).

Dalam erti kata itu, saya pernah binggung dengan persoalan falsampah tersendiri ini:

Saya pernah memikir secara mendalam mengenai kemungkinan yang kita ini  makluk yang amat bertuah, kerana kita ini amat berkuasa – untuk mencipta, untuk melakukan lebih daripada batas pengetahuan makhluk-makhluk Tuhan yang lain, tetapi  sabagai seorang individu, kita tidak mengetahuinya  atau memperlakukannya.

Maka, kemungkinan nya,jurang antara pengetahuan kehidupan harian kita dan kebenaran alam semesta tidak akan kita takluki tanpa pautan imaginasi dan pertanyaan kebudak-budakan.

Kita semua tahu alam semesta adalah tidak terbatas. Ia mengembang selama-lamanya. Nah, fikir lah secara mendalam sedikit tentang itu, dan lihat imej-imej yang di bawah.

Kelompok atom kelihatan seperti sistem suria.

Sel-sel otak kelihatan seperti alam semesta.

Adakah ia masuk akal  sekiranya kita mengandaikan yang sekiranya alam semesta adalah besar tak terhingga, ia juga boleh menjadi kecil tak terhingga? 

Terkini, kita difahami bahawa ahli-ahli warak telah mengenal pasti jirim atom bukanlah jirim  (particle) yang terkecil tetapi ada yang lebih kecil –dikenali sebagai  Quarks dan ianya disikan dengan jisim protons dan neutrinos.

Dalam keluasan alam mereka, bayangkan yang kita memerhatikan langit dan keluasannya dengan mata kita- maka,ini adalah keluasan Atom.

Sekarang bayangkan yang Quarks itu adalah kita yang sedang berdiri keseorangan dalam ruang kosong antara langit dan bumi. Itu adalah keluasan Protons. Manakala neutrinos pula hanya se lebar dan sekecil sehelai rambut kita !

Sedara-sedari, cuba bayangkan betapa kecilnya ciptaan Tuhan boleh merangkumi dan sekarang bayangkan adanya kemungkinan kehidupan yang kita belum kenal- pasti wujud didalam keluasaan alam semesta baru ini !

Sebaliknya, fikirlah  sekiranya kita juga cuma salah satu makhluk yang kecil dalam ruang yang kita kenali sebagai Bumi dan kita hanya dapat memahami saiz  dan jarak dari segi masa, dan ruang kita?

Maksud saya, andaikan satu badan air yang luas, dan  dunia dan alam kita sebagai riak air yang terhasil kerana sebuah batu telah dijatuhkan kedalam badan air yang luas itu. 

Andaikan masa dan jarak riak air itu adalah jangkamasa kehidupan kita dan perlakuan kita di kawal dalam kehadiran riak air itu sahaja. 
Tidak lebih dan tidak kurang. Dalam erti kata lain kita dan perlakuan kita ini  hanyalah sekadar setitik air dalam keributan angin taufan

WOW.

Kebesaran kuasa Tuhan Maha Agung.

Ia adalah sesuatu yang benar-benar menarik untuk kita fikir. Maksud saya, bagaimana jika kita mempunyai bertrilion galaksi di  dalam jasad kita ini yang didiami kehidupan lain yang kita tidak kenali (selain daripada bacteria,virus dan pathogen-pathogen lain?)  

Bagaimana jika kita  manusia yang sedia ada ini cuma merupakan sejenis kehidupan dalam atom sebuah tapak kaki seseorang yang lebih besar saiznya?

Dapatkah kuasa ,saiz dan jarak kebesaran sebegitu di ulasi pemikiran kita?

Tidakkah anda tertarik memikirkan mengenainya?

CNY 2013 Shopping in KL

Central Shopping Haven ?
Shopping in the Clouds?

The New Year Sales

We traveled from Melaka to KL just so the girls could shop til they dropped !

Happiness in a sales bag

Mrs.Gunabalan

Mr.Gunabalan

The Girls were pooped out after a few hours of Shopping

Hot Pink Parade Madness