The entire S&M division at CM were en route to Five27 after work, to celebrate a farewell dinner for one of our superiors tonight.
The entrance was unimposing, but the same can't be said upon entering the premise of the restaurant.
The place was an amalgamation of modern chic and rustic heritage done right.
.
.
.
.
.
 |
| Downstairs. |
 |
| Upstairs - Bar area. They have a live band playing here every weekend. |
 |
| Open air courtyard with marbled tables and wooden chairs. |
----------
Everyone arrived at varying times, and by 7:30, most of us were at the table and ready to order.
I gave the appetisers a miss, and went on to choose my main course and dessert.
Tonight was a momentous night for me as I tasted oxtail soup for the first time in 24+ years of being alive. Not by choice, though. (P/S: I only consume chicken, fish and pork, on occasions.)
My boss' oxtail soup was set before him and after several mouthfuls, he noticed that I wasn't having any soup/salad. He placed his bowl on my placemat and said, "Try some." When I sheepishly shook my head, he grinned and said, "Try some laaaaaaaa." I had one spoonful, and it was alright. However, I wasn't too crazy about the scent of the soup.
Dinner was...
 |
| The fish was done sublimely - The texture of the fish was maintained and I liked that it wasn't heavily spiced. Hence, the mild flavour of the sea bass was noticeably enhanced when paired with the tangy gremolata. |
 |
| The Chardonnay was a splendid complement to my fish. |
 |
| I've always loved to end my meals on a sweet note and this polenta was very yummy. I liked this heaps. |
----------
The staff at Five27 were friendly, attentive and polite. It's a place that I wouldn't mind coming back to, if I wanted to splurge on a meal and luxuriate in a relaxing ambiance.
Work was riding on me pretty hard these past couple of weeks, my personal schedule was full to the gills with appointments and ministry-related items, and I could feel the walls of Life closing in on me.
That's when I realised that everything within me was pining for some alone time.
So, I made a solo road trip down to KL this past weekend to simmer down, collect myself and unwind. And for the past 36 hours, I have been doing just that...
------------
Saturday (March 22nd, 2014)
AM: My alarm blared at 4:45am, I lumbered to the bathroom and took a warm shower. When I was all set to go, I knocked on my parents' door, entered their room, hugged and kissed them goodbye and was on my way by 5:15am.
Throughout the journey, I witnessed the slow shedding of the cloak of the onyx sky, only to bring forth a stunning sunrise.
3 hours passed in the blink of an eye, as I indulged in spending those hours pouring my heart to Him, leaning in to His presence and worshipping Him.
I arrived in KL at 8:30am, checked in to my room and collapsed into bed for a quick shut-eye; feeling ridiculously ecstatic that Digi provides LTE coverage in KL.
Noon: I met up with a dear friend for lunch (He shuns the spotlight and loves anonymity. Hence, he shall be known as KL Dood on Chatty Lass).
We had Sri Nirwana Maju's banana leaf set for lunch...
... with sides of real life stories, experiences and heaps of laughter. Just the way I like lunch to be, but don't get to do often enough.
KL Dood and I parted ways late in the afternoon.
I made my way to some of my favourite shopping malls and had a ball there.
Tea time snack.
PM: On my maiden trip to Jakarta last year, my boss and I had dinner at Din Tai Fung during one of the nights when we were there.
I remembered the food being pretty good, so I visited the branch at The Gardens Mall. I was not disappointed.
Award-winning meat dumplings. They were scrumptious.
I only managed to finish half of the portion. The rice was fluffy, fragrant and lightly flavoured. I enjoyed this (minus the spring onions).
Sunday (March 23rd, 2014)
AM: Got up, showered and checked out of the hotel.
My friend promised to bring me to Yeast Boulangerie for breakfast when we spoke last week. I've heard incredible reviews of the French bakery-cum-bistro and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that I was more than eager to visit it.
The interior was gorgeously Parisian, and it was bustling with activity when we arrived.
I ordered...
Two perfectly done soft-boiled eggs over spinach and mushrooms, glazed with Gruyere cheese sauce.
Close-up.
It was utterly divine.
The bread was rustic and crusty, the mounds of egg oozed into the cheese sauce at the gentle poke of a fork.
I cracked some salt and pepper into them and proceeded to dip a piece of the torn roll into the sauce... Savoury richness in my mouth.
Safe to say, I'll be paying Yeast Boulangerie another visit the next time I'm in KL.
Noon: After a hearty breakfast (PLUS industry goss, fashion mishaps and make-up gone wrong stories), all of us hitched a ride in one car to KLCC for a midday workout (read: shopping).
PM: I left KL at 3:30pm and reached the shores of the island at 7pm.
------------
Now, at 12:40am, less than 6 hours upon being back in Penang... I'm sifting through my schedule to slot in another visit.
Gotta be something about the water (or air) in KL...
What you see above is my mid-morning snack (instant mushroom soup, if you must know) which I was coolly spooning into my mouth with one hand, while the other was clacking away on Seanna.
After two batty work weeks, I've perfected the art of typing with one hand and I'm now revelling in the knowledge that today is Friday and I am several hours away from my much-needed weekend getaway from the island.
As a creative person (that means that I am right-brained and what I do is very much Arts-centred) and a known introvert, alone time is indispensable. I need it to be productive.
So... I'm reallllllyyyyyyyy looking forward to slip away in a few hours time, to just be on my own for the weekend and re-charge.
March 17th, 2014
Dearest Mummy,
You and I are polar opposites on so many things - I'm loud, boisterous and opinionated; you're soft-spoken, gentle and giving.
However, you've taught me that it is possible to bring two antipodal worlds together and excel at balancing them together in harmony. I see you doing it, every single day.
I've learned that it is possible to not give up a job that you love and shine at, and still be able to nourish your family with a home-cooked meal (a sumptuous spread, if I might add). It just takes a little planning and a lot of love.
I've learned that it is possible to love and care for your own family, yet be ever so ready to love and care for HIS family at the drop of a hat. It just takes a small act of kindness and a very big heart.
I've learned that it is possible to be a woman of immense inner strength and wisdom, and at the same time, be incredibly motherly and graceful. It just takes some patience and much compassion.
------------
Thank you for imbuing in me the importance of being and holding my own, unapologetically. Thank you for championing me on my strengths. A bigger thank you for making sure that I deal with my weaknesses. Most of all, thank you for believing in me, in all things.
Love you so very much,
Sa.
It's bizarre how the withdrawal syndrome got significantly worse after a year of being back in Penang.
I was WhatsApping several of my friends last night and one of them broached the subject of cooking. It was at that moment that the memories of my kitchen adventures came flooding back and deluged me.
So much so that I ransacked Aurelia Bea's camera roll for pics. And thankfully, I found some of 'em (probably 1/8 of all that I've cooked while I was living on my own for two years)...
I was WhatsApping several of my friends last night and one of them broached the subject of cooking. It was at that moment that the memories of my kitchen adventures came flooding back and deluged me.
So much so that I ransacked Aurelia Bea's camera roll for pics. And thankfully, I found some of 'em (probably 1/8 of all that I've cooked while I was living on my own for two years)...
.
.
.
.
.
------------
I think I should get back to cooking real meals (roast chicken and potato salad don't count, not to me at least) at least once a week.
*
Related post(s):
... and I dreadfully fear that I won't ever get it back.
“If you evade suffering, you also evade the chance of joy. Pleasure you may get, or pleasures, but you will not be fulfilled. You will not know what it is to come home.”
Ursula K. Le Guin (The Dispossessed)
------------
So for now, I hold on, persevere, and hope that one day... I'll get the chance to go home, to retrieve that missing piece.
Gave myself carte blanche to enjoy some fast food for dinner last night, after 1.5 months from my first cheat day.
I had (shared with my bestie - half the damage, double the joy)...
I had (shared with my bestie - half the damage, double the joy)...
.
.
.
.
.
It’s true what they say, it’s the little things that count most.
I realised that of late, I’ve been harping on all the bad things which have been shoved my way that it’s easy to lose sight of and forget that little, happy things do pop up every now and then.
For instance…
.
.
.
.
.
1) Complimentary dessert after our dinner on Saturday
Courtesy of the manager at Dragon-i. Out of the blue. Perked up my spirits, after a chaotic work week.
2) The smell of freshly baked bread
I didn’t have any, but I loved the scent that wafted through the air, permeated my entire house and lingered all through dinner time.
----------
So, I begin this week knowing that…
There’s always a reason to smile. There’s always things to be thankful for.
And, I never want to forget that. Ever.
Courtesy of this AM's devotion while I was en route to work. Love it when God speaks and drops little chunks of wisdom for life as such...
.
.
.
.
.
"Whatever you choose to withhold from God will eventually be the cause for your downfall."
Melissa Cheah - March 6th, 2014
------------
Scripture reference - “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Matthew 16:25 (New International Version)
If my eyes could bleed, they would.
I’ve been staring at Seanna all through last week, yesterday and today - writing, revising what I wrote, writing again, proof-reading copies, editing text pieces and… writing some more.
And then I realised… We hardly ever grasp the magnitude of how important certain decisions are until we've made them and are living with the consequences. People who’ve been there and older folks tell us that it's important. But, we don't actually get it until we start living in the good or bad times that come, because of the decisions that we’ve made.
It is on days like today, when I'm weary and juggling a mountainous load of work (Working through lunch hour is not the best of work days. Instant cup noodles are commodities on days like these) that I am reassured of my right decision; because in spite of all the revisions, corrections, brainstorming meetings and bloodshot eyes...
I still love what I do.
To death.
And, I can't imagine doing anything else. In fact, I'd be happy to do this 100x over if I have to.
*
I’ve been staring at Seanna all through last week, yesterday and today - writing, revising what I wrote, writing again, proof-reading copies, editing text pieces and… writing some more.
And then I realised… We hardly ever grasp the magnitude of how important certain decisions are until we've made them and are living with the consequences. People who’ve been there and older folks tell us that it's important. But, we don't actually get it until we start living in the good or bad times that come, because of the decisions that we’ve made.
It is on days like today, when I'm weary and juggling a mountainous load of work (Working through lunch hour is not the best of work days. Instant cup noodles are commodities on days like these) that I am reassured of my right decision; because in spite of all the revisions, corrections, brainstorming meetings and bloodshot eyes...
.
.
.
.
.
I still love what I do.
To death.
And, I can't imagine doing anything else. In fact, I'd be happy to do this 100x over if I have to.
*
Related post(s):
Alexander Dumas once said this, "Friendship consists in forgetting what one gives and remembering what one receives."
I subscribe to it.
I find it important to give without expectations, and even more so to receive with gratitude, because grateful hearts and attitudes are superb breeding grounds for more giving. It's a perpetual cycle, the good kind.
Tinki Talks (one of my very good friends) and myself have discovered a long long time ago that, "A good friendship is made of: A relationship where everybody gives... and nobody counts."
It was supposed to be my treat night last Friday - dinner and dessert was supposed to be entirely on me because Matt got the cheque the last time. I relented and allowed him to pay then because he would. not. stop. rambling about how he never gets to pay. The dood hasn't even started working and he wants to fight me for the bill?! #truegentleman #oneofakind
We went for Thai food (our favourite) at Tree Monkey…
.
.
.
.
.
Fish Cake, Pineapple Fried Rice and Seafood Tomyam.
Not pictured: Pandan Chicken.
… and we were about done with dinner when he sneakily slipped away and paid.
So, I had to up my game. The plan was to head to Hard Rock Cafe next, to dig into their Fresh Apple Cobbler.
We loitered the grounds and chanced upon an Italian pizza place instead, with a real wood-fire oven. It was an opportunity too good to pass on, so…
I picked up the bill this time around (and double-confirmed that Matt was seated and had his hands behind his back). Afterwards, we made a stop at Starbucks and got lemonades.
------------
Dearest Matthew/Matt/Matty,
Thank you for giving me… your trust, your acceptance, your time, your finances and most importantly, your friendship. The last one (I always save the best for the last, but you already know that) is one that I can't imagine doing life without.
You're truly the best, BFF.
Love,
Melissa.
I was elated. My palate consists of anything and everything spicy, so it stands to reason that Thai food is one of my favourite cuisine choices of all time.
Thankfully, I had enough foresight to squeeze in another extra day to rest before I hit Work full-force this week, which is why I get to write and publish this post right now. (FYI, I only blog during my one-hour lunch break when I am at work, or after working hours. It's my personal work ethic choice.)
The weekend that was… in Hatyai, Thailand… (All pics were shot and edited with Aurelia Bea)
.
.
.
.
.
View from my hotel room.
Top view.
Up close and personal.
Where we had dinner on Saturday night (March 1st, 2014).
Morning market.
We tried out a new place for coconut ice-cream. It was a recommendation from my Thai colleague. The ice-cream was so utterly lush and creamy; heaven-sent on a scorching afternoon.
Grammatical errors tickle my funny bone.
