I never thought I’d live to blog this. I survived the 10km Kuala Lumpur International Marathon (KLIM) ‘07.

Most of the people who have known me for years would have thought I was kidding when I said I signed up for the marathon. Firstly, I’m not a sporty or an athletic person. I think you already know that from my blog. I write about food all the time! Second, I can brisk walk but don’t have the stamina to run or jog. Summarized, I’m a lazy and weak cow!

Then why in the world did I sign up for this run? After going through a phase in my life, or what I like it to be known as – The Great Depression of 2007, LifeCoach told me I needed a change and it’s time I get out of my comfort zone. He was right. All these while, I was comfortable and contented that I stopped seeking new challenges. I needed something to look forward to, try out new things I never thought I’d do and if I have to, take some risks. When Elv forwarded me the link to KLIM, I automatically said yes. 

After one month of pushing myself to the limits, I wasn’t too sure if I was good enough to survive the all nine yards (in this case, 10km). To make matters worst, I got lazier after CNY and didn’t bother to run as often. I was convinced that I’d faint in the middle of the course and participants would trample all over me like an annoying speed bump on the road. Or I’d drop by a cafe and Elv can pick me up after that. Or I could hitch a ride from the emergency van.  The night before, I was all ready to go out for drinks and come back late but only to get a call from Elv, “you better sleep now. I’ll come and get you at 5:45am tomorrow.” *gulp* I kept my car keys.

We reported ourselves at 6:30am and met up with GKL and Trish. At 7am, the amazing race started. I kept pace with Elv because he did promise me he’ll be in sight! The sun was about to rise, the usually busy streets of KL were empty and it was odd to be able to step foot on the highway and not get knocked down by a trailer. It was fantastic!

In the end, I didn’t pass out, escape to a cafe or hitch a ride. We made it back to the finish line in less than 80 minutes. I even got a medal and a certificate of completion! I’m really happy because it has been YEARS since I got a medal for any sports. I hate to gloat but I seriously, never 100X thought I could do this.

I take this as my stepping stone to seize the day. Everyday.

HH has been pestering me for the longest time to join the cult aka play WoW (World of Warcraft). I told him that I will only start if he gets me a new laptop, if other people I know joins in as well etc etc. Basically, I was being difficult. It’s just really fun declining and he would come up with ways to lure me to the dark side. He even tried to entice me with graphics, but failed pitifully:

[17:23] EiRick: check my portrait
[17:23] EiRick: that’s how i look like in World of Warcraft
[17:23] dreymer: i can’t see la
[17:24] dreymer: they block me from seeing anything ugly
[17:24] dreymer: hahahaha
[17:24] EiRick: sheeesssssh
[17:24] dreymer: fua hua hua

It’s Meet the Barkers Episode 2. 

Our location: Leo’s in Taipan. A new cafe right opposite Coffee Bean & Leaf.

Time: Just pass midnight, Christmas morning.

The lovely couple 

Guess who was back as well? Mandy! Here are the M’s

Mandy and I were planning for a trip to Leeds in 2008 (fingers crossed). Mili said she’ll plant me my favourite lilies if I made it there. And a big vege farm too. You promised!

Simon & Elv

And then it was time for the gift exchange. Sheryl and I were shopping for The Barkers and Elv for a couple weeks. We hope you like what we’ve picked for you. As for both of us, we were wearing what we got! We just couldn’t wait.

Look at my bright pair of red shoes! I love it I love it! And Ms Wong got an itsy-bitsy one. Time for the beach, babes!

We got Mili a scarf (not pictured) and for Simon — since he’s sucha wonderful cook and husband, we got him some cheats! Packet ready-made sauce for easy, convenient cooking. We also individually packed it according to cuisine with choice of beverage and dessert. Separated into 7 packets for every day of the week. It’s Friday – so it’s BKT tonight. I should know, I fixed their dinner packets

Guess we won’t know what we got Elv because this poor guy was struggling with the ribbon. So slow! Haa.. Ms Wong is amazing. She told us she didn’t have time to wrap the presents up with paper. Instead she sewed baggies for us!

A checkered bag for the checkered shirt guy. I don’t know if that was deliberate, Elv!

It was a fun Christmas morning. Wish we could do this every morning. Hee hee.

Elv, Ms Wong and I organized dinner at (one of our favourite restaurants) Green Lotus with the Fresnoians and Mil’s kakis. We had our own private room and actually, sitting on the floor with super soft cushions isn’t at all comfy. Met Mooiness for the first time as well. I was expecting someone with strong Aussie accent but surprisingly, he’s so Malaysian! YaY! He beat me to blogging about our night faster than I could even upload pics from my cam to the web!

Justin, Elvin and Marcus. Sen Hon, Stanly and Simon

We wanted to have ice-cream at Lecka Lecka but as usual, it was packed. While we stood around to think where to head next…

 It felt like Christmas at the Starhill Gallery. Most of us just started clicking away like crazy… just like these two tourists. Tsk. So busy with their cameras… I tell ya, bloggers… are so fricking annoying. LOL.

I was taking a couple of candid shots of the gang. Am curious what Ms Wong and Scuba Boy is talking about. Hmm.. then later, Ms Wong was inspecting her dress. Looks like Elv decides to join in the conversation. Naughty naughty.

Along Heritage Row, guess what I spotted. A bar called Goa! We didn’t step in but I wondered how it’s like. Whatever it is, I will not trust a British review on it (joke). Thirsty and tired… we headed off to bed.

Since it was super packed and there were no beds(!), we decided to just chill outside and get served by an evil elf. He really had pointy ears!

 And then for supper… yummy, a hot plate of maggi goreng telur mata kerbau!

It has been years since I last sank my teeth in a Krispy Kreme Original Glaze. Mmm.. this is how heaven must taste like. Although it isn’t the same when you get it fresh from the shop but beggars can’t be choosers. Mils got this for us from Sydney.

Every bite brings me back to the good ol’ student days in Fresno. Our American ‘mamak’.

Since the Missus missed the cheese-baked rice at Kim Gary’s, we stopped by for ‘appetizer’. The last time I was there it was during the Barkers stay in KL.  I’m not a big fan of Kim Gary’s but their lai-cha is great!

to be continued… dinner with the Barkers and meeting Mooiness for the first time…

Once upon a time, when I used to watch Cantonese drama serial on the idiot box, I would sometimes critisize the unbelievable storyline scriptwriters can come up with. For instance, Hong Kong is so tiny that… the cheating hubby dines with his mistress at a restaurant and wham! Pure coincidence, lou poh’s most nosy and bitchy girlfriends happen to be dining there as well. And it had to be that group of ferocious ladies with poisonous bites and barks. Out of the thousands of eateries in HK, everyone had to be at the same time, same place.

But then it is a drama series, so you just have to get it as dramatic as possible. It’s often so far-fetched that I’ll end up rolling my eyes and go, “yeah right!” Are these scriptwriters trying to fool us?  Is HK really, really that small?

You know what? Apparently it is.

Ms Wong is holidaying in HK and guess who she bumps into? HH! He was back enroute from California and he happen to stay at the same hotel as she is! And yes, they had to bump into each other at the hotel at the right place and at the right time. The best part is, they didn’t even tell each other that they’ll be in HK at all. The worst part is, they are having tons of fun and SMS-ing me about it. Bah!

So yes, HK is REALLY that small

And I miss my best friend

dreym vacation

it is friday…. which means i’m officially on holiday! my company has given us extra two days off due to the festive celebration. even then i’m still gonna finish off some work stuffs during the weekend and be dad’s ’seksa’tory to earn some pocket money.

friends and colleagues have been scaring me.  as soon as i mentioned that i’ll be holidaying in india, their immediate feedback, “gasp! why!?” which is followed with:

“bring a few bottles of mineral water!”

“get your shots and take live bacteria tablets!”

“don’t forget the mosquito repellent!”

“dress decently!”

anyway, being slightly paranoid and obsessive-compulsive, i’ve got everything covered.  i even drafted out my travel itinerary on accomodation, flight number, insurance and emergency contact numbers to my sis and the worry-warts. my sis was like, “wow.. sounds like you are writing a will.” basket.

sarath is a US citizen!

in vermont

YaY! congrats Sarath.

mom’s astonishing one liner

“if you don’t find a boyfriend by next year you are getting out of the country!”

she really wants me to get rid of me. not only did my parents made extra effort to find THEIR own place to stay (after i’ve made absolutely no effort of gettin my own place — i’m sucha leech),  i think it’s her final straw to see me leave! how sweet moms are. i’m really not that bad.

hmmm… i’m beginning to piece the puzzle on why she didn’t bore any sisters/brothers after me.

have a safe and fun longgggggggg weekend everyone!

happy birthday dearie! she definitely had a weeklong celebration with us

2nd sept (3 days before)

initial plans was to dine at courtyard garden but it was closed! on a sunday! so we decided to try jarrod & rawlins — another one those old bungalow houses converted to restaurant concept. we made a good choice.

we wanted meat so we ordered four different types of sausages which were cooked to order — cranberry and lamb was super and so was the super spicy pork sausages. the other two, which i can’t even recall was just so-so. hence, did not even bother to remember.

here’s me, jane and the birthday grrlie looking back at the photos, it made me realize that it has been such a long time since three of us hung out together. i got to know jane through sheryl and once upon a time, during those awful college days, we used to go out almost every night. now, i hardly see jane. i think it’s because i hate the fact that she’s almost 5″11 — super long model legs. i’m dwarf-ed by her. i look like a bloody penguin next to her. those short, fat and clumsy ones. damn!

see what i mean.

sizzling sheryl

shocked jane

sleepy drey

here’s one for the archive

testing out sheryl’s new olympus

the camera has this cool function where you can do cute things like that. i’ve got a wing on my hand. i look ridiculous.

6th september (1 day after)

dinner at green lotus, kl.

walking down the aisle with my bride. haha..

“sawadeeeekapppp, welcome to gleen rotus. so sollly but it’s crosed. but we are still veli happyyyyy”

this is our second time here. we sat at a different section this time.

apple tea in a pot. i love.

my favourite regulars

we had thai spice soup (too spicy but too hard to resist), deep-fried calamari, tofu omelette, four angled beans w/ shrimp and rendang ayam.

elvin’s revenge. he brought his camera this time to fight us off grrls!

i retired for the night. i took less than 4 pics. *shock*

wah. i like i like! all these ‘fake’ pics.

9th september (3 days after)

at decanter.

i made her happy by sticking only two candles. twenty yrs old right?

our birthday grrl again

fresnoians: elvin, aiwee, nini and edmund (i cropped myself out to avoid destroying this beautiful pic)

us again. we can ‘t get enough of each other. lol.

hope you had a great one babes

yes please…

with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

everything’s kinda fizzy at the moment but it’s sweet.

i love it sweet.

bubbly.

creamy white.

choco brown.

this is us.

made in america. all american….

chasing cars by snow patrol

we’ll do it all
everything
on our own

we don’t need
anything
or anyone

if I lay here
if I just lay here
would you lie with me and just forget the world?
i don’t quite know
how to say
how I feel

those three words
are said too much
they’re not enough

if I lay here
if I just lay here
would you lay with me and just forget the world?

forget what we’re told
before we get too old
show me a garden that’s bursting into life

let’s waste time
chasing cars
around our heads

i need your grace
to remind me
to find my own

if I lay here
if I just lay here
would you lay with me and just forget the world?

forget what we’re told
before we get too old
show me a garden that’s bursting into life

all that I am
all that I ever was
is here in your perfect eyes, they’re all I can see 

i don’t know where
confused about how as well
just know that these things will never change for us at all

if I lay here
if I just lay here
would you lay with me and just forget the world?

woke up at 11am. turned to my left and sheryl was still fast asleep. turned to my right and noticed that the diamond bracelet i wore last night broke. should have taken it out but i was too tired. die!

all ready to leave penang once again.

this is the apartment that most of us stayed at…

we headed to pulau tikus. i asked the penangites – elvin and the bride if it was far since it’s an island (‘pulau tikus’ direct translation is RAT ISLAND). they said yes and we have to cross a bridge or take a ferry. woohoo!

when i got there i saw no island and no rats. it was just an area they named pulau tikus to fool people like us. the person who named that area must have thought it was funny. how deceiving!

the newlyweds

at least someone scored and i know he wasn’t referring to the portugal vs germany game.

only married women can wear this.

the bride needed to have her intake of malaysian food so we were out looking for her favourite char kueh teow. on the way, we stopped by to get some ban chang kueh (??) —> i might be wrong. i don’t know what is it called! it just sounded something like that.

it’s a flat crispy pancake with peanuts, sugar, melted butter (!) and cream corn. lovely. this is probably the best i’ve ever eaten. it is so good that the jagung (cream corn) spills out. only RM 0.90! this guy still uses charcoal for fire.

first pour in a thin layer of batter, then sprinkle some peanuts and sugar.

after adding in the jagung and a dollop of butter, scrap the sides so the pancake doesn’t get burnt below…

a close up… are u salivating already??

the sifu at see sin hua coffee shop (corrected by miss penang chew)

char kueh teow with duck egg!

the bride glees in satisfaction!

just when we thought we can finally leave penang, the bride spots this equally famous stall that serves pasembor, mee mamak, and rojak!

we allowed her to order a plate and we’ll help her out… one spoonful each!

too bad we were too full!

wai sek maus!

the penang version of butt-o-meter.. if you can fit into it…

… means you haven’t eaten enough!

(actually they are for very short people)

out of penang and onwards to butterworth! we’ve heard so much of fujian restaurant and we FINALLY get to taste their authentic fujian cuisine. we were excited!

we did the tourist thing and took a photo in front of the restaurant. those crazy brits and kl-ites.

taukeh

double happiness!

wah.. boss also need to look at menu meh?

my favourite! sliced lotus roots marinated with orange juice. yum! so refreshing. I LOVE ANYTHING LOTUS!!

sliced bitter gourd and dipped with honey.. this is so unusual! WOW!! BITTER SWEET!!

handmade noodles with everything — oysters, vege, tofu. add in a little vinegar and it’ll taste like our local ‘loh meen’. a little too starchy for my liking.

‘orh chien’ – oyster omelette. superb! i like it because the oysters were fresh and not slimey.

pork trotter… am not a big fan of this but you’ll love it if you like this part of the pig.

highly recommended: the pigs! (and we’re talking about the one on the plate k??)

the picture taking ends here. we were filled right up to our throats. when we got into the car, we were still hyperactive especially when it came to the gossips. after a while, one by one we started dozing off like little piggies but poor elvin still had to drive on.

we reached PJ about 9ish and guess what? we were hungry again. we didn’t get enough of penang so we had to have penang kayu nasi kandar!

everyone was bitching about how expensive it was (> RM 15).. but mine only came up to RM 6.80 *grins proudly*

——–

photos courtesy of sheryl, sen hon and albert-jai.

back in march.. april.. may.. mili, sheryl and i used to email and talk to each other online on the wedding and now.. it has come and gone. 2 weeks of mili wasn’t enough and it happened so fast that i didn’t even go shopping with her! it was only saturday afternoon, the day that she was departing to leeds, that we could have starbucks together 1 on 1. my last message to mili was that she can only come back when she brings home a baby. i’m so mean.

it’s now mid of july. august will come soon. then september. i definitely can’t wait for october.