- 2O12 -

- 2O12 - 

since mid-year, I keep telling people around me that, this year seems bit ‘ too-happening’ for me...

too much up-and-down...

happee and sad things happened one followed by one NON-STOP...

I barely have little free time, sit myself down with normal pace of breathing and review a bit...

a lot of changes... too much !

frens joining, frens leaving...

never been so high frequency for the previous 26 years...

to be honest, I feel extremely tired with a lot of thingies...

yet 21122012 didn't happen ! damn !

life still carries on...

and more decisions waiting me ahead !

this gonna be a supa long post...

I gonna blog down every single highlights happened in this year...

for a little diary to myself...

to jot down the details of 2012...

***************************

I started my very first day of 2012 in Singapore...

having glass of Moet by the lake with besties...

believe it would be a great start...

Henz tRip mini getaway to Hadyai for missie Jen~  :)

tho short, but we had great fun times..

once a year M60 Reunion Gathering before CNY...

finally, the big day has come...

first Wedding dinner to attend in 2012... 

bz bz being the jimuiz ~
Congrats 1st Katiakz member gets married~  :)

Gong Hei Fatt Choy~

my very first 'job' for an Event Company... 

hand stitched props for photo shooting~   :)

February 

kicked start with lovely Yoong's wedding...

another round of ji muiz...

so happee for her new status, but so sad, as she moved to Tw for good... *sniff..

Jen's birthday on the sweet sweet 214

Xandra's bday, another round of pri-school gatherings...

Feb ends with Katiakz long awaited Bali bali tRip~ woo hoo

March

2nd day of 3rd month, a very sad new of my Kindy-classmate passed away...

I just attended his ROM at Sg in Nov' 2011,

never thought it had been a very last gathering for us...

I feel so glad I did make it at last, which was a very last minute decision...

missed him...

before my emotion backed to ' normal stage '

here came my Idol-of-life's concert...

I missed all his concerts since the age of 14, after 13 yrs, finally I made it...

but with mixed feeling... 

hmmm... 

In conjuction with Lee Hom Concert,

it was also a second Katiakz Getaway of the year..

spent a short weekend in KL despite all the hassles..

mid month, another round of bestie's wedding...

finally, Steffie and Khuang...

another long-waited couples... so happy for them... woo hoo~ 

week after, colleague's wedding...

after so many years....

my classmate, who sat next to me during Standard 5, backed from Ireland and organized this reunion outing...

so awkward, to meet up after so long.. 

but it was fun... hahaha

end my 3rd month with another Hadyai weekend getaway trip...

and birthday meet up for this busy guy, who I met less than 4 times in a year ! 

by blogging purely the highlights for the 1st 3 months, 

I re-cap the busy schedule and feel 'chuan' for myself...

 April

ta da~ 

Louise's baby sis, finally turned 21...

invited all the je jez for her mini but glamour birthday partay... 

we felt so old... wtf

once a year, cheng beng session with my big and noisy familie...

this round, something different,

as we pray for our beloved grandma too, my grandpa no longer alone...

I got second job from D Playground Events ! 

woo hoo...  :)

big sick...

warmed concern from an old-met-backed-frens...

so touched !

a 'reward' dinner after 7 years...
too full but happee...   :)

19th Apr...

the saddest day of 2012...

the leaving of her...

a blog dedicated for Priscilla... 

May

helping on shooting and blogging for OT during Loke Promo Tour..

suRprise birthday celebration for Kiwie...

birthday dinner for je and jefu~

end 5th month with family Bangkok trips...

with Jen and siblings...

after 17 years...

a lot of 'it just so happened' incidents during the month of May...
unexplained...
fated and meant to be perhaps ?

 June

begins with a big decision that could probably changed my life...
good or bad, no one knows, just live with it...

***
first trial of Acupuncture in my life...

no pain no fears at all...

since then, I've been recommending alot of people around me go try...

a very good healing treatment for many sickness...

bad Haze day in Penang...

3rd week of June, fren's bday on every day...

2 besties' babies born on same week too...

short family getaway to KL...

coincidentally, I managed to make myself attend Jayesslee Concert after being their little fans for 4 years...  :)

wedding dinner of Ella, ex-colleague backed from Melbourne~

week after,

quite a surprise wedding...

hehe... Sukhpal Singh is getting married !

total different experiences of attending a Singh's wedding...

dancing all night long, non-stop shows performances... 

we " forced " to perform Indian dance for the newly-wed too...

my darling's lovely daughter... :)

 July

the once a year meet up with Pier ~

Penang Hill day trip after years...

the day means alot...

only we known...  :)

after years...  :)

contributed alot to CSR events this year...

my lovely team~  :)

great experience of Charity Night Ride in Georgetown...

felt so proud to have police escort all the way... hehe

Birthday Celebration for Yc...

bbq at her house...

happy and fun night...  :)

surprise blow cake session with Uncle, mung's daddy...

this year is really a Heritage year...

the Fantastic wall drawings made Penang an even better island and getting 'so famous' 

heritage trail with family and frens on a random weekend... 

Happee buRfday to beloved daddy... 

Aug

second bouquet to office...

another suRprise...  :)

an Awesome Trilogy entered my life and ' changed ' alot of things...

good read ! 

about Grey 

bday partay at my house, once a year daddy's laksa time... hehe

Happee 5th Burfday kiddo !

 Sept

4th Sept, Katiakz Anni...

we exchanged our I Love You rings on this day...

officially announced as ' Partners-for-each-other-in-life ' no matter happy or sad, rich or poor...

Happee buRfday to Mr Wayne...

happee 1st buRfday to handsome Nathan Boi !

the kid, I known since he was at the age of 7, holding his hand to cross the big road...

now a big macho guy, 

exploring his studies in UK... 

time flies... and I'm getting old, really... sigh

2nd week of Sept,

I chopped my hair short...

hope for a 'good' start...

End of Sept, small getaway to Singapore with Yc...

backed on time for Mung's bday~

and another high school mate's wedding~

finally !!!

we got our keys...

Boulevard, I like...  :)

happee m00ncake festival...

sadly, I didn't have a cheer one this year...   :'(

 October

last 3 months of 2012...

Parties months started....

non-stop bday parties, partying, gathering, outings... 

busy busy busy but happee~  woo hoo~

I felt proud of myself...

initial plan was to morning jog at Botanical garden...

changed to Strawberry Hill, fren suggested hike to 84, in the end, we hiked to PENANG HILL without realized !

wtf...

we total ignored the 84 pit stop throughout the way !!!

consequences :  I can't feel my legs for one-whole-week !

happeebuRfday to prettie Louise~  :)

teng teng...

another big applause of the year... 

self-made Black Swan Costume for Halloween Parties ~

click here for more... 

very last day of Oct,

happEebuRfday to mr Jimmy Leow !

what a busy day for me !

Ta da~

nOvember is always mah fav mOnth...

due to mah belOved 117...

as age catching up...

I no longer anticipate the coming of the day...

some simple dine out with frens and family are great enough...

I'm lucky to have bunch of awesome buddies and lovely familie...

to plan dinner outing for me...

throughout the week~

birthday closure with a little short get away to Genting Highlands...

thanks Resort World for a night of free stay at First World Hotel as a birthday tReat !

it's been years since mah last visit !

a week right after mah 117, it's Evatar's bday...

again.. another round of partay-non-stop...

 

17th - 22nd Nov' 2012

a trip which has been awaited for 9 months...

finally I stepped in Japan ! 

some where I dreamt to go since young !

alot more about Tokyo to blog in later days... 

a day after my trip, another wedding dinner to attend...

my beloved Junior...

last day of Nov, another round of bday celebration...

newbies to the gang ! mr bRian ~

1st week of December...

again and Last, birthday week for Eleen~

my own promise to myself...

we did at least step out the first move for CustoMaidz after 3 yrs of planning...

  

our 1st job for Agilent Finance Team Building

House warming / X'mas partay at Lou's started 2nd week of Dec... 

little charity event among frens...  :)

2nd X'mas partay at Yoong's...

she brings baby backed from Taiwan~  yeah~~~

another Pri-school gathering before crossed year...

the eve~

annuanly X'mas partay at Linna's with familie and frens...

theme for this year : Black and Red

another and very last wedding dinner in 2012

childhood - familie frens... 

very LAST sunday of 2012,

we attended baby Sidney's fullmoon partie at Straits Quay...

the theme is Aloha, Hawaii~

we had a great afternoon, relaxing by the quay...  :)

such a long post, taken me so much time to blog...

da good side, taking this opportunity to review back what made me so busy and tied up throughout the year...

so many celebration, yet quite a number of sad things happened around..

those mentioned above are highlights,

there are things that only meant for keeping in hearts, memories to myself... 

I did not have much achievement, shameful to mention...

experienced all kind of mixed feeling throughout the 12 mths...

happening, happiest to the max, sweet and bitter, emo, withdrawn, upset, sad to the max too...

everything just hit the climax once it happened...

I shall treat it as a learning path, turning point in my life and live to the fullest... 

the leaving of Pris in April,

somehow seems to be a 'wake-up-call' to my life...

the incident slightly changed a lot of point of view in my life...

some decisions made and changed...

right or wrong, good or bad, I have no idea...

I hope 2O13 would be a better year...

and I still learning to be a happier and better person...

"Good bye 2012" is such a heavy phrase for me...

guess too much memories in these 365 days...

I got so sentimental when the clock hits 12...

Hello 2O13...

please brings me more lucks...

a lot more changes would be made...

stay tune... 

cheers~  xoxo

I Miss RAMEN !

I'm a ramen person, and after backed from my Tokyo trip I even craved for Ramen DAILY ! 

it's not that I don't want to blog, but my blog storage has hit the quota, I need to pay, buy storage in order to blog... 

which I don't think I want... still figuring what's the next path... 

I love the Real Traditional Japanese Ramen, but not the ' localized ' which we can easily order in any random Japanese Restaurant...

those usually can taste the heavy MSG taste and instant noodles instead of daily handmade fresh noodles...

the Pro-Japanese Ramen, soup based is usually cooked long hour with Pork-bones, we called it Tonkotsu (Pork) soup... 

optionally add on Miso / Shoyu / spicy paste etc...

it's rich, nice, tasty with the tender handmade noodles... 

oh no~ what a great combo !

***********************

during my January Sg Trip...

my fren brought us to this Santouka Hokkaido Ramen opposite Somerset...

it has few branches in others places...

it's something consider more economic and with reasonable price in Singapore... 

don't get shocked with menu below, showing $ 19.50 - 20.50...

as it's for the special Pork Cheek Meat set...

there're cheaper range set which come with Ramen + Rice which I think quite worth...

I tried the Pork Cheek Meat, with Spicy Ramen Set...

the meat is more tender and well-flavored compared to the normal Cha Shu of course... 

I always give Extra Marks if the Ramen served with half-boiled Hot Spring Egg ~

tastes Totally Different...

thumbs-up ! 

this is the set comes with a Big Bowl of Ramen and Garlic Fried Rice / Normal Rice...

the traditional eating way, is to finish the noodles quickly, and pour the rice into the still-hot-soup and eat...

I would say the portion is too huge for a lady, thus, can be a sharing of 2... 

and place a side order - Gyoza

and it would just be nice...  :)

it opened outlet in Malaysia too, at Tokyo Street - Pavillion KL... 

I went in July, tasted same, not bad...

but it won't be considered as 'economic / reasonable price' here in Malaysia...

minimal spending, RM 30++ per pax/ bowl after tax... 

http://www.santouka.co.jp/

https://www.facebook.com/RamenSantoukaMalaysia

***********************

backed in end of 2011, another specialized Japanese Ramen Shop opened in Paragon, Gurney... Goku Raku Ramen

it's a happy news for me !

however, I always claimed that there are Too Many GREAT foods in Penang...

I only managed visit Once so far, keep wanting to re-visit but " No Chance " !

the price range is cheaper than Santouka KL...

around Rm 18.90++ (small bowl) - Rm 25.90++ big bowl...

it tasted not bad but I couldn't recall or describe much about it since it has been so long since I had it...

https://www.facebook.com/GokurakuRamen

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my Top Favourite still backed to Ippudo Ramen which having A Lot of branches all around the world... 

most 'reachable' for me would be Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan where it originates from... 

there are 2 outlets in Singapore...

1 in Mandarin Gallery another in UE Square...

daily Long Q during lunch and dinner time !!!!!

that's the crazee part !

I finally tried it during my Singapore Trip in September !!!

the Q was extremely long even we went at 5-6pm - early dinner ! 

but it's wOrth ! 

we ordered 3 different to try... 

the original, spicy and Miso... 

the hot spring egg and cha shu need to add-on separately with additional charges...  but it's a must ! 

when I went to Tokyo, I happened to spot Ippudo Cup (Bowl) noodles from 7 Eleven...

as can see from the packaging...

I supposed it's collaboration between Ippudo and 7 Eleven, as I couldn't find it in Family Mart or Lawson...

it's not cheap though... 

after converted, should be rm 15-20, I can't remember... 

it even comes with pieces of dried Cha Shu... 

haha.. so pro...

but of cuz the soup won't be as tasty as how we tasted in the shop...

I did not try Ippudo Ramen in Tokyo, as too many choices in too short period...

so hate Malaysia / Singapore such a 'commercialized' countries...

when things come here, serving portion must become smaller and lesser...

everything need to extra order, extra charge...

unlike those in Japan, what you eat worth the price you paid !! 

****************************

we touched down Tokyo at 11+ pm Japan Time...

by the time we checked in and settled down, it's 12 midnight d...

luckily there are alot of eating places opened till late night within walking distance from my hotel around Shinjuku...

while we were walking around, struggling where to settle our super Late Dinner,

I saw thie Keika Ramen which recommended to me by my Japanese Counterpart before...

without hesitation, we just hopped in !

most of the restaurants in Japan are very tiny and with limited spaces...

there's vending machines like this outside every Ramen Shop...

self-ordered, paid, and with the little coupon / receipts you pass to the kitchen helper, they will serve your ramen shortly...

very efficient and convenient ! 

people keen to say foods in Japan very expensive...

but to be fair, if we compare Apple to Apple...

a bowl of Delicious ramen like this, costs me 850 yen, which is around Rm 30+...

the portion is huge and tastes AWESOME !

so tell me if it's worth !

again there's Combo Set of Ramen + Garlic Fried Rice + Gyoza... 

costs around 880-900 yen....

which total enough for sharing between two ! 

so so so yum ! 

***********************

here come top fav Ramen for all of us throughout the trip !

we passed by this little corner shop everyday...

decided to give it a try on a random night !

it has different soup-based, which is MISO soup based instead of the Tonkotsu (pork)...

again, we guess the words by the pics and pick our choice ! 

placed order via the vending machine and wait to be seated...

the most precious ingredient in this shop is their Miso Paste...

they put a huge spoonful of miso paste into the bowl, pour in half bowl of soup from a giant pot and stir equally...

they 'grilled' the cha shu a little bit by this little fire thingy...

I considered it as the most expensive ramen among the 3 shops I had during our trip...

this costs us 900 yen, served with only ONE piece of Cha Shu (pork belly)

but never mind, as it's heavenly delicious !!!!!!!!!!

guess the price mainly contributed to their special homemade Miso Paste which I saw a big big packet waiting to be refilled... 

the portion, in term of noodles and soup are biggest among three...

and it served with Hot Spring Egg~ woo hoo~

what so special about this egg...

the yolks is so beautiful orangy colour like a sunset big yolks... 

when u bite on the egg, it's not hard at all but will 'break' and the yolks flow out.. so yum...

the yumminess is not describable...

I share with my aunt, and we both feel just nice...

I finished up All the soup !!!!

my sis and frens had a bowl each, and felt regret after wards...

as way too full !

so super yum !!!!!

************

the last night before heading back to Malaysia...

I wanted to have another Ramen dinner !

simply walked into a random shop around Kabukicho...

the soup based and Cha Shu not as yum as the previous two... and it served with normal egg too...

HOWEVER, its noodles are so tender and different from any other ramen shop...

imagine my aunt asked me order another bowl for her, before she even finished the first bowl !

no drama !

the best decision is to have hot hot yummy Soup Ramen during the cold cold weather !

I so so so miss the ramen in Japan...

simply hop into any ramen shop sure serve tasty ramen ! 

I've been craving for it badly !   T_________T