London (Part2)

I basically had no sleep since my arrival at London, or to be exact, since I boarded the flight to London. =.=" Whenever I'm sleep deprived, my usually small eyes will become even smaller (become just a small thin line only wtf!)

Anyway, even before I came to Europe I told the fiance that I must try every single macaroons that I saw, branded non-branded I did not plan to miss any single bit of it. So yea, sister brought me to Pierre Herme in London for take away macaroons before our lunch. We chose the pistachio, vanilla, chocolate, rose and matcha flavors. Among all, rose is my utmost favorite flavor followed by pistachio. Chocolate flavor macaroons were just being chocolaty, not up to my taste.

Pierre Herme, London

Pierre Herme offered a wide range of macaroons. You mentioned and they have it. But it was quite pricey too, at 2 pound per piece. Well, at least still cheaper than Laduree macaroons. 

Pierre Herme's Macaroons

Saw a lot of nice pastries and meringues selling at the stall next to Pierre Herme too. I'm a total loser when it comes to cakes and all sort of pastries. I almost bought all of them then luckily the boyf stopped me and dragged me away.

Don't they look super tempting?!?!?

Then sister suggested we went for Busaba Eathai for lunch as she was craving for thai food. We almost got lost there and because of the rains, I had to put my macaroons in the boyf backpack. So what happened? There were all smashed up, like ruined! T________T Still edible just that they did not look good anymore. 

london

Busaba Eathai was quite a famous thai restaurant in London as they have quite a number of branches. And it was packed most of the time. We waited for a shared seat for like 20 minutes. Had to sharing tables with 5 different group of people somemore. =.=" 

le sisters

boy's green curry

sister's pad thai

mine - tom yam mee hoon

For me, the portion was really small. I was not full at all after having that bowl of tom yam. Same goes to the boyf and sister. And it was not spicy enough. :| Or was it just my luck that day cause my sister said usually the food wasn't like this?

After lunch and some shopping, we walked to Buckingham Palace which was nearby. Well, it was a .. mehhh for me? I don't know what's so special with it. A palace, yea, as typical tourist we took a picture in front of it and that's all. Really thats all!! We cannot enter to visit or whatever. So, I don't really see the point actually.

Buckingham Palace

Ending my post here, will be back with london part3

London (Part1)

The fiance and I made a trip to London last year December. We actually burnt our Japan tickets (again!) just for this Europe trip. Why? Because my sister will be having her convocation somewhere this year July, and knowing that I would not have so much leaves as I will be working soon, I figure that it was really time to pay her a visit. As least have a look at her living environment and also to tour some part of Europe with her.

Our first stop was London, followed by Prague, Salzburg, Zurich, Interlaken, Rome, Florence, Milan, Paris then London again. Many people have been asking me for the itinerary, the do(s) and don't(s) and good food there. So i will just start with London first. Even for London I have to break it into different parts because I was there for quite long! 

So we took the midnight flight to London so that we will reach London early morning at London time. Pity boy cause he was working his ass off before boarding the flight, rushing home to bath, then we flew from Miri - KL then KL - London on the same day! 26 hours in total including transit time. Luckily we had access to premium lounge to bath and rest otherwise I couldn't imagine how stink we gonna be.

It was 530am London time by the time we reached. Sis actually woke up at 245am just to be in time to pick us up! So we took tube back to her place, settle down a bit, bathed, changed then went out for breakfast before making a move to the infamous borough market.

We had breakfast at starbucks which was nearby my sister place as it was raining outside. Bad luck for us! My sister said London's weather had never been that gloomy since she stayed there few years ago. :( Their bagels were really good though. And since christmas was around the corner, we had our starbucks christmas drinks!

We planned to go to The Big Ben and Tower bridge at the first place but decided to give it up to rain. So we changed to Borough market just to take a stroll instead. Borough market is an indoor market where the people sell wide range of dairy products and food. They all look so super fresh and the colors are so vibrant.

Colorful isn't it? I almost bought it but sister said I should try borough wine instead of this. Borough hot wine was only available during christmas season. It tasted well, I don't really like it but the fiance was ok with it. 

Then we took a one hour stroll around as I wanted to take some pictures also. 

sister :)

super fresh seafood!

Us. don't worry you can take picture anywhere you like here. They won't chase you away.

love this picture.

yup. so much brownies

My POI on borough market. It's a must visit if you happen to be in London. The market opens from Thurs to Saturday from 1000 to 1500 every week. It's easily accessible. Just take a underground train to Borough. :)

He proposed. And I said Yes, I do! :D

Hello readers! Yes, after months of idling I finally have the time to write a proper post. And this time with a super outdated topic which was yea, the proposal. :) I was being proposed on 27th December 2012, which was also our second anniversary that day at Fontana Di Trevi, Italy. I never thought that I would have an oversea proposal as, oh well,  my current fiance could easily rank the first in most unromantic boyfriend ever. But this time, he proved me wrong.

As we had been traveling around Europe since 13rd Dec, we arrived Rome, Italy right on 26th December morning, checked in to hotel, went to Vatican City then had a good night sleep. Greeted with a happy anniversary early in the morning with a warning that I should finish the blueberry yogurt as it was expring soon by the boyf.

We went to the ancient historical spot right after breakfast which was The Colosseum. Had a long 2 hour there walking visiting every single corner as the boyf was so mad fascinated by the Colosseum. While I could see my sister kept yawning there LOL. Colosseum was nice indeed.

Lunch was at a nice restaurant where they served really good seafood spaghetti (always my most preferred choice of spaghetti). My sister and I had the same food while the boyf had lasagna.

his

mine

On that day itself, whenever I started wandering around, I could see from far that my sister and boyf having some intense discussion then they parted every single time I walked near them. Well I should have sensed something wrong but I was thinking well maybe these two person were just bitching about me. LOL I had such bad thinking about them.

We then walked to Fontana Di Trevi which was only like a 15 minutes walk from the restaurant. I was shocked when we reached there. It was packed like sardine. Like mad packed! It was obvious people was trying to get to the front but no one was giving way. My God. We stood behind for like 15 minutes then decided to move in like super typical kiasu chinese. Finding and squeezing our way till the front and find the perfect spot for pictures. Then I asked for coins from the boyf cause I wanted to toss into the fountains like in the movie. :P He handed me several coins.

When I was about to toss it into the fountain. My sister stopped me. She said I was suppose to toss over my shoulder, so yea fine. Then I couldn't find the boyf for a picture of us tossing the coins into the fountain together. I gave up looking for him considering the crowds. So I flipped two coins into the fountain as it means I will come back to Rome again and I will fall in love here (kiasu ok. just tossed as many as I could).

Right after I tossed and sister snapped some picture, I turned around and saw my boyf one knee down with ringggggggggggg! A diamond ringggggggg :D And there he was asking me loudly "baobei, will you marry me?" I was so ecstatic, happy, touched and whatever it is I was so happy I said "yes.. yes yes yes I do".

He put on the ring for me and gave me a bear hug.

He had actually talked to my sister about the proposal and they planned it together. Aaaaww my sister. :)))) To celebrate our love, we went for fine dining  later that night.

27/12/2012. A really special and memorable day for us. :) My heart still skips a beat everytime I think of the proposal.

Proposal? Wedding?

I defnitely had abandoned my blog for quite some time. Was packed with traveling, engagement, wedding preparation and work. I will blog about the proposal, wedding preparation soon. Maybe in a separated blog.  Will update the address soon. Till then. xx

Fifty

I know right, fifty shades again?! Many people been asking me why am I so totally into this book and before I could even explain why, they concluded that I love reading porn. Like seriously man, reading porn? No. I love this book because this book for me is not just all about sex. I somehow can see the insight of the story, I can visualize Christian Grey's childhood and how impeccable he would be if he really does exist. 

My addiction towards fifty is almost incurable (I think). Even when I'm with my boyfriend, I can just read and read and read, engrossing in this book the whole day and ignore him. Then when I'm done with one book, I get very emotional, depressed and do not feel like talking at all. My mind was all about fifty shades trilogy. I wonder how christian grey looks like, how attractive Anatalsia is, why is Grey's childhood so fucked up and etc etc. My mind has nothing else but this book. 

Then I realize, I have been living in E.L James imagination and I can't seem to get myself out. It's like a part of me is in fifty and when I'm done reading the book, part of me is gone. :( I seek for advice from my best friend and my sister. They said I have to stop living in their "world", it does not exist. They know how I feel like when I said a part of me is gone because they feel the same after watching certain series and anime. They said I need to socialize. 

I took my phone and scrolled the name list over and over again. Who can I socialize with? I'm the only one so far I've know that has done reading fifty shades trilogy. Who else can I share my depression and addiction with? Then I look up for fifty fan page in internet. I read the comments pages by pages and I told myself if I would to join them then my addiction will not go any better, I will just keep drowning indefinitely.

After a while, I decided to story the whole thing to the boyfriend. He was like woooo, wuaaa and etc etc then when i'm done I asked him can u visualize the whole thing? Not the BDSM part but I mean the  melancholia part of christian's childhood and how strong ana has to be for him? He murmured no vaguely.

Someone has to help me out. I tried diverting my attention to baking, shopping and trying hard to plan our upcoming europe trip, but it seems like it's not working on me.

It's just a damn book, but why on earth am I so addicted to it?

Fifty Shades of Grey

I was contemplating whether to buy that set of fifty shades of trilogy displaying in front of me for quite some time. I knew it was erotic fiction novels. People been saying that reading those three books are like reading porns but the selling had been so outrageous that it actually beat Harry potter series. I pondered on that fact and after walking in and out the bookstore for 5 times or more because of my indecisive. I gave it a go.

And it was just the damn right decision I had made. It was a very good book. I was overwhelmed by the content. Christian Grey and Ana. There were just so much dilemma, agony, denial, admiration and romance between them. What can I say? The guy was hopelessly romantic but had a commitment issue while Ana was head over heels in love with him and trying so hard to deal with her fantasy boyfriend conflict.

And the phrase "laters, baby" it just sound so sweet to me. I mean, yea I never get that from my boyfriend since the first day i'm with him. I actually secretly wished that he will just mention that phrase in SMS or whatsapp one day just to make me happy but no, romance is just not his cup of tea.

Back to fifty shades of grey, I finished this book in a day! Record-breaking. I was so engrossed in it that I ignored the Internet, movies and my boyfriend even. Right now I had finished, the whole story just kept ringing in my head. I kept picturing myself standing beside them watching the whole story flow. The author was very brilliant in his writing indeed. I did not feel like just purely reading this novel, I felt like I was in the cinema watching a movie. Yes, I can picture every single scene.

I'm not aroused even though it contains numerous erotic parts in it. It was more of a melancholia to me.

Can't wait to finish fifty shades darker and freed! Highly recommend this book peeps!

Car Rental at Ipoh

Today, I'm here not to tarnish the reputation of a company (019 556 215*) but to share with you all, an extremely UNPLEASANT deal with the owner and owner's wife of the car rental shop. To be exact, how they pissed me off like no tomorrow. I hate complaining about other people and etc in my blog but for this case, I can't help it at all. 

WHY??

My convocation was on the 23rd October. To make it on time and since Ipoh does not have airport, we (parents, bf and I) had to travel bit earlier to settle for transportation in Ipoh and to UTP and also I wanted to bring them around in Ipoh, to let them have a look at the place which I had been spending 5 years at. So, to facilitate our movement around Ipoh, I approached this company and requested for a wira auto since it was only RM160 for 24 hours. They promised to drive the car to the bus stop where we all reached initially as well.

Then "good" thing began with my okay. When we reached the bus stop, what welcomed us was not a wira but an Avanza. HELLO SCAM. I questioned the driver why avanza? I requested for wira and the reason I chose the company was because of the damn wira that's only RM160. Now you appear with an avanza how you gonna charge us? He insisted that price is negotiable so we followed him to the shop. I told him that instead of 24 hours I need the car for like 28 hours.

The bos, a guy who couldn't converse in Mandarin but spoke good cantonese and English nodded his head and bla a few words in cantonese then said "okay, RM200 for that 28 hours." Then we signed the agreement and etc and paid and left happily. 

But, half an hour later, the boss called and raged at me. He said I have to return the car at 1pm (24 hours rental only) and If I want to rent extra time I have to pay RM15 per hour. I was like wtf dude, we agreed RM200 until 5pm (28 hours). The lame excuse he gave me was (please read properly):

JUST NOW YOU SPOKE MANDARIN I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I ONLY SPEAK CANTONESE AND ENGLISH.

Seriously old man?!! Seriously??? Why the heck you keep nodding your head if you don't understand a shit. And I clearly remember you answered me back in cantonese:

"Ok until 5pm. Avanza RM200"

So we had an argument over phone and he said it was not refundable if i don't wanna use the car anymore (even though it was a scam). I told him if he wants the car just come to my hotel to collect together with the $ and my photostated IC and etc. 

He said "you took something from my company you should come back here"

I yelled back at him "for f sake I paid RM200. You come here!!"

In the end, he charged us RM30 for the fare that he picked us up from medan gopeng to his shop, and return the rest of the money, yelled and scolded me and said don't wanna do my business anymore. The wife, such a busy-body wife also joined him.

Like hello? You cheated me at the first place then you yelled at me for this and that? I'm so super pissed at them that I yelled at them. I don't care if you are 80 or 70 something or what. Don't act like you are so educated (speak english and cantonese only but not mandarin) in front of me. 

When people speak to you in mandarin or english, and even if you can't speak/understand mandarin, at least answer back in English or question us back in English what we are saying!!! Don't just pretend to be so smart and keep nodding. 

It's like one day you asked me something in Cantonese, and I answered you back in Foo Chow cause that's my dialect. Does that make sense? NO!! Cantonese is just a dialect not a universe language! 

And to that ah pek, seriously just retire you old man. "You speak mandarin just now I don't understand" What a joke. Why the hell you kept nodding there then? Nod for fun?! 

24th Birthday

Finally I have the mood to jot something down again. I have been staying home everyday after graduation and all I do is becoming a chauffeur, a cook, a babysitter and a baker. Okay I actually enjoy doing all these things and I do all of them voluntarily. :P I know, weirdo. 

So I celebrated my 24th birthday yesterday and earlier with parents on Friday. Last year I celebrated it in Singapore, you can read here. This year we had a really simple celebration because well i'm turning 24th (and old) and  I don't really have the urge to have any big or grand or whatever celebration you call it. 

Boyf picked me up at 7pm and we went to Best Western which was just right opposite my house haha. We could actually just walk there but I dislike sweating. I actually bought a dress to wear on that night but the bust size was too big for me. I can like put two more oranges into there so that it won't fall. Anyway, I'm selling that dress off as soon as my friend tries on it and if she can't fit in perfectly.

Okay so enough of my rubbish talk. Here's picture of us while waiting for our food. There's so much on the menu that we couldn't decide. So we agreed not to order the same thing that we savored before and to try something new. 

For starter we had cheese baked mussels which were really good. Kinda regretted we only went for 1/2 dozen instead of a dozen. 

I always loved cheese baked mussels but boyf just seemed to not liking the idea of having cheese on top of them haha but for this one, he had no say about it at all because it was really yummy.

As for starter, we had a bowl of oxtail soup each. Before it was served we were hoping that it won't be as tasteless as we had it at the same place here last night. And the cook did not disappoint us at all. Maybe because it was my birthday haha. 

As for my main course I went for "old man and the sea" with blue cheese which was a combination of king prawns, chicken, fish, and steak. I love it except the chicken because I'm not into chicken breast at all. In fact I hate it. Whenever I eat chicken I always go for drumstick/thighs/wings. No breast unless I'm left with no choice at all. So I finished everything except the chicken. 

As for the boyf, he opted for lamb rack since lamb was the only thing that was not only on my plate. His dish was way way nicer than mine. 

Then here come my birthday cake. I had coffee flavor mille crepe cake as my birthday cake this year. It was ordered online and finally a mille crepe cake after my malacca trip in August!!

And also I got my three champagne roses from the boyfriend too. Posing with it before entering the car i'm such a poser hahaha but who cares i'm so happy I have roses. 

Thanks for everything love. Appreciate it and I'm 24! :)

Rainbow Cake

My passion in baking is growing this holiday since I have nothing to do and I'm eager to learn it. Baking is definitely not easy compared to cooking. You can just add anything anytime when cooking but definitely not baking. One wrong step and there gone your cakes or cookies. 

Anyway, I spent my Saturday afternoon baking with Emmelina since the boyf has to OT at the office. :) We decided to bake rainbow cake this time because it is colorful and considering the hoo haa rainbow cakes have brought in the internet, why not? And now my mum and I are trying it again in the kitchen since we have nothing to do at home on this scotching hot Sunday. Many people been asking to share the recipe and instructions so here you are:  

Ingredients: 

Cakes:

2 1/4 cup cake flour 

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 cup milk (room temp)

6 egg whites (room temp)

3/4 cup butter (room temp)

4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt 

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 different colorings (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)

Cream:

3 cups whipping cream

41/2 tablespoon icing sugar (depends how sweet you want)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Grease two small cake pans with butter and line the bottom with parchment paper.

2. Combine milk, egg whites and vanilla extract in a bowl with a fork. Set aside

3. Sift the cake flour, baking powder and salt then add sugar to it. Mix at low speed in an electric mixer with paddle attachment. Add butter. continue beating at low speed until mixture look like wet sand.

4. Add 1/2 of the milk mixture and beat for 1 minute then add the remaining milk to it and beat for another 30 seconds. Do not overbeat.

5. Divide batter evenly into six small bowls. Add the respective coloring (5 droplets but if you brighter color feel free to add more) into the bowls. Mix together with a spoon. 

6. Pour the purpled batter into the cake pan and gently shake to smooth batter. Bake at 175C for 15 minutes or less. (use toothpick to test whether it is done or not).

7. Once bake, let cool and continue baking the other remaining batter. This is what you will get once all six layers are done.

8. For the whipped cream: Beat the whipping cream together with the icing sugar until stiff peak on top on a bowl of iced water.  Freeze for 30 minutes then apply on the cake. Make enough to frost the whole cake. 

And the outcome of our cake :) :

Rainbow cake :)~

Hokkaido Cupcakes with whipped cream filling

I have always wanted to try baking this after seeing my friend posted a super beautiful picture of her hokkaido cake in facebook. She (Emm) is my cupcake guru, whatever she bakes is just super beautiful and delicious. My first trial on hokkaido cake, probably my last time baking it also. Why? cause it is not easy!!

Anyway, I adapt some recipe from the internet (forgotten the website) so i'm sharing the recipe here in case you wanna try baking it to kill some time:

Ingredients:

For the cake:

2 cups cake flour 

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk 

1/2 cup vegetable oil (I use extra virgin olive oil)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 egg yolks

8 egg whites

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

For the whipped cream filing:

2 cups whipping cream

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

I add another 2 spoon of custard powder because I love custard

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 175C. Make sure everything is at room temperature.

2. Sift cake flour together with baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl.

3. In a medium bowl, blend well milk, oil, vanilla extract and the 5 egg yolks.

4. Then Add the egg yolks mixture to the dry ingredients and beat it for about 2 minutes or less.

5. Beat the egg whites with cream of tartar on high speed until foamy, then slowly add in the sugar and continue to beat until stiff peak form.

6. Fold in the meringue into the yolk mixture in 3 parts using a rubber spatula. Be sure to do it quick and light.

7. Then spoon the batter into cupcake cups evenly (2/3 of the cup). Most people use the square cupcake cups but I only have the round one) 

8. Be sure to give them a couple of big tap on the table to break the large air bubbles of the batter for finer texture of the cakes, then bake at 175C for 20-25 minutes or until cooked. (test with a skewer or toothpick). 

9. Let cool in the oven before removing or you can just cool on the racks. 

10. Mix the heavy cream, sugar, vanilla and custard powder into the mixing bowl and beat on high speed until medium peak form. 

11. Fit the piping bag with narrow tip, and fill it with whipped cream. Pipe the cream into the center of the cupcakes after the cakes are completely cooled. Decorate the cupcakes by dusting it with powdered sugar.

And tadaaaa, 

This is the outcome of my cakes. Feel free to try the above recipe and see if we achieve the same results or otherwise. ;)