MELBOURNE

I left melbourne on 28th January 2001. It was a long time ago, last night I had a very strange dream that I was jogging in a park near the Shrine on St.Kilda road... I want to go back!!!


Had that once for my dinner
(the walabi not that naked guitarist on Bourke Street)
Yarra River in the eve
Yarra River
Elizabeth Street
Red tram
Green tram
Town Hall
St. Kilda Street
Flinders Station
Bourke Street Mall
Collins Street

HALLOWEEN 2008

31st October comes and goes, each year new faces parade in their best costumes to the annual party @Q. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any that could represent the horror part of me the best. I bought a huge hairy black spider- the closest to my definition of horror this year,and i went to the party without it :(lucky tht i've found a dagger to stick on my head as i arrived there. Anyway, here are some of the fab pics from the party. We had such a wonderful time-the pics speak for themselves!

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2nd Day of Aidilfitri 2008@SIRASARI

2nd day of Hari Raya was the Raya Open-House @ SIRASARI.
There were around 30 invited guests who came in from 4.30 – 10.00pm. As usual, I had to be in the kitchen from morning till noon preparing chicken rendang, lontong, shrimp sambal, satay sauce and keep the satay warm. Never had Raya Open-House on my own before and for this first time I was trying so hard to distinguish between the Raya Open-House @ SIRASARI to Party @ SIRASARI; they are actually the same.
Friends arrived in half surprises and in full as well. Exchanged handshakes, hugs & cheek-to-cheek. Some brought bouquet of flowers; some brought cakes; while others with new friends if not their hand phones. Stories are shared and rumors are spread. What a day to have all the close ones together under one roof.

1st Day of Aidilfitri 2008 @ SIRASARI

It was different yet pleasant how I celebrated my first day of Hari Raya this year. As planned, Khalil and Johnny arrived at 11 for a simple meal and we suppose to adjourn for a Raya Luncheon at Lena’s in Penampang. But before we could make our way, we had to wait for Albert who seemed to be a little bit late than usual. Finally, he arrived 2 hours later and not long after that, Jayne and Howard dropped by with a huge Hari Raya hamper.

Change of plan; we all sat around the table and had lunch. We ate, we ate, and ate and ate; we drink and more drink and some more drink and drink again…. Time for tea, we moved from the dining to the lounge. We had tea and cookies, another cup of tea and more cookies… another fresh pot of tea came in and another set of cookies joined in. We talked, we laughed, we talked some more and we laughed lauder… Dinner time! “oopss what do I have left in the kitchen?” The left-over from the lunch! Gosh…! I never failed my guests… “coffee, anyone?” We had some more cookies for supper too… passed mid-night, said to say good bye.

It was fun and we really enjoyed every bit of the moment; talking about so many things from ‘world peace’ to ‘nightingale’ ahh… gossiping too, about the living(s) and the dead(s)…ouch! I know…

Mixed Fruits Cookie

Mixed fruits cookie is always be my favorite. I have it for my breakfast, tea or even dessert with chocolate ice cream. Not so crunchy and dry because the oatmeal given it soft and chewy pleasure.
One thing good about this cookie is, it is so easy to prepare even for the first timer. Although one should pay a little bit attention to the consistency of the cream butter smoothness. The tip is; the colour of the cream must be in light yellow before add in the sugar and the rest of the ingredients.
Please feel free to give it a go and enjoy the pleasure of having it with your love one and friends. I've even baked it for the Aidilfitri to enjoy it with my guests.

Mixed Fruit, Nut and Oatmeal Cookie
Ingredients:
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of almond essence
1 cup dried fruits
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup dried cherries
1 cup blanched almonds
1 ½ cup oatmeal

Directions:
Preheat oven to 160 C. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a mixer bowl, cream butter until smooth. Add the sugar, and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Beat in the eggs one at a time until combined; beat in vanilla & almond essence.
Add the flour mixture all at once and cinnamon powder, beat on a low speed until combined.
Add dried fruits, raisins, cherries, almonds and oatmeal; beat until combined.Drop batter 2 heaping teaspoons at a time onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches
Baked until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes on a middle rack with top & bottom heater.
Remove from the oven and transfer cookies to a wire rack before keep them in the air-tide jar.

MY FIRST AIDILFIRI IN KK - THE PRAYER AT THE CITY MOSQUE 01.10.08

After the prayer

My first time celebrating Aidilfitri in KK since I moved in here in 1991. The situation at the mosque is not much different from my hometown.

People are dress in their best; try to get the best available parking space for their cars, trucks or bikes; try to get a good spot in the mosque-if not in the main prayer hall. Some leave right after the prayer and rush to their cars while others wait a bit longer to exchange hand shakes and ask for forgiveness and what not since it is the day to forgive and forget.

Besides missing my family members, and friends that I've never missed to visit for more then three decades ago, I still enjoy the 1st day of Syawal. Perhaps a little bit different from what I used to, or is this the change that I want to - away from the ritual settings but not too far from the norm in which I'm familiar with.