$99 fares !!!

Ah the joys of good sales. Good fare hunting has finally paid off. Cheryl and I managed to get $99 fares ($198 return) fares to KL for January next year. It's another 8 day trip for me (I hope it's not as draining as this one) and the first time for Cheryl to have a 8 day trip to Malaysia. One thing I was curious though... Cheryl being Cheryl has ALWAYS said that she would refuse to take a low cost carrier for more than 2 hours because it's going to be a hard slog. I know she has always appreciated the likes of Singapore Airlines but how I managed to convince her to join me in the $99 fare I don't know. Maybe it's the temptation of going to Penang again so soon after we get back to Australia was the key. Who knows but for now... I'm here to annouce that we've planned the next 'big' trip... January we're hitting Penang again.

Many of you ask how I do it... How I get the cheap fares. Do I want to reveal it? Nah, this is a secret that takes too long to explain. Maybe one day, but for now... Cheryl and I know what the secret to these trips are.

5 months, 10 days to go now until Penang again. :P

Alex.

Penang, Malaysia

It's been a while since I have posted on the blog. But with a spare moment to breathe and soak in the nice ambience / atmosphere of Starbucks at Queensbay Mall in Penang, I thought I should write something. :)

Well, it's been just a tad over a week since Cheryl and I touched down in Penang. Boy have we covered a lot! We went to do all the shopping and replenishing of supplies for the next year (Shampoo here is like the same price but in Ringgits, so about 1/3 of the cost) and we managed to visit most if not all the relatives in and around this corner of the world. We've been to Singapore as well and caught up with most of the relatives there as well. Right now, Cheryl is having a haircut, hence I got time to write this up. But let me say that it's going to be a busy few days before I leave for Melbourne and onto home.

It's been over a year since our last visit ad I gotta admit there are small changes which I see will bring good things to Penang, but may take time to work out. Some roads are now one way streets (which Cheryl didn't know until she drove into the street and then said was that a no entry sign?) and there are some more traffic lights around the roads, but this to me seems to cause more congestion than to make it safer. Hmmm... Wonder whether that was the aim?

Shops wise, Penang is still by far cheaper for all things compared with Australia. For those wondering, on top of a watch, my beautiful wife got a very nice and new camera for her birthday. We bought it in Singapore and managed to test our bargaining skills. We succeeded but I think he wasn't happy with us by the end, more happy to see the back of us because of the amount of things we wanted for the price. The deal was great, compared with Australia I don't think you could have gotten the same amount of things for the price. The better thing is that we get the tax back since we were flying out of Singapore. I'm sure she'll post some pics of the new addition to the ever growing technological family.

I just wanted to probably end this rather short post with saying thank you to my sister in law and her boyfriend for making a special trip up to Penang from KL to see us. I know it may have been a bit quiet at times (if I can put it that way) but it was great to catch up with you guys. Everyone knows you didn't have to come but the fact you all came and we had so much fun, those are the good memories to take from this trip.

I don't know whether I will post another blog before I head back to Australia, but it's been an amazing time as always in Penang. The weather is a bit hot and humid at times, but let me just say that I would not trade this for the probably cold weather that is being experienced in Canberra.

Next trip to Penang is sometime in 2010. Probably mid year, but we'll see. Got to plan it so that we avoid winter in Australia. :P

Thanks Penang for a great week spent. :)

Alex.

Turning 28 on the 28th - Happy Birthday to me!

It's my birthday! How quickly a year passes by. Its not often one can say their age equals the date of the birthday. Some had their day when they turned 1 year old and it is today that I can proudly mention I am 28 on the 28th!

The husband has been very nice all day, doing pretty much all that the wife has asked for. According to him, my birthday surprise this year is a 3 pronged attack.

First, I got flowers at work. It was an arrangement themed ' Bright n Cheerful' hence the red, pink, yellow, white, purple and green. The lillies in the arrangement have yet to open. Usually takes about a week for the pretty white things to bloom. A little brown doggie was tied to the base of the flower arrangement. I like the doggie. :)

The second gift was Belgian Chocolates which was opened and distributed at work. There wasn't much in the box to go around so a lucky few got to have some to add some sweetness to their day. It sure added a lot of 'sweetness' to mine :)

The third gift is sort of funny. Alex had bought 2 watches from FOSSIL. Turns out I like the UN-birthday watch more than I did the birthday watch. So yes the 3rd part of me birthday gift is a watch. I love it. To be honest, if I saw it at the shop, it wouldn't have been one of the models I would try on. However once it was on my hand, it looks like it belongs there. I love love it.

Part one and part two of the gifts were delivered to me at work thus scoring brownie points for the husband. Unfortunately on top of the 'good on you' pats on his back that he got he also got given stern words by the ladies at work for being silly in giving me flowers a day before we fly as I won't be able to enjoy them for more than 1 day. I thought it was quite funny how the ladies rallied with me.

All in all it has been a lovely day. Marred only by an incident which happened to my parents home in Penang. It got broken into. If you have been following this blog you would have read that my neighbours place got burgled in May, then it was my in laws place and now, its my parents place. Much prayers are needed for the safety of our homes.

Apart from that, we are flying tomorrow! One last night here and off we go! WHOOPEE!


cheryl

Cooking Up A Storm

In light of our upcoming trip, I have been busying myself in the kitchen cooking and packing up lunch/dinner boxes to keep in the freezer. Both Alex and I are returning to Penang for a holiday but Alex returns 3 weeks earlier before I do. Being the good and dutiful wife :) I have been preparing these boxes so the husband eats well while the wife is not around.

Ok to make me sound less a saint, I'm sure Alex is more than able to care for himself while I am away but I would feel more at peace with myself knowing that there are healthy, home cooked options available for him should he want it. View it whichever way you want - me being a control freak or me the loving wife *wink*

I started the first batch of cooking last weekend and completed the second batch today. In total there are 19 boxes of food which I think will be more than sufficient for the 18 days that I am away for. In total 2kgs of beef mince, 1kg of beef chuck steak, 8 chicken breasts, 5 large potatoes, 2 packets of spaghetti and 8 cups of rice was used for this cookout.

The man of the house will have the below for choice:-

1. Green curry chicken
2. Italian casserole chicken
3. Beef stew with red wine
4. Soy chicken with chinese rice wine and mushrooms
5. Curry tofu and stir fried vegetable
6. Spaghetti bolognaise
7. Shepherds pie

The box next to this task is checked and I can now move on to complete the other things I have to do before leaving Australia. Packing gifts, packing clothes, returning library books, final load of washing, cleaning the house, kitchen..... etc.

Its the FINAL COUNTDOWN! (Cue music... that tune is ringing in my head)

cheryl

Easiest Slow Cooker Leg of Lamb Recipe Ever

I love my slow cooker. When we got married, my first request for a wedding gift was for a slow cooker. It does wonders to meats, stews and soups. Often I am pressed for time and I prepare my food overnight or leave it turned on low in the slow cooker while I'm away at work.

I made the simplest ever leg of lamb dish a week ago. Lamb is fantastic for winter. Its such a warming dish, so much more so than beef. That week I was literally 'Old Mother Hubbard' except I wasn't looking to feed the dog but my husband. I didn't have anything in my crisper to go with the lamb so all I used were mushrooms. Even that had to be canned champignons.

If you replicate this recipe, feel free to toss carrots, potatoes and onions into the slow cooker or even vary up ingredients for sauce. It will work just the same. Most recipes call for browning the meat before cooking it in the slow cooker but really, if I had time to brown I probably wouldn't be using the slow cooker now would I? Rest assured that not browning before cooking in a slow cooker will not cause your meat to lose much of its juices. Cooking in an oven or a pot however.. is a different thing altogether.

LEG of LAMB

1 leg of lamb
2 cans of champignons
2 pinches of oregano
3 dabs of butter
1/4 cup of water
Salt & Pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

1. Turn the slow cooker on high while you prepare the ingredients.
2. Spread the olive oil on the base of the slow cooker. This prevents the meat from sticking to the bottom during cooking and makes cleaning easier for you.
3. Rub salt over the entire leg of lamb and load it into center of pot.
4. Drop champignons all around the lamb, pour the water in and place dabs of butter on top of the lamb. Sprinkle the oregano and grind generous amounts of black pepper over everything.
5. Turn the slow cooker on low and cook for 10 hours.

The addition of water is not really necessary because a slow cooker typically does not loose much moisture during cooking. Because I really hate eating dry meat, I added water to maintain moisture throughout the 10 hours that I am away.

The meat was so very tender, full of natural flavour with a hint of mushroomy, buttery smokiness and it fell off the bone as I cut through it. I would definitely cook this again next time.

cheryl

The Perfect Winter Day

If didn't know that we were halfway through the month of July and right smack in the middle of winter, I could have been fooled into thinking that spring had arrived. The past few days have been nothing but blue blue skies made perfect by the glow of the sun warming the air and everything around us to perfection.

This sort of weather inspires outdoor activities. So to the outdoors we went :) After church on Sunday we decided to have an impromptu BBQ. Aussie style. Unlike Malaysia where a BBQ involves the use of charcoal and assembling a barbeque pit, an Aussie BBQ means bringing food to one of the outdoor BBQ spots provided for by the goverment in public parks where all the food is cooked on a metal hot plate run by gas. Its so very convenient and no bookings are necessary! Of course the use of such places requires much civic conciousness (cleaning after yourself and maintaining the usability of the place for others) to which I must say is one of the best qualities of the Western culture.

We bought our supplies from the shops and only needed a quick run back home to pick up some extra items to aid with the preparation process. We then headed to Canberra-Nara Park aka Lennox Park located right by Lake Burley Griffin just around the corner from the Embassy row.

Perfect blue skies - See the water spout in the picture? Thats Captain Cook's Memorial Jet.

Oh the lovely sun on my face.....

Gleefully chopping up zucchini. A little dressed up for a BBQ I must say. We did come straight from church!


Typical that the men watch while the women are hard at work

The wonderful smells attracted the fowl.

Brie n cracker - Sorry sun was too bright. I could not see the image on the camera so the shot is blurry.

Our yummy fry up - Zucchinis, Mushrooms, Onions, Haloumi and Beef Rissoles

Apart from the fry up, we had a Greek Salad, Caesar Salad, multigrain buns, bread, french onion spread, Doritos and iced coffee for our meal. Sounds like a lot doesn't it? Funny how when people shop or prepare for a barbeque, nothing seems to be enough. Yet when all is cooked and ready, there are always leftovers. Have you ever had a barbeque with NO leftovers? My point exactly....

We took a nice stroll around the lake after the meal.

Alex and I

The back entrance to Canberra-Nara Park. It is Japanese inspired because Nara in the name stands for Nara, Japan - Canberra's sister city.

I also learnt something new on Sunday. When in Australia and walking in parks such as the one we were at, you got to watch out for 'Itchy Bombs'. They are these interesting looking spiky balls hanging on trees (which are obviously seed pods) and if placed in contact with skin will cause a fiery red outbreak accompanied by a stinging, prickly sensation topped off with a maddening itch. Not a good end to nice stroll so I took care to avoid stepping on any on the ground to avoid from bringing these home with me under my shoe.

Itchy Bomb

It was a nice way to spend a Sunday and here is hoping the weather remains this nice for the rest of the week. Nothing beats having a blue skies to chase winter blues away :)

cheryl

Malaysian Dish #3 - Deep Fried Eggplant/Aubergine/Brinjal

This is a simple and yummy recipe for fried eggplant. I made up a batch for the hubs some months ago but am only finding time to post about it now.

1 mid sized eggplant - sliced
2 eggs - beaten
Kentucky Powder

1. Coat individual slices of the eggplant with beaten egg.
2. Then coat the eggplant with Kentucky Powder.
3. Toss into hot oil and fry till golden on both sides.
4. Serve hot with chilli sauce, cold dips or on its own.

You may choose to use only the yolk of the egg for the coating but I use both the white and yolk to avoid wastage. Also if you would like the coating on the eggplant to be extra crispy, repeat the yolk and powder steps before frying the eggplant.

Oh and in case you don't know what Kentucky powder is, here is a picture of it below. If you have kids, just fry chicken with this powder and I can tell you they will love it. Tastes finger licking good :)

The Kentucky Powder is really yummy and good with fried chicken as well, as depicted on the box of the Kentucky powder. I got my box from an Asian grocery store. I remember my mom using this powder when I was younger so when I saw it at the store, I jumped at the opportunity of having this in my pantry.

I'm happy with my cooking skills... :)

cheryl

Adelaide - Part 2

Adelaide Zoo - Buffet dinner - North Terrace Walk

Here is the follow up post to our short weekend trip to Adelaide. Adelaide is a small city in comparison to Sydney and Melbourne. Not half as noisy and maybe just slightly louder than Canberra. If you are in the city, the best way to travel around is by bus or tram. There is a free city circle bus and a free city 'terrace to terrace' tram. Utilising both these modes of transport will basically get you anywhere in the city. Check out the Adelaide Metro webpage for details of stops. There is another free bus service which is called the Green bus line and Red bus line. We discovered these buses completedly by accident and through sheer curiosity. It was this bus that got us closest to the Adelaide Zoo.

Adelaide Tram

Since our trip was a short one, we decided to pop into the Adelaide Zoo for a quick afteroon walkaround. We didn't expect much from the zoo so the excursion turned out to be rather enjoyable. The higher the expectation the greater the let down right? :) Don't worry, I don't live my life with that principle. Only when it comes to zoos. Heh.

My one gripe about the zoo..... we had to pay AUD 1 for the zoo map after paying for AUD 22 each for our entry tickets. Why couldn't the map be complimentary?

Our AUD 1 map

What visit to the zoo is complete without pictures of the animals?

Wallaby


Giraffes

Oh and I loved the koala we saw at the zoo. From what I know about koalas, they are very sedentary animals, spending most hours asleep and choosing to move from gum tree to gum tree only when feeding. The little fella we saw at the zoo was the complete opposite, jumping from branch to branch. I was very much captivated by this furry grey creature. So cute!!

So adorable

Koala on the move

The next animal reminded me of my Girl Guide days. Back then I didn't know this song originated from Australia although the name of the bird is a dead giveaway. Obviously 1+1 didn't equal 2 to me then. Haha.

"Kookabura sits on the old gum tree.. Merry merry king of the bush is he... Laugh, kookabura laugh... Kookabura gay your life must be"

Kookabura

Macaw feeding show

At the Sumatran Tiger viewing point. The woodwork behind me is meant to be a huge 'Congkak' - a Malaysian game

The proud peacock

The grumpy white bird - I don't know the species!

Malaysian Tapir! It came from where I came from!

I love meerkats. Doesn't he look like a loyal sentry on the watch out for predators to you?

After our zoo visit we opted to take a long stroll back to our hotel versus taking the bus. On the way back we stopped by Rundle Street Mall for a light bite before our big meal later in the evening.

Rundle Street Mall

Earlier that day we noticed that the cafe at the hotel serves a scrumptious seafood buffet on Friday and Saturday nights. Without much thought, Alex and I jumped at the idea of having our dinner there that night. We made our reservations and figured that after our visit to the zoo, we would have burned off sufficient calories to warrant/justify a really big meal :)

The tempting appetizers

Pork roasts, smoked salmon, egg salad, grilled vegetables

Cold cuts, fresh chilled prawns

I didn't take pictures of the hot food nor of the desserts. I did however take pictures of the artwork hanging on the walls. Funny button inspired things.

Artwork across the restaurant

Artwork near our table

North Terrace is a long road with plenty of old buildings lining the street. Many of Adelaide's monuments line this street as well. Even Myers is located in a nice building with massive roman columns commonly seen in old buildings.

Myers

Sacrifice Statue - To remember those who fell in the First World War

In front of Sacrifice Statue

This is the statue of King Edward VII located in front of the Library of South Australia

Interesting sculpture in front of the library. I don't quite know what it's meant to resemble. It has water running down the sides hence the reflective surface

Alex attempting to draw water from the water spout.

This is the University of Adelaide. Beautiful buildings on its campus.

Scots Uniting Church building

At the time of this post, this building slips my mind. I can't remember what it is!

This is the University of South Australia. Once again fantastic buildings.

Road sign showing directions to various places on interest from North Terrace.

On our next visit to Adelaide we will most likely be hiring a car, driving down to Glenelg (where the beach and factory outlet shopping is) and also taking a nice tour of the wineries that South Australia is so well known for. This weekend though short, gave us a nice getaway that we very much enjoyed.

Alex waiting with our luggage for our shuttle to the airport

cheryl