The Road is Never Long Between Friends

Dear Diary,

From an email that I received...

Always try to help a friend in need
Believe in yourself
Be brave...but it's okay to be afraid sometimes
Study hard
Give lots of kisses
Laugh often
Don't be overly concerned with your weight, it's just a number
Always try to see the glass half full
Meet new people, even if they look different to you
Remain calm, even when it seems hopeless
Take lots of naps
Be weird whenever you have the chance
Love your friends, no matter who they are
Don't waste food
RELAX
Take an occasional risk
Try to have a little fun each day...it's important
Work together as a team
Share a joke with friends
Fall in love with someone...and say "I LOVE YOU" often
Express yourself creatively
Be conscious of your appearance
Always be up for surprises
Love someone with all of your heart
Share with friends
Watch your step
It will get better
There is always someone who loves you more than you know
Exercise to keep fit
Live up to your name
Seize the Moment
Hold on to good friends;
they are few and far between
Indulge in the things you truly love
Cherish every weekend
At the end of the day...PRAY
...and close your eyes
And smile at least once a day!

Sri Hainan Kopitiam, Shah Alam, July 2011

Dear Diary,

We revisit Sri Hainan for lunch on one of July weekends. Yes, again! We simply love the foods there. This time I tried something new something that I never ordered before.

Kueyteow Cantonese

Steamed Bread

Iced Lemon Tea & Teh Si

The kueyteow is not disappointing, cooked to near perfection. Cukup rasa semua! The delicious steamed bread is best eaten while still warm. Teh Si is less sweet than the usual milked tea because it uses evaporated instead of condensed milk.

Address: 2, Jalan Tengku Ampuan Zabedah G/9G, Section 9, Shah Alam, Selangor. Telephone: 03 – 5880 2886

Zookeeper

Dear Diary,

The movie that we watched using the complimentary movie passes was Zookeeper and we watched it at TGV Wangsa Walk.

Zookeeper was directed by Frank Coraci and was starred by Kevin James (as Griffin Keyes), Rosario Dawson (as Kate), Leslie Bibb (as Stephanie), etc with voices of Adam Sandler, Cher, Sylvester Stallone and Nick Nolte for the zoo animals. This comedy centers on Griffin who works as a zookeeper at Franklin Park Zoo. He is one sweet hardworking man who is very kind towards all the animals under his care. I first know Kevin James from the sitcom The King of Queen. After a terrible break up, he meets again with Stephanie, his ex-girlfriend, and determines to woo her back.

Through an incident, Griffin was gifted with a special talent of being able to communicate with animals. Since he has been nothing but kind to the animals, they do him a favor by helping him in getting his ex back and teaching him animals’ ways of courtship. This is where most of the hilarious scenes can be seen. After going through some funny “ordeal”, he successfully gets Stephanie to fall in favor with him. In the process, Griffin however changes himself to be what the girl wants him to be. In other words, he’s not true to himself.

In love, we should accept a person for what he or she is. Accept everything the good and the bad, the strengths and the flaws. Sometimes we’re too focus on what we think is good for us that we misapprehend the bigger picture and overlook the true gem that has been in front of us all along.

Birthday Surprise

Dear Diary,

I received this email from Nuffnang in conjunction with my birthday last July. What a sweet surprise!!

Hubby picked up the complimentary movie passes from Nuffnang’s office and we brought the kids to Wangsa Walk’s TGV for a movie treat. It’s always a pleasure when something’s free. Thank you TGV & Nuffnang!!!!

A Special Friend

Dear Diary,

~~ an excerpt from an email ~~

Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh
until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it.

Al Diafah, Sri Petaling, July 2011

Dear Diary,

I’ve wanted to go to Al Diafah ever since I read fantastic reviews about this restaurant in Life, Dessert and What Matters and Sweet, Sour and Juicy. However, Hubby is not really keen on Middle Eastern cuisine. After much persuasion, he finally agreed to give this restaurant a try. Well, he didn’t have much choice after forgetting about my birthday. He TOTALLY forgot about it so no wish whatsoever from him. It was one bittersweet birthday. Well wishes started pouring in as early as the night before but the one wish that matters most never materialized. I kept on waiting until midnight and sure enough I was in bad mood the whole day. Finally, I got my present the day after and he treated all of us to a birthday dinner at Al Diafah. For me, it’s not the present or dinner but the thought that counts.

Souvenir shop

Al Diafah is a Middle Eastern restaurant located in Sri Petaling. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by a friendly usherer. Al Diafah’s souvenir plus kurma shop occupy the ground floor while its restaurant is on the first floor. It also has a few other shop lots for functions purposes.

As you enter the dining area, you’ll be transported to another world. With Arabian ambiance and lots of Arabic decorations, you’ll be in for an exotic dining.

Mendy Rice with Whole Barbecue Chicken

Sauce for the rice

Hommus

Shish Tawouk

Spaghetti Tuna

Lentil Soup

Mixed Appetizer (Tahina Sauce, Hommus, Baba Ghanoush)

Al Diafah Salad

Rice Pudding

Banana, Carrot Pineapple, Orange, Arabic Tea, Al Diafah Juice

I love the hummus. Mendy rice is phenomenal. Even without any side dish or lauk, the rice already tastes scrumptious just by itself.

Address: 43 & 45, Jalan Radin Anum, Sri Petaling, 57000 KL. Telephone: (03) 9059 6237/39. Fax: (03) 9059 6241. Operation hours: 11:30am – 11:30pm, Monday – Sunday.

Rezeki

Dear Diary,

Rezeki jangan ditolak, musuh jangan dicari...
Orang memberi, kita merasa...
Alhamdulillah...

Apakah ia?

Tadaa...

Chocolate Cheese & Plain Chocolate Brownies

Desa Water Park, Kuala Lumpur, July 2011

Dear Diary,

Although I have resigned for nearly two years already, I still keep a good rapport with my ex-colleagues. We often be in contact through calls, sms-es and Facebook. Once in a while, we’ll meet to catch up on things. Last July, we arranged a mini reunion at Desa Water Park. There were 26 of us who could make it (15 adults & 11 children).

Admission fee for adults is RM20 and for children 12 years and below is RM14. Children with height below 2.5 feet get to go in for free. Operation hours are 12pm – 6pm (Monday to Friday) and 10am – 6pm (weekends, public holidays and school holidays). The park closes every Wednesday except during public and school holidays.

I’ve never been to Desa Water Park prior to this reunion. Imagine my surprise when I saw several school buses and quarter of the parking spaces were already filled up and it was only 10am. Inside, almost all good sitting spots were taken up and many people were already inside the water enjoying themselves.

The management provides many facilities for visitors’ convenience. There are a few eateries, changing rooms, restrooms, surau, sick room and lockers. A souvenir shop is also there near the entrance. As at other water parks, outside foods are not allowed.

Although there are a few water rides available, don’t expect much because there is only one really challenging water roller coaster available. The Thunderbolt, named as the longest Master Blaster in Asia, is what Desa Water Park is famous for. It’s the most thrilling there but when we were there it was only open to be ridden for half an hour. Other than the time limit, all of us had a fantastic time. The kids were dead tired by the time to go home but they loved splashing around to the max.

If you’re in Klang Valley, looking for a water park without having to burn a whole in your wallet, you can consider Desa Water Park as an alternative to other costlier water parks. Address: Desa Water Park. Taman Danau Desa, 58100 KL. Telephone: (03) 7118 8338. Fax: (03) 7118 8383. Website: www.desawaterpark.com.my

Zarra's Bag Collection

Dear Diary,

She’s only 3 years old but she already has a collection of bags. I wonder how many she’ll have when she’s in her twenties or thirties. My sweet Zarra….