Month: October 2018

VE Hotel and Residence, Bangsar South Food review

Running

So, a 70th birthday is a momentous occasion, to be commemorated just as a nation commemorates its birth or as an organization celebrates its founding. Still, it is much more than an occasion to receive gifts. It is a chance to remember the day, to celebrate and give thanks and to reflect upon how well we are filling our calling.

Last Sunday, my father in law, Mr Dore Rajoo turned 70 years of age, so his children planned something special for him, because we believe that is it good to be thankful for what we have in life and what we have accomplished together, as a family. A birthday is a time to celebrate birth itself, the joy of life.

We took my father in law and mum in law to VE Hotel and Residence, Bangsar South. Sometimes when eating out, simple meals with relaxed ambiance makes for the best experience. VE Hotel and Residence is a gorgeous residence hotel that has been operating for several months and is stating to light up at the ‘hype-mosphere’…..

Hmmmmmm…”whatever that tickles your fancy”

I was impressed with the menu selection. From Malaysia’s rich heritage of flavours to International delicacies….People often advice me to eat breakfast like a queen, lunch like a princess and dinner like a pauper but when it come to today’s food review at The Straits Estate at VE Hotel and Residence, it’s the best excuse to feast to my heart’s content!

Seafood Tom Yam Pasta

IMG_20181028_123739.jpgWhat impressed me was the prawns. It had the right formula. The creaminess of the broth was overwhelming for my palate (even though, we were charged extra for requesting to add extra prawns)

Mee Mamak Penang

How do we jazz up a plate of boring looking ‘mee mamak’? Presented in a large plate, and type of ingredients are what you normally find in a traditional ‘Mee Mamak Penang’…..the prawns and squids lends a splendid texture that leaves me wanting for more.

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Nothing is more welcoming that a rich and ‘healthy’ plate of oven baked Salmon with generous servings of potato wedges. This dish was super addictive.

My sister in law and I ordered the Flame Grilled Chicken Chop. The ingredients were submerged in a classic home-made mushroom sauce, generously served with fries. It gives way to the juicy layers of well-seasoned tender and fresh chicken meat…oooommmphhhh…

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Caesar Salad

Caesar Salad gets its swagger from a great Caesar dressing. Hail the Caesar Salad- whether it’s the classic with romaine lettuce and croutons  or more involved preparations with grilled chicken- Meal Salad perfection!

It was not difficult for all our attention to be arrested when this platter was served, The Fish and Chips. The skin was crispy brittle and you can hear the crackling sound when you bite the skin. The first bite producing a noisy crunch from the skin before it gives way to the tender fish meat under it! The kids loved this dish!

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Lamb Shank Kandar Rice

The combination of rice and Lamb Shank- These two parts served together made a sublime taste! Basmati rice is the perfect accompaniment. The most important thing is that the meat should have bones with it! Yes! It does have an effect on the taste of the meat. The warmth of the spices in this dish are counter balanced by the lemon juice and mint.

Paneer Jalfrezri

Is a spicy Indian rice, delicious and aromatic Indian rice entrée made using fragrant basmati rice, cooked with whole spices, saffron and Paneer. Paneer is one of the most celebrated ingredients in Indian Cuisine. It becomes the hero of the dish whenever its used. An amazing Paneer Jalfrezri that tastes delicious with bursting flavour of spices.

Bhindi Bhajee

Lip-smacking not-so-spicy bhindi bhajee with okra and or course with exotic Indian spices especially with a strong flavour of cinnamon. Crisp and comforting! Beautiful pieces of bhindi fried along with some basic spices and a mouth-watering addition of coconut, Bengal gram and mustard seeds together with biryani rice. Cooked to perfection.

Saag Aloo

This delicious and flavoursome Saag Aloo is a classic Indian dish that was so simple and is the perfect side dish to accompany with briyani. Seasoned with black mustard seeds, grated ginger and turmeric, this dish will have your taste buds dancing all over the place. It satisfied our cravings, yummy-li-cious eastern indulgence!

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Nasi Goreng Kampung

Sounds simple? Do not let that fool you though. If you want a kampong style fried rice that totally feels ‘home cooked’, this is it! This dish comes with pieces of chicken satay, anchovies (ikan bilis) fried eggs and fried chicken. Both cooked the similar way most of us cook them at home, just a whole lot nicer than perhaps, LOL. The chicken is fried in its simplest form, with just the right amount of salt and spice. Imagine the combination of all the things I mentioned, on a plate- it tasted delicious! I would totally order this on repeat.

VE Hotel and Residence, Bangsar South City, No.8, Jalan Kerinchi, 59200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2246 2888 or email info@vehotel.com

 

 

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Putrajaya Night Marathon Race Review

Running

You might have heard Frank Sinatra’s famous number “Singing in the rain” at some point but to some, running in the rain is where it’s at.

Last Saturday night, this was what happened at Putrajaya Night Marathon. Bad runs happen way more often than we would like for them to. It’s a frustrating part of a runner’s life. We learn to take the good with the bad. While we row to move onward and upward every time we have a bad run, we still sometimes beat ourselves up over it.

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Last Saturday, I was primed to have the most awesomest run ever.

As runners, we take pride in the fact that we complete regardless of the weather. Rain or shine or anything else that Mother Nature throws our way. However, racing in cold and rainy conditions can be debilitating and dangerous. Taking some precautions can mean the difference between a fast time and a detour to the medical tent.

Running in the rain involves your senses more. This, some feel, gives you an edge in focus and concentration. To me, when you are running through or around puddles or uneven paths, it makes you more conscious. It becomes a different kind of workout and get to recap the benefits of that.

It was a pretty crazy scene at the starting line for the 21km half marathon. Athletes fitted bandanas ponchos and trash bags, and it got worst after that, watch your steps, runners!

Runners for the Putrajaya Night Marathon battled freezing downpour, lightning and thunder and fierce headwinds last Saturday, about 11,500 runners on the streets in bone-chilling conditions.

Severe storms hit Putrajaya the moment the 21km half marathon was flagged off. Rain lashing down on our faces and bodies. At the 2km marker, runners faced hazards ranging from water cascading down the running routes, thunder, lightning and rain.

As the storm gathered it’s fury after the flagged off, downed frees, inundated roads and strong winds caused runners to battled on even though, we were looking for shelter and a safe place to huddled but we could not find any….None….

It wasn’t long before my brains told me to just quit. It became clear to me, that this situation is just to dangerous and extremely to risky to proceed. While I was having this serious thoughts and conversations between me, myself and I, I reached the second water station ,which I almost crashed into due to the arrangements by the organiser by putting tables filled with water and 100plus opposite sides, somehow the 100plus was tasteless due to the heavy rain. At that point of time , I was ready to called it-Quit!

Somehow, there were no signs of the event being cancelled. Runners were still battling in the rain, lightning and thunder and moving forward. I too kept running, not sure running to finish the race or running for my life. I was desperate and worried, knowing that my ‘sole’ mate-hubby, a fast runner who was also somewhere out there. All I could do was pray and have faith. Then I saw the light … ‘a torch light’ flashing, by one of the marshals, many runners stopped @ the 7.5km,so I too, being Ms KPC a.k.a. ‘Kay-Poh-Chi’, wanted to know what was the commotion about, only to finally been told that the race was officially cancelled (FYI-my Garmin showed 1 hour after flagged off time)

Many runners didn’t know the race was cancelled until the very end. It was raining pretty intense. Conditions worsened. Most of the course was covered with water and runners feet were at all time in the water.

I was a little confused, I took the turning and followed the marshal’s instructions, however, there were hundreds more runners just kept running into the other direction- the other way.

What perhaps wasn’t so positive (but ultimately maybe is in the hands of the organisers) a contingency plan:- to inform the 11,500 runners about the cancellation of the event/run A.S.A.P because, time is the essence – how to convey the message promptly and A.S.A.P!

Runners who were still on the course were told by the officials that the race was called off and to take shelter. Heavy lightning was moving in and skies were opening up. Officials closed the course and diverted and re-routed runners to the end.

Although race was called off but there were still marshals directing us to the right direction in the heavy rain. Thumbs up to all the volunteers!

The organisers should understand the anguish and huge disappointment that this has created, runners truly understand that safety comes first and we accepted that the race was called off, however, prompt information and quick action and response should have been taken immediately to convey the information to all the runners that the event was cancelled.

No matter where you live in the country, rain can happen on race day. Well, we have races that are called ‘Rain Run Half Marathon’ for a reason. Racing in the rain is not ideal, but it certainly is reality!

We learn something from every run we take on and usually that lesson is the importance of perseverance-and other times, we learn about letting go and trying again.

Running a marathon or half marathon in the rain isn’t an exciting thought, what worst, the event being cancelled. However, you can’t change the weather, so best strategy is to be prepared. Expect the unexpected!

Zumba Sisterhood written by Joanne Wong

Running

Every once in a while, you have that extra special something that you look forward to in life. Hard days don’t matter. You forget about all the petty stuff around you and just charge on counting the days till your happy moment comes.

It was exactly like that for me when I first found out that Loretta Bates was going to be in Abu Dhabi. As a young Zumba Crew back in 2015, I followed her pages on Instagram and Facebook to learn choreographies and read her inspiring messages every day. I could not believe she would be coming here.

As the days came closer, I was wondering if I would get a chance to attend her masterclass event and wanted to know how to get tickets. I told Nada it’s my dream and I would give anything to go and to my biggest surprise, Nada made my day, no not just day … she made my year….. When she handed me the ticket and said – “Yallah Jo, you’re coming with me!” I was overjoyed. This is real. I am going!

At class that evening, with the ticket in my purse, my moves were sexier, my jumps were higher, and my screams were louder, still in disbelief as started my count down. Nothing was going to keep away from Loretta’s Masterclass.

I followed Loretta closely on social media as she made her way to the Middle East, Lebanon, and Turkey and … here she comes, Abu Dhabi.

Going nuts that the weekend was so close and I had nothing to wear. Fretting and panicking. Yeah, nothing to wear at all. Although I have 2 large basket full of Zumba wear, I had nothing to wear. I was careful, looked after my health and made sure that nothing would go wrong on that the beautiful Saturday. Woke up early that day, had an amazing breakfast, stayed home, didn’t accept any lunch dates with anyone and kept watching the clock. I got ready as early as I could and waited for the perfect time to leave the apartment. Yes, that being said about having nothing to wear, I finally found something to wear. An old Hip Hop Honey Pink top and a black Zumba legging. Nothing to shout about, pretty simple but comfortable. Hoping it was enough.

Arriving at the Westin Spa and Resort in my old Zumba wear, feeling like most beautiful woman on earth, to be greeted with racks and racks of new Zumba wear, made me cringe. I looked for my purse and I was in Zumba heaven. I picked out a few tops and went over every single item on display. To be honest, I wanted to get one of each on the display but had to remind myself that there were other commitments for the month and practiced deep breathing as I took only one piece to buy as a keepsake for the event. In my excitement, I forgot to inform Nada that I have arrived. Nada caught me in action and we greeted each other the usual way we do every time we see each other, not caring who is watching us, we kiss, we scream, we shout and jump for happiness, it makes sense to us as we have that z- connection although you make think it’s absurd if you knew we were together the day before, it just made sense to hug every time we met. This ladies, is what I call the amazing sisterhood in Zumba. You don’t have to be of the same ethnicity, same nationality or age, but you just connect through Zumba.

Time just froze for me that evening and as we waited for the masterclass to start, heart racing – palms sweaty, we took photos and took in as much as we could of our surroundings. My first masterclass with a Zumba Public Figure, no idea what to expect. Could I follow her dance steps, will I be able to see her? Will she see me? What if I can’t find a spot to dance?

Sharp 5, Loretta appears on stage, glowing and as beautiful as ever. The energy in the crowd – was a hundred Zumba classes put together!!

She made it a point to remind everyone in the room to not judge each other and have fun. I was feeling on top of the world when her playlist started and was in awe that her steps were so easy to follow. She is real, down to earth and full of energy. The crowd went wild with moves and we had so much fun. Imagine sweating just as I would at a normal Zumba session and here we were more than 300 people dancing and I am able to break such a sweat. Amazing. We danced for an hour and half and she ended the class with an apt song “This is me”. A song with a powerful message. Loretta is an inspiration and I will always remember what she said and the message will stay with me forever.

Thank you Nada for this amazing experience. One word – awesome. Time just went by with each song and the ZINs made the event even more fun when they joined Loretta on the stage. Zumba is all about fun. Loretta was right, no one is better than the other. We are all different and we all have our own talents and that makes us unique.

I remembered the day I fell in love with Zumba. My first attempt was frightening, I was not able to coordinate my hands and feet and could not tell the difference between right and left. The experts were giving me the looks … I bumped into the ladies and may have annoyed one or two of the gym members. I was ashamed but kept at it, from the back of the class I have I worked my way to the stage, who would believe that!

One day a few weeks later, I decided that I would laugh at myself when this happened. Although no one was laughing at me, I laughed when I went to wrong way or bumped into someone. Soon I had people laughing with me. I started to make friends. I started to request for songs that I loved. Zumba is about smiles, it’s about fun. Zumba does not judge. It was not so bad and before time, my body started to remember the moves and coordination happened!

I watched YouTube videos, danced in the shower (don’t judge) and anywhere I could to practise and soon there I was with Nada on the stage. I was also doing Zumba in my head all day (now you know why I have been smiling without a reason in my office). Only those who Zumba will know what I mean.

I started remembering the song titles and worked hard to remember the choreography. If you asked me what my talent is, I’d say screaming and shouting and adding to noise in the class. I love motivating the ladies to keep on moving until the song ends.

I made good friends at class and shared many happy moments and smiles with these ladies. We became Zumba sisters, no one was better than the other. We are all special in our own way. This is for you Moon, Rouba, Maisoon, Maysoon, Mona, Sara, Noor, Marwa, Tahrah, Nass, Ghanya … ❤ just naming a few as my list can on for pages! Christine Wong – my one and only sister who shares my love for Zumba, it is a joy to share this passion with you ❤

As women in the world today, there are days when you just want to stay in your pajamas and not do anything or just get lost and go away for 3 months or more falling off the face of the earth. Just to get away from the drama that keeps hitting you from all corners of the world. Drama that sometimes you have no idea why it came your way. You pick up mess and try to sort it out. You get ignored by family members for no reason, you get people keeping away from you for no reason and you wonder why? You feel alone and you cannot understand the people around you.

Well, just so you know, it’s not you, it is them. Don’t get disheartened. My suggestion is, we find our happy place, be it McDonald’s or the gym and we let ourselves get lost there, we let the world take care of itself.

For me to get away from it all, is that one special hour every other day at the gym dancing my stress away with my sisters. Life always seems better after Zumba. Sadness goes away and we are stronger and we are able to pick ourselves up to face another day. We are no different from each other when it comes to experiencing life, we fall, we get up, we laugh and we cry, that’s just being human. But how we treat each other makes a difference, don’t give grief to one another, be there for each other, always remember, you may think you don’t matter to anyone but out there in the world– you always matter to someone.  Much Love! Joanne Wong

Cancer Awareness Run 5KM 2018 – Race Review

Running

If you are looking for a run with a positive message and you like to run for a cause, then this is the run for you! The Cancer Awareness run 5km which was held on the 27 October at Mydin Mall organised by the Surgical Department, Hospital Tuanku Jaafar Seremban.

It was a truly an event for the whole family. We had mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, you name it! With times ranging from under 30 minutes to over one hour. No matter how fast we all ran, we all ran together to celebrate the women in our lives and to raise awareness and to honour patients and survivors of cancer as well as the memory of those who died from the disease. Cancer impacts so many lives, and it’s amazing to see so many people come together to show their support!

On race day, ohhhh…..my hometown run. What a treat! But my mum and I still woke up ridiculously early to start fuelling and stretching, but without travel and parking to worry about. My mum, 70 years old and a breast cancer survivor too, was so excited that she was looking forward for this day to come. We couldn’t have asked for better weather conditions for the run. It was incredibly a gorgeous day!

The event started off with a short briefing about Cancer. It was truly a memorable moment for us being there, I am truly blessed to have my mum and daughter, Anjali to share this run and this fight with the rest of the cancer warriors out there! To Jen, Annalee, Dina, Aunty Doris, Nara and all the other warriors out there! Together we can beat it!

Then at 7.00 am , there was a warm up Zumba session by Celebrity Fitness. It was a fun filled Zumba dance routine which I always look forward to before any fun runs. Then at sharp 7.20am, we were flagged off. I did not leave my mum alone, we walked, we ran, we jumped, we skipped, we danced but we never stopped. I was truly amazed and proud of my mum, she did not hesitate neither did she nagged nor grumbled. She battled her 5KM journey with courage and strength! She is truly an amazing woman, wife, mum and what more can I say…… I am truly honoured and blessed to have her in my life and this run will forever be special and will forever remain in my heart until eternity. I am glad that I had the chance to run with Anjali and my mummy! Joanne, my sister, of course we did not forget you. Along the way, we were also busy ‘makcik bawang’ about you…and of course, I was your wake up call again this morning…..(buzzed you at 6am Abu Dhabi time….) Sorry but I Love you sis!

To me, life is not meant to be lived- it’s meant to be experienced!

And all who participated, whether it was by running, walking, volunteering, cheering, fundraising, made the event a success and a ton of fun. It was so nice to care more about our quality time, mother-daughter bonding time instead of keeping the pace throughout the race. We made so many awesome memories, laughed until our sides ached and got some really great pictures.

A great race doesn’t come from a PR or a new attained distance, but more from the memories and lesson you take away from them. As always, I was reminded of how much I love this sport and how special it is to share it with my mum and daughter!

It was a fun and well organised event, too bad that more people didn’t show up but I am hoping that next year, the word will get out! The route was nice, even though the roads were not fully closed but the organisers ensured all safety measures for the participants, there were lots of marshals and traffic police on duty all along the route, water station was well organised. Great little course, fun volunteers, a special thank you to Dr Sathias, for her patience and have been corresponding with me from the start of this event and a nice little running community-what more could you ask and want in a running event~

Behind each participant is a story of love, hope and courage that inspires them to support to the finish line. While reflecting on the many lessons I’ve learned on this journey, the fight against cancer, one of the most important thing is to ‘always do what you are afraid to do’, but remember, whatever you do, means so much more when you do it for someone else!

RUN OVER YOUR FEARS!

Lions Stride- Diabetes Awareness Walk 2018 & Sport Stacking Challenge at Royale Chulan Hotel Seremban

Running

Participation is everything- raise awareness and get fit!

Make your footsteps count- with each step, you inspire and make a difference in so many lives.

Walk with your heart, not with your legs…..because this walk is not about achieving a certain time or individual goal, this walk is about making a difference! How? Doing charity and having good family and friends to share the memories with…….

A press conference was held on the 23 October 2018 at the Royale Chulan Hotel Seremban to launch the ‘Lions Strides Diabetes Awareness Walk and Sport Stacking Challenge’ in conjunction of the Diabetes Awareness month, which will be held on the 4th November, Sunday at 7.00 a.m, starting point and ending point will be at the Royale Chulan Hotel Seremban with the fee of only RM10.00 and a distance of 2.1 KM.

Credit photography: Royale Chulan Hotel Seremban

Mr Leo Kuscher, the General Manager, Royale Chulan Hotel Seremban, in his speech, said that his philosophy in life is simple, ‘health is wealth’! Therefore, aside from a set of freebies, T-shirt and goodie bags, a participant normally collects, Mr Leo Kuscher added, another wonderful and positive aspect of this walk organised by the Lions Club of Seremban Central is that it’s organised for a certain cause, in particular to create awareness and unite the public to show their support in living a healthy lifestyle! So sign up now at www.facebook.com/lionsclubofserembancentral or manual registrations can be done at CF Interior HomeDesign, No. 302, Ground floor, Jalan Haruan 5/7, Pusat Komersial Oakland 2, 70300 Seremban before the closing date 31st October 2018.

Ms Elynn Chua and Mr Jackie Goh also highlighted that during the event day, which will be held on the 4th November 2018, Columbia Hospital Seremban will also be collaborating in this event, they will provide health services such as free glucose test, blood test, medical consultation and many more activities at the concourse area of Royale Chulan Hotel Seremban. There will also be a Diabetes Awareness Talk during the event day. It is going to be a blast! A fun game sport stacking counter will also be provided for the public. In case, for those who are wondering what is sport stacking, allow me to enlighten you, it is also known as cup stacking or speed stacking, is an individual and team sport that involves stacking 9 or 12 specially designed cups in pre-determined sequences as fast as you can. Sport stacking is a fitness based sport that kids from all backgrounds and abilities can do. For the athlete and non-athlete alike! The sport stacking challenge will be held for the very first time in Negeri Sembilan!

So, hurry! What are you waiting for? Sign up now and be part of this event for hope, inspiration and motivation!

Let’s share this fight together!

Sidang Media Pelancaran ‘Lions Strides Diabetes Awareness Walk dan ‘Sport Stacking Challenge 2018 ’

Running

Seremban, 23 Oktober- Pelancaran ‘Lions Strides Diabetes Walk dan ‘Sport Stacking Challenge’ telah diadakan di Hotel Royale Chulan Seremban. Dalam sidang media pelancaran itu, General Manager, Hotel Royale Chulan Seremban, Encik Leo Kuscher telah menyampaikan ucapan perasmiannya. Dalam majlis itu, media, peserta-peserta dari Sport Stacking serta ahli-ahli Kelab Lions of Seremban Central dan jemputan khas telah hadir.

Dalam ucapan itu, beliau mengucapkan berbanyak-banyak terima kasih kepada semua yang hadir. Beliau melihat bahawa kehadiran itu menunjukkan keprihatinan masyarakat tentang penyakit ‘Diabetes’ yang menjadi buah mulut dalam kalangan masyarakat kita hari ini.

Credit photography: Royale Chulan Hotel Seremban

Tujuan ‘Lions Strides Diabetes Awareness Walk’ dianjurkan bersempena Bulan Diabetes iaitu pada bulan November. Pesan orang tua-tua, mencegah lebih baik daripada mengubati. Yuran penyertaan hanya RM10.00 berserta ‘T-Shirt’ dan ‘Goodie’ beg. Pengubahan gaya hidup merupakan faktor utama dalam mencegah penyakit Diabetes malah program ini juga dapat mengeratkan hubungan silaturahim. Program ini akan berlangsung pada 4 November 2018. Taman Tasik Seremban dipilih sebagai lokasi dan jaraknya hanya 2.1KM. Tarikh tutup penyertaan pada 31 Oktober 2018. Orang ramai yang berminat menyertai program ini atau ingin mendapatkan maklumat yang lebih lanjut  boleh layari Facebook at FB/lionsclubofserembancentral

Sejurus selepas ucapan daripada Puan Elynn Chua dan juga penganjur Encik Jackie Goh, Atur cara yang kedua ialah ucapan alu-aluan daripada pihak WSSA- World Sport Stacking Association Negeri Sembilan iaitu Cik Lilian Goh, President, Persatuan Sukan Stacking Negeri Sembilan. Dalam ucapan itu, beliau menyatakan bahawa ‘Sports Stacking Challenge’  akan dianjurkan buat julung-julung kalinya di Negeri Sembilan. Seterusnya, beliau menyentuh tentang kepentingan mengamalkan gaya hidup sihat. Sports Stacking ini dapat mengisi masa lapang secara berfaedah, mengeratkan hubungan silaturahim bersama keluarga dan masyarakat dan juga dapat memupuk semangat bekerjasama dan persefahaman.

Sebagai intihannya, Sports Stacking ini perlu diuar-uarkan kepada masyarakat agar permainan ini tetap terlestari sampai bila-bila terutamanya dalam kalangan remaja bak kata pepatah ‘tak kenal maka tak cinta.’

 

Dim Sum @ Han Pi Yuen Royale Chulan Seremban

Running

Brings people and taste together. Dim sum means “touch the heart.” Small, shareable offerings change from one service to the next.

When it comes to a delicious Chinese cuisine, it is impossible not to talk about the beauty that is dim sum. Originally from Guangzhou, China, this style of communal eating has made its name in many different parts of the world, often revitalising the traditional technique with a twist unique to each country. Originally, they were finger foods of sort, that accompanied tea-drinking, but has grown to become an incredibly popular style of eating. Gathered around a table with a spread of delicious, bite-sized goodies, there really is no better way to spend time with family and friends on a weekend.

Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to have Dim Sum with my hubby, mum and dad. We headed to the Han Pi Yuen Restaurant just the right timing for ‘brunch’ time and the restaurant looked lovely especially the ambiance which was so inviting. Han Pi Yuen Chinese restaurant is located at Royale Chulan, Seremban! The restaurant spots a contemporary and oriental interior, with nice natural light in the day and view of the city.

First are the familiar buns and dumplings: light and delicately wrapped har graw, steam shrimp dumpling, packed with delicate pink shrimp. Deep-fried dumplings come with various fillings:  Each arrives at the table in different shapes with a rapid-fire description in Chinese.

There are more adventurous offerings. Char Kuey covered with rice paste is intermittently crunchy, pasty and starchy. These textures initially seem off-putting but then become addicting.

Shrimp stuffed tofu is unbelievably airy. The crunchy affair with the fried banana fritters, which gave a sweet taste, steamed prawn dumpling with fresh beetroot, steamed prawn dumpling with charcoal, steamed Siew Mai with mini abalone and the table is suddenly overcome with plates and steam vessels.

Service is just as quick. You won’t notice your Chinese tea being filled or the mysterious arrival of extra napkins. Anticipation of the bowls takes over and these service standards happen machinelike without any noticeable interruption.

The prawn toast was delish and you could taste the freshness of the prawns. All the items were hot and the skin still crispy.

I have to say that I am quite impressed with the quality of these dim sum. Each individual dish surprised me with awe by the textures and flavours. The management , staff and chefs have worked really hard in finding the best substitutes without compromising the taste and authenticity of traditional Chinese dim sum. My favourite was the really juicy and flavourful siew mai, soft pillowy custard bun with oozing sweet and savory lava, super springy and bouncy otak-otak and smooth, velvety congee, longan and many more……

Pricing is on a higher side (compared to your neighbourhood dim sum joints), but then again having good quality, dim sum is never a cheap affair.

Thank you to the team at Mr Leo Kuscher, The General Manager, Mr Edward and team for inviting us over and making sure we enjoyed ourselves. We had such a fabulous experience and we would gladly head to the restaurant again any day for its amazing array of dim sum which are all freshly prepared every weekend.

For reservations, Please call Han Pi Yuen Restaurant at 06-766 6666 extension 6229/6120 or 6103.

 

Halloween Fitness Dance Party @ Radical Fitness Studio

Running

It’s fun! It’s Fitness! It’s Zumba!

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Get out those cat ears and sassy tails and come shake them to a variety of international music.  Bring on the sweat!  It’s gonna be an exciting night Halloween party!  Shakira’s Shewolf, Thriller, Vampire samba music, Cumbia de los Monsters, She’s the Devil disco music, swing to the Purple People eater and more!  No experience needed!

Everyone can participate, all Fitness Levels are welcome, NO Dance Experience is required!

You don’t have to wear a costume if you don’t celebrate Halloween.  But if you do, show your Halloween Spirit and be creative! Don’t need to spend much money to make it fun!

Move and dance to an all-Halloween-inspired playlist. (be prepared to dance and sweat)!

Join the party… if you dare!

Dance to great Latin and world music with great people, and burn a ton of calories without even realizing it! Zumba and jazzercise classes take the “work” out of workout, by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style dance party. Benefits include a total workout, combining all elements of fitness – cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility, boosted energy and a serious dose of awesome by the time you leave this party!

Credit Photo: Radical Fitness Studio
Credit Photo: Radical Fitness Studio

Bring along the kids for FREE (below 12 years old) and have some great family fun at our Zumba Halloween Party only at Radical Fitness Studio @ Plazo, Lot 76, Jalan Komersial Saujana 3, S2 Heights!

 

 

HSN21KM 2018 Race Review

Running

The Terrible, the horrible, no good run

To say I was waiting for this day all year-long is an understatement. You’ve put in hundred of miles and looked forward to this day, expecting to be celebrating, but end up feeling bitter and let down. It’s not fun, but it’s part of racing. Well, this definitely wasn’t the race I was hoping for and not the recap I really wanted to write but sometimes races don’t go the way we’d hope.

On Saturday, I was primed to have The Most Awesomest Run Ever.

I’m a competitive person – put me in a dodge ball court and it’ll get ugly – but for me, running isn’t a sport. It’s a sanctuary – a sweaty, beautiful hour of my life that is just about my feet and the ground.

You can do everything right, and you’ll still have runs that go poorly. For every few runs that make me feel like I’m on the top of the world, another one will come around that tests my resolve and shatters my confidence. And sometimes, on the surface, it doesn’t make much sense. But as I get more mature in both my real life and my running, I realize more and more how many aspects there are to running. It may be a physical act, but it requires a degree of mental and emotional strength – many would argue that these are even more important than the ability to put one leg in front of the other. Bad runs happen to all of us – and as they pop up, I am trying to use the opportunity to reflect on potential causes. Is there is something going on in my life that is affecting how I feel today?

And fine maybe I’m taking my word of the year a little too far to say I LOVE bad runs, but really they don’t bum me out the way they used to when I first started running. Now I kind of embrace them because I’ve learned that a bad run is a great teacher.

At 7.45pm, the 21KM runners were asked to gather at the starting line- we were briefed by the emcee (however, announcements were not clear, due to the echo- it was difficult to hear/understand) To what I observed, this race had many elite runners as well as first timers and beginners. Let me also give you a picture of the course…..downhills…….downhills……..wind at your back…..darkness….rain……..slight up hills……turn around…….u-turn…..and run back up these damn hills!

The atmosphere:

This was one of the best part of this run- best feeling ever, standing at the start line in the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil. You could just feel the energy pulse through the crowd. It’s positive. It’s up beat! It’s anxious and it’s simply awesome!

The flag off however was delayed because the organisers had to wait for the green light from the police before they could proceed , they needed time to clear and close the roads before the could start the race. Then, we sang the ‘Negaraku’. After 15 minutes later, the elite runners were flagged off, followed by the runners five minutes afterwards.

The music was pumping, the energy was high, and we literally danced to the beat as we approached the Start Line. As people made it closer and closer to the start, the race commentator shouted “You are a hero”; “You are amazing”; and “This is your race, go for it”.And on that note, we were off!

Along the way, there were many hydration stations, however, to my disappointment, it was badly manned. I had to skipped three hydration stations to avoid being pushed and shoved. The paper cups were just stacked up and was empty, runners had to wait for the volunteers to pour into the cups. Eventually, paper cups ended up flying everywhere.

I’m not being dramatic, when I say this, but at the Selangor Turf Club, I was so impressed by those running around ( and past) me. It was drizzling, dark muddy and pot holes everywhere, I even got hit by a stroller (Gang Runners’ Stroller) Oucchhhh……but even though it was evidence we were all struggling , everyone pushed on! It was like a scene of a herd of cows and goats being ushered into the ‘kandang’. Eventually, runners had to walk along this route to avoid from being injured. While walking through this route, I observed that a few runners were injured though, some fell into the ‘longkang’, sprained their ankles due to have fallen into the pot holes, I even saw a runner collapsed by the side, awaiting for medics to arrive. ( hope and pray that he is alright). At this point of time, the medics and ambulance were working non-stop on their tippy toes….

Credit photo: Izwan
Credit Photo: Izwan

What perhaps wasn’t so positive (but ultimately maybe is in the hands of the organisers- the lack of marshals and the number one priority- Runner’s safety!) Now, it’s not like I was the only runner out there suffering. Everyone I passed or passed me was working incredibly hard. It was like a trail run! There were no smiles, laughter or jokes. It was all hard work!

After the 10KM marker, I just wanted to give up! I shed a few tears…..it was a terrible feeling. I have trained so hard, I wanted to do my PB. I was hoping for a better time tonight. (Sorry, coach Adli) We are runners and we expect more of ourselves after all that is why we do it and that is what fuels the fire to keep training……but I ‘hit the wall’.

However, on a more positive note, I was touched by all the cheers from passing runners, it made me feel positive even though I was struggling! I appreciate each and everyone of them and I am sorry I did not cheer back, I did in spirit, as always, though…..! Somehow, I was just focused on keeping one foot in front of the other, so that I won’t fall into any ‘longkangs’ or pot holes. I hope you enjoyed my stressed out pain face…lol…

The route just got tougher in the second half of the race that headed into the Technology Park Malaysia (MIMOS), I know that Halloween is coming soon, but do we really need to practice running in darkness for the occasion? This section was hilly, dark and it was drizzling too. It was like in a movie scene “Hantu Kak Limah” where the three main characters were running in the ‘kampung’ (village), running ‘lintang-pukang’ (run for your life!) because ‘Hantu Kak Limah’ (Kak Limah’s ghost/spirit) was chasing them. Indeed, the runners made it a point to stick together in groups in this particular section. A creepy, spooky feeling crept inside of me and it sent chills to my spine….eeeeeekkk…

Then at one point, we were led and were running on a pretty busy highway-Sg Besi highway. Even though, it was a short distance about 500meters but somehow I felt that the runners’ safety were put on high risk. There were cones and barricades to separate the traffic and runners, but somehow I felt ‘malang tidak berbau’ (That’s why it’s called an accident) Thank God there were no unwanted incidents reported.

Anyhow, the route was altered slightly after that. The hills are alive……The hills, how do I put this, stairway to hell! I could actually feel runners around me going, “ohhhhhh Noooooooooo!” as we climbed out, but we soldiered on. After winding around through parts of Bukit Jalil, traffic was in a stand still. At the junction of Calvary Church, there were lots of unhappy road users that were stuck for hours! Lots of the drivers were honking. Runners were terrified at this intersection. Then, I suddenly felt something shift in my body…If you’ve ever heard a runner talk about ‘hitting the wall’ or ‘bonking’, it was what exactly happened for the second time! My body just quit on me. Then, I’d switched gears in my brain…it’s now mental and endurance! I got this! I am not going to quit! Not now! Almost there…..I can! I will!

Credit photo: Izwan

The first hill was easy and the first long incline was rough but I made it through it. Many runners passed me and I passed a few as well. We came to the turn around point which I had never run before and it was rolling HILLS! I ran up and over the first two sets and finally saw the turn around point and said (while pointing with my finger) “WE have to run all the way there?” I plowed through the next hill with strong legs and felt pretty good but wasn’t quite ready to push it. Then came the longest, flattest straight stretch of road that one could run on – a causeway/bridge with a long hill at the end. The straight stretch killed me and the hill was easy – go figure! Yeah right!

20KM went by in a bit of painful blur. I was just focused on keeping my legs moving. Then I saw, the magical creature……My unicorn…..ehhhhh, I meant the magical number 500 meters to go…. That moment…pure joy and happiness……but wait, a u-turn! OMG! It ain’t over, till it’s over….runners had to make a u-turn to get into the stadium and to the finishing line..

Credit photo: Izwan

And there it was…….The National Stadium, Bukit Jalil. I did! I made it! I finished it! I was ecstatic! Tears of joy flowed through my cheeks! The most rewarding moment for me throughout this 21 KM Half Marathon was being able to run to the finishing line, inside the National Stadium. I felt relief while I lined up gratefully without any injuries (Thank you, God) and accepted my much deserved 21KM Half Marathon medal, picked my finisher Tee and went off in search for my ‘sole-mate’-aka hubby. We didn’t hang around long. Took off our shoes and walked barefooted to our car. With that said, good job to each and everyone of you for actually being out there running, walking , crawling and even pushing the strollers. YOU DID AWESOME!

The biggest thing I took away from this race was how wonderful the running community is. From the strangers we talked to during the race; the volunteers passing out water, cheering & encouraging us; the organizers; the singers on the course; to every single person who worked the expo and the event–they each played a role in my race. My friends who cheered me on during the race and my friends & family, especially my mum, who stayed until 1am to wait for my wassap message, saying that I have finished the race and that we were on our way home and my sis who was tracking me during the race were amazing. Thank you…. The sign posting for getting to the event was good, parking was plentiful and the signage for the actual race was decent as well with markers pretty much every 3km.

Be realistic! Was it really such a bad race? You are racing no one but yourself, so this time ‘yourself’ lost, next time ‘your other self’ may win……..see what I mean? Take the good runs with the bad, remember the highs and don’t dwell on the lows! Now excuse me while I go and do the happy pappy dance of joy!

Zumba @ Radical Fitness Studio

Running
Credit Photo: Radical Fitness Studio
Credit Photo: Radical Fitness Studio

If you’ve ever watched a Zumba Class, you’ve probably noticed its uncanny resemblance to the dance floor of a popular club on a Saturday night. Instead of the grunts you’d hear at your typical cross fit or indoor ‘Hits’ training, a Zumba class boasts catchy dance music, clapping hands and even the occasional “woo!” or gasp of excitement from an enthusiastic participant. That’s what it’s all about……..

So, what do you do, the last day of your daughter’s PT3 examinations?

A “brain break”…I took her with me to Radical Fitness Studio for a Zumba session. Pretty much the most awesome workout ever. Danced to great music, with great people and burned a ton of calories without even realizing it.

Credit Photo: Radical Fitness Studio
Credit Photo: Radical Fitness Studio
Credit Photo: Radical Fitness Studio

Zumba is definitely fun and it is also a serious workout. Picture me at the end of my 1st class with my sister, Joanne in Abu Dhabi with my face roaring red and hair literally dripping wet not to mention my brain fried from the sheer concentration of trying to follow the steps! Despite this unattractive beginning, once I started with Zumba I honestly haven’t look back.

We had so much fun, Eza and Novia our dance instructors combined fun choreographies with an impressively wide repertoire of tracks. My daughter, Anjali had no problems picking up the routines and could do so at her own pace. The level was just right: interesting and high enough energy to get a good workout without leaving beginners behind.

So how did I stick with it so far? For a start, it gets easier and more and more fun- you’ll be surprised how quickly you get used to the steps and how your fitness improves.

Secondly, Radical Fitness Studio is conveniently close to my home at times that flow easily with my daily life.

Thirdly, the instructors and coaches are certified, well trained and experienced.

Finally, it’s great value for money and buying the flexible no expiry class cards (They offer walk-in rates, too!) helps me stay committed as well as saving money.

Credit Photo: Radical Fitness Studio

What are you waiting for?

Put on your dancing shoes and come join me at Radical Fitness Studio.