Recent Work trip to the land beneath the wind

The moment Monkey landed, it was straight to the resort....Shangri-la Rasa Ria that is :))) There are 2 Shangri-la in Kota Kinabalu and this one is about 1 hour away from city centre. But...I wasn't here for the stay...*I really wished I could* that just brought back sweet memories of my stay here just 9 months ago :))))

Anyway it was a chop chop zoom zoom meeting with the Shangri-la peeps. I alwiz thought it would be nice to work in a hotel industry especially if you are based at the resort...but again long hours require a lot of passion, energy and dedication.

I was lucky enuff to catch a glimpse of Mount Kinabalu....Hello there!!!! remember me??? I did a token climb on you just a few months ago with Kindy Chai!!
*click here to read about our 2.5km climb outta 8km*

It's alwiz good to be back here even for work :))) pretty laid back with lots of good food.

when I was shown the venue for the future event, I feel in love :))))
but sometimes what u like and love doesn't mean it can be executed. There's a lot of considerations from matters beyond ur control, namely the weather. Yes it would be nice to have champagne tasting on this gazebo :))) over sunsets and swaying palm trees. Oh well not this time but maybe for the next and the next and the next events :)))

and on the very same nite it was a launch event from my portfolio. It's really fun to party with Sabahans. They are hyper and really appreciative of life. Think I konked out and went home earlier than the hundred odd party goers.

The next morning.....the weather was so stunning!!! Monkey was picked up by Susanna to the yacht club for breakfast. I know...I hardly sleep so pardon me if u see some eye bags soon appearing on this blog. Susanna has picked up sailing for quite a while and she will take Monkey out to sail to one of the beautiful islands soon. Woohooo~~~ another item to add into my check-list :)))

We were lucky enuff to be offered a piece of this special Chinese Rice Dumpling from Keningau. 90% of populations here are Dusuns and Muruts hence the influence on this chinese rice dumpling...it has got crushed peanuts innit. A huge piece of organic salted duck egg yolk, as golden as the sunsets in Kota Kinabalu....but most of all pieces of sliced local organic free range pork. The pigs here in Sabah is of a different species, it has got a different taste and flavour - don't believe me? Try their pork noodles!!!

This rice dumpling uses glutinous rice planted by the mountain and got a really good texture. It's so good to be able to enjoy all the local produce here :)))

and the best drink to consume here in Sabah apart from their locally made alcos *I should stop blogging bout alcohol all together....even before joining this company, friends labeled me as alcoholics and now colleagues said I'm an alkie -_-" *

is this drink called "Kit Chai Pink" in hakka. Oh chinese here speaks perfect hakka, from the market to the noodle shop. But most of the time, all I heard was Kadazan's language.

After breakfast and picked Eve up from the airport we had lunch :)))))
The famous Tuaran Noodle...made from fragrant locally handmade noodle, fried with roast pork and vege...and lotsa eggs before a generous dash of locally made rice wine was being poured all over it. Slurp~~~~~ *ok confirmed I'm a lover for any alcohols :D*

best-est fry noodle anywhere....seriously..it has the breathe of fire, the chewiness, the egg-iness. All the elements and ingredients to make any tummy happy :)))

and in the afternoon, Monkey went back to Mr. JS's mommy's home for the day....and saw these bunch of hobbits there...They looked so sad....I snapped a pic for him to see.

Monkey: "Hey look, ur mommy's home has got hobbits too."
JS: "Eeyerr why they looked so kampung one?"

Monkey -_-"
coz they never been out off home!! these hobbits are for Cookie the dog!! such lucky doggie to have so many toys at home and 2 comfy fluff beds for pets. All thanks to Susanna and Eve who spoilt Cookie to the max.

and when dinner came....the maids cooked my favourite fish!!!! to the locals here, these are cheap fish. Bahahahaha....sorry I am a cheap person, very easy to satisfy. The golden one is called Pisang fish or banana fish....scientific name is Banana Fusilier. These u can't find in Peninsular Malaysia. It has got great sweetness and texture. Yumssss. Fried and then eaten with maids' secret recipe raw mango salsa. *which i tapao back home here*

The other dish I was looking fwd from the maids was Pumpkin cooked with local potato leaves and dried shrimps...but this time around it's not in season. I lurve it so much till the maids called me Miss Pumpkin :D

JS's mommy slow boiled papaya and pork bone soup with longans. Garnished with springs onions from their herb garden. I can live it forever I think....but JS insisted that Sabah is too boring.

and bcoz I could eat so much, the maid re-heated homemade banana and sweet potatoes fritters which was such a hit....bcoz there's some secret ingredients innit. Think she could set up a stall outside the home and make some brisk business.

the next morning......cold pressed beetroot juice with ginger. It has to be cold pressed to maintain the vitamins content of the jus. Am so blessed to be well taken care of here in Sabah. :))))

Kids playing by the beach overlooking the islands. Trails of storm clouds coming the way. Aaaaaaa I don't mind coming here more often :)))

So am looking forward to my arrival here again next month :))) It's the weekend folks, what do you have in plan?

Climb every mountain, Mt Kinabalu

Kindy Chai came back from the States for her Xmas break here in Malaysia. Since Monkey won't be around in KL, she was so sweet to hitch the plane and flew over to the Land beneath the Wind....or was it below the wind?

It was such a good arrangement since Kindy Chai has never been to Sabah. It would be an introductory trip for her. And for every newbie, visiting the sacred holly Mount Kinabalu is a must. So on a beautiful morning, before sunrise....we were on our way to Tuaran first, to fill the hungry stomachs of the famous Tuaran Noodle.

and we slowly climbed our way up to the mountain...ok technically the car did all of the climbing up to the first 1000 ft above sea level.


another pit stop along the way for souvenirs. but both of us are more of the postcard kinda people. No souvenirs please. :)) but I have no idea wat were we so fascinated with then.

must be from over-excitement that we gonna do a small token climb up Mount Kinabalu that very morning. I couldn't remember how many token climbs I've done, perhaps it's about time to consider climbing it to the top seriously. Problem is, HEIGHTS!!!!

Kindy Chai my dear friend since we were 5 years old, was so happy that we are finally here to do this small lil token climb. In terms of fitness level, she's definitely way better, stronger and tougher. Kindy Chai hiked almost every possible hills and mountains in the States...including the Sierra Nevada Mountain range??? I think so, I can't remember...she hikes every week. Shame on me.


So before we start the climb, every visitors/climbers/kindergarten hikers must register at the main entrance. This is for safety issues, every "ins" must have "outs" and for human head counts.

Monkey: "Are we really doing this today? We are not prepared!!"
Kindy Chai: "Ishhhh it's just a token climb!!"

Kindy Chai looking so eppy while Monkey was....er.......
I like our outfit!!! though we didn't coordinate but I guess great minds think alike.

in the background is porter who a huge bag at the back, all wrapped up against moisture and rain. He must be fetching food up the mountain. Look at his stumpy like tree bark calves!!!! those must be as strong as elephants!!!


Lemme try!!!!
OMG!!!!! it's so heavy!!!!! I couldn't even get up. Later we found out it's about 40kg consisting of rice, oil, basic necessity goods. These porters climb the mountain daily to fetch things up at the halfway hut and Laban Rata. Gosh and these porters are doing this just to make a living!!!

okie now, enuff of the drama and let's move onto ACTIONS!!!
See, another porter carrying more food stuffs up the mountain on the background. He looked like he's goin to play futsal :P

Good luck to us!!!

as serious as I tried to be, this was wat I've been doin :P oh well Monkey needs to be one with nature and the trees....urkkk arkkkkk

The high altitude made breathing more difficult. Wat was a 2.5km hike felt like 25km jog. Kindy Chai was holding on strong and motivated me to go futher. The trail was about 7-8km hike up. Yeah I know in terms of distance it isn't far, but it's the height, the steepness and difficulty. Ask anyone who have climbed it!!! u'll need to train for this.

the last 2km to the summit...usually takes 2-4 hours depending on fitness level. Wow that's like goin only 0.5km per hour!!! how slow is tat!!!

after the first 2 km, we told ourselves....it's enuff for a token climb!!! hahahahaha. Look at our resting point and there's so far away more to go to the summit!!!!

anyway great job to the 2 lil kindy gals who used to be in lolly dresses, drawing with crayons using their fat cute fingers. I am so glad we are friends for this long. Our friendship is as majestic and as strong as the mountain :)))) hehehehe

Thank you to Mr. JS for all the beautiful pics and for driving us up and down the mountain and to do this token climb with us :)

so if u are not an avid hiker/climber, u may also try to do this token climb to see the beautiful flora and fauna along the way. Oh there's a small waterfall as well :))))

My dear Kindy Chai, till the next trip and if I do visit you in the States, pls take me to the potato chip mountain ok? Promise? :)))) 

Christmas Dinner

The storm was on its way, the wind was strong but not ferocious enuff as compared to my hungry tummy. Why is it that whenever that it's cold, we get hungry sooner?

Far away there, u could see the 3 islands sitting leisurely. Actually it isn't that far away, just 5 mins boat ride. Monkey was at the Land Beneath the Wind for work and extended her work trip for another week to celebrate xmas with JS's family.

Not very often I get to sit idly and do nothing. There's not much of cooking to be done in this household since everyone seems to be cooking a storm including the 2 maids. Every.Single.Day.

The kitchen was cooking a storm.
While the men were playing a stormy golf. Hahahahaha

Monkey texted JS: "Where are u ppl? The storm is coming."
to which the reply was the below pic.


a selfie of Mr. JS and Bernard da Joker at Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club.

Yes indeed the storm is coming~~~~~~they were almost finishing their game...anyhow they have to finish soon...bcoz Monkey sent another pic that made them quickly finished their golf game.

Hey look!!! what's crackling inside the oven.

Mr. JS: "OK coming home soon!!!"
so it's true that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Sadly I can't cook hahaha but this was a very good incentive for them to be home soon. But hey it's Xmas eve, u guys better be home for dinner.

It's quite torturing to be at home, when the entire house was infused with all the beautiful aroma coming outta the kitchen. ARghhh arghhhh arghhh~~~~

then after all the beautiful symphony it played inside the oven - the crackles and the bursts....it's time to be outta. ARghhhh I wanna sink my teeth into this slab of meat....

Monkey was so excited and gathered everyone....and did try to persuade everyone to wear RED. But I failed la...coz only 3 ppl did so including meself

Bernard da Joker all showered and cleaned. While everyone else was busy with some form of activities, I had to find one to do too.....so with my selfie stick bought by Cat, I took it for a tour around the house.

the boys were in their study room, hard at "work"
In a month's time, both will be re-exported outta the country for studies and the home is gonna be quiet again :((

The messy wet kitchen. JS shooooo-ed me out!!! No selfie stick!! too dangerous in the kitchen.

coz just too many "cooks" and "cooks wannabe". So I quickly dashed in, snap a few pics and dashed out before I create some form of hazards and risk being scolded. :P

Yeah ppl that don't cook should not even be inside the kitchen.

with all the shooo-ing away thingy, I still managed to get the 2 maids/cooks to snap a pic with me. Thanks to them, I got fed like a Maharaja everyday every hour on the dot. Blame them if I am chubby. :P hehehehehehe. Their cooking is superb!!!!

I'm so so so hungry!!! Can we eat yet???

 

hmmmm, almost there....missing a lot of things.....wat else? hmmm....

Oh yes some really wicked champagne :))))
yummmzzzzz so right for the roast porkie

the purple carrots tainted the orange ones...but it still looked good :)))

roasted potatoes with garlic and onions. Comfort food~~~~~
and there was a huge bowl of salad which I forgot to snap pic.

The family loves garlic, u can even see them in this pasta. Loads of it. JS cooked this prawn pasta with homemade prawn oil last minute.... by popular demand. 

Monkey was leaping up and down as Eveline was carving the roast pork.....oh yummssss. I want the edges!! I want the edges!!!

I.Want.You.NOW!!!
So melt in the mouth and crispy.

again....we had to wait!!!! Bernard da Joker got so serious and said we should all sing a xmas carol before we have our meal.

Markie: "Do we have to?"


u have no choice darling boy...we gotta sing to the roast chicken first b4 we chomp chomp nom nom.

these days, ppl dun read real books anymore....they read digital ones....:P
but we cheated...JS snapped a pic of Bernard da Joker's book with his iPad Air...and Monkey went and snap a pic of the iPad with her iPhone. Now...everyone has a copy of the musical notes and lyrics. Wooohoooo~~~~ hahahaha...

u lucky Roast Chicken!!! everyone was carolling to you!!!
thank goodness we all sang quite well and harmoniously, else the roast chicken may even walked off her plate. :P

we dun eat roast turkey anymore, nobody likes them in the household. We didn't wanna end up with different variations of turkey meat for the next one week from turkey sandwich to turkey porridge.

and finally all of us sat down, for a family picca.

JS put on this face, bcoz the smell of poultry was something he detest. While his face was all red from sun burn. Then we said our prayers and ZOOMMMM NOMMMM CHOMPPPPP YUMMZZZ

Happiness = Great food + beloved people + amazing drinks

Merry Christmas my dear hobbits *kiss kiss kiss one by one*

while we were bz feasting downstairs, the maids prepared my bed and the hobbits were arranged like this. And hello Nano Bear, he's with us at this trip bcoz Eveline gave us many years ago and so technically he's from Sabah. JS said the hobbits must alwiz return to their hometown aka kampung.

Guess those toys that were from USA and China gotta wait....even Sheep Sheep hasn't been to Germany yet. Oh well, one day one day....too many places to go and the world is really a big big place!!!

and after all the feating there's still food. In this household, u don't really get store-bought or commercially manufactured food *oh well maybe minus that bottle of Yamazaki Whisky*.

Everything is homemade here. :)))) with love of coz....and the Pecan Fruits Cake was sooo sooo sooooo amaaaaazzinggggg.

Merry Christmas HO Ho HO HO hic!!!!
hic....hic.....hic...
opsss...

tee hee hee :)))))))