the magic of colours

spring is a rather special season in netherlands...... why? pictures below explain everything!





























folks.... start saving money and go to netherlands.... keukenhof gardens are just amazing!

farewell... to my oakley and giorgio armani!

24 hours ago, i was so frustrated with myself! i lost both my glasses and sunglasses! i really love both of them. so, this entry will be my tribute to them.... they helped me look good (sometimes)!!!! some of my friends said i look better without glasses. is quite hard to judge but i do miss them now!

the sunglasses.... is an oakley! i bought it in early 2008. gosh! it is not cheap.... if im not mistaken, i bought it with rm 550 (15% of my monthly salary back then). anyway, it has became one of my best travel buddy since we teamed up! we travelled to many places together.... java, northern thailand, scotland, malta and south england (the place where i've misplaced both of them). oakley blocked the sun for me and helped me look great... gosh! i feel so damn terrible! i didnt even have chance to say thank you to it and my carelessness separated us! i'm sorry, oakley! i'm really really sorry!

my prescription glasses.... it came to my life in july 2008. it is a giorgio armani glasses. technip teamed us up. i wasnt that confident with it at first but compliments from family and friends made me believe in it. we were inseparable since then. giorgio armani was a very helpful little fella.... my best-mate in class. i have problem reading the blackboard/ whiteboard from behind and with the help of giorgio armani, i have perfect lecture notes. giorgio armani, i miss you and i love you! please forgive me for my carelessness!

guys (oakley and giorgio armani).... i will always remember you guys....

in the memory of oakley,
feb 2008 - apr 2009

in the memory of giorgio armani,
jul 2008 - apr 2009

satay!!!!

when you are a student and holiday gonna start soon, what are you gonna do? what else? home party of course.... eating and drinking!

the recent party, i challenged myself! i prepared satay... something i'm sure i won't be preparing in malaysia! in malaysia, with less than rm 10, you can fill up your stomach with 10 satays with loads of 'nasi himpit' and also a glass of 'teh-o ais limau'.

my friends in malaysia were amazed with my cooking while my friends over here enjoyed with full of satisfaction! an ex-colleague who is now in houston asked for the recipe! here you go, mr lee...

satay
-lemongrass (to be cut into small pieces)
-chilli powder
-garlic
-onion
-tumeric (no fresh tumeric, tumeric powder also can)
-sugar
-soy sauce
-mixed spices powder
-sesame oil
-chicken or beef (cut into small pieces)

blend lemongrass, garlic, onion and tumeric (add some water).
add the blended mixture to the meat.
add sugar, soy sauce, chilli powder, mixed spices powder and sesame oil to the meat.
mix well.
marinate for a few hours.

peanut sauce
-peanuts
-butter
-curry powder
-chilli powder
-fresh chilli
-cumin powder
-coriander powder
-garlic
-onion
-lemongrass
-tamarind
-sugar
-salt
-cooking oil
-coconut milk/ milk

roast peanuts (without oil). remove skin and then blend the peanuts.
blend garlic, onion, chilli and lemongrass (add some water).
heat the pan with 3-4 teaspoons of oil.
add the blended garlic, onion, chilli and lemongrass into pan and cook until golden brown.
add water (2-3 cups depend on the peanuts) and tamarind juice.
add blended peanuts and stir well.
add sugar, salt, cumin powder, coriander powder, chilli powder and a bit of curry powder.
add coconut milk (one cup) and a bit of butter.
stir well under low heat until thick

good luck folks..... i dont think those who are in malaysia will ever try!

preparing satays!

chef kenneth!

chicken and beef satays!

peanut sauce!

satay feast....

kenneth's kitchen (jan - mar 09)

some good dishes prepared from kenneth's kitchen!

in january...

steamed salty chicken, steamed salted-fish mince meat, belacan long beans

belacan long beans

ginseng chicken soup....

in february...

making chinese bbq pork (char siew)!

char siew!

steamed chicken, thai basil leaves mince meat, stir fried leek with chinese sausages, braised chicken with tomatoes and fried eggs with mushrooms.

grilled fish (with belacan sauce), stir-fried brocolli, braised chicken with potatoes and salted fish egg plant.

in march...

curry beef

curry fish head

braised chicken with bitter gourd

pig stomach soup.... guess what? i washed the stomach myself!

birthday 09!

yesterday, 23rd february 2009, i officially turned 28. i'm feeling kinda old... i don't know why, i did feel a bit upset! i'm 28 and i don't have a house or car and i'm still using money from my parents saving. i really feel bad about it! for now, i can only repay them by doing well in my study. speaking of study... i done pretty badly in previous semester! so, the first wish for this year birthday is to do well in my study this semester and get a good mark for my project.

this year is my third year celebrating birthday overseas. the first time i celebrated birthday overseas was 5 years ago (2004) at geelong, australia. i was there doing my bachelor's degree. that birthday was a great one! pooi san made a cake for me... the first time someone made a cake for me. they were quite evil back then, forced me to drink vodka using milk bottle! i'm still wondering which fella came out with such a crazy idea! i was pretty drunk that night. i even offered to take off my pants for the girls. luckily, hwan was around and saved me from embarrassment.

my second overseas birthday was celebrated at nile river, egypt in 2007. i was travelling with my family and a party was organised for me on the cruise ship. guess what? it was my first time celebrating birthday with my family. just weird! i was not with my parents on most of my birthdays! the party on the cruise ship was a fun one. i danced with my parents and sister!

my third overseas birthday is this year, 2009. celebrated yesterday with a few friends. it was a great night! received many gifts and a dinner with 7 dishes were prepared for me. a girl (jiao jiao) prepared (made + decorated) a chocolate cake for me! the cake looks good and tastes damn good too! that girl is really something! a cake goddess! also thanks to steph, deric, linlin and xiang for organized such a great party! lin lin deserves 3 thanks from me for her huge efforts in preparing 3 great dishes, absolutely love the spicy toufu!

p.s. thanks to everyone who posted wishes on my wall (facebook), sent sms, called me, wished me thru msn and sent me both cards and ecards... thanks for those gifts, fellas! love the tissot watch!

the birthday dinner... roasted duck, spicy toufu with pork mince, stir-fried celery with chinese sausages, potatoes - tomatoes salad, stir-fried onion chicken and pork belly soup.

funny.... why wanna eat red coloured eggs??

oven-baked sesame chicken wings!

the birthday boy!

the cake goddess and birthday boy!

the chocolate cake... thanks babe!

the chicks and the birthday boy!

the gang.....

believe it or not... i'm 28!

damn... i'm damn lucky...

some gifts...