my mother wanted to go with me - i have no clue why, but i highly suspect it’s because she thinks i’m too retarded to get my passport done myself. even my dad (who never offers to do anything with me) was hassling me to go. his exact words were, “just tell me which day you’re free, then i take you go!!!” wahhhh what’s the big deal here? all want to get me out of the country issit? all want me to stay with Martian forever issit? so that i dont spend money shopping (father) and so that my shoes are all free to be borrowed (mother) right???
think i dont know ah. parentals, i am on to you and your evil plans. expired passport or not, you are going to be stuck with me for the next 20 years! muahaha.
on the day before i was meant to go renew my passport, there was a bit of an emergency and my parents had to fly off to Labuan. i woke up to find them already gone, and a stack of documents under my door. i opened the envelope to find my birth cert, a photocopy of my ID both front and back, passport-sized photos, my passport… and a passport renewal application form already filled out from start till end.
AND A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO RENEWING MY PASSPORT.
does my mother really think i’m retarded??? :( :(
anyway quite cute also lah my mother. she kept texting me to “remember to renew your passport!!” and on the day i went to do it, she kept calling me for a progress report every few hours. what the hell is going on man.
so i arrived at Pusat Bandar Damansara at 8am. and my passport was ready by 11am! phwoar damn cool. not bad ah, i remember during the good old days, things like these took 3 working days.
when i got there and had crossed out #1 and #2 on my mother dearest’s step-by-step guide to passport renewal, i had to do #3 which is Take A Number At Counter. so i did lah. the number was 1090 .. and we were only at 1030. knowing how slow the ppl at the immigration dept can be, i figured i had lots of time to kill, so i went to get my pictures taken.
oh my god the inner camwhore in me just leapt out. i made the poor guy take like a few billion pictures of me before i was satisfied with the last one. i mean seriously, what is with passport pictures? why do they always turn out so icky? after i was done with the whole rigmarole of smiling, not smiling, pouting (yes i did), raising eyebrows, not raising eyebrows, left hair parting, middle hair parting, right hair parting, tulan face, innocent wide eyed face, normal looking face and lain lain lagi, i finally settled on the blank-stare face.
then i went back up to find that i had missed my turn in the queue -_______-
so i took another number. while waiting, stared at the pictures i took, decided i didnt like it so much after all.
went to another booth and another photographer to take more pics.
MISSED MY NUMBER AGAIN WTF WTF WTF.
i texted my boyfriend and father to tell them what a camwhore of a girlfriend and daughter they have, that she had to miss her number twice cos she was taking pictures. they werent very surprised. like, whateverrrrrrrrr. at least i have a nice passport picture now.
NOT. cos i handed over the wrong set of pictures when it was my turn at the counter. grrrr. went back to school after that to sit for a test i didnt know i had to sit for, and then came back, spending a grand total of RM50 on cab fare back and forth.
the fruits of my labour :
and this is how i looked like in 2002! i was 14 and dating the school athlete, hahaha. we were so in love! now everytime we meet, we hit each other and start swearing and dissing each other’s hair.
sigh! has it really been 5 years already? 2002 feels like just yesterday. ivan sat behind me in class, and i used to give sieutheng all these stupid lovesick smiles. back then sieutheng never wore skirts! chong ken was always with me and my then-boyfriend used to be so jealous of him. miss mabil taught us english and we’d always imitate her. “we have ample time!”, “what’s the time like now?”. the other day i saw miss mabil at the train station and i didnt know if she remembered me, so i didnt say hi.
true to its name, it can be hard to miss this beauty of a restaurant when you’re driving down the quiet suburban street that effortlessly camouflages it amongst embassies and residential bungalows. but get down from your car and peek past the shrubbery-clad fences, and you will find Rahsia, its shady trees and path of pebbles welcoming the curious diner in.
Rahsia offers three dining areas. the first and my favourite is the terrace, where the weaved basket lights overhead throw swirls of intricate shadows all over the ceilings, creating a gossamer underwater feel. candlelight, cotton tablecloths and rattan chairs turn the terrace into a very relaxed and complacent area, almost beachlike in its casualness.
step inside the bungalow and it’s a whole different setting - all crisp and suave with its white tablecloths and white-clothed chairs. here, soft lighting and delicate wineglasses offset the white walls and smooth carpetless floor. slow jazz music is piped throughout the room. overall, very run-of-the-mill but still tasteful. and beyond a set of wooden doors, the third area is a tiny intimate patio with only three tables, perfect for customers who are big on privacy.
the fare here is Nusantara cuisine - Malay, Indonesian and a little bit of Nyonya. i’m not too keen on their appetizers like the satay and spring rolls etc, you’ll find them all just a tad too oily, but their salads are amazing. my fav is without a question the soft shell crab salad with pesto cream dressing! as for their mains, i’d think that the Balinese Suite and Chicken Kashnas are the best. would totally not recommend the Ning Noodles. the more worthwhile desserts are the bread and butter pudding and the brownie. check out their website for more menu details and pricing.
service here takes its time, good if you wanna linger over your courses with a loved one. all staff are polite and give you your space, but always attentive.
for Vday, Rahsia is having a 4-course dinner menu at RM120++ per pax. click here for the full Valentines Day menu.
let us welcome with open arms the latest Japanese restaurant in town, Hajime! looking at Hajime, it’s hard to tell its a restaurant, because it looks exactly like a residential bungalow from the outside. so thank goodness for its quirky pufferfish signboard which immediately catches the eye as you drive past. and it’s not just for show either - Hajime is one of the few Jap places in KL that serves fugu.
i discovered this place by accident while i was on my way to Basil Leaf (which i shall forever boycott), and boy am i glad i did. nicely done up in concrete walls, slate tile floor and floor lighting, the whole place feels very contemporary and sophisticated. yet the ‘tatami’ seating area, featuring a polished wood floor and red cushions, retains a little bit of traditional Japenese essence for the restaurant.
patrons can also choose to sit at the sushi bar, where it is livelier. not only are the young men who work behind the bar chatty and friendly, they are also clearly trained well! i asked one of them about fugu, and his knowledge on the subject was most impressive. and another guy, i was told, is the one responsible for making the delightful sesame and azuki ice cream i thoroughly enjoyed.
service is absolutely fantastic, and that is surprising since Hajime has only been open about 2 weeks. the waiting staff are so warm and polite, AND they give good menu recommendations. i am a complete sucker for waiters who know what they’re talking about :D
food here is gooooooood. there is a noodle dish called the Inaniwa Udon, and i first tried it in hongkong. i dont think there this is a place in KL that serves this (though i could be wrong, do inform if there is any jap rest in KL that does!), so you can imagine my excitement when i saw it on the menu! you MUST have this noodle served cold - they serve the udon noodles (really kway teow) on a plate of ice, and you are given a soy sauce which you mix with finely-diced ginger and shallots and wasabi. you mix all those together, then you dip your noodles in it, and you eat. absolute heaven in your mouth :)
the last time i checked, Hajime’s chef hasnt decided on the Valentine’s Day menu, but i was told it will not exceed RM80++ per pax, and will come degustation-style with 9 small courses instead of a few big ones. i urged them to include the Inaniwa Udon, haha i hope they heed. if they dont, order it anyway!!!
Hajime
(i heartilly apologise, but i no longer have their address coz i gave away all the business cards i took when i was there :( but i do know it’s on Jalan Damai, just opposite Basil Leaf and Soiree)
Tel : 03-2143 0073
3. Nero Vivo
i blogged about Nero Vivo once over here, so i will cut this one short. Nero Vivo is a swanky Italian place in Ceylon Hill that is classy without being stifling, lively without being bustling. for some reason, the people who come here are really full of life - they talk loud, they laugh, they chatter away. i dont really like restaurants where everyone sits all prim and proper and are afraid to raise their voices above a whisper .. and that’s why i love Nero Vivo. easily one of the best Italian restaurants in KL - it’s right up there with Ciao. and the food here is great :)
Nero Vivo has apparently not decided on their Valentines Day menu, but it will fall between the range of RM120-150++ per pax.
Nero Vivo (map!)
3A, Jalan Ceylon
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2070 3120
4. The Ivy
because it is smack in the middle of popular party district Asian Heritage Row, people tend to think The Ivy is just another bar, just another English pub. but ah! look past the black doors and the little 18th century English lanterns, steer away from the men watching footie at the bar or having a smoke on the couch, walk up the carpeted stairs, and you will find yourself in a nice and spiffy restaurant the downstairs pub was merely a veneer for.
candelabras, pastel-coloured paintings and heavy floral-printed carpets are The Ivy’s decor. nothing that screams i’m-trying-too-hard-to-be-English! but not exactly the most impressive. they could do a lot more with the interior, i think. the upstairs dining area just feels like it lacks a little soul.
food is good but not great, i hate to say it but The Smokehouse makes better yorkshire pudding. the roast beef and fish and chips in The Ivy are pretty good, though! but it’s the dessert that’s ace, wicked, bazzing, brill - as the English would say. i am in love with the double dark brownie, the bread and butter pudding (hello, Baileys sauce!) and the chocolate mud cake. soooo yummy i could die.
The Ivy’s Valentine’s Day menu is a 4 course affair, and diners are given a choice of 3 mains to choose from, as well as a complimentary glass of bubbly. and it all goes for the totally ace price of RM188 per couple! wicked! just a little over RM90 per pax. email me for the menu if you wanna take a look at it.
The Ivy
No. 48, Jalan Doraisamy
Asian Heritage Row
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-2693 2260
5. La Risata
for a restaurant that touts itself as ‘the best trattoria outside of Italy’, La Risata has a lot to put out to live up to their claim. i dont know if it’s really the best trattoria outside of Italy, but i would say it’s one of the better ones in KL. i’ve been going to La Risata ever since i was little, and i’ve never stopped loving it.
refurbished a while ago, La Risata now sports a cheerful interior with bright red walls and quirky paintings. very apt indeed, for a restaurant with a plump red tomato for its brand logo, and a name that means ‘The Laughter’! the overall feel of La Risata is more casual than most Italian restaurants (hence the term trattoria), and leans towards the family restaurant type, though groups of young beautiful people coming here to enjoy a good glass of wine are not uncommon.
many people say that La Risata offers some of the best and most authentic pizzas and pastas in KL, and i dont disagree :) i love the food here, especially the pastas and their 4-cheese soup. their ravioli is utterly amazing, and so is their squid ink fettucine though i must say their house specialty marinara is a tad overrated. their Pizza Carbonara is worth a try as well! for dessert, it’s the flourless chocolate cake hands down.
service here is wonderful. they are so attentive and efficient. most of the staff here have been with La Risata for a long time, so they know their menu inside out, which is a good thing when you want a good and honest recommendation. i recently had a dinner party there for 28 people, and they handled us with the utmost care and hospitality. they have my respect- i dont think we were an easy bunch to deal with that night, haha.
for Vday, La Risata has a 4-course menu with a choice of red meat or fish for mains. going at RM80++ per pax. i have the menu, so do email me if you wish to take a peek.
La Risata
26 Pesiaran Ampang,
55000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-4252 6269
128 Jalan Kasah,
Medan Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-2095 9572
there is something delightful and warm in the familiarity of getting up and going to the kitchen to fix myself a nice steaming hot cup of instant noodles in the middle of the night. which flavour to have, i wonder as i open the cabinets and stare at the colourful variety. i always allow myself a little bit of indecisiveness when choosing the flavour du jour. and i always savour the anticipation as i fill the little yellow cup with water, and carry it into my room, fingertips warm from the heat.
i like to have instant noodles when i’m pulling an all-nighter to finish up assignments i procrastinated too much on. the aroma of the soup, as it permeates the air, keeps me company and the sounds of slurping are comforting. setting the cup down in the northeastern regions of my desk after each bite fills me with a sense of purpose, and i can go about my procrastinated-upon work in a businesslike manner. that is, until my reserves run dry, and i need more comfort … and so i will return to my little yellow cup of noodles, and partake once again in its delicious, warm love.
sometimes when i’m lonely, i make myself some instant noodles and sit in a corner of my room to think. actually, most of the time i dont think. i just stare into space and absently eat chicken flavoured instant noodles. and when i’m done i always feel better. it’s like magic.. instant noodles are like magic.
that first forkful from the cup, as you lift it to your lips and blow the steam away, and then push it delicately into your mouth - how do you describe the fulfillment as you chew slowly and allow the flavour to disperse all over your tongue? it’s a little bit like that first kiss. i relive my first kiss with Martian everytime i have instant noodles. then i miss him so much, and i start wishing that he was here beside me to share this lovely instant noodle moment with me. if he were here, i’d sit on the kitchen counter and wrap my legs around his waist, and i’d feed him noodles from the cup. and then i’ll tell him how much i love him.
i remember so many instant noodle moments from camping trips or holidays abroad. a significant one was during that trip to corea. some of the boys had run down to the grocery store down the street in the middle of the night, and returned bearing seafood, mushroom and kimchi flavoured instant noodles. then we all sat around the vending machines, eating noodles and playing card games. another time was at melaka a few months ago - darren and i couldnt sleep, so he fixed me a cup of tomyam flavoured noodles. he was going to fix himself the same, but i yelled at him to pick a different flavour. coz 2 flavours are better than one. heehee. he eventually chose the curry-flavoured. thank you darren, for that instant noodle moment. tomyam never tasted so good.
instant noodles have got to be the most intimate food on earth. it’s more than just a 2 minute thing, or something you scarf down to keep hunger pangs at bay. it’s about running into a 7-11 in the middle of the night to buy a cup, and eating it while leaning against the counter and talking to the cashier. it’s about truth or dare games and loud laughter during slumber parties. it’s about tenderness and sharing and countertop kisses. it’s about self discovery, companionship, longing and purpose.
i asked him, what if i fall out of love with you because i dont see you often enough? what if i fall out of love with you because we dont talk enough?
he replied with, what do you mean what if? how am i supposed to answer that?
Martian and i have come to that stage in our relationship where we dont talk everyday anymore. i dont know why or how we’ve arrived at this. let me attempt to describe this feeling that i feel as i observe myself at this stage - it’s like standing at the edge of a pool, looking out at the clear blue water.. and then before you know it, someone has pushed you in. that split second that you’re clawing air and have yet to hit the water but have also realized that some fucker has just pushed you in .. that’s the feeling i’m talking about.
after that, it’s like you dont quite recover your breath. it’s the strangest feeling. but i’ve found that the best cure to it is simply crawling into bed and rubbing my cheek against the covers. and sighing. sighing helps so much. i’m only just beginning to find all these little surrogate acts that come the closest to making me sleep well again. i’m only just beginning to find that i can spend certain moments by myself, and still enjoy them after all.
‘darling, cover your eyes,’ he’d say calmly and immediately i’d squeeze my eyes shut. i dont have to ask why to know why. i know that he knows what’s best for me. ‘is it over,’ i’ll whisper after a few seconds. he always answers honestly, and sometimes he reaches over to hold my hand or stroke my hair. it is times like these, as my eyes are tightly closed and we are sitting there in silence, that i am overwhelmed by the maturity he can sometimes show. i could love this guy. i do love this guy.
the other day i was in a cab coming home from pj. it was almost midnight and i just really wanted to get home as soon as possible. the cabbie wasnt much of a conversationalist, but that was fine by me cos i wasnt feeling too chatty either. we slowed to a halt at the edinburgh intersection’s red lights, and the moment we stopped, i turned to look out the window. then i saw what i saw. for a moment i was puzzled. what is that?, i wondered. then it dawned upon me, and i quickly clapped my hands over my eyes, but a little too late. i’d seen it. and the horror of the situation would keep coming back to haunt me, i know it. i know it because it happened once before.
but who’s going to warn me now? i cant take care of myself. i wont. i may seem angry, irritated, and i may push you away, but all i really need is for you to take care of me.
Pinkpau is Su Ann. 19, Malaysia. Hostile when hungry. Sometimes a shapeshifter, always an optimist with a penchant for pessimism and shoe-shopping. More?
Contact at : pinkpau[at]gmail[dot]com
Quaintly.net
The point of the pinkness of this site is to annoy the crap out of you. Really. What made you think I was a nice person? More?
