Happy Birthday to me.

In about an hour from now 26 years ago, my mom gave birth to her 1st born in Chinese Maternity Hospital. She was a colic baby and was most difficult to care for; she loved crying especially during other people’s sleeping hours.

Of course, she grew out of it eventually, and Mom thought that the worst was finally over. Alas, her baby girl hit puberty and along with it came the biggest egomania and hormonal rage. Mom realised that dealing with a colic baby was farrrrrrr better than a rebellious teenage daughter.

This young girl who talked back to her, said nasty things to her and who absolutely refused to listen to her – how could she be the baby she once sucked thick mucus out of a tiny nose with her mouth for?? I bet she was devastated.

Weren’t you, mummy? Hehe.

Later on, our relationship got better and better and early this year, she posted this on her blog which made me teared up:

My daughter was born on 23rd July (Mon) @ around 10am, weight 8lbs, she’s my 1st born and the only girl in the family.She was a colic baby..for the 1st 6 months she sleep during the day and wide awake during the night.

I sometime felt that she has been bullying me since the day she was born,during her teen year she use to bully her younger brothers,they call her name behind her back like “fei poh, pat poh chey chey, wong how, pa wong kai la” etc.etc..Her back up, of course the DADDY! Whenever ther’s a fight the daddy always turn around and speak in a very soft tone “girl y u like that” and to the boys his tone change completely.

Her rebellious during the 2nd ten years really make me sick, heartache and in tears most of the time, i hv been asking myself thousand time what hv i done to deserve this,is that part of growing up or im not the kind of mother she expect me to be and when is she going to grow up, grow out of it.

Before she graduate and announce she’s going out with an ang moh. I was like..now what..,what she got herself into but the daddy said ” trust her,she’s big girl now”. Ok,I should let go and trust her, that was 5 years ago..YES! the daddy is right, I’M VERY HAPPY FOR HER.

My daughter really really has grow up to become a fine young lady, she manage her life well, happy and most important got someone who’s sincerely,honestly love her and care for her.

As a mother,i feel proud and happy for her, although sometime she still give me the ‘headache’!

I guess it’s safe to say that I’m no longer a pain in my Mom’s life (ok, maybe sometimes). Now that’s the biggest achievement in my 26 years of life.

I love you mummy!

Restoran Foong Foong, yummy & cheap yong tau fu in Ampang.

I was in Ampang last weekend to see Goo Tyng Tong. After, the visit we decided to have lunch at Foong Foong Ampang Yong Tau Fu. I’m embarrassed to say that despite growing up in Cheras (or now known as Ampang since last general election :P), I had no idea that Foong Foong is supposedly famous. My mom said that we used to go there regularly but I have to say, I’ve got no memory of doing so :P

It took my white boyfriend to tell me that Foong Foong is famous and insisted to eat there -_-

# – Restoran Foong Foong

The restaurant is located at the T-junction of the main road (basically, the Ampang traffic police station is one end and Foong Foong is at the opposite end) and flanked by two other yong tau fu restaurants. Make sure you go into the one that says Foong Foong :P

There’s no designated parking so just park on the roadside wherever you can and as close to the place.

It’s not easy to miss the restaurant. It’s always packed but quite easy to get a table as people come and leave. This is the type of places where one shouldn’t hoard the table, hehehe.

# – The entrance.

Every table is numbered, so when you place your order at the counter, you got to tell the staff the number of your table. Generally, each piece of yong tau fu cost RM0.80.

# – Deep fried dumplings and tofu skin.

I don’t usually like deep fried yong tau fu very much because they are sometimes a bit too hard. However, the deep fried goodies at Foong Foong were surprisingly light and crispy. It’s effortless to eat and very tasty.

# – Stuffed chillis, bittergourds, lady’s fingers and tofu.

I can’t really tell whats the stuffing is made of but I suspect it’s a mixture of pork and fish paste. The vegetables used were fresh and not cooked to oblivion. The gravy was light and delicious.

# – Look ma, I can use chopsticks!

The bill came to less than RM21 including drinks for two people. Well, you won’t find anything astronomically impressive at Foong Foong, just simple dishes that are very satisfying. I’m definitely coming back!

Restoran Foong Foong
621-A, Jalan Besar Ampang,
68000 Ampang

You’re safer on the road now thanks to MINI.

I was clueless! I was doing everything wrong. When it comes to driving, that is.

You’d think that for someone who came from the loins of a former competitive rally driver and someone who used to market Subaru for a living, I’d have more idea as to what correct driving is. All these while, I’d prided myself for being a more competent driver than the average Malaysians, but it’s all a lie! My totem was spinning, ha ha.

When I got the call about MINI Driver Training, to be honest I was more interested in trashing the brand new Mini Coopers more than anything :P Little did I know that the 1-day course would change my driving style entirely.

# – MINI Driver Training

Our instructors were Hammond Lai, Ivan Khong, Irwan Ismail and Wong Kah Keen. Seeing Ivan’s face brought relief as he was the instructor for the awesome BMW drive last year (read about BMW Drive here & here).

# – We’re in good hands.

We started the day in a classroom where we learnt about the correct way to hold a steering wheel, how to steer correctly, the types of braking and many more. It’s about unlearning the bad habits and adopting the correct techniques.

# – Back to school :D

# – With ST, KY, Haze and others in the class. Asking questions like a good student should.

After the end of the class, it’s time to get into the cars for some practical lessons! The cars we got to use were not just any Mini Cooper, they’re Mini Cooper S :D

# – Our car was the red hot number 8.

# – Driving the MINI :D

# – Queuing up for a serving of fun.

First, we got to warm up by slaloming through some cones.

# – Swear it wasn’t me who knocked down the cone!

We were taught how to do emergency lane change, emergency braking, braking & swerving, recognising & countering understeer and Agent-Turn.

# – Getting briefed by Ivan Khong.

# – I think this was the recognising & countering understeer session.

It’s actually a very exhausting thing, re-learning how to drive. By afternoon we were famished. Thank goodness for the lovely lunch spread catered by Putrajaya Shangri-la.

# – At lunch with ST.

After lunch, it’s driving again. Ahhh life, I love it!

# – Don’t even know my arms could do that :P

The most awesome part of the day was learning how to make the Agent Turn. It’s actually a more glamourous way of saying J-Turn. Yeah, we learnt how to stunt drive! No words could describe how shit scared and excited I was!!

A J-Turn is a driving maneuver used to reverse a backwards-traveling vehicle so as to continue driving in the same direction, but with the vehicle pointed forward. The J-Turn is also called “moonshiner’s turn”, based on the elusive driving tactics used by bootleggers.

SOURCE: wiki

Here’s a video of an Agent Turn demonstration by the instructor, followed by my own attempts… hehe.

After that, we got back to the Pit to find a lot of helmets lined up. Turned out we’re going onto Sepang track!!!

# – Never have I loved helmets so much.

# – On Sepang circuit :D

# – Ready to rumble.

# – And off we go..

# – Focusing on not spinning out.

And that concluded the MINI Driver Training course. I was awarded a certificate and according to it, I passed with flying colours :D From now on, if you see me on the road, you don’t have to slow down to avoid me because I am now a safe(r) driver!

# – Graduation ceremony. Check out Ivan’s bling bling trainers!!

# – Group pic.

Wow, what a day! Thanks Sashi and BMW! Am filing this under my ‘Special & Cool‘ category :)