A further update on Miri

You've probably guessed it. I spent a lot of my time playing Catan. I've got a decent record so far: 15 wins out of 18 games; my friends in Melbourne, don't think I'm out of practice now!

Settlers of Catan (along with its expansion sets) has got to be the best boardgame ever. It works your brain up too so I really encourage people to return to the good old board games rather than playing online games that sap your brain juices out.

Settlers of Catan, as printed on the box is an "Award-winning game of Discovery, Settlement & Trade". It's more so than that; it's a game hinging on economy, vision, trickery, persuasion and unspoken alliances.

Highly recommend this.

Apart from watching football with the blokes (after playing Catan to guard our brain juices :o), I also did some baking. To be very blunt, CNY tidbits (cakes and biscuits) are usually of low quality :). There I said it. And everyone makes/buys the same things! To be honest, I think CNY is getting over-commercialised too just like Christmas is.

Before

After

But all that doesn't really matter. 'Meh' food is better than bad food or no food right? That I can agree. Did you know though, that I had always preferred Christmas to CNY? CNY in Malaysia is mostly about the reunion dinner and visiting friends and family. That's great but the downside is that this celebration is often accompanied by binge drinking and gambling.

'Gong Xi Fa Cai' is the chant on many lips in this occasion but hey you choose to gamble away all your money and more than ever you choose to wreck what's left of your liver and brain with all that drinking.

What's suppose to be a joyful celebration of togetherness becomes a shabby, disgraceful stage for drunkards and gamblers with their diatribe of foul words.

On a less serious note, anybody hate those new year songs? They are so loud, devoid of any substance and hardly melodious. Ten years ago, CNY songs used to be nice. The singers were more talented and the songs were more... song-like. Nowadays, I don't know what rubbish these people come up with. The new new year songs, the ones written by god-forsaken fools are the ones that need to be crucified. They've 'modernised' the songs and even written new trashy ones. They've even put the icing on the cake by hiring BAD singers! Oh dear, I mean these songs were tolerable 10 years ago - just - but now its just utterly irritating with the loud BGM combining with the horrendous shrieking voice of the singer threatening to end all existence in this world.

On a more peaceful note, here's a typical sight of dinner in my place...

...and here is what you might get if you ordered pizza in Miri! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA

Someone nuke this place please :)

Fragment of Memories

One of my favourite FFVIII song. I am learning it! Wish me luck. It's an excruciatingly painful song for me LOL especially for my short fingers.

A new look

So how's the new template?

A refreshing change?

Booboo

I got a new template but the stuff won't go to the sidebar! It stays at the bottom. Sigh. At the meantime please enjoy my blog as it is till I get it fixed.

Anyone got any ideas?

The forgotten pictures of months past

As the title suggests, this post is dedicated to a few of the little things in my life in Melbourne in the months of October, November & December which I have not mentioned.

Cumulus Inc.

The three of us, Bryan, Su-Mei and I went to this busy breakfast place, Cumulus Inc. It's one of Melbourne's highly rated breakfast spots (and it doesn't come cheap either!). We had to wait in line for quite a bit of time. That woman in the middle scares me. She's got the evil-woman-who knows-kungfu-and-black-magic look.

We were waiting beside the coffee brewing ritual site.

I ordered the Shashuka I think. I'm not sure but it's probably an Israeli or Turkish dish. Most definitely it was very enjoyable. I had grapefruit juice as well... REALLY sour one.

Monash University Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

I spent quite a bit of time in the library during the examination season and for THREE times I was disturbed halfway through by probably some false alarm or drill. As a result, I had to stand outside the University for some time while the firemen come to see whats wrong and get their $1000 compensation.

Green Refractory
This was in another breakfast place during the examination period. Located in Brunswick, the Green Refractory is a popular spot and a rather quaint one as well. It's got a really rustic look which may deceive the eyes at first but is in actual truth the source of the place's charm. The staff are quirky but that adds to their friendliness. I enjoyed this meal with non-other than my breakfast buddy who looks uncannily like her elder sister.

I enjoyed my brunch here. Really loved the grilled cheese. Oh and don't forget to try the Apple and Rhubarb muffin here especially when it's freshly baked!

Auction Rooms

Ah, alas I do not have any pictures of food here but there if there's one thing I will say it's that this is one of my favourite breakfast places in Melbourne. Happily situated in North Melbourne, it just takes a short tram ride from the Victoria Market stop. One of Melbourne's highly rated breakfast places, 'The Auction Rooms' is manned by over-friendly staff who take your orders with an awkward smile. I've been there twice I believe and my last time there, I had their porridge with toasted walnuts and caramelised bananas. To die for.

Mart 130
Cunningly enough, the flip-side of this place is where you get off: Tram stop 130; which happens to be exactly and conveniently on the flip-side of the place as well. This is another cosy, vibrant looking place graced rather frequently by the Bumblebee trams and its hypnotic engine whir (and the bumping sound they make traversing the track). Of course, it'd be much less entertaining and meaningful without an eating partner so once again we have Su-Mei here. Oh and just in case you were wondering, Mart 130 does feature in the Good Food Guide 2010, pictured on top.

This was my chai latte. Not the best to be honest but that's cause I had the best in The Auction Rooms.

You just got to love the lazy, laid-back scene here. When you're here it feels as if time slows down, your mind goes to ease and you enjoy the finer bits of life.

I had their trademark dish, a dish they say is a must for all first-timers which I was: Corn Fritters. I must say, it tasted really unique, like how the Shashuka was. It deviates from the typical British/American breakfasts. It was a beautiful marriage of the East and West.

The sauce had a strong smell of turmeric giving it a distinct Asian flavour but the dollop of cream and a few rashers of bacon with the delicious cakes of corn restored parity.

See, tram tracks right outside the eatery. Initially I thought they were train tracks (forgetting that I came by tram to this place via the same tracks!) and were laughed at by a certain someone.

Myer
The hot days of late autumn/early summer were spent either at home (new and old) or at the malls. It was painful to walk under the open sun. I like this picture of the isolated tree.

Collins Street

You've gotta love Collins Street.

QV
Never understood why they laid out an astro turf here. I'm dreaming of a hot Christmas.

Sharon's house

I wish I had a birthday cake like that!

Old home
Everyone's lost! Myer wished me first!

Here's me pretending to be cool again. Ah dang something nasty in the picture. Sorry, typical messy boy's room.

New home

And we're well into December now, just passed my birthday. Thank you guys for this awesome gift!
And this would not have been possible without that AWESOME Italian cookbook you've gifted me for my birthday. Those were my Baked Tomatoes with Bocconcini.

Tullamarine Airport

My journey ends 31st December 2009. Time to fly home to Miri.

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Put simply, 2009 was a good year. It was a year of improvement and also maturity. Each year I look back to the past year and think, "Gosh, you were so pathetic back then" and that was after I pat myself on the back saying that I've had a good year. The truth is, to me, there always is massive improvement to achieve. I admit that I'm somewhat a perfectionist. I mull over a lot of things which I wish I could've been great at. I wish I was better at photography, music, cooking, baking, gaming, studying, fashion; even being a guy! At the start of each year I would regret and then chuckle awkwardly at myself over things that should not have been done, including superficial things. At this point, there are overwhelming numbers of areas which I wish to improve, just as there were last year at this time. It didn't matter that I felt I had did well at the end of the year because when I start to review my past year in the new year, I feel that I need to do more and that I'm still far far away from my maximum potential. To me, all the little things in life matter. It's not just the big goals that need to hit but also the little and selfish things that you need to achieve. Some people don't consider them goals but the way I work and probably other 'perfectionists' work is that we desire to attain perfection in the areas we are interested in. It's not an entirely good thing to be a perfectionist of course.

Maybe I just have OCD :D

Kidding. Hope you enjoyed this post. ;)

iPad - It doesn't come with wings :(

I'm afraid I have to admit, when iPad was first mentioned and pictures of it were posted, I thought: this looks so futuristic.

Obviously I was only attracted by its looks at that point until I realised that there's almost zero technological advancement in it. It's just an over-size iPod touch. And later another epiphany hit me: I'd rather have a small notebook than this!

Steve Jobs: "What do you mean we taped 4 iTouch gadgets together?"

When the iTouch came out, people were ecstatic.. but when the newest iPhone was born, people were moaning in pleasure; rightfully so. You see, the iPhone is basically an iTouch that calls. The iPhone revolution deserves its hype. It calls, it takes pictures, it has thousand of applications, its got huge memory, brilliant colours and everything else you can imagine all INSIDE YOUR POCKET. Portability made the iPhone so phenomenal. If we wanted functions only a computer can provide, we'd buy a small notebook. However, if we crave portability, you've got to give in to the iPhone. It may not have the powerful functions of a computer but it really is convenient. The iPhone is a generalist really, not specialising in any departments (except for being a phone of course), but having the lot of it and being able to fit in your pocket.

The iPad is all this, except YOU CAN'T CALL FROM IT!

Give me 100 kgs of blu-tack please.

So it's just a hugely over-sized iTouch then.

They're selling the most basic iPad for more than USD$500. This thing has NO technological advancements. It's just made BIGGER and it's christened as though it's an entirely new thing; a revolution. Now we let you off the hook for producing the iPhone after the iTouch because the iTouch was awesome but the iPhone was EVEN BETTER. No such thing for the iPad. It's just bigger and I seriously doubt any major efforts behind it. It's always been harder to make things smaller and more powerful, not vice-versa. So instead of calling it an entirely new thing, why not call it 'iTouch X-treme' or 'iTouch Supasize Meh' or 'iTouch Obese' ? That way you don't get ridiculed by all the tech enthusiasts in the world. I'm not even a tech enthusiast but I felt an extreme urge to bash the iPad.

To put it frankly, I feel that what Apple have been doing pre-iPad was revolutionary. Personally I didn't even think of buying the iPhone because everyone wanted to be special and get one. Sure. Now you're special, just like everyone else. Just like the 1 million iPhone users in Melbourne City probably. It's over-used so I'd rather steer clear and not be a sheep.

Also, I've always been irritated at fanboys of Apple. Not sure why. I don't hate apple products. I love the way they make their computers and their phones and music players but I think it must've been the fanboys that drove me off the i[Name] fanfare.

So please fanboys, shush! Don't irritate me again.

Here're a few interesting points about this gadget:

1. No camera - No comments here but I'd doubt you'd wanna use such a big, flimsy, floppy camera. I can't imagine anyone wanting to carry the iPad around on the street. Being without a camera obviously means no webcam-ing as well. Besides, if it did come with a camera, isn't it a pain to hold that thing while looking at the screen? It's not exactly as ergonomic, small and light as the iPhone. I think I'd rather get a small laptop now.

2. Touch keyboard - The reason, at the level of technology now, I will not buy anything 'touch screen' is because keypads are simply more convenient now. They are also more user friendly. So unless you wanna look futuristic, like half of the world, I'd stay away. From what I've read, the iPhone touch keyboard hasn't been very friendly either and is problematic. Of course, Apple knows that there are dim people out there as well and has exploited this by allowing you to buy an iPad keyboard for only $70!

3. Lack of input - This thing lacks card slots AND USB ports. For something aspiring to be more like a laptop, it has failed here. USB ports are hugely important, especially for school-goers, tech savvy people and working people. Without it, it's vastly difficult and frustrating to transfer files. Also, without this USB port, you can not use anything that isn't Apple, which directs me back to point 2: iPad keyboard for only $70! No, that keyboard is for nothing but the iPad.

4. Closed applications - Once again despite wanting to be like a netbook, the iPad fails here. You can only download from the App store (which are approved and added by Apple). No external softwares for you unless you buy a laptop.

5. No flash - I almost vomited my breakfast seeing. How can any tech enthusiast live without flash today? It just makes the world less... flashy!

6. No multi-tasking - Unlike the netbook it aspires to be like, you can only use 1 program at once. HOW is this not an obese iTouch? Come on it's not much more creative and innovative than making a bigger brick, a bigger door handle or a bigger sanitary pad. My netbook can open more than 1 program at once :) and I like it that way. Very unfriendly indeed for something that is supposed to be an advancement and a close relative of the netbook. You'd think you'd get something that works better when it's so big??? NOT! Once again it's just an over-sized iTouch. No hint of it being anywhere close to a netbook. Bill Gates must be laughing his ass off now. I personally like to think that when it comes to buying Apple laptops and computers, 50% of what you pay to Apple is for the impressive looks. Functionally, it really is slightly inferior compared to what a PC can achieve. That's a whole new debate that I can't be bothered dwelling into now.

One thing also, that the iPad is supposed to be revolutionary at is that u can read newspapers and ebooks with it and it looks cool! Yeah, it does look cool but to be honest I really believe that newspapers and books should never be and will never be replaced especially with current technology. It just hurts my eyes to read tiny words on a screen that's blaring radiation into my retina. I often prefer printing long long articles when I wish to read it and especially when it's important. I remember doing my journal article appraisal on Warfarin vs Aspirin for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. It was just 12 pages of font 8 words packed tightly. Initially I thought I could pull it off without printing but I was wrong. It's just too straining and to be honest, I don't think the iPad should be a replacement for your newspapers and books.

Edit: Okay, after giving it some thought, perhaps it is alright to read your news and casual books on a screen but not with a screen the size of the iPad that's for sure. What I should've said was that for students, books really should come in hard copy. Something you need to study for should not be on a screen. It's just too little interaction between you and the study material. It's fine if you are just looking for information online but if you are to study or scrutinise something, it's better to do it via the hard copy. This applies also to workers who need to scrutinise documents.

To put simply, buy the iPad if you're into stuff that LOOKS cool, impressive and modern. If you're, at any degree buying it for its function, go get an iPhone (portable iPad), or get a TV or a camera, or a PS3.

Thank you for reading :)

And now a word from our sponsor:

Hitler. Heil Fuhrer.

Disclaimer: No I'm not pro-Nazi

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The nearly forgotten photos

You can let out a sigh of relief! There will be nothing political in this post, although, I can't guarantee that.

Wanted to post a few pics of the Bolognese meat sauce I made for my tagliatelle many many days ago.

Unbeknownst to a lot of people, Ragu alla Bolognese isn't pieces of minced beef floating in tomato sauce. It's in fact got these 3 important vegetables: Celery, onion, carrot. People always think there's a lot of tomato in the Bolognese sauce and in Miri, those disgusting canned button mushrooms. No. Porcini mushrooms can be added, but not button mushrooms, not even the fresh ones.

You obviously need minced beef in your sauce. Preferably however there'd be 2 or more different type of meats in your Ragu, usually beef and pork (or bacon or pancetta). The beef you use shouldn't be sirloin steak quality. Bad cuts (I'm not sure which) are used. That immediately qualifies all cows in Malaysia. The meat is usually finely chopped (which we did for this one!) not minced.

Red wine, white wine, your pick!

Your fry your stuff up, and with a little pixie dust and magic...

(Sort of)Authentic Ragu alla Bolognese! Notice how there's no pool of tomato sauce. This is a meat sauce please!

And the reason you use tagliatelle is so that the meat sticks easily to the pasta (with big surface area). Spaghetti is a big no-no!

Oh and the interesting thing about this sauce is that milk is very crucial ;) Probably even more so than tomato paste, and no, there are no tomatoes (the fruit not the paste) in this recipe, and I used the copyrighted official recipe for the Bolognese sauce :)

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On a different note..

It was my mother's birthday nearly 2 weeks ago. Honestly, Malaysian bakers don't deserve to call themselves bakers. They can't bake. Period. If you can't bake, don't bake and sell people your trash :). I really hate these Asian cakes. At least the Asian cakes in Melbourne are sorta edible and some taste alright.

Anyway, still looking young mother!