Istanbul - The Foods!

In Istanbul, we don't have to worry much. Abundance of halal food.

We were staying at the Hotel Peninsula at the Sultanahmet area. The hotel we were staying in was very nice, comfy, and the staffs there are very friendly and helpful. It was a good stay and I would not hesitate to stay there again.

Every morning for breakfast at the hotel we were served with this :

The breakfast is the same every morning, basic fare with fresh fruits, jams, juices and hot drinks. I like tomatoes enough, but over there, the tomatoes was incredibly juicy and succulent that I have to have it every day. The other thing I love is the yogurt eaten with the rose syrup that have little bit of petals in it ( pic : top right ). I love it so so much. I could have the yogurt and with various thing put in it day by day. It just settles the stomach you know.

During the first day, when we were walking around, we walked past the shops that have these such sumptuous delights:

and these: (which I unfortunately do not have the time nor perut to eat )

and more of these:

We bought some, but not from this shop.

On the first day for lunch, I was tired and hungry and cold so I ordered a Turkish coffee and my husband the orange juice:

The Turkish coffee tasted a little chocolatey. The orange juice, well is a juice. 

I was also a bit irritated and just pick anything that is easy which turns out as a good choice. It was quite good.

In the menu it looks quite small. But when I got it, it was huge.

My husband kebab and fries is quite nice too. For dinner that day, we opted for a light fare as the lunch we had above was quite late. I think we had lunch at almost 4 pm.

I can't remembered what it is called, but it is kinda like murtabak Johor/Singapore (wherever suits you ), but lagi nipis. The tea that I ordered is the traditional Turkish tea. I didn't ordered it again because the tea I drank adalah sangat pekat. I sangat takut jika tidak boleh berak nanti. Tak best travel and you sembelit ok :D . 

During this dinner which we had at the Arasta Bazaar, there was a dance performance, which is the Sufi dance/whirl ( I think ). Luckily we sat right in front of the dancer ( or whirler more like it)

Looking at it too long can make you dizzy. 

It was interesting to see his feet. Kinda like watching a ballerina feet when they twirl, and that is kinda like how they do it. When he was whirling he closes his eyes, so I guess it lessen the dizziness perhaps. There was no other moves. For 5 or 10 mins, he whirls and whirls and whirls in the same spot. I guess it is kinda trancing, both for the them and the audience. 

After a walk around town after dinner, we stopped by for this drink. I mistakenly thought it as coffee at first and when the seller mentioned its as not. It was.... something else more like it. It is kinda like condensed milk and vanilla. At the top is shaven cinnamon. It was piping hot and a very sluggish feeling liquid (which is why susu pekat comes to mind. Incredibly sweet too, but not susu pekat sweetness). Nighttime in Istanbul is quite cold, so the drink does have its merit. It is meant to be drink when the night is cold and the drink is piping hot. Otherwise I would imagine it as undrinkable. 

For lunch the next day, we didn't have any because we are too busy traipsing through all those historic places. Instead we settle only for the pretzel like bagel ( I think it is called Turkish Pretzel ) and the cinnamon filled bread.  This is sold at the carts situated everywhere there.

I like the pretzel and my husband like the cinnamon once.

The pretzel is very chewy but I love hard and chewy bread while the cinnamon one is quite crumbly, tasted a bit like cake, but not at all sweet. There is nothing like it in Malaysia I could compare it with.

Then I also had the most liat aiskrim ever. The Turkish Ice Cream.

Also the most expensive ice cream ever paid. This ice cream lagi mahal dari gelato yang mahal dekat Trevi Fountain, Rome okeh. Mencik.

I don't quite like the taste. I am not a big fan of ice cream and this one, is very filling and like I said kinda like chewy. Not a fan of the Turkish Ice Cream. Tapi kenapa the one at the Bukit Bintang Plaza lain dan sedap? Perhaps yang di BB Plaza sudah ditukar taste untuk catered for Malaysian crowds kut.

Tada! The dinner.

The above is a good dining experience. It is one of the traditional Turkish food. I think it may have the a little bit of Greek influence in it. The left pic, is my food which was couscous with mushroom and carrots and kebab beef meat. The couscous was incredibly awesome and the meat is niceee. The mushroom and carrots is ok enough. The right one was my husband where he ordered the rice. Their rice is something like pulut, which I don't like so I never ordered there. The lauk is chicken kebab and the grilled eggplants and tomatoes I think. The grilled eggplants was very good. Love it. 

The last days, there was a lot of things consumed. Like:

The bread we bought from the usual carts. This one is not so nice. But we were hungry after our cruise, so we finished it. I think. It tasted more like crumbly cookies. We had a hard time finishing it. The filling is cinnamon, but not like filling, more like bake along with cinnamon mixed together I believed. But hey, tidak cuba tidak tahu ape yang kite suka and tidak right. 

We also finished the baklava we bought at the shop during our first or second night there. It was AWESOME. It have just the right amount of sweetness and rempah to not let it be overbearing to your tastebud. Aku boleh guling-guling bile teringat the taste. We finished two before I remembered to take a pic. It is a small delicacies, but I believe it is not meant to be eaten in large amounts. The sweetness remembered. Maybe that is why their tea is so pekat. 

We also tried out this. Kinda like glazed donuts, but pretzel like! Kinda crispy in a nice kinda way. It is very nice, not recommended for everyday gluttony though. Boleh diabetic.

This is our lunch for that day. Very late lunch I'll say. Shared the kebab and drink. The drink is pomegranate juice. Sangat masam. Pelik pulak husband yang tak suke masam would like this drink. These juices is awesome and is a must have however, so we have to try it. 

This is our dinner that last night. The top is my kebab with fries. I ordered the extra yogurt with spinach to be eaten with bread, but I rolled all of my dish together. Lagi cepat habis. The bottom is my husband kebab which was Iskandar Kebab with yogurt. It was quite nice.

So that's that on our food adventure in Istanbul. We were more adventurous here because we can. So in our next destination you'll see the same food, kinda. But hey, I'll still blog it. Because I can.

Istanbul - What we see

Lets start this!

We went to Istanbul basically for 3 nights.

I don't think so I can manage to do a day to day activity (some of you might also drop dead from boredom), so I'll just condense here what we basically visits in Istanbul.

Before I started, we stay in Sultanahmet area, which is basically old Istanbul and where the famous Aya Sofya or Hagia Sofia or whatever it is people call it is located. So many of the places that we see were confined to this area.

On Day 1 we arrived early. Our flight was on midnight 26th Oct, so we arrived early around 7 a.m and by 7.30 a.m. we're already at the hotel. Because we're early, we can't check in yet, so we decided to jalan-jalan the Sultanahmet area after breakfast.

Blue Mosque early morning. And instead of nasi lemak or kueh mueh, there're a lot of carts selling pretzel /bagel like bread around Istanbul. They're incredibly nice to munch upon. 

Entrance is free. Though you are not allowed in during prayer time, unless for prayers la kan

On that first day, it was drizzling a bit. I noticed a stray dog sleeping at the side courtyard of the mosque and nobody gives a second glance. The poor thing must have been cold. We didn't go in because we malas nak bukak kasut and thinking that we have more time to look again some other day. We never did. Which came to my first advice of this post is, even if the place is crazy near to your hotel, if you are in the vicinity, just go in at least once. Heh. The blue mosque is very grand and feels kind of supreme. We are just contented to just sit at the courtyard though.

Then we singgah at the Sultan Ahmad the first ( It may spelt wrongly) tomb.

The tomb itself is a tomb. But it have some exquisites mosaics and tiles. 

We walked around actually in search of a leather jacket and other shopping stuffs. So whenever there is a place that is interesting, we will stop and look. Like the Istanbul University, where it is great fun to see students in hurry to go to classes clutching their lecture notes.

Istanbul Uni. Entrance are only for staffs and students. Not for people trolling for hot college chicks. 

The Hippodrome. Where Old Romans used to have their games/chariots drives which now is called Sultan Ahmet Square. But it is regularly named as Hippodrome in the guide book.

In here there is a few Roman and Ottoman relics left. Like the below, German fountain sent as a gift to the Ottoman Sultan which looks bland from afar, but amazing if you happened to glance at the roof. And many people stop and marvelled at the Egyptian obelisk, where it had stood for thousands of year in Egypt and many others in Istanbul and looks like it had just been engraved last month.

There is even a shopping centers (of sorts) that is in front of what used to be a Roman temple.

I did found my leather jacket but it is for another post. However for day 1 we did manage to get the museum pass.

So on Day 2, we on the museums listed in the pass. The pass cost 72TL per person. We manage only 4 out 6. 1 museum is in renovation and so are closed ( Istanbul Mosaic Museum) . Chora Museum is a bit far and we didn't manage it.

Before we started on the museum pass list, before it even opened, sudah tercongok di depan Basilica Cistern. It is part of the tinggalan of the Byzantine era.

The cistern is something like a water system used by the Roman. The Romans are famous for their baths and aqueducts, and this is just one of the example of their genius today. It is a very eerie place to be in, especially since we're the early bird for that day. But it is nice that we can basically hog the Medusa without other people camera flashes. The cistern is famous for its 2 Medusa head. The head is used as sort of support column (who really knows). One Medusa is as below, the other one (not pictured) is upside down.

I basically dared Medusa to turn me into stone. 

Then we head to the Hagia Sophia.

It is really quite lovely. Tho we did not visit the interior at night, I just like this pic a lot.

If we were to go back to the hotel, we will pass by Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque (they're opposite to each other) so, it is a really pleasant walk back.

The pictures below really, really does not do it justice. It is really lovely. Hagia Sophia, used to be a church, after Constantinople falls, it turns into a mosque. The Ottoman Sultans however left many of the mosaics depicting Jesus, Virgin Mary, Saints alone. However the Hagia Sophia is no longer used as a mosque and coverted to a museum. However azan still berkumandang there, as there is a small prayer building ( surau kut ) at the courtyard.

The cat at top right corner decided quite suddenly she wants to sit on a platform befitting for her. And in minutes, the cat had become a sensation at Hagia Sophia. Camera flash was directed at her multiple times and she was unfaze. She sat there for a few mins and then perhaps bored, wander elsewhere. 

It does not take a lot of time to wander around in Hagia Sophia. Around an hour for us. We pretty much gawked at the wonderful mosaics and tiles in the building. The mosaics from the church-era time are at the first floor and at the ground floor is where you really realized how huge the Hagia Sophia is.

Next on the list was Topkapi Palace. It was a massive sprawling place. And my camera at the time was running low on battery. It is really a place not to be hurried into. And I can't take a picture to show how massive it is. It is at the back of the Hagia Sophia and it just a gate. And no the below is the not outer gate. This is the inner gate. I can't believe I didn't take picture of the outer gate. It positively glinted in the sunlight.

Yes, the sky was glorious that day. 

After a quite considerable walk from the outer gate to the inner gate, we then find ourselves in the Topkapi Palace, but of course we are still at the courtyard. There was another gate (also not pictured, but it is just a door, with lots of people wanting to get into ).

There was various rooms. Among pictures below, there was the library, the throne room, the council room, the kitchen which is now being turned into a Treasury showcase. There is even a healing room, where young sultans rested while they recovered from their circumcision. The picture below is just a drop on how really huge the place is. Their palace are made by marbles and fitted by incredibly amazing looking tiles and mosaics. It must be a delight to walk around there barefoot.

The royals also used to have an amazing view of Istanbul. 

The 2 places that is a massive pain to get into is the Treasury because semua orang nak tengok huge priceless bitching looking gems. The other one is the section where it stored kunci Kaabah, objects from Nabi Muhammad S.A.W and there is even a staff from Nabi Musa A.S (allegedly). I wonder if this is the staff that breaks the Red Sea to two.

There is another section of the palace that we decided not to go into, the Harem. It used to be the wives and kids place basically. If you want to visit it, another 15 TL is required. Considering that and our legs ( we are incredibly tired by this time), we decided not to and head to Istanbul Archaelogical Museum.

The museum is next to the exit of the palace. There were 3 buildings. One housed the ancient orient relics (Mesopotamian , Egyptian era), the other one looks like a tile museum ( we didn't go in, dead tired already). And the biggest one is where all the Greeks, Lebanon, Roman relics used to be (which we went in).

I was delighted at the Ancient Orient building, when I found myself looking at the pieces from the Ishtar gate I almost squealed. The color is so vibrant and the history behind it is so magnificent.

We only managed some of findings from Anatolia, (Greek stuffs) and I practically begged my husband to not go up the second floor, because I don't think so I can take the climbing much longer. It was a really interesting museum. Chockful of stuffs. The sarcophagus of the Mourning Women and the Alexander.  After all it boasted of more than a million objects. I was looking for the jaw of the serpent column that is at the Hippodrome, but it must have either been closed or at the top floor. A pity if I think about it now, but I still remembers my exhaustion and I guess even I have my limit on how long I can walk and climb around.

However amazing to think that I can see objects from even The Temple of Zeus. A lot objects from these long ago civilization, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Babylon somehow ended up here. Those who are a history buff, this is a must place to visit. If I ever go back to Istanbul ( and I do ), this is one of the place I have to revisit.

After the Topkapi Palace. We head back to the hotel for a much needed recharge, both our energy and the camera battery. Then we head to the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. Here housed various Koran ranging from 13th century to the 19th. They're even one where it is uses gold ink.

Be it 16th or 21st century, that carpet would look good in any living room.

In here I think the oldest carpet is from the 16th century. I can't even made my t-shirt last than 10 years. Wait. I do have t-shirt that is more than 10 years.

The museum is cool enough. Husband enjoyed it very much, because he likes carpets. As for me, I like the thought that some of these carpet are used by the royals and some of them were used as prayer mats in mosque ever hundred of years ago.

For Day 3, husband decided upon Bosphorus Cruise along the Bosphorus straits. The cruise costs around 25eur per person, and it is for 2 hours. It was quite nice even if at first I do feel like puking. I was basically frozen there for the whole 2 hours. Alot of people on the cruise decided to go indoor rather freezing at the top. . It was incredibly nice, and while the tour itself was lovely, where we can see the old fort, many, many European looking palaces and homes of the rich and famous, I was only looking forward to the toilet. 

Only nearing the end of the cruise did we stopped at the Maiden Tower. Where I joyfully bounded for the WC (water closet = toilet), and afterwards enjoy the most loveliest view atop the tower. The wind was incredibly strong and it was dreadfully cold, but the climb is worth it.

We then head for the mosque nearby for prayer and marvelling.

I have to imagine that perhaps every mosque in old Istanbul ( there're a lot of other mosques we didn't go to) are as lovely as the one that we've seen. This mosque, Yeni Mosque was built around the 14th century. Other than that, I am not really sure. Heh.

Afterwards it is basically a shopping day for us, where I will tell later in a different post and walking around re-enjoying the view that the Sultanahmet area can provide which is incredibly awesome and ethereal like. 

This is a fountain in front of the Topkapi Palace. It looks more like it used to be 4 places of tap water, but the building is lavish enough.

Istanbul is an amazing place. Almost all other tourists we talked with would love to come back or is in their 3rd or 4th visit. Most of the locals are really friendly and nice. I love it there and would definitely love to come back.

Both of us at the top of Maiden Tower. Susah nak dapat gambar berdua ni.

Random Update

I had just got back from my Euro Trip. I don't really like calling it Euro trip because it gives the impression that I had been to more than 3 countries. For this trip, I only goes to Turkey and Italy. Went to Istanbul first, then go to Venice and then go to Rome. When in Rome, manage a day trip to Naples and Pompeii. I will make a post as per usual about the trip, though I am not sure how to separate it. 

It is good to be back after all, and after a half day at work ( more like few hours as I got at the office almost 11 ), it does feels like I had never been anywhere at all. 

As for the cats, well it is back to CATS instead of cat. 

Fetch Kurap from the pet boarding right after we got home. Kesian ok. The owner said she is so noisy, because she is always calling people over so they would pet her. Before this the owner mentioned, when Kurap and Fasha was boarded there, they were quiet. I think Kurap just realized that Fasha is not around anymore. The first thing she got back home, she sniffed the house from top to bottom. Not sure if she wants to familiarize herself again or try to find her sister. Sedih :( . I still keep on expecting to see Fasha head pop up everywhere when I took Kurap outside. 

Also, I mentioned cats because the first day back at home, my husband and I went to a hardware shop and I noticed a poor little kitty. He is so tiny and tubby and looks so full of worms. And I noticed misai kucing die sume pendek except for 1, so he looks a little peculiar. Somebody must have cut off his whiskers. I took him home and he is now living in a cage until I am sure he is ok and not diseased. He is a noisy little thing and likes to be let outside playing with the lalang at my house. Macam biasa aku tak tahu aku nak keep ke tak the tiny thing but I usually ended up will. Kite tengok je dulu. 

RIP Puteh :(

Puteh the sweetest cat ever, died this afternoon. I only had him for a few months, but he completely stole my heart. He have the sweetest disposition. I can only hope in the months that we took him, he got the best months of his life. 

God, this is so depressing. Losing 2 cats in 2 weeks :( 

He died of the same thing of Fasha, maybe worse. He was unable to breathe properly the last 2 days. This house feels so, so empty. 

Today I am feeling like I can never be happy again. I hope Kurap will stay healthy. Please God, let her stay healthy. 

Looking through the computer, I found this precious pic of Fasha when she was a wee little kittie. This is among the first pics I took of her. 

Sigh.

Grief Talking

Muka high main string

I am still can't get over it that she's gone from our life. She have a lots of admirers, people and cats alike. Kurap seems lonesome and so she is clingier than usual. Sometimes she mewed piteously, sometimes when she does this, I imagined she is asking where Fasha is. Kakak angkat die kan. First time datang rumah mengemis nampak Fasha, terus excited nak ikut Fasha everywhere.

 Puteh is now sick, and I have to take care of him and now more being more aware and careful not to let it be too serious. So while feeling like crap, I have to make sure my crappy feelings will not make me ignored the other cats. 

Day to day however it is getting easier to adjust to the fact that she is not there. I am grieving is the least of the thing you can described it. I even broke down crying at a pet shop. Seeing all those things that I used to contemplate buying for her, it gets a bit much. I thought I was OK, but I told myself I would not cry if Fasha name is not mentioned, but the owner knows of my cats ( I board the cats there regularly ) and the owner asked on their news and the tears came out. That was Fasha favorite boarding place. The last time I sent her there, she was ecstatically rolling around at her boardng cage. LOL. I remembered feeling betrayed then.  

Routine now changes. I have to adjust to not call out automatically " Fasha, Kurap makan ".  I only have to use "Be a good girl" instead of 'girls' when I left them alone in the house before going to work. (Puteh is being put at the back, I don't dare to leave Puteh and Kurap alone without human supervision). I sometimes found myself panicking because I left a window open (You guys know Fasha penchant of breaking out when she found a way), or left a cupboard or drawers open and then realized with a heavy heart that she is not around anymore. 

I think maybe I'll tell a story about Fasha every now and then in this blog. Just so I've somewhere she is immortalized. Memory is not forever. I looked at old pics of Fasha in my Blackberry and I forgot on how she sometimes tend to do this, or lepak at this place. 

Let's start it now. Now on the earlier paragraph how careful we are not to let open drawers left unattended. Fasha had always been a quiet cat. Opposed to the vocal Kurap who will meowed insistently until we break down and gave her what she wants. Fasha quietness is one of the reason I overlooked that she's sick ( I am currently feeling guilty, feeling like I could have done more but didn't, this is the natural process of grief they say). 

Once my husband locked her in a shoes cabinet, just for a while. And he forgot about it. I found her few hours later because I heard some rustling in the shoes cabinet. Another time, he put her in a drawer during one night he was playing around with her. The next morning I couldn't find her but thought she is off gallivanting , then smelt poo. I located the smell and open the drawer and she jumped out of it, smeared with poo and piss. During the entire night and early morning, not once did she make a sound. She did not mewed, or scratches. And I was downstairs late at night and if she made a sound I would have known she was there and let her out earlier.  I swear my husband is not a cruel person :p . He's just forgetful.  I had then since asked him not to play those games with Fasha anymore. 

The last time she was trapped, I was cleaning the house and opened the top kitchen drawer to get some stuffs. Went into the living room for a while and then I realized I left the drawer open, and Fasha likes to sleep or pissed in a drawer. Depending on her mood. So went back to kitchen and closed the drawer. Finished with my chores, I looked for the cats. Found the fat cat blessedly sleeping. But not the striped one. After searching everywhere I remembered the drawer. I open the drawer, and she's not there. Opened the bottom drawer there she was, coolly lying down and looking at me as if asking "Why are you interrupting my sleep". 

I miss her so, so much. 

RIP Fasha. 2008 - 2011

Fasha had just died this afternoon.

It breaks my heart knowing that I can never again see a striped cat hurtles past 5 roofs and jump down to the lawn to meet me at the gate.

I can barely think of cakes and pastries at home, knowing that I won't have a feline hanging by my shoulder trying to get a taste when I eat this in front  of TV.

I don't know if I will ever get a cat who is as smart and devious as she is.

So many things that I will missed about her...

The picture above is one of my favorite of her. She had always been delightful to look at when she was asleep. At the very least, I manage to see her last night, and even though the vet said she barely responded to anything, before I leave, she lift her head up high and look at me squarely for one last time.

I love her very much even if she did make me feel like tearing my hair out at times. I hope she had a good life. And I hope she manage to find all the bothersome cicaks in kitties heaven.

In all her fluffy glory

Review : Me & Mr Darcy and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Summary: After a string of disastrous dates, Emily Albright decides she’s had it with modern-day love and would much rather curl up with Pride and Prejudice and spend her time with Mr. Darcy, the dashing, honorable, and passionate hero of Jane Austen’s classic. So when her best friend suggests a wild week of margaritas and men in Mexico with the girls, Emily abruptly flees to England on a guided tour of Jane Austen country instead. Far from inspiring romance, the company aboard the bus consists of a gaggle of little old ladies and one single man, Spike Hargreaves, a foul-tempered journalist writing an article on why the fictional Mr. Darcy has earned the title of Man Most Women Would Love to Date. 

The last thing Emily expects to find on her excursion is a broodingly handsome man striding across a field, his damp shirt clinging to his chest. But that’s exactly what happens when she comes face-to-face with none other than Mr. Darcy himself. Suddenly, every woman’s fantasy becomes one woman’s reality. . . 

I really want to really, really like it. But it was not to be. Also at first I was irritated by the heroine spinelessness. I can forgive a spineless woman if she's young, but she's almost 30. Sigh.

Anyway, it started ok enough. It never explains how Emily (the heroine) manage to meet Mr Darcy. It just happened. But I guess an explanation would not really be explainable.

It got better at the end when Emily found her spine, but I'll enjoy it more if it does not try to parallel a lot of the plots to Pride and Prejudice. While it does this intentionally and brought it up to the reader attention, I really wish the writer had gone another way.

Overall it was ok. Funny at the times. Mr Darcy is painted even as a tad bit ludicrous. Midnight meet ups? It was unseemly to even go out walking in broad daylight without a chaperone in that time! But I manage to have a few chuckles so it is not a total loss. Funny at times, unbelievable at times, but it was enjoyable, hence the 3 stars.


The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary: Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher’s carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration.

This is my first book by Mark Haddon. It was as in the review being printed at my book .. " A stunningly good read". The narrator of this story is an autistic boy who don't and never will understand people who are not like him works, think, feel. So the story is narrated in a cold way, much like reading facts off a textbook. However the writer inject humanity in it by Christopher observation on how the people around him react.

I thought I would be bored. I never was, in fact I may have learned things by reading this book. This is a book about a boy. A dysfunctional boy who maybe understand how dysfunctional he is, but never really do understand just how so. It is about family and trust. It is basically about him finding a reason on this little mystery he encountered upon.

It is not a typical narrating, but it was interesting. It makes for a surprisingly fast read. I can't recommend it enough. I am now looking forward for more books by this author.

View all my reviews

Penat tapi kurang puas

Hoiii... tajuk tak dan dan kan??

But this is the feeling that I got. Well, I won a preview pass to the BIGGEST BADDEST BOOK SALE EVER. Big Bad Wolf Book Sales 2011, where the price is epic.

The preview pass is for yesterday (6th Oct) only. And I can only bring 1 other person with me. So I took along Sue who I know appreciate a good warehouse book sales. And of course aku nak buli Sue untuk ambik aku kat Midvalley. So right after work, off we went, which only left us around 2 hours to browse and buy. ( It started at 12pm to 9pm. But the normal sales hour is from 10 am to 9pm ). 

The BBW at MAEPS last night. 

But it was awesome that I got the preview pass as I could browse easily and get from aisle to aisle without looking over people shoulders. It also gives me a chance to quickly browse and quickly filled my shopping bag. I brought 3 shopping bag. By 8.30pm, 2 was full and the other one is half full. I can hardly walk due to the weight of the books. I was dreadfully tired because I have a light lunch and browsing books and lugging it around in a large hall that could fit a football field is making me really lightheaded. So I stopped looking. At this time I miss my husband. Awwww... Dilssss. 

There was a husband and wife there, where I noticed the husband kept on pointing out all the authors that his wife apparently like so the wife could take a look. This is what usually my husband does when he accompany me. And also he will carry all those books. Sigh.  Imagine if I have his shoulder, I would get more books! 

In the end I bought 30 books, for the price of RM236. It is a so-so achievement because I think the last sales I bought almost 50 books. And when I got back home, I was kinda like... ehh.. I thought I bought a lot. But then, I am tottering side to side carrying the books, I don't think so even if I have the energy I can buy more. I still have to get to Midvalley and carry my books to my car on foot. So , have to stop. Which is why tak puas because I feel I could buy more. Also partly because I am kicking myself that I put down a book called "Atlantis", then I thought that I had already put in my book. Only during paying I noticed that it is not in the bag. Bahh. 

Funny how missing one book which I had never heard before, could make me feel slightly down. I guess I need to cheer up because not all people could get the preview pass and browse easily. And on the bright side, there are a lot of books that I had my eyes on and are now are able to buy. 

My tower of chic lits

I stacked this chic lit that I bought with the other books to compare if perhaps I had gone slightly insane at the chic lit aisles.

My 'other' books consisting of thriller/horror/fiction/travel/fantasy/biographical/historical

Comparing this stack and chic lits, it seems the chic lit won. LOL.

Later Updated: 
Ops... the other books won, as I missed one book which is :

I counted again this morning and was baffled why I only have 29 books. Looked again in my shopping bag and there it is. The book above is a collection of letters they got from 16 teens during the WW2. Quite a good find. ( I love all WW stories related )

Also I am very pleased that I found Anne Berry - The Hungry Ghosts. I was tempted to buy at Borders, but of course I put it off.

For the little ones

The above I bought for my anak2 sedara. Didn't buy anything for Aleeya, ( my 4 mths old niece ), but of course because she is 4 mths. 

I didn't get much chance to browse, but perhaps if I am rajin, I will go again later on before the sales finish, to browse on obscure authors and titles. However I am kinda doubtful, because, I need to save money for my upcoming trip and well, 27 books ( exclude children ), is a normal amount for a functional adult. So, be still my greedy, greedy heart. Read all the bought books first.

I am pleased overall. The MAEPS hall is airy, the staffs are nice, we even have staffs helping to roll our books around in a trolley after paying on the way out and wait for us to get to our car so we can drive right at the entrance. And they have music! I remembered singing along to one of the Grease tune while searching for books. Yes I was tired, but it was worth it. I am not sure if I can get another chance like this next year!

So thank you Big Bad Wolf for giving me a chance to win a preview pass! Thank you Sue for bringing me there and the insane journey to get out of UPM!  Thank you husband who gives me moolah so I don't have to sit in a corner contemplating painfully if I really do need this book! 

p/s: blog posts may have lots of grammatical errors or sentence that does not make sense. Tired. I am.

edited in 2022 - added in the name of the books bought

Baby proof - Emily Giffin 

Love the one you are with - Emily Giffin 

Heart of the matter - Emily Giffin 

Something borrowed - Emily Giffin 

An Offer from a Gentleman - Julia Quinn

The Romantics - Galt Niederhoffer

The Wedding Girl - Madeline Wickham

The Book Lovers Appreciation Society - Compilations. 

One Fifth Avenue - Candace Bushnell

Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella

Bookends - Jane Green

Everyone Worth Knowing - Lauren Weinberger

Minx - Julia Quinn

The Magician and Mrs Quent - Galen Beckett

Black Thorn, White Rose - compilation

Bitten - Kelly Armstrong

The Hungry Ghosts - Anne Berry

6th Target - James Patterson

Starting Over - Tony Parsons

Sunshine After Rain - Dee Williams

My Favourite Wife - Tony Parsons

Letters from Iwo Jima - Kumiko Kakehashi

Guillermo del Toro - The Strain 

We were young and at War - Diaries. 

Kids books - disney pixar , toy story, cinderella 

Frommers - Venice

Rick Steve - Rome

Update Kucing Untuk Bulan Ini

Fasha had been sick for a few days. Not her usual prowly self. She had been sleeping 20 out of 24 hours, and macam invalid. Would only eat a few bites and drink watery milk from my hand. Kucing-kucing aku ni memang mengada. So took her to a vet favorite kucing2 ni near Setiawangsa. 

Puteh had been there 3 times, Kurap one time, so now turn Fasha pulak. Almost every month pergi vet. Dear governments, can we have some tax rebate for vet bills. At least this one is the least expensive vet, but at least Fasha seems to be responding well. The vet said she have a fever and gave her an injection, by night time she is beginning to get all prowly again. So the medication must have been working. So hoping she gets better and get on my nerves again. 

Puteh is whipped

Now Puteh is integrating well into the household. Well, except he kept on getting beat up by Kurap. Whenever Kurap is feeling pissed and she saw Puteh nearby she will gave him a whack. Kurap tu nampak je comel, tapi gangster. 

He is now a fully domesticated cat. He likes to sit near people. Enjoy being around people. Will not hesitate to park himself on top of you if you are watching TV. And he got himself snipped (neutered /spayed) and ever since then lagi la tanak keluar rumah. Well at least, after getting spayed, he never sprayed around the house again, not anywhere I noticed at least. And kalau bukak pintu pon, 2 ekor female tu will bounded joyfully out the house, but he just sniffed at the doorstep and got in the house again. 

Also I noticed that he likes a belly rub. I can never give Fasha and Kurap a belly rub. Maybe kucing jantan je kut suke cause I remembered that Chics likes to cium perut Ah Beng. Hihi. If I ever do that to Kurap yang montel dan berlemak tu, I will look like Freddy Krueger had given me a facial. 

Can I get any cuter?

This sucks

The thing that sucks with starting out new project is on how helpless you feel. Everything is new. Everything is unfamiliar. There's nothing to compare it with. Completely blind. I feel like a new starting out fresh graduate. 

I sometimes wonder how did I came to work in a technical line after trying to resist it so long. I wonder why I persist so long. It had been almost 4 years now. Wow. The longest I had been at a company and still no plan to move. I am getting way too comfy here. 

With this short brief thought, I will now head home. Tapi masih berlengah2, because KL is usually jam. I used to choose my workplace nicely. Like before my office move, getting to home from office is a breeze because the AKLEH is just metres away from my parking lot. Now, sometimes getting back to home is more stressful than the whole day at work. (either I hate driving or work is too easy?). 

Review: A Clash of Kings

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



A Clash of Kings is set a few months after the ending of Game of Thrones.

It picks up again with all the impending wars of the realm and the fight to get the thrones.

In this book too, I am introduced to a whole lot of other characters. In the first book, I only need to acquaint myself with the Stark and Lannister house mostly. In this book, I have to get to know the Greyjoy and Baratheon. In the next book ( from the sneak peek I read ) , it will include the Tyrell House. So many characters so little plot advance.

Things move slowly in this book 2, which I guess is only the start of my frustration on this series. I am pissed at first to get to know this relatively new characters. I was thinking " I want to know only of the old characters not caring a whit for the new one". But I guess the author feels that for at least 1 side of the realm, we must have a narrator. It does give a clearer picture, but it does slow down the story. By the end of the book, you feel like the plot barely move.

However the book does not feel slow, it is fast pace enough, chock full of court intrigue ( just the way I like it ), warring and angst. So many angst. In the middle of the book, it got a bit much, and I have to take a breather again, but right at the end, it picked up steam again. Which left the readers wanting more.

While I do have the third and fourth book, I don't think I will read it so soon after I had finished this one. It is best to take a break and read a few other books in between before resuming the series. After all, I think George R.R. Martin had only finished a few chapters of the 6th book. We are a long way from over.

I give it all stars because I love on how everything I predicted of the characters still does not come to be or turn out completely different. I wonder what they'll do next.





View all my reviews

MPH Warehouse Sales...

Currently sitting at home watching Gilmore Girls. Bliss I say. It would be more blissful if my computer is not acting up again (which it only does that when my husband is away? What is up with that)  While other people got to go to open houses or twtup but I have nothing to do and just sitting here idling my time away. Anyway, yesterday spent some time at the MPH Warehouse Sale after I heard some excellent sales on graphic novels. But I suspected that all of the good ones ( like Watchmen and Fables ) had all been gobbled up. They are only all those superheroes crap left. Bah! So I didn't buy any of them. I guess I have to depends on my 10% off Borders discount card then for graphic novel purchases.

Instead, this are my loots 

This pic looks tilted to you? I sometimes have problem taking a straight pic. 

I counted around 16 books which equals to about RM113 altogether. I am somewhat excited to get the Tash Aw book that I had been eyeing for a while, but was around RM40 in Kino the last time I seen it. So at this sale it is purchased at RM15. Good enough price, something to sneeze about ( I think I may use that phrase wrongly). 

But I am especially excited when I saw 'Furious Love'. I almost missed it, but I decided to roam around the place one more time, (practically skipping the RM20 books, I mean RM20 books?  For a warehouse price? The galls! But of course it is better than the so called book fair that sometimes just shaved off 10% - 20% of the price. Which is like...  have no words for it. But when I came upon this type of book fair and saw the final price, I'll practically storm off the premise and fuming at the mouth. It is not a pretty sight ). 

Anyway back to the book, which I saw and I kinda squealed when my eyes fall upon the dust covered book. I had been looking for this! The last BBW sale didn't have it. Maybe the upcoming one got, but who cares. And of course I realized I have at hand the movie that practically spurns this book. The movie where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton ( I kept on referring Richard Burton as Burt Reynolds in my head) first fall in love even though both are married , I think. Of course the warehouse sale do not have this movie on sale, I bought the movie at Carrefour months before. Haven't watched it yet, so I am now conflicted on what to do first. Read the book first or watch the movie first? Or the other way around? Sigh... such dilemma. 

Oh btw, the book sale at the MPH warehouse sale is ok enough, you can't get the popular books below RM10, unless you dig hard enough. However I find a few gem at around RM 5 and RM 3 prices, so there's nothing to bitch about. Overall it is quite good. To find something to your taste and very cheap, you may need to prepare to dig deep, where good airy clothing and braced yourself for lot of dust, but it was worth it. All the not so cheap one are displayed prominently but those are good prices, like you can get the GoT books ( all 4, not the recent one), at RM88. A lot of Sophie Kinsella and Madeline Wickham at RM20, and so does a lot of popular authors. Older books or obscure authors, you need to dig though a whole lots of boxes. Which is why a lot of my books purchase are the one prices at RM 5 or RM 3. Hard to get disappointed if you're just paying just a couple of ringgit for it. 

I think I am a hoarder of books. 

p/s: Kurap almost got hit by a car just now because she was hell bent on chasing after that darned bunnies. At least the driver stopped and laughed when hearing my screams. He was probably thinking crazy cat lady. 

Review: A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had saw the series first which was amazing and lovely and intriguing as hell.

So after the series end and a feeling of despair settles in, I bought the book so I can relish again the story.

I never care much about fantasy before. I try to get into LOTR, but without success. I think I like something with the YA feels to it, which is why my preference is more to that. The other fantasy series sounds something like an old bore or someone who fancy they want to be an old bore would write.

So the writing on this story surprised me a bit. Maybe I was expecting LOTR style of writing, but George R. R. Martin is surprisingly to the point, direct, succinct. Quite a number of times you might even find a glimmer of humour that is incredibly lacking in most fantasy stories. Which I like, because sometimes it is so unexpected that I can't help laughing out loud.

I love the plots, the intricate characters, court intrigue, the many lords and ladies that it make your head ache trying to keep up. It created a wonderful world and I find myself unable to tear myself away from the book. So I rate it amazing, because that what I felt like when watching the series AND read the book.

View all my reviews

Various Updates after Raya

Selamat Hari Raya to all! 

Tengah mood malas so updates bentuk point form okeh. 

• Raya kali ni macam pantas. Perhaps sebab husband is here so sume mende nak buat. So my raya end when he goes back to Turkmenistan this week. Sebab aku malas nak drive sensorang di kala jem untuk pergi beraya rumah orang. 

• My youngest brother is now engaged. Gile pantas. I felt old, and maybe I am because I'd been thinking that this year I'll be 30, but my husband replied that he'll be 30 (or is? God. I am horrendous), then I am only in the sweet sweet age of 28.

• That being said, I am really bad with birthdays. Don't take offense ok? Just because I don't remember your birthday does not mean I like you less, I am just horrible with dates. 

• The Petknode issues had simmered a while but people are still outraged. I am like Chics where I mudah lembut hati and felt kesian to the owners of Petknode. I think they majorly fucked up. I think perhaps they did not mean to be cruel but they inadvertently left the cats to die. I think perhaps they had entrusted it to someone else but the someone fled. However it is still their fault. It is their business. They should not be too busy to at least look into their shop to see if their shop is ok and whatevs. They should take more responsibilities. It is terrible, they're majorly stupid and the one who suffered are the poor defenseless kitties. 

• Now, I fetched the cats from the pet boarding on Sunday, and all of them looks pleased to see me. Especially Kurap. She is incredibly affectionate this past few days, and my husband is somewhat pissed that Kurap acted like he didn't exist in the house. I would be devastated if my cats are the one who suffered the same fate as the one in Petknode. 

• I am back to work now, on Wednesday dan tengah liat lagi. However I can't afford to be liat because I have deadlines. So... taa for now. Main game kejab dan buat keje. 

I rather face monsters than human

That's seems to be the feeling I felt in my dream. 

I kept on having recurring dreams where vampires are after me and taking hostage of my cats. Especially Kurap. 

Gambar sekadar hiasan

The other night  I dreamt of real people intending to do me harm, and it scared me witless. I found myself reluctant to sleep because in my dream the people came to me in my sleep and I was scared. Sleep of course came and I dreamt again of vampires and cats and all is right again in my world.  I rather much have vampires and zombies and aliens ( I dreamt of them quite often too) in my dreams than psychopath made of real flesh and blood. 

Perhaps the state of the world scares me. The other night I was haunted by the face of the father who lost his 2 kids. Last night news reported there was a hit and run in Kelantan where a vehicle hit 2 kids on a bicycle. Seeing those poor kids still bloodied and still clad n school clothes while being watched silently by their father at the side of the road, there is no word to express how horrible it is. The perpetrator are still not found. 

Aside from this sad business, the many cases of robberies, acid splashing, murders are making me feel quite disgusted with humanity. I really can't understand how these people live with themselves. What kind of things they'd been taught at when they were small that they could bring harm to others? Of course tale of murder is as old as time. But do they grieve for their wrong doing ?

When  I was small  my sister and mother, caught a young man stealing mangoes from the trees at our home. We never mind if the kids climb up and take a few mangoes but this guy actually brought a guni to put all these mangoes in. My sister ( who is a small fearsome little thing) berates him and asked him what he is doing, and all he said is "Mintak maaf kak, mintak maaf, saya orang miskin". 

Is that the excuses that they keep telling themselves? Time is hard so it is ok to steal, cheat, kill? 

So give me monsters anytime. In my dream I run and fight and face these monsters fearlessly. When I dreamt of human psychopath, all I do is cower.  

A pile of book reviews

The Long Secret by Louis Fitzburgh

This is the sequel to the precocious tale of Harriet the Spy, which I had read some time ago. I like Harriet the Spy, this one, not so much.

Summary:

Harriet the Spy refuses to become ruffled when an unidentified person starts leaving disturbing notes all over the quiet little beach town of Water Mill. She’s determined to discover the author of the notes. And she drags her best friend, mousy Beth Ellen, into all kinds of odd and embarrassing situations in her efforts to reveal the culprit. Observing in her own special, caustic way with her ever-present notebook, Harriet the Spy is on the case. But will she be ready to face the truth when she finds it?

Review

The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I like the book towards the end. When the characters shows more heart and emotion. I appreciate the ending.

However, this book felt bland . I like the first book well enough, but this one, I need to force myself to continue reading it.

I have no idea why I have a hard time imagining the story. Usually I have no difficulties in building the world the characters live in, in my min. However this book, make me feel dull and without imagination. Whenever I pictured the character it is against a white canvas. They interact with nothing. They only have emotions which we are not given glimpses of. Yes, even emotional Harriet, feel lifeless to me.

Maybe I am the only one who feel this way. Maybe I am just depressed when I am reading this book. But joy, is not what this book bring forth in me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Rest of Our Lives by Jeannie Johnson

Summary:

The Second World War is now over and people must count the cost. Three women from very different backgrounds meet when they find themselves on Bristol Temple Meads station waiting for the return of their loved ones. Edna's fiance Colin comes home crippled. Charlotte's doctor husband, who was a loving and gentle father, returns a violent, disturbed man with no love for her and even less for their children. Polly, who is waiting for her GI boyfriend Aaron, is once again disappointed when he doesn't arrive. Adjusting to men who are very changed and, in Polly's case, to no man at all, is the core of this story. However, during the war years, the women have had to cope. They too have changed, and they harbor secrets that would be best kept

Review: 

The Rest of Our Lives by Jeannie Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the book wholeheartedly and it was a fast read. Manage to finish it in 2 days.

I'd always been interested in the stories regarding women during the war. The one that were left behind and kept waiting . I like the characters setup, though Edna pisses me of with her indecisiveness. The writing is simple and no nonsense which I appreciated.

I guess towards the end, I felt like there's could be something more. Whatever that is I don't know which is why the 3 stars.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Waiter Rant by Steve Dublanica

Summary: 

In this book, the pseudonymous Steve Dublanica (a.k.a. Dan John Miller) achieves for waiters what Anthony Bourdain did for cooks in Kitchen Confidential. By the evidence of Waiter Rant, not even his seminary classes or job as a psychiatric worker could prepare Dublanica adequately for what he would experience pulling shifts at an upscale restaurant outside New York City. He tells story after entertaining story about customers, co-workers, and bosses who range individually from the imperious to the clinically insane. Along the way, the author-waiter delivers sound advice on proper tip etiquette and the art of getting good service

Review: 

Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip-Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by Steve Dublanica

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had been a fan of the Waiter Rant blog. Nowadays after the publication of this book, his update had been sporadic.

Anyway, on this book, I enjoyed reading it, but as a person who had read all entries in his blog, I guess, it feels redundant. Except for a few chapters, I felt like I had read most of the sordid true tales in the blog, and it was rehashed with more words in the book. The flow of the book is a bit uneven, felt disjointed from one chapter to the next. Like many other reviews before this, it felt like you are reading a collection of blog entries. I wouldn't say he is not a good writer, his style of writing is entertaining, though at times it feels like it is trying a bit too hard to be too philosophical (whenever he start waxing poetic philosophical stuffs, I tend to skip those paragraphs) and at times trying too much to be funny, when a simple fact should suffice.

I guess if you have never read his blog before, you might find it interesting and an enjoyable quick read. If you had, like me, it feels like revisiting entertaining entries while feeling is my money worth spending this much when I can just reread the blog?

(Though I have no regret buying this book as I got it cheap at a warehouse sale. My recommendation is: Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential for a raw tale of the restaurant industry. ).