Sitting in front of me eating dinner together in LI Restaurant is none other but the Group Chief Editor of Star Publications Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai (The key person that decide what to print and what not to print in Star newspaper) and I DID NOT TAKE PICTURE OF HIM so I can blog about it…

WHAT IDIOT blogger am I?…So beginner bloggers, PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW my footsteps…

Really Idiot..So i promise myself to put a digi camera into my hangbag..Hey hold on..I do have a camera in my handbag..WHAT THE &*&*(()***(!!!!!!

Tomorrow will be a big day for Star Publications. Star and UBP Printing will sign a contract for the printing of The Star Sarawak edition..and yours truly will be on the stage acting as the beautiful lady with the agreements…HA HA HA HA..beautiful indeed..YUCK…So better take my camera out and do some snapping Grace….

So…..I stop making excuses and …….Now…

So no matter how crazy this world has become…there is HOPE after all…only if we put an effort to it…

HMMMMMM…….

I wonder is she a puppet with strings attached to her hands, legs and brain and being controlled by another human being moving her around determining her every move and decision…Interesting…or maybe never happy for who she is or what she has..

Obviously she is not happy as she complaints and sigh every minute we are sitting there…Then I start to wonder why some human beings let their life being controlled by others either by external parties or by the environment or situation. “You don’t understand. I had to do this because….I hate my job but i cannot leave because…..”..remember all those words uttered to you or by you..

I used to be that puppet. Controlled by others and not by myself..The result is depression and unhappiness..Do things that made other people happy but not myself. Never take risk, never being adventurous, never do things that i love and etc. So why do i do all these to myself? WHY? difficult to explain though but one thing for sure…I learn that my life is CONTROLLED by ME and no one else. I myself takes full responsibilities of what I do and what i think. How happy I want to be, How lovely I want to be, How fulfilled I want to be must be determine by me alone and no one else.

So what did I do as I start to control my own life:-

1. I resigned my old job because I wanted a new career.
2. I got myself a tattoo because I think i look cool with it
3. I got healthier and thinner because I love exercising and eat healthy and of cos can get more guys’ attention – i HOPE
4. I started to make more friends
5. I learn swimming cos I don’t think i want to die drowning
6. I learn to be more direct and frank rather than keeping inside of me burning
7. I try new things
8. I went hiking and mountain climbing – not giving so many excuses like I have lots of things to do or who will take care of my kids….

Well not many of you like what I do but hey it is me..I never regret what I did. Yes I did made a lot of mistakes trying out new things but I learn from those mistakes and learn to grow….

So life is in your hands and not on others…..CONTROL your life NOW…

Sometime ago, when the ice-creams were not so expensive, a ten-year old boy went to an ice-cream parlour. While sitting at the table, he asked the waitress, “How much does a Sundae cost?” “50 cents,” she replied.

The boy took out his money from the pocket and began counting it.

“Well, how much does a simple ice-cream cost?”.

There were other people waiting to be served, so the waitress began to get a little impatient.
“35 cents!” she replied abruptly. The boy counted his money again and said: “Please get me a simple ice-cream!”

The waitress served him the ice-cream and his bill. The boy ate his ice-cream, paid his bill at the cash counter and left.

When the waitress went to clean the table she began to cry… for there, in the corner of the plate, were 15 cents… her tip.

This is what happened when someone is not working and is too lazy to do any housework…

Lesson of the day – -> get a JOB girl…
….

“Why?”, I asked

“The day where Hell Gate is going to be opened and all the ghosts will come out and play. If you are not careful they will follow you home”, mum replied

GURrrrrrpp.. I swallowed hard..

So, is it true that the 15th day of 7th month of Lunar calender is the day that all ghosts come out to feast and have fun?

Now..I have great imagination and this is what I thought when my mum told me about ghosts parading.

Hmm… Don’t think so huh..

Old folks do have wonderful scary stories to tell us during this lovely month. Below are some of them

1. Put a RED Panty (not sure whether G String or Thong work though) of a virgin (you can ask or check them yourself) on top of your head during the parade and you are able to see all those ghosts
2. Put PONGKES (garden basket i think – the one you sweep leaves and waste into) on top of your head to see the parade of ghosts
3. Girls, sit in front of the mirror and take an apple (green for better effect – ha ha) and a knife. Slowly cut the skin starting from the top around the apple till the bottom. While you are pealing, look at the mirror and you will see your future husband’s image  in the mirror.  DO NOT stop halfway or DO NOT CUT off the skin before finishing otherwise your Future HUSBAND will die in a horrible death.
4. Make sure all windows and doors are closed when the hell gate is open so that the ghosts do not wonder into your house

IMPORTANT NOTE: for 1 and 2 please do not remove them from your head before the parade finish otherwise the ghosts will see you and will follow you home

I respect old people..I really do but honestly are those stories real or they are to scare young people..Actually there are no logic at all in some of the points…e.g

1 and 2 -> where is the parade anyway? and where should one stand? what happen if I stand right in the middle of the parade?

4 -> i thought ghosts can go through walls…why do they need to go through windows or doors? hmm unless they are those chinese vampires that jumps…now that is a different story which i will tell another day…

Well, no matter how unlogical the stories are I DO NOT intend to do any of them…You never know….Ha ha ha ha

“You are invited to a Ramadan buffet in my Convention Center. My treat” she said

WOW…Free food…Anytime…I was already having guilt in my tummy because I did not exercise that one whole week and was eating like a pig but how can I deny a free food treat..so off I went and I did not regret it at all

Borneo Convention Centre Kuching is the first international purpose-built convention centre on the island of Borneo. It is so big that I was at awe when I went into the centre. Now of cos I am a jungle girl living in Sarawak that seldom visit any big convention places before but this is beautiful and big. It is still new and its scheduled opening is October 2009.

The Ramadan buffet was their very first buffet dinner which is open to the public and I can tell you I had a great time there that particular night. Good food and good environment. The music however needs some Lady Gaga “Poker Face” kick but then again who will want to listen to “Russian Roulette would’t be the fun without a gun” during Ramadan. hmmm…

The buffet is from August 22 till September 15 2009 and according to Diong, the menu changes everyday. The buffet is divided into starter, main course, desserts, and etc..

Pembuka Mulut

This is the what I call the “Pembuka mulut” located outside the buffet hall. They have dates and kueh (malay cakes – i think). All sweets.

Buffet Hall

Setting is soft and lovely actually. I quite like the setting. The staffs are also wonderful and friendly.

I did not take a lot of pictures of all the food because my saliva was already drooling due to the lovely smell and food decorations but I will try to remember what food they served that particular night.

Beverage Area

I love the beverage area. They have fresh brewed espresso..WOW. Served by delicious boys..opps..i mean waiters. They also have sugar cane, fresh lime and etc.

Starter Area

They have salads (western’s starters) and ulam (Malay’s starters – i think) and muscles and prawns..yummy

Mussels and Prawns

Fresh Salmon

Love this fresh salmons.. had 4 helpings….yum yum. Fresh and hmmm juicy

Hmmm Hmmm

Ikan Masin for porridge

Belachan with some veges...

Ok the next picture may look obscene to some and gross to some. But I do guarantee that the saying “Please don’t judge the book by its cover” is totally wrong in this picture…
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:
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Grilled Lamb

It is YUMMY…..try it…

I did not manage to take the pictures of the food at the main dish area but they do have lots of varieties
They have Curry Prawns, mint Lamb (i love this so much. So tender and juicy), Ayam Percik (First trying it and it was awesome), Chillies Mussels (Can’t help getting 3 helpings) and many more. Soup such as thick oxtail soup and yum yum crab stick soup. Fantastic food area

Side main dishes like dry wantan soup (weird huh – it is fried wantan dipped into fragrant soup. Simple sedap), penang laksa, prawn fritters, keropok lekor and etc.

Now comes to the dessert area.

Chocolate fountain

For the kids and young adults..ha ha..chocolate fountain. Dip into hot chocolate and let it melt in your mouth.

There are more desserts at the dessert area but I forgot to take them because of the FOOD..ha ha..They also have ice cream (cornentos, Ice cream sticks – not only the one in big pails which you scoop out) and bubur cacar..

They also have kebabs and salads and grilled fishes….

I do recommend you guys and gals to try out this BCCK Ramadan buffet. It is around RM55++. For those who wants to go this is the map that I stole from the BCCK website. ha ha

BCCK Map

Don’t really know about you guys but I will be going again this coming Friday….he he…Darn…my diet…..your fault Diong….

28th June 2009 the DAY that I finally donated my blood. YES..I was a bit scared and very excited because NOT knowing what will happen and what to expect…

GO GO GO Grace..

We went to Life Care’s blood donation campaign at Hock Lee Center..Riding the stairway to HELL (mind wondering)

Stairway to HELL??

While riding the stairway, I actually asked Thomas where the blood donation will be located…and before he can answer..There they are..in front of my nose. Not a bad place to put.   Let me see my shopping list. .

My Shopping list

So lets donate blood before I shop and below are the procedures of BLOOD donation for first time BLOOD DONORS.

Lets Register first. Must make sure you have your IC with you. Good thing is that they will fill for you. You just have to sit down and be treated as QUEEN..oo remind me of VAMPIRES..Treat you like a precious Princess before they SUCK all your BLOOD…mua ha ha ha ha

Registration Process

Very Soft spoken doctor doing some medical check on me. First they check on my heart beat..DUMP DUMP DUMP DUMMMMMMMMMMMMP..fast fast faster…COOL Grace..Cool..

Chinese Sin Say (Chinese Doctor) checking whether I am pregnant

Then, he checked my blood pressure which is 127/87. Not sure good or not but since the doctor did not say anything I guessed it is pretty good. After that he asked me a lot of questions and so soft spoken that I had to literally move my ear close to his mouth. And I think I owed him RM100,0o0.

Next, I moved on to the next counter for them to check my blood..These are the few things they checked :-

1. What Blood type I have
2. Whether my blood is acceptable or not
3. Whether I have enough blood to give?

OUCH?? Neh..

I am specimen no 21055539. So cool..

I am a Specimen..

Then I waited for my turn. They gave me a container that contained my BLOOD Extraction Tools. Plastic (I think that is what they call) to store my blood and, needle to poke my arm.

Blood Extraction Tools

When I saw the plastic bags….Mind thinking “Do I have that much BLOOD to give?”

What? So many bags?

Other donors smiling and giving me the PEACE sign..Obviously they are NOT in PAIN..Actually calmed me down. Thank you guys

Smiling Donors...NICE

My turn came and I was seated comfortably on a nice seat. The doctor said that I have beautiful large veins..Is that good compliment or bad compliment..Hmm..I guessed when it comes to blood donation or DRACULAS..i think is very good compliments. ha ha

My Adidas Shoe

Doesn’t I look like a corpse in a morgue? Hmmmm

Getting Ready

First thing they do was to give me local anesthetic so that the when they poke it the BIG needle I will not feel any more pain..OK..

The Extraction Began

Needle to extract blood

My Blood Flows down river

The blood is collected in the bag and they actually weigh the bag.

My BLOOD

Me..

The happy me AGAIN

The whole process took only 15 minutes and they extracted 2 bags of my blood..I think..ha ha..No Pain at all and I enjoyed every moment of it. The staffs were friendly and made me feel very calm and cool about the whole thing..They gave me my very first Red Cresent Blood Donor’s book to record down everytime I donate my blood..I am soo happy and proud of this book

My first Red Cresent Blood Donor Card..

I was surprised at the end when they gave me 5kg of Uncle Tan’s rice as a token of appreciation. WOW…I am soo touched. Thank you Life Care

Our surprise gifts

So after my blood donation process, I can crossed out two things from my shopping list.

Crossed out List

I am so happy that I finally manage to donate my blood. It is not scary at all and I love the entire process. The people are friendly and caring. And the most important to all first time blood donors..It is not PAINFUL at all..maybe a bit of ant bite..I am not lying..

Things to remember according to the doctor regarding donating blood :-

1. Eat a bit before donating
2. Sleep well the night before
3. For ladies, you are not suppose to donate blood one week before period and during one week after period
4. You are not allowed to donate if you just had a tattoo (make sure is after one year)
5. You are not allowed to donate if you are pregnant (only for girls)
6. Make sure you are not under medication, or have hepatitis B, C, D (opps wrong alphabet) or AIDS

So girls and boys..I highly recommend you all to DONATE your blood..you can save a LIFE..