midnite lily's

I know I missed a foodie friday posting last week. It's been a pretty busy one, where we hadn't been home almost everyday. And I think the only time we were, we went out for sushi. Heheh...

To make up for it, I went to the Italian Festa in Leichhardt with two of the girls from last Monday night, and had a different foodie fest. Funnily enough, most the food we ate or saw weren't Italian - Dutch poffertjes, paella and Gözleme. Although there were the usual pasta dishes, chrizo and pizza being sold, the ones that I made an effort to try were the cannoli and Italian ginger bread.

The festa also had a cooking demonstration, "Nonni in Cucina" - where "grandmas in the kitchen" shared traditional Italian regional recipes with the crowd. H & I sat in for two dishes, Orecchiette con Rape and Bagna Càuda, but only had the chance to try the latter. It was a delicious Piedmont hot fondue-like dip made with garlic, anchovies, cream and olive oil.

Surrounded by Italians, immigrants and naturalized Australians alike, I started to realise how pretty full on the Italians were in character. There's an air of confidence that surrounded them that, to me, felt rather intimidating. Numerous times I was told either to "pay for taking their photo" or that I should have asked their permission. That left me feeling a bit uncomfortable taking the usual candid photos then. So I decided to stick to the usual food photos. (Find them at my Flickr here)

Anyway, the festive atmosphere around Norton St in this Little Italy suburb brightened up the stretch that is usually known for its family-run restaurants, shops and bakeries. After the festa ended, the girls and I were joined by Lee for dinner at Bar Italia.

Posted by midnite lily at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's been a busy social weekend, right from the Balmain market up to dinner last night. But the highlight was on Saturday at Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. I've never been to any parades before, so what a way to get initiated!

The atmosphere out in the city that evening was amazing. Everyone was just out to have fun, take photographs or just watch out of curiosity. I had a bit of trouble taking photos because I was too short, although Lee did try to carry me. Hahah... The best I did were some of these few snippet videos of the parade.

The Trojan Horses and Roman soldiers.

Continue reading "Mardi Gras weekend" »

Posted by midnite lily at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Unlike last year's mad bash (sorry, photos removed. Heheh...), this year's birthday was simple and alcohol-free. =P

Lee & I had a nice quiet dinner at the family-run Italian restaurant, Il Casale, in the neighbourhood on Friday. The owner was pretty cheeky and told Lee he'd put us up in a romantic corner for two, and warned him later that the table where we sat in the back garden was where a couple got married the day before.

Saturday was dinner with Lee and his mum at a highly recommended Malaysian restaurant in Miranda. The Nyonya food served was definitely not disappointing, and my taste-buds were finally sated with uncompromised curry dishes! We ordered and enjoyed the lime leaf curry chicken, sambal tumis prawns and sambal eggplant. With the best bit being the durian ice-cream for dessert!

Besides being a stuffed-silly foodie, the bulk of the weekend was spent shopping in the city and at DFO in Homebush. So I guess you could say they're enough reasons for a girl to be happy, no? Heheh...

Posted by midnite lily at 1:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Thanks for all the wonderful well wishes guys! The break was rather short, albeit a bit on the late side since I've been sick for over a month, but the good thing is I'm feeling much better now! The throwing up stopped once I laid off protein food (dad's advice) and now I'm on a minimum 2-litre-a-day water diet.

me & Sydney Blogger's mascot, Babe Lee & I finally got to the Sydney Bloggers meetup last night, after having missed the last one. The organisers, Mr & Mrs Bargain Queen put up Babe the mascot for easy spotting. Definitely a good usher for Chinese New Year, no?

The crowd was very different compared to the blogger gatherings back home. While the Malaysian blogsphere seem inundated with teens to early twenty-somethings with preppy lifestyle blogs, the late twenties and above Australian blogsphere seem more geared towards niche topics or money-making. Well, at least with those who were at the meetup last night.

Continue reading "Feel tip top & a blog meet" »

Posted by midnite lily at 5:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

It was a lovely modest garden wedding, with the exchange of vows performed by a marriage celebrant at the groom's parents' homestead on a hill overlooking the Monaro highway.

Continue reading "Canberra wedding" »

Posted by midnite lily at 9:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Gonna be away this weekend. Driving down to Port Dickson at noon tomorrow. The girls did organize a farewell party for me and it's tomorrow... They rented a beach bungalow, methinks. I'm very fuzzy on the details, including the specific guestlist. I'm only bringing myself there.

Got Naz & Sze in the car with me tho... Roadtrip! Hee...
Have a good weekend y'all!

Posted by midnite lily at 11:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The girls and I will be off to Muar this weekend for Ray & Eternity's wedding.

I'm gonna need the break away from the doldrums of being alone with the book Marley & Me this week. I haven't been much of good company being miserable. Save for popping into VW for more Sumolah accounts work and joining some friends at Patrick's steamboat restaurant, I've been idling at home with the tummy flu and nursing paranoia.

Gawd, I'm depressing. Anyway, the girls are sympathetic and we're gonna have a "bonding session" this weekend. Gee.. All I can think of right now is comfort food... Muar food... Remember Ju's wedding last year? Heheh...

Posted by midnite lily at 5:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I got to hang out with the cool cat Erna last nite. In a way it was kind of surreal, finally meeting someone you've been "in touch" with merely through her blog for so long.

At first there was this seeming awkwardness for the both of us, conscious that we've known about each others lives, but never made contact. Hehe. I guess being aware that we already know of the deeper and personal side of each other, we could easily skip all the small talk and just go into filling in the details. That's the cool part about the Internet and blogs.

So the hostage situation at Ming Tien last night turned out pretty cool. With all her stories, I'm actually looking forward to reading that woman's books one day. Even if they're semi-autobiographical. ^_~

Now I'm wondering which other long time blogger I haven't met which I should make a list out of meeting before I leave. Hehehe...

Posted by midnite lily at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Changi!! You're a big shopping mall with planes for transport. >_< Took me a while to find the laptop access ports. And my gate is far far far farrrr away! Bleh.

Gonna start becoming a claustrophobic soon... All I remember are the carpets of the airport, the post offices and bookstores... and tiny seat spaces, legs cramping, neck cramping... *blur*

But, OMGOMGOMG! I'm going to be in Japan in 9 hours!!!!!

Posted by midnite lily at 11:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Forgot to take a photo of BKK airport. Bleh. Was too busy getting something for my BFG... I'm sending him something from each of the airports I'll be at today *^_^*

Finally home, for a short while. Felt the stress come back to me the moment I got out of the plane too! Hahaha... The flight back was good. Better than the BKK inbound. I sat beside a whinging pommie first officer too - right at the back of the plane. And talk about back seat drivers!!! LOL The things he told me about the airline where he worked could've frightened an aviophobic off a plane instantly. Even about some basic airplane facts. Hahah...

The airline gave the ladies on the flight these little orchid corsages. I don't know what's the occassion, but it's pretty ^_^

Okay, boarding call! On to airport # 3... whee!!!

Posted by midnite lily at 8:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Lumphini - next best thing to Chaktuchak
if you're not here on a weekend

Mobile Currency exchange

Tuk tuks

Continue reading "Bangkok photos" »

Posted by midnite lily at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, technically... Hahah... Because of what was written on the wedding invitation, I had a "spouse" for a day to one of the biggest weddings I had ever attended, last night. Big names and dignitaries poured in to Dewan Perdana Felda for the wedding of Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin's son, Zaidan Zainuddin. The latter whom I met over a year ago while producing Generasi Digital.

muteaudio & I I had specially bought myself a baju kebaya from Indonesia for the special occasion, but had a major frantic emergency when I accidentally ironed my top... the iron was too hot and it burned the cloth! >_< Yes, very clever I know! So I had to rush out to buy myself a new top which I am more happy with than the one I burned actually. I think this combo looks so much better. Albeit a bit more expensive. I'm so going to have to attend more weddings in this to make up for the money I spent! Har-har...

Well, imagine my butterflies over trying to look my best while being totally clueless over protocol at events like these. Doesn't help that my "spouse" didn't put on a batik shirt! =P This wasn't just your ordinary traditional Malay wedding. It was a wedding where the list of guest of honours were greeted in a five minute long salutation in each speech! It was the rare sight at a wedding where both the former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad AND present Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Badawi are there to give the couple's the traditional merenjis blessing.

I was wondering if I were in Zaidan's shoes, how his big day in some ways felt overshadowed by these dignitaries' presence rather than the bride and groom being the highlight. But after watching the course of the evening, I think it must be a really rare occassion for any Malaysian. It wasn't like you were paying respects to them, it was actually the other way around. My 'spouse' and I was wondering what Pak Lah and Dr M must've been chatting over dinner though. What do you talk about when you're at a non-work related function?

What was really sweet was to see the more personal side of a father's speech to his own son and daughter-in-law. Though his speech was long and accompanied by a multimedia presentation and the ocassional poetry sung, I loved the words of wisdom conveyed at the end where he said (translated very loosely from BM)...

"If the foundation of your life is built on material things, you will be disappointed. But if the foundation of your life is built on confidence (and another word, I forgot), then you will find true happiness..."

with the bride & groom

Congratulations to Zaidan Zainuddin & Nurhasnadira Hashim! May you have a blessed married life filled with everlasting love.

More pictures at my flickr.

Posted by midnite lily at 9:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Labour Day last year I joined TV Smith, Jeff Ooi and a few others on a photography roadtrip to Kuala Gandah. I thought it was a traditional run because they had previous May Day outings, so I asked TV if they were going this year.

Instead, it was just TV and I on a lazy midnight road trip in the eerie backhills of Semenyih. (We were both lazy late owls who didn't wake up when the sun's up. =P) We started out with a nice cityscape opportunity over at the infamous Bukit Belacan. I didn't expect much from my camera as the LCD screen was spoilt red and acting up on me, making it hard to see if my picture was blurry - time to buy a new camera! Ugh. But I think the lights turned out nice enough to make it look like a blurry upside-down night sky!

Continue reading "Midnite Roadtrip" »

Posted by midnite lily at 5:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I didn't realise this was my ticket to one helluva happening night @ the brand new Italiannies, The Curve & Laundry Bar.


But since I knew it was going to be awesome food and drinks all night, I got TV Smith, Naz, muteaudio, SeaDev (who pulled out last minute, woman - you missed out!! =p), PH & my bro under my RSVP. Woo-hoo.. I feel so important. Ha! As if.

Continue reading "Get thirsty @ Laundry!" »

Posted by midnite lily at 7:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

No mute, I'm not trying to rub it in but -
happy 30th birthday!!!
yesterday

It was another one of those paint the town red nights while mute and I crashed (cos Naz was the only one officially invited lah) the femes KinkyBlueFairy's bday party... Good Friday was alot of people's birthday hor?! And so we found out when we checked in at Bubble Lounge to meet Linda. But in between that, we ate ourselves silly at Tarbush, I swear the piña colada at KinkyBlueFairy's party was awesome - got me giddy without food! =P

Anyhoo, check out the piccies at Naz's blog.

Posted by midnite lily at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Cosmic Funk Express's 2nd set showcase with guest vocalist, Izwin. From left, my bro on bass, Izwin & drummer Alex.

Guest keyboardist Savy, & sizzling fingers Zack.

Green Zack... wouldn't you be envious of how he can play TWO guitars at once?

I couldn't resist taking this picture of Albert, sitting on the floor taking his photos.

What my bro and I missed at Lilttle Havana? TigerJoe was there!

Posted by midnite lily at 3:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Plugging for tomorrow night, my brother's band Cosmic Funk Express is playing at Little Havana. Be there! ^_^

Posted by midnite lily at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

In backward chronological telling of my trip to Indonesia... I came home to KL with a major hangover. My last night in Jakarta was the only night of all work and one final night of play. Hmm... Maybe that was why I got so messed up at the LCCT. =P

What began as a night of watching dirt cheap, crystal clear Indonesian-made DVDs ended as a plastered partying Friday night. Joe had friends who were meeting her at a two week new club in (expat territory) Kemang called Dizzy. And the first thing I noticed was how under-dressed everyone seemed to be compared to our flashy KL clubbers. But what compensated for the seemingly nonchalant crowd was the music, which was to me wayy much better than KL's clubs. None of that overrated R&B shit.

We bumped into another colleague there, and amidst tequila shots, Joe decided Dizzy's crowd was too dead and we headed to Dragonfly Bar instead.

My gawd, was that place is huge! (Photo taken from bloompy) And again, the music was definitely not disappointing. Or maybe it was the fact that I was already high and getting delirious from the alcohol mix of tequila shots, a cosmopolitan and a whole lot of Long Island Tea shots (yea, they came in lethal shot glasses ^_~). Remind me not to make a habit of this, but I was definitely dancing and jumping about doing twirls... Alcohol, the pivot of inhibition (that plus being in another city). And of course, the embarassment of being carried back home again at the end of the night seemed inevitable. *pouts embarrassedly* Thankfully, there wasn't a porcelain god to behold. It was just amidst the car park bushes with my colleague's cousin holding me upright, and a security guard holding an umbrella to my left. Yes, the rain made it so much more romantic. Bleh.

The next morning was painful. A very painful reminder that I shouldn't be doing this anymore. And also how I forgot I wanted to lay off alcohol for Lent. *sigh* I am not alcoholic!

Posted by midnite lily at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Happy Birthday, SeaDevilyn!

We spent a "Phantasmagorical pre-birthday day" last Saturday as my birthday gift to her, a pampering & quietly relaxing girls' day out at Putrajaya Shangri-La's spa and gorgeous infinity pool. Ah, bliss! Which then ended up with a gastronomically adventurous night at Ming Tien, Taman Megah - where I hillariously taught SeaDevilyn how to eat balitong! Hehe...

May you have an awesomely blessed birthday, girl! Count your blessings. ^_^

Posted by midnite lily at 5:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

It was one helluva mad nite! And I know everyone who was there last nite had a good time. For either having watched me embarrass myself, or had fun meeting each other. It was a mean flaming lambourghini that saw me worshipping the porcelain god in the most embarrassing moment ever! Eesh! I swear, this is the worst drunken night guys! Suddenly I feel like A&W would've been a better idea. =P

What amuses me is how everyone was coincidentally single last nite! Hahah.. As for the details, those who were there with blogs are very the eager to tell the whole story. As if I can remember anything! x_X

Thanks to my wonderful caretakers Seadev, Naz & mute, entertainment providers Gav & Alvin, babe of the night - Alicia, the only couple of the night - Voon & Reinhard, my bro, TV, ET, Ju, KL, Ann Jil, Din, Zul & Andy.

More photos at my gallery.

If this is what it means to turn 27... then bring on more birthdays! Haha...

Posted by midnite lily at 5:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

So I gave in to my "kidnappers" and stayed awake to leave with them at 7am to Malacca. Mute had to go down to recce locations for a travelogue he's working on. I was at first jaded at the thought of going to Malacca for a day trip, having done my own share of recces for Kembara Ria Malaysia (KRM) a year ago. But I was proven wrong when we found a couple of new places to visit in the Jonker & Heeren St. area.

The Cheng Ho Museum had recently opened last September, and it was quite an educational if not serene visit amidst the old archictectural homes of the Jonker st area. During my KRM shoot when I stayed at Hotel Puri, I was fascinated at how quiet and secluded it felt being inside one of the homes. It was as if the architecture of these shophouses were made to be a quiet enclosure from the hustle of the narrow lanes. It was the same with the Cheng Ho museum, which was even larger in space. We were told that Dr. Tan, the person who helped start the museum, had bought a number of the lots that were formally Cheng Ho's warehouses.

Continue reading "Birthday day trip" »

Posted by midnite lily at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Post PGL the musical preview, TV Smith got the bloggers to meet at Studio 5. When I arrived, everyone started singing Happy Birthday to me. *^_^* Thanks guys! Heh. Photos uploaded to my flickr.

Yeah, it's almost 6am and I haven't slept yet! Not that I've been getting enough sleep the last few days... & I don't know if I will today, Naz and mute are planning to kidnap me and take me to Malacca for the day! >_< eeeps!

P/S: It's also my blog's 5th anniversary! ^_^

Posted by midnite lily at 5:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

In exchange for one fun night of CNY festivities, I guess I don't mind falling sick. Heh. Dad gave me a word or two about having drunk lots of wine and eating dishes with chinese herbs. My body seemed to have overheated and reacted with a cough and a cold. What could've I done anyway, refused the delicious home cook spread? ^_~

I spent CNY eve at Patrick & Min's. Not having had proper CNY celebrations with my own Chinese side of the family for err.. almost two decades? it was a welcome idea. Particularly after reading Min's entry for CNY preparations.

Continue reading "Of red knickers & CNY" »

Posted by midnite lily at 12:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"It's a wrap!" are the magic words a production crew dies to hear from the director at the end of a shoot/recording. It's like an undeniable power that unless said aloud, no one can stop working. And so, Everyday's a Friday comes to a close. Another chapter, another project closed. New friends made, new bonds forged.

Production tradition tends to hold wrap parties for the whole crew working on the show. And despite having worked on numerous projects, I've honestly never had the chance to have a wrap party for my own show. Until now, of course. So who was out partying at Karma Hartamas tonite? Everyday's a Friday's Serena C, the Cheer Crew - Zul, Din, Shri & Kiru, Petrina, Brandon, (mr hotlink) Justin and I.

So more drunken photos uploaded on my flickr! And rather incriminating evidence against my cute Assistant Director - who was "double troubled" by MTV VJ twins May & Choy during shoot! Haha... Man, we've never seen him this drunk and cussing mad before!

Continue reading "Wrap parties are good..." »

Posted by midnite lily at 6:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

When ten bloggers party at the National Press Club on the eve of New Year's Eve...

Everyone starts off sober enough for introductions, and warm ups.

Until one by one, the bottle runs dry.

Continue reading "Pic Story: When Bloggers get together..." »

Posted by midnite lily at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

In reverse of last weekend's drunken company, this weekend was spent with a little angel I had regretfully neglected to see since Christmas. My godson Angelus turned three two weeks ago, and this bad godmum was begining to feel guilty.

Continue reading "Weekend Angel" »

Posted by midnite lily at 9:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Saturday nite's company was quite the opposite from Friday. It was all just tokkok over yummy deep fried pig trotters and whisky evening with the most unlikely but hospitable company.

Even though I had met Patrick and his wife Min, on two separate occassions for work, I didn't quite know what to expect over tonite's dinner. But the atmosphere became more relaxed later during drinks at Waikiki.

Continue reading "Weekend Company - part 2" »

Posted by midnite lily at 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The weekend started out with TGI Friday's Mojito... and ended with a beer just two hours ago. But it wasn't about the getting high or pissed drunk, it was all about the company.

Seadevilyn persuaded me to Zouk Velvet last night, even though I didn't feel quite up to it. But then I thought, what the heck... I've been sick and couped up at home for 5 weeks! And minus the wedding, I felt almost alien to human interaction. So was it one helluv an adrenalin rush from the time I had a work meeting at TGIF to dancing the night out til Velvet's lights came on.

Continue reading "Weekend Company - part 1" »

Posted by midnite lily at 5:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Bangkok - is my shopping haven! Never in my life of an amateur shopper, had I experienced so much variety and favourite styles in one roof!! Jatujak Weekend market is incredible!!!

I went with Ju, ET & KY over the long weekend. It was a trip we planned over a year ago. Now especially to buy Ju's wedding favours. Which we didn't quite find, but bought some interesting crafts to make handmade invitations.

My gawd. I honestly felt like my feet dropped dead during those three days. I can't understand how anyone can shop like that!!! But it was fun, while my feet lasted. Will post pics when I get 'em from Ju - my camera busted, again. Bleh.

Oh, and Toffee chewed up my spectacles (lens in half and frame distorted) yesterday while I napped beside her. *sigh* Expensive dog!!! *mumble*mumble*

Posted by midnite lily at 6:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I missed all the hullabaloo. Well, almost. I was at the PPS's birthday bash a couple of hours too late. Anyway, got a couple of voyeuristic peeks at Kenny Sia and Jayelle in person. And also met Peter Tan, Suanie among the few left behind. I was really a lil' fuzzed out from a dinner meeting prior to going over, I probably looked really anti-social... x__X

Anyway, Sharizal! I did drop by. Albeit late. I guess I didn't get a drink cos I didn't pre-order? =P *whoomp* heheh...

Continue reading "Pingers Birthday" »

Posted by Zona Marie at 2:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)