Nico's Vacation - Day 2

13/12/2009 - Woke up uber early @ 4 am to catch the 7:30 am Alitalia flight to Kuala Lumpur, transitting in Rome. I took the taxi - well there wasn't any public transport that can get me to Heathrow Terminal 4 at the wee hours of 5 in the morning. Apparently MAS is also flying out from T4 now with the closing down of T2, I guess they are shifting things a bit. There are a lil more shops in T4 compared to the last time I was there - Berlin Dec 2008 I think.

At the check in, I was told that I was to get my Rome - KL leg boarding pass when I am in Rome Airport. I was a bit concerned then already considering the fact that I only have one hour and 20 minutes to do. It is a bit weird for this kind of joint airlines flights. Normally, you are issued both boarding passes if you are transitting, right? Well at least this is the first time I had to do this, so I was like ... err .. OK.

Grabbed a Starbucks Eggnog Latte for breakfast. Is it just me or Starbucks... that nowadays, I don't think I can stand their flavored coffees anymore...they are simply too sweet without any coffee taste. Oh well, should have ordered a tall instead of grande.

Flight from London to Rome was about 2 hours plus. Flight was only half full. I'm not sure how bad is was for Alitalia to get such notorious reputation before this, but my flight was considered OK.

Touching down Rome airport, I hurried to find my way to the gates. Wasn't sure where to get my boarding pass but passed by a transfer desk with MAS sign on the screen - but it wasn't the right place -_-. The lady told me to get it from the gates...right...to the gates then. By the time I get there, 40 minutes to scheduled depart time - not too bad, not really panicking either since I don't think they dare to leave without me when I am already at the gates. Another 'queue' confusion - which queue to get my boarding pass! Argh! There were a lot of people trying to make sense of the few queues there too. I wonder why they have to do it this way - just too confusing! Anyway, I managed to board the plane...phew.

Food was quite good this time. Wonder if it is because I'm flying from Rome instead. Lunch consists of smoked salmon salad, chicken biryani, cheese and bread and a slice of apple pie ... yummy. Breakfast was nasi lemak, croissant with jam, a muffin, yogurt and fruits.

Touched down KL after 10 hours, 20 minutes ahead of schedule...

My first day in KL was basically, went to the same restaurant for lunch and dinner to meet relatives and a brief stroll in Mid Valley to shop for a threadmill for dad...that's about it. Am still trying to get over my jet lag and pack for Cambodia...

What's in for Dec

It is really very cold this early in Dec in London. I didn't remember it being that cold same time last year. Maybe it is just me denying the fact that it is already winter! Caught a lil cold earlier this month because of that...well I think it started from the sore throat I had after eating some deep fried tofu. I know, shouldn't have deep fried them! Was supposed to go to company's Christmas party as well on the 3rd, but didn't quite make it. My excuse(s)?...well since I was about to go on holiday in approximately one and a half weeks then, was quite bus at work. By the time I got home from work that night, I was already running a bit late and I was just not feeling right..the cold, the sniffles, the freezing temperature outside etc etc. I called it a miss. Anyway, luckily I'm all fine now in time for my holidays.

Took the Friday off, just to cleared some of my holidays. In fact, I have one and a half days left...and might just burn it. Holly came down to London to visit that day for the weekend. Just went for Jap lunch, shopped a bit in Ox Circ and then watched Law Abiding Citizen - was the only decent film on that time (not many good movies out yet). It was an OK movie - wouldn't bore you too much but not a WOW film either.

Met up with JL, YF and gang for Pearl Liang dim sum. It was quite good. Food bloggers did do a the restaurant good justice. I particularly like the Scallop Peashoots Dumpling and Sponge Cake. I'd say I prefer dim sum here than any other places I normally go to - Imperial China, Phoenix Palace, Royal China and Princess Gardens. We ordered so much food and the bill came to merely 17 quid - pretty good deal. It started raining after lunch and so decided to hang around Westfield before heading to YF's house Xmas party. Loads of people as usual, coming up to Xmas.

It was BSS Team's Xmas Dinner on Monday at Isarn, Islington. We had the 25 quid party menu which comes with a selection of 4 different starters in a bento box for 2 to share, a few dishes - green curry monk fish, chicken cashew, garlic prawns, roast pork, bok choi (not really thai isn't it) and rice to share among 4. Dessert was chocolate mousse - this is so much bigger proportionally compared to the mains! Although dessert was very chocolaty and satisfying, it was quite a bit too big I'd say.

Was in town on Saturday to spend the first day of my 3 weeks holidays do some last minute shopping. There ain't much to buy - just some bits and pieces - like Laduree macaroons for mum dad bro and sis in law :). Oxford Circus two weeks before Christmas is a nightmare. I'd never seen so much people! The economy must have got so much better I swear based on the sheer number of people spending on the high streets.

Got home in time to catch X factor and then pack...

Nov Update

My bad...I just realised I have not been blogging for the whole of November. Anyway, just briefly recapping what happened in November...

It was a little more eventful month than I'd expected. Although most of the days were "On-call" days, I think I did a pretty good job in squeezing in bits and pieces of "social life". Apart from the usual movie nights and/or weekends, went to JJ's birthday party cum Halloween dress up party on the 31st Oct at Passage Cafe. I wasn't that inspired to dress as anything in particular but saw a flapper dress from FCUK with factory outlet price plus a 20% off that day. With that, I decided to dress up as a 20's girl. Also went to Camden Market the w/e before to check out trinkets and accessories.

The following Monday, we managed to make a dinner booking at Bocca di Lupo. I'd say the food is good but I don't see the WOW factor in it to be so popular and hard to get a booking in. I had to make the booking about a week in advanced. The lady that greeted us wasn't that nice either. We ordered quite a lot of food, and I'd say the dessert is the best part of the meal! (as usual, pics in my picasa gallery :)).

And then 2 weeks ago was Anita's birthday thingy - Went go-karting in the afternoon and had dinner at Erebuni (Russian stuff). The go-kart track was so much easier than the one up in Letchworth. We had a full 2 and a half hours between us. But some other stranger teams were so aggressive. Although the whole of us 3 teams weren't even on the top 5, it was good fun. The not fun bit would be that my hands and back ached the day after that and lasted for at least 2 days.

Sambal Ikan Bilis

Found some Indonesian belacan in China Town the other day. And since I have some ikan bilis at home, had a go at making sambal ikan bilis. It was pretty good, except that I forgot to add in garlic. Recipe's from Nico's own creation after doing some brief research on some recipes online:

If only I know how to expect less or even none,
I wouldn't be as blue as I am now...
To master the art of expecting the least,
Anyone willing to spare some inspiration...
To this "eager to learn" lost soul?

Readers...don't worry, I am fine...just a random daily dose of rant...I blame it on the weather...

3rd w/e of Oct

Had an early morning in Borough Market on Saturday. A part of the market was moved to a new part and they named it the Jubilee market. The new section were quite spacious, less crowded but that also shows they have less stalls there. Greatest discovery would be the Flax Farm stall that sells Linseed Museli and Porridge. Bought the Linseed and Quinoa Porridge but not yet try it out - supposedly to be very healthy hmm... Monmouth Coffee is forever packed with coffee enthusiasts and the queue had already reach the side road at 10am! Also discovered Konditor and Cooks bakery - the Chocolate Swirl cookie is really nice - made from organic ingredients and no other preservatives or E numbers too!!! With definitely go back there to try out their Black Velvet muffin! Didn't try it out that day because was simply too full after a breakfast.

Hopped on the Jubilee Line and headed for O2 Arena to watch the World Gymnastics Championship. It was the Apparatus finals that day. The arena was not that packed but still there are quite a number of fan groups for China, England, Japan etc...The events started at 1pm with the Men's Floor Exercise first followed by the Women's Vault, the medal ceremony and then moved on to the Men's pummel horse and Women's asymmetric bars. I quite enjoy the vault and bars compared to others. The last event was the Men's rings, which I think was quite boring to watch - but maybe it was towards the end and we had already been sitting there for more than 3 hours already.



Met up with LZ and her friend again in Liverpool Street for dinner at Kazan City. The starters were so - so. The girls had the lentil soup while I had the goat's cheese boreks which I think was quite big portion for a starter - there were 4 on a plate. I had the Fistik Kebab (lamb with 2 nans, rice and salad) for main course - it really good - I would go back for that surely! We had the 50% promotion for 2 course by booking from toptable. It was a pretty good deal.

Guilty of my w/e dining out etc, woke up early on Sunday and did a 6km run to make myself feel a little better ^^. And also to get myself ready for afternoon tea at Yauatcha! Made the 3pm booking and ordered one set of the Yauatcha Afternoon Tea set and some other savoury dim sum (jade dumpling and siew long bau - really yummy!) to share between two of us. The cakes was so lovely!!!!! It came with a high tea set, two scones with a raspberry and apricot jam, honey and clotted cream and a great selection of teas to choose from...

• Bottom tier - a siu mai, a venison puff and a char siu bau
• Middle tier - a good selection of fruits (dragon fruit, mango, lai chee, rambutan etc), one lychee with jelly cake and one chocolate layer sponge cake
• Top tier - random selection of delectable mini cakes, macaroon and chocolates

Now, a relaxing Sunday even more perfect with Heath Ledger in Imaginarium! Quite a confusing movie...but so what...who cares...Heath Ledger's in it :P...Ok time to wikipedia the story line...

Complimentary pic: week one bento box - shreded chicken with chick peas, green beans and shreded carrots + cubed papaya

Yalla Yalla

Finally managed to make a booking to Yalla Yalla for 9pm yesterday (so late I know). It is a very small Lebanese restaurant that can barely fit more than 10 tables! We got there around 9 and had to wait for almost an hour before we get our table even though we had a booking! It was a bit too ridiculous a wait, but I guess they can't really help it either with the high demand and such a cramped place. And because of that the drinks were on the house. But then again they should at least restrict the turnaround time of the tables.

Once seated, we ordered immediately - having investigated the menu so thoroughly during the one hour wait. Food came quite fast. I quite like the lamb casserole - really tender and soft lamb meat served with fragrant spiced rice. The makale samak (Deep fried tiger prawns,calamar and white bait and aubergine) is quite nice as well . We also ordered some other mezzes which are decent - hommos and the fatayer spicach pastry.

All in all the food is good and reasonably priced. Will be much more convenient if people can just pop in and eat a decent meal without having to make advanced booking and such a long wait too! Although it seems it is recommended to order take aways rather than dining in - which I think is a pretty wise thing to do until they have a larger restaurant!