The 19-Day Adventure of Miss Q Quirky The Globe Trotting Adventuress - Site Seeing Around Vancouver – May 18th, 2008

Vancouver, Day 3. Today my brother in law Roy and the kids Melur & Maman took me to English Bay. It is a seaside area in Vancouver. The weather was really nice. It was bright but not hot or humid. It was windy and really cool. We took 3 busses to get to the beach. The ticketing concept here is really cool (well I think so although due to the traffic jam in Malaysia I don’t think the concept will work). We can buy a ticket that that will give us an unlimited number of buss ride within the same zone for a period of one and a half hours. To get to the beach it took 3 busses but it cost me only $CAN2.50. At the beach the kids tried their hands on flying the kite but it did not work out so well as there were too many people and the winds were not cooperating. Roy actually suggested that we go to the Vancouver Tower (this is similar to the KL Tower) but me being a chicken asked not too. Hmm I have to do something about my fear of height soon I think. I sat down people watching. One of the activities I really do enjoy but has always been denied on normal days. I can only do such things while on holiday…. To Jill yes! Yes! I remember your instruction; I am on a look out but have not seen any potential yet. On the way back we stopped at DQ (Diary Queen). The kids shared a bowl of ice cream whilst I had the Oreo Earthquake. Yummy… checked out the picture. Angah joined us at DQ. She had the Earthquake as well Surprise, surpirse, I am somehow compel to have another one. Mind you the one compelling me for another cup is myself. So Roy and me decided to have the Blizzard of the Month a.k.a the Strawberry Cheesecake. It was so nice but made me very full. The kids had their second helping of ice cream as well. According to Maman this is allowed as he has been a little naughty but a lot and lots good (pronounced as “A yot”). As a reward he is entitled to have a lot of ice cream Melur & Maman can be really funny sometimes. At the DQ Maman said something really funny. It is hard to explain but I’ll let you guys see it for yourselves in the video clipping below. Isn’t he a cutie? After DQ we took the bus home. I planned to go for a jog around 6 later but alas the plan is left as A PLAN, did not realised how tired I was fell asleep as soon as I got home, next thing I remember was Melur & Maman waking me up for dinner. Aaaa…!!! Old age, it does get to you. Hope you enjoy some of the pictures and video I put up. Until later…

The 19-Day Adventure of Miss Q Quirky The Globe Trotting Adventuress - Part 2

15 May 2008 - Vancouver Vancouver Here I come ... or rather as the case became at least I tried!!! Duh.. minus points to the Cathy Pacific Airlines

Wednesday 14^th May 2008

Vancouver Day minus 1 – To pack or not to pack…

After coming back from Bangkok I still have one day of work. Though at first I wanted to come in late since I only arrived home from Bangkok around 12.30am the night before. It was a scary taxi ride for I thought the cab driver was really sleepy. He was pressing the brakes in the middle of the road. Looks like it’s going to be one of those Murphy’s Law things, “when things goes wrong wow does it go wrong”. Boy oh boy little did I know that the Bangkok quake was only a precursor of things to come. Just you wait.

Came in the office way early than planned, ended up doing some urgent on the spot work, my boss owes me like hell for that, be sure! I will collect that favour soon, real soon I mean. Had a meeting around 2pm that finished at around 4pm. Mind you I did all these things whilst my body reeks in pain due to the Bangkok 48 Floors escapade. Decided to go for a massage after that whilst being worried that I might not be able to stand the almost 23 hours flight to Vancouver. Definitely not an auspicious starts to my holidays, definitely!!!

I was supposed to pack for my trip but I was really not in the mood. Never like packing, too many things to think about. What to bring and what not. I will always feel that I would need everything. Can never be a light traveller, I would bring my whole house if I could. Well you cannot blame a girl for wanting her stuffs right?

As a measure for procrastination, I persuaded Anne & Jill to go to “mamak” to have “Teh Tarik” with me. Stayed at “mamak” for quite a while. Spend the whole time regaling them about my (mis) adventure in Bangkok. When I got back I still could not bring myself to pack. So decided to just collect all the things I needed for the trip and put it aside. I’ll put it in the bag tomorrow. Har – har by time I finished colleting the stuffs I want, it was 4am. Time to get some shut eyes my dear.

Thursday 15^th May 2008

Vancouver Day 1 – Vancouver here I come or at least I tried……

Woke up around 7am in the morning and the pain were still there. So decided to go & see Doctor S (since I don’t have permission to mention his name, he shall remain Doctor S). The visit lasted about one hour; as usual we will chitchat a bit. Though I finally see the funny side of having to run down 48 floors, my doctor and my body do not agree. He gave me some muscle relaxants & gastric pills with further advice on how I should handle myself during the long flights. I was supposed to walk around the plane every hour. I counted that will be 23 rounds for a 23 hours flight. I am only on the 5^th day of my adventure and I almost completed my exercise quotas for this year. Har! Har!

I finally packed, took me almost 2 hours to complete packing. Left the house around 1.30pm for the Airport. After using all the guile I could muster using the fact that I am suffering from a muscle cramps (this my friends, following Anne’s advice) I manage to get the ground crew to give me seats with leg space. Hmm I could not get an upgrade tho.. dang!!!!

After checking in had Mc D for lunch and loiter around KLIA since I had about 3 hours before the flight. Took some pictures while waiting, mms some to Muzi, Anne & Jill. Yikss!! I am turning into a (well to us Jill’s word) “Camwho….”. I rather like to think of it as being a Cam Enthusiast

Hei I am getting good at this!!!

As I was travelling alone, I decided I would do whatever I want. There is no need for decorum or acting all proper. So at one point I was sprawled on the sofa writing some notes for my blog. I am feeling a little regret about my decision not to bring my computer for I found that it is best to capture the moment’s feeling by writing things as it happened or within a short time of an incident. The feeling was not allied when Jill sms me to inform that I have committed the number one cardinal sin for a blogger… never leave home without your computer. Thanks Jill!!!

Here comes the Super Bitch

Hei!!!! Something is not right, why is there no call for boarding it is almost 5.50pm time that we were supposed to board. Then at 6pm there was this announcement that the flight is delayed due to the sickness of the crew. We were told to wait for a while, whilst they sort out the matter. Dang… I am beginning to worry, should I be? Well I decided maybe not yet. Then at 6.30pm they announced that the flight is cancel. WHAT!!!! Pandemonium!!! Pandemonium!!!! I galvanised into action. I got a connecting flight at 12.05am to Vancouver what is to happen, this is not good. Not good!!!!

There was chaos all around, people were shuffling and pushing, some arses (excuse my French) refuse to queue. At one point I had to put my foot down and told off this woman from China/
Hong Kong who was trying to cut my queue. Don’t mess with me woman. I know my rights…. well I was supported by an English gentleman muahahaha… strength in numbers is the concept.

To my dismay after that she tried again and the stupid counter person tried to serve her first. That’s it, here comes the bitch – I told him off and loudly said that I was in the queue and she wasn’t. Again the English gentleman supported me. By that time I could not care less anymore, support or no support I am going to stand up for my right. No foreigner is going to cut my queue in my own country.

At first the counter person tried to explain that it doesn’t matter who he serves first since according to him both of us will be stuck here. Like hell I will. Then he tried to explain himself to me. At that point I really don’t want to hear any explanation so I told him just that. “I don’t care, I have a connecting flight to Vancouver at 12.05am, just to your job and sort it out” At this point he tried to explain again, and again I told him straight to his face. “I don’t care, sort it out”.

After waiting almost for an hour I resigned myself that I will not make it for the connecting flight. At that moment my fear proves to be true, the guy came back to inform me that I have been put on the next immediate flight which was tomorrow morning to Hong Kong and thereafter Vancouver. I am to arrive at Vancouver sometime in during lunch. I supposed I did not really loose that much time as I was originally scheduled to arrive at 9.40pm. Now I will arrive around 11.40am the next morning. He also arranged for me to be put up at Concord. Was actually extra nice to me to the extent that he personally send me to the lift. It was a long walk as the boarding gate was the last one at Terminal.

I thought my ordeal would end there; it was already like almost 9pm at that time and I was at the airport since 2pm. Not so, when I arrived at the front desk staff at the Hotel deemed prudent to question me about my entitlement from Cathay Pacific. I got the coupon duly signed; who in heavens name do you think you are to question me. If you got issue sort it out with Cathay Pacific, insofar as I am concerned, I am entitled to what was stated on the coupon. He made me wait almost an hour for my dinner (IT COULD HAVE BEEN LONGER HAD I NOT DEEMED IT OK TO TURN INTO A SUPER BITCH!!!!!). Enough of this stress, after dinner I went straight to bed. Flight tomorrow at 9.15am. Gotta wake up early as I need to be at the airport at around 7am.

Thanks Super Bitch…

It must be that they were so scared of me the super bitch, I got two wake up calls. Hmm I don’t remember asking for one last night but I got 2 calls this morning. Must be that they are so scared of the super bitch or the fact that they would want me to leave their hotel soonest
possible. Har har must be the latter.

9.15am

I am now on the flight Hong Kong. I am grinning from ear to ear. Thank you, thank you super bitch. Guess what, I got upgraded to the business class for the flight to Hong Kong. It pays sometimes to be a bitch, let alone a super bitch. Here are some pictures of me at the golden lounge.

They even dressed your table and call you by your name. I am worried that I am going to enjoy this too much so that I would want to travel business class always. Now which millionaire should I snag? Or maybe I put in an extra prayers that my two friend Anne & Jill becomes millionaires soon so that they could sponsor me trips and travels.

Back to being one of many hurling through the fabric of time…

Yikss back to being a commoner now, back to economy class. First things to be noticed, how the small seat barely accommodate my posterior. Note to self an extra 30 minutes 3 days a week exercise specifically targeting your gluteus maximus from now onwards

Well at least they gave me a seat where I can stretch my legs a.k.a seat at the emergency exits. This is going to be a long journey. Wish they had given me the business seat for this leg of the journey. I sure can entertain myself if they do. Maybe just maybe I should read up on my work and starts on my article re: commentary of the Customs Tribunal. Yes I think shall do that and boy I did it.

4.45pm

I can’t believe it. I actually did some work, started my research for my research for my articles. Doh!!!! How doink can I be

The 19-Day Adventure of Miss Q Quirky The Globe Trotting Adventuress

Pages from Bangkok Post

Bangkok 11th to 13th May - Quake .. Quake..... Earthquake....!!!!!!!!!
This is the first installment of my globe trotting adventures that will last nineteen days. It starts with a conference in Bangkok. I know, when I started this blog I had only one rule. No work related musings. However what's a rule without its exception and the events in Bangkok is an exception. Anyways I started at day two as nothing that interesting happened on day one.

Bangkok Second day
The day started rather well. Interesting presentation although my head and my legs are throbbing (all due to the 5 hours long walking round MBK center looking for good bargains). Good engaging presenters. I see potential, work I mean not potential soul mates oh how I wish.....

Then it was time for lunch.. yeay I am hungry. Sat besides an interesting American and had a good chat with him. Suddenly I felt faint, the rice looks blurry, I got really worried thought I was having a heart attack or something. Then there was a buzz around the place and the American next to me said oh its an earthquake, EARTH WHAT???????? I said. He pointed look at the moving windows, yeah its an earthquake, I always experienced it back in California he said. Yikssss!!!!!

At that point a lady introduces herself as the building supervisor. She informs that there is potential problem and asked everyone to go out of the building. First we were supposed to take the lift as it is still working. However after a while, we were asked to run down the stairs. I WAS ON THE 48th FLOOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the 28th floor, my knees were shaking, felt like I am not going to make it. Lucky me people were going down calmly, if not I could have been trampled. Then suddenly I missed a step and slipped. Ouch my backside, then the woman in front of me turn and extended her hand. For a brief moment when she saw me I saw it in her eyes as if she wanted to re tracked the hand extended. I knew it she must be thinking "wow she looks heavy I might regret this".


Waiting outside Empire Tower.. phew I made it down

We waited for about two hours before it was the building was pronounced safe. Then we went up and continued with the conference. Duh.... how boring so the mind wonders. The people around me are so forward thinking, it makes me sad for around me, I have a China Wall I can't move I am suffocated.......


Dinner
Dinner was at Blue Elephant. As the only Muslim, I asked for the Vegetarian Set thinking that "oh well this is going to be a bore, the food is not going to be nice". Oh how wrong I was. The food was nice and it was presented artfully as well. Here's one of the course that was put up for me.


My vegetarian main course serves specially for me

Transportation was provided for us to get to the restaurant. Little did we know that the restaurant was only as far as 500metres from the hotel. Going back to the hotel same arrangement, although the hotel was only 500metres it took us almost half an hour due to the infamous Bangkok traffic. Someone in the Van asked "the hotel is near does anyone wants to walk?" My immediate answer was... "Nope not after 48 Floors". To that the whole van erupted with laughter. Yeay I am funny..!!!!!

Bangkok - Last day
Wow... when I woke up this morning, my whole body reeks with pain. Did not really feel it last night but this morning wow.. I can barely move. Sat through the conference, hoping that there won't be a repeat of yesterday. The time flew by and it was time to go home already. So the conference finish on a high and off we go.

All in all Bangkok was nice.... and I look forward now for my trip to Vancouver. See ya for now....

Muzi, Me & Uncle Teow................

Muzi, Me & Uncle Teow........... Muzi enjoying Uncle Teow Lala and Fried Sotong
The famous Kam Hiong Fried Lala
Uncle's Teow Stall

Boy oh boy, we do love our Lala. Muzi & me love our lala.

I am all smiles.... and can anyone blame me????

I am all smiles. Who wouldn't if put in my position. I am leaving for Vancouver soon to see my number one Fav Fifteen. Although there is a small matter of a conference in Bangkok. Well I supposed I could treat it as pre-holiday holiday.

I hope to be able to take lots of photos and aspire to update this blogs on a regular basis during my holidays. I hope I will. My mum has asked me to pack my gym gear as well... ya.. ya mummy I will do that.. may be not.. muahahahaha..... a holiday is no holiday if you still have to exercise right????

As for my sis who will be left behind WORKING... ta-ta. I'll take pictures for you.....

9 days & counting.................

I can't wait, in 9 days time I will see my number 1 fav fifteen members: Melur & Maman. I missed them so much. For now I have to keep myself happy with seeing their development in their blogs or watch some of the videos we had during our last holidays in Scotland/England. Here are some pics and videos that are my fav.

I hope I will get to take more photos as well as loads of videos with the kids when I see them.

So here's to a good trip... and many many more to come.. muahahahaha

Quirky Curry - An Original Recipe By Miss Q Quirky

This recipe is suitable for a single person or those who has little time. It tastes good especially if eaten with nan bread or other type of bread. I sort of created it recently during one of those days when I just don't know what to eat but were hungry. Blogger Anne would definately relate to this "the feeling of hunger yet not knowing what to eat".

Ingredients
1 packet maggie fish curry paste
2 frozen fish fillet (Dory fish) cut into smaller pieces of 1.5 - 2 cm per piece
4 tbs of marigold lowfat blueberry yoghurt (alternatively mixed berries or mango yoghurt)
Capsicum
1 carrot sliced
1 large onion quartered
2 shallots sliced thinly
2 cloves of garlic sliced thinly
5 large fresh tomatoes chopped
Aromatics - Corriander seeds, cumin seeds, cardomon seeds, star-aniseed and cinnamon bark
2 tbs lemon juice

Method

• PREPARING THE FISH
• Marinate the fish with a little bit of the maggie curry paste, cumin powder, tumiric powder, salt and pepper.
• Fry it using only a little bit of oil abot half a minute for each side. (The fish is fried so that it will retain its shape when cooked with the curry sauce)
• Put aside

• PREPARING THE CURRY SAUCE
• Heat 5 tbs oil in a thick based pan
• Put in the slice onion and garlic and the aromatics. Saute until the onion and garlic are soft
• Put in the rest of the curry paste and 1 cup of water
• Put in the already fried fish and the carrots, capsucum and quartered onion
• Add in the yoghurt (the yoghurt will add a little sweetness to the curry) and chopped tomatoes
• Add another 1 cup of water and the lemon juice
• Add salt to taste
• Simmer in slow heat until the sauce is thick

There you go. Have a try and post your comments. See how you like it. Goodluck and happy trying

Note:

• You could do a siwtch up by turning this into a vegetarian curry
• If you want the curry to be more spicy, add paprika or chilli powder
• If it is difficult for you to find the meggie curry paste you can use curry powder as well. Just make sure you add some water before using to turn it into a paste

Pippo, You Ancient Relic ... Fragile Yet Priceless

Aaa.. my weekend was complete yesterday. All that needed to win... won.... yeay.

I love me some football to the extend that I am willing to wake up at 2.30am in morning on a working day just to watch a game that my favourite team is playing. Lucky me the Milan Derby was played early yesterday that I don't have to wake up at an ungodly hours.

First half was almost all Milan but with no end product. As always Pippo at the right place but the Inter keeper made some good saves. Nothing much and my beautifully manicured nails are still safe. Ha..ha! Second half again was almost the same. To be honest I am getting nervous so much so that I was like watching the game, on the board in the AC Milan Forum as well as surfing at the sametime... ya ya you wonder how I do that, well the name of the game is multi-tasking. I had to working where I work.

Back to the game suddenly Kaka crossed and Pippo scores. Right place at the right time AS ALWAYS. To quote Vieri "In pippo's case the ball will look for him, not him looking for the ball" , not an exact quote though, I paraphrased. People always claims that Pippo only scores easy goals, his lucky etc but if you watch carefully and think about it I think his goal scoring effort takes skills. The skill and ability to read the game, to anticipate where the ball would land and where the goal is. He makes it easy. That is his skill. Just because something appears easy doesn't mean it is easy.

Then Kaka made it two. However Cruz had the cheek to reply with a stunning free kick. Keeper rooted, dang!!!!!!..... Here goes my nails. I was so nervous I could not believe it. Pippo was sub for Pato. The new wonderkid, he looks like a cartoon character. So cute. Ahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!. After about 15mins of agony the referee blew the final wistle. Phew was I relieved & so did the hendreds of people in the forum and millions others watching and supporting Milan.

Pippo played well and look rather unhappy when subbed even at his age you could see fire and passion. Maybe that is why I like to follow sports so much. I admire determined and passionate people. People like Schumi, Lance Armstrong, Pippo, C Ronaldo et el.

Looking at Pippo who is on a scoring run wish the clock could be turn back 5 to 10 years. For that matter I wish we could clon Tun Mahathir as well. Alas I digress, Tun will be another topic altogether. I am going to miss Pippo when he retires, which from the look of it would be sooner rather than later, just like I am missing seing Schumi in action in the F1. For the time left, I' m determined to enjoy Pippo and his goal scoring feat. I had enjoyed Schumi's final year in F1.

Things I Regret Those I Don't - An Ode To A Lost Friend

I wrote this poem sometime ago to a lost friendship.

THINGS I REGRET THOSE I DON'T

I regret the time I took to tell you I love you
I don't the time I spend with you
I regret now we won't be the same
I don't that I have fallen for you
I regret that I've lost you
I don't the memories I have of you
I regret the time I took to find you
I don't the fact that I met you
I regret that you can't accept my love
I don't that I gave it to you

Valle - The Doctor

Yeah.... Valle just won the Shanghai MotoGP. 2 down and 2 more wins to go this week; -

1.AC Milan in the Milan derby
2. Nadal at Barcelona

Congrats to Dani & Lorenzo the future of MotoGP

Miss Q Quirky

VIVA RONNIE VIVA MAN U

As said, I do have lots of interests. Amongst those are football, F1 and Tennis. For the last 3 years I have been fortunate enuff to be able to watch the Sepang GP live at the grandstand. For that I have to record my thanks to Mas, for the tickets. The soveniour from this year's GP is still in evidence, with my two-toned colouring. So much so that my sis thinks that if I am a superhero, I would be called two-toned.

Anyways, VIVA Man U for winning yesterday. The hammers could have been Hammered (excuse the punt... not) had it not been to Nani sending off. Aaa.. the petulance and impertinence of the young. How much would it cost I wonder to have the oppurtunity to hear those famous hairdryer at work duing half time. Must be the industrial type sized. Poor lad...

First goal from Ronnie was a wonderfull run, Neil fell on his backside.. the other defender running away (backing away I mean) from him comical but nothing beats the comical second goal. A tenner for those who got the correct body part he used to score......

Congrats to all and a special mention to Hargo.... fantastic team play, deputizing at right back.

On to the Milan Derby. Go Milan Go Inzaghi.. you ancient relic.. fragile yet priceless

Miss Q Quirky

The First Time

Hi, this is my first post.....

I must have woken up on the wrong side of my bed to be spending a whole morning trying to set up this blog. Techonology & me, we are not really friends, shopping.... now that's something else. Thought it would be a good idea to own me a blog since I have had so much fun reading others, keeping myself posted re: development of my niece and nephew abroad etc.. etc.

As for concept, I think I will have none since I do have diverse interest, sports, arts, book. My only rule would be no talking about work... for that I need a shrink not a blog. Don't we all?????

So to all old friends who will soon be invited to this blog and new ones I hope to make.... welcome one welcome all. I look forward to your visits

To infinity & beyond... Miss Q Quirky