Feb 28, 2011

My Top 10 (Weird) Favourite Food List - Tagged By Essie

I keep on thinking that I still owe Essie a tag which had not been put up here. It had been "haunting" me because I couldn't do a write-up on it at the soonest. Furthermore, I don't like to let my friends down. Essie tagged me  a couple of weeks back and it takes such a long time for the answers to appear here. Sorry about it, Essie. I might not have all 10 weird food but I'm thinking of  listing what my 10 favourite food are.

Here we go at random :

#1



Cold dish consisting of  "fish fingers",  salted jelly fish , crab rolls and prawn cake has always been one of my favourites.  Cold dish is always the first one to be served  every time we have dinner at the local hotel. And this one was served on a small "junk" and off we went "sailing" away our hunger pangs!

I'm giving weird names such as "fish fingers" and salted jelly fish.  What type of fish have fingers?!? Actually, it's made of fish meat mixed with flour and spices and formed into thin long pieces like fingers.  It is fried before served.  Whereas salted jelly fish is made from jelly fish that can be eaten. Before serving, the jelly fish has to be soaked in water to get rid of its saltiness. It is then sliced thinly and mixed with lemon juice, chillies, big onions, nuts and a little bit of sugar. It really tastes good! Over here,  jelly fish is commercialised.


#2














I can't resist the crunchiness of baby kailan (vegetables) fried with squids and oyster sauce. Fried onions and chillies are used to decorate it.
(Oops! Sorry, when I took the photo, I forgot to wipe the spilled sauce at the side of the plate.)


#3

















Sea cucumber soup  is said to contain medicinal value.  I like the soup because of its taste. It is prepared using sea cucumber mixed with spices and thicken with eggs and corn flour.


#4















This is roasted chicken with prawn crackers. The chicken is roasted with 5 types of spices. It tastes better when dip into a sauce of 5 spices and dash of salt mixed with lime juice.


#5


The fish is called "ikan sultan", literally translated  the "king fish". It is steamed with many types of herbs and spices and served on a warmer with lighted candle under it. So, it's sizzling on the table.


#6

 















If you like Japanese sushi, I presume you would like this dish of "umai", Melanau sushi.  I am from the Melanau ethnic and this is one of our traditional food. It's made from raw fish, preferably high quality mackerel and pomfret, which are cut into thin slices and mixed with lemon or lime juice, a little bit of salt, big and small onions, chillies, ginger and coriander leaves.  Chill the "umai" before taking it with rice or sago pellets.

#7


















Taking this dish would make the body warm. It is duck's meat cooked with "kacang ma", a type of herb. Other ingredients are ginger, garlic, pepper, onions and salt. Women in confinement like to take this dish.

#8














Mutton in black pepper tastes good but have to watch out for its high cholesterol level. I avoid taking the fatty part of it because of its "goaty" smell.

#9








This is Malaysian's favourite. It's called satay which is made of chicken meat or beef mixed with spices and skewed into a thin stick.  Before barbecuing it, it is marinated over night.  Satay is taken with peanut gravy (on the right).


#10














Lastly, this is longan and jelly in syrup. Ice cubes are added to chill it. It's really refreshing!

I hope no one is drooling but I am! If you wish to taste these mouth-watering food, come over to Malaysia.

To Essie, thank you for the tag and I hope you are satisfied with my answers. :)



* Acknowledgement : The photo of "umai" is borrowed from http://wikitravel/org/en/Sarawak
The rest are mine but poorly taken. I need to upgrade my knowledge in photography.

Do check out Essie's blog at http://sofreakinhuge.blogspot.com/

Feb 26, 2011

Siti Nurhaliza - The Moon Represents My Heart




This is such a lovely number that captures my heart. Datuk Siti Nurhaliza is Malaysia's top singer. She is a diva who received the most awards and listed in Malaysia Book Of Records.

Enjoy the song!


*After reading some comments ,  I write this as an addition to what I wrote above. As the song is sung in Chinese, most of us don't understand the lyrics. The song is not Siti's original number. Siti Nurhaliza is a Malay but as a singer, she can sing songs in other languages. I love this Chinese classic.

I surfed for the translation and this is what I got from http://www.sinosplice.com/

The Moon Represents My Heart

1
You ask how deeply I love you,
and just how great my love is,
My affection is real,
and my love is true,
The moon represents my heart.

2
You ask how deeply I love you,
and just how great my love is,
My affection does not waver,
and my love doesn't change,
The moon represents my heart.

3
So soft was the kiss,
that has moved my heart,
Such a deep affection,
makes me long for you now.

4
You ask how deeply I love you,
and just how great my love is,
Consider this,
and look above,
The moon represents my heart.
(Repeat 3 & 4)
Consider this,
and look above,
The moon represents my heart.

Feb 24, 2011

Cry....If It Has To Be

















Hold not the red eyes,
That would cry blood of sorrow,
Ease the grieving heart.



Through the eyes of,
Balqis
24.2.2011
Thursday


Image : pkgreetings.com

Feb 22, 2011

Cage Me

















Cage me in your heart,
Immerse me in its warm beat,
In tune with my own.


To be there, I'd stay,
Indestructible heart's cage,
Secured with true love.



Just an expression,
Balqis
Tue 22.2.11


Image : scenicreflections.com

Feb 20, 2011

Her Feelings, Her Thought





















In the stillness of the night,
She stares at the white screen,
That stays ever so bright,
But He is nowhere to be seen.

Oh! Feeling so lonesome,
Why? Who is to be blamed,
Felt by Her, felt by some,
Saying it, is not a shame.

Moments of joy and smiles,
Spices up minutes of the day,
In Her heart's playground it lies,
Blooming prettily along the way.


A thought in mind,
Balqis
Feb 20th, 2011
Sunday


Image : artlimited.net

Feb 18, 2011

Smell The Flowers



As usual driving back from work, I listened to the English section of the local radio station. I was mesmerised by the beautiful songs on air.  Furthermore, the Dj was so bubbly talking on many things. Before signing off, he was saying, "In the journey of life, do not forget to stop and smell the flowers."



"Smell the flowers", that is the saying I like most.  We often hear people say, "Go out, smell the flowers". I find that it is kind of inspirational saying it to someone who might be feeling down over unforeseen circumstances that had happened in his/her life.

As we all know, literally, it is not the act of holding a flower and smell it. It is more like an encouragement, reminder or motivation for everyone of us to take a moment off and enjoy the day. For some of us, the hustle bustle of life might have taken its toll on our lives, why not free our minds by going out and smell the flowers. Grab the wonderful moment even for awhile for we might not be able to enjoy such moment again. No matter how busy we are, just stop for awhile and smell the flowers.


Image : bestroyaltyfreeimages.net

Feb 17, 2011

Another Round Of Haiku At Random





















The Aftermath

Soaking up the sun,
Little searing of the skin,
Marks instant beauty.



Pure Beauty

A cascading stream,
Flows by in serenity,
Clears impurities.



Pain

A pain in saying,
The stone crashing on this heart,
Awaking numbness.



Relief

Green is to my eyes,
Calming the mind so turmoil,
Discarding the pain.



Future

Million stars away,
A far far cry to be there,
Yet hope surging high.




The random thoughts of,
Balqis
Thursday's wee hours.
17.2.2011



*This week, I'm in the mood of writing Haiku. This blog isn't totally for poetry. It's a mixture of other simple posts which talk about anything connected to life or bits and pieces that complement part and parcel of life.

Right now, it's so quiet.  It's in the quietness of the wee hours I could concentrate on my Haiku which springs to my mind randomly. I am a sentimental person who loves reading poems with my heart.  I enjoy reading all forms of literature that boggle my mind.


Image : scenicreflections.com

Feb 14, 2011

Haiku - Mission















Alongside vision,
Ocean full of commitments,
Accomplished targets.



On a mission,
Balqis
Monday
Feb 14th, 2011


*"Mission" is inspired by  Moonomo's "Vision" at Moonstruck On Earth, dated February 12th, 2011.
I am looking from a different perspective i.e. thinking of every vision and mission of companies.
Where there is a vision, it is always followed by a mission with targets set for better performances and successes.  However, it's not restricted to companies only.  A person can always have a vision and mission
of  life.


Image : synergy-seminars.com

Feb 12, 2011

Haiku - Illusion And Hope




Illusion dances,
Quivers the mind to believe,
Long path of virtue.


















High spirited hope,
Floods the barren desire,
Boundless dreams fulfilled.



Fancies of,
Balqis
Another weekend
February 12th, 2011



Images :  profilethai.com
                  wallpaperpassion.com

Feb 10, 2011

Being Bothered ...





















If anything bothered you, would you show it in front of other people?

I don't know whether we are losing self-respect when giving up ourselves with so much private issues.

Just a thought.



Image : free.clipartof.com

Feb 8, 2011

Reflection Of Life

Smiling at the face that smiles back,
Oh, so sweet, what a beauty!
So striking and lovely!
So comely and bonny!
So pleasant and pretty!

Never is a day drenched by angry rain,
Though there's an overcast of mad clouds,
Lo and behold, the smile beams brightly,
Depriving the chances of the overcast sky,
To explode its anger wildly without mercy

Smiling again at the face,
That smiles back confidently,
So priceless, so hearty,
So weightless to carry,
For now, forever,for eternity!



Just a reflection,
Balqis
Tuesday evening
08.02.2011


Image : desktop.qkype.com

Feb 6, 2011

Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolate

















I love chocolate! What can I say about my craving? Whenever I go shopping, I make sure I bring home some chocolate. I even told my family members, if they found it's so hard to decide what's the best gift for me,  just buy me a box of chocolate!

Right now, I am eating Macadamia nuts coated with dark chocolate. It has a balanced taste of   sweetness and bitterness of chocolate plus the crunchiness and nutty taste of Macadamia. It makes me relate it to my life. As I go through the journey of life, there's the sweetness of it filled with so much happiness and successes. Sometimes, almost achieving goals of life. On the other hand, the bitterness of it is forever tailing somewhere. I'm not a perfect person to have a perfect life and so is everyone else. Well, of course, sometimes my life goes nutty!


       
Whenever I'm swamped with work, I must take some chocolate to boost my energy and make me alert.  It works! Of course, it's not the kind of energy that will make me feel super strong with bulging muscles. No...I still want to be like a lady. Just feminine , smooth and sweet like chocolate! 






















My preferences of chocolate are the ones with nuts and raisins. Apart from that, I like white chocolate though it's too sweet. It might be health hazard but I'm not over doing it. I just go for it whenever there's a craving.

At the time, I'm indulging in this yummy goodie, my thoughts are flying somewhere....to a place so divine. This is what I have to say :

Precious moments shared,
So sweet like glazed chocolate,
Soaked in life's vigour.

His perpetual smile,
Was the extra flavour for,
His babe's craving.



Images : Love_Chocolate_Wallpaper
              free-clipart-of.com
              graphicshunt.com

Feb 4, 2011

In Loving Memory















A final goodbye was hard to say,
The thoughts of you forever stay,
Wish so much it didn't end that way,
How nice to be together everyday.

Days went by filled in happiness,
Thought that it would be endless,
My mind was a wee bit senseless,
How could I hold on to selfishness?

As though we were meant for each other,
High hope of loving and caring forever,
But our fates had been determined earlier,
Accepting reality in the face of fear.

Fear of losing seemed an absurdity,
To ward it off was an impossibility,
It had been destined by the Almighty,
What's left are all in sweet memory.



Memories for keeps,
Balqis
Feb 4th, 2011
Cold Friday


Image : www.buzzle.com

Feb 1, 2011

Haiku - The State I'm In






















(1)

Throbs in head within,
Rhythmic  pace searing the skin,
Hard core pains remain.



(2)

Am I an alien,
Strange coarse voice invaded me,
Pink health snapped away.




Under the weather,
Balqis
01.02.2011
Tuesday



Image :  http://www.everythingfab.com/