I LOVE MY ZIGS !

No … I’m not talking about the ziggy-zigs that the Spice Girls sang about !

I’m talking about my new Reebok ZigTechs !

First of all … lemme just say it’s one of the most unique shoes I’ve ever worn and it looks so darned cool !

According to the manufacturer … it “delivers a wave if energy while working out … working out just became more efficient” … it reduces wear and tear on key leg muscles by up to 20% … delivers a wave of energy along the length of the outsole … creates a lightweight, flexible and stable ride …

AND IT LOOKS SO FRIGGIN’ COOL !!!

Then one I got (see picture above) is the black and yellow one … sorta like a bumblebee !

I wonder which one Thierry Henry or Lewis Hamilton got ? … they’re Reebok’s worldwide sports ambassadors and hey … if Henry and Hamilton’s got Zigs on … I figured I’d definitely wanna get one !

OK … besides it’s totally awesome look … I’ve tried it out for real already meaning … used it to run and I gotta say … they’re mighty comfy ! I’m SUPER particular of the way a show grips my foot while I’m running … I like it to hold my feet … but not strangle it. That’s what a lotta shoes do … in order for them to feel snug … you have to tighten the strings to the max … not these babies.

I’m also very particular about impact … my knees aren’t what they used to be … and as I’m on the tennis court a fair bit … I really wanna have shoes that pamper me while I’m doing strenuous exercises … I wonder if they’ll ever do a ZigTech version for tennis shoes … that’d be rad !

Trust me … if you’re in the market for a new running shoe … or just a pair of sneakers that you can walk about town or in the malls and you wanna look super cool doing it … I’d get one of the ZigTechs ! ZERO COMPLAINTS from me my friends !

I’M DONE WITH “THE HUNT” FOR THE PENANG MAMAK MEE GORENG

OK … it’s almost 4 weeks that I’ve had a craving for Penang-style Mamak Mee Goreng in the Klang Valley … and how’s the “hunt” going ?

Not good at all !!!

In fact … it’s getting worse !!!

I’ve been EVERYWHERE !!! … PJ … Shah Alam … Subang … USJ … Puchong … Cheras … right smack in the middle of the Golden Triangle …

NOTHING !!! NADA !!! ZIP !!! ZILCH !!!

I cannot believe how un-Penang the Mamak Mee Goreng in the Klang Valley is … it’s NOT spicy … it’s NOT dry … it’s NOT MAMAK MEE GORENG !!!

So … as Locutus of Borg said “resistance is futile” … and I have to agree … no sense resisting it … I’ll just eat it and try my best to enjoy it.

I think I’ll move on to Mee Rebus now … and I know what you’re thinking … why give up so easily ?

I’m NOT giving up … I’m just saying there’s no sense in trying to flog a dead horse cos Penang-style is Penang-style … and the Klang Valley has its own style.

But for Mee Rebus … I KNOW I can find good ones around … honestly … the ones in the “corporate” nasi kandar places like Pelita and Kayu are pretty decent … in fact … there’s a really good one that I like near my neighbourhood … it’s called Wau Penyu at Solaris Dutamas !!! … they have a HUUUUGE piece of meat in there … I’m sold and I go there all the time !!!

Can someone explain to me the difference between Mee Rebus and Mee Jawa ? … they pretty much “taste” the same … but they kinda “look” different.

Drop in your comments ya !

THE HUNT GOES ON

In my last post … I spoke about my new obsession … authentic Mamak mee goreng.

I sure ain’t gonna drive back up to Penang to my favorite haunts in Swatow Lane, Bangkok Lane or padang Kota for the delicious (but potentially artery clogging) delicacy !

So I started searching for it in the Klang Valley … anything even close to a Penang styled Mamak mee goreng would suffice … what I didn’t realize was how tough the search would be.

I’m not proud of it … but I headed for the chain “Nasi Kandar” places around the Klang Valley … so to Pelita … to Kayu … to all the chain ones la … NOTHING EVEN CLOSE !!!

I’m not saying the food wasn’t good but when I ordered mamak mee goreng … I expected this plate of dry fried fiery red noodles … what did I get here ? … it looked like any other fried yellow noodles … it was brownish … wasn’t spicy … no sotong (unless you requested) and it was just … unexciting !


I’m gonna broaded my search this week … we’ll see what turns up but if you’ve got any suggestions … drop me a line … the only people benefiting from this little “treasure hunt” of mine are the petrol companies and parking attendants.

MY NEW OBSESSION

TV … is dangerous !!!

I’m not talking about the radiation … not about how the vibrant colors can mess with your eyes …

NOPE !!! … none of that !!!

TV is dangerous … to my waistline !!!

After watching an AFC show recently that had the host cruising around the streets of Penang looking for the best hawker food … and he found a classic one … Mamak Mee Goreng !!!


The host had a very in-depth session with the proprietor of the stall at Lorong Bangkok … I initially did not recognize the place but the moment he spoke to the guy behind the enormous wok … I was like “I KNOW THIS PLACE … I’VE EATEN THERE BEFORE !!!”

There’s something very unique about Penang style Mamak Mee Goreng … you can go to any nasi kandar chain here in KL … you can go to “Penang styled” makan places … nothing … and I mean … NOTHING … comes close to the original.

Is it the water ? … the weather ? … the people ?

Who knows ?

But now … I’m on a mission to find the BEST Mamak Mee Goreng in KL that can closely match the mediocre ones in Penang … let’s not even talk about trying to match the best la !!!

It’s gotta be spicy … fiery RED … dry … and has “sotong” (calamari) and the works !!!

If you know of any place like this in the Klang Valley … tell me about it … I’ll have a taste test and we’ll see how it matches the ones in Penang yo !!!

Leave your suggestions in the comments bin y’all !!!

AFTER 4 YEARS ... IT'S BACK !!!

Footie fan or not … you can NOT deny the fact that the FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest event on the planet !!!

Everything revolves around it … commerce, news, entertainment … food even !!!

So what is it about this competition that fans the flames of rivalry between fans around the world ? … I mean … look at us here in Malaysia … our national football team has as much of a chance of making it into the competition as a salmon has escaping a Grizzly’s jaws !!! … so what is it ?

I think … it’s got everything to do with MARKETING !!!

I think the World Cup is one of the best marketed sports competitions in the world … even surpassing the Olympics … everyone (and I mean everyone if the Americans now want a piece of the pie). If girls watch it (and we know how much most Malaysian girls despise football) … then you know it’s been marketed to them as well … how ?

2 words !!!

Handsome men !!!

Suddenly … women are fans of the beautiful game (happens every years la) … they’ll be able to name players like Iker Casillas … Christiano Ronaldo and possibly one of the Italians … tell ‘em about Carlos Tevez … they go blank !

Guys are just plain football freaks la … we support national teams of other countries like we lived there … and every 4 years … we risk the wrath of our bosses (if you’re working) or our teachers/lecturers (if you’re a student) by either going in to work/class late or just not plain going at all (I’m sure production of MCs skyrocket during this time).


So … I hope you’ve been prepping for this … we have been waiting 4 years for this … and it’s happening in around a week … I’m excited … are you ?

Who’s your pick for this year ? Italy again ? … or do you fancy Brazil again ? … or a dark horse perhaps !

RIP OLIVE

I kinda knew it was gonna happen … it’s been a couple of days and my favorite hamster Olive hasn’t looked her usual self.

She’s usually very affectionate, very active (she runs the wheel like she was possessed) and eats a heckuva lot. On Saturday … she seemed a lil under the weather … which happens to hamsters so I wasn’t overly worried. So … to make her comfy … I moved her into her other cage (she has 3) and gave her new bedding, fresh water and a lot of food. Evening came around and it didn’t seem like she touched the food nor the water and she kept changing positions to sleep … she seemed really uncomfortable.

Sunday morning … I wake up … check on her … and she’s asleep … which is odd cos in the morning … she’s usually (as usual) running the wheel. This time … she wasn’t. Her breathing seemed a little shallow and her eyes were closed tight … a little teary. I’m getting a little worried now.

So Sunday’s kept aside for her … my buddy … Olive … my favorite. I take her out of her cage and hold her in my hands (which she loves) and she’s out cold in my warm hands … I hope she’s comfy. “I hope she can sleep this off”.

Monday comes around … and I’m off to work again after a couple of days off and I’m busy with work … running around after that for an event and I’m home late … a little after dinner. I’m exhausted but I check up on her … she’s still asleep … good news is that she managed to drink some of the water I gave her but her food bowl is still full. “I’ll just let her sleep” I thought and went to bed hoping that she’ll be fine tomorrow (Tuesday).

Then Tuesday comes around and as usual … I’m up at 4am … I shower, have a bit of breakfast and check up on her … she’s AWAKE !!! Yay … but she still looks a little groggy … I pet her … and she gave me an approving nod … which is always her signal to me to say “I like that” (I assume). So I’m off to work … with a renewed hope that my best friend … a hamster … might just pull thru and recover from whatever illness she had.

I get home in the afternoon after work … excited to see how she’s doing … and what do I see ? She’s sleeping again … waitaminute … she’s not breathing. I open the cage and pet her … no response. My WORST fear … Olive has passed away. The time we had in the morning was the last time I got to hold her and pet her while she was still alive.

Not realizing how close I’ve gotten to this tiny hamster … I felt a sense of loss I haven’t felt in a long time. When my other hamster Pepper passed on … I was sad … but this time, with Olive, I was literally floored. I can NOT begin to tell you how much I miss Olive … I’ll miss the times she walks on my computer table while I’m happily typing away … or how she comes to me after letting her roam my living room floor … she was more than just a hamster … she was my best friend … and I’m gonna miss her !

ON A BREAK AND AGEING !!!

Been looking forward to this break for a while now … Dilly and I are taking some time off from The Red FM Breakfast Show and thanks to our producer Yin and to Terry for covering for us.


Also … something else happened recently … yesterday … I celebrated my 33rd birthday. I got to celebrate it the way I liked … quietly ! Hehe … I’m not big on birthdays these days. When I was a kid … 33 seemed like such an old age. Now that I’m approaching my mid-30s … it ain’t no biggie. I don’t mind a small do with my family and close friends but having a huge party … I dunno.

I just don’t see the point of celebrating anything that isn’t significant at the moment … for instance … going from 19 to 20 … big deal … 20 to 21 … even bigger deal cos it’s “from a boy to a man” time … then nothing really significant happens between 21 and 29 … except for the fact that you’re in college and you just look for an excuse to party !

When I turned 30 … I thought it was kinda huge … so I celebrated. But then I also got a little freaked out cos I was leaving my 20s behind and it was time to be a “responsible adult” (which hasn’t really happened yet by the way).

So … from now till I’m 40 … I’ll be happy with small birthday celebrations … but (expensive) gifts are always welcome hehehe !!!

Right now … I just wanna enjoy my break and I’ll be back on-air next Monday !

See ya !!