My first belly dance performance...

Phew..one more down.
One more to go.. :)

Was actually worried that we'd forget the steps during our performance (ya, some steps don't gel too well. That's why it's harder to remember).

Anyway, I just got back a while ago.

I probably don't sound too coherent now..Had one glass red wine too many :P
(and i hope you'd be able to understand what i'm writing about).

For those of you who have no idea what i'm talking about...

Well, the belly dance performance is over already.

Woohoo.. Done done done. Yay yay yay!

Okay, having headache now.
Save the words, just show pictures will do can?

Pre-event

Took half day off work as I had to be at Celebrity Fitness (Bangsar Branch) by 5:30pm. The performance was scheduled to start at 6pm.

This is me practising at home. Yes, I'm a last minute person. (ignore the awful hair and all...just got back from work and the first thing i did was practise).

It was only 5:30pm and the place was thronged by the media.

The red carpet do for celebrities...

It's Brancy's birthday today. And her best friend dropped by to wish her and gave her some really fantastic pressies. This is just one of the many presies in the bag.

Me practising while Brancy's doing her make up.

Alrite, hips to the front..hips to the back...shake shake shake..shimmy shimmy shimmy..

Shit..fat tummy :P

Diane (student), Brancy (instructor), Carrie (student - beginner).

I didn't manage to capture any pictures or videos of our dance. Am gonna wait for Brancy to pass me a copy. Her bf was there to record the dance.

The ppl I knew were all involved in performing (they are all instructors) and I didn't know any of the guests enough to trust them with my camera.

Even diamond members were not invited to this private event. So therefore, there was no other gym friends around as well.

Oh yeah, most of the guests were from the "atas" crowd.





We were lucky as our performance was the second one, right after yoga.

Immediately after our performance was over, I went back to the locker to fetch my camera.

I'm so glad I managed to catch Luciano and Baby G's (Gillian) dance.

I attend Luci's party jam (hip hop) classes, and G's coyote dance (it's basically a very seductive dance).

G's super hot! The guys at the gym usually stay back to watch her and the rest of the girls in the class dance, eventhough it's late (last class of the night).

Watch their choreography here.
Luci and G - part 1






Sorry for the shakiness and all. I was holding a plate of buffalo wing in one hand (same hand i was holding my camera), and another hand my phone. And my oily hand (thanks to the wings) could not move the zoom in/out button smoothly.

Gomenasai!

Took a picture with Belinda Chee.
She's really sweet.

He was with Belinda the whole night.

After Luci and G's performance, a group of kids performed this fantastic piece.

Suki from One-in-a-million.
Diane and I noticed that no one was listening nor clapping.

We got quite bored and started looking for food.
Weehee..we found desserts!

Sponsored by Polar (this new bakery in town. It's located in Mid Valley, right next to Kenny Rogers).

I love this strawberry cake. It was so soft and moist. And not to sweet....And the fresh cream was...fresh :P

Diane, Kunal (my fave yoga instructor), and me.

I've been telling Kunal forever that he reminds me of Rahul (a close colleague), both in terms of looks and mannerism. Heck, they even sound the same. It's so freaky.

I told Kunal that I'll take a picture of him to show Rahul.

And this is how he tried to tweak the picture...

Me with my hamsap player hip hop instructor, Luciano.

Damn, i just realised they're giving away eyelash extension work. Normal price is RM168. Do today = FREE. After today, 1st trial = RM88.

I love this stuff!!!

I didn't get to do it as I had mascara on. This doink didn't bring her eye make-up remover as well.

Ah well...

I only noticed the pretty decor in Bangsar Village II as I was leaving. Guess when you're in a haste, everything seems blurry.

I shall remind myself to stop and smell the flowers once in a while.

At home...


Was warmly greeted by my 4 darlings when I reached home.

They really make my day. :)

Don't you think that Cocoa is so cute when she's yawning? She's such a cute mess!

Excited excited...

This is truly an amazing week.

Yes, it's filled with excitement.

First, I got baptised.

Then, I'll be performing my first belly dance performance this coming Thursday (though I'm still rather nervous cos we barely practiced at all. Somehow our schedules didn't manage to jive. Total times we've practiced = 2, total hours spent = 1.5 inclusive of choreography)

And finally, I'll be leaving to Laos this Saturday.

The company has this community service business programme for the students and I've been appointed as the media host (i.e. taking care of the reporters from various publications).

~*~*~*Laos itinerary*~*~*~

Day 1

10.40 am Pick up at Wattay Airport

11.30pm Check-in

12.10pm Lunch

13.30pm Vientiane City Tour ( Visit Thatluang stupa, Patuxay Monument….. )

14:30pm

Lao Fancy garment ( see how Laos people work, the garment system, design room, cutting department, sewing and the packing Department )
Visit OEM for Reebok, Nike (production, content and marketing activity )

19.00pm Dinner at Lanexang Hotel & cultural show

* Talks on business tips by the Laotian businessmen who have been successful in the business arena.
*Reflection on achievements by businessmen and students
*Meet Malaysia Ambassador His Excellency Mr Zainal Abidin Ahmad, Lao Governer, MOE

Minister, DFI, Yellow Pages, KPMG, local media.

10:00pm Back to Hotel and reflection. (Debrief for the day)

Day 2

05.00 am Rise and Shine

06.00 am Group Reflection

08.00 am Breakfast At Inter City Hotel

09.00am

Community work - Work at the Handicap Centre
Lunch at the Handicap Centre
Cleaning the Handicap Centre grounds

08:00pm Buffet Dinner At Mekong Deck.

10:00pm Back to Hotel and reflection. (Debrief for the day)

Day 3

05.00am Rise and Shine

06.00am Group Reflection

08:00am Breakfast

09:00am

Government work (Visit Lao Government School)
Meet and talk with teachers and Laos students.

12:00pm Lunch

01:00pm

Visit Rattana Business and Administration College
Dialogue with student’s association members
Cultural exchange

03:00pm

Visit Morning market and Chinese market.
Visit weaving village at Ban Nong Bouathong.

07:00pm Dinner at Pakistani Restaurant

10:00pm Back to Hotel and reflection. (Debrief for the day)

Day 4

o8:00am Breakfast at Inter City Hotel

09:00am Check out and Proceed to Airport ( Transfer to Airport )

10:00am Vientiane –Kuala Lumpur

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Killer itinerary right?

I'm really unsure how I'm supposed to wake up at 5am every morning...I normally can't wakie when the sun is not even up yet.. :P

But still, I am really looking forward to giving back to the society. :)

My Easter Baptism

I'm so glad I took the step of faith and got baptised yesterday.

Yups, I've been buried to death with Christ and have risen together with Him. Hallelujah!

Jesus, Thank You for dying on the cross for me so that in return I may have all your blessings and am reconciled with God.

Thank you for loving me Lord.



Celine was holding onto my name tag while I was changing in the ladies.

Pastor asking those of us who were to be baptised a couple of questions for confirmation. So solemn looking :P




We planned to go for seafood in Telok Gong (Klang) after my baptism. To celebrate Wai Wah's belated birthday and my baptism.

It was 3:30pm when I was done (changed out of my wet clothes, etc).

With all the dilly-dallying around (and some of us actually got lost while on our way to Klang), we reached close to 5pm.

That was our lunch cum dinner do, which Celine named "linner".

We had our linner at Coconut Flower Seafood Restaurant.

Wendy, Aunty Stella, Celine and I were the lucky ones. Food was already on the table when we arrived. (Yups, we were the ones who got lost).

When Susan called to inform that the food has arrived. We specifically told them to wait for us. How cruel of us...ehehehe..

Those poor ladies (Susan, Esther, Wai Wah and Ah Peng) had to wait for us, all the while looking at the yummilicious food.

It was the ultimate torture. :P



Clock-wise: stir fried mini kailan (super yummy as the heat from the wok was just right), salted egg (ham dan) crabs, stir fried potato vege (fan shu miew) - it has a delicious tinge of alcoholic after-taste, fried bamboo lala ala kam heong, and steamed crabs.

Middle dish - drunken prawns (chui har).

My favourite salted egg crabs. Couldn't get enough of these. So we ordered another plate.

I can't really comment on the steamed crabs as I didn't touch them at all. Yups, I'm not a fan of steamed crabs. Some of the ladies liked it, some thought it was too bland.

The drunken prawn dish was a total failure as we couldn't taste the wine at all, and it was too pepperish for my liking. RM49 for a bowl.

One thing though, there were lotsa prawns.

This kam heong bamboo lala (chook shoon) dish was so good that we had to order another plate as well. The chook shoon was cooked to perfection - tender, juicy and sweet. And very fragrant too!






Another fave - oatmeal prawns. I was in la la land i tell ya!






We ordered another fried vege since they cook their veges really well here.





We heard that this place is famous for the todi (it's a fermented coconut flower drink - an alcoholic drink, very popular with the Indians).

As I was pretty tired, and since it was my first time drinking this drink, I had very little initially.

Surprisingly, it was very sweet. Kinda reminded me of shandy + 100 plus.

So, I had 2 more glasses (since the rest didn't wanna drink - some had to drive). I did my best to finish the entire bottle.

Happy Easter!

Celine, Esther, Susan (covered), Ah Peng (covered), Wai Wah, Wendy, auntie Stella.

Susan, Ah Peng, Wai Wah

Me and Celine.
Both of us were todi-fied. *giggle giggle*

It was during our 2nd round of ordering that we took the time to look at our surroundings.

It was a pretty place. The ambience was good.

We were happy to have our own lil cabana all to ourselves.

We reckon coming around 5pm is good as the service is much quicker and we heard that this is when the seafood is the freshest too (freshly delivered over).

We thought it was a lil absurb to go there around 4/5pm, but apparently there were already lots of patrons eating at that time.

Planning our next makan trip.
The ladies suggested fishing in Hulu Langat, and then bbq-ing our very own catch of the day!

Coconut Flower Seafood Restaurant
702, Jalan Udang Galah,
Kampong Telok Gong,
42000 Port Klang.
Tel: 03-3134 1218, 3134 2886
Mobile: 016-336 8553

Business Hour
Daily, 11:00am - 10:30pm

Significant changes

There are 2 major things that I'm doing/have done this week.

Firstly, I went to Shawn's to cut off about 6 inches of my curls away. And re-permed my hair, though the length is not something I'm used to. But the length will do me good, I'm sick of the length of my long hair.

~*~*~*The hair cut*~*~*~

I initially had my appointment booked for Saturday, but I realised I'm not supposed to wet/wash my hair for 2 days after perming. So if I were to be immersed in water, my hair will be all wet(yes, I'll be baptised the next day).

Since Thursday was a public holiday, as soon as I woke up I called up Shawn Cutler. Initially I was told that Shawn was fully booked for the day (he's got 20+ clients that day), and that no way will they be able to squeeze me in. Thanks to the favour bestowed on me, Shawn agreed to fit me in without an appointment.

So i rushed over to Bangsar as soon as I've showered and had my breakfast.

Me with my new shorter hair length.

Right after perming. Gosh this reminds me of the typical big-hair-Datin-look.

Shorter, lighter and healthier hair. :)

Just after I've tapau-ed my lunch from d'lish. Quite kesian, I ate my takeaway in the car as I had to rush off to meet a friend, before going for my belly dance practice.

At d'lish cafe

By the time my hair was done, it was close to 5pm. And i was famished. I had a wild urge to buy all the cupcakes in d'lish just to satisfy my hunger pang.

Ended up taking away this choc cheese and raspberry cupcake and my favourite chicken avocado ciabatta. I was so hungry I could eat a horse i tell ya.

D'lish...Food for the impatient gourmet...

~*~*~*The Baptism*~*~*~

Secondly, I'll be going for my baptism this Easter Sunday, which is tomorrow. And I'm all excited about it.

Why the changes you ask?

My answer: Cos I'm turning the big 3-0 soon *shudder shudder*, and I thought I should do something significant. Something which I have total say over, which no one can dictate whatsoever.

I've known the Lord close to 5 years now, and since I've already been baptised in spirit, I thought it'd be a significant step for me to be baptised in water.

And Easter to me is always very special.

Back when I was an unbeliever, my birthdays used to fall on either Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It was like that for a long long time. However, recently Easter seems to fall in March.

I wonder when it'll fall around mid April again.

Isaiah 52:77 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to the city, "Your God reigns!"

By the grace of God, miracles fall like drops of healing rain from heaven....

Happy Easter to all!