Hello Mc Dream Cafe

Update on **26 January 2016**

Rosamond (2^nd sister) told me a restaurant near her place (Genting Klang, Kuala Lumpur) has authenticity kolo mee.

As a Sarawakian, we always craved for Sarawak style noodles (which was more curlier & firmer) when we away from our homeland.

Despite we had been tried other noodles stalls and restaurants in Peninsular Malaysia that claimed offering kolo mee but they always never ever be the same.

It had huge differences with what I ate during grown up.

So, we decided to go there, Mc Dream Cafe to try the kolo mee after strongly recommended by Rosamond (2^nd sister).

To my surprise, it was the characters theme restaurant on the second floor of shop houses. It was run by the Kuchingnites. 

It offered Sarawak specialty foods (e.g Kueh Teow Tomato, Fried Beehoon with sweet leaves, Kolo Mee) 

It had limited spaces

When I entered the restaurant, I saw Doraemon & Hello Kitty decorations in the every corner. It surely hit me a bit as a Hello Kitty fans.

Even Rosamond was not the Doraemon & Hello Kitty fans, the comfortable and nice ambience make her delight. 

It also had photography corner

 Rosamond ordered plain kolo mee (RM 5.90)

I ordered kolo mee with BBQ pork sauce. (RM 5.90)

I even smelled the minced pork, shallot oil & lard oil before eating. I knew the similarity were very close to authentic kolo mee. 

Once I ate it, my assumption was right. This was what I ate during grown up. Finally, I found it here. Yay~~~

I'm going to revisit again to try other Sarawak foods.

Hello Mc Dream was not only meant in my stomach but also in my heart!

Hello Mc Dream Cafe

Business Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10.30am-9.30pm. Every Monday off

Address: No 31-1, Jalan Prima Setapak, off Jalan Genting Klang, 53300 Kuala Lumpur.

Telephone: 03 4023 2106

Handphone: 019-6792472

Chocolate Marshmallow Biscuit Sandwiches

Mickey (5^th sister) and me determined to make chocolate marshmallow biscuit sandwiches after seeing someone shared the nice photo of chocolate marshmallow biscuit sandwiches in the Facebook.

Moreover, the photo also showed that it was very easy to make.

Facebook images

Thus, let me shared my making process and the outcome. 

The basic ingredients were 200g chocolate,6 pieces of biscuits (4 persons), colorful sprinkle cookies and 6 marshmallows (4 persons). 

Firstly, melted the chocolate. However, I was wrong. The chocolate should be used “indirect heat” to melt it down instead of “direct heat”. Hence, chocolates’ burned down smells was so obvious during melting process.

Next, I put the 2 pieces of marshmallow in each biscuit sandwich. This step was easy as ABC. 

Then, I chose to pour the melted chocolate on each biscuit sandwich due to insufficient melted chocolate. In fact, it should dip into a bowl of melted chocolate to get more chocolate thoroughly. 

After that, I added colorful sprinkle cookies on the top of each biscuit sandwich to look prettier. 

Finally, chilled 4 chocolate marshmallow biscuit sandwiches into refrigerator for 2 hours.

Sorry to say that I was so lazy to take photo after 4 chocolate marshmallow biscuit sandwiches out from the refrigerator. 

4 chocolate marshmallow biscuit sandwiches became set, available to cut for serving purpose.

Overall, Mickey and I were happy with the first time chocolate marshmallow biscuit sandwiches’ outcome. This included Rosamond and Naruto. 

The biscuit incredible crunchy plus with bouncy marshmallows was the perfect match.  They were coated in the melted chocolate and the melted chocolate pushed the flavor up to the notch. 

Stir-Fried Prawns with Egg & Tamarind

Recently, Rosamond (2nd sister) told Mama Tay she wished to eat prawns. Mama Tay promises her I'm going to cook for her under her supervision as well.

Sighhhh. 

Honestly, I hated to prepare the prawns as the strong fishy odors will leave on the hands despite cleaning the hands for several times.

But at the end I cooked for her. I seldom say "NO" to Mama Tay.

Mama Tay taught me cook 2 types of prawns, one cooked with egg while the another with tamarind paste.

1) Stir Fry Prawns with Egg

During February 2016 Kuching trip, Mama Tay saw our cousins cook stir fry prawns with egg in the welcome dinner. Besides that, a relative of mine gave stir fry crabs with eggs for us. All these inspired her to cook this dish. 

 Ingredients 

1. Heat the wok with oil and put some garlic & shallots for fragrance purpose

2. Stir fried the prawns until the prawns turned to pink colors

3. Pour the egg above the prawns 

4. Stir fried prawns and eggs together

5. Once the eggs was done, transfer to plate. 

Done. It served with white rice

2) Stir-Fried Prawns with Tamarind

It was one of the dish that I ate when I grown up. It always appeared in our dining table. I used to had 2 bowl of rices with stir-fried prawns with tamarind because it able to increase my appetite. Tamarind gave the prawns sour and bold taste. 

Simple ingredients. The tamarind either fresh tamarind or tamarind paste in the supermarket could be used. I chose the tamarind paste from the supermarket

Tamarind juice by adding a cup of water. If you prefer strong sour flavor, put little water was good enough 

Like usual, heat the oil, adding shallots & garlic, prawns and cook until pink 

After that, pour the tamarind juice without the seeds. According to Mama, you're allowed to add more water with the seeds again in case the prawns was too sour. 

Voila. 

Remembering the University Prom Night Many Years Ago

Seeing a friend of mine shared his University’s Prom Night 2016 photos.

It reminded me my undergraduate’s Prom Night at University Sabah Malaysia many years ago.

University Prom Night 2010 with a close friend, Chik Fei. Oh no, I looked awful in the photo. T___T

First in my lifetime stepping into university, I started to learn the faculty and university events. These events were very important in determining incoming semesters’ hostel application.

Since I eager to stay at the hostel rather than rented a room outside the university, so I participated in these events sometimes.

Prom night was one of the faculty events that I joined every year. I joined not because of hostel application but due to the encouragement of other friends.

At that time, I was like “whenever events that my friends involved, I want to involve too”.

Let me describe few “procedures” before the Prom Night. First of all, after knowing the actual date and the theme of Prom Night, I went for dress shopping.

 “Did I want black, white, blue or pink dress?”; “Strapless or tight dress?” The choices were endless.

I felt so excited.  Scrolling the endless dresses at the boutiques or stores was super thrilling. Fitting the countless dresses was an adrenaline rush.

Next, deciding the make-up and hairdo with the roommate, Audrey. She was responsible for my make-up and hairdo.

As a poor undergraduate student, I can’t afford the saloon make-up and hairdo expenses. Fortunately, roommate was so kind in helping me always.

She even read the fashion magazines few months before Prom Night to get some ideas for make-up and hairdo. She wanted to make me looked great, better than great.

My make-up and hairdo session began 4 hours before departing to Prom Night’s hotel. For instance, Audrey started make-up for me on 2 pm if the school bus picked up on 6.00 pm.

The hairdo process took the longest times. We used the cheapest curling irons from 100% discounted store that only able to hold less hair and release not much heat.

“That side of hairs not curls anymore, has to curl again”. I always heard roommate said this statement throughout the curling process again and again. Hahahaha

It’s so comfortable even though the make-up took place at our small and narrow hostel. Laughter never ended during make-up place.

After that, while waiting the school departure to the Prom Night’s hotel, everyone especially the girls loved to comments each other dress, make-up, hairdo and the high heel shoes. It’s another view again.

Then, having great Prom Night dinner with a bunch of friends. It’s one of the better ways for friends bonding too. Of course, we took plenty of photos after dinner.

Posing with the friends with different style was quite fun. But I was too shy to the camera so can’t get the right pose.

Sadly, most of my old photos turned out ugly. I also looked unhappy in the old photos even when I was trying to be.

One of my ugly Prom Night photos. Horrible smiles and wide open legs T____T

I remembered a friend warned me “you better smile correctly, don’t ruin the photo”.

I ruined the above photo. I looked so angry and fierce T____T

Finally, few days after the Prom Night we still commented and laughed with each other again when seeing Prom Night’s complete photos.

I recalled a course mate teased a close friend that it’s wonderful if you could wear the nice dress like the Prom Night for classes.

Now I looked back the Prom Night, a night that obviously showing “Guy was handsome, Girl was beautiful”overall it’s crazy, perfect, fun and funny.

And I told Mickey (5^th sister) that not experience the Prom Night yet, must make most of it. You’ll never have a Prom Night again.

Like me, I can’t experience the University Prom Night again.It’s now just a memory. It’s also a life moment that I’m going to remember forever.

The Facebook Sharing that Provoke My Emotions

Yesterday, Rosamond shared the following Facebook content to me. She said I'll love the content.

Without hesitation, I read it. Rosamond was right. The content activated my emotion honestly. The content hit me perfectly.  

Since I was so lazy to translate it, I requested the help of Google Translate. But I touched up a bit too. 

"At the train station platform, I'm waiting for the next airport train. 

Suddenly, a friendly young man sitting on the floor, holding the phone and crying. 

Another man and I quickly went over to help him up and asked what was going on. 

The young man said: "my mother died," Then he cried even more loudly. And we froze in there.

He said a few words of remorse, "I should not be here," "I should accompany her on her side," 

The train platform deepened the sad parting, how many are coming and going wanderer?

I recovered, quickly asked him, "Where are you going?"

He replied: "Tawau, Sabah"

I come from Sabah, at the moment I felt sympathy to him too. 

I quickly asked him, did you buy the flight ticket? 

He shook his head. 

So I took out the phone quickly search for the next flight back to Tawau is 2.50 pm 

But because the online buying time has passed, the friendly young man must purchase directly at the airport.

In this case, the fast train station, and I sat beside him, I do not know how to comfort him, had quietly beside him, see what I can help. 

Flanked by several compatriots from all ethnic groups to sit together, together we pray for him.

When the airport came, just as he did eager to go home. 

He continued on his way to pray. 

He also seems to be a comfort and calm. I sincerely pray that the religion can bring him strength and hope.

Upon arrival at the airport, we get to the counter to buy a ticket sales, each of us took out RM 50 and RM 100 to him, 

he refused to accept, he said he could get RM 2000 from his ATM. 

We told him he must accept that we lost your mother a little something, he cried again, we huddled, cheer each other blessings. 

He then quickly toward the gate, I looked at his shadow, disappearing into the crowd.

We are wandering, how can we not understand this feeling? 

To make a living, we uprooted, missed many good times with their families? 

Whenever I see the family members grow old, time can only sigh going too fast, we have not had time to cherish it. 

On the way to grow old, wanderer sad and sorry, it is often difficult to put into words.

I remember the day I was in a dinner speech that mention: "If this land will allow us to realize their dreams, who are willing to leave their homes?"

I did not ask his name, I hope he can be strong. We are a community of destiny regardless of color and race.

May his mother rest in peace. "

*************** 

Above being highlighted touched me honestly. 

Only the people that always away from home to chase their dreams or earn the living definitely understood the feelings.

It reminded my current and previous life as a foreigner in other pieces of foreign land.I had penned down my thoughts and difficulties as foreigner too in the previous blog entry.

Read H.E.R.E (but in Mandarin version) 

Read H.E.R.E (but in Mandarin version) 

I found that a hometown friend of mine admired me I often away from the home. It was the good thing for her. 

But for me was average only. If my hometown or the nearby town got any good job opportunity and career, I don't want to leave my home, parents and siblings. 

The loneliness, isolation, challenges, struggles beyond the words. *sad* 

Am I Looked Like Chinese?

Below were the several conversations that make me realized I’m not looked like Chinese

(Having lunch at the conference with my supervisor and her other colleagues)

Dr Chong: You're not look like Chinese.

Me: Uhmmm.

Dr Tan: She is Sarawak Chinese.

Dr Chong: Perhaps your ancestors not the Chinese.

Me: No. My parents, grandfather, grandmother all are Chinese.

Dr Chong: You better check with them again!

_________________________________________________________________________________

(Sharing the above conversation with a Malay friend of mine)

Me: A senior lecturer tell me I’m not look like Chinese.

Safiah: Hahaha.

Me: Which part of faces that make me not look like Chinese?

Safiah: Your eyes. You've wider, fuller and bigger eyes.

Me: All the Kedah Chinese has small eyes?

Safiah: Yes. Their eyes are small and narrow. 

Me: Oh my god!

_________________________________________________________________________________

(Greeting a postgraduate friend from China at cafeteria during lunch time)

Me: Hello, how are you?

China friend: Hey.

Me: Why you so shock to see me?

China friend: I thought you’re the native people

Me: What? Why you say so?

China friend: Your eyes are big. You also has double eyelid.

Me: Uhmmm.

China friend: Good laaaaa. I wish I have bigger eyes and double eyelid like you so that not necessary to draw eyeliner everyday.

Me: Oh my god!

_________________________________________________________________________________

(Discussing the differences between Sarawak Chinese and Malayan Chinese with a friend)

Me: Recently, I always being said not a Chinese.

Shu Fang: Hahaha

Me: Don’t laugh. What do you think?

Shu Fang: I agree you’re not like Chinese.

Me: Why? What happen to me?

Shu Fang: Like other said, you have the big eyes and double eyelid.

Me: Ok, anything else?

Shu Fang: Don’t so sad. I used to see the small eyes and single eyelid Chinese. So, I judge them as the typical Chinese face. When you’re not like the pre-set notion of typical Chinese face, I assume you’re not the Chinese as well.

Me: Oh I see...

Shu Fang: Not only you, other Sarawak Chinese that I know also not look like Chinese, Some of them even darker than you. They super not look like Chinese.

Me: Ok 

_________________________________________________________________________________

(Chit chat with Papa)

Papa: your eyes is very big and your face is very big too

Me: Yiiiii

Papa: Hahahah

_________________________________________________________________________________

(Having breakfast with Rosamond)

Rosamond: Your eyes really big. Then your face is very big.

Me: Why everyone include Papa loves to say so?

Rosamond: Luckily you’ve big face to match your big eyes. Otherwise, you’ll look like Min Er (敏儿）in the Four Golden Princess/四千金(a kid singing group Malaysia)

Me: Cehhhh

******************

Peninsular Malaysia lecturers and friends said me not like the Chinese. Meanwhile, Papa and Rosamond never say like this.

Isn’t parents and siblings not going to say like this?

Isn’t a friend of mine, Shu Fang’s explanation in above was correct?

Hey guys, what do you think?

Recent me 

Deities Procession in Roban

Roban (a sub-district of Kabong), Sarawak was a very small town that contained lots of memories especially for Papa Tay followed by me, Rosamond and JoJo.

It’s where we born and grew up. It’s where we started our formal education. It’s where we met our friends.

It’s where we say hello to our neighbors (whom we known for so many years) with a friendly smile as we walked down the street.  It’s where we learned the hardest life lessons.

Roban seeped deep into our soul and we had strong attachment to Roban. We loved Roban. We always will no matter how far we moved away.

Hence, last night we make our way to Roban for watching annually deities procession. The deities procession usually fallen in the 22th February according to Chinese lunar calendar.

It considered as the biggest event for small town like Roban. The town area flooded with people for enjoying annually deities procession. 

Newspaper reported the annually deities procession will be started on 6 pm but at the end 7 pm just began.

 While waiting, S.E.L.F.I.E & camwhoring with the kids. Looking at the 4th picture, Papa Tay & Uncle were so relax shaking their legs waiting deities' arrival. hahaha

Besides that, we had ice cream bun offered by our Uncle. 

I used to eat ice cream bun in my very young age and now hard to find it anymore in the supermarket except D.I.Y  (do it yourself). 

I felt so good when eating ice cream bun.

The procession finally started on 7 pm from the Malay village and then winded to the Roban town area. 

Chai Sen Ye (i.e God of Prosperity) was the first for deities procession. He distributed sweets to anyone lined up on the street witnessing the procession 

 Then, a group of devotees carried the chariot by foot accompanying with loud sound of drum beats.

However, I can't recognized which deities on the chariot.

Papa Tay like usual offered 3 holly sticks for the deities.

I saw some chariots tossed higher than the devotees' head while some were swinging the chariots here and there. All of them shouted for joy and celebration 

Oh no. it's not an easy task. It seriously required 10 persons or more than that to hold the chariots steadily. 

The chariots was in the form of vehicles that bearing big holly sticks 

 Some of the devotees were came from other districts like Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu and so on 

All of them paid attention in witnessing the procession. 

The procession ended on 7.45 pm. 

After that, we departed to the Temple as a dance performance from Sibu was organized. Actually, few days before the procession had the solo singing performance and the performer will be obtained Rm 5 according to Uncle. I didn't like this type of solo singing performance because most of them were old people and their songs definitely not liking my tastes.

In contrast, during actual day the well trained entertainment company was hired by the temple committee to responsible for singing and dancing performance. Yes, it really met my taste and requirement. All the songs were trendy songs and the dances were so interesting sometimes. I like it very much. 

All people also waited for singing & dancing performance

 There was no fancy restaurant near the Temple, the temporary food stalls were set up 

It had fried chicken wings, fried hot dogs, grilled chicken wings, drinks, kacang kuda.

Papa Tay was awarded a flag due to he donated few hundreds ringgit for Roban Temple

Papa urged us to go up to the stage for getting the flag for him but we all refused to do so. Finally, he got it by his own. 

Besides that, the way that emcee called the people to get the awarded flags were very funny. 

For example, When the emcee called  Papa Tay's names but he didn't showed up at first. So, the emcee said "Ah Ku (i.e Uncle's name) may help to get the flag" on the stage. 

Oh my god, first time encountered such "higher level outspoken" emcee

The committee sang a birthday song for deities

followed by dancing performance

Even though left home for so many years and had been witnessed grand performance but procession in Roban was different with them. 

It's special. It got the foods like kacang kuda, chicken wings that I had when I was grown up. It got the only entertainment, deities procession that possessed early stage of my life. It got the familiar faces that I hardly saw nowadays but they still in my memories.

Roban, you always in my mind and not be forgotten!!!