A Short Getaway to Pahang

It was a week before the National Day when my father told my family and me that we will be visiting my aunt in Kuala Rompin, Pahang. Hearing that news, my heart jumped with joy as it has been a long time since the last time we went there. My aunt lives in a village which is inhabited mostly by farmers. The farmers have their own land so they can grow their own crops and even rear cows and goats. I live in a place that is currently developing so there are buildings everywhere. Because of that, I thought that this trip will be a good chance for me to run away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We leave home on Friday after my siblings had finished their classes. We arrived there after a three hours journey. Green trees could be seen along the way. My jaw dropped in awe to see the breath taking scenery. As we reached my aunt's house quite late, we went straight to bed after we had dinner. The next day, we woke up early feeling fresh and energized. My father took us to the market or well known as "Pekan Sari" by the locals. There were many types of food, clothes and even plants sold there. That place was crowded by people as it is one of the main attractions there. The hawkers' loud and rising shrill voices could be heard almost everywhere. They were competing against each other to attract the customers' attention.

Although it was scorching hot and I was sweating until my shirt clung on my back, I really like it there as I was able to experience something new. I also had the opportunity to taste a type of kuih that is popular at that market. It is like the traditional "apam balik" but the filling is made up of black glutinous rice and shaved coconuts. At first, I thought that the taste will be weird as the ingredients will not suit each other but actually, I was wrong. It was tasty. The sweetness of the black glutinous rice goes very well with a little bit of saltiness that comes from the coconut.

The kuih that I got to taste at the market.
(Photo credit to this blog)

On the evening, as the weather was very nice, my family and I decided to spend some time at the beach. The beach is only a stone’s throw away from my aunt’s house and it takes only 5 minutes to go there.

Fluffy blue clouds and sandy beach at the Bernas Beach.

When we arrived at the beach, cold and refreshing wind greeted us. The waves were creeping steadily towards us. Without wasting any precious time, we quickly jumped into the sea. We had so much fun. We swam, built sandcastles and even strolled along the beach.  Although we went there for only a short period, I was feeling very happy as I am able to spend quality time with my family.

I enjoyed watching sunset and beautiful scenery at the beach.

Unfortunately, the next day, it was time for us to go home. My aunt was kind enough to cook “nasi briyani” and packed some for us to eat during the journey.  All in all, this short getaway was a success. I enjoyed visiting my aunt as she is a kind and nice person. Her hospitality had made us feel like we were at our own house. Although it was no network coverage at her house area, I still feel happy as there were many other activities that I can do to kill time. Aside from that, my family and my aunt’s family had gotten closer as we spend most of our time together during this short getaway. I am really looking forward to visit my aunt in the near future. For the time being, we will just contact her via phone. 

My Stationery Obsession

Recently, BuzzFeed had listed 27 Telltale Signs You're A Stationery Addict in their website. Some of the tell-tale signs are you delight in pens that come in a rainbow of colours, making lists is your forte, you own more notebooks than space for all the thoughts in your head and as an adult, somehow you are still collecting stickers. Honestly, most of the tell-tale signs described myself. I am a stationery addict and I have a serious obsession on stationeries. 

Why did I said so?

The reason being is because I owned a number of stationery items. Sometimes, it is more than enough but I just cannot hold myself. When I go to the stationery department, I feel like a kid in a candy store. Everything looked nice. I had tried to decrease the amount of stationery that I owned by using them but it is still not working. 

The first collection of stationery items that I had collected and hoarded is washi tapes. Washi tape is a tape that is printed with fancy decorations and attractive colours. It comes with different sizes and lengths, Washi tapes are usually used to decorate or customize a thing so that it will be one of a kind. I have plenty of these tapes and I thought that it is reasonable for me to collect them as I used them all the time in my planner. 

A pile of washi tapes.

Aside from washi tapes, I also collect sticky notes. I used them to jot down important things. I am liking them a lot as they have vibrant colours and they also have beautiful designs. There are no endless creations for sticky notes. Usually, these sticky notes are very cheap and I can easily get them everywhere. 

How I use the washi tapes and sticky notes in my planner.

Moving on the next items which is pens, they are my favourite. Well actually, everything is my favourite. I owned many pens in many colours and types. Coloured pens, marker pens and calligraphy pens are some of the pens I collected. I like how pens with different colours could actually increase our interest in something, especially lecture notes. I used different colours in my lecture notes as they looked nice and they also helped me in remembering all the facts and numbers in the notes. 

I have a pile of stickers in my collection. They are so pretty and I just cannot resist in buying them. Moreover, they are also cheap. I used stickers in my planner as a decoration and I love how they turned out to be. My younger sister also has the same interest as I do and we often share and exchange stickers with each other. 

My growing stickers colletion.

I also collect other stationery items such as notebooks, stamps, watercolours and also brushes. By collecting and using the stationery items, I can express myself and even release some stress. Although some people might not understand this obsession and thought that it is a waste, I did not care as this is my happiness. And in order for you to feel that happiness too, I highly recommend you to try it!

What's In My Bag?

Nowadays, a bag is an important part of our life as we need it to store our belongings. Other people might carry around different things according to their needs. So today, I thought that I will share things that I store in my brown sling bag every single day.

Mobile phone.

In this modern world, it is important to bring your mobile phone everywhere. That is why I always carry my Sony Xperia C3 around. Although it is not as fancy and sophisticated as the iPhone lines, it serves me well. By using this phone, I am able to call, send text messages, surf the internet, play games and others. It is more than enough. Moreover, this phone's front camera is 5 mega pixel so the quality of the pictures are very good. It is definitely a bonus for me as I love to take selfies!

Power bank.

A power bank also play an important role in my daily life. As my days are usually filled with classes and assignments, I always forget to charge my mobile phone. In that situation, the power bank always become a hero and saves my day in the nick of time. I am very thankful to the person who invented this beneficial thing.

Glasses.

Moving on to the next thing in my bag which is my glasses, I really need them everyday since I am a short-sighted person. I had worn glasses since I was eleven years old. I am the type of person who did not like wearing glasses all day long. Hence, I need to bring my glasses everywhere. 

A compact powder and a lipstick.

As a girl, I really need to take care of my appearances. Therefore, I always bring a compact powder and a lipstick with me so that I can touch up my make up whenever needed. Before I entered the university, I did not fancy make up that much but yes, a girl is still a girl. During the first time I tried wearing make up, I immediately fell in love with it. Make up is like a magic, it boosts up your confidence level and makes you feel really good about yourself.

Sunglasses.

Why did I bring sunglasses in my bag? The first reason is I really love the design of this sunglasses that I got from Cotton On. The design is unique and not the same as any other typical sunglasses. Furthermore, it suits my face really well. The second reason is there are many benefits that we can obtain from wearing glasses. According to a blog, sunglasses can decrease dry-eye problems, the sun's garish glare will be reduced, less squinting and eye strain will be experienced and our eyes will be safe from debris.

A pen and a notebook.

Last but not least, a small notebook and a pen are the things that I will carry around everyday. I use them to record and jot down important things. Besides, I also use them to track down my expenses and also to-do lists. As I tend to forget things easily, I rely on my notebook a lot. Without them, my life will be a complete mess.

Easy Cafe, Tanjung Malim

It was our turn to pay the bills so my friend and I decided to go to TNB Tanjung Malim after our class ended. We went there by a taxi and it only costs us RM 7. After we paid the bills, we thought that we should eat our lunch before going back. The nearest place to eat there was Easy Cafe. So we decided to give this place a try as we had never been there before.

We arrived there just a little bit earlier before the lunch break. At first, the cafe was empty but eventually, as the lunchtime arrived, it became crowded. Most of the customers there were workers who work nearby. Students were rarely to be seen as the place is situated a little bit far from the university.

As soon as we went in, a waiter greeted us and showed us the way in. After being seated, the waiter quickly gave us the menu. I can say that the customer service was very good as the waiter treated us nicely and politely. I decided to order Italian Beef Meatballs Spaghetti and Hazelnut Latte while my friend ordered Grilled Cheesy Chicken Chop with Potato. She also ordered Caramel Latte as her drink.

Hazelnut Latte (RM 6) and Caramel Latte (RM 6).

Italian Beef Meatballs Spaghetti (RM 14) and Grilled Cheesy Chicken Chop with Potato (RM 16).

Juicy meatballs covered with plenty of cheese and spaghetti sauce.

The portion for each dish is quite generous and it can fill up my stomach that was growling with hunger. As for the meatballs, it was juicy and tender. The spaghetti sauce was also cooked to perfection. But unfortunately, my drink which was the Hazelnut Latte was too sweet to my liking. I wish that the level of sweetness could be reduced a bit. I also had the chance to taste my friend's chicken chop and it was to die for. The chicken was grilled properly and the taste was delicious. The only negative thing about that dish was the potato. It was not seasoned well so the taste is blend and not pleasant.

Overall, my dining experience there was a success. The place was spotlessly clean and I really enjoyed the good customer service provided. The price was also reasonable considering that the portion was huge. I believe that this place will be a good attraction for tourists that come to visit Tanjung Malim.

Pancakes for Breakfast!

Have you ever get bored eating your typical breakfast? Bored of cereals, bread and eggs? Want to try something new? Here is a recipe of a fluffy, soft pancakes that I got from a blog.

For this easy peasy lemon squeezy recipe, you will need a cup of plain flour, a cup of fresh milk or low fat milk, an egg, a teaspoon of baking powder, one and a half tablespoon of sugar and two tablespoon of corn oil. 

After preparing all of the ingredients, roll your sleeves up and get a bowl. Put all of the ingredients in that bowl. Be sure to mix everything until there is no lumps. Next, heat up your pan. It is better if you use a non-stick pan so that your pancakes will not stick. Pour a small ladle of the mixture into the pan. Let it aside for a while. When bubbles start to form on the surface of the pancake, flip it carefully. Let it aside again for one minute. The pancake is fully cooked when the colour turns into golden brown, Repeat the same step again until all of the mixture is finished.

The finished product.
(Photo credit to Google)

This pancakes taste the better if it is eaten while it is still hot. You can eat it with maple syrup, chocolate sauce or just enjoy eating it by itself. The creamy and sweet taste of the pancakes will surely make your day better. Be sure to always take your breakfast and never ever skip them as it is the most important meal of the day.

Dinner @ Tappers Café

As usual, every two weeks, I will go back to my hometown in Melaka. The same goes for this week. As my best friend is on her semester break, we decided to spend some time together on the weekend. At first, we planned to go for a window shopping at Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall. Dataran Pahlawan is a one-stop megamall which is also a famous tourist spot. As we arrived there quite late at night, most of the shops were starting to close down. Our plan to go for a window shopping was cancelled. We decided to go and eat our dinner since our stomach was growling with hunger.

We chose Tappers Café as a place for us to dine as it was one of the new cafés opened in Dataran Pahlawan. Moreover, the beautiful decoration of that café had attracted us to go there. The decoration was inspired by elegant colonial designs and most of the furniture there were white in colour. The cafe is opened everyday. On weekdays, the operation hours is from 8 am to 10 pm while on weekends, it is opened from 9.30 am until 10 pm. 

The beautiful and stunning decoration of Tappers Café.

As soon as we were seated, a waiter came a greeted us with her big smile. She then gave us the menu. There were quite a number of dishes and beverages with different cuisines served here. I ordered the Chicken Parmigiana (RM13.90) which is breaded chicken in spaghetti tomato and it is covered by melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese. It is served with a small bowl of coleslaw and some chips.

Chicken Parmigiana that was served with coleslaw and some chips.

Meanwhile, my friend ordered the Chicken Schnitzel (RM14.90). It is a deep fried chicken coated with bread crumbs and served with a small bowl of coleslaw,  some chips and a special brown sauce from the café itself. We both ordered Iced Chocolate (RM5.30) and Chocolate Milkshake (RM 7.50) as our drinks. After a short period of time, our dishes arrived. It was great as we did not have too wait for a long time. Although it was at night and the closing time was getting near, the efficiency of the workers had still not decreased. 

The dishes were well prepared and the portion were quite big. My favourite part of the dish was the coleslaw. The vegetables were fresh and the taste was scrumptious. I like how the coleslaw was being put in a ramekin. By doing that, the chicken and chips will not get soggy. As for the star for both dishes which was the chicken, the batter was nice and the chicken was not greasy. But what disappointed me was the taste of the chicken for both dishes. Although my friend and I ordered different dishes, the taste was the same. I was hoping that there will be some differences but there was not.

Overall, it was nice to have dinner there. For a café that looked like an expensive five star hotel with beautiful decoration, the prices were reasonable. Moreover, the dining experience that we had there was satisfying. I cannot wait to come here again as taste another dish as they have a wide selection of dishes. I am looking forward to taste their newest dish which is the Garlic Shrimp Scampi Spaghetti.

The selfie that my friend and I took before leaving the café.

My First Experience as an Entrepreneur

To be an entrepreneur, one really need to have a good communication skills and a high level of confidence so that they could catch the customer's attention. Besides, he/she also need to be determined and willing to take risks in order to be a high-achieving entrepreneur. As for me, I really need to admit that entrepreneurship is not my cup of tea as I am not a talkative person and I find it hard to get along well with people in a short period of time. But fortunately, in semester 4, I got the chance to experience how does it feel like to be an entrepreneur.

As a requirement for the subject Entrepreneurship, I need to sell 20 bottles of sea cucumber oil. The oils were provided by my lecturer a week before my mid semester break which is during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Aside from selling them, I also need to repackage the oils to attract customer's attention. Instead of putting them in a plastic bag, I had repackaged them by putting them in a small pouch. The pouch could be used again to store jewellery, stationery or even mobile phones. Basically, by buying the oil, the customer will be able to use both oil and also pouch. 

The oils that had been repackaged.

Closer look of the sea cucumber oil and the pouch. 

Since it was my first time, it was hard for me to sell these oils. Lack of confidence, limited time and insufficient skills were some of the problems that I faced. Luckily, my uncles and aunties were kind enough to support me by buying these oils. They encouraged me and even gave me some tips on how to sell these oils. Most of them are entrepreneurs and they have their own businesses so they know better. Besides that, I also promoted the oils to my friends through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

Finally, after promoting and struggling to find customers, I managed to sell all of the oils. Through this activity, I realised that being an entrepreneur is not an easy job. It takes time and patience. Although I managed to sell all of the oils, I know that I still need to learn a lot in order to be a good entrepreneur and I believe that there will be more opportunities to learn it in the future.