The Toblater Story

A journal of 6 food loving, sweet-toothed lasses persevering the never ending quandary against the utterly fattening Malaysian delicacies. Under the guidance of 2 trainers with opposing modus operandi, these lasses contend for “The Biggest Looser” title over the next 6 months. Follow their compelling tales of forced diets, loathed workouts, amusing treacheries, inspirational insights, infectious gossips and all things related/unrelated to this trivial tussle of feminine, yet feisty vixens

June 12, 2011

Goodbye

"Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception."

Surah Al-Imran, 185

My Maktok passed away suddenly on 6 June 2011. She left us without properly saying goodbye. The sad news came as a shock to my family, let alone to me who is thousand of miles away from home. When I heard the news, I was a few hours away from sitting my Financial Law paper and I could not think whether I should be sad or worry about my paper at the same time.

I have been thinking about her until today, as much as I have accepted her passing. Whenever I think of her, I can only cry and reminisce of my childhood memories - she took care of me when I was growing up and I have always been one of the 'favourite cucus' to her, the one that will always have a dear place to her heart.

I saw her the last time when I was back for a short trip to KL in April. Mak G and I sent her back to Muar for a day-trip since she wanted to go back home after spending 2 weeks at my Paksu's home in Puchong. The visit was brief and short and I never knew that it would be a one final visit. Initially, I was quite upset with Mak G for asking me to go back to Muar with her as I just arrived from London the day before. No matter how shitty I was feeling at that time - battling with a minor jet-lag, fatigue and not able to spend a quiet day with Y at home, I relented as I did not want to hurt Mak G's feelings. I slept and kept quiet most of the time in the car as a sign of protest. That was me being childish.

I did help Maktok to prepare her bed. Her brass bed was rickety and had one broken leg so I exchanged with another bed in Abah, my grandfather's room. Mak G wanted to buy a new bed then, but as we were rushing to go back to KL, Mak G told Maktok that she had to make do with the temporary bed and will buy a new one later.

When Mak G was in the hospital doing her knee surgery, she called my phone and apologised so many times for not being able to be there for my mother.

It is all in memories now. Going back to Muar will not be the same anymore. Abah has to live alone without Maktok by his side. And soon, Abah's time will come too, despite us not knowing when.

I am sad beyond words. This is the second time that someone very close to me has passed on, unexpectedly. I usually choose to hide my feelings. I may look strong but I am human too - I can cry even if I have the slightest misunderstanding with Y over petty issues. And being away far from home has made me the most sensitive person that I can be, what more with struggling with my final exams at the moment.

Maktok, thank you for taking care of me and I am sorry I was not there before you were laid to rest. Trust me, Ily sedih sampai hari ni sebab tak dapat jumpa Maktok, padahal Ily dah nak balik dalam beberapa lagi...



Al-fatihah.

June 5, 2011

Q1 2011 Recap

Time sure flies. It's it a little more than halfway through the year and so many things have happened. Noticed that we did not update this blog often enough thus might have forget some events that have happened. Let's recap the 1st Qtr:


January 11

I seriously can't remember how I spent my NewYear. Oh wait. I can. Dinner at WadiHadramawt with Mess, Enon, Temah & Mimah on New Year's eve followed by supper at BSC. I don't remember making any resolutions but I do remember freaking out about turning 30.



Yup, turned 30 in Jan. Still feels the same.


February 11

Odah gleefully joined the club.


March 2011
Gayah's turn to age. We had a makan2 at Nong & Jimmy for the March babies (Assya and Maznee as well) but sadly could not find any photos of the dinner. Mess, Meah and I had an enjoyable mini vacay in KK - you can read it here. March is also when Odah announced that she plans to take a break from work and spend 2 months in a Muay Thai camp in Phuket - talk about life changing experience.

That's it for the 1st Qtr. Will write an entry on the happenings in Q2 soon.

April 3, 2011

3 girls and lotsa seafood !! Only in KK - Day 2

Day 2 starts with Island Hopping Miami style bebeh!! We got inspired by H and dedicate our Island Hopping theme to him :)















Took boat from Sutera Harbour Resort, to 2 Island ( Sapi & Mamutik). It was nice boat ride with all MS surrounding us..(seriously rasa kat Miami ok..ahah)


While there, we were treated as if we are some VIPs, (my FULL name asyik kena sebut, sbb I did d booking)Upon arriving at 1st Island - Sapi, the guide (Ryan) was giving us special attention, advising us where to go etc ( the MS was trying to listen to what he was saying ( he only gave instruction to us three..and ignoring those MS) Felt great coz lelaki itu tidak bias..ahahah.


We spent almost 2 hours there..(starting off with some light breakfast of Indomie & ommelette from the Sapi cafe, then snorkelled the hour away...)


While waiting for our boat to Mamutik Island..



then we are off to our 2nd island...( the boat is special for only 3 of us..) how cool is that!!!

but d boat driver, mistaken us for Manukan Island instead of Mamutik Island, then we need to share our precious boat with some other tourist yg nak balik shore. ( the driver dropped us to Mamutik Island before sending them off) dah x special dah! Well, what to do.

Some pics from Mamutik


This Island got coverage ok..Esah was texting her boss. And i can see a bit of 6 packs uncle Korea in this pic. hhahaha..


Mess Aziz swimming tee was Paul Smith..

I've changed to dry attire after whole day in wet suit..

we are back on shore...some pics of the harbour to remind 3 of us, of our very own Miami with our Beach mat :)


After Island hopping, we've decided, we need to get a rest from Seafood for 1 night..So off we go to Little Italy Pizza & Pasta corner. Very cosy and full of MS!! this is sooo the place for us to hang out..ahahah..


This bruschetta is to die for!!


nice Gnocci! cudnt remember the sauce though..but it tasted like marinara, but with beef bacon instead of seafood


Lamb Pizza!! the crust was so nice and crispy, and the cheese, suprise suprise, x muak! Even for me yang bukan cheese eater!


After our dinner, then we realized, all our food was tomato based...so healthy lah kan? hahaha..

And what a nice way to end our 2nd nite here....by eating..more Veda Blue Ice cream!! yummmeeehh..


I took Durian, Mess Aziz - Avocado, Esah - Kiwi.


BLISS!!


Wait for more pics for Day 3 :)


muahss xoxo, Meah

3 girls and lotsa seafood!! Only in KK - Day 1

Hm..where shall I start..




I've wanted to be a blogger tegar ( where you blog non stop and everytime) hence I think..I need a new camera that shot pretty pics. But too bad..I have a penyakit we called " gadget challenge" so I cannot bergaya with all the big camera aka Connie size. So what I did, I texted Enon..and she advised me to buy S95. Thanks Enon!! I am in love with it :) It somehow makes me look like a pro when shooting pics..ahaha...

*(but dont count on me to materialize my blogger tegar angan2..nak tulis 1 entry pun took me 1 hour ok..)




So, I decided..where else to try it out better than the trio trip to KK. It was sooo good!! The food is over the top..and you know what we enjoyed the most?! Well..you'll see later.



Enjoy the pics!!


Day 1, while waiting for duo from KL to arrive at KK Airport

Our lunch (seafood No 1) - we ate this special shell ala escargot ( what was the name again Esah & Mess Aziz?)



This is the starter..(RM2 per pinggan..kinda mahal..sungguh mengade the kedai) Kalau aku tahu...bawak kacang sendiri ok.


This is the shell we ate..not sure the full name. Esah & Mess Aziz might remember



what we actually ate..



Our lunch for Day 1 :)


Then off to Green Connection. it is an aquarium of eco-treasure of Sabah. More info go this website -> http://www.the-green-connection.com/green/


Jack Sparrow waiting for us at the entrance :)



The KL duo trying to check out what's inside the murky water aquarium..


Turtle



Turtle mating ( not sure successful or not, they keep on rolling, pity them)



Shot of a different turtle



Turtle is such a peaceful creature I would say.. He / she just lay low, and glide through the water...


Turtle is hungry...



Using my experiences as an observer of behavior, I think the guitar shark and stingray is dating..ahahah!!


We can't see the real Beaver..(menyorok kot), so we took pics with the poster..Jadiklah..ahaha


OMG...my first time tengok Belangkas.. not sure the english word for it..they are really belangkas ok!! tailgating each other (more like piggybackride)..Such a burden!


Esah with starfish ( she was so berani touching this and that...I am soo not adventurous)


Finishing off our lesson at Aquarium..

After 1.5 hours at Green connection..we decided to go shopping!! But oh boy did we shop? Nope...instead, we fill our tummy with this super delicious ice cream!! VEDABLU is the best ice cream so far...


Mine is Watermelon with lime sorbet! Super refreshing!


Mess Aziz trying Mango, while Esah hmm..not sure..apa kah? Avocado right? or cempedak? Did we try cempedak?

* not shopping is very rare for me, hence this ice cream is really that sedap ok!


After whole day jalan2...we need to fill up our tank again..and since this is KK..what else should we eat..more seafood!!


Tonite, thanks to Tisha, we managed to find the nice cheap seafood. Sedappp and muraaaaaaaahhhh..

Posing at seafood stall.



Total for all these together( 3 sticks of Prawn, 3 sticks of sotong & Ikan bawal satu ( not sure bawal or what, but belasah ajelah kan) : RM30! (actually RM33, but we mintak discount..ahaha)


Seriously...we were overdosed of Prawns (total i ate today probably close to 10 pieces of prawns!!)...need to check my blood pressure later.

That superb dinner ended our Day 1 in KK.. gotta love the food :) More pics to come on for the rest of the trip. Pstt: I didn't managed to snap our cow motive seater MYVI..too busy oogling other things. haha..


muahs xoxo, Meah