Ni Hao Ma? 幫助我!!

It is a requirement for all undergrads in my uni to undertake at least one foreign language in their syllabus. As the choices were limited, I opted for Mandarin hoping to impress my family and friends with my linguistic capabilities. Anna, my 7 years old niece is very fluent in the language as she had been studying it since her kindergarten days and I plan to do a bit of "showing off" to her, to let her know that her 'old' aunt has still got what it takes.

However, I find myself struggling a bit with the language. Unlike Lea, I am not as proficient as she is. It would take me quite a while to grasp the vocabularies and I find the task of translating sentences very daunting indeed.

We have a test coming soon in two weeks time. This would be my final Mandarin paper. I barely passed my previous 2 exam papers and by god, I will not fail this one either!! In order to 'motivate' myself, I have decided to embrace everything that is Chinese to help me achieve my objective. For the past couple of weeks, I ate halal dim-sum, I drank hot Chinese tea, read the history of People's Republic of China, and religiously watched every game and reruns of Beijing's 2008 Summer Olympics. Taking my efforts to next level, I am currently watching the re-run of Bodyguard from Beijing and listening to songs by famous Hong Kong artist - Leon Lai . I have been a fan ever since my high school days when I first watched him in the TVB Series "The Breaking Point" back in 1991/1992. The series was shown on the local channel for one hour weekdays between 6-7pm. I can still remember how we girls (back then I was in an all girls boarding school) will sit close together and often fight for the best spot in front of the television just so that we could capture all the romance and drama.

video courtesy of KTPhimbo.com

*Sigh, those were the good ol' days when my only concerns in life back then were to make sure that I pass all my exams and whether Leon Lai and Kathy Chow would end up together or not.

Well, I hope my efforts will pay off. Here's crossing my fingers and praying for the best.

*p/s: Lea, as usual, you are my walking Mandarin dictionary. I am "reserving" you until our exams are over, thank you very much , heheheheh ;)

Knights In Shining Armour

I have often thought that chivalry, especially among the younger generation is more of a myth rather then the truth. Fiction rather then fact. In a modern world where women are more vocal in voicing out their rights and of equality, somehow some has managed to misinterpret feminism as the need for women to eliminate men and their functions at all. Men with courteous manners are fast extincting species indeed, if you ask me.

An acquantaince of mine, whom I met through a mutual friend once said, " Well, you women, always asking for your rights la, hak sama rata la. Bile kitorang lelaki lebih sikit, kata male chauvinism la, sexist la. Bile kite puji dan appreciate you ladies, kata sexual harassment la. Cam ni, better not to exert any chivalry at all. Buang masa dan tenage aje". (You women often ask for your rights and equality. When we men are better then you, you call it male chauvinism. When we appreciate you, you call it sexual harrasment, sexist. Best not to be chivalrious at all. It's a waste of time and effort).

I almost strangled that "la" man. Thank god for public places and to my family who taught me the importance of good manners. Else, I would have "choked-slammed" him and squashed the tiny man into a squidgy pancake. Safe to say, he and I remained just as what we are and should be, a mere acquaintance.

After class last night I found myself stranded at the desserted car park of the faculty, with a flat tyre. I wish I could say that I am indeed a "Jack of All Trades". Unfortunately, I am neither a Jack nor a Jill in this matter. One thing's for sure, when it comes to automobils, cars and mechanics, I am utterly lost. I was standing there contemplating my next course of action, as to whether I should call for help - which only God knows when they will come as it was already late in the evening, or just dumping the car there and catching a ride back home with Lea and dealing with the matter first thing tomorrow morning, when a 'knight' who just happened to be my classmate, stopped by and courteously offered his assistance. Next thing you know, he had called upon his other 'knights' and together, under the supervision of "Princess Lea", the mini entourage managed to change the flat tyre to the spare one within 20 minutes (unfortunately, when asked, I was ignorant enough not to know that I have a spare functioning tyre in the trunk. How embarassing!!). The task was made a little bit difficult as I had parked the car on a hillside, so there were concerns of the car sliding down the road and of the passing motorists whizzing by as if being chased by the devil himself plus the apprehension off being knocked over under the poorly illuminated road. I was then put in charge of manning the traffic and also became the designated camera-woman for the day.

"Apo ko buek tu, Man??"

Ever so cheeful Pian - Kluang man

Knights (and a Princess) of the Flat Tyre - (from the left) Pian, Izaini, Man, Lea and Hasib

The culprit. What in god's green earth is that?? !!!

It is a wonderful feeling indeed to know that all is not lost. That there is still hope for us (women) to find men whom we thought exists only in romance novels. A James Bond and Paul Bunyan all rolled into one - a gentleman with a courteous conduct, intelligent and manly at the same time.

Now, here comes the million dollar question : How many future-to-be-lawyers would it take to change a flat tyre? Ahhaakkkss ;)

Diary of a Pastaholic : Fettuccine Shrimp Fra Diablo

Among my family and close friends, I am well known for my obsession for anything and everything that is to do with pasta. Baked, fried, sautéed - my addiction for it has no boundaries. There are times when I will travel to uncharted territories just to find the ultimate pasta dish (although most definitely Italy is not within the range where I can travel to at this point of time).

One of my favourites back then was a dish served in Italiannies, One Utama. However, it has been recently taken off the menu for reasons unknown, even when I made enquiries with the staff. Ever since then, I have been looking high and low within the Klang Valley area, dragging my "mobile bank" with me and subjecting him to many pasta tasting sessions when in fact, he is not even a pasta fan at all (yes, I know, I can be cruel sometimes). After many frustrating expeditions, in which I have failed to acquire the same dish that I crave for, I finally decided to make it on my own. Hence the current post.

Here comes the recipe :


Fettuccine Shrimp Fra Diablo
---------------------------------


Ingredients:
--------------
1 packet 500gm fettuccine (cooked as per instruction on the packet)
3 tbs. Olive Oil
12 Large Peeled Shrimp (deveined and leave the tails intact)
3 tbs. Chopped Garlic
1 large Bombay (yellow) Onions - Diced
1/4 cup Blanched Asparagus
1/2 cup Raw Spinach
3 tbs. Toasted Pine Nuts ( raw pine nuts can be bought in selected supermarkets then fried without oil at a low heat until they turn golden brown )
6 Diced Large and Juicy Tomatoes
2 tbs. tomatoo puree
1/3 cup Cream
2 tbs. sweet soya sauce
3 tbs. light soya sauce
1/4 cup Crumbled Goat Cheese (feta cheese)
1 tsp. Chopped Parsley & Spring Onions
2 tsp. paprika
Pepper to Taste


Method:
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1. Preheat pan and add the olive oil and shrimp. Add some paprika and sauté until pink and opaque on the outside. Once cooked, remove from pan and set it aside to rest.
2. Add the garlic, onions, and some pine nuts. Add a dash of pepper. Sauté until fragrant or onions became trasparent.
3. Add the tomatoes. Cook until it resembles a sauce. Add tomato puree followed by the cream. Reduce to medium heat and simmer until slightly thickened.
4. Add the light and sweet soya sauces - to taste. Add the asparagus, spinach and the remaining pine nuts. Lastly, add the cooked shrimps. Cover the pan for 2 minutes or until spinach stars to wilt.
5. Add the cooked fettuccine and allow the pasta to heat for one minute while stirring gently to heat the pasta evenly.
6. Lift the pasta out of the pan. Top with the sauce, crumbled goat cheese, a dash of paprika and
chopped parsley with spring onions.
7. Best serve hot.


*Note : I often use soya sauce to substitute sugar and salt. It adds an Asian twist to it.



Result wise?? I believe I have satisfied many hungry tummies that day, although I can't be too sure whether the compliments received were genuine enough - they are afterall, my family. They have no choice but to support me anyway ;).

I know they say that a picture paint a thousand words. Well then, let's have them speak for themselves, shall we ??



**P/S : My apologies for the low quality pictures. Obviously I require a camera with a higher resolution in order to obtain better results *Cough, cough* Am a Libran...**hint, hint ;)

The Most Famous Section

Last night, I had an interesting conversation with my friend, the future "YBhg Tun", concerning Malaysia's Penal Code. Instead of displaying his interest for the next coming subject in our class, just as most of our male population did, he claimed that the most "hap-Pening" section in the Penal Code is not that of section 375, but is actually section 377 instead, in particular the sub-sections a, b and c respectively.

According to Malaysia's Penal Code, under Unnatural Offences, it is stated that :


Carnal intercourse against the order of nature

377A. Any person who has sexual connection with another person by the introduction of the penis into the anus or mouth of the other person is said to commit carnal intercourse against the order of nature.

Explanation—Penetration is sufficient to constitute the sexual connection
necessary to the offence described in this section.



Punishment for committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature

377B. Whoever voluntarily commits carnal intercourse against the order of nature shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty years, and shall also be liable to whipping.



Committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature without consent, etc.

377C. Whoever voluntarily commits carnal intercourse against the order of nature on another person without the consent, or against the will, of the other person, or by putting the other person in fear of death or hurt to the person or any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than twenty years, and shall also be liable to whipping.



Right, I can understand subsection's (b) and (c), having taken into consideration factors such as from the religious point of view, also that from the hygiene and individual rights perspective. However it is sub- section (a) which I am just a little bit concern about at this moment. Based on the said section, after further analysis and also, digesting of information, I do believe that most of the adults that I know, who are currently pursuing a healthy and legitimate sexual relationship could be, or am almost certain to be that of a habitual offender!! I can't say much here as I do know for a fact that there is a certain "minor" who reads my posts regularly, but I am quite sure most of the adults know what I am referring to.

Call me liberal, but in my opinion, with regards to heterosexual relationships, if it is consensus and if the purpose of such acts is to enrich one's sexual life, without causing harm to others and does not exceed public indecency, then it should not be much of a big deal, isn't it? As a friend commented to me just now, " What ? After everything that has been going on, even our 'holes' are now controlled by the government??!!"

I do hope they have enough space allocated in the prison cells to put these "offenders" in place. Should the lawmakers intend to completely abide by the rules, then believe me when I say that I am quite sure - no, positively sure that they will certainly be needing it. A lot!! *LOL* ;)