sixthseal.com

Identical twins

I just saw a pair of identical twins while going Chinese New Year visiting...they look so much alike even their parents can't tell them apart!

Posted in Chinese New Year by Huai Bin at 06:50 PM Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBack

Dragons Playing Pearl Fireworks Mines and Shots review

This is a box of assorted firecrackers and fireworks that somehow appeared in my room in Sibu in a mysterious and somewhat nefarious manner. ;) I gave most of it away since I prefer loud and large fireworks and firecrackers. There were a lot of assorted fireworks (and more will mysteriously appear again tonight) in the box with a couple of larger scale firecrackers.

This is 48 Colorpeony placed next to a 16 Colorpeony for scale. The number represents the amount of shots inside the fireworks. Mysterious mysteries. Colorpeony is a popular Chinese New Year firework and again, it somehow appeared incriminatingly in my room. I love loud firecrackers and huge fireworks boxes that produce the pyrotechnics I crave. :)

I got up at 7 am this morning ("got up" not "woke up", haven't slept in two days) feeling extremely irritable for no reason at all so I decided to wake up the neighbours with the 48 Colorpeony firecrackers. It's supposed to be lit at night so the flaming balls and sparks that shoots up into the sky isn't overpowered by the sun, but I wanted to cheer myself up.

Thus, I set the 48 Colorpeony fireworks on the ground near the auto gate and prepared to light it up. The size of Colorpeony fireworks is huge if you haven't seen one - it has a footprint as large as a notebook (larger than the mini laptops) and it's about one foot in height and girth. I asked my mom (who was conveniently there) to take a video of the pyrotechnics.

She did...at least all that aiming and panning stuff, but she forgot to press the shutter button! Arrrggghhh...I would have killed her if it wasn't Chinese New Year coz it was a really good scene coz I was being stupid. I just lit the fuse, stood there looking down INTO the fireworks, gave a running commentary on my favourite firework and got hit by one of the shots coz I stood right beside it. Jesus Christ, I wish that was recorded...

Thus, I went up and grabbed this new firecracker that I bought - it's called Dragons Playing Pearl Fireworks Mines and Shots which is a damn long name. It's smaller than the Colorpeony fireworks but I didn't want to waste another Colorpeony so I decided to check out this new firework. It sounds intriguing enough. Dragons Playing Pearl Fireworks Mines and Shots. Mines. Shots. Mmm...

Download: Dragons Playing Pearl Fireworks Mines and Shots [sixthseal.com]

I gave my mom a 30 minute tutorial on how to use the video function of my digicam and taught her the basics of panning correctly (she doesn't know which scenes should be focused on at what time, so I had to give her audio cues...loud ones, in the video, and she had to use zoom coz she thinks fireworks are dangerous in close proximity) and lit the Dragons Playing Pearl Fireworks Mines and Shots.

The Dragons Playing Pearl Fireworks Mines and Shots are surprisingly captivating. It alternates coloured balls of fire and shots of explosions in a standard 30 tube box firecracker format. It doesn't have the sheer intense exit velocity of Colorpeony (which is loud and shoots up a good 200 meters into the stratosphere) but the Dragons Playing Pearl Fireworks Mines and Shots holds its own for a firecracker in its class.

It's very therapeutic to light fireworks in the morning. I went to bed straight after that and just woke up for the reunion dinner. I've only had half a sandwich in two days so I'm a little hungry. I'll light more of the Dragon Playing Pearl Fireworks tonight when it's dark so it would look better...

...or should I do it now? Hmm...

Related post: Firecrackers in Malaysia - photos, videos and descriptions [sixthseal.com]

P/S - I love Sibu, practically everyone is letting off firecrackers (which was what woke me up just now) in the neighbourhoods. There's always a constant sound of various fireworks and firecrackers, distant and near, and that, my friends, is the true spirit of Chinese New Year. There's more to come tonight - that's when the Chinese New Year Eve celebrations really goes off large scale. I have more boxes of interesting fireworks and firecrackers for tonight, so stay tuned!

Happy New Year to all of sixthseal.com readers!

Gong Xi Fa Chai!

Posted in Chinese New Year by Huai Bin at 06:40 PM Permalink | Comments (34) | TrackBack

Tongue Piercing - Photos and videos

I had my tongue pierced together with Cherie at Borneo Headhunters Tattoo and Piercing on a whim about three weeks ago. I used to have a tongue piercing back in Christchurch, and it was more towards the front of the tongue. I tried to get it done in the same place (there still is a visible hole) but decided against it since I have a career so I went for one towards the back so it isn't too visible.

This is the second time for Cherie (she has a navel piercing) while I had most of my face pierced in NZ, so I'm used to it. However, we both have a very high threshold for pain so we didn't feel much at all.

I didn't want to post about this but since a previous entry depicted my tongue piercing, I might as well put up the photos and videos. ;)

You will need QuickTime for the videos (.3gp) and double size it coz I didn't bring my digicam (it was an impulsive decision) so it was filmed using a cell phone. Check out the background soundtrack - there was a procession...I found it very appropriate. Heh!

Download: Tongue clamping [sixthseal.com]
This is a video me getting my tongue clamped for the piercing.

Download: Tongue piercing [sixthseal.com]
This shows the needle going in and piercing through the tongue with the follow through with the bar.

Download: Cherie tongue clamping [sixthseal.com]
This is Cherie getting her tongue clamped.

Download: Cherie piercing [sixthseal.com]
The needle going through...

Download: Cherie barbell [sixthseal.com]
...and the process of screwing in the barbell.

Download: HB tongue piercing aftermath [sixthseal.com]
This is a video taken right after the tongue piercing.

Download: Cherie tongue piercing aftermath [sixthseal.com]
This is a video of Cherie right after the tongue piercing.

We used a 14 gauge bar for the piercing. Cherie went for the surgical steel bar while mine is an 18k solid gold barbell...

...and it's topped with a jewel.

It's a bit of an overkill on the bling bling factor, yeah? ;)

Posted in Best of sixthseal.com by Huai Bin at 10:56 AM Permalink | Comments (76) | TrackBack

Minoru Japanese Restaurant review

Minoru Japanese Restaurant is an authentic Japanese cuisine eating establishment in Kuching. It is supposed to be the best place to go for authentic Japanese food. It's located in Rubber Road and it's a cozy corner lot, relatively unknown, but a gem of a place if you find it.

The interior of Minoru Japanese restaurant is furnished in classic Japanese decor and there are various seating arrangements to accommodate patrons as well as a sushi bar area where you can watch the sushi chef prepare the orders.

The service at Minoru Japanese restaurant is excellent - the waitresses are accommodating, friendly and attentive...probably coz we were the only ones there. ;)

There is a menu plastered on the wall with Japanese writing which I can't make sense of and I don't know why it's there since probably 0.0035% of the population here actually can read Japanese.

I went there with Cherie before she left for Melbourne in the afternoon and the place exudes an ambience of serenity. There is a fish tank at the bar seating area (which used to have piranhas) - it's very tranquil, perfect for a quiet afternoon lunch.

There are various condiments interspaced with sake place cards every meter or so on the bar seating area. The condiments are all imported from Japan, unlike other "Japanese" eating establishments.

The view from the sushi bar into the area is decorated with lighted paper lanterns and the area behind it is full of Japanese paraphernalia.

There is a wide selection of sake and shochu (including the ones in the cardboard boxes - love them) and naturally, Asahi beer in bottles, cans and mini cans.

The sushi bar has a transparent glass counter at eye level with the fresh tuna and octopus as well as other provisions...all air flown in from Japan.

This is the sushi chef behind the counter. Minoru Japanese restaurant also serves fugu (puffer fish) but the dish is seasonal.

I ordered Hon Nama sake (RM 35) which can be served either at room temperature, chilled or warmed. It comes with a shot glass so I decided to take shots instead of savoring the sake coz I have an alcohol problem I didn't want to be pretentious.

This is the California Roll (RM 20) which Cherie recommended. It's really good! Unlike other establishments, the Temaki is filled with all sorts of premium ingredients right down to the bottom of the roll. It's a must have if you're going to Minoru.

This is the sashimi platter that we had. There is salmon sashimi (RM 25), shrimp sashimi (RM 22), octopus sashimi (RM 15), Ikura (RM 30) and Tobiko (RM 14).

We also ordered Akagai sushi (RM 30) which is rare in Kuching. It's fresh ark shell. The other one is Kazunoko sushi (RM 25) which is herring roe.

The Unagi (RM 25) with rice topped with seasoning (RM 2) tastes great as well. I can't resist eel with rice; it's what I used to eat in Melbourne.

The Chawan Mushi (RM 6) in Minoru Japanese restaurant is good as well...it's full of ingredients inside.

This is the soft shelled crab (RM 16) which we did not manage to finish coz it's obvious that we ordered too much food. :)

The most interesting décor in Minoru Japanese restaurant is this glass encased selection of miniature dishes that the establishment offers. The bill came to about RM 300+ which is reasonable for authentic Japanese cuisine.

Itadakimasu!

Posted in Food reviews by Huai Bin at 01:56 PM Permalink | Comments (26) | TrackBack

Fortune Cookie: Your success will keep improving every year

Fortune cookies - it's a cookie with a paper couplet inside stating your fortune. I went to Mojo and everyone in our group got one.

Basically, it's usually served after a meal in Chinese restaurants everywhere (except Malaysia and Singapore for some reason) and you break the cookie to get the paper fortune inside. I used to work in Chinese restaurant in Melbourne.

Mine goes "Your success will keep improving every year".

No shit...

Posted in Interesting by Huai Bin at 08:38 PM Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBack

Huai Bin, Meng, Cherie

This is a group photo of us @ Luconia. Meng just came back from KL - I met him in KL (Cyberjaya) last time I was in KL and hung out at his place.

Posted in People by Huai Bin at 07:14 PM Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack

Shopping @ KLIA - Shop & Unwrap the Nuggets

KLIA Shopping is running a promotion called Shop & Unwrap the Nuggets from the 14th of November 2005 to the 31st of March 2006 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The contest entails racking up a RM 250 minimum on any retail or F&B outlet purchase and redeeming the receipt at the KLIA Shopping Redemption Counter.

The KLIA Shopping Redemption Counter has "nuggets" of Cadbury's bite sized milk chocolate with a customized wrapper which has the prize printed on the hidden side. The main prize is a RM 5k Tag Heuer watch with other prizes which includes Rocaille decorative boxes and hotel stays, all immediately redeemable.

I picked a chocolate nugget from the container, reaching into the upper left quadrant and retrieving a "Shop & Unwrap the Nugget" piece before carefully unwrapping it...

I have won a set of three (3) pencils! w00t! I love pencils! I can't get enough of them!

The person manning the KLIA Shopping Redemption Counter also stuffed a small teddy bear into the pouch containing the pencils and threw in a Beryl's chocolate box.

It's like, the greatest gift evar!!!!!oneone

Got pencils?

Posted in by Huai Bin at 11:53 AM Permalink | Comments (21) | TrackBack

Burger King BK Lamb Promotion

Burger King has two outlets at KLIA - there is a large one in the public accessible area and other one adjacent to Asian statioN inside the main concourse. The departure lounge BK shares the space with Asian statioN with a common seating area though I'm not sure if the two establishments are related.

I saw a BK Lamb Promotion for RM 12.90 and decided to order the meal since Burger King doesn't serve lamb / mutton so I thought it was pretty unusual for them to have a lamb meat based burger. I haven't seen a BK which serves lamb, so I just had to check it out.

This is what the BK Lamb Promotion meal looks like - there's the Burger King lamb burger (wrapped in a BK wrapper that's labeled "Special") with the standard medium fries and a medium coke. I'm not sure if the BK Lamb Promotion is just available in the KLIA Burger King or in other outlets as well.

Here's a shot of the BK Lamb Burger - it's a long (as opposed to round) burger and the bun looks like the ones they use on their sandwiches. It took longer than usual for the burger to come out (also ordered three other burgers to bring back to Kuching for friends since we don't have BK over here) compared to the standard menu items.

The contents of the lamb burger doesn't exactly look appetizing...there is a slab of lamb coated with thick black pepper sauce, tomato slices and chunky lettuce which keeps on dropping out of the burger.

It might not look like much, but the taste of the burger is excellent! This is what a proper Prosperity Burger [sixthseal.com] should taste like! I love the lamb meat - it's a nice change from the usual suspects...the Chicken, Beef, Fish fast food holy trinity.

It's a great burger, flame grilled BBQ style like most of Burger King's offerings.

Mmm...lamb!

Posted in Fast Food Inc. by Huai Bin at 11:49 PM Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBack

Nachos and beer @ Lots of Love Affection (Lola Lounge)

Lola Lounge is located in the heart of the clubbing district of KL and it's an acronym for Lots of Love Affection as the purple neon sign shows. Lola Lounge plays chill out music and is based on the open al fresco area concept.

I met up with Larry [blogspot.com] who opened up another one of Danny's All American Gourmet Hot Dogs franchise there (bringing the total to three) and he was kind enough to cook up two plates of nachos with his famed chili con carne. Thanks for the nachos and beer!

Cheers!

Posted in Food by Huai Bin at 09:46 AM Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack

Kuching International Airport upgrade

Kuching International Airport (affectionately dubbed KIA coz flights gets delayed all the time) has just upgraded the upper concourse so all departures have been diverted to the second (third?) floor check in counters. It looks remarkably similar to KLIA...

The Customs checkpoint has also received a hefty upgrade, with more personnel and detector wands and scanners that can actually SEE through the tangle of cables in your notebook carrying case and isolate the prescription medication that you have a legitimate script for. The previous old X-ray machines didn't have the resolution (or penetration) to see through the Cables of Obscurity (Wearer gains +6 in concealing stuff).

The similarities between Kuching International Airport and KLIA ends at the boarding gates - Kuching International Airport has merchandise counters inside the boarding gates.

Capitalism at it's very best! ;)

Posted in by Huai Bin at 10:04 AM Permalink | Comments (57) | TrackBack

Nestle Kit Kat Dark Luxury Limited Edition

Nestle came out with a limited edition variant of their Kit Kat product line - it's called Kit Kat Dark Luxury and it's made with dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

The Dark Luxury Kit Kat bars retail in the standard Kit Kat size but instead of a wrapper, it comes in a nicely packaged box with a perforation on one end and the text "Limited Edition" emblazoned beside it.

The Kit Kat Dark Luxury cardboard box opens up to reveal individually wrapped 2-finger wafers.

Kit Kat Dark Luxury tastes like standard Kit Kat made with dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. I didn't find it exceptional as I do not like the Kit Kat bars over here.

I'll be flying to KL on a business trip tomorrow morning for a 4 pm meeting and I'll be coming back again on Saturday. I won't spend the weekend since I have obligations in Kuching but I'll probably head out Friday night. See ya!

Posted in Snacks by Huai Bin at 03:26 PM Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBack

Dining at Zen, Travillion

Zen is a sister establishment to MC3 (the club) and has always been a chill out place to its counterpart (albeit with a liquor license). I didn't even know they served food there until it was suggested that we go to Zen so we can eat AND drink since The Junk and bla bla bla wasn't open yet.

Zen has a menu that lists a limited but well rounded repertoire of local and western specialties. The cocktails, beer, and wine list overwhelm the food list (which spans but two pages) but I heard the chef was sourced from a well known international hotel chain.

Spaghetti Bolognese
RM 13.80
It tastes like home made spaghetti with the essentials - minced meat, a tomato based sauce and grated parmesan cheese. It's good.

Red Death
RM 38.80
Vodka, Southern Comfort, Gin, Grand Marnier, Lime Cordial, Grenadine, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice.
This is Fiona's drink.

Screaming Multiple Orgasm
RM 25.80
Vodka, Kahlua, Amaretto, Bailey's, Milk.
This is Cherie's drink. It has milk so it's healthy.

Drink & Get Fucked
RM 35.80
Malibu, Southern Comfort, Sambuca, Cointreau, Triple Sec, Bacardi 151, Vodka, Amaretto, Lime Juice, Lime Cordial, Salt.
This is my drink. Damn power, I tell you. ;)

This is a view of Travillion at dusk. It's a strange sight for me, it gives me a totally different perspective as I've only gone to Travillion at night...

Posted in Ethanol and tobacco by Huai Bin at 10:27 AM Permalink | Comments (26) | TrackBack

Coffee Bean eXtreme CARAMBA Ice Blended

Coffee Bean has a seasonal drinks promotion and the latest one is the eXtreme CARAMBA Ice Blended. It retails for RM 11 and it comes with the tagline "Get ready to Rhumba".

It's a great drink...the predominant taste is chocolate and no, we do not have a Starbucks in Kuching yet. I'm down with the flu now so I'll post again tomorrow and reply all the comments then. Cheers!

Posted in Fast Food Inc. by Huai Bin at 07:47 PM Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBack

Japanese Buffet @ Cafe Majestic, Crown Plaza

Crown Plaza has a Japanese BBQ Buffet at the resident Cafe Majestic every Saturday from 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm. It is a long running promotion with a sushi and sashimi bar, a Japanese food buffet spread and desserts inspired by The Empire of the Rising Sun.

The promotional literature goes "Indulge in a seemingly infinite supply of sushi, an array of salads, and a host of delightful hot dishes including barbecue favorites to a variety of tempting international desserts and authentic Japanese beverages."

I went for the Japanese buffet at 9:30 pm with Cherie and started filling our plates (an hour before the buffet ends). Irene joined us soon after that and I think she was surprised at our healthy appetites. ;)

The first stop was the sushi / sashimi bar which also serves California Rolls and maki. There were also fresh salmon, tuna and octopus to be made into sashimi.

The sashimi chef did some slicing and dicing and we got a rather large platter of sashimi (raw fresh seafood).

Make us some sushi, Scotty!

...and while you're at it, do California Rolls as well.

This is our platter of sashimi which I thought was worth the RM 55++ per person buffet admission price by itself.

Cherie is a big fan of ebiko - the stuff is fun to eat while *cough* as I've come to realize. It kinda pops in your mouth.

She also puts prawns and rolls them in ebiko, and that is equally fun to eat. It becomes an explosion of prawn, sweet mayonnaise and ebiko crunching...very interesting texture.

There was a lot of other stuff in the buffet table (which is separate from the sushi bar) - off the top of my head, there were Chawan Mushi, Kani Karage (fried soft crab - pictured above), gyoza, tempura, udon noodles, miso soup (obviously) and cha soba served in small, individual bowls.

It was a massacre! I think we took more than we were able to eat. ;)

Itadakimasu!

Posted in Food by Huai Bin at 11:32 AM Permalink | Comments (27) | TrackBack

Senso club @ Hilton Kuching

senso is one of the latest hang out places in town - it's located in Hilton Hotel in Kuching. It's supposed to be a club...there is a resident DJ, but it feels more like a chill out place to me.

The interior of senso is done tastefully, with sophisticated seating arrangements and carefully placed decors and lighting to create a warm ambience.

The place is spacious, with precise attention on the different seating areas which range from bar stools to large, comfortable couches. There are personal flat screen TV's and larger screens positioned sporadically.

The best seats in the place are behind the privacy shroud of the open bar (open as in open space, not as in free flow drinks). There is a long semi-circular area with tiny pillows as a back rest and tables planted every few feet.

There is a resident DJ playing chill out music on a lime green podium which matches the lime green seats and orange hued glowing tables at the back.

The bar area of senso is shrouded with a bead curtain that shimmers in the light, creating an impression of a water feature behind the bar. The service is attentive and the staff polite, which is expected of a joint of this nature.

Download: senso video tour [sixthseal.com]

You will require DivX [divx.com] to view the video.

It was Ee Fen's last day in Kuching, so we went to senso for a couple of drinks. I went there with Cherie and Ericka and met up with a couple of Ee Fen's friends there. Ee Fen is doing Pharmacy in IMU which is a Good Thing (TM). ;)

Senso has a wide variety of cocktails and snacks on their menu.

I had a Dirty Martini (RM 18) which is made with Bombay Sapphire, Extra Dry Vermouth, Olive Juice and Green Olives. Olives is teh pwn3d...

Senso has really nice toilets, and the toilet has...

...a flat screen TV.

Posted in Interesting by Huai Bin at 11:04 AM Permalink | Comments (28) | TrackBack

Fiona and Cherie dancing in Luconia

I met Fiona last night in Luconia - well, not actually last night, I've met her a while ago but only did take a photo of her last night.

Here is a photo of the three of us.

Download: Cherie and Fiona dancing [sixthseal.com]

I'm too busy with work to write much now, so download and watch the video taken last night instead. You will need DivX.

Got ****?

The title gives a whole new meaning to literal post titles, doesn't it? ;)

Posted in XX chromosomes by Huai Bin at 04:19 PM Permalink | Comments (26) | TrackBack

All Stars Sports Cafe review

All Stars Sports Cafe is a sports themed restaurant and pub located in Mid Valley Megamall. It also has sports memorabilia and plasma TV's dotted throughout the place tuned to satellite/cable sports channels.

The restaurant presents itself with a life-sized rock climbing figure hanging from an outcrop on top of the dining area in front. There are also various sports related autographed photos and posters adorning the walls.

All Star Sports Cafe also has a pool room and seating arrangements at the back of the restaurant (or front if you walk in via Mid Valley Megamall). The place serves alcohol and has an emphasis on western food, but also a menu with eastern cuisine.

Maisel's Weisse (Dunken) beer (RM 26). This imported beer is served from a 0.5 liter glass beer flask that pours into a perfect 0.5 liter glass. The dark beer tastes sweet, with a strong malt aftertaste - it tastes like Guinness Malta.

The beer comes with a serving of bread - hot buns with a German butter and a knife to butter it with. I found that rather odd.

Four Seasons Platter
RM 40
The ultimate snack! Combining the unique tastes of Honey Crab Balls, Soya Spring Roll, Hong Kong Sharksfin Egg and assorted Vegetables with Prawn.

This is the first entry in the Four Seasons Platter appetizer - the plate is HUGE and long, easily occupying two tables. It's crab meat and some other stuff wrapped in a roll.

This is the second feature of the Four Seasons Platter - prawns with sweet mayo sauce. It's the best part of the platter.

The third component of the platter is deep fried soya spring rolls. It's not that great.

This is the fourth part of the Four Seasons Platter - chicken. It's just boneless chicken, but it's very well flavored. Nice.

Grilled Norwegian Salmon
RM 32.50
Imported fresh Norwegian salmon fillet served with ratatouille and crusted potato.

The salmon was cooked to perfection - pretty in pink!

Grilled Turkey Ham Cheese Sandwich
RM 13.50
Toasted sandwich with ham, turkey slices and cheese.

It's a good club-type sandwich, filling and not too painful for healing tongue piercings to chew. ;)

Surf n Turf
RM 42.50
Our petite sirloin steak and a big juicy tiger prawn, topped with home made garlic sauce.

This dish is really good - it's a medium rare sirloin steak served with a large tiger prawn on top, allowing the prawn juices to seep into the steak. The garlic sauce goes very well with this unusual pairing, bringing out the best in both the seafood and the meat.

I was at All Stars Sports Cafe with Cherie and Eeva...

...and then all three of us got lost while stoned in Mid Valley. ;)

Posted in Food reviews by Huai Bin at 10:06 AM Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBack

Chili's made me miss my flight from KLIA

I missed my flight back to Kuching due to an unfortunate incident at Chili's - we thought it would be a good idea to have drinks there before we went to the airport (KLIA). The flight was at 10:15 pm and we were still at MidValley Megamall (have been staying in the Boulevard studio suites for the past few days) and we dropped by Chili's at 9 pm.

TRIPLE PLAY
RM 21.95
Delicious Chicken Crispers(r), mouth-watering Boneless Buffalo Wings and incredible Southwestern Eggrolls. Served with dipping sauces.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE
RM 19.35
Warm chocolate cake with chocolate fudge filling. Topped with vanilla ice cream under a crunchy chocolate shell.

...and we ordered Chambord(r) 1800 Margarita (RM 28.95), a Mudslide (RM 15.90) and two pints of Tetley's draft beer (RM 25 per pint) to wash down the starter and dessert and before we knew it, it was 9:30 pm.

Thus, I'll be staying in KL until Tuesday night on my own expense. Tuesday is a holiday anyway... ;)

Posted in by Huai Bin at 11:44 PM Permalink | Comments (41) | TrackBack

Starbucks Chinese New Year promotional drink - Caramel Macchiato

Starbucks is having another festive themed drink to commemorate the upcoming Lunar New Year with the Caramel Macchiato (RM 13.50). The promotional poster has Chinese letters on it and other festive decors like firecrackers and the tagline is an uninspiring "Celebrating with Coffee".

I passed by the Starbucks at MidValley Megamall after work just now and decided to have a large Caramel Macchiato. It's two shots of espresso into foamed milk and it's decorated with the signature criss-cross caramel topping.

It tastes great but for the life of me, I cannot correlate the relationship between a Caramel Macchiato and the upcoming Lunar New Year.

It makes my brain hurt just thinking about it so I'm going out clubbing tonight since all the work is done. ;)

Posted in Fast Food Inc. by Huai Bin at 07:56 PM Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack

Lucas and Jess from Zurich, Switzerland

This is Lucas and Jess from Zurich, Switzerland. Jess is from Kuching and met Lucas (a Swiss) in NZ and now they're living in Switzerland together. I met them at Luconia - apparently Jess reads my blog and recognized me. It's a pleasure meeting with the both of you. Have a safe flight back!

I will be going to KL tomorrow on a business trip. I will be free on Friday and Sunday, let's go clubbing on Saturday night, FA!

Posted in by Huai Bin at 05:38 PM Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBack

New Year 2006 - Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll @ Somerset Gateway, Kuching

New Year's Eve '05 and the countdown to New Year '06 was celebrated in an unconventional venue this year - Somerset Gateway, Kuching. Somerset Gateway is a serviced apartment located in the heart of the city and it's managed by The Ascott Group. It's one of the best places to chill out and crash in and you can hit the clubbing districts and make it your base to boot.

Anyway, a group of us (spearheaded by me and Cherie) booked a 2-bedroom serviced apartment for RM 380 per night. It is a reasonable rate coz the facilities are great; and the privacy and security, better. I think we checked in sometime around 8 pm with everything we needed to usher in the New Year with the insobriety that New Year celebrations demand. ;)

The apartment we were in was the last one available that night which is either due to the high influx of tourists and travelers or locals having a home session coz most of the clubs were raided during New Year's Eve. Oh, and about the title, there were no sex, drugs and rock and roll...at least not all three - we listen to hard trance. ;) That's a joke, btw.

These are the first two fugitives - it looks like we're on the run. I thought that was pretty funny.

Download: Somerset Gateway, Kuching video tour [sixthseal.com]

This is the kitchen / food preparation area of Somerset Gateway serviced apartments. They have a fridge, freezer, all the utensils and cooking implements you need (except scissors!), plates, glasses, and they even threw in a front loader washing machine and a dryer on the side. You get the idea...

This is the master bedroom...it's just beside the guest bedroom (or the other bedroom) and it has a huge bed instead of two single beds like in the guest bedroom.

There is also a toilet / shower and bath area which is inside the master bedroom. There is a smaller shower and toilet outside.

There is also a chill out chair and the entire apartment provides a really great view of Kuching. It's amazing to just suddenly drag open the blinds and let the amazing panorama of Kuching hit you, it's nice. I usually just look out but I learnt that trick from Cherie.

Download: Somerset Gateway view [sixthseal.com]

It was close to 10 pm on the last day of 2005 when we turned down the lights and chilled out.

There were trip toys and party packs and glow sticks to play around with...

...and we totally missed the countdown coz we were pretty fucked up by 11 pm.

Cherie: When's the countdown?
Huai Bin: I'm not sure but I think it's coming soon.
Hope: What's wrong with you guys? It's already 3 am in the morning! You totally missed the countdown.
Cherie + Huai Bin: Okay.

(a few minutes pass)

Cherie: When's the countdown again?

I think that went on for quite a while. ;)

Anyway, we crashed until 2 pm and went to chill at the pool on the 15th floor. There is a sauna and other facilities as well, including a couple of tanning chairs.

There were some other guests frolicking around in the wading pool and eating chicken wings.

The only thing we could eat (drink?) was bubble tea with lots of Chivas inside.

Coffee Master does room service in Somerset Gateway, Kuching so the four of us ordered a lot of juice (self-infused with more Chivas) and some untoasted club sandwiches for later when we have the munchies.

Before
(Soap dish)

After
(Ashtray)

But nah, we didn't thrash the place.

I think we actually cleaned up pretty much everything for them...at least Cherie did.

Posted in Events by Huai Bin at 12:57 PM Permalink | Comments (53) | TrackBack