Dim Sum, Doting Grandparents, and a Well-Earned Holiday

Barely 20 hours after returning from Singapore as a champion, my daughter Sherilyn was already on the move. Her dance team had just won first place in the Contemporary Dance category at the 27th Asia Pacific Dance Competition, a well-deserved victory for all their hard work. But instead of resting on her laurels, she hopped on the ETS train with a university friend, heading straight for Ipoh.

For my daughters, their grandparents' home in Ipoh is more than just a place to visit; it’s a holiday retreat. My parents absolutely love to pamper them. At 82 years old, my dad still plays the role of their personal "Grab driver" every time they visit during their semester breaks. The girls are treated to their favorite foods and have all their wishes catered to, including getting pocket money from my parents! 💖

Today, their Ipoh holiday began with a lavish dim sum brunch at Dimsum Paradise in Ipoh Garden. My papa, in true granddad fashion, ordered a feast for everyone. My mom told me the dim sum was "very, very good." Looking at the photo of Sherilyn, her friend, and my parents all enjoying the meal, it's easy to see why. The spread looks incredible!

I can't wait to try it myself the next time I visit. It fills my heart with joy to see my daughters so happy and cherished by their grandparents. After all her hard work and success, this quiet, loving retreat is the perfect way for Sherilyn to celebrate.

Dinner yesterday. Sherilyn's uni mate looks like her twin, don't you think so too? 😁

Sumptuous dim sum at Dimsum Paradise today.

Sherilyn with granny.

Sunday, 17 August 2025

This past Sunday was a day of early morning, athletic feats, and delicious food.  Cass was up bright and early, but instead of her usual figure skating practice, she was off to the Universiti Malaya sports arena for her school’s sports day (Semi-Finals). She competed in two events: the 800-meter and the 4x400-meter runs. Finishing 4th out of 20 runners in the 800m and 3rd in the 4x400m is a fantastic achievement, and her hard work has earned her a spot in the Finals at the Bukit Jalil stadium this coming Saturday.

After picking her up from UM, we headed to Bangsar for lunch. This time, we ate at Hong Kong Garden Restaurant, formerly known as Man Kee Hong Kong Beef Noodle. We feasted on our favorite dim sum items, a comforting bowl of Hong Kong beef noodles, and their signature white chicken, which came with the most delicious ginger and homemade chili dips. The braised radish and a cup of classic Hong Kong milk tea perfectly rounded out the meal.

After a satisfying lunch, we took a short walk to Bangsar Village 2 for a treat. Nothing says "Sunday" quite like a scoop of Häagen-Dazs ice cream. I was torn between my two favorite flavors, coffee and matcha, but in the end, the rich matcha on a crispy cone won me over. All four of us enjoyed a scoop, and my husband even bought a tub of his favorite macadamia brittle nut flavor to take home. It was a special treat to have Cass with us for Sunday lunch, as she's usually at the skating rink.

While our family was a little smaller—Alycia was away in Ipoh with her university friends, and Sherilyn was in Singapore for a dance competition—we were all connected by a wave of good news. The day ended with a text from Sherilyn with some amazing news: her team had emerged as Champions in the Contemporary Dance category at the 27th Asia Pacific Dance Competition, held at Gateway Theatre in Singapore.

I couldn’t be prouder of Sherilyn. This is a testament to her dedication and talent. Her team flew to Singapore for the competition and, to save on costs, will be taking a bus back home. Her hard work paid off in the biggest way. It was a Sunday filled with wins, big and small, proving that dedication, whether on the track or the dance floor, always pays off.

Hor fun with delicious handmade sotong balls.

Love the fried radish cake.

Simply delicious!

A pink minibus inside Bangsar Village, and it was no. 10, the very bus that I used to take from Jalan Ipoh where I rented a room, to college in Jalan Ampang, and later to my workplace in Jalan Hang Lekiu over 3 decades ago!  The minibus is now an antique, and seeing it again after more than 30 years filled me with many fond memories of the past.

Our Sunday Lunch - From Dosa to Dessert

Last Sunday, hubby took us to Brickfield’s Little India, for a lunch at the world-renowned Indian vegetarian restaurant chain, Saravanaa Bhavan. This restaurant’s global presence—from the US to New Zealand and beyond—speaks volumes about its popularity and authentic flavors.

We ordered all our usual favorites to satisfy our Indian food cravings. The table was filled with a variety of dosa (tosei / thosai), including the classic ghee dosa, a crispy and flavorful dosa rava, and a decadent cheese dosa. We also enjoyed a serving of cheesy naan and a fragrant nasi biryani. A trip to an Indian restaurant is never complete without my favorites: the creamy Palak Paneer (spinach with cheese) and a comforting bindi curry (lady’s fingers). To round out our meal, we added chickpeas curry, lentil dhall, and deep-fried cauliflowers.

Despite being a completely meat-free meal, every dish was bursting with intense flavors and spices. The ghee dosa was a particular standout—a long, paper-thin, and incredibly crispy creation with a rich aroma of ghee that reminded us of buttery cookies. We loved it so much we even got takeaway for Cass and my mother-in-law, who couldn't join us.

As usual, my husband had to end his Sunday lunch with a good cup of coffee and some delicious cakes. Our next stop was a familiar and beloved place: Front Room, the very café where Alycia and Sherilyn work part-time during the weekends. The owner, a very kind man, greeted us at the door with a joke, saying that Alycia and Sherilyn missed working for him so much they came in on their day off. They had just worked the day before!

We ordered their signature scones, two slices of banana coconut bread, and a rich salted chocolate cake. The owner, as a treat, also gave us a complimentary slice of their famous pineapple upside-down cake. The scones and cakes were absolutely divine. We couldn’t finish everything, so we doggy-bagged the remaining cakes for Cass to enjoy at home. We also got extra scones for my mother-in-law, who adores them.

It was a truly wonderful Sunday. With Alycia and Sherilyn usually busy with work or other activities, it was a rare treat to have them both join us for lunch. And while Cass was, as usual, at the skating rink, our little family get-together felt complete.

Ghee dosa - very crispy and aromatic, reminiscent of my mum's butter cookies during CNY.

Love all the curries, dipping sambar, and chutney for the dosa. I especially love the lady's fingers curry.

Cheese naan, in the foreground

Crunchy deep-fried cauliflower florets.

This map shows the countries with a Saravanaa Bhavan restaurant.

SB's menu, which is very extensive. We had no idea what some of the items were, but the waiting staff was very helpful and explained them to us.

Decadent cakes and coffee at Front Room, the cafe that Alycia and Sherilyn work part-time during the weekend.

Saturday, 9 August 2025

Last night was a bit out of the ordinary for us. A typical Saturday evening usually finds us at our favourite tai chow restaurant, but yesterday, we found ourselves at The Gardens Mall for dinner. The reason? A mission-critical trip to the money changer.

Sherilyn is heading to Singapore this week for the 27th Asia Pacific Dance Competition. Her team made it to the finals, and they'll be there for five days. This is an incredible achievement, but it comes with a hefty price tag. The current exchange rate for the Malaysian Ringgit against the Singapore Dollar is… well, let’s just say it requires a significant sum of Ringgit to get a "pathetic" amount in SGD. And unfortunately, this entire trip is self-funded.

After the money was changed, we were all ready for a good meal. We decided on Canton-i, and my husband, ever the enthusiast, ordered our usual favorites. His all-time favorite, the roast duck, was a must-have. We also enjoyed stir-fried beef noodles and wantan noodles, along with some delicious sui kow (dumplings) and perfectly roasted cha siu.

The highlight of the meal, though, was an incredibly unique dish. It was a variation of the traditional confinement dish, where Yong Tau Foo pieces (stuffed brinjal, red chili, and bitter gourd) were cooked in a rich rice wine broth with fried egg and black fungus. While this dish typically uses chicken, the substitution with Yong Tau Foo was a revelation—unique and absolutely delicious.

We left the mall feeling satisfied. The whole experience made me think that maybe swapping our usual Saturday night tai chow for a dinner at the mall isn’t such a bad idea after all. It was a nice change of pace, and the food at Canton-i was fantastic.

As for Sherilyn, the competition awaits. I wish Sherilyn and her team the very best of luck in Singapore this week, hoping all their hard work pays off on the big stage.

The First Service and a Frightening First Fill-Up

My new car had its first service last week, and it was quite an experience. Despite the odometer not even hitting 100km, the dealership staff were persistent with calls and messages. It's part of their standard procedure to get the car in, even before the 1,000km mark. I finally caved and went in, only to wait for nearly an hour for a "service" that was little more than a quick check-up lasting less than 30 minutes.

So far, I'm pretty happy with my new sedan. The security features are a big plus, and it handles beautifully on my neighborhood drives. However, the keyless feature has already proven to be a bit of a challenge.

Today, after my very first time filling the tank, the car refused to start. My heart sank. I feared I had overfilled it. I kept pressing the "start engine" button, but nothing happened. Panic began to set in. After five long minutes of trying and a silent prayer, the engine finally roared to life. What a relief!

My husband later explained that with these keyless systems, you can't just keep mashing the button. A quick, single press is all it takes. It was a funny moment after the fact, but it certainly gave me a good scare. It just goes to show there’s a bit of a learning curve with new technology, and sometimes a simple press is all it takes.

Me waiting for my car, in my Uniqlo bra dress with matching Nike sneakers 💃

One Month to SPM Trials — A Mother's Heartfelt Observations

Exactly one more month to go before Cass sits for her SPM Trials. The countdown has begun, and the pressure is clearly mounting, but Cass continues to push herself with an admirable sense of discipline and determination.

She studies late into the night, often at odd corners of the house — at the dining table, in the kitchen, and sometimes even just outside the bathroom. There have been nights when I’ve woken up to check on her, only to find her fast asleep at the table, her notes still open and highlighters scattered around her.

Despite her intense study schedule, she still makes time to exercise daily — her willpower is unshakeable. Her passion for figure skating remains strong too, although she has started to scale back on her practice sessions to focus more on the looming exams.

The actual SPM begins in early November and ends on 23 December 2025 — a long and grueling period. All I can do now is to support her in every way I can. Nutritious meals, moral support, and little comforts here and there — if her requests are not too pricey or overboard, they’re my command.

I often remind her to sleep more, to take breaks and care for her health, but like most teens, she just brushes me off with a pissed-off "I know what I'm doing" look 😒

As her mother, I can only hope and pray that she stays physically strong and mentally resilient throughout this crucial time. She’s given her all — and no matter what the outcome, I’m already so proud of the incredible discipline and drive she’s shown.

Hang in there, Cass. You're almost there. ❤️

Cass's school lunch box - often fruits, cherry tomatoes, boiled eggs, last night's soup or a flask of thick coffee. Sometimes she adds matcha powder to her thick coffee to have a double-caffeine effect to stay awake in class 😔.  

Cass sits next to the school’s Head Prefect in class — so dozing off might just earn her a gentle nudge or a polite reminder?  When you're seated beside the top role model of the school, you’ve got to stay sharp and be on your best behaviour too, right?

Cass's lunner - air-fried shimeji mushrooms with black pepper, garlic and olive oil.

Air-fried chicken chop, tomatoes, shimeji, and salad.

Miso soup with napa cabbage, shimeji mushrooms, big onions, and foo pei.

Air-fried saba fish, roast chicken breast and salad.