Sandra Tan - Malaysia's Samsung Global Blogger for the London 2012 Olympics

Sandra might be the "baby of the family" of 5 pretty daughters to a life time good friend of mine back in Malaysia, but don't let her age get in the way! 

Sandra has always been on the GO GO GO ... but 2012 has been a super happening year for Sandra!  She became an Aunty to a beautiful niece, Alayna and not long afterwards, was the arrival of Elliott, another nephew added to the family.  If I may also add, Sandra is such a dotting Aunty:) I heart this pix of Sandra, Tiger aka Ethan and Adeline of http://minz.com.my/ (sister No: 4) sharing an icy pole ... Ethan's first on his own!  If you have not guessed by now, Ethan is Nephew No: 1.

Sandra has been "kicking goals" left, right and centre but the best goal she scored for herself apart from everything else is a placement at the NYU to persue her studies on a fully funded scholarship.

The best has yet to come, as Sandra will be going down in history when she represents Malaysia at the London 2012 Olympics covering the major events and happenings surrounding the Olympics.  In a few words, I am so hyped, pumped, excited and soooooo proud of her.  

Sandra just returned from London/Paris on a short holiday stint not long ago and as I write, she should be packing her bags again getting ready to travel to London as one of the winners of the Samsung Blogger competition to cover the 2nd half of the London 2012 Olympics.  This once in a lifetime opportunity could not have gone to a better deserving person as Sandra has all the qualities it takes to deliver .... so stay tuned to find out more or follow Sandra on Facebook, Twitter or check her out on  http://sandratan.my/category/sgblogger/

In a nutshell, Sandra is a true lover of all things in life ... being the good, bad and even ugly!  She gives more than she ever takes, she is humble and her solid upbringing only shows as she shines through and through each and every time and is coping so well with so much on her young shoulders right now. 

Let's wish Sandra all the best for her future undertakings as I am sure, after London she will be rushing off to New York to embark on a different journey .... but we will patiently await your return!

August ... My Becky is getting Married

Yesssssss August has been long awaited for .... finally, I can start counting down ... only just 18 more sleeps .... it's the month my only child, Rebecca is getting married.

Ray proposed to Rebecca at the top of the Empire State Building in NYC in May 2011 and since then we have been busy with one thing or another planning towards their Big Day.  The whole journey has been relatively stress free as everything was more or less spot on ... the venue, the church, gowns, photographer, videographer etc etc .... they did not muck around shopping from one place to another.  They went to one place, and bang that was it ... Simple! ... Done!

We had the Bridal Party Special Hen's in Bangkok for a week in March.  We stayed at the Lebua State Tower in Silom.  One of the best hotels in the whole world for scrumptious breakfast buffet spreads.  Throughly spoilt ourselves indulging in treatments, massages and ate in top restaurants and the girles shopped till they dropped from makeup, branded sunnies, dresses to local fruits!

The Bridal Party outside Lebua State Tower

@ Nham (one of the world's best 50 restaurants!)

This was only the lst day's shopping ... inside our 3bedroom suite @ Lebua

The local Hen's was a couple of weeks ago.  They had High Tea @ The Windsor and then a night out painting the town red ... strippers and landed up bar hopping drinking till the wee hours of the morning.  I was not part of this mayhem but I believe if photos are anything to go by, everyone had a blast!

High Tea @ The Windsor

I have been busy making stuff for the Bridal Shower to be held on the 12th August.  I even surprised myself that there is a "crafty devil" in me?!? I had no clue what I was doing but once I got started, I just kept going and the ideas just kept coming and blew me away.  It might look tacky, but what the heck, aren't Bridal Showers supposed to be tacky?  Whatever, I found cutting out paper hearts to be quite therapeutic!  Stay tuned for pics to come as I will not be posting pics till after the Shower. 

Rebecca has been more than a daughter to me, she is my bestie, and even my "mother" at times.  I guess you could say I have been blessed with the best ... and when you only have one, only the best will do!!! 

Lunch @ my local Jap "Shira Nui"

Hit & Run - In & Out - Quick & Yummy = Shira Nui's Lunch Specials

Not often I get to have lunch wih my Bestie ... but since she took a sickie today (26/7) ... why not play up!?!  That's what sickies are for, right?  Well, instead of booking an appointment to see the Doctor, she got her priorities right - she made a booking for lunch @ Shira Nui and I would not have done any different either!!!

Hiro & Suzie (owners at Shira Nui) are dishing out some of Melbourne's best sushis out in the burbs!  Luckily for me, its only 2 minutes up the road from home.  When I feel like a good Jap fix, Hiro knows how to please me.  The only other Japanese Restaurant that provides me with this personal level of satisfaction is Shoya in the city.

Not going to rant about Shira Nui.  If you have not been, you owe it to yourself to make a trip to check them out.  If you are a repeat customer like me, then I guess you know the food is excellent.

By the way today, (31/7) we are both "officially sick" and what better way to make us feel better???   Let's have lunch at Shira Nui :)


                                       Unagi with special Sim's Gohan

   Oysters and Uni - had this for my entree and had a repeat order for my dessert!
Restaurant Rating: 8/10

The "Turkish Feast" @ Koy in South Melbourne

Mixed Grilled Meats

Turkish Feast?  When I hear "feast" my eyes light up and my tummy is in happy mode!!!

To me, "feast"  may refer to: Banquet or a Large Meal!  Pictures are worth more than a thousand words ...

 

Dips & +&*+ & Turkish Springrolls (no pic)

Highlight of Nite - Yummy Mushrooms



GG my "4 seasons" friend



To me, it certainly was not a "feast" but there was enough to tickle half my belly.  I filled up with cocktails later at Coco Lounge and the Bloody Mary kept me up all night - yesss I was to-ing and fro-ing from bed to toilet - gotta blame it on an old weak bladder *winks*

Totally honest, it was good value for simple Turkish food with 2 glasses of Red thrown in, but fit for people with small appetites.  Would I return? - not in a big hurry!  Melbourne might not have much to offer in terms of exciting activities,  but we certainly have enough of restaurants to make up for it!

Lesson to be learnt:  Don't buy meal deals off Spreet ... big word in small serves = (equals) = so much for a "feast".

Restaurant Rating:  6/10

 





Who Let The Monkey Out?!?

Over the years I have always been asked to start a blog, but I never bothered as I was too busy chasing my own tail.  Now, I find I have too much time on my hands, but I need to channel my energies into something - but I know its definitely not knitting!

GG and I were out for a "Turkish Feast" last night and after dinner we drove back to Glenny for a few drinks.  We had our girlie chinwags and enjoyed the nite and somewhere in conversation GG joked about us starting up a blog as we are foodies, well travelled and we definitely have alot of mischief and mayhem to share ... so here I am better late than never! 



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"Passion of France"

I am now officially a Blogger! Just going to do a quickie for now as I am racing against the clock as midnight is fast approaching.

My blogs will not be taxing on old eyes (no long scrolls) and I will endeavour to keep everything in here simple, short and sweet!

Less than 4 minutes to spare, it is an auspicious day to get started .... it's "Christmas in July" here in Ozland being the 25th! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_July and whalla a "Monkey Blogger" is born!!!

Stay tuned for the monkey's arrival

Old but definitely not tired .....