Buka Puasa @ Grand Seasons

Getting a decent place to break fast recently isn't easy. Although buffet prices rocketed 100% compared to last year, still getting a non-fully booked hotel or restaurant wasn't easy for me yesterday. Perhaps because everyone had had their salary these couple of days and their pockets are still full that everyone wants a share of luxury eating.

I was trying to get a place for 2 at Rahsia Bistro yesterday - fully booked, then at Santini KLCC, also fully booked. Tried Corus Hotel and Felda D'Saji, also fully booked. Getting tired of eating at Cozy House Ampang Park and other fast food outlets, we wanted to try something new. Finally we got a place at Grand Seasons Hotel for 58++ per person.

The buffet was held at the Ballroom during the month of Ramadhan. 58++ can be considered one of the cheapest this year with other hotels selling at nothing below 69++ - can you imagine Nikko's buffet is 95++ per person. Wah Lau Wei!

So we arrived at the hotel at 6:30, was shown our seats and we managed to walk around the buffet line planning what to take first and next and the next and the next heheheh. What made us laugh was some people started taking food as early as 6:30! And continued to do so until the call for Azan. By the time it is to buka puasa, can you imagine the number of plates that are on their tables? I was wowed at how some people could just be so tamak (greedy) - are they that hungry? I just asked myself, could they really finish the food they took?

finish - they will definitely be topped up or perhaps they are just too lazy to get up and walk once they've started eating - to me that's what bIt's a buffet, food will never run away, nor will ituffet is all about - you take what you want in small portions and return to the buffet line many times to try out other things - it is better than taking all at once as though you're really that hungry. I rather reserve my comments.

Buffet at Grand Seasons is not at all that bad. They had over 70 types of local and international dishes. I didn't manage to try all as my storage compartment was full that I felt like a pregnant lady by the time we left the hotel. But indeed it was fun - after all what matters most is being able to spend time and moments like this with a love one.

Buka Puasa @ Victoria Station

Last night was a special treat from someone who just got Raya bonus, hehehe I'm jealous dear! So I was given three choices; Victoria Station, Roadhouse Grill or Chilli's - I would prefer Chilli's for their generous portions and refillable drinks but knowing it was Sunday and Chilli's doesn't take reservations, I chose Victoria Station - I can say we're regulars here; we've had Valentine's Dinner here and a couple more visits where one of them was during Ramadhan last year.

Well, since I wasn't the one paying, I would usually wait for the paymaster to order, I wouldn't want to order something more expensive than the paymaster's. Ended up ordering one of the RM48+ steak heheheh. As usual, the food was superb, steak was tender and juicy and like last year we were served with a glass of bandung cincau, a plate of kurma and buah melaka as well as a place of lengkong (jelly). And whenever there, I wouldn't miss their Indonesian Oxtail soup. Yummy!

Thank you sayang - ahahah free food...

Insupro Forte

Found this on Lelong.com.my:

6 People DIE from Diabetes Every Minute

Diabetics are up to 2.5 times more likely to go blind compared against the general population. The risk of amputation is even more pronounced, the risk is estimated to be up to 20 times higher than average. Diabetics are 2-3 times more likely to develop cardiovascular problems, and the risk of kidney failure is 17 times higher.

How devastating to be reminded of something you're already aware off. Bad news...!

Truly Saviour of Diabetics

Insupro Forte is made with plant derived insulin antibody. The insulin used is extracted from 100% natural bitter gourd by advanced bio-technological methods. Each Insupro Forte contains at least 200 □ IU of botanical insulin. Insupro Forte is a molecular plant protein, and is more readily absorbed into our system when compared to animal insulin. Insupro Forte not only helps to bring down the blood sugar level, it also helps repair physically altered □ cells. Insupro Forte not only protects the □ cells, in fact it promotes the production of more □ cells. This increase in healthy □ cells restores the function of pancreas. This property of Insupro Forte differs greatly from the insulin replacement property of conventional medication. On top of that, clinical trials have proven that an overdose on Insupro Forte does not induce hypoglycemia or other side effects.

Choose Insupro Forte, the trusted and effective product

1. Insupro Forte is a high tech product that can improve the blood sugar level in 7-10 days of consumption.


2. Medically proven in more than 600 case studies in 20 hospitals to be effective in lowering the blood sugar level.


3. It had been proven by a research done by University Malaya to have similar effects to medicines used in diabetes treatment.


4. It can replace medicine in the treatment of diabetes (a clinical trial had verified that it has the same properties as Metformin, and is effective up to 86.68%)


5. Plant derived insulin - each capsule contains 200 □ IU insulin


6. Naturally derived - safe and without side-effects

Clinically proven, acknowledged by medical professionals Insupro Forte regulates blood sugar level through the following mechanisms:

1. The orally taken capsule is directly absorbed by the mucous membrane, and helps replenish the external source of insulin.
2. Activate ß cells, resulting in the production of more insulin.
3. Promote the receptiveness of the cells to insulin, and reverse the resistance to insulin. It promotes the synthesis of glycogen, thus lowering blood sugar levels.
4. Increase the number of receptors on the red blood cells; improve the delivery of insulin, resulting in the more effective lowering of blood sugar levels.

This thing costs RM105 per bottle of 60 capsules - about RM30 more expensive than my insulin (per vile). Well, this calls for a try, who knows it could really help. I have been told that bitter gourd is a good 'remedy?' for diabetes. Taking capsules is sooo much better than having to eat the vege raw or as I was previously made to drink the juice (didn't taste that bad but preparing the juice was much of a hassle). Ok, I'll write my review after I've tried Insupro Forte.

First Week of Ramadhan

While my blood sugar isn't doing me a favor, I am still fasting and looking forward to buka puasa treats for me and my loved one. The first week of Ramadhan we went to several nice places, nothing posh, nothing extravagant but decent enough to cater for our hungry tummies.

The first day of Ramadhan we went to Puteri Bongsu Restaurant - my favourite Nasi Padang Restaurant at Jalan Yap Kwan Seng - we had our usual; rendang daging, bergedel, sambal hijau and chicken plus my favourite Avocado chocolate nad my other half's Durian Belanda for our drinks. Yummy!

We also went to Cozy Corner at Ampang Park twice where I had, what else, my favourite Chicken Chop with gravy and on our second visit we had fried chicken with dried chilli, tom yam, kailan in oyster sauce plus sharks fin soup and banana split. Yummy!

We had not much choice as Ampang Park seems to be the easiest to access at the nearest time for berbuka. I finish work at 4:30 but my love here at 5:30 - so by the time I am chauffeured from the office, it will be somewhere after 6pm. So one of our break fast treat was Pizza Hut where our pizza was accidentally upgraded to a LARGE instead of what we ordered, a REGULAR. Well, we didn't know as it was our first time ordering the diplicious pizza (the one with sausage stuffing and a cheese dip) as the pizza looks regular size but it was put on a large pan because of the sausages - huh rezeki la orang kata... rezeki bulan ramadhan and the waitress didn't say anything until we've eaten half of the pizza. Hehehehe thank you there.

But the best buka puasa treat in the first week of Ramadhan was at Hill Side Restaurant in Bukit Antarabangsa - it was a buffet for RM29+ per person where they server BBQ on Mondays - it is RM25 net for other days where they serve different menu everyday. Considering it is a small family restaurant and a not so big serving of food lineup, we enjoyed our meal there as much as the warm staff of the restaurant. We'll definitely come back to try the rest of the buffet.

I'm worried

Looking back at entries on my traveling the past couple of years, I began to worry if my travel plan to Jogja would not be as planned. In Bangkok in early 2006, I have started having difficulties walking but it was really obvious when were were in Bali in early 2007. I couldn't climb the stairs at Tanah Lot and was panting like a mad dog when I exerted myself doing it.

I could feel my health deteriorating day after day, year after year. Things I could do only a year ago is near impossible now. When I was in Langkawi a few months back I had so much difficulties climbing up Air Asia. I was alone and nobody was there to help. I just hope this time to Jogja I would be able to do things that I planned. I want to climb up the rocks to see and snap pictures of the sunrise. I want to be able to walk around the city and shop as I like.

I really miss those time when walking and climbing stairs weren't troublesome for me. I regret that I didn't go traveling when I was a lot healthier - but at that time I haven't found my love who looks very well after me. I have become so dependable on this one person whom I won't be able to live without. Just hope we'll be together for as long as In live.

Thanks my dear for taking good care of me. I owe you my life, my happiness. Thank you.

So Far So Good lah...

Thank God, Alhamdulillah I manage to go through fasting today feeling weak and groggy but it;s just a matter of another half an hour before breaking fast. Distracted myself with work, yes again work - my never ending office work and yes, managed to fo through today without much hassle.

It is not the fasting that is worrying me. It is fasting while in hyper mode (read my previous entry - my sugar read HI this morning) - hi sugar means that i have extra energy to burn - ahahah no dumb ass I'm a diabetic - and fasting while being hyperglycemia can lead to serious dehydration that may lead to coma.

But again thank goodness I'm alright and there's only another 30 minutes to go. Feeling sick really makes me feel uncomfortable. Easily irritated and mostly tired. Perhaps because my body hasn't adjusted to waking up early in the morning for sahur but again, being a diabetic I would have to eat something, otherwise it's the opposite of hyper, hypoglycemia.

Wish me luck please.

A Poem I Wrote

I wrote this down back in the year 2000. Venue: Hotel Capitol, Kuala Lumpur.

WHEN I DIE

When I die,
If I could come back as anything
it would be as your tears.
How could I want more than to be conceived in your heart,
born in your eyes,
live on your cheeks
and die on your lips.
Wouldn't that be grand to feel that way?

I found this written on a piece of paper in between a book I was reading when clearing my study room the other weekend but I can't remember who I wrote it for. Perhaps this one person I was so deeply in love with. Unfortunately our relationship wasn't long for me to be reborn as the person's tears.

But fortunate for me, now I have met someone who is far more superior in terms of sharing love and life with me for the past 5 years. I dedicate the poem above to this one person who will remain always in my heart, now and forever.

I love YOU.

Hi Again...

The glucometer says HI again this morning but I am not feeling as tired as yesterday. We had sahur earlier so that our sleep won't get interrupted. Fortunate for me I am not feeling drowsy, so far, hehehe today.

My concern is my blood sugar reading - fulamak last night I thought after doubling my dosage of insulin I would be ok today. And the Hempedu Bumi pills prove not to be working as expected. Swallowed two after breaking fast apart from the double insulin dose and the 500mg metformin tablets i took. Before going to sleep my reading was 29.4 still very high but at least the glucometer could display a number and that I know how high is high. But this morning was disappointing and it went displaying HI again.

I hope things will go right tonight and the days to come. I can't keep worrying about my sugar reading as there are so many things still to be done at work, at home, in life and there isn't time for me to fall sick and weak.

Salam Ramadhan

Salam Ramadhan. Today is the first day of puasa and I had a shock of my life this morning after not testing my blood sugar for nearly a month. No wonder I was feeling nauseous these past couple of days. I've felt weak but thought it was because I was tired from the renovation works done at home. Yes, I haven't been administering my insulin well too and the skyfruit I got from papa was not as effective as the one I got from Dr. Maznah.

I should've known better that this will definitely happen when I don't take care of myself. But with the prototyping in August then come the house renovation, I soon forget that I was sick - padan muka ya? The glucometer read 'HI' this morning, meaning that even the meter cannot read my very high sugar levels. I was suspecting low blood sugar when feeling nauseous and extreme hunger lately but never though the reading would be HI.

A secret, today I have sweets inside my pocket, just so if I couldn't stand fasting i have something sweet to suck. I just don't understand sometimes, I'm experiencing hyper but the symptoms are like hypo. Now I know why the extreme thirst yesterday. I drank 2 bottles of 1000ml bottle and two really huge glasses of coffee.

I am trying Habatus Sauda Coffee as well as Hempedu Bumi tablets, supposedly to reduce blood sugar but only started taking those on Sunday. Maybe it takes time. But really right now, I am feeling like I'm gonna drop dead soon. I feel so bloody tired and sleepy. So God help me please.

Jogja Here We Come!

Thanks to Dr Shah's entry on Yogyakarta @ Shah's Ramblings, now I have something to look forward to. This feeling usually comes at the end of the year, usually later but this time it came as early as September. I would usually start planning a long trip overseas (ahahah neighboring countries are more like it) somewhere late November till December. This is the time when on my computer screen at work, or at home has something on the interested country; tips, places of interest, forums etc.

I should say that I am very good at planning. My vacations are usually well planned. From the mode of transportation to the eateries i'd like to go to. Thanks to the Internet, all these are done in a jiff. Going to a place for the time has never been difficult for me as I have read and gone through about the place zillions of times before actually going there. I sometimes even become a travel guide for my travel partner.

This i'd like to see - photo from Adi's Fotopages

The past couple of years, materialising the vacations had to be done at the very last minute. A main factor - money - as I am an addict on doing part time jobs, that is where I get money from to travel. It is usually waiting for the payments that puts off buying tickets earlier and we had to wait till the last minutes and booking hotel rooms a week before departing - usually when traveling via Air Asia, this means paying more for the tickets - but of course, so much cheaper than the normal airlines.

This year, we're on the verge of maybe not going anywhere next year. One, because the money for traveling had been spent on renovating the house. Two, because we're not working together now thus planning seems a little more difficult.

Yesterday, I came across Shah's Ramblings and his entry on Yogya... I got hooked and bah, we bought the ticket to Yogyakarta Indonesia for 31st of January to 5th of February 2008. Well, looks like we're going somewhere after all and I have about 5 months to save for the trip! Really looking forward for this trip as I love cultural vacations, beautiful sceneries and well, crazy shopping hehehehe..

Yogya, here we come!

photo from Adi's Fotopages

Here I Am...Still Alive and Kicking!

Well, here I am. Still alive and thank God, still kicking. Have been very busy since my last post. With the new tasks pouring in like mad, the challenges of my uncertain health but I am glad that since the promotion I could handle my health better well, I guess I am so used to working hard and put under extreme stress that if I don't have much to do, I'd die faster.

Talk about working hard. It has been a year since my last well paying part time job - I did about RM50k worth of part time the last year and have enjoyed the money till the last cent. I have gone travelling to Bangkok and Phuket in early 2006 and to Bali in early 2007. The most recent spending was on my house - did some renovation works; installed laminated flooring for RM5k+, bought a new queen sized bed and mattress about RM2k, installed a shutter for the hall for RM2.5k, contributed RM1k to apply for a maid for my father and only yesterday bought a 32" Sony LCD TV and a new HDMI JVC DVD player - all in all about RM3.5k worth. Well, i won't live long, so I'd rather spend my money now and enjoy than having to pay hospital bills later on. Heheheh...

I am looking for more part time jobs now to be spent next year, I have saved a puny but still, better little than nothing at all. Right now I am starting to feel (like the previous years) that I need a break, I need to go travel far. Hmmm... just where the hell am I going to get the money this time? January is coming and that's when I usually take a long break to travel before embarking on the new year. Have some opportunities to do some part time but I don't I'll be paid soon enough to travel in January....

Ok lah. more updates soon to whomever is reading this blog; whether now or later after I'm gone. I love you guys no matter who you are. Really.

Fuh... Bwerita Baik Akhirnya...

Asik komplen je kan kali ni aku nak puji plak. Aahahahah dapat benda baik puji la ye tak? Takkan tanak puji plak.. lagipun sekali sekala... tak luak apa pun... Hint la tu oi. Kalau lagi banyak berita baik lagi lah banyak aku punji... takdenya nak kondem je.

Gini... dah masuk tahu ketiga aku keje sini... ok ler masa lepas 6 bulan probation dulu gaji aku naik la RM250... kira lucky la tu sebab aku berani tuntut janji CEO company ni dulu dia kata lepas confirm bleh naik gaji lagi (nampak sangat la aku terima keje sini bukan dengan gaji yang aki ndak). Lepas tu setahun... 2 tahun takde pun sesen naik... alhamdulillah dekat penghujung 2 tahun i.e. hujung tahun lepas aku dapat surat, ingat dapat increament... eh bukan... bukan surat kene berenti.. lahabau betul sapa yang ingat cenggitu... aku dapat surat dapat fixed allowence... tam bah la RM200 dalam slip gaji aku. Tapi ni tak masuk la epf kan... pandai dorang ni (ha tengok aku puji kompeni aku kan?)

But yang paling best bulan 7 hari tu dapat lagi satu surat... saspen tau kat sini kalau dapat surat dari kompeni... dorang buat salary review untuk ikut market katanya... perghhh ok la tu... tapi yang lagi best aku dapat promotion lagik... so dalam surat tu kata my probation is another 6 months and my fixed allowence ditarik balik tapi i got a RM580 increament... heheheh dan terms of service (mileage claims, medical etc) sume ikut my newly promoted position. Alhamdulillah... haaa macam ni la baru seronok keje kan... (puji lagi tu...) ok la. whatever it is, thanks so much la 'Istana Menanti' ni dengan ucapan.. buat la cenggini selalu kalau nak kene puji selalu ek...

Ciao!