Hey everyone! I’m back from Indonesia!

It’s so good to be home on the Malaysian soil once more.

Was very sad to leave Indonesia so soon though! 

Admittedly though, this four day escape to our neighbouring country really did me well.

Those of you who have me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook would know darn well how stressed and emotional I was regarding the political turmoil happening in Malaysia, biased news coverage, headlines on our mainstream media and never-ending protests in our nation’s battle for democracy. 

Black days of mourning with my nation in protest of the breach of democracy 

Keperitanku tidak dapat diluahkan dalam perkataan. Kurasa ditipu oleh pemimpin sendiri!!

This had me following each and every update in the news pertaining to the tumultuous situation; getting so riled up in the process.

At that point, I wished I could just shut my eyes and just forget about all the troubles we were facing… or better yet, jet-set to another country for a while.

And I did.

Thanks to the US and Indonesian ASEAN committee, it's good thing that my trip to Indonesia for ASEAN Blogger Festival 2013 was scheduled last Thursday. 

I was invited to be a panel speaker during the conference. My session was 'Photoblogging' where I spoke about photoblogging, and addressed issues of the rise of photo-heavy content and incorporating photography into social media.

Thank you for having me! And kepada semua participant yang menghadiri session saya, terima kasih!

I hope you have learnt a thing or two 

How coincidental! Just what I needed – a moment to focus on my passion instead of my sorrows.

After three days of conferences, I'm home.

I’ve just landed in KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) and 

feeling lethargic from all the travelling and transiting!

Now that I'm back, I don’t know if I should catch up with where I left off? 

Sebenarna, aku sudah tidak tertahan dengan keadaan huru-hara politik ini!! 

I’m still keeping myself in the dark about our political updates as we speak.

Succumbed enough to the political outrage. I guess… sometimes, ignorance is bliss after all.

I'm a happier person that way.

So anyway, what’s been happening this week? A LOT.

Here's a little recap! 

Attended Global Sound System – the official dance party of Music Conference Asia 2013!

Full blog coverage up soon!

Attended the Heineken Kick-Off to Ibiza beach party at The Mines Wellness Hotel

Full blog coverage up soon!

Headed back to gym to continue my daily routines

Let's get it on!

I cannot stress this enough, always remember to hydrate!

Your output of perspiration needs more input of h20! 

Here are some of the post-workout food I cooked this week.

Due to popular request (or rather, demands from you all! ), I will also run a series of cookbook articles where I will be sharing the recipes of cooking clean food and low-calorie meals when the revamp of the new face of my blog is launched, okay?

Grilled lemon-butter herb salmon and organic wholewheat durum spaghetti bolognaise

with mushrooms & chopped chives – all on top of a bed of crisp, fresh lettuce

A platter of rosemary & thyme grilled zucchini with low-fat cottage cheese,

roasted baby carrots, tomato, chick peas & black eyed peas

with baked pears for that extra, natural sweetness!

Wholegrain oats with soy milk, toasted banana slices sprinkled

with chocolate protein powder and sunflower seeds
 

Grilled salmon with sides of honey-baked baby carrots,

garlic pea sprouts and organic sunflower seeds

A power combo sandwich of tuna, omega eggs, organic brown flax seeds,

hemp & lettuce on traditional wheat bran toast.

Quick breakfast of Chocolate Protein Oats with apples, soy and flax seeds

Tuna salad with chickpeas, hardboiled eggs and lettuce

Spent time cuddling my kittyboy Chivas at home after my four days of absence.

I can't tell if he loves me or not, as my cat is seemingly incapable of expressing emotions 

Tetapi biarkanlah. I'll just love him anyway, regardless! 

To me, I enjoy loving and letting love surround me. 

There are many types of love, yes? It really doesn't matter if the feelings of the other person/animal/item are mutual.

If you love someone/something, it makes your world go round. To resonate with love and affection gives me a certain glow of happiness and a sheen of joy!  

Tak setuju? Well, when you love someone, it makes you happy, right?

Your argument is invalid 

Was surprised with a McDonald's Hamburglar X Hello Kitty!

Was surprised again last week with the McDonald's Grimace X Hello Kitty!

I wasn't the only one being surprised. We decided to give babyChivas a girlfriend.

He didn't seem too amused nor fascinated with his new companion. Boo-hoo! 

Aight, it's time to hit the sack. 

It's been a long weekend and a brand new working week beckons us

Colleagues and I fooling around at work during breaktime.

Also, how often do we turn up in the same pattern of workwear? Never. Totally worth a photo!

Before I end this post, let me wish my dearest mother, godmother, nanny and grandmother…

"No language can express the power, beauty, heroism and majesty of a mother's love.

It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of

worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star"

Dear mommies, your presents are with me! Await them when I see you at the end of this month 

So sorry I couldn't be home to take all of you out, as I just touched down from Indonesia only this afternoon.

What about you? I do hope you had a great time with your mothers, or at least, remembered to personally wish her a very Happy Mother's Day.  

Even the fact that we, their children, had them in our thoughts, would mean so much to them. Yup, mothers are really that selfless… or at least mine are! 

Sometimes, people tend to forget how the simplest things in life can be the most extraordinary.

But not for me. It’s always the simplest, tiniest surprises that makes the little girl in me most delighted!

Or… could it probably be just an excuse for me to eat ice-cream? 

Terpulanglah kepada saudara-saudari bagaimana nak mengerti! Hehehe 

Have a lovely week ahead, dear readers. 

Much love,

Jessicat

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The Sunday Times is a weekly series; published every Sunday night to recap the highlights of my week, capture what piques my interest and to briefly highlight my recommendations for to-go and to-eat places!

Some photos were posted instantly on my Instagram, Twitter, Facebook & my Mini LIVE Blog

Do follow to get instant updates and pretty photos of the sights & sounds all around me!

I know I skipped last weekend's edition of The Sunday Times!

Actually, don't ask me why. I don't know either.

I shall mull two weeks motherload of photos/updates for you, aight?

Better late than never teehee!

Spent some lonely cuddletimes with my favourite boy 

Gave in to the Instagram craze!

Several people have been bugging me to get on Instagram for a while now… and I thought, hey why not?

Follow me on Instagram at – thejessicat

Stormed my kitchen up to make dinner again! 

Butter-Cereal Prawn & Black Pepper Scrambled Eggs with Tofu & Spinach on a Saturday night

Celebrated my country's Independence Day on the 31st August!

Full blogpost – here *click*

Got a tad nerdy & intellectual for several days

Been preparing for an article about contemporary Malaysian culture!

Off on an airplane to Penang Island courtesy of Heineken!

An epic mini-rave is underway 

Touched down in Penang to attend the Heineken Progressive Tour at 32 Mansion @ Penang

Full blogpost soon! 

I just had to justify myself LOL

Had English breakfast with mom in Dome Cafe @ Gurney Plaza, Penang!

I'd recommend the Eggs Benedict 

Day out in the city : Pavilion KL with buddies Jean-Baptiste & Nestor!

Took the cable car up to Genting Highlands with 'em magician boys after that!

J'ai passé un très bon moment  

Outfit of the day in Genting Highlands!

Watched Superstars of Magic 2 four times! Yup, FOUR TIMES.

Too good to only catch it once  Made wonderful friends there, the cast & crew were an amazing bunch!

Learnt some magic under the tutorledge of two fabulous cardicians

You know who you both are. Much love & gratitude! 

Made a snack at home  Do I smell something healthy?

Fresh lettuce, red corals, wild rocket leaves, butter hearts, radicchio,

red oakleaves with watermelon chunks, oregano & thousand island!

Hit the gym again! Did my usual routine and a 5KM track-run 

Had a bout of a rather dreadful emotional turmoil & lost my appetite for 4 days.

Stayed in bed. Refused to get out. Wallowed in depression. But yeah, tried to smile for the camera anyhow LOL

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx6deVzKeKQ&feature=player_detailpage

Song of the week 

Picked up the pieces, put on a smile and buried my misery six feet under

Question is : How can you forget someone who gave you so much to remember?

Just got back from a satisfying dinner! I recommend the Chicken & Lamb Mixed Royal Kebab with Saffron Rice

A cosy & VERY reasonably priced Middle Eastern place : Saffron Cafe & Restaurant in Damansara Perdana! 

Well, that's what's I've buzzing with during past fortnight, apart from the emotional rollercoaster ride.

It's rather personal, don't ask  But what didn't kill me, made me stronger!

… overcome the tears & attempt the next stride with a smile 

This week, I am thankful for :

1) The immediate people around me 

2) The lessons in life which I learnt the hard way. 

Have a great seven days ahead dear readers 

Much love,

Jessicat 

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The Sunday Times is a new once-a-week series; published every Sunday night to recap the highlights of my week, capture what piques my interest and to share recommendations for to-go places and to-eats throughout the week

Some of the photos in this edition are posted instantly on my Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr & Facebook as it happens.

So follow me to get instant updates and pretty photos of the sights & sounds all around!

I'm actually relieved I managed to catch the plane to Sydney

There was a series of epic moments that made me fully convinced that I was going to miss this flight!

I left home (a friend's crib) at 9.30am in the morning to adjourn to the airport.

I chartered Jetstar's domestic flight from Melbourne to Sydney

After getting dropped off at Oakleigh, I took a train ride to Southern Cross station then a skybus to my terminal at Melbourne Airport. I arrived at noon sharp – was proud of meself for being early!

Checked in and zip-a-dee-doo-dah was in a jolly mood. Sat in Hudson's Coffee sippin' a cuppa and lost track of time. Oh and the barista had to remake my coffee 4 times, being sucha douchebag for repetitively getting my order wrong LOL

Already late, I ran all the way to the departure hall entrance and was stopped by security, as the censor kept beeping each time I walked back and forth!

I had to remove almost everything one by one – it felt like I was practically undressing myself in front of everyone!

So off came my hairband, earrings, rings, bangles, buckles, zippers, necklace, watch, belt, anklet, shoes.. etc but the darned thingy STILL wouldn't stop beeping!

Hmm.. I wonder if they would make me take out my nipple piercing

or clit piercing if I ever had one LOLOL.

Anyway, long story short (this part took forever I swear), we found out what the culprit was.

It was the metallic steel-like clasp at the front of my bra.

HAH. But I was adamant not to strip any further so they let me off the hook

Note to self : don't ever wear fancy bras while traveling by air.

I then continued running all the way to the next counter and another douchebag made me fill in some departure card despite my flight being a domestic one! (By right, I didn't need to)

I was a tad confused but whatevs, I panicked just by looking at the time and did as I was told.

So when I finally finished filling in the card (some passengers took ages to fill theirs and I was hovering around them like vultures ROFL) and rushed back to the counter, the man said I didn't need to fill it in and could just walk straight in.

Argghh! No thank you for making me even later for my flight!

By the time I ran non-stop for approximately 150 meters to Gate 7, the gates was already shut – as expected.

But seeing that a frantic girl was running like a psychopath escapee, drenched in perspiration and screaming hysterically from 20km away, "WAAAAAIITT FORRRR MEEEEEEE DON'T GO!!!! I'M HERE, I'M HERE!!" they re-opened the gates for me!

Holy smokes, thank goodness!

And here I am safely in Sydney after that nightmare.

On board the train heading for my much anticipated Easter Dinner!

Coincidentally, the tee says exactly what I was feeling; highly irked and irritable throughout my 1.5 hour flight.

WHY? 

1. Squabbling toddlers in front of me

2. A restless, crying infant to my right with his father singing some (rather disturbing, sounded more like a satan worship song LOL) lullabies in desperate attempt to cajole his baby

3. An inconsiderate woman elbowing me umpteen times while playing MahJong on her iPad.

For chrissakes, it's IPAD MAHJONG NOT REAL MAHJONG your frenzied arm movements is not appreciated!

kthxbai.

Sorry I haven't been updating in almost a week!   Been so busy packing my jumbo-sized luggage ! 

I had 1 check-in 30kg luggage, 1 cabin 12kg luggage and a 5kg backpack to stress upon these few days.

What to bring? How many of this to pack? Is that necessary to bring along?

And this? What about that? Yadda yadda.. Decisions!

So much to carry, so little space 🙁
 

Thankfully, I maxed out my luggage and exceeded the 30kg limit by 1.2kg only phew! But my cabin bag exceeded a whole lot more than it should 😛 😛 Not to mention that my Deuter backpack was murdering my shoulders by the second 🙁

Most importantly, I survived the check-in and customs sans the penalty. woots!
 

I was so glad I arrived 3 hours before time. When I was just sitting down chilling with thefockers, loved ones and friends, the queue for Air Asia's 11PM flight to Melbourne went all the way out until the entrance of the airport!

By golly! It's a freakin' full flight yo
 

Words can't express how touched I am by the influx of people sending me their best of wishes and luck through calls, SMS, BBMs, Whatsapps, emails, Twitter and Facebook. I hope I managed to reply to ALL of you personally 😉

But nothing compared to the people who took their time to send me off at the airport in person. Thank you thank you so very much! You know who yall are!
 

Boarded the plane on time and here I am at 10.45pm camwhoring

Was bored! I decided to kill time by llistening to my trusty ol' iPod and making friends on the plane. Grace and I got along very well; the topics of interest between us ranged widely from temperamental climates, Long Distance Relationships to dead grandfathers.

Oh and, the seats were far more comfy than I expected it to be 😛 Guess it's time to catch some zzz before I arrive the next morning!
 

I cuddled Beary tightly and tried to sleep.

It was a surprise gift for me in the airport!

Initially, I was kinda worried that I was unable to stuff another item into my luggage but who cares? I hand-carried it around anyway. It's my only form of comfort lest I turn emo on one of those rainy, lonely nights in a foreign country far from my loved ones
 

I swear I tried to sleep but my mind was still unweaving and going about in circles. God knows what's on my mind, really. In the end, I didn't even manage to catch a wink of sleep so I stayed up all the way and waited for the sun to rise.
 

I feel the sun creeping up like tick tock~
 

Okay, the sun has already risen and I'm *still* not asleep yet. What on earth is this. -__-"

Every time I tried shutting my eyes, I eventually open it to either that inconsiderate fool kicking my seat from behind, to someone going to the toilet or to a random person coughing.

I need my sleep. It's way past sunrise now.

P/S : the pink you see is not my bra

Needless to say, I gave up trying to sleep.

Looks like my body is all geared up with the mightiest adrenalin rush you can ever think of and hence processed that sleep < Australia. Fine. I took sunrise pictures instead of snoozing like everybody else.

It was beautiful beyond words!

The golden rays of the sun seeping through the clouds!

For a second there I felt like I was in heaven

The cloud formation was beautiful this morning too.

It reminded me of the tides of the ocean waves
 

The pilot gave a short announcement about the wind speed and temperature. He also reminded everyone to change their timezones to GMT+11 instead of our usual GMT+8 of Daylight Saving time.

Ohmy. I still cannot get around the fact that I will be landing in Tullamarine airport in Victoria under 15 minutes. Excited? Sorry, that's an understatement of the day 😉

Shot at 0945HRS | Sydney, Melbourne & Canberra timezone 😀

And we landed safely! Thanks everyone for all your wishes

I was then officially brimming with energy at the point of touchdown despite not having any sleep LOL
 

I sure hope I will
 

Drove past the central city, Elizabeth St., Bridge St., Richmond St. and a few other suburbs before I finally arrived at Camberwell, Melbourne – where I'm staying for the time being.

As of now, it is 18 degrees celcius and I'm freezing my toes off. Someone touch my fingers now please, they are no different from ice cubes! Looks like I've got a lot to get used to 🙁

I was told by my Australian friends that Melbourne has the most insane weather of all. One can experience the 4 seasons in ONE day! Talk about temperament, sigh!
 

One minute I was wearing a tank top & shorts and the next I'll be clad in thick layers of clothing & gloves.

Bade farewell to the humidity of Malaysia… hello Melbourne!

Signing off now @ 11.43PM Ozzie time. Goodnight