I swear I don't remember the last time I stayed in Penang for so long!

Usually, I'll only be down for the weekend or so, but this time round was a record of two weeks straight.

I miss mom & dad, as well as my folks in Ipoh and of course, my dearest Penang buddies!

Here are some of the things that made my week superb.

My favorite Iced Dark Chocolate drink from TheObroma Chocolate Lounge @ The Curve

Stole a picture of babyChivas catnapping  on the TV

Gymtime was merciless, as always. Today, it was lower body & core workout day!

Checking into Dome Cafe for dinner!

Dinner was healthy and filling, as always. My favourite Eggs Benedict and a cuppa Chamomile tea

He had the Gourmet Chicken and Mushroom Pie with a serving of sauteed vegetables

Oh goodness me, look at the thick creamy hot soup underneath that golden puff pastry!

It was so hearty and fulfilling! Definitely highly recommended

Headed on a roadtrip back to Penang! The North-South Highway was crystal clear 

Random selfshot moments

Caught sight of a sporty white Lotus Evora cruising beside me on the highway.

So lovin' its dangerous curves! 

Had a food review scheduled at Chin's Stylish Chinese Cuisine on the night I arrived

BuddyMinny was there with me 

Check out the framed modern art portraiture of the iconic figures behind us!

I was reserved a table facing the sea and night sky

Look at how impressive those hand-painted ceramic plates are!

Here are some of my top few favourite dishes from the ten-course dinner

*Full blog post featuring Chin's Stylish Chinese Cuisine coming soon!

DnM conversations and catching up with buddyMinny over shishatimes at Venum Shisha! 

The next afternoon's training was an uphill task and all about the lifting the weights!

And then it's partying on a Thursday night at Soho Gastro Pub at Precinct 10 with my Penangmates

Here are some more party pictures!
 

The music was thumping, bottles were poppin' and the party went hard on

electronic dance music all through the night

Afterparty : Supper at the ever-popular Restoran Yunus Khan,

fondly known as 'Jiao Sai' to the Penangites 

You wanna know why? The term 'Jiao Sai' ('Bird poo' in the Hokkien dialect) was coined when the first branch of Restoran Yunus Khan was easily recognized for the mass amount of bird poo splattered along the road it was located. 

Okay, trivia over. Time for the next day!

Dolled up and got ready to go for TWELVE XII's Penang Invasion at QEII Penang

QEII (Queen Elizabeth the Second) is a bar -club right above the sea if you haven't been there yet!

It was crowded with people way before midnight

Partying with TRIMIX & Tigeranddragon!

With my buddies and two of my favorite partymates, Sam & Minny 

They always somehow always have a way of making me drink-drank-drunk.

ONE love for trance and progressive music!

TRIMIX was marvellous as usual; hitting all the right spots of any fellow trancer.

It was my first time watching Tigeranddragon – he was great!

Sam, being one of the coolest partygoers and the usual sport he is,

ordered a round of tequila shots for us!

One shot, two shots, three shots, more!

And it's down! No sweat! 

But if they make me drink another Flatliner shot, I'll run a mile away. I have an aversion to tabasco! 

Managed to catch a picture with TRIMIX and Tigeranddragon. Thanks Samuel! 

Ramsey and I. He played before they did – at midnight!

My former collegemates Leo and Mike came to join the party too!

We stayed till the lights came on. Fantastic night, pals! 

And that wraps up my week. I am exhausted!

Sunday was spent with the family – good ol' quality time with the folks always proves to be therapeutic!

Have a marvellous week ahead, fellas 

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 of the photos in this edition are posted instantly on my Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr & Facebook

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

I've just returned from my weekend trip in Malacca and feeling really exhausted now! 

This entire week had been a really busy, eventful and a nerve-wrecking one (you'll see why)

Managed to snap a quick photo whilst out!

Had been caught up, back-to-back, with heaps of errands, appointments and meetings.

Apart from all the boring jizz, here are some other stuff that made my last seven days.

Sampled a new product : NBrew! 

I watched, as Malaysia's first Liquid Nitrogen ice-cream was prepared on the spot for me

Unlike some stingy ice-cream parlours which charge a pricey amount for the tiny scoop of ice-cream, N-Brew's portion of ice-cream was a lot more generous! I took my time enjoying it.

As a health advocate, I'd definitely recommend this. It's low in sugar & fat, and does not contain any preservatives, food colouring and stabilizers! 

Had the Aglio Olio Fish Fillet in The Apartment @ The Curve over a brief meeting on Monday

Despite the pretty decent food presentation & garnishing, it lacked in the taste department.

Took my little one out for a cat spa – showering, grooming, nail-clipping, fur-trimming, powdering & detangling.

He was pretty edgy that afternoon, for reasons unbeknownst to me 

Frolicking at the back of my car. I hate his afternoon eyes. They're beady and menacing.

Much prefer how it looks like at night, I'm sure you've seen some other photos I've posted!

As babyChivas was busy for about an hour or so, Konzy and I had some time to kill.

We decided to check out a Chinese restaurant called Annie 1 @ Damansara Uptown.

Recommendations: the Chicken Curry Egg Noodles were delicious and the Pork Rib Stew was to die for!

It was so cheap too, under 10 bucks 

Mid-week saw me darting back and forth to Mont Kiara and back home several times a day.

Can you guess why? You'll find out soon  It's quite obvious, but I'll announce it once it's confirmed!

Had dinner with bestieJoyce, Jo and Konzy.

I'm beginning to love the food in my *cough* new *cough* neighbourhood already 

Highly recommended : Kin San Kichi Japanese Restaurant @ Desa Sri Hartamas

I absolutely love their Salmon Sashimi; it's touted the best in KL too!

For only 36 bucks, nine pieces of freshly sliced, EXTREMELY THICK AND BIG CHUNKS of raw salmon were served to us (as you can see in the picture above) 

The Salmon Teppanyaki was unbelievably good too. Portions were huge and it was rich in flavour!

Another night of dinner with the fantastic four at Chow Yang Kitchen (潮阳美食店) @ Desa Sri Hartamas

I had a steamed Red Snapper (Tilapia fish) with ground ginger & lots and lots of Chicken Satay!

Again, a more-than-satisifying meal, I must say. Where was I all this while?

How could I not know how good the food was around Mont Kiara & Sri Hartamas? 

This week's self-manicured nails! O.P.I's Bastille My Heart and Revlon's Silver Dollar

Some of my simple and quick whips in the kitchen!

This might come as a surprise but I was struck by the motivation bug and started job-hunting!

I know, how random. I'm still so busy being a full-time blogger as it is.

They must've liked my resume, as I received a call to come into the office. 

After tedious written tests, evaluation tests and whatnot, I got selected amongst many and was short-listed to go for the next round of interviews!

In the end, I got the job offer! 

Feeling very thankful to be given the opportunity to be a part of this esteemed, prestigious publication company with an impressive portfolio of top magazines under their belt! 

More about this piece of good news if I feel like divulging more information next time.

For now, I'm one step closer to being the best that they've ever had.  

At least, that's what I aim to be!

Off down south on a weekend trip to Malacca. Thanks, Papulex Asia! 

This was my pine-log chalet. It's enormous!

I stayed in Philea Resort & Spa, a breathtaking 5 star eco-resort surrounded by nature 

Just some quick snaps of the interior. So rustic and cosy, I don't even! 

Apart from being occupied with the sharing sessions, meeting, discussions and activities organized by Papulex Asia,

I had some time to myself and did not hesitate to dive into the pool by the waterfall!

I should swim more often, just despise having chlorine in my hair. 

More about my weekend trip in a full blog post soon!

Konzy picked me up after I arrived back in KL. We headed for dinner at DIB Coffees of Hawaii.

Little did I know that this outlet tucked away in the deeper part of Damansara Perdana was actually operated by the deaf! DIB here means, Deaf in Business.

The coffee was strong and aromatic! (I don't know about the food because that burger was Konzy's,

but he sure looked like he enjoyed it haha!)

I initially wondered why the waiter was so rude not to greet nor welcome us to the restaurant (I didn't know he was hearing impaired and mute at first, obviously!) 

But I soon discovered after I noticed the sign language and gestures he used. 

Eventually, we spoke It was so easy to "communicate" to the deaf and mute!

He understood my food orders so easily and we even had a brief conversation with each other.

Hmmm… I forsee myself working with the deaf some time in the near future. 

I was impressed with their resourcefulness, determination and dedication to their work! 

The most devastating highlight of this week was the death of a friend of mine from Penang

She was the innocent passenger & the driver is now in critical condition in the ICU.

The wrecked Porsche 911 Turbo which crashed into a tree at Kelawai Road (estimated at 4-6AM)

on the 13th January 2013 after they were both clubbing at Nueve, Precinct 10 @ Tanjung Bungah

We were from the same hometown, same gym, same Guides & Scouts camp and have the same passion for electronic music & raves. 

 My heart goes out to you and your family. Rest in Peace, Eli. I'll always remember you.

It is a hefty price to pay – with one's own life. We don't need another loss to remind ourselves that we should all NEVER drink and drive, do we? 

 Good times, I know. But what happens after?

Never attempt to drive while intoxicated or under the influence of any substance.

What really affected me was that she wasn't only my friend, she lived a similar lifestyle as I did.

It could have easily been me 

I shall end this on a very sombre note. Cherish your loved ones and live a life that makes you happy, for you'll never know which day will be the last.

Have a good week peeps. Party responsibly!

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 of the photos in this edition are posted instantly on my Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr & Facebook

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

Writing this from my lovely lil Penang island as we speak.

The past week has been almost entirely focused on family, friends and almost all my loved ones!

Let's take a ride in the car 

This week saw an emotional roadtrip for me as it marked the last time I'll ever drive my good ol' faithful white Perodua Kelisa which ferried me everywhere throughout all my years as a college kid & a university undergraduate.

Yup, six years with my lil one. 

It's now time for a change to something more powerful, stylish & cutting edge… one that befits me better

I present to you, my new precious, big baby, the Ford Fiesta Hatchback Sports Edition in Red.

Full story up soon! A shoot is in progress

What else is new? My hair.

Thanks to the amazing team at A Cut Above, I had another unique technology done to my hair – called the relaxer rebonding process. It's not straightening, nor relaxing, nor rebonding. It's.. a combination of all three!

Winnie dearest and I catching up over some snipsnips! 

Before and after! I'm loving the results! Professional & well-done

*full story soon!

While I was getting my hair done, Konzy bought some cakes from Just Heavenly for us to share

(Honestly I think he hates me and has evil intentions to fatten me up LOL!) I kid. 

Left: Cappucino Cupcake | Right: Death by Chocolate

I personally didn't like the Cappucino Cupcake, especially hated the icing on top.

But for people who love eating cream or icing, that's your treat right there 

Death by Chocolate, on the other hand, was more my cup of tea.

It was rich with dark chocolate mousse with a velvety layer of melted chocolate engulfing it whole

Oh geez, I wouldn't mind having ten more of this!  FULLY RECOMMENDED 

Triple Expresso Brownie

It had the perfect texture, chunky and fudgy but it wasn't as moist or as warm as I had expected it to be.

The taste, on the other hand, was great – coffee and the walnuts were a good combo! 

Lunch at La Bodega @ Bangsar Shopping Centre :

Smoked Salmon with Baba Ghanouj sandwich for me & Chicken Bocadillo sandwich for him

I loved mine. Healthy meals are always my first option, and this proved to be quite a good choice!

His was a little to bland and dry. Only tasted a lot better after layers of tabasco sauce 

Random photo in my new, sweet, sweet ride 

A world phenomenon of an American TV series – Gossip Girl – has finally come to an end.

Initially I was totally against watching something that was titled 'Gossip Girl', thinking that it would be some pretentious girly girl drama show. But I was wrong. Watching it got me hooked since 2010!

After six years/seasons of this, fans never wished this day would come. 

SPOILER ALERT : IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE CONCLUSION – FINAL EPISODE YET,

SCROLL SWIFTLY PAST THIS SECTION OF THE POST

I was so happy that my favorite on-screen couple, Chuck Bass & Blair Waldorf got married! 

All's well, ends well.

When I got back to Penang, my weekends included spending time with old friends, new friends and more friends, left, right, and center.

First up, my high school Class of 2006 reunion gathering at Suffolk House.

We all had to wear 'name tags' lest we forget how each other used to look like. Who is this girl? 

I haven't heard this name in a long, long, time. 

I'll be dedicating a full blog post special for this! A major 'then VS now' photos 

You'd be amazed what six years can do to a girl. We all looked somewhat different than we were since the moment we took our final walk out of the iron gates of our high school premises.

Off to Golden Screen Cinemas @ Gurney Plaza to watch The Hobbit

Overall, I thought it was a good movie, despite falling asleep in the first quarter LOL.

It had many witty punchlines and good ol' humour. Plus, having watched all the Lord of the Rings movies as a kid, I would certainly not give the prequel of it all a miss! 

I also had a dose of my usual Milkshake Factory obsession.

Tried the new Rio Coconut Shake for the first time with Ferrero Rocher in it.

It was absolutely delightful! The shaker recommended this to me and since I was a fan of coconut drinks, I thought, "Hey, why not?" Glad I decided upon it.

The chunky chocolate bits from the Ferrero Rocher blended in fresh, pure coconut water was a sip of heaven.

FULLY RECOMMENDED!! 

When dusk descended, it was time to let our hair down and party like the rockstar Penang-ites we are.

Buddy Minny introduced SOHO Gastro Pub @ Precinct 10 to me!

I'm still a loyal & a frequent at MOIS No 1 Upper Penang Road – my pick amongst the pool of Penang clubs!

But since SOHO was quite a new one and a fairly crazy place to party at, I thought I'd join in 

Ready for some party photos? I always look forward to my Penang homecoming! 

Don't mind us, we were semi bonkers by the end of the night. 

Lin Chong aka crazy dragon, Minny & I

 My babe Minny and I

All of us! We go a long way back… think, 2008? 

Flanked by Jon & Kon

Drunk-selcas with my childhood pal, Jon! 

With Thean Sim  It's been too long, girl!

And Lionel.. again! 

Theresa from our college days 

More of us at the table! 

My date for the night  Konzy & I

After the night was over, we trudged out into the patio to take a breather or two before finally deciding to go straight on to breakfast at 4AM. Why so late, you ask?

Well, it is morning after all. Very, very early in the morning 

This was the only photo I took during breakfast. Was I really that smashed? 

Breakfast was Chiow Lin Steamboat Restaurant at Abu Siti Lane, Georgetown.

We had a private room to ourselves (with the Empire State building framed up LOL) and the steamboat was served with an authentic Zhong Qing soup, which, to me, was unsurpassable by any other steamboat outlets I've dined in. 

Being out of touch from Penang for several years, I can only trust my Penang buddies to bring me to the best places nowadays! Thanks ya'll! xoxo

Massive seafood by the seaside dinner with the family at Hai Boey Seafood Restaurant @ Gertak Sanggul

Amongst the hoards of flags, I caught sight of something fairly interesting.

HAHAHAHAH. Smart.

The flag of Germany & the flag of Japan hung next to each other on the ceiling?

Now everybody knows your political stance! I see what you did there… but don't worry. People who don't know their world history will Nazi it. (Get it? Get it?)

Mom & I. One of the few photos I have of the night. Thanks for the photo, dad! 

Caught Life of Pi in cinemas with the family!

I loved every bit of the movie. It was so personal, eye-opening, reflective and deep! I felt very inspired and had a better perspective at life and its many meanings upon leaving the cinema.

If you're tired of the same ol' Hollywood drama, this movie offers a good alternative.

It made me appreciate the gift of life so much better. Go watch it! 

Decorated the interior of my new car a lil bit.

Recognize this lil red octopus? Once upon a time, it meant the world to me.

And it still does. Some things never change. I guess I'm just sentimental like that 

Thanks for the gift Glad you recognized it on my Instagram haha!

Life is always full of surprises. Isn't it always?

But never run away from your past, it made you who you are today. In some strange way or another, all the memories of my past were beautiful, and I've never regretted a single thing I've done.. ever.

Neither should you. 

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 of the photos in this edition are posted instantly on my Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr & Facebook

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