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    Film & Movies
    International Artists
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    Local Artists
    Music Festivals/Rave Parties
    Nightlife/Parties
Food
    American
    Asian
    Coffee joints/Cafe hopping
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    Fusion
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    Sports
Current Affairs
TheJessicat - Extractions of a Disoriented Mind
  • Entertainment
    • Film & Movies
    • International Artists
    • Live Concerts & Gigs
    • Local Artists
    • Music Festivals/Rave Parties
    • Nightlife/Parties
  • Food
    • American
    • Asian
    • Coffee joints/Cafe hopping
    • French
    • Fusion
    • Italian
    • Japanese
    • My Cookbook
    • Others/Fusion
  • Fashion
    • Body Art
    • Cosplay
    • Fashion Shows
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Makeup/Skincare
  • Travels
    • Thailand
    • The Australian Diaries
  • Health & Fitness
    • EatFitSlam: Clean Eating
    • GymJamSlam: Gym/Workouts
    • Sports
  • Current Affairs

Welcoming the goat year with a bold start to Chinese New Year 2015 with Guinness Malaysia!

January 25, 2015 by thejessicat

 

Gong Xi! Gong Xi!

I know it’s pretty early for Chinese New Year wishes but hey, Guinness Malaysia kick-started the festivities as early as mid-January – and so will I! Talk about being excited, eh? Woots!

 

 Awesome festive decor that greeted me inside.

 

Tonight, we welcome the Year of the Goat in a bold and auspicious manner this festive season with GUINNESS®, Malaysia’s favourite stout.

Bringing the tradition back this year, brands and media (We are, after all like family & friends in the industry, right?) gather together  and partake in a ‘reunion dinner’ feast signifying longevity, harmony, peace, happiness, and prosperity for the year ahead. Laughing

 

 

In marking this auspicious time of year, GUINNESS® has teamed up with the Grand Imperial Group of restaurants to create a special GUINNESS® banquet menu, available at all 6 Grand Imperial restaurants across Malaysia.

I’ve personally been to a Grand Imperial restaurant before, for a friend’s wedding. Ha Ha

The food there? Top-notch, if I do say so myself.

 

 Festive decor fills the air in Grand Imperial, Bangsar Shopping Centre

 

Love all things festive!

 

 

Guinness’ media & VIP Chinese New Year dinner began with a speed Chinese calligraphy performance by a dear friend Haze.

So proud of her! Keep doing the artsy things you do, girl.

I had no idea you could write in Chinese! Okay, now I feel a tad inadequate. LOL Yell

 

 Can anybody tell me what this means? 🙁

I assume it says Happy Chinese New Year?

 

 Guinness directors stamping a traditional Chinese seal, to complete the work of art.

 

 Official picture. Fantastic how everyone is dressed so aptly to suit the occasion!

 

Of course, I made sure I looked the part too.

 

Wore a Cheongsam top with a high waisted skirt and bright pink heels.

If you’re wondering why my Cheongsam top doesn’t look like a Cheongsam top, it was because my Mandarin collar’s button decided to snap a mere 3 hours before the event. 🙁 Drats.

 

 Let the Guinness festivities begin!

 

 With my mates, ready to celebrate CNY – Guinness style!

 

 But first let me take a selfie 😉 Bryna & I.

 

 

A brew rich, full, and flavoursome, GUINNESS® is the perfect beer to savour throughout the holiday period, accompanying good food and good times with friends and family. Smile

Typically, Chinese New Year feasts are synonymous with a round table x red cloth combination. Here are my round table mates with fellow bloggers & media!

 

 

For our dining pleasure, 8 sumptuous courses are paired with GUINNESS® stout served in different ways to complement and bring out the full flavours of each dish, providing a tantalising sensation for the tastebuds befitting the spirit of prosperity and celebration of the New Year festivities.

With no surprise, let me introduce the starter of every Chinese New Year dinner!

 

 Yee Sang with Silver Fish!

 

 Toss it as high as you can for prosperity, longeivity & auspiciousness!

 

 Us ravaging the Yee Sang. Louuuu ahhhhh!!! 😀

 

Next up – Braised Bird’s Nest with Fresh Crab Meat.

 

I was so glad it wasn’t Shark Fin’s Soup!

It’s great that more and more restaurants are supporting the cause of shark-saving.

The soup was delicious and hearty! I finished it in a jiffy. Cool

While waiting for the next dish to arrive, my fellow blogger buddies took the chance to catch up and of course, take selfies. 😉

 

 

The next dish that arrived was another popular dish in Chinese dinner banquets.

I apologize in advance to all my Muslim readers, as this is a non-halal dish.

 

Roasted Whole Suckling Pig.

 

Admittedly, while I’m not much of a pork-fan myself, my mates at the table loved it to bits. It’s crispy skin was much talked about.

Less man more share, eh? It’s a good thing I’m not eating it – more for you guys to savour! 😀 😀

Random selfie while everyone else gobbles down the piglet.

Accessories by The Wild Things. I’m also wearing their inspired Pandora charm bracelet.

You can’t see it in this picture but let’s see if you can spot it in the rest of my pictures!

P/S: Look them up for beautiful handmade fashion pieces.

 

The next dish made me a very happy girl.

Yup – Jessicat loves her fish!

Traditional Style Steamed Golden Pomfret

This is absolute love! I devoured this like a starved cat. LOL

 

As usual, pair everything with a glass of Guinness!

What came as the next meal certainly made an impression.

You may not notice it now but…

 

 Fresh Water King Prawn in Casserole

 

What’s so special and impressive about this dish, you ask?

Well… let’s just say, size DOES MATTER. 😉

 

 It was a big as my head… and mind you, I don’t have a tiny head.

 

Everyone was amazed at how sizable these King Prawns were.

What have they been feeding on? WOW. Two thumbs up! Wink

The next dish looks vegetarian but it’s actually not.  Enter:

 

 Braised Sliced Abalone with Black Moss and Dried Oyster

 

I enjoy the way Grand Imperial finds ways to surprise us with their menu.

When this dish first arrived, only the meats & vegetable portion came. We were wondering what dish this is supposed to be? Surprised As most restaurants, if not all, served their claypot rice in one giant bowl with the the rest of the ingredients.

A minute later, the claypot rice came! All in individual bowls, portioned perfectly.

 

 Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage (Lap Cheong) & Dried Meat – Hong Kong Style

 

Like we did tonight, diners will experience GUINNESS® in ways in which they may not have tried before, unlocking the complex flavour profiles of the bold beer.

Surprisingly refreshing when served at sub-zero temperatures, moving to full and rich when served warm, the GUINNESS® Master Brewers and team of Grand Imperial chefs have painstakingly matched each course and serving style to create the perfect pairing.

 

My cute little bowl.

 

Hopped over to the next table to have a Guinness toast with my fellow blogger pals!

 

 

 I was really stuffed but hey, don’t we all have an extra stomach for dessert? 😉

We were served not one, but two desserts!

 

 Chilled Fresh Mango Puree with Sago & Pomelo.

 

 This was such a refreshing dessert!

 

It was smooth, sweet and bursting with the prominent taste of fresh mangoes!

Please sir, may I have some more? 😛

 

 

Deep Fried Nian Gao & Sweet Potato Pastries

 

I enjoyed the sweet potato pastries so much!

The pastry melted in my mouth upon contact and the aroma of sweet potato was an absolute delight.

 

Gong Xi Fa Chai to all!

You’ve made us extra happy (and extra prosperous LOL) & beyond satisfied tonight.

 

Tonight’s CNY dinner was definitely crafted to perfection.

As you can clearly see, each dish has been designed not only to match and enhance the accompanying GUINNESS®, but is imbued with meaning and tradition, symbolising longevity, harmony, peace, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year.

 

Thank you for having me, dear Guinness Malaysia & Grand Imperial!

You’ve set the bar high and made the first of many CNY feasts to come a pleasurable one.

Click on here where I visited the House of Guinness, the Phat Barrels in Publika KL.

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For more information on Guinness Malaysia & Grand Imperial Group of Restaurants:

Look them up on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/guinnessmalaysia

If you’re keen to celebrate your Chinese New Year reunion dinner with your friends, family or even with your colleagues for a company dinner, my CNY dinner tonight is called the Special Guinness New Year Banquet Menu and is priced at RM1888 nett.

Enjoy! And Gong Hei Fatt Choi to you and you and you! 😀

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A weekend of noshing at Nosh, Bangsar with the loves!

October 17, 2013 by thejessicat

 

Last weekend, the three of us caught up at uppity town Bangsar for some delicious bites and sweet indulgences.

It was mid day by the time we arrived, so it was a dilemma whether to eat a really late lunch or a really early dinner. But we decided to eat to our hearts’ content anyway. After all, meals should always be defined by our stomachs and not by the time on the clock.

 

Smiles!

 

Today’s look was very… catwoman LOL

Jessicat wears: Tank in black by Mizz Demeanour | Accessories by Hard Rock Shop |

High-waisted shorts by PDI | Cat bag from a fashion bazaar | Jeffrey Campbell inspired heels by H&M

 

 

We were scouring Bangsar for good places to eat, but realized that we’ve tried almost every gastronomic delight the buzzing street had to offer. Tired of walking around in circles, we then then decided to look up HungryGoWhere.com to make a quick search on where to eat, right from the palm of our hand. How convenient!

HungryGoWhere.com is a comprehensive Malaysian Food Guide, Restaurant and Rating site. Go check it out!

 

Arrived at a restaurant called Nosh. Had a chat with the waiters and soon decided

that’s where we’re gonna be parking our arses for the afternoon.

 

Can’t wait to nosh on our food!

 

We took a seat and I excused myself to check out the restaurant interior – as usual.

Bet my buddies are  all pretty used to this disappearing act of mine the moment we step foot into any new restaurant we visit 😛

 

The facade was enough to draw me closer into the dining area.

 

Loved its classy, clean-cut concept. Wide spaces were used very well!

 

It boasted an interior of bright and colourful modern art as well as a neat layout.

 

On the right was the  drinks bar where drinks and light food takes shape.

The main kitchen is inside, of course.

 

We skimmed through the menu and placed our orders.

Guess what comes next? 😀 More selfies of us! 🙂

 

Come to think of it, nothing really has changed in 6 years. Except that we probably have make up

on and are now both working professionals instead of party-hard students.

Oh and, bestieJoyce doesn’t have braces on anymore and I don’t have my long red hair anymore.

That’s about it.

 

On to the food! May I first warn you that they taste just as delicious as they look in photos? 😀

Nosh did a great job in the food presentation and plating.

 

Beef Bolognese on Chunky Chips

 

This was a really tasty beef bolognese topped with melted cheese on a bed of potato chips.

Every bite had a light and hearty, smoky aftertaste. I liked how the chips were cut into wide chunks instead of the skinny versions.

 

Mushroom Gnocchi Symphony

 

This Italian dish was really filling! Instead of the usual semolina or wheat versions, this was a fabulous combo of gourmet sweet potato gnocchi served with mushrooms and cream sauce. Every bite was a mouthful!

 

Pumpkin Ravioli

 

Also another signature Italian dish, this boasted delicate gourmet pasta sheets filled with pumpkin served with a luscious onion butter sauce and fresh sage. Very used to the usual spinach ravioli, Nosh’s version of mashed pumpkins gave me a fresh alternative and complemented these ravioli very well.

 

Salmon with  Lemon Capers

 

Always a fish person, I couldn’t possibly give this salmon treat a miss. Loved it to bits!

A thick piece of salmon fillet grilled to perfection greeted me the moment I laid eyes on my plate. Served in a lemon caper cream sauce, the salmon came with delightful sides of roasted rosemary potatoes and grilled seasonal vegetables.

I could definitely order another one of this and finish it in under 10 minutes.

 

Dessert time. Which one should I pick?

We are sweet tooths by nature so we were spoilt for choice!

 

After taking almost half an hour to narrow down and select our mutual favorites, here’s what we got!

 

We chose the Peanut Butter Heaven and Mont Blanc in the end.

The Peanut Butter Heaven promises heaven to the last bite – and heaven I experienced indeed.

As a diehard fan of both peanut butter and chocolate, this peanut butter cheesecake slice was right up my alley. It was light, not too heavy on the cheese consistency, drizzled with caramel on top and sat on a bed of chocolate crumbles and chopped salted peanuts.

The Mont Blanc was a chocolate cake soaked in rum and resembled a mountain after a snow blizzard of chestnut cream. Dusted with sprinkles of green tea powder, it gave this treat a slight bitter aftertaste to an otherwise sweet dessert.

 

Loved them both! It was interesting how they plated both the desserts like a platter

on one long rectangular plate instead of serving it in individual plates.

 

It was a fantastic day catching up and noshing delectable food and desserts.

Where else but NOSH, really? Thanks, NOSH for a delightful evening!

 

Price range for this restaurants from its lighter, smaller meals at RM9 onwards to the heaviest main event at RM70. However, you can be satisfied with most decently sized meals ranging between RM19 to RM40.

If you’d like to search for more similar places that might suit your fancy, just browse the directory at HungryGoWhere.com 🙂 And yes, you’re welcome.

————————————————————

[highlight style=”yellow” ]For more information on Nosh or to place your reservations, you can:[/highlight]

Log on to their official website: www.nosh.my

LIKE them on Facebook: fb.com/noshKL

Drop by their outlet at this address:

7, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, 49100, Kuala Lumpur

Business Hours:

Tue – Thu: 2pm – 11pm
Fri: 2pm – 12am
Sat: 10am – 12am
Sun: 10am – 11pm

Contact them at this number:  +603-2201 3548

 

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The Sunday Times XXVI: Sights, sounds, adventures & eats! My week in a flash ♥

June 2, 2013 by thejessicat

 

Oh hey! It's the month of June already.

If you ask me, this year flew by really swiftly. Before I knew it, we're already almost halfway into the year 2013. 

Where did all the time go?

Hmmm… maybe getting starting my new job made me feel like time had fleeted by so fast.

 

Cold days at work. When the advertising industry debilitates me whole by the end of the day, all I can do is to curl up with my fave mug of hot chocolate

 

As keeping busy takes up most of my time, my days aren't as dreary and long as it would probably feel if I were to be jobless or bored at home with absolutely nothing to do. To be honest, I do miss being bored sometimes. 

I could only wish for more hours in my day. blush

My life is so fast-paced, especially this year, that I don't even have the time to feel bored anymore! 

Masaku betul2 berlalu dengan laju sangat. Alangkah baiknya jika kita mempunyai lebih masa setiap hari? Katakanlah 30 jam sehari berbanding dengan hanya 24 jam. Lebih banyak kerja yang dapat diselesaikan dalam satu hari dan perkara akan dilakukan secara jauh lebih berkesan, kan?

 

Ahhh, wishful thinking at best. 

Anyway, this week was relatively mundane with a sprinkle of colour towards the weekend. Okay, recap! wink

 

Daily trainings and awesome post-workout meals.

 

It was upper body: chest, shoulders, back and arm day

 

Made organic fusilli pasta bake with honey glazed eggplant, carrots & tomato,

tossed with grapeseed oil, basil and cottage cheese.

 

Rolled wholegrain oats with soy milk, banana slices and golden kiwi

Organic brown rice with chicken chunks, button mushrooms & flax seeds,

steamed in spring onion, garlic-ginger-onion-herb paste made from scratch! 

 

Tonight's outfit of the day.

 

Was invited to Longchamp Paris' Exclusive Preview of their Fall/Winter collection.

Full blog feature soon!

 

 

May 29, 2013 | Amazing new release by #Longchamp #Paris! Here are my favorites from their 2013 Fall/Winter collection! ❤ by imthejessicat on Keek.com

 

Randomly, just randomly, I'm vaguely aware of how my sense of dressing has mellowed so much. Ugh.

Although sexy tops, tight skirts, mini dresses and belly bearing tops still appeal to me, I noticed a paradigm shift in my taste in clothing as of late – probably since the beginning of the year. I have to admit, this "change" scares me a little.

I think this means I'm succumbing to the ravages of time and age. OH NO. 

Aku rase aku sekarang nih dah makin tua. frown Jadi, tidak hairanlah apabila aku semakin berpaling kepada cara berpakaian yang lebih klasik ataupun sedikit sebanyak konservatif, jika berbanding dengan fesyen yang biasanya aku dilihat memakai.

Nowadays, classy high-cut tops, demure outfits, long dresses, classic, elegant pieces and the corporate OL (office lady) look strikes my fancy. Umm. really Jess, since when?

What happened to that wild, partygirl look you often portray? surprise

 

Date night out in the city. We chose El Cerdo KL Spanish Restaurant, Changkat Bukit Bintang

 

We had tapas. Gambas Al AjilloCalamares (above) and A La Plancha (below)

Loved its freshness and mild but delightful flavours!

★★★★★

 

 

May 30, 2013 | #Night outs! #Dinner in the #city. Drinks by the #bar ❤ by imthejessicat on Keek.com

 

We also met up with some friends for a bit of Wednesday night partying 

 

One person is missing from the picture! I guess I'll have to photoshop bestiePam's head in LOL

 

Bumped into an old friend, Anu, from Penang!

We were squash players back in high school

 

Excuse my vanity. I don't usually have the time to doll up laugh

 

Take two.

 

I have a new addition to my arsenal of gadgets now. Say hello to my new sexy white thing.

The SAMSUNG Galaxy Camera heart

 

Fancy some cat pictures for the start of the week?

What you are about to see is my furkid, Chivas, in compromising positions cheeky

 

 

The weekends finally loomed closer; about time it did!

Friday night saw me packing my bags and heading up to Ipoh to spend some time with the family for the weekend.

 

We had a sumptous family feast. Japanese dinner at

Zento Sushi @ Festival Walk which left us full to the brim and beyond satisfied.

★★★★★

Full blog feature/review coming soon!

 

Being away for the weekend didn't deter me from carrying out my routines.

Here's a makeshift circuit I did at the porch of my home.

 

Oh, this Ipoh trip marked my first time boarding the Electric Train Service (ETS) from KL Sentral Railway Station.

I came to a conclusion that I didn't want to drive two hours to Ipoh and another two hours back. I just can't be bothered, really.

The train ride was incredibly smooth and gave me a pleasant experience!

It was punctual – arriving on the dot! yes

The carriages/coaches were clean, spacious, comfortable and had on-board entertainment (hurray for Mr. Bean!) to boot.

 

Instead of spending a taxing two hours squinting into the distance when I drive at night and speeding (being me, admittedly) down the highway at 140km/h, all I had to do was to get to the railway station, board the train, pop up my laptop and do my work or leisure for the entire two hours.

 

Arriving with zero stress.

 

Sounds like a much better option, no doubt! yes

Thumbs up to Malaysian public transportation! 

Architecture-wise, I was pretty impressed by how the railway station looked.

Fringing the railway tracks were high-rise horseshoe and orgee arches plastered in white. It had this British heritage look and feel to it.

 

 

You know the concept of crisp-looking whitewashed buildings of moorish designs, pairs of columned porches, symmetrical windows flanking the main, arched entrances?

 

Yeah the whole train station boasted that entire notion; and I loved it.

 

 

It felt as though I was stepping out of the Hogwarts Express train into London's King's Cross railway station.

 

Before I got too carried away in my reverie, I stopped myself from running into the wall in hopes of traversing into a secret, hidden platform to Hogwarts HAHAHA.

I'm deluded like that.

 

On our way to the Ipoh Railway Station

 

 

Jun 2, 2013 | Whilst on our way to the #Ipoh railway station to head back to #KL #city! by imthejessicat on Keek.com

 

Farewell, Ipoh Railway Station. I'll be back!

 

The sunset on the way back was breathtaking

This photo does no justice to the deep vermillion, purple and crimson hues that illuminated the evening sky

 

Theboyf and I decided to pig out and grab some Mexican cuisine for dinner upon arriving KL.

Actually, it was his idea. We were starving by the time we arrived the city.

 

Chilis Grill & Bar Restaurant, Bangsar Shopping Centre

★★★★★

 

The Chicken Club Tacos were superb! 

Wrapped inside the tacos were grilled mesquite chicken breast, ancho-chile ranch dressing, diced tomatoes, mixed cheeses and lettuce served with chopped beef bacon and black beans.yes

Eating it left me wanting more. It came so juicy, the chicken was tender and it was a perfect burst of Tex-Mex flavour with every bite.

We also tried their new starter, the Spinach Queso.

Those tostada chips were warm and crisp, to be dipped into a spinach-cheese dip and house-made salsa. Just heavenly! yes

 

So that's a wrap! Here's to hoping your weekend was just as eventful as mine. 

Have a good seven days ahead heart

I'm going to leave you with a song that's been stuck in my head for as long as ever. Sharing is caring wink

 

 

Much love,

kissJessicat

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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!smiley

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From Australia to Malaysia. Happy 2nd Anniversary, to the angmoh half of me!

April 17, 2013 by thejessicat

It has been two years since the day we decided to get together on that one, fateful Autumn evening at the bus stop in Morwell, deep in countryside Australia. 

Waiting for the bus to go home after an insane night of partying, he, unperturbed by the weather, was decked out in his coat while I was braving the cold in my biker jacket.  I said yes.

We had been seeing each other for several weeks

and kinda-not-really-but-maybe dating for another few. 

Our mates frequently asked if we were an item already, but we kept insisting we weren’t.

Honestly, guys! We were really not at that point of time when you all asked! I swear! surprise

Geez, must people really put a label on a boy and a girl if they’re going out – even casually?

Until now, I never would have foresaw that the boy who was only supposed to be my summer fling, ended up being my boyfriend for the next two years.

I left Australia to return to Malaysia after less than a year. Thinking that we would never make it, we attempted a Long Distance Relationship for a few months.

Several months later I flew to Australia to celebrate his birthday with him… and had to leave. Again. 

At the beginning of last year, he flew to Malaysia for me to continue his studies with me in Monash University. The rest, as they say, was history.

Hold on, while I shed a tear in reminiscence. crying

So how was our two years in a nutshell? Hmmm.. we tend to fight a lot, especially last year. 

But apart from that, we had a lion’s share of amazing adventures, sweet moments and great times together. yes

Somehow, I noticed we don’t fight with each other as often as we used to anymore.

Probably because we grew more tolerant to each other’s very different antics, and more patient to each other’s little quirks.  devil

 

It has been a blast on this rollercoaster ride with you, boyfie.

Among the stuff he likes to bully me with – photobombing my selfshots. Pffftt. indecision

 But hey, I don’t really mind a random angmoh pulling ugly faces behind me. 

So, what did we do on the eve of our 2nd year anniversary?

We looked through at the photos of our 1st year anniversary celebration together… AND LAUGHED SO MUCH AND PRETTY MUCH FACE-PALMED SCROLLING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ALBUM.

Ohmygoodness. Was I really that fat last year? Geez.

He says his hair looks terrible. But hey, I liked the mohawk though!

So can you guess, by looking at that tall and white stem of a tower, where we decided to have our 1st year anniversary celebration?

No prizes for guessing though!

It was none other than one of Malaysia’s iconic landmarks – the KL Tower.

The sun was merciless when we arrived at the foot of the tower in the mid-afternoon!

I know I haven’t shared the photos from last year’s anniversary on my blog yet, which makes this the perfect opportunity to post them along with the photos of this year’s anniversary.

Can’t wait to see how much we’ve changed in a year! devil You ready? Let’s go!

Circa April 2012

So here are the whole batch photos from our 1st year anniversary dinner date together at Malaysia’s highest restaurant – 282 metres above the ground.

We were sight-seeing the entire city skyline of KL during sunset in the evening and when dusk set in, we adjourned for a scrumptious buffet dinner + drinks atop the Atmosphere 360 Revolving Restaurant @ KL Tower.

We were then ushered to the elevator that took us to the Observation Deck

Hurrah! devil We have arrived the top!

We had fun pointing at our favorite malls, restaurants & clubs and also tried to guess which condominium building was ours from all the way up here. 

Look how lovely KL City looks from up here during the evening sunset!

Digressing a bit now, but I just had to say this LOL

Boyfie used to suck so badly in photography especially when he used my DSLR; which usually left me fuming whenever he took photos of me. Case in point, as follows:

An original, unedited photo I took of him.

An original, unedited photo he took of me. indecisionfrowncryingangry

Yeah, thanks.sad Looks like I’ll be heavily editing this photo if I want to fix it!

Many shots later, I gave up and decided to use this off-focused but well-composed one.

But that was last year. This year, he actually takes relatively good photos with my DSLR now! laugh

After guiding and teaching him how to use my DSLR, he practiced using it for a year and eventually got the hang of it. yes I’m so proud. Will be showing you this year’s anniversary photos in the second half of this blog post shortly below okay?

When we had enough sight-seeing, we took the

elevator up again to the revolving restaurant, Atmosphere 360

Took a seat at our table. We made sure it was reserved beforehand! wink

(Look how horrid the shot is! Sometimes I wish I could lug my tripod everywhere instead of depending on people)

My view while waiting for boyfie to return from his hunt at the buffet spread

Hmm.. looks like he’s having a good hunt as he still wasn’t back yet.

The sun had almost disappeared into the horizon completely; paving the way for nightfall to set in.

Now, it’s my turn to prowl the buffet spread and return with my bounty.wink

At the carving table, the chef sliced a piece from a giant slab of roast for me

Over at this table were fresh seafood. I loved the prawns!

The salad bar! I went bonkers over this like a famished rabbit LOL

One of my favorites from the buffet line – the Zucchini & Tomato Pasta Bake!

Something from the Asian line up.

One of my usual picks for Balinese delights – Satay wrapped around lemongrass stalks!

Despite being no cheese aficionado, I do appreciate fine cheese every now and then.

Roast baby potatoes in cherry tomatoes, capsicums and herbs.

Looks rather simple, but sometimes, the most delicious do come in the simplest form!

The dessert table. Can anyone say… CAAAYKES!! devildevil

There was a wide array of food selection offered but alas, I could only manage to shoot a few as I was really hungry by then and I didn’t wanna keep the hungryangmoh waiting LOL.

Sorry guys! frown  But this gives you all the more reason to go and check out Atmosphere 360* for yourselves, yes? wink

Dinner begins!

If you happen to be staring at my mess of a plate, don’t judge. I was hungry. HAHAHA

We were serenaded with love songs by a pianist and a vocalist

We enjoyed our buffet dinner in this spaceship-like atmosphere and starry fiber optic ceiling lights

I’m in outer space, baby! devil

Admiring the breathtaking sights of my city at night

Another view when the restaurant revolved to another side of KL city

After dinner. We spent some time chit-chatting reminiscing and taking photos of ourselves LOL

Thank you, Atmosphere 360 for making our anniversary dinner so spectacular heart

If you want to dine here too, check them out to place your reservations at Atmosphere 360’s official website

I was also surprised with a beautiful bouquet of red roses when I got home

(looks rather withered as I only took this photo a few days later lol)

So there you have it… our 1st anniversary dinner that we celebrated last year.

Exactly a year later, the 2nd milestone sneaked up behind us before we even realized what had hit us! 

The week before our anniversary, we were all like:

“So what are we going to do this 1st of this month?”

“Oh.. wait. WOW, IT’S OUR SECOND YEAR ANNIVERSARY ALREADY?!” surprise

After some discussions and dishing out restaurant names that we’d like to try, we finally agreed on this lovely, hilltop one.

Award-winning restaurant : The Hill @ Damansara Heights

Approaching the restaurant already set the mood for a romantic and enjoyable evening ahead of us. 

Looks beautiful from down here, doesn’t it?

We then climbed a flight of stairs that led us to the restaurant and obviously didn’t miss a chance to take some photos along the way up.

 

Me on the steps; by the signage of The Hill

I love this photo! 

Guess who took this perfectly composed, precisely focused and well-angled shot?

Yup, it’s the same person who, a year ago, caused me so much frustration whenever he takes photos with only half my head in the frame, focused on a plant behind me/random passer-by in the background or a shot so dark one can only see my teeth. indecision

 

All awesome photos of me in this blog post are credited to my boy, Konzy.heart

(P/S: I’m not saying I’m awesome or that I look awesome,

I’m referring to how great the shot/portraiture itself was)

Without wasting further time, we adjourned to the top!

 

Konzy and I by the balcony patio

I took a quick walk around the entire restaurant to shoot some photos of the interior, concept, layout and decor.

 

Al fresco dining area and bar

Another part of the dining area, kitchen counter and the stairway leading to the 2nd floor

View of the restaurant from the balcony patio

Knowing it was a special occasion, The Hill specially reserved this amazing lounge corner just for us

I was ecstatic! Snug, fluffy cushions to cuddle up against and comfortable sofas to lounge on.

It made us feel right at home. 

 

We got started on our drinks and some chatter heart

Hers: Watermelon + Orange juice | His: Kronenbourg 1664

Cheers! For all we’ve been through; to us, on our 2nd year mark heart

I honestly don’t recall what we were talking about all night, but hell, we never stopped talking throughout the entire night, so much so that we neglected our phones.

That’s what a real date should be, yes? wink

Suddenly, my mind traversed through time back to our first date all over again. I remember that chilly winter night on top of that small hill in Churchill Hotel. He had his medium rare steak and I had my salmon linguine.

Our appetizers arrived mid-conversation. On to the food!

Nachos with Chilli Corn Carne

We used to bake our own back in Australia, but this one upstages it by tenfold!

Grilled Portobello Mushroom with Mozarella cheese and beef bacon bits

These were delicious! But 6 pieces isn’t quite enough haha. MOAR PLEASE?

Appreciating every minute of tonight’s date

The moment we finished our appetizers, the friendly waiters served us our main meals.

Yup. All three of them arrived consecutively.

His: Sauteed Clams in White Wine Sauce & Herbs Vongole | Hers: Signature Pan Fried Salmon.

We had the Brontosaurus Beef Ribs (top) was for sharing. We ate the candle too.

I was joking. The candle remained untouched LOL

Here are some close-ups of of our main courses.

We shared these Brontosaurus Beef Ribs. Yum!

The meat was juicy and very tender. It literally fell off the bone when I prodded it with my fork too.

But I didn’t quite like the overwhelming taste of the BBQ Sauce though indecision

(P/S: Remember to pre-order this first when you make your reservation!)

My Signature Pan Fried Salmon was divine… and so was the sides of spinach! (hidden underneath the fish)

I could eat five more of this if my appetite allowed me to; just got discharged from hospital at the time.

Shot this just for you to see the cross-section of it!

It was wrapped in a tasty egg-like house batter which complemented the flavour of the salmon so well.

His Vongole with sauteed clams, white wine sauce and herbs tasted bland to me,

probably because I don’t fancy clams. But boyfie loved it. 

So now you have conflicting opinions but if you’re a fan of shellfish or molluscs of any sort, then this should be your choice.yes

Aight, I guess I better stop, lest this anniversary edition turns into a food review LOL.

More information at: The Hill’s official website.

Looks like you’ll never take the food blogger side away from this blogger…

But tonight is all about us.

Don’t get sick of our pictures just yet. Let us revel in our selfshots today, yes?

After all, what’s not to celebrate? laugh

Admittedly, every celebration is never complete without dessert. THIS, is something I absolutely cannot deny. The health-freak in me won’t even try.

I’m a sweet tooth by nature. Resisting a well-made, fine cake/pastry/chocolate has proven to be quite a challenge for me; which is why we sweetened our evening with this heaven-sent brownie right here.

Chocolate Brownies with chocolate fudge and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream

I can hear the bells of delight ringing from the depths of my very satiated tummy already.

The simplest things in life (and sometimes the most sinful!) makes me happy.

Look at the mess this yellow glutton has made!

I let the vanilla ice cream melt before I poured it all over the chocolate brownie + fudge

I don’t usually behave so incorrigibly in public, but heck, this is OUR anniversary dinner with only the two of us present. And we’ve seen the worst of each other.

What’s a grubby plate going to do? LOL cheeky

Absolutely nothing. Yup, thought so!

Happy 2nd Anniversary again, Konzy.

Despite your temper and ill-mannered nature (which seemed to have both vanished this year finally!!), thank you for loving me unconditionally, and above all, thank you for being an amazing boyfriend. heart

ILY kiss

Feel free to check out my other gourmet escapades here and, here.

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A weekend getaway at The Philea Resort & Spa, Melaka! I am a Papulex Truthseeker (Part 4): Retreat Challenge

February 1, 2013 by thejessicat

 

 

 

All my bags were packed and I'm ready to go. I was already anticipating this trip for a month! 

To where, you ask? Thanks to Papulex Asia, I was off for a weekend retreat back to nature and tranquility in the lush outbacks of Malacca.

 

Waking up early on a Saturday morning for this roadtrip

 

After two hours on the road, we arrived our destination – The Philea Resort & Spa, Melaka – at noon.

It was a enormous and superbly furnished eco-resort which boasted authentic pine-log architecture and rustic interior design.

 

Here are some photos I shot of The Philea's interor :

 

Lobby/waiting area/drinks area

 

Bar/Lounge Area

 

Outdoor concourse

 

There was a water feature fringing the resort with the MOST amount of Koi fish I've ever seen

 

These fishes respond to vibration and sound very attentively, as it was their cue to feeding time.

We teased the fishes and tapped the glass walls at different spots so as to confuse them teehee!

 

Me standing by the pond. You can hardly see the Koi but the school of fishes came in massive numbers.

 

Jessicat wears : Leopard print laced-back tank by TopShop | Denim shorts by Forever 21 |

Cap in nude by Hard Rock Cafe | Accessories from a bazaar in Bangkok |

Tote Bag from a bazaar in Singapore | High Top Sneakers in white by Converse

 

 

It was time to begin our day in Malacca with an ice-breaking and introductory session.

A light brunch was provided before Papulex Asia started the ball rolling.

 

So happy there was a wide array of Lipton tea!

I'm such a tea fag I almost wanted to take all the sachets to drink later 

 

A picture with the girls, Shazwani and Ivy during the ice-breaking session

 

After the introductory session, we were all required to play a game which involved teamwork.

That ever-popular form the longest line with everything and everything you have on you.

 

My team mate QuaChee and I forming our line

 

My other team mate Hafiz and I continuing our line!

 

Being one to be competitive, I removed all my bangles, rings, earrings, parts of my clothes and more LOL

Here are some of the items from our team and the other team

 

Lining them all up!
 

When it was all over and done with – well almost, as nobody wanted to strip their clothing off haha! – the longest line was measured and our team won!! Hurrah! 

We did well; I'm so proud. The three of us hit it off well in pushing for the longest line. Think EVERYTHING : cellphones, belts, socks, and yes, even shoelaces haha!

 

With my team mates QuaChee and Hafiz posing by our line of items

 

 

Fun times had to come to an end. It was now time for the more serious part of this session.

The sharing session, the experience, the history and our past with regards to this campaign and more.

 

My essentials for the mini seminar provided by The Philea 

 

Me sharing a little bit more about myself, my point of view and the battles I fought against acne

 

All of us Papulex Truthseekers – Team Malaysia!

 

Once that was over, it was already mid afternoon and our tummies were growling.

Lunchtime was at one of the restaurants in the hotel, with a continental concept – Cravo Cravo

 

Hafiz and I goofing around while walking over to lunch

 

Spotted this giant wooden throne with a ship steering helm at the entrance of Cravo Cravo!

Couldn't resist a photo with it.

 

The continental and Asian fare in Cravo Cravo left me spoilt for choice.

It was amazing how endless the selection can get. Here are some of the dishes from the buffet :

 

Bite-sized goodness

 

Carved roast beef

 

Desserts

 

Here are some of the stuff I took for myself

 

I didn't bother taking photos of the main meals as I was already hungry and couldn't wait to dig in

 

Lunchtime at the long table saw us catching up with each other and talking about everything under the sun.

Before we knew it, it was time to check into our rooms.

 

Got our room key-card and guest booklet!

 

The Philea sent us a chauffeur to take us to our rooms which was located at another zone of the resort.

We occupied two buggies to be driven off further into nature!

 

Bye! We were about to adjourn!

 

As the buggy drove deeper and deeper into what felt like a secluded bay of pristine forest giants with waterfalls cascading along stone walls and gigantic, lush greeneries engulfing me, I knew this weekend would be the most serene and tranquil one I've had so far this year.

Here are some photos of the short journey to my room:


Along the cobblestone walkway towards the chalets

 

Beautiful pine-log cabins fringed the gravel path

 

Roaring waterfalls at the bridge and swimming area

 

Steps leading towards the bridge

 

An aerial view of the swimming area (adult and children)

 

Weather-worn, wooden fence posts covered by damp moss from the morning drizzle

 

Approaching my cabin shortly!

 

What I'd typically do the moment I arrived

Wow looks like they know me pretty well, putting a giant convex mirror in front of my cabin

 

Haha kidding! It's obviously a security measure to allow buggies to see each other lest they collide at one of the many bends in this nature resort. 

Quite coincidentally, my cabin was right in front of the gym and the spa. Can they read my mind or what?

 

My home in the woods for the weekend!

 

I climbed the wooden staircase; they didn't creak as I had expected it to, and no gnomes were in sight.

Okay, I think I get taken away by fairy tales sometimes.

 

The moment I stepped into my cabin, my jaw hung with astoundment and I knew for a fact that my eyes were gleaming in delight. Was this really where I was going to be put up for the next two days? 

Here, be amazed for yourself!

 

My king-sized bed!

 

My desk!

 

My bathroom! (It had a  giant bath too, so you can be sure that I had a hot bubble-bath thereafter)

 

I jumped on the bed, stretched like a yawning cat on my comfy bed and watched some telly

 

What am I doing? I don't even watch telly. At all.

Perhaps its the holiday mindset that's doing this to me. Haha!

 

We were required to gather at the outdoor concourse for a treasure hunt game.

 

Being briefed on the rules before we set-off on our hunt

 

Here's my task!

 

I was brimming with energy and adrenalin caught me on a choke-hold the moment I read it.

Always up for a good game, I had one goal in mind – to win this challenge! 

 

The fastest, most alert and smartest player will win. I hope it'll be me.

(Okay, I didn't know this is how I look when I run. So unglam LOL)

 

My closest rival was QuaChee.

We always found the next clues at the same time and as a fellow fitness buff, he was pretty darn quick too

 

We raced to the finish line and sprinted all the way! In the end, he won the challenge.

Great job! Good game, mate 

 

Perspiring heavily and sapped off our energy levels,

I reckon we were looking like zombie grub by the end of the afternoon

 

Game over. That was a good exercise. It gave me exactly the rush I needed.

I think I pretty much crashed on the bed by the time I trudged all the way back to my cabin.

 

But I recharged quickly and dressed down for an evening dip at the giant swimming pool!

 

It's time to work the cardio in the swimming pool today!

 

The swimming pool was mine and mine to dominate!

 

Waddling in the pool like a duck, swimming like a puppy and

lying on my back floating allowing the world to pass me by

 

Hey, it isn't everyday I just take a weekend away from the busy city to do absolutely nothing but relax.

The team behind Papulex Asia are amazing. Knowing that stress, tension and dirty/dusty city environment does contribute to acne and pimples, this weekend getaway to be one with nature was perfectly what we needed.

 

QuaChee and I in the pool

 

Walked back to my cabin after that fulfilling swim and had a long, hot bubble-bath.

I think I fell asleep at some point. Aromatherapy and relaxation does that to me.

 

We set off for dinner at another one of The Philea's restaurants – Bayu Cabana by the scenic river front and pool side. We had a warm and scrumptious steamboat meal altogether!

 

All of us!

 

The desserts stole my heart 

 

All of us enjoyed the dinner which seemed to keep coming and coming!

The chef kept refilling our steamboat pot and even helped me break open my crab. Yeah, I fail on all levels peeling crabs and prawns. How sad, I know. But he was nice enough to offer!

 

What's a weekend without good music and a few drinks? I had my favourite

White Russian at Chiillout Bar with some of the rest who was up for sprucing up their Saturday night

 

I headed back to my cabin a little after midnight.

Spent some me-time writing a few blog posts and surfing all my social media channels before I said goodnight to my fluffy pillows and crisp white sheets. I had the bed all to myself!

 

Had a good sleep, I must say, as I woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

For once, it felt different to wake up to the sweet melody of the birds in the morning, chirping of crickets and opening your windows to the smell of fresh, moist dew instead of being rudely awaken by cars blaring their honks or clanging from a nearby construction site.

 

Breakfast at another one of their restaurants – Nusantara!
 

Their fare presented an impressive choice of both international and Asian cuisines.

There were so much to choose from and I had breakfast like a King!

 

My breakfast! I couldn't finish it all :/

 

We gathered at the al-fresco lounge and waited for the session with Dr. Hew Yin Keat, a professional skin specialist.

He's also the owner and Medical Director of M.A.C – Malaysian Aesthetic Clinic.

 

His clinic in Bangsar Shopping Center offers medical aesthetic procedures, corrective skincare and rejuvenation treatments without surgery, fusing science and aesthetics together!  So you know where to go now, aight? 

That's M.A.C (Malaysian Aesthetic Clinic) for you. Call for appointments : 03-20936136

 

The Question & Answer session was so enlightening!

Dr. Hew was patient, informative, explained so well in layman's terms and had a great sense of humour too

 

It went on with a rather intense discussion and sharing-learning session from Dr. Hew

 

Apart from the basic causes of acne, he also imparted us the knowledge of different types of acne, ways to prevent it and how to treat the infection if it spreads out of control.

 

Dr. Hew also showed us samples of procedures and their before & after results

 

Why we look so solemn and serious in the photo, is beyond me. Most likely he's showing us one of the most horrible skin conditions he has treated before and our minds were like "OH MY GOSH THAT'S SO DREADFUL".

After the sharing session, they held a quiz for us to test how much we know and have learnt about this entire campaign so far. Then it was time to check out and leave The Philea. I don't wanna go! I'll be fine living here forever LOL

 

We all headed to Malacca town to do a little bit of shopping and food hunt


I had a wonderful time being a Papulex Truthseeker. It was one heck of a ride!

View my previous blog posts here :

——> Part One

——> Part Two

——> Part Three

…and you're reading Part Four now! 

 

All of us! Team Malaysia consisting of us bloggers and the Papulex Asia representatives

 

From knowing and understanding the history of my skin condition, the true root causes of acne, spreading the truth and busting myths about acne, propagating confidence to other acne-ridden people, and introducing Papulex to our readers, of newfound friendship, good food and a fun weekend getaway, I would do this all over again, if I could.

Thank you, Papulex Asia! 

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Hi! Welcome to TheJessicat.com - an urban lifestyle blog established since 2005, written from the perspective of a Malaysian blogger. Discover the latest and all that the city has to offer! Do bear with her occasional rants & musings though. Happy reading! ❤

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