What a great start to 2015!

I’ve got so many things to share, so many new projects signed & sealed too. Promise to share them when the time comes, alright?

One of the little things that made my month a little brighter –

I was interviewed again, this time for a publication that some of you may or may not have heard of – Fah Thai Your Passport to the New Asia magazine.

For the frequent travellers, you might have perused the glossy pages of this magazine whilst jet-setting across the globe via Bangkok Airways. 

Bangkok Airways

Yup! It is none other than Bangkok Airways’ in-flight magazine. 

Much like Going Places to our Malaysia Airlines or Hemispheres to United Airways.

I was approached by the editorial team to give my take on some of the hottest spots that Kuala Lumpur’s nightlife has to offer; or more so, on what I am more inclined to do on my night out in the city. My piece is contrasted with JinnyBoy of Hitz.FM who is an early bird! What an interesting comparison…

Here it is! I’ve selected a few pages here for your viewing. 🙂

You can always download the full magazine too! 

They have an online version (e-magazine) of it: here

Here’s an excerpt I found on their About page:

Fah Thai is a bi-monthly magazine that appeals to the mostly European passengers of Bangkok Airways, Asia’s only ’boutique airline’ and Thailand’s second biggest carrier. Produced in both English and Thai, the magazine is a high end, glossy publication that focuses mostly on travel, culture and lifestyle. Destinations covered include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui (exclusive to Bangkok Airways), Krabi, Pattaya, Phuket, Sukhothai (exclusive to Bangkok Airways!), Trat (exclusive to Bangkok Airways!), Guilin, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Jinghong, Luang Prabang, Maldives, Phnom Penh, Shenzhen, Siem Reap, Singapore, Xi’an, Yangon and Zhenzhou.

For two years running passengers from around the world voted Bangkok Airways the Skytrax “Best Regional Airline – Asia”. With over 500,000 readers per issue, Fah Thai provides a unique environment to reach a unique, affluent and captive audience.

Thanks for the little feature, FahThai! Am honoured to have graced your pages.

One last thing though – do you really reckon I am fierce? I’m as benevolent as can be… wouldn’t even hurt a fly 😛 Promise!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!

ANNOUNCEMENT

I now have a new Facebook page for this blog! Do show some love and support at – 

www.Facebook.com/thejessicat.com 

After running this blog for 9 years, you must be wondering why there never was a Facebook page for my blog all this while!

Haha. Well, there is actually a little background story to it. 

When this blog started to gain traction back in 2007, that was coincidentally when Facebook began to roll out their latest product, Facebook Fan Pages. The blogger community was then quick to jump onto the bandwagon and started creating ‘fan pages’ for themselves. 

For some reason, I didn’t quite agree to this. 

And I still don’t. 

Fan pages? Really? I have never fancied the idea of self-proclamation of one’s non-existent celebrity status and I especially despise the word ‘famous blogger’ and ‘celebrity blogger’.

Do you really reckon you’re that ‘famous’ and worthy of creating a ‘fan page’ for yourself? 

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYU1a0lTTTw” width=”600″ height=”300″ full=”no” ]

This video might interest you. No, really. You’ve GOTTA watch it! It’s funny

Admittedly, maybe I might have taken this ‘fan page’ word a tad too literally and seriously.  But still, I believe I am entitled to my own opinion, especially if I have never voiced my thoughts out nor offend anyone. 

Anyway, despite disagreeing with ‘fan pages’, I have always given my support and LIKEs to fellow blogger friends’ pages. So don’t chide me! 😛

As time passed, Facebook somehow rebranded their ‘Fan Pages’ to ‘Facebook Pages’.

Only then I began to embrace and accept this. But still never created one because I still felt it was such a ‘perasan’ thing to do!  (For my non-Malaysian readers, it basically translates to being self-absorbed or being too full of yourself)

Anyway, fast-forward to 2012, I saw myself landing in the social media industry after being in the journalism & publication industry for a good number of years.

Being in this field and handling many major social media accounts for various brands made me see the importance of having a Facebook Page especially if you are your own brand/personality.

Another couple of years passed, with many clients and blog readers genuinely wondering and casually questioning me why there isn’t a public page to represent this blog.  

Good question.

I don’t know the answer either. Because I just never created one? 

And then it gradually dawned upon me that it was a necessity.

Facebook pages allowed me to tailor my content better on social media. I also wasn’t able to approve all friend requests, especially people I haven’t met or didn’t know personally/too well.

Facebook pages also provided me the audience demographics, analytics and insights which I needed to further improve to continue becoming a better blogger!

So there you go, after so much convincing from my fellow blogger mates around the world, my sponsors & clients, my blog managers, and even you dearest readers, I decided to give myself a very different birthday present this year.

Thus TheJessicat’s official Facebook page was born three days ago! 

Do show some love on my new page, pretty please? Hehe. 

Will no longer be posting on my personal account anymore. Blog features, latest updates & pictures will all be moved from now onwards, so your likes on my new page would make me a very happy girl!

Also thinking of throwing a big birthday bash on this blog’s 10th Anniversary next year! I’m excited to make this happen. 

It’s been a long ride. Thank you for your all your support all this while, beautiful people!

Lots of love.

Happy Lunar New Year everyone!

Here's to wishing all my readers, followers, friends, family, media associates, acquaintances and practically everyone reading this Gong Xi Fa Cai!

May this auspicious year see you prosper with abundant health, wealth, wisdom, strength, love & luck! 

This cycle, as you should know by now, is the year of the snake. 

It's my horoscope year – yup I'm born in the year of the snake. So it's my time to shine! *crosses fingers*

For starters, Chinese New Year so far has been great for my family and I.

So much eating ridiculous amounts of sumptuous homecooked food, visiting relatives and friends, gambling, reunion dinners, gift exchanging, collecting ang paos, eating all the Mandarin Oranges and CNY cookies, playing with firecrackers, enthusing over fireworks, tossing Yee Sang, watching Lion Dance troupes, dressing up in my new red CNY clothes and so much more the list goes on and on!

Chinese New Year Day 1

Chinese New Year Day 2

Chinese New Year Day 3

Will blog a full blog post on my Chinese New Year celebrations like I do every year, but for now, I've gotta run.

Heading home to Penang in a few hours from Ipoh and finally back to KL this weekend.

Also, thank you for supporting this blog and I all these years. 

Just a little announcement: TheJessicat.com will be having a new look/facelift soon!

It's been 3 years since the last makeover, so it's about time, ey?

Enjoy the rest of your holidays!

Love, Jessicat

Let's celebrate the legacy of Arthur once again… all month long!

GUINNESS Arthur's Day 2012,  themed 'A Celebration Made of More', makes it comeback for Guinness fans and music lovers nationwide.

I was glad to be part of it too! 

Inspired by Arthur Guinness' bold legacies, this year's series of month-long Guinness parties pays tribute to the founder of Guinness, a man who dared to make bold choices in his time.

What exactly did he do, you wonder? 

Well, while other brewers boiled their barley back in the day, Arthur Guinness made the bold decision to roast his, creating a brew with more flavour, more taste and more look, which we now fondly know as the iconic black brew – Guinness.

Uh-huh! That's the one right there 

I was invited to usher in the Arthur's Day series of month-long parties at the official launch party.

Hey, ho… let's go! 

Made my way to the party!

It was held at Studio Lounge @ Tropicana City Mall

Yup, there you have it… the remarkable man made of more!

Hello there, Arthur Guinness 

((STYLESHOT OF THE DAY))

Jessicat wears : Tribal motif dress by Miss Selfridge | Hippie plait headband by Diva |

Brass Guitar Pick necklace by Hard Rock | Audrey Hepburn tote bag from a bazaar in Singapore | 

Cream diamante wedges by Vincci + |

MC Serena C hyping up the party and giving us a warm welcome!

The party saw a delightful spread of a buffet dinner for all its guests. 

I helped myself to their rendang chicken, satay, carved beef and so much more 

Enjoying dinner with some friends!

The many faces of Jessicat X Guinness 

3..2..1….

And the party kicks off with a bang!

Quite literally, as confetti exploded everywhere!

The lounge was filled with shimmery streaks and glitter 

Local pop-rock band, Underheadlights, were amongst the band performing for us

A few local bands & artists vying for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity happening at the end of the month!

They are Underheadlights, Car Crash Hearts, Once Upon a Time There Was a Sausage Named Bob, Rhythm Nation, SonaOne and Busco.

Yup, they will be battling it out for a chance to be the opening act for Creed at the Arthur's Day concert in Indonesia!

All the best! May the best band win 

Need another pint for good luck? 

No party is complete without its photographic evidence, yes?

Well… here they are! 

Soon after, theboyfie and I decided to check out the much-talked about Arthur's Lounge.

It looks like a huge container/caravan thingy from a  distance. 

Let's enter and find out….

Guinness draught stations were all lined up for guests to learn how to make their own pints!

One of the Guinness boys taught me how

I've always wondered how they made a pint so smooth, frothy and foamy! 

Finally, my question was answered as I was taught how to make my own pint of Guinness.

Success! My very own frothy Guinness and I 

Theboyfie had a hands-on experience too!

Both our perfectly made pints of Guinness!

Thanks Guinness, for imparting the art of making one of your draughts

Here's to a successful series of celebrations throughout the whole September.

To Arthur! 

Speaking of which, my Sunday afternoon (Malaysia Day) was spent at Sid's Pub @ TTDI.

Headed there to attend one of the series of Arthur's Day month-long parties! 

((STYLESHOT OF THE DAY))

Jessicat wears : Black Camisole by GUESS | Cream High-Waisted Shorts by PDI |

Accessories by Hard Rock | Hermes inspired skinny belt |

Raspberry Nova Tote Bag by Burberry | Black Strappy Wedges by Vincci

There was so much going on, Guinness revellers buzzing all over the pub vicinity 

Local bands served as our entertainment for the afternoon as well.

Just as I was entering Sid's Pub

Warm & cosy pub setting. Perfect for an afternoon of mingling over deep dark Guinness 

Love their bar! I bet with the amount of alcohol stash they have, it could feed all alcoholics for a year!

The bartenders were such a friendly bunch 

Pretty Guinness usherettes were present too

Decided to have lunch there too soon after. 

We had an assortment of Chicken, Tuna & Cheese double-stacked sandwiches, Chicken & Pork Hotdogs

They were pretty damn good!

Thanks for the photo, Wilson! 

Really? Allow me to have another sip then 

Good food & good company!

Serena & I enjoying our pints! 

The more the merrier!

A perfect frothy pint of your favorite black brew for a perfect sunny afternoon 

Wanna have just as much fun as I did? Don't miss the next ones then 

There are 5 more Arthur's Day music parties being held :

Dirty Nelly's @ KL Live : 21st September 2012

Backyard Pub @ Sri Hartamas : 27th September 2012

Beer Factory @ Sunway Giza : 28th September 2012

SOULed OUT @ Sri Hartamas : 28th September 2012

Laundry @ The Curve : 28th September 2012

You can always make your way down to any of those outlets to enjoy pints of Guinness at special discounts all throughout this month! 

Thank you Guinness for a fun Sunday afternoon!

Perhaps it was love after all *winks* 

Happy Sunday lovelies!

My past seven days were likened to a happy breeze kicking up colourful leaves on an Autumn evening

I was back in form. Cheerful &  brimming with smiles, compared to last week's dreadful crawl of a week

Out and about on a sunny afternoon!

Oh and to my fellow Malaysian people, HAPPY MALAYSIA DAY!

Yup, for you non-Malaysian readers, today is Malaysia's birthday and we are 49 years old. 

———-TRIVIA ———

Malaysia Day is NOT to be confused with our National/Independence Day,

which was celebrated some two weeks ago on the 31st August.

Today, 49 years ago, the formation of four independent nations : 

Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak & Singapore gave rise to a new nation….

and that new nation was Malaysia.

16th September 1963 was the very day we became a country of our own! 

HAPPY 49TH BIRTHDAY TO MY BELOVED COUNTRY MALAYSIA 

——————————–

Anyway, what made my week this time round?

We'll see :

Headed to The Pool KL in Ampang for a food review of their Japanese restaurant, Kyoto Lab

Being a Japanese food enthusiast, the excellent quality, taste & choice of meals exceeded my expectations!

Full blogpost coming soon!

Slowly regained my appetite again and indulged in some comfort food

Traditional American Pancake Stack by Paddington's House of Pancakes @ The Curve

For some reason, those pancakes that I had above tasted like cardboard & had a rubbery texture. 

What happened to the soft, fluffy, melt-in-your mouth pancakes I always used to have?  This makes the avid pancake-fan in me, sad 

Had some retail therapy to make me happy.

Hey, who doesn't love pretty things in pretty boxes? 

Char Tang Hoon in SS2 Pasar Malam (night market)

Only RM3.50 and was superb! 

Dinnertimes with the magician boys Andrew & JB 

We hung out at Delicious @ Mid Valley Megamall and I'd fully recommend the…..

Pumpkin Soup with chopped almonds! 

It's a new item in the menu. It was flavourful, not too creamy & just the right texture 

Party time at NSFW presents : 12th Planet all the way from Los Angeles, USA!

I jumped right onto the podium (and made bestie Pam join me up there!) and I shooked 12th Planet's hand! 

Thanks for the photo Pam xx

The heavy dubstep-DnB artist shot our faces to full colour once he took control of the party

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HOLr0jqnCI&feature=player_detailpage

Song of the week! I love Zedd, 'nuff said 

This was the song that 12th Planet boomed and catapulted me to rave on the podium!

Just a lil SELCA again

Headed out for dinner with my suede grey fedora & a buttoned American flag blouse!

Made some dinner. Inspired by popular Arabic dish, Shakshouka

Baked eggs, tomatoes, onions, black pepper and cumin!

Got a little SELCA crazy whilst stuck in a jam. How narcissistic, I know 

Found something extremely relevant whilst I was caught on the LDP traffic jam

Why that highway is congested even at 3PM is beyond me. But that's something to think about, no? 

Spent my entire Saturday with theboyfie in Borders-Starbucks, The Curve.

He was reading the new book he bought, The Great Mortality by John Kelly,

while I was working away on some of my blogging & photo editing. 

Attended another one of the Arthur's Day celebrations in Sid's Pub @ TTDI today

Gee, I love the month-long celebrations! So much merriment 

To Arthur! 

Dinner at TGI Friday's @ Sunway Pyramid! 

For the non-health conscious, I'd recommend the Deep Fried Mac & Cheese balls 

Should you prefer a healthier meal, I'd recommend the Stuffed Mushrooms with ground beef!

It's served with bruschetta toppings and pretty damn delicious too 

Dennis & I  Just came back from Youth Jam, held in Sunway Pyramid!

I was the judge for the blogging competition by Youth Jam-SONY's National Blogger Festival

So happy to be able to lend my support to the movement and youth empowerment 

And that wraps up my seven days this time round.

It was a pretty average week, with some good news (still a secret at the moment!) to share very soon!

Just a little secret (well, not so secret anymore!) I'm pursuing magic & aim to learn a new language.

A while back, I promised a certain French magician that when I go to Paris one day, I'm going to impress him with my magic performance and a particular mentalism/illusion trick. And I will. 

That being said, have an awesome seven days ahead dearies.

And to my Malaysian readers, enjoy tomorrow's public holiday thanks to Malaysia Day! 

Much love,

Jessicat 

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

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!