Customized Sambal Prawn

Sambal prawn paste and sambal belacan paste is something that is readily available in Shanghai. Something which I can easily purchase from Parkson. But here in Beijing, it's not that foreign friendly. Maybe not many Malaysians over here. Parkson Beijing did not sell these stuffs.

In a desperate attempt to cook sambal prawns, I bought whatever southeast asian paste that I could find in the foreigner section. I bought the Singapore fried meehoon paste instead.


I was working from home today and decided to try out the new paste. I added some cili padi to the taste while stir frying the onions with the paste before adding in the prawns.

It turns out pretty well. The taste is good... not bad at all.


Seems like I can workaround my environment and customized my sambal prawn. I will be in Shanghai in November and I will make sure I stock up some Malaysia cooking paste.

Another Weekend in Beijing

This is my 5th weekend in Beijing. Time flies. I met up with Yu-Hsien and William on Saturday for Japanese barbecue at Lucky Street. It was supposed to be Japanese barbecue but I think it's really just Korean BBQ.

Went to stroll around Solana after lunch and took a few pictures. Solana is a nice shopping place and rather happening with some stalls settings in the open air area. But this is definitely not a place to go during winter.


The lake beside Chaoyang Park with some very nice restaurants and cafe. Would love to have brunch at one of these places.


Me and Yu-Hsien.


I had dim sum on Sunday with Su-En, her hubby and her 2 kids at Crystal Jade. Forgot to snap pictures. Her kids are adorable. Will take some pictures and post it next time.

The Rehearsal

Ok, yesterday I went down to kepoh a bit on the rehearsal. Since I was home and I could see many people out there kepoh-ing as well, it was quite happening.

The rehearsal here was mainly for the tankers. Nothing much to see. Many people got bored and went loitering around, chatting with each other. Hubby met a few of his colleagues too.





I decided to walk around and saw many people doing funny stuffs.
There is a woman playing with 2 small dogs; a poodle and a yorkshire terrier. I really think she is torturing the poodle by carrying it up and down like a toy.


Then there is this man holding his son and trying to cross the fountain. I was hoping for them to fall into the water, but they did not.


Father and son playing basketball. The ball nearly hit me.


And the one I found most amusing... this woman was carrying her dog coz she wants to show him the tankers. So many people were taking her photo and laughing at her actions, including me.


It was a cool, breezy day. Everyone was having fun coz those living around affected area are off from work early. It was an early weekend for all. :)

Through my Windows

Many friends asked me why I seldom blog in Beijing. Actually, there's nothing really interesting to blog about and my work has also keep me occupied most of the time. I live just opposite my office, and I cook after work everyday. Thats why... have been busy with these routines.

Since today I am working from home because of the Beijing road closure, I took some pictures out of my apartment window. I live on the 5th floor, so it is quite low and couldn't see much.

Here's one. The building in the middle is actually JW Mariott. Ritz Carlton is just beside JW.


This is the other side overlooking to the main road. The Dawang Rd which was closed today for the national day rehearsal.



I zoomed in and captured this. Seems like they are preparing for the rehearsal and many bystanders are there for a first hand show. Maybe I will walk out to have a look too.

Wahlau!! Me need to go home now!

Wah big news... all roads going to close now. My office area is at CBD and I live in CBD! To be specific, the Dawang Lu which is directly affected. Which means, I can't go out today between 1pm to 7.30pm. Crazy!!

Read this STOP PRESS!

I wonder what will happen if people just walk around the streets and open their windows? Will they get shot? Wow... seems like communism in action.

China National Day

For those living in China, we will soon have a long holiday from Oct 1-8 for the Chinese National Day celebration. This year will be extra special, as both Moon Cake Festival and National Day falls on the same week. Moreover, it is China's 60th anniversary celebration and they are really making it big!

I took this picture from my office. There is an empty space there and I can see the tankers and soldiers there rehearsing. There are road closure every week for the practice. Chiu! I can't even go to Hyatt for my favourite lunch buffet over weekends because no taxi drivers are willing to go there. They are afraid to be stuck there due to the traffic because of this.


Yesterday, I receive this email from my office admin:

"From Beijing Capital International Airport :
All morning domestic flights to and from Beijing, China will be canceled on 1 October 2009, from around 9:00am to 12:50pm, mid-day, local time, because of security concerns for the National Day parade. International flights from/to Beijing will be postponed. Flights take off time will be resumed from 12:50pm onwards.

The order was issued to increase safety for the 60th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China.

Police have already set up checkpoints and are inspecting all vehicles entering Beijing at nearly 200 major road intersections. "

Wuah... lucky me that I have not booked any air tickets... else really vomit blood!

Super Low Humidity

Beijing, famously known for its low humidity air quality. It has been one month since I officially moved to Beijing and here are some of my experiences on the city’s low humidity.

Washed my jeans and left it indoor. Jeans dried after couple of hours. OMGosh!!

The air is super dry. So dry that it’s sucking away every single drop of moisture out of my skin. My skin became koyak in Beijing. I have to change my sunscreen product. I was previously using Sofina Beaute UV Cut Emulsion SPF24PA+++ and I loved it until I moved to Beijing. This product is really not suitable to be used any longer.

I changed to Shiseido Super Smooth Sun Protection Cream SPF38PA+++. Though it's good, Im still not truly satisfied yet. Every girl out there would know the pains and process of getting the right sunscreen for your face.

I even bought the super expensive Cosme Decorte Moisture Liposome, costing a whopping >USD100 for a 40ml bottle. I must say this is a star product. It helps tremendously! Love this product and it's the best serum I've used in my life in terms of moisturizing power.

I am also using My Beauty Diary face mask everyday. Thank God this brand is so affordable here in China that I can use it on a daily basis.

Can’t say that I’m totally satisfied with my Shiseido sunscreen now as its too early to tell if it’s working for me. But I’m sad that I had to leave my Sofina Beaute sunscreen. Perhaps I will use that in summer when it’s humid in Beijing.

Best Bakuteh in China

Yesterday, I went to try out a new bakuteh restaurant in Beijing, claiming to be authentic Malaysian Bakuteh.

Ok... I must say... it's the best bakuteh I've had in China. Of course... it comes second after my own bakuteh which is no doubt the BEST!! Muahahah! No other bakuteh in Shanghai restaurant could match this.


Even the presentation is similar to those that we find in Malaysia. The taste could not match those good ones back home, but it's good enough for people living abroad who wants good bakuteh. I will say that it's even better than certain bakuteh we find in Malaysia.



We ordered a lot and all habis makan. This was the second bakuteh I had in Beijing, the first one was own cook bakuteh last weekend, and that was still the best! Heheh.

Now I know where to go for a good bakuteh in Beijing. Yay!

First Weekend Out in Beijing

Over the weekend, me and Hubby went to explore several places in Beijing near our home area. First, we went to a place called 'shi shui jie'. A one-stop shop for whatever you can get in Shanghai's Xiangyang market, SH Ke Ji Guan, Shanghai Pearl Market, etc. all housed under one roof. Very convenient and it's near my house.

We also went to some pet market coz Hubby wanted to get a dog. But we didn't get one coz I think it's too much trouble taking care of an animal when both of us are working.

I was trying to look for some Malaysian food and found a Singapore restaurant called Lau Pa Sak. The same Lau Pa Sak in SG selling hawker food.



I must say the sambal fish cakes are pretty good. Very tasty.


The restaurant was near Sanlitun bar street so we went for a stroll along that road after dinner. Not bad... this place has quite a number of bars along it and some pretty good shopping malls.


In the middle of the shopping mall area, they have this fountain thingy... which reminds me of Seoul. It's like an open air water fountain for kids to play around and get themselves wet... :)


Nice Apple store logo illuminating the area... very artistic.


Sanlitun Village... not a bad place to visit at night for those who visit Beijing.

New Place, New Beginning

Finally, I have relocated to Beijing, my new home. I cried the day I left Shanghai, knowing that I will miss all my friends, colleagues and the city itself. Not sure whats ahead in life for me in Beijing. My stuffs have all arrived, some still unpacked. I am still looking for an 'ayi' to do the cleaning and washing.

The apartment that I am living is so huge compared to the one in Shanghai. I don't really like huge places... seems empty and depressing. The surrounding is pretty good though, with shopping malls and restaurants around.

I went to office in jeans everyday this week. I have been so busy with housing stuffs and what makes it worst is that I have a new project on hand, working with US folks. I am required to work at night for conference call and I don't even have time to iron my clothes.

Just taking a break at work and thought of updating my blog. Have not been updating or reading blogs or even Malaysia news lately. Anyway, I have given up on reading homeland news.