5D4N Itinerary of Cairn's Heritage and Nature Exploration

Welcome to Cairns, the adventure capital of Australia and home to not one but two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. If you’re looking for an off the beaten part adventure in Queensland, think no further than Cairns and let’s get right down to planning with this 5 days nature loving itinerary.

Fukuoka, Kyushu [Day 5 Part 3] - Half Day in Itoshima

Phew, I am finally on part 3 of day 5.

To recap, I spent my morning exploring some parts of Nagasaki and then drove to Takeo, Saga to visit the Teamlab Borderless exhibition in Mifuneyama Hotel and the gardens. Our final stop before Fukuoka was Itoshima, a lazy seaside town an hour's drive away. The journey to get there from Takeo had us heading off the main highway and into the countryside, alongside clean rivers, mountain passes and some of the steepest and loopiest overhead roads ever to be installed into the side of a mountain. Definitely one of the most memorable drives of that trip - the other being the near zero visibility driving down Mount Aso.

[Review] Philips 3100 series Automatic Espresso Machine

Owning an actual coffee machine has been a lifelong dream of mine. I even googled up barista courses to justify owning one at home but when I found out much a machine cost, it was back to cafe hopping. Then the Philips 3100 series Automatic Espresso Machine entered my life and it was life-changing.

Okay, I know this is starting to sound like a love letter but you have to understand that I am absolutely love coffee. I like walking into cafes where the first thing I smell is their coffee beans. I like smelling coffee beans samples and believe it or not, I can have coffee at night and still be able to sleep. Sometimes my dependence on coffee for me operate as a functioning human being went as much as three cups daily. I am trying to cut down now by pacing my drink throughout the day.

Decadent Orange Hot Chocolate with Fernleaf UHT Milk

I just love the last three months of the year. It's like the light at the end of the tunnel with Christmas and New Years to look forward to. And what drink goes better with the autumn-winter festive feel than a hot cup of orange chocolate. And I am not talking about the powdered version. I mean the real deal with dark chocolate, actual orange rinds and creamy milk filled with natural goodness all the way from New Zealand thanks to Fernleaf milk. Orange and chocolate goes so well hand in hand and this decadent drink doesn't take much too make.

How to make Ichiran Ramen Instant Noodles

Let me start off by saying - I am not a fan of instant noodles. I used to be, thanks to my father's bad influence and I do occasionally whip up a quick meal of it maybe once a year. I get that it's very convenient to have but for me, it all comes down to taste. There is usually just something nauseating and unhealthy about eating precooked and dried noodles that can last until the end of time.

While I am not a fan of instant noodles, I am a fan of ramen and my favourite ramen when in Japan is...Ichiran Ramen. If you have followed me on my Instagram and on this blog, you would know that Ichiran is a must visit for me everytime I go to Japan. Then in 2017, I discovered that they have launched their very own...instant noodles.

How Not To Cook Fried Pork Lard/ Chu Yau Char/ 猪油渣

Chu Yau Char or fried pork lard is one of my guilty pleasures. It's so sinfully simply delicious either as an addon to a dish or just as a snack to nibble on. And surprisingly making it isn't as hard as you would think as the ingredients only consist of two items and it can be done in less than 30 minutes. However as easy as it is, it's also very easy to screw up. Speaking from experience.

[Hokkaido 2016] Day 5 - Self Drive to Lake Toya and Noboribetsu

Day 5 in Hokkaido brought on heavy grey clouds followed by a heavy downpour in the later part of the day when we were on the road from Lake Toya to the Hell's Valley aka Noboribetsu. It was yet another long drive into the countryside and after the previous day's adventure into Biei and Furano, I found myself wishing that we opted to stay an extra night out near Lake Toya.

Anyway, due to the weather we decided to play it by the ear and ended visiting the following places:
1. Silo Observatory
2. Lake Hill Farm
3. Volcano Science Museum
4. Sendoan,Toyako-cho
5. Noboribetsu

Southeast Asia's first Kit Kat Concept Store opens in Midvalley

I super love Kit Kat, especially those from Japan for their variety of flavours unique to the prefecture and season in Japan. Sakura match, hojicha, raspberry, cheesecake, red bean (not so much) and so on. I could go on and on about my favourite flavours but....oh wait I already did (link).

So when I heard that Midvalley was to house the first Kit Kat Concept Store in Southeast Asia, I was elated. Woohoo, odd, weird flavoured Kit Kat come to me!

[Hokkaido 2016] Day 4 part 2 - Self Drive to Biei and Furano

I was lucky that my car came equipped with an easy-to-use GPS because without it, I would have been hopelessly lost in the countryside of Hokkaido. Forever doomed to wonder the roads in a rented Toyata Vitz with dysfunctional family in the passenger seats.... *Shudder*

We had many places to hit in Biei and Furano and so much driving to do and so little time.
1. Zerubu Hill
2. Mac OS X backdrop, less commonly known as Blue Pond
3. Shirahige Falls and Blue River

4. Shikisai no Oka

5. Tomita Farm 

6. Furano Cheese Factory

After my near encounter with a speeding ticket in part 1, we arrived at our first stop of the day, Zerubu Hill. Because it was still early in the season, the flowers weren't at full bloom so there wasn't much to see. However, it gave us a lovely view of the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Little did we know that we would be driving towards those snow-capped mountains and would be seeing plenty of them later on.

[Hokkaido 2016] Day 4 part 1 - I got pulled over in Japan!

It was the first time I drove in Japan and also the first time, I got pulled over by a cop. Ever.

Let me start from the beginning.

When coming to Sapporo in the spring, seeing the flower fields and natural wonders of Furano and Biel comes high in the list of things to do. However unlike Otaru which was easily accessible by train, these two locations were best explored via car and so rent a car we did for this occasion. To drive in Japan by the way, foreigners are required to obtain an international driving permit (IDP). For Malaysians you can find out how here.

I rented my car, a Toyota Vitz from the Toyota Rent a Car near my hostel, having made the booking online weeks before the trip. For a family of five, it was a bit cramp in the back seats but as we didn't have any luggages with us, it sufficed for the two days adventure outside of Sapporo. On this day, we were headed to Furano and Biel and what a long drive it was into the countryside.

Quicky Office Lunch: Toasted TC Boy Tuna Sandwich

Healthy eating can be quite tricky at work. More often than not, it is just much easier to succumb to the temptation of unhealthy instant meals and the lure of pricey cafes in the vicinity. Which is why I often stock up on a set of emergency canned tuna for those days when I want to eat simple and healthy.

Thanks to TC Boy, a Malaysian-based company, I got to add their canned tuna and sardine to my set of emergency food in the office. I admit, I am usually a bit apprehensive when it comes to resorting to canned food but when taken in moderation and prepared correctly, it can make for a delicious healthy meal.

Homemade Dan Dan Noodle recipe

With Chinese New Year just around the corner, no doubt the kitchen will be bustling with activities in preparation for the celebrations. Cooking, washing, serving and hosting a CNY open house can be exhausting. So why not look for little kitchen helpers to make cooking all the more easier for you?

With Philips’ kitchen appliances, you can save your energy on cooking and spare it for a mahjong session or just simply spend more quality time with your loved ones.

Using the Philips Noodle Maker, here's a recipe for the well-loved Dan Dan Noodle. 

Lettuce Salad with Grilled Chicken and Zespri Green Kiwifruit recipe

My lettuce salad with grilled chicken and kiwifruits was adapted from the recipe given by Edelman on behalf of Zespri Kiwifruit but it turned out pretty delicious due to the versatility of the kiwi.

Anyway let's get started!

Ingredients: 

• 1 Medium Zespri Kiwifruit - peeled and sliced 
• 70g feta cheese - diced
• 10 cherry tomatoes - sliced into half
• Italian parsley - diced
• 200g boneless chicken fillet
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Mixed herbs 
• Lettuce leaves
• Salt to taste

Air Fried Chicken Tandoori with Philips Malaysia

Chicken Tandoori is one of my favourite dishes at the local mamak. However not all mamak offers it and finding a good one can be tricky. I am lucky though that there are not one but two mamak near my house that serves up pretty good Chicken Tandoori. But of course, we all know that as yummy as it is, Chicken Tandoori isn't exactly healthy.

Enter the Philips Airfryer to help switch up this local cuisine to a healthy and just as delicious treat.

Local Nasi Goreng Kampung with Philips

With Malaysia Day just around the corner, time to hit the kitchen and start whipping up the local cuisines we Malaysians are so proud of. One particular popular meal is Nasi Goreng Kampung, a dish easily available at mamaks and restaurants almost everywhere but we all know that those are unhealthy especially when cooked with reused oil and super fried to the max! Using a Philips Pressure Cooker, you can serve up Nasi Goreng Kampung, the healthy way.

Urban Stove - Homecooked Restaurant Grade Meals in under 30 minutes

Since the start of the year, I started home cooking as part of my fitness quest. I realised that I needed to control my calories intake and what better way to so than to bring your own homecooked lunch to work. It ain't no fine-dining masterpiece but it serves its purpose and is actually delicious. And on top of that, I also get the satisfaction of knowing that I am capable of making my own meals.

However I am no Marta Stewart or a Masterchef in making. That's where Urban Stove comes in.

I was one of the few who volunteered and was selected to be a part of the trial stage for this new food endeavor, intrigued by the concept of it all. On their Facebook, it was stated that Urban Stove aims to help you cook healthy restaurant-grade dinners in just 30 minutes by providing fresh pre-portioned ingredients right to your doorstep.

Gold Coast 2014: 6D5N Itinerary

So to share with what is possible and recommended to do in Gold Coast, here is my itinerary for a 6D5N Gold Coast trip and the accompanying posts.

Day 1: Arrival 
10am - Breakfast at  Piccolo
11am - Check in to Grande Florida Resort Apartment
1pm - Harbour Town for lunch and shopping
5pm - Cruising through Surfers Paradise
Free and easy at apartment

Japan 2014 - Kobe, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka Itinerary (10-days)

So I've gotten a lot of email requests asking for my Japan itinerary as a guide to help them plan out their trip. So here it is!

Mind you, my itinerary was rather pack as we wanted to make the most out of our trip. There was a lot of walking and public transportation involved as those were the best, cheapest and most efficient way of moving between three main cities of Kansai (well, four if you count Nara).

To get around, everyone in my group had two 3-day Kansai Thru Pass and an Osaka Unlimited Pass which is available for purchase at the Travel Desk at the information counter of the Kansai International Airport  are only activated once they are swiped at a subway entrance gate. For a more in-depth post on their prices and benefits -----> here

Mission Chips & Dips for World Cup

So it is Germany versus Argentina in the 2014 World Cup!

After Germany's brutal trashing of Brazil, I got my money on the black, red and yellows (although I am also rooting for Argentina because my boss is a huge fan and might declare holiday for the company if they win).

In anticipation of the finals, a huge gathering between my friends and I are in the works and I found myself stuck with chips and dips duty. To my defense, I wasn't present when the delegation of tasks were given out so yeah, resulting with me stuck with chips and dips duty.

 

Honestly I don't have a clue what goes with what. Enter Mission Chips! (cue Mission Impossible theme song)

DIY Pork Chops with Apple Sauce

One particularly disappointing experience of a restaurant had me craving for pork chop with apple sauce (yes, I know my craving can be very specific.) So I decided to try making my own pork chop and it was surprisingly easy. The recipe I used was a variant of one from My Recipes.

Ingredients
Applesauce:

2 tablespoon butter.

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2 red apples (peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped)

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

Pork Chop:

4 (5-ounce) bone-in center-cut pork chops

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoon butter.

 Preparation

1. To prepare applesauce, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add apples to pan; cook for 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add 1/2 cup water, sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt to pan; cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and cook 15 minutes or until apples are tender. Mash gently with the back of a spoon.

2. To prepare pork, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle pork evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper; dredge pork in flour. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add pork to pan; cook 5 minutes or until golen. Turn pork over; cook 3 minutes or until desired degree of doneness.
Tip: Coat the pork with flour for a crispier exterior.

3. Serve with applesauce and salad or mash potatoes. And ta-da! Hassle-free homecooked pork chop.

I must say I was quite pleased with the way this attempt turned out. *pats self on back*