Runners' Racing Pet Peeves

Today I am going to talk/educate/nag/rant about the many pet peeves I have seen, heard and encountered before, during and after a running race. Disclaimer: This is by no means just my opinion alone but a compilation of opinions that I got from fellow runners, off and on the Internet.

 Let us begin. 

1. Selfies/Camwhoring
Yes, I get that this run is your first....or tenth. Yes, I get that the view and buildings are nice. Yes, I get that you just need to take a photo with your besties to commemorate this moment at the start line. But you are also the reason why the Hong Kong Marathon organisers has issued a ban on runners from taking selfies at a race (source) 

"The restriction is a result of a runner pile-up during last year’s event when a woman stopped at the beginning of the race to take a picture of herself, which triggered a domino-like effect as other participants crashed into her" according to the report. That could happen to you, cam-whorers and worst, others will be hurt because you couldn't stop to think to just step off the road first and out of the way of runners. Shame on you.

Collision in 3, 2,1....
credit to i.huffpost.com

Yuen Buffet Steamboat, Sunway Mentari

Updated 18 Jan 2014: Yuen Steamboat has moved to Zenith Corporate Park, Kelana Jaya as of 15 Jan 2014. For more information, check out www.yuenbuffetsteamboat.com.my.
 
I am a huge fan of buffet steamboat with emphasis on the words: huge and buffet and Yuen Steamboat in Sunway Mentari has been my favourite steamboat indulging spot since my college days. And judging from the numerous blogs that have reviewed this place and the endless scores of people queuing outside at dinner time each time I am there, Yuen is a popular choice of many others too despite being located in the steamboat hot spot that is Sunway Mentari. I guess it pays to be a pioneer of something in this case.  

Yuen Steamboat boasts a wide range of fresh seafood, vegetables, fish balls and meat selection that makes it a popular choice for buffet goers. The crabs and prawns are big and ample and many eaters often go for those to quickly earn their money back. Depleted ingredients are quickly replenished by the ever attentive staffs.

Bite Hopping: Telawi, Bangsar Part 1

Bite Hopping is my new cafe-hopping series that will feature a few F&B places that I have visited within a specific location and where else better than to start than in food haven, Telawi Bangsar.

So on a recent Friday afternoon, I met up with my childhood friend who was finally back in Malaysia for good after years studying overseas and we decided to catch up over brunch and coffee. Our first stop was Nutmeg in Bangsar Village II.

The restaurant was in front of the Haagen Dazs stall and at first glance, it looked like any other modern day restaurant with low lighting and a cake and dessert display. But what really caught my attention was the back wall of hanging potted plants where natural sunlight was streaming through the window. Naturally we opted to sit there.

Having read a review from Drops of Contentment on this place, I ordered the Nutmeg Big Breakfast. The dish comes with two eggs made any way you like, confit mushrooms, lamb sausage, toasted brioche, roasted garlic tomatoes, hash potatoes or fried macaroni and cheese and house-cured salmon or salted beef.

Simpang Duck Egg Char Kuey Teow, Taiping, Perak

My parents always made it a point to drop by this place to get their Char Kuey Teow fix. On my recent trip back to Taiping, I too made it a point to visit the famous Char Kuey Teow stall. Located along the Simpang main road, the stall is right just across the road from the new Simpang McDonald's drive-thru and is next to a mini market. There is no obvious sign so it would be best to go slow as soon as you see the McDonald's on your right.

Simple stall with only one dish.

I was there at 730pm with my grandparents and shortly after we reached, a couple of cars and motorbikes too pulled up to wait for the stall to open. The old uncle manning the stall only starts frying his signature kuey teow at 8pm, no earlier, no later and during the wait, more people came and another old man had to jolt down the orders as the uncle set about making fireworks with his wok and charcoal.

Japan: Osaka Day 4 - The Last Day and also, Momofuku Ramen Museum

It was our last day in Osaka and as our flight was near midnight, mom and I figured we still had half a day left to spend in Japan and decided to take a train down to Ikeda, a town in the outskirts of Osaka to visit the lesser known Momofuku Instant Ramen Museum. To get there from Namba, we utilised the Osaka Unlimited Pass to get to the Umeda station from which we walked a short distance to the Umeda Hankyu station to buy a train ticket to Ikeda. 

Hello, Mr. Momofuku

Finding the museum from the train station can be a bit tricky. You need to take the staircase near a Starbucks to get down to the streets and head left. You will pass a row of shops and turn right at the Daily Yamazaki into a long road. The museum was located in a quiet little neighbourhood about five minutes from the station but it was impossible to miss especially with the statue of the Father of Instant Noodle in front of the building. There was no charge to enter the building and you can rent a recorded guide from the reception with a deposit of 2000yen. 

Right for history lesson, left for the wall of ramen.

Animangaki 2013

So last month on 24th and 25th August 2013, Animangaki 2013 took place at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre in its fifth year and saw over 8000 anime, manga and gaming fans. By the way, for those don't know what it stands for, Animangaki is a combination word of Anime, Manga and Gaki, as in brat in Japanese because we are all anime and manga brats bought together by a common love.

Japan: Osaka Day 3 - A Day in the City

So many things to see and do. So little time. What do you do when you only have a few days to spend in Osaka? You make the most out of it and visit the absolute must visit places that are unique to this extraordinary city. That was what I do for my short 4D3N trip in June 2013 and for one entire day, I dedicated everything to the lovely city.

1. Osaka Castle
A castle in the middle of the city is not to be missed, especially for first time visitors to Osaka. To find out how to get to the castle, read my previous post on transportation means. As this famous tourist attraction is right smack in the middle of the park in the middle of the city, it took us a while to stroll through the park (famous too for cherry blossom viewing in spring) before we eventually reached the main entrance. If uncertain, just follow the signs or the hoards of tourists groups.

I was there relatively quite early at 10am and thankfully there were no tourist groups present although there was a very colorful Chinese group of friends. A steady drizzle of rain drove everyone inside the castle for cover and to the food stores that surrounded the main open space where the entrance was.

Osaka entrance view

Upstairs Cafe, Subang Jaya review

I first learned of this place when it and its brownies was featured on Capital TV. Then one fine day, I had to swing by Holiday Villa for an interview just before lunch and decided it was the perfect chance to give Upstairs Cafe a try since it was just a stone's throwaway.

Look at all that yummy desserts!

Japan: Osaka Day 2 - Nara & Kyoto

Due to the limited time we had in Osaka (4D3N), my mother and I decided to do a full day trip to Nara and Kyoto on our second day there, opting to visit their main tourist attractions. Using the Kansai Thru Pass (you can read about my modes of transportation here), we were quickly on our way to Nara via the Kintetsu Line.

Nara Park map.

Upon reaching the station, we headed for Exit 2 in order to get to Nara Park. Getting to the park was pretty easy as from the station, there is a main road heading up a hill or turn right into a covered shopping arcade that will lead to the second, less crowded park entrance on the left.

LOL with TGV this September

Warning: This post is suitable for only 18 + due its sexual suggestive contents. If you are under 18 or heavily religious or just a prude, then click away now. Now. NOW! Too late. (byreadingonyouagreethatthewriterisnotresponsibleforanymentalscarringandwillnotsue)

LOL = Laugh Out Loud.

That was for the benefit of those living in isolation for the last decade.I kid you not when I say that I have come across people that do not know what LOL or LMAO means. And they are not middle-aged adults or my grandparents either.

 TGV Cinemas is not one of those left in the 80s, thankfully as they decided to bring to you, the best of two worlds and have cleverly incorporate stand-up comedy with comedic films for the month of September.