Glutinous Rice At Sun Yuan Loong, Jalan Bendahara, Ipoh

WOKE UP EARLY THIS MORNING... and I feel like taking my breakfast outside rather than buying back today.  Thinking of eating the special Hainanese breakfast at the Cathay restaurant, I was told that they serve authentic breakfast such as butter, kaya toast with eggs there.  Even though this type of breakfast we could easily prepare it in our own homes, I wanted to try out what my friend meant by "very nice Hainanese breakfast"......

Alas, we did not manage to.... the restaurant was closed!  Oh yeah, perhaps it was due to the Chap Goh Mei celebration yesterday, that the shop is closed today.  No worries, we can always come by another day.  So... Plan B.... where and what to eat?  Still thinking of toast bread, we ended up in Sun Yuan Loong, famous for their white coffee and toast too.  

Besides the toasted bread which I had conveniently forgot to take picture, I ordered these two plates to eat as well!   Yes, I do have an enormous appetite in the morning! 

  

I tried one stall selling Chee Cheong Fun.... 

Nothing much to shout about... Ok Ok only... 

Then I also ordered from another stall, not knowing what to expect... 

This lady only sells glutinous rice... 

The last time I went, it was sold out...

  

This morning I managed to "capture" it... 

The lady who manned this stall is such a polite and friendly person...

That adds marks to the food!  LOL... 

For this set, it cost RM5.50 and I feel it is very justified!

I must come back another time to try her Nasi Kunyit as well!

Overlooked Threats To Your Home’s Quality

If you’re going to enjoy your home to the max, as you should, then it’s important that you’re taking steps to ensure that the quality of the property is always high. As any experienced homeowner knows, a house won’t take care of itself; it needs to be actively managed. In doing so, you won’t just make the property a more enjoyable place to be, but you’ll also ensure that value is continually nudged in the right direction. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at some of the threats to the home that are frequently overlooked. Make sure that your home doesn’t suffer from any of them!

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Attracting Pests

You’ll want to ensure that the only things living on your property are the people (and pets) that have been invited to do so. Alas, that’s not always the case. From time to time, we can often find that we have unwelcome guests in the home -- namely, pests. Though this is more of a concern in certain parts of the country than others, it’s something that affects all properties. You can reduce the likelihood of pests setting up camp in your home by ensuring it’s always kept clean. If you notice that something’s there, then take action straight away. 

Damp Issues

There’s nothing good that can come from a damp home. You’ll find that it’s a less enjoyable place to be, but it can also have a significantly detrimental impact on the infrastructure of the house. The key to avoiding this issue is to create a watertight property so that no moisture can enter the house. It’s especially important to pay attention to areas of the house where humans generally don’t go, such as the crawl space. You can click here to learn more about how to insulate your crawl space, which will help keep mold away, among other benefits. Checking that your gutters are working correctly and that your roof isn’t damaged will also help.

Small DIY Problems

All homeowners handle the big problems when they arrive, but what about the small problems? These are the small DIY tasks that aren’t significant enough to hire a professional, but which can bring down the quality of your home. If your property has many small problems, then you’ve got one big problem! You can get around this issue by learning the basics of DIY. When you see you have a problem, you’ll just need to get out your toolkit and get to work!

External Areas

Finally, remember that the external areas around your property can also have a big impact on your home. For example, if you have a dangerous tree outside your property, then one night of strong winds might be enough to cause that tree to hit your home, which could have a devastating impact on your property. Periodically checking the condition of your trees will help to keep everything safe. If it looks dangerous, then hire a tree surgeon to trim the dangerous branches, or get rid of the tree altogether. 

The Practical and the Positive: What Does It Take To Make You Happier These Days?

 

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As we get older, we stop worrying about the little things. But it seems that now, as we get older, the biggest issue hanging over our heads is always the finances. Some people struggle to live the life they want, and when we start to think about what it takes to be happier, it is not just to do with ensuring we live a certain lifestyle, but it is about guaranteeing that we look at life differently. Sometimes, it is about a combination of the practical and the positive.

The Benefits of Passive Income

As we get older, and we realize that we're not earning a certain amount of money, it could benefit us to diversify our earning potential. This means that we could take a freelance job, as many people do these days, but also start to invest in currencies like crypto. These days, a cheap way to buy crypto would be to go to one of the many web providers. And it seems that now, especially when it comes to stocks and shares, it is the perfect way to top-up our earnings. If you are looking for other approaches in terms of passive income, you could start a blog or an online store. If you've got specific skills, you could create a course.

Finding Ways To Nurture Your Current Relationships

If you are struggling to get by, especially with a lack of finances, you may want to start thinking about the relationships you have. If you want to be happy, you've got to start spending time more with the people you love. It is going to help you during times of stress. And going one step further, when you start to think about the things that are really important in life, you may get the balance right despite insufficient earnings. A good way to think about it is to employ a minimalist approach. Living a minimalist lifestyle is something that many people are choosing to do these days, because of the realization that “stuff” doesn't make them happy. And you can do this in many ways, but be sure to gradually reduce personal possessions, because each little downsizing gives you the chance to take it all in, and how happier you are. You might very well find you are happier with fewer items than more.

Tackle Your Dreams

Learning to live in the current climate, and with the lack of finances can be overwhelming. It can be downright depressing. And this means that when we are stuck in an emotional rut, we have to start thinking about the things that matter. One of the most important things that anybody can learn is to avoid regrets. Partly, you can avoid making mistakes in the future, but also, learning to forgive yourself is going to give you the permission to go in the right direction.

Whether it is looking at investments or making changes to your current living situation, being positive will help infinitely. But these days, it is not just about evoking a positive mindset, there have to be some practical elements as well.

Too White To Be True...

HAIR SHADOW.... yes, not eye shadow.... 

First time I heard of it and that also through my sister from US.  She told me that she saw this cute little thing online called Hair Shadow and after watching the short clip, she ordered one to try.  All in all, she paid $16- for this small little thing called Maycheer Pang Pang Hair Shadow.  :)

Feeling curious, I browsed through our local online website called Lazada, I searched for the same brand she mentioned.  There are actually many brands listed and their prices also vary.  Then I found one exactly the same one she mentioned and the only thing is they do not have black color.  So I ordered the brown one instead.  And the joke is I only got it for RM6.90 each whereas she bought it for $16usd, almost equivalent to RM80!  LOL.... She and I had a good laugh over the price difference!  Ok, I was the one who got a good laugh, she did not.... LOL... so bad of me!

I was greedy, I bought two of these...

Total RM13.80 and free shipping some more...

I quickly tested it on my white hair..... 

Mistake mistake.... 

Here goes.... 

Before using the Hair Shadow.... 

And after applying numerous times!

I sent these pictures to my sister....

She had a good laugh!

No doubt I bought them cheap but it doesn't seem to work on me...

I mean, on my white hair....

They are already too white to be covered at all!!

Yes, she has the last laugh....

She bought black and it works on her... 

Mine has to be put on hold till I dye my whole hair black first... 

LOL... 

Smart Ways to Grow Your Side Business

There’s a lot of value in having a side business that you run alongside your regular job. It’s a great way to add extra funds to your bank account and to put your creative and entrepreneurial spirit to good use. Alas, there are some challenges. Without the resources or time that larger businesses have, it can be difficult to develop and grow. It is not, however, impossible. When time is at a premium, you can’t incorporate all the growth tactics into your operations. Instead, you should focus on the smart tactics, the ones that are most effective. We’ll take a look at some of these below.

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Local Events

When you’re trying to grow a business, it’s important to get the word out as far and wide as you can. One of the best ways to do this is to look at hosting events in your local area. This is cost-effective, can build revenue, and brings awareness about your business to the wider public. The type of event you hold will depend on the type of business you’re running. They don’t have to be standalone events that you host yourself, either; if there’s a local market, for example, then you can join that.

New Customers

It’s difficult to bring onboard new customers no matter how much time and resources you have. When those are limited, it’s even more difficult. The key is to find ways to get your business in front of new faces in a cost-effective way. While you’ll be unlikely to spend money on, say, street advertising, you can make the most of cost-effective options, such as social media advertising. This is beneficial as you’ll be able to target people who are already predisposed to enjoy whatever it is that you’re offering.

Existing Customers

While it’s always useful to target new customers, that doesn’t mean that you should ignore your existing customers. After all, you already know that they’re interested in buying from you! You’ll need to find ways to target your previous customers in a direct way; they won’t be influenced by general marketing tactics in the same way that new customers will. Direct mail marketing is a handy way to get them thinking about your business once more, so learn more about what that process involves and get started. Well-time emails straight to their inbox, ideally with promotions or discounts, can also be effective.

Establish Your Expertise

The problem with running a side business is that you’re going to be small by most other standards, and that means that you won’t automatically receive the level of trust that larger companies get. As such, it’s a good idea to look at establishing your expertise so that the public understands that you know what you’re talking about. You can do this in various ways, but having informative and useful blogs on your website, sharing quality content on your social media channels, and hosting talks/podcasts about your chosen topic are especially recommended ways. You’ll be considered an expert in no time! 

My Online Delivery Food By Grab

ONLINE DELIVERY FOOD... more and more variety of food and promo vouchers in Foodpanda and Grab!  

I like browsing these two online delivery food, nowadays there are more and more eatery shops to choose from.  I usually order till I met their requirement so that I can use their promo code.  LOL... Very kiasu...  But of course, not all shops offer discount or promo codes, some give free delivery, maybe because they are quite nearby.... 

Just this morning, I was surprised to see this restaurant Yuk Fook Moon in Grab, Yuk Fook Moon is one of the popular selling DimSum in Ipoh.  Furthermore they have promo code and combo sets to choose from.  I ordered a combo set plus one ala carte dish....

Combo set comprised of 2 Char Siew Pau, 

One plate of Siew Mai

And one Loh Mai Kai (glutinous rice with chicken)

I ordered separately a plate of steamed pork ribs with yam....

And this whole package cost RM20 which is a really good deal!

On another day, I ordered San Ma chicken rice.... 

3 packets cost RM17 only with delivery....

Another good package deal too... 

While waiting, I sauteed two dishes...

The above meal lasted one whole day for me!

Finding Investments That Could Provide A Grand Legacy For Your Children

 

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Just about every parent in the world wants to make sure that their children have a better life than they do. There are a number of ways to approach this, with education and support being popular, but a financial legacy is often one of the best ways to achieve what you want for your little ones. Of course, though, making sure that you get the most out of this can be very difficult, and you need to work hard to give your children the best legacy you can. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring a range of modern investment options that can give you the chance to improve the future of your family.

Life Insurance

While this first option may sound a little boring, life insurance is absolutely crucial in the modern world. This cover will protect your family in the vent of your death, providing them with money to cover funeral costs and living expenses as they go into the future. Most of these policies will have set payout amounts, and your children will receive this money no matter their circumstances, making this a great investment for those who know that they won’t need the money back in their lives. Of course, though, you need to find a policy that includes everything your family might need.

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have taken the world by storm over the last decade. Spending $5 on Bitcoin back in 2012 could be worth as much as $100,000 today, and this growth could happen again and again, slowly pushing the value of this money through the roof. You can buy a wide range of cryptocurrencies around the web, and there are loads of companies that can help you out when you first start with the task of buying crypto. You will need to learn a lot to be able to make money out of cryptocurrencies, but this can be worth it to have the potential to leave a massive legacy behind.

Property

Buildings have long been one of the most popular investment options on the market. Not only does property always have a high value, but this sort of investment is very unlikely to diminish entirely, and this makes it quite secure. Having a range of properties in your name can provide an excellent legacy to your children, making it possible to collect enough rent that they don’t even have to work. Many countries are cracking down on this market, making it worth getting in while you’re still able to get multiple mortgages for the homes you want to buy.

Leaving a legacy is important to most parents, but finding the best way to do this can be very hard. Money is a good gift that can make life much easier for you and your loved ones, but you need to make sure that you are generating enough of the stuff to make it have a meaningful and positive impact on their lives.

Dinner At Best View Restaurant, Ipoh

GET TOGETHER with a few of my friends at a restaurant which I had not been before, called Best View.  This year Chinese New Year is pretty quiet, no interstate travels, no family reunions, I look forward to catching up with my close friends instead.  My friend made the reservation and was told to come at 6pm if possible.  No problem for us oldies, I personally prefer an early dinner than a late one.  

Our choice of dishes consist of the following... 

Stinky beans with minced meat...

Yau Mak aka Romaine Lettuce...

Sweet potato leaves in claypot...

Looks like it is a green dinner?  LOL...

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Hakka dish... 

Pork Belly with black fungus cooked in red fermented soy sauce...

Followed by steamed Tiger Garoupa..

And the bill came to RM150...

The CNY will be coming to an end on Friday...

Not sure there will be another dinner  again then...

By the way, we can register for the Vaccine...

Have you done so?

I have.... 

Apricot Scones On The 11th Day Of Chinese New Year

CRAVINGS FOR SCONES...

I still have a small bottle of strawberry jam in the fridge and eating them with hot freshly baked scones has certainly "motivated" me to bake them in the early morning after a light breakfast.  

A very simple task actually, just get all the ingredients on the kitchen table and everything will be done within an hour.  This time I did the full portion as in the recipe by Anna Olson on youtube.  Instead of cranberries, I put in chopped apricots this time and added in more lemon zest.  

Full portion = 16 scones...

The odd shaped one at the bottom is the remainder of the dough... 

As usual, I topped it with pecan...

25 minutes of baking under temperature of 170 degrees... 

I don't know why the recipe written is brushing the top with egg white...

It is so pale in comparison with the egg yolk...

Next time I will use egg yolk instead... 

I ate two scones at one go... 

So nice to go with the cold strawberry jam...

Actually these can be quite filling...

I gave some to my neighbour...

And the rest of the remaining ones, I put inside the fridge...

Just have to airfry them for 2-3 minutes

And they taste like freshly baked ones again... 

Should I DIY Or Call In A Pro?

 Any homeowner who is a bit handy will ask themselves the same question before they start on a renovation or repair; can they manage the work themselves or should they call a professional? If you’re willing to get stuck in, there might be more you can do yourself than you might realise. Here are some of the projects you can do yourself, and when you should call in the professionals. 

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Go Pro: Gas, electricity, and plumbing

Do you need repairs or renovations to gas, electricity, or plumbing?  You need a professional to handle work like this or tasks like Emergency AC Repair. A lot of this kind of work needs a particular permit. In some states, plans for major plumbing and electrical changes, as well as structural changes or the removal of asbestos, needs to be approved. Another reason to call a pro is how easy it is to get it wrong, and cause a much more expensive problem.  For example, if you don’t call a plumbing company, you could end up with water damage and costly repairs.

DIY: Materials

An easy thing that anyone can take on is purchasing their own materials, equipment, and appliances for a renovation project. You can choose things like new tiles, cabinetry, doors, and bathroom and kitchen fixtures by yourself. 

You could ask your contractor for recommendations of where you to shop for these things without breaking the budget. Expert advice on choosing these finishes can be useful, but you can do the buying yourself. Ask your architect for advice on the quantities and sizes you need. A lot of renovators make the mistake of not ordering enough of something or ordering too soon. 

Go Pro: Structural repairs

Never attempt to change the structure of your house yourself. Older homes often have structural wear that will need to be upgraded by a professional architect and contractor, or a structural engineer.  

If the house has been split into multiple units at some point, there will likely be repairs needed to the structure of the home. Be prepared for all kinds of surprises when you’re working on renovations in an old home. You never know what you might come across when you start working on an older house. Whatever you do find, you will need professional help to handle it without doing even more damage to the property. 

DIY: Light demolition

Nobody should start pulling down walls of their home without a professional, but light levels of demolition are perfectly okay to do yourself without causing any problems. Leave the walls alone, but you can easily pull out old cabinets, appliances, fixtures, tile, moldings, floorboards, or carpeting without a professional. 

Take things apart carefully piece by piece, and stay away from anything structural. If there’s a lot of light demolition work to be done, you could ask some friends to come and help you. After that, call a contractor and ask them to take over for any demolition of anything bigger or structural, like taking out walls. You’ll need a team for any kind of large-scale demo project, as doing it yourself will take too long. 

Dining Out At Asada Yipin Ramen

FELT LIKE EATING RAMEN... and my friends suggested going to Mad Ramen in old town, Ipoh.  I was told that the Ramen there was quite nice and it is always difficult to get a table especially in the evening.  True enough, when my friend called up reservation, she was told that the place was full at that moment.  Oooh.. the food must be good then and we better not go when the place is full and crowded.

We settled for another ramen place called Asada Ramen (Yipin Ramen) at Medan 10.  First time visit for the four of us and upon entering the premises, only one table was occupied.  Normal days if we see less people, that means the food might be so-so only and we might bypass the place.  But nowadays, it is different, we prefer to dine in quieter places and don't have high expectation when it comes to the taste.  

Each of us ordered a bowl of ramen RM15.90 each and a side dish to be shared... 

Ramen in Black Sesame soup...

Ordered by my friend... 

I tried a bit of the soup... 

Though the black appearance of the soup is not attractive, 

surprisingly it tasted aromatic... 

And so the saying goes: Never judge the book by its cover... 

Ramen in Miso soup.... 

I don't really like the sourish miso... 

My friend and I ordered the Pork soup... 

Initially we wanted the spinach soup...

It was sold out...

So we settled for the porky one...

Not really to my liking cos the strong porky smell... 

I should have ordered the chicken soup instead... 

And 3 pieces of fish cake RM5.... 

Nothing to shout about... just edible...

As I said, don't expect too much of the food quality these days...

On The 7th Day Of Chinese New Year 2021

BIRTHDAY, EVERYONE!

I invited my two friends over for a simple dinner, since it was the 7th day of Chinese New Year, I told them that the menu was just porridge.  LOL... Besides porridge, we decided to do the Lou Sang again, an appetizer to be eaten before the main meal.  

Again, we cooperated and get the ingredients done, lots of cutting to be done, cucumber, carrot, sengkuang aka turnip, dried apricot, mango and pomelo.  For toppings, the usual peanuts, fried crackers, sesame seeds and then lastly, the apricot/plum sauce, that is the most important item otherwise the Loe Sang won't be a success.  LOL... 

Ren Ri in Chinese...

It mean People's Day.... 

Spot the difference?

This is more like it... 

LOL... 

After the photo-taking, we filled up the plate with all the toppings..

and we naturally forgot to take another picture of that....

We started the video taking instead... 

and wish each other the best of everything!

LOL... 

My simple cooking of porridge.... 

And the the rest of the dinner 

on this 7th day of CNY...

Do You Really Have A Social Media Strategy?

 Do you have a plan on what to do on your social media accounts? Do you have a plan of action that can give your business firm branding, good interaction, customers wanting to comment and speak with you, and admiration for staying with the times? It's both a cultural issue and also a technological concern. Social media strategies are complex and there is no other way to say it. They have to be well thought out and they must be implemented in both a contemporary and traditional way. What we mean by this is, stay on topic, stay on form and stay on message. But, you must be ‘hip’ in that you should be fluent in hashtagging, memeing, emoji usage and so much more.

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Know them well

You must know your audience very well. A few things you need to have down before you move onto your strategy.

• Their age

• Gender disparity

• Location

• Job groups

• Average salary

• Interests, i.e. sports, policies, music

• Etc

These are just some of the things you need to know about your audience. The key is getting the relevant information is to conduct research through your sales statistics but also your marketing interactions. The two should really correlate well with each other.

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Gather the data

So how do you gather up the data you need? Use proper tank tanks and research firms that do this kind of stuff for a living. It can usually be done in-house but it will take a lot of time and effort and this is going to distract your employees from their roles. So, use a company like PEW research that can deliver you a fantastic report on which generation is more likely to respond to your campaign and why. They will also sift out the key reasons why they interact: is it the high-quality photos, the videos, the brand ambassadors you use or is it down to sales, and discount opportunities?

Content is critical

Here we are in the 2020s and still, the best type of marketing that is done even on social media is linked back to content. SEO marketing and creative content are staggeringly high on the agenda this decade. The overwhelming benefits of social media marketing when you have someone conduct content research reports for you is amazing. You can finally give content that your core audience wants to read. They actually want to click on the links you drop and consume the content within, be it an article, video, infographic, etc.

Beat them to the punch

Know your rivals and what they are up to. You do not want to have a running campaign along with a larger brand and be using the same sort of style and tactics. For example, if you are a small soft drink company and doing a campaign based on summer cold beverage relief, then you don’t want to run that at the same time, Pepsi are doing their own similar campaign. You will lose! So be tactile and beat your rival to the punch.

Social media is continuing to evolve. With Twitter increasing it's word count, Instagram having IGTV and even the former adopting ‘stories’ of a similar kind, you have a lot to play with on social media.

Sibu Kampua Noodles

BUT MADE IN KUCHING NOT SIBU... 

Of course, I did not know that until the package arrived.  Oh, by the way, I got this purchase through Lazada.  Initially I saw someone advertising Kampua noodles in the Facebook.  I messaged the person and she told me that she can deliver the package of noodles to my house for RM18.  There are 5 packets in one package and it practically cost around RM5 over for a packet.  Not cheap at all considering it is made locally and not the Korean type of noodles that is around this price.  So I told her that I would message her again if I want to order.

Feeling curious, I checked the pricing in Lazada and there are actually quite a number of brands and prices as well.  Then I read and compare the reviews and settle for this packaging that looks a bit more attractive.  LOL... I ordered and paid RM13 for this 5 packets of noodles, no shipping charges cos I have make "friend" with Lazada by now... LOL... 

Two days ago, this arrived though I made the order a week before CNY....

When I received the box, it was already torn and out of shape...

I was thinking... oh oh... the noodles must be crushed into pieces...

But no wor...

Still considered OK...

Thanks to the big bubblewrapper, I guess!

I decided to cook a packet to try.... 

And while waiting for the water to boil, I noticed this...

Made in Kuching, Sarawak?

Or is it distributed from there?

I thought Kampua noodles are from Sibu?

Anyway.... 

Wherever they are from, the Kampua noodles taste good!

I used their 3 packets of ingredients inside.... 

Oil, light sauce and fried garlic... 

And a big portion too...

I wouldn't mind getting them again next time!

Running Errands On The 6th Day Of Chinese New Year

STARTED OFF THE DAY going to the petrol station and the regular attendant who is mute and dumb, came and helped me, wiped my front and back mirror, checked the engine oil and water and after giving the thumbs up, I gave him a red packet.  Not much and he reciprocated with two palms signifying Happy New Year.  I used the same gesture to wish him back, thumbs up and we drove off.  A nice start off for the day.... 

Then we adjourned to have breakfast in Keng Nam, a corner coffeeshop in town, famous for their curry noodles and Kaya glutinous rice.  However we did not order curry noodles but a plate of Chee Cheong Fun instead.  After breakfast I drove to the mechanic, did some alignment and balancing costing RM90.  Went to bank while waiting and the last stop is the mall, did some groceries and by the time we reached home, it was almost 1pm.  Time really passes very fast each day!

A dash of hot and sweet sauce... RM6

A set of toasted bread with half boiled eggs... 

Can't really see the other half boiled egg... 

Been drooling for this.... 

And while I was sitting there, the orders came non-stop for this dessert... 

Sticky rice with sweet Kaya... 

As for yesterday's dinner, I just boiled porridge and ate with these 2 dishes...

Lightly pan fried cod fish... 

I bought this for RM38... 

Long time I did not take so it justifies the pricing... LOL... 

And I added greens to the leftover dish of pork ribs and arrowhead... 

Now I am thinking what to cook for tonight...