Sugar Rush at Delifrance

When deciding what to eat when dining out, I sometimes choose to skip the main course and go straight to dessert. Walked past Delifrance one fine day looking for something light and simple for lunch. Was thinking of a salad, crossaint or sandwich when this promoter standing outside the cafe seduced me into ordering this:

Bread pudding and hot chocolate.

Soft-centered pudding enveloped with glazed crust

Juicy raisins for that tangy sweetness

Lightly drizzled with creamy vanilla milk

Complemented with minted vanilla icecream.

Caloric content probably sky-high.

Tell me... How not to grow fat?!

Sony Cyber-shot Workshop

Attended a beginner's photography short course organized by Sony Workshop, free for all Sony Cyber-shot compact camera users on the 29th March 2008 (Saturday).

Door gifts: Sony keychain and notepad (not shown)

Venue: Hotel Grand Continental KL from 1pm-5pm

Product trainer Wong Jiunn Huei speaking on basics and camera functions

After that it's off to the poolside for hands-on practice.

Sony prepared two models for the participants for portrait shots

Hot chicks... make me sad (I was once a sweet young thing too ok!)

Sony is so good... even fed the hungry participants

I submitted this photo for the workshop competition

In the meantime, Wong went through everybody's photos. We reviewed each submission on the screen and he gave tips on how to improve each shot. I think it was a very good exercise because we could see how different people saw the same subjects in different perspectives, and chose different styles to convey their observation.

For my picture, I chose sepia because I wanted to contrast the models' fairness, and the crooked angle was to complement her posture, making it appear that the fore-model is leaning to the right. Wong JH said my picture slanted already... (I don't think he likes crooked pictures) but John the organizer said it emphasized the models body shape (Ya! Now that he mentioned it...). I also liked the models' eye-contact in this picture.

To my surprise I won second prize!

A Sony carry bag courtesy of Mr Nicholas Wong (Sales Manager)

Although it is not a Vaio notebook or Bravia flatscreen I am so proud! *kembang* The weakness of my shot was that the background was too cluttered and distracting. Should have adjusted the focus onto the models. Wong said to try black instead of sepia. So I photoshoped to see how it would look like.

Which one looks better?

Yahor. Models are more prominent if background is out of focus.
Black and white also looks more polished.

Sony also gave us a framed group photo as souvenir

I *heart* Sony

It's a privilege to be a Sony member. The product is good - my DSC P100 compact may be 4 years old but it is still hardy and delivers good pictures even when I point and shoot randomly. The Sony team is also doing lots of informative workshops for digital photography and videography. But ah... my brain can only remember 10% of what I learned 2 days ago. I still need to think hard what metering and focusing are. Need to practice and experiment more with the different functions! It was a very informative and fun event and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Anybody who gives me free food also has my undying loyalty hahah. I understand that there are more free workshops available for Handycam and DSLR users this April. For those interested, please log on to http://www.sony.com.my/.

Giving the Cat a Bath

... is a major undertaking at home. Firstly, it entails sneaking the towels and pail into the bathroom without Bambi knowing what's in store for her. Then there's the problem of getting the right temperature from the temperamental water heater. By that time, she's already suspicious of the sound of water coming from the bathroom and predictably missing. Finding and cornering her is easy, because her usual hiding place is either under the sofa or behind the bed.

Starts mewing & giving us the pity me I is a poor helpless cat look.

Shampoo, massage and conditioner 30 minutes

After the bath (she's afraid of the hairdryer so we can only wipe her down)

Angry angry cat

All is forgiven. I is a pretty girl again!

National Art Gallery Malaysia

On the way back from DR's session, I decided to drop by at the National Art Gallery... another one of those places that tourists take note of when visiting KL but locals ignore in preference of shopping malls. Admission is free, parking is also free and ample. The building is newly renovated but exhibitions of notable art pieces were too few to make it impressive.

It's a quiet place. Not many visitors.

Tourist pose - just missing a sun hat and umbrella

Lunch at the art gallery's cafeteria.
Seriously, I need to do something about those eyebags.

The Cat Goddess watches over Kutucat

Wall mural. Excellent painting!

There are some interesting showcases (no cameras allowed in the galleries sorry!). I like the topmost gallery best. There was a corner for art pieces produced by people who sought help from the Psychology Dept. of UH and a private consultancy center called Integrated Psychology Network. Each work had a short testimony of what the painting meant to these people. Every one was unique and deeply personal. For the first time, I understood what it meant to be moved by a picture.

Seriously, the Klang valley has a lot more to offer than KLCC, Midvalley Megamall, 1 Utama and the likes. It's a healthier and cheaper way to spend the day too. I am off to Zoo Negara next Tuesday... because I just found out that admission is free if it's your birthday!

My Bambi

PHOP

When my sister comes back for a visit, it is like having a playmate. Since both of us love food, we really went out and blew it ($) at this place last Sunday. Btw, I still owe you half the bill sis. Will pass to you next time you come down ok?

PHOP - Pancake specialty shop

Refreshing hot tea sweetened with honey

Did I mention how much I enjoyed it? (I asked for 4 refills of hot water)

Blurry picture. Added soft focus to rescue it (Treasure Box is good!)

Sis's steak with crepe and glazed peaches and plum (sourish and overpowering)

My baked chicken (looks better than it tastes)

Perhaps I was expecting a little too much from this restaurant. For me, the baked chicken was too dry (my own cooking is waaaay better) but the pancake lining the base of the pan was something new and interesting. The first dish that came out was the dessert. It was delicious! Coin pancakes with almonds, bananas, peaches, baked apples and vanilla ice cream accompanied with a generous jar of maple syrup to drizzle (or drown) the plate at will. An absolute joy for the sweet-toothed and a big no no for diabetics. PHOP is a pancake house and our mistake was to order main dishes. We should have stuck to pancakes... and I advice you to do the same if you go there.

So Typical Of A Cat!

Made me laugh so hard it left me in stitches. This is a feline's character spot-on!





This Simon fella is a genius!