Birthday sunrise @ Broga Hill

18th November 2012

This is one special activity to have on a birthday!

To hike up current hiker's attraction @ Broga Hill, Semenyih.

It has a special meaning to it you know...

To witness the sun unfolds my birthday, 

I want to mark the sunrise as a beginning 

to a new chapter of my life.

Coming year is gonna be a great one! :)

And so.. Vince and I woke up at 2.45am.

Left my house at 3.20am.

4.00am arrived at Kota Damansara to pick up lovebirds CC and Rachel.

Reached Broga Hill starting point at 5.00am.

We relied on the GPS to the palm oil estate with only one small signboard of Broga Hill.

Parking is now chargeable of RM2 per entry.

It was pitch dark when we arrived.

Luckily we had our own torchlight.

CC brought along his super SPOTLIGHT from cycling.

It is enough to brighten up his view up to 50 meters away!!! (I think la... coz it's super bright!)

I confess that I was filled with regrets in the first 15 minutes of hiking up.

The pathway is not meant for proper hike.

It's muddy, slippery, very steep, and oh gawd, I was panting like an old lady!

(Pardon me, don't forget I am one year older that day)

I am thankful to have Vince who has offered to carry my bag.

Bet Vince didn't know what's in my bag before he offered to carry it.

1) Torchlight - A MUST

2) Two bottles of water - A MUST - but just a small bottle, coz u'll be in trouble when nature calls

3) Camera - A MUST - but I didn't use it.

4) Two purse - REGRET. Should just leave it in the car. Just put a few ringgit in the pocket in case you want to buy drinks / coconut water when you arrived at the stalls near parking area.

5) Two mobile phones - A MUST - just one probably? In case of emergency, plus there is phone coverage.

6) Mosquito repellent - DEPENDS. We didn't use it.

7) Face towel - DEPENDS on individual. We just wipe on our shirt. Haha!

8) Snacks - REGRET. We bought ALOT of biscuits, chocolates, wafers etc, but no appetite to munch on any of it.

9. Extra clothing - A MUST - you can change your wet and smelly shirt after

On top of my super heavy bag, Vince was carrying his bulky DSLR bag.

I could imagine the extra baggage he's carrying all the way to the top.

Don't think he would mind.

He's on a mission to lose weight! :P

There are many hill slopes that we stopped to rest.

One of it acted as our loo (no toilet one lehhhh).

We finally made it on top of the hill at around 6am.

That one hour feels like forever to me.

But the view on top, is priceless.

Photos from Vince Nikon DSLR for sharing.

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It was still dark at 6am.

So we waited... and waited...



Up up Broga Hill with Rachel



It is actually still very dark when this photo is taken.

We uses torchlight to "sapu sapu" on very low shutter speed.

I'm not technically equipped with photography terms, so bear with me. Haha!

Amazing colors huh?



Amazing colors of the pre-sunrise that we made up of lighting technique



Without "sapu sapu" it turns out to be silhouette. 

Which is not bad either! ;)



Romantic silhouette of CC and Rachel 



View of Semenyih at around 6.30am.



"I'm on the top of the world looking.. down on creation and the only explanation I can find.. "



.



It's been a long time since we take photo of us together.. *sweet sweet*





CC and Rachel looking at the horizon where their future holds 





And we are doing the parody version - with Vince acting like those old-skol China pose!



Sunrise seen only at around 7.00am. 

Here comes 18th November 2012!!!

Excited giler yooo!!!

Rachel and I watching the egg yolk emerging from the clouds

There are ALOT of hikers that day.

There's a bunch of Malay hikers who did their morning prayer on top of the hill.

They did the whole thing, take out their shoes, wash their feet, kneel for prayer etc.

Salute them! 

I love my new Nike pants and shoes. Cost me RM450 for both of em!

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I find that the way down is actually more difficult than going up.

My knee and toe really hurts.

Needs to "brake" coz the slope is too steep, and one might just slip and slide down.

The one is me.

No serious injury, luckily.

Just minor bruises on my palm.

While we are on our way down, there are many hikers who just started to climb up.

It's kinda hot at that time. And they brought children along.

Some with very high spirit as in "this is sooo fun!!!"

Some have sense of achievement "daddy, I can do it too!!!"

And some almost crying... sobbing away... :P

This hike is fun, but causes alot of muscle pain.

I couldn't feel my legs when I reach the parking lot.

Vince then brought us for dimsum at Balakong, Cheras.

I miss that place.

Used to have breakie there with his family.

Slept like a baby after shower.

Then birthday celebration continues.... 

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Allegro Cafe @ SS15, Subang Jaya

17th November 2012

Yay! Food blogging again!

This is actually my 3rd visit to Allegro Cafe, a cozy little Italian restaurant.

This shop is kinda hidden in the row of shop opposite Little Bally Cafe.

Look out for a yellow signboard at the first floor with a little balcony facing front.

Once you stepped in, it gives a very warm and cosy feeling.

It's just a small little restaurant to cater less than 40 pax.

But it's a nice place to chill, and sit back after meal.

The ambient of the Italian restaurant

The mirror image

The traditional looking menu

As the menu offers whole lot of selection of pasta, pizza, main courses, desserts etc,

we seek for one of the chinese supervisor's recommendation.

Barry ordered carbonara but he said one of their signature pasta is almost

the same as carbonara but it's with wild mushroom, and without egg, so the sauce is thicker.

I was like "SAY WHAT?!! WILD MUSHROOMS?!! OH YESSS!!!"

So we ordered the recommended Tagliatelle with Wild Mushroom.
The sauce is thick, flavorful, cheesy, and makes me wanting more!
Definitely one of the best carbonara-type pasta I've tasted!

 

homemade flat noodles cooked with mushroom, cheese and herbs (RM 28)

I ordered my usual Lamb Shank. Wouldn't miss it in every visit!

Option of pasta or salad as side for the braised lamb.

The lamb shank is tender, and the gravy is yummylicious!



lamb shank braised to tenderness (RM 32)

Vince was summoned to order pizza, and so this salmon lover got us Smoked Salmon pizza.

However, among all the dishes we ordered, this pizza is a disappointment.

It is almost tasteless and the salmon is such a waste to be used this way.

Next time try the Quattro Stagioni pizza.

I've tried it, it was good - but bear in mind that it has beef bacon and pepperoni on it.



slices of smoked salmon, onion and rosemary (RM 30)

For desserts, we were recommended Zabaione which

has egg white foam and a little bit of wine on it.

The taste of wine is not as strong as expected, but there is a wine aroma in it.

Scoop in deeper and you'll find yourself vanilla ice cream

to blend in with the foam and choco powder.



Zabaione - egg meringue flavored with Marsala wine or coffee served with vanilla ice cream (RM 12)

We also ordered the old-fashioned dessert - the tiramisu!

It took them around 20 minutes to serve the tiramisu after clearing our tables.

They might have forgotten about our order.

Not a big fan of tiramisu, to me it taste nice, but doesn't get my taste bud tingling.



homemade layers of sponge fingers and Mascarpone cheese (RM 13)

Bernard, Vince, Joyce & Barry @ Allegro Cafe

Verdict :-

Food : 4 / 5

(smoked salmon pizza not up to par)

Ambiance : 4.5 / 5

Service : 3.5 / 5

(having trouble communicating with one of the waiter 

and our tiramisu has been completely forgotten from the order chit)

Price : 4 / 5

(Total bill of RM150++ including coffee and mushroom soup,

the portion is quite small for the price paid)

Address :-

Allegro Cafe

11A, 1st floor,

Jalan SS15 / 4,

47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor

Tel : 03-5631 5682

Had a yummylicious dinner on my birthday eve

with these good men!!!

* xoxo *

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NeroFico - Live Jazz, Cinema & Italian Restaurant @ Damansara Heights, KL

8th November 2012

I was introduced to this fabulous place by Sunny boy who brought me

there for a yummylicious Italian cuisine.

It was unfortunately a weekday when we went there.

Otherwise we would be able to see live jazz performance

which is available on every Friday and Saturday night (starting at 10pm).

We do however enjoyed ourselves with our dinner selection of starter,

main course, plenty of dessert and wine!

Look out for their specials written on their blackboard,

some may not appear in the menu, but trust me, it's worth trying!

We've gotten ourselves very good host who is

helpful with us deciding on our dinner,

and with very good recommendations.

The waiters are also very observant and attentive into our unspoken needs.

The food is fabulous.

I'm overall, very much satisfied!!! :)

 

The romantic setting



Sunny boy had red wine to go with his mutton pasta

while I took white to compliment my main course of cod fish.

 

Enjoying my De Martino Suvigon Blanc (RM 26 p/glass)



As both of us are seafood lovers, the host recommended us the

starter special which is a seafood salad.

There are fresh mussels, prawns and squids on top of a layer of healthy vegetables.

Sunny boy specifically enjoy the bread with olive oil + vinegar.

Something like Italiannies.

 

Seafood salad of prawns, mussels, squids served with breads and olive oil + vinegar (RM 38)



On the blackboard menu, another tempting dish is

their pasta special, which is a fettuccine in mutton gravy sauce with

minced mutton, topped with Parmesan cheese.

This is my first encounter of mutton pasta, it is lip-smacking! *muahhh!!!*

 

pasta with minced mutton topped with Parmesan cheese (RM 40)




As I was eyeing their selection of risotto (my fav!!!), I was

reminded that I need to save some space for desserts - lots of them.

So I ordered my second fav dish - fish!

I had filetto di merluzzo, it's a seared cod fish with a

side of asparagus, sauté mushrooms and saffron sauce.

The cod fish is fresh, and the saute wild mushroom taste sooo good!

 

filetto di merluzzo - seared cod fish with a side of asparagus, sauté mushrooms and saffron sauce (RM 54)





The best part of the dinner is here!

Sunny boy insist on having two desserts, I chose

my favourite chocolate lava cake, and he had panna cotta.

The lava cake is good, but not as good as the one at dip n' dip.

Panna cotta is too "jelly-ish" and the taste is too bland for me.

Don't really enjoy it..



Lava cake in a crispy basket served with ice cream and strawberry (RM 20)



Panna cotta with strawberry and gooseberry (RM 16) 

  

Verdict :-

Food - 4.5 / 5 (0.5 was taken off due to panna cotta that wasn't up to my liking)

Ambiance - 4 / 5 (cozy and romantic, even better with live band)

Service - 5 / 5 (superb service rendered by host and waiters)

Price - 3 / 5 (Our bill come to a total of RM 296 including 2 glasses of wine and

aqua panna + service charge + govt tax)

I am already planning for my next trip to NeroFico

on Friday / Saturday to enjoy the live band.

It is located at the Ground Floor of Wisma Perintis ,

47 Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur.

It is opened from 8am - 11pm daily (closed on Sunday)

Tel : 03-2089 5312 - reservation needed especially on Friday & Saturday

Website : www.nerofico.com

Thank you Sunny boy for the yummylicious dinner!!! ;)

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Nature Retreat @ Sekeping Serendah, Rawang

To have more "feel" of living in the realm of nature, 

you may stream and play this song while

reading this post... 

*just my humble opinion*

Casey Abrams - Simple Life

This getaway is what we call the "Simple Life" 

where there is no TV.. hps.. and yes, 

"GADGETS OFF, BOSS!"

It's a trip that ET has arranged for us when he's at Qatar.

There are supposed to be more people.

Alicia and Eunice last minute fly airplane.

Facts about this place:-

Location : 

Serendah (exit NKVE Rawang), Selangor

About : 

A 50-acres privately owned tropical rainforest. 

A total of 7 sheds (comprises of warehouse, glass, mud and timber shed).

Each shed is as per it's description and is kept simple and provides only the basic.

Rates : 

We booked Timber Shed 2 and it is RM700 per night. 

It can accommodate up to 6 pax but the 5th and 6th pax is chargeable of RM50 each.

(no one will know if there are 10 ppl sneaking into the shed, no check-in / check-out required)

Bedrooms : 

There are two rooms in our shed. Two queen sized beds, two single beds. 

Enough for 6 pax. Don't know why the 5th and 6th is chargeable though.

Do not expect for air-conditioned rooms. 

There are ceiling fans which is cooling enough in that environment.

Kitchen :

Basic utensils, pots and pans, kettle, fridge, stove, BBQ pit is ready to be used.

Would advise to bring own pots and pans though.

They provide only small ones and kinda dirty.

Bathrooms and toilets : 

Timber shed bathrooms and toilets are open concept. 

Do not freak out yet. There are FOUR WALLS covering up the naked butt.

BUT.. there are no ceiling. So you gonna shiver when it's windy. 

And if it's raining, no mandi time.

Oh ya, the wall is not tall enough to deter people from stretching up their hands 

to take a candid snapshot of your sexy arses.

Meals : 

Good setting for BBQ dinner. 

Do prepare own ingredients and the caretaker can help to prepare the charcoal with charges imposed.

Those who are lazy to go out to the town for meals, or to cook,

may get the caretaker to prepare meals. 

When we were there, we had Indian rice consist of rice, chicken, vege curry, eggs, and papadam,

which is surprisingly TASTY! 

Dinner was RM20 per pax.

Breakfast is available too - choices of roti canai or nasi lemak.

Options may vary.

Programs : 

NIL. 

You gotta self entertain here. 

Coz there is no TV, no network coverage to make phone calls / online.

The only thing they have, is a 4-feet swimming pool. 

If you are there not prepared, you'll end up only enjoying 

the orchestra or crickets, frogs and who knows what's out there in the jungle.

For a group of only 4, we entertained ourselves with movies, and yes, Russell Peters!

Side notes :

Bring your own toiletries e.g towels, shampoo, body wash, toothpaste etc.

Toilet rolls, tissue boxes and mosquito coil provided.

And if it's not enough, there is mosquito net for every bed.

Plan for BBQ, bring some poker cards, but not mahjong-lahh.. 

It's quiet and peaceful out there.. so keep it that way. 

Bottom line - to enjoy oneself here, the more the merrier!

Verdict:

Some may find this place pretty boring.

But that is why we picked this place as our holiday destination.

To get away from hustle and bustle of the city life.

To retreat to nature.

To relax and have a peaceful time.

To do nothing, and buat bodoh aje.

I appreciate the greeneries there.

The simple place to stay.

The chirping birds and crickets, 

the sound of leaves being blown slowly by the wind.

All these actually calm me down alot.

But in the end, we are all looking at our phones 

to play games, listen to music, watch Russell Peters etc. 

It's pretty hard to get by without technologies and gadgets.

We are all indeed city boys and girls. 

Website : http://www.serendah.com

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Photos of our trip on 27th - 28th October 2012 to share.

Took me 3 weeks to review the place.

Unbelievably busy recently. 

Slept at 4am yesterday and I'm still awake now. 

Getting old by a year in two days time and I'm acting like a teen?!!

entrance to our timber shed (enter from back)

Barry and I

Watching Lorax coz we are darn bored

the ceiling with natural lighting

wall not plastered, just basic bricks built up, ceiling fan (no air-con) and mosquito net for every beds

traditional window engraving

the kitchen that may look simple, but it has all the basic stuffs u need

the walkway with wired chairs

Sung Sung, Barry, ET and Joyce

My brother, my best bud, my mentor, my caretaker, my friend, my love, my everything for the past 8 years.

The simple bedroom. Comfy enough to sleep.

Brought Domo along.. shhh.. he escaped from the RM50 additional pax charge :)

even their comment card is so simple.. and yes, do be eco friendly and save the water & energy

smiling happily behind bars

... and that's Sung Sung in the bathroom!

we were all looking for the bathrooms and toilets, was surprised to find that this is it.. 

as simple as a shower rose, and a shampoo stand..
behind that wall is the car park... imagine how insecure it feels..
and when it's windy / raining, no way you gonna take your bath...

mandi kerbau that day... :P

the toilet

Timber shed open concept, this is what I mean!
(this is the view when you stretch your hands up high against the brick wall from the car park)

the simple water tap which is made by just a rounded stone?

front view of the timber shed

it's great to have you along with us! :)

I'm like a bird version 2.0

scary and dark for jungle treking here.. 

the 4-feet swimming pool

our dinner! considered a lavish one despite being in a jungle.. 

dry curry chicken

dry vege curry

fried eggs

the RM20 is worth it cause it's a big portion and simply yummylicious!

watching Russell Peters before going out to the town

morning breakfast : mum's famous mihun siam - heated up by Chef Barry

dirty waterfall - nothing to shout about - forget about coming here!

OMG it's 3am!!! Sleeping time!!!

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