Ouch! I hurt my back again.

I hurt my back again. This is the second time I had this problem.

The first time happened 4 years ago back in KL. I woke up that morning at about 5.30 am. As I turned my head to the left (to look for my alarm clock) I heard a ‘snap’ somewhere at the back, below my neck. Next think I knew, I couldn’t move. Well, I could move. But my back hurts when I tried to move. My dad took me to the doctor and he gave me an injection (just to kill the pain). Didn’t really work because I can still feel the pain throughout the day.

So my mum took me to a massage parlor Chinese Sensei. Apparently, my veins crossed each other path (don’t ask me how because that’s what the sensei told me). So he sort of gave me a massage by rubbing my back real hard with some special ointment (believe me, the pain was beyond description) to push the veins back to the original position (I don’t care what he say or do, so long I feel better). For all the pain I had to endure, I did feel better after that.

This time, there was no Chinese Sensei to help. Before any of you start jumping to conclusion, Kay was out of London on an assignment. I was alone and I am not capable nor am I stupid enough to engage in acrobatic maneuver on bed just so to strain my neck. So please spare me your kinky thoughts.

Similar to the first incident, it just ‘snapped’ when I turn around. It was really painful but least it’s not as bad as last time. I could still get up but my movement is badly restraint. I couldn’t turn my head to the right because the back of my neck hurts. I didn’t go to the doctor because I don’t have a car and they are just going to give me some pain-killer anyway.

Since it was just a strain (I assume so since it only hurts when I move my head), I just resort to Counterpain, a pain relieve cream with F&N Sarsi smell-flavour.

Those of you who had tried this (especially when you have muscle pain after sports) would understand the ‘cold treatment’ once applied onto. Worst, it’s winter now in London and the temperature is running below 5 degree Celsius. Coupled with the cold weather, I guess you can imagine the cold sensation when you apply Counterpain.

If you can’t imagine how it feels like, you can experiment this. Go into a room with the air-condition turned to the lowest temperature (likelihood the lowest would be 17 to 16 degree Celsius, but that would do). Undress yourself so that cold environment is similar to 5 degree Celsius. (Please don’t wank yourself because we are in a middle of an experiment). Now apply Counterpain. You can scream if you want because the impact of the ‘cold treatment’ can be really harsh. I hope you enjoyed the sensation of Counterpain. I do because I think I can turn my head to the right as I am typing this entry. Hopefully the pain will ease by tomorrow.

Beef casserole for two

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope all of you had a great time. Whatever is it, just make sure you practice safe sex!

For those of you planning to cook a meal for you love as part of your Valentines Day surprise, Chef Bob is proud to bring you a simple heart-warming beef casserole recipe.

First, let’s start with the ingredients:

You will need 400 gm of beef

Celeries – nicely chopped

Garlic – you don’t have to peel the skin

Cherry tomatoes – chopped half and to give you the sweet taste

Now, throw the celeries, garlic and cherry tomatoes into the oven tray.

Preheat your oven between 180 to 200 degree

Cut the beef to pieces and mix it together with the rest of the ingredients.

Season it with salt, pepper, thyme and dried sage to bring it to flavour

Pour red wine into the meat

Cover the oven tray with aluminum foil. Leave it in the oven for 1 hour and a half.

Once ready take the oven tray out and remove the foil. Leave it to cool for about 10 minutes.

There you go, beef casserole for two ready to be served.

If you don’t take beef, you can substitute it with chicken and use white wine instead of red.

Bon appetite!

Birthday Treat

I know it’s been a while but I just want to share the surprise birthday treat that Kay had prepared for me. If you are thinking about something kinky…wipe that thought away from your mind. Kay sort of prepared a 6-course dinner. The food is fantastic and I am really proud of Kay. In fact, Kay’s cooking skill has improved so much; she is basically responsible for all the cooking at home, while I sit and enjoy the television.

Anyway, here is the list of dishes she prepared for me.

We started with Caesar Salad

Mussels in White Wine

Pan-fried Scallops with Sweet Chili

Baked Salmon with Cheese

Eton Mess

And end with a Birthday Cake!

When is it a good deal?

Getting married is ‘once in a life time’, a phrase often used, if not overly abused by opportunistic business man who wants to sell you some form of wedding services. When Kay and I were planning for our wedding, we had a fair share of meeting such opportunistic business people, in the form of a bridal houses.

Bridal houses basically offers a packaged service which includes, bridal gowns, groom's suit/ tuxedo, professional photographer, make-up, photography, costumes (i.e. Korean costumes, Japanese kimono, sailor, paramilitary etc, gigantic photo frame, and whatever wild/wet dream and fantasy you and your spouse want, they will deliver it to you for a price.

There is never short of supply of bridal houses in Kuala Lumpur. Most of them are concentrated at Jalan Loke Yew and has extended their presence in SS2 in Petaling Jaya.

We did not engage the service of a bridal house but some of my married friends and family had they have paid between RM7,000 to RM10,000 for the combined services.

I am not sure why it would be so expensive because during one of my bridal fair tour, I noticed that the package prices starts from RM2,888 and I don’t see why my family and friends end up paying more than RM7,000. In any case, when we were preparing for our wedding, Kay and I dropped by at a few of this bridal houses to explore the possible opportunity to contract their services and to get a good deal. When we walked into Bridal Shop A, a heavy but bubbly man came bouncing out to the front door to receive us.

This is an excerpt of our conversation:

Bubbly man: Welcome to Bridal Shop Ah! Looks like we got a to-be married couple here. Before we go on, when is the eventful date? Where is it?

Kay: We are having it on xx day xx month xx year at Hotel X.

Bubbly man: Ohhhh. We have some slots from now to the event and I must say it is a lovely and grand hotel you have booked.

(Note: I have only come to realise towards the end of the conversation that Mr. Bubbly wants to know if we are having it at a hotel or a restaurant. A hotel and if it's a five-star hotel would indicate our wealth/ budget)

Bob: What sort of package do you have for us? We wanted something simp...

Bubbly man: Ohhh... we have a few packages.

Bubbly took out a blank piece of paper and started scribbling. This is real nice. A big established bridal house with no definite price list. Then he showed me the scribbled price list:

1) Package A cost RM1,988;

2) Package B RM2,888; and

3) Package C RM3,888.

The difference with each package is the number of photos we could put into the album, the quality of the bridal gown (package A bridal gown is for VIP, while package B is for VVIP and Package C is for VVVIP), the size of the photo frame, album quality etc.

And I thought, if I wanted it simple, I could take mid-range say Package B at RM2,800. How the hell did my friends manage to make it to RM10,000? Then it came clear to me.

Bubbly man: In Package B, we will take a minimum of 80 photo shots of both of you and we will take 20 of your best shots for the album. We will give you two albums which has identical shots. One for you and one for your wife's mum since you are taking her away...ha ha ha.

20 shots don’t sound too bad. I can make it simple. But Kay saw the problem almost immediately.

Kay: I don't think 20 photos is enough. If you take 80 shots and we could only choose 25% of the entire selection. What if some shots looks good on my husband but not me and vice-versa? Then we may end up choosing more photos than the provided 20.

Bubbly man: Don't worry, after the shot if you think you need more we will print more but you may have to pay extra because it is not in the package.

Bob: How much?

Bubbly man: RM60 for a photo.

What the f@*k? It doesn't cost much to print a photo? If I were to choose 10 extra photo it would cost me an extra RM600!

Kay: Are you going to give us the negative for the original 80 since you are not going to put all the photos in the album?

Bubbly man: So sorry. We can't. It is not in the package.

Kay: Ok fine (a little frustrated). By the way, can I see your gown?

Bubbly man was more than happy to bring us around the collection of gown. He showed us VVIP gown. We touched the material. Feels like it has been recycle from newspaper. Then he showed us the VVVIP version and Super VIP version (locked in a room with high level of security). The quality of these gowns was far better than the choice of our package.

Kay: If I wanted to maintain package B but take this Super VIP gown instead of what was in the package, how much would I have to pay?

Bubbly man: Ohh...you need to add an additional of RM1,000 just for that. But it is very nice indeed. I think you should try it on now just to have a feel.

Then it came clear to me how my friends and family paid RM7,000 to RM10,000 for pre-wedding photo shots. These bridal houses are engaging in physiological warfare. First, tempt you with the low cost package. Once you have signed in and taken your photos, extra cost kicks in. Even small things like the photo album cover. They could provide you something ugly and if you want something better quality...just topped-up your money. Why not since it's a once in a lifetime, (the so famously abused phrase), might as well go for the best and part your money foolishly.

Anyway, we walked out since we are not comfortable with such business tactics. At first we thought that only Bridal House A employs such tactic. Then when visit Bridal House B, C, D and all the way to Z, it's all the same tactic.

So the next time you pick up a good deal from a bridal house, think twice! You might end up paying more than you’ve envisage.

It has finally arrived!

After Kay waited religiously for almost one month, our Photobook has finally arrived. It all began sometime during the Christmas holidays, when we were introduced to Photobook by our friends and we decided to give it a try by compiling our 2007 holiday photos into a magazine-like photo album.

Basically, Photobook is a high quality photo album that allows customer a free-hand to design the entire photo album. Whilst the customer design the photo album, the company will print the album using high quality digital printing and paper material. The final product is thereafter sent back to the customer. Everything is done online and is convenient.

Customers will be given the software (downloaded online) to design the Photobook album and are given the opportunity to choose your own cover (hard/ soft cover). I won’t say it’s easy to use because it took Kay somewhat 3 weekends to work on the Photobook before submitting online to the company in Malaysia for printing. There’s lots of work involved especially if you are particular with matching colour and the arrangement of the photos. (since Kay is good at what she does, I had left the production of the Photobook in good hands while I spend my time watching television and mastering the Nintendo Wii)

After three weekends of hard work, our draft Photobook was submitted via online to the printer. The company confirmed the receipt of our order and promise to deliver the final Photobook to us within 10 to 12 working days. Unfortunately, after 10 working days, nothing came. We called Photobook in Malaysia to enquire the delivery status and they’ve confirmed it has been dispatched and gave us a tracking number. Then we start to panic. The package could have gone missing along the way or it could have ended-up in someone else’s letter box. We tried speaking to the local post office and gave them the tracking number. No result.

So we waited for week after week and nothing was coming through. And just as our patience were running low and losing hope, Kay made a last attempt by calling the local post office again. This time some nice bloke referred her to Parcel Force (another courier agent). She got in touch with Parcel Force and surprise, surprise, the package was with them.

The reason for the delay; Photobook had got our address wrong. They’ve even got our e-mail address wrong and had failed to give Parcel Force our contact number. In fact, Parcel Force had attempted to contact us, but without our residential address, e-mail address and contact number, they didn't know what to do and left the package with them for almost a month!

Anyway, Kay made arrangement for the package to be delivered to our place (with the correct address this time). We had a look at it. The quality is good but the colours are darker than we’ve expected. Nevertheless, it’s bearable. They do use high quality materials to produce the book and we won't have to worry about the photos turning pale.

Best kept memories.

Save for the postal problem, I think for the price of RM200++ (inclusive of delivery charges) the Photobook is value for money and worth the investment. For that, we are giving 7 out of 10 points for this. To those of you considering to compile your own album, you can consider Photobook! Just make sure they've got your address correct.

Pictures are worth a thousand words.

A celebration to yearn for

Some had asked us, how was our Chinese New Year celebration in UK. To be honest about it, there is nothing to shout about. There was no loud CNY music from Astro’s Wah Lai Toi which continuously reminds you about the celebration. Nor was there any ‘yee sang’ available for people to toss their food up just as a sign of better luck and prosperity.

To simply describe it, it was a subtle CNY celebration. On the eve of CNY, Kay and I had a simple meal while watching the friendly football match between England and Switzerland (with England wining the game with 2:1) on the TV. Nothing fantastic, but least it’s a mini reunion dinner for both of us. On the first day of CNY, we started our morning with phone calls back home to our families and after that, I was back to work in the office. So, if you are complaining about not wanting to go back to work/ school after your holidays, please do stop because you could have been in a far worst position that you are.

A colleague of mine recently asked how we celebrate CNY in Malaysia. I was lost of words for a minute and thought hard about it. In fact, the lack of atmosphere for two consecutive years in UK had almost made me forgot how a CNY celebration was like in the first place. I struggled at first but I managed to put up the following description:-

Chinese New Year is best described as a celebration where people (family and friends) gather and eat together for the next 15 days until ‘Chap Goh Meh’ (the last day of Chinese New Year). That’s right! It’s all about eating. Of course, during the in-between meal time when everyone is digesting from the heavy consumption of food, the singles and children would make their rounds amongst the married couple to wish them ‘Happy Chinese New Year’ so that in return they would be given a ‘ang pow’, a red packet with money inside as a sign of good luck and prosperity to the receiving end. Personally, people care more of the monetary value rather than believe of luck these days.

As most of the Chinese people has the knack of business sense, they will attempt to increase the monetary value of their ‘ang pow’ by engaging in ‘high risk’ investing (i.e gambling). Same goes to those who had extended ‘ang pow’ who wished to recouped the monies given out due to their traditional responsibilities.

The atmosphere is always noisy. There is always this continuous irritating song played on the TV about ‘God of Wealth’ is coming to town (similar to Santa Clause is coming to town song but the Chinese version). Kids visiting your home sometimes leave a trail of noise and destruction just to join in the festive mood. Even the grown ups would not leave you alone as they bombard you with tones of questions such as “When are you getting married” (for the singles) or “When are you going to have a child” (for the newly wed).

And that is what CNY celebration is all about, from my perspective.

After putting through a summarised version of CNY to my colleague, I realised that I am more than willing to forgo the savings I had made from not giving out ‘ang pow’ (and that is shit load lot of money), just to be with my families and friends. I guess it’s only after I experienced the subtle celebration that I really appreciate CNY rather than assuming that it was just another public holiday. Let’s hope next year we could be back home to celebrate CNY with everyone.

Gong Xi Fa Chai everyone. Best wishes to all of you.

Nintendo Wii

When I was 12 at the beginning of my puberty, my dad got me my first console game Sega Mega Drive (though this has nothing to do with my puberty). I immediately got addicted to it and realised that I am the kind of person who would be a sucker for computer games. As a 12 year old kid, I have lived through the jubilee years of Sonic the Hedgehog and contributed (as a sucker) to Sega’s successful win in the console wars against Nintendo.

As I grew older, technology improved. Then along came Sony’s great console success. The Playstation 2. Unlike the generation of Sega Mega Drive, games are not as simple as beat em’-up or shoot and run. Joy pad with multiple combinations of buttons would give your game character different moves. Graphic becomes more realistic which amongst others includes my favorite ‘tfk’ games, Ace Combat 5 and foot ball games.

And all this time, Nintendo’s Game Cube (same generation of PS2) presence has been rather insignificant in the console market. Then Microsoft launch the new X-Box 360 and Sony race to introduce the new Playstation 3, both boasting new cinematic experience with newly improve processors to support it. Nintendo, decides to take a step back to simple game console for everyone in the family, hence Nintendo Wii, which the production cost is less than X-Box 360 and PS3. Nintendo Wii games are simple and rely on motion movement rather than using complicated joypad in X-Box 360 and PS3 games (which only target at older users). Here is a video of it:

Kay love it for its simplicity compare to the complicated games offered by X-Box 360. Actually I preferred X-Box 360. But if I bought an X-Box 360, I would be the only one having fun. So to get Kay involve as well, I decided to buy her a Nintendo Wii as our wedding anniversary present.

However, getting a Nintendo Wii in London has been fairly difficult. It has been sold-out in everywhere. Demand outstripped supply. I have visited the shop twice but was unable to get my hands on the console. I went online and it sold-out as well. Nevertheless, my persistence pays off when I have managed to get it online and have it delivered to our flat right before the wedding anniversary.

Our wedding anniversary present

The price? £179.00 for the console and Wii Sports games comes with it. Did we enjoy it? Of course! It was great fun. Recommended for all ages, young or old. I have to give Nintendo the credit. The games are simple and Nintendo try to minimise the complexity of the accessories.

Conclusion? The price is much lower compare to X-Box 360 and PS3. The games are much simpler and enjoyable. Everyone can have fun. And I am giving 9 out of 10 points for this.

Greek Cuisine

Minimal seasoning, fresh food and original flavour. That is essentially the characteristic of Greek cuisine. Grilled to order seafood and meat, casseroles and mayirefta (oven-baked dish) are widely served in most of the Greek restaurants. In the usual fashion of Bob’s World, here is my take of Greek cuisine:-

Naousa Tavern

Naousa is located at Fira Town, Santorini. Whilst I disagree with Greece Lonely Planet (March 2006 Publication) comment that the food are reasonably priced, I do agree that the restaurant serve excellent food.

In every Greek meal, you will be served with bread together with butter/ virgin oil/ vinegar, which is a little bland if you ask me. I’ve decided to improvise by ordering baked feta cheese with salad to start my meal with the bread. Feta cheese is the national cheese of Greece. Feta cheeses are made from sheep’s and/or goat’s milk and most of this cheese comes from mountain area.

For the main course, I would recommend the lamb in lemon sauce. I think it’s casserole (looks like it, taste like it) with strong fresh lemon juice squeeze into the lamb. I think the meat was cooked over long hours and slow fire, which gives the lamb a tender characteristic. It goes really well with herb rice.

Otherwise, I would recommend alternative Greek specialties, mousaka, oven-baked beef with artichokes and aubergines dish which are prepared early in the day and left to cool to enhance the flavour.

Nikolas

On a budget? Not to worry. Nikolas serves good food and at a very reasonable price. The restaurant is located at Fira town, Santorini. However, do not expect to be given a menu, because there is none to start with. Just ask the waiter for some of the recommendation.

If you are too shy to ask, the I would recommend the beef stew with onions.

Or you could go for the grilled calamari with lemon sauce.

The portions are fairly small, so you might want to order some bread to go with your meal.

Palia Taverna tou Psara

Moving over to Athens, I would recommend you to go to Palia Taverna tou Psara, located at the slope of Plaka. Prices, however, are on the high side with an average of €25 per person. But you can have a nice candle light dinner outside the restaurant while enjoying the breezy atmosphere.

To start your meal, order some bread and ask for tzatziki (made of yoghurt with cucumbers, garlic, vinegar and olive oil. It tastes really good with a little spicy blend (due to the garlic) and sour taste to open your appetite.

Another recommended starter is the aubergine croquettes.

Grilled seafood is one of the maid cuisine in Greece. I would recommend you to go for the grilled octopus. Grilled over a barbeque stove with only salt, the dish offer fresh and original flavour of the octopus. Squeeze some lemon onto the dish just to give a little sweet and sour taste.

Kay had the grilled squid with cheese. Cheese is stuffed into the squid and is grilled over the barbeque stove with salt. Watch the melted cheese flows out as you cut the squid. Goes well with lemon as well.

Thanasis

One of the few great souvlaki (meat on skewers just like kebab) can be found at Thanasis at Monastiraki (near the entrance to the lower level of Acropolis, where the agora is located). The take-away price cost €1.70 and there are scores of tourist queuing for it. To dine in might cost you around €7 but you will be offered a huge plate of meat with pita bread, grilled tomatoes and onions.