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Part III of Diwali – Lepaking in Ipoh

You know it’s kind of sad that after a year’s worth of in-between trips to Ipoh, I’ve never explored the wonders that Ipoh has to offer. But then again, we usually go back for a night or two. However this time around, having spent 3 nights at the in-laws for Diwali and having nag the better half to take me somewhere, I finally managed to check out some sites thanks to my local guides – Hubby (the hopeless guide) and BIL who did a much better job despite living in UK.

Kek Look Toong Temple (Cave of Great Happiness)

Great happiness awaits those who step in?

Okay between the two cave temples that we went to and the other ones I briefly saw, this was perhaps the most spectacular of them all. The temple has impressive works of art with statues of Buddha in various forms among the rock formations.

The entrance of the cave, which displayed splendid art of caving patterns

The hall with several idols for prayers

A piece of heaven view – well except for the telco satellite station and factory behind it

Wanted to take a candid shot of this but someone just had to pose like a Mentri Besar

Then it was off to Sam Poh Tong, a Buddhist Temple within a natural limestone hill, about 5 mins drive from Kek Look Toong Temple

Statues of Buddha and other deities are placed inside for respective devotees to offer prayers.

Noticed that both the temples had a tortoise pond where feeding is allowed. Not too sure what the significance is, anyone?

After all that sight seeing and being burnt under the sun, there better be cake. I insisted.

So off we went to the “nicest restaurant “in Ipoh. And I’m not being sarky.

For a dose of Tiramisu cake

And chocolate cake

But wait, the cakes, so-so in taste were relatively pricey. And the price of their dishes? You guessed it, pricier than KL. So much for smaller towns being cheaper than KL.

Trip to the waterfalls

Mission Possible – How we sneaked Shandy the Chocolate Lab from the security guards for a swim at the water falls

Now you see her

Now you don’t

Believe it or not, this waterfall is only 2 mins away from the in-laws’

The boys strategizing how to get Shandy into the water

Shandy and the boys at play – Mission accomplished

Hubby playing with his ‘imaginary dog’ Fetch Bojangles fetch!

Cute, yes? no? Creepy for a 30 year old I say

And the concluding part to my Diwali series would actually be my B’day and Diwali in Ipoh That I will blog soon, promise

Part II of Diwali – Family Dinner – 24th October

Ever since I was baby and I exaggerate you not, I’ve celebrated Diwali with my family (save for last year when Baby Sis was in UK). Last year being our first Diwali was celebrated with my family, a custom for newly weds. This year, as much as I would have loved to stay put in KL and celebrate the Festival of Lights with the ones I love dearly, Hubby and I headed back to Ipoh.

This being my first Diwali away from home, so what’s a married girl to do?

Arrange for early Diwali dinner with Family.

The Venue

Cracked my head silly for a few days deciding where to take the family. Shall we do Chinese, Thai or Western food but wait a minute, why not Sri Lankan food since we’re Sri Lankans? Then I realized that there’s actually a Sri Lankan restaurant called Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar in Damansara Heights.

Ok restaurant picked. Headache solved.

Research

Now that we have the World Wide Web at our finger tips, you have no one but yourself to blame and kick if you go to a restaurant and end up regretting setting foot into the restaurant.

Research on blogs– okay highly raved, edible, and very good.

I was all set to be impressed.

The swanky exterior and interior

The Appetizer

Fish cutlet

Vegetable Rotti Roll

Mains

The Kandian Chicken Dance & Chicken String Hopper Kothu

Lumprais

Chicken Devilled Dish

String Hoppers

Mutton Curry

You know the food is good when all the plates are empty

The Food – 10/10. A Li Yaa impressed me. Amazingly, all dishes were really good, a tad spicy but GOOD! And this is evident by the different races of diners you will find in the packed restaurant.

The Bill – RM116

The Diners – Happy and can’t wait to go back for more.

Also managed to drop by my Uncle’s place to welcome his 57th Birthday. October babies rock, don’t ya think?

Enjoying the FREE massage chair

Eyeing the Soutern Comfort bottle

Birthday Boy who turned 57 on October 25th

Ah, I want to go back to A Li Yaa again!

Regardless of race and religion, here’s wishing all a Happy Diwali. Let’s celebrate the victory of good over evil and let the Inner Light in YOU outshine all darkness, obstacles and ignorance to bring you a wise new year of luck, health and wealth.

And to ME,

Today I turn twenty seven

But I don’t know if I should be leaden

However I thank god my hair is still black like a raven

Many years to go before heaven

Oh how I wish I was still eleven

Corny, I know

Happy Birthday ME.

Part I of Diwali – The Shopping

Say Hi to Anarkali:

The outfit that I only got to know of just yesterday.

She is the latest fashion craze in Bollywood. You can bet your last chocolate barfi that the entire Indian population, the younger ones at least will be wearing one of these for Diwali this year.

Anarkalis, also known as the empire-waist are the latest craze in Indian fashion this year. These designs aren’t new as they have been around since the Mughal times, only making a comeback after a release of a few popular Hindi movies.

Pushing our way through the mad crowd in Brickfields heading to the Indian Bazaar near La Meridien, we found ourselves lost and in awe with all the pretty collection of traditional Indian outfits up for grabs.

The one thing all Indian women have a tough time doing is making up their minds when shopping for traditional outfits. You’re spoilt for choices and you will NEVER EVER see two of the same exact pieces where sarees or Salwar Khameez are concerned and that is the damn problem. Shopping for an outfit definitely will never take less than 20 minutes as I’d hope it would be. There are too many pretty choices to spoil us and make our head spin, thus a LONG shopping session.

Only let men tag IF they are able to handle it. Mine actually did

Infact I took all 3 hours to look for my Annarkali. It was love at first sight as I saw it hanging from the mannequin. Best part is, I tried it on, since they were no mirros in sight, I let my husband decide if it looks good or not. And the mystery shall be solved once I wear this on Monday.

Ah even the stars are wearing em.

I say, if it’s good enough for the Bollywood folks, then it’s good enough for us common folks. Right?

And the number 1 reason to get this: It covers all flaws – waist and hips How can I say no to that?

Randomness: A lack of order, purpose, cause, or predictability.

1. I need to go from Fatville to Svelte-ville. Pronto. Ok by December 15th coz I have a secret session with Anna-Rina.

2. I need to buy a Salwar Khameez for Diwali by end of this week

3. I learnt a new word from Anna: Boudoir

4. I want to go to Bandung to shop. And sight see. And shop.

5. I’m turning 27 this month. That’s okay coz I like the number 27. *hint*

6. I keep having weird dreams of two people from the past who are attempting to seduce me back. WHY?

7. I’m forever banned in Hong Leong’s books for not attending an interview

8. I keep having recurring nightmares of losing my teeth. WHY?

9. I’m banning CitiGroup for making me attend an interview and finding out they totally misled me. But I think I’ll partially un-ban them coz they took my advice and corrected the job ad.

10. I want to find out the meaning of life. Why are we here?

Ok seriously.

11. I wish people would stop guessing and butchering my heritage.

12. Dreams about losing our teeth Meaning: Dreaming of teeth falling out may represent insecurity. These dreams often occur at a time of transition between one phase of life and another. When we lost our milk teeth, we also gradually lost our childhood innocence. Loosing your teeth therefore show that today you have similar feelings of uncertainty and self-consciousness as you did in childhood. The dream could also highlight your worries about getting older. There, dream decoded.

13. I want to dress up as a Witch for a Halloween party.

14. I’m planning for a Sri Lankan dinner for early Diwali with my parents this Friday.

15. I said Witch, not Bitch although that would work too.

16. I got a new bigger desk at work with ample privacy.

17. But I’m looking for a new job on Jobstreet

18. I need to come up with better material for my blog, heh

19. My hair is crying for help. I could probably get lost in a jungle and blend in with the lions.

20. I need a DSLR camera, to nicely capture special moments

21. I want to do charity work. But I always procrastinate

22. My head will spin for the next 1 week trying to comprehend ethylene oxide, glycols, various solvents and monomers – Petrochemicals in short

23. I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up sometimes.

24. And if I had a wish, I’d wish for a 100 more wishes. World peace, end to child labor and equality of wealth included.

25. I’ve realized I have a random and sometimes weird husband so it naturally rubs off on me.

26. I don’t understand women’s fascination with jewerly.

27. Good food is my new best friend.

I shall stop at 27 coz I like that number

If you’re wondering wow this is such a non-sensical random post, WHAT’S UP?

Well you’re wrong AND boring coz life is about being RANDOM and therefore bingo, the moral of this post!

Support Randomness.

Till I can make coherent sense again,

The Mrs Blogs, OUT (and no pun intended) and preparing for Diwali.

Feel free to wish me when you can.

Note: Credit to all pictures *borrowed*