Our favourite ABC and Rojak stall in Miri ;-)

Thanks to a dear Miri-an friend who introduced this to Augustine many months ago, we now frequent this stall in Krokop on a regular basis. Why? Coz the ABC is really huge with lots ingredients and we can opt for either fresh milk or brown sugar topping. Our preference is fresh milk. Always 100% satisfying for a hot day! The other reason is they make one of the best Rojak we've ever had! Bonus : very hot chilli paste is provided at the side of the plate ;-) The noodle stall next door also makes yummy noodles, we like their "char kuey teow".

Augustine and I grew up frequenting this "Fajar Rojak" stall in Uptown DU back home. The couple manning this stall is one of my far relatives (mom's bro-in-law's cousin) and my dad was a #1 fan. We never forget to visit this stall whenever we are home and their "popiah" is also a must-have. The other Rojak stall Augustine likes is behind Atria shopping centre at DJ but I didn't think it was nice. Another Rojak stall I must mention is Rojak Ah Chai in Teluk Intan which is also very good and they've appeared in papers and on tv.

What about your favourite Rojak?

Carmen

Facial in Miri!

Last Friday, we checked out a skincare/beauty center at Boulevard commercial center and I then signed up for a 6+2 facial program and went for my first facial here in Miri the very next day.

I first saw this center at their other outlet at Bintang Mall a few months ago but I'd wanted to look around and see which other centers uses Dermalogica products. Coz I've been using these products for many years and facials back home are also with a skincare center using these products.

I scanned through the "facial menu" and I thought the programs, in fact the shop layout as well, were very much similar to the one I frequent back home. So I am guessing they have the same setup and training although this one's definitely locally owned.

I love the fact that the rates are lower here in Miri, (for the same stuff back home) and they were running the 6+2 offer (pay for 6 free 2) and the flexibilities that comes with the program. I can mix 2 types of different facials and I can split the payment into 3 instalments. In KL, I have to pay in full upfront. Well I chose 2 different facials from the mid-range ones so on average, with the 6+2 program, I am paying slightly less than ninety per session ;-)

I was very satisfied with the first session, it lasted almost 2 hours, and the therapists attending to me were very attentive to my needs. The facial structure is just the same as the ones I go for back home. And they did a great job trimming my eyebrows coz my eyes are always droopy and sleepy so I am looking more "awake" now! The only problem for me is that the therapists speak Mandarin and assume I know Mandarin (I can converse with them but I won't be able to understand the technicalities and stuff in Mandarin), so when they explain what they are using or what they are doing throughout the facial session, half of the time, I do not understand what they're saying :-( But it's OK coz the fact that the steps were all the same, I knew what I was going through. For me, in terms of the services rendered (including massages on my face, neck, shoulders and upper arms), there's no question about the worthiness although yes it's a competitive market out there for them.

Well Augustine is planning to start his facial this weekend (upon seeing my satisfaction), they've got a few facial types under the men's skincare range although the therapist mentioned he could also sign up for the ones I did. But for men, they will only be given face massage, no massages for neck and shoulder. Too bad huh.

Carmen

Miri City Christmas Parade 2008

Last Saturday, we gathered at the amphitheatre at Miri City Fan for the Miri City Christmas Parade, organised by the Christian Community of Miri. It was also my first time to the Miri City Fan! There were about 3720 of us participating in the celebration from churches like SIB, Methodist, Anglican, CLSF, FGA, Baptist, Calvary, SDA, Boys Brigade, RC and St Joe band!

The theme was Christ...The Perfect Gift of Christmas. Indeed we were very privileged to be able to share the love of Christ with Miri-ans openly through the celebration.

Y.B. Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan initiated the parade earlier this year and he officiated the parade and also gave a speech.

In the opening prayer by one of the church pastors, I remembered the pastor asked us to cheer and clap as loud as we can "sehingga daun gugur" (in BM), and guess what, some leaves did fall in between me and Augustine, Praise God!

We also had worship where we sang 2 songs in both languages : Hai Mari Berhimpun Dan Bersukaria/O Come All Ye Faithful and Kesukaan Bagi Dunia/Joy To The World.

The offerings collected during the service totalled RM11K plus and will be donated to the Miri Kidney Dialysis Centre and Miri Cancer Society. Praise the Lord!

The parade around the city (about 3km) was an awesome experience for us, being able to share our celebration in public, wishing everyone a blessed Christmas and sharing tracts. Indeed God was present with us throughout the celebration. God is good!

The weather was excellent all through the evening and night. I think it only rained like somewhere in the middle of the night!

We thank God for the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with many on Saturday and may everyone's hearts be blessed this Christmas as we remember our Lord Saviour and the peace and joy He brings us.

Blessed Christmas to all and enjoy the slideshow below!

Carmen

Friday night out

Tonight was one of our weekday night out / date night and we decided to go to Halo Cafe in town. We came here for dinner with our friends on Monday night and we found out they have a performing band every night from 8:30pm, except Sunday nights. And we thought the band tonight was really good. They sang really well even individually! And they were also having a good time communicating with the crowd ;-) Ah they sang 2 songs from Jay Chou's new album ;-)

Hmmm I had fun with Augustine tonight, I love it that we make it a point to spend quality time together. I try not to talk about work but I think we (or rather I) still do sometimes hehe.

We shared some fries and this Borneo coffee, the serving is for two, it was quite good! It's obviously keeping me awake now! ;-) I wanted to try a 3 layer milk tea but they ran out.

Thanks dear!

Carmen

Suspected ulcer in my right pupil

I went to an optometrist at Imperial Mall on Wednesday night thinking to make a new contact lense for my right eye, coz even after using the new solution, my right eye wasn't very much better :-(

After checking my eyes, the optometrist informed me that I have ulcers in my right pupil and advised me to urgently see an eye specialist. She recommended me a few specialists to contact here in Miri. I am grateful to have met a very kind optometrist.

There isn't a residing eye specialist here in Miri, they are all on a visiting basis, but thank God I managed to catch one coming this Saturday.

Since Wednesday night, I have not been wearing my contact lenses. I am praying for God's miraculous healing on my right eye. Please pray for me thanks. I am not feeling too worried about this, I have gone through worse in my life and God has never failed to pull me through.

I am not sure if I should ever wear my contact lenses again, but I am planning to make a new pair of spectacles. But I will have to check with the specialist first coz my right vision perhaps is not very accurate at the moment due to the ulcer.

Carmen

Dental Crisis

Gum and toothaches...
I had gum and toothaches since early September in the right upper row, in the beginning I didn't think it had anything to do with my teeth so I actually visited my usual GP, he gave me antibiotics and painkillers and advised me to visit a dentist. I did not take his advice very seriously and as the aches occurred more frequently in the last few weeks here in Miri, I made up my mind to visit a dentist! It's true that a lot of people like me are just so afraid of going to a dentist! I don't recall my last trip to the dentist, if I've not been to a dentist all these years, the last check would have been during my primary schooldays!

Checking out dental clinics...

I checked yellow pages online and it listed 10 dental clinics in Miri, two Saturdays ago, we visited one that Augustine's colleague frequents, unfortunately, they were full and so we made an appointment for the following Saturday. But just one day before our appointment, the nurse called to say the doctor had an emergency and she has to cancel our appointment and she cannot make another one for us. I thought it was so strange that she just left things hanging in the air. So I called another dental clinic and they could only fit me in like 2 weeks later! Augustine decided to call another clinic and they could fit us in the very next day and we were very relieved but skeptical as to how come some clinics are so busy and this one seems to have an empty slot.

The day finally arrived...

When we arrived at the clinic, we saw a lot of people waiting, but actually most of them are family members who came along with the patients. We didn't wait very long for our turn and we were very surprised to find out the doctor is a Miss, not a Mr hehe...I was relieved in a way, immediately she told me I have a rotten wisdom tooth, which had affected my right nerve causing pain to the whole row of tooth (it really made sense now!) and she said the only solution is to pull it out, she assured me it's not surgery and there will be no pain. I was a little stunned for a moment and asked her a lot of questions. After she injected anaesthetic into 2 areas of my gums (she actually warned me the 2nd injection would cause a little pain and it did), she asked me to wait for the numbing to set in while she checks on Augustine's teeth. While Augustine had his teeth polished, I was actually shivering in fear waiting for my turn. My turn came and after checking that the area is numb, the doctor swiftly and confidently pulled the tooth out in just ONE SECOND and showed us the rotten tooth! And there wasn't any pain during the extraction. Erm, she became my instant hero that day! I asked Augustine to wait for me in the room, I think he must have been shaking too LOL.

Post extraction...
After that, I had to bite on cotton wool for a few hours to stop the bleeding. I had odd sharp pains in my right nerves each time I swallow my saliva and a little sorethroat but it was all over the very next day. Phew!

Future visits?

Yep I plan to visit the same dentist again in the future for scaling, polishing and filling. I like her a lot and she earned my trust and confidence ;-)

Carmen

Horror at first...but turned out to be fine after first time visit to a dental clinic in Miri

Today, Carmen and I had gone to a dental clinic near the Imperial Mall. Its location was not difficult to be found as i did some homeworks earlier by consulting my colleagues on the location. I did not ask on the gender of the dentist nor the normal charges issued in the clinic. The only concern was i could make an appointment with the dentist and Carmen's toothache could be resolved ASAP!

Dr. Hii was the name of the dentist. Although we could not tell whether the dentist was a man or a woman...but nevertheless it never deterred us to visit the clinic. We reached at 2.30pm sharp for the appointment. Waited for a while as many people were also waiting in the lounge. Must be good business, we thought. True enough, one by one, the patients were led into the operations room for their problems to be done with on the hands of the dentist.

By almost 3pm, Carmen's turn had finally arrived. We knew by now Dr. Hii was a lady and very experienced as she advised Carmen on the cause of her toothache and what she could do to solve her problem, which was to pull out her tooth!!! OMG!!!

The wisdom tooth had gone rotten by months and no alternative was at sight. So no choice, just listened to the doctor. She's a pro. By now, someone would have both knees shaken and weakened, whole body almost collapsed to the floor. Hehehe...

After injected with anesthetic into Carmen's jaw and away for 15 min, the dentist quickly pulled out her bad tooth without even feeling a pain (a mild one perhaps). Dr. Hii was awesome and fast. Then she advised on Carmen's next oral checkup. After almost 30 mins in the whole session, her assistants happily brought Carmen out to make payment and claim some medications.

Now, with some pills to pop in orally and further taking care of oral hygiene, Carmen is sleeping and away into the dreamland. Although this would be our first time visiting Dr. Hii's dental surgeon clinic, but most likely won't be the last in Miri. Her service and professionalism was way too good.

Augustine

Lutong Cafe

I've long heard that Lutong Cafe serves the best porridge in Miri and people travel all the way here just to have the porridge. Well actually this coffeeshop (just across from Kelab Rekreasi Petroliam) is just 10 minutes drive from home! But they finish fast and we were never up early for it. So I've only tried their fried rice and fried noodles for lunch. But last Friday we woke up early to go Brunei so we decided to have breakfast at Lutong Cafe. Augustine ordered kolo mee (possibly the cheapest place to eat kolo mee for RM2!).

I ordered one bowl of porridge to share with Augustine's mom. Long after finishing our drinks also the porridge hasn't arrived. I think we waited more than half an hour! Sigh, the reason is coz the porridge is not cooked using normal gas stove but using charcoal fire. Using charcoal they can't control the fire and heat I guess. Everyone else who ordered this porridge was waiting very patiently as well. The porridge costs RM3 and u can choose to add an egg, like how u add an egg to your claypot yee mee when it's ready! Yummy! Using charcoal fire really makes a difference to the taste! We're not sure what type of rice they use to cook the porridge though. A lot of people told us about the "highland rice" here which makes very good porridge, we plan to buy some soon ;-)

Below is a picture I took of the porridge ;-)

Carmen