Just Do It : Hot Drinks vs Cold Winter

There was a long pause upon completing our Just-Do-It list.

 Finally we decided to hit the next one.

Since now its peak winter, so guess this is the very best time to do what's next on our list which is - Sipping hot coffee/ hot choc  outdoor on a freaking cold winter night.

Bestie P & Bestie D were there slightly early, and they were bugging me & Bestie S to come there quick because the hypermarket (where the coffee vendor is located) is gonna close soon.

Just to make it in time we called a cab, Sasha - the well known taxi driver that I believe was a F1 driver in his previous life. And as you can guess, we arrived just in time, about 5 minutes shy from the hypermarket being closed.

Bought our cappuccinos, hot choc, mocha & lattes and we're ready off to shoot some shots.

Best friends know how crazy you are, but still choose to be seen with you in public :D

Thanxx to Rancy for being our photogrpaher FOC that night

Of course people were staring at us, looking like a bunch of crazy foreigners, but who cares anyway. They always get drunk and look crazy to us too, most of the time. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, shouldn't you? So yes, couldn't care any less.

But at the moment when a huge dog, which was believed to be lost came towards us, I had to care! Me & Bestie D are afraid of dogs. Bestie S, Bestie P and especially Rancy, our photographer for that night, on the other hand were dog lovers. So, they stalled the dog until we manage to escape from there and ran to Bestie S' apartment. Thank God it was just 5 minutes away.

This pic won't lie - I AM afraid of doggies

Sipping coffee in the middle of peak winter can now be ticked on our list, but having a dog with a size as huge as a tiger entering frame was definitely not included in the list.

Having coffee/hot choc outdoor in crazy winter - checked!

Wordless Wednesday - Says Who?

Bestie T is TwentyThree

It was Bestie T's birthday yesterday and I gave a pre-birthday treat to stall the birthday celebrity so the others could prepare for the REAL surprise praty.

 I brought the celebrity of the night for a sushi treat, coz if there is one thing we have so much in common - it definitely would be our cravings for sushi and how much we're crazy over it.

Izumi spring roll - My No#1 fav  

Tori Tiahan - Bestie T's No#1 fav 

So we both sushi monsters went sushi-ing. Ordered a few from our favorite's list and thought that we could kill time till the cue comes for the real birthday bash. At least, that's what I thought would happen but it didn't. What happened was both of us ate so fast that we realized we finished everything in just 20mins. I looked at my watch and we still had 40mins to go for the actual surprise party. 

What to do then? 

Order more sushi? 

But I was kinda full. 

*not a good idea*

Bestie T insisted to go back home 

*even worse idea* - NO WAY JOSE!

So this is what I had to do instead...

Temple run in action

Became a social outcast and pretending that I was too full to gobble up my last piece of sushi, but I wouldn't let Bestie T finish it either! I'd rather wait till everything was digested, then I'll go for the next round.

Thank God Bestie T actually bought that!

Definitely not my best score

Played till they gave me the green light to bring Bestie T for the next surprise.

It was pretty sad that I had to ignore the celebrity of night on their own pre-bday treat. But if there was one thing that makes Bestie T totally different from the rest, it'll be the level of patient that Bestie T has. Seriously, like no other. 

My bestie has gone through lot in life, so I decided on that one special day of the year Bestie T should get what a good friend like this deserves. Though ignorance comes in the list. Ahha. Well, true love can be shown in many ways, don't they?

To Bestie T, though this might not be one of the best birthdays you ever had, but I hope at least it was one of those memorable ones that you will never forget. Thanks for bearing with me and my nonsense all this while, ensuring me that you'll always have my back & being the most supportive friend I could ever ask for. Just so you know, I'll always be your sidekick too!

Happy Birthday Abah!

The fact that my family is scattered all over the globe is definitely a crestfallen. We've been living this life (especially me) since 1999 and I have nothing to complain about it. Still, we talk almost everyday about everything to each other, we share every tiny secret among us, we miss each other everyday and tell them so every single day too. We've grown stronger together as a family, distance just seem to be numbers to us.

The last time I celebrated my dad's birthday (together with him) was back in 1998. It was before the whole family moved to Brunei , leaving me at a boarding school in Seremban (Malaysia). Well, it was my choice anyway! Still I never failed to be the 1st to wish him during that time of the year. So after all these years, when we finally get to celebrate it together again, I planned for a small surprise. We went to dine at a place where I already ordered a birthday cake for him earlier. When the waiter brought the cake to the table, he didn't get it. In fact, he pulled it towards the middle and asked us to start eating. Yes, that's how much he always thinks of us first. We all ignored and just stared at the cake, making him look at it twice. Then only he realized that it was actually meant for him.

A series of laughter, jokes and old days' stories followed after. It was the most perfect evening I ever had for quite some time.

 So to the King of our hearts,  here is a shout out for you...

As I always told, I hate the fact that you are growing older because theoretically the older you are, the higher chances it is for me to be losing you. Honestly I'm nowhere close to being prepared for that, not even for the idea of it. So I selfishly pray that you will have a long blessing life, so that we can love you as much as you did us and give you what you've given us all this while.

People say any fool can be a father but it takes a real man to be a daddy. In my case, it takes a super great man to be one daddy like you!

Lots of love,

Your pride & joy

Your problems & headaches

Aysha.

Wordless Wednesday - A once in a 13 years opportunity

If Woman Ruled The World

If a woman was to rule the world, I think it'll be Santhi

because she is the woman that has it all..brains, beauty, a kind heart, talented & sense of humor to complete the package!

when I need a helping hand, she'll offer both of hers.

 when I need a piece of advice, she'll give the best one that ALWAYS works out.

when I have a problem, she'll be there to finish it till the end as if it was hers too.

when I feel down, it takes only one sentence from her to make me feel like being on top of the world again.

when I need a company, she'll be one  & she'll bring 1001 laughters along with her too!

So on this big day of hers, I couldn't wish more, other than for her to get all the good things she deserves in life because she brought so many good things in others. 

Not just in mine.

Her last birthday celebration in Kursk 

Owh,  and I hope she knows how much I love her too!

As I always say - like a fat kid loves cake and she ain't wanna diet!

Istanbul - Day 1 & Day 2

We touched down at Attarturk International Airport at 330pm local time and was greeted by the snow. Thought we could've ran away from Mr.Snow for once but it just keeps following us wherever we go. It wasn't a big deal anyway. When we heard the announcement saying that it is -2C in Istanbul, we felt happy enough.

Stayed at Asitane Hotel and it became our beloved home while in Istanbul.

On our first day, we didn't tour anywhere. Just went to explore the area - Cemberlitas, searching for the nearest tram station, surveying local supermarkets, pricey and less pricey restaurants etc.

We did our research on local foods and we have a long list of 'must-try-in-turkey'. We we're greeted by this over-friendly guy which we called Pakcik Mavi as he keeps humming the song "Mavi Mavi" while we were dining.

The spread was just like what we anticipated for...

Corba (Lentil soup) & Acili Ezme (freshly mashed tomatoes with onion & green herbs). It comes with something like Pita bread.

Lamb Doner with green chillies

The next day we visited the historical Sultanahmet Mosque (known as Blue Mosque) & Hagia Sophia (known as Ayasofia). It was magnificent, more than how it was described in articles & books. Glad that we got to witness it with our own eyes.

Subhanallah, how could people in those era build such a huge, concrete  & majestic building that could stand tall for centuries??

Hipodrome

Sultanahmet Mosque from the 16th century

Ineterior : Main Dome and the walls at the Mimbar (where prayers are led by an Imam)

Hagia Sophia was just oppsite, about 3minutes walk from Sultanahmet. In the middle we manage to stop by the tomb of Sultanahmet I who was buried along with his wife, children and the rest of the clan.

Along the way to Ayasophia there were so many stalls selling Simit, a local type of bread, and roasted chestnuts called Kestane. Travel & visiting had to be accomplished first, so, I just had to take the smell fresh in mind till we come out again. And yes, I whacked those chestnuts nearly everyday after that!

Smell of fresh roasted Kestane at the back

Hagia Sophia 

Ayasofia was drop dead stunning, no words can describe. All of us were left in awe.

head tilts up, jaw drops down

the way up to the upper gallery where we can see more of the Orthodox details  

 St. Sophia

Been there done that!

Dyna wasn't feeling well after that so we cancelled and post-poned our visit to Topkapi Palace to another day. We went for Kofte instead at Tarihi and stroll along the roads, enjoying what Istanbul has to offer.

Kesian Dyna 

 

Kofte with fresh salad

Accidentally reached Grand Bazaar which is suppose to be on our last day in the list.

Terjebak borong pashmina too!

February Made History

Been there done that at 6 countries in 30 days...

Istanbul, Turkey (27Jan - 3Feb)

Riga, Latvia (3Feb - 4Feb)

Kursk, Russia (4Feb - 6Feb)

All over, Malaysia (7Feb - 4March)

Singapore (27Feb- 2March)

I know this might be nothing compared to jet-setters out there, but this is a personal record. Just for fun!

I'm no jet-setter ;-)

Wordless Wednesday

Wedding Bells - Som & Azri

Officially Mr. & Mrs.

She's taken, and after a month it happened, only now I can take it. Couldn't digest the fact earlier - I have serious letting go issues.

She is my first close friend back during our SMAP days and we grew up together for 5 years, calling ourselves "Sistah2Sistah" (Sister 2 Sister). 

She is the person responsible for my so-called glamorous traditional name back then, and I did the same favor in return too. That's why you can see only the two of us having totally  pure 'kampung' names such as Esoh & Som. Judge it all you want but I love that name, and I do feel special rocking out that name.

The part which I'm not very good at - not to cry together

On that special day of hers I was given the honor to be her MOH. I was all excited about it as this is my first experience attending nikah of close ones, but seriously, it wasn't much of a good idea. At least, not for me. I'm the kind of  person who is very good in hiding tears but on that day, boy,I was close to beating Angel falls. Glad I didn't, it would've been pretty embarrassing then!!

I know that she can make a good wife, and a good mother, we've been friends for so long that I already saw those qualities in her back then till  now. To Azri, you're one heck of a lucky guy, just so you know. (Well, Somie, so are you!).

I pray that these a month old couple will live a happy married life, grow old together till the days they sit and talk about how getting married 75 years ago was the best decision they've made in life. There are times both of you will be lovebirds, sometimes being angry birds, but as long as you two birds stick together, giving unconditional love to each other, you'll both make it through. Of course, I can't wait for those tweety birds to come out too.

Eh, one tweety came out already? When did that happen?