Mystifying Valley

Food for thought.
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At this not so inspiring moment, all I really want is to go somewhere far far away where you are a nobody there and yet, a place which feels like home. Was back in London exactly a year ago during labour holiday for a short vacation and now I want to go back there again.
 
But only this time around, what I really need is a proper HIDEAWAY. 
   
But that is only if work permits.
 
Which suggests all I could for now is to fantasize. 
   

:( 
 
   
Been thinking about NOTHING BUT food the whole day. 
   
Screw diet. Ditch gym. Don’t care no more. At least not today.
    
To be frank, I do envision myself to be a potato couch in my pjs and not needing to worry about work, scooping out tub of Belgium Choc Haagen Daz while finishing off 2 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy at one go.
    
But that didn’t happen for some obvious reasons.
    
Blame it on the monthly hormones but I’m seriously craving for some mouth watering heavenly dessert.
 
Not any other normal Secret Recipe cake or the like but how about this one in Patisserie Valerie, one of my favourite gateau shop in London?
    
 

    
During those days it was only one small boutique shop located in Soho which is next to China Town, where me and sisters would go there to get some cakes for tea time on a lazy Sunday. Now they already have expanded their business and opened up a few more branches.
   

   
Just take a look at this chocolate fruit tart. Tell me if it doesn’t make you salivate

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And not forgeting Nero Cafe’s freshest and nicest brew of coffee, the place I hung out almost everyday from 2-5pm during my workshift break.
    

    
Even aimlessly roaming around London and when hungry, stop by Convent Garden for some alfresco pizza would be pure bliss
         
This fine french patisserie in Soho London makes the best dessert on earth and I’m not kidding. They’ve appeared on the British TV a few times which explains the French boss sometimes might seem a little arrogant but the place is always busy and crowded with cafe nostalgics.
   
  

    
Still recall our family birthday cakes, sisters, bro-in-law, nephew, ex-bf and etc were all specially made to order from here.
   
Unfortunately when I revisited Maison last year, they’ve closed shop for the day. :(  
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Am already fantasizing myself sipping a pint of lager at this local English pub to unwind from all the stress of shoes picking after a long day of shopping.
  
  

    
They say life is the beginning and beginning is the end. Just like riding a carousel, it can be a vicious cycle if you let it but you know what? I prefer to focus on some more positive vibes because I know one day, maybe not now but soon enough, I’ll come back stronger.
       

I think I’m definitely overdoing it. Whilst it feels really good after each yoga class, I was actually really proud of myself coz I could finally do a full fledge Chaturanga! But this morning I woke up to some seriously sore joints and I could barely flex my muscles. My whole body is tearing apart.

And I’m down with flu.

TLC deprivation.

 :(  :( 

I was pampered at The Courtyard Garden to celebrate life two weeks ago.

A little bungalow converted restaurant quietly tucked somewhere in Damansara Heights. Ambience was not too bad, but could have been better though if there wasn’t some parties going on which kinda disrupted our supposedly “candlelit” moment.
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Menu selections are a range of fine fusion cuisine dishes. Funny though that they served papadum as starters. And to top things up, the party/ crowd that night was majority Indian so at first glance we thought it was a high class Indian Restaurant with a tweak of fusion charm!
  

  
 

But to give it some benefits of the doubt, it could be the timing that was just wrong. I wasn’t in the most jovial state that night and they could have pre-informed us about the party when we rang up to book the table. The whole experience was just a little disappointing.
 

 
Food was alright. The mango sauce in the salmon dish was a tad bit too sweet; the Thai Seafood dish was heavily tomyam spiced; and we thought the starter was those real escargots in shells but instead it came out as pastries.
 
The restaurant got noisier with the party outside and we left the place as soon as we finished our wine and main course.
 

 
The Courtyard Garden Restaurant
10, Lorong Dungun,
Damansara Heights,
50490 KL
Tel: 2093 9331
http://courtyard-garden.com
    

Today is such a beautifully mellowed Saturday.

But words are simply inadequate to describe how I’m feeling right now. 

If there’s really such thing as happy pill, think I’ll down a bottle straight away.

Feel like watching Definitely, Maybe again.  
 
 

“Alfresco” dinner at Pavillion. Love their architectural design. Second thoughts after strolling in Pavillion this evening… KL ain’t that bad of a place afterall. =)

   

Paul Frank’s my happy pill. He’s my fav!
   

 

A forwarded email from my bestie which I thought is worth sharing here.  
 
 

How true.

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Sometimes all we women need is a little courage and hold on to your set of principles. More often than not things are obviously easier said than done but you know what?
  
The only person who’s accountable for your happiness is the one you look at everyday in the mirror. 
  
You own your decision.
  
Read more

Don’t you wish life could be as simple as this dude?

Matt Harding quitted his job 3 years ago to go travel around the world and do a short video clip of himself with some lame akimbo stomp dance behind the scenic background of each country.  
 
http://www.stridegum.com/#/mattsplace/

Yoga wave seems to have engulfed my office lately. Everyone seems to be into yoga as if it’s the hippest thing in town! I’m no where near  a hardcore yogi but I usually try not to miss my-once-a-week yoga routine at the Fitness First.  

With the one week trial pass to the much hyped about YogaZone, I’ve been maximizing the usage by camping there almost every evening. hehe… Indeed, love it love it loving it! The teachers are very talented, very professional, and not to mention good looking too. So far I’ve only attended their hot and element classes. My fav has always been hot yoga coz they really make you sweat buckets and feel much more energized thereafter.
   
Anyway, don’t think I’ll be joining their membership at this point as I’m already a Fitness First member. Perhaps one fine day… I’ve got this dream of becoming a yoga instructor after my retirement some day…
  

* Don’t laugh, it’s not a sin to dream okay! :P*
   

To read more about the founder of YogaZone:

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/11/business/15988739&sec=business
   

Traffic this morning was horrendous!!!

Left my house at 7am this morning in hope to reach office by 730am to catch up with some leftover work yesterday but guess what?

 
Couldn’t believe it myself to see the heavy traffic once I exit at the Penchala toll!
 
O_O
  
My oh my… … took me 1.5 hours to reach office when it could have taken only 20 mins on weekends!
  
And… … I think I’ve subconsciously developed some extreme uneasiness with motorbikes. But life has to go on irregardless of what happened last week and I still have to drive, and I still love my car.
  
But I’m dead scared with motorbikes and traffic jam everytime I’m on the road. Especially when I see any, and I really mean ANY motorbikes whizzing from behind, my hands will tremble involuntarily with my heart pounding simultaneously. And then I’ll have to slow down like a granny and try not to panic.
  
Can’t believe I’ve progressed into a nervous driver now!
  
Might seek medical help or get some pills to calm my nerves if the condition still persist. Online research told me Systematic desensitization Therapy might be helpful to overcome the phobia.
  
But you know what’s helping right now? Fantasize about myself being the ruler of the country so that I could ban all motorbikes from existing! Except for Harley… of course…
 
  

by Vienna Teng

 
Why am I walking barefoot
Upon this road with no one around
I close my eyes to this decision
The night’s like coffee to my tongue
Like waking up without a sound
I map the words out
Maybe you will say them
 
Won’t you help me rise up
Touch my face and watch me try to breathe again
Would you let me do this
Burn down the final wall
 
Overcome me, baby
 
All I’m asking is to be alive
For once
 
Always I am mistaken
I look for love, I find a stone
Of all the seasons, winter befriends me
I come to you in friendship
And hold my breath against the snow
What are you thinking as I gaze into you
 
Forgive me the confusion
Forgive me as I realize my thoughts betrayed
You are the answer
Cry and smile the same
 
Overcome me, baby
 
All I’m asking is to be
Alive
 
 

this is nothing but just a catalyst of the meltdown

but with all that has been built over the years

the brick walls the ceiling and the fencing

i will weather this storm just alright

you you you you you you 

and all of you without mention  

thanks for standing by me

i will walk on… … 

always will