Bite: Bora Asmara

the art piece in our bisek bisekdinner

Bora through a lenseMadame

“Are we lost?” That was one of the first remarks I made while driving through Kg Sg Penchala for Alina’s farewell dins. We passed by warongs with patrons watching WWF, small kedai runcits and young kids on motorbikes without helmets on [see I had reasons to think we were lost]. 

But Madame assured me that we weren’t lost and indeed we weren’t..just a few minutes after exiting Penchala Link, wheezing through the kampong we arrived at Bora Asmara [got connection with Bora Ombak? maybe] 

Ambience is something that Bora Asmara boasts..and you’d have to be blind to not notice the Balinese influence at Bora ..from the Balinese gargoyle stone lamps to Bali thatched roofs. This Bali inspired garden eatery serves Indonesian, Western and local dishes.  

I was more excited about the setting than the food [wedding reception at Bora Asmara..hmm? ;p]  The place automatically puts one on the romantic-wind down mode- preferred mode after the rat race comes to a temporary halt. 

At Bora, you can choose to dine al fresco, in the Bala Gede [air conditioned], or in the few bisek-bisek [private hut] that sits 6 comfortably [I believe you can request for more sitting pillows if you there are more than 6 of you].  

Unfortunately the food wasn’t able to match the ambience- it’s not awful but not great.But I enjoyed the Lemongrass Chiller..iced serai.If I’m not mistaken Bora is also open for lunch but doubt the feel of the setting will be as great..no night breeze, lamps etc.

It should definitely be your pick if you’re staying/working near the area,dont want to curse while looking for a parking space and definitely a pick if you’re in the mood for some Balinese ambience and coo coo time.

 Directions to Bora Asmara:

Get on the Penchala Link,take the Kg Sg Penchala exit, left at the first traffic light [in front of the mosque] then drive straight on for a bit, it’ll be on your left-you wont miss it.

Bag the Man

Went to a Vietnamese restaurant near home just now to get dinner and I saw what I consider an extremely irritating sight…a guy carrying his girlfriend’s handbag! 

I’m very very confused as to why this –unexplainable- -unfortunate- phenomenon that’s becoming a bit too common these days in Malaysia is happening. I’ve been tempted to go up to the girl and ask her “Why oh why is your boyfriend carrying your handbag?” But nope my sane side [yes I have one haha] will hold me back and save me from what I expect would have been a very awkward situation for all of us. 

So I decided to just place my questions on this puzzling practice in my blog. 

I’ve seen really feminine-ly designed totes to aunty looking bags on the shoulders of a guy. It’s different if the wife is carrying an infant in her arms or a 4 year old who refuses to walk…but no..most of the time-the girl/woman/lady is just walking freely with nothing impeding her from using her own shoulder to sling the bag…jalan melenggang (bak kata orang Melayu ;p) Puzzling. 

Ladies- I’m guessing the bag you picked for that outing was intended to match thelook you were going for..scruffy out of bed, Barbie doll plastic, boho….5^thavenue chic..whichever..(well I do that…matching color for color is a bit passé) so why do you get the guy to hold your bag?? Unless you picked out a man bag for yourself.  

Guys-My only question is.. don’t you feel emasculated? 

Please don’t mistaken me for a woman who wants her man to be Hercules-like manly..I’m ok with guys embracing all colors including pink (Kuc does-and he looks good ;p) they ought to go for manicures and pedicures, or facials ( if they want to) have a skin care regime..etc…but I simply draw the line at carrying handbags.. blurgh! (there’s just something very off with that) 

Is this the new age form of PDA (Public Display of Affection)??  If it is then I say no thanks..my clutch..holdall..buckle bag.. whichever..stays with me

The only thing Kuc carries for me is my Crumpler..cos I don’t trust leaving dear lap-t in the car..and I doubt a Crumpler can be classified as a handbag. 

I’m very puzzled- I hope someone can offer me an explanation (I’m sure there’s a reason for this) or else I’ll just roll my eyes and have that bewildered look on my face anytime I see a female accessory on the shoulder of a man. 

Notice the pic-it’s on her hand not his ;p

Go Fly Kites

It was that time of the year again for Dad to take his workers away for a retreat. And as always on previous retreats..our whole extended family..aunties,uncles, cousins, nephews would tag along.So last Thursday night all of us left for Langkawi, for a 3d2n stay at Berjaya Resort.. consistent with our previous sand & sea trips to Redang, Perhentian…

Let me share one of the highlights of the retreat..it was the evening when all of us went down to the beach to fly kites..yup main laying-layang. I can’t remember the last time I flew a kite…must’ve been ages ago.

 My uncle’s Bali workers made them..if I’m not mistaken they made 11 kites in different shapes and colors.[Talented eh?]

 It was fun!

Tugging at it when it looked like it’s about to fall or giving it sumore benang [thread] when there was enough wind and it could fly higher..not easy peasy k ;p

I was proud of my little layang-layang..mine had a slim long tail ;p…it flew wayyyy up there..so way up that it was a bit tiring reeling it in when it was time to wrap up.

The layang-layang idea was a great one..everyone took turns to play..it was a breath of fresh air from the usual beach ball game [though of course that took place simultaneously- ball + sand= auto beach ball game], walk on the beach or making sand castles.

 twin cousins, sister and aunt taking a stab at beach ball!

Nothing but wind, sand, and good ol fashion layang-layang for a spectacular time in the sun!

Can you spot my kite in the pic? It’s the one with the slightly pinkish tail and no the one next to it is not a bird.

Say Cheese!

People usually take their cameras along with them when they travel, go for trips, holidays with great enthusiasm that they’d be able to “capture the moment” or for some to take the “I was there” type of pictures usually in front of famous buildings..streets, signboards…etc

I’m a shutter bug when it comes to taking pictures.. I always try not to take typical pictures. Recently I was hit by a surge of interest in photography.. not to become a professional [though I actually wouldnt mind becoming a pro photographer] but just to be able to take shots that tell a story, that really captures the moment.

I think this interest kicked in after I came back from Ubud which is a photographer’s playground- with all the scenes, landscapes, culture.Plus I’m also very sick and tired of the Raya sitting in a row with everyone smiling type of picture.. [boring!]

So this afternoon I attended a Photography Workshop by Eric Peris..a self taught photographer,was NST’s photo editor for 24 years, a master in black and white photography and have had countless exhibitions both locally and internationally.

I brought along my brother’s SLR [must ge one for myself] and my point-and-shoot Sony Cybershot, I have no idea how to use an SLR [but I did get a taste of it's power when I tried taking a few shots]

Was hoping the workshop would give me a quick idiot’s guide but it was more about the art and philosophy of photography.. which was  fine with me.

  getting to know the SLR..

 “The image is captured in your mind first not by the camera”..that was one of the first things that Eric said and it made perfect sense.  Shouldnt just aimlessly take shots [ I've done that a couple of times ;p]..there has to be an idea behind the shot and a clear expectation of what the final image will be. Patience is key. And nothing comes without practice.

An interesting advise Eric gave was when he said ” the last thing you should read are photography books..you should look at the works of Rembrandt and other classical painters” According to him photography is just mimicking of what earlier painters were trying to do with canvas and oil. He also mentioned that there are no strict rules in photography [good] and we shouldnt be afraid to try new angles and use different styles [very good].I left the workshop eager to practice and learn the basics of taking good photographs- familiarise myself with the apperture,tones [there's a LOT to learn].

But I dont intend to take masterpieces, just shots that are alive and do justice to the image that it tried to freeze…for coming birthday parties, weddings, holidays, births and more.

Well at the moment I’m still looking out for those photography-for-idiots classes.

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Some of the photographs that I’m proud of..

Above is a picture that I took on my way to the market in Portobello Road when I was in London early this year (using my N73)

Below is a very old man at a very old courtyard (400 yrs old) that I visited as part of a night Hutong tour in Beijing. (Cybershot)

Click on the pciture to see the full shot