… and we are still bickering about race politics…

America hails its first black (rather, non-white) President in the form of Barack Obama who beat whiter than white John McCain by a landslide 338 to 129.

President Obama.

2008 has been a tumultous year and I think this caps it all off. Interestingly, look at the map of America and how the people voted. Note how the coastal states all voted for Obama while the middle America voted McCain.

Anyway, I’m waiting to see what happens now. Malaysia had a landslide victory in the 2004 elections when we voted in Mr. Clean and his government. 4 years later, we came thisclose to throwing them out with the dirty bath water.

Will America see the same thing happen in 4 years? We’ll have to see how Obama performs.

Finally! The ruling is in place - back seat passengers in cars now have to buckle up as well.

This effectively limits the number of people that can be carried in a car to a maximum of 5 - 2 in front including the driver (doh!) and 3 at the back. Gone are the days of kancils stuffed to the brim with the whole extended family from grandparents down to grandbabies. It also marks the end of family road trips for large families exceeding 5 persons.

Might it perhaps also mark the end of kids jumping around in the back seat while the parents remain oblivious to the dangers? When will they implement compulsory kid car seats?

I just wonder how or if it will ever be enforced.

Maybe they should make us all stencil this warning to the back of the headrest for benefit of rear passengers:-

Picture credit jeffhurlow

On another note, for curious cats here is a write up on my experience at the Hammam Turkish Spa at Bangsar, KL

Picture credit of RogueSun Media

I started out with a sore throat not long after my birthday. In fact I was already feeling the bug during dinner but thought it would pass if I drank enough fluids and took enough vitamin C. Argh! It didn’t work!

So, 2 days later, I was walking around with a throat so sore I could barely swallow and going deaf in one ear. If this is how it feels like getting a year older, I dread to think of how bad it will be in 10 years!

Anyway, going deaf in one ear is good enough reason to see the dreaded doctor so off I went and got my medication that cured the throat and restored my hearing. But now, I’ve developed a wracking cough.

It lies dormant most of the day then keeps me up at night so now I’m like a zombie that looks like a panda. Not even my usual herbal cough drink helps. You don’t want to hear about my problems so tell me how I can get rid of a dry chest wracking cough? If it works, I’ll be your friend for life - promise.

I’ve been neglecting this little blog o’mine haven’t I? The reason is mainly because I’ve been spending more time on my beauty blog and food blog. Still, this site is like home - after wandering all over the place, it is always nice to come back to

Firstly, my thanks to Beetrice, Tine and Cheesey for your touching posts on my birthday I loved them all and Tine I’m taking you up on your offer when you next come back! And the lovely Giddy Tigress did not forget me all the way in the US of A although I forgot her birthday Bad me! I’ll buy the coffee next time I see you yes?

Unlike last year’s bubbly festivities, this year’s celebrations were kept low key. Bad economy, recession … but no reason not to celebrate albeit in less exhuberant fashion!

This year saw me luxuriating in a Turkish Spa (Hammam), where I paid a lot of moolah for someone to give me a bath I’m writing about my experience over on my beauty blog soon so if you want to know what going for a Hammam and Gommage is all about, do pop on over some time next week. I ended the day with my sis and a couple of others at Euro Deli Ampang after sitting in an awful jam, where Oktoberfest was still on-going. Pork + Beer = Joy! And someone tipped off the restaurant that it was my birthday so I had a slice of chocolate cake with a candle in it and a song!

Less exhuberant but never less enjoyable

I did something spontaneous this last weekend - something I’d never attempted before. I spent my weekend in Bangkok for something like 36 hours and all I had was a knapsack on my back!

I, like most people, have a horrible tendency to overpack. However, since I knew I only had such a short time in Bangkok, I decided I’d be brave for once and just pack the essentials. Anything else I needed, I could get in Bangkok itself.

And I survived! All my backpack held was a change of underwear, a T-shirt and a pair of PJs. With ticket and passport in hand and Thai Baht in my travel wallet, Crocs on my feet, I was good to go!

What I learnt on this short little trip is this:-

• Express Boarding on AirAsia is redundant - so long as you get your butt on the flight, who really cares whether you board first or later?
• If you are not in a hurry (and you shouldn’t be on a holiday) go towards the back of the plane; you can stretch out over the seats and snooze the whole way, arriving at your destination, relatively perky and refreshed.
• When going to Bangkok, pay for check in luggage when booking your return ticket. It only costs you RM3 online but it’ll cost you THB100 at the airport (ouch!)
• The best place to stay is in the Central World area - awesome shopping, awesome food, awesomeness!

I did do some shopping - I’ll write about it later. But what I did most of was EAT. The gastronomic adventure started the moment I left the hotel after checking in, and it did not stop until I got onto the plane to come back to KL, sated, exhausted and with aching feet.

I’m going to have to do this again!