Wedding Bliss – Chapter 11: First Dance

Little did we know, where and when first dance started. We tried to google search for the history before started to write this piece of article but unfortunately, nothing was found. Anyhow, it is still part of the ‘highlight’ in many wedding receptions.

Normally, the wedding couple will choose their favourite love song to dance to. I don’t know why, it’s always a slow song. Some say it is because ballroom dance is the easiest,  you don’t need to be a good dancer; some say the bride is wearing high heels, long gown with trail and etc… so a slow dance is the best choice.

So when Her Majesty showed me this video clip from YouTube which has more than 1,000,000 viewers, I immediately told her that I wanted to do something similar during our wedding dinner too. And that was like even before we confirm the wedding date.

I was very active in Kelab Seni Kebudayaan during my secondary school time, so it was not hard at all for me to be a choreographer for own wedding. The only problem is, Her Majesty can’t really dance. So in terms of song selection, I have to make sure it’s not too hard for her to learn, not to mention we have limited space in our house to practice.

In the spirit of muhibbah, we selected different language’s songs, those that we like and those that we grow up with, then let Her Majesty to edit it.  Luckily she learnt some basic music editing before.

Even though we had spent few months to practice but still, I was nervous at that night itself, to the extent of didn’t even feel like enjoying the food served. I was so worry that what if… … all the worries didn’t happen, of course. I couldn’t describe how release and happy we were especially when we received compliments from the crowd, including my mum who even asked did we hire any choreographer.  Of course, it is not surprise at all to have a few guests who cannot accept this kind of first dance.

Unfortunately the first dance video clip we got from Andy isn’t in the format that we can upload it into YouTube. So here are some photos to share with everyone:

If any soon-to-be wed couples intend to do something similar during your wedding, you may find the following tips to be useful:

• Let your gown designer  and shoe maker know about your idea so they can propose a design that is easier for you to move around
• Practice with your high heels
• Unless if you’ve practice on a real dance floor, else tell your hotel / restaurant that you don’t need one. It is easier for those with least experience to dance on a matt surface ie carpet instead of a glossy dance floor
• Don’t eat too much before the dance if you don’t want to suddenly throw up while dancing
• Not to worry over any mistakes, enjoy it!
• Last but not least, RELAX and RELAX

Song list:

Final fantasy 8－ Waltz to the moon 》邓丽君－月亮代表我的心 》Jai Ho 》Michael Jackson – Billie Jean / Thriller 》N Sync – Bye Bye Bye  》草蜢 － 失恋阵线联盟 》The Village People – YMCA 》Para Para Sakura 》Willy Wonka – Kung Fu Fighting 》Britney Spears – Oops I did it Again 》Sisqo – The Thong Song 》Jon McLaughLin – So Close

Now i see that more newly weds in Asia are slowly going into this trend, and honestly i am getting bored of typical slow wedding dances, i told my youngest brother to do the same as mine.

Cooking with love – Chapter 1: My wife is a good cook

I am always very proud that I have a lovely wife who can cook well. Isn’t this one of the reasons why I fall in love with her? But, those who knows her family background will always get shocked, how can this only child in the family cook? Well, my mother in law is a good cook, same goes to my wife’s late grandmother who hailed from Indonesia. Or else, they will stare at me and say “your wife can cook ah?” because to many people, youngster now a day won’t know how to cook or never even step into the kitchen.

Well, after years of knowing her, I just knew that actually she started to cook during her college time. According to our good friend, Jo who was her roommate in the hostel, Her Majesty was using a rice cooker to cook many dishes other than rice. Braised, fried, steam, boiled… who says it is impossible.

Until today, cooking has been part of her life. She will always wake up at 6am+ to prepare the stuff and cook. In another word, we hardly eat out because she doesn’t like those food that contain ajinomoto (we never buy any ajinomoto at all) and of course, to save money because most of the food outside can be cooked by her, and i am running out of options, unless it is mamak or malay food.

Apart from eating at home, she will also prepare lunch bento for me. So some of my colleagues are always curious want to see what is in my lunch box and even want to try it out.

And because of I have a lovely wife who can cook good food, now I am having problem when we eat out because I will not want to order any dish that she can make, so sometimes we will be just sitting there and don’t know what to order whenever she ask me what do i want.

From now onwards, I will start sharing the photos of good home cooking here with all my readers (be ready to get hungry!). However, Her Majesty is reluctant to share her secret recipe with anyone although some of the recipes are taken from somewhere else and modified to suit our tastebud. Reason being is, we have other plan in mind.

Braised chicken with fermented rice

This is a Foo Chow specialty that Her Majesty is in love with since she was a little girl. I still remember how I react when I first tried this but now, I am also in love with it too especially if is infused with rice wine.

Steamed rice with Japanese curry

Japanese curry is probably the most healthiest curry I ever know because no cooking oil is used at all in making this dish. Thanks to our Korean friend HyunJu, Her Majesty can make good Jap curry now.

Steamed rice with braised minced pork meat

If you have read my travelogue, you should have remember that how much both of us fall in love with this dish in Taiwan. Well, when your favourite food isn’t available in your country the only solution is to google for the recipe and cook it yourself. Something simple when the cook is in the lazy mode.

Sambal sotong

Growing up in a traditional Chinese family, cooking sambal is definitely something that Her Majesty never came across in her family. She picked up this dish all because of me who loves to have sambal. My aunt taught her once. Few years later, her celebrity chef friend shared his secret recipe with her that she is refering to now. Once you know how to make the basic sambal, it won’t be hard at all to modify it become another dish like sambal sotong.

Stir-fried mushrooms with abalone sauce

I don’t really fancy mushrooms so she only cook this favourite dish of hers once a while.

Steamed fish Teoh Chew style

I am just like my fatty FurFur who loves fish! Even though Her Majesty is allergy to most of the fish but didn’t we always say best way to win a man’s heart is through his stomach? After few times of trial and error, finally she has mastered the skills of making good steamed fish. I can never have enough of it, more please…

Ok, time to get ready and attend a Malay kenduri. TBC with more food photos, stay tuned.

Star Wars FightSaber Cosplay – Sneak Preview

Aperture: f/6.3; Focal length: 10.67mm; ISO: 800

Wedding Bliss: Chapter 10 – Photobook

It has been 4 months past our wedding and yet, to us, it is still not over yet. Whenever we are out to meet friends, some of them will remind us to bring our wedding photo album.  I am sure many of us have heard from our married friends also about how thick and heavy is their wedding album, so instead of showing it to family and friends, the album is now resting underneath of their bed instead.

When we signed up for our pre-wedding and actual day photography package, we didn’t choose to have any wedding album. Reason being is very simple, we prefer to have something not bulky that is convenience to bring it around. So then we decided to make our own photobook.

Photobook Malaysia has been introduced to Malaysia market at few years ago. You can just download the software then start doing your own page layout then submit it via online. A week later, it’ll be delivered to your door step. One thing we like about Photobook is it’s handmade with using only premium quality paper and printing method, for long lasting beautiful images.

Not only that, there is no limit on maximum no. of pages so you can put as many photo as you like. Imagine a couple like us who got almost 3,000 photos from our official photographer, how torture will it be if we can have only 48 or 100 photos for our album.

We are very satisfy with the final product received, thumbs up to Photobook Malaysia.

Before I end this post, let’s share with you this very meaningful fact quoted from ShenSnaps Photography, “Wedding album is the only physical asset you posses after the whole celebration which keep your good memory alive for the rest of many years spend with your loved one, and pass down to your children, grand children and even great grand children… There the longer the photo albums are properly kept, the more precious they are to you and to many generations.”

For more information on the photobook, please log on to http://www.photobook.com.my.

6 to 10 Grill & Nasi Lemak @ Happy Mansion

I get to know this place at few months ago but only get to try out their food by myself last week. I am totally in love with it till I make a second visit today and this place, is no other than 6 to 10 Grill & Nasi Lemak at Happy Mansion, SS17, which is endorsed by my favourite 8TV show “Ho Chak”.

Just like what the name tells, nasi lemak is their signature dish. Choose your preferred side dish from the menu – which includes chicken curry, mutton curry, beef rendang, sambal sotong, or for something more unusual, pork rendang or pork sambal. You can also opt for as many side dish as you want. This is my first time trying out pork sambal that would be greater after you squeeze the lime juice on it. Slight spicy plus sour… very appetising. Of course, their selling point here is still where to get sambal and rendang that is cooked by using pork? Unfortunately the pork rendang finish already, so be an early bird if you don’t want to be disappointed and the place was already so packed when we reached there.

Or for western cuisine, the lady boss highly recommend the red wine pork ribs (RM32.90) to us. The pork ribs is first marinated with red wine for many hours before grill to perfection and served with pineapple sauce, mash potato and some other vegetables. Its generous portion is enough to be shared by two persons.

Another equally worth to try dish is the ham steak with egg that costs only RM12.80.

While waiting for the main course to be served, we had a bowl of the creamy homemade mushroom soup (RM4.50). Yum yum…

So if this post make you feels like driving there right now, wait, this place has certain opening hours. Although it is name 6 to 10 but it doesn’t means that it only opens from 6 to 10. Be there early to avoid disappointment too.

6 to 10 Grill & Nasi Lemak, BG-1, Block B, Happy Mansion, Jalan 17/13, 46400 Petaling Jaya.