Driving around Kuching is an experience by itself, and I find it (mostly) calming (minus traffic jam, accidents and pot holes on certain roads). On more than a few occations driving along Jalan Sherip Masahor heading towards the Third Mile roundabout, a banner would catch my eye : Chef at Home. I never did got the chance to try dining there, mainly because I don't have any company to try it out. 

They used to operate in a (what looked from the main road) big house with big compound, much like Swanky Sarah (this, however is located off Greenroad and is non-halal) but have since moved to a new location in the cluster of shophouses across Saberkas (nearby landmark would be the Astro office, Unimas Holdings / Klinik Sebayor, and SK St. Paul). Featuring Western Menus and local (as well as imported) coffee and tea (quite rare will you find eating pasta accompanied with nescafe or Milo) as well as signature desserts (which I forgot to try because I was too full!)

Going with a friend always adds more fun to trying out new things and places to eat. I went with a good friend sporting Baju Melayu in the spirit of Hari Raya Aidilfitri - albeit having Western dishes for dinner! 

Although the new Chef at Home is located on the ground floor of a shoplot, they managed to create a somewhat homey ambiance : well spaced tables, seats for four (and less), seats for 6 and two family size tables with probably 8 or 10 seats. Me and my friend sat on one end of this table while a family of three sat on the other end with plenty of spaces between us. There is also an indoor section if you prefer it. One of the drawback was that since it is a shoplot, parking space literally meets the outdoor seatings, so when the drivers park into or exit out of the parking, you get the gas smell from their exhaust for those few moments as the car engine runs. 

That aside, me and my friend agreed on a main course each and share a bowl of soup. Because it was my first time, I let my friend select the soup (plus I wasn't really that interested in soup - until it arrived, that is!). I didn't pay attention when he placed the order : Mushroom Soup served in a Bread Bowl. I figured since we're sharing then together with the soup was a bowl of bread - again not putting any more thought into how wrong that actually was! When it arrived, the 5-year-old in me popped out in awe, because the soup was literally served in a bowl made out of bread!

Mushroom Soup served in a Bread Bowl

Next to come was my main course : Cheesy Linguine in Carbonara Sauce. I love pasta, and between the common Bolognaise and Carbonara, I prefer the later because of the creamy taste that fills me up with delight! >.<!  A few minutes later came my friend's main dish : Beef Steak cooked medium. On the side was some carrots, broccoli and potato stewed in aluminium foil. 

Cheesy Linguine in Carbonara Sauce -->

<-- Beef Steak cooked to medium

I have to say I rather enjoyed myself dining at Chef at Home. On a yummy scale of 0 to 5 where 0 is blueeekkkk! yucksss!! and 5 is THAT WAS SCRUMPTIOUSLY DELIGHTFUL CAN I HAVE SECONDS AND THIRDS PLEASE??!!! I would say the soup was a 4.5, linguine carbonara a 4 and the steak a 4.5 (because I wish there was a proper salad instead of just a couple of cut carrots and broccoli). I also wished they'd be a little more creative with putting up the sign for the new location (because it is at a shoplot) to add something like Away from home! or something since they no longer operate literally from a house. Then again, my two cents on this matter does not in any way hamper quality of food and services at Chef at Home. Definitely coming back here!

Ever since it opened, I've always planted an intention to sit and try the food at Boardriders Cafe @ Sunset Avenue Plaza Merdeka, Kuching. I have to say, I was not disappointed. The other day for Iftar me and a couple of friends was able to try out one of the promotion, which as a main course, a soup and bottomless iced tea for RM 19.90 ++ (I'm sure the ++ was for any extra drinks or desserts and what not).

The list of main courses was not too overwhelming, among them was :

• Pineapple Chicken Curry with Butter Rice
• Clack Pepper Chicken Chop with Butter Rice
• Tuna Spaghetti Carbonara
• Turkey Ham and Cheese Sandwich
• Beef Pepperoni

My two good friends decided to try the Black Pepper Chicken Chop with Butter Rice. I had a bite, and boy the black pepper sauce was delicious. Not too strong, just nice. The colour and plating was nicely done, with plenty of fresh salad and tomatoes. Fortunately for me, my dear friends has a low liking towards vege so I had extra salad (which I was unable to finish in the end being too full after my own meal). 

I ordered the Tuna Spaghetti Carbonara because I am a fan of carbonara sauce. Mixed feeling here, because as much as I do enjoy it, the sauce was too thick and the tuna was too chunky to my liking. An extra spoon or two might help the dish too, I suppose. But the overall taste and presentation was delightful enough I cleaned my plate anyways (then again, a lot of people would say I clean my plate in spite of whatever). 

The three of us stayed and talked for a couple of hours over iced tea. The waiters were attentive enough to offer to refill our cups, our seat was cozy right by the window overlooking Padang Merdeka. I like how the cafe was setup to reflect the ambiance of an indoor surf joint, complete with surfboards! And for those who wants a quiet time to themselves, they even have a bar along with headphones so you can still retreat into your own world even if you forgot your earphones.

I managed to snap (and enhance here and there) a few photos. If you've never tried Boardriders Cafe before, do give it a go. I'm sure you'll fall in love instantly!

In spite of how horrible After Earth was to me, I could still recall a single line that Will Smith said to his son - "Danger is real, fear is a choice". I didn't feel I had much choice except to feel fear or scared or terrified out of my pants when watching The Conjuring! I should've backed off knowing that even my friends who are huge fans of horror movies said that it was too much for them to handle. 

Curious enough, I went with it anyways with my a couple of friends (u guys owe me a new pair of jeans!!), and for the record it wasn't on my own choice to watch it - not that I regret (too much) after watching. 

The Conjuring tells the story of the Perron Family who moved into a huge farmhouse and soon after began experiencing paranormal activities. The story was told in the perspective of Ed and Lorraine Warren, a well-known American paranormal investigator, demonologist, author and lecturer associated with prominent cases of hauntings. Lorraine, Ed's wife, was gifted with the power of clairvoyance and assisted her husband in many of the cases they investigated. 

As noted in the beginning of the movie (in crude yellow font, if I may add) the pair had investigated many paranormal cases, but none so baffling as that of the Perrons experienced. Without revealing too much of the plot, The Conjuring  took place in the year 1971, when Carolyn and Roger Perron, along with their 5 daughters, moved into a (did I say) huge old farmhouse (that was waaaayyyy too remote to my liking). The moving had no notable scene except when the dog refused to enter the house (there.. I felt I said too much already). Following the discovery of an underground cellar by one of their daughters while playing clap and hide (I'm not sure if it's clap and hide or hide and clap - if you know please clarify in comments), every other scene reveals the paranormal activities that finally lead to a possession and exorcism. 

I suppose like many of the audience in the theatre around me, the small caption based on a true story catches our attention. Regardless whether or not The Conjuring was based on a real-life event in whole or partly, as a horror movie I can safely say it probably scarred me for life (and I have a pair of ripped jeans to prove it!) The cinematography, the makeup, the sound effects, the featured songs! I remember telling my friend that I wanted the songs from the movie, now I'm not so sure anymore. 

Typical in many horror movies, based on a true event or purely fictional, every little details is exaggerated to add the element of suspense. Every creak of wood, every droplet of water, every swinging door, bark of a dog, flapping of a bird's wing, that dramatic pause, the clap of a pair of hands, plays the audience's emotion. Questions after questions after questions popped into my mind - why didn't the dog enter the house? why was the cellar boarded up? that box of match on the stairs, what was it's significance? (demmit, I'm actually getting goosebumps remembering the scenes!!!)

Avid movie goers who happens to enjoy a good scare out of a movie every once in a while would probably jump to the fact that this movie was rated R (Restricted) by the MPAA (Motion Pictures Association of America). What it basically means is that children under 17 (wth? that was in their website - under 17's are children?) must be accompanied by parent or adult. (I thought I saw a couple of parents bringing their children probably under 10).

Producer Walter Hamada revealed that the given rating was not because of the usual blood and gore, offensive language, sex scenes or other usual offenders, but rather :

"When we sent it [to MPAA], they gave us the R-rating. When we asked them why, they basically said, ‘It’s just so scary. [There are] no specific scenes or tone you could take out to get it PG-13."

Director James Wan (as pointed out by Anonymous in the comments, is Kuching born) who also happens to bring about the success of Saw and Insidious added that the rating

“[Is] a testament to the studio for not f*cking with the film. It works and they are sticking to it and I’m very thankful for that.“

Surprisingly, the ending almost brought tears to my eyes as the exorcism began to fail. The director managed to capture an emotional essence of the Perrons experience not only the horrible ones but also the aspiring as well. Yet again, without revealing too much, I'm gonna leave you with some of the scenes to be anticipated in The Conjuring (not necessarily in order of appearance) - Locket, Matchbox, Wardrobe, Clapping, Dog, Birds, Clothline and linens, cellar. 

Ps : I'm almost certain my jeans ripped more and more at each and every scene - talk about being scared out of your pants! 

"Make new friends but keep the old, 

for these are silver and those are gold."

I'm not sure who came up with that quote, but it is one that I stood by. 10 years passed since I left secondary school. Some of my friends I haven't met since. Some kept in touch, and some are still best friends even.. no, especially after all these years. We're grown up men and women now, and lots of us are married and having kids. Blink after blink, lo and behold we're all uncles and aunties now. 

Along with the Ramadhan comes the annual gathering of friends. This year was no exception. It's as if a preliminary gathering in the breaking of fast, when come Aidilfitri a much bigger gathering is bound to happen. Even those who could not make it was mentioned and kept close to heart in best wishes. I find myself reminiscing on my bullies whom have grown into gentlemens with their wife and kids. Hatchets are buried, water under the bridge. Now we laugh at our silliness, not only in primary and secondary school, but also in the recent years when gatherings would occur and stories were exchanged. Truly, friendship, like gold, grows in value over time. 

Well - I'm gonna go on a limb here and post in my native language. 

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Malam tadik dapat jwak melepas rindu melepak ngan geng-geng skolah dolok. Ngembak sungkei, bukak posa.. lepak kejap, kak ya kt pulang, kata dirik nya tek... cek cek kol 10 jwak baruk angkat. Nak molah cerita kali nak? hahaha! 

Tok lah tempat bersejarah tahun tok. Makanan nang superb. Location cun (kat Greenroad, sebelah Cotton Button, Lock Ann.. sik jauh dari Celcom Center lamak). Urang pun sik rami - ka nang khas direserve k kita bekuku-kakah? hahaha! Aku sik ingat bila last ku tetak serenggak nyawa kedak malam tadik. 

Banyak di-order kmk org k makan. Badan yang datang 7 orang (plus a little girl and a baby yang sangat-sangat comel) tapi order bagei makan 10 orang. Ney gik dengan jagung susu ngan ABD gik. Tapi, nyaman senyaman-nyamannya. Aku yang alergik ngan seafood, boleh makan sampei 7 8 ekor udang (undang bak kata member sorang. Hahaha!) Besar-besar gik ya! Dalam banyak-banyak ya tek, center dishes adalah :

Daging Celebrity	Butter Prawn
Tom Yam

Geng-geng seperti biasa sangat kuku-kakah. Oleh kerana aku pun lamak dah sik melepak ngan geng-geng tok, banyak cerita yang miss. Tp sidak seperti biasa sangat sporting beguro-bersenda macam dolok marek. nang rioh la. Best jwak bila ada nembiak k ngalih cerita. Dapat tauk ada yang nak kawen dah ujong tahun tok. So next year, ada harapan la bilangan berganda-ganda.. Aku doa semoga dipermudahkan urusan ktk orang semua, amin.. 

Tok baruk preliminary round kata orang.. Tunggu raya kelak, in sya Allah, kita berkumpol rami-rami gik. ok?

if I could teach you how to fly

or bake an elderly pie

if I could turn sidewalks into stars

or play new song on an old guitar

or if I knew the way to heaven

the names of night, the taste of seven

and owned them all to keep or lend - 

would you come and be my friend?

You cannot teach me how to fly

I love the berries, not the pie

the sidewalks are for walking on

and an old guitar has just one song

the names of night cannot be known

the way to heaven cannot be shown

you cannot keep, you cannot lend

but I still want you for a friend

~ Dennis Lee ~

Around the corner I have a friend

in this great city that has no end

yet days go by and weeks rush on

before I know it a year is gone

And I never saw my old friend's face

for life is a swift and terrible race

He knows I like him just as well

as in the days I rang his bell

And he rang mine, but we were younger then

now we're busy, tired men

Tired of playing foolish games

Tired of trying to make a name

"Tomorrow," I said, "I'll call on Jim!"

"Just to let him know I was thinking of him,"

yet tomorrow came and tomorrow goes

the distance between us grows and grows

Around the corner, yet miles away

"Here's a telegram, sir. Jim died today."

And that's what we get and deserve in the end

Around the corner, a vanished friend

~ Charles Hanson Towne ~