Proud of being Malaysian

31st August is Malaysia Independence day.

Always Proud of being a Malaysian

Felt it more when at overseas

Even people talk bad things or don't know much about Malaysia always patience and tell everything the truth about Malaysia

Has wonderful places to go and venture with it culture, foods and so much more

Proud of being Malaysian

Happy Independence day, Malaysia

Berbuka Puasa di Dandenong.

Diundang ke rumah Lajiman dan Su untuk berbuka puasa. Zainah sekeluarga dan Zul juga turut serta. Sampai sampai tengok depa sedang menyiapkan hidangan berbuka.

Zainah sedang menyiapkan apam balik, Caya lah. Boleh tahan, boleh buka kedai jual apam balik nanti. :-)

Cik Su lak dah menyiapkan kuih bakar. Memang best.

Rupa rupanya Cik Su kita ni jual kuih raya juga. Dia jual kuih kat bazar ramadan kat sini. Ok lah balik Mesia nanti boleh lah tolong tolong laki masa raya tambah duit raya kat Uni tuu. Banyak lagi sebenarnya depa buat, pecal (mentang mentang ada keturunan jawa depa buat pecal, my dad memang Jawa BEROLEH, Batu Pahat, Zul Jawa Parit Raja, Batu Pahat gak, Cik Su pun Jawa Johor gak dan suaminya juga Jawa dari Banting). Nasi dan lauk pauk dan macam macam lah lagi pun ada.

Tak leh nak makan banyak pun, perut ku semakin kecik sekarang. :-) Lah ni dah turun 2 kg lagi. Lepas ni dah boleh terbang sebab ringan. Tak paaa, boleh makan lebih.

"Batang Buruk" made in Melbourne

'Batang buruk' made in Melbourne, originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

Finally I have the time to make my favorite Malay traditional cookies, 'Batang Buruk' yesterday. I still can remember when I was in primary school, every Ramadan helping my Mom make cookies for Eid celebration. And this is one of it.

Mee Rebus at Mamak Old Town QV

Day 17 Month of Ramadan

Breaking fast at Mamak Old Town Kopitiam again. This time I ordered Mee Rebus. Not bad

and had a mug of Cincau with soy milk.

Breaking fast with 'Kuih Keria'

A Malaysian version of doughnut. There are many version of making 'Kuih Keria' and I made my own version. Since I don't like sweet taste too much, I had cut down the use-sage of sugar.

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The basic main ingredients are sweet potatoes and plain flour. Boiled the sweet potatoes, then mashed it and mix with flour until forming a nice d'oh. Shouldn't use much of flour though, need to make sure the sweet potato not too soggy other wise you might using flour to much and it will become to hard. Pinch a little bit of salt while mixing the d'oh.

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Usually after frying the 'kuih keria' need to cover the 'kuih' with thickening caramelised sugar in a wok so you can have crystallized sugar sticking to it. Instead I used cinnamon powder and mix with a little bit of Crestor sugar or just Cinnamon powder already enough. For me the sweetness from the sweet potato is already give you enough taste of sweetness and good balance taste from the cinnamon. Taste yummy. :-)

Nahar's Kitchen style A bowl of Laksa

Made Laksa Johor for breaking fast last night. Used my mom recipe, but I changed a little bit. Hope my mom does't mind. :-)

Nahar's Kitchen style Nasi Kerabu

My way of making nasi kerabu. Most of the main herbs of the original Nasi Kerabu I used. Frankly change slightly to suit my taste bud.

"Pengat Pumpkin"

Minggu ni, minggu 'pengat pumpkin'.

:-)

"Bergedel Kentang"

"Bergedel Kentang" purely potato. Kentang boleh direbus atau digoreng terlebih dahulu, tapi jangan lupa toskan agar jangan lembab dan dibiarkan kering. Nanti kalau tidak bila dilecek akan lembik dan tak akan melekat bila dibuat bentuk bebola. Itu yang akan menyebabkan dia lembik dan bila digoreng pecah. Macam sesetengah orang orang kat melbourne ni buat. For me, saya gunakan oven flavor wave, kalau pakai oven biasa pun boleh. Selepas dibakar dalam over, kentang masak just nice tak lembab sangat. Selepas dilecek, buat bentuk bebola kentang melekat dengan sempurna dan tak pecah. Ada orang tuu tanya tak tambah tepung kerr nak keras kan dia. Tak yah letak. Kalau buat seperti yang disebutkan kat atas insya allah jadi. Jangan lupa masukkan garam dan paper. Kalau suka boleh tambah mince beef/chicken. Ingat toskan dulu sebelum dicampurkan. Pastu gorengkan selepas dicelupkan kedalam telur. Hasilnya seperti dalam gambar. :-)

Fresh and Refreshing

After a brief of heavy rain with hail last night, came out from the house at 5 am was chilly but refreshing. Clear sky and a full moon. Nice refreshing morning and it turn out to be a nice morning so far.

Ramadan Again!!!!

Most of the staff in the department didn't realize now is the months of Ramadan until I told them. I met my supervisor, a senior cardiologist and the head of department of cardiology research with his secretary in their office. He ask me how I am, replied I am good and I am fasting today. Then both of them said at the same time. Ramadan again !!!!!!. I said yeah...It 2010 last Ramadan was 2009. Then he said good that the Ramadan is in Winter coz the time much shorter.Yes it will make much different but for me doesn't matter if the day much longer we will still fasting despite the longer day time.

Then the other staff always forgot, ask me if I already had my lunch. I told her I am fasting, then she said sorry she forgotten and already asked me many times. Anyhow. She said I look contained, active as usual. I told her I am getting leaner. :-) Then most of them said they should fast too :-). Typical questions most of them will ask. Aren't you thirsty at all. Nope...unless you keep on thinking of it. They were surprised while I am fasting I can be as active as usual. :-)

"Kuih Bom' , 'Kuih Bom'

Hari tuu masa buat buah rotan masa menggoreng tetiba teringatlah Kuih Bom, Sejibi hehe sebiji saling tak tumpah cuma saiz jerr besar dan ada inti kelapa. So buat lah enam ketul jerr tak banyak nak makan sorang lagi pun. Sorry lah tak bagi bagi nanti ada masa dan buat banyak kita bagilah yerr. Ok lah resepi harap cari sendiri. Senang jerr tak susah. Tapi saya tukar lah sikit, yang itu rahsia nak tau kena kasi pengeras. :-)

Tak ada perubahan langsung

Masuk hari ni, dah tak terkira berapa kali keretapi asyik kena kensel. Dah lah tuu cuma tuu yang terawal ke sepital. Sepatutnya sampai kul 6 pagi jadi sampai kul 7. Bangang betul. Kata bila dah tukar management baru perangai lama berubah tak lambat and tepat masa. Itu janji depa bila ambil alih masuk TV lagi bagi janji. Tapi sampai laaa niiiii haprak. Management lama lagi baguih. Bila kena komplain cakap lah macam macam alasan. Hang dah tau memang ada masalah napa tak anticipate. Nak tunggu ada masalah baru nak atasi. Terus teranglah pengurusan LRT/PUTRA and monorail kat Malaysia tuu lagi bagus. Ingat kat negara maju macam kat sini tak ada masalah. Malah teruk gak. Banyak sangat K-----si (sensitif tak nak tulis betul betul). Apa apalah. Terpaksa call patient kat sepital suruh tunggu. Nasib baiklah depa depa tuu maklum dengan perangai pengurusan keretapi yang baru nii. Memang laaa ni banyak sangat masalah. Payah payah.

Squid for dinner

On my way back from Uni today(Sunday,22/8/10), I stop by at Saigon market to get some fresh produce for the whole week or two. Usually Sunday eve (actually almost everyday they will sell in bulk with very cheap price) they will sell the fresh produce the cheapest in bulk.

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I got there just approximately an hour before breaking fast. I managed to buy a tray of big Squids for just 5 dollars. Then I bought Bok choy 7 bunches for 2 dollars then lastly more than 5 kilos of potatoes with 1 kg of broccoli for both only 2 dollars. What a saving. In total I only spent 9 dollars.

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I bought lots of potatoes for my 'bergedel' which I am going to make it soon. Then for my home made gnocchi, and also to pun into the curries. While the vegetable it will last for the whole week. I need the high intake of fibre in diet too though. :-)

Inspiration.

arcade walk , originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

Some time I felt so inspired
But most of the time I feel so so blank.
Up and down mood.
Refreshing my mind is what I need.
But cannot refreshing all the time.

Mamak lagi Mamak lagi

Hari ke 10 puasa , berbukalah lagi di Mamak Old Town Kopitiam, Melbourne.

Hari ni teringin nak makan makanan yang berkuah. Dalam menu tulis Pan mie alah macam kwee tiaw sop gitu. Berbuka dengan makanan yang hangat hangat dan berkuah sungguh menyelerakan. Seminggu sekali memang makan kat luar ubah selera.

Lepas tuu pergi beli donut lah pulak kat krispy kreme. Mula mula tak tergerak nak beli tapi bila tengok zul beli ehh teringin lah pulak. Belilah, lagi pun dah lama tak makan. Beli 1/2 dozen bekalan untuk buka 3 hari termasuklah hari ni. 2 donut untuk sehari. Kononlah entah entah malam ni langsai. LOL. Tak kut. Makan jangan ikut nafsu, biar berpada pada.

My 'Buah Rotan'

Immediately after came back from Hospital and breaking my fast yesterday, straight away I made the famous 'Buah Rotan' cookies, one of Malaysian traditional cookies during eid celebration or not even during the celebration too. It through out the year you can have it. It took me only half an hour to get it done from making the d'oh and until it ready to eat. :-) yumm...

Finally...........

It has been a while for me thinking of when I could get it done. Don't know why I am in a mood of making all the traditional food especially all traditional food from my own heritage. May be because the stressful work I have been through lately, and trying to divert all the stressful moment to something more beneficial and realaxing and I enjoyed most, cooking. :-)

I have found a lot of traditional 'kuih/cookies' online and I want to make it from scratch. Not interested at all with what ever instant mixture you can get from supermarket etc. Not challenging and not creative. (Sorry yerr kalau ada yang terasa). It not me at all if making something from any ready made mixture. I will definitely preserved it originality as far as possible but I will twist it a little bit by changing or reducing some of the ingredients to make it more healthier.

As for this 'Buah Rotan'. I didn't used coconut as per recipe but instead I used skim milk. Then cut down the amount of egg from 5 to 2 eggs and used the milk to adjust the d'oh. Still same amount of glutinous rice flour and I only used half of the amount of recommended sugar (used raw sugar instead).

More traditional 'kuih/cookies' coming out from my kitchen, Nahar Kitchen. :-)

Breaking Fast: 'Pengat Pisang'

Now going on for the second week of Ramadhan, if during the first week I had 'Bubur Kacang' as the desert for my breaking fast or as part of early morning meal. For the second week of Ramadhan, I have made enough amount of 'Pengat Pisang' for one whole week. Divided into a small container an keep it in the refrigerator as will take it as I need it.

As usual I modified the recipe, I cut down more than half the amount of Gula Malaka from the original recipe and used only 1/3 of light coconut milk while the other two third I used skim milk. Still give beautiful taste and not too sweet too.

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In Melbourne I don't have the luxury to buy food from any of the bazaar like in KL or other part in Malaysia. At least when I made my own desert, I can make sure the desert much 'healthier' (less calorie and less fat).

Time to Ponder

I felt a little bit irritated at times when somebody has not seen me for a while and said "Hey are you sick, you loosing weight?". Am I sick????? (I didn't say anything in reply of course just smile). But at the same time some of them who ask that question whom I never seen them for a while were bloated/fatter/put on weight, then I should ask them back 'how bout yourself, you put on weight, are you healthy?'.

Sometime people shouldn't jump into a conclusion that might upset others.

Time to ponder...

Do thin people much healthier than overweight/obese people?

People who lost weight is unhealthy? A thin person is unhealthy?

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For me, I will never generalised everybody with that kind statement even you have never seen them for a while. Just say hi how are you then start the conversation try to find and get further history/stories before jumping into a conclusion. Everybody and every cases are different.

Any how......... 'Selamat Berbuka Puasa' 5.45pm waktu Melbourne

Just two bananas

Purposely I didn't bring food to work today for breaking fast. I will moving around a lot today, from Uni then to Hospital.I don't want to carry so many things in my small bag. I knew I am going to stay back late and breaking my fast in the hospital since my last patient coming for my ultrasound examination only able to come after 6 pm. I only brought 2 bananas easy to fit in my small bag. So 2 bananas for breaking fast today which was enough.

Which one to choose first

Pink Chair , originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

So many things to do today.

So so stressful.

Arghhh..

When I was doing one thing, then something else came up

Keep on thinking other things too and made me worried too much

Need to keep on focus one at the time !!!!!!!

Fried Carrot Cake Nahar's style

After I had my first fried carrot cake after such a long long time the day before, I have decided to make one myself. Thought it shouldn't be difficult. The important thing is to make the carrot cake.

(diced carrot cake)

Need a rice flour (2 cups), water (3 cups) and radish (1 big size and then shredded the radish). Stir all the ingredients and mix it well on a low heat stove until it become thicker. Then pour the mixture into a square baking tray. Steam the mixture until it become firm (approximately 30 minutes). Let it cool then cut into cube size (up to you how chunky you would like to have your carrot cake) :-)

Then from now on it up to you how you going to fried it but you have to friend the carrot cake separately until golden brown then put it a side. The original recipe used really basic frying ingredients but really nice. Oil for frying, garlic, fish sauce, preserved carrot and 2 or 3 eggs.

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For me I like to put lot and lot of things in it and I like it hot so I used blended chilli (12 dried red chilli) with garlic and shallot. Add marina mix, eggs as usual then finally lot and lot of bean sprout towards the end. Don't forget the seasoning. The end product is just slightly different touch from the original.

In searching for chocolate..........

Yummy... so many chocolates, one of the famous chocolate shop in Melbourne; Haigh's Chocolate. Looks tempting.

Finally found the chocolate I like, Dark Ginger chocolate contain at least 45% ginger in the chocolate. Nice. Had 3 after breaking my fast.

This is not a chocolate though, it is a candy. Saw candy making at the Arcade Walk.

GPO Building, Melbourne

GPO Building, Melbourne. Historic first GPO building Melbourne. A nice place to go for shopping, have a cup of coffee or just wondering around admiring the view in the building.

Cool place, a lot of shops and boutiques on the ground floor

Looks exclusive too

Two coffee shops and a flower shop along the aisle. Passing by on are way for breaking fast on the weekend.

Breaking fast day 3: Fried Carrot Cake - Chai tow kway

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Third day of Ramadhan, had my breaking fast with Zul at Mamak Old Town Kipitiam, at QV. I ordered Fried Carrot Cake. Haven't eat this for such a long long time. The taste was good but not enough. :-) . I really missed having fried carrot cake at Uptown, Damansara which I can ordered big plate. Then suddenly it gave me an idea. I might make myself my own homemade fried carrot cake. Just wait and see. :-)

Pembuka selera diwaktu sahur : ikan masin

Wah puasa puasa nii, bila sahur ada ikan masin selera gilerr bila bersahur. Bestkan.

Al kisah daun kesum.....

(daun kesum/Vietnamese mint/Vietnamese coriander/Cambodian coriander/ laksa leaves)

Kisahnya, sedang sibuk berbelanja barang dapur untuk berbuka puasa di salah sebuah supermarket, adalah seorang student perempuan gayanya seperti student Malaysialah bila dengar dia berkata kata sah memang student Malaysia. Menariknya sedang mencari cari barang keperluannya dia melalipon ibunya di Malaysia. Terdengarlah perbualan mereka, " Mah, daun kesum bahasa inggeris panggil apa ekk.............Macam mana rupanya daun kesum tuu, tak ingatlah (Lah...tak ingat kerr tak tau or tak pernah nampak)......Errr daun nya panjang panjang...(Daun apa yang panjang pangang dek banyak daun panjang panjang)...Lah tak derr lah Mah, tak perr lah tak derr kut (Tak derr kerr tak kenal???)...Tapi memang tak derr pun, kat supermarket tuu memang jarang dapat jumpa daun kesum pun dan lagi mana nak jumpa cari kat bahagian makanan frozen, mana ada daun kesum kat baharian frozen cik oiii. Kat Melbourne ni daun kesum boleh dapat fresh berlambak. Carilah kat bahagian sayur sayuran segar or kat pasar or kat asian groceries yang jual sayur sayuran segar gerenti jumpanya. Selalu cari senang jerr dapat. Ni hah lepas jerr dengar budak tuu payah nak cari, jumpa senang jerr. 69 sen seikat. Payah payah

Sah memang jenis anak dara yang tak pernah seng seng lengan turun ke dapur tolong mak masak. Anak perempuan zaman sekarang kan. Ni baru daun kesum belum lain lagi. Nasib baik lah belajar kat perantauan ada usaha juga nak tau and belajar belajar nak masak. Lepas tuu cakap kat maknya, nak masak kerabu buat buka. Wah canggih menu tapi daun kesum tak tau. Apalah internet ada, buat lah home work sebelum keluar berbelanja. Menu canggih. Google kerr. Kalau google mesti jumpanya gambar daun kesum tuu macam mana dan kat sini orang panggil apa. Ish..ish...ish...ish.....

Melbourne First Ramadhan Breaking Fast : Bubur Kacang

First day of Ramadhan in Melbourne, made me self 'Bubur Kacang'. I think it will last for a week. Too much. Modified slightly from the original recipe, instead of using thick coconut milk I change it and used skim milk mix it with light coconut milk. Then cut down half of the Palm Sugar (Gula Melaka).

Have to go, now it time for me to breaking the fast... :-)

5.41 pm masuklah waktu berbuka puasa and solat Maghrib bagi Kota Melbourne dan kawasan yang sewaktu dengannya.

Ramadhan Al-Mubarak

Garlic prawn, originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

Wish everybody have a wonderful month of Ramadhan Al-Mubarak. Most of the middle east countries and South East Asian countries including Malaysia starting today. Unfortunately here in Victoria, Australia we only going to start our fasting month tomorrow. So have to wait.. bit of disappointment.

Just teasing everybody with the garlic prawn. yumm(Jangan terriur dengan udang ni sudah..)
:-)

Up on the air Melbourne CBD from far distance

Melbourne CBD from far distance, originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

Weather was really nice on my way back to Melbourne.

Sunny..Sunny..Sunny

Far distance could see city of Melbourne

Beautiful from far, up on the air

From a distance

Conference Satisfaction

I should say I had the best conference week I have ever attended. Other than I had my poster presented, most of the sessions were at the highest standard. Everybody presented their best of the best outcome of their high quality research and future expectation. Broadened my vision definitely and with high motivation. I am looking forward to present my research results here next here even though I am already back home by then. Never had this feeling of satisfaction after attended any of the conference previously. I was so so focus with which ever session I was in. It may sounds typical but that how I felt at the moment. Anyhow, now as I have broadened my visions, is the time for me to choose which sub-specialty I want to focus on; focus more on exercise rehabilitation for chronic illnesses or in an area of sport cardiology. Hmmmmm

Muang Thai Restaurant at Hindley Street Adelaide

It was funny, the restaurant is just in front of the place where I was staying in. Asrar had noticed it first where it says halal. First night in Adelaide, had Indo Mee; Mee Goreng and bread with tuna for dinner, if I knew this restaurant, should had proper meal instead.

:-)

My self and Deidre had our dinner here on our second night in Adelaide. I saw lot of Malaysian students in the restaurant and confirmed the restaurant serve halal meat. On the menu mentioned Malay and Thai food. :-)

Had Barramundi fish and mix vegetable. Taste good too. Next time if come over to Adelaide again will know where to go to eat and would recommend to others to come here. The prices of all the meals are resealable too.

Rude people....

Two incidence had happened during this conference which I thought it was really rude and not considerate.

Some of us still ignorant, despite being informed before each session please make the phone switch off or in silence mode. Some of them are consultants or professors. When the phone ringing just once and immediately trying to switch it off we could understand that they might have forgotten but instead whilst everybody concentrating on the talk and who ever he was let the phone ringing few times then happily answering the phone. Stupid......

We always not in a good term (Me and one of the cardiologist to be whom doing his PhD too). We are using the same equipment for our research about the same thing but different approach definitely. Not being paranoid but heart says that he felt threatened because first I am not a cardiologist why I am doing this kind of study, secondly because the equipment is belongs to the department and I am only the a guest and this is his territory. Always trying to be professional each time meeting him but we knows are not in a good term. (Mamat ni memang tak sadar diri, dah lah kaum pendatang kat sini. Taulah datang dari negara timur tengah, merasa bangsa dia bagus sangat. Apa apalah). Anyhow.....

Met him in the conference on our first day conference, he has a gut to say "Don't expect to see you here", with his sarcastic look, knowing who he is just smile and replied "Had my poster for the conference", then I left him. All this time I thought I was a bit sensitive but during the poster session he says something unpleasant to me and my supervisor also the professor and consultant in the department. I could see my supervisor was upset with him. Later my supervisor said to me just ignore him. At least now I am not alone.

What ever it was, I went to the conference to have a good conference and gain more knowledge from others.

First day Conference

First day full of excitement and anxiousness. Initially I was by myself then later all my colleagues from the department of Cardiology arrived. The nurses, the cardiologist and registrar, my supervisor and most of the staff from my 'work place' Austin Health since the head of Scientific Committee is our Cardiology Head of the Department so most of the staff are here in Adelaide. It is actually a nice place to meet most of them out of the work environment.

I am one of those early bird came over to put up my poster before proceeding with the actual program. I am pleased and received good responses in regard with my Poster, good informative poster and study finding and they were looking forward to find further results detail of my study in months to come. Felt so so great and relieved. :-)

(Deidre while having lunch)

Most of the time I am with my own 'people' in the conference. Think that usual isn't it , you feel much comfortable stick with them and chatting with them through out the conference.

(Dr. Asrar, while giving his oral presentation)

Second time Adelaide

(View from my room)

It was a beautiful sunny but chilly when I arrived in Adelaide on Thursday. Not as confused when I first came here, now much more organised coz knowing what to do and what bus to catch to the city. Fortunately I managed to catch a shuttle bus straight to the city and to the place where I am staying. Not much changes since I last came last two years. It all came back in my mind the city view. Knowing where to go to get food etc. If last time I came to Adelaide for holiday but this time round coming to Adelaide for a conference.

Conference Week

I was lucky in a way. Never thought of sending my abstract for a conference in Australia. Last 2 weeks before the closing date was really rushing to get it done and submitted finally. Never thought of being accepted especially for a big conference. Any how, I was really excited 2 months ago when I received an email stated my abstracted had been accepted and eligible for poster presentation. Again I was lucky, managed to get free registration and my accommodation with the flight to Adelaide is being covered by Uni, I was so so glad other wise I wouldn't know how to get the huge amount of money just to go to the conference.

Now waiting for the time for the session. Anxious definitely, but I have to face it anyway. New experience. There is always been a first time and this is my first time involve in a conference outside my own country. Hopefully this will be the stepping stone for me for future ventures.