The year of the horse

Firstly, I would like to wish all my Chinese friends and readers (Cheh, budget macam famous blogger yang ada ramai readers dari segala lompok dunia), Happy Chinese New Year. Hope you have a great celebration with family and friends. And to those who are not celebrating, happy holiday to us :)

Walaupun cerita selanjutnya tiada kaitan dengan CNY tapi tetap nak tulis juga.

Reminiscing my first day working with the company, I was told by my GM then (she is now the company's MD) that I was the only Malay working in the company. I still remember her one last question before showing me my cubicle; "are you sure you can fit in because we have some jingjang Chinese and some modern Chinese here in the company?". Mind you she is also a Chinese but married to a Muslim man hence she is a Muslim. I answered "yes, why not?"

Scared, no I don't think so. Why do I have to be scared? They don't eat human but nervous, yes! Nervous as my England isn't that powderful and I don't speak what more understand Chinese/Mandarin. How to communicate? I guess I am allowed to be nervous. 

Being the only Malay in the company filled with Chinese colleagues put my conscious senses to the highest level. I have to be aware on the plates/bowls and cutleries because obviously, they eat pork and drink whine/beer. But it is not a big of a problem - I bring my own plate, bowls and cutleries, settled!

I have to admit, I am very fortunate to have such a wonderful colleagues. Although, I am the only Malay  Muslim in the company, they are very much sensitive towards my needs. They don't have any issue or being so racist towards me. My boss always reminds me "eh, pergi semayang lah". They will always inform before hand that the food that they ordered were not Halal. We understand each others' interests. 

I have no problem having lunch with them. Obviously, they have to go to the halal place but if they decided to eat the non-halal food, then, I don't join them. Not a issue! We are very much civilized!

After 3 years of working with the company, I am still the only Malay in my department but my population is growing bit by bit. They are hiring more Malays now. And I can understand Chinese a bit. See, it's not always bad! I survived though! Civilization is they main key!

I have no problem if they want to drink beer/whine or eat pork. I have no issue with it. Not that I'm interested but I don't see it as a problem. Hence why I am so sad with what is happening to Malaysia now. Why must we create the racist tension. Why can't we live harmoniously? Why? 

Kesian to our future generations. We build hatred in them and they will always see a Chinese as a Chinese and a Malay as a Malay. And I don't want my children to have this hatred. 

Happy Chinese New Year friends (tetiba je!)

Soon, Insya Allah

To a whole new beginning. Hoping for a brighter future, Insya Allah.

There are two things that I learned throughout this whole "chasing for a brighter future":-

1. Hikmah
2. The power of do'a

Why hikmah? I was seriously down by rejection; disappointed much! But through this rejection led me to a new opportunity. Never to give up. Allah SWT closes one door for me but He opens thousands of opportunities for me to look forward to. I have to believe in it and have faith in what ever that I'm working on, insya Allah dibukankan jalan.

Secondly, the power of do'a, MasyaAllah! I am truly humbled by it. Never to under estimate the power of do'a. And one have to believe in it in order to witness its miracle, MasyaAllah - usaha, berdoa and tawakal adalah yang sebaik-baiknya.

It's still too early for me to announce but I hope this will be "it", Insya Allah. Tapi, kalau bukan ini ketentuanNya, saya redha kerana ini adalah usaha saya.

My 1st property hunting: Seville @ Melawati

Early this year, I have set myself my own 2014 KPI. There is only 1 KPI that I hope to achieve by year end - to have my own property for investment or for my own stay. Turning 29 this year, I believe it is the right time for me to move on having a place that I can call my own and for the fact that I had a huge fight with my dad that I decided to leave the house. 

I have been religiously looking for potential housing development especially within Taman Melawati radar. This is for an obvious reason - Iman. Having a stay-in maid is not my option neither to sending her to a nursery. Hence, having a place within Taman Melawati area allows me to send her to my parent's house just to look out for her while I'm away to work.

My priority is of course a landed property. It has been my dream to have a landed house where I can do my own gardening and to make it as cosy as possible. Tetapi, looking at how the economy has transformed, I don't think I can ever afford any landed property. They are all within the range of RM1 Million and above and of course these are all located within Taman Melawati radar. Unless, if I don't mind staying very far away like Shah Alam or Rawang area. Hence, I have open-up my searching to Condominium units.

There is a new developed Condominium located at Taman Melawati (near Azwan Ali's house if you know) which is called Seville @ Melawati. I gatal-gatal registered myself with one of the property portal for this Condo. Couple of days later, an agent called asking if I'm interested to check their units which my reply was a "Yes" (tanpa berfikir panjang). We arranged a meet-up date and I went to see the unit during the set date.

It's a 1,007sqf unit with 3 bedroom + 2 bathroom which they are selling for RM500K.

The master bedroom. My angle of photography doesn't do justice. It was actually bigger than this

The most important component - the bathroom

The pool area and look at the view

And I fell in love with the unit immediately. I can already imagine how I want the house to be with the furniture arrangement and whatnot. It was like love at the first sight. The hall area is not that big which is fine for me but the 2 bedrooms are huge. However, the downside to this unit is their kitchen. A bit too small for me. Although, I did not cook that much (more to don't cook at all), but I hope to change that. I would love to cook or to start cooking if we ever move to our own place. 

For me personally, I think the selling price is reasonable. You can't find anything lower than RM500K nowadays and 1,007sqf is an ideal space for a Condo but unfortunately, my husband has his own opinion about it. We decided not to take this unit. Disappointed much! Kecewa big time!

But I guess there's hikmah to it. Tak apalah, tak ada rezeki.

But that doesn't stop me from searching for my dream home. I learned a lot from it. I was told that the selling price for the Condo was between RM300K-RM350K during the planning period. Damn, cheap weyh! But upon completion, the selling price increased by 42% and it will keep on increasing depending on the demand. Melampau tinggi harganya!

With this information leads me to registering myself to all of the new development sites although they are still within the planning stages. Nanti lepas tu baru kita check the type of houses they are selling and the selling price. 

I hope to achieve my KPI by year end, Insya Allah. If anyone of you know any new housing development, please do not hesitate to inform me. In fact, I'm currently handling a new property client tapi kat Cyberjaya. The housing plan is also in Cyberjaya. Driving to Cyberjaya took me 2 hours. Kalau tinggal Cyberjaya lepas tu kerja kat Damansara bazir minyak and toll. I spent RM10 on toll and minyak tank habis setengah. Rumah murah tapi expenses lain mahal tak guna jugak kan?! Sigh!

The Good Batch, Uptown Damansara

I'm not sure if I have mentioned before that my office is located at Uptown Damansara and I can say, it is the most convenience location ever - especially for food.

I am surrounded by variety of good restaurants and warungs that serve good-marvellous food from serving hot roti canai and nasi lemak for breakfast to the cheapest nasi campur with good sambal belacan for lunch and to marvellous taste of coffee from morning to the evening. Pendek kata nak cari makanan memang senanglah sampai kadang-kadang tak tahu apa nak makan. 

Last Wednesday, my department decided to have lunch at The Good Batch as a farewell lunch celebration for one of our department member. After months of operation, this is actually my first time dining at the restaurant.

The crowd wasn't that bad. Memandangkan lokasi hanya di belakang office, we managed to reach the restaurant before the peak lunch hour. And I have to say that they have variety of good food. Definitely recommending the place to all of you food lovers. To be honest, I don't remember the names of the food that we ordered tapi semuanya sedap-sedap belaka. 

This salad was marvellous

I don't remember what this food is called but it has slices of Salmon on it and according to the eater, it was superb!

This is what I had the other day. Don't know what it's called but it has minced beef with potato and egg. A bit salty but it was good!

Portobello Mushroom with egg on top (Sandwich/burger) 

To me, this restaurant is 3.5 out of 5. Unfortunately, I didn't have their coffee. Was there for lunch hence no coffee. Would definitely go again for their cup of coffee.

And to you food lovers, The Good Batch is located at Damansara Uptown - the same row of Wondermilk and located next to York service centre. They are open every Tuesday to Sunday and close on Monday. Very easy to find. The restaurant is facing the main road.

Preloved Item #2 - Shawna Cardigan (Dark Purple)

I was cleaning my wardrobe when I saw a purple half cardigan that has been hanging in the closet which I have totally forgotten. I don't even remember when I actually bought the top but what's for sure, I bought it from thepoplook.

Shawna Cardigan - RM50

Still in a very good shape. Wore once only and I'm selling it for RM50.

Postage is FOC and email me at ajlaa0907@gmail.com if you're interested.