Festival: Happy Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai (恭喜发财) 2014

Hi,

Season Greetings yet again from alexleow-kimmy.com and this time the whole Chinese community would celebrate the year of the Horse in bizarre fashion. I & Kimmy would like to take this golden opportunity to wish all the Tionghua community a Happy Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai (恭喜发财), Wan Shi Ru Yi (万事如意) & Zhu Li Meng En (主里蒙恩)！

Chinese New Year is celebrated in mostly Asian country including Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia and other countries as well. In Malaysia, Chinese New Year was celebrated in a joyous and wonderful mood. On the eve of the Chinese New Year, family will get together to enjoy the reunion dinner which symbolizes harmony, peace and gathering. Besides that, the Chinese Community would hang tanglung, 'ong lai' (pineapple), flowers as their decorations at their homes which symbolizes good luck and prosperity.

Childen will be the happiest among all during Chinese New Year because they will get an angpow for the eldest who have already get married. Besides, those who haven't get married will get an angpow too. Cookies and other drinks will be served during Chinese New Year as it marks the new year celebration in a bang! The most famous dishes among the Chinese during the Lunar New Year is 'Yee Sang' or 'Lou Sang'. This is a raw fish filled with different vegetable mince where we get to mixed together which symbolizes everything is good throughout the new year (see pics).

Here is my personal message whereby if you are travelling on the road, please drive carefully and stay focus on the road. Don't drink and drive too. Drive slowly and don't rush yourself because your family is waiting for you at home wanting you to return home safely. Enjoy yourself during this festive season and remember to drink more water to keep yourself healthy on a hot chinese new year. Happy Reunion Dinner and Happy Tiger Year to you all. Stay tuned on my blog for more latest Chinese New Year activities happening throughout this week.

Festival: Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner 2014

Hello All,

Upon arrival of the Year Of the Horse, today is the day to gather together as a family to enjoy our Reunion Dinner before we usher the first day Of Chinese New Year. Reunion Dinner is the most important event for all of us to be remembered no matter where you are because it's symbolizes the traditional event where no matter what, we have to gather together to eat, laugh and enjoy to show respect to everyone in our family.

There are many ways of preparing the Reunion Dinner. The normal and traditional way of preparing is of course preparing a lot of dishes like Fish, Prawns, Meat, Pork but some would prefer Steamboat style. For ME, I am going for steamboat this year like previous years and we have been practicing it for the past 3 years.

No matter what you eat, it's still the reunion dinner that should not be missed. If you are driving home for Reunion Dinner, remember to drive safely on the road and for those who already reached home and reading my BLOG now, enjoy your precious and wonderful time with your family. alexleow-kimmy.com would like to wish the Chinese Community a Happy Chinese New Year, "Gong Xi Fa Cai", 新年快樂.

Best of TVB Drama: Queen Divas (新抱喜相逢)

English Title: Queen Divas
Cantonese Title: 新抱喜相逢
Cast: Nancy Sit, Joyce Tang, Angela Tong, Pierre Ngo, Evergreen Mak, Yuen Qiu, Anderson Junior, Jonathan Wong
Episodes: 15
Airing date: 20 January 2014
Genre: Modern Comedy 
Official: Website 
Executive Producer: Kwan Wing Chung 
Scriptwriter: Chung Kin Keung
  
Official Synopsis

Born into a noble family, HO SIU-LAN (Nancy Sit) is not only very skillful in household management but also in charge of all events of Lin Enterprise, however trivial, for her husband’s family.

Her elder son LIN CHI-SUM (Evergreen Mak) and second son LIN CHI-KIT (Pierre Ngo) have not got married yet, and they maintain low-profile relationships respectively with two actresses from the film and television industry, leaving SIU-LAN with no alternative but to recognize their marriages. Her elder daughter-in-law KWOK FEI-FEI (Joyce Tang) is the tragic drama queen, whereas her second daughter-in-law MAN CHOI-LING (Angela Tong) is the comedy-drama queen. Competing head-to-head as two outstanding actresses, their battleground expands from the showbiz to the mega-mansion. Their mother-in-law, who usually presents herself as a kind mother and good wife, in fact hides a dagger in her smile. Three divas showcase sparkling acting skills that nearly surpass the Academy Award Best Actress, resulting in tons of jokes. Until SIU-LAN uncovers that someone has embezzled company money, the whole family falls in dire straits. Ever since then, things unknown by the others have been gradually unmasked with laughter and tears interweaving……MY RATING: 5/5

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出 身書香世家的何少蘭(薛家燕)不單持家有道，還掌控夫家連氏企業的大小事務，大少連祉森(麥長青)和二少連祉傑(敖嘉年)尚未成家立室，卻各自與影視圈兩 位姐仔大搞地下情，少蘭迫於無奈接受二人入門，大少奶郭菲菲(滕麗名)為悲劇天后，二少奶文彩菱(湯盈盈)為喜劇天后，同是好戲之人從娛樂圈鬥到豪門大 宅，平日以慈母賢妻作包裝的奶奶原來笑裏藏刀，三后迸發火花演技直逼奧斯卡女主角，鬧出連番笑話，直至少蘭發現有人虧空公司資產，連家上下齊齊落難，逐步 揭開各人種種隱情，當中有笑有淚……MY RATING: 5/5

Best Of TVB Drama: Outbound Love (單戀雙城)

English Title: Outbound Love
Cantonese Title: 單戀雙城 (daan lun seung seng)
Cast: Ruco Chan, Aimee Chan Lin Xia Wei, Tony Hung, Mat Yeung, Amy Fan, Samantha Ko, Elaine Yiu
Episodes: 22
Airing date: 20 January 2014
Themesong: 很想討厭你 (Really want to despise you)-Lin Xiawei
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Official: Website
Executive Producer: MaFong Tsun Chiu
Scriptwriter: Chan Ching Yee

Official Synopsis:

In order to develop new business, LAW SIK-SIK (Aimee Chan), who works for a travel agency, goes to Malaysia to have a meeting with her client.

Unexpectedly, her plans are ruined by a local cunning tour guide, LUK KUNG-CHI (Ruco Chan), resulting in a falling-out between the two. All of a sudden, SIK-SIK’s boyfriend CHING CHIN-BOK (Mat Yeung) appears to propose marriage to her. The pair start preparing for their wedding ceremony on the heels of their return to Hong Kong. Just when SIK-SIK thinks she is the happiest bride in the world, out of the blue, the intimate video clip showing her fiancé having an affair with her best friend are made public during the wedding ceremony. As such, grief-stricken SIK-SIK once again heads to Malaysia and changes her job to work in a local hotel, where she re-encounters KUNG-CHI. Due to each other’s different frame of mind, seemingly aloof yet close subtle feelings have gradually been developed between them. CHIN-BOK’s younger sister CHING CHIN-CHUN (Lin Xia Wei) has been taking SIK-SIK’s side instead of her own brother’s, supporting her break-up decision. Also through SIK-SIK, she gets to know celebrity chef CHIN TSUN (Tony Hung), becoming his apprentice to learn the cooking skills. After the two have spent some time together, CHIN-CHUN has a crush on her master. However, for all these years, CHIN TSUN cannot get SIK-SIK off his mind. Just when he is about to disclose his love affection towards SIK-SIK, CHIN-BOK starts pursuing SIK-SIK all over again, whereas the one who lays him a helping hand turns out to be KUNG-CHI…….MY RATING: 5/5

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任 職旅行社的羅式適(陳茵媺)為公司開拓新業務，特赴馬來西亞與客戶開會，誰料被當地滑頭導遊陸恭梓(陳展鵬)破壞一切計劃，二人因而結怨，式適的男朋友程 展博(楊明)突然現身向她求婚，二人回港隨即籌備婚禮，當式適感到自己是世上最幸福的新娘時，男朋友與自己閨中密友的偷情片段竟在婚禮上公諸於世，式適擁 抱痛苦再赴馬來西亞，並轉往當地酒店工作，令她再度遇上恭梓，不一樣的心情為兩人營造了一種似遠還近的微妙感覺，展博的妹妹程展禛(林夏薇)幫理不幫親， 一直支持好友式適分手的決定，亦因式適的關係認識名廚錢進(洪永城)並跟他拜師學藝，相處之下，展禛愛上師傅，但多年來錢進心裡只有式適，試圖表白之際， 展博再度向式適展開攻勢，而助他一臂之力的竟就是恭梓……MY RATING: 5/5

Food Hunt: Pizza Hut Golden Fortune Pizza, 1 Utama Shopping Center, Petaling Jaya

Dear All,

Welcome back to yet another edition of Food Hunt. Today ME & Kimmy had chosen Pizza Hut as our dinner at 1 Utama as we wanted to try out the newly Golden Fortune Pizza in conjunction with Chinese New Year Celebration. We reached the restaurant at around 7.30pm and it's pretty crowded. We sat down and browse through the menu and we are only interested in looking at the Golden Fortune Pizza. This meal comes with ala-carte or with set menu.

Regular Golden Fortune Pizza

We have decided to order the SET C1 which comes with a:

1.) Regular Golden Fortune Pizza
2.) Fortune Platter
3.) Golden Fortune Fizz

The price would be RM37.90 for the whole set not including a Service Charge and Government Tax. After the taxes, the price would be RM43.95. We waited for about 10 minutes and then the food arrives. I was shocked as the portion is really huge for 2 persons and we hardly can finish it. It's definitely value for money. The Regular Golden Fortune Pizza is nice and tasty. It's not too cheesy and just nice to consume. Furthermore, the crabstick is very fresh and nice too. It's not spicy though and good to eat for the whole family. Meanwhile the Fortune Platter is also very nice to eat too. Inside the Fortune Platter contains curly fries, bread stix, prosperity fish balls and Mushroom Pai Tee. Overall it's delicious. Last but not least, the Golden Fortune Fizz is also nice. It's the mixture between mango and soda mixed with some sago as well.

Golden Platter

Golden Fizz

Overall, the portion is huge and the price is reasonable and most importantly the food is nice and tasty. This is one of the best pizza from Pizza Hut that I've ever tried. I would strongly recommend you to come over and try out the Golden Fortune Pizza from Pizza Hut. Enjoy. MY RATING: 5/5 ; KIMMY RATING: 5/5

* Food Rating are based on the food & drinks we've ordered and not overall food & drinks.

Ambiance: 5/5
Cleanliness: 5/5
Value Of Food: 5/5
Customer Service: 5/5
Ditanggung Halal: Yes

Address: 

No. 223 Promenade LG
1 Utama Shopping Centre
Bandar Utama
1 Lebuh Bandar City Centre
47800 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Telephone: Not Available
Business Hours: 10.00am - 10.00pm Daily


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Cinema Movie: Ah Beng: Mission Impossible (阿炳馬到功成)

Release Date: 23 Jan 2014 

Language:Cantonese 

Subtitle: English, Malay
Genre:Comedy
Running Time: 104 minutes
Director:Silver
Cast:Jack Lim, Jeff Chin, Gan Mei Yan, Chen Keat Yoke, Royce Tan, Bernard Hiew, Wan Wai Fun, Gan Jiang Han, Jason Pang

Synopsis:

Just when Malaysian Chinese are gearing up for the Lunar New Year celebration, security guard Ah Beng (Jack Lim) receives a call from his company. He is asked to cancel his Lunar New Year holiday for a “simple” mission, which infuriates him. However, Ah Beng immediately changes his mind when he discovers that the mission promises a handsome reward of RM1 million.

With his task on hand, Ah Beng goes to Korea with his friend Ah Hien (Jeff Chin) to meet up with an old couple (Remon Lim & Albert Nico). He has to sign a will involving a sizeable inheritance of RM500 million.

For the mission, Ah Beng has to disguise himself as Mark Ma, a rich man’s long lost son. Mark is a professional bodyguard and has an attractive younger sister, Maggie Ma (Yumi Wong).  Behind her pretty smile, Maggie, also has her own secrets!

Ah Beng’s seemingly simple mission, which only requires his signature, eventually implicates his entire family, even affecting Ah Beng’s relationship with “Salted Fish” Lian’s (Ah Yoke) relationship. His good friends, Rain and Bobby (Royce & Bernard) are caught in the mess too.

Ah Beng faces a challenge of making tough decisions when Mark’s sister, Maggie, “Salted Fish” Lian and Ah Beng’s parents are kidnapped by different parties at the same time!

How will Ah Beng solve this impossible mission? Will he succeed?

Ah Beng’s thrilling adventure begins…

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My Comments:  I am back again for my first Chinese New Year movie of the year 2014 and I kicked off with this famous Astro Local Comedy Show called Ah Beng watched at TGV 1 Utama. Now besides Ah Beng being showed at Astro, you can also see him on cinema screen as usual. This is the 4th installment of Ah Beng movie and this year would be better than last year. If you remembered last year where ME & Kimmy gave a bad review on the previous year movie but this year it has a tremendous improvement and it's back to action once again.

Overall, the same old plot accompanied by some fresh faces in Ah Beng movie installment and it gives positive results to this movie. The movie gave its audiences lots of laughter and most importantly the storyline is good and not crappy. The most notable actor besides Ah Beng would be Ah Hian (Jeff Chin) which almost grab the most attention on this movie with his jokes and credibility. The combination of Ah Beng and Ah Hian paid handsomely where both of them give its audiences some good laugh and not forgetting some lovely action which gives this movie more 'kick'. You want jokes, romance and even action can be found in this movie. I would say Ah Beng 2014 movie is not like the old 2013 installment anymore and this year would be much more better.

No regrets! This is what I want to say if the old installment still hunts you in your mind. Do give Ah Beng: Mission Impossible another chance and you have no regrets watching this movie. At least I do laugh almost every minute throughout the movie and I did enjoyed it. I set low expectation but it gave me reverse results. A good and lovely Chinese New Year movie to kick start. Enjoy! MY RATING: 4/5 ; KIMMY RATING: 4/5

Leisure: 1 Utama Shopping Center Chinese New Year Decorations 2014

Dear All,

Welcome back to yet to another mall marathon and this time we cruise all the way to our last destination of mall marathon before we kicked off the Chinese New Year in a few days. We headed over to 1 Utama Shopping Center as our last destination here as we could conclude the best Chinese New Year decorations for 2014 as voted by alexleow-kimmy.com. This year Chinese New Year theme for 1 Utama would be "In The Mood For Red" which commences from 10th January 2014 to 4th February 2014.

This year's decorations definitely suits the theme that it sets. At the center court of the new and old wing stands some beautiful red lights and tanglungs with a huge red pagoda based hut being built. Visitors can then enter the pagoda based hut only on the first floor. Visitors can also take opportunities to take photos at the hut and enjoy lots of promotions at the booths being setup there as well. For me, there's nothing special about this pagoda based hut as it's a normal hut only. Do enjoy some cultural and lion dance performances that was installed for you from time to time. Kindly refer to the Chinese New Year schedule at the mall.

I would recommend you to come over here to take a look at the refreshing red theme based new year and I'm sure you will enjoy it as well. Enjoy your shopping and Gong Xi Fa Cai to all of you. Last but not least, at the bottom of this posts would be the rankings of the Chinese New Year Mall Decorations 2014 as voted by alexleow-kimmy.com. Enjoy! MY RATING: 4/5 ; KIMMY RATING: 4/5

Chinese New Year Mall Decorations Ranking 2014

1.) Sunway Pyramid
2.) Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
3.) Paradigm Mall
4.) 1 Utama Shopping Center
5.) Farenheit 88 Mall

Food Hunt: Restaurant Joe Joe (食全食美), Viva Home Mall, Kuala Lumpur

Dear All,

Welcome back to yet another edition of Food Hunt. Today ME & Kimmy had eventually attended the 100 Doraemon Secret Gadgets Expo at Viva Home Mall and then we continue to our journey to eat lunch. While we are walking around the mall, considering what to eat, we've choose a random restaurant to dine in. We've chosen Joe Joe Restaurant as our choice. This restaurant serves mostly Chinese Cuisine but they also serves a small portion of Western Food as well. There are ala-carte dishes but if you want to eat rice with dishes, they have it as well. For both of us, we've prefer the ala-carte dishes but since we went there during lunch hour and on weekdays, they do offer set lunches as well.

We reach the restaurant at about 2.00pm and there are only 1 or 2 tables occupied. We sat down and were served immediately. The browse through the menu and the price is pretty reasonable. We ordered the set lunch instead as it's much more affordable. We ordered the following:

Set 1: Szechuan Ma Po Taufu Rice + Green Tea (Cold) (RM8.90)
Set 2: Pineapple Fried Rice + Coke (Cold) (RM11.90)

As you can see the set lunch are pretty affordable as it comes together with drinks. We have not waited for long and it took about 5 minutes before the food arrives. The Pineapple Fried Rice is nice and lovely. I can smell the fragrance of the pineapple flavor and then the portion is above average. Just nice for a simple lunch meal. Meanwhile the Szechuan Ma Po Taufu Rice is also very nice indeed. The portion is also above average. The drinks meanwhile had nothing to introduce because it's a standard Green Tea and Coke.

Szechuan Ma Po Taufu Rice

Pineapple Fried Rice

Coke & Green Tea

Our total bill would be RM22.90 and I think it's pretty reasonable too for a simple lunch set meal. Frankly, I have not tried other of their food and based on my rating based on today's simple meal, I would recommend you to come over to try their other food here as well. I think they are equally as nice as well. The environment here is pretty good and clean too. Enjoy your meal! MY RATING: 5/5 ; KIMMY RATING: 5/5

* Food Rating are based on the food & drinks we've ordered and not overall food & drinks.

Ambiance: 5/5
Cleanliness: 5/5
Value Of Food: 5/5
Customer Service: 5/5
Ditanggung Halal: No

Address: 

Lot 1-01, 1-01B, 1-02 & 1-03, 
1st Floor, Viva Home Mall,
85, Jalan Loke Yew,
55200 Kuala Lumpur.
Telephone: 03-92853288

 
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Leisure: 100 Doraemon Secret Gadget Expo, Viva Home Mall, Kuala Lumpur

Hi All,

It's my turn finally to catch the Doraemon Expo happening at Viva Home Mall today. For your information, this expo is first of it's kind in Southeast Asia and Kuala Lumpur had been selected to be the host of this big event Doraemon Expo happening at Viva Home Mall. It features 100 Doraemon's secret gadget which was used in the movie and in the TV series. If you do not realized it, this gadget that you seen on TV or movie can be found here and patrons can experience a wide range of Doraemon miniature and 3D wall paintings as well as Doraemon's friends at the expo. Remember do bring your camera to take some photos or else you will finish walking around the expo pretty fast. The pricing for the expo would be RM25 for adults and RM15 for Children (4-12 years old). The entrance fees above is excluding a RM3 ticketing fee which you need to pay together when you buy the tickets. So the total would be RM28 for adults and RM18 for kids. Senior Citizen above 60 years old as well as OKU (Orang Kurang Upaya) are Free Of Charge.

You can get the tickets at various channels (BHPetrol, MyDeal) including the ticketing counter located at the Viva Home Expo itself without any hassle. Time of visit is from 10am - 10pm Daily from 14th December 2014 to 23rd March 2014. I advice you to visit during weekdays as it has less people and more comfort to take photos if compared to weekends, eve and public holidays as the expo are very much crowded. Also what you can see at the expo? There are also some photo booths where the selected photographer over there can take photos for you and then you may proceed to purchase the photos at an affordable price (RM25 - 1 photo) ; (RM46 - 2 photos) ; (RM64 for 3 photos). There are souvenir shops that sells Doraemon merchandise at an affordable price as well. If you are tired and hungry, do stop by at their cafe (after you exit from the expo) and remember to try out Doraemon's favourite Dorayaki Bun (RM5 per bun) with choices of peanut, red bean or chocolate. The portion is quite small but it's worth of trying and it's nice. There are also booths for your kids to play and try out their luck on the Doraemon games with a small fees as well to participate and win cool prizes as well.

It may take you around 1 hour to 150 minutes to walk around the expo if your intention is to take photos and read thoroughly the description of each Doraemon Secret Gadgets they are using. It's worth every penny you pay (entrances fee) as it maybe a chance of a lifetime for you to watch it at Malaysia. I would strongly recommend you to come over and catch this expo and you will enjoy it if you are a big fan of Doraemon just like ME & Kimmy. If you find insufficient information here, alternatively you may check out the website below for more information. Also do check out the full photos on our Facebook Page (about 115 photos). Link is at below as well. Enjoy! MY RATING: 5/5 (PERFECT) ; KIMMY RATING: 5/5 (PERFECT)

100 Doraemon Secret Gadget Expo Website: http://www.100doraemon.com/

alexleow-kimmy.com Facebook Page Doraemon Photos: 100 Doraemon Secret Gadget Expo Full Photos

Location:

Viva Home Shopping Mall,
85, Jalan Loke Yew,
55200 Kuala Lumpur
Business Hours: 10.00am - 10.00pm Daily


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Leisure: Pavilion & Farenheit88, Kuala Lumpur Chinese New Year Decorations 2014

Dear All,

Welcome back to yet another edition of mall marathon Chinese New Year Decorations. This time around we continue our journey to Kuala Lumpur as this time around we've visited Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Farenheit88 Mall to check out the Chinese New Year Decorations over there. We kick things off now with Pavilion Kuala Lumpur followed by Farenheit88 Mall.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

This year Pavilion Kuala Lumpur Chinese New Year Decorations would be very reddish and nice too but using almost the same theme as the Christimas ones as well especially the horse ride for kids which is available during Christmas as well. Other than that, the mall was then equipped with lots of Tanglung and flowers to welcome the spring blossoms. It was very nice indeed and you can enjoy the beautiful reddish scenery which gives you a fresh look while you're there. Do spot some great entertainment of the mall including some cultural Chinese dance as well as lion dance performances as well. Not forgetting, this year's theme for Pavilion Kuala Lumpur would be "688 Trail Of Fortune" which commences from 8th January 2014 to 14th February 2014. Do come on over here to take a look at the spectacular view as usual for the Chinese New Year Decorations installed for its patrons. Enjoy! MY RATING: 5/5 ; KIMMY RATING: 4/5

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Farenheit88 Mall, Kuala Lumpur

This year around Farenheit88 had apparently featured a great theme for the Chinese New Year Decorations. It would be "Blossoms Of Happiness"  which features the 12 zodiac displayed on the concourse area. Of course the main zodiac for this year would be the Horse so the Horse would take center stage. It's roaring like a tiger at the concourse area accompanied by another 11 remaining zodiac that can be seen on the concourse area. Due to its limited space, this year decorations would be simply yet meaningful as well. The decorations commences from 8th January 2014 to 14th February 2014. Do come over and take a pictures of yourself with your favourite or your own zodiac according to the Chinese calendar. I would recommend you to come over here as the decorations is good and above average this time. Enjoy! MY RATING: 4/5 ; KIMMY RATING: 4/5