I am Otaku : Studio Ghibli films

I am not a big fan of anime.
I don't like anime with over hundreds of episodes. It is very difficult to catch up with every episodes and some of the storyline will get far more ridiculous than the first time you watched it.
In fact I actually can count the number of complete episode of anime I've watched.

Digimon version 1 and 2 (the best anime of all time),

Full Metal Alchemist,

Fate Stay Night,

Inuyasha,

and Ragnarok.

There is no reason why people don't like anime.
Anime can narrate story with better interpretation.

Anime is all about imagination.
Story and action is beyond the thing that what normal life can be achieved.

I love author who can create something that is very abstract and still manage to pull out the inner artistic side of an audience.
And that is the reason why I am addicted to films from Studio Ghibli recently.
I am really impressed with every film from Studio Ghibli.
They are really good in delivering story to the audience.

I watched Spirited Away (my personal favourite),

My Neighbour Totoro,

Kiki's Delivery Service,

The Cat Returns,

Howl's Moving Castle,

and Ponyo.

Love it love it love it !
And every original sound track of every studio Ghibli films is also very impressive.
The rhythm is just so sentimental, and since we don't understand the Japanese, it is the best choice to turn it on to relax your mind.

Personal recommendation (OST from :)

Spirited Away


Howl's Moving Castle


The Cat Returns (Fish Leong's 小手拉大手)


I haven't turn 21.
So it is still legit to post cartoon pictures on my blog.
Here I go again, showing another geeky side of mine.
#kthxbye

Life in HKUST (Part II)

I believe I had gained some weight when I'm back from HK.
In HKUST, they have almost 1 restaurant in every floor of the whole campus.
Chinese and western restaurant, cafe, McD, high class bistro and bar.
Look at the menu in one of the stalls at the food court !

Menu on a BIG board

I have to spend almost 10 minutes to think of what to eat before order the food. Not to mention to plus the time to remember the name of those food. Those foods on the list are normally very long and complicated to speak in Cantonese. ><’’
All the foods in the campus are not that expensive. Around HKD25~30 (RM8~RM12) for every lunch/dinner. The portion of each plate of meal is very big. I believe with this portion corresponds with the cost, it’s not expensive after all. I am not sure why hongkee can eat so much, even the girls. But you can hardly find a fatty in HK. I believe because they walk a lot. That is why they eat so much.

Believe me, those foods are delicious !
Not anything like the food in UPM campus.

Order chit

Counter to collect the food

Food court

Delicious !

Damn it ! I am hungry now !

Love it !!

AHHHH!! miss those food !

Okay I'm becoming more lazy recently. 

I don't wanna make my HKUST story to hang in the middle though. 

Anyway, here's one of my friends who went for this program also.

You guys can read her story here : Aziana's HKUST life

Her version is much informative lah ~

But don't forget to come back to read my blog after reading hers. (I am afraid of losing my reader HAHA)

Stay reading... !!

Lemon Custard

This time we tried new thing again.
LEMON CUSTARD !!

Lemon custard !

Lemon custard is a thick, soft cream that has a wonderful sweet and sour citrus flavour. It can be used as spread for bread slice and filling for tarts, pies, and cakes.

Ingredients :

• 4 lemons
• 3 eggs
• 100g of butter
• few tablespoons of sugar

Fresh lemon juice

Butter

Easiest ingredients you can get in any supermarket !


Method :
1. Whisk all ingredients together in a professional stainless steel saucepan bowl.
2. Cook in medium heat and keep stirring until it thicken. (10 ~ 15 minutes)
3. Add few tablespoons of sugar and taste it.
4. Continue to stir and cook until very thick.
5. Pour them into a jar and let it cool down. (if possible, strain it first for smoother result)
6. Refrigerate for 4 hours.

Add few tablespoons of sugar

DONE !!

Note :

• Make sure to scrape the bottom of pan while cooking so that the curd thickens evenly without burning the bottom. We burnt the the curd at the bottom of the pan. It will appears chao ta. 
• Add more sugar if you think the lemon is too sour.
• Buy a better quality of unsalted butter. Don't buy chap pu long brand if you want your lemon custard to taste and smell nice. Trust me. If you know what I mean.

Stir stir stir

So, you are once again ready to prove to your parents you can open a bakery shop in the future.
Will upload more DIY confectionery in the future. Stay tuned !!

Lovely Lemon Custard

Life in HKUST (Part I)

I went to Hong Kong before for vacation with my family in 2007.

This time, I was there again for international summer program in Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). 

With the ISP program officer at the farewell lunch

It's pretty cool to have the opportunity to have an exchange program experience in this top ranked university in Asia. I mean, not everyone will have the chance to be there as a student right? It's so lucky that UPM is one of the university which have collaboration with them. 

Why not give myself a try? Grab the chance, apply, and go. 

Love the environment of this university

It's not that expensive after all. I manage to spend less than RM5000 to survive and enjoy my 3 weeks in HK. (including air flight ticket, meal expenses, accommodation, transportation fees, souvenir and tuition fees)

I am not exactly sure what had happened. But Malaysia Airlines upgraded our seat from economic class to business class at the very last minute before our departure time. That was really a huge surprise for us and it was really an experience in a life time to be on the business class seat in a flight !! I mean, if it is not sponsored, I am sure we will not purposely go and get that god-damn expensive business class ticket to travel by flight from one place to another.

'

The 'Atas' food they served us.. *tears*

Look how spacious !

HK is not very far from Malaysia. About 3.5 hours of flight distance.
Upon arrival, Andy was already there to meet up with us and ready to send us to HKUST. (We actually arrive at 5.30am in the morning and he is already there !!)

Me and Andy at the Victoria Peak - at the best spot to watch the spectacular night scene of Hong Kong

Andy is our HK friend who once came to UPM for exchange program. I am so grateful to have him for us for this entire 3 weeks in HK. He and his family actually gave their 100% to welcome and took good care of us during the entire journey in HK. Cannot be thankful enough !!

HK is small and the land is so limited. They are literally "filling up the sea with land" every year to expand the land in order to build more buildings. According to Andy, it is estimated that the Victoria Pearl Harbour will eventually become a piece of land with full of buildings in years to come.

Hong Kong

There is no doubt that the land in HK is expensive. To have a sea view accommodation in HK is rather a ridiculous thing to ask for. And guess what? My hostel have it!

The view outside the window of my hostel room

The room of UG Hall IV - Student Hall of HKUST

I really love this room so much. It is the MOST suitable room for a university student. This room is small but guess what, they have air-conditioner, refrigerator, a big study table with multi-compartments and a wardrobe. OMG. You really can't ask for more. The toilet and bathroom are so clean. They even have cleaner to clean your room once every 4 days. I sometimes just cannot believe I am in a university hostel when I wake up in the morning. 6-star for this student hall !!!

HK is a developed country. There is no surprise that HK today is that developed.
The attitude in every Hongkies has really impressed me.
They work very hard and efficiently. Even when I am queuing up to order food in the canteen, I can feel the tension when being called to order in front of the counter. Their pace is so fast until I cannot manage to catch up.

Street in Causeway Bay

Hongkies like to work. Even those who are already old.
These old hongkies have children to take care of them, but to work is a way to prove that they are not old enough. To prove them is not useless.
So you can really see many old men and women anywhere on any of the busy streets in HK. Most of them collect old paper boards and aluminium tins to earn some money.

At Yuen Long - an old town

Hmm... signing off.
Stay reading for more story!

:D xD

Tiramisu ~

Tiramisu is the easiest dessert you can make at home because the result will turn out to be very satisfying.
This is the second time I make Tiramisu with my sister.
We have tried other confectionery like pandan cake, egg tart and chocolate chips cookies, but nothing turns out to be as like the expected one.
So just play safe, make a Tiramisu again this time.

I think most of the Malaysian do not know Tiramisu is actually an alcoholic dessert.
So all this while those Tiramisu cakes we get in the bakery shops nearby is not Tiramisu?!
OH GOD YES.
My whole life was a lie until I discovered it last year when told by my sister (whose been travelled to nearly 20+ countries in the world).
Malaysians get rid of the cocoa liquor and replace it with just cocoa essence in order to adapt to Malaysia's halal culture.
Tiramisu is an Italian cake and dessert. It is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks and mascarpone cheese, and flavored with liquor and cocoa.

Here is our recipe for Tiramisu !
Ingredients :

• a box of Mascarpone cheese (300~350g)
• 250ml of thickened cream
• an egg yolk
• a pack of sponge fingers
• Baileys Irish cream (cocoa cream based liqueur)
• few tablespoons of sugar

Mascarpone cheese

Thickened cream

Egg yolk

Sponge ladyfingers

Baileys Irish cream

There are a lot of types of cheese in the supermarket. Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese. It is very rich and a bit sweet. It is essential for the creamy taste of Tiramisu.  Don't try to replace Mascarpone cheese with  any other types of cheese like Mozarella cheese if you couldn't find any Mascarpone cheese in your nearby supermarket.
You might not heard of ladyfingers. They are light and sweet hard sponge cakes roughly shaped like a large finger. It is rather not so common as a snack but I guess it can be categorised as a type of biscuit.
You might encounter difficulties in finding these ingredients in Tesco, Giant or Jusco. They can be easily obtained from Cold Storage.

Steps
Heat and beat the egg yolk onto hot water.

Beat the mixture of the cheese and thickened cream until smooth and fluffy.
Add the heated egg yolk into the bowl and keep beating.

Add a few spoonful of sugar. (Taste the sweetness while adding)

Pour sufficient amount of Baileys on a plate.
Dip the sponge ladyfingers in the Baileys on the plate. (Dip, don't soak)
Place and arrange them into a container.

Pour the creamy mixture onto the dipped sponge fingers.

Spread the layer well and add another layer by repeating the same step.

Sprinkle some Milo/Nescafe powder on the Tiramisu.
Chill for at least 4 hours in refrigerator.

Tadah!!! Tiramisu is done !!!

I know right ! Easy !
This home-made dessert will eventually looks and taste like the professional's.  

Nom Nom Nom !!
I'm not sure is it me overly obsessed with Baileys or just love Tiramisu !
This tiramisu serves 4 to 6 people. But I'm sure I can finish it within a day.

Hope you guys can try it out on your own!
That's it. Enjoy!

xD