Thursday, 17 May 2012

The Quiet Neighbourhood


Gazing outside my double-storey terrace home...what I see is all greenery.  A moderate sized playground with leafy green trees lining along the park where loads of young children used to run and play during the evenings.  Now it is so much different, those young children that I used to see filling the park with their happy laughter and cheers have all grown up...just like my children.  Only a handful still comes to play every once in a while.  Guess with all the modern technology, more and more youngsters tend to stay indoors with their new gadgets and computers.

Life is getting quieter nowadays...children becomes adults with their very own dreams and ambitions and they leave home to start a separate life on their own...striving for their better future.  Even the neighbourhood has turned rather quiet.  Early in the mornings, as I take a breath of fresh air from my room balcony, I only see people of middle age taking their morning jog or walk.  But as the sun rises, everyone will go about with their usual routine and the roads would quieten down.

As we age, friends that have been with us for years as our children grew up together finally leave us, moving in with their children elsewhere in bigger cities.  My second daughter has made a career for herself in the big city where she studied and graduated.  Earlier this month, I sent my youngest down to join her sister as she starts her three months internship as required for her graduation.  As for my eldest, she has made the choice to work here after graduating...which is good, but eventually she too will start a life on her own once she meets her Mr. Right...then there will be just the two of us left in what will seem to be in this “big” house when all the kids have left home.

Everyone tells me “You’ll have to let them go sooner or later”...which is all too true. But which mother can “totally” let go, after having them beside us since the day we heard their first cry after hours of painful labour.  So as I sent my youngest to the big city, I just can’t help but be a little worried about her wellbeing.  I’m sure other mothers would share the same sentiment as me.  Thankfully for both of us, her sister has lovingly provided her with both lodging and transport...which has put my mind so much more at ease (Love you so much *muacks* )
So my recent short trip down to Kuala Lumpur (yet once again) was really a trip with a purpose, but in between all the busy arrangements making sure she has all that she needs, I still manage to squeeze in some family time with my mom, brother, sister and at the same time enjoy a few days with my two daughters before returning back home.

What can be more satisfying than having a good breakfast with family each time I’m there...
Enjoying a hearty breakfast with my mum, brother, sister, nephew & nieces at Factory Food Court in USJ1.  There aren’t many stalls in the morning as most open during the evenings for dinner.  Tried their Curry Chee-Cheong Fun...not too good as I find the curry is way too diluted but the one with their original sweet sauce is much nicer.  Their Prawn noodles (Hokkien Mee) was really delicious...but I missed out taking a photo of it.
(The Curry Chee Cheong Fun & the Chee Cheong Fun with sweet sauce)
We spent some nights at my brother’s place and another 2 nights at a budget hotel near to 1Utama at Kota Damansara to be closer to my daughters.  The One Avenue Hotel  at Jalan Masjid is just a 5 mins drive to 1Utama Shopping Mall.  It is located at a block of shop lot near to the Pelangi Utama Apartments.  The outlook of the hotel may not look too great, but once inside, we found it to be nice & clean.  We booked the Superior Double Room which came with a very comfortable double bed and amenities like air-condition, bottled water, hairdryer, writing desk and free Wifi.  Another plus point about its location is that you can find restaurants, convenience stores like 7Eleven, 99 Speedmart & even a clinic is just right at the same block.

There is this one restaurant with the most unique name where we had our morning breakfast ~Botak Restaurant (^-^). Not only is their name unique, the food they serve is rather good & you can find an amazing array or about 30~40 choices of dishes served as early as 9.00am if you favour to have rice in the morning. While we were having our breakfast we noticed quite a number of people came in to ‘tapao’ their dishes for lunch.
Our morning breakfast @ Botak Restaurant ~Wantan Mee, Dry Koayteow, Hakka Mee & Curry Wantan Mee
Needless to say, each time I go down, my daughter never fails to take us for enjoyable meals each time we are there =)
When my daughter suggested dinner at Dragon-i, I was hesitant as I heard that their prices are quite expensive...but she insisted that I try their famous  ‘Siao Loong Bao’.  Their menu also offers a wide variety of dishes ranging from the most expensive abalone right down to noodles. Needless to say their food is definitely scrumptious. I ordered their seafood noodles and I can feel the freshness of the prawns with every bite and their Siao Loong Bao...Mmmmmm...so yummy. At your first bite, you can taste its yummy soup oozing out from the Bao.
Dragon-i Restaurant @ The Curve, Kota Damansara
DRAGON-i ~ very well known for their ‘Siao Loong Bao’(top right), but all their food is so very delicious as well.
For a western meal, we went to Fullhouse at Sunway Giza. I have been there before and their food and delightful decorations have always beckoned me back for more.
Fullhouse at Sunway Giza ~ great place for a “Photo Shoot” ...Lol
Their pastas were great ~From top right – Vongole Spaghett (packed with clams with a slightly spicy taste), Seafood Spaghetti, Sea Coconut & Lychee  &  Blueberry Cheese Cake
Another stop was Home Town Restaurant also at Sunway Giza, my daughter says their noodles are good, but once we sat down & browsed through the menu, she noticed that they have marked up their price (who wouldn’t notice when they put stickers over the old price!!) I find their food so-so only..nothing to brag about but I find it a bit expensive for what we ordered.
Hometown Restaurant at Sunway Giza ~Prawn Noodles (left), Sour & Spicy Meat Noodles
Nandos! We decided to try this as we don’t have any Nandos outlet in my hometown.  Come to think of it.. there’s no Kenny Rodgers,  Manhattan Fish Market, Sakae Sushi or even Subway! =(
Enjoying Nandos @ The Curve
After that..its dessert time At Secret Recipe (^-^)
At The Curve enjoying our cakes @ Secret Recipe ~ Love their Crème Brulee Cheese Cake (top left), Chocolate Mud Cake & Chocolate Indulgence
Cheese Baked Pork Chop, Shanghai Noodles with Egg, Fried Rice, Ice Blended Sour Plum & Lychee @ Wong Kok
Having late lunch at Wong Kok at 1Utama after shopping. We opted for their after 3pm set meal. We thought the food would taste really good since we were all so hungry but as it turned out the dishes we ordered was so-so only except for the Cheese Baked Pork Chop which my daughter ordered.
On our final night in Kota Damansara, we had a fabulous early Mother’s/Father’s Day celebration treat from my daughter at New York New York Deli @ 1Utama Shopping Mall. Everything we ordered turned out to be simply delicious.
Fish N Chips, Lamb Sandwich, Cheese Baked Rice, Chicken Pizza with Bacon chips, Fresh Orange & Root Beer Float ...simply the best (^-^)
Needless to say...every good thing sometimes have to come to an end =(
We stayed 2 nights at One Avenue Hotel before returning home.  On our last night there my two daughters decided to stay over at the hotel with us...a little bit of a squeeze but it we really loved the cosiness (^-^)
I miss them already, and the quietness of the neighbourhood makes me miss them even more.......















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