TheFaceStyler

Zee Avi's Homecoming Tour November 2011 - Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuching.

                           

There were moments of highs and lows, but love surrounded us throughout. All photos by Shahnaz Bahar - raw & unedited.

I Love Hong Kong

My recent trip to Hong Kong was short and hectic but eventful. The Hong Kong International Art Show 2011 was the main highlight where the very best of modern day artists' works were showcased. The opening was filled with fashionable art enthusiasts from the artists themselves to the art collectors, corporate investors and general public. 260 galleries participated in Art HK '11, the largest art fair to date which attracted many celebrated and often controversial international artists such as Damien Hirst, Ai Wei Wei and David LaChapelle.

The rest of the trip was spent absorbing the very best of Hong Kong : Food and shopping!

Opting For Plan B

I just realised I have not blogged about food in a while despite congesting my blackberry with photos of everything I eat!

It was my youngest brothers' birthday on 27th March which fell on a Sunday so how else would we spend it other than going out for a hearty Sunday brunch.

Plan B at Bangsar Village 1 takes pride in being an "Aussie-meets-New York-deli" that serves excellent coffees and variety for food, it was not easy to decide. I had the tongue sandwich and butterscotch milkshake. We shared toasts with jam and the big breakfast which came with perfectly scrambled eggs, sausage, baked beans, hash brown and bacon. The fish burger however, was the favourite. As for desserts, we shared the red velvet and flourless chocolate cake, both yummy and not too sweet. If you are a coffee-lover you will definitely love Plan B, we had great latte, italian coffee and long black. However, if you don't the selection of fresh juices and milkshakes are great too.

Awesome selection and cosy decor, I must say. We will definitely come back for more!

Visit : The Big Group

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

KFC Snax Introductory Video

Snax introductory video from leepeng on Vimeo.

visit KFC Malaysia

Make-up and wardrobe by Shahnaz Baharuden

KFC Snax Advertisement

Make-up and wardrobe styling for KFC with IF Interactive.

There is also a video shown at KFC restaurants. For more info, visit snax

 

God's Own Country - Kerala, India

I should have posted this ages ago. Somehow it slipped my mind although I've had everything typed in the memo of my blackberry. Oh well, never too late. These are my ramblings on travelling in mesmerizing India. 

4th february 2010
Cochin really took me by surprise. When we arrived everything seems
calm and organised. Am I really in India? I guess the Southern part of
India is often overlooked, especially by Malaysians who tend to
stereotype this country as poor, noisy and chaotic.
The honking of cars is obvious, but apart from that everything is
pretty civilised. We're staying at an area that is charming and has a
very relaxed atmosphere..it feels like another part of Asia with small
restaurants along the streets and various home stays that are quite
reasonably priced. We came across many white tourists, mostly couples.
I guess there's a certain romanticism about this place or most of
India for that matter. After all, kamasutra did originate from here.

6the february 2010 - 6.22am
I'm up early. We are leaving Cochin today and our next destination is Munnar.
Yesterday was quite a productive day..well, shopping wise. We started
the day with Indian breakfast and I must say the food we had so far
have been excellent.   It's always better to pick busier restaurants as you know the food is more freshly prepared and always be aware of your

drinking water. Never drink the water in jugs that they leave on
tables in restaurants, it's always best to buy mineral water
instead..and don't drink anything with ice!
Next destination - the seaside. One of the main attraction are the
chinese fishing nets. These are impressive nets erected usually quite
close to the shore and are left to trap the fishes. They make lovely
photographs too!  
After lunching fish mollie and parottha (roti canai without the
oilyness!) we made our way to the jetty to catch a ferry to Cherai
beach.  The short ferry ride was interesting, women and men sit
separately. I couldn't stop eyeing the colourful sarees adorned by the
beautiful ladies.
The bus ride to the beach was unexpectedly long - close to an hour!
When we arrived we realised the beach is not the best decision as it
was pretty dead and not very impressive. However we spotted a small
hut where an Indian lady is busy preparing batter for her aloo and
chilli bhajis. Of course we ended up sitting there facing the beach
while savouring the freshly fried chilli bhajis dipped in chilli
sauce!  

The tuk2 ride back to the jetty was quite scary, the driver was
speeding and honking all the way but thanfully we arrived back in
Kochi safe and sound and in one piece.
Walking around at the market stalls proves dangerous for the
pocket..the unique accessories, interesting paintings, fabulous
decoration for homes, eye-catching textiles, all make me want to
charter a ship full of goodies back to KL.

We did end up buying a couple of interesting cushion covers, silky
pashminas, colourful accessories and miniature paintings for ourselves
and as gifts for others.  

The bus ride to Munnar is not too bad. Buses without aircond are
probably the best way to travel around India as you can leave the
windows open allowing sufficient air to breath and you'll get to see
the excellent view while absorbing the sights and smells along the
way. We could sniff strong curry fragrance at one point when passing
by a curry powder factory.
Munnar is at the highlands so the nearer you get to the town the more
winding the road becomes. The mesmerising view from the bus window and
cool air outside makes me feel calm but eager to discover another part
of Kerala. Tall trees, tea, coffee and cardamon plantation are all
just part of what this little town has to offer.  

A taxi ride (playing it safe at the highlands) about 27km away from
the bus station took us to our cosy guest house surrounded by tall
trees as if we're really staying in a forest. Dewdrops is quite a
romantic getaway. As I'm travelling with a girl friend it can be a
quiet and relaxing break. We took a walk around the private property
leading us uphill to various plants and trees. The cool air makes the
walk pleasant and we passed by a few houses with friendly people
greeting us along the way. One of their dog even walked us back all
the way to our guest house!    
 
The people are sweet and courteous, always eager to know where we're
from and our names.
The long walk and chilly air could also be reasons why we went to bed by 9pm!  

After breakfast we walked outside the property to where the tribal
villages and plantations are. Once again smiling faces greeted us and
we were invited to a house that had chillies and tapioca plants. We
sat with them munching on raw tapioca and taking photos until it was
time to go.

We checked out of Dewdrops by noon to explore the busier part of
Munnar. As we didn't have prior bookings we checked into a small
husband and wife run home stay a few minutes walk away from Munnar
town.

The town is buzzing with the locals doing their sunday shopping. There
are many shops selling spices, flavoured teas and coffees, fresh and
dried fruits, even home made chocolates. Walking amongst the hustle
and bustle we reached their local marketplace selling fresh produce of
vegetables and fruits.   At a small alley there were stalls selling beef
and mutton. The vibe is great, we walked on to another area and popped
into a cute shop selling cotton bed linens and lunghis. Of course we
couldn't leave without purchasing a few, it's just too tempting not
to.

A while later feeling a little peckish we walked towards stalls
selling hot tea, coffee and fried foods of all sorts. Another stall
was busy making fresh roti and appam. The roti canai here is crispy,
fluffy and not oily at all - just perfect.  

8th February 2010 - 8.35am

I'm sipping hot chai after a wonderful breakfast of masala dosa with
dhal and fresh coconut gravy.
We're getting ready for a 5 hour bus ride back to Kochi and another 2
hours to get to Alleppey.  

9th February 2010 - 10.12pm

Alleppey dubbed Venice of India is so far the busiest town we've been
to since arriving in Kerala. We could see children coming back from
school by boats. The houseboats are the most famous tourist attraction
here although we didn't see any in the waters when we arrived. Even
the small offices hiring these boats didn't seem too busy. We found
out from the nice man at our guesthouse that the houseboats leave in
the morning so we won't see any in the afternoon. Tempted and curious,
we booked one with 2 bedrooms for 2 days. It wasn't available until
the day after which is fine as we'd be able to wander around..and
possibly do more shopping.  

The guest house is really good value for money. Our room and bath is
spacious. There are a few sitting areas just outside the room and a
pretty garden at the back with pigeon house and a swing. The room
comes with breakfast too! Of course we opt for the tasty Keralan
breakfast - toast and jam? No, thank you.

There are many tailors and shops selling umbrellas we noticed. There's
also probably a wider selection of things to buy and possibly cheaper
than in Kochi.

The highlight of our day however has to be the ayurvedic massage. I
opted for a 2 hour massage which includes head, face and shoulders,
full body and thakadara.
I was told to sit on a stool while my head is being massaged with
coconut oil. Then my face and shoulders were massaged with the same
oil.
I then had ti lie down on a large wooden table that seemed a little
daunting at first. My whole body is soaked in medicinal oil from head
to toe. The whole process is extremely calming and relaxing. The
massesuse used long strokes and kept pouring more oil onto my body
throughout the massage.
The thakadara is a process of pouring medicinal concoction onto the
forehead from a hanging pot for about half an hour. The cool liquid
flows onto my forehead and over my head. The experience was utterly
blissful.

10th February 2010 - 1.50pm
We are on our very own houseboat! The view from this traditional
punting houseboat is breathtaking. Everything looks unreal; the tall
coconut trees, green paddy fields, locals doing their laundry by the
riverbank..it is extremely serene and romantic.  
Our very own cook prepared rice and dishes of okra, potatoes and fried
fish. The captain stopped the boat and we ate, while admiring the view
that is truly enchanting.

The boat moored. I jumped into the calm water and swam a few laps
while stopping to look at the birds flying above. Feeling refreshed I
climbed back onto the boat and our journey continues.  

Once again the boat moored at a village. We walked around and took
photos. We got back on the boat as the sun starts to set and just sat,
chat and ate until it was time to sleep in our cosy little room with a
pretty mosquito net.  

It's morning. I couldn't see the sunrise. The sky is cloudy, it will
not be a good day for photos. Everything looks grey but it's still
relaxing. I started to yawn and took a nap after lunch and a few
glasses of toddy.

I woke up in time for tea and some freshly fried banana in mildly
spiced batter. The houseboat is great but two nights is definitely
enough. After a while I felt somewhat imprisoned like a captured
princess as there was nowhere else to go but be on the boat! My
thoughts could be exaggerated, but the experience on the houseboat is
not one to be missed.  

We ended our Kerala adventure with a rickshaw ride back to Kochi. We
met a very nice rickshaw driver who took us through villages and
amazing beaches. The 2 hour journey didn't seem very long at all. We
stayed in Kochi for some more last minute shopping before heading back
to K.L with our spirits high from a lovely trip and our luggage full
of indian treasures.

Durian Face Mask

I've never tried this myself, but if you are brave enough why dont you try and tell me if it works!

The Philipines Experience - Manila thrilla and Baguio City

Jeepney in Manila

More colorful jeepneys

Balut - a fertilised duck or chicken egg with a nearly developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell. Popularly believed to be an aphrodisiac and considered a high-protein, hearty snack, balut is widely sold by street vendors. 

Public transport

Famous fast food chain

Congested

More jeepney

Krispy Kreme!

Eyelash extension at a salon. Hairwash and blowdry is not as good compared to Indonesia and K.L.

Buko pie - a traditional filipino pastry filled with young coconut and sweetened with condensed milk.

Chillin'

Confession time

Ice cream

Medicine

Baguio's famous mall

Baguio City at night

Q for ice cream

Bus to Philex Mines

Vegetable dish

Reminds me of My Little Pony and Friends

Let's Get Jazzy!

Here's an interview with groundbreaking Ethiopian Jazz musician and arranger, Mulatu Astatke and U.K collective The Heliocentrics about their forthcoming album 'Inspiration Information 3' under Strut Records. A much anticipated album, this collaboration is to be released very soon..for more info visit Strut Records.

On a different note, i spent last Saturday night chilling to Brazillian World Percussion Ensemble at No Black Tie. Led by VALTINHO ANASTACIO of Sao Paolo who has lived and performed in Japan and New York, the rest of the crew features our very own Lewis Pragasm on drums, Tay Cher Siang on piano and Norman on bass. The crowd was small but attentive and the ensemble was spontaneously breezy but lively. A nice way to end an evening. 

Red Velvet Cupcakes

I made these lovely cupcakes with a friend on a lazy afternoon and it turned out to be very popular. Friends who came over even wanted a few to bring home (lol). I found the recipe at elise.com but substitute/add a few ingredients to suit my liking. We decorated the cream cheese frosting with dried blueberries, sprigs of mint and zesty lemon peel. These are worth trying, the recipe makes about 24 medium sized cupcakes or you can make one medium red velvet cake. Happy baking!

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, room temperature
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 1/3 cups of cake flour
• 2 tablespoons of Dutch-processed cocoa powder *I add 3 tablespoons instead of 2
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of buttermilk*
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of distilled white vinegar *i used apple cider vinegar

Frosting ingredients

• 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 8 oz of Philly cream cheese (1 package), room temperature
• 2 - 3 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
•   *sprigs of mint leaves, 1 cup dried blueberries, 1 grated lemon peel

*You can make your own buttermilk by adding a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to milk and letting it stand for about 10 minutes.

METHOD

The cupcakes

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Beat the butter and sugar in an electric mixer for 3 minutes on medium speed until light and fluffy.

2 Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is fully incorporated. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.

3 In a large bowl, sift together the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl whisk together the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract, and red food coloring.

4 Add a fourth of the dry ingredients and mix, then add a third of the wet. Continue adding in a dry, wet, dry pattern, ending with the dry ingredients.

5 Scoop into cupcake papers, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Rotate the pan after the first 15 minutes of baking to ensure even baking.

6 Allow to cool for one minute in the pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cupcakes.

The Frosting

1 Cream the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.

2 Add the vanilla extract and mix.

3 Add the powdered sugar, continually taste to get to desired sweetness. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.