spring.eats

eating in spring is always light and colorful!

with your favorite showing up almost every day when you're home

 occasionally other fruits like mango

melon

but your true love is still strawberries and raspberries....
this will probably come to an end soon as summer is just round the corner...

::bloom::

going.back.in.time

going back in time...

 where coffee is brewed by dripping through the filter

 and drinking from enamel cup

 your current love

perfect for the garden and outdoor setting

purple.trilogy

 you manage to grab some okinawan sweet potatoes and turn them into trilogy over the weekend.
starting with a malaysia local delicacy, a kuih with the heritage of baba nyonya culture. 

this snack is supposedly or rather traditionally made in red color, but you made them in purple, natural color from the sweet potatoes.

 the color became even intense after steaming

you really love the sight of these purple angku kuih and really happy with the texture and taste too.

with the extra potatoes you made some mushipan  and the remaining sweet potato mash you just add some cinnamon powder and turn them into two "moon cakes" which essentially just the mash and eat it with a drizzle of maple syrup and some walnut for the texture, a healthy snack per say!

kasih.sayang

some random shots of koko hills

 the journey up hill was pretty exciting when the rain start pouring down, the visibility is poor but it's very green...

 after some 20 or 30 min uphill you finally reached kasih sayang. kasih sayang is a retreat center where you can stay overnight.  many local peoples come here for retreat or to avoid the chaos of the city.

 and the clouds hovering very low, you could almost touch the cloud... or at least you're in close proximity with cloud... very surreal.

 and a turtle welcomed you inside kasih sayang

 you check out the platform terrace, the view is superb.  you could probably see kk city from here on a clear fine day.

 but you didn't mind the rain (it stopped) and the cloud hovering and blocking your view of the city because it's exactly this view and this sort of scenery that you really appreciate.  the dampness of tropics. it's wet, moist and you could inhale in the smell of the earth here... very cool and calm place to be

 if you'd more time and if it's not that wet, you don't mind a exploring the natural trail

 it's just so tempting and inviting....

 you didn't of course, instead you stay put for a little longer and observed the spider web

and some hanging orchid and listen to the sound of dripping water.
kasih sayang means give love, whilst in another translation kasih is love

===
you're still upset with what happened yesterday.   space and disconnection is all you wanted.  you went zumba and feel better.  you just spent your entire afternoon making something purplish and beautiful.  that enlighten you a bit.  you know you have to face the entire situation next  monday. but monday will be another day. a fresh new week, new beginning and new strength.
===

rasa.ria

 an afternoon in a beach resort

you love the ceramic vases on display at the lobby, but you're more eager for the sun, sea and sand

 so you walk through the grass

passed by the pool side and the sun bathing area....

 and you head straight to the beach hut....

 occupying one

 while there's a ceiling fan attached to the beach hut but all you asked for is the sea breeze

and unobstructed outlook to the sea, where sun, sea and sand becomes a perfect unity and harmony and a sailing yacht at the far end.

rasa ria literally means feel happy!

===
this post comes in at an appropriate time because today you are totally pissed off by one of your client. you're really pissed that you also shock with your own reaction and behavior.  enough is enough.
===

fragrant.of.dumplings.端午棕籽飘香时

you made the ingredients for the dumplings almost on an annual basis but you never really wrap the dumplings yourself. This year you decided to try your hand on wrapping the dumplings particularly in triangle shape. it's a lot of hard work and a labor intensive morning for you.  preparation started the evening before.

the picture sums up the ingredients and the work needed to made rice dumplings...

you yield about 30 done in all sizes and shapes in about 2 hours. it's lot of hard work, energy consuming too when you have to tie the dumpling and secure the ingredients in the wrapping.

 but it's all worth the hard work when you eat your very first one this year. it's a taste of home, it's a taste on how your mum made those dumplings when she's still around.... it's nyonya style with lots of spices and that's a taste of childhood for you ^^.

happy duan wu jie.  it's just a normal working day here.... but that couldn't stop you from embracing the festival.
端午棕籽飘香时

hana.no.michi.花.の.道

your annual garden visit to a park in den haag.  within the park there's a japanese garden that open only for a very short period due to heavy maintenance of the plants.

 on the way to the garden, it took you a long time to walk this path of flower route.  certainly reminded you of japan and hence hana no mich (花の道) is it.

the path of azalea just took forever to walk, because really all you want is to take time to appreciate, admire the flower. really it may not be as splendid as the azalea festival in tokyo, but this is probably as good as it can get in europe.

 the different colors and different breed of azalea... and then you finally arrived the japanese garden

 from this door onwards, everything is transformed to japanese element, japanese sculpture garden...

 the view and scenery may be the same every year, but you just love the tranquility and serenity of the garden at this hour.

 and the fact that you are holding your zoom lens put everything into different perspective, different compositions

 yet the garden is ever zen and peaceful to you.

 and you appreciate the hour and moment, spending time with him in this garden...

 and you finally arrived the viewing platform

 you took a rest and enjoyed a home baked quick brownie while sitting here and appreciating all things green and colorful.

 and you spot the westeria, it's probably still too cold for westeria to bloom

really it's a very brief visit on sunday morning, as much as you wish the time could slow down and you could truly take time to soak in the scenery, the fact is you're in a hurry to get home and getting to the church.  still, you are truly thankful to God that despite of your sunday commitments you can still come for a visit on the last opening day of spring.