#i smell laksa

[presiding]

i wanna hear your recommendations!

a list with some stuff i like + a request for you to share yours :)

as a godless queer who spawned on earth randomly one time, my only holiday-season tradition is charity + passionately enjoying things. in lieu of passing my followers & mutuals $100 cash, have a random variety of things you might like to try - i know we're an international bunch so your mileage may vary on what you can access. in the spirit of giving i am hoping for some recs 🎁♥

disclaimer these are just things i like i am not paid. would be great. but.

yo ho ho if you read comics & manga but always found it to be a pain in the ass to source online, here's the aggregator app of your dreams: tachiyomiJ2K. real. not clickbait. android only tho. the extensions mangacute, mangadex, allanime, and mangareader, are good places to start. as a creator, i'm always iffy about recommending this kind of thing because i'd much prefer you went out and brought the things you're reading, however i'm not under any illusions about which era we're in, media-wise and economy-wise

gemma! - webcomic what if corvo was a woman and young emily was a dragon and they went on adventures in a fun fantasy/adventure way that is Extremely Gender. pictured: gender. god i want to be her > is this the greatest webcomic of all time? no. is it that sweet spot between 'mindless fun' and 'good'? yes. you get me

laksa noodles the more intl friends i have the more i realise that laksa isn't common everywhere. don't let that stop you from trying it. ultimate comfort food. hearty noodly soupy goodness. worth seeking out fr

ways of seeing - mini-documentary so profoundly changed the way i think that i had been wanting to revisit it and so was delighted to find its all on youtube. if you're an artist or want to improve your ability to critically think about what you're seeing in media, this is a must-see. link or embedded>

FUCKING GOOD AND CHEAP GREEN TEA price comment won't apply to everyone this site offers great prices for high quality tea direct from the farm. been buying from here for years and its always amazing - i love the houjicha/roast green tea, and if you like green tea but always wish it was stronger without sacrificing taste or becoming bitter, i recommend genmaicha matcha-iri, which uses matcha to intensify the flavour. yum

incense body powder being a perfume nerd who is prone to migraines sucks. if you like spices and good incense - not the $2 kind that you use to hide cigs from your parents but rather the kind that smells like wandering into a forest temple - you'll love incense body powder. it lasts well and i'd most compare it to a softer, more gourmand comme des garçons Incense series 3 kyoto. shoyeido is the easiest to source as far as i can tell, but other brands make it too. USD$11 - cheaper than even cheap perfumes tbh - the bag will last you years. if you try this please tell me i'd love to know what you think!

anyway!! i wanna hear your recs if you have any! can be any type of thing that has recently improved your mood or changed your life or you think someone else might like?

anyone reading can go for it, consider this a carte blanche for recommendations. gonna tag a few people - you don't have to of course thank you love you <;3 @lapinneok @dangerousdan-dan @arosebyothernames @headcrabrave @corvidad @neznoodles @retired-crow @corpseprince @i-really-hate-creating-usernames @geminison @fakeshibe @skemford @loveofdetail + please feel welcome if not tagged! edit OH @nekon-ron i tried to tag your old URL. ha

[a-suspicious-lack-of-bagel]

For the flower ask: Calla Lily, primrose, locust, and heliconia!

Calla Lilly (if you died right now, what song would you want to play at your funeral?): I've currently got Duruflé's Requiem stuck in my head from this evening's rehearsal. It's lovely and it seems appropriate! Other strong contenders rn include Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring and Still Young by the Cat Empire.

Primrose (favourite kind of soup): Depends! In my head noodle soups are a different category. At the moment I'd probably say potato corn and bacon, I think? If you include various noodle soups - laksa if homemade but probably pho if not - tends to be less variable. Either way with plenty of lime.

Locust (favourite book as a child): how the HECK do you expect me to pick one? If we're going child=primary school, Albatross Two by Colin Thiele is a solid contender. Blueback by Tim Winton I read SEVERAL times in a row but didn't return to much after that I don't think? I mean I had serieses I came back to for comfort reading but that's different.

Side note: Americans, what the fuck. Why would you call a FLOWER a locust? a locust is a Swarming Insect of biblical infamy for its prodigious crop destruction abilities! Although I hear they're an invasive weed here so *shrug* maybe it fits?

Heliconia (do you like it when it rains): HECK yes. i LOVE the smell of rain; i LOVE when the humidity gets Used Up and takes temperature with it; i LIKE frolicking around in rain sometimes; i Really Enjoy snuggling up under a warm doona and listening to it rain. that said; Not a fan of continual light drizzle (which can kinda sting when it lands on u sometimes? and makes drying washing a pain); nor am i a fan of overcast cold weather with no rain (synaesthesia stuff - the music is EXCELLENT but not always good for my mental health / can be nostalgic in an unhelpful way.)

[casimirt]

About Me

Pronouns: They/Them

Name: Casimir

Age: 25

Other socials: AO3: CasimirtT, Tumblr for poetry: casimirat

Nationally: Australian

Languages: English and Auslan (Aussie sign language)

Siblings: 4, I make 5!

Favourite Colour: Blue

Favourite Smell: Vanilla or sea breeze

Favourite food/drink: Laksa soup and ginger beer

Music: Alt, Acid pop, Rock, Classical

Fandoms: Most, especially ones with queer or queer coded characters.

Tattoos: 13, plus multiple small hand ones

Piercings: 10, ears and nose

Collections: Knives/daggers, shells and fossils

.

The person is from Pic Crew, by NayNay. The rest of the art and design is by me :)

[pumpumdemsugah]

I made some laksa after buying some at pret and it came out good. Asda sells laksa paste and I have no idea if this is good for laksa paste

Obviously I've never had the authentic stuff but what I made was nicer than what I got from pret a manger a little while ago. I added some fish balls, wings and used vermicelli noodles

I was going to add shrimp but they went off 😔 and smelled like a foot

That wasn't hard. Will make again

[noodle-reviews]

Today I’ll be trying these Koka brand noodles with laksa flavour. I’m familiar with the brand but I’ve never seen them with this flavour before, so I’m excited to see how it’s gonna be, as well as how far the “spicy” label is gonna take us. They’re also whole grain, which is rare.

On first impression the noodles are very densely packed and shiny which has been a bad sign in the past, and I wonder how evenly they’re gonna cook and how the texture will be. The flavourings are divided between three decently sized packages, which is promising but of course not a guarantee of good flavour.

As the noodles cook, they have a strong scent of seafood and cilantro, which is also promising, as I don’t often get the cilantro taste in instant noodles. The taste is very similar to the smell, but less fishy and not as full as I’d hoped. I stand corrected on the texture of the noodles though, they’re thin but have a lovely bite to them. Other whole grain noodles I’ve tried have been really gritty, but that’s not the case here. In honesty I can’t even tell that they’re whole grain. While a little watery, the soup tastes nice and has a pleasant heat to it. I’d call it medium spicy. The taste is savoury with a sweetness that reminds me of shellfish, and there’s that hint of cilantro.

Overall not bad, but I don’t know if I’d get them again.

Texture 9/10

Taste 7/10

Packaging 8/10 The spice and oil packets could be torn open with your hands but the noodle package itself had to be cut open with scissors

Portion size: small meal

[kevandrewsay]

"Kamu kuat dengan apa yang kamu hadapi dan alami"

Hemmm

Bukan apa yang ku alami yang membuat ku gelisah

Melainkan ketidakpekaan ku akan bahasa rindu Sang Pencipta atas ku

Ia menjadikanmu ada dan berarti bagiku

Kemudian lamunan itu tersentak karena ada berarti tiada

Berlaksa-laksa waktu beriringan, bersama kan berpisah

Ada kisah yang ditakdirkan tertulis dari perjumpaan

Suatu pembelajaran

Suatu yang penting atau sekadarnya

Sesaat atau selamanya

Meski upaya ku tau diri tak membuahkan hasil

Menjadikanku hancur, remuk dan tak tersatukan lagi kelak

Ada ketulusan hati yang berarti pada masa penantian yang tak diharapkan

Memberikan yang terbaik diwaktu singkat

Sebab kesia-siaan bersamamu tak pernah ada dalam kamus hidupku

Hanya rasa syukur hingga lembar terakhir sampai pada titik yang tertoreh

Ingat lirik ini?

"Can we go back to the days our love was strong?"

Nooo, totally disagree

Rasa itu ada, kuat dan tetap seperti itu sampai kapan pun

Tiada hari yang lalu lebih dari yang sesudahnya

Rasa itu semakin bertumbuh setiap waktu

Meski benar memang

Mau ku genggam sekuat apapun

Aku, kamu, kita akan kembali pada alurnya masing-masing

Mungkin ikhlasku tidak akan pernah sempurna

And

It's hurts not having you close the long distance between us,

It hurts so much spending a lot of time alone in exchange of very little time with you

Missing that cute smile

Missing that smell of yours

Missing that beefy belly

Missing of skincare routine with you

Missing all the moments that ever happened

Eating, vacationing, getting massages or just haha ​​hihi in the car

Anyway I will miss it all

And finally feeling jealous of people who can see you everyday by your side

But

You promise, standby me 🥺

[mimieyhhee]

Journal Entry #1 4 August, 2024

Roommate House

On Sundays, most of my roommates go home. I'm left alone. Suddenly, my roommate Zatty invited me to go back to her house in Sungai Buaya, Rawang. I was a bit shy at first but I had no choice but to stay alone in the hostel. Without any confusion I immediately agreed to accompany her during the 2-day holiday. The next day, after class we both went to the train station and left for Rawang. For 2 and a half hours we were in the train. I was able to enjoy the beauty of the scenery after a long time without sightseeing.

At 4PM, we arrived in Rawang. We were picked up by Zatty's mother. Zatty's mother had time to ask me a few questions, like what my father's job was and so on. At that time, I remembered my mother who was in Alor Setar. I miss my mom so much. After that, Ibu Zatty bought us food such as laksa, satay and fried chicken. We ate heartily because we were hungry after several hours on the train. We both finished the food quickly!. IT'S SO DELICIOUS!!!! Thanks to Zatty's mother. Finally I able to taste the food that always comes out of Zatty's mouth. After we eat, we pray and watch horror stories with Zatty's sister. Although I'm a bit scared but once in a while I dare myself to see with Zatty. That was the end of my day, very enjoyable and I was able to take on a new experience in my life.

Sincerely,

-mimiey

Journal Entry #2 15 August, 2024

Healing Day!

After a long time we did not return to our hometown in Dungun, Terengganu. This time we got the chance to go home with my cousin. I am very excited because this is the first time we go together without our parents besides. This time I was also able to take pictures and upload them on social media. That way I can also tell my friends that this is my beautiful village. My grandmother house also faces the beach, so it's a really beautiful and enjoyable view to relieve stress. The sound of the waves is also very soothing to our souls when we appreciate the sound of it. I also had time to walk around the beach. We as a family were able to get together after many years of not seeing each other. This time, I really like it because we can talk about each other's stories and also ask how each other is doing.

In our village there are also many unique and delicious foods. For example such as Nasi Dagang. It is very easy to find around here. After that, our big family plans to have a picnic facing the beach scene. I'm so excited and really miss moments like this. Oh god I wish I could stay here forever. But it is very likely that I will not have the opportunity to stay here. It's okay, life must go on. After that, our family brought out all the food to eat in front of this beach. Imagine eating while hearing the sound of the waves and smelling the water from the beach. Oh GOD!

Sincerely,

-mimiey

Journal Entry #3 25 August, 2024

Unexpected Outing!

On Monday, my friend named Adriana and her closed friend planned to go out to get some fresh air from the dormitory area. Adriana invited me to go with them once at that time. Without thinking twice, I agreed to go with her. The three of us got into Adriana's friend's car to go to the Putrajaya area to see the sunset. While heading to our destination we chatted while playing a song. After a few minutes, we arrived at the place. Adriana and I were amazed to see the sun set before our eyes. We sat on the bench and enjoyed the view. We had time to take pictures of the scenery and obviously don't forget the picture of the three of us.

After that, we stopped at one of the mosques there to perform the Maghrib prayer. After a few minutes we finished praying, Adriana invited her friend to go to Mixue to buy a strawberry milkshake. We rested there for 5 minutes and finished our food there before returning to the hostel. I feel very happy to be able to spend time with my friends here. I was also able to take in new experiences that I never thought I would experience like this. Thanks to them for giving me the opportunity to enjoy these memories.

Sincerely,

-mimiey

[weighinonfriday]

I literally can't my cousin just made fun of me for being tall

I'm currently 171 and after i ate less than the portion she ate. She started saying that the house was shaking and she could hear my loud thumps from the protein i ate.

She literally thinks I'm this thing ⬇️

Need i say more?

I freaking hate that i build muscle so easily and the fat layer on top makes me look even bigger

I'm cutting protein out of my diet so my body can feed on the muscles. I just wanna be bones and skin. 🎀

Her saying that i was going to gain back four pounds after eating is horrible. And she's younger than me

How is it that a younger girl has more self control and can control her eating better than me?

I'm also lowkey upset with this girl in my class who keeps clinging to me and touching me everywhere. She can feel bulging lower belly and I'm so afraid she's going to smell the fat people smell on me. She wanted me to eat wingstop(one piece of chicken there is at least 100calories) but i managed to convince her to eat something else.(Thank god) But already she keeps asking me to go out and eat and we just sit there in silence. I don't even try that hard to distract them from my eating because her clinging is getting annoying so we just sit in silence. I avoided eating with her so many times already but this time i just couldn't. I'm going to use the cup method and find other ways to avoid eating with her from now on.

Her clinging is fine but i hate that it's interfering with my fasts and eating with her triggers me to binge. And i also hate that her coming close to me makes her feel more of my body that i try to hide.

Food log:

Breakfast:

Water(0 kcals)

Himalaya salt mint (9kcals)

Lunch:

1:30 Lontong 2 cubes(28.8kcals)

Cabbage 25 kcals

A few spoons of laksa soup(rounded up counted as 100g-134kcals)

Egg with yolk(56kcals)

1 piece of Fried tofu(35.4kcals)

5 pieces of Long beans(47 kcals)

Dinner:

7:00 braised chicken with potatoes(255kcals)

20g of rice(26kcals)

Total calories: 616.2kcals

But i rmb calculating 848 calories..

[nationalvyvanseshortage]

Just discovered my cat hates the smell of laksa. I swear I didn't raise her this way

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Pa and I returned to the little Japanese restaurant where he finished the entire sea bream, seasoned seaweed, edamame and rice by himself. This time we ordered their salmon mono nabe with veggie broth; Pa had rice, I chose udon. A dish of salmon slices was served with each hotpot filled with fresh vegetables: shiitake, enoki, oyster and golden mushrooms, cabbage and Napa cabbage, sweet corn, carrot, as well as tofu cubes. The gas stove was lit and, once the broth began to boil, we lowered the heat and cooked the salmon. After polishing off all this goodness, we added the broth to our rice/udon and finished everything. Healthy can taste so darned delicious!

Katong Laksa is one of our most famous, but a decent version is available almost everywhere. Each stall injects their special touch to the dish, whether it's a more lemak (rich, thick) broth or plumper see hum (fresh cockles). Laksa was exactly what I craved on a rainy afternoon this week. The stall I bought this from stood out for their ultra thick and large slabs of taupok (tofu puffs) and fish cakes. Their gravy wasn't too spicy, which I was grateful for, but it was lemak enough and the taupok soaked it all up. Mmm yum! I'll definitely return for their laksa and try their other dishes (if I can resist the laksa).

For my simple breakfast out of compassion for the Palestinians in Gaza this week, I tried herbal flavoured kuai shu mian (instant noodles) from Taiwan, ROC. Boy did the sachets of seasoning, wine and oil give off a robust herbal fragrance! Not only did it smell divine, it was pretty tasty. Noodles were QQ and slurpable as they should be, and there was even a sprinkle of goji berries. The broth tasted as though it had been cooking with herbs for hours; I really liked it! I'm keen to try other flavours like hua diao ji (Chinese wine chicken) and ma you ji (sesame oil chicken) next time. These simple breakfasts are a reminder of what Palestinians in Gaza are going through. How do they go without meat/fish/seafood, eggs and veggies for days on end?

From time to time, I have what I call our cai fan salad. Comprising dishes from cai fan (mixed dishes and rice) stalls, it's somewhat similar to grilled veggie salads. For this cai fan salad, I selected cabbage, green beans with julienned carrots and braised fu juk, aka dried tofu skin sticks, for protein. Fu juk has an almost meaty texture and is often cooked in the same ways as meat. It is also commonly used in vegetarian dishes to mimic duck, goose or chicken. Cai fan salads are 1 of my go-to meals after my weekly simple breakfasts for nutritional balance. I prefer them to the grassy taste of raw veggies in normal salads.

Another week is almost ending. We're already into mid-May and soon, it will be June. Where did all the time go? There's a gathering this weekend which I'll share about in the next post. Delicious food and merrymaking, what's not to like? It's also a welcome break from bad things which are happening in the world. Still, I pray for a permanent ceasefire and for parties that continue to arm Israel to be severely punished. It will come. God sees everything. 下次见!

[benefits1986]

Laksa Meets Sangria: Sedated Southside Stories  Two of my OG super low-key friends decided to catch up and settled for a housewarming visit that’s supposedly last September. Yep, we’re the 37-year olds who are more likely to have a “biglaang lakad talaga ang natutuloy” bunch. These two gents have been with me since high school.  The owner of the house asked us if wanted home-cooked laksa or Tajimaya. We settled for laksa. He even told us that it’s his first time to cook for a guest. I told him na tumigil siya. Hindi ako impressed kasi ang tagal niya magluto. He got some brie and manchego, too. I brought dinuguan, sangria, bottled tuyo and tinapa. Our other friend brought wine and Ritz which oddly pairs well with the cheese. More than the food coma after a really good fast, this sedated Saturday is a really, really curious one.  My other friend is a doctor who chooses to serve the underserved mothers who give birth in one of the busiest public hospitals in NCR. He devotes his time to exploring life outside Manila and enjoys Negros and Siquijor. Sakto, before his first trip there, he saw my stories and he asked me how the islands are. :D Sabi ko, bilisan niya punta kasi more than Hometown Chacha vibes doon. LOL. Told him to check out Palawan as it is also a really potent spot especially these days. If our schedules and pake sa life align, we can go together. As Tigers (born 1986), this is a quirk and a reality that we are managing. LOL. No hard feelings but that’s how we roll, babbbyyyy. Daming ganaps. Daming gusto. Too little time.  The owner of the house dabbles with the colorful world of pharma and comms. HAHAHAHA. No deep dive here because this universe is a Pandora’s box on its own. ;) But, so proud of this Aries ex-shithead because he is a dad of three already and has his fucked up ego in place, finally. 

We used to argue a lot ages ago because he reaches out to me during times of trouble. Akala niya ako si Mother Mary so he comes to me. Sineryoso ko talaga pagiging ninang nung eldest niya kaya no deal mga rason niya kahit well-articulated at sandamakmak na rebuttals. Tabi. Bubundulin kita. Hayup ka. Kidding aside, eto ‘yung isa kong barkada na nakakatikim talaga ng real kung real talk sagad levels from me, always. ‘Yung kulo-dugo levels na sobrang intense ko pagsabihan siya. Ang maganda is ‘di siya offended kasi sabi niya, totoo naman daw lahat ng sinasabi ko. :p His three kids are really, really, really lovely. Lahat, walang tapon unlike their dad. LOL. Kakapagod lang mag-English because they don’t speak Tagalog. They speak Bisaya. Plus, I don’t have patience for bonding over Switch with them talaga. LOL.  I really love bonding with these two kasi iba talaga kausap mga lalaki as a legit one of the boys kahit girly ang look ko at times. No pun intended. Parang laging naka-bullet points/flowchart/Excel and at this age, may emotional intelligence na sila na parang pang late 20s or early 30s. Pun intended. :D Plus, syempre, spoiled ako. May driver. May cook. May dishwasher.  May taga-tibag ng yelo na marami. May tagabitbit ng gamit kahit kaya ko naman. May taga-payong kahit ayoko rin. May bouncer. Without benefits pa ‘yan, so perfect!  By the way, the laksa is really good. I recommend to put more umami mala-Food Wars para addictive. It’s a mild, less creamy Malaysian version that reminds me of an ex-comfort food which is hotpot. I also requested for very firm noodles which he nailed, too. Galing. Not bad. Not bad. Puwede na. 

He’s putting up a food kiosk soon and I think that for the target market, this might be something interesting. I suggested na dapat may kasamang cendol na samalamig style para tubong-lugaw na, full experience of Malaysia, Truly Asia pa. (Gah, I miss food trip in Malaysia kahit sobrang humid and funky smell all around. Super underrated and super mura pa!) We’ve also tackled about a possible collab so, alam na this forda bills and the life after the bills, too! (Mhie, need talaga natin ng steady passive aggressive income streams because hyperinflation iz realllzzz lalo sa BGC gaming.) 

_____ Spent my first day of long leave in a neighborhood where my first not so tiny house could have been back in 2015 era. Funny how, I am on a roll in as far as connecting the dots backwards has been going. Solid na solid kahit sabaw na sabaw talaga ako sa mga ganaps ng 2023.  Perhaps, one of the most generous offers I got in the jobs I’ve been in is a housing plan in the quiet side of Nuvali. LOL. Such a fantastic offer, to be honest; and I was really taken aback even until now.  Back then, I was still in between the “KID” or “NO KID” era because we basic like that din naman noon. LOL. This spot is spot on for raising a family even when you’re a single parent (my go-to choice as an independent house plant) or an atypical family where there can be two moms running the home. Sige na nga, puwede na rin male na more than a sperm donor; basta pasok sa ayon sa nararapat na core values ko+++. Damn, those days, baby! So, it was really a plot twist that is on the cusp, right?  Plus, the planned biking lanes and the whole idea of an ecopolis really magnetized me. A LOT. A WHOLE LOT. 

After weeks of reflecting and overthinking, I concluded that the offer was too generous as I am off to the road less taken. Crazy, right? Of course, there were pushes and pulls, but, deep inside, I had to align my core rooted in going for organic growth. LUH. LUHHH. Dammnnn.  It was not an easy decision to make especially for a Bronx girl like me who is in her kinda adult, but not quite era; if you know what I mean. I was on my way to the big 3-0, and looking back, I was faced with two evils, two delights. This is where I realized that I am indeed not easily impressed. Periodtttt.  I had to uproot myself to move beyond my WHY. Little did I know that what I am after is my WHY NOT. Again, crazy but, that’s me. Was it ego? Yes and no. Was it pride? Hell, yes, THEN. Was it something I regret now? Hell, no. Hell, no!  While the idea of a 5-year solid career path was laid before me, the truth is that I yearn for earning my own stripes and profound battle scars. I had to say au revoir to my people then, because I have to be MY OWN PERSON. Being my own person means choosing to invest on myself because time is my currency. It was a tough call, but it made me tougher; even when I knew the journey I was off to would be long, winding and stormy.  When I got my tiny house near Tagaytay a few years back, this life chapter from my old life resurfaced. 2015 along with its ebbs and flow had to take place because it was what led me to my real bucket list hit. (Also, this was not part of my grand plan, either. It just happened.)  

I have a bucket list that’s devoid of social pressure, the glitz and glam, the route usually taken. It had to wait because I have to be more intentional instead of reaching for diamonds in the sky and superstars. Again, it was not easy and there were many, many times that I sighed over Nuvali “could-have-been” especially when I go biking there years back. Ganda ng biking lanes. Hard to beat talaga. LOL. (But, let’s see how the bike lanes near Tags will pan out. Inip na ako pero sige, sanay naman akong maghintay.)  However, 2019 & 2020 came and I guess, this is where my VENI, VIDI, VICI era officially started without me knowing it. This Saturday, I came home smiling as I shake my head one too many times. Thank you, universe for continually taking me to the unknown and the uncertain. Thank you for allowing me to become my own person in a world filled with too much noise, too much apathy, and too much keeping up with the Kardashians & Musks, too. Thank you for leading me back to spaces and paces where I can really tell myself, the world or the universe, rather, that milestones are made of roadblocks, detours, dead ends, U-turns, zigzags, bridges and even fallen bridges, too.  May I continue to choose the path less taken; but this time, may my pride and my mighty walls be pruned. May my pruned people, spaces and paces continue to grow organically as I share my tiny and kinda big sticks, too. In the same manner, may I learn, unlearn and relearn more as I curate real and lived stories in the name of love, light and shadows. Lezzzgowww, 2024!  PS: Taurus szn 2023 is indeed keeping me pumped. Grabe siya ihhh. Why naman ganun? Universe be like: why noooot? Right? 

[rd0265667]

Friend and Foe(Chapter 8)

Y/N's POV

"Unnie, Jisoo Sunbaenim is reaching soon!" Yuna yelled from her room as Yeji prepped the living room with snacks and I cooked up some dishes for the girls and their guest. Today, I decided to make some dishes from the orphanage teacher's homeland, Singapore.

Laksa,

Satay,

Oyster Omelete with rice,

and you got some Ice Kacang for them.

That teacher's food was always superb, and Singaporean food was his speciality.

"Annyeong!" A blond girl who you didn't recognise entered the house as She gave Ryujin a warm embrace. Ryujin was smiling, in the open. Good lord who is this person. She turns to me, and her face suddenly changed for just a microsecond, before walking up to me with a smile "Ah, and you must be their assistant. It's nice to meet you Y/N. I'm Kim Jisoo." She said, extending her hand for a handshake I smile and shake her hand, before saying, "It's a pleasure to meet you Ms Kim. Dinner will be ready in a moment." "What are you making? It all smells familiar." Jisoo asked, walking to the kitchen "Just some Singaporean dishes." "Ooh, sounds great, I think I tried some of these the last time I went there, mind if I watch?" "Ummm, Sure, why not?" As I continued to work, I could feel Jisoo's gaze on my back. It seemed like just genuine interest in the food I'm cooking but this feels, different. Somethings wrong, it just feels off." "Y/N! Careful!" I heard from Jisoo as I snapped back to reality, realising the Laksa was already boiling, and I was kinda just doing nothing. "Oh shit" I said as I quickly turned the stove off, jumping a little as the bubbles from the Laksa sauce splattered up. "Are you okay?" Jisoo asked as she worriedly ran to my side, grabbing my hands, seemingly to see if I had gotten injured. "Oh, I'm okay Jisoo, it's fine." I said as I slowly slipped my hands out of her hands, as a small look of "oh shit" goes over her face, and I notice Yuna emerging from her room, looking at us, a little pissed "Yuna" "Can we eat yet? I'm starving." Yuna grumbled as she walked to the dining table, plopping down at the table

"This food's really good Y/N, Y/N? You there?" Lia said as she looked at me worried, I was a little spaced out again. "Oh yeah, yeah, my bad, and thanks, this food made my childhood a little bearable so I wanted to share it with you guys." The girls then began to talk about their own KPOP thing, which frankly I didn't understand, like Produce something, talking about their comebacks and members, but I noticed Yuna wasn't as cheerful or talkative as she normally was. She looked pissed, a little grumpy too. I whipped my phone out as I texted her, "You okay Yuna?" She quickly replied back. "Yes, don't use your phone at the table, it's rude." I look up and saw Yuna glare at me before looking back at the girls with a small, albeit probably ungenuine smile. I shrugged it off, I'll talk to her later I guess.

The party slowly evolved. The conversation did switch to me for a little, with the girls asking me some personal questions and me answering however I could. Then, the dinner I made was ravaged by the girls, as they moved to the living room. They were watching, IT? Oh good god they aren't gonna sleep tonight.

I was about to sit next to Yuna but seeing me, she quickly pulled Lia to her side and leaning on her and side eyed me. I tilted my head curiously, before settling at the only seat still available. You guessed it. Jisoo.

As we watched the show, I saw as some of the girls got a little scared at some of the scene, as Jisoo also leaned on me and hid behind my shoulder sometimes. I was a little uncomfortable but I guess she's just scared, and I don't wanna be an asshole. As the movie ended, the girls slowly began to pack up as Jisoo had to head back to her dorm. As I brought Jisoo out to the door, as she gestured for me to wait. "I really enjoyed your company today, I was wondering if it was possible to get your number?" I was a little taken aback. I may not have had friends before this but even I knew this was normally done if one was interested in the other. "Ermmm, sure." I said, as I handed my phone over to her, as she happily took it and called herself with it. " Thanks! I'll be going now, and Thanks for the shoulder during IT." She said as she leaned closer to me, before tip toeing and giving me a kiss on the cheek. This one felt weird, while with Yuna it felt like there were little butterflies in my stomach, I didn't really feel, anything to be honest.

"Yuna, can we talk?" I said as I knocked on her door, met with silence "Yuna, Can we please talk?" I said once again I was about to knock once again, but Yuna walked out of her room, grabbing my hand as we walked to the balcony. "Can we talk?" I said as Yuna looked at me, a little pissed "You don't get it, do you?" Yuna said, a little spite laced on her tongue "Get what? Huh?" "Oh my god you're an idiot, I thought you wanted to say sorry or something but I guessed not. How the hell have you survived till now? Just go text your Jisoo already" Yuna said, storming out of the balcony. I stood there dumbfounded

"She's jealous you idiot." I suddenly heard as I finally noticed Ryujin sitting in the dark living room It slowly began to click. She saw Jisoo holding my hand during the cooking and probably the movie too, and saw me give her my number. Oh shit "She's probably gonna go out and walk to clear her thoughts, but its dark, and dangerous, go keep her safe." Ryujin said as she looked passively at you I nodded as I ran to the door "Hurt her, and I kill you." I heard Ryujin say

I ran out of the dorm, not seeing Yuna That's when I heard it. "ahh, I'm in luck my love. I came for pictures and confirmation and I found you instead." "Wha-who are you, AHHHH!!!" That's Yuna! I ran to the origin of the noise, to see a big man who had put a burlap sack over Yuna's head As I saw what had happened, rage filled me as I stared at the man. "Let. Her. Go." I said through gritted teeth. "No way buddy, she's my one true love, I'm gonna bring her away and live the rest of our lives together." Rage filled me once again as I charged at the man who was twice my size He pushed Yuna to the side then swung a right hook at me, which I easily dodged, grabbing his outstretched right hand, and overextending it, popping his shoulder out. He tried the same move with his right leg, but I simply grabbed it and broke it, kicking him off his other leg and onto his ass. I then got on top of him and began pummeling his face in. Yuna had just recovered her senses, and saw what was happening, as she also saw Jake running out, checking out the noise. "Jake, stop him, he's gonna kill him." I heard Yuna shout as I continued punching his face in. His face was bloody and broken, as I felt a hand from my back. I turned and grabbed the hand, flipping him onto his back and away from me, before continuing to attack the asshole who grabbed Yuna Seeing no other choice, Yuna grabbed my hand as she looked at me "Y/N, please stop, you're gonna kill him. I'm fine, don't worry alright?" She said as I looked at her, finding myself slowly calm down. I looked at my hands and knuckles in horror, before looking at what had happened around me. Jake was just getting back on his feet, the man was unconscious but still breathing, and I saw as Yuna hugged me tightly and began to cry. I held her close to my chest as I began to stroke her hair, "It's alright Yuna, I'm here, No one is going to harm you alright? I'm here."

[awatifmazlan]

weekly journal 3

💗Hari Raya in Thailand💗

Hari Raya is always a special time for me, and I’ve been fortunate to celebrate it every year in Thailand with my large extended family. Even though we’re in Thailand, there isn’t much difference in how we celebrate. In fact, having so many family members around makes the whole experience so much more fun and lively!

The excitement starts early in the morning when everyone is busy preparing for the day. The kitchen is filled with the smells of rendang, ketupat, laksa, and various kuih-muih being cooked and arranged. My aunts and cousins are buzzing around, making sure everything is perfect, while my mom always reminds me of the same thing every year: “Salam bermaafan with me first before you go to anyone else.” It’s a tradition I cherish because it sets the tone for the day starting with gratitude and love for our mother.

After the morning preparations, we get ready to go for Solat Hari Raya. The mosque is packed with familiar faces, and the feeling of unity in the air is undeniable. Once the prayers are done, the real fun begins visiting relatives, exchanging stories, and, of course, collecting duit raya. I have quite a few aunts and uncles who are successful in their careers, and they always make sure I don’t leave empty-handed! The excitement of receiving duit raya as we go from one house to another never gets old, and it’s one of the highlights of the day for me.

Hari Raya is also a day to socialize and catch up with relatives, some of whom I only get to see once a year. Meeting cousins and family members from far away is always exciting, as we exchange stories about what’s been happening in our lives. It’s amazing how Hari Raya brings us all together, no matter how far apart we’ve been.

By the end of the day, I’m usually exhausted but filled with happiness. The laughter, the stories, the food, and the memories made with family are what make Hari Raya so special. Celebrating in Thailand, surrounded by loved ones, makes it feel like home, no matter where we are.

[levi-supreme]

Hi I finally have time to reply 😪

1. where do you see yourself and reiner five years from now?

Still the same as now, hopefully. Maybe with a certain small, shiny, but beautiful accessory on our fingers 👀

2. does reiner snore in his sleep? if yes, how do you deal with it?

He doesn’t, he’s a good boy 🥰 and I hate snoring sounds 💀 however, if he’s really tired, he snores but it isn’t too loud. Just soft snores from a soft boy 💕

3. what are yours and reiner's favourite scents/smells?

This is cheesy but we like each other’s scents 🥺 I love to cuddle into him and breathe in his scent — sandalwood with a hint of spice. For him, I mostly smell of coconuts and vanilla with some floral notes.

4. do you and reiner always hold hands when you're out, and how do you two hold hands?

We always hold hands, even when it’s just walking together to our bedroom. We hold hands the normal way — our fingers intertwined with each other’s 🥰

5. does reiner like to eat your local cuisine, and what are his favourite dishes?

He likes nasi lemak with all the different textures and flavours. Teh tarik too! He’s rather adventurous when it comes to food and I love that because fussy eaters (unless it’s for a lifestyle reason like they’re vegan or for health reasons like allergies, diabetes, etc) are a pet peeve of mine 💀

Rei: Dory please, this is so cute!!!!!!. REINER WHERE YOU AT????? YOU GOTTA MARRY DORY THIS INSTANT, OR I'LL HIT YOUR HEAD WITH A BROOM.

Levi: Why are you women all obsessed with getting married and wearing a wedding ring? Not like getting married changes anything.

Rei: Oh god you men don't get it, do you? It's the STATUS. It is US telling the entire world that YOU ARE LAWFULLY TAKEN, and no one can steal you away. By law, YOU ARE MINE. And, the wedding ring seals everything. It's to fend off any other women who are thirsting over you, and you telling them you are OFF-LIMITS. Get it now? Hmm??

Rei: Ooooooh good thing!! Levi doesn't snore too hehe, but he frowns a lot when he sleeps. It's like he can't stop thinking about work even when he's asleep and I don't really like it. It feels like he's not getting a good sleep :(

Levi: Trust me, I am getting my sleep. I just can't control my frowning, can I? Reiner and this brat are the same. They snore really lightly when they are really tired. But Rei here has another bad habit. She unknowingly grinds her teeth when she's very tired and I have to wake her up sometimes because it worries me.

Rei: Dory please, I love the cheese!!!!!! Both your scents smell so lovely and warm!! It reminds me of the beach again haha. Maybe you two really need to get a beach house one day!

Rei: I love how Levi smells like too, he smells like peppermint and musk. And I love the smell of his cologne and after shave too, they both smell really fresh and clean.

Levi: Rei smells like a flower.

Rei: Awwww Dory, you and Reiner are just like Levi and I!!!!! I always make him hold my hand even we're at home hehe. When physical touch triumphs over everything!! And we intertwine our fingers when we hold hands too!!!

Levi: Tch. I never understood why you need to hold me even when we're at home. Will you die of you don't touch me?

Rei: That's so nice of Reiner!!!! I love a good nasi lemak with extra sambal belacan too 😍 and yes!! Teh tarik is great! But Levi isn't a fan, he finds it too sweet. He thinks kopi-o is the best.

Rei: Levi really loves Hainanese chicken rice!! He surprisingly has a good spice tolerance too, which makes me extremely happy, because we can eat loads of food together!

Levi: I sort of enjoy eating what you called fried carrot cake too. I like the black one. I like laksa too.

[iwillhaveamoonbase]

Love at First Bite

Rayla is taken by a client to eat at the Italian-Korean fusion place in town and falls in love with the food, and later, the chef.

-------------------------------------------------

Rayla smiled at her client as they waited for their server to come.  Her boss had told her that they had to keep the contract with the client’s company no matter what, and if that meant going to a Korean-Italian fusion restaurant that would probably be too spicy for Rayla’s Scottish, fried-food-loving taste buds, so be it.  The client, Ms. Danvers, had been hyping the restaurant up all evening.  “You said you like potatoes?  This place as amazing kimchi-style potatoes and potato pancakes.”

Rayla nodded.  “My grandmother is Irish and there are always potatoes cooking in her house.”  Rayla subtly looked around the dining room. The walls were mostly white with a few panels a beautiful red.  There was artwork on the walls, ranging from sceneries to portraits.  They all looked to be done by the same artist but Rayla couldn’t place a name to them.  The air was warm and smelled of spices and herbs and cheese.  Rayla could see a row of cheeses on one of the shelves.  “Do they use a lot of cheese here?”

“Korean food pairs wonderfully with cheese.  There’s a rumor that all the vegetables here are from the local farmer’s market as are most of the cheeses.  It’s fusion, but it’s as domestic as possible, too.”

“You’ve really been talking this place up.”

Ms. Danvers flushed.  “It’s my favorite restaurant.  I come here for lunch once a week and get take-away whenever I’m having a bad day.  This place is known for Korean-Italian fusion, but they make a delicious Thai laksa and a vegetarian Tom Yum that is to die for.”

“Really?”  Rayla didn’t know that much about Asian food, but she knew that Tom Yum was common in Thai eateries.

“The chef is a quarter-Thai and a quarter-Korean, his grandparents being from Thailand and South Korea.  He knows the flavors well and plays with them, but when he goes authentic, he’s the best in town.  He will also make almost any dish vegetarian if you request it.”

“How accommodating.”

A server came up, a smile on their face.  “Good evening and welcome to Sarai’s Place.  Any wine to start this evening?”  Rayla shook her head, surprised when Ms. Danvers asked for Thai iced tea for the both of them.  “And what can I get started for you?”

“Ms. Burrows?”

Rayla looked down at the menu again.  “Hmm.  I’m not sure what to get.  I don’t have a very high spice tolerance.”

The server nodded.  “Scale of 1 to 10?”

“Maybe a three.”

“Do you like kimchi?”

“Never had it.”

“Then I recommend trying the kimchi potatoes, if you like potatoes, or the risotto, which features chopped kimchi, sesame oil, and garlic.  The chef makes two kinds of kimchi, one mild and one spicy, so he’ll use the mild for you.  For the main dish, if you enjoy cheese, a pasta dish that has mussels, a Korean chili paste and tomato sauce, and fresh parmesan.  Everything that can be local, is local and if you eat vegetarian, the mussels will be taken out and instead you will get mushrooms.”

“My grandmother is Irish so I’m very snobbish with my potatoes.”

“I would rate his potato pancakes a ten.  He takes the traditional Korean recipe and adds parmesan cheese and some rosemary and its cooked with the house chili oil, so when you cut into it, it’s cheesy and subtly spicy.  The house chili oil is made with both gochugaru and the type of dried chilis usually used to make olio di peperocino.”

“I’ll go with the pancakes and the mussels pasta you suggested.”

“Excellent choice.  And for you?”

Ms. Danvers smiled.  “Did he make Tom Yum or laksa today?”

“Laksa.”

“I will take a bowl of laksa while Ms. Burrows is eating her pancakes and I will also take the mussels pasta.  Can we also get an order of garlic bread?”

“Of course.  I’ll get your Thai iced teas ready.  Anything else today?”

“What’s the dessert of the week?”

“Since it’s summer, mango pudding, Thai coconut pudding, and strawberry-lime cheesecake.”

“We’ll each take a slice of the strawberry-lime cheesecake.”  The server nodded and walked away after reading back the list.  “I hope you don’t mind me ordering dessert for you, but he only makes that cheesecake when the strawberries are in their peak season and it’s worth it.”

Rayla nodded.  “No problem, Ms. Danvers.  I wouldn’t really know what to order otherwise.”

They chatted while they waited, pausing when the garlic bread came to the table.  Rayla had been expecting the kind of garlic bread Americans seemed to adore, buttery and almost artificially garlic-y.  Instead, they got small, fresh loaves that had pieces of roasted garlic and thyme baked into it, served with the house chili oil and garlic that had been cooked until it spread like butter on the bread.  Rayla was impressed with the flavor and how the pieces of garlic were not overpowering.

When the potato pancakes came, Rayla could smell the spice but trusted the server had not led her astray, eyeing her glass of Thai iced tea just in case.  One bite and she was in heaven.  The cheese and the heat from the chili only enhanced the potato flavor as did the light smattering of soy sauce and vinegar-based sauce.  Rayla almost ignored Ms. Danvers when the pasta came, inhaling the dish.  At the end of the meal, once the excellent cheesecake had been finished, Rayla was in love with the food.  “Well, Ms. Danvers, I suppose I should be thanking you for introducing me to my new favorite restaurant.”

Ms. Danvers chuckled.  “It’s good, isn’t it?”

“I would marry the chef in a heartbeat if I got to eat like this every day for the rest of my life.”

-----------------------------

Rayla brought all her clients and her coworkers to Sarai’s Place in the following months.  She tried almost everything on the menu, though she was still mildly terrified of the spiciness of the laksa if the smell alone was anything to go by.  Every Monday and Thursday, she got take-away and ordered the dessert whenever she ate in on Saturdays.  She was thankful she was single or else she would have to come here every week with someone and she liked dining alone in the quiet restaurant.

Sometimes, they played classical music, other times K-pop, and Rayla would always remember the night they had played an opera medley when several people with the Katolis Opera Company had dined that night.  The chef seemed keenly aware of who came to his restaurants at what dates and times and played music to fit their tastes but also made sense with the theme.

It was a popular spot with not only Foodies and high school kids, but a lot of Asian-Americans dined there.  Rayla had looked up the reviews and had seen it was highly recommended by the Katolis Korean and Thai communities, the Katolis restaurant circles, and the Commission for the Promotion of Local Ingredients and Farmer’s Markets.  No one said anything bad about Sarai’s Place without at least ten people defending the restaurant’s choices.

And now Rayla was sitting with her boss, Ahling Patel, and having to stop herself from inhaling the food in front of her.  The risotto was so satisfying and paired with chicken breast stuffed with kimchi, perilla, and ricotta.  “What do you think, Mr. Ahling?”

“It’s delicious.  I’ve always felt that fusion was a gimmick, but I’m sold by this young man’s food.  Young lady,” Ahling called the server, smiling good-naturedly when she nodded at him and finished up with her current customer.  When she came up to their table, she greeted them again.  “Is there anyway we can speak to the chef?”

The server blinked before nodding.  “I’m sure I can arrange it.  Dinner service is almost over and there are only you and two other tables.  Can I bring you dessert while I’m talking to him?”

“What do you recommend?”

“Our pastry chef made yakgwa, which are little honey pastries made with pine nuts, ginger, and sesame oil and they also made a yuja polenta cake and a play on Italian lemon cake, but with yuja.”

Rayla ordered the yakgwa and Ahling got the polenta cake and waited for the news.  Rayla couldn’t recall having ever seen the chef even though she came there at least twice a week, closer to three.  She hadn’t seen any pictures of him, either, surprisingly enough.  He was said to keep to himself and shunned the limelight, which is why he never made TV appearances.

A few minutes later, it wasn’t their server, but a man who looked be about 26 arriving with their desserts.  His green eyes were striking, as were his cheekbones and sharp jawline.  He gave them both an awkward smile as Rayla noticed his ring finger was bare and didn’t seem to have a tan line.  Was this the chef?  His coat would seem to say so.  “Nice to meet you both.  I’m Callum Evans, the owner and executive chef here at Sarai’s Place.”

Ahling smiled.  “It’s nice to meet you, young man.  I’m Ahling Patel and this is my employee, Rayla Burrows.”  Rayla nodded her head in acknowledgement.  “Your food is delicious.  How on Earth do you even think of this?”

The young man flushed, looking down at his feet.  “Um, I’m not that special.  Many people before me found that Korean and Italian food go well together.  Most of my recipes are riffs on family recipes and all my Thai dishes are family recipes.  I was originally going to go traditional Korean or Thai but there were no fusion places in the area and I’m part Irish and German on top of being a quarter-Thai and a quarter-Korean.  It felt…right, I guess.  I’m mixed and grew up with a variety of food cultures in my house, so why not do fusion?  Korean and Italian just made the most sense, so…”  He looked embarrassed at the praise, rubbing the back of his neck.

Rayla leaned forward a bit.  “I’ve eaten here at least twice week for the past six months.  I can tell you, without a doubt, it’s my favorite place to eat.”

“Thank you.”

Ahling cleared his throat.  “Are you single, Mr. Evans?”

Callum flushed even deeper.  “Ah.  Yes.  Being a chef requires long hours and running a restraint requires even more.”

“You need a good partner to help you find balance in your life!”

Rayla remained quiet as she watched them talk.  The only thing going through her mind was ‘I’m going to marry this man for his food.  I’ll eat well for the rest of my life.’  She stayed when Ahling said good night and while the restaurant emptied out.  Callum stayed at the table, fidgeting under her gaze.  “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“A date.”

Callum blinked.  “We have a sticky rice made with dates-”

“No.  A romantic excursion.  An outing.”

He gulped, looking her up and down.  “A date?  Really?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I fell in love with your food almost immediately after I tasted it and would like the chance to know the man who cooks it.”

Callum blushed.  “OK.”  They exchanged info and Rayla smirked as she left with his number in her cellphone.  There was no way she would be letting this one go.

------------------------------------------

After four months of dating, Rayla could confidently say that she was now just as in love with Callum the man as she was with his cooking.  Learning that his restaurant was named after his mother who died when he was in high school had endeared him to her, as had the knowledge that all the art on the walls were his paintings.  Was there anything he couldn’t do?

They were currently in Callum’s kitchen, him developing a new recipe while Rayla took down notes for him.  Even on his days off, he was always thinking about what he would do next and Rayla admired his passion to his craft.  When he brought her up to try the dish, she groaned.  “I will marry this man if it’s the last thing I do,” she muttered.

“I can hear you, you know,” Callum chuckled.

Rayla raised a brow.  “Then why haven’t you accepted my proposal?”

“Because you proposed to my food?”

“I hardly see the difference.”  Callum laughed at her, shaking his head.  “Hey, move in with me.”

“We’ve been together for four months.”

“Is that a problem?  Too short?”

Callum stared at her.  “You’re serious.”

“I told you; I fully plan on marrying you to eat your cooking ‘til the day I die.”

“So, it’s my cooking you love?”

“When have I hidden this?”  Rayla reached for his hand, pulling him closer.  “I’m serious.  Move in with me.”

“Why?”

Rayla shrugged.  “I’m happy when we wake up next to each other.  I like the idea of coming home to you or you coming home to me.  I don’t like sleeping alone, and, for the past month, the two of us have been alternating sleeping at each other’s places and it doesn’t make sense to pay rent on two places when we could be happy together?”

“That and I’m the only person willing to put up with your stubborn ass.”

Rayla gave him a mock offended looking, giving his arm a playful smack.  “You love my stubborn ass.”

“I do.”  Callum leaned down and captured her lips, letting her taste the dish he had been working on for the past hour.  When they pulled apart, he looked down into her eyes with his bright green ones.  “I think I love you.”

“That’s good, because I think I love you, too.”

Rayla would take that for now.  And in two years, when she would be standing next to him in front of their new house, matching rings on their fingers, and a very pregnant belly, she would remind him that he had his food to thank for their relationship.  “I fell in love with your food first.”

“I’m glad you did, because you kept coming back.”

“Lucky you.”

“Lucky me.”        

[radio-charlie]

Laksa kedah doesnt look too hard to make and i remember from childhood that i loved the smell of that freshly boiled mackerel + stealing small still-hot pieces of it to eat. since this flat has a blender i might try to make it after christmas