Ever Growing Cafe in Kuala Lumpur

The number of coffee shops within the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur had increased tremendously over the year and it's just not stopping; Artisan Roast will open its fourth installation Three Little Birds Coffee opened in D7, Sentul East Design Centre (SEED), Jalan Sentul alongside with many prestigious world-leading designer brands. Oh and not to forget that a new cafe will be opening right this 14th of December (Saturday) at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, if everything goes well. Name? Hint: *Lucy in the sky...* 

This brings me to the question - Where the heck did all these baristas came from? 

I am not in the position to answer this question accurately and definitely. But here are some assumptions; 

(1) I remember there were coffee-appreciation classes/seminars held years back. It involves education on coffee, green beans, quality control, roasting profile, cupping and tasting. These classes were held up till now (and still going strong) in nurturing the public best information and methods in making the perfect cup of coffee (I am not sure of the validity of this). Some of those, if not most, whom gained useful information also group up for more experiments and tasting session in order to gain experience to be a barista. Now, baristas could upgrade themselves through these classes and take exams to be certified... erm... barista. 

Fashion Sixty6

Winter has come, or so they say. It's this time of the year again where people begun to layer themselves up heavily with coats, scarves and whatnot (at least, in countries away from the equator). It is no different this year, only with something that warrant my attention; two types of colour themed groups. Are you seeing what I'm seeing?

Street Style Aesthetic

Seriously, what's with the camel/beige again?

(left) Traditional feature with modern touch, (right) Linear abstract.

Fashion 65

After 6 months of idling, and also the fact that I direct my focus to local street style scene (Kuala Lumpur), I noticed there is a lack of emotion or colour in life. Currently, the local scene (the few famous ones) is dominated by packs of dull, emotionless high-street brands followers. Black and white are the primary colour, with addition of big fonts and stripes. Fast forward to now, I had forgotten how dynamic fashion had been. I realised there are colours in life as I re-enter the world of bright, colourful rainbow of internet. The following depict various expression of freedom and happiness, enjoy!

The Sartorialist

(left to right) Sharp and sleek, I must get myself the long sleeve,
people had forgotten how carefree it is to stay away from safe wardrobe; you can be happy with irregularity!

(left) Natural earthy headband, (right) The make-up.

A 'Cuppa' Journey

I would very much like to name this entry an Adventure, but I thought it'd best to reserve that word for future use. Right, journey then. 

I remember my first venture into the coffee territory; I was barely 11 when my mother would bring me to nearby Starbucks for Frappuccino or just settle for an occasional take-away. At that time, I was delighted at the slurp of it, cold and sweet substance gush through my throat. By the time I was 14, I had a group of school mates whom I always hang out with at the Suria KLCC. That was the moment when I fell in love with the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Their coffee, not to say bespoke, had this special taste that eliminate the Starbucks experience I had before. And not to mention the former actually invented ice blended coffee! 

A few years later, I had grown such an appetite, or you might say addiction, to a special brew of coffee from a selected local kopitiam (coffee shop). Why special brew? Unbeknownst to some, the coffee powder they used to brew kopi (coffee) is actually ground-coffee mixed with herbs and sometimes chicory. The coffee beans were also fried with butter to enhance the taste beforehand. The grounded mix grains are coarse and used in large quantity during filter (with long-thick strainer). Then, resulting filter coffee will be mixed with sweet condensed milk and/or evaporated milk before being served. Why condensed milk? It's because of easier storage back in the days.

Many thoughts

Ever wonder what it's like to think in a train? I did that recently in a journey back home. In fact, my mind usually went off thinking of things that do not matter to my academics. I enjoyed train journeys; observing little details that passes by while the train go through the outskirts of city. 

I observed grey smokes churning out from chimneys of factory buildings. Garbage piled up randomly across the fields. Greens struggling to reclaim back their lands from the development. Cows forced to live among themselves in a tiny plot of land, coexisting with lush greeneries. Middle-aged men laughing zealously in their tiny worn shack they called home. Sky that seem so grey even without rain clouds. Take a look back, people were busy with their phones and tablets.

Then it comes to me; when do people stopped looking at the bigger view? The tiny village implies that people can achieve happiness if they are willing to lower their living standard, but of course to some extend. Constant development and increasing of demand forced factories to work overtime unethically to gain profit which leaves one question; how do they manage pollutants emission? Then again, the observation of a cow grazing the bushes disheartened me of what sin had they done to be slaughtered as man's food supply? The same goes to poultry and other meats.

Vision

I had a vision.

Well, I had visions before.

Remember this where I mentioned of a house I visioned? I have another vision which just, how do you say it, acts as the base. 

I would buy a land. Not just any land, but a land of which I would inspect its history, soil type, sturdiness, and scan in depth for any erratic symptoms. All these might sound ridiculous, but it is where I would want a home on solid foundation; not sinking land. There, I would build the house brick by brick from foundation all the way up to the roof. Of course this would mean learning house building from my dad and civil engineering. 

Why the hassle? The vision I had not just on the house itself, but on the idea that the house would last generations; sheltering my children, grandchildren and beyond. I want to save bit by bit from my measly monthly salary to buy the needed ingredients, and construct the house on every weekends for as long as my life permits. To abide this vision, I will have to retreat from social living, fashion splendour and even decent food. This will sound like a joke, unpractical and illogical to you. 

This, is my vision.

PS: Nah, I think I'll just spend my working life visiting different coffee houses every month.

Cuppa Dream

I always indulged in fashion. Not in terms of purchasing, mind you, but more on 'observing'. No, I'm no more pervert than you but I really like to observe people's personal style. Well, who don't? I categorised this as an evil side of me; indulge in branded products despite poor financial status. This side of me also dreamed of becoming filthy rich in order to fulfill my wish of purchasing a Maserati Gran Turismo MC Stradale, a Jaguar XJR, and few more cars. Oh, also a large land encompassing a self-designed open mansion with an outdoor living room, 3 storey-high indoor living room with staircase up to a quarter-sized open floor for coffee while enjoying the starry night through a glass roof (can be shaded via automation), rock garden surrounding an indoor swimming, tented vegetable plantations and whatnot.

Well... sometimes I don't really think of those. There is another side of me that I really wanted to realise. Once I retired, or maybe somewhere around age 40 plus, I want to open a coffee shop. Not those heavily commercialised, but a simple coffee shop. I want to be the barista to brew different coffee to different people. I want it to be special; a hideout for the stressed, a haven for the bookworms (I'll get to that later), a room to generate ideas.  

Peer pressure

I'm typing this right after my final outing of the year, a relaxing one, with my classmates right after our final exam paper. Phew! Been overusing my brain for at least 8 days; revising and in deep thought for 10-12hours per day. 

Right, peer pressure. Which kind? 

Back in my Diploma days, or even secondary school, I had been easy on myself in studies. As my parents never pressure me and I was rather laid back, I didn't put much effort into getting a distinction for any subjects I took. To me, exam papers were just, papers. What is it going to do with my life? I can live even without straight distinction. SPM, for example, is just an entry requirement to reputable government university or to help you in applying scholarships. Diploma? I can retake the subject if I failed. I just need to put a little bit effort to graduate within the planned period.It is that simple.

The Malaysian Budget 2010

Based on the new 1Malaysia theme, the focus of Budget 2010 will be on the well-being of the people, driving the country towards high-income economy and a holistic and sustainable development.

Untitled feelings

Emo-ish entry once in a while won't hurt right?

I don't understand why people have to act. Even myself. A group of people will normally be found gossiping about another person; their friend or relative. They just mention negative stuff about that particular person, and in the end would island him/her just for their own good. I know I have no right to talk about this, since I maybe one of them without realizing. But then, did I really did all these?

There are many times in my life so far that I knew there was someone backstabbing at me. I won't mention who and when. Everyone should know about this, they have been back-stabbed before for sure. You all would thought that my life is just like a happy-go-lucky guy without any worries in life, including the aforementioned right?

Frustration

My mom's friend had been advising us on scholarship stuff few weeks ago. Her daughter applied for USA scholarship herself from the embassy and to much surprise, she got it. Her mother claim that they don't need top scorer to be eligible for the spot, just determined ones. So I took some time yesterday researching on the scholarship available in Malaysia that would bring me overseas and I found a few.

Tired

I felt sleepy and tired right now despite the fact that I took an 8 hours sleep plus an hour in the evening before. I'm tired from the usual commuting, the tendering for the puppies as they now walk around the house, the clicking for numerous facebook applications and et cetera.

Tsukareta~!!!

Welcome to Malaysia 1

This will be the beginning of my "Welcome to Malaysia" series where I will blog about the common concepts of Malaysia (duh!).

Runners.

This evening I went to Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ-Road Transport Department) at Wangsa Maju to accompany my friend to renew his driving license. At the entrance of the office, there were many "runners" whom waited for unsuspecting customers or newbies to run their errand for them.

Nightmare

Behold, this will be my 3rd "words-only" entry. So don't expect any pictures from me. Back to topic, I got this weird dream for the second time, involving a massacre and ghosts.

Okay here's the dream:

The dream start off at a familiar horse training ground near my old house. Few officers were riding horses walking gallantly around the compound. I'm there with a few of my friends standing in a marching formation outside the office, clearly awaiting for some higher rank officer. The officer came out, gave us speech, then dunno what happened we were invited into the office. And the story twist.

Thoughts

In these few months, I've given a lot of thought into death. Yes, death.

Each human will literally die when the heart no longer able to support the body, and when the body deteriorates. What would happen when we are dead? I have been thinking, if, in any reasons I would pass away, what would happen to me? Will my spirit come out from the shell and wonder aimlessly until something comes and take me away? No. I don't believe in that. Gods, ghost, hell, heaven, were all made by the people of the past in order to keep the attitudes, etiquette and orders of the society to be in check.

Mobility: 2088