Shabu Shabu & Hijab

Dear Diary,

Had fun with my best friends yesterday celebrating Hernie's belated birthday at Shabu Shabu, Marina Country Club at Punggol. We headed there by public but frankly, it'll be so much better to drive there because the Shabu Shabu is located so far away in a "deserted" place. There is shuttle bus at Sengkang station but I wasn't too sure where the shuttle bus was and we couldn't spot any when heading home.

So we dropped off at Punggol initially since we couldn't catch the 1pm shuttle bus anymore hoping to flight for a cab but apparently, there wasn't any cab AT ALL. So after half an hour, we took the train back to Sengkang hoping to catch the 1.30pm shuttle bus this time but again, we were too late. So we had to flight for cab again and it was only half an hour again that we finally got one.

I was put through numerous of 'patience' testing yesterday which almost blew me off but thank God I managed to overcome those. HAHA!

      1. Bestie Hajar was late. We were supposed to meet by 11am but we end up meeting at 12.15pm. But             it wasn't her fault either because she was having tummy ache. Lol!

      2. Having to miss the Shuttle bus and then no getting any cab at all at Punggol, plus having to return                    back to Sengkang hoping to catch the net shuttle bus and only to end up taking a cab again that took           forever to get one.

      3. The cab driver had no idea where Marina Country Club was.

We almost died! And I am NOT going to get out of the cab since finding a cab is like finding a needle in haystack there! So, we just asked him to drive on while he had to ask us for direction and you know me. I am NOT GOOD at directions, even with maps. I am Historian, I don't take Geography so I am not train to read maps. And my 2 best friends who took Geography can't even help me out. Zzz! But guess what?! I managed too somehow with my GPRS and I was so happy that I did.

And we were finally HERE! The uncle was quite worried for us somehow. He was like "You girls better call for a cab when going home later." That's because the place look so deserted from any other places. Lol! And he gave us 60 cents discount for that. So nice of him.

       4. Our reservation was at 12.30pm and we only reach there at 2.30pm.

       5. Someone already took my reservation.

I told them I was 'Azi' and apparently, someone have already sat at my place much earlier under my reservation name. I don't know how is it even possible since my mobile number is there. 2 person can't have the same mobile number, am I not right? But thank God, there was still many available places, so the problem was quickly resolved.

I was quite impressed with the place, it's HUGE with VARIETY of food compared to Soul Garden, Shabu Shabu would be perfect. The only problem, it being less accessible to those without your own vehicle.

The moment our steam boat and grilling pan was set-up, my best friends and I rushed for the food & drinks especially. Yes, we were just too hungry and THIRSTY because we didn't had anything at all for breakfast.

The variety of spices & chillies. Woooooo!

Indulging time, ENJOY.

Bestie Hernie was in-charged of doing the steam boat,

And Bestie Hajar the grilling,

And so what does Miss PRINCESS Azie Anni do? Waited for the food to get serve to her. HAHA!

I am not being a spoilt brat but that is just how people who are closer to me or know me well, treats me. My best friends, my girlfriends and my family they all do. Lol!

Azie:  Eh aku dah kenyang seh.
Hernie: Makan pelan-pelan sebab tu aku ketawa-ketawa jadi tak cepat kenyang.
Hajar: Tak ah, kerja kau marah aku je dari tadi sebab makanan aku masak hangus.
Hernie: HAHAHA!

Hajar: Eh aku pegang chilli eh tadi? Muka aku panas gila seh.
Hernie: HAHAHA!
Hajar: Kau ketawa kan aku eh. Aku kerja keras tau ni. Masak ni semua dari tadi.
Azie: HAHAHA!
Hajar:  Ah Azie! Ambil ni. Satu orang satu! 
Azie: Dah kenyang seh aku
Hajar: MAKAN!
Azie: Ah yelah yelah!

We wouldn't want to miss the dessert for sure, so we had another round of indulgence.

Azie: Haizzzz...macam kenyang aje seh.
Hajar: MAKANNNNN! Kau tadi cakap lapar lapar aje kan. Kau MAKAN sampai kedai ni tutup.
Hernie: Azie dari tadi asyik dengan handphone aje.
Azie: Aku kenyang lah.
Hajar: NANTI AKU BUANG HANDPHONE KAU BARU TAHU!
Azie: Asyik kene marah je aku.

And you won't be let off with my ferocious fiery bestfriend here. HAHA! After indulging into our dessert, we decided to just hibernate for  awhile allowing digestion to take place. And sadly, we were just too full to try the Sushi, we wished we could.

So we had some random conversation again while seated down,

Hernie: Aku nak book chalet ah. Then kita org boleh buat staycation together.
Azie: Ah okay ehhh.
Hajar: Hotel ahh.
Azie: Ah, hotel pun okay.
Hernie: Hotel macam boring seh.
Hajar: Tapi, ada aku kan? Mana boring.
Azie: Omigod! Kau stop it eh. Kau ingat kau spice up our life ah?

Hernie: Kau dulu gaduh dengan Iqah rabak seh.
Hajar: Ye ke? Lama eh?
Hernie: A'a lah. Lama seh sampai 1 tahun lebih seh.
Azie: Aku tak ingat seh.
Hernie: Ada ah. That time. Lepas tu bila dah baik balik korang dua wah, macam belangkas.
Azie: Apa seh tu belangkas?
Hajar: A'a apa seh tu?
Hernie: It's a type of animal
Hajar: HUH?! Kau cakap aku binatang?
Azie: HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA 
Hernie: Bukan lah! Ini seumpama peribahasa gitu lah.
Azie: ASAL KAU SELENGEH SANGAT?!

Hahahahaha. Omigosh. 

We waited for the 5pm shuttle bus but it was still out of sight. So we decided to hang around for a little while before finally, a cab just happened to past by there and we took the cab back all the way to Compass point, Sengkang. Walked around Compass point and then headed to Jurong East and did some window shopping at Jem before heading home.

It was definitely a splendid time spent with my best friends and I really hope we can do this often. But probably not now especially when I'm struggling to juggle between work and school. Plus dissertation project is ongoing now. It's good enough to wreck me up into pieces of stress balls. HAHA! Hopefully, after I graduate this year, I have more time to do whatever I want.

---

Forgot to mention, I actually wore a hijab going out with my best friends yesterday but the kind of respond I get from people who are close to me, well, some of them, is rather disappointing. Some say, I might have people who end up bad-mouthing me saying "Ingat pakai tudung tu main-main? Sekejap buka, sekejap pakai?" because I wasn't trying to wear one permanently now and had pictures of me in hijab posted on FB.

But that is NOT what I'm trying to imply. I have been wanting to wear hijab for the longest time but there is just some factors that is stopping me which I wouldn't want to share what is it on social network. I know this is the lamest and sinful excuse I can ever give but bear with me, Insyaallah, one day, I will definitely don on the hijab.

Just let me give you an example. If you are someone who doesn't don on the hijab at all and you are about to enter the mosque. Does that give you the reason or excuse not to put on one since you DON'T don on the hijab? You still do right? Because why? Because the respect you have for Allah SWT home.

And even if you are someone who wear shorts, dresses and etc. When you are heading to meet someone who is elderly to you, do you wear those attire? No right? You will somehow dress appropriately wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants. Am I right?

The same thing goes for me. I put on the hijab was because the respect I have for my best friend. The both of them wears hijab and you can't expect me to go out with them with short dresses and etc. I could wear long sleeves and jeans to meet them but I would say as a Muslim, I feel proud and CHOOSE to don the hijab. What is so wrong on donning the hijab? I don't see anything wrong with it. You people should be happy that I chose the hijab over long sleeves and jeans.  And I wouldn't disrespect my best friend that way and neither would I feel at ease to be doing that to them.

It's a shame how people cannot accept and react to this.

That's the reason probably why some people gave up because of criticism like this. But you know what? I am NOT going to let this affect me or rather stop myself from wearing the hijab in the future. Only Allah SWT knows best.

So do not come, lecturing and telling me about me trying to be funny having the hijab on one moment and not the next moment. Before saying that to me, I guess you reflect on yourself about how you put the hijab on and off when you enter the mosque. It's the same concept you have there, just two different situation. A mosque and my best friend.

Go ponder.

XOXO,

Princess Azie Anni ♥

Dental Appointment

Dear Diary,

I have less than 2 days to submit my dissertation topic and I seriously have no idea what topic I should choose and do. Out of the 20 topics, I have eliminate a few which then make me left with 5 topics to choose from. I eliminated more till I'm left with 2.

Some of the dissertation topics really sound alien to me. I don't know which smart soul will actually choose such chim topic as their dissertation.

Anyway, I was contemplating between the Breast cancer and a Microbiology topic regarding Inflammation Bowel Disease. And as you know, I will definitely be much better in handling Microbiology topic but sadly, the journals has no conclusion to it yet and I'm afraid I only have little journals to work with. However, Breast cancer being the upper hand having so many journals to read from since there is so many ongoing research on cancer. But I realised, the more I read, the more confused I become.

I am seriously stuck in a situation which I find it hard to choose. If journals and conclusion weren't a problem, Microbiology topic would have won me hands down.

---

I visited the dentist today after a year. I didn't know my filling from last year were all almost depleting, till the hole could actually be seen again. I still remember I had trouble eating because my tooth hurts and I had the same problem again just recently after biting into a chunk of Chicken Rice bone.

All I intended was just to do polishing and scaling but I end up having thoughts of getting my supernumerary tooth extracted. When the dental assistant asked me "Why do you want to extract that tooth?" Yes my blunt answer was "I don't like it."

Exactly. I just don't like it. I have never like it! Even my family find it ugly and keep teasing me about having that extra tooth, well they used to before they convince me now it's nicer. It was the only reason why I keep my mouth close when I smile because it appears horrendously ugly on pictures. I'll be dying to smile showing my teeth.

But sadly, I was told to consult a specialist first before extracting. Because they are afraid that if one day I were to do braces they might need that supernumerary tooth of mine that I have extracted. So braces that is? I wanted to but the cost of braces is making me having 2nd thoughts. Come on, the cheapest for braces could go about 4.5K? At this age, this amount of money is definitely crucial to me, especially when the word wedding accompanies. Lol!

So I had 3 fillings to do and yes, polishing & scaling for my teeth was done as well. And don't be alarmed how much the bill came up to,

$345

Yes, I know it would totally add up to that plus minus because each scaling + polishing and a filling could easily cost you $80 each. Don't forget consultation fee as well as if they were to use any other extra treatment, it might cost another additional kachings.

So yes, I'm $345 less this month. On top of that, I have my school fees to pay. Well, a life of a student cum working adult. You cannot complain.

Till here. I shall head off to sleep. Heading for lunch at Shabu Shabu with my dearest bestie tomorrow. A belated birthday treat for Hernie. GOODNIGHT.

P.S: I promise once I'm back from lunch, I'll continue my dissertation research.

XOXO,

Princess Azie Anni ♥

Daily Scoop

Dear Diary,

Good morning upper east siders! Sorry, not Gossip Girl. Hehe! I am awake early at this hour. Gotta take a shower and head off to work later on. Yes, I'm schedule to work today's Sunday this month.  And then meeting my dearest girlfriends after work. Talking about my girlfriends, guess what they bought for me as an advance Birthday gift?!

The Pandora bracelet & charms! Yes, I ask Pag to put it on for me the moment she passed it to me. I was so happy that I scream and jumped for joy when I got this. And I have 4 charms now already on my chain plus another 1 cat charm that Pag still have them ordered for me. Wee!

Don't mind the 'Azie' bracelet, it was given by S and it's one of my favourite as well. Hehe!

I have been wanting to get one but it was so expensive and I'm not going to splurge myself on these kinds of expensive stuff. So all I did was just to keep the catalogue in my shelf and look at it once in a while. HAHA! But finally, I got this on my wrist!

Girlfriend Hanali & Pag have one for themselves too and Pag has completed hers! Hehe! And the best part, just like the Pandora slogan say, 'Your bracelet, your story'. It really explains your liking and I think even explain what kind of person you are from all the charms you have. I have ordered 4 more charms, a dangling tiara, a lock and key, eiffel tower and a red faceted separator bead. I love Eiffel tower, I have one pasted in my room, my Christmas water bottle gift is an Eiffel tower from JM and I'm getting an Eiffel tower charm! Yay.

Hopefully, to complete the whole chain with charms when my Birthday comes this year. Hehe!

---

Anyhoos, I am still in my post-examinations mood celebration even though exam's are over like 1 week ago. Lol! I don't know how elated I feel. Okay, not really elated because I have actually not graduated yet. More like a little bit stress-free.

Spent the afternoon catching up on movies that I've missed. I catch 'Thor - The Dark World' the other day. You can find all the movie reviews in my Facebook. I usually keep my movie reviews public.

So, I was being a pretty laid back after the exams until my lecturer email us and mention that all of us have got to choose and submit our chosen dissertation project topic before the 31st March. I have definitely left than a week to choose my topic and I still cannot decide! 

There are like 20 over topics to choose from! And mostly are about Cancer and their bio-markers and few of them are Microbiology topic. Even so, the Microbiology topic seems a bit vague. And as a Microbiologist, I would rather choose a Microbiology project topic but I'm afraid I will have a problem finding journals to that, compared to Cancer topic, it's much easier. There are a lot of research done about cancer and I love cancer & oncology topic, it was one of my strongest module in Polytechnic scoring mostly A's. It's interesting BUT you need a deeper understanding to this because there's just many terms that you'll definitely come across with. I can just imagine I'll be more confused than ever.

30 journals to fish out. Goodness gracious me.  I just hope like again, I can pull through this. At the same time, I am so worried about my exams results. Wonder how I fair for it after writing mostly crap this semester. 

---

Enough about school, it's giving me a headache. As I have not met my cousin for quite some time, I decided to give them a treat for some Waffles Ice-cream. Oh yes, we are always venturing into nothing but Waffles Ice-cream. Haha! There are still a few more places that we have yet ought to venture together and try. We did Swensen's and Gelato the other day, personally, I have tried Createaf Waffles as well and 2 days back, we tried 'Daily Scoop'.

I would say the ambience is really comfy and cozy. The staff were nice as well but I find the place pretty cold, so don't forget to bring your cardigan or jacket if you are cold intolerance like me. Hehe!

For people who love variety of ice-cream flavours, well for me, I don't really quite fancy their ice-creams. They have just mostly basic flavour like Strawberry, Vanilla etc. But I love to venture into more different flavours like how Ben & Jerry's would have. I wanted to try their Butterscotch flavour but there's pecans and I don't eat nuts. The only options I'm left with was Hazelnut Haven and Kookie Monster. I love Cookies & Cream, so I settled for Kookie Monster together with Cousin Dil while Cousin Lyna had the Hazelnut Haven.

Price wise was okay too. I don't know how much a waffle or one scoop of ice-cream would cost if you were to pay separately. I chose their promotion set. 1 waffle plus a scoop of ice-cream and chocolate sauce cost $6.20. Affordable right?  An additional 50 cents for maple syrup.

Look at thoseeeee! Salivating aren't it?! Hahahaha! 

So here's come the verdict. I'm a sucker when it comes to reviewing food because I am not picky and all food usually taste nice to me even if other people don't find it nice. So, you can just imagine when I say a particular food is horrible, it's definitely 100 times horrible for other people. Lol! 

The Ice-cream is nice and the waffles, is really soft as well. - Quoted from cousin Dil. I would of course recommend this place a 'to go for' especially for some good affordable waffles ice-cream. I just hope the waffles was bigger. Hehe!

Till here, I am going to spam with a little more pictures of Waffles ice-cream.

Daily Scoop

43 Jalan Merah Saga

Singapore 278115

6475 3128

XOXO,

Princess Azie Anni ♥