Devi's Corner - Banana Leaf Rice

Whenever I'm at Devi's Corner in Bangsar, I'm usually downstairs, where the usual mamak fare is served. I always knew that they serve banana leaf rice (BLR) upstairs, but it never occurred to me to try it out. In my book, banana leaf rice is something you don't eat alone... unless you want to drown your sorrows :P

I tagged along with a friend who also wanted to have a go at it. Seating upstairs is noticeably better than downstairs and it's also air-conditioned, so it's not too bad. By the time we got there it was nearly 2 p.m. and (I guess) the worst of the lunch rush has past and we got a table by the window - the picture came out better because of the extra natural light once the curtain was drawn.

I had heard and read (on the Interwebs, natch) that here you get more than the usual 3 vegetarian sides with the rice, so I tried just about everything. As for the gravy, it was not just your chicken-and-fish-curry or dhal, but there's also mutton and crab curry to choose from. I quickly jumped at the crab curry, but the guy had already poured it all over the rice before I could stop him (I like my curries on the side and I hate soggy rice).

♨ The crab curry (I can't believe I've not had it before) was spicy... at least it's edible.

♨ Papadam was HUGE... bigger than those you'd find elsewhere.

♨ At least they still use actual banana leaves here

♨ Fried bitter gourd was still warm, and you could taste the slight bitterness.

The basic banana leaf rice set is RM7, which is not cheap but worth it when you consider the variety and taste. We also got a plate of fried squid (RM 8) and glad no one ordered more because the basic BLR alone was pretty filling.

Conclusion: Must try. 'Nuff said. 

Week 8, 2012

Misplaced my wallet. Can't find it anywhere, even after retracing my steps in both KL and PJ (lucky I didn't go any further). Already called to cancel the ATM and debit cards, made the police report (for the IC), etc as a precaution. I really do miss my actual wallet because it cost me more than what was in it. I've had a lot of near-panic moments over the years when I can't find it and I think my luck finally ran out. I'm hoping it turns up soon (for all I know it could be someplace I had never thought to look), but at the same time.... Sigh.

• Saw Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance at the second home.
• Finished the Chinese medicine from the weekend. The occasional urge to cough is there, but definitely way better than it was last month. Ask anyone.
• Local Pizza Hut store (or PHD, as it's now known :P) had a promo where selected regular-sized pizzas were going for half price, but only if you walk in and take away. Entire household managed to finish off three of them. 

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

I don't know why I wanted to see Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance besides being brain-washed by Craig Ferguson every time he goes on a "Ghost Rider is a badass" tangent on his show ever since the first one, and the constant reminder that is his robot skeleton sidekick Geoff Peterson.

The plot is pretty standard: it's basically him trying to avert the transfer of the Devil's essence into a younger vessel. 

Here's what I did like about the movie:

• The flaming skull not burning as clean as it did in the first movie
• Anthony Head's "blink and you miss it" appearance early in the movie
• Informative segues for the yokels like me that don't read the comic
• Random vehicles flaming up because the Rider took over, like the huge crane and the truck in the last third. I would like to see that happen to a bicycle or a tuk-tuk :P

What I did not care for:

• The blatantly obvious scenes that was meant for the 3D version. 
• Idris Elba's Pepe Le Pew French accent. 

Ciaran Hinds in this movie reminds me of Stephen Fry from A Bit of Fry & Laurie days.

I found it entertaining enough, but man, was I glad I DID NOT watch this is 3D. This is a popcorn movie in the truest sense of the term.

I don't know if this means there'll be a THIRD movie... *shudder*

Shit Malaysian Bloggers Say (VIDEO)

Finally got round to watching this video just now (as it was in my YouTube viewing history, but I saw it sans audio the first time), so hilarious.

I like to think that not ALL local bloggers are that obnoxious (but what do I know - I have friends that occasionally blog, but no blogger I could sincerely call a friend), but I'm sure there must be some grain of truth in it, am I right? I only find it funny because I don't really say these things myself as a blogger: I show up, thank them for the swag, take everything in, take pictures, leave, and blog about it as soon as I can. 

I already don't get that many event invitations, but the few that I do get, I accept for the adventure. One can never have enough fodder.

It's hard for me as it is to bring non-bloggers to a blogger event, so I usually show up alone. And I'm not pals with most of the local bloggers (who really are busy posing for pictures with each other at events) - I'm that wallflower you see at events.

Week 7, 2012

• Sibling's car in the workshop for a couple of days. Light moment was when we saw the car logo installed at a wrong angle and waiting for them to correct it. 
• Saw the return of Stephen Fry to the BAFTAs instead of the Grammys on Fox Movies Premium Monday night. It was worth it.
• Saw The Iron Lady. Go to see Ms Streep, not for the writing.
• Malaysia IT Fair - meh.
• Returned to Nirvana Maju for banana leaf lunch. 
• Bought and received Cranberries concert ticket - whee!
• Visited a Chinese medical practitioner on Saturday.
• Checked out the swap party at The Bee. Slim pickings, but I got some stuff for the three items I brought. Also had coffee and a nice slice of chilled Mars Bar cheesecake while I was there.
• Finally gone back to Empire since before the ill-fated explosion...
• Found 3 Musketeers bars in Malaysia - yay!
• Got much needed haircut at the Cut N Go in Subang's Carrefour. The uncle who cut my hair was cutting hair on 5th Avenue, NYC for 21 years... allegedly.

First visit to the sinseh

After nearly eight weeks of the exhaustive cough by post-nasal drip, my mother has had it and brought us to see the Chinese medical practitioner (or sinseh, in local parlance) in PJ Old Town this morning. I couldn't disagree with her and went along; the sibling, kicking and screaming like a little boy since he's already made "plans" (which was to stay home and work on the computer - not exactly plans you can't put off a little while).

When we got there, it turns out that his hours are from 2 - 5 p.m. on Saturdays and that we should call ahead to see if he's in. Not willing to go home and back again, we went on a walking tour of the place and had lunch at a nearby coffee shop before trying our luck again.

As the only one who could speak any decent Mandarin or Cantonese, I went first with my mum. He asked personal details, did the pulse thing, asked about my temper, symptoms, wrote a whole bunch of illegible stuff on his pad (now I know the "doctor's handwriting" also happens in Eastern medicine as well), and went about putting the medicine together (lucky it's nothing one has to BOIL). Reminds me of the Potions part of Harry Potter. He told me what I can and can't eat.. After that it was the sibling's turn and I had to be there to interpret.

The bottle of Chinese medicine cost RM42, but my mum swears by how good the guy is [Her friend brought her there, who also helped translate]: she was cured by the time she finished HER bottle.

Oh well. Here's hoping.

First Ticketcharge online purchase experience

I went online Monday morning to Ticketcharge because they have a week long early bird/Valentine's promotion (15% discount on tickets, online and phone purchase only from 13 - 19 February) for The Cranberries concert happening in KL this coming April. I'm just glad that tickets weren't going crazy fast like I hear happen overseas: Coldplay tickets sold out in under 5 minutes, etc.

I can't remember if I've bought tickets to previous events sold through Ticketcharge (I probably have), but this is the first time I've ever bought a ticket on Ticketcharge's website. I know it's supposed to be convenient, but it's the other charges that kill me a little...

After going through the random seat selection (generated once you tell them how much you're willing to pay, of course) and referring to the seating plan, what irked me was finding out a little late in the buying process was them not taking debit card, which is understandable, but really... But after a call to them, I was told to try with my debit card anyway and call again if it doesn't work.

Fortunately for me, it worked with the Public Bank card and I got my ticket on Friday by courier (which was  "free" but I suspect that's what the RM10 handling fee was for because really, courier company can't work for free...).

While the 15% discount on tickets was not bad, but considering the

• RM1.50 internet transaction fee, and 
• RM10 handling fee

It's not much of a discount :P

But at least they're not charging me an unreasonable amount of money for them to send me a PDF that I print out myself with my own ink and paper... *damn you Ticketmaster*

PS. This is post #3300. Just had to mention it.

Related articles

• The Cranberries are coming to KL! (lifeasacynic.blogspot.com)

Chic Poise, Taman Tun [Groupon MY]

Finally redeemed the Groupon I bought a couple months ago for waxing at Chic Poise in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. For some reason (CNY, maybe?) there was a 2 week black out period where one couldn't make appointments - luckily Groupon had sent out emails about extending the redemption period in November or it would be a blood bath. Which worked for me because I couldn't redeem it sooner.

It's inside Posh! Nail Spa and is partitioned, so there's still some sense of privacy. I wonder if the nail salon patrons ever hear screaming from the other side of the wall...

It was quite the experience as my Cantonese was only about as good as the waxer's English and the small talk was... like that lah.

I had a busy morning prior and I found out the hard way that the Groupon only covers the front and one would have to pay RM15 extra to do the back as well. And you have to be on all fours when that happens. 

I think I personally don't get along with Berins blue wax used, and would just go to use up the Groupon. 

(within Posh! Nail Spa)

31, Lorong Dato Sulaiman 7,

Taman Tun Dr Ismail
60000 Kuala Lumpur 

019-328 5519