Salmon tataki salad

I haven't been cooking anything astonishing lately with all the hustle and bustle of student life. But with Mid-Autumn festival just round the corner I was invited to cook for a close group of friends of mine.

Honestly, I'm not very good in preparing Asian dishes but I do plan to polish it since it will be embarrassing for a chinese not to. So the next best thing I could come up with was an asian fusion dish.

What's before your eyes is a simple light salad made with a few simple ingredients. It's basically salmon tataki (wanted tuna but it wasn't sashimi grade so I bought salmon instead) with wasabi tobiko cream fraiche sitting on snow sprout and radish with yuzu honey soy sauce.

Simple and light. :)

We all want to love and be loved in return.

Neither fame nor riches can propel a man towards one of life's greatest joy.

The road to the path requires kindness, contentment, optimism, humility, tolerance, empathy and ultimately the same love and devotion towards our God.

Let us win.

Operation Stitches

One of the weekly highlights of my busy uni life is spending time with kids at the Stitches center. Many of the kids there are from broken families who live in commissioned flats where the threat of drugs and gangs are as close as to you and your iPhone. These kids long for love and attention that they could hardly get, and we are here to provide some of that missing piece.

Every Saturday we round kids up from nearby suburbs such as Collingwood and Fritzroy and bring them over to our center where it is all fun and games. The place is run by two amazing people, Chris and Patrick Templeton, whose heart and soul are all out for the kids.

It gives me great joy to see the kids having loads of fun and who are worry free. One of the biggest inspiration for me to be involved is when past Stitches kids who are now successful working adults share on how Operation Stitches changed the course of their lives! Truly amazing testaments and with this in mind I want to be with the team of people who can make a significant impact in these wonderful kids.

Here are some pics during the last few Super Saturdays we had.

We hope we can better equip these wonderful kids with virtue and God so that they know what to stand for later in life, for we all may meet the con that we call 'love'.

Update Time!

It's been ages since I've last updated my wall of thoughts ay?

I do have my excuses tho, mind me. :P

Life's been really good here in Melbourne, winter is about to end and I can't wait for Spring! 

I'm currently 90 kilos now (chubby boy again mum :D), but will be on my cutting phase till end of November with my good mate Nathan.

On another note I've just rearranged the room so that I have more space to study at home (funny!). Got a loft bed off Gumtree but I forgot the measurements of it all. 

Here's a photo of it.

The distance of the ceiling to my face is about 25cm but all's good once you know not to bump your head or feet while getting out of bad. Hahaha!

Dang, it's 10:30 already... gotta get up early tomorrow for site visit. More soon, thanks for reading.

Unbound

Life has indeed been good.
This I thank you.

China's notorious 'Dying Rooms'

Really breaks my heart to see kids being abandoned. God I pray that these beautiful souls would someone become successful in life. I truly appreciate the resources and love my family provide, thank you Mum and Dad.

Ming

With hope, there will always be a brighter tomorrow

Barcraft Melbourne for GSL Code S Finals 2012

Today marked the milestone in life for my nerd side because today was my first ever Barcraft gathering! The scene was huge with about 150 or so attendees at the Exchange Hotel where the GSL Code S was broadcast. You know it'll be super when you and a hundred or so people who love Starcraft gather for drinks while the competition unfolds.

Spotlight: Bon Iver

I've got a thing for indie music. May it be indie rock, indie folk, indie pop, they are all so so good.
I came across a song by Bon Iver a few years ago and let's just say... I got hooked.

It's the kind of music where you want to put on your cans or hi fi and crank it up loud.

With the blend of their unique voice and wide array of orchestral instruments, to me they are one of the bands I would give money to watch.

Here are two vids from YouTube of Bon Iver, in which both are magical to the ear.

Enjoy. :)

Quick Update!

Arrived in Melbourne safely.

Weather's been really beautiful sitting around 16-18C with some clouds overhead.

Great to be back although I do miss my family back in KK.

Just gonna post a few pictures for Saturday night's dinner and chill out time.

Happy Valentine's Day!

From 9gag.com by LoadingArtist.com

Bye K, Hello Melbourne.

Time for the little bird to leave the nest again and back to Melbourne I fly.

Yet again my time here in KK is limited, just like every year before it.

I didn't do much this year. Just some reunions, a little pig out, CNY... just what students normally do during their semester breaks although I did try to refresh my piano skills this time round.

Thank goodness mum forced me to learn piano which helped me loads at the theoretical side of music but now I regret stopping at Grade 3. :(

Nevertheless, Grade 3 piano knowledge still allowed me to understand and play most piano pieces like 100 Years, Haru Haru, Because I'm a girl and Someone Like You.

I do hope, with time and effort, I could play song covers like this girl.

Any who... Yesterday, I decided to visit and stay at my grandparent's place for a day.

I know I'm always pampered and be crowned as the little prince in their eyes, since my brother and I are the only bearers left of the Hong legacy (DAMN SON!).

Yi and I grew up in my grandparent's place and although the house is old, wonderful memories of the past are still preserved within these brick walls. Here are just a few photos I managed to snap while I was there.

Great grandpa.

Grandpa

 Dad and his bell bottom pants and feminine hair style.

Yi and I

 Grandma and Wey

Grandpa, Wey and I

It hurts to see your loved ones getting older as years go by but I'm really grateful that they are still around. Talking to them and listening to the stories of their life and struggles during the Chinese Civil War, it gives me great joy to know about my heritage and the history of my grandparents.

I'm truly blessed with those who are around me, friends and family alike.
And this is just the few that I thank the Lord for.

:)

Upcoming shows! Summer 2012

To me, a new year means awesome crap loads of television series and movies to watch!

I'm not a hardcore media flick junkie, but I watch enough to know what's new and out.

And for those who are in the 'stone age' of shows... let me be your guide. ;)

Upcoming shows this Summer!

1. Game of Thrones (Season 2)

If you're a fantasy kinda guy who loves LoTR, this series is just for you! It's packed with all the gothic elements found in LoTR with characters who you'll fall in love with and others hate. And yes, we know Joffrey is a giant d*ck who should have his head on the pike instead.

Oh yes, this one gives me nerd chills all over.

Anticipation score: 5/5

2. The Descendants
I like family movies. If you add George Clooney and give it a sick twist, well... that's even better. It has quite a number of great reviews so fingers crossed on this one.

Anticipation score: 4/5



3. The Vow

I'm not a huge fan of chick flicks as this one seems to be. A few female friends told us guys we must watch this... and they swear by it even though the movie is not out yet. (This tends to be the case for most girls regarding chick flicks) The trailer seems alright at first not until the part where they start doing emo one-liners whilst some sad romantic-ish track that plays in the background... makes my heart feel funny. I freaking hate that feeling.

Anticipation score: 3.5/5



4. Suits (Season 2)
Lawyers. They always seem so elegant, sophisticated, intellectual and maybe that's why I'm hooked on this series. Or maybe it's the ever twisting plot and growing depth of the characters that got me addicted to it. Either way it's a great show and I can't wait for season 2. :D

Anticipation score: 4/5

Sharing the SNSD love. :)

To those who have stumbled upon this blog while searching 'SNSD' via the Google Engine,

kudos to you.

You know... it's WINNING. >:)

2012: Hello Love.

Woah, 2011 just went by like a snap!

Hope all of you did join in and celebrated the NY countdown with your friends and loved ones!

I was at Chocolate Factory and White Room with different groups of friends to celebrate the New Year.

The place was packed ASS.

2011 has been a great year for me with loads of ups and a few small lows.

I'm just really grateful to have awesome friends and families to spend the days of 2011 with.

This is roughly how my year went by.

Jan - Feb: Reunions and parties

Kian Kok S1A class mates

DSF Primary 6 Jasmine class mates

IS Science Batch of 2008

 March - June: Back to uni, outings and work

 Picnic @ Carlton Gardens

  The Script Concert @ Festive Hall

 Work @ Panned Pizza

Angela Lu's 20th Birthday 

July: Winter Break

Went North-West to chill at the Rover Beach 

Went to free climb @ the Grampians which was absolutely majestic

Gatherings here and there before the start of 2nd semester 

 David Choi's Concert with the Jayslee Twins

August - November: Bersig 2.0 and moar partying

 Attended Bersih 2.0 rally @ Federation Square

Exam prep with a few mates at the Engineering Lab

 Sing K, clubbing and what not... exam's over anyway. :)

Surprise birthday party by the gang. Best mates as always. :D

December: Back to Malaysia

Melbourne's largest hailstorm in 2011 

Back to good ol' Kay Kay...

 ... and the food, friends and family.

Let the cycle continue?

We shall see...

God bless.

Ming