My Little Log Book

Every fitness site I have come across in the past few days seems to be concentrating on advise to keep the holidays calories down. Blogs like "How to have a calorie free holiday" or "holiday diets" to tips on "Holiday Eating Do's and Don'ts" are rampant online these days. Why? I mean I have been at it throughout the year, swimming, gymming, dieting, running...cant you just leave me alone these last few days of the year? Starting the new year, I know I will have to go at it again - so just sh$$#@ off. So what have I had these last few days? Plates of Biriyani (ummmm) Cuttack Chaat (an awesome mix) Samosas Gujrati Mixture (funnily, a speciality of Cuttack) Dahibara Aloodam Gupchup Avada and loads of true oriya home cooked food like bhaja, khatta, mahura, santula Who cares about the scales? Unfortunately like all good things in life this culinary extravagance has to come to an end soon - when I leave home after the kids holidays:-( ...and back to chec...

The famous table top rock at the James Bond Island, phuket, where Man With the Golden Gun was picturised.

I am preparing to run a race the coming Sunday. So many doubts and questions arise. I started hitting the gym seriously just a couple of months back. I was just a lazy lounging mom - before deciding to do something about my fitness. After roughly 7-8 weeks of gymming intermittently - I really do not know whether I am fit enough to do a 10 km - 10 kms of carrying my considerable body weight early in the morning with thousands of determined runners at a jogging pace. Today I have been surfing for last minute preparations. I had some rough idea of starving myself the next 2-3 days to get my body weight down an extra kg or two - so as to run better. That seems to be a no no. All advise seem to suggest to eat proper (and not to think about weight now). The best I have run so far has been 3 odd kms on the treadmill at a stretch. That seemed to me an achievement last week! 10 kms? Will I cramp up mid stretch and an ambulance need be called. I am truly getting nervous! My calf and knee muscles...

Here are some common Bahasa Malaya words one needs to know when one goes shopping at the grocer. Refined Wheat Flour - Tepung Gandum Sugar - Gula Salt - Garam Rice Powder - Tepung Beras Egg - Telur Fish - Ikan Chicken - Ayam Milk - Susu Coconut Milk - Santan Banana - Pisang Water - Air (pronounced a-eer) Pepper - Lada Chilli - Cili (C in Bahasa is pronounced as "Ch") Bun Kosong - Plain Bun Limah Ais - Ice Lemon drink Tea - Teh Tea with milk - Teh Tarik Coffee - Kopi If you are looking at local fruits be sure to buy "rambutan" and taste some Durian. Durian is a jackfruit like fruit that has got a distinctive odour and is an acquired taste. You can start with the peeled pieces available at the supermarket. Rambutan has a prickly cover and and a sweet sweet interior. Logan, Mangosteen and Dragon fruits are some other tropical fruits plentily available. (Disclaimer - I am writing this blog as I learn Bahasa Melayu from what I se...

Here are ten Malaysian phrases that is part of one's everyday life here. It mostly includes greetings to people. Selamat Datang - Welcome - This is very common on sign posts as you enter a city or the country. the Malaysians are very hospitable and I know you will feel truly welcomed! Terima Kasih - Thank You Apa Khabar? - What is the news? Sila Masuk - Please Come In Jumpa Lagi - See You Again - You again encounter this phrase on the road. Selamat Pagi - Good Morning Maafkan Saya - Excuse Me; Beg Your Pardon Dari Mana? - Where Are You From?; From where? Khabar Baik - I am fine Apa Nama Anda? Nama Kau Apa? - What is Your Name? The answer to which will be "Nama Saya Mamamia" - or my name is Mamamia. I am really new to this language as I stay at Little India and have very little occasion to converse in Bahasa. So Maafkan Saya and please correct me anywhere you feel necessary!

I just came across a very interesting website. The site www.dreamforth.com is a free online dreams analysis website. How does it work? Dream Dictionary - The site has a dream dictionary where you find different terms and objects alphabetically and you can find what it means to dream of them. Otherwise enter your dream and click interpret to find out what it implies. Suppose you have dreamed of the sea. Find out what it means here at Dreamforth.com http://www.dreamforth.com/search.php?query=sea&type=dreams&page=1 Don't know if it works or not or how much of the subconscious one gets to understand from the interpretation. Often one wakes up from a ridiculous dream and wonders what it could really mean. This dictionary might help! In my opinion, its quite a lot of fun - if you dont take it seriously! My dreams are mostly long and protracted - nothing as simple as, for eg, a rose or the sea or goats - how does one interpret them? Maybe there are other sites out ther...

Here are some Malaysian words you will definitely encounter when travelling by road in the country. You will need to know them if you are self driving. Tunai - If you are at the toll gates and dont have a "Touch and Go" or Smart Tag - better proceed to the counter which says "Tunai" meaning Cash. Lebuhraya - Means a highway. Pusat Bandar - City Center Jalan - Road Awas - Beware Kecemasan - Emergency Simpang - Junction Selatan - South Utara - North jalan ditutup - Road Closed Berhenti = Stop Keluar - Exit Masuk - Entry Hentian Sebelah - Roadside stop or next stop persimpangan - Intersection or "next exit" signs Hope this helps!