We got our hands on three gigantic Indonesian crabs a couple of days ago to celebrate Merdeka [Independence Day]. What is the best thing to do with crabs these large, do you think? Cook and eat them, of course!

You know, even though this blog is turning two years old in two days’ time, I have never blogged about food before, so let this be the first and may there be more to come. And with this post, I am starting a new category called Goodie Foodie.

Anyway, so in the crabs went into our large wok and came out as this delicious dish of sweet, sour & spicy crabs! Isn’t it a wonder that such black crabs could turn orange?

Yummmmm ….are you salivating already?

Last evening only did I realise that we will be having a long weekend due to Merdeka [Independence Day] celebrations. I thought that staying home would be best to avoid the holiday crowd but if you are back home this weekend (and a non-Muslim) perhaps you would be interested to visit The World’s Largest Buddha Relics & Tibetan Antiques Cultural Exhibition Series in Ipoh, Perak.

This event is organized by the Menglembu Kadhampa Centre of Menglembu, Perak and is held over four days from 28th to 31st August, 2009 at SMJK (C) Perak Girls’ School. Admission is free and it is said that an auspicious gift would be given to the first one thousand visitors daily.

Some of the items exhibited include the sariras of Buddha and past Buddhist masters Kondonna, Maugallana, Purna, Svali, Sariputra and Arahat. Sariras are pearl-like remnants found after the cremation of these Buddhist masters, which are not found in ordinary people. Most of these items are labeled in Chinese so you will have to go and see for yourself as I’m banana!

Date: 28th - 30th August 2009
Time: 10am - 10pm

Date: 31st August, 2009
Time: 10am - 6pm

Venue: SMJK (C) Perak Girls’ School
Contact: 05-2826849 / 012-5069630 / 012-5060228

Naturally, a lot of photos were shot but I am only able to share a few here on my blog. And you know what? Hometown Hollywood superstar Bond Girl Datuk Michelle Yeoh was also spotted at the exhibition in the afternoon of the second day (29th August, 2009). If you do not know who Michelle Yeoh is, knock yourself on the head and go read up on her at http://www.michelleyeoh.info. Thanks also to Jane, webmistress of michelleyeoh.info, for explaining the exhibits to me.

For more photos of The World’s Largest Buddha Relics & Tibetan Antiques Cultural Exhibition, click HERE.

It’s frustrating that even though I have not stepped out of my house for the past 2.5 months because I have to care for Snoopy since he fell ill and became bedridden at the end of May, 2009, I keep spending money NON STOP. It would be understandable if one runs up expenses outside of the house but no, I can do that sitting at home.

First, Snoopy is running up bill after bill. I didn’t calculate exactly but it’s close to MYR1K a month just sustaining him, even in this condition. Heck, it’s way more than what I spend on myself in a month.

After my hard disk was damaged last week, and in the process, my pocket as well, the monitor of my family computer broke down. I was totally unsurprised since it is a really old monitor and I have been waiting for it to K.O. It’s just poor timing that it K.O.-ed NOW. I don’t want to spend more than necessary especially now when all I do the whole day is attend to Snoopy and play games on Facebook because I can’t concentrate long enough to put my thoughts together to work but oh, well, what to do but to change a new monitor. Without it, a computer is useless. LOL

As I have planned in case that monitor burns, I got myself a new screen and the one that I was using a 3.5 year old Samsung SyncMaster 793DF, a 17in CRT monitor, replaced the burnt one. Clever, huh?

I went scouting for an LCD through the phone and in the end, settled for Samsung SyncMaster 2043SW 20in Widescreen LCD. It was a choice I made against Acer, LG, BenQ and Philips. That’s Ipoh for you! But then I have been satisfied with Samsung monitors all these while so it was an easy decision to make.

There are, of course, LCDs larger than 20in but I see no point getting one when I use it for work. A larger one would be too wide and distracting and would make me lose focus. Right now, this screen is just right for me to view three web browsers at the same time. Yes, I have to view three, sometimes four web pages at the same time because of work. Besides, a larger screen may require a better graphic card and at this point, I can’t spare the time running up and down to the computer repair shop.

I am happy with my purchase. At MYR435, I have to be. LOL I understand that although PC Fair will be in Ipoh from 14th to 16th Aug, 2009 at Stadium Indera Mulia, LCDs will not be on sale there. I couldn’t wait that long, anyway. My friend, Terrence, says that it’s rare that I am happy with something, anything. I say, “HIS HEAD RARE LAH!” Hahaha!