Mom's big 5-0

Last month, my dearest mom turned 50. Hence, my sis & I decided to throw her a small celebration at the Mandarin Grill in Mandarin Oriental Hotel next to KLCC. Mandarin Grill is very famous for their exquisite food and sure enough they lived up to their reviews. Wine was good, service was excellent and if you get a side table (through advance booking), you'll get a glimpse of the city as well.

An assortment of bread

A tasting plate for appetizer

Lamb chop

Burger

Lobster

Their signature grill meat

NB: All portions are generally very small except for the grill meats where there is a minimum weight you have to order. 

My smart sis also arranged for a saxophonist from the hotel to come when we brought the surprise cake to my mom. Staff are very very helpful, they helped us hide the presents and cake when we got there and almost everything went as planned. 

Carrot cake with macarons

E & I bought the cake from Whisk. It is the most delicious carrot cake I've ever tasted in my life. It has minimal sugar and is a healthier option especially after a very heavy meal. But need not worry sugar lovers cause Whisk serves red velvet cakes and cupcakes as well. Whisk is a family business in Empire Shopping Centre and I would recommend everybody to pay them a visit.

Anyway, after the cake and the bottles of red wines and the recall of childhood stories we of course had to snap photos of this happy moment so here goes:

xoxo

Bits of Egypt

First of all, let me apologize for my absence. It had been a very hectic past two months. From unpacking everything back into my room in KL to helping out a friend's wedding to annual check ups to birthdays to catching up with friends; now I finally have a little room to breathe as things had cooled down a little. I will try to make it a point to blog more often especially since now I'm neither a student nor an employee so I don't really know what category I am under. :S But for now, let me enjoy my sleep ins till 4 or 5 pm and it's so wonderful to have all my belongings under one roof again.

Anyway, my last trip before returning home was EGYPT (: I'm so glad that I've finally conquered the Africa continent though of course Egypt is nothing close to the poverty in South Africa. I was in the capital, Cairo for a week which was a huge mistake cause 7 days is way too long for just Cairo and 7 days is way too short to travel down south to Lukshar where there are many interesting sites. I think 5 days in Cairo is more than sufficient if anyone is planning a trip there.

To do in Egypt:


1 Visit the papyrus museum

The papyrus leaf 

We went to the papyrus museum cause apparently it was invented by an Egpytian. But there's a huge controversy cause the Chinese are saying they invented paper from papyrus leaves first so who knows?!?

Drawings on real papyrus paper

You can buy a drawing from the museum like me if you want and get conned. If not head to the local bazaar and you can get it for perhaps one tenth of the price offered in the museum. It's everywhere but don't be fooled into buying drawings on banana leaves instead!

2 Hire a camel & a tour guide

Camels are much taller than horses which I never knew about. On TV, they look pretty stout to me but if you're afraid of heights you better get a horse or even better a horse drawn carriage which provides a lil shade. But if you want the full on experience get a camel (:

3 Pay tribute to the Great Pyramid in Giza

It's situated in the biggest desert in the world so you really wanna bring shades, hats/caps, sun block, WATER, camera to capture the heat and perhaps wear proper shoes. I wore sandals and the sand was burning hot so it's not advisable. 

4 Go to Coptic Cairo

It's a little Christian city which has many churches and gardens and of course cemeteries.

6 Climb the little pyramid

E & P climbing the little pyramid

Since I'm a law abiding citizen (we're not allowed to touch the stones what more climb?), I decided to sit in the shade and replenish my body cells with water. E & P climbed a few steps just to snap a photo but I decided it's ok to snap a photo at the foot of the pyramid as well. :P

7 Sleep in a real tomb

That is a REAL firaun's tomb P was lying in. She is absolutely mad. All treasures are obviously gone now, it's just an empty rectangular box. 

8 Go to Islamic Cairo

It's filled with mosques and museums. There's also a stunning view at the top cause it's on a hill and it overlooks Cairo.

9 Visit the king's and queen's tombs

Be prepared to "hike" if you want to visit all the tombs. 

Tips:

- the weather was freaking 48 degrees when I was there so be PREPARED. Don't get dehydrated or you'll end up with a fever.

- be careful of where you eat or you'll end up with a diarrhea like me 

- girls need to wrap up even though it's so hot cause every guy will just stare at you. Women in Egypt are mostly Muslim and they're covered head to toe so you can understand why.

- you MUST negotiate with cab drivers cause EVERYONE will try to con you in Egypt, even the security guards in front of our hotel!!!

- I won't recommend anyone to be out ALL day cause you'll most likely get a heat stroke. Get up early and visit sites, you should be in the hotel swimming everyday to cool your body down

Anyway, I read in the papers that Egypt is closing entries to the Great Pyramid from October onwards to reduce vandalism and for repair works. If they get visitors like E & P who tried to scale the pyramids, touch the tombs & carvings no wonder they need to close it for restoration.

If you want any more details you can email me (: Hope everyone's summer is going just the way they want it to! 

Lotsa love from KL xoxo