Two Shoes, One Habit

You know your style is way too consistent when you accidentally buy the same pair of shoes, twice.

Same pattern, same colour scheme... and I didn’t even realise it until I got home and saw the older pair sitting quietly in my shoe rack.

The first one was bought over a year ago, and the most recent one just this week. Nasib baik there's a slight difference in shade, otherwise I might’ve just thought the shoes magically cleaned themselves and came back looking new.

Moral of the story? Maybe I should start checking my wardrobe before shopping. Or maybe I’ve just found my signature style — who knows?

Pineapple #11

 

Pineapple #11 from my backyard.

Tak pernah baja, takda special care… yet look at her now—queen of the garden!

Tak pernah pun mintak perhatian lebih, tapi membesar dengan sihat.

Kadang-kadang yang low maintenance tu lah paling menjadi.

Maybe dia stress-free, jauh dari drama pokok-pokok lain. Or maybe dia dengar podcast motivasi dari pokok jambu batu di sebelah. 

Apa-apa pun, syukur… rezeki dari belakang rumah, tak payah beli kat pasar. Simple joys like this is priceless.

Taipei Food and my disappointment

Ok, so here's the thing — I’ve only been to Taiwan once, and stayed just for a week. But as someone who loves breakfast, I left a little disappointed, especially when it came to their morning food.

Before the trip, I was expecting something iconic, something memorable that I could rave about. But after trying a variety of local breakfast options in Taipei, I found myself still searching for that one “wow” dish.

At one point, I even turned to ChatGPT and asked: What is a typical Taiwanese breakfast?

Here’s what came up:

• Dan Bing (蛋餅) – Egg crepe roll with optional fillings like ham, cheese, scallions, or tuna. I tried it. Meh. It didn’t do much for me.

• Shao Bing (燒餅) – A flaky sesame flatbread, sometimes stuffed with egg or fried dough.

• Youtiao (油條) – Fried dough stick, usually paired with warm soy milk. You can find better versions in Malaysia.

• Fan Tuan (飯糰) – Sticky rice rolls with all sorts of fillings — egg, pickled veggies, pork floss, and youtiao.

• Lu Rou Fan (滷肉飯) – Braised pork rice. I loved this one, but more as a lunch or dinner option.

What surprised me was that Oyster Mee Sua didn’t even make the list — that dish was delicious (maybe due to the Japanese influence in the ingredient). But I cannot be eating Oyster Mee Sua everyday, right?

Then there’s the famous Xiao Long Bao. Yes, Din Tai Fung nails it. The dumplings are delicate, flavorful, and everything you want them to be. But let’s be real — Xiao Long Bao is originally from China. So… what’s truly Taiwanese?

If I had to pick, I’d say Taiwan shines more in fusion food and snacks — like those the crispy donuts in Ximending (be ready to q for hours), oyster omelette, deep fried chicken chops or bubble tea (which, yes, is proudly Taiwanese, but isn’t the tapioca from Thailand or Indonesia?). Yes, their siao chi (小吃 – small eats) is something to shout about.

But if you're looking for rich, traditional Taiwanese-Chinese flavors or depth in classic cuisine , I think Malaysia has more authentic Chinese options available,

Of course, food is personal. Everyone has their own taste.

Still love Taiwan though — the people, the scenery, the night markets.

Dan Bing - no

Xing Fu Tang Bubble Tea - Yes

The famous Tian Tian Li Lu Rou Fan and Oyster Omelette - Yes

The famous Ay Chung Flour-rice Noodle or Oyster Mee Sua - Yes