coriander in pho

not a food blog

Author: Nindya

  • Sunday breakfast

    Sunday breakfast

    I’m starting Sunday (today) with a slightly posh breakfast at the Swood Coffeehouse, hahah. Ari has been watching some IG Reels of steakhouses and since we shared a same brain cell for the past 15 years, we decided to go here. Swood Coffeehouse is a part of Swood Smokehouse, with the latter’s specialty, smoked meat, being part of both’s menu repertoire. On our way here, I just realized I haven’t wrote anything about this place, despite Swood Smokehouse being our go-to for our smoked lamb ribs and beef briskets, so here it is.

    You know that saying, right, “find something that you enjoy, as it helps you get through everything.” In my case, it’s breakfast. Just like how Animal Crossing: New Horizons helped me went through the time when my son got hospitalized for three months in the middle of the pandemic, breakfasts helped me looking forward to the next day when I was in one of my lowest points. I can confidently say that my mindset is better now, and as a bonus point, breakfast is still the most important meal of the day.

    My favorite type of breakfast is the warm and savory ones. Hence, not a big fan of overnight oats or cold cuts for breakfast. Even with sandwiches, if it’s cold, I usually approach them with a mix of 30-seconds “uggggggghhhhhh” and a sense of defeat. Also, coffee. Coffee is a must. I’m not an aficionado in coffee, but I need my caffeine boost (whether I need to fix my bedtime and reduce my doomscrolling, that would be for another time of discussion).

    I ordered for Puntang Black Honey latte. It has this nice bittersweet scent and taste, which I believe from the black honey roasting process. Fun fact, you can also buy roasted coffee in packets from them. If you haven’t decided which ones to buy, you can check their samples.

    For the meal, Ari got himself a Special Morning Breakfast. Think… English breakfast (your regular call of eggs, beans, and sausages), and add a couple of smoked beef briskets.

    Add a bit of spicy BBQ sauce here

    I got myself the Smoked Brisket Mushroom omelette. It was, uh, big.

    This is a jolt of protein in the morning, because inside the omelette, you will see smoked beef brisket, mushrooms, and spinach.

    I took a couple of pictures from the menu, specifically for the breakfast section, in case you want to check out their prices.

    Their location is tucked away from Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, specifically, at Jalan Liew Weng Chee. You can check Google Maps for more info here.

  • “Fly (飞)” – ANU

    “Fly (飞)” – ANU

    I have been spending quite some time in Xiaohongshu (Red Note/Little Red Book), a China-based social media, and on one video, I heard this song (slowed and reverb), the video showing a view from a train going through the cold northern part of China. Someone asked on the comment section what song was this, and another kindly replied with the song title.

    The lyrics’ translation, from the Youtube comment:

    Fly. It's time you wish to fly.
    Fly. When you liberate from your own misfortune.
    At the top of mountain of hope for freedom.
    Fly now. Fly now. 

    Fly. If you wish to find that authentic consciousness, fly.
    If you wish to find that great primordial dream, fly.
    Fly. Fly now.
    If you don't fly, this lifetime will be wasted.

    (Chorus)
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.
    If you don't fly, this lifetime will be wasted.
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.
    If you don't fly, this lifetime will be wasted.
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.

    (Rap)
    Stretch our your own wings then!
    Carry out those amazing dreams then! 
    Go beyond the ocean of Samsara then!
    Fly to your place of joy & happiness.
    Then fly in search of that primordial consciousness.
    Fly~

    (Chorus)
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.
    If you don't fly, this lifetime will be wasted.
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.
    If you don't fly, this lifetime will be wasted.
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.

    Fly. It's time you wish to fly.
    Fly. Cross over that meaningless livelihood.
    After this, have faith in the amazing life force.
    Then fly. 

    Fly!
    If you wish to find that beautiful, radiant smile of your own, fly.
    If you wish to find that great nature of yours, fly.
    Fly. Fly.

    (Chorus)
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.
    If you don't fly, this lifetime will be wasted.
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.
    If you don't fly, this lifetime will be wasted.
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.

    (Rap)
    Liberate from your own misfortune.
    If you are pleased with your own self, fly.
    If you wish to find that authentic consciousness, fly.
    If you wish to find that primordial dream, fly!
    Having crossed the meaningless livelihood,
    trust the amazing life force and fly!

    (Chorus)
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.
    If you don't fly, this lifetime will be wasted.
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.
    If you don't fly, this lifetime will be wasted.
    If you don't fly, hope will be lost.

    Read more about ANU here: Tibet’s most popular song is by a hip-hop duo whose name means ‘youthism’

  • “The Mystery of the Blue Train” by Agatha Christie

    “The Mystery of the Blue Train” by Agatha Christie

    “And now, I need Agatha Christie.“

    I wrote, and said that, to myself when I closed the latest book that I read; a popular work of “murder mysteries” which somehow signed as horrors, and a confirmation that one should start writing on their personal space first before trying their hands to publish a publicly available book. Or choose a stricter editor.

    So! I have two more boxset of Agatha Christie’s works here:

    Each box consists of five novels. I then started with boxset Volume 1. In it, there are five titles: “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”, “The Murder on the Links”, “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”, “The Big Four”, and “The Mystery of the Blue Train”. I chose “The Mystery of the Blue Train” as a start because, uh, trains. While I’m not well-versed in trains and train engineering technically, trains have a soft spot in my heart. Midway in reading, I just realized that the first book that Agatha Christie published was “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”, so, well, oops. I’m going to read that one after this.

    Then suddenly Katherine had a very curious sensation. She felt that she was no longer sitting alone on the seat in the Casino gardens, but that someone was standing beside her, and that that someone was the dead woman, Ruth Kettering.

    — The Mystery of the Blue Train: A Warning

    I found it unusual to see a supranatural element, or any of it, on Agatha Christie’s works, but I genuinely appreciate her skills in putting together this fleeting otherworldly scene with a tight-knit explanations and logic. Perhaps, this is her way in showing Katherine’s keen senses, considering Katherine’s previous job as a companion for old ladies and her skill in listening to others, including her surroundings.

    That said, I first thought “The Mystery of the Blue Train” would be similar to “Murder on the Orient Express”; a draft, if you will, considering the latter was published in 1934, a good six years after “The Mystery of the Blue Train”. Perhaps, perhaps, the idea sprang from there, I guess?

    Throughout this novel, I got brought back-and-forth from Paris, the Calais-Mediterranée Express, and the French Riviera. Honestly, the only bad influence this book gave me was another itch to travel using luxury trains.

    Source: Exiled in Style

    I live in the tropics, so it’s not hard to imagine the mighty sunshine pounding down the white sands and azure seas, hahah! It makes me miss Langkawi, honestly.

    Back in 2022. I miss this view so much.

    I also love how the characters in the novel were introduced in such grace and without a rush. We saw them entering a building or enjoying lunch. I love how restrained and controlled the plot feels. In some scenes, we see the characters took their time. In others, we see furnitures flung around.

    I love how unhurried this scene is. After having myself reading Uketsu for three consecutive days, this is a much needed leisure walk.

    One thing that interests me was the introduction of the character Lenox Tamplin. Somehow, her character was portrayed as less than favorable here.

    The only other occupant of the balcony was her daughter, the Hon. Lenox Tamplin. A daughter such as Lenox was a sad thorn in Lady Tamplin’s side, a girl with no kind of tact, who actually looked older than her age, and whose peculiar sardonic form of humour was, to say the least of it, uncomfortable.

    I legit thought that her character would be on par with The Bennets women from Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”. Who can forgot how Mrs. Bennet and Bennet sisters (except for Elizabeth and Jane) behaved during the Netherfield Ball, amirite?

    So. Yeah. I was surprised to see how… pleasant Lenox is. She’s someone that I wouldn’t mind to spend summer in French Riviera, for sure! I love her jabs and quips whenever her mom starting to show her readiness to pounce at anyone with slightly thicker pockets around. Perhaps because I looked at her character from my 2026’s perspective, which made me feeling fond of her. Lenox, they would love you here in the future.

  • “Strange Buildings” (2023) by Uketsu

    “Strange Buildings” (2023) by Uketsu

    “It was clear you were so annoyed with the previous two books. Why are you still try reading this one?”

    “Each one of them is RM 70 at Kinokuniya. Times three, RM 210. That alone can buy all four of us decent meal at Salmon Dee Kap. I have to finish this.”

    — The conversation between Ari and I last night when he saw me entered Screaming Marmot mode yet again

    Okay, you know what, Imma just going to use a meme here.

    “Strange Buildings” consists of eleven seemingly-separated cases of, well, weird house/building plans that ended up interconnected as one huge case (hence the meme). It’s also titled as “Strange Houses #2”, so, yes, the conversationalist-style is back.

    That said, I noticed more improvements on this novel compared to “Strange Houses”. The scenes depicted were more detailed and the dialogues were not as choppy as before. “Strange Houses” felt like the first draft, and this novel felt like the said draft improved after good several sessions of feedback and meetings with the editor.

    In fact, my favorite part is this one, on the File 2: Nurturing Darkness.

    In “Strange Houses”, such off-hand ramblings like this wouldn’t appear anywhere on the novel. Everything was smack dab bam pow right-to-the-point, and that was one of the weaknesses of the novel; that’s why I was pleasantly surprised to see the dialogue between the Author and Iimura-san happened in this way for this novel. It gave such a breath of humanity on the character. It also makes the prose less juvenile.

    Now, I still wouldn’t give this novel a pass, mostly because I found that the whole thing was… … not my cup of tea. With the risk of spoiling the story, this novel is built around a cult and conspiracies, and I really can’t relate with it. I might can relate and enjoy it when I was younger, like, what, 20-25 years ago? I was neck-deep in conspiracy theories and Nostradamus at that time. Now? I found myself yelling while reading this on how these characters would be better off if they would just go book an appointment or two with psychologists or psychiatrists and save everyone’s day, much to the terrified looks from my husband and kids because it’s very very rare of them to see me reading book and being agitated.

    I also took offence on how this book wrote such abuse inflicted upon women, yet it ended up making the victims became responsible for the whole saga. Most of the times, I felt like this “macabre and thrilling!”-aspect of the book was written for shock value only. As “hook”. As “something to keep the audience engaged amidst the sea of algorithms”. There, I said it.

    When I wrote about “Strange Houses” a couple of days ago, I approached Uketsu’s background as a YouTuber with neutral feelings, but now I wonder if their job as a YouTuber made them feel that they have to spoon fed their readers all the time, or if that’s how their audience and fans are right now: Things need to be simplified with big letters and arrows. A lot of the situations on the book were perfectly okay in text, yet we kept getting “here’s a chart! Here’s a graphic to show you!” multiple times.

    Now that I have read the whole series (I hope), I would say that this series would suit well for young readers/teenagers, especially those who enjoyed mysteries, with a large caveat that if you are hoping stories with well-written characters and solid plot, this series would still have a long way to go. This series might also fare better had it been presented as manga series instead of text-based novels like this, which, they have done it. I would suggest you, whoever haven’t read this series in novel format, to just skip the novel and jump to the manga. At least that would lessen the awkwardness and weird pacing. Also, the author and their editor might want to ease off on the left hand business-thingy. At this point, I wonder what did their left hand has done to them, considering the weird laser-focus on this part of the body on two novels.

    And now, I need Agatha Christie.

  • “Strange Pictures” (2022) by Uketsu

    “Strange Pictures” (2022) by Uketsu

    Yes, the second book of the trio.

    Just like its siblings, I qualified this book as a quick read. I spent roughly 90 minutes reading this one, post-dinner. After two books, I found myself asking this question: Horror where?

    I… don’t understand why they marketed the trilogy as horrors. I’m a wimp, and I even found “Scary Movie” franchise still scary, so it took quite an undertaking on my end to brave myself getting this book (well, mostly due to the booktok had been hyping up this series) and I admit that I feel relieved that whew no ghost.

    In terms of writing technique, the second book is more fleshed out than the previous one, “Strange Houses”, for sure. We no longer see the conversationalist style and we got proper paragraphs and dialogues.

    And just like the title suggested, the main focus of this novel is the pictures that “mean more than what they seemed”.

    So! Do I find this book better than the other one? In some ways, yes. We see the story shaped better with more information and details, and I particularly loved the characters’ depth at the latter part of the book. It looked like Uketsu was “in the zone” when they wrote that part, because I could sense the emotions evoked from the pages and the struggles that each character is facing.

    However, I am still unable to get myself immersed in the mystery, simply because of how convoluted and weird it was, in a not-so-great way. Too many things going on and too many “clues and directions and misdirections”. Yes, murder mysteries and thrillers need to be tricky and convoluted, but this one was just… Too much, in a sense of too preachy. Instead of having the readers actively joining into the case, this book feels like asking for the readers to take the sideline and be a passive spectator.

    Now, speaking about misdirections, remember how I asked for red herrings on my previous post because we the readers need some misdirections for the grand twists? I wonder if Uketsu attempted to do this on this book. Ironically, instead of a proper red herring, it was… “even if that thing was not there, the story can still progressing nicely.” Especially on the chapter on the apartment building picture. It was… WHY is that picture even there with such weird drama surrounding it? The pictures used as the center of mystery feel so gimmicky and forced. It feels trying too hard to be smart, but ended up causing confusion and a lot more “uketsu strange pictures explained” search keywords on Reddit. I legit turned into the Screaming Marmot Meme mid-reading. I was that frustrated.

    Also, the words. I don’t know if it’s because this novel is a translated work, but the words used are so… simple. It was painfully simple, it felt juvenile. I’m starting to think this is Uketsu’s style: Juvenile readers. In a much sinister approach, I genuinely feel that this series is like a first-draft-but-publish-it-at-all-cost, and honestly, I feel it’s an insult to the readers and those who genuinely enjoying horrors, thrillers, and murder mysteries. I don’t know what happened with Uketsu, their publisher, and the marketing in general, but I daresay that this kind of writing might be better if it’s developed on personal level at first; such as, blog, AO3, Wattpad, a series of Threads posts, whatever. As the time goes by, the story could be built better, received feedback properly real-time, and general improvements on the technique and prose. On this current level, I personally would say that this is a good book for young/teenager readers.

    Writing this makes me wonder if I should start incorporating meme to sum up my whole opinions and thoughts about a book.

    Anyway. Next one, the last one I hope, “Strange Buildings”. Anyway, TIL that “Strange Houses” and “Strange Buildings” are the whole series (“Strange Buildings” as “Strange Houses #2”). “Strange Buildings” just recently published, so hopefully it’s better than the previous two.

  • string lights on a book

    Seeing the person behind the piece

    It seems like for this type of person, the human being behind it doesn’t count at all. Every “content” someone puts out is a meme; further ammo to use to further their view on their own situation, or as self-promotion on their own internet presences. The source is forgettable and irrelevant, because in 5 minutes, they’ll find the next thing to consume. Single use entertainment. It’s just words written by someone else to take into their mouth and spit at the feed.

    — Ava — seeing the person behind the piece

  • “Strange Houses” (2021) by Uketsu

    “Strange Houses” (2021) by Uketsu

    This book, “Strange Houses”, is a part of a trilogy: Strange Houses, Strange Pictures, and Strange Buildings. I noticed that the “Strange Houses” book has been having more popularity than the other two, at least in Kinokuniya Suria KLCC, which perhaps due to this title was the debut title of the writer, Uketsu.

    Uketsu is a writer, singer, and YouTube persona of unknown identity. They usually show themselves in black clothing with a white papier-mâché mask and have their voice changed. They usually talk about horrors and mysteries on their YouTube channel, so them writing thriller and mystery novels would be on point.

    I still have a really limited experiences and views of Japanese thrillers and mystery literatures. So far, I have been reading the works by Hisashi Kashiwai (The Kamogawa Food Detective), Soji Shimada (The Tokyo Zodiac Murders), and Keigo Higashino (Newcomer). Hence, I wouldn’t say that J-mystery genre has always have a very specific style (I mean, I obviously need to read more to say that!), but I have been noticing how Japanese authors for this genre have been really good in building the suspense and eerie feelings. From what I see here, these Japanese works are layered in such a way that something as mundane in one’s daily life as eating a takeout soba would be followed by an in-depth discussion or surprising findings. I wonder if this is because Japan has honne and tatemae culture: What you see on the surface is rarely the truth. That kind of “you might not realize it yet…”-feeling between the pages rests uncomfortably in your mind.

    I also found Uketsu’s way in writing interesting. Instead of using paragraphs or regular dialogues, it feels like reading a script as it’s using conversational-style.

    As someone who enjoys details and descriptive language, this work feels… quick. In every sense. The good side, it makes this book a quick read. This conversationalist style reminds me of comics/manga, and I wonder if Uketsu is using this kind of style because their background as a YouTuber gives them a good understanding on how to keep their audience stays focused.

    Throughout this novel, you would see the diagram of the houses in question, and I feel that it’s such a nice touch to have as it hammers down the puzzle aspect of this novel.

    Now, about the plot/story. Was it bad? Not really, no. But the whole thing felt like being forced upon in such “solemn and ceremonial seriousness” and we, the readers, have to follow through. The plot felt “convenient”, quick for the sake of being quick, and there was not a lot of thinking going on in the side of the readers. It was all “a room without windows! Murder room!” or “the child did it! Obviously!” I mean, I got multiple theories in my head, thanks to CSI and Law & Order series, and perhaps we could have red herrings? Please, sir, may I have a crumb of red herrings? I’m clanking my imaginary empty tin can here for a couple more red herrings because WE NEED THE TWISTS AND TURNS FOR GOD SAKE.

    The half part of the novel leading to the end got even more rushed with sudden mentions of dozens other characters, which reminds me of C-dramas where suddenly all other characters appeared by the end of the series. Such situation, ironically, made the latter part of the novel seemingly underwhelming because instead of actually staying on the course, I found myself went, “eh? Who’s this again?”

    NOW! The resolution. I admit, I’m not a huge fan of it. Let’s just say that by the point we learned about the motives, I had to pull my eyes up from the book, look at the ceilings, and muttered a loud, “what?!”

    My reaction. Honest to God, this was my reaction.

    This whole work, dare I say, reminds me of “The Kindaichi Case Files” manga. Creepy? Check. Eerie? Check. Guessing-games which, conveniently, turned out to be true all the time? Check. Slightly outlandish? Double checks. Also, I can’t believe I’m going to say or write this as this would be so offensive, coming from someone whose comfort movie is Tom Hanks “Da Vinci Code” but here we go, juvenile minds would love this work as it has a lot of glitz and glams (“oooo! Mysterious rooms!”, “creepy guy!”) but that’s it. At least that’s what I feel about “The Kindaichi Case Files” right now. It was great when I read them back in my high school era, but I might find them cringey now.

    I still have two more books from Uketsu. Let’s see how it goes later. Some folks said that “Strange Pictures” is a tad better.

  • “Solitary Gourmet” on Youtube

    “Solitary Gourmet” on Youtube

    Last night, I scrolled on my YouTube app to find something to watch (I have been working on spending more time at long-form media instead of quick dopamine hits/doomscrolling) when I found that TV Tokyo has been uploading full episodes of “Solitary Gourmet” on YouTube. This series is one of my favorites, and I mentioned it once on this blog as one of the recommendations.

    I used to watch this series back in Indonesia on the WakuWaku Japan channel. That channel, alongside NHK World, was one of my favorites, and I used to watch it while having lunch with Wira when he was still a baby, hahah.

    On YouTube, you can choose to have the English-dubbed dialogue or the original Japanese language and have the Closed Captioning (CC) feature active and set to English, which, I did the latter. I always feel that watching series with its original language is the way to go as the dialogue and expressions conveyed better.

    However, I must inform you that with all other Japanese works, there’s always a catch — and I really don’t understand why they keep doing this: For international viewers, only the first season is available. For some reason, videos from other seasons are hidden.

    Why I said, “– they keep doing this”, is because historically, J-entertainment has been making it hard for itself to open up to the international market. Back when I was still in uni, it was always either you buy original music CDs online from Taiwan or China at an exorbitant price, or go to some “music stores” in some dingy alleys in Jakarta selling CD music with a sign “kualitas ori” (“original quality”) written on it. Things have been much better now, yes, but it still has its own hurdles. I’m honestly hoping that Netflix would take this series, though. I mean, it’s like the last cry for help since I mentioned Netflix.

  • Back to baking!

    Back to baking!

    I used to bake a lot. Despite my usual protests and grievances about baking, as baking is a precise art whereas cooking is a whole YOLO approach, I used to bake because I felt like we could always have more spinach quiche and chewy chocolate cookies in the world. That said, I stopped baking back in 2019, “coincidentally” with the time I started my job at Automattic, since the job occupied most of my time and energy.

    Fast forward to 2026, now I have a teenager and a pre-teen in the house, and anyone with teenagers growing up would know that the concept of the digestive system is nonexistent for them, as their whole being seems to consist of multiple black holes of the galaxies. RIP our grocery shopping budget. Hence: Baking. Homecooked meals and snacks.

    I (re)started with the easy ones: Peach cobbler.

    The recipe was from Khairul Aming, a Malaysian food content creator and businessperson. He is really famous in Malaysia with his “30 Hari 30 Resepi” (Thirty Days, Thirty Recipes) during Ramadan, and this one, peach cobbler, is from this year’s series: Peach Cobbler Resepi Mudah untuk Moreh.

    I personally love this recipe because it’s pretty easy and you don’t have to be super precise in measurement. It’s also quite forgiving in a sense that you can use canned peaches and still get a really nice dessert afterwards. Most of the ingredients mentioned are easy to be found in Malaysian and Indonesian supermarkets, too.

    Next would be Betty Crocker’s chocolate chip cookie premix. Premix, because I initially bought it for the kids’ previous term break so Rey could have some activities at home, but the break passed by with the premix package still sitting nicely in our pantry. While the premix helped with make things waaaaay easier, it reminds me of why I am not super favorable to chocolate chocolate (yes, two “chocolates”) chip cookies. Reason being: It’s hard for me to see whether the cookies are ready or not.

    Thankfully, my kids didn’t really complain much about the cookies. They still managed to polish off the cookies in no time as their after-school snack.

    And just yesterday, I baked my own chocolate chip cookies. The recipe is from Sally’s Baking: Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies. Chewy chocolate chip cookies are our favorite, and this recipe is the recipe I have been holding on to for years.

    My goal with the cookies is to have them as “snack of the week”, but since I just saw Rey finish a whole small jar of cookies in one go for breakfast (we got like three-ish jars of cookies), I honestly doubt that the cookies would manage to get through this weekend. I do have a plan to bake sticky date pudding, though!