E-mail from the IT department this morning:

Dear All,

We have received news that this morning, a bunch of virus(es) had infected some of the workstations in different countries.

A new variant of the UPS Trojan virus (http://blog.mxlab.be/2008/07/21/ups-tracking-number-trojan-new-variant/) is being widely sent by email and it has passed thru all our levels of Anti-Virus (McAffee and Symantec).  

To avoid the above crisis, PLEASE DO NOT open any email that contains the words “UPS tracking number” or any other attachment (ZIP, EXE, RAR or etc) that send by unknown recepient.

In this entry, my strategy is to make you salivate first with the nice display of food I have here, and then you can drool over gorgeous ladies from the recent Estee Lauder Model Search.

Sis and I enjoyed a sumptuous lunch before heading to the concourse of KLCC to witness this year’s model search. We went to The Apartment.

I love their concept of clipboard, it’s really cute.

They had book shelves all around for people to read and feel relaxed.

“The other side of the looking glass.”

Vanity shot - quick update on braces. My teeth’s being brought close together and my jaw seems to be getting smaller. My chin’s getting sharper, resulting in a skinnier looking Kim whereas my elsewhere seem to be putting on weight! Aiyoh.. how la…

I rather have my sis’s sexy square jaw. Full of character.

I tell you….. I’m still salivating as I’m looking at this right now. Linguine with pesto (potatoes and asparagus).

Chilli pasta.

Fish and mashed potatoes.

Salted spinach and garlic (side dish)

My modified Oxford shoes from London, bought during my last trip. I love them so much.

Of course, the part you’ve been waiting for…

Estee Lauder Model Search

I personally prefer Mid Valley’s concourse because it’s much wider that this one (KLCC). The VIP area was quite crammed up with the big stage-do.

Mr. Joey G introduced the lovely ladies.

The models. They looked absolutely stunning. All the models were made to do one round of catwalk introduction, one-by-one. There were two blowing fans on both sides of the stage. Its purpose was to give the ladies that extra “supermodel-X-factor effect” with the hair blowing and all that. Most used it to their advantage and needless to say, some misused the fan. One full circle swing of the head….two full circle swing of the head…and that dagger stare! Somemore rambut panjang-panjang swing all the way until hair also melekat kat lipgloss. The rest of us spectators instantly went, “WHOAAAAAAA!!! HOLD IT MISS!!!” while some people went, “Way to go girl!” gave the rest of us a shudder down the spine. That’s what you call overdoing it.

There were two categories - Cleo Cosmo (younger ladies) and Women’s Weekly (more mature ladies - MILF’s).

Joey introduced the purpose of the competition, the judges and the judging criteria. It’s mainly about looks, catwalk, the way they answer and present themselves. It has nothing to do with height.

So the first girl from the Cleo Cosmo category appeared. She came out with so much confidence and all of a sudden, things didn’t go so well for her. She couldn’t answer properly when posted a question. Joey was really nice to prompt her, and explain that it is indeed nerve-wrecking to be standing up there. Seriously, I’m sure it was! KLCC was filled right up to level 5, there were still people hovering over the railings looking down onto the concourse. Something that might have added to her discomfort was her outfit. It was probably too tight or it looked like it was falling off her body. She kept pulling her dress up. At the end of the show, her “finalist” sash accidentally slipped onto the floor.

This is her close-up picture. I think she deserved to be the winner if you’re judging solely on looks and not based on her luck that Sunday - being able to answer and not dropping her sash. I hope this isn’t the end for her and if she isn’t going out there into the entertainment industry then it’s too bad. She was obviously the prettiest of the lot.

But, Carisheila didn’t think it was only looks that mattered. She thought beauty was within oneself. One must be balanced in all aspects. She spoke so well, she stunned everyone.

Although I did think another person who spoke quite well was uhmmm….. Jojo-Struys lookalike. She was asked the question, who is her role-model with regards to beauty (or something like that). And in the way a debater would “berbahas”, she said… in the following “manner” (not exactly in the exact same words but consists of the following points):

Ladies and gentleman, who do I think fits the epitome of beauty? …..not only 1 person, but 3 PERSON. Why? Because…. (stated reason)…. I think, the first person who FITS the EPItome of BEAUty would be NONE OTHER THAN Tyra Banks. Why? Because, she NOT ONLY is a ……. but she is a ……. ON TOP OF THAT….she is the producer of America’s MOST POPULAR MODEL SHOW, ladies and gentleman, AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL ladies and gentleman…. 

Apart from that, I also think that the other person …..would be NONE OTHER THAN our very own songstress DATUK SITI NURHALIZA….ladies and gentleman…. BECAUSE….. etc….etc…  

Kim: Oh no… (looks around, people starting to talk, starting to drown her speech)…getting too lengthy.

The final role model would be my mother…. because (people’s voices starting to drown her speech)… although she sometimes gets cranky…

Kim: Oh no…..cranky?

But…all mothers want their best for their children. Ladies and gentlemen, kata pepatah, I quote in Malay, “seperti…… (insert Malay idiom here)….”

*Everyone cheered for Jojo Struys-lookalike. I must say that she had the best voice and would make a great host or politician. Can someone tell me her name?

Interval, and Joanne Yeoh wowed the crowd with her skills on the violin.

The panel of judges. Check out the crowd.

The very hot ladies onstage. Some tried too hard, some were natural. I personally felt that the mum-category…. they’re were really cool! These above-30 category still looked so good (exactly what I have in mind when I think of Estee Lauder - because the brand seems to cater more for women between 26-50, that’s just my assumption). They lacked the finesse in catwalk and seemed to walk quite slowly compared to the younger ones and seemed to answer in less than ten words compared to the Cleo-Cosmo girls.

So, the winner for Women’s Weekly went to…

And the winner for Cleo-Cosmo went to….

Well deserved winners.

I’m using the door gift given by Estee Lauder - a set of perfume, “Beautiful Love” with some body lotion, miniature perfume, full perfume and body & shower gel. Smells lovely. Very womanly yet sweet and innocent scent. I like.

Ahhh, Estee Lauder has done it again! Help to spread LOVE and make people BEAUTIFUL.

I wonder what’s next year going to be like? This is the kind of competition I would join when I reach motherhood. Such a great feeling it must be for those mumsies to even stand up onstage with the rest of the young girls. I want to be like that too.

Oh, but first, I ought to get enough sleep, eat well, then exercise well…then…this…then that….then…. okay good night.

www.esteelaudermodelsearch.com.my

NTV7 celebrated its 10 Feel Good Years in KL Convention Centre last Friday. Going by the tagline “Feel Good”, NTV7 has always managed to make people “feel good” in all the programs its caters for all Malaysians with a good balance of all kinds of news, to documentaries, movies, sitcoms and etc.

Gold and black glamour was its theme. I think I’m running out of gold and black glamour outfits if on a weekly basis, I attend functions with this same colour theme. Anyway, why not? One can never go wrong in this theme. Look at all the gorgeous people I have for you.

Cutting the huge cake, all the TV presenters and hosts at NTV7.

Let’s do some salsa!

Bang!

How cute they look in their outfit.

Ning Baizura was one among the many performers that night. Some others were Anuar Zain, Dayang Nurfaizah and Joanne Kam Po Po. Joanne joked, “You guys ah, must be 10 and above one hor, below down there. If not cannot enter here!”

Lucky draw with lots of goodies from Body Shop to DKNY. I didn’t win anything. I think my advertising company’s namecard was too small in size. Haha.

The newly married Jien was the host for the night.

Nice ambience at KL Convention Centre. Not bad. This night saw alot of people from the advertising and media industry apart from the who’s who.

I caught sight of this lovely Petronas Twin Towers.

Adam Lee, Dennis Lau (violin extraordinaire, dennislaumusic.blogspot.com). You might also recognise Dennis from Project DDD projectddd.blogspot.com, 3 guys with an exercise mission. Lol. I had to announce this here, Dennis, for you, Daniel Tan and David Lai.

Tim Chew and his friend.

Dennis has the exact same smile as a gf of mine in Melbourne.

Dato’ Najmuddin.

Dennis and the very hot Dawn Jeremiah. Ooo, love her outfit oo.

Another hot lady from NewMan, Shanice Leong.

Similar Victorian syle gold outfits.

Daphne Iking, a young mum with a really hot body. She gives me the inspiration to workout. See, there’s no excuse for being a mum to not look hot. Daphne blogs at freyja6.blogspot.com. Not forgetting the cutest baby ever, named Isobel.  

Tracy Tracy Tracy…. XOXO

Raelene Renai, a TV presenter on the 8pm slot nightly.

Syed, the PR guru with Dennis.

Hot ladies Delia and Airin.

Linda, Shanice, Dennis, Kim.

At the end of the night, it all became blurry. Haha, just kidding. It was Syed’s shaky hands.

One of the main highlights for me this night - as you can see, “Feel Good” tarot card reading, up to one to take this seriously. Reading was carried out by Alexxander Ong. Alexander with a “double X” in his name.

Alexxander reading Renai’s fortune. He makes us sign our signature on a box provided and write our birth day, month and year. Then, shuffle the tarot cards 17 times.

My reading was this:
- I will be a specialist in a high-tech industry most likely multimedia. (hmmm…)
- I like to enjoy life and travel at the same time. (yeah, true… I love exploring the world)
- I love to mingle (true lar, I love networking, hence I love events)
- I like guys with high IQ, professional, responsible and TLC (he pointed to my signature when he told me about this)
- My best years to get married is between 2008 to 2010 (hey, I am indeed getting married next year! - if he didn’t read last month’s Hello! mag on myjojo and I )

Then I asked him about myjojo whose birthday was 02 February 1980…
- Apparently he thought about proposing to me since 31 March this year (yes, he proposed to me on April Fool’s)

And more questions…

I think Alexxander was quite accurate on the first two points, although I do find myself being more narrowed down into the high-tech industry as my job progresses. I don’t think he would have known that I am in the digital interactive department of an advertising company because if he has ever read about me in the papers these few months, I’ve always been known as Josiah’s PR manager.

I do feel that some of his statements were quite inaccurate, but I was thinking to myself, since it’s a “Feel Good” tarot card reading, he may not want to reveal too much. Plus, all those additional readings come at a price. This was F.O.C.

Then again, it’s up to one to believe tarot card reading. I’m a Christian - this was something just for fun. My path may depend on where the wind takes me.

Ahhh… 10 feel good years and still growing. I hope someday I can appear on NTV7 again looking much better with better speaking abilities. And not forgetting, straighter teeth.

I miss you like crazy, driving me nuts!

Misleading title, I must say. However, I’m going to share with you about going for single…..malt whisky. Whisky is such a common drink, common being any other type of exclusive alcohol. But, there are so many different types of whisky and “Single Malt Whisky” is just one class of its own. An acquired taste, a taste to be learnt, a taste to be appreciated.

So, I was among the few lucky bloggers to learn how to appreciate whisky, which is something getting more common in Malaysia, catered towards the niche market. Usually people go for wine appreciation.

Anna Meikle from Scotland introduced to us the range of whisky and a step-by-step how-to-appreciate whisky. We were overjoyed learning about the processes involved in whisky creation.

That Thursday that just past us saw a very delightful me being escorted by my date for the night, my father who is quite well-versed where food and beverage is concerned. He used to invite me to similar events and it’s now my turn to do the same. I really enjoyed my dad’s insights to whisky and was glad that he enjoyed it.

We went to the Westin’s Chairman Suite for GLENMORANGIE WHISKY APPRECIATION.

GLENMORANGIE

On the way to Westin.

Some bottles

Such a beautiful view overlooking Kuala Lumpur.

The suite.

The table set for us.

Food to complement the whisky. Different whisky, different year, different taste, different purpose - different type of food.

There you go!

Lovely mirror for “bigger room” optical illusion.

Principal Anna Meikle from Scotland who flew all the way to present to us, very poetry-like, enabling us to taste and explore our senses of the different feelings each and every one of the four glasses of whisky. When she speaks, she uses alot of metaphor, very poetic. For example, “It is so smooth, it dances around your tongue….and you….”

These were the four glasses of whisky I mentioned.

Original - 40% alcohol, honeyed sweetness fused with citrus
Lasanta - 46% alcohol, defined by rich, distinctively nutty flavours and sherry notes
Quinta Ruban - 46% alcohol, a complex and intriguing balance of dark chocolate and mint flavours
Nectar DÓr - 46% alcohol, toasted oak and vanilla are intrically woven with sumptuous lemon and syrup flavours

Taste starts from the aroma (smelling the whisky) while swirling the glass, taste it and use fruits / flowers / etc. and find similarities in them. Finishing taste - what effect does the whisky have on your tongue?

See how thick and potent it is from the hairline across the glass.

With http://lainie.tabulas.com.

Skewered scallop and black cod, meyer lemon puree, grilled chilli sauce to be paired with Glenmorangie Original (the lightest whisky among the four with 40% of alcohol).

To cleanse the mouth, it had to be Lemon and Basil Sorbet to be paired with the same whisky.

Balsamic Glazed Rotisserie Roast Duck, Celeriac & Sweet Potato to be paired with Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban (the very potent one that tastes like Lea & Perrins sauce, according to Superdad).

Last but not least, Silky Egg Tart to be paired with Glenmorangie Nectar Dór and Hot Toffee Pudding with Caramel Raisin Ice-Cream with Glenmorangie Lasanta (my favourite).

With Elaine Chow.

Glenmorangie packaging.

My date for the night, my Superdad.

I couldn’t resist taking a picture of this lovely tub.

Just fooling around with Ee Laine http://www.fireangelism.com

And the bedroom upstairs.

Appreciating whisky is truly an art.

Glenmorangie. “Glen-moh-ran-gee” in Cantonese is “Ka-lan-kee”.

Glenmorangie Original

The few of us with Jeff (standing behind), Patrick Teoh’s back and arms facing us.

Elaine, Suanie and Lainie.

One pic for the bloggers: http://lainie.tabulas.com, http://www.suanie.net

L-R: The very cute Mama Min http://www.mamamin.com, Suanie and Patrick Teoh http://niamah.blogspot.com (lolz!!!)

I remember listening to Patrick Teoh on Radio 4 many years back, finally able to match his voice and face together first time in person. Patrick is critical and able to provide constructive feedback while putting some food for thought on the table. He’s so funny. He brought up something worth thinking about - which was this:

Before this whisky appreciation session, we were able to freely taste whisky on our own. But, the limitation would be not knowing how to taste it, how to truly appreciate it. In fact for me, I never thought much about whisky, let alone single malt whisky.

After this whisky appreciation session, we’re given the answers of the true taste although taste still remains subjective to most. Taste should be “open-ended”. As a result, in the future, we deploy the same method of tasting being too aware of how we are to taste whisky, which may not be a bad thing.

Me and Anna Meikle.

Mama Min is so cute, she has a cute and delicious blog. Doesn’t she remind you a little bit of Bjork, the singer?

It’s an acquired taste.

I quote from Glenmorangie, “The COMPLEXITY and alluring, teasing nature of Glenmorangie envelops and entices you to discover more 0 TRIGGERING and reinforcing your desire to experience and share NEW SENSATIONS.

At least I can now say that I know how to “NOSE” whisky.