? THE BEST COFFEE IN TOWN

Last night I wasn't really ouit to do coffee tasting, but what do you make of such claims you see on the wall? I had to come in and give it a try... there's no any other way about it...

The place is a well known destination amongst budget backpackers, and their coffeeshop opens almost all the time. It is also christened the Backpackers Museum, showcasing war and post war memorablias, what caught my attention most are the war poems posted along the stairs, under a big bright neon caption "Lest We Forget Your Sacrifice". Nice.

They seemingly have quite a good variety of food on the menu, but since last night I was quite single-minded to get some fried rice from another place, I ordered something light... and so surprisingly cheap...

Even Coffee Bean can't beat the decos they have here... authentic. Love it.

I had bottled coffee RM1.00 and charcoal toasted bread, also RM1.00. The coffee is just plain chilled sweetened americano presented in a green bottle, but the idea is really pleasing. I've not seen this done elsewhere.

Dim lighting and conducive ambiance for deep chat with friends (or date)... Definitely will be back.

Bread toasted on charcoal, then slapped on butter and sugar... nice.

Determined to come back for an interview with the Boss.

After that, I walked down to another cafe that I've discovered much much earlier, The Yesteryear Cafe. The first time I came they were playing jazz in the background. Quite crowded with locals and foreigners alike downing away sets of beer and stouts.

Lately the ambiance has been a little less than favourable for my liking, mostly because the last 3 visits they have been showing Wrestling on their 2 tvs. The plave is fast losing its attractiveness as an escapade for me to run away into a little world of my own.

But the main reason I come back is this, Lagi Aramaiti fried rice (with sausage, egg, pineapple and mixed vegetable), with sunny side up and a piece of chicken wing RM7.50. The iced coffee is just so-so. RM2.00.

THE APPARENT BIAS ?

Many have asked whether or not I have any strings connected to Starbucks because of the amount of coffee tasting I've done there and not much I've said about the others. Well, I just want to make clear, that I am not in any ways affiliated to Starbucks, though much that I want to... the reason I am there most of the time is because of their client friendly policy and of course, the coffee there is good. Well, better... is many sense.

This is of course not to say that I've put down the rest of the coffee giants for good. For instant, honestly, I seldom go for Fraps at Starbucks, simply because I think Coffee Bean makes much better Ice-Blended drinks. Well for SanFran, I'd go there to glut on their salad, and when you're really thirsty and you want something icy with a kick, Mo'Mocha provides a better uumph than any of the other two giants....

But still, Starbucks gives its patrons a reason to come back... We at Philosoffee share the same sentiment about coffee... that is it more than just a drink, it is supposed to be an experience. An enjoyable one at that. Amen.

Hit number 1313

Yea, I've been around doing my usual coffee tasting but am still tied to work, stay put though, coffee reviews will be back... soon...

Plus I blog a bit more on my other blogspot... check it out!

A LIL BIT TOO MUCH MOCHA

Attending a meeting over a 3 nights stay in Labuan - the land of cheap booze, cigarettes, textiles and of course, chocolate - I picked up a goodie bag full of the stuff worth more than 50 bucks. And all of them as you may have guessed it correctly - are in someways and somehow flavoured with coffee.

Stay tuned till I find the opportunity to have my caloriextravaganza, and celebrate the second Easter this year doing something I'd regret - trying out my coffee chocolate.

But a coffee maestro's gotta do what a coffee maestro's gotta do... oh well.

FINALLY, A CHANCE AT THE KEYBOARD

Ah, after a long long wait, and a long long overdue promise to post something up, I've finally found the time (squeezed in between my sleeping times) to make myself a big mug of coffee and a good internet connection to update my recent findings (by this time, they aren't so recent anymore). Anyway, here they are...

SWEET SWEET COFFEE

It's been a while since I last had a good cup of black coffee. Last week, when I was at UPM attending the National PROSTAR Convention, I had to endure 3 full days of absurdly sweet americano or kopi-o that was dispensed from a leaky plastic container every time we had a break. I swear that would be the last time I will put up with such insult.

Anyway, congratulations to Starbucks KK for the opening of its third branch at KK City Mall. Why do we need another Starbucks I do not know, but I am not complaining, in fact, I think we can never have enough... I just think that Berjaya Group should be careful of over-domesticising the brand because the way Sabahan or rather Malaysian mentality as a whole, appreciates the exotic more.

FEELOSOPHY @ PHILOSOFFEE

Most often we define our existence by means of purpose or reason (ie almost all major monotheistic religion define meaning of existence as to worship and glorify God).

Are there any other ways in which we can define our existence beyond a description of purpose?

What do you feel?

Sheena said...

You can define yourself in relation to others, eg.

(i) How others SEE you.
(ii) What others EXPECT of you. (This one is related to purpose, except on a more horizontal, rather than vertical level; unless the person in question is your boss :P)

Or, you could just live life without reason, ie. live for the sake of living, eg. pleasure-seeking. Dorian Gray, for example. Existentialism, that's the word, there ya go.

I must admit I'm a bit distracted in this comment: I'm still chewing over a question some else asked me a few days ago: "Why are you so religious?"

Why don't you have a go at that one? :P

ARTEo said...

My boss once asked my, knowing I attend church and stuff, that whether or not I am a religious person...

Thinking about the silent debate in my mind of the times when I was looking at the pros and cons of having a set cluster of rules to direct your relationship with God (interpreted as religion), I at that time was leaning towards the cons of religious restrictions

So I said I was rather faithful than religious.

Sheena said...

Not answering the question:

Question is why, not what.

ARTEo said...

That's what we are trying to discuss here... the question of what rather than why... for why will always be followed by a reason and another why... Many a times we are told about the philosophy of being versus doing, but not many (I dare say) understand fully the actual meaning of being, and unconsciously fall back into "doing" something in order to "be" something...

Is there a more primary state of existence (or probably existence isn't the best word to use here) that connotes our "being"?

In other words, probably I'd rephrase that, what is the meaning of our existence, other than to answer some purposes?

WHAT DOES 15% MEAN?

The Government has recently announced a salary raise of 15% to Officers in the Grade 41 category. These are 25 ways in which this good news can be translated... at least for me...

1. 23 cups of Venti Mocha at Starbucks
2. 32 KFC meals of Dinner plate and a large Pepsi
3. 2.8 pieces of Pierre Cardin shirts
4. 41 movies a month at GSC during non-peak hours
5. 74.6 packets of Chacheer Sunflower seeds
6. 839 pieces of photos in 4R
7. 9.3 paperback novels
   
8. 84.3 pieces of Unagi Hand-rolls
9. 2.3 airplane trips from KK to Lahad Datu by Fax
10. 26.2 cups of Regular Ice-Blended Ultimate Mocha from Coffee Bean
11. 31.2 copies of Men's Health, Malaysian Edition
12. 22.4 copies of Readers' Digest
13. 33.9 tubs of Nestle La Cremeria 'Loaded' Cappuccino Chocolate Ice cream
    

I think I'll stop at 13...

Many Thanks

Dear Dr. Roddy Teo,

It is our great pleasure for your recent visit to San Francisco Coffee Co. in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. We hope you have enjoyed our fresh top of the Crop coffee and foods served to you.

As a way to serve you better, do let us know if there are any areas need improvements and your comments or suggestions of our services provided to you.

Thank you very much for your comments made on our coffee

With our Best Regards
San Francisco Coffee Co. Kota Kinabalu
-Tg Aru Outlet
-Warisan Square Outlet

ARTEo: Always my pleasure...

LoVE BEYOND ONE'S MEANS?

Many many years back, somewhere in 1996 or 1997, my good friend, Vic and I were at the beach for a barbeque, or some sort of club outing... can't really remember the details but I think it was something organised by Interact Club KK... but this I remember, he asked me if I think he's ready for love (probably on the way to the first of his many great adventures in finding out the matter himself).

I remember the question because throughout the last fifteen years or so, I reflected upon the question, time and again, and every time I thought I knew the answer, I would later have to admit I knew none the better.

What is love? How do you know you're in love?

The quest for the answer has brought me through a few relationships and intellectual search for the meaning of love from a scientific and spiritual point of observation. All that I can (prematurely) conclude for now, is that love is not all cerebral, nor is it all spirito-sensorial, but an interplay of both without any definitive equilibrium.

I was asked a question recently, that challenged the statement: love is unconditional.

The argument went like this. If MsA were to love MrB unconditionally, would she ever fall out of love, given that love also perseveres and is a decision slash commitment at its worst?

I say that love is a commitment at its worst, assuming that the cloud-9 factor has rained away and all the butterflies have left the stomach, and when all the excitement of adrenalin-serotonin cocktail has lost its kick, all that is left is MrB and MsA, and nothing much in between other than a promise to be together.

One of my many ObiWans, once reminded me about the danger of over-spiritualising love. In faith I believe the theology of 3-fold love:Agape, Eros and Filia, loosely defined as love of God, love between spouses and friendship slash family ties respectively.

Can a person's love ever be unconditional? What does it mean by unconditional? If to love unconditionally means that love is given out without any reservation, in all situations be it good or bad, and to love all including our enemies, where does it leave unconditional love with respect to our spouse? Are humans capable of Agape?

My next question, is Eros unconditional?

How can Eros be unconditional when we spend most of our adult life looking for the perfect one - the one with the height, the one with the measurement, the one with the look, the one with financial stability... even beyond all that superficiality, we still look for the one that makes us laugh, the ones that comforts us in our pain, and the one that dance our dance.

The argument was not conclussive in any way, which sent me back to the road on my search for a true love, my true love. But one day I know that I will end this quest, with a person that I would promise a commitment of life and death faithfulness, and hopefully by then I would have a better idea of what love means. Some say that you'll only know love 50 years into your marriage. Geez I hope I don't have to wait that long...

P/s: By the way, I looooove coffee. So how do I categorise that?

TO CURE, SOMETIMES
TO RELIEVE, OFTEN
TO COMFORT, ALWAYS

Being doctors, our philosophy of treatment only involves an occasional necessity in healing success.

Working in medical line, I ponder a lot on this word: healing. When a patient comes to me, being sick and all, what he is looking for could be a relief from his ailments. I would offer some advice, probably a pill or two, and send him away. Do I send him off healed? What is his expectation of the consultation? Does he expect that he will be well again just by downing a couple of pills?

We are probably thinking of a guy with a common headache, or a congested nose, or maybe some kind of discomfort in the tummy. Sitting in a community clinic, probably the bulk of my clients are of that sort. If he doesn't feel well after a couple of days, he'd probably come again or go to another medical practitioner. Even if he gets better, we seldom use the word 'healed', for cured is probably a more popular option amongst the medical personnels.

One kind of 'illness' - for lack of a better word - that probably isn't as easy to treat as a common flu or even probably a huge, nasty, deep-in brain lesion could be easier dealt with, is a broken, desolated heart.

One can go into desolation secondary to uncountable factors, and most of it involves an emotion of love and care, unmet expectations ending up in deep disappointment. The hurt of a broken heart can sometimes be so intense, that one would rather have his nails pulled out. In situations like this, one usually seek for healing rather than cure.

Healing is a process, and the length of this process, through personal experience, may not have a fixed time, or may not even have a clear end-point. I would think that I am completely healed of the hurt from a certain occasion or crisis, because I am able to talk about it freely without feeling the cringe inside, but the next minute a song will just remind me of the whole thing and I will be crying unconsolably. What the heck, when will this all end?

I used to ask God to just take it all away, leave me refreshed and anew, but it never seems to be a good idea, or else He would have thought of it before me. His way of healing is usually slow, and graced with feeling of comfort and assurance from time to time. Now I have come to term that actual healing may not be similar to the one I have in my mind. I would probably not be left completely free of any emotions from my past experiences, but healing comes as easiness to accept the grace of perseverance, strength and comfort in knowing that He has always been around. Healing, to me, means that I am able to see the blessings that were hidden behind the whole tragedy, blocked by my irrational but most-necessary emotions at that time.

Like a scar that covers a wound will never disappear completely, my past experiences will never completely go away, always staying around making a surprise visit from time to time to remind me of the grace and blessings that I've received. If only I'd be quiet and obedient enough to see it.

AB IRATO

Without emotion, man would be nothing

but a biological computer. Love, joy,
sorrow, fear, apprehension, anger,
satisfaction, and discontent provide
the meaning of human existence.

Many years ago I've pondered upon the silly issue, when I die, how many people will come to my funeral, how many will feel the loss of my absence, who will carry my coffin, who will say something during my funeral service, what will they say?

Somehow, these kinds of thoughts may be rendered morbid by certain people, while others will think that these kinds of thoughts are the ones that separate big from small boys.

My usual contentment is in knowing that I have people around me who will be honest enough to tell me my breath stinks, or that I dress silly, or that I am getting to fat for my blazer... My point is, not that I find pleasure in having my pride burst all the time, but in knowing that there are some out there who would risk a few weeks of cold treatment or even a harsh retort, to be open to each other as best possible yet knowing that it would be okay because our friendship is valued at much more than just the apparent peace and comfort of un-tried and un-tested acquaintances.

I may not be the most out-spoken, or do I usually readily share my feelings with others, but I know the only key to healing is to acknowledge that I am not well. Emotionally even.

I have lost many friendships through my last life-tragedy. Saying this may not be exactly fair to many, but there's no such thing as a human-relations that is built without any expectations. And being me, my expectations can sometimes paralyse something that I treasure much.

I am disappointed. It could be unfair for me to say this, but playing angels and hiding my feelings are not exactly doing me much good either. I am disappointed at many of my friends back home who has not made any real effort in knowing whether or not I am doing fine. I am disappointed at some of them who'd assume that I would rather be left alone, and I am disappointed at some of them who re just plain too afraid to ask... Afraid? Lame.

I used to be in a team of leadership team, dedicated to Build Kingdom Builders. Having invested most of my time, and much much of my meagre earnings on something that I believed in so much. I had an army (okay, probably not as many as a platoon) of colleagues, comrades, who carries the banner of our common vision together, having fought through unpopularity and the pain of persecution, bleeding from the attack but with our free hands holding on to each other as we struggle to stand to what we believe in. Really, even with all the pain and all, I miss those days when I could still belong to a pack, and "us" was a real entity.

Anyway, being a person who "usually" exudate positivity, I refuse to think that my current loses are going down the pipe, but I'd rather invest in the hope that some will at least benefit from all that I've given. I have those who still would call me up and write some soothing emails, and come visit. I know it is not the most-macho things to want all these, and yes I am lucky, very very fortunate to have them. But I have to acknowledge the stab that is left on my chest, and know that all that I see is a passing glory. Sic transit gloria mundi.

So how should I live my life tomorrow? In full appreciation to whatever I have left, acknowledge those who are still holding me dear, and learn that healing will not come by as soon as I'd like it to be, but still I am not without friends.

SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE TIME...

Last Monday I was on-leave, and while making the most of my time at home (snoozing in the afternoon) I was woken up by a series of in-coming call and messages, amongst all, from the Timbalan Pengarah Kesihatan, asking me to call back...

OMG!

I was offered (hhmm... this word doesn't seem right somehow) to come back to KK to take over a post in the HeadQuarters, in charge of HIV Unit of Infectious Disease Control... What do make of the news...? Mixed feelings I have to say.

I want to write in the story of how I felt when I first found out where Tungku was (not found on a small map) but as it were, there's so much things to do, hand-overs and a General Meeting to prepare for tomorrow... so yea, I'll do this later...

NOT HARD TO IMAGINE...

Imagine there's no Heaven

It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.

-Imagine, John Lennon-

38 years ago, Malaysia has learned about racial harmony the hard way. No doubt, today our own people are still talking and propagating racial discrimination in the media, but beyond all the said-stuffs that should upset the minorities of us, what we should see is that our children are growing up along-side each-other. Isn't it our duty as parents, teachers, seniors, the generation that first-tasted-salt, to usher them into a Malaysia that is truly peaceful and harmony, rather than just uneventful co-existence?

We can change the way all these are taking-route.

The fool repeats his mistakes.
The smart learns from his own.
The wise observes, and learns from the smart.

SENSE OF SECURITY

Having breakfast with a long-lost friend earlier, we were talking about 'what-women-want' and we came to the issue of sense-of-security.

We were discussing sense of security as the sense of her love being recognised and acknowledged. It means that a man only has to recognise the love that she gives, know that she gives it only to him and after that, everything else is secondary. Sense of security doesn't come from knowing that there're going to be diamonds and jewels or even bread on the table.

A tad bit extreme... what do you think?

BEYOND SIPPING IN STYLE

I have grown to appreciate the subtle pleasure of knowing my coffee much more since the time when everything was black-and-sweet. To mark another level of complexity, I've asked to join a cupping session, held very regularly at Starbucks Coffee outlets. I am very honoured to be invited to a coffee cupping session for the first time today at Starbucks@Warisan Square.

Starbucks partners

Amongst those on trial: coffee, and a variety of desserts

It was a very interesting experience, plus I got a Passport to stamp the 'journey' through discovery of brews and flavours. Felt like I've been granted another nationality - Coffeeland. Now it's official - I am going to blog about the experience - and stay tuned for everything and everythang coffee...

The passport

Starbucks @ Warisan Square organises cupping sessions on a daily basis at 10am and 7pm. Ask for Ronny or Eddy for further information.

PHILOCOFFEE REBORN

Homosapien coffeephillus

I've taken in coffee ever since I could make sense of my memory. Cooled and heavily sugared was the preparation of choice (as it was made for breakfast) and though it was believed to stunt someone's potential height, I got my way around and still have to sit at the back of the class in school.

Coffee has accompanied my days (or rather nights) preparing for exams throughout secondary school, and those days, I prepared black coffee by the pot. Seriously, a whole pot just for myself. I believe by this over-exposure, I don't get caught up with sleepless night even if I take it for supper.

Appreciation for designer coffee started during Uni days when opportunities and choices were plenty. Just then I swore off Nescafe or any other kind of instant coffee for good. Though not allowed in the dormitory, I kept a drip machine in the room to have fresh brewed coffee every morning. Nothing beats waking up to the smell of real coffee.

For the past few years though I shamefully admit that I've switched back to 3-in-1 just for the sake of convenience. Yea, excuses-smexcuses, I know it has to stop. It's time to get real again.

QUOTE

Everybody, or should I say, every barista has his/her bad days...


...today just isn't yours I suppose?


But one thing to remember is patience. And most of all, the most most most important of all, is to enjoy. Enjoy the coffee. Enjoy the art of making a nice cup & enjoy looking at the smiling faces as they sit down & chit chat & sip your coffee and enjoy themselves.


That, to me, is the ultimate goal.

Life is good, and it should be remembered.

Quote, unquote, Cyril Teo

Taken from Sheena's blog

Well said, Cyril.
Philosoffee