Central Park

New York is an amazing city. 

There is so much to see, so much to experience. 

This was my third visit in the City, and I still know nothing about it - I need to go there again! ;)

The first time I was lucky to see New York in winter time just before Christmas with all the lights and decorations.

And this time I was lucky to be there during Easter time (rockefeller-easter-eggs-exhibit) when most of the people had few days off and wore beautiful decorative Easter hats to show off during holiday parade.

I got my lunch at one of the street stands called the Halal Guys - cheap and delicious food - nicely spiced meat and rice. The Halal Guys are actually acclaimed best street food in NYC and they might be... I definitely recommend it.

I went few streets up and sat down on a warm from sunlight stone.

Central park was a perfect place to enjoy my meal. 
Beautiful view on Manhattan and fantastic spring weather..

After food and small rest I took a long, slow stroll through the park.

The Central Park is wonderful oasis of peace in this noisy crazy city. 

During holiday it is teeming with life, joy, friendship and family atmosphere. 

I am looking forward to take a stroll there again.

Raya at KLCC

Hari Raya starts with few intensive days of celebration just after Ramadan.
However, visiting friends and open house events take up to a month.
During that time cafes and malls will be decorated with green Lanterns - embellishments in a shape of Ketupat (rise in a young coconut leaves) and if you lucky you can come across some life traditional music performances.

There is ongoing project in Kuala Lumpur to have everywhere a skywalk. Here is one that connects hotels near  KLCC with Pavilion at Bukit Bintang.

Impiana hotel where I enjoyed my Hari Raya weekend.

I love city landscapes like that.

Green Lanterns in a shape of Ketupat.

Malay house in a mall.

Life music - I have enjoyed it a lot!

I was sipping on my tea at KLCC Starbucks and admiring this city landscape...

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Eid ul-Fitr (Eid) - Hari Raya

I have eaten a lot during Raya.
It was all delicious and for a surprise of my hosts I had no stomach problems.
In some way I actually think it is easier to eat food during Raya than what we serve during Christmas.
Here you travel from house to house during one day so it is enough you take a little bit of everything and everyone understands.
Christmas are like a food competition you sit done by the table and eat until you drop ;)

Holidays like Raya are fantastic. You meat friends, family and just relax and enjoy seeing people you love.
I always eat as much as I can and do not worry about belly getting bigger and bigger...
However, when the new days come I quickly go for a exhausting training to the gym!
You want to eat till you drop you need to train till you drop as well ;)

Chicken soup with fish cake. Delicious!

Layer cakes are very popular. My favorite from those I tried was a two layer cheese cake. Very creamy sweet chocolate part balanced with a bit sour plain part!

I ate almost all black and white pieces of cake!

Pulut Lepa.

Rendang is a typical Raya meat dish eaten with a pulut lepa - a glutinous rice flavored with coconut milk and barbecued in bamboo leaves.

In a jars with cookies one can find huge variety of cookies where most traditional ones are: kuih bahulu - mini sponge cakes, and kuih loyang - honeycomb cookies.

In a jars are cookies, next to them rendang and on a right side pulut cut in cubes.

During Raya kids and those unmarried get small envelopes with money. In every house host will distribute them. I was lucky to get one too :)

My Raya present.

hair style fitting Baju Kurung

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri :)

One of my good Malay friends has lent me Baju Kurung (traditional Malaysian outfit). 

I didn't want to cover my hair with beautiful scarf since I haven't been doing it any other days.

However, I really wanted to look special during Eid ul-Fitr (or Malaysian Aidilfitri).

I was visiting my friend's whole family house by house and I wanted to pay my respect as much as I could.

I have decided on some special hairstyle and here are some photos how my wish was becoming true in a hairdresser salon - since I am not the best in styling my hair.

Seems like this shade of yellow makes my eyes appear to be blue, but they're not.

Lets get started.

Getting two buns.

Refreshing curls and I am ready.

I've never thought that yellow will fit me so well. I am now on a quest to get something in this sunshine color, because it makes my eyes look blue.
At least people were all the time commenting on my blue eyes.
Well, my eyes are weird color not really blue, not really green, and not really gray...
But apparently yellow dress makes them pretty, and that is all I need to justify another shopping trip ;)

On a road.

I think they should always test make-up in Malaysia or countries with similar climate. 

If you really do not get shiny skin, and your make-up do not decay after few hours in conditions of that sort then it is really worth your money. 

I mean anything works with always cool Denmark ;)

Anyway, my cheap Maybelline foundation didn't embarrassed me but my nose was quite shiny all the time ;)

Mango-Apple Tree.

A traditional Malaysian house.

It was a fun-filled day.

After family time, I changed and went to see a movie "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters". It is ok movie, but not even near to get onto a "must see list".

When I got to bed I slept like a baby... it was a great day!

Eid Mubarak!

hopping on a train to Kuala Lumpur

For some reason I find myself very often going somewhere spontaneously. This time I decided to join a friend on his trip to Kuala Lumpur (KL). I've packed within an hour, put my hair up and run down to a taxi.

My ultimate best sandals ever were an obvious choice (honestly I have no idea what I am going to do if they fall apart?!), and some comfort clothes for sitting in the train and, as it occurred later, watching a movie in theater (The Man of Thai Chi - I liked it, but I would recommend it only to those that can appreciate martial arts) and getting a beer in a pub with a life music.
btw. It was my first and last beer in Malaysia.

I also met two new great friends that night, and one of them would help me not once when I got into trouble in KL. A life lesson is: stay tuned good people are around you!

Nasi Biryani (India).

In front of Pavilion.