day 672 | april 13, 2013 | KL Eats

Home away from home, which used to be home for us. I travel to KL about once a quarter for shoots, and schedule multiple sessions in the span of a few days. Because I'm always hungry for time with my little ones, I bring them along when I can. My schedule is always packed though, and it is doubly more challenging to travel with little ones versus going solo. The added complexity is not just with packing, but also scheduling -- they have nap times, and I need to organize play dates, make sure that there's regular food breaks. I'm the sort who can forget to eat, and will sleep only when my body fails me. My little ones keep me grounded and human. On the flip side, I'd like to think tagging along with their mommy's work trips have made the little ones a little bit more resilient... just a little bit.

Hotel = Playground

Chill-out

I've tested Roo's patience by accompanying me in 1-hour, 2-hour, sometimes 3-hour photo shoots, with very little to play with with. Most of the time, the fab folks who commission me don't mind having Roo tag along, which is pretty amazing. What's even more amazing is that Roo can patiently wait, play on her own, and even help out in the shoot. She's like a grown-up trapped in a miniature body.

The best scenario for Roo is when I leave her to the care of friends, where she gets to be with kids her age, and spoiled silly by wonderfully warm company. 

Good things come to those who wait, and I always pay my toll in cupcakes, ice cream, and play dates. It's a small token for an unusual sort of patience.

We work hard, but we also play even harder. As soon as the work is done, we revisit the places we love, with people we love. :) Sharing a few of our favorites here...

(1) Restoran Soo Kee (No. 14 Jalan Medan Imbi). One thing I've always loved about KL food is that they don't compromise flavor for health. Three words: Freshwater Prawn Noodles! It's a bit tricky getting there, and plenty of traffic to sit through on the way, but once you get there, it's just sheer fatty-liver-inducing yumminess.

(2) Kirishima (Dua Annexe, Jalan Tun Razak). There are probably a ton of Japanese restaurants around KL, but Kirishima is special. Reasonably priced for the quality and freshness, conveniently tucked at the edge of our condominium building, and with attentive staff to take care of you, this place has quickly become our favorite hidey-hole.

Orbeez!!! :)

(3) Kedai Makanan Yut Kee (35 Jalan Dang Wangi). We frequented this place for breakfast when we were residing in KL, and regularly brought visiting friends here to try some local fare. There's a constant stream of people waiting for a tiny bit of space to indulge in nostalgic food, and the ones on the take-away section haul up on sweet-smelling roast pork with apple sauce. This place is crazy packed for brunch/lunch, so take-away is a generally good idea. If you'd like to sit down with relatively little wait, go very early, or come by after the lunch crowd has left. 

Only managed to get a shot of the side window of Yut Kee -- the waiting area was just insane!

We're keeping connections with friends alive, despite busy schedules. It's exhausting, but definitely worthwhile. I only wish we had more time to linger. There's a lot of happy memories in the corners of KL, so it just feels like there's never enough time to visit everything and meet everyone.

Happy but worn out, it doesn't take much to nudge the kids into bed after a full day of activity. Their endurance is steadily increasing -- and curiosities, growing. I'd like to think I'm priming my little ones for more adventure.