Every time I go to Penang, my stomach automatically switches to bottomless pit mode.

I eat, and I eat, and I eat, and I NEVER get full!

Other than being a heritage gem for our country, what they say about Penang food - total understatement!

You haven't tried the BEST food in the world until you'd eaten in Penang!!!

Here's my favorite Chow Kuey Teow (what Penang's famous for) on Lorong Selamat with prawns the size of my fist!

Yum Yum!

Face next to dish for reference - size of prawn!!! Nothing like a cooling herbal chinese drink to wash it down...

Best friend as roadie and in-car-karaoke buddy!

Roadtrip - lalalala

I was too busy gorging down to take pics of more food - sorry ;)

Next time!

Just came back from the first session of H-Factor Creative Youth Workshop @ g Hotel Penang. (Oct 12)

I have to say, when my good friend Hannah asked me months ago to be a part of H-Factor to talk about what I do - radio - I was slightly hesitant. Maybe I was afraid.

I must be half decent at it to have been a radio DJ for close to a decade, but to inspire the younger generation and give insight into what goes on behind the scenes? Will I do a good job? Will I be able to give them a good enough picture? What if I turn them off? What if they hate me? No one ever said I was a role-model! Man, I can talk when the mic is on but for that split moment I was speechless!

Then, I thought:

1. Whoa Hannah! Are you nuts or brilliant to even attempt to group almost 10 of us together to talk about our respective fields, each with schedules that are almost impenetrable?

2. Where the heck are you gonna get the sponsorship/ help to even make this happen - to go all over Malaysia, while charging next to nothing?

And then, I observed Hannah and her team work. A light went on in my little head (I know, it doesn't happen too often). Hahaha

1. Wait a minute, she IS making it happen.

2. Her team's tirelessly scouting for speakers, sponsorships, venues. Organizing, planning, mapping everything down to reminding us to pack our toothbrushes!

3. Who cares even if we don't get sponsors at the end of the day?! (They eventually came - thank you to all)

4. When I was a teenager, there was NO ONE to tell me what the entertainment/ creative industry was all about.

5. Now, I have the chance to share with you what I'd learned through my work.

6. And hopefully through my stories, you can decide if it is for you!

That's when I decided, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I'm IN!

(Serena trying to look professional working her presentation)

After our first session last week though, I realized that I learned from you instead!

The people who attended were dynamic, talented, headstrong, and eager to go forth and make their dreams come true!

(Serena + co-host Pietro at awe - the energy that filled the room thanks to you who attended!)

So thank you Penang for showing me that and I hope what I said helped at least a little in your path toward finding your future profession - be it in radio or not.

PS. Being grouped with a bunch of truly talented individuals has its perks:

Thanks guys for making this trip crazy, fun, inspirational, and totally unforgettable!

Bless Hannah Tan's unbelievable team who probably slept less than a wink in the last 2 months! (Give them a big hug when you see these people, will ya?)

See you in JB this weekend!

Hey you

Welcome to my home ;)

The last time I wrote about this, I posted a pic of my wall. I'm shy that way.

Now that pics of the house are all over the Oct 2008 issue of OK! Magazine, I figured I can do my version of an "open house" for you. So here's a behind-the-scenes look at the shoot at mi casa!

SELAMAT HARI RAYA!

Serena as a school teacher:

Yes? No? Hmmm maybe not.

Serena and Hannah?

Before You get any ideas, this was us at our latest photoshoot for something HUGE coming really soon!

I won't spoil it yet but I have to thank my good friend Hannah for calling me up and gettin me to be a part of H-Factor! I'm sure you'll hear a lot about this very soon so keep an ear out for the campaign.

Here are the boys mucking around. Notice Pietro and Harith have almost the same suit ;P

This was us trying to be models... Of course, some of them are actually models ;)

A little sneak peak at what the final shot might look like.

I'm sure I'll give you the full details about H-Factor in my next entry (if you haven't heard/ seen news about it yet). If not, Hannah Tan's website's got everything. She must be one of the hardest working people I'd had the privilege to get to know!

Until then, keep it here and have a great week!

So Pietro and myself hosted the OK! magazine Celeb Fest 2008 a couple of weeks ago.

It's basically a huge party thrown for readers who voted for their celebs when it came to most alluring, best pout, body etc. Of course the place was filled with Malaysia's finest! Think of a celeb, he' she was there!

Here's what went on before the party. Every girl loves being made up!!!

Since the theme of the party was masquerade, check out the baboon! I meant Pietro!

Hahaha gotta love the the glasses with the mask.

And here we are with Ash Nair, who performed a kicking set at the party:

The awards were given out Oscars style so no one knew who was gonna win what.

When it came to the Most Stylish Female, Pietro started screaming when he saw the envelope as I scanned the room wondering who that stylish celeb was. Then, he REFUSED to give the presenter the name while I was still clueless scanning the room. Thanks Pietro.

A couple of secs later it hit me, it was me!

Never in a million years would I have thought!

Thanks OK! mag and readers! What an honour! The plaque is next to my pillow now and I kiss it goodnight everynight!

Here we are at the end of the night with The Most Bankable Female Celeb - Our dear friend Vanessa Chong:

Look at that silly grin on Pietro's face... hahahah... I know, I still can't pout. I give up.

Till next time, have a great weekend!

Thought I'd give you a sneak peek into the studios - what it looks like first thing in the morning before the mics are on.

Here's Pietro

And here's me:

Hahahah made you look!

Have a great weekend!

As part of my desperate attempt to get a man, ANY man, I took to our notorious highways!

Here's my sidekick: Pietro

And here he is giving you a commentary on my quest:

Ok FINE, we were convoying so naturally we stopped after a toll to wait for the rest to arrive.

We thought we'd do something Malaysians definitely don't do.

Everyone looked at me like I was an alien. But I DID get a few honks. YAY!

And here's Harith, thinking we're both complete idiots (I don't deny that one bit)!!! Sorry you had to put up with us Harith!

You gotta try somethin different at least once in your lifetime, right?

Until next time... be safe on the roads and don't pick up strangers!