What could it be?

The day before we traveled to Bali, meimei felt a bit sickly and not her normal bubbly self. Then she developed a slight fever, After 2 bouts of feverish symptoms which went away after popping in a tablet of panadol, no other symptoms occurred and she was back to her normal self.

However about a day or two later when we were in Bali, she had tiny red dots all over her body and some on her face. We were all worried and concerned what it was. It didn't seem like chicken pox as the red dots had no blisters. Measles? Or what? The surgeon in our group said it's chicken pox laa, but as the time went by, no new red dots appeared and it just didn't look like it.

Funnily enough, after the day we went out to sea and had a whole few hours soaking in the salty seawater, the red dots on the face was like almost disappeared. 

I was worried sick if it was chicken pox and it started to come out in full bloom, what do we do? what?? We can't fly and do we stay for the whole 2 weeks? and can't go out of the room, wherever we may be? 

Fortunately, God bless, I need not worry anymore as by the last day of our holiday, the dots still appeared to be the same as the first day when they were seen. We came home safe and sound and after a few more days passed, the symptoms slowly faded away. There were still some tiny scars on the top side of her lips and it went away too after putting some chinese meds for a night. Whew~ 

Now, what could those red dots are? I am guessing it could be bed bites from the first motel we stayed in. My MIL said it's the water in Bali. Meimei said it's just mosquito bites laaa....

Cropped out snippets from another lens

It's usually me holding the camera most of the time and I seldom see myself in the pictures. My BIL (hub's sis' hubby) likes to take pictures too and we shared our pictures after the trip was over. And I sometimes feel amused or surprised on how I look by the side or the back. 

These are some of the snippets taken from his lens. One of the pictures shows me in curves. I never saw those before! Then of course there are also mostly me in bloated form or my torso with a wide waistline, especially the one in my swimsuit, no don't bother to scroll down, of course I'm not showing THAT!! It was SO DAMN FUGLY!

Enchanting Tanah Lot

This must be the best place we had been to in Bali. Love love love the amazing scenery there.

Unfortunately for us, it was raining when we arrived but good news bit, there was a vendor renting out big umbrellas for tourist makers like us. We had no choice but to pay about 60k rupiah for 6 umbrellas. 

Though the experience would be so much more awesome without the rain,undoubtedly it was also fun cuddling together and maneuvering around the patches of water. Without expecting anything spectacular, my jaws dropped as we walked with our heads down, looked up and saw an amazing view right with my own eyes. 

I had such wonderful memories of being there, absorbing in nature's wonderful creation.

This truly truly made my day.

Coming from you and not anyone else, it's more significant than ever. Cos we both speak from our hearts and not just cakap kosong.

But this, it has boosted my confidence so much and made me spring a little every step I take from then on....

THANK YOU, my very dear awesome friend. You are truly truly one AWESOME lady I've ever met and known via internet.

Food we had in Bali

As I had mentioned in my earlier post, my SIL and her hubby had really done a lot of research and homework in sourcing for good food to eat long before departing to Bali. I should learn from them. Yes, I feel ashamed and I think I really should do it next time before we go for any family holidays.

Other than a couple of times at the nearby food court which wasn't anything to shout about, here are the few places we went to which they had studied reviews from various people on various websites.

 Restoran Made (read as MA-DEH), the place is tastefully decorated. We walked about 10-15 mins from Hard Rock hotel in drizzling rain and passed by a couple of eateries without many customers. When we reached this place, it was filled to the brim with patrons. Lucky one of us had called in advance to book 2 tables. Food wise...ok for me. I'm not a very good food critic. Anything which is not too hard to swallow and can settle the hunger pangs, I'm good to go.

Suckling pig, was something to die for. So I heard. It was supposed to be so good that before noontime all the suckling pigs for the day would be gone. So I heard. But our driver/ guide told us nothing of that sort. IN fact there are lots of places selling this dish and we certainly need not worry about going in before 12 noon.

The interior design of the place is again, wonderful. We went upstairs to get seated on the floor. Felt very homely. But we all felt rather warm. And then we saw the place lacked some ceiling fans. It's a minus point for an otherwise comfortable dining place. 

My BIL ordered 4 avocado drinks and 8 coconuts for all of us, apart of too much food on the table! I had a tummy full of coconut drink and flesh as the kids just can't finish one coconut each! The siblings joked about the style of ordering from hubs and the BIL. BIL would be ordering too much food for us and if it's hubs who were to tasked the ordering job, we would all need to share drinks and perhaps just get to drink plain water. Haha. All agreed in unison.

As for the suckling pig, it was not what my inlaws expected as they were expecting yummy crispy skin to savor, just like what we have here in Malaysia. The style is just different. I again, don't think it's too bad or too great either. Chinchai laaa...

Seafood dinner at Jimbaran. Food was lousy. Ambience was superb! Bill was hefty. Enough said.

On our last evening in Bali, dinner was grilled pork ribs. I love the decor and yes, the food that time was AWESOME! Really finger licking good. My BIL was so proud to find out about this place as we all had nothing but praises for its food. Btw, this BIL in this post I refer to, is my hubs' sis' hubby. Very generous splurging in good food.

Surfing for the first time!

One of the best time we had at Bali was going for surfing. 

First it were only korkor, hubs with his bro and wife going for it. Then as the rest of us saw how fun it seemed to be, meimei and didi pestered to go into the sea as well, but time was too short then so we went for it the next morning.

I went in together as well, although I felt a bit reluctant. Old liao, not very adventurous somehow. But it was no regrets going for it as it was truly fun. Although a bit dangerous too, if one is not careful. I just realized only when I was back in KL that I have my two arms bruised from the surfing board hitting me real hard. 

The hardest part of it all would be going against the oncoming waves as we walked out to the shore. The proper way is to paddle out of course, but as beginners, we walked out to the teacher waiting along the start of the waves and then only climb up onboard. 

Meimei and didi succeeded to stand and balance pretty fast. I suppose they were younger and the centre of gravity is lower so it's easier to balance. After one hour of tasting good salty seawater I truly had enough but they were so not ready to call it quits. Now they are all bugging us to go somewhere where they can surf when we go for our next holiday. :)

Sewing meimei pinafores

Her pinafores had been used for 3 years now and were getting faded in color. But mainly because she had grown much taller and wider now, it looks a bit tight even though it could still be worn, maybe for about a year or so.

I had this idea to sew her the pinafores myself for a long time, since
1. it's so freaking expensive to pay for one.
2. the skirt is always not flair enough. I love flair skirts.
3. it ain't seem so difficult, I tell myself it's not something I couldn't do wuddd.....

I bought the cloth for about more than half a year now and my mom had cut the shape in newspaper for me for the longest time. The project had been shelved in the drawer for coming close to a year and finally, I took it out and started working on it.

What do you know, it's really very easy job. And I'm so mighty proud of my handiwork too. I think my mom would be impressed.

See the picture above, the skirt is so stylishly flair, it looked like a party frock!

Now that I get the sewing machine working, I'm thinking of sewing some cloth pads and some CNY new clothes too. See if that ever gets going or not....

Using Meluna for the first time.

Menstrual cup. Ladycup. Mooncup. That's what is more commonly known.

I heard about this product since a year or so. Thought it is quite a nice substitute for pads. But as it seems, it's not so common in here as in western countries.

Finally, someone posted something about hearing it for the first time in a group and said it was the best thing ever that happened and she had never looked back since. I thought wahh.. so good ah.. mustn't procrastinate any longer, I must go and get it. Asked around some more and someone told me I could get it at BV Tiny Tapir but it's much expensive compared to US.

So I delayed for another few more months, hoping someone could probably buy it back from the US for me.

But that never gonna happen and I do not know how much more money would be spent on pads, I should buy this cup sooner than later.

So I did. And what a time to start using the cup for the first time! It happened on the day we were to fly to Bali. But as I was determined to use it, I didn't care and I didn't even carry some pads for emergencies. What was I thinking!!!

I thought inserting the cup would be fine, since I'm so *ahem* used to .... NO! not anything else, for goodness sake! To my dismay, it's not so fine. I was still having a hard time to insert it in.

Though I didn't feel anything when it's inside, I was pretty conscious about it and THAT made me very uncomfortable.

Thank GOD for KLIA lounge, I managed to empty it in the shower room and had a nice hot shower as well. My first time using the lounge shower. haha.

I thought I would be safe for the rest of the time until at least we reach first stop in Bali, but I was so wrong. Horror among horrors, I found my panties stained while on the flight itself and I had to struggle to pull it out and empty it in the tiny toilet IN the airplane! I was so slapping myself that I should have at least put a pad or two in my bag so I don't need to worry about leaks and quit using the cup for the moment. But I really had no choice. I just had to continue with the cup. What an experience it was!

After 2 more days of inserting and pulling it out, I was getting a bit the hang of it eventually. The feeling of doing both the action is just indescribable. Sometimes, I freaked out finding for the tip of it to pull it out, scared stiff it would go in further and lost somewhere inside. And the moment when it's pulled out..oh my heavens, such a big satisfaction and relief. It's pretty much a love hate relationship with the cup.

Fortunate for me, by the day we were to go out to sea venture, I need not have to use it anymore.

Now let's see how I get along with it next month.

Our travelling day to Bali

Holy moly, the flight to Bali was at 11.30pm!

My inlaws arrived via train from Ipoh at around 7pm. After hurrying with dinner which I cooked, we decided to just drive over to KLIA and park our car for the whole duration of our stay in Bali. It was a wise decision, as we found out there's an even special rate for long duration parking for a minimum 4days in KLIA airport. We paid RM160 for 5 nights there. And it was a wonderful feeling to come back home to a ready in waiting car, lug in all our baggage in to go straight home.

Everything went smooth sailing. But came the time on the plane, it was way over midnight and I was about to doze off when didi who was feeling very cold came snuggling up to me and woke me up, I couldn't sleep for the rest of the flight making sure both of the younger ones were alright.

We reached Bali at 2.35 am (oh man!) and hubs didn't want to pay 250k rupiah for 2 taxis to the airport hotel which is about less than 5 mins drive away. I was thinking in my mind.. "wtf, what do you want to do???"

Fortunately, the taxi drivers offered 150k rupiah and eventually hubs relented. I was like wiping sweat over my forehead.

We checked into the airport hotel which was booked by hubs at KLIA before the boarding the flight, and it was like about 4am as we all packed into 2 rooms, 7 of us! Each room costs RM40 a night, so I heard. Kor went to share bed with grandparents while the 4 of us bunk in together. Needless to say, I couldn't sleep a wink until dawn.

I felt so tired I didn't want to get up to have breakfast even. Eventually we did so and checking into Hard Rock Hotel at 10+, it was like being at home again! Such a wonderful feeling!

Bali holiday

 This time it wasn't just about us. It's the whole freaking family with my inlaws!

My sis in law and her husband had done a wonderful job doing research and homework on where to go and what to eat. Even the ones who decide to stay at Hard Rock were my hubs and herself. I did nothing, absolutely nothing at all except to agree with everything they suggested and go with the flow. And enjoy myself.. hehe.

We had a jolly good time. The whole 4 FULL days were filled to the brim with activities and we weren't left much time to enjoy the nice environment at the hotel with a book and relax ourselves or go shopping to see the authentic Bali souvenirs.

Happy winter solstice peeps.

2 months since the last post. And so many stories to tell, where do I start?

Well, start with today's events, surely.

After spending the last evening at a wedding dinner from the inlaw's side, I was not very much in the mood to go to Rawang just to have lunch with many I'm not so close with. Furthermore, the house is small and old and hot, it's just so uncomfortable for me. But my hubby really yearning to go, so I eventually managed to persuade him to go .... but leave me alone! Let me go shopping on my own here. Felt happy and jubilant he agreed to it in the end for if he had stayed I would feel guilty. If I had gone with him, I would feel very unhappy. Best solution ever!

I didn't buy anything though, except for some sewing items. Yes! I had been sewing and I'm so mighty proud of myself of my work!

But the downside is, I don't feel the urge to buy clothes now unless they are dirt cheap, as I would just go "hmph, I could sew this myself too..." *lansi, yeah*

Then, I went to tapao 2 bowls of Snowflakes (substitution of tang-yuen) and bought a cake home to celebrate my MIL's birthday. She requested for steamboat for dinner and we brought her to Coco steamboat, best soup ever. *rub rub belly* Felt really full.

It's not her birthday today, and every year it's not the same date in the western calendar as she follows the lunar calendar. This year, the birthday supposedly falls on the 1st of Jan 2014, but since she was here today with us and she's travelling to KK to attend the groom's side's dinner, AND since she had been ranting to everyone that we never bothered to celebrate her birthday for the past few years, we relented. For someone like me who's not too particularly bothered about celebrating birthdays, I don't understand the hoohah. Well, whatever.

Local stand up comedy live.

A couple of weeks ago, I went for the first time to catch a live comedy, by local comedians. Actually, no, not the first time, the first was Wong Cheewah at Genting. That, was the first time for a local production actually.

A friend had graciously opened the invitations, all a treat on her, for the first 9 girls to reply to her. This happened in a closed group for women and it is happening in there indeed.

I was the first one to reply and yes, I was so looking forward to it, for 1, to watch a live comedy show and 2. to check out some hot chicks I was getting to know online through that group.

It sounded so crazily insane. Me hopping into a total stranger's car to PJ Live Arts and meeting them over dinner before the show starts. But of course, not exactly totally strangers la, I am pretty confident that they are not some hoax or conmen pretenders sucking the tits of desperate housewives like me.

I shall say, some of the women are really remarkable, with their sharing of past experiences, what they had gone through or some even going through now and yet turning out stronger than ever. This, is really what i have, nothing but respect and admiration for these ladies.

As for the show, there were 4 comedians doing their acts. One of them was downright rude and NOT funny at all using vulgarity throughout. Like, there's no other ways to make your act looks cool, dude? One is very young, he says he's 21, and he's alright, poking fun at himself, which made us laugh and feel kesian and sayang at the same time. The supposedly "star" of the show was .. well, moderately funny. I think I laughed most with the host who is, noticeably the veteran in this business. Nothing comparable to Wongcheewah, dammit, I really miss that guy.

After the show ended, we went for a drink and post mortem sikit, with some topics of women issues, our issues and said our goodbyes and hugs just before midnight.

I reached home before the clock struck and KT admonished me for coming home so late, saying I am not allowed for rendezvous like these anymore. *pout* (chiu! choi hui doe sor geh!)

Healing food

 ROYCE chocolate, have you tried it yet??

Ultimate satisfaction guaranteed.

I am SO addicted to it.

I would do ANYTHING to get my hands on that one little rectangle piece of absolute heaven. '

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm....*moan in closed eyes*

Swimming lessons for them

These past few months, the kids has been taking swimming lessons every Sunday for an hour, unless it was raining.

The coach, albeit comes with a steep learning fee, is very good and takes his students in a different approach. He outlines what he's going to teach them and stresses from day one that his is not competitive swimming, but all about techniques and survival skills in dangerous conditions. And one thing that stands out from other swim coaches is he doesn't take forever and guarantees the students he takes in learns all the things he outlines in his course. Now, that was something that I was looking for.

The kids had always been swimming breast stroke all this while and most of the time would just splash around in our pool, without much swimming laps or learning some other strokes. From the first day the coach access them, he feedback to me that their basics is very good already *ahem* and they should be pretty fast learners.

I have to admit, we do have quite fun Sunday evenings at the pool. Sometimes, I would sneak out to have a tete-a-tete with a friend or two, sometimes I would just go and swim some laps myself too. After several months now, about 2-3, minus off the rainy no lessons days, they are coming to the tail end of their course and I feel a bit sayang with this routine indeed.

Watching them swimming proper and in other strokes as well, I just can't help feeling bloated with a sense of pride. Now they swim the back stroke, gliding breast stroke, squid and free style wonderfully (at least to me). The coach taught them about spinning back and forth, and just last week, on diving as well. I listened with intent and tried it out, omigod, I feel so happy that I know how to dive too! Last lesson would be in the deep pool and *sob* I think I wanna find somewhere to have some real swimming exercise for everyone other than just the splish splashing around the pool. It's so fun!

Drama in the morning

Didi came down with a shirt crumpled like wearing something from a wastepaper basket. I ordered him to go change to the ironed one, which he just REFUSED to wear as it's too big for his liking. wtf man! Not like he could swim in it, why is he sooooo damn fussy one??? I barked my order and it's NOT to be challenged and he sulkingly changed his shirt, fighting back tears in a grumpy face.

Then, on the way to the car, suddenly he screamed he felt something sharp inside one of his shoes and he believed it must be a beetle. meimei and I cajoled him to knock it out of the shoe then but he retorted no, the beetle would be in the car and how freaky that is, the beetle will always be in the car (and anytime could jump up to eat you up, I presume?)

So I asked him what then? Is he planning to hop into the school with just 1 foot with a shoe? All the way to school dismissal? He said nooo... but he had no plans to put his hand to ensure there's really nothing in the shoe or knock the bugger out from it either. *roll eyes*

I told him not to worry, even if the beetle falls out into the car, it would die eventually anyway cos there's no food inside here. He didn't buy my story. 

At a red light stop, he asked me to put my hand into his smelly shoe. I checked and looked in, and told him there was NOTHING in it. He challenged me "I DARE YOU! Go ahead and put your hand inside" what the heckaroo!! I said nooooo, it's not that I dare not put my hand in fearing a beetle inside, but I don't want to put my hand into your smelly shoe! 

Eventually, he accepted that there wasn't any beetle. I teased him saying it was just his imagination. Meimei joined along and said.. yada yada.. your imaginary beetle... hehe..

After the this drama episode 1 was over, then, the next second..

"Ouch! There's a red ant biting my arm!!!"

*piak sound* heard.

Meimei: THERE! I also not scared to beat it, why you so scared? (dem funny with her child girly tone yet sounding so serious and garang) By that time I was giggling to tears liao.

He said "you dunno laa, the ant suck my blood ok." "aiyoh, dear, ants don't suck blood laa, it likes sugar, remember?" "You dunno laa, my blood so sweet it likes my blood" *roll eyes*

I said ants unlike mosquitoes, they don't have those pointy needle to poke inside into our blood vein laa woi. Ding dong ding dong....Then, he complained, you dunno laa, I just don't like its saliva ok. And it's VERY uncomfortable when the ant bites la.*slap forehead* OK la, OK la.. you win!

The kind of mornings I need to go through.

Goodbye, my friend. RIP.

I lost a friend few weeks ago. She died in a car accident. We only last met up in a small gathering on Malaysia Day. She left behind her husband and 3 young boys, smaller than my kids. It was a shock to learn that news on that fateful Sunday morning and in just those few hours, we sent her off in her funeral and learned that we would never ever see her again. It was so unreal.

I went with JM and Esther to visit her husband and the young ones a few weeks after. Being in her house was just not the same anymore. I felt very uncomfortable and holding back tears. It just wouldn't do for me.

Watching the boys running around, I felt so heart pain. How can little kids grow up happily without their mom? And I have to admit, it was also headache hearing the screams and yells. Geez...  I am so over that stage, it's really enough for me.

I heard the husband is going through a rough time dealing with the passing of his wife. They had been a loving couple, very very much in love. But somehow, I believe he couldn't find a closure and move on, he might not be able to forgive himself for her demise. I feel so sorry for him yet I have no solutions to offer. He needs to pick himself back up, for the sake of his sons, but yeah, it's not easy.

Wrecked Saturdays

Oh boy, Saturdays schedules are becoming crazier. I have changed the mandarin tuition from Friday to Saturday, well because of two reasons, one being tutor was frustrated with those crazy jams happening every Fridays and the other being the kids normally behave more proper after a night sleep. Guess its just too tiring for them to be concentrating on the lesson after a long day at school.

After their tuition which is at home, fortunately, then right after we have to rush off to their BM tuition which was changed because didi has football lessons to go to at their previous BM slot.

Then korkor would be home from school and after lunch, we march the boys off to their piano classes at let's say, place A. Then, we zoom over back to the BM tuition which is at place B. Then we zoom back to somewhere near A for didi's football. And back to B to pick korkor, and back to A to pick didi. And by that time it will be 7pm and we can finally breathe. *let out a big sigh*

Crazy not?

I was thinking to cut off one out, but the kids need their BM lessons, and no way I wanna find trouble myself to drive around during the weekdays. The BM tutor scared me out of my wits saying korkor BM, tsk tsk, *shake head* very char. The piano lessons, well, korkor is almost at the end of the whole course, so it's only logical we don't quit so easily and conveniently, right? The football lessons are FREE!! Bawl!!!,

Well, I console myself that this won't be carrying on forever, so just bear with it, until the lessons run out of their course.

Saturday family time is ruined for the time being, that's for sure.

New temporary member in our family.

Recently, I've offered my home a room to stay for one of my hub's cousin, she being the fresh graduate making her first bucks. Initially, she hesitated, probably thinking it's not a good idea to be intruding into our private little family's nest or maybe get stuck into a meddling affair of some sorts.

I urged her to take up my offer, without any room rental or even utilities fees (if it's not too big a difference), simply because I just believe in helping in whatever ways I can. It's not a bad thing because we never know, sometime in the future, my kids might just need her help or favor in return, as their age gap reminds me when I was just out working, they were only kids at the age where mine are right now.

It's a cycle. I used to stay with my 3rd Aunt before and I am forever in debt. I like to pay it forward. It's a wonderful feeling. Hope she enjoys her stay here, and that we have mutual benefits from this arrangement.

Karaoke with the kids

Whenever we go back to our hometown, my mil would pull us all in for mahjong. Both our parents love the game, and though it could be seen as a waste of time (in korkor's perspective), it is definitely a great pastime for old folks. I told my kids that they see them as pathetic, but in actual fact, they are very blessed to be enjoying their old age like this, going for holidays twice or thrice a year and having friends at home to exercise their minds with this game.

Though I like to join in once in awhile, but after some hours, I do feel precious time wasted on us indeed. But on the other hand, I feel obliged to play with them,, so I try to balance the time as much as I can.

The last we were back, I rejected my mil's invite to play, after an evening of the said game already. Instead I took the kids to sing songs at a karaoke outlet, with their young aunt, Jing Jing Jie Jie. Their very first karaoke session! Fortunately, I won some extra bucks from the last night's game and that sponsored our sing song session.

Korkor and meimei were rather sporting about it, but didi was very careful and selective, I would say. We sang for 3 hours straight on all the newest fast numbers and that was pretty fun.

It will be a long while for the next karaoke session for me!

Different perspective from different generations

This school holiday, we had the chance to get together with my 2nd bro's family back in Ipoh and in Genting.

The cousins who rarely meet, were awkward with each other in the beginning, but gradually they did warm up, much to my happiness. But that night at my mom's, the kids were playing iPads each on their own, maybe sometimes glancing over at the other's shoulder to see how the game was going along. How pathetic.

In the car, korkor lamented that his grandma (my mil) has such a pathetic life, only playing mahjong for the whole weekend. That kicked off a lecture on how different everyone's perspective is.

We told him that we and the older generation feel that they are the pathetic ones who only know how to play the computer games or the gadgets we have. I went on a lengthy long winded grandma story of how my cousins and neighbors' kids played, without toys, without tv, both outdoors and indoors, all day all night long. We would just think about silly games and make up silly rules and had fun, without feeling bored at all. How could we have such imagination really is beyond me.

And most importantly of all, we did not need to ask our moms what do we do next. Argh!!! that irky question when I banned their computers or tv or gadgets, "what do we do now?", can't you think for yourself??? This new technology stuffs really kill their creative cells!

Well, of course, after all that's been said, I don't deny parents play a vital role too. We should take those away from them, but really, I'm imposing some few hours banned from those stuffs, they are already hating me to ends. Sometimes, I just tell myself, just let them hate me. It sure feels sick to be the bad cop.

Successful parenting is when a teenager knows how to make best use of life thrown at him/her.

Today I read someone posted in an FB group about her daughter who's now going to sit for her SPM exam soon. The school she's in, or rather, the teachers she has, are rather "occupied" with other stuffs during lessons time and so, she had to find other means to learn and proceeded to sit-in in other classes while their teachers are teaching. Now, isn't that an amazing story of a teenage girl in our national school? This is what successful parenting is. Stop telling to everyone (who mainly doesn't want to know) what your little 5 or 6 year old did so sweetly or caringly to you, cause really, they are children and children are supposed to be innocent like that.

There were many comments and "likes" on her post, and one particular comment was about blaming the system, not the teachers who might be absolutely overloaded with too many tasks.

Now, though I don't really support the current education system we have, it's far from perfect, but what I loved most of this girl is that she had make the best out of what life is throwing at her. I love that.

And this is what I wish to see happening in my children too. I don't wish them to grow up to be blaming on the system, the society and basically everything else for whatever it is. Stop blaming, stop giving excuses, stop justifying for your actions and don't expect the universe or your parents to give you everything you need or want in your life. Nobody owes you anything. Work for it. And you will benefit so much from it too.

With just sharing some wanton wraps, I get more than I bargained for!

One day I made too many wanton wraps with fish paste and I passed on some to 2 of my neighbors.

One of them reciprocated with 2 loaves of bread and it was absolutely mind blowing!

It was so soft and fluffy, I thought it wasn't possible that it was homemade.

I then asked her how she made it and that she MUST teach me!

She then sent me a link to this secret ingredient to making soft fluffy bread/ buns. I was so eager to try on it, that I did, but it turned out not so amazing as hers. So I wondered what went wrong. When I searched through the blog, I learned that it wasn't good enough to estimate the amount of ingredients used and it's best to invest in a digital kitchen scale for absolute accurate measurements.

I went high and low to search for it and lo and behold, it doesn't come cheap. Spent over 100 bucks for that kitchen tool, but it did turned out very useful indeed. Not only measurements was done accurately, tasks were also done faster and easier. I am a happy camper.

And the bread? Turned out absolutely fantastic!

I think the bread maker is the next best thing in a kitchen, apart from blender, the 4-in-1 oven and the pressure cooker. Go get one if you haven't yet and try this absolutely awesome recipe I'm sharing now with you....

Partying with my high school friends

Last Saturday evening, I had a gathering with my high school friends, mainly to welcome home 2 of them who were back from US.

We had such a fabulous time that we didn't want to go home, until it was 1.30am. My oh my, when was the last time I partied till early hours of the morning? I was a bit terrified to go home that late, with all the crimes we often hear happening around town. But fortunately, one of them whom homecoming was the celebrated occasion, followed me home to stay for the night or two.

After which we continued our chatting till 4.30am! Holy moly! I know I would be getting the payback time the hard way for the week after.

True enough, it had been, what, like 5 days now, and I feel like I'm not getting any better! I feel exhausted, lethargic, pain even, in my whole system from head to back to toes. Argh! This is so not good. Next time, if I wish to take a day off, I'd better take the whole week off!

As for the family, hubs took the kids to dinner, and apparently, they had McD. They happily told me how awesome that what-what burger which they wanted to try for the longest time (but mommy always say no to McD) is! Ahh... glad that they had a good time with their papa. Me thinks I ought to go out like this more often!

Swimming lessons for the children

My children have never had a swimming coach before other than myself. Saved for the only time when kor was only about 3, I think, that he did go for 30 mins swim lessons with someone in Brunei. It was just utter rubbish, I felt, as the teacher just taught him to blow bubbles, paddle his hands and feet in the water with floats on his arms for those half an hour sessions. After some few weeks, I thought I was taken for a ride and that was just a waste of money and time.

From the word go, I had guided them to swim the breast stroke myself, and after so many years, they did know how, like finally. But I am not so convinced yet that they are able to tread water or handle the deep pool without my constant watching over like a hawk still.

Recently, I got to know a highly recommended swim coach for kids and adults who works differently than mostly what we hear. He gives his guarantee period of 12 weeks that you would be able to swim and graduate from his course and able to learn all the different strokes, except butterfly, and learning to survive in the sea and the know-hows in challenging scenarios. That is something really new and practical to learn, ain't it?

I took the 3 of them for a trial lesson with him, and after the 1 hour, he told me that they swim pretty well and asked me if they had any coaches before. I was rather surprised as I thought my teaching method might not be the most proper technique and they might have a lot of areas to be corrected on *giddy*. He is pretty satisfied with their level and he said they could adapt very well to his pointers. I would also like to add that he commented about kor asking a lot of good questions, which I was so glad to hear. I do like that, kids asking questions whatever they don't understand.

Anyway, he is just so popular that he currently has no other slots available for us, hence we have to wait until there's any.. I can't wait to see them learning other new things from him and enjoying the pool more than just splashing around. Perhaps I could even relax more when we go for beach holidays or pools with deeper ends. Ahh.. that's what I really am looking forward to, I guess.

Saturdays are for movie nights.

During the mid year 2 weeks long break this year, we watched quite some nice movies at home together. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Superman (the 1978 first ever which was .... urgh... painful to watch!), Jack the Giant Slayer, oh, that was such a fun movie to watch with them. I think it was even more fun to watch them watching it, cos they were too engrossed and kancheong as the movie rolled.

After the school resumed, some of the Saturdays were spent on a movie night as well, and meimei once (well maybe not only once) just fell asleep on the couch halfway through. I suggested to her that perhaps we could bring the TV up to our room, get all snuggled up in our PJs and watch on our beds and mattresses so it doesn't matter if she falls asleep anytime. She LOVES that idea.

I could just imagine our lovely Saturdays family time movie night would be a lovely memorable childhood for them, just like how I reminisced spending some of the evenings with my parents and brothers in the living room all sprawled on the floor, sleeping on mattresses, lights were off, watching those TVB drama series or special events like Miss HK Pagean together.

When I asked hubs to get a smaller TV for our room, he then said he's planning to buy a 55" smart tv to replace the one in our living room, and bring the current 42" up to our room. And today he saw a promo for that said TV for RM8k! My goodness! I still maintain that it's a lot of money to be spent on an idiot box never mind it's called smart tv. That's what he always does... spending money unnecessarily on the wants and not the needs. I gave him my smart advice, if price is 3-4k, it's a good buy, nothing more than 5k, that's really quite the max he should be going for. Argh! Men!

One of those fights.

After an incident the other day where meimei wrote something bad about her brothers and korkor wrote the forbidden word in it whilst didi wanted to show her friends what she did, I was flabbergasted and scolded them that 2 wrongs won't make a right, moreover that was 3 wrongs altogether.

And I began my little reminder to them...

1. 3 of them are siblings for life, when they are grown up and when we are not around anymore, they only have each other, whereas friends come and go, there aren't such things as best friends forever. (well, maybe if they are lucky like me, they could find one or two as life goes on...)

2. It's not anything to be proud of to bring his own sister down in front of her friends. He gets nothing at the end of the day and it's a big shame to him too.

3. Uttering the forbidden word or even writing it down is NOT cool AT ALL! I was furious! It only shows one has no mind of his own and is only following what others are doing.

4. In any case, they ought to reflect back on themselves why she wrote such things. Had they been good to her in the first place? Before pointing out the problem on others, take a look back and check whether the problem is from themselves in the first place.

On and on I repeated the same points. Though I am not in much contact with my brothers now, but I still love them very much and I know I can still depend on them when I need to. And it's a big privilege to have siblings to grow up together, rather than alone, being the only child. That is why I went through the hard labor of pregnancy, giving birth, bringing them up just so they have each other. And nothing pains me more than seeing my own kids in hatred. It's ok to have some fights now and then, but that should contain in the home, outside, they need to look out for one another.

Have I got this clear? When will these messages could ever stick to their hearts, minds, brain, blood and soul? Argh!!!!!

Last hotel stay in Bangkok

What was the name of this hotel? Sh*t! I forgot !!!

 Apparently there are 2 of these with the same name and hubs had found the wrong one on his google map earlier. It was mighty stressful looking for the hotel as the the sky was turning dark. I, being the navigator, had to switch between his phone and iPad all the while as I need to look at the bigger map and the more detailed one which unfortunately, were not in terms with each other on the same gadget! Grr!!!

We were lost for awhile and after getting some heads-up from a call to the hotel, we finally found our way to the right one eventually. Thank God we didn't run out of gas!

 This hotel looked better than the one in Pattaya and everyone was happy again. But truth be told, I think each of us were rather tired of hopping from one place to another and I myself was kinda looking forward to go home already. I'm a homey person, yes I am indeed.

We spent a night there and off we flew home the next day. What a holiday it had been. But wait, before flying home day, there was also another drama.....

Best (?) Beach Villa in Pattaya

Turned out not up to its name. :(

We tried to find a laundry to wash by weight, but no such luck. The 2 that we had been to asked, we were quoted on piece by piece.

The hotel room which hubs bought through the internet just about 2 days ago before our check in date, when we were still in Chiengmai, was not up to expectations and everyone were disappointed with it, especially after having a wonderful room before that.

When we asked for  a babycot, they quoted us a price. We asked for a pillow, they charged a fee, We asked for extra bed, it was the same. Everything had a price tag to it. wtf.

Hubs was very angry and upset, and told me I just decide what to do, as there was just not enough space to accommodate all 5 of us. OK lor, you go sleep on the floor then. Of course I'm not that mean to him. After all, he did drive a few hours while we slept in the car on the journey from Bangkok to Pattaya.

Eventually, I decided to just bite the bullet and learned the lesson. Paid an extra bed so 3 of the boys sleep in the king sized bed while meimei and I on the extra one. The hubs ngam ngam cham cham all the time and I had to let him vent it out ler. But I wouldn't permit him to continue ranting since it's pretty much useless to let it spoil our holiday, ain't it so? Sometimes I wonder if I am just positive or just not money minded enough like him. Sigh.. he always thinks it's the latter.

The room rate included breakfast but it wasn't a fancy one, but the kids were alright as long as there's cereal. I think it's the first thing and least expectation they have from hotel breakfasts.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand

On the way from Pattaya back to Bangkok city, there are these Khao Kheow Open Zoo and another more famous for tourists, Tiger Zoo to visit. 

We chose the former upon recommendation from a non-Thai, non-tourist blogger who only reads her news from blogs and facebooks. 

 Turns out... ok ler..

As we were near the guard entrance, there's this sign which says, non-locals, proceed to the left to buy foreigner tickets. Locals can just drive ahead and pay at the guard post. Guess what hubs did?

Yes, I know you can probably guess it right. He told everyone not to say a word as we inched near to the guard post. Maybe the guards might hear my heartbeat like wanna popped out! Goodness gracious! It was like having done a major robbery, man!

Hubs paid him a large dollar bill and smiled at him only. The thai probably figured out he is a con, but just too kind hearted not to spill his beans. He returned the change and gave us the tickets meant for locals. My my, you ought to see how jubilant hubs had felt! *roll eyes*

We went in to the entrance lobby and checked out the way around and tried to figure out how we gonna plan our half a day there before heading back to Bangkok city to check in.

The zoo is very much a lovely place. Less crowd, more open space for the animals to roam rather than being caged up and lots of trees to provide shades.

We would park the car at some nearby carpark, then get down and check out a section then hop on back to the car and move to another. Buggies are available for rental too which would be so much easier to hop on and hop off.

 Said hi and shook hands with many animals around the different sections and all of them looked pretty happy with their laid back and pampered lives there.

 The weather was still very hot nevertheless and after sometime all of us felt lazy and tired to walk around anymore. I tried to encourage them to keep walking by treating them on some ice-cream. Yummy icecream. I think it was melting faster than we managed to gulp it down.

The feline section is "displayed" in a very nice concept, me thinks. We could observe the lions and tigers more up close as a glass wall separates between us and the cats. Seen below is one which gave a loud thundering roar as he was irritated by hubs who pointed the laser gun at its eyes. Really sent chills down the spine with his powerful roar and his killer glare. But ironically, that roar also seemed like the highlight of the trip as well.

We watched some performances, one a bird show with tricks and antics more or less the same like other bird shows we watched before. The other seemed like the main event visitors ought not missed with many different animals running and prodding around, doing some tricks and white lions climbing up poles and swimming in the water heading straight to the piece of meat which they know precisely the location. The bird show was in Thai so we had no idea what was said, but the other main show was in English so it was better. The best would still be giving the legs a rest and seated down with something above the head as shelter. So darn hot!

It was way past lunch time, and korkor screamed hunger! Hubs bought a cup of instant noodle and some other tidbits to eat while watching the animals performance. After that was over, it was time to drive back to the city and we grabbed more buns to munch on in the car till we can have our dinner after checking in at the hotel.

Lesson from a bolster fight

A bolster fight broke out last night between meimei and didi.

Somehow a bolster was swapped after the recent change of covers and didi had quietly swapped it back, but not exactly quietly since he just took the covers off both and left meimei with a bolster and its cover separated on her bed. Surely she would jumped foul and tore the house down with her cries and screams and I had to reluctantly take over before any bloodshed happens.

Eventually, 3 of us stood around with 2 naked bolsters and their covers on the floor, discussing on the background, the accuses, and the defenses. *roll eyes* all because of a teeny weeny stuff like bolster!

I wouldn't have bothered to blog this down though I would say, it's not easy as it seems. It's most common to just tell the big to give way to the small, but in this instance, because I know didi is the super fussy person who would be very unhappy and might even have a bitter and sour heart if he is forced to let go, I told him that he would need to ask for her generosity to let him have it if he wants it so much, and that it's not a good thing to say she's lying and it had been rightfully been his all the while.

As for meimei, I asked her if she could make do with the other "unwanted" bolster. I know she's ok with it, but I think it's this thing called ego that everyone is hard to deal with, more so with adults. Eventually, she said ok, then I went to her and hugged her, telling her, it's always great to have a bigger heart and people with big hearts would be abundant with a lot of good things in future. I'd say to her, though usually it's the big korkor who would let the younger ones have the leeway more, but I am SO proud of her that she can let her  2-kor has his so she is really the bigger person. Then, didi thanked her (after I prompted) and everyone can go to bed finally! Yay!

I want to make a note in here that maybe one day, the kids would need this advice and be reminded, when you thought you lost a battle, in actual case, you won in other so many areas.

Weekend break in Melaka

Couple of months back we took the family to Melaka for the weekend. It was a very lovely little getaway, no hurry, no particular agenda, no stress. 

We went to check in, and walked over to the city center historical site before moving on to Jonkers St for dinner. As it was not so hot that time of the day, it was a pleasant walk and happy to see the crowd around in a holiday mood.

Hubs bought 2 sticks of fried potato in twirls laden with sauce for all of us to share. The kids just devoured it. We walked along the riverside and hubs talked to a local guy for some sightseeing tips. Then we moved on to have our dinner at Jonkers St. It was chicken rice balls again, no less. Kor kept pestering for that and it would be the only way to shut him up.

At the chicken rice shop, I saw these beautiful lanterns hang all over the place. It reminded me of the one we had, the one at my parents' home where it was for years. I think it was thrown out during those turbulent years, what a pity.

 Hard Rock looks so almighty. Everyone just wanted to take a picture with it as the backdrop.

 Jonkers St is so brightly lit up at night. We didn't walk around, but walk back to the riverside as hubs was planning to go for a river sightseeing cruise.

The kids were cranky already there, they kept nagging to go back to the hotel, shower and laze on the bed. I know, they just wanna play the gadgets but mom's not relenting. I told them the night's not over yet and we were heading back to where we were just a couple of hours ago and board a river cruise, how exciting can that be! *groan* was all they muster... :(

While hubs went over to get the tickets, he ordered me to queue up first to the quay. It's pretty weird, 2 lines like that. So I obediently take my place in the Q and the smaller kids hang around with me while korkor always bobbling up and down between hubs and I.

Didi's face was beginning to look rather pale and I was getting worried then. I asked him what was wrong and he told me he was feeling sick in the tummy. Oh dear, I really didn't know what to do.. should we abandon the plan? Should we go home? Should we go find a loo? Argh!!! It was so sudden. Then I told him to sit down at one of the potted plants there and try to see how it goes and offer him some minyak angin to tahan a bit longer.

It was ok for a little while when suddenly he jumped up and jumped around yelling like he was on fire! I was so shocked! Then I realized the potted plants had ants all over it and it's those tiny mean little red ants! OMG! I felt soooo sorry and guilty for that little guy and I quickly helped and tried to brush those mean things off him. He screamed pain all over and cried to go back to our hotel. But hubs was already coming back to us with the tickets in hand.. oh my dear.

Fortunately, I always tug along all the little emergency stuffs in my bag and felt thankful that the tiger balm was still inside. After helped him put on the balm around his legs and body, he felt better and *whew* we did not need to abandon the cruise tickets. I asked him if he was ok, his tummy ok and if it was ok to continue with the plan before going back to hotel, he nodded his head like in surrender. Haha.. pretty cute thinking about it, and yes, felt sorry and wicked too that he had to go through such a nasty experience.

 We boarded the cruise pretty soon and was taken by surprise with the very pretty paintings and lightings along the river. It was a splendid time, me thinks, as the air was cool with a breeze and a lovely song from the 80s being played in the background. Well, later the song was replaced by some Malay songs and a narration to introduce the sights along the way.

Anyway, great experience.

 We came back soon to the hotel and found the lights were off to heed the call of Earth Day. There were many people gathered at the lobby and a projector was up. Then MJ's songs Heal the world, We are the world was played and the lyrics were shown on the projector and it was a big karaoke event at that moment.  The feeling was just awesome.

 We soon head back to the room and quickly wash up and hit the sack. It was after all, a very tiring day.

The next morning, we had breakfast at some nearby local market and went off to the city center again to visit the museums. Hubs had learned from the day before from that local that one ticket allows entries to all 3 museums there and it's pretty cheap. So we hopped from one to another and yet to another.

Well, I think that was all we had done since I can't find any other pictures apart from those museums.

Good time spent on this Melaka trip indeed.