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.

Grade 1 in ribbons, clubs and ball.

Wow! It's amazing to watch how meimei and her friends handle these 3 apparatus after just learning them in less than a mere half a year. Although not so professional yet, I am really wowed by their ease and determination to learn how to control them with articulation. It's just so amazing.

I personally love the ribbon the most. I feel the movements or dance with the ribbon is just awesomely graceful and mesmerizing. It's by far the hardest to control as the ribbon they are learning at this age is 5m long and they need to keep moving the ribbon so it's continuously moving throughout the whole routine.

The grading/competition took a whole full day. Luckily I had one day to rest after my HK trip. I forced the boys to go with us, since I didn't feel comfortable at all to leave them alone by themselves. I refused to let them bring any electrical gadgets to play and they were told to think what to bring to entertain themselves or fill up their own time, presumably for 12 hours straight.

Eventually, they brought a remote controlled helicopter (which was abandoned after a short stint as the battery died on them), badminton to play and books to read. Fortunately, there were many others who needed to tug their sons along too, so there were other children, all boys, whose ages ranged from 6-14 all hanging out in the lobby area where the school the grading were held in.

Some of them brought basketball along, so didi and korkor had almost the whole day sweating out with them, just playing like normal boys do. I felt sooo proud of them that they overcame the day without complaining how bored they were.

A mom I knew asked me why I didn't let them bring the iPad and I replied her that it was one of the main reason I hauled them with me, away from the computer at home. I said these electronic games just killed their creative cells to think how to occupy their time and they also lacked the time of running, jumping, sweating and playing with other kids. The mom nodded and said.. that's true also. I guess most parents these days really are taking the easy way out and just passed these electrical gadgets too easily to their kids so they don't bother them, without thinking how much damage there is. See? My boys could just spend the whole day eventually, without the need to come and complain to me how bored they are! (also because I warned them beforehand  of that too! hehe!)

Almost near to the end, korkor was exhausted and I told him to sit down and read a book which I had gone to buy for him the night before. He said ok la, and started reading it. A few pages into it, and I saw he was so engrossed with the book he didn't seem to care what was going on around him. I think it was a very good book indeed to had captured his attention so much. The book is called Matilda by Roald Dahl. He didn't put it down right until he got to the last page which was about bedtime that day.

As for meimei, though she hadn't been the star or even among the average of her peers, I feel very proud of her indeed. I only wished I could have learned this when I was young too, and I hope she knows how privilege she is to have this opportunity to learn RG. Now, she's progressing on learning another new apparatus, that is the hoop. And a whole new routine (dance) for rope and freehand respectively as well, to be graded end of this year, on her birthday! That is why the practices are still ongoing even during school holidays and I had been sending her to school every other day, except Thursday and also stayed there to watch them.

Meimei in her team competition this year

When I was away for 4d/3n, I missed meimei so much that I would be grinning when talking to her on Viber everyday. I felt guilty yet relieved that she didn't need to miss me that much as she still had korkor and papa with her. Furthermore, she was very occupied with the competition she was going in with her school team and that was really the one thing I missed the most.

This year, the preparation for the event by the coach was done unprofessionally and up to the very last minute. Many parents were involved in sourcing and getting the attire ready for their performance and I felt really really awful not helping out in any way. Though the girls didn't come out tops among 13 other teams, but all of us felt very proud of them to have done their best. I can tell from their every movement in the recorded clip from hubs. I reminded hubs to be there to record it for me, reminding over and over again, like for 100x!

Though I thought of every little details of their activities and what hubs need to do and remind meimei to bring, but there was one thing I totally forgot. It was how to take the heavy make up down for her! Haha! When I was talking to meimei on the phone, only I realized that part when she told me papa had used soap on her face several times to wash the make up away!!!! OMG! I hoped she was really cleaned for I know how heavy the make up would be.

My first solo trip.

Not exactly.

Though I yearned for it, but I know I wouldn't be enjoying myself alone somewhere, out there. I would have preferred to take meimei with me, as girl is so much more a better companion, but ideally, I would like to bring one child at a time for a trip somewhere.

For our very first venture, didi came along with me, as meimei had to stay on here for a team competition. I got 2 tickets to visit my friend in HK, and eventually persuaded another of my good friend to go with us. So, not exactly a 1:1 trip either.

The flights seemed to be the only time both of us spent time together. I refused to do any other things beside talking to him and even though I was tired and wanted to steal some shuteye, I entertained his every questions and when it wasn't forthcoming, I tried to engage him in some other topics or some little games. It was a very enlightening time for me indeed. But on the flight back home, I was way too exhausted and just wanted to sleep, so it was entirely the opposite.

The trip was just too short, only 3 full days we had and we spent them in Sai Kung pier, Wetlands Park and Disneyland, in that order.

The boys all had fun, but HL's son, Ian was not feeling so well but still a very well behaved child, we would say in that circumstances. However, his age is way too small compared to the other 3 (didi, William and Vincent), hence it was quite a gap there. I would have loved to see didi being more compassionate and tolerant to younger kids, but unfortunately, he's really not. Sigh! Is there a way to teach that value to someone who's not? Sometimes I just wish I have a magic wand.

This had also been a great time spending it with my good buddies, Hui Ling and Mun Yee. We were just reminiscing the 3 of us spending a good 1 year together as roommates. Ahh, if Jen Mei had been with us, it was totally a reunion of us 4. We missed her!