Dear Journal - The First Time

Dear Journal

Sometimes, life can be great. You know, when nothing can seem to go wrong, everything you have planned is coming together, when you feel unstoppable.

On his arrival date, I was a nervous wreck, don’t know why, many speculations were forming in my own mind. What if, what next and all what’s????

My adrenalin was beyond its normal flow, rushing to the airport, taking the airport pass, boarding the train and finally waiting at the arrival gate. The time of arrival seems to be snail slow, clock time came and went, still no sign of him, I tried to mingle around with the ground staff but it was just faking the thunderous beating of my heart.

Finally, the much awaited flight arrived, passengers started walking out and the butterflies in my stomach flew to a million. None a familiar face was spotted and it was an hour behind time. Where is he??, have I already missed him??, did he actually board the plane?? I was composing and calculating the odds against that, still waiting, still no sign of him………

When my anxiousness got the better of me, he came walking out, with a smile much waited for, and with a hug much hungered for and with two pecks on the cheeks, which was much anticipated for. There were no odd feelings between us, we settled in comfortably, and at one point I think I was making a nuisance of my anxiety, where upon I hope I was not offending him.

Thus, our history of us, not him neither I begun…………….

Silent Tears

It was a super busy Tuesday for me today, started at 0645 hours and returned home at approximately 1940 hours. There was a moment that I cannot help wonder if my life is destined to be this way, will I always be treated like a driver, a maid and a provider. I feel sad, but as always I will not let sadness drive me to a land of no return.

Think positive I keep telling myself, I know like me no one ever asked to be born, and we are all here for a reason. I accept all the reasons meant for me from the Lord. I am not going to regret anything that I have promised to do so that all my kids can fly strong on their own, never mind if along the way I am always not the preferred mother.

When ties were severed between my own mother and me, I start looking around at all elderly women as my own mother. Do I wish I could turn back time and be more careless in showing my love to the people that meant the world to me? No, I will not. However, many things and incidences that happened keep me praying that the Lord will show me the answers.

It is mummy’s birthday today, I left the house early, first for transportation to college, then came back to take shower and get ready to go to her house. I have no intention of staying long; just enough to hug her and feel the warmth of a mother’s loving arms. When I arrived she was crying, I held back my tears, I know how she is feeling on this special day of hers, then out of nowhere daddy made a remark that they accepted me as their own daughter. These words were so pure, so meaningful, so cooling to my heart, no words can describe the tears that were so ready to run down, but I have to be strong for them, not the other way round.

Hurriedly I made an excuse of exist as I have another appointment at 1000 hours. As I was driving, I can’t help making a lot of wishes, and hoping that they will be answered. InsyaAllah one day, but for now my silent tears will just continue.

Between Decision and Obligation

Last Sunday, me and my little angel went to Amcorp Mall as I had something to do there, besides, I love to browse around in the bazaar. Since we arrived quite late in the evening there were not too many stalls to feast our eyes on.

I discovered some very nice Xmas gifts for friends which were all within my budget, but there were even more things in the shops not the bazaar that I had to greet my teeth from buying. When we passed my favorite DVD shop, I extended my neck near the door and looked from a distance which stops short of me entering, because this shop will empty not only my pockets but also my purse.

I can sense that my little angel was getting a bit bored, as we were just browsing, with me every now and then stopping at a couple of shops in anticipation. It was getting dark too, while both our stomachs were singing the sad hunger song when we decided to leave in search for food.

We had the ever so famous Uptown chicken rice before heading home. It suddenly began to rain, strong heavy rain, I had to detour to the petrol station for a fill-up. On the way home the road became less visible because of the rain, traffic started stalling slowly. To kill time and boredom I started tickling my little angel till she shrilled with laughter over and over again and it just brings joy to me.

Just before entering the turning to our condo, we saw a family of three walking in the rain. It just breaks my heart to see how they were hurrying to a destination I know not of. We passed them and I made a U-Turn while my little angel went to the back of the car to get an umbrella to give to them.

I gave them the umbrella, that’s all that I can afford to do, I wish I could have offered to send them somewhere with cover, but I also have my Chef Diva waiting for her dinner at home. It was a decision that I have no choice but make. However, I am glad that at least the family of three will be walking in the heavy rain with a wee bit of comfort.

Ordinary Day

I wish I could tell you
The things I never got the chance to
I wish I was with you now
To see you smile again
I wish we had more time
But time goes by so fast

The moment comes and
Then the moment passes by
In the blink of an eye

And If I had one wish
I wouldn’t ask for money
I wouldn’t ask for fame
I wouldn’t ask for the power to
Make this world change
If I could have one thing
That one thing that I would chose
Is one more ordinary day with you
With you

I wish I could see you
And be there where my arms could reach you
I wish I could let you know
How much you touch my life
Maybe a little time is all the time we get
The Words we long to say are words that go unsaid
You can go back again

But if I had one wish
I Wouldn’t ask for money
I wouldn’t ask for fame
I wouldn’t ask for the power to
Make this world change
If I could have one thing
That one thing that I would chose
Is one more ordinary day
With you

I wish we had more time
Time goes by so fast
The moment comes and
Then the moment passes by
In the blink of an eye

But if I had one wish
I Wouldn’t ask for money
I wouldn’t ask for fame
I wouldn’t ask for the power to
Make this world change, no
If I could have one thing
That one thing that I would chose
Is one more ordinary day
Just one more ordinary day with you
With you

Let’s Procrastinate

Procrastinate is my everyday motto, it is weird how I will wait till the very last minute to have things done, and it is only during this last minute hassle of time that gets my adrenalin going. I just can’t help it, could I be accidentally be born with it?

I am not someone who worries continuously, unnecessarily or mourn and groan about things until I have no ultimatum left to save me. However, when it comes to timeliness that the kids have to observe I will go mad if any of them were to be laid back. This is because I know the effect of being a procrastinator. Trust me it is bad in bold capital BAD!!!!!The best of all no matter how much I put things on hold as a procrastinator I always make sure that I am never late for my appointments. It is not like I will be preparing myself way before time, but in exactly 1 hour (depending on the destination) to the appointed time, I will crawl lazily out of bed, take a quick shower, like a super person get dressed, zoom out of the house into the car and walla I am not late. However, it drives me nuts when people fall back on time, basically because they forget that appointments always involve another party.

My procrastination can sometimes see the house refrigerator empty to the last shelf, as I keep holding on to go grocery shopping, because there will only be one or two stores that I frequent and no matter what this will not change.

Ask me what I love about this habit of procrastinating?

The Night I Nearly Killed An Indian

For some odd reason we had our meeting at the IKEA cafeteria, it was very informal though. It is one of those meeting where no one listens to anyone and then we will have to go over and over again on the same issue. It was half fun half frustrating as in the end instead of getting 100 percent we only achieved 10.

Anyways, the advantage of holding a meeting in such a place is that each pays for their own food. The other advantage is that when the meeting gets carried over for more than one and a half hour, also known as boring already, one by one the attendees will make some kind of excuse to leave the table and adjourn to the shopping mall.

Early on I saw one of the ladies savoring on a very interesting looking chicken dish, of course I was salivating but too shy to ask for a taste, so as the meeting progress to la la land, I excused myself and grab a plate of same. Came back to the table eat and laugh till my heart’s content and yeah ciao.

When I drove out of the parking lot it was raining quite heavily, I am not good at night driving because of my eyesight. The first traffic light that I took was red and I was first in line, it did not take long to go green. Naturally I just rammed on my accelerator, suddenly out of no where this Indian guy was glued to the front of my car. My heartbeat just stopped as I hit the break.

After like a flick of a second he moved, seeing that he was alright I wind down my screen and start throwing insults at the poor guy. Oops wait a minute I am the poor one here, what if I only discovered that he was wriggling under my tires, should I just run him over twice for being such an idiot or kill myself first.

Guess he knew that he was in the wrong, despite my insults he just walked away in the rain with his head bowed low.

I can’t help but keep on swearing as I drove off.

Godparents are Chosen

Every time someone told me that he or she is the godparent of so and so, I just can’t help but give that sinister look. Often I wonder if these people even know the meaning of real godparents as well as the responsibilities that come along with it. A godparent is normally chosen by the parents of a newborn child, and this is a very common practice among the Catholic. Under the Canon Law 872-874 there are specific requirements to qualify as a godparent.

The godparent will need to be baptized and at least 16 years of age. They should have a close supportive relationship with the family. Traditionally, godparents will also be responsible in ensuring the child’s religious education, and will take the duty of caring for them should their parents demised. They must also be good guiding friends and mentors.

Therefore, this is my understanding of godparents. I have friends who assigned godparents to their children and they went to court to have a proper agreement signed.

However, what can be mind boggling is that you come across people of the non Catholic faith let alone Christian, telling me that they are godparents to so and so, or at the age of more then half a century they suddenly have a godparent. Hemm……… how so la?

I guess in Malaysia all `boleh’ so hentam saja la. I bet in their mind a godparent must be another brand name. Just like all the fake things in this country, even godparent is plastic now. I would love to see if the so wannabe godparents will even spend a dollar for the interest of the child, or take the child in if their biological parents would like to have a short vacation or would they share an interest in the development of the child.

Godparents …………….. understand your role before rolling out.

Bedak Sejuk - Tell Me If It Works?

When I was growing up I remember having very bad skin, especially at the beginning of puberty, my parents were too busy with eight children to specially notice my skin. I grew up learning on my own from admiring others, on how to have good skin. One of my sisters in law though was particularly interested in helping me out, only that instead of making my skin better it just got worst.

I am one of those people who got better with age, may be also I became more knowledgeable, more aware of the opposite sex and more competitive among the same gender. Basic facial cleansing for me for a long long time was just simply using the Detol soap bar. Though it keeps my skin clean, however it becomes oilier, which thus encouraged the outburst of acne every now and then.

I noticed my late grandma as well as my mother using this thing called `bedak sejuk’ every day and night. The smell of the `bedak sejuk’ was horrible; it is like the smell of rice grains being soaked over night. They both surprisingly have good skin.

Once I started earning my own money, I become obsessed with skin care and I will only use the best in the market, however, behind the closed door of my own home the `bedak sejuk’ become my routine night moisturizer. I cannot give a testimonial here whether the branded skin care or the `bedak sejuk’ was helping my skin more, but indeed I do have better skin till now.

When we were in Kuching, Sarawak recently we came across someone selling `bedak sejuk’ at the Cultural Village, I persuaded my eldest girl to let me buy for her, so that she can try using the same since she has quite bad skin just like what I had before.

I am still waiting for her to tell me the effect the `bedak sejuk’ has on her skin.

Tamagawa Hot Spring at Home

My friend called to invite me as a guest to experience a new spa in town. Without any hesitation I said yes and was very eager to go and try the new spa. The concept of this spa is known as Stone Spas or Dry Spas.

When I came to the spa I was shocked to see this coffin like bed that we are supposed to sleep inside. On second thought I wanted to call it quit, but then I saw that there were so many people who were cooling down already, and they were fine. Before I was put into this coffin like bed, I was given about a liter of warm water to drink, and also a cup of ginger lemon grass tea. I took my own sweet time to finish the drinks while my eyes were busy digesting every one who goes in and out of the coffin bed.

Finally, it was my turn I went on a bed with unique stones covered by a thin towel, then the spa assistant pulled the cover over my body except for my head. The time to be in this confinement will be 40 minutes. Even before the first minute was over I was beginning to sweat, the heat kept coming and by the end of the 40 minutes I was drenched whole in sweat.

After the 40 minutes was over, I was requested to sleep on my belly for another 10 minutes in the same confinement. Then I was given another liter of warm water plus one cup of hot ginger lemon tea to drink. It really rejuvenated me. I am simply addicted since the first dose.

Testimonial of this Dry Spas is that once the body temperature is increased, the body immunity and metabolism will also increase. The body’s toxins can be eliminated through the sebaceous and sweat glands. Therefore the use of stone spas generates perspiration. This proves that using stone spas will lead to the improvement of blood and lymphatic circulations, thus, the general well-being is increased.

Go pamper yourself and get healthy.

Orang Asli Settlement

Today is another day of my voluntary activity; we have an appointment to visit the `orang asli’ settlement in Serendah near Rawang. We went in a fleet of three cars to deliver some donations that were requested in aid of the community center of the `orang asli’.

We were introduced to the `orang asli’ settlement by a representative of the St. Judes church. The presentation was brief, I was hoping to see more of the `orang asli’ but instead the majority of the attendance were from the church and our group.

Once the hand over was done, we served them food that we had brought along with us. Suddenly the hall became full of the `orang asli’ kids. They were eating like as though this was their last meal. I saw most of the young mothers were at an average age of 14 to 15 and among them, they will already have at least two kids.

What the Government had done to educate the `orang asli’ was just a sad truth of greed. Their land was taken from them for development or for the personal interest of the political leaders, while these people are still living with the least of their basic needs.

Time and again my trust in our government’s mandates and promises just went flushing into the filthy toilet bowl in the community hall.

One Day In Your Life

One day in your life
You'll remember a place
Someone touching your face
You'll come back and you'll look around YOU

One day in your life
You'll remember the love you found here
You'll remember me somehow
Though you don't need me now
I will stay in your heart
And when things fall apart
You'll remember one day . . .

One day in your life
When you find that you're always waiting
For a love we used to share
Just call my name, and I'll be there

You'll remember me somehow
Though you don't need me now
I will stay in your heart
And when things fall apart
You'll remember one day . . .

One day in your life
When you find that you're always longing
For a love we used to share
Just call my name, and I'll be there

Bitter Sweet Buttery Durian

Last Saturday I had some guests in town, we agreed to meet in the morning, run some errands, meeting more friends followed with a simple chicken rice lunch. Then we went to see the new place that I was interested in. When it was time to send my guests back to the hotel I decided to go for durian first.

The durian place that I frequently go to is somewhere very close to the LRT station and the owner is a very nice person. So under the hot sun, we went for the durian attack. It started with one durian, then two and three more. We just could not stop till we knew that we will be puking durian if we don’t stop.

The bitter sweet buttery taste of the durian flesh will be such a waste to miss. We left with our heart content and very satisfied stomach. Once in the car I was trying to drive as fast as I could so that no one will irritate anyone with the pungent smell of durian from burping.

On Wednesday night I decided to go for another durian attack again, but this time round it was with some very close friends who are as mad about durian as I am. It was already late and raining when we arrived at my favorite durian stall. Cannot remember in total how many durians went down our throat and into our greedy stomach but for sure we were all so bloated and happy.

That night I was given some tips to the good way of durian eating. First; once you finish eating the durian pour some plain water in the empty shell and drink the water, this will prevent your body from feeling hot, second take one of the durian seeds and use it like a soap to wash your finger, this will eliminate the strong durian smell from sticking on to your fingers.

So remember this when you next do the durian thingy.

What If?????

On my way back from having an evening tea with a girlfriend, I decided to detour to the petrol station that is just around the corner to our condo. I had to get the STAR paper as there was something that I needed to read.

Parked my car right in front of the station’s utility shop, made a quick entrance, picked up the newspaper and walked right back to my car. Once I was in the car I on the engine and put on my seat belt. Suddenly, from the side of the shop I saw a man walking towards my car, he was kind of fast; on impulse I put my feet on the break which immediately locked the car.

The next minute this man was standing so so close to my side of the door and knocking on my window. I have to stay as calm as possible, as I could not back my car for fear that I might run him down, I did not sound the honk for fear that no one will come to my rescue and it can only make the man angry. I waited with my eyes fixed on my steering wheel.

Meanwhile, the man was now showing a sign from outside for me to lower the window, at first I hesitated but he is not moving, weird is no one seem to notice all these actions that is going on. I told myself not to panic and decided to put down my window just enough to hear what he wanted.

He was mumbling something about money and not having enough petrol to make it home to Ulu Selangor (don’t even know where this is). Noticing that I do not understand what he was talking about, he repeated himself. He wanted RM20.00 because he does not have money to fill up his motorbike petrol, which also means that he would not be able to go home.

I asked him why he can’t fill RM10.00 of petrol only, his reasons was Ulu Selangor is too far for RM10.00 worth of petrol. In my mind I just wanted this man out of my way and off my face already, which ended up with me refusing to make any more conversation but giving him the money. When I opened my bag I discovered that I have no small change except for RM15.00, took the money gave it to him and told him that sorry I don’t have any change and quickly put up my windows.

He stood there holding the money in what seemed like ages before he decided to turn and walk away from my car. I stayed a bit longer and watched where he was heading to before moving the car.

I drove but stopped just before entering the condo, as I could not help myself from crying. Reasons for the tears were many but among them was what if it was one of my kids behind the wheels? What if that man was genuine and he really cannot get home? What if my kids were facing this problem?

Single Mum............... Stand Tall and Smile

My son sent me this article An Insult To Single Mum, after reading it, only one question came to my mind, how low more will single mums be treated. Do I feel sad seeing this article being so boldly printed? Answer – No, not at all.

I was a single mum with four wonderful children for a long long time; I went to hell and back to make ends meet just to give my kids the best in everything. The world was watching but does anyone even bother to extend a helping hand? No, no one, not even my own family.

Giving RM1,000 to men who will take single mothers as their second wife is ridiculous. I am sure many smart single mothers out there would rather stay single then to take on another burden of being a second wife, and giving the pleasure to the man pocketing RM1,000 per month, we are not that cheap. My salary when the kids were growing up surpasses more then twenty folds of what the Malacca government is offering. Who in the right mind will want to share her earning with another man just not to be single anymore? Just so the label of a single mother will be lifted off her shoulder?

Sometimes I wonder why the women whatever association department was set up for. Single mothers are very much fighting for their own rights, I remember how many times I went to approach all the necessary government bodies so that my daughter could be given a scholarship or even a study loan, and each time I was given the same negative response even when they were in the know that I was a single mother of four. I remember how desperate I was when the government will not recognize single mothers renewing the passport of their own child. I remember how school will not accept a single mother’s application without the appropriate papers. I remember crying until no tears will flow alone in the night, thinking if I do not work three times as hard, what will my children be?

To Chuah Ping Shien if you think your letter will make a difference keep on writing, all I can tell you is that as long as we are here in this country Change We Cannot!!!!!

Good luck to your mother and just shower her with all the love and respect that you have. Let the world make a mockery of single mothers but as long as our children are good and responsible people, that’s all that matters.

Proudly Made in Malaysia

The label read Proudly Made in Malaysia, satisfaction guaranteed and cholesterol free. Most of the time cooking oil will come in a bottle or a can but this oil proudly made in Malaysia was packed in plastic bags.

The bags of cooking oil were piled on top of each other on one big wire rack, take a close look and tell me what is there to be proud of? Can you blame them if most of the citizens will still go for better a brand product, because this so called proudly made in Malaysia product is so poorly presented, and the authenticity of the labeling is questionable.

Just sharing what I am not so proud of.

Belimbing Buluh (Averrhoa bilimbi)

When we were walking the market of Satok in Kuching, Sarawak there were so many questions to be answered from my two girls and so many new things to be introduced to them, among the many vegetables that I was most interested in was the Belimbing Buluh (Averrhoa bilimbi). It has been a very very long time since I, not mentioning my two girls had the opportunity to taste it.

My late grandmother used to plant the Belimbing Buluh plant in her garden. Each tree bears a lot of fruits that she will harvest and sell them too. Besides bringing some income to the family, my grandma will cook a lot of wonderful dishes using the Belimbing Buluh. Most of the dishes will be cooked using coconut milk, except when the Belimbing Buluh is used to make sambal belacan then it will be eaten raw.

In the normal wet market that I usually go to, I do not see the Belimbing Buluh being sold. Someday I hope I would be able to cook one of the dishes for my girls, so that they will remember this fruit and not be surprised when being served with it.

To make sambal belacan with Belimbing Buluh, here you go:

Ingredients:
5 red chili
3 bird’s eye chili
2” roasted shrimp paste (Belacan)
5 Belimbing Buluh
Salt to taste

Method:
Just pound all the ingredients together and serve with hot steamed rice or baked fish.
Must try if you come across the Belimbing Buluh

Semenggoh Sad Sad Center

12 years ago, I came to Semenggoh in Kuching Sarawak with my son. It was one of the best places to visit then, as you have the opportunity to witness the habitat of the Orang Utans. That time, visitors were also allowed to touch and take pictures with the animals. I cannot remember how much the entry fee was but we did have fun.

Semenggoh is located approximately 20 km away from Kuching, and it took us 30 minutes by road to reach there. The current entry fee is RM60.00 per person, irrespective if you were a student or otherwise, so for the two angels and me, we had to pay RM180.00. We were told that the best time to visit the Semenggoh rehabilitation center would be during the feeding time, normally held at 0900 hours in the morning or 1500 hours in the evening.

We chartered a private car to take us there, with the hope that we will return happily educated about the animals. Semenggoh is an organization that attempts to rehabilitate Orang utans and later letting them out to the wild again. At the entrance to the feeding area, we were given a briefing on the dos and don’ts while we were watching them eating. Although the Orang utans are semi-wild, they still know where and when they can go for food. We were so confident that we will get to see them.

When the warden brought the food and started calling for them, everyone present was very quite as instructed. Aimed with non flashed camera everyone wanted to capture a piece of memory. About 10 minutes from the calling one Orang utan came to eat, all cameras were on him, the waiting time continued with the hope that at least a few more will appear, however after half an hour everyone left as the only Orang utan had gone back to the jungle, while no one else came forward.

On the way home, the driver told us that during the fruit seasons, most of the Orang Utans will not come for the feed. Obviously, who will if they were being fed with the same food 365 days a year.

We felt cheated for the amount of time taken traveling to Semenggoh, the high fees and seeing that most part of the rehabilitation center has been constructed for picnic areas. Visitors should have the rights to be properly informed.

I support the reason the center was set up initially, but now people are only thinking of making money more than anything else. Turning the jungle concrete with the money collected from the visitors is pure robbery.

SCDC ……… ?????

Ear-Candling.........does it work?

At Damai Resort we were given a super big room for three, It has a breath taking view of both the swimming pool and the blue sea. The girls did not waste any time to soak themselves in the sea, though the tide was low at the moment of arrival.

As much as I love the sea, I love to be pampered with reflexology and massage more. While the girls were busy looking for their seashells, I decided to have my foot massage. Just imagine lying on the bed with the breeze from the sea, and someone working on your foot, it was paradise. Little did I realize that the feet massage or reflexology comes with a free Ear-candling. I have never experienced the later, but there is a first in everything.

Ear-candling is a treatment that assists the natural clearing of earwax as well as toxins from the ear. This is done by placing a hollow candle in the ear, where one end of the hollow candle is lit, and the other end is placed in the ear canal. The flame thus creates warmth and suction which draws ear-wax and toxins out of the ear passageway.

This treatment is also believed to alleviate some of the following conditions:
- headaches
- sinus problems
- blocked ears
- inner ear pressure
- vertigo and imbalance
- migraine

The treatment did not have any effect on me at all, but I just enjoyed being pampered. The next day I had a whole body massage while the girls said their farewell to the beautiful Damai Resort Beach.

This is the place to be where the outside world does not matter at all, where TV and technology is not needed.

Looking forward to more trips there

Knock Knock..... Crowne Plaza

Arrived into Kuching, we took the airport taxi and straight for our check-in at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Riverside. I have always liked this hotel as it is neat, lavish, clean and a walking distance to the bazaar as well as the famous eatery places.

Our room was on the 13th floor, this is not a number that I fancy to be associated with especially when on vacation, however taking into consideration that we were here to celebrate the 13th birthday of my little angel, I just give a go for the room without much fuss.

Once our bags were deposited in the room, we changed to more comfortable walking shoes and out to the bazaar we went. We were walking and walking and walking, till it was already dark, we only returned to the hotel after dinner.

The first night both me and my little angel slept immediately as we were obviously very tired. My eldest girl meanwhile was still busy with her computer. I was still asleep the next morning only to be awaken when they both returned from their breakfast.

Someone was trying to open our room door at approximately 0130hours the night before and in the morning the girls discovered that the double lock to the door was opened. I alerted security and requested for a change of room. A couple of the senior staff came to meet with me and confirmed that the person who was trying to open our room door was the security on duty. He claimed that he did so because our door was not locked properly.

If that was so, why did he not go to front office and inform them to call us, or why does he not ring the bell on the door, instead of trying to open the door repeatedly? Questions were left unanswered, but we were moved from 13th floor to the Executive Floor on the 17th.

The experience was scary especially when we are in Kuching. However, the hotel made up for their fault and made sure that we feel safe for the rest of our stay there.

Goodbye Laila

The phone rang this morning, it was a number from Dubai, a familiar number, and answering this call would only mean receiving more sad news. At the third ring I decided to answer, true enough one more friend has been called to be in the arms of the Almighty.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. (May Allah give her peace, grant her forgiveness, and raise her rank on the Day of Judgement, amin). This was the first word that I utter upon hearing the news.

Laila finally succumbed to Ovarian Cancer, she was down with the sickness for more than four years. She is a very nice and down to earth person, married to an Emirate, she lived a wonderful life in Dubai.

When she was diagnosed with Cancer, she accepted the news well and was not afraid to share the news with all her friends. She was very privileged to have the best of doctors to be in attendance always. I remember Laila as someone who wears a smile all the time, indeed she was a very happy person.

Another life has gone, another chapter closed, another prayers given. May you rest in peace Laila. Al Fatiha.

In Sarawak do Mee Kolok

Finding fabulous variety of food is not a difficult thing to do while vacationing in Sarawak. Top Spot is one of the most common and welcoming places to fulfill the desire of an empty stomach.

The seafood on displayed was a beautiful array of color freshness, accompanied by a wide choice of fresh garden vegetables as well as fresh fruit juices. We were patronizing this eatery every night of our stay there. The price was a bit on the high side, but who cares.

There are a lot of must try and must eat food there, among them are the Laksa Sarawak, Umai, Mee Kolok, Daud Midin, Layered cake and many more. Between me and my little angel we had two bowls of Laksa Sarawak while waiting for the traditional show to start at the Cultural village. Before leaving Kuching town, I had my share of mee kolok, bought some ikan terubok asin and the layered cake to take home.

Mee kolok is a very simple dish, light and easy, for those who would like to give it a go, here is a simple way to creating your very own mee kolok.

Ingredients

Cooking oil
Garlic (chopped)
Lean beef (boiled and thinly sliced)
Think and thick soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Sesame Oil
Garlic oil
Fresh wantan noodles
Fish balls (optional)
Prawns
Choy sum and bean sprout
Green bird’s eye chilies (cut into small pieces and mixed with light soy sauce and lime)

Method

Heat oil in a wok, add garlic and fry till fragrant. Add the thinly sliced boiled beef, thick soy sauce, salt and pepper.

Blanch the wantan noodle in boiling water till soft but do not over do the noodles, rinse in cold water and mix well with the garlic oil plus light soy sauce. Put in a serving bowl.

Cook the fish balls, prawns and choy sum in boiling water for 5 minutes and add to the noodles.

Serve the noodle with a bowl of soup (from the boiled beef add the bean sprout), and the cut chili.

My Kitchen

When I had my last house renovated, the wet kitchen came with a charcoal stove. Family and friends thought that I was crazy to cook with charcoal, as it is too much time consuming, dusty, messy and dirty. But I just love cooking on charcoal, therefore I endure all these.

Given the opportunity again, I would still love to go back to the time where cooking was not only on charcoal but also wood. I had some experience with this kind of stove in some of my not so fortunate relatives’ home, and I simply love starting the fire, smelling the smoke and feeling the heat on my face.

While in Sarawak I took some pictures of my favorite ancient stove, let me share them with you.

Air Asia Definitly

When Air Asia was launched and introduced, I was only attracted to the color of the airplanes, curious of the super cheap flights, yet not adventurous enough to board the no frills airline. Despite friends making their recommendation on the credibility of Air Asia’s services, I was never one so easily influenced.

However, there should always be a first in everything in our life, so on October 27, 2008 Air Asia became my first no frills air transportation. The flight was from Kuala Lumpur / Kuching / Kuala Lumpur. On the morning of the travel, we arrived at the LCCT much too early, even before the counter was open. Then we saw that the flight will be delayed, I was like ok, so what’s new?

We were first in line at the counter, the staff was of course a He who wanted to be a She, so he/she greeted us so sweetly, informing us that the flight will be delayed for only 10 minutes, he/she was wearing a button that caught my eyes and cheekily I asked if I could have it. Without even questioning me, he/she took the button out from his/her shirt and gave the button to me. Beautiful first point.

After having our breakfast, at the canteen that was awarded as a clean premise (which surprised me, as the floor was dirty with litter and badly in need of a wet mop), we went to the waiting lounge, the staff was very nice and very informative.

On the plane, we were again approached by a pretty young thing in red, wanting to know if we need any assistance with the overhead compartment. Not only the cabin crews were beautiful, they were also very diplomatic and polite. Another plus point.

We experienced the same treatment on our return trip from Kuching. What are most commendable are the excellent services that come with this no frills airline. Even passengers on board were civic minded enough to help keep the plane clean.

Would I travel on AirAsia again? Definitely!!!