Penang Part 2

As most people would agree, one of the hi-light of any trip are the food choices along the highway - roadstops. Whether is it during pee stops or meal time.


A trip is not complete without some kind of memorable food, right? My favorite is always Malay food. I used to love the nasi lemak. Unfortunately I realised that of recent, after a meal of nasi lemak for breakfast, I always look for a bed to doze off .... Not a good idea. So, I keep those occasion as rare as possible.


A plate of rice topped with lemak paku pakis, sambal belacan, asam pedas with okra, cucumbers and some raw green leafy veges. That was pretty nice, I must admit. But its more rice than I would have preferred. And the meal ended with a nice teh tarik.


Toilet along the high way was clean. For a change. The little things in life, can bring so much joy.


After that hearty meal, I was already fantasizing about the food I can savor in Penang. After all, I have not been there for more than 3 years now. I think 5 years.


If I get the chance, I will post some photos for you... especially for the benefit of my Bangkokian friends ;-)

To be continued .....

Where Is It??????

3 July 2009

I hear the usual noises made by pork seller every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I opened my eyes and saw that it was 7.45am. I remembered that I needed to get some mince pork.

Sleepily I dragged my heavy feet and butt to the bathroom to change my pajamas. I might scare the poor fella if he sees me in my sexy lingerie, I mean hole-ly sleepwear.

Still half or rather three quarters asleep, I unlocked the main wooden door and made my way to the gate. Trying to unlock the padlock that locks the gate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 30 days in a month, 375 days in a year.... (Of course minus that few minutes a day when we need to go in and out the house). I discovered that not only the padlock was not there, but neither was the metal that was attacked to the gate, holding the padlock. I felt something amiss but my sleepy brain could not process the magnitude. So, I walked towards the Pork Seller and purchased some minced pork.

Re-entring the house, I looked towards the direction where my Hubby usually parks his Toyota Rush. Looking and staring.... Then I went through it over my mind.... I woke up this morning and Hubby was still sleeping. Why is the car not there? I quickly went to look at the set of keys in the drawers. It was there but the car is not.

Aaarrrrggghhh!

The car is stolen!!!!!

I raced upstairs... "The car is stolen!" "The car is stolen!"

The whole family was still fast asleep with saliva drooling from the sides of their mouth *slurp*.

My first question, "Does the car insurance cover theft?" Yes, it often boils down to dollars and cents. Sentimental value on a 2 months old car, still not very strong, yet. But an emotional tie to Mr $ can be very strong even after knowing him for 1 minute. Eventhough we are not good friends, I hear a lot about him. I know my children fantasizes a lot about him and the things they can get through him.

After recollecting our thoughts ....

What to do next?

Call the police....

All this transacted in Bahasa Malaysia...

Police: Hello

Me: Hello

Police: This is the police station

Me: I want to report the lost of my car. It was stolen from my house in .....

Police: I see. Can you come to the police station to make a report?

I said that I lost my car???!!!!! You want me to go to the police station? What if I did not have a car???? After all, my car has just been stolen!!! *frustrated*

Me: OK

We made the police report and all Ethaniel could think about throughout the one hour plus ordeal was, "Can we eat something? I am hungry". How different the children's priorities can be at a time like this?

It was a very memorable day.

The insurance will reimburse 100% but only after 3 months. Looks like inconvenience will roam the air for a some time.

Penang Part 1

We were on a schedule. We needed to leave the house by 9am. The weather looked cloudy, maybe it might rain. Looks like it.


After returning to Malaysia for almost 4 months, this is our first time making an outstation trip.

Since I have been back to Malaysia, things has been so busy that during weekends I just wanted to hang out at home, maybe take out a book or lie down. That is my ideal weekend. The thought of packing, sitting in the car for hours, washing all the laundry after returning, etc was a real deterrent.


I didn't pack till at about 12am the day before. Talking about last minute.


I remembered when I was a teenager, I used to pack months before the annual youth camp which was the hi-light of my life. This camp is usually held at the end of the year around December. I would save up by washing car belonging to my bro-in-law and his siblings. I was never paid any money for doing chores at home. Unlike my children.

When I was a child, we didn't go for any holiday or trips. School holidays was spent at home day after day, months after months. No trip to the beach, the park, the mountains, not to mention overseas trips. Not even Singapore. Yet, I never complained. When my schoolmates returned from holidays to the USA, I thought in my mind, "Wow, so fortunate".

Unlike my children, who are so blessed. Joel and Ethaniel both went overseas when they turned 2 yrs old. Joel have been to Australia - twice, USA, Singapore, almost the whole of Thailand, most part of Malaysia. Whilst I first boarded a plane when I was 21 years old to East Malaysia for a Mission Trip - 45 mins away, I think.


Anyway, back to the trip.


Our Bangkok Cell Member is having their wedding in Penang. We have promised them to be there months before we returned to Malaysia. The whole cell group will be there. Everyone has made the effort to fly/take the train and be in Penang to witness their wedding and celebrate this very special occasion with them. Talking about close knit family!!!


That is something I miss about Bangkok friends. Everyone is so close to each other and very often we treat each other like family members. Going out of the way to be nice, helpful and caring. Even nicer than some of our own family members who are sometimes so pedantic, resentful and selfish.

To be continued ....

Little Baby Ryan

"He is so red and beautiful" staring at Baby Ryan through the glass window. The exact same hospital Ethaniel was born.

Mixed parentage of Chinese and Eurasian, Baby Ryan has a good chance of having model looks and color too. Unlike my children who looked typical Chinese, small eyes and flat noses upon birth. Not that I am complaining, they now look like the most stunning young man in the whole of Malaysia. A little exaggerated but only a little.

I was not sure how to describe the emotions of seeing a newborn baby. After all it was 7+ years ago which I last held one. My very own little Ethaniel. The feelings is just so special. A special gift from God...so tiny, so perfect, so innocent, so angelic... It just melted my heart.

Congratulations to Corrine and Kerwin for the birth of their newborn on Sunday 14 June at 11.44am.

Go to Corrine's blog to see his photo. I will post some photos when I get my hands on some.

Miss Universe

Ethaniel and I sat down to watch the ending part of Miss Malaysia/Universe. They were already calling out the winners. My little boy asked me, "What is that?"

I tried to explain that it is a contest to decide who is most beautiful. And unexpectedly he said, "You are most beautiful", gave me the sweetest smile and stared into my face and continued...

"But you have to clean your forehead"

"Make sure there are no dirt (eye-shit) in your eyes"

"Let your hair down long"

"Make your body shiny (I think he meant clean and without dirt)"

"Change to a beautiful dress"

(lastly but not least)

"Slim down (he even measured and showed me with both of the palm of his hands. Looks like a size 0)"

Sigh.

So many things to do to be "beautiful". How to measure up? Am I that beautiful in his eyes?


Maybe, "yes" but only after I clean my forehead, eye shit, leave my hair long, take a shower, change to a beautiful dress and slim down.

More of Camporama

Whenever our children go somewhere without us, we have this hidden fear that they will not fair well. Mothers often think that they are indespensable , especially when the children are young . I wonder why we think that? Is it because we are overprotective? Or is it we the parents, actually misses the children more than they actually miss us?


I don't often leave the children, except if I did not have a choice. Which is also not often. I wish there were more occasions I can do that. Now that I am in Malaysia, there are more baby-sitters available. But from past experience, I realise that trips are much more fun with the kids. More laughters, chatters, mischieves, noises (too much sometimes), jokes, adventurous and fun. I am sure most parents out there feels that way. Or maybe not. Anyway.


Joel was talking about the Camporama days after he returned. He will sit down and tell us jokes which he has heard from his friends. Ethaniel and I will roll over with laughter. And he will choose a time when I need it most. Like when I was really frustrated about something or when I had a day under the weather.


"When you told me those jokes, were you trying to cheer me up?" I looked at him from the corner of my eyes.


He looked at me with a sweet and cheeky all at the same time and said, "Yes".


I thought to myself, when did he get so smart and thoughtful of his ole Mummy. No, not just now. He does try to please and I know that. As much as I try to please him by cooking the food which he likes. Its sure a give and take relationship. Isn't it all about? When we demand our children to do everthing perfectly all the time whilst we are being crappy parents, that's when we frustrate them. Or the other extreme when we give in to them all the time and expecting nothing from them. They become very self centred, self absorbed individuals. Thinking nothing about others.


Back to the Camporama....


He told me ....


About this iritating dorm leader who was really bossy and a "cold shower" for all the thinks they wanted to do, like chatting after the lights was out, making lots of noise and I thought it was reasonable. After all that's why Dorm Leaders are appointed. To keep the kids under control. Joel raised his voice a little, "But he is NOT even Our Dorm. He oversees the next dorm!" Now I see his point.


He threw a piece of paper filled with water into the bath when his friend J P was taking a shower. He bowled over with laughter.


He heard JP related an incident that happened in his own dorm. His dorm leader stood in front of the fan after a hot day of sweat and bad body odor. It almost killed them!


He repeated a few inappropriate jokes told by his friends but it made me laugh, nevertheless.


There were awesome food which he enjoyed. Feed him well and half of the battle is won.


Sounded like this young man had a real fun time. I am glad.


BTW, well done to the Royal Rangers for organising such a great Camporama!

Away to Camporama!

Me and my young man

"Hello Mum, how are you?"


It was a surprise but nice to receive the call.


"Hi Joel! How are you? Are you having fun?


I dropped him at about 7.30am at Church that morning. There were many children waiting to go for the Royal Rangers Camporama when we arrived. This is his first time attending, the previous years, he was too young. It is held every 4 years.


"Can I speak to Ethaniel, please?"


So, sweet of him to ask to talk to his little brother. A nice change from being at each other's throat.


"Hello Ko Ko (mean "older brother" in Chinese). How are you? Blah blah blah..."


I was sitting nearby smiling to myself, eavesdropping on what both of them were chatting about. If only they could be this polite to each other 24/7, 375 days a year! Then, it would be heavenly. Oh well, maybe once a while is still nice and enjoyable.


"I miss you and want to come back. I miss my bolster and pillow"


I laughed. He wants to come back because of his bolster and pillow :-) Not only that, he misses his Mummy and his brother and his Daddy. Indeed, absence makes the heart fonder. I bet all the boys at the camp, all having fun and yet lining up at the public phone to call back to their Mummies and Daddies. Such a cute sight to behold.


This is totally unexpected. I thought he will be so caught up with fun that I will only get a chance to talk to him after the 4 days 3 nights camp. Which was OK. He is allowed to have some space. I understand. But 4 telephone calls in 3 days was a nice surprise.


Little gestures like that really melts a Mother's heart. Right? You Mothers out there.