Mood Setting

Am keeping mum....and for those you are in the know, I beg you, please keep it to yourselves too. Thanks...really appreciate it.

Fresh Catch

Not only they are fresh, they are cheap too!! I would say that Tawau is a seafood heaven. We went to the market place this morning and came out feeling so "fishy".

Big prawns....so big and succulent looking

Ketam nipah..that was what the boy told me. Have never found these crabs in Shah Alam market.

Haaa.....check out this tiger prawns!! RM50/kg and you'll get like 5 pieces of these stripes

RM2.00/kg....never have I seen fish so cheap and fresh too

Here's where you can find them...so don't go complaining "who borong my fish after this yah...coz I did!!"

Weather Watch

Taken from the Star today.

KUALA LUMPUR: Thunderstorms over the waters off Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, west Johor and Sabah (Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau divisions) are expected to continue until Wednesday evening.

A Meteorological Department statement here said this could cause strong winds of 40kph and choppy seas with waves up to 2.5m which are dangerous to small craft.

Meanwhile, the Category 2 strong winds and choppy seas in the waters off Condore, Reef North, Layang-Layang and Palawan in the South China Sea are expected to continue until Friday.

The easterly/ north-easterly winds with speeds of 50kph to 60kph and waves up to 4.5m hig are dangerous for all shipping and coastal activities, the statement says.

Besides that, the easterly/north-easterly winds at 40kph to 50kph and 3.5km-high waves in the waters off Samui (Kelantan and Terengganu) and Tioman (east Johor and Pahang), Sabah, Labuan, Sarawak, Bunguran, Reef South, Sulu and Sulawesi are also forecast to continue until Friday. -- Bernama

Alamak...this piece of news is giving me butterflies in my stomach. Why?? Err...I'm flying to East Malaysia midday tomorrow. Yikes...I hate roller coaster rides.

Wishing that I am holidaying here instead.....

Anyway, work takes me to another city in Sabah, this time to Tawau. Will be there for an event together with a Minister (can't reveal who he is here...) and reps from various community groups. Looking forward to this trip?? Yes and no. Expectations from all parties involved are high, but we are all out to give our best shot!!

I'm not too sure if I could go online in Tawau (yikesss....how would I live with no FB???). So chill peeps...look out for me on tv, who knows I'll make news again...heh..heh :)

Letting Go

"Don't know where to start about what's wrong with corduroy.." said Miranda of "Sex in the City" to her bartender boyfriend. They were talking about how to dress appropriately to a dinner function organized by Miranda's legal firm.

Hey...if I was the boyfriend, I would have replied her that I like corduroy. Not kidding, I have a few cords hanging there in my closet; from jeans to skirts and even a jacket which I could not fit into anymore, want to give it away, but....so sayang nyer.

At every attempt I make clearing my closet, I'll go through this same "yes, you go", "no, you stay" or "maybe yes, maybe no" kind of decision making. It's so difficult to make that call. And as a result of that, my closets are filled to the brim. My build-ins are probably screaming at my wrong doing, how I abuse them, hanging more than I should on the already giving away hanging rod. On top of that, everyone in the house is complaining that he/she has little space left to get clothes organized. And it's all due to my blatant space invasion act. That's what they claim lah....and me, well, I simply can't see what they are fussing about (still in denial as always...)

Anyway, to proof their claims wrong, I made good progress over the weekend. Spent the entire Sunday clearing old stuffs, packed them in boxes and all ready to be taken back to MIL's place. I leave it up to her to have them distributed to anyone she thinks deserves our hand me downs. Most of the clothes are still in good shape and some hardly worn. I remember one corduroy overall which I got for Nissa when she was three years old. It is navy blue and has small red floral prints all around she skirt, one very sweet piece. The last time I deliberated whether to give it away, took it out and put it in back again. This time, my mind is set; it shall go to a new wearer.

Another accumulating guilt...kain!!! Entah bila nak send them for tailoring..sigh.

As I accumulated the "yes, you go" and "no, you stay" pile yesterday, that horrible guilt gush came disturbing; all hands and toes point my way as if telling me "my oh my...you sure know how to empty your purse!!!" Unfortunately, I still have no good answer to that. They say old habits die hard, do they not? Until I get that department sorted out, guess I'll continue making more space for others in the house, well that's the least I could do lah kan....

2nd Week Status

It's only two weeks into the year and I am already feeling like this :(

What a life...what a feeling.....

Must buck up...must snap out...must refuel and recharge

If only I'm a machine......betcha' it'd be easier.

Girl Power@Singapore

Of all the many trips the family had gone for, the most recent one to southern neighbour Singapore was the most eye opening for the kids. I can’t really recall when was the last time I took Farah to the island, but for Nissa this was her first time there. Truth be told, Singapore has never appeared in our top five choices of holiday destinations. Reasoning to that was simple; why bother paying for goods and services with an exchange rate of 2.4 when we could get the same things back in KL at a much cheaper price and be paying in RM.

I must admit I was wrong. Yes, Singapore has abundance to offer. Besides the year end sales, the Christmas lightings and decorations at Orchard Road, the small island had provided my girls valuable and learnable qualities about life. They saw for themselves how different both countries – Malaysia & Singapore are, and most importantly, how convenient life can be if one bothers to get things right at the very beginning.

Singapore skyline - view from AYE (Ayer Rajah Expressway)

View of Singapore port from Merlion Tower, Sentosa Island

Expansion works at Sentosa Island

New theme park will be ready mid this year

What the girls saw from the time we entered Singapore, from the Immigrations check point at Tuas to the purchasing of the auto card, to driving on the highways – AYE and ECP, to riding on the metro system, to the site seeing, to the little shopping that we did, everything spelt H-A-S-S-L-E F-R-E-E and C-O-N-V-E-N-I-E-N-C-E. Mom here had a tough time catching her breath replying Farah’s questions which came up at almost every other kilometer - “kenapa this...” and “kenapa that…”, “why in KL it’s not like this….” and “how come in KL it’s not like that….” In the end, I told her to make a list of the differences and perhaps have a discussion over coffee on what she has spotted.

The famous TANGS on Orchard

And when we finally had that coffee, I shared with them the little knowledge that I got from my reading about the building of the Singapore nation and how determined they are at becoming world class in a lot of things they believe in. This is something that we could learn from them and something we should sincerely strive for; unconditioned by rewards, fame promises and glamour.

Singapore Management Univ (SMU) - sits right at the intersection of Bencoolen St & Bras Basah Road

Nissa in front of the famous Raffles Hotel - built in 1887

A few weeks have passed since our quick holiday down south, but looking back now, I am glad we did the trip. Never mind those butterflies in my tummy caused by my unsureness of my ability in doing a lone holiday; a trip sans the assistance of the men in the house.

Girls@Orchard

It was girl power that got us through. Girls…you deserve a pat on your backs. Nothing beats that accomplished feeling and the experience, I must admit is priceless.

Singapore all lighted at Christmas...spectacular view!!

Mari Belajar Sejarah

Of the many tasks that need my attention at work, this particular one never fails to leave me in chuckles each time after work completion. On random basis, I make checks on a learning portal that we manage. Members of the portal comprise of students from secondary schools, spread through out the country.

Each member of the portal has his or her own member page. At their pages, they are somewhat free to publish any topic of their interest, provided they adhere to the posting guidelines. Although the postings are moderated, and the kids are very aware of this, there would be one or two rascals who would try their luck at testing the moderator’s strict censorship. They post funny jokes which after reading between the lines may have "suggestive" double meanings.

Aihhh…budak-budak sekarang ni, banyak kepandaian they all!!

One naughty rascal is Am**n, age 14, who studies in a reputable school in the East Coast. A bright kid whose passionate interest is technology, Am**n has never failed to give me that “laughter is the best medicine” therapy.

Some time back he posted this article. The title sounded serious but only after reading through, you’d realize how much of an attention seeker this fella was.

Read on….

Kenapa Utara Tanah Melayu Tidak Dapat Dijajah Portugis??

1508:

Afonso de Albuquerque menyampaikan hasratnya kepada Raja Portugis untuk meluaskan pegaruhnya ke Asia Tenggara (Melaka pusat perdagangan Asia Tenggara ketika itu) dan juga laluan penting perdagangan timur barat. Raja Portugis bersetuju untuk menyediakan kemudahan bala tentera 158 biji kapal, 15300 (anggaran) bala tentera.

1509:

Portugis menghantar perisik ke Melaka untuk mengetahui keadaan kekuatan pertahanan di sana.

Oct 1511:

Alfonso berjaya menawan Melaka setelah berhempas pulas melawan 5 pahlawan Melayu terhandal (Hang Tuah, Hang Lekir, Hang Lekiu, Hang Jebat dan Hang Kasturi). Ini adalah mimpi ngeri bagi pihak Alfonso. Untuk menawan Melaka serta berlawan dengan 5 Hang bersaudara, mereka perlu mendapat askar tambahan setelah 15 ribu askarnya terkorban dalam pertempuran selama 6 hari dengan 5 Hang bersaudara..akhirnya dapat juga menawan Melaka setelah hampir kecewa dan putus asa...

1512:

Setahun kemudian Alfonso ingin meluaskan kekuasaannya ke Perlis, Kedah dan P.Pinang, yang ketika itu adalah pusat pegeluaran tebu untuk gula rantau ini...

Feb 1512:

Alfonso menghantar 3 orang perisik ke Perlis, Kedah dan Pulau Pinang untuk mengetahui kekuatan bala tentera di sana. Mengikut sejarah, perisiknya telah ke kedai kopi sekitar untuk mendapat segala maklumat yang diperlukan.

Seminggu selepas itu

Feb 1512:

Perisik balik ke Melaka untuk memberitakan hasil risikan kepada Alfonso. Di bawah adalah perbualan percakapan antara 3 perisik dengan Alfonso yang selama ini cuba disembunyikan dalam buku sejarah...

Perisik 1.2.3: Selamat pagi tuan (sambil bertabik)

Alfonso: Selamat pagi

Perisik 1: Begini lah tuan, lupakan saja niat tuan untuk menawan Perlis, Kedah dan Pulau Pinang

Alfonso: Kenapa!!!? Kuat sangat kah mereka itu..? (dengan nada marah dan bongkak)

Perisik 2: Untuk menawan Melaka yang mempunyai 5 pahlawan terhandal Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir dan Hang Lekiu pun kita kehilangan hampir 15 ribu bala tentera, inikan pula kita nak menawan Perlis, Kedah dan P.Pinang yang mempunyai beribu ribu hang.

Perisik 3: Betoi tu tuan...antaranya ialah hang sihat ka, hang buat apa, hang apa habaq, hang lagu mana , hang pi mana, hang kat mana , hang mai sini sat, hang pi makan ka, hang toksah bohong, bapak hang, pak metua hang, mak hang, adik hang, tok hang dan macam macam lagi hang ada kat sana.....

Mendengar hasil risikan itu Alfonso pun tak jadi nak pi serang disebabkan pengalamannya sebelum ini bersama 5 pahlawan Melayu Melaka amat ngeri......ini kan pula nak berhadapan beribu ribu hang kat situ. Tak berani wehhh…..

I'm pretty sure Am**n must have copied this some where from the Internet. And how do I know that?? Besides asking Uncle Google and getting the answer, Am**n has this poster next to his Avatar.

(errr...I question myself too at times, am I not like Am**n??)

Moving Forward

The year is new, five days down and many more to go. Kids are back in school, all set for another year of facing head on challenges in academic pursuance. With one child sitting for a public exam this year, I am already getting butterflies in my stomach.

It felt rather awkward this morning when I wrote in my note book the new year – 2010. How time flies, in fact it zooms, a more accurate way of describing it actually. At the speed things are progressing, next thing we know first quarter is up; goals and targets would need looking into, and be reassessed for any realignment and readjustments.

Beautiful and colourful blooms of Ho Chi Min City

Ho Chi Min City - local fruits, rambutans anyone?

Talking about goals, targets and new year resolutions of any sort, do I have any for 2010?? Simple answer to that – NO. Being as unoriginal as the next person I could buddy with, I just did not want to bother drumming into myself about loosing weight, committing to putting more into my savings account, having control over those impulse buying etc..etc… I’ve tried doing all these for the past what, two, three years?? And not much has changed since. So why bother renewing these vows. Let it be…let it be…

Having said that, I do not want to go astray either. Thus, in my mind, I pretty much know what I want and where my focus would be this year. Alhamdullilah, I have started working on some of my undocumented goals. Tough…tough but the tough has to get going, no matter what.

View of Batang Ai Dam, Lubok Antu, Sarawak

Morning market in Lubok Antu

Moving forward, at times does require looking back. As I do leaps in 2010, I must not forget to look back at 2009; and indeed it was a great year. Many things happened both at the office and home front. Alhamdulillah, I was able to deliver what was expected of me, and came out with minor bruises.

Heavy beaded kebaya in Pasar Tanah Abang Jakarta.

Nasi padang indulgence in Jakarta

Shanghai's Nanjing Road shopping heaven

More shops on Nanjing Road

Year 2009 was great; lots of jalan-jalan, be it work or personal. With RTs thrown in at planned intervals, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. There was that trip to LA (Lubuk Antu lahhh…), friendly neighbors Indonesia and Singapore, and the other adventurous destinations like Ho Chi Min City and China. But the most memorable one was Umrah to the Holyland with my Mom and daughter Farah.

Masjid Quba, just outside Madinah

Along walkway of Masjid Terapung by the Red Sea in Jeddah

2009 was a year where I networked with more blogger friends. To be so up close and personal with sifu bloggers – Kak Teh, Mamasita, Kak Puteri and the rest of the gang was an overwhelming experience; one I will treasure close to heart.

Kak Teh & Kak Puteri....my Blogger Idols

So much power from these ladies...I thought I felt the floor shake that new year's eve at OU
Kak Puteri, Naz, Kitchen Guardian, Datin Mamasita & my favourite cup cakes are from none other than Zaitgha.

Northern beauties

It’s fun to look back, but it’s even more fun to look forward and I am confident with the positive outlook for 2010. No doubt life is going to be hustling with “excitement”, but come what may, and to quote Lord Vader, I'll “do what must be done”.

Have a beautiful and great year folks!!

Beautiful & great....just how we felt after that bliss at a hideout in Bangi. Betul tak Kak Teh?? Tak percaya, tanya Kak Ezza too. If tak percaya lagi, ask Nisa, Kak Teh's SIL.
No point asking me coz the answer will be a definite YES!!

Back to School

It was at the third hair salon that I finally managed to walk in and secure a seat without having to queue. The first two salons had like five people in front of us and the waiting time was like more than 20 minutes. That was the scene this evening when I took Nissa for her hair cut.

I guess most school going kids' moms like me are doing that same last minute "snip snip thing" before kids start school again tomorrow. Nissa, my youngest will be in year three next year. Unlike year 1 & 2, when she was in the afternoon session and had more time to get ready for school, year 3 will have her waking up early and all ready for the her school pick up at seven in the morning.

Sorry Babe, your pony tail and fringe have to go!!

Happy back to school kids....Sleep tight tonight coz new adventures and excitement await you in this new schooling year :)

Welcome 2010

Wishing everyone Happiness and Joy...
And Blessings for the New Year. May 2010 be a great year for us all.