Kota Kinabalu: Blue Sea, White River and Green Rainforest

We just came back from a trip to Kota Kinabalu (KK). The trip meant to be outdoor exploratory, adventurous, and risky, absolutely not like any other holiday trip that we made to before. The trip recruited young explorers as low as 5 years old. It was first time for our urbanised children to get so close to and cherishing the nature, so we were prepared to be a lot more patience, to coax and distract the worry little minds while enjoying ourselves tremendously.

This was also a trip that I did very little in terms of planning. CS, my friend did all the necessary bookings and planning prior to the trip. In essence, the trip consisted of snorkeling, water rafting and jungle trekking.

Day 1: Snorkeling, Sapi Island

According to YS, another friend joined us this trip, island hopping may be tiring and meaningless considering young children of ours. Leisurely spent half a day for snorkelling at the shore of Sapi Island was enough for them to have the optimum fun of the sea and the beach.

Penang: Murals/Heritage Trail

After hearing so much of the Penang Murals Trail, we too, took a morning to hunt down as many murals as possible. Along the way, we discovered that there are not just Ernest Zacharevic's murals, there are many other amazing works too.

It was a fun morning, very much like a treasure hunt game- walking towards unknown based on the guided route.

Creadits: KPertiet's paper; Clementine Creative's Watercolour Circles; Misschifis' Fuzzy Felt Alpha;
Telling  the story of our lives from mscraps.com; etc.

Penang: Occupy Beach Street

Beach Street, or Lebuh Pantai is one of the oldest streets in Penang. Renownedly, it is a vibrant banking district with numerous heritage buildings standing side by side.

It was built as early as 1786 or 1787, subsequent to Light Street, to be the main commercial street of the newly established George Town. Beach Street is older and has been around longer than many of the towns on the Malayan Peninsula including Singapore, Taiping, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur. Unlike arrow-straight Light Street, Beach Street was built to follow the curve of the beach, which was then right beside it. The result, as can be seen to this day, is a meandering street as it makes its way towards the southern hinterland. Today both streets meet at the Light Street Roundabout. - source

I used to came for classes at the British Council, Pengkalan Weld, in the evening and drove through Beach Road after class. Besides admiring the charming old-world facade, I enjoyed the peace and smooth traffic home. It was a buzzing commercial area of Georgetown in the daytime. It is still.

Penang: Apam Balik

Everyone, please meet Malaysian traditional pancake, Apam Balik- literally means turnover pancake.

(source)

I was thrilled when I saw this during our last visit to Penang. This was my childhood favorite! I could easily had it every week in the pasar malam (night market) near my house. But it is getting so hard to find it these days, especially in KL. The Malaysian Department of National Heritage has listed this as one of the heritage food.

Penang: Misty Penang Hill

I have fond childhood memory of visiting Penang Hill. With luxuriant green, cold refreshing weather, tranquil, some part remained colonized too. I recalled, there was a green corner for kids to run wild while the parents get to sit down and relaxing close-by. About 830km above sea level, generally five degrees cooler than Georgetown, you will get to experience the change of temperature from the foot of the Hill to the Hill itself, with less than 30 minutes, excluding the waiting time at the queue to take the funicular. Penang Hill is one place that offering a spectacular panoramic view of Georgetown, sometime, Penang Bridge and beyond. 

Dec 2014: Pulau Pinang

Before the year (2014) ended, we managed to make a trip to Penang. The trip was unexpectedly awesome. Even the girls said so and asked for a return. Well, maybe we hardly a tourist in our own homeland, time was always allocated for family gathering, friends meeting, running errands and shopping(it's cheaper there). This time round, despite we made the effort to meet uni-mates and bonding with family members, we did what tourists do: sight-seeing to Penang Hill, water and sand playing at the beach, wandering and hunting down those famous street arts, finding those food stalls that we used to patronised... Penang is really fun, apparently.

This scrapbook captured one fun moment of the girls. SC drove through Jalan Tanjung Bungah to reminisce what we knew of Teluk Bahang, Batu Ferringhi, stopped by one of the smaller and quieter beach at Tanjung Bunga for the girls to have some sand play time. The girls were thrilled. They jumped, cart-wheeled, shell and rock throwing, soaked into the sea water, etc. They didn't have enough of it. Beach, one great place to be for the kids to release their energy. Zero cost, infinite joy. 

Oh, throughout our visit in Penang, it was raining everyday. This was the only bright, cooling day for us to enjoy the beach.

A Bit (More) from the Daily Fix

While writing and receiving loves on my earlier post of the Daily Fix, I got the opportunity to chat a little with Julian, the Founder. More on, feedback on his food and coffee we had. I approached him further if he would like to share about his story on the café business, those vintage collections, his effort, his vision and what not. I mean, how clever is he to hunt and keep those antiques and oldies? Making them as part of his life beautifully is another great success. He must have some secret!

Here’s his reply:

Malacca: The Daily Fix, Jonker Street

We travel back to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore to visit my family, at least thrice a year. Hence, SC and I would bring the girls pop by Malacca whenever we could, just to be a day or two of wondering wanderers. Malacca maybe now a very tourist hotspot, it is still a new adventure place to the girls, many to see, many to think about and learn. We also think that it is a living book for us to read and get to walk our history physically. 

[Ok, the true is adult us love the food there, cheap and authentic].

Usually, we would pick off-peak season to visit the centre of Malacca city. It is always jam-packed during weekends and public holidays, on the road especially. Traffic congestion gets worst after listed as UNESCO heritage site. Good and bad I guess. I don't like crowd, and frankly we can't afford to spend more on the accommodation. Y'know, they charge more during peak seasons. (And they charge almost half the price when it is off-peak.)

..............................................

So, after we had enough of wandering (and books), we went to The Daily Fix.

Malacca: Jonker Street and its Very Own Library

As I was saying, I have fond memories of Malacca. My dad brought little us to visit Malacca to makan angin (to travel for leisure), mostly during school holiday. Vaguely, I saw the red shophouses a lot, and the Christ Church, and the Fort A Famosa. And Trishaw! We didn't have it in the big city of KL nor small hometown of my dad's, you see. Malacca provided us a glimpse of the past and slower pace of living (few days though) from the Kuala Lumpur city. Over the years, I learnt a lot more about its history of Sultanate, Laksamana and Temenggung, as well as the unique Baba and Nyonya culture from our textbooks. It was one of the proud eras prior to Colonialism of Malaya. 

Profoundly, Malacca set the modern nation of Malaysia. If I may conclude so. 

Like many other cities in Malaysia, Malacca grows and develops rapidly too, vertically and horizontally while I was reading it from the textbooks. Some parts of the city stay physically intact as much as it could, some parts try to integrate the past and redevelop. Conservation and Preservation are not easy when socia-economic consideration is the primary aspect for a city. In 2008, together with George Town of Penang, Malacca became one of UNESCO World Heritage Site. More effort of redevelopment ever since, but I think that listing gives some of us some sort of relief that many of the past get to stay permanently.

Speaking of which, we love visiting Jonker Street, being the core of the Malacca UNESCO World Heritage Site. During our last visit to Malacca, we had great fun. 

Sept 2014: Malacca

In many ways, Malacca is a very charming place to be. Its food and its mixed arts and cultural are the main attractions, along with those well restored historical architectures. Jonker Street, aka Jalan Hang Jebat, being the core of the Malacca UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where we don’t mind coming back again whenever we are visiting Malacca. Jonker Street is where I would find surprises whenever we are the wondering wanderers.

Slowly, I realised that, Malacca is also one of the places that I injected best memories to my children, my family. Pretty much similar to what my dad did to us. We used to visit Malacca for family trips. Those days, Malacca was much more leisure, much more simple; not as happening as now, was not so scorchy hot, was much lesser cars, little chaotic developments, no reclamation (or was it started in process?)... 

Malacca was a good place for us to escape from the metropolitan KL.

Credits: Amanda Yi Designs; Sahlin Studio; Kim Christensen's Design; Akizo, etc.

The text in the digital scrapbook is in Malay, for Melaka = Malacca; Bandaraya Bersejarah = Historical City. I am slowly losing the power of writing in Malay and speaking in it.


I share more of our surprises in Jonker Street here and there.

Sekeping Serendah, Malaysia

I remember vaguely about my maternal grandma's old house in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It was a dwelling built with woods and metals and some concrete sat in a forest. Well, there was a huge estate of rubber trees behind the house, managed by my grandparents, according to my mum. And many fruit trees, a small vegetation and a little farm with some chickens and ducks for 12 children, together with my grandparents. I think my mum mentioned pigs were there once, when she was young. There was a swing too. I loved that swing! The house was a distant away from a main road. There was no near neighbours to be seen or to be heard. Every household was sprawling away from each other. When it was dusk, it would be totally dark and quiet out there, it was better stay in that house and don't step out, little me concluded.  

Those were the days of Malaysian's kampung (rural) living, very scatter from one house to another, admist in the wild and man-made vegetation. I was only baby, then a toddler, tasted and learnt about rural living.

This mid year school holiday, we brought my mum and the girls back to experience an idyllic living. We rented a Glass Shed in Sekeping Serendah.

Feb 2011: C. N. Y.

Credits: LDD_Michelle Coleman

Inspiration: Pink and Orange Theme from Layla's Party:)

Jan 2011: New Year

Our first day of 2011, we were in KL:

1. Kids were having fun while mum was busy with the dinner preparation and I was snapping on them.
2. Jiejie made gun out of her limited pieces of lego, perhaps it is the simplest way of constructing a toy.
3. Little Bomber was holding a card from KH, whom we met on the very last day of 2010.
4. Dinner was ready. The important of having everyone to sit down together for a meal is cultivating slowly toward the younger generation now.
5. No, it was not anyone birthday. It was overdue celebration from a daughter who stay far apart from her mum and wanted to create a opportunity to blow the candles together with the little ones.
6. See, their smiles were so beautiful. Immediately after the singing, Jiejie blew the candles without waiting for popo. Everyone stunned a few second then laugh!
7. Not to mention, mum also prepared little Bomber's puree as her dinner. It was (purple) sweet potato with porridge.

Love her grin, she must be very satisfied with her purple meal.

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My mum taught me about Winter Solstice since i was very young. It's usually on the 21 or 22 of December. "To the common people, the Winter Solstice meant a happy get-together... the making of tangyuan (glutinous rise ball) plays an important part in this festive as it is symbolise reunion." For the past few years my mum kept the glutinous rice flour, waited for my revisit and made for me to enjoy. This time is a bit late, nevertheless it is mum's love and thoughtfulness.

Hy was very enthusiastic when my mum invited her to join the fun of making the glutinous rice balls.

1. Pandan leave ground for extracting the colouring
2. Rolling the flour dough into ball.
3. ...to the perfect!
4. Paying attention to the lesson.
5. Proud Jiejie enjoying her bowl of glutinous rice balls soup
6. Grandpa too, could not miss his share:).

Both layouts done separately, in wee hours while the kids and SC were in their dreamland. These are simple layout, but to a mother of two, squeeze a time to sit down in front of the computer is always challenging. So I was exhilarated when I completed the first layout, cause i realise i did something simple to reminisce my happiness. I have working very hard lately in the office which usually a full day of brain cell damaged and hence lethargic by the time i reach home.

The mojo is kicking my butt. The kids' happiness is waking me up.
I hope to journal the joy of life and scrapbook the faces of the kids before i lost it, in a less taxing way though. As Bomber begins to explore the fun of her toys and things around her, she is less clingy to me. Project 365 for me perhaps?

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Little Dreamer Designs is closing effectively from 15th March. Sad to know that Michelle is retiring as she always wow me with her vibrant creations. Do hop over to the store closing sales, you may find something charming.

credits: Click Photo Designs and Michelle Coleman @ LDD

Bukit Tinggi, August 2009

Just a laid back 3D2N trip to Bukit Tinggi.

we visited the Botanical Garden next to Japanese Garden. it was hy's first exploration to lush greenery, jungle trekking (well pathed), colourful temperate floral and fauna. good things is that there are signs with names and information snippets of trees, plants and flowers were put up for visitors. i tried my best to read to hy for knowing the various plants. but she is very much a city girl, holding my hand tighly while walking on the steep descent. she probably dismay with thinck forest, the insect buzzing, birds and monkeys calling.

we later went to the one and only restaurant, the Ryo Zan Tei, for lunch.

credits: photo cluster from DesignerDigitals; papers from Shazbutt's Digi-Scrapz; others included Kelly T. La Monge, KPertiet, Akizo, GinaMiller, mimilou Designs.

my papa

i have not taken a very beautiful picture of him. and her :).

Credit: paper from BohenianArt; elements from akizo designs, Mimilou designs, MichelleColeman, Michelle Buss (MickeybDesigns) and Eve Recinella

A happy (belated) Father's Day.

an afternoon dream

I am pleasantly with the public transport system here. If not because of SC and his tiredness of sharing part of my burden to rush back home for picking up Little Bud and cooking and what not, i will never consider to drive in this city. Why? Too high volume of traffic with lights and humps and zebra crossings; too many rules and regulations. by the way, too small parking lot for a not-so-skillful driver.

Anyway, Sc registered me, prepared me and dragged me for local driving theory test in mid March.

I was not confident. I was too tired. I failed.

I was relieved that he passed and not so relief to see his vision of having car in front of me. But I understand his need, as much as he knows my concerns. I guess this is the chemical part that is building between us. we did not fight for a car. he went ahead to car showrooms with his colleagues last week and excitedly told me his finding.

I remain 'un-attracted'.

I remain mild in my criticism.

Car... i can draw many matchboxes on paper and tell story to Little Bud.

Car... definitely extra expenses for us.

Car... means i can go back to KL conveniently?

hmm... travel with Little Bud to other part of Peninsular?


then somehow i'm hooked with this... Thirty Pounces: Fraser's Hill

I wish to have a car now and re-visit Fraser's Hill with SC and our girl to enjoy an afternoon tea in the garden and staring at the dew-laden spider webs.

I wish... i can go now. and tell little bud the pretty of our mother nature.

(shh... dont tell my boss im surfing now...) yeah, i wish to break away now.

新年快乐

Back in Kulim, both SC and I were extremely busy before the first day of Chinese New Year (26 Jan). Mostly were cleaning up our vacant house there. Hence the actually Big Day (大年初一) became our rest day. Thank goodness MIL did all the cooking and praying part.

So what is Chinese New Year then? Especially for little HY.

learnt to say: "恭喜发财，红包拿来！" *grin*

SC had his annual gathering of old classmates on second day(年初二), visited his aunt (伯母) and cousin (堂哥) in Padang Serai on third day (年初三). Then a big reunion on forth day(年初四). When MIL's sister (was HY's babysitter for 3 months) and family all came to visit us.

At night, More relatives came. Hy said, "so many people~!'

Little Hy was mingle around pretty well with the cousins, though she was anxious to see new faces around in her house.

We had 'makan' (eat) and 'minum' (drink) and laughter. Truly happy to see them get- together and talked about those good old days and others. SC and them were staying under one roof where his grand-father (MIL's father) was the Man of the family (like the one in tv drama show) and an owner of a well-known kopitiam (cafe) in the main street of Kulim (those days was like one busy street town).

Don't ask me who is who, I could only recognise some of them. But I know the relationship clearly. Somehow, to make things less complicated, some one came out the idea of lining up the adults (who will giving the angpows to children) and get all children to queue and learn to call the uncles and aunties correctly (in Chinese, of course) while getting the angpows:).See little Hy with many question marks on her face...

She called her du-du. Don't know why couldn't pronounce the term 姑姑 (gugu).

Will do this exercise (calling who is who) again next New Year:).

She concluded her self of this night: favourite gor-gor (表哥哥) and jiejie (表姐姐). Du-du (姑姑) and du-chang (姑丈) at the back.

I thank them for warming our house (存人气) once a year since it is vacant now.

Here in my home

Time now is 2.50am in Kulim, preciously online and I found this from shiyu. Indeed a great effort and truly nice song. I hope you like it.



from http://www.malaysianartistesforunity.info/.

Once step out of TanahAir (homeland), I then know how grateful I am to be live on this land :).