It feels good to travel - HK Day 1 & 2

Home Sweet Home. Indeed… but if I am granted for another day of holiday, I would want that another ONE day. We reached home from Hong Kong yesterday afternoon and not until this morning before going to work that I only switched on my hand phone. How I dragged myself!

While it is still juicy to talk about, I’d rather blog about the trip or it will never appear in here.
Hmmm… This trip was actually a follow-the-step kind of thing. My dear cousin, Safrul called me one day telling me he’ll be going to HK and being itchy me, I wanted to ‘tag’ along. Hence, the request for dear hub to make it happen as our anniversary present. :)

Unlike the usual, I didn’t make much ‘study’ about our intended trip. Simply because of my office works clutters. I didn’t feel so good to leave the work actually........
Harris is kind enough to do all the surveying.. be it our accommodation, transportation, travel routes, places to visit, proposed itinerary what-so-ever. However, the decision making was all left to me especially when it comes to spending money. Yeah, that’s how it goes in our household. We have the Prime Minister… but he is not holding finance portfolio, the First Lady does. Yes, I am the Minister of Finance. Mek kan kedekut sikit… it makes a good Minister, you see!
No…. Mek was brought up to savor every single cent that she has, so it must be spent diligently.

Since I anticipated, we’ll do a lot of walking and hopping on and off the public transport, I knew I must get something appropriate for Harris to be able to carry Dew every now and then. She already outgrown her Baby Bjorn carrier, so we bought this.

With the buy, we vowed, there will be a lot more adventurous outdoor activities for the family. Next in line – jungle trailing : the nearest – Bukit Indah kat sebelah rumah ni ha!!!! Dah bertahun dok sini… tak pernah2 pun ada inisiatip nak panjat bukit tu!

There goes RM600 for another carrier. It’s the third. I am a self proclaimed baby products junkie laaaa…. While we were at BSC-Mothercare, I was eyeing for the Phil&Teds 2 in 1 or double stroller.

TC, you are right.. that stroller is so smart, I dream of that if I am blessed with another baby. :) Berkenan yang kaler kuning.
(Harris is shouting – Habis.. yang dah ada dua kat rumah ni tak longgar kat mana-mana nak buat tukun ke?)

Ok, Enough! Have some photos …..

KL Sentral

KLIA Aerotrain

First time entering KLIA jungle walk..

Dew checking Going Places

HK Airport

Waiting for Airport Coach

We arrived HK at 1030pm and upon all the customs procedure, baggage claim… it was already too late for other kind of transportation to hotel besides the Airport Coach. Our first day ended so tired due to the journey proofed by this photo.

The second day was planned for a day in Macau. We had our simple breakfast in the hotel room and make our way to the MTR station on foot. I must give big credit to my husband. He walked HK streets like it is his own Kampung To’ La, Pasir Mas. He had a map in his hand and straight away could figure out the city grids. Mek ikut jek. I knew he needs no GPS to figure out roads in Malaysia that he could draw directions, people will never get lost… but HK? It is totally a new city to him, ok!
Some people are gifted with mapping mind weather he realized or not.

Causeway Bay MTR Station

We took the popular-most-used transportation to Macau, by high speed ferry. Well, if you are rich enough you can charter a helicopter!

Ferry operated by Turbojet company

Mek chatting with local.....

Sorry with the lacking of my world history knowledge… I never knew Macau is in lease by China to Portugal until 2046. Bad, huh! That’s why I need to travel more! It gives a reason…

Macau used to be a fisherman village and now.... As we all know, Macau is built by casinos but I tell you… until you visit for yourself… words are not easy to describe what casinos mean to Macau. Our English speaking tour guide William (we opted for a 4 hours tour assistance package that cost HKD750, since none of us speaks Mandarin or Hokkien or Cantonese and thought it would be easier to move around) told us.. Macau’s population is about 300,000 and 250,000 of them work in casinos. Remaining would be in public sectors and business. Hah kau… sampai tak cukup orang nak kerja kat kasino tu.

An interesting fact, pawn shop is the second biggest business after casino in Macau. So ideal, don’t you see? Tak cukup duit, pergi gadai Rolex buat main judi….. Habis jugak… terjun jambatan!

This landmark double M (Macau-Money) bridge claims 3-4 life of broke gamblers a year.

William briefed us there are 6 companies dominated the casinos, let me see if I still remember them all : Sands, The Venetian, Lisboa, City of Dreams, Whynn, hmmmmm…… oh! I miss one. Can’t remember. If you want to know of the yields or anything factual about casinos, might as well just google.

Ride a rolls roys if you're staying at Presidential Suite in Whynn

What I can tell you through my own eyes, I think casinos are designed to make people feel filthy rich. Every single detail is made luxurious. Luxurious building design, finishes, facilities provided and even the services rendered. Each casino would want to have their own unique features.. musical water fountain, golden ball show, etc.






All these are to make the gamblers feel happy and money is on their side when it is not necessarily. With thousands and thousands of slot machine and barracuda tables, gamblers sink in the cruise for having big money. Harris and I take turns to experience the casinos as children are not allowed to enter. It was so entertaining to just watch and observe the gamblers behavior. Ada yang hisap rokok berkepul2, baca doa terkumat-kamit… and the way they turn the card… every one has their own style.

We also visited the old Portuguese town, ruin of St John’s church. The only left was Macau Tower. It was a full circle of Macau and we headed back to HK island at 730pm.

Old Town

Ruin of St John's church

Macau is clean, even the back lanes... Mek like!

The only mosque in Macau was one of the stop for solat.

Mommy's handmade dress looks good in Macau too... hee hee..

Ok.. till then... See Ya!

updates

………FUH! **Tiup habuk kat blog ni. :)

Almost everyday as I brace my daily life I always feel there’s something I want to blog about. Sadly, only the very few ‘lucky’ stories made it’s way to the world-wide-web.

For now, what’re inside me in no particular order :

1. If I have the chance, I would like to congratulate Nicol Ann David personally for procuring the 5th World Champ title. She’s smart and so committed with the game she loves, I salute her.

2. News on a baby girl who deceased at a nursery during day care scares me lot. It seems to me that the guardians are so lacking of basic education on baby care, letting baby having formula in a flat position. Please – have a pillow or something underneath the head which is supposed to be held at 45 degree position.
Anyhow, the other day… I encountered the same situation when a mom lets her older daughter aged 10y.o to attend to the younger one age 6m.o having milk in a real flat position on a sofa. I so want to voice my concern.. but I just shut my mouth. That was bad on my side….

3. I share the grief with many other Malaysians on the devastating death of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and others… including the Indian nation millionaire. It is even more painful to the family members of victims as at the time the news hit most relevant medias, Muslims are about to celebrate Eidulfitri. Make a pause,.... just see what evil money could bring to us. Nauzubillah.
Associated to this episode, many other issues and speculation were raised.. such as :
- Police’s action in investigating report cases
- Racism
- Politicians hearsay ………
But one attracted me most. Somebody told me : There’s surely something real ‘bad’ done by the victims that they died in a horrific way. Astaghfirullahaladzim. True enough, every one is entitled to their own opinion, but I am so glad that this sort of opinion hardly reach my senses.
I was saying to myself – I hope the children of Datuk Sosilawati is able to continue their mom’s business legacy and even bring it to higher level with this death when first known about the news. The same thought also came to me when Tan Sri S.M Nasimuddin passed away some time ago, despite the ‘hu-ha’ of A.Ps. Rather think positive things about others.. I guess.

4. I support Nurul Izzah Anwar in her decision to be one of the candidates for PKR's Vice President election and I read with much interest the interview of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim in Mingguan Malaysia. I thought – “hmmpphh… politik ni… sama je PR ke BN ke….2x5 lah……..”

5. I am excited with our upcoming trip to Hong Kong, but my leave application is yet approved. A note by my boss on the application form – “See me”…. Aduhai…
I am thinking of getting a designer handbag in HK for myself as a reward of my hardwork of whatever. …………. What say you?

6. Nada drags herself to the nursery every morning ever since she knew her Aunty Ani returned from Medan. She screamed – “Nak tido-nak tido-nak-tido” when we try to wake her up or to bathe her. When it’s time to leave the house she’ll bawl and cry… “Wait-wait-wait.. Nak TV”. Her tears accompanies her cheek all the way to the Nursery. Boleh hilang sabar but when she sincerely looks into my eyes and softly said.. “Mommy, no school nak aunty…….”.. I know I just have to send her back to the Indon nanny rather than to the nursery despite the chaos created by BENDERA !

7. What do I do with these shoes.....?

20.08.2010

On one weekend, I went out for an appointment pertaining to an aside job that I am currently working on. Nada was left home with her Daddy. (Barangsiapa yang membaca dan memandang serong terhadap suamiku kerana manjaga anak di rumah dan membenarkan isteri keluar bekerja… Mind your own business)

Right after finishing with the fruitful meeting, I rushed home as I was already late for Maghrib prayers.

I reached home to find out :

What a lovely site. My heart melt. I took the camera and snapped this photo. You know, I want my girl to treat me as her best friend, but …. I believe being a daddy’s girl is so cool too.
Nothing compares to being lifted and carried by strong arms, ain’t it?

Out of my mind, I uttered “Bestnya Nada ada Daddy”………………………..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night, Harris was sitting on the sofa the same way. Looking at him, I straight away jumped onto the sofa and laid on his big fat tummy. Wahhhh! Heaven.

Annnnd… the tiny lil Dew never likes to see this kind of scene because she feels being left out. So she tried as much as she could to squeeze for a space on Daddy’s tummy.

My husband said : “It’s ok, Nada baring sini… (pointing to the available space on his tummy)”..
What I appreciate is… He didn’t ask me to make way for Nada, he offered warmth to us both, instead.

How I love this man. Not only he knows how to handle the stubborn-ugly-women me…. He also treats me like a small child with so much love.
I pray to Allah s.w.t for HIS blessing upon my husband.

Happy 6th Anniversary, Abang. May it brings us more joy in years ahead.

This is what I got for our 1st anniversary in 2005.

I love the artist and the album title says it all... I was very happy with this gift. :) Am not a difficult women to be pleased, aren't I? Never ask for rantai emas sebesar tali kapal.....

p.s :

Dear Abang, Here is my wish list for this year’s anniversary :
1. Trip to Hong Kong become a reality
2. A sewing machine foot press. *wink*

The wishlist... :(

Early this year, I have three items in my wish list for 2010 in no particular order. To renovate our Puncak Jalil house, to get an MPV and to berlibur in London and Paris if not part Europe. They all require thick packs in my pocket or rather said my bank account need to show many zeros in front of the decimal points.. not after!
Though, I already work like a horse… it seems still not enough, we may only choose one.

Our Puncak Jalil house is as it was when we received Vacant Possession in August last year. The only different would be, it is without TNB meter now! Dah kena curik. I am not so sure what is holding us back from proceeding with the renovation. Harris is comfortable with our current address. Near to his work place and easy access to mine.

Getting an MPV is a dream preparation should we are blessed with a new addition to the family. However, the trials aren’t showing any success thus far. I’ve been shoving 400mg Folic Acid every day my eyes are turning yellow. (Errrr…. Itu Mek bikin gempak je) I guess, we’ll be reducing our account figure and contributing to Dr Ishak’s account soon for the ‘see-doctor-to-get-baby’ regime.
Sigh – this is so depressing and reading news on baby dumping makes me real sick, you know what I mean…

London and Paris is far reach. It is August now, soon would not be so good seasons for visiting.

Ahhhh… punah ranah segala harapanku.

The patchwork and bag and stuff

I aimed for a self made patchwork blanket for my girl before her age is seven when Harris gifted me with a set of rotary cutter and self-heal cutting board for my 35th birthday last March.
Never I expected that it was achieved so much earlier and I did it in three weekends, I consider quite fast as it is my first time :

TADAAAAA : My first patchwork project!
Ya Allah, Yang Maha Pemurah, give me the strength to work hard for your halal rezeki and get rich, that one day I can afford to buy one of these kind of bungalow.... Selingan

The urge to doing (can I use ‘ing after to here ? How come it sounds right ? Kerabu Jantung, betul ke grammar ni?) this quilt is related to our decision in sending Nada to daycare nursery. Nada’s nanny returned to Medan is prolonged due to a road accident occurred to her sons. One deceased and another is in critical condition. Only her husband came back while she stays.

So after being a nomad for more than a week at my Aunty’s place in Kota Damansara in seeking her help to look after Nada, we decided to go for nursery.

It was Friday that Harris fetched Nada on the first day at nursery. He was told by the babysitter that we have to provide with a sleeping mat for daytime nap. Huh! Why wouldn’t I think about it earlier? I felt bad that I didn’t make available the necessary for my girl…. I told Nada – Mommy’s gonna make her a beautiful quilt. The most beautiful one would be at the nursery.

On Saturday afternoon of first weekend, I took out a craft book Harris bought for me some five years ago to learn about patchwork.

I firmed up to try the Log Cabin pattern due to it’s simplicity. At night before going to bed, I found myself cutting whatever fabric I have. That explains the non co-ordinated colors of the quilt. Even my koyak rabak caftan was sacrified too. :-)
Next day Sunday, I started with sewing after Subuh prayers and completed all 6 Log Cabins by the time my two loves woke up from sleep.

In the late afternoon then, we headed to Jalan TAR in search for quilt wadding and bought it at Bunga & Riben for 3m ready cut cost RM 45.

The second weekend, I proceeded with attaching all 6 Log Cabins with the polka-dot pattern fabric and the border. I also made back part of the quilt which was so much simpler. Once done with the front and back part of the quilt, it’s time for me to get it laid on the floor and assembling.
You see, the moment things were on the floor.. my speed was reduced tremendously. Big thanks to the tiny helper.

She did her catwalk on the quilt... she decided to play the shape sorter when it was long left out

She wanted to play elephant while I was basting (jelujor)

But, I would have to go with the flow. Because the more I say “NO NADA”… the more she would act against me by … “YES MOMMY!”
I just let her be.. that’s one tips for those of you whom are with a busy body toddler but insist on doing craft works. Let them ‘help’ you.

As you can see here, even though I am not on craft works she would also want to attract my attention, ain’t she? You really think she’s sleeping? That was pretending… siap buat bunyi berdengkur. So why bother to scold… bior je.

In making this quilt, I would say quilting is the most difficult part. I was cursing myself while quilting for not following the suggestion in the book that beginners should start with a simple project. Mine is simple too but the size is way to big for a beginner like me. The fact that I am using an old inherited SINGER sewing machine, I named her Lady Gaga from my mami without the machine foot press gives you the idea of how I had to struggle. My right hand rolling the machine roller start and left hand trying to push and control the thick quilt while both my feet peddling the machine. Not an easy task at all.

Anyway, I wouldn’t want to stop what I have started… it is just not me. I finished quilting on Saturday of the second week and got stuck. I didn’t have a suitable material to proceed for the edging and at the same time I was thinking of additional accessory I should include for the ease of storing the quilt, but I did not know what to do. To make some kind of a rope with velcro attach to the quilt? It is an idea that came across.

I asked Harris of what he thinks about the quilt thus far. Harris, though not having soft fingers for craft works, has very sharp eyes and mind. He hardly gives me good praises of what I do instead provide superb comments or suggestions – I like that it triggers my anxiety. He suggested for me to make a bag to put the quilt in for easy storage. I didn’t even tell him that I was thinking for an accessory for that purpose.

Bag ? .. That made us off to IKEA on Sunday of the second week for suitable fabrics. I bought these. and used the green stripes fabric for the quilt edging. The edging required hand stitch all around and I did it during weekdays night after I came back from work… bit by bit. The part took so long and only completed by Friday night. Again, ‘thanks’ to my baby.

When she could lay down anywhere within our tiny apartment, she insisted to opt for my lap the moment I picked up the quilt. Hmmmmm :-) Saja je dia nak kacau.

I didn’t really know how to make a bag and do not own a book that teach of such. There are a lot of bag making tutorials from the internet but I didn’t find any that teach to make a bag for quilt storing. So, I improvised the making and tried with a miniature which turned out to be a gadget for Dew’s pretend play.

As for the actual bag for the quilt, it looks like this.

Nothing so outstanding, I gave myself a pass onlylah. My mami would did it with one eye closed.

I really wanted to finish up the bag the fastest I could but daytime of the 3rd weekend was really meant to be full of events.

* We had to bring Nada for Hepatitis A jab in Seremban (yeah, yeah, yeah… I still visit the same Pediatrician for the last 2 and half years… walaupun alasan sebenarnya Mek nak pergi makan mee bandung kat Seremban),

Had her bath at LEKAS R&R on the way back...

Also stopped by at Nilai 3 for more fabrics... I bought Japanese cotton this time.

* I promised my boss to present a draft project report on Monday that I had to complete over the weekend, (ini memang kena buat siang hari… malam kalu… muka Mek tersembam atas lap top! zzzzzzzzzzz)

* attending to the part time job that I indulged myself in and hoping for the return soon,

* house errands, biasala….
* keeping promise to bring my girl to the park
* the first time visit to spa for a body massage (yelah…. Mek orang kampong… tak biasa spa-spa, facial-facial ni..)
* get a gift and attending friend’s wedding,

the bride is Harris's batch mate in uni.

the bride's sister is my batch mate in uni,.. they both are pretty ladies

* bringing my girl for swimming and bla-bla-bla

So, I had no choice. I stayed up on Saturday night from 12night till 5am… and the bag was finished just in time for Subuh prayers.

I love the effort that I have put in. I am very proud when the babysitter at nursery told me how Nada drag her quilt bag and asked the babysitter to spread it out when she sensed a baby crying wanting to sleep. I guess my baby is so proud of her quilt, she doesn’t mind to share with other babies.

P/s –
whoot-whhooott – though I love sewing, I am still an architect by profession ya!

Please

It is customary for us to greet “Assalamualaikum” whenever we are entering houses. We also do it upon entering our own home though nobody is in. Well, it is a well wish and surely there’ll be the Al-Mighty’s creation ‘living’ in the house other than us, the human being. We hope good ones! Our girl had also picked up the habit and whenever we open our house door, she’ll greet “AAAeeekooooMMM……..”

Different Note:

I’ve been trying to teach Nada to include the word “Please” in her gibberish talking. Sometimes she uses, mostly… she won’t. Today while I was in the kitchen cooking for lunch, she came in asking for her yogurt drink from the fridge.

Nada while pointing to the fridge door – “Mommy, nak ashiyum… ipen” means – Mommy, I want Calsiyum…open (the fridge)”

Mommy – “Nada, how should you say if you want Mommy to open the fridge door for you?”

Nada replied – “AAAeeekooooMMM……..”

Mommy – Ketawa tertonggeng-tonggeng!

We love her so much.

Long silence and activities

OOOOhhh, dah lama betul tak update blog ni. Luckily I do not forget my password! Life has been pretty hectic, with endless load of office works and also trying to slot in a couple of aside jobs. What to do..... Mek tidak dilahirkan dengan sudu perak, got to work extra hard for few extra grant.

Nada's Nanny is away for her balik kampung in Medan. She told us, she might go back for 10 to 14 days. I guess that is sensible as she has not gone back for about two years to see her family. It has been 12 days and I really hope she would return.

The first day she was not around, I brought Nada to office and my boss 'loan' his maid to me to look after my girl.

.... like a tuition class, after my boss's children came to office too at 3pm till 6 accompanying Nada!

Then after until tomorrow, I am lucky to have my cousin Shasha who is in her uni semester break to help babysitting. Though Nada cries like a 'mad' girl every morning as we leave home for office, she settles down few minutes after as per reported by Shasha.

However, until tomorrow I am still clueless of where? whom? how? would I arrange Nada to be taken care since Shasha is going back tomorrow night and starting her semester soon. Berdenyut kepala Mek!

Okeh-okeh... Aside of all these busy and clutter life I am going through right now, lets talk about something joyfull - at least to me.

All said with below photos... I've been tailoring dressess to keep me sane.

Dress 1 - I call it Tartan Pleat Dress


Dress 2 - Tie a Green Ribbon Dress

Dress 3 - Bareback Shirring Dress

Dress 4 - Reversible Tier Twirl Dress

Dress 5 - Beachcomber Dress (from Daddy's undershirt)... uh! Dew is super cute in this, I've yet to transfer photos of her.

There goes, few more 'under construction' and more fabric waiting!

Having these dressess, I have a special note for my dear friend, Toughcookie.

Dear Juan,

I meant one of the dressess numbered 1, 2 & 3 for Jada as a gift for her coming 2nd birthday soon. They may not be as gorgeous as the lines that she's having but rest assured... each one is unique. Well, it's handmade.....

I couldn't make up my mind which one to be gifted to her, I thought there would be no one better than you to choose. Furthermore, I came to understand that you seems to prefer choosing a gift so it will be to your liking (harap ada yang disuka!)... and hopefully will still be pleasantly surprised once received.

The Tartan Pleat Dress could be tat bit too long for petite Jada now. Tie a Green Ribbon Dress and Bareback Shirring Dress were 'test drive' to Nada like these :

She's picking Mommy's balcony pot flowers....

Nada viewing Jada's on phone video.

Promise : Only 'test drive' ............. never worn. So TC, leave me your mailing address in my FB inbox should you sudi to accept this gift on behalf of Jada.

with Love : Mario