A small Ponggal celebration

This is a delayed post. Better post this before I forget.

Three weeks back, we received an invitation from a friend to join him and his residential association community for breakfast. We didn't know what the event was about but we were glad to be part of the celebration. This is the first time, DH, kids, my mother-in-law and me experienced a Ponggal celebration up close.

This close-knitted community has initiated a first-time gathering to celebrate Ponggal at their nearby garden. We see preparation of claypots placed on stacks of bricks. There were also some coloured rice decorations on the ground and residents carefully placing wood underneath the pot which were laterlighted to "cook" the rice.

We were briefed by one of the R.A. committee that the Ponggal festival is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamils. We were told that it is sometimes mistaken as a religious event but it is actually a thanksgiving day and a tradition that has been followed for thousand of years.

Rice were added to the claypots and cooked with milk until it overflows, symbolising bountiful harvest and wealth. We noticed some other stuffs being added into the pot and was told that they were some spices, raisins, cashew nuts, brown sugar and ghee.

Thought it was a good to understand the celebration of different cultures in a multiracial society to avoid causing embarassment and being a joke among the people like the recent happenings on how white ang pows were mistakenly given out during CNY function, on a Tamil spelling error to celebrate Thaipusam and sending a Thaipusam greetings to the Buddhists. While I believe these were unintentionally done, there should be at least some sort of review done prior to these happenings.

At the end of the day, tolerance and understanding brings a community together, bringing towards a common goal for better development and growth among the people.

CNY carousel lantern

I've been on an ang pow craft making spree lately since I'm gathering some help on decorations for a Chinese New Year (CNY) party that we'll be having in approximately 2 weeks time. Due to time constraint and everybody's busy schedule, we're focussing mostly on the simple ang pow lanterns such as ang cranes, ang pow fish, ang pow fan and mini ang pow lanterns.

I decided to take a little effort last Saturday and be a little more adventurous and made something new this year since I can use it for my house first. My schedule is topsy turvy and thus, finding time to make this over the weekend was like havoc in my house with the ang pow papers all over the table and floor and getting my fingers numb from all the stapling. It's a blessing that there are so many instructions and guidelines on the web and youtube.

Over the weekend, I've made three CNY carousel lanterns. Each carousel lantern require 32 pieces of red ang pows.Thanks to Submerryn for the instructions.

Here's the results of my progress :


Folding 48 pieces of a triangle shaped design (16 pieces required per lantern, 8 for the top and 8 for the bottom). Fold until hands are tired.



Stapling 8 pieces of the ang pow together to form a "hat". Be sure to insert a gold or red string to one of the hat before closing them up together. Insert a tassel or a hanging decoration tassel on the other hat before closing that up together as well. The 2 cone-shaped hats then need to be stapled together by stapling on the folded edges.



Made another 48 pieces of this design (16 pieces required per lantern). First, folding them into half, then pinching them at the side to staple the middle part of both sides together to look like a little butterfly bow. That's when my 2nd finger on my right started getting a little numb and swollen.

After finishing the previous step, we have to staple all 16 pieces together like these. Looks cute huh? Like a milipede or something.

Close up the 16 pieces of the ang pows in the previous steps to form a circle. We'll need to staple the circle to the edge of the 2 cone-shaped hats.

Tah Dah! My 3 lanterns - 2 outside my house and one inside.

Of sperms, eggs and balls...

I was sitting on my notebook with Brendan (age 8+) beside me doing his homework while Eryn (age 6 1/2) was reading a book.

Suddenly, this conversation came up :

Eryn        : mummy, my egg is here right? (pointing below her belly button)

Mummy  : Huh?

Eryn        : There, you see, (pointing to a kids Biology book, as per picture below),

                  this is an egg.

Brendan : Oh, I know, it's where the sperm swims towards the egg.

Mummy  : *eyes big big* (double) HUH?!

Oh well,  and that’s how I realised I had to get started on my basic introduction about the birds and the bees. I asked if they really know what are the sperms and eggs for and this is how to conversation went on :

Eryn        : The sperm is in the boy’s kukubird

Brendan : Ya, and the egg is inside the girl’s body.

Mummy  : Yes, and when the sperm meets the egg, you can have a baby.

                  And it is very important that you must understand.

And then, the conversation got really funny :

Brendan : How can the sperm go to the egg? The sperm is in my 'kukubird' lah.

Eryn        : Hahahahaha......

Brendan : So, you better don’t touch my sperm. Actually, the sperm is my two balls.

Mummy  : *eyes rolling and controlling laughter*

Eryn        : You see this book (pointing to the picture below), sperm plus egg equals

                  baby in the womb.

Brendan : Mummy, do you know that it is very dangerous if a boy only has one ball?

                  He can die one you know.

Oh well, that’s all on the so-called basic sex education. This was really getting nowhere. Besides, I was so tired to be able to do any proper explanation as it was nearing bed time for the kids.

This is the cover of the book. A very, very good book which I bought in the last Big, Bad Wolf sale. It covers mostly on the human body and the kids learnt a lot from there.

Aloe vera jelly drink

I noticed that the big, fat, aloe vera plant in my backyard has tilted while I was pulling out the weeds in the other pots. When I tried to put it back up straight, the bottom stem broke.

And so, I had to think of what to do with it. I kept some in the fridge and used some to make an aloe vera dessert drink. I remember drinking it at an aunt's place but had no idea how to prepare it at all.
So, I just make do with what I have in my fridge and boiled longan aloe vera jelly drink. Hubby says it taste good, except that it's not sweet enough for him.

My m.i.l. used it all the time to rub it on her face which she says contribute to her smooth skin. I have to admit that her skin looks good though. My mum says it's good for the hair and for burns and cuts on skin. So, I'll probably use those in my fridge for my sensitive skin. I use to hate aloe vera 'cos the sap cause itchiness to my skin. But the fat ones in the fridge should be good cos the flesh is thick and it's easy for me to cut the hard, green skin to avoid the remove the sap which is excreted just under the hard skin.

Here's my simplified recipe for the aloe vera jelly drink :

Ingredients : aloe vera (remove the hard skin and only take the gel-like texture), dried longans, red dates, pandan leaves and honey rock sugar. I added another a piece of one type of herb (kept a lot of it in my fridge) which I do not know the name. Amount to be used are in estimated amount.

Method : Boil the longans, dates and pandan leaves for about half an hour for the flavour to be out before adding in the aloe vera and continue simmer for another 10-15 minutes to remove the slimy texture from the aloe vera. Add rock sugar before turning off fire. I prefer to cool it down and drink it chilled.

Eryn enters primary one

It is now Eryn's turn to go to primary school. She seems pretty excited and knowing that she can cope well, I didn't feel so stressed up preparing her for her first day of school yesterday.

Brendan used to be an extremely shy boy but he was ok when he was in standard one. So, Eryn will definitely be ok too.

I went to school during Eryn's recess time yesterday, thinking that I was half hour early, but found that the standard one children were already queueing up, preparing to go back to their classrooms. I had bought chocolate milk for the kids and only managed to pass to Brendan. Luckily Eryn finished the bread I packed for her this morning.

During Brendan's time in standard one, there were a total of 11 classes compared to Eryn's year at only 6 classes this year. It's still chaotic though cos all the kids looks alike from the side or from the back in the standard blue and white uniform. I could only locate Eryn when I located her class queue. Even that also I found that she looked different as I've just cut her hair two days before school starts.

With Eryn being in the second batch of the new KSSR syllabus, I hope she can cope well in school. She can't reach much of chinese yet, as compared to Brendan.

This is the part and parcel of many parents' life when their kids enter school. Always a new phase as we go along our journey in life.

The standard one crowded during recess time.

Taken during school orientation day on 30th Dec 2011.

Another new year though it seems like yesterday that I......

It's the beginning of another new year and it's always that time of the year when I wish for a better year.

As I reflect back past memories, I feel and see so many things in my life, past and current.

I've now matured a lot. Tremendously in fact. I'm now a mother of two school-going children though it seems like only yesterday that I was a teenage girl, hanging out with friends and enjoying single life. And being single now means having my own personal time with my other half and my two 'creations', that means doing things as a family in most of our daily life.

I now pant and run out of breath when I run with the kids at the park. My body aches, my head turns when I get not enough sleep and I feel tired after a day out hiking. It seems like it was only yesterday when I was actively into sports and even represented the school in some sports. I ran the 100m sprint, took part in long jump, high jump, relay, netball and trained in the hot sun and rain. Sleeping late didn't give me problems the next day. now, it seems I'm contented sitting under the fan, reading a book or magazine or just surfing the net.

And speaking of surfing the net, it used to be lots of social media activities, getting to know new friends, oblivious to the term "danger" and chatting and looking at girlish stuffs. That seems like yesterday too but now, I've developed an interest in reading REAL news, on economic update and markets and reading technical charts, forgetting that accounting was one of my hated subject in college.

And speaking of danger, it seems like yesterday when me, my siblings and cousins, went out to play in my grandparent's kampung. We climbed mango trees, attempted to go up the rambutan trees, played hide and seek in the bushes and behind huge trees, catching spiders in pandan bushes and 'catching' fish in the huge drain nearby. We ran all over the kampung, without any fear of kidnapping or of strangers around. Now, I forbid my kids to do the things I used to do. Crime is a big worry nowadays, almost unheard of in my childhood days. We were happy kids without the computer, watching less tv, practically no toys as we DIY our own toys. Our childhood games was one filled with board games, playing bottle caps, home-sewn 'five-stones', and lots of outdoor games like hide-and-seek, police-and-thief, galah panjang and traditional games unheard of.

Lately, my boy is engrossed in his Plants-vs-Zombies game, influenced by his father during the recent school holidays. My girl, on the other hand, is into her whole list of Barbie movies.

On a personal level, I've taken bold steps to 'try' to go into a more flexi-job. The 'try' turned out to be a great. I never realised that taking the leap to leave the corporate world and the monotonous working life changed my view of the many things happening around. No more hearing of the bitching and backstabbing and complains. As someone said this many moons back, if you don't like it, stop complaining if you want to continue to be where you are, or just CHANGE if you can't stop complaining.

Oh well, too much ranting already. Feels so quiet now that the kids are out with their friends at the daycare centre. It had been a hectic and noisy school holiday and the sudden change makes me pause in my steps, feeling a little lost as to what I should be doing.

I should get back into my routine. Gotta move my butt now.

Happy New Year 2012 to all and cheers to a wonderful and lovely year ahead!!

Some of the shots taken during the Christmas season last month.

Bye Hong Kong!

We had the opportunity to go for a steamboat dinner in Tsim Tsa Tsui the night before we flew back to Malaysia. Hubby's friend, a Hong Kong resident, has been to Malaysia numerous times and will always meet up with hubby. When hubby told him that we would be going to Hong Kong, he had been in touch with hubby prior to our trip to make arrangement to meet up.

So, he set up a steamboat dinner gathering for us together with his wife and brother. Chanel and family joined us as well.

We scheduled to meet at 7pm that night in Tsim Tsa Tsui MTR station and then walked over to the restaurant. We ate until the restaurant was about to close at around 10.30pm.


Hubby's place has made booking at this steamboat restaurant called Son Tung Kee Restaurant in Tsim Tsa Tsui even before we went to Hong Kong. I love their appetiser which is fried fish skin. It was very crispy like keropok. They started serving the condiments which we were to add in heaps to a bowl. There were finely chopped chilli, celery, parsley, garlic and sauce. Hubby's friend has booked us a private room which we had just to ourselves.

 

There were lots of thinly sliced beef which we dipped into the hot soup. The raw dishes kept coming and coming. There were dumplings, fish paste tauhu, scallops, huge oysters, fish and some sort of sea stuffs which expands to a rather big size after cooked in the soup. The sweet corn came in last and they were extremely sweet that we ate quite a lot of it even though we were already full. The soup has century eggs in it. Something quite different.

There were orders for a big plate of a rather big fish, all sliced up for the steamboat and a plate of scallops.

This is what I ate. A scallop. Some sea creature which hubby said is some sort of "spare parts" (internal organs) from some seashell of some sort. It was kinda chewy, and not too bad actually. But the thought of eating something unknown kind of makes me stop eating another piece. There was another parts from another kind of sea creature which was a little harder to chew with rougher texture. Eryn didn't like hers, so I ate two pieces. Again, it didn't taste bad, just that I have no inkling to what that was. 

See the huge scallop? It's bigger than my soup spoon. We ate more sliced beef and fish paste tauhu than anything else. Oh, and lots of vegetables too. The dumpling doesn't look like the ones we have over here, so that was a little different for me too.

I love the beef, sweet corn and the sugarcane juice the most. Brendan enjoyed dipping the beef in the soup more than eating the food while Eryn loved her sweet corn and chocolate pudding dessert.

We wanted to go dutch but hubby's friend has already made early payment and treated us to this sumptuous meal. Some of us have to wear out jackets to eat as it was really freezing cold in the room. Why did they turn on the air-con in full blast? Brrrr......

This is actually our breakfast at Citygate on the day we were to leave for the airport.

We went to Citygate to do some last minute shopping as the factory outlets there were having some sale. Hubby got a real good bargain for two pairs of Puma shoes at HKD549. I wished I have more time to shop for clothes.

Hubby is now eyeing to visit Hong Kong again for their major sale, just two of us, for a short shopping trip. Now, that question is "IF" we ever go there again. Hubby's friend had already sent a message to hubs a day after we were back in Malaysia to ask us when we can meet up in Hong Kong again.

Kids waiting at the departure hall in Hong Kong International airport.

Brendan and Eryn enjoying the MAS kids' meal on the plane. Brendan was so engrossed in his games while Eryn was laughing away watching Spy Kids and some cartoons.

It's nice to be back to Malaysia. Now, back to life. Doing the mountain pile of laundry was crazy. I had to go for 6 rounds of it. The holiday was fun. The after-effect is not.

It was a great time we had. It was real fun to travel with another family too. Chanel, it was a pleasure to have a holiday with you.





HK : Stanley Market and The Peak

Stanley Market and Victoria Peak are both located in Hong Kong Island. We initially scheduled to go to these two places together on the same day, but due to Mongkok street markets not opened early in the morning, we push our Stanley Market visit earlier. It was good also in a way, as we would not have to rush for our trip to Victoria Peak.

Stanley Market is a nice place for a stroll and for shopping of little souveniors. There seems to be a lot of expatriates chilling out at the restaurants and at the market here.

There are ample spaces for kids to run about. We see little mat salleh kids playing football and skateboarding around the area. The area is full with buzz. There is actually nothing much to do but it is a good place to just chill out, have a cup of coffee and enjoy the nice sea view. There are lots of knick knacks in the stalls located in Stanley Market for those who are keen to buy stuffs back as gifts.

Since we didn't do much shopping around, we spent quite some time at the waterfront while waiting for Chanel and family. We love the fresh air here.

A view from the waterfront where we were hanging out.

Apparently, this place is considered slightly middle to upper class and there are lots of villas and high-end condos as you travel along the long and windy road from Central bus terminus to Stanley Market. The seaview is simply breathtaking.

One of the bus route we took from our double decker bus. Tall buildings are everywhere around us.

The lower portion of our double decker bus. The buses here are very clean, so unlike in Malaysia. In fact, the public toilets are also very clean. You don't see wet floors and rubbish in the toilet or on the MTR and buses. Punctuality is a norm and bus schedules are always on the dot.

MTR stations are always packed with people. From Skycity Marriott, we took the hotel shuttle to Tung Chung MTR, and thereafter to Hong Kong Station MTR. From there, we walked over to the connecting link to Central MTR and to the Central Exchange bus terminus. Everything is so systematic and you don't have to worry about being a stranger in this unfamiliar territory. MTR and bus bus signages, signboards on bus stops gives you clear directions.

You don't have to worry about getting lost in Hong Kong. However, I have to say that the people from the mainland can be quite a rude lot. Young or old, they talk very loudly and pay no heed to manners by lining up in queues in MTR, buses and especially in queueing up for rides in Disneyland and Ocean Park. They'll push you and cut you just to be in front regardless of who you are. That is one part I just don't seem to understand. We even came across a family stealing strollers in Disneyland Park and chuck them aside when they don't need it.

Chanel had to experiece this herself as we go hunting for her stroller. We later found it in another place.

We maintain our Victoria Peak itinerary for the last full day we were in Hong Kong. We were supposed to take a bus but found out that we can actually walk via Chater Garden to the Peak Tram Lower Terminus from Central MTR station exit towards Admiralty via Hong Kong Park.

We walked through Chater Garden, stopping by to use the toilet and enjoy the garden view. There were some sort of some foreign Filipino domestic workers gathering there. As it was a Sunday, we believe they were out on their off day,strolling and hanging out in the park and catching up with friends. You see some group playing cards, some games, or simply just chatting away or hooked up on the internet.

Eryn wanted a photo with the beautiful flowers in Chater Garden and so, she smiled for the camera.

Down at the Peak Tram Lower Terminus, the queue was rather long. I think it took us around 20-30 minutes. The sun was quite glaring on this day and so, the kids went to hide under the shade just beside the water fountain.

The water feature is beautiful. It can at least entertain us for a while while waiting to purchase tickets. If you're visiting Madame Tussaud, it would be good if you get the package deal for Sky Pass, The Sky Terrace and Madame Tussaud.  Otherwise, buying the entry tickets separately when you're up at The Peak, will be a little bit more expensive.

 

After getting our Peak tram sky passes, it takes another 20 minutes or so, queueing up to board the tram. We have to wait for the third round due to the huge crowd. The Peak tram is one of the world's oldest funicular railways.

It's a rather steep climb up The Peak in the tram. If you're going up hill, be sure to choose to sit on the right hand side as you may get to see some nice views along the way.

A big heart-shaped deco at The Sky Terrace, the highest 360 degrees vewing terrace in Hong Kong. We're about 1,300 feet above sea level!

There are actually two heart-shaped deco! A pink and a purple one. So sweet!!

The kids love the windy place here. The panaromic view of Hong Kong is simply marvellous.

Going back down the building filled with lots of shops and cafes.

The love panaromic view brings some sort of a wonderful feeling.

From another angle, we can actually see a harbour somewhere near Kowloon area.

The Peak Tower is the iconic landmark in Hong Kong. Apparentely, it is the most stylish architectural icon with a dazzling array of restaurants, shopss and the viewing terrace.

The garden outside The Peak Galleria is a fun place for dogs. We saw a big group of pet owners and their dogs on their special outing.

Do take note that eating, drinking and smoking is not allowed in the tram or in any public transports in Hong Kong or you'll get a hefty fine.

We get to see alot of double decker rail trams around this area. We didn't get a chance to hop on one though.

You'll need approximately half a day at The Peak and half a day in Stanley Market if you plan to visit these two places.