Kids outing to KLCC Park and Istana Negara

It was Merdeka Day (Independence Day) last Friday. Since it was a public holiday and the kids' little cousin, Jas, came visiting, we decided to take them out for a short outing to the KLCC Park just before Jas leaves KL in that same afternoon.

We would have expected to see lots of foreign workers hanging out there but were surprised to see that the park was rather empty at 10:30am. It started getting rather crowded about half an hour later. So, we had to drag the kids out from the pool in less than an hour.

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

Kids lying down by the pool

While driving towards Federal Highway, we decided to just make a quick stop to Istana Negara as the kids have not been there. I have to admit that I've never been to the guard post nor the main gate outside Istana Negara before. So, was rather surprise to see that the place were opened to the public.  We didn't know this prior to this visit.

It was a lovely place surrounded with lots of greeneries and a nice garden with a pond. Unfortunately, what was once a beautiful garden and nursery, was a big let down with unkept surroundings. The field was pretty well kept though, and the grass were green and trimmed.

Overall, it was a good experience for us all as it was our first time visiting Istana Negara.

 

Inside the Istana Negara grounds near the entrance

Tiled road leading up to the main halls

Beautiful landscaping garden with a water fountain feature in the middle of the pond

Not a pretty sight : stagnant water in a boat by the pond

Cherating Turtle Sanctuary and Information Centre

Last Friday, we went to Kuantan for our group agency’s family camp for a three days and two nights stay.

Part of our itinerary was a visit to the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary and Information Centre on that Friday afternoon.



Kids at the entrance to the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary and Information Centre.



The Cherating Turtle Sanctuary is managed by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia alongside the State Government of Pahang. Apparently,  it was opened to the public sometime in mid 1998.

As we enter the centre, we went straight to the three ponds at the centre where there are turtles and terrapins swimming in the pond. From here, we moved on to a room with a video playback on the efforts in the turtles conservation programme in protecting the turtles from getting extinct.

We were earlier been told that there were baby turtles ready to be released into the sea. We had to prebook the number of turtles we required a few days earlier as release of the baby turtles are limited. A payment of RM5 per turtle hatchling is to be paid which is also treated as part of a donation towards the conservation programme.

The kids were extremely excited to know that there are baby green turtles ready to be released to sea.

After the video presentation, we headed outside to get ready for the turtles release. Just beside the centre, there is a turtle hatchery area where turtle rangers transfer turtle eggs laid by the turtle from the beach to the hatchery to protect from any harm.

This would ensure that the turtle hatchlings will hatch safely, after which, it will need to be released to the huge ocean out there.



Turtle Hatchery



We were told by the guide that the baby turtles from this beach will normally come back to lay their eggs when their time is due.

Admission is free and the visiting hours are from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm with an hour lunch break from 1:00pm to 2:00pm/ On Fridays, there is a 3 hours break for lunch and prayers from 12 noon to 3:00pm. The Sanctuary is closed on Mondays.

You may need to call and verify if you want to participate in the release for the baby turtles or watching turtles laying eggs at night.

Cherating Turtle Sanctuary Address:

Turtle Sanctuary & Information Center
26050 Balok, Cherating, Kuantan, Pahang.
Contact No. : (6) 09-581 9087



baby green turtles in a box, ready for release



kids taking great care and being gentle with their hatchlings



Brendan's extremely careful with his baby green turtle



Up close with a baby green turtle



Eryn gently releasing her baby green turtle on the sand

 

A baby turtle making its way to the sea



wriggling their way through the rough surface on the sand

 

Love our turtles.



Brendan at the beach



One two three four five, once I caught 3 fishes alive..

Some friends has called us up yesterday afternoon to go fishing. I really didn't want to go as it has been drizzling the whole of yesterday and it was such a nice day to stay home and rest.

The kids were excited though. It would be Brendan's first fishing trip and Eryn's second. It would be my first time going too (not taken into consideration the "fishing" at the big longkang/drain near by grandma's house when I was young). I had to reluctantly drag myself to go. Afterall, majority wins.

So, off we go to the private fish farm, located somewhere near Broga in Semenyih. Surprisingly, the rain stopped the moment we reached there. We had wanted to stop by the rabbit farm on the way there but it was closed.

It turned out to be quite a pleasant trip actually. I caught three fishes - TWO "nim yue / lim yue"  (aka "wallagonia attu" or ikan tapah in BM) and ONE "sang yue" (aka freshwater snakehead fish or ikan haruan in the BM). The first fish I caught was a huge 4 kg "nim yue", but unfortunately, the fish farm owner didn't allows us to take it back and we had to throw both back into the pond. Everyone said that I had the luck today - a beginner's luck. hehehehe...

According to our friend, "nim yue" can grow up to be as heavy as I am! Apparently, this is a type of freshwater catfish species and is known to eat monkeys. It's considered to be one of the biggest freshwater fish and is quite expensive too. Was told that the market rate is more than RM100 per kg! It looks like a wierd looking catfish to me.

We kept the "sang yue" and brought it to a nearby restaurant to have it cooked for dinner and it was so, so, so fresh and yummy!

The 4kg "nim yue" (ikan tapah) I caught. My very first fish in my first fishing trip :-)

Walking around from pond to pond, searching for a good location. The first pond didn't bring us result. My two "nim yue" was caught in the third pond I selected while my "sang yue" was caught in the fourth pond I chose.

Some of the fake fishing bait our friends uses. More for the experts I suppose.

Our friend chose this little frog for my bait. It is a live one. Probably not pro enough to use those colourful plasticky fishes like the previous photo.

The first pond we went to. No fishes at all. Can you see what little Eryn is doing while everyone, including little Brendan, is busy fishing?

Here's a closer look at the princess-in-waiting, sitting down eating her biscuits and apple with her feet up on another stool. She hated the ants that kept coming to her feet.

Lots of "fei chow yue" (ikan talapia in BM)  in some of the ponds. You can easily scoop them out with a net, but they're just not the type that we are looking for. Besides, this is meant for commercial selling, not nice for us to just take it without any effort.

This pond was being emptied and sprayed with water to clean it. If you see closely, there are some holes in the ground. We were told that these are fish nests. When the water is being sucked out to a smaller drain into another pond, the eggs and tiny fishes will be sucked out as well to grow in another pond.

and this was the "sang yue" I caught, with some reeling help from little Brendan. Beginners' luck!

Fresh, yummy "sang yue" cooked in soya sauce and garnished with shredded ginger and corianer leaves.

Daddy-daughter went fishing

Two weekends ago, DH and Eryn went for a malay wedding lunch. Brendan didn't want to go as he dislikes crowded and noisy places. So, he followed me for my business unit meeting.

Anyway, after the wedding lunch, DH's friend and his friend's wife invited DH and Eryn to go fishing somewhere in Semenyih, and they only came back home after dinner! Eryn was so happy go fishing for the first time that she got daddy to call me to say she's going to catch me a big fish.

Oh well, it was a gloomy day and I wasn't particularly pleased with the fishing trip as it was drizzling a little. Eryn came back home feeling extremely exhilirated and tired and with many, many big mosquitoe bites on her legs!

DH cleaned the fish and kept it in the freezer. We steamed it two days later and it was extremely yummy! The flesh was smooth and was fresh too! There wasn't any smell at all. Scroll down for the simply cooking method.

Fisherman Fishergirl trying her luck for the catch of the day.

Eryn posing with one of the catfish (ikan patin) caught alive.

Taking a break. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Our simple home-cooked Ikan Patin :

1) Fry finely chopped garlic and shredded ginger. Put aside. Keep the oil to be used later.

2) After cleaning fish thoroughly, pour some hot water over the fish to remove excess slime from the body.

3) Steam fish (without any garnishing or flavouring).

4) Meanwhile, prepare sauce for gravy - mixture of soya sauce, fish sauce and sesame oil.

5) Heat the balance oil used to fry the garlic and ginger. Once heated, turn off the fire, and pour in sauce mixture.

6) After fish is cook, pour away excess water in the bowl. Add fried garlic and fried ginger on top of the fish and immediately pour the sauce mixture on top and all over the fish.

7) Garnish with chinese parsley and serve hot. *yummy*

(we forgot to take pictures of the steamed fish as everyone gobbled it up very quickly)

Teambuilding!

Last weekend, I joined this group of young and vibrant people for a teambuilding session in PD. They're so dynamic that I feel old.

The sessions were just wonderful. The programme moderators were Shankar Santhiram, Dr Susanna Brida-Hofherr and Andy Gerald Ho from the EQ Training & Development team.

Shankar and his team developed a superb programme, infusing their workplace experiences, leadership and management experiences plus wisdom gained from experts like Bob Proctor, Stephen Covey, Napoleon Hill, Anthony Robbins, Robin Sharma, Alvin Toffler and more.

It's simply one of the best teambuilding sessions I've ever been, but it's quite heavily scheduled and hetic. The many indoor discussion and outdoor activites, comprising of heavy-duty stuffs and light and fun moments really require tons of stamina, lots of thinking, participation, etc.. the real teambuilding stuffs!

On Saturday night, the whole group went for night trekking in the Tanjung Tuan (Melaka border) for approximately 3 hours, starting at 9:30pm. It was a unique experience, but one that I would forego if given the opportunity again. We were to go without torchlights, but some had terror but everyone managed to go through the trekking as a team. We had a long walk in the forest reserve, to the beach, back to the 'jungle', up to the beautiful lighthouse and back to the hotel.

It's just too tiring for me and having to only come back to our hotel at pass midnight, and having to get up at 7am the next morning only added to the lethargic body and mind that I was facing. haha

Sunday morning was even more challenging. After the tiring and long night trekking, we were required, as a team, to build a raft from zero, using bamboos and four empty drums to be used as floaters. That was actually quite fun, just like a scene from survivor.

Everyone was just tired from the whole process but I'd say it's definitely an experience to remember.

Assam laksa lunch

I had been looking forward to the assam laksa lunch for the past 2 weeks and was extremely glad to have a nice, homely, warm hospitality from Vichelle and her family and her home-made assam laksa!

Pek Imm cooked a creamy maraconi with sausage for the kids. It was a pleasant and lovely mini get-together. They practically had fun in Rachelle's playroom and seeing so many of Vichelle's husband's Marvel characters on display in the house.

Brendan and Eryn couldn't stop talking about the jie-jie, kor-kor, mei-mei, the games, the toys, Chanel's baby, etc..

Chanel was supposed to join us but I received an sms from Chanel at 12pm+ followed by a phone call from her husband, saying that Chanel was admitted to the hospital after being instructed by the doctor despite only having mild stomach cramps. Upon admission, it was found that she was already 6 cm dilated.

I jokingly told her that her much desired assam laksa meal could have cause the labour! The story and picture to be continued after this post..

Well, thanks for the lunch Vichelle! It was really nice..

Outing with friends from overseas

Sometime last week, daddy took out a friend from Netherlands out for dinner at a Chinatown cafe in KL together with the kids and mummy. Uncle Robert, as the kids call him, was here for a working assignment with daddy's company.

We were later joined by the kids' favourite Uncle Dejok, an engineer from Frammersbach, Germany and Uncle Kwan, daddy's colleague.

It was the kids' first outing in a very long time and so, they enjoy the sights and sounds in Petaling Street and KLCC.

Uncle Dejok, fostered a close friendship with the kids, making them paper planes in various types and even tried performed some magic tricks. Uncle Dejok is also known as Magic Andy in Frammersbach as he sometimes performs magic shows in children's party and in schools.

It was a short but fun night for the kids who enjoyed going out instead of staying at home most of the time.

Grocery shopping??

Imagine this - it's raining, you have lots of groceries to buy, the kids are cranky, the queue is long and it's running late. What do you do?

We were on a recent trip to a hypermarket when the kids started to whine and throw a tantrum. We decided to just get only a little bit of what we wanted on the long list of things to buy, and proceeded to queue up with whatever little things we have in our trolley.

"Zzzzzzz", the kids were sleeping already, what can we do but to move out quickly to get home and when we are home, their eyes were opened wide!

Harvynna's birthday

The kids went to a birthday a Gymboree about 2-3 weeks back. It's their first birthday party at Gymboree and also their first time at Gymboree.

It was something out of the norm as all the chidlren had so much fun playing and laughing away. Harvynna was a really pretty girl. She is really tall for her age. With lovely locks and a sweet face, she'll definitely attract lots of attention when she grows up some day.


Our kids have grown up so fast. As I look back at a photo when Brendan and Harvynna were together, they were just tiny little tots - Brendan in his napkin and Harvynna in her diapers, playing alongside together, but no words of communication at all. Eryn was just a little baby then.

Time flies...

Mummy, I want to pang-sai

Travelling long distance on the road is no joke. What more if there's children with you in the car.


During the CNY trip back to KB, which was a long 8 hours drive, the kids never stop asking what time we will reach our destination. With so many stops every half hour to an hour for pee breaks and food, I can go berserk travelling long distance, especially to KB!!


The trip back from KB to Kluang was better. Better, not because the trip was better but because we are heading back to Kluang and back to yummy yummy home-cooked food. My dad is a wonderful cook and CNYs is when we ate till our tummy almost burst and we can still continue munching on mum's cookies and all. The trip took around 13 hours, inclusive of a 1 hour stop in KL. There wasn't any traffic jam at all, but the journey was quite horrific!


We left early that the morning on the 3rd day of CNY, just before sunrise. Mid-way in the middle of nowhere, somewhere near Gua Musang, surrounded by tall tress and bushes, Eryn wanted to do her 'big business'.


Gosh, there's no stop until the next 40 minutes or so.


"Mummy, I want to pangsai... My tahi want to come out alreadeeeeeeee"


I asked DH to pull over to a safe spot where the road is wider as there were so many passing lorries and cars. We found a spot about 10 minutes later.


We took her little green potty out and there she was, doing her business beside the car in the middle of nowhere!


Luckily we brought wet tissues along. As for the poo, we returned it back to mother nature to fertilise the jungle out there.

Christmas outing

This Christmas season, we spent most of our time at home. We only took the kids out on Christmas eve to see the lights and decoration in Sunway Pyramid. It was just so tiring for us everyday to think about taking them out until we decided that we should at least give the kids a small treat by taking them out for a little while... :P

Christmas day was basically food, food and more food. We went to one of my childhood friend's open house whom I've not seen for almost ten years in Klang and it was a pleasant visit to her. We went for another open house at night to hubby's ex-colleague's house.

This Christmas, I just wanted a nice quiet time at home with the kids and this year, this meant something special to me cos we are spending time together in our brand new home.

Travelling again...

Gosh, am I tired..... It's been a travelling month these two months.. Two weekends ago, we went down south for my brother's open house. We had to go down earlier to help prepare all the food... well, actually it was my parents who cooked all the food. We started the trip one night before, arriving at 4am in the morning. Our eyes were like Panda and all I wished for was a total quiet peaceful sleep, which of course, I didn't get. Sigh!

With so many guests, especially from Singapore, that weekend was so tiring that we we practically giving up on doing any more travelling.

My brother got his first Christmas tree and the kids simply love playing around the tree! Anyway, with the food, presents and holidays, the kids are just so energetic that I get tired just looking at them! haha

Unfortunately, last weekend, we went down south again and this time, the trip back to KL was extremely bad.... It took us 6 hours instead of the normal 3 1/2 hours to KL. We had a stop for dinner in Seremban though due to the jam and by the time we reached home it's midnight.

I'm glad that this weekend, it's gonna staying at home after those weekly travelling. Aah.... the feeling of 'home sweet home'....

Disney Live! in KL

On Deepavali day, hubby & I took the kids and my mum to see the Disney Live! Show at Bukit Jalil. I was given 3 free Category A tickets and bought another RM158 Category A ticket for my mum so we can take her along.

It was one entertaining show and brought me back to my childhood days where I used to love watching Mickey Mouse and reading the stories of Cinderella, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, etc...

The incorporation of the superb magical skills was simply awesome and it was certainly a wholesome family outing.

With Broomsticks flying in the air, Minnie Mouse and the princess from Aladdin floating in the air and the many beautiful dances and glittering and shimmering costumes and stage designs, I felt like a little child again. Until now, I am still wondering how the magicians "cut up" two of the ladies, split up their bodies into two and exchange the bottom halves between the two. Just simply amazing.

The kids were simply fascinated with the whole performances. Brendan was glued to his seat with his mouth opened at times. Eryn started dancing by the isle with the many beautiful performances. I personally loved the Cinderella show.

It was an enchanting experience for the whole daily. Hubby who isn't really into cartoons and don't know much about the character was equally impressed.

Fireworks

A few days ago, we went to the top of a hill at Bandar Puteri, Puchong, to see the fireworks in Putrajaya. After hearing about it from my neighbour and reading about it in the papers, we decided to head up there to see for myself the wonders of the fireworks.

Attempts to plan (ya, just planning alone) to go to Putrajaya was quite a problem when the jam from Puchong heading to the toll towards Putrajaya was just simply crazy.

Hubby got a call from his friend to inform us to not bother heading to Putrajaya and instead told us to meet he and his family up the Bandar Puteri hilltop to see the fireworks.

We could already see so many people waiting for the fireworks to start. The show that night was the fireworks performance from Germany, if I remember it correctly. When it started, everyone was excited - and I meant, everyone - big, small, old, young... The "ooooos" and the "aahhhhs" was really amusing.

Despite seeing the fireworks from afar, we could still feel the wonderful experience of a gathering of people sharing interest in the performance. THAT - reminded me of the thought of what UNITY means. And with Merdeka just one day away, this one unique gathering opened my eyes to how much more UNITY meant on the day we achieved Independence.

Brand new house

2 months back, we took the opportunity to bring the kids to JB for a short break as their favourite uncle (my brother & his wife) has just shifted to their new home.

It doesn't matter if that holiday is in JB, or even in KL, as long as they get out and have fun, they're happy enough. There goes the afternoon naps, and the running and jumping around, the snacks and food that seems to be never-ending, and late nights....

I remember that a kid, I too was happy wheneverwe get to go for holidays, even if it's just a one day trip to an aunt's place. For us, it's the fun and joy of the get-together.

The short break was a welcomed, but the "after-effect" is really overwhelming, with the clothes to wash, and the sleep to catch up on.... zzzzzz......

Little Drummer Girl

About 3 months back, we took Eryn out to the Meadjohnson Smart Camp at Midvalley. We had the special privilege to enter the place at 9:30am before the opening launch to the public. There were activities organised for kids in the area of music, education and creative play.

There was a self-made set of drums, made of pails, plastic covers and with a wooden 'spade' as the drumsticks. Eryn was enjoying herself and playing the drum when a camera was set on her. She looked so cute on the drum set and later that night, Eryn was seen featured on the national news playing the drums.

At home, she takes out whatever she can get from the kithen and create her own musical world, hitting on a pot, clashing some plastic bowls, hitting on the colanders, spoons, etc.

Here goes the little drummer girl...

Lake Gardens again

Had a get-together with some of my mummy friends at Lake Gardens again.


2 weeks in a row.... Eryn was just so thrilled! She's been asking to go out to the park on weekends and now that she's been given the chance to go, she's just enjoying herself to the fullest.


I went to fetch a friend this time, and so, got company throughout the drive there. Here's Eryn being cheeky with her poses...

Just mummy and Eryn

It was Mother's Day. I didn't go back to my hometown but chose to stay in KL. DH was away in Germany for 3 weeks and thus, I decided to spend Mother's Day alone with Eryn all alone. Brendan called early in the morning from my hometown to wish me Happy Mother's Day and he said that he's eating cake and would be going for a sumptous lunch!!

My brother and his wife were planning to take my mum out and that, to Brendan, meant going out jalan-jalan and makan-makan.

Anyway, I took Eryn to Lake Gardens for a 2.5 hours outing. That was only my 2nd time there and I was kind of surprise that it is such a fun place for kids.

Eryn just loved playing there. It gave me a moment of pleasure, thinking of days when I was a kid. We were just happy going to the playground with only 2 swings, a see-saw and a merry-go-round. Kids these days have so much things to look forward to..

Half day trip to Genting

I was given 4 complimentary tickets to watch the show "FLY" in Genting. I gave the tickets to my mum, sis, brother & sis-in-law to watch the show while DH & I took the kids to the indoor theme park.

On that particular day, the kids knew we were going out and didn't take their nap the whole afternoon. By the time we arrive Genting, it was around 4pm+ They were too excited to sleep and was amazed at the huge, colourful playground around them. Their heads were turning here and there and they were jumping up and down.

By the time it was dinner, the kids were extremely tired and sleepy, but still wanted to play. They sat in most of the rides, going round and round, walking here and there, stopping to see this and that, and by the time my family came out from the show, it was almost 11pm.

Gosh, upon entering the car, they slept immediately, all the way back home.

As it was an Easter weekend, all rooms were fully booked. So, we've got no choice but to drive back on the same night.

Boyz II Men

Quite recently, I had the opportunity to meet Boyz II Men up close and personal. I loved their older albums and their songs are part of my favourite collection - A Song for Mama, End of the Road, I'll Make Love to You, On Bended Knee, One Sweet Day....

I don't have any specific favourite singer or groups and mostly go for songs that I like. I've met a few artistes and singers but meeting Boyz II Men is like a dream come true.