2008 & 2009

Time flies.
Another 4 hours, we will be ushering 2009.
To me 2009 equates a new set of challenges, not to mention if most of them are obstacles,
Shouldn't have felt pessimistic...

2008
equated a few new phases/foundations which existed in my life,
has taught me valuable lessons,
has opened new opportunities for me to explore,
has made me a better person...

2008
i have read more books than before,
made more new friends and met many old mates,
seen my beloved students doing well in their next phase of life,
started blogging and facebooking...

2008
a traditional wedding ceremony,
a honeymoon in Taiwan,
addressing his family who are also mine...

2008
has added more knowledge and experience to my job
has accepted a variety of tasks in my career
(sounded more like missions: impossible, but made possible)
has made me older and more mature (?) at the workplace...

2008
has given me heartaches
my beloved student passed away in an accident
i fell on the field with injuries that lasted for 4 months
disasters after disasters happened locally and globally...

2009
people around expecting me to have a bundle of joy
people around expecting me to get a another degree
people around put high expectations on me

i'm not sure what to expect tomorrow when i open my eyes after a slumber. but what i know is life goes on... it's up to me to make it better, meaningful and worthwhile. it's a choice to make, for better or for worse...

Happy New Year 2009!

Twilight

The movie Twilight directed by Catherine Hardwicke.

The novel Twilight written by Stephenie Meyer.

I have watched the movie and have read the novel of the same title. This time around, it some sort gave a sense of deja vu. I have never thought I would be blogging about it. The last time I did something similar was when I had to submit my assignment for my Literature paper for my degree. Doing a comparative study on 'A Passage to India' after watching the movie and reading the novel. If you were from USM doing English as your major at the School of Humanities and were taught by Dr Gitu Chakravathy, I'm quite sure you had completed such assignment too. FYI, I got an A- for this assignment, muahahaha... (why did I sound so wicked suddenly? Shaking my head left and right a few times...)

I finished the novel in less than 5 days. Mephy encouraged me to purchase the novels (which was at a very good price, two-in-one for the price of RM49.90 at Borders Tropicana City Mall). I didn't regret owning them. FYI, I'm reading New Moon at the moment, rather slow...

Now... do I still do a comparative study here? A bit lazy, since it's not going to be graded, hmmm...

I have watched the making of the movie via youtube. I am still fascinated by what the author, Stephenie Meyer, has mentioned, the novel was written with visuals appearing in her mind and how she hoped to see it materialised in a movie. Well, her dream came true! A story by her, a movie produced, two superstars are born, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson!

I have watched the movie before reading the novel. Maybe due to that, I could finish the novel in less than five days. Everything is so detailed in the novel, with more exciting moments shared by the two main characters. I tried to visualise too as I was reading the novel. Whenever Edward and Bella's names are mentioned, their features appear in my mind. This goes the same for the other characters as well. It is like the extended sort of movie is playing in my mind too. I think fans of Twilight would not mind much if the novel is made into series of drama in detail, episode by episode, and everybody will be glued to the screen when the time comes. So, that's one good thing about reading and visualising at the same time.

The novel is written from Bella's point of view. However, I have found something more exciting than that. I saw 'Midnight Sun' somewhere on the net, and it is written from Edward's point of view. I wonder if it is published. This is because I only have the chance of reading its very first chapter only via pdf.

Hmm... I wonder how it would be like if I have read the novel first than watched the movie next. Would I be disappointed? Maybe yes, maybe no. I'll test this by watching 'Marley and Me' next year as I have already read the novel last year. It's my birthday gift from somebody special ^^.

Since this is not a comparative study, it is not really a review either, and I am still wondering what is it really! Maybe a brief sharing about my current favourite movie. A nice movie I enjoyed watching, a romantic-horror movie that I don't have to cover my eyes with anything when the (handsome and beautiful) vampires appeared in front of my eyes. And the effect? I was not afraid at all to travel in a dark lift to my empty office at Level 4 yesterday. Yikes! I have not considered those who are the opposites!

I don't find it a surprise when I saw the novel is also published in Chinese at the bookstore and is sold at RM29.90. Now, I wonder if this novel is also published in Malay language here...

Christmas Party at NASAM Ampang for the Strokees

NASAM Ampang's Christmas Tree ^^

This was the look of the centre when it was decorated.

The Strokees were having a game.

Entertainment at the open space outside the centre by Simon (the one playing guitar) and pals.

We were singing 'Santa Claus is coming to NASAM' as Santa Claus himself was walking down the stairs from the office.

The Strokees are having their western lunch served by the volunteers.

Did I mention yesterday that we are going to have a Christmas Party at NASAM Ampang for the Strokees today? Yup, I did and I attended it too! Thank goodness I have traded my facial treatment this morning with my presence at such a fantastic and meaningful party of the year for NASAM Ampang's Strokees. What's more wonderful, Ms. N is getting her break of the year!

I was rushing there as I was not familiar with the traffic in Ampang especially in the morning. I was there 15 minutes late, sorry Ms. N... Once I was there, I started to wrapped the gifts as promised. Then I moved on to decorate the Strokees' nametags with glittering string of gold. We, the volunteers (gee, am I a volunteer by now too?), had the glittering string of red. Some tied it around their necks, some on the wrists, and some, well, they were more creative than I thought (I won't be detail, you do the imagination yourself)... And not forgetting the Strokees' loved ones (inclusive of their maids), they had glittering string of green... Now, you may ask, why the colour coding... it was thought by the NASAM Admin, to make sure that the Santa Claus could identify the Strokees easily.

The Strokees came and were helped to sit in a big circle at the porch. They had a game, passing the parcels. A few Strokees were given parcels to hold. They would have to pass the parcels until the music stopped. Once the music was stopped, the Strokees who were holding the parcels would have to perform according to the slips of paper chosen. If they were able to do them, the parcels that they held were theirs. This had added delight to them. How many of us could really think of such way to play this game?

After the game, we had a singing session. We sang Christmas songs and a Mandarin number. I joined Simon and his friends too to sing. I was thinking that my voice could change the fine weather of that morning when somebody complimented that I can sing! I was so happy that moment, really... hopefully, it was more of a sincere compliment than an insult (which I usually get...) thanks Mr. L., that boosted a bit of my level of confidence.

Once the lunch was ready, with table cloth and utensils and serviettes laid beautifully to the Christmas theme, we wheeled and helped the Strokees into the hall. And soon, almost everybody was munching away. The food prepared were delicious! I could see those Strokees emptying their plate quite fast. As they were eating, Simon and his friends started to sing 'Santa Claus is Coming to NASAM' when a Santa Claus seen walking down the stairs. He started to distribute little gifts to the Strokees and the volunteers too! I got a dairy milk chocolate bar (I had not eaten any chocolate for some time, so this was a good excuse for me to enjoy it then, hehe...)! Then dessert were served. The result of Ms. and Mr. NASAM were also announced, Ms. NASAM went to Madam Lisa who had worn a beautiful red dress with red scarf and Mr. NASAM went to Mr. Durai, a look at him and he could be mistaken as Tony Fernandez of AirAsia at the Christmas Party! We even celebrated two Strokees' birthday! How happy they were as we sang a birthday song to both of them and each of them even had a birthday cake to call their own!

Once the food was cleared, the cakes were distributed, the Strokees started to leave for home. All of us were seen cleaning up the centre as there would be another session of therapy for the Strokees at 2 in the afternoon. I had a good time there, helping and enjoying myself. I wonder when will my next visit be... I will try my best to keep a couple of days free come March 2009, there's a week's break. Keeping my fingers crossed and praying hard.

Thanks to Ms. N and her colleague, thanks to NASAM Ampang volunteers, Irene, and those whose names I can't recall (sorry ya...) sharing their stories, experience and knowledge about volunteering at NASAM, thanks to Simon, Mr. L and their friends for the wonderful singing session together.

To the Strokees of NASAM Ampang and all the NASAM centres in the country, I pray for your happiness, recovery and good health!

Happy Christmas & Merry New Year 2009!

This is truly one of the most memorable events this year and I am so glad that I can treasure it via blogging and share with you, you and you ^^...

My Half Day at NASAM Ampang

NASAM Ampang

The Strokees are having a warm-up session.

The look of the compound after everyone had left at 5 in the evening.

I met Ms. N in the month of August 2006 because I needed physiotherapy treatment at the hospital she worked in. From three times a week of treatments, it became once a week. Then, I was fully recovered and thank goodness I didn't need to go there anymore. During my treatments done by Ms. N, we had a good time chatting about what girls chat about. Believe me, the treatments were not really pleasant but I needed them. The conversations we had somehow shortened the time for every part of my treatments there. Thanks to her and not forgetting her staff then, that I have recovered fast. When the time came that I did not need the treatments anymore, Ms. N was informing me that she was leaving the place too. We exchanged numbers and we do keep in touch since then.

NASAM Ampang is her new workplace. I've heard a lot about it via phone conversations and e-mails, and during our short outings together. I listen to her stories with full interest. The reason? She treats her patients like how I treated my students in school! Or her patients' (mostly above 50s) behaviours are like the secondary students I taught in school!

Finally, I braved myself, I learnt my way to the centre. I read the map on the Internet, made short notes and remembered the route mentally too. I reached there about 12 noon after I missed the first turning on my left into Jalan Awan. I really hope the relevant authority will put up the roadsign there or am I too blind to see it today? I gave a call to Ms. N and she gave me the direction, "after Flamingo Hotel, drive a little further about 100m then turn left when you see the signboard of Pasar Kuala Ampang," for that I did an illegal U-turn...

It was 12 noon, most strokees had left after their morning session. I felt quite disappointed at first. Nevertheless, Ms. N told me that there would be another batch in the afternoon and a Christmas party on the next day... We went out for lunch somewhere nearby on foot and ta-pao-ed for Ms. C (the admin there) her lunch. Nice yet simple lunch, we had economic rice and I gave most of my meat to a stray dog there.

The Strokees for the afternoon session arrived at 2 in the afternoon. Some were pushed in by wheelchair or walked in slowly with the help from their maid or their own child/husband/wife/sister/brother/relatives. Then, they were seated in a circle. Two physio trainees took turns to conduct warm-up exercises with them, with Ms. N's supervision, of course! At this moment, I had started to help. Being my first time, I observed how the staff did their part and I tried my best to be as gentle with them as possible.

I got to know a few Strokees when I was introduced to them by Ms. N. All of them were stroke patients before of different causes and their levels of recovery also differ. Some were seen to be doing their routine without much difficulty. Some were seen struggling even to have an opened palm from a clenched fist. I felt sad the moment her tears were wiped away by her carer. I felt a bit upset when another cried out loud for she could not take the pain much more. However, it takes an experienced physiotherapist like Ms. N to know whether those were true or they were faking... They can act like small children who don't eat green vegetables served, if you know what I mean. They can fake so that they can stop the painful routine when it is the routine they need in order to reduce the pain and enable them to move about again.

For the Strokees, every move they make is a pain. However, for their loved ones, every pain they can see is a neverending agony...

With the NASAM centres formed in most of the states in Peninsular Malaysia, may they serve and live with their motto "YES! There is Life After Stroke!"

Read all about NASAM here.

When I Look Out the Window...

Disney Fun-tasy at NZX, Ara Damansara

When I look out the window

I see bright and colourful lights

I see big lanterns of Disney characters

I see parents and their children, snapping pictures away

I see friends, chatting and laughing away...

When I look out the window

I see Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are waving at me

I see Donald Duck and Daisy Duck are smiling at me

I see Goofy and Pluto are grinning from ear to ear at me...

When I look out the window

I hear Disney songs are played again and again

I hear children's giggling and screaming in delight

I hear the sound of thunder in the sky...

When I look out the window

No more children's laughter is heard

No more people are seen

No more smiles are seen...

When I look out the window

The thunder is getting louder and louder

The rain is getting heavier and heavier

And the crowd is getting less and gone...

Come another day

Everyone will wish for the rain to go away

Posing and snapping away with all the Disney characters

To be treasured in their blogs, journals, scrapbooks, photo albums and what-so-ever!

FYI: There are also Buzz Lightyear, Simba, Bambi, High School Musical's Zac and Vanessa, Nemo etc. etc... I don't get anything to blog about this. It's what I can see from where I stay =)...

A Quote for All the Teachers in the World

"The biggest enemy of learning is a talking teacher."

~ John Holt

I learnt about the quote above when I attended "SMART TEACHING & LEARNING SEMINAR" at Bestari Hall in University Malaya (UM), Kuala Lumpur yesterday (1st December 2008). The presenter, Mdm. M., who introduced this quote is a PhD scholar with UM with her interest in developing 21st century Learning Spaces using Socil-Cultural Instructional Design for secondary schools. Oh boy, aren't the words a mouthful (?) but the outcome is bountiful!

What I like about her presentation is the way she presented in a limited time given by the organizer and how her Powerpoint slides made my eyes glued to the screen. She is always straight to her points, being simple and sweet. Furthermore, her words, her utterances made the audience think! How I wished she has more than 15 minutes to present what she had to say. Her research is something awesome which I haven't seen from day one I attended school until today.

Back to the quote above, in my opinion, the similar idea is also shared by the key note speaker of the seminar for the day. He has posted a few questions to all the educators present, especially lecturers the following questions:

• Are we still lecturing?
• Are students still copying notes?
• Are students scrambling for articles and books? and
• Are students still photocopying?

If the answer to all the above questions is a 'YES', then, the students are not learning at all. They are spoonfed, or I should use my favourite phrase, since these students are of higher learning institutions, senduk-fed . They need to be fed using a ladle which is able to carry more quantity at a time. The keynote speaker has also introduced another term, which is 'Active Learning'. Students or non-students should all practise active learning and it can be done if only the teachers of today doing less talking. Teachers are recommended to set tasks to students by putting them into groups or the way Mdm. M. puts it as "Mini Learning Organization" (Oh, even the words she uses have oomph!).

With that quote in mind, I guess I'll add a new point to my resolution for year 2009... which is to do less talking and provide the opportunity to my students to experience 'Active Learning'. I hope I can start the ball rolling in order to have teachers to cut down on the time they use to talk by posting this blog. One joke which I got from the internet to share with you before I end this chapter...

Teacher : What do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?

Pupil : A teacher.

Special thanks to Mdm. NMK for giving me the opportunity to attend this seminar.

Fried Spagetti ala Naz

Fried Spagetti

The ingredients for Fried Spagetti ala Naz

250g Spagetti (of course!), one egg, prawns, tomato (sliced and diced), chopped garlic, sliced onions and shallots, tomato sauce, dark soya sauce, oyster sauce, and a bit of salt.

It has been quite some time that I didn't post anything on my blog. What I've prepared for dinner tonight has truly provided the inspiration for me to continue blogging... about food, that is.

Today, I'm going to share with you a simple recipe on how to prepare Fried Spagetti ala Naz. Why ala Naz? You may ask... Well, Naz is a good pal of mine and she shared the recipe with me when she was preparing it for her children's lunch as well as chatting with me on MSN (she's a real multi-tasker - an incurable juggler!), all at the same time.

I managed to take note of everything she managed to type on her MSN to me.

"senang saja.... tumis bawang putih, bawang merahpour in the ketchup (heinz or whatever la).... bila naik minyak, you add the garam and some chicken cube/stock.... then add in spaghetti bila dah sebati.... pecah telur and turn down the heat.... kacau until telur salut all the spaghetti.... i think it is best when it is kering.... ketchup you can adjust sendiri. but i think the more the better, then you can reduce salt...."

At this moment, I haven't really tasted the spagetti that I fried one hour ago. My hubby has not come home from work yet. However, looking at the big plate of fried spagetti, I am salivating already, two of the reasons are I'm a big fan of tomato ketchup (!) and... well, I'm hungry as well...

Yup, you can imagine whenever there is a choice of tomato ketchup and chilli sauce, I feel myself like a seven-year-old, snatching the bottle of tomato ketchup first. Then, there will be people who will tease me, you are a Malaysian and you don't like chillies?!? I won't bother about what they say so much as long as the food plus tomato ketchup taste good in my mouth...

Naz, please forgive me that I can't send you a tupperware of the fried spagetti but a picture of it. It is seafood flavoured because I added prawns and oyster sauce! Hope you will like it =) Thanks again for sharing, Naz!

Bubur Cha Cha, Mango Snowie and Yam Cake

Bubur Cha Cha, Mango Snowie and Yam Cake

At 5.29 pm, after receiving a couple of SMSes, I answered a call asking which unit am I staying. And so I was identified even before I managed to reply. She came all the way to send me Lemon Panna Cotta on my door step (gee... sorry there is no picture of the Lemon Panna Cotta to share here). At the same time, she even mentioned that she was hungry. Oh boy, it has been some time for me to have a girls' day out, a tea break. It could be just a short one, but I don't mind...

Together we walked to Niu Ze Xui in Ara Damansara. We looked around to find a pleasant looking cafe. We had decided on Starbucks but changed our minds to try a cafe called Cottage Cafe. There were not many people at that moment and the ambience was just right. We ordered the food mentioned above and our conversation started until the last mouthful of our food.

I believe we had a good time there, talking and laughing over a few sensitive issues, women and household issues particularly. Time flew when we were enjoying ourselves there. I hope we would have more tea breaks in future.

Hey, Yoga mate, when is our next meal together? I still owe you one!

Take care and all the best!

Keropok Lekor Nipis

Kerepok Lekor Nipis

Finally, the stall is open for business again. I missed the food prepared by the stall operators for more than a month. The reason is they have closed for business during the fasting month. Let me share with you the food that they sell, one of them is pictured above Kerepok Lekor Nipis, other than that, they have Kerepok Lekor Tebal, Pisang Goreng, Cokodok Pisang, Ubi Goreng, and sometimes Cempedak Goreng too! They also sell some drinks which I don't fancy. The price is quite reasonable for the food, for RM2 I can get 8 pieces of Kerepok Lekor Nipis and 4 to 5 pieces of Goreng Pisang.

My personal favourite? Nope, not the Lekor family, but Pisang Goreng. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of the Pisang Goreng to share with you as I have finished them before I turned off my engine. They have managed to fry the flour coated bananas crispy and the best part is the bananas that they use are so sweet. No wonder I have been looking at the spot of their stall almost everyday I drive by. I dislike Pisang Goreng that tastes like Ubi Goreng, plain and tasteless!

You don't believe what I've shared? Fine. Do go to this stall whenever it is convenient to you preferably during the late afternoons on weekdays. It is situated next to the Yayasan Bola Sepak Selangor football field in Kelana Jaya. There are a few stalls there selling Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng Rempah and also Goreng Pisang too. To get the right stall, make sure that it is the one nearest to the T-junction where you turn right to reach Taman Emas, Taman Megah Mas, NZX and D'aman Ria etc.

Try them and post some comments to me =)
FYI, they don't give me free Pisang Goreng or Keropok Lekor to blog on their business...

My 36 Coloured Pencils

Guess how old is this box of 36 coloured pencils...

Call me a stationery freak. My life does relate to stationery. Without them, I don't know how to work and play. Seeing Puteri Saadong shares about her first box of coloured pencils, I can't help it but to share mine too.

The biggest box of coloured pencils that I owned contained 24 pencils. The box of coloured pencils pictured above is my biggest. It has 36 colours but sadly, when I checked in the box just now, one of its members has gone missing and I could not recall what the colour was.

I was and still is an average student. Whenever I've done well in my public exams, my parents would reward me with things that I'm in need the most. I couldn't remember what I got from them when I got 3As and 1B for my UPSR. However, for my PMR's 6As and 1B results, my parents gave me the latest edition of Kamus Dewan (blue cover) that year. My achievement that year had reached my (the late) aunt's ears. She was the one who presented me the box of coloured pencils pictured above. Therefore, you can start doing your math now... 2008 minus 1993 (the year I got the gift from her and still keeping till today) equals to FIFTEEN!

This is the last gift from her before she left to join my grandpa in 1997. When I use the box of coloured pencils every now and then, I would remember her. However, as I am typing, I could feel my eyes welled with tears. She loved me and always encouraged me to do well in my studies. It was her that motivated me to study hard. I felt bad when I did not do well in my SPM, but her death had made me realised that I could not afford not to do well in my STPM. I bring the box of coloured pencils with me wherever I go and whenever I use them I think about her a lot...

Auntie Hong, if you are happened to read this blog of mine somewhere out there, do rest in peace. I'll always remember you and will do my best in all my future undertakings!

Happy 30th Birthday to Tourmaline Bear

My birthday cake, it's called 'Fruity Garden'. See the fruits decorated on top?

A must for the Chinese, the basic traditional Chinese way of celebrating one's birthday..
Angpows (or red packets given by the elders) and two red hard boiled eggs.

Finally, I am thirty. Last Sunday, I celebrated my 30th birthday with my hubby and MIL. I had a good sleep despite some occasional coughing at night. I've waken up earlier to do some laundry as usual - it's a Sunday routine, otherwise my hubby would not have enough socks to wear, hehehe...

We had a quick and simple breakfast in the morning because we wanted to keep a lot of space in our stomach for Japanese Lunch Buffet at Pearl International Hotel, Old Klang Road. When my hubby and MIL had bread and buns, I had two red coloured hard-boiled eggs (symbol of harmony and happiness). I had a good time eating them with soya sauce, the taste is just too yummy... do make some and have them, you will love the taste. Then I proceeded to read my newspaper and checked my FB and emails. When the time was almost up, we got dressed and headed to the hotel.

This is the first time I felt bad... why? I didn't manage to snap any related pictures for the Japanese Lunch Buffet that we had. There are a variety of choices of Japanese food - sushi, maki, handrolls, teppanyaki, sukiyaki, tempura, miso soup, and of course fruits and desserts... Personally, I still prefer the sushi and maki made by Sushi King, enough said. Desserts? My personal favourite - chocolate ball - it is round and it is so soft and smooth inside. I felt like helping myself to all the chocolate balls available, but my coughing reminded me to take just one. I even recommended to a pregnant lady to try it!

Time flies when you enjoyed yourself. I had a good meal, at the same time I felt I'm getting old to eat that much already. Sooner or later, before I know it, buffet lunch and hi-tea are going to be out of my makan list, how sad =( sigh... but, maybe once in a while will do no harm, right?

In the late afternoon, we managed to get to Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya. The name of the shop where we got the birthday cake pictured above is Cake Sense. Their choices of cakes are not that many but they managed to bake and decorate their cakes in detail. We had to choose a birthday cake (for me) which did not come with nuts (almonds, walnuts, peanuts, no!). This is to cater for my MIL who pitifully has to stay away from all the nuts and beans in the world (her favourite food!) in her diet.

Now, let's look at the Fruity Garden... It is decorated with lots of fresh cream and fruits such as slices of pineapple, kiwi, peaches, grapes and longans. There are two layers in the cake and in between the two layers is spread with lychees, juicy ones... We had the cake in the late evening before we went out to pack some food for dinner, nice century egg with pork porridge.

It is sort of a routine for birthdays celebrated in this household. However, there's a difference this year... I managed to share two big slices of my Fruity Garden with two adorable kids - Hayden and Aldan, my yoga mate-cum-good pal's sons. Listening to them wishing me 'Happy Birthday Auntie Tourmaline*' with their cute voices made me wonder and ponder about having kids to call my own...

Surprise, surprise, if you checked the Chinese lunar calendar, my birthday this year came with a bonus! The Mid Autumn Festival which falls on the15th day of the eighth lunar month every year was also celebrated on the same date! So, I have moon cakes and a birthday cake to celebrate =) This should be the first time in my life for me to have double celebrations!

To all my friends, colleagues, and students, I wish to thank you all for all the wishes coming to me via emails, e-cards, facebooks, SMSes and cards and not forgetting the gifts too. To my dearest hubby, the treat to the Japanese Buffet Lunch, a gift and preparing the red eggs for me. To my parents and parents-in-law the Angpows (pictured with the red eggs above)... and to my brother, a digital camera which is on its way coming to me... To my yoga mate-cum-good pal, thanks for the mitt and the soap. Last but not least, I would like to thank the companies that are thoughtful enough to send me Birthday wishes every year wihout fail.

My Favourite Kuih!

From a Ramadhan Bazaar near where I stay,
kuih ketayap, kuih koci, tepung bungkus, lepat pisang,
wrapped in green banana leaves,
feast your eyes!

Ramadhan Bazaar, Lembah Subang

Aren't they colourful? Oh, I've forgotten to joke with them... they should have come out with 7 colours like the rainbow! Nice to look but too sweet to taste! From left, watermelon juice, honeydew juice, sweet corn juice, Milo (thin chocolatey malt drink), and Bandung (milk + rose syrup).

To Fu Fa with either white sugar or black sugar (Gula Melaka). Best eaten as a dessert when they are hot... To Fu Fa is good for health too with less sugar of course...

The display of assorted kuih-muih (Malay cakes). I was allowed to snap a picture of makcik and her kuih-muih. Of course, I bought some for my tea too...

Look beyond the assorted kuih-muih (Malay cakes) for the delicious Ayam Percik (Splashed Chicken according to Puteri Saadong) which are being prepared.

I have an 'assignment' given by Puteri Saadong this time around when I have the chance to visit Lembah Subang's Ramadhan Bazaar for the second time. It is not an assignment exactly but it is more of a sharing with all fellow Malaysians who are living abroad, especially Puteri Saadong and her beloved family. I wished I have visited a bigger Ramadhan Bazaar but given time and (wo)manpower constraints, I believe this short visit is wonderful enough.

I was a little bit disappointed when I saw the number of stalls today. There were not as many stalls as the ones I saw on my first visit there earlier this month. The 'part-time' hawkers are probably worried with the unpredictable weather, raining cats and dogs. Thus, I had missed taking pictures of delicious Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice) and Nasi Tomato with Ayam Masak Merah (Tomato Rice with Chicken served with red gravy), and not forgetting Assam Laksa, Mee Rebus and Yong To Fu too. My timing wasn't that good today. I hope my husband and I are managed to taste the Nasi Tomato with Ayam Masak Merah before the month of Ramadhan ends soon. Just looking at them or imagining them make me salivating... yummy!

I was there for a mere 15 minutes in the hot sun (read: good weather) but there were some people who were looking at me instead of the food and drinks! I was dressed in a quite-striking red baju kurung and holding my camera phone snapping pictures away from the selected stalls. Boy, it's a dangerous assignment, as there were motorcycles and bicycles passing behind me.

The stall keepers at the colourful drinks stall were curious to ask whether I was from a local newspaper. After thinking for a few seconds, I told him that it is an assignment to be completed for Puteri Saadong! I told them a bit (read: a bit) about her and he told me to go ahead to snap pictures and share with the Internet community, and do not forget to provide him her feedbacks during my next visit. Well, how have I replied? I gave him a smile... For your information, the stalls selling To Fu Fa and the colourful drinks belonged to the same family.

When I was there, I managed to observe that people of all walks of life are there during the late afternoons and evenings of the sacred month for Muslims. I could also see not only Malays but also Chinese and Indians were busy choosing what to have for their 'buka puasa' sessions at home too. Well, I believe foods in Malaysia is one of the many mediums that are able to unite all the tummies of our multicultural society.

Since there is another 15 minutes (Malaysian time) to break fast,
I wish all readers "Selamat Berbuka Puasa!"

A Gift for Someone Special

A pair of Rose Quartz earrings and ring for her... in a handmade double-decker box (idea is from a mooncake box)...

Her last day was on 31st May this year. She was counting her days towards her optional retirement. Most of us were happy for her but some of us didn't want her to leave. She is such a lovely woman who has touched many hearts, apart of her students and few of her colleagues, she touched mine...

She was on leave when I got to know her from her colleague, Ms K. I guess I know her workstation better than her in person. I was given her workstation to be my workstation temporarily when I joined the institution. I heard from a couple of colleagues that she is a very, very, very nice person. And from then on, each day, I couldn't wait to meet her in person. I saw her finally when she had to be back to complete some documents and I had the chance to thank her personally for allowing me to 'squat' at her workstation while waiting for another colleague to vacate hers. She did not fuss and generously told me to make her workstation like mine...

When her leaves ended, she had to report herself to be back to work. I got a new workstation which was, well, most of the time facing her back. I loved to talk to her, especially to seek her advice on her expertise - grammar! I loved so much to listen to her explanations given on the technicalities of English language, simple and sweet. And of course at the same time, we were counting the days together for the day to call her optional retirement day.

A week before the day, we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant at Old Klang Road. Some of her students joined the lunch and sang her a beautiful song. She was so touched that her eyes welled. We had a good lunch and a dessert, which is her favourite carrot cake. It is indeed both a sad and glad gathering that day.

Now, I am back to her workstation again. Most of the time, in the mid of hustle and bustle at Level 4, I would be thinking of her and look at the things she has left behind for me...

To you, Madam LBY, I miss your laughter and smile. I wish to have learnt more from you of your knowledge and experience in the field we share when you were still at Level 4. Wherever you are, I wish you all the best and best of health...

Happy 51st National Day, Malaysia!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBoqvZHcqY8

I felt emotional when I first saw this advertisement on TV. The part when En. Hanafi showed his son Aiman, the amount of money he has saved for him to study in a university abroad.. It is not a small amount after saving for so many years by selling cempedak.

How I wish if every kid in Malaysia has a heart like Aiman. He never gives up and the best part is, he finds alternatives when his beloved dad could not fulfill his wants. He is such a filial son to his parents that even he makes it a point to seek permission from his dad to study abroad. From the point he was young till he has grown up a graduate from a university abroad, he still knows his grassroots and he never neglects his dad's dream of owning a 'Abah Punya' Harley.

If you manage to pay attention to the manner En. Hanafi replies to Aiman everytime he makes a request (a fishing net and a toy car), he has actually used one of the many ways of how parents can communicate with their children and their children can listen to them (there's a parenting book in the market which I can't recall the title).

Aiman: Abah, boleh belikan Aiman jala ikan?
Dad, can you buy me a fishing net?
En. Hanafi: Aiman, kalaulah abah ni banyak duit, bukan jala ikan, jala ikan Jaws pun boleh beli, tau tak?
Aiman, if I had money, forget the fishing net, I'd even buy you a shark's net.
Aiman: Jala ikan Jaws?!?
A shark's net?!?

En. Hanafi does not scold or provide any negative answer. What he does is actually to allow Aiman to fantasize that he will only get what he wants if his dad has a lot of money and that the cempedak tree grows golden leaves... His dad shows sympathy that Aiman is not able to get what he wants by explaining that 'he wishes to oblige but...'

In a nut shell, a 3-minute and 3-second moral-valued commercial has made me to ponder and share my points of view. My National Day wish this year is I hope kids in Malaysia will do their best in their studies for the next generation of Malaysians to have a better tomorrow in their society, economy, politics and what-so-ever.

Happy 51st National Day, Malaysia!

My Jumbo Floppy Doggie

It's in the year 2003 when I had to repeat my Language Studies paper for the first time. Due to my heavy workload, I realized I didn't do much revision after failing to achieve the minimum in the last paper to sit for this exam for the second time. I left the examination hall very much earlier, the first time in my life! Throughout my schooling years, I would sit glued to my chair till the teacher/invigilator with a happy and relieving tone shouting "Time's up!!!", only then would I surrender my answer booklet. But this time, it was so unusual, I had given up too quickly and much earlier than I thought... Where did I go feeling depressed? I went to KOMTAR Penang, it was still a shopping complex then, with my future MIL. We wandered aimlessly and my sight landed on a soft exterior thing. It's huge and sweet looking. I felt so much better just by looking at the eyes... I forgot about my depression and my exam. There were a few colours to choose from too! After a short discussion with my future MIL, I've decided on a chocolatey fella, which looked very much a dog, rather than blue, pink or white... I carried the doggie in my arm to the cashier, paying RM49.90 (it's a huge amount to own such a big fella, but it's better than paying medical fees), I didn't care much, this fella is going home with me! I got a shock of my life when the cashier kindly told me that they didn't have a plastic bag for the doggie's size! Oh my, should I return this fella to its shelf? I couldn't be carrying it all the way to my car... it's a distance from where I was standing!! Finally, with the sounds of laughter and giggles, she offered me a plastic bag big enough to pack my doggie home. I was so happy that it's a joke after all (yah, too happy till I had forgotten that I should be angry with the cashier). Since then, my jumbo floppy doggie has been with me wherever I am.