How we survive in using electrical goods from Malaysia in Australia

Assalamualaikum and happy Sunday!

When we moved in to Perth, basically I brought everything from Malaysia. As small as spoon and toothbrush to big as king size bed and 6 seater sofa. It is cheaper to purchase them from Malaysia rather than buying in Australia. And plus, my husband's company complimented him with sea shipment and air shipment to Malaysia. We have a container to fill up our belongings and of course I leveraged it.

I brought in the electrical goods as well for the usage in Australia. As Australia's voltage is almost the same as Malaysia, it shouldn't be a problem to use the electrical goods from Malaysia in Australia. But hang on there. Perhaps we wouldn't face any short circuit, but we faced few minor difficulties. First, you need plug converter. This is easily get in Malaysia. We bought mostly from ACE hardware shop. You could get them in Tesco or Carrefour or any hardware shop. 

Plug converter

Second is with the television. Please be informed that Australia had switched off analog TV signals, meaning that only digital TV signal is used. But no worries, you can always get the Top Box to receive tv channels if you are using analog signal TV. We bought the top box from Dick Smith store. You just need to plug in the you TV into the top box and plug in the top box to the antenna plug. With that top box too, you will receive 99 free channels. It is enough for us and we don't subscribe to FOXTEL, the only satellite tv provider across Australia. The monthly fees is high and we don't encourage our kids to watch tv too much. Plus, we can always streaming from internet if we want to watch movies. Problem solved!

Top Box: view from back

Top box: Front view

Another headache is with washing machine. In Australia, they have to water taps; hot water and cold water. But in Malaysia, we have only one; cold water. Therefore, the pipe attached to the washing machine couldn't resist hot water and you'll damage the pipe if you put water running through it. Only plug in your pipe to cold water tap.

In Australia, the outlet water pipe should be attached to the sink. Usually Australia houses have laundry area where there is a sink next to the place where they recommended you to place your washing machine. At the sink, they provided a hole for you to attached your outlet water pipe and water will straight go into the drain. But the washing machine that I brought from Malaysia can't apply that method. The outlet water pipe has to lay down horizontally on the ground. If not, the water can't go up as there is no pressure to make the water goes up. To solve the problem, we bought a pipe that connect to the outlet water pipe to the drain outside of our house. problem solve. But the permanent issue that you have to face is that you have to let the door opens all the time you do use the washing machine. As whenever go through winter in Australia yet, but cold only imagine how cold our house to be as we have to let the door open freely for a good hour during the washing. Haish!

Water inlet

Water outlet hole at the sink, not suitable use for washing machine from Malaysia

Water outlet pipe is connect to pipe extension that help water to be released into drain outside of the house

So far, those two are the problem we face in using electrical goods from Malaysia in Australia. Hopefully this post will help you if you are going to move to Australia from Malaysia. 

The sprinkler, the house owner and me

Assalamualaikum and good evening!

 

How are you? Me fine, super fine. Last night was a sleepless night but magically my energy is at full bar today. Alhamdullillah.

 

The owner of my house just went back from 'inspection'. I'm just kidding. It is not inspection like you had during hostel time. In Perth, usually the house agent will come now and then to check the property, to ensure that it is not vandalized by the tenant. The tenant seldom has the opportunity to get to know the owner of the house as all the communication is via the house agent.

 

But we are the lucky one today because the owner came down to help us to make the house better. You see, now is the transition season from spring to summer. The weather is pretty hot and dry. We humans are not the only creature that suffer, but plants too. Grass is turning to yellow and leaves are turning to brown.

 

The house is equipped with sprinkler. However, I didn't know how to use it till last Monday. And starting from then on, I switched it on everyday until yesterday. I was told by my gardener that there are days that you can switched on the sprinkler as it use bore water. The schedule is according to the house number and my house number is 7, so I can switch it on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Yippee!!Actually, the gardener came yesterday to trim the lawn and he noticed that the lawn's condition was poor. He failed to setup the sprinkler timing so he called the owner. That's the reason why the owner knocked on my door today.

 

The control panel

 

The owner is a pretty nice chap, different with what I've imagined. It seems that he is happy with us as his tenant. He promised that he will change the current control panel of the sprinkler as we can't setup the timing. With the programmed control panel, we don't have to bother about the days and time when the sprinkler should be working. The cutting edge technology really makes works easier but make we have less connection with the world. As it replace out effort, it takes our appreciation on what we have. If 20 years ago, we will pull pipe to water the plant and lawn, 10 years ago, e made our maid to do so, but now, we let the technology to replace our routine. But that's life, and we are the one who determine on what should lead us.

Check out the programme. Eventually we are using the manual programme

It's pretty sad looking at the grass

The sprinkler is at work

 

When Juma called me in the afternoon mentioning on the owner's visit, I gave a big sigh. I was busy and tired yesterday because I tried hard to finish the remaining work so I can have today just for myself. But yes, sometimes your plan doesn't work. I cleaned up the house, sweep, mop the floor, wiped the kitchen, vacuumed the whole house and cleaning up the outdoor.

 

I haven't prepared dinner yet as Juma will be home in anytime. Till then, take care!

The Whiteman Village

Assalamualaikum and hello. Few weeks ago, we went to Whiteman Park. It is quite a distnce from our house and took us 30 minutes to arrive. It's on the east side of Perth, near to Beechboro.

It is a famous park and the famous Caversham Wildlife Park situated in the Whiteman Park. There are many parks else at the Whiteman Park.

Aaron ran his heart out once he stepped out from the car. They were many families, armed with picnic gear, enjoying the sunny day. We parked our car near to the train station, at Whiteman Village. Maleec, who is obsessed with train, said he wants to have a ride. So off we went. The ride for the whole day cost $2 per adult and free fro kids below 4.

The train ride was fun and the kids were imagining that they were in Thomas the train. We past by the reserve forest and supposed to see wildlife, unfortunately we managed to catch few glimpse of kangaroo.

Later, we brought the kids to the playground. I think Maleec and Aaron really had their fun. They didn't show that they were hungry or sleepy. They played like there is no tomorrow. Unfortunately for me, my tummy was acting as it needs to be fill.

We found the nearest Nando's at Beechboro. There is Woolies in the mall as well. The kids enjoyed their meal and for the record, we managed to finished the food that we ordered. Alhamdulliallah. Syukur. It's a worth trip!

From Kuala Lumpur to Perth

Assalamualaikum and hi. How are you? Great? That's wonderful, alhamdullillah. 

I know, I know, I was MIA for a long while. But I have a good reason for that! Hehehe... Well.. I'm blogging from Perth, Australia! Yes, I moved to Perth on mid August. See?! I've told you I have a strong reason why I didn't blog for quite sometimes. 

Oh, one more thing, please bear with this post, it's a lengthy one. 

Remember that I told you that I went to South Korea? Well, that was the time when my husband told me that he is transferred to Australia. And I had a very short time to plan the transition. And I had to do it all by myself since my husband will be a month ahead us in Australia. 

The most important thing is house. So I started to browse the houses in Perth. By doing so, I became familiar with the type of houses, the rental rate and the location. Mainly in Perth there are three types; bungalow, town house and condominium. The condos mostly in Perth CBD area. I prefer bungalow because I want to have my own lawn. The rental rate also varies based on the location, size of the house and age of the house. But please beware that Australians pay their rental weekly. And for the location, I try to find the place that is near to Perth CBD and also public transport. The houses that near to the beach area (Fremantle, Hillarys, etc) are more expensive than the one in the east side. Then I narrowed down my findings by putting the priorities on the small elements like the total bedrooms and bathrooms, the maintenance services (mainly on the lawn) and house facilities (e.g heater/AC, dish washer,  walk in cabinets). I sent to my husband the link of the houses that met my criteria. And my husband will go through the link and do the shortlist and send to his agent. Together with the agent, they will hunt the houses that are still available. It is important that your agent make appointment with the house agent beforehand. If you are interested with the house, then you can submit t the house agent along with your reference. If your application is successful, meaning you get stay there!! Our first application was unsuccessful and it was really wasting time since we have to wait for the result of the application to be out before starts looking for a new one if it is unsuccessful. 

If you intend to move to Perth, Australia, I suggest you make the research on the house before anything else. It is important that we have the idea on the value for the rental we are paying. Most of the houses in Perth offer small bedrooms. The second bedroom is hardly fit queen size bed. 

Second thing I did was listing the item that I need to bring to Australia. We were lucky because his company provided us with a container to chunk in our belongings. I grouped my needs into 3 categories; items to send via sea, items to send via air and items to carry during our travelling to Perth. For things to be send via air, mostly they are kids stuff and cooking utensils. I also brought the bedsheet, some toys, some clothes and shoes. These the items that my family mostly need while waiting for the complete belongings to arrive. While waiting for the sea freight items to arrive, we rent most of the big items such as washing machine, tv and bed. 

Other stuff of us mostly would go via sea, excepts for food. I carried the food by myself when we traveled to Perth. Perth customs are very particular on food. There are many forbidden food such as dairy product and fruits. Any food that you are bringing have to be declared upon arrival. The stewardess will hand you the form upon landing for you to fill up. Take your time to think of the items you are carrying because the penalty is big if you fail to declare. 

I also made another list on the items that available in my house currently and the items that need to buy. I bought most of the furniture. That's the reason why it is important to find the house because from the layout plan of the house, we can figure out what we need for the house. We also could figure out the color scheme and the size of the furniture. 

I was lucky because the time I shopped for the furniture was Ramadhan month. I really enjoyed the sales everywhere. But the down part was I have to do all the survey by myself since hubby was already in Australia. 

The third thing that bother me is what I leave in Malaysia. I have my house, cars and some other small commitments (e.g internet line, phone line, Astro). We didn't sell the house and the cars. We arranged our immediate family members to take care of them. We terminated the phone, internet and Astro service. 

I think that's all that I can think of for now. I'm not able to share with you the visa process since my husband's company did it to us.

Please ensure that you watch the packing people pack your belongings. Sometimes the way they handle is is not as per we expect.

It is nice if you can arrange you house to make room and space for packing work. This will make packing work goes smoothly and efficiently. 

Place your items together in their groups. Example, cooking utensils, toiletries, books, toys, etc. This will help the packing people to pack accordingly and to make you life easier when you unpack.

Situation with Maleec

I saw a squirrel at my garden and called Maleec to check it out.

But the squirrel was gone before Maleec got his butt off his seat.

When he got to me, I told him that the squirrel when off already. And below is his replied:

'Mummy, you trick me??!!'

Pffftt!

Aaron is Almost Two Years Old

Today's post is a special entry to my second son, Aaron Idris. Aaron will be 2 years old in 2 weeks time. I delivered him on the 26th June 2011, at around 3am. It was a normal delivery and alhamdullillah, it was pretty easy. My husband, Juma, was there, giving me support and welcoming his new hero. 

At almost 2 years old, Aaron is an active boy. Like the meaning of his name (full of strength), it seems like he never lack of energy. He is like a robot, working non-stop. It starts once he opens his eyes and stops when he falls asleep.

His best friend is his big brother, Maleec Ismael. He will holds Maleec's hand whether they cross road or climb stairs. He will imitates Maleec's action. One thing that I'm so grateful is that they love each other unconditionally. Maleec will check on his brother whenever he notices Aaron is not around. Same goes to Aaron. He will ask on his brother where about when he realizes Maleec is not around. They hardly quarrel and fight. They share toys, food and stuff. 

Maleec also gives a lot of impact in Aaron upbringing. Like I mention above, Aaron will try to act like his brother. He also loves to wear what Maleec wears. He always want to put on whatever Maleec is wearing. After taking bath, Aaron will rush to his bother's wardrobe, looking for Maleec's clothes. Therefore I exchanged their wardrobe. So far Aaron hasn't notice the changes and will bring his clothes that he thought from his brother's wardrobe, but actually it is his now. Aaron also speak the same language and 'accent' like his brother. 

Maleec speaks in English, at most of the time. And with that, Aaron speaks in English too. But he can't pronounce the words correctly. If the word is having more than a syllable, he will pronounce the last syllable. It is so cute looking at his lips when he is talking. I feel like tying a ribbon on his lips. 

Aaron is a great explorer. He doesn't know fear. If his brother will scream when he sees lizard, but not Aaron. I guess if I don't stop him, he will pick up the lizard and play with it. He wouldn't play with children toys much but he prefers the 'real' thing. If he wants to play cooking, he will ask for the real utensils. He also loves to play with eggs. how many times he drops eggs at my house and his grandparents' house. He is calm when he got his immunization injections. He also doesn't afraid of taking medicine, which is the opposite to me and Maleec. He loves green color and will go with anything that is in green. 

Aaron is not a picky eater, unlike me and Maleec. He will eat anything. like his daddy. But he doesn't like spicy food. He loves juices and any cold drinks. And now too, Aaron's fondness towards cartoons is growing. He loves to watch Hi-5, Timmy Time and Banana in Pyjamas. He is becoming like his brother, a television junkie. Hahaha.

Oh, one thing about Aaron. He loves animals, especially cats. He cried out loud once when I caught a kitten in my house and hand it to our handy man for him to bring back home. Aaron was swimming in the pool, came out of it and chased the guy till our house gate. He cried loudly when he saw the guy when off with the kitten. 

At almost 2 years old, Aaron is still drinking his milk from the bottle, and sucks his thumb to soothe him away. Aaron is mummy's sweetheart, daddy's lucky charm and Maleec's partner in crime. Happy birthday sayang!

Hello Baby Wira!

Assalamualaikum... How are you people? I'm fine. My kids are happy and my hubby is in the house. yes, he is not travelling abroad this week. I can sleep with him every night though I'll go to sleep first and he will stays up late, attending his work. But I'm blessed!

On 18 May 2013, my big family welcomed a new addition, Wira bin Syarimie. The first son my my beloved cousin and the second child in their family. Syarimie, or I call him Imie, is my cousin that I treat like my own big brother. We grew up together by our grandparents. Our parents are so close and when we started dating, we always double date. His wife, Suraya, is my good friend. The three of us attended the same university. 

Rambut lebat

Hidung mancung

Maleec is enjoying Anggun's toys room

The mess

On that day itself, I was scheduled to fly to Seoul, Korea. Yes, I went to South Korea. And I'll blog about my visit very soon! So stay tune!!!

Suraya was due a day before, but the baby was still comfortably stayed in his mother's womb. I called her on that and promised her that I'll stop by to her house tomorrow, before I fly off to Seoul. Unfortunately, my car couldn't get started because of the battery. And I have a lot of packing work to be done. 

When I reached my phone to call Suraya, I saw a message from Imie that Suraya is safely delivered a healthy baby boy. I called him up and he told me that Suraya delivered the baby through normal mannered. However, Suraya had been bleeding heavily since the delivery. I couldn't give any advise since I never experience that before. Right after returning from my mother's house (I went back to fetch the kids since I left them to their grandparents while I ent to South Korea), I went to pay her a visit. 

Suraya told me the story which still haunt me till now. I wish to have a daughter some day, but her story made me think twice. Here's what happen. I jot it down in point form as I'm afraid I might miss out few things if I write it in para. 

1. 17 May 2013- Suraya met her gynae and seek for advise. The baby is exactly 40 weeks today. The doctor said that it is not possible that she is giving birth today. Therefore he performed sweeping technique. You can read more about it here.

2. 18 May 2013, 6am - Suraya felt the pain and contraction. Imie sent Anggun, their daughter, to her grandparents' house. Later Imie sent Suraya to the hospital. She was sent straight to the labor room. The nurse reported that Suraya is 6cm dilated. 

3. 18 May 2013, 8am- Suraya was fully dilated. The doctor, nurses, Suraya and Imie, all were ready to welcome the precious baby. Suraya pushed few times but the baby isn't out yet. While pushing, Suraya heard a loud beeps at a machine that monitor the baby's heart beat. Suraya saw the doctor's eyes were glaring and heard that the doctor instructored the nurses to look for pediatrician. Suraya also heard the announcement from the PA system that pediatrician is needed urgently to her labor room. The doctor said to Suraya, 'Ummi, you have to push hard now. Your baby has no heart beat.' With the pressure from the doctor and the energy that left, she pushed. But there was no cooperation from the baby. The doctor vacuum the baby out as she could see that Suraya couldn't help to push any longer. The baby was out and the nurses were working on the baby. Later the pediatrician arrived. Actually, the baby's umbilical cord came out first, before the head. With that, the baby had not enough oxygen and lost his consciousness. 

4. 18 May 2013, late morning - Suraya been pushed to her ward. She complained to the nurses that she still felt the contraction, as strong as when she was about to deliver. The nurses checked her wound and pressed her stomach. The nurses told her that it is normal and gave her pain relief pills. Suraya had to keep on changing her sanitary pad since it was soaking wet with blood. 

5. 18 May 2013, late evening - The gynae came to check on her. She told the doctor about the bleeding. The doctor checked on her wound and pressed her stomach. She put her hand in her vagina, searching for the source of the blood. Suraya was losing her consciousness.  Her blood pressure was dropping. And was almost dozed off, the gynae instructed he to sign a consent paper and explained that she has to through a surgery. 

6. 19 May 2013, morning - Suraya was awake, in the ICU room. The doctor explained that she just went through a minor surgery. They found a cut/tear in her vagina. This is might due to the vacuum machine entering her vagina roughly. So Suraya been stitched twice; one when the delivery and the other one during the operation. As she lost too much blood, she went through blood transfusion and four bags of blood is inserted through her vein. 

7. 19 May 2013, afternoon - Imie was called to the hospital to sign a consent form for the baby to go through a minor surgery. Apparently there is air in the baby's lung. The lung was pushing the heart further and for a longer period it will crash the heart. The air was in the lung perhaps due the massage performed by the doctor and nurses to gain the heart beat. 

8. 22 May 2013 - Suraya and her baby, Wira, were discharged from the hospital. 

Oh my! I'm happy that both mother and child are healthy. Baby Wira looks like his daddy a lot. Love love love you guys!

Baby Wira with his big sister, Anggun

The kids and their mother, Suraya

Siblings bonding time

The kids with their father, Imie

Is your behaviour in your DNA?

Salam all.. How's your day today? If you are a mother, happy mother's day to you. 

My kids didn't wish me 'happy mother's day'. I also didn't receive a wishing card written in their ugly hand writing nor a necklace made from paper plate as mother' day present to me. I don't mind. As long as they are happy and healthy, I'm bless. 

A simple butter cake for my mom

But lately, I feel so tired with their naughtiness. **I guess whoever reading this and happen to be supplement dealer, will be jump from their chair and start to promote their product. 

Aaron is a hyper active child. He can't stop working, from the time he wakes up till he asleep. The only time to see him in peace is while he is sleeping, which is hardly happen. He wouldn't play with the toys we bought him, but he will play with our 'toys'. He will take my cooking utensils and pretend to be cooking. He will take  him little plastic knife and starts digging the soil, mimicking the way I take off the grass weed. He will sweep the floor and bring in the sand from outside to inside of the house. He will take the clean clothes and pretending as if he is folding them. And many more. The above I mentioned is the mild one. Sometimes he can be extreme, like mixing soy sauce and milk (as if he is making fruit juice), playing with cups and teapot, touching my precious tablet and soaking his pillow in the water. From my mother-in-law's mouth, he acts exactly like his father, Juma, when he was little. Is it a coincidence?

Playing with my wallet

Wearing my slippers, pretending to be sweeping the floor

Maleec on the other hand, wouldn't play with weird stuff. He will play with his toys. He will watch television and wouldn't let you watch it. He will throws his tantrum whenever he didn't get what he wanted. He will yell at me whenever his father is home. And all those behaviour, sounds like mine, only when I was small. Yes, I admit it, it isn't nice, but hey! I was a baby at that time. 

Maleec is making mess on the floor while watching television and Aaron... well.. he is testing his superhero power, I assume

About eating behaviour, Aaron is more like Juma. He will eat anything, in anyway, as long as it will make his tummy full. But Maleec is different. He is such a picky eater, like me. He choose what he will eat according to his mood. He doesn't like to try on new menu, as he loves to stick with what he is comfortable with. It takes such a patience for us to wait for him eating noddle. He will pick A noodle, wiggling it to remove anything stick to it (e.g egg, beansprout), pull it high paralax to his eyes as the second check, before entering it into his mouth. And it happens to each noodle in his plate. And my mother told me, it is the same step I took while eating noddle, when I was small! 

Picky eater is enjoying his fried noddle

My question is, do we inherit our behaviour? I thought it is from the lifestyle, from what the kids see the surrounding and in my case, it is on what they see their parents. I don't eat noddle at that kind of way, anymore. Juma is doesn't make mess, in fact it is the other way round He is a clean and tidy person. So where is these behaviours from? 

Met Gala 2013: Punk! 'Oi! Oi!'

Met Gala is back! The annually ball that much anticipated by celebrities, and people in fashion industries where they parade their look according to the theme. This year theme is Punk: Chaos to Couture. Let us see who gets hit and who miss it!

1. Kim Kardashian

Miss! Its chaotic! She is huge and the print, the length of the dress and the split... all are at the wrong place. Get it off!

2. Miley Cyrus

Hit! And hot! Look at her hair! That style did the talking. Simple look yet so punk!

3. Anne Hathaway

So-so. The dress is elegant. Too elegant for the theme. But Anne's look is saved by the hairstyle. Lucky her!

4. Sarah Jessica Parker

Hit! It is a print dress but it matched to her look! What's up there on your head? It looks weird  but it works!

5. Gwyneth Paltrow

So-so. A safe look, buy hey! Who can blame her. After a rough time a week ago, Gwyneth is on the strategy to cool down. I guess!

6. Gisele Bunchen

Hit! A LBD that I wish I had! One-side-hair is elegant yet demure. The dress is unique. She looks amazing!

7. Kristen Stewart

Hit! Purrrrr!! Sexy yet punky!The hair, make up, the purse... everything is well blend and it suits the theme, as trying to put it at higher level; couture.

8. Nicole Richie

Hit! I wish I have that dress. Although the hair looks horrible to me, but it gives the edgy vibe to her look. 

9. Ashley Olsen

Miss! Did anybody lose their curtain? Perhaps yours is on Ash's body. 

10. Taylor Swift

Hit! Wow! Hot! This dress made Taylor as the new Gwyneth Paltrow. You are smoking, bebeh!

I know there are many others who dress impressively and also some ridiculously. Sadly, I'm too tired and sleepy. And thank to E!online web, that's where I got all the pictures.