Gas and Car Key Remote: How important they are in my life

Assalamualaikum... 

It's Saturday night and in 10 years ago, at this hour, I usually just got out from my house, dress to nine, hopping from one club to another. If not clubbing, I would be hanging out with friends at mamak or cafe till late at night. And if Juma is around, he will fetch me for late night movies or karaoke. But now, I'm on bed, in the dark, with my laptop, prepare to rest and sleep. Aaron is fast asleep and Maleec is at downstairs, watching cartoons. 

What is special about tonight is that Juma will be home after almost a month he is in Bangkok. At last, the kids are able to cuddle with their beloved daddy. I can't imagine how thrill Aaron be when he sees his daddy tomorrow morning. 

Anyway, a bit of story what happened to me today. I planned what to do today and I was so eager to work my plan. So, after bathing the kids, we were set to breakfast until I found the car key remote was in my garden and it was wet! I have only one car key remote to my car! Of course the remote can't work. 

So I cancelled the program to go out for breakfast. I fried some nuggets and boiled a kettle of water. I left the kitchen to dry the washed clothes. After awhile, I went in to flip the nuggets, only to find out tht I was running out of gas! 

I just moved into the neighborhood and have no idea where to replace the gas. Juma bought the gas earlier, along with the house contractor. So I called Amir, our house contractor. Amir promised me that he will call the shop to send the gas immediately. Few minutes later, Amir called and informed me that the shop is closed and the keeper is back to his homeland. Damn!

I ran down to my car and tried to unlock it but still failed. I really need to go out for food. If not for breakfast, but for lunch and dinner. I can't wait any longer. I determined to open it manually. Once I inserted the key at the door, the alarm started to make noise. I went into the car and tried to start the engine but failed. I have no choice but to seek for my neighbor's help. After a few drama, few heart attacked and humiliating panic, the car was ready to be use! The alarm gone, the steering is functioning and off we go! 

And that is how my morning looks like today! Happy weekend, all!

Farting misunderstood

This gonna a short post. 

Situation 1

Maleec and I were relaxing in the tv room. And he farted. I looked at him, he looked at me. 'Mummy, sorry. It's tummy hiccups.' Hahaha. 

Situation 2

This is what my stepfather told me. He experienced it during my trip to Bangkok where he took care of my two angels. My stepfather, whom they called Tokdad, was having breakfast with Aaron. And he farted. Aaron quickly went to his grandfather poked his butt an screamed 'Yaaakkk.' 'Yak' in Aaron's language means pass stools. Hahaha. 

Homeschool : Day 1

Eye.. eye.. (make five dots), face.. (make an oval shape), mouth.. (draw a smile lips).. feet.. feet..(draw two straight line starting from that oval shape and down towards the end of the paper), foot.. foot.. (dram a short line under each long line), hand... hand.. (pull out two straight lines, one from each side of the oval shape)... this is Mummy! HAPPY MUMMY! 

Assalamualaikum... above is how Maleec reacted when I asked him to write A alphabet. 

I don't know what is wrong with me, Juma or the situation but we haven't start to teach Maleec how to read or write although he is almost four years old already. Initially I did some survey of pre-school to send him this year, but till to date, we can't decide whether to send to playschool or not, for this year. For now, I think I would wait for next year because of some reasons. First and foremost, sending him to school meaning that we have to commit to make sure his attendance is good. Unfortunately I don't think we are able to commit for now. This lead to another reason, as I think I would like to follow Juma to certain locations that he has to work. Therefore, to make sure Maleec attends the class daily is quite impossible. Third, I think it is fine for him to be at home at this age and enjoy watching cartoon, wake up late and play around with his brother because when he is at certain age, the need for him to be at the certain level in mandatory. So, it's his honeymoon year. 

However, although he isn't in school, but it doesn't mean that he can't learn anything. I think I should start somewhere, by switching off the television and initiate him to learn something. So I started it today....

My students in the class

I drew few dots, resemblance of an A with a marker. Then I played some videos from Youtube that sang ABC song. I got Maleec's and Aaron's attention. Before, I laid a blank paper and a pen for each of them. Aaron started to scribble whatever once he received his paper. Different with Maleec. He was reluctant to sit with me. He kept on telling me he wants to continue watching his cartoon. The video caught his eyes and when I paused the video to show A alphabet, he yelled at me that it is not an A, but a triangle. Seriously, I have to idea how to change his mind and to convince him that is an A, although it is a triangle. 

When I handed them the paper with the dots for them to draw lines, Maleec started to draw other stuff. That was when I started to draw his mummy's face. I was shocked that he could draw so well since I never saw him draw anything before. Good job son!

I think it is pretty good for the first day. I'm looking forward for the upcoming 'classes' with my two 'students'. Can't wait for more challenges!

That's me, by Maleec!

They Took My Cat Away

Asslamualaikum all... How was your day treating you? I had a fruitful day today. I attended my garden, washed two cars, cooked lunch (and dinner) and folded clean clothes. My two kids are in their dreamland after getting scold from me. Just imagine, they didn't take their usual nap, playing around the house at late night, jumping on the couch and other behaviors that drove me nuts!

Anyway, I have a story to share. In my neighborhood, a few houses face the same problem: cats. The cats have owner but they love to wander around people's house. Not only that, they will leave their excreta around people's garden, get into the house and steal fish away, and one of it trapped at my roof for days! 

Coincidentally, the owners of the cats are Malays. How do I know about it? I learned about it when I always see the owners will walk around the neighborhood or drive their car slowly and looking around for their cats. I just don't understand why the cats could get away to other people's house and make mess if they are pets? Don't pet will stay in the owner's compound and will leave the house with their owners? When is giving up responsibility on your pet become a trend? 

I'm piss (yes! till today!) with the cats around my house. I'm not pet lover but I don't hate the animals as long as they don't give trouble to me. There was a day, when I just cooked dinner for my family and left my house to fetch my husband. I left some fried fish on the table and the window opened. I came back to find out that the fish were gone and the table was in a mess. It really pissed me off and I feel like I'll kill the cat if I see it in front of my face at that moment. Till to day, I never kill any cat, yet!

Unlike me, some other neighbors who can't stand with the problem, will take action on the issue. They will catch the cats and throw it far away from our housing area. And coincidentally, the throwers are Chinese people. 

The small matter above make me think and link to the current issue that is heating in my country. Malay is a native race and nobody can question about it. It is in the law during the formation of Malaysia. Many perks the Malays enjoy as the native race. And of course other race are jealous with the specialty. Unfortunately, there are many of the Malays who misuse the specialty and it of course furious other race. And now, the other races are promoting on the equal rights of Malaysians. They claim that they pay the same amount of tax, therefore they should enjoy the same treatment. 

Like I told you, the scenario is the same as my initial story. If you don't take care of what you have, other people will take it away from you even before you realize it. 

To Malays, we have to guard what we own in this country. I hope it is not too late before we feel sorry to lose what our ancestors 

Bangkok 2013: Update 2

Assalamualaikum all... 

Greetings from Sungai Petani, Kedah! I safely arrived in Penang yesterday. 

As I promised, here's the update on my activities on my third and fourth day in Bangkok, Thailand. It happens to be the days were weekend. Juma and I made plan to go to several remarkable places in Bangkok. 

On the third day, we changed hotel as we check-in at Northgate Ratchayothin Serviced Residence. We checked-in quite early, say at 930 am.

After a quick break, we took the shuttle bus from the hotel to Chatuchak Market. This was my second time at the market, but I was still excited! We browsed round and still not much amuse me. But at this time around, the trip is more meaningful as I went with my beloved husband who is expert with the place. How he isn't expect with the market if he spends every weekend there. 

In the afternoon, we had our lunch at the market. Juma introduced me to a beriyani place runs by a Muslim. There, we met  Singaporean family and some Malaysians as well. It is good to catch up with your own people awhile.

After I found that not much amused me, we made our move to Pratunam. We took BTS from Chatuchak, that is Mo Chit station, to Siam station. From there, we walked across the sky-bridge till Central World mall. Then we crossed the mall into the road that is just next to the Platinum Mall. I didn't want to shop anything at the mall, therefore we went to Pantip Mall. Pantip Mall is something like Low Yat Plaza in Malaysia. Its the house for electronics and IT products. I was searching for my Samsung Ativ casing, but didn't manage to get it. I guess it is because of the model is too new, that's the reason why the casing/ cover is not available yet. Juma was looking for his laptop bag but couldn't find one. 

We rest awhile at the Central World mall. We chilled at the walkway outside of the mall, eating some fruits and drinking bubble tea. Then we went back to the hotel, like how we got here. But there wasn't shuttle bus to wait for us at the Mo Chit station to ferry us to the hotel. And we had to take taxi. Taking taxi in the evening isn't easy in Bangkok. It took us awhile to get one. The taxi drivers were choosy in terms of their passengers and the passenger's destination. *sigh*

We had our dinner at the Major Mall, which is pretty near to the hotel we resided. 

On the next day, we were gear up to stroll down the Chao Phraya river. We took the shuttle bus to Mo Chit station then we took the train till Siam and changed the line to Saphan Taksin. Then we took the express boat to the Tha Tien. Along the river, we could see many wat. The wat looks totally different with the temple that we have back in Malaysia. While sauntering down the river, my imagination took me away, thinking about the Ayuthaya era. The river must be busy as it was the main way to get around the Bangkok. The piers were full of merchants from all over the world, selling their goods and products. How I wish I can travel into time. 

The famous Wat Pho is just a walking distance from the pier. Wat Pho is a famous Buddhist temple where it house the famous reclining buddha. The entrance was guarded with scary looking statues. I learned that the tourists have to pay 100 bath for entrance and its is free for Thais. Not being stingy, but I think I can use the 100 baht for other better use. Juma and I took pictures around the area before we moved on the Grand Palace. 

The Grand Palace is just across the Wat Pho. But to get to the main entrance, you have to make one big round. As we were walking, a guy approached us and suggested for us to take tut tut for 50 baht and it will covers 3 places. He also told us that the Grand Palace is close today as the monk is having a special ceremony. Juma didn't took the bait. He told me that one of his colleague fell into the trick and had to shop at every stop the tut tut made. 

We managed to arrived to the main entrance of the Grand Palace at last. Our body was sweating under the hot sun and to add to worse, I can't enter Grand Palace as I was wearing tight pants! Yucks! there was a long queue for people to get 'extra-cloth' to enter the palace. Juma told me to just walk across the guard, not looking at him, and YES! I managed to enter the ground place! But we learned that we have to pay handsomely 500 baht for the entrance! No thank you! We took some pictures and off we went back to the pier. 

From Chao Phraya, we went to Terminal 21 Mall by train where we stopped at Asok. The mall is quite unique. It use airport concept whereby each floor representing different city. It has the Carribean, Rome, Paris, Istanbul and few other cities. The shops at the respective floors will have the concept as the cities that they are representing. We went to Manhattan Fish Market for lunch before headed back to Chatuchak Market. 

Again, another round at the Chatuchak Market, searching some souvenirs for my parents and siblings. After few rounds and few quarrels, we call it a day. The problem with me is that I want to find something that couldn't be found in Malaysia. But most of the things in the market could be found in Malaysia, in the slightly higher price. 

Waiting for taxi is not what we enjoy. We waited at a point, a policeman came, the taxi didn't want to stop because afraid of the cop, then we moved to another point, the cop followed us. Juma suggested for us to cross the market to get to the other point. Waited there for few minutes before luck found us. Yeehaaa!!! My feet need some rest! What a day! Alhamdullillah!

Bangkok 2013: Update 1

Sawasdee.... Greetings from Bangkok!

Tomorrow is my last day in Bangkok. I'm here to visit Juma who doesn't know when is his last day in Bangkok. Hahaha.. I left the kids with my parents. Right now, I'm alone in the hotel room while Juma is out for work. Today marks as the first day I haven't gone out, yet! My feet are sore and today is a great day to re-energize myself. 

I arrived at 6 pm in Bangkok and basically it almost dark. I took a cab to Juma's hotel which is quite near to the airport. It took me around 300 baht. We had dinner in the room as Juma bought beef kebab for me. We wandered around the area after I cleaned up myself. 

On the next day, I had a Thai full body massage. It was great! I felt my body lighter and my ache at the hips gone! What a relief!

Excited face to get full body massage

After Zuhur and Asar prayer, I went to Central Plaza. Islam is not a difficult and hard religion as I can jamak my prayers is I'm a traveler. The Central Plaza is quite near to the hotel and it costed me less than 50 baht. The street market was getting ready when I arrived. I wandered around, hoping from the Central Plaza to Union mall, another mall across the street. The Central Plaza is kind of posh shopping mall where it houses the big names such as Zara, Topshop, Forever 21, Krispy Kreme although it is not as big as Siam Paragon. 

Central Plaza: view from the bridge

Mango 

Mangosteen: Though out of season, Thailand still able to serve it. It proves the great  agriculture technology.

The shops in the Union Mall is not a well known brand/ designer shops. The mall is something like Sungei Wang Plaza back in Kuala Lumpur. The clothes are sold at reasonable price and the fashion is more like Korean ones. I browse around and didn't get anything for myself there. 

Jelly bag

Shoes shop

Shoes at less than RM20

Marc Jacobs, anyone?

Union Mall: Great place to shop

I hopped back to the Central Plaza and met Juma for dinner. He suggested for us to have Korean on that day. It was seafood noodles. I think the picture could explain on it. I was hungry as I didn't have my lunch, therefore I ate so much! It was a good meal though!

Juma is waiting for the food

After

Before

Then, we went up for movie. We watched 'Jack: The Giant Slayer'. The theater was so big, bigger than the one we have in Kuala Lumpur, but it wasn't full. Before the movie started, they played the 'King Song', the song that the Thais dedicated to their king. And we have to stand still till the end of the song. The movie was great and we returned home after the movie. 

On the next day, I went to the famous Platinum Mall in Pratunam. I was so excited! I've been to Platinum Mall before and I shopped like there is no tomorrow! 

Platinum Mall, Pratunam

I took cab to the Platinum Mall as advised by the hotel worker. Juma suggested to me to use BTS, Bangkok Train System. But I used cab because of two reasons; one, it is in the morning, thus the traffic wouldn't be bad although I have to pass Siam Paragon, the place that is famous with heavy traffic jam. Two, in cost wise, I think it will be the same. Taking the cab to the train station, taking the train and take the cab from the train station to the Platinum Mall will cost as much as taking the cab from the hotel straight to the mall. True enough, it just costed me 95 baht to get to the Platinum Mall. 

There, I found some part of me missing. I don't know why, although the mall is famous with cheap fashionable clothes, not much amused me. I found few cardigans and few other stuffs, but I went back to the hotel early. Unlike my trip before, I didn't find much tops that I want. Maybe I have high expectation, but maybe there is something wrong with the Platinum Mall itself. I found that the price of clothes in the Union Mall is far cheaper than in the Platinum Mall. I told Juma about that and he explained that the Platinum Mall is meant for tourist but Union Mall is the place of locals. Well-explained!

Necklace

Hair decor

I took cab back to the hotel. It was raining heavily when I was on the way back and the traffic jam was massive. Another thing I learned about travelling: you better go to the toilet before you want to endure the traffic jam! I really need to pee and I can't hold myself anymore. With the communication problem, I was lucky that the cab driver understood me at last, that I need to go to the rest room. I returned safely to the hotel. 

Flash flood

Flash flood

Later, Juma got back from work and we decided to have dinner at the Central Plaza. Yeehoo! I took the opportunity to shop few clothes in the Union Mall. 

That's all for update. I'll update soon on my trip to Chatuchak and Chao Phraya. Stay tune!

Hi! Can we be friend?

Maleec learnt 'friends come and go' lesson at the very early age. As I mentioned in my earlier post that my good friend, Ainul, came over to my house.She spent few days in my house along with her two sons while her husband in the UK and Juma in Thailand, still. 

Maleec and Aaron had a good time playing with Ainul's two boys; Rais, 3, and Rizky, 1. They played, fought, quarreled and hugged at the same time. Maleec showed his fondness over Rizky and seems like giving me hint that he wanted a little brother. He called Rizky as Baby. 

If before, he would ask me to switch on the television to cartoon channel once he wakes up but from the second day onward of Ainul's stay, Maleec would asked for Friend (Rais) and Baby (Rizky). Then he rushed to the quest room, looking for the two boys, and often followed by Aaron. 

Maleec isn't a rough boy but he is quite persistent with his action, that sometimes irritate people (me!). He forced Rais to 'salam' (shake hand) with him. Although Rais refused to salam with him, he will still extending his hand and said 'syelam'. Hahaha...

So the last day of Ainul's stays arrived. We had breakfast together at mamak place before departed to our own car. Maleec was in tears when he saw Friend and Baby when to separate car. I explained to him that he will reunite with his new found friends soon. That is the same promise we make with friends whenever we have to say goodbye, although sometimes it just remains as a promise. 

My first experience of losing a person called friend was when I was 8 years old. It was hard. I still remember the tears. The emptiness. We were in the kindergarten together. Then we went to the same primary school and she was my classmate. She was my neighbour. We played together. Later she told me that her father was transferred to another location. 

I saw she packed her stuffs and I also witness her house belongings were stacked up in the lorry, ready to shift to another location. 

We kept in touch by letters and sometimes we call each other. But until a point, we stopped communicating. Her name is Siti Nadzirah bte Ibrahim. If you know this person, please contact. I tried to find her through internet and Facebook, but still no luck. I wish I could reunite with her. She is one of the friend that come but hard to let go.