tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51705914754798600942024-03-21T14:21:34.819+09:00Sunshine In My WindowAsilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-81012727638359156882013-04-04T20:38:00.000+09:002013-04-05T18:03:39.926+09:00Decoupage crazy..I have a new hobby. Well, it started out when Mama bought 2 little decoupage handbags and i thought they looked really pretty. Then, Nozy gave me a nudge about doing it myself. During one of our weekend outings, i finally bought the materials needed but dare not do it as i didn't know the proper way to do it just yet. Then one saturday evening, i came across a chance to l<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">earn it properly at a decoupage booth in Seacon Square Shopping Mall. It was Ramadhan, and while waiting to break fast, i took a decoupage session to learn the proper technique...and got super crazy about it since then. Here are some of my decoupaged baskets and bags...what do you think? Not bad for a beginner huh?!</span><br />
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Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-90957264514275111262012-05-20T03:55:00.000+09:002013-04-04T20:39:53.053+09:00The Room @ Sukhumvit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExTkwj8hI65Ktdb73QrAmfDeQdZuxykoJmCbDZgQzTk_h8OcnogNbN01szbDU8Y32nyJgDKJQALrvfbVw7vsLTL6bI-ZE0ZjGF-IkmWXvNwsmhm7ZK1fJh7Lr2fA9ZxhyphenhyphenN_Q6xoUnORU/s1600/building-room79%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExTkwj8hI65Ktdb73QrAmfDeQdZuxykoJmCbDZgQzTk_h8OcnogNbN01szbDU8Y32nyJgDKJQALrvfbVw7vsLTL6bI-ZE0ZjGF-IkmWXvNwsmhm7ZK1fJh7Lr2fA9ZxhyphenhyphenN_Q6xoUnORU/s320/building-room79%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a>On the second day in Thailand, a friend of my uncle came to fetch us from the hotel and helped us with house hunting. So finally we settled for this brand new apartment called The Room . It is a very convinient location as it is very near to the bts station (about 5 minutes walking distance), to Umair's kindergarten (around 3-4 minutes walking distance), Big C (used to be known as Carrefour) is just behind our place (3-4 minutes walking distance through the back gate), and Tesco on the other side of the bts. So considering all that, I just had to swallow the fact that the kitchen in this place is so very small!All in all, the floor space in the apartment is like a Japanese house. Looking on the bright side, less cleaning for me off-course! </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdd9O3xWdDXoq4wMbYBne7P40M7C4qUh1rd07VgQlvahX6j8V-ljxa2tcSwNDuVjdyWeFsUsLOlN_kCnxAevF1bmnPMzFR3jZAnd6clbOAyiuXRU3yybCE1zKREpRfQ3gkZMwtEVgTJQ/s1600/pool-room792%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdd9O3xWdDXoq4wMbYBne7P40M7C4qUh1rd07VgQlvahX6j8V-ljxa2tcSwNDuVjdyWeFsUsLOlN_kCnxAevF1bmnPMzFR3jZAnd6clbOAyiuXRU3yybCE1zKREpRfQ3gkZMwtEVgTJQ/s320/pool-room792%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a>What's important for Umair is that it has got a nice swimming pool . So after everyone agreed on the place, we moved in on the third day and daddy could finally heave a sigh of relief that he got us a place to call home! This is our humble abode...for your viewing pleasure..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEoWUPXFojcF49qKxR7OC41WWlBn9vkHvakR0W480jWaMioYvh0WEiHdrQ9ZJHlfoJn-0CDYrSB3IF_mtGR0F2k5js-DzUioEMBFB86Xlf9FZ6eogXI8EHgytKNV9kcTBGxI60BCsl4U/s1600/DSC00134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEoWUPXFojcF49qKxR7OC41WWlBn9vkHvakR0W480jWaMioYvh0WEiHdrQ9ZJHlfoJn-0CDYrSB3IF_mtGR0F2k5js-DzUioEMBFB86Xlf9FZ6eogXI8EHgytKNV9kcTBGxI60BCsl4U/s320/DSC00134.JPG" width="320" /></a> The living room when it is not messy with Umair's toys!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWFJZFf7bDDCx-yYvEbpG0Z7bUBEy8JN6E2-MvatplONGqFvRz9GxaztuR9LLQIMmNPOvBSMcsquKj8Pi6qpBTODn-Do8K6DiAkxcQcCbXbV88nTAKQANAEqQ_X6W7DskYJ3rMxxL15U/s1600/DSC00027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWFJZFf7bDDCx-yYvEbpG0Z7bUBEy8JN6E2-MvatplONGqFvRz9GxaztuR9LLQIMmNPOvBSMcsquKj8Pi6qpBTODn-Do8K6DiAkxcQcCbXbV88nTAKQANAEqQ_X6W7DskYJ3rMxxL15U/s320/DSC00027.JPG" width="320" /></a> My so romantic kitchen~so tell me, where do i bake and roll my dough? Let alone do a fondant cake!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUdkqUC493zc1l7smN2E5K3DVD-vnlzkXd2bhRPgwl1naPusZo6z3-sKQF-1hn21SSCWN_RWvgklbyqPFyupVYBxAoPmLx_XN6j-mxTe410dTXa_eqJLq6iwrNhFTwngFFEPk8Du1R00/s1600/DSC00029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUdkqUC493zc1l7smN2E5K3DVD-vnlzkXd2bhRPgwl1naPusZo6z3-sKQF-1hn21SSCWN_RWvgklbyqPFyupVYBxAoPmLx_XN6j-mxTe410dTXa_eqJLq6iwrNhFTwngFFEPk8Du1R00/s320/DSC00029.JPG" width="320" /></a> What i have on my spice rack...which is not very much, since I still couldn't find the normal spices and sauces like we use back home in Malaysia. I have yet to find belacan, fish curry and such. Their chilly sauce is different. So I just have to make do with whatever is available!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiRvaNTj77a9zIH3bNCb3_G94Hq-chYv0Dl523vi8F77frWVUSpj7_BYrl-6ebJ_Klu2o8TKH5Uy5mjln-g-Xeh3KQIgwfRfPyiGQBhTj_HBgomeH2QhrNxkx5-bGKK1vB3QiXbQNVpM/s1600/DSC00083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiRvaNTj77a9zIH3bNCb3_G94Hq-chYv0Dl523vi8F77frWVUSpj7_BYrl-6ebJ_Klu2o8TKH5Uy5mjln-g-Xeh3KQIgwfRfPyiGQBhTj_HBgomeH2QhrNxkx5-bGKK1vB3QiXbQNVpM/s320/DSC00083.JPG" width="320" /></a> This is our bedroom, of which I share with the little one. Daddy sleeps with Umair in the other room...so I get to turn on the aircond and choose whatever temperature I like! Hihi!!</div>
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So, that's about all I guess, it's not very big, but cozy enough for us. What's important is that it suits our budget and is very convinient..!</div>
Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-79348635690234834152012-05-15T01:52:00.001+09:002012-05-20T05:18:43.571+09:00BangkokNow, first of all, i am having a huge headache just because i haven't been coming in in here for so long that i have forgotten my password and or username!! They kept giving me this link that i kept going round and round doing the same thing! I think the next time i log in, the same thing will happen! Sigh~!<br />
Anyway, here I am in Bangkok at last! *jumping up and down*<br />
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It has been 17 days since we moved here. On the first day,which was on the 27/4/2012, we came out from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 4pm Bangkok time. Somehow, instead of going to the hotel first, Nizam decided to go straight to Bellevue Residence <a href="http://www.bellevue-thailand.com/">www.bellevue-thailand.com</a>, a serviced apartment in Bangna (the place that we initially wanted to stay). When we got there, we were horrified by the surroundings...the area is not as pleasant as we thought. Looking out the window, the view was of old and lonely (read scarry!) dirty neighbourhood rooftops and shrubs of bushes. We had a guided tour by the manager and her daughter. Inside the Bellevue itself is nice and clean, but, another minus point was that they only had common coin slot washing machines at the back of the parking area! Now, we are just staying here for a year, we are not going to pinch out our money for a washing machine definitely! We were so very dissappointed, as they really had big and spacious bedrooms and a nice kitchen in the unit that we wanted.. (we wanted to take the 98sqm room, since that unit has got a real kitchen counter, and the second room is as big as the master bedroom), the price offered was just right...but...I said no way am I going to drag my 2 kids along while carrying the laundry basket on my head!! By that time, (our airport limo had already unloaded our things) Nizam's face was panicky and about to fall apart. At 7pm, tired and hungry and saddled with 2 kids we were still undecided about the place. So finally we decided to go to a hotel, take a rest and review our options. <br />
The manager helped us to get a cab, but with 4luggage bags and 7 boxes, no way we could fit all of us in in the same cab...so we had to go in another cab and this was where the adventure begins! <br />
You see, somehow, we were sent to a wrong hotel, i don't know whether that was deliberately done by our cabbie or not, but we were sent to this hotel full with Arabs. I thought that was funny as I felt that as if we were in the middle east instead of Thailand! Anyway, he dropped us there and said that the other cab full with our things will arrive later. Thinking that was the hotel meant by the Bellevue manager (as she was the one who directed the cabbies in Thai), Nizam proceeded to check in counter only to realize that we were at the wrong hotel! So then, quickly we dashed out again and 'rushed' in the Bangkok crazy traffic jam to this Grand President Hotel...When we got there, we found out that the other cab had arrived and waited for us and since we didn't turn up, gone to another hotel to find us! We were really panicky at this time! At 10pm, awfully tired and hungry, we still had no place to stay as that Grand President Hotel was full!! In the mean time, the concierge at the Grand President Hotel tried to locate the missing cab, after about 10 minutes of trying, we finally suceeded. The cab came to Grand President hotel with all our things safe and sound. This time, we were redirected to a Royal President Hotel where they were sure to have a room for us for 2 nights!! So at 10.30pm, at the Royal President Hotel, we finally could breathe a sigh of relief and happy to be reunited with our belongings again!! (In the mixed up however, I lost my favourite catterpillar that i got for Umair in Japan...sob sob!).<br />
Nizam got us a nice room there. It was actually an apartment suite with a kitchen and a living room. Probably he wanted us to cheer up a bit after such a long day! Anyway, i never imagined that our first day in Bangkok would have gone that way! What an experience!! To be continued..!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-76443614584741300762011-01-28T09:29:00.006+09:002011-01-28T10:43:33.369+09:00Sofa, Quit Work, Umair turns Four & Thailand, In That Order!God! I am sooo excited! Last Monday Nizam came home and asked me if I want to go and live in Bangkok, Thailand. For a minute I thought I had misheard him. Then it sank. Off course I said YES!!! Then I was smiling from ear to ear ever since!!!<br />Though it is still a long time a way, I can't help to have this silly grin stuck on my face! His boss offered him another ICT programme to Thailand, just like how we went to Japan, but this time, the package is a lot more interesting!!! I was bursting in my heart to share the excitement with someone, but at the same I just don't know who to share it with. I told my Mum, but she thought I was joking! I told her that we are moving again. Though it won't be until January next year! Hahaha!<br />Now I'm counting the months...February is coming...<br />The Chinese New Year weekend, I'm getting a "New" sofa!~Well, not really new, it was our old sofa that we brought back from Japan only that we went to re-upholster it! So, that's like a new one too, right? Since they still have to rip off everything and re-do the structure and stuffing in the cushions all over again!<br />End of February, I have to go to this Induction Course for a week, of which I'm dreading it, but I want it to be gone quickly! Then it would be March, then April, of which we are going out to Kuching for a few days holiday, then May, then Umair is turning Four in June, then the time will just fly away till December when we get to go to Thailand to choose for our new home! Yayyy!!!<br />By September we'll be busy again selling our car, renewing passports and preparing for the visas...and off course! When that is done, I won't be a able to get to work, would I? How do I get to work without a car??! So I have to quit, right??? Nice excuse, huh? Hihihihi!!! And I just can't wait to do that!!!!!<br /><br />By the way, the lab that I'm working at, well, we are closing down in June. You see, the town planner thinks that we are not too pretty to look at...'old goverment building, what do you expect huh???'. So, they are going to demolish this place and turn this whole area as a new up and coming PJ town...with new condominiums, shopping malls and hotels. The last time that we are recieving samples would be in March. And we'll be closed by June. So I was thinking, that maybe I could just quit In June after all, when we say goodbye to Regional Veterinary Lab, PJ. That would be it. I would just tender my resignation in May and bid my farewell! Since I'm not confirmed yet in the civil service, I don't know if I'm qualified for the long holiday to follow spouse abroad. And anyway, even if I do continue working, they are just going to chuck me in some district, some state that i don't know and I still have to move! They are actually transferring this lab to Bukit Tengah, Penang. And they wanted us all to move there! Penang??? When my family is here??? What were they thinking???!!! Either that or we get to be district veterinarian in some other states! Since those are not really options, so i might as well just quit, right, and count my days to Thailand! Hihihi!!!<br /><br />Generally, work is fine. Quite relaxed. When we have sampels, we have sampels and when we don't, it's pretty quiet. So the only thing is, when we work with the government, there are so many courses to go to that I don't like. The introvert in me doesn't enjoy meeting people and going to courses like that. I hate meetings too. I'm deaf. I can hardly follow what they talk about. In the end I just rely on the minute that they distribute after the meeting to keep up with the news! Pathetic huh!<br /><br />Umair has started schooling. He goes to Little Caliph and tremendously enjoying it. Alhamdullilah! Waking up in the morning is not a problem and by bathing time, he knows that he needed to get ready for school. He cried on the first two days when I went to send him, but after that, no more tears already. And actually enjoying every bit of it! Now he comes home singing songs that he learnt from school! How time flies isn't it?! Dah besar dah anak Mummy!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-24713643195606184962010-06-16T11:33:00.004+09:002010-06-16T15:37:33.430+09:00I'm working and Umair is Three!It has been almost a year since we came back from Japan. So much had happened. After a year of settling down back here in Malaysia, I started work last month. Well, I had applied for the government job since September last year, just for the fun of it, to see whether i was still marketable or not! Early this year, i had completely forgotten about it until I recieved this letter asking me to go for an interview. It was funny really, I was the first one to go in, and it lasted for like 20minutes or so. There were 5 questions, but there was only one question that touched on veterinary line, and the rest were just general questions. I went home, and only 3 months later that I was asked to go back to Putrajaya HQ on 17th May 2010 to report duty. I was accepted! I had mixed feelings about that actually..,'happy' that i was still marketable..,but at the same time, I was missing Umair already! I was a little scared too...would i be able to deliver? The veterinary world has got such a broad field to choose from...,what if I was given something that I didn't like to be in charged of? Like chicken or cattle. I thought I was the only one that had such a long holiday from work...I was wrong. Apparently, there was this other girl who had never worked as a vet before since she graduated in 1994! Talk about being really brave!<br />We were there in Putrajaya for a week before they started assigning us to our posts. So for the whole week we were just sitting there completing forms and hanged around doing our own orientation! Now am attached with DVS, at the regional lab, as Parasitology & Hematology Head Section. My job function is identifying worms and counting their eggs from feces and intestines and see whether they are significant enough to cause disease or not.<br />As for blood work, we identify blood parasites, do complete blood count and white blood cells differential. So its not as tough as i thought it would be. In fact, I don't feel like I'm working at all!<br /> At the same time, I have to oversee the students that came in for attachment to our lab. So it's quite fun playing 'Teacher teacher'! Currently, I have 4 students under me. My lab assistants are wonderful people, and so coming to work is fine with me...unless when i feel sleepy about getting up in the morning of course! Despite my coming to work early, i don't 'get up' until about 10am or so! To beat the rush hour, i punch in at 7.30am and go home at 4.30pm. Good thing that I have a room for myself, so sometimes at lunch break when I'm really tired, i could lock the door and take a nap! Lights off, peace and quiet! Hihi!<br /><br />Umair turned 3 last Saturday. We had a party for him, but the funny thing was that he was actually afraid of the crowd! Maybe he's so used to having his own company that when everyone was actually crowding around him, he felt really scared. He cried when they sang 'Happy Birthday' to him, and we had to cut the cake upstairs in the master bedroom where no one was in there! Funny boy! I can't believe how time flies. He still looks like as though he just came out from my womb, only that he is now much taller and actually can walk! <br />Umair is currently crazy about everything Thomas. He's got his train friends to occupy himself with while I'm away at work. Other than Thomas, he has Henry, Edward (whom he calls 'Ed'), Gordon ('Don'), James, Emily, Spencer and Diesel to keep him busy. He reads and watch Thomas. So he knows which train he already has and which one he doesn't, so whenever we go to shopping malls, he would definitely pick one to add to his collection! If i had known earlier, I would have bought them all at B-Kids in Japan! But then again, its good thing that umair knows how to value his toys. He plays and keep them nicely. So even though its quite pricey to buy them here, we are satisfied with the way that he looks after his things.Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-27762417498141370982010-02-10T19:08:00.003+09:002010-02-10T20:08:39.476+09:00Umair and I...February is here, I've got 2 birthdays coming up, a baby shower, a house-warming and a wedding to go! 2 down, and 2 to go! Busy social life, huh! And on 22nd, I'd be turning 33 myself soon too! What a number! Now I'm beginning to think that time is flying really fast! I have a few strands of grey hair growing too..,now, where did that came from?!<br /><br />Since coming back, I lost weight. I dare not weigh myself though, but I know that I do. Apart from a slab of fat on my tummy which I'm working hard to reduce, I think I look and feel great! I didn't do anything much really, mainly just chasing Umair around, and the Malaysian weather helped me a lot to sweat~even just sitting at home! Occasionally I cycle on the exercise bike that Nizam got for himself. I took plenty of water. That really worked, I think! I drank gallons of water, like 4 liters a day or so! The tiring part is the frequent visit to the toilet! That's about it I guess! And oh! I do take a set of Herbal Life products too, which comprises of a slimming tea and 2bottles of shake and a bottle of soy protein mix. I don't really like the taste though. So I wasn't really diligent and faithful in taking them! The shake is so bland, and the soy protein made it thick and taste even worse! Yucky in fact! But i needed the nutrients, so no choice! I swallowed them down the throat anyway! I love the tea though. They made me sweat! When i finished with the tea, i didn't replenish it, but just made do with the water. I guess it worked!~That I could still wear a size 10 blouse and my size M skirt is a bit too big for me now! Yay! hihi!<br /><br />Umair can now do a 48 pieces of jigsaw puzzles effortlessly now...,and I'm thinking of getting him a 100 pieces range soon. I could see that he's getting bored with his 48pieces set, that he could do it over and over again even in his sleep! He'll take them anywhere we go, even to the Mamak shop for roti canai, or even during our travelling~long or short distance~when the car is moving!<br />He will never leave his backpack behind. "Heavy", he said, carrying it on his back. Umair's bag is heavy with his travelling toys...which includes Gordon (Thomas's friend), a black train, to couple up with one of Gordon's coaches, James (a small red train, who is another friend of Thomas), a red wooden bus, another wooden train, 5 red, purple, green, orange and blue colour Tonka cars, a 100yen Doremon tractor, a girrafe and a zebra! That is his standard set, a must haves in his bag! Mana tak berat nyer! On top of that, off-course, the puzzle and his Thomas and friends book!!! So you see, sometimes, I get really lazy to go out, because I have to drag all these people along too!!!<br />Umair is now 2 years and 8months old, and 2 days ago, for the first time, he played street football with the neighbours' kids just outside our house~as a goal keeper!!! He teamed up with the biggest kid around, and he looked really tiny! Haha! There were 8 of them altogether age between 8-12 years old and Umair was the youngest there kicking football! At one time, he even fell down and bruised his right elbow. It was bleeding alright, but no, he didn't cry one bit! He just got up and continued running chasing the ball!!! I was impressed! Lucky Nizam came back early that day, and he got to witness that! Dah besar dah baby Mummy nie! Sampaikan, at home time (it was 7pm something then), the rest of the kids went back, and he looked up to Daddy and said..."where abang? where???"...before his face crumpled and burst to tears! Tak puas main lagi rupanyer! Hahahaha! Sweet!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-49083407884469944792009-12-10T18:07:00.008+09:002009-12-10T21:06:34.109+09:00'Goodnight, Beautiful'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizM3oj40uE2BeCPPHz6RI1rtxXrg3ChT2lxiNlMIPlMY8_tATE8UafzAlpCvhaROsS8wMhSxpvV3FEciIbu_ni1VR6pMCDbkcgfojeMVBmF7KHY8x8Ny2GnEZErvKuw_b9vjHR0RWnkto/s1600-h/goodnight280w.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizM3oj40uE2BeCPPHz6RI1rtxXrg3ChT2lxiNlMIPlMY8_tATE8UafzAlpCvhaROsS8wMhSxpvV3FEciIbu_ni1VR6pMCDbkcgfojeMVBmF7KHY8x8Ny2GnEZErvKuw_b9vjHR0RWnkto/s400/goodnight280w.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413556226222482770" border="0" /></a><br />Umair is sleeping upstairs, and I just finished reading "Goodnight, Beautiful" a novel by Dorothy Koomson. A book I started reading about three days ago. A book that I couldn't put it down. It took me three days to finish it, absorbing every single line that has been written. I think, hers is much better than any Danielle Steel or Jude Devaraux's books that I have ever read. The story line was very engaging, no nonsense, very moving and emotional. It was about how Nova and Mal, who were actually childhood friends, had been deeply in love with each other ever since, ended up marrying other people because of their own dishonesty to their own feelings...,and because of a slight misunderstanding. Mal married Stephanie. They were childless...,but they still wanted to have a child. After going through different options, they decided to ask Nova to be the surrogate mother. Midway through pregnancy, they decided to walk out of the plan and left Nova pregnant all alone. Due to jealousy, Stephanie made Mal severed all ties with Nova and the child. Keith had left Nova then because he can't stand looking at her growing someone else's baby inside her. Instead of going for an abortion, Nova decided to keep the baby...Seven and a half years later, Leo was in a deep coma. He suffered from a brain hemorrhage, a genetically linked disease...and somehow, that brought Mal back into their 'life'...for just a few days before Leo finally died...<br /><br />Reading that, it was especially sad to know that how two people who were very much in love with each other -when they finally realized that they do-cannot be together in the end because of 'other' commitments that they have..?<br />I feel like going to MpH again tonight, and get another book of her's. I can't wait for Nizam to come back, maybe we could go to Subang Parade for dinner tonight, and I could have a quick visit to the book shop.<br />Tomorrow he's off work, and we are planning to take Umair to the Zoo.<br /><br />Umair is exactly 2years and a half now, and is so crazy about elephants and trains and books and yesterday, jigsaw puzzles. He could do a 12 pieces puzzles on his own now. I was-and still am- very impressed and so proud of him that I only had to show it to him only once and he could do it all on his own! Just last week, Nizam was asking me, since when did Umair grow up~that he knows which Astro channels he wanted to watch, and refuse to let anyone else change it. At times like this, I know that I don't regret 'sitting at home' and be a housewife. Atleast, I get to see my baby grow up before my very eyes. I know what he likes, when his firts to so many things were and I could see the joy that sparkled out from his eyes when he could do something new like perfecting the puzzles! No amount of money could ever pay for that! He could talk in small sentences now too. "Mummy, what's that?", "Mummy, there's elephant train!", "Mummy, look!!!"..,and sometimes, when I accidently knocked his toys down while walking past his playing area, he would look at me and squint his eyes and say "Mummyyy..!!!".. I just love looking at those squinting eyes as though he was really cross with me!<br />Umair is a very sweet boy, really. Every morning, I'd wake up to him kissing me on my cheek and my mouth...Sometimes, when it feels sooo warm and snug to be under the blanket and I didn't feel like getting up, he'd pull the blanket out and jump on me so i'd wake up!<br />When we go out driving, he wants me to hold his hands, and that's what he does sometimes at home too when he wants to have a nap..,he wants to hug my hand and kiss them..., and then only he can sleep. Those sweet butterfly kisses! How I love them! So much!<br /><br />It has been raining a lot lately. I love rain. I love the smell of rain falling on the grass. And how it makes the world becomes so much a life after that. It feels cold, sweet and cozy all in one.<br />two days ago, when there was a break in the rain, I started a bit of gardening in the backyard. I pulled out the tapioca plant that was growing a little too big that it was leaning out to the neighbour's garden. I pulled out some weeds and planted two Christmas trees. And not because I'm celebrating Xmas, but because I plan to do a low mantainance English garden there. Is that possible??? So far, with those two lonesome trees, it doesn't even look like a garden yet, and far from being an English one!!! I think, I'd probably get a landscaper to help me if my dear darling husband is totally hopeless about it!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-19326809563367900822009-08-25T12:24:00.005+09:002009-11-30T14:41:13.259+09:00Home Sweet Home...finally..!Tomorrow, will exactly be 2 months since we came back home for 'good' from Japan! Cepatnyer kan masa berlalu! For the past 2 months, it had been a very, very busy time. First, after mama came to visit us for the second time in Japan, we had 7 other visitors that came for a week...My aunt and her son, and Oee, my brother. Next it was Nizam's 3 best friends that came over. Matad, Wafi and Pakcik. Wafi brought his wife, Suria along, and Pakcik, brought his mother over. So after another week of hosting session, it was time for us to pack, clean and scrub the entire house!<br /><br />The Toyota Smile Life personnel came to check the house twice...to see if everything was in order before and after we cleaned the house. Apart from Umair's little scribble on the wall, (which we had to pay 1500yen=RM50 for that), lucky there wasn't any other major damage that we had to pay for! Itu pun, it was his first scribble on the wall when he was 10months old!<br />After that, it was cargo pick up, both for sea and air...pack punyer pack, tengok2 tak cukup ruang...there was a 4 boxes=50kg excess plak tu! Geram i! bukan apa tau, actually they didn't fill in the empty spaces properly..,the drawers in the box was left empty! Itu dah berapa dah! and then when they filled in the cargo van, some of their things were taking our space and then cakap that we didn't have enough room dah! But i really thought that the way they do the packing was like nak cepat2 habis tau, and not like to maximise the space utilisation at all! I remember our upstairs Argentina neighbour said theirs was underestimated as well, and then on the pick up day, they actually had an excess, but they insisted to bring back every thing to Argentina...and Nippon Express didn't charge them anything for that! Anyway, we didn't want to fight over it with them, instead we decided to post them through sea mail. That worked out just fine with us, as the post office was just round the corner from our house.<br /><br />The next day, we were transferred to Toyota Castle Hotel in Toyota Shi, where we stayed for 3 days before our flight home to Malaysia.<br />On the evening of 26th June '09, we arrived home safely after 2 years of a very colourfull Japanese experience of which we will never forget..!<br />As soon as we came out from the arrival hall, Mama and Oee was already waiting for us with their smiling faces! The good news was that they had recieved the keys to our new house just an hour before coming to fetch us! We were really elated of course! Tiba tiba tak rasa penat pun after travelling the whole day! Anyway, as it was already late, we decided to go to the house on the next day...sampai-sampai tu, we just went for dinner and straight to bed!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-21257235727855658742009-06-05T23:29:00.003+09:002009-06-08T14:23:26.164+09:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY UMAIR!!!!!My little darling is 2 years old today! How time flies..! Since it's Friday and Daddy had to work, we are postponing the celebration till tomorrow. We are having BBQ Birthday Party for Umair tomorrow with Daddy's Global purchasing ICT friends.<br />As for today, I just cooked him some spaghetti,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZIvCT5uGr5au14w4iU-RDvrY2tZm6fuACUWdrocGNmzshhew605EOR8CqU4F_11OSQxOFzAtHodbvjs7ousmmlbRZpsrrOtP53KPmdsqceFtngiKUTJ6pDms7pRMeuH_tZsPCxydHOQ/s1600-h/DSC01449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZIvCT5uGr5au14w4iU-RDvrY2tZm6fuACUWdrocGNmzshhew605EOR8CqU4F_11OSQxOFzAtHodbvjs7ousmmlbRZpsrrOtP53KPmdsqceFtngiKUTJ6pDms7pRMeuH_tZsPCxydHOQ/s400/DSC01449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344822298727003090" border="0" /></a> and Aunt Agnes came to join us for tea.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eRpGr77x0Kiwac7Jc9ZeBL-PcuaC0rooHFCrQ-ehHlbVmEp09mXdzMU7XQoQ-Wo0pL7JJHJnMM9lubJ9UKIcuuFxRHBSsAp-ZtIAGC3KDC75gKRQAtCyFBQYBiVsnRuADzW6ORGQIRE/s1600-h/DSC01435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eRpGr77x0Kiwac7Jc9ZeBL-PcuaC0rooHFCrQ-ehHlbVmEp09mXdzMU7XQoQ-Wo0pL7JJHJnMM9lubJ9UKIcuuFxRHBSsAp-ZtIAGC3KDC75gKRQAtCyFBQYBiVsnRuADzW6ORGQIRE/s400/DSC01435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344822296302798338" border="0" /></a> She brought with her some popcorn for Umair. Later in the evening, when Daddy came home, we went out again to order some Baskin Robbin's Birthday Ice-Cream cake for tomorrow's party.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PvINGBbPPYabxPOq3S2zctHsVsfhN3YlJ0QlBFAlrKtFKdHv5HX4CaGXGAc0bVcHn-V4pUns6FspYD79pgVrAKB1APUK6_apc6SmuiYXRBQljJ4iLsQRyFEPj6_iIuMtaU4BMG-Kc5s/s1600-h/DSC01454.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PvINGBbPPYabxPOq3S2zctHsVsfhN3YlJ0QlBFAlrKtFKdHv5HX4CaGXGAc0bVcHn-V4pUns6FspYD79pgVrAKB1APUK6_apc6SmuiYXRBQljJ4iLsQRyFEPj6_iIuMtaU4BMG-Kc5s/s400/DSC01454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344822298929897842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWzBOgJinCXdzb_Idp8AuqmeocisDL-DB0KZpOHVuCn1M-Xy8TGlR-yUKmYNE049-6pqHO7tKUfPNnj808NN6nAMNhNMTaIQWOMrTUMI7IRSfsRcZpgL9i3_mws7fRsK5gXlbeb0manI/s1600-h/DSC01458.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWzBOgJinCXdzb_Idp8AuqmeocisDL-DB0KZpOHVuCn1M-Xy8TGlR-yUKmYNE049-6pqHO7tKUfPNnj808NN6nAMNhNMTaIQWOMrTUMI7IRSfsRcZpgL9i3_mws7fRsK5gXlbeb0manI/s400/DSC01458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344822306465434002" border="0" /></a>That's about all that we did for today and now, Umair is fast asleep already!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG7lNhYx2JkF41xIzKPZXDQ2MEdT0qVktN1KFR2cqRAZMaqVe9F7JxSw0r_3SWGLvaqsn24_L_D1UFzC8TC-A7enTR_lasByCuihpSpyPdEd4dFM9Ic5FpG4kVDzZLGcn2MUi16Jt6Jo/s1600-h/DSC01289.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG7lNhYx2JkF41xIzKPZXDQ2MEdT0qVktN1KFR2cqRAZMaqVe9F7JxSw0r_3SWGLvaqsn24_L_D1UFzC8TC-A7enTR_lasByCuihpSpyPdEd4dFM9Ic5FpG4kVDzZLGcn2MUi16Jt6Jo/s400/DSC01289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344822290917684018" border="0" /></a>Mummy's thoughts and prayers are always with you Umair dear...,hope you'll grow up, big and strong, and in Allah's love, blessings and guidance all the time...in whatever you do! Mummy and Daddy love you so VERY MUCH!!!<br />Hugs and Kisses to my little bundle of joy that turned 2 today!!!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-82850923186786327322009-06-04T22:25:00.003+09:002009-06-04T23:29:04.020+09:00For the past 2 months..It has been a while since I last wrote. So much had happened! To begin with, my father in law passed away on the 8th of April, and we hurried home the next morning. Though travelled on Singapore's Business Class, the excitement was just not there! Yer kan, balik due to mourning...! His death was kinda expected, so when he left, there was somekind of both sadness and relieved in the air. Sad, now that he has gone..,and relieved because he doesn't need to suffer any longer. Sweet Tok Ayah...he really lived up to a 100years old! We spent about 3 weeks in Malaysia, mainly with Mok in Kelantan. Nizam wanted to keep his mother company for the early days that Tok Ayah left her. We only stayed in Shah Alam for the last three days as we had some errands to settle.<br /><br />Coming back here to Nagoya, Mama was already waiting for us at the airport! I was just relieved to see her...that she managed to get here all by herself! Not that she never travelled before, it was just that this is Japan, and that hardly anyone speaks English around here even to ask for directions! On top of that, she had to transit for 12hours in Tokyo! Mama managed to get the JAL 50th anniversary promotion return tickets for RM1350. Very cheap!<br /><br />When she came, Nizam was still on holiday for another week. It was Golden Week. The whole of Japan was on holiday! So we took her to Disneyland, as we've never been there ourselves! Nizam wanted to wait for Umair to grow up...so he can run around Disney as he liked!...and ran around he did! For the whole day, he just refused to sit in the stroller...sampai kan in the end, he fell asleep while driving a speed car...racing against Mummy!!!<br />After spending the whole day in Disney, the next day, we went to Saitama to see grass sakura.<br />We took the long route there, about 3hours ride while enjoying the country side. Coming back, it only took us about 40minutes to get back to Tokyo via highway! It was all worth it..,as I had always enjoy seeing mountains and villages. Very calming effect on me!<br />Mama stayed with us for 2 weeks. When she left, my brother, an aunt and her son came to join us the next day.<br />This time, i took them to Fujiyama alone as Nizam had to work. Oee drove. So that was easy for me! They were really thrilled upon seeing the mountain! Especially for Hans...,as there was still a bit of snow left in the area, he was jumping up and down in pure excitement! They managed to play snowball fight for a while...!So it was all worth it!<br />...and then, after a week with them, we had 2 weeks break for a while. Nizam's friends came to visit us next. They arrived on the 24th May and stayed with us for the whole week. The itirinary was:<br /><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message"><span class="UIIntentionalStory_Names"> </span>24/5-ICT BBQ Party<br />25/5-Fujiyama, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo AquaBay, Yokohama<br />26/5-Nagashima, Nabana No Sato<br />27/5-Meiji Museum<br />28/5-Togari Clean Center, Toyota Kaikan, 100yen Shop,Noritake Garden, Nagoya Mosque<br />29/5-Recycle Shops, Okazaki Castle<br />30/5-Anjo Mosque, Kuragaike Park</h3>Very hectic schedule and very exhausting...,but we enjoyed every single minute of it playing hosts and tourist guides and spending time with them! After they left, I was totally lembik...penat sangat jalan2! Hihi! no complain though! It was really wonderful having them around! So glad to see their happy faces!<br /><br />I took rest for 2 days before I started packing up. Now I'm into my 12th box...slowly crawling but, i'm getting there!<br />Umair just refused to let me pack, so i had to wait for his sleeping time, and then I'd do it quietly. Even if I don't pack, Nippon Express will do it for us, but I just like to do it myself for some of the things. Our cargo pick up is scheduled on the 22nd of june, and we'll move out from this apartment and stay in Toyota Castle hotel for three days. InsyaAllah our flight home will be on the 26th June...,and that would be the time when we will bid Japan Sayonara!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-4618214970614847602009-04-03T20:52:00.003+09:002009-04-03T21:42:57.941+09:00Whatever!The weather has been a bit gloomy again lately. Cold, windy and chilly. The Sakura tree in front of our house is in full bloom. Pretty white flowers covering the whole tree. We are going for a walk at Suigen Koen tomorrow to enjoy the season. Nizam had booked us places for a boat ride, so we'll be viewing the blossoms from there. I don't know, I'm not really into 'it' actually...I'm just doing 'it' to pass the time. I've been feeling bored to death lately and I guess, I'm just quite saturated with all these Japanese experience! I'm done with seeing places, shopping and all and now I just can't wait to go home to Malaysia! (GoDDDDDD!!! I can't believe I'm saying this! Before I really can't wait to come here!!!)...<br />Well, back home, at least I have something to look forward to...To decorate my new home! And I am really excited over that!!! But for now, to wrap things up, we still have a few more places to visit such as Fujiyama Musical Forest Park, Disneyland, Hiroshima, Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto.<br />Personally, despite all these, I really can't wait to go home. Dah penat giler dah living in this tiny winy Japanese apartment of ours...with so many things crowding the place, I'm just tired even looking at them!~I need space!!!<br />Before that, we still have guests coming over to stay with us for a holiday though! On the 20th of April, Mama's coming again for 2 weeks to join us to Disneyland and the Fuji trip. On the 23rd May, Nizam's friends are coming over for a week. So I guess, it won't be so boring after all..!At least I'd have something to do~showing them around!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-55844257325381261592009-03-23T15:45:00.010+09:002009-03-23T16:59:45.000+09:00My little corner of the world..For the past one month, we have been toying with the idea whether or not to buy this house that we fell in love with in Bukit Jelutong. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EvBRsGF6SIv8PbWADzgrbNuxh3pD3G_lRe4CxYPzOU6oIrK_3TOi369C2CFvRFcjlAPlp758CUAJlW5obPwxevfdLce0CNCw0mLYiI9Pzgifu_z_dzzgVEunjlkrlJ81MItDMqQwwx0/s1600-h/UP279372.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EvBRsGF6SIv8PbWADzgrbNuxh3pD3G_lRe4CxYPzOU6oIrK_3TOi369C2CFvRFcjlAPlp758CUAJlW5obPwxevfdLce0CNCw0mLYiI9Pzgifu_z_dzzgVEunjlkrlJ81MItDMqQwwx0/s400/UP279372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316280000904587618" border="0" /></a>To buy or not to buy...,that was the question!!! Adoiii it was a grand headache tau tak!!! Alhamdullillah, after Istikharah and all, God had answered our prayers last night when we had finally put down the booking money. It was actually a surprise from Nizam. Initially he told me someone else had already put down the booking money. I was dissappointed of course! Then the next day (yesterday), he told me that we managed to get the house somehow! Then, I was confused...,so unsure of what to feel...to be thrilled or not after such an initial dissappointment! Now I'm glad that we did though! So now I don't have to worry about not having a place to stay when we go home for good. Hopefully things will go on smoothly so we can move in right away end June. InsyaAllah!!!<br /><br />Earlier on, we had decided to rent out our Mahligai apartment since we've got good tenant and return! I guess now it's starting all over again..I have to start thinking and planning about equipping the new house, since we are practically starting from scratch!<br />I love this place actually..,the neighbourhood, it's quite isolated and quiet in its own way, but not totally cut off from the rest of the world.<br /><br />As we enter the Greenlane area (that's what the house collection is called) on top of the hill, we could feel a sense of serinity and calmness...That's what I love best. At least traffic would be a bit low. The house is pale mustard in colour and looking at them sitting in a row reminds me of some Spanish houses. The interior? Well, I am sure that when we have visitors coming to this corner of the world of ours, they will be in for a shock!~its deep dark purple in colour (as in Fanta Grape) at the living and dining area...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_gj9RHGNJse3pDoK9FzifsTPumBvZsRlMlPstY1gvoOXNRE1dpYEjk4O_b3QIRWSfbPdGCs8Mlc39gD7xKS9WUhoxo9R1F281EZh1EHslMnFw2CPMP0HRLIXzSJ5fYuoQ9a5Oq_YOdY/s1600-h/UP279372T1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_gj9RHGNJse3pDoK9FzifsTPumBvZsRlMlPstY1gvoOXNRE1dpYEjk4O_b3QIRWSfbPdGCs8Mlc39gD7xKS9WUhoxo9R1F281EZh1EHslMnFw2CPMP0HRLIXzSJ5fYuoQ9a5Oq_YOdY/s400/UP279372T1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316280006848534370" border="0" /></a> and shocking pink along the staircase!!! What a combination ey???!!! haha! We saw this house the last time we went back for home leave and fell in love with it since! The good vibes and the lingering smell of the 'Lovely Lace' potpourri around convinced me even more. It was beautifully kept and decorated. I'm going to have a gala of a time with colour play! This will definitely test me on my interior decorating skill. For me, this is a nice change from my usual Traditional English decoration that I always opted for! One thing though, lucky that my furnitures that we've been slowly collecting here are mainly off white in colour, so that would off set the deep purple tone that we have on the wall! As for the kitchen, it is overlooking the garden in the backyard, so it's going to make me feel like I'm cooking outside in the garden instead!<br /><br />I told Nizam that I wanted to stay with that 'happening' colours for a while, just for the fun of it, until we get tired of them, then I want to put on the wall paper. He's okay with it as long as we have a Japanese corner at one side. Okay English combined with Japanese decoration...what a marriage huh! I guess I'm going to have our dining area as our Japanese corner since we already have a Japanese dining table. So I'm going to make that usefull before we get a new one...and the rest is definitely English! ~cantik tak? ala ala Spa Q laa pulak kan colour combination tuh???! Hihi!!!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-68311991885079008042009-03-18T23:56:00.006+09:002009-03-22T13:44:28.810+09:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAYANG!!!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK04XP7CoBdccseGTkjp1uGL5OVDfrDHj3dqSmIRaiIwI2oh4oLmZA9SBLfMqBQc_KEVnu8Kuqp1NXNT-qmI0LIeEvfPL9c8ybkPXviel7J7wZ4NjkQUsnhHrt5vT7F9m5uZGrBO4raA/s1600-h/P3188719.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK04XP7CoBdccseGTkjp1uGL5OVDfrDHj3dqSmIRaiIwI2oh4oLmZA9SBLfMqBQc_KEVnu8Kuqp1NXNT-qmI0LIeEvfPL9c8ybkPXviel7J7wZ4NjkQUsnhHrt5vT7F9m5uZGrBO4raA/s400/P3188719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315865127162440882" border="0" /></a>Last Wednesday was Nizam's Birthday (18th March 08), and I threw him a birthday dinner. It was actually a last minute request so i just cooked a simple macaroni/bihun soup again and this time topped up with some French bread (courtesy of Asmah as she couldn't make it to the party~Thank you Kak Sem!). Agnes and Norbert gave him an Ice-cream birthday cake, and Seifhul gave 2 pack full of strawberries...so that was what we had for dessert~yummy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2ybYCq0bUEDBou46YJJ4g9RiwcJcxSOLE41x2sDw8IfZelEnT8CpFf76DK7Gem5BtrMLzrNDQkEhDJ6sWPkgAHkBdZPDa-55BOSbUxhzvMHZCqi7lPYDD4O-2EEUF_iEWISRCKLAUHw/s1600-h/P3188716.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2ybYCq0bUEDBou46YJJ4g9RiwcJcxSOLE41x2sDw8IfZelEnT8CpFf76DK7Gem5BtrMLzrNDQkEhDJ6sWPkgAHkBdZPDa-55BOSbUxhzvMHZCqi7lPYDD4O-2EEUF_iEWISRCKLAUHw/s400/P3188716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315865119003644194" border="0" /></a>...and this is what I gave him for his Birthday present..,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHorVkzWYtASwgTE8GZikhCol_OkGauRFeiU26APzac0j_8V5NPn2-fRdrfi2Af2XtJDu1uIoZakKCOaHqTJUoN14wmaNZs1_HOuqrMSWn7Vh7qV_8LRRVvRAeMskW-0ejINrvsB4DLg/s1600-h/jam+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHorVkzWYtASwgTE8GZikhCol_OkGauRFeiU26APzac0j_8V5NPn2-fRdrfi2Af2XtJDu1uIoZakKCOaHqTJUoN14wmaNZs1_HOuqrMSWn7Vh7qV_8LRRVvRAeMskW-0ejINrvsB4DLg/s400/jam+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315868095453580450" border="0" /></a>an Aigner leather watch just like what he had always wanted!~cantik tak?Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-61399772980120948462009-03-10T18:29:00.016+09:002009-03-13T17:13:59.556+09:00Strawberry Picking and Irago TourAfter a week long of gloomy weather, it was really nice and sunny today that I did 3 rounds of washing! I have been really good today~putting the house in order! We have been camping in the living room since winter started and now I'm getting a bit tired looking at the house..,that most of the time is messy...with futons, blankets and pillows right in the middle of the house! Nak masuk tidur dalam bilik, it's freezing cold in there, and daytime, Umair will want to have his nap, so I have to keep the futons handy in the living room!-Sigh!- Anyway, today with the house straightened up, and the laundry neatly folded in the closet..,it has been a productive day! So now, I could sit here and update this blog of mine! hihi!<br /><br />Last Saturday, all of us the Malaysian ICTs made a day trip to a strawberry park somewhere near Toyohashi and made a tour around Irago Peninsula after that. Kak Mimi and family jumped in the ride with us in our Estima (don't mind the rim please...I knowww it's ugly! We are in the process of changing it by the way!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv5Swy6XS9mBBxORpkvjelvFE7MRFVbrNNHUyYjc4Yzc9WhgKNnhdl6BBRxK9DxZll7KNT4DPkY1ILf2w61fR6qFojk8iu_uEfunCui1IuIKuTKe1uodbayyRpFAuGT9Vz9qwDsUt3Fk/s1600-h/P3078487.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv5Swy6XS9mBBxORpkvjelvFE7MRFVbrNNHUyYjc4Yzc9WhgKNnhdl6BBRxK9DxZll7KNT4DPkY1ILf2w61fR6qFojk8iu_uEfunCui1IuIKuTKe1uodbayyRpFAuGT9Vz9qwDsUt3Fk/s400/P3078487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311502168903913570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9IrtZTsE_1gjTQGIU5Qe0aU1xQVvqZMw7hQc111WcmydwYfSs1HQBmhPt60PDBh_dJ4MfwIAUodoaBYKqySpMiDnjKJsEjm85Hm7OjVO_HEqpGp7vCWA_j3mwaCT9oiNF9lrcvnbMB8/s1600-h/P3078568.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9IrtZTsE_1gjTQGIU5Qe0aU1xQVvqZMw7hQc111WcmydwYfSs1HQBmhPt60PDBh_dJ4MfwIAUodoaBYKqySpMiDnjKJsEjm85Hm7OjVO_HEqpGp7vCWA_j3mwaCT9oiNF9lrcvnbMB8/s400/P3078568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311502166898715122" border="0" /></a>and Asmah and family went in Zura's car. We left home around 9 a.m and after 80 km of travelling, we arrived at the Atsumi Seaside Floral Strawberry Farm approximately 2 hours later. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI22OdAeTfV41sNKcJjXMUzvEF50tqnujuO3fyamSNPmg6Jqti4Xd2PSJwN6x5XGGc_4lfABn2XzE1gA6YfriaNZ2T4cQxR79PlukqiOw5nHUcZu4P7w94fSxCLQxBeeJEg_e6fx59jSY/s1600-h/P3078561.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI22OdAeTfV41sNKcJjXMUzvEF50tqnujuO3fyamSNPmg6Jqti4Xd2PSJwN6x5XGGc_4lfABn2XzE1gA6YfriaNZ2T4cQxR79PlukqiOw5nHUcZu4P7w94fSxCLQxBeeJEg_e6fx59jSY/s400/P3078561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311502880220395314" border="0" /></a>I was definitely excited off-course! Been waiting for this trip for ages! This is us upon arrival at the farm~posing with the car first! Hihi!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhui8rsyPEUZzGoLdxcxSDX3l8VY-F43_sMO5iyB9bKVevkPRh_qDNnoJdZN3KyEKEtCBIZydF-10rOLz6Cd0oyS53Ut1T-fd1EBFOOvQMorfjPhs9ITd1ZutjQvokQf1ynAHL1pi3Y8tc/s1600-h/P3078515.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhui8rsyPEUZzGoLdxcxSDX3l8VY-F43_sMO5iyB9bKVevkPRh_qDNnoJdZN3KyEKEtCBIZydF-10rOLz6Cd0oyS53Ut1T-fd1EBFOOvQMorfjPhs9ITd1ZutjQvokQf1ynAHL1pi3Y8tc/s400/P3078515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311502186604851314" border="0" /></a>The strawberries were really huge and sweet!!! Puas hati sangat-sangat coming here!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFW6ElAahxN80lmTgu3i6wBwyLhnGPlyhyphenhyphen2rQTpdROC385leCuQQBaTDuoFIktfSaY_5MaVzMT7oBIiL6bS6Gi4tI4UudPy4IaLk-fAlGefTmro-r8um5gKifYVAZ8sIXs6B9Sh979rWU/s1600-h/P3078514.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFW6ElAahxN80lmTgu3i6wBwyLhnGPlyhyphenhyphen2rQTpdROC385leCuQQBaTDuoFIktfSaY_5MaVzMT7oBIiL6bS6Gi4tI4UudPy4IaLk-fAlGefTmro-r8um5gKifYVAZ8sIXs6B9Sh979rWU/s400/P3078514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311502178319179074" border="0" /></a>We forgot to take along Hershey's Chocolate Dip with us, so we just had to make do with the condensed milk supplied at the farm. Not that it wasn't sweet enough actually...,it was just for the fun of it! It was weird for me actually... I never knew that you eat strawberry that way here in this country! Normally in England, we used to eat it with whipped cream...that too, supplied by the farm! We spent about an hour eating and snapping pictures at the farm...sampai sakit perut!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj5kfShxBdre-EBQGWeAo-VGzO2HtbHH07DR2FxnHx6zKyEKbwQA9QARDnu340y_P3zCQ-zyPh_nYqVoSQoLBsuW56sBhj5SmG6omei1bcG4MtZWEDaELAEiJFwOA0VhVEouuUsStkww/s1600-h/P3078500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj5kfShxBdre-EBQGWeAo-VGzO2HtbHH07DR2FxnHx6zKyEKbwQA9QARDnu340y_P3zCQ-zyPh_nYqVoSQoLBsuW56sBhj5SmG6omei1bcG4MtZWEDaELAEiJFwOA0VhVEouuUsStkww/s400/P3078500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311502171206656610" border="0" /></a> Tried to eat as much as we could so that it would be worth it after paying 1500 yen (RM60) for the entrance fee. After eating about 10 strawberries, i was already full...dah ler buah besar2, ...macam mana nak sampai 45 nie? (that was our target actually!), tapi memang tak boleh! After eating the 11th piece, I memang rasa cam nak muntah dah! maybe because we dipped them with condensed milk kot! I forced myself anyhow eating the smaller ones to make it 15, so at least it came up to 100 yen sebijik! Okay laa kan! hahha! This is us at the vegetable patch (cabbage, broccoli, spring onion mostly)..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirShkrF62AfE3zUIt25ewKx-x-scqlqPOkp9TlvWI0DBHeXUlCSAG2QjYeADwP-hz06bfiMdfiR_eAXNDbgTpcJTJNqlUHJtbY_1yerhW9evw8c80gQPpaNXxumM-WcLyDaWshXMvD4uI/s1600-h/P3078556.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirShkrF62AfE3zUIt25ewKx-x-scqlqPOkp9TlvWI0DBHeXUlCSAG2QjYeADwP-hz06bfiMdfiR_eAXNDbgTpcJTJNqlUHJtbY_1yerhW9evw8c80gQPpaNXxumM-WcLyDaWshXMvD4uI/s400/P3078556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311502880534029426" border="0" /></a>Along the way to the Irago Crystal Porte, we stopped for a picnic lunch near a Colza field,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAAunoa9i0xDdRUQRkNVBXJRfbjracgEFCiheK95d9TPNdk7Kb6gO5CWWJD45kVv59e4t0hVTESe_cY5hfuIEt5WHFuMUL_fzfPNANuGvbuAYabpNwlEiKVabcHh6XobZPOKwMfnk9Mg/s1600-h/P3078576.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAAunoa9i0xDdRUQRkNVBXJRfbjracgEFCiheK95d9TPNdk7Kb6gO5CWWJD45kVv59e4t0hVTESe_cY5hfuIEt5WHFuMUL_fzfPNANuGvbuAYabpNwlEiKVabcHh6XobZPOKwMfnk9Mg/s400/P3078576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311511626325458354" border="0" /></a> (we brought some packed lunch~left overs from last night's soto dinner actually!)~while snapping pictures around the brilliant yellow meadow. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHGc14QtJQK9Y98AcdAiGh0it8QYE-j3Tsp3ouMu-jjU10yO1jR2clGx1oCqI9BijIjqh4qhOy4NHg0swGGY6yWAcDZJ_kNImR2yU7uRHhZ76TkRShBa88XomlJEVYBstQJBGTww6Ssg/s1600-h/P3078599.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHGc14QtJQK9Y98AcdAiGh0it8QYE-j3Tsp3ouMu-jjU10yO1jR2clGx1oCqI9BijIjqh4qhOy4NHg0swGGY6yWAcDZJ_kNImR2yU7uRHhZ76TkRShBa88XomlJEVYBstQJBGTww6Ssg/s400/P3078599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311502892903315938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCYxr_5HPcTFZCIXK60XLAIdptL5-nvygEUyXOuByBPo6Fi_vTL0bdZkBFpaxS9MxUuzVbEBvMQpzNc4qYRw6B-gF1No41Bfw9HSDFZO8k55XVb8gYQuMsUNWNrwP_6l80BqTZAyxQ8s/s1600-h/P3078592.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCYxr_5HPcTFZCIXK60XLAIdptL5-nvygEUyXOuByBPo6Fi_vTL0bdZkBFpaxS9MxUuzVbEBvMQpzNc4qYRw6B-gF1No41Bfw9HSDFZO8k55XVb8gYQuMsUNWNrwP_6l80BqTZAyxQ8s/s400/P3078592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311502888185185026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsgOlz_9BWPnh-Jdrvi2eUdgYf0kpYE3NLAhshevGggopjzakNLycCZRFkrMf1jm6_Uhpnd68VrhWxKTkW0YZuICcSeq05VLF_ZvnAMJa9IASZjy6FitetWHsFaip47VhKYaMYen7Q4o/s1600-h/100_1533.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsgOlz_9BWPnh-Jdrvi2eUdgYf0kpYE3NLAhshevGggopjzakNLycCZRFkrMf1jm6_Uhpnd68VrhWxKTkW0YZuICcSeq05VLF_ZvnAMJa9IASZjy6FitetWHsFaip47VhKYaMYen7Q4o/s400/100_1533.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311503364842660786" border="0" /></a>Spring is definitely here! Some local tourists stopped by for some pictures as well...probably amused looking at us having a picnic there!~Dorang datang for snapping pictures jer, kitaorang siap picnic lagi kat situ!<br /><br />At the Crystal Porte..,we just took a stroll along the beach to the light house.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ccrTQrqkm83LGjFrMe3ue1b2mJ9W53vuZq5veTqLPziCqiLFnDOxdwHPGRUhsjlebrtXsL4chdFdXlvvhF69X6Posu5FM8GIaS9dmHvC5L-IxKreQL0wphG7wI2oBbhcJCFrSDVj2dw/s1600-h/laut+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ccrTQrqkm83LGjFrMe3ue1b2mJ9W53vuZq5veTqLPziCqiLFnDOxdwHPGRUhsjlebrtXsL4chdFdXlvvhF69X6Posu5FM8GIaS9dmHvC5L-IxKreQL0wphG7wI2oBbhcJCFrSDVj2dw/s400/laut+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311515822377212194" border="0" /></a> What began as a pleasant stroll turned out to be quite an 'adventurous' one actually!<br />As we went around the cliff, the wind suddenly became stronger and we felt like we were pushed by the wind to fly! We couldn't even walk straight! I had to hold on to my scarf (otherwise, memang terbang ker laut laa jawabnyer!), and everyone's hair was going in every directions!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisduLzWuMRECB_bW5y4CwmIvx3uaaRAns-eS_lLmov1RMyH_d9jgdDdoKzlE4djiRag67MtPgJmdxFlxkMbIqb_mo7iwiylHU57OKtO0jyhRHd_UXeOWAlXIFzzwgonpGGEQqeQrcplU/s1600-h/P3078618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisduLzWuMRECB_bW5y4CwmIvx3uaaRAns-eS_lLmov1RMyH_d9jgdDdoKzlE4djiRag67MtPgJmdxFlxkMbIqb_mo7iwiylHU57OKtO0jyhRHd_UXeOWAlXIFzzwgonpGGEQqeQrcplU/s400/P3078618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311502895849281138" border="0" /></a> It was just lucky that there was no big waves coming to us~otherwise we would have been miserably wet and cold!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NdZTB67PZq0apjZQp4_seV96mLh-l6Fs6or38Bn4YttCrXmJ2mfKkZnW9LL4mwOOImHDseIgj0VMcLIw5yROfgQctqb7h4l5wcI4LkhoFGvTrX59LOk7s6XmbkduY4JwMUl2xfpjKbY/s1600-h/laut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NdZTB67PZq0apjZQp4_seV96mLh-l6Fs6or38Bn4YttCrXmJ2mfKkZnW9LL4mwOOImHDseIgj0VMcLIw5yROfgQctqb7h4l5wcI4LkhoFGvTrX59LOk7s6XmbkduY4JwMUl2xfpjKbY/s400/laut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311515820440916914" border="0" /></a><br />After the windy excitement, we continued with our journey to a small mountain nearby...to see a kincir angin that stood alone on that hill! (There were so many of them in that town, but there was only one up the hill).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhp34kE0zuFo-fI69J6uDvA7cBFfibSlyAPmNiVNLudiFETddsNYePGv2sQylWcmdETUlNVtjAmhSLCDYG-42p4jemZYNXMGK2qN2lEiabB4VeoUOL5jyssgu2r3tcEF0eBuLGevgrSI/s1600-h/100_1584.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhp34kE0zuFo-fI69J6uDvA7cBFfibSlyAPmNiVNLudiFETddsNYePGv2sQylWcmdETUlNVtjAmhSLCDYG-42p4jemZYNXMGK2qN2lEiabB4VeoUOL5jyssgu2r3tcEF0eBuLGevgrSI/s400/100_1584.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311503367232208754" border="0" /></a><br />On the way home, we stopped by for dinner at a Japanese restaurant before calling it a day!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-30194548869840091002009-03-09T15:17:00.006+09:002009-03-09T16:53:00.175+09:00Estima Doa Selamat Celebration cum Mummy's 2nd round Birthday PartyWell, after almost 2 weeks of waiting, we finally got our much anticipated Estima last Tuesday (3rd March '09). Nizam decided to hold another makan-makan gathering on Friday night together with Hamidi for Doa Selamat. Since we still have so many places to visit...long and short journeys..,might as well we 'officiate' the car awal2. This time, we had it at their place because at the same time they wanted to make a belated birthday celabration for Humayraa as well. We had soto for dinner that night. Something simple for a change. I made minced beef begedil and shredded chicken, and Zura did the rest.<br />It was really sweet of them to include me on Humayraa's cake actually...and it was really cute as well!~Thank You Zura!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrBMorhzK_2fJ2s57VrjowQGyGAnNpdGmcALB3lgAOMFEtOnI5Bzu782EB9n58XxMA1cD08p-Qcl2Jiq0XyWCjR5GBYH451pR4i9fCMxHue7-OAq_iENrMmLW6mLj7tTejOYLL_9rt9M/s1600-h/Mummy's+Bday+2nd+round...jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrBMorhzK_2fJ2s57VrjowQGyGAnNpdGmcALB3lgAOMFEtOnI5Bzu782EB9n58XxMA1cD08p-Qcl2Jiq0XyWCjR5GBYH451pR4i9fCMxHue7-OAq_iENrMmLW6mLj7tTejOYLL_9rt9M/s400/Mummy's+Bday+2nd+round...jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311071372193633634" border="0" /></a>Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-46980583958919461152009-02-26T00:44:00.012+09:002009-02-26T01:53:44.131+09:00Jibusaka Revisited<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSItWcf79KIAdkFeU2VbI8qhFQmnkKJfsAhaRIOeY5RvCtS3GSXWTeQkVIl-TMSXIJ7-9UpF6qqgXWt_KU9qFGZXRB1AIfmJNMwTxp41N92i8L4GhBVxVSTHBstvW0r3LGhgeGLxyAV8E/s1600-h/DSCF2805.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSItWcf79KIAdkFeU2VbI8qhFQmnkKJfsAhaRIOeY5RvCtS3GSXWTeQkVIl-TMSXIJ7-9UpF6qqgXWt_KU9qFGZXRB1AIfmJNMwTxp41N92i8L4GhBVxVSTHBstvW0r3LGhgeGLxyAV8E/s400/DSCF2805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306773290153523666" border="0" /></a>Last Friday, Nizam came back early from work and we headed straight to Jibusaka Highlands Toyota owned Log Cabin Resort for an overnight stay. We went together with Hamidi and family, and Norbert & Agnes (our Philipino neighbour). After 2 hours journey from Toyota Shi, it was already dark and really chilly (0 degree Celcius) when we got there. At the first glimpse of snow, we were already clapping our hands and got really excited...(somehow this year, kat Toyota Shi snow tak turun as much as it did last year! Sekarang sakura dah bud out dah pun...and it is still February!). By the time we got to the resort gate it was snowing heavily when we were fixing the tire chain. We were even more elated!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfN_8IrQ70UcC29n-i8x9A7cD6dxDABjcPt5uCujpy-YdMaF1RdgLMJt2bz66-N8xY7B2aXGc0LlGFoZ9KBDdAQuYMbDVB333NaukSvB5_fWrIQzEWThTm6fDTzOJbKNN9X2wY0kuGzPg/s1600-h/P2208250.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfN_8IrQ70UcC29n-i8x9A7cD6dxDABjcPt5uCujpy-YdMaF1RdgLMJt2bz66-N8xY7B2aXGc0LlGFoZ9KBDdAQuYMbDVB333NaukSvB5_fWrIQzEWThTm6fDTzOJbKNN9X2wY0kuGzPg/s400/P2208250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306773254373311890" border="0" /></a> The girls came out from the car, jumping up and down in the snow while snapping some pictures while the guys were freezing cold fixing the tire chain for us to climb up to the cabin!<br />We checked into a different cabin this time but the interior of the house is exactly the same as what we had the first time we came here last winter. I was really happy off course! Both the house and the interior was really beautiful!<br />It was really nice and warm inside the house but the view outside, though it was miserably cold and chilly, it was breathtaking...even at night time! I was just so overwhelmed! Looking through the windows, I kept wishing that if only we could have stayed longer and I could enjoy the house and the view nicely. Somehow, log cabins and snow makes me feel melancholy like you know..?! i don't think I could ever get enough of it. Reminded me so much of my first taste of log cabin and snow in Canada when I went on an exchange programme before...<br />It was just a wish off-course! itu pun nasib baik that we got the booking handed over to us by Kak Mimi. Thank You Kak! (She changed her mind about going there as she was going to Hakuba). Bookings can only be done 2 months in advance, so you could imagine how difficult it was to get the reservations! Any cancellations would totally be so sayang!!!<br />After having a macaroni soup dinner,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0avKZz3QCdKr32ujGAp3hX6rfIZkB4ZTJPKjhxhbIjFXzkLnSdS_jhfElq96_03re5oPmqonxSoMULDh6PrxRtTlloR6sEP0nXBcJijCr4dyfcxwT7WNa1ewsBQ3sdjD-KiWcWgC06rg/s1600-h/P2208271.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0avKZz3QCdKr32ujGAp3hX6rfIZkB4ZTJPKjhxhbIjFXzkLnSdS_jhfElq96_03re5oPmqonxSoMULDh6PrxRtTlloR6sEP0nXBcJijCr4dyfcxwT7WNa1ewsBQ3sdjD-KiWcWgC06rg/s400/P2208271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306773264768323778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ovwef9ynJwEHYoY7JVq1PfpGJouQrCe7ciT5Na4KSxl-eM-D9BTL4xBh2Jzu_3LE4gEjL3Hovua_9gf4hXRUfdpNpofZDNxKJH-NHgJqlURbUNzDhNoBbo3wfGJ-Uv0sciPxlfWnufU/s1600-h/P2208273.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ovwef9ynJwEHYoY7JVq1PfpGJouQrCe7ciT5Na4KSxl-eM-D9BTL4xBh2Jzu_3LE4gEjL3Hovua_9gf4hXRUfdpNpofZDNxKJH-NHgJqlURbUNzDhNoBbo3wfGJ-Uv0sciPxlfWnufU/s400/P2208273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306773271043793378" border="0" /></a> we had some cheesy popcorn (courtesy of Agnes) before it was time for bed. Norbert and Agnes had the room upstairs and the rest of us occupied the room downstairs. The guys had fun camping in the living room. All nice and cozy, sampai Zura and I boleh jealous jer tengok!<br />The next morning, we had tuna sandwich for breakfast and some macaroni soup left over for breakfast. After some picture taking sessions again around the house, (this is Umair enjoying the fresh winter air by the way!),<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznA4qx7QLBAUrILq9Lau5vpnbR33MNS_ShxiQHaitxKOE0KIJEwc-TIBr0Whyphenhyphen9t7LVDls3WkTOvWkr0IYtzVRO7mb4An9FnS-CglIhKSWxXbGWu9WgW9bM7RpmX4kWbficM0JmSBQ5_g/s1600-h/P2218314.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznA4qx7QLBAUrILq9Lau5vpnbR33MNS_ShxiQHaitxKOE0KIJEwc-TIBr0Whyphenhyphen9t7LVDls3WkTOvWkr0IYtzVRO7mb4An9FnS-CglIhKSWxXbGWu9WgW9bM7RpmX4kWbficM0JmSBQ5_g/s400/P2218314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306775215003513554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UVdQ5LhHDV8wzmsy40fPeDSf62PDyz_MVf1eh6FOMn-U37ub18otRt4Ho6FJ9f4C9CIscgsiNFfohVQKMGH4ClOEPRixu6u1v23ukxomzwgLd8lBCrmQOZbgHutQPRSc-8Mo2yG_cHI/s1600-h/P2218292.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UVdQ5LhHDV8wzmsy40fPeDSf62PDyz_MVf1eh6FOMn-U37ub18otRt4Ho6FJ9f4C9CIscgsiNFfohVQKMGH4ClOEPRixu6u1v23ukxomzwgLd8lBCrmQOZbgHutQPRSc-8Mo2yG_cHI/s400/P2218292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306773278307222850" border="0" /></a> we checked out at 10a.m and headed next door to the ski park. We only had fun playing with the sled though. It was especially nice to us looking at how much Umair was enjoying himself sledding with his Daddy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh7-v9A1mEBRBR4x-VGJ5RjwVGt-2jmzOvSYToAJgQ-xzARy7bOg9gaW_JFEYBhxQw38lxyClyL2mDFJ9RS4_LXwMbeOkZ9rrABmnHqEsrB2IaeANNnGhCaznqU_5sXclScUISZYO0iU/s1600-h/P2218346.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh7-v9A1mEBRBR4x-VGJ5RjwVGt-2jmzOvSYToAJgQ-xzARy7bOg9gaW_JFEYBhxQw38lxyClyL2mDFJ9RS4_LXwMbeOkZ9rrABmnHqEsrB2IaeANNnGhCaznqU_5sXclScUISZYO0iU/s400/P2218346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306774948732862626" border="0" /></a>... sampai menangis nangis tak nak balik! After a couple of hours at the park, we headed home. It was at 3pm when we arrived home in Ekaku and called it a day..Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-49421734737204054912009-02-22T22:26:00.004+09:002009-02-23T00:11:25.002+09:00Happy Birthday to Me!!!Another year had gone and I turned 32 years old today!!! What a huge number but i still feel the same! I've been counting my blessings, and i thank God for everything He had given me in my life.<br />I truly feel blessed. Though half of my life has gone by without Papa around, with such a wonderfully sweet, loving and caring husband in Nizam and Umair in my life, I am really really gratefull..!!! Thank You So Very Much Dear Allah!!!<br />We didn't do anything much today though. Just spent a quiet day at home...(we don't have a car yet, anyway!) We slept most of the day, snuggling in our blankets and hibernate!<br />In the evening, Agnes and Norbert came around to give me my strawberry ice-cream birthday cake. Nizam made tea and we had the ice cream together.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdi2iXHocdohEh5qBsf53jLJYltshmMj6IIfOKSLBKNyCJfLURQ0aqcYlxb4_dqFXhq7y5dCTJ5QK-eR6lEAAuKxN9av_hHwAtkbY-h4vasbRat7GcI1woGvdMChCYp6zML3PIUoCVBgg/s1600-h/Mummy's+Bday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdi2iXHocdohEh5qBsf53jLJYltshmMj6IIfOKSLBKNyCJfLURQ0aqcYlxb4_dqFXhq7y5dCTJ5QK-eR6lEAAuKxN9av_hHwAtkbY-h4vasbRat7GcI1woGvdMChCYp6zML3PIUoCVBgg/s400/Mummy's+Bday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305637374891618850" border="0" /></a>Thank You guys...,it was really really sweet of you to pop in!<br /><br />As for my birthday present, next to another brand new COACH of which I'm getting next weekend InsyaAllah (nak pegi Nagashima sekarang takder kete), Nizam got us an Estima like I requested and ever wanted! We sold our WISH as I feel that it's a bit crampy in there. Especially when we always go on a long journey to balik kampung, I thought that it would be nicer and better to have more leg room and to have my pinggang friendly seat in the car...as I do sometimes get severe back ache, a higher seat is a great help to alleviate that!<br />It was really sudden when we actually found what we both wanted for our Estima...that we sold our WISH right away!<br />Nizam had always wanted a pearl white car with AERAS skirting, and I wanted 7 seater crew seats and beige colour interior with accesorries off course! Finding the perfect car that meets with both of our certain criteria was quite a daunting task. We both wanted it to be a high grade (G grade) 2004 Estima so that we'd be eligible for the 70% tax discount back home in Malaysia. (Lawa nak jugak, poket pun nak tebal jugak...so we have to make do with this one! hihihi!) Nizam described it like as though 'nak gi meminang Puteri Gunung Ledang!' Hihihi! Thank goodness though, that we bumped into it in the end. Before that, it was always a one side kinda thing...interior cantik, luar tak lawa, and vice versa, making it so very difficult for us to decide! Anyhow, with God's Graces, (Honestly!!!), we came across this really really really nice car in the internet...of which initially I thought that we won't be able to get it as it is soooooo pretty like what we BOTH wanted and the price is exactly within our budget! Like, it was a too good to be true kinda thing, you know? Anyway, after some negotiation, through our friend Hamidi, Alhamdullillah, the car is now ours! We are waiting for it to arrive from Osaka on Tuesday, and we should be able to drive it, God Willing, latest by Friday, after all the paper work and plate number has been done! We are just too excited to see our new car! I am just elated! Somehow, today, I just feel like so brand new!!! It's one of those magical things that Birthdays do to us i guess...huh?!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-91658497811573294282008-11-14T11:50:00.009+09:002008-11-20T19:47:23.347+09:00How sweet it is to be a Muslim WomanSo..,who says jadi housewife tak best??? Pahalanyer melimpah ruah tau!!! Especially here in Japan lagi best..,50% of your husband's penchant is your's jugak...if only they do that kind of thing back home in Malaysia too...that would definitely help the wife's self confidence tremendously kan, and help to control the husbands to behave and to treat their wives well!Over here, every month the bank would do an auto deduction! Itu yang zahir laa...ini yang 'batin' nie..,memang tak der tolok banding tau yang Allah kasi for us ladies who are housewives!-yer laa...kalau tak housewife, how do you suppose to earn this pahala to the maximum...EVERYDAY ???!!! kan???!!!In Malaysia, I think housewives are not highly regarded..., when in reality, that's the highest place Allah has given to us ladies. I just don't get it when some ladies look down on their own gender just because they 'sit at home'! I got it myself! At one time, my sister in law said to me..'..duk kat rumah, duk kelebet anak jer'..well, how degrading is that?! I felt like saying, well, tangan Indon is better than your own hands feeding the children is it?! If you send your kids to nursery...they are just a number okay?! So if i do have a choice, I would vote being a housewife anytime..looking after my own children and raising them with my own hands! By the way, I do love 'sitting at home' and be a home maker as I am a homey person! I really think whether a woman should go to work or not is her own choice, and not because she felt challenged by others to do so!<br />It was just yesterday when I was feeling a bit down from thinking about this life..,that all seems to be so empty...,really! Like, I was just wondering..,looking around me, and doing whatever we do..,is that just it???! what next? Where do we go from here..?<br />Growing up as a Muslim in Malaysia seems to have so many limitations..,without having to see or feel the beauty of being one. Mostly, it is all about horrifying punishments like what the hell really look like and what we get in the hereafter say if we don't say our 5 times obligatory prayers everyday..,(that we'll rise up from the grave with our face looking like a pig..,and that later a gigantic scorpion will come and eat us up)! That is just one to name a few...<br />It's very rare to hear people saying about the love of God. Mostly it is about fear...so most of us, would end up living in denial...to forget about what will happen in the hereafter... and that will be dealt later with when the time comes..,so to say! But, when it comes, there's no turning back and there will not be any second chance!<br />Today, I just recieved this forwarded email about how beautiful and sweet it is to be a Muslim woman. I read about this before in a newspaper years ago but I forgot to make a clipping. So I was glad to see this email this morning. With this, now I could really see how much Allah really loves us..,but then again, I feel so really small too..,like as if it's sooooo difficult to be such a good woman (read as angel) when actually it's really easy! So i guess this is good news and a form of consolation and encouragement to my depression that I was having yesterday that I thought that I'd share it here...<br />Let us think and ponder...!<br /><ol><li>A good woman (wanita solehah) is better than 70 good men (lelaki soleh).</li><li>An evil woman is worse than 1000 bad men.</li><li>2 rakaat of solat (prayers) from a pregnant woman is better than 80 rakaat of solat from a non pregnant woman.</li><li>A woman who breast fed her baby will get a merit from every drop that the baby takes.</li><li>A woman who treats her husband in kindness when the husband came back home tired will get pahala jihad (merits as if you went on a holy war).</li><li>A woman who doesn't get to sleep properly looking after her sick child at night will get merits as if she has freed 20 slaves!</li><li>A woman who look at her husband with love and vice versa will be looked by Allah full with blessings.</li><li>A woman who cause her husband to go out and fight for Allah and later look after her home well will enter Paradise 500 years earlier than her husband, and she will be the leader of 70,000 angels and fairies..,and the woman will be bathe in Heavens while waiting for her husband coming to her riding on a horse made up from 'yakut'.</li><li>A woman who doesn't get to sleep well looking after her sick child at night will have all her sins be pardoned by Allah, and when she entertains her child, Allah gives her merits from 12 years of ibadat (prayers).</li><li>A woman who milk an animal while saying "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah), will be prayed by that animal with blessings.</li><li>A woman who sweeps the floor while 'berzikir' (praising Allah), will get merits as if we are sweeping the floors in Baitullah (Kaabah).</li><li>A woman who kneads her dough of flour saying "Bismillah", her 'rezeki' (income) will be blessed.</li><li>A woman who looks after her solat (prayers), observe her fasting, and listen/obey to her husband ,then Allah will give her permission to enter heaven from any door that she wishes to enter!</li><li>A pregnant woman will get fasting merits in day time.</li><li>A pregnant woman will get praying merits in night time.</li><li>A woman who give birth will get merits from 70 years of solat (prayers) and fasting, and for every pain from her nerves, Allah will give merits from one pilgrimage done.</li><li>If a woman dies 40 days after the delivery, she is considered as 'Syahid'.</li><li>If a woman breastfeed her child until he/she completes 2 1/2 years old, the angels in heavens will sing and say the good news that the heaven is compulsory for you!(..and how are you supposed to be entitled for this if you had to go to work? In Malaysia there's NO such thing as 2 1/2 years of maternity leave okay?!, and you mean to say your job is GREATER than HEAVEN??? Puhleeeeezzz!!!)<br /></li><li>If a woman breastfeed her crying baby, Allah will give her merits from a year of praying n fasting.</li><li>If a woman gives a massage to her husband without being asked, she will get merits of 7 blocks ('tola') of gold, and if she does it by being asked, she will get merits of 7 blocks of bronze.</li><li>A woman who dies with her husband's blessings will go to Heaven.</li><li>Everyone will be called to see Allah in the hereafter one day, but Allah will come Himself to see the women who look after their 'aurat' (head and body) properly covered...(..iaitu memakai purdah di dunia ini dengan istiqamah)...</li></ol>Wassalam...Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-8453975196274853072008-11-11T22:17:00.009+09:002008-11-11T23:08:45.493+09:00Lunch at Rebecca's place<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRZaIrqfTUGsKenP3yxvyj1rCGOtzyJQdHm-Oluqawo6HmOk9Huc8pIrHXmHYp_QNfCg1kPCDRWmp3ackFON_NMW77G46Xs92Sh2HeNJS4okdQwIKb1P7bKd6Pngoxqgb30VfbQG7aFc/s1600-h/PB077388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRZaIrqfTUGsKenP3yxvyj1rCGOtzyJQdHm-Oluqawo6HmOk9Huc8pIrHXmHYp_QNfCg1kPCDRWmp3ackFON_NMW77G46Xs92Sh2HeNJS4okdQwIKb1P7bKd6Pngoxqgb30VfbQG7aFc/s400/PB077388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267394184940253298" border="0" /></a>Green Curry cooking demonstration by Kak Mimi...<br />Well, it started out when Rebecca, our Taiwanese friend asked Kak Mimi to show her how to cook green curry. She has an instant green curry paste but she didn't know how to do it the proper way. So Kak Mimi was like..."Asilah, have you ever cooked green curry before?" A flat "No" was my answer. Green curry is more a Thai dish...,and I never really into curry so much (apart from fish and crab curry), so I didn't know anything about that and have to refer to the recipes if I had to make one! Anyway, by our own invitation, we ended up having lunch at Rebecca's place on last Friday with Harie San and Asmah ( a newly arrived Malaysian ICT wife)...hihi...Thanks Rebecca! I brought a dish over to go with the green curry..,which turned out to be similar to Malaysian's own 'Masak Lemak Cili Api'. So maybe that was it. The Masak Lemak Cili Api in English! Only that we didn't know! hihi! I would have definitely said "Yes, I know how to cook that!" otherwise!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPWF3bGVaatw9AIMg9V7kSkzKA-8Lf4n-I3ErN8B7cKs1kAD-CUVWJrT4e9AW-M60bPJe7V3CiI5o54UISKLT0-HVAt1F57JMyTC86SeB0lMWwgverJe2I4bNNicKlH6Uodb2K4HB9PU/s1600-h/PB077390.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPWF3bGVaatw9AIMg9V7kSkzKA-8Lf4n-I3ErN8B7cKs1kAD-CUVWJrT4e9AW-M60bPJe7V3CiI5o54UISKLT0-HVAt1F57JMyTC86SeB0lMWwgverJe2I4bNNicKlH6Uodb2K4HB9PU/s400/PB077390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267394199951796642" border="0" /></a>In between, Harie San showed us how to bake chiffon cake. We did that for our dessert. Looking at her doing it with Rebecca took the fear of baking away from me! It was awfully fun actually, that they managed to do it really quickly, and no hassle nothing! And after having oishii-licious finger licking good Kak Mimi's chicken green curry with potato and my fried beef that I brought over, we had Japanese tea flavoured chiffon cake and steaming hot coffee for dessert! Yum yum indeed! We must do this often!<br />What they did was first to beat the egg white and sugar vigorously together into a hard form, that even if you turn the bowl up side down after that, the foam wouldn't fall! The trick was to add a little salt as well. Then the yolks are beaten next with sugar till it turned<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgWfLETaF_c1hjC2Ggl89ba4vA2GWJuMpZSxlWKd0BX2ar8KfD2EwU3CCqwU3YATPUcql6zEeahBynKPIXhD3whi98F6XZ3jo5ogPv10By-hhBGkua6BbEIRDO6RJMwQUMzjQy9MjB_Q/s1600-h/PB077394.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgWfLETaF_c1hjC2Ggl89ba4vA2GWJuMpZSxlWKd0BX2ar8KfD2EwU3CCqwU3YATPUcql6zEeahBynKPIXhD3whi98F6XZ3jo5ogPv10By-hhBGkua6BbEIRDO6RJMwQUMzjQy9MjB_Q/s400/PB077394.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267394212384006850" border="0" /></a> to a light creamy colour. Sieve some flour, Japanese green tea and baking powder into the egg yolk mixture and continue mixing it together.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYSKyOq1ZxxtdD4wq-lOzMTdi1mYhzd93HXNSdUsO3FPBNXIWhCShmkn9kRgfMFhJOYid_zkHTjwLbI3QkgUOB7QrABzQy83F_ulZMOOJ1r-YppF6z4GnqKOk577yn0S0ocfIwndF-Eg/s1600-h/PB077393.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYSKyOq1ZxxtdD4wq-lOzMTdi1mYhzd93HXNSdUsO3FPBNXIWhCShmkn9kRgfMFhJOYid_zkHTjwLbI3QkgUOB7QrABzQy83F_ulZMOOJ1r-YppF6z4GnqKOk577yn0S0ocfIwndF-Eg/s400/PB077393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267399232461470530" border="0" /></a>Next, was to take a third of the egg white portion and mix in to the batter. Beat vigorously again for a while. Then, add in the rest of the egg white foam and mix in lightly with a spatula. pour into a chiffon cake container and pushed it into the oven. Oh yes! It was pre heated off course at 170 degrees and bake ! Oops I forgot to take the picture of the cake... until after I got home~ Full and contented!!!*burp*Hihi! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbUvtVC3GqTrjhOFntk43I2N4Ef7bsqlPfYQbtFXgDKKaOERJBVK14ht3DvQFzLNYF6Qt2VXONUqIyhOwpfeMBjT7kjO1Uk8eBGbj6aIMgUDapx8dNXF5_shGpXmujOwZHL23ynSYmvY/s1600-h/PB077395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbUvtVC3GqTrjhOFntk43I2N4Ef7bsqlPfYQbtFXgDKKaOERJBVK14ht3DvQFzLNYF6Qt2VXONUqIyhOwpfeMBjT7kjO1Uk8eBGbj6aIMgUDapx8dNXF5_shGpXmujOwZHL23ynSYmvY/s400/PB077395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267394217413081746" border="0" /></a>Kak Mimi, I really can't wait for your version of the chiffon cake with that pandan paste you said! Don't forget me yeah, or do I have to self invite again this time? Hihi! Don't worry, I'd bring a dish over too!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-21252615855805305722008-11-07T18:19:00.004+09:002008-11-07T18:41:57.661+09:00Pajeri Nenas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTNR0o8GPtkDKfryn4ZoDgqBeHFNY2jYHucjyexQAZB3qziajyaWhhXIqCdTXQwtTcNhW9hc3i9dHI-2_Bsnt3gJfPBYHa4e-G5qd9FR3boh3ARGFVcVFbdRBSebesput6zC35lgcAtI/s1600-h/PA317310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTNR0o8GPtkDKfryn4ZoDgqBeHFNY2jYHucjyexQAZB3qziajyaWhhXIqCdTXQwtTcNhW9hc3i9dHI-2_Bsnt3gJfPBYHa4e-G5qd9FR3boh3ARGFVcVFbdRBSebesput6zC35lgcAtI/s400/PA317310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265843365118124978" border="0" /></a><br />Ingredients:<br /><ol><li>3 cloves garlic</li><li>8 shallots</li><li>1/2 teaspoon curry powder</li><li>1 tspn chilly powder/chilly paste</li><li>1 stick cinnamon</li><li>star annice</li><li>cardammon seeds</li><li>1/2 cup vinegar</li><li>fresh pineapple cut into bite sized slices<br /></li><li>a pinch of salt</li><li>4 tbspn sugar</li></ol>Method:<br />In a pot, sautee pounded/sliced garlic and shallots together. Add in curry powder paste (mix it with a tablespoon of water) , chilly paste, cinnamon, star annice and cardammon seeds and fry for 30seconds. Next, add in 4 cups of water, vinegar, pineapple and the rest of the ingredients to the pot and bring it to boil. Ready to be served with hot rice!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-16410481190847170802008-11-04T13:21:00.010+09:002008-11-08T19:09:11.652+09:00Ikebana-Japanese Flower Arrangement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t0s7xs12Ci1KfD-8ot9mDxbNSFQw5VNRF7cPbhvPUAN6iDujrvzl44lIBGtqloxNlEfCIBDzV7i6oYrZVl_ryXlR57KpYiMTxc_MSl9k1brNwd6T92VLF_WBPeU_WSm1FeHdytTSNro/s1600-h/_MG_2646(2).JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t0s7xs12Ci1KfD-8ot9mDxbNSFQw5VNRF7cPbhvPUAN6iDujrvzl44lIBGtqloxNlEfCIBDzV7i6oYrZVl_ryXlR57KpYiMTxc_MSl9k1brNwd6T92VLF_WBPeU_WSm1FeHdytTSNro/s400/_MG_2646(2).JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265830767827686658" border="0" /></a>I just came back from Sakura Club just now..,and we did some Japanese Flower Arrangement today...This picture is taken before we begin our class:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEGSJC0SeFG5TxnNkJAtxpbKGYrJmT9iq1EmH1jiFJV6c91DQ6iCRnLuNRP48xy-CDgd8MsiXbOyxUERse58rdEIpHcpMGh8YQ2cdtMpK0HIgdhTlzCXDmvz5u-y0opD7uOqVBSOnSRA/s1600-h/PB047355.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEGSJC0SeFG5TxnNkJAtxpbKGYrJmT9iq1EmH1jiFJV6c91DQ6iCRnLuNRP48xy-CDgd8MsiXbOyxUERse58rdEIpHcpMGh8YQ2cdtMpK0HIgdhTlzCXDmvz5u-y0opD7uOqVBSOnSRA/s400/PB047355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264664934278055362" border="0" /></a>Before that, as usual we started our day with reading our Toyota Citizens Pledge, which says among other things:<ol><li>To nurture greenery, to protect our rivers and to respect the rich nature around us.</li><li>To value the benefits of sports, to broaden our knowledge and to raise the level of culture.</li><li>To work with a willing spirit and raise healthy children in a happy family atmosphere.</li><li>To help one another and to broaden our circle of friends, so as to warm our city with friendship.</li><li>To revere life and to abide by the law in order to make our society a safe and pleasant place to live in.</li></ol><div style="text-align: center;">Then we went on to singing our Sakura Club song which goes like this...<br /><br />Sakura...,sakura..,yayo ino sora wa<br />Miwatasu kagiri<br />Kasumika kumoka<br />Ni o izu izuru<br />Iza ya..,iza ya..<br />Miniyukan...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Today's session was flower arrangement which was done in Keifu style. These are the materials needed for the project:-<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6B7s-jd-oICh2LI7VrvAadGjhE2DzT7wlGjRHQxzX4qvoYAdG8evePve290gD9mD6wpiyhkWDvVH9ULThFLFpuLmly7qPJSA1fErac77pgIzeFgrs7pjgdz0cUZhCXVcFndYDVVwgLQ/s1600-h/PB047358.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6B7s-jd-oICh2LI7VrvAadGjhE2DzT7wlGjRHQxzX4qvoYAdG8evePve290gD9mD6wpiyhkWDvVH9ULThFLFpuLmly7qPJSA1fErac77pgIzeFgrs7pjgdz0cUZhCXVcFndYDVVwgLQ/s400/PB047358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264664940102379026" border="0" /></a>There are three main branches called Shin, Fuku and Tai play an important central role and are arranged in triangular. There is a base of them or Hanaza, which makes a foundation vigorously with bushes of flowers and leaves.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In arranging the flowers, place Shin or the tallest one a little backfrom the center of the Kenzan. Put Fuku or middle-sized one to the left front and Taior shortest one to the right front. Complete the arrangement by forming Hanaza with some flowers and leaves, adding Ashirai or supplements to fill the gap. Shin leant to the left from the center called "Hongatte" and "Gyakugatte" the other way round.<br />The sensei was very helpful and patient teaching me doing the arrangement..,with Umair on my lap and sometimes clinging around my legs..,I am definitely a slow learner and need time to put things together. This is she fine-tuning my floral arrangement putting the leaves facing forward...with me snapping the picture away..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGR1_vCPHRncS821gmcrTWpYV_6dzcf0-oixNns5XXOu7-0GI5sPFdKIPxXJH9qijoT87w0X3n0lM11TcwYQ6frn7fhzyGBv53_73uKev1m_qdM_dMzVLYdxEKQ1Bmp5L4xH_b-iN5UQ/s1600-h/PB047359.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGR1_vCPHRncS821gmcrTWpYV_6dzcf0-oixNns5XXOu7-0GI5sPFdKIPxXJH9qijoT87w0X3n0lM11TcwYQ6frn7fhzyGBv53_73uKev1m_qdM_dMzVLYdxEKQ1Bmp5L4xH_b-iN5UQ/s400/PB047359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264664949285605986" border="0" /></a> But, at the end of it, looking at the finished product, I am definitely proud of my achievements!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWWBSZvFsM-ttOj95LlLgZjGhmsQnitvOwdO5l3Cq63JNCAMp31OI8odMlHPOCFIwC5fDHeo4c2YM577WpqmJXcSFsYvxOsYdE1Vmr5-m34sk3EQlatL4YqV7JY2cyoKzyYXiwc95fQw/s1600-h/PB047363.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWWBSZvFsM-ttOj95LlLgZjGhmsQnitvOwdO5l3Cq63JNCAMp31OI8odMlHPOCFIwC5fDHeo4c2YM577WpqmJXcSFsYvxOsYdE1Vmr5-m34sk3EQlatL4YqV7JY2cyoKzyYXiwc95fQw/s400/PB047363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264664954297186562" border="0" /></a>This is us inside the classroom with our finished products on display...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJv43z9pVukm_V2CuY-XlT0EfbQZmZAPz2YW60gqU_mBgoD1jPJzt5UEiMeD6pMz6wNIH_z33HSPWZ9EzxHvrby1JvafCAiKEqCGQKED1tCc1JlrvmuYPcsjvo5_VfWoqHaudJ0v_gFEQ/s1600-h/PB047369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJv43z9pVukm_V2CuY-XlT0EfbQZmZAPz2YW60gqU_mBgoD1jPJzt5UEiMeD6pMz6wNIH_z33HSPWZ9EzxHvrby1JvafCAiKEqCGQKED1tCc1JlrvmuYPcsjvo5_VfWoqHaudJ0v_gFEQ/s400/PB047369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264665164186350226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5bDkM5xKnLXOaZIBkyPLw96QUEL8rfOJJeelUFuTIoYbs04FsTKXZ8pTaZGFyY07-DCMCerfgBVhk93HRKEmhYNnvux7BbvkAoLEpRON0Lnb8iw-F_i4mhK8zl2oHJ8mdITV3eci5Ws/s1600-h/PB047371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5bDkM5xKnLXOaZIBkyPLw96QUEL8rfOJJeelUFuTIoYbs04FsTKXZ8pTaZGFyY07-DCMCerfgBVhk93HRKEmhYNnvux7BbvkAoLEpRON0Lnb8iw-F_i4mhK8zl2oHJ8mdITV3eci5Ws/s400/PB047371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264665168839094018" border="0" /></a>At the end of the lesson, after clearing up our working table and the room, we were served tea and some Japanese sweets and fruits to enjoy with our friends...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupBubqDTh7lc_CnEDuIDA_FmckYVD39WFfZ64hk0t6qBzJ2CwUHh6NYZ8ABakwkktzzA5RzzDXRmAzRccQLoJl0EmCtuwfbgMXnylu_1Rbvq62W6UGiKesoCjBs7bDSPBxZDc6s76fQs/s1600-h/PB047373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupBubqDTh7lc_CnEDuIDA_FmckYVD39WFfZ64hk0t6qBzJ2CwUHh6NYZ8ABakwkktzzA5RzzDXRmAzRccQLoJl0EmCtuwfbgMXnylu_1Rbvq62W6UGiKesoCjBs7bDSPBxZDc6s76fQs/s400/PB047373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264665173444364770" border="0" /></a>I made three new friends today..,Natalia and Kasia (picture below) from Poland, and Rajeshwari from India.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuiP-r1k6Ko8F9dY1w2C7dLBzcx3yn1LJrFI9yCj8v_rdGiLdKt7G2qtZMtfy9EkyKsjBmCjgMC-MmXjmmTcGK5YyObJ4p-LiGf4PVvyE0RphapJX5Ozo5HA1imhdDlaL4quX524BoZQ/s1600-h/PB047364.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuiP-r1k6Ko8F9dY1w2C7dLBzcx3yn1LJrFI9yCj8v_rdGiLdKt7G2qtZMtfy9EkyKsjBmCjgMC-MmXjmmTcGK5YyObJ4p-LiGf4PVvyE0RphapJX5Ozo5HA1imhdDlaL4quX524BoZQ/s400/PB047364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264665156963357394" border="0" /></a>For our next session which is on the 18th of November, Godwilling, we'll be making a trip to Toyota Automobile Museum in Nagoya.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-2663866502013535302008-11-03T11:46:00.006+09:002008-11-04T13:19:54.892+09:00Malaysian ICT's Raya Open House'08<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliUgaaWrFzhAN4q9tmxwpIw52vMPQHw-FEsw9fBgcMNL-ahjPdeH7muFcrgwUIDu1vSjjtYtBuj50wRZZ3KBaWd6NiY7Nvtpq27RCpuo_-tzEp9-ydO7ZWBdFBFL8-KtULup18GsHSCU/s1600-h/PB017312.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliUgaaWrFzhAN4q9tmxwpIw52vMPQHw-FEsw9fBgcMNL-ahjPdeH7muFcrgwUIDu1vSjjtYtBuj50wRZZ3KBaWd6NiY7Nvtpq27RCpuo_-tzEp9-ydO7ZWBdFBFL8-KtULup18GsHSCU/s400/PB017312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264652157158598050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MXVDc9DY8OQ5ssRoF4STIaLMHHDOs84Ky8jYGiHa7vkEetc8GOZ0Y7KXx4InrXf7Wv-sIaWKcECKmOskNIA2_TnPSI3ywYYGD1yJi5OrO0rThox1VMYMjc6tFu2x6HczO5Q-5-_3Myo/s1600-h/PB017313.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MXVDc9DY8OQ5ssRoF4STIaLMHHDOs84Ky8jYGiHa7vkEetc8GOZ0Y7KXx4InrXf7Wv-sIaWKcECKmOskNIA2_TnPSI3ywYYGD1yJi5OrO0rThox1VMYMjc6tFu2x6HczO5Q-5-_3Myo/s400/PB017313.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264261561755718914" border="0" /></a>Last Saturday which was on the 1st of November, we had another round of a Raya open house...a belated celebration of sort with students and friends from and around Nagoya. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuPc2POmV57LR3EoIePIMesLwoVc5A0VTLtByUYtK69n5aTYY75zWKdr15NepeUABkeSppJX8rzh500P79K16Ogg5eM_1M2diBrL2e3lOFEvA3oCg-ou2D_UUkHPHH5EwpYG9TEzH9yI/s1600-h/PB017332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuPc2POmV57LR3EoIePIMesLwoVc5A0VTLtByUYtK69n5aTYY75zWKdr15NepeUABkeSppJX8rzh500P79K16Ogg5eM_1M2diBrL2e3lOFEvA3oCg-ou2D_UUkHPHH5EwpYG9TEzH9yI/s400/PB017332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264262054028226386" border="0" /></a>This time around, we were the host. It was a Nasi Beriani pot luck kinda party, with everyone of us did a dish and a dessert each. Zaharah did the rice, Zura and Ain did the Ayam Masak Merah, Kak Mimi with the Kurma Beef (I've forgot to take a picture of this...ooops!), and I was entrusted with the vegetables..I did both Pajeri Nenas and the Jelatah. As for the dessert, we had brownies with white chocolate toppings and sugar beads, trifle, kek batik, and Bubur Kacang Hijau with durian.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nHjowlL5C75imaarL1GDmZBw8YPO417LIRmegk0aZCJxkBCBjOPIxMOk7lqtI4IsRuGCeiTy_1GkGo6A04tvVjVyiHGYNtu2ZrCBpVdybL-Dw_G86FbrILLY0-NQ9zxnKGTt2WCsLKo/s1600-h/ict+raya%2708+foods.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nHjowlL5C75imaarL1GDmZBw8YPO417LIRmegk0aZCJxkBCBjOPIxMOk7lqtI4IsRuGCeiTy_1GkGo6A04tvVjVyiHGYNtu2ZrCBpVdybL-Dw_G86FbrILLY0-NQ9zxnKGTt2WCsLKo/s400/ict+raya%2708+foods.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264261557183014370" border="0" /></a> Others brought over boxes of mandarin oranges and kaki fruits to add to the menu. See the mandarin peel inside the box below! ..the guys were enjoying them at the park just outside the hall ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw0UWOlq6gziDMT7qQvsafKjK-IMZJ251ogIQcFg9B8UryNr2oC3tePrLMgZ5MdE32_GFFuwVZHAT2dZbMRhLn9kS7lIY-DvggD5ZRg4NOPvlDbxvJ_vkHcNFrpcTCHM0hB9bA0auIaI/s1600-h/PB017333.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw0UWOlq6gziDMT7qQvsafKjK-IMZJ251ogIQcFg9B8UryNr2oC3tePrLMgZ5MdE32_GFFuwVZHAT2dZbMRhLn9kS7lIY-DvggD5ZRg4NOPvlDbxvJ_vkHcNFrpcTCHM0hB9bA0auIaI/s400/PB017333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264262057597841490" border="0" /></a> All in all, it was a great party, with really really oishii-licious finger licking good foods and we all had fun! Very good teamwork and combination!!! These are some pictures taken during the event...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyHxzQ_2hwr89mwmdNvrTfUMGmtPZG6WL1IyQVUcVgF_gNmbkIvqajwIAL2qeLXZp12UCAE90bE-YH9nr9UT1FmLiAyl-wSWEV6IpNtCipdZFLm4qV9mzQB2YocgEQEn_Jzcv3-sTLNg/s1600-h/PB017326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyHxzQ_2hwr89mwmdNvrTfUMGmtPZG6WL1IyQVUcVgF_gNmbkIvqajwIAL2qeLXZp12UCAE90bE-YH9nr9UT1FmLiAyl-wSWEV6IpNtCipdZFLm4qV9mzQB2YocgEQEn_Jzcv3-sTLNg/s400/PB017326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264261571556733138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FMXu-FqJQlFDjlSOoWujp58I6GBfdxsbP8nyzSigpBemtLXR1OCXdJzVAilo1tKZoSmDIBOb9O6xk_ZJ3qYFOWp_GoptllZox02_k5vwULZWNmLY2I2R9YkQgKKO5nASuMvpBxhNtTs/s1600-h/PB017319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FMXu-FqJQlFDjlSOoWujp58I6GBfdxsbP8nyzSigpBemtLXR1OCXdJzVAilo1tKZoSmDIBOb9O6xk_ZJ3qYFOWp_GoptllZox02_k5vwULZWNmLY2I2R9YkQgKKO5nASuMvpBxhNtTs/s400/PB017319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264261563108658754" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQfChDedMdRrOTlx3r1Hs3pAS2e6wtDO_GGEjzZD7s_rwTI7JGAug-__A0i9GOF1YUSeXvN3zGyb8Ps6xjJiWA2XspYrglSNxMugM9tq-6gkBnZJNnvl0F4O-HgpCFwfNsAN5Zxu7lYk/s1600-h/PB017324.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQfChDedMdRrOTlx3r1Hs3pAS2e6wtDO_GGEjzZD7s_rwTI7JGAug-__A0i9GOF1YUSeXvN3zGyb8Ps6xjJiWA2XspYrglSNxMugM9tq-6gkBnZJNnvl0F4O-HgpCFwfNsAN5Zxu7lYk/s400/PB017324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264261567671245442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXUEnP2HJ_py57PIdXrBO5J0gnwx5TUM7Z7q7v5WDwMYJRS0cxffoX1XmShNHiyUr8yXT1nxesCNcF1tY2RwNBh-ybdx2GcwtN56Nuf0aTTw0XoLEhTmNu-r1Ai8DQUk90FXLXPjS4sM/s1600-h/PB017339.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXUEnP2HJ_py57PIdXrBO5J0gnwx5TUM7Z7q7v5WDwMYJRS0cxffoX1XmShNHiyUr8yXT1nxesCNcF1tY2RwNBh-ybdx2GcwtN56Nuf0aTTw0XoLEhTmNu-r1Ai8DQUk90FXLXPjS4sM/s400/PB017339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264262076824418002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpaiHaU5Z-D5gybooo_QUWKPORoUd_MLxPSfbakPjbLTLl58J7yiTIs5hOwZf9pvHCGjjRlhS0V7OMRK_9uVgxrIytlgRXJS9U1x434oUA7gQASkoGbMb_uhjzomE8g3tr18_SuTBA1Q/s1600-h/PB017340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpaiHaU5Z-D5gybooo_QUWKPORoUd_MLxPSfbakPjbLTLl58J7yiTIs5hOwZf9pvHCGjjRlhS0V7OMRK_9uVgxrIytlgRXJS9U1x434oUA7gQASkoGbMb_uhjzomE8g3tr18_SuTBA1Q/s400/PB017340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264262080791325106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES5Gi1xuJFDHd8eeA_wt-_N6gWALd1DFX01nlnEY14rLQIX3TshvhgUxUClZIV8hlevsBMimOfmtXMWf9bnOGKMl-QtaP3xCBhymTCzFZz6Xa9xjoBF1GHfTjTzDYa3T5rYytnCo8-S8/s1600-h/PB017338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiES5Gi1xuJFDHd8eeA_wt-_N6gWALd1DFX01nlnEY14rLQIX3TshvhgUxUClZIV8hlevsBMimOfmtXMWf9bnOGKMl-QtaP3xCBhymTCzFZz6Xa9xjoBF1GHfTjTzDYa3T5rYytnCo8-S8/s400/PB017338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264262065639904594" border="0" /></a>...and the party continued till it was dark. To fit in everyone, we did the party at the Ekaku Apartment Community Hall this time. We started at 1pm and ended at 8pm. By 8.30pm, I've got everything washed up and went straight to bed!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-22572247543097781292008-11-02T23:48:00.004+09:002013-04-04T22:12:59.221+09:00Najwan turned 4Last Wednesday (29th October 2008), we had a pot luck dinner celebrating Najwan's 4th birthday cum a welcome dinner for Hasmizie and family, a newly arrived Malaysian ICT.<br />
I was requested to cook chicken cashew nut again, so that was what they got from me. Here are some pictures during the party...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fyAnLcVVdTAdgUFfx4u9uRl9Vnvtl160_A3OQzNGOoe6YjpOlbSm2HztPal-CnJXhNzpVbttmL6a1XY0dOHjAH_HmEtIvaG8TlJnPnuX18ifSZZxZJDmMPOqWdIs7fUFQJhcihVx4g8/s1600-h/Najwan's+bday.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264077446270596546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fyAnLcVVdTAdgUFfx4u9uRl9Vnvtl160_A3OQzNGOoe6YjpOlbSm2HztPal-CnJXhNzpVbttmL6a1XY0dOHjAH_HmEtIvaG8TlJnPnuX18ifSZZxZJDmMPOqWdIs7fUFQJhcihVx4g8/s400/Najwan's+bday.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlcUtepX5XmzAVQqY7HpKqEb2aC7pM7SyfgV1qVyZBozXuDTYZVvG6m26CtgYovdqXxLcMfqjrFnarGpLt39nGJRGJW-yXHH_dJearjosH6_HC_oa1fQMd8_MF5eNHFrncaEciNwNaeg/s1600-h/PA297277.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264078103593701218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlcUtepX5XmzAVQqY7HpKqEb2aC7pM7SyfgV1qVyZBozXuDTYZVvG6m26CtgYovdqXxLcMfqjrFnarGpLt39nGJRGJW-yXHH_dJearjosH6_HC_oa1fQMd8_MF5eNHFrncaEciNwNaeg/s400/PA297277.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>and this is Umair watching TV on his rocking horse before the party...which is currently his new hobby!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fyAnLcVVdTAdgUFfx4u9uRl9Vnvtl160_A3OQzNGOoe6YjpOlbSm2HztPal-CnJXhNzpVbttmL6a1XY0dOHjAH_HmEtIvaG8TlJnPnuX18ifSZZxZJDmMPOqWdIs7fUFQJhcihVx4g8/s1600-h/Najwan's+bday.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a>Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-2416394385522331932008-11-02T23:00:00.008+09:002008-11-17T10:39:26.667+09:00Shirakawa -Gou, Japan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCb6xA-HR_J0Pf_4DeMOrOeBSoXKXq6WVePN7-y6vlMlhLiWVkEkLrKbJPGZ0ujVYPuQXUuBFmWLJ7d0AVn1Q9Aupe4Bnjr6DQJSmuclUorlXn8HvR0iM-TgYqZjwysB5gt5iY8VIfTs/s1600-h/PA257091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCb6xA-HR_J0Pf_4DeMOrOeBSoXKXq6WVePN7-y6vlMlhLiWVkEkLrKbJPGZ0ujVYPuQXUuBFmWLJ7d0AVn1Q9Aupe4Bnjr6DQJSmuclUorlXn8HvR0iM-TgYqZjwysB5gt5iY8VIfTs/s400/PA257091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264066621098541250" border="0" /></a>I was watching this TV programme one day when they showed this cluster of thatched roof houses..,and I thought they looked very pretty and unique. By chance a couple of weeks later, Nizam was scrolling down the internet on interesting places to visit in Japan and came across the site about these thatched roof village. Apparently, there are quite a few of this kind of village in Japan but we chose Shirakawa-Gou as it is the biggest in Japan.<br />It is situated in a remote mountain region, and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIy0-8U4kVRmn_Q2MBFDJ6VdZqPRrub1eOmKisXdXMA2BHGzSi2Vo-9Dl99Gsl1cWFf9Tsf1zxc1k6DMRnKzT6dqb8NLQKZv3QM2Ydm31RQ-j0M-mpFD9-anB35Jam2q9upSF8Si-7mw/s1600-h/PA257090.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIy0-8U4kVRmn_Q2MBFDJ6VdZqPRrub1eOmKisXdXMA2BHGzSi2Vo-9Dl99Gsl1cWFf9Tsf1zxc1k6DMRnKzT6dqb8NLQKZv3QM2Ydm31RQ-j0M-mpFD9-anB35Jam2q9upSF8Si-7mw/s400/PA257090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264066623274618530" border="0" /></a>It is famous for its gassho-zukuri thatched roof houses characterized by their almost 60 -degree steep roofs. This is to keep snow from accumulating heavily on the roof tops in winter. Shirakawa-Gou is one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan. So, on the 25th of October, we had a chance to make a day trip with Kak Mimi and family to the famous thatched roof village. Initially we planned to sleep over, but there was no vacancy at the local inn at all.<br />We had a nice stroll in the area, trying to feel how it was like living there back then some 300-400 years ago... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb2i3rlvDOdSIceFShvbt-XuHFHga9-5a-RNHBhKZi1x0RdSLEarFg8V0ZBwjm7Cr2_pB5iPcqJ5JmPUKSztIVBo8OdY5N1mNAoBaAUk8AI-cFcTXvAVeeU5bD8N3ZyEXBnJgBjQ1IgY/s1600-h/PA257188.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb2i3rlvDOdSIceFShvbt-XuHFHga9-5a-RNHBhKZi1x0RdSLEarFg8V0ZBwjm7Cr2_pB5iPcqJ5JmPUKSztIVBo8OdY5N1mNAoBaAUk8AI-cFcTXvAVeeU5bD8N3ZyEXBnJgBjQ1IgY/s400/PA257188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264066628768024482" border="0" /></a>In some houses, there are some descendants living there..,now making money from us visitors..,collecting fees to view the interior of their houses..!The view was breathtaking..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyF0zmE83Guw-SqCL2wJHZ80uSomzUJHi96-CkYDgCJ6Ke6oVGN0n_THLuP2Vq4TjGsAS6aiHyeyLzmpTuC_ZZoHVxCHveHF79ULn7BISyfF0QHFAP94sWx-Oif9X6Wbzp6xR9HF2B3Y/s1600-h/PA257271.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyF0zmE83Guw-SqCL2wJHZ80uSomzUJHi96-CkYDgCJ6Ke6oVGN0n_THLuP2Vq4TjGsAS6aiHyeyLzmpTuC_ZZoHVxCHveHF79ULn7BISyfF0QHFAP94sWx-Oif9X6Wbzp6xR9HF2B3Y/s400/PA257271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264067026446184706" border="0" /></a>,though my legs were screaming in pain covering the whole village on foot, it was all worth it! We had some beautiful pictures taken,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0BVXOtZXqyq1L3FkM_wFtwWNBE0qeX5g-CWA2qa8BM5cg-oSla_tQKPSlcqH19uxVrI9YeDTwEo0WSyTdGEx3pQT8_tCyvGp_DnORSRCELpIiuWFCqIfr1Mp8oTfb_TYEgwG3qIX5BA/s1600-h/PA257256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0BVXOtZXqyq1L3FkM_wFtwWNBE0qeX5g-CWA2qa8BM5cg-oSla_tQKPSlcqH19uxVrI9YeDTwEo0WSyTdGEx3pQT8_tCyvGp_DnORSRCELpIiuWFCqIfr1Mp8oTfb_TYEgwG3qIX5BA/s400/PA257256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264066635773692594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCsJpIq7iQyvns3SIsdEOb6YFcCjOhCszk548Ii9cqZmewHMrkmqsmfKK8Xih-e38jYwKBPUbEYGJ_ChgT2X3IBl_5jyL5GNqnyFutbZE9ItBGX4pmgKcoLetVffF1DB0xv-V5HCijfQ/s1600-h/PA257253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCsJpIq7iQyvns3SIsdEOb6YFcCjOhCszk548Ii9cqZmewHMrkmqsmfKK8Xih-e38jYwKBPUbEYGJ_ChgT2X3IBl_5jyL5GNqnyFutbZE9ItBGX4pmgKcoLetVffF1DB0xv-V5HCijfQ/s400/PA257253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264066632767576930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbNYirtZ9qQH2g85DHhl4dmM1pei2oJgjk-pq1s4w6WODV0PDrabdKTDebsuOEmNzo5soe8NdNALZcqspO7SCiuY0_c0-bI3oPzeR07IU9njV_lwv4tDoYWPzOwrgi5XVcU_uGXnKOyU/s1600-h/IMG_2247.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbNYirtZ9qQH2g85DHhl4dmM1pei2oJgjk-pq1s4w6WODV0PDrabdKTDebsuOEmNzo5soe8NdNALZcqspO7SCiuY0_c0-bI3oPzeR07IU9njV_lwv4tDoYWPzOwrgi5XVcU_uGXnKOyU/s400/IMG_2247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264067031280860594" border="0" /></a> and thanks to Kak Mimi who has a knack with the camera, we would forever engrave that lovely moment in our memory!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj412Z44iJRdpl4yqj4_ZoGNh1mON2v8q8y1XdzGux0LvCRKV1ZbW-P2Ra1UxApBISFiF-n4q2m0FG_-2JrKn201ROI2-PtAmWXrF8INfVeP7hHYOmAtfS9rVwuF3RFDuiC7_Sw3_fjGHc/s1600-h/IMG_2359.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj412Z44iJRdpl4yqj4_ZoGNh1mON2v8q8y1XdzGux0LvCRKV1ZbW-P2Ra1UxApBISFiF-n4q2m0FG_-2JrKn201ROI2-PtAmWXrF8INfVeP7hHYOmAtfS9rVwuF3RFDuiC7_Sw3_fjGHc/s400/IMG_2359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264067037089294978" border="0" /></a>Quote:-<br />From Toyota-Shi, train rides to Shirakawa-Gou is both expensive and difficult. If you were to take a train there, you have to get down at Takayama Station, and take a bus and make a U-turn to Shirakawa Gou. Train fare is 5000yen one way.<br />If you take a bus there..,you have to go to Nagoya first.Between Nagoya (<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1226885451_0">Meitetsu Bus Center</span> near <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1226885451_1">Nagoya Station</span>) and Shirakawa-go there is one bus per day. The bus is operated by Gifu Bus and runs only from April through November. The travel time is roughly three hours,<br />and the fare is 3500 Yen one way. The <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1226885451_2">Japan Rail Pass</span> is not valid on this bus.<br />The other option is you could also sign up for a package bus tour (with meal i think!)at the travel agency.Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170591475479860094.post-43503477179679197932008-10-29T17:20:00.002+09:002008-11-02T22:50:30.357+09:00Taiko Japanese Drum Performance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeTszr1G-VQ63yDLjXtXU-fYyUpIlqZE1qR-WcB0LLQDwMmIhsYGrfqSeXqZyD4jbCcMRBECLfLv31j8it6e-JM9sPiPGq0XHcUOYeFmiBR7Gg8BFkU1xI4Fw6lEKFkYhGT7UbgIlZ9c/s1600-h/Copy+of+PA217000.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeTszr1G-VQ63yDLjXtXU-fYyUpIlqZE1qR-WcB0LLQDwMmIhsYGrfqSeXqZyD4jbCcMRBECLfLv31j8it6e-JM9sPiPGq0XHcUOYeFmiBR7Gg8BFkU1xI4Fw6lEKFkYhGT7UbgIlZ9c/s400/Copy+of+PA217000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262488076600926626" border="0" />Taiko Japanese Drum performance in action by Asute Club. </a><br /><br />We had this opportunity to watch the performance during one of our Sakura Club sessions. Initially we got to watch them, then we were given the chance to experience playing it as well. It was fun watching them, absolutely not boring as when i used to watch the older men played 'rebana' back home in Kelantan. In Taiko, they dance while hitting the drum, and they move in unison! I loved watching them hitting the drum-highly energized though they were actually old uncles and aunties playing them!Asilahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018023312414833969noreply@blogger.com0