SCB KL International Marathon - 28th June 2009

Kudos to hubby for finishing his first ever marathon! Congratulations !
Me and Jasmine are so proud of you dear!

Thanks to All (Dad's Demise)

Salam to all friends and anyone who know me and my family.

On behalf of my mum and family members, I would like to thank all of you for the condolences poured out.  Some even texted me and called.  Praise be to Allah, especially for having all of  you as part of my journey during this hard time my family had to endeavour.  All in all, we redha for his demise. Ajal maut di tangan Allah. No one could ever against it.

He's gone....forever.......

Last Thursday night, 23rd April 2009,at around 7.20pm, dad has passed away....in his last wudhu' for Maghrib prayer, by mum's side.  Dad was not in ICU, not hospitalised as usual, but in a pink of health in the week of his demise.  According to mum, on the day itself, dad managed to run final errands including repairing my mum's shoes and picked up his few shirts from nearby laundrette(he did not want to bother mum to do ironing for him, mum is not very well lately). I still remembered the last time I called, dad kept asking(as if to assured himself) when I mentioned would return home this coming weekend.  Takde rezki nak jumpa...

I really could not scribble much.  I could not even be in his room!  There's still an old family album of all his kids when we were toddlers.  I even found my wedding's door gift kept nicely in his cupboard.  But mum is very strong, she said she feel grateful for what she had shared with dad. They grow old and grey together, spent more than fifty marriage's years together.  I know mum will miss dad a lot. So do I.

Dad, we missed you! May your soul rest within the solleh'ful soleh.  Al-Fatihah. 

Hj Abdul Aziz Ishak in memory

27 Rabiulakhir 1430H

1928 - 2009

 

RBC-Dexia Investor Services' Star's Nite

This is the very first annual dinner for RBC Dexia Investor Services in Cyberjaya office. Most of us had joined the company with less than a year. The longest is seven month(the first batch) and the least is two weeks!(the third batch of FA). But the Managing Director really cheers us up when he announces there will be bonus for all of us! As the whole group had performed for financial year 2008, the Cyberjaya office also included for bonus distribution!

Most of us dressed accordingly to the theme. The are Captain Jack Sparrow, Anakin Skywalker, Marilyn Monroe, Queen Amidala, James Bond, Batman n Robin, etc.

From all the pictures, can you guess who win the Best Dressed? It's me, in Queen Amidala character dress!  Hahaha

Happy Birthday Me!

Alhamdulillah, I get another year older last week. I still vividly felt in my college years back in States. But it was a decade ago! Time flies sooooo fast that I am now a wife and a mother to a lovely husband and a cheeky 4-year-old daughter. But anyway, I feel great being able to breathe HIS air and granted a healthy life so far. Hubby was the first person to wish me in the morning. Though it was through text messaging, but OK la...considering he gets to the office very early(I'm still in bed).

On this very day,the first thing happened to me was really unbelievable. After sending my girl to her montessori, I rushed to the nearby wet market with the intention to buy chicken. I intended to cook chicken rice to bring to the office. In my mind, I was thinking that things need to be done, especially the cooking, in fast mode as my shift starts around noon and it was already 9am. So it only left me with roughly two and half hours to cook, fetch my girl, send her to babysitter's house, then rushed to office. (To those who still doesn't know, I work with foreign investor services provider and the work only start around noon, just to match Luxembourg time zone).

Know what happened?I accidentally locked my car with the engine was still on! Hahaha....I'm getting forgetful on turning this new age! What a gift on my birthday!

Luckily, hubby's office is nearby, only in UK Heights, so I make the 'urgent' and 'rescue-me-please-dear' called to hubby. While waiting, I bought chicken and few ingredients for my chicken rice. When hubby arrived, he just smiled and handed me his spare key.

In the office, most of them had my chicken rice including my Business Expert aka BE. Estelle really liked it, saying this was first time she tried chicken rice in Malaysia. My shift ends around 9pm and to my surprise before heading home, my team members already bought a birthday cake from Secret Recipe! I was so thrilled that night. We had the cake together before leaving.

When I reached home, hubby said he did not have anything for my birthday only a slice of cake he bought on his way home from clientelle meeting. I said to him, I didn't really hope to get a present on my birthday because I felt quite old now. And my girl sang birthday song to me."Mama, eppi beday! Kakak nyanyi kay...Eppy beday to you...eppy beday to you...." With her soft and sweet voice, that is really an exclusive gift for me! Suddenly hubby went inside his study room and brought out a large paper bag. I screamend with excitement! Surprise, it was a handbag! " I always wanted a handbag dear!"(true, m not lying...hehhehehehhe)

Holidays & Cupcakes

It was a really tiring public holidays which were in a row recently. It was not any trip or journey we had during the holidays but the trip to the oven in our own kitchen. To add more, me and my husband were back and forth delivering the cupcakes order within Klang Valley during last christmas holidays. A day before christmas eve we already baked few hundreds cuppies for orders lining up on christmas eve and on christmas holiday itself. The orders for christmas eve came from TRHY's office. On christmas day, there were orders for Nurul and Ojie. Both were colleagues from former work place.(Thank guys for the support!)

Nurul's:

Luckily for us this 'hantaran' artist only wanted minimum order(25pieces) for herself. Usually Nurul ordered our cupcakes for her hantaran items.(will upload the hantaran cuppies la'er).

Ojie's:

She ordered few hundreds cuppies for majlis akikah and also for her birthday which falls on christmas day.(Happy Bday pal!) The majlis akikah was meant for her newborn, baby Azra Zafira. Here were few captions of the cuppies.

Packaging for Ojie's

Assorted cuppies

Close-ups on the designs

And managed to capture Ojie with Baby Azra. Sorry Jie, the quality wasn't good as the baby was in her baby swing and I was hurrying; rushing back to prepare for my cousin's daughter birthday party that after noon.

Hurried back home then to decorate for Arissa's birthday cake; my cousin's daughter. I baked the cake the night before but kept aside for the icing deco as I wanna concentrate on the main orders. Actually it was my husband birthday too as both share the same birth date. So I need to decorate two choc cakes.

Back from the party, la'er in the evening we baked another cupcakes. This order need to be delivered the next day and from Lily, another TRHY's officemate. Lily wanted a custom-made cuppies for her father's birthday. Her father is an adventurous type, likes golfing, surfing, and trekking. When it comes to any custom-made design, it is always be my husband who will get his hand at work. Usually the cartoon character on our cupcakes is his signature.

So now, do you agree we had a tiring holiday? Anyway we had a good stress therapy by looking at the colorful assorted cuppies we made!

Reached Half-Decade Mark!

Praise be to GOD!

Half-a-decade! That's something. Yup, it's our anniversary!

On last 29th November marked our fifth anniversary. I am truly grateful with this marriage. Blessed with one three-year old girl, we learn more of our roles and responsibilities. Everyday is special with a lot of things to explore and experience. Off course we experience our ups and downs along the trails.

It's totally a different life phases between my single life and my marriage life. Before, I would always stayed back in the office, and only came back around 9pm. With my housemates, we always watched mid-nite movies at a nearby 'cheap' cinema or watched any dvds until wee morning; and woke up late on the weekends. Came public holiday, I always rushed back to my hometown to be with my parents.

But now as a wife and mother, everyday I would try to finish my work on time and rush home. I become more organized, focus and occupy with my tasks. I would say it's a pretty balance life. During my early marriage, we still had the mid-nite movies but with our girl now, it's kinda hard to leave her behind(for someone to babysit),even to attend a dinner function. If it's really a wedding reception of a very good friend, then we might opt that only one of us could attend the function. Other than that, we might rsvp nicely not to attend and choose to stay home instead.

Holidays means three of us going together. No such thing as leaving my girl at my in-laws or my parents to babysit while we were away. True, a couple must always find a time being together, being a way for the two of them without any kids trail behind. Maybe when my girl grow up and choose not to follow us, then only it's time for us to have holiday as a couple again. But for now, it's really heartwrenching not to bring her along.

But all in all, I'm grateful to GOD to have a good husband, indeed a very understanding soulmate for our journey together! Love you dear!

Episode/s

My 'episode' in one of local financial institutions lasted last week.  It had been a very wonderful memorable phases of my life working there; being surrounded by good friends, but a very stagnant growth in career path.  I know that I need to move, but keep on postponing because of a very comfortable niche until a headhunter called and insisted to forward the cv to him. Knowing me, (still procrastinate); being too lazy to update my cv.  For me it was like filling up the KPI which highlighted the utmost responsibilities but in the end, though you are high achiever and exceed the targetted performance, you'll still be considered on target (or on average).  It's always the ones who does less and 'taichi' his job to others get the exceeded performance which is soooo unfair!

Anyway, I did update the cv.

Surprisingly, I had been called for interview. Maybe it was just my lucky star.  Went thru first interview, and I did not really hope being shortlisted.  For me, I just wanted to check what my 'marked-to-market' is. It had been quite sometimes after the interview when they invited me for next interview.  This time, it was a teleconference interview with overseas interviewers.  Still, I did not put too much hope on it but did study and brushed off a little bit on technical aspects .  I did not mind not  offered the job but I do mind if I look 'stupid' during interview session.

Two days after the interview,  the company called and offered me the job.  It was then that I realised I need to bite that dust since opportunity may knock once on my door. And I am quite worry working in the comfort zone would hinder me from a good career path outside the shell.

Now, here I am in a foreign bank in Malaysia, just started last Monday.  Hope this new 'episode/s' would grant me better opportunities and satisfaction for my career path. 

 

I'M BACK!

"I am back!" - (Courtesy of Arnold Schwarzenegger - Terminator)

It had been such a long time after my last post here.  All because I have problem with posting image in the blog since May 2008.  What a blog without a picture right?  Really frustrated, since then I had not updated this blog.

But today, when I unintentionally check  my blog, voilla! The image attachment icon is there! Yippie! So, pals, just wait for my next entry ya...D:)

Brb!

Happy Mother's Day!

Ayah: Happy
Jasmine: Eppy
Ayah: Mother's
Jasmine: Maders
Ayah: Day, Mama
Jasmine: Day....mama....
Ayah: Happy Mother's Day, Mama!
Jasmine: Eppy Maders Day Mama!(Chuckled)
Jasmine: I Luv U!

That were the most beautiful things ever happened to me on last mother's day. Hubby teached Jasmine to wish me and she utterred word by word with full enthusiasm. On the special day, I just wanted to had ice-cream with my family! And it turned out my sweet,lovely Jasmine had her biggest share on our ice-cream.

Anyway, Happy Mother's Day to all mother out there, especially to my MUM and MIL!

Boza's blog...

Last few days I accidentally found my long time friend, thru blogging! Who says blogging is wasting time? Not at all for me!

My friend, Boza, which we used to called her during MRSM years, really had very cool blogs. She blogs about her life as a stay-at-home mum with three cute girls and a baby girl, her family going places, and the coolest blog is 'jabishahinthekitchen' which I feel in love constantly with.:D Not only me, my office mate, Leen also give credit to her 'kitchen' blog. As Leen favorite channel is AFC, she found out Boza's blog is her TV's escapade for a while.

Yes, Boza,(if u r reading this), you really deserve the best credit rating from all food craving bloggers like me. I realised, sometimes now at work, I would slip for a while and check your blog. And not to forget, you really have the cute assistants who tag along with their mummy in the kitchen. Really can't imagine how you could cope and manage being a stay-at-home mum. A salute to you my dear friend!

Mummy's Brain

Lately, I found out I always misplaced my belonging like keys, wallets,watches, and other trivial stuff. And to make matter worse, I could not recall where I placed those things. I also forget things easily. Just last week before going out, I asked Jasmine to take shower but I was supposedly instruct her to wear her shoes. Last month,I forgot to bring my girl's disposable diapers for few days in a row!

For my surprised, I could not recall things as I usually could. Usually my husband would ask my assistance in recalling things that he forgotten, and he always take advantage on me as his 'memory box'. For example, he always 'used' me to recall things especially people names whenever we bump into during function i.e wedding reception, movies, mall and even at pasar malam or pasar tani. I am far more organised than him. Sometimes I could help him to recall and lead back his mind to where he put the keys, handphones,wallets. And I am so proud of being able to recall on almost anythings! Sometimes I made fun of him for unable in recalling things(only small stuff, important things like Jasmine's appointment and his work stuff he always remember). But now, he cannot count on me anymore! What a relief!

No! Actually it's sad for gradually loosing this bit of GOD's gift to me. Not many people could recall things effectively. Some may only recognise people faces but forgot the names, but I could recall both.

To my relief, I found out that these happen to all the mothers like myself. It's about motherhood. So, all mums out there, please bare with these symptoms as this is only temporary. Expert says the life of a new mother. Some experience it right after giving birth, but some like me, experience it a bit later. And expert also says this happens when mum is too handful with managing household, child, and the career at one time. Maybe it's true. And I really hope this forgetfulness might vanish for once!

Travelog,Bali (Nov 13,2007)

Nov 13,2007 - Tour Day II

The first part of the day, we mingled in Kuta. The first thing caught our eyes was DVD store. We managed to have loads of DVD's pirates copies .Hehe....Per copy was around RM2! and it drove us really crazy! Among our catch were new movies, tv series and not to forget your own copies which you yourself handpicked them.

After that, we stopped at the beach. We observed that many 'mat saleh' were carrying their surf boards to the open beach. Kuta beach is well known for sea-surfing, maybe because of the good tides. Well, I really don't know why. Even the glaring sun never hinders these 'mat saleh' from surfing.

Kuta Beach

We took some pictures at the beach before wandering about the shops and outlet nearby. Fast food restaurants like Pizza Hut, McDonalds was situated within walking distance from the hotels there. It was very convenient. We bought HRC t-shirts,Crocs, printed Bali's t-shirts, and few souvenirs. This time, Ayah managed to have his sandal size at Crocs outlet.

Done lingering around Kuta beach area, the driver drove us to Super Nova(it was like Mydin store) as Ayah wanted to buy few Indonesian songs. For original DVD, it was only RM15 per copy. Ayah then happily bought Dewa, Nidji, Radja and few others (which I don't really know the band and singers). You were so cranky and after had your milk, you dozed off in the car. While in the car waiting for Ayah, a mean beggar knocked the window. She was still young, age around 10 I guess, and she was with her kid sister. Pitied her but we had been warned not to entertain the street beggars as it will attract few others running begging after us. After few times knocking the window and failed to distract my attention, they left.

From Super Nova, the driver drove us to the famous mall, Galleria Mall. It was next to Planet Hollywood. The mall has two entrance, one is DFS(Duty Free Shop) and the other is local shopping mall. We didn't buy anything from DFS. All items were tagged with USD priced, and were very very expensive! The other entrance of the mall placed the leather outlets, boutiques, electrical goods, cafe and restaurants. The cafe and restaurants were at the mezzanine floor. We found the famous donuts, JCo, there too! and few minang restaurants. Surprisingly, it was a surau situated at the corner of the parking lot.

Around 2pm, we left for Tanah Lot. It took us one and half hour to reached there. Tanah Lot was famous for its coastal temple. Perched on a rocky outcrop at the sea's edge, the temple's only accessible to the Hindus. It was a tourist attractions for its sunset scenic view but we did not stay until sunset as we wanted to catch the Uluwatu sunset instead. The temple silhoutted against the setting sun. At the foot of the rock, is the spring of holy water. The driver told us that the holy water tastes like tap water though it is at the coastal verge. We didn't join with other hordes of tourist to taste the water as we needed to queue up. After all, we needed to rush to Uluwatu which was at the south tip of Bali; and it was another two-hour drive from Tanah Lot.

Tanah Lot Temple

Uluwatu offers natural environment, beautiful beaches and great ocean view from the hill. Uluwatu Temple,the sacred temple, situated on high cliffs and is inundated with monkeys. These monkeys, considered 'sacred' and highly honoured by residents roamed freely around the compound. Being vey used with human, totally unshyly got the habit of snatching water bottle, hat or anything that is not tied down. Some tourists would gladly offered food like snacks in order to distract the monkeys. There was a scene when an assaulted tourist screamed after her hat been snatched by a monkey.

In Uluwatu, we watched 'kecak dance and firedance' in the temple complex. We paid 50,000Rupiah for entrance. Kecak dance is the most unique Balinese dance as it is not accompanied by gamelan but by the choir of the seventy men. The name derived from the ranting 'cak,cak,kecak,kecak' throughout the one hour performance. The sunset view was very magnificient. The cliffs are 50 meters high, I guess, and the water below is brilliant blue! After that, we had a sea-food dinner by the beach at Jimbaran.

Sunset at Uluwatu

At the beach, you were busy 'sand bathing'! You played, poured and showered the sand! And did not even bother to eat which gave me and Ayah good times savouring the tasty seafood. It was first ever candle light dinner for me and Ayah by the beach, under the moon light! We really enjoyed the food though we could not finish all.

With full stomach, we left Jimbaran and headed to Kuta. Again! But this time we headed for Aromatherapy Massage for whole body massaging. The staff voluntered to babysit you, but your loud wailed made me stop after half-way massaging. Ayah completed the session without any interruption. I continued the session later after taking you to sleep. The session ended around midnight and we left to our hotel after that.

That night we really had a good sleep. We checked out the next morning and after had breakfast, we left to Ngurah Rai airport. All in all, our holiday was an enjoyable one with lots of pictures taken for our memories!

Travelog, Bali (Nov 12, 2007)

Nov 12, 2007 - Tour Day I

To view the map in detail, kindly visit:http://www.baliguide.com/bali_map.html

We started the day at 8am, had breakfast at the hotel. It was already bright and sunny at that time. The sun sets at around 6:15am and by 7:30am it is already hot(off course, as their island is nearer to Khatulistiwa). As usual, you did not want to have anything except scramble egg but I managed to feed you with fried nasi goreng. Before deciding to have meal at the hotel, Ayah took the effort to ask about the food prepared. Taking into consideration that the population is 90% Hindus and most of the food served and prepared non-halal way, we were very particular about the food. Luckily, the waitress told us, they only served and prepared halal food as most of their visitors are Muslim, mostly from Middle East.

We started our tour at 9am. We rented a small car including the driver which costs us 350,000Rupiah/day.

The driver, Madek, took us to Barong Dance which was 30 minutes away from Legian. They said, when you are in Bali, in order for you to understand the culture, it is advisable to watch at least one dance show.

This mythical dance was about good versus evil. Barong is a character of mythical half man half-dog, lion-creature with bulging eyes. Barong is the "Lord of the Forest" and magical protector of Balinese villages. The opponent is Rangda, the evil witch. The Barong dance epitomize the eternal struggle between good and evil. The background music is gamelan, it rings madly and intensely when both creatures fought ferociously. I did not really concentrate on the show as you were moving around, back and forth, lying on the floor, and also move from one chair to another. Luckily, Ayah chose the back seat and there were not many people at the back then. You did not really interested with the show, none of it amused you! So do I, my dear!hehehehhe...I think only Ayah attentively watched with awe.

The show - not really good caption.

With the dancers. One of them whispered we needed to pay them after picture taken. Gross!

After the show, Madek drove us to Ubud, the northern part of Bali where the climate is a bit cooler. Ubud is known as cultural heart of Bali. Every village that we passed has its own art's specialty, be it silver, batik painting, art painting, sculpture or carving. Different village had different traits. The people were very articulate with the hand-work. As Ayah put it that they do not even had an art degree for the good arts inherited. We did not buy anything from the art shop as most of the items were quite pricey. Ayah bargained for the painting he liked but did not manage to get with the price he wanted, and decided to buy from other places later. It turned out that the good painting was only in Ubud, and not elsewhere. Poor Ayah!

The road to Ubud.

Next we dropped at Ubud Market, where we happily did our shopping. You really had a good time running here and there in the market. Most of the items were very cheap compared in Legian, or Kuta. Imagine a piece of silk(silk pareo that matched with kebaya) only costed 150,000Rupiah equivalent to RM60. Here, those kind of silk is around RM120 the cheapest,RM300++ the most! Among the things we bought were carvings, silk pareo,home ornaments, fridge magnets, your decorated pencils and beaded slippers for souvenirs. What a retail therapy for us!

Entrance to Ubud Market. Check the jovial faces!

We spent our time for almost two hours in the market. We could not find any 'promisable' restaurant nearby for lunch and Ayah decided that we had quick lunch in the car. Me and Ayah only gobble bread and biscuits. You had instant "Nature's Own" porridge and milk instead . Tired, you dozed off in the car after the meal. Then, we headed to Lake Batur. On the way, we stopped to view the padi terrace down the cliff. Madek told us, the terrains were mannedly kept. Only Ayah hopped from the car and snapped some pictures closer to the cliff. The 'greenery' really soothing to the viewers.

The mannedly padi field.

The scenic drive over a small roads overlooking beatiful rice terraces brought us to the mountain village of Kintamani which about 5,000ft above the sea. It offers spectacular views of Lake Batur and volcano. According to Madek, one could cross the crater lake below the still active Mt Batur and visited the village. There were a number of backpacker tourists that visited the village before.

The active volcanic mountain.

Mt Batur and the crater lake, Lake Batur. Can you spot the village below the mountain?

After that, we stopped at the coffee plantation where Ayah bought few packets of 'Bali Coffee'. You were still sleeping at the time we arrived at the 'secret' plantation. Why did I say that? We could not recognised the entrance to the plantation as the gate was closed. Only the tourists guide or the drivers would notice the place, and if the tourists wanted to stop by then they would pull over. There was a plaincloth man guarded the gate and would only open it when the driver 'signalled' to drop by. When he opened the gate, it was quite a big parking space for the visitors which could not be seen when the gate closed. Only Ayah and Madek hopped from the car and made a tour about the plantation. According to Ayah, there was a hut where they showed how the coffee bean been fried and pounded. Then coffee would be served to tourists. Beside coffee, cocoa also been planted there.

Tourist enjoying the fresh coffee at the plantation.

You woke up before we left the plantation. Right after that we headed back to Denpasar and on our way back, we stopped at Tampak Siring to visit Tirta Empul, the temple with holy water shrine. Next to the temple, was the presidential palace with modern architecture.

Ayah asked Madek to drive us to Bali's Bakery and then to Wong Solo for the dinner. We did buy some cookies, bread and few pastries and they were quite pricey indeed. We also bought few cuisine for Madek and family. Ayah pitied him, as we did not stop anywhere for lunch and as a result he could not have his lunch too.

We had our dinner at Wong Solo. We ate as if we broke fast during first day of Ramadhan month, really starving! We ordered five dishes for the dinner. The food was so good, even you finished your plate of rice with a bowl of 'sayur asem' soup. When we got back, it was only 9pm and after we cleaned ourselves, we went out again. We strolled along the narrow lane and checked out few designers' boutique. I had a pair of Birkenstork's sandal! To Ayah's dismay, the store did not have his size of the preferred sandal. It always hard to find an oversize shoes or sandal for Ayah. Usually, if the store has, then it always be the expensive one for him. What an expensive feet!

Travelog, Bali (Nov 11, 2007)

My Dear Jasmine,

You, Mama, and Ayah had our first overseas trip together when you were 2yrs+, and it was an 'advance' 4th wedding anniversary for Mama and Ayah. This is just a momento for you, since I believed you will be reading this log which I do not know when. So, happy reading my gal!

Nov 11, 2007 - Departure day

We had our brunch at Desa Melawati, near 7-Eleven after fetching up Mama Tok, Ayah Ngah and your cousin,Abang Eric. Abang Eric didn't even know the three of us will be having vacation, instead he assumed that all of us were sending Ayah off to Bali for business trip as usual. Since Mama Tok was still around, Ayah decided to left the car with her(while we were on holidays), and she could drive around nearby(she decided to visit your cousin, Erja). As LCCT was 65km from our place and Ayah didn't want Mama Tok to drive back that far, Ayah Ngah came to rescue. On the way to LCCT, you vomitted and Ayah then stopped at PLUS rest area after KLIA toll booth.

Two days before that you had mild fever and luckily we managed to bring you to your usual paed. That night your body temperature rose and you really had high fever. I felt guilty, doubt, and even confused whether to bring you along to Bali with your condition, but Ayah reassured that you would be ok. A day after, your body temperature came back to normal, but you had the flu, vomitted and 'merengek' all the time. It was your cousin, Baby Syamil's 'cukur jambul' function in Shah Alam and only Ayah attended. We wanted to give you full day rest before departure the very next day. Around 6pm, when we felt you were a bit better, we went for Zuhayr's birthday party cum raya-open-house in Melawati nearby our house.

In LCCT, after check-in, we mingled with Mama Tok, Ayah Ngah, and Abang Eric for a while before they left. Abang Eric was a bit confused why the three of us check-in. It was then he acknowledged we were having our vacation, and not sending Ayah off for usual business trip. Excitedly, he insisted to bring him along next time we were having holidays.

With Mama Tok and Abang Eric at the LCCT.

We boarded the plane, AirAsia and it took off at 16:50pm as scheduled. In the flight, mostly were Malaysians and few foreigners. Expectedly, there were 'Indons' as well. We were heading to their motherland and no doubt we could find them in the same flight. These 'Indons' I guessed the same foreign worker group who 'helped' out our country with labour shortage problem. They didn't look like the 'expats', and that's why the pathethic me considered them belong to the group.

The three-hour flight journey was very stressful for you. You sat still for not more than five minutes! You were busy with rolling up and down the window panel the first half an hour, and the crew had to remind us for not bothering with the panel while taking off. Oh Dear! What should they expect for a toddler your age to understand that. I, myself still do not get it until now why we should roll up the window panel while taking off. Restless, you urged us to carry you along the isle to and fro. "Ma, ukunggg la....",that was what you said over and over until I picked you up and went strolling along the isle. We had no choice but to obey as we did not want other passengers got annoyed with your loud scream. After few rounds, Ayah took his turn to entertained you. We did colouring together, doodling, 'sticker' game and reading your story books in order to distract you, hoping you could sit still.

Strolling along the isle.
Among the activity to entertain you.

Not really a pleasant view from our seats.

We arrived Denpasar at 19:40pm as scheduled. Upon arriving, the people from the hotel we booked earlier had already been waiting for us. Off he drove us right away to our hotel, Bali Sorgawi, situated in Legian. Legian is just 20 minutes away from Denpasar and 10 minutes away from Kuta.

After check-in hotel, we had our dinner at the nearby 'Padang' stall. As usual, you only had boiled eggs. Ayah really 'struggle' to finished off the food. He had no choice than to chew the food. Then we strolled along the very narrow lane(though it's two-lane) and only one car could pass on each lane at a time. We passed by few designer boutiques but unlucky for us most were already clossed. Finally that night we managed to check out the massage outlet and had our foot pampered. The masseurs were really good at their work and also nice. They managed to entertain you as well. All matter to Ayah and me, was that we had a very good relaxing foot massage. We paid 50,000Rupiah for the service, and that was our first activity in Bali.

Jasmine with Veil.....

Lately, Jasmine like to be clad in veil. People says picture tells all. Above are few pictures of her, posing with her favourite veil.

Happy Anniversary!

GOD's the most gracious! Happy fourth to us!

Happiness Has Been Your Gift to Me
All these years of melody and pain,Pleasure, hardship, wanton rhapsody,Pure delight and hard, wind-driven rain.

Years do not add up to love and glory:All things rest on non-things far more true.

No note is so sustained throughout our story;Nothing but your love, and mine for you.

In our lives must always be confusion:Very little lost in Time is clear.

Even so, the whirlwind's an illusion.

Regarding the few things we hold most dear.

So you have chosen me, and in that choice.

Alone I find my refuge and my voice.

Reality is made by our own will:

You made my world and hold me in it still.

by Barry Taylor at Turlough O'Carolan.

Cupcakes Anyone?

Hehehehehhe....Started as a hobby...saje suke2, then I got few orders came in. Initially it was from my officemate, but now, orders come from others too....thanks to 'words of mouth advertisement', especially my boss, KZ, and our close friends.

Here are few captions on the cuppies we(me and my husband) customised according to the clients' needs and functions.

What a small world!

Last fortnight, my husband delivered the cupcakes order to a friend of his friend in Bukit Jelutong. The order was meant for kiddos' birthday. It turned out his friend's husband is my long time friend. Her husband is a family friend to my husband's friend, W. I knew P since our college time in Kuantan. While in US, P, studied at the neighbouring county where my colleagues and I bought 'halal' meat from his place.

P passed over his business card to my husband and few days back I gave him a call. Thru him, I found another good friend, A, whom I knew since MRSM years. P knows A since they work under the same company. It was almost 10 years since the last time we contacted each other. All I know that A is married and had been travelling around following the F1 team, collaboration between his company and Sauber.

Wondered what A is up to now, I emailed him, just to say hi to a long lost friend. To my surprise, he called me, and we seemed so 'busy' catching up each other stories. A then updating me with other circle of friends.

What a small world! I really meet my friends again! Praise be to ALLAH for this great moment! And it also reminds me not to be 'unkind' and 'cruel' to people as you may meet the same people again later in your lives.

Perforated Duodenal Ulcer

That's the term the doctor mentioned to us on last Saturday, 3th November 2007, and basically it's:

"What is a peptic ulcer? A peptic ulcer is a hole in the gut lining of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. A peptic ulcer of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer; of the duodenum, a duodenal ulcer; and of the esophagus, an esophageal ulcer. An ulcer occurs when the lining of these organs is corroded by the acidic digestive juices which are secreted by the stomach cells."

My dad had been complaining stomach pain right before raya and his health had been deteriorating since then. GP only suspected gastric problem as my dad already had it and had been prescribing usual medicine. But last Friday, he asked my mum to bring him to Putra Medical Centre as he could not bare the pain anymore. (Me, brothers and sisters headed back to Alor Setar once being informed his admission.)

The specialist who attended him performed the endoscopic procedure at once. A flexible tube is inserted through the mouth to inspects the stomach, esophagus and duodenum.The result showed that my dad had ulcer in the stomach and he has a big hole in the duodenum. Duodenum is part of the peptic in our body. In other word, his duodenum already worn out! But the most scary thing is, his chance of surviving is very slim. The doctor needed to perform operation in order to save his life. Before the operation, the doctor explained the consequences we might face. Considering his age(my dad already 80yrs old), the chances of surviving in the operation is 50%. But if we put the operation on hold, his conditions will getting worse and we do not want to see him suffer the illness much longer. We have no choice but to agree with the operation and 'tawakal' to Allah.

I haven't seen my mum been so worried than before. Worst still, she cried and blamed herself for not believing my dad. She told us that dad had been complaining the pain to her for quite some times, yet she still assumed it was just normal gastric. Watching the nurses pushed my dad to the operation theater, she said to my elder sister,KI, " Mak rasa bersalah sangat tapi Mak redha dengan ketentuan Allah. Semoga Allah bagi keputusan yang terbaik untuk Bapak." We(me and KI) tried hard to hold our tears. We told her to be strong and mum could count on us should anything happen.

The operation went well for almost 3 hours. We thanked Allah for it and the most important thing, my dad survived the operation! Even though he was in ICU after the operation, he didn't have to use any life support as he was half conscious after the operation. He only needed to 'puasa' for few days. After five days in ICU, and showing no major complications, they transfered my dad to normal ward. Alhamdulillah! Praise be to Allah!

Now, still warded, our du'a is only for his speedy recovery. We are hoping, especially my mum, that dad will be discharged soon.