Last weekend ...

... was Jaden's last Friday in school before he gets a 2 week Raya break. His school had the break earlier a week compared to other local school schedule as his teacher had to leave for Europe. Well, guess when the others are enjoying their second week of Raya break, Jaden has to go back to school again as his class will resume earlier.

... Hubby left for Bangkok. Everybody that knows him would know what a big Liverpool fan he is and the only reason he went to Bangkok was for Liverpool's preseason tour and Bangkok was the last leg of that tour schedule. So, two weeks before the game, Hubby bought his stadium ticket, flight and hotel. Other than watching football, he went around shopping for his two children. He bought quite a number of clothes for Jaden and the coming baby. 

... my parents came over from Penang to keep Jaden and I company while Hubby was away so everybody will have a peace of mind since I am pregnant and everybody is concerned if I could handle Jaden all alone by myself for 4days 3nights. My parents stayed until Sunday and it felt so good that they were here. My mother really went into automated mode of cleaning up and making sure the house was spic and span. She took over all my duties, including bathing, feeding and looking after Jaden while all I needed to do was sit around and relax and plan where to bring them to for meals. My father was in charge of entertaining the grandson. How wonderful is that right? They had to leave on Sunday as my father had early morning work the next day, so that leaves both Jaden and I alone for that night.. only that night but we made it through! :)

Jaden's classmate and his mom came over on Monday afternoon for a short playdate, which started out as a fight over puzzles as no one wants to share but everything turned out good in the end. Both boys were actually playing 'chase' with each other around the whole house, which is something rare among our boys when it comes to social play. YAY to that! 

and later that night, both Jaden and I drove to the airport and picked up the big one.. and the whole clan is re-united again after being 4days apart. It just feels so good to have the big one home... :)

Chinese New Year 2011

... this year just was not something what I expected.

I, sort of, instead of looking forward to this one festive season which I loved so much because it means 'family meetings, laughter and family gossips together' just was not there.

Every year, ever since I got married, I missed my northern Perlis tradition of the Loo family getting together, us, cousins on one table while the elderly on the other eating away the scrumptious meal the wives of the Loo's family put together.

Then we will either settle into playing fireworks or grouping upstairs to have a mini gambling sessions comprising of RM0.20 onwards.

The scramble in the morning to get ready in time to go to our grand-aunty's house to meet up with the rest of the family, and then back to the youngest uncle's house for lunch and the eldest uncle trying to sing us deaf!

The house visits of my mom's side -first uncle/aunty to the last aunty in the Tan clan. The food served on the table, ever so inviting.. *sigh* the laughter, the pressuring questions for the young ones going into college, or those who are not married yet or those who have not have children, seeing them squirm looking at each other for help to escape the grilling of the elderly. Twas' was fun!

If only I learnt to appreciate all those years while I could.. now, married into the Yap clan, its a totally different whole new aspect to me. Its as if, this festive season is just another weekend -just a longer weekend than usual.. There is no such closeness compared to my side of the family and I really hope Jaden won't grow up in such an environment. It sucks not to have such close bond.

I may not be sharing the same blood but I am loved and cared for much more than those that claimed blood runs thicker than water.

Somehow, I feel very lonely this Chinese New Year. It doesn't help with the gloomy weather and the lack of festive cheer, or maybe its because we grew up and these things just does not give an impact compared to when we were kids?

If Chinese New Year is going to be like this from now onwards, I have better make plans for all my future Chinese New Year to come. Why consider to celebrate with people who don't really give two hoots about family? My resolution for 2012 Chinese New Year is to bring Jaden home with me to Penang / Perlis to celebrate with my side of the family instead.

Call me rude, call me ungrateful, but its just not nice celebrating this one happy festive season in KL. It sucks big time!

-= 2 0 1 1 =-

For the very first time, it is just me and Jaden spending New Year at home.

Best to keep him far from all the car and firework fumes.

Luckily we are still able to see bits of fireworks display from our balcony from the safety of the grills and he absolutely was fascinated by it.

Happy New Year.

May 2011 be better than 2010.

Happy Holidays everyone ~

Wishing all of you Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year!!!

Best Wishes,
~bubbliems~

Paradiso

Hubby had a week-long job to do in Kota Kinabalu last week and I decided to want to join him there once his work is done since I have not been to that side of Malaysia before.

It was my first time flying with Jaden for almost 2.5hrs over the South China Sea, which I prayed he behave and well, he did. Almost.


*sigh*

Hubby was already waiting for us at the lobby when we arrived. Our plane was delayed on the runway for about 5 minutes and that really changed the timing. First they pushed my flight back from 12pm to 2pm and that, I was already not pleased since half my day planned to explore the resort grounds were gone.


I bought the cab fare tix from the airport cab service and that costs me RM30, a 5-10 minutes ride away from the airport. Cutthroat I tell you! Anyway, well, it was a sight to behold when I reached the hotel room. The view was not something that I like but since they put Hubby up in the room with partial view of the sea and Tanjung Aru area, it was quite breathtaking. We had the greens and the sea..






Hubby asked the front desk to change him to a non-smoking room on the day we, mother and son arrived. Hubby just couldn't wait to pounce on Jaden and play with him. The big fella sure missed his little monster lots! *jealous*





We headed down for dinner at about 630pm and it was already dark. It felt like it was already 8pm++. Dinner for the first night was at the hotel's Boleh cafe. We had the Asian-fusion buffet costing about RM100++ per pax. What to do, hotel price and we were just all too tired to plan where to go out of the hotel grounds.

After dinner, Hubby took Jaden and I for a night stroll by the marina and the pool side. It was all so quiet, the lights reflecting off the water.. it was beautiful. So relaxing!

We woke up the next morning at about 9am, bathed and went down for breakfast at about 10am. Luckily they only close the breakfast table at 1030am. We managed to stuff ourselves silly with breakfast while a little Korean boy came over to make friends with Jaden. With those small slit eyes and a big smile on his face, Hubby addresses the boy as the United Nations boy. He was just so friendly, going table to table, smiling and waving his hands.








We went up to the room after breakfast to pack for the island hopping trip and went down to the marina and bought out tickets to just one island. Well, if Jaden was not on this trip, I am sure I would have wanted to go three island hopping but with Jaden coming along this trip, it was wise to go just one and not be greedy.

I opted for Manukan island because I read up on the other islands and read about how the monitor lizards roam freely and I just didn't want to go through some unforseen circumstances. Its better to play safe when you have a kid with you.

It was Jaden's first open air speedboat ride into the open sea. He sure did love the sea breeze on his face as the motorboat sped all the way to the island. We paid RM3 each, both Hubby and I when we entered the island. It was for some island conservation fee. Children under 4 is for free.


The island, that day, was rather filled with people. Anyway Manukan island has another resort on it where one can opt to stay on the island overnight or something like that. Its owned by the Sutera Harbour management. We found a shaded area, next to the lifeguard post.



I applied the trusty SPF50++ on Jaden all over, changed him into his beach clothes and just before I let him enter the sea water, I went to check the sea for jellyfish and sea urchins. To be honest, I am really fearful of these jellyfish stings, especially when its on a little boy like mine. Look around, nothing, safe -and then it was tiem to bring the boy out of his comfort zone under the shade.



Like a putera lilin, he squirmed and even shout out for his father for help when I carried him down to the waters but all cries disappear once his feet touched the water. It was fun, fun, fun all the way for him.



The view was really really breathtaking. To think back of that exact moment sure makes me miss Kota Kinabalu so much! I guess I am really quite a beach, sun and sea girl, though I love the highlands too but I would give it to hear the sounds of the waves crashing in onto the beach anytime!



The sea water was so clear that I could actually see school of small fishes swimming around us. Jaden even tried to catch them with his bare hands. Jaden was sucha champion to even want to wander off to deeper parts but I pulled him back. I didn't want him to swallow the sea water since you don't know what goes in the sea water with so many people around there.



I watched over him while he played under the hot sun for about an hour before we called time out. It was about 145pm then. I had to quickly carried him out of the sea and run towards our table before he could scream in my ear.



We brought a few bottles of clean water with us when we came to the island and now, it was put into good use. We used it to wash Jaden clean of salt water, till he wasnt feeling sticky, wiped him down with clean towels and gave him a new change of diapers and clothes.

Boy, was he tired out by then. He leaned on Hubby and just enjoyed the view as we waited for our speedboat to come pick us back to the resort.

Buying tickets from the Sutera Harbour has its plus point. Although its more expensive than buying tickets at Jesselton Pier, we get to loan their towels for free, and these towels, we laid them out on the table for Jaden to sit on.

Our speedboat had to make a stop at the Sapi island to pick up other resort passengers and I sort of have a tiny tinge of regret because the water there was even clearer and beautiful. Well, guess there will be another time again to visit these islands again I hope! Jaden fell asleep on the way back and all the way back to the room.







Carrying a 16-18kg boy is no fun when you have to walk at least 10 minutes back up to the room. The boy must have been really knocked out flat because he didn't wake up from all the walking and putting him down on the bed movements. Usually, that will just wake him up immediately but he slept for a full 2hours.

Hubby had a quick bath and took him nap too. I, then took the opportunity to lie in the tub and treat myself to a tub full of warm water while I relax and close my eyes. It was just wonderful to have that quiet time to myself without anyone rushing me.





Both the boys woke up at about 530pm, bathed the boy again and out we went for dinner. This time, we took a cab to Twinsky Seafood restaurant and indulged ourselves in plates of seafood. There were really some exotic looking seafood but we stuck to just the normal crab, prawns and scallops BUT these guys, too, come in humongous size. The size of the crab shell was as big as Hubby's palm. Now that is really big!



The bill came up to about RM200++, 7 dishes, 3 rice, 5 drinks. It was all in nett pricing, no GST or whatsoever. Nice!






We took a cab back to the resort, walked around a bit to wear off that sluggishness after a full meal. Took Jaden on his first shuttle bus ride to the next resort -Magellan and walked around a bit over there. The boy loved his bus ride so much that he did not want to get off it when we reached back Pacific.



I was so tired, I konked out almost immediately, of course not without another hot bath first. =)



The boys were still snoring away when I woke up at 5am to capture the sunrise on camera. Yes, the sun rises really early in Sabah. By 6am, it is like 7am over here in the Peninsula.



All of us woke up at about 730am and went down for breakfast by 830am. After breakfast, I went to buy souvernir at the gift shop and took the boy up to the room again, to let him play in the bathtub since he was not allowed to go swimming at the pool. That would have taken up quite a lot of our time and our plane is at 12pm.

He played in the bathtub for about half hour before we pulled him out, we changed, checked the room properly in case we didn't pack properly and we were out of the hotel by 1045am.

Reached the airport just to find out that we could only check ourselves in through the machine instead of manual workers checking us in. Only the Business and First class passengers get to check in at the counter. What double standard!


Once again, our plane was delayed till about 1 hour and Jaden fell asleep right after we took off. Since Hubby and I bought the tickets separately, and the machine being stupid as it is, separated Hubby and us. Luckily they gave Hubby the front seat with leg space while they gave Jaden and I the window seats.

We touched down at about 3 something on Sunday and boy, it sure is tiring to go holiday like that with the three of us together. I was really looking forward to getting some sleep on the plane, only to be awake and alert all the way to and fro. *sigh* but I would do it all over again if I could.

Can't wait for our next travel together now. =)

I am home!!!

again.. this time back home in KL.. 18 days of Penang, Langkawi and Perlis just zoomed past me so fastttt.... *sob*

anyway now that I am back, and 18 days would be quite a drag to tell it all ,I shall just list it down in point forms and a little elaboration.

This time round, I got to meet up with more friends and darn, that felt good!

People I met up with:-

Matthew
JitBeng
Jackson & wife & Frankie
LingLynn
ShuYin
Carolyn
SChee

One of the reason I went back to Penang was to attend my godbro's wedding and I was blown away with how the school hall was decorated for the event. It was classy, beautiful and romantic. With over 80 tables spread out, filled with family and friends, it was a lovely event! Food was great too.. well, at least I think so! =)




Then, I got to rest the weekend off with my family and we brought Jaden down to the Ferringhi beach. Its technically not his first time seeing a beach but I can claim that it is his first time playing at the beach and boy, he enjoyed it max! I brought one whole big bottle of water to wash the sand off him after we were done playing at the beach and a new change of clothes and diapers too.




On Monday, I took Jaden to make his first ever international passport and it had been quite a breeze at the Penang imigration office. All it took was just 2 hours to pick up the passport after just 10 minutes at the window taking his thumbprint and paying the RM150 for 5 years.




Langkawi was a rather spontaneous decision and it was a rather good decision I must say. It was meant to be a getaway with just my mom, my son and I and it just so happened that Jackson & family were there as well, so it made touring Langkawi quite fun! We stayed over at Awana Porto Malai while Jackson & his family stayed at Pantai Cenang. We went to the Oriental Village and Jaden had fun taking the cable cars up hill and enjoying the cool breeze. A nice change from the hot sun below.






Since I drove all the way to Perlis and parked my car at my aunt's, my dad picked us up when we took the ferry back from Langkawi and went over to my aunt's place for a while. Jaden got to meet his cousins and see some relatives whom he had never known he had. I have too many relatives scattered everywhere but CNY would be a good time to let him meet all of them because that will be when we all come together in Perlis.




I got to meet up with Lynn whom I have not seen since we both graduated from F5 and boy, she still looks the same but better! prettier! same goes to my two other ballet friends, ShuYin and Carolyn. Its a pity Nikki couldn't join us but well, we shared some laughter, gossips and life stories. I already missed them girls. I practically grew up together with them since I was 7 years old. Like what ShuYin said, that we three have one thing in common and that is that we cant do ballet no more. Speaking of ballet friends, I also met up with UNee before I went back to Penang and we sure did have a good time catching up on old times. I guess they could also be counted as my childhood friends since junior school, just that we came from different schools in Penang. Each of these girls grew up to be pretty women and even a super duper mummy, something which I am not. *gRin*








Jaden's kaima came over during the weekend and we went and eat and eat and eat and discovered that Jaden loved Hard Rock Hotel's water playground. SChee then tried to book three of us a room for the next weekend only to found out its all fully booked. In order to make her godson happy, she joined the membership and we got to go and play there for free anytime we want.




Jaden and I stayed over at SChee's the next Friday after dinner at Batu Kawan, another feast of seafood. YUM! and we all left for Hard Rock Hotel the next day to bring Jaden to play. He, the little one, of course enjoyed his time at Hard Rock very much. I was so scared that he might grow all so tan like me, that I slabbed on lots of sunblock lotion SPF50+ on him, twice in fact, in between his play. SChee companied him because my 'aunty' have to visit on that day. DAMNIT! but well, as long as the boy have fun, its all good!








On the last day before I have to head back to KL, I brought my parents out for a good feast again and spent the whole day just with them. It was quite sad that the 18 days vacation just passed me by in a blink of an eye. I thought 1 week wasn't enough the last time I went back so I opt for this 2 week break and now I still think it aint enough. Penang is such a relaxing place, maybe because I grew up there and familiarity comforts me. Hearing people actually speaking Hokkien can be comforting.





So here I am now, back home, thinking of my next trip back to Penang. I sure hope that this time round, I get to go back home during Chinese New Year because since I married, I have not been home for CNY.

Wives on an island

It all started wtih Gwen posting a comment on my page, right after her Japan trip, saying she badly needs a holiday.

The nonsense then started rolling with WWei agreeing to what she said, and then facebook messages were sent out among the girls and right soon after, it became a full-fledged planned girly trip, supposedly for everybody to meet up and the only time everybody might be back in Penang/Malaysia would be the Chinese New Year time.




Mind you, the email was sent out very early September and just in a matter of that one day, everybody came to an agreement of choosing a local beach destination. Me, being the housewife at home, with lots of time compared to those working ladies, I was in charged of doing more research on hotels, flights and getting everybody to agree on that one date to go off together.

The trip was to start of with at least 5 of us in mind -Gwen, PChern, WWei, SChee & I. We knew Evon couldn't really make it cause of work commitments and her family might just take off for some CNY getaway instead.




Nearing the date, Gwen pulled out by saying she has a case going on that month and she needs to be in Australia. SChee then told me like a month earlier before the trip that she might not be able to make it due to work commitments too.. both of us kept quiet till nearing the date, 3 weeks before informing the other 2 girls and the trip nearly got canceled.

I, of course was really disappointed because I was so looking forward to this trip but if the heart ain't there, whats the use of going anyway right? In the end, both my girlfriends then made up the mind to just go and whee! SChee arranged everything to change to my name in hotel booking and in a blink of an eye, the day arrived.




I drove myself to the airport at 5am in the morning. Reached LCCT at about 6am, parked there and checked in and flew off.




Waited for the two girls to arrived half hour later than I at the other airport while I go about and tried to nego my way through with the car rentals. Pricing was crazy! I flew in from KL and the two flew in from Penang. In the end, I had the help of my father to source for me the cheapest rate for a 2 day 1 night use of a car.










We stopped by Pantai Cenang for breakfast first as it was still too early to be doing anything else and we were all hungry. It was a nice breakfast bar, which I researched the night before to see where we could dine and wined. Thankfully I did what I did. If not we would be wandering aimlessly around the island, not knowing where to go eat breakfast!

After that, we drove over to the hotel, which was located in the city. It was beautiful! Security was really tight at the hotel too. They just don't let anybody drive into the hotel. I like!



We checked in to the hotel but was informed room will only be ready at about 3pm. Shucks! It was only 11am then. WWei then decided to change in to short pants/skirt as the weather was quite hot. Both those girls were already sweating in their pants. Literally and physically! PChern decided to change only when we checked into the room. So off we went to duty free shops we saw along the way when we drove to the hotel and did some shopping first.

WWei was already feeling chilly, and we suspected that she might be coming down with fever, since she also mentioned that she has sore throat. Without thinking twice, we drove to the nearest pharmacy and made her buy panadol and some lozenges. It helped quite abit after she took two pills. We headed back to the hotel and hung out at the Breeze lounge while waiting to check into our room.























Service was great! View was fantastic! Our luggages were already taken to the room for us. Nice!











The receptionist actually came to the lounge to find us to inform us that our room was ready. Good kan? Right after we settled down in the room, we changed and headed to the pool. PChern couldn't join us to dip in the pool due to personal reasons, so it was only WWei and I. Dipping in the infinity pool, sipping to our drinks. Me and my beer, she and her some bealthy celery kiwi drink (yuck) we took quite a lot of photos.

We headed back to the room at about 5pm, bathed and all. WWei had heat rash then. *LOL* I know its really bad of me to laugh at her but she looked swollen here and there. We waited a bit for her swelling to subside and off we went to search for dinner.













We headed back to Pantai Cenang since she wanted to buy some batik sarong tie dress and only at this beach, we saw a number of nice looking ones compared to those in town. I actually wanted to have seafood but those girls weren't really a big fan of seafood and the smaller one can't be taking grilled stuff, so oh wells, might as well be safe and enjoy the rest of the holiday!




After dinner, we walked and shopped around a bit before heading back to call it a night. By the time we were all done, bathed and all, it was only about 11pm. PChern and I then finished a bottle of ice wine to ourselves and drank a few cups of Baileys too. The hotel sent us ice in a bucket! It was so good to drink it with the Baileys.

We then do best what we do best when we get together. We gossiped and after a while, guess the early morning trip did took a toil on us and we fell asleep quite an instant once lights were out. It was about 1am then.







I was the first to wake up and use the shower at about 7am. By 730am, everybody was awaken up by me because of my stupid snoozed alarm. *tee hee*

We only left for breakfast at about 9am, after both those girls dilly-dallied. So many bottles of dunnowhat to apply on WWei's face, PChern was busy trying to stuff her bag silly in order to shut it properly.

Speaking of bags! WAH! I thought I was already over the top with the clothes I brought over just for a 2 days 1 nigth trip. Those girls beat me hands down! Especially WWei who told me the night before she is only bringing a small hand luggage. She brought over 2 FILLED UP TO THE BRIM FULL hand luggages. *shakes head*




Breakfast was good.. and so was what that happened after.

Three of us had a spa session each at 20% discount. Some chocolate mask spa and all three of us fell asleep when wrapped in the chocolate. The spa area too was wonderful. So serene. PChern's and my room was next to the beach, so we could also hear the birds chirping outside. The spa did indeed live up to their name -Heavenly Spa.












After spa, we headed out to the town again to buy whatever we wanted to buy back home. I bought more chocolates for Jaden, 2 dark chocolates, 3 long Heineken tins @ RM3.30 per tin and a carton of ciggie for Hubby and 1 Reese Peanut Butter chocolate for myself. PChern was sweet enough to give me the unfinished bottle of Baileys to bring home too. *gRin* Sweet isn't it?






I left for the airport first since my flight was like 2 1/2 hrs earlier than both of them. They decided to take a cab to the airport instead. They bought chicken rice from the town and took it back to the beach area by the spa to eat and enjoy.

By the time I was queuing to board my plane, both of them just reached the airport.










*sigh* It was really a good trip. I think it is one of the best thing that could have ever happened to me in 2010, in terms of getting together with the girlies!

but but but, the one person who made it all happen for me is still Hubby. Without him, I don't think I would be able to afford to go on sucha holiday. Thank you baby! =)