Cousins & Sizes

Dear Diary,

These are pictures of Zarra with her cousins, Adilah (my brother’s daughter) and Rayyan (my brother-in-law’s son). All three of them have one thing in common – AGE. They are all now 2 years old (going to be 3 years old this year). Look at their sizes. My daughter is big and tall for her age, I think. Even now if I want to buy her clothes, I’ll look for clothing sized ages 5-6 years.

This is her latest picture. Do you see any difference? Well, she has slimmed down a bit and became slender after her bout with diarrhea. Tak kisahlah dia saiz besar, asalkan dia sihat. Manalah tahu besar nanti boleh jadi part time model hihihi.

Sal-Man Koyteow Kerang, Mergong Dec 2010

Dear Diary,

We always look for delicious food with reasonable prices. If you happen to be in Alor Setar, the chances for you to experience this kind of scenario is still high. If you’re lucky, you’ll even come across eating places that sell cheap food without compromising its taste and quality. What a bargain! Who wouldn’t want to grab that kind of deal right?

One such place is Sal-Man Koyteow Kerang, stall number 2 at Mergong food court in Alor Setar (near Insaniah). This restaurant offers tasty mee/bihun/kuayteow udang, fried or with gravy. I like mee udang (kuah) best! Its kuayteow th’ng used to be my favorite but lately it has lost its oomph.

Taman Rekreasi Air Panas Ulu Legong, Baling Dec 2010

Dear Diary,

It has been awhile since we had our last picnic. With me being heavily pregnant, having a new baby and what not, picnic is not a suitable option for family outing. So, we planned to go for a picnic in Kedah. However, rather than beach, river or water park, all of us chose something different this time around. We decided to try hot spring and our destination was Taman Rekreasi Air Panas Ulu Legong, Baling.

Ulu Legong Hot Spring is quite remote from the main road. Don’t get me wrong, the roads heading to the hot spring is tarred and well maintained. There are also signboards along the way directing visitors to it. You won’t get lost. It’s just that it was nearly midnight when we went there and it was quite scary at times because the roads were deserted during that hour of the day. However, as we approached the place, it was buzzing with people and activities. It seems that the later the hour is, the merrier it’ll become because more people are coming. Lagi lewat, lagi sejuk, barulah lagi best berendam dalam air panas tu.

It was my second time going to a hot spring (the first time was in Sabah) but it was the first time for the kids. Boy, were they in for a surprise when they dipped their feet into the water. Instead of cold and refreshing, they experienced warm calming water. Kids being kids, the water’s temperature was not a factor. They jumped right in no matter whether the water is hot or cold as long as it is water. All of us had fun relaxing in the warm water in the middle of the night.

The place is nicely landscaped. There were five pools with different levels of temperature. The hottest pool, which is the source of the hot spring, is gated. The adult’s pools (2) are hot but not scalding hot while the kid’s pool is tolerable to children. There is also a pool especially for woman. Basic facilities such as toilets, changing rooms, surau, picnic area, food stalls and souvenir shops are available. There are also chalet, rooms and tent available if visitors want to spend the night. The rate is affordable. Entrance fees are also cheap RM4 for adults and RM2 for children. For more information, check its official website.

Chill Out

Dear Diary,

As mentioned in Jalan-jalan Alor Setar, there were days when we just chilled out at home. On days like this we just stayed at home and do something around the house.

For instance, we would laze around and watch movies. Look at the pictures of the kids being scared while trying to watch a horror movie. Well, they requested for cerita hantu. Afterward they complained they were having difficulties falling asleep.

Then, there were days when we just let the kids played their hearts out.

Speechless

Dear Diary,

As usual when I got connected to the internet, I’d check my emails, my Facebook and my blog. After writing an entry, I was about to go visit my friends’ blogs when something caught my eyes. On my sidebar under my blog list, there was my name on the screen. Wow!! A blogger friend of mine all the way in Doha wrote an entry especially for me. I’m TOUCHED and SPEECHLESS. It is not always that somebody ordinary like me gets to be the center of attraction. Her entry put a smile on my face. That smile later turned into a big heartily laugh.

A gazillion thanks dear!!! You made my day!

Jalan-jalan Alor Setar, Nov & Dec 2010

Dear Diary,

I have three kids age 6+, 2+ and 3 months+. My brother, who is living with my parents, also has three kids age 6+, 4+ and 2+. Whenever I go back to my parents’ house, the house is filled up by 6 active children. Believe me, the sound that they produce is deafening at times.

Last school holidays, the task to control a bunch of energetic children was a challenge for me. Not only was it a very exhausting challenge but also a rewarding one. It was very heartfelt to see all of them playing, quarrelling and bonding together. When there are six children around with six types of behaviors, I bet you wouldn’t realize time passes you by. So, in order to content six curious minds, I and my siblings planned something everyday. For example field trip day, chill out day, picnic day, park day, relatives’ houses day etc.

On field trip days, we brought the kids to some of the interesting places around Alor Setar town. Everyday there would be something that we’d all be doing together. The spots that we checked out were:

ISTANA ANAK BUKIT – We did not go inside the palace (would like to go in though). We just took a couple of pictures at the entrance.

Tourist spots along JALAN PEKAN MELAYU – Masjid Zahir, Balai Besar, Balai Seni Negeri, Balai Nobat, Galleria Sultan Abdul Halim and Menara Jam Besar.

DATARAN TANJUNG CHALI – The surrounding is nice but too bad it is not well maintained. The smell from the river is not pleasant either.

As days went by, these cousins became closer. I am very pleased as it is not always that we get chances to go back to Kedah. I hope my children know their roots and be proud of it.

Sawah Bendang

Dear Diary,

Kedah is known as Negeri Jelapang Padi or The Rice Bowl of Malaysia. Sawah bendang or paddy field can still be seen everywhere though its range is lesser now compared to a few decades ago. Upon arriving in Kedah, you’ll be greeted with scenery of paddy fields as far as your eyes can see. No matter which route you use to get to Kedah, you can feast your eyes with the vibrant colors of the paddy fields at some point of your journey. The colors of the bendang change from shades of green to yellow depending on which stage of the paddy cultivation.

I took the opportunity to show my children what bendang is when I went home at the end of last year. At the same time explaining to them where rice comes from. After the visit whenever we passed by paddy field, Imran would say, “Mama, Mama, banyaknya pokok nasi.”

For me, the view of sawah bendang is very calming. Bendang used to be a place for me to study or read, a place for me to sooth my stress whenever I was sad or angry, a place for me to daydream and a place for me to be near to nature.

Asioki's Cafe, Alor Setar, Dec 2010

Dear Diary,

Do you have one eating place or restaurant that you favor very much that you go there every other day? Ok if not every other day maybe a couple of times a month. My parents have one such place - Asioki’s Café. It is located at Jalan Putra, Alor Setar, Kedah (near pasar malam site). We had dinner there three times in the three weeks plus I was home which translates about once a week.

One good thing about this restaurant is that it offers a wide selection of cuisines in its menu. We can choose from western food, Malay food, Chinese food, appetizers and desserts. Even drinks are variety. Rambang mata jadinya!

For me, some of its food is tasty while others are so-so. Since I went there a few times, I tried out different thing each time. There were a few items on its menu that steal my heart as they are yummy. Drool over the pictures peeps!

Eyelashes

Dear Diary,

Do you need mascara or fake eyelashes if you are blessed with these thick curly eyelashes? Well, I guess not…

Unfortunately or fortunately, they belong to a boy. Imran, my son, to be exact is the blessed owner of the eyelashes. One fine evening when I looked at him, I realized how his eyelashes are dark black, long, thick and curly. Even Zarra’s are not as curly as his. Well, it gave me an idea for this entry.