SIAM PARAGON, BANGKOK

Going to Siam Paragon will always be a favourite for me. Apart from shopping, their market hall at basement is a place full of people and tons of food to eat! Here entering into the shopping mall and passing through the metal detector. We don't have them here but I guess for safety purpose, it was necessary in Bangkok.


For some high fashion, every brand imaginable is here.


You'll find plenty of handicraft which are more expensive but I headed straight for the food :D Pancakes in the shape of fish filled with red bean paste.




Freshly grated coconut and cream tasted yummy!


Ah..dried durian or smelly/stinky fruit chips, why not! The dried version didn't stink and tasted crispy and good.


Assorted rice cooked in bamboo.


The Thai version of meat dumplings.


Can't miss this for sure.

Something new to me, green rice mixed with meat, vegetables and coconut.


The best mangoes can be found here.


No trip is complete until I pop over to Jim Thompson, the world famous Thai Silk house.



Wishing all a happy weekend - me = busy with painting and having a short break from work next week for, well - more painting.

HOME, SHADOWS

Last weekend was a busy weekend as usual. We painted the kid's study room in lavender, a color of their choice.


Then we went on to the dry kitchen. It was funny how we chose a shade of green on the 3cm x 3cm paper/sample which looked nice or so we thought but when it was painted, it turned out to be this funny shade of green or blue. Here is part of the wall, I should have taken a picture of before but didn't. Husband and I had a shock for a few hours at first but we are getting use and liking it now. As you can see the sun streaming through the floor as the weather has been super hot here. No thanks to our neighbor - the Indonesians had been burning their forest for land clearing every year, and here everyone is suffering from our annual visit of haze.


Hot sun would mean great for shadow finding as I am missing them, so put some shells out of the kitchen window and snapped this photo. Loved the texture of the shell!



A baby elephant joined in for a shadow shot and collecting them is a hobby of mine.







It is so hot, we had the entire section of windows and doors heavily tinted, if it's not for the shadows, we will normally close the windows when the sun is burning through.





Another section of the dining hall facing the garden, yes, hot it is and I am wishing to go to the mountains. Somewhere cooling would have been so welcoming! I should trade places with Tracy in Australia :)


We're painting the TV hall this weekend and a few more rooms. So, sewing and gardening has been on hold for now. Help! The weeds and snails are taking over the garden. These snails are like lawnmowers, they come at night and eat so much that in the morning I find those baby zinnias gone.

Bye for now......hugs/M

HAPPY

Last Saturday was a happy day when I read Tracy of Pink Purl announcing I was one of the winner of her 'Stash-tacular' giveaways. Wow!! I was so happy as these squares will fit in nicely with my current interest in sewing. As usual, I've got tons of ideas though most times quite clueless as of how to do it :P So, thank you Tracy for being so generous and inspiring to me too and these fabrics are the prettiest and sweetest pink I can ever find.


Another big thank you to Joo of Urban stories for this award, my apologies for taking such a long time to post it. I am happy that you thought of good ol' me too :D
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A few of you asked about the traveling journal and "Do Not Leave Unattended!" project. It was a journal that was being sent to different people all over the world and we are given 2 weeks to write, scribble, decorate in any way we like. After the 2 weeks period, this journal will be mailed to another person somewhere around the globe. Mine came from a Malaysian who started the journal and after me, I sent it off to another lady in Australia and it just goes on. Most people will blog about it..but as you can see, I am late in doing so as it was done end of last year.





I searched forever in my archives to look for these pictures, I knew I had them but not sure where they have been filed in. Here are the famous DURIAN pictures for those who has not seen it. Also known as the smelly or stinky fruit, it is an acquired taste. Most locals eat them, I am not a big fan but the husband and children are, so they tend to smuggle some durians home when I am not around. However, there is no escaping these fruit, you can smell them a mile away!

Took these photos at our local supermarket. Most Malaysians won't be happy with anyone snapping their photos but this guy was quite cool..and he was not Malaysian anyway, he was a Nepalese working there.

Durians are a thorny fruit, so you will need to handle them with care.




They are probably the most expensive local fruit there is, available everywhere in Asia.


This custard looking durian has a seed in each fruit, still can't describe the taste or smell as there's nothing near it. You either love it or not!


Talking about stinky fruit, here's the 'petai'. This bitter fruit/vegetable doesn't stink but it's the after effect of eating it that makes everyone run away from you. I guess it should be on everyone's 'must try' list if you are here for the first time :D



So what's everyone's plan for the weekend? I've got my usual battle of the weeds coming up as the garden has been neglected for some time. Unless it's a weed that is as pretty as this ones growing in my desert rose plant, they'll have to go.


Talking about plants, found these old pictures taken from a nursery near home a long time ago. I won't mind having them...but they are also way too costly.


A 'pineapple' inspired bamboo tree.



It is Friday now and I am already doing my countdown to Saturday. Husband and I are currently busy with rooms makeover at home, starting with the kid's study room and we have our hands full with so many things to do. Weekend's just too short but have a great one anyway.

SKY BAR, KUALA LUMPUR

I am continually drawn to two buildings - the Petronas Twin Tower, which is still the 2nd tallest building in the world as of now, and the Skybar. So, when husband and I have the opportunity to have our night out without the kids, we opted to go to the both and test out the new toy too.

There was plenty of restaurant to eat at but we chose our favorite food, Thai and ate here, The Chakri Palace. Food was scrumptious and the service was perfect!


The largest picture in the collage is Tom Yum Goong, everyone favorite hot and sour soup.


Even though we were both full to the max at the end of the meal, I couldn't help but to order their famous Thai dessert.


Husband ordered the fried 'durian' - a first for us. Durian is this smelly fruit, which the Asians call it the King of Fruit over here, unless you have been to Asia and see, smell and taste it for yourself, I don't know how to describe it. Will blog about that later...





I certainly love this huge wooden flower decor made from teak wood, won't mind having it in my home too.




Outside the KLCC Twin Tower.




Outside KLCC at night.



Took a walk over to the Trader's Hotel to go here. The Sky Bar at 33rd Floor on it's open air pool on the roof.



The roof at Sky Bar.


Still fiddling and having not much idea on how to use this toy, I put in on one of it's auto mode to take some of the pictures inside.




Took this from exactly where I sat, I did feel like jumping into the pool and splashing everyone around.


Not much indoor lighting needed when you have this Twin Towers lighted up.





My mug shot at the Sky Bar :D



Have a great week ahead, will visit everyone soon.

Hugs.............M

WEEKEND, HAPPY

It is Thursday today and well, weekend's near. Don't we all live for the weekends :D


Time to take a break from this....


Time to spend time with the family..(both images were something I did for the project 'Do Not Leave Unattended', a journal which travels around the world). This word transfer came from my good blogger-friend, Liv from the US.


The weather had been very hot.. as usual, and I am so wishing to go to the mountains. Sipping tea and watching people pick tea leaves.


Apart from the beautiful scenery at the mountains, I long to see those exotic orchids for sale and buy loads of them. That's going to be the next new hobby, planting orchids..I did try that a long time ago, they all died.


Or maybe take a trip to the East Coast again..a favorite of my husband as that's where he is from.


Also longing to travel out of the country, another visit to Cambodia will just do fine.


To see the Apsara dancers again, but traveling plans out of the country has to be on hold..so I am hating this H1N1 virus as I don't want to be quarantined when I am coming back :(



Or just go for a walk around our home...eek, time for the dreaded exercise routine, which had been postponed for a long time.


Or, just indulge in food, it always make everyone in the family so happy.


...but seriously this weekend, I want to go here,the newly renovated Kuala Lumpur | SkyBar at Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur.


However, firstly I'll have to go persuade my mother to look after the kids..okay, beg if I have too haha!! Finally, I am so lucky to have my good blog buddies, they inspire me in every way, stayed with me when I rambled nonsense, encouraged and understand me ..and I have not met them - but yet, they are so special in every way. I love you all :D

Hugs...............M

BLOG LIFE

Tired. Too much to do and too little time.
The new toy is here so it's time to experiment and it may take a long time before I could fully master it. Put it to the test and it was so cool.
















To me, the ultimate test was night pictures as the previous one could not perform to my standard. It didn't disapoint - at all.










So with this, I am done whining about not having IT.

Many thanks for the good wishes on the business partner, she survived a major surgery but has to go for chemo for 6 months - so that's 6 months of medical leave for her, and 6 months of extra work for me. That's final, I should be grateful on this - not for her being sick but at least I don't have serious health issue - I hope. So, done talking about this too.

With limited time, I am finding writing those normal regular post a struggle. I should be just like everyone else does and try not to make a long picture essay out of every post. Or maybe go 'private' as many UNKNOWN visitors always makes me uncomfortable, and write about daily nonsense which no ones wants to read and lousy sewing projects - eek, yes that's the latest interest - before it fizzles out, just like every hobby in the past.

Ah, the ups and down of blogging life..I do wonder if anyone has problems like me, or it's just this one looney here who has it hehe :)

Hugs...M

ULEK BEACH RESORT, DUNGUN, TRENGGANU

Travelling to Pulau Kapas, or Kapas Island, we decided to break the journey and stay at Dungun. My husband aka 'the driver' didn't want to drive all the way to the Marang jetty, so we stayed here for a night. Dungun is a small town and fishing village. Not much excitement happening at night but definitely not 'insanely boring' like Kapas. Food was cheap, the people super friendly and we were very happy to have found and stayed at this small Malay village type of resort.

I loved how they advertised themself "Exquisitely Traditional" and that was what we got, typical Malay hospitality, small but highly personalised service everywhere. Certainly my kind of holiday.




A traditional Malay gong welcomes you, or in this case, Danial beating the gong doing a self announcement of our arrival :D



Outside the reception and verandah.



Entering into the chalets and passing the pool.





Again, I like this, typical Malay chalets but with all the 5 star hotels trimmings. Not something one find easily here. Most chalets are poorly maintained or backpacker style but Ulek was great.


This was our chalet. Ulek means 'cradle' in Malay or in this case, they tried to pamper you in every way like you were a baby or child.


View from our chalet.


The bathroom was fun! It had a sunken jacuzzi and when you sit in, you can open up the windows and look out into a private garden. The kids had fun...well, me..I had the windows closed but I was sure no one could peek in, just didn't feel comfortable bathing in the open air.



Now this was something interesting. I complained about not having any water in the room but the reception said there's a 'labu sayong' in the room. Labu means water pitcher or gourd, and this was used to keep water the traditional way. No matter how hot was the weather, the water was always cooling.


If I have to re-decor my house one day, I would add this wonderful verandah and long windows, another typical traditional Malay house feature.


Titi or in Malay it means 'mini bridge', seen here doing a shadow shot.


In the evening stopping by Dungun beach..


Marang jetty, leaving for Kapas Island.




Many thanks for your kind wishes to my business partner, who underwent a successful major surgery and hopefully on the road to a better recovery. The camera was 'alive', well for a short while. Melanie said I sounded like Frankenstein when I told her so, but it was a short lived happiness. Firstly, it could only upload and not it can take photos but not upload, seems like now it is time to hunt for a more serious toy. Any recommendation on what brand or type of camera? Your help is much appreciated :)



Have a happy week ahead...

KAPAS ISLAND, KAPAS TURTLE VALLEY

During this school holidays, we wanted to go the beach and at the same time tried to stay away from the bigger islands like Redang and Tioman which were always packed with people. Inspired by my local blog friend, Tehsin during her trip to Kapas, we decided to go here for some relaxation.

Arriving on Kapas Turtle Valley and no, there was no turtle seen on land or water but turtles were known to swim and hatch around here. Seen here was Grant and Emma greeting us on our arrival. They were from Australia on a work cum holiday at Kapas Turtle. When they finished their 3 months stay here, they'll head for Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia for further holidays.


Kapas Turtle had only 6 chalets and we took the largest one, a 2 rooms with connecting doors which could easily accommodated 6 persons. I thought of you Tehsin when I saw the room!



Our room was on top of the dining hall with a great view.


View around the chalets. This beach was practically a private one so you won't have lots of people snorkelling on the beach. It was so quiet that the only sound I heard was my 3 noisy children. Picture on the right shown the kids climbing up the hill to the other side of the beach, the only way to see other part of the island or via boat.



































Coming out to the other side of the beach, first stop was Captain's Longhouse. The whole stretch of beach was really busy with many people. I preferred Turtle for it's privacy and with only 6 chalets, most couples, there was only a hand few of us.


As expected, all East Coast island beaches are beautiful! When one is here, you won't have much motivation to go to Port Dickson.



I did a thorough research on this resort and island before I came and must say there aren't many reviews or blog about Kapas. I am quite sure my post will be the longest.


Back to Kapas Turtle, the kids were busy snorkeling...just look at the water!!



Took this picture on the beach, crystal clear water and you can see what's beneath. Kapas means cotton in Malay and is known for it's white sandy beaches.



Resort owner, Dutch couple - Peter and Sylvia, returning from Marang after a shopping trip with their own boat. You can see Storm, their son taking a picture and on the right, Linda - also a Dutch on a working-holiday and she's going to India after this. Come the think of it, this is the only place I know which is completely ran by non locals..and we were the only locals there. The owners wanted to migrate from Holland and chose Kapas as their home.


What is not to love on this beach..totally secluded, intensely private, personalised service all the way. You can suntan topless and nobody will care, well...we don't do it here but there was a mini cave nearby...in case you want to.


Here's Eli on our own private verandah overlooking the sea. I must say the room and everything else was too basic, but this is the best resort you will find in Kapas. You will pay 5 star pricing for the room but just don't have high expectation. We stayed at Ulek Resort at Dungun, a small fishing village and not really a tourist destination for 1 night before Kapas. For the same price we paid, Ulek was really good..it came complete with our own open air sunken jacuzi..will blog about it later.


Dinner was scrumptious! Sylvia was an extremely good cook and we did enjoy the meal. However, the choices were limited to 3 items nightly and be prepared to pay a lot for the meal. Our food bill was 120% more than the accommodation cost. Food on the island are generally more expensive which was expected, but this was way too much. We stay at Perhentian every year and we don't mind paying for food which cost double compared to the mainland, but we always had a huge variety to choose from.




After dinner, there was NOTHING to do. Unless you care to climb the steep hill to the other side of the beach with a torch light for some action, there was no TV, no nothing. I think this was really for couples on honeymoon where one can lock eyes for hours but with kids, it was just too quiet. The exact words of my husband was "insanely boring" at night. Here the kids at a corner reading and drawing to kill time before we sleep at 9.30pm. I think there should be at least a TV on dining area..


I got my Aquapac, an underwater casing for most digital camera and took some pictures underwater. The Aquapac worked, the pictures were ok but I ignored my husband's advise..took out the camera and tried snapping photos with wet hands and the camera went kaput-ed as of now. I could only upload the pictures but nothing else.


My favorite underwater pictures of Emi snorkeling.




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So there's my post on Kapas. Bye for now, I've got a few hundred mails to attend to and work piling on my desk. Will visit everyone soon :P
Hugs...M

HAPPY, BLOG BREAK,

A big thanks to my good friend, Annie of Blissful-Bohemian for this award.

I am to write why I blog and pass it on to another blogger. This is actually my second blog. I started one in 2006 in support of NURIN ALERT, a missing child support system named after Nurin Jasmin whom was kidnapped and brutally murdered. Nurin Alert was started by Nurin's uncle Jasni of In Memory of Nurin Jazlin. Jasni and a few bloggers then formed the committed of Citizens for Nurin Alert to kickstart this critical model in search of missing children. Nurin Alert was modeled after AMBERAlert.com »AMBER Alert in the USA.

As for this blog..well, you know what it is about. Blogging has brought me many wonderful friends and you all know who you are, and that I love you all to the max! I always have problem passing on awards as it's too difficult to choose. I will pass this award to an avid traveler, some of you may have known him or not. He is Gil from Blogtrotter. If you visit his blog, have a look at the Labels and see the countries and places he has visited..it is amazingly LONG! Thanks Gil for the wonderful tour worldwide :)

I will be on a blog break this week, you will find me here. I seriously find blog and work breaks totally blissful and told the office, for any emergencies...don't call me.

Bye for now and see you all soon...

DUMPLING FESTIVAL and KLCC

Last week had been such a busy week. It started with my business partner complaining of tummy discomfort. She went for a normal routine check up and what's supposed to be half a day dragged into 3 days. At the end of the 3rd day, she called and with such a sad and distraught voice told me she has cancer. She will have to go for immediate surgery this week and won't be working for quite some time. It was distressing news to me. I lost my dad to cancer 10 years ago and know so many family members who had to go through tremendous pain upon diagnosis, some made it..most not. Anyway, this change threw all our holiday plans out of the window. I was planning for a short getaway for the children as they have a 2 weeks break. Maybe later when work is settled down.

My mom was busy making dumplings or 'bachang' or as Cantonese says it - 'chung' for the family. I remembered I prepared a post on this last year but never posted. So here goes a little history on our Dumpling Festival celebrated by Chinese worldwide:


Chinese worldwide celebrated the Dumpling Festival recently. This festival started due to the well known and respected patriotic poet, QU YUAN. Legend noted that he was an important Minister to then Emperor Zhou of China. Heavy internal politics and obviously given all the wrong infor by certain dubious quarters, Emperor Zhou eventually died due to this web of malice, probably killed. Devastated, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Mi Lo River over 2000 years ago. The people were so sad, that they make dumplings and threw them in the river to feed the fishes, hoping that the fishes will leave Qu Duan's body alone. I've been eating them forever and only found out the story behind when I wanted to blog about it. This festival is celebrated with many making dumplings, or buying them from shops. The actual date is on the 5th of 5th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar. So far, I've only eaten those made by my mom, unfortunately, she made them too soon and I could not take any photos of the process. Dumplings ingredients: glutinous rice, mushroom, meat, century egg (yolk only), nuts, chestnuts, etc. All wrapped in lotus leaves.
Tricky part - tying of the dumplings.

After steaming and ready to be eaten:) Above pictures are courtesy of Four types of dumplings to celebrate the festival.

Below pictures were emailed to my by my cousin and I have no idea where she got it from, therefore I can't credit them but it gives you a good idea of how it looks like when opened.

I had this dumpling made by my mom for breakfast today. It has some dried prawns,chicken, century egg yolk and some chestnuts.

..ah, this is for you Xue :P


Went to KLCC in the evening with the children, seen here just outside KLCC.


We had dinner at the food court. Clockwise: there will always be a Penang restaurant here and everywhere else, an antique ice shaver, to make ABC or Air Batu Campur or shaved ice with syrup with nuts and other sweet stuff thrown in, in the last picture, it doesn't show in this collage, is a Kopitiam shop - a popular cafe for everyone. We've at least 5 near where I lived.


Ah..Godiva, it's gourmet chocolate at it's best and very expensive!



Yep, they are here. Don't know when they opened but I am quite sure Melanie will feel right at home at this place.



The kids and I loved Kinokuniya book store and definitely this, Japanese origami paper.


Something really funny happened outside KLCC at night. I was taking this blurry picture and there were a few people who came over. Obviously they were very curious why I was peering over the pond, asking what's inside or if there are fishes. No, there was nothing there, I was taking this picture which was a reflection of the next picture.



Until Taiwan 101 came up a few years ago, this 88 storey Petronas Twin Tower was the tallest in the world. I love the sight of it at night and never get bored starring at it every time. Took this picture while laying down on some damp grass slope, much to the amusement of many people. I don't like heights, but one day I am going to walk on that sky bridge.


Sorry but this picture is not clear. Just outside KLCC, you can take a shuttle to the Traders Hotel for guest who stay there or want to visit the SKYBAR.



What's in the Skybar? It's open roof bar with a pool and you'll have this as the back drop. I understand they have renovated and opened recently but I couldn't go there with the kids last weekend. Picture taken early last year.


There's still so many things to blog about but I don't have the time for now.
Happy week my good friends, stay healthy too.

Love/M

JJ MARKET, SSS

There are 15,000 stalls here in JJ Market, Bangkok - Thailand. Not a place to miss for shopping.








Go over to Hey Harriet to see the other shooters. Happy weekend everyone.

LAZY DAYS

She's been both busy and lazy. Preparing travel post takes up too much time to sort those hundreds of photos and doing some simple research too. So, here goes the lazy post, still excited about gardening.

She aims to be an organic gardener, meaning definitely no pesticides, poisons and chemicals to be used. To invite those butterflies to come visit daily on her gardenia bush.


Love this beautiful golden butterfly on her zinnias..and there were plenty of those zinnias planted everywhere.



She knows blogger, Julene is planting her Zinnias across the pond, and here's her favourite one...


Another regular visitor here.





Waiting patiently for her shy sunflower to unfold itself...



Oh..she's so in love with this low lying Japanese rose bush grown with zinnias and lantaras, it makes her so happy :D


It makes sense to plant lots of bouganvillas..they just need lots of sunshine which we have plenty here.


It's the perfect flowers for lazy gardeners ...


Another easy plant to care for, the multi-colored lantaras growing along the wall.


As usual, she doesn't know the name of this flower but just love that golden color!


If there is anything vintage-y in her garden, it would be this 30+ years old desert rose plant.


There is nothing better than having breakfast next to this orange jasmine...it just smells so wonderful!!


Cheers for now :D

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY, KOTA KINABALU - SABAH

I posted this SSS somewhere in January. It was a Chinese New Year card with the shadow of the word "FU" meaning prosperity, one of the most used Chinese character during Chinese New Year and widely found everywhere.


When I was staying at the Le Meridien - Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, I shot this picture of a Chinese bamboo and the shadow look very similar the top picture/word - Fu. I call it my lucky shot.


During my trip to Sapi Island, there were plenty of iguanas lounging around lunch time. They were friendly and were looking for food.


Lifeguards on Sapi Island.


A good way to travel within Asia..though not much is happening for now with the 'flu' floating around. We've got our first 2 suspected cases here, so gone are my plans for travelling for the moment..



The weather has been terribly hot and am longing for some rain. You'll find me pottering around the garden and these huge lotus leaves provide some shades for now.


..and this is for Lisa, the coconut candle holder I bought from Bangkok, here doing a SSS at the kitchen.


Happy belated anniversary to Hey Harriet for hosting our SSS and thanks to you, I've got to stock up more sunblock nowadays ;p

Happy weekend everyone.....

BUSY

I have been busy. Every morning, evening and all weekends in the garden. It's a never ending task but it makes me so happy too.















Husband favorite will be with the Kois.


Above are all my collection of lotuses, there are so many other flowers in the garden and I have not taken picture of. It's all I ever think of nowadays, the flowers and gardening. It's almost like an obsession, one I don't want to be cured of too. What about you? Is there something that you are excited about..other than blogging?

Bye for now :D

FOUR FACE BUDDHA @ BANGKOK

In conjunction with Wesak Day, or Buddha's birthday last weekend, I'm posting on the famous Four Face Buddha located at the Erawan shrine. This is the renowned Buddha icon which attracts huge crowds of local and foreign visitors. Our conference was just 500 meters away from this place, so on the last day, we took a walk to this shrine to have a look.


The Erawan shrine was first built as a 'spirit house' in 1953 during the construction of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel then. The construction workers faced many problems and with the help of a local spiritual adviser, this spirit house was built.



From then on, many visitors experienced good fortune and thus, it attracted a huge crowd daily.


People come to ask for blessings of all kinds and in return, they repay with flowers and burning of joss sticks. Anyone can give a small donation but mostly will offer flowers.



Elephants decorated colorfully, here, they are viewed as a sacred animal.



Locals praying.


A huge incense burner.


Locals busy buying flowers.


Outside the very congested street of Bangkok, tuk tuks jostling with cars, a common sight you will see everyday..and night. There was one night we had to go for a dinner from the convention centre to another restaurant just 3 kilometers away, it took us 45 minutes..I could have easily walked over. I have ceased taking the tuk tuk for some time, it gets a dangereous when you are travelling on the opposite traffic and rubbing shoulders with busses most of the times.


Locals busy walking to somewhere, though half were not really 'females' originally, if you get what I mean :P




Took a self reflection photo outside my favourite shop, Jim Thompson. The jacket had to come off when one was walking under intense heat and humidity, even though it was only 500 meters away.


Took a picture of Jim Thompson's bag.


I have been trying to complete my Bangkok post and failing miserably trying to sort out the hundreds of photos and not remembering which had been posted before.

Emi turned 12 last weekend..though she wasn't too happy as she was sick with viral fever, but much better today. It seems like yesterday when she was a toddler, they grow up way too fast..



After months of hibernation, my dwarf yellow frangipani decided to bloom madly for the past 3 weeks. We have 6 of them in different colors but this is definitely a favorite as it's only 4 feet tall and smells utterly divine!



Bye for now :D