Long Weekend with #anakcucuPakMasnollah

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog.

So.. what's up? A super long weekend is over, and it will be another 6 weeks before another long weekend. So what has happened the past two weekends?

CNY weekend was awesome. We (the #anakcucuPakMasnollah entourage)  booked a pit at Changi Beach Park, all hyped for night to come. Happy is, when we all managed to surprise our precious girls with the whisper challenge thingy.. And my husband managed to record the moments and had uploaded it up to youtube. Link later as you read. :)

It was a teamwork involving two external resources, namely, Dhiyya Delights/Ainal Dhiyya for the awesome 2-in-1 cake, and the guy from Run My Errands who picked up the cake and deliver it right to our pit.

As we all know, the cake baker is not a new name in my life. I stalked her for a long long while prior to my engagement, and because I just cannot risk having a pretty but not tasty cake, I engaged her service to bake a cake for the girls birthday some 4-5years ago. Seeing is believing, it looked good, and tasted even better than it looks! So I took the plunge and engaged her for my wedding cake and the gift exchange cakes. And like the first I had only told her what kindda cake I want, how I want it to be, and roughly how I want it to look. For most of time when I engaged her service, I rarely tell her exactly what I want, just excerpts of what I want, and she always always surprises me pleasantly by exceeding my expectations wildly. I am not exaggerating. Trust me, I don't get any special discounts for every time I mentioned her. This is sincerely my heartfelt appreciation to her work and of my satisfaction everytime I engaged her to bake for me. Yes, it may be pricey but it is worth every single cent for a cake beyond satisfaction, it looks great, but taste superbly awesome. Not stingy with her ingredients, which is why her small 5" cake is usually more than 1kg.

So this time all I had said is that the girls are worlds apart, with one loving mango and another one loving anything chocolate, and here is the result:

Lovely right? 2-in-1 cake!

Well, we booked the pit on 7th February, eve of CNY. There will be many couriers, but all would be off to celebrate the holidays as well. I went crazy, because I don't want to have myself out to collect the cake leaving the girls suspicious, and definitely not anyone else in the family because they will be suspicious all the same.

Then a friend suggested me to try Run My Errands. I browse thru the FB Page for a long while, after being very sure that all there is there are positive reviews, I private messaged and was instantly greeted well with a quotation. Pricey yes, but I have not much choice. I decided to confirm my details and see how it goes. All the while, from the first to the last message to inform him of some changes and all was promptly attended to and replied within the same hour.

On that day, I was anxious. It was approximately 7.30, that I got a message to inform that the cake has been collected. Few minutes later my baker confirmed that the cake has been collected. We were throwing random phrases to everyone and it wasn't the girls' turn yet when I received the call to confirm our location as he has arrived. Oh boy. he was discreet knowingly that it was meant for a surprise. It was a brief smile, a quick thank you and the cake is with us out of the girls' viewing range. So while my 2nd sis and BIL got busy opening the cake and getting it ready for the girls, I snapped back in the whisper challenge and got the girls to guess our special phrase!

Watch it here.

The look on their faces. so blur. What a random phrase right? Heh, then we gestured them to look at what's on the table and you can clearly see the glow on their faces. So special. So so special.

I can hardly believe that the mango girl is 21 and the chocolate girl is 19 going 20 this year. Their birthday is just 3 weeks apart, and they had always celebrated it together like twins. They are the first two children under my care, so they are special, too special for words.

I know I have wished you girls earlier, and I am wishing you girls again. Happy Birthday, Grow Wisely, Be Kind. I love you!

We didn't stay till morning, in the video you could tell the wind was extremely strong and some of us are catching the cold. We left a little past midnight for the warmth on our beds. When Monday came, I became extremely lazy, all I wanna do is lay on bed and sleep and sleep.

I was really suppose to sew two pairs of skants but it clearly didnt happen. The only thing that happened on Tuesday is my meeting with my insurance agent to update my policies and the trip to Bras Basah to get my Fossil watches serviced, and on the way back, meet a friend to get the VKen socks.

I dragged myself to the reality that it is going to be work day. Thankfully it is just for 1.5days. Then an accident happened to my dad, who had tried to hold the lift door open only to have his blood spurting out like paint, and he just shoved his finger to my face asking to put a plaster on it. So I dragged him to the clinic with lots of tissues pressed on the open wound to get it dressed. Too freak for me!

Thankfully, my bosses are understanding for trusting to my words. It was a crazy week with my injured father especially with his dementia. Every time he wakes up from his sleep, he seemed to wonder why his finger is bandaged and tried to open it, and even wash it before screaming in pain. And we all screamed the house crazy because no matter how often we remind him, he forgets. The battle is real. The horror to have Dementia is real. So real I am scared. One day, when he cannot recognize anyone anymore, I wouldn't be able to work full time, I will have to be on alternate days or half days so I can bring him out away from my very overly stressed mother. Life will be crazy.

On Friday night, we fetched our weekend baby. On Saturday, I babysat another three children and instantly became a mother of 4. Thankfully the older children are very giving to my weekend baby. The little baby was having a bad cough though.

And on Sunday, we went to the market, to the wedding reception and to the airport. And today back in the office again. It suddenly got me thinking of marriage, and what it means, but I guess that is for another entry.

Oh! And I just wanna officialize that #sewbasic won't be taking apparel orders. I just felt that we are better at doing bags and taking orders for that than we are up to taking apparel orders. Fret not though, I will definitely direct you to other better tailors around to serve you, insyaAllah.

Until next time,
Jun

Wassalam.

Travelling in a big group - Part 2

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog.

So sorry abt the abrupt ending of my trip post.. I shall now focus on the happy memories and good stuff ya?

So with a big group, of various age group, and having them letting me decide what to do and where to go.. we ended up with a vague itenary and just adjust to suit as the day pass..

Our Driver is Mr Haikal & Mr Alif Afifi

Nice pair, little words, but willing to just let us decide and he will just drive and drop, and call him for a return fetch for the next drive and drop.

Day 1:

We wasted a bit of time screwing up the simcard. Our initial bungalow was screwed too.

So we had lunch, and by the time we got to the replacement bungalow, it was already almost 4pm, so we did our prayers, and only managed to head on to Oriental Village.

As previous blog, we had the most fun at Art in Paradise (5D Museum). It is only open till 7.30pm.

So we spent hours there, then went ahead to grab souveniers first so we don't have a chance to forget later on.

By the time we were done there, evening is almost gone, so we headed to the beach to catch the most beautiful sunset (return to previous post to see the pictures!)

Then we headed to the pasar malam, and we were done for Day 1.

Day 2:

Planned -
1) Breakfast
2) Shift to new air-conditioned chalet (which we regretted, see previous post!)
3) Taman Agroteknologi Mardi

4) Makam Mahsuri
5) Telaga Air Hangat

Congkak is a traditional malay game, of which I am proud to say that my children know how to play. 

Not bad the service, possibly the best foot scrub I've ever had. 

6) Tempat jual Gamat
7) Bird Paradise
8) Puchase raw food and stuff for BBQ
9) BBQ all night

Please tell me, DARK right? This is with the help of our unit's lights.. And that woman asked us to move to the corner which is 150% even darker. Use your brain la eh anak "Warisan Siti". Please eh!

Day 3: It is sad that the end is nearing...

So we planned the following:

1) Breakfast
2) Underwater World

3) Enjoy beach breeze

We hang around this area. the chalets here are much smaller probably enough for two with just a bed and toilet. but it faces the beach which probably makes it fun to just hang out at the beach instead of inside the chalet. They have about 10 huts or so. Behind (further away from the beach) is a longer house with several units for possibly bigger families.

4) Shopping & Lunch (no pics la too busy shopping!)
5) Dataran Lang

6) Spa Time

Very serene, and great atmosphere 

This place is highly recommended! We reached there a little late, one of the masseuse had to stay back because of us, for that we thank you and we will put on a separate post to review their services and prices so stay tune for it. If you are in Langkawi, do look for Bellis Spa. money very WORTH spent!

7) Dinner
Because it was our last night, we invited the drivers to join us.. He brought us to his hometown (Kuah) maybe most sought for makan place, and it was truly awesome. Fishes were freshly caught!

And we spend rm100 for 12 of us! We had Ikan Bakar, Ikan Tiga Rasa, Kangkung belacan, tom yam soup, telur dadar, Sambal Lala, Urap, and boy we were full to our brims.

Now the day has really end...

The girls in foreground and the boys in the background. 

I like that yellow plane! I do! I do! I do!

With a heavy heart, we had to bid Langkawi goodbye. We will return Langkawi, we will... May you continue to prosper, and surprise us with your upgraded versions.

We deeply will miss you!

Wassalam,
Kami #anakcucuPakMasnollah bercuti..

Our Langkawi Trip - Travelling in a big group!

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know I haven't blogged in awhile. Well, 2015 gave me an opportunity to be home a lot, and I cleared my leave to spend almost 2 full weeks at home.

I even had a family vacation, and it is not just my parents, this trip consists of 3 families! Yes! Both my sisters came along!

So it was me, my parents, Ummie Yam's family minus Siti N, Mama H's family minus her husband, 10 of us! Yes, my husband didn't get to tag along too, and I missed him tonnes! Doesn't help that my dad keep calling him instead of my brother-in-law.

Yup, these 10 went on a holiday, TOGETHER!

Planning

Now, travelling in a big group is not always easy or smooth sailing. Being a big group, it meant many differing opinions, and ideas. Thankfully, it didn't take too long to decide on Langkawi. And for me to do all the necessary booking. We wanted to all stay in one place, like a house, instead of hotel rooms where we will be separated. So we decided on Permai D'rees bungalow that could fit all 10 of us.

We had budget restraints and decided to try stay low to sgd$300 range, and we managed! Each of us paid sgd$308 each for our 4N3D stay. This is includes our van with driver throughout our stay on top of our flights and accomodation. SWEET!

Hiccups

While I was onboard my flight, I got a message from our driver/guide that he couldnt get us a van until 4pm. Dang! Upon arrival, My Digi simcard refused to work, and we stupidly tried to configure and troubleshoot leaving all of us stranded for an hour or so, before we decided to just get a new simcard and call our driver. Thankfully, he was already there with our van, so we can basically start our adventure right away. We were starving so we head out for lunch first. 

Then another hiccup. the bungalow we opted for had some problems, and he had arranged us another one in replacement, a homestay bungalow. 

And so we all thought, one after another, or please don't spoil our moods. 

The replacement bungalow wasnt that bad but it was not air-conditioned, the toilet kindda smell, and the fridge had left overs! And oh! The lizards were huge and FAT!

The children requested we get the house changed. So we asked, and the driver said he would arrange while we go out sightseeing. 

Art in Paradise, Langkawi

Of course, we headed out to Oriental Village to check out their 5D museum!! We took too many photos! It was nothing BUT awesome! We all had fun, then we knew we would continue to have fun as a family regardless what may come. 

Here are just some highlights of the pictures we took...

Oh, I borrowed a son while I was there. Heh!

The boy just came to me and so I took him in my arms and took a picture together! 

Sunset

You all know Langkawi has the nicest sunset right?

Well try to disagree with this:

Pasar Malam

Their pasar malam is not something you would want to miss if you on the main island. Oh no no no no. We didnt have pictures to prove you but it was awesome, where else can you get a cup of coconut drink for just RM1? We went crazy with the food and brought them all home to munch on.. It is not every day that we live in a huge house... 

Nany's Homestay

It is really not always that we get to enjoy such a huge house to ourselves...

A little secret sharing okay? We instantly regretted the shift, this house is 110% nicer than the "new" place. Now, let's rant, okay?

Penginapan Chalet Warisan Siti

This place. Initially we were feeling good about the shift, air-conditioned, very clean, seemed to taken care of pretty promptly and periodically as there were no weird smell of any sort. 

The driver even said we could BBQ that night at that open space in front of our unit. And yes, it is a chalet, so imagine Aloha. Yeah.. THAT size. I know.. We should have just sensed it was too small and we should HAVE just requested to shift back to Nany Homestay where it is roomy and had plenty of space to "lepak". 

It would have been pleasant had someone who claimed to be the owner's daughter hadn't come by to argue with us on how we got to the BBQ utensils.

Okay, you know what? They only provide the pit okay! the rest we need to BUY on our own! No mesh, no charcoal, no thongs, nothing okay! And guess what? It was pitch dark, we only had the lights in front of our units to depend on! And the lady asked us to BBQ at the corner where it is totally PITCH BLACK! IT was DARK damnnit! My BIL asked if they would BBQ in that dark corner, and she stammer. He said we can shift it to the corner, but we would definitely need some light, and again, she stammer and then decided it is OK because she didnt want to waste electricity. Even got the cheek to ask us where we got our mesh and food from. Like DUH we bought them, where in this chalet would we find them? And then she pointed our the the pit, and asked my BIL where we got that from. Like how ridiculous, right? From your whoever who gave us the keys to the room?!!

And then she just tapped on her husband and left. Yup, left us in the dark BBQing away. We didnt expect that MUCH, but if this is how you are treating your guests, then I guess you deserve a 0* out of 5. Yup, ZERO! No PR skills at all! 

At this point, it is obvious why we regretted so much about shifting! It was suppose to fit 10 pax, but no extra mattress, no extra pillows. Just great, isn't it? We, 10 adults, slept on 6pillows and 3 beds. guess what? some of us had to sleep on the hard cold floor. How great?

Thankfully, we all spend a lot of time OUT. 

I will continue on my trip blog and itenary another day.

Happy Holidays!

Wassalam,

Jun