Thanks to Groupon the family has been having some of the best meal deals in KL and Klang Valley during the weekend.
On Tim's birthday we had a blast at the Istana buffet (50% off). Now this was a real deal:
1. spaghetti made to order
2. all kinds of mee, meehoon, laksa and koay teow dishes
3. all kinds of curries and Indian food
4. tandooris
5. all kinds of delicious Chinese food, the best was the braised beef in vegetables. Tender succulent beef pieces in rich stock
6. steamed fish and cream fish
7. all kinds of salads
8. rojak and pasembur
9. soups
10. sushi
11. vegetarian dishes
12. ice-cream, small cakes and all kinds of unusual deserts.
The children had a great night out.
Just one thing I wonder how they can remain skinny even after eating all that food...must be in their genes! Me - I can pile it on even after a plate of rice...sigh!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Blessed birthday
 |
Blessed birthday to the best father and husband in the world. May the Lord bless you with long life and good health and many descendants. May we travel to all the continents of the world to see the wonders of His creation! |
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The monkey who stole my glasses
Being a Christian I am never too happy about going to a temple. This was Uluwatu which was part of the holiday tour on Saturday. Amidst sprawling grounds this temple was home to a number of monkeys that roam freely disturbing tourists and looking for food.
I tried to avoid going up to the temple but could not help admiring the scenery from a sloping cliff. The only problem was that the much photographed scenic spot was crawling with monkeys!
Now the van driver cum tour guide told us not to wear our glasses on the head but I was shocked when one of the monkey was so emboldened as to grab my glasses right off my face! Not only my glasses but Tim's as well!
I could not see a thing when the spectacles were yanked off my face. Thank God for a kakak who offered the monkeys some peanuts. Almost immediately one of them dropped Tim's spectacles but mine was nowhere to be found!
Now all the monkeys looked like...well...monkeys! My vision was blurred without my glasses but I knew that unless a miracle happened I would not be able to get back my glasses.
So I prayed....I prayed...and I prayed some more. That was the only thing I could do. "Lord Jesus please bring back my spectacles. My holiday is spoiled without my glasses as I still have one more day to go in Bali!"
Well something miraculous happened! My son went down to the edge of the cliff to pose for photos. He came back with my glasses in his hands. Apparently the monkey who stole my glasses threw them near the edge of the cliff! A wrong throw and my glasses would have tumbled down into the sea......!
Relief was all over my face and my heart was full of thanksgiving to God!
I tried to avoid going up to the temple but could not help admiring the scenery from a sloping cliff. The only problem was that the much photographed scenic spot was crawling with monkeys!
Now the van driver cum tour guide told us not to wear our glasses on the head but I was shocked when one of the monkey was so emboldened as to grab my glasses right off my face! Not only my glasses but Tim's as well!
I could not see a thing when the spectacles were yanked off my face. Thank God for a kakak who offered the monkeys some peanuts. Almost immediately one of them dropped Tim's spectacles but mine was nowhere to be found!
Now all the monkeys looked like...well...monkeys! My vision was blurred without my glasses but I knew that unless a miracle happened I would not be able to get back my glasses.
So I prayed....I prayed...and I prayed some more. That was the only thing I could do. "Lord Jesus please bring back my spectacles. My holiday is spoiled without my glasses as I still have one more day to go in Bali!"
Well something miraculous happened! My son went down to the edge of the cliff to pose for photos. He came back with my glasses in his hands. Apparently the monkey who stole my glasses threw them near the edge of the cliff! A wrong throw and my glasses would have tumbled down into the sea......!
Relief was all over my face and my heart was full of thanksgiving to God!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Ocean walk
Have you ever walked the ocean?
Well on the third day in Bali we signed up for a tour package to walk the ocean. After an hour's talk on the time-sharing scheme (an Italian guy spoke to us about it) we took our taxi to a sea sports center somewhere on the island of Bali.
Now before I tell you about the walk let me tell you about the talk. The time-sharing scheme allows you up to 7 days holiday a year lodging in a prestigious and 5-star accommodation in some of the major cities in the world. After the Italian guy failed to sell us the scheme an American guy came and spoke further on it. However we told them that as I was due to retire we could not afford the USD 30 a month, they did not press the issue further. That's what I like about this group of companies, the Anantara Vacation Club, they were very professional and not pushy at all!
Anyway back to the ocean. Well after changing into our swimming suits which was actually provided by the operator (a one-piece zipped up from neck to the thigh) we took a boat out to the sea. The sea was slightly choppy and greenish. We got off at a platoon where a few more guys in zipped up swimming trunks awaited us. They gave us a tutorial on hand signals while we were underwater. The most important signal was the hand signal for trouble. Nope it was not a gesture of cutting the throat but a thumbs down sign!
The amazing contraption for walking underwater consists of a round white helmet with an airspace for us to breath. Oxygen is then pumped into the round helmet (it looked like a spaced-out astronaut helmet when put over the head) and you breathe naturally through it.
I chickened out! When they began to put the helmet over me, I literally panicked and shouted No! I even had trouble hauling myself up to the platoon.
Of course the family was not happy with me. They said that going underwater was the best experience in Bali. I could not explain the sensation. It was like an attempt by someone to choke the life out of me!
Anyway they had a nice CD to remind them about their once in a lifetime adventure walk! When I looked at the CD it was indeed stunning. All the finding nemo-like looking fish swam amidst beautiful corals and allowed people to feed them with bread underwater. There was even a pathway built into the ocean floor for people to walk! Amazing but not for me....
Well on the third day in Bali we signed up for a tour package to walk the ocean. After an hour's talk on the time-sharing scheme (an Italian guy spoke to us about it) we took our taxi to a sea sports center somewhere on the island of Bali.
Now before I tell you about the walk let me tell you about the talk. The time-sharing scheme allows you up to 7 days holiday a year lodging in a prestigious and 5-star accommodation in some of the major cities in the world. After the Italian guy failed to sell us the scheme an American guy came and spoke further on it. However we told them that as I was due to retire we could not afford the USD 30 a month, they did not press the issue further. That's what I like about this group of companies, the Anantara Vacation Club, they were very professional and not pushy at all!
Anyway back to the ocean. Well after changing into our swimming suits which was actually provided by the operator (a one-piece zipped up from neck to the thigh) we took a boat out to the sea. The sea was slightly choppy and greenish. We got off at a platoon where a few more guys in zipped up swimming trunks awaited us. They gave us a tutorial on hand signals while we were underwater. The most important signal was the hand signal for trouble. Nope it was not a gesture of cutting the throat but a thumbs down sign!
The amazing contraption for walking underwater consists of a round white helmet with an airspace for us to breath. Oxygen is then pumped into the round helmet (it looked like a spaced-out astronaut helmet when put over the head) and you breathe naturally through it.
I chickened out! When they began to put the helmet over me, I literally panicked and shouted No! I even had trouble hauling myself up to the platoon.
Of course the family was not happy with me. They said that going underwater was the best experience in Bali. I could not explain the sensation. It was like an attempt by someone to choke the life out of me!
Anyway they had a nice CD to remind them about their once in a lifetime adventure walk! When I looked at the CD it was indeed stunning. All the finding nemo-like looking fish swam amidst beautiful corals and allowed people to feed them with bread underwater. There was even a pathway built into the ocean floor for people to walk! Amazing but not for me....
Monday, February 25, 2013
Balinese massage
Who can resist an offer from a time sharing company of free accommodation to Bali?
The condition? Tim and I had to attend a 90 minutes talk on this scheme.
Not one to miss up such a deal we decided to include the children as well. Anantara Vacations gave us a 2-villa accommodation with private pool in Seminyak, Bali. The name of the villas was Kunti Villas.
It was beautiful. Paying a little less than RM700 for a 2 night stay in the villas (normally US1,200) was a real deal we figured.
The villas were stunning. Bedrooms were pure luxury with open air bathrooms, an upright bathtub and sky-view toilets. The villas opened up to the swimming pool that was simply clean and warm. The kitchen was open and well equipped with drinks and cooking facilities.
The garden was manicured and all kinds of insects could be found in their natural habitat. Once settled in the villas we decided that this 6-star lodging was well-worth every cent!
We booked a tour that included a Balinese massage and a sunset dinner at Jimbaran Beach. The Balinese massage was relaxing to say the least. All kinds of oils and fragrance were used to massage us. The masseuse were very experienced. We then had a scented bath with flowers strewn in the water in an adjoining bathroom.
After the massage we went to Jimbaran beach for the sunset dinner. The beach was clean but the dinner was so-so. It consists of watery soup with bits of vegetables and barbecue fish, prawn, mussels and cuttlefish. The only thing appetizing was the sambal which I finished off quickly and polished off the children's too!
Some things about Bali to note:
1. People here adopt the same names for the first child, second child, third child and so on and so forth. For e.g our taxi driver was no. 4 so his name was Katut. The next time you meet another person with the same name you know that he is child no. 4!
2. The uniformity of merchandise/food sold in one place. Jimbaran is the place for dinner yet at every restaurant in the place the meals are the same.... barbecue fish, prawns, mussels and cuttlefish! Maybe some variations can be found in the seafood sold but the style of cooking remained the same!
3. At Jimbaran beach, barbecue corn was sold on the beach. However if you were to wander off from your seats to enjoy the sea fronting the restaurants thinking that the corn stalls will be your marker, you will be very confused as many duplicate corn stalls were set up in a row on the same beach! Anyway the grilled corn was fantastic...better than the seafood dinner actually.
First night at Bali and we enjoyed a good night's sleep in the stunning villas!
The condition? Tim and I had to attend a 90 minutes talk on this scheme.
Not one to miss up such a deal we decided to include the children as well. Anantara Vacations gave us a 2-villa accommodation with private pool in Seminyak, Bali. The name of the villas was Kunti Villas.
It was beautiful. Paying a little less than RM700 for a 2 night stay in the villas (normally US1,200) was a real deal we figured.
The villas were stunning. Bedrooms were pure luxury with open air bathrooms, an upright bathtub and sky-view toilets. The villas opened up to the swimming pool that was simply clean and warm. The kitchen was open and well equipped with drinks and cooking facilities.
The garden was manicured and all kinds of insects could be found in their natural habitat. Once settled in the villas we decided that this 6-star lodging was well-worth every cent!
We booked a tour that included a Balinese massage and a sunset dinner at Jimbaran Beach. The Balinese massage was relaxing to say the least. All kinds of oils and fragrance were used to massage us. The masseuse were very experienced. We then had a scented bath with flowers strewn in the water in an adjoining bathroom.
After the massage we went to Jimbaran beach for the sunset dinner. The beach was clean but the dinner was so-so. It consists of watery soup with bits of vegetables and barbecue fish, prawn, mussels and cuttlefish. The only thing appetizing was the sambal which I finished off quickly and polished off the children's too!
Some things about Bali to note:
1. People here adopt the same names for the first child, second child, third child and so on and so forth. For e.g our taxi driver was no. 4 so his name was Katut. The next time you meet another person with the same name you know that he is child no. 4!
2. The uniformity of merchandise/food sold in one place. Jimbaran is the place for dinner yet at every restaurant in the place the meals are the same.... barbecue fish, prawns, mussels and cuttlefish! Maybe some variations can be found in the seafood sold but the style of cooking remained the same!
3. At Jimbaran beach, barbecue corn was sold on the beach. However if you were to wander off from your seats to enjoy the sea fronting the restaurants thinking that the corn stalls will be your marker, you will be very confused as many duplicate corn stalls were set up in a row on the same beach! Anyway the grilled corn was fantastic...better than the seafood dinner actually.
First night at Bali and we enjoyed a good night's sleep in the stunning villas!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The painful blood test
Was taking blood from a vein in the soft part of the elbow so difficult?
Apparently so.
We went dutifully to look for clinics in Penang on CNY eve to do her blood test. Although a no of clinics were opened most of them could not promise the results on the same day as the labs were closed. We did find one clinic though. However they wanted to charge us RM100. We agreed as we were desperate.
However Amanda and I was shocked when the senior doctor could not find her vein. She poked with the needle the first time and no blood came out!
Nervously she asked my daughter "Where does the doctor usually poke you?"
Ai yo....how can a doctor ask her patient that? Mydaughter was thinking how could you not see the tiny holes where the other doctor had taken my blood earlier?
Panicking my daughter told her never mind. It was obvious from the pain in her face that she did not want this doctor to draw her blood.
In fact the clinic assistant asked the doctor to poke the veins in her hand which really alarmed my daughter and confirmed that she was rather inexperienced for a doctor.
Finally we looked for a lab and thankfully found one. The lab only charged us RM15 for the platelet test and the results were also ready in 20 minutes. Well...well...just goes to show how doctors make their money.
Thank God that the results were good & the platelet count had improved from 133 to 199!
Apparently so.
We went dutifully to look for clinics in Penang on CNY eve to do her blood test. Although a no of clinics were opened most of them could not promise the results on the same day as the labs were closed. We did find one clinic though. However they wanted to charge us RM100. We agreed as we were desperate.
However Amanda and I was shocked when the senior doctor could not find her vein. She poked with the needle the first time and no blood came out!
Nervously she asked my daughter "Where does the doctor usually poke you?"
Ai yo....how can a doctor ask her patient that? Mydaughter was thinking how could you not see the tiny holes where the other doctor had taken my blood earlier?
Panicking my daughter told her never mind. It was obvious from the pain in her face that she did not want this doctor to draw her blood.
In fact the clinic assistant asked the doctor to poke the veins in her hand which really alarmed my daughter and confirmed that she was rather inexperienced for a doctor.
Finally we looked for a lab and thankfully found one. The lab only charged us RM15 for the platelet test and the results were also ready in 20 minutes. Well...well...just goes to show how doctors make their money.
Thank God that the results were good & the platelet count had improved from 133 to 199!
The dreaded dengue
After hearing so many tales about dengue, our hearts were really in fear when the doctor confirmed that our youngest daughter had it. Well at first, he said it was measles...then he said it was dengue and we got thoroughly confused!
It started with fever then came the spots all over her body and her face. After doing the blood test, the doctor said that the platelet count had dropped. He advised against traveling anywhere as she may have to be hospitalized at short notice.
You see we were in the midst of the CNY and we were making plans to travel to Penang and then to Bali! The saddest was our youngest daughter who was told that she could not make the journey to Penang. The truth was she had bought the loveliest cheong sam from a Penang boutique and could not wait to wear it! Of course the RMs in ang pow which she did not want to miss out getting.
Praise God for the continuous prayers of our church friends! Her platelet count stabilized on CNY eve and her father decided that she was fit to travel! However the condition was she had to do another blood test in Penang!
It started with fever then came the spots all over her body and her face. After doing the blood test, the doctor said that the platelet count had dropped. He advised against traveling anywhere as she may have to be hospitalized at short notice.
You see we were in the midst of the CNY and we were making plans to travel to Penang and then to Bali! The saddest was our youngest daughter who was told that she could not make the journey to Penang. The truth was she had bought the loveliest cheong sam from a Penang boutique and could not wait to wear it! Of course the RMs in ang pow which she did not want to miss out getting.
Praise God for the continuous prayers of our church friends! Her platelet count stabilized on CNY eve and her father decided that she was fit to travel! However the condition was she had to do another blood test in Penang!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)