Really cool weekend

Last Friday Abi and his two cousins waited for me at Changi Airport as I arrived from KL after 11 at night. We had supper before going home. All I knew was I slept rather early because we had a plan the next day: one my husband and I had always put on hold, until that weekend.

Abi woke up and prepared us his fried mee hoon on Saturday morning. After a quite heavy brunch, the three boys and I hit the road. The day was cloudy but not strong enough reason for us to back out from going to Sentosa Island! Tee hee.

As we walked up from the parking basement, the infamous rotating globe was first to greet us. It was a landmark saying we were somewhere near a Universal Studios and in our case, it was Singapore’s. Being typical visitors, we had to snap a few photos before proceeding to other parts of the newly developed area. After all it was the sneak peek week to this movie theme park and we were kiasu lot so yeah.

We moved on to the Resorts World Sentosa casino. In case you are wondering, sure we went in for the sake of it. For the first time in all our respective lives, we got to check out what was inside. And the scenery was exactly like in those TV series; countless security cameras, eager gamblers, excited crowd, pokerfaced dealers, you name it. However, taking pictures is strictly prohibited within the premise. We also thought it was just not worth the trouble getting caught in the act, so we quickly buried that intention.

From the casino, we walked to the Hard Rock Hotel Singapore. It was raining cats and dogs when we reached there giving us the perfect excuse to check out the hotel lobby and lounge. But first we must go into the Rock Shop and bought a number of t-shirts as mementos.

Knowing for the fact that Universal Studios offered no rides yet following its soft opening, we did not bother exploring further. However, as we were leaving, we saw a store selling exclusive official merchandise and I suddenly thought of the office girls. Because they always brought me stuff back from any vacation, I should just get them something.

We went into the packed store grabbing a few souvenir items. Then we actually left, but not after we struck a couple of more poses in front of the trademark globe (grin). I personally cannot wait until its theme park becomes fully operational next year!

Hot weekend

Last Saturday morning, Abi and I drove back to Paroi Jaya because mom-in-law prepared fried penne for breakfast. My husband ate so much of it that he forgot we had a wedding lunch to attend. So hoping there was still room in our tummies, we went to my colleague’s reception at midday. However, the burning hot climate killed off my eating mood although I was pretty sure I could stuff some more food (sigh). Due to the unforgiving heat my husband and I left as soon as we congratulated the newlyweds. We were on our journey back to my hometown in Penang anyway.

Being public holiday eve, the North-South Expressway became jam-packed with all kinds of vehicles. Abi was crazy mad at the authorities, highway concessionaire, other drivers, road system; to list a few. I must admit the first three hours was a total nightmare! It was until we passed Ipoh that the traffic congestion began to ease. The next two hours was smooth sailing for us right to Juru exit toll.

As we arrived just in time for dinner, I decided to eat prawn noodle in Sungai Dua. The famous Mee Rebus Pak Ngah was our pit stop for the evening. And boy, the prawns they served were huge! The five-hour pain in the butts, literally, was paid off. Even my best prawn skin peel-er (that is you, Abi) could not help smudging his white shirt while at it but still looked darn handsome (kiss).

We spent the night at my grandmother’s house and woke up early on Sunday morning to catch another prawn based meal. Ideal for breakfast, Cucur Udang Aladin is the one prawn dumpling we always always have when in Kepala Batas.

In the afternoon my husband and I went out for lunch at Ikan Bakar Din where we had grilled kembong, sliced stingray, whole terubok, beef soup, bean sprout kerabu, three different sambals, ulam plus drinks. All those for as cheap as RM30 only. For two persons, I must say we had a feast!

Oh I made friends with a retired teacher from Tikam Batu. It was also a pleasure meeting you, Cikgu Zabedah; who was funny, informative and she regarded me as orang berbahasa. Aww I need no more recognition than that. After all, you were nice to me first; it was only natural reflex on my side. Enough said.

Funny story. Abi wanted to check out Batu Feringghi following his brother’s recommendation. He said the place had a facelift and is a must-see if we visited the island. So off we went about nine o’clock that night. However, I already fell asleep in the car before we even reached there. In fact, I passed out the whole time (tongue).

My husband ended up braving the traffic jam, checking out the so-called happening place, from inside of the car, on his own. Even he was not sure how he managed to get us both back to my grandmother’s, at midnight, in one piece, because he was tired himself. Sorry darling and thanks for the safe ride home though.

On Monday morning, we went out to have breakfast at Roti Canai Aziz. They made the crunchiest thing ever and breakfast for two plus one to go, costs less than RM5. I certainly cannot get that price anywhere in KL. For lunch, we tried mixed rice from Nasi Kandar Line Clear. I am neither expert nor a fan but Abi thought it tasted just alright, so yeah.

Daytime was scorching hot sunny that the car’s heat indicator showed an outside temperature of 39 degree Celsius. I felt it was exactly like in Makkah where we went to April last year. Does this mean we need to apply sunscreen when pulang kampong, too? Hmm. However, sizzling hot weather did not stop us from going to Kompleks Dato’ Kailan and bought one half kilos of my favorite selection of pickled fruits for RM12 only (grin).

My cousin invited us to have dinner at his house that evening. They served us fried siakap, mutton kurma, gulai nangka, sambal belacan, moist chocolate cake, sweet pineapple and coconut drink with generous coconut shavings. Although we really enjoyed the feast, Abi started to worry his work pants would not fit anymore. Tee hee. Our final visit was to my father’s and stepmother prepared the best caramel pudding in the whole world! We said good bye to them at 11pm and my grandmother 4.30am before leaving for KL on Tuesday morning.

By the way the eating places highlighted here are worth checked out because they supply great food if not the best. Although I failed to snap any signature dish pictures from those outlets, it is no harm if you just take my word for it. Therefore, the next time you find yourself somewhere in Seberang Perai, I hope you will make use of them hence never go starving (wink).

Heartfelt note

I do not find people who keep on reminiscing their glorious past, interesting. What is worse, they speak about memories from decades ago. It is fun if you do that at a school or university class reunion, but on a day-to-day basis? Came on, this is downright sad!

Almost always you would hear stuffs like, “When I was studying in the UK...” or “I was voted queen at prom back in 1816…” So my following questions are, “How much government fund was wasted educating you, again? Why does your job performance not reflect your old illustrious self?” Exactly.

Actually, I enjoy listening about you here, now, in this life. If you are also making contributions to your family, company and the economy, all the better. Personally, I have more respect for people who not only move on with their lives but also look forward to the future. Time is too precious for me to waste on the past because I need it more in juggling life. Wait, do I have a life? More than you can imagine. Hmm.

Allow me to brief you on the four basic groups of people in my daily existence. There are the office girls whose role is to share job related issues during working hours. Well, maybe sometimes we extend the sharing after official hours over drinks and dinner. Next in line are the gossip buddies who sign in as the unconditional listeners to my complaints from a hard day’s work. We make a point to meet up every week, without fail so far.

Then comes in the blasts from my past including former schoolmates or university acquaintances. With them, it is usually brief encounters in the last minute without proper plans and merely to catch up on our respective lives, so we know that the other is doing alright if not great. Finally, I give credits to the clan and relatives who never fall short on entertainment for Abi and me. You guys always have dramatic stories to tell whenever we are around. God bless all of you.

Why are these groups so incredible, you ask? The key is we talk of current goings on. Simply progress and updates. We never went too far aback where everything was easy and relaxed. Of course we will forever miss those crazy moments but now is more attention-grabbing. It is much much more challenging hence intriguing (grin).

What I am saying is my present life is content, thank God. Not a thing can bring me down, you know? I try hard every other day thinking what could possibly make me miserable. But all the efforts come back nothing. Although some people might hate my jolly attitude and it is not hard to tell them apart; even that does not shake me.

I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs to the world that I am happy. How else can I say this to you? I do not know how to be pathetic. Hey, is that some sign of abnormality? Seriously to me, happiness is a state of mind. You may hate the repetitive job you do for so long now. You may love another but it is unrequited they would never be yours. However those are too small an issue because baby, life still goes on as it must.

The world is a place awful enough to survive if everybody keeps focusing on weaknesses – theirs and others’. Instead, it will be a better one when people give full concentration to strengths. I am not telling you have an option in doing it. In fact you should be doing this. Enough with the negativity, people. It brings you nowhere. Positivity takes you places and believe me, it does (tongue). By this time, I could safely say that I have been there, done that; without hesitation or regret.

I am Sanguine and I live for the moment. Fond memories have found their place and they are there to stay – at the back of my head. Bad relationship with a family member, even friend; or so-called life disaster would come haunting me unless I make peace with it. It is amazing how you too can laugh about it then, because in years to come none of it is relevant anymore. Therefore, moving forward is the way to go for me.

Oh by the way, our Phuket tour video has been available for quite a while now. What can I say about it? It is by far the coolest personal work of art, like ever, courtesy of my husband’s brother: future film director. So good I decide to put its link here. There is a catch though; it has a password! Alright, no surprise there. Do not look at me, ask my brother-in-law because he produced it like that. Tee hee. Thus, this exclusive video is dedicated for people who care and matter to all of us who are on it. Enjoy!

p/s: I might be willing to entertain password request. Courteous Malaysians, all you got to do is ask nicely (wink).