X-mas in Sarikei

Beat being in JB. Here have family & friends since small. The relationships are more meaningful and worthwhile.

YYovelaY
mummy loves you! happy 2nd birthday, sulu mami!

merry christmas to all my friends & family!

& happy new year 2010!

new year...what are my expectations?

this time i don't wish to turn back time. i just want to move on to a higher / better level in my life.
this time i wish everything will be better. i just want to move on and forget everything in the past.
this time....

Not even a week come back from Sarikei i fell sick. Rather than become more energetic and in high spirit, i am weak and heartbroken. Will i ever feel better?

Monday morning with a surprise

My baby woke up 530am and cried looking for her daddy.

'mummy...papa nar?' warh......*cried*
I hug her hoping that she'd sleep again...but i still can hear her sobbing quietly.

I just can't sleep after that. I never ever thought my baby would miss her daddy so much!
We woke up again at 745am and i made milk for her to drink and told her i'm going to take a shower and she need to finish her milk. She nod. I kiss her on her cheek. As i walk towards the shower, she screamed for me 'mummy! mummy!...
i check on her in the room and she was crying! And again, asking for her daddy. sobbing...
'mummy, papa nar li?' it felt like getting a brain freeze and a heart attack at the same time. but i keep my cool...and...
my standard answer is : papa is working, ok darling?
usually, she'd just nod her head but this morning she roll her body to the other side of the bed and sob...
i hope she'll be fine after playing with her friend, ying xin and her nanny.

Hummer Sold to Chinese Manufacturer

My dream car...now officially become china brand after sold to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Corp. last Friday.

The first & only time i sit inside that giant was during Singapore Car Show back in year 2006. I fell in love with it ever since...

KKHH

last time watch this movie many times..never feel bored.hehehhehe

林隆璇&李聖傑-妳那麼愛他

You only learn how to cherish everything beautiful around you after you lose your love.

It's only that she left your life too soon.

When you finally think about it, she doesn't love you anymore.

At last, what you're left with is a struggle to break free

Chorus:

You love her so much,

Why don't you ask her to stay?

Why don't you say the truth?

That you love her,

and everyone knows that.

You love her so much

Why don't you ask her to stay?

Is it because you love 2 person?

That's why you don't want to be trapped.

SMILE!

excited to go out...

Lose some weight gain some umph!

Kinohimitsu's for breasts firming + Nivea for whole body firming + wall push-up + perfecting body posture

SmilE!

All smile...

This is Jalan Tan Heok Nee
my baby girl
two dahling of my life...

Post- Mid Autumn Festival in Johor Bahru

Inside the new Johor Chinese Heritage Museum in Jalan Tan Heok Nee

rare photoshot

an old grandpa was chuckling on the side watching Ms. Thien cute smile....


Sunday morning, 4th Oct, 2009 ( last day for free entrance )
Destination : Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum
Jalan Tan Hiok Nee ( how to get here )
Entrance fee : RM3/ adult
RM1 / children, seniors and students

The history of how Johor come about with the help of Kangchu system introduced by The Teochew. Besides Teochew, Hokkien, Hakka, Cantonese & Hainanese came to Johor or earlier called Tanah Selatan ( Southern Land ) and establish their associations. Some of the first original association buildings are still the in operation today.

View Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum in a larger map

Mid-Autumn Festival, Sat 3rd Oct, 2009

Ms. Agatha, Mr. Bob & Ms. Thien
Ms. & Mr. Thien

Ms. Thien hates flash

Ms. Agatha, Ms. Thien & Mr. Thien

Hu Die* & Mickey Mouse that suppose to go to Johor Jaya.

*butterfly

Last Saturday, heavy rain. Thought that after dinner can go to Johor Jaya to join the festival & parade. But even after we finished our dinner, it still rain and no choice went back home and make our own lantern setting.
Went back home, clean girl up and get ready for bed [ almost 930pm ], then the rain stop. Thanks a lot, Rain...but then, the next day, Sunday it rain again in the evening...heavy rain. Went to 777 for dinner. We manage to secure a clean table there and having our catastrophic dinner [ having a small kid can be quite a dining adventure, you know] . Haahahahaha....

China 60th's

WOW...yesterday morning 10am purposely tune to cctv china to watch the celebration livecast.
the only word i can describe the ceremony, WOW!

The rising star beside Istanbul & India. Now America also need to bow down to China. During recent recession, if China didn't dump in money to US, that giant would go bankrupt liao!

Now PM Najib follow his late father's footstep to refresh the relationship that have been abandon by previous PMs. I think it's a good thing. I just hope it's not too late...

Why Malaysian should thank you Saudi Arabia?

Since the announcement made by PM last month, everybody must have hold up their plan to make / renew passport until yesterday, Oct 1st, 2009. Why? Well now Malaysian only have to pay 1/3 from the previous price tagged by Tun Mahathir during his power. I mean RM300 reduced to RM100 is A BIG DISCOUNT...i think.

Some might shallowly thank our PM NAJIB for his considerate and his newly found 1Malaysia. But some AND myself, think a little deeper because i never believe something as it is what it is especially when it comes to POLITIC.

I admire the way our politicians gravitates some issues with time and situation. They would hold up some vital informations that can lead to a deadly end. For examples, H1N1 pandemic. The citizens were left unaware of the danger of this pandemic until its too late, until a few locals died and people start to wonder why there are no measures and precautions made? OR the time we are introduced to 2M EURO Diesel? I know we are behind Singapore because that Republic now using cleaner, greener 4M EURO diesel! I know...because i drive diesel truck.

The immigration department received piles of complaints regarding the expensive RM300 / 5 years for 32-pages passport or RM600 for 64-pages. It is true. Compared to our neighbour country, our passport price is wayyyy too expensive. Almost a ridiculous price. I'd say IT IS RIDICULOUS! Imagine if 1 family have more than 3 kids. Maybe 6 or 8, for some highly productive couples; how much would they have to pay just for a once in a lifetime family trip to oversea?

Okay, okay. Back to the topic, some might still don't get it what saudi arabia has to do with our newly-so-called-cheap passport? Jeng, jeng, jeng!

Recent year, Saudi Arabia has imposed a regulation to all the Muslim pilgrimages all over the world to provide passport upon entering their country. And all these, through TABUNG HAJI, anybody who wish to do pilgrimage DOES NOT NEED a passport. Your IC / ID would do just fine.

As we all know, majority of the pilgrimage are of medium to lower income. They go to MECCA for their once in a lifetime experience of pilgrimage. Some i know have to wait until 15 years to accumulate enough money to make the journey. A passport of RM300 per person is a burden for them. For some 30% off their salary.

Well, maybe Tabung Haji can help them to 'tampong' a little or maybe pay for their passport. But for how many, how long? Right? Now RM100 passport valid for 2 years introduced by our PM to show the true 1Malaysia spirit. Or it is not?

Like i told you before i refuse to believe something as it is what it is. So i do some math,

OLD PASSPORT

RM300 = 5 years

NEW PASSPORT

RM200 = 2 years

let say i'm a frequent traveller, 2 yrs later i pay another RM200.

Total of 4 years i already pay RM400!

Darn! Oh well, at least most of us can make that oversea trip now....NOW, everybody can have passport.hahahahhaa....

thanks to Saudi Arabia, thanks to Muslim pilgrimages.

P/S : immigration dept only process 400 application per day. So quick!

The Climb

I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high
There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle
Sometimes you going to have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes they knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause
There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm going to have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle
Sometimes you going to have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith

Yovela : The meaning

Name : YOVELA

Origin : Hebrew

Meaning : Rejoice

I looked for her english name for months and from A to Z before she was born. While her dad would think of her chinese name. Before we settle with her name right now, her dad actually had another name for her THIEN RUON YIN and i was about to settle with AMY. But it was not finalised. I felt RUON YIN is too 'heavy' on her. So we kept on searching. Finally i found the name that suits her surname THIEN and her new chinese name YINQ QIAN. I'll ask her dad the meaning of her name later. I forgot the meaning.

I had my tooth screwed.

Location : Klinik Gigi Yap, Johor Jaya. [same row with Maybank ]
Checked in time : 1040
Checked out at : 1130
Cost : RM90
Result : Flawless. I like it. Recommended.

090909

so what?

is it so meaningful to you all?

Supernatural 5

I can't wait for Supernatural 5 to come out. Never been addicted to a miniseries like this before.

Ipoh, Perak

The place we stayed..Ritz-Garden hotel... the one with bright pyramid roof
Ipoh have many abandoned shophouses
old time design

trying to open the lock

never fail to amuse herself with the mirror

Ipoh is an unbelieveably quiet town even during day time. Just came from a big city and 6 hours later arrive in Ipoh is really a calming experience. Especially after we almost lost in KL road [ i was not the one driving. LOL ]. I heard a lot about how calm & peaceful Ipoh was, i just can't believe it all until the recent visit. WOW!

Restoran Chun Hui, Muar

taking these pictures while waiting for order to come
this place is popular for its Assam Pedas Fish
waiting...
the signboard.on the way down to jb from muar town

*peace*

their kitchen

Muar Specialty ; Otak - Otak. another dish shown here is the fried fish. This fish is so familiar but i forgot the name. Ikan daun kah or something like that...coz of its shape.

Sambal Udang & Sotong with Petai. Unbelieveably spicy until it taste bitter. You'll sweat & cry at the same time. In Muar, the chinese eat like the malay. Eat spicy food also...

The Assam Pedas Fish...minus the Pedas Gravy. We ordered the spicy gravy separately...for safety reason.

Muar Assam Pedas Fish! Spicy!

Apple Pie II

have extra dough so i made 3 teddy shape pastry placed in between the slits. Brush egg on top. Bake for 45min - 1 hr , 210 degree Celcius.
remember to provide ventilation for your pie or your pie will burst half way baking.
freshly cut out.

another way to have fruit into one's diet.

can you see the sweet juice? By adding a few cubes of butter on top of the apple mount before covering the pie, you'll get extra juicy pie!

This morning breakfast ; apple pie with whipped cream & a glass of milk
Before
After

It's a very easy pie to make. Any type of apple would do. This time i used Granny Smith a.k.a green apple. Granny Smith still maintain its crunch even after it is baked.
***
How to get a crumbly crust?
The secret is in the butter and icy cold water. I used normal butter bar and cut it into small cubes and store it in the fridge before using it. Beside the butter, i add cold shortening too. When mixing the ingredient together, try not get your palm in contact with the mixture. Even better, try to use fork. Once the mixture of flour, salt, butter & shortening become a crumbly mixture, add cold water a little at a time until the mixture become a dough.
***
2 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 bar of Anchor Butter
4 tablespoon shortening
1 cup ice water

My baby favourite

Sick and you don't care

Enjoy!

Never Ending Story ~ Limahl

Turn around

Look at what you see

In her face

The mirror of your dreams

Make believe I'm everywhere

Given in the light

Written on the pages

Is the answer to a never ending story...

Reach the stars

Fly a fantasy

Dream a dream

And what you see will be

Rhymes that keep their secrets

Will unfold behind the clouds

And there upon a rainbow

Is the answer to a never ending story...

Show no fear

For she may fade away

In your hand

The birth of a new day

Rhymes that keep their secrets

Will unfold behind the clouds

And there upon a rainbow

Is the answer to a never ending story

A Stigma As An Iban In Malaysia Part 2

I made this two posts to let you know how i feel this past few years. Most of the people i met would give me that LOOK or totally ignore me because i look like filipino. I admit 4 years in JB, i have noticed some Iban or Bidayuh girl working in pubs & clubs downtown JB although they would tell me they are from elsewhere when i asked them. Some are embarrased to admit it. I don't mind it anyway.

In our street also have Iban ladies work in pubs. I know they are Iban. I'd love to approach them and chat but i believe it is best just to smile and wave from far. I respect their privacy. They came to JB for certain reason. Whatever the work they take must have been the best they can get. At least they earn a living.
Although, not all Iban / Bidayuh girl come here to work in pubs. Some land decent job like engineer, technicians, Store manager, Shop keeper...i know i've met them. They also recognised me as an Iban too. 50.000 Dayak in JB doing just fine after all.

****
Location : Restoran F***, Masai . 4 years ago.
A conversation with the restaurant owner.
****
Tauke Neo : Oh...so you are from Sarawak? Can eat pork kah?

TLL : Can, why not?

TN : No lah...i heard there are two types of Malay there. One can eat pork, one cannot eat pork.

****
So little information that lead to misconception. Sigh! After 4 years staying in Johor Bahru, i am getting fed up and tired trying to introduce myself to people. It was so weird. They have the first impression that i am a foreigner (not ang moh but filipino ) and immediately their body language changed. I feel being double standard almost all the time. Not only because i'm a woman but as a woman with a stigma.
****

A stigma as an IBAN in Malaysia Part 1

2009...1957
53 years after independence day.

2 weeks ago, a TNB guy come and check our meter. I was upstair and papa was downstair monitoring him and telling him about our meter problem. I guess i just want to take a peek from the staircase to see what was taking him so long. The TNB guy and papa was talking and he catched a glance of me and continue talking. He took the second glance at me and this time he have THAT look on his face. I knew it!

TNB Guy to Papa : So ini bil sapa mau bayar...dia ka awak?
Papa : Apa beza dia atau saya bayar? Apa masalah?
TNB Guy : Tak..dulu saya datang sini dia cakap BAHASA INGGERIS.

So tell me, what do you think was going on?
Well, i tell you what i'm thinking what he think was going on.

1. Just because i speak in English, he think i am a Filipino 'maid'.

2. Then, he saw that my skin is not as pale as Filipino, his BEST second guess is i am an Indonesian 'maid'.

3. I CAN SPEAK MANDARIN! So am i a China Chinese as well?

For all my Malaysian friends [especially TNB Guy], please come out from our selfish coconut shell and take a look around you. This Malaysia is not only about YOU alone. There are more of US than YOU alone. WE ARE MALAYSIAN too. Is it because my face doesn't fit any of the 3 races that I strongly believe is the only races you know? or this incident happen because i can speak multiple languages?! what if i can speak tamil too? am i an Indian? Do you know what race is Lain-lain? Why the Gov must classify us into Bumiputera Sarawak, Bumiputera Sabah & Bumiputera? What does Gov mean by that?! Aren't we Bumiputera enough? Or Gov just bestow the title Bumiputera for the sake of ELECTION? what's the deal here?!
I AM AN IBAN...do i need to get myself tattooed to proved that too and wearing our traditional clothes everyday? ...I'll get a tattoo...anyway.

Bully Kids

A life lesson

Here & There [Ipoh-Cameron-Muar]

Somewhere near Brinchang
EQ Strawberry Farm

Sitting in Muar Night Food Place

Muar

Muar