Syawal 1429H

Posted under Celebrations, Take a break

There would be only about five days more before all Muslims around the world would celebrate Syawal 1429H. Seemed like it was only yesterday that we started to fast, and now, one could only imagine the feast that the family would prepare for that day. I can’t wait to eat the ketupat pulut that my mom would make, and it would, undoubtedly, be so good with the rendang or any chicken curry that Mama  would cook the night before.

My mom told me that she baked some cookies, namely kuih makmur (though she had some gripe about it), kuih daisy(another gripe, hopefully she gets it sorted today heh), and kuih samperit. I don’t bake any cookies because we are here, and there is no oven here, like I already mentioned in this entry. I know that there is couple of cookies that I am interested to bake once we get home, but mom said I shouldn’t bother. I would be wasting time slaving in the kitchen when I should be, instead, visiting families and friends. She is right, of course.

But I couldn’t go about without something prepared, should anyone care to visit. I think I would be making some fried peanuts covered with spicy batter and another thing. Should probably cook some rendang and bring it home, while I am at it. We’ll have to figure out some contingency plan since I don’t think that I would want to cook come the second day of raya, you know what I am saying? To cook something here, and haul it back home would take some plans, at least for an amateur like me. So, I’ll just see how it goes.

And we have not decided when to go home. Would it be good to travel couple of days before raya? The day before? What about the night before? I knew that traffic could get nightmarish. I just don’t know how bad it would be. Whom should I refer to eh? Anybody had any experience going down south for eid? Share your experience, please?

Ah well. I shouldn’t even asked for people’s opinions since I think a lot of people is already on their raya break already, being this is already Thursday and all. So, forget I ask tee hee. We would have to just forge ahead, any day, I guess

And our travel plans would have to wait until I picked up my couple of baju kurungs. It sent it out on the second week of puasa, ok. I was so lucky that these couple of tailors (hahaha, I had to send it to two different tailors since none of them were willing to take two pairs hehe… ), and they promised me that I could pick them up either on Friday (tomorrow!!) or Saturday. Whichever day is fine, as long as they had it done, kan? I thought they were quite cheap since the one that the husband wanted to go to initially would costs him 160 bucks per baju. Gila ke apa paying that much? And they would charge 80 for Tia’s baju. I am like, no way jose! That would be one of the times that I wished that I knew how to sew my own baju kurung. Just plain baju kurung for me and the daughter. Or maybe learning how to sew baju melayu for the husband, too. That would be very nice, but then where would I go learn how to sew baju melayu that would not cost me an arm and a leg, eh?

This was supposed a short entry on Eid, and I had go on and on about everything else! OK, lest I kept on rambling,

Selamat Hari Raya Eidul Fitri buat semua rakan taulan dan keluarga. Kami sekeluarga ingin memohon ampun dan maaf jika ada ketelanjuran bahasa, ada kecacatan di dalam kelaku yang telah menyakiti hati anda. Pandulah dengan cermat semasa pulang ke kampung halaman, kerana kita tahu ramai pemandu yang rabun mata di luar sana

Play dough

Posted under Admin's Logs, Just babling..., Nothing in particular...., Take a break, intermission

I am not really talking about playdough the kiddie dough stuff, actually. I am referring to fondant. I am not sure what fondant’s are, but I am so enamored with its end result.

I am not a good baker. I could bake some cakes, some breads (if I was lucky enough to knead the dough well), and some cheesecake. OK, so I could bake some delicious cheesecakes, but I was lucky that I found one very fool proof cheesecake recipe.

Again, I am off tangent. I could cook OK, but baking is still a hit and miss thing. I wished that I do more baking, actually. I always wanted to be a better cook, even thought of going to culinary school to learn pastry and baking. I could do that, I supposed, when Tia is older, and when we have that extra moolah stuck here or there.

The idea of going to culinary school had been there for a long time, even when I was still in college back in Memphis. But of course, I had no recourse and no resources of changing my major back then, so I had to stick to what I was doing. I am not sure what I would be doing should there were any options of changing into culinary school then. I am not sure where I would be, what I would be doing. But those are not worth thinking about since I did not go into culinary school. Close the book on that one, and just move on.

Well, move on I did, but the idea of going to culinary school is still at the back of my mind. Baking and pastry school, that is, because I am not interested to go to cooking school. Let me rephrase that. I know that I wanted to culinary school, but my main interest would be in baking and pastry. If I was able to do that, and finish the course, I might want to go into cooking school afterwards. But then, there are gazillion of things that I need to learn in baking school, so maybe I should stick to that, yes?

What’s with all these talk about going back to school, yes? Probably I just wanted to relive the joy of being in school. The joy of almost not having much to be responsible for, I guess :).

But anyway, I know there are culinary school in Malaysia, but I don’t think our financial situation would permits me to apply to one.

But that’s besides that point. Point it, I wanted to learn how to do cakes like the one above. Simple, yes, since I gotta start at the simplest ones, no?

Don’t you just love that little jumping monkey, eh?

Ulu Legong Hot Water Spring

Posted under Drive around, Photo shot!, Snip snap..., Take a break, Travel Malaysia

We’ve been to this place perhaps three times, all of them at night since this place is opened 24 hours a day. The first time we went there, it was around 10pm, and boy, it was swarmed with people, adult and kids alike. And it was a weekend, another big mistake.

So I asked the guards about this. He informed me that most people would come around 9pm, and stay for a few hours. Some even camp around the compound. They would have to pay a certain fee for camping, if I am not mistaken. But it is not expensive. The entry fee is only like RM3 per adult, and either free or RM1 for kids.

The first time we were there, we stayed for almost couple of hours. Too many people around making it too friggin’ oppressive and kinda loud. I planned to get there earlier the next time around.

And so the next time, we went there early enough that only one guy was splashing in the adult pool. Great. And no, I did not get in the pool both times. I just don’t feel like it. I just watched out for Tia and sat around doing nothing. I should have bought a book, I know.

Tia and her daddy had fun fooling around, especially Tia who got the pool all to herself for almost an hour, and then people started coming in with their kids. Then Tia played with some other kids in the pool, and we were ready to leave.

So yes, I would definitely recommend this place for everyone. And if you like it not too crowded and loud with other people, just come on in early.

Overall view of the whole place, foreground being a separate pool for female visitors (who wished for some privacy)

Adult pool where the water is moderately hot

Hot pool where one could see steam rises over it. I hardly see anyone ever dipping in it, just maybe their finger. For a very brief moment, that is

Kiddie pool. The water is warm, and Tia would be splashing around in here.

Chalet is provided for people who wanted to stay overnight. I am not sure how much they are renting per night, though.

Play area by the chalet

Genting Highlands, Pt. V

Posted under Jalan-jalan.... cari makan, Take a break, Tea time treats, Travel Malaysia

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