Krabi ep1

We arrived in Krabi airport in the afternoon and we immediately queue up for the immigration process which took FOREVER. Yes, it felt that long. There was only two counter available and because we took our sweet time to come out from the plane, my sister and I were among the last few.

The immigration guy wasn’t so friendly and he actually tossed my passport on the counter after he finished doing whatever it is they do. When I opened to check, I was pissed to see the blue ink on my profile page. Macam kena cancel my passport ni. I know it was an accident, but he could at least apologize for it.

A travelling friend was supposed to come for the trip but that person did not even bother to neither show up nor call us to inform that he is not coming. When my sister called, a little girl picked up the call and claimed that he accidently left the mobile in the kampong and he already left for the city. WTH?

He’s so lucky I do not know him.

Because of that person, we arranged for airport transfer from the hotel because it would cost us more or less the same if we took the bus. Taking the cab to Ao Nang is 600THB (RM60), and the bus is at 150THB (RM15) per person.

It took us about 40 minutes to go through immigration, but Sam, the hotel manager where we were staying, waited for us patiently.

The drive to Ao Nang was about 40 minutes or so. If it weren’t for the signboards, I would think were we still in Sabah, except for the many hills along the drive.

For some reason, I’ve always thought Krabi is an island. *head hangs in shame*

I was kinda disappointed to see what I see but all that changed once we turned to Ao Nang Beach. *woohoo*

Ao Nang beach is a long stretch of U-shaped road with hotels, restaurant, tour agency and stalls selling almost everything a tourist would need. Facing the shop houses is the beautiful beach. I thought the view was *wow* but trust me when I say the view just keep getting better.

Life is Great

Life is great. If it isn’t, you’d be reading my whining, complaints and all that every single day.
What better way to share your life’s worries and disappointment in some blog where strangers from every corner of the earth get to feel your pain? *whistles*

Anyhoo,

Life is great. It’s not because I just came back from an awesome trip in Miri. It’s not because I have a few more trips to look forward to. It’s not because Ekiel has been so obliging obedient lately; he did all his homework without having me screaming at the top of my lungs. And it’s definitely not because karma finally kicked a few people in their arses.

*chuckles*

Okay larr, it is because of all that. Especially the last bit.
Yes, I am mean but those people are evil.

Happy Birthday Ekiel

Sometimes, when I look at Ekiel, I wonder if he is happy. I wonder if my approach in motherhood is right. Or wrong.

Is Ekiel too young to understand the reality of life? That we don’t always get what we want?

Was I too worried about our financial that my son thinks a 40cent worth of snack is a luxury?

What am I going to tell him when he asks me what a ‘daddy’ is? I kinda freak out the other day when his homework is to write ‘I have a father and a mother’.

My parents have hinted many times that Ekiel should be sleeping on his own. I know he should but honestly, I am reluctant to do so. I worry I will miss him. Miss our morning chat and night conversation.

I worry he won’t need me anymore.

He is my reason for being grounded and sane the past six years.

This ‘change’ is inevitable no? I need to spread my wings and let go.
I just wish it would not be this hard.



Happy 6th Birthday Ezekiel.
I am happy to see you having a blast. It was indeed your best birthday ever.

krabi teaser

I love Krabi. It was never in my ‘Must Visit Destination’ list, but it is now in my ‘FAVOURITE PLACE on EARTH’ list next to Taman Fortuna 2.

Our 1^st half of the year holiday was supposed to be in Banda Aceh. Yes, because the fare was cheap. We obviously didn’t think that one through. *grins*

11/2 months before the trip, we realized it wasn’t a good idea after all, so we decided to change our destination. It was between Krabi or Phuket. Even Koh Samui but AirAsia doesn’t fly to Koh Samui and the tickets were bloody expensive.

In the end, we chose Krabi because it was slightly cheaper than Phuket.
We actually paid RM800 for two return flights from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur but hey, we deserved a break.

Like always, I did some research on the worldwideweb and found fantastic information on Krabi.

My sister who has been to Krabi recommended we stay in Ao Nang. According to her, everything is there, which is pretty true. My only comment is I cannot find the tasty omelet which I’ve tried in Krabi town in Ao Nang!

I know it’s a simple food which anyone can prepare, but it tasted better because it was cooked in Krabi!

May to August is a low season in Krabi. At first, I thought it was because of the weather but the manager of the Inn I was staying told us it’s a low season is because it is summer on that side of the world which means lesser guest would fly to Krabi to enjoy the sun. Besides, the weather tends to get too hot during this period and most guests avoid that. Oh yes, it was hot indeed.

Well, that is superb news for me. I dislike crowds anyway. *sticks tongue out*
But, there were still plenty of tourists around. I cannot imagine what it is like during peak season.

Detailed entry to follow soon. *fingers crossed* I really need to re-management my time and life. With all the headaches, I lost my ‘mojo’ to anything I love anymore. *sighs*

on a break

We were so excited to get cheap tickets, we forgot to check the weather forecast. No wonder it was cheap, it's the rainy season pula.
Oh well.
I don't understand people who plays their computer games LOUDLY during the flight. Very rude really. If you must, use a headphone.
One thing air stewardness really needs to learn is to speak properly and clearly over the intercom. I don't understand a word you're saying.
Some even laugh out loud when they make a mistake. *tsk tsk tsk*
It's REALLY hard to get good help these days huh?

S&M appropriately

One of the national BM newspapers launched their local edition last Sunday and I was there for ‘work’ purposes

For me, the highlight of the event was not the launch gimmick or the not so great performance or even the comical ‘frame’ show by the ‘princesses’ who needs a lesson or two in modeling.

Never in my craziest moment would I imagine Rihanna’s S&M as the ‘soundtrack’ of the souvenir presentation to the Guest of Honor who happens to be the Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah.

Cause I may be bad
But I'm perfectly good at it
S*x in the air
I don't care
I love the smell of it
Sticks and stones
May break my bones
But chains and whips
Excite me

… while the GOH poses for the media with his souvenir.
*LOL*
It was priceless.

By the way, public places should use the censored version of this and any songs. I caught Ekiel singing to the uncensored version of Forget You he heard from the mall. *bangs head on wall*

Bieber Fan

Ekiel loves Bieber.

I don't understand why the world is crazy about Bieber. I shall not say anything here because someone might just spam my whole blog. *Whistles*

Ekiel knows all the lyrics and forbids anyone to change the channel if he's on TV.

He also gets super upset if I were to say anything mean about Bieber.

Funny oh.

REALity TV

It's that time of the year again people where everyone becomes a critic and the never ending argument about who should stay and who should pack their bags and go.

There is something about reality TV that everyone loves.

I have no complaint about the AI10. Each contestant bring a different flavour to the show and damn they can sing. At the end of the day, it is a personality contest and I was not surprised when Pia was out. During the 'Mariah & Whitney's era, she would be perfect but at this 'century', the crowd wants Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Katy Perry.

We, well at least I do, champion songs that celebrates individuality, saying what we think out loud and standing up for ourselves.

We no longer want to say sing sad ballads; I'd die if you leave me. Hell no. We now say, boo hoo so what?

Now, Scotty is an entirely different story. When was the last time you hear someone with that kind of voice? I'm not a big fan of country music, but I love when they boy starts singing. Throw in some good manners and a charming smile, all the mothers wishes him as their son in law. He is a rare species like that.

However, it is slightly different here no? Our reality TV is a confusing mess. I keep asking myself, 'Is this is the best among the thousands who came for audition?' The whole 2 hours, there was not a single performance where I did not cringe while watching.

There's also that silly twist they add in hoping to make it 'interesting'. Please larr. It's just a plot to make more 'ka-ching'.

It's so Marketing101.

Why didn't they select that four, though I only see one, talented vocals earlier? Vocals: tick. Physical package: tick. They are even better looking and better singer than the existing students.

So very the drama one but I guess that's our culture kan?

Everything is exaggerated.

Yesterday Once More

I love The Carpenters.
I grew up listening and singing to their songs.
So when the Palliative Care Association announced that The Carpenters will be performing in this year’s show, I was, excited.

Nice kan the lighting

Of course they are the tribute show who called themselves ‘The Carpenters From Kempsey’. Written by Darren Mapes and Linda Nagle, The Carpenters From Kempsey takes you on a hilarious journey whilst reliving all the wonderful music of The Carpenters including Close To You, Top Of The World and There’s A Kind Of Hush. So it says in their profile.

However, that hilarious journey wasn’t that all funny.

There were few amusing bits, but the part with the “imaginary” children choir and when the lady hiked up her skirt and does that weird little dancing, OMG, that was dreadful. Maybe it was just me who did not get the “foreign” humor.

BUT they did sing The Carpenters’ hits beautifully.

Like the lyrics in Yesterday Once More,

When I was young
I’d listened to the radio
Waitin’ for my favorite songs
Waiting they played I’d sing along
It made me smile

Those were such happy times
And not so long ago
How I wondered where they’d gone
But they’re back again
Just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well

Those were the days when I faithfully listen to the radio every night hoping someone somewhere would ‘dedicated” me a song. *sighs*

What happened to that hopeless romantic young girl?
She grew up.

Anyway, the PCA collected RM77K through the painting auction.
I love the stained glass elephant by Mimie which were sold for RM7K!

Among the paintings that were auctioned that night. This collected RM20K

* Photos by Sutera Harbour Resort

I didn't managed to get a good video of the performance for I was seated WAY at the back, but I managed to get this when The Carpenters From Kempsey performed at the PCA House the day before.

Funny

Me: Ekiel, you're eating too slow! An ant eats faster than you!
Ekiel: (looking around) Where's the ant mommy? Where?

black and blue

I came home from work to be greeted by a very sad Ekiel.

Ekiel: I know you are mad at me Mommy.

I knew something was wrong, and when he lifted his head, my heart sank. I was literally shaking.

His mouth were swollen and blue in colour. Apparently he fell face first on the concrete floor at school. The image of him falling in my head still gives me the shivers.

He came home with dried blood stain on his mouth. My mom freaked out thinking he had busted his whole mouth. Only when she cleaned the wound, she realised it was only the top bit that was bleeding. She panicked and forgot to take a photo of it first.

Yes, for my 'Ekiel's Injury' scrapbook.

Now the poor boy looks like a duck with eating problem. As a food mommy, I offered to chew the food first, but he gave me the evil look instead. The whole weekend he was whining about everything. He couldn't even open his mouth wide open.

gave blood alright, to the floor

This morning, I had to give him mints because he still refuses to open his mouth wide let alone brush his teeth. When he got to his class, all his classmates surrounded him wanting to see his mouth and I swear he was smiling from one ear to the other for all the attention.

bleeding for a good cause

I understand the anxiety of donating blood. I was nervous as hell during my first time too but to know that I may save someone's live, changes my fear to pride. And yes, the plastic bag of cookies and drinks are nice too. *winks*

If some of you wonder what happens during the blood donation, here's some pictorial for you.

First, they check your iron level with a cutter thingy. If your iron level is okay, then you proceed to the next step.

They will check your blood pressure to make you're fit for the blood donation. They also will ask you a set of questions based on the questionnaire which you have to fill out.

If everything is okay, go find an empty bed or chair and get comfy while you wait for one of the nurses to get the stuff ready. Yes, many will feel their pulse racing at this point. I sometimes still feel nervous too.

Once they inserted the needles, you just enjoy your time and watch the other blood donor's antic. Like the donor next to me, his friend who were not fit to donate, took the nurse's scale and weight the donor's bag of blood to the amusement of the nurses.

The blood flows into the bag and may take up to 10 - 20 minutes depending to your veins as per the nurse. Mine was pretty quick.

If you have no shame like me, take some photos!

And ta-da. Here you go. Fresh bag of blood. It was warm too!

I took a video when the needle were inserted to my vein. Trust me, it's not that bad but may not be suitable for viewing by some people. I so do not want to be responsible for a heart attack and what not.

Not that bad kan?

It's sad to receive emails or SMS asking for blood donations because the blood bank ran out of stock. With millions of people in KK alone, how can a hospital bank ran out of blood?

So come one, do your bit. If you need someone to hold your hand, give me a call. I would gladly do it.