Slimming against bonding

 

I’ve been trying to set my target to get back my perfect weight 45kg, but to no avail. Visiting the gym for about 6 months now, I only managed to lose about 4kg on the 4th months. Now, I’ve started to gain more weight. Today, when I checked, I gained additional  2kg BUT that was after a heavy lunch (I feel better saying this).

I thought of putting myself on diet. If I do, then I should keep myself away from nice food. That also means that I should keep out of gathering. But then, I would miss the bonding, especially with relatives. Oh no, I wouldn't.

Allright then, lets eat.

We were invited to my in-law's. Food is guaranteed available. Let me share with you what were in the menu.

This is a combination of raw veggies, mixed with ground coconut, lime juice, salt and shrimp paste. It salad like and very appetizing.

This is saltfish curry. Yum…If you don't like salt fish, you wouldn't know what you missed.

 

 

Oh Butter prawn. I love it..love it..love it.

 

Beef cooked in coconut milk, added the Malaysian hot chilly. I mean..burning HOT.! DARN.. appetizing.

 

Now, who could resist Mutton Curry!

Inside this pouch is fish with ingredients, which I don't know . its so appetizing to eat with white rice, that I don't care to ask about the ingredients. The way to prepare is by pouring the special ingredients onto the fish, cover it with banana leave, then grill to cook.

Another favorite local salad of mine, boiled papaya leaves, to be eaten with ‘Sambal Belachan’ (Shrimp paste and chilly mix)

Not only I didnt want to miss the food, I also didnt want to miss the family bonding moment. My eldest sister inlaw, the forever young looking, Didi, who I addressed as Kak Didi, her hubby, Ihsan (Abang Ihsan)and her pretty daughter, Qistina came for a visit, from the Pearl of orient, Penang Island. That was the reason for today’s gathering.

She did her part as the eldest, alright. Serving.

 

Its always fun when we are together. The kids were enjoying themselves and couldnt wait to have their lunch prepared by their grandma.

 

After lunch, we sent the kids to the nearby shopping are. We let them do their own roaming around activities. My hubby then picked them up 3 hours later, while I dozed off on the sofa and missed my gym session. My trainer called to check on me, but it was too late to come for the training session, as we were going for another healthy gathering.

BADMINTON.! Wow…! what a healthy family huh..

 

 

It was quite a quiet match.”

“ HMmmm…the loudest family were out of town”.I thought.They are the family of Four, my youngest sister inlaw,. Diana, her hubby,Wan, and her 2 kids of interesting characters, Akif and…….  Aleia? ???? “Who brought this little girl here???”. I saw Aleia walked by infront of us, so I followed her.

Ops..!! that wasn't Aleia. Sorry girl.

 

It was only for One a half hours and we ladies still had many stories to tell. We left the court at 9:30pm

      

So , we continued our stories at our regular Indian restaurant. Do what???

   

You’re right… we ate again.

Now, tell me how to stay slim..??

Wild Fern called Paku Pakis

Malaysian calls it ‘Paku pakis’. Scientifically known as species of Psilotophyta.

Paku is nail

pakis is fern.

I'm not sure why Malaysian ended up naming this wild fern as is, while its has no similarity to a nail at all.

It is one of the wild vegetables that I like sautéed with ‘Belacan’ (shrimp paste).

During my younger days at my little hometown,Lahad Datu, I’ve experienced joining my mom venturing into the bush, looking for the sprout of this fern. I was not told then that, area where this fern is found, is also where snakes are bound to be found. WHOOAAAHH…!!!.

I only lived in my home town for less than 10 years, but I still remember all the wonderful adventurous life I had back then.

Now that I am living in the city, where my children were born, I find Paku Pakis from the market. The price is not cheap though. I guess my mom would jump upon knowing the price.

Recently, my daughter  asked, “how does a Paku Pakis plant look like?”. I almost fall off my seat. My poor child… she learned about the fern in her science class. Little that I knew that she has not seen this wild plant.

When we took her to Cameron Highland recently, we made an effort to stop by the roadside. I showed her the plant.

I came to realize how different my childhood life compare to my kids’.

As much as possible, I would like my children to experience those physical activities of mine, like jumping into the river without fear of alligator or monitor lizard, making adventure into the wilderness with my brothers without fear of wild animals, looking for rubber seeds meant for a special traditional game, and many more adventures which I had gone through during my childhood, but HOW ..?? WHERE.. ?? WHEN..?? or Perhaps the question is , would I allow them? Sorry kids, most probably not.

Having said those, I am now still wondering…since when, I started to get terrified by any creeping creatures, especially cockroach ? oh…PLLEeeaassee….

Lion Dance in the year of Rabbit

Chinese New Year 2011 is a year of Rabbit. It fell on the 3rd Feb, this year.

According to the story, once upon prehistoric time,  when the Chinese had already settled in the basin of the Yellow River, their peaceful life was disrupted by a mysterious monster which attacked the citizens, destroyed their crops and homes. According to story teller, the monster occurred after the sun had shown 365 times. It was found that this  creature, called Nien, was afraid of  noise and the color Red. Thus, you’ll hear and sight those during Chinese New Year.

In Malaysia, Lion Dance is an expected event during the new year. The group appear anywhere all around town and county, during this period. They appeared in bright Red with such a loud ‘BING.! BANG.!! of drums and metal plates.

Prior to their arrival, you will be hearing a loud sound of ‘DUM.! DUM.! DUM.! and ears piercing ‘CHENG.! CHENG.! CHENG.! from far. One would know if the lions are getting near to the place where many people would gather to witness and enjoy the performance.

The group came to my office compound recently. I had fun watching those funny lions interacting with their spectators.

While performing their dances, the lions distributes Mandarin Oranges to their spectators. Their moves followed the beat of drums played by their other colleagues.

   

I remember when I was a little girl, in my hometown Lahad Datu(East Malaysia) my parents used to bring me to the Lion Dance performance. Once the lion came near me. I was terrified and screamed all my heart out. Poor little me.

The lion dance, which also called Dragon Dance by some, are usually performed at an open area or at somebody's house compound.

Among the moves those lions are expected to show is their skill, peeling a bunch of Mandarin Oranges. They would be given a big applause by all, base on how fast they could do the task.

 

Next, the hightlight of the event would be and ‘Ang Pow’ climbing.

 

Ang Pow is a Chinese words that means ‘Red Envelope’. The Ang Pow could be hung as high as possible. How fast the lions could get the precious envelop is another thrill awaited to get them another handful of applause. They would not leave before getting the Ang Pow, as thats how they get their pay. The red envelope contains money.

Chinese New Year wouldn't be fun without a Lion Dance. This special celebration continues until the fifteenth day.

Being in a multi-religion and multi-racial country like Malaysia, I feel lucky to have had experienced and joined  many colorful customary celebrations and new years.

Daily traffic in Damansara

I’ve accepted it. This is life, living in a metropolitan area. Bad traffic everyday. 30% of the time is spent on the road. Being stucked in a bad traffic congestion is no longer accepted as reason to be late.

In this metropolitan city of Kulala Lumpur, The only fun time to drive is during a Chinese New Year holiday, when almost 70% of the people in the City gone back to their hometown.

Yesterday, today and the day after, the traffic condition are as what they are. I would use a side road instead of the wide highway. That allows me to enjoy the green scenery and appreciate the beauty of sunrise glaring from between the branches.

 

Enjoy life while you can. Appreciate the environment and the tropical beauty that God grants us, even if you are stuck in the middle of the ocean of cars.

Is this love?

 

I’ve never like cat and had no intention to keep one. Remember those stray cats that kept on roaming around, behind my kitchen ? I’ve written about them in my December (kitten and Nadia) and September (Our extended family) 2010 posting.

 

  

This is one of the kitten shown in the December 2010 posting.

 

Despite living outside along the alley behind houses, he/she (I haven't learn how to check his/her gender) has grown up now. Clean and pretty. We continue feeding the stray cats family.

 

I’ve always afraid of those stray cats. Whenever, I feed them, I would just quickly pour their food into the tray, then I would run back into the house.

But today, I made an effort to stay put, after feeding them. This grown up kitten seems to enjoy my attention. I tested my luck, base on Amie, my cat-lover friend’s advise, to touch cat on it lower neck.

IT WORKS! IT WORKS! The cat loves it. He/she sat next to me, and played with my foot. It even bit on my foot softly. I find it weird that I am enjoying their company. I now wonder if I started to love cat.

 

 

What my friend said, is correct. Cats are tame animal.

Now, this is a new comer. My wild guess said its a she, based on her look.

Earlier, she wasn't accepted by the existing clan. I'm glad to see her now sharing food with the others. She is cute and clean. She is the tamest of all and kept on jumping on my lap.

I called her ‘No-Etika’ because she doesn't understand the ethical rules of our house. She would run into the house whenever the kitchen door is opened. That would create anger to my hubby. He dislikes cat, for some reason.

Do I love cat? hmm…. I’m actually not sure about that.