The time: 2.00 pm onwards, on the 14th January 2014
The place: Ali Baba's Kebab Restaurant, Ampang. The Persian food and drinks were good.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Bon Voyage Mademoiselle NS
The occasion: To celebrate NS going to Paris to continue her studies at PhD level. NS is my sister CY's daughter, my niece and B & A's cousin. We wish her all the best and every success in her studies. Oh la la! Tres bien!
The time: 2.00 pm onwards, on the 14th January 2014
The place: Ali Baba's Kebab Restaurant, Ampang. The Persian food and drinks were good.
The time: 2.00 pm onwards, on the 14th January 2014
The place: Ali Baba's Kebab Restaurant, Ampang. The Persian food and drinks were good.
Sunday, 12 January 2014
A Tropical Forest in a Mall
It was serendipity. Recently I found myself at the One Utama in Damansara. Since I was waiting for A there, I whiled my time looking for boots. Though there were nice ones, I did not find any suitable for me. But I found something better - a forest! I had heard of this rooftop forest before but never 'experienced' it because somehow OU is not my regular cup of tea - its seems too far from where I live. I'm glad I came across this fascinating oasis of green in the midst of so many levels of consumerism in the mall.
It is 'cool' that not only do we have a tropical forest in an airport (KLIA) but we also have one in a shopping centre. Now where else can we grow a forest?
10 January 2014
It is 'cool' that not only do we have a tropical forest in an airport (KLIA) but we also have one in a shopping centre. Now where else can we grow a forest?
Saturday, 11 January 2014
A 'Taman' in Taman Keramat
My sister CY has some interesting plants in her garden in Taman Keramat. Like me, she loves gardening and potters about it almost everyday. We have both taken seeds, seedlings and cuttings from each other and share what little we know about gardening. Here are some of the plants that are growing in her garden.
1. Beautiful yellow bamboo (Schizostachyum brachycladum)
2. Very fragrant pretty pink roses. (That's CY out of focus in the background).
3. White Asian rosebay (Tabernaemontana divaricata)
CY also has many plants that make up the edible garden. For years I used to pluck green limes from the three trees that grow in her garden, but sadly today they are no more. CY suspects the termites might have gotten to them.
4. Lemuni leaf shoots are used to make a wonderful herbal rice dish, nasi lemuni.
5. This herb (Strobilanthes crispus) with pretty yellow flowers is used to make tea. Touted to be 'traditionally used for improving blood circulation, for relief of flatulence and stomach ache. To improve urination and bowel movement'.
6. Beluntas shoots make very good ulam. Very delicious with sambal belacan.
Note: Pictures taken by CNB in October 2013
1. Beautiful yellow bamboo (Schizostachyum brachycladum)
2. Very fragrant pretty pink roses. (That's CY out of focus in the background).
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3. White Asian rosebay (Tabernaemontana divaricata)
CY also has many plants that make up the edible garden. For years I used to pluck green limes from the three trees that grow in her garden, but sadly today they are no more. CY suspects the termites might have gotten to them.
4. Lemuni leaf shoots are used to make a wonderful herbal rice dish, nasi lemuni.
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5. This herb (Strobilanthes crispus) with pretty yellow flowers is used to make tea. Touted to be 'traditionally used for improving blood circulation, for relief of flatulence and stomach ache. To improve urination and bowel movement'.
6. Beluntas shoots make very good ulam. Very delicious with sambal belacan.
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Thursday, 9 January 2014
A Double Wedding in Puchong
It was good to be able to catch up with family at a double wedding kenduri held on the first Saturday of the year. We had no problems finding our way to Puchong Perdana for the occasion. Only I had problems identifying the hostess, Rahani Ahmad, widow of my late cousin Mohd Alam. I have not met her for a very long time so cannot really remember her face. But it was easy enough to identify one of her sons (one of the grooms in fact) because he looked so much like his grandfather, my uncle Shaari.
The double wedding grooms are brothers Ahmad Faisal and his bride Diana, and Ahmad Farid and his bride Alvi. (Rahani also has another three sons, Fahmi, Faiz and Fitri).
4 January 2014
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| Ahmad Faisal & Diana (CNB 2014) |
The double wedding grooms are brothers Ahmad Faisal and his bride Diana, and Ahmad Farid and his bride Alvi. (Rahani also has another three sons, Fahmi, Faiz and Fitri).
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| A poses with Ahmad Farid & his bride Alvi & two of their friends (CNB 2014) |
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| Enjoying the occasion: B & A, Asma & Safiyah, Hafiz & Aina (CNB 2014) |
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
The National Textile Museum & Zandra Rhodes
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| The beautiful Moghul-Islamic architecture of the National Textile Museum building (CNB 2013) |
On the last weekend of 2013, B and I decided to go to the Muzium Tekstil Negara (National Textile Museum) at Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, KL. We wanted an update of the exhibitions in the galleries there, and to catch the special exhibition on Zandra Rhodes' 'lifelong love affair with textiles'. The last time we visited the museum building was way back in the 90s (Karyaneka then??). Now it has certainly been well conserved and refurbished as a museum (since 2007) and we were greatly impressed. What we thought was going to be a short hour visit became a whole morning affair.
The exhibitions in the five galleries (Pohon Budi, Pelangi, Teluk Berantai, Ratnasari, Saindera) of the museum were most interesting and we would highly recommend a visit by all culture vultures. The role of this specialised museum is "to collect,conserve and document and display the diverse national textile collection, especially the traditional handwork of the multi-ethnic society of Malaysia ..." So expect to be mesmerised by the rich tapestry of our textile culture and history.
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| An exhibit at the Galeri Pohon Budi (CNB 2013) |
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| Another exhibit at the Galeri Pohon Budi |
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| Mannequins at the Galeri Ratnasari (CNB 2013) |
We toured the 'Zandra Rhodes: A Lifelong Love Affair with Textiles' exhibition in the Saindera Gallery (for thematic exhibitions, etc.). Her textile designs seem as quirky as the shocking pink-haired lady herself. (Sorry, no photography allowed here, so no pictures to show except to say the exhibition was most interesting for us. It enabled us to catch a glimpse of the life of a well-traveled textile and fashion designer).
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| B and a ZR poster (CNB 2014) |
Note: There is no entrance charge for the National Textile Museum, but for the Zandra Rhodes Exhibition (12 Nov 2013 - 12 Jan 2014) it was RM5 for B and RM3 for the OKU (as printed on the ticket, i.e. me, because at my age I am entitled to a discount for being less able to climb the stairs, I guess).28 December 2013
Sunday, 5 January 2014
A Walk in the KLCC Park
On New Year's day 2014, we went to Suria KLCC to check out the park there, knowing full well it would be thronged by our foreign labour community who love to congregate there on their off-days. I guess the more the merrier. For me it was the first time I did a full circuit of the KLCC Park and I must say that I did enjoy the walk. There was a lot to see that day, from children happily wading in the shallow pools to adults fussing over their children and others strolling around taking and posing for pictures. And this last group included us.
This beautiful public park was designed by Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx with the aim to "leave the world a little more sensitive and a little more educated to the importance of nature". The man made lake in front of Suria KLCC Mall (Lake Symphony) has water fountains that shoot water up to a height of 42 metres. Later in the evening the water features were 'colourfully' lighted up and the fountains danced albeit without the aid of music. A 43 metre elevated bridge that cut across the lake provided a vantage view of the park and the twin towers.
There is the 1.3 km long jogging track (covered with special rubberised material) but we were not properly shod - A was in sandals and I had the ugliest shoes on - my favourite Crocs! So we just strolled along appreciating the various features of this little green oasis within the big city - the trees and shrubs, sculptures, fountains, and pools around the park. I found out later that 23 mature and rare specimens were transplanted from the old Selangor Turf Club that made way for the Petronas twin towers to be built. Also that 1900 indigenous trees and 66 species of palms were planted to promote bio-diversity.
The children's playground was full of kids having a great time. But we did come across a little girl who was crying because she had somehow lost her parents. We did what we could to calm her down and handed her to the lady security officers who were on duty there. (We hope she was reunited with her family soon enough). There was some construction going on so the beautiful As Syakirin mosque was pretty much hidden from where we were.
We did enjoy our walk that day (01.01.14) and hope to make repeat performances in the future.
Note: KLCC Park information gleaned from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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| A view of Symphony Lake (CNB 2014) |
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| The children's wading pools (CNB 2014) |
This beautiful public park was designed by Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx with the aim to "leave the world a little more sensitive and a little more educated to the importance of nature". The man made lake in front of Suria KLCC Mall (Lake Symphony) has water fountains that shoot water up to a height of 42 metres. Later in the evening the water features were 'colourfully' lighted up and the fountains danced albeit without the aid of music. A 43 metre elevated bridge that cut across the lake provided a vantage view of the park and the twin towers.
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| Beneath the elevated bridge and the twin towers (AB 2014) |
There is the 1.3 km long jogging track (covered with special rubberised material) but we were not properly shod - A was in sandals and I had the ugliest shoes on - my favourite Crocs! So we just strolled along appreciating the various features of this little green oasis within the big city - the trees and shrubs, sculptures, fountains, and pools around the park. I found out later that 23 mature and rare specimens were transplanted from the old Selangor Turf Club that made way for the Petronas twin towers to be built. Also that 1900 indigenous trees and 66 species of palms were planted to promote bio-diversity.
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| Steel sculptures of a whale and two dolphins (CNB 2014) |
The children's playground was full of kids having a great time. But we did come across a little girl who was crying because she had somehow lost her parents. We did what we could to calm her down and handed her to the lady security officers who were on duty there. (We hope she was reunited with her family soon enough). There was some construction going on so the beautiful As Syakirin mosque was pretty much hidden from where we were.
We did enjoy our walk that day (01.01.14) and hope to make repeat performances in the future.
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| The dancing fountains of Symphony Lake (CNB 2014) |
Note: KLCC Park information gleaned from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Friday, 3 January 2014
Welcome Twenty14, Goodbye 2013
Dear Stella,
Thank you for the beautiful Christmas and New Year card you sent at the end of 2013. The picture of the tulips in your garden are very pretty. I'm sure your garden gives you joy the whole year round, as does mine.
This is my first blog post for 2014 and I would like to dedicate it to you and our >30 year-long friendship.
New Year resolutions last only a week usually (for me at least), so this year I have not really consciously made any. It is all going to be up to serendipity ... so in failing to plan for 2014, I guess I am planning to fail. Oh, well - life goes on, and I will continue to count my blessings, especially where travel is concerned.
Let me recall what I did in 2013 so I may be grateful to have gone through another year of 365 sunrises.
In January I went 'home' to Alor Star, Kedah by train, the day they closed the Railway station.
We celebrated Chinese New Year in February with feathered friends at the KL Bird Park.
On my birthday in March, I rode on the North Borneo Railway - certainly a most memorable occasion. And I also experienced the Kota Belud Tamu with our good friends in Sabah.
I went back (balik kampung) to Pulau Pinang four times. The first was on the sad occasion of my loving mum's demise in March (Al-Fatihah), the second for a family meeting in May, the third for Hari Raya in August and the last for my niece's wedding in November. (I have discounted the trip to PP to go on my first cruise on a big ship).
In October we went on a road trip to my nephew's place in historic Kota Tinggi, Johor (and also visiting Legoland Malaysia and Johor Baru).
In November we went on another road trip to another historic place (where it all began) Melaka. In the same month I went on the Star Cruise to Thailand (Phuket & Krabi). This is the only foreign travel that I went on for the year, so it has mostly been 'staycations' or cuti-cuti (di) Malaysia year for me. Not that I am complaining because, despite my 62 years, I am still discovering new patches in my own backyard, especially in Selangor. So far I did visit and 'document' 16 landmarks of this state where I now live.
Slowly but surely I will have visited/revisited the various landmarks that make up our built history and the natural sites the country has been endowed with. Appropriately, 2014 is 'Visit Malaysia Year', so I will make (serendipitous) road and railway trips around the country. I also hope to throw in one or two or more foreign travel. Wish me luck!
Thank you for the beautiful Christmas and New Year card you sent at the end of 2013. The picture of the tulips in your garden are very pretty. I'm sure your garden gives you joy the whole year round, as does mine.
This is my first blog post for 2014 and I would like to dedicate it to you and our >30 year-long friendship.
New Year resolutions last only a week usually (for me at least), so this year I have not really consciously made any. It is all going to be up to serendipity ... so in failing to plan for 2014, I guess I am planning to fail. Oh, well - life goes on, and I will continue to count my blessings, especially where travel is concerned.
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| Pantone's colour of 2013 - Emerald green (CNB) |
In January I went 'home' to Alor Star, Kedah by train, the day they closed the Railway station.
We celebrated Chinese New Year in February with feathered friends at the KL Bird Park.
On my birthday in March, I rode on the North Borneo Railway - certainly a most memorable occasion. And I also experienced the Kota Belud Tamu with our good friends in Sabah.
I went back (balik kampung) to Pulau Pinang four times. The first was on the sad occasion of my loving mum's demise in March (Al-Fatihah), the second for a family meeting in May, the third for Hari Raya in August and the last for my niece's wedding in November. (I have discounted the trip to PP to go on my first cruise on a big ship).
In October we went on a road trip to my nephew's place in historic Kota Tinggi, Johor (and also visiting Legoland Malaysia and Johor Baru).
In November we went on another road trip to another historic place (where it all began) Melaka. In the same month I went on the Star Cruise to Thailand (Phuket & Krabi). This is the only foreign travel that I went on for the year, so it has mostly been 'staycations' or cuti-cuti (di) Malaysia year for me. Not that I am complaining because, despite my 62 years, I am still discovering new patches in my own backyard, especially in Selangor. So far I did visit and 'document' 16 landmarks of this state where I now live.
Slowly but surely I will have visited/revisited the various landmarks that make up our built history and the natural sites the country has been endowed with. Appropriately, 2014 is 'Visit Malaysia Year', so I will make (serendipitous) road and railway trips around the country. I also hope to throw in one or two or more foreign travel. Wish me luck!
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