Reflecting In Hua Hin

It's September already??!!

Bangkok and Hua Hin for the last one week was a blessing. It did clear my mind a lot and I am thankful for the trip. Gave me a lot of me time to reflect.

Being back in Penang again and seeing the evidence of my IVF was a bit heartbreaking but not as bad as what I used to feel. I guess it will always have a scar.

I am OK. sore, but OK

OD'ed on Thai Food? NEVER!

BACK to REALITY!

After one week of over indulging in the most awesomest food in the entire galaxy - Thai food!

Seriously CAN DIE! (also put on 1.5 kgs) still blaming the weight gain on the BCP.

Being back in Bangkok was awesome, spend some time with the Osmans, ate like there is no tomorrow, max out the credit cards and was being massage like we were 1st Grade Kobe Beef cow. :)

Did a quick roadtrip up northeast of Bangkok to Khao Yai. Seriously, if you really want to do nothing and when I mean nothing, it is NOTHING AT ALL plus simple just love the inland hills and forest, you should book into a nice resort and chill and DONT COME OUT. Our resort SALA Khaoyi was ontop a hill, 7 rooms and that's it. I don't think it live out to the SALA resort name :( Next time if I EVER go back to Khao Yai we are so staying in Muthi Maya Villas... IF.... well I got my wish of DOING NOTHING.

Hubs and I felt that the place is mediocre. Khao Yai is well known for thier National Park,PB Valley Winery and the Little Italy Shopping Streets( like Bukit Tinggi - urm never been to Bukit Tinggi but am asuming its like that) and urm it's "hills".

Ok I will be perfectly honest, it was BORING! It was like Cameron Highlands  meet Fraser Hills. Seriously dead dead place. Palio, the little italy shopping place... well, nothing fantastic. food - expensive and not even near good. PB Valley Winery, - seriously.... I don't even wanna say. I should have knew something wasup when mom told us don't expect anything. The only nice part of the whole trip was driving back to Bangkok via the National Park... I saw lotsa huge ass deers... not sang kancil small, but BIG BIG ones... oh we saw elephant poo and big huge snakes in the middle of the road.

So yea, Khao Yai next time? NO... Dammit should have driven to Hua Hin instead. Argh.

We were so happy when we reach Bangkok... ahhh land of good food again...

Honestly for the last one week , IVF was not even in my mind, but the moment we touch down Penang, I am reminded that I will be starting injections this Friday.

No turning back now.

Sawadee..kaaa

I can't wait to have my breakfast here...

...and end the day cosying up to the hubs here...

*pictures courtesy from sala khauyai resort*

We will be heading to Bangkok this weekend to meet up with th Osmans who happens to be having a holiday there, to eat and shop and to have a mini getaway at the province of Khao Yai. Khao Yai National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Thailand. Situated just 2 1/2 hour north by car away from Bangkok, it is the home of Thailand wine region.

Not very sure about the wine, but the old folks has been there and they told us it's a good place for relaxation and a place to do nothing.... my kinda thing - DO NOTHING.

So, we booked into sala Khau Yai for 2 nights :)  Another holiday before the needles starts the following week.

Doing Absolutely Nothing @ The Andaman

Last weekend hubby treated me to a 3days and 2 nights of pure BLISS of doing absolutely nothing straining or stressful.

AWESOME!

The Andaman was just a treat for me... since it was a low peak season, there was practically no one around. Located on Datai Bay of the Andaman Sea, the sea was calm, clean and the sand was mighty fine. The whole experience of being lazy and pampered starts from here. 

The minute we walked into the resort, there was the beating of traditional gong to announce our arrival, then we were quickly welcome and ushered into the huge lounge overlooking the Andaman sea and served cold lemongrass tea and cold towels while all the paperwork was going on. The GM Ms. Anne Scott was a charmer! So was the F&B Director, Gindo. Checking in was a brief, no standing at the counter hassle... As we were escorted into our   room which was sea facing, we were greeted with our luggages in the room.... Honestly I did not notice where our luggages were when we walked into the resort...I think some guy must have took it out from the car... who cares!! It was in our room.... too bad I did not have a butler to unpack my bags!! Maybe the Four Seasons have that.....

The day then started with a lazy lunch by at their main restaurant and a quick walk around the resort... then it was bikini (check), iPad (check), iPod (check), sunblock (check), hot hubby (check) and to the private beach we went. 

That was what we did for the next 3 days, we did not move...ok maybe to go for a dip in the sea and occasionally the pool, the rest was done by the staff, every one hour, the staff will bring us fresh fruits, cold towels, drinks...all complimentary...and if I need anything else to eat, I just lift my lazy arms and the menu will appear right in front of me :)

And every night after hours of lazing around, we have pre-dinner cocktails before heading for dinner. OK the food is so - so only...nothing fantastic about it.... but I was not there for the food, I was there for the "doing nothing" part.

On the last day, the resort allowed us to check out at 6pm! BONUS!! so we spend the afternoon at their spa. And OMG, it was the best 2 hours of pure relaxation I had in months!!!

Our spa pavilion is secluded among the rain forest and overlooks the Andaman Sea. It's open air and while hubs and I were being scrubbed and massaged, it was just us, our massage therapist, the sound of the forests and the sound of the ocean. Not even a soul, a vehicle, or anything that reminds us of the daily rat race. After all, the V Botanical Spa @ Andaman was awarded one of the best 6 spas in Asia 2010 by Conde Nast magazine and many more awards which I can's seem to remember...

Oh well... the weekend did burn a deep hole in hubby's pocket, but he always want whats best for me....

Truly blessed and blissed out....

One Amazing Country

Happy New Year! :)

Our Argentina adventure was a blast FULLSTOP!

I cannot begin to explain how in awe I am everyday I wake up to different views of the country. You have to be there in person, to stand there to see, smell, listen and soak everything in. Words and pictures alone cannot justify the beauty of Argentina.

I Found Me

It has been 3 months exactly since we came back to Melbourne and tomorrow, we will be heading back to Malaysia. And today, hubs and me officially signed our lives to each other four years ago... my my how time flies! Next thing you know, we will be old and wrinkly...with no gigi.

And when we are back in Malaysia, our schedule will be jam pack!! The next half of the year will be filled with moving houses, weddings and best of all more adventures to kick off 2011! Can't wait!! It will be AMAZING!

What was also amazing was our recent roadtrip to South Australia. 12 days of living out from the car (and some nice villas and apartments)! and going to some amazing places and getting lost on the way. I must say, it was the best time I had with hubs so far....everything was just chill...we did watever we wanted and go where ever we want and there is no internet or mobile service!! Now that is what I call A HOLIDAY...you wake up and you do not know what time it is, you do not know what day it is...and you don't even care! And I always tought that I can be that relax only on a beach holiday, but nah...this was different kinda relaxing, chilling by the fireplace with a glass of wine after a whole day of fun... I surprise myself on this trip...I discover a bit more of myself and I actually faced some of my fears :)

This Site Is Not Dead

Wow...it was like Australia totally swallowed me and I disappeared from the face of the earth! But hey I am back to torment you...my readers with more of my daily BS.

The last two months back in Melbourne was a busy time for us... so I will quickly "brief" on the important events.

My aunt and my cousin sister and her little baby Sarah moved in with me for 1 1/2 months. So you can imagine how busy the house was..One thing that I realized while baby Sarah was here... it ain't easy taking care of a baby!! I have full RESPECT to all stay at home mommies...which lead me to reconsider having a baby.... in between the feeds, you need to do so many things, burp, put baby to sleep, play with baby, change diapers, bath baby and by the time you are done it starts all over again!!! Oh Ohhhh not forgetting nightly feeds and early morning feeds!!SURE mental! But I am sure if I were to have one, I will cope...somehow....

They have all went back to Penang last week and the house is quite again...and I seriously miss baby Sarah! SERIOUSLY...until I smell her clothes (got her nice calming baby smell). Kinda freak me out when I did that!!

Apart from my cute house guest... I had ER drama!!like serious screaming bloody murder drama! So I actually told the story on FB, so I am just gonna cut and paste the drama here...yeala too lazy to recap...

***For some, you have been asking what the HELL happen?!! Read on...

So, being anal queen, I was cleaning the kitchen after dinner, not knowing that i left my only-just-sharpen knife on the dish drainer. So happily *wipe* *wipe* *wipe* then I felt a cold sharp pain and scream!!
The knife ate me, slicing the side of my right hand index finger!

Hubs saw the wound and turn pale, grab the tea towel, wrapped my hand, grab the car keys and told me we have to go to the ER. OH shiet loh! (all this while i was screaming blardee muder! damn pain ok!)

Cousin Gwen followed us to the nearest ER and all the time she was comforting me...but i think my cries scared the shit out of her!

At the ER, when the ER nurse examined my wound, she told hubs its not that bad! WTH!! Not that bad...blood was spewing out..and told hubs "good Luck" ! But she was a nice huge lady...manage to calm me and tell me I look 19 years old instead of 30! Teehheee...

The doc came in ( cheh not handsome one), and wash my wound and glued it with surgical glue and bandaged me and gave me a super painful Tetanus jab told me to go home and remove bandage after 1 week. WHAT?? no painkillers??!! Die loh...thank GOD I got Panadol Rapid... I think I took 8 biji in a day...ODed!

So for one week, I could not do much....my finger was constantly in pain for the first 4 days.

Fast forward 1 week, last nite I had to take out the bandage and ewww, it was not a nice sight. I will leave it to you guys to judge.

The wound is not painful anymore, but my finger feels weird... so yes... that is the story of my drama of the month :)***

 

So ya!

 

So the highlight of my 2010 annual hibernation so far is the Valley Private Hospital ER Drama.

 

Another month or so, we will be returning to Penang... but before that...we will be going on our Great Aussie Drive 2010 ( we are trying to make it a yearly thingy to travel all over Australia by car).

 

This time around, we will be heading west to South Australia for a 10-12 day trip. Everything is set...we will be driving from Melbourne to Warrnambool via the Great Ocean Road and will continue to Penola where they grow the best Cab Sav grapes. Two days after that we will be driving to the mouth of the Murray River and heading onto Kangaroo Island for 4 days of adventure. Adelaide is out last stop.....its gonna be so much FUN!!!

 

OK enuff for now... laters

The One With The Annual Hibernation

We are getting out of the Malaysian heat and back to Melbourne TOMORROW!! 

Yes!

The time has come again for our annual migration/hibernation. 3 months of alone time back in our cosy home on Pinto.

I actually have been super duper busy, with the new house renovation, office dramas, traveling...and what not...until I don't even have time to meet up with my friends! Social suicide if I decide to head down this road.

Anyhoo, our bags are 90% packed ( except for hubby's "ka chang") besides that is throw in the toiletries and lets get a move on!

Excited? Not really, it has actually become a routine for us... the only difference this time is that we will be flying A380... the huge double decked plane!! woohooooo...daddy is jealous coz that is the only commercial aircraft he has never flew in! Ahha! I win!

OK time to finish up my work here in the office and toodalooos...

The One About Tenggol

It was AWESOME!

- @ the 5 Sisters wreck -

FULLSTOP

It was faneffingtastic!! 

I had so much fun diving in Tenggol that I was so sad to leave...and I could not stop talking about it and smiling about what I experience and the people I met.

*still smiling*

So ok, let me tell you about the whole trip. We started driving from Penang  to Dungun using the Grik - Pasir Puteh route, and according to our calculations on the normal speed we are used it.... it should take us about say 5-6 hours.

Ya! RITE! It freaking took us 8 hours to reach Dungun and by that time I was smelly, tired and in a very bad mood...

So during the long drive, I am like super jakun... I took pics of deer crossing, elephant crossing, the Titiwangsa ranges, the GPS, lakes...roads...

yes I was not only "kampung" I was bored shit....until we reach a nice looking place... to pee and I realized it was actually a resort in the middle of Belum rain forest... (btw, hubs keeps insisting I call him Mogli coz thinks he has come home to the jungle - I still don't understand.)

So anyhoo, this Belum Rainforest Resort is actually nice one wei... seriously! I told hubs I don't mind coming again for a short trip to "enjoy" the nature.

The journey continue until we reach Kelantan... and seriously no offense to any Kelantanis.... you guys are damn relax!!!! relax until can drive 40km per hour on a 80km per hour highway *pull all my hair out and faints* Seriously! Hubs was literally dying while driving behind them... how la to progress? rest my case....

Fast forward on the really slllooowwww drive from Kelantan towards Terengganu...also the same...*woke up, vomit and faints*

So by the time we reach the rest house in Tanjung Jara, Dungun to meet the rest of the family, it was almost dinnertime...bad mood chialat

The next morning 30 of us went on to make our way to Tenggol Island... a few of us took the SUPER speed boat while the rest took the tongkang and puke their guts out. *lol*

But then hor, my butt hurts like mad ass... coz the waves were like 5m high! really choppy but it was all worth it when I saw Tenggol Island

The place is super basic super primitive super roughing it kinda place... unspoiled by commercialism and what not....I simple love the fact that it is so simple, laid back and absolutely relaxing!


I will leave you with some pictures on the island and some of our other activities...*sigh* I wish I was back there again....

The One Where Hubs Goes GaGA Over Lekor

This time tomorrow, we will be on our way to Pulau Tenggol off the state of Terengganu! Driving from west to east of the country would be the first for us and I gotta admit, I am kinda anxious about it cause I heard the highway is not that "well kept" comparing to the north-south highway.

I have also sourced out the best place in Kuala Terengganu for their famous nasi dagang and keropok lekor and kerepok keping... I know hubs would want a dose of each before heading to the island. Just wish us luck in finding the location of the stalls.

So our haversacks are packed and our diving gear packed, I guess I am ready to go... just need to get through today in the office...

Last night while packing away, hubs warned me about my tendency to over pack... he went through my things and told me that I do not need so many bikinis and so many outfits and sarongs and shorts... hubs said I cannot bring a lot cause we are roughing it! *sigh* dunno can survive or not...I was informed that there is no hot water and no air-con. *sigh* and I might be eaten alive by sand flies and mossies! *sigh* so can you imagine the other day I went to Guardian and bought 1 huge bottle of mossie repellent and citronella patches.

So I repacked and packed and I have to forgo a few items including my make-up and my complete regime of skincare. BUT!!! I am gonna sneak in my hairdryer, eyelash curler, mascara and my bronzer. Can die loh if I don't hair my hairdryer... my hair will be like "siau lang".

Anyhoosss... I can't wait to dive and bake under the sun!

Adios!

The One With The Rising Temparature and I Went Hola!

So Chap Goh Meh is finally over... which marks the end of Chinese New Year for 2010.

My CNY this year was pretty cool... hot. LITERALLY! So hot that I have to take cold showers 4-5 times a day ( note that I hardly/never take cold shower...I am pampered like that!)

It started out as any normal decent Malaysian Chinese would start their new year celebration.... Gambling! Yes...we love to gamble and we always take CNY as an excuse to overdo it! 

This year we DID add a bit of fun into our gambling session @ Wisma Lim in Kota Kemuning. 

We Had a "P-p-p Poker Party!"

I was Lady Ace, and hubs was Captain Jack Spade

 

I guess we like to dress up.... and some of my other friends were pretty creative!

The wicked poker witch and Ms. Poker International

The Poker Hantu

Urmmm... I dunno what he was coming as...maybe her works for ACE Advertising?

Poker Officer and Poker Sheriff

I was very ONG that night! Guess my wig was working it's luck!

For the 1st day to the 3rd day of CNY was spend visiting uncles and aunties in Rawang and PJ with my in laws...and I tell you, I was wearing very very little coz the heat was so unbearable... so a lot of uncles and aunties were like "looking" at my outfit! (you know that look???)

On the 4th day, BALIK Penang!! woohoo !!! Mind you, I love spending my CNY in PJ with my in laws... but they don't do steamboat! Which is a must for my CNY celebration!

So sampai my parents house at sharp 7pm and lo and behold... two pots of steamboat...my mom so sweet invited my gramps and whole family to join in to makan makan with me... *tears*

 

OK actually this picture very little people niah... coz the rest still not here!!!But I kenot tahan dee...so I makan first!

 Then when almost everyone was here we had....

See I soooo happy and fat festively plum

Aftermath of "loh hei-ing" the yee sang....OK altogether this CNY I had 6 Yee Sang...and the best was at Mapel Palace Restaurant @ Maple Gold Club, Penang.

Then on the 5th day of CNY....what did I do?? Oh yea I went to "pai nin" with my family in Penang...(Penang wayyyyyyy hotter than PJ), then on the 6th day my office officially open for business for the Year of The Tiger, but we had Lion dance... not Tiger dance... ha ha ha ha get the joke?? corny!

On the 7th day of CNY...it's where my daddy and mummy held their annual CNY Open House... (actually its not open house more like invited guest only but we always say open house...wtf...) 

 Scottie meow (hugs)

There was like about close to 150 people but all I was interested was...

This and...

Well after a night of lotsa "siew yok" and x amount of booze.... it was our Hokkiens' most important day of the CNY, the 9th day..."Pai Thee Kong"

 

In the midst of all the festivities... 

We bought our air ticket to Argentina!!! *whoopsss*  HOLA!!!

Yes, we are going to Argentina!!! end of the year and there is no turning back coz the air tickets are non refundable ( we got it from Malaysian Airline Travel Fair ) Its super cheap and it save us a total of RM 10k!!!

I am super duper excited for this trip but there is still 10 more months to go before we actually leave for Argentina to celebrate Christmas and New Year! 

So until then, we have many many things to do and go... first we are going to do our PADI course this weekend and next weekend, then will be off to Tenggol Island for some r & r with my in-laws family. Then we will be going back to Melbourne for 3 months! ( hoping to make our Kimberley trip happen *fingers cross*)

Then back to Penang by July and hopefully *fingers cross again* we can move into our new house by November before flying off to ARGENTINA!!! Wooohooooooooo!!!!!

Actually the only words in Spanish I know is Hola or Ola ( I really dunno) = Hi and Si = Yes

Hopeless case!

Sheesh... I am in good spirits today! :)

OKBAI 

XOXO