Growing Pains

弟弟 had been picking at his toes for some time. Now it turned into infection. He is also quite clumsy and knocked his toes into legs of chairs or tables. Bleeding like water fountain one night when he knocked his toe onto something. There was blood drops from the bathroom until the dining area when 姐姐 screaming "弟弟流血!" (Just a few big drops of blood outside and more in the bathroom where he was standing for a while). 爸爸 didn't want to bandage his toe for school as he said it's going to heal faster without being covered. But the 鲁莽弟弟 knocked his toe into something and it was bleeding again when he comes back from school. So now everyday we will bandage his toe before going to school. He cry when the toe touched water as it hurts. No choice, who ask him to pick on his toes until the skin came off and even get infection?


Moments before 姐姐's minor accident, 弟弟 pushed her and she lost her balance and nearly fell to the back. Even though didn't fall, she scratched her ankle. So I have to comfort her with a princess plaster. Works magic ~


弟弟 also wants to show his injured toe.

Dede Bakery

This bakery shop in Gurney Plaza has a cute cow and giraffe in front of the shop. It is called deDe bakery. The signature bread is so-so and pretty expensive, but the concept they sell is so cute. 姐姐 chose a Mickey Mouse bread and 弟弟 choose smiley face bread.

While waiting for 爸爸, we took photos. Actually there is a sign "Do not sit on the giraffe" but in our playfulness we didn't notice it.

Batman LIve Action Show @ QBM

Finally manage to watch the show. Haha... the children was looking forward to it as we missed it last week. Quite nice esp it's free! Entertaining as Batman "swung" from 3rd floor to Ground floor. Haha... it's a stunt double, that's why you see 2 Batmans. However the stunt Batman took off his safety harness quite slow (maybe not enough practise?). Anyway... impressive for a free show.

Since we don't celebrate Christmas as in going to church, we go to the mall :)

Christmas Eve Music Class

On Christmas Eve, Ms Tan, my music teacher, teach us to sing Jingle Bells and let us take a gift from a big Christmas sock. All the children got red-and-white candy cane. But I got a princess one - Ariel the Little Mermaid! But 妈妈 don't allow me to eat yet.

I showed off to 弟弟 when reach home and as usual went to wash my hands and feet. This is 妈妈's rule, after reach home from outside must wash our hands and feet before doing anything else.

In the 5 minutes that I was at the bathroom, 弟弟 made another disaster. He broke my special Princess candy cane :( And was showing off what he did with his itchy hands.

妈妈 comforted me and allowed me to eat the candy. My lips turned green from the candy :P So I didn't get to finish it. 妈妈 don't allow me to eat sweets with coloring..

First 冬至 at home

Our first ever 冬至 at home. I am not the traditional type of person. But this year, I decided to celebrate with a pot of store bought ready made 汤圆 cooked in 石峰糖 and pandan leaves. Next time must cook the 汤圆 separately. But 姐姐 and 弟弟 loved the 糖水.

I bought 汤圆 with peanut filling, reminds me of my 大姑 who used to make 汤圆 with peanut (I think homemade). Next year if have sufficient time will try my hands at making from scratch. The ones with fillings are much better than the ones sold in pasar with just coloring.

Batman Is In Town..

Batman The Dark Knight was in Penang Queensbay Mall, and the children had some fun taking photos with the Dark Knight.

Batman and his mighty bike


I think this is another Batman costume and The Flash. According to 弟弟, the Flash is the red monster.

Don't know who this superwoman is.

Cape crusade logo

However we didn't manage to catch the live show as it's only for 1pm and 7pm. We'll be back next week....

Fairy Tales

Nowadays fairy tales seem to be the "in" thing for 姐姐. She was reading while in the toilet, swinging her legs. Tonight she was reading aloud before bedtime. To my surprise, she can actually read! She read "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Wizard of Oz" (both are simple versions). To me it's pretty amazing as I can't remember myself reading stories until maybe in primary school. I was just looking at pictures before that I think. Kids today master some skills faster than my generation.

A-P-P-L-E

Today we have some apples for dessert. 姐姐 told 弟弟 "C'mon 弟弟, let's sing the apple song". So they went "red apples, green apples....." After they finish the song, 弟弟 told me, "妈妈, A-P-P-L-E apple!" I said "What's that, can you say it again?" and he repeated "A-P-P-L-E apple!". I'm so proud of him for doing his first spelling. At least this is the first time I heard him spell anything other than K-I-G-G-G, whatever it means.

The journey home and afterthoughts

We stopped at Ipoh for 老王芽菜鸡. It's very crowded, but the food is served very fast. Next time we might try the other stall just for the sake of trying. I like the 河粉, but I think a lot of MSG used as I was so thirsty after dinner. The rest of the family prefers rice ~ but since I don't appreciate chicken I don't know what's the fuss about.


On the way back, 弟弟 was still coughing and we're worried he has to be admitted:(
He keep asking to go home. You know what - he just spring back to himself after we reach home. Still a bit cough, but no big deal. Well, we think he is homesick! That may be why he has no appetite, temperature slightly higher, and acting fussy.

So I think here's where we erred:
- Trip is too rushed and too packed for the children. We're used to the "see all do everything" or CSCM (cover sea cover mountain) type ourselves but it's not good for them.
- No nap time planned in between
- No proper meals planning done
- Too much time wasted trying to get from one place to the next - again attributed to lack of planning ~no map one you know~
- Packed too much clothes! We just realized they had the same clothes on for Bukit Tinggi and KL bird park. And they were the ones who chose the clothes.
- Too many days away from home. Next time max we can only go for 2 nights trip.

Day 3 - The Curve

When we reach the hotel, 弟弟 is very tired. The children didn't sleep in the car as we reached in less than 1 hour, which is a surprise. OK, so Papago software didn't bring us to Holland this time.

There is complimentary kuih-muih from the hotel, and 姐姐 finished them. 弟弟 just took one bite of the sesame ball. He vomitted in the hotel room when he coughed and had to change his clothes again. So on with the cough medicine.

We went for dinner and all of them wanted rice. Seems like we're a family of　饭桶，无饭不欢．We decided on the only restaurant that sounds more appetizing ~ some Hakka 客家 restaurant. By this time, 弟弟 is nodding off in his high chair. And end up sleeping throughout dinner when he requested for rice! Actually the 客家菜 is not bad. We had some fish slices, tauhu with minced meat (too strong for my taste), veggie and 擂茶 with brown rice (didn't mix the green soup with rice, otherwise the mint taste is too strong and funny for us).

While 爸爸 bring 弟弟 back to hotel to sleep, 姐姐 and I walked around The Curve. She saw this digger and wanted to ride, I think just want to show off to 弟弟 because it's one of his favorite vehicle.


Indoor Christmas decoration at the Curve. Taken from 1st floor.

Oops... sorry 姐姐, didn't mean to make you look so small next to the giant tree. Did you see her lips? It's cracked from the day we left home for the holidays.

At the foot of the tree

Outdoor decorations:

Water fountain

When go back to the hotel, 姐姐 asked "Why is the hotel so quiet? Where is everybody?". I have to tell her everyone already sleep.

Even though ta pao for 弟弟, he was fast asleep. And when he woke he only wanted milk. His body temperature is higher than usual, so we had to give him fever medicine. Throughout the night, he was coughing. Poor boy.... but actually he is not really having fever. Also the music from nearby is so annoying and goes on until 2 or 3 am. Next time we're not getting any promotion rate anymore for this hotel.

The next morning, at breakfast, he refused to eat. 爸爸 tried to force him to eat some porridge, but he vomitted after a few mouths. Actually the buffet breakfast is not very nice la.

Took a photo while having the welcome drink.

Day 3 - KL Bird Park

This is one of the most memorable visits from the whole trip. We also had to jam ~1 hour to get out from MidValley, and again GPS link us to wrong lane so we go around in circles. This time we're using new software called Papago. Then on the way we were squeezed to turn right even though we should go straight. But as soon as we reach Lake Gardens', it felt worth every wait. The area just oozes of serenity and peace. Greens in the city!

Parking is free, 弟弟 doesn't need to pay, 姐姐 at half price. Adults tickets are not expensive too at $15 each for Malaysians. Much more worthwhile than Aquaria@KLCC.

Photo credit: KL Bird Park

弟弟: Don't you think the parrots look like my 姐姐? Same colour... kekeke


I think the white birds are storks.


There are birds everywhere... we're trying to chase the stork


Hornbill Park - Do you see a hornbill right at the top of the cage?


Look a fish pond...


Parrot feeding at World of Parrots. While waiting for our turn to feed the parrots, we have some chocolate biscuits that we brought. The children didn't want to hold the parrots anymore after rabbit incident.

弟弟: I am scared of parrots~

Through the Oriental Bird Aviary, we stopped for a drink of water and they were holding hands like this. I think my photo is better captured than 爸爸's.

Waterfall Aviary

Oh.... peacock at a hut

Ar, another peacock on the railing... argh! Became two! They were jumping from rail to rail like dinosaur in Jurassic Park ~ with the "thump thump" sound. Memang scary.

Children's playground near the Amphitheather where the Bird Show is held

We sat right at the back. Both children had the opportunity to stroke a white parrot. 姐姐 even feed the parrot. I was too busy cajolling her to hold on and be brave until forgot to take any photos. 爸爸 have no idea what's going on. Blur, as usual.

After the show, now we know these are wild storks

弟弟: I am so tired.....

Finally a peacock who opened his tail. We saw him at the Flamingo Pond.

Flamingoes

The children's tired faces...

There are actually a deer park and butterfly park which we had not visited before. Maybe next trip....

Next stop, Royale Bintang at The Curve, our rest stop for the night.