Macarons At Bakerzin

I decided to try their chocolate macaron last two weeks. If I'm not mistaken, that same Friday after we got back from Kuching. It's the outlet in 1 Utama New Wing. I was excited to finally find macarons in the Klang Valley! However, the macaron proved to be a disappointment. It's cold for one thing. And the filling is too much for a measly tiny, crumbly macaron. I can't wait for Paul!

Gathering in Ampang

Syawal (Muslim Calendar) 1428 passed its half-way mark last Saturday and we commemorated it with a small open-house gathering with family members, relatives and close friends.

Thank you all who were able to make it, despite the heavy rain as well as the bumper-to-bumper traffic jam, which was attributed to some major construction work on MRR (Middle Ring Road).

Funnily enough, every time we invite people over for a Do, rainfall would always accompany the hullabaloo. And it's always the cats-and-dogs variety. There was not a hint of rain when the Do started at 6 pm - in fact, it was scorching hot! Yet, by 7 pm, the downfall caused the late arrivals of many invitees, not to mention a few who got lost, no thanks to my wrong texted direction. :) Trust me to mix up my RIGHT from my LEFT. Hehe.

Food was a mixture of cooked and catered. Hubby was in charge of cooking his specialty Laksa Sarawak and Apple Crumble, served with ice-cream, which were a hit with the folks. Apart from the drinks, other food like beehoon goreng, roti jala & kari and karipap were bought from our all-time favourite caterer, Mak Bedah at her food stall near Ampang Specialist Hospital.

Looking forward to more Raya Makan-makan this coming weekend if there is any left ;-)

Until I'm out of my writer's block, please do feast your eyes on these photos. Those not into photos can skip this entry. Have a good day everyone.

Hubby and MIL's cousin, Farah

Cousins, Nieces & Nephews Ransacking the Bedroom

Uncle Man & son, Abqoriy

Sis Dikya and daughter, Zahra

My dad with (some of) his granddaughters

Can I have my doll back, Elisa?

Hey, where did she go?

Why is Mama on the floor listening?

Grandma Sam, can I have my stool back too?

Zahra, Alya & Sadia

Peekaboo!

With Faridah & Siti

With Rizal & the ever rambunctious Sadia

All Smiles after the grub :)

My Little Ballerina

Tiptoe, tiptoe,
It's a familiar refrain,
Tiptoe, tiptoe,
There she goes again.

My Little Ballerina,
On the tip of her toes,
Skeedadle, trot or walk,
In pants or lovely smock.

Tippytoe everywhere she fancies,
To the delight of aunts & aunties,
Some quipped about high-heeled shoes,
While others suggest indoor shoes.

Distribute the weight of her foot,
Back again to her underused heel,
I refuse to do so even if I could,
I don't understand what's the big deal.

I myself a tiptoeing baby,
Together with my dear twin sister,
Pirouetting away was so easy,
Doesn't mean we're out of kilter.

Wet blankets and pesky ninnies,
Think that they know way better,
Never give their thoughts a penny,
It's not to them you have to answer.

Tiptoe, tiptoe,
My beautiful daughter
Tiptoe, tiptoe
Enjoy your Pas Seul years

Strolling on Stilts

Sleeping on the day bed with the lulling sound of the waves lapping underneath me is my idea of a relaxing holiday. The wooden balcony opens to shallow seawaters in late afternoon with mangrove trees swaying gracefully as if transfixed by the spell of the gentle breeze. I was similarly mesmerized by the calming, almost tranquilizing effect the sea has over me.

At the water’s edge, small rocks demarcate the line where the land begins and the sea flourishes. They also act as a series of buttresses against further land erosion caused by the salt water. Crickets chirping in a staccato-like manner seem oblivious of the chaotic world around them. Oh, how I wish at times life would be that simple and that I’d be as impervious to the pains and heartaches that have been inflicted on me and my loved ones.

It matters not that my head is wooly, my nose stuffy, my eyes watery and my throat scratchy, as I curl under the covers in this peaceful oasis. What important is being here to clear my thoughts, recharge my battery, and soak in the coastal scenery. After all, the very essence of vacation is to get away from it all?

Season in the Sun

Enroute to Kuching,a hyper Sadia kept her parents highstrung

It's been a week since I last posted a short note on this space. And today we're off for a quick holiday just because we needed a break from all the routine.

Well, there's actually no particular excuse. We just want to get away. The three of us. Period.

It's a family tradition that we plan to adhere to for Raya - a vacation right after a few days of festivities. The first one was in 2005 when we headed off to the rolling hills of Cameron Highlands. This end-year jaunt is also our way of commemorating our wedding anniversary date according to the Muslim calendar, which felicitiously enough falls on the 14th of Syawal.

The only girl of my sister-in-law - Zeti and Sadia at Kuching home

Showing off their baju Raya

As for Raya with the in-laws, we got back from Kuching in the late afternoon of last Wednesday to the most unfortunate circumstance. I lost my cell phone! At the Kuching airport!

I only realised its loss when we were in the taxi heading home to Ampang. I was devastated, to say the least. The phone holds a priceless sentimental value to me, so many memories of Holland captured and stored in the form of photos and videos during our year among the tulips.

I berated and mentally kicked myself for being so careless when we plonked ourselves in the airport's waiting area for our flight which in turn was delayed. I must have left it either in the ladies room or one of long seats while nursing Sadia. It'd been a long, exhausting trip that I wasn't as alert as I would normally be. Excuses, excuses.

Waiting for our delayed flight (before that fated phone incident)

That, or I was deliriously high on caffeine for having sipped a Grande size Cafe Latte in almost one sitting at the first Starbucks outlet in Kuching, located in the vicinity of the airport's departure gates! Turns out, it has been in operations since June 2007. Fear not town-bound Kuchingites, there'd be another outlet in the heart of Kuching before the year closes.

Steaming hot Cafe Latte, anyone?

Oh, I'm such a sentimental old fool. Moaning and whining I was for the rest of the night. To make matters worse, as soon as we reached our apartment, I received news on the possible job front that a major snag might have ruined my chances in securing the said position. Bummer. Perhaps it's a sign?

Hubby tried to cheer me up by recounting the number of phones he had lost/misplaced over the years. Indeed, there are countless to mention. Let's just say it doesn't even come close to my figure. *Touchwood!*

Oh well, at least I have the photos and videos from the camera. And I did either download some photos to the computer or bluetooth some to hubby's phone.

Que Sera Sera.

My emotions were however (unwillingly) in check by the next day - Thursday - since I had organised a meet-up with some galfriends from my pre-collegiate preparatory program. Like me, one of them, Ina is married to a guy also from the same program. And she is a close friend, despite the distance (Penang) and family obligations in between us.

I also wanted to meet another dear friend, Khalina who is married to a Muslim convert (or revert) and with their three kids, are residing in Jeddah. They were due to fly out the following day - Friday.

Since they were in town, I thought it'd be nice for a mini-reunion of sorts to catch up with one another. I called another girlfriend from our program, who funnily enough through this thing we call Six Degrees of Separation, is a close friend of my twin's close friend. Go figure. Apparently, they went to the same secondary girl school together.

Note: Sorry Meen, I didn't manage to call you since I'd lost my phone and recalled that you'd be out of town until the weekend)

We met for tea in Dome, KLCC and chatted for the most parts about what we all have been up to since the last time we saw each other. In Su's case, I haven't seen her since she got married in 1998. Or was it late 1997? Unless of course, if you count bumping into one another one fine day 2-3 years back as seeing a person.

In spite of the relatively brief sortie with these fine ladies - one and half hour - due to having to fulfill my filial duty elsewhere, it was simply capital chatting with my friends after a year of absence.

We'll do it again I'm sure in the near future and this time, I propose a tête-à-tête as I'd be able to focus on one person at a time!

Till my next missive, I pray for sunny and windy weather by the beach when we get to our destination. Toodles!

Three SAHMs and a professor :)

One For the Road!

Since we're off to the airport in less than an hour, here are some pixs from the first day of Raya.

No family photos (yet) due to the hustle and bustle and unplanned nap mid-morning. :)

The torrential, pelting rain in late afternoon provided some reprieve from the hitherto scorching heat, however not without giving rise (no pun intended) to some flooding concerns at my grandma's place in Kampung Bharu.

I would like to use this opportunity as well to wish my Auntie Idai, Uncle Daud, cousins Lindsey and Adam in Surrey Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. InsyaAllah, we'll meet again come this December in Malaysia :)

Raya Nostalgia

It's Tuesday already and Raya (or Eid) looms ever so closely!

This Thursday, shortly after the day turns into dusk, Muslims in Malaysia will be on the lookout for the new (or crescent) moon, which signifies the end of Ramadan and simulataneously heralds the month of Syawal or Eid-ul-Fitr. As wont and according to Islamic Falak calculations, Raya will fall on the following two days after the moon-sighting day. Yet, there were those very rare occasions when the moon DID appear on the moon-sighting day which in turn caused a ruckus in many a household not fully prepared - mentally, culinarily, ornamentally, decoratively, fashionably, cosmetically, and what-have-yous.

(Note: In Malaysia, it's a normal practice to use both the Rukyah method - sighting of moon - and the Falak method - astronomical calculation - to ascertain the first day of Syawal. However, in recent years, debates have cropped up over the permissibility and legitimacy of our Falak method.)

In my household, our preparation this Raya is pretty moderate, to say the least. Neither I nor my hubby bought or made any new garbs for this Eid since hubby is much comfortable in his old Baju Melayus whereas I possess a few traditional clothes that I haven't got the chance to wear when the stork sprang upon me. As for Sadia, my younger sister-in-law had generously sewn two baju kurungs of different sizes last Raya and I'm happy to report that Sadia can now fit to the larger one. Yay!

As for the customary Raya cookies, a few are ordered while even fewer are baked at home. Home, as in my parents' place in Kota Damansara. Due to some foreseeable reasons, Raya is not celebrated on a grand scale this year. Well at least, that's what it feels to me. Perhaps, it should always be that way - overindulgence is never good. Waste not, as the saying goes.

I think as grown-ups, more so when one has touched and passed the big 3-0, Raya is less, if I dare say so myself, enjoyable. I must qualify that I still love the idea of house-hopping during Raya in a convoyed fashion, the thought of forging camarederie and renewing familial ties, and the simple act of distributing money (duit raya) to children.

It is just the typical exhiliration and anticipation have been replaced by weariness and nonchalance. I believe, as I grow older, there isn't much to look forward to during the Eid celebration in terms of planned activities.

In contrast, eager children have a lot to expect at these times through the receipt of a number of 'monetary rewards' simply for having successfully complete the 30 days of fasting, the host of outdoor outings to play sparklers and other innocuous firecrackers, as well as, the mulitude of houses to besiege for the sole purpose of collecting Raya money towards one's savings.

When I was little, I thoroughly enjoyed these excursions with my cousins and other friends where piercing laughter, alfresco games and pouring sweat dominated the day. We unabashedly checked out a relative's grove in Kapar, despite knowing too well the prospect of crossing the path of slithering animals and other wild creatures like a fox or a porcupine. Even the sheer thought of lining up to ask for forgiveness from parents and elderly relatives during Raya morning gave me the warm fuzzies.

Also, going from one house to another felt less like a chore because of the fantastic bond that I shared with other children of more or less the same age. Being kids that we were, we predictably and shamelessly compared the amount of Raya money we had amassed. This practice, I must say, proves to be very advantageous as there would be times when an aunt or an uncle bestowed unequal number of Ringgits to children of 'the same age group' and he or she would more often than not gladly make up for the difference! So word of advice to the kids : better doublecheck your stash with your homies!

And of course, my Raya won't be complete without the compulsory photo snapping sessions throughout the first few days of celebration. Back then, we would congregate at my grandma's in Kampung Bharu to bersalam-salaman (or seeking forgiveness through shaking and kissing of hands) and thereafter proceeded to take a family photograph in the living room. Through my innocent eyes, the very act of photo-taking symbolises unity amongst my kith and kin.

Family Photo-Op Raya 2006

Nowadays, as my maternal family grows larger and undergoes a series of permutations, the probability of assembling everyone at the same time for a photo-op is close to nil. But Kampung Bharu would always be the focal point for the first day of Raya, as far as I could remember, since my parents had come to an agreement to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in Kuala Lumpur whilst Eid-ul-Adha would be spent in Terengganu/Kelantan.

The reason behind this conjugal pact is because Raya Haji is traditionally much more livelier and fun back in the the good olde' East Coast. Or so I was told. However, truth be told, I could count the times we actually went back for Raya Haji, the dearth of which was partly due to my dad's work commitment and the short vacation period attached to this other Raya. This in turn also conveniently explains my lack of rapport with as well as reinforces the feelings of misapprehension with cousins from the paternal side. (It's a long story)

As I bid farewell to the glorious month of Ramadan and usher in the trumphant month of Syawal, thoughts of yesteryear engulf me with all of its maudlinness. For the life of me, I can't help but to turn wistful as Raya fast approaches. Must be something in the air.

Nothwithstanding my apparent blithe unconcern about celebrating Raya, I still relish the notion of togetherness and merriment that is synonymous with the old-fashioned way I observe Eid-ul-Fitr. Here's to more Raya feel-good factor for us and the future generations!

Eid Mubarak and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all my Muslim readers, cohorts, relatives and acquaintances!

(Now let me see - first day - Kampung Bharu, Kampung Pandan, Kajang.....second day - Kuching!)

Side Note: My Prayers Have Been Answered!

My culinary prayers, that is.

Hurray! Hurray!

While circling The Gardens yesterday afternoon in search for that elusive entrance to the parking lot, I saw several board covers for incoming store tenants into the new mall.

The one 'Coming Soon' that made me leap for joy was Paul! Paul, the ubiquitious French patisserie chain is putting house in The Gardens!

I'm so elated! I'm over the moon because this means I'd be able to savour my favourite dessert - macaron (or macaroon) - in Malaysia!

I know for a fact that the nearest place to relish these colourful gems is in Singapore.

Now that it is available locally, I'd be able to buy them by the hoards (okay, I'm exaggerating).

A heap of thank yous to whomever that is instrumental in bringing Paul to our shore. He or she must be pining for macarons too!

Let's just pray my eyes were not playing tricks on me, or they've decided to pull out last minute. *fingers crossed*

Coffee and macarons, anyone?

The fastest one wins the race?

Two Fridays ago, the following conversation took place at my hubby's workplace:

"You have a baby girl right?" a woman's voice bellowed intrusively.

Hubby answered in the affirmative.

"Tulah, you tak kuat, that's why a girl," she bluntly offered. (You're physically weak, that's why it's a girl)

Hubby replied emphatically "That explains your father then," to the gales of laughter from her two male colleagues.

She was beyond horrified and managed only to muster "Tulah malas nak cakap dengan (insert hubby's name), mesti ada nak jawab." (That's why I don't like talking to (insert hubby's name), he always have something back to say)

"Lain kali cakap baik baik, saya jawab baik baik," was hubby's stern answer, before turning on his heel. (If you talk in a nice manner, then I'd answer back nicely as well)

This annoying hussy (though better, harsh adjectives came to mind at the time) is known for her stupid, uncalled-for comments but this particular incident really takes the cake!

I mean, who was she to pass judgment on who has a weaker set of sperms and who doesn't? Or maybe she was referring to my husband's genteel (read: less than macho) appearance which naturally implies an inability to produce a male offspring. How narrow-minded can someone be? I would have thought for a university degree holder she could have easily figured out that genteel manners are a sign of good breeding and upbringing. Alas, such simple logic is lost on this emaciated maiden.

If macho-ness is the reliable and proven indicator of conceiving boys, how come Malek Nor is out of the closet, and my favourite Hollywood heartthrob, Brad Pitt has a baby girl, with Angelina Jolie? This sweeping fallacy is preposterous!

Actually, I'm not completely surprised that such silly notion still resides amongst some Malaysians. I'm sure some myths with respect to choosing the baby's sex are being perpetuated in different cultures as well. But in this instance, I was shocked that it was spewed out of the mouth of a loutish female!

This encounter also reminds me of a conversation I had with a girlfriend, close to 10 years ago, who intimated that her husband wanted their firstborn to be a boy as it would be a sign of his 'strong' sexual prowess. What gives??

Of course, back then I was single and clueless and couldn't confute her with much conviction, not without an arsenal of ObGyn information up my sleeves. It is a totally different story now, thanks in part to my maternal status and to the wonders of Internet which furnishes me with enough a repository on the birds and the bees.

More precisely, all this idle talk got me thinking as to whether there is a modicum of truth behind the claim that having a male firstborn attests to the father's out-and-out machismo.

After trawling the cyberspace for answers, here are some interesting facts to chew on (doctors or pre-meds out there please correct me if I'm wrong :) ):

1. Alkalinity favours the conception of a boy.



2. Acidity favours the conception of a girl.



3. X-sperm (Girl) are: bigger - slower - more resilient in the woman's reproductive tract



4. Y-sperm (Boy) are: smaller - faster - weak - less resilient in the reproductive tract.



5. The pH of the women's tract is therefore very important. However, some women have a reproductive tract that is naturally very acidic and have a hard time conceiving boys.



6. Timing of intercourse during the monthly cycle - the closer the time is to ovulation, the better the chances to have a boy, because the y-sperms are faster and tend to get to the egg first. Vice-versa, if you want to conceive a girl.



7. Sperm count - a low sperm count obviously doesn't favor either sex, but a high sperm count purportedly favours boys.


You can read more about this womanly issue here and here.

As such, many intertwining factors are at work here which need to be further unravelled on the genetic level if one were to accurately guess whose biological urges or mechanisms - the man or the woman - are behind the sex of a baby. Until such results are out, it'd be utterly futile, if not completely foolish, to point your fingers to only one member of a beautiful union.

For instance, a woman's naturally acidic reproductive tract might be the overriding reason as to why a couple conceived a girl, as opposed to the alleged low sperm count of the man. Also, ironically the much coveted Y-sperm, which is responsible for the conception of a baby boy, is IN FACT 'weak' in its spindly, cellular form.

In the final analysis, I believe that it is Allah the Most Supreme and All-Knowing who determines the gender of our offspring(s). Instead of complaining over the lack of either a male heir or a princess, we should always be thankful to be bestowed and entrusted with another life who depends entirely on us for support, guidance, nourishment and most importantly, love.

Even if we can't change the narrow perception of some people, we can take heart from knowing that every child is God's unique and special gift. Don't ever for a moment lose sight of that.

Image taken from here.

Two Meme Tags At Once

On a lighter and fun note....

Thanks Cosmic Gurl for tagging me on this seemingly random 'questionnaire' which must be a boon for psychologists the world over. :)

5 Things In My Handbag
1) Wallet
2) Pocket-tissues
3) Cosmetics galore (some of which I haven't used in ages!)
4) Canon Digital Camera
5) Giant-sized Tic Tacs - a remnant from Holland

5 Things In My Wallet
1) MyKad
2) Heaps of San Francisco Coffee's Stamp Cards which I need to consolidate in order to get a freebie caffeine drip ;)
3) JAIS' Marriage Certificate Card
4) Ringgit bills and coins
5) Loyalty cards from various department stores

5 Favourite Items In My Bedroom
1) Astro-equipped TV
2) Wardrobe full of baju kurungs, kebayas, kebarung and everything traditional in between :D
3) Floral motif bed linen
4) Quiet Nook for Praying
5) Three shelves above the bed's headboard with picture frames, scented candles and perfume bottles

5 Things I Wish To Do
1) Reading a page-turner of a novel
2) Scouring for cheap capris

3) Going on a seaside vacation
4) Devouring chewy oatmeal raisin cookies (I miss Mrs Fields!)
5) Catching up on my zzzzzzzz

5 Things That I Am Doing Now
1) Typing away in bed with Sadia sleeping on my side
2) Figuring out what to eat for Iftar
3) Figuring out what to feed Sadia for lunch
4) Looking at bed that beckons me to sleep
5) Should I take a leak first before I do just that?
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A foodie tag!
My college's ex-roomie tagged me to bask in my own Epicurean delight. Thanks Meen.

Name 5 Favourite Food That You Feel Like Having Now
1) Sambal Sardin :)
2) Kibbeling
3) Appelflap
4) Pengat Durian with Pulut (Sweet Durian Delicacy with Steamed Glutinuous Rice)
5) Lompat Tikam

Name 5 Food You Would Like To Have For Breakfast If You Could
1. Nasi Lemak Jalan Dang Wangi, KL
2. Roti Canai with Curry Gravy Restoran Insaf, Jalan TAR
3. Buttery, fluffy French Croissants
4. Macarons or Macaroons
5. Masala Thosai

Name 5 Food You Would Likely Buy For Berbuka Today
1. Pollo Lasagna
2. Kueh Lopis
3. Cucur Udang/Jagung
4. Seafood Olio
5. Murtabak Daging
(a welcome departure from rice dishes for the past 2 weeks)
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I'm tagging anyone who would like to undertake these tags! Just for the lark of it, why don't you list yours today?