Mini Put Chai Ko (Sticky Rice Pudding)

Mini Put Chai Ko, also known as sticky rice pudding is a snack originated from Hong Kong.  We bought three at RM1 each at a roadside stall along Jonker Street.  Here, presenting to you...  The authentic and yummiest way to savour the pudding by no other but my cheeky little boy.  LOL....

"I Love You" Seems To Be The Hardest Words

Not for me though...Every single day,  I'll say "I Love You" and "Have A Nice Day" to my boy and seal those words with a kiss and a hug and he will reply the same naturally, Love you too, mom and you have a nice day too and a quick peck on my cheek before getting off the car for school.  Hubby always wondered how I could do all these effortlessly since both of us were from families where those words were hardly heard throughout our childhood.  Not to say our parents love us any less, just that Asians are generally more reserved and not used to those "westernised" words or practice.

I have known hubby for 16 years now, from friendship to courtship days and gradually progressed into walking our life journey together, the only time he uttered this three words to me was the day he proposed to me.  To him, showing affection and saying "I Love You" to his loved ones seem the hardest things to do.

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One day, my boy came running to the bathroom when I was having my shower, pushed open the door as he couldn't wait to break the "good news" to me.

Ian: Mommy, mommy... Daddy just called! (In a really excited tone like he's just struck lottery!)

Mommy: *Starts nagging at him for not knocking the door* Why in a hurry? Can't you wait until I am done?

Ian:  Daddy just called.

Mommy: Ok, then...

Ian: Daddy called to say "I Love You" to me!

So, daddy, you know what you should say more and Practice Makes Perfect!! Way to go, go go!

Lie Down Or Stand Up?

Most of the time, when my boy comes to know of an upcoming holiday, the first thing that interests him would be..... the hotel and the bathroom.

Ian: Mommy, is the hotel luxury?
Mommy: Do you know the meaning of luxury or not?
Ian: It means good, right?   How is the bathroom? Lie down or stand up?
Mommy: Huh? What's that?
Ian: Like last time, I can lie down and take bath. (We have only standing shower at home).
Mommy: Oh, you mean got bathtub or not, right? You check it out yourself when you are there, ok.

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On our recent trip to Malacca, the first thing he checked out upon entering the hotel room... the bathroom.

Ian: Wow! Can "lie down" one wo.
Daddy & Mommy: *LOL*  This funny boy of ours.

Nyonya Pineapple Tarts

I think this tub costs us RM15.50,

about RM0.50 each

We came across this shop selling nyonya pineapple tarts around Jonker Street while trying to hunt down Nancy's Kitchen for our late lunch on the first day of arrival in Malacca.   I remember reading some good reviews about LW (Lucy Wee) Nyonya Pineapple Tart House and so off we walked in and grabbed a tub, thinking of going back again for more if it tasted good.  

We finished half a tub the next morning in the hotel room.  The tarts tasted so good.. melt in your mouth pastry with strong hint of butter topped with pineapple jams which are not too sweet nor sour.  As hubby planned to head back to Nancy's Kitchen for the popiahs that he never had the chance to savour, I thought I would just drop by and get two more tubs along the way.  Unfortunately, we did not get around doing it though due to sudden change of plans.  We headed to the Portuguese Settlement instead.  Bummer!  Nothing worth seeing there.  Should have sticked to our original plan. :(



Lao Qian Ice Cafe@ Jonker Street

Across the street from Lao Qian Ice Cafe

Lao Qian Ice Cafe is nestled inside San Shu Gong building, a corner shop along Jonker Walk (Lorong Hang Jebat) selling local delicacies and tidbits. You can't miss this place as it's supposedly the tallest building along Jonker walk and paralleled the famous chicken rice ball shop, KedaI Kopi Chung Wah.

The Menu



Ice Coffee RM5.80



I read about this place from Barbara's blog.  The Ice coffee...Hmmm..heavenly.  The ice coffee here is prepared differently where they freeze the bottle with crushed ice before pouring in freshed brewed coffee upon order.  The coffee here tasted chilled rather than diluted watery taste... Simply Heaven..

Durian cendol... I like!

The taste of bitterness of a real durian. Yumz..

RM5.80

Comes with a durian shaped holder...

removed for my camera..

Photo taken from our seat upstairs

Koi fish pond at the courtyard (centre of the shop)

We spotted this koi pond from upstairs where we were seated while on the way to the washroom.  The area supposedly to be an airwell or courtyard was transformed into a fish pond.  Brilliant!


Address:
The Tree Square
33, Lorong Hang Jebat (Jonker Street)
75200 Melaka
Tel: 06-282 8381

Wrapping Up Year 1..

My boy is slowly getting back his exam papers.  The first batch of exam papers returned were BM and Chinese (Penulisan), Computer, Maths & Science (In English).  These papers will not be included in the overall performance and only gradings of A,B,C and so on will appear in the report card.  Any marks above 80 will be graded as A.  He did pretty well in these papers scoring 95% and above except Chinese Penulisan which he got 90%.  The Chinese paper appeared to be harder this time with more "fill in your own words" kind of questions.  I am so proud that he managed to get all his strokes right this time, no missing strokes here and there compared to last time.  Way to go, boy!

Nevertheless, I nearly suffered heart attack when he got back his Science (English) paper two days ago.  He was quick to tell me that he had left the last page unanswered as he didn't realize the page existed!  As a result, he lost 4 marks from the page or he would have scored 100%.    *slap forehead*   I told him his wish of getting an aquarium seems flying out the window.  We had a deal beforehand, mainly as a form of encouragement for him to check and double check his work.   He has to score 100% in 2 papers to get the reward,  that's it.  Guess how he responded to my negative remark,  "Never mind, mom.  I think I can get 100% in my Moral paper.  ^_^

True to his word, he got back his Moral and Maths (Chinese) papers yesterday.  He scored full mark in his Moral paper but then, made lots of careless mistakes in his Maths paper this time, down from 98% to 91%.  I then teased him, "How now? Only 1 paper 100%, you can't get your reward, you know?  He then said, Never mind, still got few papers (4 actually) not returned back.  Maybe got 1 more 100% leh.  Hmm.. We'll see.   Anyway, I like your positive way of thinking, boy... Hahaha... That's my funny boy..

Continued here

Nancy's Kitchen@ Jonker Street

By the time we checked-in the hotel and walked to Jonker street which was about 10-15 minutes from the hotel, it was already 3pm.  Daddy was starving to death but the tummy of our boy and I were still tolerable  having had buns and soft drinks before the river cruise, our 1st stop upon stepping foot in Malacca. :)

I have read a lot of good reviews about Nancy's Kitchen nestled on Jalan Hang Lekir (3rd Cross Street), off Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street)  and after some wrong turns and all, we were there finally with 3 rumbling stomach.

Picture taken from upstairs where we dined.

The supposedly airwell (center of the restaurant)

was bustling with activities.

Here's our order.  Our order of 2 pcs of nyonya popiah had never arrived though.

Rice for 2 servings

RM3

 Pork pongteh - thumbs up!

RM10

Otak-otak - Tasty & fragrant

RM10

Cincalok Omelette - an acquired taste..

my boy and I didn't

really like it so hubby had to finish whatever's left.. :)

RM6

Fried soft shell crabs - generous crunchy crabs coated with flour

RM12

dipping sauce

 Nyonya laksa - yummy and fragrant but a tad salty

RM6

 Nyonya cendol - small serving of a rice bowl 

RM3

Horseback Ride

Tense looking boy.. can't blame him..

It was his 1st time on a horseback

Going round... and his confidence slowing building up....

Relax... Relax...

It's fun, Mommy!

Yay! Mission Accomplished..

A Splish Splash Birthday Bash

The above pictures were captured from our balcony.  A splash birthday party thrown by the parents for their 13 years old boy.  Children these days are so lucky, don't you think?... The party was held last Saturday morning and only ended at 6 in the evening.  The colourful tents on the right were set up with electronic games such as motor racing complete with car seats just like those that you see at the amusement parks.  Food was served in the tents on the left throughout the party.  No, we weren't invited to the party but our condo unit has got a clear view of the pool.  Music was blasting away in the backgound all day long with a MC and a clown to entertain the guests and to wrap it up, there were some water activities going on too. 

Will you throw a similar extravaganza party for your kids?

The Art Of Talking

While walking back to the car after picking up my boy last evening, I overheard a mother in front of us questioning her daughter on her performance, yesterday was the first day of exam.

How's your exam today? Fail la.. sure fail la...
The daughter, continued walking with her head almost down to her neck just kept mum.
The mother wouldn't stop and continued on with her "Chanting"... How?? Tell me how???  Fail la... sure fail la..
The daughter:  .................

Me:  *Speechless*  It's just the first day of exam and the result was not even known yet..  I don't blame the kid for her silence.  What more can the kid do to defend herself with words when the mother herself has concluded her as being nothing but a failure?  Thought we should boost our kids' confidence with words of encouragement than chanting Fail la... sure fail la..... Gosh!

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

When can I shout "Merdeka"?  Don't get me wrong.. I am not that patriotic.. No, not at all.. :)

It happened one evening when I was revising Bahasa with my boy and we were at this topic: Hari Kemerdekaan (Independence Day).  My boy started asking his favourite Ws questions (what, why, when, where....).  I told him that this day was formed to celebrate the formation of Malaysia.   He didn't quite get it and went on flooding me with tonnes of questions.

Fortunately, this poor mommy's (struggling to stay afloat from the questions thrown to her) light bulb lighted up just in time before she gets drowned.

That's what the mommy told his son, "  When you will do your revision and homework without being told or nagged at... then that's the time your mommy can shout "Merdeka"!


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One evening, he took out his homework after shower, sat down on his chair and started doing his homework all by himself.

Mommy: Wah! Boy, I am so proud of you.  (Gives him a big hug)
Ian: Yeah, mommy... Now you can shout "Merdeka" 7 times!
Mommy: ???  Why? 
Ian: You told me before when I do my homework all by myself then you can shout "Merdeka" already..
Mommy: Oh... and why shout 7 times?
Ian:  Teacher asked us to shout 7 times "Merdeka" during the assembly on Merdeka Day. (it's actually a day before Hari Merdeka).
Mommy: (Mumbling.. still a long way to go before I can shout MERDEKA!!!  Haiz.. kids.. so innocent.. or perhaps the mommy has misinterpreted the meaning of Merdeka.. or so it seems? Blek..

Yamaha JMC Graduation

With his music teacher

Concert about to begin

Group performing Aye Aye

Wearing the gown and mortar board for mommy's

camera

He says he likes drumming

Our seat for the last 2 years

Finally graduated after 2 years of hardwork

This is a backdated post.

The graduation concert was held at Yamaha headquarters in Petaling Jaya.  We dropped Ian there before 9am for a last minute rehearsal while daddy and mommy went for our breakfast at the coffeeshop nearby before heading back to attend the concert at 10.30am.  The concert lasted 1 1/2 hours and 8 classes from 3 outlets were to perform a song each.  My boy's class performed "Aye Aye" where they played on the electone and the tambourine as well.  There were about 50 graduands on that day from 8 classes of 3 outlets and most of them were aged 6-7.  

When the class was first started two years ago, we had full class of 12 students but along the way, half of them gave up and with only 6 graduated from JMC and one decided not to continue with JXC, there was left 5 students.  A minimum of 6 students are required to start a class, so sadly to say our class have to be dissolved.  We were given an option to join the Thurdays 8pm or Saturday 12 noon classes.  I chose neither as the time were just out for me. 

I initially wanted to stop him from Yamaha (group  music learning) after JMC and start him with private music lessons.  But thinking twice, it would be a waste of effort for the past 2 years should I stop him now and looking at the enthusiasm in him that he kept bugging and reminding me to buy him the JXC books that his teacher showed us.  He also kept telling me how well his classmates in school can play the piano now that they are in JXC (they have music lesson once a week in school and they get to play the piano during the lesson), I changed my mind. 

To be continued.....

Of Sofa And A Solid Buttock

That day, he fell off his chair while doing his homework.  This boy of mine can never sit still even when his hands keep busy with the writing but he can still do other "stunts" such as swinging his legs simultaneously. *roll eyes*  This explains why his handwriting looks like it's ready to take-off anytime...and he wants to do anything and everything fast!! 

Ian: *Brrrrraaaaaang!!!*   Ouch!!
Mommy: *Sitting just next to him on my "coaching" armchair* Aiyo! Did you hurt yourself?
Ian: Don't worry, mommy..  I am okay.. Luckily I have sofa on my buttock.  *He has solid and full rounded fleshy bum, Ahemm*
Mommy: *roll eyes* *roll eyes*

1Malaysia

That day, when my boy was doing his homework:

Ian: Mommy, Is the M in Malaysia in capital letter?
Mommy: Yes, Malaysia is a "nama khas" (special name) and how many Malaysia do we have?
Ian: Yes, yes, I know, I know...* Getting excited*  1MALAYSIA!!
Mommy: *x*