Olbas Oil

This works wonders for blocked nose... It can also be used to relieve muscular pain. Grateful for it and grateful my sister flies to London often that we can easily get it.

Gym

I now look forward to go to the gym...have to start taking better care of myself. Grateful I don't have to go far, I get the gym downstairs all to myself most of the time and there is no membership fees or joining fees. Want to join me?

Car Pool

Car pooled with my Zumbette sistas!hehehe. Thanks Princess Mulan for fetching n sending us. Very grateful I don't have to think about going thru the jam with my splitting headache.

Juice! Thirst quenchersss!

Thirst quenchersss!

Olive Oil

Olive...oil! Use it to fry food, cook, skin moisturiser, anti biotic,has medicinal properties, make soaps...there is also Surah AlTin.

Believe In God

Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God. Alhamdulillah hamdan kathiran thayiban mubarakan fih!

Samak Soap

Hey there's a Samak Soap...they sure make it easier to 'samak' according to the Islamic method...there's no need to roll around on the ground or search for sand, they make it in the form of soap now. Seven times water and one time sand, I think...

Candy Buffet

The Candy Buffet! Sweets for my sweets!

Trees

Grateful for trees for providing shade and shelter.

Caramel Popcorn

Caramel Popcorn! Grateful! Once I pop, I can't stop eating.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

He Aint Heavy, He's My Brother...so grateful to see my eldest son telling his brother he would carry him if he's too tired to walk...brotherly love!!! Alhamdulillah. Ya Rab, please let them have love for each other that no space,time or sweethearts can ever divide their closeness.

Hugs! One Size Fits All

Hugs! One size fits all... Grateful! A hug seems to say it all too ~ I love you-I don't ever want to let you go-Everything will be okay-I will be back-Good to see you...please add to the list...

Jama'ah Prayers

Praying jama'ah at home...kids, nephew and hubby. Grateful! Solat jama'ah 27 times rewards from Allah SWT.

Dirty Dishes By The Dozens

I would have gotten a little upset but my eldest said "at least we ate our food" and yes you are right my boy. Grateful too they took the dishes to the kitchen.

I've seen aunts and uncles who have only boys in the house, and apparently Mums do everything in the house. Cook, clean, wash, dry, set the table...so I hope to make a difference with my boys. They have to help around in the house. My son Tofe is at an age that he already understands and by default, being the eldest is getting more responsibilities like helping me in the house  and watch over his brothers if I need to run errands.

I hope my boys will grow up no longer with the old school of thought, that the kitchen is no longer a "womens' only" place. Tofe helps set the table for lunch and dinner and at least pick up his and his brothers plates when they are done. These little things make him feel important and who am I to object (yeah right! ). The little ones help to fetch bottles of water or anything their small hands can handle.

When my mum is around or that we have visitors, Tofe (when reminded that is) will promptly ask mum if he can get her anything to drink or fruits. And mum too feels like Tofe gave her the special treatment.

I had a friend from school, whose brother used to make tea and kuih and served us when we went to their house. A sight I will never ever see again! What do you know, I have so many brothers and never once have I seen them serving any of my friends...so i hope to make a change with my children.

Well, got to go, the dishes are waiting!

Let's Zumba!

Grateful no loss of lives and my limbs are all intact after an hour (feel like 2hours though!) of Zumba session.

Happy Father's Day Dads!

Was at my mum's place, a picture of my late dad caught my eye. I thought of him with much sadness and then I looked at hubby entertaining our sons and it filled me with happiness. Watching hubby as a father and us raising the boys, I guess completes the picture. Happy Father's Day to all fathers and future dads - to - be.

A Devoted Dad

That's the way the children say thank you for being a brilliant and fantastic dad. Happy Father's Day!

No Tantrum Child

We went out and my 3 year old said he would like a toy,so he went looking with his dad. He picked up something which cost more than its value, so hubby said it's expensive. Little boy went on searching, every time he picked something he asked "is this expensive?" and it went on for 15 mins. Finally he picked up an "ipad like" toy cost under RM20 and asked "is this still expensive?" Moral of the story, you can still teach them values even if they can't count. Grateful he didn't throw tantrums when he can't get what he wants.

My Own One (little) Man Welcome Home Committee

Went to a kenduri and came back home, to my own "welcome home committee" three year old Aman's kisses and hugs...it is good to know that you have been missed.

My CSIs

Grateful is the mum who can put her feet up and watch her CSI series uninterrupted

Young At Heart

Grateful my husband is still young at heart...he decided at the spur of the moment to go for a drive and a pit stop at a cafe by the roadside for some people watching.

Honey! Honey!

Kids are so easy to please...even a jar of honey is enough to bring joy...grateful to see smiles on their faces for the simplest things in life.

Bling! Bling!

Grateful for  gem stones, i have a little bit of an obsession with these particular shiny things ;)

Community Spirit



When I was growing up and we used to attend kenduris at the kampung, the kampung folks used to bring desserts for the host. Grateful that at a recent tahlil I attended the community spirit is still there as city folks too brought something for the table.

Fruits Buffet

All you can eat buffet of local fruits...thankful that our region has its own fruits and recent research and development in the west are using our local fruits to make alternative medicines to treat cancer and diabetes to name a few.

Simple Food

Thankful for simple food...Alhamdulillah!

Everyone Can Fly

No frills airlines...everyone can fly...grateful to be able to hop on a plane to neighbouring countries minus the exorbitant price.

Boarding The Train

On days I just can't deal with traffic, I am grateful for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system and other means of public transportations.

Mecca...Home Away From Home

This view of the Al Haram in Mecca is from the new clock tower....Alhamdulillah, we are fortunate to have lived in Mecca and (now back in Malaysia) still make our yearly trip to perform umrah, hajj and visit my husband's family.

This is my childrens' and mine, Home away from home.

Hop - On Hop - Off KL

Easy way to see my city...Just hop on and hop off at all the tourism spots.

The Quran

Thankful for the Quran...my son memorizing and revising Juz Amma

Colours of My Life

Grateful for all the things which colours my life.

Soldiers

I may not always agree with the war but I am grateful to the soldiers who sacrifice their lives for their nation.

May Birthday Girls

Few of my closest friends were born in this month some "25"++ years ago...Happy Birthday Girls of May!...you are both really special and am thankful you are in my life. Thanks for sharing

My Sports Shoes

Grateful for my new sports shoes...hubby says for those morning walks and (hehehe) gym??!(What was he thinking? or not thinking!)

Circus Fun

We sort of ran out of places to take the children in KL...took them to Pavilion and this caught his fancy. Grateful we found something for the children on a weekend.

Monkeying Around

Grateful to spend the day outdoor...at the zoo!

Sleeping Kids

Came home and found the children fast asleep. Yippee!...opps... Grateful! This never happens, not in my life time, of course it made me happy they slept early for a change.

Mum's 75th Birthday

Thankful to be able to be with mum on her 75th Birthday.Alhamdulillah!...as my eldest boy was hugging my mum, he wished her "Happy Birthday Grandma. May Allah give you long life so you get to see me graduate from university!"

Cats

Cats! Grateful for Cats the broadway and cats the cute creatures. I had a pet cat before, as I wasn't good with names I just kept calling it Meow. And then I had to give it away, its new owner calls it Kitty. Oh! We had another cat earlier named Kid short for Kidnap...uh why Kidnap?? I will never tell.

My Masseur

My own personal masseur.

Taking Care Of Mum

Took my mum to visit an aunt and as I looked at my cousin who was taking care of her mum, bathing, dressing and feeding her, I can only hope that if one day I were in the same position, I would have the courage and strength to take care of my mum too. Grateful for a little "kesedaran."

My aunt is over 80 years old. Every five minutes she would ask me, "Anak siapa?" and five minutes later she would ask me again who I was. "Sam (the name she calls my late father, short for Samad) ada lagi?" and I would tell her no. Although she doesn't remember me anymore, she remembers my father "Sam tu kelakarlah. Baik hati dia." And the look on her face holds fond remembrance of my dad.

Looking at my aunt now, a far cry from how she was in her younger days. Always running somewhere or places to visit. We used to spend our school holidays in Ipoh with  her family. Her husband, my auncle, was a favourite uncle. We used to get paid to watch him, but of course it was the other way around.

As I sat on the couch, watching my cousin coaxing her mum to eat, like a child,singing her mum a nursery rhyme, patientlyfeeding her mum spoon by spoon, I can only make dua that God would reward her, for her sacrifices and that the task she's doing would be easier day by day. It is a little like what I do everyday, feeding and taking care of my own children. If there is a phase where I would be in my cousin's shoes, I pray Allah SWT will make me a good serving daughter that my beloved mum deserves. And should I grow old and be in my aunt's position, I pray too that my children have been raised well to take care of me, as I did them.

Shop And Drop

Shop and drop at One Utama...grateful! God sent! The kids can play while I go shop till I drop.

Erisha and Her Young Grandma

With my grand daughter Erisha. Imagine my horror when she called me out loud Nenek (Grandma in Malay) in public. Told her to call me Aunty, she gave me that "are you kidding" look and said "kan mama pun panggil aunty?!"Still grateful that my sister's grand daughter calls me her Wan.

My Sanctuary

Grateful for a cozy bedroom, my sanctuary. This is my to go to place, next to a library. Since I don't have my own private home library, this is the closest place to go to for some time out from the children.

Children having some fun while I do some grocery shopping.

Home Is Malaysia

I am so happy to be back in Kuala Lumpur. This is really home sweet home...The civil war more than 40 years ago in Vietnam has destroyed the country once known as the Paris of the Orient, and four  decades later its people are still struggling to get back on their feet. We should be grateful that our forefathers fought for our independence and thereafter, we had great leaders who kept the nation together and worked towards the country's growth and prosperity. Alhamdulillah!

Vietnam Traffic Woes?Nope, Just My Phobia...Motorcycles And Other Two Wheel Vehicles

This is a typical road scene in Vietnam...yes, motorcycles everywhere! Not cars, just motorcycles! It is the cheapest mode of transportation. There is a big gap between the income brackets in Vietnam similar to India and Indonesia, where you could be either really rich or really poor, and there is no in - between. Cars and petrol are expensive. It only cost USD300 for a motorbike. To buy a car you must also pay almost double of what we pay here for tax. But I guess I rather be back in Kuala Lumpur facing its traffic woes than face a whole bunch of motorcyclists on the road. There are cars and other four wheel vehicles, but not as much as motorcycles here. In fact I spotted a Cayyenne and new Lexus jeeps. So they must be damn rich to afford it in Vietnam or for that matter in Malaysia.

A friend pointed out to me that my post title perhaps might have given him the idea that I am talking about Vietnam traffic jam. Perhaps I should have been more clear. I am talking about the motorcycles everywhere! And I mean every nook, every corner, every parking spots. And just to satisfy my claim, I can make a whole album dedicated just to show a whole range of places where there are just motorcycles. They don't have a traffic jam problem, unlike us in Malaysia. And perhaps it is not even a problem for them...I meant their woes would be My problem because I just cannot get over the number of motorcycles on the roads. Or any other two wheel vehicles for that matter. To make it more interesting is that they drive on the opposite side of the road , so where I would normally look on my right before crossing the road, I should be mindful of vehicles coming from my left (but I forgot about this which is why i had a slight problem crossing the roads).

My aunt descibes it as very scary indeed with motorbikes everywhere...especially at intersections. While another friend says it "Freaked me out. Notice that they also walk around the roundabouts like they are so safe and won't get knocked down. If you drive on the fast lane and not speed like crazy, they would give high lights to you to speed more, honk or buzz off to the slower lane (panting...)." At first the whole motocycle thing just seems strange and funny, until I almost collided with one and then everything else seems scary and I too seem to be panting once I crossed the road to safety. An amusing experience for me. But "a little" motorbikes won't scare me enough not to come again.  

A BFF told me "the trick is to just close your eyes and cross the road." Hehehe easier said than done. I guess it is their way of life...in Malaysia if I see up to 4 persons on the bike, I would be fuming, but here when I saw a couple of times,two kids sandwiched between two adults, in a way it's funny. It kind of works for them...and don't get me started on parking the bikes in the houses!

Art Appreciation

Art, music, drama and dance are all good distractions. Grateful for some time away from my normal routine, just doing something I like for a change...like going to an art gallery or a museum. This picture was taken at a famous Vietnamese lacquer ware store and we were given a short tour of the production of lacquer ware. It takes skills and patience to produce such a work of art.

Halal Restaurant

Friends who have been to Vietnam told me that it will be difficult to find halal food here...so I am grateful that our tour group made all the arrangements for halal food throughout our stay here. Most of the time we had our lunch and dinner at the mosque. There are no halal restaurants and this is in away helps the Muslim community because it gives them income through Muslim tour groups and donations.