HARMONIKA

A few nights ago, Ayah (my hubby) came home from work and excitedly showed me things he bought for the kids. Each kid will get BM language old folks tale story books. On top of that Shakira will also get a name tag puncher, while Shakiel will get a HARMONIKA.

Hahaha! Why I laughed?

This reminded me way back on my 17th birthday. I cannot exactly recalled what I got from my parents but I certainly can remember what I got from my sister, Sheri. I mean I know I can't expect much from my sister considering the minimal weekly pocket money we get. But I sure never expected Sheri's birthday gift to me.

When she presented me with the nicely wrapped gift I was anxious to know what is the content. I thanked her and open the gift. And to my surprised it was a HARMONIKA! Duh? A harmonika?

Is this a joke? Maybe there's another gift coming out?
What will I do with this harmonika?
I don't now how to play a harmonika. Do I?
I can blow on it but doesn't seems to create a melody.

Sheri? Why? A harmonika?

And we both bursting out laughing.

Till this day, I still have the harmonika kept somewhere in my black kit box. And everytime, I see a harmonika, it will remind me of MY Harmonika.

Short write up.

It was an honor when Shakiel's Montessori Principal asked me to do a short write up about my experiences throughout Shakiel's attendance at PPICDC. She wants to include it into their annual brochure. Wow! Ghee I am flattered.

Initially I did not know what to write but gave my best shot. Completed it at the office today. Duration time taken to compose was 2 hours. Phew! Pressure abis!

Here how it goes.

"Learning at Montessori is not all about grades and tests but focusing on the child interest presented materials whichever catches their interest.

Since attending PPICDC Montessori in July 2008, my son has developed his own personality: independent, confident and self initiated. Thank you to the teachers whose guidance and encouragement has brought reading easier and fun for him. My son's level of confidence help him to grow socially as well as intellectual and exhibit the desire to teach, help and care for others.

I belief every children is unique in their own way and they should be free to succeed and learn without restriction or criticism."

I hope Teacher Manjit will appreciate it.

#6

Shakira got number six in class out of 39 students. Am I impressed? I guess I have to give her credit for maintaining top 10 throughout the school year.

And Ayah? He got Shakira a coloring set!

#1? Of course it's Anis Balkis!

BALI

KINTAMANI. Active volcano in the back ground. Shakira, Shakiel, Irfan and Zarif in clowning action.

Finally the day I have been waiting for....our trip to Bali! It has been a while since we went for a family trip. To me this activity is quite important because it's the time you bond or catch up latest gossips with your siblings and parents. Since I have one sibling and now one remaining parent so this trip to Bali means a lot to me. I will as much participate in any or better be all future trips with Sheri and Mom.

I still feel a sense of regret I did not join the last family trip to Melaka last year December. Abah was still around back then. Well, to me Melaka is already like a kampung as every raya we will go back to Mak Datin's house (hubby's aunt). So at the time, a trip to Melaka did not interest me. How would I know that it will be the last family trip for Abah. Kalau I tahu definitely I akan pergi sekali. Memang I sedih sangat bila mengenangkannya.

Anyway, this trip to Bali was a last minute decision. Sheri handled all the air ticket and ground arrangements. Thanks Sheri. I should also thank her in her Facebook. Did that just a few moments ago.

My first trip to Bali was in 1998 then 2003. So since this is my third trip I hope I will be able to do more of shopping than sight seeing. Now that I have kids my aim is to buy tonnes of clothes for them. I heard kids clothes are cheap.

Naturally, I was very excited for the kids. Ye la, this is their maiden flight and I imagine they will be out of control when board the plane. Roaming around cannot sit still. Jumping all over and suddenly realized they were already in the cockpit! BUT it was all just my imagination.....Surprisingly, they were well behaved and slept throughout most of the journey. All they wanted to know is "Bila nak mandi di swimming pool?". Hah!! Everyday that question will pop out.

Arrived Bali and we were met by Kusuma. He will be our tour guide during our entire stay in Bali. After the introduction we were transported directly to ASTON BALI Hotel in Tanjong Benoa. A relax hotel I should put it. Why....entah? Memang relax sangat rasanya and menenangkan. You don't see yuppies or hippies, backpackers etc... basically we were among the younger generation as hotel guests. Yup mostly those staying here are senior citizens. And I like it. Tak riuh atau bising.

We were brought to our rooms and I prepared instant noodles for all. By 4:30 pm we were ready waiting for Kusuma who will take us to Uluwatu. There, we saw the Kechack Dance at sunset. The view was awesome!

Kechak Dance.

Uluwatu at sunset.

Back at the hotel, our room is cozy and next to Sheri's. Mom's room was about 5 doors away. At night Shakira get to sleep with Mima and the final night Shakiel had the privilege of accompanying his grandmother to bed.

We went to a few interesting places and we enjoyed shopping at Matahari Mall and Bali Collections. At Bali Collections ada SOGO and it is quite expansive. Most people don't get to shop at local Malls since it's not part of the usual travel itinerary. Instead of the usual temple visits we requested Kusuma to take us to the Mall. I get to shop clothes for the kids. Quality was good and for 7 pieces of clothes I spent RM67. There were discount like at 2nd purchase you get 50% off.

Then I went to Oshkosh B'gosh and spent RM314 for 6 pieces of denim jeans and t-shirts. My GOD terngaga I dengar. Kalau kat MAlaysia....One piece of denim jeans cost about RM130++. I was very satisfied with my purchases. And finally, I get to buy CD's (not available in Malaysia)for about RPH50,000 a piece - 2 each of Maliq n d'essentials and Tompi. That's it...I must be the happiest person on earth at the time.

Another day, we stopped at the silver jewelery factory/shop and each of us bought souvenirs. I bought a dragonfly earrings that cost me RPH420,000. Not bad and I terus pakai. So excitednya.

When we got to Tanah Lot, we were magnetized at a hand wood carving shop. Mom, Sheri and myself each bought 2 pieces of wood carvings. Fridge magnet is a must for souvenirs. Hubby did an Apache hand drawn tattoo on his arm. Looks cool with the Apache head picture T-shirt he was wearing. I also bought a few T-shirts.

Mima and her grandchildren.

Kusuma and the kids.

Cousins striking a pose.

Shakiel got very attached to Kusuma.

This time we were thinking more of ourselves rather than what to get for friends and relatives back home. Kadang2 bila travel overseas kita selalu ingat nak beli buah tangan untuk sedara but not this time.

It is not complete a trip to Bali without going to the spa. Since we did not want to lay down for 2 hours for the usual full body massage, we pampered ourselves with foot and head massage only. Head massages is for relaxing our mind after thinking all the money we have spent and foot massage for the long walks browsing and shopping. Hahaha!

Dinner by the Jimbaran Beach was nice though the food was a bit cold and stale. The beach quartet performers would come from table to table and play your choice of tune. The huge waves bang the shore in the background was a big plus. The kids had a ball playing with sand. Of course lepas tu kena marah sebab kasut and seluar penuh dengan pasir. Merata-rata bersepah pasir dalam bilik air bila sampai ke bilik hotel!

Of course the kids enjoyed the swimming pool and Ayah spent whatever free time available in the pool with Shakira and Shakiel.

Other places of interest that we went were Kintamani and Turtle Island.

Finally the last day, since our flight back to Malaysia was 7 pm, the hotel management agreed to allow us extend our stay until 4 pm. We found a small Nasi Padang food stall not far from our hotel and had lunch. Makan bagai nak rak...macam dah lama tak jumpa nasi. Eeeee!

At the airport we still had time to shop at the duty free and I took the opportunity to finish up whatever Rupiah cash I had in hand. By mid night we we already home.

I enjoyed the trip and I hope all did. Do I wanna go back again to Bali? HELL YEAH! This time more shopping......

MIMA.

Things in life don't come easy. The turning point in my life was when my mom passed away and it changed my entire world!

Lost my mother on 13 Jan 1977 when I was 8 while Sheri just turned 4 is indescribable. I try as much to hold on whatever memories I had with mummy. I pity Sheri as she barely knew who her mom was. But overall both of us turned out pretty well.

When you lost one half of your parent, pincang jadinya. Lucky I had Aunty Zan (my dad's sister) who had been staying with us for as long as I can remember, cared for us. I remember I had a humongous grudge against Aunty Zan who forced me to recite doa "Allahu akhbar kabiro walhamdulihikabiro....so forth" again and again but it was worth memorizing it. Amin.

Abah was not always in the picture. He drown himself with his work. Kalau nak cerita memang panjang but what I wanna share is MIMA.

WHO IS MIMA?

Well to my nephews and my kids MIMA is their grandmother, my step mom. It is a short form of grandma. To these kids she is their grandmother. They don't know about my biological mother. How could they?

My step mom entered into our lives when I was 15 and Sheri was 11. Abah married step mom in 1983 without both of our knowledge or consent. Should he get one from us? Why not? We are part of his life and he should have discussed openly about his intention. When my grandfather, Tok Din, and a few other family members' sibuk nak ke KL (at the time I was staying with my grandparents in Parit), only then I knew Abah was getting married. Wow its like being hit by a 'bull-dozzer'. I know it will come a time when Abah will remarry but not for another....well at least not until I am married. Hah!

Of course I was pissed when I was not invited to his akad nikah. One day some time that year, I told him to his face, "Now that you are married, I want to live with you and mama. No more schooling in Parit!" And so in 1984, we were transferred out from the kampung life and adjusted pretty well with the modernization of city life. Abah has to 'pay' for what he did to us for the past 5 years! I mean, shipping us to Parit, raise by my grand parents after mom's death while got transferred to Kuala Terengganu.... urgh! It really hurt my feelings.

So when they were married we accepted her as part of the family and to make things short...my step mom never had children of her own.

There was no motherly love at least the one that I imagine...the closeness, tlc, the bond, etc. I am much closer with Abah because I know I can get away with things. Maybe he acted that way out of guilt. I remember he once said, "Both of you raise your ownself. And I am proud of both of you".

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! You may be thinking I am childish and selfish...but I have been through so much. That was adulthood!! for crying out loud. I matured.

Mutual respect is what we had. You have your space and I have mine. Our relationship with her was okay.

My step mom is not like other dotting grandmother. Kadang2 I envy some grandmothers adore their grandkids. In my case, my step mom said, "kalau nak hantar your children balik kampung for cuti hantar sekali dengan maid". So you know what I mean....

She does not have that grandmotherly love...you know jenis yg boleh and suka jaga cucu. Bukan la I nak bebankan dia but my other uncles and aunties adore and spoil their grandkids. Tak sabar sabar tunggu cucu balik and sometimes asked to babysit the grandchild. "Tak pe...tak pe...nanti kita hantar balik in 2 weeks time".

My nephew and kids pun tak panggil grandmother mereka nenek or tok. Instead the word MIMA came out by accident since my nephew was not able to pronounced grandma correctly. So the name MIMA got stuck some how. Though it sounded modern, to me it showed barrier.

PPGs.

Don't know when Shakira started liking Power Puff Girls and Sushi Pack. But I know she is crazy over them. She would asked papers or note pads from me and draw a lot of PPGs picture.

I never thought she could draw a decent picture until one day she came across a site in the net which teaches how to draw the PPGs and Naruto. She learned the technique by herself. I am no artist but I think these are not bad!





See what I mean. Do you see the lines across their faces? That's a drawing technique. I am seriously thinking of sending her to an Art Class. Something for her to fill up her time during the school holidays. Haven't discussed this yet with Hubby but I am keeping this option open.

Now her favorite PPGs is BUBBLES.

July 6, 2009

These few photos of Shakira were taken during her small birthday gathering at her day care. I know it has been a while but only recently I learned how to upload and download pictures from my blackberry.

Birthday Cake - Power Puff Girls

Shakira with Teacher Sheena


Shakiel help serving out cakes.

She loves Power Puff Girls so much and she deserves this big cake. I will show you what I mean in my coming updates of how much she loves the PPGs.

Happy Birthday baby!