A Brief Respite

In the middle of the fervour of the 2010 Football World Cup competition, Muni, Adeen, Azeim and their much "vuvuzela"ed mother took time off to spend a weekend in Kuala Terengganu and Pulau Kapas.

It was a short trip for everyone except for Azeim (for reasons to be revealed next update). He is back home on summer break from a university in bonnie Scotland. Azeim and I flew into Kuala Terengganu a day earlier than the other two for an opportunity to gatecrash a wedding and sample the famed gulai kawah and nasi minyak  as well as spend some quality time with his cousins and their parents.

In fact I was delighted that my brother's bubbly family were in KT that weekend. I had been a tad apprehensive about not having the one who owns 2 Alfas - one red and the other yellow - with us on this trip. But being chauffeured in a massive tank of a Volvo more than made up for it, though the two young lads had to be relegated to the luggage hold. But guys, that's much better than having to sit amongst hardware and  containers at the back of a 35 year-old Landy, I tell you  - just ask Muni and Adeen (more on this later).

After the sumptuous wedding lunch in Seberang Takir, we drove along the Marang coastline in search of sata and lempeng. I had my first taste of sata while enjoying the refreshing sea-breeze on the beach. Talk about sweetness and exhiliration!

We had earlier stopped at a couple of warongs selling Terengganu delicacies.  I was amazed by the names of the different kuih on the price-list and recognised khasidah -  to which popular blogger DrSam had witten a tribute. I also noticed a kuih ulat-bulu on the list but these and many other were already sold out.





My sister-in-law, Umairah, finally returned to the car with some rojak buah and a dish of pulut balls in santan. Oh and we also stopped for tat nangka and a light butter bread they call beluda (both not in picture)

Of all things, we had to go to Mydins to buy new shoes for Azeim because his had suddenly become unstitched. I was pleasantly surprised to see the shoe section very well-stocked, they even had ladies shoes in my un-chomey size. I grabbed a couple of pairs of plastic footwear for the upcoming time on Kapas and the flight home. Bling-bling shoes for a wedding are not cut out for these occasions.

Umairah, my brother Jamil, and their children had so wanted to meet the Pirate King of Kapas Island and we invited him to have dinner with us. However the "Captain", as he is known the world over, was caught up in some matters and couldn't make it. Nevertheless, we had a good Thai dinner at the Dara Inn where Azeim and Ayub managed to catch the match between Argentina and some country which I cannot now recall. But I remember a goal blitz from Argentina and a similar blitz of SMS's with Captain to set our rendezvous for the next day.

And then back to our hotel for a good night's sleep.

The next morning, the bubbly family returned to KL while Muni and Adeen "fire-flew" into KT.


(to be continued)

World Cup Fortune Telling - Tonight's Fixture

Reading the Telor Asin (from my lunch)

Germany 0 - England 0

Update: 2 - 0 either way

Anymore?

(Eh, amalan syirik ke ni?)

Shaking It Off

And the scale loudly said
"ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-EIGHT!

That, my dear is the weight
which you have been of late!"

Of bone and muscles, I might add
And just a teeny bit of fat (hehe)

Tho' not really where it matters
But south in the sitting area

Off I went and made a date
With none other than the Power Plate


And fullamak... didn't I vibrate
from ear to ear and toe to head

Amplitude, frequency
Adjustable frenzy

Shake up the fatsies
And blocked capillaries

Bridges, planks, yogic positions
Micro-mini seismic vibrations

Buzzing, tingling nervous stimulations
Kicking, jazzing, systemic circulation

"Quads, glutes, squats, lunges,
Cardio, core, abductors, adductors,

Static, dynamic, heart-rate enhancers
FITTER! STRONGER!", went the instructor

Bangun pagi terasa sakit
Harus ku cari yang sudi picit
Trigger-points dan urut tak mintak duit
Besok ada kelas JOGET!

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Honey Granny

It was her second visit to the clinic in Kg. Tunku for a slight sore throat.

After getting her tonsils peered at, Mum (or Tokmi to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren) told her pretty 40-something doctor "Dr, saya ada baca dalam suatu buku lama yang saya terjumpa, ni pasal makan honey, dia kata umur 40 tu dah masuk tahap tua dah..."

Dr said "Betul tu... saya pun dah kena pakai reading glasses".

Mum continues "Dr dengar ler, macam saya ni 83 tahun buku tu kata... dah tahap TERLALU TUA.... hahahaha... patutlah lambat nak sembuh perit tekak ni.... dah TERLALU TUA..."

Adoiiii so cute, baru Tokmi perasan?

She advised the pretty doctor "Dr, buku tu kata honey is very good to maintain your health and stay young"

"Yer lah, makan honey tu kan sunnah nabi..."figs and dates as well"


" Dr  kena minum honey everyday you know, the good one - not the G**NT brand. Itu ada gula dalamnya. Satu sudu honey dalam air suam - jangan guna air panas, nanti hilang khasiatnya"

"  yer ker aunty? ermmm saya beri aunty antibiotik jenis lain lah kali ni OK?. Telan 1 biji dua kali sehari lepas makan. Ni kalau perut kosong boleh gastrik"

"Even though I am TERLALU TUA Dr, Alhamdulillah enjin perut ok dan jalan lawas... lutut saja yang masalah, sujud kena berkerusi dah"


"  Isn't anyone, your grandchildren, staying with you?

"  Mana diorang nak Dr, diorang kata rumah Tokmi tak ada komputer... apa lagi tu... internet? But I'm OK, bila maid tak ada baru cucu temankan atau saya lari rumah anak-anak"

Dr says "You know aunty, I told my husband you inspire me very much... I want to be like you as I grow older, be independent, cook my own meals"


So do I, as a matter of fact.


Semoga Tokmi sihat selalu..

Hmmm... If 40-something is tua, and 80-something is terlalu tua, that makes 50-something  SANGAT TUA?

I'M GOING OUT TO GET SOME HONEY!

If you don't believe Tokmi, pleas read this (from http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-animal-products/organic-honey/health-benefits-of-honey.html):

Known as Honig in German, Miele in Italian, Shahad in Hindi, Miel in French, Miel in Spanish, Mel in Portuguese, мед in Russian, Honing in Dutch, and μελι in Greek, there is hardly any region in the world where honey is not cherished.

What makes honey so popular? It is the ease with which it can be consumed. One can eat honey directly, put it on bread like a jam, mix it with juice or any drink instead of sugar, or mix it with warm water, lime juice, cinnamon and other herbs to make a medicine. It is savored by all due to its taste as well as health benefits.

The health benefits of honey include the following:

Sweetener: Sugar can be substituted with honey in many food and drinks. Honey contains about 69% glucose and fructose enabling it to be used as a sweetener.

Energy Source: Honey is also used by many as a source of energy as it provides about 64 calories per tablespoon. One tablespoon of sugar will give you about 50 calories. Further the sugars in honey can be easily converted into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs. Hence it is very easy to digest honey.

Weight Loss: Though honey has more calories than sugar, honey when consumed with warm water helps in digesting the fat stored in your body. Similarly honey and lemon juice and honey and cinnamon help in reducing weight.

Improving Athletic Performance: Recent research has shown that honey is an excellent ergogenic aid and helps in boosting the performance of athletes. Honey facilitates in maintaining blood sugar levels, muscle recuperation and glycogen restoration after a workout.

Source of Vitamins and Minerals: Honey contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. The vitamin and mineral content of honey depends on the type of flowers used for apiculture.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties: Honey has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and hence it can be used as a natural antiseptic.

Antioxidants: Honey contains nutraceuticals, which are effective in removing free radicals from our body. As a result, our body immunity is improved.

Skin Care with Milk and Honey: Milk and honey are often served together as both these ingredients help in getting a smooth soothing skin. Hence consuming milk and honey daily in the morning is a common practice in many countries.

Honey in Wound Management
Significant research is being carried out to study the benefits of honey in treating wounds. Nursing Standard provides some of these benefits in the document - The benefits of honey in wound management. These have been given below:

• Honey possesses antimicrobial properties.
• It helps in promoting autolytic debridement.
• It deodorizes malodorous wounds.
• It speeds up the healing process by stimulating wound tissues.
• It helps in initiating the healing process in dormant wounds.
• Honey also helps in promoting moist wound healing.

The healing powers of honey are not hyped. The Waikato Honey Research Unit provides details about the world-wide research that is being carried out on the benefits of honey in medicine. Further, BBC reported in July, 2006 that doctors at the Christie Hospital in Didsbury, Manchester are planning to use honey for faster recovery of cancer patients after surgery. Such research will provide scientific evidence to the so-called beliefs held by honey lovers all over the world and help in propagating benefits of honey to more people.

Now that you know the benefits of honey, how do you eat it? You can eat it raw, add it it in water and different beverages and you can add it in several recipes also.

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For everyone who has/had a grandmother with whom he/she has shared affection

A beautiful Kazakh song dedicated to her - our grandmother

My precious grandmother, my graceful grandmother, I miss you;
My earning for you is as great as a mighty forest.
In spite of me being a parent myself;
Until this day I long you to caress me like a child. 

I am as your colt that jumps around happily in the valley;
I am as your lamb that plays in the paddock.
I can freely laugh in your presence;
I am not ashamed to cry in front of you.


I have learned from you how to love;
I have learned from you what conscience is.
Your soul is wrapped in my heart;
My soul is pinned to your head scarf.




Asyl әzhem, ghasyr әzhem ansaghan
Saghynyshym - sary ormandaj samsaghan
Әke bolyp zhүrgenіmdі umytyp
Әlі kunge erkelejmіn men saghan

khulyndajmyn asyr salghan angharda
khozyndajmyn ojnakhtaghan albarda
Өzіn barda khysylmajmyn kuluge
Zhylaugha da khysylmajmyn sen barda

Men өzіnnen khabyldappyn sujudy
Men өzіnnen khabyldappyn kujudі
Senіn zhanyn zhүregіme orauly
Menіn zhanym zhaulyghyna tujulі

It's Monday

....and the school-holidays and the roads are not jammed and that's why the cleaner came in too early



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It's Sunday