Malacca Weekend Trip 1 Sep 2019

Today is Sabbath. Our family attended the Malacca Branch. It is the same time as Puchong Branch, from 10.00am to 12 noon. It was already almost lunch 1.30pm after we reached back to our homestay.

We changed our Sunday best to our casual clothing, and walked towards the opposite side from our homestay. We came to the famous Big Bowl Ice dessert shop. It was not really packed with people now. I guessed all the tourists are busy either queuing at the restaurants for their lunch and no one will come to the dessert shop yet.

We ordered the Big Bowl Special with red beans, taro, dragon fruit, pineapple, banana, watermelon with brown sugar syrup for both Alvin and I to share; whereby Issac and Annabelle ordered a strawberry chocolate waffle to share.

It did come in a huge portion, unfortunately we do not think the taste is as good as most of the reviews claimed. Well… at least it did sort of cool us down with the hot weather like this.

After our dessert, we walked to the Malacca famous Asam Pedas Claypot. There are 2 shops which are selling the same and we just walked in to the shop which is not so crowded called Restaurant Dahlea Ria Asam Pedas Claypot. It was already near to 2.30pm.

We can see a lot of Malays bikers and I know it is a good weekend for the bikers to organize a convoy for outing like this. Both shops also packed with bikers! We can see the bikes parking at the roadside.

We ordered a Asam Pedas Pari Claypot and Adam Pedas Beef Claypot. We were served with the rice and vegetables first, and waited for our clay pots for more than 30 minutes. It was due to a lot of customers and we can see that most of the customers were already booked their dishes.

It was really tasted nice and best as this is our first time to eat the Asam Pedas. The sauce is so thick and the hot and sour taste just at the right taste. We love it so much, but we unable to take or eat more as we already full with the earlier desserts we had.

It was already 3.45pm when we left the restaurant and headed back to our homestay. All of us were tired. Part of the reasons also because due to the hot weather especially at Malacca as a city that located at the seaside.

We took rest at the homestay and came out for the short dinner at the Kopitiam nearby at the evening. It was a short getaway for the family to spend sometime together after Alvin started his work. All of us enjoy the company of one another.

Malacca Weekend Trip 31 Aug 2019

It is a considered long weekend public holidays. Alvin planned for us to spend the weekend together at Malacca. We started our journey early morning nearly around 6.00am. Our car almost got heated up, but we safely arrived at our destination.

We reached Malacca around 8.00am. Alvin drove us straight to a famous Siang Chang Kopitiam which famous for its steamed or toasted bread and the half boiled eggs.

Besides that, we ordered a bowl of Nyonya Laksa to try. I love the toasts and the eggs, but frankly speaking I do not like the Laksa, it is tasteless. I still like Sarawak Laksa more.

After our breakfast, it is still early to check-in to our homestay, thus we went to the Melaka Submarine Museum. We bought the entrance tickets. Before we went into the museum, there is a pony ride and carriage ride outside at the field there.

Issac and Annabelle were trying to ride on the pony. There was an accident happened during Issac was riding the pony. He was over thrown by the pony and luckily he was alright and nothing serious or bad thing happened.

After Alvin helped him to clean off the dirt and changed to new pants and T-shirt, we just walked towards the museum. We can see 2 fighter jet planes displayed.

We walked to the submarine and get the chance to see submarine up close and to go inside and witness the living and working conditions of submariners.

The submarine is propped up on steel supports on dry land and is open to the public as museum. The submarine named the SMD Ouessant, an Agosta 70 class submarine which was built in 1978 by Arsenal de Cherbourg in France.

It was decommissioned by the French Navy in 2001 and subsequently transferred to the Royal Malaysian Navy where it was used as training vessel from 2005 – 2009 it is an electric/diesel powered non-nuclear submarine.

We are allow to enter the hull of the submarine via stairs near the bow and walk through the narrow corridor inside before existing near the rear.

The Ouessant is still crammed with its original equipment such as the torpedo launching platform, torpedo bays, engine room, navigational and communications equipment as well as the cramped mess room and sleeping accommodation of the crew.

It was almost 10.00am when we left the museum, we headed to the famous coconut shake place and had our cold dessert for such a hot sunny day. We had some Mee Rebus, Nasi Lemak, and Coconut Shake too.

We love especially the coconut shake top with vanila ice cream in the coconut! That is really yummy delicious!

After which we checked in to our homestay at Casa Blanca Guest House which is near to the Jonker Street. And the whole afternoon and evening we were walking around the Jonker Street area and eat a lot!

Pastel Palette 20190829 ~ My Autumn

This is my Autumn! I want to see the Autumn’s sunlight through the leaves. I always want to see the light through the moody circumstances and gloomy days!

Pastel Nagomi Art 3rd Class

Today before the class, we shared last week homework, we continued back last week the pastel class on the 4 seasons – Winter. After the we did the Winter, Teacher Mici asked us to stick on the wall.

After which, she gave us a simple meditation session and from the meditation we had, asked us to paint whatever images or things which came into our mind.

I do not know all about the meditation. I just know that in my mind I have a bright lightness that I can see through the dark mists or darkness. Thus, this is my painting.

And this is my artwork for the 4 seasons which learned over the past 2 weeks in the class.

Pastel Palette 20190826 ~ My Summer

This is the Summer which in my mind – clear white and blue sky, sandy beaches and blue sea. It gives me a kind of peace and comfort feeling. I know that it is simple.

I would love to imagine that if I am going to turn into my golden years later, I would want my years there after just like the Summer like this. I can see the blue sky, I can see the clear seas and looking at the beautiful dawn peacefully sun rising and the beautiful sun set too.

This is my Summer.

Pastel Palette 20190823 ~ My Spring

There is homework which Teacher Mici gave to us last night during our 2nd class last night: What stage of your life currently is now? Is it Spring? Summer? Autumn? Or Winter?

We learned how to draw four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter in Pastel Nagomi Art method. Last time we learned till autumn.

I personally think that I do not agree at all of the question that teacher gave, because in life there definitely we will bounce to go through some challenges and trials. I should not look at my life now as like season. Even though in Spring, or Summer, or Autumn, and even Winter, that is really up to me to look at life and how I want it to be?

At that moment, I was thinking of like… How my Spring would be? How is my Summer are like? How can I see hope in the Autumn that gloomy and moody? How can I see the sunlight in the midst of coldness in the Winter?

Even Spring too… under the clear blue sky… you will see some darkness under the clouds. That is how I want myself to treat my own life the way it is.

It is just like the dandelion. After the dandelion flower head dries out, the mature seeds that attached to the white, fluffy “parachutes” which easily detach from the seed head would glide by the strong wind, dispersing…

I feel that: that is the way how I want my Spring to be. I will still trying my very best and fly high even under the wind, and whatever that come along my way.

Pastel Palette 20190818 ~ Companion

I took out the piece of pastel artwork which I did in the class days ago, and look at it again. Suddenly I felt that I was alone in the artwork… All these while, may be I am too self-centre or focus on myself but neglected the people that are around me.

It gave me an idea that I should paint another piece of artwork that 2 trees represent 2 persons. My heart feel that I need that too… It is really tired to walk alone and face all the challenges alone… Sometimes I just need a shoulder to lean on, even just sit beside, no conversation is enough…