A true love story

There was once a dashing young man with big dreams who defied his father's wishes to be an office clerk and went on to try out for the airlines. He was chosen for the training. So did a few others from all over Malaysia and Singapore. All the tests during the training were unmemorable, save one. All future air host and hostesses had to pass the swimming test. Easy, thought the young man. He was a champion State Swimmer. But before he could show off his powerful strokes, another had stolen the limelight. He could not tell if this drama queen was pretty or not, as she was frowning and screaming, and refusing to go into the water. Everyone wanted to know who this dragon lady was, who turned out to be quite a beauty. She didn't last long in the airlines but the young man couldn't stop thinking about her. Luck was on his side when he found out that the young dragon lady lived just across the street from him, and they hooked up. They had no cellphones then so they called each other across the street with a full language made up of whistles. The young couple got married and the young man went on to become a handsome pilot while the young lady became a successful businesswoman.
He took her on plane and helicopter rides. She taught him gardening and how to change the light bulbs.
Oh, they also had five kids who were their pride and joy, as well as source of much laughter and tears, headaches and zaniness, migraines and adventures, unbreakable bonds and financial burden.
Fast forward to today-- 11 of November 2009, the once-young couple are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary!

Happy Pearly Anniversary, Mom and Papa!
Thanks for being such great role models and for living happily ever after.

PS/ My theory is that mom threw that whole big drama of not knowing how to swim to get papa's attention. She swims just fine. ;)

Long and short of scarves

I thought I knew practically every single way to tie a scarf. After all I did learn it all from the scarf lady--my mom. It's her signature style and I must say she wears them well. I've rummaged through her 2 big boxes full of colourful, silky/ satiny scarves, practically all my life.

She has no choice but shares them with her 4 daughters, which is a good thing and will sometimes find one or two or three or four, of her precious scarves in their homes. Yes, all the girls in the K Home share the same obsession.

Anyway, found this (very) old Sears scarf manual online and I actually learned a few new things: that number 12 was better than my way of tying a short scarf, while number 20 is my new favourite. Not sure if I'm a fan of number 5 or 10, though.


Image source: Google.com

Random muse

I love this picture for so many reasons. Love the colours. Love the mood. And of course, I love Charlotte Gainsbourg. Also for so many reasons. Wish I knew which publication she was posing for.
Sigh.

My CQ bought his tickets today.
Sniff.
It's gonna be a blue, blue Christmas this year.

Image source: Google.com

Montage: Ballet flats

My point is I miss wearing flats. Black ballet flats.

Image source: Google.com

Herb table

Over at absolutely beautiful things, I was inspired to have my own 'garden table' to encourage my 'cooking more at home' (yes, on top of my 'sewing more of my own clothes'. So much to do!). Anyway, instead of a table of ornamental plants, I'd like to have potted herbs. Now to make that trip to Bangsar Shopping Village to get those herbs...

Girly vintage

Ooh...I've always loved anything lacey, ruffly and ribbon-y so when I came across this post on SheBreathes, all I wanted to do was to start sewing again. Yes, sew. My own dresses. Because sewing is so much fun. And yes, there's no way I can afford anything as pretty as these...

And these are the Spring/Summer 2010 couture dresses by an Australian designer Anaessia. Very vintage and feminine, with kinda gaudy embellishment--I LIKE.


'

Wonder if Amy would mind if I fashioned my MOH dress after one of these pretties for her wedding.

Image source: SheBreathes.com

To Penang and back again

We figured out that in order to stay sane for our 8-hour road trip up North to Kedah and Penang, we had to keep it simple. Meaning, we could only bring along necessary-for-the-trip things, which was quite a challenge because while I usually travel light when travelling, I find myself overloading the car on road trips, only because it doesn't really make a big difference seeing that while there's space in the car, why not fill it up? I blame you, Mom.

Anyway, the trip was very successful and enjoyable, very much unlike our first road trip to Malacca--it was our first exposure to Malaysian road signs, or shall I say, the lack of it. But thank you Google Maps, our journey from door to door was as smooth as it can getOk, back to the neccessities:
Shades for a squint-free journey-- something I always forget to pack, especially if the trip starts at night.

A positive and extremely funny travel partner is important too. Cuts travel time in half, really. I know, I've done a 2-day boat ride down the Mekong river with my CQ and time just flew.

An iPod dock and a well-stocked iPod, 26,000 songs to be exact. Kept us entertained and a good way to muffle any funny sounds made.

M&Ms! I never ever go anywhere without my M&Ms supply. They're even tastier on road trips. A container of the colourful yummies for each of us coz this is one thing we don't share. Oh, and a couple of magazines and cold water (we froze mineral water bottles from the night before) complete the must-haves for the trip.

We were worried about traffic jams on the highway as rumoured, since it was a Deepavali long weekend but everyone else avoided the 'jams' coz we had the road all to ourselves for pretty much the entire journey. :)

After 6 hours of driving, we finally got to our first destination--Princessalitah's university in UUM. After a quick tour around her place because-people-were-staring-as-I-was-not-properly-covered, we hopped into the car again and made our way to Penang.

Penang! Oh, how I've missed you! It has been 10 years since I was here for 10 months for Matriculation.

I must say that the place has changed alot. Somehow, it's alot cleaner--like someone turned a giant hose on the city and gave it a thorough wash.

We stayed at the Tune Hotel, which was right in the heart of Georgetown. Loved how cheap it was, it's strategic location but not liking how noisy it was inside the hotel. Two solutions: 1. Carpet the hallway 2. Replace all door locks with simpler and quieter ones.


This stately old building was particularly impressive. We concocted all sorts of romantic stories for why it was abandoned. Later we found out from the owner of Baba Nyonya restaurant that it was a bar (blech) and someone was killed in a brawl there some 30 years ago and they shut it down. Meh.


Oh, then we went to the Penang Museum and I have to say--best museum in Asia. Seriously. In what was previously a colonial school, it is jam-packed with the juiciest ancient gossip history and artefacts. And no, no sscary stuffed animals. This particular painting that I accidentally took, had special meaning to princessalitah and myself-- four daughters and one son, just like our family. I think princessalitah said I was the one holding the long spear and daydreaming and I think she's the one showing off her armpit. Sorry Mus, you have no choice but to be the blue boy. I cannot believe we still do this.

We then found Francis Light's Fort Cornwallis. My CQ's impression of Mr Hanky-Man cracked us up every time coz his son's name is Cornwallis. Everyone knows Mr Hanky-Man right? And his son with the corn on his...ah, never mind.

Boys and guns. I will never understand.

princessalitah showing off her very pretty bag.

In the fort, clearly the most beautiful thing ever was this tree and its 2-seater swing! What a perfect way to de-stress while guarding the fort.

Yes, it has been awhile.


Penang has many good places to eat--we kinda skipped the hawker stalls (been there done that) and went for the up and coming restaurants that were taking over old colonial buildings. We support the restoration effort!

Ah, Penang is such a nice city to walk around at night. Cheesy but true--it's like we were stepping back in time. Just keep your eyes on the beautiful buildings and ignore the cars.

This particular tri-colour lots reminded me of Krzysztof Kieslowski's trilogy Trois Couleur: Bleu. Blanc. Rouge. Definitely must-see.

The one time that everything looked perfect at Batu Ferringhi, we forget the camera in the car. Ah well, took some at the side of the road before leaving Batu Ferringhi.

Pretty little isolated alcove. We wondered how many proposals took place on these rocks.

Here's my CQ and princessalitah walking towards our favourite restaurant- the Nyonya Baba restaurant.

Behind this ancient facade were the yummiest Nyonya Baba cuisine we had ever tried.

princessalitah and I, squealed when they laid out the plates. See, my grandma had the exact same plate and that's the problem--she only had one plate of this design and we'd always fight over it at dinnertime.

The gorgeous interior of the restaurant. The owner was the one who told us about the old abandoned house. According to his mom who helped around the restaurant said she is 'an authentic Nyonya who serves authentic Nyonya food prepared from passed-down recipes and doesn't speak a word of any Chinese dialect.' Apparently, most Baba and Nyonya descendants have assimilated into the Malaysian Chinese culture.

Another great place that we found out from the museum--the E & O Hotel (Eastern and Oriental Hotel), which was started by one of the earliest Armenian settlers in Penang.
Decor was original and exquisite.
Hot chocolate: Divine
E & O sling: Overpriced and cough-syrup-like.

My CQ: Not so happy with his E&O sling but looking forward to having the hot chocolate next time we return to Penang.

Me: Soo satisfied with the whole trip. Hot chocolate was the perfect end for it.