A Full Monday schedule

My Monday was packed with a lot of stuff to do.. Let me start of with....

In the morning, we (my wife and I) brought along Raudhah to her would be school.

We wanted to buy an extra pair of uniform for her.. just in case.

Managed to ask Raudhah to pose just outside her school.

As usual, the reward for being a good girl was to buy 'mainan' for her.

In this particular case, the 'mainan' is a "Sesame Street Sliding Puzzle Book".

Next was to Boustead showroom..

Thinking or 'dreaming' to own a big car.

As it was already lunch time, we dropped by Aminah Arif Restaurant for some ambuyat. Yummy...!

The gruesome scene after we finished eating.. hehehe

In the afternoon, I send my wife to pick up her car from the workshop. Actually I forgot to blog about it last Saturday. On that fateful Saturday afternoon, my in-law borrowed my wife's car and suddenly it stalled on him. Can you guess from where was this picture taken?

Lastly at nite, I spend a few hours typing in a minute of meeting for an association that I joined. To be honest, its not my 'bread and butter' thus it was excruciatingly and painstakingly taking a long time to complete. Thanks Sayang for the malay translation.. :)

Hot-selling product

Yesterday my wife and I spent nearly half a day trying to find what seems to be a best-sellling product of the month (or from previous month).

Its black sport-pants for 3 to 4 years old kids. We want to buy it for Raudhah to wear when her new kindergarden class would have sport activities. We know its such a hot item as we met my wife's friend at a hypermarket stating similar things. Citing that they too have gone to several places without any luck. Such a 'pisang panas'.

At the end we contended to just buy a pair of sport shoes for her.

Lesson of the day: Don't buy last minute! hehehe

Raudhah's new sport shoes.. hmm.. is it 'abibas' or 'adidas'?

A day a the beach

Finally we are able to bring our daughters (except the youngest.. 2mths old) to the beach yesterday. I have been meaning to bring my kids there earlier but both of them got a flu a few days back. My mom-in-law was also willing to tag along with us and join the fun. The venue was Berakas Beach.

As expected there were a lot of people (especially families type) as it was the last weekend before school term begins. The day was surprisingly not that hot as the sea breeze was quite cool. Later on we found out (on our way back home) that it was because it was going to rain.

While my wife and mom were busy watching out for the kids, I was busy watching them through my camera view-finder. (hehehe.. practicing taking shots with the new cam). Overall I was happy to see that my daughters were having fun.

Oh yes.. this is the first time we brought them to the beach and the first time we allowed them to be 'friendly' with the sand. So some unsurprising things happen when you put children in that situation.

Facts of the day: Naurah was 'eating' sand while Raudhah was busy shampooing her hair in it!

From L to R: Mom-in-law, Raudhah, my loving Wife, Naurah

Naurah never hesitated to run to the waves as my wife steadfastly guarding from the rear

"Masya Allah... I forgot to bring my scuba gear!"

"hmm.. whats this? I wonder what it tastes like.....?"

Taking a break

"Siok eh usulnya"

My first photo models

These are among the first pictures taken by me with the Canon EOS 40D. My main subjects yesterday were my daughters; whereby my eldest was more than willing to be my model. As you can see, she can strike poses without me doing a lot of instructions.

The only 'sasak' part was that every time I took her pics, she would run straight to me and asked me to show it to her on the camera. Multiply that by a few dozen time I took her pics, well.. you get the picture (if you'll forgive the pun).

Obviuosly I have a lot of learning to do.. Anyhow enjoy my pics.

Naurah's favourite hobby; watching cartoons

You can hardly get her attention while shes watching TV

"YES! Top-notch photo Dad" hehehe

One of Raudhah's cutest pose

Romantic pose by Raudhah

My first DSLR

First of all I would like to thank my wife as she was the person who supported me to finally buy a Digital SLR camera. Without her saying the magic word 'agatah bali..' I would not have done it. *luv u sayang*

Well, impressive photos taken by alt-expression & gembo also did the trick as she was saying how outstanding those photos were. She gave similar comments like mine.. 'macam dalam magazine saja..'

Seems to be I got a lot to catch up with my bros and meet my wife expectations. Need all of your support guys.. Cheers.. and Have a happy new year holiday.

My new Canon EOS 40D with EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM. Photo taken by his cousin; Canon PowerShot A470 with 6.3-21.6mm f/3-5.8.

Working Trip to Kuching 20-23 Nov part II

If you have by any chance going to visit Kuching next year 2009 and want to stay at Crowne Plaza or Holiday Inn, don't be surprise if you don't find any of them listed anywhere.

Well this is due to these hotels are nor longer continuing their contract with InterContinental Hotels Group. Thus they need to be rebranded.

Hence, with effective from 1 Jan 2009, the new names for these famous hotels are:

Crowne Plaza Riverside Kuching is renamed as Riverside Majestic Hotel
Holiday Inn Kuching is renamed as Grand Margherita Hotel

They actually took down the sign while we were still staying there. (22nd Dec)

Another interesting place we visited was the Kek Lapis Dayang Salhah. It is one of the famous & flourishing cottage industry in Kuching. As you can see it still retains the 'kampung' facade and you have to take off your shoes when entering, similar to what we do when we enter our own house.

Once inside, I felt like I was just visiting friends for Hari Raya, as an assortment of Kek Lapis was served on the table meant as testers. As I was quite hungry, an ample amount of delicious Kek Lapis passed through my gullet. hehehe

Overall it was an interesting experience, anyhow some say that Kek Lapis originated from Kuching. It is true? Welcome any comments on this. Well..enjoy the rest of the pictures...

Front view of the Kek Lapis House

Yummy... free kuih...!!!

Kek Lapis products nicely stacked onto shelves. Even carry-baskets were provided similar to your local supermarket.

hmm.. what was that fancy looking cake called?

Some local celebrities immortalised during their visit there. See if you can guess a few?

Definitely not a celebrity!!!

My kid candid pictures

Pictures taken today of my eldest daughter Raudhah at home after we (my wife, Naurah & myself) went to the Yayasan to grab a bite in KFC there. As usual, I have to buy some toys for her. Her fav is the 'princesses' aka anything pink type toys thus I bought an assortment of girlie accessories for just under $10.

Shes nearly three, thus doesn't need a 'baby walker', but as you can see... she is using it as a mobile office table.

Look at her pink sandals

"Hello...Yes, this is Miss Raudhah, I would like to order more of your pink sandals..."