Penang National Park 3 October 2010

Sunday 9am

It was another breezy and calming ferry ride to the Penang Island, except the En-climbing part that cause our heart to skip a beat. I worried she slips and falls. She said  " Look, there is a platform and I won't fall into the sea ". 

We head to Penang National Park after we arrived. It was indeed not a great plan after a long drive !!

Direction - head towards Batu Ferringhi, follow the curvy road till the roundabout, where 'End of the World' restaurant is located. Go straight at roundabout till the end of road where you see Penang National Park in front.

There is no entrance fee and you need to register before entering. There are 7 trails with duration ranging from 10min to 2 hours walk/hike. The greatest attraction is the meromictic lake (trail F). right- Fishing boats/jetty view from the Pasir Pandak trail A, the shortest trail.

The beginning path is a nicely tiled-pavement. Along the path, there are wooden picnic tables and benches, facing beach, sea and fishing jetty.  En pleaded to play sand right here but I wanted to hike to the meromictic lake and Pantai Kerachut which is quieter and much nicer. Poor girl obliged.

After this bridge is the beginning of trail B to F.

Some part of with steps, some with tree roots and mostly are damp soil.

Funghi spotted along the trail. Hui was tired and fell asleep in the midst of it, on my shoulder. I decided to turn back and settle at Pasir Pandak beach. It was the right thing to do and En ran straight to the beach and the dirty sea water doesn't hinder or worry her at all.

The list of animals that could be spotted at this national park and we only saw a huge monitor lizard, giant squirrel, brahminy kites and long tail macaques.

After this, we head to Batu Ferringhi, our usual hang-out spot but were shocked to find out the restaurant has closed down.

Hang-out Beach Pictures

ICCA Wedding Cake Competition @Sunway Giza 2 October 2010

Saturday 530pm

This event has been an eye opener for me. We browsed through rows of stunning wedding cake of art. Left-  This marvellous white wedding cake somehow captured my attention. I admired it for a long time. Later on, I realised it has won the second prize!  En loved this one, with a staircase (Right)

        

Indian's Lace - by a 12 years old unschooler , the youngest contestant over there!  We are so proud of her, admiring her skill at a very young age. It is a remarkable cake of art.  Check out her blog "Do you know the cupcake girl" ( the link is on my blog).  And yeah, we came because of her.  :)

Hari Raya Open House 2 October 2010

Saturday 3pm. We had a marvellous Raya party based on a train theme! I love this attractive home-made train cake. Enhui had a fabulous time. Thank you, aunty Rayhana. :)

En's Manuscript Book 1 October 2010

Friday am. Piano teacher instructed me to pay for the manuscript book, which is En's first. Without a music background, I had a look at what she did with that book. (*usually, I don't look at her piano books) Wow, she is learning to draw those musical notes.  :) Perhaps, I have never learn it before and maybe that's why I admire those little notes she made.

Unschooler's ordinary afternoon at home 30 September 2010

Thursday 11am

En spotted a tiny snail on the pot where we soaked the vegetables and kept it on our Sharp Tongue plant.  She observed at which part of the leaf would the snail stop and rest.

Today's lunch - red & kidney bean dessert and noodle soup.  

Left- On board a train. En, the train master with a train whistle. When the train came to the final station,  she suggested we bake 'rainbow cookies' (name given by the recipe).  So I told her to write down the ingredients needed. ;p  After writing "BUTTER", she turned around and said " We don't have to write, just look at the recipe "  :D  (*oops, writing plot backfired)

"Rainbow cookies" with M&M chocolates.

Soccer ball @ the corridor 29 September 2010h

Wednesday am
Jia Chen, the footballer and En, the scorekeeper.
Our printer box is the goal !

Fun @Swimming Pool 29 September 2010

Wednesday am. En happily announced " I can dive"

Hui dipping in the pool.  :)

Snowflake? Flower? 28 September 2010

Tuesday am.
Does it look like snowflake? ehm..

Paper chains 28 September 2010

Tuesday am

En invited me to make paper chains. Here is mine, just like the one on the card.

This is En's paper chains, her own original design and the cluttered hallway after the craft.  

Textile Museum 28 September 2010

Tuesday 1pm
This museum with free entrance showcase arts and crafts of woven material. Daily 9am-6pm. Closed on first day of Hari Raya and Hari Raya Aidiladha. 03-2694 3457. We took LRT @Kelana Jaya to Masjid Jamek station. RM2.30 adult one way.

Textile Museum is located at the building next to Bangunan Abdul Samad and a stone throw away from Dataran Merdeka. It has four galleries all together which spread around two floors.

Left- coin belts. Right - This caught En's attention. Modesty disc which worn by little indian children.

Modesty disc and parang parang, used as decoration for the bedroom of peranakan and chinese bridal couple from Penang.

Left- It is an interactive station, showing how the arts and crafts are produced. Hui loves this one. She watched  a few and wanted to view all, till En persuaded her to leave.  Right- batik stamping.

From Masjid Jamek station, follow the Masjid Jamek exit. Walk towards the HSBC bank and river side (on photo). When you reach the end, cross the road and walk toward your right. Textile Museum is on your left, after Agro Bank. En said "It is like Singapore", because of the walking and taking public transport. The difference is I don't feel safe walking on the street here with enhui. My guard would be up and observant of the surrounding, the homeless man by the river bank  and an unpleasant looking woman who approached us for a conversation. In Singapore, I don't feel this way.

Kelingkan

The Teapot Cafe 28 September 2010

Teapot cafe(halal) is located at SS2, PJ. It is recommended for its scones which sell like hotcake. Though, we have been here numerous of times, we have yet to taste the scones as  it is only available during tea time. The restaurant is decorated with all sort of teapots, hence the name!  The ambience gives a cozy kind of feeling that I like and it is perfect for my cuppa.  Hui loves the soup whereas En enjoys the toasted wholemeal tuna sandwich.

  

A typical business day with aunty Mey 27 September 2010

Wednesday. 1pm
We joined aunty Mey for her day work. *I knew Mey for 23 years now and I used to wish she will be my sister in law! hehe  :D

She returned bad goods (plastic bags) to a plastic bags making factory and we went inside to have a look.

The raw material (the heap in white) goes into the machine, melted and blew into (yellow) plastic bag. The size of the plastic bag depends on the wind and size of the mould.

The yellow bag went into "Forever 21" plate roller that is filled with black paint.  

The smaller mould creating smaller size of plastic bags( in white). Right- The white bag went into the roller with yellow paints.

The roller plate and the label shows the contents of the plate. Right- Lines of empty plastic bag rolls.

A knitting factory, where they dye the white plain cloths into colours.

Rows of dyeing machines that look like a washer. Right- Enhui's souvenir. A blown up long transparent plastic bags!  It was a hard day work for this business woman, deliver heavy goods(plastic bags) all by herself, and answering to phone calls, negotiating for business, collecting cheques etc. She does it all - one 'wo'man show! *SALUTE*