Laundromat 3 January 2015

It was raining for the longest time and my laundry stayed damp forever. We do not have a dryer at home and a HS mom suggested I go to the laundromat. 

Little did I know, the kids had a crazy moment and we used a dryer for the first time. 

Human Anatomy Museum, Neurofair 2013 at University Putra Malaysia 12 June 2013

Preserved fetus and baby at the museum. 

Human Anatomy has always been an interesting subject for little Hui. Inadvertently, I knew much more facts by reading to her. At times, I wish I was equipped with more facts to answer her questions. Then on second thought, I think embracing who I am is more important than to loathe on how little I know. And so, the kids will love who they are and accept that life isn't perfect and you don't have to know it all. 

 This museum visit at the NeuroFair allowed her to see some actual body parts.

Gurdwara, PJ 14 May 2013

We were served tea and "kith" (in Punjabi) while waiting for Jaspal, the humble and pleasant curator.  

We need to take off our shoes and cover our head with a scarf  before entering the prayer hall.  

This is kirpan (sword), one of the five Ks that represent a Sikh. 

Chaur, is like a fan and  is used to waves over the Guru Granth Sahib (below) to show respect for the Gurus teaching. 

The Holy book called the Guru Granth Sahib. It is kept in the room at night and carry to the praying hall in the day. It is place on the raised platform, under a canopy and covered with cloth.

The Sikh symbol called the Ik Onkar means "one God"

Chocolate Museum, Kota Damansara 16 January 2013

Demonstration on chocolate making. 

Visiting a chocolate museum is one of my children favourite places to go. This is the second chocolate museum we visited, Beryl was the first one. 

The museum here has more information and the tour is slightly longer. 

Read more here. 

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency 23 November 2012

The visit to MMEA was a great discovery for me. The children had a great one hopping from one ship to another. I am thankful that the officers are very helpful and generously showing us around.  

National Hydrography Centre Port Klang 7 November 2012

The hydropgraphy ship. 

Another eye-opening trip for me. I have not known the existence of this place, though I have driven passed it like 3 times and I told my kids how ignorant I am!

We were given an opportunity to step on board and the officers were wonderfully helpful and warm.  

He explained and replied to our questions generously and patiently. 

Their hospitalities is beyond question!  

Special thanks to Mimi and Teri for bringing me there.

Plastic Factory Tour 3 November 2012

We were invited to visit a plastic factory and little did I know, it was a factory that I once knew when I was a kid. It has evolved into a huge one involving processes from mould making to plastic injection. It was truly an eye opener for me who has no idea what and how plastic parts making is all about. 

   

An antique plastic injection machine. 

They have a display room with all kinds of plastic products that they produced!

Resin comes in many types and quality as well. 

Line tour

                                         

After molten plastic is injected into the mould, the plastic cools and solidify. The plastic part is then ejected out.

Colour pigments for mixing into the pure resin. Video below is the process.

                                        

                                          

CNC machine for cutting a mould to shape. This mould will eventually form the plastic part by injecting molten plastic into it.

Aerospace Education Discovery Tour, TUDM 25 October 2012

My first thought when I saw the list of activties given by Aerospace, was "WOw, that is long". 

It consists of -Water Rocket demonstration 

-Vortex Cannon

-Super bubbles

-Bernoulli theorem

-Solar astronomy

-Paper aircraft

-Soda straw rocket with competition

-Flight stimulation and video presentation

-Astronaut spacesuit photo opportunity

-Activities booklet

We were charged RM 950 for a maximum of 40 children.   

Sam Gibb, the faciltator is so so so so good. He is funny, full of energy and passionate in delivering the demonstration to a huge group of 40 children. 

The children were enthralled during the long 4 hours demonstation. And so was I. At the end of the tour, I felt pain on my cheek muscle for laughing so hard.

                                             

Sam showed how the wheel in motion would not fall off his finger.

This is the air cannon experiment where it shoots the cup off the head.

Making the invisible ring of air visible by filling in the trash can with theatrical smoke.

                                          

If you visit the Singapore Science Centre, check this experiment out as well.

I witness my 5 year old laughing out loud watching Sam many times. 

I am glad we came. Sam reminded me of John Holt. 

He is so interesting and so interested in children. Being genuinely interested makes the whole learning lively.  

                                       

Water rocket demonstration. 

Bernoulli Theorem

Hot Air Balloon

                                         

Super Bubbles. 

Pusat Sains Negara 's resource centre has a book and its wand on super bubbles for rent. It is located at third floor. 

Solar Astronomy.

Also read here

                                          

This is the flight simulator. 

As the weather got hotter, we were ushered into an air-condition room to watch some videos and kids had a go on the flight stimulation.

Flying the paper plane.

Tanjung Tuan, Cape Rachado Lighthouse 4 September 2012

Usually, this gate was shut tight during the past visits to the light house. We often peeped in and watched the MNS volunteers at work during the Raptor Watch months.

Today, we got permission to step in from the Marine Department. 

We were also given the green light to drive our car up and parked at the area where the red and blue roof is.  

The compound is well kept with a cozy living room, I called it. 

What attracted me in that room was the small poster of the birds and the location of all the lighthouses in Peninsular Malaysia (below). I have no idea there are so many lighthouses at all. 

The curator briefed us in Bahasa Malaysia. I can't remember why I didn't pay any attention at all.  

The spiral staircase that led us up the top of the lighthouse tower.

                                           

At the top. Watch the sea view. 

At first, we were not allowed to go up here. After some negotiation with the curator, adults and older children were allowed to climb up. 

I was up there on the left tower, outside the glass panel, walking around it. The height got my knee wobbly but I was so happy to be there. The sea view was wonderful. 

While I was looking down, I saw my little kid cried. Then I remember being so excited to climb up the tower that I have forgotten to tell her. Finding me up high sent tears down her cheek. 

                                             

The turning light. 

Pusat Darah Negara (National Blood Bank) 9 August 2012

We joined a tour organized by a HS mom. 

The tour itinerary is as such :

1. Video presentation. 

2. Tour starts with how blood donation is done. 

3. How blood is screened.

4. How blood is kept and distributed to hospitals.

5. Tour ends with blood donation by adults who are qualified and would to like to donate.

The auditorium where the video presentation is held. Over here, we were also given information on blood donation processing. 

Then we were ushered to walk through the corridor with many rooms. A curator explained the function of each room. I couldn't hear what she said as I was right at the back. And I saw most staffs were busy working with concentration. 

Looking at the way the staffs work, I felt that they seems to be handling something highly important. 

Blood donation room. 

Refreshment will be served to the donor after the process finishes.

The chairs look comfy. 

A father of our group was donating his plasma and platelet. 

There are two tubes hooked onto his arms. One of the tube was where the red blood cell flows into his body again after extracting the plasma and platelet.  

The place where stem cell is stored.

The trays' constant movement is to prevent the platelet from clotting.

Emergency shower and eye wash area. We found it amusing.

Cryofuge, a machine that separate plasma and platelet from red blood cell by spinning the blood pack really fast.

Plasma and platelet will then float on top whereas red blood cell will sink to the bottom. 

The pack will then be carried here where a worker will manually squeeze the plasma and platelet. 

Each pack of blood that a donor donates will be separate into plasma, platelet and red blood cell. 

The cold room where the blood is stored. 

Red blood cell can last till 42days but platelet and plasma only 5 days.

Looking at the qualification for a blood donor and  I am not qualified.

Blood donation process will take about 30 to 40minutes. 

Every week, Pusat Darah Negara needs 3000 packet of blood and at the moment only 2% of the Malaysian population are donor. 

For a visit, email Ms Yessy Octavia at yessy@moh.gov.my