Saturday 27 November 2010

Putting up the Christmas Tree

It's time to put up the Christmas Tree. Crystal has been asking her daddy to take the Christmas tree and its ornaments out from the store room many days ago. Finally her daddy got to do it for her last night.
She and Pearl was busy hanging some of the ornaments. Now she is tall enough to reach out to place the star on top of the tree.

The Christmas decorations are the shopping malls becoming lesser and simpler, even at 1 Borneo, a place used to be having the nicest decoration shopping mall has toned down a lot not as nice as previous last year.

Christmas decor at 1 Borneo

Extraction of tooth on kid is a stressful thing

An update of my last post about bringing Pearl to the dentist to extract her molar tooth. I can tell you, it was a very stressful thing for us as parents and also Pearl. It was also heart breaking to see her struggling and refusing to let the dentist extract her tooth.

While trying to talk Pearl into letting the dentist pull her tooth, one of the nurse kept pursuing to ask me to sign on the card, I suppose is an indemnity kind of things, she said I have to sign it before they can perform the extraction. I was a bit annoyed at one point.

The decayed tooth was broken when the dentist trying to pull it out. It took much struggle to extract the roots after that because of Pearl's refusal.

After all that, the dentist office gave us a Post-Extraction Instructions to follow, that's what the do and don't to avoid post-extraction infection.

Read here to find out more on what's happening after the dentist office.

Friday 26 November 2010

Dentist Appointment for Pearl

After having complains about tooth ache since the beginning of September, we brought Pearl to few dentist just to get opinions whether it is advisable to extract her molar tooth at the age of 5. The best is to save the tooth as much as possible, at the end we decided to seal and save it till she is older to extract it.

It was fine and no complaint of tooth ache until last week, she complained the same tooth ache again. The dentist prescribed her with a dose of antibiotic and painkiller, she advised to get her molar extracted. We have been letting her know that her tooth will be extracted just to get her ready for it.

We had made an appointment to bring her to extract her tooth today. I was damned worry for the whole week. Judging from the previous tooth filing experience, she refused and cried the longest and loudest, vomited at dentist room. That's only filing. Extracting tooth is a whole different thing.

I have been praying for the smooth extraction of her molar tooth today.

Thursday 25 November 2010

Birthday Celebration


A Carrot Walnut Cheese cake for Brother in Law's birthday. Everyone is crazy over the cheese dressing. Pearl is one of them.


Pearl took a piece of cake, sat herself down quietly to enjoy, she like the cheese very much

Isabella, Crystal and Pearl meet up

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Cotton sponge cake


This is the most successful cotton sponge cake I have ever made. The cake came out just like cotton - fluffy, spongy, and moist. I applied the steam and bake method (waterbath) as mentioned in the methods of making this cake. The texture is more or less the same like the Japanese cotton sponge cake or Castella Cake, but only better. It is much more simpler to make in comparison.

Sunday 21 November 2010

Experience Stay at Kasih Sayang Health Resort

Following to my last post about "Weekend Away from home", here is my update of my stay at Kasih Sayang Health Resort at Kokol Hill, Sabah.

We started our journey in the late afternoon after having our lunch and dentist appointment done for our little girl. At 4.00pm, half way climbing the winding road, it has started to rain. The road was once rough with pot holes has now smoothly sealed with tar all the way to the resort. It only took about 30 minutes from the central of Luyang town to the resort with ease of traffic on Sunday.

On our way up to the resort

The thermometer at the resort recorded at 23C a mere few degree drop from down town. We started to feel a bit cold as soon as we stepped in the resort due to the mountain rain breeze, chill but yet welcoming and comfortable, just like going into an air con room. The checking in was super fast because prior booking has been made. We were allocated with the largest deluxe room at room no.112 where there is a king size bed and a sofa bed (its shape like peanut and it is brown so we also called it peanut bed). We requested for extra pillows, blanket and bedsheet, that's all we need for a night cozy stay in a spacious room.


The resort was not very busy last night with only 50% occupancy. But the rooms bookings for the rest of the weekends through December have been fairly full due to school holidays, festivities and companies functions.

the restaurant deck

Our room is overlooking the city of Kota Kinabalu, the nearby islands (The islands of Gaya, Manukan, Mamutik and Sapi Islands) and the South China Sea. From near we are surrounded by greenery and floral. We feel so high up with the height of 2400 feet above sea level. The view is spectacular and breath taking both day and night. We were unable to enjoy the beauty of sunset due to the rainy day. But the sun ray through the cloud is a scene that we can only enjoy on top of the hill like this.

the sun ray through the clouds on top of Kota Kinabalu City

After witnessing the sunset from the restaurant deck, we ordered our dinner at the open air restaurant, the passing by light fog started to come in, it made us feel like we are dining at the cold country :D. From the menu we chose the Today's special - Oxtail Asam Pedas for both of us, and Tuaran Mee for our girls, they do not take spicy food. We tried out the pineapple yogurt juice, our girls simply fall in love with it.

the menu

Today's special - Oxtail Asam Pedas
Tuaran mee

Pineapple yogurt juice

The weekend is meant to relax and unwind. We spent the rest of our night in the room watching Discovery Channel while our girls played with each other, reading and drawing. No house chaos, no computer.

In the morning, the surrounding is very peaceful, free from vehicles and motorbike running sound, we had a good rest till 8.30am. The room rate comes with breakfast, we were served with American breakfast in the morning. Breakfast is served from 7.30am to 10.00am. The view is much clearer with sunny sky in the morning.

the morning view
We were late to have a glimpse of the majestic Mt Kinabalu, it has been covered by the clouds at around 9.00am. We can only see the tip of the mountain.

After breakfast we took our sweet time to check around and take some photos at the resort surrounding. The check out time is at 11.30am. We headed home at 12.30pm, stopped by Inanam town to take away its famous ngau chap (stewed beef soup). We hardly had red meat but this weekend is exceptional.

Our girls is happy and enjoy the stay at Kasih Sayang Health Resort so we do not mind planning for another trip there again in the near future. For further details of the resort, you could log in to www.kasihsayang.com.my for enquiry and make booking as well.

Saturday 20 November 2010

A weekend away from home

Today is the start of school holiday. The new school term will start on 3rd January 2011. It is gonna be a long break for the children. Our girl has been having very hectic schedule during school terms, one exam after another, we have to send her for tuition every school day afternoon to catch up with the demanding school works, both we as parents and our girl feel the pressure off our shoulder when the school holidays start and longing for a short break away from home.

Some parents have already booked their flight tickets months before to have vacations overseas. My brother in law and his family will be off to Shanghai next week.

As for us, I only left with 3 days annual leave from the office and have to watch our budget too. The only choice for us is to have a weekend escape, we have chosen to go to the nearby Kasih Sayang Health Health Resort which is only 40 minutes drive from the City of Kota Kinabalu. It is located on Kokol Hill, the fringe of the Crocker Range, with the altitude of 2400 feet above sea level and greenery all around. The view of Kota Kinabalu city can clearly be seen from the restaurant balcony, the cool breeze comes naturally and the sunset scene is just breathe taking. The resort is facing the Majestic Mount Kinabalu where the rooms are facing.

There are only 16 rooms, 4 deluxe and 12 standard. It is an ideal venue for health retreat, company meeting, annual dinner, family outing or a place for relaxation away from the hectic city. The temperature is cool at night, colder and misty on rainy days.

I have been there for work assignment and our company’s annual dinner, had wanted to bring my family there for the food and short stay. 2 years ago I was luckily enough to be the lucky winner for a 2 nights stay at the resort, a deluxe room for 2 with breakfast. I will be utilising it for a night stay and save the other night for next time. Suppose to go with SILs but they have got family affairs to attend to, it would have been nice to have them with us. Will talk more about it when we come back from our trip with photos.

Thursday 18 November 2010

The engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Prince William, the heir to the heir to the throne has finally announced his engagement to Kate Middleton, his long time girlfriend at the State Rooms of the London's St.James's Palace on Tuesday, both are 28. Their wedding will be some time in Spring or Summer 2011.

Prince William gave his future bride the same 18-carat Sapphire diamond ring, which his father, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales had given to his mother, Diana, the Princess of Wales, for their engagement in 1981. It is an oval sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds in a cluster setting chosen by Diana herself.

The country is delighted and wishing them every happiness.

This has brought back my memories on the engagement and marriage of Prince Charles and Diana in 1981. Only If the Princess of Wales were still around, the occasion would be much more merrier.

Steamed Brown sugar cupcake / Brown sugar Huat kuih


This is the steamed brown sugar cupcake or Huat Kuih I made yesterday. Have been wanted to try my hands on steamed cake for quite a while. I finally made it yesterday. This cupcake is very easy to make.

For this is the first time I try to make steamed cake, "huat kuih", I just stick to the recipe (click here). Hopefully the cakes will smile mouth wide opened after steaming, the more "Huat" means more prosper.

the moulds
I used double decker steamer to steam 10 pieces of cupcakes. The ingredients are just enough to make 10 cupcakes.

The recipe says to steam the cake for 20 minutes, upon checking on my cakes after 20 minutes, my cake is not "smiling", i.e. the top part of the cake did not break open as they should be, I continue the steaming for another 20 minutes, there was not much difference after all.


Though the cakes did not "smile" as much, it does not affect the taste of the cake. Clet, the guinea pig for my cooking and cakes, gave compliment to it, supported by Crystal and Pearl whom both had 2 each of the cupcakes.

Wednesday 17 November 2010

On Hari Raya Haji holiday

At 6am, awaken by a coughing sound from my baby Pearl who was sleeping next to me. She was down to fever and cough on Monday. After having a couple doses of doctor's medication, the fever has gone away, leaving her with cough and cold sweat the whole day yesterday, she had to change her T-shirts 3 times cos her sweat wet her shirts. Since she had no fever, we stopped all her medication because she looked pale and weak probably because the medicine is a bit strong for her.

With my mum advise to feed her with herbs soup to get rid of the cold sweat, I went to the nearby shop to buy the necessary ingredients and breakfast, most of the shops are closed because of Hari Raya Haji, luckily the Chinese wet market is on business like usual.

bought some economy breakfast, not much choice from the Chinese store, the other shops have more choices are all closed.
The most important thing is I got what I wanted to buy, i.e. lean pork for the herbs soup and Pear for longan drink.

Mum reminded me that whenever our kids happened to have cold sweat that means they are weak especially after taking medication, drinking herbs "pei kei tong sam" cooked with lean pork will help strengthen their body.

herb soup with lean pork, managed to feed Pearl a bowl of this soup with rice for lunch

Dried longan and pear juice is another remedy for phlegmy cough, this is the recipe given by SIL many years ago. I cooked this for Pearl as well to soothe her irritating phlegmy cough. Though by having these soups will not heal her cough immediately but I do believe these will help to boost up her immune system thus help her to recover speedily.

Get well soon my Baby Pearl!

Sunday 14 November 2010

A Sunday at home

We stayed at home the whole day on last Sunday. Did not go out to even for our usual badminton session because Clet decided to skip it for he is not feeling too well after visiting his farm in the morning.

While juggling between house chaos and preparing meals, I had the inspiration to write quite a lengthy article about "21 ways to make extra money", this article is published on both Triond and wikinut, these are the two online publishing sites that allow their members to earn passive royalty income for the articles they have submitted. I have been earning from Triond for more than a year now, even for the months I did not submit any articles at all, I still earn something.

I have just joined wikinut a week ago for it is a UK base company, I was fascinated to know that wikinut allows its member to earn in sterling pound, yes!! it is in British Sterling Pound, the conversion is 5X of Ringgit, it is hard to find such an opportunity......

Our girls prefer to spend time at home as well. After a whole 5 days of staying in the school for Pearl and tuition for Crystal, I could imagine how comfortable it is to be at home enjoying computer games and drawing among other stuff that they like to do at home.

Crystal with her Facebook & princess games
Pearl spent her time on water colouring while Crystal was busy with her computer games, she assembled her colouring tools and wore a waist herself to prevent getting her T-shirt dirty (must wear a waist, it is an order by her Daddy) before her colouring session. She cleaned up the table as well after she finished colouring, good girl!!
Meals was simple for the lazy Sunday afternoon, they have no complain having pancake for lunch and afternoon tea, I prepared plain pancake for our girls, and green tea or matcha pancake for us.
With the leftovers of the strained carrot and pumpkin from the juices, I used them to make carrot and pumpkin pancakes as well, Clet said it's taste good, can sell. Seriously, the carrot and pumpkin pancakes taste real good.

Thursday 11 November 2010

Pumpkin Recipes

Clet brought back one whole pumpkin from his friend's farm in Sandakan last week.

He helped me to cut it up into smaller wedges to make it easier for me to store in the fridge.
I tried to make a pumpkin cake with it, the cake is well accepted by Clet, and our 2 little girls considering the first time I attempted this recipe. They do not like pumpkin to be cooked as a dish for meals but they love pumpkin cake. Glad that they like it because pumpkin is very nutritious.
I also used some pumpkin for soup, the chicken with carrot & pumpkin soup.

Pumpkin is also nice to be eaten raw, crunchy and little bit sweet in taste. Have you ever tried pumpkin juice? Yes, I made pumpkin juice with it as well, it smells and taste nice. It has since become one of our favourite juice after the first trial last week.


Sunday 7 November 2010

Book on Blogging by Million, Earn by Millions

This is a new book I bought from Popular Book store last weekend, flipping through the pages at the book store, I found several topics in this book are very useful and informative for bloggers and to whom intend to start business on line.

This book provides its readers easy to understand guides and links to many useful websites on how to go about becoming internet entrepreneur through e-commerce and blogging. The information are very helpful to people whom do not know much about internet marketing like me :D...It is also a good book for me to refer to should I decide to start an online business in the future. read more about this book here .

Castor Oil Trees are Flowering

Barely over 2 months old, the Castor Oil Trees that Clet planted have started to occur flowers.

He brought back these photos of the Castor Oil Trees after he went for a check on them yesterday morning. I can feel a great sense of motivation from Clet that the little seeds that he planted have grown from little seedlings to occur flowers now.
The flowers are in dense terminal clusters, with female flowers just above the male flowers. The pollination occurs when the bright red feathery branches receive pollen from the male flowers, there are no petals and each female flower consists of a little spiny ovary which later develops into the fruit or seed capsule. So we expect to harvest the seeds in 4 months time.

The seeds have high contain of Oil but it is not edible, it is mainly for the production of jet fuel, interested in Castor Oil Tree farming/plantation? Hop over to Borneo Castor Farming for more information.

Friday 5 November 2010

Happy Deepavali


HAPPY DEEPAVALI TO OUR INDIAN FRIENDS!

Another public holiday for us!