First Day Cover - 750 years of MELAKA

This first day cover was released on 7th October 2012 to commemorate 750 glorious years of MELAKA.

Malacca (known as Melaka in Bahasa Malaysia) is a state rich in cultural and traditions heritage.  After been ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch and later the English for close to 450 years, a part of the city  that testifies to this colourful journey through time has been preserved and is now recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site since 7th July 2008.

the first day cover envelope completes with 2 new stamps

This stamp featuring the Masjid Kampong Hulu, Melaka at 90 cents each

this one featuring Cheng Hoon Teng temple, Melaka at 50 cents each, both in rectangular shape

The Miniature Sheet priced as 750 cents depicts the Governor's Museum (Muzium Yang DiPertua Negeri Melaka).

I have not been to Malacca, would love to have a family trip there one of these days, it would be a very educational trip for my girls.   Personally, I would like to see the popular historical attraction of Christ Church Melaka and the Clock Tower.  Would be pleased to know what are the "must visit" attractions and places to eat at Malacca from you, any recommendations??

 picture image from Wikipedia

picture image from Wikipedia

Rock Sugar Barley Drink

I need something nice and easy to prepare cooling drinks for my whole family.  

I found a packet of Barley in the fridge on last Saturday, that's what I was looking for.  Half way through during the cooking, we ran out of gas.^_^  I was glad that the barley does not need long hours to cook, the barley grains have soften in less than half an hour of boiling.

A plain barley with rock sugar drink.  

Our girls like their drinks to be chilled.  

Barley has a lot of health benefits, I do not mind having it more often since my family love it.

Noodles in a bowl

I was half way through preparing the ingredients for my cooking tonite and realised that we forgot to replenish the rice pot, there was only a handful of rice left which is not enough for the 4 of us, honestly, my forgetfulness does get on my own nerves sometimes.

Clet suggested to have noodles for dinner instead of driving out to buy rice from the shop. Hence, we ended up having Noodles in a Bowl for tonite's dinner.  I prepared the dish and Clet cooked up the noodles.  It was well received by Crystal and she asked for the same meal again for tomorrow.   Noodles is an all time favourite in our house.

A birthday present

Crystal insisted to make a glass beads necklace for her classmate's 9th birthday last week.  She requested me to buy more beads for the colours she needs to complete the necklace.  But I reckoned that for the beads that we have, she shall be able to mix and match to come out with a reasonably nice necklace for her best friend, Carnie.  In a way I am training her to be more creative and cost effective..*.*

The beads and findings to make the necklace

With my little guidance, she finally managed to finish her beading and come out with a nice glass beads necklace.  A combination of faceted clear and blue glass beads, and 2 sizes pink shades Swarovski beads. 

She received complimentary comments from her friends at the birthday party, some even asked her where she bought it and how much. :)

She told me that one of her other friend is celebrating her birthday soon.  She has already planned to make another necklace for her as soon as she receives her birthday invitation.  

ATAS Auto Fair 2012

ATAS Auto Fair 2012 in Kota Kinabalu is held from 5 - 7 October 2012.  We visited the fair on Friday night, there wasn't any crowd on the first day probably because it was during dinner time.

Not all the branded car companies are taking part in this fair.  I was hoping to see my dream car BMW X6 on exhibition but pretty disappointed that there isn't any BMW cars on display.

 part of the cars on display

 new models of Land Rover and Range Rover

 This Land Rover look very versatile

 The new Range Rover EVOQUE.  A friend of mine has just got hers a couple of months ago after waiting for a year for the stock to arrive.  She has got the white one.  Suitable for ladies drivers for its size.

 the back view

 The Ford section

 Checking out on the new double cap FORD, 2.3

 the inside

This motorbike costs over RM45,000, the cheapest range on display

GreenMax Golden Germ Drink / soup

I 've nearly forgotten about a box of GREENMAX Golden Germ in my other room's cabinet which I bought especially for my lunch in the office, it is convenient to prepare, I can just have this soup with bread or biscuits as lunch in the office.  This soup is also suitable for  my weekend light lunch at home.   

GREENMAX Golden Germ is Vegetable Flavors Health Soup Mix. It is a savoury soup.  Very western style of cream soup though it is a product from Taiwan.

There are 12 sachets of 35g each sachet, I couldn't remember how much I bought a box of this soup.

35g sachet

The ingredients : Yam, Tomato, Pumpkin Seeds, Green Tea, Job's Tear, Wild Rice, Flat Red Bean, Black Bean, Black Sesame, White Sesame, Wheat Germ, Oat, Buck's Wheat, Wheat (Cereals containing Gluten), Sea Weed, Pea, Carrot, Cabbage, Celery, Sea Salt.

the content of the dry ingredients look like this.

I usually mix the dry content with very hot water from the hot water dispenser to make my cup of GREENMAX Golden Germ soup for my lunch in the office, it is nice to go with toasted bread and butter.  That's my lunch for the day.

Bird Flower Plant / Little Sparrow Plant

It's an eye opening for us to see birds grow from plant.  

This is a Bird Flower Plant given by my SIL, Catherine sometimes early this year.  It was planted by her mum and brought all the way from Lahad Datu.  

We transferred this bird plant to a slightly bigger pot. It is basically grows by itself with sunlight and rain showers.  Occasionally we water it during hot and dry weather.

the shape of the flower is just like a bird, with pretty tail

three little bird flowers on a single branch

This Bird Flower Plant is said to bring good lucks to the owner.  ;D  Hope this plant will bring us plenty of wealth and good health to my family.

Goodies from the Phillippines

It is great to have thoughtful colleagues in the work place.  Once a while they cheer us up a little by bringing  back goodies whenever they travel.  When come to think of it, it is not all that bad for not being able to travel to places of interests as I wish to because I still got some goodies.

My colleague, Marlisa, just came back for a week of holiday in the Phllippines last week.  She shared with us some cakes and biscuits.  Besides that she bought each of us a gift.  And I have got a bracelet from her.

 a green and clear beads bracelet, a combination of wealth and health, that's what I need.

 cakes and biscuits, gonna share these with my loved ones at home

 my girls would like this cheese cake

 Knorr product brought all the way from the Phillippines??   But at 2nd glance, I noticed that this is different from what I normally see in the supermarket.  It's Pork Broth Cubes.  Haven't seen it being sold here.

Moon Cake Festival / Mid-Autumn celebration - 2012

I did not prepare any special dishes for Moon Cake / Mid-Autumn Festival at my own home this year.  I spent the whole morning doing house chaos, preparing lunch, this and that, then realised that half day is gone, and I have not started doing revision with my girls yet whom will be having their last term of examination  starting tomorrow.

I spent the whole afternoon doing revision with Pearl.  The examination scope is too wide in this final exam.  Pearl, a Primary 1 student, she needs all the guidance as she still can't do her revision independently like her big sister does. We spent four hours revising while Crystal taking a nap after finishing her own revision.

 We were invited to younger brother's home for dinner at last minute, I haven't got the time to prepare anything, merely able to bring along a moon cake and zoomed we went for the dinner after shower.  

We had a simple but filling meal prepared by SIL, Catherine.  Thank you *.*

Children with their Lanterns / Tang Lungs

 Close up of Crystal and Pearl's lanterns.  2 pieces for RM3.50.  Need to place candle to light it up.

 later, Ensond joined in with his tiny mini lantern which created a bit of havoc (fighting over it)

 Pearl with lotus lantern belongs to Dylan.  Anneliese with her own musical lotus lantern

 moon cakes after meal is a must on Moon Cake / Mid-Autumn Festival

 thrill cutting up moon cakes

 moon cakes are best served with Chinese tea or whatever tea will do :)

 Crystal with grandma enjoying moon cakes

 another round of playing with the lanterns at home before retired to bed to get ready for their examination tomorrow.  

HAPPY MOON CAKE FESTIVAL EVERYONE!  

AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR EXAMS MY GIRLS!!