妈妈八十一大寿 (Mama's Grand 81th Birthday Celebrations!)

(03.06.2010-06.06.2010)

~03.06.2010~

I am convinced that our family cannot travel

on a PLANNED vacation....

Perhaps we live on adrenaline rush

from last minute changes....

or maybe it's the stress

that keeps our heart pumping more effectively than ever!

But, a matter of fact,

that's just how the Yoon family would get things done.

We are always spontaneous

about fine tuning on how we do things to make it better!

*wipes perspiration off forehead*

But, Thank God,

We made it afterall!!

P/S:

To all affected parties:

I sincerely apologize for all the miscommunication,

BUT,

I cross my heart,

all decisions were made with good intentions....

We took a night bus from ParkRoyal Hotel @ Kitchener Road,

Lapan Lapan Express.
A comfortable experience for the whole family.

To illustrate how good the journey was;

We slept ALL THE WAY to Ipoh!

*2 thumbs up!*

~04.06.2010~

We arrived Ipoh at about 6ish.

With time to kill,

we WALKED to New FohSan for Breakfast.

*Google Map from Point A to B*

View Larger Map

Optimus Prime & Bumble Bee

checking out DimSum @ New FohSan

Quite frankly, I think the standard of food

has dropped drastically!

The only food that was worth raving about

was the cheong fen...

The rest were just So-lala!

Restoran Foh San Ipoh:
51 Jalan Leong Sin Nam, 30300 Ipoh, Perak.
Tel: (605) 254-0308

After Breakfast,

with more time to kill,

we WALKED to our Hotel!

*Google Map from point B to C!*

In total we walked about 2.8miles,

now I don't feel that guilty

for indulging on that extra siew mai or char siew bao!!!

Breakfast @ Heritage Hotel

It's a hotel with such amazing view!

We could see horses and race tracks from our rooms!

The kids were delighted!

~05.06.2010~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIA!!!!

You are finally 3 today!

And you still want to be a princess when you grow up....

*smile*

You'll always be my lil princess!

We sent off the kids for art classes at Faerie's Art Studio,

I must say that this young women is very talented!

She kept 6 kids age raging from 3-13 fairly busy for 3 hours...

while the adults had a ball of good time themselves!

The ladies were off for a pampering session of facial,

while the men relaxes in a massage session....

*Below Images are all from Faerie*

http://faerie-faeriesland.blogspot.com/

Call Faerie @ 012 - 481 6423

Sophia's Teddy Bear Paper Clay Creation...

Hiroshi's Jumbo Plane Paper Clay Creation...

Ain't that just adorable!!!!

Proud Hiroshi with his crafts...

No idea what's with the *PEACE* sign,

but, he's doing that regularly in every picture I take of him!

~06.06.2010~

The GRAND Conspiracy!

Everyone from the youngest and the oldest

were in cahoots....

to give mama a memorable grand 81st birthday!

I really wasn't expecting much from the bakery when we ordered the cake.

Since most of the cakes we saw in their fridge reminds me

of my own birthday cake dated as far back as 1980s!

But, I was so darn WRONG!!!

Look at how superb the cake is!!!

It taste even better than it looks!

Mental note to myself:

Never judge a bakery from the cakes displayed in their fridge!

Auspicious Phoenix & Dragon

It was a feast filled with merry making and joy!

The Whole Jing Gang

Mama gave out lottery tickets after the birthday lunch.

That's Kitson & Myself hoping to get the winning ticket...

HUAT ARR!

Big thank you

-to everyone who came and made this event a huge success....

-to my Sister-in-laws for making the effort to organize....

-to the kids who kept their lips sealed tight till the very last minute....

-and to mama who just went with the flow and be SURPRISE!

Happy Birthday MaMa!!!

The party did not just end there and then....

It was adjourned to sister-in-law Linda's place for more party fun...

I've really got no idea where these durians came from...

But, I swear these durains were about the size of my head!

The flesh as thick as my fist, and with seed tiny as can be!

And they tasted OH-SO-HEAVENLY!!!

How can you ever resist this!!

I think everyone had a jolly good time!

We seriously should do this more often!!!

Malaysia Boleh!

19.02.09

We set off from JB at about 11pm.

20.02.09

Arrived at 6am. 

Just time time for dim sum at Foh San!

According to Kitson, this is the oldest dim sum joint in Ipoh.

15 mins to 7am

A steady stream of customers are already filling up the place.

So the Ipoh people really Live to EAT!!

That's the close up of my char siew bao.

Taste wise, NOT BAD.

But, I wouldn't say that this is my favourite dim sum joint!

Daddy & Kids

Now we all know who's not a morning person!

*points at sophia* 

THE GRUMPY PRINCESS!!

Since we were so early Sister Linda & Mum 

suggested that we should visit the wet market.....

I love the smell of fresh herbs & vegetables!

The store owners were very friendly & helpful!

"Mobile Wet Market"

How I wish NTUC comes to me as well!

Motorbike brimming with vegetables!

21.02.09

It's a busy morning,

and I woke up LATE!!

Arrgh!!

Mother-in-law and sister Linda is making Nasi Ulam.

A signature nonya dish

Herbs for Nasi Ulam

 

Tedious!

Look at how finely shredded the herbs are!

I've concluded that nonya food are a hassle to cook!

So better start hunting for a good nonya restaurant now!

End Product

It's delicious!

I had 4-5 helpings to myself!

Tea Break at Sin Yoon Long

~The olden days starbucks~

White Coffee & Castard

I found this across the streets

This guy here is selling apong (Peanut Pancakes) on his bike!

The streets of Ipoh

Visited Niu yi @ her new home

BIG and very SPACIOUS....

and it cost Only 300,000RM!!

*the typical singaporean talking*

CHEAP CHEAP!!

Mother-in-law, Niu Yi, Sophia & Hiroshi

This is the reason why we drove 6 hours for a haircut!!

"The Star" reporter thinks that Andrew is GREAT too!

*ahem* The Greek God Hair Stylist!

 *pout* There goes my hair!!

Uncle Andrew, Please make me look as good as you!

This is Sophia's 1st haircut,

needless to say, she cried throughout the haircut!

Princess *ahem* Leia rather wear her star wars head gear 

than to show off her new hair style!!

Hiroshi is just glad that he still looks good!

It's a family affair!

We had dinner @ "Ipoh's Starbucks"

OldTown White Coffee

Hiroshi gets goofy while waiting for food!

He must be dead hungry!!

I my own opinion the food taste so-la-la

Nothing Fantastic!!!

Mother-in-law, Sam Kam Mo, & Hin Ku

22.02.09

Traveling up to KL

Pit stop at shell station

This lil baby bird fell out of its nest!

Thank God Kitson saw it before 

it became as flat as pancake under tyres!!

Pit Stop for our Tummy at Pun Chun; Bidor

Yam Puff

*MUST TRY!*

Herbal Duck Noodle

Wantan Mee

I felt that the standard of food quality has dropped.

The wantan does not glide down my throat like it used to be....

Dunno what went wrong?!?

Petai, Petai everywhere!

They even do table to table direct sales

 while we were having lunch in the coffee shop!

Amazing! Can makan and shop for petai at the same time!!

The whole stretch of shophouses were selling fruits

Great for a hot sunny day!

Finally in KL @ The curve

Donny & Hiroshi

Still in KL, Ba Kut Teh for Dinner

Hiroshi, Kitson & Bryan

We drove all the way down to Malacca

and stayed in a fantastic hotel

Hiroshi is simply EXCITED over it!

It's 2am and he's still so jolly about it!

23.02.09

The view from our hotel room

The trishaw rider with their fancy trishaw

Some famous landmark @ Malacca

We tried 2 different nonya restaurant

Banya Restoran & Makko

In general most restaurant in Malacca 

has siesta from 2.30pm to 5pm...

Food wise, We enjoyed Banya Restoran better....

Desert wise, Makko's Chendol deseves 2 thumbs and 2 toes up!

Nice chunky kidney beans with fragrant gula malacca.....

Oh so YUMMY!

Malacca rich peranakan culture left me in awe!

I have fallen in love with everything nonya!

(and for your information I wasn't one of those 

that stayed glued to the screen 

when the drama series little nonya was airing!!! 

We broke the habit of watching TV pretty long time ago!

We do not watch TV at home!!!!)

So in my honest opinion, 

the best way to learn about a culture 

is to experience it yourself!!

Kitson's mum has a peranakan heritage.

She spoke dearly of memories she had,

of the delicious nonya food her mum used to prepare

(of which many she could only remember 

vaguely bits and pieces of the recipe.

I really think we should gather these recipes, 

record them and safe keep them!)

and also the beautifully crafted sarong kebaya her mother wore.

You could instantly see her eyes light up 

and feel her heart grew warm

when she spoke about the penang peranakans.

Thank God, my sister-in-law Linda 

managed to keep a couple of my Mother-in-law's kebaya....

and I inherited a set of it.

Words alone couldn't sum up how much it meant to me.....

It is special,

and it sits safely in my closet....

I once told myself

if I could shed the fats off from child birth,

I would get myself a sarong kebaya as a reward!

Although, I am still far off from being figure perfect,

I couldn't reisit but buy one!

And I think I am addicted to get more!!!!

I've gotten 

a set of sarong kebaya,

tali pinggang (Chain-linked belt)

Koronsang (3 piece brooches)

And I am determine to wear that for my cousin's wedding!

I am still short of the kasut manek(beaded shoe)

to complete the whole nonya look!!!!

Maybe in my next trip to Malacca 

I can look forward in getting one of those

*giggle*

I'll post pictures after attending the wedding.

Hopefully, I am able to pull the whole nonya look off!!

24.02.09

HOME SWEET HOME!!