No one is ready for death

Some unfinished business

Some words to say

Somewhere to go

Some things to do

Someone to love.

We live like we live forever.

And then the thief

Comes stealthily

In the night.

And there are so many unfinished business.

But not a lifetime anymore.

What would we have liked to have with

our children

our wives

our brothers and sisters

our friends

our fathers

And

our mothers?

Before we leave.


Is that what happened today?

 ~Ravi

May/28/2014

Girls day out at Lost World of Tambun

Ravi's Universiti Malaya friends organized an annual get-together at Ipoh last May 17.  Sarah and I tagged along and went to the Lost World of Tambun, while Ravi caught up with his friends.

We started at the Petting Zoo.  The animals look quite well taken care of and the entire place was pretty clean.  A zoo guide followed us in the Aviary section and provided snippets of bird information.  The fun part was when he gave us bird food and all the birds crowded around us to get the seeds!  Other animals we saw at the petting zoo were racoons, rabbits, guinea pigs, parrots, goats, deers, tortoise, alligators, iguanas and more.

Next, we rented a locker to keep our things while we swam into the wave pool and the kiddie pool.  I want to try the lazy river ride but Sarah was not interested.  Oh well, another reason to come back then :)

We had lunch before proceeding to the Tiger Valley to catch the Tiger Feeding Show.  It turned out to be a mini-animal show where cockatoos and racoons showed off their skills before the actual tiger feeding part.  Apparently they only feed dead meat to the pair of Siberian tigers.  One guide would throw up slabs of beef and mutton and the tigers would jump up to catch it.

Lastly, we took the Carousel and train rides.  The train ride went around the waterpark passing by the Tin Valley and Swan Lake, places to explore next time round.

It rained heavily when we were having ais kacang (halo-halo version of Malaysia) at the park food court.  It was time to go anyway, Sarah was sleepy after a full day.

Overall it was a pleasant day trip at Lost World of Tambun, we'll be back for sure!


Lost World of Tambun
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Adult ticket priced at RM50.
Children price at RM43.

Our first visit to Lost World of Tambun.

First stop: Petting Zoo

Had a great time at the Aviary

Bird feeding on her palm, brave girl!

Petting Zoo shots

More pictures at the petting zoo

My only shot of the wave pool

Siberian tigers at the Tiger Valley

At the train ride and at the animal show

A new friend :)

Sweetie girl

Oblivious with the animal show in front, Sarah kept on touching the cockatoo.

Passed by limestone cliffs along the train ride route.

I'll be back to try the cafe under the limestone cliff.

Sarah had a butterfly tattoo before we left Lost World.

On our way back to Penang, we stopped by this shop touted to serve the best chicken rice at Ipoh.  True enough, it was the best I've had in Malaysia so far! 

Ravi's other date

From time to time, Ravi goes out with this girl for dates and I totally don't mind :)

Cheers!

Sipping her cold water

Mother's Day dinner at The Bungalow

We had dinner at The Bungalow, Lone Pine Hotel's main restaurant.  Food was good.  We ordered and shared a mushroom soup, a dozen chicken satay, Hainanese spring rolls and fish for the mains.

Sarah enjoyed running on the grounds while we waited for the food.  

Happy and carefree!

Hammock fun.

Sipping her bland coconut juice.  Nothing beats sweet Philippine coconuts (and mangoes!)

I love being her mother :)

Penangpac plays and Sinbad

We get our dose of theater shows from Penangpac, the island's first art center located at Straits Quay.   

Last June, Ravi and I were able to watch Men in Tutus, an adult themed contemporary ballet production which was hilarious and fun.   I took both Reena and Sarah to see How To Catch A Star last March 2013 and the girls enjoyed it.   It was just Sarah and me who watched The Gruffalo (November 2013) and Stuck (February 2014), as Reena was not available on those weekends. 

That's the great thing with Penangpac, they do not overlook the children.  They have a minimum of 2 plays per year geared specifically for kids.

Last Friday, Ravi, Sarah and I watched Sinbad at Stage 1.  We had a very entertaining night!

Sinbad was a wonderful musical collaborated by both Malaysian and Australian talents.  The play is a simple story of how Sinbad the sailor became the hero as he saved the village under the spell of an evil vizier.  Along the way he falls in love, of course, with the beautiful princess and ends up with her.  The 2-hour show, which started at 8:30pm, kept Sarah awake with all the upbeat singing and dancing, as well as the exotic sets and colorful costumes.

Photo credit to penangpac's website.

The Penangpac lobby before the Sinbad show started.  Stage 1 is located upstairs.

An exotic stage set.

Family selfie :)

After the show

A day out

Last Tuesday was Wesak Day (Vesak), a national holiday which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.

Morning was filled up with errands - car wash and groceries at Sunshine Store for a few items that were not available from Tesco online.  After lunch, we picked up Ravi's new pair of glasses at Queensbay Mall.  Tried a new restaurant at Little India, which was just ok.  Gem Restaurant is still our fave.

She asked me to take her picture by the balloons; our meal at the Briyani shop

Red umbrellas to the rescue!

The rain did (and will) not stop us from having our evening walk.  Sarah and I used our matching red umbrellas and walked into puddles at the lakeside.

I love simple joys with this girl :)

Summer in Manila

April 26 - May 4, 2014
Family bonding time.

My sister, Mitch  who's based in Dubai, came for her annual vacation. Sarah and I went for a (short!) week long stay so we can all be complete.

Places we went to include: a day at Batangas beach, a couple of trips to Alabang Town Center and to Mall of Asia, a visit to Rizal Park's Children's Playground, a visit to our cousins and spending time together at home.

Lunch at Yakimix Alabang Town Center

Siblings

Lunch at ATC

My niece, Sophia

Kiddie rides at ATC

Revisited Rizal Park's Children's Playground

Monkeys at the monkey bars

Pictures with the hippo, dinosaur and alligator.

Sophia :)

Slides galore

Seesaw, the shoe house, slide and the fishpond

Had dinner and coffee at Trinoma Mall with Rodson and Oda

Cousins and friends :)

Clockwise from top left: With Mama, carousel ride at MOA, Jing & Sofi with Princess Sofia, my sweet moment with Sarah

Clockwise from top left: Mama & Mitch, family pic at ATC, dinner at Max's, jump shot at the cemetery

Midnight tea party with a box of Lindt chocolate orange :)

Watched Rio2 at ATC

Groupie shot with the little girls

Siblings at ATC (taken by Mitch)

Siblings at MOA (taken by Jing)

Girl cousins - Sofi, Meg, Sarah and Angel :)

The adults resting at the park while the kiddos run around.

Hello Papa.

Beating the summer heat with Lola Merly's pails :)