Chapati cooking class

Strait Quay mall has a 2-part series of cooking classes for kids.  We signed up for both chapati cooking class and gingerbread man making class.

The chapati cooking class was held last November 7.  Chapati is an unleavened flatbread from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.  Instructions were straightforward and fairly simple. Sarah did most of the procedure, but needed help when her arms got tired of the kneading part.  Fun part was getting to eat what the little one prepared, she was so proud for making a chapati.

The class was easy on the pocket as well, just RM10 ($2.33) registration fee.  It included all ingredients (enough to make 3 chapatis) plus they gave 2 extra chapatis and some dal dip.  A great bargain for the food and experience!

The organizers printed out a pictorial instruction sheet for all participants.

Dough kneading using atta flour, which can be rolled very thin compared with other flour types.

Rolling, rolling.

Sprinkling some flour over her chapati dough.

Cooking her first chapati bread!  Cooked chapatis are in the foreground while the dal dip is inside the big cauldron beside the chapati pan.  Dal dips are made of softened lentils, cooked with Indian spices.

Deepavali 2015

This year's Deepavali celebration was a simple temple visit and dinner with Ravi and Sarah. Interestingly, we had a Japanese dinner as requested by both father and daughter :)

Reena and Vishnu spend the Festival of Lights with their mother's side of the family, Ravi just visits them the next day.

We've taken several pictures of kolams at different malls and hotels. It's a feast for the eyes, always very colorful and creative!

Visit at the Sri Vishwanather Sri Visalatchi Temple

Applying vibhuti on the forehead.  It's a sacred ash used in religious worship in Hinduism.

One needs to remove shoes or slippers when entering the temple.

Straits Quay Mall's standing kolam

Strait Quay Malls's kolam

Gurney Plaza Mall's peacock design

Eastin Hotel's simple kolam

Queensbay Mall's kolam

Fairview Penang Sports Day

Fairview Penang Sports Day at Westland Field

November 14, 2015

House of Mars, waiting for their turn. 

Ready for their cheer performance.

Excited for the telematch game!

Hanging out :)

Playing around.

Monkey on the loose.

So happy to get her silver medal, it felt like gold for her! =)

Silver and bronze medalists!

Our team (staff + parents) won the gold for the 4x100m relay :)

Third and last half marathon for 2015

Running vest, bib number and flipbelt.

I completed the Penang Bridge International Marathon 2015 half marathon within my target time of 2:45:00, finishing at 2:43:37 (unofficial time, care of Runkeeper)!

As with my second HM attempt, I didn't expect much.  This particular run started very early, gun time was at 3:15am.  Plan that weekend was to sleep early on Saturday afternoon to wake up by 12:30am Sunday, get ready and out of the house by 1am to secure a parking slot.  Alas, I slept only between 4 - 7:30pm and no matter what I did,  I couldn't go back to a deep sleep.

On the road at 1am, I saw how cars were bumper to bumper towards the designated parking areas, I didn't want to risk it so I decided to park in a nearby residential park, more than a kilometer away. The 30minute walk served as my warm up exercise :)

The Men's Half Marathon started at 3:00am.

It was tough to run while your body's begging for sleep.  Unlike my second HM when I ran almost entirely the whole stretch, this run had me walking so many times, I lost count.  When I finally saw the last 1km marker, I pushed hard and really ran towards the finish line.  It was an amazing feeling, a real high, to meet my target time!  A great finish to this year's half marathon runs.

Running on the first Penang Bridge somewhere along the 15km mark.  

Photo op at the finish line after recharging with food and drinks

Finisher medal and stats from Runkeeper

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I'll be updating this list as I add more HM in the years to come.

• 2:43:37 - Penang (1st) Bridge International Marathon, November 22, 2015
• 2:51:06 - Great Eastern Women's Run Singapore, November 1, 2015
• 3:05:14 - Penang (2nd) Bridge Half Marathon, June 14, 2015

Sarah's break from the Ipad

Digital deteox
Photo credit to bigcommunications.co.uk

Recently, we confiscated the Ipad from Sarah.

We were having trouble getting her to eat during meal times and do other stuff.  When we tell her times up, she resists in giving back the device.  There's a lot of negotiating, whining and the eventual full blown tantrum as soon as we take it away from her.  During one dinner when she wanted to 'eat and play', I've had enough.  I took the device away and scolded her. Punishment was no Ipad for a week. 

I anticipated that she'll plead for the device on the first few days but surprisingly I didn't hear anything from her.  She just went back to playing her Lego sets and Jenga bricks,  doing puzzles and drawing and coloring.  We read more books than usual; she practiced writing more frequently.  She started riding her bike and scooter again.  It was a much better use of a child's time. 

On the fifth and sixth day, she started asking (very nicely if I may add) when she can use the Ipad again.  We told not yet, until the full 7 days was over.  When we finally handed her back the device, we gave strict instructions to limit her usage otherwise we will take it away again.  This time, there's a two hour limit, spread out in a day.  It's been two weeks now and things are much better.  Every time we tell her it's time to hand it back, she does so, albeit begrudgingly.  

It's necessary for kids, and adults as well, to have regular digital detox.  It would mean more time to play outside, be creative with arts and crafts, exercise, sleep, spend more time together and experience life.   We must always strive to find that tricky balance and disconnect to reconnect.  

Japan 2015: Drink spiking at Shinjuku's Kabuchiko area

Ravi was a victim of drink spiking on our first night in Tokyo.

After our early evening check in at the Citadines Central Shinjuku, he went out for drinks. Sarah and I stayed in the room and slept early.  Before midnight, Ravi came in and crashed to bed.  

The next morning, he had sms and calls from his bank verifying $2000+ amount of card charges & ATM withdrawals!  We woke up instantly and tried to figure out what happened.  However, he was totally blank on which pub he went to and what happened during the night.  He said he cannot even remember coming back to our room.  

I started googling 'Shinjuku pub incidents' and drink spiking came out!  Apparently, this is very prevalent in the Kabuchiko area (near our hotel) and Roppongi, a different Tokyo district.   The US Embassy has even issued a travel advisory on drink spriking!

It was a bad start in Tokyo, Ravi got depressed the whole day.  I told him to just charge it to experience and not let it ruin the rest of the trip.  We didn't report to the police anymore, we're pretty sure no good will come out of it.



Excerpt from the US Embassy advisory:

Complaints of robberies committed after a victim has been drugged from a spiked drink are increasing. Some of Tokyo's entertainment and nightlife districts - in particular, the Roppongi and Kabuki-cho areas - are considered high-risk areas for crime, and the Embassy receives reports of drink spiking, credit card fraud, extortion, and even assault in these districts. Use caution in all entertainment and nightlife districts throughout Japan.

Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists have safe and enjoyable visits to Tokyo. To help make sure you are one of them, follow these simple tips:

• If you are going out to enjoy Tokyo's bars or nightclubs, consider leaving your credit and debit cards in the hotel safe! Take cash, and only as much cash as you are willing to spend.
• Don't go clubbing alone! Take a friend, and stay together.
• Never enter a bar or club that employs a street hawker to draw in customers! Some establishments, especially in high-risk entertainment areas that cater to foreign clientele, put touts on the street to drum up business. These touts can be very aggressive, and many incidents reported to the Embassy take place in establishments that use them. If you meet one, it's best to move on.
• Don't accept an invitation for a free drink! In many incidents reported to the Embassy, touts have used offers of free drinks as an enticement.
• Keep an eye on your drink! Drink spiking at bars and entertainment venues, especially in areas such as Roppongi and Kabuki-cho, near Shinjuku, has led to credit card fraud, robbery and even physical and sexual assaults.
• Know when to say when! Criminals single out intoxicated persons as easy victims.

Japan 2015: Hotels

We are fans of The Ascott properties, having enjoyed Somerset Ampang at KL several times.  It's great value for money. Kyoto and Tokyo only had Citadines in the Ascott properties, Somerset residences require a minimum 30 day stay.

Citadines Kyoto Karasuma-Gojo
We stayed in the Studio Premier with balcony. The room is compact but fully equipped, with excellent use of space/storage. Our room was facing the main road but we found it quiet enough. 

The helpful staff provided us with map print outs of the surrounding neighborhood, very handy in locating convenience stores, restaurants, pubs, etc.   We frequented Fresco, a local grocery store nearby, for our breakfast and snack supplies.  Beside it sits a pharmacy where we bought colds medicines.

We liked the location, almost right in front of the Gojo station with several bus stops around.  The main station hub, Kyoto station, is one subway stop away. 

Hotel logo along the street

King bed with an adjacent sofa bed

Small sized functional kitchen

Room for our stay

Their coin operated laundry room with vending machine was very useful and convenient.

Breakfast area

Lobby reception

Citadines Central Shinjuku at Tokyo
We felt this hotel was a major letdown from the Ascott properties.  I couldn't find my photos of the room itself, I may have deleted it before I transferred the files ooopsss! 

The studio deluxe twin room is old and slightly musty, though it's evident the housekeeping staff did its best with the cleanliness.  Their wifi was pretty bad, we resorted to using our own portable wifi the whole time.  There was a looong wait at the laundry room.   One good thing though is its location, a 10-minute leisurely walk to the world's busiest railway station, Shinjuku. 

Signage by the street

Reception area

Studio deluxe twin room layout.  My room photo went missing.
Photo credit to Citadines website.

Cross Hotel at Osaka
We had a 10am flight to Penang from Kansai airport.  Both Ravi and Sarah are not early risers so if we come from Tokyo, it would mean waking up about 4am to catch the earliest shinkansen train to Osaka.  We didn't want to risk our return flight so we left Tokyo a day earlier, checked in at Osaka and flew back to Penang the next morning.

This hotel is right at the Dotonbori street, famous for its street food and the Glico Man bridge.  After check out, I dropped off the pocket wifi in the post box right outside the hotel then Sarah and I went for dinner and shopping.  I got her to sleep before 10pm and waited for Ravi to come back, who went out earlier for local drinks.  When he arrived, I went out on my own and had midnight snacks of local street foods such as dumplings and takoyaki.  

Cross Hotel Osaka room number

Twin beds for us.  Sarah is already tucked in :)

A modern onsen bath area.

Travel learnings from our Japan trip

Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan

September 16-26, 2015

We planned this trip as early as December last year.  There were two national holidays sandwiched within this trip - Malaysia Day and Hari Raya Haji, which made it a 6-day work and school leave for the three of us.  I'll do a series of posts for this trip. But first, some tips and learnings from our trip.

Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion

Book flights and accommodations early.

It goes without saying but booking early can really get you some pretty good deals.  I signed up on Citadines online membership and received seasonal member deals for both our hotels, about 15% off normal rates.  For Singapore airlines, there's not much of a price difference whether you book way ahead or just a few weeks before your trip.  The only good thing, in my book, is you can select better seats according to your preference,  either closer to the door or lavatory.

Malaysian Airlines was significantly cheaper but my husband just doesn't trust his national airline with its recent tragic history of accidents and incidents.

Dinosaur bones at Tokyo's National Museum of Nature and Science

Rent a pocket wifi.

This was a definite must have for us!  Among the numerous online rentals, I chose the Platinum series from Japan Wifi Buddy which cost RM345 (~$83) for a 10-day rental.

I arranged for package pick-up at Kansai Airport.  The company misspelled my surname and we had to wait about 35 minutes to get it sorted out.  Returning the unit was easy.  I simply packed up the pocket wifi and its accompanying accessories on the return envelope it came with and dropped it off at the red post box right outside our Osaka hotel. 

Other than the misspelled name, we didn't encounter any issues with the device.  It delivered on speed and reliability.  We actually ended up using it over the hotel wifi as it was much faster!  When we're out and about, we used it for money converter app, viber/whatsapp, social media and google maps, very helpful for bus/subway/train schedule and exit locations. 

Strolling along Osaka's food street, Dotonbori

Useful travel apps

Google maps - useful with its bus/subway routes with fare indication

Google translate - can do voice or text or pictures

xe currency - converting to RM when shopping :)

Shopping and food street leading to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple

JR Pass
Ravi bought us the JR Pass at a travel company in Penang.  A JR Pass is sold only to foreign tourists, and can be used on most major transportation modes anywhere in Japan.  The pass comes in 7-day, 14-day or 21-day time frames.  

We bought the 7-day pass and used it to ride the shinkansen (bullet trains) from Kyoto to Tokyo and Tokyo to Osaka.  Nozomi, the fastest bullet train, is not included in the JR Pass.  The Hikari train, the second fastest train which is included in the JR Pass, stops at 1 to 4 more stations compared to the Nozomi.  We also used the JR Pass at some Tokyo subway lines.

Riding Japan's bullet trains was an unforgettable experience! 

Nozomi, on the left, is the fastest bullet train.  The JR Pass only allows rides to the second fastest train, the Hikari, the one on the right.

DisneySea park tips
Bring food inside Disneysea.  I bought sandwiches, bananas, boiled eggs, rice balls at a local convenience store called Lawsons just below the hotel.  Initially meant to be just snacks, it ended up as main meals for us.  The queue at the park restaurants were very long, one will think they're lining up for a ride!  Snacking saved us precious time.  We did try cart snacks like popcorn, churros and hotdogs.  Refill water bottles at drinking stations, drinks can be expensive.

Use the Fastpass tickets.  Get one, go to other rides or eat then come back at the allotted time.

Toy Story Mania at DisneySea.  The Fastpass tickets at this ride sold out by 9am!

Kyoto
We used the all-day-bus pass worth Y500 (adult), Y250 (child) several times.  You get unlimited rides in one day. Normal one way fare costs Y230 (adult), Y120 (child).  If you use the bus more than twice, you already saved a lot.  You can buy right at the bus.  First, board the bus.  Then before going down, ask the driver you need the all-day-bus pass and pay up.  Slot the card in the machine beside the driver and off you go.  When riding Japan buses, you pay only before you get off the bus.

If you want to avail of local guides, reservations can be arranged at the Good Samaritan Club site. Their guiding services are free, you just pay for their bus fare and lunch.  Our guides were the lovely Manami and Ayana, both university students who are active volunteers at the GSC. They taught us how the bus system works and gave information at the tourist attractions we visited.  The ladies also took us to a local conveyor belt sushi place for lunch.

Don't miss the Fushimi Inari Shrine, climb all the way up of you're fit.   Spend half a day or more at the Arashiyama district.   It has lots of  charming areas to stroll about and experience old Japan.

Fushimi Inari main temple at sunset