Packed Day of Events

We started the day early. Kids Club opens at 8.30am. So we woke up early, had a shower and headed to have breakfast. We finished earlier (Mei-mei was very excited). Ko-ko on the other hand refused to join the Teens Club. After registering Mei-mei with the club, we walked back to the room as we planned to go rock climbing. On the way back, we noticed that the Kids Club were at the flying trapeze and it was soon going to be Mei-mei's turn. So we stopped to have a look and took pictures and videos before heading back to collect our stuff. 

We changed into shoes and headed to where the "train" would bring us to Pantai. Too bad we had missed it. So we walked along a shady path to where we'd guessed was Pantai. And we did make it there. We quickly registered the both of you and Ko-ko got yourself harnessed while daddy went in search of the loo. 

There were another 2 men also waiting to climb. So the 4 of you got your instructions and daddy went first. He reached the top fairly easily. Then it was Ko-ko's turn. You were about to reach the top when you said that you wanted to give up. But we told you that you were nearly there and so you made it all the way up! Cheers to my 2 monkeys!

We headed to the Zen pool to use the loo and get a drink. Unfortunately you were not allowed in. So we got you a cup of water then headed to the beach.

Zen Pool

Sign at the beach

We quickly registered to go kayaking. But there was a queue. Luckily there was a beach bar so we had some drinks while waiting. 

Then you and daddy also had a go with the racquet ball:

Look at the lizard!

Another cute sign where the train stopped.

We headed back to have lunch. After that we stopped by the archery center to see if you could join in the archery. They allowed you  as the Teens Club had only a few children.

Daddy and I hopped onto the train again to relax by the Zen Pool.

Cannot even get a decent photo!

When you were done with the archery, we headed to the beach again. We could not go for sailing as there was not much wind. But we got another chance on the kayak. 

We hopped on the train back to the main building. Spotted Evelyn playing in the bubbles party.

We had to quickly rush back to the room to shower and get ready for our evening itinerary. First stop was the Turtle Release. We had signed up in the morning with the club. They sent the details to daddy and we hopped into his car and drove to Terengganu, the next state for the release.

We had arrived a little too early, so we walked along the beach a little. But daddy wasn't too keen to allow you as he was told there were sandflies at the beach. And their bite.. is owwww...

The beach wasn't as clean as in Cherating

Signboard of the place we went to

There were 2 other families doing the release with us. We had to wait till dusk (when we heard the call for prayers). This was to ensure that the baby turtles were not eaten by predators as they ran into the sea. After a short briefing about the turtles, they brought out the little hatchlings which have not yet touched to ground. This would give them an edge that they would be able to move more quickly towards the sea. 

They were trying to escape from the bucket!

As it got darker, we headed to the sea (the man said 10 meters from the seaside, but I don't think we were that far). We were instructed to release them in groups of at least 2 to ensure their safety. Also we had to wait for one batch to reach before releasing the next. He shone a light so that they would not go the wrong way too.

After the release, we quickly drove back to the club for dinner. We were pleasantly surprised to find there was Beef Wellington served. It was nice. 

Then we hopped back into daddy's car to go for our 9pm fireflies watching. When we arrived at the spot, I realised that there were several missed calls. Turned out that they had thought that we had booked for the 8pm session. So we ended up with a "private tour" for the firefly excursion. Just the 4 of us on the boat.

It was nice and cool. We had drowned ourselves with mosquito repellant, but there were none around that night (can't say that for the turtle release, though..). We spotted the fireflies and the ride on the river was fun. Too bad we could not take good pictures of the fireflies. 

They looked like the lights on a Christmas tree. 

Headed back for a late supper for the 3 of us. Ko-ko was feeling grimy and didn't want to eat. 

And so our day ended with 4 very sleepy Ban's. 

We're Off to Cherating

We still did not manage to eat at Ma Maison as planned, so one last chance was lunch before our drive to Cherating. 

We planned to have it at Publika, but some little girl had forgotten to pack her swim board. So we had to change and head to 1 Utama. It was a loooong walk to Ma Maison, but there was no crowd since it was early. It-was-delicious... and very filling!

Tonkatsu

After lunch, we bought the board, went to the toilet and off we went. It was a rather long drive. The Karak section was winding.. a little more interesting, then it was just ONE STRAIGHT ROAD which went up and down... We took a toilet break and then went on our journey. 

We finally arrived at Club Med at 4pm. Daddy dropped mei-mei and I along with our luggage off before heading to park the car. When they all got back, we were briefed about the club and then headed to our rooms.

Goofing around while waiting for the boys

Our room

Bathroom

Our seaview

Kids room

The rooms were not very modern or new, but they were clean. The resort is a long house style on stilts. We had to wait a while for our luggage to arrive. 

When it finally arrived, we headed out again to the main building. Then we walked along the beach. No swimming in the sea was allowed then as the sea was very choppy.

Stunning view!

The suites which came with balcony looked beautiful. Slight regret when we first saw what we'd have gotten. But we realised later on that we barely stayed in the room. So it was a good call. 

The rooms

Soft sand

Kiddies playing in the sand...

... and the sea

We rested a bit before heading back to have dinner. Meals are buffet style. The resort has a theme every night. The theme for tonight is "black and glow". Daddy and Ko-ko went back to the room to shower and rest, while Mei-mei and I stayed back to watch the Kids' Club Fashion Show. Before the show started, she had her face painted in flourescent colors:

Ta-da.. 

Another photo to show it glowed in the dark.. with her glow-in-the-dark Hatchimal:

After the show, we stayed back for another performance by the club GO. There was a party after that. Daddy had walked over to join us, but we felt that it was too crowded and everyone was unmasked. So we left and went back to rest and sleep for the night.

Day 2 in KL

We had no particular plans for our stopover in KL. So the day started as a late day. I could not sleep pass 9am, mei-mei also woke up so we both went downstairs for a while then headed back to the room. 

When everyone finally got up, we got ready and headed to this pizza place Jack Min Ah Pek had Googled with good reviews, Pizza Mansion. It was full house and we were a large group. So we had drinks at a nearby cafe while waiting for a table. 

It was a long wait and in the end, we had to separate into 2 tables, and after another large group left, we all moved to that table. 

It was a nice lunch. Pizza was fantastic. 

We were all too full for dinner and after much deliberation, we went to a Vietnamese restaurant, Ara Vietnamese. It was a very simple restaurant, but boy was the Vietnamese Beef Noodle delicious. 

On our way back, we stopped at Family Mart to pick up ice-cream and snacks. Ko-ko picked up the Buldak noodles. I told him someone told me this one with cheese was less spicy, but oops.. it was just as spicy. Ko-ko had "sausage lips" after he was done *laugh.

Ballet Exams and a Haircut

Luckily your ballet exams fell on a weekend. We dropped you off for your hairdo after having done a Covid test (you were going to take the exam unmasked). Then we later picked you up and headed straight to Uncle Austin's for a haircut for the 3 of you.

Heavily gelled up hair

Since your hair had so much gel, you got to have a hairwash in the shop:

Then it's time to cut your cair. Can you see how much was cut off? Look at the longer strand versus the cut section:

Here is all the hair which was chopped off!

Our Holiday Begins

We planned to start our journey to Ipoh by 7.30am. And to my surprise, we really made it! We left the house at 7.30am!!

Daddy took a slow(er) drive to Ipoh since the car had not reached the planned 2,000km for it to be fully run-in. 

We were arrived at K-10, where we arranged to meet up with everyone (there additional folks too -- Kor-kor, and Kor Pohs and Kor-Teows), and shortly everyone also arrived. Chek Kong had already pre-ordered our yong tau foo stuff, so we just needed to add our noodle orders.

We then headed to Ipoh house for a chat and to wait for the kuih which they wanted us to bring to KL for Ashley and Yvonne Kor-kor (daddy's poor new car!). We borrowed containers from Chim Poh to put the foodstuff into and then to seal with cling wrap to reduce the smell getting into the car. The kuih were made of chives which had a very strong smell. Luckily this worked and the car still has the "new car" smell. It was quite late by the time we left Ipoh. Then we headed straight to Ashley Kor-kor's house. 

Uncle Dennis was waiting at home for us. We unpacked, had a bio-break and quickly hopped back into daddy's car and headed to Tropicana Avenue where Ashley Kor-kor had found a restaurant with the kitchen still open (it was past 2.30pm!).

Had some drinks and light food (cannot spoil our appetite for dinner).

Headed back home to rest and nap before dinner. 

Dinner was at Jyu Raku. We met up with Jack Min Ah Pek and Yvonne Kor-kor and Martin there for dinner.

Uncle Dennis ordered the food and we topped up with whatever else we wanted.

Mei-mei's Salmon Oyaku Don

Ko-ko wasn't feeling well. But his appetite was still ok. He finished off his meal with an order of Kaisen Chirashi Don.

We got these ice-cream for free

Mommy is slacking off during work

The stupid ballet school messaged me at 10pm on Tuesday night to inform me regarding an extra lesson on the very next day. The way they manage things is absolutely abhorrent *sigh*. We had to shorten our swimming session and leave Penang Sports Club at 6pm so that you had enough time to come back and prepare for ballet which was happening at 7:15pm to 9pm (which when i called them to confirm, they said 9.15pm *stupid ballet school smh*). ok the end byebye \(^-^)/

First Look of the Car

On the day that we handed the old car, we also got to have a look and touch the new car which had just arrived the day before. We just crossed the road to where they parked the cars and ta-da:

Shortly after we hopped into the Grab to bring us home, daddy received this photo from his salesman.. his new and old "baby":

We went home to get the Honda City then proceed to JPJ to cancel the roadtax on the old car. Luckily for us, parking as easy and the task was completed within 15 minutes (more time to wait for our turn). 

Goodbye, Old Friend

With the new car here, it is time to say goodbye to our old car. It has served us well for the past 10 years. We initially thought that we'd surrender the car in June, so the day before we had the car washed and took pictures of it:

Then it turned out that the new car would not arrive as planned. The delivery date was pushed back again. So we got to hold on to the car a little longer.

Then we in late July we finally got a confirmed date. The car was sent in again for Puspakom inspection because we were going to use back the number plate. 

For several days leading to the handover, we went for night drive in the car. 

Then on the final day of handing over the car on 28th July, we said our goodbyes and took some more pictures:

Final school drop off

Daddy and I in the car

Final drive 

One last, last look before we left the car

2022 Celebration of Learning

Today is the Celebration of Learning and Secondary SAP. We dropped the both of you early in school and then headed to have breakfast. Right after we were done with breakfast, I received a call from Ko-ko. You had forgotten to bring some flash cards for your French Club's booth. OK, so we headed home and I picked up the cards and we headed back to school to pass them to you.

We planned to go into school again at around 11am to support the event. 

Well, I'm very lucky to be a part of the Year 4 parent's WhatsApp group. I received a picture of Mei-mei playing for the recorder ensemble. 

When we arrived, we saw Mei-mei running up the staircase. You were having free time since your next round would be at 12pm for the German Club booth.

We walked up to the MPH and spotted Ko-ko also busy at his booth. He was running 2 booths. 

Daddy and I wandered around to look at the other booth and then sat a while in the cool MPH. 

I later helped Mei-mei dress up in the German costume, the dirndle then she had lunch. 

Checking out her German language skills

German girl at her booth

With Miss Anna the teacher advisor and Mr David the German language teacher

Then it was time for the flash mob:

Waiting to start

Doing a bridge

As usual, part of the lead dancers

Then I headed to the Chapel to attend the Secondary SAP. Managed to spot pictures of Ko-ko in his installation as Head Monitor and also planning events:

Daddy and I then left to have lunch and went back later to pick up our two very tired kids.