I had 2 reunions on the same day on 07 June 2008. One was from a birthday party and the other was the mini reunion organized by Sasi and Nita. It was from the same group of friends but unfortunately they were not together in the same event.
Lucky me to be in both events. I have always happy and enjoy reunion.
Miri trip started with a dinner after we arrived. The dinner was in a hotel which I forgot the name. I had a T-bone steak and hot chinese tea for drink. The steak was not as good I expected for a hotel standard. The kids were having a bit of everything that hubby and I ordered. The dinner finished around 9.30pm and went straight home. We chose which room to sleep for the next 9 days. After settling down the luggages, we cleaned ourselves and changed into our pj's and doozed off. I was excited for tomorrow's trip to Brunei.
Day 2(Wed) begun around noon as hubby woke up late. He stayed up for Champions League 2nd leg match between Liverpool and Arsenal. Luckily his team won with again, a dramatic winning goals towards the end of the game. I am happy for you dear and Liverpool. Hopefully the victory will be ours and again through to the final and win the cup for the 6th time. (Eh, terover lak citer pasal Liverpool). We went straight to The Mall in Gadong to look for some kain for Mat's wedding. I saw a textile shop called Nazmi and immediately remember that one of my wedding gifts was from this shop as per embossed on the box. Mama bought some kain for baju melayu from Nazmi and I bought 10 pieces of tudungs from the shop next door called Kofom, for my siblings and in laws. I had to entertain Areef and Soffyya while mama looked for the kain. Luckily Areef was obediently sat in the stroller. Unlike Soffyya who ran about like usual until she's tired and asked for a drink. Like usual I had to find ice lemon tea for her. I saw a bakery shop about 3 shops away from Nazmi and ordered a glass of ice lemon tea to go. I forgot how much it cost. The brownies beside the cash register immediately caught my eyes. It was 3 small pieces for B$2.oo. While looking for a place to eat, I saw this nice kids shoes on 50% discount in the shop next to the bakery shop(it was Bata but the shoes selection was different from Malaysia). Dil agreed with my choice and he paid(quite cheap for a leather shoe). New shoe for Areef!
We had lunch at Pizza Hut when Areef did his business and I had to bring him to the washroom. I saw kids tuxedo in the shop opposite the washroom and told Dil that we should go and check it out. We planned to dress Areef in tuxedo during Mat's wedding. After lunch we went to that shop, tried it on Areef(it was a very challenging task as Areef refused to stay still and Soffyya did her business as well) and bought it. Again it was on sale and very cheap as compared to the one we saw at the curve. After my 2nd trip to the washroom, we headed home and the time was around 6pm. The journey home was sooo long because of the accident(according to Dil) that I did not witness as i was a sleep.
Day 3(Thur) was all-Miri day... At first we planned to go to Crocs Farm but unfortunately it was raining and the farm was very quite as in no other visitors except us. Then we decided to go to Petroleum Museum in Bandar Miri. Eventhought it was a wet day, we still enjoy the day. At least we got to see something different(which was no cash involved) and appreciate the history of oil drilling in Miri. Soffyya and Areef really enjoy the wet day. They had fun trying the games inside the museum(Soffyya had asked us few times to go to museum, i doubt she knows what is museum all about), posing for the camera and watching planes fly above.
Day 4(Fri) activities started with sending mama and papa to airport. They were flying to Mukah to meet their good friend, Aunt Timah. We were supposed to join the Mukah trip but not enough tickets for all of us. We had lunch at Piasau Boat Club. I had grilled corriander fish... yum yum to my surprise... somehow i feel like i started to be very good at choosing my meal(except the t bone tht i had at the hotel).
This time the kids had more time to play in the playground. Today I knew that Areef was afraid of the swing. He cried and cried for help every time I put him on the swing. While Soffyya and Nazeefah were enjoying the swing sooo much, Areef chose to play with the play set. Then we went back home and rest. Kak Noreeen suggested that we go to KRP for swim. More for the kids actually. So after Asar we left the house for the swimming pool. After swimming, we decided to have our dinner there as well. So we order ala carte and eat till the last rice. My kids were very tired that they slept very early.
Day 5(Sat), we went to Brunei again but without Mama and Papa. This time we went all the way to Bandar Seri Begawan the capital and visited Kampung Ayer, the Golden Dome mosque and Istana Nurul Iman. Didn't know where to have lunch, we went to Babu's Kitchen after asking a chinese taxi driver for halal food. The food was not bad but a bit different from Msian dish. After lunch, Abang brought us to the new shopping area(the shops set up is like factory outlet in the US) where we stopped and shopped at Mothercare. Again it was on sale. I insisted to buy socks for Soffyya and Dil agreed, after few attempts.(I was very tempted to buy kids clothes coz it was on 50-70% discount. Failed to convince Dil to pay). He even bought a toy plane with a real sound of plane take off for Soffyya. I like... Then we went to the next block to find the textile shops but couldn't find it. Dil asked for direction and the nice gentleman showed him the biggest Nazmi branch which is in different town. We managed to find it and yesss it was much bigger and grander than the one in Gadong. Me and Kak Noreen bought kain for Mat's akad nite and reception on Ida's side. We decided to buy the same lace but different lining. We also bought kain for Soffyya and Nazeefah's gown for our reception dinner. While the ladies busy looking for kain, Dil also busy looking for his baju raya. Then he asked me to find kain for baju raya for me and the kids. I had to buy few more kain(2 more) because they were on sale and the design was very nice and unique. Very Brunei design. I ended up with 2 big shopping bags and the macha from the shop helped us carry it to the car. We had to go to the other shop called YMRM to find lining for Kak Noreen and the girls. Had a refreshment at the mamak restaurant and leave for Miri at about 7pm. Dinner was delivered by Pizza Hut guy. Today again the kids slept early.
Day 6(Sun) started noon when we went to have lunch at KRP with Dil's family friend. They grew up together when Dil's family was in Miri last time. Nice to meet them. The lunch was on them. During lunch Dil asked their honest opinion on the crocs farm. They said that they were disappointed with the management of the farm and not recommended to go there. So after lunch, instead of crocs farm, we went to souvenier shops that they mentioned during the lunch. So we went to Borneo Craft and bough pj's for my kids, small sarawak-beaded bag for Soffyya, souvenier for Ida, and t-shirt for Mat and Rajan.
Abang brought us to Cafe Bavaria for dinner. I had stuffed beef rolls with herb. It was very delicious and as per i expected.
Day 7(Mon) was the last day to shop in Miri. So we went to the other souvenier shop. Forgot the name. Lunch was at home as mama went out earlier for breakfast with Aunt Timah. She brought back mee kari and fried chicken wings. Again we went to PBC for tea. Unfortunately the kitchen was closed and only the bar was opened. So we had a short drink while enjoying the sunset. The kids as usual enjoyign the playground. Soffyya managed to explore the whole playground area. She kept on playing until daddy had to carry her to the car as it was getting dark and mosquitos were out for hunt.
We had dinner at Siamese Secret. The food was really delicious. I really enjoyed my steamed talapia fish in lemon grass sauce. Love the mee goreng very much coz a lot of veges. The ice cream with nata also very nice. Me and Dil finished it all... all was fingers licking good.
Day 8(Tue) was our last day in Miri. I had to buy some more souveniers for my friends. Bought 3 more bracelets for Soffyya. Lunch was at Hani Restaurant and the food was delicious and very semenanjung taste. Did my final packing and prepared the kids for the 2 hours airplane journey e.g the toy bag, rations and suitable attire. We arrived LCCT early and went home straight as we already had dinner in the plane. Me had nasi lemak, dil had nasi beriani and soffyya had chicken noodle. Until now she remembers the chicken noodle. Sometimes she said it as 'kitchen noodle'.
I really enjoy my Sarawak and Brunei trip. My next visit to Sarawak, I would like to go to Bandar Kuching, Gua Mulu and cultural village. and of course do some shopping!
The time now is 1.27a.m. Time to sleep... need to wake up early for kenduri kesyukuran preparation. Hopefully I can spend more time with my siblings.
Last but not least, get well soon to my beloved hubby. Can't wait to go shopping for my so-belated birthday gift.
(This picture was taken by Soffyya, our official cameragirl)
By the time I finished writing this it's already 1.40a.m. zzzzzzz
Enjoy and start surfing and get ready to be addicted to it!
12 a.m - Birthday song for me and my fil(we share the same date) from the family. Everyone went downstairs to my fil office and sang birthday song. Then to me. Read the cards and opened the pressie in the living room while Mat busy preparing the cake and the candle to blow. This year's birthday cake was carrot cake. I don't like carrot cake but after tasted my birthday cake only I knew that it was nice and surprisingly delicious. Blame it on the carrot cake that I tasted the first time. After another round of bday song, some intervention from soffyya trying to take over the event as if it was hers, me n fil cut the cake and yummy yum yum until around 12.30am.
12.30 a.m - Everyone returned to their business. Me n my family had another round of bday wishes. Quite sad when I had to explain to Soffyya that I share birthday with her Atok. If not she said it was Atok's birthday, not mommy. As for Areef, the only thing that he wanted to do was sleeping. Wayyy pass his bedtime. Hubby felt very sad that he didn't have time to go buy my present. He was in the hospital for 4 days and still not 100% well until today. After all, what's more important is that he's around to celebrate my birthday, wish me happy birthday, witness my cake cutting and candle blowing ceremony.
My pressies this year : a handbag(aha, Ida knew what I wanted) and a nice ladies t-shirt.
Happy Birthday to me... I am happy that I am still alive to continue my journey.
Thank you to all who sent messages and wishes.
This is my first posting for the new year, 2008M and 1429H. My last posting was June 2007. I don't know what to write. Most of the happening things in my life was already in my hubby's blog. I would love to write about my 2007 achievements. I will write it soon, when I have the time and space.
I am not a good writer though. So, please do not stop visiting my blog.
