SHARING PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES WITH YOUR CHILDREN IS NOT ONLY HEALTHY BUT ALSO OFFERS A CHANCE TO SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY
By Rachel Goodchild
EXERCISING can be a daunting task but it becomes all the more difficult when you add children to the mix. By the time your day is done, rarely do you have the energy or a moment to yourself to fit in exercising. But wait, there is a solution. What about exercising with your kids? What if, as you are getting in shape and exercising, your kids are content and enjoying themselves and the older ones are even burning some of that extra energy they seem to have so much of?
Exercising with kids can be a fun family-involved time. There are great deals of easy exercises your children can join in with. So let’s get started.
One of the easiest exercises is simply walking. Children love going for nature walks and it gets you out and about in the fresh air. It provides a cardio workout as well. Try having a race with the kids, let them out run and you speed walk for a block. Take the next block off and then begin again the one after. Your kids will be enjoying themselves and getting exercise without even knowing it, and it is a great outing for an afternoon. If you have younger children who are not yet walking, you will receive an even better workout by pushing their stroller or pram.
Another family friendly exercise is bike riding. Going for a bike ride works a whole bunch of different muscles and again can give you a great bonding experience with your children. Take them for a bike ride to a park a little further away from home, to give them a change of scenario and a few more minutes of exercise. Little ones love to be in bike trailers and the extra weight of the trailer and tot can prove quite the workout for mom or dad.
Or if you have a child who loves water, hit the local pool. Children love to play and splash and swimming provides a family fun environment for children and adults alike. You can have fun in the sun, while working on those extra calories.
There are other alternatives, of course. Try some good old fashioned childhood fun. Lot’s of the games we play outdoors with our children provide a lot of calorie burning moments, without us even realizing it. What is an easier exercise than one you don’t realize you are doing! A good old fashioned game of tag can provide an afternoon of cardio, jumping on a trampoline with your children can give you both quite the workout. Or even simple games like jumping jacks can get your heart pumping and the excess pounds melting away.
Of course, if you have a younger child you can easily keep them entertained while you workout. Try using them as your weight. Lie on your back with the child on your legs and slowly extend and give them an airplane ride. You will have a giggling little baby and burning legs and abs in no time flat. Our infants and toddlers love to cuddle and be picked up. Simply playing a game of squatting down, lifting them into the air and squatting back down again is the same as squats but baby gets to join in on the fun.
Having children alone can burn a great deal of calories. It is often the parent of a toddler who is commented about, wondering where they have the energy to keep up. By exercising with your children, not only will you be providing them the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle, you will also be giving them some great bonding time. What is easier than exercise you don’t realize you are doing because you are having too much fun being active with the ones you love.
[You can get in touch with the writer at www.rachelgoodchild.com]
The art of parenting
theSun
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
(Page 22)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Bringing Up Baby
LEARNING TO HANDLE THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF YOUR CHILD’S GROWTH IS ALL PART OF BEING A PARENT
By Rachel Goodchild
BRINGING your new baby home can be one of life’s most thrilling experiences. But wouldn’t it be great if they came with an instruction manual?
Since they don’t, it might be a good idea to read up on various forms of children’s behaviour and how to get off to a good start. In years past, parents turned to books by such well-known authors as Dr Spock, but parents today are lucky to have the vast amount of information available on the Internet.
Of course, each child is different, and it will take a lot of trial and error to find what works best for your child. The most important thing is to curtail resistant behaviour before it gets out of hand.
A newborn human child is the most helpless of all mammals. Unlike a pony, it can’t jump up and walk at birth; it needs about a year to do that. So, it is totally dependent on its parents for survival, since it has no way to obtain nourishment.
At first, the major problem with having a new baby in the house is that it makes it difficult for anyone to get a good night’s sleep.
Whether mum nurses, or gives the baby a bottle, it will be weeks or even months before baby will sleep through the night.
Your pediatrician is the best source for advice on handling feeding problems.
Resistant behaviour is going to become a problem as babies learn to sit, crawl, walk and talk. It’s not surprising that a baby’s favourite first word is “No”.
What parents need to do is inform children what is going to happen and not give them a choice. Don’t ask the child if he is sleepy; simply tell him cheerfully that it’s bed time, pick him up and out him to bed.
It’s important to establish a routine, such as brushing teeth, a bedtime story and other, comforting rituals. Then, it’s lights out, and the toddler remains in bed.
If he tries to climb out and come in the parent’s room, he must gently, but firmly, be guided back to his room. Once parents let a child climb into their bed in the middle of the night, it’s a hard behaviour to stop.
Potty training is also an issue which can cause a lot of resistance. Again, you might want to look to the Internet for suggestions. The most frequent mistake parents make is to try to potty-train before the child is ready.
New parents may be surprised that to learn that 25% of children are still not trained by age three or even four. Parents should look for signs of readiness such as staying dry for two hours at a time and being uncomfortable in dirty diapers.
Sometimes it’s okay to let the child make choice. For example, if your daughter wants to wear an orange, striped blouse with purple-flowered pants, it really does no harm to let her do that unless she’s going somewhere special.
It would also be a good teaching moment to show your child what colours go together.
Children are people, too, and they need a chance to express their feelings, but they should never be allowed to feel they are the boss.
Punishment often doesn’t work, because it doesn’t stop the resistance behaviour. One mother, when he daughter threw herself on the grocery floor store and started kicking and screaming, promptly fell down, too, and emulated the girl’s behaviour. The girl jumped up, embarrassed, and that was the end of the tantrum.
Toddlers want to now who’s in charge and you must lovingly show them that it’s you.
[You can get in touch with the writer at www.rachelgoodchild.com]
The art of parenting
theSun
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
(Page 20)
By Rachel Goodchild
BRINGING your new baby home can be one of life’s most thrilling experiences. But wouldn’t it be great if they came with an instruction manual?
Since they don’t, it might be a good idea to read up on various forms of children’s behaviour and how to get off to a good start. In years past, parents turned to books by such well-known authors as Dr Spock, but parents today are lucky to have the vast amount of information available on the Internet.
Of course, each child is different, and it will take a lot of trial and error to find what works best for your child. The most important thing is to curtail resistant behaviour before it gets out of hand.
A newborn human child is the most helpless of all mammals. Unlike a pony, it can’t jump up and walk at birth; it needs about a year to do that. So, it is totally dependent on its parents for survival, since it has no way to obtain nourishment.
At first, the major problem with having a new baby in the house is that it makes it difficult for anyone to get a good night’s sleep.
Whether mum nurses, or gives the baby a bottle, it will be weeks or even months before baby will sleep through the night.
Your pediatrician is the best source for advice on handling feeding problems.
Resistant behaviour is going to become a problem as babies learn to sit, crawl, walk and talk. It’s not surprising that a baby’s favourite first word is “No”.
What parents need to do is inform children what is going to happen and not give them a choice. Don’t ask the child if he is sleepy; simply tell him cheerfully that it’s bed time, pick him up and out him to bed.
It’s important to establish a routine, such as brushing teeth, a bedtime story and other, comforting rituals. Then, it’s lights out, and the toddler remains in bed.
If he tries to climb out and come in the parent’s room, he must gently, but firmly, be guided back to his room. Once parents let a child climb into their bed in the middle of the night, it’s a hard behaviour to stop.
Potty training is also an issue which can cause a lot of resistance. Again, you might want to look to the Internet for suggestions. The most frequent mistake parents make is to try to potty-train before the child is ready.
New parents may be surprised that to learn that 25% of children are still not trained by age three or even four. Parents should look for signs of readiness such as staying dry for two hours at a time and being uncomfortable in dirty diapers.
Sometimes it’s okay to let the child make choice. For example, if your daughter wants to wear an orange, striped blouse with purple-flowered pants, it really does no harm to let her do that unless she’s going somewhere special.
It would also be a good teaching moment to show your child what colours go together.
Children are people, too, and they need a chance to express their feelings, but they should never be allowed to feel they are the boss.
Punishment often doesn’t work, because it doesn’t stop the resistance behaviour. One mother, when he daughter threw herself on the grocery floor store and started kicking and screaming, promptly fell down, too, and emulated the girl’s behaviour. The girl jumped up, embarrassed, and that was the end of the tantrum.
Toddlers want to now who’s in charge and you must lovingly show them that it’s you.
[You can get in touch with the writer at www.rachelgoodchild.com]
The art of parenting
theSun
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
(Page 20)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Underwater World, Waterfall @ Langkawi and PAIN
On the second day (15 September 2008) of our Langkawi trip, we visited the Underwater World. Overall, we enjoyed the exhibits especially the penguins. We also watched a diver feeding the fish. The 3D show was rather crappy. It was the first time for Jordan in a theatre and he behaved well. He sat down and watched the whole thing and commented certain parts of the movie.
At night, we had a lovely dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Kuah. Then, we went back to the chalets for more games.
16 September 2008
I suggested that we visited the Waterfall and the Seven Wells which are near the resort. It turned out to be a bad suggestion for me. I climbed almost 300 steps to reach the waterfall but it was quite worth it. The air was refreshing and I love the sound of the waterfall. If Seng Chor had not stopped me, I would have climbed another 300+ steps to reach the Seven Wells. Thank God, he did.
After the climb, we had cold coconut. It was cooling and refreshing. However, as I was finishing the coconut, I felt my stomach getting more and more painful. I walked to the car first. Seng Chor and Jordan were already in the car. After waited for the rest for about 5 minutes, we decided to drive back to the resort first. My pain was getting more and more intense. I walked slowly to the chalet. I thought that I would faint before I could reach the chalet. I stopped to rest. The pain was almost unbearable. It felt as if I needed to pass motion but nothing came out. I was in excruciating pain. It was so difficult to get in and out of bed. It took me about 1 – 2 minutes to get up. I didn’t feel hungry. All I felt was pain. I just lay on the bed the day. My stomach muscles were really painful even though I was lying down. I couldn’t move side ways.
The rest of the gang played games in the next room. They went out for dinner after that. They came with fried rice for me after 10 pm. I couldn’t really eat much – just a few spoons. I vomited. I thought that I would not be able to take the flight back to KL the next day.
Thank God that I was slightly better in the morning. I walked really slowly. Sahaya had to drive slower because a slight bump would give me great pain.
Overall, the flight was ok for me. But the journey in the van from the airport was terrible. The road was rather bad. It was a bumpy ride. I couldn’t stand the pain. I cried. Seng Chor told the driver to stop so that I could change seat with Sahaya who was seated in front. It was better - not so bumpy.
At night, I went to see the panel doctor and requested for 2 days of Medical Leave. There was not much difference for the next 2 days. My situation improved on Saturday and I was a lot better on Sunday. The muscle pain is still there until today but not much. It will take probably another week for me to fully recover.
Jemimah was moving really active after the climb to the waterfall. It felt as if she wanted to come out of the womb. She was stretching all the time which caused even more pain every now and then. She was fine when I went for my regular check up at the gynecologist on Monday. The gynecologist commented that she is happy. I wonder how he knows – probably she was like moving every now and then.
Thank God for protecting Jemimah and me throughout the trip.
The steps I conquered to reach the Waterfall - almost 300!
At night, we had a lovely dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Kuah. Then, we went back to the chalets for more games.
16 September 2008
I suggested that we visited the Waterfall and the Seven Wells which are near the resort. It turned out to be a bad suggestion for me. I climbed almost 300 steps to reach the waterfall but it was quite worth it. The air was refreshing and I love the sound of the waterfall. If Seng Chor had not stopped me, I would have climbed another 300+ steps to reach the Seven Wells. Thank God, he did.
After the climb, we had cold coconut. It was cooling and refreshing. However, as I was finishing the coconut, I felt my stomach getting more and more painful. I walked to the car first. Seng Chor and Jordan were already in the car. After waited for the rest for about 5 minutes, we decided to drive back to the resort first. My pain was getting more and more intense. I walked slowly to the chalet. I thought that I would faint before I could reach the chalet. I stopped to rest. The pain was almost unbearable. It felt as if I needed to pass motion but nothing came out. I was in excruciating pain. It was so difficult to get in and out of bed. It took me about 1 – 2 minutes to get up. I didn’t feel hungry. All I felt was pain. I just lay on the bed the day. My stomach muscles were really painful even though I was lying down. I couldn’t move side ways.
The rest of the gang played games in the next room. They went out for dinner after that. They came with fried rice for me after 10 pm. I couldn’t really eat much – just a few spoons. I vomited. I thought that I would not be able to take the flight back to KL the next day.
Thank God that I was slightly better in the morning. I walked really slowly. Sahaya had to drive slower because a slight bump would give me great pain.
Overall, the flight was ok for me. But the journey in the van from the airport was terrible. The road was rather bad. It was a bumpy ride. I couldn’t stand the pain. I cried. Seng Chor told the driver to stop so that I could change seat with Sahaya who was seated in front. It was better - not so bumpy.
At night, I went to see the panel doctor and requested for 2 days of Medical Leave. There was not much difference for the next 2 days. My situation improved on Saturday and I was a lot better on Sunday. The muscle pain is still there until today but not much. It will take probably another week for me to fully recover.
Jemimah was moving really active after the climb to the waterfall. It felt as if she wanted to come out of the womb. She was stretching all the time which caused even more pain every now and then. She was fine when I went for my regular check up at the gynecologist on Monday. The gynecologist commented that she is happy. I wonder how he knows – probably she was like moving every now and then.
Thank God for protecting Jemimah and me throughout the trip.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort
14 September 2008 - 17 September 2008
It's our annual Berjaya resort holiday. This year, we choose to go to the Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort in beautiful Langkawi Island, Kedah. This is my second time in Langkawi, and first time with Jordan.
Previous Berjaya resort trips:
2004 - Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf and Spa Resort
2005 - Berjaya Redang Beach Resort
2006 - Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf and Spa Resort
2007 - Berjaya Redang Beach Resort
We didn't do much on the first day. We had lunch in Kuah Town. Then, we checked in to our chalets - 2127, 2128 and 2129.
Next, we had a lovely refreshment and relaxing time at The Loaf Bakery which is owned by Tun Dr Mahathir. It is strongly recommended to try the famous ice Latte at the bakery. The scenery outside the bakery is beautiful.
After tea, we had dinner at the Ramadhan Bazaar in the Kuah Town. Finally, we visited a duty free shop and went back to our chalets for games.
That was the first day at Langkawi.
Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort
===================================================
Our Food
===================================================
The Loaf Bakery
It's our annual Berjaya resort holiday. This year, we choose to go to the Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort in beautiful Langkawi Island, Kedah. This is my second time in Langkawi, and first time with Jordan.
Previous Berjaya resort trips:
2004 - Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf and Spa Resort
2005 - Berjaya Redang Beach Resort
2006 - Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf and Spa Resort
2007 - Berjaya Redang Beach Resort
We didn't do much on the first day. We had lunch in Kuah Town. Then, we checked in to our chalets - 2127, 2128 and 2129.
Next, we had a lovely refreshment and relaxing time at The Loaf Bakery which is owned by Tun Dr Mahathir. It is strongly recommended to try the famous ice Latte at the bakery. The scenery outside the bakery is beautiful.
After tea, we had dinner at the Ramadhan Bazaar in the Kuah Town. Finally, we visited a duty free shop and went back to our chalets for games.
That was the first day at Langkawi.
Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort
===================================================
Our Food
===================================================
The Loaf Bakery
NTU 2008 Graduation
On Sunday, 7 September 2008, I attended the graduation ceremony of my final year students in the BSc (Hons) Software Engineering programme from Nottingham Trent University, UK. Congratulations to them - BSE3F!
The new academic year commenced yesterday. It's the beginning of another new year with my students. Hopefully, they give me less problems and excel in their studies. :)
The new academic year commenced yesterday. It's the beginning of another new year with my students. Hopefully, they give me less problems and excel in their studies. :)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
On our 8th Wedding Anniversary...
Cabokia and Seng Chor,
Here’s wishing you a ‘Very Happy and Blessed 8th Wedding Anniversary’.
May God continue to shower both of you, son Jordan and ‘baby Jemimah’ abundantly with blessings of good health, love and harmony, joy, peace and material well-being in your family lives.
Have a memorable day.
Affectionately,
Pa and Ma / Kungkung and Popo.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Happy 8th Anniversary.
God bless your marriage…
May it be like wine – more mature + better with the years!
Dolly and David.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr & Mrs Teoh
A very blessed anniversary to both of you!
May God's richest blessings be upon you both.
Love
Yoke Kheng
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Seng Chor and Christine!
Wishing you both a blessed and happy anniversary!
May Jesus continue to be the center of your marriage.
Selvi, Roy, Reuel and Ariel
---------------------------------------------------------------
Happy 8th anniversary, Seng Chor and Christine.
God bless you both with increasing joy and patience.
With much love from the Wongs.
(Tuesday, 9 September 2008)
Here’s wishing you a ‘Very Happy and Blessed 8th Wedding Anniversary’.
May God continue to shower both of you, son Jordan and ‘baby Jemimah’ abundantly with blessings of good health, love and harmony, joy, peace and material well-being in your family lives.
Have a memorable day.
Affectionately,
Pa and Ma / Kungkung and Popo.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Happy 8th Anniversary.
God bless your marriage…
May it be like wine – more mature + better with the years!
Dolly and David.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr & Mrs Teoh
A very blessed anniversary to both of you!
May God's richest blessings be upon you both.
Love
Yoke Kheng
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Seng Chor and Christine!
Wishing you both a blessed and happy anniversary!
May Jesus continue to be the center of your marriage.
Selvi, Roy, Reuel and Ariel
---------------------------------------------------------------
Happy 8th anniversary, Seng Chor and Christine.
God bless you both with increasing joy and patience.
With much love from the Wongs.
(Tuesday, 9 September 2008)
Friday, September 12, 2008
Slide Shows from Sabah
From Left: Chee Keong, Seng Chor, Jenny, Yoke Kheng, Dr Cabokia and Jordan (sleeping)
The @tmosphere
Veda Blue @ City Mall
Kinabalu Rose Cabin
Mount Kinabalu Heritage
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
My Papa at Mount Kinabalu
This is my Papa's 3rd time to climb Mount Kinabalu. His first climb was in 1996. He was 56 years old. This year, he climbed twice - January and August/September. He is 68 years old this year. He keeps himself fit by climbing the small hill near our house in KK almost every day. He enjoys it.
At first, we thought that this would be his last climb. But when he heard that Seng Chor and his friend, Chee Keong hope to climb again using a different route, known as the Mesilau Trail, my Papa got excited again.
He was really excited about the last climb. He was packing and re-packing his stuffs many times - at home and at Kundasang. He showed Seng Chor and Chee Keong the stuffs that he was taking. He would take the stuffs out from his backpack and check through a few times. It was rather amusing to see him doing it - just like a little boy packing his school bag for the first day of school.
He didn't expect the strong wind. He had a slight fall and scratched his face and left leg slightly at the peak. He enjoyed perfect weather on his first climb in 1996. In his second climb, he experienced the rain. So, my Papa has overcome different types of weather at the mountain. Overall, he had a good climb.
From the Tempohon Gate to Laban Rata Rest House
Sunday, 31 August 2008
At the Peak of Mount Kinabalu
Monday, 1 September 2008
At first, we thought that this would be his last climb. But when he heard that Seng Chor and his friend, Chee Keong hope to climb again using a different route, known as the Mesilau Trail, my Papa got excited again.
He was really excited about the last climb. He was packing and re-packing his stuffs many times - at home and at Kundasang. He showed Seng Chor and Chee Keong the stuffs that he was taking. He would take the stuffs out from his backpack and check through a few times. It was rather amusing to see him doing it - just like a little boy packing his school bag for the first day of school.
He didn't expect the strong wind. He had a slight fall and scratched his face and left leg slightly at the peak. He enjoyed perfect weather on his first climb in 1996. In his second climb, he experienced the rain. So, my Papa has overcome different types of weather at the mountain. Overall, he had a good climb.
From the Tempohon Gate to Laban Rata Rest House
Sunday, 31 August 2008
At the Peak of Mount Kinabalu
Monday, 1 September 2008
Monday, September 08, 2008
Last Day in KK – 2 September 2008
It’s our annual dental check-up. As usual, my Mum booked the appointment for Seng Chor and me. We did scaling for our teeth. Seng Chor was apparently tortured for about half and hour. He still has gum problems. Mine lasted for about 10 minutes. No major problem except for a tooth which requires filling. I will have to get it done in KL as my gums were slightly swollen after the scaling.
Why did we do our dental check-up in KK? The price is actually about the same. The main reason – no time for both of us to go for check-up in KL. It’s more convenient to do it during our holiday in KK. Hehehe!
After the check-up, Mum took us for Dim Sum at Foo Phin which is very near to the dentist. Yoke Kheng accompanied Jordan at home. So, we packed Char Siew Pau and Siew Mai for Yoke Kheng.
We didn’t do much for the rest of the day – just packing. Mum cooked a simple and lovely lunch for us – ABC soup, scalded vegetables in oyster sauce, steamed prawns and Char Siew/Siew Yuk (BBQ roast pork from the market). The prawns were extremely fresh. Dad went to the market early in the morning to buy them. Jordan enjoyed them too. He ate quiet a lot of rice but didn’t drink much soup. Yoke Kheng and I had 2 bowls of soup each. Yummy!
Later, Mum boiled barley that she bought from Kuching. It tasted slightly different but very nice. We had it before leaving for the airport at 4:45 pm.
Our flight was at 6:20 pm. We reached the airport in good time. I was in Mum’s car. Seng Chor, Yoke Kheng and Jordan were in Dad’s car. Jordan was sleeping. He was also sleeping when we left KK last year. What a coincidence! Anyway, he woke up before we boarded the plane.
This is the first time I had meals in an Air Asia plane. Yoke Kheng and I ordered chicken rice. Seng Chor had nasi lemak. Jordan enjoyed the anchovies in the nasi lemak so much that we had to order a separate meal for him. Seng Chor and I shared the rest. According to the air steward, it was the last pack of nasi lemak on the plane. Phew! Otherwise, Jordan will be complaining.
It’s amazing that our plane arrived KL half an hour earlier! Seng Chor commented that the pilot should be summoned for speeding. Hahaha! It was good for us.
I was already in tears before we left the house. I cried again at the airport. I miss my parents so much. Mum will be here in December before I give birth. Dad will be here during the Chinese New Year next year. Looking forward to see them again.
Why did we do our dental check-up in KK? The price is actually about the same. The main reason – no time for both of us to go for check-up in KL. It’s more convenient to do it during our holiday in KK. Hehehe!
After the check-up, Mum took us for Dim Sum at Foo Phin which is very near to the dentist. Yoke Kheng accompanied Jordan at home. So, we packed Char Siew Pau and Siew Mai for Yoke Kheng.
We didn’t do much for the rest of the day – just packing. Mum cooked a simple and lovely lunch for us – ABC soup, scalded vegetables in oyster sauce, steamed prawns and Char Siew/Siew Yuk (BBQ roast pork from the market). The prawns were extremely fresh. Dad went to the market early in the morning to buy them. Jordan enjoyed them too. He ate quiet a lot of rice but didn’t drink much soup. Yoke Kheng and I had 2 bowls of soup each. Yummy!
Later, Mum boiled barley that she bought from Kuching. It tasted slightly different but very nice. We had it before leaving for the airport at 4:45 pm.
Our flight was at 6:20 pm. We reached the airport in good time. I was in Mum’s car. Seng Chor, Yoke Kheng and Jordan were in Dad’s car. Jordan was sleeping. He was also sleeping when we left KK last year. What a coincidence! Anyway, he woke up before we boarded the plane.
This is the first time I had meals in an Air Asia plane. Yoke Kheng and I ordered chicken rice. Seng Chor had nasi lemak. Jordan enjoyed the anchovies in the nasi lemak so much that we had to order a separate meal for him. Seng Chor and I shared the rest. According to the air steward, it was the last pack of nasi lemak on the plane. Phew! Otherwise, Jordan will be complaining.
It’s amazing that our plane arrived KL half an hour earlier! Seng Chor commented that the pilot should be summoned for speeding. Hahaha! It was good for us.
I was already in tears before we left the house. I cried again at the airport. I miss my parents so much. Mum will be here in December before I give birth. Dad will be here during the Chinese New Year next year. Looking forward to see them again.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Kundasang – 3rd, 4th and 5th Day in Sabah
We spent the next 3 days at Kundasang. Mum, Dad, Jordan and I in Dad’s car, while Seng Chor drove Mum’s car with Chee Keong and Yoke Kheng. We left the house at 10 am and arrived at Kundasang before 12 noon.
We stopped by some handicraft stalls for toilet break and snacks. Then, we headed straight to the Kinabalu Rose Cabin - our accommodation for the next 2 nights.
My Dad has actually booked 3 rooms but then because of miscommunication, they reserved only 2 rooms for us. Finally, we settled for one family room – with 2 single beds, one double bed and a double decker single bed. It was a big room. No complaint about the room except for the heater. It is rather difficult to adjust the temperature – it’s either too cold or too hot. Somehow we managed after a few tries. Some of us used the bucket to mix the water before bathing.
After lunch, we visited the Mount Kinabalu Heritage. Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort and Spa (formerly known as Perkasa Hotel) sits graciously atop a hill 5000 feet above sea level with a spectacular view of the majestic Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South East Asia. Unfortunately, it was drizzling. So, we were not able to see Mt Kinabalu. About 45 minutes later, we returned to Rose Cabin to rest.
Dinner was lovely. I would strongly recommend Rose Cabin because of the food. The restaurant offers the best of Local, Chinese, Western cuisine and fusion. I will miss the corn soup and French toast. Nice!
That night, all of us slept after 9 pm. The guys had to wake at 6 am to prepare for their mountain climbing the next day. As for the ladies and Jordan, we joined Jenny’s church for worship at the Mount Kinabalu Heritage. Coincidentally, they were having their retreat in Kundasang. Jordan was active as usual. He spent most of the time playing with one of the boys there. Praise God that I was able to sit through most of the sermon by the camp speaker – Rev. George Ong from Singapore. He spoke from Jeremiah 1:4-10 with the title “Compelled by the Call”. Below are the 3 points he shared:
1) An amazing call in the light of insignificance. (v. 4 – 5)
2) An affirmative call in the light of inadequacy. (v. 6 – 9)
3) An awesome call in the light of impossibility. (v. 10)
Rev. George is a humorous guy. He shared quite a few of jokes throughout the message. He has actually written numerous books on jokes. Jokes aside, the message was simple, straightforward and meaningful. God’s call was amazing because He knew Jeremiah even before Jeremiah was formed in the womb. It was an affirmative call though Jeremiah felt inadequate. The call was awesome because Jeremiah felt that it was an impossible task to accomplish. Indeed, like Jeremiah we should be compelled by God’s calling in whatever we do – whether we are serving or being served.
We didn’t join the group discussion. Instead, we headed for the Kinabalu National Park.
Kinabalu National Park is designated as Malaysia’s First World Heritage site in December 2000. A botanical paradise, it is home to over 1,200 species of orchids, 26 species of rhododendrons, 9 species of nepenthes, 100 species of mammals and 326 species of birds. In the midst of it stands the majestic Mt Kinabalu measuring some 4,095 m tall. ( Lily Kugan)
At the National Park, we visited the exhibition hall. Jordan enjoyed looking at the stuff animals and butterflies. After lunch at the Liwagu Restaurant, we went back to Rose Cabin.
In the evening, we had a good view of Mount Kinabalu and managed to capture some photographs.
That was the second night at Kundasang.
The next day, I had a wonderful English breakfast – toast (strawberry jam and butter), egg, sausages and baked beans. We didn’t do much for the rest of the day. We checked out at 1 pm after lunch. Then, we went to National Park to wait for the guys to come down. They arrived at the base at almost 4 pm. After collecting their certificates, we drove back to Kota Kinabalu. We reached home around 5:30 pm.
Once again, we had a sumptuous dinner at Supertanker. Mum and Dad invited Uncle David and Aunty Doris (family friend) as well. Jordan was once again treated with a special privilege. The owner of the restaurant gave him 2 pieces of jelly at one time. He really enjoyed it so much.
That was our last night in Kota Kinabalu.
We stopped by some handicraft stalls for toilet break and snacks. Then, we headed straight to the Kinabalu Rose Cabin - our accommodation for the next 2 nights.
My Dad has actually booked 3 rooms but then because of miscommunication, they reserved only 2 rooms for us. Finally, we settled for one family room – with 2 single beds, one double bed and a double decker single bed. It was a big room. No complaint about the room except for the heater. It is rather difficult to adjust the temperature – it’s either too cold or too hot. Somehow we managed after a few tries. Some of us used the bucket to mix the water before bathing.
After lunch, we visited the Mount Kinabalu Heritage. Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort and Spa (formerly known as Perkasa Hotel) sits graciously atop a hill 5000 feet above sea level with a spectacular view of the majestic Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South East Asia. Unfortunately, it was drizzling. So, we were not able to see Mt Kinabalu. About 45 minutes later, we returned to Rose Cabin to rest.
Dinner was lovely. I would strongly recommend Rose Cabin because of the food. The restaurant offers the best of Local, Chinese, Western cuisine and fusion. I will miss the corn soup and French toast. Nice!
That night, all of us slept after 9 pm. The guys had to wake at 6 am to prepare for their mountain climbing the next day. As for the ladies and Jordan, we joined Jenny’s church for worship at the Mount Kinabalu Heritage. Coincidentally, they were having their retreat in Kundasang. Jordan was active as usual. He spent most of the time playing with one of the boys there. Praise God that I was able to sit through most of the sermon by the camp speaker – Rev. George Ong from Singapore. He spoke from Jeremiah 1:4-10 with the title “Compelled by the Call”. Below are the 3 points he shared:
1) An amazing call in the light of insignificance. (v. 4 – 5)
2) An affirmative call in the light of inadequacy. (v. 6 – 9)
3) An awesome call in the light of impossibility. (v. 10)
Rev. George is a humorous guy. He shared quite a few of jokes throughout the message. He has actually written numerous books on jokes. Jokes aside, the message was simple, straightforward and meaningful. God’s call was amazing because He knew Jeremiah even before Jeremiah was formed in the womb. It was an affirmative call though Jeremiah felt inadequate. The call was awesome because Jeremiah felt that it was an impossible task to accomplish. Indeed, like Jeremiah we should be compelled by God’s calling in whatever we do – whether we are serving or being served.
We didn’t join the group discussion. Instead, we headed for the Kinabalu National Park.
Kinabalu National Park is designated as Malaysia’s First World Heritage site in December 2000. A botanical paradise, it is home to over 1,200 species of orchids, 26 species of rhododendrons, 9 species of nepenthes, 100 species of mammals and 326 species of birds. In the midst of it stands the majestic Mt Kinabalu measuring some 4,095 m tall. ( Lily Kugan)
At the National Park, we visited the exhibition hall. Jordan enjoyed looking at the stuff animals and butterflies. After lunch at the Liwagu Restaurant, we went back to Rose Cabin.
In the evening, we had a good view of Mount Kinabalu and managed to capture some photographs.
That was the second night at Kundasang.
The next day, I had a wonderful English breakfast – toast (strawberry jam and butter), egg, sausages and baked beans. We didn’t do much for the rest of the day. We checked out at 1 pm after lunch. Then, we went to National Park to wait for the guys to come down. They arrived at the base at almost 4 pm. After collecting their certificates, we drove back to Kota Kinabalu. We reached home around 5:30 pm.
Once again, we had a sumptuous dinner at Supertanker. Mum and Dad invited Uncle David and Aunty Doris (family friend) as well. Jordan was once again treated with a special privilege. The owner of the restaurant gave him 2 pieces of jelly at one time. He really enjoyed it so much.
That was our last night in Kota Kinabalu.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Another Memorable Trip to Kota Kinabalu
The Teohs and Yoke Kheng left for Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on Thursday, 28 August 2008 at 9:20 am. We arrived at the Terminal 2 at around 12 noon. My parents greeted us.
For lunch, I requested my Mum to cook porridge – I had 3 bowls – medium-sized. Yummy! We didn’t do much for the rest of the day. Seng Chor and his friend Chee Keong drove around the city. They were supposed to buy milk powder for Jordan and get some stuff from the pharmacy but didn't. In the evening, my Dad took them hiking on the hill near our house as a prelude to the Mt Kinabalu climb on 31 August 2008.
At 6:30 pm, we (Seng Chor, Yoke Kheng, Chee Keong, Jordan and I) left the house to pick Jenny (my ex-University mate) for dinner. We had a lovely dinner at The @mosphere. It is situated on the 18th floor of the Menara Tun Mustapha (formerly known as Yayasan Sabah). The restaurant revolves a full circle in one hour, giving a sweeping 360 degrees views of Kota Kinabalu. Cool, eh? The food was not too bad. I enjoyed my mushroom soup. I had a sip of the drinks ordered by Seng Chor and Yoke Kheng. Nice! It was a peaceful dinner because Jordan slept throughout on the sofa. Hehehe!
After dinner, we went to Veda Blue at City Mall for ice cream – thumbs-up for this local ice cream store – Made in Sabah. Unfortunately, there was no durian ice cream. I settled for mango and ? (I forgot – Hahaha.) I think it was some nuts with chocolate flavour. Anyway, I enjoyed it.
That was the first day.
On the second day, we went to our favourite Dim Sum place – Foo Phin. I ate quite a lot – siew mai, char siew pau, pai kuat, chee cheong fun, fish ball, carrot cake and lo mai kai. What a satisfying meal! Next, we went to CKS Hypermarket to do a bit of shopping for snacks.
We had the famous fish paste noodle soup from Tien-tien Restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we (Mum, Seng Chor, Chee Keong, Jordan and I) went to 1 Borneo Hypermall for window shopping. It was our first visit. Well, it was not exactly window shopping. Seng Chor bought gloves, ear mittens and long johns.
For dinner, we went to my Dad’s favourite Chinese restaurant – Supertanker. Food and service were excellent. My Dad ordered steamed fish cooked in teochew style, ostrich meat, Sabah vegetables and special sauce pork ribs. Jordan enjoyed the jelly dessert very much. Because he enjoyed it so much, the owner of the restaurant gave him another one! It was entertaining to see him gobbling up the jelly. There was a charming smile with every bite.
That was the second day in Kota Kinabalu.
Next post – Trip to Kinabalu Park, Kundasang.
For lunch, I requested my Mum to cook porridge – I had 3 bowls – medium-sized. Yummy! We didn’t do much for the rest of the day. Seng Chor and his friend Chee Keong drove around the city. They were supposed to buy milk powder for Jordan and get some stuff from the pharmacy but didn't. In the evening, my Dad took them hiking on the hill near our house as a prelude to the Mt Kinabalu climb on 31 August 2008.
At 6:30 pm, we (Seng Chor, Yoke Kheng, Chee Keong, Jordan and I) left the house to pick Jenny (my ex-University mate) for dinner. We had a lovely dinner at The @mosphere. It is situated on the 18th floor of the Menara Tun Mustapha (formerly known as Yayasan Sabah). The restaurant revolves a full circle in one hour, giving a sweeping 360 degrees views of Kota Kinabalu. Cool, eh? The food was not too bad. I enjoyed my mushroom soup. I had a sip of the drinks ordered by Seng Chor and Yoke Kheng. Nice! It was a peaceful dinner because Jordan slept throughout on the sofa. Hehehe!
After dinner, we went to Veda Blue at City Mall for ice cream – thumbs-up for this local ice cream store – Made in Sabah. Unfortunately, there was no durian ice cream. I settled for mango and ? (I forgot – Hahaha.) I think it was some nuts with chocolate flavour. Anyway, I enjoyed it.
That was the first day.
On the second day, we went to our favourite Dim Sum place – Foo Phin. I ate quite a lot – siew mai, char siew pau, pai kuat, chee cheong fun, fish ball, carrot cake and lo mai kai. What a satisfying meal! Next, we went to CKS Hypermarket to do a bit of shopping for snacks.
We had the famous fish paste noodle soup from Tien-tien Restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we (Mum, Seng Chor, Chee Keong, Jordan and I) went to 1 Borneo Hypermall for window shopping. It was our first visit. Well, it was not exactly window shopping. Seng Chor bought gloves, ear mittens and long johns.
For dinner, we went to my Dad’s favourite Chinese restaurant – Supertanker. Food and service were excellent. My Dad ordered steamed fish cooked in teochew style, ostrich meat, Sabah vegetables and special sauce pork ribs. Jordan enjoyed the jelly dessert very much. Because he enjoyed it so much, the owner of the restaurant gave him another one! It was entertaining to see him gobbling up the jelly. There was a charming smile with every bite.
That was the second day in Kota Kinabalu.
Next post – Trip to Kinabalu Park, Kundasang.
Pregnancy - 21 Weeks
My last check up was on Monday, 25 August 2008 before my trip to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah – my hometown. It was my 5th check up. It’s 100% confirmed that we are expecting a girl – Jemimah. Praise the Lord! Her due date is on 9 January 2009.
After the 4th month, my appetite improved tremendously. I have started to eat the caterer’s food about 2 weeks ago. No more feeling nausea. I seldom eat ice cubes nowadays. Throughout the pregnancy, I didn’t really crave for anything. I gained 3 kgs! Overall, I gained 5 kgs so far. I’m half way there. I can feel the weight of the baby getting heavier. Sometimes, I find it difficult to get up from the bed. There were strong movements every now and then. Once, part of her body actually ‘jutted out’. I had the same experience with Jordan as well. I am enjoying it.
May God continue to protect baby Jemimah.
After the 4th month, my appetite improved tremendously. I have started to eat the caterer’s food about 2 weeks ago. No more feeling nausea. I seldom eat ice cubes nowadays. Throughout the pregnancy, I didn’t really crave for anything. I gained 3 kgs! Overall, I gained 5 kgs so far. I’m half way there. I can feel the weight of the baby getting heavier. Sometimes, I find it difficult to get up from the bed. There were strong movements every now and then. Once, part of her body actually ‘jutted out’. I had the same experience with Jordan as well. I am enjoying it.
May God continue to protect baby Jemimah.
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