The Malaysian Food Fair

(Was suppose to write about this long time ago, but anyway.. here it is..)

Every year the Malaysian Embassy will host a Malaysian Food Fair. This is the time for all of us, to meet and get to know each other. This year was our second time at the fair and what an improvement!



The were plenty more choices, plenty more faces and we manage to meet those whom we briefly met last year, Pak Mat in particular. this is one kind man who gave me a tupperware full of kuah laksa johor last year during my craving days, while carrying Aidan. and to thank him and to let him know that i will always remember his kind gestures, i brought him a limburgese vlaai!!



(Thank you Pak Mat for covering my double chin! hehe)

Did not manage to catch what we had, what we ate, we simply couldnt wait and cant help ourselves but to dig in straight away, and of course, K.Noriah's stall as well as Pak Mat's was our 1st target! but i have to say that there were few other stalls that caught our noses!


(The Johor "sendo" lot!)

We brought mum and dad to the fair and they managed to form a johor group! and what a small world it is! there were big laughs talking of old times, serious talks, as well as pleasantly smiley faces amongst them. i will for sure visit the most humble Uncle Joe, the ever so friendly Pak Mat, the best malaysian cook in NL, K.Noriah and family again next year at the fair.


(Hardy introducing a malaysian flag, malaysian local fruits to Aidan)

We missed our dear friend, noreen and izi, but i guess the food back home tastes way better ey? We missed noreen and daniel, hope to see you guys on the same day next year (they went on sunday, we went on saturday). i didnt manage to meet a new blog friend, theeta and family (they were there on sunday as well). and we certainly wished Maz was still here.

Z

De Hollandsche Molen

It’s impossible to picture the Netherlands without windmills! and since my parents are here, we wanted them to see what holland is famous for. so we brought them to kinderdijk.



Because large parts of the netherlands are reclaimed parts of water, about 70% of the country is below sea level. the impact which this has on the dutch drainage system is huge! the draining of the country doesnt take place the normal way, this causes that all the water from rain which falls on the country stays. so in order to prevent the dutch inhabitants from drowning a large drainage system was formed. a system of 19 windmills was built around 1740. this group of mills is the largest concentration of old windmills in the netherlands.


All of them are all working windmills that require people living in them to be "millers" and maintain them. There is a waiting list of people to live in them! visitors can go in one of them on certain days (which wasnt the case when we were there, unfortunately). There is an entrance for those who want to see the windmill on the inside, but there is no fee for those who just go to see the windmills on the outside.



UNESCO inscribed the Kinderdijk-Elshout network of windmills on the World Heritage List in 1997. The network attests to the ingenuity and bravery of the Dutch people, who developed a highly intelligent hydraulic system to stabilize and cultivate a large stretch of peat bog in the Netherlands.
Located on the northwest edge of the Alblasserwaard (“land on the water’s edge”), the complex helped drain the inner districts of the Overwaard (“the high land”) and the Nederwaard (“the low land”) until 1950, when the mills were closed. The 19 remaining mills are still in operating condition.
The site and its upstream and downstream polders, equipped with natural drainage systems, rivers and streams, windmills, pumping stations and spillways, have remained virtually unchanged since the 18th century. Today this typically Dutch landscape is officially protected as a cultural monument and a natural reserve.



It's approx. 16km from rotterdam, and if you're travelling by car, you can find it by taking the A16 and A15 motorway from Rotterdam in the direction of Gorinchem and Nijmegen, and taking the exit signposted as "Alblasserdam, Kinderdijk", and following the signs to Kinderdijk. Walking along the dyke from the designated parking area, you will first see the modern pumping station, and then a succession of all nineteen 18th century windmills, on either side of the dyke and waterway.

Kinderdijk, a well worth visit!

Click here for an interactive history and explanation on windmills and kinderdijk.

Read more about Kinderdijk here

Read about Kinderdijk on UNESCO world heritage site here

Z

33!

Woensdag, 20 Juni

There were 33 candles on midnight, marking my husband's birthday. Mijn liefste turned 33. what makes this person so special? everyone who knows him would probably have diffrerent things to say about him. everyone who knows him well will know how special he is, in his own ways of course. but here's what we think of him (after taking only the gist of it)

Mum: "the coolest guy!"
Dad: "wonderfully dependable in every way"
My sister, fifi who's heavily pregnant: "very meticulous person, very patient with a soft heart"
My wacky brother in law, redza: "A really nice genuine typical bloke that fits in anywhere! and so am i!" (we agree!! same goes for you too redz!!)

Me? he is full of love and more. and i am extrermely proud to be his wife.

Last but not least, Aidan (who turns 9 months today). this was what he thought of his papa (taken on the morning of hardy's birthday whilst trying to get up, and later that day in town).





To my mother in laws: thank you mama for giving birth to a beautiful person 33 years ago, who turned out to be a wonderful man to all of us. thank you for taking care and showered him with all your motherly love. thank you mummy for all the love you've shared, the care you showed and given to this amazing husband of mine.

Z

Happy Father's Day

Dad, you were the one who'd make sure i would have everything i needed, most of what i wanted. I can look back and see that you always wanted the best for me, and I know how hard you worked to get it. And even though we may not agree on everything, you've taught me to think things through, to care, to love and to share...



My dear husband, the father of our son,
Your patience amazes me...your energy inspires me...your love makes our life together so good and so right and so complete.

I love the father in you, the way you take parenting seriously, and that little boy in you who comes out to wrestle, laugh and play... i love the tenderness in your heart, the constant care and the love you share with all your might!

To the both of you,

What would my life be without you?
I'd never have made it this far.
You've helped me through all my endeavors
You're the best! You're a peach! You're a Star!


Z

Bite Me!

I've been trying to snap a photo of aidan's tooth since it's first sightings couple of weeks ago but failed. but last tuesday, on our way to Zurich, we stopped at one of the services and i managed to get a good photo of him and his tandjes! (now, there's two!)

Kijk! Aidan heeft twee tandjes!



He's been biting almost everything lately!

(Just got back about 2 hours ago.. we'll write more on our wonderful trip soon!)

Z

Mooie Maastricht

We brought oma and opa to Maastricht last week, 20 mins drive from our home. Maastricht is the capital of province of Limburg. the city is situated on both sides of the famous River Maas, in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands between Belgium and Germany. Maastricht is probably the oldest city in the Netherlands with historical streets and places to visit. the main shopping stretches between the Vrijthof Square and the railway station. you will be able to find charming shops as well as departmental stores, where one could not resist the temptation to shop!





I'm not going to write on the historical buildings and places in maastricht, my husband knows it by hard now, therefore he's the best person to tell you on the historical side of the said place. i'm just going to touch briefly on the shopping we did last week.



The well conserved and excellently maintained centrum of Maastricht offers an attractive shopping culture, with its renowned and long-established stores
specialized in art, antiques, design, home furnishings, accessories and fashion, and its delicatessens, not to mention cafes and popular high street brands. The best thing is, in spring and summer, you'll get to enjoy the cafes, bars and restaurants outside, overlooking the river or the square. watch out for cyclists when you're walking tho!



The shops in Maastricht are open on Monday from 1pm to 6pm, Tuesday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturdays from 9am to 5pm. Thursday evenings, shops open until 9pm, we call it Koopavond. Sundays shops are often gesloten (closed), but there are certain days where they open, most cases every first Sunday of the month. Please note that, if you're travelling to the Netherlands, and carrying traveller's cheques, it is not possible to change them at the banks. unlike in the UK where you can change them at the banks and any travel agents, Thomas Cook etc, over here, you can change them at the Schipol Airport, or an exchange office on most big cities, called GWK, most of them situated just accross or near the railway stations. in Maastricht, it's at stationsplein 27.



We went shopping, had lunch at the cafe, stopped for waffels and ice creams, continued shopping whilst admiring the 18th, 19th centuary buildings, cobbled stones, figures and enjoying the atmosphere. we were there from morning, till the shops shut their doors and count their earnings of the day!! and it really didnt feel that long!

There's so much to explore and see in Maastricht. a day is simply not enough! i've found my gems in maastricht, a couple of shops on Sporenstraat, where i know i'd be visiting again, and again and again...

Maastricht is definitely a place to visit when you're in the Netherlands. Mooie Maastricht.. such beauty, such character, such charm.

Z

Priceless

They say a picture says a thousand words....






... these says a million! and the spoiling begins! :)

The Arrival

Its bijna zes uur, and i'm awake, taken my shower, all dressed up, aidan's bag and our snack bag are ready to hit the road. the only thing that's not ready yet is our son, he's still sleeping and we dont have the heart to wake him up, but i will in the next 10 mins, once i'm done with this.

Aidan's oma and opa's arriving today!! i've been looking forward to this for the past 6 months! the last time they were here was when aidan was a week old and went back a month later.



We were very busy in preparing their room and finishing up the house, the flooring in paticular, and now quite happy with it.

There will be loads of things to talk about, much stories and gossips. many places to visit, plenty of shopping and of course, quality time with each other.




If one day, aidan should read this, i want you to know that this is one of the many days that mama's feeling extremely happy. mama's been so looking forward to this day and extremely thrilled that oma and opa's finally here, again... i'm going to wake you up now... no, wait, you're already up! off we go to the luchthaven to fetch oma and opa!

Z

Goodbye No.21

No.21 was just a piece of land 12 years ago. it took only 2 people to design it and almost a year to build it. they didnt thought that their 2 daughters will be living abroad, and so they build it for them to see and enjoy them and their families grow. but one can never tell what the future holds. what God's plans are. one settled in the UK, and one in the Netherlands.

Tomorrow, we're going to say goodbye to our home back in JB. A place which we have called our home for the past 11 years. A house both my parents had waited so long to actually build and make it their dream home. A house which my dad drew, measured, designed everything with no architects at all (but to sign the plans) from scratch. A house which has had more than 20 sub-contractors dealing with my mum, and my mum alone, but of course alongside with dad. A house where we've made lots of friends while building it. A house which was decorated with lots of passion. A house with a garden of eden, where my parents had spent most of their mornings and evenings outdoors, caring for their plants. A house surrounded with very friendly and good neighbours all around. A house which was filled by tremendous amount of love, joy, laughter, happiness and fond memories. A house which have seen so many events (my wedding as well as my sister's topped it off). A home we came back to from wherever we were.



This is very emotional for me, saying goodbye to our home. i felt bad as i couldnt help mum and dad pack and move. but i suppose its better this way, i probably wouldnt be able to control my emotions.

Finally, the time has come. the time has come for all of us to move forward and spend our quality times together. many many holidays together! mum and dad will spend most of their times here with us and with my sister and brother in law. mum and dad will get to enjoy their grandchildren, will have more time to travel, discovering new places, doing the things that they love, and will fill our houses (mine and kakak's) with all the things they have filled in with theirs.

To mum and dad, thank you for putting a beutiful roof over our heads. its been a hectic year, i'm sure. its sad saying goodbye. but look at the bright side, we're going to see you very soon! and no more empty rooms and cleaning the whole house and the garden! we hope you'll enjoy your new home, although it's still in a mess. and spend many many days in ours. micasa sukasa!!...

And to our beautiful house no.21, thank you for a beautiful and wonderful 11 years. we hope it'll be a good home for our buyer too.



We hope to fill our home, here in the netherlands with even more love, happiness and make new fond memories...

Z


-1st june 2007-


Just called my parents, they've handed the keys over and said their goodbyes. the only one tennant remaining at no.21 is MILO, she was born there, at no.21 when her mum NENG, a stray cat became a permenant resident at our then home since late 2004. MILO had her last lunch with my parents, a fest of nasi, ikan and serunding my dad fixed specially for her. somehow she knew we're leaving her behind and couldnt stay away from mum's legs. i'm still in tears.
(picture taken on the day i left for netherlands for good 1.5 years ago)

The -jes

I cant help but to notice this. we have a lot of things with -jes at the back of most words. the dutch adds the -jes to describe almost everything that is small or short.

For example:
Aidan's enjoying appletjes now (small apples). i cook them myself for his snack. i try to avoid giving him potjes (food from the bottles). but its good to have them when you're travelling. aidan's got a paddington beartje (small paddington bear) in his room and lots of other speeltjes (small toys). aidan sleeps with a knuffeldoekje (doudou). slightly later, when he's up from his slaapje (short nap), he will have his pompoenhapje (pumpkin small meal) as his lunch.

I'm currently sitting on a stoeltje (small stool). a while ago, ik heb twee zakjes of chinese tomaat soep (i had 2 packets of chinese tomato soup). my husband likes to eat his broodje (small bread) with balsamic oil, which i will prepare for part of his dinner later.

I still havent bought any cadautjes (small presents) for our UK trip, and i'm gathering ideas to do some bedanktjes (small thank you favors) for noreen and daniel's wedding!

All dutch will surely offer you een kopje thee or een kopje koffie (a small cup of tea or a small cup of coffie) when you visit them. alongside with their teas and coffies, they'd have a koekje (small biscuit), which are most of the time quite tasteful and nice! and once you're done with your teabags, you put them on this:



Talking about koekjes, aidan's tandje (tiny tooth) has come out and hopefully he'll taste his eerste koekje soon!

Since the sun's out and wether's been good, i think we need to buy a tafelje (small table) so that we can enjoy the zomer zon! perhaps we should go to ikea this weekend and have a look at the koopjes section (bargain buys).

And in case you havent noticed, look at our web address of this blog! :)

Oh, and earlier today, i used a couple of wattenstaafjes (cottonbuds) to clean my ears! he he..

(note: 'j' is pronounced as 'y')

Z

Elke Zaterdag

This is where we normally go on almost all our zaterdag (saturdays) - a market in Geleen.

Geleen is our neighbouring town and is just a good 6 mins drive (including finding a parking spot) from our home.

We get our fresh supplies of vis, fruit, bloemen (fish, fruits, flowers) and do our asian groceries at the toko. its a nice market with many grocers, selling their products, nice smell when you pass the fruit and flower section.



We do however prefer to get all our vegetables and most fruits at the supermarkets where we feel the quality is much better. but the markt (market) is certainly a treat! i look forward to elke zaterdag (every saturdays). why?
1. my dear husband does not need to go to the office
2. i can wake up slightly late if my dear husband feeds our son his breakfast
3. i can go to the market and get my flowers and shop at the toko
4. i can cook the things i bought at the market

This was what we bought recently:



3 boxes of aardbeien (strawberries) for just 3euros! (will write on what i did to them at my other blog soon)



3 bunches of tulpen (tulips) for just 3euros! (if you come at 4pm, an hour before they closes.)

I LOVE MY SATURDAYS!

Happy Mother's Day Mum

A Mother's love is something that no on can explain.
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain.

Mum's smile can brighten any moment,
mum's hugs put joy in all our days,
mum's love will stay with us forever,
and touch our lives in many precious ways.

The values you've taught,
the care you've given,
and the wonderful love you've shown,
have enriched my life in more ways than I can count.

You're not just a mum, you're a friend, my best friend, my idol. what a gift to have you in my life, and to be loved by you.

I love you beyond all the bounds mum! missing you VERY VERY much.

Hugs & Kisses,
Z

A Little Dream

I've just heard the news that belgian Kim Clijsters had announced her retirement, at the age of 23. i'm not really a fan of hers but i must say she's one of the players who definitely has the potential to win more than one Grand Slam. many would criticise her decision to retire at a young age, but if you ask me, a reason to start a family and care for her family's a good enough reasons for her to hang the racquet. clearly, she's not after the earnings, titles and throphies.


I suppose she had spend more than enough days on the courts, hitting balls over the net, perfecting her strokes and serves, and living out of a suitcase. i can only imagine. it was once my dream to go on a circuit, check into hotels with my tennis bags, be fit as other female tennis players (sharapova would be nice). but that's all gone now. it's too late. my tennis days are over. i wasnt that good anyway...


I will hopefully introduce aidan to tennis young. just like my parents did to me some 25 years ago. i hope he'll pick up the sport, love it, and win french open! why roland garros? well, he saw nadal and federer played at the french last year (well, ok, not actually saw but perhaps heard and feel, since he was in my tummy), and there's a good tennis club with clay courts near our home. but i wouldnt mind him winning wimbledon.. (his dad wants to start him off playing football and golf). but frankly, we dont mind any sport he chooses.. just make sure it's a safe sport!


Cant wait to get him his first tennis racquet!

(picture of me at roland garros last year - 5+mhts pregnant with aidan)

Z

First Gear

Our son has started crawling. the first few weeks of tries was somewhat frustrating for him, i could tell. he was shouting out of frustration for not being able to move forward! his fair chubby face turned red. he tried and tried with lots of "baaa baaa beee beee" (his version of complaining) and finally.. he did it.

Look!


ON YOUR MARKS...


GET SET....


GO!!!!!!


and.. oopss.. he bumped his head on the floor! *ouch* and mama's still snapping away!

and 10 seconds later...


he's happy... and so's mama!

It's absolutely amazing to see his progress, from rolling to crawling.. from crawling backwards to now crawling forward! i'm over the moon and absolutely proud of aidan! on the other hand, this means, more eyes on him, more time with him in sight, watching him, no more leaving him play on his own whilst mama cleans, cooks away from his "play-ground" etc, less time blogging during the day! *selfish mama!*

He's begining to grab hold of almost everything now that he's crawling! leave him on his own for 1 min he'll get to the other end of the carpet! and this is just the first week!

Wait till he goes more than 5mph! wait till he gets into full gear!!

Z

Laksa Penang

While on our fortnightly marketing a few weeks ago at Geleen's 'Tropical Markt' - an Asian grocery store, we saw daum kesum, often used for masak asam pedas, and as for me, one of the key ingredient in the-glorious-ever-asam-laksa penang of my mom's. Motivated by the mere smell of it, I embarked into making it myself. Well, this was the third attempt, having cooked it twice last year - once when Z's craving (and me too) during her pregnancy and once more on I-have-to-work raya day. Back home, laksa Penang is the must-have menu during raya, almost a legacy, for the past 9 years.

With the exception of bunga kantan, I had all the other ingredients at hand. Also available was the crunchy 'cucur udang', a compulsory side addition, which according to Kyrz and Ez, is not qualified as a laksa Penang without it. I remembered how Kyrz would eat all the asam, daum kesum and bunga kantan...

Well, we had it for dinner for 2 nights in a row....lekker...

H

Recipe...? arghhh....it's a bit of this and that....anyway, it was a dish cooked from the heart....for my sweetheart....heheh....

lekker = sedaapppp....

Confirmed!

YES! i definitely have Lily of the Valley in my garden!! lots of them!!



Lily of the Valley or botanically known as Convallaria Majalis, grows from mid march to may. this white bell shaped flower emit a delicious fragrance! i can actually smell them from my front door!

If you're curious on how they smell, Crabtree & Evelyn carries a wide range of this petite flower products from soaps to eau de parfum. i simply adore the brand.



It signifies "return to happiness", or according to wikipedia, the meaning of this flower is "you will find happiness". i certainly have found my happiness, and hope we will be happy in our new home.




Definitely a spring pleasure!

Z