Istanbul

May started with a bang for me with a trip to Istanbul to attend the Global Summit of Women! What an experience to be amongst so many inspiring women who are successful in their own respective fields! The delegates from Malaysia led by our First Lady of Malaysia were organized by SMECorp. Thanks so much to Kak Normah for taking me to Istanbul!!

Perfect weather with clear blue skies!

The Global Summit of Women was conceived as the nexus at which all sectors - public, private & non-profit - would come together under the common vision of dramatically expanding women's economic opportunities globally through exchanges of working solutions and creative strategies forged by women leaders in all parts of the world. I was so proud to be a Malaysian as our leaders both in the public and private sectors were great speakers who shined! Our very own Women's Minister, Datuk Shahrizat was easily the best speaker of the whole Summit!

With Kak Normah: the ambience at a centuries old cistern was mystical

Wonderful friends we met: Yati, Joanne & Alice

The Haunting Swirling Dervishes

Hagia Sofya is a must see in Istanbul

The Beautiful Blue Mosque

The Grand Bazaar's tempting wares!

Istanbul, being right at the border between Europe and Asia, is a land of contrasts. They are neither European nor Asian - exactly somewhere in between. This fusion of cultures is reflected in everything in Istanbul, their architecture, their food, their traditions.. even their approach to religion. We were lucky to be there in Spring with the sun shining brightly and the cool wind blowing. Flowers - tulips, tulips, tulips, of every colour imaginable - were everywhere! Istanbul is hauntingly beautiful.

For me, it was a such an eye-opener! Meeting all those wonderful ladies from Malaysia in such diverse fields was electric! A shock to my system! I realize that there is a huge world out there outside of Melaka & perhaps, it's time to spread my wings and fly!!! (^_^)

The Awakening

It was a journey like no other.

The feeling of being in MasjidilHaram and facing the Baitullah for the first time is just too amazing for words. I felt a throb in my chest, and all my senses felt as if they tingled, and without even realizing it, I was in tears. It seemed like everything else which surrounded me, the crowd, the people, the sounds, moved to the background. I only saw the Kaabah and there was me. It was such a surreal experience.

It was as if something in me had finally awakened, as if I had found something that I didn't even realize I had lost. Maybe I had found myself. The true reason for my being. Why I am placed on this earth. I am now finally at peace with myself and my Creator.. Rasa begitu dekat dengan Allah..

Alhamdulillah, AZ and I were blessed to arrive in Tanah Suci on the official first week of visa Umrah. This means that the holy place was not crowded as usual. Semua perjalanan, urusan dan ibadat telah dipermudahkan oleh Allah. Alhamdulillah. Kami berkesempatan membuat yang wajib dan sunat. Bersolat dan berdoa di tempat-tempat yang paling diidamkan. Menyempurnakan amal dan ibadat yang tidak pernah kami lakukan sebelum ini. The mosque is just so beautiful and peaceful. I felt so blessed to be a guest in Allah's home.. Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah.

Every prayer was so precious. Almost every time I sought His forgiveness, His indulgence, His guidance, every time I thanked Him for everything that He has given me, tears would just fall. What a feeling to pray with the Kaabah right in front of you and the sky above you. I kept closing my eyes and re-opening them to see whether or not I was dreaming. Whether or not I was really saying my doa in front of the Kaabah. For the first time ever in my life, I was looking forward to every waktu solat. Even Subuh! Masya Allah..

Every daily activities in Mekah are scheduled around prayer times. How wonderful is that? Why can't it be the same in Malaysia? Shops are temporarily closed during prayer times which means that everyone can walk over to the mosque and solat berjemaah. 100,000 kali ganda pahalanya dibandingkan dengan solat di tempat-tempat lain. Wow! Terlalu hebat ganjarannya..

Now I understand what Mak meant when she said that I would only fully appreciate the feeling of being in Mekah when I go there. And I understand that praying is not just for Allah, but also for me, to cleanse my mind, my heart and my soul so that ultimately, I would be able to perfect my submission to Allah.

Ya Allah, aku memohon dariMu untuk diberi peluang lagi menjadi tetamu di RumahMu bersama-sama dengan AZ dan anak-anakku... Amin..

Bonjour Paris

Had an amazing week in France this week, working for 2 days with clients in Nantes and enjoyed the sites and sounds of Paris with AZ thereafter. Will write more about this beautiful city when I'm not so jet-lagged, but for now, do enjoy some of the pictures...

The awe-inspiring Tour Eiffel

Me, a mime & the Arc de Triomphe

The Champs Elysees, home to sinful designer labels

AZ in the Sully Wing at the Louvre

The Pyramide seems out of place but somehow

blended with the centuries old Louvre Palais

The view from the Eiffel Tower is simply breathtaking

Thanks so much to Encik Mazlan & Puan Normah for this work-cum-pleasure trip. And to my darling AZ, thank you for the really special Anniversary presents (^_^)

Mystical Bali

Gunung Agung

Beautiful Paddy terraces

A snapshot with the Kecak dancers

Danau team + me

The residents of Danau Kaseh were in Bali a few weeks ago with AZ's Danau team, making it the 3rd year we travelled together. We all had a blast!

We only had 3 days to spend in Bali, so our diary was packed!

Day 1: Explored Kuta

Bali is a beautiful island filled with myths and legends. The serene lives of the locals are bound by magical folklores and pagan rituals. The Balinese are very polite and hospitable, always the perfect hosts, ready with friendly smiles.

Unfortunately, the lives of these simple people, is simple no more. This is especially felt in Kuta as the city is swarmed by tourists, primarily from Australia. Jalan Pantai Kuta is dominated by international franchises and restaurants: Starbucks, Hard Rock Cafe, Pizzahut and MacDonalds, to name a few. The stores lining Jalan Legian prominantly display the brandnames of Levi's, Crocs, Reebok and Nike.

Prices in markets and stalls are not cheap, clearly catering for the foreigners who are their main customers..

Day 2: Gunung Agung volcano, Paddy Terraces and Kecak Dance

Our 2nd day was full. A trip to the volcano was made memorable by the group of relentless peddlars who hassled us incessantly after our lunch, blocking our way to the van. Anas and Adlina were scared.

A word of advice: despite their aggressive approach, you will find the best prices and bargains from these peddlars. Anas bought 25 keychains for Rp50,000 (RM16). Unfortunately, the more you buy, the more they hassle you!

Our next stop was the Pasar Ubud which was overflowing with touristy products and souvenirs. I thought the prices were reasonable but found out later that the prices in Denpasar Market was even cheaper! Bought loads of beautifully carved wooden trinket boxes.

The Kecak dance is not to be missed if you are in Bali. It completes the mystical experience that is Bali. The dance is very intense and dramatic featuring a hypnotic chorus of chanting and grunting simulating the sounds of a gamelan orchestra. It's an awesome experience.

Adlina + Mama

Wina Holiday Villa Courtyard
(The hotel serves Halal food)

Papa + the Boys

Day 3: Bali is a Shopping Heaven

Bali is a true shopping heaven. There are so many interesting souvenirs to bring home, all at under RM10. From Batik shirts to Wooden boxes to Mengkuang Bags to beaded slippers! Just bring extra Rupiahs!!

Check out the Denpasar Market. It's so much cheaper than the market in Ubud. Just wish we had more time to spend shopping in Denpasar. Most things are cheaper by more than 50% compared to Ubud or Kuta.

The day ended with the kids riding the waves with Hasanah, Thony, Azim and Shida. Azie was taking photos from the beach and me and AZ were just lazing under the shade! Hasanah and I finished off the evening with a full body massage and lulur which was heavenly...

In the van going places!

Can't wait for our next trip together. Thanks everyone for a great time!

Postscript: Had a BAD sunburn due to the intense heat. Wear a big hat in Bali, ladies (^_^)

Hong Kong Disneyland

Hello Hong Kong Disneyland!! 

The residents of Danau Kaseh had so much fun in Hong Kong Disneyland last week! What a great way to de-stress after so much pressure at work!! Good family FUN! We went at the right time as the weather was perfect: sunny and cool springtime! School holidays in Hong Kong hasn't started yet, so the Park was not congested. We didn't have to queue up for almost all the rides & shows! Perfect timing!

Here's a short summary of our favourites at Disneyland:

Of all the rides, the Space Mountain roller-coaster was the most exciting! The whole ride was in pitch darkness, full of surprising drops, twists & turns. Fortunately there wasn't any loop-da-loop! Images from space like planets, novas & comets flashed by as you go past them in a fast, thrilling ride! We were so proud of Anas as he went on his first ever roller-coaster ride without crying at all! Adlan actually went on the ride 3 times (crazy!) & Adlina went on it twice! 

It's A Small World, the world famous boat ride was charming. Lots of effort must have been put into all the colourful & beautiful miniature houses, famous landmarks, figurines, dolls & animals from around the world. It was such a relaxing ride after Space Mountain! Adlan, Adlina & Anas went on the spinning teacup after that, but the rest of us gave it a miss. I felt dizzy just looking at them spinning!

Spinning Teacups - not for mama!

Adlina loved the Autopia as she got to "drive" her own car! I didn't enjoy it too much as Anas drove the car I shared with him and the ride was extremely bumpy. His steering was totally out! Thank God he has 10 more years before he can get his "L" licence :) 

Adlina driving her little car :)

Another interesting ride was the Jungle River Adventure. We had to ride through crocodiles, wild animals, head-hunters, piranhas & even a fiery volcano! Don't worry, none of them bite ;) Tarzan's Treehouse was on an island right in the jungle & we climbed up the Treehouse (which was high!). Right at the top, Anas said that he needed to pee immediately (Yikes!!). Thanks to Adlan's empty mineral water bottle, Anas became the first ever person to pee at the top of Tarzan's Treehouse :) I hope no one saw him!

Tarzan's Treehouse - no toilets at the top :)

My personal Favourites are the Live Shows: The Golden Mickeys & Festival of the Lion King. They were superb! The Golden Mickeys was like an Award show which showcased some of Disney's best loved characters like Mulan, Tarzan, Ariel, Woody & Jessie and Beauty & the Beast. The actors were fantastic singing familiar Disney tunes which we sang along. We went for the show twice & still enjoyed it tremendously the 2nd time!

The set of the Lion King was so colourful &  impressive!

Festival of the Lion King was set in a circular theatre, more like an arena. The singers were brilliant & the set impressive! Giant elephant and giraffe figures were wheeled in together with Simba the lion. There were flame throwers breathing fire and acrobats suspended from the ceiling! It was such an amazing experience.  True Disney magic!

Adlina meets Jessie

The highlight of Disneyland was the Fireworks set in the background of the castle at 7.30pm prior to closing. I heard about the fireworks before, but it was far better than what I expected. As aptly put by Adlan: the Fireworks were Beyond Awesome. Hakim was at a lost for words when I asked him what he thought of it! The Fireworks were launched in synch with Disney's music and the timing and positioning were all perfectly choreographed. I've always loved fireworks but the one we saw at Disneyland was without a doubt, the BEST one ever! It was Beyond Awesome!

Sleeping Beauty's castle at night was truly breathtaking

Time flies so fast when you're having so much fun. Two days in Disneyland went by too quickly. We checked out of Hollywood Disneyland Hotel and left for Kowloon with a heavy heart on Saturday. 

The grounds around Hollywood Disneyland Hotel 

was beautiful & perfectly manicured

Goodbye Hong Kong Disneyland! Thank you so much for such a magical experience. So many warm, fuzzy moments & happy memories... (^_^)

Bangkok - The Jim Thompson House

When I first read about the Jim Thompson House in our Lonely Planet guidebook, I thought that the  kind words used to describe the House must be exaggerated. I expected the place to be touristy and tacky. Nevertheless, I was intrigued by the story of the remarkable man and marked it in the schedule for our second day in Bangkok. As we walked into the lush gardens of the House, I realized how wrong I was. The Jim Thompson House was really way beyond my expectation.

The view from the Art Gallery

Jim Thompson was an American architect who was enlisted in the army during the 2nd World War. He arrived in Thailand in 1945 and immediately fell in love with the people, culture, art, handicraft and everything else that was Thailand. So much so that when the war ended, he decided to permanently stay in Bangkok. He built his home, incorporating European elements into the traditional Thai Teak House. Jim Thompson loved Thai Silk and made it world-famous especially after demand for it expanded following the extensive use of the material in the stage and film version of "The King & I". Sometime in 1967, Jim Thompson mysteriously disappeared whilst on a holiday with friends in Cameron Highlands. His body was never found. His home is now a museum kept in memory of the man who loved Thailand so passionately. 

Tea at the Terrace

It is difficult to describe the House in a single word. When something is created from the heart, with so much thought and love, the result is just too special for words. The Jim Thompson House is an experience of a man's life journey. It is truly beautiful and serene, in stark contrast to the ultra modern, cold metal structures that is Bangkok surrounding this sanctuary. The ambience of the whole area is one of warmth, peace and tranquility. The Main House is so graceful and elegant, with carefully selected ancient ornaments displayed thoughtfully on the walls and corners. When I looked out the window of his study, I could see why he made Thailand his home. The view of the tropical garden was breathtaking! Heliconias and orchids were flowering everywhere. Pink and white Lotus floated in huge ceramic vases at every nook and cranny. 

Gorgeous Lotus everywhere

The pond adjacent to the terrace is home to 

a giant stingray which delighted the boys!

Under the Main House

Kids waiting to go :-)

Wish I could take the Orchids home

Hakim wondering why the heliconias

were much bigger than ours at home

There is a gift shop at the entrance, quite unlike the usual touristy ones that you would expect of Bangkok. I fell in love with almost half of the stuffs there instantly but unfortunately most of them were pricey. I bought a few cards and notebooks and they were all carefully wrapped by the cashier in classy gift envelopes, complete with gold stickers! In case you miss it, there is another Jim Thompson boutique at the airport & the prices are 15% cheaper. Don't miss that one :-)

For me, the Jim Thompson House was the highlight of our trip.  If not for the kids (who couldn't really see why the House was so interesting apart from the giant stingray), I would have begged AZ to stay there longer and would have had tea and scones at the terrace. 

This place is a must if you are ever in Bangkok (^_^)

Bangkok - Chapter I

One of the many beautiful buildings in the Royal Palace

The residents of Danau Kaseh had a wonderful time in Bangkok with AZ's staffs last weekend. I had such a misconception about Bangkok before - it is not what I imagined it to be. Bangkok is totally beyond my expectation!

Bangkok is surprisingly modern, clean and quite well planned. Impressive buildings and structures are aplenty. Skywalks and bridges are built to connect shopping malls, commercial offices and BTS stations which makes it easy for pedestrians. Walking through the interconnecting malls & walkways is pleasant and safe, above all the traffic. All these cosmopolitan amidst centuries old palaces and temples make Bangkok a modern city rich in culture and tradition. 

The very modern Central World

We stayed in Arnoma Hotel which is in the center of the shopping district, right in front of a mall called Central World, an  impressive building by any standard. Bangkok is a shopper's haven. There is something for everyone, whether you are on a string budget or otherwise. You can buy from stalls by the roadside and markets, or from branded boutiques in first class malls. Night markets are open until midnight. What I find most pleasant about shopping in Bangkok is that both the shopping malls and markets are not congested. The malls are huge, with wide corridors & bright lights. They are very well spaced out. This is quite unlike Jakarta which is crowded almost all the time, both outdoors and indoors. You can get good quality leather products at very reasonable price in Bangkok. Bargaining is essential and expected of course, and unlike Hong Kong, you won't be frowned upon for haggling! 

The Golden Temple

The field at the front of the Royal Palace

Our first stop after checking into the hotel was a tour of the Royal Palace. The ground covers an area of about 61 acres and the structures in the compound are all opulent and stunning. The main temple in the Palace compound is covered in 18-carat gold plates. 

Adlina touching the 18-carat gold plates

Another temple houses a Buddha sculpture from the 10th century sitting on a solid gold throne covered with rubies and diamonds. All the buildings are well preserved and beautifully maintained. The whole experience was breathtaking! The kids were enthralled by the myths and legends explained by our guide about Siam, Buddha and Ramayana. The tour was really awesome and cannot be missed if you are ever in Bangkok!

The legend of Ramayana is hand-painted 

in detail on a 100-foot mural

The walls covered in ancient Chinese ceramics

There is so much to tell about our trip, but I will write more in my next posting. Meanwhile, I hope Hasanah, Hajar, Thony, Azim & Azmin had a good time in Bangkok with us as we did with them :-)

Sawadee Kap (^_^)

An Afternoon at Spa Village Malacca

Strictly following Doctor's orders (so I keep telling myself!), I made a reservation for Buttercup (my dearie sista) & me to have a de-stressing body massage at the Spa Village, Malacca. We have never been there before, but we thought that we deserve to reward ourselves after working so hard the past few months. And what an amazing experience we had this afternoon!

The Spa Village, Malacca is situated within the Majestic Hotel, a 5-star boutique hotel which was recently refurbished from an old mansion built in the 1920s. As we walked into the hotel for our afternoon of indulgence, we accidentally bumped into my client (who is one of the owners of the Hotel) and his wife at the lobby. We were informed that they came down from KL as the Hotel is receiving an award for the best boutique hotel in Malaysia - and we were not surprised. The place is so elegant & posh, & yet warm & inviting, with very friendly & accommodating staffs, all ready to serve you. We were then shown our way to the Spa.

The Relaxation Room - memang oh-so-relaxing!

We were immediately pampered from the moment we stepped into the Spa. In the Relaxation Room, we were seated on Balinese Day Beds facing the swimming pool, & a young lady served us mandarin oranges with water and ice-cool face towels. We then changed at the luxurious changing room & were brought to the hair treatment room. While our hair was being washed with fresh lime water, we watched P.Ramlee music videos from a screen placed right above us on the ceiling! What a clever idea! At the end of the treatment, they combed our hair with a wooden comb (which they gave us to take home later) & put fresh jasmine flowers in our hair (can you beat this!). I already felt so pampered & de-stressed by this time. But this was only the beginning..

After serving us some fresh hot ginger tea, we were brought to the massage room. The ambience was so cosy. The fragrance from the aromatherapy oil was so lovely I felt like sleeping as soon as I laid down on the massage bed. The masseurs assigned to us were 2 young Balinese ladies who spoke immaculate English. They may look small & slender, but their hands were strong & firm! The massage was too wonderful for words - let's just say that the painful knot behind my neck is totally gone & my tense shoulders are now no more. Sigh... So relaxing... 

One hour was over too soon. Where did the time go? As we changed back into our clothes, we made a promise to come back & bring our other half along. This indulgence is a MUST for every person after working such long hours - day in, day out... Once in a while everyone deserves to be pampered like so.

As we went to the counter to settle the bill, we were given the BEST surprise of all: Our whole wonderful experience was complimentary of my client!! YAAAYY!! Had a Great time & for Free!! It's too good to be true!! Buttercup & I celebrated this by having a nice little high tea at the hotel, complete with scones & clotted cream :-)

I highly recommend the Spa Village to everyone. I am totally de-stressed & ready to go out there to conquer the world! Heehee.. (^_^)