JY the Speed Demon

Free go-cart! We were eager for an evening of zooming around the racing circuit.

The drivers being told that there was to be no racing, no crashing into the barriers and they were only allowed 3 laps.
Fai and Han did not get to go on the free rides as their legs could not reach the paddles.

That fuzzy image is JY zooming off at full speed. She turned corners at top speed with tires screeching. DH says she has talent. I think she should only allowed to drive when she turns 40.

She got off the cart and complained about the driver in front of her that was too slow and she was impatient to overtake. Gosh!

Campfire snack

We had a fire going and the wood were smoldering, just nice for a barbecue. Han must have read my mind as he asked for some food, any food to cook on the fire. The only thing I could offer him was chicken soup out of a can. Han said it was acceptable.

So a pot of chicken soup was placed on the fire.

The boys brought out their books and had a discussion on superheroes while waiting for the soup to be done.

After a couple of minutes, it was supper time - a bowl of steaming hot soup. Ean made roti prata in the kitchen and that got dunked into the soup.

Kebun @ Karak with Homeschoolers

It was a lovely morning as we departed PD. We gave ourselves 2 hours to reach Karak using the Kuala Pilah - Karak way. A route that we had never used before.

We had underestimated the road. It was a very picturesque journey but the hairpin bends along the Temelong stretch was hazardous. However, we were just in time to see durians being collected in Temelong and had a good time sniffing the wonderful aroma...aaaaaah!

We were late by and hour and a half.

Luckily, homeschooling father who had been into the farm a few years back was there to do a headcount.

Pohpoh and Kongkong led the group into their farm.

We were famished when we arrived at Karak and had a bit of kaya toast and butter with good, strong coffee. Thick slabs of Tatura butter between freshly toasted bread with a dollop of kaya. Just heavenly!

Another hs mom, her girls and her father arrived about the same time and followed us in.

We were in time to see a wheelbarrow being pushed out. The other families were already in the thick of the action.

This mangosteen tree just didn't want to grow up and has remained 3feet high for years.
To look for mangosteens, you would have to lift up its leaves and peer underneath. A good tree for the kids to experience harvesting firsthand, as they are the ones who can crawl under and look for ripe purple fruits.

There's nothing like freshly harvested fruits.

Looking for more mangosteens

Durians.

Durians that had fallen and not picked were eaten by wild boars. Lots of empty husks were spotted under the trees.

While waiting for lunch, the kids played together. We had a sumptuous meal. A big thank you to all.

Washing up after a hearty meal.

Durians waiting to be eaten.

Durian time!

Tom wanted his share too.

Ean got to feed the tilapia.

Pomelo

The nature table with pickings from around the farm.

Looking for rambutans

Using a cutter on a pole is hard work. Spot Fai on the tree.

Lots of teamwork was required.

I, on the other hand, was busy enjoying the fruits of their labor.

Fai still on the tree.
Fai missed Kebun and the moment he alighted from the car, he was all over the dogs and then feeding the fish by the pond, and going around the farm looking for fruits. It looks like I need to spend more time here.

Kebun has been sadly neglected lately, as my parents starting helping out in my brother's banana/watermelon/pumpkin farm. Most of the fruit trees went on strike and didn't fruit. Not a single langsat and yellow rambutan was to be seen. Obviously, the fruit trees feel neglected and need some pampering if we want them to fruit next season.

Picking rambutans that fell to the ground

Singing session. Han and Ean enjoyed it very much. Han and Ean didn't want to step foot outside the house and was happy to stay indoors. Most of the younger kids didn't like the hot sun, the poky grass and curious dogs.

Han looking on as the girls played a hand game

Lost and Found. Bottles washed and air dried. Shirt washed, dried and folded.

Now the tricky part of meeting up with their owners.

Make your own rainbow and rubberball @PSN

JY, Fai and Han headed down to the 2nd floor of PSN for their workshop on animation.

Ean stayed with me.

DH spent his time in the library, he said he wanted to do some research on the beach and tide.

A splash of colours awaited us in the lab.

He couldn't wait to get started and started fiddling with the test-tubes.

Out two activities for the day - Make our own rainbow and rubber ball. We had done both before during PSN's Science Day but no harm in some repitition.

The worksheet.

Each colour was of a different density. Red had highest density and purple lowest.

Test tube had to be tilted and the solution dripped in slowly to avoid mixture of colours.

Lots of help was given - with a smile. The lab staff were fabulous. Patient and friendly, they even babysat for a while so that a mommy could assist her 2 older children.

Our rainbow in a test tube.

The 2 little girls seated next to me were very curious and asked if the colours could be put in in reverse order, as in from purple to red instead and the answer was YES!
So they tried it out but it was more difficult and the resultant solution turned black -a storm was made they were told. No rainbow :)

The 8year old and 5 year old handled themselves very independently while their mom cared for their baby brother.

Rubber ball was made using white PVA Elmer's glue, water, borax and food colouring

water was added to the glue and stirred.

Then add a bit of food colouring

Add borax and stir till a sticky lump is formed.

Remove the lump. Squeeze and roll into a ball.

Bouncy balls.

The kids had a variety of colours. After the session, they went around and exchanged bits of their balls with others the get a multicoloured ball.
A very fun session indeed.
Thank you Pn Maznah and the rest of your team for making learning science fun.

News from the teenagers doing Animation was not so encouraging.
They found the session too simple as they were taught stop motion. Something the teens had already done themselves - at a higher level.
JY was bored stiff and the other teens dryly commented that they won't attend another PSN workshop again.
However, Fai said he had a good time. So I guess the lesson must have been pitched for his level.
JY said she thought that the programmes would get progressively harder not conversely.
Looks like a serious discussion must be had with the PSN staff in charge of this.

Ice Cream factory visit

Photo by Ean

It was a hot Wednesday afternoon and it cheered the kids up that they were going to an ice cream factory. They couldn't wait to sink their teeth into some chocolaty creamy ice cream.
It was nice to see familiar faces and a group of happy kids playing while waiting for the programme to begin.
This visit was made possible because a homeschooling 7 year old who wanted to visit an ice cream factory, so her mom organised the trip.

DH caught up with 2 homeschooling fathers who were his schoolmates and that got him into inviting them to my parents' farm - an event that had been pending.

I caught up with a hs mom and plans to PD were made. Events such as these are great for future plans :)

We were treated to a presentation on the icy products that were available and the processes in ice cream making.

Fai saw the section on hygiene and was worried that he had to go through the vigorous routine before the factory tour. Luckily we were told that access into the factory was strictly forbidded and he let out a sigh of relief.

A brief look through a glass panel tour and our guide pointing out what she had shown in her video presentation earlier followed.

The kids were eager for the last bit, ice cream sampling.
Little cups of ice cream in 3 flavours - strawberry, chocolate or vanilla were served.

I found it a treat. The ice cream was nice, cold and refreshing.

Han and Ean wolfed down 3 cups each. They must have liked it too.
But JY and Fai thought otherwise.
Fai came up to me and said that the ice cream tasted like fondant.
In the car, JY commented that she tasted nothing but vegetable shortening.

It was my first factory visit that I had to pay for and I expected more. If you are keen on seeing food processing, I would suggest Gardenia or Vitagen or Boh tea factory. All of which are free.

fruits and veg

Nangka ripening on the tree. Wait for its distinctive aroma to waft out which signifies that it ready to be eaten.

Freshly cut nangka.
Nangka leaves sticky white sap on the knife as it is cut. It is advisable to coat a layer of cooking oil on the knife, so that the sap can be removed easily later.

Watermelon.

My compost heap is overrun by melons grown from seeds that had been thrown in with its peel.

Pumpkin

Old cucumber.

The plight of the Orang Asal

It was supposed to be a brief talk about water issues faced by the Orang Asal (we were told they preferred being referred to as Orang Asal rather than Orang Asli), the talk went on the discuss other issues that were faced by them from contaminated water sources, sanitation issues arising from that, deforestation and encroachment and lots more...

The talk was given by a vivacious lawyer, Siti, who does pro bono work for the OAs.

JY who would usually doodle the 1 hour away during her father's Rotary meetings was all ears, mostly due to the passion that exuded from the brilliant speaker.

A series of photos were shown and some of the images evoked very strong emotions.

Suggestions from rainwater harvesting to health clinics were brought up.

In the carpark, DH was presented with a traditional headgear.

One of the OA who came along for the talk showed us his woven bracelet that cannot be removed as it was weaved directly onto his wrist. It took 2 hours.

Another bracelet, this made of seeds.

JY asked Siti for another talk, a more indepth one and was instead invited to tag along with their group of volunteers into the OA village.