Machika flies home! We will miss you!

After a year as an exchange student in Malaysia, it was time for Machika to return to Tokyo.

We met up with Machika and her host from the Rotary Club of Temerloh at KLIA.

She over packed by 10kg and was asked to pay RM400 for the extra load, luckily the ground crew allowed an additional load of 5kg with no additional charges after some persuasion. The rest will be couriered to her.

We had an hour with Machika before her flight

Machika's fully decorated blazer from exchange students around the world.

JY putting graffiti on Machika's t-shirt

Fai's turn

Han got her sleeve

Ean wanted a final smooch

Apart from speaking fluently in English, Machika can now speak a little Malay and Tamil as well as sing Tamil songs. She said it took her a month to adapt to the food in Malaysia, purging daily but now, she can yell "teh o limau, tosai satu" with the best of us. She simply loves mutton curry and teh tarik and was horrified to learn that it contained 100 calories.

She was always ready with a smile, eager to learn and was just wonderful to be with.

Han waving Machika off at the gate.

Goodbye!

Cheng Ho Cultural Museum @Melaka 9thJune2011

A bust of Admiral Cheng Ho greeted us as we entered the front door.

We were rather late - 30 minutes to closing time but the guide graciously said he would be able to take us on a whirlwind tour of the museum.

Our guide pointing out some interesting facts about Cheng Ho's birth place in Uzbekistan.

Bronze gongs with chinese motifs.

Rice mill. We couldn't believe how smooth and easy it was to turn the grinder.

We liked the rainforest atmosphere in this alley

Diorama of Cheng Ho's fleet of over 300 ships in Flying Swallow formation. What a formidable sight it must have been with a crew of 28000 as they sailed the Western Ocean.

Chinese drums were used to communicate between the ships during voyages. The boys were allowed to beat the drums to hear the loud sound it emitted.

An ancient map detailing the routes that Admiral Cheng Ho took around the globe.

30 minutes was not enough to fully appreciate this museum that is housed in what is thought to be a warehouse set up by Cheng Ho himself.

I found it interesting the way Cheng Ho went to different continents with gifts from China such as silk and porcelain promoting goodwill and that Cheng Ho's voyages preceded Colombus and Vasco de Gama by 60 years.

Read more about Cheng Ho's voyages here.

Weaving with Nipah leaves @ Pulau Carey 11thJune2011

After lunch at a riverside restaurant, we headed back to the village for a session on weaving. While waiting for the lesson to begin, the kids had some fun time teasing the cats with nipah fronds.

Not all the adults joined the weaving session, most of the fathers made a beeline for the woodcarving bench, intent on finishing off their project.

Weaving a bird from Nipah fronds is harder than it looks. Loops to make and pushing the leaves to the left and over the top and then folding over....and you have a bird!

The midrib of the leaf was removed and was later used as a holder for the bird.

Getting pointers on how to make a loop.

JY couldn't figure out how anyone can come up with such intricate steps.

Fai joined in when he saw the other kids playing with their woven fish and birds.

A wonderful learning experience with the Orang Asli for the kids and parents alike.

Woodcarving with Orang Asli @ Pulau Carey 11thJune2011

We were at Carey Island for a woodcarving workshop with Encik Kemi, an Orang Asli of the Mah Meri tribe.

The workshop was held in a wheelchair accessible site.

Couldn't help but admire the very nice woodwork

Check out the carving on the post. The younger kids who didn't participate in the workshop spent most of their time there running up wooden stairs, down ramps and petting cats.

Stack of wood, mallet, carving tools and sandpaper were prepared for us.

Encik Kemi showing how it is done.

It was a unique opportunity for parents to bond with their kids over carving tools. It was heartwarming to see parent and child learning a new skill together, bent in concentration as they tried their hand at woodcarving.

One of my favourites....Ultraman!

When all the other kids lost interest and fled the workbench, only this 7 year old stayed on to finish her plaque.

Parents and teenagers at work. At the far end is the tenacious 7 year old getting a helping hand from her mom.

At the end of the day, with a short break for lunch, these are some of the masterpieces.

Machika's self-carved momento. She had taken up woodcarving in school.

It seems that the extracurricular activities in her school in Tokyo range from shiatsu and ballet to baking.

Ean using a mallet and chisel.

To arrange for a woodcarving workshop, call En Samri 013-228 6045. Charges are RM15/pax inclusive of materials.

Klinik Pergigian @ Pasir Panjang

It has been over a year since a visit to the dentist and the nearest dentist is the Klinik Pergigian in Pasir Panjang.

Parking was a breeze under shady trees. Not a soul was in sight.

The dental clinic was on the 1st floor. We were the only ones there. After registering the kids with some awkward moments when they asked what school they were in - we said we had just moved to PD and had yet to register the kids in any school. We will find out how they take to homeschooling in our next visit.
A senior citizen came after us and she was attended to before us. We didn't make the list of 'priority' patients.

The waiting room was decorated in cheerful tones and a tv showing Spongebob dubbed in Malay.

We didn't have to wait long.

Price list for dental procedures.

The staff nurse that attended to the kids was patient and clearly experienced in handling kids. The boys were put at ease immediately by her calm demeanor.

We later found out that the dental team will go on school rounds on tuesdays, hence they seldom see school kids at the clinic.

JY had her teeth scaled. Han and Fai had cavities filled in. Ean was adviced not to brush with toothpaste as the fluoride content has corroded his teeth.

When I went to the counter to make payment, I was told that schoolkids were free of charge. What would have normally set me back by at least RM200, was free, how delightful. Staying in the outskirts of town does seem to have some advantages.

Buffaloes!

On our way to Melaka, we were faced with a four legged traffic stopper.

We waited patiently till the herd crossed the road to greener pastures,

Vegetable Patch

Can't wait for homegrown vegetables and herbs.

JY, Machika and Swathy helping to plant sweet potato stalks that were given by PohPoh.

In a week, leaves were sprouting from the stalks.

Sprouting sweetcorn.

Fai helped to plant sweetcorn into 2 rows.

We now have pumpkin, chilli padi, okra, basil, mint, four angle bean growing.

We have also started to compost our vegetable and fruit peels and have been using soot from our nightly bonfire to fertilise the soil.