PD with Kapar Kidz 19th March2011

We were in PD for the RC PD-RC Metro KL joint annual project. This project has brought many underprivileged kids from various organisations to PD for the past 11 years. Many of these kids had never been to a beach. This year 40 kids from Friends of Kapar came in two busloads for a day of fun.

After a quick breakfast, the kids were taken to the PD Army Museum. What a surprise it was when we saw that there was an exhibition being held and the booths were manned by burly soldiers who were courteous, friendly and very eager to share their knowledge. What more, we could go for a joy ride on an amoured personnel carrier for RM1. What a treat!

Here a soldier explains the different uses of plants found in the jungle. I never knew 'lallang' had useful properties!

The jungle awareness section was an eye-opener with animal traps, a smoked monkey and live animals in cages.

After the museum, it was lunch at The Royal Yacht Club. The kids were treated to a vegetarian spread and ice cream for dessert.

Then it was off to the beach for some fun and games organised by the Interact Club of PD High School.

Friends of Kapar is co-founded and coordinated by Hajjah Ainie.

After lunch, the table of Rotarians, some of them standing, their spouses and children, were enraptured as Hajjah Ainie spoke of her passion in making a difference in the lives of the needy.

She said that as long as she makes a difference in one person's life, she is satisfied. Hajjah Ainie felt that we do not know how many days we have on earth. And she wants no regrets.

She says without the help of her husband and daughter, who were present, she would not have been able to achieve what she had set out to do.

I had missed out on most of the conversation, so I had to find out more from Charu, AG Bharat's lovely wife.

Charu filled me in on how Hajjah Ainie would personally visit the families homes and interview the members before extending her help. She also told of how resourceful Hajjah Ainie was in getting 90 bars of soap from the donation of 90 of her daughter's school friends.

Later that day, JY told me she was amazed when Hajjah Ainie said that she needed only RM100 to feed 10 families for 10 days. That's RM10/family.

Truly an amazing woman.

And Charu added"If you want to do it, you will find a way. You will and you can"

A day of inspiration.

Museum Orang Asli 10March2011

Would I be too ambitious to attempt building this during the September camp in Earth Camp?
The camp in Earth camp is on! JY and I are very excited about it and I am now thinking of activities to slot in for the younger kids who can't go white water rafting with the teenagers.
Bamboo art, musical instruments from bamboo, weaving....so many ideas from this museum.

At last Fai got to hear the tale of Harimau Berantai again.

From this roughly hewn log to this work of art.

Products from the jungle.

Many of which we came across in handicraft shops in Miri. It is uncanny how the Orang Asli crafts in Sarawak and in Peninsular Malaysia are so similar, such as the woven mats and baskets.

Putrajaya through the lens of a 2year old 17March2011

Balding patch

The world is round

My feet in sandals.

Shadow and light, Bridge and lake, Sidewalk and wall

Coconut

Goodbye!

Hotair Balloon @ Putrajaya 17thMarch2011

We missed out on the hotair balloons last year because of a thunderstorm. The moment I heard that the Hotair balloons were back, I knew that I had to make an early trip to Putrajaya.

We departed the house at 6am and arrived in time to see a big group of people rushing to a destination known only them. Dear hubby stopped the car and told us to join in the race while he finds a suitable parking spot.

It seems that those people in the race had been queueing for the tethered rides at the wrong spot since 4.30am.

We joined the queue- at the right spot.

And we were given these queue numbers. We were 78th in line at 7am.
The queue at 8am.

The ticketing staff were efficient and we got through rather quickly. The only hitch being, Ean didn't look tall enough for the ride. When measured against the table, he was a good 2inches above, so they gave him a ticket with a warning - he can't be carried.

One of the more interesting balloons.

It was a lovely sight, seeing all the colourful hotair balloons in the morning sky. One by one they lifted off and hovered over the lake before heading beyond the horizon.

Upside-down hotair balloon.

We watched our hotair balloon being set up. A huge fan was used to inflate the balloon. Once it is of good size, the LPG flame will be switched on. Flooof! Floooof! We could feel the heat from afar.

The two hotair balloons for the tethered rides.

Only 2 adults were allowed at any one time, children can accompany their parents.

Flooooff!

The heat was intense and JY said her brain got cooked and her hair scorched by the flames.

Fai and Han's facial expression after their rides expressed such exhilaration and pure happiness that it made the long drive and 2 hour wait worthwhile.

Hello, down there!

Try spotting JY, Fai and Swathy.

Han and Ean went for the ride with me. Han got the second ride FOC because he started fussing and refused to let me get into the basket. Han, my protector :)

There were little peek holes around the wicker basket for the little ones to peep through.

Han didn't like the sound of the burner and crouched down throughout the ride. Ean was pretty calm at first but got agitated when his older brother started dashing around the basket and making panicky sounds.
All the hotair balloons were deflated by 11am. So if you are planning on catching the event be there early. More details at the myballoonfiesta website.

Fai's Art at Mulu March2011

Che-che's Birthday.
Note the long legs. The 4 knights under the table are Fai, Han, Ean and Arian.

Evolution
From left, tiny plankton-like lives in water evolving into a bigger creature with wings and appendages. Further evolving with increase in size until the highly evolved creature is formed (top right) .

A hairy giant?

Art at Mulu March2011

Ean has started drawing. Mostly scribbles and circles.

Han has progressed from scribbles and circles to 2-headed warriors and knights seemingly overnight.

Han's array of swords.

Han giving a narration on his drawing.

Day 5 with Machika 14March2011

School holiday crowd on the ice. Try spotting JY, Machika and Am.
Machika mentioned that she was an ace on the ice and that her hobbies are singing and dancing. And hiphop was the dance she was in to.
I immediately thought of Sam. After some deft sms thumbing skills, we had a plan! I would take WL's girls ice skating and leave the boys at her house and then head to Sam's hiphop class after dinner.
Machika felt the rink was rather crowded and she wasn't used to having so many spectators. Skating rates in Tokyo is RM50/entry compared to RM13 in SPyramid.

While waiting for the girls I had my cuppa and a slice of cheesecake. Ean let me have some 'me' time by having his afternoon nap.

The boys at WL's, mothering Sam's little kittens. The kittens survived the day.

Machika in Sam's hiphop class.

The boys getting an eyeful as the ladies practiced 'Girls' Dance'
A very feminine dance with lots of swaying of hips and twirling of arms with 'Burlesque' booming in the background. The boys roared with laughter.

Han's art time

Fai, Han and Arian having an art session. Ean enticing Am to play ball with him.

Ean: What's that?
Arian: Hrmmmphhhh
Ean: Heeeeheeeeeheeee
**repeated countless times**

Arian was a great sport.

Fai and Han's first snow ice at 100Yen. They loved it and asked for seconds. Thanks for the treat WL :)

Sam and Machika showing their moves.