Pretty, Polished Nail

It was last week a day before Eid Ul Adha. I took an early leave because my boss is on leave too. So Why not, relax at home (yeah, right!? what's with the cleaning and organizing.), spending some quality time with Fatini, wake up at 6 not 5am.. The thing is Fadzil still went to work that morning, and I prefer it that way.

I finished cleaning up the house, gave a final touch to the kids `baju kurung` that I sew the night before, take a shower and went to Alamanda for my appointment.

What appointment?

Well, I don't know about you guys, but I loved getting my nails done. Especially pedicure for my foot. With my belly getting bigger, it's really hard to get your toes and feet done. Manicure for my hands? Well, I just loved seeing it neatly trimmed and buffed. But my focus is mostly pedicure. Since I got pregnant, my feet, and heels are getting really dry that they started to cracked. I hate it. What's with all the dry skin that sticks to my skirt when they touch each other. I don't dare to rub my feet to Fadzil's, afraid that he might say something about it. I know, because I don't like it if he did the same thing to me.

what you will see before you stepped in.

 bigger Nail Parlour

So where did I go for to solve my problems? it's The Nail Parlour. Ever since it was opened, I am a regular customer. They just re-opened with a bigger place and more station to serve their customers.

I took Fatini along as I promised her before. After her exams, she and I can go out on a mommy and daughter day out. She chose to tag along to The Nail Parlour to get her nail done too.

The new place is huge and prettier. I loved the colour and lighting they used inside the shop. The pleasant feeling I usually had as soon as i entered that place making me smiled as soon as  I stepped in.

Most of the technician (that's what they called the girls that worked on your nail), are from Philippines. So, in some way I felt the familiar feelings that I had when we're staying in Dubai. When they saw us they will greet us and ask what can they do for you. I usually made an appointment before I go there to avoid the frustration of not able to get things done on the spot. People who knew me for so long they knew I always prepared earlier. Maybe it's the nature of a`secretary` or `personal assistant`.

Once you're there, you have to decide what YOU want to do. A regular manicure? Pedicure for your feet? Will you need a buffing for your nail? Besides that, they even have a menu for manicure, pedicure, the manly man service and other services in store. They carry spa products like Zen Spa, nail polish from Jessica besides their own line by their own name.

range of product available.

For my rough feet (that's embarrassing!) I chose a silken smoothing pedicure plus buffing. And Spa manicure for my hands. Mini regulars for Fatini. 

We started out with pedicure. Ah.. what a feeling! To have someone attend to you, pampered you. To really relax! 

they sanitized all station, and this add more comfort to us knowing you're getting a clean service.

trimming and cleaning the toes.

a bigger pedicure station.

I loved the pink seat with those big mirror. 

sink for you to sink-in your feet in a fragrant warm water. 

The Nail Parlour were featured in Berita Harian. 

a nice wallpaper isn't it?

 those familiar font and sign.

manicure station

It took me 2 hours to finished the whole thing. But it was a great experience, now that my `paws and claws` are well trimmed and shiny. I recommend you guys to come and enjoy the experience in The Nail Parlour. Besides Alamanda they too have other branches in Mid Valley, KLCC, Bukit Bintang and others which you can find in the web page.

Balik Kampung Fever

As I'm writing this, I was smiling at my messed up blog layout which I've been trying to re-arrange since ages ago! And because of that my writing routine also got messed up! Plus, I've been so exhausted after my chores of cooking, and cleaning.

Anyway, just ignore everything. I feel like writing now. And that's because I am so happy and counting down the days for me to..................... jeng..jeng..jeng...

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BALIK KAMPUNG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once a year this is the most awaited time and activity for us staying abroad, during summer. Why?

 My family, in a very 'skema' way.

from left-top: Farhana, Husna, Hajar and Khalilah.

left-front: ibu and bapak.

First an foremost, TINI is on summer break! 2 and a half month of long break and vacation. from end of June until September. 

And then there goes the group of 'monkeys' waiting for me at home. Awhhh...my sisters. I missed them. Their giggles and 'pot, pet, pot, pet at my mom's dining table in the kitchen. Don't get me wrong, I missed my parents too. So much! Everything in the house. The environment, the furniture, the smell.. awwhhhh...

And then the, small town of Kuala Klawang, in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan. We moved around a lot because my dad used to be a soldier. He's like a tactic trainer and everybody called him, 'Cikgu'. 'Cikgu askar!' *wink*

So, Kuala Klawang is the last place we move to before her retired. And Kuala Klawang is his hometown. Bought a land an built a house on it 15 years ago.

Okay, let's get back to the real deal. Going to back to Malaysia or more specific my 'kampung'. Right now I'm imagining the 'pasar malam' on Wednesday evening. The 'kedai cendol' we had our tea break in the afternoon. All of those are among the things that made me greet my teeth and felt the warm tears running on my cheek. Not the places really, the time I get to spend with them the whole time I am home. 

My sisters. My 4 sisters. I've known a friend in Dubai that has all sisters in her family. You know who you are. *wink* When we talk, it happened the same things. Talks and giggles like 'chipmunks' that what she said. Anyone out there, you can't blame us. We are close, really close! We barely seen each other, even when I was in Malaysia, because each of us are in boarding school, or college.

The thought of them, made my 'balik kampung fever' even worse.

Argghh... Now I started imagining my mom's newly renovated house, like.. almost a year ago. My dad's herbs garden at the back. Going to the 'dusun', looking for durian. The waterfall, Jeram Toi and Jeram Gading, my mom 'ikan keli salai masak lemak cili api'  and it's like 9 days to go.. 9 days! :( But I'll be patient. Packing the bags, and stuff. 

Did I tell you guys, that I'm going back just with my babies? Yes, the three of us. Mr. Fadzil will stay behind and go back in August just a few days before Ramadhan.

So, that's me and my fever. *wink*

Freezing the Dolphin in Musandam, Oman

Finally, Mr. Fadzil decided to take us on a trip to Musandam, Oman. I am so happy that I was smiling all day. It was postponed a few times, a things didn't go as planned. But who cares we are going!

Friday, 7.45am.

We left home at this hour and began our journey to Musandam. I was told it took around 4 hours to get there. We drove to RAK and surprisingly reached there in less than an hour. Then we drove further more for 30 minutes and arrived at the immigration to stamp our passport, pay the fees for visa and insurance. (read more..about Musandam and Dolphins)

on our way after we passed RAK

almost at the border

macam tau je orang tengok dia

After we're settled, finally it's Oman! And there's about 30km more until we reach Khasab, the place where we supposed to find a travel agent and find a dhow for the ride.

officially in Oman!

Along the way, the scenery was BEAUTIFUL! Subhanallah, is all I can say when I see it. Being a 'photo freak' now, I took out my camera, equipped with my new 18-200mm lense which can zoom further, I started shooting. I can feel the adrenalin pumping when we passed the dramatic view of the seaside road, and rocky mountains.

 after check-point

along the way

believe me, this rocky mountain road is 'bengkang bengkok'

And, finally after 3 hours drives we're in Khasab! It's not 4 hours, it's 3 hours. I didn't even notice how time flies. We passed by a Al-Maha gas station, and at the opposite of the road, there's a row of small buildings. Well, there's our travel agents. Mr.Fadzil went to check it out, while I stayed with the kids. He went to Al-Noor travel agents that provide a good package with a reasonable price, just have to wait and see how is the service.

the travel agents offices..??

He came back after 20 minutes and said, 'Okay, it's done. We have to be here at 1.15pm.' Yippee!!! I ask him which travel agent did he go, he said the 1st one. He paid Dhs150 per adult, for a half day ride, with no meal, for 4 hour. The kids are free!

kat jeti nak naik bot

the other family

photographer nak posing jugak

the best shot ever!

more dolphin

The dhow is small, but not too small, it's comfortable. A kind of low, that you almost can touch the water if you bent down at the boat edges. The advantage is, you can experience the sea, and looking at the dolphin in much clearer view. Well compare to the big high dhow, I guess we made a great choice by taking this travel agent with this dhow.

And the captain, he knows where to look for dolphins. As if it's not enough, he knew how to attract the dolphins, by whistling to them. So, the dolphins end up racing, and jumping side by side of our dhow. And other boats followed us wherever we go. That was so awesome!

Along the way, I enjoy the wind, and beautiful nature of the sea, rock and birds. Ya, Allah memang cantik sangat! We saw a small group of houses on one of the island, and he said, that's a village. There's about 10 families staying there, and the only thing that they are supplied with is electricity. The water? They have to buy it from Khasab, in mainland. I wonder how can they survive in the secluded area that is almost disconnected to the world.

Once they spotted the dolphins, my adrenalin started pumping too. I was so excited, so is Mr.Fadzil and the kids! We were like, 'aarrgghhh!!!! Dolphins! Come one, shoot it! Yeaahhh!!! I got it.' I know, I sound like a mad person, but what the heck, it's the adrenalin talking! :)

I shot, and shot! It was awesome. It is so satisfying when you review the pictures and I managed to FREEZE the dolphins, while they are jumping! I am so happy! My practice is paying, and all my hardwork resulted in all this pictures.

They stop at this one big rock where other dhows stop, for snorkeling and 'mandi-mandi'. It was magnificent! The water is green and clear. You can almost see the fish swimming around. And the boys that ride with us start jumping into the water. Yeah, I almost forgot, we ride the dhow with a group of Dubai's local family. I loved looking at them, what they do, what they wear, just to entertain myself all the way.

orang kementerian pelancongan Oman, buat show

i loved the green sea colour

after swimming

on way back to mainland

We headed back to the mainland after all the excitement. My babies were sound asleep all the way back. I bet they too had too much excitement, that they were drowned in their sleep.

more photos here

Twiligth : New Moon

 

I've contained this feeling for a very long time since I saw it. I felt like there's a hole in me until I get to see it, then the hole will be filled.

Last Friday, I couldn't contain it. I got on the site and book 3 tickets for us. Venue, Reel Cinemas at Dubai Mall. As soon as Mr. Fadzil got home from the mosque, I told him, "Let's watch Twilight!" he said, "Okay, buy the ticket then." i said, "Done it!" he smiled and said, "Ooohhh, senyap-senyap je.."

I mean, I just gotta go. Luckily the rating is PG13, so I can take Falisha. This is her 2nd movie trip. And alhamdulillah she slept the whole time.

waiting lounge at Level 4, Screen 22 Reel Cinema

 

 

Twilight: The New Moon is the 2nd installment of the saga Twilight. I plan to get the book, since the 1st installment but I always forgot about it everytime I went out. Gotta have the collections.

I am not going to tell the whole movie to you or it's going to be a spoiler for you guys. Go! Buy a ticket, and watch it! It's worth the money.

This time, Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen) is hotter then before! Even Taylor Lautner (Jacob) got 'beefier'. All the cast look more mature and better compare to the 1st movie. Bella Swan (as Tini said) played by Kristen Stewart, looks prettier and still remain sarcastic and cool.

The funny thing is, I am not the only one who obsessed with Twilight. The 4 year old Tini also as nuts as her mommy. She can watch the Twilight movie over and over and tell the story to her Babah without missing anything.

Okay just a little sneak peek. Bella recovered and so sensitive about birthday and age, as she turn 18 means 1 year older than Edward (eventhoug he's already 109 years old). Something happened at Edwards place while they're celebrating her birthday. She learned about the Volturi and the vampire's rules.

After all this scene, then Edward left and the goes Jacob.

I love the way the script was written, how Edwards speaks, and how Bella express her feelings to Alice in her emails, I don't know how to say it but it sounds very polite and pleasant.

The conclusion is, go watch it! I know I would go and watch it again, if I can.

Eid Ul Fitr in Dubai 2nd Syawal, Bukak Rumah and Atlantis

Hari ni turn umah kami buat open house. Ikutkan cam malas kononnye, tapi ramai plak yang bertanya. So buat je la. Takpe, meraikan kawan-kawan. Seronok jugak dapat berkumpul-kumpul ni. Menu... jeng...jeng..jeng... Nasi Ayam, roasted chicken tau! Lauk-lauk raya, kuah kacang, nasi himpit, rendang dan ayam bali... dan yang paling special (drum roll)... TAU FOO FA!!! Huh, penat abang pyt memerah soya. Pagi after Subuh we all start. Abang Pyt dengan tugasan memerah soya, me..? Prepare nasik ayam. Buat sos, bakar ayam pun dekat2 orang nak datang... ehh..cheh..cheh..! Saje je kan..?

Alhamdulillah by 9.45 everything dah siap, except abang pyt barulah nak terhegeh-hegeh beli asi for the drink. We expected people to come around 10.30 am. Ishh sabar je dengan suami ku ini! Luckily masa aku mandi bersiap, Falisha elok je main dengan Tini.. senyap dan yang paling penting orang lom sampai. Fuh.. what a relief!

By 11, diorg pun dah start sampai, alhamdulillah! Makan dan makan dan makan... borak dan borak dan borak... sampailah ke dessert.. wah.. semua orang suka.. sebab dapat makan Tau Foo Fa.. oklah.. semua orang happy kitaorg pun happy. After everybody left, time yo rest and clean up. Sebab malam tu ada dinner kat Atlantis.

Takde ape nak cite la, same drill.. events makan, ade competition, kitaorg masuk tapi tak menang, tumpang glamour je atas pentas. But the place oohh.. cantik! So afterwards biasa la balik, sebab En.Fadzil supposedly keje esoknye..but end up amik emergency leave. Raye.. penat la kan?

Eid Ul Fitr in Dubai, 1st Syawal

Tak kira la korang nak cakap ape pun, aku tak kisah. Aku update gak blog yang dah lama bersarang nih. Raya tahun ni celebrate kat Dubai as you all know. Tak kurang meriahnya, sebab ramai Malaysian yang tak balik.

Aku ngan Fadzil tido kul 3 pagi masak rendang, kuah kacang, nasi himpit. Tradisi kan..? So aku buat semua. Dah lama tak buat benda2 nih, so call ibunda tercinta la dulu, refer balik nak confirm betul tak cara masaknye.. resipi ade tertempek dalam kepala ni, just nak make sure cara nak melempar tu betul. Hihihi.. thanks bonda! (Tak sabar nak tunggu u all datang.)

Alhamdulillah, jadi tau rendang aku! Rendang daging + paru + limpa, aku buat negoghi sembilan nyo style. Buh cili api banyak-banyak.. laki aku kepedasan makan tapi tak mau berhenti. Hehehe.. amik ko!

Besides that masak jugak ayam balik untuk budak-budak. (macam ramai padahal Tini je, pastu babah Tini tumpang sekaki)

Aku pack lauk-lauk ni untuk di bawak berkunjung umah kengkawan. Tradisi jugak ni.

Pagi raya biasa la, pakai baju cantik, salam mintak maaf "boo, hoo!" nangis pastu terus g beraya ke Konsulat. Actually solat raya semua kat sana. Sempat jugak jumpa kengkawan, gelak-gelak, salam-salam dan borak-borak. 1st time I met Syigim in person. klu tak online jer..yay, nice meeting you Syigim.

Afterwards, posing-posing amik gamba. Ingat nak amik gamba depan rumah sebelum pegi konsulat tapi dah lambat, dah tak sempat nak posing lagi dengan Falisha yang dah makin tak reti diam. Huh! Letih sungguh.

Program diteruskan dengan jalan-jalan raya ke rumah En.Khalbi, lepas tu umah Zamzuri dan Lily, umah Wak nasrol dan Zaiy and last but not least, rumah En.Nizar (boss abang pyt). Letihnya. Tanpa membuang masa lepas raya umah diorg ni balik le umah sendiri, solat pastu semua pengsan depan TV tak sedar apa. Kena rehat, sebb budak-budak dah penat dan malam tu nak pegi rumah En.Amran dan Fida.

Hmm.. camtulah gamaknya raya kitaorg kat sini. Meriah jugakkan? Rindu jugak dengan semua orang kat Malaysia, tapi takpe tahun depan kitaorg balik cuma tak sure la balik raya atau tidak.

Ok, ciao!

Kena Tinggal Kat Petronas Tangkak

salam all,

Lama tul tak tulis blog since balik malaysia. I'm still in Malaysia, this weekend 25th baru naik flight balik.. huhu..

Nak jadi cerita hari ni, tadi pagi masa breakfast kat rumah cik yong kat tangkak... (kitaorg g tangkak semalam) cerita la pasal tertinggal bas la, salah naik bas la, tak amik tiket kat tol la dan macam2 pengalaman lucu we all le kononnye.

Dalam kul 10 lebih, kami bertolak pulang sebab ade kenduri kat kampung nak attend. Bapak stop kat Petronas Tangkak yang dekat dengan Jalan Naib Long tu. Bapak keluar katenye nak pam tayar. Oklah, I saw the maybank ATM kat dalam kedai tu, so cakap ngan ibu "Along nak pegi draw duit jap." tanpa sebarang syak wasangka, aku keluar dari kereta. Tengah2 bayar air lepas draw duit tu, aku perasan bapak aku alihkan kereta (sangkaan ku..) alih2 aku nampak kereta bapak aku terus je keluar meninggalkan stesen Petronas dengan aku yang masih beratur nak bayar air yang aku beli. Ya allah.! Rasenye korang bole agak kenapa kan?

Dengan muka tak malunye aku tanye budak kedai tu bole tak aku nak pakai tipon. Dia kate ok. Nak jadi cerita agi, aku tertinggal handbag dalam kete. So, no handphone. Aku bawak purse je, memandangkan nk kuar duit je kononnye. Aku call berkali2, ibu aku tak angkat. Sah! Tido ibu aku ni. Aku memang nak nangis, tapi aku tahan je. Adalah 10 minit aku mendail, mak aku jawab handphone. Barulah diorg perasan aku tak ade kat belakang.

Tak sanggup nak menanggung malu, aku jalan kaki g bus stop yang tak jauh dari Petronas tu. Tiba2 aku rase mcm nak migrain lagi. Dahla sebelum tu dah 2 hari aku migrain, baru baik. Adoi.. camno la diorg ni boleh tak perasan??!!

Dalam 1/2 jam lepas tu, diorg sampai. Ibu aku gelak nampak aku terkedek2 jalan ke arah kereta. Jadi bahan ketawa. Aku yang nak nangis ni pun tak jadi nangis. Nasib le Falisha dah kenyang menyusu pastu tido, klu tak... lagi haru.

Ibu aku cerita, masa dalam kereta Tini nangis agak kuat le sampai bapak aku tanya ibu aku yang tertidur itu kenapa dengan Tini. Tanpa menoleh ke belakang, ibu hulur tisu sambil tu dia cakap, "Apa lagi anak ko tu Long?" Pastu tipon bunyi, ibu angkat tipon tu tiba2 dia dengar suara aku dalam tu, "Ibu, bapak tinggal Along.." barulah ibu ngan bapak aku perasan aku tak ada kat belakang. Barulah ibu aku tau yang Tini nangis sebb Ummi tak ada. Masa aku call tu, ibu ngan bapak ade lagi 2 km before exit Jasin, klu tak kena tunggu la Ayer Keroh...

Haru.. haru.. masa aku nak nikah dulu, Ibu aku pernah gak tertinggal adik bongsu aku kat Petronas Kuala Klawang ni... Ni aku plak kena selepas hantar adik aku tu balik ke Matriks Tangkak... hehehe..

p.s. masa tunggu ibu aku sampai, aku terus teringat filem Little Miss Sunshine. Budak tu kan kena tinggal kat petrol pump jugak kan?

Samad Iraqi Restaurant

Jumaat baru-baru ni.. as usual weekend sehari untuk hubby. Rutin, sejak aku start masak untuk orang ni, dah lain. Pagi-pagi hubby kuar dalam 6 pagi pergi Fish Market kat Shindaga Tunnel. Beli lauk untuk menu this week. Aku..? Aku sejak dah ade baby mcm mana nak pegi? Dengan panasnye summer.. hari tu sekali aku pegi, tinggalkan Falisha dalam kereta dengan en.Fadzil, die punye nangis sebab tak mau duduk dalam kete.. haru! So hubby decide, die je pegi sendiri every Friday early morning. That afternoon, dapat call dr member hubby si Zamzuri, tanya jadi tak nk join dinner kat kedai ikan bakar. Kitaorg ok je. So janji malam tu jumpe pukul 9. Kami pun nak pergi Karama dulu nak cari travelling bags, sebab me and the kids will stay for more than a months kat kampung, hubby plak balik dulu sebab cuti tak lama.

Sampai-sampai, diorg tak sampai lagi. So tunggu la. This place, is located in Murraqabat street, Deira, Dubai. Diorang serve Iraqi cuisine plus other Arabic and Mediteranean Cuisine. Sampai2 je, diorg akan serve roti nan, panas-panas! Plus dengan sup kentang yang dicampur sayur-sayuran. Sedap sangat! And the main dish, objektif utama kami datang ke situ, ialah untuk makan ikan bakar. Sedap giler! Ikan seekor, average 3 kg. Bole makan 4-5 orang seekor. Besarnya ikan tu, lebih kurang 7 tapak tangan. Sebab ikan tu dah dibelah, bukak before die bakar. Panas2, kitaorg serang ikan tu. Kami 8 orang, 2 ekor ikan. Lepak kat kedai tu sampai almost 12, dan meja kamilah yang paling meriah. Huhuhuh..

Alhamdulillah, dari petang kul 6 kami keluar, Falisha tidur dengan lenanya sampai lah kami balik, baru dia bangun. Alhamdulillah, baik anak Ummi kan. Memang penuh perut. Makan roti, ikan lagi. Sup dia lah yang paling sedap.. tak tergambar sedapnya. Balik tu.. memang tak tahan mengantuknye mata.. mana taknya licin makan ikan tu.. perut kenyangkan? Anyway, I recommend this restaurant to you guys. Pergilah.. selesa pun nak bawak budak2, hiasan dalam die ala2 traditional Iraqi.. plus, waiter handsome! Trylah!

aMong My laSt weeKend beFore tHe tiMe... (part 3)

Tak tau la camne nak start. As usual la.. hari ni Jumaat.. weekend kat UAE ni. Pagi-pagi aku bangun, cam biasa la tanye laki aku nk breakfast ape. Dia kate kalau ade ubi goreng bestnyer. Aku baru teringat aku ad ebeli ubi hari tu. Ape lagi, kupas ubi potong-potong, tumbukan bawang merah dan putih, ketumbar, jintan, serbuk kunyit, garam. Gaul semua, goreng! Bestnya! Lama tak makan. bezanya tak ada sambal kicap. Sos cili pun jalan la.. janji sodap!

Pastu vacuum umah, laki aku la amik tender ujung minggu. Lagi-lagi aku dah sarat ni. Aku melayan anak dara aku la, ape lagi. Lepas tu, aku check online filem "Race To The Witch Mountain" dah keluar. Kitaorg plan g picnic petang tu. Oklah, aku book online, tgk kat Festival Center kul 2.30ptg. Aku nak tengok wayang sakan sebelum beranak ni. Jalan sakan. Due aku tak berape hari lagi. Tunggu jer la.. Habis movie, laki aku bawak la kami ke Jumeirah Open Beach.. best gak, angin plak sejuk giler dalam 20 degrees. Aku jalan la kaki ayam sepanjang pantai tu, sebab tak bawak selipar. Anak aku suke jer. Ikut dia nk masuk main dalam air tu. Aku tak bagi. Air tu sejuk giler, tak pasal-pasal demam lagi nnti. Masa summer nanti bole klu nk main air. Ni still lagi spring, giler! Sejuk weh!

Kul 6, orang pun dah beransur pulang. Sebab dah nak magrib. Magrib kul 6.30 gitu. So kitaorg pun kena la balik. Oklah, nnti aku pos lagi klu aku tak beranak lagi k?

Chow!

Aku tak larat, duduk la tepi

hah, masuk lah..

ape lah keje korang ni?