An experience at Pulai Desaru

We made our way to Changi Ferry Terminal to catch our 10am ferry.The terminal was a pathetic place.It seems as if no one was there.Even the security post lacked a guard.It was a far cry from Tanah Merah Terminal.There were no food or titbits available for us to buy so it was fortunate that we had stopped by McDonald's to grab some fish fillets.We wondered how the people who worked there survived at such a BORING place.


My son who can hardly sit still at the terminal before embarkation.

There were barely twenty people on board the ferry.The journey took us by surprise as it took only 20 minutes to get to Belungkor Terminal.We reached the hotel way before noon but there was no available room until 2.30pm so hubby and the little one hit the pool before we went for lunch.

Splashing in the pool!

The ambience and menu at the hotel's restaurant didn't tempt us at all,so lunch was a 5-10 minutes drive from the hotel.We had to pay RM24 for a return trip.We filled our rumbling tummies at this place called 'Din's Corner'.It was just rice with your own choices of side dishes....it was okay I guess.Total cost was RM12,including drinks.What was really nice was the 'tapai'....which is actually fermented cassava.It was very nice-white and smooth with the right amount of sourish taste.It cost only RM2 for a tub (super cheap!).Hubby promised to get a few on Monday before we head home : )

We managed to check in our room when we got back from lunch.The room was spacious with a king-size bed....the bathroom had a clean bathtub,a separate shower and vanity areas.I was happy with these but the rest was abysmal.We could feel grains of sand in the carpet and the balcony,well sucks!It was suicide to open the sliding doors to the balcony....the dangerous-looking grilles,all rusty and eroding,made it impossible for us to be at the balcony.

The little one exploring the room.

As dark clouds loomed above and both hubby and baby were yawning away,we crashed onto the king-size bed and slept the afternoon away (this was hubby's idea of a good holiday-catch up on sleep!).

Dinner was a 30 minutes drive in which we had to fork out an exorbitant amount of RM110 for a return transfer.Hubby was lamenting that he should have had our car here.It was probably cheaper and more convenient to get around to different places.

Anyway,we had great seafood at Jade Garden,Sungai Rengit.We had grouper,baby squid,crabs and lobsters.Yumm!My darling son was eating rather well.He scouped up his rice with baby squid and fish and had a good fill,before running off to say hi to some lobsters.....

The next day,after Subuh,I woke up to find that it was already 9.10am!My baby girl was kicking inside me,wanting some food.Hubby and I rushed to get ready for breakfast as it would end at 10.In the midst of rushing to put on my hijab,I slipped and fell!Ouch!Before anyone panics,I'm fine,not to worry!I fell on my knees so now I have two bruises there : ( After that,I have learnt to be more careful,especially when I was stepping on the tiles.

Breakfast was as abysmal.I noticed a mountainful of nasi dagang that no one bothered to take so I can only imagine how that tasted.It was to the beach and pool later....

We didn't spend a lot of time at the beach.It was definitely not as gorgeous or as safe as at Bintan Lagoon Resort.The waves were unpredictable,sometimes lapping high and scare our baby (even me!).The grains of sand were not as soft and clean as at Bintan's too.After dipping in the waters,the three of us spent copious amount of time in the bathtub together!hah!

All in all,hubby and I agreed that this was the first and last that we are going to Pulai Desaru Beach Resort....and Desaru,for that matter.Though it wasn't as fantastic as when we were at Bintan Resort,we definitely had precious,quality time spent together.We laughed off all the things that were abominable and focus on getting the best out of probably our last trip before second baby!


Fun with his daddy!More pics at Multiply.

P.S.Thanks for the fun time,sweetheart : )

Sweet Pink Or Baby Blue?

I had my detailed scan at 8pm and as always,we were anxious to know if our baby would want to show us its gender.When my gynae asked us to see it for ourselves,my heart was thumping!Did I see it right?

Hmmm......so,would my baby be wrapped in a sweet pink or baby blue blanket when she/he is born??

I did see it right!Between its thighs,well,I didn't see anything 'protruding'.Hahaha.So,my baby's a girl!!!I'm delighted...and so is hubby!We are most happy to know that our baby girl is healthy and doing well,alhamdulillah : ) And so my shopping spree for baby girl's clothes shall begin,hubby said rhetorically as we were gloating over this last night.Opps!

And while I was blogging this,something caught my eye which made me smile like crazy.Darling hubby has cheekily drew something on our calendar marked 21 Aug....



In all this bliss,I must remember to pack our bag a.s.a.p.Yup,we're going on a mini trip early tomorrow morning so au revoir....Can't wait! : )

Brain Stimulation

Been thoroughly busy the past few days.Sometimes,it seems that 24hrs in a day is not enough.Plus,I get to see hubby for only 3-4 hours each night during a weekday,lesser if he goes for his training.But carpe diem,eh?I'm always looking forward for weekends!

Since the second Parent Course last week,I've been busy putting things together to start home practice for my son.Hubby and I got his picture flash cards,dot cards and memory linking tools from the Shichida bookstore.Then,we browsed for other materials at Popular bookstore.I have to do a number of learning tools myself and this takes creativity (a department which I lack...haha).This right-brain learning at Shichida is definitely not based on that 1 1/2hours weekly class....Indeed,parents have to put in a lot of effort,and I really mean a lot,to have practices and perhaps,change habits at home.Home practices are to be done everyday and it takes between 15-30minutes,which is really not that long,but to make this a routine takes discipline and patience.

If this sounds military to you,it's not.It's actually a lot like child's play.These home activities are to stimulate the right brain.We have senses,image and memory play with the child,whereby most of the materials are home-made.And it is always important to be fun for the kids.It is play time as well as bonding time with mum or dad.My son looks forward to this everyday.I have just started the 65 Days Dots Calculation Training with him as well as flashing at least 150 picture cards each day (I nearly got papercuts!).Though it may seem weird or uncomprehensible,flashing cards at a high speed to a child,activates the right brain. Quote : "When a large quantity of cards is shown at a high speed,the left brain,which works at a low speed rhythm stops functioning,yielding to the right brain that works at a high speed.This develops the right brain memory that allows them to memorize things in a flash."

There are a lot of things that I learn though the Parent Course and the course of my child's class every week.Not only do my baby gets to learn,hubby and I learnt massive amount of information through all this.But what is important is that my son has fun learning and always looks forward to it!

P.S. My second baby is 20weeks now!I can't wait to have a peek at her/him tomorrow! : )
Oh yes,alhamdulillah,Dania,the baby of good pals of mine,are out of the hospital....and I hope she's doing well now.

From nosebleed to itchy butt

Counting the days.....

Till the 9th...No,not because it's National Day and I'm excited about it.It's the day hubby's coming back from Australia.He's away for a longer period of time as he had to visit two cities so baby and I spent some weekends at home : (

Absence makes the heart grows even fonder,eh?Hubby said it's even more difficult for him to go overseas for work now....already missing us when he's only at the Changi Airport.Me too actually : ( Baby and I are always looking forward to hear his voice on the phone,it feels like he's just next to us.

I wish I could hibernate till the 9th...hehe....Meantime,our son has been looking for his daddy every now and then....calling out for him and asking 'where are you?' (or in his own words 'are youuuu?'

Anyway,I had quite a shock when I experienced a nosebleed a few days ago.I thought perhaps it was because I had played rough with my son and I had hurt my nose or something.Then it happened again at night,3 times!The third time it happened,I couldn't fall asleep again,kept thinking what was wrong with me.The paranoia set in...and silly questions ensued....I was contemplating to ask a doctor's opinion about this....until the next day,perhaps it was Nature's way to reassure me I'm ok,I received my periodic email from BabyCentre,and there it was-a topic on nosebleeds.....

Since my second trimester began I've had several nosebleeds. Why?
Inconvenient and even embarrassing as they can be, nosebleeds are a perfectly normal pregnancy symptom. Your increased blood supply puts pressure on your nose's delicate veins. The membranes inside your nose may also swell and dry out, especially in winter. These changes can cause those veins to rupture quite easily, bringing about minor nosebleeds.

How can I stop a nosebleed?
When your nose bleeds, remain seated and put pressure on the bleeding nostril for at least four minutes. (Don't lie down, the blood could run into your stomach, which could cause nausea or vomiting.) Consult your doctor if you frequently have heavy nosebleeds, or if the above measures don't stop the bleeding.

Can I do anything to avoid them?
• Avoid nasal dryness, especially in wintertime or in dry climates by coating the edges of your nose with vaseline or you could choose to use a humidifier inside your house • Blow your nose gently. Aggressive blowing can lead to nosebleeds. • Drink extra fluids to help keep all your tissues, including the mucous membranes, well hydrated. As annoying as a nosebleed can be, it's a temporary problem likely to disappear after you have your baby.

So there....I was mildly comforted after reading this.I didn't get this when I was pregnant with my first so it didn't occur to me that it was due to my pregnancy.I guess it didn't help that the weather has been sooooo hot these days too.

The other night,since I couldn't sleep or chat with hubby as he was away,these fleeting thoughts came to me...I'm not complaining or such,it's just something that I didn't do anymore,not for some time,before I got married or since baby arrived.It's a phase of life...whereby certain things change,sometimes even without you realizing it....

• It has been two years ago that I last watch a movie at the cinema.I remember walking hand in hand with hubby at nearly midnight after a movie when I was heavily pregnant then....and that was 2 years ago.


• I don't go to Orchard Road every week like I used to,before I got married.


• I can no longer hop from one shopping centre to the next,now that my son's 'shopping' with me.


• I hang out with friends no longer than 3 hours now.


• Except for some special occasions,my curfew is before 7pm....since I put my son to bed at 8.


• I miss holding hands with hubby when we walk....either we have to chase after our little one or he wants to be carried by his daddy...so I'd just hold hubby by his arm.


• I don't get to sit beside hubby on the front seat.No more lovey dovey while driving...hah.It's time to sit by and keep watch on the little one at the back.....


• I miss taking a plane for my holiday.The last time was to Hong Kong.Hubby's not keen to take our young son on a flight...lest our little one becomes uncomfortable or cranky.

Which kind of reminds me....our next destination is in 2 weeks....yay!We couldn't get the resort on 'stilts' so this is our next option,since hubby doesn't feel like having a roadtrip this time.

I could only presume that this would be our final trip before baby number 2 arrives!I'd be in my third trimester soon,then deliver baby,then confinement...blahh...blahhh...so next trip after this would be hmmm.....in 5 years' time?!!! Nooooooo!!!!Nahh,hubby and I are too 'itchy-butt' to stay in Singapore for long! *grin*

No Carly,So Hamptons Instead

Like I said,it's just the beginning....

That five-letter word has been said oh,so often....and I've been thinking about getting it for eon.

So,I took a little trip to town and got myself this....

*grin...grin...chuckle...*

*shriek*

Yes,I know it's just a bag....opps no,it's not just A bag....it's a Coach! : )

I didn't get myself a Carly,something which I wanted for some time.I got the new Hamptons instead...quite spacious,I think it should fit all my baby stuff plus mine.Though it's a tad more expensive than in the States,I got a kick out of shopping for it.I was torn between the Hamptons Vintage Leather Hobo,the Bleeker Patent Tote and Hamptons Signature,so eventually,I decided on this before my baby boy got bored with mum's shopping.

So now,I can shut up whenever I see a Coach bag...coz at last I got mine... : )