Arielle in Marudi

Here are some pictures of Arielle in Marudi. I think she enjoyed herself immensely. She was so tired out by the end of the day that she slept early and we had no trouble at all putting her to bed. Over the week she has learned to say “bye bye” and to take my hand when she wants to “hold hands”.


Balancing Act at home



Enjoying the Canopy Walk at Marudi Park



Cheeky look



Running around the huge compound

But when she got back, she has been so “manja” with us. When I put her at my parents’ place on Monday, she was difficult. I guess after spending the whole week with us, she just wants us to be around all the time. With babysitter, she just din want to sleep. Oh well, I hope she gets back into her routine soon.

Home Sweet Home

It’s good to be home and sleeping in my own bed. Such a good feeling to have a complete sleep. Almost every night while away, my sleep has been broken. At 2 a.m. MIL wakes Jon up by loud knocks on the door to help in the production of noodles. At 5 a.m. he finishes his duty and creeps back into bed. At 5 something or so, the nearby mosque starts its morning prayers over the huge microphone. At 6 something the rooster starts crowing. Then, finally at about 8.30 to 9 a.m. when Arielle wakes me up. Well that is the kampung life for you.

CNY 2008

We had the usual traditional reunion dinner on the eve with MIL cooking long life noodles and several dishes even though some of them will not be touched for the night. As usual greedy me will dig into all the dishes to try. After the dinner, elder bro-in-law (BIL) lighted the traditional fire crackers at the entrance of the house which lasted for a good 5 mins to usher in the New Year.

Long Life noodles

Fireworks to usher in the New Year

Just a bit of side track….Sis-in-law (SIL) (married to Jon jon’s elder brother) did all the mopping and cleaning up. I was feeling rather lethargic this year so did not offer to help. I just helped out in the normal kitchen duties like washing the dishes and cleaning up. I hope SIL did not mind. She just has so much to do every day while taking care of two kids. SIL is really a great help to MIL when Jon jon’s sister left the household after marriage. She helps MIL to wash and hang the clothes, prepare all the meals, wash up, sweep and mop the huge house. At times also helps MIL in the noodle business. She wakes up early in the morning, has an occasional nap in the afternoon and then off to bed with the kids. I would say she is a blessing though people complain that she puts on a sour face all the time. That’s because she has heaps to do.

Anyhow back to the topic…at the stroke of midnight firecrackers went off everywhere…..front back and sides. It’s like bombs being let off. The neighbourhood was covered with smoke. Bomba and police patrolled the place in case of any incidences. I guess since they cannot stop the residences, they just have to make sure that nothing happens. Fire crackers were let off for at least half an hour and thank God Arielle slept through it all.


The next morning, on the first day of CNY, MIL made mee suah and all have to eat together again. After that, firecrackers rolled in red paper were let off again at the entrance of the house. At about 11 a.m. we started our visits to all the relatives. Came back for a rest and then continued till evening. Nothing much on the second day. Just laze around which is not good at all. Really making me lazy.


Surprisingly it has been raining non-stop throughout the whole New Year. Its normally very hot and humid here.


One more night to go and we’ll be back to KL…Yippee…but I guess Jon jon will feel sad. After all he grew up here and everything here is close to his heart even though he has left almost twelve years ago in search for greener pastures. Don’t worry Jon jon we’ll be back next year.

Off to Marudi for the New Year

The long awaited trip is finally here. We booked tickets since August last year. Jon jon must go back every year as it is a once a year affair with his much loved hometown and mummy of course. I have not been back since the Chinese New Year of 2006 as Arielle was born at the end of 2006 and everybody reckoned that she was too young to fly. Her young fragile ear drums may not be able to take the pressure and the sound. You see to go back we have to take first a 2 hr 15 mins flight to Miri (Sarawak, East Malaysia), and then either a 2 hour boat ride along the windy Baram river, a rough jungle 4 wheel 2 hr drive ride through the forest, or a breezy 15 mins flight on one of those small twin engine planes. With a baby the flight would be the best choice but then the ear drums were at stake…so we decided to forgo my ticket last year.

We left KL on an early Saturday morning (2 Feb 2008) flight to Miri. Our Pastor offered to take us to the airport at 5.15 a.m. in the morning as he was sending his nephew who was going back to Sabah at abt the same time. Woke up at about 4 a.m., did some last minute packing, and grabbed Arielle on the way out.

Arielle had fever of 39 degrees C the day before due to a bad throat. Jon jon must have been feeding her too much baby bikkies. She had refused to eat her solids and wanted milk only. We took her to see a Dr. and her fever subsided after medication. However, on Saturday morning, while on the way to the airport her fever returned. My ever faithful crystal forehead thermometer showed her fever increased back to 39. Boy were we worried. Quickly gave her medication at the waiting lounge and prayed hard. She was good on the flight. Played a bit and then slept…guess she was really really tired. I don’t think she had pressure problem in her ears on that flight but she had on the other as she was touching both her ears then. She did not cry though..Good girl darling Arielle. She developed a slight diarrhoe after the 4th dose of antibiotic on Sunday. I really prayed hard for her healing and God placed His healing hands upon her. The next day which was a Monday..no more watery poo poo, and eating solids again. Thank God, He is forever faithful. Since then, she has a good appetite, poo poo well, play well and really sleep well even in the midst of the loud bang of firecrackers.

Marudi is still the same - the food, the people, the lifestyle. Thank God I have been kept busy with Arielle else I will really be bored to bits like that of previous trips and Jon jon will be hearing the City Girl nagging at the Kampung Boy for not entertaining her enuff. Hee hee. One thing I can’t wait is New Year’s Eve – the firecrackers and the reunion dinner, it just puts everyone in the mood. Then the New Year cookies and the visitations. At the moment I can sniff the prawn rolls being toasted by sis-in-law. My favourite New Year goodie!

Hey one thing new I learned about Jon jon…he has a skill which I never knew he had – slaughtering chickens. He helped MIL to slaughter 8 kampung chickens today, some to be sold and some for us to bring back to KL. Yippee. WY, teach me how to make Chicken essence ok?..
Well more updates later.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!!