Morning Sketch

Good Morning.  Selamat pagi from.........

It means "Borneo"

This morning started off just the same way as my other weekend mornings.  What damn routine life.  Y can't my life be more interesting???  I'll tell you why...... no planning lo.  

But I'll be going for a movie later wo, so not too routine la hor.  Will watch Cars 2 with the kids.

And so morning breakfast, while waiting for food to be serve:

daddy Beary started off sketching

His hidden talent.  What did he sketch?

Big leafy plant next to our table

See..... got talent or not??  He took some artistic classes before...... no dancing nor stage performances la, just graphics.  I say, not bad la hor.  Never asked him, but I bet he got better SPM result for arts, 'coz I got a 5 only  .  Okay la, still pass right???  Credit some-more le.

Learn from the si fu

little Manja wanted to learn too

Manja : My turn.     Cheeky : Hey, I'm not done yet!!

Manja : Boo....... 

Not too long, the food came.  

Healthy or what???

We had our breakfast at this place:

Beautiful wall decoration

Po lo zou = Borneo

The food is generally okay.  But you must try their signature noodle dish called....... "Signature Noodle" dish la.  Didn't take any pic though.  Quite yums.  I just didn't really enjoy the road with cars passing by that's really near to our table with only the leafy plant between us.  

But I do like that big wall depicting one of Sabah's horrific history.  It featured the Sandakan-Ranau Death March.

The shop is at........ don't know the address la.  But its a corner shop at Lintas Plaza, facing the golf driving range.  Definitely won't miss it.

Just before we left,  as I was turning away from our table, I noticed the lesson that si fu gave to the kids :

Tic-tac-toe

   Nevertheless, appreciation to Coffee News for supplying complimentary news printouts.  

2/3 done, 1/3 to go

Guess what the numbers are about?

Earlier, I posted on the drought no holiday season. Well I am glad to say that as of today, after extensively enduring 2 full months of office work, Cincau is now looking forward as I brave through the remaining 1 month dutifully serving the office before welcoming the moslem's Aidil Fitri holiday celebration.  Woohoo...... it is always a welcoming feeling in anticipating holidays that's just around the bend .

You know?? I do not know about you, but for me, when taking annual leave, it just never feels like the needed full rest as compared to statutory holidays.  It's like its compulsory for all to enjoy these days and lay low work stress.  Have you notice there aren't much calls on meeting deadlines but more on urging you to turn up for get together?  Partying time fun!! Yea sure the kids will be around, but I love my kids.  Though brother Cheeky and little Manja surprise me with brawls, shouting, pleading, nagging and causing me at wits end , but still, aren't holidays are for family?

With 1 month till the holiday, there are two significant observation at this point in Malaysia.  One being the moslem's puasa month.  Puasa means fasting.  Here, Cincau wishes all the moslems:

 "Bulan Ramadan, Bulan Yang Mulia.  Selamat Berpuasa.  Maaf Zahir dan Batin".

The other is the observation of the chinese calendar's 7th month, the Hungry Ghost Month.  You will notice people burning incense by the side of the road in remembrance of the departed and all other spirits; to continue blessing their family and residence for peace.  During this month, most chinese will avoid having celebrations, as in wedding or any other good days celebrations.  It is a belief that once a year the gates of heaven and hell are unlock allowing spirits to roam around on earth and visit families.  I am not sure the distinct difference between Qing Ming and this but for your convenience, click here.
 1/3 TO GO!!!  
Elated with excitement!!!

The Rejuvenating Holiday

So how was Cincau's triple emphasizing holiday?

Kee, kee, kee..... let me tell you how I came up with the idea of holidaying at RRR.  It was sort of unintentional.

Not so long ago, during a school holiday, brother Cheeky was at home for the entire week.  From this, mommy Cincau could see how much time was wasted and the boring-ness during that period.  What more if he spends all those time at the aunt.  And so mommy said, whenever possible, she would enrich her children's holidays.  It wasn't easy for mommy with the limitations she faces everyday.  White collared middle class...... !!

Facing limitations, I was prepared to let go of this school break and just concentrating with work.  But deep down was the feeling of let down and upset.  Daily work included looking at value hotel deals..... and so the RRR came across.  It has everything that suits my family.  It just feels like a need to give them a call and hence, at a flash of an instinct, reservation was made. 

So the cincau family went for a getaway.  How was it?  Here's the pics:

Welcoming drink, tall cooling ice peach tea,
gobbled by Cheeky and Manja

Walking towards white sandy beach.... amazing scenery

A walk on white sandy beach.... beautiful

To Conservation Centre

Leaving Conservation Centre

Kiddy pool with slide..... fun

Birdies by the pool..... so close, no zooming

Some luxury before retiring for the night

No regrets.  It was marvelous.  Fun for everyone.  The outing served as the best de-stress destination by far.  There is no hurrying, no traffic, no pollution, no grumpy looks.  Just smiles, laughter, happiness, peace.... and welcoming too.  Yes, pricey, all within and above the 5 star range.  Nevertheless, it was worth it.  The luxury starts as soon as you step into the resort.  Cincau love it!!

Oh btw, I didn't get the refurbish room.  Maybe that's why the price was alright-ey for me.  But, all I can say is, with clean big room and big welcoming comfy bed, it is still very luxurious. I have stayed in worse hotel rooms compared to this.  It doesn't even feel the need to be refurbish.  But to maintain their stars, good for them to be attentive.

So, will they jack-up the price after all the refurbishment?

This is the season of drought

It's the dry dry dry spell.......... I mean the "No holidays around the corner period".

With the last being our beloved HRH's birthday celebration on last Saturday, that day also marks the beginning of the no ending to work work work period.  Not that I am not willing to accept this fact, afterall, I have been enduring these periods of holiday drought for many many many years now.

The next period with lots of holidays will be end of the year and this time, the entire world will or may think like me.... hee hee hee.   

Yet, I should be grateful that I'm a citizen of this blessed land called Malaysia.  Already this land, a melting pot of cultural mix, has allocated many many many statutory holidays celebrating all the unique background of its citizens.  What more can I ask for?  

And so with the commencing of the drought period, what should Cincau do?  My brain motor is still half committed, but am glad the needed ones are duly looked into.  Nevertheless, there is one major matter that Cincau should not avoid, and that is to enrich my kids school holidays.  Yes, its another round of school holidays for brother Cheeky and little Manja.  Earlier, I've mentioned of myself being a bad bad bad mommy for not planning their last school break.  But should I be skipping this too?........ NOPE!!

So, guess what?  After those statutory holidays, Cincau extends my breakie by taking annual leave and..... it starts from today.  To sidetrack abit, why do I need to apply for my freedom?  Ponder, ponder, ponder.

I'm going to bring them to a far far far away land..... nothing to do with where Princess Fiona of Shrek comes from..... where there is a conservation effort for animals, there's a kiddy pool for Cheeky's budding water sport interest, there's a mini canopy walk for sight seeing, there is the batik painting lesson, etc. etc. etc.

Here's a sneak peek of the place :

Sourced : Shangri-la Rasa Ria Resort

Is this heaven?  Heaven on land?  Cincau will find out soon.  There is only one minus point to this place.  It's undergoing renovation and not all rooms are refurbish yet.  Either I'm lucky or unlucky.  It's russian roulette time!!

*** Somehow, I'm in the mood to not double, but triple emphasizing myself today.  Did you notice that?.... hee hee hee.  Oops, I did it again!! (in Britney Spear's piggy tailed look).

*** Btw, I just noticed, I'm bringing my entire cincau brood to RRR.  Ha ha ha!!! Okay, that's too much.  I better stop here. Signing off......

Holidays in pics

It was famously being said that, pictures paint a thousand words.  

And indeed, these pics taken by Cincau reflected my holidays on the beach.  

Luving them.

The 5.50pm scenery

Sun setting at the horizon

The cincau brood

sand sculpting

crab-krabby season

The homey crab hole

crabby returning home

lesson : crabby season 101

white sandy beach

last captured pic of the day, at 6.30pm

Leave nothing but foot steps, 

Take nothing but pictures.

This is our beach, @ Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Yipee..... Holidays Abound

This is the period of holidays...... woohoo!!

Tomorrow Malaysia will be celebrating the Buddha's birthday....... locally, its more well known as Wesak day.  It encompases more than just birthday, it includes enlightment and solemnization.  Confuse?  That's because I've describe it in my simplest cincau way.  Do some search, you'll be able to find more about this celebration.

But what I'm going to mention here is, there are seasons of drought and seasons of fun.  Just like this particular one, allow me to list the coming holidays during this "fun" season:

Wesak day - tomorrow, 17 May 2011.  Immediate gratification, woohoo!!
Harvest Festival - 30 & 31 May 2011.  Only in Sabah.
His Royal Highness' Birthday - 4 June 2011
oh, and and and before those dates, Cincau had enjoyed the Good Friday (22 April) and Labour Day (1 May) holidays.

Now, that is definitely a period of fun.   

Holidays are the best.  Besides its a time of celebration, its FREEDOM!!! Relax, slow mood, minimum stress, and a degree more of genuine smileys around us.  Yes, sometimes business smiles and laughs can be so fake. 

I'm going to bring my entire Cincau family for a trip of exhaustion.  The sun, the beach, the heat, the tan, the flies, and the sun-burn.  Kah kah kah. 

Brother Cheeky had somehow reignited his memory of his swimming fun time.  So, his reminders are now lingering non-stop again.  Kah kah kah

daddy Beary is cultivating an artificial bald spot soon thanks to Cheeky....... kah kah kah

Reality will set in again after early June 2011.  Then the drought season shall takes its place and will kick the fun out.  Back to the long long period behind my workstation. 

Ugh.... soooooooo thiirrrrrssssssteeeeeeeee for freeeeeeeeedooooooooommmm....