Putrajaya - Kayaking

         

        Good Morning KL! It has been decided that we will go on kayaking, guess where? no other than Putrajaya. It was sunny that day until while in the car we heard thunder on our way and the dark clouds slowly appears and slightly covers the skies. I told my excited Riley and daddy that it is good so we will not have sunburn while kayaking. WRONG! Because when we got there we we're told that kayaking activity is closed because of the weather. Everybody is upset even me as we came all this way and was greeted with "sorry can't do kayaking today". But, we're not ready to go back home and so we sit there in front of the lake and notice the clear water with fishes. We can't believe our eyes and actually enjoying by just looking at the school of fish. 

        Then we met another family, a beautiful family of 5. Two toddlers I would say based on their looks and a baby. They are so generous that they gave us bread so Riley can enjoy in feeding the fishes too. They even bought us a pack of fish food. We don't know what to do, I mean, we can buy it ourselves so we're not sure if we will pay it or what not. But we decided to say our gratitude to them and prefer not to pay as it may send a negative vibes to them. Good people are everywhere and I believe that goodness begets goodness. 

        While we were enjoying taking photos of the lake and the background and the fishes, I saw group of friends arriving and talking to the boats' men. I went closer so I could also ask since it didn't rain after all. I was having high hopes that we can still do kayaking and was delighted by our conversation. He said that if the skies get clearer, then they will open the kayaking activity. To make it short, hooraay!! we finally made it.

        We enjoyed kayaking until sundown. It was superb, poetic, dramatic, picture perfect and a bonus for not having sunburned skin too. 

        Our day doesn't end here though. It ended in a stunning night view of Putrajaya eating Beef Curry Rice. 

We will be back for more...

Genting Highlands - VIII-XII-MMXXI

        December 8, 2021 we went to Genting Highlands for the first time since 2018 or shall we say since pandemic. It was a sunny day and had a smooth ride from KL to Genting Highlands. However there was a heavy traffic and that caused us to divert our way. Our "diversion" road brought back memories way back 2010-2011 wherein we used that way in order to avoid toll fees, and the broken brake plates at the right side of front and back wheels of our service car (Mitsubishi Galant). And had never ending story telling time again for our dear Riley. 

        We enjoyed the view and appreciated the nature. We only went there to bring back memories from the old times. Around 5 in the afternoon, we decided to go back. On our way back, we went to Sate Kajang in Taman Melati. We used to live at PV5 Condominium which is only at the back of this well known Sate. It was already an opportunity for us to visit and eat here again and so we did. 

        After dinner, we proceeded to Aeon Big in Wangsa Maju. It is where we spent Riley's childhood days. We stayed in this area for 4 years even if I used to work in Cyberjaya before. I just happened to prefer staying in Wangsa Maju because of it's laid back and peaceful living surroundings. It is in this grocery department that Riley was missing at the age of 3. Riley and daddy are playing hide and seek which is a bad idea to begin with. Anyways, what's done is done and remembering those moments are just priceless. It turned out that she was just reading the label of the boxes in the pillows section and nothing bad had happened to her. It is indeed a funny, worrisome and long story to tell. 

        While strolling inside, we found Riley's childhood shirt which by the way was still being used until now although its a bit tight to her already.

A day well spent for all of us.

        A quick glimpse of our last visit in Genting:

Fun in the Sun...

                                        I mean in the Snow...

Kuala Selangor - IV-XII-MMXXI

Quick History from Wikipedia: 

        KUALA SELANGOR was the capital of the Sultanate of Selangor during its early years in the 18th century. It is located at the estuary of the Selangor River, where it drains into the Strait of Malacca. It is located 55 km north-west of downtown Kuala Lumpur, and 42 km north-west of Shah Alam, the capital of Selangor.

        We travelled almost 2 hours drive from Kuala Lumpur but it depends on the traffic and how fast you drive and since we have a kid, safety first before anything else. Our first location based on our itinerary was the Historical Museum.

        4th of December, 2021 when we went there. Actually, it was my husbands friends gathering and to celebrate for another year of friendship and success in spite of the pandemic. We were just invited and glad we did join.

        The picture below shows the well known Kuala Selangor lighthouse formerly known as Altingsburg Lighthouse. 

Then, we went to the hill where you can see breathless sceneries that is picture perfect especially for sunrise and sunsets.

Trivia: Did you know that the stone at the back of Riley is used to kill the spies in this battle field? They position the persons head in the center of the stone and smashed it. It is a good gesture to offer prayers when you visit this place. 

 

After the Melawati Hill, we went straight to what Kuala Selangor is well known for ----- 

       We were able to try the Fried Ice Cream, scallops and the fruit juices are all thirst-quenching.  Our friend told us to order "Teochew steamed fish" and indeed a mouthwatering  dish for me. In the Philippines it can be categorized as "larang" a sour fish soup but a little less of everything. 

        Our day won't end without visiting the majestic Fireflies Boat Cruise experience. Riley loves the fireflies experience but me and daddy loves the speed boat experience. Overall, we would love to visit Kuala Selangor again and again. We still have many places to visit and explore.

Thank you friends for bringing us in Kuala Selangor.

 

2020 sTrUgGle

    Pandemic. Families separated, loved ones, relatives that's so near yet so far. Worries, fear, doubt are just some feelings we feel to name a few. I belong to the separated families. Me and my daughter went back to the Philippines for her schooling as we cannot afford to send her to an international school. We plan to go back to Malaysia on 2020 unfortunately Covid19 strikes. On December of 2020, Malaysia opened up their boarders and salute to everyone who helped us. It was breathtaking in a demanding and hard way. There are no direct flights to name a few and the chances of getting the Covid19 virus while on our way back. Finally, we succeeded and went to a relaxing and homey feeling of quarantine but the stay cost us a hole in the pocket. 

    This pandemic makes me realize of how important it is to be with our families. I've learned slowly how to handle my worries and just start living again amidst the pandemic and all other unfavorable events. Life is unfair, yes it is. Nobody says otherwise. But do we just allow ourselves to drown in life's hardships? Until we get sick and die? Everybody dies. It may happen right at this moment, tomorrow or next week or next month who knows? So why don't we just live our life TODAY? You see, since Covid19 strikes, all my plans are ruined and by the time I went back here it seems I'm out of it. I'm just literally "floating". I know that I need to find a job. I know I need to do something but I don't understand myself. I'm scared to try out things and I'm stuck. I've got no courage to do things. It's been 4months since I arrived and just now, I started to realize that all my feelings was brought by my worries. I'm not yet sure though but as of now I think I'm into something this time and I'll start off by living TODAY. 

Quote by Ernest Hemingway: “Every day is a new day. 

What drives you?

Everyone uses motivation in everyday life whether we like it or not. Motivation drives our human desires. Career success, achieved goals and perfect performances are just few results driven by motivation. We may never know it but it lives within us. As the old adage says, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" When I finished high school, I fully knew well that College is just a distant dream. My parents can only send me to a public high school and even that took every ounce of hard work that they got. My family was surviving on meager income and so when I finished high school I banked on the promises of some of my relatives that they will finance my college.

Hoping against hope, I was not able to go to college. I spent the following years taking different jobs in order to help my family. Years passed by but I never gave up on my dream. I have always known what I am capable of. I have always been yearning for improvement and learning. College has always been a sight for me to hone my abilities and skills.

When the opportunity to get back to school presented itself, I grabbed it without hesitation. When asked why I continue to study when I already have a family, I answered that this is one of my dreams. Earning college diploma may entail greater opportunities, my thirst for learning and improvement was my main drive of pursuit. My being a parent and a wife did not hinder my path to continue my journey, in fact it gave me instead a greater grasp of my dreams. What matters most is that I strive to improve and learn. Someday, these newly acquired knowledge and wisdom will help and guide me not only as a better wife and a mother, but also as a better person and as productive citizen.

I ought to share the experience of a good friend of mine. This might somehow inspire others too.

Every successful person works hard, for them to achieve whatever they want. The best company, salary and relationships even. Right after graduation, I too fancied the same. It took me 5 months to land my first job in IT industry. IT industry then was a second choice for me, but I broadened my outlook.
 I basically grow up in a farm living in an average family income. My parents cannot afford to send me to college that time. My strong appetite for success drove me to take scholarships. I passed the scholarship exams and was admitted. I chose the nearest university and took IT. Weighing all the options, at that time, IT was the only course viable for me to land a spot nearest my goals in a short period of time. Indeed few years later, I landed in one of the best companies in IT industry and had a good salary. That is when my journey started to advance. Looking back, I never knew about motivation then, I only know one thing - that is to achieve my dreams that I never thought I could. -aze 

"You can motivate by FEAR, and you can motivate by REWARD. But both those methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is SELF-MOTIVATION." - Homer Rice 

Dreams...  

Superheroes in the making...  

When you've been fighting for it all your life

You've been struggling to make things right

That's how a superhero learns to fly

Every day, every hour, turn the pain into power 

Prepared by:

Ababa, Calumpang, Hayahay, Mendoza  

Nothing that is worth knowing can be taught

At the peak of my career I stopped, thinking I cannot ask for more. I already have enough. After living a life that I wanted and thought that would make me endlessly happy hidden deep down is the "What if's" inside my head. My life changed, everything changed. I got back to my feet again and realized many things. A human like me cannot be contented with what I have. A human will always look forward on what he is supposed to achieve. Yes, I'm not contented but I'm happy. I'm happy with where I am exactly right now. I always  believe in everything that happened happens for a reason. No matter how I educate myself with all the possible things that I know but still nothing is worth knowing can be taught.

What is too much?

Have you tried that you were caught in the middle? You can't do this because it's too much and the other one is not enough. But how to define that it's too much already or if it's not enough? What is too much and what is not enough?

You loved a person for years but only then after those years, after tying the knot it is only then that you we're told that it's too much. What does it mean? if it's too much then I also believe to cut it all down, but you were afraid to do so because you believe that that's the way married people should do. Submitting to one another and making their priority. Money is not the one who holds the family, but the relationship inside it. The communication of both man and woman and more importantly the understanding towards each other. But how can you understand if you're hurt? you we're trapped in the "I shouldn't have done that" part. And then he or she'll tell you he need space. How should you deal with it? The more you'll ask the world why now? If only, the "what is too much" thing is defined earlier then we shouldn't have been caught in the middle.

I'm sad and happy. I'm sad that in reality there are knots and promises broken to pieces. If only I could do something about it. I always loved happy endings and never thought of broken pieces. But sometimes it's your fate telling you to STOP. I'm happy because yes, there are good reasons why it happened. I'm happy because I can now see that he has moved on and is ready and willing to face life again.

I love you kya... we will support you all the way 'till death we're always here. You're not alone, you may feel alone at times but no, you're not. maybe our time hasn't come yet and if it does, we know that we have a strong shoulder to lean on (hehehehe mao d.i gipa strong ka para naa mi ma rely-yan toinks!).

And I'm proud of you, because I never thought that you'll get over it as soon as now. I know you loved her dearly, you loved her with all your life that nothing's been left for you. But you did it! thanks for opening it up to us your family. at least now, we can celebrate christmas together as a whole and family again. we understand that the hurt keeps coming back but don't worry, it'll fade as time goes  by.

See? as per her, if only you could go back together again, her loss not yours (tiwasan pajud?) I didn't know about the divorce papers thanks for sharing it. So it's final. And also, one thing's for sure, she's still our friend.