Wrapping Up the Holidays & 2024

As the year winds down, so does Cass’ 4-week long school term break. It’s been a whirlwind of activity, and the skating rink has been her second home this holiday season. For over a month, she’s been tirelessly rehearsing with her team mates for a Christmas show at the Blue Ice Skating Rink in Pavillion Bukit Jalil. No sooner had the show wrapped up than she dove straight into a 4-day skating camp. These intensive sessions ended at 11+ PM each night, leaving her thoroughly exhausted and brimming with passion for her sport.  Cass also had to go back to school twice this holiday to help out in the school’s office, as part of her bursary’s requirements. I had to wake up early to send her to school and fetch her back in the afternoon.

In between her time at the rink, Cass also managed to squeeze in daily outings with her grandma and Aunt Krystal, who was visiting from Hong Kong for two weeks.  School holidays mean that my wallet is in constant use as there are inevitably more outings, more skating sessions, and more expenses! Now, as the holidays draw to a close, I can’t help but feel a big sense of relief.

In just a week, Cass will return to school as a Senior High 2 (Form 5) student, embarking on her final year before sitting for the SPM—the most important exam of her high school journey. The thought of her reaching this milestone fills me with pride and a touch of nostalgia.

Sherilyn, meanwhile, has been enjoying a short break from university. It’s heartening to see her finally catching up on much-needed sleep and having meals with us after months of juggling university and dance commitments. She’s even managed to stay awake during meals—a rare sight during her busy semester! However, the break is short-lived, and soon she’ll be back to tackling assignments and preparing for the challenges of her next semester.

As for Alycia, she’s gearing up for a new chapter as her internship begins in a couple of weeks. It’s an exciting time for her to gain hands-on experience and apply what she’s learned in her studies.

Looking ahead, Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and in exactly a month, we’ll be back in Ipoh celebrating with my parents and brothers. The thought of family reunions, festive meals, and cherished traditions fills me with joy and anticipation.

Reflecting on this past year, it’s been nothing short of challenging. Life threw its fair share of curveballs, but we made it through, stronger and more resilient. As 2025 approaches, I can’t help but feel hopeful. I pray that the coming year brings smoother sailing for all of us.

Here’s to a fresh start, renewed energy, and a brighter year ahead. May 2025 be kinder to us all!

As soon as she had a little free time, Sherilyn made a big batch of nuts and seeds butter.  We gifted them to my parents, brother from Singapore, and Sherilyn's friend.

Sherilyn's boss from the cafe that she works part-time at calls her a shark as sharks need to swim constantly for respiration 😂.  I still wonder why this daughter of mine is constantly finding things to do and just can't rest! Maybe she's a reflection of me? 😜

Almond, pecan, pumpkin seeds, and pine nuts butter made using the Thermomix. She added a little olive oil to it.

Holiday activity for Cass - helped grandma to gut anchovies that she bought from Pangkor Island.

Bangkok Trip - Day 3 (Royal Galaxy Chao Phraya River Cruise)

Embarking on a Chao Phraya sunset river cruise with my eldest daughter, Alycia, was one of the highlights of our Bangkok escapade—a journey filled with exploration, culinary delights, entertainment, and breathtaking views that left an indelible mark on our hearts.

Our river cruise adventure began on our third day in Bangkok, following a morning of mall hopping that took us on a whirlwind tour of the city's vibrant shopping scene. From the innovative design of Terminal 21 mall, resembling an airport complete with a shopping guide resembling a passport, to the modern allure of the new EmSphere mall, we immersed ourselves in the diverse tapestry of Bangkok's retail landscape.

As the afternoon sun began to wane, we made our way to Asiatique the Riverfront, a riverside oasis that beckoned with its promise of unique shopping and dining experiences.  At 4pm, we had to check in for our Chao Phraya river cruise at the cruise ship counter. The cruise would start at 5.15 pm.  We spent over two hours at Asiatique and were sweating buckets as this shopping center with an outdoor concept is not air-conditioned and the weather was very hot in Bangkok throughout our four days there. We had to seek refuge in an air-conditioned restaurant (ordered some food too) and window shop in shops that were air-conditioned. 

As we boarded the vessel and settled into our seats on the upper deck, we were greeted by a sumptuous continental buffet dinner that catered to every palate. From fresh seafood to Korean, Chinese, and Western cuisine, the spread was as diverse as it was delectable. Despite my initial concerns about motion sickness, the calm and tranquil waters of the Chao Phraya River provided a soothing backdrop for our evening of indulgence. I didn’t eat a lot as I was worried about having motion sickness. I had forgotten to put the motion sickness pill into my handbag when we left the hotel in the morning! Thank God, all was well and I did not feel queasy or dizzy at all as the river cruise was very calm and relaxing.

As the cruise set sail, we were treated to live entertainment and mesmerizing views of Bangkok's ancient and modern treasures illuminated against the night sky. From majestic temples to towering skyscrapers, each sight was a testament to the city's rich history and vibrant energy.

One of the highlights of the evening was a lively performance by trans-women entertainers, whose charisma, beauty, and talent added an extra layer of excitement to our cruise experience. Capturing memories against the backdrop of Bangkok's glittering skyline, we couldn't help but marvel at the beauty and diversity of this enchanting city.  Another highlight of the cruise was the breathtaking sunset views.

After bidding farewell to our floating sanctuary, we continued our adventure with a visit to Icon Siam, a river-side shopping mall, where we indulged in window shopping amidst a vibrant display of Thai street food and the festive atmosphere of the Songkran water fest. We wanted to try so many Thai dishes but were quite full from our earlier dinner at Asiatique and on board the ship. But we ended up trying grilled stuffed squid, a refreshing avocado smoothie, and coconut water.

As Alycia and I reflected on our day filled with exploration and discovery, we felt a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for the memories created and experiences shared. From the bustling streets and shopping malls of Bangkok to the tranquil waters of the Chao Phraya River, every moment was a testament to the beauty and diversity of this enchanting city. 

Enjoy the photos!

Shops at Asiatique the Riverfront Destination. We had to check in at a counter here.

Asiatique the Riverfront Destination

We sought refuge from the scorching hot sun at an air-conditioned Thai restaurant. We ordered mango-sticky rice and pan-fried Aussie steak.  We indulged in mango-sticky rice every day throughout our stay in Bangkok.

Waiting to board the ship. It was SO hot!

Everyone was so excited

On the upper deck of the ship

Wefie with Alycia.

Inside the cruise ship

Me, a few shades darker after all the walking under the hot sun!

The Korean dishes were pretty good.

Generous servings of prawns and oysters but we dare not eat them for fear of getting food poisoning as we had a flight to catch the next day. Alycia has a very sensitive tummy.

Desserts counter.

So much food. I love the braised salmon.

Beautiful view of an ancient Thai shrine.

Icon Siam is on the right. We took Grab to this mall after our cruise ended.

Love the sunset colors.

Lovely colors of sunset. Love the atmosphere on the ship 💗

Read about our Day 1 in Bangkok and how we had a huge culture shock when we were caught right smack in the middle of the Songkran water fights!

Countdown to Bangkok Trip

As the days of my upcoming Bangkok trip with Alycia draw nearer, my week has been abuzz with excitement, anticipation, and a whirlwind of preparations. From ensuring my financial readiness to mapping out our itinerary, every moment has been dedicated to ensuring a seamless and memorable journey ahead. 

Early in the week, I embarked on a quest to ensure that my financial logistics were in order. This involved visiting multiple banks to activate my debit card for international usage and applying for an additional card to provide backup support during our travels. Ensuring access to funds abroad is essential for a stress-free journey, and I spared no effort in making sure I am well-prepared on this front.

With the practicalities sorted, attention turned to planning our itinerary and securing tickets to popular attractions in Bangkok. Thanks to the convenience of online platforms like Klook and booking.com, booking entrance tickets to places of interest became a breeze, allowing us to maximize our time exploring Bangkok without the hassle of long queues or last-minute arrangements.

Today Alycia purchased our Bangkok SIM cards and Skytrain cards, ensuring seamless connectivity and convenient transportation options throughout our stay. Armed with insider tips from my dear friend Barb who visits Bangkok quite frequently, she graciously shared recommendations for affordable Thai massages and shopping hotspots. 

As our accommodation at the centrally located Novotel Platinum Hotel promises convenience and accessibility to Bangkok's bustling city center, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement for the adventures that await us just around the corner.

Amidst the flurry of preparations, my thoughts often turn to Cass and Sherilyn who will hold down the fort in my absence. As I meticulously outline tasks and responsibilities for them to follow in a lengthy to-do list, the separation anxiety of leaving them behind (especially Cass and my cat Haru) grows more intense with each passing day.  I hope that Sherilyn and Cass will step up to the plate and shoulder the responsibilities at home.

With excitement coursing through my veins and anticipation building with each passing moment, I eagerly await the journey that lies ahead, confident that it will be a trip filled with unforgettable memories and cherished moments. Let the countdown begin!

I had to squeeze my way out of my car because the incompetent driver of the Vellfire had part of the rear tyre on my parking lot. My car was sandwiched by two bigger cars.

What We'd Been Up To

The school holidays last December had been one of the busiest for us. Decembers have always been leisurely for us but last December was filled with events, entertaining of relatives, late nights and early morning outings and lots of food marathons.  Hubby's cousin, Melissa and her new hubby came back from New Zealand to celebrate their wedding. Their ROM was done in New Zealand. The Yaps from near and far came back just before Christmas and the celebrations only ended on 1 January 2020. I have so many pictures taken at the church wedding, hotel wedding, Chinese tea ceremony and all the glorious food that we feasted on that I don't know where to start!  I'll start from early December 2019 at the start of the school holidays.  Here you go:

In Ipoh, mum gave the girls an angpow each for Christmas and they could buy anything that they wanted with the money. While Sherilyn bought novels, Alycia and Cass got themselves a 800-piece and 500-piece jigsaw puzzle respectively from Puzzle Planet and they lugged back the bulky boxes of puzzles plus the frame all the way back to KL by train. They started on their puzzle project the day they came back from Ipoh and Cass completed her 500-piece puzzle of One Piece (a Japanese anime) the next day. Alycia's 800-piece puzzle (scenery of Kyoto) is still left half incomplete.  Cass started to love jigsaw puzzles since she was 3 years old and still loves puzzles and Lego.


Looks can be deceiving - looks easy but ain't easy.  The puzzle pieces are very tiny and it involves tons and tons of patience, mental acuity and lazer sharp vision to sort out and find the pieces to solve the puzzle. I am one who doesn't have such patience. My eyes will go blurry looking at the puzzle pieces making me dizzy.


It's good to turn off the screens and spend time playing with jigsaw puzzles but this littlest brat ignored my instructions for her to sleep and stayed up till 1:30 a.m. to fix the puzzle. Boy was I enraged with her pig-headedness!

Cass' framed up One Piece puzzle. The puzzles are made of plastic and can't disintegrate easily. The frame costs almost the same as the puzzle and the framed puzzle makes a very pretty decor which can be hung up on the wall. The set of 500-piece puzzle and frame cost almost RM150.






Cass managed to fish out two bouncy balls from the claw machine @ Aeon, Kinta Cinty Ipoh this holiday. She seems to have a fetish with bouncy balls and her collection of bouncy balls you see from the photo here are all her winnings from claw machines and cost me  approximately RM20. I told her that I could easily get her these cheap balls from a toy shop but she likes the adrenaline rush from the claw machine 😏



A day after her 16th birthday, I took Alycia to Family Mart to claim her free macha sofuto (free ice cream in your birthday month when you download the Family Mart app on your mobile phone) while I got the Belgium chocolate sofuto for myself, which is the best in the world - tastes better than Haagen Dazs and pretty close to Godiva's as it's not sweet and very chocolaty.



Before dessert, we had Japanese economy rice, which ain't very economical though. A set of 2 types of vegetables and 1 meat with Japanese rice plus a cup of green tea costs RM10.



We were at Sunway University to view a film production showcase, where chosen student works produced that semester were being screened. Alycia intends to pursue a degree in film-making / film producing / cinematography and by a stroke of luck, I befriended a girl at Sherilyn's dance studio who gave us this opportunity to see firsthand what film production undergrads do. This girl who's 19 years old, is a very talented competitive dancer, a part-time actress and pursuing a degree in law. She has friends who are pursuing a BA of film production at Sunway University.















My Harry Potter devout's dream is to own a set of HP Lego worth RM2,000! It will be hers IF she gets straight As in her UPSR exam 😁






On sedentary days, we all go to the gym at night.


The bookworm still hooked to her novels on the air walker.



The view from my treadmill.



Hubs brought us to Nike @ Pavilion to shop for Nike shoes and apparel! It's our annual year-end affair, his  gifts to us for Christmas. Thank you very much darling 💗



Before shopping at Nike, we first had lunch at Simmer Huang.



With a history dated back to 100 years ago, Simmer Huang presents a cross century dining experience through their Qing Dynasty recipes with its first flagship store in Malaysia, located on the 8th floor of Pavilion Elite KL.

The staff first started off by heating up an induction Simmer Pot and melted a huge piece of coagulated vegetable oil, then threw in more than 10 types of vegetables including onions, garlic, celery, sweet potato, carrot, mushroom, etc.. Juices from the vegetables will be slowly released, creating natural sweetness to the base of Simmer Pot. Wolfberries oil, herbs and spices were added in, followed by your choice of main. It can be Tiger Grouper Filler Pot (RM150), Red Snapper and Cod Fillet Pot (RM130), Signature Chicken Pot (RM90), Assorted Seafood Pot (RM130), Prawn And Cuttlefish Pot (RM130), Pork And Fungus Pot (RM110), Australian Beef Pot, Assorted Pork Pot (RM110),  amongst others.



Next, the sauce, which is the key ingredient to Simmer Huang’s Simmer Pot. There are five types of  sauce to choose from, namely Classic Sauce, Seafood Sauce, Spicy Sauce, Hot and Spicy and Soy Sauce.















Throughout the cooking process, not a single drop of water was added. This is how intense the flavors of the ingredients are. However, non of us really enjoyed the food. I guess we're too used to stir-fried, grilled or fried food.   I think that the way the food is cooked is pretty similar to how some health freaks prep their food - by steaming or simmering their food.  My mum who is a health freak preps most of her dishes this way, without frying.

Not feeling 100% satisfied with his lunch, we had lunner two hours later after shopping at Nike, at Mak's Chee Authentic Wonton. We thoroughly enjoyed the springy noodles sprinkled generously with flavorful 'jor hau yue' fish powder.



Mak’s Chee Authentic Wonton is a quick casual restaurant serving authentic Hong Kong style wonton noodles, using a nearly 100-year old recipe from the Mak’s Family that is originated from a street-side eatery in Guangzhou since 1923.


I hope I'm not too late in wishing all my beloved readers a very Happy New Year! Better late than never yeah? May 2020 be the year that all your dreams turn into reality - and that you actually keep your New Years resolutions 😉