Winter 2015 : IKEA, Ashton-under-Lyne

Our first trip there.

We bought a carpet for the living room last week. We have a laminated floor so it is extremely cold in winter. We cant even step on it especially in the evening if we dont put on our slippers.

We need more stuff to keep us warm. So we bought a carpet for our bedroom (GBP9), some throws (GBP5 each) for the sofa in the living room, TV cabinet (GBP9) and other small stuff. The current currency exchange (RM to GBP) made the prices of these similar items are more expensive than IKEA Malaysia.

Winter 2015 : Bowlers Exhibition Centre (huge car boot sale on Sundays)

We came here on a mission to look for a used sewing machine. I need to make a costume for Nazreen. Alhamdulillah, I managed to get a small battery-operated machine for GBP5. You can find almost everything in a car boot sale :) 

(focus on the sewing machine in the plastic bag please)

The seller said it is in a very good shape but unfortunately it didnt work at home. My husband opened it, tighten a few screws and IT IS GOOD TO GO!! 

Winter 2015 : New Smithfield Market

Our routine every Sunday, buying fresh salmon, mackerel, herring and haddock from our generous fishmonger. 20 minutes away from our house.

Winter 2015 : Manchester Museum

After the kids finished their classes at the Malaysian school (they attended Malaysian school every Saturday, apart from regular UK school on weekdays), my husband agreed to bring the kids to visit the Manchester Museum!!!  

Nabil was so interested with all the mummies, particularly crocodile mummies, while I was about to faint being surrounded my dead animals.

They were so happy to see huge planet models and other solar system-related exhibits which they have learned all this while :)

Nazreen loves dinosaurs since he was small. He spent a very looooong time at each exhibit, in various positions, appreciating God knows what and pretending like he was going to be eaten by the dinosaur.

Delhi : Good morning cold Delhi!

It was cold in Delhi this morning.

We took different route to the office today. We saw new things.

Walking around cold weather supposed to be fun, if not because of my blistered foot.

Delhi : Kembara Khazanah India

My nephew lend me his book on India.

This is my favourite book during the treadmill session after the office hour. 

Delhi : Rock sugar and fennel seeds

Rock sugar is widely used in India with fennel seeds as a mouth freshener after the meal. I went to a restaurant for lunch today where they served it after they cleared the table. I was so curious and I tried. That was my first time chewing mouthful raw, uncooked fennel seeds. So Fear Factor one..

From (here) - Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a herb that has long been used as a remedy for flatulence, upset stomach and intestinal cramps in Ayurveda, Mediterranean medicine and other healing traditions. Fennel promotes gastrointestinal motility, thus relieving gas buildup in the intestines. 

Reading that makes me feels a bit better. I actually did something good for my intestines today.

Delhi : 3 weeks

My luggage, Croco (yes, she has a name), is the red-black one.

It is so huge. So huge that it could hold different attire for 21 days. 

As usual, the first thing I would do when I settled down in a hotel room - iron everything that is iron-able :)

(No, I am not lying when I said different attire for 21 days)

I have requested for extra 10 cloth hangers from the housekeeping team and they sent me 15. haha.

Delhi : Brilliant signage

Restrooms in Gandhi Airport, Delhi.

Simply brilliant. 

Delhi : Departure and Arrival

My lovely heroes sending me off to Delhi.

(Credit: Ms Saedah, the photographer) 

And this Hero Hindustani welcomes me at the Gandhi Airport in Delhi.

Totally. different. feeling.
Yeah, it is totally a new world for me over here. 
Bring it on.

India : Visa Application

(This entry)

I am done with my visa application at Straits Trading Building KL.

All Indian visa applicants are now required to provide finger scans and a full-face digital photograph as part of the application process (right).

(Credit: Ms Saedah, the model)

Now I just have to wait for the approval.

In the mean time, I AM GONNA SPEND EVERY PRECIOUS MOMENT WITH MY FAMILY.

Gombak to Kluang

My in-laws have bought a house in Kluang, Johor and last weekend was the moving out exercise from Gombak to Kluang.

Early in the morning, Nabil and my husband went to their house and load all the stuff into the lorry. After that, we departed for Kluang to help them to unload the stuff into the new house. Happy faces in the car after 3 hours journey.

I had prepared four 1-foot long grilled chicken sandwiches, with homemade honey mustard sauce and a little bit of kewpie, and cut some oranges. I also brought along individually packed biscuits with cheese and lemon fillings.

We arrived almost one hour before the lorry does.

The kids help unloading the stuff. The whole unloading process took less than 1 hour.

We went back to Gombak after Isyak. After a few lonnng stops, we arrived home at 2.30am. I went to work the next day.

Medan : Nasi Goreng Gila

At first, I thought it was just a gimmick.

But it turned out that this food is actually exist all over Indonesia. They topped the fried rice with a huge portion of stir-fry vegetable and beef / chicken /  fish, hence the word "gila".

Nasi Goreng = Fried Rice
Gila = Madness / Crazy

Rp11,000 = approx. RM3.50 / USD1.15