Last 2 days in Jakarta

On Thursday Nas,my father and I went to Poins Mall nearby. My sister bought more swimsuits, a cake for Sadd, dvds and some more nigella sativa. The bottle for 210 capsules costs IDR 40,000. I bought a Mustika Ratu Taman Heritage Avocado mask at the Giant supermarket for IDR 56700. It is availlable here at the Mustika Ratu headquarters in KL .After that we went home. There is a surprise for Sadd who will be coming home from the convocation  tonight.

The last day was spent at the Taman Safari Indonesia in Bogor. It was an hour drive and we came out early in the morning past some nice villages. We arrived early about 8.45 if I am not mistaken. The Safari is in a sprawling land and we stopped to buy some carrots for the animals. Sure enough the Zebras and the Lllamas and the deers along with the monkeys were waiting to be fed. Irfan watched the windows for the right height. In another car Hamzah got bitten by a Zebra . It was a first experience for me. After looking at the tigers and the lions we went to the souvenir shop and fed the elephants and had photographs taken at with a leopard , a snow tiger and an Orang Utan.We received the good news that Rafiq had a baby girl named Rania Z.Then off we went to a sit down restaurant. That was the last night in Jakarta. It is a nice place to be , with the wonderful food and friendly people to be around. We got home yesterday after 10  fine days of in Jakarta at Sadd's house .At night we went to visit Rafiq's daughter at the Pusrawi hospital.

Jalan Jalan di Jakarta Day 7

Today we went to Cilandak Town square to meet Nas's friend who studied with her in  the US. At the mall which is nice with lots of  nice looking restaurants. We settled for a restaurant called the Malay Village.

We had mostly fish ,sweet and sour style , fish in butter sauce, mango salad , chicken curry and some nice chicken dish . The dishes are not spicy .After that we had cendol with startling green cendol with ice cream and some durian. The food is wonderful , everyone was happy. I was . After that Nas's friend,Mrs Eff went back to her office, we browsed around the stalls which is ladies day today. There were many dresses around , mostly up to date blouses  and chiffon maxi , the craze now. The price of the blouses is from IDR 500,000 while the chiffon dresses are about IDR 900,000. After gazing around, we went to see abang's fencing competition at the private school. Sadd went back to UITM today for her convocation as she had received her PHD. After a long wait at the school for the competition , it turned out that it was only practice. So we went back waiting in the long traffic jam and arrived at 6 pm. Tonight there will be chicken rice prepared by Nas.

Jalan Jalan di Jakarta

Yesterday we , my parents, sisters and I ,were treated to facial treatment and massage at  a spa called Dian Kenanga. It has rustic charm . The place has a treatment called totok aura  which is said to promote youthfulness without going under  surgery. There are some nice scrubs ,body cream which cost IDR 70,000 for the large size and organic food.

In the morning we were treated with some breakfast meals, some fried dishes or goreng-gorengan  to go along with tea. Some nibbles with tofu and tempe.  After going to the spa , we went for lunch at the Kemiri restaurant at a nice mall,called Pejaten  Village here  and again the rustic ambiance of traditional life and traditional food were  everywhere.  Something like Marche.We had some Sundanese fare, some lamb chops and roast lamb or "Kambing guling"  . The roast lamb cost IDR 49,000.Here the food goes with kecap manis , Indonesian soya sauce and green birds' eye chilies. I also found out a dish with fried bananas and cheddar cheese. Very nice.At night the menu was fish curry, fried chicken and a large fish bought at the market in the morning.

The next day  which is today, we went to Cempaka Mas mall for shopping, there were many shops with friendly shop assistants. We went to buy telekong , or prayer garments, muslimah swimming suits ,blouse , baby and children clothes  and tudong or head scarf. The telekong cost from IDR 200,000 to IDR 350,000.  The nicer ones cost IDR 900000 with nice bags, they do give discount.I also bought a bottle of black cumin, or habbatusauda for IDR 45000. Tonight Sadd made mee Udang, very nice with all the condiments. Today in the evening it rained heavily and the weather is cloudy.

Pulau Umang Island Resort and Spa

Food at the Rhino Restaurant

Nice beds

Shower

The Lounge

Yesterday all  the family woke very early to go to an island. After 5 hours we reached our destination along the sea and the quaint villages. After having a satisfying  lunch at the Rhino Restaurant , we headed gear to the Umang  Island  resort. We met our ever so friendly guide for the day , Hancher. We were very pleased to see our cottage. There were three cottages. The bed was upstairs with the romantic  mosquito net and white bed sheets. The toilet is large and so resort like. At night we had dinner with candle light atmosphere listening to  romantic songs requested by Sadd .The food was grilled fish , prawn ,squid and salad with all the desserts. Then we were asked to stand up after Hancher sang his Pulau Umang song. I was surprised and touched as everyone sang a happy birthday song for me . Along with Maryam we blew the candle on the "ice-cream" birthday cake.

At home both of us had cut a chocolate cake too. So I am now  45 years of age. After my parents went back to the cottage  , all of us went for a karaoke session belting most of  the 80's romantic hits.

The next day after breakfast all of us went for snorkelling at another island. I did not try snorkelling as I was afraid. Then there was jet ski and most of us had sun burn. We later found out at home. After snorkelling  there was lunch . A satisfying lunch .  The staff at this resort  are  very friendly , the service is wonderful with smiles especially our guide . Mr H. We departed with smiles and a lot of photos. We went back and arrived home seven hours later and Sadd had prepared Soto very quickly. So there goes the day at Pulau Umang beach resort. A first time for me he he he.

Jakarta Holidays Day one

I am here in Jakarta , a long planned holiday with my parents and Nas and her family. It was a treat for me too , he he . We woke up at 3.30 am to get the 6.20 am flight on Air Asia. Nas went on another flight later. After two hours we finally reached Jakarta. Jakarta is lush and tropical and the people are very friendly. Sadd was already waiting for us. After one hour we reached her spacious and lovely  house . I was waiting to meet the house cat, a very large  Persian cat call Fan---sha. She was plump and I could touch her but she scampered upstairs. We had Bakso in the afternoon , we ate twice. I dozed off , at night we have guests, my cousin who is married to a local lady and their daughter. It was roasted fish, some salad , Indonesian style , I forgot the name and a very nice tom yam.

Kittens

I have two kittens now, brought home by their mother . Jingga's girl friend Pinky which is not Pink at all. One has three colours , white , orange and black and another an all black kitten with blue eyes. The kittens are now  bold enough to come into the house. It is raining in KL. I have not named them yet..  Another pair is Kiki and Koko and Awang. The big cat.

Today I saw that I have two spots on  my  eyelids. I have rubbed a black head with bicarbonate soda and water and it hurts. Now I am wearing bedak sejuk on my face as there is redness . Today my mother cooked masak asam ikan Mayong, or sour fish. I hope that is the translation, with mustard greens,  fruit salad and salted egg. My favourite. My mother had roasted some ground nuts and blend the nuts and add some rojak sauce. So it becomes a nice fruit salad sauce. My niece , Maryam got 5As for her UPSR examination . Her mother Nas was ecstatic.

Penang holiday and food

                                                   Healthy Bones day at Gurney Plaza

                                          Roast Lamb and Briani at Hameediah Restaurant

Last Friday my parents and I were treated to a flight to Penang by my sister Nas.Before leaving we had some noodle at the Noodle restaurant at the airport. We had some dry Hong Kong and Taiwanese dry noodle . My parents had the one with wantan and I had the one with beef. The Firefly  flight to Penang was one hour. When we arrived , we were whisked to dinner again at Pak Hussein Tomyam. This is the second time I have been here. We have Thai fare . It was nice with fish, kerabu sotong, kailan , squid in batter and apple juice.

The next day we went to see my nephew's kindergarden concert. He was one of the contestants from the east coast. The next day we went to see my niece at her Taekwondo practice at Queensbay mall. We went to Borders  bookstore and lingered on. After that we went to have some bryani at Hameediyah restaurant at Campbell street.My father said it has been around for  decades. We had roast lamb and bryani rice and all the condiments.Maryam had chicken tandoori. After paying we realised that  there is another new restaurant just a few steps away ,the tandoori one. Next time we will got there.At night Nas brought us to another restaurant near the seaside called the Seri Pantai Tom yam.We had grilled fish , cockles and others. It rained everyday in Penang. 

Then the next day went to Gurney Plaza for my nephew Hamzah , colouring contest. His kindergarden KTM, had participated in the Healthy Bones day . After one hour we went for lunch at the Awet Muda  restaurant which is an  open air restaurant    at the road side. We had malay food with bean sprouts in coconut milk, grilled sting ray and a lot of ulam greens basically . I could not resist the banana flower  or jantung pisang and sambal. The last day was spent  at the hair dresser. I had a hair cut and hair colour , my mother too had her hair done. A treat from my sister Yati, he he he.So there goes four days  of  niceties in Penang.Penang is a nice place especially  the houses near the hospitals with old trees.