IKEA & New stuff for my hamsters!!!

30/7/2010 Friday

I've been here many times already...but this is the first time I went leisurely there with my friends. We were five all together (Hafiz, Noraini, Alia, Wan and I). Well, it wasn't for leisure at all. We have a 15-to-20-page-assignment to complete (Retailing subject - minor code)...haha. Instead of visiting, we were shopping some IKEA stuff. The things captured our eyes and brought about the lost of money..haha. Yeah, because we needed to pay for the stuff taken! For sure! Huhu...
Above picture:
Azwan and Kak Alia are searching for mini plants. Then he bought two plants and two empty porcelain pots.
Below picture:
Hafiz is holding a mini plant which Azwan then bought..Very nice display! I like!Above: Kak Ain is showing 'peace'....

After that, we went to IKEA Mall, level 3. Guess what?! There is "Pet Lovers Center"!!!! It made me crazy! There were countless cute hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and my dream guinea pigs! Hahaha...I saw chinchillas as well...RM320 for one! Sorry that I couldn't capture any photos...we were not allowed to use cameras inside! There were also adorable puppies...pity ones! Huhu....

Surely, I bought something for my hamsters at home. I took 1 kg sand bathing (strawberry scented) - RM14.90, a bottle of multi-vitamin - RM5.80 and a bell-ball - RM1.50.

I went home in a very cheerful mood. I cleaned Gucci and Micci's cage straight away! They seemed really happy with their new strawberry scented bathing sand. I put several drops of vitamin according to the instruction stated on the bottle...don't worry! You know what? The next day (31/7/2010), I saw them mating. Hahaha...it's a good moment! They will possibly get pups soon. I read articles about hamsters (Micci and Gucci are Golden hamsters or Syrian Hamsters) on the internet.

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 "Hamsters are seasonal breeders. Breeding season is from April to October in the northern hemisphere, with two to five litters of 1 to 13 young being born after a gestation period of 16 to 23 days. Gestation lasts 16 to 18 days for Syrian hamsters.

Golden hamster females are also very aggressive toward male hamsters and must be separated immediately after breeding in order to prevent an attack. Female hamsters are also particularly sensitive to disturbances while giving birth and may even eat her own young if she thinks they are in danger, although sometimes she is just carrying the pups in her cheek pouches.

It should also be noted that if a captive hamster is left for extended periods (3–4 weeks and more) with her litter, there is a high possibility that she will cannibalize the litter. It is therefore imperative that the litter be split up by the time the young can collect their own food and water." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamster)

Wow! I was really surprised! I am now eager to know what will happen in 16 days time! Don't worry, I'll update that later!

I have new pets!!! Hamsters!

Long time no see! I've been very busy lately..haha..since I've got my Facebook. I've a lot of stories to tell.......but, I'll post little by little...Daaa!! I have new pets named Gucci (female) and Becky (Male). I bought them accidentally to accompany Micci, my fatty hamster. I'll tell you why and how it accidentally happened next time.

Meet Micci! He has grown very fast as he is now a very fat and big hamster. He's not cute anymore since I realized that he's a male hamster. at the very beginning, I thought he was a female...but he's not anymore - now!

This is Becky...my snow-ball hamster. I bought it weeks ago to accompany Micci, but they fight whenever I put them both together. Yeah, both are males...no wonder they fight. So now, Becky has its own cage...living alone in prosperity and luxury....haha

This is Gucci...she is accompanying Becky in a pink cage. Living with Micci seems alright to her. I hope these newly weds will get children soon!

He's so adorable whenever he becomes a sleeping beauty! Ahhh....

My 20th Birthday...

23^rd December 2009 Wednesday

I’ve never missed my birthday party. It’s not necessarily grand and great…sometimes it flows as plain as having a no-topping-cake or no-candle-cake. To be appreciated by people I love; is perfectly enough. I come from a family culture which appreciates a birth date as an important day in someone’s life, although it is not so much vital to some family cultures. In relation to that matter, we consider a birthday celebration as an event, a festival or an occasion; so it must be respected by the whole family members. It is a gathering day, of course. Sometimes, it becomes more memorable than any other family occasions. Today is my birthday. I am now 20 years old. Usually, we bought a readymade cake, so that we didn’t have to trouble ourselves much in preparing the party. However, my mother wanted to make a change in this tradition. She bought 20 cupcakes and a simple fruit cake. I had to decorate the cupcakes myself.They looked terrible but the taste was as such delicious as my sweat and tears…daaa! Well, never mind! The relatives had so much fun enjoying the cakes and a simple dinner. First, thank you to my mother who has troubled herself so much; going to shop while I was still sleeping on my bed. Thanks for the presents! NIKE bag, (Yan-cousin) Body Glove bag pack and shirts (my mother), Sarawak cake (my father), Dolly blouse, Garfield pillow, a teddy bear (from Kak Dina-cousin), pocket money (Mama-grandmother) and bla bla… Kak Ain (housemate) gave me a Teddy-Pink Hippo…So cute! The most special gift was from my only uncle....a bottle of soy sauce, a sauce container and RM10. I just can't live without soy sauce. Thanks to all my friends who made wishes via SMS!...Fatin, Cak, Kak Farha, Kak Ain, Nasuha from Alexandria, Alia, Azmir, Mun’im from Egypt, Kak Tira & Coozy (who share the same birth date with me), and my father (Luckily, he remembered my special day and brought back a Sarawak cake which I love much)…hahaha. Let’s pray for our peacefulness!

I miss my father....

10.15 p.m. 8^th of January 2010

He called me just now, informing me that my next allowance will be credited this Sunday. I love my dad very much. He never says NO for things I require (needs, wants, attention, love etc.)…surely I’m not a picky one! He’s always there in need. He might be busy all the time and spend less time with me (family), but I’m sure there must be a special space for me in his mind. One of the evidences is he would never forget my birthday, although I did forget his birthday on 1^st November 2009.…. I didn’t wish anything…not even send a message. I was too busy with late assignments and final exams….. BUT! A daughter may forget his father for quite sometimes, but a father will never forget his princess even once.

My Cakes?!

10/11/2009 Tuesday

As semester break begins, I’ve been thinking to bake cakes. One Monday morning, I asked my mother to buy me some ingredients because I knew she is ‘hantu supermarket’. Next day in the evening, I baked two cakes; chocolate cake and orange cake. The taste should be nice….but it became slightly different for several circumstances. I don’t have time to figure out why. Let it be that way. In fact, both cakes were finished. To be precise, the cakes were not baked, but they were steamed. They were nicely steamed in 45 minutes.

As soon as the cakes were ready, my father’s friends came. We did not have anything special to serve, so the cakes had been sacrificed. Although the taste was not as delightful as bakery’s cakes….but I could grade myself 10 marks over 15. Well, they ate the pieces…meaning that they were deliciously alright. Hopefully, they would not get stomachache or something like that.

Actually, my mother manually stirred the dough, not me. She asked me to use the electronic mixer; I said I don’t like my cakes to be technologized. I wanted them to be manually prepared. But, I did not want to mix the dough of both cakes myself. I asked my mother to do the mixing part. I just watched her and give instructions which ingredient to put first and things that followed. She prepared the steamer as well. Then, the cakes were ready to be served! I did not know which part of the cakes was my handmade. Never mind! I still claim that they were my cakes! Why? Because I was the one who gave them flavours! Hahaha…..If you want the recipe, check it out from my older post. I’ve posted the recipe a long time ago. But for these two cakes, put chocolate or orange flavour instead of Horlick. That’s all! Nasuha (my bestfriend who is now in Egypt), try this new recipe..ok?!

A visit.....

4/10/09 Sunday

Saturday night, I went back to my hometown in sudden. Sunday morning, I had an appointment with a company (Rekajati Arkitek Sdn. Bhd.) in Kota Bharu to complete my course assessment. Before going home, I showed a permission letter to Dr. Mazli (The head of programme), so that I would be excluded from Part3 Modul. I did not know that my appointment and the Modul were on the same day. That was why I had to make an apology to be absent during Part3 Modul, and alternatively attend the similar Modul next semester with students from another programme.

Nak dijadikan cerita (The story began), Dr. Mazli was going to Kelantan as well. He said he would call me once he arrived and asked my favour, to accompany him walking around Kota Bharu. It was a hectic day! At the same time, I had a few assignments to complete at home. How could I entertain my lecturer?

Sunday evening. We met at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport. I went there with my mother. Dr. Mazli said, he was waiting for my father. Funny! I did not even know precisely that my father was coming back. Dr. Mazli was actually from Pulau Perhentian, Terengganu with his children. UiTM car took him to Kelantan. He came here (the airport), to send his children home (Kuala Lumpur). At the same time, he promised my father to meet here. My father departed at 4.30 p.m. from a meeting. So they met each other. Dr. Mazli was accompanied by a French friend, Ismail, who he met at Pulau Perhentian. .

I went home with my mother. I had a lot of assignments to do! I let my father to handle the two guys. He took Dr.Mazli and Ismail jalan-jalan around Kota Bharu.

Around 7 p.m., they arrived at my house, a fifteen-year-old house. Luckily it was already dark, so they hardly saw its old paint. They were brought to my father’s orchard in the backyard. There is a small gate to enter the place. There are a lot of salak trees in there.

After Solat Maghrib, they were served a simple evening tea. There were only maruku, kuih lipat, chocolate cupcakes, hot tea and cold Pepsi. That’s all! Nothing much, since it was an urgent visit. We did not have time to prepare anything. Sorry for a very simple service. The most important thing is, we had a memorable chat with the visitors. We exchanged knowledge about France and Malaysia. The similarities and differences were nicely dug out and shared.

Ismail, is not so fluent in English. He can only speak simple English, but passionately tries to be in the conversation. My father does not understand English so much, except ‘yes,no,alright,okay’. He was Arabic-oriented, zero English! So I had to translate much of the conversation so that he would not feel outgroup. Ismail is a good observer. He asked Dr.Mazli, “Why do you speak English with her (me) and you speak Malay Language with him (my father)”. We explained that we are a lecturer and a student. Since my father does not understand English, the medium of instruction must be Malay Language, a language that my father understands. Ismail also wondered why we speak fluent English, instead of ‘his kind of English’. I forgot what we had said.

My father gave both visitors a kain pelikat. Ismail asked whether it was the same thing as he was wearing at that time, pointing at his kain pelikat. Dr. Mazli and my father taught him wearing it before going to masjid just now. He said, “Your father is good (pointing his finger to his head). He knows what I want. I want to ask this, I want it. But he gave this before I ask”. What he said was simple, but the meaning was deeper than that. Again, I was the translator. My father laughed as soon as he got what Ismail meant. Huh! Now, it has made me realize how important English is……..

After that, they were brought to my father’s guest house, Teratak Homestay. I feel so sorry for the very simple service. It is just one of those simple motels, without any air-conditioner. The building is just 500 meters from my house, and one kilometer away from Jelawat Town. Friends may contact me if you don’t have place to stay while visiting Kelantan (ADVERTISEMENT..hahaha).

That night, they accompanied my father taking me to Kota Bharu Bus Station. I was leaving to Shah Alam since I have a class the next morning. Giving a goodbye kiss to my father and waving farewell to Dr. Mazli and Ismail, I left Kota Bharu. Then, my father brought the two visitors to Wakaf Che Yeh, a must-visit-night market! That was also the first time for father going there. Dr. Mazli really wanted to visit the place since Majalah3 has ‘persuaded’ him to go. It is not a night market, actually. It opens 24 hours. I don’t know what’s so special about Pasar Wakaf Che Yeh. I myself haven’t been there, although we pass the place everyday.

So, the moral of the story is….English is the most important medium to speak with the foreigners. Learn it if you don’t want to face troubles. Next, Kelantan is an interesting place to visit. Save your time and money.…everything is here! Hahaha…..come and see it yourself! This is a semester break to all university students.

Cuti-cuti Malaysia…Truly Asia.

Turtle Eggs

Sunday 8/11/2009

Since I have been talking about fish, crabs, tortoises and turtles, I want to tell you about one of my favourite foods. “Favourite” is, in the sense, that I hardly eat it often. Here they are! Turtle eggs!

I vividly remember that one of my friends has asked whether I have consumed turtle eggs. I said, “Yes!”. There are sold in Pasar Siti Khadijah Kota Bharu, but at only several stalls. Since Kelantan is just next to Terengganu, the eggs are easily found here. Well, it is not as widely free as buying chicken eggs, of course. I am not sure whether it is legal to sell turtle eggs nowadays. Never mind! The price of each turtle egg is more expensive, ten times than a chicken egg. But in Sabah, you can easily buy it anywhere for a very cheap price. As cheap as a chicken egg, maybe! I’m not sure. You can ask my friend, Syahmi Mahallo Kapua Maila (http://pahoma.blogspot.com) for further information. His family moves a lot, and currently to Sabah.

To be honest, the taste is not as delicious as dinasour eggs. If you are hungry, you better consume a chicken egg rather than turtle egg! It would be frustrating if you consider a turtle egg as your lauk (main meal), of course. If you are using hands to eat it, do not forget to apply several brands of fragrances/perfumes after that. The egg’s smell can remain for hours on your palms. Yes, because it is consumed uncooked, so it gives an uneasy smell. One Drop perfumes are also acceptable!

A turtle egg is not salty at all, although it is covered by the sea sand. Well, some people might say it is a little salty. But I don’t. It is ‘salty’ in another sense. That’s why I put some soy sauce while eating it. Well, disregard what I’ve said because I put soy sauce in whatever I consume, actually. To my friends that hardly eat such incredible food…. Let’s observe how to eat an uncooked turtle egg (that’s the way it is)!

In The End....

9/11/2009 Monday




That was not the end of the story. At UiTM Melaka during my TESL Foundation, I had a fish (ikan pelaga) called Pepsi. Everybody (friends) knows Pepsi. It was blue in colour, beautifully swam in a crystal pot. Pepsi was more mobile than Tonie and Torie. You know, sometimes it was taken by this fellow, but some other times it was kept by other friends. After that, other people came to borrow it for nights. Oh, dear! It was so strong traveling from room to room, block to block and even place to place. Many liked it.

One lovely morning, I wanted to change its water. I put it in a small glass first. After its house was cleaned, I wanted to put it back into its house. But then, I had to throw the dirty water in the glass so that it would not pour into its clean house. To eliminate the water, I slowly dropped it from my room window. I carefully did, so that only water dropped, not the fish. But, it was a predestination of it. It was unintentionally thrown down together with the water in the bloody glass. Aiyok! I did it… For your information, my room was located at the second floor…poor Pepsi! He became a stunt man that day!

Then, I rushed to the ground floor to find Pepsi. It was looping in pain on the cement floor. What have I done! This was an accident…hopefully not a sin. I was too afraid to take it, to touch it or whatever to put it back into a glass of water. Like I said, I don’t like to touch pets; I only like to watch them. What was I going to do?! I watched Pepsi in pain.

Later on, Umi, the wife of a resident staff came and asked me, “What’s that Ninie?”. I said, “It’s a fish. I accidentally dropped it down from the window while changing its water”. “Ninie! Take it! Adoi, budak ni!”. The only word I could say was, “Geli!”.

Then she took Pepsi and put it into the glass I hold. Well done! I took it back upstairs. That night, I saw Pepsi floating unconsciously on the water. I knew, I could not bring it to the clinic or where else. That was the end of Pepsi’s life. I don’t what to say that I myself ended its life. My friends scolded me and some made me a laughing stock. Sakey, my former classmate who always took Pepsi to her room had a great surprise. Huhu..I am sorry. It was a tragic accide nt, I supposed.

NINJA....the kungfu crab

9/11/2009 Monday

I love pets which do not require much pamper, instead of cats, which we have to touch them for care. I choose fish or reptiles, rather than such creatures…..I don’t like cats, I’m sorry if the cats lovers would feel uneasy. Cats are cute, but I don’t like the moments they show their sharp nails! Never mind….

I love reptiles and aquatic creatures, which has their own world like in the water (fish, prawns, lobsters) or they have their own house to carry (cengkerang) like tortoises, river turtles and crabs; they are more alive to my eyes. I don’t have to touch them, but watch them! I had, once, a crab…I named it Ninja. Why? The reason was because it liked to show a ninja’s steps whenever we went close to it.

My housemates also loved it. One day, I brought it home since I was afraid that I could look after it while I was having the final examination week at the campus. I gave to my youngest sister to look after it, at my hometown. It came to death a couple of weeks ago for no reasons. Well, actually there must be a reason which I haven’t time to discover yet. My father buried it somewhere….I don’t know, near my house. The thing I regret most is not Ninja’s price (RM20.00), but the responsibility that I couldn’t hold in raising it. I bought it for the sake that I didn’t like to see it fighting with its other friends, in Aquarium (name of aquatic pets shop) next to Wet World Shah Alam. Well, let bygones be bygones.

At least, I still have Rikka (female) and Kuga (male) with me, the two river turtles from Brazil. They were bought in Shah Alam, of course. I hope they will last long, for at least a few couple years like Tonie and Torie had. Well, who are Tonie and Torie?

A long time ago, I had Tonie and Torie but they met their death after years. I was and I am still mobile….I brought Tonie and Torie wherever I went, in a mobile aquarium. They might always feel pening-pening and finally died. Poor pets!