Horoscope

Feb 24, 2008 - We have just finished another weekend house gathering with friends, we were the hosts today. I cooked pork adobo, beef stroganoff and Manny took care of the buttered shrimp - I am glad guys you liked it. I hope you enjoyed it here in our humble Ipoh abode. As you can see, we are days away before we repat to the Phils, so we savor the last moments with our friends here in Ipoh. After cleaning up the bedroom and bathing the kids, and whilst waiting for Manny to finish mopping the floor downstairs, I get hold of the laptop.

I opened up my Yahoo! to check my mails, and I saw my horoscope for today - February 24, 2008. I don't really believe on horoscope but once in a while, when I happen to see it on print, i read it. This one came in quite timely... read on... coincidence?, i think not....

There are many different paths for you to follow today, but don't waste your time trying to figure out which one to switch to. You can't pick a path today -- it will pick you! And don't be disappointed if the stars say that you need to continue on the path you are already on. Just because it is familiar to you does not mean that it won't offer you a lot of opportunity for growth. Give things a chance -- sometimes the same-old, same-old can offer some wonderful new surprises! Just you wait.

Ipohenos, Ipohenas - taking their lunch at our home in Tasek, Ipoh. From the left is Mela, Beth, Mabel, my handsome hubby and daddy Mike. Masarap ba ang adobo ko?

Kasama sa kain ang chika, ano na bang topic yun ulit?

Beth and family needed to leave for a while for the food tasting at Hill City where Raya's (their daughter) 7th birthday will be held, this coming April 12. We decided to come along to see the place, we won't be in Ipoh anymore to attend the party. hhhhaaay!

Raya and Nicole food tasting at Hill City, Ipoh

One fine afternoon chat and food tasting with the Elonas and Alcalas.


Ganito ka ayos sa bahay pag may session. Wala nang hapunan, order na lang sa Pizza Hut! From the left is my neighbor friend Nona, Dhoms, Beth and Tita Carmela (that's what Nicole calls her, full name e). Mami-miss ko tong mga to, super.

O Pusoy naman ba? From the left is Julius, Gudo, Mike, Russel and my guwapong hubby.

Stolen shot kuno, di kaya ma-raid ang bahay nito?

Raya and Nicole - parehong maganang kumain... Pizza Hut lang solve na'ng dinner..

Next week, it'd be on Tita Mabel's house. See you on the next re-match...

Leaving soon?

February 21, 2008 Thursday - Hhhhaaay, it's 7:56 am, just came in from outside the house. It's another fine cold morning in Ipoh. I just sent my daughter to school, her excitement to ride the school bus never ceased since day one. She smiles and waves goodbye as the bus leaves. I loaded our laundry to the washing tub, swept the floor downstairs, take out our planned meat/fish from the freezer for it to thaw in time for lunch prep, wash my Avent steam sterilizer and the feeding bottles and if I am too sleepy to proceed, I just go up and slumber back to bed and cuddle my almost-awake honeypunch. I usually wake up around 5:30 - 6 am, still dark as night outside, so it's the perfect time for me to pray and talk to the Lord. Yes, totoo yun, mas peaceful and fervent magdasal sa madaling araw or at dawn (bukang liwayway ba yun) - nakakagaan ng pakiramdam. Thank you Lord for giving me another day, please give me strength, wisdom and compassion to finish all the things I need to do today and perform my role as mom and wife, keep us safe here, bless my family in the Phils and .......... at the end of the day, bring back my daughter and honeypunch safely home. I miss them already.


Just recently, I have overcome my homesickness. I have been home sick since the day I arrive here in Ipoh (Aug 3'07), friends, gatherings and a few trips banishes it temporarily but at night when I lay my back in bed, I imagine our Gen Tri house, my mom, my family and friends, my neighbors back in the Phils. My homesickness slowly faded away by the end of January'08 - took 5 months ey. I now look forward to more "gala", bonding times with my girl friends, our food trips, i-chats, our very late kwentuhan ni manny...etc... Then last Monday Feb 18, sabi ni Manny sa Tesco doing our grocery, "o ney, wag ka na bumili ng toyo/suka kasi hanggang March na lang tayo dito" - that was a whirlwind of a news. Sabi ko lang, "uh ok". Though I knew that we were going home soon, I didn't expect it to be this soon, as in March na, as in now na?

Nag-hang up ako but we continued to finish our grocery sabay bitbit ng pampasalubong, Ipoh white coffee, powdered detergent, fabric softener etc etc - mag-uuwi ako nito kasi mas mura dito. Well, so much for that shopping stuff....

I can still remember when we first arrived here in Ipoh, I knew our lives will never be the same. I was really sad to leave our home in Phils - my close friends know the reasons why. Manny and I are both somewhat clingy to our family, friends, places - parehong bunso yata kami. But, don't get me wrong we're living our married life independently and happily naman. It's just that pag meron kaming naging ka-close, nalulungkot kaming mahiwalay, lalo na yung aming sanctuary (bahay lang yun) - may separation anxiety ba. When we left, there is excitement, anxiety but full of hope. That was August 2007.

After ~ 6 months of living in Ipoh, we're going home. Just when I started having good friends, our weekend get-aways, pasyal dito, pasyal doon, kain dito, kain doon. Kulang pa nga eh, bitin!

I just prayed and I always knew there is a good reason, other than work. Maybe the Lord saw how I miss home (nag-blog pa nga ako last Nov07), how I think of my mom and so afraid of hearing the phone ring and magsabing may sakit nanay ko or what have you, may He saw how I am not so pleased with the schooling here (I really preferred schooling sa Pinas by the way)...etc. etc.

Well, whatever the reasons are, I fully trust on Him as I always did. There are lots of things, especially folks, I will miss in Ipoh, but I can see that when I go home, hindi ganun kalaking adjustment - it's where I wanted to be in the first place. Lagi rin kasing pauwi ang isip, kaya pauwi na nga talaga.

To my close friends, I can't thank you enough guys and gurls. Alam niyo na kung sino-sino kayo. I will definitely keep in touch. Dito pa rin ako magbi-birthday na magiging despedida pala. It was a pleasure to have met you, all the best and I will see you in Pinas! God Bless us all.

A Fine Day in Taiping - Town of Everlasting Peace

February 7, 2008 - We welcomed the Chinese New Year with a short visit to Taiping, Perak. We were with the Cornejo family (a.k.a. Mabel and Dhoms' hehehe). Our plan was to bring the kids to Taiping Zoo, typical trip I should say, but not until we decided to hang out a while in Bukit Larut (formerly known as Maxwell Hill). It was a thrilling experience and I do not want to explain here, just go there and see for yourself. LOL! It really pays to research about the place before going there so you can make the most out of your trip. Let me share a few..

Taiping is in the district of Larut Matang, which was made famous by the discovery of tin in the town of Klian Puah - this is what is presently known as Taiping. This "town of everlasting peace" was the first tin-mining town in Malaysia. Indeed, Taiping was a pioneer town where many firsts arose. To mention a few of the strings of firsts, it was the first major town developed by the British, and the first official administrative center of Perak and other Malay states. It is where the first Hill resort is - Maxwell Hill built in 1844, the country's first swimming pool (The Burmese pool built in 1870), the first port Kuala Sepetang (formerly named Port Weld, built in 1877) and where the first Lake Gardens and Zoo (established in 1880) is. Others are too many to mention.... thus, positions Taiping as Perak's foremost heritage town.

We hope to come back and explore other places of interest in Taiping. For now, we are down with the two - Taiping Zoo and Bukit Larut. Enjoy our visit!

The Beauty of my family and Bukit Larut

I have to train my kids to look at the camera, unlike mommy - never fails to smile even on a hot sunny day.

In the zoo, there's a train that will take you around the area. This is good especially if you have kids, but if you want to take a good shot of the animals, you need to stroll hehehe... Also, drink plenty of water, need to rehydrate on a warm day, see Maqs below as his dad wipes his sweat. Neneng and Nicole sat in front of the train to get the full view.

Taiping Fauna

Ang init po! at the Flamingo area

With my best pal Mabel and kids, we both love the flamingos.... so we really endured the afternoon heat!

Me and my loves with Mr. Pampa

Cool, smart kids!

In front of Taiping zoo with Tropang Makulit

There is no other transpo in going up Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill) but on a landrover and for a good reason - the slopes are very steep combined with the elevated sharp curves. It's as if doing an extreme and elevated U-turn on a single narrow lane - no slips ey. This is the ride of my life, sabi nga ni Dhoms 50/50 ang buhay namin dito, pag nagkamali driver hulog kami sa bangin. So we opt to put the kids at the back for safety reasons. Pero smile pa rin!!! Charge to experience lah...

Posing downward the hill, very refreshing because of the cold breeze!

This day we're lucky coz we're waitlisted in going up the hill. The front desk officer advised us that we should have gotten a ticket early in the morning and around that time, it's fully booked. They only allow a few folks up the hill as the area is easily congested and the ride going up/down has a schedule we need to comply with. Other walk-in visitors were not given the chance. Sabi ko kasi Pinay kami at galing pa kami ng KL (with paawa effect) Well, patience is indeed a virtue. This is Dhoms with our angels waiting and hoping we'll be given a go-signal to go up...

With my family on Maxwell Hill, always hold your kids. If they accidentally tripped on anything, they'll be rolling down the hill.. Now you wouldn't want that... hehe

Group picture

Taiping City as viewed from Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill)

The Hanging Bridge

Enjoying the heights with my dear ones

Mga poging mister, tipid naman ng ngiti niyo. Mainit ba?

I love this view! Can't explain enough....

It takes 4 hrs to go up Bukit Larut on foot, buti na lang may land rover. Next time, lakad naman tayo pataas... kaya niyo yon?

We enjoyed the park in front of Taiping zoo. This is where we picnicked and ate our lunch, I brought pork ("babi" in Malay) adobo and Mabel had chicken ("ayam" in Malay). Just knew that, we should opt to bring halal foods during outdoors. At other places, guards approach you and ask what you're eating - must be halal lah. Kaya dali daling inubos ang aking pork adobo. Haaayy dami namang bawal.

Si Maqs, nagka-episode pa ng poopoo kaya heto naka-bold. Parks here go with a good playground, kaya enjoy to the max si Nicole and Neneng.

Ang Pogi at Hubong bata.. Nasan ba ang nanay nito? Bakit di bihisan?

Smiles from Taiping

Cheers! Ang saya saya....

Huwag ka malikot Maqs!

"It's so high mom" sabi ni Nicole. Sarap dito!

My favorite shot of Cornejo family - ang aming kafatid sa galaan, maasahan!

I missed daddy in this shot, bakit nga ba ikaw pa ang kumuha? Wala ka tuloy sa tabi ko... Hindi sanay na wala ka sa tabi ko.... Love you ney!

Pagod na ba kayo? Yung elephant pagod na... nasa lilim na siya..

Well, this ends our day. We were driving home around 5pm in the afternoon, it only takes ~45 minutes from Ipoh exit - Taiping exit. Sulit, hindi pagod. While driving home, we just realized it's February 7 2008 - this is the date I said yes to Manny, kaya 10 years ko na siyang boyfriend this day, kaya pala feeling light and good kami today. I love you ney!

Nicole's First Days in school

"All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go ... I'm standing here outside your door.... Already I'm so lonesome ...." haay naku! What a song! I don't know but this song keeps on playing on my mind as I prepare my daughter to go to school for the first time. September 3, 2007 Monday - this is Nicole's first day in school. She entered Kinderland on a Nursery level (4-year old) as here in MY they go by the age of your child for the current year. Nicole is 4 years, 4 months and 20 days old when she went to school.

Bilib talaga ako sa anak ko, even on her first day in school I never saw any sign of fear nor apprehension - very excited and enthusiastic, I should say. She always looks forward to "what lies ahead" in school that day. Ti's the opposite of her mom, I can still remember when I first went to nursery school in Bago Bantay, Quezon City. I'd never, even for a minute, let my mother be lost from my sight. It's good I never have to undergo the same thing for Nicole. In fact, I was the one who has this separation anxiety with my daughter. I knew my week day mid-mornings will never be the same, she's not in the house anymore during this time - and I start to miss her just thinking about it. Good thing, Maqs (my son) is still around to "run around" the house, his noisy, cute giggles is indeed, music to my ears.

Nicole was so excited she asked me to take a picture of her first bag, bought in Jusco mall, Ipoh. It's somehow (but not close) equivalent to SM Shoemart back in Philippines.

"Mom, can we go down the stairs now?" Don't wanna be late.... :o)

This is Kinderland, my daughter's first school. "Tadika" is a Malay word which means kindergarten, "Taska" means nursery.

Nicole Christianne Fabro Martin - yup that's me!

"Hello, am waiting for my school bus" - one of the good reasons she's eager to go to school.

On the first day, Nicole didn't take the school bus though. I'd like to be there on her first day so Manny drove the 3 of us (me, Maqs and Nicole) to school. School time starts at 9 am, and ends up at 12:30 pm. This is Nicole's classroom, she belongs to Pumpkin class. She takes a sip of water from her tumbler, every now and then - just like mommy. At first, she'd observe her classmates and tries to mingle up a bit with them.

This is where they put their bags.

Every Monday, there is Water Play session for the kids. Their teacher spends time looking after them and giving each child a bath after - quite tiring I think! Thus, every Monday I would put her swimwear, towel and new clothes on her bag.

Hhhmm.... Nicole is bigger and chubbier than her classmates. Obvious ba?

OK, here's something I told her. When somebody tries to bully her, do fight back then call the attention of your teacher, isumbong mo agad. At least nakaganti ka na.. hehehe. I guess this is what she did. Well, you can't blame me, we're in a foreign country and I don't like the idea of other kids bullying her, she should be able to stand up and be tough for herself, I won't be around all the time. Wag kang papatalo anak! It's how a mother is - kind and nurturing but tough when it comes to her kids well being and safety!

This is the play area, just beside the pool. Maqs enjoyed it here with Nicole's classmates, one of them is Erin Legasto, also Pinoy kid hehehe. If the child doesn't want to have water play, they stay here until the session is over.

Nicole's first classmates

Hey Maqsi! Enjoy na enjoy ka diyan ha....

Wall paintings on the water play area.... Nice lah!

Erin and the twins, forgot their names already

While Nicole is busy, Mom took a quick tour of the area. This is the restroom area for the kids, bowls are custom fit to cater for the height of the kids. This is smaller than the ordinary ones we have.

These are for the boys and wash area as well. Cute sizes...just right for Nicole. They toilet train the kids here, if still needs to.

This is the sleeping area for children under the day care program - for those whose parents are both working, the Kinderland center provides bed and cover so kids can have "siesta".

For year 2007, Kinderland held its Family Open Day in school last November 3.

They displayed all the Arts & Crafts finished products - all made by the kids during their Arts & Crafts classes.

Hhhmm.. I wonder where my daughter's work is...

Hello! Maqs is scared of Mr. Clown but posing pa rin mommy...

My bundles of joy, tingin naman kay Daddy!

Nicole with Tito Eric Legasto, Mr. Bear and "Pogi" - Eric's son

This is at the back of Kinderland, rest for a while kids...

Play area in front of the school

Mommy's little girl in Kinderland

A pose with Nicole's first teacher, Mrs. Joeginder, a.k.a. "Mrs. Joe"

Tama ba yan daddy, isabit ang anak sa puno? Maqs on one of the trees in Kinderland, courtesy of Daddy. Pag-tripan ba si Maqs...

Nicole on her waiting days for school bus, in front of our house in Tasek... She wears this pair of shirt-shorts during her Kinderfit class - similar to P.E. class.

Joking around with Mom, love you dear...

Tagal naman dating school bus, hinahantok na tuloy hako....

A bright day, A bright kid! Yes, That's Nicole!!

Hope you enjoyed reading!