Funny Fella

L-R: Marie, Sparkle,Simba

Liya drew spiky durian last night. She was trying to complete all assignments from last year. She missed many days due to asthma. I did not force her but being so dilligent, she wants to do so. Girls and boys are so different…

Ajib was checking out Picasa. On the home computer, we have saved many photos of Simba, Sparkle and Marie. Facebook and Flickr are great because Liya and Ajib could see the photos.  So we could publish some photos. Only Simba is still alive and chasing his mother’s tail. Sparkle and Marie could be waving from the heavens.

I was so glad we could still make fun of each other. The durian looked so funny and at least Liya has tried to draw on her own. Some skills must be learned through the long and hard way. No shortcuts!

Fruity Story

Fruity Fiesta

Fruit carving is an art in Malaysia. Watermelon, pineapple and honeydew are people’s favourites at the bride and groom’s main table.

Durian and coffee can never be mixed because both are said to have ‘heaty’ properties. Honeydew and milky drinks may have contradictory benefits. Coconut drink (juice) reduces the healing power of modern medicine but possibly able to aid the fetal development to produce jaundice-free babies. Watermelon may aggravate a cough and langsat must be avoided if one has weak knees.

Liya loves sweet succulent watermelon whereas Ajib loves oranges…

Green Weekend

Tapioca plant

Liya and Ajib learned about many trees, some bearing fruits, some reaching the clouds, some maintaining the shady branches..

Bananas can be made into chips, sweet porridge, or banana fritters and banana balls. Ajib and Liya saw many other plants too: durian, dragonfruit, tapioca and heliconia.

Ants, bees and worms were found in abundance as well. Liya and Ajib tried to find caterpillars but in vain. Chirping birds and singing birds made our day fun.

There was a rake, a spade and a few planter’s hats. Liya and Ajib played with the dirt. They noticed the flower buds and dying brown wrinkly leaves. Also, There were bushes (tapioca), (pumpkin) crawling and climbing plants (local green bean) with purple and yellow and pink flowers.

We setup our blue canvas dome tent, spreading the sleeping bags over the thin mattress. The truth is, Ajib and Liya only had a drink inside the tent and glanced through several books but never slept inside the tent at nightfall.