All About Your Child

Lots of ‘First Time Experiences’ for my children this June Holiday, but the most ‘First Time Experiences’ happened in that 3D2N  Batam Trip.
First time staying overnight in a foreign country.

First time spending the nights in a hotel.
First time sleeping in an air-conditioned room (that is not inclusive of the hospital stays when they were first borne)

First time touching a luggage and pulling it around everywhere as if it was their little pet.

First time taking a ferry.

There was the air-con deck and the ‘breezy’ deck. We chose the latter. We prefer to feel the wind combing our hair.

First time visiting the super tiny and cramp toilet on the ferry.

First time holding, spending and counting Indonesia rupiah.
First time eating dinner in a hotel.

Kids had spaghetti bolognese and they LOVED IT TO THE CORE! Binbin licked his plate clean man! It was pretty special that they included crunchy garlic bread on the plate as well.

First time on a tour bus.
First time being guided around by an uncle (i.e. tour guide) who could not stop talking and telling jokes. *giggle*

Well, he definitely left an impression on Keatkeat. Keatkeat now remembers him as Harry Potter. *smile*

Binbin could hold the Zzz monster no more and fell asleep on my lap, while we were still touring on the tour bus, from one shop to another. Hhhmmm… and because of his surrender to the Zzz monster, I missed out on a shop which sold Super Yummy Honey Cake! Oooohhhh Yum!

But what was more amazing is they get to be massaged by professional masseuse for the VERY FIRST TIME!

For their very first massage, they did not opt for the oil, so it was just skin-to-towel-and-towel-to-skin massage. The masseuses were pleasantly shocked to see the two small-bodies infront of them and looked towards Allan and I for a confirmation. *giggle*

My boys were their very first kid-client. *smile*

The masseuses were giggling and chatting with each other in their language, to every reaction from my boys.

Binbin was GIGGLING almost NON-STOP!!! “This is so ticklish! *giggle giggle*” His giggles made the masseuses giggled that much more.

*laugh*

Keatkeat was going, “Aaawwww…. this is soooo shiok!”

*laugh*

Because my children bodies were so small, the masseuses did the routine twice for them, to last the full hour.

At the end of the session, here’s what they have to say:-

Keatkeat: “Mommy, can I have massage for all three days?”

Binbin: “Yes yes yes! I want too! But the next time, I want OIL!”

Keatkeat: “Yes yes! I want OIL too!”

*laugh*

(part 2 of our first day to be continued…)

Today, we celebrate our 11th Wedding Anniversary. A day full of lows and highs. Disappointment as well as excitement.

Lows:
We went to Friends Restaurant for the very first time. I had wanted a meal at that place for a long time now, but the price of the food kept me away. Well, my wish came true when I managed to get vouchers for this restaurant. But after my experience there, I wished I did not get this opportunity to visit. Read about my experience in my personal blog under the blog post title: “Friends Restaurant @ Jelita – Will I Recommend?”

Highs:
Because of our disappointing lunch, Allan thought of uplifting our low spirits by suggesting to drive in to Malaysia for the very first time on our own to savor cheap and delicious kelong style seafood. We have heard much but have never dare venture in without any ‘human-guidance‘ before. So after the unsatisfactory lunch at Friends Restaurant @Jelita off we went back  home for our passports, rested for a couple of hours before we set off on our Anniventure (Anniversary + Adventure) at 5.30pm *Super Grin*

Disappointment:
Those couple of hours at home were well spent on the internet, searching for reviews on different kelong seafood restaurants in Johor Bahru; as well as the driving directions. The directions given by different bloggers, seemed so straight forward and simple. The map looked so direct and clear.

But when we were on the road itself, there were so many small intersections that were not mentioned by the ‘direction-provider‘ and there were so many split roads that were not stated in the Google map, which we printed.

There were some road names that were given by the ‘bloggers‘, were not written on the road signsboards on the streets of Malaysia. So at every split road, we had to take a 50/50 chance every single time.

Excitement:
Guess what? In the end we got lost! Seriously lost! Instead of a 30 to 45 mins drive to reach the destination, we reach there after MORE THAN 2 HOURS!!! Thank goodness we managed to find someone who could speak English, was filling up his car with fuel in a remote Shell petrol station. None of the staff at the petrol kiosk knew how to speak English! *faint*

After what seemed like clear instructions were given, we ended up driving into lanes full of sand and rocks, which were totally pitch black, not a single street lamp was in sight. Without our car’s high beam, we could hardly see beyond 10metres.

It was really scary and worrying for Allan. But I was having so much fun. *laugh* It felt like we were racing in the Amazing Race! The difference was, we had two little kiddos sitting at the backseat, who kept chanting, “Don’t tell me we are lost?!”

*laugh*

We were definitely racing against time, my boys were getting hungry. It was definitely dinner time for them ~ 8.30pm! And we have no idea where we were yet!

Suddenly we saw a motorcycle’s small beam of light, moving about 50meters away from us. It looked like firefly! We tried to drive towards it but we were caught in the middle of some wet sand, or should I say dry mud.

There was also a big raised sandy platform that was separating us from the motor cycle. And by the time we could get up onto that raised sand platform, the motorcycle’s small beam of light was no where in sight already. *heart sank*

Allan was feeling really helpless and worried, while I was bubbling with excitement! *laugh* Because finally I know vehicles do drive in here. We just had to wait.

Indeed a car came and we followed it as if it was our GPS! *laugh*

Yeah!!! After a couple of minutes, we were on the road. But NONE of the STREET LAMPS were working! So we were still driving with our high beam on.

Just when we were trying to look out for road signs, we saw the sign of the ‘Restoran Todak’!!! Our Destination Found Finally!!! But we had drove passed it. We were about 100meters away from that signboard! *Scream*

I told Allan to reverse, but he disagreed, thinking its a dangerous move in an almost totally darkness road with fast moving vehicles. So we stopped. Turned on our hazard lights and looked around. Then we saw cars driving towards us, in OUR DIRECTION! Are we going to collide???!!!! Damn!

Luckily they reacted fast and went to another lane. *phew*

Not one, not two but quite a few cars were driving AGAINST THE TRAFFIC in that pitch dark road!!!

But we noticed one common thing about these cars which were disobeying the traffic arrows, ALL OF THEM TURNED INTO the small lane, where THE RESTORAN TODAK signboard was!

Ok, we concluded in our minds that THAT was the ONLY way to get to our destination.

And so, looking out for headlights of moving cars, very carefully, we made an obviously illegal U-Turn and started Racing in the opposite direction to that of the arrow on the road; and zoomed into the small lane where the signboard said “Restoran Todak“. DareDevil indeed!

Through the long winding road of that small lane, Allan’s heart finally could beat at normal rate. *laugh* I felt a great sense of satisfaction and gave my man a slap on his chest and cheered, “Well Done Dearie!” *Grin*

For the food review, you can check out my personal blog under the blog post title, “Seafood in Johor Bahru“

After the sumptuous and fulfilling dinner, the kids get to see how their food was ‘fished’ up from the sea. Its definitely a first time experience for them.

They loved the place so much, it was a little challenging to get them to leave. They kept saying, “Mommy, wait! See this. See that.” whenever we say, “Come on, let’s go, Gorgor needs to wake up at 6am tomorrow for school.”

The drive to the Johor causeway was less challenging, as I grew more confident when I see familiar buildings or structures. There was even a distance when I could put down the map on hand and simply direct Allan based on my memory. *giggle*

The moment we touch Singapore land, Allan and I clapped and cheered so loudly, “YEAH!” *laugh*

We wanted to head for the professional car wash before heading home, because the wheels and the lower half of the car were full of mud and sand. But it was past 11pm, thus the cash wash area was closed.

The next morning, even after a big scrub by the professionals, who were REALLY UNWILLING to clean our car, marks of our adventure we had the night before were still very visible. *sigh*

Happy 11th Anniversary Dearie!

Definitely the most unforgettable way to celebrate our Anniversary yet!