2 Bali , The Island of Gods( Long entry )

Merry Christmas , lovelies who stopped by this very humble blog of mine. Boxing Day had also just ended yesterday and I could say, it was mind blowing as well. I was late in writing because  after me travelling away for like two weeks, I was so caught up with chores at home, my son could not sit still where he would pushed me anywhere to play with him around the house. Obviously, I was the only friend he knows  , at least for now. I am proud to be his first best friend. And I even challenged myself during this festive season to bake cookies like kuih makmur, rolled pineapple tarts and almond London. I failed at making macaroons again. And I even swore to myself that I would not bake another macaroons. 

Bali..... Bali.....

While most Indonesians are Muslims, Balinese are mostly Hindus. They built enormous,magical , beautiful temples and this land is truly home of artists where in every big junctions, you'll have a taste of the Balinese fine arts  by their statues of goddesses.Our visit in Bali was short but, it was memorable.

I was thankful to have such an amazing guide cum driver during our holiday in Bali, Dewa Putu Suria. You can contact him here if you wish for a truly Balinese son to be your guide. I think if it is your first time in Bali and needs introduction to this island, it is important to have a knowledgeable guide as you need to really understand the culture and taboo in this land especially if you are a foreigners. And your guide plays important roles on how you 'll see a place from your beholder. It is not wrong to have your own views though.

It is true  that Bali has more laid back cultures from the rest of Indonesia's islands but, if you are to visit their temples there are rules and regulations to obey to depending on which temples you are visiting though.

I thought that Bali was all about the beautiful beach but, actually it was more to spiritual. Well , at least to me. Though I am not a Hindu, but I had to admit that I found peace in this land. Up until now, i am still waking up to the thought that I 'll be walking into another beautiful temple or another beaches to hang out or another night to drink up if it weren't for my son calling , "mommy, mommy lets play my lorry.." early in the morning. I could say life was perfect there. Not that I am saying that I have a bad life here in Sabah, because you and I know that I have a great life here with my family and friends but, added with works and so many other petty matters here. A vacation is needed.

 I fulfilled my first destination of all the places that I want to be before the end of the world or the end of mine. Truly , if I had another chance, I would definitely choose Bali as the easiest escapades.

 
Reached Bali, went straight to Jimbaran Beach for dinner as our flight was delayed there were only time for a glass of cold beer and a comfortable bed to sleep in. Well, eating at the Jimbaran Beach could ripped off your purse if you are not careful with what you ordered.

At the Barong Jambe Budaya , at Gianyar. Well, I am worst at understanding a silent movie so, during this show I was so busy reading the script paper provided at the entrance, while trying my best to catch the storyline on the stage to understand it. I made it , I understand that the Barong dance was about good fighting the bad. Nice costumes, everybody in the show.

  The first temple we went.
Look at my long cardigans. I did not wear that sarong to go around Bali ok. Excuse me for this outrageous outfit. In most temple, you'll be borrowed with a sarong before you go to any temple here. That's why I came up with such outfit.

These two men were my company during the vacation . Of course , Steven is the one carrying my handbag. Talk about losing the sense of style on our first day in Bali. 

Trying out Balinese musical instruments. We also have it in Malaysia called the angklung if I am not mistaken. But, Balinese one was so finely made, with all those gold finishing?  Priceless. 

 A view that you must not missed when you are in Ubud. The paddy terraces. They had already reaped the paddy at the time I was visiting that's why you only see dirt and grass in this picture. But, you do see the terraces they built ,right.

 Me, trying my hands on roasting those fresh coffee beans.

You would taste all sorts of coffee and teas samples here. My most favorite, the vanilla coffee which I bought one for home. The special cup that Steven was drinking the Luwak coffee. If you were not familiar with this coffee, it was made from coffee beans that was pooped by the foxes. I would not elaborate here but, you could check it out from search engine.

 This look like public pool is in the Pura Tirtha Empul temple. People came here not only to pray but also to wash away all the bad energy in them. I was not ready for this, we did not bring any change for clothes so we skipped the bathing parts instead we went around the temple. It was beautiful and oh, you'll get a volunteer guide here. They would help you to take your photos and would asked if you want to buy their copies from their compact cameras. Of course, you'll choose some of it and buy it because you 'll feel sorry that they had became such a nice guide inside the temple. Our official guide could not go into with us for this reason. Hmmph.  Something to do with others' pocket income lah...

 By the Taman Ayun. Claimed as the most beautiful temple in Bali.

 Us.In love this photo  the most.

At the Beratan temple. 

This landmark was printed  on the Indonesian's bank notes. Of course from other angle.Ain't it majestic.

  Some pose that got us being stared by many visitors in the park of Beratan. COuld not believe ourselves too.
And I am an avid fan of durian. The proof is in the following photo. We had lots of durian in Malaysia but, we still stopped over at a stall somewhere in Bali by the roadside to have some durian.

 
Steven thought that the vacation would be complete if he does not get a temporary tattoo. I tried to persuade him to get the real one but he was not getting any . But, he paid fairly high price for his tattoo which he got in Tanah Lot. Resulting me getting one for free too just above my ankle.

  Mine was like the 'free gift' of temporary tattoo. It was nice by the way last more than 3 weeks on my skin.

 At the Tanah Lot. Steven and I agreed that this is the most beautiful one in Bali. Beaches, and the views here is to die for.

On our last day in Bali, we went for some water sport in Tanjung Benoa. Just some beach fun activities where there were lots to choose from but Steven and I chose the easiest ones like Flying Fish, (claimed to be the only one you could find ), Donut boat and jetski. Nothing too challenging for me as I am not water friendly kind of people.

 

This was us getting ready to fly. There were instructor with you all the time so , it was safe to play any watersport around here.  

The Donut boat. Basically these Flying Fish and Donut Boat operated by a speed boat pulling these boats.

Getting down. Well each ride would only take 15 minutes. Too short?

My first time riding a jetski. Fun, man.

  At some seconds during Steven and I were hanging out at Tanah Lot, his tattoo got all messed up before it dried on his skin. I was to blame for that. Then, our guide introduce him to a tattoo artist in Tanjung Benoa to repair the old one and Steven ended up getting another temporary tattoo on his lower arm.

 Remember Julia Robert staying in Bali for Eat, Pray and Love ? She made this beach, the above photo famous with tourists from around the world, the Padang-Padang Beach. It was perfect place to kill time, lying down to the finest sands while letting  your body splashed with sea water, enjoying the sun rays. Wah, I thought I was in heaven. Everyone there were chilling, doing their own thing, being themselves , taking pictures in their bikini, and having a good time. It was a sight that I will never forget. The woman in the photo is not Julia Robert though , to be clear.

    At the Uluwatu beach. What can I say about this place. Magnificent , clearest sea water, to die for waves. We agreed that it was the most beautiful beach. Next time, I would not want to miss the Kecak Dance here which took place by sunsets. We had to skip it at that time because we need to catch a flight to Jakarta at night and we were desperate for a spa before spending the night at the Jakarta's airport and a 4 hour train ride to Bandung.

That was me checking our destination lists to hit for shopping haul in Bandung. It was a short 2 nights stay in Bandung but, I am going back for more next year with my shopping clan.

 This is probably the last entry for the year of 2013. With all the greeting of 'Merry Christmas' issue by the Islams in Malaysia, rainy seasons overrated with fake tsunami warning and end of the world news flooded my Facebook, I am really looking forward for the new year and praying that all these will passed and a new year would bring new hope, new learning, and a better life. Yes, a better life.
 

0 Driving to Singapore: Misadventures and First Timer Guide

I see how rundown my blog is since me attending the 3 weeks Mathematic  courses in Penang between last September and October.. The aftermaths of the Course was overwhelming and I remember of dreaming of my vacation in Singapore and Bali long before they happened.Every night . I actually had to keep reminding myself that before all that vacations happened I had to finished my jobs first. And then, before school holiday started and I was on pre holiday mood where I was on my way writing about my Penang stay, I was called for a course, the Continuous Profesionalisme Development that was meant for all teachers that held the DG41 grade. 

So, when I was started to write about Singapore, then, I remembered I had this one blogpost about Penang that I forgotten and I stuff it with related photos and published it right away before this very blogpost started. 

 

The trip to Singapore was actually a last minute one for me as I never go anywhere before it was planned like months before the trip made. I surprised myself though by accepting my cousins invitation on this. She insisted that I check in daily basis the Air Asia ticket price either to Johor or direct to Singapore. Boy , it excites me and shivered me as this trip to Singapore ends just a day before my honeymoon trip to Indonesia with Steven. The results was exciting 2 weeks holiday. Also lots of laundry to do besides overwhelmed with the memories of all the beautiful and ugly places I went and saw.  I convinced myself that this will passed with times. Huarrh. I still  have few more weeks before the 2014 school session started. ( errrk... forgive the mumbling)

The holiday in Singapore was quite short as we ( mom, Chris, my cousin, and aunt) only had one full day in Singapore. The rest was the journey to this republic from Malaysia, all the misadventures when driving in a foreign lands. Mostly of troubles with depending 99% with electronic devices, I mean GPS in my smartphone. We had to drive round and round the city when we've missed that junction just when you only had few hundreds meter to reach your destinations, you had to go all around again for another  kilometers  before reaching the destination because of the road directions.

I learnt the hard way that for a person who is direction blind,   I should not travel without a soul who knows the place well or three powerful powerbank to supply for my smartphone. The journey can become stressful for everyone involved and fights over petty matter could happened anytime in the car. Trust me, because I've been there.But, respect to each other is topmost element we need to maintain patience whenever pressure arises when on holiday. Holiday can be fun but, finding directions with bunch of people with similar syndrome  would not help much. It is not that I want to complain about my companions here but,we always have to prepare mentally and emotionally especially when you are going anywhere into foreign lands without guides.

The bright side about it is you will have plenty to laugh about when returned home. Driving into Singapore is nothing like driving into Brunei from Sabah to Sarawak and vice versa. Because you were there to stay. Or not. So, if you're a Malaysian's car you have to make that you have all of these with you:
1. Passport, of course.

Two kinds of Autopass card. One with chip on it and the one without chip. Both had same functions.

2. Autopass card.Pay close attention to this if you plan on driving in Singapore.  If you have none, go check your road tax make sure that it is valid for at least 6 months after your departure from Singapore. Then, capture it with your smartphone , go to some Toll  office nearby the Singapore's immigration plaza,  ( do not fret, the officers by the  counter who check on your passport will tell you what to do next). Payment for the Autopass card is SGD 10.

This card will be used when you park your cars , for the VEP, and the ERP which you will see signboards telling that you are entering the ERP areas. The fee is SGD 5 for every entry regardless of how many times you go in and out the area in a day.

If the Autopass card is new, then you'll  enjoy waive from the VEP for about 10 days. After the grace period,  you'll be charged for the VEP for SGD 15 per day if you continue to drive around Singapore.

Remember to topup the Autopass card at 7 Eleven , I think that's the most convenient way since the 7 Eleven stores could be found anywhere in this republic. The balance from the Autopass could be redeemed once you settle all the payment when you 're departing from Singapore by filling in some form. You could ask the officer by the Toll if you wish so.

Thank you for not asking what 's the VEP and ERP because I would not know the full of these abbreviations. By the way, when you buying the Autopass card you can get a brochure that will answer all your questions about this Autopass card.

Sounds complicated? Well once you were there, you will not feel like it anymore. Actually I personally think that this is an efficient way to manage vehicles in this republic.

3. Embarkation card . If you do not receive any from the Malaysian's immigration or anyone particularly used with going in and out Singapore, you will get one once you arrive at the Singapore's immigration. Just fill it in and wait for your passport, you'll good to proceed.


I really hope that this will help you if you are wondering and determined to drive in Singapore. Dedicate this to a first timer. And to myself just in case I need to recall it if I were to be back again to Singapore.

FYI, traffic in Singapore was okay. For a stay of 2 nights there, I never experience bad traffic there. All was smooth until smartphones ran out of battery and powerbank charged too slow.

Til my next entry. Happy holiday and Merry Christmas.

0 Great thing comes in tiny packaging: Holiday in photos

This is the holiday that probably all Malaysian's teachers looking forward to after two months of school. Erkk... oh, I am alone in this. Okay. Those two months before the holiday were filled with new academic assessment systems, bad internet, gossips and tragedies, and of course few unfinished business were finalized too.

So, the final week before school break I felt like I almost couldn't dress myself to school and even wear outfits that I would wear to clubs at night. Ha ha ha-.... waking up to work was dreadful at that time. By the way, though I was still ever an enthusiast when I am in front of my students. This is what I do for life . Now.

Not that I have planned too many for the holiday,but I do have things that I would love to do. Stuff that I was too lazy to do when I was juggling time between work and family. Nevertheless, my holiday is prioritize for spending quality time with family.

At the Tanjung Aru Beach. This is the first time Christian went to see the sea as close as he can.

Poring Hot Spring can be the ultimate fun swimming in Ranau but, during Hari Raya, it was jammed pack. Locals probably were only us and few other families, the rest were tourists and immigrants. I took this photo is despair, sit down on the bench outside the changing room, cursing with Steven and mom then out from the park heading to Kundasang again.

These tourists were fascinated by the praying mantis. I don't understand their enthusiasm with insects, but they were all taking pictures of it. With all their phones might, macros and whatever. Probably end up in the Instagram or Facebook right away.

This picture proves it. They were in awe with the little praying mantis.

OMG, seriously? Steven too? Ha ha ha ha..

Okay, smile. This is such a dull yet memorable family portrait.

I don't remember what is he saying, but dad sure was all entertained by this little man.

My bundle of joy. Enough said.

Ain't dad enjoying some peaceful time here?

During our way out  from a souvenir shop in the Memorial Park, they got this beetles hanging right on. They were alive. Careful if you are insect-phobic person. He he he. But, nice job it is a tiny beetle but, like the praying mantis just now, they got everyone's attention. especially those who are crazy with the macro functions on their camera phones.  

As to wrap up this rather pictorial entry, I came up with a list of places I want to go before I turn 30. I allowed myself for some room of time span extension by the way, in case I could not go to everywhere on time.   1. Borobudur temple in Jogjakarta 2. Great Wall of China, Beijing 3. Opera House , Sydney Australia  4. Rome 5. All over Paris 6.Taj Mahal India 7.  Halong Bay, Vietnam      

0 Modern Romeo and Juliet

The sounds of dog barking from the landlord house always break the silence in the middle of the night. Now, i know what makes they bark to their asses. They saw a boy climbing up the fence between the house that i rented and the landlord! And climb his way up to a window.Horray, i found the answer though the idea actually has been around since i moved in here early last year. 

A thief? 

A peeker? 

Neither of them. He is a lover of the landlord's daughter. 

Romantic. How many boys these day will do that for a girlfriend? How many will risk their safety and their lives like this. Okay, sneaking up might not killed him right away unless if he accidentally fell from his girlfriend's window. I was told that his girlfriend's room is at the first floor. And the house, is quite tall actually to climb up to. But, if he got caught by the girl's family, he might be beaten up and might be send to police right away. The girl's family is quite famous here in Pitas since they are the richest family in this town. So i've been told.

I know. This story sounded like 40's  love story where daddys in the world hate men who dates their daughters. Big time. 

I was gonna hang my laundry outside around 10.30 p.m. when i noticed a white motorbike parked behind. I never saw it there during the day. Then, i remembered Steven told me about this boy, so i took a picture of this motorbike to become my story for this blog. Tonight i remembered that my housemate and my husband did mentioned about a boy who climbing up the fence at the back of the house. My housemate's husband and Steven caught him in the act some time last year, he told them that he wants to see his girlfriend in the house. (pointing up to the landlord's)

I would've charge him with crossing over people's land. I would've charge him for peeking me as he always stayed down before climbing to the landlord's compound outside my toilet. I would've report him to the landlord or to the police. But, as far as i remembered, i never saw anyone peeking on me. Never did my housemates complaint on anything. Neither of our cars parked at the front yard  suffered any intentional scratch.--> Neither my bras or panties ever stolen.<-- I am kidding on this part. anyway. I do not hang bras and panties outside the house anymore. 

So, i decided to just let it be. I am sure both my housemates do acknowledged that he is crossing our house compound every night but, never complaint of any problem. I think it is better to let other couple be happy and enjoy their youth while they can. I myself was like them too, once upon a time in secondary school. Fell in love with a boy and felt like the world is all ours. Ho ho ho. Gone were those days. Now, it is me , family, friends and community. I am teacher, damn it. I can't own the world with my loved one only. 

I know that these couple has been doing like this for at least a year or more. I prayed that they will finally get married , have children and live happily. I hope that the girl's father did not find out that this boy has been sneaking up before the girl is ready to introduce him to her family and do not get himself beaten up if he was to be caught in the act. 

We've all been young once upon a time in our life. And let's not hope this modern Romeo and Juliet does not end like the old story too.

0 Typing Error or Messed up Slang?

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What do you think?

----

Are these typing error?

OR 

Just another messed up English slang ?

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 LOL

Found it a recreational park

It was on a wall overlooking lushing forest at the suburban area

In a female's washroom at a restaurant. Surprisingly, Steven told me that gent's washroom also had the same signboard. Would you answer the title of this entry just yet?

It was right beside a table in a buffet restaurant. Reading this signboard really makes you start questioning yourself how much wine did you had that night.

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He he he he....can you correct them? By the way, this entry is just for the purpose of harmless fun. Peace out!!

0 Simply Kota Belud

Yeah! This is my hometown though i wasn't born here. I was born to a closest sibling to this town. Ranau! 

I came to this town when i was 13 years old following the year of my dad retired from Mamut Copper Mining back in 1999. I absolutely love visiting my cousins, my great aunts and uncle, my dearly late grandpa during those years. But there is no single thing that i really remember about this town back in those years. 

I do have a lot of friends maybe more than in town friends. There is one out of three when i was asked about where am i from , i would get that somekind of look. It's not people of Kota Belud are bad like that, it's that people from out of town always cringe when thinking about the town. 

The town feel small but, it is always crowded with vehicle. You don't see lot of people walking around, though you see lot of car and it is really hard to find a single vacant parking in this very town. It is like everyone in the house got in a single car for each to get to their destinations. Don't get me wrong, because i truly understand that people always got their own errands to run.. their destinations are not that one way due to the lack of proper town development planning in the old days. Because! If we see it nowadays, it is getting better and better by years when the city council added more shop buildings. 

People of Kota Belud are kind and very helpful, though the out of townies always said that people here could be such an idiot when they always claimed for the loss of their livestock when their cows or goats got knocked down by crazy , intoxicated, wannabe F1 racers  drivers. Yes, these townies let their livestock wander around the lanes, even the main roads (!) when we knew that roads aren't supposed to be the bed for these animals to rest and chilled. To our surprise too, not only during the day, but also at nightime. These cows and goats let alone slept or sleepwalking (God knows i don't care what they did because they don't belong there, on the road) at night , and must i say that there are not many roads were built with road-lights, so it is dark and drivers either the townies or not, have to stand by your leg to knock on the brake pedal anytime! Hey, these so wannabe police animals even wandered and slept around in town , just outside the shops. But very often , they will clear up, going to nowhere i know, and left their poops outside the shop they 'rent' for the night.

I know, this situation can be quite frustrating especially if you have to always going  passed this town. And there is not much changes over the years.

Well the reasoning why these situation happens because we do feel that Kota Belud is the ultimate hometown whereas most townies make it like their home. Like we do what we like with our home. We put whatever mess in our own room and clean it up again when we feel like it. Thats why townies park their car regardless the 'NO PARKING' logo and parking boxes. Townies are busy with their errands thus got no more extra time to find available parking boxes. It is time consuming and sometimes could be frustrated. Especially when there were drivers who decided to take on 2 parking spaces for single vehicle. Yeah he is that busy.

About the cows and sometimes the glorious horses. I gotta warn to those either you are a townies or just another passers by that you should hold the urge to slam the honk of your car to avoid these animals from kicking up your car . We are concern about the welfare of the passers by. We know you have sophisticated cars that you are most likely feel like it is a waste to drive it at 60km per hour thereby we decided to stop you from speeding by letting the cows to replace the police during the day. Then drivers will drive more carefully when passing through this cowboy town. Now who needs AES here? Well, if you persisted to speed more then, you will end up hitting the cows (or horse) and the damage could be major one.

There! You could've find the bright sides if the cringy situation when you sre staying in the town. A lot. And might make you more happier person then.

Despite all of these downsides, this town still very much in touch with their culture. There are still Tamu Besar held every November and you actually can find a lot of stuff here. From traditional delicacies to handicraft for example. Nowadays as the townies getting more advanced in their lifestyles you can also find roadshow from leading car brands. Though however this annual event does not eliminate the bad situations of this narrow roads and impatient drivers and pedestrians of the town, this is the time when you are actually have to integrate all the bright sides behind the situation so you can enjoy your time here in Kota Belud.

5 KK Burger Bakar

Heard of it already?

KL has this since forever. And this just in KK. Where to find it? Well, before i say it all, i like to proudly say it first that i found out about this burger from a post in Facebook, and then i search more on it from a blog, named Everyday I Love Food , if i am not mistaken. Just to find out where the hell it is located in Sabah.

Well, i find it located in the most unlikely place. It actually has a quite good promotion on the net and Facebook. You can like their Facebook page too by clicking here.They have their banner on the roadside nearby. Well, did i mention the place already?
Next to the Tanjung Aru Plaza.

They has kinda open food court there so, lots of stall opening in the evening right till midnight over but the KK Burger Bakar located just next to the police station. But, i was confuse there is no sign , of the KK Burger Bakar there. There were empty seats everywhere and the grilling tools looked like it was just been filled with charcoal.

So i was doubtful if we get to the right place because i was in disbelieve. The stall does not looked like as i expected it to be. Yeah. I do have high expectations on it because of its promotion. It seems like the promotion does not go with the real stuff.

So, when we get there in doubtful, and the car smelled poops. Yeah, i actually brought my son out with Steven. I made Steven walked around the food court while i fixed my son's diapers to check the right stall that makin' the  burger since there were lots of stall there that was just getting started their bussiness.
  Less than 5 minutes, he came back and told me that's the right stall, pointing the one just next to the police station, with atap nipah. You wouldn't miss it because it is the only stall with atap nipah.I cannot believe they forgot to hang the banner that day. So i was told by the owner. The staff went to work late that day when they were supposed to start their bussiness hour at 5 p.m. therefore, the stall were quite in a mess that evening. Indeed it looked like that.

Despite the messed up ice breaking, i ought to be slow on them since they were just opened 3 weeks ago. Good for them having a master chef right next to the barbeque all the time.

So, when the owner greeted me when we were just finished the food, i said those burgers are fabulously seasoned and tasted original. I think that they had their signature recipes for those fat meat burgers. Unlike those street burgers we always find in night market every where in town of Sabah that used the ready molded , frozen meat burgers from supermarket, this KK BURGER BAKAR molded their own meat burger.

They grilled the burgers in this hottie stuff.

They even put funky names on each of their burgers. They had quite limited choices but, I do looking forward that someday they will extend the choices gradually.

With all the Angry Bird craziness going on, it is contagious right to the menu card. Seriously?

Steven had the Taj Mahal one while me, had the Titanic. It was relatively higher than the regular burgers we always had in other places, which at first, i was hesitated to open wide my mouth to even took a bite. Unfortunately, the stall was supposed to provide us with suitable tools so that we can enjoy the burgers with decent table manners which they only offered a plastic spoon to us when we were half way finishing the towering burgers. Too late we enjoyed the traditional way of eating the burger already that we declined that sweet offers.And how could you eat your burger with a spoon?

Taj Mahal burger. It comes with fried egg in it.

Titanic burger. What differs it from others, it comes with bacon with it. I think each of the burger has their own unique ingredients with it. They have their signature black pepper sauce and chilli ketchup.

I said to Steven , " i swear i don't want to start over again to figure out how to eat these with spoon. I am fine with being impolite on the dining table and get messy with these ketchup all over my cheeks. You?"
Steven answered , struggling with his own burger in his full mouth, "yeah i thought so too. Oh, you really had ketchup on your right cheek. Wipe it yourself cause i am eating too right now, darling." Yeah i kept on wiping off my cheeks while i am eating that monster.

Fullfilling satisfaction. Third best after sex. Ha ha ha. Did i just type that?

The banner finally hang after they settle everything in the kitchen.

If you are finding yourself trapped with nowhere to go tonight , if you are happened to be in KK importantly, (because it looked like they have not any branch of this burger bakar anywhere else but here and if you are fan of street burgers, street lepaking, tired of roti canai and nasi goreng kampung with teh tarik, this is a way to go. Get down and messy with KK BURGER BAKAR. You'll love it.

While waiting for the burgers. My son looked more impatient than me. As if he could eat a burger out of his little stomach. To ease it, i let him scoop his favorite finger biscuits on his own.

Before we were heading to Tanjung Aru.