0 The room at Felda Residence Hot Springs, Sungkai

We arrive, finally. The one and a half hour drive was peppered with awesome songs from the radio, particularly this one, which became sort of our holiday anthem. The laid-back tune conveyed our mood for the duration perfectly.

The small tarred road leading into Felda Residence is well maintained, unlike those in the city which are pothole ridden and uneven. I sometimes close my mind to things around me and imagine I'm driving through gravel roads in the great green outdoors surrounded by big trees in the freshest shades of colour. Of course, what really lies before me are mundane grey structures.

The check in process was smooth. A down-to-earth front counter staff attended to us and she wasn't stingy with information. All was well. The weather, the drive, the people - it was though this trip had the blessings from up above. 

The room I booked was located on the second floor. I climbed the stairs in positive anticipation and I swear there was an added bounce in my steps. Bah! It's probably just the new shoes I'm wearing.

When I walked through the door, it was more than I expected. Spacious, reasonably priced at RM220 per night including breakfast.

We carried little, just light luggage and some leftover char siew pao (steamed pork buns) which we had 'tapao-ed' (takeaway) all the way from back home.

I wished we had brought some instant noodles along though. When dinner time was due, we were left gasping in horror, "Haaa?!!! Semua tutup?!!". Yes, the food stalls close early and it was too dark to drive out anywhere. BbrRrr.. we were stuck in the middle of a palm oil plantation, in seclusion from the urban society we were used to. It was a ghost story waiting to happen.

So, we had our meal in the hotel restaurant, gulping in mediocre fare at unattractive prices. 

Nice facade

A carving of our National Flower, the Bunga Raya

Stairway to the rooms

Surroundings

The spacious Deluxe room

TV corner

Balcony + window

The bath

0 Journey to the center..(oh, stop it) Felda Residence Hot Springs, Sungkai, Perak

A short trip out of town with a couple of close friends. Just one and a half hours drive out of Kuala Lumpur landed me amongst rows of the lesser appreciated palm oil trees and flat lands of fresh green grass.

The gloomy weather did not reflect my positive spirits. I was as calm as the windless sky and contented in my company. I had been so buried in Aunt Em's post-surgery recuperation that I had not realised how tense I had become. A sense of peace overwhelmed me as a smile escaped my lips inadvertently. Aaah..this has got to be what life is about - serenity ...in heart and in mind.

We turned into the Sungkai toll exit. It was an easy drive into Felda Residence Hot Springs. There were plenty of signboards to guide us.

Green, green grass of home ♫

Rows of palm trees

We stopped to snap a photo of this lorry laden with palm oil fruit

They welcome us

Here we are - where we check in!

The other side of the check in office, also our room view

To be continued..

0 A Cousin's Birthday

We celebrated my cousin's Birthday twice - once when her mom flew down from Sabah and later again with our aunt who had just been discharged from the hospital.

It's not that we're cheapskates. We've learned a valuable lesson from all the years of celebrating Birthdays, that is, "Don't buy a big cake". There's usually no stomach space left after a heavy celebratory meal and oh dear, can we eat!

My cousin made a wish and blew the flames out of the large candle that stood unsteadily on the soft mooncake, which her mom bought for her. Technically, it IS still a cake..

Happy Birthday, J! That's one huge candle!

A couple of weeks later, cousin was called over to celebrate her special day once again, how lucky for her. This time, it was Aunt Em who sponsored the cake and meal. It was her way of thanking my cousin for being there for her when she was hospitalised.

I was sent to run the errand since Aunt Em was still weak from the operation. I made my way to the bakery in Jusco, Midvalley to get the cake. I knew they sold in smaller sizes and at reasonable prices.

When I saw this cute cake, my mind was made up instantly. Forget I did to ask for the flavour, to survey the rest. This RM20 cutie was boxed and ribboned. Home I went with a grin on my face.

"Sooooo prettyyyYy! What cake is this?" asked Aunt Em excitedly, when I proudly displayed the purchase.

"Huh..?" Was my lame reply.

Perfect for a sweet girl, not for the sweet-toothed - it is NOT sweet

Generous creamy frosting. We got 6 decent-sized slices out of this cake.

2 Noodles in Fish Head Soup with oh-so-large prawns

Ada udang disebalik...

Three best friends stopped by for lunch in a corner shop located just off Jalan Ipoh (along The Store Supermarket). I certainly wasn't expecting anything outstanding when I placed an order for noodles in fish head soup topped with prawns and fish slices.

It's just jaw-dropping to find gems in a less-than peachy looking eatery filled with the usual greasy stalls selling char kueh teow, curry mee and the sort. The saying "Don't judge a book by its cover" falls true! I am so guilty of that and have probably missed trying many other amazing food in my narrow-minded view of things.

Oh, my tastebuds went wild with excitement. It was love at first gulp. I was just  tempted to keep going until the very last slurp. Fresh prawns added to the explosion of flavours and colours. I just love good looking food.

The RM11 price matches the generous portion, but not the place.

Large meehoon noodles in fish soup w/ prawns and slices of fish
*slurrrppp!!"

Egg gravy style

Introducing the amazing stall

0 Blended Food

Sweet potatoes in orange, yellow, green and purple. I never knew they had this many varieties.

My Aunt's on a strict diet of blended food. I don't envy her. I have my doubts on the 'appetising-ness' of it all.

Porridge isn't exactly food in my dictionary either, what more blended stuff. The only porridge this tummy grades as acceptable is the one found in a Dim Sum restaurant along Jalan Ipoh and it must be eaten together with gravy from the 'kai-keok' dish  - the perfect combination. Sweet and spicy porridge, that's what I call heavenly food.

I initially started off with the dull basics of a typical soft diet menu of blended porridge with chicken, potatoes and carrots. Something I observed from food prepared in the hospital, with feedback from my Aunt.

As days went by, we got more creative and explored other types of food. One of it, being blended sweet potatoes. A great source of carbs to help rebuild her energy and gain some weight. It's also naturally sweet..mmm...tasty!

Two steps - boil, then blend with a bit of warm water. No added sugar, colouring or preservatives. How easy! 

Orange sweet potato - the sweetest out of those we tried!

Pale greenish colour - Japanese Sweet Potato

This is what the Japanese Sweet Potato looks like

3 Note to self...

Fight, for what is right

Speak, for the weak
Care, for those in despair
Stand, and say "I can"

Teach, and be enriched

Live, what I believe

Laugh, when the going's tough

Love, my neighbours and God above..

Sharon D. @ 18 September 2011

0 Mooncake Day

12th September 2011. Che-che made us mooncakes. Homemade is best made! Four pieces of semi-gooey richness, with lotus paste filling, egg yolk and pumpkin seeds.

To officiate the day Mid-Autumn festival, we sliced a piece and shared it amongst the four of us. The four, who live under the same roof, glued to the one TV in front of us.  This was accompanied by conscious poses fit for all the photo-snapping that was going on. No one wanted to look bad even if it was supposed to be a candid shot.

I gave "lantern decorating" a miss this year because my days have been full. I don't mean that I paint or beautify the lanterns artistically. I just mean that I buy a few ready-made pieces to hang up in the home. That's as far as my creative talent go.

I still have one traditional lantern hanging in the living room from last celebration. That counts for something, I'm sure. Recycle maaa..

Che-che's soft and moist mooncake

Not too sweet..yums

2 The day before..

There was much fanfare when we ushered my Aunt into the Hospital for the upcoming surgery. The date, 28th August 2011. Friends and family who resided elsewhere flew in to lend their support. It was a joy to watch her being pampered and loved.

The trepidation we all felt in our hearts was kept restrained. There were occasions when the negative energy stifled inside us  found a way out of our tense muscles. 
  
Cries of "Touch wood, touch wood!" could be heard.  

Things had to be positive. We were more superstitious than usual and  there was a feeling that we needed to air the room with good chi. Certain words were deemed too taboo to be mentioned.

Gift baskets adorned with lovely flowers and laden with fruits, arrived for my Aunt. All in all, she was surrounded by cheerful reminders that we're all rooting for her. 

Hospital food leaves much to be desired though...a necessary evil.

RM3 for a stalk of sunshine

4 A Merdeka of Sorts

She called me in. Her fragile hand reached for mine. It's day three in the ICU but today, she worked up a smile for my benefit. I caught a glimpse of her old cheerful self.

She struggled to speak through the tube in her throat. I listen intently, I was captivated. I couldn't make out the words but that's alright. 

This is one Merdeka Day I'll cherish, not for the fireworks display..

A Happy Merdeka Day - the flag goes up

2 Baked Apple Chicken

An apple a day keeps the Doctor away, so they say. And I've plenty from generous friends who visited my aunt, who has been staying with us for the past two weeks. Red scrumptious apples sure to delight even the fairest of them all, Snow White.

Snow White would fall for this - non poisonous!

Some were eaten raw and some I baked. It was hard to resist. I thought I could stay away from my oven but it was too convenient to ignore. While I stir-fry a dish of bitter gourd and cook the rice in one corner, the oven takes care of our meaty protein intake. How's that for a balanced diet?

I didn't plan very much on the hows of cooking this dish. Simplicity seemed best on this rainy day. I just added in whatever I thought would compliment the taste of apples and add to the juiciness. Hence, onions was a logical choice over garlic. 

I guess I could have added carrots if I felt I wanted some colour, but not today. This suits my mood!

Lightly sweet and savoury, this is a wholesome dish that's easy to make. Just three main ingredients and you're on your way.

Baked apple chicken makes healthy soup

Yum yum.. look at that juice

Oh, so tender - Onions, apples and chicken!

The rough guide.

Ingredients:
- 4 pcs chicken drumstick
(slice 2 lines across like in the photo above - cooks faster and to get the juice in)
- 1 large onion (sliced thick)
- 2 red apples (remove skin, cut into cubes)
- 1/2 tsp red sugar
- A pinch of salt and pepper (or to taste)
- Coriander leaves for garnishing

Todo:
1) Marinate chicken and apples with red sugar, salt and pepper for 5 minutes or so.
2) Preheat oven and line baking tray with foil.
3) Place marinated chicken and apples onto baking tray. Sprinkle onions on top. 
4) Cover with foil and bake for about an 1 hour 15 minutes at 230C, until the chicken is tender.
5) Remove from oven and be careful when lifting the foil open. Hot steam will gush out. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with rice.

0 A beacon of light at Beacon Hospital?

Hospitals, my aunt hates them. She's been to four different ones, all in a span of two weeks.Travelling from East to West and all the way to Singapore. The answer was always the same, almost. 

No, not the same. He, of great Singapore, was important and blunt. She, the popular one, seated in the air-conditioned office of a well reputed local hospital,  was rushed and treated us like flies to be swatted away quickly. The one in the East was humble and concerned but he did not have our trust. It was not because he was incapable, we were just stuck on a belief brought on by word of mouth that the West was always a better bet. They all cost a bomb, these oncologists, RM150 or more per visit.

Then, we chanced upon an ad in The Star newspaper - Cyberknife New Hope for Cancer Treatment. We made our way to Beacon Hospital, fervently praying for a breakthrough. We were tired. 

A middle aged nurse with a cheerful disposition greeted us. She was like the solid rock we needed to keep distressing thoughts at bay. Quick in her actions, an obvious go-getter type. My spirits lifted a little as I admired her show of energy.

The nurse took my aunt in to see Dr. Manivannan. I think that is his name. I was too distracted..

There was a firmness in her eyes as my aunt walked out of the oncologist's room. A satisfied smile, not one of victory but one that says, "she understood". While it was explained that the Cyberknife treatment could not be option for my aunt's case, this Doctor had been kind enough to spare some additional time to attend to my aunts queries and insecurities. What had been a question mark hanging above our heads was now clear, the whys and the whats, in layman terms. We left paying a mere RM60 for consultation.

Though we were no nearer to our desired goal, which is just to have a fifty-percent chance, we left not too disappointed.

Flyers I took from Beacon Hospital