Krabi Holiday Day 2

Monday, 21st November 2011

Today our itinerary starts at 11am after buffet breakfast at the resort. Breakfast was nothing to shout about, the usual sausage, ham, toast, cereals (which thankfully the kids have taken an intense liking to), omelete, fruits and some main courses that even me or my maid could cook better ; P

Our driver arrived slightly before 11am, and we were notified in our room by the receptionist. All packed with extra clothings, water and milk for the whole day out, the kids ran excitedly to the lift with the parents running after them.

Our driver is the husband of Patty, the lady whom we dealt with over email and who picked us up at the airport the day before. However, he doesn't speak much English, so we didn't communicate much with him. We have already planned to go elephant trekking, which is the first on our itinerary.

The weather was cooling, and I was praying it doesn't rain. It drizzled a little though, towards the 2nd half of our 1 hour jungle trekking (cost THB800 for adult, and THB400 for child, William goes free) and we were given umbrellas to hold. Comparing this experience with my first elephant trekking in Phuket last year, I think this was special due to the river crossing, but last year's was more dramatic and "scary" due to the very steep routes.

Crossing the river

Trekking the jungle - with some really muddy parts and squeezing in between bushes and brushing against tree branches.

After the 1 hour trekking, we get to feed the elephants pineapple.  All inclusive in the price. 

Vic was really scared to feed the elephant.  William was more daring, but needed to be guided.  As for mummy, she had to be brave for the kids but heart beating fast, no choice. 

After the elephant trekking, the driver brought us to this air conditioned restaurant in a shoplot, rather inexpensive if you don't mind the rather small portions. The restaurant was called Ko-Tung, with very clean toilets, and although the food was again, nothing to shout about, the coconut was to die for.

After lunch, we took advantage of the still-good weather and went to the Fish Farm. I wasn't expecting much, having not read anything about this place and only learnt about it from my sister-in-law. On the way there, William fell asleep in the car.

Entrance to the Fish Farm is free for all, but there is a donation box which is on a voluntary basis.  We were fortunate to be there at the right time, which we later learnt not all visitors get a "guided tour and show", as a worker was feeding the huge stingray in one pond. Later he showed us and another Thai family how he fed the sea turtle and allowed Vic to shake hands with the turtle! 

Then he brought us to yet another pond, where he showed us star fishes, clown fishes (Nemo and his family) and sea cucumbers. For the first time in my life, I touched a star fish! By this time, we decided to wake William up as he will surely love this. Heck the afternoon nap!

The kids also got to touch the star fishes, watch the uncle worker squart water out of the sea cucumber, and then, he led us to another pond where, lo and behold, there were many many of Vic's favourite fish... the "loong tan" (do you call this the dragon garoupa?) We just ate this dish at Unique Seafood for her graduation dinner, and it cost us RM250/kg, and according to the worker, each adult "loong tan" swimming in this pond averages around 200kg! Multiply that with RM250/kg, we are looking at RM50000 on each head! But of course, these fishes are bred not for the kitchen, but to breed baby fishes for sale to local fisherman, who will then sell them to the Hong Kong (not Malaysia) market. : (

Hello, Mr Turtle!

Touching the star fish

Looking out at the "loong tan" pond

Smile for the big Nemo, boy boy!

Evil eyes of the giant sting ray!

Surprisingly Vic didn't find holding the slippery dead little fishes gross or slimey.  She used this to feed the "loong tan"

The murray eel.  Finally we get to meet, after reading about it in the Little Mermaid. 

The giant "loong tan"... oh how I wish I have part of you in my freezer!

It started to rain after the fish farm visit, thus we were unable to do any shopping as planned, except visit their Vogue departmental store, which reminds me of Fajar in Sitiawan, maybe smaller even, then their popular Tesco Lotus. It's not really shopping, it's more like refuge from the rain.

For dinner, we ate at this restaurant called Wang Sai, near our resort along Ao Nang beach.  It is big, seems like a popular place filled with many patrons but service was really poor.  We ordered the broccoli with shrimps...

... clear soup vegetable with minced pork soup...

Curry blue crab, but I found it too much work for so little flesh.  Hubs finished this whole dish. 

And I finish this whole dish... the something something prawns.  It was average.  I was hoping for really big shrimps, though.  Looks like have to wait for Sandakan trip next year ; )

And this!  We waited for so long for this dish to arrive.  Just when this dish arrived, William wanted to deposit his big business profits and I spent almost 15 minutes waiting for him in a smelly toilet.  Part 2 of my dinner was nothing to look forward to, except to finish off my dinner, but our shock and horror when we discovered thick newspaper stuck to the bottom of the steam mackerel we ordered, and unfortunately only towards the end of the dish!

Hubs gave a piece of his mind to the staff there, and even though we were finally not charged for this dish, I had an uncomfortable feeling having known that the fish may not have been cleaned prior to cooking at all, and came direct from the fishmonger's newspaper.  Yucks and double yucks!  Thank God no purging though, but this was the worse dish I eaten for a long time now, and that's not even because of the newspaper.  NEVER ORDER STEAM MACKEREL.

Pre and Krabi Holiday Day 1

Saturday, 19.11.2011

The Saturday after Vic's last day of school, I attended Vic's last parent-teacher-meeting at her kindy in the morning, kinda sad for me. Academically Vic did just as well in her final semester, ace-ing every subject but her class teacher and I believe that examination results is not the be-all-end-all. We ended up talking about the education quality in this country, and why the national language is not perceived as important as English or even our mother tongue, resulting in many children opting for Chinese schools or home learning centres. Of all the parent friends that I have, I only know one child (non-chinese) who is going to a kebangsaan school, the rest are mostly headed to Chinese or private or home learning.

In the evening, I braved through the Midvalley crawl into the shopping centre, looked frantically and prayed for parking, and finally joined some cars parked illegally without obstructing traffic or putting my white baby at risk of being scratched. Vic attended her music classmate Brandon's 7th birthday party at Megakidz, then I chauffeured her back to PJ where we met up with Daddy and William.

That night, we started our parking for Krabi the next day!


Sunday, 20.11.2011

We took flight AK804 out of the country at 1:30pm, arriving Krabi nearing 2pm local time. The weather was a little wet and drizzling when we arrived, but it did not dampen our spirits and excitement for the start of our holiday. Patty, the lady whom we booked our airport transfer and day tour with, was already waiting at the arriving lounge for us, and shortly after, her minivan drove us to our hotel, Krabi La Playa which is about 30 minutes drive away, located strategically along Ao Nang beach.

In the flight.  Vic didn't sleep, but William napped less than 1hour.  We had a simple lunch at the Plaza Premium Lounge before the flight, but the food was nothing great and there were flies around.

Our hotel, Krabi La Playa

While waiting for Daddy to check us in.  We paid THB900 per night for extra bed and breakfast for 3rd person.  William is not charged. 

Mummy busied herself with photo taking.

Our room.  Very clean and spacious. We added a single bed on the side, which Daddy slept on (no choice la)

And our view from our balcony. 

1 hour after checked in, I went for my oil massage at the hotel (THB450) which hubby booked for me whilst he brought the two kids for a dip at the pool, just beside the massage house.  The kids were famished immediately after their swim.  Going out in a tuk tuk in search for dinner.  Cost us THB50 for the short yet pleasurable 5 minutes ride.  

This is our dinner venue.  We just picked one off the street but it was a nice cozy place serving authentic Thai food for a reasonable price. 

At night after shopping, we took this "motorbike-carriage" back (I don't know what it is called). Cost us slightly more at THB60 but the kids love this most!  Vic even put one leg up like "beca girl" with the wind blowing in her hair.

Final year kindy party: Circus Theme

After graduation last week, there wasn't much teaching this week, and I guess all the teachers and students were just looking forward to the last day of school, celebrating it with a Circus Themed party! As for the me, I am half anxious thinking of where to rent her costume, yes... lazy me would rather got with rental than to sweat over it. But the rental shop that we used last year was closed down, chehhh (costume shops seem to be so laku, how can close down one?) Other shops showed nil online animal costume for kids.

I was still hoping she may consider going as a jester since it was easier to find a jester hat, and she already have a pair of bright multi colored long socks - the only problem was what clothes to go with. But she wanted to go as a tiger, and since the Queen has spoken, I try my best. Afterall, this is her last kindy year and I want her to be happy with her costume.

So thanks to a mommy blogger who replied me on Facebook, I bought some black duct tapes, cut strips and put them on her orange long sleeve and orange pyjama pants. The day before (yesterday), I googled a shop and managed to buy a set of face paint for Vic.

The night before, we did a quick grocery, stocking up on Vitagen packs to bring to school and a little gift for her favourite teachers. There weren't much, as we were not in a mall, and finally picked chocolate bars for teachers Esther, Stefanie, Yen Ling, Ooi lau shi and teacher Nyin Yin.

So here are the pictures, again, they talk better than me. Vic didn't win best dressed, but she enjoyed herself, and I took as many pictures of her friends as possible.

Practicing her roar with still the sleepy look.  We had to oil her hair up and re-bun it. 

With Jarrod L

With Yiu Yiu

With Ryan L

With Ryan W

With Keon

With Mummy and William

The class of Petunia with the costumes

And finally, one with her class teacher. Hope to see you again next year ; ) when it is William's turn to go to kindy.

Victoria's Kindergarten Graduation

My big baby has finally graduated from her kindergarten... although I very much wish she stay in kindy a few more years, as I'm not prepared to let her grow up so fast, just yet.

The beginning
Victoria started kindy in Kingdom Kids, Petaling Jaya when she was barely 3 years old, in January 2008. She moved back with us after 1000 days under the loving care of Popo Gong Gong. I stopped working in the same year, to focus on Victoria and William - born later in April 2008.

She spent two years in her first kindergarten, the first was mainly to settle down and warm up to her classmates and teachers. Her class was small, which was good for her to "open up" and overcome her shyness.

At 12pm, she already had her skinny dip in the bathtub, and wore her graduation dress right after that.  Just in case she stained or dirtied her dress, I suggested she wore a bib, which she conveniently took Heh Heh's.  I gave the kids a light lunch of homemade soup with homemade hokchiu fish balls and lettuce.  Vic dunked her rice in her soup, whilst William opt for his favourite mee sua.

I did the make up for the eyes and lipstick for Vic.  Mama sponsored the blusher and did the final touches. 

One pose before leaving the house.  Oh dear, where are her arms?  But I simply love this smile!

In 2010, Victoria moved to Tadika JC (abbreviated on purpose) and my first worry was Vic having to restart all over again in terms of getting used to new environment, new faces, new routine. Boy was I so wrong. Vic impressed me. She did not cry and settled in finely during orientation week.

She has grown up quite a bit.

In her 5yo class, her teacher was Catriena, a very quiet young lady. Vic made good friends, amongst them is a girl named Abigail who later went to the same class as her in 6yo.

In her 6yo class, Vic sat on the yellow table. On the same table was 6 other children by the names of Michelle Yee, Natalie Chau, Jarreth Mah, Jarrod Looi, Zoe and Ivan Wong. She was appointed Table Captain in the last semester by her teacher.

From previous blogs, we saw that Vic's kindy organised a school outing to Zoo Negara and a Sports Day, both events that Vic enjoyed.


Sunday, November 13th 2011


The graduation ceremony was held on Sunday, November 13th, starting at 330pm with the 6yos registering themselves, and the guests treated to a small makan session while waiting to go into the Auditorium. Food was packed into a clear container, comprising of egg and tuna sandwich, fishballs on a stick and fried radish, with a choice of tea or coffee.

At 430pm, the doors to the Auditorium were opened and we all took our seats. William was asleep on the way to kindy, the weather that was rainy similar to last year's concert as we left the house and arrived the school, but everyone's mood seemed to be anxious and cheery. We went in 2 cars, both sides of grandparents, Daddy Mummy, William and the maid. As our car neared the school Daddy called me from the first car to say that Vic left her PE clothes at home, which was to be used for her dance performance. So, Gong Gong turned the car back to the house to pick up her clothes, arriving back at school at 4pm, still in time.

As I passed the PE clothes to her teachers, I tried to sneaked into her class to snap pictures backstage but parents were strictly not allowed. Oh well.

I let the pictures do the talking. Both grandfathers and I snapped as many pictures as we could, including videos, hoping to capture the moment so Vic can look back at her graduation with pride and good memories.

In the auditorium.

The itinerary.  Vic is from Petunia class.

The graduands lining up outside the auditorium, waiting to march in.  I caught Vic with her friends here, Alyssa (middle) and Michelle (right). 

This year, each graduand receives an award, which is a great motivating factor.  Here, Vic is seen receiving her Awesome Artistic award certificate from Mrs Doris Ho. 

Victoria (2nd from right) and her classmates showing off their respective awards.

Vic looks so seriously pretty here.  Can you imagine fast forward 15 years down the road she will be wearing a robe and mortar board again? 

Victoria's class performance was called the Pom Pom Dance with background music of "Mickey."

The whole class in action!  It was a very energetic performance.

The finale! 

All the 6yo in choir position after rendering two songs - one in Mandarin and another in English.

Vic is in last row, 3rd from right.

At Vic's special request, Heh Heh must come to her graduation too.  The only thing she didn't inform me was to let Heh Heh out to watch her performance. 

Throughout her 4 years of kindergarten, I have seen my daughter blossomed into an adoring young girl, with understanding and maturity beyond her age. She enjoys art (I guess that is why she won the Awesome Artistic award in her class) and doing homework was hardly a chore. My only complaint is Vic can be playful and easily distracted when doing homework, and she can also daydream too, which really makes her "slow."

Vic with her school principal, Teacher Stefanie, a very nice and capable lady. 

This is probably Vic's most favourite teacher, eventhough she didn't teach Vic.  Vic posing with Teacher Esther, who will be furthering her studies next year.  We wish her all the best!

Vic with one of her buddy classmate, Keon. 

Ah, and finally, one with proud mommy! 

And one with happy Daddy

And look what is this smurfy surprise?  Congratulations Victoria - with love from Mama Yeh Yeh! We dug into this little cute cuppies after a sumptuous dinner at Unique Seafood Restaurant.

Kids posing in the restaurant room.  It's always good to have a room when with kids because they can run around and we don't have to worry about losing them.  : )

This is Vic's favourite dish... the giant sea garoupa weighing at RM250/kg dunked in rich soya sauce!  Daddy brought the kids for food tasting the day before to two other restaurants, before deciding to book a room at Unique Seafood.  However, the other dishes were so so and service was rather poor.

Vic,

Daddy, Mummy, William and your grandparents are extremely proud of you. As we sat through the ceremony, hearing the speeches and enjoying the performances by all the 6year olds, we were all smiling ear to ear. I looked at the video put up by the school, and I beamed with pride, I know that all these years, you had a good time, I know you were in good hands, I know you had the best.

I only wish the moment didn't pass so soon. Wasn't it just yesterday that you excitedly dressed up as the Cowgirl in your 5yo class, woke up early for your school trip to Zoo Negara and albeit being sick on your Beach Theme party day, you were an angel in swimsuit.

I know you have been looking forward to Primary One in your new school, but I hope you do not forget your good times in your kindergarten years. I pray you have opportunity to keep the friendships you make in kindergarten, as well as remember the guidance and advices from your teachers.

One chapter in your life is now closed, and the next is soon to be opened in January. As you move on to your "big school" in Primary One, I pray you get a good class teacher just like Teacher Nyin Yin, and make good friends too. I pray you enjoy your subjects and adapt well to the new environment. Most of all, I pray you continue to grow in the Lord.

Love,
Mummy