Non-typical Sunday

It wasn't a typical Sunday in a sense that I had meetings to attend to, followed by a sumptuous buffet lunch at an eatery that is was fast becoming my favourite, Latest Recipe at Le Meridien, KL Sentral. Following the meeting and paperwork, I had the time to bring my boys out to the park. Oh boy! Did they enjoy that. So much so that the were fast asleep in the car on the way home, and went reached home just before 6.30 pm!

I remember the park at KLCC used to be full during weekends. It was almost empty today. Maybe it was the overcast weather threatening to rain. Which ever way, it was not the first Sunday it was like this. A couple of months ago, before Ramadhan, I had the same feeling. In fact, web the parents and children I saw were mainly Indonesian. I kid you not. It seems that KLCC and the park is turning into foreign worker's land during Saturday and Sunday. I better stop here for fear of getting my site spammed by our friendly neighbours.

After the run around the park, jumping and skipping, it was time to take an early dinner. It seemed like the most convenient stop would be Chinoz by The Park. Mind you, it has been a while seen we stopped after an unsavory incident with a waiter gave us second-rate service because we were Malaysian - they prefer the Mat Salleh there of course, but what would I know. The boys had their pizza and I decided to order some Japanese. The miso the was gorgeous, although a bit expensive. Seeing my temaki, Idlan wanted to try one as well. My God, that was messy.

As I mentioned, the boys were fast asleep on the drive home. Idlan has since woken up but it wouldn't be long before he heads for the bed again while Irfan was still sleeping. I was hoping that he will sleep through to the morning. Fingers crossed!

Suraiya's Birthday

Suraiya's birthday party really went well today, although a few people couldn't make it at the last minute. The boys enjoyed themselves. Chicky, the mascot was there of course. Of course both Idlan and Irfan had their moments - with their tantrums of course. Idlan planning on sabotaging the birthday cake.

It was always a good idea to have birthday party at a venue rather than at home. You can rest assured that the caterer will not be late, plenty of food will be available. Decor will always be provided, with a party organiser usually. But the beat thing of all, you don't have to do the cleaning up. I have been to some well-organised venue party in the past. McDonald's and KFC were very good at these usually. We, of course had Idlan's at the Bird Park, and although we spent quite a bit of money, I thought it was well worth the price.

Chess anyone?Next stop was Wangsa Walk Mall to get a new pair of school shoes for Irfan. He was certainly growing up fast indeed. I reckon that he will need a couple of pairs of new one for the next school year. There was a giant chess competition in the middle of the Walk which was quite interesting.

Irfan's new shoesLet's kick the AndroidUnfortunately I had to do a bit of work in the afternoon. Right after that, I went to Sg Wang to sort my credit cards and had a quick tea there. There was no new DVD out from the looks of things. I headed over to Low Yat next. There were showing off the new Android tablet by CSL. I ha a quick look. They were running 2.1 and was a bit buggy still from the looks of things. They were certainly smaller than the iPad. Will I invest on them? Not yet at least.

Octoberfest at The Curve

Yesterday started off with a short drive to Serdang where I was invited to participate in a campaign they had there at the hospital. It was essentially an update on thrombosis. I was to talk about new anticoagulations. The talk went well. Having finished that, I had to rush straight back to UMMC to finish off the morning clinic.

The clinic was almost done when I got back. I sorted out the ward issues in the afternoon before getting off, and took the troupe out for dinner and jalan-jalan at The Curve. We all had our haircut, took dinner at Marche and bought Suraiya her birthday present. Her birthday party will be on Saturday morning.

Haircut timeCatching up on Ironman at one of the video shopsWhile waiting for Mum choosing presents for Suraiya

The foyer between the Curve and E has been transformed into a beer garden it seemed for the Octoberfest, complete with a brass band in tight leather trousers - they appeared British though rather than German - singing away merry songs. The waitress were clad in dresses and skirts serving pitches of beer, skipping away to the beat. My boys were wondering what was actually going on. Puan Anita explained to them that it was a German tradition kind of thing. Getting drunk on beer in October every year. They still appeared confused after that. But true enough, it was for Octoberfest. Even Marche played in into the celebration with sausage promotions and what have you. With the brass band, singing, lights an all, it would have been an experience for the boys but it was kinda hard to explain to them about the beer and everything. They started to ask one too many question.

Moleskine mania at Tango MangoAfter getting Suraiya's present, we took it to be wrapped up at Tango Mango, a nice little gift shop on the first floor of The Curve, right above Marche. Oh boy! They had a very good selection of Moleskine there, and I obliged to buy a couple of pads - for work of course. Moleskine were just addictive.

Tandoori

I wasn't joking when I tweeter about making a crazily early start this morning. I was too tired to work on the slides for a tutorial for today and decided to retire early. I then woke up a little after 4 am to start working on them, took my shower around 5.30 and spent the time after that finishing things off.

I got them all done in the end but oh boy, was I tired? I will need to retire early again tonight I guess, probably making another early start again tomorrow. I got tons of stuff to do.

After a long morning, followed by MRCP meeting, I headed for my tutorial jut outside the campus. The tutorial ended until after 6 and I only reached home after 7.30, really starving. Luckily Puan Anita prepared some tandoori chicken for dinner. Love her!

Return to Padang Kota

After Carnivall, Julia decided to travel to Penang to visit our Grandmother, and we brought the whole troupe round. We reached there just before the traffic jam and had a quick stop at Pahang Road. Before Maghrib, we went to Padang Kota for a spot of laksa.

For some reason, the laksa was rather poor that evening. Maybe we ordered at the wrong stall. Even the pasembor was a bit off. But with all their cousins around, my boys were rather occupied with playing and never complained. A lot have changed at Padang Kota. It used to be a more open and happening place with food stalls lining up the streets. With Penang status as a Unicef Heritage City, there had to ‘clean their act’ so to speak and off went the hawkers. Instead, they were placed in purpose-built eatery, with the non-halal stalls occupying the front and prime end. A few years back, there were pickets going on, but it was quickly squashed by the politicians. The Malay politicians were busy filling up their own coffers I’m afraid rather than looking after the locals. Sad to say in it? I guess it was down to the pressure of getting more tourists in. The Mat Salleh of course like their drink.

However, the place has been much cleaner than I remembered although a lot more could have been done. A new pavement, more parking slots, cleaner toilets for a start I supposed. The boys spent the time at the playground until they were tired. It was not bad going considering they had been at the water park all day earlier.