Ramadhan leaving,Syawal around the corner

I had been on tonsilitis since Saturday night. During get together for iftar with family members reciding in KL I still have my voice but my vocal had changed to Ella's version. Everyone noticed it. Struggling to wake up for sahur on Sunday morning. Very intense pain on my throat and my body was overly heated.

I had to take antibiotic prescribed from doctor since Sunday till today plus Myanol prescribed by neurologist (make my muscle relax). Alhamdullillah, today my vocal was not too bad. Yesterday was still very much sexy vocal as pointed out by my friends during phone conversation. Most of my plan to do before holiday was very much interrupted. I am struggling to get them completed in the midth of my not so well condition. I missed tarawih for several nights now.

Ramadhan leaving us so soon... in case I don't have a chance to blog...

I wish to take this opportunity to say:

Selamat hari raya Aidilfitri, ampun dah maaf sekiranya ada yang tersalah dan tersilap. Jangan disimpan didalam hati.

Leaving to kampung this weekend is an event to look forward to...


Salam dari,
Anggerik Merah

Sept 23, 2008
11:50 pm

Journey - Rio 2

To continue sharing some memories from Rio trip….

It was an interesting trip. This is the second time I had been to South America. The first time was sometimes in 2000, I had a chance to be in Lima for some conference which I had to present paper. That trip was full of surprises and challenges. I guess when travel alone many surprises happened. Since then, I promise myself not to travel alone again to this area. That should be a separate story on its own.

During my recent business trip to Rio, I had opportunity to meet old friends and get to know new one. I will have a chance to meet my Brazilian friends (and also Norwegian) again after raya for another forum which will be held in Langkawi. The world is getting smaller…really smaller. We will bounce into each other too frequent from different part of the world.

Much I have to note about my trip in Rio, but I must admit I kept forgetting those moments ever since back to KL. Life in KL is so hectic that everyday something else needs to be remembered. I have a thot of writing those memories while in the plane. But to be honest, I need all minutes to rest and recharged. I ended-up ignoring my laptop at all. Rather watched in flight movies (“Smart People” etc) and finished “The last lecture by Randy Pauch”.

Here’s some pics…

View from Breakfast lounge in the hotel in the area of Ipanema

Entrance to tram in Corcavado, one of the world seven wonders.

Jesus Christ statue at Corcovado, one of the main attraction in Rio De Janeiro

View from cable car to Sugar Loaf, another seven wonders. The left side is Copacabana beach while on the right is part of picturestique Rio De Janeiro Town

Sugar Loaf

Another thing I wish to share is, being a woman, I love jewelery. The beauty of it is for my own satisfaction. Not to show my status or any other reason related to it. So I commit myself buying a necklace made of Gemstone from Rio. Some people might think I am crazy for spending that much money on that necklace. I thot I am crazy too. But I never regret any decision and am accountable to it.:-)... This piece of jewelery stick to my body everyday, i.e. during my sleep, shower etc etc. Funny thing about me is that I don't like to change my necklace everyday. I prefer it to be with me until I feel bored and then keep it away for sometimes. Being a woman I am...

where am I???

Back to story about going places...

For the first time, I am listing down places I had been in my life either during student time, during business trip or holiday. The lists excluded my foot at the airport only. Maybe I could start to think of some places I wish to be before shifting to another life. Something to look forward to and plan in my wish list.

1) Thailand - Phuket, Hadyai

2) Philippine - Manila

3) Indonesia - Jakarta, Bali

4) Singapore

5) Japan - Narita, Chiba,Tokyo

6) China - Beijing, Tianjin

7) Saudi Arabia - Mecca, Medina

8) Egypt - Cairo, Alexandria

9) Norway- Bergen, Oslo, Stavanger

10) France - Paris, Lyon

11) Spain - Madrid

12) Italy - Milan

13) Holand - Amsterdam

14) Belgium - Brussel

15) UK - too many to list down

16) Canada - Vancouver, Victoria (BC), Toronto, Salt Spring Island

17) USA - too many to list down

18) Peru - Lima

19) Brazil - Rio De Janeiro

20) Mexico - Hueres (sp?)

That many I can recall at this time. Each of these places thought me a lot about different culture, people and religion... It somehow mold me in someway to be what I am now... Some old folk told me when I was young, there is some sign on my body indicated that I will be "kaki yang berjalan (walking feet?)". I can't remember if it was got to do with my "tahi lalat" somewhere...hehehe... Anyway, it is true in some ways. It started when I was still young...

Ok... I must get back to my chores... Life without maid means I have to do things which I had not done for sometime. It is part of my daily exercise/weekend exercise around house. I have not been on my bike during weekend as I used to do anymore. I miss riding my bike... Will do after raya.

Selamat berbuka puasa dan beribadat. Semuga sentiasa diberkati oleh Allah.

Anggerik Merah

Sept 20, 2008

2 pm

3rd Anniversary of blogging – Sept 13 2005

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – nil, some other muscle test – nil. Finally EEG indicated, as expected, a brain which can’t stop working/thinking and surprising Migraine? I can’t think of an answer if I had ever complaining about intense headache as the specialist kept on asking before telling me the result.


Pic: Beachside at Ayorda Resort,Nusa Dua, Bali, April 2008

Anyway, I might have trained my brain to ignore or switch off the pain all this while i.e. tolerance level is very high. For a week, I was prescribed Myonal 50 mg tab and Norgesic tab. And yes, I had skipped them for some days after noticing me feel so weak and dehydrated and when the tingling and numbness on my fingers and left hand was not too bad. It is not good especially for my long distance travel to office in the morning as my muscle become too relax. Anyway, will have a follow-up with specialist again today.
Pic: Tanah Lot, Bali, April 2008

Weekend was full of exercise for me on the chores…washing, cleaning; ironing…Had not done so much for quite sometimes. Kind of enjoy it but less time for socializing and enjoying life outside house or other form of socializing. Life without maid is kinds of blessing in some ways as it bring us closer together. Lil man becomes more independent. We might consider just make do with day to day maid if we could get one. Will see how it goes.
Pic: Resort next to Ayorda, Bali, April 2008

It is also a blessing of this Ramadan… celebrating my 3rd year of blogging. A year ago almost at this time I had spend some quiet time in UK, to complete some part of my thesis correction. For about two weeks, my life just within a small office day and night… I miss that kind of intense moment as I need that moment to get things wrap-up, close the chapter, leave behind and move on…

Pic: Tanah Lot, Bali, April 2008

Collecting every bit of energy, mental strength and visualizing that moment is all in my mind.

Anggerik merah

Sept 13, 2008

Bit & pieces again

Weekend activity....Reshuffle all my office attire. Some to give away... Did loads of ironing work....I wish I could just wear jean & T-shirt to office... Anyway good exercise...just that need to sacrifice time for not going out and do other things.

Went to see specialist at Tawakal today. Blood test was done. Results negative on Athritis...Alhamdullilah...But doesn't answer the reason of joint pain which come and go for the last 2 months. Tomorrow another visit to see neurologist as refered by the specialist for corpus tunnel(?) test. Whatever it is, must try to sort it out.

I had not visited Tawakal for ages...Maybe more than 15 years.... Some of good, experience and down to earth doctor's are residing here. I felt more satisfied to meet these doctors. Some doctor's at some "5 star hospitals" are more into money making...

My maid.... the moment of truth...she smsed us informing that she will not be coming back to continue working. We have to figure out our plan if we want to take another one, try to get day to day maid (if we are lucky to find one).... or live without one.

Deep in my heart, I reflected all things that happen at home while my maid was around. She had not been focused on the work at home much. She took things so lightly. I had to remind her to do this and that. And I found a draft letter from her to someone while cleaning up my house few months back. I knew she was up to something but I didn't ask her. I just observed her character. The night that I was ready to fly to Brazil, she asked forgiveness from me. She said she had done loads of 'DOSA" to me. I didn'tknow what she mean. I told her that I forgave her and I don't know what "DOSA" she was talking about. Whatever she did behind me, let ALLAH showed her the right and wrong.

Big man and I were discussing about her...and Big man said it is no point to request her to be back if she doesn't like to work here... Yes...maid...we can't live with or without them... Maybe this happen for good reasons..

that's bit and pieces....

Anggerikmerah
September 8, 2008
6:30 pm

Life sans Maid

Life without maid, definately needs some adjustment. Our maid had gone back for 2 months holiday. Hence, big man took some responsibility at home to do some chores, while I help out during weekend.

It is good that we all have more time to struggle at home with chores. It was not too bad at all. Can be tiring at times. Whenever it is too much, we do outsource...

Anggerik Merah
September 1, 2008
10:30 am