Visitors to our part of the woods

Last week, Simon's brother, Darien and his family visited us for a week. With wifey Ee Chiew and son, Oscar, and Ee Chiew's parents. We planned a few activities and spaced them out in case the kids get exhausted. Or in case they get use to the activities and demand for them every week! haha.

We went to the Borneo Tropical Rainforest Resort. I was there two plus years ago when they first opened. So I know they have completed their main hotel building and the food will be better. Anyways, it was a fun-filled weekend stay for Jonathan and his cousin Oscar. Didn't bring Jillian coz not enough space in the car, and I don't think we would have been able to manage two kids outdoors!

We had a buffet lunch upon reaching there on Sunday. After lunch, only one room was ready so we went on a tour of the placed on a trailer pulled by a huge tractor. Jon loved the ride, and was very obedient throughout.

Then we had to get off and walk through the animal farm. Aiyo, if Jill was with us, Simon would have to carry Jill and I would have to hold Jon's hands and pray he doesn't run off. Jon was OK to see the little ducklings, goats and lambs. But he wasn't as curious as his cousins (Stanley and Grace also brought Qiqi along).
We also went off trail to see some small waterfall, where the water dripped down from some vines. Local myth was that if you wash with the water that had dripped from the vines, you will look five years younger. We didn't really believe but splashed our face with the refreshing cool water.

Went back on the trailer and went to the peak of the hill, I think a couple of hundred feet above sea level and got a few of the vast oil palm plantation owned by Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation. Jon kept pointing to the grey clouds and wanted to take photos of them.

Then we went off trail again onto a downslope path to see two small waterfalls. They are in the Lambir National Park that is located next to the resort. Jon was happy to walk on the wooden planks and even picked up a little pebble for his bug jar. I was perspiring furiously from the good workout.

Then we went on a boat ride and the tour guide feed the fishes so we can see them up close when they came to feed. We also saw two guys on a boat with their huge catches. Was wondering if we would have those fishes for dinner, haha!

After the tour, we went back for a rest before hitting the water park. While it's only a couple of months old, rust and algae were beginning to show. It's a pity coz it looked quite nice. If only they had bought equipment that is meant for water play and not the usual playground.

There wasn't much to do in the evening after dinner. We hung out to chat while Oscar and Jon had a go at the traditional drums. That was until I realised Jon was sitting on the notice that said not to touch the drums! Aiyo...

The next morning, after breakfast, we went to play at the water park again before heading for home. Yay, so happy to see Jillian.

Time to smell the flowers?

I made some simple ruffle flowers for Jon's kindy and Sunday School teachers. If only they can smell nice...

Malaysia celebrates Teachers' Day on 16 May. I saw a promotion poster at a country club for teachers' Day celebrations in May and asked Jon's kindy teacher when the actual day is. Thankfully, I have some time to make the presents unlike last year when I found out a couple of days before the actual day. Still getting used to a May celebration, coz in Singapore, the day is celebrated in Sept.

As Jon will be missing school next Mon (Jon's uncle and family are coming over, and we're going to stay at a tropical resort), I have to complete the flowers to be given to the teachers today.

Here're some bright and cheery flowers using Sassafras Lass Me Likey papers, topped with owl stickers. We grew up being taught that teachers are wise like owls (",). PS: I don't know why the photos appears like that when in the folder, it's the right side up!

And some using sweet old stash from Heidi Grace, topped with SSF chipboard animals and flower chipboards from La-di-dah.

Here's the tutorial from PaperVine for making the ruffle flowers.

Important day today in Singapore

Today is polling day in Singapore. First time ever, 82 out of 87 seats will be contested (could have been all 87 if not for one Opposition party that took a while to raise the S$80,000 deposit needed to run for election in one ward and was late in filinf nominations papers by 35seconds).

I can't go back to vote coz MIL can't help me take care of my two kidlets plus another grandchild. So I will pray that Singaporeans vote wisely for Singapore's future for the next five years.

I've posted so many messages about the General Elections in Facebook over the last 10 days. Due to the overwhelming increase in number of new candidates joining and standing for alternative parties, the main ruling party has finally reacted somewhat to the sentiments, questions and issues that the common people have raised. It took the alternative parties to raise them.

Rallies by the AP have seen attendance of up to 30,000!!! while the ruling party had a max of 3-5,000 people. The people are more aware of issues, thanks to social media. Even the mainstream media are publishing photos of jam-packed venues for APs (instead previously of some obscure corner where there're only a trickle of people), and have given more coverage to these emerging new voices.

Exciting times indeed. Voting is from 8am to 8pm and online coverage will start from 10pm. Good, the kidlets will be asleep and I can go online to view the results. Praying for more seats for APs so that alternative voices can be heard. It would take a long, long time before a new govt can be formed. and no, no toppling over of current govt. They have done an OK job, till the five years. Just that the way the ruling party crams down policies and directives down our throat without consultation or consensus has irked the people. And they have not heard and answered the people. And no, upgrading is no longer a carrot. It has not been since the last GE five years ago. Wake up, my dear politicians, and listen. Listen to the common folks and not your party people who will only say what you want to hear. And we want MPs to serve with heart, to listen with empathy and to act with compassion. Your tonality and words matter. You have to walk the ground and talk the talk of commoners. Unless you come down from your high seats (and your high pay), you will never be able to understand what we feel and need.

Moving onto a lighter note, here's some of Jonathan's art work done on Saturday mornings. He is learning patience in colouring the objects/still life, and filling in every spot of the drawing paper. I didn't learn how to colour like that, and in school. the art teacher just left us to draw and colour on our own without even teaching the techniques. I am just happy that Jon enjoys the one and a half hour lessons on Sat mornings.

Lastly, here's wishing all mothers a Happy Mothers' Day. You may or may not be celebrating this weekend, but you are thought of by me. Thank you for all your efforts in taking care of your families!