THE WEEK WE WERE IN KK

We went over to KK a day earlier than the rest of the team. That was because we didn't take the bus ride that was provided by JPN. Instead we hitched the ride with Andrew on his routine Sunday's trip home.
The plan was to stay a night at his place first before moving to the apartment studio we have booked at Api Api centre ( highly recommended by some of the teachers that was with the team that I cancelled my booking at Ruby's).
Because of what might later be catogorised as 'transportation difficulties', we abandoned the plan to stay at home and went straight to checked into the apartment.
We made the right choice on that but wrong choice of the place to stay for sure.
The place was a total dissapointment. Not only did we have much difficulites in finding the 'front desk' ( we spent around half an hour walking up and down Api Api Centre) the first sight of it shocked me.
It was actually an apartment itself... it was somebody's home! ..with the exceptation of the desk with a telephone, a photostat machine and suprisingly a credit card machine.
Even the so called receptionist had to be waken up from her afternoon nap to attend to us. If you could only see what she was wearing.. and her hair.. ayooo yoo...totally 'kapung'
I had actually made up my mind not to stay there even before seeing the room. Everything was not as I had imagined it would be.
The whole ambiance had given me that 'creepy and dark' feelings.
All around seems so 'dirty' and unattended to.
Andrew on the other hand was making the 'whole deal'... signing in and paying for the week's stay before I had time to utter anything.
I wondered if he was tired from all the walking or 'lazy' to look for alternatives or just plain curious to have a peek at what they had to offer next.
The room was no difference...lighting was bad although it was complete with the necessary everyday needs .'Everything' looks so old , used and 'cheap'!.
The management really needs to look into upgrading and maintenance for a change.
My review?...good enough if you don't need to be in the room other than for showers and sleeping.
For other stuff?.... nay...there's so many better ones around to choose from.

While Andrew took pictures of Mt Kinabalu just beside Pine Resort at Kundasang.... I had Yona take mine.
















Aha... rare blooming of a rare plant... must take photo to get some luck....




















The 3pm lunch we ordered at Bamboo Cafe along the route to KK



















































... the millioner's daughter



















Drinking and Eating....Andrew took us out ( actually it was just 'downstairs' at Malaysia's chicken rice) for dinner on the second day we were there.


















Lionel's snap... is it my eyes or it's a little shakey?. He was so confident about taking good photogrphs.

























The below average 'living den' we shared . I'm sure it was to be the first and last time we'll ever be staying there.




















Sheryl, Tisha and ...... the 'stinky pillow'


















The early birds



















While waiting for the others to show up



















Bulls' eye....At the dart's room beside the bowling alley
























At the background in green is the apartment building where we stayed for the week.

THE 'KIDS' DID IT.... SO CAN WE!

'TUNG TUNG CHANG' DAY AT LYDIA'S SCHOOL

The invitations were sent a week earlier for us parents.
I had infact made up my mind not to go but Lydia was so excited on going. Her teacher too was so persistent that in the end we did go.

The older girls came along just to 'checked out' Lydia's school.
They haven't been there before.

I knew finding parking spaces would be a difficult task. I was right too.

We came around 9.30am. just missing the opening speech ( all in chinese) but was there for the 'other stuff'. (Yona was our transalator)
There were five troupe showing their dances that day . One was that of a dragon.
The whole show came to an end around 11.30am.
























There were five troupe presenting their dance on that day..
In Lydia's words... two yellow lion, one white, one black and a dragon

7TH FEBRUARY...TISHA'S 17TH BIRTHDAY

Today Tisha turned 17. Wow... she's getting older ( what would that make me?)
We didn't planned any celebration as she thought it was kind of 'kiddish' to have one at this age. Anyhow it has been years since we last held anyone's birthday celebration at home. Now it's usually just a 'makan' at some restaurant with 'ang pow' as gift.

On past years birthdays, Tisha would spent the day with her friends from school and later have dinner with us. This year was spent minus the celebration with friends as it falls on a saturday ( church day) and she had training later on that day.
She had also wanted to celebrate it a day earlier together with Diane's but unable to do so she was still competing in the inter schools bowling competition.

Our dinner was at Kg Pukat Seafood restaurant with only my parents, Rocky ,Florence plus Jo and her children as guest.

I didn't miss the chance to be photograph with this 'dream car' parked infront of the restaurant.




















As usual, whenever my parents are joining us.... it'll be a night of fish dishes....






























That's the birthday girl
























Five shots within five seconds... before cutting the cake

A WEEK OF SOMETHING

This week passed with much more going ons than last.
I don't remember much about monday except that was the first day it started raining heavily.
Flash food were everywhere for the whole week.
I had to sent the older girls to school instead of the normal public bus ride. Lucky for me that week was only a two day school day.
The Schools District Bowling ten pin competition was held from wednesday to friday.
Their school have given the option for parents to send their children to the bowling alley instead of the teacher in charge as so with other schools.
This would mean that the girls could get up a bit later than normal as the competition would only starts at 9.30am.
The first day of competition was Tisha's. The under 18 group.
They had to bowl six games for the individual title.
With an average of 140 for the day, she didn't flare so well. Just managed to clinged third place but good enough for a place in the team.
Only four bowlers automatically selected to represent the district.

Part of the fun at any of these competition other than winning itself was the cheering part. The girls belongs to coach Alex's elite group which comprises of students from different schools.
Throughout the competition they were therefore not actually cheering for their school representative but for their own group members.
It was really fun as they were... 'that good'.

Yona did better. She infact won all the top prizes offered. Winner for the under 15 singles, doubles and high game. Would have won the high series too if that was offered.

Overall, only three from their group didn't make the district team. A shame too as they lost by mere margins.
Luck must have not been with them as they do have the necessary skills.














DINNER AT PIZZA'S HUT

We took a lot of photo shots there that it would be a waste not to put it in here.
It was also Diane's birthday. Tisha and her had been sharing their birthday celebration together for years as they fall within a day apart. They had planned to celebrate their birthday by 'painting the town red'( teenager's version - meaning: a tour around town). Unfortunately, Tisha had the competition to finish.
After the day's competition, I took the 'gang' ( my children and Jo's) home from the bowling allley. Jo had to work today as she only took two days leave.
It was already past six so we went straight for dinner. Pizza it would be.

















The birthday girls...

















Ownership claim......


















SATURDAY IS CHURCH DAY
As with every saturday we attended service at our local church.
This photo was taken while getting ready. I actully took a few shots but every one turned out with Tisha's 'peace' sign as background.




















I sent the girls for training after lunch.
Play four games of bowling with Jo and Alias while waiting for them to finish.
It was already past two by the time they finally finish but as Jo's kids have not had lunch, we stopped over at a mamak shop for some roti canai.
I was still full to have anything but teh tarik although I had some fun taking candid eating pictures of the rest of them.