Significant or Famous

Last week Amir told me that one of his classmates have a very significant grandfather. So their teacher googled the said grandpa's name and Amir was so amazed/impressed to see his friend's grandpa's name on the Internet. "There were many but too bad it was all in Bahasa Indonesia, so my teacher did not understand," he said.

So I told him to google my full name. He had a shock! He... He...:) So he asked if I am significant or famous or I am both. Mmmm... I said I could not be famous because I am not in Wikipedia but I could be a bit significant, maybe not me per se but what I had written in the paper could have been considered by others as significant enough to befit some mention in the Internet. I'd like to think lah...

I remember when I was working dulu2. Whenever I felt bored sitting at my tiny desk and when no one (read BOSSES) is looking, I would start googling. Not just my name but anyone's name, from my old classmates, former teachers, lecturers, colleagues, my husband to even my parents' names. When Facebook was non-existent, my siblings' names were non-existent too while my dad's name, thanks to me, was of course in the Net. But to see Google does its search and came out within .35 seconds of over 6,000 of my name is not impressive. What impressed me is when I googled someone's name and I see he/she is in Wikipedia.... NOW that's something else!

A guy in my office, he sat just about 10m away from me and he's in Wiki! And for a while there, I was in awe. Not of him but more of the fact that I was working with someone who is in that free encylopedia! So I was in awe of myself?? Ha..ha..

Then a week later, Daphne Iking walked into the newsroom and again out of boredom, I googled her and found out she's in Wiki too! And I was like : WTH?? What has she done to deserve a mention??? My colleague tu I can so understand why... he wrote a book and can be considered "Malaysia's prominent writer" (and it was him who taught me that it is "nerve RACKING" and not "nerve WRECKING"). But Ms Iking?? Mmmm...

Back during the pre-Internet age, an Encylopedia was, in my opinion a very reliable and valuable source of information to me. Then came Wikipedia and for a while there, I thought, this maybe not the best thing ever, but it is the quickest site for fast information to find out about something/someone significant. Not anymore.... not after Ms Iking is in it too (By the way, I have nothing against this lovely lady). Now you just need to be famous, and you're in!

I just found out that my former colleague/prominent writer is divorced, for the second time! Was that info really necessary??? So tak class this Wikipedia!

Istanbul Delights

We just came back from beautiful Istanbul a few days ago. Our first holiday overseas with Imran, who is almost 4. I considered it first after substracting the Singapore holidays because that island is just too near to be considered OBERSI. And I must say hyper Imran, although a handful was quite a delight!

We flew to Istanbul, via Arabian Airlines, a 3-hour flight from Jeddah. We read that the temperature would be in the teens so we did not bring with us any proper warm clothing. Just normal jackets for me and Nina, a windbreaker for husband and Imran, and denim jacket for Amir.

But it was cold... for the kids at least (between 8 and 12 degree during the day). Well, not for Amir who claimed he loved the chilly weather but guess who had to frequent the loo way TOO often??

It was a short trip, 3 days and 2 nights but I suppose enough to explore Istanbul. On the first night, we stayed at Best Western, St Sophia, just next to Hagar Sophia, which we did not enter because we figured since we have seen the interior of Notre Dame in Paris, how different can a church be? he.. he.. Plus, images of the interior can easily be viewed on the WWW. (Hagar Sophia was a church turned into a masjid then a museum and there was a long queue outside the ticket counter).


Hagar Sophia

Just across it is the Blue Mosque. Magnificient landmark no doubt. We also did not go in because moi was not in the "clean state" to enter a mosque. We planned to go again on our last day but we ran out of time so had to give it a miss. Next time lah...


The Blue Mosque at night

Next on our agenda was the Grand Bazaar. There was no plan to shop because just like any bazaar, items are not price tagged and showing a bit of interest would mean haggling for the best prices and I was really not up to this. Plus, I have been told by friends that what's being sold there ain't that cheap.



But I was so tempted to get my hands on those colourful Turkish lamps and Iznik handpainted ceramic ware but since we were flying back to Jeddah and not KL, why bother? Again... next time lah.





Nightime -- Nina went straight to bed which is very typical of this girl while Amir finished off his writing homework. Itulah dia when pergi bercuti time sekolah still on! Imran was glued to Tom & Jerry on Cartoon Network so, me and hubby went out for some night sightseeing, drank tea which came in very small glasses (not enough, if you ask me) and bought pizza and kebab for dinner.


Tea in tiny glass

Next morning, we went to Tokapi Palace - home to all the Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries. Very Majestic and huge, one of the world's largest and oldest palace. I think it could easily take one whole day to explore this site, so we selected which sections we wanted to go and was done in nearly 3 hours.


Spring in Tokapi Palace


One of the memorable section was the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle, located in the palace's 3rd courtyard. Here contained belongings of our beloved Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) such as his robe, his two swords, his embedded footprint, hairs from his beard, and his letter to the Egyptian ruler. To see all these was enough to bring tears to my eyes. (Camera was forbidden in this courtyard but I saw a man using his mobile to capture pictures!)
There were also swords of the Caliphs and Companions and some pages of the Quran verified to be written by the Caliph Osman and Caliph Ali.

Our next stop was the Basilica Cistern. Entrance fee was 10TL (about RM20) for adults and of course, typical of us, we had to tell the ticket guy that our Nina, who is 5ft 4 inches- is only 12 so that she can go in FOC! This cistern, also known as the Sunken Palace was built in the 6th century during the Byzantine Empire which provided water to the palaces.


The Sunken Palace

Then we walked all the way to the other side of Istanbul, to the Galata Tower on the European side of the Golden Horn. It was quite a walk - fun to me and Amir but too exhausting for Nina. But going back to the hotel proved to be quite a challenge. After a stroll down Taksim St where we did some shopping, we kinda got lost and walked for miles, up and down some very STEEP roads, before we finally took the advice of two good Samaritans who said where we were heading was TOO far to walk but with the bus, it would take only less than 10 minutes! Lenguh kaki. The bus took us back to Eminonu jetty, across the Yeni Mosque and once there, the two boys wanted to pee and with our very lenguh kaki, we ran and ran looking for WC. And believe it or not, nak masuk kena bayar 1TL - toilet belakang pasar je tu! (that's like RM2 and I complained Sogo's 30 sen is WAY TOO mahal!)

From Eminonu, took a train back to our hotel, which is just two stations away. We stayed in a different hotel because Best Western's Thursday's night price is not as cheap as Wed's night so we checked into a cheaper looking hotel -- lupa dah nama -- for the same price as Best Western's Wed night price - 70 euro for a 3-bedded room).

Next day, our last day, went out early to buy the tickets for Bosphorus ferry tour. We were at the jetty 2 hours earlier than any other tourists!! Dah lah sejuk. The ferry "sailed" at about 10.30am and we reached the final dock of the tour 90 mins later, at Anadolu Kavağı, on the Asian side which was about 10 km south of the Black Sea. Along the way, we passed by some of the other Ottoman seaside palaces (very photogenic) and experienced two "false alarm" from Imran who said he wanted to poo-poo but it didn't happen! Not an issue if the toilets were cleaner and not the squat type!



One of the Ottoman mansions along the Bosphorus

Dah sampai Kavagi, we were given 3 hours to explore the small fishing town. 3 hours!! Nak panjat a fortress, ada orang tak keen sangat cos tak larat so we ended up killing time going in and out of souvenior shops, having lunch, berkejar ke toilet twice, once another false alarm from Imran and the other one, finally, for real! Again, it was a squat type toilet so really a big dugaan for a parent whose anak tidak tahu mencangkung!


Patiently waiting for the ferry

Imran, after one of his many bathroom stops.... :)

Then, it was time to fly back to Jeddah ....... back to wearing the abaya....... So impressed I was with Istanbul and its rich history, I bought Orhan Pamuk's Istanbul Memories and the City at the airport. Great book this one from a great writer ...

For more photos of Istanbul, you can click on this :

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51983&id=1014574505&l=51f15b348a

Ada Bakat ke?

In Amir's last report card, his Art teacher wrote that Amir has quite a talent for drawing. "A budding artist in the making," he wrote. I don't know about that. But I do know he is very good at copying other's people drawings and he is very detailed. He said he did a Van Gogh painting in school last month and since I never saw it, I have to take his word when he said, it was SOOO NICE.
The picture below is an example of his copy-cat work of art. I have to say they are very good. For a second I thought he'd traced those pictures from a book but he said he didn't and his sister vouched for him.

This talent, I am certain he didn't get it from me because I suck at anything that requires creativity. Back in school, Art is never a favorite subject but always a favourite class period because it was when I did nothing when others were intently drawing. My excuse : I focused better at home. The teacher knew I lied because I always ended up with a C or D anyways! So Amir must have gotten it from his dad? Maybe because when it comes to the art of precision and detailing, HE is the man!

Now my other offspring, who a week ago turned 12, claimed she is a musician whose talent is ready to be unleashed and wanted nothing else but a guitar for her birthday. She got a Sony MP4 from his dad and a "Fendi" look-alike watch from me. Well, we know, they were not guitar. His dad promised she'll get one this coming summer when we are in KL, a remark that almost "killed her" apparently! (Her facebook status right after being told that was : I AM SO HAPPY I COULD DIE.)

But does she really have a talent? If she does, where did she get it from? I am not musically-inclined although I do love listening to music. At her age, I was happy listening to English songs from Barbara Streisand and Roberta Flack, then writing the lyrics down and checking the dictionary to make sure my spellings were right. That was as good as I got. No desire for a guitar ke, a piano ke or an organ. Her dad meanwhile claimed he can strum an electric guitar like a pro. Yeah, I'd believe it when I see it!

I personally believe, Nina's current craving for a guitar is a result of "peer" pressure ...... from Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift!

As for their mom, who is not creative nor pandai main muzik, she "scored" another D for this following incident:
(Look carefully at the picture and ignore the very careless "painting" I drew over the other kids' eyes.)


Got it? No? Then take a look at this:


LOL! this was taken the week Amir told me that his socks were not matching and I told him that they are not THAT obvious what! I was wrong....

Grumpy Young Mummy

I will soon celebrate my 12th birthday.............as a mother. And being only 12, I must say I am still a young mother. So I must forgive myself if I still lack patience, maturity and wisdom. If I don't learn to forgive myself, who would? My children? Of course not. They probably think I am a monster, disguise as a mom. My husband? Not! He thinks being a mom is the most natural thing for a woman. Says who? I was only born nearly 12 years ago. my dear. Motherhood is SO not easy. If it was, FATHERS would gladly take over the job.

When I was a working mom, I think my children loved and appreciated me more. I think now that I am always home, their love and appreciation for me have lessen. They don't say it, of course but you can see it in their eyes and actions.

When I was working and taking time off during weekdays (thanks to the nature of my job which allowed me to do so), Nina and Amir loved it. They loved coming home from school and see my car parked in the porch.
"Mummy tak keje ke?" they would asked in unison. And when I nodded, they would acted so manja and Nina would said, "Can you drive us to sekolah agama?" And Amir would added, "And fetch us back too?" And I would smilingly agreed.
(Okay maybe the above "flashback" is an exaggeration but I did occasionally smile!)

I usually don't tell them when I was on my off days from work because if I did, they would asked me to send them to and fetch them from school, which I always declined because Pakcik Ariffin, the bus driver, HAS BEEN PAID to do that bit. But sometimes I relented and would fetched them instead.

Even if it was on the days of my late shift duty (2pm or 5pm), I would make it a point to send them to agama school just because I loved being with them, even if just for 30 mins or so.

If I was working on the weekends, they would called me many times just to ask what time am I coming home. Their dad called many times too and we all know why lah kan? Remember, if being a mother is EASY PEASY, all dads would willingly do it.

Flash forward to present times. If there was a Mothers' Anonymous meetings, I would gladly sign up! Help sober me up ladies! I am too intoxicated by my 24/7 motherhood chores/responsibilities. Seriously.

I personally believe some women have it. It here means being a full time mother. I am definitely not one of them. I get pissed too easily. I am impatient. I am reckless too (with my choice of words.) I am NOT FIT to become a SAHM. Really.

The other night, Nina asked me : "What is a natural satellite?" Bad mummy responded (while mopping the kitchen floor), agitated no less, : "As opposed to what? A not natural satellite??" Nina shrugged off. Mummy, still annoyed continued :"If you can google your songs on you tube, u surely can google natural satellite! When I was in school, I did not study satellites. Even if I had, I would not have bothered nenek to find out what it is. I would go to the library because BACK then we did not have the Internet ...." and I went on and on and on without realising Nina had left the kitchen! Probably with a smirk on her face!

Amir gets it from me almost on a daily basis. And I pity him. Really I do. Last night, he asked me what's the meaning of lighthearted. I said :"Ever heard of a dictionary? Look it up. I want to be like nenek (my mom). She did not help me with difficult English words."

All the the cooking, the cleaning, the washing, the dusting, the bed-making, the laundry, the laundry folding, the vacumming, the teaching, and the wifely duties are really stressing me out. Masa kerja dulu-dulu, at least I have an excuse to skip some of these but now, what is my excuse? Well, I do make excuses (like I need to read the online news NOW, or I have to watch my fav tv shows NOW), but deep in my heart, I find these excuses lame.


So, should I be worried if my children now love me less? Not really cos truth be told, I don't really fancy myself now.

Now, let me get to folding the two baskets of laundry, while not enjoying the view outside my house which has been blanketed by a shroud of dusts. Dust storm, two days in a row already! STRESS nya ...................


And if one day my children read this entry, please remember :

Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together. ~Pearl S. Buck

Cekik Darah

A week ago I came upon a website on expatriates living in Saudi Arabia. It had interviews with a number of orang putihs and there was one which I found to be quite interesting. She's an American who apparently enjoyed her stay in Jeddah despite the many restrictions. That's fine with me. What shocked me is when she said her family spent between 4k and 5k riyals in grocery shopping monthly! and that amount, she said was "reasonably not bad!" And that was in 2007. Wow!

We spend WAY less than half of that amount and even that, we feel that it is too much compared to our spending back in KL. Here, one hour of grocery shopping can easily cost us SR300, sometimes SR400, double what we usually paid in KL. I have lived here 9 months already and I still cringe whenever I look at the receipts.

While I am on this $$ talk, the kids' schools are also ridiculously Pencekik Darah. One class photograph costs SR50 (for Amir) and SR70 (for Nina) and whylah the photos must be in 8x10 size?? To justify the crazy price tags?? Wouldn't it be easy if they just email us the pics and let the parents do the printing? You'd think this would be a better option in today's world but NO. They'd rather go a step backward so they gain a bit of profit for themselves. I mean seriously, do you really have to hire a professional photographer to take the photos? Surely, the teacher who teaches photography classes in THAT school can do it for free? Back in my school years, I think our photographer was our PE teacher, or was he our Arts teacher? Whatever, but I think we paid only 50 sen for the photos. Or was it free? Back in my kids' school in KL, the photos were FOC.

And then there is the exorbitant taxi fares. It just does not make sense. Their petrol price is lots and lots CHEAPER than a price of 500ml bottled water but a five km ride can easily make me SR20 poorer. That's like the fare for my 17km taxi ride from my house to Jalan Riong, Bangsar.