101 EXPRESSIONS

So our little granddaughter Olivia turned 4 months on 4th May . We decided to make a short trip to Singapore just to see her. It was so heartwarming to be able to see the baby again - although our reunion wasn't exactly warm t first.

 Livvie looked at her kung-kung, then looked at por-por (me) and then turned to her maternal grandma in bewilderment. Her lips started to tremble and then she bawled in protest. Poor girl was overwhelmed by the new faces. Obviously she could make out that this new set of people who ooooo and aaahh and coooed over her were not in her immediate circle of familiar faces. But she soon warmed up to us.Clever girl indeed!! 

Livvie out for a walk with Por Por

( Livvie with Kung Kung and watching patiently as her daddy had his lunch)

Technology is indeed a boon for the modern mother. I used to wonder how my children were when I put them to bed - but was afraid of waking them up if I peeped at them. But now with the video camera, a mother can monitor her child's every movement without going to the room to check. So we observed that Livvie likes to cover her face when sleeping

This little granddaughter is such a sweet, patient girl. She would sit through a meal and observed the adults eating. She seemed to listen to every adult conversation - her eyes moving from one person to another, following the speaker's voice. 

She loves listening to stories, but seems to prefer the rhythm of poetry. Her eyes shone with delight and her lips moved as if following the the rhymes. (I am not exaggerating!)

Livvie seems to exhibit a variety of expressions. I can imagine what was going through her mind......

Oh no, Kung Kung, the water looks deep, too deep for me

You are NOT going to put me in THAT pool are you ? Serious?

Please,  Kung Kung, I am still a baby. I can't swim yet

Ok, I'll make a deal with you.......

I look forward to the day she can talk. What a conversation we might have !!

   

DESTINATION HANOI

Hanoi is an amazing hidden gem of travel destination. It's a city caught in two time zones. Old Hanoi is a mix mash of hawkers,street vendors, street food, and cheap buys. On the same streets are glitzy bars, overpriced souvenirs, tour offices and lots and lots of hotels and lodges.

One of the less touristy lanes where locals buy their wares

Street vendors ply their wares on baskets dangled from a rattan poles (perched precariously on  their shoulders), haunt the hotels and lodges. 

Vietnamese mee hoon which we tried

I was fascinated by the numerous sidewalk kitchens offering all kinds of local delicacies (which we did try once, with some painful consequences!!), but the locals seem to relish the food as they sit on low stools to have a quick meal before going to work. 

While strolling along a lane, we spotted a small shop advertising 'Egg Coffee' and we decided to give it a try. It was indeed unique. Smooth, creamy, custardly combined with a potent shot of espresso! 

 The boat cruise on Ha Long Bay was spectacular and it was also a gastronomical delight. Hubby had his first lesson on making Vietnamese spring rolls.

We shunned the bigger restaurants and opted for the smaller outlets. And we discovered gems like these : Thai steam boat, lots of varieties of salads (the Vietnamese love their salads)

We sampled local coffee and hubby enjoyed his ice cream

The highlight of our gastronomical search was Cha Ca La Vong (Hanoi Turmeric Fish). My friend had told me of this place and so we navigated the streets, weaving through the myriad of motorbikes to No 14, Cha Ca Street. Lo and behold, neon lights emblazoned boldly and gaudily, was "No. 14 Cha Ca La Vong" !, the very first shop along the street. The waiter ushered us in, "Yes,yes, this is THE Cha Ca La Vong. Look, No 14". I was skeptical as I remembered my friend telling me it was a nondescript shop. I gestured hubby to leave the place,and we walked further, and we came to an old plain looking shop, "Cha Ca Le Vong". That must be it!. Then I looked at the shop house number. It was No. 12. Nope, not the one. Another fake.

 (R) The imitation CCLV - note the No. 14 in neon. (L) Another imitation CCLV

 The bona fide CCLV

 We found the bona fide No. 14, Cha Ca Le Vong right next door. It looked nothing like any restaurant. There was no table at all, just a family altar in the front hall. A man gestured to us to go upstairs. We climbed a steep narrow stairs, and as we reached the landing, we caught a whiff of aromatic herbs and heard the sound of sizzling wok. We sat at a table next to a Swede lady and her son. The waitress did not give us any menu card, nor did she ask us what we wanted. It was understood. Everyone who came here, came for only one dish, the turmeric grilled fish. Was it worth the search? Why, people from as far as Sweden, USA have come to this very place for this one famous dish !! 

Yum! It was worth the search

Note : No. 14, Cha Ca La Vong is so well known that it has given rise to so many imitation outlets. The the original is still at the nondescript shop.

LEAPS AND BOUNDS

Such wonder and amazement, looking at you, I am reminded of Psalm 139 verses 13 - 16 :

 " For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

We celebrated Olivia's first month

The days rolled by and soon she was in her second month , and third........

Sunrise, sunset, one week followed another, growing by leaps and bounds ......

And before the third month, she could lift her head...

It seems daddy has big plans for her, but she's playing it cool ......

Well, at least her parents think she knows her name :-)

WELCOME TO THE WORLD, GRANDDAUGHTER

The year 2016 ended quietly. Apart from the Christmas dinner with the Lee family, we spent the New Year's eve, hubby and I, sipping the Rose wine we bought during our last trip to Perth, and munching chocolates. Age is definitely catching up - we enjoyed the evening curled up in our sofa.

But 2017 came in with a BANG. We welcomed the arrival of our granddaughter, Olivia Lee Xuan. Her arrival was anticipated with much eagerness as Sam and Rachael had been regularly updating us on the baby's development.

 So, on 4th January, Olivia Lee Xuan made her grand entrance to this world

Everyone was ecstatic, Kudos to the proud parents.

Our little Miss Singapore ......

The proud grandparents.

 Welcome to the world, granddaughter Olivia. We are :

O - Overjoyed, just
L - Looking at your
I  -  Impressively
V - Vigourous yet vulnerable frame. Before, you were just an
I  - Ileum, an incus, life inconceivable without you,you are just
A - Adorable !!

Granddaughter, you now join the ranks of our other grandchildren.  Like them, you may, one day, outgrow the place in our laps. But you will never outgrow the place in our hearts !!

NATHAN AND GRACE'S HOLIDAY IN KK

Through our conversation on Skype, our grandchildren, Nathan and Grace would often moan, " I miss you por por.....", or they would chirp "Oh, por por, when I come to KK, I am going to show you this...." Thus it was with much excitement and expectation when my daughter announced, "We are coming home to visit !!"

The day finally arrived. What a joy to see the children and grandchildren getting off from the car. How tall and handsome Nathan has grown. And Gracie is getting prettier by the day. 

We made a trip to Mt. Kinabalu and the National Park. It was a kind of trip down memory lane for Serene as our family frequent these places during weekends and short holidays. The grandchildren enjoyed the car ride up the mountain.

 It was the first time the little ones get up close to the cows and goats, which was ironic as they hail from the country that has lots and lots of cows and sheep. So they get to feed the animals.

And of course we made sure they get to eat a whole cup of ice cream each to themselves. Doting grandparents !

 The trip was a whirlwind of food and more food, the children ( Serene and Meng How) taking in as much local food as they can. Tuaran Mee, Beaufort Mee, Hokkian Mee, Naan, Chapati, Ayam Tandoori, Satay, etc. Signal Hill Eco Farm was another destination in our food itinerary. 

It was a few days to Chinese New Year and Meng How made sure his children had a chance to play with the little fire bombs as well as to light fireworks.

Here I am with my lovely daughter, of whom I am immensely proud 

Do come back whenever you can. We love having you to love and to spoil