The Colours of Nana

This is the account of Nana at her 7th month. She is growing up healthily, excelling in all her developmental milestones. She eats well and drinks well too. We made sure her babysitter next door fulfilled our demand of raising her with adequate food, drink, rest and care. As a result, she is thriving as a very beautiful healthy little princess.  

Look, mommy daddy, i can fly..or swim? I self-taught myself. Cool, rite?

By now she can raise her chest up in prone position, without resting on her forearms. She likes doing the super girl fly motion. She would jump into the role anytime and make pretend she was flying in the sky while looking down at the landscape below her. She has so much fun and energy doing that, it usually takes a while before she starts getting fidgety.

Its a bird. No, its a plane. No, its SUPER GIRL~~

 I'm overseeing the peace of the world while mom & dad are busy~~

While Nana is at it (flying), we would squeeze in some multitasking, try to complete as much house work as possible. That includes cleaning Nana's poop on her diapers, cooking, washing and hanging clothes. Otherwise its harder to work with 1 hand while carrying her on the other, although we like stimulating and amusing her with our activity of daily living.

She seem to be very curious and inquisitive. Whenever we are at something, she would quietly observe and study, looking absolutely funny when she does that. She appears deep in thoughts as though figuring what is going on or trying to solve a puzzle.Subsequently when she gets bored, she would just turn around and face our shoulders.

Mom & Dad's bed is more soft & comfy than mine~~

....I wanna come in between them every night.

Nana is a cheerful kid. She likes playing with us on our bed. We would make her smile, make her laugh, sing songs, play toys and tickle her. She enjoys every bit of our attention she gets as much as we enjoy hers. Her smile is like a burst of sun ray through dark rainy clouds and her laughter is piercing like echo on a mountainous plains. She is my sun, same time she is my moon.  

The cheeky girl is at it again, trying to disembark from her flying ship.

I like jumping out to surprise her out of nowhere, she likes us being Jack-out of- the box.

Dad! You missed me standing on one leg just now~

Let's see, right foot up and over, then left foot...This is professional athlete stuff~

She lights up my day like the morning sun rising from the horizon, which grows brighter and warmer throughout the day. She makes my heart free like a bird, carefree and oblivious of all demands of a working adult. When I'm with her, she is my freedom to dig deep and love, to be passionate of someone so dear. She has brought out in me sacrifice, the heart to put someone i cherish above myself. Nana has taken root in my life so much so that without her I'm incomplete.

Me and my daughter, celebrating my birthday together for the first time.

We went for a morning walk to the playground behind. Little Nana was still groggy.

  And that's why, today is such a joy to celebrate my 26th birthday with her, and my wife. It had been a while since we last went Mid Valley, KL. Working life has taken its toll on our leisure and hanging-out lifestyle in our youth. Furthermore we are not a couple to spend when there are no sales or no necessity. Building a family requires thriftiness and a lot of financial discipline. Most of the bulk of our expenditure goes to eating out, so eating healthy and eating home helps in cutting down wastage.

The inquisitive (and hungry) Nana staring at the waiter anticipating food to be served.

So here we are, at Nandos, a Mexican food chain in Mid Valley. We indulge in fast food once in a while. I believe freshly oven-grilled chicken are healthier than deep friend chicken and processed fries. Then again to begin with, we wouldn't know how healthy were the chickens and what was it fed before being slaughtered. Come to think of it, its scary that we could be feeding our young ones with chemicals and hormones which could cause hidden and irreplaceable damage to their inner body.

Dad, don't be so health conscious, you're being over-analytical, you'll end up procrastinating~

A birthday dinner made all the more special with my daughter celebrating with me.

On a lighter note, I enjoyed the birthday dinner very much. We ate to our hearts' content. The grilled chicken marinated with Mexican spice topped with Mexican chili sauce was tasty. Nana was fed her milk but she got to nibble and taste some chicken and the side dishes, cashing in on her dad's birthday indulgence. At this age, she is well-behave outdoor and easy to bring along. I believe it is attributed to her inquisitive nature that she is engrossed with her surroundings most of the time.

The 4 generations of strong women in-da-house. I'm one of them.

Po po~~ What big teeth you have, and what big eyes you have (..gulp).

As you already know, Nana created a few history in the families she was born into. She is the 1st grandchild to be born into the Yong(mine) family. The 1st grandchild into the Yeow(my mum's), and also the 1st grandchild born to the 1st daughter(my wife) of the 1st born Chin(my father-in-law) family. Needless to say, Christiana is constantly the center of attraction in every family meeting, the apple of everyone's eye. To top it off, she warms up pretty easily to everybody, without any stranger anxiety, which i feel can be unsafe at times.

Mother and daughter, I guess Nana looks more like me huh?

Dad, where's my root bear, Coney dog and fried chicken?

Now i know what i said earlier about fast food. But sometimes eating out with just the 3 of us can be difficult. Choices are little in a small town of Seremban. Not to mention we ought to consider price, time and convenience factor. There are pros and cons to every decision, which puts us in constant dilemmas. Such as choosing between Chinese restaurant and food chains, in which food in the former is always healthier but the latter is friendlier to the pocket.

Nana observing closely the obese child from the opposite table.

Mommy had to distract Nana who became too engrossed with the food galore.

So when we're forced to eat out, we would tilt the balance towards the healthier option. Which leaves us eating fast food 2-3 times a month. There is only one A&W chain in our town, which is by the lakeside. Patrons who eat there can have a good view of healthier candidates huffing and puffing on the lakeside jogging track next to the restaurant. A&W had been my childhood favorite for its Coney Dog burger and root bear float. Today is Nana's 1st time to A&W and she's so cute and well-behave like usual.

How many parents actually feed their 7 months old child ice-cream?

Nana experiencing the cold melt-in-your-mouth sensation of the sweet vanilla ice-cream for the 1st time.

Naturally most restaurant don't serve baby food so Karling needed to cook porridge everyday  to ensure Nana gets the required nutritional diet every meal. We would usually feed her 1st before bringing her out, and prepare a bottle of milk just in case. We wont deprive her of some adult food when she looks at us eating with longing eyes. Whatever i deem suitable i would feed her in soft tiny portions before I enjoy seeing her joyfully savoring the taste.

If there's a term called "brain-freeze", this best personify it.

What Nana soon developed was the "sugar-rush", characterized by a state of momentary hyperactive & "hyper-cute-ness", lasting for as long as the hyperglycemia subsides.

This is the Best-Day-Ever!!!

In this blog session i will cover the many expression of Nana in her different mood at random time of the day. She is very colorful to say the least, and her mood can shift pretty easily, influenced by the presence of people around her. Christina is not entirely attention dependent, she can amuse herself  for as long as she can before she cuts a forlorn figure and start crying. Mommy or daddy will always come running to rescue the damsel in distress.

Innocence: I wasn't peeping at what mum & dad was doing in the middle of the night~~

Guilt: How many times do i have to poop in my diapers?..sob..

Scheming: I'm gonna climb down my ship as soon as mommy's not looking. Hehehe.

Indignant: I seriously doubt that you had nothing to do with my teether magically disappearing.

Angelic: I come to bring great tidings~

Cheeky: Dad sometimes calls me his Tomboy.

Flamboyant: I've got the best flying ship, the best mom & dad, the prettiest hair cut....

Diplomatic: See, see, I don't want no baby brother, that only spells trouble.

Puzzled: If the egg comes from the chicken and the chicken comes from the egg, then who comes 1st?

Relief: Oh there you are~, I thought you had forgotten all about me!

Fidgety: Lemme go! Lemme go~~

..And that's our colourful Nana, a cutie pie full of expressions and vigour. She keeps us on our toes all the time but seeing her grow gracefully day by day makes it all worthwhile. Next blog: Return of the Prodigal Son..Stay tune.

George Town: UNESCO Heritage City

14-07-2010
Day 3 Pulau Pinang:

The Komtar as seen from our room in Tunes Hotel

Tunes Hotel is rather small for a family. Running on the same concept practiced by Air Asia, everything is pay per use ie. air conditioner, towels and tv and extra pillows. Not advisable for the claustrophobic. And yes, NO breakfast. Price is reasonable only if booked earlier, which is RM 70-80/night and cleanliness is good.

The buzzing business hub of George Town

The iconic Komtar (Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak ), for years the tallest building on the island, houses government departments, commercial offices, shops and restaurants.The 65-storey complex also contains theaters, squash courts and a geodesic dome which serves as a multi-purpose hall, while the 55th floor offers a panoramic view of the city.

Cambell Street Market, built in 1900

As recognition of her rich heritage, George Town, together with Malacca, was listed as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Penang also prides itself as a blending pot of race, culture and traditions, emphasized by the various worship centres and wide range of eating places.

Traveller's guide and map in Penang

Fish mongers selling seafood at the junction of a road.

Fresh prawns at affordable price.

As we were looking for breakfast, or rather brunch to eat, we bumped into Cambell Street. Characterized by the long white building which is its wet market, it also has wet and dry makeshift vendors and mainly traditional Chinese business shops along its street. Shop owners ply their trades in hardware, gold and silver, food products, traditional medicines, clothes, etc.

Chinese butcher selling non-halal meat.

Tasty pork sausages are sold abundantly in this multiracial Muslim country.

Tins of biscuits and cookies being sold according to old weighing scale.

Modern Chinese herbal and medicinal shop in keeping with the old tradition.

A little political story: In 2008 general election the opposition coalition known as the Pakatan Rakyat wrestled Penang from then ruling coalition Barisan National and formed te state government since. It won 29 out of 40 seats contested and consequently DAP secretary general YB Lim Guan Eng was elected as Penang 4th Chief Minister until present.

George Town's well organized traffic system keeps jam to a minimal.

Campbell Street.

Along this street, you could find many Chinese hawker restaurant that starts business at early morning until late noon. Time and time again i stress that Penang has the best tasty yummy Chinese hawker food in the country and most probably Southeast Asia as well. To make dining experience even unique is the varieties of other home-grown favorite cultural food such as Indian Briyani rice, Banana leaf rice, Malay food and Baba & Nyonya cuisine.  

Mutton Briyani from one of the shops customers would die to dine in.

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Penang as a blending pot of race, culture and religion culminates in various areas of worship lying within close proximity to each other, even along the same street, further enhance Penang's reputation as UNESCO heritage site. Malaysia has been liberal in freedom of religion and education even since its precolonial era.

Kapitan Kling Mosque at Jalan Kapitan Kling

Founded in 1801, it is the largest historic mosque in George Town. Named after the Indian Muslim merchant, the “Kapitan Keling” (headman) Caudeer Mohudeen who built it in the early 19th century. It features an ocher yellow facade and dome-shaped minaret reflecting Moorish Islamic influence.

Sri Mariamman Temple at Lebuh Queen

Penang’s oldest Hindu temple which was built in 1883, is filled with colourful statues of Hindu deities. Among the priceless possessions of this ornate building is a statue of Lord Subramaniam richly decorated with gold, silver, diamonds and emeralds. During Thaipusam festival, the statue is taken on a chariot procession by Hindu devotees.

Kuan Yin Temple at Jalan Kapitan Kling.

Also known as the Temple of the Goddess of Mercy, this popular Taoist temple was built in the 1800s by early Chinese settlers. It is believed to be the oldest among all the temples in Penang. Kuan Yin was a being who had attained Nirvana but stayed behind to save those souls who did not escaped the world of suffering. The statue of Kuan Yin as a serenely composed woman with 18 arms sits on an inner chamber. Much restoration work is required for this dilapidated building.

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Fort Cornwallis, earliest British settlement in the island

Captain Sir Francis Light.

Next stop was Fort Cornwallis, situated at the spot where Captain Francis Light was believed to have landed in 1786. It was named after Charles Marquis Cornwallis, a distinguished Governor General of India, and designed to protect the harbour from possible French attacks. Originally a wooden structure, the fort was rebuilt between 1808 and 1810 with convict labour.

Nana could imagine how amusing she looked.

On behalf British East India Company, Captain Sir Francis Light leased the island of Penang from then Sultan of Kedah in return of providing militiary aid. Subsequently Penang became a very successful international trading port and Light served as the Superintendent of the colony until he died of Malaria in 1794. His statue, which bears his name but has the facial features of his son William, stands at Fort Cornwallis.

The famous Seri Rambai cannon of Fort Cornwallis.

Today, much of the old fort remains, but its precincts have been converted into a public park and an open air theater. It is still guarded by old cannons, which were retrieved by the British from pirates who had captured them from the Johor Sultanate. The most famous of the cannons is Seri Rambai, which dates back to 1613.

Walking along the Esplanade, on the seafront promenade.

War Monument to commemorate fallen soldiers

Next to Fort Cornwallis is the Esplanade, a seafront promenade bordering an open field where festivals and events are often held. It stretches from the hawker stalls at one end to the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower at the other. Central in the Esplanade is the Padang, a huge square of town green.

The Padang overlooking the City Hall (right) and the Town Hall.

Mummy, i know you love me alot, but you're smouldering me~~

Standing proudly beside is the City Hall, a stately colonial building which is a fine example of British palladian architecture featuring magnificent Corinthian columns and huge windows. Built in 1903, this is the headquarters of the Penang Island Municipal Council.

City Hall of George Town Penang

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The Mansion of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee

The grand view greeting visitors at the entrance

An excursion to Penang cannot be short of a visit to this Peranakan (Straits Chinese) Mansion located at Church Street. This old mansion, former home of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, showcases over 1,000 antiques and collectibles depicting the opulent lifestyle of the Straits Chinese, or Peranakan as they were locally known.

Antique furniture and decorations depicting the rich Peranakan Heritage.

Mummy, is it just me or everything looks very confusing?

Peranakan's rich electic interior designs.

The Peranakans, also known as the Babas and Nyonyas, was a prominent community of acculturated Chinese unique to this part of the world, especially in the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore) hence its other name, the Straits Chinese.

 Adopting selected ways of the local Malays and later, the colonial British, the Peranakans had created a unique lifestyle and customs which had not only left behind a rich legacy of antiques but its cultural influences like cuisine and language are still evident in Penang today.

Chinese craftsmanship at its finest.

The electic dining environment with Western incorporation of Chandeliers and long dining table.

Palace attire of the olden Qing Dynasty China.

 Built at the end of the 19th century as a Chinese courtyard house, it became much like a typical large Baba home of eclectic style, incorporating Chinese carved-wood panels and English floor tiles and Scottish ironworks. Having survived the many decades of neglect and decay, the mansion has now been restored to its former glory of a stately home, a good example of adaptive reuse.

Victorian sofa set with a backdrop of Chinese Art and display vase.

The Malay Kebaya worn by the Straits Chinese aka Peranakan

Scottish Ironwork which sums up the eclectic nature of Baba & Nyonya opulent lifestyle.

The Peranakan culture has been gaining some popularity of late with regional collaboration of celebrities enacting Babas and Nyonyas in Peranakan-themed soaps series. As a result their cuisines and kuih (dumpling-like delicacies) are very much sought after especially in Malacca, where its easier to find.

 Visiting hours of the Penang Peranakan Mansion are: 9.30am-5pm(Mondays to Fridays), 9.30am-3pm(Saturdays), closed on Sundays and public holidays.

This mansion has served as filming location to famous Peranakan soap series.

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The Kek Lok Si Temple erected on a hill at Ayer Itam.

If you're not tired of following our adventure yet, how about a stop at one of Penang's finest attractions: Kek Lok Si Temple. Perhaps the finest Buddhist temple in South East Asia, Kek Lok Si in Mandarin means "Temple of Supreme Bliss".

A garden of Shrines with mini Pagoda.

"Turtle" Pond that represents longevity. The over-populated tortoise are starvingly ferocious.

The Kek Lok Si temple stands majestically on a hill in Ayer Itam. Construction began in 1893 and was completed in 1905. Built in tiers, the beautifully crafted “Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas” took more than 20 years to build and was only completed in 1930.

The pagoda is considered one of Penang's most beautiful architectural wonders with its combined Chinese octagonal base, middle tiers of Thai architecture and a Burmese crown. Take a sidetrack from here to find a 30metre tall Kuan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) bronze statue erected since 2002.

The Pagoda of Ten-Thousand Buddhas

The Buddha Clones begging for donations

On the ascend to the temple there are souvenir stalls selling anything from T-shirts to figurines to deity masks. Business is a bit slow on non-school holiday esp. on weekdays. Shop owners are more willing to give in to bargains during this period. Walk-ways are old and rundown which requires make-over. 

Finely sculptured wall leading to the Pagoda.

The pissed gold-coated Guardian deities holding their eternal stance.

The temple which features gardens, shrines and various beautiful sculptures would spring to life on Buddhist festivals such as Wesak Day or week-long celebration of one of the "Gods" birthday. Pilgrims or the faithfuls would throng here to pay homage as well as tourist alike coming to soak up the beautiful night scenes of this worship center.

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Mummy, is that all? Nana want to see more.

Aromatic and spicy Asam Laksa

 Finally, just to savor our trip, we had to stop by a buzzing hawker centre to tantalize our taste buds with mouth-watering Penang hawker food, which we could never get enough of. We actually took away packets of Penang Char Kuey Tiaw which can hardly be found elsewhere in Malaysia. Are we gluttons or just crazy for Penang food.


Enough of waxing lyrical, do try these food out if you ever decide to transport yourself here..Penang, the Pearl of Orient.

Tasty Fish Ball Kuey Tiaw soup

And the King of all, but you already know it, Penang's Char Kuew Tiaw.

And that's all folks, as we're leaving the island to mainland on a ferry, which transport cars and 2 wheelers as another traffic alternative to the Penang Bridge. The windy sea breeze ride takes about 15 minutes and Nana enjoyed every minute of it.

Thanks for joining us on our adventure. It was only made possible because Nana inherited our cool adventurous genes and was willing to go the distance with her tireless parents.

Its back to work for the both of us. :_l

The little Indiana Jones.