On the other side.

That feeling when someone treated you not the way you wished they had, the way of how it should be rather than how it was done  

-- at least that's how it is in your mind.

Then you made a silent promise to yourself that you will never, ever do the same to others, for you know how it feels like being treated that way.

"Kita tak suka orang buat macam tu kat kita, then kita jangan buat macam tu kat orang." 

As simple as that.

But I failed. I failed that one simplest thing that I keep telling myself over and over - to not treat others the way I don't want them to treat me. 

The string of guilt is unsettling, for I well know how it feels to be on the other side.

27 Days of Home: Day eight to eleven.

Day 8: Monday, 03/02/14 - A date with with bebimbos

Decided to meet up at KLCC since Syeeda had to work on that day. An easy pick for Faw and I as well as we are the MRR2 girls lol. Above all my hats off to Afiqah who came all the way from Klang! Effort la sikit nak jumpa sifu ye dak haha.

Remember these girls? They're all grown ups now :')

A little update on the girls: Both Syeeda and Fawani are now engineers working around KLCC at the moment. Afiqah is going to continue her PhD in Sheffield in April. Irhana is now back for good from her Masters but couldn't be kidnapped due to her being grounded lol. Edy is now in Cardiff doing M.Phil. something I vaguely familiar about but definitely beyond degree. Nina is now working with Petronas in KL, on her way to starting a family.

Nabilah? Lagi dua minggu balik UK belajar medic tak habis habis. Haha.

Tangga kejayaan katanya. Sads

Had chicken parmigiana for late lunch at Secret Recipe and I wasn't too impressed.

We had desserts too which were super nice but I ate them even before thinking of taking the pictures lol. They were chocolate lava cake and all chocolate cake if I remember well?

Day 9: Tuesday, 04/02/14 - Catching up with KN

This one is truly a catching up session since the last time I saw him was in Nottingham's Games in 2012. Almost two years back! And we didn't really have the time to chat as it was already closing ceremony and everyone was rushing to go back. But this time.. All the time in the world! Well not really since I had a curfew by Maghrib lol.

We went shopping for his work shirts at Sogo and much to his dismay, our tastes are nothing alike! I hate looking at men in short sleeved shirts, whereas he's comfortable in them. I don't find plain white shirts with coloured stripes attractive, he thinks they're as good. I like a little pop of colour and designs on a shirt, probably around the colar or cuffs but he goes for the super boring plain ones.

But as much as we'd like to argue on our personal tastes, it all came down to prices. Beggars can't be choosy, no? So he bought three shirts with me half-approving. At some point while shirt-hunting we both agreed that I could never really agree on his choice so I'd just settle for what was there haha!

Then we had lunch at Manhattan Fish Market.

Seafood chowder for starter. It had chunks of seafood in it. Nice!

Seafood platter something I can't remember for our main

It is meant to be shared hence the super large portion. Verdict, not too bad. The seafood was nice but it occured to me that I like my seafood done in a more 'traditional' way when it comes to tempura. More 'celup tepung' like than this kind of posh batter whatnot. I know it doesn't quite make sense but I used to live in Terengganu for more than ten years and nothing beats the 'goreng celup tepung' from there.

Chicken caesar salad

Another point which KN and I couldn't really agree on. I have never ever ever EVER ordered salads or anything like that at a restaurant. But KN likes this particular one that he just had to order it. I played along as I've heard somewhere saying Manhattan Fish Market has one of the best caesar salad. Lie. Or at least I don't agree to it. Nothing impressive, especially when you're Manhattan Fish Market. Could have done better.

But the one thing that I really like was the drink. Or drinks.

My bubblegum something. 

I think it's just sprite with a zest of pineapple syrup and lime. And probably some bubblegum colouring/flavour? Refreshing. Yums.

KN's apple pandan something.

I don't find it too interesting but KN thought it was nice and I thought he was just justifying his choice lol.

All in all, it was a good lunch.

Next we went for prayer and stopped by at CIMB nearby to resolve my suspended online banking. Had a good time laughing at each other's noob-ness since we both couldn't remember our username/password. My case was easily justified since I hardly used the service but his? Just noob, plain noob. Kahkah.

Came home completely knackered, only that night I had to teman my sister at the hospital. 

Hence,

Day 10: Wednesday, 05/02/14

Day 11: Thursday, 06/02/14

Another do nothing day!

Well not really because both Ummi and Syahirah had been ill so I did most of the house chores myself and if I didn't warn you I HATE HOUSE WORKS. Chores. Lipat kain. Masak. Sapu lantai. Basuh pinggan. I am never the housewife material I'm so sorry! And it doesn't help that we have a twelve-year-old boy who changes his clothes three times a day - baju sekolah, baju sekolah agama, baju main bola, baju swimming (if I'm unlucky) baju tidur, you name it! God helps D:

27 Days of Home: Day five to seven.

Day 5: Friday, 30/01/14 - Balik kampung day!

The initial plan was to go back to Kedah in the morning, but we couldn't be sure if Ummi and Syahirah would be fit to travel. The doctor even warned that if the fever didn't go down by the next day, they should be taken for blood test for suspicion of dengue. So we took our sweet own time in the morning hoping they would feel slightly better in the afternoon/evening. The ritual warung breakfast it was then!

Just the four of us because among us all, the most 'mengikut' person would be Adam first, followed by myself, and last Afiq (sometimes). Especially when it comes to things in the morning. The rest would either be (a) too lazy to come, or (b) asleep.

By noon Ummi and Syahirah weren't showing any signs of getting better, so a decision has to be made. In the end we agreed that only Zahid, myself, Afiq and Adam would go back. Ayah would have to stay to take care of the rest. We have to go back anyway, tanggungjawab sosial katanya. My cousin, Aja was getting married and I wouldn't want to miss it now that I'm back in Malaysia. So off the four of us went.

Left at about 5.30pm, arriving at about 11pm, with the luck of getting the last room available in Sungai Petani. Phew.

Left: Marilah berpoyoan road trip

Right: The boys muka terpaksa kena posing gembira lepas check in wahahah

Day 6: Saturday, 01/02/14 - The day of kenduri

Speaks for itself. It was kenduri all day long. And kenduri always means good food and catching up with family!

The bride

Cousins, Wasyifa and Iba (bride's sister). 

I got the question "Ni anak dara la ni?" twice throughout the whole thing. 

Untunglah balik single.

Arrival of the couple

My in laws on Adam's side - Mak Lang and Kamil

My aunties (Ayah's sisters) - Mak Cik and Mak Ngah

The bride's father - Pak Long

Her dress was custom made, complete with a cape. Superwoman kau

Kak Zu and Kak Huda, the cousin in laws. Err do I make sense?

She got married during the weekend when I had to be single.

Hence the awkward picture haha!

Cousins, Kak Ngah and Firdaus with anak sepupu, Adam 

(too many Adams in the family I'm not very happy about it)

Cousin in law, Kak Bad with the latest addition of anak sepupu

Cousin Abang Mat with his daughter, Hana

Hana gigi dua comel gila rasa nak sepak sepak

My in law (again, Adam's side), Pak Lang and Pak Long Akashah (bride's father)

Apparently they're pretty good friends.

Anak anak Pak Long Wan. I've always admired their humbleness and modesty.

Cousin Kak Ngah and husband with baby Adina

Aunties (Ayah's sisters) Mak Lang and Mak Ngah

That night I went to stay at my in laws' place (I'm gettting more and more confused here lol) because Pak Lang insisted. He laughed when I said we stayed at a hotel the night before because let's admit it, we have plenty of relatives around the area! Pak Long (bride's father) even booked a homestay for all of us and Pak Lang has an empty room spared for us when he knew that we were coming. Our logic was that we knew we would arrive late at night and we didn't want to hassle people. But then, yeah. That's what families are for, really.

Day 7: Sunday, 02/02/14 - Kenduri on the other side

Same whole thing on the groom's side.

The expression when they saw my camera -.-

Zahid with cousins, Syamir and Iman

Kawen paksa lol

Bridesmaid throughout the whole thing

On the right, Mak Long (bride's mother)

Big family just before leaving!

Teletubbies hahahahahaha!

That's us arranged according to heights

And off we went back to KL!

What usually takes around 5 hours became a 10-hour ordeal due to massive traffic jams along the way. Didn't help that I was wearing a kebaya throughout the trip sigh. Left at 2pm only to arrive at 12am erghhh. Anyways, we made it! Both my brother and I agreed that it was a successful trip with the two boys!

Feeling gaya mak mak sangatttt!

27 Days of Home: Day one to four.

Following last summer's holiday that seemed a little too short to my liking (2 bulan setengah dah short, lepas ni summer 3 minggu je gua tak tau lah cemana T_T), I thought I would document this short break as much as I could. It's harder than I thought but I must persevere! Lol.

Day 1: Monday, 27/01/2014 - The day of arrival

Remember my annoying 7-hour-transit post? I was so traumatised by it (emosi bakhang) that I told myself that if I were to go back alone I would seriously fly MAS. And at £640 return flying from Belfast to KL, it's a sin not to buy the ticket! So my route was Belfast to London Heathrow by Aer Lingus followed by London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur by Malaysia Airlines with checked in baggage of 30kg. Deal much?

Annoying fact of the day: Usually a return ticket from London to KL by MAS without any connecting flights costs around £800. But if you fly from different airports into London  (e.g. Manchester - London - KL) with MAS and another code sharing flights, the tickets can go down to £500. Fine of you're living far from London but to us in Leicester which is an hour from London it is such a pain. All I can say is thank you hubs for living in Belfast. Phew.

Anyways, it was probably the best long haul flight I've ever flown in. Ever. No regrets. The food was amazing, entertainment was packed with waaay too many good movies, and best of all, I got three seats in a row all for myself. YES I GOT TO SLEEP 7 HOURS STRAIGHT LYING DOWN NO KIDDING. Tak serious. Boarded the aircraft, had a wonderful supper, slept like a log (literally), woke up to another good meal (breakfast?) and touch down. Wow. Wow. My first time flying alone and it was like a dream. Alhamdulillah.

There were two options for this particular meal, ayam kicap or cod fish. And I was like, AYAM KICAP WAHAHAHAH NO. So cod fish it was then.

Arrived KLIA at about 6pm and went to the prayer room since Ayah and Ummi weren't there yet. And the funny part began.

I just finished praying when Adam called from UK. Talked to him, teased him a bit, went all mushy gooey and stuff, then hung up. That was when an akak in the surau suddenly said "Manjanya suara awak" out of the blue. And me still in my playful mode instantly replied "Cakap dengan husband kenalah manja" OMG TETIBA SANGAT. Akak tu terus excited tanya macam macam, siap mintak nak tengok gambar boyfriend husband lagi. Kawen awal sangat, teruja katanya. Hamboi kak. Lol. In the end she offered to treat me for a drink since she works at Coffee Bean. I mean, seriously? Bapak randomnya. But then shortly after my mom called to say that they've arrived so she just gave me the ice blended hushed me to go to arrival gate. Aloo comel sangat boleh?

Boleh je.

Akak comel nama Halimah kat Coffee Bean gate number berapa gua lupa. Lol

Ayah and Ummi came to pick me up and we had Wong Solo for dinner. It's in my wish list so one thing is off the list! The last time I had Wong Solo was probably more than 3 years back and I must say it's kinda disappointing this time. Well nevermind, no more Wong Solo after this.

The used to be legendary ayam penyet. Sekarang dah kecik, so agak kecewa. But the sambal is still ever so legendary pergh perghh

Jus poligami katanya. It has avocado, pineapple, mango and probably papaya in it? This one is good!

Day 2: Tuesday, 28/01/14 - The day of massive jetlag

Did my ritual toilet-cleaning because I couldn't stand anything green and slippery in the toilet while my siblings got tired of it and just let them be. I think my family secretly expected me to clean the toilet because they know how I hate it, so they purposely leave it as it is all this while. Grr.

Went to send Afiq to his school and stopped by to have some late dinner. Nothing impressive hence no pictures of the food. But this, this I loike.

Tembikai laici dan gelas hispter beliau 

Did you know watermelons are darn expensive in the UK that the chances of me buying them is zero to none? Added with my laziness, as simple as it seems, such drink is far from wish.

Came back to my results being out. Alhamdulillah, I could now tell the world that I'm back in KL. Not that anyone cares wahahahah. Immediately called my mom in law to let her know that I'm home and a date it is!

Day 3: Wednesday, 29/01/14 - A day out with the in laws

A date with the in laws! Okay more like with Umi, really. So Umi picked me up from LRT Sungai Besi (because I'm still hopeless at driving yes you can laugh) and we went to her new house in Bandar Tun Hussein Onn to see the progress. AND I LOVE EVERY SINGLE THING ABOUT IT! Not gonna post any details or it might upset dear hubs in the UK (hi sayang!) so yeah. I love the bed most aaaa no words can describe how!

Umi kita comel sangat!

Yet another drink. My ever so favourite 3 layer tea. Umi didn't like it though :( 

We went to have breakfast where Umi insisted that they have the best roti canai (beats the one at our current house in Bukit Belimbing) and man she was right! No pictures though since it was just a plate of roti canai doesn't look fancy or anything lol I'm being racist.

View from the balcony

Love love looove this shot! Umi with her brand new soon to be lived in house! Well not the whole lot la, but you get the idea. Umi couldn't stop saying that we got the best unit and I couldn't agree more. Alhamdulillah!

And next, a surprise visit to Wan's!

(And yes, Wan was surprised. Hikhik)

Succeeded at making Wan smile showing her teeth :D Happiness it is!

So here how the story goes. Wan made us some cekodok bilis while we were there. Apparently it wasn't spicy at all. I didn't say anything as I thought that is how Wan usually does her cekodok. But when Umi took her first bite, she immediately laughed and looked at Wan. Wan, as if taking the cue, said, "Ye lah, dah ada budak Bella ni, mana boleh masak pedas." I MEAN WAN SERIOUSLY T_T Apparently Wan still remembers the first time I went for dinner at her place when Adam and I were still dating (we still are btw hihi), she cooked terung bakar which I couldn't eat AT ALL BECAUSE IT WAS TOO SPICY. She remembers this all the way hence no spicy food eventhough I'd like to think that I've adapted to their spicy food oh noooooo D: Now I feel bad for my in laws sebab Wan memang akan adjust tahap kepedasan masakan beliau when I'm around. Tsk tsk.

And later in the evening we went back to our house in Bukit Belimbing. That was when I realised I left quite a few stuff jugak and Umi had to pack them as well before moving out. Sorry Umi :(

Then it's dinner with Abuya! We had dinner at Pak Ya's Chinese Muslim Restaurant near UO mall Ampang, just after Dagang Food Court. And man, the butter prawn was heavenly.

Don't be deceived by the look. It was probably the best butter prawns I have eaten in my entire life. Approved by Umi too!

Sotong cashew nut apa entah. Nope can't beat the butter prawns.

Steamed fish. And nope, can't beat Doll Tomyam's in Kajang.

Abuya before the food disaster. Everything seems under control.

And this is Umi with helping herself to a second plate of butter prawn. See I told ya? Hahaha!

Later that night Umi sent me back to my place at PV8. Okay I am honestly confused with the use of my, her, our place etc sigh but nevermind. On our way back we talked about life and all its wonders. To say that I am lucky to have her as my mom in law is such an understatement. I am forever grateful for that. I even thanked her for Adam! Comel kan kitaa hahaha!

Day 4: Thursday, 30/01/14 - Do nothing day

Literally what it says. Stayed home doing nothing and just be home. But it was on that day when my mom and my sister Syahirah started to go down with fever, which turned out to be dengue :(

But that shall go into a different post. Til then, inshaaAllah!