Mother's Day in Palembang

WOW! This is my second Mother's Day already! Last year, Richard took me out for a delicious lunch and gave me 3 massage vouchers. This year, I got a Hair Spa and 6 donuts. A Hair Spa is what they call some hair mask and a scalp massage here. Supposedly, Richard has planned for my real birthday and Mother's Day 'celebrations' during our break in Malaysia. I bet its going to be all about food :)

Not so long ago, I remember reading a comment somebody else's blog that mentioned budget airlines that charge for each piece of baggage checked in. At that time, I remember feeling thankful that while AirAsia is strict with the baggage weight, they didn't charge for each bag.

I guess AirAsia has gotten wise. They're charging. Not a lot but I've still packed all of our clothes into the one bag. I've also managed to squeeze two soft hand carry bags in there in anticipation of our return trip after lots of shopping.

You know what? We're all packed and ready to go but the plane isn't leaving for another 18 hours. Thats how much we're looking forward to this holiday. I'm having trouble keeping focused enough for this post.

I'll be back here again in a week. 'Till then, have a great week everyone!

Expect the Unexpected

21 months of being a mother should be long enough for me to learn about expecting the unexpected. Yet, there are still days, like today that something totally unexpected happens.

Each morning, Aaron and I sit outside in the garden to watch the birds and any other animals or insects that come by. This week, Aaron got interested in some of the pebbles we have and has been picking them up, looking them over, lining them up and just carrying them around.

Today, while he was with the pebbles, I went to fix up the earth in one of my pots. When I turned around, I saw Aaron sitting there, concentrating hard on LICKING THE PEBBLE! I probably over reacted with a loud, high pitched 'NO' but it was just so unthinkable an action at that moment. Why did he have to lick that incredibly dirty and germ filled pebble??

The worse was yet to come. When I took a look at the other lined up pebbles, they were WET! Guess who has been tasting them all?

I had calmed down by then and tried to talk reasonably and rationally to this toddler about why he must not lick his pebbles. In return, I got an intent yet confused stare back from him. In the end, I just said 'No Licking' and put all the pebbles back where they belong. He didn't protest that too much. I guess they weren't all that tasty.

I wonder what unexpected act of curiosity I should expect next?

A Surprisingly Frank Conversation

Last night, during dinner, the topic of family planning some how crept up. We were asking Aini (the girl I mentioned earlier this week) if she was excited about getting married next year and whether she would start a family quickly, as is the case with most people here. Well, Richard asked, not me. I somehow thought that girls here are too shy to talk about anything remotely to do with how babies are made.

Surprisingly, Aini talked very openly about how the generation today is much more aware of family planning and the benefits of having smaller families. When we asked what she meant by 'family planning' she actually spelled out what she learned in her sex ed classes. It turns out that I was the one not prepared for the conversation (LOL!). Unfortunately, they were taught all the various methods of contraception except for abstinence during those few days a month where it is possible for a woman to fall pregnant. I say 'unfortunately' because its the one method that would benefit any poor people who were trying to have any sort of planning.

Following on from that topic, she told us about the high school and university students, male and female, who get into prostitution. According to her, the practice is extremely common. Initially, I thought this was to help pay their way through school, or maybe help their families out. Nope! Its supposedly to buy cell phones, clothes and other such 'necessities' a young person needs. I'll definitely be doing more research into this to find out if the young people of Palembang are really so desperate for things my old fashioned mind really can't justify as needs.

Naturally, all the info on sex led me to ask about drugs. I know from others people that it is a major problem in Palembang (as it is anywhere else). She didn't mention any narcotics but spoke of the boys in school frequently sniffing glue because its cheap. She was so matter of fact about it.

All in all, it was interesting dinner conversation. Snippets of information that has given me some leads into further understanding life here in Palembang.

Thursday Thirteen #11

13 Things I'm Looking Forward To Next Week

1) Aaron's reaction when we walk past a real plane. He looks for them each time we hear one fly overhead. He seems to be getting more excited about them. The Air Asia terminal in Kuala Lumpur is one of those without the tunnels directly inside. We'll need to walk down the stairs and across the tarmac. I think he'll enjoy it.

2) An over the water chalet with a supposedly spacious deck for me to enjoy the sea view.

3) An open sky bathroom. I'm really curious about what this must be like. We'll be having showers / baths under the stars (or hot sun!). What if it rains? What about birds flying overheard?

4) Splashing around the pool with Aaron and Richard. Up until now, it has only been Aaron and I whenever we go swimming.

5) Buffet breakfasts. This ought to be good after our three months of daily oatmeal here in Palembang.

6) A haircut. My hair is so long and heavy now I'm getting tangled in it in my sleep. Can't wait to get a bit of it lopped off. Perhaps some long layers like Eva Longoria?

7) A deep cleansing facial. The humidity and my own laziness has led to a face in need of some serious exfoliating and deep cleansing. Of course, the pampering that comes with a relaxing facial is the icing on the cake.

8) Some real Tau Foo Fah for Aaron. This is a beancurd dessert that Aaron can't get enough of.

9) Pancakes. The last time I was in KL, we went to a restaurant that served pancakes, and all its variations, from around the world. It was amazing! I didn't expect them to be so delicious. Can't wait to go try more of them.

10) Shopping. I'm not usually a shopper but living in Palembang has really made me miss aimlessly wondering around malls. The ones here are just too noisy and crowded to be enjoyable. Kuala Lumpur is definitely a shoppers paradise and the three of us are going to enjoy it. Yes, even Richard and Aaron will enjoy it.

11) A change in Aaron's sleep patterns. Each time we go on holidays, something improves with Aaron's sleep. I hope that this trip will bring more positive changes.

12) Stocking up on the essentials I need to bring back here. We'll not only be walking the malls. We'll also be scouring each and every aisle of the supermarket to replenish our supplies for the house in Palembang. Things as ordinary as Glad Cling Wrap, Bovril and some nappy liners.

13) Roti Canai, Char Koay Teow, Chee Cheong Fun......these are all Malaysian food that we can't get here in Palembang. Its going to be a week of lazing, eating and shopping!

Tuna & Tempeh Perkedel

Since moving to Palembang, there have been two Indonesian foods that I have grown to really enjoy; Tempeh and Perkedel. Tempeh is basically a fermented soybean cake. Doesn't sound appetizing but it is delicious and very healthy. Perkedel is sort of like fried mashed potatoes.

So tonight, I tried making Perkedel for the first time and I used Tuna and Tempeh as the 'fillings'. I think the Indonesians usually just have it plain or with bits of minced chicken.



Here's the recipe:
3 potatoes (boiled & mashed)
2 shallots (chopped)
250g canned tuna
100g tempeh (chopped small then fried until golden)
2 large eggs (beaten)
pinch of salt and pepper

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and then just spoon then into little round-ish balls and fry them up.

To cut down on the oil, I used a non stick pan. Usually, the Indonesians will use a wok and basically deep fry the balls.

The next time I try this recipe, I'm going to make it healthier by mixing in some sort of puree. That way, it can be a complete meal for Aaron too. I have been pureeing various vegetables (cauliflower, bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots etc) to add easily and quickly into Aaron's meals after a good friend gave me the book "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld. Instead of just limiting it to Aaron's meals, I've been adding the purees to our own as well because I always end up making too much and don't want to keep them too long.

3 in 1 Submarine, House and Tunnel

I'm preparing Aaron for a visit to the Cuchi Tunnels.



Only kidding....

He grew bored of the Pentagon some time ago but I didn't have any other big boxes to make something new. We bought a new fridge over the weekend, so guess what?!

Aaron now has a house/submarine/tunnel depending on his mood. Sometimes its all three at once. And, not just anybody is allowed inside.

This time, I'm letting him decorate it. These big boxes are such great spaces for little kids to draw all over, inside and out. He can draw lying down or standing up. He's creating stories as he draws. Its fantastic! I'm having a great time watching him explore this simple cardboard box.

Funny Signs

Whenever we're out and about, stopped at traffic lights or in a traffic jam, I'm always scanning the signboards. There are some seriously funny signs about this place.

Sometimes, when there is a dry spell (as in, no funny signs) I tend to just stare at something absentmindedly. Like this particular one, until I found myself reading and re-reading the third line. I couldn't stop laughing afterwards. Little things like this make me laugh loud and long. These little errors sure make sitting in never ending traffic a whole lot more fun!



I'm still wondering what 'Grease Up' is.