A Special Rainbow Weekend

Last weekend was the first time that all our children were back home for the weekend.

It was a special weekend as they were back to celebrate their dad’s 70th birthday. It was also special because it was the first time that our daughter-in-law was visiting us and her first trip to the Land below the Wind, or Sabah but better known as Borneo Island.

We had three dinners, two of which were at restaurants while one was at home.
Of course the food that we enjoyed were the favorite dishes of the birthday boy. Sabah is also renowned for the freshness of its seafood.

Our son had the privilege of showing his wife the town in which he grew up and she loved the Tg. Aru Beach with its lovely sand and sea breezes.

Time flew by and all too soon they had to fly back to their respective dwelling places. However it was a great weekend for us as we squeezed into our home, come alive with gay chatter.

Now it is back to the usual quiet of a house when the grandchildren are out at school with only the birds chirping and the rustling of the leaves in the balmy breezes.

My Birthday Away from Home

This year is different because my birthday was spent away from home, without my children and grandchildren celebrating with me yet another milestone in my life.

I was on the road to Cesky Krumlov, passing through scenic rustic fields and pretty villages.
At the behest of the members in our group, my spouse pecked me on the cheek as they sang happy birthday
and our guide presented me with a box of Mozart chocolates.
Lunch was at Budweiser's, in a cosy ambience.
We visited a castle and the Old Town whose streets are still cobble stones, giving it a quaint atmosphere.This is a view from the castle.

All in all, it was a good rainbow day.

Savouring Local Food

Being away in another country gives you the opportunity to savor the local food.

In Ljubljana, Slovenia, I had the opportunity to try their food. First we had the soup, beetroot soup which is blood red and served in a bowl with 2 handles and we drink it straight from the bowl. It looked a bit scary to me but I willed myself to try it, even though I'm not adventurous where food is concerned. Surprisingly, it tasted delicious!!
Then we had the main dish which also tasted good. I loved the potatoes as they are quite different from those that I've tasted before. Dessert was a slice of cake which was not too rich or heavy so I enjoyed that as well.Being able to try the food of a place where one is a visitor is another dash of color to the rainbow of my existence.

No Place like Home

After two weeks away, it feels really good to hear the thud of the wheels on the tarmac as the plane lands. Home at last in Tanah Air Ku! There's really no place like home, no matter how beautiful other countries are, how cool their skies and the feeling of freedom from mundane routine which embraces you as you set forth on a new adventure each day.

My first breakfast was yong tau foo (taufoo and beancurd skin stuffed with fish meat) and chee cheong fun ( flat rice noodles) drenched in a hot and sweet sauce, washed down with kopi oh ( thick local black coffee).

Lunch was delicious durians!!

Dinner was my sister's home-cooked meal of prawn sambal,( a spicy hot chili paste ) fish curry, chicken rendang,(dry curry)
petola (angle loofah) cooked with taufoo and sliced pork and a pumpkin dish cooked Indian style. Every dish tasted simply fabulous!

Malaysia is a food paradise, with tastes to suit everyone. The pleasure of sleeping in your own bed instead of an impersonal hotel bed, your favorite t.v. programs (which you missed while away) all taped and ready for viewing.... what else could be better?

All said, it will still take a while to overcome jet lag and return to the mundane routine that beckons.