Things To Enjoy When It's Hot Outside..

My CNY holiday is finally over. For the past week, I spent most of my time staying indoors. It has been very hot lately as we are facing the heat waves for the past few weeks . Across the country, the temperature are staying above 30 Celcius. Here in KT, the temperature is always around 33C. The heat from the scorching sun is so intense, I dare not go to the beach or go for jogging at the park near the beach like I always do.

Usually we want to drink something cold or eat cold desserts during hot weather. Here are some of the things to enjoy when the weather gets warmer.

Tapai Ice -Cream (Ice-cream with fermented rice) which I prepared myself. Have you tried this?? Just scooped some ice cream and have it with rice tapai . A recipe I got from RASA magazine.

In the East Coast the real coconut juice can be found everywhere. It's good to have it during the hot weather. Coconut water is an isotonic solution which replaces the fluids and minerals that the body loses during physical activities. It is full of electrolytes, calcium, potassium, magnesium; everything that is good for you.

Fried Ice-cream at a stall at Batu Buruk Beach. Not bad at all..

A famous Malaysion dessert called ABC. It is primarily ice served with sweet flavoured syrup , red beans, sweet corn, peanuts and jelly.

Everytime I go to Rantau Panjang I surely won't miss this. It's the best coconut jelly I've ever had . The jelly is put in the coconut itself instead of plastic glass. This is at a stall in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan. This is very easy to prepare actually. If you want the recipe go to My Small Kitchen .

The best Air Bandung I've ever had -at Hayaki Kopitiam in Kota Bharu . This is rose syrup with evaporated milk

Cendol Tapai Ubi and Pulut. Yang ada tapai ubi dgn pulut susah sgt nak jumpa and this is at Hayaki Kopitiam Kota Bharu. The desserts ingredients are shaved ice, coconut milk, noodles with green food coloring (usually derived from the pandan leaf), and palm sugar, red beans, glutinous rice, grass jelly and creamed corn.

Ice-cream Pudding from a kuih stall in Gong Kapas in KT.

Lompat Tikam. BTW, if the word Lompat Tikam is translated to English it would sound - JUMP and STAB! I always ask the Kelantanis why it's named Lompat Tikam??? but failed to get an answer. The ingredients are rice flour, palm sugar, coconut milk and glutinous rice.

Pudding from a kuih stall in KT. In KT there are a lot of puddings and jelly at most kuih stalls. Macam2 pudding ada...

Whatever it is, to stay healthy, remember ...we have to control our sugar intake, OK! Jgn makan byk2 benda manis tu! Make sure to drink more water and fruit juice during this hot weather. Hope all of us will stay cool always despite the hot weather condition.

A Picnic By The Lake

I hope all of you are enjoying your CNY holidays. I got a week holiday but my children have gone back to school today. A few days ago, we had a picnic at Kenyir Lake. The lake is only about an hour drive from my house in KT. Since I moved here about 3 years ago, I have been to Kenyir Lake several times but that day we had our very first picnic there. Tak ingat dah when was the last time we had a picnic. Actually having a picnic is really an opportunity to catch up on some fun and excitement with the family. Memang best!

Since it's the Chinese New Year holidays, thousands of residents and tourists are flocking the lake to spend their holidays. Ramai sgt orang! At the lake, people would normally go for fishing, have picnics or barbeque while some visitors might go for leisurely cruise or spend time on boathouses. If you want to escape into a world of tranquility and serenity, the lake is definitely an ideal retreat . I love to just sit under those shady trees, relaxing and enjoying the cool breeze from the lake . It's really nice...Sejuk je eventhough it's at 12 noon!.

Kenyir Lake is really huge and it is actually the size of Singapore!. If you like fishing and are nature lovers, it is definitely a place for you to spend your time. The lake is surrounded by lush tropical forest and is also an angler’s haven as it is the home to hundreds of species of freshwater fish.

Those three swans kept on pecking the padlock wanting to be released I guess. Panjang leher dia.. So cute of them... You can see the white and black swans swimming at the nearby pond. Wonder where they come from.


The road to Buweh waterfall . Actually there are 15 waterfalls at Kenyir Lake

A boathouse which is still under construction

Some of the food I brought from home. When we reached there everyone was so hungry and ate really a lot! It's really nice to have a picnic kat situ. You can enjoy the spectacular view and tend to enjoy the food more ...

Fruits for me yang diet ni...

Wild flowers.

Anak2 main Yam leaf . I cepat2 suruh buang takut gatal. They got so excited sebab tak pernah tengok..

and this is at the entrance of Kenyir Lake Resort


We will come back to spend a night there. Macam best je eventhough the place might look eerie at night...Have a great week everyone!

Happy Holidays!

Chinese New Year is only a few days away. I think most of us are in that holiday mood already... At work, we are getting more and more tangerines and these few days I've been eating so much of them sampai sakit tekak! Just can't resist those free juicy tangerines!

Well, recently, I decided to redeem some birthday vouchers I got from SSF Home Decor. I was not aware that those vouchers are only valid until March. So, cepat2lah I pegi SSF in KB to redeem the vouchers. Kalau tak redeem rasa rugi pulak. Since Chinese New Year is just around the corner, I found that there a lot of CNY home decoration items/accessories on sales just outside the store. Most of the things are of bright colours-red, gold and orange. Meriahnya suasana.

There are a lot of artificial flowers especially the plum blossoms. I asked a Chinese friend kenapa plum blossoms but not other flowers? Why not tulip or roses ke? I was then told that plum blossom actually symbolizes courage and hope in Chinese culture. What is unique about plum blossom is that it is the only flower which blooms during peak winter so it becomes the symbol of survival. All this while, tak tau pun.. Coincidently, just this afternoon, I saw some photos of the real plum blossom at Mami's blog. Mami is a blogger friend from Japan. What you see in her blog, is the real plum blossom in Japan.

Fish symbolizes long life and good fortune

Red colour stands for 'good luck' and 'prosperity'

Some lovely baskets . Bakul2 pun orange and red

Colorful ribbons and decorations

That day, I took home table mats, table flowers and some cookie jars. Membeli macamlah kita pulak yg nak raya!

To those who are celebrating CNY, I wish you all "Happy Chinese New Year "- "Gong Xi Fa Chai!". May the new year brings you Good Luck, Good Fortune and Good Times. To others who are not celebrating CNY, I wish you all 'Happy Holidays'. I am sure most of you have planned your holidays, right?? So, have a wonderful holiday everyone and take care!

Sweet Delicacies

I went to Kota Bharu last Friday to visit my in laws. My mother in law was down with fever so we quickly rushed to KB to see how is she doing. Ye la...masa kecik2 kita demam, mak jaga. Now it's our turn to be there for them when they are not well, right? Fortunately we are not that far so we can visit them just anytime we want. Last Friday, we left for KB early morning and had to be back in KT the same day because yesterday both my husband and I had to go to work.

Dalam rushing2 tu sempat lagi snapped photos here and there. I stopped by at a stall in Wakaf Bharu to buy some Kelantan sweet delicacies such as Akok, Beko and Tapai. My husband and children like the Akok at the stall. Maknya tak pandai lagi makan Akok sampai sekarang but I love Beko and Tapai so much. I asked for permission to snap some photos at the stall and the lady was so pleased, she gave us 6 extra akok (it's not 1 or 2 extra but 6!). She really makes me feel so guilty. Baiklah dia..and she is so friendly. Kalau nak berniaga kenalah friendly camtu. Semoga Allah murahkan rezeki dia.

I was told-the more wrinkles the better and tastier! Akok is made of duck eggs , brown sugar, coconut milk and flour . Sometimes chicken eggs are used because duck eggs are expensive!.

Most people prefer to buy Akok which are baked the traditional way because they taste better!

The coconut husk used for baking akok. All parts of coconut are useful...

Beko and Flower Akok

Some snacks

And this is my favourite

Fermented rice wrapped in banana leaves

One Malaysia Batik

The latest Terengganu Batik design is called 'One Malaysia' Batik. The 'One Malaysia Batik' is colorful printed Batik with beautiful floral motifs and wood grain/tree bark pattern. The fabric is crepe which is very comfortable to wear. The design is very similar to the 'Digital' Batik design which was quite 'hot' in Terengganu last year.

Actually, one of my colleagues sell these One Malaysia Batik. I thought of buying some of these Batik (to support my friend and to support Malaysian Batik Industry). I have a few designs that I would like to show you. Help me choose my Batik, friends. Each one of you might have different taste..Let's see which one do you like and let's see if we have the same taste.

Design A



Design B



Design C



Design D



Design E

Design F

Design G