EmmaGoodEgg

Mimi Makes Faces

Smile, frown, smile, frown is her new thing.

Mimi And Her Mop Of Curls

Dear Mimi,

Mama haven't posted a letter to you in a while. The last time was 6 months ago when I posted a picture of you in an Ultraman mask. Eversince then your Mama has been distracted with rather addictive online pursuits, like Pet Society which I thankfully outgrew and my pet is now languishing in Pet Society World in a 7-bedroomed home, hungry and dirty. Then your T'tan introduced me to hidden objects games, like Mystery Case Files and the like. I think my eyesight has gotten worse due to peering on the screen for 'protractors' or 'screws' or similar inane objects. After that T'tan suggested I try time-management games, which took up all my time building houses, and parks, and making sure I paid the damn taxes on time. And then on my own accord I got re-hooked onto Twitter, following all and sundry. It really is time for a heart-warming letter to your daughter when one begins to mull all day about a @mrskutcher tweet just so I can get Demi Moore to acknowledge my presence online.

So.

In a couple of days you will turn 1 year and 8 months. Here's how you look without the alien mask:

Although having straight-as-a-plank hair means all those curls on your head is alien to your Mama. Every morning you wake up with serious bed-head and I think "GAAAAAH! WhatdoIdowhatdoIdo??". You're not too fond of hair clips and cute hairbands so you often channel Wild Woman Of Borneo. But its okay my darling, cos you're one SMART Wild Woman Of Borneo.

You are a voracious reader, here you are "reading" Eric Carle's 'Slowly slowly slowly said the Sloth':

You can also count one to ten, know some of your ABCs and, Mama is proud to say, tri-lingual. Why just the other day when I asked you to please close the door, you said "Bisa" (that's Indonesian for 'Yes/Can') and promptly did.

Love,

Mama xx

The Wind In The Willow

According to Oprah and her mate Dr Oz, passing gas is good for you and that the average person passes gas 14 times a day.  Dr Oz advises that we are to create a no embarrassment zone on farting because well, its no good keeping it all in.  I, for one, have extremely shy bowels and don't subscribe to the good doctor's new age policy.  Which is why I am a rather repressed cow I suppose.

Bobby on the other hand, often let loose at home.  And then blame it on whoever happens to be near. Sometimes its Mimi, and most times, its Willow the cat.

The other day Mimi let out some wind and I said to her, "Who farted in here??" and she promptly answered, "CAT".  

It looks like I'm losing this battle.

Cartoon snagged from here.

ULTRABABY

Dear Mimi UltraBaby,

As Hari Raya draws to a close, here's a picture of you during Aidilfitri dressed in your finest: silk, lace and an alien mask.

Speaking of extra-terrestial beings, your father have been surfing UFOs on YouTube.  He made me watch this last night:

One of the clips shows a couple of NASA's party line of a UFO being a "weather balloon", strangely enough two of them looks like a Bat Mobile and Starship Enterprise. 

So do you believe?  Space is just too big to be occupied by just us humans isn't it? *cue X-Files muzak...

Lots of love,

UltraMama xx

A Mini Tomboy GoodEgg

Dear Mimi,

When you were in my tummy I often wished that you wouldn't turn out to be too girlie a girl. I thought that I could handle a little tomboy much better having had your brother and also because Mama was one herself in days of yore. As they say, a pregnant woman's word is manis (sweet) which kinda means God is listening to you, you hormonal woman. Well, I never got the closet full of Louboutins but I got a little tomboy girl who has the calves of a center forward. Of course your father played a part in your being, so you should blame him for your calves.

At a year and a few weeks old, you are an independent, mischievous and robust child. I tend to favour children in shorts and tees, quite simply because I grew up in them, so you are always dressed rather boyish. Your father wants to teach you yoga moves and started with the Lion pose, so you go around with your tongue all out, all the time. Not a very girly look that. Your father and I were adventurous children so it looks like you're heading that way too. I foresee that soon you will start climbing the trees in the garden and terrorising the neighborhood. It is in your genetic makeup after all.

Before you grow up to be one of those women who don't shave their legs and armpits, I think its time to inject a little bit more girl in you. So this Hari Raya Mama asked Auntie Jane the Seamstress to sew miniature versions of Mama's bajus (clothes) in an effort to make you look more like a little girl.

But guess who looks like a little Tomboy Princess in all that lace and sequins?

Love,

Mama xx

Ps/ Picture taken beautifully by your Uncle Mirez.

New On Planet Frivolous

Some clever people have come up with a swell program that can transform your picture into a yesteryears 'yearbook' version on www.yearbookyourself.com. This is what I came up with:

MimiGoodEgg, 1962

And in 1984...

A good start to Monday morning I say.

Who's a Mini GoodEgg?

Dear Mimi,

Since I last wrote you grew some hair.

Okay, no you didn't.  That's you wearing the wig your father wore when he was John Lennon a few weekends ago.  It's actually a 'Rachel' wig I got at Winmark, but best not to tell your father that since he wore it in polite society. 

As you know, you dislike having things on your head.  Mama would love to buy you cute hats but you'd have them on your head for not more than 2 seconds.  But guess who donned the wig??  You preened and cooed in front of the mirror and thought 'I look AWESOME'.  I think you've become girlier.  Mama is happy with this development because your first word aside from babababababa and mamamamamama is CAR!  I blame your father for this because he had put a car calendar in your room.  Every morning the two of you look through the calendar and spot the colourful Porsches on each month, so it really is no wonder that you can point out a car in a magazine or on the road in two shakes of a ducks' tail.

You were crawling the last time Mama posted about you, but now you've found your feet.  You try and walk everywhere these days.  Every evening after we read books you shimmy your little bum off the bed and away you go, exploring your parent's room with gusto.  These days you also know how to make demands.  Like asking Mama to read you a particular book (Unngghhh!), or to give you some of whatever it is on the plate we happen to be holding (Mamam!).  So we're also starting to set you some boundaries lest you turn into a lil' monster.

You still love your food, and since I last wrote your meals are considerably more interesting than porridge with mushy peas.  I think you enjoy eating out for lunch because we order your food from the Kids Menu.  Sometimes we sneak you some ice-cream. 

It's amazing to watch you grow, learn and experience new things.  Your latest gig is picking up Mama's mobile, placing it near your ear and coo softly to Bapa.  That's also your cutest gig.  That and how you love (and look like) your father.   

You are a sight for sore eyes after a long day at work.  But darling, since I last wrote you have yet to grow more hair.

Love,

Mama xx

Phuket, Thailand

I was in Phuket with five of my girl friends in 2000. We booked a package from the Banyan Tree Phuket. At the time I wasn't quite the girlie girl and haven't been on a girlie beach holiday so bestbud Diva D sent me the packing list that pretty much said NO JEANS. Everyone met in Bangkok and upon our arrival at the Banyan Tree, we unpacked, changed into beachwear, had drinks decorated with flowers and planned our itinerary. Over the next 6 days, we ticked off the must-dos efficiently: A cruise around the islands, eat seafood, rent a Jeep and drive around Phuket, spa spa and spa, buy fake goods, go into Boots buy unneccessary hair products and be amazed that you are in Boots outside the UK, Transvestite Cabaret, Tiger Show...the works. It was my first girlie holiday and those were the days before digital cameras so the pictures I have of the memorable occasion are (thankfully) in an album somewhere.

Eight years later I have just returned from a second holiday in Phuket with my family in tow. It felt like too short a holiday and we were a bit sad (and a bit sunburnt) when we left the Villa, but it's good to be back. When we got home Willow meowed accusingly to us, I think she missed us when we were not around and probably stroppy that we got to eat first grade sashimi at Naoki. But that's for another post i.e. when I can get Bobby to do his food review on Naoki.

It may be a little bit different from the holiday Bobby and I usually have (namely hours and hours of simply monging by the beach interspersed with lots of eating) because this time we have Mimi and Azim with us but it was enjoyable all the same. Bobby told Mimi's grandparents, who met us at the airport last night, that she swam in the sea for the first time. Grandma was a little worried, but we told her that the sea in Phuket was flat and calm, its water warm, clean and a beautiful blue.

It's hard to imagine the Phuket that was during the tsunami in 2004. Bobby and I watched some video footage of the tsunami on YouTube just to remember what the island (and India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia) went through. The videos were scary and chaotic, but I'm glad to say that three years later Phuket has lost none of its charm and its tourism industry still buzzling. One evening Bobby, Azim and I left the serene tropical atmosphere of the resort to have some seafood and trawled Patong Beach. Which is a must-do when one is in Phuket. Azim saw a transvestite up close and got flashed fake boobies. These are also must-dos. I refrained from smuggling him into that show where the women do all those circus tricks with their private bits lest I be accused of leading my 16 year old son astray.

The resort recommended us to go to the Baan Rim Pa for some Thai seafood. The restaurant has one of the best location in Phuket, on a cliff overlooking the Andaman Sea. The girls and I also came to dine at the Baan Rim Pa all those years ago. However the food this time was not very good and I think after years of recommendations from concierges the owners are resting on their laurels. We had better Thai food cooked by the chef the resort provided and even in Brunei at Wandi's (a Thai restaurant in Jerudong, now unfortunately closed). Bobby was disappointed, but I said that Phuket is not known for its seafood, but is known more for its sex tourism. We headed off to Patong's Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) where the nightlife is centered on.

Baan Rim Pa

Azim in Thailand's omnipresent Tuk-Tuk heading back from Patong, a taxi-like vehicle known so because of how the engine sounds.

We also went for a cruise around the islands. The resort arranged a half-day trip for us and at 10am we went by car to the marina at Phuket Boat Lagoon. Upon seeing a rather flashy yacht, I said to Bobby, "Oh this is nice" and Bobby replied "No not that one". Well, it was no yacht but we had our own little boat complete with a Captain (with a tan surpassing George Hamilton but without the Botox) and his First Mate. Our Captain showed us a map of the islands we were about to visit around Phang Nga Bay, his running commentary a bit useless, I couldn't understand a word he was saying because his English had a thick Thai accent, but I'm not complaining.

Ahoy Mateys!

Exiting The Marina

We saw a lagoon that tourists could access via a small opening in the limestone cliff. There were people in their little canoes going in and out of the opening. Our Captain however, thought it would be quaint if he anchored close to the cliff, got his passengers to step off the boat and then precariously climb onto a ledge nestling in the limestone, just so we could see the lagoon. I put a brave face on and climbed ungainly, arms legs and ass akimbo.

Canoe Access

Ledge Access

The Lagoon

Took the customary picture of James Bond Island (known in Thai as Ko Tapu) called so because Francisco Scamaranga (Roger Moore's Bond arch nemisis in The Man With A Golden Gun) placed a laser gun type thing at the top of the island to harness solar power in order to destroy earth with a mmnnmmzzgggppddd! *cue 60's style sound effects of laser

The islands were teaming with hordes of tourists (young Japanese girls, large Americans, loud Europeans) in beachwear every colour and design, their faces red and a whole lot of sweat. Cameras clicking away. We were no different.

On the adjacent island of Ko Khao Phingkan, tourists stand on the beach to take pictures of James Bond Island.

When we returned a few hours later from the islands we brought Mimi for another swim in the pool. She swam a lot this holiday and everytime we brought her out of the water she seemed a little disgruntled and diva-like. She's a little water fiend, our Mimi. Bobby also calls her a fresh air fiend because she is happiest outdoors and is always raring to go for her morning walk when the sun (and her father) has just woken up. Our Phuket days were hot, sometimes blisteringly so. Even though we slather sunblock all over her exposed bits, Mimi got a little tanned and a little attitude.

A Lil' Diva With Attitude

We bought her a little straw hat from Phuket for extra shade. She liked it better than the flowery girly hats I subject her to, but it makes her look a little 'Crocodile Dundee'...

Azim and Mimi

Whilst our Villa was the best part of the resort, the main resort itself was rather nice...

The Entrance

The Library

The Beach Club

And on our last afternoon in Phuket, we stayed out by the beach to catch the sunset.

How to get there from Brunei?

You catch a Royal Brunei Airlines flight to Bangkok and then hop on a Thai Airways flight to Phuket. Ask for your luggage to be sent straight to Phuket. At the airport in Bangkok, proceed to arrivals, pass customs and go up to departures where you check in for your Thai Airways flight (and vice versa for the return leg).

Sa Wa Dee Kaap: Greetings from Thailand

Dear Mimi,

You are now in Phuket.

It took us approximately 10 hours of travel to get here. Weeks preceding our departure your parents fretted at how in the world can we get you to sit still during the flights so we thought of ways to occupy your time. We caved in and bought you your own DVD player, but it holds your attention for 5 minutes and then you want to eat it. You enjoy rubbing your gums on your toys and your books so we packed those too. Like your father, you enjoy your food, so we bought Rusks like it was going out of style. It's with a great deal of trepidation (and a whole lot of hand luggage) that we boarded the BI flight on Saturday to Bangkok, and then on a TG flight two hours later to Phuket. Amazingly you were well behaved throughout and the only time you cried longer than a few minutes was when your ears probably hurt on the way down to Bangkok and when we were about to board the flight to Phuket during your bedtime. You are such a little trooper.

Your routines haven't changed despite being in a different country. As usual around 6.30am you and your father go for your daily morning walk. Except this time your Mama stepped up to the plate and went for the walk with the both of you. Plus the scenery changed quite a bit. There were no cars full of school kids to wave to in the mornings and no old aunties exercising their rheumatic joints to say hello to. Instead we saw new foliage, stumbled into uoccupied villas and then went to the beach! Not to mention your Mama is awake and up and about! You absolutely loved the change in perspective.

A change in scenery at a godforsaken time in the morning.

We washed sand off our feet and so did you.

You also had your weekend swimming sessions but this time at the Villa and in a rather fetching swimsuit from Mothercare.

Another thing that hasn't changed? You are still stroppy in hats.

Love,

Your Mama xx

Ps/ Your Auntie Nips is going through a bit of a culture shock. She is rebelling against not having to make the bed and do the laundry. Although I must say she's learning fast because just this afternoon she ordered herself some coffee. I'm afraid we've created a monster...

Your First Party

Dear Mimi,

It's tradition that we welcome the birth of a babe with some family and friends, some religious singsong and food. You had your Dikir last weekend. A lot of preparation goes into having one of these dos. We had to finalise the guest list, make invites, call catering, buy chairs, sort out the Bunga Telurs and goodie bags, and book the singing ladies. On top of all that, we had to figure out what to wear.

Usually these events are also for the mother. The Mandi Berlawat is to celebrate a woman who has given birth for the first time. She is made to fit into her wedding garb and act like a bride with a screaming child on her lap. Family and friends dab chalkpaste, throw like confetti scented pandan leaves and flowers on mother and child. At the background, people chant songs.

Mama didn't have to go through all that (although I was made up like a bride thanks to our in-house make-up guru Auntie Mellie), so the day was all about you.

In case you were wondering, the GoodEggs all wore blue. Your Auntie Jane the Seamstress made you a dress out of silk and chiffon...and bells. Tiny bells as buttons. The bells, they drove you mad. So did the singing. And the confetti throwing (thankfully no dabbing of the chalk on your forehead). Your father and I pretty much guessed when you were bawling your lungs out you are actually saying, "Who ARE these people cutting into my weeked and WHAT am I wearing??" You were, short of better words, not a happy cow.

Still, it had to be done. But after all the hullaballoo (and once you changed into plain cotton), it is a quaint custom we have in our culture. We ended up having a rather swell time.

To wit:

You experienced new things, met many many new faces. Like a celebrity, you had a photographer follow your every move. We had yummy pretty cupcakes from the Rahman Sisters and chic Auntie Rena gifted you a pretty monogrammed pillow. We also got some cold hard cash and a heck of a lot of blessings were bestowed on us.

Who could complain?

Love, Mama xx

Happier times in cotton, cute as a donut kebonut, as photographed by Uncle Flo.