Pangkor Island Revisited

The moment I returned to the office after my maternity leave which was in September, I already started planning for a holiday for this long Year End School Break. Of course the excuse is that the kids have not gone for a holiday (read: stay in hotel, by the beach with a swimming pool, 2 swimming pools are even better) since November 2007, when I was about 3 months pregnant.

Yes, we returned to Pangkor Island Beach Resort. The very same hotel that we stayed at last year, though I decided to try a different wing, slighlty cheaper too, but with timber flooring. Yes, I am quite particular with this flooring issue. Ha! ha! Again, this hotel does not dissapoint. Though, hubby thinks that this room is a tad too small, especially this time, we had an additional play pen added on top of an extra bed. Rather cramped, but with the adjustment to the costs, and you get timber flooring, I have no complains.

The best part about this hotel is that the rates are inclusive of breakfast and dinner, buffet! The spread is good enough, for you to gain weight at the end of your fourth day here. We didn't even leave the hotel ground at all throughout our stay, even during our last visit here without a baby, we were happy to just stay in and enjoy the facilities to the max.

This time we brought along Zarif's PS2 and I brought along specially bought DVDs, rented the DVD player, and managed to watch 2 1/2 movies, thoses time that I stayed in the room with Zaim, while the father took the kids swimming. Love this place. Below are some pictures, a little different than last year's if you care to compare in my Nov 2007 entry. Firstly, no bulge in my tummy this time, well actually that is not 100% true, but I shall not deliberate on this matter. Secondly, since we stayed at a different wing, we spent more time at the smaller pool instead of the free form pool, because there were also way too many people this time.

I have my hands full with the Zaim's stroller, Nayli was so nice to help the father pulled one suitcase.

In the ferry, Zaim was a bit cranky throughout cause it was his meal time, and I left his food in the bag outside. Poor baby. Thank goodness, it didn't take too long to reach the island.

Upon reaching the jetty, there was still a 2 minutes ride in the hotel shuttle, provided.

This is the room. Nice and cosy, or rather, cramp but cosy.

Zaim's first swimming experience. He loves it.

The top is for a one year old, mind you. The swim nappy is LARGE too!

The SUN_PROOF siblings!

Lunch at the Pacific Terrace.

Nap time.

He did not venture into the sea though, not this time. Next holiday perhaps when he is a little older.

A bit too sunny but just nice for pictures.

I cannot resist the water. Baby or no baby! He was a bit grumpy this time.

Didn't stay long this time, cause it was his meal time.

Followed by... nap time, and even before I managed to change him.

In between the pool and the sea.

Myriad of activities at the beach, view from our room.

This is the smaller pool that I was referring too.

More "splashing" time at the pool. On the last day.

Amongst the attaction in the hotel compound.

Time to go. Reluctantly though.

Forced smile for the camera.

We chose to stand outside this time, to enjoy the natural breeze.

Breaking the workout boredom

November 2008 this year, was my 2nd year Anniversary of being a member of the gym near my office, so plus and minus that is also the length of time I have been a regular patron of the gym. Of course if you must get really technical, you would have to deduct those months I was on maternity leave plus a month during Ramadhan.

I went back to the gym right after the Hari Raya break. There is more motivation to go to the gym now because I have 5 other colleagues from the very same department that frequents the gym too. Well actually, the 2 guys have been a member way before I delivered. The other 3 ladies just joined, so now I have 3 other ladies as my gym buddies. So, this makes it more interesting and even motivates (pronounced as DRAGS) me to go even more often. Before they joined, I was happy with a minimum of once a week, ok, the most is twice a week. Now, 3 times a week is pretty the norm. I normally had to drag myself to the gym each week. Nowadays, it is much much easier to get 3 days workout weekly.

My normal routine would be 10 minutes on the rowing machine, 30-35 minutes on the treadmill and 5 minutes or so of variable weights and stretching. This has been it all this while, so since there were more of us now, I thought that it would be fun to try out something new in order to have more variety in our workout. I have tried an RPM class 2 years back when I first joined the gym. I stopped because a colleague who were able to conduct the class quit the gym, and I just couldn’t join the gym’s class as the timing was not convenient. I approached the trainers at the gym, requesting for their permission to use the RPM room during our lunch break. However instead of getting to use the room, they even agreed to run a class during our preferred timing as long as there are at least 5 people at any one time. This is easy cause, there are already 6 of us from my department alone, plus a few more from other departments, and we have a full house!

We started in the 1st week of December. The 1st class was hell!!! It was really a torturous 45 minutes. Painful! I sweat like a pig! Never has my gym outfit been soaked with sweat as it did during that 45 minutes, not in the pass 2 years ever!

Here is some information about RPM taken from
http://www.lesmills.com/global/en/members/rpm/about-rpm.aspx ,

which apparently is the programme that Gold Gym follows.

RPM is basically ™ is a 50-minute indoor cycling class based on outdoor riding. You ride to inspirational music over the equivalent of 20-25 kilometres of varied terrain, controlling the intensity of your workout with a resistance dial and pedal speed.

The benefits of RPM:

• Increase your cardiovascular fitness, burn fat and tone and shape your legs, hips, and butt
• Increase leg strength and muscular endurance without building bulk
• Burn up to 600 calories in a normal 50-minute structure (RPM™ has been proven to burn up to 800 calories in one hour)
• Release endorphins to give you that natural high and leave you feeling fantastic
  

Your RPM™ instructor will lead you and the pack through a journey choreographed to nine tracks of music

and incorporating riding positions and speeds to suit the terrain.

1. Warm up
Warms up the legs and increases core temperature. The pace is easy and the resistance light.

2. Pace
Speed and intensity increase as you work towards your top personal pace. The road is flat until you encounter a small hill designed to warm up the climbing muscles.

3. Hills
This is the first set of hill climbs which will increase your leg strength and endurance. Your instructor will coach you through the positions, resistance and intensity.

4. Mixed Terrain
A short recovery, then stay in the working zone through a series of short climbs, fast descents and sprints.

5. Intervals
This is like a cycling time trial designed to cover the most amount of distance in the shortest possible time.

6. Free Spin
Picture a flat open road where you will ride at your top pace with light resistance.

7. Mountain Climb
This is the last working track. The road starts out easy but quickly climbs as you strive to reach your full potential.

8. Ride Home
Finish the journey and ride home together. Recovery is the name of the game.

9. Stretch
A final stretch to complete the workout.

Pictures and points from:
http://www.lesmills.com/global/en/members/rpm/a-typical-class.aspx

Of course my arms have not gotten to be as wonderfully toned as that lady in orange. However, I do get that last benefit mentioned i.e after a class I would feel absolutely fantastic! Ha!ha! okay that’s stretching it a bit. Sure I feel great in the sense that yeah, I survived the last 45 minutes and great I completed a good cardio workout, such a great achievement but to be honest I must say that I also feel half dead!! Really, you do feel really “worked out”. However, this is all compensated with the fact that you can tell yourself yippee, now I can eat a horse if I want and not feel guilty about it. He!he! that brings me to the entire reason I started working out in the first place, to be able to eat anything I want and not feel guilty.

Ok, so we have been going to RPM for 3-4 times now, and we don’t actually look like those in the photos above, and I have to declare that the 2 fellas in my deparment that are in the class are tri-atheletes!!! Yes, such pressure that we get. Anyway, here are some pictures of us slogging in the class.

the instrument of torture.

getting ready, I'm setting the pedal strap

good to go! they are still smiling cause it has not started.

still warming up and fiddling with the resistance

of we go, that's the instructor, Hafiz facing us

a bit shaky here, cause I'm in the middle of a workout okay!


mountain climb streches with our butts of the seats... painful ok!


no sweat for Jamil!

another mountain hike! I'm cheating here on

the pre-text of taking pictures.

evidence of a good workout! eww!!! I know, sorry.

wouldn't want to plaster a picture of me panting and red-faced now would I?

Visiting a confined lady who has not even delivered yet!

Last Saturday, I paid Pat a long overdue visit. Just as what the title said, she is homebound, Confined even before she has delivered. Pat has been gotten a steady stream of Braxton Hicks, so she really need to be very very careful or else, she would be delivering way before her due date which is January 1st.

Besides bringing her, the standard Nona Roguy stuff and I also recommended to her Himalaya's honey to be added to the Akar Herbanika tea. The honey is really good and pure, I guess cause it doesn't attract any ants at all. I also brought along all baby clothes that Zaim has outgrown, yes even though he only turned 6 months last week. I have also given Pat, the 6 months old tagged clothes! All the newborn clothes, socks, mittens and all. It's really good for me, that I managed to clear off all these clothes that would not be used anymore, cause FYI, Zaim is the last baby that I am having. Sob! sob! sob! I just love babies, I know, but I have to be realistic, I am not getting any older, being pregnant after 30 is not easy, losing weight after being pregnant is not easy, taking care of babies, not getting enough sleep when you are more than 30 is not easy... So, I have to say, this is it for me. Just 3 babies. That's all. From now on, it's all about bringing them up, and enjoying every moment that I have with them as they grow. That is why I am cherishing every cute baby moment with Zaim, cause I know there won't be any other for me. Sigh!!!

The picture above are all those things that I got for her. Fantastic huh! Imagine, the empty space in my closet at home. More opportunity to shop! Yippeee! Why am I so generous?

Well, because I have been promised these yummy sinful stuff in banana leaf! The things I would do for food!

Of course Mom to be got to enjoy it too.

I finished mine, even before I could manage to take a pic. Gobble! Gobble!

Since I am always leaving Zaim behind, I decided to bring him along to Pat's and give his bibik, a bit of a time-off. So while the kids went for their swimming lessons with the father Zaim and Mama get some quality time together at Aunty Pat's.

That day at Aunty Pat's was also Zaim's first time feeding with me. Yeah, cause the grandmother and bibik, just couldn't wait to feed him, so they started during the weekdays while I was at work. Hence, the photos of him being fed, cause after a long time of not feeding a baby, this happens to be an exciting moment for me. Of course, I was ready with a new feeding bowl, spoons and sipping cup. Having babies are just so so lovely, cause they need so many many things to grow well, healthy and happy. Sigh!

He loves his food, just like his mom.

Pat's christmas tree is up. Can't resist a photo by the tree. This was when the kids came to fetch us.

Me and mom to be.

The pictures below were taken at home. Just to capture some more pictures of Zaim at 6 months.

Zaim - 6 months and growing! 9.7kgs - no joke! this romper his wearing by the way is for 9-12 months.

Busy Busy Busy!

What’s been going on in my life at the moment?

I must be pretty occupied at work and at home, since it doesn’t give me much time to update regularly this past month. Before you know it yesterday Zaim turned 6 months old and already starting to eat, since three days ago. Should take a photo of him at 6 months. But what I have here is taken with my camera phone, Thursday last week (20, Nov 2008). This is his current new comfy position while sleeping. FYI, he is at this position after he turns over from lying down on his tummy. So far, this is the only “turning over” that he can or at least attempts to do. He cannot do the reverse yet, that is from that position to lie on tummy position. The reason may be that he is way to heavy to attempt such a feat. As of the last Paed checkup 4 weeks ago, he was 9.4kg!!! His next check up is on the 6th of Dec, can’t wait to find out how much he weighs now.

Just look at those thighs!

From my last update, so much has been happening, let me bring you up to speed with where things are.

There was the James Bond : Quantum of Solace weekend (8-9th Nov). Quite disappointing, I must say. I think I preferred Casino Royale better. Daniel Craig still looks good in anything and nothing though. This I cannot find fault with. I am no movie critic, but I guess, the storyline was not so interesting and for those Bourne Series fans, they found that this QoS, resembles that of a “Bourne” movie. I guess it’s true. Lots of chasing and running, crash boom bang thingy more than the suave, cool, slick of a Bond movie. Anyhow, a Bond movie, is a Bond movie, you just got to watch it no matter what.

The day after that the street where we lived , had a “Neighbourhood Potluck Breakfast Party”. That was quite good, with loads and loads of food. Since, technically, it wasn’t my house, so they weren’t really my neighbours, more like my parents'. They are not total strangers well at least some of them aren’t, I do recognize some of the familiar faces. It was good fun, though I am a wee bit shy, so I didn’t mingle much. He!he!he! I know, I busied myself with Zaim, and in the end had to go back into the house because I need to feed him. Next year, maybe I will be friendlier.

a quite moment together by the banana tree.

lucky draw winners.

in full swing.

from a different angle.

some of the food.

On Nov 15th, was Zarif’s school’s Parent Teacher’s day. I went to see the teacher and collect his books and the 2nd half of the year’s work on my own since the kids have swimming lessons every Saturday morning. Zarif has also started to join Nayli’s swimming lessons. He used to be afraid of the deep end pool, but he somehow overcame that fear and agreed to join his sister. According to the teacher, Zarif is very independent and obedient in class. That’s good because he is the exact opposite at home. He!he! he’s just 4, so I am not expecting much from him. I was just happy that he doesn’t make much fuss to get ready for school every morning. Well, he does have 2 more years of Pre-school anyway.

The day after that, which was on a Sunday the 16th, was Pat’s (or Sandra to others) Surprise Baby Shower. It was held at Gina’s place an it was the first ever baby shower that I have ever attended in my entire life. The shower was Denia’s (an American) idea, that’s why there was a shower in the first place because it really isn’t a Malaysian norm, to be celebrating before a fact i.e to celebrate the coming of a baby before the actual birth. It isn’t a done thing here. It was great though, there were of course food, games, prizes, no kids and husbands. Ha! Ha! Ha! Did I say food? Oh, and endless photogs opportunities. My kind of thing.

Diaper Cake, take note of the baby blue theme.

there was even a party favour for guests in the form of a napkin filled hershey kisses.

another nappy cake.

mom-to-be's throne

SURPRISE!!!!

with mom to be, check out the "It's a boy!" button badge.

L2R: Denia (event planner), Pat & Gina

everybody.

at her throne, check out the pressies (and that's not even half of em')

I got a gift too!!! I won the first game, identifying the word

baby in 8 or so languages to their origin

another game, finding safety pins in a bowl of rice,

easier when you are not the one blind-folded, trust me!

the spread, can you see the cupcakes, well that was

home-made by one of the quests ok, absolutely beautiful and delish!

told you the cake was beautiful!

the finale, a photo with the bows and ribbons from the gifts opened.

More photos on my FB. Last weekend was Madagascar 2 weekend. I thought, the movie was absolutely hilarious. If you have not seen it, go! Even if you do not have kids. Go!