Journey With Deb

So I’ve realized that busyness has swept me by like a thin layer of haze, hoping that it’ll be blown away one fine day by a great gush of fresh air. But I’ve somehow grown accustomed to it; at times I’m even comfortable in its presence. My task list is never empty, fresh scribbles on post-it-notes overlaps another and my phone reminders are chalk-a-block! This is becoming absurd I think…

A snap back to reality shakes me up. Busyness should never be a constant – I’ve always fought hard for that ideal work life balance and thought I was pretty good at juggling it, up until now. When a few friends (individually) told me, “You’re always so busy, I have to tell you way in advance if we want to meet up.” When picking up a book to read seems more like luxury than leisure, when technology grows on me like a parasite and when my journal has more empty than scribbled pages…

This has got to change. Soon.

Believe it or not, since the introduction of recycling bins in our kitchen, we have just been constantly surprise (and appalled) at the mounting recyclable waste accumulated over time. Almost every product we buy off-the-shelf has an element that can be recycled.  Everything from plastic wrappers, plastic bottles or cups, old newspapers, cereal boxes, juice cartons, tin cans – the list seems endless!

As if that’s not enough of a waste shocker, according to statistics from the Department of Environment (DOE), an average Malaysian produces 0.8kg -1.2kg of waste per day. That’s an average of 30kg of waste a month! Statistics also show that the biggest waste contributors come from urban areas. Yes! Urbanites like you and I who thrive happily on convenience and spend blithely without thinking twice.

The horror does not end here. If waste is not separated at disposal point, EVERYTHING (literally everything) ends up in the landfill. No waste collector will care enough to rummage through our garbage and pick out what can be recycled and what can’t. Hence, all of us need to play our part, and it all starts at home.

We’ve tried to minimize our waste by bringing Tupperware containers when ordering take-out, declining plastic bags at the supermarket and refusing to take plastic cutlery instead using our ‘SPORKS’ when on the move. Still there are products we can’t avoid buying despite realizing how laden it is with excessive packaging.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by rubbish (literally), especially when information is sparse even in a thriving city like KL. So here are a few tips to help make recycling easier for you!

How to start? While fancy colour-coded recycling bins would be a nice inclusion at home, a simple box or garbage bag is really all you need to sort and hold your recyclables. We bought ours from IKEA (although not the wisest decision since we’re adding up on plastic purchase – however esthetic elements and durability won us over). You will need at least 3 bins/boxes/containers, for; paper, plastic and aluminum.  Another for glass if necessary.

What to recycle? Virtually all newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard, cereal & juice boxes, glass bottles, plastic wrappers, aluminum and tin cans are recyclable. Remember to flatten boxes and aluminum cans before dumping it into separate bins. As for plastic bottles, remember to remove the cap and rinse the bottle. Both the cap and the bottle go into the same bin but will be sorted again at the recycling center.

Where to bring your recyclables? At certain locales, DBKL, MPPJ or Alam Flora will have designated days to pick up recyclable waste. Ask your neighbours if you are not sure. Another option is to bring your recyclable waste to recycling centers around your area.

Alam Flora has made life simpler for all of us by listing down recycling centers within Klang Valley. It’s best to identify a center near your home or office for added convenience. Click HERE to see the list.

Alternatively, if you feel like doing a good deed, you can send recyclables to a disabled home in SS2, PJ. They collect recyclables to sell in order to earn money to run the home. There are drop-off boxes at their centre.

Lovely Disabled Home
No 1, Jalan SS 2/5, (opposite Taman Bahagia LRT station)
47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Contact person: K.K Lum (Director) @ 03 78739622 / 013-3409622

We spent several weekends trying on wedding gowns in Malaysia and then a weekend in Bangkok actually buying the dress of my dreams. We lugged it all the way to Melbourne for our pre-wedding shots and back again to the laundry for dry cleaning. I stepped into it for my last time on our wedding day, two years ago. Since then, it’s been sitting in my study sealed in a vacuum packed bag hardly making its presence known if it weren’t for the occasional major spring cleaning every 3 months or so.

So I’ve made my decision to sell my wedding gown, banished the thought of passing it onto my daughter(s) and accepting the fact that when it is time for them to be wed, it will probably be the most old-fashioned thing in town.

It’s going to be on sale here.

In the age of digitization, finding a physical photo album or prints are hard to find. Photos are burn onto CDs, uploaded on Facebook, shared on Trip Advisor and emailed to friends. Whilst this digital phenomenon has made destinations more ‘accessible’ and it has also allowed friends to digitally travel with other friends without leaving our seats – it has also rid us of the nostalgia of flipping through physical photo albums and cleaning dusty albums whilst having a good laugh or cry over memorable milestones.

Since technology is moving so rapidly, we figured that one day, photo albums will not exist and we better create an option before its to late! We still want to have the assurance that pictures and physical memories can be accessible in the event our nation’s power source goes kaput or if our hard disk crashes.

So we decided to continue our meticulous efforts in creating scrapbooks! We’ve spent hours sorting through colours papers, choosing borders, buying embellishments, sticking, stamping and stenciling – it’s what we do with our free time, our together time – reliving our trip once again through the creation of our 4th photo book.

We’ve reached yet another milestone in our marriage, though our wedding was 2 years ago, the celebration continues (everyday). It’s been an incredible adventure thus far. Sure we have our squabbles, rifts and not-so-great-days, but conflicts only makes us a better person, a stronger couple – if we choose to work through it. One of the things that amaze me most about Terence is his passion and sincerity to work this marriage. Honeymoon years are great, feeling all fuzzy and warmth in the new found union – time passes quickly too but for a marriage to last, it takes lots of work and effort to prepare for turbulent times. I’m ever grateful to have a husband which sure foresight to challenge us to greater depth and heights.

Over the last 2 years, we’ve reached our lifelong dream to travel to 2 continents, made a new list of destinations to conquer, created our own set of rules at No.8 (for example, if Terence cooks, Deb doesn’t enter the kitchen, if she does she’d end up complaining at how messy it is) and learned which buttons to push and which to stay clear of.

We’ve learned that loving without holding back makes us vulnerable to each other but almost always, it opens an opportunity for us to receive more than we can ever give. How true when the Bible says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). I love the Maker and Author of marriages! My deepest desire is for this marriage to be a reflection of Him – His love and character.

Life as ‘normal’

After being away for so long, I would imagine that our house would feel foreign, our plants would somewhat wither, the letters overflowing and lizard poop polka doting the walls. But we were wrong! We came home to an oh-so-familiar place we called home. The sheets clean, pillows as we left them, floors spanking clean and no trace of lizard poop.

Our families gave us the best welcome gift, aside from overbearing hugs, kisses and beaming faces at the airport – they helped clean our home!!! Fresh flowers took center piece at the dining table and fresh new curtains hand-sewn and fitted for our kitchen. We love them to bits!

Since our fridge looked pathetically empty, we decided to do some grocery shopping. What should be a usual activity turned out rather peculiar. I was in for an economic shock as I gawked and awed at the prices of items here in Malaysia. Yoghurt for RM5? Bread for RM4? Cheese for RM12? Unbelievable to my purse’s delight, I was like a girl grabbing at everything that took my fancy and dropping it into the shopping cart.

Then I was up for another gastronomic shock. After touching down, we headed straight for breakfast at a local coffeeshop. I ordered my favourite Wan Tan Mee and finished it in no time. Later for dinner we had a Malaysian spread of fried rice, bah kut teh, assam fish and veggies. Little did I know that my stomach had not prepared itself for gastronomical buffet. I found myself visiting the toilet umpteen times for the next few days. Needless to say, it was a mild case of ‘Malaysian diarhoe’.

Imagine azure blue skies shifting into shades of pale crimson and calming ginger staring into a canvas of endless ocean – picnic blankets  laden on spiky lawns, families nuzzled together on pillows and a good book to read, couples toasting, the guitar playing and carefree laughs between friends. That’s the sort of scene one will chance upon when the sun begins its slow descent into the horizon.

Relishing in the relax culture of Cape Townians, we headed to Signal Hill and the waterfront on two separate evenings to picnic. Terence cooked Asian fried rice, I packed salad, we picked fruits and had the most relaxing and undisturbed dinner in a long time.

Determined to pamper ourselves silly before we head on home, we booked us a room at Rouge on Rose, a charming boutique hotel on the corner of Rose Street at the Bo Kaap District. The owner, Ursula was a stylish and motherly. She took care of all our needs making sure we had breakfast on time so that we don’t miss church on Sunday and our flight on Monday. Her small fleet of staff felt like family as we laughed and exchange stories of how our day has been. We were spoiled with fine hearty meals cooked to precision. Imagine French toast coated with honey, crisp bacon and light cream cheese – who would have thought of that concoction?!

Needless to say the room was a delight. Spacious, modishly designed with a touch of rouge here and there. The designers have adopted an open concept, which means open indoor showers and gaping archways leading from lounge to bedroom.

Alas a cherry on top to cap our awesome two and half month adventure – there would be no better place to toast and cheer than at Mount Nelson. This Victorian vestige is pearl of pleasure with majestic views of Table Mountain and superior service. Decorated for splendor, the hotel serves up a full table of lip smacking pastries, desserts and savories for tea. With an endless list of teas to choose from and the perpetual delights that come floating out of the kitchen, it was hard not to over indulge. I guess that’s the reason why buffet tea time menus like this only exist in luxury hotels because guests have to keep their backs straight, laugh with hands over their mouths and munch on incredibly delicious food instead of stuffing their faces silly. Table etiquette as we know it is actually practiced here!

By Terence on Travel Postcards

It was hunt number 3 for the monstrous beast. Hunt number 1 failed due to bad weather. We checked in to the backpackers and they told us the weather wouldn’t permit for the next 3 days.

Undaunted, we rescheduled as we had more than a week left. Then the day arrived, I got into the shuttle and midway driving, the driver announced that the weather at Gansbaai isn’t turning out well and we have to turn back. Bad luck!

Took my chance again to rescheduled (3 more days before we leave) and it was big risk, considering the weather (at Gansbaai) doesn’t look too good.

This time, no turning back and minutes after the briefing, we were in the boat ready to hunt. Upon anchoring, our divemaster gave us a briefing and a rundown about the island and surrounding. He mentioned that we could wait up to 3 hours to lure the sharks and we’ll be hoping to spot at least one today – since it’s summer and not the greatest time to view white sharks.

Then all of a sudden, we all clamoured to the side of the boat as the crew sotted something… lo and behold, the sharks! Very quickly, we got into our wetsuits and with sheer excitement I was the first to get into the cage. Only 5 were allowed in the cage at once. As they lure the shark to its bait time and time, we got full view of the monster and sometimes it would “crash” into the cage leaving us a sheer thrill to savour!

After four hours either viewing the Great White from the boat or in the water… it was an unforgettable experience to say the least!

Interesting fact: In February 2009, across all shark diving industry in Gansbaai, they spoted 0 sharks. Fast forward a year, and they’ve spotted countless of them already. That goes to show how the weather and seasons are changing across the world. Maybe it’ll snow in August (in Europe) one day!