Busy

Shopping begins... each and every day even when we reached Las Vegas.... Busy, Busy... travelling here and there.. No updates for the moment now.  :) 

First Vacation As A Parent? Essential Advice For Keeping Your Kids Travel Safe

No matter how high powered your job, there’s no greater position of responsibility than that of a parent. From the moment we first lay eyes on our children our psychology changes instantly and irrevocably. Our priorities change near instantaneously and we abandon our self-interest in favor of protecting the tiny life we hold in our hands for the first time. But while parenthood is instinctual for many of us, there’s a lot more to it than simple instinct alone. We need to learn new sets of skills and proficiencies from learning the best way to get the temperature of a baby bottle just right to making sure that your home is a safe and hazard free environment to grow up in. As our kids get older, we become more and more adept at sheltering them from the everyday hazards and dangers present in our home and local environment. We develop a “safe zone” that expands ever outwards as our children grow in experience and intellect.

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When we go on vacation, however, we’re no longer in an environment where we can perceive and preempt risks as they happen. We’re in unfamiliar territory and we need to master the precarious balancing act between staying vigilant and learning and adapting to our new surroundings. That shouldn’t put parents off travelling with kids. Far from it! Travel is a wonderfully edifying experience that keeps us humble and inspires a love of new experiences and adventures, and the sooner your kids are exposed to other places, people and cultures, the more broadminded and adventurous they’ll be as adults. That said, we have a responsibility to keep our children safe in exotic locales. Whether it’s an international cruise or a good old fashioned family road trip, here are some tips to help you do just that…

Before you go…

If you’ll be travelling abroad, it’s important to ensure that your kids are up to date on their vaccinations. They will be entering a different ecosystem in which they’ll be exposed to different viruses and bacteria to which they will not have had the chance to build an immunity on their own like polio or typhoid. Thus, before you go away, check with your doctor which immunizations or boosters they may need for your chosen destination. Needless to say, you should check what vaccinations you and your partner need too!

You should also carry out a risk assessment, so that you’re mentally and psychologically prepared to what threats to your children’s safety you may encounter. Looking up the infant mortality rate of your chosen destination is a good indicator of what you will need to remain vigilant against, Different countries have different attitudes and legislation as well as different infectious diseases. Some countries have distressingly lax attitudes towards road safety and you won’t have access to a drunk driving accident attorney in your new destination. You shouldn’t go into your vacation seeing doom and gloom around every corner, but you owe it to your kids to know the inherent risks.

In transit

Whether you’re travelling by plane, train or automobile, you’ve got to make sure your kids are as safe as possible. If you’re renting a car to travel, be sure to do so from a reputable company as they will have greater safety provision than a smaller local outfit. You should also bring your own travel seat for children who need one. Keep them buckled up but plan regular stops for them to stretch their legs. If you’re travelling by air, remember that air travel can be very distressing for young children. Talk them through the safety and security checks they’ll go through before you arrive at the airport so that the experience doesn’t get too overwhelming for them. It’s also advisable not to seat your kids in an aisle seat. Bored kids tend to get wandering hands which could easily catch on a passing service trolley or fellow passenger’s luggage.

Guard against separation

Even when parents are ever vigilant, kids can slip away and become separated from their parents in a crowded place. While this is a scenario that is every parent’s worst nightmare, it needn’t be disastrous. Make sure that you have a picture of each individual child on your phone or somewhere about your person. This will help authorities or local passers by to identify your child. Some parents get their kids to memorize their cell phone numbers or write them on their arms in sharpie so that it won’t wash off easily. This not only helps authorities or well meaning locals to reunite them with their kids quickly, this easy identification also discourages kidnappers or predators.

A more incognito solution might be to give each of your children a belt pack which can be worn beneath their clothing. In the pack they put the child’s medical information as well as their own contact details.

When travelling on foot through busy and unfamiliar areas, make sure that you hold hands with kids or keep some form of physical contact. You should also use the “adult sandwich” technique, where kids are flanked by adults to reduce their chances of wandering off. It’s also a good idea to pack brightly colored tops to help you to identify your kids quickly should you become separated. You should also make sure that your kids know and remember what you’re wearing to help them to identify you quickly and easily if you are separated.

You should also arrange meeting points with your kids wherever you go in the event that you get separated from them. 

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In the hotel

Hotels are fun and exciting for all of us, but especially for kids. Nonetheless, it’s important for them to conduct themselves in a safe way. Make sure that they don’t leave the room without you, nor should you leave them in the hotel room alone. It’s also a good idea to child proof your hotel room if you’re travelling with a toddler (duct tape is great for covering up electrical cables and such). Make sure that your medications, vitamins and the like are stored somewhere out of their reach, just like at home.

With just a little vigilance and planning, you can ensure that you and your kids have a safe and fun vacation.

Gaining Weight At Leatherby's Family Creamery, Sacramento

WASTING NO TIME... .

The very next morning after our morning pancake breakfast, we went to Macy!  NO time to be wasted when it comes to shopping.  Spent a couple of hours there, time really flies when it comes to browsing and trying on endless of ladies' attire! 

As for Aaron, he went sight seeing around town and came to meet us at Macy around noon.  He loves shopping too though he ended up buying nothing at all while us ladies got a couple of dresses each.  Soon it was time for the long awaiting dessert which I miss very much while back in Malaysia.  Weather was quite warm and the thought of an enormous ice cream is very welcoming indeed!

Finally.... his wish came true! 

Daddy's Doug.... the biggest ever found in Leatherby's!

We ordered some Chicken Sandwich too with sweet potato fries...

And their famous Crab Sandwich....

Generous servings of Fresh crabmeat!

Gaining Weight time has just begun!!

Picking Up At Sacramento Valley Station

WITH THE FIFTEEN HOURS DIFFERENCE IN TIME, I managed to catch 4 hours of sleep on the first night in Sacramento.  Slept at 1am and woke up around 5am like a wide eye eagle and slept again in the afternoon for more than two hours before my body get adjusted to the time difference here. 

On the very next evening, we went downtown to the train station to fetch Aaron! 

His train supposed to reach around 8pm but was delayed for half an hour... 

And to pass away the time, I walked around the station which was practically empty... 

He arrived safely lugging two luggage....

Time to go for dinner after that.... 

We went for Vietnamese food cos it was still opened around 9pm...

Started on appetizers....

And these too...

Someone wants to cool down...

This was served... I like lots of basil leaves and lime....

We ordered their special...combination of this and that....

The Large size ... cost around $8.50 

The five diners...

I Am Back Again!

LANDED SAFELY..... PRAISE THE LORD!

Here I am, back to the Land of Plenty!  Planned my trip since December last year, tickets were cheaper then, this time I used EVA airlines, it cost RM3,179 return ticket.  First time trying out EVA, it was the cheapest compared to SQ, Cathay, Emirates except for China airlines.

It has been exactly one year since my last visit.... really time flies.  However this time my stay will not be as long as the previous year cos I miss Malaysia... LOL...

Started my journey from Ipoh to KLIA, 3 hours drive... waited three hours at the airport before landing in Taipei after 5 hours flight.  Connecting flight was three hours in between and boarded the plane at 11.30pm and reached here after 11 hours of smooth flying.  Food was pretty good on EVA, I took spaghetti with fish for dinner, porridge with minced meat and taro for breakfast which I managed to finish them all, to my surprise.

Landed in San Francisco at around 9pm, went through immigration smoothly and reached Sacramento around midnight.... slept for four hours and now I am up and actively running about!  Too excited?  LOL..

Lunch At Old Town, Cendol In Bercham

FOOD TRAIL WITH MY FRIENDS...

I anticipated anxiously when my friends come calling and paying a visit to Ipoh... Where to go, what to eat is secondary, we always play by ear at the moment of time when we see each other.  Better not to plan than planning, we know our likes and dislikes by now. 

Ipoh no doubt has a lot to offer when it comes to food, however, taste buds always change every now and then.  Food aside, we enjoy each other's company, catching up with one another and talking anything under the sun is more fun...

Even queuing under the sun for a bowl of Cendol receives no complaints from us....

Alright, we were not exactly under the sun but under the shade.... 

Someone was lining up for us instead... LOL... 

Worth waiting 20 minutes or so.... 

And our quenching time starts.... 

Had our lunch at Koh Kee in Old Town, Ipoh.... 

Steamed fish belly... .

Old style of steaming.... with lots of ginger and garlic...

Sambal Watercress...

Steamed three types of eggs...

Dishes for the four of us.... 

Bill came to around RM50 plus... not sure exactly how much... 

Walked around a bit in old town which is now a famous ground for tourists...

Yes, we were more or less tourists on this day!

Amazon Echo: A Product of the Future

Discovering Amazon Echo bargains got a ton more straightforward. You can save money on something other than the first Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot now that the organization declared a swathe of new gadgets, and updates for its current models. The first of these new models to be discharged, the Amazon Echo Show is the primary Amazon Echo gadget to incorporate a screen. Amazon at that point caught up with a recently overhauled Amazon Echo and the all-new Amazon Echo Plus. Some way or another, after every one of those new models it wasn't sufficient. Soon after another screen-prepared gadget, the Amazon Echo Spot, hit Amazon store racks. With all these new Amazon gadgets available, how would you know you're getting the correct one, and regardless of whether you've discovered the correct one, how would you know you've discovered the best arrangement? We've scoured the web for all the best Amazon Echo bargains, so you can join the voice colleague unrest as efficiently and as effectively as could be expected under the circumstances. In that capacity, read on for the least expensive spots to purchase an Amazon Echo.

Echo Variants

The Amazon Echo is the standard variant of the speaker, and is the second era of the gadget. This new form is somewhat shorter than the first, yet it’s got an overhauled speaker fueled by some slick Dolby handling. Find some really awe striking Amazon coupons for Amazon speakers.

 The Amazon Echo Dot is the littler of the two speakers. It figures out how to spare this space by including a substantially littler speaker, which thus offers a considerably weaker sound. Fortunately in the event that you need to do some genuine music listening at that point you're ready to connect the Echo Dot to an outside speaker utilizing its 3.5mm jack. It's additionally significantly less expensive than the first Echo, implying that it's an awesome method for economically getting Alexa into your home, or maybe adding a moment speaker to your setup.

The Amazon Echo Plus, as its name infers, is the greater and better form of the Amazon Echo for 2017. It's really comparable in size to the first Amazon Echo, however alongside its second era it looks a ton taller.

Speakers to buy…

The contrast between the Plus and the Echo is the incorporation of marginally better speakers on the Plus, and also a shrewd home center that hypothetically expels the requirement for different centers to be connected to your switch to get distinctive keen home gadgets working.

Bak Kut Teh On A Cooling Evening In Ipoh

A MEATY DINNER ONE EVENING...

It was a cooling evening in Ipoh and the best time to go for a hot and soupy herbal soup called Bak Kut Teh.  The most convenient place for me to go is in town, Jalan Chung Ah Ming, shop name is Sun Tong Chew along Ave Maria school.  Do not go during school dismissal time around 6pm to 7pm... anytime after 7pm will be good. 

Tables will be along the five foot way by then... but of course, I rather go into the shop... On this particular evening, the place was pretty crowded and eventually leaving no choice, both of us have to share the table with two others. 

But by the time we were going to finish our dinner, there were empty tables available... 

Started off with these as appetizers.... 

Followed by hot piping soup with ribs...

We opted for soft meat ribs...

A small size claypot for two... and soup can be replenished anytime... 

Plate of lettuce to go with the Bak Kut Teh.... 

A very satisfying dinner for us... 

Cost around RM37 or so...
Not too bad... 

Will come back some day ...

When the night is cooling again!

Pandan Pancake At Pengkalan 66

YAY!! BACK IN IPOH!!!

Back to "attack" Ipoh food which I have missed for more than nearly two weeks!  LOL...  Okay, slowly does it.  First of all, let me show these photos I have taken in a food court called Pengkalan 66 in Shatin Park. 

This is called Apom Balik in Malay, peanut pancake in English and "Tai Kau Meen" in Cantonese.  I have been eating this and it has been one of my childhood favourite dessert!  Those days it was sold at 10 sen for a piece, 20 cents for 3 pieces and now 40 years later, it cost RM1.20 per piece.  Not surprising since so I am now in my fifties and not a kid anymore.  :)

This is the first time buying from this stall at the food court...

Caught him in action doing a new piece of Pandan Pancake....

This type of pancake must be eaten when it is freshly done...

Once cold, it can be quite chewy... and it won't be as good.... 

Nice timing.... the pancake was just taken out from the hot pan....

And the action begins.... 

Butter it nice and rich....

Then flood it with lots of peanuts on one side....

And he began to cut it up piece by piece... 

I was already salivating by then... hahahahaa...

Just look at that!

Overflowing with peanuts!

Yes, I ate these up.... fresh and hot!

The Road To Recovery: Essential Advice For Patients Leaving The Hospital

If you’ve been in the hospital, you’ve probably been looking forward to the day when you can return home. Heading home after a stay in the hospital can be hugely exciting, but it can also be daunting. When you’re in a clinic, there’s a dedicated team of individuals there to care for you, and leaving this security blanket behind can be a scary prospect. If you’re on the road to recovery, here’s some essential advice to bear in mind. 

Picture credit https://pixabay.com/en/patient-care-white-male-3d-model-1874747/

Follow your doctor’s advice

The most important commandment for those in recovery is follow your doctor’s advice. You may have ambitions to get back to normal life as quickly as possible, but if you’ve been told to rest, make sure this is what you do. Bear in mind that your care team has experience and knowledge and remember that they want the best for you. The last thing you want is to jeopardize your health or the speed of your recovery by trying to do too much, too soon or by neglecting to take medication or use specific remedies that have been recommended to you. Make sure you attend follow-up appointments and don’t hesitate to contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Bear safety considerations in mind

If you’ve been in the hospital, you may be coming home with prescription medication or products or treatments that could potentially cause harm if they get into the wrong hands. If you’ve got children or pets at home, and you don’t have the kind of newfangled automated dispensing systems they have in the hospital, make sure you keep your drugs under lock and key. It’s also worth bearing in mind that your safety may be compromised if you’re struggling with your mobility or your balance. If you’ve had an operation, for example, and you’re unsteady on your feet, you may find it easier to sleep downstairs until you recover fully to reduce the risk of stumbling on the stairs. It may also be helpful to use a frame to give you support when you’re walking.

Take each day as it comes

If you’ve been ill or you’ve been in the hospital for a procedure, you may be raring to go when you eventually get home. Try and resist the temptation to rush, try not to get frustrated if things don’t go back to normal as quickly as you hoped, and take every day as it comes. It’s better to spend time making a full recovery than to delay your progress because you’re pushing yourself and putting pressure on your body to bounce back faster than it’s able to.

If you’ve been in the hospital, you’ve probably been counting down the days until you can go home. Being at home may make you feel more comfortable, but the road to recovery is not always smooth. Take your time, bear your safety and that of others in the house in mind, and make sure you listen to your care team and follow your doctor’s advice at all times.

The Sensible Guide to Managing Your Health After You Retire

People are living longer and longer these days. That means many are retiring later too, and it also means that many people are experiencing more health problems. The longer you live, the more likely you may be to develop certain illnesses, from cancer to dementia. Looking after your health in your retirement is important. It's a time in your life when you should be able to relax and enjoy your well-earned reward from working for years. But if you're worrying about your health, and your healthcare costs, you might not be able to enjoy your retirement as much as you want to. You need to manage your health so that you can make your retirement as good as it can be.

Think About How to Spend Your Retirement

Before you start specifically planning to manage your health during your retirement, it's worth just giving some thought to how you want to spend your time. A lot of people are excited about finally not having to work, but once retirement arrives, they don't know what to do with themselves. Not having work to keep you occupied can mean you get bored and restless, and then you get miserable. You might end up bothering your friends and family all the time, just for something to do. For many, life still needs to have some kind of purpose. But if it's not work, what is it?

There are all kinds of ways you might spend your retirement. Some people even go back to work part-time or start a small business to help them stay busy. You might choose to travel, volunteer, or just find a few fun social activities to join in with. Maybe you want to spend more time with your children or grandchildren, or with your friends. You could set some goals for your retirement so that you know how you're going to spend it.

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Explore Your Insurance Options

One of the most important matters relating to your health is your insurance coverage. When you're not working, you're not going to have insurance from your employer. Medicare is there to cover your medical expenses during retirement, but the primary A and B parts don't cover everything. Some things are left out, such as vision care, dental care and prescription drugs. If you want to make sure you have further coverage, you should look at supplement insurance, which is designed to top up your Medicare. There are a number of different plans to choose from, and you'll have a choice of providers too. Each provider delivers the same cover under the different plans. Depending on the plan you choose, you can ensure you're covered for things like deductibles, co-pays and medical costs when you're traveling abroad.

Manage Your Finances to Meet Healthcare Expenses

Your insurance should help you to meet healthcare costs, particularly those that you would be unable to pay out of pocket. However, you'll still have some expenses to cover, especially if you decide to use a supplementary private insurance plan to top up your Medicare. Being sensible with your finances is vital if you want to make sure you can cover any medical expenses you might have. Even if it's a small amount for a doctor's appointment or a little to refill your prescription, it can all add up. You need to make any medical costs a priority.

It's also worth thinking about later in your retirement when your health might start to decline. In addition to healthcare, you might need extra care to help you complete everyday tasks. It might be necessary to move to an assisted living facility or nursing home or to have someone take care of you at home. It's important to think about the costs of these things before it could be too late.

Sourced from Pixabay

Manage Your Health Records

Having control over your health records is something that many people want. You should feel that you're able to see your health records when you want to, and they're not some secret thing that doctors are hiding from you. They can be very helpful in a variety of situations, from joining a new doctor to travelling abroad. It's especially useful to be able to access your health records when you want if you're travelling, whether it's at home or you're exploring the world. An easy way to have good access to your medical records at any time is to view them online. You can use a secure system that allows you to view and manage your records, so there's no need to wait for them to be sent to a doctor or to you. It's also a good idea to have a paper copy of some important notes.

Staying Active

Staying active during retirement is a crucial part of staying healthy. It's not always easy, and it's tempting to take the notion of slowing down during retirement a bit too seriously. While you've got much more time to relax, you don't want to relax too much. Even if you have issues that might reduce your mobility, trying to be as active as possible can help to prevent your mobility from deteriorating further. Daily walks can help with balance and strength and are an achievable form of exercise for many people. Of course, there are many other ways you can get active in your retirement if you're able. You might enjoy hiking, cycling, swimming, aerobics or even dancing. It can be a great way to stay social and make sure you have friends during your retirement.

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Maintaining a Healthy Diet

Your diet is important during your retirement too. You might decide to treat yourself more during your later years, but if you want to have a healthy life still ahead of you, you should make sure you watch what you're eating and drinking. A healthy diet can be combined with regular exercise to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. As you get older, you might want to change your diet to boost your health. For example, vitamin D and calcium can help to prevent bone loss, particularly for women, who are more at risk of osteoporosis. If you're not sure if you're getting enough, you can ask your doctor. They can recommend foods to try and might suggest a supplement.

Staying Social for Good Mental Health

It's not just your physical health that's important during your retirement. Your mental and emotional health matter too. Issues like depression and anxiety are fairly common among older adults, but steps can be taken to help prevent them or make them easier to deal with. One of the most important things for older adults is to remain social and prevent isolation. Loneliness is a huge problem among older people. The first thing you can do, particularly while you're still healthy and active, is to be proactive and find ways to socialize with others.

Sourced from Pixabay

When you retire, you might start to reconnect with friends who are retiring at the same time. However, you could also discover that you don't have much of a social life or even many friends. It's the perfect time to start making some new friends by finding social groups or community groups to join, or perhaps finding somewhere to volunteer. You can use websites like meetup.com to find people who share your interests. Although you might want to see your family all the time, it's important to remember that they have their own lives. Forming your own social networks means you're not completely reliant on your family for social contact.

If you reach a point where it might be difficult for you to leave your home, there are still ways that you can find opportunities to socialize. At this point, you might become a little more reliant on your family to visit or call you. However, remember that there are other ways to stay in contact with people. Some charities and community groups can pick you up for outings or can pair you up with a buddy who can visit or phone you. The internet and phones are both there to make it possible to communicate with people without leaving your home. You can call your friends and join online forums and groups to stay connected to people.

What If You Can No Longer Make Your Own Decisions?

For many people, there is a time in their lives when they are unable to make medical decisions for themselves. This might be due to a condition such as dementia, or it could be due to being unconscious for one reason or another. The question is, if you can't make decisions for yourself, who can make them for you? One option is that you can make decisions for yourself in advance. You can create a living will (advance directive) that sets out your wishes for treatment and care so that you can ensure you get what you want, even if you can't ask for it in the future. You can also consider thinking about appointing a healthcare power of attorney (HCPA), who will make decisions on your behalf. You can choose a person you trust, and you can revoke the privilege whenever you want to.

Your retirement should be an enjoyable time. Make sure you can make the most of it by doing your best to live a healthy lifestyle.

Ramen And Rice Roundup In Osaka

JUST ON FOOD.... JAPANESE FOOD...

I told my friends that when I reach Malaysia, I will not take Japanese food for a long long time... LOL... Yes, almost each day it is Ramen and Rice, Ramen and Rice... with the same taste of soup.  I was yearning for some Chinese food by then.  LOL... But I must really compliment their rice texture, they are really fragrant and "chewy"... Even though I bought a packet of Japanese rice before in the mall back home, the texture is still different, not as nice as what I have tasted here in Japan itself. 

Here are some food pictures I took during our three days stay in Osaka...

Ramen... Ramen... 

Ramen.. Ramen....

Ramen ... Ramen....

Ramen.. Oh Ramen.... 

Ramen in dry style.... 

Hahh... for once Fried Chicken!!  Yes, this is a side order... a welcoming sight!

Very nice too!

The one in red is Tomato Ramen.... that is my order.... 

A meal for one person!  

Ramen and Rice two in one.... 

On another day, we had this.... 

Yes, it comes with a bowl of rice....around 700-800 yen...

And this is curry egg rice.... 

This is mine... Shrimp with egg rice....

And on another day... the last night before we left, we went to Osaka Ohsho...

Heard there is a branch in Singapore too!

For me, it is fried rice... chewy fried rice... 

Side orders.... Fried Dumplings

Claypot Japanese beancurd...

Rice wrapped with Egg.... nicely done!

And I love this... Unagi with Fried Rice... 

For six persons, averagely one meal cost around 5000 yen... (RM200 plus minus)

That ends my Japan trip and all... 

Next destination.... 

???