Category Archives: Everyday Life

Amverton Heritage Resort Melaka – an escapade for exhausted parents

Posted in Good Things, Leisure & Travel, Reviews by

The room, food and activities are nice for exhausted parents with energetic children. I booked a room with two single beds on Agoda. Com. Total was RM 442.45 including tax and fee for a 3D2N stay. This time I did not include breakfast. I wanted to see whether the menu is nice. If not, we will have our meal nearby. This resort is located at Ayer Keroh. Thus, near a few main attractions and MITC of course. That is where the food is. However, we did get 2 free waterpark tickets (priced at RM15/each). I bought an additional 2 tickets.

We checked in on Friday just after our Rejab Iftar at Mi Tarik Lanzhou. Mr. Husband brought his inflatable mattress. We pushed the single bed next to each other, giving enough room for the Queen-sized mattress. There were the usual expected amenities: FREE WIFI (with a very long password), a mini fridge, an iron with a board, and a TV. Plus points, a bathtub, and room service! Although we do not need it, the idea of it being available made me happy.

Even chilling at the lobby is nice. The breeze, the ambience is just relaxing and cooling.

In-house breakfast started at 7am. The price was RM30 for adults and RM20 for children. The options were satisfactory. They had bread but not other forms of pastry. The bihun and curry were delicious. There’s nasi lemak, lontong, congee etc. I loved that they provided mugs for our hot beverages and not those tiny cups. That is the way to go! Mr Husband had a meeting that morning at a nearby hotel, so I didn’t bring the kids for a swim due to safety reasons. I worry that I won’t be able to keep an eye on both. But we did play at the playground and the kids’ zone. The entry bracelet could be worn for both days we were there. In other words, you can enter and exit the park no matter how many times you like, as long as you wear the bracelet. We went to the waterpark later in the evening once Mr Husband came back from his meeting. The employees even use the stapler to make it easy to remove and fasten again.

Our humble breakfast buffet.
After breakfast, I brought them to the playground near the waterpark. For Vitamin D.
There’s also an indoor playground – the Kids Zone. With a mini library and lots of little tables for self-activity.
There’s also a little sand area where kids can build sandcastles and stuff. There were lots of slides too. My daughter tried the ‘tall’ one. That one is only for kids between 6 to 10 years old.

That’s why I believe this is an excellent spot for tired parents. Personally, I don’t have the stamina to spend over four hours at a water park just to get my money’s worth. But at Amverton, we could enjoy an hour of water play, take a break for a meal and a nap, and then head back in the evening for another session. Later, we’d pause for dinner and even continue the water park fun the next day until checkout. It’s perfect for parents to sneak in some much-needed rest between activities. I believe the adults would enjoy the swim at the huge pool just beside the mini water park. I’ll do that with Haneem once she’s a bit older. Amverton is also lenient with swimwear. I love that we can wear T-shirts instead of a burkini.

The normal swimming pool roughly 4ft over here and the waterpark just beside it.

We used GRAB for our lunch and dinner. There’s an in-house restaurant and cafe where you can have your meal. I might consider that during our future visits. Yes, we love this place so much that we’re thinking of making it our getaway place at times when we feel that we need to go to a kiddie-themed waterpark.

Housemanship in Kuching

Posted in Everyday Life, Medicine/Health by

I was scrolling Threads today and came across a post from a medical student, asking where would be the best place to do housemanship. Since I’ve only been in Hospital Umum Sarawak (HUS), my answer was obviously Kuching. Personally, I think Kuching is a great place for a Malay from Semenanjung to work because, despite the cultural shock bound to happen, it should be less intense if you’ve been born and bred in Semenanjung for a while. My husband was from Melaka and he did very well in his housemanship. I ended up marrying him and following him to Melaka. Ha ha ha.

If you are a Malay, working in HUS will force you to learn and adjust on how to work with bosses and seniors who are majority, non-Malay. We do not have as many Sarawakians to cover the whole state in the healthcare industry, especially in the medical role of doctors. The vibe is different. The language you use with the patients is also different. Your interaction with your colleagues would also be enriched as you struggle together to get the job done. Is the workplace environment toxic? If toxic is defined as your welfare not being taken off. The answer is a definite yes. In fact, no matter which hospital you go to, toxicity is part of the training. Like it or not it happens. Mind you, I do not condone bullying or ‘during my time’ gloating sort of thing, but it is inevitable.

However, it is what you get out of the housemanship period

  • the empathy towards our fellow Malaysians upon realising that we still have a long way to go in empowering healthcare literacy among patients and the community as a whole
  • Malay supremacy means nothing in this part of the state
  • racism exists but tolerance is a must to live in harmony. Raya, Christmas, Gawai and Chinese New Year is so meriah here. Deepavali not so much because there’s not many Indians but it is still celebrated by them on a smaller scale.
  • housemanship is hard everywhere but being in Kuching gives you that unique experience when it comes to the people and the natural beauty of the state. Do visit it’s local islands, caves etc. As for the people, they are the true embodiment of Bangsa Sarawak. You couldn’t tell if they were Iban ka, Malay ka,or Melanau ka. It kind of reminds you of Indonesia. They talk in the same language and turns out to be of Chinese ethnicity and all. The only difference is we are not compelled to have Indonesian names like they do in Indonesia. So you could still guess their ethnicity. And did I tell you Sarawakians talk so soft and gentle? They have a beautiful rhythm to their speech.
  • if you’re Muslim, you would InsyaAllah become a better Muslim as you would be creative in thinking how, when and where to perform your prayers. Be extra vigilant in choosing places to eat or cooking your own stuff. Cause honestly the nasi paprik I bought in Kuching tasted weird. Halal eateries are easily available in certain areas only. Otherwise, you would need to check with the local website. Ha ha. But the local dishes are to die for.

What if you are a non-Malay or non-Bumi? I would recommend Kelantan. Don’t worry. You wouldn’t be Islam tiba-tiba. Somehow I think the locals would adore you and want to give you their best hospitality. That is what I THINK. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE IN EVERY WORD OF IT. The dialect will be challenging but just like in Kuching, it is nice to see everyone of all ethnics talking in Kelantan. I am saying this because I used to have a Chinese colleague coming from Kelantan. Talking to him in Malay with a tinge of Kelantan accent sounds so cute. He could speak Chinese too.

Housemanship is intense. You will feel stupid. Your feet will swell. You will feel that you want to quit or die. But just hang on. Pray. Doa. The hardship will pass and you will reminisce on the good times. Entah2 jumpa pasangan hidup. Macam tu lah.

My 25th subscriber

Posted in Good Things by

My daughter was very excited when she discovered my YouTube channel. It was a channel I set up quietly to build up my skills using the camera function on my phone. I think she loved seeing her face in the videos rather than anything. She became my 25th subscriber.

She also asked me to make more videos for 2025. I will think about it. Until I get my FYP results for psychology, my mind is not really resting.

Presentations and group work at KPPN

Posted in Parenting, Family and Relationships by

I realised that at KPPN, Ee’s learning methods hugely adopt the use of digital technology and presentations. Laptops are super useful. My husband bought him a Dell that is useful for coding works considering that Ee is in the Digital Innovator Programme (DIP). The subjects are slightly different from the Pure Science Programme. Printers are nice to have. Ee does not have a printer but Ee has his A4 papers. So if he needs to print something, he will use his dorm-mates printer and pay him based on what they agree on (for using ink).

Ee has been exploring how to use Canva and other website-building tools. I’ve noticed his vocabulary improving through his WhatsApp conversations with friends, especially during group work discussions. During the last school break, he asked for my help in shooting a video for their group presentation. He already had a clear idea, and I simply assisted with the execution. Ee explained that he needed to create the video first as an example or template for his team members. He was also supporting his friend, the team leader, who is naturally a bit quieter. Interestingly, the tutor intentionally selected quieter students as leaders this time, so Ee stepped in to lend a hand. He’s also learning to navigate disputes among team members—a tricky skill, but I’m letting him figure it out on his own. It’s all part of the learning process.

It’s the exam season at the moment. His last paper is next Monday. I hope he has been keeping up with his studies. He only has himself and his friends to remain disciplined in his studies. It’s easy for a 13-year-old to be enticed by the freedom to do whatever they want such as gaming or watching movies, considering they have access to laptops and internet access. I cannot wait to see him for the upcoming end-of-year school holidays.

Me helping him to shoot his video in our backyard

Finding Joy in Simplicity

Posted in Good Things, Ponderings & Personal Development by

Whenever you reach a stage in your life where money can buy you anything your heart desires, learn to live below your means. So that you will be able to appreciate life and experience happiness in the simplest things.

A few months ago, I had a realization: choosing to spend money lavishly (which I don’t necessarily do) might lead to a lifelong cycle of chasing dopamine highs. For instance, if dining at Secret Recipe becomes just an ordinary meal, the urge to seek out even more upscale restaurants arises when celebrating or wanting a more special experience. Many people my age likely remember a time when KFC was considered a luxury, a treat for special occasions. These days, for most, KFC is simply a convenient way to fill their stomachs, disconnected from the joy of shared moments with loved ones. It’s no longer the rare indulgence or meaningful family experience it once was.

This cycle of seeking greater thrills or pleasure can also explain why some individuals turn to drugs. When everyday activities lose their charm and no longer bring happiness, people may resort to extreme measures to feel something. Or anything. Much like how the joy of simple treats like KFC fades when they become routine, the fulfilment from ordinary joys diminishes, driving some to pursue more intense experiences. Over time, this pursuit can rob them of the ability to find joy in the simple, meaningful aspects of life.

Thus, I’ve made a conscious effort to simplify my lifestyle. I’ve toned down on online shopping, resisting the urge to constantly seek excitement through new purchases. Instead, I’ve focused on cooking more at home, rediscovering the joy and satisfaction of preparing meals for myself and my family. These small but intentional changes have not only helped me save money but also brought a sense of fulfilment that no extravagant splurge could replace. It’s a reminder that happiness often lies in the simple, deliberate moments we create for ourselves.