37th SSEAYP 2010 - Cupcakes & Steamboat

Day 21 - 14 November 2010

Our host family had earlier informed us that the prayers at the mosque opposite our house might wake us up early in the morning. I was so soundly asleep that I didn't notice.

It was amazing to see a grape tree bearing fruit in a tropical country!

Our house

The mosque opposite our house

We had breakfast at a nearby community market.

I find the community market concept very interesting. In the morning, vendors set up their stalls (usually their lorries/vans). In the afternoon, they pack up and leave behind a community space which could be utilised for various activities.

Amalia and Aida helping us get breakfast

With my Mee Rebus (sedap sedap!)

Teh Tarik

Kakak bought some leaves to make Ketupat, and taught Hung and myself how to make one.

This Ketupat would be placed beside my bed on Fuji Maru throughout the journey

As it was Sunday, there were many activities going on.

Silat practice

For illegal immigrants to report themselves

Oops!

On the way back, we saw the school which Kakak is teaching at.

In preparation for a potluck gathering later in the day, we made some cupcakes.

H for Hung

Smiley with a hat

A for SG-A

YK!

YK?

Paw print & 心 (Chinese for heart)

Heart

YK

We then went to Tesco so that Hung could post out a letter.

This school lies on the border between Selangor & KL

For lunch, it was a potluck gathering with Abang's university friends. Abang received education in Australia and managed to establish contact with his schoolmates via facebook. 

Too beautiful for eating?

The irresistible Kway Teow

Kakak's dish

Chendol

A heavy rain disrupted the TV network.

Long time since I enjoyed some cartoons

In the evening, we went to a Thai steamboat restaurant where Kakak and her fellow teacher colleagues have a year-end retreat.

37th SSEAYP 2010 - Homestay with the Sahlan Family

Day 20 - 13 November 2010

Mortal revealed her true birthday to me.

After breakfast, we took our homestay luggage to the Pacific Hall and had our briefing by the Administrative staff on homestay matters.

By Solidarity Groups (SG), we left Fuji Maru for our Welcome Luncheon & Homestay Matching Programme. According to the programme booklet, we were supposed to meet Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib but we were informed that he could not attend the ceremony. Instead, the Guest-of-Honour would be Deputy Minister for Youth & Sports, Senator Tuan Gan Ping Sieu.

Once we reached the hotel ballroom, I met my host sister and her friend. Heard they had been waiting for us for about two hours!

Host sister Amalia & her friend Syaz

There was cultural performance by local dancers. Malaysia Participating Youths (MaPYs) also performed a segment of their national presentation.

Speech by Administrator Kaori Shiojima

Speech by Japan Ambassador to Malaysia

Speech by Senator Tuan Gan Ping Sieu

Gift Exchange

Gift Exchange with Singapore Contingent

Gift Exchange with Vietnam Contingent

And then we had lunch!

Host Father Mr Sahlan and Host Mother Fauziah came by to fetch us home in their MPV.

Hung (Vietnam), Aida, Syaz, myself, and Amalia

Celebrities doing filming

We headed to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre to try our luck if we could secure tickets to the Twin Tower. We couldn't :(.

On the way back home, we stopped by MacDonald's to have some food.

We stayed in a 2-storey house at Ampang, Selangor. Host Mother thought calling her "Ibu" would make her sound so old, so we called her "Kakak" instead.

As the family had already made plans to attend a cruise dinner and couldn't secure tickets for Hung and myself, I took Hung to explore Kuala Lumpur. The host family was kind enough to hand us the house keys. 

KL Monorail

We walked around Bukit Bintang Plaza and Sungei Wang.

Welcome to the Dark Side! (Telco publicity)

For dinner, we had Fried Kway Teow at the roadside hawker stall. This same vendor had been here for so many years! The uniqueness of the dish is that it is black! Guess some soot makes the food taste better!

Lok-Lok

Trying out Lok-Lok

We reached home at about 11pm and used Facebook to connect with our families. I remember turning in at close to 2am, when everyone else had already slept. Thank Hung for letting me have the bed :)