During my primary school years, I was *cough* quite smart and won a lot of quizzes, competitions and I even played hockey and netball. For final exams  (except Darjah 2, I got number 9) I was a top scorer yang dapat no 1,2 atau 3 every year. 

Agak dasyat gak bila aku fikir-fikir balik. Sungguh bijak aku masa kecik tapi kenapa bila dah besar ni sungguh mangkuk hayun tingkat sekali? Like the bigger I get the more bimbo I become!  Ughhh…

Anyway, everytime I won competitions etc, the prize  that I got was Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka book store vouchers which I appreciated so very much. Me in a bookstore was just like a starving Somalian kid in Famous Amos. Tapi rupa aku memang ada macam budak Somalia pun! Huwaghhhh…

I remember when my kid sister and I was really small, we look forward to annual Pesta Buku Pulau Pinang, that if I am not mistaken held in Dewan Sri Pinang in December during the school holidays. 

I still remember vividly once, I cried buckets in the car because for some reason we couldnt go to the fair and on many other times, my sister and I bought more books than we could carry. Sweet childhood memories with Shanaz and my mom and dad….

Now, although I am older and reading more blogs than books compared to before, I am still addicted to books, book fairs, the sight of books even the smell of books. That’s why I was so tergedik-gedik to go to Big Bad Wolf Book Sale 2011 that is being held in MAEPS Serdang. They claim to be the biggest book sale in the world, I am not so sure about that but I sure did enjoy myself weeeee~~~~

I wanted to guling-guling on the mountains of fictions, swim in ocean of memoirs and biographies and lompat katak among the piles of cook books! Syoknyeeee…Even Miki was rambang mata but being prudent, we only bought these for our tiny library at home:-

I didn’t purchase any novels at all (can you believe that?) for I have several at home still unread. Those Campbell’s, Kraft Philadelphia, Jello and Hershey’s cans do not contain food but recipe cards that are so darn cute! So those cans are actually cookbooks ya.. I like! I like! God gimme the power and strength to try out the recipes ya! haha.. That Jamie Oliver’s was only RM25 *faints*

Looks like Miki and I have new books to read tonight. Happy reading everyone.

They say what you read becomes you! So adakah aku akan menjadi Jamie Oliver selepas ini? Atau jadi tin sup Cambell’s saja? *pengsan*

Anyway on Saturday we went to a kenduri in Salak Tinggi and since we were already there, we thought why not go to Nilai 3 to get a bicycle for Miki. We bought one for RM180 only and  I think it is just too cute, I will write about it in my next entry. Nilai 3 is a very interesting place, we were driving around when I saw AVALON  having a Cheap Sale.

FYI despite shopping for many lights in IKEA and here, we still have two walls in the house bare waiting for wall lights to be installed. So kesian we have been staying in this house for more than one year already but everytime I check out lights shop, most of  what they have are crystal ones like these :-

Crystal chandelier

I am not saying that they are not pretty but my taste slants more towards these kind :-

Classic lamps. White chandelier in the middle is sooooo cute!

This time around I was not looking for a chandelier but wall lights and AVALON finally have some that I really like.  AVALON’s pricing however is not very affordable!  Agak mahal berbanding kedai aku pergi dulu kat Puchong although they sure have many varieties to choose from sampai juling bijik mata.

Classic wall lights/lamps. Rambang mata!

Although the one that I wanted was quite costly, I thought we have left the wall so bare for so long, WOULD YOU JUST BUY ONE ALREADY, YOU KEDEKUT TAIK IDUNG MASIN YOU! So we did and I am sooooo happyyyy! Another  cool thing about all our home improvement projects is the fact that my darling Mr Handyman will fix it himself and that feels so satisfying and sexy. My beau Azman does gardening, plumbing, painting, carpentry, fixing broken stuff etc etc…all except cooking! That’s what I call a real man! :p

But this time, fixing the wrought iron wall lamp is a bit tricky because it takes two people to do it and Miki is too short to reach that high. Since Miki is a kid, Kokades is a rabbit, pandang kiri, pandang kanan takde sapa lagi dah nak jadi helper but me!? Gulp! 

So I had to help him..susah woooo…. lenguh ketiak tolong pegang lampu tu while Azman did the wiring thingy. And then when it came to screwing the wrought iron to its wall fixture, I am proud to say that I was the one who worked the screw driver around the narrow space between the wall and the iron. Azman had difficulties doing it because his fingers are huge. My dainty princess’ fingers however are so perfect for the job. I have never felt so talented in my whole life! heeeeee….

First drill holes to fix the lamp securely.. Baju tak pakai takpe, gloves kena pakai nanti tangan kasar LOL

Then hang the wrought iron lamp securely with the help of Madam of house but no pic of Madam in action la, Miki takmau tangkap.. :p Then try pasang the bulbs see the wiring works or not…

After checking, then fix the glass bowl whachamacallit…

Then finally tadaaaa!! We have new lampu in the house! Happy! Happy! Happy!!

The thing about furniture, decorations etc is the more you get them the more you want to buy MORE! Now that my used-to-be-totally-bare wall has a lamp (with three lights) already, I think some how it looks more naked than before. 

Beneath these lights a picture or painting needs to be hanged. That calls for more money. Tepuk dahi!

Have a good week ahead guys!

The beauty about working at NoneeNonee, being an electronics appliances manufacturer is the staff discount. We got this one with RM900 reduced from retail price. How else do you think Mummy can afford it? Pffft!

After Azman came home with this box tonight, Miki stared at it, trying to figure out what it was I guess. Azman told him that it was a TV, and he said “Owh! Tv!”.

He ran to our existing TV, point at it “Satu!” ran back to the LCD in the box “Dua!” then continue to count his imaginary Tv’s “Tiga, four, five, six, seven! Seven Tv!”

Oh yes Miki, I also wish I have seven purses, seven handbags full of cash. But most of all, I wish I have seven days in a week to spend with you and Daddy. I love you both!

By the time I already decided to open a US account in year 2007, Paypal allowed us to withdraw PayPal money to credit card, debit card, or prepaid cards. That sent us rushing into opening Al-Rajhi account that offered Debit Card and also Public Bank Debit Card. But… the fee was still considered high. USD5 per transaction is too much for most of us.

But, yesterday after reading the news at TheMalaysianInsider, I found out that Paypal already accept Malaysian Ringgit and we can withdraw our Paypal money directly into our Malaysian Bank account for FREE if the transaction higher than RM400 and only RM3 per transaction if lower than RM400.

This morning I give it a try and everything worked fine. This is how to withdraw Paypal money to Malaysian Bank account.

After login into your Paypal account, go directly to “Withdraw” tab. Then, you can choose either withdraw to your bank account or withdraw to your card. Click at withdraw to your bank account and notice that it took 2-3 business days to process PayPal to Bank transaction.

After that, fill up your bank information and add your bank account with Paypal. For MEPS Bank Routing Code, you can click at Details and copy your bank routing code and paste it inside the box.

After adding your bank account, fill up the amount that you would like to withdraw in the next page and click continue.

In the next page, you can send the total amounts in Malaysian Ringgit based on latest exchange rates.

Click Submit and wait for another 2-3 business day!! Go to your bank ATM and.. buat la apa yang patut!! Takkan tu pun nak ajar. hehe!

I already used Paypal for almost 5 years now and I believe it is very secure and safe. This should be a very good news for all Malaysian selling stuff online. You can enable your online mall to accept credit card for free now through Paypal and you can now start selling internationally.

For online merchant that still doesn’t have Paypal account and interested to make your online store accept Paypal payment, register now.

Diyanazman also decided to open our own online mall soon. Tuuunnggguuuu…

Tu diaaa… bulan puasa terus bagi salam nampak! Sebelum posa cerita penembakan bola pingpong sampai berbuih molot takpe?? Apa hal aku keji diri sendiri ni?? Ish ish… insaf-insaf! Walaupun tak puasa.. *ops

It’s the first day of puasa but it aint gonna damp my shopping spirits. I am going later to the 5th Parenthood Expo at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre. I have been to the same expo last year and it was blast! Baby and Mom’s stuff was going on sale really cheap! Last year I was still breastfeeding my kid and I bought a whole lot of high quality storage bottles and about 20 foot MAERSK container load of diapers. And I am not ashamed to tell that I was also there for the freebies!

Who doesn’t love freebies raise your hand!? Look here Oprah Winfrey! you know I wasn’t asking you billionaires! Put down your hand and go back to Hollywood! (apa motip makcik Oprah nak baca website ni!? hehe)

Anyway, I will be hanging out at Booth B03, Hall 2 (on the left side of Mid Valley Exhibition Centre) that belongs to TheLilCaliph, my fave online store. At 4.30-5.30pm today they are organizing a ‘Babywearing Contest by TheLilCaliph.com’. All you need to do is wear your baby and stand a chance to win an Ergobaby carrier worth RM599!

Ahhh sudah! Jangan buat muka keji kat aku! Aku bukan anti babywearing ok! Aku cuma rasa kalau nak babywearing biar berpada-pada. Ergobaby carrier tu tersangatlah cool okay!!! It is very ergonomic and distributes your baby’s weight evenly on both shoulders. I don’t think I would stand a chance winning the competition because  it’s really awkward having a kid half my height hanging on my torso (and I am not short ya? I’m 5’5)

So I am just gonna be uncompetitive and let you have a chance to win!

So marilah kita pergi serbu beramai-ramai dan jumpa korang kat sana! See ya!!! The event starts on 21st and ends on 23rd August 2009.

Parenthood Expo in MidValley Megamall

Anyway, I have thought that Thai silk material can be found easily all over Bangkok but I was wrong. After asking a fluent English speaking store owner in Indra Square, we were told that the best place to buy silk is in Old Siam.

By the way, Indra Square is a small shopping mall near Pratunam area. Over there we bought a 5-piece pinstripe suit complete with tie for Miki. It costs RM55 only. Hehehe. Super cuteness!

Old Siam is situated rather far from our hotel in Sukhumvit, we took a cab and the fare costs around RM10. The mall is kinda old school but more high-class compared to Indra Square. I must say that Old Siam area is much similar to Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in KL, minus Jalan TAR’s exclusive fabric boutiques. Across the mall itself there was a long stretch of bazaar selling fabrics and wedding supplies just like Jalan TAR.

The silk-selling shop in Old Siam is awesome! If it was a chameleon that entered this place for shopping, by the time it got out I am sure it had camouflage a million times and ended up gay. With Sir Elton John’s funky sunglasses.

The moment I entered one of the silk shops in Old Siam, though I did not turn gay, I was automatically blinded by love at first sight with colors. Everywhere was colors colors colors! Splashes of every shade you can imagine folded neatly and stacked way high up to the ceiling. And they were selling cheap! A pair of 4 meters of silk costs only RM100. Can you beat that price in Malaysia?

Azman in front of Old Siam Complex.

Pretty Thai silk

Punyalah berpinau mata aku pilih kain ni ha… sampai nampak ketiak kekdahnya… muahahaha

Kedai jual kain melambak-lambak,nak pengsan aku rasa… There are many Muslims here, I can recognize them from their attires and iman on their faces. hehe. Tried asking them for the nearest Muslim restaurant but the only answer I got is the food court on the top floor of Old Siam complex. We went there and remember I wrote about “babi bergantung manja”? Well, that is the place.

I wanted to write about the night life in Bangkok. But it turned out slanting towards my observations on the immoral activities that seem to be so normal and harmless among the people. I will publish that entry later.

]]> http://www.diyanazman.com/2009/08/18/best-place-to-buy-thai-silk-in-bangkok/feed/ 14 http://www.diyanazman.com/2009/08/13/shopping-in-bangkok-%e2%80%93-chatuchak-and-pratunam-market/ http://www.diyanazman.com/2009/08/13/shopping-in-bangkok-%e2%80%93-chatuchak-and-pratunam-market/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:58:07 +0000 Diyana http://www.diyanazman.com/?p=1172 The main purpose of our trip to Bangkok recently was for shopping. Despite having bought bundles of stuff home, I still feel like my insatiable desire to shop was not fulfill. Maybe it has something to do with the quality vs quantity issue. In Bangkok, almost on every sidewalks, every little corner, there will be stalls selling clothes, handicraft, fruits, coconuts, pirated dvds or women selling themselves. But out every twenty stalls, I would fine one selling things I would consider buying.

If these stalls do not operate during the day, they will be very lively at night. But for the women, well they open shop every day and night!

The first place that we went for shopping was at Chatuchak weekend market. This is place is super duper awesome. The sellers speak adequate English and the goods are very-very cheap! The stuff that are for sale here are impossible for me too list, because they have just about everything! Clothes, handicrafts, Thai silk products, leather ware, paintings, table ware, everything… you just name it! They even sell pets and all the dogs, cats, rabbits and other exotic small mammals are like ten times more cuter, healthier looking and well taken care off than the ones you can find in fancy pet store in KL. I was so very smitten with the little rabbits that they have. Though I do not know the type of those dwarf bunnies but I have seen them in KL (contemplating to buy for Miki) and one rabbit costs RM138. At Chatuchak a super cute bunny cost 120 Bath. THAT IS TWELVE RINGGIT OKAY!!

Azman and I enjoying sweet coconut ice cream served in coconut shell. That’s me looking at dresses and last photo Azman had to change more currency because I shopped too much.

These decorative flowers and plants are made of natural resources. They are so gorgeous and super cheap! One stalk of tall flower plant costs only RM7. I wanted to buy them but Azman didn’t let me! Boo hooo… He said AKU TAK LARAT ANGKAT!!!

At Chatuchak I bought shirts for my self, shirts for Miki, wall decorative lights, table lamp, silk cushion covers, silk bedding set, a leather sling bag that is super cute and other stuff. We were so geram at the bunny rabbits, Azman said with this price he would just buy 4 bunnies for Miki but of course we couldn’t get any animals home. We ate Turkish kebab (delicious), Thai iced pulled tea (teh tarik ais), savour the sweet coconut ice-cream and drank coconut water.

 Super cute puppies and bunny rabbits! I want them! Third picture is not children clothes store, those are apparels for your pets! They are so adorable, also available was other pets accessories like dog bed, feeding items etc. Pet lovers must must must go here!

We also went to Pratunam Market. This place opens during the day and it is also really huge. They sell a lot of different things here, especially clothes,but I didn’t buy much because I didn’t find them appealing. You do not think I wear one of these do you?

Sleezy costumes and colorful wigs for Thailand’s main tourism attaction – whores and shemales

Also at Pratunam, surrounded by all these vulgar glittering cabaret costumes, I got to know the thing they call culture shock. Sorry in Malaysia I do not know which tailor can sew an exquisitely elaborated little sequined bra and panties meant to be taken off after a few minutes of dancing in front of audiences? Call me naïve but I don’t even know where to watch these kind of show in KL. If you just see the faces of old aunties and grannies who are meticulously going through the details of the costumes, they look no different than any moms and grandmothers that I know in Malaysia, knitting baju Melayu and baju kurung for the children before raya. In fact they were more serious, for the reason that this is their rice bowl and I wonder if they are aware that they are contributing to the booming sex industry in their county. I felt revolted.

Walking through endless isles of costume making shops, gloomy and dark. Here is a tailor lost in her work, making more dresses for cabaret dancers.

At Pratunam, I bought several songket table clothes as souvenir for my mom, my mom in law and Miki’s Mama Rose.I bought a cute hat for Miki, and a huge no-brand hard luggage for my future shopping travels. Hehe…  

By the way, to go to Pratunam, you can take the BTS train at get off Ratchathewi Station. Then you can walk, or take the taxi or Tuk Tuk.

I will continue in the next entry.

Still those new shoes I bought for Miki are too damn cute, I cannot resist. If only I can poke a hole on them, hang them on a string and wear them around my neck! First I got these Timberland boots that are to-die-for…

Then the weather got too warm in the past several weeks so I bought another pair of Nike sandals in cool blue.

Yet my hunger for baby shoes was still burning and I kept on searching for the all time ultimate uber coolness footwear for new walkers in the history of time…. Didn’t know that this kind of shoes are so hard too find. I finally found it in Malacca.

The Pyek Pyek Pyek Sandals!! Tadaaa….

Trust me no toddler’s life is complete without the annoyance that these shoes can bring. With every step they take a mega sound of PYEKK will boom like thunder!!! PYEKK PYEKK PYEKK!  it will bang your eardrums and send messages to your brain telling you to take those shoes off your baby and feed them to your neighbour’s dog. PYEKKK! PYEKK! PYEKKK!!

With the purchase of the pyek pyek pyek sandals, the baby shoes addict have reach nirvana.

Peace. Happiness. Content.

On Saturday I dragged Azman and Miki to Adidas warehouse sale in Atria. Did not expect to buy anything because the sale was nearing its end and as an expert in warehouse sales, I knew Eintanz the early birds have grabbed  all the goodies.

But wrong I was, I couldn’t believe I could be so naïve. They were great many stuff over there MY SIZE!!! I love you Stella McCartney! Not that you have anything to do with the sale but I love your stuff!!!

Bought a multi-toned running pants, Adidas by Stella McCartney for 50 bucks only and this cute Firebird sleek jacket for 90 bucks!!! Can you believe that? Both in XS! You know how hard it is to find clothes my size??? I must try warehouse sales more often. We also bought some other stuff for Azman.

On our way back to parking lot, Azman voiced out something that I will never forget. He said “ Let us always remember today as the day we bought things for ourselves and nothing for Miki”.

Don’t worry Miki darling, even sometimes when your parents break the norm and did not buy anything for you, they still love you! Very much! Muahh

Here is me in my new jacket and pants. I was berlari setempat running really fast but Miki used his super-powers to stop me by holding my thunder thigh (see pic2). Hahahaha!

Fret not, I have got myself a ready-made baju kurung in case my tailored ones turned out crappy. I was rather pleased to find one quite pretty and very-very affordable but then again….

Am I being too cruel to myself??

Mummy’s Baju Kurung: Length – 5 feet, Material – Silk, Price – RM35.00

Son’s Onesie Shirt : Length – 27inch, Material – Cotton, Price – RM85.00

That’s not very fair, isn’t it?

]]> http://www.diyanazman.com/2008/09/24/self-cruelty-in-aidilfitri/feed/ 10 http://www.diyanazman.com/2008/09/15/and-i-havent-start-shopping-for-raya/ http://www.diyanazman.com/2008/09/15/and-i-havent-start-shopping-for-raya/#comments Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:08:12 +0000 Diyana http://www.diyanazman.com/?p=514

Bought gradually since I was 4 months pregnant. Two or three are presents. Never been worn. Azman says I need not shop for Miki’s clothes this Hari Raya. He doesn’t understand these are from previous seasons.