62. Gift From My Daughter, Catriona from Yokohama

My daughter, Catriona presented me with another gift which she brought all the way from Yokohama during her recent visit to Malaysia to join the family celebration of my birthday. Both my daughters are such sweet girls who know what their mum loves for her birthday! While I love whatever gifts they bought for me, it is their thought and gesture of getting for me things that I love to collect that really touch my heart.

Thank you so much my dearest daughter. Mummy loves you and may God bless you always.

Wedgwood "Floret" Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter, Catriona of Yokohama, Japan

Wedgwood "Floret" Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter, Catriona of Yokohama, Japan

Wedgwood "Floret" Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter, Catriona of Yokohama, Japan

Wedgwood "Floret" Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter, Catriona of Yokohama, Japan

61. Gift From My Daughter Catriona From Yokohama

My birthday falls in the month of July, and my family decided to celebrate it in Kuching, Malaysia. My younger daughter, Catriona and her friend Hiro came all the way from Japan bringing presents for me and my birthday.

This one here is a teacup and saucer set , "Totoro" by Noritake, which my daughter, Catriona bought in Yokohama and brought all the way to Kuching, Malaysia where my family celebrated my birthday recently.

I love the way they packed the box in a cloth pouch like the traditional Japanese way of wrapping in cotton or silk cloth.

Thank you and lots of love from me my dearest daughter. 

Noritake 'Totoro' Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter Catriona

Noritake 'Totoro' Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter Catriona

Noritake 'Totoro' Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter Catriona

Noritake 'Totoro' Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter Catriona

Noritake 'Totoro' Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter Catriona

60. I Found Peace In Bali - Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

I woke up very early and managed to capture the sunrise as seen from Sadara Beach Boutique Resort, Tanjung Benoa, Bali

When my husband suggested going to the island of Bali for vacation, I quickly retorted, "Why Bali?" He then told me that his colleague had just returned from the island and recommended the island to him if he was looking for a place to relax or just enjoy nature.

We headed for Kuala Lumpur first and then flew to Kuching in East Malaysia to fetch my sister-in-law who would be joining our trip to Bali. Throughout the journey from Doha to Kuala Lumpur I was wondering if I would be enjoying myself in Bali. It took us slightly over 2 hours of flight from Kuala Lumpur to Denpasar in Bali. Upon arrival at the airport I was feeling a little discouraged when I saw the long queue at the Immigrations. Slowly and steadily we soon passed through the Immigrations counter without any problem at all. When we got outside the airport building I was astonished to see the unique architecture that was proudly displayed. Despite the hot weather, I told myself that I would not waste my time and might as well as enjoy myself since we were there!

4 days were certainly NOT enough to see and experience Bali. Every where we were taken or driven by our Tour Guide, we were astonished by what we saw and experienced. The first thing we acknowledged was how faithful and devoted the people of Bali were to their way of life - their religion, which is Hinduism. Every where we went we saw fresh offerings displayed, even in the car we were driven in. And I was taken by the general unassuming character of the Bali people. They are generally soft-spoken, and courteous, but it was the many historical or old sites and temples that won my heart. Some of the places we visited brought strong feelings of déjà vu and nostalgia, and I don't even know why. 

With the help of our wonderful Tour Guide-cum-Driver, Mr. Putu Mujana, we had beautiful photos of those places we managed to visit in Bali. By the time we returned to our hotel on the last day we were there, I realised that I was falling in love with Bali. It was there that I found peace.....at the beach where I watched the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening; where I heard the sound of the waves caressing the shores in the quiet of the night; or where I dipped my feet into the pools of cool water from the mountain spring in Tirta Gangga; or sipping Bali's vanilla coffee amidst the coffee bushes and cocoa trees at Pulina Coffee Plantation in Tegalalang; or enjoyng the sight of green padi fields while eating my "bebek betutu" (duck stuffed with spices, wrapped in banana leaves and coconut husks cooked in a pit of embers) at Teba Sari Restaurant in Ubud; and where I saw a fireball streaking across the evening skies as we approached Denpasar on our way back from the Ujung Water Palace at Karangasem.

Bali - I will be back.....

"Bebek Betutu" wiith "Urap" & "Lawar"

59. My Dora Papis' 'Heritage' Demitasses From EasyLife Italy & A Vintage Teapot - Gift From My Mother

The teapot featured here is a gift from my mother when I was only four years old. It is a teapot with a story, which I related at the beginning of this blog.

One side of the teapot

Showing the other side of the teapot

58. Ramadan Gift From Stephany

One of those evenings, my daughter Stephany was invited by her friend and former work colleague to join her for 'Iftar' (breaking of fast during fasting month) at 'W' Hotel in Doha. After dinner they dropped by the Turkish Fair at the same hotel. She came upon this lovely tea set - A Turkish teaset comprising diamante-studded teacups, saucers, sugar bowl and an accompanying tray. I think the set is really beautiful! And I am very grateful.....

57. Sipping Tea

“Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tea room I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?” - D.T. Suzuki, Zen and Japanese Culture

56. Beautiful Pink Demitasses - 'Heritage' By Dora Papis for EasyLife Italy

I love sweet hot Earl Grey tea with some Arabic dates 'maamouls' (tarts). Sweet hot tea brings  back lovely memories of when I was a young girl when my grandfather and grandmother would bring me to the coffee shop, known locally as 'kopi tiam', There, we would order sweet and aromatic hot Ceylonese tea. We usually drank the tea with freshly charcoal-toasted bread with butter and egg-coconut cream jam ('kaya'). To a young and naive girl who had not seen other places, sips of hot afternoon tea and few bites of charcoal-toasted bread was pure bliss!

55. Tea Set By Shining Sun From Dyramics Design

My recent trip back to Malaysia was a 'fruitful' one. I purchased several of my favourite things, among which is a beautiful tea set by 'Shining Sun' from Dyramics Design of China.

54. My 3-Footed Teacup & Saucer And Cake Plate Set By Dora Papis From EasyLife Italy.

This teacup set is one of my favourite teacup sets, because the teacup is designed like those 3-footed vintage bone china teacups and demitasses. Green happens to be one of my favourite colours, too!

53. 'Heritage' Tea Cups & Cake Serving Tray By Dora Papis For EasyLife Italy

My daughter, Stephany is back home for her summer break, and during one of the weekends, she brought me out looking for an engagement gift for her best friend. We visited one of my favourite shops at a the high-end shopping mall very near to the place where we resided. As usual, there is always something that catches my eye each time I visit this favourite store of mine.  And there I was, still in love with Dora Papis' design from EasyLife, Italy.

When we returned home, we sat down sipping hot and aromatic fruit tea with some macaroons and a couple of Arabic dates tarts! What a lovely afternoon - mother and daughter bonding after 6 months of separation!