103~ Our Ninth Monthsary Overseas!

Spot the 9?

: On Cloud Nine :

It was in our greatest fortune to have our 9th Monthsary fall very close to our second holiday in Kota Kinabalu. We flew there on the Thursday and our Monthsary was on the following Monday, so we decided to celebrate it on the weekend in KK. It was going to be our first overseas Monthsary celebration and indeed in its own self respective way would be one of the most special. We were there with Syazwan’s Family and were on a role to attend his relatives wedding. But before that, we went wild on shopping and enjoying the scenery and more distinctly the Islands they have. We went snorkeling to experience the spectacular marine life and visited its sandy blue beaches. It was certified fun. Specifically for our 9th Monthsary, we dined in the infamous Secret Receipe at the new Square. Syazwan being a ridiculous Hot fan, ordered the Chicken Noodle Tom Yam Soup and NorMala opted for its famous Beef stew. While waiting, we chatted about how wonderful the holiday had gone and how we loved our snorkeling experience. We took several pictures of experimental ways to form the number nine with our food and appreciated our newly bought matching watches. We thought it suited the occasion very well. Once our dinner was over, we headed off to the water front to meet up with the rest and later shared coffee at the nearby Star Bucks. A celebration we will always remember-Snorkeling, Secret Reciepe and StarBucks all wrapped up in a day! :)

HarmonyUs Watches

103 9th Monthsary in KK

103~ Our Eigth Monthsary

HarmonyUs Sovereigns

: A Traditional Affair :

That Saturday afternoon, Syazwan picked NorMala up from work like every other Saturday. We have been doing this since we started going out; Syazwan sends and fetches NorMala on every Saturday so that we can spend more time together and go out for lunch straight away after work. Besides this, we also think that this would be good training for Syazwan in the long run ;). When he arrived, NorMala surprised him with a small tiny love letter. Since it was his first, he wasted no time to open it. It said, “Happy 8th Monthsary, I love you & I can’t get enough of you! Hugxoxo”. He thanked NorMala and greeted her back lovingly.

On this celebration of our Monthsary we decided to go traditional. We had been craving for ‘Ambuyat’ for quite a while now and thought that it would also suit well with the months’ monthsary since we have never celebrated it traditionally. We went to The Aminah Arif Restaurant (a restaurant specializing in ‘Ambuyat’ packaged menu deals) and ordered a bowl of the traditional delicacy. Along with it, was Syazwan’s Fav Kang Kong Vege Stir Fry, Beef Stir Fry, Steamed Fish and some raw veges with chilli salsa. There were a moderate number of people there, all enjoying the Bruneian dish as well. When everything arrived on our table, impatiently, we dug into the steamy bowl with our ‘candas’ ( thin long slender wooden tongs) and yanked out a stretch of the rubber-like glutinousness, then expertly coiled it to our tastes and dipped it in its hot sauce. Delicious! We must admit that those couples who can’t share this delicacy together, it’s really a waste because its one experience we recommend not missing, after all sharing is always best with your loved ones. Another thing about ‘Ambuyat’ we think is that it’s addictive. When you start with your first taste you just can’t stop. Perhaps it’s the after effect you get when you swallow it down, the warmth of it sliding through your throat or the aftertaste of sweet sour hot chili that releases explosions in your mouth and head; but either way it’s awesome! If you’re lucky enough to get it hot enough, you’d get a runny nose and start sweating. We think this a sign of really enjoying it. Syazwan is so much more of a hot craze than NorMala, perhaps a trait descended in his fam.

After we settled our tanks and paid the bill, we headed of to the grocery store to get some ingredients for the nights plans. Every Saturday Night we like to get together with some friends and hang out. This Saturday Night we thought that it would be nice to stay in for some cooked dinner and watch a dvd. NorMala cooked her special wet noodle pak choy chix dish (always promoting her greens to Syazwan) (and friends!) hehe. Then, in the middle of the movie we had a short warm milo n cake break, feasting on some cakes that we had bought earlier from a Fav bakery, Bakerlyn. Celebrating on work days are always made simpler just because we always fall exhausted fast at the end of the day. But, we felt the celebration went really well and was more than satisfying, there would’nt be anything more left to ask for than just to have a great time together ;)

103~ Our Seventh Monthsary

: A Fasting Celebration :

103 7th Monthsary in Fasting Month

Today marks our first Monthsary celebrated in the fasting month. We both realized this from the beginning and exchanged opinions in excitement to what we would do for it. After our sixth month, we had been preferably making our decisions together, always checking with one another first with every single thing, perhaps a trait followed on after choosing matching colours for our Hari Raya clothes. And perhaps the best thing ever since thinking is just half the run hehe. Since it is the fasting month, the celebration only started after the break. NorMala thought that it would be nice to break our fast at a hotel for a big buffet and Syazwan made the bookings. We tried many hotels, looking for table vacancies and choosing menu deals at the same time. Eventually, we managed to book a table at the Orchid Garden Hotel where they were serving a spread of Western dishes. We made our way there that evening and hurriedly found our parking space after hearing the ‘azan’ start. We made it just in time to our table and quickly nibbled on our dates, we didn’t even get to see who were sitting on the other tables. In no time the buffet tables were completely flooded with people waiting to get their share of bites and we joined in at the appetizers stall. We took almost everything, an attempt to taste all the dishes but as usual, it didn’t take much to fill our tum tums. As soon as we were having our desserts, we started noticing everyone around us. We spotted many acquaintances including NorMala’s Sister, Liza whom on our way to out, managed to call Us to run by some last minute errands for the coming Hari Raya celebration. After that, we bought some decoration light bulbs and retreated home. We both worked on Hari Raya preparations together for the rest of the night putting up the decoration lights. It was a bit like decorating a house of our own, we fantasized, Syazwan with his white Haj hat hammering away and NorMala with her hijab holding on to the ladder, a sight worth remembering for nostalgia. With Lots of Love and Appreciation to Syazwan for having such a generous helpful heart! The lights look great!:D

The First 6 Monthsary

103~ Our Sixth Monthsary

Half AYear!! Sssuuuurrrprriiisee!

NorMala was excited to host our 6th Monthsary and did itinerary the days’ events knowing that it would be marking our half-year monthsary. However, as excited as she was to see it all pan out as planned, the day also coincided with Syazwan’s Fam BBQ in Lambak. So, the plans were all forcibly in for a change. Because of its special occasion, NorMala decided to surprise Syazwan with a gift. She hurried off after work and got them at the last minute, luckily there were two little helpers who made the surprise feasible. Thanks! As soon as everything was ready and possible, she sneaked into Syazwan’s room and left it on his bed. NorMala has noticed how Syazwan has been moaning all week about how difficult it has been at work and thought that this would cheer his spirits. Since Syazwan started his attachment, he had been complaining about the long hours, the work load, the difficulties of juggling time and traffic during the rush hour and many others. We also noticed how it lessened our meet- up time and it was all a bit of a shim sham in the beginning really. Fortunately, we eventually learned how to get by it. That day, Syazwan made his daily weekday return home; turned into the drive way, parked up his car, took his keys out and made his way to his room to change for the BBQ. Then as soon as he opened the door, there laid a bouquet of red roses endorsed with one of his most Fav colours; green. And beside it was a heart shaped box with red rose imprints that enclosed some of his Fav Hersey Kisses. Syazwan smiled at the surprise and wondered how it got there, but he suspected a few details.

Syazwan picked NorMala up and drove to the BBQ but he didn’t utter a word about the surprise. NorMala just pretended that she knew nothing. Then before they left the car to harvest the sizzling lamb chops on the grill, NorMala couldn’t wait another minute to know what his reaction to the surprise. We both started talking about it at the same time! We cracked out with laughter while wooing each other of how we knew that we both were pretending not to know anything. Syazwan loved the gift NorMala gave him and thanked her for it guiltily confessing that he hadn’t gotten her anything. Remembering that he had gotten NorMala a gift just recently, which were a pair of work shoes to replace the old worn out ones, NorMala assured that he didn’t have to anyway. We celebrated the rest of the day sinking our teeth barbarically on lovely delicious BBQed meat..yumm!

103~ Our Fifth Monthsary

: Piece of Cake :

Since our last Monthsary left us with such tummiful gloriousness, in fact a bit too overwelming maybe hehe :), we decided that this time we would make sure that it was just a simple sweet and short soiree. It was Syazwan's turn to organise it and coincidently his pockets were only half full from our short holiday to Kota Kinabalu in June. Luckily it was perfect timing. He was worried and a little bit embarrased that NorMala would'nt be happy with what he had planned for the day as it was'nt going to be as luxurious and warned her of it from the very beginning. She lightly laughed and assured him that she did'nt mind a bit because obviously, it's always the thought that counts. So, on went the show! We headed off to fleur d' lyss first and bought our Favs; Blueberry Cheese Cake for Syazwan & Carrot cake for NorMala.

103 5th Monthsary at Empire

After that, Syazwan drove Us to The Empire Hotel where we went to watch the Sunset at the hillside cliff. We sat there and had a nice small cake picnic for two hehe. We both love watching the sun set/rise and thus decided that it would be a good idea to record it. We both took turns recording the sun set in until the night came and later made our way to Excapade to attend a dinner outting in account of Syazwan's Dad's Birthday. Gobbling up the d'lisc chilled 'Free' Sushi and just devouring the moment and atmosphere, we were afraid that we could not afford to stay longer. Knowing that we are a very busy couple LOL, we had to make it to another function, which was to a BruStu BBQ gathering. Syazwan was happy to meet up with his long term web pals and we briefly enjoyed the melodious accoustic tunes that were played by his friends there. We then had to go again and make our last destination of the day We jetted off to catch a movie. It surely did sound that we had made a lot of stops that day and indeed we did, nevertheless, it was exhilirating-not only because of the adrenaline pump we got out of it but also because we succesfully managed to fit in a start and end of our own special plans.

Last but not least, we thank Syazwan's Fam and the BruStu'ers for making it a fuller Monthsary with complementary dinner;D

103~ Our Forth Monthsary

HarmonyUs 103 Sovereigns

: A Feast Fit for a King and his Queen :

For Our 4th Monthsary, we went to Rizqun Hotel for a dinner buffet. It was NorMala's idea and treat. She had thought that just a special dinner would suffice as things were getting hectic around her schedule and there just was'nt enough time and effort to spare in preparing any thing more, luckily the Mr. was forgiving enough. Even so, we still had a good time and definitely strectched our tummies for this lot. The buffet was served inclusive of so many dishes under its Western theme, we could'nt possibly get a bite of everything as tempting as they all were. We think perhaps after this we might want to consider eating at a fast food restaurant next time just to break the taboo of dining heavy. Although we both had our episodes of runting, regreting how full we got- the constant pleasure of enjoying the whole thing together put us at ease, we held hands throughout the rest of the night and lightly conversed on plans to make our next one simpler and more importantly less filling ;)