Penang Aquarium & Chew Thean Yeang (CTY) Aquarium

15 April 2012
After a visit to zoo, we decided to visit to the aquarium. Replacement for the Underwater World. Curious if we are able to find shark here. Unfortunately, no.. picture on wall of shark only.
When it's near, you tend to miss it. So does this place. We never really bother to go, though seeing the signboard every time entering to Bayan Lepas. We decided to bring Koko and Didi to have a look. No big expectation of it, just hope can satisfy both of them.
The aquarium is stated in Batu Maung. Small place and reasonable entrance fees.
http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/penang_aquarium.htm

Koko found the butterfly fish in this aquarium. 

This yellow fish - called butterfly fish in one of the book that we bought. 

Seahorse 

Crocodile fish - my naming :) 

Fishes

Little Nemo

 

 

There is this big aquarium at the auditorium area. A little bit disappointed with the maintenance work. The window is quite dirty and it's very obvious. There were some huge grouper fishes and a big turtle in here.

Koko and Didi were running around and climbing up and down. Getting them to get a good photo is a real tough job.

The most cooperative photo from Koko. 

After 1hrs++ in this aquarium, we went to have lunch before proceeding to CTY Aquarium at Burma Road because Koko said he hasn't feed the fish yet. This is a pet shop. We visited it accidentally previously when Hubby was at the Canon Shop which located along the same row with this pet shop. I were really surprise, there were so much to see here. So, today we decided to come here again. Guess what, this shop is even better than the Penang Aquarium. 

Check it out :-http://cty-fish.com/

Looking at the hamsters 

Snake and Didi is not afraid at all 

Albino snake.

It has a big aquarium too. 

Fishes at the pond, waiting to be feed.

This is what Koko is waiting for the whole day. 

This pet shop is a must to visit for kids. Very highly recommended. There are blogs commenting about the workers rudeness, but for me - doesn't matter, we just wanna looks around. It's just like a small friendly zoo for the kids. 

Taiping Zoo

14 April 2012
With the cancellation of the Langkawi trip, we decided to bring Koko and Didi to Taiping Zoo. Once awhile Koko will mention 'We haven't go to Taiping Zoo yet.' When he mentioned about lion, elephant, Hubby and I will tell him, the animals are in the zoo. The nearest zoo is Taiping Zoo and we may go there one day. So, by telling Koko so, he'll remember it and keep on reminding you.

On the Saturday, we started our journey at 8am, reaching Taiping around 9am. There were only a few cars , less than 5. Hubby still can choose the most shaded parking lot under the tree.

Taiping Zoo Opening Hour - 8.30am to 6.00 pm.

Entrance Fee: Rm12/adult, RM8-child 3-12yrs

http://www.zootaiping.gov.my/main.html

 

At the entrance of the zoo. 

Once entered, we straight jump up to the tram, knowing that walking may not be the best option under the hot sun. Koko was sweating even before the journey started on the tram. 

This was the location the tram stopped. Curious Didi was looking at the elephant. 

The giraffe

Koko was trying to feed the ostrich with leave

Handsome Didi

Sweating hard. They just found the fun started from here. The wallaby feeds on the leave. Koko and Didi were so excited and unwillingly to leave this place. 

Rhinoceros

Hippopotamus - just know that they are reddish in colour. 

Cold drink after walking around - best! 

The last thing that Koko and Didi love - feeding the rabbit with leaves. 

We left the zoo around 12.30pm and most of the animals were about to sleep too. Tired though we only walked in a small area. You can find most of the animals in this zoo. The tram will bring you around to see all of them, but of course, animals in the small cafe are difficult to spot from the tram. We only manage to see the female lion. Koko can identify most of the animals while Didi was curious spotting around. A fun day..but Koko still mentioned he hasn't see the shark yet..hhaaiii...

Mummy's birthday 2012

This year, Hubby has planned a special celebration for me. To celebrate in Langkawi island. My boys were so excited as I have been telling him about the Underwater World - to see shark, fishes and to feed eagle as well. We have all of them planned out. Earlier Hubby only book 3D2N and we think we may need extra time and we book additional 1 more day on 10/4 , 2 days before we depart. OK, everything was packed up on 11/4- food, clothes, swimming costume and Koko has his own bag with his ball and toys. Ready to get set to go the next morning.

Then, on the evening of 11/4.... our mother nature made a call... earthquake in Sumatera.. Tsunami alert..ooh..no... Langkawi.. ferry service has been stopped. Hubby and I were having mix feeling now. Go or cancel. Hubby called Agoda and we were allowed to cancel and have the full refund. Done, cancel. Disappointed. Koko still mentioned about shark in Langkawi. He was so disappointed and was forced to be back to school the next day, instead of vacation. Be safe then sorry. Surely, we'll be going there some day in this year.

So, again, as usual we were at home, singing the birthday song..

Koko loves the chocolate cake..triple chocolate cake from Bread History. I love the elegant look of it. 

Didi's 1st perfect hair cut

April 10 2012 - Another milestone for Didi before reaching 2 year old. 

We went to the barber almost monthly or min is at least once in 2 months. Every time, Hubby will go first and then follow by Koko. Didi will be the last as after him, we'll need to rush home to console him down. 

However, on this day, we changed the strategy. Get Didi to go first. Surprise, surprise. Didi just sit down and no tear at all. He looks scared and doesn't dare to move about. The barber got it done perfectly for him. Usually, with him fighting around, his hair cut is only 40-50% complete only. My boy is big now...

Koko's masterpiece

Last few days, while Koko was starting to do some scrubbing here and there, he said suddenly that he wanna draw the angry bird. He then placed it in front of him and start to draw. He is expert on the eye drawing, knew how to shade it and make a good circle.

These are the best among many many that Koko has drawn.

And then, he continue with his drawing. Flowers. He surprised me which these flowers because he drew surrounding the paper. Koko said 'A lot of flowers.' He knew how to make pattern and draw in his own way now. After he drawn, he makes plane with the paper. I took them after found them on the floor in the room. Aeroplane.. 

Cheeky Koko recently...

Koko is now 19++kg, and he is over 100cm (causing us to pay extra head for buffet). He has his own thought and can surprise you with his actions. He is learning fast. One of the thing that I notice most is he will learn when he watched me or Hubby do it. Eg: I will use a chair to climb up to get thing high store in the cupboard. Now, Koko and even Didi knows that they need something to help them to reach high. Koko will push the chair around to the place he wanna reach. Didi is still very cautious on climbing on small surface such as chair, but he will start on anything that is big for him to reach. 

Check these out.. very playful Koko nowadays..

Koko was running at the mall to look for his favorite machine, unfortunately he can't find it and he found these.

We went into the games center. Koko was trying everything (no coin inserted by the way :)). Luckily, he didn't insisted on staying there. 

Koko followed his cousin brother very closely. One of day, after the Pangkor trip, I asked him if he wanna new swimming costume. He told me ' Yes, and i want the Ben10 shirt too.' I were surprise, where does this Ben10 shirt come about. 'ED Koko wear it.' Oohh... now I realize..

Koko did this himself. Showing off his serious face and asked me to take photo. I found it so funny as his face is totally looks very different.

With Punjabi shirt that bought by Hubby. I were forced to keep this green shirt as Koko loves it so much. Among 10 of them, this is the one he chooses. The deodorant, that's the thing that he is promoting and he insisted must has it to take the photo.

Koko is good at posing now.

Taken last night. This morning, while Koko was sitting there, Didi mentioned he want to. But I said no to Didi as we were rushing. Then, Didi just did it in his new pampers. I feel guilty for not trusting Didi this time. Didi has tricked me almost every night when he doesn't wanna go to bed. 

Persuasion & Influence

I just completed this training 2 days ago. The first question that I popped up to the instructor was 'Can I implement the tactics and skills on kids?'. The answer was 'Of course.' This keep me alive on the class and found it was so truth. One of the concept called expressive influence. It contains 4 parts - Tell, Sell, Negotiate and Enlist.

Part 1: Tell - express your needs. We always assume and yes, we need to assume especially for baby. Baby cries to express his/her needs. And he/she knows that by doing so, he/she will get your attention.

Part 2: Sell - give reasoning. This is the best part. Last week, during one of Koko colouring session at home, I told him to colour all the pictures, but then he just stop on the last picture and start packing up his book. So, I asked ' Why you didn't finish the colouring?' 'I can't colour anymore BECAUSE my hand is painful.' Koko stressed on the word 'because'. Now, Koko is very smart to give reasoning and always will purposely stress on the word 'because'. My question to the instructor was how i can counter back? Instead of them influencing me, how I can influence back. This is no easy.

Part 3: Negotiate- give incentive. I'm very good at this skill towards Koko and Didi. Koko buy in to that every time. Every morning to get Koko to wake up, I got to make promises. 'Mummy will buy cake for you later.' 'Do you want to have new toys?' 'Do you want your swimming costume' I got to make sure I find something that Koko likes then only he'll get up from his bed and feel excited about it. However, this skill will never get to Didi. You just can't bride Didi. No matter what he loves, he'll not do things on your way. He is the guy 'My way only.'

Part 4: Enlist - encourage/envision. This tactic work well with both Koko and Didi. Whenever, both of them are having lunch/dinner, Daddy will encourage them. 'Wow, big mouth. Very good boy'. If you spoke to Didi, and Koko heard it, he will do the same thing and prove to you, he is a good boy too. So does Didi.

We have been practicing the skills everyday, either you notice it or you don't. This is a very important skill to be mastered by everyone.

A few good quotes:-
'Pause to reflect. Take 1 step backward to move 3 steps forward.'
'People may be persuaded by reason but they are moved by emotion.'
'With great power came great responsibilities.'
'What you do before you do, that's matter.'

Lastly, the best learning - using the word 'will' instead of 'can'. I always asked Koko 'Can you please listen?' It just doesn't work with him. Then last night, I asked him ' Will you please listen?' Guess what, Koko just smile and look at me, instead of his usual way of throwing tantrum.