TIP: FREE DRINKING WATER AT HOTEL

I don't know about you.  But hotels that I stay at do not offer complimentary drinking water in the room anymore.  If I am fortunate enough to stay within walking distance from a convenient or grocery store, I would stock up several bottles during my stay away from home.  But if I am not close to any resources, then I will need to get the water from the hotel; which I find really pricey for most of the time.

So these days, I have found a new way to get FREE drinking water at a hotel.  It may not work at all hotels internationally.  But if you happen to stay at a hotel that has this resource, feel free to read on. 

You will need:

• Ice vending machine
• Ice bucket or clean plastic bag
• Empty water bottles or hotel cups

[Click to enlarge]

First, you will need to find the ice vending machine. 

Secondly, fill up the ice bucket with the ice from the vending machine.  Please do not forget to first rinse the bucket.  I recommend that you fill up the ice bucket first thing when you arrive so that the ice is already melted when you need it.

Last, strain the melted ice into the water bottles or cups.  If you are using the ice bucket, the easiest way to strain the melted ice is by placing the ice bucket lid on with a tiny opening for the melted ice to go through.  And the result ... VOILA ... you get FREE drinking water for your stay away from home.

Put the drinking water in the fridge if you like it colder.  Or you can heat it up in the coffee maker or microwave to drink it warm.  ENJOY!!!

If you are able to take advantage of this tip the next time you travel, please let me know your experience and pass this tip along to your friends and families.  And I hope you get to save some money from doing this; and you do not need to drink the tap water.  Somehow the melted ice tastes a lot better than a tap water for me.

May this tip be handy for you!

SG ACTIVITY: HUMBLING TEST

Here goes another Small Group activity we did.

Procedure

Let the participants lay their right palm flat on the ground or table.  If the answer is, "Yes," they shall raise the finger as instructed.

Question #1: "If you are married, raise your thumb high up."

Question #2: "If you are married to a fabulous/amazing spouse, raise your pinkie high up."

Question #3: "If you think marriage is the greatest gift from God, raise your index finger."

Question #4: Here is the last question.  And I asked the participants to be really honest in their answer.  "If you think you are the best spouse your spouse could ever ask for, raise your ring finger up high."

It is practically impossible to raise the ring finger with knuckles and other fingers down.

Take Away

This activity is a reminder that we shall be humble as God taught us to be.  A humble spouse.  A humble servant.  A humble child.  A humble co-worker.  A humble friend.  A humble person in general.  See how practically impossible to raise the ring finger when asked about how great of a spouse we are, that should be the attitude of our hearts too.

These verses I pray so that God continues to humble me before His eyes.

"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." -- James 4:6 (NKJV)

"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." -- 2 Corinthians 11:30 (NIV)

May this be a blessing!

  

BAI MU ER (白木耳)

Growing up, I loved eating Bai Mu Er (白木耳).  It's a Hok Ciah dessert that consists of white mushrooms, ginkgo nuts, and goji berries or wolfberries (枸杞 gou qi).  Sometimes, Ema (grandma) added Ginseng to it too for an extra "pow" of medication.  I love it served cold.  It's good for summer time and to heal "panas perut."


When Mamah was here, I asked her how to make this dessert.  I'll share the recipe in my other blog pretty soon.  But for now, this is a taste of how it looks like.  "Yummy lhooooo" - as Baby E. would say it.

May you have a very desserty day!!!

PRAISE THE LORD FOR THE TRAFFIC

The other day I had to take Marcel to the office.  It normally takes us about 5 - 10 minutes one way.  But that wasn't the case that day.  The traffic was backed up.  And it took us a little over 20 minutes from the exit to the traffic light alone.


As we were trapped in the traffic, Marcel and I were praising God for the extra time we had together. When we used to live further away, we spent about 2 to 2.5 hours a day commuting.  We took advantage of that time in the car to worshipping and discussing some family matters.  We don't have to commute again nowadays.  And it's been awhile since the last time we saw this kind of traffic at this exit.  We had a feeling that it's not related to an accident.  All of the sudden a thought came to our minds, "Oh wooowww .. God, thank you ... the economy must have started to go back up .. these are the people going to work.  Thank you, God!!!"


So the next time you see traffic jam during rush hours, let's praise God!!!

May this be a blessing!

MY VERY FIRST TIE

Yes, this blog is about my first tie.  I never had the need to tie a tie in my life.  Marcel's profession doesn't require him to wear a tie.  The only tie Marcel has has been pre-tied by Papih.


And this time while Papah was here, he bought a tie.  The last time he bought a tie was 20 years ago.  And it was my older sister who normally ties it for him.  Since my older sister was not around; and Papah needed this tied urgently, he asked me to do it for him.


So here you go ... my very first tie!!!

I think I will do better next time.


May this turn your frown upside down!!!

AN 阿姨 (AYI) AGAIN

Last Saturday (February 12) was a bitter sweet day for me.  Mamah and Papah went home.  But before I had to take them to the airport, I had the opportunity to testify the birth of my best friend Elisse's son - Baby Ryan.  It was a beautiful experience.  A quick labor and delivery!  But every moment was so precious to me.  I'm sure it's even more precious to Elisse and Ko Akiong.


Thank you, Elisse and Ko Akiong, for allowing me to be there with and for you.  Thank you, God, for this miracle gift!!!  (I know, it sounds as if I was the one giving birth!!!!)


With that ... say Hello to Baby Ryan!!!  He looks just like Jia Ming.


Congratulations again, Elisse, Ko Akiong, and Jia Ming.

May this be a blessing!

RICE BALL SOUP (ONDE) FINAL RESULT

Here goes my super nom nom nom breakfast this morning.  Marcel also enjoyed his very first onde - onde.  He said it has a very interesting combination of texture and flavor; but it's yummy.  HAHAHAHA.

Mamah said, "Ini Yanny sama anaknya ... biar cepet punya anak yah, Sayang."  HAHAHA.  Yep, she always knows where to slip that phrase in.

In English, she said, "This is Yanny with her little one ... hope you have a baby soon, Honey." 

Rice ball soup a la us.  :-)

May you have a rabbity day!!!!

RICE BALL SOUP (ONDE) FUN

Growing up, my family always made rice ball soup (onde - onde) for Mother's Day (which falls on December 22 in Indonesia).  It's one of family traditions that I always enjoyed doing and celebrating.  Since Mamah and Papah are in town, we decided to make onde - onde tonight with the Rabbits theme for our extended Chinese New Year celebration.  HAHAHA.

Papah is making the old style Chinese money (the one that looks like a hat)

Don't see Marcel?  Yep, he's not too excited about getting his hands dirty. 

The results: monies by Papah, the four adult rabbits I made (Mamah, Papah, Marcel, and myself) eating carrots, and the two grand rabbits (Marcel and my future babies hehehe).

Did you see one of the adult rabbits is "doing its business"?  Yep, that's Mamah's idea.  She also made the "carrots" using Gailan leaves and orange peels.  So creative!!! 

Here's the close up.

Hmmm .... they're gonna be my breakfast tomorrow morning ... rice ball soup ... nom nom nom.

Happy Chinese New Year again, Friends and Families!!!!

HAPPY RABBIT YEAR

"Each moment in time we have it all, even when we think we don't." - Melody Beattie.


What a special Chinese New Year this year has been for me!!!  I got to spend time with my parents.  The first Chinese New Year together after 13 years living apart from them.  :-)  Marcel also got a chance to taste the traditional Hok Ciah Chinese New Year celebration with some traditional Hok Ciah dishes made by Mamah.


AND we got to celebrate Mamah's birthday that so happens to fall on the same day.  祝您生日快乐, 妈!


Anyway, Friends, 新年快乐.  心想事成!


May this year be as special to you as it has been for me and Marcel!!

QUOTE ON (EARTHLY) WEALTH

"Wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants." - Esther de Waal.