It was that time of the year again when we go off together for a family getaway. Last year we were in Bali, a week full of sun, sea and soothing spas; the year before in Hong Kong – memories of rides in trams, cable cars, roller coasters and Disney shows still linger in my mind. And this year, we decided to spend some time with my hubby’s sister in Jakarta.
It was filled with fun and endless laughter thanks to the Dynamic Duo - my son Shazmeer and his Aunty Ria who can make a joke about everything and anything. Ria’s husband, Irwan on the other hand made it his mission to feed us every few hours. We had Traditional, Western, Fusion, and Oriental; and tried all kinds of Indonesian desserts, to my daughter’s delight. As for me, I fell in love with the original Jakarta J-Co Donuts. My favorite was the ones with Almond and cream toppings…mmm I can still remember how it tastes like – crunchy and creamy and yummmy. And when we arrived home last night, I nearly blacked out when I stood on the weighing machine. Argggh!! okay, don’t panic – next weekend will be spent at the gym and from now on, no more night feasts, that’s a promise.
The hospitality extended to us was incomparable. The cousins, Mila, Dini, Ledy and their spouses were simply awesome. And of course, there was hilarious Ella who gave me a jaw ache with her incessant jokes. When she was taking photographs of Mila, Ria and I, she nicknamed the three of us, “The Golden Girls”. The moment she joined our group in the photo shoot, she called the group “The Fantastic Four” …that’s Ella for you – quick thinking, extremely witty, and real good company.
It was also a time for discovery for me. I found to my pleasure the side of Ria that I only had a glimpse of, in the past. My sister-in-law has a beautiful soul. A humanitarian personified, she takes care of her cats and dogs with unbounded love and compassion. She puts me to shame for the dismal efforts I have made for the pets in my care. All her cats have cute, quirky names with characters to match. Ria not only dotes on her eleven house-bound cats; with the aid of helpers, she feeds the street cats as well. If she is unable to rescue them personally, she provides funds for them to be taken to the vet and checks on their welfare whenever possible. She will go through sleepless nights if she knows of a suffering animal and cannot reach out to help.
Ria cares about people too. On our shopping trip to Bandung, when we were busy looking for our own stuffs, she spent hours looking for souvenirs for her helpers. I remember when Ria and Irwan used to go off on their holiday trips, if they stop over in KL, there will always be special gifts for everyone, especially the children. And the attention she puts in every selection speaks volumes. My daughter Sheera finds both Ria and Irwan adorable to watch. "Both are extremely softhearted and goofy, and they look so sweet together as well". she says.
We all had a great time in Jakarta. The lovely company made up for the crazy, senseless, non-stop traffic congestion which would have driven us up the wall, otherwise.
Monday, December 21, 2009
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