Chai Ladai

Holiday slash moving

2009-09-17T13:03:00.003+08:00

Saturday evening at about 10pm at night, I'll be waking up Ishan from his little dream land because (sukrit, Ishan and I) are flying to Sydney for a holiday slash 'getting ready for our move back to Sydney!'. Yep, that's right. We are moving back...back to the city I spent 5 years going to university and working, the city where Sukrit and I met and worked side by side. (Not literally) You know I really didn't think that I would be moving back to Sydney any time soon. We have become so comfortable in our home in Perth. We have also gotten used to not going out much but when we do go out we say, "where do you want to go? Park, beach or shopping centre?" They are our choices.

We haven't told our families yet or anyone else really, except one of my friends and out neighbour.

Back to the city life. Two bedroom apartments. Traffic. Pancakes on the rocks. A short drive to visit my family. What can I say our families will be stoked. We are too. And scared. When have I ever been scared of moving? This is the first for me....Maybe because I have my little boy to consider and possibly I will work full time and not see him as much. I feel sad but happy that I am moving on. Hey, maybe I can be a career woman now!

Overall we are excited. Life is moving on and upward for us. Change is good. We will always have our family and friends no matter where we move to. And we need this change for ourselves and our future. It is not like we want to be doing and living the same way forever...

See you in Sydney.

hot chips and the park

2009-07-23T12:30:00.007+08:00

Take a break from the internet

2009-07-20T12:55:00.004+08:00

Mia on Mamamia recently wrote for her Sunday column: "Sunday Life: is social media making me anti-social?" I think we all need to take a break from the internet because the internet is NOT real life!

We spend so much time 'catching up' with a friend via email, text message or by checking their facebook status. I used to love having long phone conversations... and catching up with a girl friend meant spending at least half the day together. We say we do not have time anymore. I say, turn off the internet and go out to dinner, spend an afternoon chatting with your friends over a cup of chai!

little sicko

2009-07-18T12:09:00.003+08:00

Ishan has been sick with the cold/flu for the past couple of days. And with the whole swine flu breakout, it's kinda freaking me out. Poor boy, I have quarantined him myself. he can't blow his own nose yet, so Sukrit and I are constantly wiping his runny nose, vixing his chest and giving him homeopathic cold and flu medicine.

He's got a big red mark underneath his nose from wiping so often, big puffy watery eyes and cracked bleeding lips from breathing through his mouth. At night, when he's sleeping, he snores like an old man and wakes up early morning, cocooned in his blanket. Sometimes, on a bad night he sleeps with Sukrit and I, wedged between us, his feet at Sukrit's head and his head on top of my head. I hope he is better soon.

New Shoes

2009-07-16T12:24:00.012+08:00

Yesterday I bought some shoes from Zu! Best of all they were half price, down from $120 to $60. They are similar to the ones I was drooling over the other day, (See other post) but more practical. The best thing about them is that I can wear them with anything.

After buying them yesterday, I spent the rest of the afternoon wearing them in and trotting around the house so I don't get any nasty blisters when I wear them out. My husband was quite excited by the fact that I was two to three inches taller. Having seeing me in flats all the time, I am a good head shorter than him. He also referred to my legs as no longer '3/4 legs', but in fact 'full length legs' now and said that I should now buy shoes with a heel. I love my husband!

So now my shoe (with a heel) collection has begun!!

Mesmerised

2009-07-13T10:14:00.005+08:00

Took Ishan for a walk long the beach track on the weekend. Here he is mesmerised by the beach, the waves crashing and the surfers that look like little dots in the water. The weather was beautiful and the sun decided come out of hiding after weeks of rain and grey clouds.

The best of both worlds

2009-07-10T12:42:00.016+08:00

I am absolutely loving these shoes from Zu. They are cross between a high heel and a platform and they are actually very comfortable. I have never been a 'heel' girl, I've always worn ballet flats, sneakers or flat boots. The occassional time I would wear a heel would be when attending a special event, like a wedding or a formal. (And that rarley happens)

Something has happened to me now whenever I look at shoes in a shop, I will now ALWAYS drool over heel shoes. How weird is that? I guess it does'nt hurt to start wearing them since it'll give me some extra height. (I am about 160cm

HHmmm now think, what clothes of mine will they go with??

2009-06-29T10:19:00.005+08:00

Hello, I'm back. It's been a couple of weeks and no I haven't left the country and embarked on some amazing journey across the world. Nor have I begun working and I have not been swept away by the windy and stormy weather in Perth. I'm still here, snuggled on my couch, back in the normal routine of milli's life.

The past few weeks we had my sister in law and her two girls stay with us from India. We pretty much spent everyday out sightseeing and exploring. Tiring, yes..but had such a great time spending time with them all.

The Week that Was: Review

2009-06-05T15:54:00.005+08:00

1. Where's your tongue? My cheeky boy says 'hi'.

2. Peekaboo. After a long week of rain and drizzle, I wake up to discover this beautiful rainbow. Unfortunately, it only lasted for 10 minutes before hiding behind more grey clouds and wasn't quick enough to get a photo. This is what it looked like (pic by Nushuz)

3. Chai Ladai. It's getting so chilly in Perth, I'm starting to drink more and more cups of tea to keep warm.

4. Getting ready for my sister in law and her two girls to stay with us for two weeks from India. Our house is going to be filled with girls, noise and lots of laughter. I'm so excited.

Hope you're having a great weekend

Amelia xx

The Perfect cup of Chai

2009-06-04T10:56:00.010+08:00

Three and a half years ago I married an Indian man, in India and we had an Indian wedding. We had the whole shebang, but I'll tell that story another day.

One of the things I learnt since been married, Indian's LOVE their chai. (tea) They can consume it many many times a day. Basically, it's always Tea Time.

I now know how to make the "perfect cup of chai" and I'm going to share.

You Need:

- 1 cup of water

- 1/2 cup of milk

- 1inch cinnamon stick

- 3 cardomen pods (cut in half)

- 2 whole cloves

- 1/4 tspn nutmeg powder

- black loose leaf tea (preferably Indian tea, Red label. Can buy from Asian/Indian stores)

- raw sugar

How to make Chai:

-In a small pot add water, cinnamon, cloves, cardomen and nutmeg. On stove heat on HIGH and bring to boil

- Add tea, boil for 10 seconds, then add milk. Bring to boil for 30 seconds.

- Strain into tea cup

- Add sugar to your desire. Makes 2 tea cups or one big mug. Enjoy!

Amelia xxx

Picture by Persisting Stars

Who am I?

2009-06-01T12:13:00.003+08:00

Hello, my name is Amelia (I am also known as Mill or milli). I am currently living in Perth with my husband and little boy Ishan.

Four years ago my husband and I got a transfer from Sydney to Perth with our jobs. We used to live life without any restrictions. Lots of dining out and expensive meals, spontaneous holidays and a good income minus any credit card bills.

We now live in a quiet suburb in Perth with a mortgage, normal nine to five work hours and shops that are not open on Sunday (or past 5.30pm).

I was born in Australia, but am half Aussie, half Malaysian. My husband is Indian. Our cultures are so different, yet so similar from each other. Our little boy is very mixed in culture and has so much to learn from us!

Chai Ladai is diary of our lives together as a new family and all the crazy and wonderful differences in our culture we encounter. The blog is also a way for me to express myself. I also have another blog http://www.ameliakumar.com/ , a creation between my husband and I.

xxAmeliaxx

Who have you held hands with lately?

2009-05-30T14:52:00.004+08:00

On a happy note: holding hands. Safety, intimate, physical, together, health benefits. Hand in hand.

What is Chai ladai?

2009-05-25T11:38:00.006+08:00

Chai Ladai means to bring tea. (In Hindi)

Whether you like a simple tea bag, fresh loose leaf, spicy milky tea or a herbal infusion..the choice is yours. Chai Ladai is all the sweet things in life we like to discuss over a hot cuppa. (if you're a coffee person, that's okay too) Come and join me, I would love to hear from anyone in all walks of life .....

Amelia xx