Pico Ruivo – after a few attempts

It is one of the most popular high level walk on the Madeira Islands. Pico Ruivo is 1,861 meters high and that makes it the highest peak on the Island. It provides some of the most incredible views of the island and a variety of flora and fauna. However, the weather condition is unpredictable. It is best to check the weather condition before climbing. 

 

15 January 2012

So it was planned, we were going to climb the highest peak on the Madeira Islands today. The weather was good and I was thrilled. At 8.00 o’clock in the morning, my husband and I first headed to Santana by car. We were about to reach Santana border, the weather suddenly changed. It was no longer a bright sunny day when we had started. Grey cloud had made its appearance and blanketed the blue sky. My conscience told me we might not be able to make the climb today. Crossing our hearts, we proceeded to the meeting point where we met four other friends. All of us then decided to try our luck. It was another thirty minutes drive to Pico do Arieiro, where the route should start. Half way there, we were welcomed with fog that was soon getting thicker and thicker. We made it to Pico do Ariero, but the visibility was terrible and impossible to start walking. Hence, we headed home with a promise we would come back next time.

20 May 2012

It had been four months since our first attempt to climb the highest peak of Madeira Island, we decided to try again. It was in the middle of springs and the weather was incredible. I woke up in the morning with a bright sunny day and thought we might get a chance this time. We then drove all the way to Pico do Ariero but we could not believe our eyes once we got there. It was so foggy we could not even see where the route starts. Once again we had to leave without even having a glimpse of the peak.

24 Jun 2012

It was almost end of springs, the weather seemed hotter and brighter. We would not be satisfied until we did it, hence, just the two of us my husband and I decided to make another attempt. It took approximately one hour to get to Pico do Ariero from our house. And we liked to make an early climb, so we left home as early as 8 o’clock in the morning. After about thirty minutes drive, we saw two policemen were standing in the middle of the road waving at us to stop the car. The road in front of us was blocked and we could not drive through. My heart sank in despair, “what now… we are not going to make it again today?”

One of the policemen told us there was a bicycle race ahead, the road will be closed for another thirty minutes. Either we would wait until the road would be opened again or we would have to turn back. There was no way we would turn back, so we waited at one and only coffee shop nearby. There were a few other cars waiting to go on to the same road.

After almost an hour, the road was finally opened, all of us started to make a move and proceed with our journey.

I was getting more and more excited. We finally arrived at Pico do Ariero slightly after 11 o’clock. It was sunny and hot noon but we were happy that we were finally here and able to make the climb.

This is Pico do Areiro where we parked our car and your can see where the route starts the end of this car park.

The route was in good condition and easy to find directions. With great relieved, we finally made it to the top.

We spent thirty minutes at the top taking pictures and had lunch that we had packed from home. Then we made our way back to Pico do Ariero by the same route. After a half day’s walking, the car park seemed interminable, but we anjoyed and cherished our memorable and fantastic levada walk.

 

Crochet Ruffled Motif

I wanted to make a blanket out of this motifs but I didn't have enough yarn. Since I was so eager to see the finish product, I turned it into a table cloth instead.

 Maybe someday I will finish this as a blanket.

Crochet Hat

I used a smaller size thread for this hat, so the finish product is small I say it would fit a cat's head. I even thought about giving this hat to my friend for her cat since she loves her cat so much :-) 

Crocheted Popcorn Pinwheel motif

I saw this motif last 2 years on the internet when I first started learning crochet and straightaway fallen in love with the design. I searched and searched for the instructions but to no avail until I found a video on you tube about Frances Johnson : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYVQ1dsRqfE

Now I finally got it :-)

Beaded Flowers

Carnation
Is it a carnation? I don't exactly know what to name of this flower. The original version is called Carnation and created half from this design. But instead of stop at half, I stitch all around and I turn out better looking that the original.

Pink 3D or Carnation

This flower is named Pink 3D in the notes, but other people also call it a Carnation.  This is not my best shot though, so I might try it again next time when I have enough beads supply.

Netted Flower

This flower I like most and I believe many people like it too :-). It looks difficult but actually it's easy to make.

These 2 flowers I learn from some websites I browsed on the Internet. I don't have the link since I copied the notes quite some time ago. First flower is supposed to have six patels but since I don't have enough beads it turned out to be five patels only. Both flowers are made of St. Petersburg chain.



Beading Work Time

Make way for beadings! I just got my tutorial notes for 3D beaded flowers & leaves via email last month that I bought online. Stop for a while ribbon and thread embroideries :-)

Door decorations

I like to learn new things so much, this door decoration was the next thing to do in my list. I learn to make it from an embroidery teacher I know from FB. She told me some instructions and I did it :-)

I also make this heart shape piece for my friend's birthday. She is so happy and hang it on the wall at her house :-)

Embroidered Chair Back Cover

Oh! I learned to make this simple chair back cover quite some time ago, I simply wanted to put some embellishment I hadn't really thought about the embroidery design, so I just design it randomly.

And this is the recent design I made for my second chair back :-D

Currently I have 4 same chairs, so I might be making for another 2 soon.

Embroidered Tote Bags

I saw many of my FB friends make tote bags and embellish them with ribbon embroideries, I don't want to be left out so I also tried to make it. My ribbons are out of stock though, so I make thread embroideries instead. Here you go :-D

Rose Flowers

I have been trying and trying to make this type of rose I saw on JDR Brazilian website and finally got it (or at least got it).

Bullion Stitch - 2nd design :)

Another flower design using bullion stitch. Thanks to Jenny Bradford's Bullion Stitch Embroidery book :-)

Bullion Stitch Embroidery

Tadaaaa!! This is my first bullion stitch embroidery and first complete throw pillow cover made :-)

Previous Embroidery Projects

About eight months ago while I was on Staff Rejuvenation Leave Programme I had time to practice some ribbon embroideries. So these are the result :-)

More to come :-)

Crochet Pineapple square

After 3 months practicing crochet, I finaly completed this 6 months ago.

I need writing skills….

“The more you learn, the more you feel stupid”
I would never argue to this saying. I have been experiencing it myself.

English is always being my favourite, despite of my learning English, reading habits, plus other extra efforts, I still can’t find myself to write creatively. Whenever I attempt to write, I always hit the wall and that put me to a stop.

Most of my acquaintances, even my sisters, are surprised that my writing skill is far behind my oral competence.

Aaaaaghh, why can’t I write?! I know! I know! I need practice.

But I believe I am also in a dire need of some writing skills. I am useless with compartmentalising. Everything seems to come rushing into my head at the same time. So confused as to which should I write first. Then all of a sudden all the idea vanished.

You suggestions are more welcomed. Thanks.

Bookaholic

Ever since my friend asked me to accompany her to buy English novels at a secondhand bookstore in Ampang Point, Kuala Lumpur, my addiction from Malay novels had diverted to English.

Unknown to me, due to my naivety, there were thousands of English novels written by hundreds of authors, best sellers or not, on the bookshelves. I thought I could try reading one and picked up a book on vampires written by a quite famous author. This book has changed my reading habits since then. Wallah! My journey as a real bookaholic has begun.

I had always been anti-reading during school times. No matter how hard I tried, I could not enthuse myself with reading. I was amazed at how my schoolmates could even finished reading a whole thick Malay novel overnight.

Some time in 1998, my friend lent me a 100-page Malay novel written by a local best seller. This book has started my interest in reading. Since then, I started collecting Malay novels until five years where I changed to English novels. As I was once fanatic about Hindi movies, I used to read and collect a monthly Bollywood magazine called Filmfare for three years.

I enjoy reading a simple, uncomplicated plot which features a typical tall, dark and handsome hero with a beautiful and innocent heroine. To be with such protagonists is such a relief and makes me happy. On top of that, reading something that stirs my interest expands my knowledge and improves my English language.

English books, undoubtedly, cost more than Malay books. But that is not stopping me from indulging myself in them. Every month, I make sure I put aside RM30-RM40 to buy a book. When one book is insufficient, I will not hesitate to increase my budget to RM100 to buy three or four books a month.

Previously I used to visit secondhand bookstores. I did not mind travelling to different locations to buy cheaper books. I did not mind browsing around bookshelves to search for good books.

But I am smarter now, I check up the synopsis, the reviews and the best author on the internet before going to the bookstores.

Currently, my favourite bookstore is the one at Central Market where I can buy new and secondhand books at a cheaper price. I have become a regular customer. Once a month is a must, but sometimes I will go there twice, depending on my reading speed. Though the store allows buy-back for English books but I prefer to own the books I read. However, due to the current economic instability, I now rent the books instead of buying them. But if I like a particular book very much, I am willing to buy it even though I have to cut down on lunch or dinner. If the books are of my favourite authors, I will buy a better version from a commercial bookstore.