Oh God, the last backpacking trip I had was last year September. Me and Alina went for all girls trip to Lombok. However, there were many activities that we had to skipped cause she was a preggy momma.

My recent road trip to KL was a much needed one (although I still had to work remotely). My work life has been sooooooooooooo crazyyyyyyyyyyy, crazyyyyyyyyyyy and I had to work every weekend. So when Juan told me last year that we'll be driving down to KL in January, I was very happy. Although I didn't had the chance shop, but at least I had a few days off from the normal routine. This time, we packed as though we are leaving Penang for good (blame #babyjedi). We packed our clothes in a huge bag so that it could fit the 3 of us, a cooler box for my breast milk (who says breastfeeding is easy), #babyjedi's food basket and his bath toiletries (he travels in style *roll eyes*)

I was so happy that the trip was an easy one especially with a baby along. It was our first ever trip WITHOUT Cik Timah and Pak Yeo. I prayed sooooooo hard that God make it easy for us (phewww!) and it was.

Oh God, I've been having serious writer's block for the past few week. not just that, work was crazy for me and I have been sleeping late at night. Now, my body reads DAY as NIGHT and NIGHT as DAY. Thatttt crazy. Plus I have not recover from my flu which I got from my mum. #babyjedi just recovered from fever and flu as well. I was so worry that he could not attend his 1st day of nursery. So 2017 has just past a few days ago and I could see soooo many resolution feed and instastory on my Instagram *evil laugh*. So what's my resolution? Nope, nothing. So what happened in 2017?

1. I became a mummy!!!
Well, this top off my 2017 list cause it's the best thing ever happened in my life. I became a first time mum to #babyjedi who is now 11 months old. Oh God, where has the time gone. He's probably crying looking for me at the nursery *sigh*. It's his 3rd day of school.

Well, it's every new mother's goal or dream to breast feed their child until the age of 2 but not every mother has the privilege of doing it. It's not so bad. For as long as your child grow up into a healthy kid, then it's good enough. A mum gotta do what a mum got to do, right?

I've been receiving questions on how can my output can be soooo much, what I ate to increase my yield, how's my diet like. Oversupply to be exact. Oversupply can be something good but at the same time, it can also be a disadvantage for breastfeeding mum like me.

I'm currently 9 months into breastfeeding and alhamdulillah, I can still pump as much although the number of pumping session decrease by time and still can donate some of my breast milk to other babies :-). Fortunately I still have a large stash of frozen breast milk at my mum's place as well as my own place. Thank God that #babyjedi is such an easy baby to take care that he don't mind drinking chilled, frozen or direct feed even when he was born.

Okay, so what did I do right?. I'll share tips on how can you help yourself in increasing your breast milk yield. Take note that, this sharing comes from someone who does not have any previous breastfeeding experience and a first time mum :-)

Be Happy:

This is something I always emphasize whenever someone ask me about my yield. I'm an EP mum and my baby doesn't stay with me during weekdays. I only get to see him on weekends when I travel back to my hometown. So it is important for me to make sure that my supply is enough for him to feed on.

Why do I say being happy is important when breastfeeding? There are 2 types of hormones release during breastfeeding that are Oxytocin and Prolactin. Oxytocin and prolactin are the hormones produced during breastfeeding that work together to make milk, establish a letdown, and keep up with the supply and demand of a nursing infant. They are also understood to help with the mother-child bonding experience and to produce a warm and typically content emotional state.

When you're not happy, you have less chances of producing enough milk for your baby. So the next time when you're pumping, try to look at your baby photos, relax or watch your favorite movie or video of your child on your mobile. It helps in having 'let down'.

DON'T RUSH:

Take your time when pumping. Second most important factor in breastfeeding is DO NOT RUSH when pumping. This scenario normally happens to working mums. When they pump, their mind is thinking about the upcoming meetings, project deadlines, work loads, etc. DON'T!!!!!!!!. Stop thinking about everything else but focus on what you're  doing. I know it's hard but think about which is more important.

I normally try to not think about my work load of the day, rather I focus on my pumping while watching YouTube or watch videos of #babyjedi. When your body is in a happy mode, it is easier to produce milk too.

Don't be lazy:

I started pumping to save up frozen bm 2 weeks before I start work. I used to pumped 8 times a day with each session an average of 12oz to 14oz. I know, that's a lot. Gradually, I cut down to 4 times a day with an average of 10oz to 12oz each time. That number is still way beyond reach for #babyjedi. Now that he is on solid and teething, he drink less but my milk stock is not stopping anytime soon cause I plan to breastfeed him at least 2 years.

My pumping schedule used to be as below during confinement and first few months after I started working. However if my breast starts to engorge in between these time, I will pump a little so that it's easier for #babyjedi to feed.

12 midnite
3am
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm

Gradually my pumping session was decreased to max 4 times a day:

6.30am
Between 10.30am to 11.00am
Between 2pm to 2.30pm
Between 5pm to 6pm (ONLY if I need to stay back in office)
Bring 1 or 2 extra bm storage bags if you think you need to work overtime in office.
Between 9.30pm to 10.30pm will be my last pumping session

I don't wake up in between midnight unless if I feel there's leaking which hardly happens nowadays. The engorgement is not as bad as last time.

Do not be lazy. No matter how tired you're, wake up and do the mid nite pump, that is the time where you PROLACTIN hormone is at its peak.

Fatigue:

Another factor that most mothers face is FATIGUE. When you have a baby, your schedule changed. You have more things to do especially FTWM. I know how it feels. But no matter what, take a rest in between. Get your husband, in laws, parents to take care of the baby while you have a good rest. Insyaallah, your milk supply will go back to normal. During the day, try to get some sleep when you baby is sleeping. PUT AWAY any gadgets that might disrupt your sleep.

Caffeine, Cabbage, Brinjal:

Caffein and cabbage are the common milk killers for breastfeeding mums out there. If you are having more than one caffeinated drink a day, then you should probably decrease your caffeine intake.An additional milk killer for me is brinjal. Whenever I take caffeine in the morning or  brinjal for lunch/dinner, I notice that my milk supply will drop a little. So I have stop taking brinjal but not caffeine. I limit my caffeine intake around once or twice a week.

Drink plenty of water (I drink at least 2 or 3 liter a day) or boil dry red dates with longan. It helps to boost your milk supply. However these methods vary in each individual.

Diet:

To be honest, I've never actually monitor what I ate but I avoid food that will decrease my yield like the 3 types of food above. When I was in confinement, my breakfast consisted a lot of bread, cheese, cereal, milo and rice. For my lunch, my mum will cook fish (during confinement). Fish is one of my go to super food. I can feel the engorgement in less than an hour.

My mum also boils dry red dates with longan OR I drink date milk (susu kurma). I used to purchase the Farm Fresh brand, but I stopped cause it was pricey. So I decided to blend myself at home and drink a full glass of susu kurma every morning. It not only helps in boosting my milk supply, it also helps thicken my bm texture.

I don't limit my food portion cause once you decrease your intake, your milk yield will also decrease. Rice is the easiest milk booster. However I avoid eating the yellow noodle. E.g mee goreng mamak type of noodle cause it contain substance that is not good for you and your baby.


Plan your pumping time:

Time pumping:  One way of increasing demand is by pumping on top of breast feeding.  If you are going to do this, it is important to time the pumping to maximize the milk supply at the next feeding.  A lot of women have been told to pump in between feedings to increase demand, but I disagree with this. By pumping in between feedings, you are potentially decreasing the amount that your baby will have at the next feeding. You are also teaching your breasts that the "baby" wants smaller, more frequent feedings, when we really want larger feedings.  Pumping between feedings also decreases the amount of time you have for much needed sleep.  Instead of pumping between feedings, I recommend pumping for 5 to 10 min on each breast immediately after each feeding.  This will be a more efficient use of your time, it will also teach your breasts that they need more milk at each feeding.

Get the right pump:

This is also one of the most important factor. Expensive doesn't mean it can do a good job. Different breast pump has different impact on individual. Purchasing a breast pump is somewhat try and error. You will not know until you try them out. However, there are some shops that allows you to test it out first before making up your mind. But make sure they're clean first.

I'm one of the lucky individual who immediately can adapt to all my breast pump (I have 2, Spectra and Madre) and work tremendously great on my boobies :-)

Bear in mind, do not purchase a 2nd hand one cause the motor or accessories might not work as good as a new unit unless you can't afford it. Advisable to have a 30 mins session if you're a new mum and gradually move up to 20 mins per session. However it depends on your milk flow. Mine was quite long initially but after my bm starts to regulate according to baby's demand, I now pump around 20 mins each session and managed to yield around 8oz to 10oz.

You have no idea on how hard it is living with baby diagnosed with eczema *cried out loud* The lack of sleep, the scratching, the itchiness, the frequent visits to the clinic, the sleepless nights. Tell me everything about it. Memang susah. In my case, I'm very much lucky because my baby stays with my parents. So they had to endure all that most of the time. As for me, I'm only able to see #babyjedi on weekends.

But my parents pretty much teach me on how to help soothe #babyjedi on his eczema. The do's and don'ts.

As all of us do not have experience in taking care baby with eczema, our ways are basically try and error. Me and my dad read a lot on eczema forums, doctors, parents who has experienced this. It was tough. The first few months was all about not sleeping most of the night. Eczema comes at any given time. Regardless day or night. Sometimes I would wake up to find spots of blood on the bed because #babyjedi was scratching the night before. Kesian kan.

Cetaphil was our saviour. We read on one of the forum, a mum actually recommended this range of Cetaphil on babies who has eczema. It's quite pricey but it can last you for about a month, depending on how you use it.

We normally use it after each bath. Making sure that his skin is not dry and reapply only when necessary. It works wonder. It's an all-in one lotion and it glides so easy. Although it leaves sticky feel on the skin but that is the thing that keeps #babyjedi's skin moisturize because he's always in an air conditioned room. Dry skin will only make it worst. We also apply it on his face. Not only babies, adult can use this as their daily skin care routine.

Cetaphil Restoraderm body wash is my favorite by far. A gentle, soap-free, mildly foaming body wash; clinically proven to cleanse, moisturize and soothe dry and itchy skin. When bathing, gently massage into a lather and avoid scrubbing the skin. Rinse off and gently pat skin dry.

• Filaggrin technologyTM helps to increase and retain moisture in the skin
• Miracare technology delivers nourishing oils and
• long-lasting moisturization in a rich foam
• Hypoallergenic
• Fragrance-free
• Paraben-free

I also use the Cetaphil baby shampoo as recommended by #babyjedi doctor since he has sensitive scalp due to eczema and Alhamdulillah, it works and there were no redness or itchiness. This shampoo help to soothes the scalp. Contains soothing camomile that gently cleanses sensitive scalp without drying. It smells good too :-)

• Tear free, soap free formula and pH balanced
• Contains natural camomile, a soothing ingredient
• Leaves hair soft with a silky shine

After bathing using Cetaphil Restoraderm body wash. I will normally apply Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for face and body. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion is specifically formulated to soothe your chronically dry skin. Once applied, your skin feels soft and smooth. It is non-greasy, non–irritating and non–comedogenic (won't clog pores).

• Lightweight hydration to replenish sensitive and normal skin
• Fast-acting, long-lasting, light-weight formula helps maintain healthy skin
• Special ingredients are proven to bind water to skin and help prevent moisture loss
• Protects and enhances skin’s natural moisture

Perlis has gone through changes in recent years. From a small town that has nothing to a city that has McDonalds, Giant hypermart, Watson, Gurdian, etc. So whenever I travel back, it's easier for me to do some shopping as I don't have the time to do it during weekdays.

It goes the same with eatery places. We have more options to choose from. Kampung delicacies, Western, Oriental, just name. I believe that this is due to the high demand from non local residents who reside there due to their work. Having a university has also helped in boosting Perlis's ecoomy and development (okay, I sounded so pandai here)

If you're looking for a decent Western meal that is slightly different from what you usually have, I'm talking about Perlis, then Gusteaus will be the place.

Situated in the heart of Kangar, Gusteaus accomodates only a few patrons at a time. The seats and tables are quite distance from one another, so you don't feel cramped will having your meal. Although the options are quite limited, but the food is nice to your palette.

Prices are quite comparable to places like Kopitan and McDonald but the portions are generous, enough for 2 person sharing. Their choices of drinks are quite limited though. But I do hope they would expand their menu in the future.

Dad ordered Chicken Parmigiana but I forgot to take a photo of it. To be honest, it was quite a disappointment. I was hoping that my Mac and Cheese is the bake type. Their soup were delicious (We ordered Mushroom soup and Beef Stew soup). Something different than what you usually order.

Their Teh Tarik was nice but it would be better if it was serve in a mug rather than tea cup. Lebih puas. Overall I'll give 3 stars just because the ambiance was really nice. However, menu wise, it could have been better judging by the price itself.



Visit their official FB page here and Instagram
Opening hour is from 1.30pm till 11pm

As the name tells it all. 'Abu-Abu' means grey in Bahasa Indonesia and this home stay is painted in white and grey and this is the BEST accommodation/home stay I have ever stayed throughout my life. Definitely worth every RINGGIT MALAYSIA.

How do I normally search for accommodation? Well, first, I will look for the ratings (preferably 8 and above). Secondly, I will read the reviews. However reviews can be a little bit bias so it's better to search according to the rating. Rumah Putih Abu-Abu has a rating of 9.5 on average. A rate that you  rarely encounter on Bookings.com. I read the reviews and it has almost perfect reviews from the guests. Surprisingly the rate was really, really reasonable for a 3 night stay. So, I booked and decided to pay in cash during checkout.

I emailed Johm (the owner) that I was breastfeeding and I wanted to confirm with him about the mini fridge provided in the room. He was so accommodating that he allowed me to remove any drinks in the fridge so that I can keep my breast milk throughout my stay. I even kept my ice gel pack and ice brick in their kitchen freezer

This property is 3 minutes walk from the beach. Rumah Putih Abu Abu which is also a pet-friendly accommodations in Senggigi . The bed and breakfast has an outdoor pool and views of the pool (this is my favorite part), and guests can enjoy a drink at the bar. Free private parking is available on site.

Every room at this bed and breakfast is air conditioned and has a flat-screen TV. Some rooms have a sitting area for your convenience (family room that can accommodate 4 person at a time). You will find a kettle in the room. Every room includes a private bathroom equipped with a shower and there is a minibar too

There is a shared kitchen at the property where you can use them anytime. However this home stay is about an 1 hour drive from Lombok International Airport (33.8 km).













Total cost for 4 days, 3 nights stay: RM364 for 2 person

Disclaimer: I'm writing this as a breastfeeding mum in MY OWN PERSPECTIVE. Yours may be different 👯

So, going into 8 months of breastfeeding journey. How was it then? Easy in terms of feeding. I have had mild  blocked duct. No mastitis or whatsoever but not in taking comments from people around you.

I've never imagined that having a baby can change how you looked. From an average decent looking person to a 'wear-a-pant' kind of mum. Well, that's me. I've no shame for that, in fact I'm guilty as charged.

Although I admit that my baby is being taken care by my parents, however I still have mummy and wifey chores waiting for me at home. Working from 8 to 5 just adds up to what I already have on my plate.

Since I return to the work force, I've been receiving sooooo many comments about how I look. Most of them are things I already know and if given a choice, I don't want to hear. I admit that I went through stages of change especially when I am now breastfeeding a 8 month old infant. What do you expect? Pregnancy and breastfeeding each resulted in another trip to the bra boutique. The sizes changes as my baby grows.

I pump an average of 4 times a day compared to when I first gave birth, 8 times in 24 hour span. 8 FREAKING TIMES A DAY! Imagine what pumping do to your boobs. Definitely it sagged a little. Ok I lied, it sagged A LOT. But then again, your child gets the benefit out of it. Mothers do what a mother has to do to feed their child. But not everyone is in the position to have hot bods, perky boobies right after post par-tum which include me. I'm lucky that I don't have to run on the thread mill for 30 minutes nor I have to sign up for gym to lose those baby-weight. I lose them immediately after I delivered #babyjedi.

Imagine being made fun of your boob every s.i.n.g.l.e time. Being picked on just because you have a plus size boob. No it's not fun when it's being done in front of your male colleague. No,no, not funny.
I tried to gather my anger together, not wanting to be the 'uncool' mummy at work but there has to be a point of stopping. Nope, it doesn't. It's just plain rude when it reach to an extend that a male is involved. Where is the dignity of a woman? You don't do dirty jokes with a male colleague. I mean making fun of your own self. That's not nice.

I'm sooo used to it that I don't really bother about it anymore. 'Do you feed yourself enough?' or 'You're so stick thin' or 'Omg, your boobs'. Most of the times, I tried to answer these questions like hundred of times a day and the comments just come throwing at me most of the time.

I know it's hard to hear these negative comments about you especially when it comes from another breastfeeding mum (breastfeeding mum, really?) but you can't really avoid them. All you can do is just keep a deaf-ear or tell them that you're not comfortable. Being quiet when you are constantly being commented at doesn't mean you are too scared to stand up for yourself, because for me, I have other important matters to attend too. Plus I always put this positive thought in my head 'No matter what people say, I know that I'm giving the best thing to my baby when some mothers unable to provide'.

For as long as your baby and your husband are fine with it, then why should you take it seriously. I know it's hard to do but hey, you're doing great despite of the changes you have gone through during your pregnancy until the day you gave birth to a healthy little toes. People will not understand because they're NOT IN YOUR SHOES no matter how many times you try to explain. Sometimes, you gotta let them experience it first hand.

So it was our last day in Lombok before flying off on an afternoon flight the next day. Our itinerary for today was to visit the aboriginal village, songket weaving center and Lombok Islamic Center. We hired supir/tour guide for these activities as the places we were going was around 1 hour drive from our home stay. Our tour guide was recommended by one of the home stay staff. Fee was quite reasonable.

Sasak Village, Sade:

The first destination was the Sasak Village, Sade province. It was an hour drive from Mataram city. Souvenirs are quite expensive over here. You may request your tour guide to bring you to places where they're much cheaper if you plan to buy souvenirs for family and friends.


Once you have finished touring the area, it would be a courtesy to give some tip to the local guide. Tourist's tips are their only source of income.

Sasak tribe is a community that inhabits the island of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara. This community is the largest tribe in the province that lies between Bali and West Nusa Tenggara. Survey population explained that the Sasak tribes who lived in Lombok approximately 3 million inhabitants.

Little is known about Sasak history except that Lombok was placed under direct rule of the Majapahit prime Minister, patih Gajah Mada. The Sasaks converted to Islam between the late 16th century to early 17th century under the influence of Sunan Giri and the Muslim Makassarese, frequently mixing basic Islamic beliefs alongside with Hindu-Buddhist beliefs, thus creating the Wektu Telu religion. Lombok was conquered by the Gelgel Balinese kingdom in the early 18th century, thus bringing a large population of Balinese to Lombok. The Balinese population of Lombok today is about 300,000, 10-15% of Lombok's population. The Balinese have also strongly influenced the Wektu Telu religion of Lombok.

Sade Village is a traditional Village on Lombok Island. This Traditional Lombok Village located on Central Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat. Their houses are still traditional, made from alang-alang and the wall made from combinations of clay and cow feces.. Cow feces are also used for cleaning the floor, washing and bathing.