To Cameron Highlands & the Lost World of Tambun

Dear Small Tiger,

I know you love animals, son, because you’re forever watching Animal Planet on television. You make me proud when you list all the animal names you know, I know you’re definitely mine…..=)
But why did you cry today when the birds sat on your hand? All they wanted to do was eat the grains off you hands. Anyway, I’m glad you tried, and I know the next time you come, you’ll be bigger and braver.

You swim like a fish in the pool at home, but I don’t understand why you freak out when you come to a public pool. Is it the people there who scare you, son? Anyway, again, I’m sure you’ll grow out of it. So we’ll come again, don’t you worry.

I won't even ask if you enjoyed the carousel, I know you did.

Good night, son. We’ll definitely make more trips to see more animals.

Hugs always,
Big Lion

Appa, Me and Thambi

I rode a pony

Dear Thambi,

On the 1st of May in the year 2010, I rode a pony. And I did not even need to hold Appa’s hand. It’s quite cool once you get the hand of it, the pony just bounces you left and ride so you also bounce left, right, left, right, left, right…….hmmm

And then I fed the monkeys, it ate right out of my hands. I hope they don’t get sick on the Twisties…….

You can ride the pony and feed the monkeys when you grow bigger. you're too small now.

You know I love you,
Annai

Shankerii's Hair Shaving Ceremony

Oh my goodness...the barber just shaved ALL Shankarii's hair off. Just like how he shaved Eshvarhen's hair off not long ago. And Shankerii slept right through it.

Now poor Shankarii is BALD!.....*sigh* sorry, there was nothing I could do to save you, Shankarii. We'll just have to wait for nature to take its course and your hair grows back naturally.

With love to Rita Attai

Amma was sick on the 9th of April. I was supposed to sing her a Happy Birthday song, but I did not get a chance to. After Amma was diagnosed with chicken pox, Eshvarhen and I went to stay in Rita Attai's house.

Rita Attai is Appa's elder sister, and I think Eshvarhen and I are quite blessed to have an aunt like her. I used to be her pet, until Jettendra came along. I know she still loves me the same, but I have to occasionally remind her that I need to be carried more often. All I have to do is sit on Jettendra a while and I will have her total attention for the next one hour.

Attai never really scolds me, but when she does, I just ignore her. Like there was one incident when she scolded me because I tried to beat Jettendra.....so when she came home, I pointedly told her that I was watching cartoon, and that she will have to take the keys by herself to open the door and come in. That little episode didn't go too well for me. Patti really gave me a scolding.

I can open the doors now, althought Amma has warned me many times not too. You see, I'm 97 cm now, and that means I'm pretty tall, right? The doctor told Amma that I'm underweight, because I only weight 12kg. She keeps telling me she wonders where all the food that I eat goes too.......the food goes into the mouth, Amma. That's where all food go to.

Rita Attai also tells me that I talk too much. Whatever.....

Obviously when people spank me (for being naughty, I guess), I need to know why....so am I in the wrong when I ask Patti or Appa why they spank me when they do? Does that count as talking back?

I also don't like it when people shout at me......so I ask them that too. The thing is, when I ask, "Why are you shouting at me?" , everyone just laughs at me.....does my serious question appear to them as funny? I guess you should know that I don't like it when Eshvarhen screams ( Amma said it's called "cooing" ) at me..... I just have to yelp like a dog at him, and he starts crying. And...**sigh*** I get a scolding. Gosh, what an unfair situation!

I did ask Patti where Amma was, but Patti said that Amma was sick. I did not see Amma for two whole weeks, but I guess since my beautiful Rita Attai was there, it helped me miss my Amma a bit less.

Shankerii

Dear Bumi Matha,

I got a new cousin today. We went to see her ta the hospital, and she was REALLY tiny. She was wrapped up in a balnket, and she was turning her head from side to side. I stood on the chair and looked at her, and then I looked at my Nithi Mama.

Amma said that that the baby was Mama's baby. Amma doesn't know it, but I am Mama's baby.

When it was time to go home, I thought we were going to take the baby home with us. I creid a little bit because I wanted the baby to come home with me. But she stayed in the hospital while we went home to Puchong.

In three days, we would all know the baby as Shankarii.......welcome to the clan,Shankarii......Ehsvarhen and I will teach you all the tricks, you just grow up first.

Poiyitthu Vaa Maa....Pattharamna Poiyitthu Vaa....

"Poiyitthu Vaa Maa....Pattharamna Poiyitthu Vaa...."

And this is what I told Amma this morning when she told me she was going to work.

Another note for Sakkti Velan

Dear Sakkti Velan,

Hello,son, Amma hasn't been writing to you in a while, but I guess today is as good a day to write....

Well, you're 2 years and 8 months old, and you sing all the time, baby! You sing along with the tv, you sing along with the radio and you sing along when I sing Eshvarhen his lullabies. If I never come around to telling you, baby, please know that I AM JUST SO PROUD OF YOU! You've got the music in you, alright=). Please NEVER forget that you could sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star completely with such clarity at this age that leaves me speecless....

Anyway, you're very busy these days with your play dough and your "house" games. You like to build a house for yourself with the cushions and bolsters, and you can keep yourself occupied that way for a really long time.

When you're not playing with the dough or playing house, you're watching TV. Your craze at this moment is the Donald Duck cartoon home and the Superman cartoon at Ammama's house. You can even tell me how the DVD player works.

Oh, did I mention you love crocodiles. It's probably because Appa watches the documentary channel with you ( I also suspect it's genetical). You also keep asking us to show you the zebra, which actually means you want to go to the zoo.

You understand all conversations in Tamil and English, to a point that Appa and I speak in Malay if we don't want you to understand the conversation.

You're crazy about your brother-- I know you don't like it when he takes your toys, but you look for him whenever he's missing.

You've also got a temper.......and we're doing all we can to check it now so it does not get out of hand.

Alright, baby, I think I've jotted down enough for now. Keep singing, baby.

Hugs Always,
Amma

A cushion called Eshvarhen

Hello Bumi Matha,

Amma caught me sitting on Eshvarhen today. I was just trying out to see if Thambi could stand my weight. He didn't cry, so I figured he must be okay......

Oh, did I mention that Amma was FURIOUS when she walked back into the hall and caught me sitting on Ehsvarhen?

I got a REALLY big scolding for that little stint....=)

From Annai to Eshvarhen

Thambi,

You have to understand that eating your toys is no way of showing any affection towards them.....it's unhealthy...plus, in case nobody has pointed it out to you yet, you have no teeth....so no point in stuffing something in your mouth when you can't even chew it, right?

Anyway, for your information, MY toys are MINE. And right now, I can see that you're trying your hardest to grab my Play Dough. I wish to reinstate that it's a bad idea....it's MINE!

Thank you.

You know I love you,
Annai