Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Cultural Connected

Being a half native (Bidayuh) and brought up in a very Chinese environment, this is the first year I started to appreciate my mum's culture. I suspect it's the influence of engagement with communities in my work. I'm inspired of their spirits to keep their culture alive and trying to manage their daily activities in a sustainable manner to conserve their 'home'. Looking out for their own people and being buyers when it comes to their own tribes. It's not a bad thing at all because it's just human nature to prioritize our own family.

For the past 29 years, I do not know anyone from my mum's village besides my uncles, aunties & first cousins. I met 2 strong members of the JKKK-Duyoh who are working on eco-tourism in Bau area in one of the workshop i attended for work. It hit me hard on why am I not doing anything for my mum's village and the people because we're all connected in a way or another. I'm glad to be somewhat part of it contributing whenever I can before it's not too late. I feel blessed and appreciate the journey of my life that brings bright lights from time to time.

Anyway, when I was stranded in KL over Harvest Festival because there were no seats for the flights, I suggested for  a little BBQ party at my brother's house in Puchong. Surprisingly everyone was excited and we threw a great siblings gathering with some friends from KL. 

.:Brenda & Chris BBQing:.
.:Yummy in progress:.
.:Chris's crazy poodle:.
.:The ethnic popular food!:.
.:Bacon:.
.:Giant Crab.. probably result from unsustainable fishing:.
.:Batik Cake chocolate coror.. lol:.
.:Brenda & The dog Ronnie:.
.:Chris in actual.. Martial Art Massage:.
.:Bamboo Chicken Recipe:.
.:Elissa with her lips:.
.:Empty Bottle Rice Wine from Borneo:.
.:Me enjoy talking throughout the dinner:.
.:Chris and his game... silly brother dancing like a girl:.

Everyone was happy and the food was good! :D

Mama's 60th Birthday @ Ling Loong Seafood

.:Group Photo Taken by Ping:.
We got her the most expensive gift we have ever bought for our parents which is a 916 gold necklace & pendant. I remember I used to have a transparent plastic cookie case that I cellotape, made a small hole as piggy bank mother's day, father's day, mama's birthday and  papa's birthday gift FUND. To recall it back, I was a brilliant! coz I also had a Milo Tin with a hole with a handwritten message 'Please Donate to Moi-Moi Foundation' of course that was a joke to make my family members to talk about it. I'm a natural comedian at home sometimes, part of it was the influence from Movies I watched, part of it was because I love to see people laughing happily.

Anyway, we had dinner at the latest seafood restaurant just 1km from my house on 17 May 2012. Ing flew back from KL just for that occasion. It was a nice occasion. :)


.:Putting on Mama's Gift:.
.:The Seafood Centre:.
.:The Common Food:.
.:Occasional Food:.
.:Mama's birthday Noodle:.
.:Baby Kailan with Garlic:.
.:Oyster Omelette:.
.:Ginger Venison:.
.:Butterred Prawn:.
.:Butter and salted egg Flower Crab:.
.:Wine Prawn:.
.:Steamed Fish:.
The food was OK coz they have just opened not long ago. Ling Loong is a popular seafood place started in TopSpot (Halal Outlet) and they also have another branch at King Centre which has the best seafood suits to our taste bud. For the new outlet, the first floor is still under renovation. I'll give it 7/10 and I'm sure they will improve after 3 months.. Pre-opening Hiccups!

Muahahaha

Ping will kill me for this.. There happened to be a toad in the toilet and due to some bad experience during childhood, i.e stepping on a toad barefoot, it's like a phobia when she sees one. So there she is standing on top of the toilet bowl and crying.. Muahahahha

.:Muahahaha:.

Ongako's Birthday 2012

.:Group Photo.. My hair sux:.
Being mischievous since forever, I was kind of disappointed with all my cousins for not knowing how to draw an act to bring Ongako for a surprise dinner... I've told them what to do but they have done it all so wrong... hahaha can't blame them for being honest lah! :P

To cut the story short, a so called surprised dinner has failed to the maximum as Ongako was supposed to not suspect anything instead, she didn't look surprise at all... Anyway, we had a good time among cousins and my parents join the dinner too at Coral Seafood Restaurant at 7th miles next to Everise Supermarket.

.:The kids love to blow the candle:.
The restaurant serves 'NO PORK' menu but they have some exotic selections like deer meat and ostrich meat. We ordered the deer meat in sizzling plate, ostrich meat with ginger, Nestum prawn, sea cucumber soup & baby kailan with garlic. Damages done was RM168.00 including drinks for 9 adult and 3 children. For me, the food is not the best but under the 'nice' category. Service was 'so-so'.

.:3 cousins:.
Overall, everyone was happy :)

Baby Genevieve

Last week, Baby Genevieve came for a week visit. Of course both my parents and Ping miss her the most. Who doesn't?

.:She tried to eat my piggy bank:.

.:Meeting Crystal:.

.:In the car:.

I need a Hair Cut

.:My Hair Sux:.
Looking at the photo, it means.. Hair Cut! Maybe in March this year. The photo was taken during reunion dinner January, 22 before Chinese New Year.

REX Cinema

.:Rex Cinema in the 50's:.
.:My dad's stall with Uncle Dean, Zack, my mum and Suzie Che's dad:.
My childhood memoir revolves around a cinema because my parents used to run a movie snack stall next to the cinema. Until now, I can still remember bits and pieces of the sweet and bitter things that happened over the years. The cinema was officially shut down when I was in primary 4 '10 years old' and I remember watching the last movie shown that night. It was devastating and being so young, I sense sadness in the eyes of everyone. I'm going to list down what I can recall before I forget them.

The People
1. Ah Moi Ee - The ticket counter (i remember she bought me a bracelette)
2. Another untie who are slimmer and more fierce. I was afraid of her
3. Ah Lau - The ticket collector who also sleeps in the lobby of the cinema. I used to see him every morning when we walk to the breakfast place.
4. The Fat drink stall tauke at the food court behind the cinema. (This was where Ellen told me story about the most work in a company is office boy but usually he is first to go if economy is bad).
5. The Rex Cucur tauke - My aunt used to work for him and then she opens her own stall
6. Michael - The boy i played with and his mum can make 'Kueh Sepit' aka 'Love Letter' and he is staying behind the cinema next tot he super smelly toilet. I went to their house alot too.
7. The chines girl - I remember her mum opens hawker stall at the food court but i have no idea what her name is until now.
8. The sugarcanne family - his son was my classmate in kindergarden and form 4 and 5.
9. Ah Hia - owner of another hawker stall opposite the sugarcanne family.
10. The stall operator inside the cinema premise - I can't remember him much coz my dad prevent us to play inside the cinema premise much.
11. Ah Kheng - Her family lives somewhere next to Dr Chan clinic and they moved to KMC flat after they got the placement from MBKS.
The Sweet & Bitter Memories
1. Self made singing competition - It was with my cousin Diana and the chinese girl. We will win a drawing painted by the chinese girl. We used the side entrance of the cinema where there's staircase that made it looks like a stage.
2. The Reservoir Park stroll - I have always been going to the park with my cousin and his brother. It's without my dad's permission. We just kinda found our way there and I get to call these 2 old couple at the corner of the demolished role of shop in front of the demolished prison opposite Borneo Hotel and they will give me 10 cent. :D
3. Watching Free movies - Sometimes Ah Lau made me sing a song first.
4. Playing with the daughter of the tailor shop owner 'American Tailor'. I can't recall what we usually do but I remember I've always gone to their shop.
5. Playing with Ah Kheng - We do meet sometimes in the shopping mall as she works as a promoter now and happily married.
6. I stepped on a lot of dead caterpillar that caused me walking like handicap for at least 2 months. I got it when I was washing my leg at the side of the drain opposite dad's stall. I have to blame my dad for throwing the caterpillars there after he had killed them. He should throw right into the drain and not leaving it on the road!
7. Broke a horlick bottle on the way back after buying it with my brother at Ting & Ting Supermarket. My late 3rd aunt was furious...
8. Spitting activities with some boys and my cousins. We were scolding each other and spitting on each other. To think about it, that's when I start learning how to roll my eyes when meeting people that I don't like.
9. My eldest brother told me that the crystal like sugar is used by the Japanese to make bombs. His attention was so that i do not disturb the sugar bottle.. I felt like an idiot after i asked my dad couple years back.
10. I saw a sanitary pad with blood in the toilet thinking that the toilet is haunted coz I thought I saw a bloody flesh in the toilet bowl.
11. Believed that there's an old man died in the cinema stuck on the gate because of heart attack. (Untill now, I'm not sure if it's real)

and many more which I can't think of now....

A Memorable Family Photo

Recently, there seems to be a lot of new editions to the family members since 2008 with weddings and babies. Therefore I feel family photo is an important evident to keep the family history alive for the younger generation when all of us are either too old to remember or even gone... Anyway, this is the family photos for 2012 on the first day of chinese new year. Jeremy, Jaslyn, Brenda & Genevieve are not in the photo coz they can't make it back this year.

.:A classic Family Photo:.

.:A Chinese New Year Family Photo :):.

New Taste in BDC A1 Kopitiam

I have to admit that almost every Saturday or Sunday I will visit BDC A1 kopitiam for breakfast although it's no where near Desa Wira, Batu Kawa... This is because I have always think that they serve the best Popiah, best Kueh Chap and best & only half cooked egg Cha Kueh (by request) in Kuching. The Kolo Mee is not bad at all. All these food might not be the best for others but it definitely suits my taste buds well.

Me and couple good friends first dined there back in 2007 because Brian's dad sells 'Cha Kueh', fried yam cake there and Brian intoduces half cooked egg Cha Kueh which has became my all time favourite since then.

.:Cha Kueh:.
Yesterday, I went with dad and realized that the Roti Canai stall has changed people. Thank God coz the previous 2 stall operator's Roti Canai sux and a better taste Roti Canai can encourage dad to join me for breakfast in A1 more coz he loves Murtabak. After trying the Sardin Murtabak 'RM4.00' (although dad prefers Lamb Murtabak more, it's not in the menu), it's not bad at all. So I guess, there's good chance that we will be ordering roti canai in A1 in the next trip.

.:Dad enjoying his Lamb Murtabak:.
.:The last few pieces left:.

November is a blissful month

Singapore Trip

I've travelled to Singapore with dad, Ongako, Ah Ing & Siaw Ying to attend Cheng's Ragistration of Marriage.. yes it's REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE... another one in the family tied the knot. Now it's already 4 out of 7 and only left me, Siaw Ying & Ah Ing.. ahahahahahhaa (Laughing like spongebob)... the married ones don't be too happy coz it also means GAME OVER.. ahahahahhaa (Laughing like spongebob again).

Anyway, it was a good trip overall as we stayed at Chinatown area in Singapore and i managed to do some shopping for the decoration in my apartment. Oh well, the star is my brother and new sister in law, Mrs Ng 'Jaslyn'.
.:The Wedding Couple:.

.:Hahaha cuteness (The ones at the back I mean):.

.:4 shorties.. hehehe:.
.:In Universal Studio:.
.:Pulling my own Pant up:.




So happened that Elephant Parade was going on in Singapore at the time we were there and I love elephants... Lucky! The Elephant Parade is the world’s largest open air art exhibition of decorated elephant statues that seeks to attract public awareness and support for Asian elephant conservation. For more info, log on to: - http://elephantparade.com/ basically it's to aid for the elephant hospital that saves the poor elephants.


.:Papa & Opera Elephant:.
.:Me & a cororful elephant:.


.:Ongako & a black elephant:.


Manukan, Sabah

The week after, I also went to Manukan in Sabah with some collegues & ex-colleagues. It was a day trip as it's just a small island where people can picnic and spend some quality time together. I didn't know that snorkeling can be so much fun. I came back nicely tanned with nice complexion.


The day started at Jesselton Port which is just next to Parkson Suria, KK.  The price for a return speedboat per person is RM24 or slightly more depending on the boatman.


.:Jesselton Port:.


.:In the boat:.


.:The Fee:.


.:Water is so clear you can see the fish:.
.:Ready for snorkeling.. jacket and snorkeling tool can be rented at RM15 from the boatman:.


.:Me & Haliza:.
Besides the trip to Manukan, we did a bit of shopping in KK and got ourselves some T-Shirts and Jen even did something nice to her hair.



.:Got a T-Shirt that has great words:.
.:Jen Permed her hair:.

Wedding in Kuching...


Apart from travelling, I didn't miss one of my best buddy's wedding. Although we seldom meet now & busy with our own career & life, the 2 years of college life together was never forgotten and the bond built was for eternity. 4 of us, Leong, Hsiang, Yen & I... Oh well, Leong is married with 1 daughter, Hsiang just got married & Yen is getting married in January... What the hell, i don't give in to peer pressure. Enjoying my single & workout life! Anyway, I'm so happy for all of them.

.:Mr & Mrs Hii:.
.:Leong, Wifey & daughter:.
Speaking of which, I've been working out hard lately after the eating spree in Bangkok which brought me REGRETNESS... I'm targeting and doing at least 30 minutes workout a day and cutting down on sugar, carbohydrate & oily food which basically cutting down on everything inclusive of skipping dinner replacing it with fiber supplement. hehehe