Active Golden Girls

Some years ago (17)

2012-02-04T18:39:00.004+08:00

Date of entry: 24 June 1948

(The original entry was in Chinese. This is a translation)

Recently in Malaya there had been some security issues. In Johore there were gun-killing incidents. A European rubber estate manager was killed. The government issued emergency orders to address the situation. Every morning I buy meat from the pork seller in the market. He always treated me very well, often charging me less than others. This morning I was surprised to hear that he has been arrested. So far in Parit 6 persons had been arrested.

By Woon/Joon SC

Note: In the picture, the writer is in a white hat, white shirt and short trousers, holding a gun

A smile in my heart

2012-02-03T20:48:00.013+08:00

Images like these always send a smile to my heart.

My friends Ethelin and Beng at their 60th anniversary

My friends Agnes and Jerry who are accomplished dancers

Courtesy of http://phtosearch.com/

"Lou Hei" with family and friends!

2012-01-30T22:58:00.012+08:00

This dish consists of raw fish slices, crushed peanuts, shredded pomelo, carrots, radish, lettuces, and many varieties of colorful raw vegetables and fruits placed together on a large dish. When it is served, everyone will stand up with their chopsticks and toss up all the shredded ingredients as high as possible into the air with the chopsticks, while saying auspices wishes (吉祥话) out loud at the same time. Everyone who participate in the "lou hei" will have better business opportunities and success for the coming New Year and the higher one tosses, the greater will be his fortunes for the year.

CNY with the family

2012-01-24T16:16:00.016+08:00

The very crowded SS2 market on the morning of Chinese New Year Eve.

At my Father's house on the first day of CNY. CNY is the time when family members all try to come home.

Dinner at the Curve where we enjoyed my daughter Deedee's generosity...a record of sorts because it was the first time she played host!

The joy of living

2012-01-18T15:37:00.014+08:00

The south wind is driving
His splendid cloud-horses
Through vast fields of blue.
The bare woods are singing,
The brooks in their courses
Are bubbling and springing
And dancing and leaping,
The violets peeping.
I'm glad to be living:
Aren't you?

The Joy of Living
by Gamaliel Bradford(1768 - 1824)

Little miss gorgeous, Iffah, just turned one!

The Lion was mingling with the crowd at the Curve

When at this restaurant, the way to go is to eat one whole fish EACH! My mouth still watering...

Some years ago (16)

2012-01-10T13:40:00.009+08:00

Date of entry: 14 June 1948

The 10th of June was a public holiday, being the King's birthday. I went to Ipoh on the 9th at 6 pm and brought 3 chickens, one for cousin and 2 for sister.

At 9 pm I took a walk in the Jubilee Park. Suddenly, Chew Jong Kiew met me and called me before I could see him. Thoo Yam and Low Sow Yee were also there, the former came to Ipoh on transfer 6 months ago and the latter had been in the Security Department for the past 9 years. Jong Kiew, the Station Hotel Clerk and I went to Celestial Cabaret and sat down for about 15 minutes. I took beer while they took light refreshements. This is the first time I met Jong Kiew since the Japanese Surrender, while we were in Kuala Lumpur we did not care to meet.

by Joon/Woon SC

(In the picutre, Joon/Woon SC is seated, 4th from the left)

Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger!

2012-01-03T00:22:00.012+08:00

Image from photobucket.com

Image from http://www.newsbbc.org.uk/
Image from http://www.flatrock.org.nz/

Every year 15 million children die of hunger

For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for 5 years

The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the world is well-fed, one-third is under-fed one-third is starving

One in twelve people worldwide is malnourished, including 160 million children under the age of 5.

Nearly one in four people, 1.3 billion (a majority of humanity) live on less than $1 per day, while the world's 358 billionaires have assets exceeding the combined annual incomes of countries with 45% of the world's people.

Half of all children under five years of age in South Asia and one third of those in sub-Saharan Africa are malnourished.

To satisfy the world's sanitation and food requirements would cost only
US$13 billion- what the people of the United States and the European Union spend
on perfume each year.

The assets of the world's three richest men are more than the combined GNP of all the least developed countries on the planet.

Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger

Extract from http://library.thinkquest.org/C002291/high/present/stats.htm

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

2012-01-01T00:02:00.004+08:00

来自世界任何一个角落的朋友, 祝大家新年快乐 !

To all of you from every part of the world, HAPPY NEW YEAR !

How do I love thee?

2011-12-31T18:13:00.014+08:00

How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

- Extract of a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806 –1861, one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era.

My nephew Fadrul's wedding several days ago to his sweetheart, Imane Saphiia Imhof from Switzerland.

New Year Resolutions

2011-12-31T15:43:00.007+08:00

It's that time of year again when most of us find ourselves making "resolutions" for the New Year. Some may be very straight forward, such as, to lose 10 kilos, to stop smoking, to drink less coffee, to take a vacation to a place you have never been before, etc. Most, I might hope, should focus on self improvement and the betterment of ourselves as a person. I hope we all would want to be a better person whatever our religious inclination and we would want to make a resolution to pursue ways to achieve the desire to become a better person.

Flowers in bloom

2011-12-31T14:55:00.010+08:00

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo

My White Lady Anthuriums flowered again after 3 years. The last blooms were in September 2008.

PERHAPS you’d like to buy a flower?
But I could never sell. If you would like to borrow
Until the daffodil
Unties her yellow bonnet
Beneath the village door,
Until the bees, from clover rows
Their hock and sherry draw,
Why, I will lend until just then,
But not an hour more!

- Emily Dickinson (1830–86),a poet particularly taken with nature

Those in power should not take the people for granted

2011-12-29T20:13:00.007+08:00

There is an on-going debate about "fairness". Let me quote Confucius.

According to Confucius, in order to lead, it is important for a leader to be fair so that all are given equal treatment and no one is considered inferior relative to the others. Confucius cautioned that those in power should not oppress or take for granted even the humblest of their people. "You may rob the Three Armies of their commander," said Confucius, "but you cannot deprive the humblest peasant of his opinion." If this does not happen, a leader will no longer be given the mandate to lead.

Image from http://photobucket.com

Chid abuse in Malaysia

2011-12-28T20:18:00.003+08:00

Child abuse is an offence in Malaysia, punishable under the Child Act (2001) and the Penal Code (revised 1997). Offenders may be liable to a maximum fine of RM 50,000 or up to 20 years imprisonment, or both depending on the offence. Offenders may also be punished with whipping in addition to the fine and/or imprisonment.

Despite significant strides made by the Government in improving child protection measures in recent years, statistics from the Department of Social Welfare show a rise in reported child abuse cases in Malaysia:

 2008: 2,780 child abuse reports
 2007: 2,279 child abuse reports
 2006: 1,999 child abuse reports.

The national reported figures in Malaysia represent ONLY reported cases to the Department of Social Welfare, police or hospitals/clinics when children are treated. Global experience shows that only a small proportion of child abuse of children is reported and investigated, and few perpetrators are held to account.

Source: http://www.unicef.org/malaysia/GetonBoard-Factsheet-Child-Abuse-in-Malaysia.pdf

Some years ago (15)

2011-12-22T11:32:00.003+08:00

Date of entry: 4/6/1948

(The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Last night I dreamt of my Aunty sitting on a bench. Sitting together with her was a man about middle-aged, wearing traditional Chinese costume. The man was neither fat nor thin, his face was full and square and he was hearty looking. I also saw wife and Hou. The man said "Do you know who I am? I am the god's angel who have come to protect Hou". Then I woke up from from my dream.

Grilled fish anyone?

2011-12-19T22:18:00.005+08:00

Found these mackerels grilling on charcoal fire at the backlane of a popular eatery in KD, while waiting for my car to be washed! Give me the creeps to think that I have eaten there several times! Yaks!!

Two sisters

2011-12-15T20:01:00.011+08:00

Two sisters through the years.

One used to be an introvert, the other nearly left home for Bollywood

Some years ago (14)

2011-12-09T22:15:00.009+08:00

Date of entry: 1/6/1948

(The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

At 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Abdullah told me that the Ipoh hospital had telephoned to inform that Hou is completely cured and could be discharged immediately. I was so happy. I did not even want to take my lunch. I went back to take some clothing for Hou and left immediately for Ipoh.

Wife and daughter Peng had already gone to Ipoh this morning. Not knowing that Hou can be discharged today she had not brought his clothing along.

I arrived in Ipoh at 2 o'clock. Wife, big cousin sister, daughter Peng and 4th cousin brother were already in Rex waiting for me. We went immediately to the hospital. Hou had stayed in the hospital for 13 days in total. He has lost a lot of weight and looks pale. My poor son, he is so young, cannot even walk yet but had to suffer from so much hardship for 13 days.

Enjoy today!

2011-11-29T09:57:00.004+08:00

A friend sent me this today. Think I'll share this here:

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN,YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE; SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

Some years ago (13)

2011-11-27T00:36:00.006+08:00

Date of entry: 30/5/1948 (Sunday)

The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Yesterday afternoon at 4pm I arrived in Ipoh to see Hou. The nurse told me that the diphtheria has subsided but Hou now has a cold and cough. It seemed as though he recognized me. I went out to buy a tin of Marie biscuit for him. When I came back I found him lying down. Since I noticed he was not asleep I touched his forehead. When I touched him he yelled out aloud. I immediately withdrew. He did not feel cold or hot, like normal.

This morning I again went to see Hou, together with 4th cousin brother. He did not seem very active, probably due to the cold and cough. The nurse removed his clothing and asked the hospital attendant to bathe him. She put soap all over his body and washed him with warm water.

At 10 am I went to see Hou again and brought along some grapes. I found him standing on the cot, looking happy and active. I asked the nurse to give him a grape. He took the grape, and was smiling at me while eating it. I found him quite happy and active and I then went back to Parit.

According to the nurse, the hospital had received the letter that I had written. The hospital will inform us about the date and time Hou could be discharged. I hope he can come home by tomorrow or the day after or the latest by next week.

One of the nicest things you can have

2011-11-26T21:23:00.018+08:00

I love everything that's old, — old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine - Quote from Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act I, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th edition (1919).

This week, almost everyday of the week I had been meeting up with old friends.

Lunch with my old boss, his wife and several previous colleagues. Even though I had been transferred out of the Department in 1994 and since retired, we have kept in touch and meet occassionally.
Meeting up with several of my classmates. Even though we had left high school 47 years ago we had remained bosom frineds.

Enjoying a buffet lunch with neighbours in my previous housing area. Even though I had moved away from the neighbourhood 2 years ago, they have remained my close friends.

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels

Some years ago (12)

2011-11-22T22:46:00.008+08:00

Date of entry: 25/5/1948

The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Wife with daughter Peng went to Ipoh to see Hou. When she came back she told me that the Marie biscuit and the three tins of milk I bought several days ago had finished. The nurses were not polite. Hou looked healthy and should be discharged in a few days.

Those of us at home do not have any symptom. I go to work and daughter Kim goes to school as usual.

One million children work with mercury everyday!

2011-11-21T21:04:00.004+08:00

Mercury, the silvery liquid metal, known to many from old thermometers, is one of the most toxic substances on earth. Inhaling even small doses of its vapor is dangerous. There is no known safe level of exposure.

Yet the one million children around the world engaged in artisanal gold mining work with it every day.

Please read full article: Take mercury out of children's hands

Image credit to http://photo.net

Some years ago (11)

2011-11-20T19:36:00.004+08:00

(The entries were made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Date of entry: 22/5/1948

In the afternoon at 2pm I went to Ipoh to see Hou. I bought a tin of milk and a plastic toy for him. He was sitting in the baby cot and looked normal. When he saw me he seemed to recognize me but it's like he was not sure.

The nurse said I have to buy a thermos flask. I immediately went out to buy. I also bought an additional tin of milk,4 oranges and some grapes. The nurse looked pleased.

Date of entry: 23/5/1948

In the morning at seven I went again to see Hou. The ward attendent said he was eating biscuits. I again went out and bought another tin of Marie for him.

I went to cousin's house to chat and at 10 am I went back to Parit.

Some years ago (10)

2011-11-17T22:28:00.010+08:00

Date of entry: 20/5/1948

(The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

Yesterday 19th I took my son Hou to a clinic in Ipoh. At 12 noon he was examined by the doctor, who declared that Hou had Diphtheria. The doctor immediately wrote a reference letter and told me to send Hou to the hospital immediately, saying that this is an emergency and Hou's condition could become worse any time soon and he needs to have an injection.

When wife heard what the doctor said she was overcome with fear. We immediately hired a trishaw to go to the hospital. After the admission procedure, Hou was warded in "Ward 12". He has to stay in the hospital and visitors are not allowed. When my wife left Hou in the ward she was overcome with sadness and cried non-stop.

At 1 pm we arrived in eldest cousin sister's house, after which I went to inform 4th cousin brother.

At 2pm wife and eldest cousin sister went to the hospital to see Hou. Wife fed milk to Hou. When the nurse saw this she shouted and scolded wife. Wife immediately put Hou down and with tears in her eyes she left the ward. Hou immediately started crying very loudly.

I wanted wife to remain in the hospital to look after Hou and asked the clerk for permission. The clerk told me to ask Dr. Dourado's permission. I searched the hospital but could not find Dr. Dourado. Upon enquiring from several persons I was told that as Diphtheria is communicable, definitely the Mother cannot stay back to look after Hou. We have no choice but to return to Parit, leaving Hou alone in the care of the nurses.

Some years ago (9)

2011-11-15T20:49:00.002+08:00

Date of entry: 8/5/1948

(The entry was made in Chinese. This is a translation)

My son Hou was infected with a boil on his head. Today I took him to the Parit Medical Assistant to remove it. Pus was extracted. After that the infected area was bandaged and secured tightly. He is so young, does not know anything and had a good cry.

Quote: Joon/Woon SC

We start and end with the family

2011-11-05T00:02:00.014+08:00

Cheesy cake baked by Deedee's friend, Naeem, yummy...

A meaty dinner at a Brazilian restaurant

Farouk and wife Azni

My new canon digital, gift from Farouk and his wife

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. ~Anthony Brandt

We have these magnificent hearts that pump through all sorrows

2011-10-31T11:15:00.001+08:00

Somedays I think about quitting. I think about quitting the job I’m periodically contracted for, and being done with writing forever. I feel like quitting from the kitchen, quitting from the housekeeping, quitting from all my burdens.

Life can be cruel. We are subjected to heartaches, crushing defeats and sadness. Sometimes I am overcome by despair. I tell myself constantly to feel the contentment, to live each day as happily as I could. Some people find contentment by letting go, by giving in, by giving up. Some people find it by fighting back, by standing up, by not giving in. Some peoople like me count our blessings. I suppose I am not giving up. I know that while life is not perfect in any way, I have so many blessings and joys.

"Our lives are at once ordinary and mythical. We live and die, age beautifully or full of wrinkles. We wake in the morning, buy yellow cheese, and hope we have enough money to pay for it. At the same instant we have these magnificent hearts that pump through all sorrows and all winters we are alive on the earth." Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones.

Some years ago (9)

2011-10-26T18:17:00.007+08:00

Date of entry 27.4 1948

We, the undersigned, occupiers of temporary houses nos. 27, 28, 29, 31 & 32 of the old Post Office Road, Parit, have the honour to request that you will be so kind as to grant us another period of extension with regard to the demolishing of the above-mentioned houses until such time when new houses are built in Parit and we can find a place to go to.

It is needless to state again and again that house shortage is still a serious problem nowadays; Parit is no exception.

We sincerely hope that our request will be granted.

Quote-Woon/Joon SC

Children forced to do hard labour, abused and are usually not paid

2011-10-25T23:01:00.011+08:00

The Topeka Center for Peace and Justice showed a documentary, called " The Dark Side of Chocolate", exposing child labor and human trafficking in cocoa plantations.

The documentary brought to light the issue of child labor and human trafficking on the cocoa plantations of Africa. These plantations grow and harvest the cocoa beans for big name chocolate companies such as Nestlé.

The film starts with its two film makers doing their own investigation by journeying to the western coast of Africa to the country of Mali. This is where children were rumored to be smuggled from and transported to the Ivory Coast.

Their detective work led them to find that Mali was trafficking children at bus stations, by bribing them with work and money or simply kidnapping them from villages. They are then taken to towns near the border such as Zegoua, where another trafficker transports the children over the border on a dirt-bike via back-roads, where they are left with a third trafficker who then sells the children to plantations. Ranging from age 10 to 15, these children are forced to do hard labor, physically and sexually abused and are usually never paid. Most of them stay with the plantation until they die, never seeing their family again.

The chocolate industry is marred with child slavery!

Please read full article: The dark side of chocolate

Picture credited to http://www.treehuggers.com/

Some years ago (8)

2011-10-22T16:50:00.005+08:00

Date of entry: 26.4.1948

Sometimes my thoughts are serious. Occasionally I will ask myself what should I do that life would be dear to me, and that my children will grow up healthy in body and mind.

Quote-Woon/Joon SC

No use being a fool about it?

2011-10-18T21:24:00.008+08:00

My third batch of pineapple jam tarts. Mmm...looking better... but still not the taste I'm looking for.

An English proverb says, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again". But for me, the most likely scenario is "If at first you don't succeed, try again, then quit. No use being a fool about it"!

Friendship without self interest

2011-10-16T16:45:00.009+08:00

When our family relocated to Parit Buntar from Sabak Bernam almost 60 years ago we had to stay in the government Rest House while waiting for the government quarter allocated to my Father to be vacant. The whole family of 7 stayed in the second biggest room in the Rest House, Room number 2, for several months. The Rest House operator Mr Chuan practically adopted us as his family from day one. Although I was a very little girl then, my sis and I can still remember up to today, the kindness and generosity Mr. Chuan showered on us. Later even after we shifted to the government quarter he remained a regular visitor and we became close family friends.

When we again relocated to Petaling Jaya 10 years later, he came one day by train and presented us with a house warming gift, in the form of a clock (made in West Germany). Even though the clock is no longer functioning, I am keeping it for the memories and for the selfless friendship it represents.

"Friendship without self interest is one of the rare and beautiful things in life."
- James Francis Byrnes

To laugh often and much

2011-10-16T00:24:00.003+08:00

To laugh often and much:To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.- Ralph Waldo Emerson

知之不若行之

2011-10-15T23:51:00.003+08:00

不聞不若聞之，聞之不若見之，見之不若知之，知之不若行之；學至於行之而止矣. Hsün Tzu (荀子; born Zhao c.310 BC - 237 BC)

The meaning goes something like this: "Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will understand".

Moral: You can only understand something by trying it yourself.

Win-lose-win-lose

2011-10-12T09:17:00.012+08:00

If the person wins, he craves for more. If he loses, he wants to get back what he lost. If the gambler wins he should stop but the tendency is for him to want more and more...then, pushing the luck too far, he ends up losing all and more. Also, everyone drools over the jackpot which very rarely happens. Win-lose-win-lose-win-lose, this goes on and on if the gambler does not stop, I supposed he becomes addicted?

My friend said she does not gamble for the money but for the adrenalin. So losing is alright, really?

Some years ago (7)

2011-10-05T21:33:00.005+08:00

Date of entry: 4.4.1948

Aid for overseas Chinese

Chinese Consulates and Embassies abroad will be instructed to draw up a list of needy displaced overseas Chinese and negotiate with the International Refugee Organization for their repatriation to China, according to the decision of the Executive Yuan, yesterday.

All persons for whom IRO will not take responsibility for repatriation will be provided with travelling expenses back to China by the Chinese government.

The Executive Yuan also decided that the Ministry of Social Affairs will hereafter assume responsibility for transporting overseas displaced Chinese from the Chinese hinterland to the seaport where they will be jointly cared for by the Ministry and IRO before repatriation to their homes abroad. (Extract from Malaya Tribune 3.4.1948)

True or not?

2011-09-30T22:08:00.005+08:00

沒錢的時候，養豬；
有錢的時候，養狗。
When without money, keep pigs;
When have money, keep dogs.

沒錢的時候，在家裡吃野菜；
有錢的時候，在酒店吃野菜。
When without money, eat wild vege at home ;
When have money, eat same wild vege in fine restaurant.

沒錢的時候，在馬路上騎自行車；
有錢的時候，在客廳裡騎自行車。
When without money, ride bicycle;
When have money, ride exercise machine.

沒錢的時候,老婆兼秘書；
有錢的時候,秘書兼老婆。
When without money, wife becomes secretary;
When have money, secretary becomes wife.

沒錢的時候,假裝有錢；
有錢的時候,假裝沒錢。
When without money, act like rich man;
When with money, act like poor man.

Source: unknown

May you retain the beauty of your heart and soul

2011-09-29T20:46:00.012+08:00

Ethelin's 80th birthday!

As we grow old…the beauty steals inward.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Issue solved

2011-09-29T02:31:00.004+08:00

The issue with my Blog is solved at last. I opened the posts one by one and discovered that there is one post that caused the side bar to disappear. I resized the images of the particular post and wa..la..aa...the problem solved. Now I can go to bed.

what happened to my Blog?

2011-09-28T23:42:00.003+08:00

I do not understand why I lost my side bar on the first page of this Blog. When I view the older posts, then the side bar becomes visible. Trying to solve this issue but so far not successful.

His 1948 pin up girls!

2011-09-27T14:51:00.010+08:00

Note the caption on Betty Grable on top of picture: 'Betty Grable has been acclaimed by artists as having the most beautiful figure"!

Some years ago (6)

2011-09-22T20:56:00.005+08:00

Date of entry: 30.3.1948

When I was teaching at the Kee Che School, Temerloh, PAHANG, I had the idea of writing a small book containing about 50 simple essays which I hoped may be of some help to higher primary school students. This idea revived again and again and it seems to me that it may be good for me if I start to have a try.

More slaves world-wide than ever before!

2011-09-18T14:24:00.010+08:00

We think slavery belonged to another era. We do not see slavery as something which is still happening today.

According to a shocking new documentary by Al Jazeera English, slavery persists in the United States of America and there are more slaves worldwide than ever before!

For more information please read: Al-Jazeera-documentary-claims-slavery-still-rife-in-the-USA

First image credited to http://commons.wikimedia.org

Second image credited to http://www.oregonlive.com/

Some years ago (5)

2011-09-15T09:13:00.009+08:00

Date: 30.3.1948

Death of the Sultan of Perak occured at 12 noon yesterday. The office is closed today for nourning His Highness's death. The Malay inhabitants wear white ribbons around their songkoks and hats, and hoist the national flag at half mast. Some of them are going to Kuala_Kangsar to pay their last hormage to the late Sultan. Haji Meor Ariff told me he is one of those going to Kuala Kangsar at 1.30pm, and asked if I would be at home, and in case there is any important message he would be glad if I would receive it for him.

Treasure house of memories

2011-09-14T19:11:00.019+08:00

Methodist School Parit_Buntar Remove Class 1960

With Hasiah Said, my best friend in Remove Class who was also the Village Head's daughter

Heah Gaik Gin, my best friend in Parit Buntar. She was in From 1 while I was in Remove Class
I moved from Parit Buntar to Kuala_Lumpur in 1961 and went back to visit my friends in 1962. These pictures were taken in 1962 with my friends from the Chinese Primary School next to the Krian River who all attended Remove Class with me. Forgive me girls, out of the 6 of you I only remember 2 names!

And even if you were in some prison, the walls of which let none of the sounds of the world come to your senses - would you not then still have your childhood, that precious, kingly possession, that treasure-house of memories? ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Our decisions

2011-09-11T16:01:00.002+08:00

Many things are fated. But our lives are also a consequence of the decisions we make. Of course there are exceptions, like health challenges which may be hereditary, but largely there are many decisions we could control. For example, where to work after graduation, where to stay, should I marry him, where to send our children to school? These are all decisions within our control. Now looking back at life I realize the many decisions I had made, rightly or wrongly, had led to where I am today.

Some years ago (4)

2011-09-09T15:43:00.006+08:00

Date: 28 March 1948

Easter holidays started on the 26th and will end on the 29th. I went to Ipoh at 1pm on 26th. Cousin was lying down on the canvas chair as usual. He was sleeping and I found he was depressed as if short of income.

I was in the Rex hotel the whole day long on 27.3.48. It being a Saturday, it was the first race day of the Turf Club Easter Meeting. I had a mind of going to have a view of the Race Course but owing to the lack 0f a badge I was unable to do so. At about 5pm I borrowed the tailor's bicycle and visited the Race Course. I stood outside the hedges nd witnessed the last race. This was the first time I visited the Ipoh Turf Club which in many respects resembles the Selangor Club. I went to see the picture (chinese character) at night.

I came back to Parit at 10.30 am this morning, having bought some beef, salt fish and a piece of dress for my second daughter. At the market at Ipoh this morning there were two young men selling tiger meat which looks exactly like beef. This was the first time I saw tiger meat.

On the way back to Parit while in the bus I wished I could be returning to Kuala Lumpur as early as possible for there I can live together with many of my friends and brethen, while in Parit I have to be contented by leading a solitary life.

Everyone in Rex wishes he could have luck by getting a prize in the unlimited Sweeps and so do I. Will this wish come true?

Relaxing with the girls

2011-09-02T18:29:00.005+08:00

"I do not wish to treat friendships daintily, but with the roughest courage. When they are real, they are not glass threads or frost-work, but the solidest thing we know."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Celebrating Eid with good friends

2011-08-31T21:38:00.008+08:00

Celebrating Eid at Norhayati's. Friends since high school!

Celebrating the end of Ramadan at home

2011-08-31T21:03:00.026+08:00

Celebrating Eid il Fitr, to end one month of fasting.

The occasion is a time for thanksgiving and celebration after thirty days of dawn-to-dusk fasting during the month of Ramadan.

Indulging not with one, but two chocolate cakes!

The most delicious asam laksa, curtesy of my sister

My little visitors

Our pretty guests

My sis's neighbour and his wife, first time visitors Son Feris with my daughter-in -law's mother Daughter Deedee getting on well with Melisa, my friend's daughter

With my regular gang from my working days in the EPU

Some years ago (3)

2011-08-24T21:18:00.008+08:00

(This entry was made in Chinese. What appears below is my understanding of the original entry)

22 March 1948

"Human life is limited, time is unlimited. How to reconcile the two? The more I try to understand life, the more confused I get. But if we do not think, are we then not different from a stone? What is the purpose of life? The human brain seems to lack the capacity to fathom this mystery".

Quote-Joon/Woon SC

Some years ago (2)

2011-08-21T17:16:00.008+08:00

Date: 8.March 1948

The philosopher Tsang being ill, he called to him the disciples of his school, and said "Uncover my feet, uncover my hands. It is said in the Book of Poetry,"We should be apprehensive and cautious, as if on the brink of a deep gulf, as if treading on this ice, and so have I been. Now and hereafter, I know my escape from all injury to my person. O ye, my little children.""

I shall be forever as cautious as Tsang Tze.
Quote - Joon/Woon SC

Breaking fast alone again

2011-08-21T17:10:00.002+08:00

My breaking- fast-alone feast: 3 cups of pure sugar cane juice, roast chicken wings with roasted vegetables (yesterday's left-over), traditional Malay deserts and Hainanese Chicken Chop!

Some years ago (1)

2011-08-19T18:17:00.004+08:00

Date: 9 March 1948

Ideas come and go. They are to be written down otherwise they will disappear and be gone foreever. Again and again I have such an experience which affects the progress of my life not to a small extent. It is already late that I have not caught hold of all that I wished to remember earlier. I kept no diary.

I hope, with this little book, to record down all those ideas which are dear to me or things I wish to remember.

Ideas may come and go,
But life goes on forever;
Chances may come and chances may go,
But time goes on forever;
In order to make the best use of this,
My transient life,
I should take down all those I wish to remember.

Quote: Joon/Woon SC

Skeletally, people are actually designed to live to 120!

2011-08-09T08:15:00.007+08:00

Singapore's 113 years old Teresa Hsu

Hong Kong geriatric experts said on 7 August 2011 at the Elderly Health Day 2011 that good habits developed from at least middle age can contribute greatly to longevity and quality of life – lending credence to the Chinese saying that anyone can live to be 100.

According to the experts, “The typical belief is that you simply have to have the right genes to live for a very long time, but this is not always the case. As much as 70% of one’s longevity can be traced to lifestyle, including the way people eat, whether or not they smoke, and how much they exercise".

Read full article: http://www.asianscientist.com/topnews/teresa-hsu-elderly-health-day-2011/

Batu Caves - my work-out for the week!

2011-08-08T20:29:00.015+08:00

My niece LeeAnn who ran all the way up Batu_Caves
without stopping to catch a breath. Oh... the exuberance of youth!
Despite the limitations of age, I actually did survive the 272 steps climb! Fortunately for me and my sister, there are several landings along the way where we could catch our breath and at the same time admire the view and "socialize" with the many monkeys which came quite near the visitors.I understand those visiting Batu Caves can look forward to using a new cable car service next year instead of climbing up the 272 steps leading to the temple.

“It always seems impossible until its done.” - Nelson Mandela

100 Birthday Dinner 4- my favourite pictures

2011-08-01T20:58:00.024+08:00

Having just had a tiff with her cousins, Aeesha Woon had to be persuaded by her Mother Anita to join in the family photo session about to take place soon, while the grandpa looked on so helplessly. he..he...

Well... Anita managed to coax Aeesha and the picture was taken. Thank you Anita and I think some years down the line Aeesha will thank you too for "dragging" her in!
My Father the birthday boy looking a picture of absolute joy flanked by his 2 beloved grandsons, Steve Woon and Sean Woon, who had taken the long journey back to see him. His happy face in this picture had made all our efforts worthwhile.
The impromtu performers, the birthday boy's great grand children (L-R): Keira Woon, Emma, Damia, Elizabeth and Aeesha Woon. Next to Aeesha is her Mother, Anita.
Our Birthday Boy blowing the Birthday cake!

The great grandchildren cosying up to the great grand pa. Isn't that just adorable!

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”
Thich Nhat Hanh quotes (Vietnamese Monk, Activist and Writer

MORE PICTURES AT BOTTOM OF BLOG POSTS

100 Birthday Dinner 3 -Color-Blindness in a Multi-Ethnic, Multi-National Family

2011-07-28T13:25:00.055+08:00

My Father and 4 of his Great Grandchildren- L-R: Elizabeth (Australian with ethnic Chinese parentage), Emma (Elizabeth's sister), Damia (Malaysian with Chinese-Malay Mother and Malay Father) and Aisha Woon (Australian with Italian-Malay Mother and ethnic Chinese Father) . The adult at the back is my sister (Malaysian, ethnic Chinese parentage).
L-R: Dr Marcia, my nephew Steve's wife (Australian with ethnic Chinese parentage), Ching Yun Meng, my sister's son (Malaysian with ethnic Chinese parentage currently working in Sydney), my nephew Shane Woon (Australian with ethnic Chinese parentage) and my nephew Dr Steve Woon (Australian with ethnic Chinese parentage).

L-R: My niece Farini Woon (Malaysian with Malay Mother and ethnic Chinese Father) with her son (Malaysian with Malay-Chinese Mother and Malay Father), Farini's sister Farah Woon(Malaysian with Malay Mother and ethnic Chinese Father), my nephew Shane Woon (Australian with ethnic Chinese parents), Farah's husband (Malaysian Malay) and Farini's sister, Fatim Woon (Malaysian with Malay M0ther and ethnic Chinese Father)
L-R: My daughter-in-law Azni (Malaysian with Pakistani Mother and Malay Father), my son Farouk (Malaysian with ethnic Chinese Mother and Malay Father), Shane Woon (Australian with ethnic Chinese parents), my daugher Fedelia and my elder son Feris. Sitting is of course their 100 year old Grandfather.
My nephew Fadrul Woon (Malaysian with Malay Mother and ethnic Chinese Father) and my Father's youngest Great Granddaughter Iffah (Malaysian with Malay Mother and Malay-ethnic Chinese Father).

My niece Samantha (Australian with ethnic Chinese parents) and her children Elizabeth and Emma.

In the middle is Yun Mei, my niece (Malaysian with ethnic Chinese parents), to her right her fiancee who is Dutch and to her left, my nephew Freddy Woon (Malaysian with Malay Mother and Ethnic Chinese father).

L-R: My nephews Sean Woon (Australian with ethnic Chinese parentage), Shane Woon (Australian with ethnic Chinese parentage and Anita (Sean's wife, Australian of Italian- Malay parentage).

My niece, LeeAnn Woon (Australian with ethnic Chinese parentage)

Pretty confusing eh? All these persons (and more) are directly descended from my Father and his wife my Mother who married more than 75 years ago!

Family values are a little like family vacations - subject to changeable weather and remembered more fondly with the passage of time. Though it rained all week at the beach, its often the momentary rainbows that we remember.
LESLIE DREYFOUS quotes

100th Birthday dinner 2 - a good MC makes the evening

2011-07-27T01:09:00.009+08:00

Sean Woon, my nephew who was the MC for the evening.

L-R : my father, the birthday boy, Damia, brother Tai Keat's granddaughter (Fatini's daughter), Aisha Woon, brother Tai Hou's grand daughter (Sean's daughter).

L-R: Steve, brother Tai Hou's younger son, my Father the birthday boy and Sean, brother Tai Hou's elder son, also the MC for the evening.

Sean's daughter Keira Woon trying to give greatgrandpa a big kiss!

Welcoming address by my nephew Sean Woon whose ability as the MC was beyond my expectations. Well done, Sean!

"Ladies and gentlemen,

My name is Sean Woon Wei Yung. I am the fourth grandchild of my grandfather. It is indeed a great pleasure for me to welcome all our relatives and our very close friends to my grandfather’s 100th birthday celebration. On behalf of my Father, Mother, my Uncles, Aunties, my Sister, Brother and all my cousins, I can’t thank you all enough for sacrificing your valuable time to be with us tonight in this joyous family occasion.

Most of us here are related by blood ties (probably about 70% of us here) or by marriage ties. However, some of us may not have met one another for quite a while, and some of us may have never even met before, mainly because of our geographical distances. I would therefore encourage all my cousins, relatives and friends to mingle around and take this rare opportunity to touch base and to get to know one another a bit better. Among my grandfather’s 16 grandchildren, all are here today, with the exception of our cousin Dr. Freeda Woon who is in London pursuing her specialist program and could not take time off to come home. But I am sure her heart is here with us.

Tonight’s event will start off with the cutting of the birthday cake. During the cutting of the cake I hope you will all sing together to wish our grandfather a very happy birthday. He certainly deserves some special gesture after waiting for 100 years! After the cutting of the cake the “SHOU PAU” or longevity buns in the shape of a peach will be served, together with the “SHOU MEEN” or longevity noodles and the red-coloured eggs. According to Chinese culture, peaches and noodles symbolize long life, health and prosperity while coloured red eggs symbolize new life. It is believed that anyone who has eaten a longevity peach would live as long as a 100 years! So I hope you will all try to eat up the pink peaches together with the noodles and the eggs.

We have also prepared for each of you to take back a small red packet, a "SHOU" Chinese Rice Bowl, a pair of Chopsticks and a Spoon, which is a symbolic gesture that the birthday person is giving to our guests a lot of wealth and plenty of food to be had always with those rice bowls, chopsticks and the spoons. Thanks go to my cousin Farah for the gift wrapping.

We will also be showing a video, A Retrospective of a Man Who Had Lived a Century Long. The credit for producing the video goes to my cousin Feris, who is my Grandfather’s third grandchild.

Once again, thank you so much ladies and gentlemen for spending your valuable time with us and please relax and enjoy the evening".

100th Birthday Dinner 1 - a hard act to follow!

2011-07-25T08:45:00.020+08:00

All his children, grandchildren (except for Freeda in London) and greatgrandchildren came back from far and near for father's 100th birthday celebration on 24th July 2011

The "shau Pau" or longevity Pau

100 year old birthday boy looking intently while the video was being shown.

Excerpt of my Brother tai Hou's speech at the Birthday reception:

I WONDER HOW MANY OF US HERE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR OWN 100TH BIRTHDAY. VERY FEW I THINK. MAYBE EVEN NONE. BECAUSE IT IS NOT EASY TO REACH 100. SO HOW DID HE DO IT? WHAT IS HIS SECRET FORMULA?

I AM GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME ASPECTS OF HIS LIFESTYLE SO THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO WISH TO LIVE A LONG LIFE CAN GET SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO ACHIEVE IT.

FIRSTLY, NO LATE NIGHTS. HE HAS NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO SLEEP LATE. HE GOES TO BED BY 9.00 PM AND WAKES UP AT 5.00 AM EVERY DAY AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER AND THAT IS A LONG TIME AS YOU CAN JUDGE BY MY GREY HAIR.

NO PUBS, NO DISCO'S, NO LATE NIGHT SUPPERS. HE EVEN HARDLY GOES TO THE CINEMA. THE LAST FILM HE SAW WAS "BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI". HE STILL SAYS THAT THAT IS THE BEST FILM EVER MADE. THE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES HAVE LONG GONE BUT HE IS STILL AROUND.

SECONDLY, EXERCISE. IN HIS EARY YEARS IN HAINAN, CHINA, HE USED TO DO HAINANESE KOON TOW. YES, THERE WAS SUCH A THING AS HAINANESE KUNG FU THOUGH I SUSPECT THE ART IS LONG GONE. HE USED TO DEMONSTRATE IT, SOMETHING LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN SHAOLIN AND SILAT.

WHEN HE STARTED SCHOOL IN KUALA LUMPUR HE PLAYED BADMINTON AND TABLE TENNIS. HE CLAIMED HE REPRESENTED METHODIST BOYS SCHOOL IN TABLE TENNIS. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT HIS BADMINTON WAS EXCELLENT. WE USED TO SEE HIM SEND MUCH YOUNGER MEN SCURRYING
ALL OVER THE COURT WITH HIS DEFT FLICKS AND TOUCHES. THE SCORELINE WAS USUALLY 15 - 0, 15 - 0. AS KIDS WE USED TO MARVEL AT THE SIZE OF HIS RIGHT FOREARM WHICH WAS TWICE THAT OF HIS LEFT.

HE ALSO PLAYED SOME TENNIS WHEN HE STARTED WORKING BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE HAD TO GIVE THAT UP DUE TO LACK OF AVAILABLE COURTS AS HE WAS TRANSFERRED FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER IN THE COURSE OF HIS WORK.

BUT IT IS HIS LOVE OF WALKING THAT IS LEGENDARY. EVERYDAY AND TWICE A DAY ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS. EACH WALK COULD TAKE 2 HOURS AT A BRISK BUT COMFORTABLE PACE. WE BELIEVE THAT HIS WALKING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR THAT DETERMINES HIS LONG LIFE.

WHEN WE WERE LITTLE KIDS BACK IN PARIT BUNTAR, WE USED TO ASK HIM TO TAKE US ALONG ON SATURDAY MORNINGS. AT TIMES HE OBLIGED, OTHER TIMES HE SAID WE NEED TO SLEEP. WE HAD TO GET UP AT 5.00 AM AND WALKED AND WALKED TILL 7.00 AM. IN THOSE DAYS THE ENVIRONMENT WAS STILL PRISTINE AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COOL MORNING AIR WITH THE SIGHT OF OWLS STILL FLYING AROUND OR STOPPING TO ADMIRE THE FISHES IN THE STREAMS AND CANALS. FISHES THAT CAN ONLY BE SEEN IN AQUARIUMS NOWADAYS. THESE EXPERIENCES MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE GAVE ME A DEEP IMPRESSION AND NURTURED MY ONGOING LOVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE GREAT
OUTDOORS.

MY MOTHER USED TO TELL ME THAT WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER AND STAYING AT BRICKFIELDS , KUALA LUMPUR, THERE WERE OCCASIONS WHEN HE WOULD WALK TO PORT KLANG AND BACK. IT WAS PORT SWETTENHAM IN THOSE DAYS. DO YOU KNOW HOW FAR THAT IS? BY PRESENT DAY MEASUREMENTS, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN
KL AND PORT KLANG IS 39.8 KM. BUT IN THOSE DAYS WE DID NOT HAVE THE LEBUH RAYA WHICH IS STRAIGHT. THE ROAD WAS A WINDING ONE AND UP AND DOWN THROUGH RUBBER PLANTATIONS. SO IT WAS MAYBE TWICE AS FAR THEN AS IT IS NOW.

AS YOU CAN SEE FOR THOSE OF US WHO WOULD LIKE TO LIVE TO 100, IT IS A VERY HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. BUT IF YOU CAN FOLLOW IT AND ENJOY IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR DIET. YOU CAN EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT BECAUSE MY FATHER'S DIET WOULD MAKE ANY NUTRITIONIST CRINGE IN HORROR.

HE HAS 2 HALF BOILD EGGS EVERY MORNING AND HE ALWAYS ADD EXTRA SALT BECAUSE NOTHING WAS SALTY ENOUGH. HE IS THE ONLY PERSON I HAVE SEEN WHO DIPS HIS FRIED SALTED FISH IN SOY SAUCE. HE LOVES NOTHING MORE THAN LOTS OF FAT ON HIS MEAT AND BATHES IT IN CINCALUK BEFORE EATING. HE BELIEVES THAT SALT AND FATS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR WELL BEING.

HE LOVED HIS DRINK TOO, BEING ABLE TO FINISH ONE BOTTLE OF BRANDY IN ONE SITTING. BUT HE HAS GIVEN THAT UP AS HIS SYSTEM CANNOT HANDLE IT ANY MORE. BUT HE USED TO SAY THAT ALCOHOL IS GOOD FOR HEALTH AS IT MAKES THE BLOOD RUN. WHO ARE WE TO SAY THAT HE IS WRONG?

BUT ON A MORE SERIOUS I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, TO THANK MY FATHER AS WELL AS OUR LATE MOTHER FOR BRINGING US INTO THIS WORLD AND BRINGING US UP. WE DO NOT REALISE IT THEN BUT WE DO REALISE IT NOW HOW TOUGH IT ALL WAS.

“To understand your parents' love you must raise children yourself.”
A Chinese Proverb

Pre birthday Dinner 3

2011-07-24T17:45:00.014+08:00

The greatgrandfather with his 4 adorable greatgrand daughters who are living in Australia. Meeting for the first time.

Shane and LeeAnn (brother Tai Kam's son and daughter) chatting happily with their cousin sister-in-law, Anita.

mmm...nyonya kueh for Steve, brother Tai Hou's younger son
Sean Woon, brother Tai Hou's elder son and wife Anita

Shane, Steve and Anita
So amused at an old photo!

Lee Ann, brother Tai Kam's daughter and Iffah, Freddy's 7 month pld girl

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.
Oscar Wilde

Pre-birthday Dinner 2

2011-07-22T21:45:00.005+08:00

Shane Woon, my second brother's son downed 2 charsiew paus and half a roti canai as soon as he arrived in his grandpa's house today!

Family faces are magic mirrors looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future.
-- Gail Lumet Buckley

Pre-Birthday dinner

2011-07-19T14:45:00.015+08:00

Almost all my Father's grandchildren (except Dr. Freeda in London) are coming back from far and near for his 100th birthday celebration on 24 July this Sunday.

My father's eldest grandchild Samantha Woon Seow Yen from Melbourne seen here with her grandpa yesterday.

Samantha's younger daughter Emma

Emma and her elder sister Elizabeth...what a cute cute pair! Excited at meeting their great grandfather for the first time today!

The under the tree durian treat is too tempting to resist!

When you look at your life, the greatest happiness is family happiness. ~Joyce Brothers

The past is behind.. the future is ahead...

2011-07-15T23:00:00.003+08:00

“The past is behind, learn from it.
The future is ahead, prepare for it.
The present is here, live it.”

Thomas S. Monson (American Bishop, b.1927)

An age of ease

2011-07-07T23:42:00.013+08:00

Now that we're retired...

We get caught in traffic jams, but we do not care...we 're in no hurry anyway...

We linger over our lunch and enjoy our food slowly...we need more time to munch anyway...

When they say 'excuse me ...we are closing soon...we make our way to the mall ...we need the walk to digest our food anyway....
We continue the party at our friend's and roll up our hair for all we care...we do not need to impress anybody anyway...

We talk about the good old days and make plans for another fun day... O, blest retirement! friend to life's decline -
How blest is he who crowns, in shades like these,
A youth of labor with an age of ease!
~Oliver Goldsmith

Tranquil pleasures...

2011-07-07T00:36:00.022+08:00

My otak-otak looking good on the grill. Just learnt how to make it from my sister.

House looking cosier after adding some lamps, flowers and candlestands as well as more cheerful cushions for the sofas...but... my pocket feels a little bit lighter...sob..sob...

Tranquil pleasures last the longest; we are not fitted to bear the burden of great joys. ~Christian Nestell Bovee

Memories forever locked

2011-06-26T21:23:00.015+08:00

As the seasons of life
go forward for us all...

Cherished memories still there, forever locked
in the chambers of my heart

One in six children in the world engaged in child labour!

2011-06-19T23:53:00.015+08:00

source: http://www.fotosearch.com/

How many of us know the significance of 12 June? International Labour Organization (ILO) has declared 12 June as the World Day against Child Labour. Yet, that the day is not recognized to the extent of less meaningful days like Valentine's Day.

According to UNICEF, one in six children in the world are engaged in child labor, i.e. an estimated 158 million children. According to UNICEF, millions of children are engaged in hazardous situations or conditions, such as working in mines, working with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture or working with dangerous machinery. They are everywhere, but invisible, toiling as domestic servants in homes, laboring behind the walls of workshops, hidden from view on plantations.

The worst place in this respect is sub-Saharan Africa, in which one in three children is engaged in child labor, representing 69 million children. In South Asia, another 44 million are engaged in child labor.

Oops...! Not allowed

2011-06-12T00:59:00.014+08:00

Tsin Ting, a legendary Hong Kong singer for over 50 years, now 77 years old, gave a Live Charity Concert in Malaysia yesterday. Her voice at 77? Perfect!

Oops...not allowed to take pictures at the theatre where the concert was held...he..heh...

Oops...not allowed to take pictures here too...he...heh...

A bird no more

2011-06-05T13:59:00.007+08:00

Found this at Carrefour in Kota Damansara!

I had always harboured the wish that if there is an afterlife I would like to be a bird. You know, "free as a bird". It looks like I had better think twice what I wish for.

Local places of interest

2011-05-23T15:25:00.046+08:00

Each day, awakening, are we asked to paint the sky blue? Need we coax the sun to rise or flowers to bloom? Need we teach birds to sing, or children to laugh, or lovers to kiss? No, though we think the world imperfect, it surrounds us each day with its perfections. ~Robert Brault

At the ching-swee-temple-in-genting-highlands
The founder of Genting_Highlands, Lim Goh Tong's statue. Those of you who know Chinese, try to read the inspiring notes on the stone. The English translation goes something like this "God gave us the ability to think, to talk and to move around. If we use these abilities there is nothing we cannot achieve".

Kimono in Genting???

pulau ketam (Crab Island), 45 minutes boat ride from Port Klang

The boat that took us to the island

Carefully does it.....

The jetty at the island

A boat ride anyone?

Fruits to quench the thirst

The town centre

Only bicycles on the island..no cars...

The seafood...so fresh...yummy yummy

A Temple on the island

The houses all on stilts

Instead of a school bus, here a school boat ferries the school children back to their homes along the coast.

Hatred in her eyes!

2011-05-12T13:42:00.000+08:00

I think... this 7 months old... she hates me...ha..ha...

After scolding one's cat one looks into its face and is seized by the ugly suspicion that it understood every word. And has filed it for reference."- Charlotte Gray

My Mother's Day wish

2011-05-08T18:47:00.009+08:00

Mother’s Day is so often thought of as a day of breakfast in bed, homemade cards, fresh flowers, dinner at a fancy restaurant and some special gifts. All these did not happen to me.

I spent Mother’s Day today grieving over the fate of this little 13 year old girl who was found so badly abused in Klang Malaysia.

She had a broken left arm, burn marks on her palm and her entire body, including her private parts, was scalded with hot water. Scars on one of her legs also suggested that she had been tied up and there was an iron-shaped burn mark on her back (see picture below).

The girl could barely walk and had visible injuries on her hands, face and scalding marks on her neck. The injuries may have been inflicted over the past four months. She may also had undergone two abortions! She is traumatised! So much suffering for such a young girl. Why was it not detected sooner?

A woman who was taking care of the girl has been arrested and placed under remand.

For Mother's Day I do not wish for gifts and celebrations. My wish is that such cruelty would not happen to any little child anywhere in the world.

Read full account from the Star :13-year-old cruelly abused

Only one Mother the wide world over

2011-05-08T00:18:00.007+08:00

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." - Washington Irving

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over"
-Author Unknown

Grown up

2011-04-26T16:11:00.036+08:00

This little 2 month old baby....

now looking like this...

and this...yes, my good looking elder son Feris

This scruffy young teen...?

now a handsome young man..yes, my second son, Farouk...seen here with his beautiful wife, Azni

Now... this little girl snuggling comfortably in the arms of a young lady (I was young once too you know....)
mm...she does not snuggle up to me anymore...now all grown up..., seen here with her very good friend Naeem.

Group picture taken recently at Feris' and Farouk's birthday dinner several days ago. They were born 3 years and 3 days apart in April.

I don't regret the things I have done or the things I have chosen not to do because what ever I've done, I must have done something right because I ended up with you all - Authur unknown

臨時抱佛腳

2011-04-24T00:56:00.015+08:00

Marathon writing session started at 7 am yesterday morning and taking a rest now, totaling about 15 hours, minus meal times. Rushing to complete next Friday's assignment, making up for last week's working time lost to socializing with friends and relatives. Will try to be more disciplined in the future.

This reminds me of a Chinese quotation 臨時抱佛腳, literal translation, "clasping the Buddha's feet at the last minute" . he...he...

A lesson on how to behave like a human being

2011-04-15T22:51:00.010+08:00

I feel compelled to reproduce here, an excerpt of a letter, written by Vietnamese immigrant Ha Minh Thanh (working in Fukushima as a policeman) to a friend in Vietnam. It was posted on New America Media on March 19 2011 and translated by NAM editor Andrew Lam, author of “East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres".

"Brother, there was a really moving incident. It involves a little Japanese boy who taught an adult like me a lesson on how to behave like a human being.

Last night, I was sent to a little grammar school to help a charity organization distribute food to the refugees. It was a long line that snaked this way and that and I saw a little boy around 9 years old. He was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts.

It was getting very cold and the boy was at the very end of the line. I was worried that by the time his turn came, there wouldn’t be any food left. So I spoke to him. He said he was at school when the earthquake happened. His father worked nearby and was driving to the school.

The boy was on the third floor balcony when he saw the tsunami sweep his father’s car away. I asked him about his mother. He said his house is right by the beach and that his mother and little sister probably didn’t make it. He turned his head and wiped his tears when I asked about his relatives.

The boy was shivering so I took off my police jacket and put it on him. That’s when my bag of food ration fell out. I picked it up and gave it to him. “When it comes to your turn, they might run out of food. So here’s my portion. I already ate. Why don’t you eat it?”

The boy took my food and bowed. I thought he would eat it right away, but he didn’t. He took the bag of food, went up to where the line started and put it where all the food was waiting to be distributed.

I was shocked. I asked him why he didn’t eat it and instead added it to the food pile. He answered: “Because I see a lot more people hungrier than I am. If I put it there, then they will distribute the food equally.”

When I heard that I turned away, so that people wouldn’t see me cry. A society that can produce a nine-year-old who understands the concept of sacrifice for the greater good must be a great society, a great people".

Read the full text in http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/04/04/japanese-boy-teaches-lesson-in-sacrifice/

Remembering the dearly departed

2011-04-09T13:41:00.034+08:00

Brother Tai Kam came back from abroad to perform the QingMing prayers at Mother's resting place in Fairy Park,Meru, Klang, together with sister Wan Lan. Several days before going to Fairy Park, sis Wan Lan also performed prayers to the departed ancestors in Father's house in PJ.

Apparently, QingMing or Chinese All Souls Day goes back 2000 years ago to the Han Dynasty in China when the tradition of visiting the graves of the ancestors started. QingMing means Clear Brightness in Chinese because QingMing is the time in Spring when the days are longer than the night. In the Chinese solar calendar the season of spring is sub-divided into 6 divisions of approx 14 days each. QingMing is one of sub-seasons and normally falls on the 5th or 6th of April.

I found this picture and the Chinese poem by Chinese Poet Du Mu about QingMing. Du Mu (803 - 852 CE) was a famous poet during the Tang Dynasty.

English translation of the poem:

"A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day; The mourner's heart is breaking on his way; Where can a wine house be found to drown his sadness? A cowherd points to Almond Flower (Xing Hua) Village in the distance."
Source: http://www.squidoo.com/tomb-sweeping-day

Just fooling around

2011-04-06T19:40:00.010+08:00

The first photos I took using my new hp camera.

My front yard

My backyard

Self portrait..he..he...heh

SYTs and SOTs

2011-03-30T20:59:00.005+08:00

5 decades ago as SYTs these 2 friends and I had often spent lunch times together, most of the time in the MGS Kuala Lumpur school canteen and sometimes at roadside stalls. 5 decades later, we are still close friends and still having meals together occasionally. The only differences are, the bowl of noodles does not cost 50 cents anymore but $18 and we are now SOTs, not SYTs. He..heh..heh..

你是哪一种人?

2011-03-22T01:29:00.002+08:00

您知道這世界上只有哪兩種人嗎？答案: 好人, 壞人!

你是哪一种?

Wish it was just a bad dream

2011-03-12T15:48:00.006+08:00

Glued to CNN an BBC till late into the night. The images were just horrific. We are used to seeing images of death and destruction in movies but this time the death and destruction were real. I cannot even begin to imagine how terrifying it must have been for those who were directly affected in Japan.

The earthquake yesterday is said to have moved Japan's main island by 8 feet and shifted the world at its axis!

This is such a sad day not only for Japan, but for the entire world. I wish it was just a bad dream.

My silent friends

2011-03-02T22:27:00.006+08:00

Flowers are our greatest silent friends. ~ Jim Brown

The maid paradox

2011-03-01T12:16:00.006+08:00

I have an elderly father who is no longer able to look after his everyday needs. We need a maid to look after him. With his "idiosyncracies" and his strong preferences, a nursing home is out of the question.

He has 5 children, two being overseas and therefore are spared the responsibility of looking after the father's everyday needs and spared the everyday worries. Three of his children including me are still in the country but inviting him to stay with us (which we have tried) is a non-starter as he would never leave his house.

So, we depend on a live-in maid. Herein lies the paradox: we cannot do without a maid, but we also wish we do not have to have a maid. Changing the maid may result in other problems. Well, you know the English proverb 'Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know'. So to solve the problem we allow the problem to be.

My date with 外丹功

2011-02-24T23:18:00.012+08:00

Four months ago I joined a Waitankung 外丹功 class, with great trepidation, at the invitation of a friend. Now I find myself maybe a little bit more agile and energetic. Well, it is an ancient Chinese exercise, not a martial art but more of an exercise for health enhancement. The basic principle is to activate the Hsien Tien Chi (inner energy) inside the body so that the energy flows smoothly through the internal organs. I understand this is a good exercise routine for the middle aged.There is a discipline to Waitankung. I still cannot perform all the movements properly but hopefuly I will get there one day.

Well, with exotic names like "Tortoise Breath"面東龜息吐納功 , "Fluttering of a Bird"翼臂足翹一妙功 , "Lift of Pearls" 捧珠入覲安魄功"Big Crane Walk"大仙鶴步 , etc, there is reason enough to be motivated. hehe.. .

What the elderly do to have a little fun

2011-02-20T18:09:00.005+08:00

My friend sent me this elderly humour several days ago. I think it is nice..hehe...

Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting.
Well, for example, the other day, Bev my wife and I went into town and visited a shop.

When we came out, there was a cop writing out a parking ticket.
We went up to him and I said, 'Come on, man, how about giving a senior citizen a break?'
He ignored us and continued writing the ticket.

I called him an “a--hole” . He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn-out tires.
So Bev called him a “s--t head”. He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first.
Then he started writing more tickets. This went on for about 20 minutes. The more we abused him, the more tickets he wrote.

Just then our bus arrived, and we got on it and went home.

We try to have a little fun each day now that we're retired. It's important at our age.

Source: unknown

Not an easy process

2011-02-12T21:13:00.008+08:00

I realize that bitterness festers over time. We may be able to suppress the feeling most of the time, but the when the memory gets triggered the rage will return, worse than before. The pain and the injustice overwhelm us again.

It is possible to recover from bitterness, but it is not an easy process.

CNY at my Father's

2011-02-04T20:15:00.037+08:00

Four generations and friends under one roof on CNY day at father's house in Petaling_Jaya.

祝大家新年快乐 !

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

Every Chinese New Year since Mother passed away I had diligently cooked Mother's CNY dishes. There is always stuffed fish maw, staffed shitake mushroom, stewed sea cucumber, poached chicken with chicken rice, among other dishes. Even if nobody truly appreciates my efforts, I take comfort that I am doing this to keep up Mother's tradition.

要開開心心過每一天!

Gardening, a humbling experience

2011-01-31T23:04:00.003+08:00

Totally shocked to find my full bloom periwinkle with pretty white flowers completely devoured by this fat blue-eyed green worm!

We've all had our humbling gardening experiences and will continue to have more, which is one of the best parts of the pursuit--there is always a plant about which to learn, a part of the garden to renew, or a technique to master.~Sara Begg, Executive Editor, Horticulture Magazine, May 2007

A night of camaraderie

2011-01-28T22:29:00.013+08:00

Pre-CNY dinner with my Waitankung brothers and sisters-that's how we address one another.

As the night warmed up, all the ABBAs, Beatles, Frank Sinatras, Andy Williams relived their golden days!

Precious pictures

2011-01-25T20:03:00.011+08:00

Last week my niece, LeeAnn, now in Toronto, sent me these precious images taken more than 20 years ago.

My late Mother with LeeAnn's brother, Shane, now in Melbourne

My late Mother with LeeAnn

That looks like me at the back with Shane

My Father, with Shane

Several pictures of some of my parents' 16 grandchildren. Now 4 are in Melbourne, 1 in Sydney, 1 in the Netherlands, 1 in Toronto, 1 in London and 8 in the country, 9 married, 7 not married, all pursuing their dreams. I love them all.

3 year old had 73 physical injuries!

2011-01-13T23:39:00.005+08:00

In Johor_Bahru Malaysia, abuse victim Nur Dania Qistina, 3, died last Sunday. A post-mortem on Nur Dania Qistina at Sultan Ismail Hospital found signs of internal bleeding in the lungs and 73 physical injuries on the body!

Her father, 30, and her 25-year-old step mother had been detained by police

Please read: Deceased's siblings abused as well

Child abuse is a repulsive issue for the society and it would affect the image of the country. Furthermore, it is a big problem with a serious impact on the child's physical and mental health, well-being and development throughout their lives. Children should have the human rights of life free from violence, harm and exploitation -Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Tan

For everthing you've missed...

2011-01-07T22:51:00.027+08:00

Today I finally sold our condo unit, a place we had called home for 11 years.

Good friends I made in the condo, Fuziani and Nor, never a dull moment with them

The gorgeous litle Aisha who lives on the fifth floor

Ah Hoy, the ever helpful condo handyman

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "For everything you've missed, You've gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else"

Malacca, rich in history, culture and heritage

2010-12-31T20:42:00.028+08:00

I have not set foot in Malacca for several years and it did not disappoint. Malacca, one of the two UNESCO World Heritage Cities in Malaysia (the other is Georgetown, Penang) is rich in history, culture, heritage, with famous historical sites, some dating back to the 1500s. Maybe should come back to visit a bit longer.

Walk the march with courage

2010-12-30T09:41:00.004+08:00

Today is your day to paint life in bold colors, set today's rhythm with your heart-drum, walk today's march with courage, create today as your celebration of life.- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Our new addition to the family, my nephew Freddy's daughter, born 29 December 2010 at about 8pm.

The Retirement Docs' Quiz

2010-12-29T00:08:00.007+08:00

I took the Retirement Docs' Quiz and scored 167. This puts me in the top 40%, indicating that I am on my way to a successful retirement but need some fine-tuning in specific traits.

If you are retired or near retirement age...why not take the Quiz to find out which areas you may still need to improve? It takes only about 5 minutes.

Her scalp was torn from her head and her toenail was pulled off!

2010-12-28T23:08:00.010+08:00

In New Zealand, a 30-year-old West Auckland woman is alleged to have inflicted a range of horrific abuse and torture on her terrified daughter - causing injuries so bad that those now involved with the case, including experienced child abuse investigators, say they have been deeply affected.

The injuries range from her scalp being torn away from her head while she was dragged by her hair along the floor, to vicious beatings with various weapons, and having her toenail pulled off and salt and boiling water poured on to the bleeding wound.

The girl's parents have both been charged over her injuries which allegedly occurred over a two-year period. The Father also faces charges of using a broomstick and a vacuum pipe to assault her during eight days in November. The Mother faces 32 charges including injuring with intent, assault with various weapons, wilful neglect by failing to seek medical help, withholding food, and causing grievous bodily harm.

The case has shocked and horrified members of the public. After featuring in the story in the Weekend Herald, the paper received more than 50 emails from concerned readers, many of whom wanted to know what they could do to help the little girl who is now being looked after by caregivers. Her siblings are also in safe care.

Please read: Child Abuse Case: What the Mother told officials

"Children are our most precious national assets. It is up to every one of us to make sure that they are given priority and their safety and protection is top of the nation’s agenda" - UNICEF NZ Executive Director, Dennis McKinlay

12 year old abused girl in a vegetative state since 6 years ago died

2010-12-28T22:23:00.009+08:00

A 12-year-old California girl who was beaten into a vegetative state by her stepmother 6 years ago has died. The stepmother, who is serving time for child abuse, could now face homicide charges, according to a published report.

Truly Lo, of Natomas, a neighborhood in northwestern Sacramento, was just 6 years old in 2004 when her stepmother beat and strangled her. The abuse was so severe that Truly sustained brain damage and fell into a coma. Evidence showed Truly had been slapped, spanked, beaten with a hanger and strangled for four to six minutes on May 11, 2004.

Doctors estimated Truly would only live for a day or two. Despite the dire diagnosis, Truly's Father refused to remove his daughter from life support. Truly remained in a vegetative state for six years and never regained consciousness.

Last Tuesday, Truly's oxygen levels dropped and she died at a children's care facility.

Reference: http://www.aolnews.com/2010/12/27/stepmom-may-face-homicide-charges-as-girl-dies-after-6-year-coma/

I learnt some shocking facts from http://www.childhelpusa.org/ about child abuse in the USA:

A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.
Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse and more than three out of four are under the age of 4

A busy cultural calender

2010-12-25T16:30:00.029+08:00

I think multiracial Malaysia may have one of the busiest cultural calendar of events in the world. Just a few days ago on 22 December the Malaysian Chinese community celebrated the Winter Solstice Festival. Isn't it strange to celebrate a winter festival in an equatorial climate? Although the ancestors of the Malaysian Chinese community had migrated from China to Malaysia 4, 3 or at the least 2 generations ago, the Winter Solstice festival continued to be observed in all earnestness. A must-have on the menu is glutinous rice balls stuffed with brown sugar and boiled in sweet ginger soup.

Glutinous rice balls for the Winter Solstice festival

Today is Christmas, a public holiday in Malaysia. Although the Malaysian population is majority Islam (about 60%), the Christmas atmosphere is alive everywhere. Malaysia is so culturally diverse, with many different ethnic groups, and religions. Every festival seems to be celebrated in a big way - whether it be Christmas, Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr), Deepavali, Thaipusam, Chinese New Year, Wesak Day, Gawai Dayak, Tadau Kaamatan (Harvest Festivals),Mooncake Festival, ETC.

Christmas Eve in a popular eatery /shopping complex in my neighbourhood in Petaling_Jaya

Christmas Day lunch with relatives and friends in a Hotel in Subang_Jaya

We are already there!

2010-12-16T19:47:00.000+08:00

Source: unknown