Last Rites And New Phase Of Life

Woke up 8am cos have to be in the parlour at 10am... upon reaching we saw a crew of film-makers along the road... Some local production, I guess... surprised to see that they wanted to film the Hume Street, commonly known as the Coffin Road...

Something to enlighten our mood, I started to take some pictures...

Some voices "Cut" could be heard... and repeated scenes as well...

These two "actors" have to stand here a few times... so it seems...

different angles by the film-makers..

kind of interesting though...

over here, someone was posing for me...

some "kung-fu" flicks too...

Funeral service started at 12pm and lasted for half hour after which we adjourned to the Christian cemetery in Tambun.  A short service was conducted there and everyone was given a rose to throw where the coffin was laid.....  After a lunch in Kok Thai restaurant, it was time to go home....

A new beginning for my sister and her two kids..... May our Good Lord continues to watch over them.....

The Second Day

Another tiring day with mixed issues...

First thing was to find a home for Siew Kat, the shihszu... sister cannot take care of her now since her heart is not too good... spent an hour phoning up the pet shops/vets/groomers to adopt the doggie but to no avail... called up a few friends too but all turned down the adoption offer.

Made one final call to Christine... "hey... wanna take in my sister's dog, a shihszu?"  I expected a No... and when she said, "Oi, oi ah.."(I want, I want..) I couldn't believe my ears.. asked second time... sure or not... "Sure!"  Phew... Case closed...

After sending the doggie to my friend's place, we had our dinner and off to the funeral parlor for the 2nd night...  and back at 11.30pm....

First Day Of Wake

A very tiring day... from 6.30am I woke up and after dropping my girl to work, my sister and I have to go here and there to get everything done... Went to the funeral parlour, went to buy some black pants for my nephew and niece, drove to church... by the time we finished driving here and there, it was almost 2pm when we reached home...

I was exhausted and I think I dozed off immediately on my sofa.... but woke up at the sound of my phone ringing an hour later, I think...

Anyway, a short nap helps to freshen up the mind.. At 6pm or so, we had to go to the funeral parlour in town... but now I am back... 11pm... hungry... and eating two slices of bread with sambal dried prawns as fillings...

Tomorrow will be another day....

A Sudden Demise

Received phone call around 3pm from my mum who told me that my BIL passed away all of a sudden... My sister was too anguished to talk about it... just requested to be taken up to Cameron Highlands ...

Around 3pm we drove up to CH hospital to find out what really happened... the staff at the GH was very helpful and friendly, the doctor, attendants and even the police officer were kind enough to explain to us and made all procedures smoothly without much waiting and fuss....

Went to the mortuary to confirm... went to my BIL's apartment to clear up his belongings, his colleagues/roommates helped us and one willingly drove us back to Ipoh in my car because I cannot drive on highways during dark....


My sister is like Job... she faces obstacles after obstacles.. she must stay strong and faithful.. May the Good Lord continues to watch over her and her family...

Street Party In Sungai Buloh

The next day my sister-in-law told us that there was going to be a street party near her area. Having not really experienced a street party before, it did sound exciting to me...

Before the party started, my girl and I took a walk around the neighbourhood to survey which house is for sale.. never know one day I might be one of the house owners there, right? *dream on, zzzZZZZZ*

the place where the party was going to start..

yours truly walking around and "surveying" anything interesting...

when it was night, the street began to fill up with residents.. 

there was even a karaoke competition, so I heard... 

one lady was belting out an English number... 

two pretty girls were singing a Mandarin Duet..

 

unfortunately it was too late for me to participate! haiyah...

 But at least I managed to witness the beautiful fireworks!

What a night to remember.... 

My Three Points In Traveling

I received a call from an ex-colleague this afternoon.  Indeed it was a surprise to receive a call from her after "losing" touch for a period of time.  After our sharing of formalities about our families, she asked me whether I was keen to go for a tour with her this coming May.  When she mentioned that she was interested to go for a Turkey holidays during this May, I was sort of taken aback.  Those days when we were working together, she never mentioned going for tours before, in fact she was not keen in traveling altogether.  Now few years later, she told me that she wanted to go to as many countries as she can afford to.  Before I could ask her why, she told me about three points on traveling.  Since we are not getting "younger" anymore, she added that IF we have the Time, Money and Good Health, why shouldn't we go traveling?  Well, she indeed have a point there... I love traveling too but I keep on procrastinating at times.  When I travel, I make sure I have the right company, the country I love to visit and the "extra" money that I could spend on.  Without these three points, I also would not like to travel.... How about you?  Do you like traveling?

Birthday Bash In Kuala Lumpur

During the evening we had a buffet dinner in the house to celebrate my nephew's birthday. There was nothing much to do, most of the food were either catered or cooked by my SIL.... I just linger around to touch up here and there.. hahaha... (pretend to be busy!)

This birthday party reminded me of my kids when they were small... I used to hold parties for them on their birthdays... but when they reached their teenage years, the parties began to dwindle... no more holding parties but just eating out and then a quiet time blowing out candles in the house... (yours truly is truly truly getting lazier each year.....)

for a moment, I didn't recognize myself... hehehee...

 

posing and pretending to be busy...

part of the food served...

oopss...barefoot..

then the guests began to eat after a short prayer and birthday song sung..

oopps.. Andy's serious face...

 

the young guests... 

After the party, I thought there would be a live band...

How I love to Jam!!

Am I too old for that??  :)

Pan Heong, Here We Come...

One of my highlights of going to KL is to "visit" and savour Pan Heong Restaurant in Batu Caves.  But knowing Andy and myself who are "hopeless" in directions even with GPS, we were quite pessimistic of finding our way there.

But upon reaching my brother's house in Sg. Buloh around two, to my great delight, my brother said he would be taking us there even though he has just taken his lunch with his family.... I told Andy that we must learn how to remember the direction of the roads to Pan Heong since we love the food there so much....

My brother also loves the food here.. these were what he ordered...

 claypot porridge with fish slices and century egg..

a lot of you don't like these croaking flesh.. 

sorry...

but I do love them very much...

Just steaming them will do.. original taste...

the crispy fried beancurd fish paste

my girl likes the Jawa mee (chinese style)

and everyone loves this...

Sang Har koay teow noodles (flat noodles)

in egg gravy...

The thick egg gravy with the fresh prawns....

Six of us "walloped" the above mentioned..

A meal not to be missed by us... 

Here is the address..
No. 2, Jalan Medan Batu Caves 2, Medan Batu Caves

03-6187-7430

Travel At The Right Time

My brother and I were discussing about our kids' education this morning. Both his and my kids are moving a step forward to furthering their academic education, either locally or overseas.  We were comparing the currency and livelihood if one were to study here and the difference it cost to study in Europe.  Of course, the difference will be wide in terms of currency and from our conversation, I learn a number of new things here and there, since my brother is more "exposed" when it comes to education and traveling.
Talking about traveling, he has been to many countries globally whereas I have not, so it is good to listen which countries to visit and which are not. I am hoping to visit some Europe countries this year and one of them in my list is Spain. It is best to visit Spain when it is not during the festive or peak season of the year, meaning the best time to visit is around early May and late October, it is not too hot nor cold and the prices are still reasonable. Well, I hope to get more of Spain holidays information first before I can inform my friends whether they are interested.

Happy Chap Goh Mei 2012

 Thanks to my SIL's sister... She took us to 1Utama at noon and spent nearly 5 hours there till we were really satisfied... came back to Sg Buluh "heavier" carrying a few bags but "lighter" in my purse... bet everyone can guess who's the one who spent my money... huhuhu...

I am missing home already and can't wait for tomorrow to go back....waiting to go home, see Labbie and to know whether the "scraping" sound is still there or not... 

Mission accomplished here down south, my mum is happy .... at least can see her son, my brother and his family before the Chinese New Year ends tomorrow...

So here we are in Sungai Buloh...

wishing Everyone...

Happy Chap Goh Mei 2012!!

What's That Sound?

Last night or should I say, early dawn.. not sure of time but I heard some "scraping sound"... it jerked me up from my sleep... I ignored it, trying to get back to sleep but I couldn't... the "Sound" kept coming back and plucking up my courage, I looked out from my window to the balcony....

Nothing.... then I went to toilet and made the flushing sound, hoping to scare "whatever" is out there... but the sound came back again once I laid myself down on the bed... Feeling dissatisfied, I got downstairs and looked for Labbie, hoping that she was the one who made the sounds of "digging" and "scraping."  But she was sleeping peacefully....

Well, until this morning, I could not find out what the sound is... I don't see anything wrong anywhere..

Oh...oh.... don't tell me that the TERMITES were doing all the "Sounds" that I heard?  ahhhhhh.....

Freezing Cold In Korea Sunlight

Aaron calls me each night through viber (that is one of the reasons he gave me an iPhone to save costs :)  and last night we talked about our plans to go traveling again this year.  He told me that there is a good promotion in this certain airline to Sydney and Hong Kong in March and April respectively.  The flight rates are super cheap during that period but we were discussing whether we should book it now or not.  Both of us voiced out the places we like to visit and making some holiday comparison here and there, checking out their flight tickets, the accommodation and the local tour guides.  We suggested a few places and perhaps this time, we do not have to go in December which is always crowded and the tickets are more expensive.

Aaron and I can take leave anytime so the only problem is Andy and my girl.  Their college semester holidays might differ from each other, the timing will not be right.  Oh well.. lets see how it goes this year... meanwhile.. this is the most freezing time we ever had even though the sun was shining brightly....

 

Lean on Me...

how many hands???

Great fun to go as a family...

Hope we can always go for an annual trip..

Hot Porridge Is What I Needed Now...

What I am yearning for now is a bowl of hot porridge like this...

My poor stomach is still tender after a bout of food poisoning that left me weak and tired this morning.  A sleepless night, tossing and turning like a "fried fish" because of stomach cramps.  I thought of taking medical leave today but then I have to take my girl to work, so no point in taking leave when I have to leave the house anyway... life is such, huh...

 Back to my porridge pictures, these were taken on the first morning in Seoul, Korea... we were ushered into a shop which served us porridge and other condiments this early morning...

 It was a very cold winter... everyone hurried to enter the shop for some warmth...

something hot to warm our bodies...

 Part of the condiments to go with white, plain, hot porridge...

 

These are part of the condiments to go with the porridge, fried fish, fried crispy flour and some salted vegetables.  I cannot remember what else because these were the only pictures I took while we were inside the shop.  Perhaps I was too hungry to snap more, cold weather really makes the stomach "growls" louder.  LOL...

Last night my girl and I were having a talk on where to go this year, that is before she enters college.  She was asking me about any trips to the western countries this time round and I thought of mentioning Cancun holidays.  I bet she does not know where this place is....  :)

Family Trip To Korea

My desktop computer is now under repair, I hope it can be repaired and back to normal in a day or two. For the time being, I have to depend on my office computer to do some updates. When I was browsing through some files in my office computer, I came across a lot of pictures which I am still keeping here, sort of a "back-up" in case the pictures in my desktop couldn't be retrieved. 

Looking back at these photos and our trip to Korea in 2010, they enlighten up my present mood.  These pictures really bring back sweet memories, we were two years younger then and life was not the same as it is now. Every year we face changes in our lives but one thing we want to maintain is to arrange yearly family holidays.

These holidays do not have to be overly-expensive and beyond our budget limits, they can be local or it can be somewhere near to our country. As long as we go as a family, the joy and fun to be together is all that counts... Take as many pictures as we like and as the years go by, they never fail to put a smile on our faces...

 December 2010 in Korea

For the next few posts, I will post up our traveling pictures...
Just in case the pictures "disappear" from my computers, at least I still can see them in my blog.  :)