Penang Fam Trip

I was in Penang recently for a fam trip organised by Penang Global Tourism. Happy I was to have been able to meet and establish new friendships with wedding planners from Singapore and Hong Kong who were invited to see for themselves what Penang has to offer as a destination for weddings. 

Though rather hectic, it nevertheless gave us the opportunity to get to know one another and to visit the many venues that can host weddings, be it beach weddings, heritage or cultural celebrations. I also took the opportunity to extend my stay by a day in order to catch up with our local wedding partners in Penang. Some of these vendors have been long-time partners of weddingsmalaysia, and many have become good friends of mine. Having said that, we also look forward to nurturing nascent relationships that we have recently established with our newer partners. 

Over coffee and cake, we had the chance to catch up on the latest happenings, both in our work as well as in our personal lives. Taking the time to connect is always worthwhile.

Afternoon tea at D'Fat Mona Lisa Cafe in Penang, Malaysia.

Kuih Kapit Tradition

Keeping traditions alive requires some effort but the time spent doing so is very much worth it. Every year, my cousins, aunts and uncles get together to make kuih kapit, with the fruits of their labour being distributed to each family within the extended family.

 

I had been 'missing in action' for the past few years but made a return this time around. The camaraderie and chit-chat throughout make the heat and humidity bearable. Most importantly though are the memories that we will carry with us after all the hard work is done.

 

This year is extra special as cousins from Singapore and Melbourne made their way back to this get together. We look forward to congregating again come Chinese New Year proper.

 

 

Cousins kuih-kapiting in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Chinese New Year - 1st Day At The Wongs

We always start the first day of Chinese New Year with a gathering at the Wong family home serving tea to our elders, exchanging auspicious greetings and sitting down to a vegetarian breakfast. It is a familiar practice but no less enjoyable year after year.

 

This year's celebration is made extra special with the return of my cousin Suk Leng from Sheffield, England, for the festivities. She has been away on studies and work for a number of years but made it a point to come back at an opportune time to join us in the celebrations.

 

There has always been talk of getting our other cousins who are scattered in Singapore, Australia and the United States to return en masse for a Chinese New Year gathering in the years to come. When that eventuates, it will indeed be a celebration to be reckoned with. Here's to that happening sooner, rather than later.

 

 

Wong extended family in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Annual Chinese New Year Reunion

For the past seve-ral years, I have been privileged to be invited to an annual Chinese New Year reunion dinner among good friends that is always held at Overseas Restaurant in Imbi. Ranging from 3 to 4 tables, it is a very merry affair, with good food, a copious amount of drinks and most importantly the company of a group of wonderful, accepting friends.

 

Kudos needs to go out to the recurrent organisers, who year after year, without fail, send out the invites, manage the RSVPS, make the reservations, order the food, purchase the drinks and remind us with periodic updates of the impending celebration. Testament to the friendships that we have forged throughout the years, other than those of us living in the Klang Valley, some came from as far as Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai for this year's get together. A boisterous crowd we were, with happy sentiments set to last us throughout the new year ahead.

 

As the Year of the Goat beckons, I plan to dedicate the new year to nurturing and cementing friendships, particularly ones that have brought much meaning to my life.

 

 

Reunion dinner on 14 February 2015. Photo courtesy of Lim Han San.

Mun Yee & Honn Ken

My cousin Honn Ken tied-the-knot with my then cousin-to-be Mun Yee on Saturday, 28 June 2014. As with such milestones and occasions of such magnitude, the entire extended family was on hand to celebrate. My cousins even came from as far as London and from across the causeway, Singapore.

 

The days and months leading up to the big day saw family members chip in to assist in whatever way possible, when requested by the couple. There is a fine line between helping and meddling, and all who were involved were reminded of this often, sometimes by yours truly. Managing a large family is never an easy task, and much effort has to be made by each and everyone of us. A close knit family should be able to handle this with aplomb, and this we did.

 

And so, we now officially welcome Mun Yee into the Thoo family. Congrats to the newlyweds.

 

 

The Thoo family, shot at Glad Tidings in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Cousins

I have quite a number of cousins from both sides of the family and since childhood, our elders have instilled in us the value of family ties and kinship. Due to the wide age range, I am closer to some than others. Still, all of us get along well, particularly those who reside in Malaysia as we often get together for family gatherings and celebrations on an almost monthly basis. For those further off - in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, England and the US - we try to keep in touch via Facebook and Whatsapp as often as we can.

 

Going on holiday together is a great way of bonding, especially with cousins who live abroad. Such holidays are never long enough. We spend time reminiscing about our childhood, getting up to speed on the latest in our personal lives, and planning for the next vacation. We chill, we indulge in food, we get up to silly antics. To a certain extent, many of us have remained young at heart, even those who are now parents. That's what makes such trips enjoyable.

 

Here's a photo of Siew Yoong, San, Kiat Ken and I, together with my nephews Tian and Jin. This was taken during our reunion trip in Koh Samui earlier this month. A fab time we had indeed.

 

 

Photo shot at Intercontinental Samui Baan Taling Nam, Thailand.

One Of 1000 Places To See

I would say that the Intercontinental Samui Baan Taling Nam certainly lives up to its reputation as among the New York Times' bestseller '1000 places one ought to see in their lifetime'. The views are stunning. Whether viewed from a vantage point perched higher up or on the beach itself, one is constantly drawn to the seascape that unfolds before one's eyes at every turn.

 

I was very recently at the resort in Koh Samui, spending a couple of days of quality time with my cousins from Auckland, London and Singapore. Sited on a more private enclave, away from the touristic stretch, it served as the perfect spot for us to catch up on old times. Sure there were some glitches in service every now and then, but the beautiful vistas and ambience more than made up for it.

 

The setting puts one in a relaxed state of mind. It inspires us to appreciate the beauty of natural surrounds, it encourages us to be grateful for the opportunity to be there. Most importantly, it served as a catalyst for all of us to enjoy our time together, re-living our childhood memories, reveling in the present, and looking forward to what the future may hold.

 

 

Photo shot at Intercontinental Samui Baan Taling Nam in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Felix and Ting

When my good friend Felix whatsapp-ed from Taipei last month asking me if I would be available on 26 April, my immediate reaction was 'You are getting married!'. I was right. Despite the short notice, I was determined to attend. I first met Felix when we were both students in Switzerland years ago, I was working a winter season in Leysin and Felix was attending a hotel school there. We would often cook up a storm at my staff living quarters, both of us craving for some Asian food, he Hong Kong cuisine and me a taste of Malaysian dishes. We've kept in touch over the years, and would make it a point to catch up over a meal or two whenever he came to KL or when I was in Hong Kong.

 

I was happy to be invited to the wedding and I thought either Hong Kong or Taipei is just a short flight away. A few more messages later and I was advised that the wedding would be in Guam. I am always game to head to a new destination, but work commitments and flight schedules were a challenge, no matter how enticing the exotic images of Guam were. Once I told Felix that I would do my best to be there, I was determined to keep my word. With no direct flights from KL, I relied on the services of a travel agent who I must say was extremely patient with me. I kept demanding for various route options, trying to strike a three-way balance between work commitments, getting there on time as well as cost. It took a whole two weeks before we agreed on a route that would take me from KL to Singapore, then on to Tokyo before finally arriving in Guam. A trip that would be 22 hours to get there and 26 hours to get back.

 

The verdict? Totally worthwhile. To be present at a good friend's wedding, a milestone in his life, is an experience that we will both share for the rest of our lives. Spending time with the newlyweds and their immediate family for a couple of days will strengthen the bonds that we have already nurtured, and I hope that our friendship will continue to hold strong in the years to come. Once again, congratulations Felix and Ting and may you enjoy everlasting happiness. It was an honour and a pleasure being invited.

 

 

The newlyweds emerging from Aqua Stella Chapel at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, Guam.

Port Dickson International Triathlon 2012

It's good to have an aspiration to work towards. Case in point, the Port Dickson International Triathlon 2012 last Sunday. First and foremost, I am no triathlete. I can't cycle nor run to save my life. I can however swim and I have been part of tri-relays on three occasions now. The first, in Bali June last year and the second, in Singapore in May. We took part in the sprint relay, the former with Richard and Lee Kuen, the latter with Bunny and Lee Kuen as my team mates.

This time round however, my friend Ray, a previous Iron Man participant on the comeback trail, registered me as his team swimmer in the Olympic distance relay. That would mean moving up from 750m to 1.5km between the Singapore and Port Dickson races. Apprehensive I was but I always relish a challenge. So train harder and more often I did in the month leading up to race day in PD. With much encouragement from my friends, I set myself a reasonably achievable target of finishing the swim leg in under 40 minutes. My friends, in particular my team mates Ray and Wei Min, thought 30 minutes might be possible.

Suffice to say, I completed the swim portion of the race in 31 minutes 21 seconds and our team finished a respectable 30th in the men's relay, and 64th in the overally relay event out of a 109 teams. Happy I was to have managed the Olympic distance tri swim leg, in a pretty good time too by my standards. More importantly, my team mates were happy with the swim. Being the first leg of the race, I always feel that it is necessary to get them off to a good start, so there is pressure somewhat. Ray and Wei Min did very well too, and we were more than satisfied with our performance, our first as a team. An enjoyable race it was and I am sure there will be more to come in the future. For now, I have to continue training. The best swimmer in the race was 10 minutes ahead of me. There is still some catching up to do. Another challenge to conquer indeed.

Photo courtesy of Ooi Wei Min.

Crazy Idea



I casually suggested a crazy idea to a good friend and the response was a good humoured turn down. Yes, sometimes funny, almost surreal ideas come to mind. I usually just chuckle and let them be. This time I acted on it. What the heck I thought. It's my new attitude. Crazy can be good sometimes.

So, who cares is one new mantra of mine. A friend recently made a statement that at this stage of his life, he couldn't care less what other people thought of his actions. I took note. Life is short. So just live as I deem fit. This reminded me too of what my late father once told me. I took note again.

I have always loved taking a leap of faith. Just that I have been perhaps playing it a bit safe for some time. Thinking too much. Always rationalising. Being insecure. It's time to revel in the uncertainties that leaps of faith bring forth. I'd call that living on the edge. Something that I'm going to be doing. Not try, but do.

Super delicious sandwich at Jones The Grocer in Singapore.

Prayers

I was in Singapore this past Wesak Day. Having known so ahead of time, I had given notice to my cousin Siew Yoong that she would have to take me to a temple for prayers. So to a temple we went on that Saturday afternoon.

It is possible that it was the first time I've visited a temple in Singapore, and what a good day to do so. I have much to pray for and I don't hold back. Ask and you shall receive is my motto. I am embarking on a new journey of sorts, so a little prayer will certainly help.

Now that I've requested for divine help, I shall keep the faith that my prayers will be answered. To have faith indeed.

Photo of a temple near Temple Street in Hong Kong.

Singapore Sprint Triathlon Relay

The MetaSprint Series Singapore Triathlon was the main reason I was in Singapore last week. My cousins, friends and I fielded 4 teams and we did reasonably well - out of 25 teams, we finished as follows, Team We Try Harder 12th 1:27:47 San 14:55 Nabil 38:30 Soorya 30:28; Team weddingsmalaysia 16th 1:34:57 Kris 16:46 Bunny 40:22 Lee Kuen 33:43; Team New Friends 19th 1:38:45 Siew Yoong 26:24 Nigel 42:14 Katherine 26:22; Team Hiplist 21st 1:45:14 Chin Lai 20:28 Kok Ang 42:21 Ai Ling 38:40 - a pretty satisfying result considering we are amateurs and just competed with the aim of finishing the race.

This was my second attempt at a sprint triathlon relay, the first being in Bali last June, and was therefore less daunting. Although I swim regularly, doing so in the sea is vastly different from the more secure surrounds of a pool. It challenges me to perform out of my comfort zone. Committing to such a race also gives me something to look forward to and acts as a catalyst for me to train and keep in shape. It requires discipline to a certain extent as I don't want to let my team-mates down, seeing that swimming is the first leg of the race. It is always a thrill if I am able to give them a good start. In Bali, I was 12th out of the water, this time I was 9th. Although I was competing against different swimmers, I am still pleased. The Singapore swim leg was also longer, 750m against 500m in Bali, and my average swim time also improved. Always good to know that the hard work put in has paid off.

The best part of the experience though is the camaraderie amongst the twelve of us. We hung out at dinner on the eve of the race, we encouraged each other, we shared in the enthusiasm, we cheered each other on, we patted each other on the back for a job well done. Moments like these are what such races are about for me. I certainly look forward to more races in the future. Who knows, a move up to the Olympic distance perhaps?

Photo of all of us after the race in Changi, Singapore.

Effort To Stay In Touch

Someone asked after reading my previous post if it would be too late to make an effort to rekindle relationships and stay in touch with extended family. Well, I would say that it is never too late.  

All it takes is a phone call, a text or an email perhaps. If there is a response, then take it from there. If not, move on to the next person. Simple as that. Thing is, we sometimes get so caught up in our own little world of work, nights out, holidays, that we don't make time to do so. We may procrastinate at times too. Some would say 'excuses'.

I don't profess to be great at keeping in touch, but I try my best. Lunch before heading to the airport to catch my flight home from Singapore on Monday provided the opportunity to catch up with my uncle and cousins from my Dad's side of the family. A little effort goes a long way.

Poi Lai, Moses, Nathaniel and Deborah at Yishun in Singapore.

Time With Siew Yoong And Family

I was in Singapore over the weekend for the Singapore Sprint Triathlon, well a long weekend actually, consider-ing I arrived on Friday morning and left only Monday evening. Racing the triathlon aside, I had a wonderful time with my cousins Siew Yoong and San, as well as my little nephews Tian and Jin.

Siew Yoong and I grew up together in Petaling Jaya and we share a special bond. That has now extended to her other half and sons as well. Now that they have been living in Singapore for the past few years instead of Auckland and Sydney, we've had a chance to get together more often, although we could do better. Sms-es, phone calls, emails and Facebook can never, ever come close to meeting in person and spending time together. So we made full use of my short trip. We trained for the race together, we did the swim leg for our teams, we had breakfasts, lunches and dinners, we went for a foot massage, we prayed at a temple on Wesak Day, we hung out at their home. We exchanged tales of recent happenings in our lives, we updated each other on the extended family. We enjoyed each other's company.

Staying in touch is a worthwhile effort. Seeing each other in person maintains the bonds that we nurtured from a young age. Thanks for a fab time!

Here we are having cakes and tea at K Ki in An Siang Hill, Singapore.

Auntie Janet

This past Christmas Day was extra meaningful. I, together with some of my extended family, a troupe of ten we were, made a day trip to Singapore to see Auntie Janet. Despite her illness, she was alert and we spent a couple hours of quality time together. The episode shed some light on a fact that we sometimes overlook, that family ties are paramount, whether in good times or bad.

Auntie Janet passed away today. I am comforted that we had the opportunity to say our personal goodbyes last Sunday. Rest in peace Auntie Janet.

For all of us who remain, in particular Uncle Mike, Aaron, Moses and their families, may we also find peace in our hearts.

A request from Auntie Janet to celebrate her life by donning colours.

Chinese New Year 2011 : Reunion Lunch

This year, the reunion lunch with Mum's side of the family was extra special as my cousins Siew Yoong and San as well as their two boys were in town from Singapore. Together with my aunts, uncles and the rest of my cousins, we had a long, leisurely lunch with much food and banter.

Our generation of cousins decided to sit together this year, partly by choice, partly due to necessity. San is an environmental activist of sorts and has always encouraged us to abstain from consuming Shark's Fin Soup. In respect of his stand, we cousins opted to be on the same table and had a Double Boiled Chicken Soup instead. Personally, I much prefer the latter.

My mother's side of the family is a boisterous lot and there is always a great atmosphere when we get together. The reunion lunch was no different and Chinese New Year is always a good time to renew ties and strengthen bonds.

Photo of cousins at Restaurant Extra Super Tanker Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Siew Yoong's Birthday

We celebrated my cousin Siew Yoong's birthday whilst in Singapore. She's been based in Singapore for the past few years which has enabled us to get together more often.

We are pretty close. We grew up together in PJ, her siblings Wui Ken and Kiat Ken included. We spent many, many weekends together as children, went on holiday, you get the drift.

Wui Ken and his family now live in Auckland whereas Kiat Ken is this happening advertising executive in London. Still we meet up as often as we can, mostly on holiday. We also rack up pretty hefty phone bills every now and then.

San, Tian, Jin and Siew Yoong, shot in Singapore.

Walkabout In Singapore

Somehow whenever I think of a holiday in Singapore, the first thing that comes to mind is shopping. I seldom shop in KL; I do most of my shopping when on vacation and last weekend was no exception. In fact, it was the last 2 days of the Great Singapore Sale.

But enough about shopping. To my surprise, I did make an effort to do a bit of walking, just to see the buildings, some sights, which I don't normally do when in Singapore. Although I swim and gym, walking is not what I do best. I'd much rather laze at a cafe with a good mag. Nevertheless, walk I did but with much help from the MRT too! Bugis, Chinatown, Arab Street to name a few.

Before going to bed each night, with Deep Heat to soothe the aching feet of mine, I'd ponder what the best walk of the day was. Well, I'd have to say the walk with the shopping bags! Ha! Ha!

Photo of Singapore's City Hall I think.

Singapore

I was in Singapore for a couple of days over the weekend, primarily to visit an Uncle who's recovering from illness as well as to celebrate my cousin Siew Yoong's birthday. The Great Singapore Sale was a draw too.

Retail therapy was great. Orchard Road, Bugis Junction, Vivo City, all benefited from my retail spending. Suffice to say, I spent more than I should have.

But what is life without a little bit of indulgence every now and then.

Photo of Bugis Junction in Singapore.

Relatives In Hong Kong

I've been in Hong Kong for the past couple of days with my family. An extension of my birthday trip but primarily to meet relatives here from my dad's as well as my mum's sides of the family. I leave for home in a couple of hours and I'll say mission accomplished.

Meeting relatives for the first time can be awkward but all went smoothly. Warmth and camaraderie, catalysts for newly formed relationships with cousins and renewal of ties with aunts, uncles and a grandaunt.

I already have a pretty large extended family in Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, mainland China, the UK and the US. I can now add Hong Kong to the list. I am definitely one who values family ties.

Photo of relatives in Hong Kong from my dad's side of the family.