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.

Boarding House Mates

Mates at the boarding house in Immanuel College decades ago, we made it a point to get together for a meal to catch up when I was in Adelaide last week. Although it is typical for us to remark 'you have not changed', and I am by far the most guilty of doing so, we certainly have. In a good way.

 

We have grown wiser. Our conversations are more meaningful, not necessarily serious, reflective somewhat, more impactful. We have moved with the times. Our dressing is on trend, capturing the essence of the times we live in. We have matured not only in thought but in appearance. I'd like to think like fine wine, we are getting better with age.

 

What hasn't changed however, is the bond that we share as schoolmates, living together as boarding students, away from our homes. Friendships that have been cultivated many years ago, and maintained by virtue of the wonders of modern technology. Here's to many more years of friendship.

 

 

Ken Lin, Mike, Tom and I having dinner in Glenelg in Adelaide, Australia.

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.

Trend

You know a trend is taking shape when one gets frequent requests for wedding attire in black. It takes a confident and fashion forward Asian bride to consider this option.

Of late, we have been getting such requests at That Special Occasion. Here is a photo of my client Ee Leng, who recently donned this creation for her pre-wedding shoot in Australia as well as during the wedding banquet here in Kuala Lumpur. Made of organza and duchesse satin, this pleated and ruffled gown certainly made a statement.

The good thing about made-to-measure? We get to collaborate with the bride to come up with a gown that truly reflects her tastes and stylistic leanings.

Photo courtesy of Jenny Sun Photography.

Australia Day

When you've lived in a country for a number of years, you have ties. Emotional and physical ties. I lived in Australia, Adelaide to be precise, for four years - one year of boarding school and three years at uni. After all these years, I still feel a bond. I have school friends whom I have reconnected with via Facebook. I have cousins in Adelaide and Melbourne, relatives in Sydney, good friends in Brisbane. Some clients even. To all of you, 'Happy Australia Day'!

I still remember taking my first Qantas flight to Adelaide (their ads are really engaging), my first tour of the city. I have fond memories of my year at Immanuel College. I have made some lifelong friends while at the Flinders University of South Australia.

I haven't visited in more than a decade but images of the Barossa Valley, Kangaroo Island and the like often come to mind. Once the Ringgit appreciates against the Australian Dollar, I'd very much like to head to Queensland or Western Australia for a holiday. There is still much to see and discover. And am happy I caught this on YouTube a couple of days back.

Photo of Year 12 boarding students at Immanuel College, Adelaide, Australia, courtesy of Thomas Brown.

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.

Hair Crisis

After a few notably serious recent posts, thought I'd be a bit lighthearted this time round. I'm facing a small crisis, a hair crisis that is. You see, my hairstylist of the past few years, Shane, has scooted off to Australia in search of greener pastures. I used to pay Shane a visit at his salon, just a few roads away from my office in Desa Sri Hartamas once a month, plonk myself down on a chair and let him work his magic. I try to practise what I preach. As an editor, I have my viewpoint; as a designer, I have my aesthetic; and I always prefer that advertisers and clients allow me my creative freedom. Similarly, I believe in giving creative-types a freehand when I employ their services. My standard greeting to Shane - 'Do whatever you want with my hair'. My only criteria is that it not be too unorthodox so as to get me into trouble with security at RTM and not too expensive so as to burn a big hole in my pocket.

With Shane gone, I am in search of a new hairstylist. My modus operandi - just walk into a relatively swanky-looking (yes, I am shallow at times) yet affordable salon, ask for an artistic director or senior stylist, preferably the former rather than the latter (hmm, this makes me sound rather elitist), deliver my 'Do whatever you want with my hair' speech, and hope for the best. Tried 1 last month, OK but not so great. Tried another tonight, better than the last. Will see what comments my hair elicits before deciding whether to stick to number 2 or proceed to potential hairstylist number 3.

One thing is for sure, if you ever see me in a cap like what violinist-extraordinaire Dennis is wearing (not that there is anything wrong with Dennis' hair), you will know that my giving a freehand to a potential hairstylist has gone terribly wrong haha!

Photo of Dennis of Mosaic Music Entertainment and I shot at Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur.