Birthday 2015

The last time I celebrated my birthday with Ken Bin, Cordelia, Ken Lin, Yean Mun and Elsie was during my 21st in Adelaide, when we were in university. If my memory serves me, I think my friends from boarding school, Mike and Ching were also present then. Fast forward to 2015, and in Bali no less, I had the good fortune of celebrating another birthday with the same friends from university plus Ken Lin's wife Sally and their kids Leticia and Lenora as well as Ken Bin and Cordelia's children Brandon and Bryan.

 

I am not one who typically celebrates with a party and cake, and for the past many years, I've kept it to quiet, intimate dinners with family and friends. In fact, I am prone to being in denial when it comes to aging, something that my close friends will attest to. Truth be told, I had the candles on the cake removed before this photo was taken haha! And although a different version of this photo exists, a version with the candles intact, it shall remain safe in my hard disk drive, away from prying eyes!  

 

The company of these 'old friends' during my birthday this year was indeed a blessing. We grew up together during some of our most formative years, and have had enduring friendships. For the most part, there is little of each other that we don't know, and little that we don't accept. Here's to longevity of friendships and many more years of celebrations.

 

 

At Villa Heliconia in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

Chance Meeting

It is not often that good friends happen to be in the same place at the same time, and with that create an opportu-nity to meet and catch up over a meal. I was in Penang last weekend for a wedding, Ken Bin and Cordelia happened to be there too for work, and so we took the chance to have dinner with Penangites Ken Lin and Sally. Over the course of dinner, we sent photos to our close friends Yean Mun in KL and Elsie in Hong Kong, providing them with an avenue to be part of the gathering virtually.

 

As we reflect on our decades-old friendship, we have come to realise that our efforts to stay in touch throughout the years have indeed kept our friendship intact. Whether celebrating birthdays or festive occasions, going on holiday in groups or just mindless chatter on our Whatsapp group, we certainly have been part of each other's lives since our teenage years.

 

We have made plans for a group holiday next April, with all present, kids in tow. Though it's still quite a number of months away, the enthusiasm is very much already evident. Still, we'll be meeting for birthdays and festive occasions between now and the trip. And with each meeting, I gather the level of enthusiasm will indeed elevate in tandem.

 

 

Ken Bin, Cordelia, Sally, Ken Lin and I in Penang, Malaysia.

Annual Christmas Party

My decades-long friends, Cordelia and Ken Bin host an annual Christmas party and I am fortunate enough to have attended almost every single one of them. I think I've only missed one or two all these years.

Cord and Bin are great party hosts and we always have a terrific time. For many years, the celebrations were held at their home. Recent years however have seen their cafe - The Olive Tree Cafe at Damansara Intan - be the venue. Personally, I prefer the former. Somehow a house party feels more intimate, cosy and warm. Next year perhaps?

In any case, there is always great food, lovely decor and thoughtful gifts. The Christmas spirit is definitely evident!

Bin, Cord, YM and I.

Time Flies

Every now and then I find myself asking 'where did the time go?'. I was in Kota Kinabalu a few weeks ago, on a short holiday with a few of my friends from our days in uni. Here's a photo of me with Ken Lin and Ken Bin. We first met at Immanuel College where we did Year 12 and ended up going to uni together as well. We've been friends ever since. In fact, I was best man at both their weddings.

Now with two kids each, they are busy family men. I often find myself asking their children 'how old are you now?' whenever we meet. Their answers always scare the hell out of me. Time really flies.

Such encounters with the children also serve as a wake up call. I remind myself to work hard and play hard. I try not to put off doing enjoyable things, not to delay attaining aspirations. 'Time waits for no man' certainly rings true. So, go on that holiday. Take on that challenge that you have always wanted to tackle. Wear your heart out on your sleeve. That's right. Live life to the fullest.

Ken Lin, Ken Bin and I at Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia.

Reunion Trip To KK

I've just returned from a reunion trip in Kota Kinabalu over the Merdeka holiday, with my good friends from university days. At the request of some of them, I am going to defer from saying how long we've known each other. You see, we are rather sensitive when it comes to age. Suffice to say, it's been quite a long time. I first met Ken Lin and Ken Bin when we were in boarding school at Immanuel College, Adelaide. We then got to know Cordelia, Yean Mun and Elsie when at The Flinders University Of South Australia a year later.

Though we are no longer as close as we used to be, we still make it a point to celebrate special occasions and milestones together. Birthdays, Chinese New Year, Christmas, weddings. In fact, I was best man at Ken Bin and Cordelia's wedding, and then again when Ken Lin married Sally, the latter now the seventh member of the clique. With Elsie in Hong Kong, Ken Lin and Sally in Penang, and the rest of us in the Klang Valley, it takes time and effort to get together. Whilst we have travelled together in groups of different configurations over the years, this was our first holiday together since our final year at uni. Back then we were just six uni students on a trip to Kangaroo Island. This time round, we were seven adults with three kids in tow, with another younger one back in Penang.

Short and compact the trip may have been, it was still much enjoyable. It gave us the opportunity to rekindle friendships, reminisce and spend quality time together. Bonds that we formed years ago remain till this day. We just need to work on keeping our friendships alive. Certainly an endeavour that will be worthwhile.

Elsie, Yean Mun, Cordelia, Bin, Lin and I at Mount Kinabalu National Park in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Annual Christmas Party

My friends Ken Bin and Cordelia host a Christmas party every year, some years at their home, more recently at their cafe The Olive Tree in Petaling Jaya. I always enjoy this annual ritual. I get to re-connect with their extended family and also celebrate the festivities with our friends Yean Mun and David who are also perenially on the guest list.

This year was no different and we gathered at The Olive Tree on Tuesday evening. I was a tad late as I had a staff birthday dinner to attend first but still had a wonderful time nevertheless. It is always meaningful to enjoy the Christmas season amongst good friends. My friendships with Ken Bin and David began in 1988 at Immanuel College, with Cordelia and Yean Mun in 1989 at The Flinders University Of South Australia. That's more than two decades and whilst our busy schedules have resulted in us meeting less frequently, we still make the effort for birthdays, Christmas and Chinese New Year.

Among all of us, Cordelia does best when it comes to wrapping gifts and decorating the home. I always look forward to Christmas parties at her home. Great food enhanced by beautiful table settings, thematic decor creating a festive ambience. A smaller, more intimate crowd. Next year perhaps.

Photo of me, Mei Lin, Yean Mun, Cordelia, David and Ken Bin at The Olive Tree in Petaling Jaya.

Catching Up

I met with Ken Lin and David over the weekend. Ken Lin was in town from Penang for a function and David arranged for a get together over a leisurely lunch. The three of us have known each other since 1988, when we were in boarding school at Immanuel College in Adelaide.

We always make it a point to meet, be it in Penang or KL, depending on who's travelling. The only one who seems to be missing at these gatherings is Ken Bin, but I shan't dwell on that. What matters is those who turn up.

It is always good to catch up, share news of the latest happenings in our lives. Of course we are in touch on Facebook, but it is never really the same as chatting in person when the opportunity arises. Kudos to us three ... self praise is indeed well-earned.

Photo of Ken Lin, David and I in El Meson in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Bin's Birthday

Here's a photo of my close friends and I from uni days, The Flinders University Of South Australia to be exact. This was taken years ago during Bin's birthday dinner at the now defunct Sizzler's in Marion, a neighbourhood just next to our university.

Of the 6 of us, only 4 are in KL and we have continued to celebrate our birthdays together all these years. Last night we had a meal to mark Bin's birthday, another milestone in our lives.

Don't think we have aged that much ... perhaps just a little rougher round the edges haha!

Photo courtesy of Elsie Wong in Hong Kong.

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 is one that is bitter-sweet. So much has happened since last Christmas, some for the better, some for the worse. Life throws us curve balls from time to time, and all we can really do is to deal with them. They make life interesting, offering us pleasant surprises at times, forcing us to summon up courage at others.

What I have learnt these 12 months is to hold on to wonderful memories of the past firmly and remember them fondly, to appreciate the present and those who lend meaning to my life, to look to the future with much optimism, to stay fit, healthy and to work towards attaining the many more goals that I have yet to achieve.

Last Christmas was one where I was contented and exultant. I may not be as elated this year, but I am hopeful. Hopeful that the new year which will soon be upon us will be one that brings much more positive sentiments, hopeful that my family and friends who have taken ill will be on the road to recovery, hopeful that my career and work will be on the upswing, hopeful that the missing links in my life will fall into place. In the meantime, here's wishing all of you a blessed Christmas and season's greetings for a happy new year.

Photo of Christmas ornaments on my friends, Cordelia and Ken Bin's tree.

Christmas Spirit

I think I am finally in the mood for Christmas. Having completed the last major event of the year yesterday, I am slowly getting into the festive spirit. 'Winter Solstice Festival' dinner with extended family tomorrow night; Cordelia and Ken Bin's annual Christmas party on Wednesday for starters.

Speaking of the latter, I think I have been invited every year since we all met at uni. That's a lot of Christmas parties but I always enjoy going come this time of year. Both Cord and Bin are extremely creative - food-wise, decor-wise, entertainment and amusement-wise - and I very much look forward to their Christmas celebrations. Having been friends for such a long time, I know their family pretty well, so it's always nice to fit in easily at such parties.

One admission though, I haven't been that enthusiastic at Christmas shopping this time round. Due to many personal reasons, I haven't been that 'gung-ho' in shopping for presents this year. I have my sister to thank for dragging me to the shops and getting it done, even more so when both she and my Mum willingly agreed to wrap the presents for me as in previous years. So, the gifts are ready, the party invites received, the only thing left for me to do is to really get myself into the festive spirit!

Photo shot at Sunway Hotel Resort & Spa.

A Little Prayer

I have fond memories of 'Church Of The Immaculate Conception' in Pulau Tikus, Penang. I was best man for 2 of my good friends, first Ken Bin and later his brother Ken Lin, both of whom took their marriage vows at this house of worship.

I decided to drop by again on Sunday while I was in Penang for business. Though not a Christian, I went to say a little prayer for another good friend's father who passed away on Saturday. Circumstances were such that I did not make it back to Kuala Lumpur in time for the wake and funeral services but still wanted to pay my respects in my own way.

The events of last weekend and the past few days have made me realise more so than ever that we should live life to the fullest. Good or not so good, we ought to accept what life throws at us. Enjoy the good, deal with the not so good, and embrace all that life has to offer.

Photo of Church Of The Immaculate Conception in Pulau Tikus, Penang, Malaysia.

Back Together On Holiday

You know a friendship is strong when after not having been on holiday together for more than 10 years, you still hit it off and do not get on each other's nerves. I'm on holiday with 3 of my friends from my undergraduate days at The Flinders University Of South Australia. We are in fact in Kota Kinabalu and the trip is to commemorate our friendship that has spanned 2 decades. We were supposed to be a clique of 6 but only 4 of us are making this celebratory trip. Still, it is rather quite an accomplishment considering that we have barely been in regular touch for the past few years.

So far, we have island-hopped to Sapi and Manukan and got sunburnt in the process, pink as lobsters we are. We have trekked at Mount Kinabalu National Park and marveled at nature's bounty, luckily for us including the Rafflesia, not only 1 but 2. We have witnessed sunsets that only Kota Kinabalu can accord. We have feasted on the freshest of seafood and sampled much of the local fare. But what really makes this holiday meaningful is just spending time together with those whom we came-of-age with. The transitional years from teenager to adult are etched in my mind and these friends of mine - Ken Lin from Penang, Yean Mun from Petaling Jaya and Elsie from Hong Kong (I know that Ken Bin and Cordelia would have joined us too if they could have) - form most of my memories of that chapter in my life. And whilst we may not be as close as we were before, they will always remain part of who I am.

Holidays always pass too quickly. We are midway through ours. We have had a wonderful time up to now, but realisation will soon set in that we will be parting ways again in 2 days. We will of course say how much we enjoyed our time together, which is true, wish each other well and promise to keep in touch more often. I will try to keep my end of the bargain and I hope my friends will too. Friendships like these do not come by easily and they certainly ought to be cherished.

Photo shot at the jetty on Pulau Sapi, Sabah.

Boarding School

I seem to be doing good in making it a point to keep in touch with those I went to school with. Ching, Ken Bin, David and I attended Immanuel College in Adelaide, the latter 3 of us as boarding students in Year 12. I have always been in contact with the guys; I was even bestman at Ken Bin's wedding more than 10 years ago whilst David and I meet for coffee whenever our schedules permit. Come to think of it, I was also bestman at Ken Bin's brother, Ken Lin's wedding ... but I digress. As for Ching, I haven't seen her in a few years although we've been in touch on and off.

As luck would have it, plus a little bit of effort on all our parts, we all made it to dinner last night at Ken Bin's recently opened cafe, The Olive Tree. Theoretically, it shouldn't really be that difficult for us to meet, since we all live about 10 to 15 minutes' drive from each other. However, it's the complacency that gets in the way at times. Not last night though, and we had a blast musing over some of the fond memories of our days at Immanuel - morning wake-up calls, trips to the city on Friday afternoons, the dinner and dance (OMG ... some of the photos in Facebook; 'nuff said!), the Vegemite incident (does this ring a bell Paul Jericho, Tom Brown?), and many others.

Those were carefree days and don't we sometimes wish we could re-live some of those treasured moments? For me, the happy memories are meant to be cherished and laughed over from time to time. They are the foundations of our happy state-of-mind. What we should always strive to do really, is to harness the happy thoughts and channel them towards creating similar days ahead.

Photo (from L to R) of Ching, Ken Bin, yours truly and David at The Olive Tree, Petaling Jaya.

The Olive Tree

Being loyal and supportive are traits that I value, whether in my work or in my personal life. 2 friends of mine recently ventured into the restaurant business. Having had some F&B experience from the days when I was working in the hospitality industry, I know firsthand what a challenge such a venture presents. I am not one to pour cold water on entrepreneurial endeavours; I offer my 2 cents of what I think the potential pitfalls are and then I try to provide support and encouragement as best I can.

Cordelia and Ken Bin's cafe - The Olive Tree - is located at Damansara Intan, next to the spanking new Tropicana City Mall. Just minutes from my home, I make it a point to drop in for a meal whenever my schedule permits, mostly with friends. These lunch-dates of mine will then have the opportunity to make up their own minds about whether it is worthwhile to make the cafe a regular haunt of theirs. Case in point, I was there for brunch earlier today with a friend. Both of us live within the vicinity, so suggesting we meet at The Olive Tree was a no brainer. From time to time, I also offer suggestions and ideas. Another case in point, I am friendly with the people behind The QGuides, so I try to link them up (for all you foodies out there, The QGuides is a website you should check out).

As with any new venture, moral support is vital. I hope whatever little efforts I have made and shall continue to make will in some small way contribute to its future success.

Photo of The Olive Tree.