Baby Shower For My Buddies

The second cele-bration of the year which I was honoured to be part of was the baby shower for my good friends Leticia and Tjun Hong. Held on 4 January, the party was one that required much planning in advance, as schedules of all the guests had to be coordinated. Kudos must go to the organising team who pulled off an intimate and meaningful brunch.

 

As Leticia and Tjun Hong prepare to start a new chapter in their lives with the impending arrival of baby Laena, we were there not only to wish them well, but also to acknowledge the friendship that we have forged and nurtured over the years. Over food, drink and hilarious banter, the moments captured both through photos and our memories will further enrich our lives as friends.

 

May the next chapter of your lives be an exciting and fulfilling one Leticia and Tjun Hong. And please remember the note I left on the wishing tree ... 'Please make sure baby doesn't cry when I am around!' Have fun you two!

 

 

Smiling for the cameras.

Thankful

I am thankful for my family and friends with whom I cele-brated my birthday earlier this month. Numerous meals with great company are the hallmarks of a wonderful birthday.

 

Whether it's dinner at a restaurant, coffee at a bistro or a home-cooked meal, each has its own merits and I appreciate the thoughtfulness of those closest to me. I am not one to initiate my own birthday celebration, in fact, there have been years where I just let it pass quietly while on holiday, but when close friends invite me out, I tend to say yes. With my inner circle, there is no pretence, and most importantly no need for small talk.

 

This year, I need to mention Tze Han, Leticia and Tjun Hong, who together created a home-cooked dinner to mark the occasion. Much effort was put in, and the resultant celebration was indeed a meaningful one. To one and all, much thanks again and here's to lasting friendships.

 

 

Tjun Hong, Tze Han, Debra and Leticia.

Janet Lee @ Rama V

My friend and industry colleague Janet was performing at Rama V in celebration of Songkran and I was privileged to be invited by the team at the latter to sample their Songkran menu as well as enjoy the show. I invited a few friends along for the evening just to have a night out and free our minds from work.

 

Being in the line of work that we are in - weddings - can at times be stressful. Although a 'happy industry', one often needs to tread carefully. A wedding is a milestone in a couple's lives and most would want it as perfect as can be. We try to deliver but it is not always a bed of roses. Emotions can run high and stress levels can rise.

 

When an opportunity arises for us to just chill and relax over a nice dinner and music, we appreciate it. An evening with good friends is just the right tonic to help us clear our heads and reinvigorate our spirits. Thanks again Andre and Hazel for the invites!

 

 

Photo of ZZ Lim, Janet, Veralyne ,Tjun Hong, Leticia and I, shot at the entrance of Rama V in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Eat And Gripe

Eat when stressed. Well what more can I say except that the photo says it all. This was taken quite a while back but I came across this photo recently and had a good laugh. There were three of us, Tjun Hong and Leticia of Elysium Weddings and I. We were waiting for Leticia's client to come by for a fitting at That Special Occasion and she was caught in traffic. So we thought we'd grab a snack.

Well, it obviously turned out to be more than a snack. Since my days working in advertising, I've stuffed myself silly with food whenever stressed. I remember lunches where we'd gorge ourselves before returning to crazy afternoons at work. That habit has stayed with me all this while. It is not the healthiest of habits but what the heck. Thank goodness I swim regularly to work off the excesses.

This photo was taken while we were at Spicy Kitchen, just opposite That Special Occasion. Tjun Hong obviously packed some Burger King as well. To be fair, although we were relatively stressed, it was an enjoyable evening. Sometimes all it takes is food and some griping amongst good friends to relieve the tense situation.

Photo shot by Leticia.

What Life Has In Store

I wasn't in the best of moods a couple of months ago and when I had dinner with my friends Leticia and Tjun Hong to gripe, the latter gave me a piece of advice which I did not really take to heart at the time. Tjun Hong told me to let my hair down, dispense with whatever agenda I had, and just to go out, embrace what life had in store for me, and to have fun.

Stubborn as I am, I didn't take his advice and still went about with my agenda. Now I know better. After another misstep, I am finally letting go of the confines that I put myself in and taking things in stride, enjoying whatever comes my way so to speak.

It is liberating in a sense. Not having an aspiration that needs to be attained. Instead, I am adopting a laissez-faire attitude. Que sera, sera.

Photo shot right smack in the middle of winter in Seoul, Korea in February earlier this year.

Shirlyn & Albert : Penang

I was fortunate to be invited to Shirlyn's and Albert's wedding reception in Penang two weekends ago. Held at Chin's Stylish Chinese Cuisine, it was a cosy and intimate celebration.

Stylish setting, stylish cuisine and a stylish couple. I think I was a stylish guest too, haha! It was indeed a memorable celebration. Memorable because of the unique venue. Memorable because of the creative menu selected by the couple. Memorable because I was amongst good friends.

I made an impromptu speech. So did Debra and Tjun Hong. Leticia made a teary one. We sang a song off-the-cuff. We toasted Shirlyn and Albert. I think the bride got her wish of a celebration filled with much warmth. Coming up this weekend? The Melaka celebration! I'll be there too!!

Photo shot at Chin's Stylish Chinese Cuisine in Penang, Malaysia.

Pit Stop

On the way up to Penang last weekend, we made a pit stop in Ipoh for brunch. A laid-back itinerary is always a boon as it allows us to take a detour, a detour with the aim of sampling as much a variety of food as possible.

The trip to Penang, whilst primarily to attend Shirlyn's and Albert's reception up North, was also very much a food trip. Here's a photo of Tjun Hong and I enjoying Tau Foo Fah. I forget the name of the stall but apparently it is rather famous in Ipoh. Notice how we also took away bottles of Soya Bean Milk, for me a much better option compared to bottled water.

Good food and drink shared amongst good friends. Certainly an important part of any journey.

Photo shot by Leticia in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Click When Travel

I went on a trip over the long weekend with my friends Leticia, Tjun Hong and Debra, a trip to attend our friend Shirlyn's wedding. One thing I have learnt from my travels is that when traveling with a group, it is important that you click with your travel companions.

The four of us have traveled together on a number of occasions and we know our respective habits and idiosyncrasies sufficiently well in order not to piss each other off. We always enjoy good food and the great company. We share similar interests and are always in the lookout for a good massage. We are comfortable enough to banter without hesitation, on almost any topic.

Such trips are relaxing and stress-busting. Leticia plans the itinerary, detailed to a 'T', and the rest of us just tag along. What's there not to enjoy?

Photo of the four of us having dinner at Lone Pine Hotel in Penang, Malaysia.

Surprise Birthday Party

Leticia and Tze Han plotted a surprise birthday party for the former's other half Tjun Hong on Saturday and it paid off handsomely - the birthday boy was totally taken aback, in a pleasant way of course. It is always nice when such effort comes good.

I was priveleged to be invited to be part of the celebration and an enjoyable evening it was. Great company and much food at Essence at Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur. An intimate party with good conversation peppered with anecdotes.

I always prefer smaller guest lists as was the case on Saturday. It gives everyone the opportunity to chat and connect on a more personal basis. And when the crowd is a circle of close friends, people whom we are familiar with, uninhibited meaningful conversations add to the merriment.

Photo of birthday candles.

The Bright Side

Looking at the bright side of things. I often offer this piece of advice to friends who are in need of hearing this. Wise words no doubt, but sometimes, it is much easier said than done. I too at times, find myself struggling to find that silver lining. It is during these moments that one needs to summon the positive outlook that helps us see the sunlight during overcast days.

Successful individuals often share tales of how optimism and self-belief have contributed to their achievements. Self-help books espouse the virtues of positive thinking. The Secret advocates the law of attraction. All these are universal values. If we care to spend the time looking more closely, we will identify with them.

So why do we doubt ourselves? We should instead have faith in ourselves. Be willing to embrace change. Be courageous enough to face challenges. Be lighthearted enough to see the good in bad situations that we sometimes find ourselves in. To see the bright side of things.

Photo of Leticia and I at Leticia's and Tjun Hong's wedding in Bali, Indonesia where the couple received showers of blessings. Photo courtesy of Jim Liaw Photography.

Events Wizard's 10th Anniversary

I had the privilege of being invited to the dinner in celebration of Events Wizard's 10th Anniversary last evening. True to form, Leticia, Tjun Hong, Shirlyn, Leonard and their wizarding compatriots hosted a truly enjoyable event, one where everyone let their hair down and celebrated with gusto.

It is always a pleasure to celebrate among friends. Leticia and Tjun Hong started out as clients of mine but we have since become good friends. I respect their tenacity and enthusiasm when it comes to work. I appreciate their loyalty and commitment to business relationships and friendship. I see these great traits of theirs rub off on their team members and I am happy to be part of their circle when such opportunities arise.

10 years in event management is quite an achievement, considering how stressful their kind of work can get. But I very much believe that deep down, they derive immense satisfaction from what they do. It always shows in the comments they make when we have conversations post event. So much congratulations again Events Wizard. May this be the first decade of many more to come. Cheers!

Photo of Leticia, Tjun Hong, Shirlyn and Leonard.

Christmas In Saigon

I wasn't particularly in the Christmas mood before leaving KL earlier in the week but am definitely in the spirit here in Saigon. The streets have been dressed up, the restaurants have been fully booked and the people have been coming out to celebrate.

I would say that witnessing the Saigonese come out onto the streets and celebrate with such gusto has been a highlight of my visit. Horns blaring, the chaos of people on motorcycles jostling with people on foot, the way they party with reckless abandon, is an experience not easily forgotten.

We had a seafood Christmas lunch at Ngoc Suong, recommended by Leticia and Tjun Hong, and then a Christmas dinner of Hue cuisine at Mitau, the professed choice of Eileen's and Richard's when in Saigon. I ended the evening with a hot cocoa at the rooftop bar of the Rex Hotel, enjoying the retro songs crooned by the resident band, backed by the sounds of horns as well as the hustle and bustle of the surrounding streets below. As I took a slow walk back to my hotel, I marveled at the colonial architecture of City Hall, beautifully lit up, a perfect backdrop for photos of both the locals and tourists alike. And I said a little thanks for the opportunity to be here at this time of year. Merry Christmas Ho Chi Minh City!

Photo shot at the lobby of the Rex Hotel in Saigon, Vietnam.

Crazy

The crazy things we do sometimes. Here is a photo of me together with Eileen and Richard, stripping and then jumping into the pool during Leticia's and Tjun Hong's wedding in Bali. We had of course come prepared with our swimwear and had been willing to add to the merriment if the opportunity arose. To get others into the pool, some need to dive head in first, but in our case, we just leapt.

It is moments such as this that makes life fun to live. 'What the heck' is a motto that I sometimes live by. Those within my inner circle know how I can let my hair down if I want to and I only share such situations with those whom I have come to know well.

What is life without a little mischief now and then, don't you reckon?

Photo by Jim Liaw, courtesy of Leticia and Tjun Hong.

Inspired

Don't ask me why but I suddenly feel very inspired. I was supposed to wind down work these last two weeks of the year, spend some time with my godparents who are arriving from Adelaide in a few days, my mum and my sister. And what do I do? I accept an offer to work on a writing project.

Thing is, I always relish a challenge. The challenge was to pick up where someone left off. Actually, not quite so. I'd be starting from scratch as I never like to clean up someone else's mess. There are good foundations though and it's always easier to take on a project that has some good content in place, in this case, pretty good photos. I'll just have to put on my thinking cap to illustrate the images through words.

Of course, the fact that a friend asked, tipped the scale in favour of my participation. Now, I've set myself a goal of completing the text before Chinese New Year. That's quite a tall order but as long as I keep myself motivated, I seldom miss deadlines. Fingers crossed!

Photo of my congratulatory message to Leticia and Tjun Hong on 10.10.10.

Culmination

Saturday evening was the culmination of Leticia's and Tjun Hong's wedding festivities. Stretched over 2 weeks or a year if we were to include the ROM luncheon last year, and straddling 2 countries, I would have to say that it has been a thrilling experience. So much attention to detail, so well orchestrated, so much emotion, so many surprises, so many well executed plans, so many unexpected twists and turns, but most importantly, so much love - passionate love, romantic love, family ties and friendship.

I suspect that having put so much effort into celebrating this milestone in their lives, Leticia and Tjun Hong may experience some withdrawal symptoms soon enough, but having said that, I think all those so lucky to have been part of the experience would feel privileged to have been included in the journey.

To have been a couple for 18 years, and now officially Mr & Mrs, gives many hope, myself included, that love is definitely here to stay. I, like so many of their other good friends, look forward to the good times that lie ahead and the many anniversary celebrations that are to come.

Photo of Leticia and Tjun Hong at their Chinese wedding banquet at Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Feelin' Good

The past few weeks have been pretty good. A great holiday with good friends and witnessed the wedding of Leticia and Tjun Hong in Bali. A relaxing 6 days definitely. Here's Eileen's day by day account of the trip :

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

I've also been reconnecting with childhood friends of mine as we plan a reunion party, scheduled for next week, for our primary schoolmates. Although we only see each other more often as events such as the upcoming one approach, we still have everyone in our thoughts every now and then. The challenge is to rekindle and strengthen such bonds over time.

On the work front, things are going relatively smoothly. Being in Bali has cleared my head somewhat of irrational sentiments, perhaps the giant waves of Double Six beach knocked some sense into me. I have decided on what lies ahead as the new year beckons. And once I have made a firm decision, I am normally in a better frame of mind to tackle what is to come. It's exciting times. What needs to be done, has to be done. It's been a few good weeks yes.

Photo with Leticia and Tjun Hong after our rendition of 'The Moon Represents My Heart' at their wedding in Bali, Indonesia, courtesy of Lester Hsu.

Whatever

When travelling in a group, I try to adopt the 'whatever' attitude. Too many cooks spoil the broth as they say and as such, if I am not responsible for the itinerary, I normally just go with the flow.

Lately, for the past 2 years to be exact, I've taken a liking to travelling with Tjun Hong, Leticia, Debra, Richard and Eileen, good friends of mine who happen to be in the same industry in which I work. We share similar interests, a wicked sense of humour, good taste; we all love to spa, though Eileen would need some cajoling to join the rest of us.

I've done Bali with all of them, twice. I've done Phnom Penh with Eileen and Richard too. I look forward to more sojourns. No firm plans as yet ... after all, Leticia's and Tjun Hong's wedding celebrations ain't over yet, there's still the big party in KL on 23 October. A possibility would be June next year for the Bali Triathlon. No, I am not competing, but Eileen may be, and we'll be there to cheer her on ... an excuse for the rest of us to go eat, go spa and go shop, in the guise of being supportive friends!

Photo of Tjun Hong, Leticia, Eileen, Richard and I at Ibu Oka in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

Dressing The Part

I think it is important to dress the part when one is invited to a wedding. The couple would have spent much time deciding on a theme, spent much funds creating an appropriate ambience to reflect the chosen theme, spent considerable fuss over their bridal party's attire to ensure that they too complement the setting. In short, most couples want a perfect wedding, and as a reminder of this milestone in their lives, perfect photos as well.

Which is why, we as guests should dress the part too. I do not mean having to splurge on attire. What I do mean is making an effort to look as best as one can be, in the spirit of the wedding one is attending.

I always feel privileged to be invited and if I make it a point to attend, then I embrace the role of a good guest wholeheartedly, and that means appreciating the good, ignoring the not so good, be willing to go the extra mile for the couple if requested to do so. Only then do we really become part of the wedding. And as for the dressing part ... well, a little vanity goes a long way!

Photo of me shot by Eileen at Leticia's and Tjun Hong's wedding in Bali, Indonesia.

Leticia & Tjun Hong 10.10.10

What a fab wedding it was. There was much anti-cipation, there was much suspense. And boy were emotions running high. All amidst the beautiful backdrop of Villa Pushpapuri in Ketewel, Sanur, on the beautiful island of Bali.

I came away from the wedding with one thought in particular, and that is, regardless of the circumstances, whether within our control or out of our hands, a wedding is really all about the power of love and friendship. Nothing else really matters. It is the experience for the newlyweds and how they share it with all present that makes a wedding memorable.

I take my hat off to Leticia, Tjun Hong and their planning team. The attention to detail was impressive. Their effort to make all of us feel comfortable and part of their big day was clearly evident. And I'd like to think that all of us also reciprocated in our own little way in making it a little bit extra special for the couple too. Much congratulations again Leticia and Tjun Hong. And yes, it was a truly wonderful experience.

Photo of Richard, Eileen, Debra, Leticia, Tjun Hong and I.

Sate Lilit

Arrived in Bali yesterday where Eileen, Richard and I are spending a few days eating our way round Ubud before heading back to Seminyak for Leticia and Tjun Hong's wedding this weekend.

Here we are savouring sate lilit at the Gianyar Night Market. Yup, we can go high end, we can also do street food, plus everything else in between. Same thing for accommodation. We've been in Ubud for two days and we've stayed at two different resorts. Ubud Inn which is more affordable and the luxe Maya Ubud Resort & Spa.

A few more friends arrive tomorrow. And more eating beckons, in particular Seafood BBQ at Jimbaran Bay tomorrow evening.

Photo of Eileen, Richard and I at Gianyar Night Market, Bali, Indonesia.