Lost World of Tambun

Finally, we managed to stay 2 nights at IPOH.

What a treat to have hot-spring and water slides with the kids! Not forgetting all the yummy ipoh food.

December .... Holiday Time!

Counting Days at Kuching...

Kuching Sarawak

Section 17

This was taken on Aug 15, 2011.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race...

Yesterday's communion coincidently shares the same words engraved on mum's tombstone. The short video clip by Yasmin Ahmad shares so much conviction and emotions on our departed ones.

It helps me to cherish what we have for now, or forever regret things we usually take for granted.

Mum - happy 64th Birthday.... you are dearly missed by all of us!

Birthday of Roy and Ray

Birthday party @ McD Mutiara

One of Amber's good friend, Alicia... who seems a bit taller and meaty. Well its due to the fact she still drinking milk despite 6 years old.

Graduation Class of 2011

Its amazing to see how kids grow so fast.  Amber was barely starting school 3 years ago, now she's finish kindie and soon will commence Primary school.  Again the venue was Bentley Music Auditorium, and the kids was to perform few dance.

 End of the concert.

This is the beginning - during breakfast time at mamak!


Overall - the kids did very well in their dances:

Amber - Mushroom Harvesing & Gym.

Zac - KungFu fighting & Beautiful Sunday.

What a memorable day for the family to see the kids growing and completing the first of many phases of education in their lives.

Being A Single Dad

Today, Kit is away with her girl-friends at Malacca for a overnight stay at Puri.  So I have to plan all the meals for the kids and their school too.

Sunday:
lunch - mixed rice @ GBP
dinner - spaghetti and meatballs.

Mon:
breakfast - roti canai Kayu
lunch - chicken rice from DS
dinner - havent gone that far yet

So this is what a homemaker feels.... lots of planning and managing.

Day off on Monday

Decided to take time off on Monday to be at home with the kids.  Had a nice breakfast w Kit and we went to 1U for a nice stroll - separately.  Lunchtime, I tried to cook pancakes with banana - but somehow the non-stick pan kept getting stuck!  Failed miserably trying to cook for the kids.

Later, we had a hangout at BeerFactory with Francis, David, Haris, Danny and James - we got a good promo: buy 1 Free 2 at RM33.  Also, got the news of a long lost friend - Hong Ming....

Last Day at Mukah

Finally tried the famous sarawak curry mee.

Mukah, Sarawak

After Raya, had 2 days of studying to sit for NCLP 11 paper.
I think i nailed it with 3/4 question done completely.  However, Novell still haven't released my result :-(

Anyway, left for Mukah on Sat - not certified to teach yet.

Sat - Day 0 (touchdown) - went for seafood
Sun  - Day 1 - hangout with guys at town
Mon - Day 2 - walkabout around the campus cafe
Tue - Day 3 - stayed in Dinesh room for hangout
Wed - Day 4 - work
Thu - Day 5 - work
Fri - Day 6 - work
Sat - Day 7 - student exam prep
Sun - Day 8 - exam and me check out to town
Mon - Day 9 - fly back home !!!

Hari Raya Itenary

Can't believe that I had to work on the weekends... but it was good coz after that I have the whole week off!!

Mon - 8 days of work
last day of Linux Admin with the Iraqs...
kids watched Cars2
had a nice Lantern night and BBQ dinner

Tue - went back Ulu Langat
to help Ah Chai shift to his new home
ended up with a nice steamed fish for dinner

Wed - visit mother
except dad, we all went to put flowers for mum
then had roti-canai at Leisure Mall

Thu - TTDI park
breakfast and picnic session with kids
dinner at Sunway D'sara - hokkien mee
dessert at Tong Pak Fu

Fri - RollerSkate @ Subang
the good old days of disco skating with the kids in the morning
Amber continued with watching Smurf at Tropicana

Sat - Restdaythe rest went to Raymond Ng new crib
spendtime with Steven and Haris
back to Office for some work

Sun - Church
shared communion
delivered Linux books at JW marriot
meeting with Young Parents
farewell dinner at Loan's


Then..... back to work ;-(

Thursday Blues

Too much holiday.... now don't feel like working.
But somethings gonna give - so might as well be work.

It seems ironic that after holiday, I don't feel like going for more holidays.

Golden Sands...

Sat:
2pm - Food 
3pm - CheckIn
7pm - Dinner at FoodCourt

Sun:
10am - Church
12pm - Penang Street
2pm - Poolside
4pm - Beach
7pm - Seafood at "End of the World"

Mon:
10am - Penang Hill outing
1pm - Ayer Itam "Asam Laksa"
3pm - Kids Zone
5pm - Pool and Beach
7pm - Dinner at FoodCourt

Tue:
10am - Kids Zone


Wed:
10am - Kids Zone
12pm - Check out (back to KL!)

Growing Old or Getting Old

There must be a way of feeling good for your birthday. I think its a sign when you have symptoms: cannot get up early, feeling lethargic, no mood for anything (inc sex) and bad appetite.

I'm suffering none of that - just feeling sleepy coz my eyes are hurting.

No wishes yet, just a dream of better home and better job.  But God has asked me to be contented with life, so I'll just stick to that ... for now.

Now, looking forward for a good break at Penang.

Tuesdays With Morrie - Revisited

Life Lessons From Tuesdays With Morrie (Doubleday, 1997) 

1.  “Accept what you are able to do and what you are not able to do.” (p. 18) 

2.  “Accept the past as past, without denying it or discarding it.” (p. 18)

3.  “Learn to forgive yourself and to forgive others.” (p. 18) 

4. “Don’t assume that it is too late to get involved.” (p. 18)

5.  Find someone to share your heart, give to your community, be at peace with yourself, try to be as human as you can be. (p. 34) 

6.  “Love always wins.” (p. 40) 

7.  “The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it.” (p. 42)

8.  “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” (p. 43) 

9. “ . . . if you really want it, then you’ll make your dream happen.” (p. 47) 

10. “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” (p. 52) 

11. “Love is the only rational act.” (p. 52) 

12. “I don’t allow myself any more self-pity than that. A little each morning, a few tears,and that’s all . . . . It’s horrible to watch my body slowly wilt away to nothing. But it’s also wonderful because of all the time I get to say goodbye.” (p. 57) 

13. “Sometimes you can’t believe what you see; you have to believe what you feel.” (p. 61) 

14. “What if today were my last day on earth?” (p. 64) 

15. “Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.” (p. 82) 

16. If you accept you are going to die at any time, then you might not be as ambitious as you are. (p. 83) 

17. There is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn’t the family. (p. 91)

18. “Don’t cling to things, because everything is impermanent.” (p. 103)

19. “ . . . If you’ve found meaning in your life you don’t want to go back. You want to go forward. You want to see more, do more. You can’t wait until sixty-five.” (p. 118)

20. “Money is not a substitute for tenderness, and power is not a substitute for tenderness.” (p. 125) 

21. “ . . . love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.” (p. 133) 

22. “Love each other or perish.” (p. 149) 

23. “ . . . the big things—how we think, what we value—those you must choose yourself. You can’t let anyone--or any society—determine those for you.” (p. 155) 

24. “Don’t let go too soon, but don’t hang on too long.” (p. 162) 

25. “Be compassionate. And take responsibility for each other. If we only learned those lessons, this world would be so much better a place.” (p. 163) 

26. “Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive others.” (p. 164) 

27. “As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on—in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.” (p. 174) 

28. “Death ends a life, not a relationship.” (p. 174)

29. The important questions have to do with love, responsibility, spirituality, awareness.(p. 175) 

30. “You’re not a wave, you are part of the ocean.” (p. 180) 

31. “ . . . there is no such thing as ‘too late’ in life.” (p. 190)

Dino Exhibition

 A shot up stairs where more dinosaurs are roaming.

 The 3 stoogers are easy meat for the T-Rex.

The clouds didn't favour us today for picnic.  So we had Plan-B in mind that is to go to National Science Center to catch some old friends.... very old friends.  As it is, there plenty to play and arouse kids curiousity beside this big giant dinos. 

The kids had plenty of fun, a worthwhile trip - just to drain their endless energy.

'O Sole Mio - (Its Now or Never)

What a treat to get VIP seats at Bentley Auditorium to watch IL VOLO perform.

Haris and Bee Gaik was there, so was Patrick and Lin.

But unfortunately Amber was too tired and feel asleep.

Wheezing 2.0

Sounds like Bersih 2.0 but its not.

This should be a reminder not to swim and have ice-cream.  Zac had a relapse of his asthma attack, where he had difficulty breathing on THUR morning - so went off around 4am to 24 hrs clinic at PS and was charged RM70 for consultation and nebulizer treatment.

On THUR nite, things didn't improve so we brought him to Gomez for round 2. The doctor was a Indian chap much more experience and he too copious notes of Zac's history. This time the damage was RM40.

So no school for past 2 days... hopefully he can be healthier for this weekend trip to PD.

Have to take precaution, change air-con filter and maybe bed-sheets?

Jenny's Back - So Its Party Time

Its been a busy month.

First was the Liverpool Training session at Bkt Jalil, went with Kit after work.

Then IPv6 Conference, which we left early on Thurs to pick Jenny and Aiden from KLIA.

Next, my first IPv6 Class... quite streeeeeeees!!

Finally.... today can relax and look foward to the weekend with the family and kids at PD!

Bersih 2.0 = Amber's Birthday

What a day to mark this special day?
First we have a mini celebration - getting Amber's swim wear for her b'day in PD.

Next we have our Parenting Class - about no exasperating our kids. Coaching them emotionally and understanding they importance of spirituality and character building.

Then to cap it off, we have political cleansing - "Bersih" demonstration, right in the heart of KL.

EPL vs Malaysia 2011 - Asia Tour

The Big 4 - minus Red Devil will be here vs Harimau Malaya team. Which one should I go for??

Malaysia vs Arsenal

• Date: 13th July 2011 (Wednesday)
• Venue: Bukit Jalil National Stadium
• Time: 8.45 malam

Malaysia vs Liverpool

• Date: 16 July 2011 (Saturday)
• Venue: Bukit Jalil National Stadium
• Time: 5.45pm

Malaysia vs Chelsea

• Date: 21st July 2011 (Thusday)
• Venue: Bukit Jalil National Stadium
• Time: 8.45pm

Little Cafe Penang - Curve

Family time with the Cheongs....

 Dad with a spanking new hair cut - courtesy of me ;-)

 Zac with his usual smiley face and cheeky antics.

 The girls having a blast - drinking 100+ and making faces.

Good food for all.

Another School Break

Wow... how soon it finished and now its here again.  Parents are kept unusually busy.

But got a treat for the kids.... its Kungfu Panda 2

Decided to take leave to bring them all out - since I also finished my STAR program.

No discount for adults - RM12. Kids only RM6.

One Utama - here we come

 5 kids with 3 seats - so what do you expect?  Grinding to a halt, well almost.

 Cookie monster 1 - Sophie and Caitlyn

 Cookie Monster 2 - Zac and Maia

Top 100 Songs

I had always wanted to countdown the best songs, in no particular order.  Seems like 80s/90s are the most happening -perhaps its because it was a time that we were shaped by what we listen.  Our minds were free and idealistic - to fall in love, to live the dream and to be different.

Now, is life pretty much how we thought it would be?  Don't think so ... but its not all that depressing.
Music can help us 'live' the dream....

Theme Song
01 - Take My Breath Away (TopGun)
02 - The Time of My Life (Dirty Dancing)
03 - Take A Bow (With Honors)
04 - Nothing Gonna Stop Us Now (Mannequin)
05 - Up Where We Belong (Officer and Gentleman)
06 - Glory of Love (Karate Kid)
07 - Unchained Melody (Ghost)
08 - Blaze of Glory (Young Guns II)
09 - It Must Have Been Love (Pretty Woman)
10 - Wind Beneath My Wings (Beaches)

Pop
01 - Crazy for You (Madonna)
02 - Electric Blue (Debbie Gibson)
03 - Shake the Disease (Depeche Mode)
04 - Pictures of You (The Cure)
05 - Big in Japan (Alphaville)
06 - Everybody Want to Rule the World (Tears for Fears)
07 - Every Breath You Taje (The Police)


Rock
01 - Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Poison)
02 - Sweet Child of Mine (Guns N Roses)
03 - With or Without You (U2)
04 - Maybe (Collective Soul)
05 - Hysteria (Def Leppard)
06 - Livin On A Prayer (Bon Jovi)
07 - Do I Have To Say the Words (Bryan Adams)

Mother's Day

We just had a simple dinner at Jayne's place with pizza (Domino's), some BBQ marinated pork-ribs and 'tong-yuen' for dessert.

Today's song was quite moving on "Mother's Love", originally performed by Beyond.  Thought the lyrics are difficult as its in cantonese but I'm sure its very meaningful. Reminds me so much of mum...

Cisco Summit - 31st May

 Cisco Unified Computing Systems (UCS)
Cisco Nexus 5000 Switches

Sunway Pyramid CC

Trip to Seremban Church

We left the house at 8.30am, had breakfast in Sec17.

Reached Seremban toll approx 10.15am.

Headed straight to Seremban 2, Green Homes ... which look quite nice. Reminds me of Wisteria Lane from the Desperate Housewives, which have borderless houses.

Rental is cheap at RM700 for single storey bungalow - good for retirement.

Then went to Seremban 2 lakeside... to feed the fishes.

1 M'sia - 1 Kids Kingdom

On Easter Sunday, Amber won the best costume for the girls.

 Japanese and Malaysian flavour.

 Finalist - Top 8.

 Malaysians has voted...... and the winner is.....

Zac trying his luck.... not bad, Top 3!

USM - Penang 17-21 APRIL

5 days training at USM, Computer Science Building.

Stayed at B-Suite Hotel, 3-Star but nice and clean, near to USM.

Teik Wong was nice enough to lend me his Iswara so I can grab some bite!

Tsunami 3-11 again...

Sarawak State Electon - hopefully will see more opposition (DAP,PKR) in the state seats.
Seems like many upsets in the city votes.... as of 7pm, Saturday.

Anyway, busy preparing to go to Penang for IPv6 training. But so many matches to watch...

Sat - MU vs MC (FA Cup semi-final).
Sun - LVP vs ARS (EPL)
Sun - Real Madrid vs Barcelona (La Liga)

Hungry now.... can't wait for Domino's Pizza...

Upload Photos from Phone

Hmm... need to find a quick way to upload photos

Spritual Birth

A reminder of what its like 17 years ago.
I was a student, finishing my course and about to embark on a career in IT.

Life was simple yet shallow.

IPv6

Yipee...

Got my exam results.... CNE - Level 1.
Next up, CNE-Level 2.

Quite a bit to study for.... CCDA, CCIP, CCNA Wireless... CCSP.
Soon time to move on....

Taman Tun Park - with Dad

We took this chance to bring dad out for his birthday. Instead of the usual celebration of eating at home, this would be a good time for him to get some fresh air and much needed sunshine.

The girls and the only boy had much fun ploughing the small stream.  The adults have a nice nasi lemak for breakfast, incomplete only with lack of teh tarik.

What's Next

Dad's birthday is coming.

Zac's birthday.

Maia/Sophie...

This happend on 28th FEB, the moring we left for Malacca.

Did they bring the bricks along for this job?

Some evidence left behind.  Where is M'sia CSI team?

I guess economy is so bad that people resort to steal anything.  On the bright note, the tyres are already quite worn out - so not much loss over there.

Tyres & Rim - RM450.00
Battery - RM130.00
Service - RM90.00

Not too bad.

7th Anniversary

This time, we ended up celebrating our time together in Malacca.  It was a simple but nice Hotel Puri, located in the heart of Jonker Street.

San Shu Gong @ Jonker St.

Yummy - pricey at RM5.50 / dish

Kit getting a handbag at Jonker Boutique

It was simple yet fun trip.  Food at 88 Jonker Street was excellent.

Ulu Langat - 2

More pictures from the CNY trip.  Today is the 15th Chap Goh Mei

Lunch is to be served

One for the memory

Fertile pots of flowers.... wonder why?

Sab plucking some leaves.

Father's favourite position - right in front of TV

Kids have a great time

Valentine @ StarHill

Long time have never been to StarHill.

Nice deco from top to bottom.

We got a memorable time with SPA for 2 pax.

Essential Urban Retreat @ Level 2

Entrance/Exit

The path to relaxation

The mess that we made after 75min.

After that, dinner at Lot 10 LG - where they served sumptous hawker food but at foodcourt prices.

Outside of Fahrenheit - facing Pavillion.

Then followed by shopping at Fahrenheit.

Ulu Langat - 1

As usual, 1st day of CNY we spend at Kit's hometown.

But 1st was a visit to cemetary.  Amber seems to be more aware now and Zac is oblivious to anything.
No flowers - coz didn't buy earlier but was able to improvise with some wild flowers around.

This is probably the last time we stayed over at this house before moving to the new house.

The lovely walkway to kitchen

Car park beside the store-room.

Mum's hidden treasure.

A trip to the wet kitchen

Lots of stuff here

A closer look

Mum cooking lunch

Guess who's in the menu?

Kinda sentimental - coz got lots of memories.... @Kit.

Visited Aunt Shirley on 1st day. Then visited Kit's relative (nearby).
Later today went to Aunt LoyTai but no one was at home.