Sabah The Thirteenth (Part 2)

The third day of our stay in Sabah (17 May 2006) saw us being picked up at 7am from our hotel on a 2-hour van ride southwest (again) to Beaufort (pronounced Bow-fort). What's this all about? Whitewater rafting on the Padas River. Woohoo!!

We arrived at Beaufort railway station at about 9.15am and we were told that we'll be catching the 10.00am train. This gave us some time to walk around the quiet town of Beaufort. Our train was delayed and we had little else to do except to observe curiously the way of the locals on the platform. This was time well spent.


[Chicken Fertiliser a.k.a. chicken feed Beaufort-style]


[Bus on rails: Our delayed train is similar to this one, as basic trains can get]

When our train finally arrived at about 10.30am, we started on a rustic train ride south which took us upstream. The train snaked along the Padas River, making its way into the interior of Sabah. Scenery along the way was quite charming. After about an hour, we made a 10-minute 'pit stop' at Rayoh Station. This was for us to keep our belongings as this would be the location where the rafting ends later.

After this, we had to endure another 30 minutes on the train before we arrived at Pangi Station, the starting point of our rafting expedition. The guides distributed life jackets, helmets and paddles (oars), and gave a briefing. There were some interesting rules and techniques to follow, e.g. about body rafting (when you're overboard) and how to use the paddles.

After the formalities, we were off!


[Our Raft]


[Here it comes... and...]


[Wooooo!!!! Hooooo!!!!]

We fought rapid after rapid, taking in the water and savouring every toss and turn the rapids made. They had funny names too like Cobra, Washing Machine, Scooby Doo, etc. There were instances when the raft was tossed so high, we could hardly paddle the water. There were other rafts on this trip and some even capsized (some done on purpose upon request :o)).

The rafting lasted about an hour, maybe more. The river was rather swift as it rained the night before. We exited the river at Rayoh Station and had a sumptuous lunch of barbecue chicken, roast lamb, sausages, fried rice, noodles, fruits, etc.

After lunch we caught the 2.30pm train from Rayoh Station back to Beaufort and from thereon a van back to Kota Kinabalu. Mom, Dad, Angie and I, we all had a really splashing of a good time. Woohoo!!

Sabah The Thirteenth (Part 1)

We finally conquered the only state we had not visited in Malaysia. From 15-19 May 2006 we completed our visit to all the thirteen states with a visit to The Land Below the Wind.

The trip started fairly eventfully with our flights being delayed. But since we were on holiday, we didn't really care :-) However, this meant we arrived later than expected and so our first day was simply sampling Sabah fare for dinner.

On our second day, we toured Kota Kinabalu City on foot. We visited the Filipino Market, the dry and wet markets, and a shopping complex (to look for souvenirs). We also stopped at the Sabah Tourism Office for information. Then we made our way up to Signal Hill via a short cut for a panoramic view of the city and nearby islands.


[Filipino Market: More of a handicraft centre now]


[Shark Fin: Available among many other types of dried seafood]


[Signal Hill: Panoramic view of the east-end of Kota Kinabalu City]

On the way down, we checked the time at Atkinson Clock Tower, and decided it was time for lunch. So we headed to a food court to sample more local cuisine.


[Seaweed Tempatations: Fancy some tampai-ampai?]

After lunch, we attended to some monkey business. We embarked on a guided tour which took us on a two-hour, fairly rough ride southwest to an area called Klias. After tea we boarded a boat that took us on a river safari (Sungai Teratak) in a mangrove. Task: spot the nose-y proboscis monkeys.

The first ruffle of the leaves... all in the boat craned their necks to see...a silver-haired langour (this is a rare creature as well - so it's a reward). The second ruffle of leaves...more craning of necks...several long-tailed macaques... *disappointment* The third ruffle...ah....we are third time lucky...it's the proboscis!!!! But oh...so far away... how to see that nose??!!! Advice for future proboscis monkey watchers: bring a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens on your camera! Anyway, we did see some potbellies...


[Proboscis Monkey: Not all have the unique long nose... juveniles and females have short or pointed ones]

Moving on, dusk came. The egrets came home for the night. They actually make quite a spectacular sight roosting on the trees...like cotton in the tree.


[Birds of a feather, sleep together]

After a sumptuous dinner of seafood and pucuk paku *yum, yum :-P*, we headed back to the river to experience Christmas in May. We were not disappointed as the fire flies blinked their best for us. Then it was time to say goodbye to our wetland friends...

We were back at the hotel at around 2230hrs.

Dad In The News

Dad was in the newpapers today - the Star (North pullout). It reported on the welcoming ceremony for the distance learning undergraduates at USM Penang, highlighting the presence of 65 senior citizens. Dad was among the 65.

Dad, we're very proud of you. Wishing you all the best!

Please click here for the full article. If this link is no more valid for one reason or another in the future, please let us know.

Influenced by Influenza

No, we did not let an east european lady con us of our money or something like that but we were really knocked out by some mean bug.

I started feeling funny during the weekend of the 13-14 May but recovered to enjoy a nice holiday during the week. After our holiday, Angie caught the bug quite badly starting from 22 May (don't know if it was from me or from the holiday). She struggled for almost a week. Then, on the night of 26 May, I got the bug really badly and it lasted for a whole week. Was having 39.5C fever for a few days.

Finally, we are both, our (almost) normal selves, again.

Fourth Encounter

The 60th Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend was held at the Marian Formation Centre in Ipoh from 12-14 May 2006. We were on the presenting team with Fr. Ben Nieukey, and Chris and Lina Baptist. Nine couples participated in this weekend. This is our fourth time presenting, and the first time on an 'outreach' weekend, i.e. away from Penang.


[Participants of the 60th CEE Weekend with the presenting team and supporting couples]

Our 2nd Anniversary

We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary on 1 May 2006.

The morning saw us at St Anne's Church in Bukit Mertajam for the concluding sessions of the Pre-Convention for the Laity (Diocese of Penang) Towards the 3rd Peninsular Malaysia Pastoral Convention.

In the evening, our anniversary celebrations began. Firstly, we subjected ourselves to some pampering at Apsara Spa in Tanjong Tokong. We had a massage, body scrub (here's where things got rough, to exfoliate the skin), and milk bath (complete with flower petals and lavender essential oils... must have taken many goats to provide all the milk). Ahhh...


[Apsara Spa: We had our 'spa'-cial treatment here]

Next, we headed to Ingolf's Kneipe (Tanjong Bungah outlet) for our anniversary dinner. Incidentally, we celebrated our 1st anniversary at Ingolf's too, but at their Batu Feringghi outlet. We had the minced pork and chicken klopse, Hawaiian-style grilled pork and chicken, and Hungarian goulash.


[Dinner at Ingolf's: 2 years in a row]


[Minced pork and chicken klopse]


[Hawaiian-style grilled pork and chicken]

After dinner, we headed home for the most important event. We lit our unity candle and said an anniversary prayer together.


[Our unity candle on our 2nd anniversary]

ABC of Spenders

In one of our recent discussions, Bart and I worked out five groups of spenders:

Misers: Only the cheapest of everything will do.

Prudent Spenders: Spend necessarily. Extra costs must be justifiable. Luxuries are carefully thought out and must not cost too much.

Regular Spenders: Spend necessarily with no qualms about the occasional luxury. Don't mind paying a bit extra if it's still reasonable and more convenient.

Big Spenders: Spend lavishly but expenses are still within their means.

Debtors: Spend excessively i.e. always in the red.

The above is now formally known as "Angie & Bart's Classification of Spenders" :-)

Which are you?

Monkey Tonic

Mom was getting concerned that we seem to be coughing quite a bit lately. Her recommendation? Monkey tonic. My brother and I used to take it when we were little. It has been about 20-25 years since we had some.

No, I don't think it contains any monkey parts but it does contain lots of herbs. It is sold in cake-form (like belacan) and it is made into a dark, muddy, mildly-strong-herbal-smelling soup with meat.


[No monkey business: This thing seems to be, almost, a cure-all]

According to the instructions, it is apparently good for "old age and debility, rheumatic pains in the bone and joints, numbness and weakness of limbs, pains in the body, pains in the loins, excessive nocturnal urination, prenatal and post-natal weakness, anaemia, gastric pains, spleen weakness, lack of appetite, asthma, works in abdomen of children, jaundice, stunted growth and cold perspiration."

Indian Inclination

Angie and I are thinking of a holiday to northern India. Just wondering if anyone had any dealings with, or know of, reliable tour agents in Penang that specialises in Indian tour packages or does flight bookings with ground arrangements? We appreciate your feedback/comments. Thank you.

Tuna Treat

Fancy a non-red meat western dish? Well, here's what we had for dinner tonight. Tuna patties, boiled potato wedges with cheese squares, and stir-fried carrots. Speaking of tuna patties, this is not the first time... running out of ideas for meals :o).


[Tuna Treat: Being Catholic on a Friday :o)]

Tuna patties were made with one can of tuna flakes with oil drained out (this makes 4 patties), one chopped big onion, pepper, 3 pieces of crushed cream crackers, corn starch and some oil. Patties were grilled on a wok.

Hair Scare

On the evening of 19 April 2006, I walked into the Brother's barbershop in Sungai Dua. My specification: Short and flat at the top. I came out looking like this:


[A barber's interpretation: 'No hair'-y matter...]

To my colleagues at work, this was what I said, "I told the barber, "Surprise me"".

To my Engaged Encounter friends, I'm likely to retort, "I'm being prudent... got to save on shampoo".

Home Improvement

New look for our living room:


[Curtains with a touch of nature and matching cushion covers, and a batik painting mounted on an easel]

Thanks Mummy for sewing the curtains and the covers :o). We bought the curtain material from a fabric shop at the Jelutong market.

After much consideration, we finally bought an easel to put up the sailboat picture which was left wanting to be displayed. We made the purchase from the Nanyang Book Co. at Carnarvon Street. It was a 'costly' alternative to mounting pictures on the wall.

Banana Bakes

Last Tuesday (21 March 2006) saw us baking a banana cake. Reason for baking was because we tasted a 'commercial' banana cake a day or two earlier and it was rather disappointing, i.e. everything was in it except real bananas. Justice had to be done!


[Arise, Sir Banana!]


[Moist, and oh... the aroma... mmmmmm!]

Baby Baptism

Our nephew Gabriel was baptised last Sunday (19 March 2006) at the Church of the Risen Christ in Ayer Itam by Fr. Augustine Wong. Angie and I are his godparents... another 'portfolio' in our cap :o).


[Gabriel, I baptise you...]


[One for the album: (from L to R) The beaming godparents, parents, Gabriel, Fr. Augustine, and paternal grandparents]

Sampling Saphan and Ogling Orange

Sometime ago (2 March 2006), we decided to have lunch at a reasonably new restaurant called Saphan Village Restaurant and Cafe located at the Aquatic Centre of the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA). Although they serve Thai and Western food, we decided to sample the western sets. We were not disappointed and the prices were reasonable.


[Fish & Chips]


[Fried Rice]


[Entrance to Saphan Village]

That same day, excitement was in the oven as an orange butter cake rises in anticipation of some frosting! A new feature never before attempted by yours truly. Check it out...!


[The cake finally gets its icing...]

Back to Balik Pulau

We were in Balik Pulau on Sunday (12 March 2006) and couldn't resist having a bowl of laksa. We settled for the stall at the coffee shop just at the T-junction to Paya Terubong. Besides the delicious bowl of laksa, we quaffed 3 glasses of fresh juice: orange, umbra with sour plum, and nutmeg with sour plum. We enjoyed the nutmeg juice as it was made from fresh nutmeg, unlike the cordial version in most coffee shops.


[Laksa at the T-junction]


[Colourful Concoction: Orange, Umbra with sour plum, and Nutmeg with sour plum]

Longer Equipment

After 10 anxious days of waiting, the package finally reached our hands on 11 March 2006 after travelling halfway around the globe. We now have a new, longer :o), lens: a Sigma 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC lens, Four Thirds (Olympus) mount (equivalent to 110-400mm on a 35mm camera). The package also contained a UV filter and a Tamrac camera backpack (bag).

We made the purchase online at B&H from the US. Despite the exchange rate and delievery charges, it was a good buy, if not cheaper.


[It's finally here!... safe and sound]


[Our latest addition to our camera gear]

59th CEE Weekend

Another Catholic Engaged Encounter (CEE) weekend was held from the 3-5 March 2006. We were on the presenting team with Fr. Ben Nieukey, Chris & Lina Baptist, Peter & Ellie Chow and Norman & Siew Eng Tan. 15 couples attended the weekend which was held at the College General in Tanjung Bungah.


[Participants of the 59th CEE Weekend and the community of CEE Penang. Photo courtesy of Peter Liew]

Happy 2nd Retirement!

Earlier this year, my dad ended his 2 years of contract teaching after his official retirement. So, on 25 February 2006, we celebrated his '2nd retirement' with a chinese dinner at the Tanjung Country Club in Tanjung Bungah.

Dad, here's wishing you a Happy 2nd Retirement!

Bukit Hijau

My dad and I climbed Bukit Hijau last Saturday (11 February 2006) morning. Bukit Hijau is located off Jalan Tembaga in Island Park.

The climb took us about 30-40 minutes with brief stops on the way. The view at the summit is quite spectacular. On one side of the hill, the view stretches from the Penang Bridge to the Gurney Drive area. On the other side, you can see the turf club, Ayer Itam, Farlim and Paya Terubong.


[Dad at the Top]

We made it to the foot of the hill in about 20 minutes.

Ipoh Excursion

On 1 Feb 2006 (4th day of Chinese New Year), we went on a little outing to the Gunung Lang Recreational Park in Ipoh along Kuala Kangsar Road. Visitors to the park have to take a short boat ride across a scenic lake to the park.


[The lake at Gunung Lang]

There were two lookout towers at the park offering quite a good view.

After Gunung Lang, we adjourned to Cherry Park for indian fried noodles and chendol. No tables, just stools... and the ice is shaved mechanically by hand.


[Noodles on the Five-Foot Way]

To end the day, our nephew Gabriel entertained us on the piano.


[Gabriel on the Piano: Never too young to get started...]

Doggy Do

It's that time of the year... again. *Tung, tung, chiang!* music, red decorations, smell of incense, food-here-food-there, busy-this-busy-that, and the list goes on.

Angie and I are strangely not into the Chinese New Year mood, well... not yet at least. We're just looking forward to the holidays rather than the festivities.


[Prosperity at MacDee: Once a year affair...]


[A Doggy Do: Eroica the Poodle, Tricks the Hound, Bullet the Bulldog and friends posing for the camera]

Angie and I would like to wish one and all a Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year. Have a safe and pleasant holiday. You, too, have a Doggy Do.

Stagea Mini

Last Thursday (19 Jan 2006) night saw us at City Bayview Hotel watching a Yamaha Electone (organ) concert with Mina Nakagawa performing on the new Stagea Mini. The new Electone is targeted at beginners and costs about RM8,000.


[Mini Wonder: Small instrument, big sound]

By the way, Angie is in marking mood (started last Friday). It's those exam scripts again... ruining our sense of well-being *glum*.

Meme-Pi Four-Di

This is the first time we've been tagged to 'execute' a meme. Since our blog is a 'couple blog', the answers are relevant to either one or both of us.

4 jobs I’ve had in my life:
Lexicographer
Risk Management
Computer shop assistant
Lecturer

4 movies I could watch over and over:
James Bond movies
My Fair Lady
Sound of Music
Indiana Jones movies

4 TV shows I love(d) to watch:
NCIS
CSI
According to Jim
Reba

4 places where I have lived:
Butterworth
Kuala Kubu Baru
Batu Gajah
Penang

4 places I’ve been to on vacation:
Australia
France
UK
Thailand

4 places I’d rather be:
Home
Secluded beach resort
On pilgrimage anywhere
Our parents' place

4 of my favourite food:
Roti Kapai
Nasi Kandar
Indian Fried Noodles
Penang Curry Noodles

4 websites I visit daily:
Google
Star Online
Digital Photography Review
Blogs (at random)

4 people worth tagging:
Ying & Niq
Peter & Gladys
KittyCat & Raph
Planet Deng

Done! Have a good weekend :o)

Dating on a Sunday

Last Sunday (15 Jan 2006), we went 'dating'. We had breakfast at our favourite roti canai stall on Transfer Road (opposite Ismalia Bakery). The roti is oily and crispy while the gravy is tasty and spicy *real syiok*.

After breakfast, we went for a hike from Teluk Bahang to Teluk Aling. USM has a research station there for the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS). It was a short and sweet hike, only about 30 minutes one way.


[Fun with the camera: Honey, I am shrinking you...]


[Jetty Poser: Angie 'calendar posing' on the CEMACS jetty]

In the afternoon we embarked on yet another baking project. This time it was an upside-down pineapple cake.


[Upside-down pineapple cake: Made with at least one secret ingredient]

After the cake was out of the oven, we decided to go 'dating' again - this time for a movie at Gurney Plaza. Wallace and Gromit was fun and entertaining. Gromit was particularly cute :-)

It's funny how after getting married we seldom went out on 'dates' like this...

Penang Bridge 'Disappears'

Since May 2004, we saw an apartment block (new quarters of the Customs Department) being built facing our apartment balcony. Little by little the beautiful view of the Penang Bridge and Bukit Pemancar was blocked. The past 2 weeks were 'heart wrenching' for us as the middle span of the bridge was finally obscured by the opaqueness of the concrete structure. We now only have photos to remind us of the good times.

Dear Middle Span of Penang Bridge, you will be missed...


[May 2004: You were so beautiful... but what are those piling machines doing there?]


[July 2005: Still beautiful... hopefully it doesn't go higher than this]


[January 2006: Oh! Dear Middle Span... you are out of sight... but not out of mind :o(]

Goodbye 2005

It's time to say goodbye to 2005. It's been a year filled with the realities of life and the challenges that come with it.

Angie and I took it really easy on the last day of the year. We spent most of the day lazing around playing Scrabble and today's edition of Sudoku in the Star.


[This is no ordinary Scrabble board... a tournament board this is, thanks to Antonia :o)]

For our little new year's eve dinner, we had Ayamas Khandarr Maharaja Roaster and KFC's whipped potato. For dessert, we downed some Tesco Christmas pudding with blackcurrant wine. Yum!


[Steamed Christmas Pudding: Hot and delicious :oP]

Here's wishing you a Happy New Year 2006!

Croatian Cuisine and Sudoku

Last Thursday (29 December 2005) saw us at Hillside, Tanjung Bungah sampling Croatian cuisine at an inconspicuous eatery opposite the Esso station. We tried the roast chicken and roast pork ribs. Delicious in a mild-flavoured way.


[Croatian Roast Chicken: Reminded us of salted steamed chicken]


[Croatian Roast Pork Ribs "With Fat": Similar to the chicken but with a distinct porky flavour, obviously]

Later, we adjourned home for our maiden attempt at Sudoku. We downloaded a puzzle from the Internet and its level of difficulty was classified as "medium". Took us nearly an hour to complete :o).


[Sudoku: Yay! We made it]