My Longkang

Pic courtesy of adventurelogue.com

I have been feeling prosperous recently with my car loan almost finished, been told of a coming end of the year pay raise etc etc and have been invited to travel to Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and certain parts of China. The only drawback is that the tour needs 3 weeks away from home.

Mrs Bengbeng is not supportive of this move. While I went to photocopy some documents, Mrs Bengbeng took this pic.

I asked her to explain this pic.

Mrs Bengbeng: Look at this woman. I respect this woman. She is independent. Though some may look down on her for emptying rubbish bins to look for recyclable tin cans, it is a honorable job. I am sure she must have dependents.

Bengbeng: What has that got to do with me?

Mrs Bengbeng: Don’t waste money. Money is hard to earn. I don’t want to accompany you to Vietnam or China. It is for three whole weeks. I have my own life to lead. End of topic!

Honestly, sometimes I don’t think I understand my wife at all. I thought she would be thrilled at the prospect of a vacation overseas

Character: mid 30’s lovely woman who looks Pan Asian from a Chinese family. Wearing black sequinned stiletto high heels, red mini skirt and sleeveless white blouse.

Bengbeng: Congrats on buying another house.
Annie: Oh! I bought it for a reason.
BB: I couldn’t understand why you had to add all the extra legal work though.
Annie: I didn’t want my mum to know I bought it. If I hadnt bought it, someone would else have and they would be evicted.
Read more »

Today nearly 100 years have elapsed since the first father’s Day was celebrated. Fathers of 1900 didn’t have it nearly as good as fathers of today; but they did have a few advantages:

In 1900, fathers prayed their children would speak English.
Today, fathers pray their children will speak to them.

In 1900, a father’s horsepower meant his horses.
Today, it’s the size of his MPV,SUV.

In 1900, if a father put a roof over his family’s head, he was a success.
Today, it takes a condo, swimming pool, luxury car, half a dozen credit cards.

In 1900, a father waited for the doctor to tell him when the baby arrived.
Today, a father must wear a smock, know how to breathe, and make sure film is in the video camera.

In 1900, fathers passed on clothing to their sons.
Today, kids wouldn’t touch Dad’s clothes or be caught dead in it.

In 1900, fathers could count on children to join the family business.
Today, fathers pray their kids will soon come home from college long enough to teach them how to work the computer and set the DVD.

In 1900, a father smoked a pipe.
If he tries that today, he gets sent outside after a lecture on throat cancer.

In 1900, fathers shook their children gently and whispered, “Wake up, it’s time for school.”
Today, kids shake their fathers violently at 5 a.m., shouting: “Wake up, it’s time for school.”

In 1900, a father came home from work to find his wife and children at the supper table.
Today, a father comes home to a note: “Jimmy’s at cyber cafe, Cindy’s at tuition class, I’m at yoga session, Maggi instant noodles in cupboard.”

In 1900, fathers and sons would have heart-to-heart conversations while fishing in a stream.
Today, fathers pluck the headphones off their sons’ ears and shout, “WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE..

The above post is quoted and adapted from Happy Father’s Day

Penang people are very spiritual. I make this assumption based on the number of places of worship all over the island. Obviously I can’t go to all so I went to the Kek Lok Si temple or pagoda.

I couldn’t borrow a car on that day so I borrowed a motor-cycle to move around. On my way up to the pagoda, I bypassed this stream. It was weird to see these normally seen in seas rocks so high up on a hill. I speculate perhaps a long long time ago, the place was once covered by sea. However I am probably speaking rubbish as I am no authority.

The first impression of the pagoda is always very awe-inspiring. Rising majestically up into the heavens.

I went further up to where the Goddess of Mercy overlooking Air Itam and all the surrounding areas stood. It was a busy place as construction was still going on. Tourists were everywhere taking pics just like me. However many were taking the opportunity to offer up prayers to heaven too.

The Goddesss of Mercy, Kuan Yin

God of Prosperity

Another angle with the Air Itam hills as the backdrop

It was raining and I had to shelter here.

This pic and the other two following I have posted so that home-sick Penangites can click for a larger image and see the old familiar landmarks from up Kuan Yin Point. Enjoy. Is it still recognizable?

Knew something was wrong when Mrs Bengbeng woke me up with,”Benghui is your son.Take care of him. No more traveling. Not her son too? Feed him. It is all your fault buy this house.So much house work to do. You clean it up! My migraine is so bad today. Then she puts up a show of trying valiantly to get up from bed but her ‘illness’ keeps her down.

I swear Elizabeth Taylor could do no better

Anyway, I stoically plod through my day, preparing breakfast for everybody, sending Benghui to Wushu and computer class. I had to cancel an appointment. Then there is this gigantic task of keeping the house clean. Somehow or other, I almost electrocuted myself touching the aquarium cover. It is the same socket which shocked my hp. I switch it off for good. Mental note : check it later. Keep Benghui away.

Marketing.

Vegetable seller :
“Aiya Bengbeng, why u marketing today leh? So free kah? Mrs Bengbeng on strike kah? Sigh sigh.. life is not easy as a married man

Fish seller:
Buy all these. Your wife always buy a lot from me
( I am sure she would say that irrespective whether she knows my wife or not )

Anyway I bought this eel ..at least I think that is the name. Anybody can help?

I had prawns, eel, long beans, tomato and cabbage to begin with.

Fry fish curry powder in hot oil until fragrant. Add prawns, salt and stir fry with long beans, cabbage and extra chilly powder to taste. Add water when cooked and heat for a few minutes. It came out ok as a soup dish and acceptable to Mrs Bengbeng as I didnt put any chillly powder but still ‘alive’ enough to tantalize my taste buds.

The fish became this! I fried the fish until cooked. Remove. I then heated oil, salt, some tomato sauce and stir-fried onions, and fragrant veg.

Bean curd and tauge- leftovers from dish for morning’s noodle dish

Hair: I have been racking my head over what pic to post for this week’s theme. In the end I posted this 1948 pic. ( 60 years ago ) Notice the Hollywood style hair-do immediately after the Japanese Occupation ( World war ll ) In my opinion, it hasn’t changed that much today
Read more »

Pic courtesy of msn.groups.com

Oh my God! Has it been ten years already?

I still remember the moment. Mrs Bengbeng and I were in town when it was announced on the radio. Princess Diana of Britain had been killed in an accident. It seemed like a member of the family had passed away. Everybody in the photocopy shop were stunned.

She was neither an actress or singer but she was the most photographed person in the world. Due to the media coverage: slanted or not we may never know but the whole world was sympathetic to her cause. Even the shot of her in front of a kindergarten in a see through skirt ( unintentational of course ) - the sun was behind her when the shot was taken is still fresh in my mind. Nothing was seen of course. It just showed her as a fresh young woman, a little naive when like in a fairy tale movie, the not-so-handsome prince came to woo her. The whole world loved her.

Like every one else I thought it incredulous that Prince Charles would leave her for Camilia.

As she plunged head-long into emotional turmoil, all over the world, from New York to Bombay, to Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo and Tahiti - everyone was rooting for her. She was the peoples’ princess.

This 1st July, there will be a concert to remember her . Her two princes, Prince William and Prince Harry are excited over the prospect. To read more about the princes’ reaction to the concert and more, click here

Prince William has said he would like the Princess Diana memorial concert to be a chance to remember all the “amazing things” his mother did. The concert will mark the 10th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. It will feature Sir Tom Jones, rapper P Diddy, Sir Elton John and band Supertram

It is a testimony to her greatness that she is still fondly remembered today all over the world. She did a lot through her charities. She just loved caring for people and she loved helping.

Princess Diana died, aged 36, along with her companion Dodi Al Fayed, 42, when the Mercedes they were in crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in 1997.

This is also a good opportunity for us to reflect on the past ten years. What we have done or not done…..

Deco pic taken in Kuala Lumpur National Museum

Serian is a small town about an hour’s drive from Kuching depending on the speed you drive. It is a very peaceful town and the residents lead a leisurely existence. There are many civil servants in this town. The bazaar or town centre caters to the needs of the people in the town and surrounding areas.

Yesterday, a pre-dawn fire broke out. Fortunately there were no fatalities. However people are now pointing fingers at each other. Some claim the Serian Fire Station received an emergency call but treated it as a prank call. Fire Chief Jerah Jangau denied the claim and said they responded within 15 minutes.

Witnesses however claimed they shook the closed gate of the fire station and blasted the vehicle’s horn to wake up the duty officer. Then, the duty officer, switched on the light, walked calmly towards them without any sense of urgency.

Meanwhile serian police chief advised residents of old wooden blocks to check their wiring systems frequently.

Kuching is a very nice place for a holiday. The pace is slower than Kuala Lumpur but the people of Kuching seem to be very prosperous. There are an abundance of luxury cars on the roads.

I spend some time in the room as i felt lazy. There is internet broadband connection but the charge is Rm20.00 for 30 minutes. It was too expensive for me. I just relaxed and watched t.v. and enjoyed the luxury of the hotel. Apart from the swimming pool, there is a gym and a sauna. But it seems to be there as an after-thought. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to spend time there.

I lazed around by the pool side. The service was excellent. I told them I needed to go out to buy essential items as i forgot to pack them and in minutes, room service brought me tooth paste, tooth brush, shaver, shampoo, conditioner etc etc etc.

On the second and third day, I took all my food in the hotel itself. The food was ok especially the buffet. Meisan Restaurant is worth a visit if you want to entertain guests. What you see in the pic is a plate of ulam. I absolutely adored the sambal. This is from the coffee house near the lobby.

I also took the liberty of concocting my own ice-kacang ( desert dish )

The only incident to mar the holiday is some of the holiday staff discriminate against Malaysians. Some of them serve the foreigners especially the blue-eyed blondes first and let the locals who are queuing continue to queue. Some of the coffee house staff too don’t seem very friendly to locals. That is something I don’t understand. We all pay good money. Perhaps it is because locals are not good tippers?

We bought some local fare at Padungan

I also went shopping. But i apologize for the quality of this pic

On the way back, it rained very heavily. I had to shelter from the rain at a satay stall by the river side.

My journey from Sibu to Kuching was a short one by flight. Kuching is Kenny Sia turf and has been blogged countless times. It would have been boring if not for my flight companion Adi. We got along very well and before long Adi who is in the internet provider services gave me a lot of useful tips, exchanged quips and we had a nice conversation going.

On arrival at the airport, there was a bus waiting outside the arrival hall. It was an old bone shaker. I just hopped on the bus. The driver was a nice guy and asked my permission to stop for a few minutes to eat his lunch which was in a food container a hundred metres away from the airport. Of coz, I said yes. The ticket costs me Rm1.60

I was the only passenger until we passed the general hospital. You could say I chartered the bus hahahah. A few Ibans boarded the bus there. From then on, the traffic became heavy.

On arrival, he pointed to another bus No:16 on Chin Lian Loong bus I think . Soon I arrived at Holiday Inn. Bus ticket : Rm1.00. Originally I planned to stay at Hilton but when I called, the price quoted almost took my breath away.

Here we can see the cat, symbol of Kuching. The hotel is near this sculpture.

It seems to be a nice hotel but internet services is Rm20.00 for half an hour and limited to hotel guests only. Getting a blind massage outside is even cheaper hahahahaha.

This is my room in Holiday Inn, Kuching. It is very small and overlooks the river. I forgot to turn on the flash. Sorry Trust me, there is no virgin maiden hidden behind in the dark somewhere.

I was hungry and went to Sarawak Plaza for lunch. My big mistake. The chicken rice and ABC ( ice kacang ) was below par.

Here is a pic of the Sarawak River and the Istana or palace.

I went shopping here and spent some time looking for teochew moi ( teochew porridge ) which is supposed to be famous. It was closed

I like this old colonial building.

I saw this unusual sculpture. I suspect it is a fountain of some kind.

Tip: If you are looking for a cyber cafe in Kuching town, go to Crown Plaza, go to the third level, exit through the back and you will see a row of shop houses. There is one called Cyber City.

Have a nice day everybody.