For the last few year, Jee Sing, Wei Chiet Yen Pei and I always visit the Tua Pek Kong temple on the 30th night after our family reunion dinner. This tradition continued even though both Wei Chiet and Yen Pei were not back to Kuching for this Chinese New Year celebration. This year is rather special for me as it was my first time to have my little baby boy join me for the temple visiting on new year eve. My naughty boy was so happy staring at those red lanterns that decorating this used to be the oldest temple in Kuching. May be someday all of our children will visit this temple together on the Chinese New Year eve just llike what we did all these year.

Yesterday evening my wife and I went to Bella Italia at RH Plaza to have her favorite thin crust pizza before she start her one month long confinement on next week.

As usual I ordered 1 large pizza as the portion is just nice for two of us. To my surprise my wife requested to add one more large pizza in our order. I thought that she was joking so I just proceeded to order for one pizza and told her that we would order later if necessary.

After we finished half of the pizza then only I realized that she was not joking as I saw her was so enjoying the tasty cheesy pizza. Then she requested to add one more large pizza again and this time I was so sure that with only one large pizza it is definitely not enough for two of us anymore.

At the end of the dinner, my wife alone actually finished one and a quarter of the two large pizzas. :-O

Starting from tomorrow all Muslims around the world are going to perform their “puasa” or fasting during the month of Ramadan. That means my favorite  Ramadan Bazaar is back with all sort of traditional Malay delicacies. For years, I just can’t resist to stop by the bazaar whenever i pass by on my way home. Unfortunately for this year i have to restrict my visit to the always crowded Ramadan Bazaar since my wife is in her final month of pregnancy while the influenza H1N1 is still spreading with unprecedented speed.

For all Muslims, wishing you all  “Selamat Berpuasa”

These photos were took 2 days ago when the air pollution index in Kota Samarahan area went up to the unhealthy level. Despite the unpleasant haze and heat, this painter still standing high on the working platform outside the 60.0 ft tall building rushing to touch up the stained wall for the coming event in 2 days time. I was wondering that at the end of the event, is there any of the VIP bother about the wall painting.

I have no idea how much he is paid for his tough and risky job but i believe he deserved my respect. For me that greatest person in construction is neither those architects nor engineers, it is the workers who risk their life doing the tough jobs under the sun.

August is the month full of happenings starting with the Sarawak Regatta 2009, Kuching City Day celebration and our “Merdeka” day. As usual we can see our “Jalur Gemilang”  everywhere we go as our minister is urging all citizen to raise the flag just to show their love toward the nation. Frankly speaking i do not have any flag at my house or my car, so does it imply that i do not love my country? Nope,  i do love my country, just that in my own way.

Few weeks ago I took a day off just to give myself a break from the tiring routine office works. I spent few hours walking around the busy old town stretching from Ewe Hai Street to the Carpenter Street. It was a very nice treat for me since i can throw all those messy paperwork out of my mind and shoot whatever I saw and I like. I like those old fixtures along these timeless street. Felt like see the yesterdays once more.

在古晋有这么一条响当当的街叫作中国街。它的响原自于这里仅存的数间打铁店从早到晚的响亮敲打声。对许多人来说这只是一条嘈杂的老街但却和我有着即陌生却密不可分的关系。它是陪伴老爸度过大半辈子的街。在这里有一间老爸艰辛经营的老字号。 从早期的中国街六号，至后期的中国街二号和今时今日的中国街十号，这间打白铁老字号经历了数十个年头和数不尽的风雨。

很多年轻的一辈也许都对打白铁这一个行业感到陌生。在现今的社会里它只不过是一个既吃力又不可观的劳动事业或是接近消失的夕阳工业。对我而言它不仅是个劳动事业， 它是一种需要尽心思考的手艺。试想象， 如何以一只木棒就能把一圈圈的粗铁线慢慢敲打成一条条笔直的铁线。

在我三十年的时光里我只曾经在这店里度过短暂的数个星期。那是初中时的某个年终暑假老爸把我带到店里帮忙。但是无可否认我真的是没学这手艺的天分。老爸也许知道所以也只教我做些简单的杂事。那时脏兮兮的我常往附近的书局跑.

一转眼我已三十来岁， 年近七十的老爸依然守着这个老字号。一切仿佛没变，只是从原有的店铺搬过了隔几间。岁月没有在这老字号留下痕迹但却在老爸的眉眼间静静的种下了皱纹和苍苍白发。

老爸从来就不希望我们续承他的手艺。他常说做多一天是一天。 到了那一天该结束就结束吧。

These few days the weather condition is extremely warm and humid. Just imagine that i can have hot shower without switch on the water heater (in fact i need a cold shower but end up getting hot shower somemore). How i wish that i can have a giant natural sunshade next to my house.

Yesterday my wife went to clinic for the regular check-up appointment. As usual the nurse used the scanning device to locate and detect the baby’s heart beat. The speaker emitted “lub-dub”, “lub-dub”….. then silent again instead of usual rapid and continous heartbeat sound. The nurse tried to locate the baby again and the sound “lub-dub, lub-dub” appeared shortly then silent again. This was repeated for many times as the nurse tried to locate the baby again and again. Obviously the naughty boy was playing hide and seek with the nurse.

After a while, the funniest thing happened when the baby gave a continuos thrice hard kicks that both my wife and the nurse can clearly see the scanning device was jumping on her stomach.

Then the nurse laughed and said : “Ini budak kuat sepak o, kuat nakal lagi o”

4th day of 5th month in Lunar calendar, weather clear, king tide 6.20m@7020 a.m.

Today is a normal day for everyone but a slightly different day for me

why?

because i am going to drop by Secret Recipe on my way to my parent house

why?

to collect the trans fat free fresh cream peach cake that i had ordered

why?

for my dad a.k.a father-in-law of my wife and grandpa of my coming baby

why?

because today is a special day for my dad

why?

It is my dad’s BIRTHDAY!

老豆， 生日快乐

原来为你买生日蛋糕也是一种幸福