June Photoshoot

Fri 6 June 2025

All of us were on time for the 9.30 AM photoshoot. This year the theme is blue or denim outfits. There were new backdrops since our photoshoot last year. We took a few photos when AAL photographer Jeffrey Wong was answering a phone call. 

Rain, Beh Ling & River

The photoshoot went smoothly and we left at 10.40 AM. Bikia sent Abi & family for dim sum brunch at Lok Tian while Beh Ling, papa and I went home as Beh Ling had a flight to catch. 

June Visit

Mon 2 June 2025

At 8 PM, Bikia went to pick up Abi & family from the airport. Beh Ling and I drove over to Imago at around 8.30 PM. We received Royce biscuits and sake gifts from Abi, items they had bought in their Tokyo stopover.

Tues 3 June 2025

Bikia picked Abi up at 8.30 AM for his medical checkup at Gleneagles. Beh Ling and Bikia went out to get dim sum and kueh teow at 11.20 AM, then picked me up and we went over to Imago for lunch. 

On the way home after lunch, we went to Taman Kinabalu to wish Uncle Chen a happy 89th birthday. Bikia and Uncle Chen were in green outfits. Uncle Chen was delighted when we told him that both of them looked like father and son.

In the evening, Bikia went to pick up Abi & family to send them to our place to meet up with papa. Rain was a good boy and explained the magnet photos and photo album to papa. Meanwhile, Uncle Chen was celebrating his birthday at home.

We had our dinner at Gaya Street. The 4 of us had bah kut teh while Anica and kids had lasagna and pizza at Little Italy. This was followed by an evening stroll at Sutera Harbour. 

Wed 4 June 2025

After having dim sum and kuey teow lunch at Imago, Abi and family went for proboscis monkey and firefly tour at 2 PM. 

Thur 5 June 2025

Bikia, Abi & family had dim sum lunch at Lok Tien. In the meantime, I was preparing lunch consisting of salmon, prawns and vegetable soup. The dim sum lunch gang came back to the house and spent some time chatting with papa. At 2 PM, Bikia sent them back to Imago and we agreed to meet up for dinner. 

(L-R) Rain, Anica, River, Abi and Bikia at Lok Tian

Dinner was at Pate (formerly Jesselton Café) at Gaya Street. Beh Ling decided to have bah kut teh instead. We rejoined the Pate gang at 8 PM. Dessert was cendol at Penang Kopitiam for the 4 of us while Anica and kids had Baskin Robbins ice-cream.

Fri 5 June 2025

After our photoshoot, Bikia sent Abi & family for dim sum brunch at Lok Tian while Beh Ling, papa and I went home. While Beh Ling finished her packing, I cut some papaya and took out leftover red bean soup for her. Dropped her off at the airport before 11.30 AM. Abi has 3 PM appointment for medical checkup result and we will meet up for dinner later.

We went for Upperstar dinner at Imago and it was much better than the expensive Pate dinner last night. Abi, Bikia and I went for another round of cendol and discussed on the medical result (slightly high cholesterol) and Abi’s retirement plan in 2 years time. His plan is to do freelance work.

Sat 7 June 2025

Bikia went to fetch Abi & family to our house after checking out from their Loft E rental place. Bikia, Anica and I went back to the photo studio for 9.30 AM appointment to select 10 + 5 extra photos. Then it was time for Austin family to go to the airport to catch their 12.50 PM flight to Singapore.

May Outings

Mon 12 May 2025

It was a busy morning starting with collecting birthday cake from Osbel. Decided to buy the pretty looking Mother’s Day cupcakes as well. Then drove to Lorong Angsa 13 to pick up aunty Jocelyn. After that it was off to the Ark to pick up aunty Su Lee. 

Aunty Kim was waiting for us when we arrived at the Club. She bought delicious red bean soup for dessert. We had lunch consisting of brinjal, tomato omelette, sweet & sour pork, toufu and rice. We then had the early birthday celebration for aunty Su Lee (actual birthday is 15 May).

L-R: Papa, aunty Su Lee, Jocelyn Chung, Kim Chan

Mother’s Day cupcakes and yam birthday cake

Wed 21 May 2025

We were on time for 12 noon lunch at New WK. Edmund, aunty Su Lee, aunty Elsie (Su Lee’s classmate and fellow Ark resident) and Jennifer (Elsie’s daughter) had arrived earlier. 

Edmund ordered quite a number of dishes. For the first time, I tried the chicken feet as only aunty Su Lee and papa were eating it and 1 piece was left. It’s not too bad, as long as you don’t think of it as chicken feet. It’s mostly skin and small pieces of bone.

L-R: Aunty Su Lee, Jennifer, Edmund Yong, aunty Elsie

The great flood of KK on 5 Nov 1988 was one of the subjects of conversation during lunch. This is the rhyme used by aunty Su Lee to remember the date.

Remember, remember, 

5th of November

Trip to Kuching

Fri 25 Apr 2025

It was not ideal but our Kuching flight was retimed from 12.50 PM to 6 PM, to 11 PM and finally to 11.40 PM. We arrived at the airport on time and surprisingly the flight was full. I guess everyone else were also looking forward to the weekend trip to Kuching.

Firefly flight

At Kuching Airport, we waited for a few minutes for our Grab ride and arrived at Riverside Suite just before 2 AM.

Sat 26 Apr 2025

Bikia and papa went out at 7 AM to get breakfast.

After breakfast of Sarawak laksa and kolo mee, we went to the Borneo Culture Museum. We thought we would be there for only an hour. Turned out to be close to 2 hours.  

Objects of Desire exhibit

Burial poles

Gift shop

We decided to have lunch at the Museum restaurant which had fancy soft shell crab burger and egg Benedict.

Pretty bags

After cake and drinks at the Suite, Beh Ling and I went to the Hills. We were back on time for 6.45 PM pick-up by Stephen Lau for dinner at Sarawak Club. Stephen (72, starting pay was 1000, take home pay 884 and could afford 2 maids) was friendly and chatty. Dr. Kang (78 years old, living alone, widow), Paul Chew and 3 other people were waiting for us when we arrived. Dishes ordered by Dr. Kang were tomato kuey teow, midin (Sarawak fern), toufoo, chicken, prawns, bitter gourd with salted egg and vegetable. The food was good. Beh Ling gave gifts to them to thank them for dinner. 

Kuching tomato wantan ho 

Salted egg bitter gourd

Standing: Paul Chew (3rd from left), Stephen Lau (2nd from right)

Seated: Dr. Kang (2nd from left)

Stephen sent us to the waterfront and we caught the 9.30 PM light and sound show. It was about 800m back to the Suite and we took a few more photos along the way. 

Old Courthouse

Waterfront

Back at the Suite, Beh Ling applied henna on my hair to colour it. Had my shower at 12 midnight and we went to sleep at 12.30. 

Sun 27 Apr 2025

We walked to nearby Choon Hui coffee shop for breakfast. We found out from Dhayal later that day that this place was recommended by Anthony Bourdain. The porridge, Sarawak laksa, kolo mee, popiah and chicken feet were good. 

After breakfast, we went for walkabout at Chinatown where Beh Ling bought her pepper gifts. We took Grab to the Hills as Beh Ling wanted to get more gift items. Back at the Suite, we took our shower, finished our packing and left at 11.45. 

We went to CityOne for lunch at the Shangri La restaurant. Dhayal greeted us and we put our bags in his car. Uncle Bala, aunty Rey and Dhayal's children - Inid, Inesh, Ina were waiting for us. His wife Amita joined us later. Lunch consisted of brinjal, toufoo, pork, roast duck, steamed fish and pancake dessert. 

(L-R) Uncle Bala, aunty Rey, Beh Ling, Inesh, papa, Ina, Bikia, Amita, Dhayal, Inid

We were invited to Dhayal's spacious house and we had delicious cakes from Commons, Courthouse. He sent us to the airport at 4.30, a short drive from his house. This time our flight was on time, unlike our flight into Kuching.

Outings

Mon 31 Mar 2025

We went to Taman Kinabalu to pick up the Chen family for dim sum lunch at East West. Orh jian (oyster omelette), siu mai, har kau, Tuaran mee and chicken porridge were some of the items we had for our delicious lunch.

With uncle Chen and aunty Linda

Tues 1 Apr 2025

We went to the Ark to pick up aunty Su Lee for lunch at the Club. Sweet and sour pork, brinjal and tenggiri fish was ready when aunty Kim arrived. She is still coping with the loss of uncle Charlie and I think it would be good for her to go out and meet up with friends. 

We heard about the 2 sets of Beaufort twins within 2 years story again. Aunty Kim had her stories about travelling to Hyderabad and London, and the search for a nursing home for her friend. Both ladies were chatting away and I had to interject as it was past 2 PM and is past the time to send aunty Su Lee back to the Ark.

With aunty Su Lee and aunty Kim

Wed 16 Apr 2025

Bikia was back since Monday. We went out for early lunch at Bornion and decided to try the Vietnamese pho noodle and Sarawak Laksa. Three bowls of noodles and 1 kopi ping costs RM50, a bit more pricey than expected.

Lunch at Vina Bun

Dinner at home consisting of vegetable, tau foo and salmon

Sat 19 Apr 2025

We were back at the Club for lunch consisting of nasi lemak, watan hor followed by Kit Kat chocolate and carrot cake for dessert. 

 

Wed 23 Apr 2025

We went to the airport to pick up Beh Ling at 8 pm. On the way home, we drop by Haru cafe for yam and sweet potato latte with omelette and croissant. 

Omelette and latte drinks 

Thur 24 Apr 2025

We were at the Club for lunch. 

Wed 30 Apr 2025

We were invited to Dr. Senthuran’s birthday celebration at Hoo Yuan restaurant.

L-R: Spencer, Margaret, Doreen, Dr. Senthuran, Tan Wah Koon, Adeline, KC Wong