It's that time of the year again, when I have to make my "pilgrimage" back to Malaysia for the reunion dinner. This coming year of the cow seems ridden with pessimism on the economic front, but I still wish everyone can make the best out of every situation and embark on your own little "bull run" in the new year.
For me, things are certainly looking up. Every year since I got married, there has been a skewed "redistribution of income" when it comes to hongbao money. Most of my relatives have at least two children. Hee hee, now that Yu Hao has come into the picture, I am going to make a small "killing" in the hongbao market.
Finally, greetings (pls click)from all of us from WPN.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sabah Revisited
This was the second trip to Sabah in two years.
The last time I was there, It was a work-cum-pleasure trip. I didn't seem to be able to fully relax. And in any case, Sabah is such a big place, it deserves a second visit (or more).
I didn't want to learn cooking at Le Cordon Bleu for fear of backlash (and I am the man in the streets and I know I can only afford a cheap holiday in east Sabah).
This time round, it was just the four of us (wife, me, & 3-year-old and 4-month-old kids). If I didn't fully relax on my first trip, then I didn't even manage to relax at all on this one. It's no joke having these two around, because our days were spent attending to their every needs and that left very little time to actually "sight-see". Anticipating this, I chose a secluded resort with very good children facilities.
Apparently, the resort's definition and my definition of children are quite different because there is an age limit to many of the activities provided, eg. nature trail walk, cycling (no child seats), horse-riding etc. Luckily, they still have a neglected enclosure where there are a couple of huge tortoises, a goat, some squirrels and stray, foraging monkeys to keep Yu Wen entertained. In fact, she was thrilled to feed the goat with all sorts of grass and leaves (yeah, right, feed goat in Sabah!), and she kept saying "Billy is so silly" (with reference to one of her books)!
We also took a river cruise to the mangrove forest and watched macaques, and proboscis monkeys in the wild. It ended with a glittering display put up by fireflies.
Seafood there is relatively cheap and it's very fresh (a better place to eat seafood will be Sandakan and Tawau). There are many different types of garoupas that are only found in waters off Sabah. They have fancy names like eastern star garoupa, seven star garoupa, tiger garoupa, and the elusive and super coveted mouse garoupa (all direct translation from Chinese). Prices range from RM100-380 per kg (would have easily fetch triple the price in Singapore, if you can find one).
I didn't take much photos because my hands are always full (either with diapers, or the baby strollers). It's a pity, and a lesson learned.
The weight of these two combined is not even 30% of my weight but their stuff contribute to 90% of our luggage weight.
That's the view of the evening market by the port from our hotel window. We changed to a city hotel after the first few days of seclusion.
The last time I was there, It was a work-cum-pleasure trip. I didn't seem to be able to fully relax. And in any case, Sabah is such a big place, it deserves a second visit (or more).
I didn't want to learn cooking at Le Cordon Bleu for fear of backlash (and I am the man in the streets and I know I can only afford a cheap holiday in east Sabah).
This time round, it was just the four of us (wife, me, & 3-year-old and 4-month-old kids). If I didn't fully relax on my first trip, then I didn't even manage to relax at all on this one. It's no joke having these two around, because our days were spent attending to their every needs and that left very little time to actually "sight-see". Anticipating this, I chose a secluded resort with very good children facilities.
Apparently, the resort's definition and my definition of children are quite different because there is an age limit to many of the activities provided, eg. nature trail walk, cycling (no child seats), horse-riding etc. Luckily, they still have a neglected enclosure where there are a couple of huge tortoises, a goat, some squirrels and stray, foraging monkeys to keep Yu Wen entertained. In fact, she was thrilled to feed the goat with all sorts of grass and leaves (yeah, right, feed goat in Sabah!), and she kept saying "Billy is so silly" (with reference to one of her books)!
We also took a river cruise to the mangrove forest and watched macaques, and proboscis monkeys in the wild. It ended with a glittering display put up by fireflies.
Seafood there is relatively cheap and it's very fresh (a better place to eat seafood will be Sandakan and Tawau). There are many different types of garoupas that are only found in waters off Sabah. They have fancy names like eastern star garoupa, seven star garoupa, tiger garoupa, and the elusive and super coveted mouse garoupa (all direct translation from Chinese). Prices range from RM100-380 per kg (would have easily fetch triple the price in Singapore, if you can find one).
I didn't take much photos because my hands are always full (either with diapers, or the baby strollers). It's a pity, and a lesson learned.
The weight of these two combined is not even 30% of my weight but their stuff contribute to 90% of our luggage weight.
That's the view of the evening market by the port from our hotel window. We changed to a city hotel after the first few days of seclusion.
Family Business
The unique thing about Paul and Ziyan's wedding was that Paul's father is a church pastor and he officiated their ceremony at the Raffles Hotel lawn. Paul's younger brother was the worship leader. It brought the phrase "a small and intimate affair" to another level.
I thought that was sweet.
I thought that was sweet.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Short Break
After the hectic wedding season, it's time for me to take a short break. I literally had to beg my wife to come along, together with the children. Don't know why she is not too keen on a paid holiday...wonder if it's because of the fact that we are going to the Borneo rainforest?
Ha...anyway, I am still contactable on mobile. Cheers.
Ha...anyway, I am still contactable on mobile. Cheers.
Sweet Young Things
In the months of November and December, I have been shooting a lot of mature couples' weddings, and Lifen & Liyang are the odd ones out. They are young, with sweet demeanour, and soft-spoken. I love couples who have the utmost respect for what I do, and who have complete faith in me. I repay that faith with the only way I know, by giving them beautiful pictures to remember the weddings by.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Houston, we're good to go!
Prior to this pre-wedding shoot, I was a bit worried about the "chemistry" with Khon-Whey and Sue Anne. Both are based in Houston, Texas and therefore we have never met and all correspondences were made via emails. Moreover, Khon-Whey is the younger brother of my JC classmate, Li Shing, and you know the thing about shooting for friends' relatives et al, it might get a bit awkward.
But thanks to the easy-going manners of the couple, we breezed through the photo shoot easily. I also learnt one thing: the NASA rockets don't take-off from Houston. They actually depart from Florida. Houston is the station control. Silly me.
But thanks to the easy-going manners of the couple, we breezed through the photo shoot easily. I also learnt one thing: the NASA rockets don't take-off from Houston. They actually depart from Florida. Houston is the station control. Silly me.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
The story began 20 years ago...
This couple had known each other since their primary school days, and after each of them had lived their separate lives for about two decades, they come one big circle and ended up where they started, or to put it another way, picked up where they left off. Life always has a funny way to deal out its hand of cards.
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