Shangri-La @ The Land of The Orang Utan

March 3, 2010 Leave a comment

Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort @ Kota Kinabalu offers the finest gems of nature and a suite of fine services. Fine powdery beach, clear blue sunny afternoon sky, deep orange sunset, cool sea breeze and fresh morning woody scent. Sitting beside a nature reserve, this resort offers the best of Sabah in a lush, 400-acre tropical setting beside exquisite Pantai Dalit Beach.

It is a wonderful place to retreat for a week. Go conquer the tallest mountain in South East Asia – Mt Kinabalu or muck-diving with 3,000 species of fish and coral reefs in the clearest water of Sipadan island. This is the mating ground of green and hawksbill turtles and also the only home of the largest living arboreal animals – the Orang Utan. Currently, there are only about 30,000 Orang Utans living in the wild and they can only be found residing on the island of Borneo and Sumatra.

When I came to know that there is an Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center within the Nature Reserve in our resort, I decided to skip my lunch one afternoon and check out these magnificent primates living in the wild. It was just a short 10-minute walk into the forest when I heard something swinging above my head. I looked up and saw a big "bird-nest". It was one of the Orang Utan’s home. These nests were huge. (And I thought only birds build nest on the trees to sleep!) It was a good experience for me to see them living in the wild. Thankfully, I had my Canon 200mm zoom-lens with me!

Sabah is a great relaxing place but I have so little time to explore its wonders (as this is a working trip). No caving, diving or forest exploration (My only regret is I didn’t get to see the world’s largest flower – The Rafflesia). Next time…hopefully with a bunch of monkey friends.

Filed under Travel

Last Day of CNY – Our Happie & Lucky Lunch

February 28, 2010 Leave a comment

It has been a long while since we have new faces joining our little HK clan. Yesterday (in the good spirits of CNY), 3 new good friends – Danielle, Natalie and Jaslin graced my home with cookies and lots of laughters! For Elkan, it was like his "match-making" session. He was so thrilled to have 3 pretty ladies hugging and holding his hand.

At noon, we had lunch with my 3 rich lonely brothers – Mike, Scott and Harshad. Mike booked a big table at my favourite Western Market restaurant where we had good, affordable dim-sum! Later at 5pm, we went over to Macau for food and shopping. Since we have 2 new Casino Virgins, we decided to tap on their "Beginner’s Luck" to make some fast buck. Our new Lady Luck charmed us. In a short span of 3 hours, we left the casino with at least 150%-700% winnings. (Surely, I can’t give you the exact and breakdown here.) All I can say is – All well ends well!

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Misty Sea

February 28, 2010 Leave a comment

(Photo Taken: On TurboJet – Way to Macau. Due to the poor visibility, the fog delayed many ferry trips yesterday. We waited for more 2 hours to board our ferry to Macau.)

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Staying Above Cloud 9

February 28, 2010 Leave a comment

(Photo Taken: From Our House – It is the time of the year when low clouds and mist blanket the island)

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A Toss to the Greatest CNY Dish!

February 21, 2010 Leave a comment

Originated from China (Guangzhou) and reinvented (and made popular) by our Singapore Master Chef "Than Mui Kai" in 1964, the YuSheng is no doubt a must-have signature dish in CNY. More popular in Singapore and Malaysia, the name "YuSheng" is a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor. Friends and families gather together, tossing the "auspicious ingredients" in unison, wishing each other luck and properity for the coming new year.

Finally, after waiting for almost 8 days, we had our 1st 2010 CNY YuSheng Lunch at our favourite City Garden Hotel in Hong Kong. The clan – Scott, Tracy, Mike and Hong Fei flew back this weekend. Thanks to the good wishers – I just learnt the new "F-Word" of the year from Hong Fei and Harshad – 发ING You / Huat You!

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

New Geek @ Work

February 19, 2010 Leave a comment

Elkan has been trying to imitate me at work for quite a while. Often when I am not around at home, he would sit at my work-desk and pretend to be busy typing and answering phone calls. Playground and park are no longer his favourite haunt. Now, he looks forward to visit daddy at work – and terrorise all my helpless colleagues.  

After much consideration, I decided to give him his dream Hong Bao this Chinese New Year. I got him his first personal laptop! That will be a big relief to everyone in the household – Yeah! Our Macbooks are safe from his dirty oily fingers! Over the past week, Felicia and I taught him how to type, save, view images, play music, logon to Skype and surf the kids’ web (with supervision of course – The Kiasu Kiasi Safe, China-like Big Brother Overprotection Way!) Trust me, kids are excellent in such gadgets as early as 3!

Surely, he operates the laptop like a true-blue geek! Except this geek still drink from his favourite milk bottle! Urghhh…that is so mis-match and uncool! (For that reason, no Apple iPad for him! He will bring down the cult!)

Filed under Family

Greetings from Home

February 17, 2010 Leave a comment

One of the best marvels of technology is how it is able to connect hearts across oceans and lands. Video conferencing is so common and affordable now that it has become a basic way of life. Friends hugging friends online… and children waving at each other through wireless connection. Of course, it can never replace the real thing. Afterall, it is only a 2-sense (sound and sight) experience. (But again, we don’t taste our friends, do we?)

Just a while ago, I had our little "wahbiang gathering online" with some of my favourite wondergirls – Juliana, Kalinda and Tracy. Not forgetting Zach and Daddy Duuk. Chatting over the screen does has its advantages – At least, I can "verbally abuse" Queen Juliana without the fear of being "hit" by her. (Yes, I called her fat and I am still alive!) And I can see the new Dark & Sexy Kalinda up close and "personal" (intimately) without her feeling "disgusted". And for Tracy, she should be feeling damn lucky – cos’ she is spared today from Elkan’s gongfu kicks and punches. The best of all… you can get 3 girls hugging closely to fit into the 4:3 screen for a photo shoot! Now, that is tact-noorgy.

Filed under Wahbiang

Lots of 吉, Lots of 利

February 16, 2010 Leave a comment


"大吉大利" (Da-Ji-Da-Li) is a common Chinese New Year greeting. Chinese believe that the fruit Mandarin "吉" represents good fortune. Thus, the bigger the fruit, the bigger the fortune one get. Witnessing the kind of amazing luck Harshad had this new year, I began to believe that there may be some truth to such belief. Afterall, he just won himself good money at Macau to pamper himself with a brand new 250GB PS3!

Harshad is certainly no stranger to such superstitions. Today, he invited us to his house. What a pleasant surprise, he has been filling his house (and tummy) with bottles of Mandarin drinks days before Chinese New Year! Check out his special "Mandarin Formation" and his recent big win!

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Full House

February 15, 2010 Leave a comment

For those who didn’t know. Venetian @ Macau is one of the world’s largest resort-hotels. And now, Venetian is attempting to set a new Guinness World Record by creating a replica of its premises using decks of cards. Venetian has invited card-stacker expert, Bryan Berg to break his own Guinness World Record. He will be attempting to build a replica of The Venetian Macao, The Plaza Macao, and Sands Macao buildings will use more than 190,000 cards! This feat will take Bryan 44 days to complete. (YESTERDAY – What we saw here was Bryan’s Day-19 works)

Watch some of Berg’s commerical videos:
    

Filed under Cool Stuffs

Thee Equals You

February 15, 2010 Leave a comment

I always love handmade gift. And this Valentine, Felicia handmade me a very special set of pink tea-sachets. Packed in special-printed wrapper, all blends were personally packed by her. Through thick and thin, the taste of love is so deep and smooth. Perhaps, a little sugar helps to sweeten the taste of love. (Haaa.. I must go and buy my own sugar-cubes.) The brand? She branded it as "LOVING THEE". This is certainly one brand of tea that doesn’t come with expiry date.

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

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