A Gift

This beautiful christmas gift came all the way from New Zealand. I cried when I received it, not of sadness but more of a realization of how, in so many ways and instances I underestimated or overlooked  my children's thoughtfulness.

A recipe box. What is so special about that? You might ask. To me, it is priceless and it showed me the thought that went into the gift. Let me share with you the reason why this gift touched my heart so...

This has been my recipe box for more than a decade, a branded classic :-p. It housed many of my favorite recipes. I have had it for so long that I never really see the need to upgrade. I was really very surprised that someone in the house noticed this item which was always tucked at a corner and that it was my son even amazes me more.

This showed me how much more I need to learn about my children and how they grow and change with the years.

The old and the new.

The new has the index cards which I always wanted but never got around to do for my old.

The old fits perfectly in the new house.

Look so good too.

Finally my recipes are categorized. 

Now I am busy taking down more of my favorite recipes from another of my dinosaur's age (before the age of internet) recipe recording method which is about to fall into pieces...

 ...the one and only, limited edition cookbook, my green book.

A cut and paste pesto sauce recipe from a food wrapper (I remember it was from the plastic bag that came with the pine nuts from Mee). Very authentic recipe.

Another cut and paste, the fabulous CNY Yee Sang recipe of  Amy Beh found in The Star.

Even though I love the internet access to recipes, I still prefer to have my recipes in cards as they are more handy (have you ever try running back and forth from where the computer is to the kitchen like 10x to make sure you've got a recipe correctly?), unless and until I have a computer in the kitchen (even then)...

...this will remains my most treasured box for a long, long time. 

Thank you, Don.

With Friends

While KT and KH were here we brought them around our very scenic beaches and resorts. These were the few places we managed within the short time...

 

Rasa Ria Shangri-la Resort, Pantai Dalit, Tuaran

Nexus Resort, Karambunai

Shangri-la Tanjung Aru

Had a drink at the Borneo Lounge in Shangri-la Tanjung Aru after dinner. It is undoubtably one of the most beautiful hotel in Sabah.

We only realized we hardly go out at all in KK until this trip of KT and KH which brought us to many places we haven't visited in years. I hope they had as much fun as we did.

Introduced them to this fruit unique to Borneo only, the tarap and they love it.

A Journey Of Hope

Dahlia

Arrived home early this morning from Nagoya. This was not a holiday trip as I have mentioned and I was too optimistic about picture taking of food and scenery. The whole trip was a whirlwind of activities and most of the meals were buffet or pack-to-go and had to be eaten in a hurry. I am sorry there is not much to show as there was no time to hold the camera at all. 

The convention was a gathering of about 10,000 participants from all over the world. It was basically a symposium to gather and exchange information regarding energy conservation, nature preservation, organic agriculture, pollution, global warming, recycling and many topics like education, medicine and politics related to making the world a better, safer, cleaner and most of all, to bring a brighter hope for the future. 

It was truly awe inspiring when many of the participants, experts and layman alike shared their experiences and knowledge. 

I think each and everyone of us knows to a certain extent what needs to be done to reverse this mad consumerism and wasteful state we are in. Knowing is one thing but it is the doing that will make any difference and it starts right here with oneself. 

When each and everyone of us actively and consciously begin this conservation movement no matter how small the action, we will begin to bring about a change and hope to the world.  

It was a very uplifting convention and by the end of it, I think, everyone was raring to do one's best in our own homes, society and country. 

After the closing of the convention, all the foreign participants were given yet another gift - a surprise bonus, two 'handshakes', totally unexpected and overwhelmingly touched.  

A trip with no physical images but abundant soul imprints...

 

Special Olympics in KK

The 10th Special Olympic games of district level was held last Sunday in the Penampang sport stadium.

Special Olympics is an international voluntary organisation providing sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type and local sports for children and adults with intellectual disability.
The true meaning of Special Olympics is best summarised:
"In a world where poverty, war and oppression have dimmed peoples hopes, Special Olympics re-kindles that hope with their spiritual strengths, their excellence and achievements"- author unknown.

Below are a few of the many (150) images I managed (struggled) to captured. I realised I have a lot to learn about outdoor, action photography. It is a whole new ball game to still-life photography.

"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."


Three girls for the 100m walk and the rest were volunteers.

Special Olympics relies on VOLUNTEERS for all activities. These three young lovely ladies braving the hot sun were here to help with the awards section.

Even when they do not win a medal they receive a certificate.

This cheeky little girl, a gold medalist, gave a supermodel pose when she sees my camera aiming at her.

Special Olympics is an organization created to help people with intellectual disabilities develop self-confidence, social skills and a sense of personal accomplishment through sports.

The Seri Mengasih athletics waiting for their turns on the track.

Children and adults with intellectual disabilities who take part in Special Olympics usually develop better physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image.

They begin to grow mentally, socially and spiritually and, through these inspiring activities, exhibit boundless courage and enthusiasm. They enjoy the friendship and discover new abilities and talents.

These medalists will go on to compete in the State level games which will be held in Tawau June this year. Well done, girls!

Keshia was very lucky to be permitted to participate in the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games that was hosted in Ireland, held from 21 June-29 June 2003. Dublin served as the central stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies in which she was able to witness live preformances of the U2, the Corrs and many more. Until today it still remains THE event of her life and the envy of her brothers and sisters.

The Special Olympics World Games is held every four years. Usually the games are held in the USA and 2003 was the first time it was held outside the States. The 2007 Games were held in Shanghai, China, from 2-11 October 2007.
Athens, Greece, will host the next Special Olympics World Summer Games, 25 June - 4 July 2011

“Our Dreams have Color” was the theme of a speech given by Joanna Despotopoulou, President of the 2011 World Games Organizing Committee.
“Yes… our dreams have color but only when we really open our eyes and are overwhelmed with life, when we do not imprison them in a lonesome journey, when we do not bury them under a huge ego, when we share them with those who need them truly,” Despotopoulou said.

Jo

Related Post: Gila gila night

A Valentine's evening

We don't celebrate Valentine's day. But we do know that that's the day not to buy flowers or eat out! Rm15 per rose! That's almost the price of half a roast duck! Daylight robbery!
Anyway, having said all that, when Don came home this evening with these cakes for us, we were speechless and so, so touched.
Thank you, Don, for making this day, 14th Feb. special. You are our valentine too.


Chocolate cheese cake and chocolate heaven.
A little late...but better than never - Happy Valentine's to all!

The Floating Bookstore

The MV Doulos, 'slave' in Greek, is not only the the world largest floating bookstore but it is also recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest ocean-going passenger ship still active. This vessel was built in 1914 as a cargo transport. It is now owned by a German charity which turned it into a book store in 1977. Operating with an all volunteer crew and staff of 320 people from over 40 countries, it has since docked at more than 500 ports and 100 countries. The 130-metre ship boast of over 6,000 categories of books on board! But alas, this grand old vessel is planning to retire in 2021 after more than a century of servitude!

Last week, it docked at Kota Kinabalu port again (apparently it has been here three times before which we missed) and will be here until the 26th October. This would be its last trip to KK before it retire.

Everyday during the 15-day-visit, various programmes are taking place from international cafes but too bad all the tickets were sold out when we enquired.

The bookstore opens to the public until the 26th October: daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm, and Sundays from 2:00pm to 10:00pm.

Hi girls, that's a Aussie flag. Find our Jalur Gemilang! It displays the flag of every country the ship had visited.



The first time I went on one of these was when I was still in secondary school. Anyone remember the Logos? It left a very deep impression on me and I still have the one and only book I bought back then - a Marguerite Patten's International cookbook which cost me an arm and a leg - my entire week of allowance!
This time around, I still ended up at the cookbook section and refused to leave even when the girls screamed for lack of air and water (it was truly packed, I was also feeling the effect of oxygen deprivation). I only managed to get one...'Sweet comfort food'.




One last view of the grand vessel after we disembarked (from nowhere).


Jo

Our new jacket

Thanks to Babe in the city and finalsense, we finally took the plunge and changed our blog's outlook. So comfortable with the old coat that it was actually heartbreaking to cut the tie. Had been working with it everyday for the past 4 months!

The new look is a little bare now. Please bear with us. There are still so much tweaking and fine-tuning to be done. That will certainly take a long while because there are so much to learn and we are on a trial and error roller coaster. If there is anyone out there who can help please do drop us a line...

I love Charlie

I am in love.

His name is Charlie.

He's a Gemini.

He's Chinese royalty.

And because of him, I finally believe in love at first sight.

I never thought I could love another after Sam. But Charlie's changed all that now.

We're as different as chalk and cheese, but when we met, it was like kismet.

I can spend all day just talking to him, hugging him, reveling in his company and just enjoying the fact that he makes me laugh. All the time.





Charlie's my Godson. I think I'm gonna get Charlie a Godbrother. Soon. Very soon.

Love,
Heather

Happy Merdeka, Malaysia!

The eve of Merdeka.

I must say, though, that many of us Sabahans are suitably upset that Malaysia is known to be 50 years old this year. Malaysia as a nation is actually only 44 years old. The Federation of Malaya became Malaysia only in 1963 when Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined the country.

Ah well. Some say details are trivial. I think not.

Back to the matter of celebrating Merdeka in KK.

This was the first year I have ever been a part of the official Merdeka celebrations in any way. Don't get me wrong. I love being Malaysian. I even use the 'Tanggal 31, Bulan 8, 57... Merdeka!' song as my ringtone for the whole month of August. I just never got round to making it to any of the padangs or celebration grounds.

This year was special. The Sarios got an invite to the Konsert Gemilang Ambang at Sabah's Padang Merdeka. We had nice, vip seats and didn't have to risk being manhandled by the masses. ;p

And it was all cos my little brother, Bryan, was performing! (I never knew that young punk was so talented)

Bryan's the lead singer of his band, 5th Generation. The (rock-ish) band, consisting of Tim, Kevin, Gordon and Yazid, were to sing 10 songs throughout the night, and even given the task of singing two songs when the Guests of Honor arrived.

The boys in practice

The concert grounds

We couldn't stay the whole nite cos of Daddy and Mummy's flight to Japan. But we managed (after 2 hours of waiting from 6pm onwards) to catch the band in action. And at the risk of sounding biased, 5th Generation was AWESOME! Bryan was superb, his bandmates on the guitars and drums were like professional musicians, and Daddy, Mummy, Leanne and I beamed with pride. Kesh and Don, you two shoulda been here.

5th Generation in action

Happy Merdeka everyone!

Love,

Heather

A paellera that is not

Thank you, K for this paella pan that is not exactly a paellera. He got this in Frankfurt. He could not find a genuine paellera so he bought this instead just as to be in time for my birthday this month. So very touched by his thoughtfulness. Thank you, my love.

Here let me wish my sisters (all except for one, Mui Fong who was born in December), also a few floggers like babe-in-the-city and her son, the scent of lemongrass who were all August babies and Ket King, my nephew and Miyo, a cute three-year-old who were both born on the 31st August, happy birthday to all of us!!

Don is back for a few days and I promised him paella, so the pan was put to good use immediately. Went to the usually fish stall for prawn but none was available. Was resigned to cook the dish with only chicken but wait...

...there is this last chorizo sausage left in the fridge!! Now if only I could find some rabbit's meat...Used the same recipe but just added in the sliced and lightly fried Spanish sausage. Went so well that I didn't even get to snap a picture of the end result! Another reason I didn't get a picture of the cooked paella was because I was too busy eating these...

Mui Fong brought a whole bag of these jungle durians and they were just the best...ever. The flesh was sooo smooth and with such sweet aroma. It was like eating the creamiest peanut butter and the best smoothest chocolate you can imagine, even K who is not so crazy about durian gave the thumbs up. This fruit season, for Mui Fong and me, has been all about jungle and local durians. We are boycotting the genetically engineered species!

(Edit)

Note: The man who owns the tree that bears these gorgeous fruits wants an acknowledgement in the blog. This tree is an inheritance from his father which he called 'Special Durian Merah'. He is Philip Botindal of Kg. Togop, Tamparuli.

Thank you, Philip!

Jo