Just Blogging Around

My aunty (dad’s sister) visiting Perth. She is all excited going around.  For me, I’ve been playing too much tourist, and there is a Perthphotobia developing in me. =.=”"”

My family left town few weeks ago. We went all over Perth, and visited Down South. Before that, Kian’s sister was in Town, we went to South (again). Back in few months ago, Miza, my old friend was in Town twice(!), we went up to King’s Park, we had loacl seafood. I’ve been visiting the same place, doing the same things all over and over again. And this is pretty scary.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends and family. I mentioned before: you3 peng2 zhi4 yuan4 fang1 lai2, bu2 yi4 le hu1?It’s just that, Perth has THAT much to offer, I am kinda sick of it now. Playing tourguide is not that fun, after all.

Anyhoo.. everybody, this is my Da4 Gu1 (aunty Fong), Da4 Gu1, this is everybody!

I brought my Da4 Gu1 to few places in WA. Due to my busy work schedule, I don’t get to bring them to Down South. Yes, I worked berturut-turut (continuesouly) Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Day! Hardcore, right?

The best thing spending time with my Da4 Gu1 is, we both are like girl friends/sista.
She teaches how to cook, wear make-up. She does my nails, thou I haven’t got long nails. We giggle over some ‘bedtime’ stories.

Best thing is, they bought me some clothes. My aunty said, “I’ve seen you wearing this top from long time ago..and you still wearing the same thing! aiyoh!” Yeah lah! I hardly can tell since when I bought new cloth. Most of my clothes were bought by Kian, dad, brothers, sister. I only know how to buy Paul Frank and I stopped years ago. =(

Thanks go to these Kay-L Tai4 Tai4 (mistress) and their shopping and money-spending spirit ! I love you all! *mwah*

I is Baby Foo, obviously.  

I managed to find quite a few numbers of my childhood photos in my old album back home. Those photos are reproduced using Canon S3, the quality aint that good. Some are OK, some are not. If I have scanner when I was back in Bagan Serai, I swear I will have at least hundreds of photos of me!

So, this is me.

 

  

I have heaps of photo of me and mum. Mum loves photo (and sweet memories) !! She took heaps of photos of us! I believe I inherit this particular DNA code from her. Erm, If I have a chance, I will scan our WHOLE family album.

 

 

With mum again. Mum doesn’t seem to change much since many years ago except she no longer wear this humungous glasses

 

 

I can’t believe the baby is ME! Do I? Did I? Grow up sooooo much?

With grandpa.

I was the first and the only daughter of my parents, and grandchild of both maternal and paternal grandparents. Naturally, I kena (was) spoilt like no-body-business. I am lucky enough that my family members are not those ol’ days typical traditional Asians who favor male more than female. Lagi!! I kena spoilt BIG TIME lah!!

So, you can tell why I am so spoilt and ‘manja’.

With my late grandpa — he was one of my role models in my family. He taught me lotsa things when I was young. Not those ABC, 123 thing. It was all about the grown-up fink–social, politic etc.  He told me it was going to be useful in my future. Sadly, I only realised their usefulness these years.

 

 

Told you! I was spoilt big time! My family members had my 1st birthday party for me. Alas! These adults ah! Enjoying themselves only lah!

Can you spot a young dude wearing a white shirt, standing behind mum? it is my dad!!! He was and he is still a handsome man!

 

 

My childhood friends –Xing Jun, Siew Hwa, Ting Ting. Xing Jun supervised me in debate competition when I was in high school. She is very inspiring. Siew Hwa, nickname Ah Gal whom I spent PLENTY of my childhood time with her. She was our baby sitter’s relative, we used to love together too!   

 

 

My aunty who is now mother of two little cute boys. Remember Kit Chai and Zi Tao? 

 

 

 I was a tom-boy head when I was young. And I am still one.

 

 

I love this little elephant top! So much of a ’character’ 

 

 

My uncle (mum’s youngest brother). He is a smart-ass and very brainy too.  

 

  

 

 

With my aunty (mum’s sister). We were (and are) very close. When I was young, she treated me like a baby, a young lady who knew nothing. But now hey! All my aunties (include dad’s sister) are my GIRLFRIENDS!  We talk about everything!

 

 

I can’t believe I ‘did’ this!! Lift the skirt half way and pose for the camera. So gurly!  

 

 

At Taiping Lake. 

 

 

With my brother in Teluk Intan (Anson) where my late grandma’s hometown was.  

 

 

most of my dad’s sibling were in Teluk Intan when I was young. I didn’t get to see them so often. But I am glad we all are closely bonded nowadays.

Beside my family members in Bagan Serai, I will make effort to contact my uncles, aunties and grandaunty all over Penang, KL and The States. *Family is very very important to me.*

 

 

 

Grooooowing up. 

 

 

in four years time… me a little gal. 

 

 

 And I guess this is when I was 5,6?

 

 

the growing-up process is so unreal, me think.

:)

 

I did it again. ;P

 

 

Hey! Guess what? I found out this infringement kept in one of my book, and I mean to pay for it looooong time ago when I was having my holiday back home. How long? That’s like..erm.. FEBRUARY!!

I paid my last infringement over here around Christmas last year. But the one in Taiping huh… Do you think I should bother about it?

I was driving my parent’s car. Erm, yeah. Maybe I should tell my mummy tomorrow when I call home to wish her Happy Mother’s Day. I have to be honest with my parents; and you see, the car is registered under their name, I can’t be so selfish, right? *wink*

Rightio~!!! Call home tomorrow and reveal the truth!! *right timing*

 

 

Erm.. after all it is only RM20.00. Seriously, shall I be bothered? But I still think it is going to be a ideal ‘topic’ to initiate our conversation with my mummy tomorrow..see how she react My mum is funny, and she has very high level of sense of humour. I just can’t wait to hear from her. Haha! I am such a hopeless daughter.

On earth.. This is going to be one of my mother’s day gifts. So… tell me!! what have you got for you mum??

 

 

This is (part of) my family. These happy people are from my dad’s side. Both of dad’s sister.  

Those photos were taken at Uncle Chak’c company annual dinner, KL.

 

  

I start with Mamah first, alright? Mamah not exactly like popo (grandma)– she is my dad’s sister, Aunty Lee Lee’s mother in law. We call elderly people at home mamah. 

Mamah born in Hong Kong, living in Atlanta, Georgia. She visits our home very often. I learn alot of tips from her, especially how to get long well with my future in-laws. Like I mentioned before, I appreciate other people advices. Mamah never failed to give me good tips and advices. How cool is that?

 

 

I took a group photo with my cousins.Yep, the young people. We were all very very ‘baby’ once..but now my cousins are all grown ups. They are talking about fashion, boys, studying abroad. Erm..time flies very very fast, eh?  

 

 

My Aunty Fang Fang (left) insists she is also (very) ‘young’..she wanted to join us. =.=”’ Don’t know how to shy one. Haha. The handosme dude from far right is my youngest brother. He does look like my bf sometimes.

 

 

This is uncle Chak, Aunty Fang Fang’s husband who also give me many many advices and guidance for my future. I reckon everyone in my family like to nag me to the core; They want to make sure I am listening too…erm, I am, I am..really the pain in the bumb.  

 

 

This is Aunty Fang Fang. We share many similiarities–the bimbo, dumb+cute-ness, brainless-ness, happy-go-lucky. These characters run in my blodd. Oh! Not quite, one thing for sure, I am not that fashionable.  Not at all.

 

 

Leng, my cousin. We started talking more and more when we all grow up. She is very lovely. She knows her shopping malls well.  Sadly, I still have plenty of RM but I didn’t get to spend them all as I didn’t have much time in KL. *sob*

 

 

This is Sin, another cute and lovely cousin. Oh well, what can I say..the gene is running in my family. 

 

 

Yi is another baby cousin. He has very very small eyes and I always wanted him to lift up his forehead so his eyes look as big as mine. Mission: fail.  

 

 

This is my dad’s youngest sister, Lee Lee’s husband, Uncle Lui How. He is so funny, he doesn’t talk as much as the female population at home..but once he says something, he crack everyone’s tear off. How classic! 

 

 

This is Kit Chai.. He is my baby cousin. He says HELLO to everyone! He is such a sweetheart, he knows how to use his charm and ‘melt’ other people heart. He gives out kisses to everyone and everywhere!!! What a sukka! 

 

 

This is Kit Chai’s brother, Zi Tao. 

 

 

Kit Chai loves taking photo with me. I am saying this because is real, not because I just wanna say it, ok? Don’t trust me? Have a look yourself, mate. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future heart-breaker.

 

This is my maternal popo (grandma). I practiced self-cam with her when I was back home.

 

“Eeee.. what is this Huey Huey?”

“Popo! This is my camera.” 

“Oh! How come like this one? The face is sooo big?”
 

“No lar Popo! You just smile..you look great!” 

“Ah! That’s much better!!” 

and smile!!!

How cute is that??!!!! 

p/s: I speak (and practice) Teow Chew with my popo so I won’t forget this particular dialect.

Abit background of my popo and how her positiveness has taught me in my life:

My popo was born in China. She migrated to Malaya (before 1957) with her family. She has 12 siblings if I’m not mistaken. Popo has very strong and independent personality. I remember when kongkong (maternal grandpa) passed away about 15 years ago, she moved on pretty quickily and did what she had to do for the whole family.I adore my popo for that. She told me no matter what happen in the life, don’t look back. What is done is done. Move on and do what we should do.

I also admire my popo in many many perspective. She is a good cook!!! She cooks lotsa lotsa yummie Teow Chew dishes when I went home. My popo also has been very active in local community. She volunteres to help out in local activities; she also make LOTSA donation. She told me before, donate money if you can, if you can’t spare your ‘energy’ for others.

My popo definitely plays an important role in my life.

Eng Hock means Forever Happiness; my late grandpa named after his medical hall (shop) long time ago. We are the third generation in the family practicing Chinese medicine. But is a lot of thing has been changed when people from my hometown moving from pharmacognosy therapy to western pharmaceutical. In fact, I am ONE of them.

NO! Don’t get me wrong. I do appreciate Chinese medicines. They are beautiful herbs!

 

 

This is my very very cool dad!  

Dad is the second generation. He gained his knowledge of Chinese herb by working as apprentice in Penang Island when he was young. Apprenticeship was very very difficult back then, he said.

 

 

My mum is helping out in the shop. My mum has been helping my late maternal grandpa running retail business at very young of age. She probably doesn’t know much about Chinese medicine, but managing business and staff members in the shop..I would say she is the role model.

 

 

mum is busy ‘counting money’, that’s why she wasn’t looking at my camera. 

Let me present: my baby brothers!!! They both are helping out my parents as well. Running in and out… 

 

 

Making money…and allow me to persuit my dream here in Aussieland. 

 

 

These are classic Chinese Medical Hall storage–drawers. 

 

 

Each drawers is subdivided into few spaces in them, and well labeled. The label is made by high quality metal, the words are engraved and background is painted in colour. 

 

 

Everytime I home, I look at them. It is absolutely breath-taking seeing my parents are keeping these old antiques well. Absolutely fastinating. 

 

 

Plantation is widely used in chinese medicine… 

 

  

so does other insect such as cockcroach, scorpion, etc etc  

 

 

These heavy mortars and pestle(s) are made by very high quality metal. Dad is the only one in our family manage to ‘play some nice rhythm’ out of it while crushing some herbs. At the end of the crushing process, he always use the pestle, lightly hit the edge of the mortar, and “TING”!! (a sound produced). No one, seriously no one manages to “TING” like my dad.

During this trip, happend that my dad need to crush some herbs. I sat next to hit…looking at his familiar movement, and the “TING” … He is the legend!  How cool is that?!

 

  

Running chinese herbs itself won’t survive in Bagan Serai. Most of the Chinese ppl come in for chrysanthemum tea, pepper…*I am pretty sure I know abit more than this * At some occasions, we get prescriptions too, and my cool dad will dispense them accordingly.

 

 

I will be still doing the same job, just dealing with different type of medication. This makes me think..I am as cool as my dad.

 

 

Last very photo of mine for this entry. 

 

 

Me and the antique.  

Finally, I’ve been officially introduced to Kian’s parent. Erm..let’s see, this is like after almost six years we date!? 

Hey folks, say HI to his old folks–daddy and mama Lee !  

Both our parents are abit traditionally conservative in some way. I first, told my old folks Kian is gay, so it would be OK for us to live together. But after awhile, my parents somehow just knew what is going on. [Parents are not stupid or blind, most of the time they just don’t want to say it out loud.] They are very open minded about our relationship. Indeed, my whole family members are happy for us.

On the other hand, his highly educated old folks think that, he should only get a girlfriend after he is completely done with uni. *typical Asian parents* So ‘naturally‘, Kian didn’t tell his parents about us. [Anyway, his mum is not dumb, you see. Mama Lee told me she kinda sense ‘it’ long time ago.]

I’ve been very very nervous all the time.. I wasn’t sure what’s going to happen when I meet his parents. Wheather they like me or not? If they going to approve our relationship…bla bla bla. Heck!!! My boyfriend should consider these!! Not me, right? nahbeh!

I even designed my answer for it if his mum say NO to our relationship. I was going to say this: “Hey aunty, if you don’t like me going out with your son, er..er.. too bad. I already sleep your son!” Thank Buddha, there is no need for me to use this conversation at all. phew~

The worst part is, they were coming to Perth (and stay over our place) few days before I got back to Perth!! *nervous to the core* With all the hee-hee haa-haa, ups and downs going on in me, things were (and are) going well. Ah! Way better than I thought, indeed

The first night when we met, his mum expressed her annoyance that Kian wasn’t telling her about the relationship. I stressed out abit, and nearly break down. [Fact, Kian admited to her few years back; she probably just slip that off her mind.] Anyway, my point is : NEVER ARGUE WITH THEM! Note: Ya betta keep this in ya mind too.

I worked my way out from there. I told mama Lee, I love to inform her our relationship myself, but Kian just didn’t allow me to do so!!! Kian wants to tell them only when he get graduated [See, you need to move one step backward to re-strcuture your strategies]

I did make her to understand his son inherits both his parents nature–superb quite. Mama Lee did admit that their family members don’t talk much, except his elder brother who talks slightly abit more.

Thank Buddha again, his mum has been really understanding. She is fine with everything. [oh well, if she doesn’t, she can’t do much, can she? *ngek* I already X!$%*& his son. Hahah.] She even told me: I want you two to look after yourself, and stay like ‘this’ forever. Teehehehehe…this is a approval from her, innit? I nearly wanted to cry, seriouly. It has been six years! And finally! Yay~!

Note: Most of the photos taken by Kian using my camera.

Including THIS ONE! (nice arse, eh? ) 

I’ve been myself. I don’t act like a different person. That’s just not me. I did swear as well. Ops. No F words thou. I used the word ‘bitch’, ‘bloody’, ’sh*t’ etc infront his parents. Yeah, my new year resolution for not using the F word is a complete failure anyway. *sigh* Luckily I am a Chinese; Chinese have Chinese New Year, so I guess I can start my Chinese-New-Year Resolution all over again, eh?

In case, you don’t know. Or probably you were already over-informed by those commercials.

For me, is time to call home. Not only my mum, but my aunties (dad’s two younger sisters and mum’s only sister), my grandaunty (my dad’s aunty (his mum’s younger sister) ).

Sound like I have very busybody day, what you expect? I’m from a small happy family… everybody loves everybody. =)

I wish there is an extension phone in the heaven, ’cause I want to call my grandma. Today is her 3rd year leaving us. I still feel terrible for the whole thing. 

My grandma suffered from brain and lung cancer (2003), which was re-occuring medical condition from 1998. Back then, she had kidney tumour.

Three years ago, she complaints about headache; I didn’t know much that time. (even now, I also don’t know much =P) So, with the encouragments from whole family, I took her to hospital. Yeah, why encouragement from whole family? ’cause they are too soft-hearted.(?) Grandma respected me the most among all the grandchildren as I am the eldest.

In the hospital, I informed the doctors must not tell her what-so-ever. All the information must went to my dad, uncles, aunties or me. Shamefully, there was this doctor with itchy anal and itchy mouth, told my grandma: 你的腦壞了! (Your brain is damaged) Tiuniaseng that doctor 

Grandma panic. Of course, she did. She told me off in the wad, right infront of my family: 卜你媽(F your mother),你不要以為你會講英文 (don’t think you know how to speak English), 我不會聽 ( I don’t understand).因為你帶我來看醫生(’case you bring me to hospital) ; 醫生說我的腦壞了 (Doctor said my brain is damaged),我要死了(I am dying).

There you go. The first word, “F ur M” craked the ice in the whole ward, but the rest of the words haunted me for the rest of my life. Grandma was born in small town Teluk Intan, she wasn’t really educated. She didn’t swear, but the F thing, I could understand how depressed she was at that time.

I couldn’t do much. I was upset. Damn! Why me? I was the youngest adult she could blame at that time..so, it was OK?(.)

I flew back to Perth after 3 days. The whole thing was hauting me, still… brain damaged..dying… my fault?

Few months later, she passed away. Dad didn’t want me to know. But I have close aunty who informed me. I flew home. Didn’t really dare to see her ’sleeping’ in the coffin.

I bitched about my feeling to everyone at home. Yes, every single one. From dad to my cousin, my mum’s highschool best friend–if I didn’t get it out, I would probably die. Is like..er..you had gas in your stomach, and if you don’t fart, it stinks!!!!!!!!

Oh well, it has been years now. What can I say.. Life is abit like that–Things come, things gone; people come, people gone.

Anyway, wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day and feel happy to get your blood sucked by those expensive restaurants and florist!! Woohoo~!!!!!

=)

Today is my brother, Mengjin’s birthday. I was thinking if being a cheap arse sending him a sms birthday wish, but I did not. I just felt like chatting with him.

I and Mengjin are close, despite we did not spend long time living under the same roof.

We grew up in a baby sitter’s place for few years, and he went Hua Lian High School (Taiping) since he was 12 years old. Back then, I only saw him once a week when I transferred to Taiping (SMJK Hua Lian) after several years he lived there.

We used to fight—fight for no reasons or reasons that I couldn’t even think of. All I knew is being the eldest, I just want to WIN!

The longest hours we spent together back in 1997 was when we were traveling up to KL to visit my grandma who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer.

I was then transferred to Penang for Pre-U while he was still studying in Taiping. We hardly saw each other. We all are so get used of being separated at all time.

For some reasons he quitted senior high; he is helping my dad running the business. Yes, he is my BOSS.

I can remember when we were little; we used to tell mum or dad what naughty things we did behind them. No secrets being kept at time. Thing seem to change when we all grow up, we back each other up.
Nevertheless, he never tell me about his secret admire ‘cause he damn sure my big mouth will tell my mum, then my mum will tell my dad, my dad’s itch mouth will ask my brother, meantime my mum cannot tahan will tell my grandma… =)
Oh too bad.. I just knew it. (kidding)
The memories between us are all over everywhere at this moment.

Constant separation does not keep us apart, yet our bond seem to be closer and growing stronger.

Oh yeah, I asked him what he wants for birthday present, apparently he asked for nothing. (phew~) =P

by the way, Happy birthday, Ko!!