My First Taste Of Korea

It was in 1991 when I had my first real encounter with Koreans & their culture.

I was living at the boarding school at Point Park College in US. There were

many foreign students on my floor where the Japanese & Koreans out numbered

while I was the only Malaysian Chinese. The Koreans thought I was Japanese

because I shared room with a Japanese, so they kinda boycotted me.

We all became best friends eventually.

This college above has 2 tall buildings which is connected by a sky bridge.

I lived in Thayer Hall which was formerly a mental hospital as there is no elevator

stopping on the 6th floor of my dormitory. Rumor mongers reported that suicidal cases 

took place and it had been very haunted ever since. 

The one female ghost would walk through 

many rooms nightly and crossed the bridge to the 22 storeys Lawrence Hall.

Once she woke my Korean friend up and stood beside Seung Woo's bed.

He was frozen and shook in fear as the ghost spoke to him

before giving up as he could not understand her gibberish talk.

On many nights, I would be invited by the Koreans to visit

Kook Jin's room at Room # 1920 Lawrence Hall for Korean supper!

That was my first meals to eat hot Korean Steamboat with Soju, Kim Chi 

and Rice Cakes. It was Yums!

Yours truly standing above, went skiing for the first time 

with them at the Seven Springs Resort in Pennsylvania.

My eyes went big with shock as the Koreans could

ski so fast down the slopes without sticks!!!!

They always took me out for bowling but we

always ended up in snow fights instead!!

I moved out to live in a swanky suburbs at Shadyside and often played

hosts to cook and bake for my fellow Korean buddies!

Seated L to R: Park Yoo Seok, Lee Ho Shik, Lee Seung Woo 

and Chang Kook Jin.

Standing: Me

We had many wild parties of Soju booze and gambling almost every weekend!

Should I post all the wild photos later?

We all lost touch completely after I returned home.

Fate brought me to connect with Joon Sung after 20 years.

Click the link to see this Korean Flower Boy

who was pursued by Japanese Kawais at college.

The missing Korean drunkards reappeared somehow after a 

big search all over Seoul and Busan. 

Now we would talk daily in Kakao Talks! 

Happy again!

.......... 

FAST FORWARD TO JUNE 2015.

..........

It was heart warming to see how my drunkard buddy

has become a dotting daddy instead.

Last week, he drove his young son 

somewhere outside Seoul.

They headed to Youngjong Island 

to relax and have fun.

Here, the father and son were busy digging the mud

during low tides. What were they doing?

Oh My God!! They dug up so much clams.

The clams are fucking huge!!

That's for a week's free dinner.

Kook Jin went home happily and cooked Clams Soup

with Korean spicy vegetables. 

Yums!

Meet the handsome friend Kook Jin who's a Computer Science graduate

from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Now a dotting father,

Expert Chef and lives in Seoul.

I am looking forward to a reunion in Seoul** after my coming trips

to Tokyo and Mount Wutai in China.

**Subject to no MERS.

.......

Kai Tak Airport @ Hong Kong

While I was clearing my late mother's many storage boxes, 

I found some interesting and forgotten items. 

Many were sentimental items and much memories 

came flooding back to my head. 

I was lil' sad in a way but extremely grateful 

that she had given me her best 

as any mother would give her child.

Photographed by Laurence Lai

Look!

I found this old photo of a plane landing in

the world most famous old Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong.

It was so small, yet so busy and deemed dangerous

that only specially trained pilots were allowed to

bring their planes to land that old airport.

The runway was extremely short and flanked by hundreds

of tall buildings and flats around the bustling Kowloon City!

I was very fortunate to have this experience to

witness the scary plane landings 3 times at Kai Tak Airport.

I could see all the crammed flats and their tenants inside 

doing their cooking, laundry or just watching TV!!

It was so close as the passing planes blew

gusts of winds onto their hanging laundry!

.....

 Now please don't laugh at my nerdy photo

which was taken in Central Hong Kong in 1985.

That was my maiden trip to visit my sister & ex-hubby

when they lived in the Discovery Bay

at Lantau Island. I slept inside their 4 storey townhouse

which overlooked the beautiful ocean at Yi-Keng Wan.

I was trying to be a 1985 Superman!

It was taken outside the newly built Exchange Square

& Connaught Centre in the financial district of Central.

I made another 2 landings at Kai Tak in 1991 and 1997

before it was closed down. So much memories!

Maybe I should also blog about my private visit

into Hong Kong's TVB Studios 

at Clearwater Bay!

.......

Healthy Meals @ Simple Life

I was not being brought up to eat vegetarian meals all my life. I always believed it was only for goats, rabbits, religious people and health freaks to indulge in this greenish bland diet. I ate vegan dishes many times after I met my wife but never really liked the cooking styles of those Vegetarian Coffee Shops. They seemed to use the same flour doughs, potatoes and cabbages to dish out 1000 wonders! Nah! I just swallowed them with the help of plain water.

This is not a paid post but I do wish the owners would pay me with free vouchers!

(**Muka Tembok**)

I have upgraded myself recently to bring my vegan wife to dine at several vegetarian outlets over the years. To my own opinion, I found the menus at Simple Life Restaurant is the most delicious and creative! Some meals actually tasted better than the originals using meat. 

When I saw Groupons advertised them recently, I have bought so many vouchers of both Simple Life and another Vegan Brand Outlet to enjoy for the month of June. Good things, I must share, right??

 

Somewhere at Bangsar South's happening hub, 

there's a CAPRI building.

 

There is one Simple Life's outlet on the ground level facing the road.

I always dined here and simply parked my car on the spacious road sides.

Their big windows allow me to look out for policemen!

Round 1 Meals - I paid RM36 for this "RM60 Voucher".

Round 1 - We drank 2 glasses of this Green Detox Juice that is so heavenly good!

They blended apples, celery, bitter gourds and another 2 forgotten aliens.

I felt SO FRESH & ALIVE after that.

 

Round 1 - Geez! I forgot the name of this Udon With Mushrooms!

It was SO DAMN DELICIOUS & TASTY!

Round 2 - We ordered other dishes for 3 persons. 

Round 2 - The Fruit Tea tasted like Heavenly Nectar!

Must drink again tonight.

 

 Round 2 - I must say that this Nasi Lemak is more appetizing 

than many real Chicken Nasi Lemak. 

We must eat well to live well okay.

I learn that meat has awful raw tastes 

and the chefs need to use all types

of seasoning & flavours to make the meat taste superb!

Know what??

All the seasonings are vegetable based!

We can actually do away with eating meat.

No worries!

I will not post any Round 3 to Round 8.

I would always buy food vouchers that give very good deals

since the inflation & GST is killing my pockets.

....

10,000 Smiles Yoga Event

Yesterday, my wifey who is a qualified Yoga Practioner 

invited her buddies and I to tag along 

for this event outside AmCorp Mall

in Petaling Jaya.

This 10000 SMILES YOGA is an annual global event now

to create a healthy awareness.

  

It was 6:00 am and the big crowd had lined up!

 Everyone was happily entertained by speakers & DJs

before the event kicked start.

Spread out & show your 'Thumbs Up" gestures.

This is also a "Smile".

Warming Up!

Smiles all the way!

Be happy!
Yay! Yay!

Smile You Idiot!
This Leng Cai stared at me!

He is our relatives.

Tap your heads!

Release your stress!

Smiles again!
We can smile at all
our limbs & organs.
Try it now.

 

Yoga is very good!

It will keep us healthy!

Did you know that STRESS KILLS?

It is most deadly to cause Cancer & Heart Diseases.

Do not stress yourself.

Manage your stress well.

SMILE a lot!
It does not cost anything to smile often
but saves your medical bills.
Yoga helps!

  

On my left, my wifey was smiling.

Hope she is happy with her life now.

On my right, this stranger was eating grass.
He must be a happy cow.

SMILE Your Way To Happiness.

Reach for the Skies!


Everyone went home happy.

Happy Father's Day

Last week, it marked the 100th Day of my late mother's death anniversary. It was like a dream to me when I attended the praying sessions conducted by the Thai monks. I sat down on the floor inside the Wat Chetawan Temple with clasped hands and looked at the portrait of my mother's smiling face. I briefly thought over the journey of her life with my father.

They both had a very blissful time being together while going through all the good & turbulent days. They married for over 50 years and never once, they ever quarreled as my father has zero temper. My father had a hard life growing up in Teluk Anson while my mum had a princess lifestyle growing up in Thailand. They made a good & balanced match to waltz their days in the ballroom halls until my mum's last years. 

I have promised her that I will always take care of dad 

while she takes a long rest in the Western Paradise.

.........

My Dad is the greatest influence in my life. 

On my darkest nights, he shone like my torchlight.

I often dozed off with the TV watching me,

He still carried me to sleep.

Dad was there always.

Dad, you have walked a long meaningful life!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY 

....

Ramadan 2015 @ Malaysia

Today marks the first day of Ramadan Month in Malaysia.

I wish all the Muslim readers, friends and colleagues a

Selamat Berpuasa.

Every year,

I looked forward to join my office colleagues

for their breaking fasts during this holy month.
Growing up in Malaysia has blessed me with the
wonderful opportunity to live in a multi racial community
where I have very good friends from all races where
we always rejoice and celebrate all their festive seasons,
I enjoy the rich cultures and abundance variety of
delicious food.

Some of the above photos have been borrowed from other sources 
for illustration purposes only. Thank you

Happy Birthday Blogger SK

So the saying goes, a year older is a year wiser!
Join me to wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to the World's MOST CREATIVE BLOGGER
who designs & invents the most updated fancy HTML variations
and creativity to tease & seduce your eyes.

SK is a very thoughtful and caring person who would go
many miles to blog bilingual posts in English & Chinese
languages just to appease all readers.

So many readers have also been connected in his blog post
(SK/0617)TM
and became good friends today.
Of course 2-3 bloggers ate sour grapes too.

 

Our friendship has come a long way!

WISHING YOU 

MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!

HAPPY BLOGGING TILL A 100 YEARS!

Our old family portrait.
Nobody has changed!

...

My Secret Hang Out

 There is one place that I hang out the most over the months and years. 

I visit this place like 2-3 times weekly while waiting for my wife 

to finish her Tai Chi lessons from the opposite Wushu Centre.

It is a very cozy place called HouXiang Restaurant 

at Taman SEA in Petaling Jaya.

 I love their tranquil ambiance that includes all the 

grandmother's old photos.

HouXiang means "back lanes" and this spot 

truly resembles an old back lane.

 Their polite and attentive waiters are all dressed 

like Chinese hawkers from Mainland China.

I really love their menu very much! 

The price is very affordable for poor peasants like me.

They serve my favourite Penang styled 

Chee Cheong Fun that comes with

the stinky black prawn paste.

All their drinks are fabulous &

you drink & eat with old enamel

plates & cups.

Really for Twilight Man!

 Come & Join Me!

.....

Cosplay / Anime Event @ KL HELP College 2015

A close buddy invited me to visit his exhibition booth at HELP College last weekend. I drove all the way to Kota Damansara to discover that it was the C2AGE 2015 Event for Cosplay, Comics, Anime and Games which attracted thousands of young people. An old uncle like me walked around looking like a natural Yoda from Star Wars!

 1. The band played heavy metals and music that got my heart beating fast instead.

2. It was a pretty sight to see all the sporting Cosplay participants 

walking around with confidence.

3. These cars with TAKAO Anime Cartoons stole the show.

4. There were about 9 cars all dressed up with Anime Cartoons.

5. My friend Lee Wan Fang is HELP's fresh graduate 

who was flirting with 2 Zombie Nurses from the Morgues! 

I stole his FB photo & the cars to post here. 

Will post this up and show the world before notify him.

6. A cute lady with a huge sword.

7. I got myself updated that there is an active 

hobby club - SYNERGY Brick Maniacs

8. My friend Bruce Lee created this model of a Star Wars air base 

using tiny model bricks that looked like LEGO to me.

9. Another impressive full scale model by the SYNERGY's gang.

10. This is my friend Bruce Lee Chiau Han, father of one baby 

who plays his toys more than with the child. Tsk! Tsk!

11. A Cosplay Model proudly showed off his striking pose.

12. A smart looking soldier, ready to combat the enemies.

13. Cosplay shoppers browsing for some wares. 

A trendy sight that reminds me of being an old uncle now.

 14. There is a huge demand for such modern anime cartoon stuffs today 

while I am still eating toasted kaya bread with Kopi-O.

15. There were so many pedlars selling so much Anime Figurines 

and Cosplay memorabilia.

SK Thambee would love them for his display cabinet.

16. It was a nice morning to mingle with the young & trendy. 

Next time I will wear my own Yoda costume to parade.

...