Gorilla Hugs

And another year gone by...

Obviously I haven't been blogging for 1 year for reasons no one knows...

For year 2011, I spent most of my time worrying about CLP (supposedly the hardest exam in life) when I should really be studying.. There were 5 papers, and it was held on alternate days for 2 weeks. Sat for it at the end of July.

Right after the exam, I went to Taiwan with my collegemates. Just enjoy the food, scenary.... - TOTALLY STRESS FREE..

Then I came back home and enjoyed retirement life with my parents.. :) Built up my LAZY BONE.. and wait for my brains to rust!

Was in a Long Distance Relationship with my then bf........... and this was when everything got crazily messed up............................ and we broke up after 3 years plus together (after endless promises to be together.........)

I was more disappointed than hurt. I gave up fighting for that relationship. I dealt with my emotions and that was it. Time to pack and go. Worst part was I had to go back to KL and deal with all these face to face... and yes, it meant spending 1 month with him because that was the initial plan, to spend 1 month together before I start my working life only that our position was different by the time I went back to KL.

I was still in KL waiting for my CLP result. That was the freakiest moment of my life! What went through my mind was WHAT IF:
- what if I fail? what if I have to repeat another subject?
what if I have to stay in KL for another year? where would I go?

YES! 4.10.2011 was the day my results were released. I didn't dare to check it out myself. I had my friends check and tell me before I went to the CLP board to look for my name... The moment my friends told me I passed, I cried! TEARS OF JOY!! I spent 1 whole month in KL with my friends, enjoyed time without being attached to anyone. For once after 3 years plus, I live life the way it was meant to be. I was relieved. But my relationship with my ex was rather cloudy.. probably because we were so comfortable being an item for 3 years plus that even when we go out, we still walk together as a couple..

I flew back to Kuching on 31.10.2011 (evening flight). The irony was, the moment I left KL and my ex bf, it seems that my emotions were similarly left behind in KL. Now, when people tell me there is no way you can break up with someone you've been with for so long and get over it, I'll say "WHY NOT?"..

After I came back, I started my chambering the next day (1.11.11 - binary day) and started a whole new life.. :)

Chinese New Year Eve's Dinner

Chinese New year Eve's Dinner is a once a year event (excuse) to over eat and forget about counting calories!!

The first dish for us was,

Curry Chicken

The curry paste is made by my grand aunt. That is why, I'm choosy over my curry. :P

Even Gorilla is drooling over it!

The we had the traditional "Ang Chow" Pork ribs. It's red because we cooked it with the residue from the traditional chinese red wine.

Ang chow pork ribs

Then, the yearly chinese sausage my mom made :)

Chinese Sausage

Stew Duck!

I seldom have duck meat. That's what makes it special on Chinese New Year!

Prawn Fritters

The mandatory Mixed Vegetable

Paper wrapped chicken

Fish Maw + Pig's Stomach

Steamed Fish

All these years, I did not understand why my mom insists on at least a dish with fish.

Now I know why. There's a chinese proverb that says, "年年有余" (nian nian you yu)- which basically means that there will be surplus every year.

But my mom, thought the word "余" (yu) meant Fish (鱼 - yu). It's of the same pronounciation but a different word with a different meaning. :) So there.. We have fish every year! :)

Last of all,

Wishing all of you a Happy and Prosperous Rabbit New year :)

Chinese New Year 2011 - Cookies!!

Every year, I extend my CNY holidays to 3 weeks instead of the official 1 week given by the college! Ever since I'm back home, I started with CNY preparation. Almost everything is home-made because I'm choosy over food sold commercially!

Last year, we were very lucky as my Grand Aunty gave us cookies. This year, my mom and I had to make our own cookies.

It's almost the same to make cookies. They only vary in flavour, but the technique and style is far from different. All you have to do is..

Knead the dough

Cut the dough into the shape you want

Put it in the oven and bake

It's just that easy, but time consuming!! Oh, and just don't forget to take it out of the oven and keep them. :)

Peanut cookie

After it's baked

Then, kept.

Cheese biscuit

We couldn't decide which shape we wanted. In the end, we made more..

Star-shaped cheese biscuits

The third type was kuih bangkit. It's a traditional local biscuit with a modern twist in it. :)

"Eat me! Eat me!"

Of course, it's tradition that we don't eat all the CNY goodies until the day itself!

Bottled

Everything is kept properly so that it will last. :)

This is the first year after many many many years, we made pineapple tarts. While most pineapple tarts are round in shape or in a shape of a flower or even a caterpillar, I chose mine to be in a heart shape. :)

The empty hearts

Then I filled it with home-made pineapple jam.

Hearts filled with love and patience :)

Of all cookies, this one takes up most of our time! It's a tedious job to fill those hearts up!

After it's baked, I arranged it in the containers.

" I love you - I'm too cute to be eaten right?"

And for the last and final cookie we made - Kuih Momo. My mom called it Snowballs. It's the first time we attempted this. One of my relatives gave us the recipe verbally. No exact measurement was given. Everything was just an estimation. It was quite difficult as we do not know what texture was it suppose to be.

It turned out pretty fine.. looks like how it's suppose to look :) so yay!! Can't wait for CNY now.. :) More preparations coming up.

Society for Kuching Urban Poor (SKUP)

The Society for Kuching Urban Poor (SKUP) is a non political, non racial, and non religious group. It's a society where volunteers gather to help the urban poor. On the 4th of January 2011, my parents and I followed the food distribution group. It was a very interesting experience for me. :)

At 9a.m, we waited at St Joseph's school canteen.

There were 200 packets of food packed ready for the distribution.

First, we loaded the Society's van with the packed foods..

And the journey to the 6 distribution point began....

Our first stop was at the Song Kheng Hai, the place where they sell nice ice kacang.
It was easy because we just pass the food to this lady...

and she distributed among themselves.

The second distribution point was at Petanak market and the thrid was at Sg. Apong. Then, we visited one of the houses.

The gate was rusty

The side of the house

The bathroom and toilet :(

Next stop was to Kpg. Desa Wira.

The houses

I was distributing food to them :)

The pathway to visit their house

You just need to keep a firm balance to walk on the narrow pathway.

One of the houses

I was told that when it floods, the water reaches the house! And it floods almost everytime it rains!

The 5th distribution point was at Poh Kwong Park. It was an easy task too as we just passed a few packets to a guy, and a few collected it from us.

The final stop was at Kpg. Kudei.

A photo with the kids and the mothers who received food

Food for the kids

The way to Kpg. Kudei

It was an uneven pathway with puddles of water :(

One of the houses at Kpg. Kudei

The inner pathway that linked the houses

The planks were not neatly placed!

Thinking will the planks take her weight

The villagers ride motorcycles on these planks while most of them just walk. The planks were very scary, uneven, and totally (in my opinion) unsafe! Yet, these villagers are using it every single day!

Cardboard Ceiling

One of the houses

When it floods in this Village, the water reaches the windows. Hard to believe but that was what I was told.

When we were at Kpg. Kudei, I was lucky to be able to meet Mr. Fabian who is the secretary and the person in charged of the mobile soup kitchen.

Caught a picture of Mr. Fabian when he was talking :)

The villagers know him as 'SKUP'. They thought that is his actual name!!! :D

Walking out of the Kpg.

After the trip, I asked Mr. Fabian a few questions about the society and found out that:

1. There was no one real founder. It was a few friends who shared the same idea of healping the urban poor of Kuching that mooted the idea. One of them was Datuk Lily Yong and another is Ir. Peter Wong Hung Huang and the rest are the founding committee members. That include Lai Lim Hon, Dr. Francis Sia, Mr. Fabian, and some others. However, when the committe was formed, it appointed datuk Lily Yong as its advisor.

2. The committee motivated the move although some are more a sleeping partners. They also invite volunteers to join. Some write-ups in the newspapers had somewhat provided information to keen-volunteers to join SKUP.

3. I was very concern with the amount of food given for free to these people and how long will SKUP continue giving them food. Mr. Fabian assured me that SKUP will provide as long as they can, with the support of the generosity of the public. He sees it as a continous affair/operation for many good years to come.

4. The first phase of the operation is to feed the poor and the second phase is to identify those who can work, to train them to work and earn their own living. SKUP aims to help the poor to break out of their vicious cycle of poverty and be on their own two feet, not just by feeding them.

5. When this committee started sometime in September 2010, they supplied 100 meals per day. Now, they are giving out 200 meals per day! It is estimated that it will reach 300 meals per day by end of March! Although they have not started campaigning for fund-raising and donations, people are generally generous and willing to contribute to help the poor.

6. The Society do not just give free meals to anyone. They did their survey after giving the recipients meals for a week or so. Most recipients with 3 to 6 children, have household income of less than RM500 a month.

7. Currently, there are 80 volunteers. The Society expects to have 100 volunteers by end of March 2011. They will be divided into various sub-committees such as:

(a) Mobile Soup Kitchen

(b) Welfare

(d) Projects

(e) Chinese/Mandarin Speaking

(f) Dayak/Malay Speaking

(g) Religion

(h) Logistics

(i) Others

From what I see, the society is doing a good job. It was very different from what I experienced in KL 2 years ago, where it was more of the rich stealing from the poor.

For those who are interested to volunteer, you may do so you may contact the number on the van - 017-8515225

Or donate via cheques payable to: The Society for Kuching Urban Poor
EON Bank Account No.: 0057-10-021320-7

P/S: Please scan and email or fax the bank slip to SKUP for ease of record and audit purpose. Should you need an official receipt, it will be issued and sent.

Email: siafran@yahoo.com
Fax: 082-463518

The year 2010 as I lived it

It's good to reflect on the previous year before making new resolutions for this year.

I know I haven't been bloggin for AGES!!! Had been so busy with my classes and of course, life. :D

So here's the recap of year 2010.

In January, I went to a park in Seremban with my bf. It was a day trip. Nothing much, but it was fun.

Jan - Seremban Lake

Then comes February,

CNY reunion dinner

CNY is always about food for me. It's a time where I eat foods that I don't usually take, like cakes, cookies, and of course, titbits. Cakes and cookies are homemade. That is why I need to skip class for one week before CNY.. lol..

Then there's March. I had chicken pox then.. :(

My First Chicken Pox

I'm sad to say that the scars are still visible :(

APRIL is MY month!!! It's my birthday!!! Birthday months are always the GREATEST!

Me - trying out sunglasses

May, was a stressful month. It's the final part of revision for my studies, and it's my final year too!! That's why, I needed to go to a relaxing place, and I went to Sepang Goldcoast.

Sunset at Sepang Goldcoast

I had more events in June. Of course, it's obvious that my examination ended sometime middle of June. So while waiting for my result, I went to...

Genting with Aaron

Ipoh with my Bf

And after that, I was back to Kuching. :)

Windmill on the left, solar panel on the right. :)

Who can resist Kuching noodle??

I also went to Mount Singai. A spiritual place as I would like to call it. But I love the path we had to take :D It was my second time there.

The path up Mount Singai

Then July came. Half a year gone!!

July - Rainforest Music Festival

I was back in Kuching for around 2 months. Did my attachment in a firm. In August, Kuching has its annual Food festival, with mainly all the famous restaurants in town gathering together and selling all their specialties.

My favourite Rice basket

After coming back to KL, I went to Singapore

View of the Skypark

From October onwards, it was mostly fun because my bf and I joined Mymazdaclub. :) Most of the time we had TT sessions, and it's always on Saturday night!!! Right after my classes!

What I LOVE about joining this club is the fact that they have convoy.. :)