Health requisites

This is interesting stuff from KBS World channel Vitamin! It was aired last Sunday night.



How to stay healthy and add quality years to our lives?

According to the show's panel of doctors, the health requisites (summarized to the best of my memory) are:
1. Flossing - Yes, everyone should have OQ (oral care quotient). Correct method of flossing after brushing makes our teeth "6 years younger".
2. Read food labels carefully. Be smart and eat within our calories quotas. This will add 12 years to our lives!
3. Sunblock - this prevents premature aging of our skin complexion. A good sunblock has SPF30 (blocks UVA) with PA++ (blocks UVB). Adds 15 years to our lives!
4. Aspirin (must consult with your doctor first) - a blood thinner. Adds 3 years to our lives.
5. Hula hoop - regular exercise with the hula hoop is beneficial to colon hence evacuation becomes a daily and easy routine! How come I never think of that? Adds another 5 years.
6. Finally...a mirror! A two-fold benefit. Looking at ourselves in the mirror and observe any anomalies (do self-examination). Secondly, smile to ourselves often. Adds 10 years - wow!

Do you believe in some or in all of the above?

Yang Zhong Wei

Never heard of this gifted singer until yesterday. During breakfast Aaron and his cousin Abbie were praising Yang Zhong Wei for his sterling performance at the Taiwan's One Million Stars. It's a popular singing competition that rewards the ultimate winner NT$1 million and a recording contract. My son also commented that the standard of singing was higher than those of the finalists in the American Idol 2007.

Zhong Wei's rendition of Wan Fang's New Endless Love 新不了情 was awesome! He knocked me out completely!

Enjoy the clip and see what the judges had to say!


What do you think? Wasn't he brilliant?

Fried tofu with bonito flakes

Years ago, I learnt how to fry tofu from my friend Violet Shim, in Brunei. No one can fry tofu like Violet; even until today I can't replicate what she did to her tofu dish!

Anyway here's the simple dish that I cooked last night for our cell group fellowship. It's deliciously crispy on the outside; soft and warm inside, everyone complimented.



Slice tofu to bite-size.
I always use local white tofu from wet market.
Dredge each cut tofu in corn flour.
Shake off excess.
Fry in low heat oil.
Be patient.
Drain off oil when browned.
Tofu should be slightly bloated and crispy.

My homemade sauce is simple. Mix the following:
5 tbs of each (oyster sauce, Thailand sweet chilli sauce, water)
1 tbs honey
1 tbs corn oil, 1 tsp sesame oil

Pour sauce evenly over the hot tofu.
Garnish with bonito flakes.
Watch the flakes 'dance'.

That's it. Let us know your comments once you've tried!

Brunei trip

Was in Bandar Seri Begawan for the past two days. One shop I won't miss is this one. From fresh salmons to coffee machines, this speciality shop has what others don't have, and it always has what I am looking for. I think it is the only one of its kind in the island of Borneo.



I bought a packet of Bonito (500g - B$27) to garnish the fried tofu I'm going to cook for my cell group tonight. The paper-thin smoked fish flakes from Japan are used as garnishing for many dishes and soups.


One example is fried lamb ribs. Notice the topping? Tip - sprinkle the flakes and serve the dish immediately. The flakes will 'dance' with the steam rising. Your guests will be WOWed!


I also bought Norwegian Black cod (1kg - B$38) which Roseline loves. Many people confuse Snow fish (1kg - B$28) with Black cod. Some like pan-fried but we prefer it steamed.


I was very impressed when the shop even stocked Alaskan king crabs (1 kg - B$62). Remember the tv series Deadliest Catch that was aired in the Discovery channel? The crabs are really humongous!


You can find so many kinds of fresh herbs. The owner told me he even has customers buying the herbs for therapeutic baths.


Less sugar is good.


Ok, ok, I know by now you are desperate to find out where this shop is located!

Guan Hock Lee
Blk M-2, Pengakalan Gadong
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
Tel (+673) 245 4607

Some useful price references for you:
Norwegian Salmon (fresh,fillet) - B$34, frozen - B$24
Norwegian Salmon (whole) - B$24, frozen - B$12
Japanese scallops (frozen) - B$55
Escargots (frozen) - B$52

Brunei is not only known for its rich natural endowments and warm hospitality of her people; there is another outstanding product - nasi katok! This is the food I cannot miss to order takeaway. Steamed rice with sambal and a piece of delicious fried chicken. Price? B$1.00. No kidding, I'm floored by it's real value for money!


Do you know of any similar food that costs only $1? Tell us please!

Now reading

Now reading the book 'HAPPIER' by Tal Ben-Shahar. Like it so much that I've added it to my lifelong learning collection of books.



This self-help book came highly recommended from my good friend Hun Pin in Singapore. Tal Ben-Shahar is one of the popular lecturers in Harvard University. His classes attract 1,400 students per semester - about 20% of all Harvard graduates! CNN, CBS, the New York Times and the Boston Globe have featured the famous author.

Excerpt from page 168:

A happy - or happier - life is rarely shaped by some extraordinary life-changing event; rather, it is shaped by incrementally, experience by experience, moment by moment.

Take a sneak on a review on Happier by Kate Bohner.

A person can endure emotional pain at times and still be happy overall, writes Dr. Ben-Shahar.

Really? Do you agree?

Jia you gambateh!

Yesterday after church service CNY goodies were available for sale by the members of Taman Tunku Methodist Church (TTMC). TTMC is very special and close to our hearts as it was a church planted by GMC. Many of our church members came forward and supported wholeheartedly. Jia you gambateh TTMC!



Jia you gambateh TTMC!

Pastor Connie Yong visits

Yes, our new assistant shepherd visited us last night!

We had a blessed time during cell group. Duan introduced the game Entanglement before we started our discussion. There were many of us so we had to split into two groups. You can imagine the chaos during the game as each group tried to outdo each other by untangling first. Duan did a fantastic job by choosing a game opener relevant to the topic we were to discuss.



Our cell group leader William Ting joined us in the later part of the evening. We were so glad that Pastor Connie paid a visit to our cell group for the first time.

The following group photo was taken with William's camera.


I find the Friday cell group meeting a wonderful way to de-stress after a long hectic week. What about you? What do you do to wind down?

Fried carrot cake

Roseline loves fried carrot cake. Fed up with the soggy type served at our usual hawker centre, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

Fried carrot cake is a popular Chinese breakfast dish. Now it is available at all hours (if you are in Singapore or KL). Teochew in origin, it started out fried and scrambled, until the 1970s when a smart hawker in Toa Payoh Singapore fried it crisp like a pancake, followed soon after by the Hong Kong dim sum chef’s version - steamed with a seasoned soya sauce.

There are 2 versions; white and black (cooked in sweet dark soy sauce).

Our choice is the white one.

First buy a radish and cut it to 500 grams. (Serves 3).
Peel off skin and grate.


Mix with 300 grams of rice flour and 600ml water with ½ teaspoon fine salt.

Then steam for ½ hr. Leave it to cool.

It's really too simple to cook it - you can do it with one hand tied to your back!

Heat some oil in a wok. When the wok is hot, put in the radish cake. While stir frying, cut the cake into small pieces with your spatula. When browned, push aside the cake pieces. Sauté some garlic (finely cut) and chye poh (salted radish) till browned. Mix with the radish cake pieces. Set aside the cake pieces in the wok and toss in eggs. Leave to set and then stir fry cake pieces and eggs. Drizzle with light soy sauce (to taste), add chilli paste or belachan (optional) and stir fry some more. Serve hot garnished with spring onion.

This is the result!


Which type do you like more? White or black?

Sunday misc

We were so glad to see the girls from KL (now doing their national service at Kem Miri, Sungai Rait) for the second time in our church yesterday morning. Thanks so much to our church member William Law and his wife Siew Ha for their warm hospitality and taking good care of the girls. I am eagerly looking forward to visiting the Kem Miri Open House this weekend with William. It'll be my first time visiting a national service camp. Do you have any camp stories to share with us? Do leave your comments.

Did our weekly shopping. CNY decorative items were on sale everywhere. But we didn't feel the chaos and excitement present. What about you? Do you think Sibu has the most CNY umph? Or Kuching?

Wanted to take some sunset pics at Lutong beach. We were there too early. Couldn't wait so we took pics of 2 guys having fun doing motorized parachuting.

Moto parachuting at Lutong beach

New visitors

Half of the people in our cell group were absent last night for various reasons. But we were so glad when Wendy invited four young adults. Except for Natalie, three of them were first-time visitors to my home.

Eleven of us had some light snacks after the session ended. Duan and Angeline brought some really nice homemade fruit cakes from Kuching. Roseline baked a beautiful chocolate marble cake. Wendy prepared a dessert dish of glutinous rice balls (red beans stuffing) in pandan syrup. I received a good review on the bee hoon I cooked. So hochiak, they complimented.






















This is the big bee hoon I used:

I prefer this brand Cha Kow (RM2.70, 400 grams) because it doesn't become soggy easily when frying. The quality is excellent.

Here is my simple fried big bee hoon recipe (serves 6 small eaters). Anyone can do it!

Soak bee hoon for 2 hours in water.
Soak shitake mushrooms (5 pcs) for 2 hours in water. Remove stalks. Cut to strips when soften.
5 leaves of Chinese long cabbage. Wash and cut to strips.
Boil 1 chicken breast. Shred cooked meat with fingers.
Fry beaten eggs (2) thinly. Cut to strips.
6 cloves chopped garlic.
4 tablespoon oyster sauce.

Heat cooking oil (4 tablespoons) in wok.
When oil is hot, add in chopped garlic and stir fry until light brown.
Add in the mushrooms and long cabbage and stir fry for 2 minutes.
Add in oyster sauce.
Pour in ½ cup of water. Let the gravy boil.
Add in bee hoon. Stir fry vigorously until bee hoon is completely cooked. (Should be around 5 mins).
Garnish with the egg strips and chicken shreds.

There are no fixed rules on ingredients. Some people use seafood, some like lots of chilli and pepper powder. Some even garnish with some Foochow red wine while stir-frying.

Would you share how you cook your big bee hoon?

Disciple night

Last night our church hosted a service for all the graduates and current students of Discipleship study from all the Methodist churches in Miri. We warmly welcomed 103 brothers and sisters in Christ including Pastor Diong Pick Chiong, Pastor Lau Kiong Ping, Pastor Sency Ling, Pastor Tang Sin Hie, Pastor Yii Kah Ching and Pastor Paul Ting Huat Ung.


Our new assistant Pastor Connie Yong lead the Praise and Worship and the opening prayer. District Superintendent Reverend Liik Tung Yeu gave a short message on the goodness of Discipleship study. As a new student (and struggling) I was greatly encouraged by the testimonies given by various graduates.


The study facilitators for this year were commissioned before our Pastor Law Hui Seng closed the service with prayer.

Praise and Worship (opening song)

Testimony

S$2,000 hair cut

It is not often that I come across hair cuts costing S$2,000. Four to five hundred yes, but S$2,000? Our money RM4,600.

There was a write-up in the Sunday Times (Dec 9, 2007) on Daniel Ng, a celebrity stylist of the Le Salon, Singapore. The line that caught my attention was "...a hairstylist who charges up to S$600 for a haircut?" The article further dwells on Daniel Ng's professional background and his nomadic life (born in Hong Kong, grew up in the UK, etc) before he came to Singapore. I searched for more information online. Indeed Daniel Ng not only charges from a few hundred to an astronomical S$2,000 for a hair cut, he was also invited to give a talk at the Singapore Polytechnic.

The hair entrepreneur describes his salon as a high class French restaurant instead of a McDonald's.

Now back to earth.

So often business leaders tell us the strongest form of marketing is advocacy by a trusted friend.

This is my barber Ah Fatt. He operates his Jo Salon at Pujut 5.


And I don't think he has had any nomadic life story to tell. Have been his customer for the past 10 years. Very fastidious, very professional. RM15.

Never mind French restaurant or McDonald's, as long as you are happy!

First Sunday

We had our first Sunday service for 2008 yesterday. Among the six new visitors, four girls were from the National Service (NS) camp based at Kem Miri, Sungai Rait. Ezra, our church youth is also serving at the same camp.


Our new Assistant Pastor Connie Yong (in jacket). Pastor Yong graduated from Methodist Theology School, Sibu last year with a Masters in Divinity. Prior to that she attended HELP University College (KL) and subsequently obtained an eDegree in Accounts and Finance from University of East London. We are so blessed to have her in our church.


In the afternoon we started our first class in Discipleship study. The course will last for 9 months. Our facilitator was Dr. Roy Wong, a faithful volunteer of GMC. Lay Leader Ting Kong Yu was also present to encourage us.

Yesterday's morning service at GMC

Cell Group

We held our first church cell group gathering for 2008 at my home last night. It was wonderful to catch up and fellowship with our members again after a few lapses last month. Duan and his wife Angeline were fondly missed as they were still away on vacation.


The gathering started with an opening prayer followed by Aaron and Abel leading the Praise and Worship.

My family shared on our recent trip and the uplifting experiences at Sibu Wesley Methodist Church. Peter and Margaret Wong also shared on their China holiday experiences. Announcements on the GMC 2008 activities calendar were made before we ended our gathering with a closing prayer.


This is William Ting, our Cell Group leader. He also serves as the Cell Group Coordinator in our church. A dedicated volunteer whose life is anchored firmly in Christ, William credits his devotional faith to his family upbringing.

I am much grateful to William, my cell group members and my family for providing endless supplies of spiritual vitamins as we journey on.

Praise Dance

My wife was introduced to Praise Dance about 1½ years ago. She is addicted to it since then.


This Christian exercise regime invaded Miri 3 years ago. The passion is still going on strong, showing no signs of slowing down. More than 600 people attended its 2nd Year Anniversary dinner last July. This exercise phenomena is a clever import from Taiwan. It has all the good (benefits) and none of the bad. There are more than 30 different routines. Many denominations in Miri hold the morning and evening sessions at their own premises. Instructions are in Mandarin with one exception; Grace Methodist is the only church in Miri to conduct two weekly sessions in English. Participants are the young and senior, not-so-young and not-so-senior, and mostly of the smarter gender. No fee charged. Instructors are usually church volunteers.

Roseline absolutely loves the Praise Dance. Low impact yet effective. Many have claimed to benefit this very unique 60-min exercise. Neck, chest, back pain, headache, migraine, numbness, chronic fatigue are a thing of the past, so they say.

Praise dance at GMC Miri

Breakfast with Chairman

Had a quick breakfast with our church members early this morning. Despite their busy schedules and work commitments, Michael and Michelle Lee have remained faithful volunteers in our church, Grace Methodist (GMC). Michael currently serves as the Chairman of the Local Church Executive Committee (LCEC) and Michelle is involved in the Sunday school ministry.

We chatted mostly on church matters. On Discipleship Class 2008, our Pastor Rev. Law Hui Seng initially targeted a participation of 15 students for each class. The 9-months spiritual nourishment comprises of three groups of students. Held once a week, each group has its own class and timetable. All in all, the response has exceeded expectations with 58 sign-ups.

Surely 2008 will be a year of increase and abundance!

Happy 2008!

Happy 2008 everyone!

Don't laugh. My two sons and I were pampered to a botanical masque early this morning at home! You should rejuvenate and revitalize your complexion on the first day of the year, said my wife. No smiling, no talking while the masque is being applied. As you can see, we were very obedient.

As I surfed the net for fresh ideas on New Year's resolutions earlier on, I stumbled onto a new word 'wordsmith'. Interesting! It is what you become - a 'wordsmith' when you have failed to meet the first goal in your New Year resolutions, according to Lake Superior State University's annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness. Alamak, I immediately realized I have been a 'wordsmith' all these years.