Taking a break

Roseline and I managed to take a short break last weekend. Yes, you are right - we needed to re-charge! Went to Singapore via Senai. Sis came to pick us. I felt so relaxed with two super women in the front! We went to Kopitiam for dinner. Yong Tau Foo is one of Roseline's favourite dish. Look at the selection - you'll be spoilt by the choices! The Kopitiam card is a dining stored value card with 10% discount for every purchase! Clever marketing - pay first, eat later! I couldn't resist the high cholesterol oysters omelette! The teh-c and kopi-o were awesome! The mee pok was so-so only. Kampua is still the best! At Plaza Singapura we seized the opportunity to watch the musical movie Mama Mia. The movie brought back sweet memories for Roseline as the Abba songs reminded her of her students days in the UK. I was thrown out of orbit when Meryl Streep did her version of The Winner Takes It All. I didn't realize the 2-time Oscar winner could sing like that! This is so far the best movie we've watched this year and I highly recommend it to those who are in my age group!
On Sunday we worshipped at Paya Lebar Methodist Church. It's a beautiful church and I could feel the presence of God's grace and love there. After service Mabel (a close friend of sis) brought us to a restaurant at Serangoon famous for its chicken rice. We ordered additional dishes of mixed of Tofu mixed vegetables and Ngo Hiang. The bill was less than S$38 which I thought was value-for-money for four persons. I am recommending this restaurant.

We were also at VivoCity. There was a maddening crowd - did you say times are bad, excuse me... what recession? Daiso is one of our everyone's favourite shop - every item at S$2! At Senai airport, we had a light snack before flying back to Miri yesterday. So tell me, when was the last time you took a break?

Memory lane

My dear wife was away during Raya last week. It was a double bonus trip when she went to Sibu, visiting her parents as well as meeting up with her siblings from Sydney, Brunei and Kota Kinabalu.

The festive holidays provided an additional window for the Lees to strengthen their already closely-knitted family ties as they drove to Bintangor and Sarikei for a day trip. Along the journey - Elizabeth, Roseline's sister from Sydney took the following pictures using a Nikon D60 camera.
From 1971 to 1973 my parents-in-law resided in Bakong (a zone outskirts of Bintangor) where they had a small pepper farm. They also reared fish. This is the house that the Lees owned. According to Roseline, the original structure stood on stilts without any enclosures on the ground level. Roseline has such happy memories on Bakong that her eyes will sparkle whenever she recites her years there. Strangely I don't get bored hearing her story a thousand times for the past 24 years - maybe it's because I too have experienced a wonderful childhood with many outdoor activities. I can smell fresh air by just looking at the picture - what a wonderful place to enjoy longevity! I can live anywhere in the world as long as there is broadband and kampua. Roseline and her sister-in-law Mary at a relative's house. Roseline with her younger brother and mom. Hang Kwong Methodist Church, Bintangor - where Roseline received her baptism.
Like many typical trunk roads connecting towns, one can find roadside stalls at various points. The dry shrimps (hay bee) from Sarikei are the best in the world. Pineapples too.

Mother, daughter and daughter-in-law together - what bliss! Lastly this photo was taken at the hawker stalls at a wet and dry market near the Sibu Civic centre. Roseline's sister Elizabeth is the lady in white blouse. I don't recognize the other lady; Roseline tells me she is Letty, a former classmate her of brother's at SMK Tung Hua in 1978.

Yappy Kopitiam

I drove across the border to Bandar Seri Begawan on Monday night to take a short break (and a little indulgence). Though Brunei is not a gastronomic destination, there is this delightful Chinese cafe that I enjoy patronizing and yet have procrastinated to blog about it.

The Yappy Kopitiam is a family-owned eatery, or rather owned and managed by the indomitable, petite Yap sisters! I've known the wonderful Yap family since the late 80's (three out of the five sisters married my dear friends). But in all fairness, will I allow "guanxi" to cloud my two cents? Never mind, I'll just share my experience.

Opened last November, Yappy Kopitiam is located at the corner of a nondescript row of shops, adjacent to the Kiulap Plaza Hotel. It is not easy to find if you are not familiar with Kiulap area. Fear not - you can find some more write-up, photos and a good location map by a Brunei blogger here. The single ground floor unit cafe has its seating capacity limitation because of its partitioned aircon and non-aircon zones. But this disadvantage is easily overcome by the warmth and friendliness every patron will experience. For the first timer, you will be impressed by its cleanliness (including in the toilets - very important point) and an ambience reminiscent of the yesteryears coffee shop. There are also modern conveniences like free wi-fi and Astro tv to accomodate today's savvy consumers.
From the substantial menu, you will be spoiled for choices on Chinese and local food. No pork or pork-related ingredients are used. Each order is an individual plate serving; but any variations can always be arranged, Irene Yap smiled as she told me. We always try our best to use the freshest ingredients and keep the prices affordable despite rising costs, added the dynamic entrepreneur. What can I say - every time I visit the cafe I witness a good crowd. Good food, fair price and good service; a definitive recipe for long term success! These are my close friends. I have known them since 1990 and it was a rare opportunity that we could meet and have a cup of coffee together. Yappy Kopitiam's address is:
Unit 4, Ground Floor
Seri Anigma Building
Kg Kiulap, BE1518
Bandar Seri Begawan
Brunei Darussalam
Tel +673 2232168

Reservations are not a must, but it's better if you called because of limited seats. I hope you find this post useful; let me know about your experience and any other great places to eat in Brunei.

Lost and found

Guess what? It pays to be chatty!

I found my "lost" cousin when I chatted with Chang Yi yesterday. My church member and I exchanged some updates as we have been out of touch for the past few weeks. Out of nowhere the topic of a certain retired teacher turned blogger from Sibu cropped up! After a few qualifying questions I was delighted to know that this bugger blogger was indeed my cousin!

Actually my cousin is more like a friend to me. I can still remember the days when we patronized Royal Flush (the nondescript cafe @ the petrol station, junction of Oya Road/Brooke Drive) during my secondary school years. Being the senior (and working adult), my cousin was always generous in treating/subsidizing us (i.e., me and the gang) to meals. His indomitable sister was my classmate from 1979-80. Somehow through the years we lost contact after I went to work in Brunei in 1986.

I once read a heartwarming article "Too old to make new friends" by Sumiko Tan. The prolific Singaporean columnist wrote of the kinds of friendship and "friendships that die because they have simply run their course". My heart sighs at this inexplicable truth as I reflect upon how many friends and classmates I have lost contact over the past years. Hey, if you are "lost" friend of mine out there reading this now, please email me! xD

Back to my cousin.

I left a message on his blog yesterday afternoon asking for his mobile number. He responded this morning and I immediately called to say hello. When and where was the last time we met? I asked. Six, seven years ago - maybe at Bintulu or Miri airport, my cousin replied confidently. How come you can't remember? You're younger than me, he jabbed. Aha, I see he still has his sense of humour!

We agreed to meet up this early October - yes, in Sibu! This time round I won't lose keeping in touch anymore.

Home stay in Singapore

I was impressed when I received this home stay information from my sister-in-Christ and friend Aik Hoon from Singapore.

This is definitely a good option for many travellers to Singapore!

Ah.., the hairdryer availability - so important for ladies! xD

A New Year in Feb

Yes, we're back! Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!

We celebrated a wonderful new year in February. Obviously my in-laws were very glad to see all of us and their grandchildren congregating at their home in Sibu.

Chinese New Year is also very much a special time which families and extended families get together.


Preparation for the reunion dinner was hectic but fun. I relaxed and pretended to be busy in the kitchen majoring in minor things (like taking pics). This year our celebrity chef was Roseline's younger Bro 2, Jimmy from Kota Kinabalu. Whenever Jimmy's in the kitchen, you can take a nap and still be assured of getting quality food! Two thumbs up to Bro 2!


Mary from Brunei, and wife of Roseline's younger Bro 1 also displayed a fraction of her culinary prowess when she cooked Cream of Fresh Mushrooms soup. The taste was heavenly! Ichiban!


And the 4 kg Roast Lamb leg Mary cooked! I've never tasted better roast! Of course, I begged her for the recipes. Now with the secret in my hands, watch out for my tryout on these 2 favorite dishes my sons love! By the way, would you like to be my food tester?


To symbolize abundance, prosperity and vigor we had yusheng as the first dish during the New Year Eve's dinner. For side dishes, we had steamboat with a combination of seafood. My father-in-law, worried as usual that there would insufficient food to go around, secretly ordered a 8-course dinner takeaway without our knowledge! He was quick to remind us - it is customary to nian nian you yu! Yes sir, point noted!


Roseline has 3 younger sisters; Lucy, Elisabeth and Karen. It's great to meet up with Lucy (Sis 2) whom I haven't seen for a few years. Karen (holding the orange) is the youngest. Absent in the pic was Elizabeth (Sis 3, residing in Sydney) who promised to be back next year with her beautiful family!


My nephews and niece Lee Ching had a fantastic time of fellowship with Aaron and Abel. As they grow up and move forward, it is inevitable that they will see less of each other while pursuing their own dreams and aspirations. My niece Abby was fondly missed for the first time in such a reunion because she had to go to Perth earlier. But we were compensated with a bonus when Lucy's sons (whom we have missed for ages) Sean (studying in Florida) and Simon (studying in Perth) joined us.


We had an awesome time when we visited the cosy home of our family friends Thomas and Josephine. The temptation not to jam when you are with the Lings is difficult to resist; we had a good time doing Praise and Worship. May the Lord continually bless this gifted family of musicians who serve Sibu Wesley Methodist Church faithfully! Watch the jamming clip at my YouTube.

You are most welcome to view more Chinese New Year pics here.