Blessed!

It's been more than a year now since we have moved to KL from Miri. KL being the capital of Malaysia has a higher concentration of people living in a small area (it is still a very big city in comparison to Miri of course). Lifestyle has changed in this fast paced city... a city that never sleeps. One thing that really strikes me is how different the lifestyles of the families in KL are.

We are currently staying in a nice neighbourhood where families dominate the households here. We are fortunate to be able to live in a landed property (renting of course) compared to living up in the skies in an apartment or condominium in KL. There are all sorts of homes in KL and the surrounding areas (Selangor) ranging from simple 'kampungs' and low cost flats to luxurious bungalows of two to three storey high. The condition of the houses here reflect the living standards and in turn, the lifestyles.

It still amazes me to see a family of 6 or more staying in a house of two or three rooms only; small and cramp. Then again, there are those who are working couples who live in nice, luxurious condominiums or bungalows with many rooms to spare. Some of these rooms are even converted to storage areas. There is no right or wrong when it comes to lifestyles. What is of most importance is who you are staying with and whose lives you are sharing yours with in what we call a home.

We are blessed because we have parents who care.
We are blessed because we have children to love, and who love us in return.
We are blessed because we have shelter above our heads and food to nourish our bodies.
We are blessed because we have cars to take us to where we need and want to go. And also sufficient finances to fund for petrol and the needs of life... and occasionally the wants of life.
We are blessed because we live in a peaceful, harmonious and pleasant place.
We are blessed because we need not weather the heavy rain when we go to work and come back from work.
We are blessed that we can come home everyday in a sheltered carpark; sheltered from the elements of rain and sun.
We are blessed because we are not forced to share our private spaces with the public in a crowded light rail transport.
We are blessed because we can make decisions and choices for ourselves, be it the simple everyday decisions we make e.g. what food to eat to the important decisions in life.

But what tops it off is this :
we are blessed because we know and believe in God who cares and loves us dearly... to the extend of giving His only Son to die on the cross for our sins (wrong doings and guilt). A God who asks us to call Him Father, where love has no bounds and is the epitome of Holiness. He is called Blessed... and that is why we are blessed!

God bless you... and start counting your blessings!

1st Day of the Year of the Rat

Today is the first day of the year of the Rat. A sunny, hot and humid day greeted us as we woke up. This is quite the opposite for our other family members who are in Japan... snowing; and temperatures that goes well below freezing! So we can't complain...

We stayed up late on the Eve hoping to catch some firecrackers but lo and behold, there seems to be more law abiding citizens in KL nowadays! There was hardly any sound of exploding crackers... we did hear some a distance away though, but that was about it.

Here are two pics taken this morning...











































After visiting our sister, we went to the Selangor Royal Pewter factory. We had lots of fun there and yes, the place was infested with rats! Pewter rats that is.... :D


























Gong Xi Fatt Chai!

Chinese New Year Eve

* Warning - For those who are overseas and are missing their reunion dinners, please either stop reading this entry or brace yourself for what is to come below... I hope your keyboards are drool proof! : D

Tonight we had our re-union dinner at home in KL. We are blessed to have Daddy's parents here with us. Daddy's brother and sister in-law are Down Under, so we miss them this dinner. As usual, both Grandma and Mummy cooked up a storm (with the help of our Cambodian maid) and we all had a scrumptous dinner. We had curry (prepared by Mummy), pork leg stew (drool, drool), crispy popiah, french beans with shrimp, cauliflower, "lap chiong" with leek, straw mushroom soup and a few other dishes. Yummy! Here are a few pics of the food we had tonight.




















The spread of yummy foods we had...ranging from duck to pork to veggies...






































Lap Chiong (the reddish looking meat) with leek above.

To accompany the meal, we had a bottle of white wine (Similon Chardonnay); fruity and not too dry. It was lovely. The kids did not drink of course... but had their soup instead.

For dessert, we had Fruit 'Agar Agar' (a type of jelly) and Ferrero Roche chocolate (The tray of chocolate was a gift from the Lais to celebrate the New Year. There was also nice BBQ pork, "lap chiong" and oranges in the offering. Yum Yum!)

After dessert, we had a video call with Daddy's brother and sister in-law in Australia. It was good to see them and hear them and exchange news with them. Oh, and Daddy brought out the expresso machine and all had coffee. Now we wonder if we will all be able to sleep after taking our caffiene for the week (?) in one night.

Oh well, tonight being the eve of the year of the Rat, we will stay up late to welcome the new year. MAybe there will be fire crackers and fireworks (?). Fyi, they are banned in Malaysia.

Let us wish all readers of our blog a very Happy and Prosperous (Blessed) year of the Rat. Some say that it is "Mickey Mouse" year but we shall say that it is the Year of the Lord's favour! 2008... a new beginning! God bless you all!